The Kensington & Chelsea Magazine October 2014

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CO2 emissions CO2 emissions 242 –242 158– g/km.

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Fuel consumption Fuel consumption and CO and2 figures CO2 figures are based are based on standard on standard EU tests EU tests for comparative for comparative purposes purposes and may and not mayreflect not reflect real real driving driving results. results.

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CONTENTS 20

88

No Business like Shoe Business

Home Sweet Home

Olivia Sharpe speaks to Helen David, Harrods’ fashion director, about Shoe Heaven, London’s newest footwear emporium

With autumn comes the launch of the permanent Premier Basics collection from Achica

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25 Tipping the Scales Bespoke leather handbag designer Ethan Koh provides a lesson in luxury from his private atelier in Chelsea

The Snowball Effect French ski resorts Courchevel and Megève have been attracting the rich and the famous for more than half a century. Olivia Sharpe finds out why

30 Material World Brands are striving to stand out by championing the use of unusual, difficult and new materials. Annabel Harrison reports

38 Absolutely Fabuleux Vacheron Constantin’s artistic director Christian Selmoni tells us more about the newest Metiers d’Art collection

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Editor’s Letter

35

Collection

51

Local News

59

Art & Antiques

67

Fashion

83

Interiors

92

Health & Beauty

99

Travel

114

Motoring

119

Drinking & Dining

122

London Living

129

Property

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

September / October Cover: ACROBAT by Camilla Shivarg. Available in bronze edition of ten and bronze resin edition of ten to order. Email cshivarg@btopenworld.com or visit gallery286.com Photography: Hugh Gilbert

September – 11 January Constable: The Making of a Master; vam.ac.uk

octoBER 2014 s issue 032 Editor Annabel Harrison

See p. 51 for details about Kensington and Fulham Open Studios weekends kfopenstudios.co.uk

Assistant Editor Olivia Sharpe Contributing Editors Richard Brown, Hannah Lemon, Kari Rosenberg

Pencerrig by Thomas Jones, 1772, Tate Gallery, London 2014

Editorial Assistant Tabithah Rahman Senior Designer Sophie Blain Production Alex Powell Hugo Wheatley, Oscar Viney Amy Roberts

September – 11 October Jonathan Wylder at The Osborne Studio Gallery osg.uk.com

Client Relationship Director Felicity Morgan-Harvey Head of Finance Elton Hopkins Executive Director Sophie Roberts General Manager Fiona Fenwick

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From the EDITOR We dedicated last October’s issue to craftsmanship, finding the luxury industry awash with remarkable talent in this area, and this year there is even more to showcase in terms of exceptional art and traditional crafts. Multiplied returns to Christie’s South Kensington (p. 16), while Kensington and Fulham Open Studios are allowing visitors to view works in the very places where inspiration struck for artists like Camilla Shivarg (p. 51), who created the beautiful bronze acrobats as seen on our front cover.

It’s possible to invest in remarkably well crafted products in almost every area of one’s life and on the smallest scale, we appreciate the work that goes into the jewelled treasures of Astley Clarke; Olivia Sharpe finds out why this British brand and its quirky, biographical pieces are so popular, both on home turf and in America (p. 44) and I spend time with Christian Selmoni, artistic director at Vacheron Constantin, to pore over the newest Metiers d’Art collection, entitled, grandly and enigmatically, Fabuleux Ornements (p. 38). If you yearn for something rather larger, but created with as much passion, perhaps a skilfully restored antique piano is just the ticket; Rebecca Wallersteiner meets David Winston of Period Piano Company who can bring the most beautiful of musical instruments back to life (p. 64).

This month we are also fascinated by materials as highly coveted products from innovative new brands are being introduced into the market in ever greater numbers. Olivia Sharpe is given a lesson in luxury by bespoke leather handbag designer Ethan Koh who demonstrates a creative and skilled use of exotic materials in his products (p. 25) and I take a closer look at several other brands striving to stand out by championing the use of unusual, difficult and new materials (p. 30).

K&

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Editor

Annabel Harrison Follow us on Twitter @KandCMagazine or email KCeditor@runwildgroup.co.uk with any comments

ind tes omi tabilis duo fratres curren 014

Multiplied Multiplied Multiplied Multiplied Multiplied Multiplied Multiplied Carol Cordrey reveals some of the delights awaiting local residents at Christie’s annual specialist art fair, which is dedicated to contemporary and original prints, editions and photographs

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t’s that time of year when the big Frieze – the artistic version – descends upon London but for those of us lucky enough to live in or near the Royal Borough, there’s no need to wrap up warmly for a hike to Regent’s Park to revel in great art. Coinciding with that event is our own, Multiplied, the art fair specialising in contemporary, original prints, editions and photographs by some of the world’s most acclaimed artists. It has been organised by Christie’s and conveniently for us, located at its South Kensington premises so, regardless of weather, it will provide both a fascinating and enjoyable day out.

Multiplied is designed to appeal to both nascent and knowledgeable collectors who delight in the opportunity to buy relatively inexpensive works of art.

This year, work will be brought to us by around 40 top galleries from around the globe exhibiting work by internationally sought after artists as well as emerging ones. Multiplied’s partnership with several of London’s artistic training grounds, such as the prestigious Royal College of Art, receives applause from me as it provides both an elite shop window for these young artists and a chance for buyers to snap up their work at prices that may look like bargains after some of them mature into the next generation of internationally famous names.

Christie’s has a history of facilitating such success stories, as Murray Macaulay, Director of Multiplied at Christie’s, explains. “In September 2012 Christie’s offered a lithograph called Di-Faced Notes by Banksy in our bi-annual Prints and Multiples auction at Christie’s South Kensington. The print had been purchased in 2004 for a few hundred pounds. Valued at £6,000 to £8,000, bidding (in 2012) soared to achieve a price of £16,250, a vivid example of how quickly new art can become

A partnership with the Royal College of Art provides an elite shop window for young artists valuable art.” As the creative power behind Multiplied, Murray Macaulay is looking forward to this fifth, expanded version of the fair which is unique in the UK in terms of its artistic focus. “The contemporary prints and editions on show at Multiplied exemplify the vibrancy of art being created right now”, he declared excitedly.

Contributing to that vibrancy is Mat Collishaw, whose innovative photographic or mosaic work you may have encountered at the Saatchi Gallery and it will be at

Above/ Victoria Browne, Swarm, 2012, edition of 10. Courtesy of East London Printmakers

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this event too. This artist is intrigued by the impact on our senses of visual imagery and advertising in particular so his compositions aim to deliberately disturb our mindsets and traditional ways of interpreting imagery.

Yinka Shonibare MBE, RA is a leading international artist of British-Nigerian origin whose work is generally influenced by colonialism. He is disabled so Shonibare’s perfectly scaled model of HMS Victory, the flagship of the legendary but disabled Admiral Nelson, struck a particularly loud chord when it occupied the famous Fourth Plinth near Nelson’s Column. The ship was in a giant glass bottle, its 37 sails bearing batik designs which referenced colonial shipping routes between Indonesia and Africa that led to batik being absorbed into African dress.

Also available is work by Victoria Browne who employs traditional and innovative print techniques to create compelling images that emerge from her exposure to man’s manipulation of the natural

Human sneezes really are the starting point for Wanders’ appealing, tactile works of art environment. Topiary, pruning and coppicing often feature in her work which is held in public collections such as the Tate and the V&A. In addition, I recommend looking out for the name Marcel Wanders, an acclaimed Dutch designer of furnishings and interiors but whose extraordinary sculpture evolves from the formation of human sneezes. He proves there is no limit to sources of creativity because the unappealing matter that humans emit through their noses is magnified to reveal lovely sculptural forms. Believe me when I tell you that these really are the starting point for Wanders’ designs of highly appealing, tactile works of art.

Search out, too, the work of Sir Peter Blake who pioneered Pop Art, that revolutionary art movement of the late 1950s which dismissed traditional perceptions of fine art by using magazine imagery, posters, comics and other popular culture for his painted or collaged compositions. He is legendary, also, for ground-breaking artwork for album sleeves for famous pop musicians such as The Beatles. Another luminary but from another generation is Gary Hume RA who first rose to prominence as one of art’s challenging YBAs (alongside Damien Hirst). Since then, his distinctive use of linear effects and flat blocks of vivid colour have earned him individual, international recognition, particularly after he became a Turner Prize nominee in 1996. Flora is one of his favourite motifs which appeared, also, in his design From top/ Jacky Tsai, Stained Glass Skull, 2013, edition of 60.

Courtesy of Eyestorm; Marcel Wanders, Snotty Valentine, bronze, edition of 8.

Courtesy of Galerie Alex Daniels-Reflex, Amsterdam, and Marcel Wanders

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for one of the successful posters promoting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Finally, I want to draw your attention to Multiplied’s examples of work by Tom Hammick, a painter and printmaker of non-naturalistic, simplified landscapes and arresting juxtapositions of colour and pattern that are exhibited worldwide. I have written about him on previous occasions, giving him the sobriquet Haunting Hammick, because each of his compositions exudes an eerie stillness, punctuated by a solitary figure or two who add another fascinating dimension to his uncertain narratives that evolve into perpetual conversation pieces.

A themed pop-up café has been organised at Multiplied, plus a programme of talks and live printing demonstrations, so all you need now to ensure that thoroughly enjoyable day out with great art – right here on our doorstep – is to book your ticket.

Multiplied 2014, 17-20 October Christie’s, 85 Old Brompton Road South Kensington, SW7 3LD christies.com/multiplied From top/ Emily Floyd, Abstract Labour, 2014, edition of 30. Courtesy of Dundee Contemporary Arts; Marc Quinn, Event Horizon, 2014. Courtesy of Marc Quinn Studio

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No Business

Shoe Business like

FEATURE

Olivia Sharpe speaks to Helen David, Harrods’ fashion director and creator of Shoe Heaven, the department store’s new women’s footwear emporium, about how shoes are taking over the retail landscape

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“Give the girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world,” said Marilyn Monroe. As sayings goes, this is a particularly apt one, especially when applied to Harrods’ fashion director Helen David. For the last two years, Helen (appointed as fashion director of womenswear, accessories, fine jewellery and childrenswear in 2013) has been working on creating one of the largest shoe departments ever seen. Undoubtedly Harrods’ biggest project to date, the 42,000 sq. ft. footwear emporium, aptly named Shoe Heaven, was recently unveiled to the press and the public. Having received universal praise, it will no doubt elevate both the fashion director and Harrods to new heights of success.

Over the past few years, department stores across the world have been gradually expanding their footwear offering to keep up with the growing demand. Indeed, it would seem that shoes have kicked out the ‘It’ bag when it comes to women’s most popular luxury item and while the majority of international retailers have been cottoning on to this trend, Harrods, being Harrods, has taken it to a whole new level with Shoe Heaven. “Shoes in retail, whether it’s luxury or mainstream, are becoming a bigger and bigger part of what makes up our turnovers,” explains Helen. “We therefore wanted to double the size of our shoe department but it was a question of where. Ready-to-wear also needed more space so I knew I had to give shoes their own floor.” Helen and her team decided to house the department on the fifth floor, formerly the home of the staff canteen, where it would be an “amazing new destination” which

didn’t exist anywhere else in the world. “I wanted ours to be spectacular, over the top and heavenly. Every time I was describing it to someone and thinking about how I wanted it to be, I kept saying how it would be this absolute shoe heaven and that’s how the name came about.”

After seeing Shoe Heaven, I can vouch that it is out of this world and even those of you who aren’t shoe lovers will not fail to be impressed by what has been achieved.

In terms of the design, it was imperative to Helen that it didn’t resemble a retail space but was rather akin to a five-star hotel whereby you feel instantly at home as soon as you step inside. So she partnered with the late David Collins of the eponymous David Collins Studio, who sadly was unable to see the finished product (he passed away last year before the department was completed).

However, I feel certain that he would have been proud of

Shoes have kicked out the ‘It’ bag when it comes to women’s most popular luxury item the legacy he left behind. One of the designer’s favourite maxims by Mies van der Rohe, “God is in the details”, has been reflected in every aspect of Shoe Heaven, from intricate shagreen details on the backs of shelves to delicate leaf embellishments on the tables.

The overall effect is a grand Art Deco space featuring an incredible 2,110 sq. m. of marble and 400 sq. m. of carpet. Having previously worked on projects for Claridge’s and The Wolseley, David Collins was the perfect person to realise Helen’s vision of a truly luxurious experience. “He was an inspirational person. I know people use the word quite loosely and lots of people can be classified as talented but I think in his remit, he really set the bar and was in a league of his own.”

Given their grand scale, department stores have invariably become like the Bermuda Triangle; once you’ve gone in, you’ll be lucky to find your way out again. When it came to Shoe Heaven, this was something Helen and the design team wanted to avoid at all costs. The maze-

Alaïa ankle boots

Casadei stilettos

Giuseppe Zanotti sneakers

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Charlotte Olympia Kitty flats

like floor therefore comprises an interlocking network of walkways with different concession areas which sit together so that customers can easily navigate their way around. A total of 17 brands have been given their own in-store boutique and each of these has its own identity; designers worked closely with leading architects to create their own unique space.

For Stuart Weitzman’s shop-in-shop, for example, the designer collaborated with renowned architect Zaha Hadid, who created a futuristic modular display unit constructed from fibreglass dipped in rose gold (a technique similarly used in boat manufacturing), to exhibit Weitzman’s collections. The “holy man of heels” Manolo Blahnik has been given his own mezzanine for his colourful and vibrant boutique, featuring bespoke lighting and floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing natural light to flood into the room. Several of the brands, including Christian Louboutin and Chanel, also have their own VIP shopping suites where customers are invited to have a glass of champagne as they shop in privacy with style advisors on hand. And yet, it is not just about the aesthetics. Every functional design element has been considered, from velvet banquette lounge seating, which is at the exact right height for customers to see the shoes when sitting down, to perfectly positioned mirrors.

Shoe Heaven currently stocks more than 100,000 pairs from over 50 designers and brands; to celebrate the launch, Harrods has unveiled a limited edition Silver Linings collection of iconic silver shoes created exclusively for the department store. A fitting tribute to the celestial haven, 37 designers were asked to reimagine their best-selling designs in metallic, from Gucci’s horsebit loafer to playful leather Kitty flats by Charlotte Olympia and stunning ankle boots by Alaïa. The most expensive on offer (and incidentally Helen’s favourite) are Valentino’s crystal-embellished butterfly heels featuring the brand’s legendary Rockstud motif, retailing at £4,390.

Helen confides that Silver Linings has only scratched the surface with regards to future exclusive collections.

While Shoe Heaven epitomises luxury, this doesn’t mean to say it’s all aspirational. It also carries high street and contemporary labels, including Kurt Geiger, UGG, Isabel Marant and Acne, because, as Helen explains, she wanted it to be inclusive: “Whether they’re 18 or 40 years old, whether they’re buying a crocodile shoe or an UGG boot, I wanted everyone to be able to shop in this beautiful, luxurious and sumptuous environment, and to have an amazing, highend experience. Whereas lots of other department stores, particularly in America, have two separate shoe sections, we instead wanted to have one destination for women.” Why shoes are so universally loved by women has long been an enigma but for Helen, the answer is simple. Like Marilyn Monroe before her, Helen believes it lies in confidence: “Age plays a role in ready-to-wear so there are some things which are appropriate for a 20-year-old, whereas other things are more suitable for a 30-year-old, but I don’t think the same applies to shoes. The same pair could look amazing on a 20-, 30- or 50 year-old. No one likes trying on a bathing suit but most of us like going shoe shopping.”

I cannot help but assume that Helen has fallen victim (like so many of us) to a slight shoe addiction as she declines to tell me exactly how many pairs she owns (although I get the impression it’s considerable). Another reason Helen lists, as to why shoes are so popular, is that while women tend to be more conservative in their outfit choices, it is through accessories that they often take the most risks: “I think people tend to be a little quirkier with their shoe choices. You might think twice about buying a crazy red dress but you could choose to wear a really high pair of red stilettos when dressed in all black to pep up your outfit.”

Following Shoe Heaven, Helen and her team plan to renovate the womenswear department next as well as expanding Harrods’ super brands area. But in the meantime, there’s clearly no business like shoe business.

Harrods Shoe Heaven is located on the Fifth Floor at Harrods, Brompton Road harrods.com

Rupert Sanderson boots

Valentino Rockstud butterfly heels Christian Louboutin Mary Jane heels

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FEATURE

Tipping the Scales

Olivia Sharpe is given a lesson in luxury by a man who has come to define it, bespoke leather handbag designer Ethan Koh Luxury is one of those words, like iconic or timeless, that has become so over-used that its real meaning has ceased to exist. Ironic, really, given that a term used to describe something rare or precious has become so clichéd. However, after meeting handbag designer Ethan Koh, I can safely say that my faith in this intangible concept has been restored; for here is a man who not only appreciates the meaning of luxury but embodies it.

Visiting his private atelier in Chelsea was enough to convince myself of this. From the grand double doors featuring a total of eight brass knockers (eight being a symbol of good luck in Chinese culture), custom-made exotic leather chairs and vintage books, it is clear that there is nothing commonplace about this particular designer. This meticulous attention to detail and creativity is furthermore highlighted in Ethan’s attire; he is impeccably dressed in a tailor-made blazer featuring flamboyant collars, a signature colourful bow-tie and large animal rings adorning his fingers.

The 28-year old Singaporean has been designing handbags for his eponymous brand for only five years but he has already made quite a name for himself in the industry; his bags have appeared on the arms of celebrities and members of royalty, from Kim Cattrall to Princess Eugenie, in publications such as British Vogue and in luxury department stores around the world. Having proven a hit in Harrods, two months ago saw Ethan K open

its first 200 square foot standalone store on the ground floor of the British emporium.

While Ethan’s talent is indisputable, he has also been blessed with a series of serendipitous moments which have impacted his success. While studying at Central Saint Martins and living in Mayfair, he happened to be strolling down Piccadilly wearing one of his own crocodile bags when he was stopped by a passing admirer who turned out to be a member of the Gulf States royal family; she commissioned Ethan then and there to design something similar. Soon orders started flying in and with the help of his father who loaned his son $5,000, he was able to get his business off the ground.

Ethan reminisces how he first met Marigay McKee, the former chief merchant at Harrods, on a flight to Switzerland: “I crouched beside her seat the whole

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journey whilst she animatedly told me about her favourite things. Our next encounter in Marrakech when we both happened to be in the same garden was where I sketched the Marigay bag for her…somehow these encounters just happen; it’s a little bit like destiny,” he says, smiling.

It appears as though the designer has always been destined for greatness, descended from an impressive tannery family dynasty. His great-grandfather first mastered the art of exotic tanning from the British at the beginning of the 1900s in Singapore and these skills have since been passed down four generations of Kohs. Ethan’s father CT Koh founded the business, the Heng Long tannery, in 1977 at the back of the family home and as Ethan grew up, he was given a rare insight into the craft.

Today, Ethan’s father remains the managing director of the tannery and he supplies his son with the majority of the exotic skins used for his bags, along with top fashion houses including Hermès, Prada and Louis Vuitton. The

FEATURE

designer works with many exotic skins, from ostrich to python, but it is crocodile for which he and his family are most famous. These skins are imported from farms in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia and sent to Singapore where Ethan’s team of more than 400 expertly-trained artisans begins the lengthy process of transforming the skins into handbags. Keeping it in the family, Ethan’s older brother Albert also works at the tannery as the company’s alternate director.

Knowing little about the craftsmanship behind it, Ethan endeavours to explain the different tanning stages.

“Firstly, crocodile skins are one of the most complicated reptiles to tan because you can put 50 skins around the same size into a drum to dye it but when they come out they’re all different colours. This is because crocodile skins have one of the most complex fibres.” Therefore, Ethan tells me how all the skins have to be leached of colour and transformed into the 'crust' state before they are dyed. There are more than 50 departments that make up the tannery, one of which is referred to as the

Ethan’s father supplies him with exotic skins, along with Hermès and Louis Vuitton cosmetics department (where the colour is adjusted), while another is in charge of putting the unique finishing touch on the skin known as the ‘bombe shine’: a secret, Koh polishing technique using agate stone. Following this, the bag is sent to Italy for the final crafting stages.

While undoubtedly a lengthy process, this is nothing in comparison to the time it takes to wait for the animal to grow to the appropriate size in order to use its skin. “A tiny clutch, for instance, can only be made after a baby alligator has taken two years to grow, while for one of my medium-sized bags, it needs four to six years. It’s like a National Geographic lesson,” jokes Ethan. Being naturally aggressive animals, crocodiles must be housed in separate pens to avoid them fighting or killing each other which is subsequently a huge cost for the farmers.

Ethan is committed to sustaining the trade and this therefore justifies his handbags’ hefty price tags, ranging from £5,000 upwards. All of the bags have also been certified by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Ethan compares the appreciation of rare diamonds and the 3 C’s to crocodile skins: “So if you consider, there’s the carrot cut, as in the way the skins are cut. It can be a very pricey and risky business because the skins can

027

FEATURE

be cut by mistake. Then there’s the carrot: the wider the crocodile’s belly, the wider the bag so the price goes up per centimetre exponentially. Finally, there’s the clarity.”

For Ethan, the process of tanning the skin and crafting the handbag is very much a balance between art and science.

“To make a beautiful skin with a beautiful colour, you need a basis in chemistry to understand the fibre of the skin.”

Like any great designer, Ethan imparts his own personality into his handbags. Arriving in a whole spectrum of vivid colours, from deep purple (“the colour of intensity”) to classic black (“the colour of sensuality”),

Tanning the skin and crafting the handbag is a balance between art and science they often have clasps in the form of his favourite animals, embellished with semi-precious stones (also doubling up as rings and brooches which he wears). Although Ethan works predominantly on bespoke orders, he also designs ready-to-wear collections and his most recent to date is the Wizard of the Secret Garden. Ethan confides that as a child he was enchanted by the stories of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm, and he has subsequently referred to both of their whimsical

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and enchanting stories through the leaping frog and Rapunzel clasps, featuring semi-precious stones such as African jade, tiger’s eye, malachite and black agate.

The accompanying campaign was shot in Chelsea, near his atelier. Ethan sees his designs as “a medium to communicate with people” and so he draws upon his Asian heritage, his life in Europe and his dreams. The next collection he is currently working on is called The Midnight Magician and will be available at the end of the year.

Acutely aware that “a handbag is like a woman’s second home,” Ethan works closely with clients to transform their vision of the perfect bag into reality and this is why the process can take up to seven months, but being as much an artist as he is a designer, Ethan knows you can't rush a masterpiece. “At the moment we are very much led by trends and told ‘the’ shoe to buy and ‘the’ bag to buy but that’s not what Ethan K is about.” He hopes to spread his own unique philosophy around the world, one day possibly designing jewellery, fashion and cafés which go against the mass market. For the designer, Ethan K the brand is very much “an empty canvas waiting to be painted.”

Based primarily in Chelsea, Ethan is very well placed to sell his old-school brand of luxury to his loyal and educated clientele. Unlike many in the past who’ve tried, Ethan is able to encapsulate the true meaning of luxury: “Luxury, for me, has multiple definitions: firstly, it is about living in the moment. It is also about exceptional service. Most importantly, luxury is about having an experience.”

Ethan K, available at Harrods Ground Floor, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X; harrods.com / ethan-k.com

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Material

World

The luxury industry is thriving and highly coveted products from innovative new brands are being introduced into the market every year. As such, many are striving to stand out by championing the use of unusual, difficult and new materials. Annabel Harrison reports

FEATURE

the world of luxury products today can seem like a big old game of one-upmanship: “Our watch is the lightest”, “our heel is the thinnest”, “our car is the fastest”. Brands are chasing superlatives like sports stars competing to shave 1/100th of a second off a World Record; rather than smashing it by seconds or even minutes (as was once the norm), the margins are getting ever narrower. And they’re just as small in the luxury industry; achieving the status of being the thinnest, lightest and fastest is becoming more and more difficult.

One brand released a watch that could descend safely to a depth of 3,900 metres, only to have its deepest dive watch title usurped, rather gallingly, by just 100 metres.

Many materials that were undiscovered or hard to come by in the 20th century are now commonplace; as such, brands are going to more extensive, and expensive, lengths in the pursuit of new resources.

The most obvious (and difficult) courses of action are to pioneer the use of a material for the first time or, failing that, invent your own. An example of the former comes courtesy of Vertu, a British brand based in Church Crookham and founded in 1998 with the aim of using “exotic, rare and naturally durable materials” in its handcrafted luxury phones. It’s worth remembering that at this point in time,only a quarter of the UK’s population owned a mobile (although within 12 months this had risen to nearly 50 per cent). Vertu was poised to enter the market at exactly the right time and so needed to make the best decisions it could in order to create a product that both met new demand and stood out.

So the brand opted to use sapphire crystal, a material that is extraordinarily scratch-proof and durable; only diamond is strong enough to cut, grind or polish the screens the team wanted to produce with it. It was in 2001 that Vertu perfected

the complex production process, creating the world’s largest piece of cosmetic sapphire crystal (69.25 carats, if you’re interested), and this material is still used 13 years later to great effect in its products. Vertu’s Signature Touch, released in June (£6,000-£14,000), uses a mixture of titanium, leather, ceramic, sapphire and ruby for the phone’s body; within this is the sapphire crystal screen, a single sheet which has been cut from a huge tile of sapphire to ensure only the finest

Achieving the status of being the thinnest, lightest or fastest is becoming more difficult parts are used. Other brands have, of course, followed suit but it was Vertu that successfully pioneered the use of this exceptional material.

In the watch sphere, a company that relishes in unusual pairings and resource experimentation is the larger-than-life and aesthetically-adventurous Hublot; no fewer than 35 materials are listed and described on its website. The brand launched in 1980, proudly showcasing the first watch to combine a precious metal (gold, in this case) with a natural rubber strap and, quite literally, breaking the mould. The ‘Art of Fusion’ philosophy was championed by Jean-Claude Biver to great effect from 2004; at the helm of Hublot, he chose to emphasise “the fusion of tradition and future”. This thread unifies the brand’s offerings, within innovative collections such as Big Bang, King Power, Classic Fusion and Masterpiece, and practice of combining unusual materials – zirconium, tantalum, tungsten and nomex – with more traditional materials like gold, platinum, steel and diamonds.

Of particular significance is King Gold; its latest incarnation can be seen in the Big Bang Ferrari King Gold, launched at the start of 2014. The colour of this 18-karat gold alloy used by Hublot is even redder than the traditional 5N red gold, but its exact composition is “classified TOP SECRET” by Hublot. Hublonium is another unique metal alloy developed by (of course) Hublot combining, among others, magnesium and aluminium, to ensure both strength

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and corrosion resistance. It’s very light too, which makes it perfectly suited to watches.

Magic Gold has an even more hyperbolic name, thanks to its metamorphosis from nearly black to gold during polishing, and deservedly so; this ‘fusion’ between pure gold and boron carbide (a ceramic) is the result of several years of research.

Exclusively produced in the Hublot manufacture, the brand deems Magic Gold “the forerunner of a new era for alloys of precious metals”.

However, if a brand doesn’t have Hublot-high aspirations for patenting new materials, there’s another way to ensure the metalwork in their products isn’t just plain old sterling silver. GTO London has created a range of handmade accessories by using material from classic Ferrari cars, working with Real Ferrari Metal (RFM) and parent company GTO Engineering. Founded 30 years ago, this side of the business ensures unrestricted access to antique, collectable classic cars as it locates, refurbishes and reconstructs them. RFM is extracted during the restoration of some of the world’s most prestigious Ferraris and melted down for the accessories; thus each piece is entirely unique and ranges from £105 (for a Biella pin) to £600 (Cambio 60s cufflinks). These would provide quite the talking point for motoring enthusiasts and at the same time tap into the trend for reusing material wherever possible; waste not,

want not, as the proverbial saying goes.

This ‘upcyling’ movement has not gone unnoticed by the most fashion-orientated parts of the industry and, indeed, there is a definite appeal in owning something which is 100 per cent unique and can’t be recreated.

Ilaria Venturini Fendi, daughter of one of the famous Fendi sisters, founded Carmina Campus in 2006 with the aim of creating handbags, jewels and furniture out of reused materials such as canvas tents, truck tarpaulin, umbrellas and old leather. The bags also act as a social design project in Africa; collaboration with the International Trade Centre aims to address poverty through trade-driven projects. In a similar vein, Mulberry set up Bottletop to recycle can ring pulls into luxury bags to raise funds for projects in developing countries across the world.

Hermès has gone one step further with a creative endeavour entitled Petit h. Launched in 2010 by artistic director Pascale Mussard – a member of the sixth

Pringle designed 3D printed fabrics for A/W14, never seen before in a mainline collection generation of the Hermès family – the métier involves an artist and craftsman coming together to transform old Hermès materials and products into new, idiosyncratic pieces. Discarded stirrups turn into handles for a leather swing; a teapot sprouts wings to become a fantastical mobile; and last season towels are brought back to life in a design for a chest of drawers. Reimagined in a way that showcases Hermès’ flair for design and sense of fun are leather, silver, brass, porcelain and wood, ordinary materials used in extraordinary ways. When we interviewed Pascale last year, she explained that the only rule with Petit h is that any blemish that has led to a material being overlooked for its original purpose is ignored, or played with: “In time, I would like to persuade our customer to be at ease with the idea of perfection found in imperfection”.

This project requires the artisans involved to tap into as much creativity as they can; thus ‘thinking outside the box’ is not only encouraged but also, quite literally, now possible thanks to the revolutionary ability of 3D printing to work with materials in ways that have never been seen before. These materials are currently limited to metals, sandstone, ceramics and plastic, but progress with these led President Obama to declare that 3D printing “has the potential to revolutionise the way we make almost everything”.

Printers can now cut precise patterns and moulds which means no excess material is wasted (surely music

FEATURE

to the ears of the brands using the most expensive of resources) and products can be rapidly created on demand, updated and customised, ideal for the fast-paced, creatively demanding fashion industry.

An iconic 3D moment came last year, courtesy of couturier Iris van Helden who joined forces with Nick Knight and Daphne Guinness to create a dress during a live broadcast. Knight captured Guinness being splashed with black and clear water using high speed cameras and then offered the footage as reference imagery for van Herpen to create an incredible, one-of-a-kind, 3D dress.

Meanwhile, Pringle of Scotland integrated 3D printed products into its A/W14 range, collaborating with architect and material scientist Richard Beckett to design a series of fabrics never seen before within a ready-towear collection. Beckett explained that the experience and knowledge of head of design Massimo Nicosia enabled the pair to “produce beautiful garments that are technologically novel and maintain the quality of Pringle of Scotland. This project appealed to me because it was an opportunity to mix 3D digital designs with traditional tailoring techniques.” It’s certainly a talking point and one that embraces the fact that 21st century consumers love to purchase interesting, revolutionary products.

This extends into interior design too, and Fameed Khalique is a man at the centre of this. He founded his eponymous company in 2008 to offer interior designers and architects ‘an unsurpassed resource of unique, innovative and rare artisan materials’. “From the vast number of exquisite materials already in the collection it’s quite possible we already have what you’re looking for” but Khalique will find or create any material desired, no matter how hard to source. The LcD collection of contemporary textiles uses natural, metallic and industrial materials including copper, silver, horsehair, fishing lines, raffia and rubber. Weaving materials on a jacquard loom into an intricate design forms a metal lace of sorts, ideal for home furnishings. New innovations include waterproof art panels for outdoor areas – made from a specially formulated epoxy resin, they’re 100 per cent UV and water resistant – and waterproof leathers; specialist technology means that the leather resists liquid, oil, UV rays, flame, mould/mildew and is highly stretch and tearresistant even at freezing temperatures.

Khalique promises that if you can imagine it “we’ll endeavour to deliver it”. We live in a world where almost anything is possible and in which the high-end product sphere is getting ever more crowded. Brands need a

USP to ensure we can connect with them and their products; heritage, creative flair and expert craftsmanship are just some of the strengths that make a brand stand out but innovative use of material is rapidly becoming more important. Adopt a ‘waste not, want not’ attitude, like Hermès and GTO London have done. Consider pioneering use of existing materials such as sapphire crystal (as Vertu did) to guarantee exclusivity or develop your own (and name it after yourself, à la Hublot). Play with new techniques such as 3D printing to stay ahead of the curve. One thing is for sure; no one can afford to sit still, and this is making developments all the more interesting. vertu.com; hublot.com; petith.com; gtolondon.com; pringlescotland.com; fameedkhalique.com

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collection

the Little Princess As part of Harrods’ own Biennale des Antiquaires – the legendary Parisian exhibition (now in its 27th year) will be recreated in the Fine Jewellery and Watch Rooms this month – London-based Swiss watchmaker Backes & Strauss has created a unique piece for the occasion in partnership with Gemfields.

The timepiece honours both its heritage as the ‘Master of Diamonds’ as well as Gemfields’ position as the world’s leading ethical gemstone supplier. Christened the Harrods Princess, the watch has been set with exceptional Zambian emeralds and white diamonds. Other brands honouring the craftsmanship within the world of fine horology in the Biennale celebrations include Vacheron Constantin, Roger Dubuis and Richard Mille.

29 September – 12 October harrods.com / backesandstrauss.com

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WORLD

of WATCHES

BY RICHARD BROWN

To Rolex What AMG is to Mercedes-Benz Conceived by Kamal Choraria, the man who devised the system by which vintage Rolexes are classified, Pro Hunter has been modifying the world’s most recognisable watches for more than a decade. The company adds antireflective ‘diamond-like-carbon’ coating to brand new Rolexes, changing the colours of date discs, dials and pearls. The Phantom collection is the latest addition to the Pro Hunter portfolio; a super matte black finish is applied to Daytonas, Deepseas and Submariner Dates. Customers can choose to add black carbon casing, bezels and lumes, and from a bracelet and military Nato strap. Pro Hunter only modifies 100 examples of each Rolex model: secure one and you’ll join a list of owners that includes Bill Clinton, Orlando Bloom and the Crown Prince of Greece.

World’s Most Famous Watch It’s considered the Holy Grail of watchmaking and remains one of the most complex devices ever crafted by the human hand. Now, nearly nine decades after New York banking supremo Henry Graves commissioned Patek Philippe to create the world’s most complicated timepiece, which was eight years in the making, the Henry Graves Supercomplication is going up for auction. The watch boasts a staggering 24 functions, including a perpetual calendar, a two-faced moon phase, sunset and sunrise indicators, a chart of the New York sky and a minute repeater that chimes the tolls of Big Ben. When the watch was last sold, it fetched more than £6.4 million. It’s up for auction at Sotheby’s in Geneva in November; estimates are around the £10 million mark.

Deepsea: Military Strap £15,950 / Bracelet £17,950; Submariner Date: Military Strap £14,950 / Bracelet £15,950; Daytona: £19,950 discoverprohunter.com

One to Watch Each month we select our timepiece of the moment from the watch world’s most exciting creations:

A robust 41mm steel case with a refined finish, a coloured, anodised aluminium crown tube and well-made interchangeable bracelets make Tudor’s Heritage Black Bay perhaps the best watch in its price bracket Black Bay Blue or Red on steel, £2,330 Black Bay Blue or Red on leather, £2,120 tudorwatch.com

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Flying Colours Following the Victory and the Codebreaker – the former incorporating original oak from HMS Victory and the latter pine from Bletchley Park – Bremont’s next limited edition timepiece was always going to have to be something special to live up to expectations.

