IN THE PINK

Seabreeze is a delightful new home directly backing on to the sea at Camber Sands, East Sussex – a cleverly designed home that has been created with the beautiful views in mind. Caesarstone’s 4043 Primordia surface was chosen to create synergy between the outdoors and in, and has been used throughout the kitchen, as well as on the fireplace and downstairs corner windowsill.

Seabreeze, built overlooking the sand dunes of Camber Sands, was designed by RX Architects of Rye. Their vision was to create a place that embodied the joy of the English seaside, whilst still being robust enough to withstand the extreme coastal weather conditions. Their final design aligned nicely with neighbouring properties but manifested simplicity which, alongside the joyful pink exterior, helped conjure up a home reminiscent of the typical British seaside beach hut.

Getting the interior right was just as important as the exterior and includes two double bedrooms, a mini spa, and open plan living accommodation. Each room was designed with the beautiful views in mind, as well as the designers’ wish to harmonise with the seaside surroundings. The understanding that sand and salt can be very damaging elements to any property meant that durability was a key consideration when choosing the materials within.

RX Architects collaborated with Portrait Kitchens to create a cohesive open-plan area comprising a kitchen, dining and living space. As the home is intended for family beach weekends it was important that this space, in particular, was a fun and social area in which families could gather to cook, eat, play and relax.

The kitchen aesthetic was an important part of the design as Mitchell Burton, owner and founder of Portrait Kitchens, explains: “We wanted to create a warm feel to the room, so we used cabinetry with a fumed Eucalyptus veneer to provide warm, natural tones. The horizontal surfaces such as the worktops and floor needed to be durable, tactile and work with the sandy conditions typical of having a house on the beach.”

Caesarstone’s Primordia was chosen for the L-shaped worktop, allowing for plenty of surface space for serving and food preparation. Using the same surface to fully clad the 1810 sink ensured the final look was seamless. When asked why Caesarstone was the material of choice, Mitchell had the following to say: “We love the quality of Caesarstone’s materials. Their durability made them the perfect choice for a busy family space, and they o er a great mix of industrial feel and natural looking finishes throughout their range.”

It was important that the surface chosen had cohesion with the overall scheme and tied in nicely with the beautiful vistas just beyond the windows and doors. “Primordia really stood out to us,” Mitchell explains. “Nothing else in the market has the same look, feel or quality. The grey base colour, flecked and veined with rusty reds and light yellows, all reflect the stones and sand of the beach outside the home, bringing these natural elements into the space. Primordia is such a tactile surface and works in all of the various areas of the space we needed to use it - kitchen worktops, kitchen backsplash, cladding under the fire and TV unit, and the windowsill.”

Like all Caesarstone’s surfaces, Primordia is highly durable and created with longevity in mind. As such, it is heat resistant, scratch resistant, hygienic, and low maintenance, making it an ideal choice for busy family homes across a multitude of locations.

However, whilst the final project is something of a unique beauty, building it wasn’t without its challenges – the main one being the location. The house, having been built right on Camber Sands, has no access to any roads or footpaths and as such, every material used in this project had to be brought in from the main beach car park by digger and trailer, which of course added a layer of complexity to the project. Despite the challenges, though, a stunning coastal home has been created.