Post-modern perfection: Barlby Road

Walking through North Kensington, passers-by might be forgiven for overlooking a modern masterpiece of a house, hiding in plain sight in a street of traditional Victorian terraces. The 4,718 sq ft property is discreetly hidden behind a tall brick wall, with its front façade hidden by timber screens.

Bringing it to life has been quite the experience for its present owner, Alex Bowater, who blended clever design with industrial-chic bespoke interiors – where concrete and steel rub shoulders with rare marble – to create a palatial five-bedroom home that combines practicality with wow factor.

“The ambition was simply to build a really beautiful home, the best house I could possibly create,” says Alex, sitting comfortably by the fire in the expansive reception room. “We wanted it to look almost like an art gallery, with high ceilings and loads of light coming in from a series of courtyards. Everything lines up to make the space perfect.”

The journey began when Alex, now 45, was living in Notting Hill and looking for a larger home for his growing family. He and his wife struggled to find a house that fitted their needs and started to consider building one for themselves. Originally from New Zealand, Alex is an entrepreneur with experience in commercial and residential development. When he noticed an underused site on Barlby Road his interest was piqued. “The frontage of the site measures almost 100ft,” he explains. “It’s about three times the width of a big double-fronted London house, which meant I could create great lateral space.”

Buying the site wasn’t a simple process, though. It didn’t have a single owner, so Alex bought up a series of individual freehold titles and stitched them together. Securing planning permission was an ordeal too, and once granted the build took three and a half years. “We’re in a conservation area, so each step was very, very complicated,” he adds, knowingly.

Newly finished, Barlby Road is for sale and will doubtless appeal to design connoisseurs. As far as conventional houses go the property breaks plenty of rules, but is all the more intriguing for it. Three of the bedroom suites (plus a gym and home cinema) are on the lower ground level, with the main living spaces above. An atrium has been punched through the heart of the house, with a courtyard garden at its base creating dual aspects that flood the house with light.

Upstairs, a remarkable 30ft long reception room flows into the dining area, and on to the open plan kitchen and informal dayroom. All three spaces overlook the various private gardens. Upstairs, via a contemporary, cantilevered central staircase, is the principal bedroom suite with its generously sized bathroom and equally generous walk-in wardrobe.

The interiors are quite something too. Polished concrete floors are teamed with handmade fair-faced concrete that clads the walls and ceilings. The kitchen features corten steel and fine travertine marble, for a pleasing mix of patina and luxury. There are other surprises too, such as the bespoke bar hidden behind a panel in the living room, finished in macassar ebony and pre-wired for DJ decks. “It is hyper-designed and super cool,” Alex says, proud of a decade’s worth of painstaking work.

Despite Alex’s hard graft, the Bowaters won’t be moving into Barlby Road. Before the build they moved out of London, intending to return when their house was ready. But as time passed, so plans changed. “Life moves on,” says Alex. “Our children made friends and our life became established here, so we’re staying put.”

Now, Barlby Road needs a new family to put their stamp on a beautifully designed home – DJ decks and all. “We want the property to be enjoyed,” says Alex. “It was humbling to have the opportunity to create a home of such quality, which no doubt will stand the test of time.”

Barlby Road is on sale with a guide price of £13.75m. Please contact Arthur Lintell in the Notting Hill office to arrange a viewing. arthur.lintell@knightfrank.com / +44 20 7313 9112