FINE
Spring 2012
PREMIUM PROPERTY AND LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
Bond is back
85 pages of the UKs most exclus ive properties
Daniel Craig talks about this year’s NEW BOND MOVIE Skyfall
CHALK & CHEESE Tips on Kitchen Success with Heston Blumenthal
Celebrity Island Retreats
STYLE MEETS SUBSTANCE Testing the new Range Rover Evoque
PLUS: Gadgets, unusual investments and property news
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Contents
22
26
SPRING 2012
A PERFECT PROPOSAL He asked her to marry him at Sandhills and they held their wedding at the handsome Victorian house, with its spacious interior and glorious garden
COVER STORY A Fine conversion – The Tower is a home with many tales to tell on page 66 4 Fine Spring 2012
106
REACH FOR THE STARS
With breathtaking views across the golf course and the sea, the magnificent location was where stars Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor dreamed of building a home
12
TO THE MANOR BORN
As a boy, he would walk along the canal, gaze at the exquisite property through the trees, and wonder what it might be like to live there
40
110
BARN IN THE MODERN WORLD They walked around the beautiful 17th century barn and realised it could be converted into the most stunning, modern home
78
CARIBBEAN QUEEN
The owners of The Caimens admit they were blown away when they first saw the house, which boasts a stunning indoor pool and leisure area
property types 10
PERIOD SPLENDOUR
HOME AND THE BROAD With glorious views over the still waters of Oulton Broad, the magnificent home has given them a truly unique lifestyle at the heart of one of Britain’s most beautiful areas
in the regions 24
HOME COUNTIES
High ceilings, ornate covings and original fireplaces – period homes are adored for their wonderful features
The home counties are benefitting from money flowing in from both London and overseas
34
46
BARN IDENTITY
EAST
Exquisite timber-clad structures that blend into their natural surroundings or beautiful brick-built edifices
Currently there are more homes on the market than you imagine so it is crucial to make your home stand out from the rest
60
72
FINE CONVERSIONS
MIDLANDS
With their historic references and their unusual features, converted properties make the most interesting homes
The Midlands has seen a sense of equilibrium return, although this has not been without detractors in the market
104
90
Nothing can be more enjoyable than watching the light dance on the water as the sun goes down
The Kent and Sussex countryside continues to be attractive for buyers looking to live rurally whilst retaining access to London
126
116
From award-winning, architectdesigned new houses to stunning, modern apartments
The prime country homes market has faired well over recent years compared to the core market place
COASTAL & WATERSIDE
CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE
SOUTH
WEST & WALES
Spring 2012 Fine 5
FEATURES 08
FINE NEWS
At Fine we have certainly had a very positive start to the year with an excellent array of new properties, and a renewed optimism from both sellers and purchasers.
18
54
FINE INVESTMENT ADVICE
A lack of confidence in the financial markets is prompting people to move into other areas of investment.
33
FINE COMMENTARY
Following the recent Budget Dean Heaviside of Fine talks marketing strategy for home movers selling at £2 million and over.
42
BOND IS BACK
As Daniel Craig concludes shooting Skyfall, Susan Griffin chats to the 007 actor about the past year and resuming his license to kill.
54
FINE MOTORING
The new ‘Baby’ Range Rover is wowing people the world over with its striking good looks – but is there more to it than just superb styling?
68
Heston Blumenthal
Famous for snail porridge but addicted to prawn cocktail, Heston Blumenthal can come across as a bit of a contradiction. Sarah O’Meara finds out why the kitchen Boy Wonder’s latest cookbook isn’t just for scientists.
68
FINE FAVOURITES
COLUMNS
58
98
SOUTH WALES & CARDIFF
She had always longed for a tasteful home – and Walnut Tree House now opens up to offer them a delicious, contemporary lifestyle as well.
84
WEST ESSEX
The owners of The Elms have built a dream family home, incorporating clever design and environmentally friendly technology.
89
GERRARDS CROSS
Being able to walk in the parkland and watch the seasons change will be an incredible experience for whoever lives here.
113
LEATHERHEAD
Heading along The Drive, one of the area’s most prestigious private roads, and turning in to approach the home, visitors are always impressed by Birchwood House.
124
NOTTINGHAM
On the edge of the pretty village green, with views of the orchard and paddock, Abbotts Grange is a beautiful rural home.
141 98 6 Fine Spring 2012
A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE THINGS
Enjoy our favourite eye-catching accessories for the home with this list of decadent items.
114
GO GO GADGET
Take your pick from this selection of must-have, luxury technology.
TRAVEL 80
CELEBRITY ISLAND RETREATS
Exotic hideaways, luxury retreats and exclusive spas – with money no object celebrities can indulge in the ultimate escape.
80
WELCOME
A
s the new Managing Director of Fine I am delighted to welcome you to the latest edition of our magazine, quickly becoming one of the country’s most exceptional and highly regarded lifestyle and property publications. Having worked as both a main board and regional director for Savills, I joined Fine last October, recognising that it offered and delivered an exceptional level of service and client care that I believe is second to none in today’s challenging market place. Fine is now establishing itself as a company of choice and during 2012 we have plans for the further development of our products and expertise as we aim to deliver an aggressive target of new office openings in order for us to meet the demand for our award-winning service to more markets around the UK. This spring sees heightened competition between homes for sale, whilst the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and a myriad of major sports events are also vying for our attention. As excitement mounts for an exhilarating few months ahead we take a closer look at property in the capital (page 100), and invite you to explore more than 85 pages of unique and desirable properties for sale across the rest of the UK. Our expanding areas of operation allow us to group some of our favourite homes by location, headlined with market commentary from a range of esteemed property professionals now working for the Fine brand. Please also take the time to look at our lifestyle sections where we explore holiday destinations of the rich and famous (page 80), discuss the attributes of the undeniably lust-worthy Range Rover Evoque (page 54) and get behind the mind of the incredible Heston Blumenthal (page 68). Alternatively, you can ponder art as an investment (page 18), treat yourself to one of the latest gadgets (page 114) or focus on Buckinghamshire for your next move (page 85).
42
Finally, it remains to be said that it is our ongoing endeavour to deliver quality editorial and some of the industry’s most stunning photography for every home that we market – the Fine magazine is just one example of how we achieve this. As ever, we value your feedback and if you are thinking of selling your home and want to know more about Fine’s award-winning approach, or indeed if you would like to see your home featured in the Fine magazine, call us on 0845 899 0008. Chris Charlton BSc.FRICS.FSVA. | Managing Director chris.charlton@fine.co.uk
114
Contributors: Dean Heaviside, Kim Dewing, Janice Carter, Hannah Martin, Robyn Williams, Julie Francis, Stephen Wright, Ian Palmer, Hollie Miller, Claire Coetzee, Abigail Saltmarsh, Susan Griffin and Sarah O’Meara. Photographers: Haakon Dewing, Paige Birnie, Nick Read, Katherine Barnard, Karl Morgan and Nigel Clarke. Cover Image by John Miller. Fine is published by bloomtide Ltd, Suite 29, Unit 1, Spiersbridge Business Park, Spiersbridge Way, Glasgow G46 8NL. Tel: 0141 621 3900 www.bloomtide.com. © bloomtide Ltd 2012. All rights reserved. All information correct at time of going to press. Reproduction in whole or part (including storage by any electronic means) is prohibited without prior permission of bloomtide. Fine Magazine accept no responsibility for the views expressed by contributors to the magazine. Advertising enquiries bloomtide: 0141 621 3900 Property prices correct at time of going to press.
Spring 2012 Fine 7
FINE NEWS At FINE we have certainly had a very positive start to the year with an excellent array of new properties coming to the market, and a renewed optimism from both sellers and purchasers alike. Global economic uncertainty and a weak Sterling have contributed to strong overseas demand for prime property. High levels of competition for the best properties and limited stock levels have helped to increase house prices. The rise in global wealth has been a strong contributing factor, coupled with the fact that many now view property as their preferred asset class. As the wealthy continue to select residential property as their investment of choice, wealth creation looks set to continue apace. The latest Wealth Report by Credit Suisse suggests global private wealth will rise by a further 50% over the next five years.
Pricing Structures To Encourage Rise In the 2012 budget the Government’s Office Budget for Responsibility (OBR) set out their predictions for house price changes under their detailed summary on the Household Sector. This suggested across the UK only a stable pricing structure up to the end of 2013 thereafter we can once again look forward to price rises from 2.5% up to 4 .5% by 2016 which will allow confidence to factor back into the market and we can look forward to sustainable and yet manageable house price rises. This is set against the background of reducing inflation with both measures CPI and RPI set to fall back over the next 3 to 4 years as we look to economic recovery and rebuilding over that period.
price rises from
2.5% 4.5% up to
by 2016
8 Fine Spring 2012
Westminster
haS seen value
growth of
9.1% Demand is strongest in the upper echelons of the market and we are witnessing a further polarisation occurring across the value bands. In the year to September 2011 across the country, it was only sales in the very top price bracket, over £1m, which outstripped those of 2007. All the other price brackets saw levels of transactions lower than in the peak year. The recent adjustments to stamp duty in particular raising the rate to 7% on sales at or above £2M is likely to have an early impact on discretionary purchaser’s decision making process but we predict that this will tail off as that tax raise becomes accepted as the norm.
Value Growth For Prime Locations While some mainstream markets across the country have weakened, prime housing has proved more resilient. This has been particularly evident in central London where boroughs such as Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster have seen value growth of 9.3% and 9.1% respectively, compared to a fall of -1.0% across England and Wales. The polarisation in the market that we have seen looks set to continue this year. Our FINE Offices around and within the M25 have seen a strong opening first quarter of 2012 and a rising book of instructions. A sensible readjusting of prices within some of our provincial markets is also now leading to renewed interest levels and viewings. Research suggests that, on average, 20% of property buyers in the home counties come from London with both space and quality of life high on the list of requirements. We have continued to see the home counties benefit from money flowing in from both London
Fine NEWS
and overseas with strong demand from buyers looking for larger properties just outside London, especially near good schools, and with good transport links back into the capital. The historic ripple affect of rising prices and confidence in the central London market may take longer to push out to the rest of the country but there is no doubt that the best documented research points to that improvement beginning to impact on the UK over the next 2 to 3 years. In the south of the country in the regions closest to the Capital, average house prices are rising at a rate of 0.6% per annum while in the more northern regions, prices have fallen by -3.5% over the last year. The rate of house price falls outside London’s sphere of influence but regional centres create micro markets pulling buyers to quality property in those areas. We feel that with this price gap between prime London and prime regions growing, the markets outside London will begin to look increasingly attractive and this may well provide a further boost to demand.
Future Outlooks Are Bright
SALES IN 12 MONTHS TO SEPT 2011 AS % OF 2007 SALES SALES IN 12 MONTHS TO SEPT 2011 AS % OF 2007 SALES
125%
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
R k k DE 0k 150 0k 200 0K £ 20 £ £30 UN£15 £
k k k 00 0k 400 00k 500 1m £ £ £3 £40 £ £5
in the Home Counties
come from London with both space and
quality of life high on the list of requirements
er ov
m £2
RB K&C CITY OF WESTMINSTER
Collectively, this suggests that a degree of stability seems to be returning to the market once again. However, at FINE, we believe that sensible pricing remains a crucial consideration to ensure maximum exposure, however, with some potential thawing in the market, we feel we can look forward to the warmer seasons with a positive attitude.
of property buyers
m £2
% CHANGE FROM FROM PREVIOUS PEAK LEVEL % CHANGE PREVIOUS PEAK LEVEL
The positive news of recent weeks on the economic outlook, stronger monthly price rises and an increase in mortgage approvals combined with a steady increase in mortgage availability and low interest rates suggest a return of stability. In the latest RICS survey, expectations for price growth have turned positive for the first time in two years.
20%
m £1
LONDON ENGLAND & WALES –15%
–10%
BELOW PEAK
–5%
0%
AT PEAK
5%
10%
15%
ABOVE PEAK
YEAR ON YEAR CHANGE IN AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES YEAR ON YEAR CHANGE IN AVER AGE HOUSE PRICES
20% 15% 10% 5% 0% -5% -10% -15%
Prime e Lon don Properties P r London
-20%
Northern England Regions
Southern England Regions
-25% n Ja
07
11 12 07 v 07 09 y 10 t 10 r 11 08 p 08 b 09 l 09 r g n n a ec a c o Ju Se Fe Ja Ju Ap Au D O M N M
SOURCE: PRIMELOCATION AND LAND REG.
Spring 2012 Fine 9
PERIOD SPLENDOUR
High ceilings, ornate covings and original fireplaces – period homes are adored and appreciated for their wonderful features, unique style and enduring charm. From Medieval homes that still display carpenters’ markings and beams made from ships’ timbers to those created in more recent eras, the beauty of these properties can still be enjoyed alongside a 21st century lifestyle. Georgian homes, with their multi-paned sash windows, and well-proportioned rooms are desirable for the space and light they offer. Victorian times saw the renaissance of more ornate architectural features of the past, with inspiration drawn from the Jacobean, Gothic and Romanesque periods. the early 20th century, of course, also saw the appearance of the handsome, solid Edwardian home and the decorative Arts & Crafts property.
The Course of True Love
PURE LEISURE Guide price £1,375,000 Their love of Elizabethan architecture and the incredible history of the 1534 property where Shakespeare once stayed tempted them to make this beautiful house their home Homes in Buckinghamshire 01908 969129
NATUR AL OASIS
With a cinema room, pool house and tennis court, beautiful period property Priors is ideal for entertaining, as well as for taking pleasure in a relaxing pace of life £2,500,000 Homes in West Essex 020 85040977
10 Fine Spring 2012
oiro £995,000 The beautiful medieval house, on its moated site, not only offers superb equestrian potential but is also a wonderful vantage point from which to enjoy the natural world Homes in Leicestershire 0115 9814509
UNBRIDLED PASSION
£660,000 Fifty-one years ago John and Anne went searching for a farm and discovered an idyllic life in their beautiful historic family home overlooking St Brides Valley Homes in Monmouthshire 029 2022 6129
HALL OF ACCLAIM
oieo £700,000 Steeped in history, Catton Old Hall played an important part in Norwich’s past, and has made a wonderful home and bed and breakfast for its current owners Homes in Norfolk 01603 622017
Tree of Life
£1,200,000 It has been 23 years since the Joneses first went to view their Grade II listed home and discovered a fabulous period property with a splendid cedar tree in the grounds Homes in Derbyshire 0115 9814509
HALL OF FAME
oieo £1,250,000 It is believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited timberframed house in Britain, but for owner Willy White, Fyfield Hall is first and foremost a fabulous family home Homes in West Essex 020 85040977
TREASURE TROVE
oieo £1,500,000 Paul and Susan Micallef discovered a home brimming with evocative features when they found the Grade II Listed farmhouse, believed to date back 600 years Homes in West Essex 020 85040977
A TOUCH OF ROMANCE
oiro £750,000 It was a home of romance back in the 19th Century - and then almost 10 years ago the current owners fell head over heels in love with its unique charm and special beauty Homes in Rutland 0115 9814509
Spring 2012 Fine 11
TO THE
MANOR BORN As a boy, he would walk along the canal, gaze at the exquisite property through the trees, and wonder what it might be like to live there
12 Fine Spring 2012
S
trolling through his beautiful grounds, into his fabulous panelled hall and up his impressive staircase, the owner of Llanwenarth House, still finds it hard to believe he lives here. The magnificent Elizabethan country mansion has been his home for about three years now – but it feels as if he has known it all his life. “I was always drawn to it,” he admitted. “I used to walk by the canal and wonder what it would be like to live there.” Today it not only has incredible original features but also wonderful modern additions, such as its stunning handmade kitchen. Spring 2012 Fine 13
FINE DETAILS Formerly a boutique hotel, the property dates back to 1532. Much of its character still remains yet the expansive home also embodies great comfort and ease of living. Rooms are bright and airy and have been designed with high quality fixtures and fittings. Chandeliers reflect in gleaming white marble floors. Rooms with wooden panelling in the style of Hampton Court and ornate fireplaces are now complemented by exquisite antique furniture, such as four poster beds. “We have a Clive Christian type kitchen, which is handmade and finished in a Farrow & Ball cream,” he said. “It has polished black granite work surfaces and gold inlay.” He added: “Everyone who comes here is very impressed by the detail.” LIVING HISTORY Upstairs are great open spaces set beneath the high, vaulted beamed ceiling, which could be used as bedrooms or leisure areas. “It is simply wonderful up there.You can still see the original cruck beam, which is thought to have come from a ship’s hull,” he said. “With the open fire it is absolutely beautiful – and it is amazing to think the timber goes back to before 14 Fine Spring 2012
the house was even built.” Also dating back through the centuries is the coach house, with its cobbled yard. Here ice and meat were once kept in the cellar but now the building houses a laundry room. “This does lend itself to any use, however, and would make a delightful place if converted,” he added. GLORIOUS OCCASIONS The house would be simply magnificent for entertaining. Inside, its reception rooms are spacious and the presence of a second kitchen makes catering easy. “You could have the most superb parties here. There is surround sound in all the rooms and the grounds would be perfect for weddings,” he said. “There would be plenty of room for marquees and the setting lends itself beautifully to the photography.” DREAM HOUSE From the linen-fold panelling, high ceilings and deep cornicing in the rooms to being able to hear the crunch of the gravel as visitors arrive and the sight of boats passing on the canal, life at Llanwenarth House is just idyllic.
“You could have the most fantastic parties here. There is surround sound in all the rooms and the grounds would be magnificent for weddings.” PROPERTY DETAILS Nestled in the Monmouthshire countryside and with stunning views over the Vale of Usk, is this wonderful seven-bedroom, 16th Century home. The exquisite interior includes a beautiful Clive Christian style kitchen and an abundance of reception space, while amid the six acres (STMS) of grounds there is a detached coach house. Location Abergavenny Price £2,250,000 Property type Elizabethan manor house Contact Homes in Monmouthshire 029 2022 6129 Spring 2012 Fine 15
It took a year of searching but when they saw gracious and imposing Grays Park House they realised it had huge potential and would be ideal for entertaining
THE ART OF
LIVING
16 Fine Spring 2012
“This home offers everything you could want for a wonderful lifestyle and really is somewhere to be shared.”
T
he superb, spacious house, with its incredible period character, together with its extensive, parkland grounds, gave them the opportunity to shape a perfect lifestyle. Strolling through the trees and across the sunny lawns towards their magnificent home, Margaret and Derek Howarth appreciate every aspect of life at Colney Park House. Their spacious home, which dates back to the late 18th Century, is set in approximately four acres of mature, parkland grounds and comes with a large outbuilding, which has been used by sculptor Derek as a workshop. “We originally came to look at it because of the outbuilding,” said Margaret, who still remembers
seeing the house for the very first time some 28 years ago. “We found it was ideal but we also loved all the Georgian features, in the house and the gardens, where there were some splendid trees.” PLACE IN HISTORY Colney Park House is very firmly rooted in the colourful history of the sought-after village of Radlett. It was built on land once part of an important local property. “The big house was about half a mile away and in 1783 was bought by a man called Charles Bourchier, who was a former governor of Madras,” Margaret explained.
