Designing a coastal forever home in Seaburn

Discover how Acre Design transformed a Seaburn property into a stunning coastal home with sea views, modern extensions, and lifestyle-led design.

Our clients in Seaburn, Sunderland, recently acquired a tired semi-detached house that hadn’t been updated for decades. Despite its condition, the property offered something truly rare — a front elevation that looks directly out to the North Sea. With this comes both opportunity and challenge: an unrivalled view paired with the need to protect against the elements.

They came to Acre Design with a clear wish list of lifestyle spaces — an open-plan kitchen and dining area, a cinema room, a gym, and, most importantly, a way to maximise those spectacular sea views. Our role was to take that vision and create a home that not only delivered it but also felt considered, elegant, and in harmony with the streetscape.

A design shaped by views, lifestyle, and legacy

Our solution was to extend to the side, the rear, and into the loft, carefully balancing practicality with architectural impact. By echoing the form of the existing turret and peaked gables, the new design respects the area’s character while bringing the home into the 21st century.

At the heart of the scheme is light-filled, open-plan living, designed for entertaining family and friends. Upstairs, balconies on both the first and second floors ensure the sea becomes part of daily life, whether enjoying a morning coffee, hosting sundowners, or simply watching the horizon. Private leisure spaces, including a home gym and a cinema room, create a home that is not only functional but also a retreat tailored to our clients’ lifestyle.

A home to enjoy for decades to come

This project is a perfect example of what many of our clients in the North East are seeking: a home that enhances quality of life now while creating a lasting family legacy. With only minor adjustments, the design was approved for submission to the local planning department — a smooth process backed by our expertise in balancing ambition with approvals.

For our clients, the result is more than an extension. It’s the transformation of a forgotten house into a forever home, perfectly suited for the next chapter of their lives.

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