Dumpton Park Drive, Broadstairs, Kent

Behind this beautiful four-bedroom home in Broadstairs, Kent, lies an expansive south-facing garden with views out to sea. Inside, its genrous plan is centred around a bright open-plan living space, thoughtfully delineated but with a wonderfully cohesive feel. Striking joinery has been added throughout, from clever storage systems, engineered oak floors, and a remarkable Yakisugi-clad balcony, set against a panoramic backdrop of the English Channel.



The Tour



A paved driveway winds up to the house, providing space for two cars. From here is the front door, which opens to a hallway with discreet storage for coats and shoes. Beautiful engineered oak laid in a herringbone pattern begins here and continues into the rear living space, a marvellous room with a large sliding glazed door to the garden beyond.



On the left of the room is the kitchen, which has smooth Corian worktops, a Quooker tap, double ovens and a Brora induction hob with extraction. Adjacent, in front of the doors, is a generous area for a dining table. On the furthest end of the room is a wonderful snug, slightly delineated from the rest of the room and with a sculptural electric fireplace.



A partition formed of timber columns divides the living room from the hallway. On one side is the first of four bedrooms, which, with built-in bookcases, also makes for a brilliant study. A pocket door opens this space to the rest of the ground floor.



On the right of the entrance hall is a handy utility room. Beyond lies another bedroom, a serene space that overlooks the greenery of the front garden. A smart shower room sits adjacent.



Stairs ascend to the first floor, where there are two further bedrooms. The principal is a sensational space with expansive sliding doors to the sea-facing balcony. The bedroom itself is flanked by a dressing room with an abundance of built-in storage and a sublime en suite with a walk-in shower, a freestanding Lusso Stone bathtub and matching twin sinks. At the rear is the fourth bedroom, a charming space for a child with a bespoke plywood bunk bed atop a sequestered nook for reading.



Outdoor Space



A long garden extends beyond the house, carefully apportioned and planted with a variety of plants that thrive in the coastal air. Nearest to the living spaces is a terrace, ideal for summertime hosting and barbecues. Beyond is an elevated terrace, which has an unobstructed view towards the ocean.



Down a set of steps is a lawned area. A shed and a greenhouse provide excellent growing and gardening prospects for the horticulturally inclined. There is also a marvellous summerhouse, carefully finished with timber-lined walls and a log-burning stove. Wired to the mains it is also an excellent space to work from home.



The Area



Broadstairs has, in recent years, enjoyed a significant resurgence. It is home to a thriving community of independent shops and restaurants, many of which are close to the home. Favourites include the Michelin Guide's Kebbells for exceptional seafood, the perfect brunch spot, Smiths Townhouse, Twenty Seven Harbour Street, as well as Finx Beach Bar, which is built into the old ticket office of a long-decommissioned clifftop funicular. The old town itself remains a haven of antique shops, cafés and traditional Kentish pubs. Morelli’s ice cream parlour is a wonderfully over-the-top establishment on the seafront.



Nearby Margate is now home to an influx of young creatives, including Liddicoat and Goldhill, the architects behind Maker’s House, and the internationally renowned Turner Contemporary art gallery, as well as the recently restored Dreamland. These businesses (and many more like them) have helped to create a thriving art, food and music scene. Much-loved Whitstable, Ramsgate, and Deal are also within easy reach, as is historic Canterbury.



There are plenty of schooling options in the area, including St Mildred’s Primary Infant School, Upton Junior School, the Charles Dickens School and Dane Court Grammar School.



Broadstairs has a mainline railway station that runs services to London St Pancras in approximately an hour and 20 minutes. There are also good road links to London and the rest of Kent via the motorway network, or to the Eurostar at nearby Folkestone.



Council Tax Band: E