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Newcastle’s Ideal Modern Home Revealed

ByCharley Williams

Jan 4, 2017

With the likes of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces and Kevin McCloud on Grand Designs showing the UK the possibilities of progressive and alternative housing solutions, Brits are feeling inspired.

  •        One in 10 Geordie’s dream of living in a hobbit house
  • Almost a quarter would love to live in a converted boat, canal barge or floating house
  • Converted churches and thatched cottages favoured over modern homes

New research from online interiors retailer Curtains.com, has found that Geordie’s finds the eclectic and traditional home most appealing, as opposed to modern minimalist living.  In fact, the most coveted feature of a modern dream home is a country kitchen (41%), particularly for women.

The most desirable unconventional property, according to respondents, is a traditional thatched cottage (27% would live there), followed by a converted chapel or church (27%) and a sustainable property (19%). One in 10 respondents found the idea of a fantasy-inspired ‘Hobbit House’ exciting.

When considering green home credentials, sustainability is more important to British men than women, with almost a third of men (31%) making it a priority compared to just a quarter of women.

Over 50% of moving decisions are swayed by location, with respondents fantasising about a quiet rural setting. This came hand-in-hand with the second most important factor – a decent sized garden plot.

More than half of the city’s respondents (51%) would rather live in a small home in a premium location as opposed to a home with more square footage in a cheaper area.

Surprisingly, school catchment area, commuter transport links and local crime rates were only important to less than 20% of the city’s respondents.

Matteo Fabbi at Curtains.com, said: “Interiors magazines are adorned with minimalist, modern interiors full of clean lines, shiny surfaces and open spaces, but actually our research has found that people are more in favour of cosy homes with traditional features and period character.”

The UK’s most desired unconventional homes include:

  1. Traditional thatched cottage
  2. Sustainable home
  3. Converted period chapel
  4. Eco-log cabin
  5. Hobbit house
  6. Glass house
  7. Converted boat or canal barge
  8. Urban micro-apartment
  9. Floating house
  10. Lighthouse

 

The top 10 ‘dream home’ features are:

  1. Country kitchen
  2. Swimming pool & spa facilities
  3. Walk in wardrobe
  4. Cinema room
  5. Converted outhouse
  6. A library
  7. A man cave
  8. Hidden room
  9. Secret wine cellar
  10. Outdoor bathtub

Other desired features include; a games room with indoor bowling lanes, a model train showroom, a golf practice green, a gym and garden rooms.