A period ROMANCE

Architect Nancy Gouldstone's passion for historic properties was given the ideal outlet when she bought a Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse

- WORDS VIVIENNE AYERS | PHOTOGRAPHY MARY WADSWORTH | STYLING HANNAH FRANKLIN

The focus of my passion for architecture is conservation and heritage, so living in a little piece of London's history felt magical,' says architect Nancy Gouldstone.

The house she and her husband, David, also an architect, and two young sons live in is a pretty period townhouse a stone's throw from Hampstead Heath. 'Despite the property being very run-down when we bought it, we were so happy to have an authentic stucco-fronted Georgian townhouse of our own,' explains Nancy.

The house also appealed because of its scale. 'It's got the proportions of a bigger house, even though its square footage seems small on paper,' says Nancy. It has a nice sense of space and generosity, with decent-sized rectangular rooms, very high ceilings and big windows.'