Find out what moves Britain’s most liveable homes

High Sunderland, by Peter Womersley. Photography by Taran Wilkhu.

Fans of beautiful modernist real estate will be familiar with The Modern House. The curated estate agency brings together buyers and sellers of design-led British homes that embrace well-considered layouts, clean-lined furnishings, ‘honest’ materials and natural light – all the benchmarks of 21st-century modernity.

And aesthetes can’t get enough. Over 16 years the site has evolved into a symbol of good taste with its own design directory, e-shop, online magazine and visual shorthand.

Ferrum House, by John S. Bonnington. Photography by Dan Glasser.

Parliament Hill house, by Woollacott Gilmartin. Photography by Dan Glasser.

Brockley flat, by Cyndia Harvey. Photography by Elliot Sheppard.

Gin Distillery, by Open Practice Architecture. Photography by French &Tye.

Heron Cottage, by Sue Skeen. Photography by Jonathan Gooch.

London house, by 6a Architects. Photography by French & Tye.

Mountain View, by CAN. Photography by Elliot Sheppard.

Sartfell Retreat, by Foster Lomas Architects. Photography by Elliot Sheppard.

‘A Modern Way to Live: 5 Design Principles from The Modern House’ by Matt Gibberd is published via Penguin

Frankly, it’s a wonder co-founder Matt Gibberd has taken this long to publish a proper book of his favourite escapist properties. Better late than never.

Yet A Modern Way to Live is more than a picture book. Per its subtitle, Gibberd outlines the ‘5 Design Principles’ that link so many of the estate agent’s listings – and attract so many buyers – on the mother-site. The golden rules cover: how to maximise natural light, make use of neglected nooks, maintain an urban garden, add flourish to walls and create space.

Offering snippets from his clients’ lives alongside tantalising photography, Gibberd guides readers toward a timeless aesthetic and, ultimately, expert house-fluffing.

A Modern Way to Live: 5 Design Principles from The Modern House by Matt Gibberd is published via Penguin on 28 October 2021