In 2010, David and Henrietta Villiers bought a small 1930s bungalow in Aldeburgh, a bustling seaside town on the Suffolk coast. They replaced it with a detached home that is airy, open and flexible; creating a space from which they’ve been able to appreciate the picturesque views of the nearby marshes and the River Alde.

When designing the house, they took particular care to reference their surroundings – the blackened timber cladding reminds them of the iconic fishermen’s beach huts, the white triangular sails that can be seen on the River Alde inspired the retractable sail shades, and the corrugated aluminium cladding at ground level references the industrial buildings of the boatyards.

Here, as their house comes on to the market, David reflects on the joys of living in a space that he and Henrietta designed from the ground up, of working in their sunny garden studio surrounded by wildflowers and why it’s time for a new challenge.

David: “We swapped a Regency townhouse in Stoke Newington, where we’d been very happy for nearly 20 years, for a Barbican flat and this house in Aldeburgh. We originally had a tiny weekend cottage here and always dreamt about creating a new home in the area. A 1930s bungalow came on the market, which was in the perfect location. It had stunning open landscape to the rear, and its large garden backed onto the marshes and looked towards the River Alde.

“We bought the bungalow in 2010, designed the current house and then moved in in 2014. Our home was inspired by the local reed beds, the black fishermen’s huts found on the beach and the elevated volumes seen in local Tudor buildings where the first floor is larger than the ground floor, as seen in Moot Hall in Aldeburgh, as well as the famous local landmark, the House in the Clouds, which is a house built on top of a former water tower in Thorpeness.

“The concept was designed by us: I am a furniture designer and Henri is a graphic designer and printmaker. We hired a local architect to work up a tech spec and administer the contract. A connection to the outside was really important for us. The openness of the Suffolk landscape, with its wide skies, was something that we fell in love with when we first started coming here. The wide plot allowed us to really take advantage of our position looking over the river, orientating the house so that the majority of the rooms have views across the marsh.

“We positioned the living area on the first floor to maximise the views. This creates a constant connection with the landscape and the drama of the changing seasons. We wanted to create a home that was open, flexible and comfortable, celebrating the landscape and regional architecture. It had to be flexible enough to be comfortable for just us on quiet weekends and also deliver space to accommodate larger parties of family and friends.

“We love the flowing space, the warmth and comfort provided by a modern, well-insulated home, as well as the dramatic views, the connection with the landscape and having easy access to a thriving seaside town.

“We added a garden studio office in 2019, and in 2020 we decided that the original roof and wall cladding material was underperforming so we upgraded the roof with a black ZM zinc standing seam and replaced the external wall cladding with blackened Thermowood.

“We’ve left the garden to grow really wild to blend in with the marsh, with the exception of the sculptural fire-pit seating and the pond that connects to the studio office. The garden surprises us each year as different wildflowers emerge. We’re always mulling over ideas for creating more structure but in the end that connection with the marsh wins out.

“I am a furniture designer, so it was critical that every detail was considered. For example, aligning the interior ‘reed’ tongue and groove wall cladding with the doors, balustrades and lighting, along with flush doors and bespoke door handles, became a driving criteria. This, combined with a controlled colour palette, ensured a natural visual flow and it’s a great backdrop for Henri’s print artworks.

“Henri has created a lot of the artwork, which changes on a regular basis as she creates new work and pieces leave to be exhibited, plus we have an eclectic mix of art and objects that we’ve collected over the years.

“Our garden studio is amazing on a sunny morning as light reflects off the pond and dances across the birch plywood ceiling, making an early morning start truly uplifting. That said, the big skies and vast landscape views from the living room are a source of wonder. We love watching the sails of the dinghies snaking their way upriver towards Snape. The south-facing living room ensures you get sun all day, while the sunsets, especially in winter, can be incredible.

“We now work from home so we are here most of the time. The open-plan living room is where we relax and spend the majority of our time. When we’re working, we’re in our light-filled garden studio. The bedrooms are downstairs – they are quieter, smaller, more intimate spaces.

“Aldeburgh is a lively, creative town that hosts the world-famous Aldeburgh music and arts festival in June with a continual cycle of art throughout the year. Latitude music festival is also just up the road, which makes it so easy if camping is not your thing. Sculptures by Antony Gormley and Maggi Hambling can be found on the beach and there is a thriving arts community here. We use our house and garden studio as part of the Aldeburgh Art and Design show in August and are part of the popular artists’ studio trail during weekends in June. There’s also an annual carnival with floats that’s a really popular fixture – it culminates in a fantastic fireworks display. Of course, sailing on the River Alde is also a major pastime.

“We are now ready for another challenge. We are thinking about moving to Cornwall or Devon to experience a different landscape and create another home. That said, it’s not going to be easy leaving.”