Sefton Park
"The pared back interior has a distinctly Scandinavian influence - calm and quiet with an understated charm." The Modern House
On a quiet, tree-lined street, this apartment spans the entire ground floor of a Victorian house. The private, enclosed garden at the back has been planted for all the senses - with a border of lavender, rosemary lining the terrace and a fragrant wall of honeysuckle climbing to one side. I carefully renovated the apartment, brought back all its the original features from 1895 (including the Bath stone facade of the whole building) and, inspired by Haussmannian apartments in Paris, opened it up to let in as much light as possible. Inside, the solid wooden floorboards have been exposed and lime-bleached for a lighter Scandinavian tone, and a restored fireplace at the heart of the living space.
The interior has been guided by the scale of the high ceilings and led by the use of natural tones and materials. The kitchen is curated from a number of antique units that I have collected around the West Country. These include a freestanding 18th Century, oak dresser in the middle of the room within which sits a copper sink from Morocco. Either side of the cooker are two beautiful, antique, hardwood dressers. This makes the kitchen absolutely unique, fully sustainable and immediately homely and lived-in.
The entire space has been curated to the finest detail, including the discreet light switches, the copper and brass antique door handles and the pendant light from Copenhagen.
The structural remodelling of the apartment has been designed by the most incredible friend - Paul Cannon of 3|10 studio.
Sefton Park apartment was featured in The Times and House & Garden as one the best homes on the market, as well as in The Modern House.
You can see the ‘before’ pictures of the apartment here.
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Crystal Palace
The Grade-II listed Crystal Palace Park is a few steps away from this apartment. It was the grand entry hall of this imposing Victorian townhouse dating to 1865, with its original cast iron decorative elements, tall ceilings and the carefully restored tiled floor that made me fall in love with the house right away.
Flooded with light with all south-facing windows, featuring stained glass elements and original wooden shutters, very large garden and a sun-lit balcony accessed by floor-to-ceiling French doors.
The kitchen has been lovingly curated from unique collectible antique pieces from English country homes including a freestanding George III oak dresser and a grand, handcrafted stone sink.
Behind an original lime-bleached Victorian door I’ve created a custom, built-in storage that is discreetly tucked away. This has allowed for the area off the corridor to become a separate study (not on the pictures).
The bathroom which is accessed through a Victorian door with original stained glass panels has been finished with handmade Fired Earth terracotta tiles and features underfloor heating.
The entire flat has been renovated and decorated using natural and sustainable materials. The master bedroom has been decorated using sustainable Edward Bulmer paint and enjoys high ceilings and flooring made from coconut husk fibres softened in sea water.
The garden is well-tended, nurtured with love and care. Fruit trees, including cherry, pear, and apple, and the raspberry bush, blossom in the spring. The fragrances and aromas of the herbal border with lavender, rosemary, mint, sage, lemon balm and bay laurel permeate the garden, providing a sense of calm and tranquility. Tulips and daffodils add bright splashes of colour and the sweet scent of jasmine in bloom carries all the way to the apartment.
In 2022 Crystal Palace has been named the best place to live in London by The Sunday Times.
You can see the ‘before’ pictures of the apartment here.