And we’re pleased to report that the brand hasn’t disappointed us. Launched at an appropriately lofty bash at the Science Museum, the Wright Flyer makes use of fabric from the first ever powered aircraft of the same name. Just as significantly, the watch uses Bremont’s first ever unique movement, part-developed and designed in Britain. Now, how are the English brothers going to follow that? bremont.com

Swiss movement, English heart

C9 HARRISO N J U MP IN G HO U R MK III Bespoke ETA 2824-2 Jumping Hour automatic modification by Master Watchmaker Johannes Jahnke / Each piece personally assembled by Johannes and his team in Switzerland / 43mm, surgical grade stainless steel case with sapphire crystal and transparent case back / CITES certified, premium grade, Louisiana alligator strap with Bader deployment / 5 year movement guarantee

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08/09/2014 11:42

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Absolutely

Fabuleux

Annabel Harrison meets Vacheron Constantin’s artistic director Christian Selmoni to find out more about the newest Metiers d’Art collection, entitled, grandly and enigmatically, Fabuleux Ornements

THE V&A IS ONE of my favourite buildings in London. It’s a real treat to wander around its galleries, embued with history, gazing at ancient artefacts from myriad centuries and wondering how they came to rest in the institution’s hallowed halls. What’s even better, though, is to be led from gallery to gallery by two of the museum’s curators, Moya Carey and Anne Haworth, out of hours; eerily quiet and cool, it’s much easier to absorb oneself in the stories behind each piece. On this occasion we’re contemplating spectacularly detailed Indian miniatures from the 17th century, the famous Chelsea carpet (made in Iran in the 1500s and bought by William Morris for his Chelsea home) and a Chinese dragon robe, as well as the rare and precious Islamic rock crystal ewer, one of a series that survives in collections across Europe.

This night at the museum came courtesy of Vacheron Constantin and the private showcase of its four new Metiers d’Art timepieces. For 2014, ladies (unlike fashion, which refers to women and womenswear, the haute horlogerie industry tends to prefer the moniker ‘ladies’) are invited to “celebrate the ornamental beauties of the world drawn from the decorative arts of several cultures… inspired by dreams of faraway places”.

This particular collection has been two years in the making, demanding thousands of hours of slow, highly skilled work for an end result of just 80 pieces; why, I ask Christian, are the Metiers d’Art so important to Vacheron?

He references the fact that even at the end of the 18th century Vacheron’s pocket watches, although made for men, were engraved and set with stones. “We combine technical watchmaking with the decorative crafts; to me, this is fantastic. These crafts have been in the company since the early years so the Metiers d’Art concept is part of our DNA. It offers a great amount of room for creativity.

Although we only make a few, they are designed and engineered with the highest quality in mind.”

Artisans have taken inspiration from Ottoman architecture and Chinese embroidery Despite the fact that early on in the creative process, there were 12 Fabuleux Ornements designs, which, Christian says understatedly, “were all quite nice”, only four made the cut; the master artisans created reinterpretations of Ottoman architecture, Chinese embroidery, Indian manuscripts and French lacework.

Aesthetics were, of course, the first reason for whittling the numbers down but commercial sensibilities were also at play. “The choice of the Asian ornament was very clear for us. It’s a market that loves these sorts of watches. We have to make things which people want”. It is this watch, crafted in pink gold with a dial carpeted in ruby,

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stories concern China and its ancient embroideries, India and its colourfully illustrated manuscripts, the Ottoman Empire and its beautiful architecture, and France and its exquisite lacework. Indian manuscripts are reflected within a pink gold case and ten vibrant enamel colours on the dial. “The contours of its decor are traced using the champlevé technique to create cavities separated by thin gold partitions in order to apply the enamels. These ten different hues represent a daunting challenge in terms of mastering the successive firings.” The foliage,

In making a watch, “the more difficulties you encounter, the better the result is” cuprite and garnet flowers, which was also the most complex, involving glyptics, gemstone cloisonné work and engraving. “It’s almost ridiculous to do things like that but there is something really magical when you look at it”, Christian declares. Because the flowers being carved and engraved are so small and delicate, “they give us many problems… but they deliver beautiful results! The more difficulties you encounter, the better the result is.”

“It’s about the story behind the creation,” he adds.

“To do something which is pleasurable for the eye is not enough. It’s important to transport the client somewhere, to tell them a story and make it extra special.” These

which is meticulously hand-engraved after enamelling, is one of the most delicate stages, since even the slightest slip of the hand can jeopardise the entire creation.

The French lacework model involves guillochage, Grand Feu enamelling and gem-setting; the luminous white gold lacework pattern is intended to remind us of traditional, French-style embroideries, an ancestral art ingrained in the national culture. The Ottoman architecture timepiece is my favourite, though, with its pink gold moucharaby (wooden lattice) motif formed by the dial and of which every edge is delicately bevelled by hand. The natural white mother-of-pearl base is embellished by gold gridwork studded with half-pearl

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beads, aiming to echo the majesty of the scrolling patterns in Middle Eastern architecture. This is truly a beautiful piece and, the closer I look, the more its craftsmanship takes my breath away; the care taken over it requires a certain level of passion as well as skill.

Passion is evident at the company’s highest levels too; while CEO Mr Torres has been with Vacheron for three decades, Christian is “still here after 24 years because it’s never been a job to me; it has always been a pleasure. I honestly feel excited every morning I wake up to think about all the things I can do in Vacheron Constantin.” He is more reserved than Mr Torres but full of surprises in his own way; I discover a passion for tattoo artistry; how useful it must be to have such an eclectic set of creative and cultural references.

Next year marks the 260th anniversary of Vacheron Constantin, a milestone that no other watch brand can claim to have celebrated. As such I am expecting the 2015 Metiers d’Art collection to soar to even greater creative heights. Christian is full of excitement but tight-lipped: “The anniversary will include a collection of technical watches. It will be a cool combination of complication and design; technical watchmaking in a very Vacheron aesthetic”.

Watch this space. vacheron-constantin.com

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JEWELLERY

BY OLIVIA SHARPE

Into the Groove

On the Flip Side One seemingly unproductive afternoon when she was playing with some matchsticks, Cypriot designer Myriam Soseilos was suddenly struck with an idea of creating jewellery pieces which could move and adapt. From this, the Transformers collection (which won her the accolade of Designer of the Year 2013 at the Treasure jewellery show) was born. Comprising bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings, each piece has a simple, geometric design inspired by modern architecture.

The aptly-named Rubik’s Cube ring features sides made up of different coloured precious gemstones which can be swivelled around to create a multi-faceted effect. The designer’s latest Naked Square collection explores the “grammar of shapes” and turns any preconceptions of classic diamond jewellery on their head by combining traditional materials with cutting-edge designs.

This year, Piaget has commemorated its 140th anniversary by creating a collection of 88 jewellery pieces and 37 watches based around its halcyon days in the 60s and 70s, regarded as a stellar period in the company’s creative history. Christened Extremely Piaget, the bold designs play with asymmetry and stylisation, and colour plays a prominent role. Noteworthy pieces include an oval jade dial timepiece set with diamonds and emeralds (which has been modelled on the Piaget watch created in 1965 and owned by Jackie Kennedy) and a pink gold mesh necklace, featuring turquoise beads and marquise-cut diamonds, that pays tribute to the house’s ‘golden era’ of jewellery making.

Extremely Piaget collection, POA; piaget.com

MyriamSOS, available at Wolf & Badger wolfandbadger.com

Two Birds, One Stone

Cutting Edge To celebrate Antoni Gaudi’s birthday which took place earlier this year, fine jeweller D’Joya has created 25 pieces, 20 of which are on display and five are bespoke commissions, inspired by the pioneering artist and his most famous works:

“Antoni Gaudi was a visionary, a tour de force, a creative genius and an inspiration… The collection pays homage to this celebrated Catalan modernist, who transformed buildings in Barcelona into glittering works of art. His decorative approach to ceramics, ironwork and stained glass evolved into a distinctive aesthetic that still enthralls today”

Arguably the most important event in the jewellery calendar, the Biennale des Antiquaires recently took place in Paris and once again, it did not disappoint.

One of the most talked-about pieces on display there was this Bird Cage clock by Chanel, a beautiful interpretation of a miniature jewellery birdcage found in Coco Chanel’s 31 Rue Cambon apartment. Those of you who had the misfortune to miss the event will now be given an opportunity to see some of its finest pieces at Harrods; the department store will be hosting its own exclusive rendition this month. Nine of the official Biennale brands – including Graff, Cartier, Piaget, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chanel, Chaumet, Bulgari, Boucheron and Dior – will present a selection of their most showstopping pieces.

djoya.com

harrods.com

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Does your insurer value your most precious assets as much as you do?

Up

On the

As Astley Clarke takes America by storm with the launch of several US stockists, Olivia Sharpe catches up with founder Bec Astley Clarke MBE to find out how it feels to be the next big British luxury export

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This summer, both Cameron Diaz and her co-star Kate Upton were spotted wearing Astley Clarke jewellery. The fact that celebrities are wearing pieces by the jeweller is not astonishing in itself, with Poppy Delevingne and Alexa Chung having long been fans of the brand. However, in this particular instance, it is hardly a coincidence. In September, the British brand launched into 11 branches of luxury department store Neiman Marcus, spanning across Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles and Atlanta, as well as neimanmarcus.com.

This marks the next chapter in Astley Clarke’s US expansion, having earlier this year entered into six Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

Back in London, I meet founder and chairman Bec in the place where it all began, her west London boutique, before the launch. Her excitement about the prospect of being stocked in America is immediately evident as she explains why Astley Clarke is the perfect fit for the US: “I think the brand is really resonating over there. I’ve been on three or four visits this year, to San Francisco, New York, Dallas and Florida, doing whistle-stop tours.

They’re going nuts over the Biography bracelets and have fallen in love with the lockets.”

Looking at Bec, it’s not as though she needs highprofile supporters to promote her brand. With her casual and laidback style – she is dressed in a tank top and jeans, with the same locket as Diaz wore placed conspicuously around her neck and her signature Biography bracelets adorning her arm – and welcoming manner, she epitomises her brand. The concept of Astley Clarke was always very simple; to create fine jewellery for professional women.

The business launched in 2006 and its founder already had an impressive background in fashion, tech and marketing; with her new multi-brand e-tailer concept, she set out to prove the profitability of selling jewellery online, in the same way that sites such as Net-a-Porter and The Outnet have shown such demand in fashion.

And she certainly seems to have done that. Astley Clarke’s sales are projected at 30 per cent growth yearon-year and sales figures are predicted to reach roughly £6.2 million this year. Bec was also made an MBE in the Queen’s 2013 Honours List for her services to the jewellery industry. While this is undoubtedly an incredible achievement, Bec ensures she stays grounded with the help of her three-year-old son, Thor: “After I told my son about the award, he said, ‘Mummy, Peppa Pig gave Rebecca Rabbit an MBE yesterday’. I thought to myself, I’m not nearly as busy as Rebecca Rabbit is so if she gets one, then it must be good”, she says, smiling.

Bec is delighted in the interest she has been getting from the likes of Diaz and Upton who, in her mind, represent what Astley Clarke is all about. “Cameron Diaz is bang on in terms of our target client. She is an intelligent, professional woman with independent means who is fashion forward but not too fashion-obsessed,” she explains. “She has a casual sense of style but can also do glam, so you can totally see her on the red carpet in a pair of our Fao blue topaz earrings or on the beach wearing all of the Biography bracelets.” For Bec, this “informal way of wearing precious jewellery” has proved a winning formula in America, not to mention the fact that they “love all things British”.

The jewellery entrepreneur’s previous experience working for online companies such as iVillage.com and tesco.com has undeniably stood her in good stead. She felt that many luxury brands hadn’t realised the internet’s full potential so she decided to redress this balance by launching Astley Clarke solely as an online retailer. Bec is a firm believer that the 21st century luxury consumer should be able to shop in any way they wish, whether in store or online, and with people’s lives becoming more and more fast-paced, she notes that it is the latter which is increasingly the preferred option. “I love the web and am a great believer in it. We have 30,000 social media followers and we use the web to tell our story.”

After the award-winning success of the UK and US websites, Bec realised it was time to start selling in brick-and-mortar stores too; Astley Clarke is currently stocked in Harrods, Liberty and Selfridges in the UK, and in its new US retailers. The founder acknowledges how the company started back to front in comparison to most other businesses which begin on the high street but this, she believes, is “very much a cool part of our overall strategy. We started off with all the mod cons and now we’re opening old fashioned retailers. I think that’s just the way our clients like to shop; they either like to come into the boutique, pop into Harrods or buy something quickly online.

We give them the choice.”

“The Astley Clarke woman is intelligent, professional and independent, with casual style”

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Bec has always been passionate about jewellery.

One of her favourite childhood memories is delving into her grandmother’s jewellery boxes filled with semiprecious and precious stones. It was then that she discovered her love of coloured gemstones. When the brand opened its design studio in 2009, situated above the boutique, Bec hired Lorna Watson – who taught fine jewellery at Central Saint Martins for 15 years and is a member of Goldsmiths Hall – as creative director.

Together, she, Bec and the rest of the design team work tirelessly to make sure each piece is meticulously made.

“It’s fascinating to watch just what goes into making the pieces, beginning with a hand-drawn image done to scale and then evolving from there.”

Bec’s team occasionally uses modern-day technology such as CAD design but will predominantly rely on traditional techniques because Lorna wishes for

Her grandfather had a profound influence on Bec... the butterfly is an iconic symbol of the brand all the pieces to retain “a natural quality about them so each piece speaks for itself and doesn’t look overtreated”. The company recently released a film revealing the processes which went into creating the popular Fao collection, which is named after Bec’s grandmother.

Indeed, so much of Astley Clarke relates back to the founder’s family heritage, and I’m not just referring to the name. It’s been well documented that Bec’s grandfather, Sir Cyril Astley Clarke’s genetic experiments with butterflies – which led him to discover the preventative treatment for rhesus haemolytic disease of newborn babies and whose extensive butterfly collection is currently housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum – has had a profound influence on Bec who has paid homage to the butterfly by making it an iconic symbol of her brand. She also hopes to pass down her love of jewellery to her two children and has already marked down some of her most treasured pieces to them.

“I have a little D for my daughter Delilah and a little T for Thor. We used to make children’s Biography bracelets and so Delilah also has the little rainbow one.

Even though he’s a boy Thor loves it as well. You know how little children love things in boxes; they find them so intriguing.”

For A/W14, Astley Clarke has updated its Biography collection to include new colours, precious gemstones and charms. The team builds on

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each collection season after season and this has proven an excellent merchandising strategy, as clients are able to constantly update their collections.

This season the key shade is violet berry, which incidentally happens to be the Pantone Colour of the Year. Bec comments: “Lorna and I have this ongoing joke that the industry must be following us!”

As Christmas draws closer, Astley Clarke will be releasing new diamond pieces which Bec predicts will be extremely popular, pointing out a beautiful starburst eternity ring featuring interlocking stars. Although Astley Clarke’s philosophy has always centred around women buying jewellery for themselves, this doesn’t mean to say that they don’t have a huge male client base. As such personal shoppers are on hand at the boutique to help advise men on gifts for girlfriends and wives and they can also visit customers at their offices during lunch hours if they’re too busy to visit the store.

Despite growing up in Islington, Bec has always gravitated towards west London and this is why she not only chose to have her studio based here but also her home. In her spare time, Bec loves frequenting local restaurants including the Orangery in Kensington, Granger & Co in Notting Hill and Edera in Holland Park.

Saying that, with Bec constantly travelling to and from America, I cannot help but wonder whether a move might be on the horizon. While she jokes how she absolutely cannot discuss that topic as her husband has categorically said they’re not moving, I hope that, for once, the man gets his way.

Astley Clarke boutique, 6 Junction Mews, W2 1PN astleyclarke.com

ELIZABETH STREET SW1

Please visit our website

www.devroomen.co.uk 59 Elizabeth Street, London SW1W 9PP, 020 7730 1901

That 70s Show Get into the groove with large cuffs, long chain necklaces and gold hoop earrings

1 Pangea zig-zag stacking bangle, £1,518, Kara Ross, kararossny.com 2 Long gold Stella chain necklace, £5,746, Faraone Mennella, faraonemennella.com 3 & 4 Petra bib necklace, £42,203, and one-of-a-kind peach drusy earrings, £6,070, Kara Ross, as before 5 Serpent Bohème ring, £13,850, Boucheron, 164 New Bond Street 6 Morning in Vendôme ring, POA, Chanel Fine Jewellery, chanel.com 7 Serpentine coil necklace, £149, Layana London, layanalondon.com 8 Large Cava cuff in onyx and rock crystal, £18,214, Kara Ross, as before 9 Aquamarine, quartz, jade and gold earrings, £5,190, Fernando Jorge, matchesfashion.com 10 Gold, opal and diamond bracelet, £4,650, Jennifer Meyer, net-a-porter.com 11 Sunrise bracelet in yellow gold with diamonds, yellow sapphires and red lacquer, POA, Chanel Fine Jewellery, as before 12 Soho gold-plated hoop earrings, £190, Aurélie Bidermann, matchesfashion.com 13 Yellow gold large pear green onyx ring set with diamonds and tourmalines, £5,175, Armenta at Talisman Gallery, 020 7201 8582 14 Gold-tone bar cuff, £315, Chloé, net-a-porter.com 15 Yellow gold and oxidised silver open circle-link hoop earrings with white diamonds, £3,175, by Armenta at Talisman Gallery, as before 16 Emerald mesh bracelet, POA, G London, harrods.com

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spotlight

Open House Inspiration can sometimes strike in the most unlikely settings and as such, the Kensington and Fulham Open Studios are allowing visitors to view artworks in the very places where artistic genius arose. Taking place over two consecutive weekends, the event will provide a platform for an array of local artists, galleries, educational institutes and community groups as their works are showcased in the spaces in which they were created. This year’s programme includes art tours of the Royal Brompton Hospital, Kensington and Fulham Whole Food markets pop-ups and the Art for Youth fundraising exhibition at the Royal College of Art. We particularly like the work of Aude Grasset (shown here) and Camilla Shivarg (whose pieces are on the front cover).

10-12 October and 17-19 October; kfopenstudios.co.uk

La vie est un long fleuve tranquille, Aude Grasset

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The Ape Has Stabbed Me

Illustration: Mai Osawa

kensington

& chelsea

Family and household at Stacumny wearing some of the hat collection, 1989 All images courtesy of The Ape Has Stabbed Me

Nothing says pick-me-up quite like Vincent Poklewski Koziell’s title for his memoirs, not to mention the front cover image of the author dressed in elaborate formal country attire next to his equally well-dressed dog. Fortunately, the inside of the book is, in the most part, just as attention-grabbing, as the natural raconteur details his rather extraordinary life. Being able to laugh at oneself is a wonderful quality and this, something with which Vincent is blessed, is conveyed throughout the book as he self-mockingly reveals some of his failed business ventures and drunken escapades. These amusing anecdotes are punctuated with poignant moments; Vincent and his family experienced some of the most turbulent events of the 20th century, including two World Wars and the Troubles in Northern Ireland. However, the author keeps up his comic veneer and in so doing, reveals his resilience as he struggled as an outsider in an English boarding school (his family were exiled from Poland in 1939), and later had to cope with the death of his wife and raising their children on his own.

Interspersed with stories about selling vacuum cleaners and a failed mushroom growing business in Ireland are glamorous scenes of the author and his illustrious social circle. Descended from a well-connected family, and many diplomats within it, throughout his life Vincent has been surrounded by high profile figures from politics and royalty, such as the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Prince Philip, Princess Elizabeth and Winston Churchill. This is depicted not just through stories but through the delightful images which accompany them, many of which have until now remained in his private collection.

However, those of you thinking this is going to be a juicy exposé, think again. While the likes of Jerry Hall and Ronnie Wood weave in and out of the author’s narrative, these figures are merely used as illustrations of Vincent's fascinating experiences. Now in his 80s, Vincent resides in Harrington Gardens, Kensington, with his third wife Vicky and their beloved pug Florence (“the most important inhabitant of our home”) where he continues to mix cocktails and delight visitors with his tales. Fortunately, those of you who do not know Vincent personally can get to know him through his charming book.

The Ape has Stabbed Me: A Charming Cocktail of Reminiscences

By Vincent Poklewski Koziell, £18; waterstones.com Part of the Stacumny hat collection

Vincent, Vicky and Jerry Hall

Duchess of Kent and Winston Churc

hill

spotlight on Kensington, Chelsea & knightsbridge: news, events, reviews & local interest stories

SPOTLIGHT Sinatra: The Main Event, Richard Shelton Photography: Richard Barlow

Noir De Noir

King of the Hill On 13 October 1974, as bright lights shone in the city, the Big Apple witnessed a musical phenomenon when Frank Sinatra performed his comeback concert, Sinatra: The Main Event, at New York’s Madison Square Garden. On 10 October, Cadogan Hall will present its own stunning recreation of the legendary concert which took place 40 years ago. Richard Shelton will lead the proceedings and, having spent an entire career impersonating one of the greatest singers from the golden age of music, he is well placed to take on the challenge. Starring alongside him will be Caroline O’Conner, winner of a Laurence Olivier Award, who will be joined by leading jazz saxophonist Renato D’Aiello, as well as the world-famous Syd Lawrence Orchestra, for a night of unforgettable style and flawless performance.

Sinatra: The Main Event, 10 October; cadoganhall.com

A couple of months ago we said a sad goodbye to one of the leading lights in Hollywood cinema, Lauren Bacall, who has been immortalised as the big screen’s definitive femme fatale. With her sultry beauty and arched eyebrows that had the power to incite fear in any man, Bacall will forever be the woman who taught us how to whistle, and she will feature alongside 99 other iconic faces of film in a new compendium by TASCHEN. Film Noir: 100 All-Time Favourites documents the early stages of Film Noir, from golden age masterpiece The Maltese Falcon to cult classic Pulp Fiction. Bacall and her fellow starlets define the spirit of Film Noir.

Film Noir. 100 All-Time Favorites by Paul Duncan, Jürgen Müller (hardcover), £34.99 taschen.com

New Age Technology

My Fair Lady “She took my hand like… well, a princess, and dazzled me with that smile that God designed to melt mortal men’s hearts”.

Entranced by her timeless charm, Hollywood photographer Bob Willoughby recalls his first encounter in 1953 with iconic actress, Audrey Hepburn. From that moment on, as friendship blossomed, Willoughby continued to capture her splendour and infinite beauty throughout Hepburn’s career. This new edition of Audrey Hepburn: Photographs 1953–1966 pays tribute to this platonic relationship between muse and master, and includes photographs of her on set in preparation for scenes, interacting with actors and directors, as well as intimate moments from her private life.

Audrey Hepburn: Photographs 1953–1966 by Bob Willoughby New edition, £27.99 taschen.com

From top/ 'Eliza' is escorted by Colonel Pickering, played by Wilfrid Hyde-White, on a day at the races at Ascot; Audrey climbs into the Paramount Studios car waiting to return her to the hotel after the photo session with Bud Fraker All images © 2010 Bob Willoughby

The opening of the Information Age Gallery at the Science Museum is part of a £15.6 million renovation which aims to deliver engaging participative experiences and to reveal the way in which our lives have been transformed as a result of revolutionary communication inventions developed over the last 200 years. Sweeping across a 2500m2 space, making it the chief exhibition, the Information Age Gallery will house an array of distinctive objects from the Science Museum’s exceptional collections, with many rarities being shown for the first time. From the transatlantic telegraph detecting devices of 1858 to the BBC’s first radio transmitter 2LO, this pioneering exhibit will demonstrate the universal impact of communication devices on the world.

Opens 25 October sciencemuseum.org.uk

spotlight on Kensington, Chelsea & knightsbridge: news, events, reviews & local interest stories

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Join the Club Last month, South Ken welcomed its newest member to the area, the South Kensington Club, which is located in a classic music hall (which also happens to be rock musician Ronnie Wood’s former Harrington Club). This new social hotspot offers a diverse range of lifestyle experiences and services, from cultural and culinary to physical and philosophical, including trips abroad, fitness sessions, wellness retreats and a fresh juice bar open to both members and the general public. With interiors designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates, the South Kensington Club makes the most of the building’s opulent Georgian heritage while offering its members a place to relax and unwind from the stresses of city life. southkensingtonclub.com

Save the Last Dance

BluesFest Music lovers, listen up: the Royal Albert Hall will play host to the homecoming of BluesFest this autumn as this musical extravaganza is extended into a six-day festival. Showcasing melodious compositions from the world of blues and incorporating elements of rock, soul, funk and jazz, the festival will showcase a diverse line-up of contemporary artists including Van Morrison, Gregory Porter, Elvis Costello, Beth Hart and Sheryl Crow (who will be headlining, pictured above). The event will also incorporate a daytime programme comprising ‘In Conversation With’ talks, workshops, intimate sessions from festival artists and tours around the historic grounds throughout the week.

BluesFest, 26-31 October bluesfest.co.uk / royalalberthall.co.uk

Dance is universally acknowledged as a form of expression which transcends all ages, cultures and genders, and its powers are being showcased in the annual festival Dance Umbrella, celebrating the cultural diversity of 21st century choreography. The event will present an exhilarating programme of dance works, bringing together an array of choreographic genres, from hip-hop from the streets of Harlem to the finest flamenco dancers in Andalusia. Under the new appointment of artistic director, Emma Gladstone, Dance Umbrella will also present international programmes in which children and young people can participate, both in theory and practice with short-term work placements and one night only performances.

Dance Umbrella, 14-31 October danceumbrella.co.uk

Into the Wild Over the years, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition has become a global phenomenon and this year it celebrates its 50th anniversary at the Natural History Museum, with an exhibition showcasing 100 of the last year’s most spectacular photographic images. Delve into the natural world through this series of captivating images revealing awe-inspiring landscapes, spanning sub-Saharan Africa right down to the depths of the Antarctic. The exhibition will also tour internationally as well as featuring in BBC Wildlife Magazine, gaining global recognition.

Ignite your inner traveller and let your imaginations take flight.

24 October 2014 – 30 August 2015; nhm.ac.uk Left/ The Elegant Crowd © Jasper Doest

spotlight on Kensington, Chelsea & knightsbridge: news, events, reviews & local interest stories

SPOTLIGHT

Get Your Skates On

Photography: Chris Challis

The Fun of the Fair The Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair marks its 29th anniversary with a colourful celebration themed around quintessentially British fairgrounds and circuses. The event has expanded to become an inspiring treasure trove of antiques, decorative objects and works of art. From carved carousel horses to traditionally painted signs and stalls, the fair will transport visitors back in time to a golden era of British folk art, an art form which is often forgotten or overlooked. Find out the story behind each item, all of which are steeped in tradition. With expert exhibitors on hand, visitors can expect an archaic step back in time and to bring home lovely items from the past.

It’s once again time to lace up your skates as this month signals the return of the Natural History Museum’s ice rink. Even if skating is not your forte, why not soak up the atmosphere from the balcony overlooking the rink while enjoying something warm such as hot chocolate, mulled wine or festive food from the Café Bar? Alternatively, take a ride on the enchanting fairground carousel which is situated under an incredible 76,000 twinkling fairy lights embedded within the trees.

Adults from £11.50, children from £8 From 30 October; nhmskating.com

The Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair, 30 September – 5 October decorativefair.com

Arabian Nights

Pedro Reyes, Galeria Luisa Strina, Colloquium (Comversation)

The Nour Festival of Arts returns this month with its annual celebration of contemporary Middle Eastern and North African arts and culture. Translated as illumination, or light, Nour’s legacy is to challenge and enlighten the mind through its extensive display of art, film, literature and performance, as well as to highlight the dynamic relationship between East and West. Last year, the festival partnered with leading institutions in the Royal Borough, such as the Royal Albert Hall, the Gate Theatre and the Kensington and Chelsea College, and boasted an array of attractions, including six art exhibitions, 16 film screenings and 14 performancebased shows. We can't wait to see what it has in store for us this year.

From top / Sigmar Polke, Schönewald Fine Arts, Untitled (Nautilus Cup); Anonymous Yup’ik artist, Donald Ellis Gallery, Dance Mask

20 October – 30 November nourfestival.co.uk

Frieze Frame This year sees contemporary art fair Frieze London unveiling its latest concept, Live. The new section is dedicated to performance-based installations and features six galleries showcasing works custom-built for the fair and implemented into Frieze London’s architecture which is presented on stage and across public spaces. Sponsored by Alexander McQueen for the second year running, this year signals the return of sister fair Frieze Masters, which debuted in 2012 and which aims to bring a contemporary perspective to historical art spanning from Classical to Renaissance. With both fairs taking place at the same time in October, the crossover between ancient and modern innovation cements London firmly on the map of leading destinations for an extensive range of international art. friezelondon.com, friezemasters.com

spotlight on Kensington, Chelsea & knightsbridge: news, events, reviews & local interest stories

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Local Profile

Dylan Thomas (born 27 October 1914) On the centenary of his birth, Rebecca Wallersteiner looks back at the time spent in Chelsea during the four-decade life of talented Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, who referred to himself as “a beast, an angel and a madman” Wild, brilliant and anarchic, Dylan Thomas was one of the brightest stars of the interwar years and remains the best known of all Welsh poets. If he hadn’t self-destructed at the age of 39, he could well have celebrated many more birthdays, if not his 100th (as it would have been on 27 October this year). As a young man, Dylan spent some of his most creative years living in Chelsea, first with a family friend, the painter Alfred (Fred) Janes, who attended Swansea Grammar School with Dylan and painted him throughout his life, and later on Manresa Road, close to friends and family.

An unpretentious new memoir by Hilly Janes (Fred’s daughter) draws on a fascinating personal archive that includes letters, diaries and paintings, bringing a fresh perspective to the story of Dylan’s colourful personal life.

Above/ Dylan Thomas’s boathouse, Laugharne, Wales

Hilly grew up hearing her father’s memories of Dylan – a charming, flawed genius, though parasitic and unloyal friend. “My father and Dylan were very young and broke; in fact they didn’t have any money at all,” Hilly tells me.

When he first arrived in London, Dylan often stayed at Fred’s seedy flat at Redcliffe Street in Earls Court, scrounging food and drink and sleeping on a rolled-up mattress. “The floor was scattered with beer bottles, fag ends and large pieces of cardboard covered in the poet’s writing,” writes Hilly. The only chair had been modified for use as an easel, where Fred worked, painstakingly painting Dylan, with his mouth stuffed full of jelly babies, wearing a large checked overcoat and pork pie hat to keep warm in the unheated room. The situation was often so financially desperate that Fred resorted to turning Dylan upside down

SPOTLIGHT

to see if there was any money in his pockets to feed the meter. Fred first painted Dylan, looking rather like “a frog in his salad days” (Dylan’s words) in 1934, which proved to be his break-through year; his first poetry volume 18 Poems was published with great success and he shot to fame, aged just 20.

At 22 Dylan was taken up by the eccentric, wealthy poet Edith Sitwell who declared him the most promising young poet of his generation. “I have never known anyone so capable of endearing himself to others,” enthused Edith. Dylan’s vulnerable, cherubic looks were deceptive and women were often surprised to discover that he was a ruthless predator. Most friends generously forgave Dylan’s philandering, scrounging and boozing.

“His outrageous behaviour charmed, dazzled and appalled them by turn, especially if he drank too much,” says Hilly. His bohemian tastes for beer, cigarettes and women frequently drove him off course. Another friend, Geoffrey Grigson, put it nicely: “When he disappeared it was a relief; when he reappeared, a pleasure!” The poets T.S. Eliot and Cecil Day Lewis praised his work and his influential friends appreciated his mischievous wit, charm and talent, but usually didn’t experience his dark side.

So it is certain that life with Dylan was exciting and chaotic. Hugely gregarious and a frequenter of Chelsea’s many pubs, he spoke to anyone and made friends wherever he went, including a struck-off solicitor, a couple of jockeys and a suspect doctor. It helped if they were chatty and liked drinking. He had the wonderful knack of making people feel that they had known him for the whole of their lives and they were happy to pay for his drinks. He used to meet his first girlfriend Pamela Hansford Johnson at the Six Bells in Chelsea. Ever restless, he would often disappear from Chelsea for days – sometimes even weeks – on end to the dismay of his friends; “on one occasion he went out to get a haircut and the next time I saw him was in Swansea,” Fred told Hilly. Another friend, Mervyn Levy recalled that he habitually found Dylan asleep fully clothed at around nine in the morning. “I would shake Dylan awake, hand him a cigarette and a light and wait for the first low rumble of coughing to build up to a shattering, purple-faced crescendo,” said Levy. Rather strangely, the poet liked to pretend that he was dying of TB. In 1936 Dylan met the beautiful Caitlin Macnamara, fell deeply in love and immediately proposed. Even wilder and more bohemian than Dylan, Caitlin had trained as a dancer and sat for the sexually predatory Chelsea painter Augustus John, who brutally raped her when she was 15. Dylan adored Caitlin and gave her the attention and love she craved, though their passionate fights were as fierce as their love for one another. More damaged, adulterous and alcoholdependent than Dylan, Caitlin never became the ballerina

she dreamt of being. After their marriage, the couple rented a dilapidated bedsit in Manresa Road, where the skylight leaked and the kitchen was divided from the living area by a curtain. This was their much-loved base while Dylan wrote scripts for wartime documentaries. In March 1943, as bombs dropped around them, it became home to their new daughter Aeronwy.

As wild (and popular) as a rock star, Dylan was mobbed by literary fans wherever he gave readings.

His lyrical voice held audiences spellbound. Although his public success was great, he took little pleasure in it. What he liked best was the anonymity of the man in a bar. His work often sounds like a Welsh bard speaking about the incredible joy of life but also the darkness – one inextricably tied up with the other. “I hold a beast, an angel and a madman in me,” he confessed. His celebrity lifestyle ruined his health, wrecked his family life and contributed to his early death. He predicted that he would die before he was 40 – a prophecy that he fulfilled.

Buried in Wales, Dylan Thomas’ memorial at Poets’ Corner, Westminster Abbey, is, fittingly, next to Lord Byron.

The Three Lives of Dylan Thomas (hardback), by Hilly Janes, £18.99, published by The Robson Press, 2014.

Fred Janes’ portraits of Dylan Thomas will be shown as part of the Dylan Thomas Festival, 25-26 October 2014 dylanthomasfitzrovia.com

Above/ Dylan Thomas, Alfred Janes, 1953. Courtesy of Harry Ransom Centre, University Of Texas at Austin © Estate Of Alfred Janes

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A genuine Starck.

Design by Philippe Starck

The bathroom by Philippe Starck.

More nuances. More elegance. More versatility: The Starck bathroom series with coordinating furniture. Just one example from the comprehensive Duravit range – sanitary ceramics, bathroom furniture, accessories, bathtubs, wellness products and saunas.

To find out more: Phone 0845 500 7787, info@uk.duravit.com, www.duravit.co.uk

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&

ART ANTIQUES

BY CAROL CORDREY

Constable’s Creativity Revealed

Pencerrig, Thomas Jones 1772 © Tate, London 2014

As mentioned last month, an extensive display of more than 150 drawings, paintings and engravings by the legendary John Constable (1776-1837) will reveal the inspiration, techniques and other fascinating aspects of his creativity. He is known to have been hugely inspired by artists such as Ruisdael, Rubens, Gainsborough and Lorrain, whose work he meticulously studied and copied both as a student at the Royal Academy and during his career as he strove to develop then refine his individual and highly emotive way of representing the British landscape. The exhibition will shed new light on his working practices through the display of his own paintings alongside those by the landscape masters he revered. Equally captivating will be Constable’s vast array of sketches, some executed full-scale in preparation for what he termed his ‘six footers’ such as The Leaping Horse.

Constable: The Making of a Master 20 September – 11 January; vam.ac.uk

From left/ Water Meadows near Salisbury; Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Ground, 1823 Both by John Constable © Victoria and Albert Museum

with Bonhams specialist Carole Gordon who unravels the mystery of Agatha Christie’s jewels Q: Do we know where Agatha Christie stored these jewels?

A: In her autobiography she refers to these jewels as pieces from her mother’s collection that she was due to inherit. We can’t tell where Agatha Christie stored the diamonds but we do know that her mother kept her jewellery “packed in the trays in the various trunks”. It is possible Agatha Christie did the same.

Q: How did the jewels come into private ownership?

