Centrally yet privately positioned in the cultural seaside town of Aldeburgh, Elmbank is an exceptional holiday rental property in every respect, as Laura Scamponi discovered.

A house rescued from the brink of dereliction. That is how you might describe Elmbank in Aldeburgh, a beautiful four-bedroom holiday rental property with superb views over the Alde Estuary, which since 1995 has been the much-loved second home of Barry and Sarah Zins.

Built in 1897 - by two sisters it is thought - this is a seaside dwelling of prestigious provenance, having once been in the ownership of the titled Clayton family - second cousins of the late Queen Mother.

When Barry and Sarah first laid eyes on Elmbank it was a very different property to the sympathetically and elegantly restored house you will find today.

‘Barry spotted a small advert in the London Evening Standard,’ begins Sarah, recalling how they first came across Elmbank. ‘It had been on the market for a very long time and required a lot of work as the previous owners hadn’t done anything to it in the 50 years they were there.’

‘According to the surveyor and builders it had about another five years before it would have fallen down,’ adds Barry, sorting through a pile of photographs which depict the extent of the transformation that the house has undergone.

Although guided by an architect, Barry and Sarah had a clear vision for the restoration of Elmbank and their approach to its architectural resurrection was very hands-on.

‘We spent a summer in the house, cleaning it and doing various other jobs and the whole thing evolved from there,’ continues Sarah. ‘At first we were just planning a kitchen extension but we ended up doing a great deal more,’ she smiles.

The property was eventually extended by one third and the couple’s labour of love involved everything from removing the cladding that once covered its dolls’ house pink and blue exterior to replacing all but four of the original Victorian windows in order to flood it with a magnificent amount of light.

‘What we really ended up with was a modern building on an old soleplate,’ continues Barry, whose native New England provided the inspiration for the unique north-facing porch that has also been constructed at the rear.

‘There were aspects of the interior that we considered putting back - such as the 1920s plywood panelling on the interior walls, which gave the house a wonderful honeycomb glow - but in that case it proved far too difficult,’ he continues.

With the major structural works complete, Barry and Sarah turned their attention to Elmbank’s interior - ‘a paint box’ as they call it, owing to the diversity of style, theme and colour to be found in each room.

‘Having dado rails enabled us to play with colour, such as the contrasting dark green and pink Farrow and Ball paint used in the dining room,’ explains Sarah. ‘Our architect was also keen on the idea of an axis of light, so you’ll notice that many of the doors leading from the hall are aligned with the side windows.’

This approach to the décor, coupled with carefully-chosen flooring, art, lighting and furnishings (down to the exquisite Pozzi Ginori sanitary ware in the master bedroom en-suite) make Elmbank a truly exceptional property to rent; it comes as little surprise to discover that many past guests have wanted to return time and time again.

Despite being modern and luxurious in one respect Elmbank also feels decidedly distinguished and made more beautiful by age. Discovering more about its contents adds to your enjoyment, particularly as Barry and Sarah have so many interesting stories to recount.

‘We bought the Moroccan rug in the master bedroom during our honeymoon and used that as the basis for the rich colour scheme in that room,’ discloses Sarah, who also tells me that Elmbank’s front door originally came from her father’s old offices in the City of London.

Then there is the marvellous anecdote about the ‘grudge’ trees, so called because the previous owners planted large trees to block the view of the house-on-stilts opposite. ‘When we moved in we cut the trees down and the lady who lived in the house was so delighted that she cut her trees down to give us a view of the lighthouse,’ explains Sarah.

Even the garden table - which incorporates a 150-year-old stained glass roundel Barry bought in London - has a story behind it, having been crafted by renowned local foundry J. T. Pegg and Sons (the same firm responsible for Maggi Hambling’s Scallop sculpture on Aldeburgh beach.)

On the subject of art, there is an interesting mix adorning Elmbank’s elegant walls. Like the family photos dotted around, this adds another very personal dimension to the property.

I ask about the abstract canvas in the entrance hall, which caught my eye as soon as I entered. This, it transpires, is one of many in the house by the couple’s London-based artist friend Adrian Hemming. ‘That canvas is the first one Adrian did in that particular style - and it was inspired by the Aurora Australis - so it has a lot of energy and creativity about it,’ says Barry.

Elsewhere there are Mediterranean scenes by Adrian, as well as various pieces by East Anglian artists and some with American origins, including the lovely pictures in the office/playroom by much-decorated children’s author and illustrator Marisabina Russo.

So impassioned are Barry and Sarah about their delightful house and the town in which it is ensconced, we could happily talk all day. ‘My parents bought a house in Knodishall when I was 18 months old so I’ve been coming to the Suffolk coast forever,’ says Sarah.

Barry is equally as enchanted with this part of the world and loves the fact that despite standing in such a private and peaceful location, Elmbank is just a two-minute walk from Aldeburgh’s beach, restaurants and shops - and wonderfully convenient for the local golf courses.
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Another noteworthy feature of the property is its delightful garden and terrace - the setting for many a happy family gathering with Barry and Sarah’s seven-year-old daughter - which is unique in being extremely private. ‘We changed the main entrance from Park Road to Lee Road in order to create a more private, south-facing garden,’ says Sarah.

More to the point, this house blends so seamlessly into the outdoors that even when the rain is pouring down, you can sit on the covered porch - glass of wine in hand - and reflect on how very lucky you are to be spending a holiday here.

Elmbank in Aldeburgh, which can sleep eight people in two double and two twin bedrooms, is available to rent through www.suffolkcottageholidays.com. Tel: 01394 412304. Prices start from £900 per week in low season.