The beauty of this refurbished family home in Brixton, south-west London
The red-brick exterior, with its ornate detailing and black-and-white chequerboard tiles leading to the front door, sets the tone of this Victorian home, where there are period features aplenty. Upon entering, guests are greeted by the hallway’s vibrant mosaic floor, for instance, in playful shades of orange, blue and yellow. It’s a joy to look at, but it also hints at what’s in store. (Spoiler alert: plenty of colour and character.)
The living room, for example, has sunny yellow walls, gold cornicing and black-painted floorboards – a scheme completed by the current owner’s collection of antique furniture and worldly objects. Then there’s the garden room, with its bare-brick walls and original tiled floor. With a seamless connection to the outdoors, it’s a wonderful space to work in or to read the newspaper over coffee. And then there’s the sun-soaked kitchen, brought right up to date with underfloor heating, walnut cabinetry, terrazzo surfaces and large skylights. The stars of the show here, however, are the Crittall-style doors, which provide glorious views out to the garden.
And speaking of the spectacular slice of outdoor space, we love this lush and leafy pocket, full of tropical plants, such as banana, palm and fern trees, as well as magnolias and lilies. Just think of the hosting opportunities here – not least the tiled patio, reached via floor-to-ceiling glazed doors from the garden room and the kitchen, which simply calls for alfresco dining. We’re already dreaming of the glorious garden parties that could be held here – and we reckon there’s a good chance you are too.
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