Dream Houzz: Houzz Sub-editor Sarah Alcroft Designs Her Fantasy Home
Continuing our ongoing series, Sarah Alcroft shares the Houzz photos that make up her dream home
Sarah Alcroft
12 November 2016
Houzz UK Editorial Team
Elegant and empty-ish are the key words for my dream house, in contrast to my real home, which could better be described as chaotic and a tiny bit frayed around the edges. Beautiful materials, plenty of natural light and an inner city location with a bubble of countryside out back would be top of my wish list. Too much to ask?
In real life, I need lots of storage, so in my dream home, I’ve successfully, thoroughly decluttered so I can enjoy clear spaces and calm living.
Here’s my fantasy property, created from images on Houzz. Not to your taste? Why not put together your own dream home Ideabook and share it with us in the Comments below?
In real life, I need lots of storage, so in my dream home, I’ve successfully, thoroughly decluttered so I can enjoy clear spaces and calm living.
Here’s my fantasy property, created from images on Houzz. Not to your taste? Why not put together your own dream home Ideabook and share it with us in the Comments below?
The entrance
I’m not quite brave enough for a jolly front door in real life, so my dream home would give a cheerful welcome with an upbeat slick of yellow.
The bright door on this Victorian house helps the property to stand out from its neighbours and promises more interesting design details inside.
I’m not quite brave enough for a jolly front door in real life, so my dream home would give a cheerful welcome with an upbeat slick of yellow.
The bright door on this Victorian house helps the property to stand out from its neighbours and promises more interesting design details inside.
The kitchen
Tidy, serene, light, and filled with beautiful natural materials – including my current desire, a herringbone parquet floor. This is a space where I could enjoy cooking, though in truth I’m imagining elegant parties and mixing cocktails more than whipping up a spag bol.
Tidy, serene, light, and filled with beautiful natural materials – including my current desire, a herringbone parquet floor. This is a space where I could enjoy cooking, though in truth I’m imagining elegant parties and mixing cocktails more than whipping up a spag bol.
The dining area
Mealtimes in the fantasy home are cheerful affairs with no squabbling, so a big table would be perfect for those family bonding sessions. I love the way this simple wooden number sits lightly between the beautiful copper globe lights and gorgeous parquet floor.
Mealtimes in the fantasy home are cheerful affairs with no squabbling, so a big table would be perfect for those family bonding sessions. I love the way this simple wooden number sits lightly between the beautiful copper globe lights and gorgeous parquet floor.
The living room
This would be a calm evening escape, the inky blue walls, warm metallics and sculptural houseplants creating a cosy cocoon. Flickering flames are a sure-fire way to make a living room cosy on chilly evenings, so an open fire or wood-burning stove would be key.
This would be a calm evening escape, the inky blue walls, warm metallics and sculptural houseplants creating a cosy cocoon. Flickering flames are a sure-fire way to make a living room cosy on chilly evenings, so an open fire or wood-burning stove would be key.
The music room
I’m learning to play the piano, but on an unromantic digital keyboard, so a room devoted to a grand piano would be a wonderful indulgence – and hopefully tempt me to practise more.
This space has few distractions, with simple neutrals allowing the piano to be the star. The painting adds colour and interest, but is cleverly hung behind the pianist, so it can be enjoyed from the hallway, but doesn’t distract from the score.
I’m learning to play the piano, but on an unromantic digital keyboard, so a room devoted to a grand piano would be a wonderful indulgence – and hopefully tempt me to practise more.
This space has few distractions, with simple neutrals allowing the piano to be the star. The painting adds colour and interest, but is cleverly hung behind the pianist, so it can be enjoyed from the hallway, but doesn’t distract from the score.
The boot room
I’ll be needing a boot room, of course. It’s not that I have muddy boots after a day tramping the city streets, it’s just the fantasy that if everyone’s shoes and gloves could be organised from the moment they walk in, the rest of the house would somehow follow suit.
This space combines brilliant boot room storage – desired by lots of Houzzers, judging by your searches – with on-trend dark green, which makes those shelves a feature in themselves. And the flooring in here is practical but pretty, the pattern adding energy to the scheme.
