Montague Road, London E8

This bright maisonette is situated on a leafy road between London Fields, Dalston and Hackney Downs. Deftly reimagined by Foreign Bear Studio, its internal footprint encompasses two bedrooms and generous living spaces. At the rear is a beautiful private garden with neatly planted beds, fragrant wisteria and roses. For transport across London, Dalston Kingsland, Dalston Junction and Hackney Downs stations are all within a 12-minute walk and run the Mildmay, Windrush and Weaver lines respectively.

The Tour

At the front of the house, a raised bed filled with pretty red roses is positioned to shield the building from the peaceful residential street. A private entrance on the lower-ground floor unfolds into a hallway painted in a calming shade of taupe, with black and white geometric tiles underfoot. Gracefully aged, the treads of a Victorian wooden staircase and its original bannister ascend to the first floor.

At the top of the stairs is a sleek galley kitchen with concrete floor tiles. Smart white cabinetry provides plenty of storage and is topped with grey Corian worktops and a marble splashback. There are two built-in ovens and a separate hob, along with an integrated fridge/freezer. The space can comfortably accommodate a dining table. A large picture window overlooks the garden below.

From here, a hallway with wooden floorboards leads to a double reception room, characterised by soaring ceilings and bay windows with original pine shutters at each end. Crittall-style glass doors delineate the two sections of the room while retaining lines of sight. The front room, with a depth-amplifying navy-blue wall and a large original fireplace, makes for an ideal living room; the adjacent space has a smaller fireplace and is apt for use as a study or playroom.

There are two bedrooms on the lower-ground floor. The principal is at the front and has a bay window dressed with its original pine shutters. Black timber parquet runs underfoot and cleverly positioned foliage creates privacy. The second bedroom has yellow panelling and a shuttered sash window that faces out to the garden.

A large bathroom sits adjacent to the second bedroom and has striking tiled floor, a roll-top bath, a walk-in shower and twin marble sinks. French doors painted in a navy hue open to the garden and welcome in plenty of natural light.

Outdoor Space

A large and private garden unfolds at the rear; trees and shrubbery along its periphery lend a feel of remove. Neatly planted beds work in tandem with wisteria and roses to fill the outdoors with scent, colour and texture. There is also a decked area near the building - an ideal space for outdoor dining.

The Area

The greenery of Hackney Downs, London Fields (with its heated lido) and Clissold Park are all close at hand, while the wilder open spaces of Hackney and Walthamstow Marshes are only slightly further afield. The wonderful Dalston Curve Garden, positioned on the site of a disused railway line, is a haven for flowers and wildlife.

This part of east London is well known for its exciting food scene. Especially close is the wonderful Casa Fofo, along with the likes of Oren, Mangal II, Violet, Uchi, Mambow and Lucky and Joy. Kingsland Road is home to a number of excellent establishments including Japanese restaurant/music venue Brilliant Corners and a second branch of Soho favourite Three Sheets.

There are a number of schools in the area, including primaries Queensbridge and Rotherfield, and Mossbourne Parkside Academy.

Transport options are especially good: Dalston Kingsland (Mildmay line), Dalston Junction (Windrush line) and Hackney Downs (Weaver line) are all within 12 minutes' walk of the maisonette and run services from north to south and east to west.

Tenure: Share of Freehold / Lease Length: Approx. 999 years remaining / Service Charge: Approx. £800 per annum / Council Tax Band: C