ONE of the UK’S tiniest homes that is smaller than two parking spaces has gone on sale for an eye-watering amount.
The pint-sized pad situated in the swanky suburb of Chelsea, west London, is on the market for a whopping £1.2million.
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The former gravedigger’s cottage has been given a new lease of life by property developer Robin Swailes after he snapped it up in 2017.
And it could make the perfect nest for someone – if their wingspan and bank balance can accommodate it.
The two-storey home has just 290sq ft of floor space, making it one of the smallest detached houses in the capital.
It measures just 8ft 2ins wide at its narrowest point, meaning Mr Swailes faced quite the challenge when reinventing the space.
He bagged the petite pad for £713,000 when it was put up for sale for the first time in 50 years, beating 17 bidders to the punch.
The 59-year-old has since splashed around £400,000 on refurbishing the dinky property, which he describes as a “doll’s house.”
But his big spending has paid off, as Mr Swailes transformed the small home into a stylish hideyhole ideal for a wealthy Brit.
The “mini-mansion” is now on the market for £1.2million – which works out at £4,137 per square foot – and sellers say they have had a lot of attention already.
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Inevitably, even its mundane features have been adapted to squeeze inside, while hidden storage has been added to maximise space.
It boasts a retractable bed that folds into the wall, built-in kitchen appliances and a small wet room to scrub the day off in.
The reception room on the ground floor leads to a small galley kitchen and a wet room, with a bedroom upstairs and a roof terrace.
But savvy Mr Swailes has still managed to fit in a chesterfield sofa – that converts into a bed – a TV hidden behind a mirror, and a specially designed staircase to make the room seem bigger.
It also features a tiny table with two bar stools in the corner, while the wet room is strategically hidden behind a slanted door.
On the second floor, the bed is concealed behind wooden panelling while an LG projector and Bose sound bar sit above it.
There is also a window seat with storage and a wardrobe to cram your clothes into – as well as a stunning roof terrace to unwind on.
Mr Swailes said the tactical design of the pad, next to St Luke’s & Christ Church, was inspired by “superyachts”.
The property was formerly a sweet shop back in the 1960s, before being made into a private home which became neglected.
We used superyachts as our inspiration on how to best use the space.
Robin Swailes
The property developer explained: “It is a challenge to work with small spaces and you can make them beautiful with design, that’s the challenge we took on here.
“It’s a fantastic location, beautifully proportioned, a sort of mini-mansion.We didn’t really have a budget, I just wanted to make it the best I could.
“We spent about £30,000 just having the staircase made, it was designed to have light coming through and make the room appear more spacious.
“The skylight to the roof terrace opens hydraulically at the touch of a button, that cost £35,000.
“Everything is done to amazing standards. We used superyachts as our inspiration on how to best use the space.”
Edward McCulloch, from Harding Green estate agents, who are selling the property, said: “The uniqueness of the size is you are effectively buying something the size of a one-bedroom flat but its a freehold and you haven’t got the outgoings of a flat such as ground rent or lease worries.
“The location is spectacular. You have a detached house overlooking one of the prettiest parks in south west London.
“Robin has done a beautiful job on it, he basically stripped it back to the bones and redid it. He has put a lot of love and care into it.
“The design is akin to kitting out a very expensive yacht. It has all the gadgetry, you’ve got something you can take the keys and move into the next day.
“Every square millimetre has been used. The care and attention to detail he has put into it makes it very special.
“We’ve had a lot of international interest already.”
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