Ember Lane, Esher, Surrey

The traditional façade of this exceptional five-bedroom detached house in Esher belies a rear elevation that is unexpectedly dynamic and striking, demonstrating an innovative approach to form and volume. This establishes a bright and flowing internal plan of over 3,200 sq ft, with living spaces that spill seamlessly into the adjoining outdoor space. Crowned by a pitched pergola, a garden studio extension extends at the rear, forming a secluded courtyard area below a projecting first-floor picture window. Ember Lane is brilliantly placed for quick access to both the capital via Esher Station, a five-minute walk from the house, and to the popular local attractions of Sandown Park, Esher town, Hampton Court Palace and Kingston-upon-Thames.

The Tour

The house is approached along a leafy street that runs parallel with a neighbouring municipal golf course. Originally built in 1925, the house's façade is a harmonious fusion of traditional forms and modern materials, including charcoal-painted render, natural cedar weatherboarding and a combination of steel finishes. These textures hint at the transformation that has taken place within, where a thoughtful approach to materiality establishes a refined and welcoming series of spaces.

Entry is through a welcoming hallway with glimpses through to the kitchen and garden beyond. The kitchen is a generous space arranged to take advantage of its connection to a large outdoor terrace that abuts the space. Wide solid oak floorboards accentuate the room’s proportions and lead the eye towards the generous custom-made sliding doors to the courtyard and terrace. Stainless steel cabinetry works with a glass splash-back and Venetian polished plaster wall to amplify the natural light that floods the room. A long serving hatch above the worktop peeks through to the adjacent galley utility area, which provides excellent full-height storage space hidden behind sliding doors, a large work table with an extra-large sink and store cupboards below. A WC lies beyond, which can be also entered from the garden.

An oversized pair of doors lead from the kitchen to the main living room. Distinct architectural forms here effortlessly marry old and new, as exemplified by the traditional lead glass window that sits in contrast to newly added oak-framed bifold doors opposite. The room is lined in bespoke shelving and cabinetry, which frames the log burner hearth and flows on to create an inviting seat beside the fire. A wide-stepped oak staircase ascends to one side, its plinth cleverly forming another seat.

Directly above is a bright barn-style studio that could alternatively serve as a sixth bedroom. Its steeply pitched roof creates lofty volume, accentuated by the light that pours in from skylights above. Accessed from the living room, this dramatic space is slightly separate from the rest of the upstairs plan, which is entered via the main entrance hall staircase.

A second ground-floor reception room - the garden studio, which also has its own private front door access - lies beyond the first, forming a significant part of the central courtyard. Its mono-pitched roof is crowned by a line of deep coffered skylights. More oversized sliding doors open onto the terrace, and a well-placed portrait window at the foot of the room steals a leafy view of the garden and the light from the setting sun. The ground-floor plan is completed a room currently used as a bike store/workshop; with an external access door, it would make for a great boot room.

Upstairs, there are four double bedrooms set around the first-floor landing, as well as a large, oak finished family bathroom. Set in the far corner of the upstairs plan, the main bedroom suite has a calm, private feel. It has a wide picture window seat that overlooks the garden below, as well as a neat dressing room and en suite shower room.

Stairs ascend to the second floor, where the house's fifth bedroom lies. The ceiling has been taken up to the dramatic pitch of the lantern roofline, with a pair of large roof lights that create an unexpectedly light and voluminous space. Cleverly arranged to maximise space, a second en suite shower room here is completed with large mosaic tiles. The house also has a generous loft for additional storage.

Outdoor Space

To the front is a large gravel driveway secured by gates and providing space for four cars. From the drive, the house can be entered through three separate doors.

At the rear is an exceptionally private garden that is not overlooked by any neighbouring properties. It teems with established shrubbery and trees and has been cleverly zoned by hard landscaping and tropical planting such as bamboo, eucalyptus and palms that sit happily alongside rhododendron and cherry trees. Despite its arresting visual interest, the garden is relatively low maintenance.

A deep lawn, divided by a narrow ‘rill’ channel of water terminating at a pink washed monolithic slab, stretches out beyond the decking.

The raised central courtyard triangulates the main living spaces on the ground floor, serving as another living area and a transitional space in the centre of the horseshoe plan. When all the ground-floor doors are open, the central terrace not only becomes a congregation point between the key living spaces but also allows sight lines across the plan.

The house has secondary vehicle access through a sliding gate at the end of the garden, which opens on to an area of hardstanding with space for extra cars and a substantial workshop nestling under a palm tree and mature eucalyptus.

The Area

Esher is a popular town on the edge of Surrey, renowned for its quick travel into London, excellent local amenities, brilliant schools and open green spaces. Perched within Surrey's 'golden triangle' along with neighbouring Thames Ditton, Weybridge and Cobham, the area provides a mix of beautiful countryside, lively local high streets and easy access to the motorway network and to several airports. Ember Lane is a particularly well-placed street in the town, close to the station and a short walk from the winding banks of the River Ember, which meets the River Thames at Hampton Court Palace.

The centre of Esher is a 20-minute walk away and is host to many much-loved independent shops and cafés, including Giro, and The Bombay Social, as well as familiar names like Esquires Coffee, Gails, Pizza Express and Giggling Squid. There is also an Everyman Cinema and the Esher Theatre. The area has several popular pubs known for their roasts including The Bear, Marneys Village Inn and The Wheatsheaf, on Esher Green. Esher's excellent high street offering includes a large Waitrose.

Sandown Park, just around the corner from the house, is a major attraction to the area, hosting a programme of national horse racing along with live music events, a golf academy, go-karting track, dry ski school and health and fitness offerings.

Garsons Farm is a lovely addition to the area with a striking orangery, café and pick-your-own fruit and veg in the summertime. Claremont Landscape Gardens, run by the National Trust, is a short drive away, and is home to lakes, lawns and rambling gardens designed by the guiding hands of Capability Brown and John Vanbrugh. For fans of modernism, Patrick Gwynne's iconic Homewood is also nearby and open to the public.

London's second largest park, Bushy Park, is a five-minute drive or 10-minute cycle away. Its sprawling green spaces are a haven for wildlife and offer many rambling walks beside the river and towards Hampton Court Palace, where there are frequent markets and events. Esher also offers easy access to the stunning Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which makes it a popular starting point for cyclists beginning their rides into the rolling lanes, gravel trails and more challenging single tracks.

The area is exceptionally well served for local primary and secondary schools, both independent and state, including Weston Green, Danes Hill, Claremont Fan Court, Shrewsbury House, Rowan, Reeds, Hinchley Wood, Esher High School and the popular Esher Sixth Form College.

Esher Station runs services to London Waterloo every half an hour, with the fast train arriving in approximately 20 minutes. Esher is located on the A3, 15 miles from central London and 50 miles away from Portsmouth on the south coast. The M3, M4 and M25 are all approximately 20 minutes away, and the house sits equidistant from Heathrow and Gatwick airports, which are an easy 40-minute drive away.

Council Tax Band: G