Wealden Times | WT175 | September 2016 | Education supplement inside

The question ‘What do Hersham in Surrey and Sydney
in Australia have in common?’ sounds like something
you might hear in a pub quiz. You may rack your
brains and remember that Hersham, not that long ago, was
listed by a national newspaper as being one of the top ten
places to live in the UK. You may also have an in-depth
knowledge of Sydney. But, unless you have been to Jenna
and Andrew Harfield’s home, you’re unlikely to guess.
The answer, hiding behind what appears to be the facade
of an ordinary suburban bungalow, is an ultra-modern refurb
with all the open-plan style and coolness you might expect
to find in a hip Sydney suburb – not a corner of Surrey.
“We bought this house without even seeing it,” says
Jenna, who moved back to the UK with her husband
Andrew from Australia last year, in search of a more
affordable family home. “We looked at a lot of similar
homes in Sydney, with a similar layout – but couldn’t
stretch to the $3 million price tag,” she says.
Previous pages: The generous open-plan living space was created
with a ground floor extension with a double ceiling height. The
floors are wood-effect ceramic tiles. The dining chairs are by
Lloyd Loom from No 44 in Cobham, where the dresser was also
found. The pendant lights are from Grace & Glory Home. Left:
Bi-fold doors open the entire back of the house onto the garden.
Below: The garden becomes an extension of the living area, with
a second dining table for al fresco meals. The sofas are from
Darlings of Chelsea
97 wealdentimes.co.uk