Home improvements & building · Ovingdean
Thoughtful interiors for your Ovingdean home.
Ovingdean’s historic buildings reveal a rich range of materials in a small area: flint at St Wulfran’s, mathematical tiles at Ovingdean Hall and successive alterations at the Grange. They make a useful starting point for looking closely at the building you have. Based in Brighton and Hove, INTEGRAL welcomes Ovingdean kitchen, bathroom and tiling enquiries, with the individual room guiding the work.
What should you learn from the existing building first?
Ovingdean Grange combines seventeenth-century work with an eighteenth-century range and a west front altered around 1835. Your home may have its own sequence of changes, even if they are much more recent. Gather drawings and photographs, note changes in floor level and identify details you want to retain. These observations help frame the brief and establish which parts of the existing construction need assessment before a new arrangement is developed.
Choose a calm relationship between materials
St Wulfran’s flint and stone dressings and the Hall’s yellow mathematical tiles show different ways of bringing texture to a building. Indoors, start with the finishes that will remain and compare new samples alongside them. A contemporary kitchen need not reproduce an older style to sit comfortably in its setting. Consider cabinet proportions, worktop edges and the height of a tiled splashback together, using measured dimensions and the room’s actual light.
Make the concealed details part of the brief
A bathroom’s final appearance depends on more than its fittings. Establish the likely plumbing routes, ventilation requirements and access for maintenance alongside storage and comfortable movement. Where a new tiled floor meets a retained landing, record the threshold and door clearance. If the property has a relevant designation, include that information early and check the requirements for the proposed work with the appropriate authority as the design develops.
Need help sourcing materials?
If you haven’t yet sourced your materials, or would like help choosing products and finishes, we work hand in hand with our sister company, Old Bank Kitchens, to help you find the right options for your project.
Local information and useful reading
Background on Ovingdean and resources to help you explore the area. Requirements for any work depend on the individual property and should be checked with the relevant authority.
A sense of place
Three local points of interest.
Landmarks and historical connections in and around Ovingdean.
St Wulfran’s Church
The flint church has an early twelfth-century nave and chancel, a later medieval tower and subsequent additions, forming a layered historic focal point.
Ovingdean Hall
Built around 1782 for Nathaniel Kemp, the Hall is distinguished by yellow mathematical tiles, a central pediment and a Doric entrance porch.
Ovingdean Grange
The house records several building phases, from seventeenth-century work to a west front altered around 1835, using flint, brick, render, slate and tile.
On the map
Find Ovingdean.
The map is centred on the location, to help you explore its setting and surrounding communities.
Location map · INTEGRAL is based in Brighton & Hove. If the map does not load, use the Google Maps link above.
Before we begin
Planning work in Ovingdean?
Every project starts with a conversation.
Can we discuss a contemporary interior in an older Ovingdean home?
Yes. Share the features you wish to retain, photographs and any designation information. The design can be explored around the building’s actual proportions and relevant property requirements.
Should an existing floor be included in the first enquiry?
Yes. Photograph the floor and its junctions with adjoining rooms. Mention any known earlier work, as floor levels and door clearances can affect the proposed finish.
Let’s begin
Bring your Ovingdean building and brief together.
Tell us what you value in the existing rooms and what needs to change. Include the postcode and photographs to begin the discussion.