House, Highlever Road, London

On a tree-lined stretch of Highlever Road, a picket fence makes for a characterful first impression at this four-bedroom home. A planted front garden sets it slightly back from the road; soft sage tones offer a precursor to the calm within.

The kitchen takes the front of the house, set into the curve of the bay so the cook gets the best of the light. Shaker cabinetry in light grey-green rises to the cornice around a range cooker, paired with oak worktops and a white metro-tiled splashback. From here the ground floor runs front to back in one easy line. The dining room sits at its heart; beyond it the space widens into the rear reception room. A long skylight keeps the setting bright and airy, with the wall below given over entirely to built-in shelving. Glass doors open directly to the garden, a walled space framed by red brick, trellis and trailing ivy.

The principal bedroom spans the front of the first floor, its broad bay window a natural home for a vanity or desk. A period cast-iron fireplace framed in Art Nouveau tiles gives the room its focal point, while a run of fitted wardrobes leads through to the en suite. A further bedroom on this level is served by the family bathroom, while a third takes the top floor with its own en suite and eaves storage. A fourth and final bedroom offers versatility as nursery or study.

*Images displayed include CGI staging and are for illustrative purposes only.

Highlever Road sits in a quieter, greener corner of North Kensington, where broad residential streets give way to the open space of Wormwood Scrubs. The neighbourhood’s livelier side is never far off, though. Golborne Road has fresh bread, Portuguese pastries and good coffee, and Portobello Road is close enough for a Saturday browse. For luxury shopping, The Village at Westfield is close by – stop for a drink at the White City branch of Soho House. In addition, two sought-after private primary schools nearby make this an excellent home for a growing family.

Latimer Road – 12 mins
Ladbroke Grove – 17 mins