Osborne Road, Leyton, London, E10

The handsome frontage of this Victorian house hides a fabulous secret. Completely reimagined by its current architect owner for a light-filled, spacious feel, and decorated with a simple, calm palette inspired by Japanese and Scandinavian design, it’s an incredibly special, one-of-a-kind family home.

Set on a tree-lined residential street close to the thriving Francis Road, it’s also ideally located – just a stone’s throw from well-connected transport links, green spaces and great schools.

Over a period of two years, the current owners lovingly redesigned and rebuilt the house (completing in 2020), completely reconfiguring the internal layout for wonderful flow - including wider hallways, new staircases and internal doors (with Karcher Design handles) - and extending it to the rear, side and into the loft.

A full rewire was undertaken and a new heating system installed, including a new boiler, unvented hot water cylinder, Nest thermostats, underfloor heating and new radiators. The front of the house was upgraded with internal insulation and sashes by Mumford & Wood were fitted; while bespoke white and black stained solid oak windows were fitted to the rear. Sustainability has been key – LED lighting has been used throughout, and the existing pine floorboards have been refurbished, sitting comfortably alongside white-oak bespoke joinery and polished concrete worktops.

Shielded from the street by a laurel-topped wall, the house features a London Stock brick frontage, and white-painted stone lintels, sills and foliage-topped columns to the timber sashes. A monochrome checkered path leads to a recessed porch, and a black traditional-style front door with satin chrome furniture and frosted transoms.

INSIDE – SPACE, LIGHT AND CONTEMPORARY COMFORTS

Step through into the hallway, where the sanded floorboards give a nod to the home’s past, complemented by fresh white walls (as seen throughout). To your left, the airy living room is filled with light from a large bay with Victorian-style solid shutters, while the rendered fireplace (to which a fire or stove could be added) is framed by oak veneered open shelving and low-level cupboards.

In the hallway, under the stairs you’ll find a door to the 75 sq. ft basement (ideal for storage) and a useful cupboard housing the boiler. Opposite is a utility room, with full-height cabinetry, plus space and plumbing for a washing machine and a traditional Belfast sink. There’s even a spot for a bicycle.

A beautiful staircase with bespoke slatted oak relief curved wall leads you down into the extended dining kitchen. Floor-to-ceiling bespoke oak windows and a door connect the space with the garden; with vertical oak fins at the rear providing both privacy and solar shading. Oak ceiling joists then help further draw the eye to the greenery outside.

Hugging the walls, custom-made white-oiled veneered oak handleless cabinetry is paired with tactile polished concrete worktops; while underfoot, the oak flooring is warmed by piped underfloor heating.

There is a stainless steel sink and tap by Franke to the island; while integrated appliances include a Bosch oven and microwave, an AEG induction hob with Elica hood, a dishwasher and a fridge freezer. In the dining area, design details include inbuilt bench seating and a Muuto Ambit pendant.

Throughout the property, there’s something to delight at every turn, and through a door to one side, you’ll find a stunning Japanese-inspired bathroom. With walls and floor lined with charcoal tiles by Domus, there’s a wet-room-style shower, a wall-hung Duravit sink with Cifial taps, and a wall-hung Duravit loo with concealed storage above. The focal point, however, is a handmade Japanese cypress bathtub, shipped from a workshop in Tokyo, which sits beneath a window with slatted oak privacy screening.

Returning to the hallway, take the white-painted staircase with oak treads, to the first floor, where the landing has been cleverly reconfigured and widened to include a garden-facing window and an open-plan home office.

Restored floorboards run into both double bedrooms. To the front, the primary is lit by a sash window with Victorian solid shutters to match those downstairs. There’s a built-in window seat, while a bank of bespoke dove grey cabinetry frames the bed, and includes shelving and two double wardrobes.

A pocket door opens to an en-suite, with a front-facing window. Grey floor tiles are paired with square white wall tiles (both by Domus), forming the backdrop to a Catalano basin with Cifial wall-mounted tap and long overhead mirrored cabinet; a wall-hung Duravit loo with Geberit flush plate, and a rainfall shower with frameless glass screen.

