Duneland, Camber, East Sussex

This brilliant two-bedroom house is moments from the wide sandy shores and dunes of Camber Sands, Kent. Behind its striking corrugated steel exterior lie thoroughly renovated rooms that cleverly utilise reclaimed materials and pockets of colour. The horseshoe-shaped plan hugs a central south-facing sun terrace that, in turn, opens out to the beach. Rye is a 10-minute drive from Duneland and has a railway station with connections to London in just over an hour.



The Tour



Duneland lies on the south side of Second Avenue, a sought-after no-through road where houses back onto the dunes and the crashing waves can be heard.



The house replaced a former bungalow on the site; its external walls were kept, but the roof was replaced. All internal walls and ceilings are new and fully insulated, and new electrics were added. There is also air conditioning and an air-source heat pump. Not a detail has been overlooked, right down to the Lusso Stone door furniture used throughout.



A discreet steel door provides entry to the house, opening to reveal a voluminous open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area. Full-height sliding doors on one side fill the space with light and frame spectacular views of the dunes beyond. Above are remote-controlled Velux roof lights.



Reclaimed and recycled timber panelling lines the walls, inset with two windows on the opposite side to provide additional light. Concrete flooring spreads out underfoot. The bespoke kitchen was designed by Carver and Carver and makes clever use of Formica and plywood, with a combination of olive-green and orange-red units, a concrete worktop and zellige tiles. Appliances include a Samsung fridge-freezer, Bosch double ovens, an Elica Nikola Tesla induction hob and a Filtrata boiling water tap.



There are two double bedrooms, both with dark-grey OSB-lined vaulted ceilings. The principal bedroom has an en suite shower room, a walk-in wardrobe built-in behind the bed, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors sliding open onto the central courtyard.



Bathed in natural light pouring from a skylight, the shared bathroom has wood-panelled walls and a walk-in shower clad in terrazzo tiles. All bathroom fixtures and brassware are from Lusso Stone.



A separate studio clad in black rubber can be accessed from the outdoor terrace; it has been completed to a high specification. Vintage scaffold boards form the floor of the studio, and tongue-and-groove panelling has been painted in Paint and Paper Library's 'Temple'. There are built-in cupboards and a shower room.



Outdoor Space



The house hugs a central decked terrace, cleverly arranged with dedicated paved and shingled sections for outdoor dining, relaxing and entertaining. Screens border the outdoor space, providing wonderful privacy while facing out to the sandy dunes beyond. Amenities include a six-person hot tub, a wood-fired oven, a fire pit and an outdoor shower.



There is also a raised 'chill-out' deck built into the dunes - a wonderful spot throughout the day, but particularly lovely during sunset.



There is a single off-road parking space available outside, with more space against the house wall, facing onto Second Avenue.



The Area



The house is just a few minutes’ walk from Camber Sands, a seven-mile stretch of sandy beach and the longest SSSI-protected dunes in East Sussex, close to the border with Kent. It has one of the purest and longest dune systems on the South Coast, and the only one to be found in East Sussex. Both Camber Sands and nearby Greatstone are well-regarded as kite and windsurfing beaches.



The centre of Rye is 10 minutes' drive away and has a wide choice of restaurants, pubs and independent shops. Kino Cinema is set in a former Victorian library and has three screens, a large café-bar with a mezzanine lounge and a terrace. Rye is also home to the original branch of Knoops hot chocolate café, and The George is a delightful Georgian inn with rooms and a restaurant.



Closer to home, The Gallivant is a well-regarded dune-side restaurant with bar, beach huts and rooms. We've written more about our recommendations in Rye in our Journal.



Tillingham Winery, a mixed farm set in 70 acres of rolling countryside and woodlands, is a short drive from the house. Home to vineyards, fruit trees, ancient woodland and livestock, it also provides a place for visitors to stay and enjoy the produce from the farm and the surrounding region. Tibbs Farm is also close by, and has fruit picking, a photogenic maize maze and a café.



In the immediate area are the famous Rye Golf Club and the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, which lies within a large triangle of land extending south from Rye, along the River Rother and past Rye Harbour. Its Discovery Centre (designed by Simpson and Brown Architects) comprises exhibition spaces, a wildlife garden and a café with panoramic views of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.



The popular towns of Hastings and Tenterden are also easily accessible. Dungeness and the beaches at Winchelsea and Pett Level are a short drive away.



There are several schooling options in the area, including Rye Community Primary School and Rye College, with plenty more in New Romney and the surrounding towns.



Trains run from Rye to London via Ashford in just over an hour, while the Eurotunnel at Dover is around an hour’s drive away.



Council Tax Band: B