PROPERTY DETAILS This beautiful, four-bedroom family home is located along Harper Lane and has been presented to a high standard.The interior includes three reception rooms and a welcoming kitchen, so there is plenty of space for guests. Amid the four acres (STMS) of grounds you will find a range of outbuildings, one of which is currently used as a workshop.
Location Radlett Price £2,300,000 Property type Detached Georgian Home Contact Homes in Hertfordshire 01908 969129 Spring 2012 Fine 17
Fine lnvestment Advice
Investing
IN THE UNUSUAL A lack of confidence in the financial markets is prompting people to move into other areas of investment. Instead of the clinical approach of putting into growing markets, people are now looking towards assets that can be enjoyed.
18 Fine Spring 2012
Fine Investment Advice
Collecting art is not just the purchase of an asset but an investment in an expectation that the item will bestow untold riches.
T
he property market has had its difficulties, but the trend in renovating and interior decorating has provided first time investors with a challenge to invest not just with money but also on a personal level. Whether it is taking the time to pick out furniture or capturing the perfect colour scheme – personality and to some extent hobby has nurtured an interest beyond a simple financial transaction.
The arts market is an increasingly competitive alternative for investors. It provides a sense of pleasure and can bring an aesthetically pleasing approach to investment. Furthermore with the current turmoil around banking and safeguarding assets, art offers one of the most secure forms of investment available. At the heart of art investment is a desire to collect. This can be much more than paintings as sculptures; jewellery and even literature compete for the affections of investors at auction. Getting to know your chosen realm is vital to making the right purchase. Of course, people are able to pick whatever appeals to their taste, which can go a long way to becoming an expert in that particular field. As well as reading up and going to exhibitions, making inroads into the art scene is also important. Specialists and dealers are on hand to consult with investors at all major auction houses. You can also contact experts who deal directly in specific buying. Getting to know these people can be key to making a successful purchase. The end result is to purchase an item that will make a return, but that is not to say what you collect shouldn’t be something you love and want to have around until such time it goes under the hammer. Setting a theme amongst your collection can provide a rewarding challenge and keeps the interest alive. The arts market is considered fairly insular in that outside influences such as the economy have very little impact upon the value of artwork. Although all investment comes under some form of risk, with the advice of an art consultant a lot of the guesswork can be taken out of the commitment. However, one area that can prove more difficult is investing in new and emerging artists. Becoming competent with historic movements, genres and periods can be achieved after months of research, but new artists can be a different kind of challenge. Immersing yourself into the contemporary arts scene is for some and not for others but ultimately vital in securing a valuable piece of work. What one critic considers an up and coming talent can be based purely on a hunch, however with the advent of artists like Banksy following the latest graduates can be lucrative. Collecting art is not just the purchase of an asset but an investment in an expectation that the item will bestow untold riches. Artwork will always have value and with a little expertise may even increase, but it is almost guaranteed to hold its value and therefore provides buyers with security for their money. The passion and enjoyment that art collecting will inevitably bring is an added bonus.
Where to go GALLERIES – the obvious setting it may well be, but privately run galleries are free and allow you to meet directly with art buyers and other collectors and therefore making contacts within the art world.
ART FAIRS allow you to sample a diverse mix of artwork and in some cases items are sold directly from the artist. There are often talks at these types of events, which can give prospective purchasers some pointers on the day. DEGREE SHOWS are almost invitation only, look into your chosen establishment and ask to be put on the mailing list. The risk is investing in new talent but the best thing about purchasing during a degree show is that prices are completely negotiable. AUCTION HOUSES can be intimidating places, however experts are regularly on hand to guide you through the process. Preview days allow you to check over the items and learn a bit more before the actual sale and are paramount for serious buyers.
At the heart of art investment is a desire to collect.
If you’re fed up with receiving low returns on your money, why not look at these FOUR unique ways to invest?
Spring 2012 Fine 19
Fine Investment Advice
The Theatre Imagine you had invested £40,000 in a seat in the stalls at the Royal Albert Hall. If you had in 2007, it would have been a smart move – that seat would now be worth almost double that amount. Better still, it would also be giving you a regular income. Ownership of a seat entitles you to tickets for most events. The official ticket return scheme could generate an income in the region of £3,000 per year. Those figures would rise significantly further if you were lucky enough to own a box. A 10-seater Grand Tier box – one of the very largest – was sold in June 2008 for £1.2 million, and as we go to press a 5-seat box is under offer for a tidy £550,000. 20 Fine Spring 2012
Hotel Rooms
Fine Investment Advice
The principle is simple. Buy leasehold on a hotel room and, because it’s classed as a commercial asset, it’s one of the only property types you can buy using a personal pension such as a SIPP – allowing you to benefit from tax relief on the income and capital growth. The hotel letting out the room in the normal way generates the income, and you’ll typically earn 50% of the cost of the occupancy. The great advantage of buying a hotel room is that it’s a very handsoff investment. Your room is managed professionally by the hotel, which also has an incentive to get maximum returns from letting it. Choose the right hotel, and there’s another benefit worth considering – you’ll be entitled to spend up to 52 nights per year in your room.
Spring 2012 Fine 21
Fine Investment Advice
Fine Wine
Investing in wine can offer some impressive returns – if you get it right. This year, the wine market is strong, with great demand from China and elsewhere for top Bordeaux and other fine wines. Recent history has also shown that investing in wine can outperform holdings in major stock market companies by staggering margins. However, it’s worth noting that wine prices can drop dramatically. Fine wine prices dropped 15% in 2011, although the Wine Investment Fund predicts that the Liv-ex 100 (the wine industry’s leading benchmark index) will end this year a full 10% above its level at the end of last year. But remember – not every vintage is considered to be investment grade, no matter how enjoyable it may be to drink. 22 Fine Spring 2012
Vintage Cars
Fine Investment Advice
Investing in top-end vintage cars is worth the worry, insurance and labour of love. Recently one owner sold his vintage Ferrari 250 GTO for £20.2 million – netting him a £4.5 million profit in four years and the accolade for the most expensive car sale in Britain to date. Not bad for a car that cost £6,000 in 1963.The choice of car is key, though according to classic dealers Talacrest, Ferraris are considered the Picassos of the car world. If you’d bought the 250 GTO new, your investment would now be worth more than if you’d put your money in savings, the stock market or gold. Although not every marque has performed as well it’s worth noting that the HAGI Top index of 50 key collectable classic cars has delivered a compound annual growth rate of over 12% over the last three decades.
Spring 2012 Fine 23
Home
COUNTIES
Market Comment: Fine in the Home Counties Stability returning to the market We have had a very positive start to the year with an excellent array of new properties coming to the market and a renewed optimism from both sellers and purchasers alike.
Jeremy Campbell-Harris Regional Director for Fine Having become an estate agent straight from school in the late 1980’s Jeremy started his career in the country homes market in Hampshire, working there for both Fox and Sons and Penyards. In the mid 90’s he made the move to London where he spent the next 15 years working in the prime central London market with Winkworth and Jackson Stops and Staff.
OUTSTANDING VILLAGE LOCATION They found the perfect location in sought-after West Byfleet and built a stylish, high quality home that would be ideal for all the family
£2,000,000 Homes in Surrey 01932 576600
24 Fine Spring 2012
The home counties are benefitting from money flowing in from both London and overseas, with both domestic and overseas buyers looking for larger properties just outside London especially near good schools, and with good transport links back into the capital. Research suggests that on average 20% of buyers for property in the home counties come from London with both space and quality of life high on the list of requirements. But sensible pricing remains crucial to achieving these sales. Mortgage availability has been steadily increasing and of course interest rates still remain low, so a degree of stability seems to be returning to the market once again.
STAR OF THE EVENING The owners loved the location of The Rythe, which was ideal for schools and the location of the station. The peace and tranquillity of the area was magnificent
£2,200,000 Homes in Surrey 01372 841910
CROWNING GLORY They were attracted to the desirable Crown Estate and the stunning property’s position within it - and they knew it would offer them privacy and a perfect lifestyle Guide price £4,900,000 Homes in Surrey 01372 841910
DREAM, DREAM, DREAM
£2,600,000 Breathtaking interiors, stunning leisure spaces and an incredible garden – the owners have considered every detail in the creation of their magnificent dream home Homes in Buckinghamshire 01753 886177
GEORGIAN ON MY MIND
£2,150,000 Nestling in the peaceful beauty of Oxshott Woods, Berrystede House makes a quiet statement with its impeccable Georgian styling and elegant interior Homes in Surrey 01932 576600
R AISING A GLASS
£2,650,000 They had long been captivated by the Huf house, so when they realised they had the perfect place to build one, it was an opportunity they could not miss Homes in Buckinghamshire 01753 886177
A SENSE OF STYLE
£1,450,000 Having lived on the desirable road themselves, they knew this was the ideal location to build the beautiful new home that would offer comfort, space and style Homes in Surrey 01372 383434
JEWEL IN THE CROWN
£2,850,000 Proudly overlooking the common in Gerrards Cross, imposing Walpole House with its royal connections is a treasure trove of period features and historic appeal Homes in Buckinghamshire 01753 886177
CREATION STORY
£3,250,000 They fell in love with the garden and the magnificent Effingham location and so decided to build their home there, using the finest materials Homes in Surrey 01372 383434
Spring 2012 Fine 25
A PERFECT
PROPOSAL He asked her to marry him at Sandhills and they held their wedding at the handsome Victorian house, with its spacious interior and glorious garden 26 Fine Spring 2012
“We like being in the drawing room in winter, when we have the open fire going. It is a formal area for entertaining but at the same time feels homely.”
A
s they approached the splendid property up the drive, it slowly revealed itself to them – when they climbed out of the car, they found a magnificent house with spectacular views.
“It was a beautiful place but at the same time was not so imposing that it was overwhelming,” she said. “We knew we would want to renovate it. But we were able to do that while also keeping all the character.” Since then, they have enjoyed relaxing at Sandhills, looking out over the stunning Surrey country, and celebrating a number of special occasions. “This is where my husband proposed to me,” she remembered. “We were also married here, with all our friends attending.” Spring 2012 Fine 27
“A lot of thought went into planning the renovations so we could keep the sense of history of the house intact.�
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SENSE OF TRADITION Dating back to 1890, the impressive and expansive house has featured in books for its exquisite style and wonderful character. Today it still features many of its original wainscots, cornicing and fireplaces. “A lot of thought went into planning the renovations so we could keep the sense of history of the house intact. We looked at every room and considered what we wanted to do with it,” she said. It took two years to carry out the work. The aim was to create a look that was largely traditional but within rooms that had high levels of contemporary comfort and style as well. STYLISH KITCHEN Throughout Sandhills, spaces are now sumptuous and roomy. Some have high ceilings and are filled with light while others are cosier, offering more informal areas for relaxation. “The kitchen here was quite small so we knocked three rooms together to create one large space,” she said. “We wanted a cooking area in the kitchen but also an entertaining area so we installed a wood-burner. “We chose granite work surfaces, with beautiful curved ogee edges instead of straight edges. We ensured there was great attention to detail.” EXCEPTIONAL ROOMS With so much space at the house, it is easy to accommodate visitors. Two of the bedrooms are simply outstanding, she stressed. “One is huge and has a barrelled ceiling. It has wonderful views, as well as a fireplace, bathroom and dressing room. We have a four poster bed in there. “The master suite has a sitting area and two bathrooms – my bathroom is the size of a double bedroom! It has long windows overlooking different views and I have a cupboard where I can keep up to 150 pairs of shoes!”
PROPERTY DETAILS Steeped in history, this commanding country home provides exceptional accommodation, whilst securely tucked away in the beautiful Surrey countryside. Boasting 11 acres (STMS), nine bedrooms, seven reception rooms, a gate lodge, cottage and annexe, Sandhills offers private and modern living all within an easy commute to the heart of London. Location Bletchingley Price £4,850,000 Property type Grade II Listed Country Home Contact Homes in Surrey 01372 383434 Spring 2012 Fine 29
LIFE AT THE LODGE It was a quiet leafy spot and it seemed the perfect place to build an exquisite new home where quality was paramount and every detail was carefully considered 30 Fine Spring 2012
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“The area was quiet, leafy and green, and yet in a good position for getting to all the places we needed to reach.”
tepping into the bright reception hall, with its beautiful, oak staircase leading up to the galleried landing, visitors to Devonshire Lodge are always assured a warm welcome. The detail and care that is immediately apparent in this part of the Surrey home sets the tone for the rest of the superb property, as it flows on into light living spaces and then out into the garden. Designed to the specifications of the current owners, the expansive house was built five years ago, after the couple found an ideal location. “It was quiet, leafy and green, and yet in a good position for getting to all the places we needed to reach,” she said. “We had it built to the highest quality to our own design. We wanted large rooms and to have beautiful solid oak fittings that reflected the Arts & Crafts style.”
PROPERTY DETAILS Devonshire Lodge is a beautiful five-bedroom family home, lovingly maintained and finished to an exceptionally high standard. The interiors include a grand galleried reception hall, four reception rooms and a bespoke kitchen/breakfast room. Outside there are charming landscaped gardens and a double garage. Location Cobham Type of house Arts & Crafts style home
Price Guide price £2.395,000 Contact Homes in Surrey 01932 576600
WONDERFULLY LIGHT The glorious entrance hall, with its minstrels’ gallery, has views down to either side. “We had always wanted an entrance hall that was very light and had a high ceiling that went right up to the roof pitch,” she said. “We also wanted lots of windows to bring the light flooding in,” said the owner. The couple also had a clear idea of what they required from the rest of the house. “We wanted all the rooms to be large, with the reception rooms interchangeable, so they could be used in different ways.” The dining hall, for example, could become a fabulous sitting area. With glass and oak to one side, there are magnificent views on to the garden. Spring 2012 Fine 31
fine confidential A discreet property service that’s in a league of its own.
Fine Confidential is a discreet property service for people who prefer to keep their business to themselves. It requires a particular skill to effectively market a property in a subtle and unobtrusive way. Fine are well placed to provide this low-key service as we specialise in selling properties of unique character and distinction throughout the country. Clients who use this service include: - Sports personalities including premiership footballers - Celebrities - High profile business people - People who for whatever reason value their privacy For a confidential market appraisal and to find out how Fine can make the difference in the sale of your home call 0207 998 0207. 32 Fine Spring 2012
Mansion Tax Post Budget Comment
“Let’s talk marketing strategy” says Dean Heaviside of Fine to those home movers who are selling at £2million and over, following the recent Budget. So we have a ‘mansion tax’ of sorts, but not the one that many were anticipating. George Osbourne has announced a new 7% stamp duty tax on homes sold for more than £2million and it came into force with immediate effect, together with the new 15% deterrent to anyone thinking of purchasing through a company. A different approach to the Vince Cable, Lib Dem sponsored mansion tax proposal, although as I have commented elsewhere over recent months, in my view this would have not worked anyway.
at between £2million to at least £2.35million sellers will either decide to competitively market their home at just below £2million (because that’s where offers are surely going to come in) or stick at a genuinely deserved valuation of closer to the £2.5million mark. Some sellers might think that they can simply ask their agents to pitch an asking price higher than their property’s true value, in a misguided attempt to throw potential purchasers off the scent.
the Land Registry indicates that of 67,000 homes sold each month, only around 95 are at £2million or over It would have required a revaluation of all homes nationally (something that all parties have been unwilling to undertake), there was confusion over which economic indicators of inflation would have been applied to it, house prices have been going backwards by and large, so not the best time to introduce it… then there was the potential cost of implementing it! The point I have also made is how many homes would this have applied to anyway? I have seen figures of 50,000 to 100,000 per annum quoted… the Land Registry indicates that of 67,000 homes sold each month, only around 95 are at £2million or over! Budget tokenism then? It may be, but what are the ramifications for home sellers that are marketing at this level? The simple fact is that buyers will not want to foot the additional stamp duty burden of £40,000 plus and is likely to be deflected in any offer made. Selling
But buyers have so many properties to choose from at the moment, they won’t be fooled – and those overpriced properties will just languish on the market until the sellers accept a sense of realism. The main budgetary gain then is from the closing of stamp duty loopholes.The offshore/ international buyer hole could usefully add to revenue. It is thought that in London alone one in twenty properties evades stamp duty. International buyers are acquiring so called ‘trophy’ homes – the high profile sale last year of Park Place near Henley for £140m deprived the tax payer of £7m that should have been paid in stamp duty, avoided as it was bought using a single asset company. George Osbourne could not make it any clearer that HMRC would be tackling avoidance with a vengeance… even before the budget they were apparently chasing £35million in alleged stamp duty avoidance in challenging 1,200 individuals!
