Charles Square II, London N1

This beautiful top-floor apartment lies within a significant and handsome Georgian building in the heart of Hoxton. It has been thoughtfully transformed by Marta Nowicka of DOMstay, who worked with English Heritage to ensure historical accuracy while creating a space that is both comfortable and calming. Brilliantly placed, the building sits in a quiet spot close to Old Street, Shoreditch, and the City, as well as some of London’s finest green spaces and most illustrious cultural institutions.



Please note that Inigo is also marketing Charles Square I. We've written about the reimagining of both in our Almanac.



Setting the Scene



Charles Square itself was laid out at the same time as nearby Hoxton Square, when it was described as being “set with greens, plants, fruit and other trees”. A remarkable survival, the building in which this apartment lies is the oldest remaining house on the square, constructed around 1720. It has lived many lives: it has been a courthouse, a city guild for haberdashers and needleworkers, a magistrates' court, and, more recently, a political headquarters.



Its former glory has been reinstated by Marta Nowicka, a developer, lecturer in interior architecture specialising in adaptive re use, and the founder of the multifaceted Domstay. In light of the building’s rare Grade II* listing, Marta worked with English Heritage, creating a home that is at once true to its origins and designed with modern living in mind.



We’ve written more about this home and Charles Square in our Almanac.



The Grand Tour



From the building’s entrance is a remarkable hall, a space that hints at the grandeur and scale beyond. Here, an original staircase with a mahogany handrail winds up to the top floor, where the apartment lies.



Entry is to an internal hall, which opens into a versatile open-plan living space. A wonderful sense of volume is created by tall ceilings, criss-crossed with a network of white-painted original beams. A simple combination of walls washed in warm colours, and smoked oak floorboards, provides a serene backdrop for art and furniture.



At one end of the room is a Rotpunkt kitchen, fitted with Bosch appliances and topped with marble quartz countertops. There is space for dining and seating towards the opposite end, where a period bullseye-adorned fireplace surround sits. In one corner, modern shelving provides space for display, while a trio of shuttered sash windows allow plenty of natural light to enter. Overhead, expansive storage space is built into the eaves, accessible via a ladder.



The bedroom is a peaceful retreat, where two further sash windows draw in soft natural light. Open shelving, designed in typical Georgian fashion, brings great period character. Adjacent is the bathroom, finished in a modern style, with marble chip resin floors, large mirrors that reflect light throughout, and open shelving that preserves the original arched detail of the space.



Out and About



Charles Square is close to the buzz and brilliance of Shoreditch and Old Street, where a near-endless array of bars and restaurants can be found. Manteca is close by, as are the haunts of Redchurch Street, where favourites include Labour and Wait and an outpost of Aesop, along with restaurants such as Dishoom, Smoking Goat, and the Michelin-starred Brat.



There are some fantastic spots to see art nearby, including exhibitions at the Barbican Centre and at Victoria Miro, which sits close to Regent’s Canal. Liverpool Street and Spitalfields are also easily reached, where a branch of Ottolenghi and the excellent Raven Row gallery can be found.



While much of London is within walking distance, there are also plenty of transport connections nearby. Old Street is a short walk away and runs Northern line services, while Hoxton station is on the Overground (Weaver line). Liverpool Street station can also be reached on foot and runs Elizabeth, Central, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines, as well as National Rail services nationwide.



Tenure: Share of Freehold / Lease length: Approx. 999 years remaining / Service Charge: Approx. £1,000 per year (includes buildings insurance, repairs to shared areas / outside of the building, and cleaning services) / Ground Rent: N/A / Council Tax Band: C