Colonnades, Hackney, E8

Set within the Colonnades, a converted late nineteenth-century warehouse in the heart of Hackney, this is a particularly characterful one-bedroom apartment of approximately 645 sq ft.

The flat has the sort of qualities that are increasingly difficult to find in central Hackney: generous proportions, large windows, exposed brickwork and original-style parquet flooring, with an interior that feels very much part of the building rather than a conventional modern apartment.

The Colonnades itself is a relatively small and private development, comprising just eight apartments, which gives the building a much more intimate feel than many larger warehouse conversions in the area.

The main living room is the centre of the flat. It is a broad, open space with plenty of room for separate sitting and dining areas, while a long run of windows brings in excellent natural light and opens the room towards the surrounding rooftops and sky. Sections of exposed London stock brick sit naturally alongside simple white walls, and the herringbone timber floor runs across the room, giving the space warmth without making it feel overly finished or formal.

There is enough room here for a substantial dining table as well as a full sitting area, and the proportions also lend themselves well to working from home without having to compromise the main living space. Built-in and wall-mounted shelving works particularly well with the architecture of the room and adds to the slightly informal, lived-in East London feel of the apartment.

The kitchen is separate from the reception room and positioned around another large bank of windows. White cabinetry is paired with dark work surfaces and a pale green glass splashback, with a gas hob, built-in oven, extractor and open timber shelving. It is compact but very usable and, unusually for a kitchen of this type, receives a considerable amount of natural light.

The bathroom was completely refurbished in January 2025 and finished to a high standard, with Fired Earth tiles, high-spec fittings and a clean, considered finish that sits well with the character of the rest of the apartment.

The property also benefits from bespoke double-glazed windows, installed in 2022, which retain the scale and appearance of the original warehouse-style openings while improving comfort and insulation.

The accommodation is completed by a separate double bedroom, with the overall layout making particularly efficient use of the available floor area.

The communal gardens are another important part of the Colonnades. Set within the building and screened from the surrounding streets, they provide established shared outside space that feels notably removed from the activity of central Hackney.

The location is arguably the strongest part of the property.

Sylvester Road sits just off Wilton Way, one of those pockets of Hackney that has retained a genuinely neighbourhood feel despite being exceptionally central. Wilton Way itself has a strong collection of independents, including Wilton Way Cafe, Ornella and Wilton Way Deli & Wines, alongside smaller shops, cafés and local businesses.

Hackney Central and Mare Street are moments away, while London Fields and Broadway Market are within easy reach for weekend markets, cafés, pubs and restaurants. Hackney Downs and its open green space lie to the north, with Dalston immediately to the west and Victoria Park and the wider East London canal network also readily accessible.

For transport, Hackney Central provides London Overground connections towards Highbury & Islington in one direction and Stratford in the other. Hackney Downs is also close by and provides direct services into Liverpool Street. Together the two stations make the location particularly practical for the City, north London, Stratford and onward connections across London.

What makes the apartment work particularly well is the combination of location and character. This is not a generic new-build interior: the parquet flooring, exposed brick, generous windows and warehouse proportions give it a clear identity, while the small scale of the building adds a degree of privacy that is relatively unusual for such a central Hackney location.

It would suit someone wanting to be properly within East London rather than simply close to it, with Wilton Way, Mare Street, London Fields and Hackney Central forming part of the immediate neighbourhood.