Grove Green Road, Leytonstone, London, E11

This outstanding three-bedroom Victorian house is a delight to the senses, featuring a cheerful and uplifting interior with an arty design scheme centred around bold contrasting patterns and numerous playful pops of colour, earning it features in Architectural Digest and The Times Magazine.

Throughout, you’ll discover charming period features such as high ceilings, exposed brickwork, period fireplaces, bay windows, and intricate ceiling mouldings. The heritage feel continues in the spacious modern kitchen and bathroom, matching period-appropriate fittings with contemporary comfort.

In the last five years, the property has been fully rewired, replumbed and renovated, with improvements including a new boiler, new carpets, and a new kitchen and bathroom. In addition, a large full-height loft offers potential to add a fourth bedroom and bathroom, subject to planning.

Completed by a conservatory with French doors onto a low-maintenance and private, southwest-facing garden, the house lies just a few minutes’ walk from excellent rail and bus connections and the ever-popular Francis Road.

As you arrive, you’ll find parking for one car on the open front patio. The columns and lintels surrounding the windows and entrance to the traditional London Stock brick exterior have been painted in a striking black to contrast with a candy-pink double front door with a numbered transom above, which opens into a useful enclosed porch.

STEP INSIDE

In the hallway beyond, bright red dado rails offset the crisp white walls and echo the red-and-white striped carpet flowing up the white-painted wooden staircase and onto the landing. Classical-style mouldings and a rose-crowned light accentuate the high ceiling, while exposed floorboards begin here before running through the double reception room to your left.

Here, distinct décor has been implemented to provide a clear division between the living spaces, which both feature ornate coving and detailing, including beautiful central roses supporting the light fittings. To the front, a canted bay window brings a fresh, bright feel to a lovely daytime lounge characterised by dado and picture rails and a cast-iron Victorian fireplace framed by an artistically painted mantelpiece.

Pass under the bold red walkthrough into the rear living room. With emerald green walls and matching alcove shelving flanking a Victorian fireplace with beautiful tiling and a point for a wall-mounted television above, it’s the perfect place to unwind in the evenings. It also works well for parties, as it links directly to the hallway and has full-height French doors to the garden.

Continue along the hallway to find access to a large storage basement that could easily be converted for use as a gym or home office. Step down into the spot-lit kitchen, brightened by a bay window with Venetian blinds above a square ceramic sink with brass tapware to match the cup handles. Wrapping around the grey tiled floor, you’ll find a good range of neutral panelled cabinetry with wooden tops and a glossy white metro-tiled splashback, bringing cottage charm to the space. There’s room for freestanding kitchen furniture or additional appliances on one side, while integrated appliances to remain include an oven and electric hob, dishwasher, washing machine and fridge.

More sunlight pours through the exposed archway leading past a downstairs lavatory and storage cupboard to the stone-built conservatory beyond. It’s currently set up as a warm and bright dining area enjoying a view over the southwest-facing garden through the double doors, with a striped canopy above keeping the atmosphere cool on sultry summer days. 

Upstairs, the split-level landing leads to three fitted with neutral carpets. Each has been decorated with a playful flair reflecting the overall design of the house. The primary double bedroom lies at the front, where the bay window illuminates ‘Summer Strawberries’ wallpaper by Sanderson. Dado rails and elegant coving add to the English countryside ambience, while integrated alcove drawers on either side of the bed offer practical storage.

The smaller of the three bedrooms fills the rest of the front. Painted in a bold red to complement the Cole & Son ‘Cabaret’ wallpaper, it’s an ideal dressing room, nursery, or home office space. Overlooking the garden from a large sash window, bedroom two is another good-sized double, this time finished above the dado rail in ‘L'Envol Fabric’ wallpaper by Manuel Canovas, which depicts delicately detailed balloons in a refined colour palette.

From the lower landing, you’ll discover a spacious, spot-lit bathroom facing the garden through another big sash with a fitted Venetian blind. Panelled walls and red-and-white striped feature wallpaper bring a touch of the Victorian seaside to the space, which works well with the chequered floor tiles and traditional-style tapware to a grey panelled bath with a handheld shower and a coordinating vanity basin unit.

A high-level toilet, a column radiator to match the heated towel rail, and a vintage double ball light continue the theme, while metro tiles add a stylish edge to the black-framed double rainfall shower enclosure. For storage, you have a large double cupboard and access to the loft via a hatch above.

OUTDOORS

Extending to a generous size, the southwest-facing rear garden offers an escape from urban life, enclosed by curved top fence panels and flourishing raised brick tree and shrub borders, including a mature magnolia. Other than the gravelled pathway leading to French doors in the rear living room, the garden is paved with tiles, creating a sun-trap lower al fresco dining area and a shaded upper terrace for relaxing.

A NOTE FROM THE OWNERS

‘I absolutely love this house! It's been lovingly restored, rewired, replumbed and renovated. This big, bright, airy house is full of period features and charm, and it's ready to move into, but also has room to add value if you'd like to add a big fourth bedroom and a bathroom in the full-height loft. The house has been featured in numerous advertising campaigns, music videos, and publications such as Architectural Digest and The Times Magazine. I have felt nothing but pure joy living here, and I hope the buyer will love it as much as I do!’

GETTING AROUND

With so much local transport, including plenty of bus routes stopping on the road, the house is extremely well-connected. Leyton Tube for the Central line and Leytonstone High Road Overground stations are a three- and 15-minute walk away, respectively, making it easy to get to Central London and Canary Wharf, Camden, Hackney and Hampstead. A short bus ride will also take you to the Olympic Park, Westfield Stratford and Walthamstow Village.

IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Heading into the neighbourhood, the local lifestyle is varied and full. The wonderful village scene on Francis Road is just a few minutes’ walk away with shops, bars and delis, including Marmelo Kitchen for coffee and fresh bread; Yardarm for lunch or dinner and a fantastic wine shop; Phlox bookstore; and Edie Rose florist.

Several great pubs are all within a short walk. Try the Red Lion, The Northcote (renowned for its amazing pizzas), Heathcote & Star (great for watching football, families and its beer garden) and The Filly Brook. You’re also close to the pubs, bars and cafés of Leytonstone’s High Road, including Homies on Donkeys (Mexican), Mum Likes Thai and The Birds. Other local favourites include Unity Café, Deeney’s and Figo (a great Italian restaurant with quick delivery and gluten-free options).

There are several local parks in the area, as well as good running routes through to Hackney Marshes, Wanstead Flats and Epping Forest. Long-time residents particularly recommend Sidmouth Park (nine minutes’ walk away and perfect for younger children) and Abbotts Park, with its fabulous adventure playground. For local walks, head to Hollow Ponds or Walthamstow Marshes and Wetlands, which are both nearby.

SCHOOLS

Also nearby are several well-performing local schools, including Newport Primary (Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ and nine minutes’ walk away), Norlington School and Sixth Form, and Connaught School for Girls. There are also numerous nurseries within easy reach.