A: In 2006 the house contents of Greenway, Agatha Christie’s Devonshire home, were for sale by auction. The current vendor of this jewellery – a big Agatha Christie fan – took part in the sale and paid £100 for an old travelling trunk which had belonged to Agatha Christie’s mother. Inside this trunk, locked in a strongbox missing its key, she found the hidden diamonds.

Q: What information did you receive to confirm the author’s connection?

A: The vendor purchased the trunk directly from

Diamond three-stone ring, provenance Agatha Christie Estimate: £3,000-£5,000

the author’s home so the provenance is first class. Furthermore, the suitcase is inscribed with Agatha Christie’s mother’s initials C.M.M and the jewellery is even described in Agatha Christie’s autobiography: “My mother’s valuable jewellery consisted of ‘my diamond

buckle’, ‘my diamond crescent’ and ‘my diamond engagement ring’... Madge was to have the diamond crescent; I was to have the diamond buckle...”

Q: Can you tell us more about the jewels, their estimates and whether their provenance has attracted global interest?

A: The 19th century diamond buckle brooch is set throughout with cushion shaped diamonds and mounted in silver and gold. The diamonds weigh approximately 7.50 carats in total (length 4.1cm). The estimate is set at £6,000 to £8,000. The diamond three-stone ring is set with old brilliant-cut diamonds, the largest to the centre. Diamonds weigh approximately 2.40 carats in total (ring size O). We have had interest from across the globe. With such thrilling provenance it is certainly possible that the pieces could well exceed their estimates.

Jewellery auction: 8 October Bonhams, Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge, SW7 1HH bonhams.com

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&

ART ANTIQUES The Perennial Appeal of Poster Art Posters have become highly collectable in recent decades, particularly those associated with the movie industry. To be sought after, they must be original, meaning that they were produced to coincide with the film’s original distribution rather than produced later as vast quantities of cheap prints copied from the originals. Good condition matters too, though very, very few are perfect as they were often folded before being glued to huge billboards, later removed then put into store. In some cases, so few of the originals have survived that they sell to keen collectors for many thousands of pounds.

The most successful movie posters have attention-grabbing graphics that stay in our memories. They promoted the most popular or landmark films and usually featured the leading actors of the day. Others are desirable because of the artists who created them or because of the famous people who directed the films. Fortunately, there are numerous modestly priced film posters which are great for starting an art collection and for giving a home a relatively inexpensive, decorative item that will evoke memories and become a conversation piece.

Limelight Movie Art in Chelsea stocks a huge collection of such original film posters which include classics such as To Have and Have Not (Bogart and Bacall); The Prince and the Showgirl (Olivier, Monroe); and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Redford, Newman).

Bronze Beasts in Motion From Ireland comes a range of bronze beasts sculpted by Mim Scala whose highly realistic work is roughly hewn but very finely observed as a result of his studio being surrounded by the horses, birds, cattle and other creatures that are his inspiration. The rough texture of his work enhances its visceral quality and Scala’s desire to convey power and movement in his beasts. Devoid of a smooth outer skin, his subjects seem to expose some of their anatomical detail and with it, the secret to their ability to surge, swoop, pound and prance. Beasts are not simply presented to us but shown in characteristic motion, such as Work Horse that is propelling itself forward with the use of those mighty muscles in its hindquarters, shoulders, and neck; it gives the impression of a horse capable of pulling anything.

Full of vigour and power, El Toro pounds its front legs into the rough ground and kicks its hind legs in the air in a combined act of supremacy and defiance, whereas Osprey shows off the wide, angled wings, strong legs, talons and intense focus that make it the fearsome catcher of fish we know it to be.

Mim Scala: In Motion, 10 October – 14 November Eleven Fine Art, 11 Eccleston Street, SW1W 9LX elevenfineart.com

From top/ Osprey; Work Horse Both by Mim Scala

Limelight Movie Art, 313 King’s Road, SW3 5EP limelightmovieart.com

From top/ Prince and the Showgirl, The US 1S, 1957, LB.; Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, UK Q, 1969, LB.

George Basevi, Jonathan Wylder

Striking Sinuous Sculpture Jonathan Wylder’s accomplished bronzes may be very familiar to you already through his public commissions resulting in sculptures of Sir Robert Grosvenor and of George Basevi in Belgrave Square. The artist’s talents at capturing life-like character and demeanour have been much sought after by a host of prestigious clients that include the Duke of Westminster, the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Barclay brothers. Now, the public can get its hands on his new sinuous subjects that celebrate the beauty of the female human form.

They are modelled on young, nubile dancers so all of them are distinguished by elegant, flowing forms and silky surface textures that demand to be touched. This is especially true of Madrid, a nude figure wrapped up both in her own thoughts and in her own lovely limbs. However, the artist’s pièce de résistance is Tranquility because it has all the hallmarks of Wylder’s wonderful work, plus the complexity of a contrapposto pose that is barely attached to the plinth; I gaze, transfixed, sensing that as the figure rises, my spirit goes with her.

Jonathan Wylder, 24 September – 11 October The Osborne Studio Gallery From left/ Tranquillity; 2 Motcomb Street, SW1X 8JU Seabreeze; both by Jonathan Wylder osg.uk.com

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cassina.com

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“MyWorld” by Philippe Starck and Cassina.

CASSINA SHOWROOM 238-242 Brompton Road London, Knightsbridge SW3 2BB Tel: 020 7584 0000 Info.uk@cassina.com

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SPOTLIGHT

spotlight on:

Affordable Art Fair Tabithah Rahman takes a closer look at one of London’s more accessible art fairs, taking place in Battersea in October and promising to offer excellent value for money Heralded as “the friendliest of them all”, the Affordable Art Fair has become a global phenomenon since it first launched on a somewhat smaller scale in London back in 1999. It has expanded beyond our fair capital into 14 other cities across the world, from Hong Kong and Hamburg to Singapore and Stockholm. Its aim? To make art more accessible and affordable. It’s worth clarifying the parameters of ‘affordable’ in this instance; visitors to the fair can expect to pay as little as £50 and no more than £5,000 for pieces of art.

With a clear vision to unite novices and experts alike, art lover and founder of the fair Will Ramsay has brought together a selection of galleries which specialise in selling affordable art in a bid to open up the market and to make art, as promised, accessible to all. His belief in the importance of affordable artwork has resulted in him making various other contributions to the field, including having founded the contemporary art-hub PULSE and the ART HK fair in Asia, not to mention also being a shareholder in the India Art Fair, renowned for being the sub-continent’s first international art fair.

Ramsay understands that not everyone is or needs to be a specialist in order to appreciate art so experts will be on hand to provide a better understanding of the contemporary artworks on display, ranging from ceramics, paintings and sculptures to printmaking and photography.

110 galleries will be participating this year, including the Northcote Gallery, Bell Fine Art, the Sheridan Russell Gallery and Print Club London. Ramsay has also travelled the globe to find international exhibitors, such as Able Fine Art (New York) and Envie d’Art (France). Those of you who are looking to learn more will be able to take part in various workshops, demonstrations and talks taking place during the three-day event.

Just 15 years on and four continents later, the Affordable Art Fair is currently enjoying great success, providing a place where master and apprentice can unite in their appreciation of art from around the world.

23-26 October; affordableartfair.com/battersea

Clockwise from top left/ Chartwell, Edenbridge, Katie Minoprio (Lena Boyle Fine Art); Salton Sea, Richard Heeps (Bleachbox); David Bowie, Rugman ( Jealous Gallery); Looking for Seashells, Marcel Schellekens (De KunstSalon)

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Piano Man Rebecca Wallersteiner talks to David Winston, the inspired restorer of the world’s most famous antique pianos If Chopin, Beethoven and Mendelssohn could return today they would be astonished by the superb musical quality of their pianos, lovingly brought back to life by David Winston, founder of Period Piano Company, and his highly skilled team. “Restoring these beautiful instruments is something that combines all my passions; music, design and history,” Winston tells me.

As one of the world’s leading restorers he can ensure that history’s most famous pianos sound, once again, as they did for their original owners, some of whom were the greatest composers of the 19th century.

“We have been entrusted with the restoration of antique pianos of great historical importance including the piano made for Beethoven in 1817 and Chopin’s Pleyel from 1846, as well as instruments associated with

Mendelssohn and Liszt”, confirms Winston.

Listening to the exquisite recordings on Period Piano Company’s website gives little hint of the huge amount of work which goes into achieving the unique quality of this sound. “I’ve spent years researching the materials of antique pianos, including the right strings, felts, leathers, cloths, timbers, veneers and polishes to bring an instrument back to its original condition – so that it sounds, looks and feels right,” explains Winston, passionately. Period Piano Company also builds reproductions of late 18th and early 19th century pianos to commission, each of which can take up to two years to complete. Most of the work is carried out at the company’s headquarters in Kent, where Winston lives with his music-loving wife Annabel.

Californian-born Winston discovered his love of music as a child, hearing his Russian grandfather playing folk tunes on his mandolin. Although his

SPOTLIGHT

Above from far left/ 1897 Erard; Rippen aluminium piano; Kirckman harpsichord; Erard square piano 1797; Gaveau c. 1922; Strohmenger piano. All images courtesy of Period Piano Company

grandfather died when he was eight, his love of music had a huge influence on Winston’s life. Now, half a century later, he still remembers the distinct smell of that mandolin. “I’ve spent most of my life conjuring up the past in one way or another, whether it is by restoring musical instruments, collecting antiques or by adding to my collection of old gramophones,” he explains. After leaving high school, he arrived in England in 1970 with a set of bagpipes, a tent and a fishing rod, spending time as a lobster fisherman in Islay before returning to America and serving apprenticeships, both as a violin maker and as a keyboard instrument maker.

In musical circles, Winston is now celebrated as one of the world’s most inspired restorers of keyboard

“People say they never realised that such instruments exist and that they can be restored to fine playing condition” instruments and there is little he doesn’t know about pianos. “Instruments are like people; each is an individual with its own special traits that need to be nurtured.” In working on instruments of exceptional provenance, Winston feels that the original owners are, in a way, still his clients; their spirit becomes part of the instrument. These include not only Beethoven and Chopin but also royalty; several years ago, the Royal Collection asked him to undertake the restoration of a piano which was purchased by Queen Victoria in 1856.

Thanks to Winston’s dedication this piano was brought back to its full splendour and in recognition for the quality of his work, the Queen honoured Period Piano Company with a Royal Warrant in 2012, as the only piano conservator and restorer by Appointment of the Queen.

As well as the Royal Household, many other Period Piano Company clients are based locally. Antique pianos can look as beautiful in a Chelsea or Holland

Park townhouse as they do in a palace. What could be lovelier than sipping a glass of champagne whilst listening to your host playing Chopin’s compositions on an antique grand piano? If this appeals to you Period Piano Company has an excellent range of styles available, from tiny 18th century square pianos through to exceptional Art Deco and decorative grand pianos, and a sleek, cast aluminium piano from the 60s. Many are unique and most are rare. For example, Winston has recently restored an unusual 19th century harp piano, which is essentially a harp played on a keyboard.

He believes their recent recording on it may be the only playing example in existence. “At Period Piano Company we are musicians, as well as craftsmen; we are careful to choose instruments of musical significance and they are all built or restored by us with meticulous care and attention to detail.

“These are wonderful objects to have in one’s home. Most people only think of pianos as shiny and black. When people hear about us, they say they never realised before that such instruments exist, that they can be restored to fine playing condition and that they are affordable. They are good investments and not just museum pieces but living, working instruments.”

One of the most intriguing musical instruments Winston has restored recently has to be the piano which belonged to the great Polish composer Chopin.

In 2010 the Chopin Society, based in Ladbroke Grove, held a concert to celebrate the bicentenary of Chopin’s birth (1810) at Lancaster House, where Chopin gave his last concert in 1848. During the evening Chopin’s compositions were exquisitely played by the distinguished pianist Nikolai Demidenko using the composer’s own Pleyel piano (built 1846). Thanks to Winston’s inspired restoration the extraordinary sound and beauty of Chopin’s piano enraptured the audience. It was as if Winston’s artistry had conjured the instrument’s very soul back to life. info@periodpiano.com periodpiano.com

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www.my-perfect-t.com

fashion

look to the north We have a soft spot for Mr Roland Mouret and his fabulously flattering designs for women, and now he’s given us yet another reason to love him. He’s teamed up with friend and fellow designer Katherine Poulton of ethical label The North Circular, founded in 2009, to translate his bestselling Eugene top into knitwear, just as the cooler autumnal weather kicks in. Charmingly, each piece is hand-knitted by grannies from British alpaca and top-quality wool which has been dyed in the UK to Global Organic Textile standards. The North Circular co-founder, model and ethical fashion champion Lily Cole is pictured here wearing the monochromatic Furze Eugene top which retails for £370 and is exclusively available from Mouret’s London and New York boutiques, and online. rolandmouret.com

Image courtesy of The North Circular Photographer: Kate Tomlinson; Model: Lily Cole

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Stephen Bowman

Vanessa Arelle

Beneath the Surface Tom Davies speaks to Tabithah Rahman about his eyewear campaign for the 2015 collection and plans for the future Following tom davies’ exclusive interview with The Kensington & Chelsea Magazine about the opening of his Sloane Square boutique in February, the bespoke eyewear designer has since been busy preparing his 2015 campaign, which explores the worlds of real people and their unique stories through the new collection.

For the upcoming campaign, the designer called upon his existing loyal clients, including classically trained signer Stephen Bowman, Vanessa Arelle (Head of Cultural Affairs of the Mexican Embassy in the UK) and aspiring photographer and model Antalya Nall Cain. By using non-models, the campaign seeks to illustrate how wearing glasses is, for many people, an essential part of everyday life. For Tom, beauty is not only skin deep and so he wanted to capture his muses in settings personal to them in order to reflect their individual personalities as well as their appearance.

Tom has also collaborated with London-based Turkish designer Bora Aksu on a range of sunglasses which launched recently at S/S15 London Fashion Week.

What inspired the concept for the 2015 campaign?

It was without a doubt the local residents visiting my

store. Getting to know someone and their hobbies, passions and profession before I design their frames is as important as their natural features. When planning my campaign for 2015 I wanted to create a unique concept and use ‘real’ Tom Davies clients, so photographing them instead of models made it more interesting.

Why was it so imperative for the glasses to form part of the campaign subjects’ daily routine?

I wanted it to be believable and relatable; photos are so much more interesting that way. Normally, when I’m planning a shoot, I look for location, props, photographers and stylists. This shoot was very intimate and compact, shot in a reportage style which captured real smiles, style and personality. I had each of them in their own comfortable spaces, surrounded by their own possessions and clothes, to create a relationship between the onlooker and the model.

You have chosen an eclectic mix of people for the campaign; how did you go about selecting them?

They all use their eyewear differently and have different lives. Some people understand that a great frame can

Antalya Nall Cain

FASHION

be worn as an accessory to enhance your features and wear glasses with confidence and pride. I also wanted brand ambassadors to help people to understand why we designed the glasses the way we did and the individual process each person went through.

If you had featured in the campaign, what props would you have used to reflect your personality?

It would have to be my store. I’ve never had so much freedom to express my surroundings and personality as I had when I created my Sloane Square store. I love being

“What next? I’m trying to perfect a marriage of carbon fibre with buffalo horn for men” surrounded by my creations; everything from the lighting down to the cabinets has my own personal stamp on it.

Downstairs is designed like 2001: A Space Odyssey to give a futuristic feel, while upstairs takes on a stylised fashion approach with a combination of old wood coving and ultra-modern cabinets. A mix of old and new, like me!

The upcoming collection will introduce new styles and developments from existing collections; can we expect to see anything new in terms of luxury materials?

I’ve designed five new acetates, made in Japan. These feature 82 per cent cotton, making them deeper in colour and more hard-wearing than any other material I’ve worked on. I’ve also developed five new titanium coatings, using a combination of industrial diamond dust to blast the frames as well as high-tech ion plating.

Fisher walked into my shop. I’ve just finished work on her glasses and I’m still buzzing about it.

You recently collaborated with Bora Aksu for the S/S15 sunglasses collection; what is it you like about doing collaborations?

Creating for an individual is a privilege. Creating with other designers is a thrill. As designers, we have to have strong ideas and yet we are also open to other outside influences. The best collaborations come about when you can openly bounce ideas off each other and allow both styles to come through in the final design. Bora’s new collection is outstanding and it was a pleasure working with him on this sunglass range. Ultimately, collaborations are about people. If we get on, the results can be amazing.

I would love to work with Melisa Odabash too; her work is glamorous, feminine and innovative, and would translate perfectly into a ladies’ sunglass collection.

What else have you got in the pipeline?

I’m trying to perfect a marriage of carbon fibre with buffalo horn for men. I’m opening some stores across America over the coming months... and I’m about to turn 40!

Tom Davies – Bespoke Eyewear, 54 Sloane Square 020 7730 5454; tdtomdavies.com

Which material do you like working with most and why?

Buffalo horn. It has taken me and my team five years to perfect the production of horn frames in this particular material. We buy it from a farm in India and spend months working it into plates for eye glasses. The end result looks fantastic and makes the most luxurious eyewear I’ve ever seen.

You have designed frames for many of Hollywood’s elite and high profile clients. Is there anyone in particular you would like to make a bespoke pair of glasses for?

My dream came true when Hollywood actress Carrie

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Tables Turned It is often the case that the fashion world takes inspiration from the art world and vice versa, and this mutually beneficial collaboration has been highlighted in Escada’s A/W14 collection which draws on the bold colours of contemporary American artist James Turrell, with striking hues of emerald and pink. Other pieces in the collection incorporate romantic floral prints which evoke more traditional paintings, while wide leg trousers and skirts in monochrome tones create volume and shape. uk.escada.com

HER STYLE By olivia sharpe

Separate the Sheep from the Goats Known for its understated and timeless collections, luxury cashmere clothing brand Goat has never been one to court the limelight. This year, however, sees the brand standing out from the crowd as it announces the opening of its first store on Mayfair’s Conduit Street, as part of the Crown Estate’s £1 billion investment into the Regent Street area. The new boutique will house the brand’s latest ready-to-wear collection, including signature knits, separates, dresses and outerwear, within minimalist surroundings featuring neutral interiors and vintage furniture.

Keep your (sheep’s) eyes peeled. goatfashion.com

Don’t Be Daft Luxury label Casadei has made a brief departure from its signature evening footwear styles, stepping into biker mode for A/W14.

The chic, contemporary Biker collection has been inspired by Daft Punk’s latest album and includes three leather designs which will transport you from day to night. Each boot features gold, silver and copper chains and lustrous metal embellishment for an edgier look.

Casadei A/W14 Biker collection £700 – £950 casadei.com

Great Dame Despite having been revered by the fashion world for decades, until now there has never been an authorised biography of iconic designer Dame Vivienne Westwood. However, as she herself says, “The living deserve respect. The dead deserve the truth; Ian and I are working together on this and I am excited that this will be my story, the story nobody ever did before”. Biographer Ian Kelly spent two years with Westwood to create the narrative of her life, weaving in her own voice and those of family and friends to explain how Vivienne Isabel Swire became Vivienne Westwood, now aged 73, designer, co-creator of punk, activist and fashion legend.

Vivienne Westwood by Vivienne Westwood & Ian Kelly will be published in hardback with colour illustrations on 9 October

Mission Impossible

About Time

For the first time in its 73 year-old history, Coach has expanded its leather goods line to include women’s ready-to-wear. Having only joined the company last year, British designer Stuart Vevers (formerly of Loewe) made a brave decision to make this debut so early on in his appointment but the risk certainly seems to have paid off. The confident and well-rounded A/W14 collection remains in keeping with the American label’s laid-back aesthetic, incorporating casual, graphic sweaters and 70s-style denim jackets with rubber-soled, shearling-lined wedge boots which guarantee to keep your feet warm and dry in winter. Outerwear, however, proved the biggest hit, with a shearling coat coming in at an affordable £1,900, and a red and black houndstooth parka, which we have no doubt will be a best-seller, priced at £1,300. Mission accomplished.

It was only a matter of time before Tory Burch branched out into yet another lifestyle section; to mark her ten year anniversary, the American designer, whose empire already encompasses clothing handbags, shoes and beauty, has turned her attention to the world of timekeeping and launched her first watch collection.

Comprising seven timepiece groups including the Tory, the Reva and the Buddy Classic, each watch has been named after a member of Tory’s family and is infused with signature design elements, from Saffiano leather straps to the brand’s iconic double-T logo.

Available from 1 October toryburch.co.uk

uk.coach.com

Eastern Dynasty

La Place to Be A landmark of artistic heritage and famously the home of Coco Chanel, La Place Vendôme has been a constant source of inspiration to both the art and fashion industries; this month sees designer Carolina Herrera paying tribute to the historic square with a new design for her La Place Handbag collection. The Vendôme bag has been handcrafted from Nubuck and Blanes leather and features unique details such as side panels with small gold studs and front panelling made of exotic skins. The handles have been designed to symbolise the arcades surrounding the Vendôme column, while the horizontal structure reflects the square’s iconic buildings.

CH Carolina Herrera Vendome Bag; prices range from £440 – £1,080 carrolinaherrera.com

Celebrating its 20th anniversary as the international curator of contemporary Chinese style, Shanghai Tang is kicking off the festivities with an exclusive collaboration with Shanghai-born artist Jacky Tsai on a series of artworks. The six-piece collection draws on the beauty of nature and traditional Eastern craftsmanship as well as modern Western pop art, and has in turn inspired a limited edition capsule collection encompassing fashion, accessories and homeware.

Our favourites include a box clutch with a floral, butterfly and acrobatic motif, and a handpainted blue and white lotus porcelain set.

Jacky Tsai x Shanghai Tang, available in stores from October shanghaitang.com

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PRINTS Charming Be inspired by this modern take on prints and patterns and update your A/W wardrobe with acid brights and arty colour combinations

Photographer:

Dominic Nicholls

Stylist:

Hayley Caine

Green and white Christine tie-dye trousers, £550, and matching shirt, £999, both Stella McCartney, harrods.com; Blue Queen in Caribe suede shoes, £286, Stuart Weitzman, stuartweitzman.com; Montana crystal earrings, £250, Andy Farrow, wolfandbadger.com

Bright floral print fluted skirt, £600, and matching top, £620, both Marni, brownsfashion.com; Mad red flowers IX scarf, £250, Rosemary Goodenough, wolfandbadger.com; Gold disk ring, £195, Chloé, harrods.com; Lacey zebra print heels, £525, Sophia Webster, sophiawebster.com

Floral print silk trousers, £580, and blouse, £480, Dries Van Noten, Browns, 24-27 South Molton Street, brownsfashion.com; Yellow Marlowe bag, £165, Rebecca Minkoff, Fenwicks, 63 New Bond Street; Gold Icon ring, £239, Ruifier, wolfandbadger.com; Elaphe and acetate sandals, £890, Nicholas Kirkwood, nicholaskirkwood.com

Printed velvet coat, £1,220, and printed cotton jeans, £385, both Just Cavalli, harrods.com; Gold heeled shoes, POA, Robert Clergerie, 67 Wigmore Street, 020 7935 3601; Gold Icon Pyramid ring, £599, Ruifier, wolfandbadger.com

Burgundy printed dress with woollen lily embroideries, ÂŁ1,290, Carven, 85 Pelham Street, 020 7225 7110; Gold Icon Shard ring, ÂŁ459, Ruifier, wolfandbadger.com

Cotton poplin monster print shirt in moss green, £250, weaving jacquard monster print jacket in chocolate, £600, and matching skirt, £640, all Kenzo, 31 Bruton Place, 020 7491 8469, kenzo.com; Red Miluna 100 fishnet/suede heels, £545, Christian Louboutin, 17 Mount Street, 0843 227 4322

Silk tunic dress, £795, Stella McCartney, selfridges.com; Printed felt cocoon coat, £790, Diane Von Furstenberg, net-a-porter.com; Black Mila crystal shoes, £595, Sophia Webster, sophiawebster.com; Black wristlet suede eyelet bag, £930, Alaia, harrods.com

Hair: Magdalena Tucholska using Unite/CloudNine Makeup: Cassie Steward @ LHA Represents using MAC Cosmetics Model: Rhianna Porter @ Storm Art Direction: Delia Sievers Photographer’s Assistant: Sam Thirgood Location: La Suite West, 41-51 Inverness Terrace, W2 3JN; lasuitewest.com

The Old West The latest collection from J.M Weston infuses country living with inner-city style in its classic range of leather shoes and boots. Giving the spirit of high society sports an aristocratic touch, Country Gent aims to provide shoes which can be worn everywhere and anywhere, whether the gent in question is sampling wine in Bourdeaux or hiking across the Scottish Highlands. Thus the collection is perfect for any man who needs his footwear to be as versatile as his busy, varied life. As artistic director Michel Perry says, “country life is no longer a complete departure from elegance and style: it’s an art of living”.

Billion Dollar Man

jmweston.com

Italian fashion house Billionaire Couture is using its knowledge of luxury readyto-wear attire to launch a new Made to Measure service; elegant in look and uncompromising in quality, the resultant tailored products come courtesy of expert artisans. With its philosophy, and name, championing the idea of living a luxurious lifestyle, Billionaire indulges a client’s every wish, allowing them to explore the opulent details and most intricate aspects of tailoring. From sumptuous silks and cashmeres to inlaid gold, Billionaire’s Made to Measure range extends across the formal and contemporary styles, from personalised slippers to bejewelled shirt buttons. billionairecouture.com

HIS STYLE By tabithah rahman

On The Frontline This month sees the opening of E.Tautz’s flagship store on Duke Street, spread across two levels and covering 2,000 sq. ft. Despite having been founded in 1867 and being at the forefront of the contemporary British fashion scene, this surprisingly marks the first retail space for the brand, headed up by owner and creative director Patrick Grant. Throughout its 147-year history, E. Tautz has retained its sporting and military credentials, enhanced by quality tailoring and Savile Row cutting. The new store will house its entire seasonal offering, along with more suits, knitwear and accessories. There will also be a made to measure service on the lower level, which is a first for the label. etautz.com

High on a Mountain Top July 1954 saw history in the making as two Italian climbers triumphantly reached the peak of the world’s second highest mountain. They fought their way up 8,611 metres of the notorious K2 in bitterly cold air, kitted out in quilted Moncler down jackets, designed by French mountaineer Lionel Terray who has become synonymous with the brand. Now, 60 years on, history has repeated itself, from mission attire right down to triumph. K2 2014 – 60 Years Later saw mountaineers paying homage to the original expedition, sporting Moncler gear on their trek up K2. Inspired by the Lionel Terray collection, the line comprises six special protection jackets which combine practicality with luxury appeal. monclergroup.com

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lifestyle Less Is More

There are some who love to splash their homes with vibrant paints and attention-grabbing artwork. For others, a paredback approach, using chiefly monochrome and neutral tones, is preferable. If you fall into the latter category, you’re bound to feel an affinity with the quiet, structured work of designer and architect Guillaume Alan. Clean, uncluttered walls and surfaces are complemented by the eclectic, elegant use of unusual materials and furniture; popular pieces include the brass Stella chair, with a smoky finish and faux fur seat, and the satin coffee table which appears to be floating, with a brushed ash wood top, metal base and bronze finish. Browse the website or visit the Mayfair store and studio for further Parisian-chic inspiration. guillaume-alan.com

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Leave no stone unturned Leaving no stone unturned, Stone World has grown to specialise in some of the rarest and most exquisite colour variations of Natural Stone from around the world, from the finest marble in Italy to the flawless granite mined in Brazil.

With stock of over 4,000 slabs at the Park Royal warehouse facility, clients are encouraged to visit to personally select the exact slab they would like to use for their projects.

For those seeking inspiration for design ideas and colour palettes, Stone World has launched an app: The Stone Library. The app allows users to search for Natural Stone by colour, the material category or texture and keywords. Each Natural Stone entry has an enhanced image quality feature, which enables users to use the entire screen as a sample swatch, helping them to build colour schemes and specify particular stones for a new project.

020 8838 3232 st o ne wo r l d l o n d o n . c o . u k

& GARDEN

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BY TABITHAH RAHMAN

Wool Week The Campaign for Wool, of which HRH The Prince of Wales is patron, celebrates its fourth anniversary this month with the launch of its commemorative Wool Collection: Interiors range. By bringing together designers from the decorative world to create bespoke interiors collections using wool, the campaign aims to highlight the benefits of this sumptuous fabric. Flooring, furnishings and lifestyle items from leading names such as Designers Guild and the Conran Shop will feature, to be unveiled at the launch of the Wool Collection Exhibition, taking place this October.

5-12 October; campaignforwool.org

Tweed with a Twist 1940s wartime saw tweed at the peak of its popularity, used in suits, flat caps and dresses. It was also the decade which saw the birth of interiors company Barker and Stonehouse. This autumn, the company harkens back to 40s fashion in its four new collections, one of which presents its unique take on a great English classic. Tweed with a Twist takes a contemporary approach to use of the traditional material, presented in furniture and quirky accessories which will bring warmth to urban homes. The collection comprises three other ranges, including Beat Nik, Perfect Pastels and Rustic Monochrome. barkerandstonehouse.co.uk

The Silver Surfer With more than a century’s worth of classic creations that have stood the test of time, this year marks the 110th anniversary of silversmith and design master Georg Jensen.

Since 1904, the Danish design name has been a pioneering one in the world of silverware, extending from classical to modern in the form of home pieces and jewellery designs. Delving into its rich heritage, Georg Jensen: Reflections will explore the historical journey of the brand, containing photographs and drawings from Jensen’s extensive archive, exposing tricks of the trade and showcasing elegant designs and technical innovations that have developed through the ages.

Georg Jensen: Reflections, text by Murray Moss, £55 (hardcover) Available from 21 October; rizzoliusa.com

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& GARDEN

HOME

Under the Olive Tree Channelling its luxurious French heritage, Branche d’Olive has launched a limited edition candle box set, Candle Aux’Quat Saisons. In partnership with head chef Raymond Blanc, the deluxe offering has been created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons hotel and brings together four scented candles which evoke the essence of the four seasons. Concocted from natural ingredients, the candles’ notes harmonise with Blanc’s Michelin-starred haute cuisine.

Branche d’Olive also offers a range of locally sourced lotions and potions to go hand-in-hand with these candles, comprising lavish bath lotions, sweet-smelling fragrances and hand-stamped soaps.

Candle Aux’Quat Saisons box set, £42 branche-dolive.com

Refined Luxe This autumn, Occa Home reveals its latest concept.

Refined Luxe focuses on minimal shapes, modish materials and lustrous accents in key furniture pieces, all of which have been hand-picked by Occa Home founder, Kate Mooney and her team of interior design experts. With hundreds of leading brands available, in order to help you to recreate this look, you’ll be spoilt for choice. From dining furniture and beds to lighting and decorative accessories, add a touch of frost ahead of winter, using shimmery accents, to ignite the glimmer of winter magic. occa-home.co.uk

Top Form Christmas comes early this month as Chelsea-based interior designer Katharine Pooley unveils her Table Top collection ahead of the festive season. After the success of the recently launched Imperial Hamper, the range will be exclusive to Fortnum and Mason and includes china, glassware and table accessories rendered with clean-cut precision, and bedecked with gold and platinum-plated geometric deco embellishments. katharinepooley.com fortnumandmason.com

Spa City “Our clients are incredibly discerning and well-travelled. We find that their exposure to hotel design filters through to residential interiors and they expect something superior within the privacy of their own home,” says Alix of Lawson Robb. A master of deluxe design, the brand has taken on its latest endeavour, having been commissioned to design the ultimate in luxury private spas in homes across London. Executed to perfection, recent projects in Knightsbridge and Belgravia have featured plunge pools, massaging waterfalls and steam rooms. Lawson Robb is able to incorporate bespoke details tailored to each client’s specific lifestyle, and space, requirements that are both aesthetically striking and fully functional. Take the plunge now. lawsonrobb.com

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22/08/2014 17:31

INTERIORS

Home

Sweet Home

With autumn comes the launch of the Premier Basics collection from Achica, of flash sale fame. Annabel Harrison finds out more about the online retailer’s new (and permanent) offering I DON’T KNOW ABOUT you but parting with hefty sums of money for basics such as bed linen doesn’t sit that well with me. For the house, it’s just so much more fun to spend cash on striking pieces of art that you can’t help but fall in love with, beautiful big books that may well never be opened, fun but functional items and antiques with a conversation-starting story. However, if you’re moving into somewhere unfurnished or a bigger place than you currently inhabit, you’ll find yourself needing not just extra bed linen but all the other basics too – beds and mattresses, sofas and shelving, tables and chairs. These are necessities with costs that soon begin to mount up.

This is when an online detour to Achica will be worth the time, because in September the website is launching its exclusive new Premier Basics collection.

It has up until now been known (and loved by its millions of members) for its 72-hour flash sales; at the time of writing I can purchase a pair of Beats Pro Headphones for £249.95 (RRP £349.95) or a vintage Chanel CC bangle for £999 (RRP £1,255), although there’s only one left so I’d need to move fast. The big difference with Premier Basics is that this 350-piece capsule collection will be always available, which will come as a relief to those who just cannot make a decision quickly enough to commit to a flash sale or, indeed, those who like the option to repurchase their favourite and longest-lasting household basics.

Left/ Button back headboard bed, £549; bed linen 1000 thread count collection, from £8.99 to £79, all Achica Premier Basics collection

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INTERIORS

Achica’s brand director Liam Butler explained to me that the aim of this capsule collection is, as you’d expect, customer-led; the brand wants to “permanently offer our loyal and discerning customer base the very best of the basics every home needs. Once the basics are right, it’s the finishing touches that really make your home your own. Achica is a one-stop shop offering an edit of the finest vintage, art and design pieces.

There are 14 styles to search within, such as Eclectic, Classic Elegance and Country Chic “Our core business will remain must-see flash sales that customers can dip in and out of at any time but we’ll also look to weave in our edit of useful everyday products that can always be found.”

Of the new Premier Basics products, I particularly like the cream button footstool (£169), perfect for perching on in the corner of a kitchen or dressing room.

For living rooms, the black iron coffee tables, either round (£249) or rectangular (£179) are simple but stylish and the king size iron bed is great value at £549. It’s easy to find half an hour slipping away while scrolling through the sales offering too; I could boost my basics with pretty cushions, bright prints and even bottles of red wine and olive oil for my kitchen counters. It’s made even easier by the new website which has been designed based on

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research that showed the majority of people prefer to shop by style rather than product. There are 14 styles to choose from including Classic Elegance (I’d like to think I aspire to this), Eclectic (also great – everyone needs a dash of quirkiness) and Country Chic (a favourite theme of mine as a Cotswolds girl through and through).

Filter by price, colour and brand.

It’s time to pour a cup of tea, make a list and finally stock up on those essentials you’ve been saying for months that you need. achica.com

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Superior food preservation.

Professional cooking performance.

Craftsmanship and technology without equal.

www.subzero-wolf.co.uk 251 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW3 2EP 0845 250 0010

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HEALTH BEAUTY

BY OLIVIA SHARPE

Pick Me Up The new collection from By Terry founder Terry de Gunzburg is for those in desperate need of a post-summer pick-me-up (which let’s face it, is probably all of us). The colour-popping palette of blushing pinks and rosy hues is bound to perk up even the bluest of spirits, ranging from an irresistible trio powder blush, Terrybly Rose de Rose, to dozens of new Baume de Rose lip colours for the perfect pout.

Rose Infernale 2014 byterry.com

Lip Service Have you ever wished that you could combine your lipstick and lipgloss? Well fortunately, Chanel’s new Rouge Allure Gloss does just that. With just one click of a button, the high shine gloss effect is activated and blended together with a luminous and intense shade. The new flocked applicator makes it easier to apply than a lipstick but by combining two polymers, one for colour and one for shine, the lightweight coverage promises to last hours. It will come in 11 shades, ranging from dramatic Distinction (warm berry) to subtle Sensuel (light beige).

