The Year’s Finest: the best homes of 2019
We’ve sold a vast swathe of homes this
year, from modernist masterpieces to classic London lofts and even an imposing
19th-century tower renovation. Our spaces are a diverse collection covering the
contemporary through to the historic, all championing a modern design
sensibility and thoughtful consideration of elements like materials, space and
curation. Here, we run through the best homes of 2019, as selected by you in
order of most-viewed.
1. Fitzroy Park, London N6
A stunning 6,200 sq ft space, this remarkable and sprawling house rises up through its surrounding landscaped gardens. Described by the Architects’ Journal as having a “beguilingly cave-like relationship to the outside world”, it is a bold vision of contemporary architecture in which the natural world has been thoroughly entwined with the design.
Recline by the pool, listen to the
artificial stream winding its way through the gardens, meander across the
footbridge: this home was conceived for those long, dreamy summer days.
2. Edinburgh Road, Musselburgh, East Lothian
We’ve spent much time gazing at this coastal home, as much as you have, it would seem. This house on Edinburgh Road is a place where life slows down and the days stretch out before you. Built into the rugged stone of an existing sea wall, the house takes full advantage of its shore-facing position with a six-metre-long picture window focusing on dramatic views. It was justly longlisted for RIBA’s House of the Year in 2017.
“Everybody who comes in just goes ‘Wow’,” said
Archie and Tricia MacDonald when we visited them for our Open House series. “It
is spectacular and ever-changing. The tide goes in and out and just sitting
here watching it when it’s high, with waves lapping around right outside or
when it’s out half a mile away is mesmerising. You could sit and watch it for
hours.”
3. Gattis Wharf, New Wharf Road, London N1
Sitting on the banks of Regent’s Canal is this quintessentially classic 19th-century Victorian warehouse. It was originally built in the late 1850s by Swiss/Italian entrepreneur Carlo Gatti to store tonnes of ice, which were then delivered across London on carts. With a raised mezzanine platform, exposed brickwork, a pitched roof and oak eaves, this is modern city living at its finest.
4. St Stephen’s Yard, Chepstow Road, London W2
Who wouldn’t love their own private mews? And, offering just that, it’s not hard to see why St Stephen’s Yard was such a hit this year. Once a set of stables, followed by a series of design studios, the building’s latest incarnation is a design-led, light-filled space with bespoke details. Running almost the length of the house is an internal cobblestoned courtyard brimming with plant life – a remarkable addition that has us never wanting to leave.
5. The Coach House, Queen Anne Road, London E9
Delicate, pared-back design is at the core of this home. Tongue and groove panelling frames the kitchen and dining room, accenting the use of raw materials like exposed wooden ceiling joists and oak surfaces. We like the use of the sash windows and skylights, making for an airy, light space that has been curated to complementary effect.
6. Malahax, Ely, Cambridgshire
An impressive structure by the celebrated architect Jonathan Ellis-Miller, Malahax is formed of two steel-frame buildings, joined by external decking. The experimental space is punctuated by full-height glazing, which highlights the expansive landscape of the surrounding Cambridgeshire Fenlands.
Our attention was particularly caught
by the remarkable modular layout. Augmented by internal walls formed of sliding
doors and partitions, this flexible living area caters for every occasion.
7. Martello Tower Y, Bawdsey, Suffolk
This 19th-century tower conversion is the thing of child-like fantasy. Described as “one of the most original and soul-stirring modern homes in Britain” by The Guardian’s architecture critic Jonathan Glancey, it has an imposing and transcendent quality to it.
The roof extension provides breathtaking 360 degree views out to the Suffolk coastline and farmland. We were struck by its grand stature, an arresting image set against the windswept landscape.
8. Bressingham II, Norfolk
This contemporary barn conversion recently won the RIBA Suffolk 2019 Design Award. It emulates the site’s previous incarnation as an agricultural building with a clean and simple form clad in black corrugated steel with large picture windows throughout. The skylight above the mezzanine office space is particularly innovative, creating a secluded bolthole floating above the rest of the space.
9. Gloucester Terrace, London W2
This bijou flat forms part of Gloucester Terrace, an impressive avenue of white-stucco mansions north of Bayswater. A luxuriously elegant apartment designed by architects Weather and Pattern, the space has been fitted-out with glazed bi-fold doors, floor-to-ceiling windows and bare-plaster walls.
We like the intricate ceiling roses and
cornicing, which reference the heritage of the building and surrounding
vernacular.
10. Trimingham, Norfolk
The Garden House was thoughtfully designed in reference to the traditional cottages of the area. This dynamic space caught our attention thanks to its ability to open fully to the surrounding gardens, looking out onto the unspoilt woodland beyond. Set back from a country road along a private drive, Muntjac deer and barn owls can often be sighted in this tranquil setting.
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