Homer Street

MARYLEBONE, W1

A prefect pied a terre in London’s Marylebone, the five storey period house extends to 1,329 sq ft and was owned by Artist and milliner extraordinaire David Shilling.

This stylish London home benefits from Shilling’s artistic eye and presents a very unique modernisation of a period property. Since initial fame as milliner to the uber glamorous ‘in’ crowd, David Shilling has evolved into a respected fine artist and is represented by the Redfern Gallery in Cork Street, London and Ferrero Gallery, Nice. His latest projects now also encompass contemporary music.

Homer Street is in the Marylebone district of the City of Westminster that runs from Old Marylebone Road in the north to Crawford Street in the South. The street is one of those in the Portman Estate part of Marylebone with classical names, such as Cato Street and Virgil Place, all believed to be inspired by Edward

Homer, who was a friend of John Simon Harcourt who owned the land on which the streets were built.

The mid-terrace, period property in Homer Street exudes the stylish input of Shilling who has brought his grand style to the interior and layout of the property, making this an exceptional London home. The property itself extends to 1,329 sq ft and is split across five stories.

Entering the property on the ground floor, into a classic entrance hall, immediately to the right is the formal dining room, with period fireplace and aspect to the front. To the rear of the hall is a guest cloakroom, with shower, and stairs down to the eat-in kitchen and utility space.

The contemporary styled kitchen is the perfect place for hosting informal lunches and suppers, with an enchanting view of an intimate courtyard and the secret outdoor seating area in the vaulted store, prefect for keeping cool. Off the kitchen is the service area with dishwasher and sink, beyond which is the utility space.

The main reception is located on the first floor, with grand period fireplace and double windows offering views to the front, with stairs rising to the second floor where there is a family bathroom and second bedroom. Continuing up to the third floor the master bedroom, with en-suite shower room provides direct access to the roof terrace, via a domed skylight.

David Shilling decorated Homer Street with a magical mix of contemporary flair and a nod to the origins of the house. 200 years old, reputedly it was first constructed as a home for a family fleeing the French Revolution, hence the reason for such a modestsized house. However, the proportions of the lay-out are quite grandiose with generous ceiling heights.

David Shilling said: “Even after 15 years of living in Monaco people still say to me they expect I will come back to live in London one day. While I love how the house is presently, a great blend of contemporary design with a hint of its origins, and I have even managed to incorporate a covered ‘smoking area’, moving back to London isn’t going to happen.”

“It is time for a new owner to benefit from and enjoy this super house, which has given me so much over the years. It is perfectly located a few minutes from the Heathrow Express at Paddington Station, the Eurostar at St Pancras/ King’s Cross and all the amenities of Marylebone High Street and the heart of the West End so close. The advent of Cross Rail will also further reduce travel time across London from Paddington Station.”