Most shoe enthusiasts have probably fantasized about owning an enormous walk-in closet to store and enjoy their shoe collections. And the new owner of this London Victorian Villa is about to live that dream.
The 1,908-square-foot Victorian villa in London’s affluent Little Venice was sold for £2.75 million (US$3.65 million) this week, according to a news release from listing agent Aston Chase. It was home to the British-Canadian fashion designer Patrick Cox, his two bulldogs, and his envious shoe collection.
Mr. Cox, 54, owns an eponymous fashion label that specialized in the creation of shoes, leather goods and accessories. For a man who made his name through shoes, it’s not a surprise that he designed a vast walk-in "shoe den" with enough room for 400 pairs.
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After living in a flat in Notting Hill, Mr. Cox purchased the Lanark Road house in 2002 and spent 18 months remodeling and designing the property, according to the release. While the original period staircase was retained, the four floors were totally gutted and rebuilt behind the retained Victorian façade, creating a bright and airy open-plan style contemporary home.
The polished villa has hosted many of Mr. Cox’s high-profile friends including Elton John, David Furnish and Elizabeth Hurley, according to the press release.
After living there for more than a decade, the shoe designer decided to move on to another adventure in Ibiza. The property was listed in May with a £2.8 million (US$3.75 million) asking price.
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The two-bedroom Victorian villa has marble floors and a large garden with plenty of space for dining al fresco.
The marble-filled home also comes with a 27-foot double volume reception room, bespoke joinery and American walnut wood parquet flooring. The master bedroom suite occupied the entire first floor complete with black Nero marble bathroom.
The house is complete with a guest "disco loo," a bathroom featuring an array of mirrors and a terraced rear garden.
"For fifteen years the villa in Little Venice has been home for myself and the dogs. Its close to Regent’s Park, which is ideal for walking the dogs and the house has totally bespoke interiors and represented a very special purchase for the discerning buyer," said Mr. Cox in the news release. "I will really miss the house and Little Venice, but I am looking forward to taking on another ‘Grand Designs’ style project in Ibiza."