Words Clara Baldock
Photography Rachel Ferriman, James Tarry

“No one knows this place exists and it’s very unexpected when you first see it,” says Max, a music supervisor. “Walking down Peckham Rye there’s a gate that conceals the house. Once open, you suddenly lay eyes on a fusion of plants, brick and glass shining in the sun – it’s so attractive.”

Upon discovering the three-storey house eight years ago, Max, then in his 20s, was drawn to its relative seclusion, along with its open plan ground floor in which he could envision hosting friends without disturbing neighbours. Situated down a gated cul-de-sac, the former Victorian bakery underwent a year of renovations to become a dramatic synthesis of old and new; the roof extension, designed by Ivo Carew Architects in 2018, is clad in sleek glazing that frames the traditional brick chimney and offers near panoramic views.

Max shares The Bakehouse with his partner Chloe McDonald who runs the online antiques emporium Scene by Chloe and has injected pops of colour into the neutral palette with her vintage finds. Warm accents of pine that recur throughout the house are juxtaposed with cooler tones from limestone stonework and the large, industrial steel front door, adding to the contemporary and minimal aesthetic.

Max Beattie: “When looking for a house to buy in Peckham, I was keen on finding somewhere unique; something that looked and felt a bit different. I was young, single and quite contrarian, so I wanted a place that fitted my life situation. This house ticked all the boxes.

“Having bought the house in 2017, I spent a year renovating it. It was essentially a two-storey cuboid with a ground floor patio that I raised up to become a roof terrace. Below I carved out a dining room area and built a set of stairs leading up to the terrace that can be accessed without entering the house.

“I asked my friend and architect Ivo Carew to design the upper floor extension for which he suggested a glass top inspired by the Tate Modern. It’s amazing because it almost blends into the sky, reflecting its blues, greys and pinks. A lot of bespoke materials were required for the project; there are large panels of opaque and clear glass the whole way around. But when you’re up there, you feel quite hidden because we have privacy blinds on the windows. It’s become our master bedroom but it’s also where I work because it’s lovely and bright, and I have a long bespoke desk there looking out over the view.

“While the space feels modern, I wanted to keep some of the historical features such as the traditional wooden shutters in the first floor bedroom and the chimney furnace from when the building was a bakery.

“The ground floor space, which catches the afternoon light, is all open plan while still feeling cosy. It’s composed of three equal-sized squares that make up the kitchen, living area and dining room. The kitchen is really spacious – which is great as I love to cook – with granite counters that still look as good as new."

Chloe McDonald: “The space is well proportioned – I’m really hot on feng shui. It means we can be doing different things, like working in the dining room and cooking, and yet still enjoy each other’s company.

“The downstairs lends itself so well to hosting a lot of people, it is the perfect after-party house. Max can put his DJ decks out on the kitchen worktop, and as there are no neighbours, there are no noise complaints."

Max: “The roof terrace is also great for barbecues. It looks west so you get the evening summer sun. Amanda Grimes at Spark Gardens helped with the design when I first moved in, adding built-in plant pots, olive trees and a trellis for jasmine.”

Chloe: “I’m an antiques dealer so I put whatever I have in stock in the house – it’s a constantly changing art gallery. I collect quite eclectic and joyful pieces sourced from fairs in the south of France, Italy and Spain. I hung a Chinese tapestry on the bedroom wall to soften the space, and added a set of vintage Roche Bobois metal chairs that I reupholstered myself in a pink-striped Colours of Arley fabric. I’ve also just started manufacturing flower-shaped tables and currently have a couple in the house.

“I like the pine panelling throughout, which hides all manners of things, but I also love that the house is a blank canvas on which you can add your own personal touch. It’s well-suited for a creative type because there are so many big empty walls that need covering in art."

Max: “One of the things I’ll miss most about the house is how private it is. You’re right by a busy road but you can’t hear it. No one walks past the living room window, but even if they do, they can’t see in so it is always quiet and serene.”

Chloe: “It is the perfect location – we are just minutes from the thick of it and so don’t really travel outside of our neighbourhood because we have everything we need here. There’s a yoga studio, the brilliant Peckham Carboot and the cinema all nearby. There are so many good bars and restaurants too, like the natural wine bar The Sourcing Table and the famous Frank’s rooftop bar, which is just a ten minute walk away."

Max: "We love the area so much that we’re not looking to move very far away, but we do want somewhere a bit more residential for the next stage of our lives.” 

Chloe: “We'd tell the next owners to enjoy the area as much as they can – and to make sure they throw some really great parties!”