I’ll be needing a boot room, of course. It’s not that I have muddy boots after a day tramping the city streets, it’s just the fantasy that if everyone’s shoes and gloves could be organised from the moment they walk in, the rest of the house would somehow follow suit.
This space combines brilliant boot room storage – desired by lots of Houzzers, judging by your searches – with on-trend dark green, which makes those shelves a feature in themselves. And the flooring in here is practical but pretty, the pattern adding energy to the scheme.
The hallway
The hallway is so often a functional space filled with coats and shoes, but our boot room would allow the fantasy hall to be elegant and restful. I love the mix of orange midcentury chair and classic wrought-iron banisters here, and that marigold stripe is inspired, giving the traditional features a modern twist.
The hallway is so often a functional space filled with coats and shoes, but our boot room would allow the fantasy hall to be elegant and restful. I love the mix of orange midcentury chair and classic wrought-iron banisters here, and that marigold stripe is inspired, giving the traditional features a modern twist.
The landing
That pile of photos languishing in a box would be framed and up on the walls. The black-and-white shots against the crisp grey paint here appeal to my love of minimalism-lite – clean lines but with personality.
That pile of photos languishing in a box would be framed and up on the walls. The black-and-white shots against the crisp grey paint here appeal to my love of minimalism-lite – clean lines but with personality.
The bedroom
Fresh and pared-back, with crisp sheets and a cosy rug for morning toes, the bedroom would be all about restful sleep – of which I would, of course, get plenty…
A neat bedside table that isn’t crammed with pens, notebooks and assorted hand creams would be nice, too, and this chunky wooden design adds natural texture and warmth in an unfussy way.
Fresh and pared-back, with crisp sheets and a cosy rug for morning toes, the bedroom would be all about restful sleep – of which I would, of course, get plenty…
A neat bedside table that isn’t crammed with pens, notebooks and assorted hand creams would be nice, too, and this chunky wooden design adds natural texture and warmth in an unfussy way.
The bathroom
Long, leisurely baths gazing at the view; reclining in a face mask; nail painting on a comfy chair in a fluffy robe… Well, you can dream, can’t you?
This bathroom ticks all my must-have boxes, being light, calm, and pared-back but luxurious. And the central position of that smooth, inviting bath immediately says this is a space for indulgence.
Long, leisurely baths gazing at the view; reclining in a face mask; nail painting on a comfy chair in a fluffy robe… Well, you can dream, can’t you?
This bathroom ticks all my must-have boxes, being light, calm, and pared-back but luxurious. And the central position of that smooth, inviting bath immediately says this is a space for indulgence.
The garden
Despite the fact my dream home is firmly in London, the back garden would be big enough for a modest, tree-lined lake. I’m thinking morning cuppa and evening tipple in those timeless garden chairs.
Read expert advice on what to do in the garden in October
Despite the fact my dream home is firmly in London, the back garden would be big enough for a modest, tree-lined lake. I’m thinking morning cuppa and evening tipple in those timeless garden chairs.
Read expert advice on what to do in the garden in October
The reading nook
As a child, I begged my parents for a hanging chair (they didn’t succumb, needless to say), so this inviting cocoon, all set up with a cushion and blanket for chilly days, would be the perfect spot to read or just daydream.
As a child, I begged my parents for a hanging chair (they didn’t succumb, needless to say), so this inviting cocoon, all set up with a cushion and blanket for chilly days, would be the perfect spot to read or just daydream.
The furry friend
My dream home wouldn’t be complete without a cat to greet us every day, and this chap tones beautifully with the décor.
Discover the secrets of a home that’s cool for cats
What would your dream home look like? Share your thoughts or an Ideabook in the Comments below.
My dream home wouldn’t be complete without a cat to greet us every day, and this chap tones beautifully with the décor.
Discover the secrets of a home that’s cool for cats
What would your dream home look like? Share your thoughts or an Ideabook in the Comments below.
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Love the choices, sounds just like my perfect house too!
Sarah, I never knew you aspired to be so minimal! Love the idea of inner city London pad, all chic and cocktail-ish, with a massive lake out the back! xx
LOVEEEE the living room colour and the metal staircase balustrade. Gorgeous !