Aylestone Avenue, London, NW6

The Olive House is based on the concept of building a unique home with a 100-year-old olive tree at its heart, planted in a central courtyard. The tree was transported from Italy and planted in the courtyard as this awe-inspiring house began to take shape around it. The owners purchased the house, demolished then rebuilt it creating a unique, uplifting space designed by the award-winning, Threefold Architects. Renovation commenced in early 2017, and it took approximately three years to design and build. Set behind electric gates, this imposing double fronted, limestone-rendered home has its own presence on Aylestone Avenue. Upon entering this grand, modern home, you are immediately struck by the sense of light and volume. An inviting entrance hall with a curved glass staircase wraps around the house, showcasing the main centrepiece, an olive tree shipped from Italy and planted in an open courtyard. To the front of the house is a large, elegant reception room with a Regency design fireplace and panelled walls. A sizeable study complete with bespoke fitted units and shelving also sits to one side of the house and offers the perfect space for those working from home. The rear of the house unfolds into a light filled kitchen, dining and reception room with floor to ceiling glass overlooking a mature 91 ft private garden. The bespoke, hand-built design kitchen by 202 Design features a Lacanche oven, a Fisher & Paykel integrated fridge and a Miele dishwasher. This leads to a well equipped utility room with hand built cabinets which follow seamlessly from or to the kitchen design, providing a vast amount of storage. The utility room also has a cut-away design within the cabinetry, creating a tidy, compact space for any pet. A second fridge, freezer, sink, and worktops offer additional food preparation space, which is convenient when entertaining. A boot room can also be accessed from the external side door which means muddy pets and kids can be ushered straight into the shower and cleaned before accessing the rest of the house. The much loved cinema room forms part of the main living space and has proved a popular spot amongst friends and family to unwind. The cinema features a 3m screen, a high-definition projection and surround sound built into the room – it’s the perfect room to watch sport or the latest blockbuster. There is also a luxurious guest cloakroom on the ground floor and the garage has been converted into a GYM. The house has CAT 6 wiring and has wifi routers embedded in virtually every room. It is heavily automated and uses the Control 4 system to operate lighting, AV, security cameras and the gate entry system. The system can be adapted and reprogrammed to the tenants specification, and the AV currently runs Sky boxes, Apple boxes and Spotify. The lighting is Lutron and is programmed with different mood settings around the house. The lighting, AV and security can all be operated remotely.