Kensington & Chelsea October 2017 by Runwild Media Group

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contents

regulars 10. Contributors 12. Editor’s letter 14. Five minutes with... Director of art for The Arts Club Aurore Odgen 16. Diary notes 19. Spotlight Floral decoration with Shane Connolly 22. Profile At the drawing board with cartoonist Gerard Scarfe

culture 28. Art & antiques

travel

63. Style file

83. Globetrotter

64. Beauty notes

84. Marcel Wanders The design maverick on his new hotel in Majorca

70. Design notes

30. Exhibition Opera: Passion, Power and Politics at the V&A

72. Chiswick Auctions Fulham Road’s new antiques hotspot

collection

fashion 48. Style notes

high life property

42. Tessa Packard The jewellery designer’s new Chelsea store 45. World of watches

90. Thailand A chance to own a slice of paradise on Koh Samui

94. Food & drink

36. Jewellery box

38. Harry Winston The brand’s latest high jewellery collection

74. Material world Unravelling the new world of contemporary textiles

58. Accessories Walk into the new season with the best boots for A/W17

interiors

37. Objects of desire

50. Fashion shoot

99. Luxury homes in the Royal Borough

contributors

Richard Brown

Camilla Apcar

Watch enthusiast and editor of The City Magazine, Richard Brown, reports on the latest news, models and collaborations making the horology world tick this month (p.45).

Luxury lifestyle journalist and deputy editor of The Mayfair Magazine, Camilla Apcar puts her best foot forward this season and scouts out the top boots on offer for A/W17 (p.58-61).

OC T OBE R 2 01 7 Acting Editor Lauren Romano Contributing Editor Mhairi Graham Assistant Editor Ellen Millard Editorial Assistants Lauren Stevens Alicia Osborne-Crone Senior Designer Daniel Poole Junior Designer Paris Fielder

Rebecca Wallersteiner

Daniel Pembrey

Design Intern Enrika Katiya

Rebecca Wallersteiner is an arts journalist who has lived in Kensington and collected art and antiques for more than 20 years. She has written for The Telegraph, The Times and The Lady. Read her pick of this month’s cultural highlights on pages 28-29.

A long-term Chelsea resident, Daniel Pembrey is a crime fiction author and features writer for The Financial Times, The Field and The Telegraph. On pages 22-25, he learns from Gerald Scarfe how a great cartoonist gets a character down on the page.

Brand Consistency Laddawan Juhong Production Hugo Wheatley Alice Ford Jamie Steele Executive Director Sophie Roberts General Manager Fiona Smith

on the

COVER Left: Image courtesy of Tom Dixon, photography: Peer Lindgreen; Right: Image courtesy of Delpozo, photography: Filip & Kito

On the cover of The Kensington & Chelsea Magazine, art and fashion combine forces in Delpozo’s avant-garde A/W17 collection (p.47). On the cover of The Notting Hill & Holland Park Magazine, statement seats steal the show thanks to Tom Dixon’s Wingback chair (p.70).

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editor’s letter

From top: La Perla’s A/W17 collection, p.48; Arrington sofa and Kaya rug designed by A Rum Fellow, p.74

october “The blank page and a looming deadline can still fill me with terror” – Gerald Scarfe Politics and penmanship collide in Gerald Scarfe’s acerbic cartoons of the good, the bad and the ugly. The celebrated sketcher has been putting pen to paper in his Chelsea studio for half a century, capturing everyone from Arnie to Trump in the process. Find out how he brings the heroes and villains of our time to life on page 22. Elsewhere in this, our design issue, we get greenfingered with florist to the royals Shane Connolly, as he plugs British blooms with a series of masterclasses (p.19); find out what makes Harry Winston’s latest collection of diamond jewels sparkle (p.38); and visit Tessa Packard’s first showroom on Ives Street (p.42). If it’s inspiration for your home rather than your jewellery box you’re after, we talk to the ‘Lady Gaga of the design world’, Marcel Wanders about putting his unique stamp on a hotel in Majorca (p.84). Here, finishing touches include a putting green in the games suite and bathroom mirrors that resemble eyeballs. I’m sure Lady Gaga would approve...

Lauren Romano, Acting editor

HIDE AND REVEAL

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regulars

Clockwise from left: Aurore Ogden, photography: Luke A Walker; Atsuko Tanaka, Untitled, 1980; Shozo Shimamoto, Bottle Crash ’97, 1997; Toshio Yoshida, Sakuhin (Work), 1965; Atsuko Tanaka, 2003E, 2003

From a young age I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by beautiful art and design. My parents collected a number of works by Scandinavian artists, but their acquisitions were usually guided by their extensive, far-flung travels. Wherever we went in the world we would always wind up in the nearest museum or art gallery. As director of art I am primarily responsible for curating the Club’s art events programme. This is comprised of topical panel discussions, contemporary artists in conversation and private studio and exhibition tours. A large part of my day is spent researching event concepts and meeting with artists, galleries and museum directors, both at the Club, which attracts a diverse crosssection of people working in the arts, and beyond. A definite highlight for me was when Frances Morris, the director of Tate Modern and photographer Wolfgang Tillmans spoke at The Arts Club. Frances has been uniquely positioned to track (and contribute to) Wolfgang’s career trajectory over the past 20 years, culminating in his superb show earlier this year at Tate Modern, so they made for a really interesting pairing. I have a pretty diverse range of tastes but Helen Frankenthaler, the American abstract expressionist painter, is my current obsession. I’m planning to go to Paris just for the day to ensure I catch her show at Gagosian before it closes. She experimented tirelessly in a range of media, but it’s her use of colour that I love the most.

014 | LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK

five minutes with

Aurore Ogden The Holland Park local and director of art at The Arts Club discusses her favourite painters and the best galleries to explore in the Royal Borough as told to Ellen Millard

For sentimental reasons I would say Winslow Homer’s Breezing Up is my favourite artwork. Homer’s original studio is still located right next to our house in Maine. The seascape he depicts in his painting is one we are lucky enough to look out at every day we are there.

Piano Nobile on Portland Road is a favourite gallery of mine. It specialises in modern and contemporary British art and is run by father-son team Robert and Matthew Travers. We had the chance to work together on our John Golding show at The Arts Club as they represent the Golding estate. Frestonian Gallery, which recently opened on Olaf Street is also worth a visit. Its inaugural show, The Luminous Language, was a wonderful pairing of David Hockney, William Crozier and Adrian Berg, among others. This month we open We Impose No Rules: Select Works from the Gutai Group at The Arts Club. It has been curated by Wedel Art and promises to be sensational based on the works selected thus far. In the run up to the Frieze Art Fair in October we have Tad Smith, president and CEO of Sotheby’s, coming to speak about the art market in the current social and political climate, followed by Dr Xa Sturgis, director of the Ashmolean in November. We Impose No Rules: Select Works from the Gutai Group, 13 September 2017 – January 2018, theartsclub.co.uk

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Anthony Garratt, Some Kind of Paradise

Exhibition

The great outdoors

Artist Anthony Garratt’s love of remote landscapes is evident in his latest exhibition at Thackeray Gallery, where 30 new and unseen paintings incorporate natural materials such as leaves and sand, taking the viewer on a journey from Cornwall to Spain. 10-27 October, 18 Thackeray Street, W8, thackeraygallery.com

Illustration ©Sir Quentin Blake

diary notes words by Lauren Stevens

Exhibition

Passage to India

The Science Museum is dedicating a six-month season to India, hosting several events and activities centred on the vibrant country. Highlights include a Q&A screening of Slumdog Millionaire with director Danny Boyle, as well as an Indian tea blending workshop with mixologists from the Bluebird Tea Company. 4 October – 31 March, from £5, The Science Museum, Exhibition Road, SW7, sciencemuseum.org.uk

Below: Tenth anniversary singing recital; Right: Mayor of the Royal Borough MarieTherese Rossi

Ksema Karna, Bhugola or Earth-Ball, India, 1571

Auction

Helping Hand This October, Sir Quentin Blake and Peter Kuhfeld, will join fellow artist Ken Howard to raise money for the Kids for Kids charity by putting some of their works up for auction. The charity aims to support children in Darfur, Sudan who suffer from malnourishment and lack of education. 26 October, John Bly Gallery, 533 King’s Road, SW10, kidsforkids.org.uk

Charity

On the horizon

The Royal Borough’s Councillor Marie-Therese Rossi was joined by VIPs, including Baroness Sally Greengross, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the New Horizon centre in Kensington. The establishment works to help sustain the physical and mental wellbeing of the elderly through a variety of activities. New workshops for the coming months include non-fiction writing, ballet-barre conditioning and social media. Guinness Trust Estate, Cadogan Street, SW3, new-horizons-chelsea.org.uk

regulars book worm

Laura Fishman, Squamish

The thoughts, theories and inspiration behind the world’s most iconic designs

Wedgwood: A Story of Creation and Innovation

Conference Hall in Termi di Montecatini thermal baths, Italy, 1987, ©Scala Archives

G ay e Bl ak e R obe rts a n d A l ic e R awsthor n Delve into the history of Britain’s most successful chinaware brand. £45, amazon.co.uk

Exhibition

Country living

What better way to escape the hustle and bustle of London life than through the medium of art? In the latest exhibition at 508 King’s Road Gallery, painters Alice Cescatti and Laura Fishman transport viewers to the countryside with a series of colourful new works inspired by the natural world. 17-27 October, 508 King’s Road, SW10, 508kingsroad.com

Johanna St Michaels, Matt Johnson New York

Music

Big screen

Enjoy live music scores from some of the biggest names in the movie industry during the Royal Albert Hall’s Festival of Film. This year’s line-up includes Jaws and The Addams Family, as well as exclusive world premieres of Michael Giacchino’s and James Newton Howard’s career retrospectives. 1 October – 3 November, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7, royalalberthall.com

Post Modern Design Complete J u di th G u ra Explore the Post Modern design movement that dominated the 1980s, taking over everything from architecture and textiles to furniture and industrial design. £65, waterstones.com

Women Jewellery Designers J u l i e t W e i r -de La R och e foucau l d An illustrated tome celebrating the work of female jewellery designers, including Coco Chanel and Paloma Picasso. £60, waterstones.com

1000 Chairs

50 Designers You Should Know

C har l ott e a n d Pe t e r F i e l l Take a seat and flick through this extensive encyclopaedia dedicated to the humble chair in all its different guises and designs. £14.99, taschen.com

C l au di a H e l l ma n N Discover 50 of the most influential names in design and how they have helped shape the way we live, from Charles and Ray Eames to Apple. £14.99, waterstones.com

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21/08/2017 13:35

regulars

spotlight

Flower ranger Floral decorator to the stars Shane Connolly shares the tricks of his trade in a series of workshops inspired by the Dutch Masters words by Ellen Millard

t’s an unusual request for a man whose life’s work revolves around flora and fauna, crafted into exquisite displays for birthdays, weddings and funerals: a party, decorated with blooms aplenty, for a host who is gravely allergic to flowers. With petals, pollen and panicles out of the window, reams of silk were deftly twisted into blossoming buds and placed between surrealist props inspired by David LaChapelle. It was certainly one of Shane Connolly’s more unusual commissions, although his day-today activities are hardly of the regular ilk. When we meet, he is still on a high from the night before: the launch party of the Royal Academy’s Matisse in the Studio exhibition, for which he amassed a plethora of dahlias in rainbow hues. “Of course, you can’t be subtle with Matisse,” he grins. Now something of a veteran in the flower industry, Connolly caught the gardening bug at the ripe old age of ten, when he was given a miniature greenhouse and found within it a love of the natural world. “I can’t remember when I didn’t like gardening,” he says, his Irish lilt seeping through, despite his many years in London. “The first things I ever grew were radishes but, as we’d never seen them in Northern Ireland before, we threw them all out. We thought they should look like turnips.” Needless to say, his knowledge has somewhat expanded since then, and you’d be hard pushed to find a man more adept in the art of floral decoration. This rather clunky nomenclature is perhaps the best way to describe his work, which skirts on the edge of floristry and doesn’t quite fit into the category of design. His job is instead a combination of the two: he might assemble bridal bouquets one day and floor-to-ceiling displays the next. The Matisse exhibition at the All photography: RA is one of many events that Jason Lowe

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“There would be fewer problems in the world if everybody did a little bit of gardening”

Connolly has assisted the gallery with, having worked with the company for more than 25 years. The Victoria & Albert Museum is another loyal client, as is the royal family – Connolly holds two royal warrants (one from HRH The Prince of Wales and one from HM The Queen) – and as a result became the flower supplier of choice for the weddings of both TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall and TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The latter, he recalls, were “totally trusting”. “Most of the flowers came from the gardens at Windsor Castle and Sandringham House, so I wasn’t completely sure what I was going to get,” he recalls. “That only works with a client who is relaxed.” Along with a laid-back attitude, Connolly was delighted to discover that the royal family shares his passion for sustainability, and as such everything was recycled, replanted or composted after the event. For example, six of the maple trees that were used to decorate Westminster Abbey found a second home at Llwynywermod, the Prince of Wales’ estate just

outside the Brecon Beacons. Keeping the environment in mind is “an uphill battle”, Connolly admits. “We often donate plants to the Westway Trust, which beautifies the poorer parts of the borough,” he says. “We also donate fresh flowers after events to Floral Angels, a charity based in New Covent Garden that takes flowers to hospices and homeless shelters and gives them to people who have never received any in their lives, which is beyond comprehension for me.” Connolly also uses British flowers wherever possible, although the lack of home-grown produce is a sticking point for him. “The British flower industry has declined since the 1970s, quite terribly,” he says. “Some suppliers have started offering English flowers, so I do think there is a movement, but a lot of my contemporaries wouldn’t care where their flowers came from.” With a new series of workshops held at his Latimer Road studio, Connolly hopes to raise awareness of the declining industry, encourage people to source British blooms when buying for themselves and provide a lesson in arrangement, using seasonal produce in colours inspired by the Dutch Masters.

regulars

“The whole point is to bring nature inside because it makes you more aware of it, and I think the Dutch Masters do exactly that with their artwork,” he says. Each session will include a chance to create your own arrangement that you can take away with you, and even recreate at home. He will begin with a lesson on the craftsmanship behind the art, and tips on how to choose the best seasonal plants and flowers. At the very least, Connolly hopes he will inspire a new wave of people to consider the origins of their favourite flowers, and maybe even encourage them to get outside and plant their own. “People who only get inspired by floral arrangements miss out on so much. You really need to look at how the flowers grow,” he says. “There would be fewer problems in the world if everybody did a little bit of gardening.” Lessons on 12, 19 and 26 October from £325. Book a place at: courses@shaneconnolly.co.uk, 020 8964 4398, 11 Latimer Road, W10, shaneconnolly.co.uk

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profile

A sketchy

business Celebrated cartoonist and long-time Chelsea resident Gerald Scarfe on depicting heroes, villains and Donald Trump words by Daniel Pembrey

regulars

ow do you capture the essence of a person’s character on the page? It is a preoccupation for novelists such as myself who attempt to do just that with words. Then there are the cartoonists, who can distill personalities in a few deft brushstrokes. Cartoonists don’t come better than Gerald Scarfe. I meet him at his light-filled Chelsea studio, at the top of his handsome brick house, up several flights of steps – “good for making me plan ahead and avoid forgetting things such as glasses,” says Scarfe, now 81. His characterful smile and features are a worthy subject for his own cartoons (he has done several self-portraits), and while he carries a hip injury from earlier in life, he still stands up to draw, putting his whole body into it, requiring a large canvas to accommodate the energy. “I know from the first line if the drawing will work or not,” he says. How does he know when it is working? “When

Opposite page: Gerald Scarfe in the studio; This page, from top: The Beatles from Heroes and Villains at the National Portrait Gallery, 2003; President Obama; Pink Floyd, The Wall: The Team

