Victorian terraced house filled with hidden gadgets goes on the market for £1.5m

A Victorian terraced house with hidden gadgets fit for a Bond villain has hit the market for £1.5million – with features including secret rooms, invisible speakers and concealed TV and cinema screens. 

Tech expert Richard Smythe purchased Hillside as a run-down B&B five years ago, but quickly turned it into a six-bedroom smart home in Lympstone, Devon. 

Mr Smythe, who runs a home automation business, decided to use all his knowledge to turn his property into an incredible show home for his business.

He had planned for the house in Lympstone, Devon, to be his ‘forever home’, but when a bigger plot nearby came on the market he decided to sell Hillside and attempt the next bigger project.

The house has four secret doors, two hidden television screens, a concealed cinema screen and a secret ladder to a loft room.

A smart-home innovator has transformed a run-down former B&B into a six-bedroom home that boasts secret rooms and hidden gadgets throughout in Lympstone, Devon

Perfect for entertaining room, a sitting room boasts a 65in television on the wall  - with a nearby button transforming the room into a home cinema, as the blinds shut and a screen comes down from above

Perfect for entertaining room, a sitting room boasts a 65in television on the wall  – with a nearby button transforming the room into a home cinema, as the blinds shut and a screen comes down from above

The smart home's configuration means blinds and curtains can close at the touch of a button, while security can also be controlled remotely. The Victorian property is currently on the market for £1.5million

The smart home’s configuration means blinds and curtains can close at the touch of a button, while security can also be controlled remotely. The Victorian property is currently on the market for £1.5million

Outside, the there pis a swimming pool, which can be covered in the winter, as well as an adjoining jacuzzi and seating areas to enjoy the south west summers

Outside, the there pis a swimming pool, which can be covered in the winter, as well as an adjoining jacuzzi and seating areas to enjoy the south west summers

It also has a smart home system throughout, meaning the curtains and blinds can be opened and closed at the flick of a switch, the house can locked or unlocked remotely and the irrigation system works out when the garden needs to be watered.

In the sitting room the television is hidden behind the Victorian panelled wall and in the dining room what appears to be a bookcase is actually a secret door into the double garage.

Above the garage is an air-conditioned home gym accessed via retractable stairs.

Mr Smythe added an extension to the back of the property to create a stunning open-plan kitchen/family room.

In the linking corridor the wall hides doors to a utility room and a shower room that are invisible when closed.

The house has enough hidden gadgets fit for a Bond villain, including secret rooms and a cinema screen that drops down. The home cinema is accessed via a cloakroom that connects the old part of the house with the new

The house has enough hidden gadgets fit for a Bond villain, including secret rooms and a cinema screen that drops down. The home cinema is accessed via a cloakroom that connects the old part of the house with the new 

A separate sitting room boasts another hidden feature - a television that emerges from behind the home's Victorian panelling. There are invisible speakers within the alcoves to offer complete surround sound

A separate sitting room boasts another hidden feature – a television that emerges from behind the home’s Victorian panelling. There are invisible speakers within the alcoves to offer complete surround sound

The six bedrooms have their own surprises too, includnig a television hidden behind a mirror. Hillside's current owner intended for the property to be his 'forever home', but when another plot nearby came on the market he decided to sell Hillside and attempt the next bigger project

The six bedrooms have their own surprises too, includnig a television hidden behind a mirror. Hillside’s current owner intended for the property to be his ‘forever home’, but when another plot nearby came on the market he decided to sell Hillside and attempt the next bigger project

The hidden television is concealed by original Victoria panelling. While neighbouring properties are historically-listed, the former bed and breakfast was not, giving the owner more licence to make his tech-laden refurbishments

The hidden television is concealed by original Victoria panelling. While neighbouring properties are historically-listed, the former bed and breakfast was not, giving the owner more licence to make his tech-laden refurbishments

There is a hidden dumb waiter, which allows the new owner to stack dirty plates in the kitchen and collect them in the utility room, and even the kitchen sink is hidden behind a cupboard door

There is a hidden dumb waiter, which allows the new owner to stack dirty plates in the kitchen and collect them in the utility room, and even the kitchen sink is hidden behind a cupboard door

In the dining room, what appears to be a bookcase is actually a secret door into the £1.5m Devon property's double garage

In the dining room, what appears to be a bookcase is actually a secret door into the £1.5m Devon property’s double garage

There is a hidden dumb waiter, which allows the new owner to stack dirty plates in the kitchen and collect them in the utility room, and even the kitchen sink is hidden behind a cupboard door.

