M+ Property: What £1.5m Buys You in the City, Country & Coast
Whether you are actively house-hunting or simply indulging in a scroll between meetings, this week’s edit moves from a characterful Victorian in Highbury to an award-winning architectural home in the Brecon Beacons, finishing with an Art Deco coastal beauty moments from the sand in Cornwall.
City: Victorian Terraced House, Avenell Road, Highbury Barn, N5
Price: £1,500,000
Tenure: Freehold
Property type: Terraced
Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 2
Set on one of Highbury’s most peaceful residential roads, this handsome red-brick Victorian spans over 1,870 sq ft across three storeys and is rich in original detail.
Two elegant reception rooms sit at the front of the house, connected by double doors and defined by dramatic ceiling heights, ornate cornicing and deep skirtings. A grand bay window floods the front room with light, while the rear overlooks a walled courtyard garden. To the back, the kitchen and dining area sits beneath a striking glass roof, with French doors opening directly onto the garden, a rare pocket of calm in N5.
Upstairs are four generous bedrooms with sash windows and original floorboards, including an impressive first-floor room stretching the full width of the house, currently used as an additional reception. There is a large cellar for storage and, crucially, scope to reimagine the layout while preserving its period character.
The setting is equally appealing. Highbury Barn has a village feel, with favourites including La Fromagerie and the newly opened Saltine, and sought-after dining such as Western’s Laundry. Arsenal Underground, Highbury & Islington and Finsbury Park are all within easy reach.
Country: Ty Hedfan, Pontfaen, Brecon
Price: £1,000,000
Tenure: Freehold
Bedrooms: 5
For those drawn to architecture and landscape in equal measure, Ty Hedfan is a rare find. Designed by Featherstone Young and shortlisted for the Manser Medal, this award-winning five-bedroom home cantilevers elegantly over the River Ysgir in the Brecon Beacons.
Meaning ‘hovering house’ in Welsh, it takes cues from the traditional longhouse form while feeling entirely contemporary. Approximately 2,400 sq ft is arranged across two distinct wings, with open-plan living spaces angled to optimise light and frame treetop and river views.
A dramatic double-height glazed spur projects towards the water, while a suspended fireplace anchors the main living area in cooler months.
The sleeping wing is partially embedded into the slope, creating a sense of retreat and calm. Outside, decked terraces, biodiverse green roof and 60 metres of private river frontage create a seamless connection to the landscape. Bannau Brycheiniog National Park is five minutes away, with Brecon reachable in around 15 minutes.
This is modern architecture at its most context-driven, quietly spectacular and deeply considered.
Coast: Art Deco Home, Porth, Nr. Newquay, Cornwall
Price: Offers in the region of £1,500,000
Tenure: Freehold
Property type: Detached
Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 4
Moments from Porth Beach, this detached Art Deco home balances period charm with contemporary updates. High ceilings, generous proportions and a 28-foot kitchen and breakfast room create an easy flow for family life and entertaining.
The living room’s bay window captures the light, while first-floor sun terraces take in sweeping coastal views across Porth and along the shoreline. There is also a wet bar and additional study or occasional bedroom, offering flexibility as needs shift.
Outside, mature private gardens wrap around the house, with a cabin currently used as a home office, detached garage and parking for multiple vehicles. It feels like a genuine coastal home rather than a bolt-hole, with space to live, work and host.
Key features