A few streets back from the sea in Cliftonville, this two-bedroom bungalow has been comprehensively reworked, with a remarkable vaulted extension transforming the rear of the house into a light-filled sequence of kitchen, dining and living spaces.

From the street, the house retains the quiet proportions of its original bungalow form. Inside, the plan gradually opens towards the rear, where an arched doorway gives way to the principal living space. Here, a soaring pitched ceiling, exposed structural beams and a series of large roof lights create an unexpected sense of volume.

The kitchen runs along one side of the room, with pale oak cabinetry providing a warm counterpoint to dark stone worktops. A substantial central island is wrapped in darker timber and topped in dramatically veined stone, forming a natural gathering point and an informal place to eat. Integrated appliances sit discreetly within the full-height cabinetry, while a separate utility room and WC keep the practical elements of the house neatly contained.

Beyond, the living area sits beneath the highest part of the vaulted roof. Full-height glazing extends almost the entire width of the rear elevation, with additional panes following the pitch of the roof above. Sliding doors open directly onto the garden, drawing daylight deep into the room and creating an easy relationship between inside and out.

The restrained material palette continues throughout, with wide oak boards running through the living spaces and herringbone parquet in the bedrooms. Soft neutral walls allow the architecture and materials to take precedence, while curved openings and recessed joinery introduce a gentler rhythm to the plan.

There are two bedrooms, both positioned towards the quieter front of the house. The principal bedroom is accompanied by a generous dressing room lined with fitted wardrobes, while the second has been given additional character through painted wall panelling.

The bathroom takes a more dramatic approach. Deep-toned walls frame a large walk-in wet area, where terrazzo-style surfaces wrap the floor and walls. A roof light sits directly above the bathing area, bringing natural light into what is otherwise an intentionally cocooning room.

Outside, the rear garden is deliberately low maintenance, with a broad paved terrace extending from the living space. At the far end is a substantial detached outbuilding, fully insulated, soundproofed and supplied with power. Currently arranged as a workspace and gym, it lends itself equally well to use as a studio, music room or home office.

A separate small garage, fitted with an electric roller door, provides valuable secure storage for bicycles, tools, surfboards and the inevitable equipment that comes with life by the coast.

The result is a house that feels considerably larger and more architectural than its modest frontage suggests. Its strongest moments are found at the rear, where volume, natural light, timber and stone come together in a space designed as much for everyday life as for entertaining.

The house sits in Cliftonville, a short walk from the coastline and the tidal pool at Walpole Bay. The neighbourhood has developed a distinct identity of its own, with independent cafés, restaurants, shops and creative spaces woven between its Victorian streets. Margate’s Old Town, Turner Contemporary and the main sands are all within easy reach, while Margate station provides direct rail services to London St Pancras.

For a house so close to the coast, there is a rare combination here: lateral living, genuinely impressive communal space, a garden, dedicated studio, secure storage and an interior that has been considered well beyond the purely functional.

Bungalow for sale in Margate, 59 Eastchurch Road, Cliftonville, Margate, CT9, 1465 m²