The second double bedroom sits to the rear. Split-level, it’s filled with natural light from both side and rear windows with bespoke roller blinds.

You’ll find the family bathroom between the two bedrooms, with a décor scheme and fittings to match the en-suite. There’s a Bette bath with rainfall shower and frameless glass screen, a wall-hung basin and a mirrored cabinet.

A bespoke curved solid oak staircase leads you up to the loft floor. The third double bedroom here features white-oiled floorboards, custom-made shelving, oak veneered wardrobes and a desk. Air conditioned, it’s bathed in light from a Velux skylight and full-height glazing to the rear, with black aluminium fins for solar shading.

The bedroom also has an en-suite WC, decorated to match the bathrooms elsewhere, with a Duravit loo and a wall-hung Catalano basin with black tap sitting beneath a rear-facing window.

OUTDOORS – CONNECTION WITH NATURE

Outside, the sunny southeast-facing garden feels like an extension of the house, with fantastic views looking back at the detailed brickwork and exterior fins, and a mini Japanese-style rock garden.

A sunken brick patio area provides space to relax or entertain, before the garden extends with a grassy lawn bordered with plants including hydrangea and three walnut trees for dappled shade. There’s also an external tap, and a handy timber storage shed.

A NOTE FROM THE OWNERS

‘Fully renovating this home into a bright, warm, and calming space has been a joy. It has adapted effortlessly as our family has grown, and having such a vibrant community with local amenities right on our doorstep has made living here truly special. The Japanese bathroom is a highlight, recreating memories from our travels in Japan; however, our favourite room and where we spend the most time as a family, is the kitchen, which is bright and airy, and has a strong connection with the garden.’

GETTING AROUND

The Tube at Leyton is only a 10-minute walk, making light work of getting to the City, West End, Canary Wharf, and South Bank, while Stratford is just one stop away. Alternatively, the Overground at Leyton Midland Road is a 16-minute stroll away and has a swift change to the Victoria line at Blackhorse Road.

IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Francis Road is just a 9-minute stroll – one of Leyton’s most constantly in-demand locations, thanks to its urban village of independent local businesses. The current owners particularly love Marmelo Kitchen, Yardarm wine bar and CCP Home Kitchen for Asian-style home cooking; while other firm favourites include Phlox bookstore, Dreamhouse Records, Edie Rose florist and Pause yoga studio.

Local sellers regularly recommend Tamping Grounds and Forno for coffee (and Italian pastries); Deeney’s for amazing haggis toasties; Homies on Donkeys for tacos and margaritas; and Chunk for amazing ice cream. Also nearby are the Filly Brook craft beer hall; Gravity Well Taproom brewery and bar; the Heathcote & Star pub and Coach & Horses, which serve a fantastic Sunday roast, as well as the Birkbeck Tavern, loved for its local energy and homely vibe.

Other local must-visit spots include Peaky Blenders, Tun Café and Unity Café for coffee; Bread & Oregano for Greek gyros; Zaxx for great Korean bibimbap; Figo or Bocca Bocca for quintessential Italian; and Burnt Smokehouse for smoked meats.

Coronation Gardens is two minutes around the corner; while Leyton County Cricket Ground is just over ten minutes away, with its wonderful Edwardian pavilion. The location is perfectly placed to enjoy the beautiful green spaces of Wanstead Flats and Hollow Ponds – all within around 30 minutes’ walk or a short cycle ride.

You can reach Stratford on foot, with Hackney Marshes, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the Lea Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, VeloPark, and London Aquatics easily accessible, along with Westfield shopping centre. The development around the park is on the rise, with the new East Bank cultural hub home to world-class experiences, including Sadler’s Wells East theatre, the BBC, UAL’s London College of Fashion and the V&A East Museum.

SCHOOLS

Only ten minutes down the road, Newport Primary is Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’. Norlington Secondary & 6th Form for Boys (14 minutes) and Connaught School for Girls (23 minutes) are also well-regarded.