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Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Architecture Wednesday: The Observatory

Welcome to The Observatory, a light-filled three-bedroom penthouse apartment in Fulham. That offers an expansive 2,700 square feet plan and a private roof terrace with 360-degree views across London, as well as a downstairs garage.

The apartment occupies the upper levels of a former paint factory and has a fantastic sense of volume and scale throughout. You enter through a gated foyer through which you can also access the double garage why a key-activated lift provides secure access to the fourth floor, directly into the apartment.

 An open-plan kitchen, dining and living room occupies much of the apartment's lower level, extending over 55 feet in length with soaring vaulted ceilings, exposed timber trusses and steel beams. Two sets of French doors open to enclosed balconies and light pours through a wonderful arched Crittall window at one end of the space. A breakfast bar separates the dining area from the kitchen, which has Corian worktops arranged around a kitchen island and a stainless-steel Brittania range cooker.

There are three double bedrooms, all with built-in wardrobes and Crittal windows in painted-brick surrounds. The main bedroom opens from the living room through full-height doors between floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. From here, there is access to a generous bathroom with a walk-in shower and steam room, beautifully tiled in mosaics, with underfloor heating and illuminated by two skylights. The bathroom has secondary access from the dining area through a short hall separating a utility room and guest WC.

There are two bedrooms at the south-east end of the apartment, reached via a hallway that turns with the curve of a glass-brick wall. Both bedrooms have skylights and the larger has glazed doors onto a balcony, as well as a built-in wardrobe, bookshelves and desk area. A recently renovated bathroom is shared by the two rooms, with marble floors and a large walk-in shower.

A steel spiral staircase ascends from the dining area to another living room within the extended apex of the glazed roof. This has maple flooring and glazed sliding doors at each end, opening to two huge terraces with incredible, uninterrupted views of London in all directions. A new irrigation system has been added and there is new decking throughout.

All this can be yours for £2.750 or 3.71M USD. I’m available for visits … or if you prefer to simply gift it to me for Christmas?

As always click to emBIGGERate …

19 comments:

  1. Not too much in love with the outside, but I could make do very nicely with the inside! LOVED the kitchen and all the wood floors. The built in bookcases are a very nice touch. The beams are nice too. The windows and nice light....yes I could get comfortable there.

    On a side note...I LOVE the collage of pictures on the wall. I love doing that in my house on big walls.

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    1. I like that the outside gives you no hint of what's going on inside! It's a nice surprise!

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  2. Light and bright and airy - what's not to love? And that rooftop terrace? Yes, please!

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    1. You and I are on the same page!

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  3. Cleora Borealis10:06 AM

    🎅🎁 Ooh! Feels like a xmas gift to just view this place! Lots of light and white with just the right amount of wood accents and colors! Rainfall showers, glass brick walls and the indoor/outdoor terrace...I'm all atingle!! 🤩😁

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    1. A'tingle is a good thing to be; it means you must buy the space and invite Carlos and me for a looooooong visit!

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  4. Anonymous10:27 AM

    the dog's mother
    xoxo :-)

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  5. There are things I love. But I hate spiral staircases like that. They look nice, but I find them a pain to climb and especially to descend. SG’s size 15s are especially problematic on those. Also, I like the look of the angled ceilings but I’d get a concussion on Day 1 (and again on 2, 3, etc.). I’ll just buy it for you instead.

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    1. I agree about the staircase, though I don't think there's lots of room for a standard riser. I loathe the spiral; one two many Bob-a-ritas and I am tumbling down!

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  6. What a view from that rooftop!

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    1. And having both indoor and outdoor spaces!! Yes, please!!

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  7. A few thoughts:

    *You had me at "former paint factory."

    *"360-degree views across London. I am in.

    *I don't know what "double bedrooms" mean, but I gather they are large, oversized... I like that in a lot of things. I can go with it.

    *I would enjoy the large windows and light coming in. I am certain they are brought up to today's standards and will keep out the rain and chill of London winters.

    *Let's talk about those beams. I like the rustic, factory look of everything, so I don't want them gone, just a little love and attention, so they don't slap you in the face.

    *I don't know about the kitchen and the slanted ceiling. I am 6 feet 1 on a good day, and I don't know if I can do my kitchen stuff on that counter. I see other spaces where I could work.

    *The bedroom built-ins are to die for. I would love to have a bedroom that could accommodate that. I have always hated clutter. I like things put away. Hell, I can't even leave my house with stuff in the sink or go to bed for that matter.

    *The windows in the bedrooms are amazing. I could see myself there in the morning, getting ready for the day, buck naked, cupping a cup of coffee or whatnot.

    *The rooftop entertaining space is to die for. Great for gatherings, reading, and getting some sun. I would see if I could put a dorm-type fridge up there, a grill, and some running water so that I don't have to trek up and down to get things.

    *I am glad the house will be empty if I decide to purchase because that desk area with those colored books has to go. I could think of so many things to trick out that area.

    Thank you for giving us a Christmas Eve treat. Merry Christmas to you and Carlos, and the VERY BEST of the new year!! 🎅🌲❄️🎄🎁

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    1. I could deal with the lower ceilings in that one part of the kitchen just for the sake of the rest of the space.

      Merry Merry, to you too!

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  8. I don't like the beams. I don't like the angle which tends to eliminate usable floor space. Otherwise this is quite nice.

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    1. WTF???
      There are dormer windows in several spots to give you more floorspace and the beams are the texture the space needs!

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  9. I'll give this lovely place to you for Christmas. The check is in the mail.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. The cats and Carlos and I are ready to sip wine on the roof as the sun goes down!!
      xoxo

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  10. Anonymous5:06 PM

    Charmant pied-à-terre à Londres.
    Ce serait un loft d’artiste parfait.
    -Beau Mec à Deauville

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    1. Charming pied-à-terre in London.
      It would make a perfect artist's loft.
      -Handsome Guy in Deauville

      And don't get me started on that rooftop space!!!

      Et ne me lancez pas sur cet espace sur le toit !!!

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