I just feel it looks right,” he replies. We, the audience, may know it as that delicious moment of recognition – “That’s it!” – as we see a person or situation unmasked. The cartoonist’s job is a curious one, placing him or her at odds with the subject. Attention-craving politicians may be flattered to become subjects, but it is hard to imagine many people enjoying seeing their features exaggerated so. When Scarfe drew Arnold Schwarzenegger and showed him the result, the Terminator star responded, “My lips are too big.” He wasn’t joking. The conversation ended there. Scarfe drew the lips bigger. Today he can depict anyone without leaving his studio, but he still likes to move quietly among his subjects, observing politicians eating and socialising, or celebrities in similarly unguarded moments. Conversely, he has never felt at ease with sitters. “They ask to see what I have drawn and I end up pulling my punches,” he says. Having worked in his studio for half-a-century, he has become superstitious about it. “I feel that if I ever left, things might go awry.” It is filled with busts, exercise equipment and inks and nibs from Green & Stone Art Materials on the King’s Road, and yet, aside from the finished work on the walls, little compares to the artist himself. He had a difficult, asthmatic childhood – much of it spent in bed – and drawing became his creative outlet. Aged 16, he won a competition organised by Eagle comic. ‘David Hockney, Bradford’ was a runner-up. Scarfe began drawing for Eagle and later attended Saint Martin’s School of Art and the Royal College of Art. He taught himself to draw anatomy

“I know from the first line if the drawing will work or not”

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“The blank page and a looming deadline can still fill me with terror”

Clockwise from left: The Rolling Stones; Putting the Clocks Back; Another Mountain to Climb, both of Theresa May; Donald Trump; Gerald Scarfe with writer Daniel Pembrey

by studying medical books. His break came when his work was published in Private Eye, which brought him into contact with his future wife, actress Jane Asher. They remain together. Scarfe came to Chelsea in its ’60s heyday. He moved in all the right circles; the owner of the Daily Mail even bought him an E-Type Jaguar in 1966. Does he feel that the area has lost its magic? “It has changed, but the ambiance is still here. People still parade up and down the King’s Road,” he says. Collaborations with entertainment figures followed, including Pink Floyd and film director Alan Parker. These were not always easy, but invariably memorable. His work for Pink Floyd’s concept film The Wall remains revered, and will feature at Gerald Scarfe: Stage & Screen, an exhibition at the House of Illustration in King’s Cross running from 22 September to 21 January. He still enjoys dining locally, a current favourite being Elystan Street (“all the dishes are excellent”). Another pick is The Five Fields on Blacklands Terrace. In a former guise, it featured prominently

regulars

in the cult film Blow Up, which starred Scarfe’s great friend David Hemmings. The two men were regulars at Chelsea Arts Club. Scarfe was commissioned to design the poster for the 1976 Arts Club Ball and drew in genitalia; when the organising committee objected, Hemmings (who was on the committee) interceded. “They know the kind of things I draw!” Scarfe complained. The original design was upheld. Commentator Matthew Parris observed that cartoonists have to lead as well as read public opinion. They cannot reverse polarities by making a villain out of a hero, but they can alert us to fissures. So Obama (a great hero of Scarfe’s) was drawn as Superman wearied by the weight of the world’s expectations – an increasingly sorrowful figure. Much of this process occurs at the subconscious level, Scarfe says, but it shows up in outward traits such as Theresa May’s stooping shoulders, or Tony Blair’s ferocious smile. A cartoon may start with a set of ideas that suddenly coalesce, or be forced into existence by an imminent deadline. “The blank page and a looming deadline can still fill me with terror, but sometimes that is what is needed to summon the adrenaline, sweat and cerebral energy required,” Scarfe admits. Cartoons can also be provoked, typically by the foolishness of man. His favourite painting is Goya’s Duel with Cudgels – two men bludgeoning one another – a scene from all ages, and easily identifiable in situations such as the North Korean stand-off.

Little surprise that he finds the most rewarding subjects to be villains – Nixon and yes, Trump. One cartoon in the studio shows the current President awakening the sleeping figure of ‘Ugly America’ with a kiss (pictured, below). It was drawn well before this summer’s civil unrest in Charlottesville. Where does he start, on the page? “The face, usually the eyes. Trump’s eyebrow, in that case.” He points to the cartoon I am admiring. Does he impersonate his subjects? “Sometimes I hear the voice in my head,” he replies. “If you notice with Trump, he has a manner of raising his fingers to add emphasis to his words. At the start of my career, I used to draw in every dimple and pore, now it’s more about the overall shape. The simpler my message, the more chance it stands of whacking you in the face.” His work has, if anything, become more energetic and acerbic as his life has gone on. This is refreshing in a world where many occupations and disciplines are closed off to practitioners beyond a certain age. ‘Caricare’ (in Italian) means to load up, and the exaggeration in cartoons has caused them to be considered a lesser art form by some. Scarfe points out that in many a Chelsea home, the cartoons are in the lavatory; the Hockney is in the living room. Yet the success of a recent sale of his work at Sotheby’s suggests that any such distinction is misplaced. Yes, these cartoons sometimes “whack us in the face”, but – like all great forms of art – they prompt us to deepen our perception of the wider world. geraldscarfe.com

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head-turner Saatchi Gallery’s new exhibition, Iconoclasts: Art out of the Mainstream, shines a spotlight on the creatives subverting traditional art forms. 27 September – 7 January, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3, saatchigallery.com Giovanni, 2009, ©Maurizio Anzeri, 2017, photographic print with embroidery, 51 x 41 cm, Image courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery London

Torbjørn Rødland, Heiress with Dogs, 2014, courtesy of Galerie Rodolphe Janssen, Brussels

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

This month the Serpentine Sackler Gallery will exhibit work by Los Angeles-based photographer Torbjørn Rødland. The Touch That Made You is a lyrical and playful look at everyday objects, from an octopus tentacle gently curled around a woman’s hands to Paris Hilton under an umbrella (right). The Touch That Made You, 29 September – 19 November, Serpentine Sackler Gallery, Kensington Gardens, W2, serpentinegalleries.org

art&antiques words by Rebecca Wallersteiner

Keeping it surreal

The drawing room at 18 Stafford Terrace ©The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Image courtesy of Justin Barton

Rome-based Dorothy Circus Gallery is celebrating its tenth anniversary by opening a pop-up space in Notting Hill dedicated to Surrealism. The first group show will feature Kazuki Takamatsu’s ghostly depth map paintings, digital art by Ray Caesar and cartoon illustrations courtesy of Joe Sorren. One of the pieces most likely to cause a stir comes from husband and wife duo Mark Ryden and Marion Peck, whose satirical painting depicts a Madonna standing on the deflated figure of Donald Trump. Pages from Mind Travellers Diaries, 13 October – 15 December, Dorothy Circus Gallery, 78-81 Ledbury Road, W11, dorothycircusgallery.com

Pleased as punch

Step back in time to 1899 with a visit to 18 Stafford Terrace when it reopens this month. Formerly the home of Punch cartoonist Edward Linley Sambourne, the house is a fascinating time capsule of late Victorian middle-class life, furniture and photography. The delightfully uninhibited Sambourne was an unwitting pioneer of the selfie, and photographed himself posing as both a Roman soldier (above) and a cricketer. Visit the attic darkroom to get a glimpse of Sambourne’s more risqué images. Guided costume tours of the house from September, 18 Stafford Terrace, W8

From top: Ray Caesar, Launderette; Joe Sorren, Coney Island Supper Club

culture Going underground

Brick walls might by Banksy’s canvas of choice, but now street corners aren’t the only place fans of the elusive graffiti artist can appreciate his work. Notting Hill’s Graffik Gallery has opened a permanent Banksy Basement dedicated to some of his most recognisable prints, including a Warhol-inspired, candy-coloured portrait of Kate Moss. To coincide with the opening, the gallery will be hosting a series of two-hour spray painting and stencil art workshops every weekend throughout October for budding Banksys in the making. Banksy Basement, Graffik Gallery, 284 Portobello Road, W10, graffikgallery.co.uk

Artist of the

Month David Yarrow

Hatchwell Antiques, WWII 10 x 80 binoculars

New wave

Photographer and conservationist David Yarrow ventures from the Arctic Circle to the savannah to capture all creatures great and small. His solo exhibition at Maddox Gallery features remarkable close-up images of crouching tigers, majestic elephants and menacing polar bears, shot by coating his camera case in a range of enticing animal scents. Yarrow firmly believes, “if your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough”.

Now in its 33rd year, the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair returns to Battersea Park this month. As well as showcasing beautiful and unusual pieces from more than 160 exhibitors, this year the fair’s foyer will host special display The Admiral’s Eyrie – a gentleman’s study-come-sitting room, complete with nautical boys’ toys, such as a set of WWII Zeiss naval binoculars and model boats. The Autumn Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair, 3-8 October, Battersea Park, decorativefair.com

The Untouchables, 15 September – 5 October, Maddox Gallery, 112 Westbourne Grove, W2, maddoxgallery.co.uk

The lie of the land

From left: The Three Graces; The Post Van, Parrock Hill, both ©James Lynch

Landscape artist James Lynch layers his tempera paintings with pigments mixed with egg yolks provided by the hens in his garden. His beguiling new works on show this month at Jonathan Cooper Gallery are inspired by the British countryside in Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset. A keen paraglider, many of his paintings explore the traces left by man on the landscape, from the medieval spires of Salisbury Cathedral rising from the plains to telephone wires criss-crossing fields. A Parallel Reality, 19 October – 11 November, Jonathan Cooper Gallery, 20 Park Walk, SW10, jonathancooper.co.uk From top: Harbin; The Untouchables, both ©David Yarrow

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R A ISE

feature

the roof

culture From left: Milano, from the series Fratelli d’Italia (2005-2016), ©Matthias Schaller; Portrait of Giuseppe Verdi Francesco Torriani, c.1840s, ©Museo Teatrale alla Scala

collaboration with former Royal Opera House director Kasper Holten, associate director of opera John Fulljames and former ROH chief executive Tony Hall, now director general of the BBC. BBC Arts will be running television and radio events in parallel. Bailey says that this coming together of three pillars of the arts establishment in London gives the exhibition amazing scope and access to some of the finest talents around; a shining example is the show’s musical interpretations of all the operas given by the charismatic Sir Antonio Pappano, world famous conductor and music director of ROH. The exhibition showcases seven operas and their premieres in seven European cities – Venice, London, Vienna, Milan, Paris, Dresden and St Petersburg – putting each opera and city into its social, political and economic context. Each of the chosen cities was at a decisive point in its history when the opera premiered, making the impact particularly important. The great trading city of Venice, with its splendid architecture and reputation for entertainment, disguise, gambling and decadence, was the perfect venue for the first opera to be performed for the public rather than as a salon concert for noblemen. L’incoronazione di Poppea, a dark tale of passion, murder and ambition, was a huge success when it opened during Carnival season in 1642. The backstage set, designed to give the viewer a feeling of being both behind and within the opera house, features a portrait of composer Barbara Strozzi as a courtesan and Monteverdi’s original score, while a new recording of soprano Danielle de Niese and mezzo Alice Coote singing Poppea and Nero’s love duet Pur ti miro from the last act, provides a thrilling introduction to operatic passion. Early 18th century London was finding its feet as a modern international centre for trade, craft and the arts. The floor-to-ceiling kinetic London set echoes the revolutionary one designed by Giacomo Torelli and Sir James Thornhill for Handel’s opera Rinaldo, performed in Italian in London for the first time in 1711. The opera was a huge success, upsetting traditional audiences who feared that their native theatre would be driven out by this invasion of foreign culture. Too late, of course, as Handel’s opera was soon followed by John Gay’s enduringly popular work, The Beggar’s Opera, which appealed not only to a cultural elite but to the man in the street, too. Le Nozze di Figaro premiered in Vienna in 1786. The city was a centre for Enlightenment

Love it or loathe it, for 400 years opera has gripped and engaged audiences with its powerful combination of music, sets, costumes and dance. A new immersive exhibition flaunts the glories of this extraordinary multi-media art form words by Nikki Mohan

pera: Passion, Power and Politics is the first exhibition to explore opera on a grand scale and the very first to be held in the enormous new Sainsbury Gallery beneath the Sackler Courtyard at the V&A. Interconnected theatrical sets will reveal opera as the soundtrack to the political and cultural history of Europe. While leading opera performances play on your headset, you stroll through eight interconnecting sets where you can enjoy some 300 items from the V&A’s collection of artworks, costume and musical instruments, together with precious items on loan from leading opera houses. It promises to be an experience that will intrigue and delight all lovers of music and theatre. Curating the exhibition is the V&A’s head of theatre and performance, Kate Bailey, who explains that it has taken seven years to put together. During that time she has worked in close

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thinking, but even so, Mozart had to tone down Beaumarchais’s tale of servants challenging the authority of their master as the story was considered inflammatory in a Europe about to be shaken to its core by the French Revolution. The Viennese salon set, with contemporary costumes for Count and Countess Almaviva from the V&A collection, has the piano played by Mozart in Prague as its centrepiece; live concerts will take place here during the exhibition. Surround sound of ‘Va, pensiero,’ the mighty chorus of the Hebrew slaves that became the battle cry of Italian nationalism (and its unofficial anthem after Italy’s unification some 60 years later), announces the premier of Verdi’s Nabucco in 1842 in Milan. The horseshoe-shaped set is an interpretation of La Scala’s auditorium, an idea inspired by the work of Matthias Schaller who photographed 150 European opera houses from the stage. From Milan the viewer moves to the Paris of the 1860s, which was being transformed by Napoleon II, who used opera as a building block of his Second Empire. The magnificent Palais Garnier opera

Early 18th century London was finding its feet as a modern international centre for trade, craft and the arts

Clockwise from far left: Joseph Lange, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1789, ©Internationale Stiftung Mozarteum (ISM); The Viola da Gamba Musician (Gambenspielerin), Bernardo Strozzi, 1630-40 Gemäldegalerie, Dresden, Germany, ©2017 Photo Scala, Florence bpk; Eva Gonzalès (1849–83), c.1874 Paris, Musée d’Orsay, gift of Jean Guérard, 1927, ©Musée d’Orsay, Paris and France Bridgeman Images; Édouard Manet, Music in the Tuileries Garden, 1861-62, National Galleries, ©2017 The National Gallery, London Scala, Florence; Oslo Opera House, The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, photography: Erik Berg; Gerolamo Induno, A Scene from the Risorgimento, 1865, courtesy of Buckinghamshire County Museum

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house was built during this time. The set shows the foyer of the opera house, where the revised version of Wagner’s Tannhäuser premiered in 1861. Wagner’s music was considered shocking and controversial at the time and the seven different interpretations of his work on display demonstrate how opera can be used to make a contemporary political or social comment. A boldly modern architectural set represents Dresden, the very progressive city that was home to the Expressionist movement and where in 1905 Richard Strauss’s explosive Salome opened. Then, as now, the opera has the power to shock with its biblical story, sensuous dancing and graphic detail of the gruesome murder of John the Baptist. The set displays many depictions of Salome, including the famous Aubrey Beardsley picture, and examines the changing way in which women were viewed in the 20th century. The last city set of the exhibition shows the conflict between avant-garde feeling and Soviet propaganda in St Petersburg where, under Stalin, Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk opened in 1934. Initially popular as a worthy new Soviet opera, it was banned in 1936 as counter-revolutionary and was only revived after the dictator’s death. Shostakovich never wrote another opera. Finally, set number eight explores how opera has moved on from Europe across the globe, taking new forms and embracing new movements. The display focuses on composers as diverse as Britten, Glass, Stockhausen and George Benjamin, embracing subjects such as suppressed homosexuality, hostage taking, and power politicking among political leaders. It surely demonstrates how opera continues to change and evolve – and reflect passion, power and politics. Opera: Passion, Power and Politics at the V&A, in collaboration with the Royal Opera House, sponsored by Société Générale, £19, 30 September – 25 February 2018, vam.ac.uk/opera

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Cross my heart Chaumetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s updated Liens collection of sentimental love knots features crisscrossing ribbons of diamonds and gold, symbolic of two intertwining hearts. Liens SĂŠduction, POA, chaumet.com

Glitter like Gigi For her first foray into jewellery, Gigi Hadid has partnered with Messika on a contemporary collection of diamond bracelets, chokers and ear cuffs, reflective of the brand’s signature rock and roll aesthetic. “Gigi is the embodiment of the brand,” said Valérie Messika. “She is spontaneous, sunny and bright.”