Upstairs another TV is hidden behind the mirror in the main bedroom and a hidden cloakroom in the corridor linking the older part of the house and the new extension, which has the impressive cinema and games room.

On the second floor there is a ladder hidden in the wardrobe which leads to a secret loft room.

Outside the garden has a swimming pool, hot tub, garden fireplace and a trampoline, which is also hidden from view by sinking it into the ground.

Mr Smythe, 45, said: ‘When I bought it it was a bed and breakfast and was really rundown. I could see it needed some TLC but had potential.

‘My business is home automation so I work in some of the most beautiful houses in Europe and see all these ideas, so adding automation to this house was appealing.

‘I wanted to create a show home for what I do – the mechanisms for hidden televisions and invisible speakers.

‘It’s definitely a wow house. From the front it looks like an old Victorian house that you get rows of.

The house has four secret doors, two hidden television screens, a concealed cinema screen and a secret ladder to a loft room

The house has four secret doors, two hidden television screens, a concealed cinema screen and a secret ladder to a loft room

Hidden within the loft is a private gym, with space for an exercise bike, a rowing machine and other work-out equipment

Hidden within the loft is a private gym, with space for an exercise bike, a rowing machine and other work-out equipment 

As well as a lush dining room, a hidden cloakroom on the first floor corridor links the older part of the house and the new extension, which boasts the impressive cinema and games room

As well as a lush dining room, a hidden cloakroom on the first floor corridor links the older part of the house and the new extension, which boasts the impressive cinema and games room

The house has a new, open-plan, kitchen and family room

Hillside is currently on the market for £1.5million

The open-plan kitchen family room was an extension created by the house’s current owner, who has worked to fill the Victorian property with the latest space-saving technology, including a hidden dumb waiter 

The house's extension has created room for large bathrooms while also maintaining a large garden that can be enjoyed by all ages

The house’s extension has created room for large bathrooms while also maintaining a large garden that can be enjoyed by all ages 

Even the garden has its own fireplace, with plenty of space for entertaining at the luxurious, 200-year-old Devon home

 Even the garden has its own fireplace, with plenty of space for entertaining at the luxurious, 200-year-old Devon home

Outside the garden has a swimming pool, hot tub, garden fireplace and a trampoline, which is also hidden from view by sinking it into the ground

Outside the garden has a swimming pool, hot tub, garden fireplace and a trampoline, which is also hidden from view by sinking it into the ground

Outside the house, a built-in irrigation system works out when the garden needs to be watered, leaving more time to relax

Outside the house, a built-in irrigation system works out when the garden needs to be watered, leaving more time to relax 

The spacious garden has a swimming pool and hidden trampoline. After transforming the former bed and breakfast, tech expert Richard Smyth said: 'It's definitely a wow house'

The spacious garden has a swimming pool and hidden trampoline. After transforming the former bed and breakfast, tech expert Richard Smyth said: ‘It’s definitely a wow house’

‘In Lympstone it’s a conservation area and everything else around it is listed, but this one isn’t which gave us the opportunity to do a lot more with it.

‘My favourite elements are the hidden doors through the linked corridor to the utility room and wet room and the TV hidden in the sitting room.

‘It’s hidden behind the Victorian panelling and there’s invisible speakers either side of the alcoves but everyone wonders where the music is coming from.

‘People assume the TV is behind the mirror and the speakers are in the ceiling.

‘They also love the hidden cinema screen. There’s a 65in television on the wall but if you press the movie button the TV turns off, the screen comes down, the blinds shut and the cinema lights come on.’

The property is on the market with estate agents Wilkinson Grant, who are available to contact here