Settle, Harrow Road, London NW10

This two-bedroom with a private garden is located in the heart of Kensal Green. It is a part of Settle, a building collaboratively formed by design-led developers Artform, interior designers Scenesmith and award-winning architectural practice GPAD. Located on the ground floor, the apartment's organising principle is a fluid boundary between inside and out, with the warm hues of the red-brick façade thoughtfully echoed in the interior's tactile material palette.

The Building

Settle presents a wonderfully expressive façade to the street. Formed of red brickwork with extensive sections of glazing, ground-floor planters and arched entrances and window frames, it is at once contemporary and in keeping with its Victorian? neighbours. There is a seamlessness between inside and out, with external materials deftly and creatively introduced to the internal plan. Here, Scenesmith has created sweeping, playful interiors that draw on the arched apertures of the building’s façade, including curved walls, architraves and internal fittings.

The Tour

A door off the smart communal lobby opens into an internal hall, where engineered oak flooring starts and flows throughout the apartment.

The main room is placed centrally and is divided between dedicated zones for cooking, relaxing and eating, with walls finished in refined polished plaster. A living area is organised on one side, with a clearly defined seating area beside banks of bespoke cabinetry. The dining area is opposite, next to a pair of framed glass doors that open to the private garden.

The kitchen is at the rear of the room, with black and white terrazzo countertops and light green units. Above is more cabinetry, this time with a matt black finish and gently rounded corners. Appliances from Bosch have been neatly integrated.

The main bedroom is double aspect and placed to the rear. A set of black framed doors to the side of the room open to the garden, and a bank of windows look out to the rear section of this private outdoor space. The walls here have also been finished with soothing polished plaster that contrasts beautifully with black built-in wardrobes. An opulent en suite serves the room, grounded by chalky pink mottled terrazzo tiles and with rich red walls and black sanitaryware. Behind the sink is an arched mirror, with a walk-in shower adjacent. A second double bedroom is at the front of the plan, also with built-in wardrobes.

The main bathroom lies off the internal corridor, with large panel ceramic tiles underfoot, olive green walls and a bath. A frosted window lets in light while ensuring privacy.

A useful store/utility cupboard completes the plan and is neatly tucked behind a set of dusty pink double doors.

Outdoor Space

The private garden occupies the external space between the open-plan main room and the principal bedroom. Laid with grey flagstones, it is bounded by black timber fencing to the side and rear and has plenty of space for al fresco dining and lounge seating. Jasmine, camellia and hydrangea have been planted in pots by the current owners and bring a wonderful colour and sweet scent to the space.

The Area

Originally agricultural land until the mid-19th century, Kensal Green and its sub-district Kensal Rise are now characterised by charming Victorian terraces and wonderful eateries. Chamberlayne Road is within easy reach, with its fine selection of independent cafés, restaurants, delis, pubs and shops – including a butcher, greengrocer, specialist bakery and one of London’s finest florists. Local favourites include Sacre Cuore pizzeria, indie cinema The Lexi and Retrouvius for design lovers.

Settle is brilliantly located just a 15-minute walk from Queen’s Park and close to the Grade I-listed, 72-acre open space of Kensal Green Cemetery. It’s also only a few minutes from the northern end of Ladbroke Grove and the Grand Union Canal towpath. Stretching 137 miles from London to Birmingham, the Grand Union Canal is the longest canal route in England, and a slice of it runs directly through Kensal Green. The Paddington arm winds through west London, a natural walkway filled with greenery.

The nearest underground station is Kensal Green (around five minutes’ walk), which runs both Bakerloo Line and London Overground services. Further Overground services run from Kensal Rise and Willesden Junction station (both a 13-minute walk away), with connections to Highbury & Islington in one direction and Richmond in the other. The area is well served by a wide range of bus services into central London and elsewhere.

Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: Approx. 124 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx. £2,000 per annum
Ground Rent: Peppercorn