The glorious natural light and neutral tones of a home in Finsbury Park, north London
Queen’s Road, the address of the apartment in question, is a particularly enviable north London location. It’s within walking distance to both Finsbury Park underground, from which the Victoria line will zip you to the capital’s heart in a hot minute, and Stoke Newington Church Street, a quaint strip of independent shops, restaurants and cafes favoured by locals. It’s no wonder William Paul Architecture sought the chance to transform one of its beautiful period buildings into contemporary living spaces. The one we’re touring today lies on the ground floor and has three bedrooms (any of which could easily be converted into a study), an open-plan living and kitchen area and a large lush garden.
With pale, engineered-oak floorboards, a slick kitchen and gentle tones that run throughout, creating a calming sense of cohesion, the interiors could easily belong to a new build – in the very best way. But it’s the glass ceiling above the living area that really brings this place up to date. Natural light pours in beautifully – particularly on a sunny day: thanks to the oak beams that support the glass, a series of striped shadows fall across the walls and floor, bringing an exquisite graphic punch to an otherwise muted backdrop. The sliding glazed doors, which stretch from floor to ceiling, and wall to wall, provide ample light too, as well as wonderful views of the garden.
Speaking of which, the outdoor space gets plenty of magical light too. Step outside on a bright day and you’ll find dappled light that dancing across the concrete patio. It’s a wonderfully uplifting spot; a pretty pocket of peace in a corner of London known for its buzzing culinary scene, bustling parks and traditional boozers. The current set up, featuring Toogood chairs that look as good here as they do in the main living space, is one we greatly admire: curling up here with a book and a coffee on a quiet morning, or with a tipple at the end of a working day, is something we very much like the sound of.
RELATED ON THE MODERN HOUSE
Listing of the Week: a Norfolk beauty that ushers the natural world in
A family home in Hackney, lovingly tended inside and out
Zen and the art of mindset maintenance in a former warehouse in east London
A duo’s dramatic warehouse conversion hidden in west London
Inside two carbon-negative zero-waste homes in Walthamstow
Skye’s the limit at this home in a serene settlement in the Scottish Highlands
An apartment with star quality in a converted recording studio in west London
A mid-century marvel in Stafford that stands the test of time
A hotel with staying power overlooking the Atlantic in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland
A mid-century gem among the treetops on the Dulwich Estate in Crystal Palace