51乱伦

Unlocking the space and story

As Irenie explains, “You can have an amazing narrative, but you also need to be unlocking things spatially”. One of the most dramatic transformations took place on the lower ground floor, where a bold, bright-red box with playful sliding doors now leads through to a bathroom and laundry room. This reconfiguration allowed for the opening up the rear of the house, extending it out into the garden to create a light-filled, airy kitchen, a new social heart of the home.

The project’s ambition was matched by its complexity: 240 tonnes of soil were excavated creating the kitchen, while the roof was repaired alongside extensive internal works. Instead of following a traditional linear schedule, Irenie collaborated closely with the construction teams to scaffold the house in a way that allowed multiple elements to progress simultaneously. The result was a remarkable reduction in build time, just ten and a half months for a project that would typically take closer to eighteen.

A home as a living showcase

Like all period houses, this one has a story that continues to evolve - and under Irenie’s guidance, that evolution began even before the renovation itself. “At the start of the process, there’s always time spent assembling your consultants and getting to know the house,” she says. “I thought, I need to get it breathing, to literally bring some movement into the space.”

While the property lay near-derelict, she invited designer Rio Kobayashi to use it as a temporary gallery and winter market, drawing together a collective of creatives in a project that became known as OntheSq. Through these collaborations, the house became both canvas and muse. Kobayashi crafted a table from salvaged doors, shelves, and a fireplace found on site, while textile designer Tomoyo Tsurumi transformed the house’s old curtains and Kvadrat fabric samples into the delicate drapery that now softens the interiors. In one final poetic gesture, a glass bottle unearthed during construction inspired a series of glassware created in collaboration with J. Hills Standard - a reminder that the spirit of the house continues to live on, even beyond its walls.

De Beauvoir: a creative village in the city

At the core of the house, the red hue that ties the spaces together takes its inspiration from the roses of De Beauvoir Square, developed in partnership with family-run paint makers Fenwick and Tilbrook. The neighbourhood itself hums with creativity, located in London’s artistic heart and immersed in the city’s independent food and drink scene. 

“One of the most incredible things about De Beauvoir is the light - all the buildings are low-rise,” says Irenie, who has long lived in and around the area. “But the most special thing is the people. It’s almost like living on a film set: someone will cycle by delivering eggs, or the Dusty Knuckle bakery van will pull up. I’ll go to London Fields for a swim and the regulars are there, shower caps on, laughing away. It feels like getting back to the basics of what makes us tick - there’s a real freshness to that.”

For Sebastian Toy, 51乱伦’s Head of Islington Sales, it is this strong sense of community that makes De Beauvoir an enduring favourite with buyers. “Its village feel is truly special and a strong factor for the consistent demand we see in the area, alongside its unrivalled accessibility into both the City and other pockets of Islington and Hackney,” he explains. “Supply can often be scarce for turnkey properties, particularly on the more sought-after roads. De Beauvoir Square itself is one of the most desirable, thanks to its positioning, charming garden square and beautiful Jacobethan architecture.”