Stamp Duty Land Tax Avoidance –the acceptable face of tax planning? The coverage given to the changes in Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) in the recent budget highlights its importance as a significant revenue generator for the government. The way that this tax has been implemented causes resentment amongst buyers, leading some to invest in avoiding it, especially with the rate for £2m+ properties having increased to 7%. In recent years, schemes to reduce SDLT liabilities have become popular with some buyers. These schemes are not illegal – indeed, their supporters describe them as acceptable as pensions or ISAs. However, unlike these, Revenue & Customs has the right to investigate individual returns and target those where they feel they do not accurately reflect the transaction. The schemes typically promise to save the buyer up to 50% in tax, for which the client is charged up to 50% of the amount saved. For some, this is a risk worth taking because currently Revenue & Customs cannot fine individuals but only charge them interest and demand the payment. While indemnity insurance is offered on a short-term basis, the authority of Revenue & Customs to investigate individuals never expires and for many this is sufficient reason not to pursue such schemes. Every year at budget time, the cat-and-mouse game between the government and those advisers promoting the loopholes continue. Last year an avoidance method called subsales was outlawed and this year, the government effectively closed the method of using offshore companies by increasing the rate from 0.5% to 15% for purchases over £2m. However, within hours of this announcement, providers were contacting law firms promoting alternative, trust-based solutions. Finally, in a move that further highlights the risks these schemes pose, the Law Society has announced that it will penalise firms who assist in these transactions. Indeed, some are speculating that in the future, such tax avoidance may be made a criminal offence. Peter Ambrose is a director of The Partnership, based in Guildford Surrey, offering fast and efficient conveyancing services to discerning clients.
www.thepartnershiplimited.com Spring 2012 Fine 33
Barn Identity
Exquisite timber-clad structures that blend into their natural surroundings or beautiful brick-built edifices that have been there for hundreds of years – barns can become simply breathtaking homes. Our ancestors would never have dreamt that centuries after they erected these buildings for the storage of their grain and the shelter of their animals, we would be transforming them into living spaces. But with their expansive interiors, stunning features, open entrances that can become great picture windows - and their often astounding countryside views, the most exciting and innovative homes can be created within their walls. 34 Fine Spring 2012
A SPACE IN THE COUNTRY
THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT
They look out across the countryside and catch sight of wildlife in the fields – and as the day draws to a close they watch the sun set across the great Norfolk sky
Dating back to the 16th Century, Orange Barn, with its distinctive colour and traditional charm, creates a pretty picture
oieo £650,000 Homes in Norfolk 01603 622017
£499,000 Homes in Essex 01206 564259
Divine Conversion
BARN DANCING
The first time he stepped into the magnificent hall at Church End Farm, Tony knew that in this beautifully converted 300-year-old barn he had found his home
In a glorious setting, with its own lake, swimming pool and entertainment areas, the magnificent barn has been the most incredible home in which to welcome friends
£1,350,000 Homes in Bedfordshire 01908 969129
BARN IN THE MODERN WORLD
Guide price £1,500,000 Homes in Essex 01206 564259
COUNTRY CONVERT
BEAUTY NEAR THE BROADS
Guide price £1,275,000 They walked around the beautiful 17th Century barn and realised it could be converted into the most stunning, modern home
£590,000 They were looking for a property to convert when they came upon the attractive collection of barns and could see immediately how they could become a home
£420,000 All the character of the original building had been retained in the conversion – and yet the property was cosy, welcoming and homely at the same time
Homes in Essex 01206 564259
Homes in Derbyshire 0115 9814509
Homes in Norfolk 01603 622017
A LITTLE PEACE
HOME ON THE RANGE
A SUNNY OUTLOOK
oieo £450,000 They found the barn in the heart of the countryside, in beautiful Norfolk scenery, and knew they could convert it to make a superb equestrian home
£999,995 They wanted a home where they could keep horses and grow fruit and vegetables – and they also wanted to live the country dream in a beautiful house
oiro £840,000 Chatting with friends in the spacious, sunny kitchen as they watch their horses grazing in the paddocks makes all the hard work worthwhile
Homes in Norfolk 01603 622017
Homes in Buckinghamshire 01908 969129
Homes in Leicestershire 0115 9814509
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TIMELESS BEAUTY The breathtaking vaulted ceiling and the exquisite original beams – they fell in love with the timeless beauty of Le Grys Barn and decided to make it their home
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“I walked in and looked up to the mezzanine gallery. It was so spacious and light, and had such incredible drama.”
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he stepped into the amazing living area and was struck by the overwhelming beauty of the 17th Century threshing barn. As she noticed the sunlight streaming in and the sheer height of the great space, she knew this was the proper ty they had been looking for. “I was visiting England from Hong Kong and went to see the barn,” she remembered. “I walked in and looked up to the mezzanine gallery. It was so spacious and light, and had such incredible drama.” She added: “We originally bought it as a holiday home but we loved it so much that we ended up living in it all the time.” UNIQUE HOME The magnificent barn dates back to 1610 and was converted into a home in 1984. When the current owners bought it in 1996, it was in good condition. They then brought in their own styling and décor, and converted former outbuildings into attractive en-suite bedrooms to let out as boutique bed and breakfast accommodation. “This has worked very well for us,” she said. “People love coming to stay in such a unique home, in a stunning conservation area of Norfolk.” But she added: “Each room has its own private entrance and terrace so this part of Le Grys Barn could also have all sor ts of other wonderful uses, from a self-contained annexe for a relative through to office or leisure space.” CHARACTER AND COLOUR The enormous character of the home is evident throughout, with the great windows and beautiful beams still retaining the very essence and fabric of the building as it would have been all those centuries ago. “We haven’t wanted to change it,” she said. “We have always had furniture we have brought back from the Far East, antique Chinese cabinets and these have worked very well within the barn space.” Spring 2012 Fine 37
38 Fine Spring 2012
“Each bedroom has its own private entrance and terrace so this part of Le Grys Barn could have all sorts of other wonderful uses.” She continued: “Many of the areas here, such as The Orchard Room, which is in aquamarine and stone
the evening,” she said. The kitchen, with its central island, feeds into the dining area. This open plan design allows
Since then it has gone from strength to strength, with visitors travelling from across the country and beyond
colours, have a very calm feel. The terrace by this room allows guests to step outside in the morning and listen to the birdsong. This adds to that sense of relaxation.”
the family and their visitors to chat together even if they are in different areas. “This does make the whole house feel alive,” she added.
ALL SEASONS Other favourite places include the gallery, where they sit and watch as the sun moves round during the day, illuminating different areas, and the main drawing room, where they recently hosted a par ty for the owner’s daughter’s 21st birthday. “It was marvellous because we could open the room up at both ends, and people could flow through into the garden,” she said.
WONDERFUL MEMORIES Two rooms – the study and the music room – can be closed off allowing individuals to have quiet time to pursue their individual interests. “There is so much to enjoy about this home,” said the owner. “I will always remember the light in this house, and the way the garden almost seems to be drawn in through the enormous windows.” And she added: “We have had so many happy times here, all sor ts of gatherings and family events. We have lots of wonderful memories to look back on.”
to stay at the 17th Century barn. Featured in Alastair Sawday’s Special Places to Stay, it offers three en-suite rooms to guests – The Orchid Room, The Garden Room and The Cour tyard Room. While the layout of this par t of the proper ty would suit someone else looking to run a similar operation, it could also be put to all sor ts of other uses.
LIGHT FANTASTIC The conservatory area is currently used as a breakfast room for guests but could become a wonderful comfortable seating area. “This overlooks the huge open space of Wacton Common. It is a lovely place to sit with a glass of wine, watching as the light changes through
A SPECIAL PLACE Three years after arriving at Le Grys Barn, the current owners began their luxury bed and breakfast operation.
WONDERFUL WACTON Wacton is a quiet village in the heart of South Norfolk. It has a beautiful common, where it is wonderful to walk. Its church, All Saints, is one of 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk. Its tower narrows as it rises, and could well have been built in two or three stages. The lowest stage is thought to be Saxon. The church, which has a 15th Century font, is sometimes open to the public on special visiting days.
PROPERTY DETAILS Nestled in the scenic Norfolk countryside and on the fringe of Wacton Common, this commanding barn conversion has stunning features that add drama to the character-filled rooms. Combining a breathtaking vaulted open plan living space with five sumptuous bedrooms and approximately 0.7 of an acre (STMS) of land, this home retains reminders of its past, whilst providing modern luxury living.
Location Wacton Common Type of house Strikingbarn conversion
Price £599,950 Contact Homes in Norfolk 01603 622017
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BARN IN THE
MODERN WORLD They walked around the beautiful 17th century barn and realised it could be converted into the most stunning, modern home
“The space and the layout were perfect – it lent itself to being converted and we were up for a project.” 40 Fine Spring 2012
“I can be tucked away, working, aware of what is going on in the house but at the same time away from it all.”
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estling in the heart of the village The Barn was in a truly unique position and offered simply magnificent space for the creation of a striking and dramatic home. The current owners had been looking for some time and, despite, knowing about the building, had no idea it might become available for conversion. After falling in love with it, however, they made an offer and saw it go to sealed bid. When they won it, they were thrilled. “We walked around The Barn and just loved the courtyard feel,” one of them remembered. ARCHITECT-DESIGNED Despite having two young children, and another on the way, they launched themselves into the conversion with enthusiasm. Work was overseen by architect Neil Jennings, a specialist in listed buildings, and everything came together as they hoped it would.
Eye-catching modern touches now sit beautifully alongside character features, such as beautiful old beams and brickwork. “We wanted something very contemporary,” she explained. “At the same time it had to have a focus on family – it was all about creating space that was very useable. “We wanted the style to balance with functionality.” CLEVER LAYOUT In practice, this meant the creation of a back entrance into an enormous boot room and cloakroom, for example, so children playing outside could come in and out. “From the kitchen and living space I can watch the children out in the garden and see them in the playroom too,” she said. “I can also catch glimpses of them in their bedrooms.” The property was also designed to be fabulous for entertaining.
Property details This charming barn conversion is energy efficient and boasts extensive accommodation including an impressive vaulted hall, five inviting bedrooms, four reception rooms and a bespoke kitchen/breakfast room. Outside you will find a landscaped garden and two terraces.
Location Feering Type of house Barn conversion
Price £1,275,000 Contact Homes in Essex 01206 564259 Spring 2012 Fine 41
Fine Daniel Craig
Bond is back As Daniel Craig starts shooting Skyfall, Susan Griffin chats to the 007 actor about the past year and resuming his license to kill
It’s my intention to make the best Bond movie – Bond with a capital B.
42 Fine Spring 2012
Fine Daniel Craig
Filming a key scene for the upcoming Bond film
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here interviews are concerned, Daniel Craig has a reputation for being rather serious, a little sullen even, but not today. Instead, the craggily handsome actor who brought new life to the James Bond franchise in 2006’s Casino Royale, is happily throwing his head back and laughing. But then it’s a good time for the 44-year-old.
play Bond again following 2008’s Quantum Of Solace. The franchise had been put on hold amid financial troubles, with the film company MGM filing for bankruptcy protection last November. But a rescue deal and restructuring plan has meant Bond survives another day. “Strangely it wasn’t frustrating because there was nothing I could do about it,” Craig explains. “I was just fortunate enough to be able to go off and do some other projects, so I kept myself busy.”
Last summer he married the actress Rachel Weisz and lived out a childhood dream of donning a Stetson and spurs for the sci-fi Now Skyfall has wrapped he’s itching for audiences to see it. He western Cowboys And Aliens alongside Harrison Ford. And he’s now smiled, before hinting that they will be treated to more gratuitous finally finished filming for his third outing torso shots of Bond. “It’s the gig. We should be as 007 in the 23rd Bond movie Skyfall. “I’m just incredibly talking about when I keep the shirt on, really,” he laughs and recalls Dame Judi proffering two proud to be part of pints of Guinness and a pork pie after filming “It’s my intention to make the best Bond movie – Bond with a capital B,” says Craig, this gang of people on Casino Royale had wrapped and he could who have agreed who’s wearing jeans and a tight black afford to relax his workouts a little. But Craig’s T-shirt that shows off the honed physique to come and do it.” not inclined to let the waistband expand. “I’m he’s famed for. obsessive about getting fit, it’s ridiculous. I’m over 40 now, and I’ve got to stop doing it soon. I have to start The script is shrouded in secrecy but we do know that filming has getting fat and old! Truly, I have to live a life,” he says. taken place in London’s Whitehall, China, Turkey and Scotland, as well as at Pinewood Studios. Born in Cheshire, Craig credits his mother for inspiring him to act and he was only six when he started appearing in school plays. By Although it has no link to the Ian Fleming stories, the director Sam 16, he’d moved to London with the National Youth Theatre and Mendes has reassured fans that the script has “all the elements of later earned a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama a classic Bond movie – including a lot of action.” alongside Ewan McGregor. “I’m just incredibly proud to be part of this gang of people who have agreed to come and do it,” says Craig, referring to Dame Judi Dench, who returns as M, Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes. For a while it was looking unlikely Craig would get the chance to
He made his film debut in 1992’s The Power Of One, the same year he married Scottish actress Fiona Loudon. Though their marriage only lasted two years, they have a daughter, Ella, who was one of the few guests at his wedding to Weisz.
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Fine Daniel Craig
I like working, it’s as simple as that. 44 Fine Spring 2012
Fine Daniel Craig
I’ve been lucky enough to have some really nice roles thrown at me and I grab them.
Daniel Craig with Skyfall co-stars Javier Bardem, Berenice Marlohe and Naomie Harris
“if I could do Bond for a few more years then I’d be happy.” There have been many strong, supporting roles over the years, from Lara Croft: Tomb Raider to Road To Perdition, but it was 2004’s gangster movie Layer Cake that really got him noticed and in October 2005, he was announced as the successor to Pierce Brosnan’s Bond. Craig was deemed an unpopular choice with die-hard fans unable to envision a blonde-haired, blue-eyed 007 and the actor initially walked away from the offer. “I couldn’t wrap my head around it or see myself doing it at first,” he admits. “I genuinely thought they were having a giggle.” But he soon settled into the role and proved the naysayers wrong by bringing a dramatic depth to the character. “There’s always going to be somebody who says, ‘That’s not Bond, this is Bond’, but I’ve made this my own and I feel very comfortable and secure about that.” A notoriously private man, he admits he had to think long and hard about the effect the role would have on his life. “But when it came down to it, I decided to embrace the whole thing. There’s no point doing a Bond movie and hiding away for six months. You have to get out there and do it,” he says, but stresses he’s trying to keep his personal life as private as he can. “Certainly, I’ve tried to
keep my family and friends far away from it and I feel their privacy is crucially important.” Interestingly, he explores life on the other side of the fence in David Fincher’s recent adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With Dragon Tattoo. In the film, Craig plays Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist hired by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) to investigate the disappearance of his niece decades before. “The truth is, I think journalism is an incredibly important part of a democratic society and some of my heroes are journalists,” admits Craig. “Obviously journalism sometimes has a negative effect on my world, but I’m big enough and ugly enough to understand why it’s there.” He says he relished the chance to work with The Social Network’s Fincher despite his reputation as an uncompromising taskmaster. “That’s kind of what you live for. If you think actors are basically people who like to dress up and show off, it’s a perfect platform for that. I’m like, ‘Bring it on’,” says Craig, who’s no stranger to putting in hard graft. “I like working, it’s as simple as that,” he says. That’s why he was never worried by the threat of being typecast as the man with a license to kill. “I genuinely don’t think about it. I’ve been lucky enough to have some really nice roles thrown at me and I grab them. And if I could do Bond for a few more years then I’d be happy.” Skyfall is due to be released in the UK this October.
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EAST Market Comment: Fine in the EAST Standing out from the competition
Dean Heaviside Divisional Sales Director Dean has been in the business for over 30 years, beginning his career in the beautiful city of York, with independent and corporate estate agency in between, he is now based in Norfolk and the similarly beautiful city of Norwich. Passionate about property, his pioneering approach to marketing was there in the 1980’s and he has continued to look for new ways to make the home move process better for buyers and sellers. And the award winning lifestyle marketing?... “It was developed to make a difference” he says. We certainly believe it does!
There are more homes on the market than you imagine currently and that means more competition for a sale of property. Just a cursory glance at the Rightmove property website across the East shows just how much. Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire show a broadly similar picture as you analyse price segments through the premium homes market. Between £400,000 and £600,000 you will find between 700 to 800 properties showing for sale in each county. Between £600,000 and £1million 270 to 300, over £1million there are between 75 and 90 properties. Step into Essex with its relatively higher values and you will find around 530 homes for sale just between £800,000 and £1million and over 600 at £1million plus. Given this competition, it really is crucial to consider how the marketing of your home will make it stand out from the rest. “We prove time and time again that our approach works to sell homes that other agents have been unable to,” he affirms.
WESTWARD HO!
INN COMFORT AND STYLE
Standing proudly, overlooking its impressive grounds, the imposing 19th Century house could be the setting for any number of historic novels
The welcoming family home, with its impressive period façade, and colourful history as a coaching inn, stands proudly on Kelvedon High Street
£1,250,000 Homes in Cambridgeshire 01223 778997
46 Fine Spring 2012
Guide price £785,000 Homes in Essex 01206 564259
EVERYTHING AND MORE
Set in approximately three acres, and with stables and a self-contained annexe, the Norfolk equestrian home has given the owners a decade of pure joy £695,000 Homes in Norfolk 01603 622017
AWARD WINNING HOME
SIMPLY COASTING
TWO WEDDINGS AND A PARTY
Guide price £895,000 Elizabeth and Carl moved into the period house in soughtafter Coggeshall the same week as they got married and went on to make the beautiful property their own
£600,000 The pretty brick and flint cottage has character and history. Tucked away in a sought-after seaside village, it offers superb sanctuary
£525,000 Sitting out in the sunshine, chatting over a cup of coffee, they remember the great occasions they have hosted here, from family weddings to a millennium party
Homes in Essex 01206 564259
Homes in Norfolk 01603 622017
Homes in Suffolk 01394 548158
AN ELEGANT EXISTENCE
DELIGHTFUL FEATURES
LIVING THE LIFE
£415,000 The current vendor saw the plans for the new properties within the imposing Edwardian house and she had a vision of how the attractive home might look
£600,000 The Limes is a delight for its owners who love its close proximity to the town centre and the exceptionally large rear garden
oieo £1,000,000 Magnificent views out over the countryside, a spacious, refurbished home and a business to simply step into for anyone seeking a superb, new lifestyle
Homes in West Essex 020 85040977
Homes in Lincolnshire 01223 778997
Homes in Essex 01702 826037
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“We have a silver dining table in the great hall, where we eat on special occasions, and there’s a grand piano.”
THE
MILLERS TALE The exquisite combination of the old Victorian house and the replica mill building, with its stunning interior, created a home that was outstanding 48 Fine Spring 2012
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he is passionate about unusual barns and he loves period homes – and the truly unique Mill House has brought the two together in a manner that is simply breathtaking. It has been three years now since the owners of the Chipping Hill property found their stunning house, which gives them everything they ever wanted from a home. “He loves old Victorian houses and I love barn conversions. With Mill House we found our ideal homes – and they are joined together!” she said. “The garden here is also wonderful. I had always wanted to live somewhere with willow trees water and we have them both here. “With this house, we both found everything we had ever wanted.”
AN EXCEPTIONAL STYLE The older part of the property dates back to 1856, and features a more modern 2000 extension, explained the owner. However the architect did copy the 18th Century mill barn style, and it is now kitted out in a very modern way.” After moving in, the couple brought their own taste in décor to the house, enhancing the eye-catching design of the mill building and brightening the Victorian side. They opened up the hallway, created his and hers dressing rooms and bathrooms, and redecorated rooms, revealing their period character through touches such as the stripped floorboards. Spring 2012 Fine 49
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“We love living at Chipping Hill – it is so easy with the children – and the house has been an incredible place to live.” SIMPLY SPECTACULAR The current owner describes the enormous barn-like living area, with its high ceiling, exposed beams and feature chimney and staircase, as the “wow” room. “This room is amazing for entertaining,” she said. “At Christmas we have a 13ft tree in here, and we held the parties for both our daughters’ christenings in this room. “We have a dining table in here, where we eat on special occasions, and there’s a grand piano.” She added: “I love the architecture of this room, looking up and seeing the beams or the herringbone brickwork in the fireplace.” WORK, REST AND PLAY Elsewhere in the house, there are cosier spaces for dayto-day living. The kitchen dining room (which has planning permission for further expansion) is perfect for family meals, the study is a great space in which to work and the children can play in any number of different places. “We also have a gym and games room, with a wine cellar underneath,” she said. “We always thought that it would be great when we had friends round if the boys were able to go over there, choose a bottle or two and throw some darts. “My husband also works long hours so having a gym at the house is ideal for him.” UNIQUE HOME The couple, who are relocating for family reasons, say they will miss everything about their remarkable home. “We love living at Chipping Hill – it is so convenient for the children’s groups and nurseries – and the house has been an incredible place to live,” she said. “We have done a lot to it but there is still so much potential for someone else to come in and put their mark on it too. It is perfect for a family and if you enjoy entertaining you could not find anywhere better. We will miss everything about it when we go. We did not ever think we would find anywhere quite like this.”
