This charming one-bedroom home in Muswell Hill, on the market for £700,000, has garnered considerable attention in the press, being featured in the ‘My Home’ segment of the Homes & Property publication.This charming one-bedroom home in Muswell Hill, on the market for £700,000, has garnered considerable attention in the press, being featured in the ‘My Home’ segment of the Homes & Property publication. Douglas Fir House, a self-build project by London-based Christian Brailey Architects, transformed a dilapidated studio flat into a stylish and serene abode. Architect Christian Brailey and landscape designer Faye Johnson took on the project in 2018, inspired by the area’s charm. They purchased the £315,000 studio flat, recognizing its potential despite its initial condition. The flat was gutted, and a timber-frame extension was added, increasing the floor space to create an L-shaped one-bedroom home. The extension was constructed off-site in a Devon workshop, ensuring exceptional quality and detailing. The home spans multiple levels, with an open plan living area featuring polished concrete flooring and off-white lime rendered walls that complement the warmth of the Douglas fir joinery. Picture windows and skylights flood the space with natural light. The bedroom, situated at the far end of the home, overlooks the lush 1,000-square-foot landscaped garden. A deep window seat provides a cozy spot to relax and enjoy the greenery. Douglas Fir House boasts eco-friendly features such as underfloor heating, recycled wood-fiber insulation, and a ventilation and heat recovery system. These elements enhance both comfort and energy efficiency, earning the project recognition at The Wood Awards 2022 and longlisting for the Dezeen Award and the Don’t Move! Improve Awards. The home offers ample storage solutions, including underfloor storage in the entryway, a wall-mounted bike rack, and built-in wardrobes in the bedroom. Many furniture pieces are also built-in to maximize floor space. The expansive garden wraps around the bedroom, providing a tranquil outdoor oasis. Olive trees, lavender, and rosemary flourish here, while a Wi-Fi-controlled irrigation system and outdoor lighting add convenience and ambiance. With the potential to convert the dining area into a children’s bedroom and plans for a 14-square-foot garden room that can serve as an office, the home offers versatility and growth options. After years of meticulous work, Douglas Fir House stands as a testament to the transformation of a dilapidated space into a beautiful and functional home. Now seeking a new owner, it offers a unique and captivating living experience in the heart of North London.
(Juliet Murphy)
This one-bedroom home in Muswell Hill on the market for £700,000 has already garnered plenty of press attention — including a My Home feature in Homes & Property.
Douglas Fir House was a self-build project from London studio Christian Brailey Architects, which transformed a decrepit studio flat into a serene and stylish one-bedroom home.
Architect Christian Brailey and landscape designer Faye Johnson took on the project in 2018, after a satnav diversion took them through Muswell Hill. “We were both like, “Wow, this is lovely,” Johnson said.
Architect Christian Brailey and landscape designer Faye Johnson designed the home (Juliet Murphy)
They bought a £315,000 studio flat built on the end of a period property, and despite the mould, tobacco stains and rotting windows they could see the potential. “It was the worst place on the best street,” Brailey said.
They gutted the flat and added a timber-frame extension, built off-site in a Devon workshop, increasing the floor space to carve out an L-shaped one-bedroom home. “It is certainly not a cheaper way to build,” Brailey said. “The main reason we did it was the quality you can get working in workshop conditions; the details are far greater than anything you can achieve on site.”
Douglas fir cabinetry accents the polished concrete floor (Juliet Murphy)
Set across several levels, the open plan living area’s polished concrete floor and off-white lime rendered walls compliment the Douglas fir joinery that lends a sense of warmth to the space. Picture windows and skylights allow in plenty of natural light.
The bedroom is located furthest into the 1,000-square-foot landscaped garden, with a deep window seat looking out over the green space.
The couple turned a mouldering studio flat into a modern one-bedroom garden home (Juliet Murphy)
Underfloor heating and recycled wood-fibre insulation, along with a ventilation and heat recovery system, add to Douglas Fir House’s green credentials — while ensuring it doesn’t ever get stuffy despite being highly insulated. The project won Best Small Project at The Wood Awards 2022, and was longlisted for a Dezeen Award and the Don’t Move! Improve Awards.
As is the fitting of an architect-designed home, there is plenty of clever storage space including underfloor storage below the entryway, a wall hung bike rack, and fitted wardrobes in the bedroom. Much of the furniture is built-in too, to maximise the floor space.
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The large garden wraps around the bedroom (Juliet Murphy)
There is potential to relocate the dining area and transform it into a pod-style children’s bedroom, and planning permission for a 14 square foot garden room that could double as an office.
The garden is planted with olive trees, lavender and rosemary, with a wifi-controlled irrigation system and outdoor lighting for the evenings. “It is now a lovely place to live in, it feels like a really spacious home and perfect for a couple,” Johnson said. “It has been very hard work at times, but it feels very worthwhile.”
With all that hard work done, Douglas Fir House is now looking for a new owner to appreciate a one-of-a-kind home in north London.