Snake charmer

Chelsea-based Pia Hallstrom is known for her playful 18-carat gold and diamond motifs, fashioned into whimsical lettering and sapphire-studded necklaces that resemble strings of bunting. Our favourite piece this season is the serpent ring, finished with piercing ruby eyes. From £585, piahallstrom.com

The Messika by Gigi Hadid collection from £730, messika.com

jewellery box words by Mhairi Graham

Golden anniversary

This month, Pomellato rings in its 50th anniversary with the Ritratto collection. One-of-a-kind designs demonstrate the Italian jeweller’s innovative knack for crafting unconventional semiprecious stones, such as tiger’s eye, red jasper and vibrant verdite. POA, pomellato.com

ars in business e y 0 5 s Pomellato celebrate

Jewels of Jaipur

Deck your ears with Amrapali’s glittering baubles, encrusted with gemstones, diamonds and pearls. Inspired by Jaipur’s exotic flowers, the vibrant new collection beautifully exemplifies the Indian jeweller’s east-meets-west aesthetic. From £3,000, exclusive to net-a-porter.com

Shades of change

Usher in the new season with Marco Bicego’s collection of vivid jewels in warm autumnal hues. Exotic gemstones, elegantly strung on an 18-carat gold chain, evoke falling leaves on a crisp October day. Autumn Paradise by Marco Bicego, from £1,850, marcobicego.com

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O b j e c t s of desi re Barware, bottles and decanters

From approx. £178, joecariati.com and Selfridges from October

In a limited edition of 999, this porcelain version of Jeff Koons’s original three-ton stainless steel sculpture is a friendly 30cm

treasure trove

Balloon Rabbit (Red) £10,350, bernardaud.com, harrods.com

Liberty eagle

Amber crystal, £1,690, lalique.com

Operatic encore

Last winter Fornasetti staged its own version of Mozart’s Don Giovanni in Milan and Florence, with sets using updated designs from its archives. The tribute continues this autumn with wooden display cases, chairs and screens that sing bel canto. Screen, £12,300 and cabinet, £15,000, harrods.com

Leather envelopes £365, armorial.fr

Cufflinks

18-carat yellow gold with orange enamel and diamond centre, £3,105, deakinandfrancis.co.uk

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This image: A Harry Winston craftsman working on a necklace from the Legacy Collection Opposite page: Legacy Diamond Ring, 12.34 carats, set in platinum

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set in stone Harry Winston’s new high jewellery collection pays tribute to its founding father’s legacy as the “King of Diamonds” words by Olivia Sharpe

“I

f you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth writing or do something worth writing,” said Benjamin Franklin. The question of how we will be remembered when we’re gone has preoccupied humans for centuries. Few of us will make it into the history books, but those who do earn their place for having made a significant impact on the world. In jewellery, many have made their mark, but one jeweller’s groundbreaking contributions led to him being dubbed the “King of Diamonds” in the 20th century, a moniker that has stuck with him ever since. This was the legendary American jeweller Harry Winston and in honour of its late founder’s enduring legacy, the jewellery house recently unveiled a new collection of one-of-a-kind jewels. Each of the 22 pieces within the Legacy collection features a D-colour, internally flawless centre diamond – a fitting tribute to a man who spent his lifetime unearthing some of the world’s most remarkable stones. From the 726-carat Jonker (the first rough diamond ever to be cut in America) to the 45.52-carat blue Hope Diamond, it has been estimated that Winston owned more than a third of the world’s most coveted diamonds.

Born in 1896, Winston’s place in the jewellery business was cemented from an early age, having grown up working in his father’s jewellery shop. As young as 12, he demonstrated his unique talent for sourcing rare gemstones, discovering a two-carat emerald in a pawn shop, which he bought for 25 cents and then sold two days later for $800. From then on, it was onwards and upwards for the ambitious jeweller, who started his business in 1920 and by 1932 had fully established his company with the opening of his first eponymous store in New York. By the late 1930s, Winston’s reputation as a collector of the world’s rarest stones was undeniable and from this moment on he was forbidden from having his photograph taken by his insurers due to having become such a high security risk. Instead, his jewels passed through the hands of some of the most illustrious figures of the 20th century, including Jackie Kennedy Onassis (her engagement ring was Harry Winston) and Elizabeth Taylor, who was famously gifted the 69.42-carat Taylor-Burton diamond by her husband Richard Burton. (It is therefore little wonder that his other well-known moniker is “Jeweller to the Stars”.) After Harry Winston’s death in 1978, the company continued to create exceptional pieces of jewellery,

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This page: making the Legacy Collection at the Harry Winston workshop on 5th Avenue

but it wasn’t until an auction at Christie’s in 2013 that it made history once again with the acquirement of an exceptional 101.73-carat D colour Flawless, pearshaped diamond – a stone so rare that it was dubbed the Winston Legacy. Described by Christie’s as “the most perfect diamond ever offered for sale at auction”, the stone reawakened the house’s passion and creativity, underscoring its commitment to perfection and quality at the highest level. “When we acquired the Winston Legacy Diamond in 2013, we instantly knew that we wanted a way to share its beauty with our audiences around the world, and decided that there was no better way than through a collection of jewels that embody its extraordinary traits – pieces with all D-colored internally flawless diamond center stones,” comments Nayla Hayek, Harry Winston’s CEO. “I am incredibly proud of this collection and I think Mr Winston would be as well. When we set off on this journey more than three years ago, we had a vision for the collection; we wanted to create a series of one-of-a-kind jewels that really reflected the heart of the brand and spoke to Mr Winston’s true legacy.” As Harry Winston said himself, “Nature produces so few perfect stones” and to find the quantity and quality of diamonds needed to create the Legacy collection is almost inconceivable. Once sourced, each stone then had to go through a rigorous evaluation process to ensure they all met the house’s exacting standards in terms of colour, clarity and proportions. In total, the Legacy has taken three years to complete, thus demonstrating an admirable

Legacy has taken three years to complete, thus demonstrating an admirable commitment to perfection, quality and tradition

collection Legacy Diamond PearShaped Drop Earrings, 16.96 carats, set in platinum

commitment to perfection, quality and tradition in today’s fast-paced luxury goods world. Presented as a number of high jewellery suites, many of the pieces draw reference to signature Harry Winston designs as the designers delved into the house’s historic archives. The famous Harry Winston cluster motif – created by the late Ambaji Shinde (responsible for many of Harry Winston’s iconic designs) in the 1940s, who was inspired by a holly wreath – has cropped up again and again in Harry Winston collections. It is characterised by its clever arrangement of pear- and marquiseshaped diamonds and reappears in Legacy in a pair of exquisite pear-shaped diamond earrings totalling more than six carats.

Of course, it is the innate simplicity of each piece that makes it quintessentially Harry Winston. Its late founder strongly believed that the stones should always come first when it came to a jewellery piece’s design, as Hayek explains: “Harry Winston believed that the beauty of a diamond should speak for itself. His signature aesthetic was to place diamonds at the forefront of designs in order to create fluid, more graceful jewels that highlighted the innate brilliance of its diamond center stones.” This has been captured in the collection’s 11 necklaces, which have been meticulously sculpted in invisible platinum in order to maximise the diamonds’ brilliance. One of the renowned designers responsible for capturing this fluidity in each piece was the late Maurice Galli, who worked with the house for many years up until his death last year. Despite there having been much talk about this collection within the luxury jewellery circuit, Harry Winston has remained fairly discreet about its latest high jewellery collection and even forbade all press photography in the run up to its unveiling. While this may be unheard of in the public world of social media, it seems entirely fitting for a house whose founder allowed his pieces to speak for themselves. The Legacy collection has been designed for a modern woman who truly appreciates quality, craftsmanship and rarity, but who is also not afraid to be noticed. As Harry Winston put it, “People will stare. So make it worth their while.” Legacy collection, POA, 171 New Bond Street, W1S, harrywinston.com

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interview Tessa Packard has taken the jewellery industry by storm with her playful statement pieces, but the designer shows no sign of stopping there as she opens her very first showroom on Chelsea’s Ives Street as told to Lauren Stevens

It’s quite a bold move to open your first showroom in a prime central London location such as Chelsea. To make such a move work, I had

to dive into it head first and commit whole-heartedly, regardless of the risks involved. And to do that I needed to feel secure in the brand I had built. Luckily I got to a place late last year where I felt I could justify this exciting new step forward and so I began looking for a space.

I am a complete control freak when it comes to design. I was involved in the creation of every

aspect of the showroom. The space will offer a beautifully curated insight into the brand, in keeping with our eclectic but elegant aesthetic. The ground floor will take the shape of a large salon with a private meeting room where clients can view the collections in a home-like environment that evokes the feeling of a Victorian study, with inspiration drawn from the colonial era and interior Robert Kime.

Opening the store in October will be a dream come true. Chelsea is a wonderful hotspot for design-focused boutiques, but interestingly it’s not over-saturated with jewellery designers. Setting up shop in Mayfair, for example, would make it very difficult for a young brand like mine to stand out.

Aesthetically I think we’ve certainly grown more confident in embracing our brand DNA.

I would never have used porcelain painted animals in my first or second collections for fear of being labelled too kooky or too avant-garde. With time I have come to realise that challenging the norms of jewellery design and pushing the boundaries of what is deemed ‘precious’ or ‘fine’ is exactly what makes the brand relevant in the industry, and for our customers.

My jewellery designs are inspired by anything and everything, but largely natural history and the Victorian curiosity cabinet, as well as fairytales, pop

art, exotic cultures and all things eccentric. In my own jewellery box I have a pair of Art Deco diamond-andpearl earrings that my father gave me, a gold charm bracelet (that I never wear but adore for sentimental reasons) and a healthy pile of Tessa Packard London jewellery from past and present collections.

My Brazilian heritage definitely informs my love of colour. I find richly hued, semi-precious

gemstones far more characterful and interesting than working with diamonds. Brazil also has a strong heritage of revolutionary female artists and designers, such as Lygia Pape and Lygia Clark. I’d like to think that my desire to create unique jewellery by using lesser-known stones or experimenting with nontraditional materials has in some way been inspired by these female protagonists and the impact they have had on Brazilian visual culture.

My latest collection takes its name from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Emperor’s New Clothes, which is all about deception and lies. It is rich in irony and explores the idea of illusion through its use of overgrown gemstone forms that, for certain pieces, are enamelled to evoke the appearance of the real deal. I suppose you could call it a gentle, affectionate critique of the industry where, in my opinion, too much emphasis is often placed on the use of high carat weight solitaire-set stones rather than the overall design of a piece of jewellery. In the collection you can expect a selection of easy-to-wear lariat necklaces, mismatching ‘gemstone’ earrings, richly enamelled rings and the sweetest little charm ever.

Rings from the Emperor’s New Clothes collection, from £1,200, 15a Ives Street, SW3, tessapackard.com

collection

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NEW BRANCH OPEN 127 Fulham Road, SW3 6RT

VALUATIONS

28 Specialists in 18 Departments

+44(0)20 8992 4442 chiswickauctions.co.uk

collection watches

Anything Switzerland can do… Seiko flexes its mechanical muscles with a standalone store in the shadow of Harrods words by Richard Brown

The ultra-thin Fugaku Tourbillon Limited Edition, £375,000

rooted mechanical foundations. Seiko made its first mechanical timepiece in 1913. In 1968, it created Japan’s first ‘hi-beat’ wristwatch – a timepiece that operated at more than six beats per second. In 1968, the brand became the first to put a vertical clutch and column wheel system into an automatic chronograph. Fast forward to 2014, and Seiko’s Hi-Beat 36000 GMT was named the best watch under £6,000 at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève – a highly coveted category in an awards ceremony more commonly referred to as the Oscars of the watch world. Seiko’s Brompton Road store follows an opening in NYC’s Madison Avenue and pays homage to the brand’s history by displaying premium models from the Astron, Presage and Prestige collections. The star attraction, however, is the ultra-thin Fugaku Tourbillon Limited Edition, the first tourbillon movement – and the smallest in the world by volume – from Seiko sub-brand Cedar. Limited to just eight pieces, the extraordinary timepiece features a caseband comprising 43 blue sapphires and a dial and caseback depicting yellow and white gold interpretations of Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa. The watch is a masterpiece from three Japanese artists, each recognised by the country’s government as Contemporary Master Craftsmen.

The star attraction is the ultra-thin Fugaku Tourbillon Limited Edition Government

onsider the opening of Seiko’s new standalone store as a statement of intent. Better known for its sub£200 timepieces, this Brompton Road launch is Seiko announcing its luxury credentials – which, in the UK at least, go largely undiscussed. After one of the summer’s more idiosyncratic boutique openings – during which Jonathan Ross joined brand CEO Shinji Hattori in smashing open a ceremonial barrel of sake – Seiko officially opened its doors in one of the world’s most sought-after patches of retail real estate. Shrewdly, the Japanese giant has sandwiched itself between luxury watch meccas Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Watches of Switzerland. “My intention in the coming years is that Grand Seiko will scale new heights of watchmaking excellence and commercial success,” said Mr Hattori, during Baselworld 2017. With half of the Knightsbridge premises devoted to Grand Seiko – the top tier in Seiko’s league of timepieces – the store will be instrumental in realising that ambition. While Seiko practically owns the quartz watch scene, the brand’s batterypowered empire was built on deep-

57 Brompton Road, SW3, seiko.co.uk

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ANOTHER DIMENSION Fashion meets art in Delpozo’s A/W17 collection, which was inspired by Swiss sculptor Max Bill and a group of 19th-century avant-garde artists known as Les Nabis. From £350, 134 Sloane Street, SW1X, delpozo.com

Photography: Filip & Kito

fashion Mother nature

La Perla’s A/W17 collection pays homage to painters who sourced inspiration from the great outdoors, including Sir Lawrence AlmaTadema and Georgia O’Keeffe. Floral and lace are key features throughout, while embellishment takes centre stage in the evening wear range.

style notes words by Lauren Stevens

Silk Short dress (pictured, right), £15,120, 163 Sloane Street, SW1X, laperla.com

Englis h gardens

new collectio e h t n by red i p La s in

Perla

Winter is coming

As the weather gets chillier it’s time to start looking for your next staple coat, and Belstaff’s latest collection has the perfect selection. Choose from classic duffle styles, suede biker jackets and a woollen trench with a cosy shearling collar. From £350, belstaff.co.uk

editor’s pick That’s a wrap

Our favourite style from Christian Louboutin’s A/W17 collection is the elegant Douce Du Desert Crepe De Chine heel, featuring a wrap up silk tie detail available in a variety of colours. £635, available at Harrods

In the lab

Photography: Boo George

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£348, thekooples.co.uk

After a successful reception back in 2014, cashmere specialist Eric Bompard has reintroduced its limited edition Lab line for A/W17. The seven-piece collection features beaded embroidery, chunky roll necks and ponchos in shades of signature Bompard blue. From £480, 29 King’s Road, SW3, eric-bompard.com

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B a c k t o B LACK As autumn descends, embrace darker hues with midnight tulle and ebony velvets photogr aphy Helene Sandberg

stylist Anat Dychtwald

This page Dress, POA, Whole 9 Yards, whole9yards.com; Earrings, ÂŁ395, Dolce & Gabbana, dolcegabbana.com

this page Dress, £895, and coat, £1,450, Belstaff, belstaff.co.uk; Shoes, £440, Boss, hugoboss.com; Tights, £37, Wolford, wolfordshop.co.uk opposite Blouse, £485, and vest, £270, Monographie, monographieparis.com; Trousers, £169, Tiger of Sweden, tigerofsweden.com; Brooch, POA, Emanuel Ungaro, ungaro.com; Belt, £565, Agnona, agnona.com

this page Dress, £1,400, Zimmermann, zimmermannwear.com opposite Dress, POA, Dsquared2, dsquared2.com; Shoes, £775, Christian Louboutin, christianlouboutin.com; Choker, POA, Dior, dior.com

this page Dress, £2,100, Vionnet, vionnet.com; shoes, £815, Christian Louboutin, as before opposite Top and skirt set, £785, David Koma, davidkoma.com

Hair Alice Oliver make-up Afton Radojicic at Stella Creatives model IDA at M&P Models PHOTOGRAPHY Assistant Luke Johnson

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The devil is in the detail this season, with intricately embellished and textural footwear that draws attention towards the ankle words by Camilla Apcar Gone are the days when embellished footwear meant a little fringing, a feathery plume at the toe or a vamp in a contrasting fabric. This season, more than any before, designers have embraced finishing touches and textures that transform their shoes into works of art – boots in particular. “We have seen a real return to glamour with a revival of sparkle, sequins and embellishment, creating opulent heel details that feel fresh and luxurious,” says Cassie Smart, buying manager at matchesfashion.com. None more so than Aquazzura. The Italian label’s latest collection is crammed with glittering styles celebrating the silk routes that served the trade of pearls, silk and precious gems between Constantinople and Mongolia. “I travelled to Venice and Istanbul in search of beautiful fabrics, objects and jewels, and reinterpreted what I found in a more graphic and modern way,” says Edgardo Osorio, Aquazzura’s cofounder and creative director. Osorio has borrowed Suzani, Ikat and Ottoman weaves; created knee-highs exploding with pearlescent fireworks; and embedded sparkling stones in intricate silver and metallic embroidery that winds from foot to calf. Some styles can take 60 hours to create. “I love the idea of evening boots,” he says. “There is something so new, decadent and sensual about them. I found an antique velvet opera coat from the 1920s in Istanbul, with this incredible silver embroidery that we reworked for boots. There are also flower jacquard booties inspired by vintage upholstery fabrics I found in the flea markets in Paris. I like to use fabrics traditionally used for décor on shoes.”

