Jardines de Oxford

Spanning two floors of a white stucco and blonde brick North Kensington villa, this beautifully configured duplex has space and light in spades.

Bold strokes: this is an apartment that exudes confidence from every angle. In the sweeping reception room, period features blend quietly into the background, allowing clever contemporary revisions to come to the fore: glass balustrades, statement light fittings and a stone feature fireplace. A monochromatic palette of dark stained floors and crisp white walls makes the perfect canvas for a collection of antiques and curiosities, deftly arranged throughout.

An impressive stainless-steel chef-grade kitchen with a large range cooker means entertaining will be effortless in this sleek, well-equipped space. Dim the lights for long drawn-out dinners around the glass dining table. Let gatherings spill outdoors onto the roof terrace, with double doors leading from the hallway. A staircase at either end of the flat takes you upstairs.

One side leads from the hall to a large landing space, roomy enough for a desk or sofa, and currently used as a study. The other leads from the living room to the separate shower room and wood-panelled bathroom. Here, a well-placed skylight over the bath makes this a perfect spot to stargaze from the tub on a clear night. This leads through to the master bedroom – a charming bright room up in the eaves, with reams of storage. A peaceful spot to escape from it all. A second well-sized guest room is located on the lower floor.