The capital has many beautiful Victorian school conversions, but this building in Bethnal Green, east London, is a particularly pleasing example of its kind. Once known as Teesdale Primary, the former school opened in 1873; its façade still retains characterful details such as a ‘Boys Entrance’ signage that showcase its heritage. This two-bedroom apartment has thoroughly modern interiors that bring the home right up to date – from a mezzanine living area-cum-home cinema to the bright blue joinery in the kitchen. Yet it’s the original features that truly set this conversion apart: the oak parquet flooring, double-height ceilings and large Victorian windows that let in plenty of natural light. Yes, please.    

Designed and renovated by award-winning architecture practice Duggan Morris, this industrial warehouse conversion near Borough Market, south-east London, has been transformed into a wonderfully versatile space. The expansive live/work space dates back to the 1880s and has since had periods of use as a jellied eel factory and was a munitions store during the war. “There were still remnants of the machinery attached to the wall. It was these imperfections that appealed to me,” said artist and designer Jonathan Ellery when we visited the space he shares with stylist Kyoto Tamoto for our Open House series. “The way Kyoto and I live and work is reflected in the honest, utilitarian materials. The wood, metal, and concrete in the building are hardworking and get better with age.” 

This exceptional apartment sits within a 1930s art deco gem. The building, which takes centre stage among its 19th-century neighbours, is located between Fulham and Parsons Green, south-west London, and overlooks the greenery of Eel Brook Common. In the 1970s, this grand design was home to a luxury car garage and subsequently housed the infamous antique showroom The Talisman. After development by BLDA Architects in 2011, this spacious open-plan apartment on the first floor became a masterclass in flexible living: clever movable walls mean there’s the freedom to reconfigure the space as you please. While the current owners use this feature to showcase their revolving art collection, we think it’s likely to delight spontaneous and creative types alike.

If you were to return to the 1880s, this light-filled home would be a tannery in full swing. Today, however, architect John Pawson has given the space a minimalist transformation. The result is quintessential John at his finest: note his celebrated design signatures such as white walls, oak flooring and clean open spaces. Naturally, the home is complete with bespoke finishes, like the dining table created by John himself. Designed as a studio, gallery and living space, the three-story home is ideally suited to artists and gallerists, or simply those seeking ample space. The wonderful contradiction between the old-time façade and the contemporary interior is what makes this home particularly special.

If an abundance of light and space is what you’re after, look no further. This former tram shed tucked away down an unassuming side road in Holloway, north London, is now home to an expansive warehouse conversion – with five bedrooms and six bathrooms, it would make a wonderfully unconventional family home. Enter the space and you’ll be greeted by a galleried hall and fine industrial staircases – a love letter to the home’s past. Lush green houseplants flourish here, thanks to the sun pouring in through the uniquely large roof lantern, and stand out against the home’s muted colour palette. The cherry on top is the sun trap of the south-facing roof terrace.

If the walls of this exquisite art-filled home in Chelsea, west London, could talk, we’d be listening carefully. Beautiful stained glass windows, soaring cathedral ceilings and exposed trusses give away its original identity as a chapel, but its the home’s following years as a recording studio for artists including The Rolling Stones that will excite guests at future parties (with over 2,200 sq ft of internal space and an integrated speaker system throughout, it would be rude not to). The gallery-like space is an excellent backdrop for showcasing contemporary furniture and colourful paintings, which the current owners have taken full advantage of, while the high-set windows mean the home is rarely without natural light. Plus, there’s a peaceful private courtyard that promises a slice of serenity in the city.