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A Mayfair Treat

12.05.20

One of Curzon Street’s oldest houses, dating from circa 1785, which served as Nancy Mitford’s billet during her stint with the Auxiliary Fire Service in WWII, is offered for sale.  The stunning five storey Georgian townhouse currently owed by Frank Sawkins, founder of niche fine fragrance and gentleman’s grooming company Czech and Speake, is available exclusively through Beauchamp Estates.

Located on one of the principal streets in London’s premier district and conservation area, Mayfair, the Curzon Street property has been refurbished and designed to an exceptional standard: as might be expected from the man responsible for signature Czech & Speake cologne No. 88.  The property has been fully refurbished in a style that impeccably blends classic and contemporary design, to create a comfortable three bedroom contemporary residence, offering wonderful entertaining space, with working fireplaces, balcony, secluded terraces and a dumbwaiter connecting terrace, principal kitchen and secondary kitchen.

Curzon Street was built circa 1705 by George Augustus Curzon, 3rd Viscount Howe, from whom the street takes its name. Mayfair was initially developed for the wealthy and titled, something that has changed little in the last three hundred years. Number45 Curzon Street was built circa 1785 and was initially occupied by a widow, Temperance Rhodes. Historical records reveal quite a noble and well connected list of residents subsequent to Ms Rhodes, including the Hon James Hamilton Stanhope, Son of the 3rd Earl Stanhope and nephew of William Pitt the Younger, he was well-known in society and in military circles, having seen service with Sir John Moore, Lord Lyndedoch and the Duke of Wellington. By 1818 the property had passed to Will Coleman, an upholsterer, which is the first record of trade at the address, and by 1834 a furnishing and iron monger named James Smith.

Surgeon James Metcalf Appleton acquired the property before 1843: a naval surgeon who then passed the property to his son, Thomas Cass Aplleton who by 1883 was running a chemist’s shop at the address, with the upper floors let to Colonel the Honourable James Pierce Maxwell, a son of the 6th Baron Farnham. By 1888 the property had been acquired by physician Henry Roxburgh Fuller, physician to St George’s Hospital on Hyde Park Corner (now world class luxury hotel The Lanesborough) and to H.R.H. The Duke of Cambridge, uncle of Queen Victoria.

Re-built and fully restored with modern extensions, which include windows and doors in the contemporary extension homage to Maison de Verre, Paris, designed and finished to the highest specification by an experienced and well-respected architect and interior designer.

With direct, private street access, the property has three separate gates and doors: wrought iron gate, original 18th century front door (fully restored and carriage hand finished in black enamel) and inner door leading onto marble hallway with American solid oaks stairs and floors, random width and pelleted boards, which continue up the stairs to the first floor and throughout the property. The Panasonic PBX telephone system throughout also allows release of the front and inner door from each handset.

Leading off the first floor landing: to the rear, is the principal dining room, with silver grey granite floor, entertaining kitchen by Bulthaup, with stainless steel bar incorporating teppanyaki, BBQ grill and induction hob, stainless steel sink, work top and fridge with a dumb waiter to upper kitchen and top terrace. The space is filled with lots of natural light, flooding in through the glass bricks and glazed door, which provides access to a small, secure, rear south-west facing terrace. The dining area accommodates a table that comfortably seats 8-10 guests.

Also located on the first floor, accessed directly from the landing and double doors off the reception room is the study: fitted-out with custom designed bookshelves, plan chest with drawing platform and cupboards in dark stained oak, with internal window opening into the dining area that allows natural light to enter the study.  To the front of the property is the reception room with 2.7m (8.8 ft) ceiling height, two sets of double mahogany doors and two French windows, with traditional shutters, overlooking Curzon Street. Providing a stunning focal point for the room is a working Georgian antique grey marble fireplace, above which sits a hidden flat screen TV connected to Bose home cinema installation.

