£7.25 million Church House in Knightsbridge cannot be described as anything other than “a hotchpotch”
The former “All Saint’s Church House” – currently known as either “Church House” or more simply “66 Ennismore Gardens” – in Knightsbridge is rather like a curate’s egg and as a result of having been played about with over the years, now features a layout that at best could be described as “a hotchpotch”. It is currently for sale for £7.25 million through agents Farrar.
Located aside both the Libyan Consulate in London and what is now a Russian Orthodox church, this 2,264 square foot freehold house features entrances both from Ennismore Gardens and Ennismore Mews. Reconfigured by various owners, photographs taken in 1977 show it featuring just two residential levels with two garages entered via the mews below whilst a 2009 image shows a second floor extension with a terrace that was added in the ensuing years.
After being sold in 2010 for £5,250,000 as a 2,136 square foot two to three bedroom house, Church House was subsequently converted into a 2,264 square foot house with four bedroom suites. In doing so, bizarrely, what has been created is an odd set of spaces that includes just one reception room dominated by a kitchen in one corner and no garaging at all.
Here, indeed, is proof that redevelopment is not always for the better and here is an example of a property that needs to be taken back to its bare guts.
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What the agent calls the “raised ground floor” should be where the kitchen and dining room is. It wouldn’t be so bad then but that the kitchen is crammed into a corner of that once beautiful room (I love the ceiling) is criminal. Such bad taste and having looked through the brochure, those bedrooms are disgustingly decorated. Money doesn’t buy taste.
The only redeeming feature they’ve installed are the new first floor windows. They are much more in keeping with the neighbourhood. Imagine, however, living next to the Libyans… Not exactly a safe place to be.
It could be amazing. It currently isn’t. I would make the top floor into a sitting room also given the views down Ennismore Mews will be superb and that terrace is great. The lower level should indeed be the kitchen. Penny is right. The first floor provides two perfectly good bedrooms and the ground floor should indeed be a grand drawing room.
How could they get rid of the wet bar on the ground floor? Every house needs a bar! Bad choice, bad decor and a bad layout.
At least they’ve got two Russian icons on the bedroom wall. At least they respect the church.
It’s amazing how many windows have been added and altered. Shame on Kensington and Chelsea Council for not better protecting this building.
I quite like it actually. Cooking is a sociable activity and to enjoy talking to one’s guests whilst doing it is always fun.