Fifties REFIT

SARA MUNGEAM PUSHED THE BOUNDARIES TO RADICALLY REMODEL AND EXTEND A DATED 1950S HOUSE. THE RESULT IS A SLEEK, LIGHT-DRENCHED AND THOROUGHLY MODERN FAMILY HOME

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Sara Mungeam had lived in a Victorian property for 22 years and was adamant she would never move to a house that was even remotely modern. 'That was before I spotted a “for sale” sign outside this pebble-dashed, two-up, two-down semi, built in the 1950s, that for some reason piqued my interest,' she says. 'I was working on a very contemporary house nearby and the aesthetic had obviously rubbed off on me.'

GETTING THE PLANNING

The property went to sealed bids, but Sara and her husband Pete won the day and moved their family into their new home in 2023, having rented it out for the previous four years. 'That was how long it took to secure planning permission,' she says. 'The house finally got approved as a complete new build. All that was left after demolition was the front elevation and a bit of a side wall.'

LAYOUT AND FLOW

Sara is a micro-developer, @houseobsessed, and has seen multiple builds through from beginning to end. Her new house incorporates her skills, starting with the ground floor layout. 'I'd always recommend trying to keep the downstairs versatile, with areas that can be opened up or shut off,' she explains. To this end, a circular circuit through the rooms delivers a sense of flow. 'We can also close the doors to the study, hall and snug to section off different areas for privacy.'