As residents of London, we can quite confidently say that one of our favourite things about the capital is Regent’s Canal. The waterway runs from lovely Little Venice in the west to the industrial landscape of Limehouse in the east and is brimming with delightful stops and lush scenery along the way (our walking tour highlights the very best bits). Today, we’re making a beeline for Union Wharf in Islington, ideally situated in between Angel and Haggerston. It’s the location of this pleasing blue- and glass-brick warehouse – complete with a playful porthole window – that’s been converted into a three-storey home.
The owner, an architect at TPM studio, is responsible for the building’s remarkable refurbishment. The entire home is immaculate, with a pared-back palette of oak and concrete, and minimal decoration throughout. The open-plan kitchen, dining and living area lie across the ground floor, which has private access to the canal’s towpath. The stairway, beautifully designed so that one walks past the glass of the façade, leads to the three bedrooms – one of which is currently in use as a study – on the second level.
But the real gem of this home is that roof terrace. The architect has built a sunroom up there, defined by elegant polished concrete floors, exposed timber beams and glazed walls. In keeping with the rest of the house, its interior is stripped back and simply furnished – although we can imagine filling this space with leafy plants and cacti that thrive in sunlight. With sliding glass doors that open on to the large terrace, it has plenty of potential for summer soirees is hard to beat. And while the views during the day are spectacular but come evening, with a sun downer in hand, they might just be even better.