Burlington Road, Thornton Heath, CR7

*** Vendor comments*** Over the years I’ve lived in North, East and South London, but once I moved to Crystal Palace, I never looked back. It’s a great location for enjoying the outdoors while still being able to hop on a train and be in central London for a culture hit. There’s a choice of train stations, each a short walk away. There are parks close by for running, the velodrome for cycling, and plenty of lanes and pathways for both road and off-road cycling. The sports centre offers track running, a gym and swimming. The Crystal Palace Triangle is brilliant if, like me, you appreciate good coffee, independent bakeries and vintage finds. Crystal Palace Park is also being restored and is a lovely place to unwind.

When I first saw this Victorian, share of freehold maisonette five years ago, I knew I could put my functional design skills to good use, with the aim of creating a home that felt both comfortable and considered, while preserving the period character that attracted me in the first place. The maisonette has been extensively renovated from top to bottom. I completely rewired the property, installed a new boiler and new radiators, and upgraded the lighting throughout the kitchen and bathroom. The bathroom was completely replaced, with new fittings and finishes, while the kitchen was designed and installed with both practicality and longevity in mind. It features genuine marble worktops and a top-end stove and oven, which have become some of my favourite details in the home. The original wooden floors have been carefully restored, with the gaps sealed for additional insulation, and new flooring has been installed where appropriate. I’ve also invested heavily in sound insulation, including to the ceilings, stairs and partition walls, with dropped ceilings incorporated where needed. The result is a home that feels noticeably quieter, warmer and more comfortable.

I’ve tried to retain and enhance the Victorian character throughout. All three fireplaces have been lovingly restored, while a wood-burning stove has been installed to bring warmth and atmosphere to the evenings. Chimney covers have also been fitted. Picture rails and ceiling roses were added to complement the period character of this home, alongside a number of bespoke touches, including customised understairs drawers and a new understairs cupboard with carefully designed shelving. The exterior has received just as much attention. The garden has been levelled and completely repaved, with drainage grates installed to improve water management. Bespoke planters were added to create structure and space for planting, and a new rear fence, together with repairs to the fencing on all sides, has made the garden feel private and enclosed. Outside drainpipes have also been repaired.

More generally, this home has been repointed and repainted, and the windowsills have been carefully restored. These are perhaps less obvious improvements, but they were important to me in making sure the property felt properly finished and well cared for. I lovingly restored the maisonette with the intention of living here for 25+ years, so I’ve put a lot of thought into making it a comfortable, practical and lasting home. The genuine marble worktops, wood-burning stove and little touches of bespoke storage are details I always aspired to when I started renovating and it has been incredibly satisfying to see them all come together.

Loving the outdoors as much as I do, the garden has been one of my biggest passion projects. In summer, I love sitting outside over lunch or after work, surrounded by the plants and greenery. One of my distant neighbours has chickens and when I occasionally hear the hens cooing, it still makes my day. I usually wrap up my plants in winter and enjoy the warmth of the wood-burning stove in the evenings. The maisonette stays lovely and bright throughout the year. Being a Victorian property, it naturally stays cooler in summer, while the insulation improvements mean it heats quickly and economically in winter. There’s also a great sense of community in the street. I’ve genuinely loved living here and will miss my beautiful, cosy home. If you choose this to be your future home, please keep the plants cosy in winter, you won’t regret it when spring comes". 

Bedroom 1

11' 9" x 12' 11" (3.58m x 3.94m)

Bedroom 2

10' 11" x 11' 7" (3.33m x 3.53m)

Kitchen/reception room

10' 6" x 20' 6" (3.20m x 6.25m)

Shower room

5' 7" x 7' 10" (1.70m x 2.39m)

Garden

9' 10" x 48' 11" (3.00m x 14.91m)