A 1960s house in south-east London transformed for fun and games with a sunken roof terrace, yoga studio and outdoor entertainment room

In our new series Listing of the Week, we’re profiling some of our most extraordinary spaces currently for sale. We don’t advocate favouritism per se, but we know a league-of-its-own home when we see one. Last week, we cast a spotlight on this Walter Gropuis-designed, weather-boarded house in Kent; today, we turn our attention to a thoughtfully refurbished 1960s home in Bromely, south-east London.

If there’s ever a house that would prove particularly popular in the case of another lockdown, it’s this one. Now, that’s most certainly not a barometer we usually hold homes up against, but it’s difficult to ignore the credentials of the house in question. It was built in 1965 and has since been subject to a sensitive – and, might we add, brilliant – renovation. While many of its mid-century hallmarks remain intact, the five-bedroom family home is now complete with a sunken roof terrace, an outdoor games room and a yoga studio.

Now that we have your attention, let’s inspect the details. The aforementioned outdoor games room is located at the far end of the tranquil garden, in a single-storey timber-framed building. There’s plenty of inspiration to be found in the current owner’s setup, which includes a flat-screen TV on the wall and a pool table, but there’s plenty of potential to transform the space to meet a multitude of desires: a cinema, library, cocktail bar or art studio, for example, would all work brilliantly here.

What was once a double garage has been cleverly converted into a split-level yoga studio and home gym. The large floor-to-ceiling glass walls, which flood the space with beautiful natural light, mean exercise at home is all the more enticing. As keen yogis can attest, there’s nowhere like a light-filled space to vinyasa.

The cherry on the top, however, might just be the sunken roof terrace. A private and secluded spot, it’s completely hidden from the ground floor by an assortment of leafy plants. This sun trap calls for catching the rays in summer – but it’s idyllic in the cooler months, too: wrap up in a blanket and watch night fall while enjoying a hot chocolate (or hot toddy).

There are playful elements inside too, such as a floor-to-ceiling mirrored beam on the ground floor that reflects light around the open-plan living area. The masterful use of wood nods to the home’s mid-century heritage, all the while chiming seamlessly with the thriving natural world in the garden beyond. The latter can be viewed through the expansive picture windows – six of which punctuate the front of the house, creating a visually striking view from the garden. And if that doesn’t please, the sunshine yellow front door should do the trick. We think it’s a rather fitting colour choice: after all, what says “welcome to the funhouse” like a bright yellow door?

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