Tarranbrae

Inspired by a blend of modernism and Ottoman architecture, this one-bedroom apartment in Brondesbury Park is set on the first floor of the imposing Tarranbrae building. The building’s art deco history is complemented by the apartment’s striking aesthetic. Period details have been restored and installed with the antiquarian eye of Peter Twining, renowned for his irreverent mixing of eras and styles with signature flair. Creative use of colour and a combination of materials combine to form an apartment with a distinctive character. The apartment has a live-in caretaker, shared use of a communal garden, a private garage and off-street parking.

We’ve written about life here in more depth.

Setting the Scene

The Tarranbrae Building is streamlined in form, adhering to contemporary principles of architecture. Its triple-aspect design means that the smart brick façade can be admired from multiple viewpoints, with the mansard roof creating a strong horizontal axis. The white-framed casement windows reflect the surrounding greenery and match the white collonaded porches that decorate the multiple entries to the building.

The Grand Tour

The apartment occupies an enviable corner plot on the first floor, meaning it catches the light throughout the day. Entry is to a hall lined in glossy, sapphire blue tiles, indicating the eclectic interior design that runs throughout. A mirrored door leads to the dual-aspect sitting room, where large casement windows draw the eye across the space. The walls, ceiling and floor are all finished in the same shade of cream, creating a calm sense of cohesion and creating a backdrop for books or objects, which can fill the built-in shelves, adding the potential for colour and textural variety.

The kitchen echoes the entrance hall, with the same vibrant tiles evoking the riads of Marrakech. White fittings match the grouting and create ample storage, and a wide window allows swathes of light into the room.

In the bedroom, pale turquoise tiling surrounds the entrance, while small cream tiles in the rest of the room reflect light. An alcove framed by an ogee arch is currently used as an extra bookshelf but would make an excellent walk-in wardrobe. The decor of the room was inspired by the Ishtar gate, seen in a mirrored brass door to a separate nook, and the golden mosaics.

In the bathroom, small white tiles are complemented by marble flooring. A bath is surrounded by a similar Carrara marble, and sunlight filters through a shuttered window, creating an air of serenity.

The building also has a full-time caretaker.

The Great Outdoors

The building has a verdant communal garden. An extensive lawn is surrounded by mature trees creating dappled shade, while benches covered by a trellis offer quiet nooks for reading. Rose bushes add bursts of colour when they are in full bloom.

Out and About

Tarranbrae is perfectly located for the best that the neighbourhood has to offer. The High Road provides plenty of convenient shopping, as does Queen’s Park. Salusbury Road is home to a branch of Gail’s bakery, Planet Organic, Provenance Butchers, and both the Salusbury Wine Shop and The Salusbury Deli. A weekly farmer’s market is located at the primary school on the same road, while the popular Alice House and Salusbury Pub are recommended for food and drinks. The quiet and car-free Lonsdale Road offers further provisions from the likes of Bread Ahead bakery, coffee roasters Milk Beach and brewery/bar Wolfpack.

Tarranbrae’s setting in North London means that there are ample outdoor spaces nearby. Kilburn Grange Park is just a 10-minute stroll away, and a 15-minute walk leads to the historic Queen’s Park, with its tennis courts, playground and children’s petting zoo. Paddington Recreation Ground is also close by, with a running track where Roger Bannister (renowned for his four-minute mile) trained, tennis courts, a nature trail and a children’s play area.

The apartment is a short walk from Kilburn Underground station (Jubilee Line), Queen’s Park Underground station (Bakerloo Line) and Brondesbury Overground station. The A5 is close for easy routes to the North Circular and out of London.

Lease Length: approx. 975 years remaining
Service Charge: approx. £5,900 p/a
Ground Rent: approx. £170 p/a
Council Tax Band: C