There is a myriad of beautiful maisonettes across London, but there are few that surprise us like this one. The two-bedroom home sits within a handsome Edwardian building in west London. It has lovely period features – from sash windows to ornate stucco detailing – but when it came to renovating, its architect owner, Felix von Bechtolsheim, decided to do things a little differently. As it comes on the market, we reveal how he brought it right up to date – and revel in its intriguing design.

The first thing you’ll notice about this place, positioned on the top two floors of the townhouse, is its material palette, which is rich and raw, textured and tactile. There’s the peachy gypsum plaster that cocoons the living spaces and practically glows when bathed in sunshine; the golden wood of the pleasing parquet floors – a nod to the building’s heritage; the sandy tones of the exposed brickwork that surrounds original fireplaces in one of the two bedrooms and in the open-plan kitchen and dining room. In here it continues up the wall in a zig-zag pattern, which can be seen from the mezzanine living room.

But the real treat is the spatial design. The open-plan kitchen and dining room, for instance, is incredibly voluminous, with a soaring ceiling that reaches right up to the roof. And then there’s that mezzanine: overlooking the dining area, this suspended living room is illuminated by a skylight. It’s a wonderful retreat away from the rest of the maisonette; the perfect place to settle down with a good book and drink in hand. The white-painted beams that support it are equally striking, an appealingly contrast against the tonal hues that define the rest of the scheme.

We’re also enticed by the location: near Golborne Road and Notting Hill. From perusing the vintage treasures and trinkets of Portobello Market to admiring the brutalist architecture of Trellick Tower, there’s plenty to do and see. But we’re particularly hungry for its dining scene here. Recent additions – including Caia, an open-fire restaurant and wine bar, The Pelican, a beautifully designed pub with glorious seasonal fare, and Kuro, a Mediterranean-inspired all-day eatery – have cemented this pocket’s place on the culinary map. Fancy a bite?