Osborne Road, London E7

This voluminous three-bedroom house in Forest Gate's Woodgrange Conservation Area has undergone a meticulous renovation under its current ownership. A contemporary collection of marble, patinated pine and terrazzo has been paired with soft white walls that enhance the building's original Victorian proportions and ornate decoration. The house is perfectly located for Wanstead Flats, as well as being close to the restaurants and bars of Forest Gate and to the Elizabeth line.

The Tour

The house is set back from the leafy street behind a honey-toned brick wall and a hornbeam hedge. A wrought-iron gate leads to a path that runs past flower beds to the front door, which in turn opens to a bright entrance porch with reeded glass and black and terracotta-coloured floor tiles. The main hallway lies beyond, finished in the scheme that runs throughout: an elegant pairing of 'All White' across the walls and weathered pine floorboards underfoot.

The living room branches off the hallway, with a bay of expansive sash windows that bathe the room in day-long south-facing light. The space is adorned with period features, including a carefully restored and reinstated cornice with motifs of poppies, grapes, pomegranates and figs. A working cast-iron fireplace has a Carrara surround and a hearth of deep red tiles; the alcoves on either side have been fitted with tall built-in bookshelves by Smallbone. A wide pair of panelled doors open to a second reception room with a second marble fireplace and a cornice moulded with thistles.

Flowing seamlessly from these spaces is the rear extension, which contains the open-plan kitchen and the dining room. The kitchen is composed of bespoke hand-painted forest green cabinetry with a Quartz countertop and up-stand, all designed, built and fitted by Smallbone. There is a useful larder cupboard, a five-ring induction hob and an oven, combined oven, and warming drawer. An adjoining dining area is arranged in front of double doors to the garden and beneath three large skylights. The ground-floor plan is completed by a WC finished in black and emerald Fired Earth tiles.

An original staircase with a hardwood handrail grants access to the storage cellar below and to the first floor above. A handwoven runner covers the ascending treads, adding a pop of colour to the pared-back surrounding shades. Upstairs, three double bedrooms and two bathrooms are arranged around a landing. The primary bedroom is at the front, with three south-facing sash windows and two built-in wardrobes flanking a cast-iron fireplace. The other two bedrooms are at the rear and have views over the garden below.

Of the two bathrooms, one is lined with grey and white-veined marble. It has a Cast Iron Bath Company freestanding bathtub beneath its sash window, as well as a large rain-style shower. The second bathroom has a more playful scheme, with terrazzo laid across the floor and walls, and a cast bath combined with overhead and hand shower.

Outdoor Space

Doors open from the kitchen and the dining area to an established walled garden at the rear of the house. A flagstone patio lined with silver birch and acer makes an ideal spot for a table and chairs, and beyond there is a lawn surrounded with hydrangea and rosemary. The garden is studded with apple and plum trees, as well as an impressive magnolia grandiflora and a eucalyptus.

The front garden has a wonderful acer tree, and has storage to one side for two bikes.

The Area

Osborne Road is an eight-minute walk from Wanstead Flats, an expansive area of open fields that form the southernmost part of Epping Forest. Hollow Pond lies just north of the Flats; here, the water is surrounded by woodland and paths, and there are boats available for hire to observe the various visiting water birds as well as the resident terrapins. Epping Forest lies just north of Hollow Pond, with its many trails perfect for walking and cycling through 8,000 acres of well-preserved ancient woodland. Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, it has inland water bodies, dry grassland and deciduous woodland, which feels entirely detached from the city.

The railway arches of Winchelsea Road are just over a 20-minute walk north and offer a range of thriving independent businesses, including the microbrewery Pretty Decent Beer, wine bar Burgess and Hall and craft beer and arts venue The Wanstead Tap. There is a Scandinavian café, yoga and Pilates space, local bakery, and a restaurant around seven-minute walk off Cranmer Road. Also close are The Holly Tree, a lively family pub, and the Wild Goose bakery for excellent sourdough bread. For more recommendations in the area, look to our Forest Gate residents' guide.

Forest Gate also provides fabulous access to London’s newest cultural quarter at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford. The East Bank is home to BBC Music Studios, London College of Fashion, Sadlers Well East, University College London and V&A East.

The house is situated 10 minutes’ walk from Forest Gate station, which lies on the newly opened Elizabeth line, with high-frequency services to Stratford, Liverpool Street and Paddington stations, and Heathrow Airport in under an hour. London Overground services are available at Wanstead Park station, which is a 14-minute walk.

Council Tax Band: E