Rouge Allure Gloss, £26 Available from 3 October 020 7493 3836

Birds of a Feather Flying in just a few weeks ago, Duck & Dry is the newest blow-dry and up-do bar to land on the King’s Road. Unlike your typical, time-consuming salon experience, Duck & Dry allows you to, quite literally, duck in and out at your convenience for a fast, professional hair treatment. Keeping things simple, the menu has just eight signature blow-dries and eight up-dos, with no cuts or colour. Another unique feature of the salon is that the price of each treatment is fixed, regardless of hair type or length, making it very affordable.

Book your appointment now.

Duck & Dry, £25; Duck, Dry & Do, £35 335-337 King’s Road, SW3 5ES duckanddry.com

The Ford Face According to Tom Ford, “monochromatic colour and tones can enhance and define the features, achieving a timeless, sensuous and polished look”. Having been creating exquisite, couture-like pieces for almost 30 years, we can trust the fashion designer to know a thing or two about beauty. This is no doubt why his cosmetics range has been going from strength to strength since it launched in 2011. New for A/W14 is a range of neutral hues and skin-toned shades which provide a natural and sculptured look. We particularly love the Contouring Cheek Duo containing two essential shades: a lighter pearlescent shade to highlight followed by a matte finish to add definition.

Contouring Cheek Colour Duo in Softcore or Stroked £56, part of the Fall 2014 Colour Collection tomford.com

Treatment

of the Month

We test out the best local massage offerings, both home and away

Home: BHome

Back to the Future Available from October, beauty brand Shiseido has created an innovative new foundation which not only promises to deliver a long-lasting, dewy finish but also an anti-ageing skincare treatment. Available in four shades and containing the brand’s original brightening treatment and range of powders, the product has been designed to fit any skin type and eliminate problems such as dark spots, uneven skin tone and wrinkles.

Future Solution LX Total Radiance Foundation, £65 Available from October and exclusive to Harrods harrods.com

Bed of Roses In his new book, Dior: The Perfumes, perfume critic Chandler Burr makes the case that the fragrances from Christian Dior’s past helped to shape his couture creations. “Of the women in my childhood, I retain above all the memory of their perfumes, perfumes that lingered… filling the elevator with fragrance long after they were gone,” Dior once said. Burr lists the house’s key fragrances, from its first perfume Miss Dior (created in 1947, its name was given to a short evening dress in the 1949 S/S Haute Couture collection that was famously embroidered all over with a bed of a thousand flowers) to the most recent Les Escales de Dior (2008-2012), charting 65 years of style and innovation.

Dior: The Perfumes by Chandler Burr, £70 Available October 2014 Published by Rizzoli rizzoliusa.com

In our book, a massage is one of life’s most lovely luxuries but a stressful journey home, especially when carrying a big handbag, can undo all the good work. BHome has a great solution to this (admittedly, first world) problem; a trained therapist carries out treatments, from nails or waxing to massage, spray tans or make-up, in the comfort of your home. Head therapist Francesca turns up at exactly the appointed time and the travel massage bed is set up in five minutes. The perks of being in your own home include being able to relax immediately afterwards; Francesca plays music and when I close my eyes during the treatment it feels like I’m in a salon. Time to lie back and relax. bhomebeauty.com

Away: Twenty-Two Therapies Private-member “wellness gym” TwentyTwo has established itself as a local hotspot for A-listquality personal training and now founder Dalton Wong has introduced TwentyTwo Therapies.

Therapist Josh is just back from Australia, where he and a colleague discovered a new massage technique, used in the Upper Back, Neck & Jaw Rebalancing Therapy (£100 for 60 minutes). It is genuinely unique. I haven’t had a treatment like it in London and the closest was in Japan. It’s specially designed to target areas where we hold stress and tension, made worse by desk-bound lifestyles. The official line is that the “rebalancing technique provides the deep tissue relief and allows for the release of restricted fascia around the head, neck and jaw, which unknots muscle tightness and increases blood flow to the skin”.

My take on it is that it’s the slowest massage you’ll ever have but one that feels like it is actually releasing knots and tension rather than smoothing over them in an ineffective manner. If I could have this treatment every week, I would; sign me up. Annabel Harrison Twenty-Two Training, 22 Elvaston Mews twentytwotraining.com

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HEALTH BEAUTY

October Fest We bring you a round-up of the best products, from skincare to cosmetics, available this October 1. The bridge between lipcare and make-up has finally been sealed thanks to Dior. Rouge Dior Baume, available from October, is enriched with Cristal Oil, a revolutionary lipcare ingredient unique to the house, which cares, revitalises and protects lips while enhancing each of the four shades – Star, Spring, Lili and Diorette – which make up the couture collection.

Rouge Dior Baume, £26, dior.com 2. Fall runways were all about bewitching eyes and none more so than at Dolce & Gabbana where beauty artist Pat McGrath incorporated lustrous pearly shades in dark purple and metallic gold with black Glam Liner for heightened drama. Capture the magic with the brand’s new Cream Eye Colours in Gold Dust 20, Cocoa 60 and Dahlia 100. Dolce & Gabbana Fall Runway collection, exclusively at Harrods, harrods.com 3. As part of its Breast Cancer Awareness campaign, this year Estée Lauder has released a special edition of its Advanced Night Repair Synchronised Recovery Complex II, featuring a Pink Ribbon charm. 20 per cent from every sale in the UK will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. £69 for 50ml, esteelauder.co.uk

4. Givenchy has based its latest limited edition collection around the colour of the season; red. Le Rouge-A-Porter comprises products in the brand’s signature shade of prune, including an intense new nail polish.

Available nationwide from 30 September Le Vernis Framboise Velours No. 19, £15.50 givenchy.com

5. With the recent launch of its Sloane Square store, one would think that J. Crew had quite enough on its plate. Think again. This month, the fashion brand debuts its first fragrances, Arquiste for J. Crew No. 57 and No. 31, in collaboration with the well-known perfumery house. Each scent pays homage to Peggy Guggenheim’s groundbreaking Exhibition by 31 Women, the first all-female modern art US show.

Available at J. Crew’s Sloane Square store Arquiste for J. Crew No. 57 and No. 31, £78 for 50ml

6. This October sees Guerlain relaunching its famed Orchidée Imperiale Longevity Concentrate with a new formula and redesign. The classic product now includes a seleno-activator which fights against bioenergetics ageing and revitalises tired skin in just one week.

Available nationwide from 1 October £330, Guerlain, 01932 233 887

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The discovery that DNA damage triggers cancer was made in Chelsea.

We’ve been making discoveries to defeat cancer on the Fulham Road since 1909 – help us to make more.

ICR.ac.uk/defeatcancer ICR_Kensington & Chelsea Magazine_210x297_Defeatcancer.indd 9

A Charity. Not for Profit.

Company Limited by Guarantee.

Registered in England. No. 534147

26/08/2014 12:09

Kids KINGDOM BY annabel harrison

Baby Soft New mothers and fathers know only too well that when trying to settle a baby down to sleep, comfort is crucial. aden + anais has combined Australian Merino wool with its signature muslin weave to create the first ever 100 per cent Merino muslin product, in partnership with The Woolmark Company. The benefits are numerous: merino wool is naturally breathable, making it an efficient temperature regulator; it absorbs moisture vapour next to the skin; it is naturally fire-resistant; its protective outer layer resists dirt and helps prevent stains being absorbed; and, best of all, each product is machine washable. The aden + anais Pure Merino Muslin collection features a swaddling blanket, sleeping bag, a dream blanket and a security blanket in three patterns, all of which are individually hand-dyed. Every product comes in a keepsake box with a picture frame built into the lid to house favourite baby photos. adenandanais.co.uk

Photography:Marko Macpherson 2012

Best Foot Forward

Out of this World Some children have difficulty going to sleep by themselves while others love snuggling up after a long day; we’d wager that Cuckooland’s bedroom furniture will suit both types equally well thanks to its dual function as a cosy sleeping area and fun play space. The Rocket Bed with its space shuttle canopy (£1,595) will capture the imagination of budding astronauts and the enchanting Silversparkle Hut Bed (£1,499) includes a pull-out drawer that can house a trundle bed – perfect for sleepovers. All beds are made using natural pine from sustainable Scandinavian forests and finished with whitewash to preserve the wood’s natural appearance so quality is high, and rest assured. cuckooland.com

Much to the delight of any little girl who dreams of dancing around in their mother’s shoes, the darling of the shoe world, Sophia Webster, launched her debut children’s collection this year. Cutely named Mini, for obvious reasons, the S/S14 collection comprised four styles in sizes from three months up to two years.

Every pair, priced at £150, is handmade in the UK and sold online on Sophia’s website. The vibrant colours and imaginative patterns we’ve seen (and loved) on the adult shoes is reflected in the Mini versions; Milo, in bright teal and fluoro orange stripes, with fuschia laces, is our favourite and can’t wait to see what the A/W14 collection will include. We’re certain big sisters will be clamouring for Sophia to produce a range suitable for tween and teen-sized feet. sophiawebster.co.uk

We Are Family Maggie & Rose, London’s first family members’ club, has been growing in both size and ambition since its launch in 2007. Now founders Maggie Bolger and Rose Astor, as well as launching a second club in Chiswick, are revamping the Kensington site. Additions include a secure buggy park, an art studio for budding creative types and a cooking school for mini Mary Berrys. We like the sound of the pre-nursery area for children aged 18 months to two and a half years; bookings are available in three hour blocks and give little ones the chance to get used to a nursery-esque environment. Meanwhile, Mummy and Daddy can refuel, and make friends, in the new deli-style brasserie (we all know how exhausting kids can be); time for a time-out while Maggie & Rose take care of everything. As well as its timetable of classes, Maggie & Rose Kensington offers parties, holiday camps and a corporate events facility. Family memberships start at £190 per month.

Maggie & Rose, 58 Pembroke Road, Kensington, W8 6NX; maggieandrose.com

Bouncing Off the Walls Nubie should be your first of call if you have a creative child with a vivid imagination; they may well not reappear until supper-time if their walls are covered with Sian Zeng’s clever magnetic wallpaper. Woodland’s hedgehog and frog iconography, with foliage, cottages and quirky buildings depicted in dusky pink or blue, is perfect for those who love pretty colour palettes, while Dino’s funky dinosaur prints and khaki green palettes will appeal to outdoorsy kids; they can move the cast of creatures across the wallpaper and write quotations into speech-bubbles. Sian Zeng is a graduate of Central Saint Martins and her illustrated prints are designed to encourage playfulness and fire imaginations.

Who’s Afraid of the Dark?

Not us! It comes as no surprise that most kids love Halloween; after all, it involves fancy dress and lots of sugar. You’ll find no tricks, just treats, at Gail’s Bakery; its range of ghoulish goodies is available from 24 October for children who just can’t wait (you’ll find a Gail’s on the King’s Road, Fulham Road, in Notting Hill and South Ken). Stock up on headless gingerbread men with matching severed heads, and gingerbread skeletons, gruesome monster fingers, meringue ghosts and spooky black cats for the ultimate Halloween party.

Meanwhile at Biscuiteers in Notting Hill, there’s a wide selection of terrifying (and tantalising) treats. We love the creepy Jolly Ginger Dracula, the Wicked Witch Biscuit Card and the Trick or Treat Tin (featuring gravestone, eye ball, creepy crawly and grinning pumpkin biscuits) but our favourite is the colourful, quirky Sugar Skulls Mini Biscuit Collection.

If your little ones want to make their treats instead of eating them, head to Charlotte Olympia’s first shop-in-shop boutique at Harrods for October’s Halloween Mini Harrods arts & crafts class; children can make and decorate spooky accessories as well as dressing up. biscuiteers.com / gailsbread.co.uk / harrods.com

Woodlands magnetic wallpaper in brown pink or khaki blue, £248 per roll. Magnets from £3.95. nubie.co.uk

Raining Cats & Dogs This ingenious product is magical and just as practical, perfect for journeys to and from school (and especially when one considers how often it rains in Britain). Upon contact with water, the quirky white motifs on Holly & Beau’s umbrellas (£14.99 each) explode into a rainbow of colours; we’re certain these will fascinate curious little minds. As it dries, the umbrella magically returns to its original design and this will occur over and over again. Choose from cats and dogs, cupcakes or flowers. hollyandbeau.com

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high life

an african art affair Set in serene landscaped gardens it’s hard to believe that the Saxon Hotel is just five minutes from the centre of Sandton, a northern suburb of Johannesburg. The property’s 250-piece permanent collection and outdoor sculpture garden, including works by Anton Smit (Faith, pictured) and Amalie von Maltitz, already make the hotel a haven for art lovers but this month art and leisure will be combined to even more impressive effect as the second Saxon Art Affair is unveiled; in March, the first exhibition promoted new local artists, as well as celebrating established names, in a visual feast of contemporary South African art. For those after something different, the Saxon’s Tibetan Sound Therapy (said to have the same benefits as eight hours of sleep) is perfect following the long-haul flight. saxon.co.za

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Travel

THE WORLD

BY JULIA MELLOR

Secluded Luxury On a private reserve of 6,000 hectares with spectacular views of Torres del Paine National Park, luxurious lodge Awasi Patagonia offers total freedom to discover the majesty of the area. The 12 private, eco-friendly wooden villas, designed

by Chilean architect Felipe Assadi, were inspired by local cattle-herders’ cabins, old log houses and ranching outposts.

Each comes with its own knowledgeable guide, an outdoor wood-fired hot tub and a 4x4 SUV at your disposal. Spend your days puma spotting across the Steppe, fly-fishing and hiking to tranquil spots to feast on a gourmet picnic and, at night, star-gaze while enjoying an aperitif and indulging in local cuisine. Whether you’re after a romantic escape or family adventure, Awasi Patagonia blends luxury and nature to provide an equally unforgettable experience.

From budding enthusiasts to Japanese art connoisseurs there is no better place to stay on your next holiday there than the distinguished Palace Hotel Tokyo. Its three-night Transcendent Tokyo package includes bespoke excursions led by members of renowned art website Blouin Artinfo to discover Tokyo’s outstanding and somewhat hard-to navigate art scene (not least because of the language barrier). Guests will also receive a copy of The Art of Palace Hotel Tokyo book about the property’s extensive £600,000 collection. Request a room overlooking the moat to wake up to a view of Tokyo’s Imperial Palace Gardens and the city beyond.

Design fanatics don’t have to venture far to check out the latest Mondrian hotel which opens on 30 September.

Located in the old Sea Containers building on the bank of the River Thames, renowned British designer Tom Dixon combines Hollywood glamour with Southbank’s eclectic feel to stunning effect. Step outside the chic interior and you’ll find yourself just walking distance from cultural landmarks including the Tate Modern and Royal Festival Hall. At nightfall sample a cocktail in the Art Deco-inspired rooftop lounge or enjoy supper at the riverside restaurant. With great city views from most of the 359 rooms, we reckon the Mondrian London won’t take long to make its mark.

en.palacehoteltokyo.com

morganshotelgroup.com

awasipatagonia.com

Transcendent Tokyo

Artistic Inclinations Designed by Pritzker Prize-winner architect Christian de Portzamparc, the Park Hyatt New York on West 57th Street is the new global flagship property of Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. It boasts 118 guest rooms and 92 suites, among the largest in the Big Apple; standard rooms start at 475 sq. ft. (the average NY hotel room is 325). Features include a restaurant overseen by top chef Sam Hazen and a collection of 350 museum-worthy artworks. To escape hectic Manhattan head to the three-storey spa overlooking Central Park and make the most of the pool; its underwater speakers broadcast performances from the neighbouring Carnegie Hall. Walter Brindell, the pet-friendly GM, hopes the hotel will become a “devout advocate for animals”; its Very Important Pooch package includes dog outfits from Barney’s. Reservations opened late last month so book now for you (and your canine companion) and be the first to stay at New York’s hottest new hotel. newyork.park.hyatt.com

Maiden Voyage

The Here & Now

Left/ Author and daughter with locals in Pago, Myanmar

Nick Crayson provides a travel report from a summer spent travelling around Myanmar, formerly known as Burma This country is still ruled by a military junta, effectively the same junta that was responsible for the mass slaughter of protestors rallying against the brutal rule of U Ne Win in 1988, when men, women, children and monks were slaughtered indiscriminately. A change of clothes allows Thein Sein, an ex-general, to be President. The leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) is the world-renowned and 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. Despite winning past elections and more than 80 per cent of the seats in parliament the NLD still has limited influence; next year’s elections will be a defining moment as the future of true democracy in Myanmar hinges on them.

Despite low incomes and often very squalid living conditions (the Myanmar GDP is around the £500 per person, per annum mark) all around the country, smiles and good greetings were universal and genuine. My 15-year-old daughter Alice often commented that the people appeared a lot happier than the people in the UK. With the GDP per head in the UK about 40 times higher that of Myanmar, there is some evidence here that money does not buy you happiness.

Being a London estate agent I, unsurprisingly maybe, found myself keen to do some price comparisons on property. The military still owns and controls the best areas and properties, and prices in down-town

Destination: Limpopo Animal-spotting potential and warm weather make South Africa an ideal half-term escape, says Danielle Betts

areas are distorted. I eventually found my quest to be rather pointless as the Myanmar property market is very much a domestic one whereas London is truly international. However on visiting some homes, I found that all necessities were provided for; even if not up to Western standards the homes were still clean and hygienic. Perhaps I have a rather distorted and myopic view of Myanmar life, but I can’t stop thinking that despite our multi-million pound properties, private schools and expensive material trinkets we are perhaps missing something. Maybe it’s because of their Buddhism which looks at teachings of love and compassion for each other; it is a country of such horrible transgressions but where the people are able to genuinely forgive and live their lives in the here and now.

If only we could inject some form of true and universal appreciation at what we have here in London then maybe we would live in a more stable environment, where the vicissitudes of the ‘Market’ would just be offset by a less jaundiced view about our wealth and where we find ourselves on this planet.

There’s no better time to visit South Africa than in our winter months, not least because of the relatively warm climate there. The chances of spotting a grazing zebra, giraffe or any one of the ‘big five’ is far more likely at this time of year due to the thinned out bush of the natural habitat, while the animals often travel far and wide during the dry season to congregrate around watering holes. Opt for an elephant-back safari or sail above the African plains alongside the winged wildlife in a hot air balloon, to see the best of the landscape.

Following 18 months of development, the Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve is now ready for visitors. And, if this isn’t enough of an occasion for a spontaneous safari adventure, we don’t know what is. Wake up in the wilderness of the Greater Kruger National Park in an elevated glass-fronted suite before experiencing an alfresco shower and plunge pool and enjoying breakfast. We recommend those with a nervous disposition stay away from the three ground floor suites as the luxurious pools often attract the lurking wildlife looking for refreshment. But can you blame them? seasonsinafrica.com

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The Snowball

Effect

Historic French resorts Courchevel and Megève have respectively been attracting the rich and the famous for more than half a century. Olivia Sharpe finds out why

TRAVEL

Ever since the first aristocrats donned skis and took to the Alpine mountains, skiing has been deemed one of the most glamorous recreational activities. Now there’s a wealth of resorts to choose from but if you go back 100 years, this wasn’t the case and the two resorts which led the way in the following decades were Courchevel and Megève. Today they continue to attract the glitterati and after paying each of them a visit, it’s not hard to see why.

In 2012, The Oetker Collection, one of the world’s most prestigious hotel groups, announced that it would be expanding its portfolio with the opening of a new luxury hotel in the French Alps; L’Apogée Courchevel.

Almost in the same breath, LVMH Hotel Management,

which looks after Courchevel’s Cheval Blanc, announced that it too would be launching a new hotel, this time in the Maldives. Both projects were completed at breakneck speed last year, indicating how hotel groups are competing in an uphill race to be the best of the best.

In spite of the quick turnover, The Oetker Collection certainly didn’t cut any corners on its latest venture.

L’Apogée Courchevel, comprising 53 rooms and suites, a penthouse, a five-bedroom chalet and more than 100 tonnes of marble, is rumoured to have cost more than €100 million to build. Despite having forked out a king’s

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ransom, I was pleasantly surprised by the general lack of ostentation. The spacious lobby has a glamorous Art Deco feel with wood-panelled walls and an abundance of Fior di Bosco marble lining the floors but this is toned down due to the neutral colour palette of warm grey, chocolate brown and burgundy. However, it is clear that Parisian designers India Mahdavi (whose portfolio includes London’s Claridge’s hotel) and Joseph Dirand (who designed Distrito Capital in Mexico) have spared no expense on their understated luxury haven, incorporating

sumptuous fabrics including suede, leather and fur, as well as bespoke furniture in every room.

Upstairs in our suite, my guest and I continued to be charmed by the unpretentious decor. Devoid of all bling (unless you count the solid gold bathroom taps), the room had a homely appeal with an alpine colour palette, gingham carpet, walnut cabinets and fur bed throw. The designers set out to create an “authentic yet not nostalgic” look and this, in the most part, they have done. The only high-tech gadgets I could spot were a flat screen television and underfloor heating on the balcony and while this didn’t bother me, my only criticism would be that there wasn’t one light control system so you had to manually turn off each individual light before going to sleep. First world problem, admittedly, but when you’re paying royal prices, I think a princess attitude is allowed.

The Courchevel resort was founded in 1946 by the Savoie Council which wanted to promote tourism and make skiing accessible. Over the years, it has expanded to accommodate growing numbers of international clients and now encompasses a multitude of four-star, five-star and Palace status hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants and countless designer boutiques. It comprises four villages but it is Courchevel 1850 (where L’Apogée is situated) which is considered the most exclusive. Dubbed the St. Tropez of winter sports, it is well-known for its variety of runs and highly efficient lift system which practically removes the hassle of queuing and provides easy access to neighbouring valleys. And like its resident skiers, the snow has been groomed and manicured to perfection, making it ideal for beginners such as myself.

After a hearty breakfast in the hotel restaurant, Le Comptoir de L’Apogée, a culinary cavern which is reached via a dramatic, sweeping staircase, I felt ready to conquer my fear of the mountains. L’Apogée is gifted with ski-in ski-out, plus an in-house ski room, dedicated butlers and custom-made skis. After a morning of impersonating Mr Tickle on the slopes, we settled down for lunch at Le Chalet de Pierres, one of many excellent (albeit expensive) restaurants the resort has to offer. As well as being an ideal place to sample European delights such as king crab legs, fondue Savoyarde and truffle mashed potato, it was also a great opportunity to take mental style notes from my fellow patrons, many of whom were bedecked in Moncler, fur and designer moon boots.

L’Apogée has two hotel bars, Le Bar de L’Apogée and Champagne Lounge, and it is the latter where we enjoyed a much-needed drink after our action-packed day. The bar was slightly lacking in both character and people but I’m certain that once word spreads about the impressive selection of champagnes, not to mention the heavenly truffle nuts which accompanied our drinks, this will soon change. Dinner was served once again in

TRAVEL

Le Comptoir de L’Apogée, which has the feel of a trendy nightclub thanks to a resident DJ and low level lighting creating the perfect ambience, and is headed up by head chef Frank Ferigutti. There were undeniably a few teething problems, for instance staff who hadn’t fully mastered English yet and subsequently served starters with mains despite us requesting they come separately.

Saying that, inspired dishes, such as the theatrical lobster starter presented in a smoking glass dome, made up for any shortcomings. It is worth noting that as of December, Japanese restaurant Kyubi (the Arts Club London) will open a sushi counter in the restaurant.

After four days in Courchevel, it was time to leave L’Apogée and travel down the mountain to the picturesque French town of Megève, where we spent the remainder of our holiday at Le Lodge Park, run by the Sibuets family.

Megève is well-known for having been the brainchild of the Rothschild family, who conceived the idea for the first purpose-built resort in the Alps back in the 1920s as an alternative to Switzerland’s Saint-Moritz, but today it is the Sibuets who rule the roost. Since the early 1980s, the family has been building up an impressive roster of luxury hotels and currently has four in its name, not to mention a string of restaurants, chalets and spas.

At Le Lodge Park, the inviting interior uses both the Scottish Highlands and classic North American lodges as inspiration and looks as if it could have come straight out of a Ralph Lauren catalogue, with stag’s antlers, tartan fabrics, cowhide, leather armchairs and woven fur throws.

The theme continues in the bedrooms and suites, which each come with their own fireplace. The bathrooms are kitted out with the hotel’s Pure Altitude Spa products and I highly recommend paying a visit to the wellness retreat for some much-needed mountain therapy. The Nordicinspired spa features an indoor pool, Jazuzzi, technology fitness room, relaxation room, sauna and steam room.

All of the signature treatments are well worth a try and in particular the candle ritual body treatment which uses Fleurs de Neige candle-balm, one of the hallmark products of the Pure Altitude range. This is gently massaged into dry, wind-chapped skin to provide nourishment. All of the spa’s products use rare active ingredients from more than 50 mountain plants with antioxidant properties.

The hotel is also home to the Beef Lodge, one of the most celebrated restaurants in Megève. The New England style restaurant features log tables, tanned leather chairs, hunting trophies, animal skins and an open-plan kitchen where head chef François Martin and his team serve up the best steaks in town. Mouth-watering highlights include rib of Black Angus or Bavarian beef, with sides of homemade potato purée and a choice of truffles (if you haven’t yet satisfied this decadent craving), Beaufort matouille or green polenta with Comté cheese. Wash this down with an after-dinner aperitif by the roaring fire in the hotel’s pièce de résistance, the bar, and you may find yourself having to be carried up to your room.

While Megève boasts excellent skiing with 445 kilometres of pistes which can be reached from the town and a number of relaxed runs ranging from blues, greens and reds, it is not just these which attract tourists year after year. Indeed, only 50 per cent of guests on average ski, while the remainder choose to enjoy the other activities this quaint and charming town has to offer, including hiking, shopping and eating (Megève has more than 80 restaurants). Designer boutiques line cobbled streets and if you’re in the market for fur, this is the place to come.

While many parallels could be drawn between Courchevel and Megève, as a whole the two resorts couldn’t be more different and the majority of the people who stay in Megève wouldn’t dream of visiting Courchevel, and vice versa. As for myself, I couldn’t possibly pick a favourite.

MORE INFORMATION Flexiski offers a three night stay with breakfast at the Hotel Le Lodge Park, Megève, from £990 per person (based on two sharing) including flights from Gatwick to Geneva, with all taxes and 20kg hold luggage, and private airport transfers based on departure on 18 January 2015 (flexiski.com; 020 8939 0894) Rooms at L’Apogée, Courchevel from £715 per room per night on a half board basis lapogeecourchevel.com

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Suite Dreams at

Belgraves Sometimes a night away from home is just what the doctor ordered, even if you venture only a few streets away. pandora jones stays over at the Belgraves Hotel As I walk past the intersection where Pont Street meets Chesham Place, I’m greeted by casually dressed doormen and an expanse of exposed brick walls. You’d forgive me for thinking I’d found myself in a cool corner of the Big Apple’s Brooklyn district rather than outside a boutique hotel in Belgravia. Welcome to Belgraves, deemed by its owners to be “a luxury hotel for those who know that downtime requires as much due diligence as uptime”. We quite agree. It aims to create a fusion between British traditionalism and New York’s nonchalance and certainly brings a stylish, contemporary

Of the art on display Caroline Jane Harris’ paper-cut pieces are beautifully intricate feel to this elegant, stately area of London.

Formerly the Sheraton Belgravia Hotel, Belgraves was given a completely modern and rather bohemian makeover courtesy of British designer Tara Bernerd.

The natural grey tones and cool marble bathrooms of this 85-room hotel are juxtaposed with rich, colourful work by artists such as Mario Testino and Tracey Emin.

You’ll notice immediately that art is an integral feature of the 12th Thompson hotel and in fact, its pieces are usually changed twice a year. The most recent instalment happened just a couple of months ago and features both established and up-and-coming artists. Particularly striking are Emma Kennaway’s horse paintings, Caroline Jane Harris’ beautifully intricate paper-cutting and Rado Kirov’s 3D sculptural pieces of metal art.

After a long day of shopping in Knightsbridge or exploring the local area, we’d suggest relaxing in the oasis of the hotel’s intimate library bar or on the outdoor cigar terrace with its green wall of flowers, sipping

cocktail concoctions with names like the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club or Vesper (your guess as to the ingredients is as good as ours). If you’re in the mood for something more filling, sink into a cosy window banquette (perfect for people-watching) in the Pont Street restaurant, designed by Philippe Starck and which serves seafood dishes by celebrated chef Sophie Michell. The food on her menu is certainly hearty but not overbearing.

Seafood is indeed a year-round highlight but over Thanksgiving weekend last year, a special three-course menu featured turkey with chesnut stuffing, sweet potatoes with caramelised marshmallow, and a side of mac ’n’ cheese – Thanksgiving with a British twist. We hope to enjoy a similar American feast in November.

The Belgraves Hotel, 20 Chesham Place, SW1X 020 3189 4800; thompsonhotels.com

TRAVEL

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Charm of the

Irish

A rich blend of culture, history and soul food, Ireland’s capital city is a melting pot of colours and traditions. Jenny Barrett spends a weekend in Dublin and succumbs to its irresistible charm

TRAVEL

n celebration of our anniversary, my partner and I decided to treat ourselves to a weekend away in Europe. The usual romantic suspects came to mind: Parisian picnics and strolls along the Seine; an afternoon spent in a Venetian gondola; dinner at dusk in a charming Roman trattoria. Dublin certainly wasn’t the first city that came to mind.

But Alex and I were keen to try something fun and a little out of the ordinary. We’d never been to Ireland, despite its proximity (and my Irish heritage), and we had heard great things about Dublin from Irish friends at home. With regular flights from London taking only a little more than an hour, we agreed to whisk ourselves away to the land of ‘a thousand welcomes’.

And welcoming it is. We all know that capital cities can be fast-paced and unforgiving to a disorientated traveller puzzling over a guidebook but Dublin takes our breath away. From the moment we board our outbound Aer Lingus flight until we arrive back in London a few days later, our trip is animated with friendly faces and authentic gestures of hospitality. Every Guinness we order (which amounts to a fair few) comes with an anecdote, limerick or invitation to an after-hours ‘trad’ music dance party. There really is such a thing as the Irish charm and it resonates throughout our stay.

Our base for this weekend break is The Merrion, located in Dublin’s grand Georgian quarter and comprising four beautifully restored Georgian townhouses. As soon as we enter the front hall, with grand white pillars and a sweeping curved stairway, we are taken back to the splendour of the 18th century. We wander through the ground floor of the main house, spread across the four adjacent houses, where each room is filled with stunning antique furniture, roaring fireplaces and spectacular chandeliers, hanging from magnificently high ceilings. Our bedroom is also a treasure trove of antiques and original art, but it’s not over-cluttered; rather, it’s bright and elegant in its simplicity.

This is the romance we were after; I feel like I’ve stepped onto the set of a period drama and immediately want to take a turn about the lawn. Alex obliges and we head outside for an afternoon stroll. The beautiful half-acre gardens are fragrant and lush, complete with a Georgian garden hedge maze. This emerald sanctuary, with a fountain pool trickling through the centre, is the perfect setting for an al fresco lunch or evening aperitif away from the bustling city centre. Encircling the gardens is the Garden Wing of The Merrion; its mid-century contemporary design provides quite a contrast to the main house. On the lower floors of the Garden Wing you’ll find a gym, beauty salon, spa, large pool and steam room.

The Merrion avoids being stuffy, managing to combine classic refinement with a contemporary flair.

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We discover a number of quirks, such as the renowned afternoon tea; far more than a traditional sandwich and cake affair, the Art Tea celebrates The Merrion’s private original art collection, which happens to be the largest in Ireland. Each week, several paintings are selected and recreated in edible form

by The Merrion’s pastry chef Paul Kelly. As a judge on The Great Irish Bake Off, you can expect Kelly’s sweet creations to be second to none.

And if it is impeccable cuisine you are after, The Merrion has plenty more to offer. It is home to Ireland’s only two-star Michelin restaurant, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, which is fully deserving of its stars and acclaim, serving a rainbow selection of inventive dishes.

The hotel’s main restaurant, The Cellar, recently won the title of Ireland’s Best Hotel Restaurant and it is here we spend Friday night, deep in the hotel’s old 18th century wine vaults. With exposed bricks and striking arched ceilings, The Cellar is warm and its manager, Damian Corr, could not be more welcoming or knowledgeable, helping us to pair our courses with The Cellar’s impressive selection of wine. To start, I opt for the seared Irish king scallops with pink grapefruit and lemon salt, followed by the Kilmore Quay Black sole. The fish is wonderfully fresh, punctuated by the accompaniment of fresh seasonal vegetables and a glass of L’Abeille de Fieuzal. I finish with a pineapple soufflé, another delightful creation by Paul Kelly. The Cellar harnesses the rich traditional Irish palate of high quality meat, fresh seafood, and seasonal organic produce, all served in a light, sophisticated and modern style.

Following dinner, we head for a nightcap at The Merrion’s intimate Bar No.23 (open to guests 24 hours

TRAVEL

a day). Alex enjoys a glass of traditional Irish Red Breast while I sip a gin cocktail from an antique silver teapot. No whisky is complete without a cigar and Alex has stocked up on unusual varieties from The Decent Cigar Emporium on Grafton Street. If you’re a cigar connoisseur, take time to visit the Emporium where you can sip an espresso whilst perusing one of the largest selections in Europe.

After enjoying the hotel’s traditional Irish breakfast, we spend the following day strolling around the city. There is plenty to see, with castles, museums and galleries all in close proximity to The Merrion.

Dublin is a UNESCO City of Literature and the birthplace of literary greats including James Joyce, W.B Yeats, Oscar Wilde and Jonathan Swift. So in this spirit, we visit The Book of Kells at the beautiful Trinity College.

Written by Irish Monks in 800 AD, this illuminated manuscript contains four Latin gospels and is one of the most important religious texts in the world. Trinity Campus itself is worth a visit but go early; the queues can become quite long in the afternoon.

Our short break ends in style with dinner at Chapter One in John Jameson’s former home and the Dublin’s Writer’s Museum. It simply cannot be faulted.

Michelin-starred head chef Ross Lewis has created an innovative menu, based around the landscapes and seasons of Ireland. The quality of the food is evident, sourced from artisan and specialist organic suppliers from around Ireland (who are all listed on the menu).

Lewis’ Celtic cuisine is executed with skill; the Atlantic Crab salad with cucumber jelly is sensational, as is the pig’s tail stuffed with bacon and lobster. Our main courses are hearty but with delicacy of flavour; I devour the roast salt marsh duck breast with lemon purée, caramelised bonito sesame seeds and buttered spinach whilst Alex does the same with a rump of Lough Erne lamb with leeks.

Like Dublin itself, what makes Chapter One stand out most are the people and I can see why it recently won the Irish award for Best Restaurant Service. Martin Corbett, the proprietor and Maitre d’ extroadinaire (who is also something of a legend) welcomes us with true Irish hospitality and has us laughing almost immediately while Declan the manager and sommelier

Ed look after us throughout the evening. Not only is the service fantastic, but it is also friendly, and like the food, it reflects the very best of Ireland. We may not have opted for the sunniest of climes but we leave Dublin thoroughly warmed by its Irish charm.

Stays at The Merrion, Dublin from £220 per room per night based on two sharing with a full Irish breakfast +353 1 603 0600 / info@merrionhotel.com merrionhotel.com

The Black Stuff Guinness is synonymous with Ireland.

Arthur Guinness founded his stout brewery at St James’s Gate, Dublin in 1759, signing a 9,000year lease, which remains framed at The Guinness Storehouse. More than 250 years later, Guinness is loved the world over, with more than 10 million glasses sold every day.

We were on a mission to find the best pint of Guinness in Dublin. Ask any local where to find it and you will receive an unequivocal recommendation. We’re told to avoid the Temple Bar area, a favoured haunt for lively stag and hen parties at weekends. Off the beaten track, many of the city’s pubs are authentic Victorian establishments, decked out with original wood panelling, bar booths and ‘snugs’.

