This immaculate two-bedroom house has been impeccably renovated by the current owner in collaboration with the architect TDesign. Positioned on Lavender Grove, one of the finest residential streets near London Fields, the house has been finished to the highest standard throughout. The interiors masterfully pair original details with sympathetic contemporary interventions to create a light, bright home that is at once welcoming and serene. A sizeable secluded garden extends behind the house, with a studio at one end shaded by a mature ash tree. Lavender Grove is perfectly positioned: London Fields, Broadway Market, Colombia Road and Victoria Park are all within easy reach.

The Tour

Lavender Grove is a beautiful street lined with Victorian terraced houses. This house has a traditional facade of London stock brick, seamlessly blending in with those of its neighbours to create a visually harmonious setting that belies the contemporary nature of the interventions within. It is set behind railings painted a deep green inspired by the colour they were at the time of construction, around 1850, that shield a charming front garden. This has been carefully planted with lavender and agapanthus, with handsome original flagstones paving the way to the appropriately-coloured lavender front door. This opens to a generous hallway where a Victorian pendant lamp hangs centrally and original cornicing extends around the ceiling.

At the front of the plan lies the living room, where an expansive sash window welcomes light in from the south and frames views over the front garden. The original pine floorboards have been stained to create a wonderfully warm tone, with reclaimed floorboards introduced where necessary. Little Greene‘s ‘Obsidian Green’ coats the walls and built-in cupboards and bookshelves to near-ceiling height. There are two working fireplaces with handsome marble mantles, one of which has an ornate tiled surround, the other with cast iron. An office space is tucked away in the rear corner, with a built-in desk and open shelves above; radiators have been neatly hidden below.

Full-height shutter doors open this room to the open-plan kitchen and dining area, creating a wonderful sense of flow between the spaces. This rear extension has been realised to an impeccable standard; characterised by sheets of glazing that extend across the ceiling and down to form the rear wall, it is a brilliantly bright space perfectly suited to entertaining. Plugs and sockets throughout are by Buster & Punch. The glass is by FineLine, while the walls are a smart combination of ply, exposed brick and white-painted sections, establishing a considered material palette that is at once pared-back and textured.

The materials of the kitchen contribute to this textured palette, with a stainless steel island and worktops, ply-fronted cabinetry, a glazed green tiled-splashback and a concrete section above that has been carefully washed to create a subtle blue-grey hue. The T-shaped cabinet handles are bespoke, positioned at alternating vertical and horizontal angles to create a sense of movement; there are no handles on the table-side of the island, giving it an almost sculptural appearance. Appliances are high spec throughout and include a boiling and filtered water tap, a Smeg gas hob and Luxair extractor fan, two Neff ovens and warming drawer. Underfloor heating runs below large porcelain floor tiles, which extend to the sliding glazed doors that open to the garden. The same flooring has been laid outside, visually and materially connecting the two spaces.

The kitchen door leads back to the hallway, where grey-painted stairs with their original bannister ascend to the half-landing, flooded with natural light from the skylight above. A beautifully renovated bathroom is accessed from here. Monochrome geometric floor tiles, with underfloor heating, unfold beneath walls papered in Cole & Son‘s ‘Nuvolette’ design, with a monochromatic cloud pattern chosen specifically to work in harmony with the clouds that float overhead, framed by a large skylight. There is an expansive walk-in shower, as well as a curved bath and a rectangular double sink by Lusso Stone. Storage takes the form of open shelving, bespoke mirrored cabinetry and a full-height cupboard tucked behind the door; a combination of strip and spot lighting has been neatly hidden in the ceiling. The room is illuminated by a large window that overlooks the green sedum roof of the kitchen extension below.

The first floor is home to two double bedrooms. The main bedroom lies at the front of the plan and is flooded with light by two original sash windows, which have been double-glazed to ensure a peaceful sleeping environment. A soft sisal carpet covers the floor, while the walls are painted in Little Greene‘s calming shade of ‘French Grey’. The cornicing has been painstakingly made to match the original design. At the rear of the plan is a second bedroom, with an original cast-iron fireplace providing a smart focal point. Floorboards have been painted white, in harmony with the white panelling behind the bed, the slightly unfinished texture of the latter matching that of the built-in wardrobe. A built-in desk is positioned in one corner, next to an original sash window overlooking the garden; two Anglepoise sconces cast light over the space. There is also a useful loft space on this floor, accessible via a permanent retractable ladder. The loft is fully boarded providing further useful storage space.

As well as loft storage above the bedrooms, there is also a generous cellar, which is accessed via the front hallway. Original open-tread stairs descend to the sizable space, which is currently used as a utility and storage room, with fitted shelves, a WC and Belfast sink; the same green tiles as the kitchen splashback continue here. As well as plumbing for a washing machine and tumble dryer, there is a heated towel rail for drying clothes. The original brick walls have been repointed with lime mortar and limewashed to ensure maximum breathability. The original paving stones remain, harking back to the home’s Victorian origins.

At the far end of the garden is a studio, clad in pre-weathered larch that effortlessly blends in with its natural surroundings. Designed by Hutsmith, the studio has WiFi connectivity and electrical sockets so would work excellently as an office space, although its versatile nature ensures it would suit a variety of uses. A full-height window frames views over the garden beyond, with a sliding exterior barn door covering this when required. The interior walls are made of birch ply, which extends to the gently pitched roof.

Outdoor Space

A beautifully tended garden extends behind the house, with the same tiles used in the kitchen paving the front section to create a seamless sense of flow between indoors and out. Gravel paths wind from here to the studio, pond and garden shed at the far end, framed by carefully planted borders home to lilac, hibiscus, honeysuckle and rosemary, amongst other mature plants and bushes. The front section is secluded, surrounded by brick walls, with a contemporary concrete and wooden bench ideal for soaking up the evening sun. Climbing jasmine and white roses create a scented, verdant backdrop. Several mature trees provide year-round interest, including a Snowy Mespilus blossom tree, while agapanthus dots the floor below. A mature ash tree sits peacefully in the far corner, and light streams through its branches to create a beautifully dappled shade over this section of the garden.

A side passageway runs along the side of the house providing useful external access from the front garden.

The Area

Lavender Grove is excellently located in central Hackney, just to the west of the popular London Fields and bustling Mare Street, and close to the green spaces of Victoria Park and the Regent’s Canal path.

There are many fantastic restaurants locally, notably Lardo on Richmond Road, the renowned Angelina’s on Dalston Lane, Elliot’s and Bright on Mare Street, and Pidgin and Violet on Wilton Way. Weekly markets take place at Victoria Park and Well Street, and Broadway Market has a reputation for some excellent places to eat and drink; it also hosts a food market on Saturdays. The E5 Bakehouse, on the edge of London Fields, is excellent for freshly baked artisan bread and grains, and nearby Netil Market is a thriving hub of restaurants, breweries and coffee roasters.

Haggerston and Dalston Junction Overground are equidistant and run direct services to Stratford and Highbury & Islington. Bethnal Green Underground station, easily accessible by bus, has excellent links to central London via the Central Line.

Council Tax Band: E

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.