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Handsome, dignified, and rich with history, this remarkable Grade II-listed Victorian townhouse in Islington spans three floors. Built in 1848 as part of a smart terrace of five unique homes, it remains set apart with its partly stepped-back silhouette, distinctive sash windows with margin lights, and elegant wrought-iron railings.

Inside, period details such as original pine floorboards, ornate cornicing, ceiling roses, and cast-iron fireplaces serve as the architectural backbone. Yet it’s the considered interplay between these historic elements and some careful considered modern design interventions that brings the space alive.

The lower-ground floor kitchen and dining room form a practical, charming heart to the home. Crisp white cabinetry is anchored by a large marble-topped island with a deep butler’s sink. A walk-in pantry adds storage, while a utility room sits neatly to the rear.

To act as contrast we brought in  a glossy black industrial-legged table, paired with iconic 1960s Les Arcs leather and chrome chairs. The dining table is finished with a Lena Bergstrom ‘Squeeze’ vase filled with  red foliage. A teak sideboard adds warmth to the white palette, grounding the room with organic richness.

As with many of our stagings we have not been able to hang paintings or mirrors on newly plastered walls. But  things don’t have to be perfectly placed to feel right. A painting leant against the wall, a grand mirror casually propped instead of hung—these gestures give the room a feeling of being trapped in a snapshot of time just waiting for some owners to come in and start the clock again.

Alvar Aalto stools lend monochrome contrast to the breakfast bar, and lead the eye back into the space.

A curved sash window at the rear of the interlinked double reception room on the ground floor floods the space with garden views.

 Shelves are treated like painterly still lifes—filled with hand-covered white ‘ghost’ books and eclectic objects in ceramic, metal, and glass. A C19 desk and bentwood chair positioned by the garden-facing window break the room into zones and frame a peaceful view.

 

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On entering g the place we wanted clients to  feel like part of a still life painting.

At the other end of the sitting room we brought in a Berber rug and worked around the owner’s large blue velvet sofa and tangerine arm chair. A mahogany coffee table and dots of detail, painterly strokes if you like, were added  around the place, a basket of logs by the fire, some Rosenthal ceramic candlesticks. A floor standing lamp with Klint style shade draws the eye back to the view outside. A graphic blue print breaks up the huge expanse of dove grey on the wall.

 

Upstairs, three bedrooms unfold in muted tones.

The largest faces the street with tall built-in cupboards,

while the rear bedroom echoes the curved sash window motif below and features a romantic window seat. In the attic, beneath the roof’s gentle slope, a third bedroom offers treetop views across Islington.

The adjoining bathroom feels indulgent and serene, with green-painted panelling, a cast-iron roll-top bath, and a simple milking stool beside it. Slim shelves are dressed with baskets and trailing plants, while a bath bomb in a bowl perfumes the air—gentler and more evocative than any soap wood.

Outside, a winding garden invites quiet contemplation. Mature planting and secret pockets reveal themselves along meandering paths, perfect for al fresco dining or simply admiring the home’s distinctive silhouette.

In the Neighbourhood
St Peter’s Street sits between the buzz of Upper Street and the calm of Regent’s Canal. Pophams Bakery, Towpath Café, The Duke of Cambridge, and beloved local favourite The Baring are all close by—adding everyday ease to this enchanting home.

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Styling by Petra Curtis & Lucy Ryder Richardson
Modern Shows Property Staging
modernshowspropertystaging.com
Lucy@modernshows.com