Based on some local recommendations, here are a few of our Dublin favourites: • Bowe’s, 31 Fleet Street: For the best pint of Guinness in town • The Stag’s Head, 1 Dame Court: For hearty cuisine, Trad Irish music and ‘craic’ • The Long Hall, 51 S Great George’s Street: For the ornate Victorian decor and the impressive selection of whiskies.

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MOTORING

Matthew Carter inspects the technology-laden Mercedes SL Sport for its sporting credentials, finding it peerless as a top-down cruiser with an impressive new engine

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hen I was younger (so much younger than today), the wealthy grandfather of a school friend drove a two-seater Mercedes sports car. It was what I now know to be a ‘Pagoda Roof’ SL 230, so-named after the concave line of its detachable hardtop. I really didn’t get it. Here was an old fart (probably only in his late 50s at that stage but ancient to me) and he was driving around in a sports car. Why? Old people never go above 40mph; this was a criminal waste of a convertible as far as I was concerned.

Ah, the innocence of youth. With age comes experience and now, more years later than I care to reveal, I realise how wrong I was. The M-B SL was never a sports car, despite what Merc would have us believe.

It was a boulevardier, a softly-sprung, slightly sporting cruiser that might well have been designed with my mate’s granddad in mind; the perfect car for someone well-off and newly retired but anxious to recapture his youth before it’s too late.

And now Mercedes has launched the latest version of its top-of-the-range two-seater. It calls the car the SL 400 AMG Sport but it’s not much more adrenaline-fuelled than an egg and spoon race. It is, however, the perfect machine for someone of a certain age, if you know what I mean. The current SL has been around for three years now and certainly ticks a few boxes. It’s a modern lightweight design, made mainly from aluminium, with dramatically aggressive lines. It is comfortable, crammed full of technical features and reasonably quick. Actually, I’m being disingenuous. The SL range covers a wide spectrum and the SL 65 AMG, powered by a 6-litre V12 engine pumping out 630hp, is a rocket ship. But then it does cost £171k. The altogether more humble SL 400 makes do with 333hp and costs a mere £72,500; that’s what we are talking about here.

As the new entry model to the range, the SL 400 replaces the SL 350. The principal (in fact, virtually the

only) change can be found under the bonnet. Out goes the 350’s 3.5-litre V6 and in comes a new highly efficient bi-turbo V6 producing more power and torque to give better performance, along with improved economy and emissions. But despite the SL 400’s badge, this new engine displaces only 3.0- not 4.0-litres; yet another example of modern technology meaning less is more.

Despite losing half a litre, the new lightweight engine produces 27hp more than the older unit, and also enjoys a hefty 110Nm increase in torque to 480Nm. Only reasonably quick? In truth, it’s more than quick enough for modern traffic conditions. The top speed is limited to 155mph, as expected, and while it will sprint to 60mph from rest in around five seconds, it never really feels that fast. Perhaps that’s down to the soft ride, the lack of urgency from the seven-speed auto ‘box (sounds a lot of gears, but M-B now has a nine-speed auto so in

The SL 400’s engine is yet another example of modern technology meaning less is more many ways this is old-tech) and even the size of the seats which seem to have been designed to accommodate the, er, ‘fuller’ figure of a successful German businessman.

It’s all about creature comforts, about the myriad gizmos available as standard or optionally and the clever tech that keeps the SL on the straight and narrow.

Let’s deal with the latter first. The SL has a plethora of electronic traction aids along with buttons to press to stiffen the suspension, sharpen the steering and quicken the gearshifts. There are even controls that once activated, pull in the sides of the seats to give you a gentle squeeze, providing a modicum of extra lateral support under cornering. Put them all together and what you’ve got is undoubtedly safe and secure. However, it’s also rather uninvolving; given the choice between an SL and a Porsche 911 convertible, drivers who prefer a

MOTORING

little more excitement may well head for the second. Me? Unless I can find an unmolested classic Pagoda SL at an affordable price, I’ll head for the Porsche if you don’t mind.

But, as alluded to earlier, this is not an out-and-out sports car but a cruiser and the typical SL owner wouldn’t go anywhere near a Porsche. Instead he or she will revel in the space and comfort on offer and in all those clever Merc gizmos. The principal one, of course, is the folding metal hardtop. With the roof in place the boot is vast but even when the driver fancies a spot of wind in the toupee motoring and the hardtop is neatly folded away in the boot there’s ample space for a couple of overnight bags. If you need to open the boot when your hands are full you can opt for a ‘Comfort Package’ that allows you to open or close the lid simply by waggling your foot under the bumper.

The roof is a work of art. Lighter than ever, it takes just 20 seconds to raise or lower and has a panoramic clear glass panel to give the sensation of driving roof down no matter what the weather. There’s the option for what some clever marketing fellow decided should be called Magic Sky Control, which tints the panel at the touch of yet another button to give protection from glare. You can order solar-reflective leather, which stays cool in the sun, and Airscarf, which incorporates vents in the top of the seats to blow hot air around your neck so you can cruise topless at night. And if you go the whole hog, you can even specify seats that give you a full Thai massage as you drive.

This sophistication is matched by the interior that simply oozes class. Perhaps not quite as modern as the latest batch of Mercs – the Command satellite navigation screen is positively mean in size – the SL is nonetheless a classy place to be. Standard equipment is relatively generous and includes intelligent lighting, Magic Vision Control (AKA wipers with dozens of washer jets!) and a multi-function sports steering wheel. As a nod to the ‘AMG Sport’ element of its name, you get a few AMG bolt-

on bits such as 19-inch alloy wheels, side skirts, front and rear aprons and a rear spoiler. Oh, and I mustn’t forget that ultimate go-faster extra, AMG floor mats.

But in some ways this attempt to emphasise the SL’s sporting credentials jars. The car is peerless as a cruiser and the impressive new engine plays a big part in this, not so much for its outright performance but for its smoothness and its efficiency. This car will be most at home wafting around the South of France with the top down rather than hooning around a racetrack.

IN BRIEF Car: Mercedes-Benz SL 400 AMG Sport Price: £72,500 Engine: 2,996, V6-cylinder biturbo petrol Power: 333 hp Performance: 155 mph max, 0-62 mph in 5.2 seconds Drive: Rear-wheel drive, seven-speed automatic

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PROMOTION

Look to the East Local residents will not need to venture far to feed their hunger thanks to new Asian fusion restaurant Old Tree Asian Spice which has recently opened its doors at the Grosvenor Waterside development Old Tree first opened a bakery and restaurant in the summer of 2010 in London’s north-western suburb of Golders Green but it has always been an all-day dining establishment; with its own bakery on site, fresh Taiwanese pastries and baked goods greeted early morning customers daily. By August 2013, the founders of Old Tree opened their second restaurant, Old Tree Daiwan Bee, in Piccadilly, a lively café serving Taiwanese style street food such as Gua Bao (pork belly buns), beef noodle soup and the ever-popular bubble pearl teas.

Founders Ron Yap and Margaret Lin, who originated from Taiwan and Malaysia and have lived in London for more than 20 years, wanted to bring the taste of Asia to the residents of London in a place where one could find a combination of Japanese,

Grilled black cod is currently one of the most popular dishes, creamy and delicately flavoured Thai, Taiwanese, Cantonese and Malaysian cuisine all under one roof. It was of utmost importance to them to balance elements of Asian cuisine with a modern Western twist in order not to disappoint even the most discerning of palates.

From the dinner menu, grilled black cod is currently one of their most popular dishes, creamy, lightly grilled and delicately flavoured with homemade miso paste. Crispy duck glazed in Old Tree’s own plum sauce is exceptionally tasty and a variety of barbeque skewers, both meat and vegetarian, will satisfy even the little ones. For the less adventurous, a bowl of beef noodle soup or dumplings wouldn’t be a disappointment.

The in-house cocktail designer has come up with a menu of exciting and exotic concoctions. Utilising Asian spices in sangria is definitely a brave twist so perhaps one could begin a culinary adventure with a glass of Dragon Eye, a cocktail made with homemade longan syrup, fresh ginger and gin. Desserts are equally

balanced with Asian and Western favourites; try banana fritters with homemade coconut ice cream, apple pie à la mode, Taiwanese herbal jelly (you’ll either love it or hate it) or a slice of cake from a wide selection. Whole cakes can be made to order too.

Ice creams are exclusively made for Old Tree Asian Spice by Fat Girl Ice Cream, a local artisan ice creamery which makes small batches using only natural and organic ingredients. No additives, artificial flavourings or preservatives are used. Chocolate lovers may be delighted with the dark chocolate ice cream, with Valrhona Cacao as its star ingredient. Other Asian flavours include mango, lychee, taro and Malaysian durian, which is certainly the most adventurous.

Old Tree Asian Spice Unit A2 Moore House Grosvenor Waterside Gatliff Road, SW1W 8QN For reservations please call 020 7730 1180

& DINING

DRINKING

BY tabithah rahman

Say No Moor Hawksmoor Knightsbridge marks the British steakhouse group’s fifth opening in the space of eight years, thus proving it has become a force to be reckoned with on the London restaurant scene. Similar to the Air Street outpost, designers Macaulay Sinclair have slightly gone against the more masculine, pared-down Hawksmoor aesthetic catering to City boys and brought a touch of finesse and refinement, no doubt in order to fit in with this area’s sophisticated clientele.

The restaurant is located in a cavernous basement which has been given an elegant Art Deco finish, incorporating brass lamps, polished wood veneer and marble finishes. The bar is separated from the main restaurant and provides a welcoming watering hole where you can enjoy its famed cocktails, such as the classic Champagne Charlie or the signature Hawksmoor Collins, before heading into dinner.

The atmosphere in the main restaurant was lively and buzzy, made even more so by our charismatic waiter who shared a joke with me and my guest as we sat down to eat. Group chef Richard Turner has included all the quintessential favourites, from fist-pumping steaks to mouth-watering sides, but the famed burgers have been replaced with oysters and ethically farmed Finnish caviar.

Turner has once again partnered with seafood expert Mitch Tonks (as at Air Street) to bring an Asian-inspired element to the table. Highlights included raw sea bass, which was fresh and sharp thanks to the addition of chili and ginger, and steamed lobster, which was superb and accompanied with a cholesterol-inducing dollop of whipped butter.

One is spoilt for choice when it comes to the steaks but you can’t go wrong with the Chateaubriand. Another wonderful thing about Hawksmoor which sets it apart from some other steak restaurants is that when you ask for medium rare, your steak actually comes medium rare. Arriving perfectly cooked, the only downside was, of course, the price; coming in at £13 for 100g, I’ll let you do the maths. Alternatively, choose a slightly less expensive cut which still promises to be delicious.

While our waiter was right to suggest erring on the side of caution when it came to ordering sides, we erred too much and only chose two – the triple-cooked chips and creamed spinach – when I could probably have managed three (there’s no point worrying about your figure at this point). Our meal was paired with a bottle of the Ramón Bilbao Limited Edition Rioja 2011 at £40 which was excellent (the extensive wine list begins at a very reasonable £22 a bottle). Finally, the end to a perfect meal arrived in the form of a scrumptious peanut butter shortbread with salted caramel ice-cream that is certain to satisfy all schoolboy cravings. Need I say more? Olivia Sharpe Hawksmoor Knightsbridge, 3 Yeoman’s Row, SW3 020 7590 9290; thehawksmoor.com

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& DINING

DRINKING All Star Line-Up

If you’re a fan of Italian food, we’d suggest you read this (quickly) and pick up the phone because from September until January 2015 only, you can enjoy Italy’s finest gastronomic creations right here in London. Harrods has invited five of the country’s best restaurants, with 13 Michelin stars between them, to take up residency for one month. Each chef has created a four-course menu of signature dishes – diners can choose to have these paired with Italian wines and beers – and the impressive line-up begins with Carlo Cracco’s cosmopolitan Ristorante Cracco.

We loved the inventive version of an insalate caprese and the quirky, more-ish marinated egg yolk dish, as well as the delightfully pretty, beetroot-powder-sprinkled langoustine risotto. Following Cracco’s stint will be Da Vittorio, Torre del Saracino, Enoteca Pinchiorri and Piazza Duomo. Book now or prepare to be disappointed.

Stelle di Stelle, Lower Ground Floor, Harrods Menus will be priced at £110 for lunch and £160 for dinner (£130 and £180 respectively, with matching drinks) To book, call 020 7893 8700. Table requests can be emailed to stelle.di.stelle@harrods.com when the booking line is closed

W11

What’s New?

Notting Hill plays host to many pop-ups throughout the year but even more so this month with the launch of New Tom’s, the latest string to restaurateur Tom Conran’s bow. The small venue is stylishly decked out with a hotch-potch of old and new; hungry customers are seated in 1930s Parisian metro booths and surrounded by colourful Banksy prints. The service is pleasant and informal while the food is served up with acute precision by chef Tom Straker, trained by Heston Blementhal. Highlights include the subtle Portland crab, washed down with a sweet Gojipolitan cocktail; the rich chicken leg terrine, which we found just beat the pork belly in the taste stakes; and we’d suggest bringing your meal to a satisfying end with a few decadently sweet mouthfuls of chocolate crack dessert.

Shake It Up London Cocktail Week returns this month for its fifth and most explosive year yet. Join the cocktail club elite by obtaining the much sought-after wristband that will open doors to the most exclusive venues and parties scattered across the capital, and indulge in the nostalgia of summer nights past and of sipping on sweet strawberry daiquiris and midnight margaritas. With tasting sessions and masterclasses on offer, collect your wristband from one of many cocktail clubs across London including the Tanqueray Hub at the Hixter Bar, and experiment with a variety of cocktails or even create your own bespoke blend. Whether you prefer them shaken or stirred, there’s a cocktail to suit every mood.

London Cocktail Week, 6-12 October londoncocktailweek.com

New Tom’s is open Wednesday – Sunday until March 2015 226 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RH; newtoms.co.uk

SW3

Sweet Like Chocolate Alexeeva & Jones has proven itself to be quite the connoisseur when it comes to the craft of chocolate, hand-making its selection of magnificent artisan chocolates by infusing them with the richest flavours found across the world. Whether it’s pink champagne or sticky salted caramel, a single bite into the hollow shell of a praline truffle will release a silky velvet centre. Who doesn’t love that indulgent moment?

We certainly do and we particularly like the gift boxes filled with an assortment of the sweet treats. The mini chocolate factory will also play host to an evening with artisan Bertil Akesson, founder of Akesson’s, in celebration of Chocolate Week as he explores the philosophy and process of the craft from bean to bar.

Born to be Wild

Wild and sustainable food is the name of the game at new King’s Road restaurant Rabbit, set up by the brothers behind popular Notting Hill restaurant, The Shed. Serving up nose-to-tail dishes made from farmreared and foraged produce, Rabbit brings the English countryside to the heart of London. Most notably on the menu is of course, the restaurant’s namesake, rabbit, and diners can expect dishes such as rabbit stone bake and rabbit ragu as well as other rural treats like wild wood pigeon saltimbocca and violet pickled quail’s egg. Even the cocktails possess an earthy flavour with the inclusion of ingredients like crab apple and dandelion flower. Dine here and experience the wilder side of British cooking.

Rabbit, 172 King’s Road, SW3 4UP rabbit-restaurant.com

Bertil Akesson: Bean-to-Bar, 16 October Alexeeva & Jones, 297 Westbourne Grove, W11 alexeevajones.com

Little Box of Secrets Golden Oldie The Duke of Clarence pub exudes a warm and homely feel, perfect for a quick spot of lunch or unwinding during an evening meal after work. On its seasonal menu, dishes range from pub lunch classics such as fish and chips to more sophisticated offerings including chargrilled beef onglet steak. For starters, we recommend the grilled halloumi salad on a bed of roasted vegetables and bulgar wheat; it’s enough for two to share. Heralded as the favourite among the locals, the succulent Geronimo beef burger is indeed worthy of the hype, accompanied by a selection of sweet and savoury garnishes and skinny fries. To wash the meal down, a well-rounded selection of fine wines and ales are available, including the Rogers & Rufus Rosé, which is brewed especially for the Geronimo Inn group. One is spoilt for choice when it comes to dessert but if you want a sweet treat there’s nothing better than the velvet Dulce de leche and peanut butter ice cream alongside a refreshing peach, apple and raspberry crumble.

The Duke of Clarence, 148 Old Brompton Road, SW5 geronimo-inns.co.uk/london-the-duke-of-clarence

Renowned chocolatier Maison Pierre Marcolini and fashion designer Olympia Le-Tan have fused their artistic talents to create two limited edition chocolate boxes. The design is inspired by Le-Tan’s muchloved feminine handbags and clutches, embellished with pouty red lips, fluttering eyes and lashes, and a cheeky French inscription, while inside, the chocolates reflect Marcolini’s culinary genius. He is well-known for sourcing the best ingredients from around the world, so choose from a selection of his chocolates handpicked by Le-Tan or take matters into your own hands; the box can hold a maximum of 30 chocolates or a dozen macaroons. Although we can hardly be expected to choose between the two, surely?

Boxes from £27, available at Selfridges / marcolini.com

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Photography: Peter Kelleher Carmen Dell’Orefice and Yasmin Le Bon

Kim Hersov

John Swannell and Yasmin Le Bon

Sarah Emburey, guest, Dee Breen and Susanna Brown

Martin Roth and Carmen Dell’Orefice

Amber and Yasmin Le Bon

Katie Readman and Alice Naylor-Leyland

Martha Ward and guest

Cathleen Naundorf and guest

Lady Wolfson

Nicky Haslam

David Downton and Amber Le Bon

Pippa Vosper and guest

Neil Pearson

Dan Macmillan and guest

london living Photography: Dave Benett

Overdrive WHAT: Belstaff by Goodwood Collection launch party WHEN: 2 September WHERE: Belstaff House, New Bond Street WHO: Jamie Campbell Bower, Max Chilton, James Norton, Marc Quinn, Mark Hix, The Earl of March and Kinrara, Theo and Louise Fennell, Nicky Haslam and Eric Fellner WHY: Like a scene out of The Fast and The Furious, race cars and leather jackets filled Belstaff’s flagship as the coolest brand on the block launched its new collection of racing-inspired jackets; Belstaff by Goodwood. Guests arrived at the event in vintage cars courtesy of the Classic Car Club and were given a brief introduction to the collection – the result of a partnership between two quintessential British institutions – by Max Chilton and the Earl of March and Kinrara, followed by a Q&A with racing commentator Toby Moody. Jamie Campbell Bower and James Norton looked effortlessly cool, sporting pieces from the range, and were spotted enjoying the endless supply of canapés, which included chicken liver parfait, beef Wellington and quail eggs, not to mention copious amounts of champagne.

Camilla Rutherford

Max Chilton and guest

Robert Konjic

Behind the Lens WHAT: Horst: Photographer of Style opening party WHEN: 3 September WHERE: The Victoria and Albert Museum WHO Yasmin Le Bon, David Downton, Nicky Haslam, Miles Aldridge, Amber Le Bon, Saffron Aldridge, Becky Tong, Ivan Massow, Patrick Cox and Alice Naylor-Leyland WHY: The Victoria and Albert Museum saw the opening of its latest and much talked-about exhibition, Horst: Photographer of Style and who better to open it than the photographer’s muse and close friend Carmen Dell’Orefice? Arriving in the most elegant fashion in a convoy of classic vehicles, guests from Yasmin Le Bon to Nicky Haslam sauntered through the gallery to view Horst P. Horst’s most famous haute couture photography, while also enjoying an array of canapés, including crispy five-spiced duck, beef carpaccio, martini-compressed tomatoes and tiny portions of beef Wellington.

The Earl of March and Kinrara, and Gavin Haig

Mark Hix

Jamie Campbell Bower, Robert Konjic and James Norton

Elizabeth Hurley

James Blunt and guests

Pixie Lott

Sealed with a Kiss WHAT: Elton John’s AIDS Foundation end of summer party WHEN: 4 September WHERE: Woodside Estate, Berkshire WHO: Sir Ian McKellen, David Gandy, Ellie Goulding, David Walliams, Lara Stone, Ben de Lisi and Tom Odell WHY: Guests gathered in the gardens of Sir Elton John’s Woodside residence on a Thursday night for an enchanted woodland-themed charity dinner. Held in a marquee lit with sparkling chandeliers, the event aimed to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Grey Goose La Nuit des Étoiles continued to support the charity, providing signature cocktails, such as Le Fizz and bespoke martinis throughout the night as well as launching its new Night Vision bottle. Although Gary Barlow and James Blunt took to the stage to show their support, it was Elizabeth Hurley who succeeded in raising the most (£50,000) by offering a kiss to the highest bidder, leaving lucky guest Julian Bharti completely smitten. Whoever said money doesn’t buy you love?

Sir Elton John and David Furnish

DJ Fatboy Slim

Sir Ian McKellen

Jimmy Carr and Karoline Copping

Photography: Richard Young

123

Marissa Montgomery and Oliver Proudlock

Tortie Willis and Grace McGovern

Chelsy Davy and Maddie Chesterton Petra Palumbo, Davina Harbord and Katie Readman

Olivia Callaghan and Viscount Julian Erleigh

Super Bass WHAT: Baar & Bass store launch party WHEN: 9 September WHERE: 336 King’s Road WHO: Chelsy Davy, Donna Ida, Oliver Proudlock, Katie Readman, Alice Naylor-Leyland and Davina Harbord WHY: While it may have been a Tuesday night, this didn’t stop half of Chelsea stopping by the King’s Road’s newest boutique, Baar & Bass, to congratulate its owner Maddie Chesterton with a celebratory glass (or two) of champagne on the night of her launch party. With drinks flowing and music by Lana Palumbo, it wasn’t long before the boutique was filled with recognisable faces, including Made in Chelsea’s Oliver Proudlock, Donna Air and Chelsy Davy, many of whom could be seen admiring the rails of clothes and home accessories on display. Even those who managed to resist making a purchase didn’t leave empty-handed, as goodie bags were generously handed out to guests at the end of the night.

The Flying Scotsman

Tansy Aspinal and Donna Air

WHAT: 9th Annual Scottish Fashion Awards WHEN: 1 September WHERE: 8 Northumberland Avenue WHO: Dame Vivienne Westwood, David Gandy, Christopher Kane, Holly Fulton, Pixie Lott, Oliver Cheshire, Lilah Parsons, Sam McKnight and Henry Holland WHY: Hailed as the ‘Oscars of Scottish Fashion’, designers and celebrities gathered for a glorious black-tie gala as they paid homage to Scotland’s ongoing contributions to the fashion industry. Dame Vivienne Westwood was recognised for her consistent use of Scottish textiles, while Scottish-born Christopher Kane was lauded for his celebrated collections. Traditional Scottish dishes comprised the sumptuous banquet, from Highland beef and neeps and tatties to sweet relishes of raspberry cranachan and strawberry shortbread. Mars Bar shots were then happily exchanged for a wee dram of whisky, as guests partied until the early hours of the morning to the sounds of DJ duo Beatnik.

Casino Royale WHAT: European Luxury Lifestyle Awards WHEN: 29 August WHERE: The Langham Hotel, Portland Place WHY: From poker chips to playing cards, the European Luxury Lifestyle Awards event dazzled guests with its Casino Royale-esque night of extravagance. Hosted at The Langham Hotel, it welcomed European brands from all corners of the luxury industry, including boutique hotels, five-star spas, jewellery and fashion emporiums, many of whom were awarded a Golden Crown (courtesy of jeweller Faraone Mennella) on the night in recognition of their contributions to the sector. Gentlemen channelled the suave sophistication of James Bond by dressing in black tie, while ladies made sure they didn’t let the side down in beautiful floor-length gowns. A decadent gala dinner, followed by entertainment from jazz band Ronnie Scott Rejects, completed the glamorous evening.

london living Photography: Scottish Fashion Awards Lucy Watson

Simone Rocha

Christopher Kane

Lilah Parsons and Arielle Free

Pixie Lott and Laura Whitmore

Tessa Hartmann, Jean Johansson, Jane Given and Nesta McGregor

Tali Lennox

Tallia Storm

Leah Weller, Tali Lennox and Natt Weller

Hayley Scanlan

Daisy Lewis, David Gandy and Brix Smith-Start

Amy Macdonald

Nina Nesbitt and Pixie Lott

Taylor Fergusson, Seb Morris and Anne Fergusson

Oliver Cheshire and Pixie Lott

125

The Concierge What is it you require, sir? How may I help, madam? The Concierge is here to help with every need, whim or wish, however great or small Apparel

Katharine Pooley

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Jeeves of Belgravia 123 Fulham Road, SW3 6RT 020 7589 9229 jeevesofbelgravia.co.uk

Sloane Tailors & Dry Cleaners 69 Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8DA 020 7824 8644 sloanetailorsanddrycleaners.co.uk

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Bourbon Hanby 151 Sydney Street, SW3 6NT 020 7352 2106 bourbonhanby.com

Hawkes and Son 50-52 Walton Street, SW3 1RB 020 7589 2523 hawkesandson.com Watch Repair

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202 Kensington Park Road W11 1NR, 020 7792 9022 rachelashwellshabbychiccouture.com

Cadogan Street Dental Office

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Sub-Zero & Wolf

Chelsea Consulting Rooms

251 Brompton Rd, SW3 2EP 0845 250 0010 subzero-wolf.co.uk

2 Lower Sloane Street, SW1W 8BJ 020 7763 9100 chelseaconsultingrooms.com

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Medicare Français

Electric House

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Cartier 143-144 Sloane Street, SW1X 9BL 020 7312 6930 cartier.co.uk

The Watch Gallery 129 Fulham Road, SW3 6RT 020 7952 2731 thewatchgallery.co.uk Vintage Watch Sellers

For the Home

191 Portobello Road, W11 2ED 020 7908 9696 electrichouse.com

Gaucho 3 Harrington Gardens, SW7 4JJ 020 7370 4999 medicare-francais.co.uk

Hari’s

89 Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DX 020 7584 9901 gauchorestaurants.co.uk

The Ledbury Restaurant Smile Style Dental Care

305 Brompton Road SW3 2DY 020 7581 5211 harissalon.com

146 Holland Park Avenue, W11 4UE 020 7727 5810 smilestyledental.co.uk

Light Hair Studio

42 The Dental Practice

293 Westbourne Grove W11 2QA 020 7792 0100 lighthairstudio.com

42 Pembridge Road, W11 3HN 020 7229 5542 42thedentalpractice.com

127 Ledbury Road, W11 2AQ 020 7792 9090 theledbury.com

The Lonsdale

Watches of Knightsbridge 64 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7JF 020 7590 3034 watchesofknightsbridge.com

47 Cadogan Street, SW3 2QJ 020 7581 0811

The Mitre The Portobello Clinic

Richard Ward 82 Duke of York Square SW3 4LY 020 7730 1222 richardward.com

FurniturE, SOFT furnishings

12 Raddington Road, W10 5TG 020 8962 0635 portobelloclinic.com

Haute Cuisine Dining

& APPLICANCES

Beauty Salons & Spas

Hutch Interiors

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61 Golborne Road, W10 5NR 020 3659 4320 hutchinteriors.com

69a King’s Road, SW3 4NX 020 7351 0911 thechelseadayspa.co.uk

48 Lonsdale Road, W11 2DE 020 7727 4080 thelonsdale.co.uk

40 Holland Park Avenue, W11 3QY 020 7727 6332 themitrew11.co.uk

One Kensington 1 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP 020 7795 6533 one-kensington.com

Bar Boulud Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA 020 7201 3899 barboulud.com

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay 68 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HP 020 7352 4441 gordonramsay.com

CONCIERGE

Scalini 1-3 Walton Street, SW3 2JD 020 7225 2301 scalinionline.com

Umami 100 Cromwell Road, SW7 4ER 020 7341 2320 umamilondon.co.uk Delicatessens

La Bottega 14 Gloucester Road SW7 4RB 020 7581 6980 labottega.co.uk

Ottolenghi Delicatessen 63 Ledbury Road W11 2AD 020 7727 1121 ottolenghi.co.uk

Members Clubs

Childcare

Flowers

Chelsea Arts Club 143 Old Church Street SW3 6EB 020 7376 3311 chelseaartsclub.com

Kensington Nannies 3 Horton Place, Kensington High Street, W8 4LZ 020 7937 2333 kensington-nannies.co.uk

222 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RH 020 7727 3095 wildatheart.com

The Sloane Club

cleaners

specialist services

Hillside Clothes Care

BUILDER

Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8BS 020 7730 9131 sloaneclub.co.uk

Business Affairs computer & technology help

Infusion Haberdashery and Dry Cleaners

Richard Darsa

3 Chepstow Road, W2 5BL 020 7243 8735 infusion-haberdashery.co.uk

78 Cadogan Place SW1X 9RP 07768 200 551 richard@darsa.net Couriers

Partridges 2-5 Duke of York Square SW3 4LY 020 7730 7102 partridges.co.uk

15 Elgin Mews W11 1PU 020 6305 8941 runners4u.com

Selena Courier Service 59 Ledbury Road, W11 2AA 020 7727 5030 meltchocolates.com

27 Eardley Crescent SW5 9JS 020 7912 0062 selenacourier.co.uk

William Curley

Luxury Car Services

198 Ebury Street, SW1W 8UN 020 7730 5522 williamcurley.co.uk

Avolus Luxury Transport

Drinking

Boujis 43 Thurloe Street, SW7 2LQ 020 7584 2000 boujis.com

38 Lombard Road SW11 3RP 020 7978 6506 avolus.com

lifestyle services london lifestyle service

223 Notting Hill Gate, Suite 221 W11 3JE; 020 7221 2153 nottinghillcleaning.com

The Cadogan Arms

07547 716076 madogtraining@gmail.com madogtrainingandservices.co.uk PICTURE FRAMER

Frame Set & Match St. Anne’s Housekeeping 19 Bolsover Street, W1W 5NA 020 3397 7495 stanneshousekeeping.com

111 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3LE 020 7589 7635 sk@framesetandmatch.com psychotherapist

Pets

Suzanne Thomas Canine Culture Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue, W10 4JL 079 4952 3710 canineculture.co.uk

Purple Bone 95 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ 020 7985 0903 purplebone.com

Little Luxuries Premium Cigars

71 Walton Street SW3 2HT 020 7989 9890 whitecirclecollection.com

dog training

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White Circle Collection 298 King’s Road, SW3 5UG 020 7352 6500 thecadoganarmschelsea.com

William Gaze Ltd Basement, Loft & Extension Specialist 28 Imperial Square 020 7078 8874 williamgazeltd.com

M.A. Dog Training and Services Notting Hill Cleaning

Runners 4 U Couriers

Chocolatiers

Melt Chocolates

118 Kensington Park Rd, W11 2PW 020 7243 6900 hillsidedryclean.co.uk

Nikki Tibbles Wild at Heart

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HOMES showcasing the

finest HOMES & PROPERTY from the best estate agents

Local News Tackling prime sales and political change

Image courtesy of Hobart Slater

PROPERTY

Right on the Mark Louise ‘Boo’ Good, Head of Savills Kensington Lettings, highlights the grand selection of Kensington properties on offer

Savills Kensington and Notting Hill lettings teams have enjoyed a buoyant lettings market over the past 12 months, with average values rising by 4%. This was well ahead of nearby Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Sloane Street which grew 0.6% over the same period. The forecast for the future is also positive, with 3% growth predicted for the year ahead and a total growth of 20.4% over the next five years to 2018.

Savills Research has also found that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea had the highest percentage of £1 million plus sales in 2013, making it one of the most popular London boroughs for prime property. Landlords who have purchased in the area benefit from international interest across all price bands, with Western Europeans and North Americans in particular attracted to the area’s grandeur and charm.

From mansions to mansion flats, Kensington offers an excellent selection of property across the market, fulfilling the growing demand for prime central rentals. A vast number of tenants are relocating to the area, with 46% moving for employment and 43% moving as a lifestyle choice.

Currently on the market Savills has a superb family house available to let on Pembroke Villas with a guide of £3,950 per week. The property is spread over four floors and benefits from excellent entertaining space including a spacious reception room and fully fitted, eat-in kitchen. There is good outside space too, with a patio garden, terrace and private parking. Closer to Holland Park, Savills is marketing a newly refurbished home on Addison Crescent for £1,800 per week, with four bedrooms, a fantastic open-plan kitchen and which is ideally located for the amenities of Kensington High Street.

Pembroke Villas, Kensington, W8 – Guide £3,950 per week Addison Crescent, Holland Park, W14 – Guide £1,800 per week Savills Kensington; 020 7535 3333 savills.co.uk This image and left/ Pembroke Villas, Kensington, W8

This image and left/ Addison Crescent, Holland Park, W14

130

PROPERTY

PrimeQResi

Property News

Journal of Prime Property

primeresi.com

years on The first new build for over 100 Kensington Palace Gardens

Millionaires’ Rows RBKC dominates list of Britain’s most expensive streets: The value of Britain’s most expensive streets is rising at nearly twice the national average, meaning that the number of “property millionaires” – with homes worth more than £1m – is nearly 50% higher than it was last year.

Property prices on the the UK’s ten most expensive streets have increased by 12.9% over the last 12 months, while Zoopla’s statistics show a national average price rise of 6.6% over the same period. The portal’s annual Property Richlist shows that there are now 484,081 £1m+ homeowners in Britain – up 49% on last year – and that there are 10,613 streets in Britain with an average property value of £1m+, up 29% on 2013. 3,744 of those “Millionaires’ Rows” – just shy of a third of the total and all the top 20 – are in London.

Twelve streets – eight in the Royal Borough – claim an average house price of over £10m. Kensington Palace Gardens again tops the table, with an average price of £42,730,760 (62 times the £263,705 value of the average British home, says Zoopla). The Boltons in SW10 takes second place with average house prices standing at £26,570,341, and Grosvenor Crescent in SW1 rounds out the top three with average property prices of £22,293,470.

W8 (Kensington) remains London’s priciest postcode, with average property prices in the area of £2.78m. Neighbouring SW7 (Knightsbridge), the next most expensive area in the capital, has average values of £2.48m, while property values in third-placed SW3 (Chelsea) stand at £2.37m.

See the full list of Britain’s most expensive streets, and areas at primeresi.com

Prime Central London Buyer Nationalities for Q1 2014 (Removing UK - Domestic market)

Africa

Northern Europe

Asia

Pacific Islands Australia

Central America

South America

Eastern Europe

Southern Europe

Middle East

UK - Abroad

North America

Western Europe

Panic Not, It’s Just an Election Q2’s London transactions at Strutt & Parker were 8% shy of the agency’s quarterly average: but prices “continue to creep up”, allowing total transaction value to rise.

It’s a very patchy picture in Prime Central London, though. The number of properties sold in Knightsbridge and Belgravia was 26% below the agency’s quarterly average, and the total value of transactions was 28% off the pace. In Kensington and Notting Hill, by contrast, volumes were 9.1% above average while total value was a chunky 34.4% higher than normal. Chelsea, South Kensington and Fulham saw fewer properties than average sold (-13.1%), but they were quite a lot more valuable (+14.1%) than the norm.

Across Prime Central London, the agency sold 828 properties during 2014’s second quarter, noting that “47% of all buyers in central London are originally from overseas.” Compared to the same period last year, there’s been a marked increase in buyers from Asia, Northern and Southern Europe and UK and a “not surprising” – given geo-political shenanigans – slight decrease in buyers from Eastern Europe.

Market Comment The Tax Invasion Elena Dimova, managing director of CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, highlights the changes that will come into play for future exchanges

By April 2015, the Capital Gains Tax exemption that has thus far been enjoyed by overseas buyers in the UK will come to an end. This brings the UK in line with many other countries. How will the Prime Central London property market react?

For would-be-sellers, there seems to be an incentive to crystallise capital gains before April 2015.

If someone is thinking of selling in the next 18 to 24 months, selling now simplifies things, as it means not having to worry how capital gains will be calculated and what assumptions will be made when the tax is worked out at some point in the future. It takes away the unknown liability. Going into 2015, there will be further uncertainty, as we approach the 2015 General Election.

All this is less relevant for someone planning to hold onto a property for the next 10 years or more.

