Purchased as a family holiday home, Chelsea Villa offered the perfect opportunity to create a relaxed seaside retreat overlooking the Suffolk coast. Our clients had fallen in love with the character of this traditional Victorian villa, set just above Southwold Pier, with uninterrupted views across the sea and the charm of the quintessential English seaside town on its doorstep.
Having previously worked with the family on a number of projects, Lindsey was able to quickly understand how the house could be transformed to suit their needs. Largely untouched since the 1970s, the property required a complete refurbishment, while the approach was deliberately sympathetic to its original character.
The brief was to retain the classic feel of the villa and create a calm, timeless interior that would allow the ever-changing sea views to remain the focus. At the same time, the house needed to work comfortably for a large family and accommodate extended family and friends. The reconfiguration introduced ensuite bathrooms to the principal bedrooms and opened up the kitchen to create a generous dining space, providing a more sociable heart to the home.
The result is a relaxed and welcoming family retreat that balances the character of the original Victorian villa with the practicalities of contemporary family life, while making the most of its exceptional coastal setting.
