Hornsey Rise, London N19

This elegant two-bedroom garden apartment occupies the raised-ground floor of a smart Victorian building on Hornsey Rise, directly opposite locally loved Elthorne Park. Recently renovated to an exacting standard by Andrew Dobson Architects, the design celebrates the building’s expansive proportions and original details with carefully-chosen contemporary materials. The private garden was designed by Liz Friedrich using wildflowers and scented climbing plants that enclose a cedar-clad garden room / home office to create a wonderful retreat from the city.

The building is set back from the road with a demised parking space outside the apartment. Entry is from the raised-ground floor, leading into a large open-plan living room and kitchen, composed around a triptych of three-metre high windows that draw masses of light into the space.

The original house, of which this is a part, was built by a local printing press owner in the 1890s and as such has wonderful period proportions and soaring ceilings.

The kitchen, set to one side of the voluminous room, is fitted with simple white cabinetry under refined marble-effect quartz countertops.

The design for the rear of the apartment centres on a connection with the garden. A pair of box windows, one used as a window seat and the other framing double doors, seem to leap into the lush planting outside. Behind the bedroom is a wonderful contemporary bathroom also with views to the garden, which epitomises the thoughtful design and attention to material details throughout.

Outside, a step down leads to a courtyard, beyond which stepping stones wind through the planting to the garden room at the end. Shaded by a huge palm tree, it’s a wonderfully private space.

At the centre of the plan is the second bedroom, which has in-built cabinetry and a separate WC and shower room. Engineered-oak parquet flooring runs throughout.

The apartment is located at the bottom of Hornsey Rise, a short walk from Stroud Green Road, known for The Old Dairy, an ornate Victorian dairy-turned-pub, organic shops such as Urban Native, and Butler’s, an independent wine shop and delicatessen. Crouch End is within easy reach with its excellent selection of shops, restaurants, pubs and cinemas. Alongside Arthouse, a local arts centre and independent cinema, there is also a Picturehouse cinema.

There are many excellent parks withing close reach in this part of north London. The Parkland walk is much-loved trail on a disused railway line that connects Finsbury Park up to Highgate. To the west is Waterlow Park and Hampstead Heath, and beyond Crouch End to the north is Alexandra Palace.

Archway Underground station is within 13 minutes’ walk, for the Northern Line, while Finsbury Park is a little further and easily accessible by bus for the Victoria & Piccadilly Lines and mainline trains. Crouch Hill Overground station is just a five-minute walk away.

Tenure: Leasehold with Share of Freehold
Lease Length: approx. 976 years remaining
Service Charge: approx. £2,400 per annum, to include buildings insurance, freeholders’ administration or management charges, repairs to shared areas and the outside of the building, sinking fund, storage unit, bike store.
Ground Rent: Peppercorn
Council Tax Band: D
Parking: Offstreet