Vale Road, London E7

Hand-painted murals adorn the walls of this revelatory three-bedroom house in Forest Gate, east London. Its current owners worked with PL Studio to add colour and exuberance, resulting in a set of rooms that are as joyful as they are space-savvy and bright. A rooftop terrace with panoramic views provides a peaceful environment for relaxing and/or hosting. The Elizabeth line runs from Forest Gate station, a seven-minute walk away, for travel across London.

The Designers

PL Studio is a London-based boutique interior design studio founded by life partners Sabrina Panizza and Aude Lerin. They take inspiration from 20th-century decorative and design movements to create spaces that are elegant, often humorous, sometimes unconventional and driven by the joy of the unexpected.

The Tour

Built in 2021, the house’s demure profile is formed of an understated yet compelling orange-hued brick. Its towering silhouette hints at the spaciousness that lies within. Entry is across a smart paved front garden and through a wide black glazed door.

A spirited use of colour greets on arrival: the entrance hall - which has clever storage and a smart WC - has electric blue walls and curved motifs. Muted wooden floorboards with heating underneath begin here and continue throughout much of the plan.

Straight ahead is a reception room, a soothing space with bubblegum-pink walls and an ethereal, almost surrealist sky-design paper across the ceiling. Black-framed doors provide passage to a rear courtyard, and there is a handy storage cupboard concealed behind a curtain-dressed archway. If required, this room would be apt for use as a third bedroom.

Ascending from the entrance hall, stairs wrap around the walls and reach right the way up to the top floor, where the remaining living spaces are sited - an elevation that allows maximal light to flood in. This floor is divided between a kitchen and an adjoining living space; flexibility arranged, the latter has murals that contrast pastel hues with deeper and bolder geometric forms.

Light ripples across the space, entering through French doors on one side and a window in the kitchen opposite. Powder-pink and white Pluck units provide generous storage space and run below an acrylic countertop and a wall-mounted, glass-fronted cabinet made of Nordic oak. Opposite, Bosch appliances are neatly integrated into a quartz countertop.

On the middle floor are two brilliant double bedrooms. The jade coloured principal has two-toned viridescent walls and a clever cut-out cupboard behind a shimmering curtain. The second bedroom receives a soothing southerly light and has green-painted stripes across its ceiling.

There is also a bathroom on this floor, its walls finished in a soothing powder pink with black bordering, and an arched entrance into the bath for a enclosed space to relax.

Outdoor Space

A wonderful rooftop terrace has far-reaching views across the city. Generously proportioned, it has room for a large seating set-up and a barbecue. There is also a terrace at the rear of the house, extending from the ground-floor reception. Both have plenty of space to place potted plants for the horticulturally inclined.

The Area

Forest Gate is, as its name would suggest, in close proximity to some of east London's most impressive leafy areas. The expansive Wanstead Flats, Wanstead Park and Epping Forest are all within easy reach, along with West Ham Park and its stunning ornamental garden and sports facilities. Forest Gate Community Garden is a delightful spot with biodiverse plantings, a pond and a roster of events.

We've written more about our recommendations in Forest Gate in our Journal.

The area has established a reputation for its well-loved local provisors in recent years, including Ancient Lights Bakery and Giovanna’s Deli and Wine. Cups and Jars unpackaged grocery and café, and Tipi Coffee Co. are also both nearby, as is the friendly gastro pub Forest Tavern.

Winchelsea Road is under a 20-minute walk from the house and has a brilliant offering of thriving independent businesses, including the microbrewery Pretty Decent Beer, wine bar Joyau, craft beer and arts venue The Wanstead Tap, as well as E7 Movement fitness studio,Wild Goose Bakery and play café The Can Club.

There are plenty of schools nearby, including Forest Gate Community School and Sarah Bonnell School, and well-regarded primaries Earlham and Park Primary Schools.

Forest Gate station (Elizabeth line) is a seven-minute walk away; Wanstead Park lies just beyond and serves the Overground's Suffragette line. The area is also well-served by bus links.

Council Tax Band: D / Tenure: Leasehold / Lease Length: 996 years remaining / Ground Rent: None / Service Charge: Approx. £350 per annum; includes buildings insurance