This arts and crafts house, built in 1902, sits on a quiet lane in Finchley in north London. Positioned at the end of the terrace, it is set back from the road amid beautifully landscaped gardens, giving it a village-like feeling. The unusual street name, Crooked Usage, is believed to have Anglo-Saxon origins with ‘usage’ referring to a strip of grass between fields. The four-bedroom house unfolds over 1,400 sq ft and has a new 200 sq ft garden studio at the back. The interiors have been finished to a high standard throughout using a calm, neutral palette, which highlights the incredible historic details that have been carefully preserved. The house has planning permission for sizeable extensions to enlarge the internal living space to approximately 1,950 sq ft. Details can be found here.

Setting the Scene

Set back from the road with a wide front curtilage, the white-washed house is approached through a front gate and path leading to flagstone-paved steps. Luscious greenery and flowering gardens lend additional privacy and sense of seclusion while shielding a pretty patio from view. In true arts and crafts style, the house is constructed asymmetrically using local materials, finished in a roughcast render with a clay pantile roof. The thoughtful craftsmanship is reflected in the original timber-framed windows and front door, which are painted a lovely shade of green. With only two owners in its 120-year history, there is a palpable sense of continuity and care for the home’s interiors. For more information, please see the History section.

The Grand Tour

The main entrance opens to a reception area, where a sliding door leads to a spacious dining and living room with expansive glazing framing outstanding views over the garden. Both rooms are painted a neutral off-white, creating warm, cosy living spaces. There is bespoke built-in shelving for storage. A large, mirrored wall panel in the dining room reflects light and original crown mouldings adorn the ceilings.

The reception room and dining room both lead onto the long kitchen and breakfast room, which stretches from the front of the house to the rear. Light pours in from a window over the sink, overlooking the verdant front garden, while French doors open onto a decked terrace outside. The kitchen’s fresh white paint and white tiles create a clean palette, while original timber shelving serves as the perfect display for crockery and cookbooks. Another door leads from the kitchen to a covered area with a small storage shed and further garden space.

To the rear of the garden is the house’s newest addition, a bespoke 200 sq ft garden studio. Wrapped in burnt larch cladding, which uses the Japanese weatherproofing technique of Shou Sugi Ban, the design echoes the timber panelling inside the house. The interiors of the studio have been left purposely rustic, with the walls finished in raw plaster, exposed beams and painted plywood floors. Equipped with a modern composting toilet, the studio is fully insulated and has a wood-burning stove, making it usable year-round. It is topped with a living sedum roof, making it a private retreat from the busy world beyond.

In the house, a staircase next to the reception room conceals a convenient WC. Upstairs, a wide landing is backed by a wall with mid-century floor-to-ceiling pine panelling. On one end of the landing is the primary bedroom. Here, windows give views over the front and back gardens. A large built-in wardrobe stretches along one wall, with a dedicated vanity and separate dressing area. Two further bedrooms with wall-to-wall wardrobes can be found on the first floor, as well as a bathroom and separate WC. The bathroom has retained its wraparound white square tiling, echoing the kitchen downstairs, which together with the warm pine panelling invokes a Scandinavian charm.

From the central landing, an open-tread wooden staircase leads to the fourth bedroom and its en suite bathroom, which is tucked into the eaves. The bedroom features the same pine panelling on the walls and ceiling, which is painted a cool light grey. Three large west-facing windows look out over the rear garden, making this attic room an oasis of tranquility and calm.

The Great Outdoors

The large rear garden is accessed via a path on the side of the house; the deck is the perfect size for entertaining and there is an expansive lawn is beyond. Mature landscaping stretches around the perimeter of the garden, including established roses, magnolia, peonies, hydrangeas and sweet-smelling jasmine. One pear tree remains of the original orchard garden, providing shelter to a variety of local birds.

Out & About

Crooked Usage is a short walk from the local amenities and travel links of both Finchley and Temple Fortune high streets. Highly regarded schools are located within close proximity. Finchley Central Underground Station (Northern Line) is an 18-minute walk away, providing links into the city and the West End in about 30 minutes.

Regent’s Park Road is a lively thoroughfare leading down towards Golders Green; it has a wide range of shops, pubs and cafes. Seconds from Finchley Central Tube station is Tintico, an excellent coffee shop; Finchley Kitchen, serving delicious Tex-Mex cuisine; and Monica’s, a superb takeaway spot known for its jerk chicken. The Persian community has long been in the area and has an array of bakeries, restaurants and shops. These include Balady Alaesh, near Golders Green, which serves delicious homemade Middle Eastern cuisine. Just a bit further down the road towards East Finchley is the must-visit Margot Bakery, which stocks freshly baked sourdough all week.

The house is close to the green spaces of Hendon and Finchley golf courses, Dollis Valley Greenwalk, Windsor Open Space and Brent River Park, offering countless walking, running and cycle paths. Cultural attractions include Stephens House and Gardens, a beautiful Grade ll-listed house with extensive landscaped gardens gifted to the public by Henry Charles ‘Inky’ Stephens of the Stephens’ Ink Company. Stephens is also home to Inky’s Stables Cafe, a popular weekend brunch spot. The Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture at Middlesex University and the Royal Air Force Museum can be reached in just 20 minutes by bus, perfect for a day out.

Council Tax Band: G