Appartement Plat, Ladbroke Grove, Londres

Design studio West 11 has recast this Ladbroke Grove duplex in a more contemporary light. Period roots remain prominent, but the split-level footprint gives the home a distinct rhythm: formal above, increasingly relaxed as it descends to the garden.

Entering at ground level, the reception room stands alone – a polished backdrop for entertaining. Parquet floors and a long run of built-in joinery bring warmth and order, all washed in soft north-easterly light from the floor-to-ceiling bay window.

Downstairs, the mood leans laid-back. The garden level is wired for everyday, with kitchen, dining and living spaces arranged laterally in one sweep. Two sets of double doors open onto a private walled terrace – an unexpected pocket of calm. There’s an ease to the layout: built-in banquette seating sits alongside bespoke Eggersmann cabinetry topped in resin, while a vivid green quartzite splashback brings a jolt of colour. Siemens and Liebherr appliances, together with a 3-in-1 boiling tap, are neatly integrated.

Three bedrooms occupy the quieter end of the floor, each with a restful feel. The principal bedroom has a large bay window and a wall of wardrobes, with a dressing table concealed behind pocket doors. Its en suite is richer in tone, with rose-quartz mosaic tiles lining a walk-in shower. The family bathroom takes a more traditional turn, pairing chequerboard floor with fluted glass. A guest bedroom opens directly onto the terrace, while a third could work equally well as a study.

Running parallel to Kensington Park Road and Portobello Road, Ladbroke Grove puts Notting Hill within easy reach, while keeping North Kensington close to home. Market stalls, neighbourhood restaurants and the Electric Cinema are part of the everyday here – places to pick up something for dinner, settle in for a film, or linger over a drink. Beyond the Westway, Golborne Road and its surroundings bring another side of the neighbourhood, from morning pastries at Layla to long lunches at Canteen and bottles to go from Golborne Deli & Wine Store. When you don’t want to venture far, Dove is close by for dinner.

Ladbroke Grove – 4 mins (Circle, Hammersmith & City)