1 Bedroom Flat, Gatestone Road, London, SE19

A large, charming, one-bedroom raised ground floor flat with a share of freehold, measuring an impressive 622 sq ft, set within one of the more remarkable buildings you'll come across in Crystal Palace — a detached period villa whose gabling, flintwork and timber detailing carry a distinctly Dutch, almost Flemish character that's unusual for the area and, frankly, for London. Located just behind the Triangle, this spot has serious kudos, putting the very best that Crystal Palace has to offer directly on your doorstep, but in a quiet setting.

Inside, the proportions are generous for a one-bed, the reception looks out over the communal garden, and the flat offers something increasingly hard to find this close to the Triangle: the chance to buy into a prime building and a prime position and shape the interior yourself. The flat would reward redecoration, although perfectly liveable, a new kitchen and bathroom would be on your shopping list in time, and some care given to the windows — but everything that's genuinely difficult to find is already here: the building, the location, the light, the proportions and the period bones. Buying in at this level, rather than fully finished, means a lower entry price and thus a smaller stamp duty bill, and the value you add to the interior is value you'll own outright. It's a flat to make your own rather than one that's been done for you and is priced accordingly.

The layout is sensible and well-balanced. Starting at the rear, the reception is a truly vast space, which is rare to find in a one-bedroom flat. The views over the garden are genuinely beautiful and are framed by two huge sash windows. Typically, from this era of architecture, you get high ceilings, and an original fireplace, this one with a reeded surround and copper-tiled insert, creating a classy focal point. There's easy room here to both sit and dine: the current owners run a dining table in the bay and a full sofa arrangement nearer the fireplace, with floor space to spare.

The kitchen sits separately, just off the reception, which suits anyone who'd rather keep cooking smells where they belong, and the living and sleeping space is split front to back, so the quiet of the bedroom and the sociability of the reception stay out of each other's way. Although having said that, we expect that opening up the kitchen to the living space shouldn’t be too problematic and would create a showstopper of a space that would boost the flat’s value. Currently, the kitchen is a galley, fitted with painted shaker units, a gas hob, oven and the usual appliances, with a window over the run that looks onto greenery and keeps it bright. It's perfectly serviceable as it stands, and an obvious first candidate for the cosmetic programme when the time comes.

The bedroom is a comfortable double measuring 16'1 x 10'9, set at the front of the building within its own bay. Its best feature is the windows: tall, French-door-style casements that run almost floor to ceiling and open right out, flooding the room with light and lending it a character you rarely get in a bedroom. They'd benefit from some restoration — they're part of the building's charm and worth doing properly — but even now the effect is genuinely lovely. There's space for a large bed with room on either side and storage beyond.

The bathroom has a full bath with a shower over, and there's a separate WC, practical, and a useful thing to have if the flat is bought by a couple.

Outside, residents have the use of the communal garden the reception looks onto — a mature, green space that gives the building its leafy setting. There are only three flats in the building, so it isn’t an overrun space, and being a share of freehold, you will inevitably get to know your neighbours well. The current occupier has lived in this flat for many years, and we recently sold the flat below. It isn’t a transient building, and the neighbours are lovely.

Location-wise, the flat sits literally seconds from the Triangle — the celebrated knot of Westow Street, Westow Hill and Church Road at the heart of Crystal Palace. Brunch, dinner and cocktails are all catered for within moments, and the choice of coffee shops is dazzling; there are restaurants, pubs and eateries in every direction, an Everyman Cinema a few minutes away, plus art galleries, yoga schools and more. There's a Sainsbury's a couple of minutes walk away for the practical shop, and the wonderful Crystal Palace Food Market runs every Saturday quite literally at the top of the road, bringing the best of small, sustainable farmers and local producers. During the week, the vintage clothing and furniture shops are good for whiling away an hour — and a fine source of mid-century pieces to furnish the flat with.

For green space, Westow Park is at the end of the road: almost 7 acres of mature trees, a children's playground and, depending on the season, an artisan coffee van. Upper Norwood Recreation Ground is a short walk away too — 19 acres of open space with free tennis courts, ideal for dog walking. Crystal Palace Park, with its 200 acres of Grade II-listed grounds, is nearby as well, home to the National Sports Centre and its Olympic pool, gym, squash courts and rather less usual offerings like trampolining and beach volleyball.

Transport-wise, both Gipsy Hill and Crystal Palace stations are just over half a mile away, between them giving you London Bridge, Victoria, the City, Shoreditch and East London.

Tenure-wise, the flat owns a third of the freehold and there are no service charges or ground rent. The flat currently has a lease of 196 years remaining.