Grade II listed
Victorian villa
Period detail
Sympathetic renovation
Design led
Dow Jones architecture
Shaker kitchen
Marble bathrooms
Nanny suites
Garden studio
This beautiful property consists of five to six bedrooms and four bathrooms, with expansive east facing landscaped garden and an en suite garden studio. Forming part of a handsome mid nineteenth century terrace of linked villas, the property has been comprehensively and sympathetically transformed under the direction of Dow Jones Architects, celebrated for their cultural work at the Garden Museum and the Science Museum. Their intervention honours the villa’s classical proportions and original fabric while introducing a refined, contemporary architectural language defined by craftsmanship, natural materials and sculptural detailing.
The raised ground floor is anchored by a bespoke shaker kitchen created by a specialist kitchen architect, centred around exquisite marble slabs chosen directly from European quarries, the stone displaying a soft natural blush that lends warmth and individuality. All appliances are fully integrated. French oak flooring extends across the principal floors, and the home’s restored Victorian features are beautifully expressed, including original fireplaces, intricate cornicing, soaring ceilings, sash windows and cast iron radiators chosen to echo the original aesthetic. Throughout the house the lighting scheme brings a sense of curated modernity, featuring iconic pieces by Serge Mouille and Charlotte Perriand which contribute sculptural form, ambience and timeless design pedigree.
The garden extension is a striking architectural addition formed with poured concrete floors, a beautifully crafted wood and glass structure and a generous skylight that floods the space with natural light. This room connects directly to the 80 ft garden and creates an elegant indoor outdoor flow, enriching the house with openness, vertical volume and a serene contemporary atmosphere.
The first floor is retained as a grand formal reception room, a space that exemplifies Victorian elegance with symmetrical proportions and refined decorative detail. The entire principal suite occupies one whole floor, complete with bespoke French oak panelling, a calm marble bathroom and generous built in dressing areas. Air conditioning serves the principal suite and the top floor bedroom, while the rest of the house benefits from its renewed thermal performance. All bathrooms are completely custom, each crafted from individually selected marble slabs chosen for nuance, texture and natural movement.
A significant excavation at lower ground level has created substantial volume and versatility. This level forms two generous guest or nanny suites, each with a contemporary bathroom, a private kitchen and a dedicated utility room, providing exceptional autonomy for guests, extended family or household staff. The newly completed garden studio, finished to the same high standard and complete with an en suite, offers an ideal retreat for work, wellness or visitors.
Hemingford Road lies at the heart of the Barnsbury Conservation Area, one of Islington’s most desirable neighbourhoods known for its elegant squares and tree lined streets. Upper Street is moments away with its independent restaurants and cafés including Sunday, Ottolenghi, The Albion and Jusu Brothers, as well as boutique shops, theatres and lifestyle amenities. Local schools are among the area’s strongest, with Canonbury Primary rated Outstanding by Ofsted, Thornhill Primary rated Good, and respected senior options including North Bridge House Senior Canonbury. This is a best in class family home, uniting heritage, architecture and contemporary design with rare finesse and timeless appeal.