DESIGN STAR

A 21st-century take on mid-century modernism is seamlessly executed in the renovation of Marcus and Caroline Hoggarth's late-1960s home

- ALICE ROBERTON

Nestled in a quiet residential street in a pretty town in Hertfordshire, Marcus and Caroline Hoggarth’s late-1960s home stands as a striking design statement. The couple, along with their four children — Evan, Roan, Bayley and Isla — and their dog, Joni (named after Joni Mitchell), have embraced the house's mid-century character while thoughtfully updating it to suit their needs.

Designed and built by the previous owners, the home nods to brutalism with its raw materials and structural honesty, while also channelling the relaxed, open-plan ethos of Californian homes. Marcus, a product designer and president of Native Design, first spotted the house on the website WowHaus.

‘Given that a mid-20th-century find like this is a rarity, we thought it was worth a look,’ he says. ‘Stepping through the front door, we immediately knew we weren't just looking; we were buying!’ recalls Caroline, an upholsterer and owner of mid-century furniture shop, A Fold of Chairs. They moved in during 2014.