PROPERTY DETAILS Situated amid beautiful grounds of approximately 3.5 acres (STMS), which include the old mill pond, Mill House has been sensitively restored and is located close to the town and station. The charming accommodation includes six bedrooms, an impressive hall, conservatory and a contemporary kitchen/breakfast room with planning permission to extend. Outside there is a garage with wine cellar and an ancillary gym/games room measuring 23ft by 15ft.
Location Chipping Hill Price Guide price £1,395,000 Property type Victorian Home and Converted Mill Contact Homes in Essex 01206 564259
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“We wanted the house to sit well in its surroundings – a home that looked nice and was also a comfortable place to live.”
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DOWN BY THE
SILVER LAKES Looking out across the water, watching the otters by the banks and the geese in the skies above, he still relishes the complete seclusion of his unique home
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hen the owner of the house first came to see the 23 acres of Norfolk land, with its five private lakes and areas of woodland, he was entranced. He was captivated by the sheer beauty of the location and decided that this was where he would build his home. Now, more than 20 years later, he still relishes his natural surroundings but he and his family also delight in the impressive five-bedroom home – and the twobedroom annexe – he has created here. With its sumptuous spaces and glorious views, it is the perfect place from which to enjoy a truly unique lifestyle. “It feels like you are in your own world here. All you can see are the woods, lakes and all the wildlife,” he said.
Norwich or the Lord of Gressenhall. “The largest lake we have here has two islands in it. It is thought one of the islands might once have had a village on it. Now it is only inhabited by wildlife,” he said.
LORD OF THE MANOR The area in which Lakeside is built has a wealth of history, according to the owner. “There was a moated manor house here in the past. They carried out an archaeological dig here in 1991, during which they found the remains. It is thought it was lived in by the Bishop of
“In the end, it took about five years to build, and then, another two or three years for everything to be completely finished. “We included features such as fancy cornicing around door frames, moulded frames and high ceilings. People often think it is older than it is.”
CAREFUL DESIGN Before starting work on the designs for the house, the owners spent time looking at other properties and gleaning ideas from books and magazines. “We wanted it to sit well in its surroundings – a home that looked nice and was also a comfortable place to live,” he said.
Property details Situated in the heart of the beautiful Norfolk countryside and surrounded by approximately 23 acres (STMS) of unspoilt grounds including fishing lakes and natural woodland. Lakeside is a beautiful family home that has been carefully designed and built by the current owners. Inside there are five bedrooms in the main house, a two-bedroom annexe, four reception rooms and a garden room.
Location Bilney Type of house Lakeside home
Price OIEO £1,500,000 Contact Homes in Norfolk 01603 622017 Spring 2012 Fine 53
Fine Motoring
Where meets substance!
style
The new ‘Baby’ Range Rover is wowing people the world over with its striking good looks. But is there more to it than just superb styling? Stephen Wright finds out for himself
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Fine Motoring
‘Wow!’ was the expression etched on journalists faces as they craned their necks to see the long awaited Range Rover Evoque rolled out in front of the cameras back in 2007.
The critics certainly seem to love it. At the last count the Evoque has won over 50 awards, including Top Gear’s ‘Car of the Year’, and What Car’s ‘Most Exciting Car of the Year ’.
Amazingly sleek and contemporary for an off-roader, the hyperbole surrounding the LRX concept, as it was known back then, seemed justified.
The Evoque comes either as a three-door coupe or a more practical, child-friendly five-door (don’t let that put you off – it still looks hot). Design wise, there are three themes, rather than the traditional trims, the Pure, the Prestige and the Dynamic (read sporty), all with a tempting array of colours and finishes.
Fast forward four years and when the production version of the Evoque eventually saw the light of day, as a svelte three-door coupe, it was a revelation because so very little about the car had changed. It was simply spectacular – blowing all in class out of the water with its striking looks. But like so many design-led cars that have gone before it, the question remained – is the Baby Range Rover all style and no substance?
On the road, the Evoque is smaller than you think. At 4,355mm it’s shorter than a VW Golf, and even with its bulky-looking front end, lighter than you would imagine thanks to a liberal use of aluminium, both in its body panels, suspension, and plastics in the body, as part of a drive for greater efficiency in terms of fuel economy and emissions.
All of that is immaterial though if it doesn’t drive well, which it does, aided no doubt by its raised driving position. Thumb the starter and you will soon find that the Evoque drives as well as it looks, feeling every bit as luxurious as its larger brethren. It’s smooth and well-mannered around town but also remarkably quiet when putting your foot down on the motorway. It also handles well. Throw it about a bit around corners and you’ll soon notice its vice like grip, which keeps you firmly planted on the road, even in the wet. Not surprising when you hear that it has been benchmarked against the likes of the Audi TT and Mini Cooper. Off the road it doesn’t disappoint thanks to its Terrain Response system, which has been designed to cope will all manner of tricky conditions (the Evoque is suspended at the front by MacPherson struts, with a multi-link variant at the rear).
Car of the Year Top Gear
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Fine Motoring
Most Exciting Car of the Year
What Car?
George Lamb attending the launch of the new Range Rover Evoque at Halewood Operations at Jaguar Land Rover in Liverpool.
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Evoque
Fine Motoring
And like all Land Rover engines, it is proofed against wading in 500mm of water in case you fancy taking it through the local stream with the kids. The Evoque currently comes with a choice of two engines. There is a 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol unit with a combined fuel economy of 40.9mpg or a 2.2 litre diesel unit with a choice of six-speed automatic or six-speed manual gearbox, and two- or four-wheel drive. The most eco-friendly of these options is the eD4 2WD manual model, which returns 62.8mpg and CO2 emissions of 133g/km (making it ideal as an executive company car). Inside the link between the normal Range Rover and the Evoque is clear. Although the dials and controls are scaled down to take into account the smaller dimensions, this is not at the expense of quality which is first rate. There is also plenty in the way of space considering the curvy shape although the sweeping roofline could leave taller passengers moaning about the headroom. For those boys who like their toys, the Evoque doesn’t disappoint. There is the Tech pack, which includes a hard-drive audio server onto which you can rip up to 10 audio CDs; voice control; a heated windscreen and washer jets; automatic headlights; rain-sensing wipers; and a frontparking aid. If you want to go the whole hog then there is the Lux pack, which is available only with the Dynamic and Prestige editions. This includes a powered tailgate that opens and closes at the touch of a button, a panoramic glass roof with power blinds, and an 8-inch dual-view display that can show different images depending on where you’re sitting. Rounding out the Lux pack is a camera system that gives you a 360-degree view of the vehicle, keyless entry, park assistance, and a climate-control system that automatically recirculates the air in the cabin if exterior air quality drops below an acceptable level. The Range Rover Evqoue is without a doubt a game-changer, effortlessly marrying style with substance, and in the process leaving the competition trailing in its wake. Although still only for the UK at the moment, it is scheduled to be sold worldwide, and with demand already exceeding supply, I’d suggest getting your order in soon to avoid having to wait!
The alternatives If you are in the market for a sleek and sexy 4x4 but the Range Rover Evoque is a little bit too much, then see our pick of the rivals on the market.
Volvo XC60
A firm family favourite already, the XC60 is sleek, spacious and smooth in equal measure. There is a choice of two and four wheel drive diesel models plus a two-wheel drive petrol alternative. The DRIVe version in particular gives good fuel economy and reasonable emissions for the company car drivers among you. Handling is good not great although the R-Design models compensate for that. It’s safety where the XC60 comes into its own with front and side airbags, cabin length window airbags, strengthened roof and anti-whiplash front head restraints. Plus, at speeds of 20mph or less, sensors in the windscreen can tell if you’re likely to hit the car in front and activate a warning buzzer. If you fail to respond, it will brake for you.
Audi Q3
Arguably the smallest of the premium compact SUVs, what the Audi Q3 lacks in size it more than makes up for in handling and performance. The Q3 comes with a choice of three engines, all of which are turbocharged directinjection units, two petrol and one diesel. Most people though will plump for the 2.0-litre diesel. Although the ride has a firm edge it’s never uncomfortable. It also gives it a level of control more akin with sportier saloons, enabling you to change direction with impressive agility. The build quality is superb and what we have come to expect of Audi. Most functions are controlled through the latest version of Audi’s MMI system, which makes everything pretty easy to find and use.
BMW X1
The new kid on the block, the BMW X1 combines sharp handling (thanks to the xDrive), low CO2 emissions and plenty of kit as standard. It’s also keenly priced (for a BMW that is). There is a choice of four diesel engines, stability control and six airbags as standard, and like the 3 Series, the X1 shuts out exterior noise brilliantly, even at speed. Although nowhere near as striking as the Volvo XC60, the X1 compensates for this with solid build quality and residual values for when the time comes to trade it in.
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SCAN TO FIND OUT MORE
THE NEW AGA TOTAL CONTROL COOKER With a programmable state-of-the-art touch-screen control panel and independently controllable hotplates and ovens, the new AGA Total Control cooker offers complete flexibility for 21st century living. Available now at your local AGA shop. 58 Fine Spring 2012
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Robert Weare Senior Branch Manager
“Large picture windows give an almost panoramic view from the dining area.”
WALNUT TREE HOUSE, GLASCOED Being close to the sought after town of Usk, Walnut Tree House is quite rare as it offers something a bit different from the usual farm houses often found in this area. Enjoying a semi-rural position, the house offers a beautiful and private plot of approximately an acre (stms). Stepping inside, the contemporary interior retains a very welcoming and homely feel with a stunning open plan kitchen/dining/family room that is superb for entertaining. With its secure gated entrance, five bedrooms and three en-suites it’s perfect for the growing family!
gourmet living £750,000 She had always longed for a tasteful home – and Walnut Tree House now opens up to offer them a delicious, contemporary lifestyle as well Homes in South Wales & Cardiff 029 2022 6129
Fine
Conversions
With their historic references and their unusual features, converted properties make the most interesting homes. Often challenging the creativity of the architect involved, these buildings offer a fusion of the past and present. Former churches and chapels can be transformed into the most spacious of homes, with enormous, open plan living areas, complete with vaulted ceilings and great stained glass windows, as well as ecclesiastical features. Hospitals, military buildings and stately homes can become exclusive developments, featuring a number of premium properties, while the likes of pubs, inns and hotels can make attractive individual houses in the most appealing of locations.
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HEAVENLY PEACE
KINGS OF THE MILL £1,950,000 They bought the imposing Mill as an investment project but fell in love with it – some 26 years later they are still living at the character home Homes in Cardiff 029 2022 6129
WHEEL OF FORTUNE
As sun streams through the great church windows sending light dancing on to the incredible vaulted ceiling above, they agree life at The Chapel has been heavenly
£1,000,000 Homes in Norfolk 01603 622017
£1,300,000 The owners loved the presence of the handsome, old mill building and realised they could turn it into somewhere quite special inside Homes in Cardiff 029 20226129
DOWN AT THE MILL
HIGH PR AISE INDEED
£600,000 The complementary therapist owner and her daughter felt instant and enduring warmth at Mill Cottage, set in the beautiful South Downs Homes in Sussex 01892 458931
TOP OF THE CLASS
With its prominent Tudor oak beams and dramatic gothic arched windows, character-filled Brandon Hall is alive with history
£1,600,000 Homes in West Essex 020 85040977
oiro £750,000 Inspired by the beautiful views across the undulating landscape around his handsome five-bedroom home, the current owner transformed it into a luxurious rural retreat Homes in Derbyshire 0115 9814509
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BEAUTIFUL BY
DESIGN They discovered the unique building in its incredible setting and there they proceeded to create a stunningly beautiful home with the most exquisite and stylish interiors
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very time he steps into magnificent Lith Hall he marvels at its glorious space and loses his breath to the sheer beauty of what has been created here. The current owner, who is an experienced and accomplished developer, bought the unique former church hall, in its incredible Victoria Park Road setting, planning to transform it into luxury apartments.
INCREDIBLE VISION Originally, explained the owner, there was a church in Victoria Park, and the hall belonged to it. But, after the church was bombed during the second world war, the building was given to the Lithuanian Society as a gathering place – hence the property’s current name.
But his wife, who had a gift for creative interiors and beautiful design, convinced him it could be converted into a phenomenal family home for themselves. Today not only is it exceptional in the amazing space it offers in its sought-after East End location but the perfection and quality of its design and finish is simply out of this world.
“My wife said she’d always thought the building would make a wonderful home – and she was right. It took a long time for the planners to agree to it becoming one large property and about three years of work went into the building.
“This is an incredible home the likes of which you rarely find in London,” he said. “It has its own classic elegance and is timeless. Everything about it is beautiful yet it is also a comfortable place in which to live as a family.”
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“In the end, there was no budget – everything was done to the highest quality – and when you see how incredible it is today, you can understand that it was worth the journey to realise my wife’s vision – and just why there will never be another house like it,” he said.
“With its intricate and beautifully finished, hand-made balustrade, the staircase is the focal point around which the fabulous spaces of Lith Hall span out.� Spring 2012 Fine 63
“It has its own classic elegance and is timeless. Everything about it is beautiful yet it is also a comfortable place in which to live as a family.�
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SHEER WONDER Today, stepping into the great open expanse of the astounding entrance hall, the ornate white marble staircase, which took eight weeks to construct, makes an immediate statement. With its intricate and beautifully finished, hand-made balustrade, it is the focal point around which the fabulous spaces of Lith Hall span out. “Everything has been carefully book-matched,” explained the owner. “My wife used a lot of wonderful materials, including many that were natural. She wanted to create spaces that looked wonderful but were not ostentatious. “She brought in interesting pieces that were reclaimed and used unusual touches, such as the murals, painted by an artist, who was specially flown in from Poland.” LIFE AND STYLE The balance between exciting aesthetics and ease of living has been achieved magnificently, he stressed. “Whenever I walk into the house I feel its amazing vibe. No matter where I am – the stunning master bedroom, with its beautiful, marble en-suite bathroom, or the cinema room – there is an overwhelming ‘wow factor’ – yet at the same time it feels homely,” he said. “Every room has a bespoke finish.” He went on: “There is so much to love about this house. I like standing at the windows and looking out at the green of the park opposite. I love watching the children as they enjoy all this space to play in.” AMAZING SPACE On warm days, bi-folding doors from the kitchen can be pulled right back, allowing easy access to the garden. During the evening, and at night, the mood changes throughout Lith Hall, as the intelligent lighting system is brought into play. “The house is wonderful with the natural light during the day then at night it almost becomes somewhere else,” he said. “I do not think I will ever find a home like this again. It is amazing.”
PROPERTY DETAILS Originally the church hall to a church destroyed in the war, this individual building is now an opulent family home situated opposite Victoria Park.The careful design has resulted in a successful combination of state of the art technology and contemporary décor with a bespoke finish throughout that does not detract from its practicality as a family house.The lavish amount of space spans across four floors, incorporating six bedrooms, six en-suites, a stunning open plan ground floor with drawing room and kitchen, a cinema room and study. Outside there is a courtyard terraced garden. Location Victoria Park Price £6,000,000 Property type Converted Church Hall Contact Homes in West Essex 020 85040977 Spring 2012 Fine 65
CASTLE IN THE SKY Built on the estate where Henry VIII once had his hunting lodge, visited by Queen Victoria and lived in by a rock legend – The Tower is a home with many tales to tell
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“I loved its hexagonal rooms and its beautiful entrance hall with its exquisite Trompe l’Oeil paintings, as well as the incredible views.”
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rom her glorious roof garden, Jennifer Lacoste looks out across the magnificent Surrey surroundings she describes as “sylvan.” She bought the six-storey home, which is believed to be the highest point in the county, in 1996 after falling in love with it as it was being restored. “I loved its hexagonal rooms and its beautiful entrance hall with its exquisite Trompe l’Oeil paintings, as well as the incredible views,” she explained. Since then, she has discovered the building has amazing historical significance. She added: “This is a wonderful home. When I saw it, I thought it would be almost impossible to find somewhere as special in such proximity to London.” ROYAL VISITS The Ruxley Estate once belonged to Westminster Abbey but after the dissolution of the monasteries, it passed to Henry VIII, who
would bring hunting parties from London out to the countryside here. It belonged to George Evelyn at the tail end of the 16th Century, who was reputed to have introduced gunpowder to this country and in the 18th century it was owned by England’s wealthiest man, William Beckford. “In 1870, the Ruxley Estate was bought by Lord Foley, who built the Tower and West Wing for his wife, Lady Evelyne. Queen Victoria was reputed to have taken tea with her at The Tower – and the future Edward VII is also thought to have visited,” said Jennifer. In fact, one tale from the past suggests the property was deliberately built by Lord Foley to be higher than Queen Victoria’s childhood home at nearby Claremont. This most unusual building has continued to create interest. The following decades have seen The Tower almost turned into film studios and pass into the ownership of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institution for the duration of World War II as its headquarters.
Property details A unique, listed building with considerable historical significance. The Tower is arranged over six floors, with incredible views as far as London to the East and the Chilterns to the West.
Location Surrey Type of house Unique conversion
Price £2,900,000 Contact Homes in Surrey 01372 841910 Spring 2012 Fine 67
Fine Dining
CHALK and cheese with Heston
Famous for snail porridge but addicted to prawn cocktail, Heston Blumenthal can come across as a bit of a contradiction. Sarah O’Meara finds out why the kitchen Boy Wonder’s latest cookbook isn’t just for scientists 68 Fine Spring 2012
Fine Dining
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f you want to see food through Heston Blumenthal’s eyes, pop a biscuit in your mouth, pinch your nose and breath in. It won’t taste of much as flavour comes entirely via aroma molecules, he explains. But it’s the kind of experiment that inspires his day-to-day cooking and has helped him to turn dining out into a quixotic art form. In his latest book, Heston Blumenthal At Home, the three Michelin-starred chef attempts to lay bare his thought processes, without recourse to the epic commands contained in his seminal 532-page Big Fat Duck Cookbook of three years ago. Just to recap, his bacon and ice cream mixture needed to infuse for 10 hours, then mature for another 10, before you poured on liquid nitrogen.
