Ickburgh Road, London E5

This fantastic five-bedroom house on Ickburgh Road has a private garden and an independent studio apartment with separate street access. Arranged over six levels, with a wonderful oak-framed, glazed extension as its defining feature, the house has been extensively remodelled to a light and volume-enhancing design and now extends to just shy of 2,450 sq ft internally. The quiet, coveted street has no-through access and is within easy reach of Stoke Newington and Clapton Overground Station, which is only a four-minute walk away.

The Tour

The house is set back behind a front courtyard with a light well, and steps to the lower and upper-ground levels. A large living room occupies the front of the house, with stripped-wood flooring, a bay window and ceilings that rise to three meters. Navy walls create a warm, enveloping environment.

Oak steps descend to the ground level, where an expansive open-plan room has been extended with soaring, four-metre glazing to the garden and overhead, all set within a handsome framework of natural oak. The kitchen island acts as a centrepiece for the space, with bespoke, hand-made cabinetry designed by MSDA Architects offering plenty of storage in addition to integrated appliances and utilities. Beyond the breakfast bar is a sliding pocket door to a guest WC. Flooring is raw concrete across the ground and lower-ground levels.

An unusually wide staircase ascends to the upper levels, amplifying the sense of space on each landing and within the void. On the first floor are two double bedrooms and an expansive bathroom with natural terracotta tiles and a walk-in shower. The main bedroom is set at the front, bathed in light from south-facing bay windows, and has its own partitioned dressing room with ample built-in storage.

The second floor is home to two bedrooms and a bathroom. One of the bedrooms is designed as a children's room set within the restructured roof space, with a fantastic bespoke, built-in wooden mezzanine bed, wardrobe and stairs, designed and built by Jan Hendzel Studios. The bathroom has automatic sensor lighting and has been finished with white metro tiles.

In the course of the renovation, the house was completely rewired and replumbed. The chimney stacks were repurposed as housing for a MVHR heat-recovery system, which maintains fresh air quality year-round. The upper levels use wall-panel heating operated by a remote NEST system, which also controls the underfloor heating for the lower levels and first-floor bathroom. Windows are double-glazed throughout.

The lower-ground level has been designed to function as an independent studio apartment with its own kitchen, living space and shower room. It also has its own private entrance at street level or can be accessed from the kitchen via a sliding panel.

Outdoor Space

The house has a beautiful, private garden filled with clambering and mature plants. It makes an excellent spot for alfresco dining and entertaining, or relaxing on a sunny day. It comprises a terrace, surrounded by planted borders. At the end a useful wooden shed has been installed, perfect for storing garden tools.

The Area

The immediate area has a fantastic offering of places to eat and drink, notably Tram Store, Casey's and My Neighbours The Dumplings and Lucky & Joy, on the nearby Lower Clapton Road. Great local pubs include The Crooked Billet and Clapton Hart, both within walking distance. The weekly food market on Chatsworth Road is easily reached in around 15 minutes on foot. Chatsworth Road runs north from Homerton to Millfield’s Park and Hackney Marshes and offers a plethora of independent shops and restaurants, including Men for great ramen and specialist suppliers L’epicerie 56. Stone Bros is excellent for coffee, and a weekly food market is on Sunday. Neighbourhood gem, The Castle Cinema, is independently crowdfunded and screens features, as well as classic and contemporary art house films.

A short walk to the west is Stoke Newington. Hackney Picture House, London Fields Lido and the Grade-II* listed St John at Hackney, an 18th-century chapel and live music venue, are also nearby. For green open space, Millfields, Abney and Clissold Parks, and Hackney Downs are all within close proximity.

The house is in the catchment area for several highly sought-after primary and secondary schools.

For transport, Clapton Station is only a few minutes walk away and runs fast and regular Overground services to Liverpool Street. Plenty of good bus connections nearby offer routes to the city and West End.

Council Band: F