St John's Path, London EC1

This creatively reimagined one-bedroom house is discretely tucked behind a handsome Georgian terrace in the Clerkenwell Conservation Area. Designed to suit a multitude of configurations, the current owners have cleverly divided the open-plan, two-storey home into separate 'zones' with bespoke plywood joinery. Its original bones, which include lofty proportions, tall ceilings and generous skylights, recall a warehouse style typical for the area but unusual for a freehold house of its kind.

The Tour

The house sits behind secure gates and a short set of steps. The front door leads onto a vast open-plan room, carefully configured with plywood joinery to create delineated yet interconnected spaces. Crittall windows across the plan nod to Clerkenwell's warehouse vernacular and stand as a defining feature of the home.

At the front, next to the entryway, is a large desk in front of a floor-to-ceiling plywood door that slides open. A seating area lies just beyond, surrounded by plenty of open shelves. The sofa also usefully converts to a double bed or two singles.

An understated and minimalist kitchen lies on the opposite side, characterised by clean architectural lines and tall white cabinetry, fully integrated. Easy access is granted between this space and the dining zone by an open hatch. A shower room completes this floor.

Downstairs is also configured in an open plan room, with a generous plywood storage 'pod' at its entrance containing an additional WC. This area could easily accommodate an extended bathroom, sleeping space or walk-in wardrobe. Skylights run the length of the level to allow in plenty of natural light. As with upstairs, the palette is pared-back, making use of white-washed walls and exposed beams. Grey-painted concrete grounds this space, with original pine floorboards on the floor above.

A sleeping space is currently arranged at the bottom of the lower storey, separated by a translucent screen.

The Area

Clerkenwell was recently named the London winner of The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2024. Popular with architects and design studios, the neighbourhood is renowned for the quality and variety of its bars, pubs and restaurants, most notably the nearby St John, Luca, Bouchon Racine and Sushi Tetsu. The Eagle, the first gastro pub in London, the much-loved Moro and the original outpost of Caravan can also be counted among the excellent local offerings.

Exmouth Market, Shoreditch, Covent Garden and Soho are all within walking distance and offer excellent choices for shopping and eating. The Barbican Centre, with its world-class cultural programme of cinema, music, theatre, talks and exhibitions, is a few minutes’ walk from the house. Conway Hall is also 10 minutes away on foot, and Daniel Benjamin and Amanda Wilkinson are great for seeing the works of new, up-and-coming artists.

We've written more about our Clerkenwell recommendations in our Journal.

Farringdon Station is a three-minute walk away and is serviced by the Hammersmith and City, Circle, Metropolitan and Elizabeth Underground lines, as well as National Rail. For the city, Liverpool Street is five minutes away by tube, while Heathrow can be reached in around 35 minutes and Gatwick in 40 minutes. International rail travel connects to Europe from nearby St Pancras. Several bus routes run along the neighbouring streets in all directions, including towards nearby Islington.

Council Tax Band: C