Even if you do think spritzing Kirsch into the air to accompany your Black Forest gateau, or smearing fan blades with a maritime scent to accentuate the flavour of your salmon dish, might be going too far. “I’m a bit weird,” admits Blumenthal, as he analyses why he cooks in such extreme terms, and dreams up dishes such as snail porridge. “We’ve got a psychometric test we do for staff, and I thought, ‘I’ll do it myself’. It tends to put people in two categories – creative or logical. I’m literally chalk and cheese. I’m left-handed with chopping and writing, everything else right-handed.”
This time sizzling culinary facts – both technical and trivial – intermingle with easyto-imitate recipes mostly confined to one page of text.
This could well explain how his madly creative impulses sit so easily alongside a love of rational, scientific exploration. During the past four years, TV viewers have been treated to his extreme approach via his Feasts series, Little Chef and Heston’s Mission Impossible.
“If you ask me for my guilty pleasure, it’s prawn cocktail,” says Blumenthal. “When I was growing up in the Seventies you could only get one type of pasta, and you could only get olive oil from chemists, but that’s not to say there wasn’t food from that era you didn’t grow to love. For me it’s prawn cocktail.”
Last year he opened his second high-end restaurant, Dinner, which provides a tour of Britain’s culinary past and includes your average Blumenthal twists, such as meat fruit (chicken liver parfait wrapped in mandarin jelly to make it look like a tangerine).
At one point when we were opening Dinner, we had 600 dishes in development between the restaurants, television, Waitrose and other projects. “When I get home late after working in the Fat Duck there’s nothing I like better than to raid the fridge for it. Being such an addict, I’m deeply resistant to attempts to muck around with the ingredients, but putting a little chopped basil and tarragon into the mix introduces some fresh, lively extra flavour, as does scraping the seeds from a vanilla pod and adding them to the mayonnaise.” “It’s funny as we think of vanilla as sweet, but if you chew a vanilla pod, it’s as bitter as coffee.” Reading his cookbook, filled with tips on how to cook ‘sous-vide’ style (food sealed in airtight plastic bags and plunged in a warm water bath) and the joys of smoking candyfloss, it’s easy to get absorbed by his bold tactics.
“So that involves tasting, and tasting, and tasting, and tasting, and tasting, and tasting. Fear of failure is a big driving force so I know I have to drop myself into one situation, pull myself out and then do it again, trying to keep my head above water.” Although it’s hard to imagine Blumenthal’s ever less than 100% in control while in the kitchen, he begs to differ. “There are some times when you think, ‘I’ve bitten off more than I can chew’. Even with Feast. In the second series, we were panicking the day before, thinking we had nothing to serve. But because of the length of the programme you don’t see all that. I’d be like, ‘I have a problem’. Next scene ‘Oh I’ve fixed it’. You miss the bit where I was madly panicking!”
Top Restaurants Around the World Joël Robuchon, Las Vegas Run by Chef of the Century Joël Robuchon, recipient of an incredible 24 Michelin stars, this Las Vegas restaurant is so exclusive you will have to book at least 6 months in advance to secure one of only five tables. Heralded as the finest example of French cuisine in the United States, the menu includes Oscetra caviar, smooth cauliflower cream, and delicate gelée of green asparagus.
Aragawa, Tokyo Renowned as the most expensive restaurant in the world, Aragawa is found within an unassuming basement setting in Tokyo’s business district. With minimal décor more traditionally found in a sushi bar diners might be surprised to find Aragawa serves only steak. Kobe beef to be precise – a meat that comes from cows that are hand-fed, drink sake and are massaged everyday to produce the most tender beef available.
Alain Ducasse au Plaza AthénéE, Paris 10,000 crystals glitter down from the elegant chandeliers within the dining room at Alain Ducasse’s flagship Paris restaurant. Popular with Parisian high society it is located just of the Champs Elysées and serves the most exquisite langoustine amuse-bouche and lobster in spiced wine with quince. Chef Alain Ducasse is the first chef to own restaurants carrying three Michelin stars in three different cities.
Ossiano Restaurant, Dubai Catalan Chef Santi Santamaria presides over one of Dubai’s most striking restaurants, Ossiano. Surrounded by a lagoon of exotic fish, the interior is styled like Neptune’s palace and the food is an extravagant mix of Michelin starred Mediterranean flavours. Overlooking the Ambassador Lagoon, diners will be transfixed with the views of coral reefs, stingrays and brightly coloured creatures as they dart past – a truly unique experience from a desert location.
Masa, New York Masa is New York City’s most extravagantly priced restaurant. Specialising in omakase sushi, the interior is decorated using a rare piece of $60,000 hinoki wood. The ingredients used are flown in from Japan by request of Chef Masa, considered one of the most celebrated chefs in the USA. Masa is one of only seven restaurants in the city awarded the maximum four out of four stars by The New York Times.
Turn over for three recipes from Heston Blumenthal At Home Spring 2012 Fine 69
Fine Dining
Prawn Cocktail
RACK OF LAMB
(Serves 4)
(Serves 6)
110g tomato ketchup
2 racks of lamb, weighing approx 500g each
100g mayonnaise
Extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
16 sprigs of thyme
Worcestershire sauce, 12 drops
4 sprigs of rosemary
10g lemon juice
8 bay leaves
Salt and black pepper
Salt
400g cooked shelled prawns
Jar of tapenade
1 iceberg lettuce, finely shredded 1 avocado, peeled and diced Combine the tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Add the prawns to the sauce and stir to coat. Place the shredded lettuce on the bottom of four glasses or glass bowls, followed by the diced avocado, and then a generous spoonful of prawns and sauce.
You will need: Sous-vide vacuum bags Water bath (bain-marie) Pre-heat the water-bath to 60ยบC. Place the racks in two individual sousvide bags with 15g each of oil and the herbs divided between them. Seal the bags under full pressure, and place in the bath for one hour. Remove the bags from the bath and remove the racks from the bags, discarding the herbs. Pat dry. (Alternatively, place the sealed bag in a basin of iced water at this stage and refrigerate until required.) Season the lamb with salt. Coat the bottom of a large frying pan generously with olive oil and place over a medium-high heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the lamb and cook for four minutes, flipping the rack every 15 seconds, until the meat is brown on each side. If the pan begins to smoke, lower the heat. Remove the lamb from the pan and allow to rest for at least 5 minutes before coating with the tapenade. Divide into cutlets to serve.
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Fine Dining
ECCLES CAKES WITH POTTED STILTON (Makes 16 mini Eccles cakes) For the Eccles cakes: 100g unsalted butter 150g unrefined caster sugar 200g currants 25g red wine vinegar 5g ground allspice 500g all-butter puff pastry Egg wash (1 egg yolk beaten with 2tsp milk) For the potted Stilton: 100g Stilton, at room temperature 50g Mascarpone 75g unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/2 tsp salt 30g Pedro Ximénez sherry 1/2 tsp sherry vinegar
To start the Eccles cakes, melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, then add the sugar and heat until the mixture begins to bubble. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the currants, vinegar and allspice. Allow to cool completely. Portion the mixture into 16x25g balls, put on a tray and place in the freezer for 1 hour. Roll out the pastry to a thickness of 3mm, then cut out 16 circles using a pastry cutter (approximately 9cm). Brush the circles with egg wash, then place the frozen filling in the centre of the circles and wrap the pastry around it. Press together the overlapping edges to seal, and roll between your hands to form a perfect ball. Turn each cake over so the join is on the bottom and slash the top with a knife three times. Place the cakes in the freezer for at least 30 minutes (they can be left in the freezer at this stage if making them in advance of serving).
Heston Blumenthal At Home is published by Bloomsbury, priced £30.
Meanwhile, for the potted Stilton, put the Stilton, mascarpone, butter and salt into a bowl and blitz with a hand blender until smooth. Gently warm the sherry, 55g cold tap water and the sherry vinegar together in a small saucepan until almost simmering. Slowly add the sherry and water to the cheese and mix carefully until well combined. Decant into small ramekins or a single bowl and place in the fridge to set (approximately 1 hour). To bake the cakes, pre-heat the oven to 200ºC. Brush the surface of each cake with egg wash and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the pastry turns golden brown. Take the potted Stilton out of the fridge 10 minutes before serving with the warm Eccles cakes.
Available now
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MIDL ANDS Market Comment: Fine in the MIDLANDS What a difference a year makes The last year or so in the Midlands has seen a sense of equilibrium return, although this has not been without detractors in the market, who have attempted to put buyers back on the fence whilst they watched for any short term outcome in their favour. The good thing is that the activity that did not happen last year seems to have come through this year and earlier than the norm too.Viewings have not been interrupted by a cold snap and early sales have been very encouraging indeed.We had an open house in March which attracted 16 people in one hour!
Jonno O’Shea Regional Director for Fine in the Midlands Jonno is a chartered surveyor who has been involved in the sale and purchase of top quartile homes and estates throughout the midlands since 1996. He has joined Fine after a period with a national agency, where he ran a group of residential offices and prior to that where he was with Savills.
Homes are trading at realistic prices – ‘twas ever thus’ Jonno comments – but those that are too much money are really not getting anything like the interest they deserve. He challenges those homeowners that are moving in this market to focus on the gap between the sale and any onward purchase… or better still, to let Fine to do that for them. He is confident that Fine’s fresh and energetic approach can really make a difference.
HEAVENLY HOME
A NOBLE PAST
The exquisite stone building, which dates back to the late 16th Century, has been transformed back into one magnificent family home
Relaxing in front of a glowing fire, Paul Boland reflects on the history of his restored family house, once home to the Duke of Newcastle
£1,750,000 Homes in Buckinghamshire 01908 969129
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£750,000 Homes in Nottinghamshire 0115 9814509
Divine Inspiration With its fairytale approach, delightful setting and fantastic accommodation, Rectory Grange, which has an indoor swimming pool and stables, is a home with a soul £1,800,000 Homes in Buckinghamshire 01908 969129
CHAR ACTER-FILLED HOME
£950,000 The splendid house looked Victorian but inside it displayed wonderful Georgian features – and they vowed they would buy it one day if the opportunity arose Homes in Leicestershire 0115 9814509
CONTEMPOR ARY THINKING
£695,000 Designed by a multi award-winning team of experts, stunning Lime Tree Lodge is a work of art, nestling in sought-after Mapperley Park Homes in Nottinghamshire 0115 9814509
SOMEWHERE SPECIAL
£850,000 She had always admired Hallams Lane, and the beautiful house with its impressive façade. So when it came on the market, she could not resist having a look Homes in Nottinghamshire 0115 9814509
A STABLE FUTURE
£500,000 Dating back to the mid-19th Century, his home was once part of an old stable block for Whaddon Hall – today it offers both comfort and convenience Homes in Milton Keynes 01908 969129
STEPHENSONS’ HILL HOUSE
oiro £699,950 With a swimming pool and 2.5 acres of land all set in an idyllic country location, Stewart and Rosalyn Tilley’s home offers the perfect family lifestyle surrounded by peace and tranquillity Homes in Lincolnshire 0115 9814509
COMFORT AND CHARM
£400,000 Character-filled Pantiles is one of the oldest houses in the village and still embodies all the charm of a period home Homes in Nottinghamshire 0115 9814509
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“Set in three acres of land, and on the edge of an unspoiled village, which had conservation areas, it was very appealing.�
A VERY
ENGLISH LIFE
In the heart of the quintessentially English village of Weedon, he found a home where he could enjoy the gentle pace of life and also run his business 74 Fine Spring 2012
oving to Weedon was all about making a lifestyle change for Graham Cording. He moved to the pretty village, in the heart of Buckinghamshire, so he could enjoy a very different way of living. “It was a lifestyle decision for us to move here,” he explained. “Before that, I was doing a lot of travelling to work.
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WONDERFUL SPACES The house is thought to have been built between 1910 and 1920. With beams, leaded windows and fireplaces, it still has much of its original character, as well as plenty of space. “It was a country home that we had the opportunity to refurbish,” he said.
“Because there was a detached cottage here, as well as the house, I was able to work from home.
“We lifted the carpets and found the original herring bone floor underneath, which we sanded down and restored.
“Set in three acres of land, and on the edge of an unspoiled village, which had conservation areas, it was very appealing.”
“We had a bespoke kitchen made in a traditional style and hand painted. We also installed an Aga and had a new bathroom put in.” Spring 2012 Fine 75
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“We have our own little ‘pub,’ which has been great for parties. We also have a disco or party room, with a dance floor, where we spend a lot of time entertaining friends and family.” The two-storey office building was once stables - this was also renovated. With full planning permission for business use, it could make a great place for someone else to work, or could perhaps – subject to the relevant approvals – become a self-contained annexe, or an annexe and work space together. “I have loved working here,” he added. “And other people who have come to work here too have said the same.” WELCOMING GUESTS From the many windows in the house there are simply stunning views out over the garden and the rolling green of the Aylesbury Vale. “The garden room is brick-built but has windows on three sides,” he said. “It looks out over the south-facing garden and beyond. I spend a lot of time in there – it is just beautiful.” He went on: “The drawing room is a traditional room, which, with its wood-burner, has a lovely style. The dining room has an open fire and is great for dinner parties.” Westmead House has certainly seen some great entertaining occasions in the decade or so that Graham and his family have lived there. “We had my daughter’s wedding reception here. We put a large marquee where there had been a tennis court area – we also did the same for my other daughter’s school leaving party” he said. “We have also hosted the annual Weedon fireworks party here.” DREAM HOME There is a true sense of community in Weedon, he said. From quiz nights for the adults to Easter egg rolling events for the children, there always seems to be something going on. “I am leaving because the children are grown up and I am downsizing but it has been a lovely place to live,” he said. “The village itself is idyllic and the house is fantastic. Being able to work from home has been wonderful for me. “This place offers a complete lifestyle.”
PROPERTY DETAILS Approached via a long drive and boasting stunning countryside views, Westmead House is a beautifully presented four-bedroom home that is ideal for family living. Additionally, there is a large well equipped detached office building that can be used for business purposes or converted back to family living.
Location Weedon Price Guide price £999,995 Property type Charming Country Home Contact Homes in Buckinghamshire 01908 969129
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Caribbean QUEEN The owners of The Caimens admit they were blown away when they first saw the house, which boasts a stunning indoor pool and leisure area
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ust like a luxury holiday in the Cayman Islands, The Caimens offers five-star accommodation complete with an indoor, lagoon swimming pool, five-tier gardens with a breathtaking water feature and, inside, balmy temperatures all year round. “When I come home from work I like to walk through the pool area because it instantly relaxes me and makes me feel like I am on holiday,” said the owner. The Caimens was built three years ago and named after the Caribbean island by the developer. The stylish and elegant five-bedroom house has been built to a high specification and the contemporary interior design is simply spectacular. “The house is amazing, it is in a fantastic location close to woods and yet just five minutes away from the city centre,” he said. WATERSIDE LUXURY The owners bought the house when it had just been built, but have put their own stamp on it by decorating throughout and choosing furnishings.
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“It is an extremely modern and contemporary-style home, which suited our family needs and requirements,” he said. Built on three levels, the impressive pool facility is on the ground floor and instantly creates a luxurious ambience. As well as the swimming pool, there is a sauna and a large seating area complete with comfortable sofas, bringing a relaxed feel. “The pool area has a sor t of jungle theme to it and just being in that space makes you feel good,” he said. CASCADING FALLS A lift accesses all three floors and the main living area is on the first floor. Materials including glass, marble and brick create the state-of-the-art, open plan living area, which is crowned by an awe-inspiring water feature. From a glass gallery, there is a wall of water cascading down from the top floor to the swimming pool and next to it is a quiet, seating area where the owners like to play chess or simply listen to the soft sound of water falling.
“When I come home from work I like to walk through the pool area because it instantly relaxes me and makes me feel like I am on holiday.” PROPERTY DETAILS Few homes stand alone in their quality and design yet still offer the comfort and space for both modern family living and entertaining. The Caimens is one of these rare finds with beautiful accommodation that combines five bedrooms and a lagoon-style indoor swimming pool with open plan living. Outside there is a double garage with enclosed courtyard for further parking and a garden designed on several levels to incorporate a stunning water feature.
Location Mapperley Park Price Guide price £1,600,000 Property type Architect Designed Family Home Contact Homes in Nottinghamshire 0115 9814509 Spring 2012 Fine 79
Fine Travel
Celeb Island Retreats
Exotic hideaways, luxury retreats and exclusive spas – with money no object celebrities can indulge in the ultimate escape
Little Hall’s Pond Cay, Bahamas
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Inspired by his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean, Oscar-winner Johnny Depp bought his very own tropical retreat. The laid-back Bahamas lifestyle agreed with the actor who in 2004 purchased Little Hall’s Pond Cay in the Exumas region for $3.6M. It is an area of extreme natural beauty, one mile long and includes a protected coral reef. With six beaches, a hideaway cottage and a Tiki hut this has proved the ultimate getaway for Depp and his family. Invitations have since been extended to other A-list stars looking for privacy including troubled actress Lindsay Lohan.
Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
Possibly one of the most inexpensive purchases ever made by the Virgin Empire mogul – Richard Branson’s private island residence was snapped up in 1978 for only a few hundred thousand pounds. An extensive million pound renovation using locally sourced materials produced a 10-bedroom Balinese-style villa known as the Great House and exclusive celebrity resort.
It is widely regarded as one of the most decadent settings for a glittering party for the Hollywood elite. Private beaches, numerous swimming pools, a spa, tennis courts and personal chefs on standby ensure Necker Island is a first choice for those who can afford the £35,000 per night price tag.
Blackadore Caye, Belize Located in the Atlantic Ocean overlooking the Belize Barrier Reef, Blackadore Caye is a small yet picturesque island. Leonardo DiCaprio fell for this diminutive hideaway whilst holidaying at the nearby luxury resort Cayo Espanto. Purchased for $1.75 million, the actor has already shared his plans to create a five-star luxury resort based on
sustainable design and environmental conservation. Famous for its diving sites, the water off Blackadore Caye is home to a vast array of exotic marine life – drawing diving fanatics from across the globe. DiCaprio hopes his project will offer an opulent experience with an environmental twist.
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Mago Island, Fiji
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Bought for $9 million by actor Mel Gibson, this idyllic tropical island set within the southwest Pacific Ocean comprises of a stunning 5,400 acres making it the largest privately owned space in the region. Virtually uninhabited, Gibson has found an exotic retreat away from the glare of the paparazzi. Instead of a sprawling luxury resort, the actor has instead built a modest residence and village for the island’s caretakers, who maintain the forest and grounds. Mago is so exclusive that visitors can only arrive by private jet onto the airstrip at the island’s centre.
Money No Object
Fine Travel
EXCLUSIVE WAYS TO SPEND YOUR FORTUNE
Hot Air Balloon Safari Witness from above the breathtaking landscape and majestic wildlife of the African Savannah in your very own luxury hot air balloon.
World’s Most Expensive Cocktail Experts at Burj Al Arab’s Sky View Bar, Dubai mix the most extravagant ingredients before serving the 27.321 cocktail in an 18-karat gold glass.
