Khadambi Asalache's bequest to the National Trust

Khadambi Asalache was the eldest son of a Kenyan chieftain. He trained as an architect, became a poet and eventually worked as a civil servant at the Treasury Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

Khadambi noticed a for sale sign on the Georgian home on the Wandsworth Road from the top deck of the number 77 bus. Realising its convenience for travelling to work at the Treasury, he made an offer and bought the house for less than the asking price Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

Every inch of the home is covered in ornate Moorish fretwork. When Khadambi first moved in he was forced to cover the floors and walls with scavenged wood to deal with the damp. When he found the effect too oppressive he embarked on an interior design project that would last a lifetime Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

All of the fretwork was carved by the poet himself with a plasterboard knife from scavenged wood. On the one occasion he employed the services of a carpenter the results were not considered to be good enough Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

The interior of the house is an intricate mixture of influences, particularly Islamic and English. The tiny rooms have featured in the pages of World of Interiors and the property has achieved a level of fame through word of mouth Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

The shutters in the main bedroom are decorated with the initials of Khadambi and his partner Susie Thomson. Next to the bed is a kennel carved for Thomson's Tibetan spaniel Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

Giles Waterfield, one of the trust’s arts panel, described the house as "a gentle place, so soft and welcoming, and yet at the same time it could be seen as a statement of independence and individuality in terms of ethnic origin” Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

The house contains a bewildering but harmonious mixture of cultures. This African lamp illuminates some of Khadambi's collection of English lustre pottery Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

Khadambi died of cancer two years ago, leaving the house in his will to the National Trust. It will have a unique place in the trust's roster of stately homes and castles Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

The National Trust estimates that it needs to raise £4m in total to preserve the house and to make modifications necessary to open it to the public Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

One of the bedrooms. The house is so small and fragile that the trust is hoping to purchase the building next door to provide an interpretation and education space Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian