The Modern House Journal
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The Modern House JournalDo books furnish a room? Vintage book seller Emma Hammar argues the case Words Emma Hammar Photography The Modern House archive John Waters famously said, “If you go home with someone and they don’t have books, don’t f*** them!” Dating or not, a person’s book collection can give a huge insigh
The Modern House JournalHome Truths: expert advice for homebuyers from our co-founder, Albert Hill Of the thousands of house sales our co-founder Albert Hill has overseen, no two transactions have ever been the same. However, certain themes have emerged that every homebuyer should know about. There are pitfalls to avo
The Modern House JournalHow My Garden Grows: celebrating a year of growth Film and photography Ellen Hancock Words Holly Nicholas Almost a year has passed since the start of our gardening podcast and film series, How My Garden Grows. Hosted by lifelong gardener and journalist Francine Raymond,
The Modern House JournalThe Drawer of Things It’s time for our end of summer sort-out, where we share the bookmarked snippets that have recently caught our attention. If you like, you can subscribe to our newsletter and have these delivered to your inbox every so o
The Modern House JournalSound effect: creating a sonic portrait of home with Alice Boyd Music and soundscapes Alice Boyd Film and photography Ellen Hancock Words Holly Nicholas “Every home has its own sound world,” says musician and sound artist Alice Boyd. As long-time admirers of Alice’s mesmerising sound
The Modern House JournalThe Designer’s Toolbox: THING In the latest instalment of The Designer’s Toolbox series, we asked Thomas Randall-Page, architectural designer and co-founder of THING, to share some of the items that colour his working life. From indispensable referen
The Modern House Journal‘I want the world to come in’: restaurateur Jeremie Cometto-Lingenheim’s sociable home in Penzance Words Holly Nicholas Film Divided by One Photography Nick Ballón Jeremie Cometto-Lingenheim describes his Cornish home as “a mixture between Victorian and surf shack, more like a beach house than an English granite cotta
The Modern House JournalLandscape designer Jinny Blom on creating a peaceful home after 'a crazy life' Words Ellie Hughes “From really early in my life I wanted to have control of my environment,” says polymath garden designer Jinny Blom. “I dreamt, always, of having my own house, my own space.” In the latest episode of t
The Modern House JournalPrime summer 2026 report: Why you should price for today's market We get regular requests to share more “behind the scenes” colour on The Modern House business; how we work, the tools we use, the way things are done. So earlier this year, we started an occasional series across our chan
The Modern House JournalHow My Garden Grows: Andrew Salter’s riotous, rule-breaking garden in rural Kent Words Francine Raymond Film and photography Ellen Hancock Although many gardens we visit merit a second look, we couldn’t wait to go back and see how Andrew Salter’s garden was growing this summer. He bravely welcomed us
The Modern House JournalThe Crafted Home: the wobbly world of designer Tessa Silva Film and photography Morgan Eglin Words Nell Card This film and picture gallery are the first in a new series we’re calling The Crafted Home. Craft is something we’ve wanted to explore for some time, but it has taken us
The Modern House JournalUnlocked: Jenny and Michael Barraclough’s 1970s self-build on the banks of the River Thames Film Gene Limbrick Words Holly Nicholas For the next instalment of Unlocked, Phineas Harper visits 56 Ferry Street, an idiosyncratic self-build on the Isle of Dogs. Built in 1979 as physician Michael and documentary make
The Modern House JournalHeaven Kent: a magnificent Georgian home in Margate with thoughtful mid-century details, now for sale Words Sophie Sims Photography Rachel Ferriman Although centuries apart, Georgian and mid-century styles converse with a surprising familiarity in Helen and Pete’s miraculous Margate home, now for sale with The Modern Hou
The Modern House Journal'Nature moves gently through': the daily rhythms of a Welsh countryside home, now for sale Words Ellie Evelyn Orrell Photography Katarena Joy and Leia Morrison It’s a rainy day in early summer when I sit down to write about life at Sorrento. I’m sheltered in the front porch, watching silver sheets of rain drif
The Modern House JournalUnlocked: Straw Bale House, the pioneering eco home of Sarah Wigglesworth and Jeremy Till Film SPILT Words Holly Nicholas For the latest episode of Unlocked, Phineas Harper visits the iconic Straw Bale House in Islington. Designed in 1995 as a pioneering eco build, the house is known for its distinctive façad
The Modern House JournalOne of a kind: a 1960s home designed for an artist, now for sale Words Dale Berning Sawa Photography Adam Firman When Helen Sadowski and her sister Sally were little girls, they would travel down from Yorkshire to Essex during the holidays to visit their Aunt Enid. The Crowther family
The Modern House JournalThe Designer's Toolbox: Seetal Solanki In this instalment of The Designer’s Toolbox, we asked materials designer Seetal Solanki to share some of the tools and rituals that define her working life. Seetal is the founder of Ma-tt-er, a practice that empowers ot
The Modern House JournalSweet spot: the mid-century, candy-coloured apartment of James Hoy, co-founder of Uncommon Projects Words Wilhemina Madeley Photography Rachel Ferriman When James Hoy took on the challenge of finding the perfect home, he never expected to find ‘the one’ on a cold winter’s evening with a torch in hand. As a product desi
The Modern House JournalBack to square one: a perfectly-proportioned Georgian house, masterfully reimagined Words Kate Jacobs Photography James Tarry When this grand house was built, back in the 1700s, it sat on the edge of the countryside that surrounded the City of London. Since then, the capital has steadily enveloped the l
The Modern House JournalThe Drawer of Things It’s time for another sort out. What follows is a collection of scrapbook ephemera and bookmarked snippets that have piqued our interest. If you like, you can subscribe to our newsletter and have these delivered to your
The Modern House JournalSpruced up: the remarkable redesign of a former Victorian shop, now for sale Words Kate Jacobs Photography James Tarry If someone were to describe this recently listed house without context – timber-clad, with front door and windows veiled behind a screen of spruce battens – it might sound distin
The Modern House JournalFizmer episode three: 'An actual, recognisable house' appears Words Holly Nicholas Film and photography Josh Shinner In the next episode of their self-build adventure, Josh and Anna Shinner watch as Fizmer transforms from a “brutal-looking, wintery mud bath” into “an actual, recogn
The Modern House JournalThe Modern House x Mass Collective – A Photography Workshop Words Nell Card Photography Rachel Ferriman and Mass Collective Film Gene Limbrick, Tom Sandford and Gianluca Giordimaina It’s strange to think that we often interpret the world through the lenses of strangers. When we r
The Modern House JournalThe artist David Shrigley on home, creativity and doing what you like Words Ellie Hughes “Once you've passed 50, it really doesn’t matter what you do. You can’t be cool anymore, you’re not young anymore,” reckons David Shrigley. “Just don’t break the law.” In the latest episode of the Homi
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