Spaces

ST PAULS MEWS

19th August 2014

Every so often I spot a property that, even though it’s under offer or, as in this case, has already sold, is so great looking that I need to feature it. Because for everyone’s that’s looking at property with the aim of buying a new house or flat, there are even more people looking purely for design inspiration.

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And this contemporary townhouse on the cobbled St Pauls Mews in London’s NW1 is absolutely packed with inspiration. This terrace of classically inspired townhouses was built in the late 1980s to a design by the renowned architects CZWG, although this property has since been completely refurbished by the current owner working with architect Tony Michael. The garage was converted into a cinema room, while the rear of the ground level has an office space where folding doors open up the entire wall into the garden. Now that’s a home office.

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The first floor is given over to an open plan kitchen, dining and living room, and an external spiral staircase leads down from this level to the garden. This floor level is the space that makes this house for me, from the exposed brick detailing to the grey-washed timber floorboards and the super-sleek putty-toned kitchen cabinetry. I love the slightly rustic touches, like the dining table and the open shelving, and how this contrasts with the contemporary elements, including the trio of Tom Dixon Beat Lights suspended over the table, and the cantilevered open tread staircase – looking fantastic against the brick.

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Head upstairs and you’ll find the master suite, which extends over two floors, with the bedroom on the mezzanine level within the newly converted loft, and with a pretty staggering double-height dressing area and an open plan bathroom. Again, there’s much to admire here in the contrasts of materials and the sleek detailing. This has to be one of the most impactful master suites I’ve seen.

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Little wonder then that this house has sold. And while few of us get to live in a home like this, there are plenty of ideas to inspire. For me, the highlight is the mix of materials, and the fact that a restrained palette can be dramatic when you add in interesting textures rather than colour. Aside from which, on a personal note, this house makes me long for an exposed brick wall somewhere. One day…

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St Pauls Mews was marketed by The Modern House. Photography supplied by The Modern House.