In a surprisingly quiet London street find a red-brick, rectangular building – part of an ex-council block built in the 70s (with no access by car so you’ll have to be happy to lug your suitcase a bit). Inside (shoes off please) you’ll discover an entrance hall is filled with light, oatmeal carpets lead up 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 babbling TV.
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.