The iconic The Round House (opens in new tab) in West London's Kensington Olympia is now available to rent as a stylish holiday home. If the home ring familiar to you, it's because this property has graced the pages of Livingetc magazine, and has featured here (opens in new tab) online too – though by the looks of things the property has seen some new updates since we last saw it.
Designed by architect Michaelis Boyd (opens in new tab) – the same designer behind Soho Farmhouse, Tom's Kitchen, Duddell's restaurant (opens in new tab) and The Electric Cinema to name a few – the minimalistic London home features a firefighter’s pole in the kitchen and a slide down the stairs. Hey, nobody said minimalism couldn't also be fun.
Available for rent through onefinestay.com (opens in new tab), the striking home sits on the site of a former MOT centre. It's now an 8 bedroom, 4 bathroom home with enviable interiors.
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An off-road drive takes you to the front door of this curved property.
The house is an architectural gem. This eight-bedroom house was constructed with a ground floor beneath two circular towers and connected by a staircase ‘bridge’. There’s an entrance hall, WC, kitchen-diner, living room and office on the ground floor. The first tower has a bedroom, shower room and utility room on the first floor, and the main bedroom suite, with a shower room and separate WC on the second floor. The other tower has three bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor and a further three bedrooms and bathroom on the second floor. Each tower has a roof terrace and garden and there’s also a courtyard garden with an outdoor swimming pool on the ground floor.
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The property’s curved towers are linked by an external covered staircase – the bridge – to avoid blocking out light from the neighbours. The radical shape has turned the house into a talking point.
Using traditional building materials whilst showcasing modern design, the house demonstrates that new builds can be imaginative and need not sacrifice style.
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From slides and a pool, to hidden areas and a fireman’s pole which mischievously connects the ground and first floor, there are plenty of playful details that elevate the project to a truly bespoke piece of residential architecture.
The entrance hall leads into an open-plan living area, with a state-of-the-art kitchen at one end.
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Walking past its long dining tables (set beside leather benches), you’ll come to a sitting room with stylish seats, a few accomplished artworks and access to the garden and blue-tiled swimming pool.
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The interiors are all whitewashed walls, blonde wood floors and wide windows. The decor has an almost powdery softness, given definition with black-framed internal and external glazing. The plaster has a rustic honesty plus it absorbs sound beautifully.
Elsewhere, surfaces are gently tactile, from the deep quilting of the sofa to the silky pileof the living room rug, but it’s the collection of artworks that provides the real drama in the space.
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The owners of this property installed a slide on the inside of the staircase, offering a fun – and quick – way down.
Upstairs on the first floor are four bedrooms – all distinctively decorated, and one with an ensuite. The curved wall of the bathroom nods to the property’s organic shapes but was also created for practical reasons – the property needed to fit into a tight space between existing houses.
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The fireman’s pole here connects to the kitchen, while stairs take you up to another three bedrooms, a bathroom and a semi-circular playroom.
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The second floor opens onto a lawned roof terrace.
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Above it all is the master bedroom – a half-moon room with a smart ensuite.
The bedroom sits in an oval tower, so the furniture curves into the space, being gently hugged by the walls.
The porthole windows in the bedroom add to the ocean-liner look.
Up here there's also a second terrace. Dreamy.
The property is available to rent through onefinestay.com (opens in new tab). Connecting discerning guests with beautiful abodes, onefinestay boasts an expertly curated property portfolio for short and long-term lets. Every stay is professionally managed and includes a personal welcome, 24/7 guest support, extensive housekeeping and the option to add tailored amenities and services such as grocery deliveries, private chefs, childcare, day experiences and more.