Barons Court Road, London W14

This refined two-bedroom apartment occupies the top two floors of a townhouse set within a conservation area in west London. The home represents a significant reframing of a purpose-built Victorian maisonette; renovation works, led by architect Carl Trenfield, have carefully drawn out the original structure, introduced measured additions, and formed a new layer of character drawn from the area’s artistic history. Over several years, the design has evolved through close observation, incremental decisions, and a growing sense of place. The apartment is ideally located, with West Kensington Underground station just a three-minute walk away, and Barons Court station under four minutes.



Barons Court Road lies within an area deeply shaped by the legacy of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the Arts and Crafts movement, with figures like Sir Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris once living and working close by.



The Tour



Entry to the apartment is on the first floor, where a hallway leads up a dogleg staircase to a broad primary landing. From the outset, a richness in detail and finish is immediately apparent. The first bathroom is on the half landing. Sapele timber runs across the walls to a half-height datum, enrobing a Japanese-style soaker bathtub and folding to form subtle shelving. Brushed steel tapware provides a refreshing counterpoint to the warm auburn tones of the cork flooring and timber cladding.



The kitchen is a lesson in the careful balance of light and dark, texture and detail. Bespoke joinery cloaks one wall, framing the large sash window and concealing a sink area, fridge freezer, and a dishwasher. An AEG integrated hob and oven are set into the recycled plastic worktop from Smile Plastics. The dining table, created to fit the proportions of the space, utilises the same materials. The Victorian lath of the dividing wall has been exposed and encased between panels of semi-transparent, textural prismatic polycarbonate, allowing light to travel from room to room. The original architectural rhythm of the lath has been demarcated by strips of sapele.



The framework is reversed in the living room, where the interventions take on a judiciously pared-back approach. The focus is on the high ceilings, patinated floorboards, and modest fireplace. Closer inspection reveals contemporary pargeting, an abstracted petal shape which also nods, with quiet humour, to the propeller and a former neighbour, the pioneering aviation engineer Sir Geoffrey de Havilland. Throughout the apartment, bespoke door knobs are set into polished brass rim latches.



A bedroom/study completes the second floor, fitted with a bespoke desk.



The staircase winds up to the top floor, missing spindles replaced with smooth sapele. The second landing is set beneath a grand ceiling, stained a deep walnut tone and imprinted with a series of motifs with a nod to the area's close ties to the pioneers of the Pre-Raphaelite and Arts and Crafts movements.



The design pulls back from complete renovation, reinstating echoes of the original home that are visible in changes in texture; a curved datum winds around the staircase, demarcated by a subtle contrast in paint finish, and old doorways are picked out in a rough texture.



There are two bedrooms on this floor. The primary bedroom is at the front of the plan and is lit by twin sash windows. A bank of wardrobes runs across one wall, terminated by a sapele book end. It enables a shift in plan to address an adjacent window, with the mirrored surface acting as both optical illusion and dedicated area for dressing. In the second bedroom, a timber headboard supports a small desk/bedside table, and newly installed hardwood wainscoting reflects the building's original details. Original built-in storage sits on either side of the chimney breast, the fireplace at its centre finished with 1930s tiles.



A twin of the bathroom downstairs, the shower room is bathed in light. The same rhythm and material palette is carried through in the timber panelling that wraps around the walls. Grey mist plastic panels form the shower enclosure, its transparent texture appearing paper-like against the bright window.



The Area



Barons Court Road lies between West Kensington and Barons Court, brilliantly positioned for public transport and access to a wide range of shops, restaurants and schools.



The area offers dining options for virtually every taste. The Curtains Up is a neighbourhood pub-theatre loved for its flavour-packed dishes and an excellent selection of fine ales and craft beers. Opposite there is a café, Popins, good for coffee or brunch. One of the oldest buildings in the area, The Pear Tree is a traditional pub with inviting fireplaces and a secluded garden. The rightfully venerated Harwood Arms is within easy reach in Fulham, and its menus celebrate the best of British produce with a focus on game. A short stroll west toward the River Thames leads to the Michelin-starred River Café, one of London’s most celebrated dining destinations.



Covering around 56 acres, the iconic Holland Park is the borough’s largest park and encompasses a semi-wild section of woodland to the north, a central section with formal gardens, and areas dedicated to sport and exercise to the south. At the southern edge of the park is the Design Museum, with an exciting programme of exhibitions, workshops and talks exploring the ever-evolving landscape of design. Hyde Park is also within walking distance, as is the river path.



The area has brilliant schooling options, including St James Preparatory School, Avonmore Primary School, Kensington Primary Academy and the École Française de Londres Jacques Prévert. For secondary education, Sacred Heart High School, William Morris Sixth Form and St Paul’s Girls’ School are well-regarded.



West Kensington station (Circle and District) is a three-minute walk from the apartment, providing direct routes and links to most areas of the city. The Piccadilly line is within easy access in Baron’s Court (4-minute walk) with further connections to central and east London. Heathrow can be reached in 33 minutes via the Piccadilly line.



Tenure: Leasehold / Lease length: 84 years / Service Charge: approx. £600 per annum / Ground Rent: None / Council Tax Band: D