In a surprisingly quiet and very leafy north London street find a red-brick, rectangular building – part of an ex-council block built in the 70s. Uninspired? Think again. A lovely, unexpected, entrance hall is filled with light, oatmeal carpets lead up (take your shoes off please) to white walls, wooden floors and a healthy sprinkling of modern art, tapestry, ethnic fabrics, beautiful ceramic objects and city views. There’s a huge balcony/roof terrace running the length of the comfy living room with its glass doors, bringing the outdoors in: find a bench for dreaming, a little table and chairs, pretty pots of flowers and grasses. A simple, beautiful bedroom has pale oak floors, a low bed with a French white linen throw and a splosh of colour from a Tibetan runner hung on the wall; the loo and shower are separate and niftily-designed for extra space. There’s a good pub close but ardent cooks will not be disappointed with the black glossy cupboards in the kitchen and new pots and pans; basic ingredients are all here as this is where the owner lives when you are not there! No TV, get out and about instead.
My time at 225 Salisbury Walk was so very needed. I had just finished a walking trip up north, and to come home to a place that felt like "home" was a gift. It is a beautifully appointed space, with interesting textiles and art along with dried flowers and fresh jasmine scattered about. The weather was quite rainy during my time there, so I was unable to enjoy the balcony overflowing with plants as much as I would like. What I did enjoy immensely was it's proximity to Hampstead Heath and the distance away from the city center. Perfection.