The unique marriage of a Georgian gem with a modern mews

Holland Street is one of Kensington’s most attractive addresses. Placed midway between Kensington Gardens and Holland Park, it is lined with a mix of Georgian and Victorian terraces and townhouses. One of those Georgian properties has been recently renovated to an exceptionally high standard, blending the rich history of the neighbourhood with a sublime contemporary aesthetic.

From the outside, the house has the same variegated brickwork and stuccoed lower levels as its neighbours. However, when you step inside, you discover spacious rooms, unobstructed sightlines and a sense of flowing movement between the different living areas. While some of the classical details have been retained – the wooden floors, an elegant cornice – these are mixed with modern touches to create a unique interior.

Georgian architecture is characterised by its use of light and space. During the eighteenth century, changes in glassmaking made possible larger and more numerous windows for everyday buildings. Houses were constructed to take advantage of daylight, with open and symmetrical layouts. Similarly, the furniture and furnishings were chosen to emphasise the brightness and space.

The interiors of this property draw on the same principles. Its traditional sash windows have been mixed with skylights, pavement lights and a glazed rear extension to fill the house with sunshine. At the same time, the minimalist decoration has been enhanced by carefully selected materials, such as bespoke Venetian plaster finishes for the walls, and a mix of antique and reclaimed marble or stone for the different rooms.

At the same time, the house contains up-to-date conveniences of the highest quality. For instance, the Arc Linea Kitchens features Gaggenau, Wolf, Sub Zero, and Miele appliances. Also, the house contains LED lighting, patinated Forbes & Lomax electrical fittings, underfloor heating and a Sonos music system with freestanding and built-in speakers throughout.

As well as contemporary comforts, the house also comes with a mews on the far side of the courtyard garden, designed by Mosley Thorold architects. Although newly built, its design echoes the classical proportions of the main property, along with glass doors framed in Corten steel to match the rear extension. Inside, you will find a self-contained living space with bedroom, kitchen reception room, and a generous library on the basement floor offering a hidden cinema with motorised screen, projector and surround sound.

All these changes have been made with deep sensitivity to the fabric of the property and the history of the neighbourhood. The first houses on Holland Street were built in 1724, when the road was known as Parson’s Yard, after the local manor Parsonage House. A Kensington bricklayer named John Jones bought the manor and the surrounding acres, and over the next decade constructed a street of traditional Georgian terraces.

At the time, Kensington was a village outside London. However, since the late seventeenth century, Kensington Palace had been a favoured residence of the royal family. According to one story, the street was home to several ladies-in-waiting during the Georgian Era, and there were even rumours of underground tunnels connecting the houses to the royal residence.

Holland Street was renamed in the early 1800s, after the large house and park to the west. Over the years, it acquired a cultured reputation, with the novelist and poet Radclyffe Hall living at No.37, and the artist and illustrator Walter Crane living at No.13. More recently, the musician Jimmy Page – founder of Led Zeppelin – owned an occult bookshop on the street in the Seventies.

Today the street is home to a collection of charming shops with a focus on interiors. These include the sophisticated gallery Willer and the delightful design store Eight Holland Street. Despite its central location, the address has a quiet and secluded feel, with the shops adding to the village-like atmosphere.

These influences can be glimpsed inside the house for sale with Russell Simpson. Modern comfort and up-to-date style have been seamlessly incorporated into the Georgian interiors, blending the classical aesthetics of the period and the creative history of Holland Street with a tasteful, contemporary design.

View Holland Street & Camel Court here.