We all enjoy the wolf in sheep's clothing. The idea of being underestimated by those who might seek to belittle you. A quiet confidence. It’s a strange idea to apply to a property, but one that I like. Why show off? Much more fun to have the nicest house on your street, but one that looks like every other house on the street.
And so we head to Provost Road in North London. On these quiet colourful streets, near Belsize park, we find something quite special, but only if you know where to look. Behind these relatively unassuming façades, one is not like the others. One is a RIBA-award winning home designed by architects Eldridge Smerin. It is for sale with Savills for £7.5 million.
Occupying the corner, this five-bedroom home is achingly modern — polished concrete floors, stainless steel surfaces, open-plan living spaces. Arranged over two floors, the property offers more than 4,000sq ft of living space, set around a central courtyard and with gardens designed by Jinny Blom.
This is a home of the highest quality, as these pictures no doubt reveal. ‘Originally built in 1864, this family home has benefitted from a first class modern extension that perfectly combines old with new,’ says Elias Raymond, head of sales in Primrose Hill.
‘The extensive use of glass creates a striking “wow” factor, making this one of the finest examples of indoor-outdoor living I’ve ever seen. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame uninterrupted views of the beautifully landscaped garden — a true oasis in the heart of the city.’
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A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courtsFords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
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'You have to work hand in hand with the author — like a dancer has to work with the music': Illustrating Homer's epic poemsArtist Clive Hicks-Jenkins, faced with the colossal challenge of illustrating Homer's 'The Iliad' and 'The Odyssey', eschewed grandstand views of monumental battles, looking instead for what he calls the little cracks in the paving stones.
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A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courts
Fords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
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The 15 best-value commuter towns for people working in London, according to new research from one of Britain's top estate agentsSavills have released their list of the best-value commuter towns in Britain. But do the sums add up? Toby Keel takes a look.
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What everyone is talking about this week: Where are the new Cotswolds?The appearance of American Vice President J. D. Vance in the Cotswolds is a sure sign that they're saturated, but where else can you escape to that has the same charm?
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19 outstanding country homes, from £450,000 to £20 million, as seen in Country LifeA spectacular country house in Yorkshire and an enormously impressive Channel Islands retreat are among the stand-out homes on the market this week.
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Three homes down by the Thames, perfect for those who love messing about on boatsThis summer’s scorching temperatures will no doubt have endorsed the perennial appeal of Thames-side houses with frontage and private access to the river. Penny Churchill and Toby Keel pick out some prime examples.
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A pavilion, pool and pleasure gardens at this Devon country house 'with not another building in sight'Ebberly House is a majestic country house in Devon built by one of John Soane's pupils — and as it comes to the market, it's a place Penny Churchill knows well.
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Take over the world or throw a great big party on this private fort for sale in PembrokeThorne Island, dubbed the British Alcatraz, has been a £2 million labour of love. Now it could be yours.
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The perfect summer house? A country home, beach house and rural escape rolled into one in a prime spot in SussexIf there's a finer house than Grangewood House in which to enjoy the summer, we'd love to see it. Penny Churchill takes a look.