Gold facial, Beverly Hills
The Orient Express Departing from London the luxurious Venice-Simplon Orient Express travels to eight major European destinations offering 1920’s style decadence.
Book yourself in at UMO America for the ultimate luxury spa treatment and have your face brushed with 24-karat gold leaf, which is said to preserve youthful skin.
The Mansion at MGM Grand Renowned as one of the most exclusive resorts in Las Vegas, The Mansion at MGM Grand has its own casino, luxurious spa and private garden.
Sail the Maldives
The Monte Carlo Casino Roll dice and play cards in Europe’s legendary casino. Be seen in this prestigious Bello-époque setting renowned for its celebrity clientele.
Take to the Indian Ocean in style and charter a private yacht around the archipelago. Vessels include a hot tub on deck and onboard staff.
Diamond Shopping in Geneva
Elephant Trekking in Thailand
With the biggest names in the diamond trade based in Geneva it is considered the must-visit capital when purchasing the finest jewels.
Tour the lush rainforests on the back of an elephant. Your bamboo seat with canopy offers the perfect vantage point to see exotic birds of paradise.
Dine on Yubari Melon In Japan one of the most refined desserts is a Yubari melon. This exquisite fruit is so sought after a perfectly produced pair once fetched 2.5 million Yen. Spring 2012 Fine 83
Favourites
FINE
Lee Hasson Branch Manager
“There are completely uninterrupted views from all around the house.”
THE ELMS, ABRIDGE The Elms could be one of the finest properties I have seen in 17 years of being an estate agent. From the moment I enter, the sheer quality of the home is striking. I enjoy the gadgets and mod cons this home provides, including the iPod docking station in the hallways and landings, cinema room and the Lutron lighting throughout. As for my favourite parts of the house I am torn between the stunning far-reaching views across the countryside or the leisure facilities with the steam room, offering the perfect sanctuary to escape the pandemonium of family life. What better way is there to pamper oneself than to take a dip in the beautiful pool with its surrounding mood lighting? 84 Fine Spring 2012
a modern manor £4,500,000 The owners of The Elms have built a dream family home, incorporating clever design and environmentally friendly technology Homes in West Essex 020 85040977
Fine Buckinghamshire
FINE FOCUS
Buckinghamshire A county of great surprises and a beautiful location in which to live and work – Buckinghamshire is a magical place
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ust a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of London, Buckinghamshire boasts some of the most beautiful and best-loved countryside England has to offer. With the Chiltern Hills stretching away to Oxfordshire in the south west and Bedfordshire in the north east, it’s easy to understand why this county has been one of the most sought-after places to live for centuries. But what is it actually like to live there? We take a look at some of the great amenities and properties that Bucks has to offer.
Retail Therapy When it comes to shopping, Buckinghamshire offers a wide variety of retail outlets. In addition to some excellent shopping centres, its towns and villages are jostling with independent shops and many exclusive boutiques. Perhaps the most well-known retail venue is the Central Milton Keynes Shopping Centre. Comprising thecentre:mk (a modern Grade II Listed building dating from the 1970s) along with Midsummer Place, you’ll find everything from national chains like Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and John Lewis to dozens of smaller, specialist shops. On four days of each week there is also an indoor market at thecentre:mk, while Midsummer Place is a sophisticated and fun venue to shop with plenty of fashion boutiques and street-side cafés to choose from. A little further south in the heart of High Wycombe is the well-known Eden shopping centre. Combining national chains with local retailers, it’s also an entertainment hub offering a cinema, bowling centre and a wonderful selection of eateries.
Marlow
However, if you are looking for something a little different, why not explore the beautiful market towns like Marlow, Haddenham and Great Missenden – and the pretty country roads that connect them. When you reach the Stowe area, be sure to discover the highly regarded Boycott Farm. The farm shop stocks home produced Aberdeen Angus beef, Gloucester Old Spot pork and free-range eggs, not to mention a selection of quiches, pastries, meringues and more. And if that isn’t enough to tantalise the taste buds, then be sure to visit the farm’s Hayloft Restaurant and Tearoom for outstanding food produced from local ingredients. Spring 2012 Fine 85
Fine Buckinghamshire
Crazy Bear
Fine Dining Buckinghamshire is home to some superb pubs and restaurants. Whether you love to sample distinctive flavours or you’re looking for old favourites, you’ll find cuisine to satisfy every taste.
Hands and Flowers
For the best of British food with a splash of the continent, the Hand and Flowers pub in Marlow is a treat. Modern British flavours share the menu with rustic French dishes and every plate is served exquisitely. Inspired menu choices include Braised Pearl Barley with Slow Cooked Somerset Hare, Loin of Cotswold Venison with Ox Tongue, Bérigoule Mushroom, English Lettuce and Prickly Ash – and a delightful Warm Pistachio Sponge Cake with Melon Sorbet and Marzipan. Wow – no wonder the Hand and Flowers has two Michelin stars. Adam Simmonds at Danesfield House is another Michelin starred restaurant offering modern European cuisine just outside Marlow. Danesfield House is also much more than a restaurant – this country house hotel has a first-class spa and 65 acres of manicured gardens, making it truly one of Buckingham’s finest jewels. However, no feature on Buckinghamshire would be complete without mentioning the Crazy Bear in Beaconsfield. Described by METRO as a “hotel with decor to take your breath away...” this remarkable venue is certainly a visual celebration of luxury that offers an exceptional experience. Glamorous, decadent and festooned with crystal-studded furniture, chandeliers and mirrored ceilings, the hotel has rooms that are decorated like a series of fantasy French boudoirs. Appetites can be satisfied in one of the opulent restaurants serving English, Thai and Italian cuisine.
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Danesfield House
Fine Buckinghamshire
Places to Visit Amid some of England’s most beautiful countryside there is no shortage of villages and market towns to explore. If you’re looking for a special day out, there are many events and places of interest to choose from – we have selected just a few of our favourites. Every year Buckinghamshire celebrates one of its’ most famous residents; the author Roald Dahl. The Roald Dahl Festival takes place over the summer in Aylesbury and includes a parade based on characters and themes from his books. It’s a fantastic experience for young and old alike. Dorney Lake near Windsor is a purpose-built rowing lake owned by Eton College and a great place to relax. It is also due to host rowing events at the 2012 Summer Olympics. If Victorian grandeur is more your preference then Waddesdon Manor is a must-see. Set in one of the finest Victorian gardens in the country, it was originally built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1889 to showcase his art collection. Today it is operated by the National Trust and is one of its most visited paid-entry stately homes.
Waddesdon Manor
Buckinghamshire has also made an outstanding contribution to British history and security thanks to Bletchley Park, which houses the National Codes Centre and National Museum of Computing. It was here that the Government Code and Cypher School worked to decrypt messages and provide valuable intelligence for the war effort. Another historical and fun day out for the whole family can be found at The Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway – a heritage railway with its main station at Chinnor on the Buckinghamshire-Oxfordshire border. Old steam locomotives still run, and will instantly transport you and your family back to the grand age of steam.
The Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway
Top Class Education The schools in Buckinghamshire are excellent – and they’re a great incentive to live in the county. For private education, the famous Wycombe Abbey school for girls is one of the highest achieving schools in the country. Situated amid 160 acres near High Wycombe in the Chilterns, Wycombe Abbey boasts some of the most beautiful and inspiring grounds a student could wish for – including woods, gardens and a lake. Primarily a boarding school, it also caters for a small number of day girls – known within the school as ‘day boarders’. Stowe School is another leading light in Buckinghamshire. Based at Stowe House, once the country seat of the Dukes of Buckingham and Chandos, it boasts a Grade I Listed building as well as an enviable estate that includes a first class cricket ground. Founded in the 1920s, famous alumni include David Niven, Prince Rainier III of Monaco and George Melly. Buckinghamshire is also home to some excellent grammar schools and is one of the few counties to retain the selective 11 plus. Many of these schools rank among the top 200 in the country for GCSE and A-Level results with notable top achievers including Burnham Grammar School in Slough, Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School in Marlow and Dr Challoner’s Grammar School in Amersham, while Beaconsfield High School is also highly regarded.
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Fine Buckinghamshire
Walpole House
Property Hot Spot As with Surrey, Berkshire and Kent, beautiful countryside within easy distance of London has made Buckinghamshire properties a highly sought-after commodity and there is no shortage of luxury homes. An unfinished country mansion house with 6 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms in sought-after Chalfont St. Giles hits the upper end of the scale at £6,000,000, while a 6-bedroom house in the same area can be had for £2,650,000. If it’s a question of space, a 5 bedroom and 3 bathroom home in Walton Park can start at £575,000, in a privately situated area with wraparound garden or if you prefer to be at the centre of things, a beautiful 2-bedroom apartment in a listed building in Taplow is available for £599,950 – with all the trappings and security of its counterparts in the city and only a stone’s throw from the magnificent Italianate mansion Cliveden, an historic property that’s now a five-star hotel with spectacular National Trust managed gardens. Meanwhile, for those looking for a rural idyll in a beautiful countryside setting of Buckinghamshire, a farmhouse with 24 acres in Chalfont St. Giles makes the perfect countryside retreat and is ideal for equestrian enthusiasts. As with other properties in this area, this particular house commands a premium at £3,500,000.
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For large families, properties with eight bedrooms are currently on the market commanding a price tag of £2,500,000 in Stoke Poges, while a seven-bedroom house in Little Chalfont has come on the market for £2,750,000. Within the county, prices also vary and generally increase for properties within the Chilterns and close to London. For example, five bedrooms in Buckinghamshire can range from £475,000 in Milton Keyes to £2,650,000 in Beaconsfield. It’s this very proximity to London, however, that also makes Buckinghamshire properties a good investment and ensures that they remain at the top end of Britain’s property ladder. So, if you’re thinking about buying a house in Buckinghamshire there are many great reasons to do so – and the good news is there’s plenty of choice when it comes to both size and location. To find out more about living in this remarkable county or any of the homes mentioned above, please give one of our Fine branches a call on: Gerrards Cross 01753 886177 Milton Keynes 01908 969129 We would love to help you find your dream home in one of the UK’s most desirable locations.
Favourites
FINE
“In autumn, the leaves are the most wonderful shades, and in spring, all the bulbs come up. In the winter, when it is covered in snow, it is simply magical.”
FULMER PARK, FULMER Apart from the incredibly luxurious kitchen and bathrooms, the use of beautiful woods and tiles creating a sleek unparalleled style… for me it’s the amazing surroundings. From the raised 750ft elevated entertaining terrace and every window and door the views are simply breathtaking. A red Japanese style bridge leads to enchanted woodland with labelled specimen trees, some over 300 years old. Hedge upon hedge of rhododendrons, carpets of spring flowers – the fauna and flora of this 4.25 acre (STMS) site is priceless. Nurtured, loved and developed by the former landowner there cannot be a comparable house set in such beauty.
Susan Keveren Assistant Branch Manager
garden of eden Guide Price £5,250,000 Being able to walk in the parkland and watch the seasons change will be an incredible experience for whoever lives here Homes in Buckinghamshire 01753 886177 Spring 2012 Fine 89
SOUTH Market Comment: Fine in the SOUTH Escape from London to country life fuels demand There continues to be a high demand from families relocating out of London for a better quality of life. This is ensuring that prices remain strong in the South particularly where access into London by rail is around one hour. The Kent and Sussex countryside continues to be attractive for buyers looking to live in a more rural location yet retaining access to central London. An extensive choice of good quality private and state schools and grammar education also influence decisions over where families relocate.
Nicola Rummery Regional Manager Nicola has worked in estate agency for around 27 years with a broad range of experience from the coast across the countryside and the Kent and Sussex villages. From Bexhillon-Sea to Tunbridge Wells, Ticehurst and Mayfield, she knows the region well. From her days in independent estate agency, through GA Property Services and Halifax Estate Agents, in more recent years she has worked for Freeman Forman, from where she joined Fine.
The economic climate remains challenging and this has made potential buyers more careful about their financial commitments and long term plans. Cash buyers looking for second homes and a change of lifestyle continue to emerge in the markets but their expectations are generally to find a quality country home in a good location at a realistic price.
MAKING AN IMPRESSION
SETTING THE STAGE
The owners of Mumpumps were totally mesmerised by the idyllic setting of the Tudor farmhouse, which, with its own small pond, reminds them of a Monet painting
When they first saw Shelton House they realised it offered everything they were looking for – a fantastic location and plenty of space for the children to play
Guide price £895,000 - £925,000 Homes in Kent & Sussex 01892 458931
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Guide price £825,000 - £850,000 Homes in Kent & Sussex 01892 458931
HOUSE OF HISTORY Stepping inside Bletchenden Manor Farm, he was wowed by its historical features and its beauty, as well as its great location £1,650,000 Homes in Kent 01892 458931
HIDDEN PLEASURES
£625,000 Breathtaking interiors, stunning leisure spaces and an incredible garden – the owners have considered every detail in the creation of their magnificent dream home Homes in Kent & Sussex 01892 458931
IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN
£385,000 With its imposing oak pillared porch and arched front door, the classic Victorian exterior of Autumn End appealed to Katherine and Craig immediately Homes in Kent & Sussex 01892 458931
SHEPHERD’S DELIGHT
£479,000 Within beautiful surroundings they discovered a period home full of charm and character, which was convenient for both work and leisure Homes in Kent & Sussex 01892 458931
COTTAGE DREAM
£240,000 They had passed the cottage on many occasions and often wondered what it would be like to live in a home with so much character and charm Homes in Kent & Sussex 01892 458931
HEART OF OAK
£425,000 Before he had even seen the beautiful views towards Burwash, he was won over by the stunning interior spaces at The Barn Homes in Kent & Sussex 01892 458931
THEIR OWN VIEW
Guide price £425,000 - £450,000 The home had a wealth of character and had been beautifully renovated – on top of that it took in a magnificent panorama Homes in Kent & Sussex 01892 458931
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BRIGHT AS A
BUTTON
Buttons House has provided the owners with an idyllic country home, perfect for family life, but within easy reach to London 92 Fine Spring 2012
“A stream full of trout trickles through the lush grounds of Buttons House where wild garlic grows in abundance.”
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hen Stuart and Deborah first saw Buttons House 11 years ago, they instantly knew they had found the perfect home. “It was love at first sight. We had been looking for a year in Sussex and Kent but every other house we had seen had involved a compromise. We particularly wanted a truly peaceful location and a country upbringing for our son but Stuart worked in London so we needed a good station nearby and we also wanted to be able to walk to village shops and local pubs.” The four/five bedroom house is surrounded by well planted mature gardens and has a heated outdoor swimming pool. The adjoining paddock borders the Wadhurst Park estate and it is possible to watch magnificent stags roaming there.
“Edward and Mrs Simpson used to hide away in a house just up the lane and he made a rose garden for her there. I don’t think the area has changed much since then and Buttons definitely has a timeless feel. It is private and peaceful without feeling isolated or remote.” There are two railway stations within a few minutes’ drive with services into Central London taking around 50 minutes. “We still wake up each morning feeling as though we are on holiday. We have always felt very lucky to be here and have enjoyed every moment of the last 11 years.” Spring 2012 Fine 93
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“Living at Buttons has been a very special and memorable period of our lives and we have enjoyed every minute of it.” Farming History Parts of the house are thought to be the original farmhouse but it was largely rebuilt after the second world war as two cottages and later returned to one large house. Though it retains the lovely feel of a period property, it has good ceiling heights and is not listed. It also offers significant potential to extend (STPP). “We know the house was one of four farms serving Wadhurst Park in the 19th Century and that there has been a farmhouse in this location for hundreds of years. Local historians told us that the house and surrounding land, barns and workers’ cottages were originally a single farm bought by Arthur Buttons in around 1650.” Since moving in the couple have improved the property and upgraded the electrics, plumbing, windows, roof and insulation. They installed a new boiler and laid new carpets two years ago. The kitchen and bathrooms have been refurbished with tumbled terrazzo tiling, solid granite work surfaces and digital Aqualisa showers. The pool terrace was recently laid with Indian Sandstone and the summerhouse, stables and oak cart lodge have been gradually added during their time there. “We have always had rather expensive taste and have lavished a lot of love on our home.” Outdoor Dining In decorating the couple have tended to use Farrow & Ball paints and have preferred big rugs on the oak floors downstairs to fitted carpeting. “We love cooking and entertaining and we spend a lot of time in the kitchen and have our breakfast in here in the winter. In the summer we usually have breakfast in the cart lodge or by the pool as it is a real suntrap.” The family also make use of the wonderful outdoor spaces they have created often inviting friends over for barbecues and eating al fresco. “The house is wonderful for parties, the space flows really well and you can open the windows and doors at the back of the house and link it seamlessly with the outside space and swimming pool.” Magic Memories Though the family love the summers, they never mind when winter comes because the house is so cosy. “We light the log fire in the drawing room and it becomes the heart of our home. The lovely dining room is always used by the family and when friends come to stay. We often lose all track of time and sit at the table for hours after dinner. At Christmas time the house really comes into its own,” she said. “It is a magical Christmas house and we decorate with fresh holly from the garden and put little white lights in some of the trees. The starry skies here are beautiful in winter.”
PROPERTY DETAILS Situated down a country lane on the edge of this highly desirable village, Buttons is a four/five bedroom character-filled home that enjoys the tranquillity of its stunning surround. Nestled amid approximately 1.7 acres (STMS) of grounds that are bounded by a stream and adjoin Wadhurst Park, the house is also ideal for commuters offering easy access to London.
Location Wadhurst Price £1,150,000 Property type Charming Unlisted Cottage Contact Homes in Sussex and Kent 01892 458931
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TO THE
MANOR BORN
In an area alive with tales from the past, their historic home enjoys stunning surroundings, where they can walk, ride and soak up the glorious scenery
S
itting down to a family meal in the baronial dining hall or relaxing under the Tudor ceiling of the sitting room, Miranda and Garry Rigden relish the history of their Lenham Heath home. The Grade II* Listed proper ty, which is thought to date back to at least 1251, and includes an annexe and outdoor swimming pool, as well as equestrian facilities, has a wealth of exquisite period features but also offers comfortable living in a simply beautiful spot. “We are just down from the Pilgrims’ Way and the building was once par t of a monastery. Pilgrims would stop off here on their way to Canterbury,” said Miranda. “It has also been par t of a farm and, although it is no longer there, there was once a mill pond behind the house too.” HISTORIC WELCOME From the unusual, intricate details, such as the diamond-patterned sitting room ceiling to the revealed beams and exposed brickwork, the character of five-bedroom Royton Manor is still very much in existence. 96 Fine Spring 2012
“We did realise we would have to carry out work on the house when we first saw it 18 years ago,” she said. “But it was one of those homes that just felt lovely as soon as you walked in. “We have updated all the bathrooms and the kitchen. We have modernised par ts of the house but we have not changed the way it feels at all.” ALL SEASONS Décor has been kept simple to make the most of the wonderful features. Furniture has been brought in to complement the period style in the seven-reception room home. “One of my favourite rooms is the dining hall, with its oak panelling and striking wood-burner,” she stressed. “In the winter, it is really cosy. In the summer, we open the massive front door on to the garden.” She added: “The dining hall is a great space for having people over. It looks incredible when the table is laid and the candles are lit. If we take the table out, it turns into a superb par ty room.”
