Between sunset and darkness is a magical time for photography, often referred to as the blue hour. “Hour” is a slight exaggeration however, and it feels more like a precious few minutes when you scramble around trying to capture all those tantalising moments before the cloak of darkness envelops all. Just at the moment that the glow of lamps through a window is in perfect balance with the piercing blue twilight, you need to be everywhere at once.

White surfaces work particularly well at this time, so this west London stucco house, while elegant by day, took on an eerie other-worldly quality. The garden designers had also added some exterior lighting which heightened the effect.

Architects: Studio Indigo

Garden Design: Exterior Architecture Ltd.