New Beginnings: five homes for a fresh start
September feels like the start of a new chapter. After a heady period of summer fun, the back-to-reality feeling returns as sure as the seasons change. We look forward to the feeling of renewal that comes – no matter what age – at the beginning of the school year. For some, that will mean new stationery; for others, a new home. Whether you’re looking for a space to suit a new creative venture or simply want a clean slate, we’ve rounded up five homes for sale that will make for an inspiring fresh start.
Albion Grove, London N16
The white-painted walls throughout this impeccable two-bedroom apartment in Stoke Newington, north London, are the perfect blank canvas for someone in need of a reset. The home itself is Victorian, but in 1999, Barber Osgerby – Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, the design duo behind the 2012 London Olympic torch – gave it a thoughtful redesign. Plywood, for example, has been cleverly used to preserve and chime with original features, such as the pine floorboards and beautiful sash windows. Its location is also ideal: just around the corner is the characterful pub The Shakespeare – a favourite of long-standing locals – and the delightful bakery The Luminary, while the vast green space of Clissold Park is only a short stroll away.
Randolph Crescent, London W9
Not every home can claim to be truly transformable, but this two-bedroom apartment in Little Venice, west London, is far from conventional. Don’t be fooled by the traditional brickwork and chequerboard-tiled entrance; inside, the space has been cleverly reconfigured and refurbished via the imagination of Openstudio. Unlike your typical home, the interior and exterior walls do not touch and there’s a full-height, sliding teak door that separates the kitchen and living space, acting as a moveable wall. Whether you’re partial to open, free-flowing space or prefer to create cosy nooks, this is made for flexible living. And then there are the built-in bookshelves: fill with your favourite old friends and new discoveries to inspire your new chapter.
Penton, Carlisle, Cumbria
Artistic types in particular – whether you’re a musician, a writer, or an artist – benefit greatly from a change of scenery. And this home with a large studio is just the spot to get the creative juices flowing. The beautifully bright studio has generous floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the verdant greenery of the surrounding rural area of Cumbria, promising little distraction from your craft – or, for landscape artists, the perfect muse. It’s not the only room with a view: on the first floor, there are exceptional vistas of the nearby treetops, the countryside beyond, and on a clear day, the striking Scottish mountain ranges. The current owners have let us in on a secret: the moon rise and sunsets are particularly special here.
Basterfield House, Golden Lane Estate, London EC1
A clean slate doesn’t always call for clean walls. Sometimes, a home with a rejuvenating feel-good colour palette will do the trick. This Chamberlin, Powell & Bon-designed maisonette located in the Grade II-listed Golden Lane Estate, central London, will delight fans of brutalist architecture. The practice’s liking for colour is especially evident in the tomato-red panels on the exterior of the block. Inside, architect Martin Edwards has renovated the space, imbuing it with bursts of spirit-lifting buttercup yellow and teal blue. The contemporary material palette – concrete, sapele wood, stainless steel – is just as pleasing to pore over.
Motcombe, Gillingham, Dorset
With its sweeping circular ceilings that mirror the silhouette of a half-moon, this spectacular home is a true original. In need of an escape from city life? The house is in the lovely village of Motcombe, Dorset – which has traditional country pubs and green spaces aplenty – and its picture windows overlook the lush grounds, where oak, willow and maple trees flourish. The smart use of timber inside the home creates a harmonious relationship with the natural world outside. It might have dramatic pitched ceilings and a striking form, but the sense of calm – valuable, when embarking on a new adventure – that floods the space is utterly palpable.
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