The Carlton Works, Asylum Road, London SE15

Towering Crittall windows disperse light throughout this two-bedroom loft conversion in a former perfume factory, near Queens Road, Peckham. This striking local monument dates back to the early 20th century, and its exposed brickwork, high ceilings and original steel column preserve an industrial edge amid the elegant open plan. The area's wonderful cafés, restaurants and green spaces are a short walk away.

The Tour

The building is archetypal of the Victorian industrial vernacular, with warm brick punctuated by wide Crittall windows. The apartment is on the first floor and accessed via lift. Inside, the main living space has dramatic, lofty ceilings and plenty of built-in storage. Natural light casts striking shadows across a confluence of exposed brick and fresh white walls. Oriented on an east-west axis, the apartment is doused in light at all times of day.

The living room has distinct zones for dining and relaxing, demarcated by the two ceiling-high Crittall windows. On one end of the living space are built-in shelves extending from floor to ceiling, perfect for storing books or records. Smart engineered oak flooring extends throughout the space, creating a contemporary and communicative feel between rooms.

The sleek kitchen has a clean, white palette with plenty of storage and an ingenious use of space for countertop seating and bar area.

The main bedroom is dual-aspect and wonderfully spacious. A run of full-height, built-in wardrobes flow along one side, and glazed doors open out onto a Juliet balcony. The second double bedroom also functions well as a study and has the perky addition of a magnetic wall, ideal for attaching cards and posters without the need for screws. The bathroom has a playful finish, with colourful terrazzo floor tiling and a rain-style shower head.

The Area

Queens Road Peckham has a number of independent cafés and restaurants, notably the Blackbird Bakery under the railway arches, Peckham Cellars, and Kudu, a popular cocktail bar and restaurant. A short walk to the west leads to the Surrey Canal Path, a beautiful strip of woodland preserved for nature and connecting Burgess Park to the north with Peckham Square to the south. Here, the Stirling Prize-winning library, designed by Alsop and Stömer, sits alongside the leisure centre and the newly opened Moutview development home to Westland Coffee & Wine.

Brimmington Park to the south offers leafy walks. Burgess Park is a 10-minute walk away and has tennis courts and an expansive lake home to a varied array of the city’s birdlife.

Nearby, Persian restaurant Persepolis is a local favourite, along with the Deserted Cactus  Caribbean fusion restaurant and The Begging Bowl, serving brilliant Thai food. Recent developments along Queens Road continue to contribute to the area, Peckham Cellars, Kudu, Mama Dough’s pizza restaurant, and several new independent bars

Queens Road Peckham is the nearest station, just a seven-minute walk away, running London Overground services to Shoreditch High Street and Dalston Junction in one direction and Clapham Junction in the other. Connections to the Jubilee Line can be reached at Canada Water and the Northern Line at Clapham High Street, both in around 10 minutes. Southern trains run services to London Bridge with a journey time of around seven minutes. Within two minutes’ walk, various bus services can be accessed along Old Kent Road, which provides alternate routes into central London. Peckham Rye station, a 20-minute walk away, runs services to Farringdon and Victoria.

Tenure: Leasehold
Lease length: approx. 103 years remaining
Ground rent: approx. £250 per annum
Service charge: approx. £5,500 per annum
Council Tax Band: D