A Unique and Elegant large Garden flat Clapham Common London

Originally from Shropshire on the welsh / English borders, Im a country boy at heart, which may explain why Clapham was my choice to have my home, bringing together elements of city and countryside. I had the great fortune to work for British Airways for 20 years which allowed me to see the four corners of the globe. When offered part time at BA, I started to buy, restore and then re sell numerous dilapidated properties or properties that needed a little TLC, it gave me immense satisfaction to restore and improve something.. leaving it in a much improved state and bringing back its beauty. For as long as I can remember, I have had a background and avid interest in all things gardening, (from the age of 5, I was mentored by an elderly neighbour who used to garden for the Queen) This accumulated knowledge flair and passion, I was able to put to good use in property development, I have also designed and installed gardens for friends and was contracted to do a few celebs gardens too... but I always felt that keeping my gardening passion for select situations would allow me to continue to enjoy it without it becoming my main job. I speak French and Spanish and still love to travel, I also have a bichon called Tobi

This property was actually not the original one i was interested in when I was looking for a home in the area... the area attracted me for reasons given above country/ city vibe. When i was looking to buy, there was somewhat of a boom in the market in 2013 The property I originally went to see had a line of people not only to see it but were actively bidding on it, the price went way beyond the asking price and got way out of my price range. the property had been furnished and had nothing left to do to it. I had looked at about 50 properties, so was somewhat disappointed when i could no longer afford it. i was driving back across town to my other flat with my then new puppy Tobi, when an estate agent called me, She said that an apartment had just come on the market and no one had seen it, she told me where it was, I turned the car around and Tobi and I went to see it. The position was amazing overlooking the common, i loved the regency look of the facade. Inside I was blown away by the proportions, especially the lounge that was very grand like a ballroom with its ultra high ceilings, it was in a very sorry, neglected state and the the layout was very strange. then I went to the garden which was just overgrown with trees, you could not see anything. I started walking through, and walking and walking, I couldn't believe how long it was.. so unusual for London. Tobi seemed to like it too. I put an offer in of the asking price only to be told an hour later that a higher offer had gone in, they asked if I wanted to increase my offer, I spoke to the owner told her what had happened with the last place. I said i was fed up of finding then losing houses I had invested so much time and energy in, i just wanted a home for me and my puppy. She accepted my offer and the three year project to make it my home began.

Its history, its grand and fabulous proportions and symmetry: High ceilings, beautifully preserved cornice and original features like its shutters, fire place, skirting boards its enviable place next to the common, its huge back garden,Its elegant facade, its possibilities. It is both airy and light and it has a great vibe and warm feeling. As this was going to be my forever home and because of its uniqueness, this was the culmination of all previous developments, so I realised this would take time and much thought to get right. It also would demand high quality materials and fittings and the finish had to be right, there was also the problem of marrying the old with the new hence the three years it took to finish.. the workers comprised myself and my fantastic builder Eddie. Some of the more exciting secrets of the property were only revealed when work started, in some places the ceilings had been lowered on three successive occasions over the years, presumably to bring heating costs down once upon a time. It was incredible to take them down an reveal and restore the original ornate ceilings and give the flat back its airiness and grandure. This is a very special property and most people who stay in it comment on its uniqueness, even estate agents struggle to put a price on it because they have nothing to compare it to. Im very lucky to call it my home. I hope you will enjoy it as much as i do