Real home: a dated bungalow gets contemporary conversion

The conversion of Sarah Rossiter and her husband, Ed's, has turned this dated bungalow into a contemporary two-storey home

The conversion of this run down property by interior designer Sarah Rossiter and her husband, Ed, a professional project manager, saw them win Reader’s Choice in the Real Homes Transformation Awards. They spent 18 months looking for their conversion project, eventually discovering a 1920s bungalow that had been converted into two flats with a warren of poky rooms.

Now the ground floor is a large open space with new blue kitchen, dining area and living room. The polished concrete floor and absence of skirting boards or architraves gives it a stripped back, contemporary look. Its eco-credentials are high, with solar panels on the roof that power the house and their electric car.

Project Notes

The owners: Sarah Rossiter, an interior designer, lives here with her husband Ed, a project manager, and their red and white border collie, Fraggle

The property: A three-bedroom semi-detached chalet bungalow, built in 1924, in Brighton

Total project cost: £300,000

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After they converted it, the space felt more open and a lot more contemporary. The polished plaster that stretches able the fireplace and across the ceiling has concealed lighting. Sofas, CamerichCoffee table and cushions, Rockett St George. Rug, Ikea. Fire, Stovax

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The deep blue kitchen, from Windmill Kitchens, is warmed up with wooden worktops from Sapele

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The bespoke industrial-style chandelier, from Chantelle Lighting, is a real feature, and creates a contrast with the Danish 1940s table and chairs, from Retrospective Interiors. Painting, Paul Keaton

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The stairs are one of Sarah’s favourite parts of the house, as the rigging-style bannisters were influenced by her love of sailing. Staircase, Iron Designs

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Old floorboards have been reused as feature cladding on the wall of the snug. Rug, Rockett St George. Cushions, Etsy. Side table, Dwell. Walls painted in Maritim 236, Mylands

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The Smoke bed from Loaf is the focal point in the main bedroom. Cushions, from Goa. Mirrors, Rockett St George. Bedside tables, Swoon Editions. Walls painted in Museum 151, Mylands

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Sarah and Ed went for a bold look in their bathroom. The geometric tiles above the vanity unit are from Marrakech Designs. For a similar shower, screen and tiles, try B&Q
Alison Jones
Assistant Editor

Alison is Assistant Editor on Real Homes magazine. She previously worked on national newspapers, in later years as a film critic and has also written on property, fashion and lifestyle. Having recently purchased a Victorian property in severe need of some updating, much of her time is spent solving the usual issues renovators encounter.