What we are seeing in the market is an interesting phenomenon. There has not been any major new supply coming to market so far. This may change as the date comes nearer. Those who want to sell sooner rather than later are perhaps trying to beat others who will seek to do the same in the coming months and quarters. What is particularly interesting is that many of the players who are looking to sell before April 2015 are also looking to buy back into the market and keep their foothold in London property.

The introduction of Capital Gains Tax for overseas buyers does not seem to be curbing appetite for Prime Central London property, still seen as a “safe haven” investment, with potential for capital gains over time.

Overseas buyers are purely targeting a fresh start, capitalising on existing gains and ploughing money straight back into the London property market. In order not to be left out, some buyers are even securing their next property before selling their current one, if their financial situation permits it. The smart money is moving this side of 2015.

CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, 10 Clarendon Road, W11 3AA, 020 7229 1414; century21uk.com

131

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Hewer Street, W10 A stylish 1,550sqft (approx) freehold house in a gated development of just three modern houses. The property benefits from a front patio garden and a balcony which is off the reception room. The property is in a enclave of spectacular architecture and offers spacious living in a comfortable, well designed space which is located in the North of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, yet within striking distance of all that is Notting Hill. EPC: C

Hamptons Notting Hill Office Lettings. 020 7717 5341 | Sales. 020 7717 5311

£1,500,000 Freehold • • • • • •

Large eat in kitchen/dining room Reception room Two bedrooms Two bathrooms Dressing room Front patio garden

Cranley Gardens, SW7 A rare opportunity to purchase a three bedroom lateral penthouse apartment. This popular Victorian red brick building offers recently refurbished common parts and a smart modern lift. A couple of key features of this property are the spectacular far reaching views, the large private terrace and the wealth of natural light in the flat. EPC: C

£2,000,000 Leasehold • • • • • •

Hamptons Chelsea Office Sales. 0207 835 1444 | Lettings. 020 7717 5433

Three Bedrooms In need of up dating Private 29’4 terrace Lift 40 year lease 1,160 sq ft

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Drayson Mews, W8 A rare opportunity to acquire a double fronted three storey mews house (2,787 sq.ft.) originally used as a mechanics garage with private residential accommodation above.

Situated in a prime Kensington location, the property lends itself as an excellent development opportunity or a unique private residence. EPC: D

O.I.E.O £3,850,000 Freehold • • • • • •

Hamptons Kensington Office Sales. 020 7937 9371 | Lettings. 020 7717 5459

Development/investment opportunity Three storey building 2,787 sq ft Off street parking Patio and roof terrace Commercial space B1 use

Hans Crescent, SW1X An immaculately presented two bedroom raised ground floor apartment which has been beautifully interior designed to exacting standards in this superbly located portered period building. The property features a very generous reception room with high ceilings and stunning ‘Herringbone’ wood flooring. EPC: C

£2,950,000 Leasehold • • • • • •

Hamptons Knightsbridge Office Sales. 020 7717 5461 | Lettings. 020 7717 5463

A very generous reception room Immaculate kitchen Master bedroom with en-suite shower room Second bedroom with en-suite bathroom Wood flooring Porter

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

West Eaton Place, SW1X A beautifully refurbished three bedroom apartment situated on the third and fourth floors of a handsome stucco fronted period building in the heart of Belgravia. The flat benefits from a long lease, generous reception space and plenty of light throughout. The building is in good order with smart communal parts. EPC: E

£2,795,000 Leasehold • • • • • •

Hamptons Sloane Square Office Sales. 020 7717 5481 | Lettings. 0207 717 5483

Three bedrooms Two bathrooms Large reception room Smart communal parts Long lease Heart of Belgravia

Tadema Road, SW10 A fantastic two bedroom house that has been finished to exacting standards. There is a reception room that opens on to a private patio with a fully fitted kitchen as well as a separate bar area for entertaining. This is an ideal home for a couple looking for something spacious and a little different in SW10.

£1,250 per week Furnished (charges apply)* • • • • •

*Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges

Hamptons Chelsea Office Lettings. 020 7717 5433 | Sales. 0207 835 1444

Two double bedrooms Two large receptions Beautiful roof terrace Just off the Kings Road, Chelsea Quiet residential street

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Phillimore Gardens Close, W8 A fantastic opportunity to rent a four bedroom house in this highly sought after private cul de sac, moments from Kensington High Street and with direct access to Holland Park.

Benefiting from a modern eat in kitchen and private patio. EPC: C (1819 Sq Ft / 169 Sq m)

£2,100 per week Furnished/Unfurnished (charges apply)* • • • • •

*Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges

Hamptons Kensington Office Lettings. 020 7717 5459 | Sales. 020 7937 9371

•

Four bedrooms Three bathrooms Guest wc Two reception rooms Patio and balcony Off street parking

Harrington Gardens, SW7 This newly refurbished penthouse style apartment has been finished to exacting detail.

The apartment is split level and boasts hardwood floors high ceilings as well as being flooded with natural light. EPC: E

£1,000 per week Furnished (charges apply)* • • • • •

*Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges

Hamptons Knightsbridge Office Lettings. 020 7717 5463 | Sales. 020 7717 5461

•

One bedroom, one bathroom Split level conversion Private roof terrace Newly refurbished Penthouse Hardwood floors, light atrium

KnightFrank.co.uk

Douro Place, Kensington W8

A family house with parking and south facing garden A rare opportunity to acquire a wide unmodernised lateral low build house with parking and a large south facing garden in prime Kensington. 3 bedrooms, bathroom, shower, reception room, dining room, kitchen, study, loft, basement/garage, off‐street parking, garden. EPC rating F. Approximately 257 sq m ﴾2,771 sq ft﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk/kensington kens@knightfrank.com 020 3551 5156

Freehold

﴾KEN140104﴿

K and C - May 3/10 Observ - 08 April 2014 - 49890

09/09/2014 15:01:56

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KnightFrank.co.uk

Alma Terrace, Kensington W8

A Victorian family house with a beautiful garden Presented in good order and set back from the road, this pretty five bedroom family house has an immaculate 31 ft west facing garden. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, double drawing room, kitchen/breakfast room, bedroom 5/dining room, patio, garden.

EPC rating E. Approximately 215 sq m ﴾2,315 sq ft﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk/kensington kens@knightfrank.com 020 3551 5156

Freehold Guide price: £4,500,000 ﴾KEN140117﴿

Phillimore place 10 K and c mag may - 08 April 2014 - 49898

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KnightFrank.co.uk

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Cheyne Walk, Chelsea SW3 Unique house with incredible volume

This is a Grade II listed house that was built in the 1890s and has some amazing features.

The property comprises a main house with 3 high volume studio rooms with ceilings up to 5.2m, a separate cottage with a studio room, a good garden and garage.

Approximately 448 sq m ﴾4,824 sq ft﴿ Freehold Guide price: £10,500,000 ﴾POD130075﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk/chelsea chelsea@knightfrank.com 020 3641 7731 savills.co.uk sloanestreet@savills.com 020 7730 0822

KnightFrank.co.uk

The Little Boltons, Chelsea SW10

Beautifully presented upper maisonette with terrace Situated on the corner of the Little Boltons and Redcliffe Square the apartment benefits from fantastic light with windows on three sides as well as a roof terrace with south westerly views. 3 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen and roof terrace.

Approximately 239 sq m ﴾2,574 sq ft﴿ Share of Freehold Guide price: £6,750,000 ﴾CHL140197﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk/chelsea chelsea@knightfrank.com 020 3641 7731 Russell Simpson www.russellsimpson.co.uk 020 7225 0277

WE HAVE SELLING DOWN TO A FINE ART Arthur Lintell Associate arthur.lintell@knightfrank.com

Emily Ramsay Negotiator emily.ramsay@knightfrank.com

Knight Frank Notting Hill Sales 294 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2PS KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill

314793 Artistic Single A4.indd 1

Tom Goy Partner tom.goy@knightfrank.com

Philip Eastwood Partner philip.eastwood@knightfrank.com

Knight Frank Notting Hill Lettings 298 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2PS KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings

Caroline Foord OfďŹ ce Head/Partner caroline.foord@knightfrank.com

020 3589 2850 10/09/2014 09:09

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KnightFrank.co.uk

Queensdale Place, Notting Hill W11 Stylish and beautifully presented apartment

The flat offers well balanced living accommodation with a spectacular open plan kitchen/reception room perfect for entertaining and benefits from an abundance of natural light aided by a wealth of overhead skylights and impressive volumes.

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms ﴾1 en suite﴿, reception room, kitchen, terrace.

EPC rating D. Approximately 166 sq m ﴾1,786 sq ft﴿ Leasehold

KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5449

Guide price: £3,350,000 ﴾NGH120066﴿

K&C - October- TFF 25 Queensdale Road

08/09/2014 17:33:29

KnightFrank.co.uk

Kensington Park Gardens, Notting Hill W11 Fantastic three bedroom flat

A rare opportunity to acquire a charming three bedroom apartment located in this popular portered mansion block and with the benefit of a private terrace and access to the prestigious Ladbroke Square communal gardens. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, balcony, access to communal garden.

EPC rating C. Approximately 92 sq m ﴾995 sq ft﴿ Leasehold

KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5449

Guide price: £1,600,000 ﴾NGH140142﴿

K&C - October- 17 The Lodge

09/09/2014 14:23:30

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KnightFrank.co.uk

Pembridge Villas, Notting Hill W11 Utimate family home with private garden

Wonderful stucco fronted family house ﴾semi detached﴿ offering exceptional volume and light. Immaculately presented and intelligently designed for ultimate family living and entertaining in prime location. 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, drawing room, kitchen/breakfast room, dining room, family room, utility room, terrace, garden.

EPC rating D. Approximately 445 sq m ﴾4,790 sq ft﴿.

KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5449

Freehold Guide price: £10,000,000

﴾XXXXXX﴿

K&C - October - 15 Pembridge Villas

KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill

09/09/2014 12:57:25

KnightFrank.co.uk

Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill W11

Stunning four bedroom family house in great location A beautifully refurbished four bedroom house on this ever popular street, incorporating the neighbouring lower ground floor flat. This has created a wonderfully expansive and lateral family space, unusual to the area. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms ﴾1 en suite﴿, reception room, kitchen, dining room, playroom, sunroom/conservatory, roof terrace, terrace, garden. EPC rating D. Approximately 203 sq m ﴾2,187 sq ft﴿ Freehold Guide price: £3,950,000 ﴾NGH140158﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5449 Joint Agent: Marsh and Parsons primesales@ marshandparsons.co.uk 020 7368 4197

K&C October - 19 Lonsdale Road

08/09/2014 17:58:06

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KnightFrank.co.uk

Westminster Suite, The Tower SW8 Sensational London apartment with private lift lobby

Incorporating the entire 45th floor of the landmark Tower, with astounding views of the capital from all rooms. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, kitchen, formal dining room, 3 sky gardens, private lift lobby, valet parking for 6 cars, 24 hour concierge and resident's leisure facilities. EPC rating B. Approximately 619 sq m ﴾6,670 sq ft﴿ Leasehold Guide price: £20,000,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/riverside riverside@knightfrank.com 020 3597 7670

﴾RVR140220﴿

Kensington & Chelsea Magazine - October Issue - 02 September 2014 - 52329

02/09/2014 17:32:47

KnightFrank.co.uk

Â

Kensington and Chelsea DPS October 2014 Sales

Queensborough Studios, W2

Spacious mews house with amazing roof terrace A spacious mews house which has been completely remodelled throughout in a contemporary style offering superb open plan living. 3 bedrooms, 2 en suite bathrooms, guest shower room, reception room, open plan kitchen/family room, 21ft roof terrace.

EPC rating E. Approximately 156 sq m ﴾1,680 sq ft﴿ Freehold

KnightFrank.co.uk/hydepark hydepark@knightfrank.com 020 3544 2483

Guide price: £2,550,000 ﴾HPE130116﴿

29/08/2014 16:12:06

KnightFrank.co.uk

Reece Mews, South Kensington SW7 Immaculately rebuilt mews house

This three bedroom house is located in the heart of South Kensington and is in immaculate condition throughout. 3 bedrooms ﴾all en suite﴿, reception room, kitchen/dining room, study, utility, cloakroom and roof terrace. Approximately 196 sq m ﴾2,109 sq ft﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk/southkensington southkensington@knightfrank.com 020 8128 1253

Freehold Guide price: £4,650,000 ﴾CHL140193﴿

Kensington and Chelsea - South Ken - Reece Mews

05/09/2014 14:07:40

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KnightFrank.co.uk

Chesham Street, Belgravia SW1 Immaculate four bedroom duplex apartment

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An exceptional duplex apartment extending to sum 4,800 sq ft over just two floors, featuring large informal reception rooms and a wonderful turning staircase. Master bedroom suite with dressing room, 3 further bedrooms en suite, drawing room, media room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom, winter garden, porter.

EPC rating C. Approximately 447 sq m ﴾4,820 sq ft﴿ Leasehold: approximately 987 years remaining Guide price: £13,500,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/knightsbridge knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5913

K&C Oct 2014 Chesham Street 1

09/09/2014 09:23:45

KnightFrank.co.uk KnightFrank.co.uk

Brechin South Kensington IvernaPlace, Court, Kensington W8 SW7 This property hasina one wonderfully bright south reception room with doors leading to a Situated of Kensington's mostfacing desirable mansion blocks, this three bedroom large private garden.

All bedrooms their own en suite bathrooms and the presentation lateral apartment has beenhave extensively refurbished to offer comtempory and stylish throughout is immaculate.

3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, reception garden. living.

Accommodation comprises 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 room, reception rooms, EPC rating G. Approximately 149 sq m ﴾1,601 sq ft﴿E kitchen, 2nd floor, lift, porter.

EPC rating

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings kenlettings@knightfrank.com southkenlettings@knightfrank.com 020 7937 8203 020 3641 6025

Available unfurnished Available furnished or unfurnished

A fantastic newly refurbished bedroom apartment A beautifully refurbishedthree apartment

Guide price:per £2,000 Guide price: £2,250 weekper week ﴾SKQ105835﴿﴾KEQ204248﴿

potential tenants shouldthat, be advised that, as an well as rent, an administration feeapply of £276 will apply awhen renting a property.

All potentialAll tenants should be advised as well as rent, administration fee of £276 will when renting property.

Please ask usPlease for more other fees that mayfees apply or may visit apply KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges ask information us for more about information about other that or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges

K&C Mag Octand 14 Chelsea - BrechinOct Place V2 Ken

09/09/2014 11:46:58 09/09/2014 15:59:33

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KnightFrank.co.uk

Portobello Road, Notting Hill W11 Two bedroom flat in a good location

A delightful maisonette on Portobello Road W11 with a private roof terrace.

Accommodation includes 2 double bedrooms, en suite bathroom, en suite shower room, study, reception room, kitchen and roof terrace close to Westbourne Grove.

EPC rating D Approximately 83.8 sq m ﴾903 sq ft﴿.

Available unfurnished

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings nottinghilllettings@knightfrank.com 020 7985 9990

Guide price: £850 per week ﴾NHQ85223﴿

All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 will apply when renting a property.

Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges

Portobello Road 2

05/09/2014 12:39:50

KnightFrank.co.uk KnightFrank.co.uk

Brechin Brechin Place, Place, South South Kensington Kensington SW7 SW7

A fantastic A fantastic newlynewly refurbished refurbished threethree bedroom bedroom apartment apartment

This property This property has a wonderfully has a wonderfully bright south brightfacing southreception facing reception room with room doors withleading doors leading to a to a KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings large private large garden. private garden.

All bedrooms All bedrooms have their have own their en own suiteen bathrooms suite bathrooms and the and presentation the presentation southkenlettings@knightfrank.com southkenlettings@knightfrank.com throughout throughout is immaculate. is immaculate.

3 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen,kitchen, reception reception room, garden. room, garden.

020 3641 0206025 3641 6025 EPC rating EPCG.rating Approximately G. Approximately 149 sq m 149 ﴾1,601 sq msq ﴾1,601 ft﴿ sq ft﴿ Available Available furnished furnished or unfurnished or unfurnished

Guide price: Guide£2,250 price:per £2,250 weekper week ﴾SKQ105835﴿﴾SKQ105835﴿

All potentialAlltenants potential should tenants be advised should be that, advised as wellthat, as rent, as well an administration as rent, an administration fee of £276 fee willof apply £276when will apply renting when a property. renting a property.

Please ask us Please for more ask us information for more information about otherabout fees that other may fees apply that or may visit apply KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges

K&C Mag K&C OctMag 14 -Oct Brechin 14 - Brechin Place V2 Place V2

09/09/2014 09/09/2014 11:46:58 11:46:58

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KnightFrank.co.uk

Sumner Place, South Kensington SW7

Wonderful stucco fronted period house

A beautifully presented house ideal for entertaining on both a formal and informal scale.

6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 5 reception rooms, luxury kitchen, dining room, bar room opening out onto the garden and a temperature controlled alarmed wine cellar. EPC rating E. Approximately 452 sq m ﴾4,862 sq ft﴿ Available furnished

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 7591 8601

Guide price: £8,250 per week ﴾KNQ157852﴿

All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 will apply when renting a property.

Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges

K&C mag October 8 Sumner Place2

08/09/2014 17:31:14

Hanover Lodge: a fond farewell Long-time residents Leslie and Alison Du Cane offer a retrospective on Notting Hill, an area where their roots date back to the early Victorian era. HenRY HOPWOOD-PHILLIPS reports

A romanticised portrait of Hanover Lodge

Disraeli often has the phrase “lies, damned lies and statistics” attributed to him, but one of the more serious dangers behind statistics is not that the bleached petticoat of each hides a massaged methodology but rather the fact it’s hard to appreciate the application of sterile numbers on a truly human scale.

So it is refreshing to have Leslie and Alison Du Cane in front of me instead of a property prospectus brandishing facts as a boy might a spider on the end of a stick. Joining us too is Caroline Foord, Partner at Knight Frank, Notting Hill.

We are here because the couple are no longer ‘Notting Hill Billies’.

“This is a really interesting and noteworthy story,” Caroline explains, “because

the property we have just sold for the Du Canes, according to local registers, seems to boast the longest continuous ownership in the entire borough, except of course, Kensington Palace.”

The property Caroline refers to is Hanover Lodge (14 Lansdowne Road), a large handsome house in the heart of leafy W11. Perhaps stung by the thought of breaking the lineage, the keen genealogist Leslie interrupts. “Well quite frankly, the house needed the change. It has been in Alison’s family since 1855 and I’ve just hit 60,” he protests with a grin.

Both launch into a description of how stressful moving house is meant to be. Leslie, a Wykehamist with a penchant for history (especially local), is

PROPERTY

to all intents and purposes a scholar (he is off to see the historian Antony Beevor after this meeting). This meant just one factor in the move, books, were measured not in their hundreds, but thousands. “We had no idea who to turn to when we decided to move,” Alison recalls. “But Caroline’s name rolled off the tongue of our closest friends.” Leslie finishes off her sentence, a manoeuvre only the most accomplished couple can pull off. “And we are so glad we did. Caroline’s exemplary attention to detail and service meant everything was taken care of.”

After almost 40 years at Hanover Lodge, the knowledge Leslie and Alison have of the area is encyclopaedic. A throwaway reference I make to Leslie’s swimming sessions in the Serpentine being “bracing” soon has him referencing the artist John Hassall, the Butlins poster he designed, and his residence near St Peter’s Church.

This is a topic that leads him on to the fact that both churches on the hill, St Peter’s and St John’s, had once wanted the same location there but both with different designs. A compromise had to be reached where one received the site, and the other their desired design.

This isn’t dry second-hand knowledge either. Both Leslie and Alison have immersed themselves in church and community. Alison lists her husband’s posts from church warden to school governor. “We have certainly ‘done our time’,” Leslie chuckles. “I think I’m most proud of setting up the Ladbroke Players, an amateur theatre group,” Alison reckons. But she’s being

From left/Alison Du Cane, Leslie Du Cane, Caroline Foord and Henry Hopwood-Phillips

“We are so glad we approached Caroline Foord. Her exemplary attention to detail and service meant everything was taken care of” modest. When she recalls the heavyweight numbers of Bach and Verdi she’s performed in her numerous choir groups, she neglects to mention the fact that professional orchestras formed the accompaniment until prompted.

To pretend all’s been plain-sailing would be misleading, however. Both were living “in a cupboard with a family of mice” according to Leslie, before Alison’s professorial great-aunt died. They were allowed to play caretakers to Hanover Lodge by her father, who later agreed that they could buy it bit by bit. “Our first investment was not the grandest plot in the world,” Leslie remembers. “In fact it was fit mostly for growing mushrooms in!”

But both knew they wanted to live in Notting Hill. “Of course my mother was worried at first,” Leslie announces, recalling the glory days of 1977.

“Back then it was associated with Peter Rachman (an exploitative landlord) and the race riots. But I think what we have here is generally regarded as the most successful 19th century urban design for suburban living.”

I probe him on what exactly makes it special. “We have around 23 common gardens in the area. It was Martial, the Roman epigrammist, who first coined the phrase rus in urbe (countryside in the city) and Notting Hill All photography: Sarel Jansen

159

property

has achieved it. Of course it’s been a bumpy ride to get there but Simon Jenkins delivered a great lecture a few years ago on how Notting Hill is finally achieving its grand Victorian designs.”

“When do you feel things got back on track with this vision?” Caroline asks. “Was it something to do with the ‘Big Bang’ in the City? Were Americans realising they could have all the benefits of central London without the cost?”

Alison isn’t sure. “There was certainly an upsurge in Americans around then but the majority were tenants, not owners,” she recollects.

“The late 1990s stick more in the mind, perhaps because the Notting Hill film came out and the label was catapulted from a casual reference into the sort

“The world is finally starting to recognise that Notting Hill is something special” of location friends would coo about.” Leslie notes that its writer, Richard Curtis, still lives in the area and Caroline tells me how Knight Frank sold the chapel, just behind the famous blue door – the place where Curtis wrote most of the film.

It’s not just the film though. Notting Hill shares the architecture of Belgravia and Mayfair but displays a quirkier spirit. It is an enclave with a real community, not a rhetorical one. “Yes, I think the world is finally starting to recognise that Notting Hill is something special,” Leslie hushes his voice. “But I think the residents knew that a long time ago.”

Knight Frank, 294 Westbourne Grove, W11 2PS, 020 7229 0229 nottinghill@knightfrank.com

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PROPERTY

Village in the City Chelsea has consistently attracted discerning residents for centuries thanks to its stunning architecture, blankets of green space and rich culture, as Hannah Lemon finds out

Of the 2,965 acres that form Chelsea, Russell Simpson highlighted in a recent report that the area is not one district but six micro-markets.

Each have their own features, buyer profiles and top addresses. The area comprises: Old Chelsea, Burton Court, Chelsea Green, Chelsea Town, The Boltons and West Chelsea. Figures from Lonres show that, in the 12 months up to April 2014, 57 prime properties valued over £5 million have sold in Chelsea, averaging £2,396 per square foot, outselling Kensington.

A variety of high-profile people have resided in Chelsea in the past including Sir Thomas More, Oscar Wilde and Elizabeth Gaskell. Once described as the ‘Village of Palaces’, it was home to grand buildings and attractive public gardens, including the residence of King Henry VIII, who built a grand manor house on Chelsea Manor Street in 1536, which was also the childhood residence of Queen Elizabeth I. Currently modern figures, such as Roman Abramovich, Amanda Eliasch and Mick Jagger can be seen enjoying the views.

Chelsea’s current population (158,000) is now made up largely of international residents. Chelsea Town is the most popular with overseas buyers, including Saudi Arabians, Africans, Russians and Chinese. According to Alan Russell of Russell Simpson, “Chelsea Town is focused around the north side of the King’s Road, stretching along most of its entirety. The array of high-end boutiques, art galleries and Michelin-starred restaurants based along the King’s Road attracts wealthy internationals who enjoy having luxury on their doorstep.”

Old Chelsea has been an area popular with the wealthy throughout history. It was first used as a residential base for the Saxon maritime industry, transporting chalk from the River Thames; then a residential base for royals and their advisors; and later for producing the world famous Chelsea China before the porcelain works on Lawrence Street closed in the 18th Century. Old Church Street also boasts the second largest private garden area in London, only behind Buckingham Palace.

Burton Court is the Chelsea Intellectual Quarter according to Russell Simpson. Various art galleries, including the Saatchi Gallery, and the vast green space of Ranelagh Gardens and Burtons Court green provide a calm retreat from busy inner city life. Properties in Burton Court are well served by an array of social activities including the annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show and sports fixtures on the pitches around Chelsea Royal Hospital.

Chelsea Green, located in the north east corner of Chelsea is described as a “village within the city” by Russell Simpson. Local outlets such as

The Clock House in Chelsea Town

butchers, fishmongers and restaurants, based around Elystan Street, produce a traditional village ambience and sense of local community.

The Boltons is one of the most expensive micro-markets in Chelsea (house prices average between £5 – 80 million and flats between £1 – 10 million).

Providing large private garden spaces, terraced gardens and garden squares, properties in The Boltons are perfect for families, with strong transport links to the West of England (A4, M4) for weekend breaks, as well as easy connections into Central London.

Popular with young affluent Chelsea residents, West Chelsea is the home of “The Chelsea Beach”, a stretch of bars and restaurants along Fulham Road. It is within close proximity to Earl’s Court, providing strong transport links into the city. But it is also the most underpriced micro-market; houses range from £2 – 10 million and flats from £500,000 – £4 million.

With offices in a prime Chelsea location, Russell Simpson is a premium estate agent of the area, possessing astute local knowledge of affluent West London, with the team able to provide a personally tailored service for all clients.

Russell Simpson; 020 7225 0277 russellsimpson.co.uk

Chelsea Park Gardens in West Chelsea

Durham Cottage in Burton Court

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Savills only concentrates on one type of property.

Yours.

Whatever type of home you live in, we’ll apply Savills characteristic breadth of market knowledge and experience to selling or letting it.

If it’s time to sell or let, talk to Savills.

savills.co.uk

SA78051 Kensington and Chelsea Mag Sold DPS.indd 1

03/09/2014 17:21

SA7

Just a few of the properties where we have made a big difference for our clients.

Sold

Sold

Sold

edWaRdeS SquaRe, W8 guide £6.95 miLLion

eaton teRRace, SW1 guide £6.65 miLLion

noRthumBeRLand PLace, W2 guide £5.5 miLLion

Sold

Sold

Sold

Lamont Road, SW10 guide £4.5 miLLion

hoLLand PaRK, W11 aSKing £1.6 miLLion

WetheRBy manSionS, SW5 guide £1.595 miLLion

let

let

let

academy gaRdenS, W8 guide £2,900 PeR WeeK

cadogan SquaRe, SW1 guide £2,750 PeR WeeK

the BaynaRdS, W2 guide £1,100 PeR WeeK

let

let

let

onSLoW gaRdenS, SW7 guide £995 PeR WeeK

LancaSteR gate, W2 guide £750 PeR WeeK

FuLham Road, SW10 guide £550 PeR WeeK

to discuss your property requirements further, call our team on 020 7877 4640.

17:21

SA78051 Kensington and Chelsea Mag Sold DPS.indd 2

03/09/2014 17:21

savills.co.uk

1 IMMACULATE FAMILY HOUSE WITH GARDEN AND OFF-STREET PARKING abbotsbury close, w14 Reception/kitchen/dining room ø drawing room ø master bedroom suite ø 3 further bedrooms ø further bathroom ø cellar ø garden ø off-street parking ø 178 sq m (1,920 sq ft) ø EPC=D

Savills Kensington Sarah Birch sbirch@savills.com

020 7535 3300 Guide £3.25 million Freehold

savills.co.uk

1 EXCEPTIONALLY WIDE LOW-BUILT HOUSE WITH BEAUTIFUL GARDEN aubrey road, w8 Entrance hall ø 2 reception rooms ø study ø kitchen/dining/family room ø 4 bedrooms ø bedroom 5/playroom ø 4 bath/shower rooms ø cloakroom ø utility room ø garage ø terrace ø south-west facing garden ø 306 sq m (3,295 sq ft) ø EPC=D Price on application Freehold

Savills Kensington Johnny Fuller jlfuller@savills.com

020 7535 3300

savills.co.uk

1 CHARMING FAMILY HOUSE WITH A WEST-FACING GARDEN kildare terrace, w2 Double reception room ø study ø dining room ø kitchen ø master bedroom with dressing room and en suite bathroom ø 5 further bedrooms ø 2 further bath/shower rooms ø conservatory ø guest cloakroom ø terrace ø garden ø 253 sq m (2,725 sq ft) ø EPC=E Guide £4.6 million Freehold

Savills Notting Hill Oliver Lurot olurot@savills.com

020 7727 5750

savills.co.uk

1 RARE OPPORTUNITY IN THIS PRESTIGIOUS LOCATION kensington park gardens, w11 Grade II listed ø currently arranged as 4 apartments ø potential to convert to a house subject to planning permission (due imminently) ø direct access to communal gardens ø 354 sq m (3,802 sq ft) Guide £8.5 million Freehold

Savills Notting Hill Oliver Lurot olurot@savills.com

020 7727 5750

1 2

savills.co.uk

QUANT HOUSE, sw10

MILLINER HOUSE, sw10

Reception room/dining room ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 2 bedroom suites ø guest cloakroom ø lift ø porter ø resident's parking ø 136 sq m (1,470 sq ft) ø EPC=E

Open plan reception room/kitchen ø 2 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø shower room ø lift ø concierge ø parking ø 77 sq m (830 sq ft) ø EPC=B

Guide £1.75 million Share of Freehold

Guide £1.08 million Leasehold

Savills Chelsea bharvey@savills.com 020 7578 9000

Savills Chelsea bharvey@savills.com 020 7578 9000

BRAMHAM GARDENS, sw5

QUEEN'S MEWS, w2

Open plan reception room/kitchen ø master bedroom with en suite bathroom ø further bedroom ø shower room ø roof terrace ø 77 sq m (828 sq ft) ø EPC=C

Entrance hall/study area ø open plan reception room/kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø terrace ø garage ø 136 sq m (1,461 sq ft) ø EPC=G

Guide £1.395 million Share of Freehold

Guide £2 million Freehold

Savills Chelsea bharvey@savills.com 020 7578 9000

Savills Notting Hill dpetrie@savills.com 020 7727 5750

3 4

1 2

savills.co.uk

GLOUCESTER SQUARE, w2

WOLFE HOUSE, w14

Reception room ø kitchen/dining room ø 3 en suite bedrooms ø guest cloakroom ø courtyard ø 175 sq m (1,886 sq ft) ø EPC=D

Open plan reception room/kitchen ø master bedroom with en suite bathroom ø further bedroom ø shower room ø 24 hour concierge ø underground parking ø spa and leisure facilities ø 106 sq m (1,145 sq ft) ø EPC=B

Guide £2.75 million Leasehold JSA: Hamptons

Asking £1.95 million Leasehold

Savills Notting Hill bdavies@savills.com 020 7727 5750

Savills Kensington sholmes@savills.com 020 7535 3300

MAPLE LODGE, w8

PALACE GATE, w8

Reception room/dining room ø master bedroom with en suite bathroom ø further bedroom ø family bathroom ø underground parking ø communal gardens ø gym ø 24 hour porter ø 108 sq m (1,161 sq ft) ø EPC=B

Entrance hall ø reception room ø kitchen ø master bedroom suite ø further bedroom ø shower room ø lift ø 96 sq m (1,039 sq ft) ø EPC=D

Asking £2.475 million Share of Freehold JSA: Jo Webster

Guide £2 million Leasehold

Savills Kensington sholmes@savills.com 020 7535 3300

Savills Kensington tholcroft@savills.com 020 7535 3300

3 4

savills.co.uk

1 RECENTLY REFURBISHED FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR DUPLEX redcliffe place, sw10 Kitchen/reception room ø master bedroom with en suite bathroom ø second bedroom with en suite shower room ø study ø guest cloakroom ø roof terrace ø resident's parking ø 106 sq m (1,136 sq ft) ø EPC=C Price on application Leasehold, plus Share of Freehold

Savills Chelsea Alice Pearson-Wright apwright@savills.com

020 7578 9000

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

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METICULOUSLY REFURBISHED GRADE II LISTED END-OF-TERRACE HOUSE selwood place, sw7 Master bedroom suite ø 4 further bedrooms (2 en suite) ø further bathrooms ø 2 reception rooms ø dining room ø separate eat in kitchen ø utility room ø internal courtyard ø garden ø 311 sq m (3,351 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=D

Savills Chelsea Oliver Mellotte omellotte@savills.com

020 7578 9020

Unfurnished £4,750 per week + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* *£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.

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savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

GROVE HOUSE, w14

ROYAL CRESCENT, w11

Bedroom ø bathroom ø reception room ø seprarte kitchen ø furnished ø 57 sq m (623 sq ft) ø Council Tax=E ø EPC=C

3 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø further bathroom ø reception room ø separate kitchen ø roof terrace ø communal gardens ø 117 sq m (1,259 sq ft) ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=D

Furnished £575 per week

Unfurnished £895 per week

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Kensington lgood@savills.com 020 7535 3333

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Notting Hill mkscott@savills.com 020 7535 3333

PALACE COURT, w2

CHARLES HOUSE, w14

3 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø reception room ø eat-in kitchen ø patio ø newly refurbished ø 103 sq m (1,110 sq ft) ø Council Tax=F ø EPC=C

Bedroom ø reception room ø open plan kitchen ø bathroom ø lift ø porter ø swimming pool and lesiure facilities ø 75 sq m (814 sq ft) ø Council Tax=F ø EPC=B

£900 per week

Furnished £750 per week

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Notting Hill ndennis@savills.com 020 7727 5751

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Kensington lgood@savills.com 020 7535 3333

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*£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.

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savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

PRINCES GARDENS, sw7

ENSOR MEWS, sw7

2 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø shower room ø reception room ø separate kitchen ø lift ø parking (by separate negotiation) ø 88 sq m (947 sq ft) ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=B

2 bedroom suites ø reception room ø open plan kitchen ø garage ø communal gardens via separate negotiation ø 111 sq m (1,195 sq ft) ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=C

Furnished £895 per week

Unfurnished £1,250 per week

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Knightsbridge tsutton@savills.com 020 7590 5079

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Chelsea omellotte@savills.com 020 7578 9020

LENNOX GARDENS, sw1

PHILBEACH GARDENS, sw5

Bedroom ø bathroom ø reception room ø eat-in kitchen ø communal gardens access ø 58 sq m (631 sq ft) ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=E

2 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø further bathroom ø reception room ø open plan kitchen ø balcony ø period features ø 64 sq m (694 sq ft) ø Council Tax=F ø EPC=C

Furnished £895 per week

Furnished £650 per week

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Knightsbridge tsutton@savills.com 020 7590 5079

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Chelsea stiarks@savills.com 020 7578 9011

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*£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.

So or sold 020 7221 1117 hello@crayson.com 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH

ld, ier on?

If your property hasn’t sold, it may have been priced inappropriately, marketed poorly, or a bit of both.

So what are you going to do?

Do you soldier on?

Or shall we put the kettle on?

Ravensbrook House Ravenscourt Park W12 Through the looking glass: from urban cool to hidden rural bliss in one easy step.

Any house can be a family house, but for true inter-generational living, you need some proper space - hard to come by in Central London.

Joint Sole Agent 020 7221 1117 hello@crayson.com 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH Savills 020 8987 5550

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Three reception rooms

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Kitchen/dining room

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Master bedroom suite/ dressing room

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Three further bedrooms, one ensuite

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Family bathroom

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Laundry room & study

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182 ft garden, summer house

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Off-street parking

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Hammersmith & Fulham

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3778 sq ft / 350.9 sq metres EPC Rating Band D

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Guide Price ÂŁ3.75 million Freehold

The Organ Factory Swanscombe Road, Holland Park W11 A groovily redesigned factory with chameleon tendencies, it could still be anything that you want it to be‌ This has been through a few manifestations since the organ producing years, and the current one uses the massive space to provide a funky modern home for either a big family or a couple who entertain extensively.

