Elmfield Mansions, London SW17

This beautifully decorated one-bedroom apartment lies on the second floor of a handsome Victorian mansion block in Balham, south-west London, a short walk from the station and from Tooting and Wandsworth and Clapham Commons. It has been sympathetically renovated in recent years, with additions including a new shaker-style kitchen and bespoke shelving. At the rear are tree-bound communal gardens shared by residents of the building.



Setting the Scene



Balham - Belgeham in the Domesday Book - was once quiet farmland. It was the arrival of its railway station in 1856 that instigated a dramatic growth; as a result, homes were built at an exponential rate to accommodate a growing population.



Striking Elmfield Mansions was built in 1897, its deep red brick and dramatic bay projections synonymous with late Victorian styles. Inside, the home has been appointed in a manner befitting its early life: its current owners have used paint colours and joinery to amplify its period proportions and atmosphere.



The Grand Tour



Entry is via a smart communal staircase. Located on the second floor, the apartment opens to a hall doused in Huguenot, a deep red paint by Mylands.



An open-plan living space lies at the front, where a large bay with three sash windows floods the room with light. A ceiling rose and cornicing adorn its tall ceiling, its height exaggerated by bespoke shelving painted a mushroom hue. On the other side is a new shaker-style kitchen, topped with thick timber countertops. Fully integrated, it has a dishwasher, combination oven/microwave, washing machine and full height fridge.



The bedroom is on the other side of the hallway; it has soft carpeted floor and walls washed in Farrow and Ball’s Joa’s White. Fitted wardrobes provide generous storage and a sash window overlooks the garden below.



Between the bedroom and the living space is the shower room with tiles by Fired Earth, painted in Farrow and Ball's Dimity. Bespoke tiles by Douglas Watson line the walls behind the basin and there is plenty of concealed storage.



The Great Outdoors



At the rear of the building is a south-facing communal garden. Largely laid to lawn, it has room for relaxing in the warmer months. Mature trees line its far side, creating an exaggerated sense of privacy.



Out and About



The beautiful green spaces of Tooting Common, Wandsworth Common and Clapham Common are within walking distance of Elmfield Mansions. Tooting Lido is also nearby; first opened in 1908, it is now the UK’s largest open-air swimming pool by surface area.



The building is positioned close to the buzzing Balham High Road, which has a wide variety of independent restaurants, pubs and cafes, notably Gail's, Milk, Taro and popular natural wine bar, Henny's. There is also a wonderful bookshop, Backstory, which was recently crowned London's independent bookshop of the year.



The building is around a five-minute walk from Balham station, which runs Northern line, Thameslink and Southern rail services. There are also plenty of bus routes locally.



Tenure: Leasehold / Lease Length: Approx. 119 years remaining / Service Charge: Approx. £1,455 per annum / Ground Rent: Approx. 0 per annum / Council Tax Band: C