Decorating Perrins Lane

Perrins Lane is a narrow, picturesque back lane in the heart of Hampstead Village, connecting Heath Street to the cluster of courts and alleys near Holly Hill and lined with a delightful mix of eighteenth- and early-nineteenth-century cottages, converted outbuildings and small terraced houses that have changed little in overall character since the Regency period. The lane runs at an angle to the main village grid, giving it an organic, pre-planned quality typical of Hampstead's medieval street pattern, and its irregular plot sizes have resulted in an eclectic mix of property types all sharing the same warm-coloured brick and painted-stucco palette. It sits within the Hampstead Conservation Area and benefits from strong local authority protection.

The small-scale Georgian and Regency properties on Perrins Lane present particular challenges for access and scaffolding given the lane's narrow width and the listed status of several properties, requiring specialist knowledge of permitted historic finishes including traditional limewash and soft distemper for internal surfaces.