Sole Agent 020 7221 1117 hello@crayson.com 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH

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Two reception rooms

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Kitchen/dining room

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Master bedroom suite

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One further bedroom suite

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Three further bedrooms

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Two further bathrooms

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Gym

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Utility room

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Cloakroom

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Garden & outbuildings

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Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

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4,590 sq ft / 426.4 sq m EPC Rating Band D

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Price on application Freehold

Pembroke Square Kensington W8 A big house for sale in perfect Pembroke Square – beautiful, elegant, quiet and, of course, extremely well located.

On the western side of the square, this Grade II listed house is found on one of the prettiest squares in Kensington, giving it some fairly hefty square footage and an epic double reception room on the ground floor.

Joint Sole Agent 020 7221 1117 hello@crayson.com 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH Savills 020 7535 3302

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Double reception room

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Kitchen/dining room

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Master bedroom suite

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Two ensuite bedrooms

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One further bedroom/ one further bathroom

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Dressing room/study

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Direct access to the garage (garage available by arrangement)

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Utility room

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Wine cellars

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Front and back gardens

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Terrace

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Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

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3,034 sq ft / 281.9 sq m EPC Rating Band E

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Guide Price ÂŁ5.95 million Freehold

Newton Road Notting Hill W2 Beware imminent onset of chronic house envy - a flat that caters for both the isolationist or the extremely sociable.

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Reception room

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Roof terrace

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Kitchen/dining room

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City of Westminster

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Master bedroom suite

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One further bedroom

1,318 sq ft / 122.4 sq m EPC Rating Band D

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Shower room

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Guide Price ÂŁ2.3 million Leasehold (102 years remaining)

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Cloakroom/utility room

Sole Agent 020 7221 1117 hello@crayson.com 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH

Campden Hill Road Notting Hill W2 A great family house – completely redone with all the mod-cons – house seeking new owners as the current ones are off to LA!

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Double reception room

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Study

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Kitchen/dining room/family room

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Media room

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Master bedroom suite

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Kensington & Chelsea

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Two further bedrooms (one ensuite)

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2,490 sq ft / 231.3 sq m EPC Rating Band F

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One further shower room

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Guide Price £3.65 million Freehold

Sole Agent 020 7221 1117 hello@crayson.com 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH

Sell.

020 7221 1117 hello@crayson.com 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH

Or bye.

At Crayson, we don’t tie our clients into a contract. So if we don’t sell your property, you’re free to walk away.

A case of the agent who knows London like the back of our hands, being happy to just shake hands.

The Prime Time Director of Prime Sales at Marsh & Parsons, Keith Gorny, offers up his predictions on the luxury property market during the upcoming months of political change. Hannah Lemon reports Keith Gorny is a busy man, but with his track record this is to be expected. Even as we settle down in one of the meeting rooms in the Marsh & Parsons office on Kensington Church Street, he apologises for the whirring his phone makes on the table. He has spent the last 20 years gaining experience in the luxury property market, along with balancing his role as dad to two young children in his Fulham family home, and now heads up the prime sales department. With two offices in Richmond and East Sheen opening this month, Marsh & Parsons now has 22 offices in prime London locations, with more on the way. Keith Gorny tells me of the important part prime sales plays in this expansion.

Photography by: Sarel Jansen

What is the role of the prime sales department?

Principally, the department looks after sales in excess of £6 million in Kensington and Chelsea and parts of Westminster. Marsh & Parsons decided that it would benefit clients to move top-end sales out of the branches and concentrate the talents of senior agents through a specialised department. It has been running for about a year and a half, during which time the bulk of our sales have been between £6 and £20 million.

What is the difference between a prime sales service and a regular sales service?

Flexibility more than anything else. The prime sales department provides much more of a bespoke service and is retained in a number of searches as well as sales. A buyer or a vendor provides a brief and then we look to realise it by tailoring our activity to suit their specific requirements.

Discretion and privacy is valued at this end of the market; I would say that approximately 80 per cent of transactions conducted this year haven’t received any advertising. The department works through a network, word of mouth and talking to old clients. Each of the team has a portfolio of property courtesy of their time in the industry; we often arrange sales by approaching old clients with buyers whose search criteria closely matches their property.

Advertising certainly has its place in a regular sales service but for prime sales, vendors may be nervous about showing a price.

Is it a buyers or sellers market?

I don’t think you can really talk in general terms for prime sales. It’s like a rare piece of art; I think it comes down to how much someone wants something and how much someone wants to sell. Vendors will only sell if they hit a targeted price. If buyers have been looking for four or five years, the price is clearly a consideration, but they are not going to resent paying a premium for the right property.

How has this year been for prime sales at Marsh & Parsons?

From an income perspective it’s been our best ever year. We have conducted sales at precedent prices on Argyll Road, Addison Gardens, Pembridge Place, Stanley Crescent, Lansdowne Crescent and Clarendon Road to name but a few.

What is the demographic of buyer?

We deal predominantly with Victorian stock in the Royal Borough, which tends to be the reserve of British buyers, American buyers, continental Europeans and a few Eastern Europeans. British buyers have always been part of the market. In percentage terms it is pretty much the same as how it’s always been; buyers from further afield – the Far East and Middle East – mainly buy into new developments. The demographic hasn’t changed that much since the 70s.

Why do you think people are drawn to central London?

Prime Central London certainly appeals to the family market with the level of education it provides; it’s a cultural centre with plenty of world-class shopping and restaurants. London is unusual in that it’s the place to be for so many professions in the UK, whether it’s law, finance, media or the arts. London has it all in one place; if you are doing well in any given profession you are going to spend some time in London because the infrastructure is here.

PROPERTY

As well as your knowledge of the borough, do you keep up with global changes?

The London market is influenced by so many factors. There haven’t been as many transactions as there were before 2008 and there always seems to be a level of uncertainty around the corner, whether that’s intrusive tax legislation, mansion tax or political uncertainty. However, sometimes it has the opposite affect; times of uncertainty can result in people rushing into what they think is a blue chip commodity – bricks and mortar in central London. The currency play, interest rates and job security in the City all have a bearing. But there is always someone somewhere making money and invariably that someone wants a place in London.

There is a lot of talk about property tax; in your view what would the best solution be?

I think tax has become more intrusive worldwide and unless people are happy to take the risk of parking money in a less secure environment, they are going to be paying more tax. I hope UK policy isn’t too out of step with what’s happening in America and continental Europe or else London will miss out.

People are able to move their funds around; if it becomes overly expensive in a particular area they will just leave. We don’t want to see a mass exodus.

Marsh & Parsons can do deals in a matter of hours. More often than not it’s just about the correct preparation.

Do you have a clear direction of where London is going?

The areas that have shown the greatest level of capital appreciation over the last year are south of the river. In part that’s down to lower interest rates, a feature of the market that is likely to change. London is still creating jobs, our IT sector is booming as is the legal sector, and while financial services are changing shape it is still a big industry that has had a good year. It’s a positive place to be.

Marsh & Parsons; 9 Kensington Church Street, W8 4LF; 020 7368 4450 marshandparsons.co.uk

Is the luxury market as affected by Bank of England base rates?

If Sterling becomes more expensive as a result of interest rates rising it becomes more expensive to buy London property in Euros and Dollars. One of the reasons we bounced back so quickly after 2007 was because Sterling took a hit; it became cheap if you were buying in any other currency. Today, more hurdles need to be overcome if you are financing through the private banks. Government policy has been designed to kill off rampant capital growth without raising interest rates and they’ve done that by slowing credit down. If buyers look at a mortgage in excess of £2 million, regardless of capital wealth, they will encounter delays.

What are your projections for the next few months?

The most pressing concern (at the time of going to press) is Scotland leaving the union, which will disrupt Sterling. The London market needs to get through that before looking at the general election, where, invariably, mansion tax will become the political football. Although, I think the majority of people recognise that it is difficult to implement; the valuation process will be very drawn out and litigious. A general election will invariably slow down the market; the market doesn’t like uncertainty.

What frustrates you about the property market?

Lenders are unsure as to how to react to new, ever-changing rules and regulations, which is frustrating for buyers in particular. People who are more entrepreneurial, with an income that reflects this, are being prevented from entering the market, which seems to be the opposite of what we are trying to create in the UK – a workforce that is agile and creative. But I do think there is a lot to be said for our system. If clients have solicitors lined up and they are prepped properly, estate agents can move very quickly in the UK –

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Opening doors in London since 1856 From the moment you walk through one of our doors, you’ll only deal with someone who lives and breathes your local property market.

Someone who knows exactly which buttons to press to sell or let your home. And someone who understands that determination and integrity will open more doors for you than any other approach.

So why not visit one of our 22 London offices? As we’ve been saying since 1856, our door’s always open...

marshandparsons.co.uk

Local know-how. Better results.

Askew Road

Battersea

Camden

Earls Court

Hammersmith

Little Venice

Notting Hill

Balham

Bishops Park

Chelsea

East Sheen

Holland Park

Marylebone

Pimlico & Westminster

Barnes

Brook Green

Clapham

Fulham

Kensington

North Kensington

South Kensington

Ladbroke Gardens W11 £9,500,000 A Thomas Allom designed house of magnificent proportions with a large private garden that provides direct access to beautiful communal gardens. Moments from Westbourne Grove in the heart of Notting Hill, this imposing seven-bedroom house offers some of the grandest reception rooms in Notting Hill. The house is well presented throughout with a beautiful aspect and an independent apartment on the lower floor. Freehold. EPC=E. Joint Sole Agent.

PRIME SALES: 020 7368 4197 PrimeSales@marshandparsons.co.uk

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Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/marshandparsons

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SALES

See all of our properties online: marshandparsons.co.uk

Bark Place W2 £5,495,000 This beautiful house provides over 3,000 sqft of living space, a westerly aspect garden and a separate mews house. The property boasts fabulous raised ground floor reception space that galleries over the lower floor, a fantastic kitchen/dining room and an additional reception room. The bedroom accommodation includes a large master suite, two further double bedrooms served by a bathroom and an attached mews house providing independent living accommodation and off street parking. Freehold. EPC=D. Joint Sole Agent.

PRIME SALES: 020 7368 4197 PrimeSales@marshandparsons.co.uk

The Negotiator Awards 2013 (for the 2nd year running!)

Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year 2013 - Gold (for the 2nd year running!)

Community Champion of the Year

Best London Estate Agency

The Negotiator Awards 2013 - Silver

Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year 2013 (Medium) - Gold (for the 4th year running!)

Lonsdale Road W11 £3,950,000 Having integrated a floor of the neighbouring property this beautifully refurbished, central Notting Hill house now offers exceptional lateral space. Both the formal and informal reception space benefit from excellent aspects with great natural light while the generous bedroom accommodation includes a fabulous master suite, a guest suite (with an independent entrance) and two further double bedrooms served by a large bathroom. A courtyard garden, roof terrace and spectacular roof garden complete this house. Freehold. Joint Sole Agents.

PRIME SALES: 020 7368 4197 PrimeSales@marshandparsons.co.uk

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SALES

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Holland Street W8 £4,950,000 Occupying approximately 2,755 sqft, this magnificent Georgian house offers an exciting opportunity to acquire a charming sixbedroom Grade II listed property In need of modernisation. The upper floors of the house provide beautiful views over St Mary Abbot’s Church and beyond and there’s a pretty walled garden to the rear. Holland Street is ideally placed for all the shops, bars and restaurants of Kensington High Street and Notting Hill. Freehold. EPC=E. Sole Agents.

KENSINGTON: 020 7368 4450 sales.kns@marshandparsons.co.uk

Local know-how. Better results.

Askew Road

Battersea

Camden

Earls Court

Hammersmith

Little Venice

Notting Hill

Balham

Bishops Park

Chelsea

East Sheen

Holland Park

Marylebone

Pimlico & Westminster

Barnes

Brook Green

Clapham

Fulham

Kensington

North Kensington

South Kensington

Pembroke Square SW7 £4,500,000 A rare opportunity to acquire an un-modernised, five-bedroom Grade II listed family house, positioned on the much-favoured western side of this elegant square. The house is set well back from the road and is approached via a front garden. To the rear there is a west facing terrace and lawned garden. In addition, there is the use of the tennis court on Pembroke Square and the right to a share in the Pembroke Square Freeholders’ Association Limited, which owns the freehold of most of the square. Freehold. EPC=E. Sole Agents.

KENSINGTON: 020 7368 4450 sales.kns@marshandparsons.co.uk

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SALES

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Ladbroke Grove W10 £1,200,000 This beautiful property occupies the entire raised ground oor of an imposing corner building and boasts a private south westerly garden. Highlights include a stunning reception room with high ceilings, an open plan kitchen, a luxurious master bedroom with en suite bathroom, a second double bedroom and a well appointed bathroom. The property is accessed from leafy Bassett Road and is located close to Portobello Road, Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill. Share of Freehold. EPC=D. Sole Agents.

NORTH KENSINGTON: 020 7313 8350 sales.nkn@marshandparsons.co.uk

The Negotiator Awards 2013 (for the 2nd year running!)

Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year 2013 - Gold (for the 2nd year running!)

Community Champion of the Year

Best London Estate Agency

The Negotiator Awards 2013 - Silver

Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year 2013 (Medium) - Gold (for the 4th year running!)

Durham Terrace W2 £1,645,000 A wonderful opportunity to acquire a raised ground and lower ground floor maisonette with a garden, located in this hugely popular enclave of Notting Hill. The current layout boasts a fabulous open plan reception/dining room, a well-appointed kitchen overlooking the garden, a WC and a hallway leading directly to the garden. The lower floor comprises a large master bedroom and a second double bedroom, both of which are en suite. Leasehold. EPC=D. Sole Agents.

NOTTING HILL: 020 7313 2890 sales.not@marshandparsons.co.uk

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SALES

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Royal Crescent W11 £945,000 This bright one-bedroom apartment is located in a prime position on Holland Park’s beautiful Royal Crescent, with it’s main reception room in one of the crescent’s landmark end-of-terrace turrets. The accommodation features stunning entertaining space, a separate eat-in kitchen, a wonderful master bedroom with en suite bathroom and a guest cloakroom. Royal Crescent is ideally located moments from the fantastic array of cafés, shops and restaurants on Holland Park Avenue. Share of Freehold. EPC=D. Sole Agents.

HOLLAND PARK: 020 7605 6890 sales.hol@marshandparsons.co.uk

LOOKING TO BUY, SELL, RENT OR LET?

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SOUTH SOUTHKENSINGTON KENSINGTON

KENSINGTON KENSINGTON

NOTTING NOTTINGHILL HILL

KNIGHTSBRIDGE KNIGHTSBRIDGE

020 0207373 73735052 5052

020 0207727 77271500 1500

020 0207727 77273227 3227

020 0207589 75896616 6616

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LOOKING TO BUY, SELL, RENT OR LET?

LONDON AND BEYOND, WE’VE GOT PROPERTY COVERED winkworth.co.uk winkworth.co.uk SOUTH KENSINGTON

KENSINGTON

NOTTING HILL

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

020 7373 5052

020 7727 1500

020 7727 3227

020 7589 6616

Earls Court Road, W8 ÂŁ1,250,000 Share of freehold A larger than average two bedroom flat (960 sq. ft./88 sq. m) situated on the third (top) floor of a broad Victorian terraced house. The entrance to the flat is located on the second floor with stairs up to the main accommodation. The large reception room faces west and has a square arch through to a kitchen/ breakfast room. Both double bedrooms are quietly situated to the rear overlooking the rear gardens of Lexham Gardens.

Second Floor Entrance | Reception Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Master Bedroom | Further Bedroom | Bathroom | EPC: C

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winkworth.co.uk/kensington 020 7727 1500 kensington@winkworth.co.uk

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Earls Court Road, W8 ÂŁ1,495,000, Leasehold A charming and very well-presented three bedroom maisonette (1082 sq ft/101 sq m) situated on the first and second floors of a period building. The property has a ground floor entrance with steps up to the living accommodation on the first floor which consists of a large drawing room with high ceilings leading through to a well-equipped kitchen. The three bedrooms are located on the top floor which are served by an en suite bathroom and a further bathroom.

Ground Floor Entrance | Drawing Room | Kitchen | Principal Bedroom with En Suite Bathroom | Two Further Bedrooms | Further Bathroom | Cloakroom | EPC: E

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/kensington 020 7727 1500 kensington@winkworth.co.uk

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Chepstow Place, W2 ÂŁ3,750,000 Freehold A fabulous four storey house indulgently designed throughout to exacting standards. The house is laid out with extensive entertaining space in the form of an exceptional first floor drawing room, a beautifully decorated dining room on the ground floor and a large kitchen opening on to a lovely secluded garden.

Three Bedrooms | Four Reception Rooms | Kitchen | Dining Room | Two Bathrooms | WC | House | Garden | 2,090 Approx Sq Ft | EPC rating E

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winkworth.co.uk/notting-hill 020 7727 3227 nottinghill@winkworth.co.uk

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LindEn Gardens, W2 £2,300,000 Leasehold An elegant, lateral apartment of 1426sqft (133sqm) spanning the top floor (with lift) of this beautifully maintained and elegant mansion building, undoubtedly one of Notting Hill’s finest. The apartment has been tastefully refurbished in a light, contemporary style and features a large reception space, a fabulous kitchen breakfast room and an unusually large master bedroom suite also.

Two Bedrooms | Double Reception Room | Kitchen | 2 Bathrooms | Upper Floor w/Lift | 1426 Approx Sq ft | EPC Rating D/E

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winkworth.co.uk/notting-hill 020 7727 3227 nottinghill@winkworth.co.uk

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SLOANE AVENUE, SW3 ÂŁ2,750,000 STC LEASEHOLD An extremely attractive ground and lower ground floor maisonette, occupying this premium position on Sloane Avenue, moments from the world famous Kings Road. Entered via a smart communal entrance, the property features wonderful proportions, with a large formal reception room granting access to a private raised terrace, perfect for entertaining. In addition, there is a generous master suite, with a separate walk-in dressing room and en-suite bathroom. Sloane Avenue is ideally placed to enjoy the wonderful array of shops, world class restaurants and boutiques that only Knightsbridge and Chelsea can offer.

Period Maisonette | Smart Communal Entrance | Entrance Hall | Reception Room | Eat-in Kitchen | Separate WC | Laundry Room | Master Bedroom Suite | Two Further Double Bedrooms | Family Bathroom | Study Alcove | 1,597 Sq Ft | Separate Lower Ground Floor Entrance | Private Raised Terrace | Qualification for RBKC Parking | EPC Rating E

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winkworth.co.uk/knightsbridge-chelsea 020 7589 6616 knightsbridge@winkworth.co.uk

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Beaufort Gardens SW3 ÂŁ1,200 per week A gorgeous three bedroom flat that has been thoughtfully modernised and benefits from wood flooring, feature fireplaces, excellent built in storage and high-end integrated appliances. Beaufort Gardens is a prime Knightsbridge location just off the Brompton Road and a short distance from the transport links of South Kensington or Knightsbridge.

Three Bedrooms | Two Receptions | Two Bathrooms | Period Penthouse Flat | Resident Parking | Furnished | 1,320 Approx Sq ft

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winkworth.co.uk/knightsbridge-chelsea 020 7589 6616 knightsbridge@winkworth.co.uk

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Cornwall Gardens, SW7 ÂŁ1,395,000 Share of Freehold A fantastic second floor two bedroom south facing apartment in this Grade II Listed stucco fronted house in Cornwall Gardens. The flat extends to 729 sq/ft (68sq/m) and benefits from a spacious full width reception room with three sash windows that provide uninterrupted views of the gardens to which the flat enjoys access. The accommodation comprises two bedrooms, bathroom, open plan kitchen and of particular note is a stunning roof terrace that offers 350 sq/ft (32.52sq/m) of private outside space which overlooks the picturesque street of Launceston Place.

Entrance Hall | Reception Room | Kitchen | Two Bedrooms | Bathroom | Roof Terrace | Access to Communal Gardens (STUC) | JSA John D Wood 020 7835 0000

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winkworth.co.uk/south-kensington 020 7373 5052 southkensington@winkworth.co.uk

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Bina Gardens, SW5 ÂŁ825 per week A superb flat which extends to 1,051 sq/ft (98 sq/m) located on the third and fourth floors of this period building. Benefitting from exceptional entertaining space, which includes a full width West facing reception room with an open plan kitchen and access to a wonderful terrace. In addition there are two double bedrooms, one of which benefits from an en-suite bathroom and the other with a separate shower room. The property is ideally located within a five minute walk of the many shops, restaurants and excellent transport links of both Gloucester Road and South Kensington.

Two Bedrooms | One Reception Room | Two Bathrooms | Third and Fourth Floor | Roof Terrace | Furnished

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/south-kensington 020 7373 7370 5052 6767 southkensington@winkworth.co.uk

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PROPERTY

PrimeQResi

Property News

Journal of Prime Property

primeresi.com

PRIME RESI provides us with a comprehensive monthly round-up of key news about the local luxury property market

What Financial Crisis?

The financial crisis no longer dominates the fortunes of the prime London residential market. A looming general election and expectations of an interest rate rise have eclipsed the global economic meltdown as the primary factors affecting the top end of London’s property market, says Knight Frank, as it concurs that the number of new buyers has indeed plummeted.

The agency’s viewing and new applicant statistics have dropped by 15% and 20% respectively, but exchanges have remained “broadly flat” with just a 1% drop as annual price growth hits +8.1% in PCL and +12.1% in prime outer London. That +12.1% is almost double prime outer London’s ten-year average of +6.2%.

“Prices are not falling but buyers have become more wary,” says the estate agency’s Head of Residential Research Tom Bill. And it’s short-term matters – those interest rates and the prospect of new faces in Downing Street – that are driving this more cautious behaviour. “Such concerns are relatively

Annual growth by area and price bracket Annual % growth

15%

prosaic compared to the period between 2009 and 2012,” says Bill, “when the fallout from the collapse of Lehman Brothers sparked inflows into London property from global investors seeking a safe investment.”

There’s also the perception of price correction to throw into the mix.

Knight Frank’s Sentiment Survey showed that householders’ expectations of future growth are coming down a touch, but the agency’s own forecasts are even less bullish about the short term, predicting 0% growth next year – although a strong cumulative +20% is pencilled in by 2018.

“It is also worth emphasising that price growth in Prime Central London has already been moderating for more than two years,” notes the agency: annual growth for £5m+ homes has been in single digits and falling since those Stamp Duty Land Tax changes in March 2012. And price performance has been far from uniform across the capital over the last few years, with pockets of “toppy” growth balancing more subdued enclaves across Prime Central and Prime Outer London.

Caution grew in prime London... but so did prices

Prime Central London (whole market)

Prime Outer London (whole market)

PCL £10m - Plus

POL £10m - Plus

+9.5% DAYS ON MARKET

12% 9% 6%

EXCHANGES -1% VIEWINGS -14.5%

3%

NEW APPLICANTS -19.7%

12.1% 8.1%

PRIME CENTRAL LONDON

PRIME OUTER LONDON

0% Source: Knight Frank Residential Research

Hostel for Sale “Iconic” 420-bed Earls Court hostel hits the market for £27.5m. A mega-instruction of four interlinked Victorian houses spanning Barkston Gardens and Courtfield Gardens has just become available at a smidgen over £800 per square foot.

Before you get too excited, the prestigiously-located properties are currently employed as one of the capital’s largest hostels – complete with a turnover of around £2m and enough beds for 420 weary travellers – although it looks like there’s planning in place to convert at least one of the houses (no 9 Courtfield) back into resi.

Weighing in at a whopping 34,000 square feet over 17 combined floors, the entire 71-room block has been put on by Foxtons for £27.5m and it’s bound to pique the interest of a few developers and investors, given its position by one of London’s finest garden squares and within striking distance of High Street Kensington, South Kensington and Earls Court.

208

Barkston Gardens Image courtesy of: primelocation.com

Tom Straker

Olivia Higginson

Head Chef, New Toms

Dedicated Flats Team Agent

Some Others to Notting Hill sell flats. folk were born to cook.

Alas, Olivia’s in the second bracket.

But fortunately for you, she’s extraordinarily good at it. As part of the only dedicated flats team in Notting Hill, she knows her market and offers an unparalleled service.

So if you’re craving tuna ceviche, Tom’s your man, but if you’re looking to buy or sell, speak to Olivia.

303 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2QA 0207 221 1111 | struttandparker.com

38577_02_S&P_NottingHill_Folk_NottingHill&HollandParkMag_297x210_Chef_v1.indd 1

03/09/2014 15:22

180 grams canned tuna calorie in spring water SUTHERLAND PLACE, W2 ÂŁ5,000,000 Freehold

A very attractive Grade II Listed five-bedroom property with immense character and charm.

Located within the much sought after Artesian Village, this mid-terrace house is classic in design and perfectly suited to a large family.

Sutherland Place is a peaceful tree-lined street close to Westbourne Grove. epc = f -

Bright double reception room Kitchen/dining/sitting room First-floor master bedroom suite Four additional double bedrooms Front and rear gardens Approx 223 sq m (2,400 sq ft)

Domus Nova Bayswater 78 Westbourne Grove W2 020 7221 7817 bayswater@domusnova.com

ST LUKES MEWS, W11

ÂŁ3,000,000 Freehold

An extraordinary mews house stunningly refurbished by architect Fossey Arora.

A very clever, versatile design enabling superb living space plus a large roof garden. With brilliant interior design throughout, this luxurious home is situated in one of Notting Hill’s most iconic addresses. epc = d -

Large open-plan reception room Second reception room/snug Stunning master bedroom suite Two additional bedrooms Roof garden Approx 139.4 sq m (1,500 sq ft)

GLOUCESTER MEWS WEST, W2 ÂŁ2,250,000 Freehold

A modern and stylishly presented threebedroom house with bright and wellproportioned rooms, perfect for entertaining.

Centrally located and close to Paddington station (Heathrow Express) and Hyde Park, this immaculate house is also near the West End and fashionable Notting Hill. epc = d -

Bright reception room Kitchen/dining room Three double bedrooms Rear garden Integral garage Approx 118 sq m (1,272 sq ft)

Domus Nova Bayswater 78 Westbourne Grove W2 020 7221 7817 bayswater@domusnova.com

LEINSTER MEWS, W2

ÂŁ2,295,000 Freehold

A fantastic three-bedroom mews house that has been skilfully reconfigured to create a contemporary yet charming home.

Located moments from Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, Leinster Mews is also within easy reach to Westbourne Grove and Notting Hill. epc = f -

Bright reception room Bespoke kitchen/dining room Top-floor en-suite master bedroom Two additional double bedrooms Cobbled mews Approx 132 sq m (1,429 sq ft)

HENRIETTA STREET, WC2 £4,950 per week – admin fees apply* Long let A stunning four-bedroom property exquisitely designed and finished by Kelly Hoppen Interiors.

Arranged over the second and third floors of an imposing Victorian building in the heart of Covent Garden, this sublime home has been finished to the highest standard. epc = d *

Three defined lounge areas Contemporary Smallbone kitchen Sizeable master suite Three additional bedrooms Fantastic galleried walkway Approx 240.50 sq m (2,589 sq ft) domusnova.com/administrationfees

Domus Nova Notting Hill 17 Kensington Park Road W11 020 7727 1717 nottinghill@domusnova.com

w ST QUINTIN AVENUE, W10

£2,950 per week – admin fees apply* Long let A fabulous five-bedroom family home situated on a tree-lined street in North Kensington.

Encompassing five floors and offering two large reception spaces, a 47ft garden and a large vaulted attic media room, this is a family home with a bohemian twist. epc = e *

Inviting reception room Contemporary kitchen/dining space Three bedrooms Off-street parking 47ft garden Approx 120 sq m (1,300 sq ft) domusnova.com/administrationfees

PORTOBELLO ROAD, W11 £3,500 per week – admin fees apply* Long let An awe-inspiring property presenting a magical and liberating space that defies the norms of a domestic interior.

Envisaged by architect Ab Rogers and featuring trademark floor designs by Richard Woods, this outstanding home is a showcase of cool contemporary design. epc = f *

Generous reception/cinema room Open-plan kitchen/dining space Three bedrooms (two en suite) Media room/fourth bedroom South-west facing roof garden Approx. 315 sq m (3,396 sq ft) domusnova.com/administrationfees

Domus Nova Notting Hill 17 Kensington Park Road W11 020 7727 1717 nottinghill@domusnova.com

w ALEXANDER STREET, W2

£3,500 per week – admin fees apply* Long let A beautifully stylish townhouse on Notting Hill’s highly desirable Alexander Street.

This wonderful home demonstrates the owner’s unique creativity, marrying colourful contemporary detail with traditional features throughout. epc = e *

Three double bedrooms Two bathrooms Two formal reception rooms Large kitchen/dining and family space Beautiful patio garden Approx 269.91 sq m (2905 sq ft) domusnova.com/administrationfees

Glebe Place

Chelsea SW3

An exceptionally located building, currently consisting of eight, 1 bedroom apartments, presented in condition ranging from good to undmodernised. The building has 4 floors, plus a sub basement, with a centrally located communal staircase, giving access to each of the apartments.

(Currently 6AST tenancies & 1 protected tenant in place). This building has enormous potential for a long term rental investor looking to add value by refurbishing the individual apartments or reconfiguring the building completely (STPP).

EPC rating pending

offers in excess of

ÂŁ6,000,000

leasehold

Chelsea

020 7594 4740 sales.chelsea@chestertons.com

Hollywood Court, Hollywood Road

Chelsea SW10

An extremely attractive, 2 double bedroom, 3rd floor (with lift) apartment presented in good condition throughout. This apartment enjoys a very bright dual aspect, overlooking the iconic Hollywood Road & Fawcett Street. This apartment is particularly suitable for someone looking for a larger than average, lateral space, in a well run & attractive Victorian mansion block. The property further benefits from a share in the freehold.

EPC rating D

ÂŁ1,575,000 share of freehold

Chelsea

020 7594 4740 sales.chelsea@chestertons.com

chestertons.com

Abingdon Road

Kensington W8

An outstanding family home that has been completely modernised to an exceptionally high standard. Accommodation comprises a bright double reception room, a family TV room, dining room & a separate fully fitted kitchen. There is a large master suite with a walk in wardrobe & a luxurious bathroom, 2 further double bedrooms & a family bathroom. Further benefits include a patio at ground level & 2 terraces on the upper floors, an abundance of storage throughout & an inbuilt music system.

EPC rating C

ÂŁ5,950,000 freehold

Kensington

020 7937 7244 sales.kensington@chestertons.com

Earl’s Court Square

London SW5

We are delighted to introduce a selection of 4 meticulously refurbished apartments set within a Victorian stucco fronted building. The accommodation has been stylishly decorated with wooden flooring throughout the living spaces, white high gloss kitchens, granite work surfaces & top of the range integrated appliances. All 4 apartments have direct lift access, share an elegant communal hallway & have access to the award winning Earl’s Court Square (subject to consent).

EPC rating C & D

£1,650,000 - £2,600,000 share of freehold

Kensington

020 7937 7244 sales.kensington@chestertons.com

chestertons.com

Colville Houses

ÂŁ995,000

London W11

freehold

EPC rating D

Notting Hill

A superb 2 bedroom garden flat set within an attractive period building on a quiet no through road. The property has excellent open plan living space ideal for entertaining with a sleek, well equipped alcoved kitchen.

020 3040 8585 sales.nottinghill@chestertons.com

Royal Crescent Mews

ÂŁ899,950

London W11

freehold

EPC rating D

Notting Hill

Recently renovated bright & spacious 1 bedroom house presented in excellent condition. This property offers fantastic living space & is ideally located in the desirable Holland Park area, with Westfield Shopping Centre close by.

020 3040 8585 sales.nottinghill@chestertons.com

chestertons.com

Westmoreland Terrace SW1V ÂŁ3,295,000 Freehold Pimlico & Westminster Sales 020 7931 8200 | pimlicosales@dng.co.uk

North

Chelsea

Fulham

An exceptional terraced house that has recently undergone a complete refurbishment. Cleverly designed to ensure there is natural light throughout, the house provides substantial living accommodation.

Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush

Kensington

Kensington Gate

5 double bedrooms, 4 bathrooms (3 en-suite), Double reception room, Eat-in kitchen, Roof terrace, EPC: C.

South Kensington

Notting Hill

Pimlico & Westminster

douglasandgordon.com

Queen's Gate Terrace SW7 ÂŁ1,525,000 Leasehold Kensington Gate Sales 020 7581 1152 | kengatesales@dng.co.uk

South

Balham

Battersea

Battersea Park

A well-proportioned apartment on the second floor of this imposing stucco fronted building. The property boasts an incredibly bright south-facing reception room with an ornamental balcony, high ceilings and an original fireplace.

Clapham

East Putney

Southfields & Earlsfield

2 double bedrooms, Bathroom, Reception room/dining room, Kitchen, EPC: D.

West Putney

Lennox Gardens SW1X ÂŁ1,325,000 Leasehold Chelsea Sales 020 7225 1225 | chelseasales@dng.co.uk

North

Chelsea

Fulham

A red brick, two bedroom, period conversion in this sought-after garden square. The property benefits from private patio as well as access to the communal gardens and would make a good pied-a-terrre or rental investment.

Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush

Kensington

Kensington Gate

2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite), Reception room, Kitchen, Patio, Communal gardens, EPC: D. JSA: Strutt & Parker 020 7225 3866 l chelsea@struttandparker.com

South Kensington

Notting Hill

Pimlico & Westminster

douglasandgordon.com

Whitelands House SW3 ÂŁ1,250,000 Share of Freehold Chelsea Sales 020 7225 1225 | chelseasales@dng.co.uk

South

Balham

Battersea

Battersea Park

A third floor, 650 sq.ft, flat in this secure purpose-built block close to Sloane Square. The flat is well-proportioned and with views over the King's Road you can 'watch the world go by' from the balcony.

Clapham

East Putney

Southfields & Earlsfield

Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, Reception room, Kitchen, Lift, 24 hour porter, EPC: D. JSA: John D Wood 020 7352 1484 l cst.sales@johndwood.co.uk

West Putney

Coleridge Gardens SW10 ÂŁ2,500 per week Fees apply Unfurnished Chelsea Lettings 020 7581 6666 | chelsealets@dng.co.uk

North

Chelsea

Fulham

A stunning property which offers generous, lateral living space. Situated within the sought-after Kings Chelsea development, the property benefits from a 24 hour porter and approximately 7 acres of communal grounds.

Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush

Kensington

Kensington Gate

4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms (3 en-suite), Reception room, Dining Room, Eat-in kitchen, Communal gardens, Tennis court, Parking for 2 cars, EPC: E.

South Kensington

Notting Hill

Pimlico & Westminster

douglasandgordon.com

Cornwall Gardens SW7 ÂŁ2,300 per week Fees apply Unfurnished Kensington Gate Lettings 020 7589 5252 | kengatelets@dng.co.uk

South

Balham

Battersea

Battersea Park

A prestigious, newly decorated property with views over Cornwall Gardens. The property offers an impressive reception room ideal for entertaining and boasting high corniced ceilings and a marble fireplace.

Clapham

East Putney

Southfields & Earlsfield

Master suite with large en-suite, 4 further double bedrooms, Reception room, Modern kitchen, Communal gardens, EPC: D.

West Putney

020 7087 5696

jll.co.uk/residential kensington.sales@eu.jll.com 387 Kensington High Street, W14 8QA

Melbury Road, W14 £10,000,000

Melbury House has been completely renovated and modern technology introduced. There remain many period features, including ornate cornices and working fireplaces. High ceilings give the rooms an airy feel which is enhanced by them leading to four terraces. Solid oak parquet floors benefit from under-floor heating and there is a large family, bespoke kitchen. Plasma screens abound and there is also a Dolby Digital Home Theatre.

The property benefits from air-conditioning, an alarm system, video entry phone and secure parking.

