Oasis Of Little Venice

On leafy Sutherland Avenue, on the northern edge of exclusive Little Venice, in one of West London’s more serene spots, a seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom mid-terrace house, offering nearly 5,000 square foot of internal living space and two private outdoor areas, is for sale via ASTON CHASE for £9.75 million.

Sutherland Avenue originally formed part of a Regency-era streetscape, designed by architect George Gutch, and was later developed into a wealthy residential street in the Victorian era. The property forms part of an attractive terrace of houses featuring red-brick, stone and stucco façades with parapets, sash windows and Dutch-inspired gable and pedimented roofs.

To the rear, the house has direct access onto the hidden gem of Formosa Garden, a dog-friendly three-acre communal landscaped area, where summer garden parties and firework displays are held.

When the present owners bought the house on Sutherland Avenue approximately 10 years ago, they found it in good condition, but were keen to give the entire home a bespoke makeover that would suit their family’s needs whilst also showcasing their inimitable personal style.

There are five floors of multi-layered contemporary spaces, featuring high ceilings, smart home automation and air-conditioning, within which original features such as the elegant curved Victorian staircase and cornicing have been retained and restored, augmented by a tastefully executed modern decorative scheme.

On the raised ground floor level – where you enter the home – a double-height atrium dramatically divides the space, with a state-of-the-art media room.

Downstairs, on the garden floor, a seamlessly fitted white Bulthaup kitchen with vast kitchen island and pale engineered wood floors merges with a dining area and family room beyond with oversized doorways framed in dark wood to add drama. This space then flows on to the manicured 400 square foot  south-facing private garden.

The first floor is entirely taken up by an airy, minimalist-inspired principal bedroom suite and dressing room, with bold design statements made by materials including marble in the bathrooms and bespoke dark wood cabinetry for collections of designer clothes. A further five bedrooms are arranged over the top two floors, with one currently used as a gym. There is also an office space, which could work well as a children’s playroom, or, for teens, a tucked away snug. At the very top of the home, a large, balustraded roof terrace is the perfect spot for a sundowner, with far-reaching views of the capital.

Immaculate as it is, there is nothing anodyne about this W9 home. The lighting scheme will be particularly inspirational to its next owners, with spotlights, pendant lights and recessed LEDs in alcoves used to create different atmospheres in rooms and mark transitions between spaces.

Little Venice is part of the picturesque residential enclave of Maida Vale, at the junction of the Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal, the Regent’s Canal and the entrance to Paddington Basin. Little Venice is believed to have been named by poet-resident Robert Browning after a trip to Italy – has a uniquely romantic appeal, with its glittering waterways, brightly coloured houseboats, floating cafes, art galleries and theatres.

Appealing to the affluent, the artistic and the unconventional, the area’s white stucco and red brick homes, just a brief but scenic canalside walk from Paddington Station, are increasingly in high demand by young discerning buyers that may once have looked to Notting Hill.

Though rarely used these days as a means of commercial transport, Little Venice’s canals are still play an active role the area’s cultural life, and make the perfect backdrop to the garden squares and streets of stucco and red brick houses that surround them – a unique appeal that has lured in famous residents, past and present, including Alan Turing, Nancy Mitford, Richard Branson, Björk and Kate Moss.

The area’s scenic qualities are high on film set designers’ radar: opposite Sutherland Avenue, on the other side of Formosa Garden, pivotal scenes from 2014 film Paddington were filmed, starring Hugh Bonneville, Ben Whishaw and Sally Hawkins.

A thriving, practical and eclectic range of shops and restaurants means residents rarely need to venture far from their neighbourhood. The Prince Alfred, with its Victorian etched glass, mahogany bar and skylit dining room, is a local favourite, and on Clifton Road there are supermarkets, a specialist butcher, artisan bakery and The Winery, an upmarket bottle shop set within a former Victorian apothecary.

The boutiques and eateries of St John’s Wood and Westbourne Grove are an easy stroll away, as are several Japanese restaurants, the craft beer and late-night bars of Merchant Square at Paddington Basin and an Everyman Cinema.

For families and sports lovers, Paddington Recreation Ground – Maida Vale’s main park – has a football/hockey pitch, athletics track and nature trail, and is within a 10-minute walk; Lord’s Cricket Ground is within 20-minutes. There is also a first-class selection of both state and independent schools.

Mark Pollack, Co-Founder and Director of ASTON CHASE, says: “Behind the perfectly preserved Victorian facade this Sutherland Avenue home offers the perfect juxtaposition of period and contemporary features. Its owners’ exacting improvements over the past 10 years means every inch of its near-5,000 square foot of living space, as well as its two private outside areas, is in immaculate condition, with a layout that suits both a large family and those that work from home.

The property will inevitably suit buyers from both music and media industries, younger Fintech entrepeneurs and hedge fund / asset managers, attracted by the individuality of the property despite the low profile façade.”

Sutherland Avenue is available for sale for £9,750,000

www.astonchase.com