American solid oaks stairs and floors continue up to the second-floor landing, providing access to second bedroom suit to the front of the property and principal kitchen with dining space to the rear. The bedroom suite benefits from oak flooring, two double glazed sash windows, column radiators, working fireplace with traditional white marble fire piece, with VITSOE shelving, drawers and desk unit.  A sliding pocket door, leads off to the dressing area and teak wardrobes, beyond which is a full bathroom with green marble floor and walls, Czech & Speake bathroom fittings, WC, shower and whirlpool bath. The south facing principal kitchen has Bulthaup furniture in a grey, with Gaggenau and Miele appliances; 2 fridge/freezers with ice makers, induction hob, oven drawer, stainless steel sinks. The room is flooded with natural daylight from the use of glass bricks, which enable privacy to be maintained. Leading of the kitchen is and internal utility room, with Bulthaup units, large stainless steel sink, washing machine and separate WC.

The third floor is completely occupied by a further second bedroom suite, with windows to the front of the property and Curzon Street below: leading off the bedroom is a dressing and wardrobe area (with vanity sink), constructed from a log of Lebanon Cedar wood, beyond which lies a luxury contemporary bathroom, with Japanese teak bath. Travertine marble has been used to walls and floors, with Czech & Speake art deco shower and fittings in bronze.

The fourth and final floor is occupied by the master bedroom suite and principal terrace: the master suite is accessed off the top landing through sliding pocket door, which opens to reveal an exceptional studio like space, with two glass roof lantern windows, glazed doors the open on to a balcony overlooking Curzon Street and a wealth of storage space. Leading off the bedroom is a stunning en-suite shower/wet room, with walls and floor clad “book matched” Calacatta marble, with matching marble double bowl vanity basins, with Czech & Speake rain shower, three side shower heads and hand shower.

To the rear of the top floor lies the principal terrace – an oasis hidden from view by custom-made trellis. South facing, the terrace is both private and secure, with mature planting
including climbing jasmine and Magnolia Grandiflora. The terrace has also been wired and equipped for accent lighting, which, with concealed BBQ area and dumbwaiter direct to both kitchens below, making the area perfect for dining ‘al fresco’.

Alex Bourne, Director Beauchamp Estates Marylebone said: “Located in a charming part of Mayfair, the property has been designed and refurbished to an exceptional standard, creating a home that is comfortable, and effortlessly and eternally stylish: a testament to good design and craftsmanship. Mayfair continues to be a highly desirable location and offers fortunate residents so much, and mostly within walking distance. The advent of Crossrail in 2021 will make the property not just well placed for access for Mayfair and central London, but also London Heathrow Airport to the West and the financial district of Canary Wharf to the East.”

Frank Sawkins, Founder Czech & Speake said, "I created our home not for property speculation but to provide the best quality of life and environment for my family: it is an oasis of quiet and calm on one of the most famous streets in Mayfair. Obviously, security was and is an important factor - the entrance has both a secure iron gate from the street and not one, but two entrance doors, the initial external door and then a secure inner entrance door. In addition to this the special screens and planting on the terraces provide privacy and security while using the outside space and entertaining. The design and internal layout has been arranged to maximise integration of useable space with the south facing terraces and fenestration flood the interior with light.  The total original refurbishment required meticulous and accurate restoration of the Georgian townhouse part and the use of modern materials and techniques for the contemporary extension, resulting in a home that is aesthetically striking, perfect for entertaining and exceptionally easy to live in."

The original part of the property has been restored in period with plaster cornice, dado, skirting, new sash windows, raised and fielded hardwood double doors and Wandsworth lighting switches. The Curzon Street house provides approximately 2,900 sq ft (269 sq m) of accommodation, with the bedrooms and stairwell benefitting from air conditioning.  Residents parking is available. The property is offered or sale on a long lease, at an asking price of £7,500,000 through the vendor’s sole agent, Beauchamp Estates. Viewings are strictly by appointment only. For further information please contact Beauchamp Estates Tel: +44 (0)20 7499 7722 or visit https://www.beauchamp.com

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