A grand Victorian home has gone viral for hiding a quirky secret behind its elegant façade inspired by supermodel and actress Cara Delevingne.
Julie Williams, an IT consultant from Birkdale, installed a ball pit in an upstairs room of her seven-bedroom Merseyside home, after taking inspiration from Delevingne’s famously eccentric Los Angeles mansion.
‘You can never be sad in a ball pit,’ said Williams, explaining her motivation. ‘No one really thinks about the idea of putting a ball pit in their own house.’
The unusual addition is cleverly tucked away beside a flight of stairs on the first floor, where it functions as a colourful play area – or an unexpected retreat for adults in need of a mood boost.
‘If the new owners want to keep it… it’s been built in, it makes sense,’ she added.
There are 11,300 plastic balls in the pit and it is enjoyed by children and adults alike, according to Williams.
She was inspired by Delevingne’s now-sold LA property, a surrealist playground described by Architectural Digest as ‘St-Tropez meets Coney Island meets Cotswolds cottage meets Monte Carlo meets butch leather bar.’
Among its many talking points were a costume room, trampolines, a mirrored-ceiling party bunker, a David Bowie-themed bathroom – and, of course, the now-iconic ball pit.
‘If I’m having a bad day, I just hop in the ball pit,’ Delevingne once said. ‘You can’t really cry in a ball pit.’
And while Birkdale may be a far cry from Hollywood Hills, the influence of Delevingne’s whimsical aesthetic lives on at Priory Gardens.
Located in a secluded, leafy cul-de-sac just moments from the heart of Birkdale village, the striking property is brimming with character.
Built in the gardens of the original Priory in 1896, the four-storey home sits behind a private gated driveway and offers over 4,500 sq ft of versatile living space.
At basement level, there’s a generous footprint including a utility room, boiler room, WC, and ample cellar storage.
The ground floor boasts an impressive hallway, multiple reception rooms, a bespoke kitchen and breakfast room, a charming sun room, and a terrace overlooking the garden.
Upstairs, the first floor houses the master bedroom – complete with vestibule and, of course, the famed ball pit – alongside a large family bathroom and two further double bedrooms, one with an en suite.
The top floor offers four more bedrooms and a shower room, making it ideal for large families or guests.
Described by the agents as ‘a peaceful retreat yet close to the buzz of a bustling village,’ the home blends period charm with bold personal touches.