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strictly at heel Sophia Webster is one designer confining

embellishment to the heel this season, with a range of sleek black boots, some of which come with a leopard print heel of rose gold gems (£550). Elsewhere, a trio of styles use clusters of amber, peach, baby blue and crystal (from £495, pictured right) on different heel heights. “Another of my favourites comes in black velvet from Dolce and Gabbana with a beautifully embellished heel (£1,100, pictured top right),” says Smart. “It works well with the label’s richly printed pieces, or with a sharp tailored tux.” It is an otherwise plain style – black velvet insole, satin lining – if not for a crested button that sits on the toe plus myriad gold studs and pearly beads on its block heel.

“There is something so decadent and” sensual about the idea of evening boots”

2/ t e x t u r a l Cowboy chic no more:

fe e l i n g

Ferragamo has stepped up the idea of fringing with the help of British talent Paul Andrew, its newly-appointed footwear design director. In 21st-century style, an ankle boot comes covered in glittering metallic Lurex yarn (£635, pictured left). Elsewhere at Christian Louboutin, a couture creation uses torn organza to create a matted cobweb effect. The technique, where strips are sewn onto a base of organza and then shredded with scissors, has taken the designer five years to perfect. “I wanted to work the organza in a way where it appeared as if the shredded pieces were sitting on the shoes, nearly about to take off with the wind,” Louboutin explains. “I imagined this in the same way the Thai people apply golden leaves on the Buddha’s statues in the temples. When the leaves move, it appears the Buddha is shivering.”

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eastern shores Aquazzura is not the only brand to have taken

inspiration, in part, from the East this season. Christian Louboutin’s May Wong boot (£1,275) pays homage to the first Asian-American leading lady of a US television programme, who also starred in Shanghai Express alongside Marlene Dietrich. The boot’s Mandarin collar is lined in bright pink Orylag rabbit fur, but the real drama comes courtesy of an Asian motif jacquard set against a tissue Obi fabric inspired by Japanese kimonos. “I love Gucci’s take on the embellished ankle boot with the mythological embroidery and Swarovski crystal-encrusted bows,” says Smart. “These are a real statement piece and complement eccentric styling.” Available in black satin at matchesfashion.com or red at Harrods (both £1,990), extra embellishment comes in two dazzling forms: giant bows, which are detachable, and a gold mirrored heel with more crystals lining the bottom.

“There is a shift from basic neutrals to colour, embellishment and shine” Malone Souliers, meanwhile, uses a lasered and inlaid technique to create the dragon-like design on her new Eleanor boot (£725, pictured above and left). The bottom layer of the upper is lasered into the pattern; metallic nappa and suede pieces are then used to cover the areas of the base leather removed by the beam. “I was primarily inspired by the work of the American artist Pat Steir,” says the brand’s creative director Mary Alice Malone, “and her interpretation of Chinese landscape paintings.” The designer also spent a summer studying Chinese art and Taoist meditation – elsewhere in the collection are printed silks and lacquered heels. “This year there is a shift from basic neutrals to colour, embellishment and shine,” she says. “Embellished boots are no longer just for formal evening wear occasions. They may be styled with jeans and blazers for a more dressed down daytime look, as well as worn at evening events for full impact.” The Eleanor comes in either bold red, gold and navy, or a more delicate combination of navy, beige and pink.

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peren n ia l appea l

Floral forms, as ever, have their place this season. Aquazzura swathes ankle boots in muted carpet-like fabrics (£530, pictured right); Dolce and Gabbana goes all out with galvanized metal buttons, four different buckles, two contrasting fabrics, a velvet trim and snakeskin heel (POA, pictured above). Paula Cademartori’s latest collection includes the high-heeled calfskin and suede Warrior lace-up (£790, pictured below) and the lower Desert Flower (£875). “The embellishment is inspired by a super feminine and well-groomed aesthetic,” says the designer. “This is expressed through coloured flowers that remind me of a blooming botanical garden.” Craftsmanship and technology marry in hand-stitched laser-cut motifs.

“Obviously being already very rich it would look good with boyfriend-style jeans and a white shirt,” she continues. “I’d finish the look with lots of bracelets and rings.” Such flair is second nature to Cademartori, whose designs have always involved inlays, embroidery and appliqués. “I believe in paying careful attention to finer details,” she says. “I think these components can really make the difference. It’s accessories that reveal who we are or who we want to be.”

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never too late...

LUXURY BODY BUTTER IN WHITE CASHMERE FROM THE BATH & BODY COLLECTION

www.lilouetloic.com

fashion Check Mate

Gieves & Hawkes emulates the styles of Britain’s rock royalty, with a line of smartcasual outerwear that mirrors the cuts and colours of the 1970s. Channel your inner David Bowie with this checked two-piece. Navy and burgundy windowpane suit, £995, gievesandhawkes.com

A different creed

The pioneering longship sailors of the Viking Age provided the inspiration for Olivier Creed’s latest fragrance. Viking, as it is aptly named, offers a heady aroma, with top notes of bergamot and lemon, a heart of peppercorn, Bulgarian rose and peppermint, and a base of vetiver and Indian patchouli. From £185 for 50ml, creedfragrances.co.uk

style file words by Ellen Millard

Jersey shore

Huitti belt, £89, Tiger of Sweden, tigerofsweden.com

Reversible plaited leather belt, £120, Paul Smith, paulsmith.co.uk

Suede belt, £180, Tod’s, tods.com

Ditch your Nike tracksuit for something a little more luxurious: Hackett’s Mr Classic range gives loungewear a makeover with shorts, T-shirts and polo shirts in a supple jersey that will stand the test of time – no matter how many House of Cards marathons you partake in. From £40, hackett.com

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ran ge gives lo

buck le up

Hackett’s Mr C lass ic

luxury twis

Easily Suede

Put your best foot forward with the latest styles from Harrys of London, which is flying the flag for suede this season. Tap into the trend with the Joshua boots (left) in taupe, navy or khaki. From £360, harrysoflondon.com

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beauty Beckham is Back

Sp lif i c e up y our

e wi

Following the success of her previous Estée Lauder collection, Victoria Beckham is back with a range inspired by her favourite cities. Look out for 18 new products, from a gold eye foil to the ultimate liquid eyeliner. From £22, esteelauder.co.uk

uty line a e b th Posh’s latest

beauty notes words by Alicia Osborne-Crone

In full bloom

Dolce & Gabbana embraces autumnal hues with its Fall in Bloom collection of radiant neutrals and deep purple tones. Create a rosy radiance with the Creamy Illuminator in Rosa Del Mattino, and define the eyes with a soft smoky shade from the new Eyeshadow Quad. From £21, dolcegabbana.com

A cut above the rest

Daniel Galvin Jr has opened his second London-based hair salon in collaboration with The Lanesborough, complementing the recently launched Lanesborough Club & Spa. Services on the bespoke menu include blow dries, highlights, colour correction, bridal hair and a range of packages, including a silver fox treatment for men. Hyde Park Corner, SW1X, lanesboroughclubandspa.com

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Blurred Lines

New to La Prairie’s signature Skin Caviar range comes Skin Caviar Absolute Filler, a cream that plumps and refines the face, neck and décolletage to create a youthful appearance. £410, laprairie.co.uk

London’s Premier Clinic

There’s only one you There’s only one Twenty-five Harley Street

GP Service

Dermatology & Aesthetics

Gynaecology

Bone Health

25 Harley Street, London, W1G 9QW T: 020 3883 9525 Int. T: 0044 (0)20 3883 9525 Visit 25harleystreet.co.uk or email appointments@25harleystreet.co.uk

ORIGINAL, LIMITED-EDITION ART DECO POSTERS

Limited to editions of 280, our newly-commissioned Art Deco posters feature glamorous holiday destinations around the world, ski resorts in the Austrian, French and Swiss Alps, and the world’s greatest historic automobiles. Over 100 designs to choose from, all printed on 100% cotton fine art paper, measuring 97 x 65 cms.

Priced at £395 each.

Private commissions are also welcome.

Pullman Editions Ltd 94 Pimlico Road Chelsea London SW1W 8PL www.pullmaneditions.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 0547 Email: georgina@pullmaneditions.com

Our central London gallery

View and buy online at w w w.pullmaneditions.com

fashion Going green

Staying true to its eco-friendly credentials, Mini Rodini’s A/W17 collection is made using 99 per cent sustainable materials. Animal and floral prints inspired by The Secret Garden adorn a selection of casual pieces, including overalls and puffa jackets. From £14, minirodini.com

kids’ kingdom words by Lauren Stevens

ionist h a

f bud d ing

This season, Charlotte Olympia takes a back seat from her role as designer to let kids take the reins. In her new collaboration with Crayola, budding Picassos can personalise their own pair of canvas slip-on sneakers with a pack of fabric markers. £195, charlotteolympia.com

Stylish shoes f

Make your mark

editor’s pick

New born

Harrods has hand-picked its favourite brands to create the ultimate baby shopping destination, which has now launched in its childrenswear department. Expect clothing, nursery furniture and prams. Available at Harrods

Jump around

Launched earlier this year, Aquazzura Mini offers reinterpreted versions of its popular women’s shoe styles, such as the seasonal PomPom and the Christy (pictured), which has been given an oriental twist with delicate silk and pearl detailing. From £165, aquazzura.com

Chloé coat, £490, available at Harrods

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interiors

Off the wall

From ski resorts in the Swiss Alps to classic automobiles, Pullman Editions’ Art Deco-style posters capture the glamour of a bygone era

he allure of heading off-piste in the Alps, or cruising the Côte d’Azur in a classic car will never fade. Glamorous destinations such as these, immortalised in travel posters from the ’20s and ’30s, are the inspiration behind Pullman Editions. Founded in 2010 by Georgina Khachadourian and her husband Simon, an art dealer and owner of Pullman Gallery in St James’s, Pullman Editions recreates travel posters in an Art Deco style for a contemporary audience. The idea for the business came about after Simon noticed a growing demand for vintage posters, which were fetching high prices at auction. “The Art Deco era has an enduring appeal,” says Georgina. “It’s often associated with the golden age of travel and vintage posters capture that sentiment. We have updated the concept, designing artwork in the same style but with a more vibrant colour palette.” Created by house artist Charles Avalon, every poster is hand-painted to about half the size of the finished piece, then printed using traditional methods onto 100 per cent cotton paper before being signed and hand-numbered – each is available in a limited edition of just 280. The finished artworks, which cost £395, are then displayed in the Pullman Editions shop on Pimlico Road. There are currently 110 posters in the collection, spanning both ski and summer resorts and classic cars. Two of the most recent editions include

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a poster of supercars (a Lamborghini Aventador and a Porsche Spyder among others) in Knightsbridge, and another of a Maserati with the Italian Riviera in the background (pictured, top left). Meanwhile, the current bestsellers include the Val d’Isère Off-Piste Skier and L’Été sur la Côte d’Azur, depicting a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider on a quayside in the South of France (above, right). Pullman Editions caters for private commissions, too. “One of Charles Avalon’s specialities is cars and we get a lot of requests from customers who want their car depicted in an artwork,” says Georgina. “We’re also creating a wedding poster for a couple who want an Art Deco interpretation of their big day.” Also in the pipeline is a poster for the new film release of Murder on the Orient Express, directed by Kenneth Branagh. More than 83 years after Agatha Christie first published the detective novel, the story and the illustrious train continue to fuel the imagination – and the new Pullman Editions poster looks set to keep the intrigue alive a little longer still. 94 Pimlico Road, SW1W, 020 7730 0547, pullmaneditions.com

Get in line

For its latest collection, Cole & Son has swapped its signature geometric prints for the humble stripe. Vertical, horizontal, monochrome or multi-coloured â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as long as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a stripe, anything goes. From ÂŁ65, cole-and-son.com

design notes

let there be light

words by Lauren Stevens

Ananas Pineapple with Daley Palmeral lamp shade set, £562.50, House of Hackney, houseofhackney.com

e Unl

ash

SOFA SURFING

er designer with the De

Sofas are often one of the biggest investment pieces in your living room, so why not put a personal stamp on your settee? The recently launched Designed by You service at Heal’s enables you to customise armchairs and sofas by choosing from an extensive range of colour and fabric swatches.

sign e

o u service yY db

Elephant lamp, £895, Jonathan Adler, uk.jonathanadler.com

y our i nn

From £1,427, heals.com Hooper lamp and shade £334, OKA, oka.com

Hatton 4 table light, £535, Original BTC, originalbtc.com

Flamingo table lamp, Rockett St George, £99, harveynichols.com

In the wings

Originally designed for Shoreditch House, Tom Dixon’s popular Wingback chair has been rescaled to a smaller, living room-friendly size for those who wish to recreate the trendy member’s club at home. The statement seat – aptly named the Micro Wingback – is available in a range of finishes and colours. From £1,700, 344 Ladbroke Grove, W10, tomdixon.net

interiors Prints charming

Liberty of London is continuing its string of successful interiors collaborations by joining forces with Anthropologie. Launching this month, the collection sees Liberty lend its heritage prints to a range of furniture, soft furnishings and chinaware. From £12 for accessories, 131-141 King’s Road, SW3, anthropologie.com

The right stripes

To mark its 20th anniversary this year, The Rug Company has collaborated with fashion designers Sir Paul Smith and Dame Vivienne Westwood on a selection of floor coverings, including the above, for which Smith has reworked his signature stripe print. From £1,619, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X, therugcompany.com

Hit the floor

Design studio Vanderhurd recently renovated its Portobello Road studio to house a wider range of products, including its new A/W17 rugs. The five-piece collection is inspired by the Bargello stitch introduced in seventh century Florence, and features signature Vanderhurd features such as fringes and tassels. From £4,020, 17 Portobello Road, W11, vanderhurd.com

Fresh Scent

A new name in the fragrance world, Lavender & Lillie is a family-run candle and beauty brand that offers a selection of candles in collectable porcelain jars, with both scents and designs inspired by founder Lillie Edgar’s childhood memories and her travels around the world. Home fragrances from £42, lavenderandlillie.com

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Photography: Â©Sarel Jansen

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interview

Prize lots

As Chiswick Auctions opens a branch in South Kensington, managing director William Rouse and operations director Leigh Osborne explain why, when it comes to antiques, their company is up there with the best in the business

he gavel fell for the last time at Christie’s South Kensington auction house this summer, after more than 40 years in business. The closure came as a shock to many, including William Rouse and Leigh Osborne (pictured left), directors at Chiswick Auctions. “Nobody expected Christie’s South Kensington to close at all. It was an enormous shock,” Osborne reveals. “We’d been thinking for a few years that we needed to expand outside Chiswick but we were unsure which direction to take. Then suddenly the closure was announced and we thought that, rather than wait for Christie’s customers and buyers to come and find us, we were going to go and find them.” Cue Chiswick Auctions South Kensington (CSK), a satellite showroom opening on Fulham Road this month, just around the corner from Christie’s old stamping ground. The space will be reserved for complimentary valuations and viewings, and will house a cabinet of curiosities – a small selection of items that can be bought there and then. Crucially, CSK will also showcase forthcoming highlights from a number of specialist weekly auctions, in a move designed to make the Chiswick auction house more accessible to a west London audience. Experts from Chiswick Auction’s 18 specialist departments will be on hand, and regular Christie’s customers may recognise some familiar faces too: CSK has recruited the receptionist, porter, operations director and five specialists from Christie’s.