· 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom, period house with roof terrace · Large open plan kitchen and dining room · Separate walk-in dressing room · Jack and Jill style bathrooms · Superb, premium location · Alarm coded and CCTV security features

Charles House, W14 £1,580,000

An absolutely stunning second floor apartment consisting of two double bedrooms, en-suite bathroom with a beautifully large, corner balcony at the award winning 375 Kensington High Street development by St Edwards Homes. Superb first home and great for investment. The apartments are situated within the prestigious Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and are set around a courtyard garden, further benefitting from a premium spec leisure suite consisting of a private swimming pool and spa, private cinema, business suite and 24 hour concierge provided by Harrods. Available NOW.

· 2 bedroom, second floor apartment · 24hr Concierge and security · Large Private Outdoor Terrace · Resident Only Leisure Suite · Premium Spec Finish Throughout · Award Winning Development

020 7087 5696

jll.co.uk/residential kensington.lets@eu.jll.com 387 Kensington High Street, W14 8QA

Wolfe House, W14 £3,500 Per Week

Luxury penthouse apartment in the prestigious new development, 375 Kensington High Street. A spacious apartment set in the heart of one of London’s most sought-after locations. This property offers unparalleled standard of living and convenience. A moments’ walk from Kensington Olympia Station. London’s most famous shopping destinations nearby such as Harrods, Harvey Nicholls, Sloane Street. Close to open spaces including Holland Park and Kensington Gardens.

Tenant agency fees: £240 administration fee per property, £48 referencing fee per Tenant / Guarantor.

· 3 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 11th floor penthouse apartment with large outdoor terrace · Bespoke kitchen with Miele appliances · Villeroy & Boch fitted bathroom with Bornbracht fixtures and fittings · Harrods 24hr security and concierge · Access to gym, swimming pool, private cinema and treatment facilities · Includes secure underground parking

Ravensbourne Apartments, SW6 £465 PER WEEK

New apartment to rent in Fulham is located in the stunning new development, Fulham Riverside.This apartment is situated in a stunning riverside location and is fitted out with a high spec finish throughout with Comfort Cooling technology, Sonos audio and a private outdoor terrace. Fulham Riverside benefits from 24 hour concierge, fitness centre and communal gardens. The development is only minutes away from Imperial Wharf along with all the local amenities of Wandsworth Bridge Road.

Tenant agency fees: £240 administration fee per property, £48 referencing fee per Tenant / Guarantor.

· 1 bedroom, ground floor apartment · 24hr Concierge and security · Fitness Centre · Private Outdoor Terrace · High Spec Finish Throughout · Open Plan Reception

First Street, Chelsea SW3 • 3 Bedrooms

• Sitting area

• 1 Bathroom (en suite)

• Kitchen / dining room

• Shower room

• Patio

• Cloakroom

• Approx. 1,462 sq ft (135 sq m)

• Reception room

• EPC rating: current (D) potential (D)

Guide price £3,550,000 Freehold

For more information call Giles Cook on 020 7306 1620 or email gcook@waellis.com

“ A beautifully presented period house in this quiet convenient location equidistance from Knightsbridge, Sloane Square and South Kensington” W.A.Ellis LLP 174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP

waellis.com

Kensington High Street, Kensington W14 • 1 Bedroom

• 24 Hour concierge

• 1 Bathroom

• Parking

• Reception room

• Use of leisure facilities

• Open plan kitchen

• Approx. 628 sq ft (58.3 sq m)

• Lift

• EPC rating: current (B) potential (B)

Guide price £1,100,000 Leasehold with 995 years remaining For more information call Simon Green on 020 7306 1610 or email sgreen@waellis.com

“ A stunning sixth floor apartment in the heart of Kensington”

W.A.Ellis LLP 174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP

waellis.com

Redcliffe Road, Chelsea SW10 • 2 Double bedrooms

• Kitchen/dining room

• 1 Bathroom (en suite)

• Study

• 1 Shower room (en suite)

• Roof terrace

• Guest cloakroom

• Approx. 1,104 sq ft (106 sq m)

• Reception room

• EPC Rating: current (D) potential (D)

“ A wonderful maisonette situated in one of Chelsea’s premier streets”

£925 per week Unfurnished

For more information call Lucy Morton on 020 7306 1630 or email lmorton@waellis.com

W.A.Ellis LLP 174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP

waellis.com

W.A.Ellis will make an initial one-off tenancy agreement charge of £240 per tenancy plus £60 referencing charge per tenant. A minimum of six weeks’ rent will be required for all properties. For further details of our services and charges please visit waellis.com

Royal Avenue, Chelsea SW3 • 5 Double bedrooms

• Kitchen/dining room

• 3 Bathrooms (1 en suite)

• Paved garden

• Guest cloakroom

• Approx. 2,752 sq ft (255 sq m)

• Double reception room

• EPC rating: current (E) potential (D)

“ A newly refurbished family house located in this sought after area of Chelsea”

£4,250 per week Unfurnished

For more information call David Mills on 020 7306 1630 or email dmills@waellis.com

W.A.Ellis LLP 174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP

waellis.com

W.A.Ellis will make an initial one-off tenancy agreement charge of £240 per tenancy plus £60 referencing charge per tenant. A minimum of six weeks’ rent will be required for all properties. For further details of our services and charges please visit waellis.com

Elystan Street, Chelsea SW3 A well-proportioned three bedroom apartment (with lift) located on the fifth and sixth floors of Crown Lodge on Elystan Street.The apartment is split over two floors and benefits from an open plan reception / dining room with access to a balcony, separate kitchen, master bedroom with ensuite bathroom, two further double bedrooms (one with ensuite bathroom), and a family bathroom. Crown Lodge is quietly set amongst beautiful communal gardens, with residents in the building benefitting from 24-hour porterage, security, and a communal gym and swimming pool. Elystan Street is located moments from the shops and restaurants of the King's Road and Chelsea Green with transport links from Sloane Square and South Kensington. EPC rating D.

Leasehold approximately 98 years remaining Guide price ÂŁ2,900,000 020 7225 5911 andrew.gunnforbes@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0) 20 7225 6700 HARRODSESTATES.COM

The Knightsbridge Apartments, SW7 Located on the fifth floor of one of Knightsbridge’s most prestigious residential buildings, this very spacious one bedroom studio apartment has been totally refurbished and interior-designed to the highest specifications to provide the perfect pied-a-terre at one of London’s best addresses.

199 Knightsbridge boasts impressive reception areas, 24 hour concierge & security and secure underground car-parking with valet service. There is also a worldclass leisure suite with gym, spa and swimming pool and an exclusive business-suite available for residents’ use. EPC rating B.

Leasehold: approximately 995 years Guide price: £2,950,000 JSA: Savills – 02075815234 020 7225 6506 nicholas.shaw@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0) 20 7225 6700 HARRODSESTATES.COM

Thornwood Lodge, Kensington W8 A beautifully presented two double bedroom apartment (1,570 sq. ft / 148 sq. m) on the ground floor of Thornwood Lodge, which forms part of this new private gated development in the heart of Kensington. The property benefits from a very spacious reception room and well-equipped kitchen / breakfast room. There is also a front patio which overlooks the private garden square and a terrace off the master bedroom at the rear. Thornwood Gardens is a recently completed gated new development which is arranged around an open garden square with 24 hour porterage, security and secure underground parking. Located off Kensington Church Street, the property is ideally situated for all the local amenities and is also within a few moments walk of Holland Park. EPC rating C. Price per week: £2,250 Plus property fees: £180 Admin & £190 Checkout.

References: £42 per person* *http://www.harrodsestates.com/tenants

020 7225 5881 candice.fletcher@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0) 20 7225 6700 HARRODSESTATES.COM

Evelyn Gardens, Chelsea SW7 A lovely two bedroom apartment with garden views just off the Fulham Road. The accommodation of approx. 625 sq. ft. over two levels comprises kitchen, reception / dining room, master bedroom, guest bedroom and bathroom. Available for long term lets on a furnished basis from mid-September. EPC rating E.

Price per week: £750 Plus property fees: £180 Admin & £180 Checkout.

References: £42 per person* *http://www.harrodsestates.com/tenants

020 7225 5881 candice.fletcher@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0) 20 7225 6700 HARRODSESTATES.COM

1st Floor Flat 1st Floor Flat

3rd Floor Flat 3rd Floor Flat

Rutland GateGardens Knightsbridge SW7 Ennismore Knightsbridge SW7 96.06 sq m/1,034 sq ft Delightful Penthouse lateralflats apartment with Roof Terrace and with access to landscaped communal We are offering twoKnightsbridge excellent for saleSW7 in thislarge period building with resident caretaker & lift, Rutland Gate

gardens easyand access to Hyde Park and excellent international amenities of Knightsbridge. facing on–towithin Hyde Park within a short walk to the all Knightsbridge’s shops & restaurants We are offering two excellent flats for sale in this period building with resident caretaker & lift, 3rd floor newly refurbished apartment with park 1st floor balcony maisonette: 3 bedrooms, facing on to Hyde Park and within a short walk to all Knightsbridge’s shops & restaurants bedrooms,kitchen, bathroom, room, double study/bedroom guestreception cloakroom, views:kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,3, double 32bathrooms, diningshower room, reception room, reception room, entrance hall, caretaker, ofmcommunal / 923 sq ft with park room, kitchen, EPCrefurbished C, 85.75 sq mapartment 144.18 sq / 1,552 sq ftgardens 3rd hall, balcony, EPC C,lift, floor newly 1st entrance floor balcony maisonette: 3 use bedrooms, views: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double 3 bathrooms, kitchen, dining£2,750,000 room, reception room, Leasehold 102 years Leasehold £4,350,000 Sole Agent Leasehold £2,780,000 JSA W A Ellisreception 020Sole 7581Agent 7654 entrance hall, balcony, EPC C, 144.18 sq m / 1,552 sq ft

room, kitchen, EPC C, 85.75 sq m / 923 sq ft

Leasehold £4,350,000

Leasehold £2,780,000

Sole Agent

www.hobartslater.co.uk www.hobartslater.co.uk A23587-HOB-TLM-DPS-08L.indd 1

JSA W A Ellis 020 7581 7654

6 s

26/02/2014 17:01

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Rutland Gate Rutland Knightsbridge SW7 Knightsbridge Approximately 56.20 56.20 sq sq m Approximately m // 605 605 sq sqft ft

Anexcellent excellentfreshly freshly decorated decorated An 4thfloor floorflat flatin infine fine stucco stucco 4th building with open aspect building with open aspect overlooking garden square overlooking garden square moments from Hyde Park and moments from Hyde Park and an easy walk to Harrods. an easy walk to Harrods. double bedroom double bedroom bathroom bathroom reception room reception kitchen room kitchen porter porter lift lift entryphone entryphone use of communal gardens use EPCofDcommunal gardens EPC D Share of Freehold Share of Freehold £1,450,000 £1,450,000 Sole Agent

Sole Agent

Rutland Gate Rutland GateSW7 Knightsbridge Knightsbridge SW7 Approximately 121.14 sq m/

Flat r Flat

4

4 17:01

1,304 sq ft Approximately 121.14 sq m / 1,304 ft Highsq specification refurbishment

of top floor lateral refurbishment apartment in High specification white stucco building overlooking of top floor lateral apartment in garden square and moments white stucco building overlooking from Harrods & Hyde Park. garden square and moments 3 bedrooms from Harrods & Hyde Park.

2 bathrooms 3studio bedrooms reception room 2kitchen bathrooms studio reception room hallway porter 174.93 sq m/1,883 sqkitchen ft hallway lift A Freehold Grade II listed period townhouse with rear garden, offering flexible accommodation and having porter video entryphone potential to extend, subject to planning permission – off Montpelier Squarelift in the heart ofgardens Knightsbridge. use of communal video EPC Eentryphone 3 bedrooms, 3 ensuite bathrooms and dressing rooms, 2 reception rooms,use kitchen, guest gardens WC, of communal Share of Freehold rear garden, vault, extensive loft space, EPC D EPC E £3,795,000 Freehold £4,150,000 JSA W A Ellis 020 7306 1620

Sterling Street Knightsbridge SW7

6-8 Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge, London SW7 1EZ sales@hobartslater.co.uk 6-8 Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge, London SW7 1EZ sales@hobartslater.co.uk

A23587-HOB-TLM-DPS-08L.indd 2

Share of Freehold £3,795,000

020 7581 8277 020 7581 8277 26/02/2014 17:01

1st Floor Flat 1st Floor Flat

3rd Floor Flat 3rd Floor Flat

Rutland Gate Walk Knightsbridge SW7 Montpelier Knightsbridge SW7 139.82 sq m/1,505 sq ft Charming andtwo picturesque corner Townhouse in the heart with of Knightsbridge Village, We are offering excellent flats for sale in this period building resident caretaker & lift,arranged Rutland Gate Knightsbridge SW7

over 4on floors andPark with various terraces, walk fromshops Harrods & Hyde Park. facing to Hyde and withinroof a short walk toan all easy Knightsbridge’s & restaurants We are offering two excellent flats for sale in this period building with resident caretaker & lift, 3rd floor newly refurbished apartment with park 1st floor balcony maisonette: 3 bedrooms, facing on to Hyde Park and within a short walk to all Knightsbridge’s shops & restaurants bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, reception study, views: 2room, bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double reception 34bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, reception room, room, kitchen/breakfast / 923 sq ft with park room, kitchen, EPCrefurbished C, 85.75 sq mapartment roof epc DEPC C, 144.18 sq m / 1,552 sq ft hall, balcony, 3rd floor newly 1st entrance floorterrace, balcony maisonette: 3 bedrooms, views: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double 3 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, reception room, Freehold Guide Price £3,000,000 Leasehold £4,350,000 Sole Agent Leasehold £2,780,000 JSA W A Ellisreception 020Sole 7581Agent 7654 entrance hall, balcony, EPC C, 144.18 sq m / 1,552 sq ft

room, kitchen, EPC C, 85.75 sq m / 923 sq ft

Leasehold £4,350,000

Leasehold £2,780,000

Sole Agent

www.hobartslater.co.uk www.hobartslater.co.uk A23587-HOB-TLM-DPS-08L.indd 1

JSA W A Ellis 020 7581 7654

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Rutland Gate Rutland Knightsbridge SW7 Knightsbridge Approximately 56.20 56.20 sq sq m Approximately m // 605 605 sq sqft ft

Anexcellent excellentfreshly freshly decorated decorated An 4thfloor floorflat flatin infine fine stucco stucco 4th building with open aspect building with open aspect overlooking garden square overlooking garden square moments from Hyde Park and moments from Hyde Park and an easy walk to Harrods. an easy walk to Harrods. double bedroom double bedroom bathroom bathroom reception room reception kitchen room kitchen porter porter lift lift entryphone entryphone use of communal gardens use EPCofDcommunal gardens EPC D Share of Freehold Share of Freehold £1,450,000 £1,450,000 Sole Agent

Sole Agent

Rutland Gate Rutland GateSW7 Knightsbridge Knightsbridge SW7 Approximately 121.14 sq m/

Flat r Flat

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4 17:01

1,304 sq ft Approximately 121.14 sq m / 1,304 ft Highsq specification refurbishment

of top floor lateral refurbishment apartment in High specification white stucco building overlooking of top floor lateral apartment in garden square and moments white stucco building overlooking from Harrods & Hyde Park. garden square and moments 3 bedrooms from Harrods & Hyde Park.

2 bathrooms 3studio bedrooms reception room 2kitchen bathrooms studio reception room hallway kitchen 170.47 sq m/1,835 sq ft porter hallway lift Architect designed, newly renovated Mews house on three floors, tastefully presented and ready for porter video entryphone immediate occupation. Superbly situated in this picturesque cobbled Mews an easy walk of lift usewithin of communal gardens Hyde Park and Harrods. video EPC Eentryphone 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, double reception room, kitchen/dining room, entrance lobby, guest use of communal gardens Share of Freehold cloakroom, hi specification, epc C EPC E £3,795,000 Freehold £4,750,000 Sole Agent

Ennismore Gardens Mews Knightsbridge SW7

6-8 Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge, London SW7 1EZ sales@hobartslater.co.uk 6-8 Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge, London SW7 1EZ sales@hobartslater.co.uk

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Share of Freehold £3,795,000

020 7581 8277 020 7581 8277 26/02/2014 17:01

REASONS TO CHOOSE WILFORDS No.10 WHERE DISCRETION IS KEY

Experts in the art of discretion

We offer maximum exposure for those clients who require it, however we also understand that some of our clients prefer a low-key, under the radar, off-market sale. We have vast amounts of experience when it comes to off-market transactions, bringing this type of transaction to a satisfactory conclusion.

We believe that at every step, finding, selling or renting your property should be a hassle-free, smooth and enjoyable process.

+44 (0)20 7361 0400 • info@wilfords.com • wilfords.com

ALLEN STREET, KENSINGTON, W8 £1,595,000 1041 SQ FT / 96.7 SQ M | 3 BEDROOMS | SHARE OF FREEHOLD THE ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON & CHELSEA

A beautifully presented three bedroom two bathroom flat located on the first floor of this well maintained period building with a charming and bright reception room overlooking the communal roof garden.

The apartment benefits from three double bedrooms and two bathrooms, semi open plan kitchen and light and spacious reception room. The property offers a great balance of living and entertaining space.

Allen Mansions is situated on Allen Street which runs to the south of Kensington High Street boasting its many shops and restaurants. The property is a short walk from both Holland Park and Hyde Park. In addition there are excellent transport links.

+44 (0)20 7361 0400 • info@wilfords.com • wilfords.com

Launceston Place, W8 2,646 sq ft (245.8 sq m)

An elegant low built regency villa situated in one of the most highly regarded streets in Kensington. This five bedroom semi-detached house is set over four floors and has gardens to the front and rear elevations.

Entrance Hall | Double Reception Room | Study/Office | Cloakroom/W.C | Dining Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Family Room/Bedroom 5 | Master Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom | Three/Four Further Bedrooms | Two Bathrooms

Price Upon Application Freehold sales@dominiclondon.com 38 Gloucester Road, SW7

020 7590 9339

www.dominiclondon.com

Completely at home in West London.

Our services Sales and Lettings Property Management Block Management Property Solicitors Chartered Surveyors Financial Services Visit kfh.co.uk

With over 35 years’ experience and 50 branches across the Capital, our local knowledge and London network will ensure we achieve the right result for you.

Local branches include • Bayswater • Fulham • Holland Park

KFH MASTER brand adverts_September October.indd 3

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Queensdale Road, Holland Park, W11 £2,400,000 Holland Park 020 3542 2111 Email shp@kfh.co.uk

10.14 KFH Kensington & Chelsea.indd 2

A superb four bedroom, three bathroom townhouse with excellent entertaining space featuring an elegant 26ft reception room, patio garden and roof terrace with a southerly aspect.

• • • • • • • • •

Four bedrooms 26ft reception room Three bathrooms Contemporary kitchen Roof terrace Patio Southerly aspect Freehold EPC rating E

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Marloes Road, High Street Kensington, W8 £1,150 pw Holland Park 020 3542 2120 Email lhp@kfh.co.uk

An amazing two double bedroom, two bathroom flat with a brand new kitchen, solid oak flooring and extremely light reception room with a high ceiling and huge windows.

• • • • • • • •

Two double bedrooms Two stylish bathrooms Sonos surround sound Lutron lighting Solid oak flooring Close to underground station Furnished or unfurnished EPC rating B

£210 tenancy agreement fee per property. Other fees apply, visit kfh.co.uk/lettingsfees

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CADOGAN GARDENS, CHELSEA, SW3

£3,250,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD • NEWLY RENOVATED • TWO DOUBLE BEDROOMS • RESIDENT CARETAKER • COMMUNAL GARDENS • COMFORT COOLING AND HEATING • BANG & OLUFSEN AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT • EPC E •

BELGRAVIA OFFICE 1 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JX +44 (0)20 7235 8861 belgraviaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk

WHITEHEADS GROVE, CHELSEA, SW3

£1,595 PER WEEK • THREE BEDROOMS • RECEPTION ROOM • KITCHEN WITH SEPARATE DINING AREA • TWO BATHROOMS • PORTER • LIFT • WOOD FLOORS • EPC D •

CHELSEA OFFICE 2 Cale Street, London SW3 3QU +44 (0)20 7581 5011 chelseaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk

Princes Gate, Kensington, SW7 A well presented 4th floor apartment situated within a stucco fronted period building with porter and lift. The flat offers superb views from the reception/dining room, has 2 bedrooms, a fitted kitchen and a bathroom. This property would make an ideal pied a terre. Long leasehold of approx. 966 years remaining. EPC Rating C.

£1,650,000 Leasehold ABU

DHABI

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AIX-EN-PROVENCE

JSA Douglas & Gordon, Kensington •

BARCELONA

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CANNES

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COURCHEVEL

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www.john-taylor.com

COSTA

BRAVA

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GENEVA

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GSTAAD

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LONDON

Little Chester Street, Belgravia, SW1X A Georgian style terrace house, fully refurbished to a high standard. Three of the 5 bedrooms are en suite with some high quality examples of marble bathrooms. The property offers four areas for informal or formal entertaining as well as an attic sitting room accessed from a bedroom on the 2nd floor. A garage with internal access exits onto the Mews behind the house where there is also an assigned car-parking space on a rental agreement. EPC Rating C. John Taylor UK 48 Berkeley Square, London W1J 5AX Tel: 020 3284 1888

£4,250,000 Freehold MEGEVE

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MILAN

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MONACO

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PARIS

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ST-JEAN-CAP-FERRAT

www.john-taylor.com

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ST-PAUL-DE-VENCE

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VALBONNE

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HARRODS COURT KNIGHTSBRIDGE SW3

ÂŁ2,500,000 leasehold

2 bedrooms | reception | kitchen | 2 bathrooms | air-conditioning | terrace | parking | 24-hour concierge | Epc F

www.century21uk.com/nottinghill

nottinghill@century21uk.com

HYDE PARK SQUARE HYDE PARK W2

ÂŁ3,750,000 share of freehold

3 bedrooms | double-aspect reception and kitchen | 3 bathrooms | communal gardens | porter | lift | Epc C

10 Clarendon Road London W11 3AA

020 7229 1414

020 7373 5222 info@hogarthestates.co.uk www.hogarthestates.co.uk

H

Hogarths Philbeach Gardens SW5

• Raised ground floor • 2 bedroom apartment • Newly refurbished • Private garden • Share of freehold

aVAILABLE

£995,000 £1,635,000

EARLS COURT Trebovir SQUARE Road SW5

• Two bedroom apartment • 2/3 beds • Two bathrooms • Lift • Loft style feel • Private terrace • Period building • Share of freehold • Share of freehold

aVAILABLE

£1,075,000 £2,450,000

020 7373 5222 info@hogarthestates.co.uk www.hogarthestates.co.uk

H

Hogarths Nevern Square SW5 • 3 bed apartment • First floor with balcony • Access and views to

communal gardens • High ceilings • Share of freehold

aVAILABLE

£1,775,000

Morton Mews SW5

• 5 bedrooms

• Fantastic reception space • Spacious modern kitchen • Dual entrance • Roof terrace • Freehold

aVAILABLE

£2,450,000

49 Beauchamp Place London SW3 1NY 020 7581 3253 lettings@pattersonbowe.co.uk

Trevor Square, Knightsbridge SW7

A newly refurbished house overlooking the private garden square.

• 3 reception rooms • Conservatory • Kitchen • 5 Bedrooms • 3 Bath/shower rooms • Study area • Patio garden • Cloakroom • EER band D • 2225 sq ft / 207 sq m £2,500 per week Unfurnished Sole Agent

Rutland Gate, Knightsbridge SW7

An elegant flat with high ceilings and well proportioned rooms overlooking Hyde Park.

Reception room with balcony • Dining room • Kitchen • 3 Bedrooms • Bathroom • Shower room • Cloakroom • Resident caretaker • Lift • EER band C • 1603 sq ft / 149 sq m £2,375 per week Unfurnished Sole Agent

020 7581 3253

www.pattersonbowe.co.uk

49 Beauchamp Place London SW3 1NY 020 7581 3253 sales@pattersonbowe.co.uk

Cornwall Gardens, South Kensington SW7

Quietly located at the western end of the square a lovely ground floor flat with high ceilings.

• 2 bedrooms • 2 en suite shower rooms • Reception room • Large dining area • Open plan kitchen • Cloakroom • EER band D • 893 sq ft / 83 sq m £1,595,000 Lease 148 years approximately

www.pattersonbowe.co.uk

020 7581 3253

Evelyn Gardens South Kensington SW7

A stunning two bedroom ground floor apartment with an impressive drawing room benefitting from being three windows wide, 3.5 metre ceiling heights and with direct access onto a well-manicured communal garden.

Entrance Hall • Drawing Room • Kitchen • Two Bedrooms • Shower Room • Cloakroom Terrace • Communal Garden • EPC Rating D

L E A SEHOLD: APPROX IMATE LY 124 YE A R S

£2,750,000

020-7225 0277 www.russellsimpson.co.uk

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Walton Place Knightsbridge SW3

An elegant house which has been completely refurbished to a high standard, set behind its own front garden as well as having a landscaped garden to the rear.

Entrance Hall • Drawing Room • Dining Room • Cinema Room • Study • Kitchen • Breakfast Room • Five Bedrooms Four Bathrooms • Front Garden • Rear Garden • EPC Rating D

F R EEHOLD

£11,950,000

020-7225 0277 www.russellsimpson.co.uk

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Kensington Palace Gardens, Kensington W8

An outstanding and very special five bedroom duplex apartment in arguably the most exclusive address in prime central London.

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Price Upon Application Leasehold

The property comprises approximately 5,089 sq ft with two secure underground parking spaces, porterage and the most sensational terrace overlooking the beautifully maintained communal gardens.

5,089 sq ft (472.8 sq m) Entrance hall | Drawing room | Dining area | Sitting room | Kitchen/breakfast room | Five bedrooms with en suite bathrooms | Shower room | Laundry room | Chauffeurs room | Storage room | Secure underground parking for two cars | Resident porter | Terrace | Use of communal gardens

Kensington 020 7938 3666 kensington@struttandparker.com

Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959 knightsbridge@struttandparker.com

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Ladbroke Grove House, Notting Hill W11

A spacious one bedroom, ground floor flat in the heart of the Ladbroke Conservation Area. The flat benefits from westerly views over beautiful, private communal gardens.

623 sqft (57.9 sq m) EPC rating E Entrance Hall | Drawing Room | Kitchen | Double bedroom | Bathroom | Study | Access to communal gardens

Draycott Place, Chelsea SW3

A superb three bedroom flat on the third floor (with a lift) of this handsome red brick Victorian building. fabulous south west facing views.

ÂŁ825,000 Share of Freehold

Notting Hill 020 7221 1111 Nottinghill@struttandparker.com

ÂŁ2,250,000 Share of Freehold

977sq ft (90.8 sq m) EPC rating D Entrance hall | Drawing Room | Kitchen | Bedroom with en suite bathroom | Two further bedrooms | Second bathroom | Lift

Chelsea 020 7225 3866 Chelsea@struttandparker.com

Hans Place, Knightsbridge SW1

On the second floor of a handsome red brick period building. This flat has spacious and well-arranged accommodation.

ÂŁ3,250,000 Share of Freehold

1,219 sq ft (113.2 sq m) EPC Rating D Entrance hall | Reception room | Kitchen | Master bedroom with en-suite shower room | Second double bedroom with en-suite bathroom

Holland Park Avenue, Holland Park W11

An outstanding two bedroom maisonette occupying approximately 1,260 sq ft, on the ground and lower ground floors of this stucco fronted Grade II listed building.

1,260 sqft (117.1 sq m) EPC rating E Entrance Hall | Drawing room | Dining room | Kitchen | Master bedroom with en-suite | Double bedroom | Bathroom | Cloakroom | Garden

Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959 Knightsbridge@struttandparker.com

ÂŁ1,995,000 Leasehold

Notting Hill 020 7221 1111 Nottinghill@struttandparker.com

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Kensington Park Gardens, Notting Hill W11

Situated on one of the finest addresses in Notting Hill, a substantial end of terrace, period house now in need of modernisation and with direct access to Ladbroke Square Gardens.

11,660, sq ft (1,083 sq m) Entrance Hall | Drawing room | Kitchen breakfast room | Sitting room | Dining room | Second kitchen | Studio room | Eight bedrooms | Eight bath/shower rooms | Staff flat | Swimming pool | Sauna | Lift | Terrace | Garden | Off Street parking | Access to communal gardens

Notting Hill 020 7221 1111 Nottinghill@struttandparker.com

POA Freehold

Earls Terrace, Kensington W8

An outstanding six bedroom Grade II Listed family house, with a wonderful 93 ft long southfacing garden, swimming pool, 24 hour uniformed security and an underground parking space.

4,935 sq ft (458.5 sq m) Entrance hall | Kitchen/breakfast room | Dining room | Library | Drawing room | Six bedrooms | Five bathrooms | Swimming pool | South facing terrace | South facing garden | Access to Edwardes Square Gardens | 24 hour uniformed security | Underground parking space

Kensington 020 7938 3666 Kensington@struttandparker.com

ÂŁ10,200,000 Freehold

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Abingdon Road, Kensington W8

An impressive and well presented five bedroom family house, with excellent entertaining space, including a fabulous kitchen/ family room on the lower ground floor.

2,411 sq ft (223.9 sq m) EPC Rating E Entrance hall | Drawing room | Kitchen/ family room | Master bedroom with ensuite bathroom | Four further bedrooms | Two further bathrooms | Utility room | Cloakroom | Garden | Storage vault

Kensington 020 7938 3666 Kensington@struttandparker.com

ÂŁ4,150,000 Freehold

Lamont Road, Chelsea SW10

An impressive five bedroom corner house extending to approx. 2,818 sq ft, making it one of the larger homes in the Ten Acre Estate.

Asking price ÂŁ4,850,000 Freehold

2,818 sq ft (261.8 sq m) EPC Rating E Entrance hall | Drawing room | Kitchen/ dining room | Playroom | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing room | Four further bedrooms | Two bathrooms | Study | Cloakroom | Studio | Garden | Patio

West Chelsea 020 7373 1010 Westchelsea@struttandparker.com

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Cathcart Road, Chelsea SW10

This exceptional house has been extensively reconstructed and designed to incorporate the principal accommodation set over two floors.

Price on application Freehold

3,508 sq ft (325.9 sq m) EPC Rating C Living room | Kitchen | Media room | Playroom | Wine room | Four bedrooms | Four bathrooms | Bedroom five/study | Utility room | 36’9” garden | Off-street parking

Flood Street, Chelsea SW3

A substantial family house beautifully designed to an exacting standard offering a light and modern interior with integral garage, off street parking and large west-facing garden.

West Chelsea 020 7373 1010 Westchelsea@struttandparker.com

£9,500,000 Freehold

4,840 sq ft (449.7 sq m) EPC Rating C Kitchen/Dining room | Drawing room | Five bedrooms | Four bathrooms | bedroom six/ study | Home cinema | Garage | Off-street parking | West-facing garden

Chelsea 020 7225 3866 Chelsea@struttandparker.com

Holland Park Road, Holland Park W14

An outstanding and beautifully presented three bedroom house over three floors only with the benefit of a south-facing garden and off street parking.

1,300 sq ft (120.8 sq m) EPC rating C Entrance hall | Drawing room | Kitchen/ dining room | Three bedrooms | Bathroom | En suite shower room | Garden | Balcony | Off-street parking

Cadogan Street, Chelsea SW3

A superb five bedroom family house, with stylish and practical open plan living space and a contemporary patio garden.

ÂŁ2,750,000 Freehold

Kensington 020 7938 3666 Kensington@struttandparker.com JSA Knight Frank 0207 938 4311

ÂŁ4,875,000, Freehold

2,786 sq ft (258.8 sq m) EPC rating C Drawing room | Dining room | Kitchen | Family room | Five bedrooms | Four bath/ shower rooms | Study | Guest cloakroom | Garden | Laundry room

Chelsea 020 7225 3866 Chelsea@struttandparker.com

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One Sandy Lane, St James, Barbados

“Arguably the most luxurious property ever built on the island, this magnificent development exemplifies the Barbados lifestyle”

Overlooking the Caribbean Sea, One Sandy Lane is comprised of eight ultimately private, refined, and secure residences. This magnificent development was built to emulate the graceful beauty of the legendary Sandy Lane Hotel located a short stroll away.

Lulu Egerton 020 7225 3866 Lulu.egerton@struttandparker.com

8,500 – 10,000 sq ft Elevator | Gym | Pool | Spa | Courtyard | Air Conditioning | Underground Parking | Beachfront | Doorman / Concierge

$19,000,000

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Westbourne Grove, W11

A fantastic two bedroom maisonette finished to a high standard throughout, this well presented property is spread over two floors ideally situated in the heart of Notting Hill.

£1,200 per week* Furnished/Unfurnished

1,101 sq ft (102.3 sq m) EPC rating D Reception | Kitchen | Two bedrooms | Two bathrooms

Notting Hill 020 7221 1111 Nottinghill@struttandparker.com

*The following Tenant charges may apply prior to tenancy commencement: Tenancy Agreement £210 (inc VAT) Credit References per application £54 (inc VAT). All advertised prices are excluded and other associated services.

Elm Park Gardens, SW10

Simply stunning, this magnificent, lateral Chelsea apartment spans 3 buildings with the principle rooms enjoying wonderful views over private communal gardens.

ÂŁ3,500 per week* Furnished/Unfurnished

2,185 sq ft (203 sq m) EPC rating E Reception room | Kitchen/dining area | Study/dining hall | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, shower room and dressing room | Double bedroom | Double bedroom/ nursery | Shower room | Terrace | Balcony | Communal Gardens | Underground parking for one car

West Chelsea 020 7373 1010 Westchelsea@struttandparker.com

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Prospect House, Wimbledon

“A country house in London�

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Price Upon Application Freehold

A unique and magnificent Grade II listed Victorian mansion set in beautiful landscaped gardens of nearly two acres, including an enchanting woodland garden, tennis court and swimming pool.

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8,329 sq ft (773.76 sq m) Reception hall | Two main reception rooms | Two studies | Large family room | Family kitchen | Six bedrooms | Five bathrooms | Staff flat | Extensive outbuildings and grounds

Head Office 020 7629 7282

andrew.scott@struttandparker.com JSA: Robert Holmes & Co 020 8947 9833 enquiries@robertholmes.co.uk

08/09/2014 16:31

WHERE ELEGANCE COMES AS STANDARD

Enviably located at the very heart of Westminster SW1, Great Minster House is a new collection of bespoke residences sumptuously finished to the very highest standards. Set foot inside the grand lobby and enter a world of Edwardian-inspired splendour, where opulent apartment interiors lie behind every door.

With fastidious attention to detail and consummate craftsmanship, these spectacularly spacious homes exhibit all the traditional hallmarks of luxurious living. Complemented by a 24-hour concierge, Great Minster House represents the last word in a London lifestyle utterly free of compromise, and offers a rare opportunity to reside in one of London’s most exclusive locales.

Prices from ÂŁ975,000

Contact us now to arrange your viewing appointment.

0844 811 4321 | barrattlondon.com/greatminsterhouse

Aldgate

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Brentford

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Edgware

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Fulham

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Greenwich

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Hendon

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Highbury

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Lewisham

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Rotherhithe

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Royal Docks

Computer generated images are for illustrative purposes only. Images include optional upgrades at additional cost. All information in this document is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of going to press.

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Soho

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Westminster

Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge SW1

A rare, newly refurbished four bedroom apartment benefitting from its own private entrance, a 46’8� wide private garden and spacious lateral accommodation.

Price on application Leasehold

4,001 sq ft (371.7 sq m) Entrance hall | Drawing room | Kitchen/ dining room | Four bedroom suites | Study | Yoga and massage rooms | Guest cloakroom | Large garden | Private garage (separate lease until 10 March 2023) | Resident caretaker

Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959 James.forbes@struttandparker.com