Tucked discreetly away down a quiet mews in Camden, this two-bedroom house occupies a position within Elm Village, a pioneering 1980s estate by Peter Mishcon & Associates. The interiors have been beautifully renovated in recent years, using a colour palette of soft pinks and greens that works in considered harmony with birch ply detailing. There is a southwest-facing garden to the rear, a wonderfully secluded spot for relaxing or entertaining. The Regent’s Canal is a few minutes’ walk away, while Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill are just a short distance further.

The Estate

As Nikolaus Pevsner notes, Elm Village ‘provides a deliberate return to traditional forms’ in an antidote to some of Camden’s other estates. The traditional, classical frontage seamlessly blends with interiors designed for modern living; the attention to detail found in the façade is typical of the post-modernist movement, which sought to add depth and movement to the streetscape. The architecture represents a move from the clean-fronted, stark modernist forms of the preceding years, to a return to more domestic forms.

The name of the estate comes from a house built on the site by William Agar c.1810, which was swept away in the 1860s for the GNR marshalling yard. Instead of the council housing later proposed by Camden in the 1970s, a mixture of rental and houses for sale was built between 1984-85 by Peter Mischon & Associates. Most are two-storey buildings with short terraces and a crescent between them. As Pevsner remarks, plenty of private space and a variety of outdoor detail gives the houses ‘a homely charm, which recalls the Duchy of Cornwall’s Edwardian housing in Kennington’.

The Tour

The house is set within a smart terrace, where the brick and render façades have subtle post-modernist touches, such as arched entranceways and pillar-style detailing on either side of the front door. The curved doorframes are mirrored by the pathways that gently wind around the mews, providing access to the houses and creating parking spaces for residents. Mature trees are dotted at regular intervals, creating a leafy approach.

A large entrance hall opens immediately to the living and dining area, with the kitchen positioned in the front corner of the plan. The room is oriented towards large doors at the rear, which open to provide access to the garden and create a wonderful sense of indoor/outdoor living. The sheets of glazing face southwest, meaning the space is flooded with light throughout the day.

The living space is open to the galley kitchen, ensuring a sociable atmosphere and allowing for easy entertaining. The kitchen has been carefully realised in a palette of pinks and greens: the birch ply cabinetry has deep green, powder-coated fronts, with a soft pink tiled splashback below working in harmonious contrast; oak worktops complete the textured palette. A large sash window casts light over the space.

Stairs with a soft wool carpet ascend to the first floor, where two bedrooms and a bathroom can be found. The main bedroom is particularly serene, with soft pink walls and two large windows overlooking the quiet street below. A sliding door conceals two deep wardrobes, which provide ample storage space. The second bedroom has the same soft wool carpet and views over the garden. Shared by the bedrooms is a family bathroom, which holds a large walk-in shower surrounded by textured white tiles. There is also storage space on the landing.

Outdoor Space

Behind the living area lies a southwest-facing rear garden, accessed via glass-panelled doors that create a seamless connection between indoors and out. There is a decked section at the front, perfect for alfresco dining, and a slate section behind. Deep green ivy clambers over the surrounding trellises, and the space receives sunshine throughout the day.

The Area

Camden is well known for its wealth of restaurants, pubs, bars and world-famous market. Nearby Primrose Hill Village is home to neighbourhood favourites Odette’s, Greenberry Café and Primrose Bakery; the house is also located a short walk from Primrose Hill itself and the green expanse of Regent’s Park, one of London’s most beautiful green spaces, which has a boating lake, as well as numerous cafes, sports facilities and ornamental gardens.

Granary Square at King’s Cross is a short walk to the south, home to a magnificent public square with choreographed fountains and restaurants including Caravan, Vinoteca, Dishoom, Granger & Co, plus shops A.P.C, COS and Wolf & Badger. Alongside existing outposts of Caravan coffee roasters, Waitrose, Dishoom, and audiophile bar Spiritland, the Thomas Heatherwick-designed Coal Drops Yard has brought Margaret Howell, Tom Dixon and Aesop stores to the canal.

The area has excellent schools, most notably the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ Torriano community primary school and Camden School for Girls, a comprehensive school with a co-ed sixth form which is also rated ‘Outstanding’. The new Kings Cross Academy is an excellent primary school next to Granary Square.

Camden Road Overground station is a six-minute walk, and Camden Town Underground station (Northern Line) is an eight-minute walk away. There are also multiple bus routes to central London. King’s Cross Station is a short tube journey away, providing railway connections nationwide and served by Hammersmith & City, Circle, Victoria, Northern, Piccadilly and Metropolitan Underground lines. St. Pancras International station provides Eurostar connections to Paris and Brussels.

Tenure: Leasehold 
Lease Length: approx. 84 years remaining (the property is currently held under shared ownership. The buyer will own the full leasehold and can start the process of purchasing the freehold at the point of sale).
Service Charge: approx. £1,275 per annum
Council Tax Band: E

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.