“We are just down from the Pilgrims’ Way and the building was once part of a monastery. Pilgrims would stop off here on their way to Canterbury.” PROPERTY DETAILS Nestled within three and a half acres (STMS) of grounds and with stunning views across paddocks and countryside, mellow Grade II* Listed Royton Manor is sure to charm. The interior includes five bedrooms, seven reception rooms and an abundance of character features, while outside you will find stables, a ménage and a swimming pool.
Location Lenham Heath Price £1,250,000 Property type Grade II* Listed Country Home Contact Homes in Kent and Sussex 01892 458931 Spring 2012 Fine 97
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2 1. Carved velvet chaise longue £4,999 www.ikandi-interiors.co.uk 2. Claret Jug (William & Son) £1,645 www.williamandson.com 3. Zeta Fireplace £14,000 www.ecosmartfire.com 4. Linari Grandezza Imperiale Room Fragrance Diffuser 5000ml £633 www.linari.com 5. Saint Louis Apollo caviar set £1,250 www.saint-louis.com 6. Triflow tap by Zaha Hadid £9,800 www.triflowconcepts.com 7. Val Saint Lambert Golf Tee Paperweight £90 www.val-saint-lambert.com
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Fine London Property
GOING FOR
Gold
Just how many medals Team GB manages to scoop at London 2012 remains to be seen – but the Olympics have already struck gold for the capital’s property market. Abigail Saltmarsh reports With the Olympic Games glittering on the horizon, there is an exciting buzz about London at the moment – but there’s more to it than simply the world sporting event. Key sections of our nation’s capital have seen major investment and regeneration, and, according to experts in the field, this is having a major influence on the property market. Ian Conway, brand manager at Felicity J Lord, said: “There is huge interest in property in East London at the moment. The start of this year has already been superb for the housing market. There are more buyers than stock at the moment and we are selling well above average so far this year,” he said. “Prices have risen perhaps by about five to 10 per cent – the regeneration and investment that has gone into this area seems to be making this part of London a much more desirable place to live, and this is having a powerful impact on the property market.”
There is huge interest in property in East London at the moment
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THE MIDAS TOUCH
GOLD RUSH
The transformation of the area is manifold, with major changes occurring on a daily basis that are affecting the lifestyles of those living in the area and having a major impact on business.
But the effects of the regeneration are reaching beyond the immediate locality. The area has also benefited from huge investments in transport infrastructure, which are making it ideally connected both internationally and locally, said Ian, including to London’s two main business centres – the City and Canary Wharf.
The Olympic Park is the largest park to be built in Europe for the last 150 years, while gleaming new shopping area Westfield Stratford City is the biggest retailled, mixed-use urban regeneration project ever undertaken in the UK. Opened in September last year, it was a £1.45 billion development, comprising 1.9 million sq ft of retail and leisure facilities, as well as 1.1 million sq ft of office space, three hotels and homes. It features around 300 shops, 70 food and beverage offers and is anchored by a John Lewis department store, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and a 17-screen, all-digital, state-of-the-art Vue cinema. As well as providing 25,000 construction jobs, it should also offer a total of 18,000 permanent jobs when every element of the scheme is fully completed.
Stratford International station is now served by frequent Southeastern highspeed trains to and from London St Pancras International and stations in Kent – and Eurostar connections can be made via St Pancras International and Ebbsfleet International. There has also been an extension of the Docklands Light Railway, and new and upgraded roads, bridges and streets have made road transport much easier. “All of these elements come together to make this a much more desirable part of London in which to live,” he added.
Prices have risen perhaps by about
5 10% to
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JEWEL IN THE CROWN
PRECIOUS DEVELOPMENTS
Significant investment as a direct result of the Olympic Games, has, of course, seen the creation of The Village.
The creation of high quality new property in London is being seen as one of the strongest legacies of the Olympic Games.
Lying adjacent to the Olympic Park, this will effectively create a whole new neighbourhood for East London and will result in 2,818 properties, including 1,379 affordable homes.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “I am extremely pleased that there is such a focus on delivering family-sized homes in this unique, new district emerging in our city.
As well as the new homes, there will be education and healthcare facilities, new parklands, public squares and transport links. The new properties – designed for modern and sustainable living – will be spread across 11 residential plots and built around private courtyards with car parking.
As well as the desperate need in London for larger homes, I cannot think of a better place for families to settle and children to grow up. They will create the vibrant new communities so important for its success.”
There are also six designated future development plots, with existing outline planning consent, and the potential for 2,000 more open market homes to be developed, together with more retail floor space and associated uses.
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And Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt said: “The Village will be the centrepiece of a new vibrant East London community and I am confident that these experienced property investors will deliver a modern, spacious neighbourhood that will contribute hugely to the regeneration of the area including the provision of much needed new housing.”
Fine London Property
GLiTTeRinG SUCCeSS Mariella Petralia, divisional lettings director of Felicity J Lord, said it was an exciting time to be in London. As well as all these benefits, and of course all the flagship sporting and community facilities we will see here once the games have finished, the whole profile of the area is being raised.
SHINING EXAMPLE REFLECTIONS IS A DAZZLING EXAMPLE OF THE STUNNING PROPERTY FINE HAS AVAILABLE RIGHT AT THE VERY HEART OF VIBRANT LONDON.
“I live in this part of London myself and we are experiencing exciting developments and improvements almost on a daily basis,” she said. She continued: “All this is having a direct effect on the property market. While we are not seeing the ridiculously high rental prices that were being widely publicised and hyped up, we have seen increases by about £150 a month and we are still experiencing a huge demand for properties in this area.” And she added: “This has become a part of London that people want to live in – because of the Olympics, it now has that prestige and cachet.”
The creation of high quality new property in London is being seen as one of the strongest legacies of the Olympic Games.
The architect-designed home, which captures glorious panoramas from almost every room, is currently on the market for £3,450,000. “Reflections is on an incredible plot by the River Thames and has been designed to capture the most amazing views out across the water, city, park and Tower Bridge,” said the agent marketing the property. “It is situated privately at the end of a cul-de-sac and features large expanses of glass and numerous entertaining areas, including a cinema room with drop-down screen, large south-facing terrace, open plan living and dining room, roof terrace with incredible views and sunroom.” Complete with a lighting and music system throughout (Rako and Opus), featuring in-wall, touch panels and music that can be streamed from a PC, iPod, iPad, iPhone or Apple TV, the house has a superb finish. “The first floor bedroom is extremely spacious and has WIR, as well as a bathroom with his and hers sinks, aqua TV and large windows overlooking the Thames,” he said. “The four bathrooms all have high quality Duravit and Hansgrohe fittings, while the kitchen is designed in high specification Corian and acrylic, and has Gaggenau appliances, including a coffee machine and wine fridge.” And he added: “This outstanding house, which has been nominated for a RIBA Award, has secure gated entry and off street parking. “It is situated by the newly designated Village Green and Queen Elizabeth II nominated field, King’s Stairs Gardens, and would offer an exceptional lifestyle to anyone looking to make the most of living in London at this exciting time.” For further information please call: 020 7089 6490
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A MATURE APPROACH
Enjoying breakfast in their airy, orangery-style kitchen dining room, Colin and Carole watch the early morning mist lifting off the lawns Guide price ÂŁ1,400,000 Homes in Essex 01206 564259
COASTAL & WATERSIDE Nothing can be more enjoyable than watching the light dance on the water as the sun goes down. Coastal and waterside properties allow their owners to be at one with the natural world, often presenting magnificent views of the most glorious stretches of lake, river and sea. Here, not only can the changing colours of the light and the moving seasons create an ever-evolving landscape but the array of wildlife can be fascinating to follow. With beautiful beaches, fabulous river walks and exciting lake activities, right on the doorsteps, these homes offer MORE than just wonderful houses in which to live.
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THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
RIVER SONG
£499,000 Sitting in his stunning, open plan living area, listening to music or reading a book, Ian can glance up to watch the marsh harriers flying over the water Homes in Norfolk 01603 622017
FLYING THE FLAG
With land, stables and a huge lake, High Gables had everything she wanted – and she also loved its appearance, which reminded her of the house in the Wizard of Oz
Guide price £975,000 Homes in Surrey 01932 576600
PORT OUT, STARBOARD HOME
£700,000 Standing in the sunshine on the bedroom balcony, watching the swans and looking out for seals, Brian and Jane O’Dell choose a flag to fly today Homes in Essex 01206 564259
VALLEY OF DREAMS
£475,000 In the morning, they wake up to the beauty of the countryside around them, and in the evenings, they look out across the magnificent valley, to watch the sun set Home in Lincolnshire 0115 9814509
COASTAL HAVEN
o w g T in ly in n a O em R
Steeped in local history as the home of a famous boat builder, David and Sara Elliott have charted a course of their own at wonderful Sevenoaks
£575,000 Homes in Norfolk 01603 622017
Prices from £795,000 Stunning, contemporary design within buildings of the finest quality – The Officers’ Mess offers a taste of the glorious past and commands the greatest attention Homes in Essex 01702 826037
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REACH FOR
THE STARS
With breathtaking views across the golf course and the sea, the magnificent location was where stars Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor dreamed of building a home
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aking up every morning to the heavenly panorama before her, the owner of Sker Court still finds it hard to believe she has made her home at the spectacular property. Built on land once intended for the home of Hollywood stars Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, the luxury abode sits in the most dramatic of locations, with uninterrupted views out over the Royal Porthcawl Golf Course and the Atlantic. “Years ago I lived nearby and my father and I would look up at the house as we walked down to the beach,” she remembered. “We used to imagine what the rooms were like behind the windows and wonder who lived there. “I never dreamed that one day I would live there myself.” PLACE OF LEGEND Designed and built some 41 years ago, Sker Court, which features its own leisure complex and two self-contained annexes, is truly unique. Named after the Viking settlement of Sker, uncovered on the beach below, and next door to Sker House, once said to have been home to the legendary Welsh “Maid of Sker,” it was created to be the residence of a local businessman, and no stone was left unturned in ensuring every last detail was perfect. “His architect was from South Africa and was inspired by the breathtaking panoramic views and the outlook over the golf course,” she said. “It reminded him of home. The house was designed on plans of a South African hunting lodge, and on a summer’s day, the surroundings could certainly be mistaken for an African plain.”
“My father and I would look up at the house as we walked down to the beach. We used to imagine what the rooms were like behind the windows and wonder who lived there.” Spring 2012 Fine 107
“We have our own little ‘pub,’ which has been great for parties. We also have a disco or party room, with a dance floor, were we spend a lot of time entertaining friends and family.”
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STRIKING HOME Sker Court may be expansive but it is also homely and welcoming, she stressed. “As you approach up the long, windy drive, it is simply spectacular. Everyone who comes here says they have never seen anything like it before,” she said. “It is a large home but it is cosy. It offers the whole package – everything you could want.” Inside, the house has been substantially updated since the couple moved in and now boasts an exquisite finish throughout. From the ornate galleried reception hall area to the light-filled living spaces, and the hand-crafted oak kitchen, with its granite work surfaces, to the Clive Christian-style
“We also totally refurbished the leisure area, with its heated swimming pool, sauna, showers, changing room and gym – its like having your own spa!”
dressing room, all the furniture, fixtures and fittings are of an outstanding quality. “We also totally refurbished the leisure area, with its heated swimming pool, sauna, showers, changing room and gym,” she said. “The wet rooms are now in ‘Mandarin’ natural stone while some of the bathrooms have a more classical style, with roll-top baths.” SUNLIGHT OVER THE WATER With two kitchens, catering for parties is easy. Guests or members of staff can be housed comfortably in the two self-contained annexes. “This is a wonderful house to have lots of people in,” she said. “We often have parties for over 50 guests. When we
do, the entertainment suite complete with its own bar comes into its own – but very often everyone ends up in the kitchen!” With so much space and such flexibility, Sker Court could become anything from a private home to a retreat or hotel. “This is very much a home of all seasons. In the summer, we can sit out on the balcony and enjoy the sunshine and the views, and in winter we can light the wood-burner and swim in the heated pool.” And she added: “At any time of year, the views are absolutely spectacular. When I go, I will miss those, as well as the incredible sunsets. “Living here really is living the dream.”
PROPERTY DETAILS Set on the beautiful South Wales coastline and backing onto the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, is this stunning sevenbedroom home. The property has been lovingly refurbished by the present owners and includes five reception rooms, two kitchens and a fabulous swimming pool complex. Additionally there is the flexibility to create annexe accommodation and you will find an integral garage for up to four cars. Location Porthcawl Price £2,000,000 Property type Stunning modern home Contact Homes in South Wales & Cardiff 029 2022 6129
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“We really have been very, very lucky to be able to live in such a wonderful place, somewhere that is fabulous for entertaining.�
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HOME AND THE
BROAD With glorious views over the still waters of Oulton Broad, the magnificent home has given them a truly unique lifestyle at the heart OF one of Britain’s most beautiful areas
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njoying evening drinks with friends as the lights from Vernette twinkle on the water or waiting for guests to arrive by boat for a special outdoor lunch – summers at Vernette are simply a joy. The delightful property in sought-after Oulton Broad has been in the current owner’s family for almost 50 years now but in recent times has been substantially extended, renovated and given a breathtaking, new, contemporary finish. Set in stunning gardens, and with its own separate three-bedroom cottage, as well as a wet and a dry boat house, the waterside home has been redesigned to make the most of its incredible position. “We really have been very, very lucky to be able to live in such a wonderful place, somewhere that is fabulous for entertaining,” she said. “We have had sit down meals for up to 30 guests, a marquee on the lawn and barbecues at the end of the garden by the water’s edge.”
“As the garden is south-facing, we can be out there from first thing in the morning to last thing at night.”
SPECTACULAR VIEWS The couple began by setting to work on the superb gardens. They then transformed the 19th Century coach house into a guest cottage before starting on the main house. Here, large rooms now boast great expanses of glass, which bring the incredible natural views right into the home, and allow the owners to soak up the scenery. “We doubled the size of the existing house, and gave it a villa style,” she explained. SUMMER DAYS All the ground floor rooms now overlook Oulton Broad. Guests flow easily between the living spaces and out through large doors on to the first terrace. “The kitchen is a lovely room. Most people who visit us are close friends, and they come straight round the back and head to the fridge to find the wine or beer!”
Property details Enjoying an idyllic location in sought-after Oulton Broad, this wonderful family home offers four bedrooms, a stylish kitchen/breakfast room, sitting room and a family room. Situated amid the 1.3 acres (STMS) of stunning grounds there is a three-bedroom coach house, a wet and dry boat house and a private slipway to the broads.
Location Oulton Broad Type of house Waterside Home
Price £1,900,000 Contact Homes in Norfolk 01603 622017 Spring 2012 Fine 111
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“The bespoke kitchen opens up into the eye-catching conservatory, which itself flows smoothly out into the garden.”
BIRCHWOOD HOUSE, TYRELLS WOOD When I was asked to write a piece about my favourite property it was difficult to decide, however, Birchwood House is certainly somewhere I could see myself living happily. Being an amateur tennis player the bonus of a beautiful tennis court, the idyllic gardens and its excellent location are a real draw. Added to this there is a ready made clubhouse overlooking the court for entertaining friends. It has ample space both inside and out to keep any family happy, with terraces and a beautiful solid wood conservatory leading off the kitchen.
Karen Diamond Senior Negotiator
drive of distinction £1,625,000 Heading along The Drive, one of the area’s most prestigious private roads, and turning in to approach the home, visitors are always impressed by Birchwood House Homes in Surrey 01372 383434 Spring 2012 Fine 113
GO GO GADGET
TAKE YOUR PICK FROM THE GADGET WORLD’S FAVOURITES AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET
BUGATTI DIVA Espresso Machine The Bugatti Diva uses the traditional Italian espresso method to make espresso, cappuccino, latte and americano coffee. It is equiped with a powerful steam arm to froth milk. The Diva has a 15 bar water pump and a powerful 1050 watts heating element. $1,500 www.casabugatti.it
THE NEW iPAD The third generation iPad has recently been released onto the market meeting its usual flurry of sales. New features include retina display, an A5X chip, 4G LTE support and 10 hours of battery life. From £399 www.apple.com
Dry Water Jet Massager Get a shiatsu-style massage from the comfort of your own home with the Dry Water Jet Massager. This unit uses 28 nozzles to deliver streams of water that replicate a real massage, using a pliable polymer sheet to keep you dry. Features include adjustable water temperature, pressure, and pulse intervals, a built-in 7-inch LCD with DVD player, included Bose headphones, and an integrated aroma diffuser. £20,000 www.hammacher.com
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SIM2 Lumis 3D-S The ultimate in 3D home cinema projection, the SIM2 Lumis is a remarkable piece of technology harnessing the power of commercial cinema with 3-chip DLP and triple flash. A heavy price tag means only the most avid of home movie fans need apply. £33,995 www.sim2.com
Segway x2 Liven up your commute with the technology that’s turning heads. Riding the X2 can take you places that a car and bicycle can’t- including inside many stores, offices and airports. But make no mistake; while a Segway is incredibly fun to ride it is serious transportation for people on the move. £6,000 www.segway.com
Roberto Cavalli Ciclotte Bike The Roberto Cavalli for Ciclotte collection features 6 styles of stationary bikes featuring a minimal shape consisting of a wheel, seat, handlebar (which look more like animal horns) and comes in a variety of flashy colours and metal combos. It’s sure to be a conversation piece when guests come over. £7,902 www.ciclotte.com
Organic Harmony SPEAKER IN 18 CARAt gold The Organic Harmony is a premium speaker and sound system, as well as a masterpiece of art. The Organic Harmony is a complete music system with built-in amplifiers, USB and Ethernet connection, as well as room correction and much more.You just have to connect one or more of your audio sources, be it iPhone, PC , CD player or other. £430,000 www.shapeaudio.com
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WEST & WALES Market Comment: Fine in THE WEST & WALES A realistic approach to market pricing key The prime country homes market has faired well over recent years compared to the core marketplace, particularly as purchasers who have large deposits are benefiting most from the low rates of interest currently offered by banks.
Marc Cottrell Regional Director, Fine in West & Wales Marc has been fortunate to have worked in the prime country market for many years, with a career that has spanned the coastal and rural marketplace across several counties including Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire and Dorset. In more recent years he worked in Countrywide’s specialist Country and Coastal Homes Department and latterly for Jackson Stops and Staff.
