Sutton Crescent, London EN5

This exuberant mid-century house sits in a peaceful part of Barnet, north London. It spans 2,000 sq ft, with four bedrooms and a generous garden. Expressive patterns, colours and finishes create a series of uplifting, engaging rooms, well-suited to entertaining and relaxing. The Northern line is close for quick connections into central London, and there are several green spaces nearby, including the Metropolitan Green Belt.



The House



Originally built in the 1960s, the house occupies the largest plot on the crescent. Its design - the result of a collaboration between the owners and architects Studio Astrain Scheldt - took inspiration from Danish summer houses. The impeccable interiors were the work of Bice & Birch, an interior design firm since launched by the home's owners.



The house has been featured in the likes of The New York Times, House & Garden and Elle Decoration. It was also shortlisted for the Architects' Journal Retrofit Award in 2023.



The Tour



Colourful wildflowers - a nod to what lies beyond - grow in this home's neat front garden. Its façade is a picture of mid-century design, enhanced with a charcoal render and mint-green door. There is space for outdoor parking in front with room for three cars and an electric charging point.



Inside is a hallway, with storage under the stairs for coats and shoes. There is a spacious living room at the heart of the home; it is painted a soft pink and receives a lovely afternoon light. Terrazzo floors begin here and continue throughout.



Double doors open to a kitchen and dining room, with an additional sitting area that overlooks the garden. Cheery kitchen units by Pluck lie on the right in a U-shape, beneath a chequerboard splashback. Appliances include a separate Bosch fridge and freezer, and a dishwasher by Neff. From the adjacent dining areas, double doors open to a dining patio.



There is another reception room downstairs, with characterful slanted walls. A hallway connects to a utility room, WC, and home office with tall ceilings and built-in bookshelves.



Stairs ascend to the first floor, where there are four bedrooms, each with a unique colour scheme. The main room is especially quiet and has a built-in wardrobe and an en suite shower room. An additional bathroom has both a shower and a bathtub; like the en suite, it has a chequerboard motif with teal-green and white tiles. The tiling throughout creates a cohesive narrative of a playful sixties house.



Upstairs is a large loft with abundant eaves-set storage space, currently used as a gym. There is an additional loft space on the first floor.



Outdoor Space



At the back of the house, the reception area opens onto a paved outdoor patio, bordered by scented lavender, hydrangeas and salvia hot lips. A short flight of chequered tiles leads to a raised lawned area. Fencing and mature trees demarcate the outdoor space, creating an enhanced sense of privacy.



At the foot of the garden is a bespoke plywood-clad studio by Ubuild - ideal for use as a workshop, study or reading room. It has underfloor heating and a kitchenette.



The Area



The house is on a residential road, near Barnet's thriving high street. Historic Barnet Market is a 17-minute walk from the house. It has been in existence for over 800 years, with a farmers’ market that runs twice a week and focuses on local produce. It has a host of stalls offering street food, alongside fishmongers, butchers, cheesemakers and bakers. We Are Grow agroecological farm is a short nine-minute drive from the house and sells fresh, local produce.



A Waitrose is conveniently located nearby, and there are several highly regarded restaurants, cafés and pubs in the area. Local favourites include Villaggio, Perk Coffee Bar, and Ye Old Mitre Barnet, an atmospheric pub dating to the 17th century. Set in a Grade II-listed building, the local branch of Everyman cinema has five screens and is around a 10-minute drive from the house.



Barnet is surrounded by green spaces; Hadley Green and Hadley Woods are a 20-minute walk away, while Trent Park is a short drive away. The area is also known for its excellent golf clubs; Dyrham Park, Hadley Woods and The Shire are all close by.



The local area has excellent schools. The house is a 10-minute walk from state-run Queen Elizabeth's School, while independent options include Haberdashers, Aldenham School, Belmont and Mill Hill School



High Barnet Underground station is a 25-minute walk – or a short drive – away, with the Northern line connecting to King’s Cross St Pancras in around 30 minutes. By car, there is easy access to the national motorway network via the M25 and the A1. For international travel, Luton Airport is around 25 miles away.