Crafting a dream home by the sea: the story behind a modern coastal escape in Southwold

How creative vision, careful design and a love of coastal living came together to shape Southwold’s most striking modern home - now on the market

Ellie Pryor

01 December 2025

3 mins read

Crafting a dream home by the sea: the story behind a modern coastal escape in Southwold

“In a way, Southwold is quite like Marks & Spencer,” quips Steve Sharp, who has lived in the East Suffolk seaside town for more than two decades. “There’s something special about them both that people fall in love with, and they have a certain quality that is aspirational but not pretentious.”

If anyone would know, it’s Steve. He once led the beloved British brand’s marketing, overseeing some of its most iconic campaigns. That creative background also proved invaluable when he took on another labour of love: rebuilding his Southwold home, tucked away in a picturesque, private setting yet only a short walk from its sandy beach and lively town centre. “At work, I’m surrounded by creatives, and you take a big idea but support it with immense detail,” he says. “Detail and authenticity are incredibly important to me, and I’d like to think I built that into the house.”

A search for sea and space

Twenty-five years ago Steve was living in North London. “It was becoming a pressure pot, and I felt I needed somewhere by the sea,” he recalls. “Southwold was a place I’d seen on the map but never visited. So I booked a cottage for a week, brought my two-year-old daughter, wandered around town, sat on the beach - and then went straight to an estate agent and offered on a house that day.”

Confident in the location and wanting to futureproof the home for his family, he set about creating their dream property, rebuilding the house which was completed in 2007. “I sketched out the design on the backs of envelopes, and then worked with two architects - one local who understood how to blend in with the area, and a London-based firm for the interior.”

A home designed to evolve

From the outset, it was important that the house could adapt over time. In 2022, the ground floor underwent a substantial update. Today, the result is a spacious yet welcoming home extending to 6,500 sq ft. “I’m a fan of the architect John Pawson, known for his minimalism, but the house needed warmth as well, which can be challenging to achieve,” says Steve. “As an artist, my wife Kate was instrumental in the aesthetic.”

8-10 bedroom house for sale in Mill Lane, Southwold, Suffolk IP18

8-10 bedroom house for sale in Mill Lane, Southwold, Suffolk IP18. Guide price £3,950,000

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A dramatic three-storey-high entrance hall sets the tone, flooding the interiors with natural light. With multiple spaces ideal for entertaining, highlights include a state-of-the-art kitchen by Nicholas Anthony - recently shortlisted for the International Design and Architecture Awards 2025 - and an 18-metre indoor heated pool, which opens via panoramic sliding doors straight onto the garden for seamless indoor-outdoor living.

One of Steve’s favourite areas is the studio, a versatile creative space used by both him and Kate, which also functions as a self-contained unit with its own bathroom and kitchenette, perfect for guests or multi-generational living.

Designed to celebrate its setting

Every detail has been considered to reflect the home’s beautiful location. “When the sun moves throughout the house it takes on a different character,” he says. “Particularly in the hall, where we’ve positioned pieces of art that become illuminated as the light tracks through.”

What Steve says he will miss most is the setting: wonderfully private behind its gated entrance, yet just a couple of minutes’ walk from the beach. “We have a beach hut, and the best time to go is early morning,” he says. “And in high summer, when the town is busy, you can come back to the house and it’s completely peaceful. You can enjoy a barbecue on the terrace…it’s just beautiful.”

Why Southwold remains one of Suffolk’s most sought-after spots

For Georgie Veale, Knight Frank’s Head of East Anglia Sales, Southwold’s blend of traditional elegance and vibrant community spirit makes it one of the most desirable locations on the Suffolk coast. “Its iconic pier, pastel beach huts, and sweeping sandy shoreline create an idyllic backdrop for coastal living, while the town itself offers a delightful mix of independent boutiques, cafés, and the renowned Adnams Brewery,” she says.

Beach huts in Southwold, Suffolk © Gary Yeowell

“With excellent walks, restaurants and pubs, Southwold is as much about lifestyle as location. For those seeking a home that promises fresh sea air, a strong sense of community, and easy access to both countryside and coast, it’s a destination that truly delivers.”

A new chapter begins

It's an area Steve is reluctant to leave behind. Their next adventure is taking them to Kate’s homeland of New Zealand, while they hope to find a smaller Southwold home to divide their time. “I think I’ve got another adventure in me,” he says. “So if you like, the house has given me permission to move on.”