Knivet Road, London SW6

This handsome four-bedroom house sits in a leafy residential quarter of Fulham. With an internal footprint of around 1,293 sq ft, the home’s splendidly renovated interiors confidently play with colour, texture and pattern. A thriving landscaped garden abuts the house at the rear, while a prettily planted front garden sets it back from the peaceful street in front. Knivet Road is a short walk from Fulham Broadway Station for connections to the West End and the City.

Setting the Scene

Built in the late 19th-century, the wide terraced houses of Knivet Road formed part of a larger residential development in the late 19th and early 20th centuries of wider Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent area in its own right, the largely residential neighbourhoods were built for the spillover of merchants and clerks seeking refuge in fashionable new neighbourhoods just outside of the city.

This house’s façade is defined by its London stock brick, generous bay window and expanses of glazing. Inside, a painstakingly considered renovation has been a real labour of love for its current owners, who have struck an artful chord in balancing period detailing with lively contemporary interventions. Designs have been expertly chosen from a brilliant roster of makers, including Pierre Frey, Beata Heuman and Edward Bulmer. For more information, please see the History section below.

The Grand Tour

Perched at the end of a stretch of checkerboard tiles, the pink-painted front door sets the tone for the interiors beyond. From here is the entrance hall-come-formal dining room, a wonderfully bright space flooded with natural light from a large bay window. With a classically-rooted aesthetic, the walls are finished in a ‘Sang de Boeuf’ shade of terracotta and trimmed with Grecian-inspired motifs. A working fireplace provides a focal point while original flooring runs underfoot.

Descending a short flight of stairs, the large kitchen and dining space unfolds. Designed to connect the inside and out, the kitchen reaches towards the garden via a large conservatory with skylights and bifold doors. Limestone flags are punctuated by inky diamond tiles underfoot, while handmade cabinetry lines the walls. Units are finished in a vibrant Edward Bulmer archive paint with a marble backsplash. Appliances such as a range cooker, Bosch dishwasher and washing machine have been cleverly integrated into the units, creating seamless modern functionality with a nod to the home’s Edwardian origins.

The first floor of Knivet Road is home to an expansive primary bedroom that fills the full width of the house. A wonderfully luxurious space, the room has been clad in wallpaper by Beata Heuman, imitating the fanned-out peacock feathers. Bespoke cabinetry has been integrated and finished in a gloss Brinjal paint. The space has newly incorporated deep cornicing and skirting, as well as new cast-iron radiators and double-glazed timber sash windows.

A secondary bedroom is adjacent. Currently used as a formal sitting room, it is adorned with House of Hackney wallpaper trimmed with Spanish brocade, a finish that recalls 16th-century tapestries. The ceiling and architraves have been finished in a complementary blush shade, and the space is lit via a large sash window overlooking the quiet garden. A shower room is at the rear of the plan, and has been finished in an equally decadent palette: gold-veined marble wraps a walk-in shower and runs to waist-height around the room, with Pierre Frey wallpaper above. Fittings by Burlington have been added, and the space has handy built-in storage behind the doorway.

The top floor is home to two bedrooms overlooking the front and rear of the house respectively. One is currently used as a large guest bedroom and is finished in a vibrant ‘Malahide’ orange by Edward Bulmer. The adjacent bedroom is used as an office by the current owners, and is wrapped in a texturised Pierre Frey seagrass with glossy Brinjal architraves. A bathroom sits between the two, with a bath, overhead shower, vanity and WC.

The Great Outdoors

To the rear of the house, a small yet perfectly formed oasis unfolds from the kitchen conservatory. Recently planted by the current owners, the garden is filled with Boston ivy, hydreangas, lavender and fragrant roses, all of which have started to climb and take hold in deep beds. The gravelled seating area in the centre is a perfect spot for al fresco dining. A school beyond the garden wall means the private space is not overlooked.

Out and About

Just off Fulham Broadway, Knivet Road has the best of Fulham on its doorstep. The area has a distinct village feel and a host of independent restaurants, cafés and boutiques. Popular pubs in the area include the White Horse in Parsons Green and the lovely Harwood Arms in Walham Grove. Just steps away from the house are La Pizzica for Puglian dishes and The Fulham House Restaurant serving delicious brunches. Only slightly further afield is the Michelin-starred London stalwart River Cafe. There is a weekly farmer’s market at Bishop’s Park, and Fulham Palace is also very close. The neighbourhood has plenty of green spaces, including Hurlingham Park and, across Putney Bridge, Barnes Common Nature Reserve and Richmond Park.

There is a wealth of excellent schools readily accessible across west London. Among the best-known are Fulham School and St Paul’s for Girls, while Fox and Edith Neville primary schools are both close to home and rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted. All Saints Catholic College and Ark King Solomon are also well-regarded.

The house is a 10-minute walk from Parsons Green and Fulham Broadway stations. From there, the District line can be accessed, with easy connections to Wimbledon, Earl’s Court and Upminster. Imperial Wharf Station is just a 5-minute walk away and runs London Underground services with connections to Clapham Junction, West Brompton, and Shepherd’s Bush.

Council Tax Band: G