Here at The Modern House, we love it when architects do inventive things with disused buildings. So, when practice Chance de Silva overhauled a derelict schoolkeeper’s house in Lewisham, south-east London, we found delight in the result: a series of contemporary homes, including three flats and this two-bedroom semi-detached house. We first visited the latter when we sold it in 2008 and now, with the owner moving on to pastures new, the home is back on the market – and it’s brought us just as much joy to see how they’ve since made it their own as it did the first time around.

Lewisham is loved by its residents for many things, but one of its finest qualities is the abundance of green spaces – and this home is located right in the middle of three of the area’s best: Blythe Hill Fields, Hilly Fields and Ladywell Fields. It’s also a short walk from Brockley, a leafy pocket of south-east London known for beloved institutions such as the nearby Rivoli Ballroom, as well as independent businesses and a good old-fashioned boozer or two. But if the address of this home doesn’t induce a smile, we have a feeling the sunny interiors might just do the trick.

A jubilant palette is employed throughout the living spaces, which sets a brilliant upbeat tone. A handful of highlights include the playful parquet flooring – constructed from reclaimed oak – some boards of which have been playfully painted in Smarties shades, and the neon graffiti, which has been sprayed across doors and cupboards in the kitchen. The irreverent scheme is complemented by the current owners’ equally bright belongings, including their collection of contemporary art dotted around.

But if you were to strip it right back – as minimalists and chromophobes might choose to do – it would still be a lovely space to live in. The south-facing garden is as much of a pleasure as the interior spaces, with its spacious sun-dappled patio fit for alfresco dining. Inside, the home is flooded with natural light, thanks to skylights upstairs and floor-to-ceiling glazed doors on the ground floor. The bones of the building, in fact, are deceptively simple, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to reflect personality on the place – and we can’t wait to see just how the new owners do it.