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Pure and simple

1960's bungalow in the centre of Tunbridge Wells

Design Director of a brand and marketing consultancy based in Tunbridge Wells, Christopher Barclay bought this 1960's bungalow in the town four years ago. He was shown the bungalow when looking for new company offices but he snapped it up as a home for himself, thrilled at the prospect of swapping his Georgian terrace house which he describes as being 'all stairs' to live on one floor in a quiet, grassy enclave of similar properties five minutes walk from the centre of town. The previous owner, an antique dealer had done everything possible to give the bungalow a period look, installing an Adamesque fireplace, panelled doors, ornate wallpaper and heavy curtains with elaborate pelmets. Christopher has stripped all that away, reinstating a feeling of relaxed, mid-century simplicity, opening up the sitting and dining rooms and knocking down a dividing wall in the kitchen to form an open living space where expansive windows overlook the courtyard garden and the adjacent woods. Since buying the house Christopher has gradually traded in much of the furniture from his previous home, exchanging it for finds such as the 1950's sideboard in the living area bought for a few pounds, and vintage metal dining chairs which came from a local dealer. Streamlined white kitchen units are contrasted by the rough hewn English elm worksurface of the island unit.