Attic attack: remarkable rooms in the roof

Paul Travers

Rooms in the roof have a special, lofty quality all of their own, and you can find remarkable examples in all manner of homes.

To prove that point, this week’s selection of unique homes includes a thatched country cottage, an industrial East End loft, a contemporary live-work studio house and a mixed-use Sussex retreat, with a diverse age range from the 1600s to the 21st century. They might have their differences, but they all have rooms with perfect pitch!

Heart and sole

A masterclass in authentic, rugged and atmospheric urban living, this duplex 1,151 sq ft loft in London Fields was created from a former shoe factory once occupied by Clarks.

If you like your building fabric fully exposed and find an overly-polished interior a bit of a turn-off, you’ll be in seventh heaven here. Brick, concrete and timber are all around along with industrial windows and a wonderfully rugged aesthetic.

£1,200,000 – click here to discover Tudor Road

Retreat to Rye

So many people we meet hold a secret wish of running a retreat from home in a picturesque, accessible and thriving location, but have no idea where to look. If that sounds like you, perhaps your search starts here.

Currently used as a successful wellness studio with beautiful residential accommodation, this mixed-use building of 2,738 sq ft in the town centre of medieval Rye in Sussex is ready to put your dream into action.

£1,100,000 – click here to discover Cinque Ports Street

Peak practice

This architect-designed live work house of almost 2,500 sq ft is witness to the remarkable regeneration of Elephant & Castle and occupies an ideal spot for enjoying a Zone 1 creative’s lifestyle.

Currently used as studio space on two floors with a single floor of residential, the interior has been designed for maximum flexibility to configure the rooms and the split between living and working zones to your own requirements.

£2,000,000 – click here to discover Morecombe Street

Country life

The whitewashed bedrooms in the roofline of this 17th-century cottage are true havens of sleep in half an acre of gardens in the peaceful village of Broxted in Essex.

Downstairs meanwhile, there’s tons of lovely exposed timber on show in the ceilings of the ground-floor living spaces, while outside couldn’t get more chocolate-box if it tried with those gorgeous leaded windows and thatched roof.