Chiswick Auction’s managing director William Rouse is also a Christie’s alumnus – he worked for the company as a general valuer before buying Chiswick Auctions ten years ago (Osborne, a former property developer, joined him five years ago). Today he oversees the weekly interior and design sales that encompass decorative arts, painting, furniture and collectables. Up to 400 lots go under the hammer each week, and these can range from ceramics to a slice of William and Kate’s wedding cake. “I walk in every Monday and I’m still frequently surprised by some of the lots,” Rouse smiles. Chiswick Auctions has come a long way in recent years, establishing itself as a key player in the antiques world. “In the last three to four years we’ve made significant inroads, changing it from an auction room which just dealt in general sales to having specialist sales, too,” says Osborne. “Five years ago we had 22 staff; now we have 68, and our specialist departments have grown from just two to more than 20.” Both he and Rouse believe that the team at Chiswick Auctions has the expertise to rival, and in some cases even exceed, the likes of Bonhams, Christie’s and Sotheby’s. “We can sell anything anyone else can,” insists Osborne. “At Christie’s for example, valuers would only handle items with a consignment value of £5,000 or above, whereas here, our specialists handle items that range in terms of breadth, rarity and value.” As with any auction house, Chiswick Auctions has had to move with the times and respond to the growing number of internet bidders. “Today roughly half of all our lots are sold via the internet to buyers all around the world,” says Rouse. This, in turn, involves a growing army of photographers snapping away behind the scenes to ensure that online customers can view items from every angle, prior to the auction. But sometimes no matter how well something is photographed on screen, nothing quite compares to coming into contact with the real deal. Fortunately for local residents, highlights from forthcoming specialist handbag, silver and Asian art sales will be displayed in the new South Kensington showroom before going under the hammer at the Chiswick branch. Let the bidding war commence…

“Five years ago we had 22 staff; now we have 68, and our specialist departments have grown from just two to more than 20”

Valuations by appointment and selected viewings, 127 Fulham Road, SW3, chiswickauctions.co.uk

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feature

materia l world From three-dimensional tapestries to digital embroidery: unravelling a new era of contemporary textiles words by Emma Love

interiors

ntil 9 October, Room 94 of the V&A museum will be taken over by a 25-metre long, three-dimensional, lifesize tapestry. Created by Ross Lovegrove for the London Design Festival and titled Transmission, it is an imaginative response to the 15th-century Devonshire Hunting Tapestries on display. “The colours of the tapestries have faded over time like those in Old Master paintings; I find these colours infinitely more sophisticated as the materials and pigments fuse and meld together,” explains Lovegrove of how looking at the V&A tapestries led to him using metallic threads in his own work. “I used a scanning app to faithfully pick up these colours and transmit them into my modern tapestry so they feel fresh.” His sculptural piece, really a series of large, looping folds, was made from alcantara, a suede-like fabric that was used as a canvas for digital printing and embroidery. “I don’t believe in replicating the past but exploring new technologies,” he says. “Digital embroidery can achieve incredible precision and detail; with well over two million circular points, it makes sense to use automated techniques rather than human craft at this scale.” Lovegrove wasn’t the only one showcasing noteworthy textiles at the festival. Established design studio Wallace Sewell, which is marking its 25th anniversary with a retrospective at the Fashion and Textile Museum later this month, launched

Clockwise from main image: Transmission by Ross Lovegrove at the V&A; Geranium gelim flatweave rug; Blue Blur flatweave rug, both by Ptolemy Mann, photography: ©Ruth Ward; Harriet and Emma of Wallace Sewell, photography: ©Angela Moore, 2013; Striped warp on loom, photography: ©Kate Walsh, 2016; Verbena wool crepe scarf, photography: ©Kathryn Bell, 2017, all Wallace Sewell

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This page, clockwise from top left: The weaving process for the Falseria collection; rug making; dyed wool used to make rugs, all courtesy of A Rum Fellow; Indiranagar #1 handwoven krokbragd rug designed by Angie Parker, photography: Yeshen Venema

three lambswool rugs, while textile artist Ptolemy Mann, who is best known for her brightly coloured, hand-woven artworks, exhibited her collection of flatweave gelim rugs. “The gelims are an extension of my work as a weaver – that’s how they emerged,” recalls Mann, who partnered with a manufacturer to source dyers and weavers in India. “My signature has always been Ikat, the technique of dyeing the thread before the fabric is woven, so what you get is a blending of the colours that creates the design. I came across this dip-dyeing technique in flatweave gelims from Northern Iran and suddenly realised that I could apply it to rugs, not just wall art.” When it comes to her hand-woven art pieces, Mann likens them to Rothko paintings. “They are very linear and quite minimal but the colour is so intense and the threads so fine that, from a distance they look like abstract paintings.” Another rug weaver making her mark with colour is Bristolbased Angie Parker whose designs stem from Scandinavian krokbragd weaving patterns (essentially a weft-faced weave, which means you don’t see any of the warp). “If you weave the krokbragd pattern in traditional colours it looks a bit like a Fair Isle sweater, but I re-work it in bright colours to give it a contemporary edge,” says Parker. Two rugs from her latest Indiranagar collection (which is named after the neighbourhood in India where she spent a year living) will be on display at Handmade at Kew this month. “One is turquoise and purple, the other red, but they both feature acid yellow and sparkly chainette

interiors

threads. As the light changes during the day and catches the threads, it alters how the rugs look.” A Rum Fellow, founded by Caroline Lindsell and Dylan O’Shea, also translates heritage weaving techniques into contemporary fabrics, rugs and accessories. “We’re interested in taking non-mechanised techniques and finding artisans who can create something really relevant to the design industry today,” says O’Shea. Most recently the duo has been working with a social enterprise in Guatemala on new, elaborately woven brocades, and with a family in the shamanic Shipibo tribe in northern Peru on an embroidered collection of cushions. “Their use and understanding of plants is incredible. The kaleidoscopic patterns are influenced by visions seen under the influence of ayahuasca, a psychotropic plant medicine, as well as the natural forms of the Amazon rainforest.” For textile designer and weaver Catarina Riccabona, who uses a traditional loom to make her throws, cushions and blankets, it’s the threads themselves that define her work. “My whole practice is based on environmental values,” she says of her commitment to using as few industrially dyed yarns as possible. Instead, she sources linen, hemp, plant-dyed wools (from the UK and Finland), alpaca and recycled, re-spun yarns. “The material is such an inspiration. I wind the colours

“Classical tapestry is often fantastically detailed and, while I adore this, the goal of my work is simplicity” on the spools and lay them out so I have my palette but then the actual design emerges on the loom. It’s a very spontaneous way of working.” While Riccabona uses a continuous thread of weft that passes over and under the warp to form the textiles, Christy Balfour concentrates on tapestry, creating geometric patterns by weaving separate sections of coloured weft a little at a time. “Classical tapestry is often fantastically detailed and, while I adore this, the goal of my work is simplicity,” says Balfour, who runs regular weaving workshops from her south London studio. “I take the shape-building techniques of traditional tapestry, simplify them down to their essence and then scale up,” she adds. But whatever the process, whether mixing tools with technology or heritage craft with contemporary design, the current generation of textile artists is putting its own spin on ancient weaving techniques, and making the artform relevant for many years to come.

This page, clockwise from top: Arrington sofa and Kaya rug designed by A Rum Fellow; Christy Balfour in her workshop; weaving tools, both photography: ©Toby Mitchell

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interview

At your

service

Founders of London Private Staff Alison O’Neill and Amanda Cooper reveal their unique approach to household employment words by Ellen Millard

n 2013, a report by estate agent Wetherell revealed that households in Mayfair enlist the help of more domestic staff now than they did in Georgian times, with the average midsized property providing work for up to four household employees, ranging from PAs and chauffeurs to private chefs. It’s a surprising statistic, but one that won’t come as much of a shock to Amanda Cooper and Alison O’Neill, founders of London Private Staff, who know all too well how the demand for household employees is on the rise – not just in Mayfair, but in high net worth homes across the capital. A bespoke consultancy service offering everything from estate managers to domestic couples, chauffeurs to PAs and tutors to private chefs, London Private Staff presents each client with a carefully curated list of the best potential employees who meet their specific requirements – whether that be a nanny with a knack for horse riding (one of the company’s more unusual requests), a Michelin-starred chef for a dinner party or a savvy housekeeper to take charge of domestic duties. The process – which can take as little as a week – is simple, starting with an initial phone conversation and, where possible, a home visit. “Every house is different and everyone has different requirements, so meeting clients at their homes really gives us a feel for what they’re looking for,” O’Neill explains. “It means that when we’re interviewing candidates, we can match them up to suit the client – character-wise, as well as skill-wise.” This is the bespoke service that Cooper and O’Neill pride themselves on; having a clear understanding of who the client is and what they want is key, and striking up a relationship with them or their family representatives is, they tell me, the best way to do this. “No two families are the same and every brief is unique, so developing a good relationship with the client is vital,” Cooper explains. “More often than not we communicate with the client’s representatives or estate management team rather than the homeowner themselves.”

Cooper and O’Neill personally interview each potential staff member to ensure that their personality and credentials match the requirements of the household. “We go through the exact brief with every single potential staff member in order to ensure that the characters match; it’s their whole demeanour, as well as their skill set,” Cooper says. “It’s really important to see how they present themselves, if they have a good command of the English language and that they are able to qualify what’s on their CV – you just can’t do that over the phone.” The most popular request they receive is for housekeepers, a demand they have seen increase in recent years.

“We have to go through the exact brief with every single potential staff member”

Photography: ©Sarel Jansen

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“The market has changed [since we started],” O’Neill says. “A lot of people want to consolidate, rather than have a person for this and a person for that; they want someone who can do it all.” In London, the demand for domestic staff is strongest within the Royal Borough and in Mayfair, where the clientele represent a mix of cultures and backgrounds – the company is particularly popular with the Nigerian, Russian and Middle-Eastern markets, they tell me. But the growing demand isn’t limited to urban life – many of London Private Staff’s clients have homes in the countryside too, for which Cooper and O’Neill also help supply staff under their umbrella businesses Berkshire Housekeepers and Surrey Housekeepers. The latter is particularly popular among those who live on the prestigious St George’s Hill estate, where the team has placed staff

members at a number of properties, including in the home of interior designer Lykke Larsen, whose duck-egg blue New England-style house – which she designed herself – is the location of our photo shoot. Larsen is the perfect example of a client with whom Cooper and O’Neill have built a trusting relationship, having worked with her and her family for a number of years. It’s this personal take on the domestic service industry that makes London Private Staff stand out from the crowd, and it’s certainly proving successful – even the Brexit vote has done little to muddy the waters. “Our inbox is full of CVs every day,” Cooper confirms. “There are a lot of people ready to work.” londonprivatestaff.co.uk

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Chill Out

Hurawalhi Island Resort’s new C.A.R.E package offers a lesson in the art of relaxation, with a mix of meditation, sound healing and yoga sessions. Afterwards, kick back in one of the hotel’s villas, where even the most highly-strung of stress pots will find it easy to unwind. C.A.R.E package from £2,300 per person, hurawalhi.com

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Clockwise from far left: Tiger at Bandhavgarh; Sanchi; Khajuraho; Leopard at Pench Tiger Reserve; Gwalior Fort; Bhimbetka

captured in a village called Seoni. Many of The Jungle Book’s locations can still be found in the vicinity. The state boasts three UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Khajuraho temples – a display of scintillating architectural skill and exquisite sculptural art. The fine sculptures date back 1,000 years and depict meditation, spiritual teachings, kinship, royalty and most significantly, erotic art. Some of India’s oldest Buddhist relics can be found at Sanchi, northeast of the capital city, Bhopal. Most notable is the Great Stupa, built by Emperor Ashoka in 262 BC after he embraced Buddhism. There are a number of other stupas, temples and monasteries here, along with an archeological museum. Bhimbetka, meanwhile, is known for its caves and rock shelters which are believed to have been home to one of the earliest human settlements dating back to the Paleolithic Age. Madhya Pradesh has something to offer every traveller. Explore ancient temples and abundant Gwalior will be of interest to music tiger reserves in the historic central buffs (it also boasts a magnificent Indian state of Madhya Pradesh fort); Orchha and Mandu are a must-visit for those interested

long haul

Madhya Pradesh:

the heart of India

t the heart of India lies the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is a microcosm of all that India has to offer: from ancient forests teeming with wildlife, to imposing forts, palaces, temples and stupas, Madhya Pradesh is full of history, heritage, religion and natural beauty. Madhya Pradesh’s biggest attraction is its wildlife. Its forests cover about 25 per cent of the land mass here and are home to 25 sanctuaries and nine national parks covering an area of 10,000 sq km. The vast tracts of forested land are home to more than 20 per cent of India’s tiger population with six popular tiger reserves (Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, Satpura, Pench and Sanjay Dubri National Parks). These woodlands also provide a refuge for barking deer, leopards, chital, wild boars, blackbucks, nilgais and crocodiles. Barasingha (literally translated to ’one with 12 horns’) is a swamp deer, the state animal of Madhya Pradesh. The Kanha tiger reserve is the only place in the world where the species exists. The Pench Tiger Reserve and its neigbourhood provided inspiration for the setting of Rudyard Kipling’s novel, The Jungle Book. The character of Mowgli was inspired by Sir William Henry Sleeman’s pamphlet An Account of Wolves Nurturing Children in Their Dens, a true story about a wolf-boy

in exploring the palaces of ancient India. Places of natural scenic beauty (Bhedaghat, Tawa) abound as do sites of religious interest (Ujjain, Amarkantak). Finally, special mention needs to given to the state’s varied culinary delights, which range from Mughalinspired meat dishes to local street food (bhutte ka kees) and desserts such as malpua and jalebis. For further information, please visit: www.mptourism.com

travel Très chic

Following the opening of its Amsterdam branch back in 2015, The Hoxton has set its sights on the continent once again with a new venture in Paris. The Hoxton, Paris is the brand’s biggest hotel to date, with 172 bedrooms located in a former clothing factory that spans three buildings. Inside, the interior design draws the eye, with bold feature walls and quirky touches. From £91 per night, thehoxton.com

w o r l d ’s greatest Our top picks from UNESCO’s updated list of World Heritage Sites

Sambor Prei Kuk

globetrotter words by Ellen Millard

Cadogan says relax Those who have visited Chelsea’s 11 Cadogan Gardens will know of its stylish, if somewhat bijou, interior. With no room for its own spa, the hotel has partnered with neighbouring wellness specialist Ushvani to create the 11 Cadogan Gardens’ Signature Treatment. The session begins with a bespoke massage and ends with a rejuvenating facial. From £665 per night, 11cadogangardens.com

The temple zone of Sambor Prei Kuk in Cambodia was the capital of the Chenla Empire in the late sixth and early seventh centuries CE. The region has since been overtaken by the surrounding forest, but you can still get a sense of the former city from the imposing buildings that remain.

City of Yazd

Dubbed the City of Windcatchers in reference to the traditional Persian architecture that is found throughout, Yazd in Iran has avoided the swift modernisation that the rest of the country has seen, instead maintaining a sense of Imperialism that harks back to the days of the Persian Empire.

Lake District

Eye Scandi Located in the heart of Copenhagen’s historic quarter, Sanders is a lesson in Scandinavian design. The hotel marries minimalism with a rustic charm that oozes warmth. Expect hygge by the bucketload. From approx. £296 per night, hotelsanders.com

Closer to home, the rolling hills of the Lake District have long been a source of wonder, the landscape captivating the minds of artists, photographers and wordsmiths alike. As the 31st British World Heritage Site, the Lake District joins Stonehenge and Canterbury Cathedral, among others.

Assumption Cathedral

Moscow’s Assumption Cathedral has been the site of many a coronation, as well as victim to a number of fires. Restored several times over the years – and at one point turned into a museum – the cathedral has been run by the Russian Orthodox community since 1991.

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interview

Wa N DER

MAN Design maverick Marcel Wanders unveils his latest project, the Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous, where hypnotic eyeball mirrors and pole dancing apparatus steal the show words by Ellen Millard

op tip for those looking to strike up a conversation with Marcel Wanders: functionality in design is a topic best avoided. Halfway through my phone conversation with the Dutch designer, I make the small error of referencing a previous interview, in which he declared his dislike of creating something simply for the sake of using it. This, I quickly learn, is the key that opens a can of worms. “I am a fan of functionality; I think functionality is super important, but there is other stuff that is so much more important. Functionality, to me, is like the foundation of a house. Without it, the house would crumble – you can’t live in it,” he says. “But the reason that you live in that house and why you like it so much is not because there is a foundation. It just isn’t. If somebody sells me a house and says ‘This is your house, it’s got a foundation’, I’m like, ‘B****, of course it’s got a foundation! What are you talking about? Tell me something I really care about’.” He says this jovially, but it’s by no means a joke. Crafting exquisite objects that capture the imagination – and yes, that function too – is Wanders’ USP, whether that be a storage box shaped like a pig, Pinocchio-inspired tableware or the knotted chair for which he is best known. His design ethos takes a no holds barred approach, and it is this that has earned him the accolades of the Crown Prince, Elvis Presley and the Lady Gaga of design.