However, despite economic confidence having taken a knock more recently, the level of new applicants and new properties to the market has nevertheless remained on a steady course. The major qualification to this being, as is widely acknowledged, that those vendors who approach the market realistically toward the pricing of their home are the ones reaping the rewards. This pro-activity is achieving sales and allowing homeowners to move on with their lives. A change of lifestyle is still a key motivator behind many purchasers seeking property in our more coastal and rural regions, and the volatile stock market and low interest rates for savers are helping to keep the buy-to-let and holiday home markets buoyant to investors.
TALES FROM THE PAST
WHEEL OF FORTUNE
Dating back to 1540, the quintessential English, thatched-roof cottage offers a taste of history as well as opportunities for running a bed and breakfast guest house
The owners loved the presence of the handsome, old mill building and realised they could turn it into somewhere quite special inside
ÂŁ745,000 Homes in Dorset 01962 826050
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ÂŁ1,300,000 Homes in South Wales & Cardiff 029 2022 6129
THE SPLENDOUR OF THE ROSE It was 10 years ago that they bought Rosefield, drawn to the location by the sea and the countryside, since then they have renovated it and watched it come into full bloom £2,300,000 Homes in Hampshire 01962 826050
FOREVER FIELDS
£799,950 She visited the cottage in its stunning valley setting frequently – and she made the owner promise that if he ever wanted to sell it, he would give her first refusal Homes in South Wales & Cardiff 029 2022 6129
CASSINI ROYALE
£1,750,000 Ten balconies to take in the forest and river views, cutting edge design and latest technology pay dues to a fusion of classical and contemporary style Homes in Hampshire 01962 826050
VISION OF GREATNESS
£2,600,000 With magnificent views out over the lake, the Avon Castle location was the perfect place to create a stunning, contemporary manor with every conceivable comfort Homes in Hampshire 01962 826050
SMUGGLERS TROVE
£950,000 Once a smugglers’ haunt, the thatched cottage is today a treasure that is alive with history. Yet under its ancient beams it also makes a great party home Homes in Hampshire 01962 826050
AN INTERESTING CHAR ACTER
£560,000 As a teenager, the owner visited The White House when it was a restaurant, little knowing the character-filled cottage would one day become her family home Homes in West Sussex 01730 858092
HEIGHT OF SOPHISTICATION
£495,000 The incredible location, with its stunning valley views, was too much to resist – they knew this was the perfect place to build their stunning, contemporary home Homes in Monmouthshire 029 2022 6129
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AN IDEAL
THATCH The Spinney is a beautiful thatched home in Dorset – but with additional self contained accommodation and five acres of land, there’s much more to the offering than first meets the eye
“With lots of lawn space, a pretty terrace area, a tennis court and secluded sections, such as the arboretum with its carved wooden animals, there’s plenty of scope for entertaining.” 118 Fine Spring 2012
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hen candlelight dining in the conservatory at night, The Spinney’s owners can look up to the stars while being kept cosy by the room’s wood burner. They have lived there for 26 years and it has taken time to get the fabulous cottage to the standard it is today, now boasting impressive trimmings that include its own lake, four additional cottages, a separate games room, an arboretum, a tennis court and a workshop. “My husband’s a builder and saw its potential straight away. It started life 300 years ago as a one-up one-down and now it’s an enormous five-bedroom home, but all in keeping with the original style,” she said. The couple were keen to keep the cottage style with lots of inglenook fireplaces with wood burners, oak panelling and exposed beams. And in undertaking all the work, which involved demolishing outbuildings, there was a strong focus on recycling old materials.
SUMMER AND WINTER On entering the property the winter drawing room greets visitors, with the first of the many pretty fireplaces. “It’s a great room for a winter’s night and looks fabulous at Christmas,” she said. “The beauty of this cottage is that there are rooms for all seasons.The summer drawing room at the back of the house is used as a study. It’s the same size as the front room but it has lovely views out over the garden, the fountain and the lake with French windows out onto the terrace. It’s a great place to work and it’s absolutely gorgeous,” she added. Her husband also has a dedicated room in which to work, as there’s another study complete with oak panelling and nice views all round. Spring 2012 Fine 119
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“At The Spinney, there are three terraced onebedroom cottages as well as a detached two-bedroom cottage, which are ideal as guest accommodation.” APPEALING ROOMS Also downstairs is a good-sized dining room with room for the whole family at Christmas and during other celebrations. “It’s good for entertaining as there’s an open fire in there and exposed beams so it has a very welcoming atmosphere,” she said. There’s additional seating room for less formal occasions in the black, grey and white L-shaped kitchen. This room has also been kept in the traditional style with a flagstone floor, leaded windows, an old style oak plate rack and a woodburning stove within an arched recess. French windows from the kitchen lead out to the conservatory. In terms of décor, the walls have been kept white in order to highlight the features and maintain an air of light and spaciousness. BEAUTIFUL BEDROOMS Stairs from the front drawing room lead to the upstairs accommodation. The beamed master bedroom has great views out over the extensive garden and benefits from an en-suite bathroom with shower. “It’s a spacious room with lots of light and in the morning when you wake up you can see out over the garden. It’s fabulous,” she said. Close to that is a single room that the couple used as a nursery when their children were young. Now, their girls have a double room each, both with wooden elm floors and lots of light. Then at the far end of the landing is a guest bedroom, with an en-suite bathroom. “Each of the bedrooms are lovely and even the family bathroom has its own features as you can see the brickwork of the chimney breast that comes up from downstairs.” PICTURESQUE AND PERFECT If more space for guests or additional family members is required, there are several options. With additional self contained accommodation, there’s plenty of space when having large parties or even for live in staff such as a nanny, housekeeper or gardener. And with outbuildings such as a workshop and a games room, there is lots of room for children to play and adults to work. “This cottage is not only picturesque but it provides an opportunity to live your life however you want. The land and the additional cottages make it extremely flexible. We’ve certainly lived the good life here.”
PROPERTY DETAILS Dating back to the 18th Century, this wonderful cottage has been lovingly extended by the current owners and now offers five bedrooms, three reception rooms and an excellent games room. Amid the five acres (STMS) of grounds there are a range of outbuildings, a double garage and a timber framed triple car port.
Location Wimborne Price £2,950,000 Property type Wonderful 18th Century Cottage Contact Homes in Dorset 01962 826050
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RIPE FOR PICKING With spectacular gardens and its own “long room” for entertaining, magnificent Berri Court is simply overflowing with wonderful features and superb spaces
“It is great for entertaining and has a wonderful view into the walled garden. Outside the windows there are flower beds packed with spring bulbs.”
“We wanted to bring the house back to its original state. It is Grade II Listed, from the 1700s and in some parts it is older.”
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itting on the terrace, watching the sun set, John Turner can still feel its warmth, even as the day draws to a close. “This is our favourite place, we could live out here. We eat lunch and dinner out here most days,” he said. Even just glancing around the stunning gardens, which it overlooks, it is not hard to see why Berri Court is a magical place inside and out. The Georgian home and its setting - where John and his wife Janice have lived for 45 years - is simply wonderful. “My wife found the house through a friend and we spent two years getting it how we liked it before we moved in,” he said. “We wanted to bring it back to its original state. It is Grade II Listed, from the 1700s and in some parts it is older.”
HOME OF HISTORY Historic records show there has been a manor house here since 1460 and some of the original house still remains. “Near the back door there is some very old woodwork, which looks as though it could be Elizabethan and there is also some very interesting old stonework inside.” For more than 25 years, the couple opened up their home as part of the National Gardens Scheme, and, during their time here, the property, which includes a historic walled garden, has hosted countless social occasions and events. “We had our son’s and daughter’s weddings here and we have held some great social events. It is a wonderful place for entertaining,” he added.
Property details Berri Court is a stunning Grade II Listed Georgian home with five main bedrooms, three further former servant’s rooms on the second floor, three reception rooms and a large games room adjacent to the house. The grounds are approaching two acres (STMS) and are well stocked and secluded, including lawns, an ornamental lily pond and banks of colourful rhododendron. Location Yapton Type of house Georgian Home
Price £1,200,000 Contact Homes in West Sussex 01892 458931 Spring 2012 Fine 123
H A C K E T T. C O M
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FINE
“Abbotts Grange has all the space a family could want, with three reception rooms and a lovely breakfast kitchen.”
ABBOTS GRANGE, NOCTON This home was built by the owners to combine many highly desirable features ideal for modern family living. Built in stone with a slate roof, the house oozes charm and character whilst resting at ease amid the older Lincolnshire properties that surround it. Located off the village green the house is set in its own grounds of approximately three acres (stms) which are divided into a lovely well stocked garden with mature trees and flowering shrubs, a large lawn, ideal for the children to play on and a paddock which is planted with fruit trees. Stables and a large barn offer potential for those wishing to have a smallholding or equestrian pursuits.
GREEN LIVING £750,000 On the edge of the pretty village green, with views of the orchard and paddock, Abbotts Grange is a beautiful rural home Homes in Nottinghamshire 0115 9814509
Nicola Bowler Branch Manager
A CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE From award-winning, architect-designed new houses to stunning, modern apartments, contemporary homes can offer a breath of fresh air. Cleverly combining space and style – and often encompassing a creative use of glass, metal, stone and timber – more often than not, these properties are highly individual. Whether they are luxurious country houses, complete with swimming pools, guest accommodation, relaxation areas and hi-tech gadgetry or smaller yet equally enticing eco properties with green features and chic interior finishes, there is something tremendously thrilling about living in a home that is truly of the moment.
126 Fine Spring 2012
SIMPLY RED
BUILDING THE DREAM
MANOR FROM HEAVEN
Guide price £3,500,000 Not only does it feature magnificent interior spaces, incorporating many wonderful eco features; it also has glorious views out across the fields
Guide price £1,750,000 Looking across the mature private garden in the quiet community of Avon Castle, the owner is excited about the amazing house
£1,500,000 With stunning views through their great glass windows, the owners of striking new eco home Fairfield Manor enjoy the best of green living, both inside and out
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SPECTACULAR OUTLOOK
TRUE LIGHT
AT THE CUTTING EDGE
£450,000 The owners of Lewis House have created a welcoming, high class home, in which they love to entertain family and friends in style
£2,500,000 Sunshine floods into the magnificent home through the great expanses of glass, filling the spectacular rooms they have created with the most beautiful, bright light
£4,000,000 Rizz and Sabiha fell in love with the mature English garden – and then built a stunning, minimalist home from Germany on the site
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RAISING A GLASS They had long been captivated by the Huf house, so when they realised they had the perfect place to build one, it was an opportunity they could not miss Guide price £2,650,000 Homes in Buckinghamshire 01753 886177
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“I am a huge fan of an ultra contemporary, minimalist look yet at the same time I did want a home that was functional as well.”
THE X FACTOR Brad King wanted to create a stunning home with breathtaking spaces and every conceivable comfort – a unique haven with more than a touch of “the X factor” 128 Fine Spring 2012
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is home has graced the front of a glossy magazine and it has been the setting for parties visited by top British celebrities. Brad King wanted his house to be a truly special place to live – a home of high design and top quality features that could be a sanctuary from the busy world outside as well as a palace of entertainment. “It has been fun living here,” he admitted. “I wanted a home, where I could entertain and have lots of friends to stay – and we have had some great social occasions here. “Matt Cardle, who won the X Factor, is a friend of mine and was here when the programme first went out, and Danny
Dyer has been round for dinner.” He added: “At the same time, however, this is somewhere you can also feel very comfortable and can just spend time relaxing.”
tub. “It was an extensive project. The original house now makes up less than a third of what is here now and it all comes together so beautifully. It really does flow,” he said.
PERFECT FLOW The property, which appeared in September’s issue of Essential Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom magazine, was bought by Brad back in December 2008. It took 18 months for it to be developed enough to move into but it was worth the wait, he said. “In terms of location, this place was absolutely perfect. It also had the space to do everything I wanted to do – from the gardens through to the pool, sauna and hot
HIGH DESIGN The idea, he continued, was to create an “ultra chic, upmarket” home. This he has achieved with the help of expert designers and top quality craftsmen. Interior designer Jurga Austynaite, of Original Interiors, was initially asked to prepare mood boards for two of the guest rooms but Brad was so impressed with her work that he persuaded her to take on the rest of the six-bedroom Spring 2012 Fine 129
“In terms of location, this place was absolutely perfect. It also had the space to do everything I wanted to do – from the gardens through to the pool, sauna and hot tub.”
property, as well as the annexe. Now her striking design choices and occasional splashes of bold colour have brought Grange House to life. PARTY PALACE A bespoke R2 kitchen was designed by Robert Timmons, featuring semi matt lacquered cabinetry with sections of contrasting fumed oak veneer. Work surfaces in Zodiaq Barley were brought in, along with Gaggenau appliances. “I have done everything to a high specification,” said Brad. “I am a huge fan of an ultra contemporary, minimalist look yet at the same time I did want a home that was functional as well.” After years of working hard to build up his business, he longed for a home where he could welcome in small groups of friends or host large parties. “I wanted the kitchen set up so I could cook and chat to friends,” he explained. “But I also wanted a home I could come back to, open up the doors from the pool on to the terrace and spend time outside with friends enjoying barbecues.”
I imagined when all the work was being carried out. But there have also been lots of more relaxing times, when I have just been able to enjoy the sheer comfort of this house.” LIFE OF LEISURE Everything at Grange House has been designed for sheer pleasure. The impressive leisure complex, which has an integrated sound system, features a state-of-the-art gym, as well as the beautiful heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi. It has a bar or lounge area, sauna and changing rooms.
He went on: “This home is ideal. I can either have a few couples over so we can all spend time together or can have much larger parties. We had 28 people here one Christmas – that was great fun.”
Grange House also features a cinema room, where the latest movies can be enjoyed in comfort.
EASY LIVING The room he calls “The Gallery” is where he enjoys relaxing quietly on his own. Here, double height windows bring the light flooding in and in winter he adores firing up the wood-burner. “I have big, comfortable sofas in there – and when it is just me, I tend to live in there and in the kitchen.” He went on: “I have had a lot of very happy times here. There have been the parties and big social meals that
HOME FROM HOME The annexe at Grange House has been designed to have access to the leisure area to enable guests to make the most of all the facilities. With two bedrooms, as well as a large drawing and dining room, kitchen and bathroom, the area would also be ideal for a family member seeking privacy. Its position adjoining the property could also make it perfect for a house keeper, au pair or gardener.
130 Fine Spring 2012
PROPERTY DETAILS Combining a relaxed style and luxurious finish, this exceptional contemporary home is set within beautifully landscaped grounds of 3.3 acres (STMS). The stylish interior includes six bedroom suites, a bespoke R2 kitchen, five reception rooms including a cinema/games room, a leisure complex with gym, 57ft heated swimming pool, bar/lounge area, Jacuzzi and a self-contained two-bedroom annexe.
Location Great Horkesley Price Guide price ÂŁ2,975,000
Property type Stunning Contemporary home Contact Homes in Essex 01206 564259
Spring 2012 Fine 131
AS YOU LIKE IT The stunning house, in a highly desirable location, IS now ready for some final, very individual touches
132 Fine Spring 2012
“It is a project in progress. We are now looking for someone to come and complete it themselves or to take it forward with us.”
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tanding in the space that will one day be a grand drawing room, the developer imagines the new owner seated at a grand piano. Guests would mingle, chat by the roaring fire in winter time, and wander over to enjoy the beautiful views out over the sweeping lawns. “This room was designed to have a Ralph Lauren look,” she explained. “It was to be a formal space for entertaining, where the owners could spend time with their guests.” The magnificent house, with its Georgian-style frontage, has been designed to be a simply glorious country home for its new owners. “It is a project in progress,” said the other developer.
DREAM HOME They chose Chalfont St Giles for its immense convenience to London, as well as its charm and appeal. “It was voted Most Desirable Village in the UK and is a very, very attractive place. This plot is so private and with eight acres, had so much space to offer.” Their vision was to build a house with a classical exterior and a top specification, highly contemporary interior. “For me, the kitchen was always going to be special. This will be the hub of the household. Our plan was to have the kitchen at one end and then a fireplace in the centre,” she said.
PROPERTY DETAILS This beautifully constructed home is waiting for you to add your own choice of style and finish. Inside there are six bedroom suites and four reception rooms, while on the lower ground floor you will find provision for a cinema, underground parking for 10 cars and a luxurious swimming pool and sauna. Please note all images are computer generated.
Location Chalfont St Giles Price £6,000,000 Property type Unfinished Contemporary Style Home Contact Homes in Buckinghamshire 01753 886177 Spring 2012 Fine 133
IN THE MEDIA A SNAPSHOT OF RECENT FEATURES IN THE MEDIA WHICH HAVE INCLUDED FINE PROPERTIES
The Times
The Sunday Times
The Express
showcased the Grade II* listed London House, Coggeshall, Essex in February (10/02/12) in an article about families moving out of London and featured the owners on the front page of its ‘Bricks and Mortar’ section.
selected two properties as best in class for its ‘House of The Week’ feature. In February Catsfield Place, Catsfield, East Sussex (12/02/12) and Harborough Cottage,Whissendine, Rutland appeared (26/02/12).
featured half a page in March (03/03/12) on Plas Newydd Cottage, Usk, Monmouthshire in a piece about the best converted coach houses.
The Sunday Telegraph
The Telegraph
The Independent
highlighted two properties in a story about unusual features installed by owners (11/03/12). These were Trinco House, Penhow, South Wales with its rifle range and Hall Stables, Mickleham, Surrey with an indoor koi carp pond.
regularly includes properties being sold by Fine in its features most recently Shakespeare House, Grendon Underwood, Buckinghamshire (17/03/12) as well as The Caimans, Mapperley Park, Nottinghamshire (10/03/12) the week previously. At the start of March, Fine was the agent of choice being quoted a number of times in a piece about Spring Sales.
The Mail on Sunday
The Sunday Express
ran a full page article in February (19/02/12) about a 16th Century former hunting lodge Little Belhus, South Ockendon, Essex surrounded by a large local authority estate. Two weeks later at the beginning of March (04/03/11) another property High Timbers, Shepperton, Surrey featured in a full page story about an outstanding Mediterranean garden.
in January (01/01/12) ran an article over one and a half pages about the properties lived in by celebrities. The feature included details on Ruxley Tower, Esher, Surrey and 8-10 Bell Street, Feltwell, Norfolk.
has recently included The Loggia, 11 Nashdom Abbey, Buckinghamshire (17/02/12) and Balsorano, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex (24/02/12) in a column which highlighted some of the most interesting homes on the market.
Ruxley Tower, Surrey is now featured on the CNBC website www.cnbc.com
These are just some of the Fine properties which have been featured in national newspapers recently and there have been appearances in other publications including The Week, Period Homes & Interiors, House Beautiful,The Field, Country Living, Coast Magazine and the Evening Standard.