Mona Road, London, SE15

A considered set of interventions has transformed this two-bedroom Victorian house in Peckham, south-east London. At the rear, an extension has carved out a bright, resolutely contemporary kitchen with strong connections to the enchanting garden. Almost equidistant from Queens Road Peckham and Nunhead stations, the house is well-placed for travel into central London, although there are plenty of beautiful green spaces and celebrated restaurants to choose from in the locale.

The Tour

Mona Road is a quiet residential street lined with a terrace of smart Victorian homes. Set back behind a low wall, this house is picked out in a light-blue colour, a light counterpoint to its dark front door and chequerboard-tiled pathway. Original features grace its frontage, from two-over-two sash windows to a smart doorcase.

Entry is to a hallway with space to hang coats. On the left is a double reception room, divided between a sitting area and a dining room. Sage green adorns the walls up to the picture rail, pairing elegantly with engineered oak underfoot. The living room is anchored by a reclaimed cast-iron fireplace and lit by a shuttered sash window.

An open doorway in the dining area guides towards the kitchen, a bright, largely white-painted space housed in the extension. The finishes here are wonderful: white cabinets with integrated appliances, including twin ovens and an induction hob, sit alongside a deep-cut picture window, its large sill offering up a place to sit and admire the garden. There is an island with an overhang for stools in the centre of the room, and a door to the outside at the far end.

Upstairs, there are two bedrooms, both fitted with tactile sisal carpets. The principal is especially generous and has storage on opposite sides, as well as twin sash windows. A reclaimed cast-iron fireplace here sits in contrast to the serene soft blue-painted walls.

The second bedroom, picked out in a powder-pink colour, has views of the garden and a pretty white fireplace. Both rooms are served by a brilliant bathroom, with white-painted walls, and plywood joinery. It has both a bathtub (perfectly placed between a garden-facing window) and a walk-in shower.

Outdoor Space

Billowing mature trees and shrubs line the periphery of the outdoor space at the rear of the house, lending it a secret garden-like feel. Paved, it has plenty of space for a large dining table. In the spring and summer, colour is bestowed by the likes of scented rambling roses, jasmine and peonies.

The Area

Peckham is an incredibly popular area of south-east London due to its independent restaurants, bars and cafés. Local favourites Forza Wine, Levan, Artusiand Jumbi. Larger establishments such as Frank’srooftop bar, Peckham Levels and the Bussey Building attract crowds from across the city.

Nunhead is to the south and has a village-like feel, with a greengrocer, a fishmonger, a deli, a café, and a community centre by AOC architects. Local favourites include Good Cup for coffee, El Vermut, Dinnerforonehundred, Mother Superior for wines/artisanal nibbles, and Alkemi for beautiful handmade gifts. There is also a great selection of pubs, including the Old Nun’s Head, Skehans, and The Earl of Derby.

Mona Road's position in south-east London means that the likes of New Cross and Brockley are also within easy reach. The former is home to Goldsmiths University, while the latter has a range of bars and restaurants.

There are plenty of green spaces nearby, including Nunhead Cemetery (one of London's 'Magnificent Seven'), Telegraph Hill Lower and Upper parks and, slightly further afield, Peckham Rye.

Several state-run schools are within walking distance of the house, including John Donne Primary School and St Thomas the Apostle College.

Queens Road Peckham station is a 10-minute walk from the house and runs the Windrush line (Overground), and provides access to London Bridge in around 8-minutes. Nunhead station is even closer, an eight-minute walk south, this provides services to London Victoria in around 16 minutes and London Blackfriars in around 18 minutes. There are plenty of bus routes connecting across both south and central London.

Council Tax Band: D