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Born in the Netherlands, Wanders found a love of creativity in his parents’ shop, where he would spend his time mending objects that had broken, or making new ones from the scraps. After deciding that this was the career for him, he briefly attended the Design Academy Eindhoven, but was soon expelled. It was, he reveals, a conflict of taste.

“I felt that design was something that you should experiment with” “At that point in time the school was like so many other schools, advocating classic Bauhaus principles,” he explains. “Although I was absolutely not ready to understand all the theories behind it, I felt that design was something that you should experiment with, and classic Bauhaus principles were never attractive to me.” In 1995, he founded his Amsterdam-based design studio, and one year later unveiled the object that would launch his career: the knotted chair. Reams of rope wrapped around a carbon fibre core make up the twisting object, which marries technology and craftsmanship. So innovative was its design, that today versions of it remain part of the permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and London’s very own Victoria and Albert Museum. While product design is still very much a part of Wanders’ world – he regularly works with the likes of Alessi and Baccarat, and oversees his own rug company, Moooi – he often has multiple interior design projects on the go, working for private clients, retailers and hoteliers. It’s the latter that we’re discussing today. Hotels, Wanders says, are “like the Premier League of interior design”, and this year he has put his stamp on two new openings. In October, the Mondrian Doha, a temple of gold and glass, will launch – but first is the Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous in Majorca,

travel

Clockwise from top left: Astir restaurant; Wellness centre; Swimming pool; Marcel Wanders in a Penthouse Double, all images courtesy of Iberostar

a project that Wanders worked on for the best part of eight years, before it finally opened this summer. “The location is pretty amazing; if you know Majorca, there’s no hotel that really sits on the beach in such a fantastic way [as this], so the location was a great inspiration,” he says. “With all our projects, we try to make something new, but we also try to make something that feels authentic and that feels like it belongs there. People don’t want to step in and feel as if they’re in Amsterdam or Miami; they want to feel like they’re in Majorca.” There are 66 suites to choose from, the majority of which are decorated in a crisp monochrome colour palette, with bursts of yellow, red and blue picked up from the soft furnishings and bright artwork on the walls. The standout feature is a mirror that is decorated with a cerulean blue eyeball: “It’s a little bit of a wicked idea that there’s a big eye that follows you around,” Wanders jokes. The rest of the suites are themed, and range from the Games Suite – complete with its own pinball machine, table football and putting green – to the Heritage Suite, featuring paintings by local artists, and the Stargazer Suite which sits at the top of the hotel and comes complete with its own telescope. There’s also a Naughty Suite, a Fifty Shades of Grey-style room with mirrors on the ceiling and a pole dancing area. “The Naughty Suite is fun because it speaks of another

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travel

kind of aspect, about being in a hotel and having your own room with someone – or a few people, in fact,” the designer deadpans. Wanders personally prefers the regular suites, and stayed in one recently while on holiday with his daughter. It was a rare break for the designer who’s constantly on the go. Next in the pipeline is the redesign of a palace and a six-star hotel, along with the launch of an innovative anti-pollution face mask currently being trialled in Asia. His dream project, he says, would either be New York’s Metropolitan Opera House (“there is all the drama inside that you can wish for as a designer”) or a mosque in the Middle East. “Every design we make has a political meaning, and I think that it would be great to have a contemporary, European designer who is trusted to do such an important building for the Middle East,” he says, “and it would be great if that designer could do an amazing job and do something that shows respect.” Thinking outside the box is what Wanders does best, and is perhaps why he has been compared to Lady Gaga so many times. It’s a comparison that I’m reluctant to bring up, unsure what his reaction will be – but as it transpires, it’s an accolade he holds highly. “I’m not someone who knows too much about Lady Gaga, but just for fun after this comment I Googled her, and if you Google her and really try to understand her videos and the creativity that she brings to the table, you will see that she’s just an amazing creative soul that has never been boring,” he says. “She takes her music further than just the notes and really inspires a lot of people, so it could be worse. I just wait for the day that they call her the Marcel Wanders of music...” From €494.40 per night, iberostar.com

088 | LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK

Clockwise from top left: Eyeball mirror; Marcel Wanders; Games Suite; Heritage Suite all images courtesy of Iberostar

Koh Samuiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most exclusive and discrete luxury villa estate, Samujana is positioned in the most sought-after location on the island. Offering complete privacy just a few minutesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; drive from Samui International Airport, the estate boasts a hill-top location just a short distance from the stunning beaches of Choeng Mon and popular Chaweng. +66 (0) 77 423 465 RESERVATIONS@SAMUJANA.COM

long haul

Room with a view Samujana Retreat and Residences offers the chance to own a slice of paradise on Koh Samuiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rugged north-east coast words by Anna Thornhill

here are holiday villas and then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Samujana. The luxury hillside estate overlooking a rocky cove on Koh Samuiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s north-east coast is the ultimate hideaway. Situated just moments from the bustling beaches of Choeng Mon and Chaweng, the secluded enclave was initially dreamt up by a group of friends from the UK and Hong Kong as a small collection of individually owned and run villas, but has since evolved into a resort, where faultless service and spectacular scenery hold sway. As one of the first luxury resorts on Koh Samui, Samujana has set the benchmark for elegant design and laidback living. In place of the ostentatious, simplicity and striking architectural details

enable the views to do the talking. Each of the 25 villas, which range in size from three to eight bedrooms, has been sensitively integrated into the natural environment, with mature trees and rock formations woven into the outdoor living areas, gardens and pools, while floor-to-ceiling windows frame breathtaking sunsets over the coral cove below. Guests can continue to lap up the sensational scenery from their private infinity pool, or kick back in the cinema room or massage suite. In short, Samujana is the perfect bolthole for those looking for utter tranquillity and ultimate privacy, not least because every aspect of your stay is managed by the on-call villa hosts who can prepare meals, organise sailing excursions and deliver ice-cold refreshments to your sunlounger, meaning your stay in paradise can run as seamlessly as possible.

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Floor-to-ceiling windows frame breathtaking sunsets

John Kinder has been a villa owner and investor at Samujana since 2005. What is so unusual about the resort, he explains, is the fact that it was conceived by a group of friends who wanted the place to have a unified look and feel. In order to achieve this, they enlisted Gary Fell of Gfab Architects to design Samujana in its entirety. Things have come a long way in that time, with the final phase of building work completed just last year. Today villas are either used exclusively as private residences or are managed by Samujana and rented out. “Over time a more central core of owners came together to do things in a cooperative way and created a management company to look after everything from reservations to the marketing of the villas, meaning owners can leave them in safe hands and rent them out if they are not living in them all year around,” Kinder explains. “When we bought in the management company, we also upgraded a lot of the central facilities at the resort, including building better roads and drains, and installing a central generator,” he adds. Other improvement works in the pipeline include plans for a bar on the beach (to which the villas all share private access) and a small, adjacent hotel. There are currently eight villas for sale, four of which are virtually new. Kinder believes Samujana ticks all the boxes for those looking for the holiday villa of their dreams. “It’s your house when you’re there, but it’ll be looked after properly and cover its costs when you’re not,” he says, Now is a great time to invest in Koh Samui which still retains its unspoilt feel; infrastructure is improving all the time, and thanks to the new roads, Samujana

is only a ten-minute drive from Samui International Airport. Restaurants and facilities are also flourishing. “There’s a golf course, and watersports are great here, too,” says Kinder. “You can hire boats to take you to the nearby islands or water ski and sail. Over time I imagine a couple of decent marinas will be built.” Even with all this on the doorstep, however, there really is no reason to leave Samujana. Those looking to get away from it all can simply shut the door to their villa, where total relaxation – and that view – await. For sales enquiries, email own@samujana.com; samujana.com

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Catering For Your Every Need tel: 01372 469378 www.surreyhousekeepers.co.uk | www.londonprivatestaff.co.uk

Green Tea Vegans rejoice: Notting Hill’s Farmacy is now serving a dairy-free, plant-based high tea. Tuck into cucumber and pea sandwiches, strawberry and cashew mousse and scones with coconut clotted ‘cream’. £35 per person, 75 Westbourne Grove, W2, farmacylondon.com

Photography: James Byrne

food&drink words by Ellen Millard

Mama mia

From the kitchens of Bahrain to the streets of Chelsea, Roaya Saleh’s Villa Mamas is bringing traditional Bahraini dishes to Elystan Street this month. Pop in for lamb and feta kofta, mathrooba (slow-cooked chicken, rice and cracked wheat) and sayadieh (turbot with pilaf and crisp onions).

Photography: Carol Sachs

25-27 Elystan Street, SW3, villamamas.com

Just roll with it

Villa f Bahrain to Chelsea o e t s a t a s Mamas bring

Keeping tab

It’s no secret that some people are particular about their coffee, but Tab x Tab founders Mathew and Charmaine Tabatabai took their obsession one step further, undertaking an 18-month search to track down the best beans. The result is their first cafe in Westbourne Grove, which serves the ultimate brew along with pastries, cakes and light bites. 14-16 Westbourne Grove, W2, tabxtab.com

It’s not often that the worlds of sushi and design collide, so it was not without surprise that we learnt of Sushi Shop’s latest collaboration with French interior designer Sarah Lavoine. The result is a 42-piece geometric print lunch box, containing new bites of beef tartare, citrus and basil yellowtail maki and crispy tuna rolls. £39.90, 10 Brompton Road, SW7, mysushishop.co.uk

origi n

orld’s best co w e h t ckt of

food&drink

Discover t

Causing a stir

Bartender Chad Parkhill delivers a history lesson on the humble cocktail in his new book Around the World in 80 Cocktails. Discover the origins of tipples such as the mojito, negroni and piña colada – as well as the capital’s very own ginbased concoction: the Hanky Panky. £12.99, hardiegrant.co.uk

Go for it

Skip the standard avo-andeggs brunch and head to Go-Viet in South Kensington instead, where a new two- or three-course brunch menu has launched. Tuck into starters of grilled Saigon pork ribs and carpaccio scallops, and mains of beef pho and baked pork belly rice. From £19.80 for two courses, 53 Old Brompton Road, SW7, vietnamfood.co.uk

Night at the opera

To mark the opening of the V&A’s new exhibition, Opera: Passion, Power and Politics, Jumeirah Carlton Tower has created an afternoon tea featuring a selection of savoury croissants and sweet pastries inspired by the world’s top opera houses. Those who opt for the Don Giovanni cocktail will also receive a ticket to the exhibition and an MP3 player preloaded with seven different operas. 30 September – 25 February 2018, from £45 per person, 1 Cadogan Place, SW1X, jumeirah.com

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W8 4BH 020 7727 1500 sothebysrealty.co.uk

020 7589 6616

020 7245 4500 SOUTH KENSINGTON

Kensington

Notting Hill

157 Gloucester Road

9 Kensington Church Street

178 Westbourne Grove

SW7 4TH

W8 4LF

020 7871 4111

020 7368 4450

W11 2RH struttandparker.com

020 7727 3227

russellsimpson.co.uk

CHELSEA

North Kensington

Chelsea

43 Cadogan Street

South Kensington

136 Lancaster Road

5 Anderson Street

SW3 2PR

123a Gloucester Road

W11 1QU

SW3 3LU

020 7225 3866

SW7 4TE

020 7313 8350

020 7225 0277

020 7373 5052

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 101

Argyll Road, Kensington W8 An elegant family house situated on the Phillimore Estate A handsome house with wonderful proportions situated on the prestigious Phillimore Estate. The property has well arranged accommodation over five floors, balancing superb entertaining space and an attractive c. 50 ft east facing garden. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, guest cloakroom, garden. EPC: D. Approximately 358 sq m (3,860 sq ft). Freehold

Guide price: £8,950,000

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

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/KEN170070

K&C - OCT 23 Argyllcm

04/09/2017 15:24:01

Queen’s Gate Terrace, South Kensington SW7 An “Arts & Crafts” style house in the manner of the architect Voysey This unique freehold house requires modernisation, but offers flexible and spacious accommodation over four floors. Being situated on a corner, this imposing house has a frontage of some 42 ft and has a private garage. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, kitchen, garage. EPC: C. Approximately 357 sq m (3,850 sq ft). Freehold

Guide price: £7,500,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/southkensington southkensington@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6122

@CentralLondonKF KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/STK140112

K&C Advertising Sept/Oct 2017 S Ken_with crop v4

05/09/2017 10:20:00

Dawson place K&C October 2017

01/09/2017 12:32:35

MOVE. Faster. Sell with Knight Frank. Our understanding of the everchanging market enables us to price your property accurately, so you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving. Call us today for a free market appraisal of your property.

Guide Price: £2,350,000

Knightfrank.co.uk/chelsea chelsea@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5903

Slaidburn Street, Chelsea SW10 A spacious terraced house situated in the heart of Chelsea. Set over three floors, the house encompasses plenty of natural light and also benefits from a beautiful garden roof terrace and a separate conservatory. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, reception room, roof terrace and a conservatory. EPC: E. Approximately 145.4 sq m (1,565 sq ft). chelsea@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 5903

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Guide price: £11,500,000

The Little Boltons, Chelsea SW10 A substantial semi-detached property currently arranged as two masionettes. The building has incredible volume throughout, west facing garden and a roof terrace. 7 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, garden and a roof terrace. EPC: E. Approximately 571.4 sq m (6,151 sq ft). chelsea@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 5903

Ken & Chel - October 2017

04/09/2017 13:54:17

MOVE. FASTER. SELL WITH KNIGHT FRANK. Our understanding of the ever-changing market enables us to price your property accurately, so you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving. Call us today to arrange your free market appraisal.

KnightFrank.co.uk/knightsbridge knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5913 Guide price: £2,100,000

Egerton Gardens, Knightsbridge SW3 An elegant and newly refurbished two bedroom flat with south facing views over Egerton Crescent and Egerton Gardens to the rear and also benefitting from access to the communal garden. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, south facing reception room with kitchen area, communal garden access. EPC: D. Approximately 76.5 sq m (823 sq ft). knightsbridge@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 5913

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Guide price: £3,500,000

Sloane Gardens, Chelsea SW1 An impressive maisonette with direct access to a communal garden and its own front door near Sloane Square. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception/dining room, kitchen, cloakroom, utility room, patio, communal garden, caretaker. EPC: D. Approximately 168.2 sq m (1,810 sq ft). knightsbridge@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 5913

Kensington & Chelsea October 2017 3@7 Egerton Gdns & 6 Sloane Gardens

05/09/2017 10:05:30

Kens& Chel october

06/09/2017 12:44:23

T c w h a s

Kensington Kensington & Chelsea & Chelsea DPS DPS FRFR Sept Sept

Châteauneuf Châteauneufde deGrasse, Grasse,Côte Côted'Azur, d'Azur,France France Enchanting EnchantingProvençal ProvençalBastide. Bastide.

KnightFrank.com KnightFrank.com mark.harvey@knightfrank.com mark.harvey@knightfrank.com + 4+44 4 2 02 0 7 876816 1 5 053043 4

This This impressive impressive property property is is ideally ideally located located between between thethe Grande Grande Bastide Bastide Golf Golf Club Club and and thethe charming charming hill-top hill-top village village of of Châteauneuf Châteauneuf dede Grasse, Grasse, enjoying enjoying a peaceful a peaceful setting setting whilst whilst being being within within short short distance distance from from local local amenities. amenities. Currently Currently arranged arranged asas a main a main house, house, two two guest guest houses houses and and caretaker's caretaker's apartment offering apartment offering 1111 bedrooms bedrooms and and 8 bathrooms 8 bathrooms in in total. total. Set Set in in approximately approximately 1.81.8 hectares hectares of of landscaped landscaped grounds grounds with with charming charming olive olive grove grove and and a large a large swimming swimming pool. pool.

