Entrance is through a six-panel front door, set in a double recessed arch with a semi-circular fanlight. The door opens to the house’s private hallway, where there are views along the entire length of the house, through to the garden beyond, giving a wonderful sense of space and light.
To the right is the dual-aspect dining room and study area, which is a deep room spanning some 20 feet. From the rear, it overlooks the private garden. At the front, through a full-height roundhead box case sash window with shutters, it overlooks the verdant Paradise and Museum Gardens. Walls are painted in the moody
Farrow & Ball’s Mole’s Breath; a bullseye stone chimneypiece houses a gas fire in the cast-iron inset.
On the lower level is the spacious and wonderfully bright kitchen. A lowered floor allows for an excellent room height, and the lustre of the polished concrete resin underfoot reflects natural light through the space; it is warmed by underfloor heating.
A contemporary staircase with butt and bead panelling and fine brass balusters opens immediately to the kitchen. Here, Carrara marble rests atop the ‘Pantry Blue’ cupboards by
DeVol, which run along the perimeter of the room. There is a matching central island separate central island, and a glass-paned dresser spans one entire wall. The butler sink with an aged brass Ionian crosshead mixer tap is thoughtfully positioned below the window, overlooking the garden. A steel
Rangemaster stove is set into the hearth. Additionally, a utility and laundry area has been cleverly concealed in a cupboard below the staircase. There is a separate guest WC.
The first floor is home to the cosy sitting room and separate guest bedroom. In the sitting room there are weddings doors and bipartite six/six sash windows overlooking the London plane trees in the gardens below. A wood burner is set into a black marble bullseye chimneypiece with panelled cupboards and open shelves in the alcoves on either side. Although currently a reception room, it could also easily be configured as a third bedroom or study. The guest bedroom is set to the rear. Painted pale grey, it had a charming decorative cast-iron fireplace and slim fitted wardrobes.
The main bedroom is at the apex of the house on the uppermost floor. East-facing, it welcomes the morning light through its two sash windows. The cast-iron chimneypiece features decorative scrolls and Greek key detailing, with plentiful wardrobing set into alcoves on either side.
The adjacent spacious bathroom is immensely characterful with traditional sanitaryware, and chrome-plated brassware used to great effect. Beautiful hexagonal marble mosaic tiling runs underfoot, while classic Edwardian white tiles clad the walls and the separate shower enclosure. The shower features a large Perrin and Rowe rainfall showerhead and thermostatic valve with open shelves; the separate claw foot rolltop bath is from The
Cast Iron Bath Company and has floor-mounted mixer taps and a separate hand shower. The chimney stack has been exposed and lends great strength to the room; the walls are painted deep blue and match the bath.
The Great Outdoors
The courtyard garden has been beautifully landscaped and acts as an additional outdoor room during warmer months – perfect for entertaining or alfresco lunches.
Leading through single-plate glass French doors from the ground floor hallway, slabs of warm-toned sandstone have been laid in a traditional stretcher bond pattern. Raised beds in contemporary pale grey concrete contain beautiful ferns and, at the rear, bamboo. There is a built-in seating area with Western red cedar benches formed around a concrete square-set table and a separate barbeque area positioned to one side.
Lighting has been carefully conceived to create a wonderful low-light ambience at nighttime, while the garden is something of a suntrap between midday and around mid-afternoon.
Out and About
Bethnal Green is one of the most established east London neighbourhoods, and Paradise Row lies at its heart. The area has an exciting mix of traditional pubs and cafes, such as
E. Pellicci,
Tayyabs and
The Approach Tavern, as well as a new wave of bars and restaurants, including
Brawn,
RedchurchBrewery and, on Paradise Row itself, Mother Kelly’s and
Sager & Wilde.
Common E2 is just around the corner for coffee, while the lauded
Laughing Heart and
Marksman pubs are within walking distance. The area is home to many design and architecture practices as well as great small commercial galleries, including
Maureen Paley,
Modern Art, and
Herald St.
Broadway Market and Columbia Road Flower Market are within easy walking distance of Paradise Row. Slightly further afield is Brick Lane and Shoreditch, while an enjoyable walk along Regent’s Canal leads to Victoria Park and Haggerston Park. There are numerous small local parks, including Museum Gardens and Bethnal Green Gardens. The V&A
Museum of Childhood is just opposite, as is York Hall Leisure Centre.
Paradise Row is a 30-second walk from Bethnal Green Underground Station (Central Line) and less than five minutes from Cambridge Heath Overground Station. There are excellent bus links to Hackney, Canary Wharf and central London.
Council Tax Band: F
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