Oakley Place, London

“A playful juxtaposition of colour melds together old and new”

This characterful apartment occupies the upper floors of a converted Victorian house, sensitively extended and renovated by architecture studio Russian for Fish. Known for their creative use of colour, the studio has introduced a joyful palette of colour across the entire apartment, creating a playful dialogue between original and contemporary features. The apartment has an upside-down configuration across split levels; three bedrooms sit on the first floor, while the second floor houses the open-plan living space, with far-reaching views towards The Shard and the City.

The Tour

Oakley Place occupies a peaceful position on a tree-lined street in the Cobourg Road Conservation Area, next to Burgess Park. Sitting mid-terrace, the house is characterised by a London stock-brick façade, channelled stucco detailing and generous bay windows.

A bold, blue-painted entrance introduces the home’s distinctive colour palette with stairs ascending to the first floor, while another flight of contrasting, yellow-painted stairs rises to the second. Bespoke joinery by Jack Alexander features throughout the house, alongside underfloor heating and acoustic floor and wall insulation.

The kitchen is an arresting space, with bespoke cabinetry of yellow formica mounted on blue valchromat cores and colour-matched fixtures. Skylights flood the room with natural light, while a rear window frames views towards the City. A colour block scheme subtly delineates areas for cooking, dining, and sitting; blue-painted walls frame the dining and sitting spaces.

An adjacent mint green-painted study provides a peaceful home-working space, with a mezzanine level for storage above with easy access to generous loft storage.

The principal bedroom occupies the front of the first floor, with a large bay window drawing in leafy views. Original 19th-century features have been carefully retained, including a ceiling rose and ornate cornicing painted a dusty pink. A wall of tailor-made wardrobes provides ample storage. The additional bedrooms also have period detailing, and are distinguished by distinct colour schemes.

In contrast to the rest of the apartment, the bathroom is completely whitewashed. An Omnitub bathtub sits with Japanese tiles, creating a calm and restful atmosphere.

The Area

Oakley Place sits in a quiet residential part of south London, immediately beside the green expanses of Burgess Park. The park is complete with a lake, well-maintained tennis courts, adventure playground, BMX track, football and cricket pitches, a five kilometer outdoor running track, sports centre, outdoor gym, two park cafes and the excellent Fowlds coffee shop.

Bermondsey Street and Maltby Street are within walking distance, home to the internationally renowned White Cube Gallery and eateries including Comptoir Gourmand, The Giddy Grocer, Watch House and Café Murano.

Camberwell is a stroll to the south, known for the Camberwell Arms, Silk Road, South London Gallery, TOAD bakery, and Cafe Mondo, which was recently described as "probably the best sandwich shop in Britain".  The restaurants of Peckham are also within easy reach.

There are plenty of highly regarded schooling options in the local area, including Surrey Square Primary, an 11-minute walk from the house. Other options include Angel Oak Academy, Phoenix Primary School, Harris Academy Bermondsey, and St Michael's Catholic College.

The house is exceptionally well served by numerous bus routes providing connections to the City, Waterloo and central London in under 25 minutes, including the new ‘Bakerloop’ express bus route. Borough (Northern line), Queens Road Peckham (Windrush line), South Bermondsey (National Rail) and Elephant and Castle stations (Northern line, Bakerloo line and Thameslink rail services) are all a mile or so away.

Tenure: Leasehold / Lease Length: approx 125 years remaining / Service Charge: approx £790 per annum / Ground rent: approx £200 per annum / Council Tax Band: C