Property of the week: a jewel box-like London home listed for £1.595m

Hidden behind the stuccoed terrace front of a Grade II listed townhouse is this contemporary urban oasis.

Making the most of the historic building’s soaring ceilings, Banda Property has converted the first floor apartment into a split-level, one bedroom abode – on the market Domus Nova for £1.595m. Original 19th century details such as the elaborate ceiling cornices have been balanced with modern materials and the addition of a galleried mezzanine.

At the centre of the London property is a large, double-height drawing room, filled with light from a trio of tall windows overlooking a balcony. A small dining nook is upholstered in mustard fabric, while to the rear, the bespoke kitchen is accessed through a pair of folding Crittal doors.

Up the parquet stairs is the bedroom suite, complete with a galleried library, en suite bathroom, and a snug dressing room.

Lancaster Gate was designed in 1857 by Sancton Wood as one of the most elaborate of London’s 19th century housing schemes. The name is thought to refer to a nearby gate leading to Kensington Palace, which was named for the Duchess of Lancaster, AKA Queen Victoria herself. There are other famous former neighbours – Napoleon III’s son, Prince Eugene, stayed at No. 108 in 1872, while Lytton Strachey grew up at No. 69.