Colebrooke Row

Floorplan Brochure

Colebrooke Row

London N1

£3,500,000

Freehold

A walled garden designed by Dan Pearson around ancient fig trees and a contemporary pergola in Islington townhouse

One among a quiet terrace of Georgian houses along the northern section of Islington’s Colebrooke Row, has become the ultimate canvas in the art of restoration. The result is a triumph of research and restraint alongside the delicate hand of modernisation. The assemblage of many fine craftspeople with an appreciative eye of historical methods, and the transformative vision of landscape designer Dan Pearson, have contributed to the realisation of a most sensitive and beguiling renewal.

Originally, built between 1767-69 by a builder and ‘cowkeeper’ who married into a wealthy family of upholsterers and property owners, the house had fallen into disrepair in recent decades. That is, until its current custodian saw the beauty and potential in its materiality and scale, and took on the long and painstaking journey of resurrection.

Every aspect of the Grade II listed house has been attended to, from the new clay roof to lath and lime plaster walls, and the glorious pastel shades of lime wash throughout. Reuse has taken place where possible; original timbers repurposed, shutters created. Exquisite joinery has been added and so too, elements from Plain English, like the kitchen at garden level.

Brick flooring in the dining room leads out through French windows to a stepped garden designed by Dan Pearson in Islington townhouse

The house is entered at ground level through a renewed brick facade. The glazing in the sash windows are now authentic Georgian glass that possess the charming imperfections of mouth-blown techniques.

Original wide, pine floors lead from the hallway, which offers an instant reveal to a breathtaking view ahead. A study or third bedroom lies to the right; original cupboards are retained in the alcoves beside its fireplace. Beyond is the primary reception room, extending almost six metres to a grand bay window of three six-over-six sash windows filled with the view of giant fig trees and palms. South-easterly light casts beams across the room for much of the day and the gentle calamine pink of the window frames takes on different shades with the changing light. In our lengthy experience of beautiful homes, few rooms have such a visceral effect as this for its light, volume and view.

The design has kept to just two rooms on each level to maintain the generosity of each individual space. At lower-ground level this is less defined and consists of a kitchen, as aforementioned by Plain English with stainless-steel worktops, and a dining room with exposed beams. Georgian bricks have been brought in as flooring and are heated beneath. At the front of the house is a guest WC, and vaults for wine and other storage.

French windows open onto bay balcony in Islington townhouse

At the rear, the floor-to-ceiling bay opens to level flagstone paving. The garden has been redesigned by celebrated landscape architect, Dan Pearson, whose planting and forms have been modelled around the magical, ancient limbs of incumbent fig trees. In the spirit of reuse and circularity, his reforming made use of the earth excavated during the glass-concreting of the foundations, to raise the garden at the rear. Steps composed of waste materials like broken brick and clay tiles, crushed, mixed with lime and shuttered with laths, meander up to a raised platform with bursting beds on one side and an elegant pergola for external dining on the other.

The upper levels contain a bedroom and bath or shower room each. Both are incredibly generous rooms. The first floor mirrors the floors below with the large bay and original panelling along the north-eastern wall. The second floor has managed to retain its vaulted ceiling and has the addition of French windows that open onto a balcony above the lower bays. The staircase that connects the two bedrooms is a feast for the eyes; where paints and wallpapers have been uncovered to varying degrees, displaying the mottling of centuries.

The bathrooms are equally sublime with fixtures by Lefroy Brooks, Plain English cabinetry in one, and a cast-iron roll-top bath in another.

South-easterly light casts beams across the room for much of the day and the gentle calamine pink of the window frames takes on different shades with the changing light

Kitchen in green by Plain English with brick floors in Islington townhouse

Lime plaster, original pine floors and panelling in Islington's Colebrooke Row renovation

Bedrooms:

Reception Rooms:

Bathrooms:

Internal:

2,075 sq ft / 192.77 sq m (inc. Vault/Store Area)

External:

973 sq ft / 90.93 sq m

Tenure:

Freehold

Borough:

Islington

Council Tax:

EPC:

N/A

Lime walls and wash beyond a rolltop bath and Aalto stool in Islington townhouse

Nearby

Despite its incredibly quiet situation, the house is within easy reach of the boutiques, bars and restaurants of Upper Street, Shoreditch, Hoxton and Clerkenwell. In fact, very few parts of London, if any, can claim to have a better selection of pubs and restaurants within walking distance.

Camden Passage is a few minute’s walk away for antiques, food and cafes. The house shares the street with bakery Jolene and close by are Pophams cafe, pastries and pantry, Quince Bakery, Saponara Italian deli and pizzeria, and the superb, The Baring. The Island Queen, The Duke Organic and The Hanbury are also both within a stumble, as are many others.

To the north along Upper Street, is the Union Chapel for excellent music events. Highbury Fields is just a little beyond for green spaces and tennis courts.

Brick front facade of Georgian Islington townhouse — Photography by Dan Glasser

Transport

This part of Islington offers such convenience for getting around. Apart from the many transport links at Angel (Northern Line), Old Street and Essex Road, some of the best bits of north and east London are within a wall or cycle. The Regent’s canal provides a direct and enjoyable route east to London Fields and Hackney, or west to Kings Cross, Coal Drops Yard, Camden and Primrose Hill. It’s also incredibly easy to reach Soho and Mayfair.

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