Price Price onon Application Application

@KnightFrank @KnightFrank KnightFrank.com KnightFrank.com

KnightFrank.com/RSI160826 KnightFrank.com/RSI160826

07/09/2017 07/09/2017 10:43:53 10:43:53

Team spirit Caroline Foord and Sami Robertson, partners at Knight Frankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Notting Hill and Kensington offices respectively, explain how their teams have worked together to become a united force to be reckoned with

Photography: ÂŠSarel Jansen

property

f you type Knight Frank’s Notting Hill and Kensington offices into Google, a roll-call of five-star reviews pops up, each waxing lyrical about the exceptional service its respective teams have provided. One reviewer writes: “A neighbour asked me which agent she should contact to sell her house. I replied, ‘You won’t do better than Caroline Foord for honesty, integrity and quiet calm’. My neighbour proceeded to ‘interview’ seven other prospective local agents, and picked Knight Frank above the rest. Why? Answer: Caroline Foord.” Needless to say, she made the right choice – with Foord and her team on board, the property sold for more than the guide price, following a competitive bidding process. Upon meeting Foord and the head of Knight Frank’s Kensington office, Sami Robertson, it’s easy to see how the pair have garnered such stellar reviews. Our interview is held at one of the Royal Borough’s most-coveted new developments, Vicarage Gate House, for which Knight Frank is the sales agent. Perched on the border of Kensington and Notting Hill, it’s a prime example of how the two offices work together and utilise their combined knowledge of the area. Foord, who has been with the firm since 1991, opened Knight Frank’s first Notting Hill office in 2000 – and the second in 2013 – and knows the area like the back of her hand. “I’ve lived in the Royal Borough for more than 30 years, so I suppose this is very much my stomping ground,” she says, “and I’ve spent nearly 18 years specifically working in Notting Hill. It has been fantastic; no day is the same. You never know who you’re going to meet and which property gem you’re going to see, and that’s what I love about my job.” While their respective areas differ vastly – Notting Hill tends to appeal to both domestic and international families, who are drawn to the area’s world-renowned schools and garden squares, while Kensington’s recent influx of new-builds is attracting a more international crowd – the two agree that the contrast between the areas is part of the Royal Borough’s charm, and that, despite their differences, the offices work very closely together. “We’ve just done a great deal on Palace Gardens Terrace, for which we had a seller and Caroline’s team kindly found a buyer, so it’s all joined up,” Robertson explains. “Everything interlinks at Knight Frank; Vicarage Gate House is one of our key residential development schemes, so we’re very much joined up with our Residential Development specialists, as well as our local offices.” The offices are also connected globally, and Robertson’s relationship with the international teams has grown since he became the UK ambassador for the company’s Singapore office, an initiative that has been rolled out across the firm.

“We’ve got ambassadors in Hong Kong, Dubai, India and Beijing, and what we do is we link up with the foreign office and introduce them to the people we know in London, and vice versa,” Robertson says. “I find nine times out of ten that we can help, whether it’s residential or commercial or looking at their global assets; it’s a huge USP.” One recent success story from the initiative is a prime example of not just how the international offices work together, but how the Kensington and Notting Hill teams do, too. The client in question is one who has worked with Robertson for more than a decade, and has called on him for help numerous times over the years, both in London and internationally. “It’s a great example of how we helped a family in Kensington, ended up helping them in Europe, and then did one of the most significant trades of the year with them in Notting Hill,” Robertson says, before going on to explain how his colleague at the Notting Hill office, Arthur Lintell, assisted with the final sale. “Arthur’s someone that I can call up and introduce to one of my most important clients, and I know that he’ll look after them in the right way. He was the one who highlighted the property in Notting Hill, and we approached it. The great thing about Knight Frank is my colleagues are generally friends; I’ve had a relationship with many of them for probably ten years now, so there’s a trust – and that goes across London and beyond.” While the global force of Knight Frank is stronger than ever, first and foremost Foord and Robertson are focused on their offices in the Royal Borough, and both are feeling positive about the future. “We all know the backdrop of the market at the moment, the impact of the Stamp Duty increases and now all of the uncertainty with Brexit, but there’s that wonderful expression: uncertainty is the mother of opportunity, and I think that’s how our market is,” Foord says. “Sentiment for best in class is still very strong, and I get a sense that some buyers who’ve been wavering for the past six to 12 months will decide they have to make a decision.” Having worked together for the best part of a decade, the pair are fiercely local and any attempt to wager a bit of rivalry is graciously batted away. The only semblance of competition arises when they take it in turns to discuss their respective areas – but, as Foord says, it’s the differences between these districts that make the Royal Borough – and London as a whole – so appealing: “They’re different areas, different demographics and different dynamics. I’ve always been a great believer that London is made up of various little villages, which all have different characteristics and different ways of doing things – and long may that remain.” 294 Westbourne Grove, W11; 52-56 Kensington Church Street, W8, knightfrank.co.uk

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 111

Movers & shakers Kensington, London

Local agents on why Kensington & Chelsea offers an attractive prospect for young professionals and international investors alike

Marsh & Parsons

Rose Holden Director and sales manager As a result of the political and economic climates of late, we are now seeing an increase in overseas buyers in Kensington & Chelsea. After the dollar-to-pound exchange rate dropped following the Brexit vote, demand from buyers from countries such as America, Canada and the Middle East is on the up. We recently sold a beautiful apartment to a couple from New York who wanted a base here. For them, it was a profitable investment opportunity as they are earning in dollars but purchased in pounds, meaning their money went further. A £1.35m property would previously have cost an overseas buyer $1.94m – now the cost has fallen to $1.73m. This, together with a seven per cent decrease in London house prices following Brexit, means that the average cost of a

property in the borough is now $1.56m for an international investor. This $40,000 saving has countered the increased stamp duty rates that buyers are facing, and with the exchange rate starting to recover, overseas buyers are seeing the real investment potential in London property. Romanticised by the film, Notting Hill remains an extremely popular part of Kensington & Chelsea for overseas buyers. Coupled with its proximity to the Central line – which provides easy access to the City – the area is the location of choice for international investors. With world-class shops and restaurants in the immediate vicinity, Notting Hill properties have long commanded a premium, but with this newfound demand from overseas brings potential for further capital appreciation – good news for the area’s existing residents. marshandparsons.co.uk

property

Gary Hersham Managing director at Beauchamp Estates

Kensington & Chelsea has been a desirable residential address for a great many years, with no sign of its appeal dwindling. While there have not been as many sales as in previous periods, those that have taken place have in many instances been to young professionals working in banking, finance and law. Increasingly the area appeals to young professional clients, both in respect of renting and buying, who in the main hail from central Europe, with a notable number from France and Italy. Many are interested in the area as friends already live there, attracted by the vibrant local centres with shops and restaurants, which, along with easy access to parks and garden squares, adds to the broader appeal of the borough. Applicants range from young professional singles and couples, to those who have just started a family. All wouldbe residents ideally want a property with high ceilings that is close to restaurants and shops, with young families particularly eager to be near, or have access to, some green space. Families are likely to be attracted by the plethora of good schools in the area and, when considering properties with three of more bedrooms, often have a strong preference for ground-floor maisonettes with gardens or access to communal outside space. beauchamp.com

Pegasi Photography: ÂŠSarel Jansen

Beauchamp Estates

Jo Upton Property director The Pegasi residential buildings are located in Kensington, Mayfair and Knightsbridge. More than 50 per cent of our lettings for the past quarter have been in the Kensington area. The statistics from last quarterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new lettings reveal that the majority of tenants renting in Kensington are employed in the banking and finance industries. While professionals from the emerging tech industry are being enticed to Prime Central London, as yet our findings suggest that they are not currently moving to the Royal Borough. Instead, we continue to welcome high numbers of mainly international students, as well as high net worth individuals, who make up 16 per cent of those living in the area, although do bear in mind that at least some of this sector will be retired. Increasingly we have found that the professional private rental sector in Prime Central London is proving popular to the more mature tenant, many of whom may have homes elsewhere but want to enjoy the style and elegance of Kensington , as well as the flexibility that comes with renting a home here. Location, privacy, security and excellence in the quality of accommodation and service are of paramount importance to residents moving to this area and choosing homes with us. pegasi.co.uk Resident Occupation Q3 2017 Self-employed 3% Real estate 3% Legal 3% Other 3% Oil/gas 6%

Holland Park ÂŠDrimaFilm / Shutterstock

Embassy 7%

Retired 10%

Banking and finance 26%

HNW 16% Student 23%

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 113

property

Chestertons

Harrods Estates

Daniel Taylor Head of Kensington residential sales Purchasers looking to acquire a property in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea are a diverse mix of people, from international investors who hold dollar-based currencies and are looking to capitalise on the weaker pound, to those working in the City. Typically these buyers are seeking a lateral apartment in a period mansion block. Popular locations include Iverna Court, Wynnstay Gardens and Abingdon Court – south of High Street Kensington, or Campden Hill Court which is just north of the High Street. One of the reasons properties here are desirable is due to the high level of security the buildings offer. Many of the residents may spend extended periods away and therefore require a property they can ‘lock up and leave’ during this time.

Mark Greenway Residential sales manager A significant number of sales in the area are to individuals who are buying for lifestyle reasons: perhaps as a second or third home, either for personal use or for their children. Many of

these are cash buyers. Of those who are buying in relation to careers or businesses, we are seeing some executives from the oil and gas sector and of course those from the legal sector. City buyers, particularly those looking for investments rather than a home, are increasingly more tempted by property in Canary Wharf/City: choice is broader and the price points and yields in these areas tend to be more favourable at this time.

“Properties that are well finished, in period mansion blocks are always appealing”

chestertons.com

harrodsestates.com

Kensington period apartments

It is not uncommon for local residents to move within the borough as the area hosts a number of attractive attributes, such as highly acclaimed schools, restaurants and parks. The Central and Piccadilly lines are also close by, allowing quick access to Heathrow or the City. As one of the most exclusive postcodes in the country, the area attracts the super-wealthy, many of whom may also consider a freehold house. Another popular pocket is ‘Hillgate Village’ which is mostly made up of two and three-storey pastel-coloured stucco terraces that are extremely sought after. Period cottages on these streets trade for circa £2-£4 million.

The area has always been desirable and many buyers already have friends and/or family living there, which I think is a key appeal. To live in an area where you feel at home and get an immediate sense of belonging is a very attractive feature. Currently many buyers are interested in properties below £2 million, a consequence of changes to Stamp Duty. In terms of features, properties that are well finished, in period mansion blocks are always appealing, particularly in SW3. They are easy to manage and can be used as a main home or a lock-and-leave pieda-terre. As their appeal is enduring, resale is rarely an issue. We see quite a few buyers from within the borough, moving up or down-sizing, depending on their life stage and also buying in the area for their children. Buyers from outside the UK are in part motivated by the advantageous currency exchange rate – this is particularly so for those whose purchase funds are held in currencies pegged against the dollar: this includes some buyers from the Middle East, in addition to which we see some from the Far East.

114 | LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK

To view the newly released suites, 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments, contact our sales team on 0203 432 8097 Prices start from ÂŁ750,000 embassygardens.com

PRICES CURRENT AS OF DATE OF PRINT.

London is our city Embassy Gardens is our home Eg: life, captured on Instagram

Claimer: These are real residents, who really do live in Embassy Gardens! Images from Instagram @embassygardens #embassygardens

Untitled-1 1

06/09/2017 17:57

ACADEMY GARDENS KENSINGTON W8 A SOPHISTICATED & ELEGANT SIX BEDROOM APARTMENT Located in this enviable Kensington address, Academy Gardens is a unique 6 bedroom apartment with ample space for entertaining family and friends. It has been finished to a superb luxurious standard which is clear from the moment you step into this apartment. Accommodation: Entrance hall, open plan living/kitchen/dining, study, guest cloakroom, master bedroom with ensuite bathroom and shower room and dressing room, 4 further bedrooms with ensuite bathroom, one further double bedroom, guest bathroom. Amenities: Lift, store/laundry room, 2 private terraces, 5,369 sqft.

Paul Finch paul@beauchamp.com +44 (0)20 7205 2297

£12,950,000 Long Leasehold Joint Sole Agents

www.beauchamp.com

24 Curzon Street, London W1J 7TF

+44 (0)20 7205 2297

ROLAND GARDENS KENSINGTON SW7 A UNIQUE ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT IN SOUTH KENSINGTON This Roland Gardens apartment is a unique property set over the ground and first floor of this building. The apartment has exceptionally high ceilings and very large windows allowing in great natural light. The design and charm is unique as is the stylish use of stunning bespoke furniture. Accommodation: Entrance hall, double reception room, drawing room, kitchen, 1 bedroom, dressing room, shower room, bathroom, guest cloakroom.

£2,500 / Week

karolina@beauchamp.com

No tenant fees

+44 (0)20 7205 2864

www.beauchamp.com

24 Curzon Street, London W1J 7TF

+44 (0)20 7205 2864

A grand and imposing property. Luxuriously carpeted throughout.

Matching people and property in London for over 160 years.

www.marshandparsons.co.uk

Upper Addison Gardens, W14 £2,000,000 A fabulous three double bedroom, upper floor flat, with a grand reception/dining area that provides generous social and entertaining space, located moments from Holland Park Avenue. Leasehold. EPC=D

• Period features • Three bedrooms • Residents’ parking • Two bathrooms Holland Park Sales : 020 8033 9024 sales.hpk@marshandparsons.co.uk

www.marshandparsons.co.uk

St Quintin Avenue, W10 £2,600,000 This spectacular property is finished to an exacting standard throughout, with a kitchen/dining area leading onto a south-west facing balcony. Share of Freehold. EPC=E

• Three bedrooms • Garden • High ceilings • Close to Portobello Road North Kensington Sales : 020 8033 9028 sales.nkn@marshandparsons.co.uk

www.marshandparsons.co.uk

WYFOLD ROAD, FULHAM SW6 ● ● ● ●

Brand new development Selection of 1, 2 & 3 beds Luxury apartments Quiet tree-lined street

● ● ● ●

Secure entry with CCTV Lift access Secure bicycle storage EPC: B

Price on application Unfurnished For more information, call Ken Dowling 020 3811 2395 or email kensington.lets@eu.jll.com

387 Kensington High Street London W14 8QH

jll.co.uk/residential

Potential tenants are advised that administration fees may be payable when renting a property. Please ask for details of our charges.

JLL_

jll.co.uk/residential

Where do you want to be? Success comes when you have a truly inspirational place to live. A home with the headspace to think, the energy to inspire. Because to really make it, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just need a new pad. You need a launchpad. Whether you want to rent, buy or invest, we can help you achieve your ambitions.

JLL Chelsea 2 Cale Street Chelsea SW3 3QU T: 020 7399 5010

JLL Kensington 387 Kensington High Street London W14 8QA T: 020 7087 5696

Sales | Lettings | Property Management | New Homes

JLL_Spring_Campaign_Ad_Chelsea/Kensington_210x297mm_AW_5.6.17.indd 1

05/06/2017 15:57

ENNISMORE GARDENS KNIGHTSBRIDGE SW7

Â£7,500,000 leasehold

www.century21uk.com/nottinghill

nottinghill@century21uk.com

QUEEN’S GATE GARDENS SOUTH KENSINGTON SW7

£6,250,000 share of freehold

10 Clarendon Road London W11 3AA

020 7229 1414

Established 1897

A generously proportioned threebedroom maisonette Eardley Crescent, Earls Court SW5 • Situated on ground and lower ground floors • Newly refurbished • Over 1,530sq ft

GUIDE PRICE

£2,000,000 TENURE

Leasehold 994 years remaining

• High ceilings throughout • Private patio garden • Ample storage throughout

EPC RATING

CONTACT

CHELSEA OFFICE +44 (0)20 7225 6700 mark.greenway@harrodsestates.com

H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M

Established 1897

A luxurious and spacious fivebedroom apartment Victoria Road, Kensington W8 • Master suite with large dressing room • Four further bedrooms • Reception with 3m ceiling heights

GUIDE PRICE

£7,350,000 TENURE

SHARE OF FREEHOLD

• Cinema room with 7ft screen • Open plan kitchen with dining room • 3,325sq ft/ 309sq m

EPC RATING

CONTACT

KENSINGTON OFFICE +44 (0)20 3650 4600 shaun.drummond@harrodsestates.com

H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M

Ormonde Gate

Chelsea SW3

Price on application

ÂŁ6,500,000

share of freehold

freehold

Situated in the Old Chelsea, this property is unique being the widest of only 6 houses t level apartment occupying theheart top 2offloors of this beautifully maintained on this terrace that benefithallway, from direct access onto the beautifully manicured communal garden. ion in Kensington. Comprising an inviting a bright interconnecting This rare Arts & Crafts would benefit a programme of refurbishment but is not listed, bedrooms, a 3rd bedroom/study areahouse & 2 bathrooms (1 offrom which is an providing the teak incoming buyer a superb opportunity to significantly extend the internal y benefits furthertherefore from solid Rhodesian wooden floors, a stylish ed loft space. space & create a unique family residence of spacious lateral proportions.

