Grove Road, Bushwood, Leytonstone, E11

Just minutes from the fabulous green expanse of Wanstead Flats on a friendly tree-lined street in sought-after Bushwood, this three-bedroom Victorian terraced house has so much to offer, including restored period details, a flexible layout and a southwest-facing garden.

The current owners have lovingly renovated the property from top to bottom, taking all the walls back to brick before replastering and carefully reinstating picture rails, Victorian-style skirtings and architraves, as well as a new staircase. A full rewire was undertaken in 2020, a new boiler and two-zone heating system was also fitted, with copper pipework and a Google Nest smart thermostat. Other ubiquitous design details throughout include sockets and switches by Dowsing & Reynolds, column-style radiators, new four-panelled solid oak internal doors with tactile matte black beehive knobs

EXTERIOR

From the street, the house welcomes you with a traditional London Stock brick exterior, punctuated by white-painted stone lintels, sills and decorative reveals. Foliage-topped columns frame the elegant bay, fitted with new timber sash windows. A path leads past a low rendered wall to a part-glazed panelled door, painted white to match the stonework, featuring brass furniture and a numbered transom above.

STEP INSIDE

A welcoming hallway is lit by a pair of ribbed glass pendants, with room for coats and shoes provided under the stairs. White walls in Diamond Matte hardwearing finish highlight the ornate ceiling coving, while beautiful solid oak 19mm herringbone parquet wood flooring flows seamlessly throughout the ground floor.

In the living room, the large bay has been fitted with full-height timber shutters. The walls beneath the picture rail are painted in Midnight Teal by Dulux Heritage, providing a striking contrast to the white-painted woodwork and black contemporary wall lights are fitted with statement Tala lightbulbs.

You’ll find a second reception beyond, with walls painted in warm neutral-toned Egyptian Cotton by Dulux, and a flush-fitted contemporary ceiling light with globe shades. This versatile, cosy space with plenty of storage potential is currently used as a den and playroom but would make an equally lovely dining room or home office.

The snug leads into the open-plan dining kitchen (it can also be accessed from the hallway). Grey shaker-style cabinetry with brushed chrome handles is topped with a white marble-look worktop and splashback, and a chrome one-and-a-half bowl sink with drainer and chrome tap sit below a wide garden-facing window. Integrated appliances include a Miele double oven, a microwave, a four-ring Neff gas hob with overhead extractor, and an integrated Lamona dishwasher. There’s also space for an American-style fridge-freezer.

Natural light from a pair of large skylights floods into the dining space, which includes a black contemporary pendant. To the rear, a handy utility area with plumbing for a washing machine, and a part-glazed door leads to the garden. The boiler is also housed here.

Head upstairs via the grey carpeted staircase with elegant charcoal-painted spindles and polished wood rail, where the primary bedroom runs the full width of the front of the house. White timber shutters to both sash windows mirror those downstairs. The walls here are painted a restful stone shade to the picture rail, and soft grey carpet runs underfoot.

The second bedroom, a good-sized double, is adjacent, where a tall garden-facing window fills the space with natural light. The walls are a soft lilac to the picture rail, while the grey carpet matches the primary.

The third double bedroom is at the rear of the property, enjoying views out to the garden through a newly fitted casement window. White walls are complemented by a neutral toned carpet, and there’s a ceiling pendant light.

In the family bathroom a large walk-in Crosswater rainfall shower with black-framed glass screen and separate handheld attachment gives a luxe feel. The suite also includes a close-coupled loo and a marble-topped vanity with Crosswater bowl sink and matching black tapware. The room is fully tiled in white and grey to the walls, with contrasting charcoal floor tiles. There’s a frosted window with a fantastic black cast-iron floor-standing radiator beneath, stylish finishing touches include black metal wall storage and towel hooks.

A handy, separate additional WC can be found adjacent, lit by a frosted window.

Take a second staircase to the loft. While there are no building regulations in place for it to officially be considered a loft conversion, this useful space that is currently set up as a fitness studio, could have a myriad of uses. Lit by a large Velux window with rooftop views, wood-look laminate flooring runs underfoot, and there’s also a radiator and access to storage in the eaves.

OUTDOORS

The 23-foot southwest-facing garden feels wonderfully private and enjoys the sun for most of the day until late afternoon. Enclosed by slatted timber fencing and a rear brick wall, it’s paved with Indian limestone and is an ideal spot for entertaining and summer barbecues. Hot and cold outdoor taps are useful for watering and filling the children’s paddling pools and there is an outdoor socket.

A NOTE FROM THE OWNERS

‘This is a really friendly street with great neighbours, and the house is in the perfect location for local amenities, great schools and access to London; plus, it’s just a stone’s throw from Wansted Flats. We particularly love the snug and playroom – it’s used by all the family and is cosy yet spacious.’ 

GETTING AROUND

Leytonstone Tube (Central Line) is a 7-minute walk, and Overground services are reachable in 15 minutes.

IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Bushwood has a wonderful mix of long-term residents and newer arrivals, who are quickly welcomed into its vibrant community.

Just a couple of minutes’ walk from High Road, with its cluster of local favourite hangouts, you’ll never be short of places to wine and dine. Some top spots include The Birds and The Red Lion pubs, Wild Goose Bakery (try the carrot cake), as well as Bushwood's excellent local tavern, The North Star. The current owners also recommend Mum Likes Thai Food, just three minutes’ walk away.

Don’t forget to try Singburi – an outstanding Thai restaurant – Panda Dim Sum and Mammoth Tap – a great wine bar hosting a Mexican Fried Chicken pop-up every Friday night. Other highlights include Mora Italian restaurant, Bocca Bocca for authentic Neapolitan pizza, Red Camel and Marrakech Delight for their respective Afghan and Moroccan cuisine, Back to Ours for coffee, and Homies on Donkeys for tacos.

The house is also walkable to Wanstead's bars and restaurants (stop by Provender) and Forest Gate (check out Ramble and The Wanstead Tap). Only moments from home, you can explore Wanstead Flats, with Henry Reynolds Gardens a short walk away. The Olympic Park and Hackney Wick also offer many family-friendly activities and retail shopping opportunities.

SCHOOLS

Nearby schools include the Ofsted-rated ‘Good’ George Tomlinson Primary School (9 mins), Our Lady of Lourdes, and the ‘Outstanding’ Davies Lane Primary School, which is 11 minutes by foot.