Beautifully renovated, this characterful apartment combines leafy views with considered, contemporary interiors, set within one of north London’s most architecturally distinctive estates.
Positioned on Upper Bardsey Walk — an elevated walkway within the Marquess Estate in Canonbury, designed by architects Darbourne and Darke — the home is accessed via a communal staircase.
Arranged across the second and third floors, the apartment has its own front door opening onto a paved patio, a practical and private spot for growing plants and vegetables.
Inside, a resin floor made from sustainable cork and natural oils runs throughout the lower level, forming a seamless base that complements the home’s natural material palette. The entrance hall is thoughtfully planned with coat hooks, shoe storage and a generous utility cupboard, ensuring the living spaces remain calm and uncluttered.
An open roundhead doorway leads into the open-plan kitchen and living area, where three large sash windows frame views across the New River Walk. The green backdrop is subtly echoed in the apartment’s cabinetry, creating a calm, cohesive feel.
The bespoke plywood kitchen is a standout feature, with open shelving and integrated appliances including a fridge, freezer and dishwasher. Opposite sits a terrazzo-topped island on wheels, allowing the layout to shift easily between cooking, dining and working.
Upstairs, the bedroom is a serene retreat with soothing grey-green walls and dual-aspect windows. Full height built-in wardrobes line one wall, while the opposite side incorporates a built-in desk or dressing table — a clever use of space in a compact footprint. The adjacent shower room brings contrast and character, finished in exuberant confetti-like terrazzo tiles. Underfloor heating and a heated mirror add everyday practicality.
Rumer Neill, the appraiser, describes the apartment as ‘a brilliant example of how exceptional materials and a keen eye for detail can bring warmth and texture to a compact set of spaces’. She notes that ‘a cohesive palette of natural materials including terrazzo, resin and ply creates a calm, contemporary aesthetic, which works in clever contrast to the striking exterior brickwork of the 1960s estate.’
Residents also have access to a large communal garden at the centre of the estate. Beyond that, Upper Street, Canonbury and Dalston are all within walking distance, alongside Highbury Fields and Clissold Park. Highbury & Islington station, and Essex Road and Canonbury Overground provide access to central London.
This apartment is on the market for £490,000 via The Modern House.
Take a look inside...
Follow House Beautiful on TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest
The Kerb Appeal Edit
Primrose Gunmetal Black Galvanised Zinc Rectangular Garden Planter
Long Ornate Iron Black Rubber Entrance Doormat
