Soccer Player Ben Chilwell's Home Brings California-Cool to Surrey, England

"Surrey, a home county southwest of London, has long been known for its bucolic surroundings and easy commuting distance into the city. But it is not where you might expect a 20-something English Premier League player to stake a claim for his forever home. You probably also wouldn't expect the home itself: an understated, lightly midcentury-modern house designed in a palette of sophisticated neutrals. Then again, perhaps Ben Chilwell isn't your average 20-something footballer either."

""It's nice to be outside of London, where it's a bit more cozy," he says of the area. "You're a lot more within nature here-you can go on walks. But you can also dip in and dip out when you want to go into the carnage, so to speak." Surrey is also close to the Chelsea F.C. training grounds, which, up until last month, was Chilwell's Premier League club team (he's now newly signed with French Ligue 1 team Strasbourg)."

""I remember driving through here at 12 or 13 years old and thinking, 'Oh, this is so motivational-this is the pinnacle of where I want to get in football," he says. "I want to play for Chelsea and I wanna live in this area because it's so beautiful." After signing with Chelsea, Chilwell spent a few years in a different house nearby before beginning a search for what he wanted to be his forever home."

Ben Chilwell selected a house in Surrey, embracing bucolic surroundings while retaining quick access to London. The home is understated, lightly midcentury-modern and finished in a palette of sophisticated neutrals. Chilwell grew up in London and preferred a cozy setting surrounded by nature where walks are easy but London remains accessible. Proximity to Chelsea F.C. training grounds was a major factor, offering a two-minute commute to preserve sleep. Surrey held childhood significance as a motivational ideal for his football ambitions. After signing with Chelsea, he lived nearby for a few years before searching for a forever home, finding a cream-colored stucco property after several viewings.

Read at Architectural Digest