The Bakehouse, London E8

A former bakery, this ingenious two-bedroom detached house is tucked away on a peaceful cobbled mews near Hackney Central station and London Fields. It was transformed in 2017 by Spaced Out architects and has been designed to suit multiple configurations, with sliding doors and split-level spaces cleverly harnessing its original proportions. There are number of brilliant parks and places to eat near by - not least some of east London's best present-day patisseries.

The Tour

Built in the late 1800s, the house sits along a characterful cobbled mews, accessed through secure gates. Its front door is painted a vibrant blue (a colour repeated motif-like inside) and opens directly onto cloakroom area with plenty of space for coats and shoes. A short flight of steps descends to the main living space on the lower-ground floor, partly separated by a slatted wall at the front that allows natural to light to pour in.

Grounded by dark-stained pine floorboards, the living spaces feel particularly inviting and embracing. The kitchen sits at the rear, configured in a U-shape and topped with dark granite countertops. It has plenty of open shelving and a window that looks out to the street above. There is underfloor heating on this level and also in the bathrooms.

A spiral staircase ascends to the upper floors, where a glazed-brick wall allows further light to permeate deep into the plan. Two bedrooms lead from a central corridor, with plywood-framed doorways that cleverly mirror one another.

Currently configured as a second living space, the main bedroom lies at the front of the plan and has an en suite shower room. Partly split-level, the floor above can be reached via a ladder; sliding doors below open to convert the room to a mezzanine. There are built-in shelves above, making this the perfect spot to read. The second bedroom also has an en suite as well as plenty of built-in cabinetry and exposed brick walls.

An inventive use of space characterises the top floor. Set within the pitch of the roof, two separate mezzanines, partly enclosed with smooth plywood, are connected via a central corridor. An exposed brick backdrop on both sides harks back to building's origins. Skylights offer glimpses above.

There are secure bike sheds on the mews.

The Area

The house is perfectly positioned for the best of London Fields, Wilton Way, Mare Street and Hackney Central. There are many fantastic restaurants locally, notably Lardo, Little Duck | The Picklery, Elliot’s, Miga and Sesta. Violet Cakes and Pophams are both within easy walking distance, as is Hackney Downs Park and Victoria Park.

London Fields has a heated lido and tennis courts. E5 Bakehouse, on the edge of London Fields, is excellent for freshly baked artisan bread, while nearby Netil Market is a thriving hub of restaurants, breweries and coffee roasters.

Hackney Central Station is just around the corner and runs direct services to Stratford and Highbury and Islington on the London Overground. London Fields and Hackney Downs offer direct trains to Liverpool Street. Dalston Junction station (15 minutes' walk away) provides routes into Highbury and Islington, Shoreditch High Street and Liverpool Street.

Council Tax Band: C / Service charge: Approx. £616 per annum