EPC rating C

Chelsea

020 7594 4752 chestertons.com

sales.chelsea@chestertons.com

chestertons.com

Nevern MarloesMansions Road Price on application share ofW8 freehold Warwick Road SW5 Kensington

Marloes Price on Road application share of freehold W8 Kensington

ÂŁ1,350,000 Price on application share of freehold

A ground 2 bedroom apartment set this attractive red period slitbeautifully level apartment maintained Anwonderfully immaculately occupying bright thepresented topraised 2 floors split of level thisfloor beautifully apartment maintained occupying An theimmaculately topwithin 2 floors ofpresented this beautifully splitbrick level maintained apartment occupying the top 2 floors of this beautifully main mansion block.Victorian The an Comprising entrance stucco hall/study area, a storearoom, drawing room, rsion a bright in Kensington. interconnecting stucco Comprising fronted an accommodation inviting conversion hallway,inacomprises Kensington. bright interconnecting an inviting fronted hallway, Victorian bright conversion interconnecting in Kensington. Comprising an inviting hallway, a bright interconn fully fitted kitchen/breakfast room 2 double (both benefits oms le bedrooms, (1 of which aa reception/dining 3rd ismodern an bedroom/study room, area 2& double 2 bathrooms bedrooms, (1 of a&3rd which bedroom/study is anbedrooms reception/dining area & 2en-suites). bathrooms room, 2Further double (1 of which bedrooms, is an a 3rd bedroom/study area & 2 bathrooms (1 of which is include to the beautiful communal gardens on Nevern Square (subject to availability). en ty benefits floors, a further stylish en-suite). fromaccess solid ThisRhodesian stunning property teak wooden benefits floors, further a stylish from solid Rhodesian en-suite). This teakstunning wooden property floors, a stylish benefits further from solid Rhodesian teak wooden floors, a stylish ded loft space. modern kitchen & a large boarded loft space. modern kitchen & a large boarded loft space. EPC rating C EPC rating E EPC rating E

Kensington

chestertons.com 020 7937 7244

sales.kensington@chestertons.com

Kensington

chestertons.com 020 7937 7244

sales.kensington@chestertons.com

chestertons.com

property

Chelsea’s enduring appeal David Lee, Head of Sales at Pastor Real Estate, offers his opinion on Chelsea’s past and future prospects

helsea has long been considered one of Prime Central London’s most vibrant and eclectic neighbourhoods. Having risen to fame in the 1960s via design icons such as Vivienne Westwood and Mary Quant, the area has always played a pivotal role in the world of fashion and art. Fast forward a few decades, and a host of designer boutiques and fine dining options attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe each year. Events such as the Chelsea Flower Show and the displays at the Saatchi Gallery complement Chelsea’s diverse and outstanding cultural offering. Renowned for its well-established property market, Chelsea remains a hugely popular choice for wealthy domestic and international purchasers. Many have fallen in love with its pretty mews houses, red brick mansion blocks and tranquil garden squares. New-build residential developments comfortably sit juxtaposed with Chelsea’s more traditional architecture. This contrast of old and new also extends to For sale: One-bedroom flat in Swan Court, Chelsea Manor Street, SW3, £950,000

the residents and retailers who play a pivotal role in shaping Chelsea’s landscape. Once the private 17thcentury thoroughfare of King Charles II, the King’s Road is now home to an array of designer labels as well as many well-known high street brands. It should come as little surprise therefore, that properties here are among the most expensive in the UK. Despite the political and economic headwinds which continue to impact the sales market, interest from prospective purchasers looking to buy remains strong, with high quality houses and apartments achieving sales of £1,900 to £2,500 per sq ft. Various landmark residential development schemes on the outskirts of the area, along with a host of smaller projects on prime streets, will no doubt further cement the area’s popularity for years to come. Having operated a successful sales and lettings business in Mayfair since 2012, Pastor Real Estate will open its third office, in Chelsea, later this year. Strong demand from Pastor Real Estates’ clients in both Monaco and London makes Chelsea the logical next step in the company’s expansion. Refurbishment works to the Chelsea Green office are well under way and we look forward to welcoming both new and existing clients through our doors very soon. Located only a few minutes’ walk from the King’s Road, via Markham Street or Jubilee Place, Chelsea Green was the natural choice for a new office; particularly as it retains a village-like atmosphere, something that resonates well with Pastor Real Estate’s first London office in Mayfair’s Shepherd Market. The new office will allow our expanding team of highly experienced sales and lettings negotiators to bring their local knowledge and experience to clients seeking a distinctively personal approach when dealing with the sale or rental of their property. We look forward to joining the abundance of other independent businesses operating in the area, and are pleased to offer a full range of property services, including development, architecture, commercial agency, investment and property management, in addition to traditional residential sales and lettings services.

Pastor Real Estate will open its third office, in Chelsea, this year

pastor-realestate.com

132 | LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK

www.pastor-realestate.com

FOR LET: SYDNEY STREET, CHELSEA SW3

Â£750 per week - Furnished

Two Double Bedrooms | Recently Refurbished | Fully Fitted Kitchen | Superb Location | Fully Tiled Bathroom | Knightsbridge Well presented duplex apartment in this splendid period conversion on Sydney Street, ideally located between the Kings Road and Fulham Road & close to many local amenities. Entrance hall, spacious reception room, fully fitted kitchen with breakfast bar, two double bedrooms, walk in wardrobe, modern bathroom and two small balconies. FURTHER DETAILS FOR ALL LETTINGS CONTACT: +44 (0)20 3195 9595 lettings@pastor-realestate.com 48 Curzon Street, London, W1J 7UL

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Image courtesy of Squire & Partners

Emily Ramsay, partner at Knight Frank Notting Hill, on how to corner the market this autumn

Super-deal surge behind PCL ‘recovery’

A “surge” of high-value deals – including a £90m recordbreaker in Knightsbridge – drove a marked uplift in prices and transaction volumes across Prime Central London during Q2, according to new analysis of Land Registry data. London Central Portfolio and Acadata calculated the average price in PCL to be £1,946,151 by the end of June, after a quarterly uplift of 7.9 per cent – although much of that increase is being attributed to a small number of big-ticket buyers taking advantage of chunky price chops and favourable conditions at the top end. While it may not have fallen into either of those categories, Q2’s blockbusting £90m deal at The Knightsbridge Apartments was the most expensive sale ever to transact through the Land Registry. As a result of this flurry of high-end transactions, the top 10 per cent of the market outperformed, posting a 20 per cent increase in average prices. Take that top 10 per cent sector out of the equation, however, and average quarterly price growth in PCL worked out at a “more typical” 4.5 per cent. Performance in the buy-to-let-sector was “sluggish” by comparison, with price growth of just 1.3 per cent for properties under £810,000. Encouragingly, sales volumes strengthened across the board, with an annual increase of 4.8 per cent to 3,885, but again the top end shone, with the £5m-£10m bracket seeing an increase of 23 per cent over Q1 – the highest recorded across all price ranges. A very different story is emerging in the sub-£1m segment of the PCL market, however, where sales volumes fell by 9 per cent. In Greater London, quarterly price growth came in at 4 per cent, taking the average to £634,234, although the total number of sales fell to 88,545 after an annual decrease of 24 per cent. There was hardly any quarterly price growth to speak of across England and Wales (0.27 per cent; average to £287,823). Transactions fell by 12 per cent, with the annual total of 844,380 marking a seven-year low.

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Activity is rising and there are a number of reasons to be optimistic about the autumn market. Prices seem to be strengthening, having fallen over the past few years, and vendors want to get on with a sale, having previously hung back due to the uncertainties of Brexit. A weaker sterling makes this an unprecedented time for overseas buyers and there are many domestic buyers who are realising that it is time to move. As a result, we have a better selection of properties on the market than we have had in recent years. A good supply of high quality stock provides the best possible opportunity for buyers, which is the key to making a sound investment and to future price growth. All of these factors should result in the market gathering momentum in the next few months. Vendors who are prepared to price their properties competitively may even see them creating competition and achieving a premium, but overpriced properties will probably be passed over by buyers as the choice grows. It is tempting to overprice your property to ensure you maximise the sale figure, but one push too many makes the property stand out as too expensive. If it’s in exceptional condition or has some outstanding features, buyers may be prepared to make offers or even pay above the market price, but if it has any drawbacks, it can stick for a considerable time. One of the effects of having market data available on the internet is that pricing is increasingly transparent as it is easy to compare properties. It is therefore vital that they are photographed to best effect and presented to look their best. We work hard to ensure our clients’ properties are well presented and described to highlight the features that justify the price. Luckily we have some exceptional properties, so it makes being enthusiastic about them a real pleasure.

Knight Frank 294 Westbourne Grove, W11 2PS 020 7313 9112, knightfrank.com

20 Montpelier Street Knightsbridge London SW7 1HD

VICTORIA ROAD, W8 SW7 CRANLEY GARDENS, LYALL MEWS, SW1X 6 Bedrooms Entrance Hall 2Bathrooms Bedrooms |2 | 4 Bedrooms ||4|5En Suite Bathrooms 2 WCs | 4|Reception Rooms Rooms| Bathrooms Kitchen/Reception Guest Cloakroom | 2 Reception 3 Kitchens | sq Dining | 3ERoom Stores Room | 718 ft | Lift | EPC Kitchen/Dining Room |Room Laundry | 4,404 sqft Loft | Front Patio 2,418 sq ft ||Integral Garage | Off-Street Parking Parking | EPC F| Access to Additional off-street Belgrave Square Gardens | EPC C Probate Sale by order of the An excellently proportioned andexecutors, bright two this wider than average freehold double bedroom apartment, within the An end-of-terrace freehold mews houseVictorian house is located in one of Kensington’s heart of South Kensington. Positioned on situated in arguably one of Belgravia’s most most sought after street. The property the second floor (with lift) of this attractive desirable locations. This low built house has been inbuilding, the same ownership ^% years period the flat benefitsforfrom was disassembled; comprehensively rebuilt and now requires complete modernisation. wooden floors in this stunning semi open and fully modernised benefitting from the The house has the added benefit of not plan living room with fully-fitted kitchen. latest technology advances including airbeing listed thus allowing an incoming The apartment further comprises a master conditioning, Lutron lighting, motorised blinds, purchaser to create a en wonderful family with modern suite bathroom, abedroom built in entertainment system, underfloor home to their own exact requirements. second bedroom and additional shower heating and a fully fitted kitchen with Miele This property currently provides 4,404 room. The property is flooded natural and Gaggenau appliances. The with property also square foot of gross internal area light, offering an east-west exposure and enjoys private use of an integral garageas aswell as an additional 593 Gardens square loft dual over Evelyn well asviews additional off-street parkingfoot inalongside theofmews space which one could convert, subject Chelsea’s roof tops. and access to the prestigious Belgrave Square to the usualsubject planning consents. gardens, to separate negotiations.

£7,750,000 £1,550,000,STC STC £6,750,000

Freehold Leasehold (121 years remaining)

QUEENSBERRY PLACE, CLAREVILLE GROVE EATON PLACE, SW1X SW7 MEWS, 7-8 Bedrooms Dressing |Room Entrance HallSW7 | 2| Bedrooms 2

6 Bathrooms (4|Suite) En | 2 WCs| Bathrooms (1 en | Kitchen/Dining/ Two Bedrooms En Suite) Suite Bathroom 2 Receptions |||Study |Cloakroom Media Room Reception Room 855 sq ft | Basement Shower Room Guest | Dining Room Eat-in Storage Room | Shared Terrace | Access Reception/Dining RoomKitchen | Kitchen | Gym |Room Sauna | Utility 2 Wine to Belgrave Square Gardens Utility | 915 sq ft | EPC E Cellars | Vault Storage | 2 Patios An elegant | flat2with plentiful charm, occupying Balcony Terraces A charming mews house idyllically

approximately 855 sq ft of lateral space on the positioned in thiswhite-stucco quiet cobbled cul-de-sac, A magnificent end-of-terrace third floor of this well-located handsome period within the heart of South Kensington. townhouse, positioned in the very heart building. Arranged over the full width of the TheSouth property is presented in immaculate of Kensington. Occupying almost building, the principal reception room is flooded condition andthis hasexquisite been carefully designed 7,000 sqft, property with natural light from its south-facing aspects throughout with Italian solid wood floors has been completely remodelled and over the street. In addition to the expansive and contemporary furnishings. This attractive refurbished, with each room having sitting area, the room boasts a bespoke been house additionally to benefits from south high interior an exceptionally integrateddesigned kitchen and space for dining; perfect westerly aspects and plentiful natural light. standard. The property comprises for open-plan entertaining. The apartmentseven to Clareville Grove Mews is a secure gated eight bedrooms, four with en-suite facilities, awards admission to a superb shared terrace, lane,two located at the north end of Clareville plus added bathrooms. The house positioned to the peaceful rear of the first floor, Street, moments from the bountifulquarters amenities boasts expansive overlooking Belgraveentertaining Mews. Occupiers’ can that and restaurants, the area is famous for.and an include an opulent reception room also enjoy exclusive access to Belgrave Square elegant double reception above. gardens, subject to the usual consents.

£7,000 £1,250 Per PerWeek, Week £1,900,000 STC STC Long Let, Furnished Furnished Leasehold (174 years remaining)

T: +44 +44 (0)20 (0)20 3770 3770 3474 3474 T:

info@nicolasvanpatrick.com info@nicolasvanpatrick.com

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Property news Seasons change Elena Dimova, managing director of CENTURY 21 Sophie Elena, on how a new season can affect the lettings market It is unbelievable how seasonal the lettings market is. Whether it is families wanting to be in their new homes before the start of the school year or international students looking to find a place a week before their degree starts, it is crazy at this time of year. Single professionals and couples who are back from holiday are now in the back-to-business mindset and implementing the plans they have made while being away. Even expats tend to relocate in line with the school year, whether they have children or not, as they may be swapping posts with colleagues who do. There is a great lesson here for landlords: ensure your property is available to new tenants in mid- to late summer or early autumn to have the widest choice of tenants and achieve the best price, all other things being equal. Before long, the days will get shorter, Christmas lights will dominate London’s landscape and the focus will be elsewhere. Accepting break clauses during the winter is not ideal. Agents often refer to the trade-off between the highest weekly rent possible and minimising vacancy periods for landlords. Seasonality is just as important. If you rent your property on a 12-month term from September, it will be available at the same time of year next time around, which is arguably best. Historically, landlords expect higher rents every year. The market does not always agree. When considering a rental offer, landlords should take several factors into account before making a decision: the rent level; the start date; the term; when the property becomes available again; the profile of the tenant; their ability to pay the rent and how they will look after the property. It is essential that tenants also understand this in order to stand out, make a successful offer and secure their new home.

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

Converted ballet studio in Kensington on the market for £4.95m A large space in Kensington with an interesting history has hit the market. Tucked away off High Street Kensington, the Grade II-listed building on Bedford Gardens served as the studio of Dame Marie Rambert, one of the pioneering figures of English ballet, during the 1920s. Born in Warsaw in 1888, Dame Rambert went on to influence some of the 20th century’s most famous choreographers, and founded Ballet Rambert, the oldest English ballet company still performing. Described as “one-of-a-kind” by agents Marsh & Parsons, the Georgian maisonette with a Victorian addition has since been converted into a romantic three-bed with a show-stopping double-height reception room. The asking price is £4.95m.

Cadogan Estate turns Victorian mews into one of the UK’s only Passivhaus homes

After a three-year redevelopment programme, a 19th century mews house near Sloane Square has become one of only a few period properties in the UK to achieve Passivhaus status. The 1,636 sq ft mid-terrace on Pavilion Road is fitted with an airtight seal to reduce the air infiltration rates and a MVHR unit to filter and post-heat fresh air. The result is “outstanding” indoor air quality, “exceptional” thermal performance, and a huge reduction in the building’s “heating demand” – the heating bill is expected to be £20 for the year. The house has been completely reconfigured and has a new kitchen and garage on the ground floor, an open-plan living room on the second, and master and guest suites on the third. It has been launched onto the rental market at £1,795 per week.

property

PrimeQResi JOURNAL OF LUXURY PROPERTY

Planners knock back Bayswater hotel-to-resi scheme over affordable housing contributions

Leinster Gardens, image courtesy of Mapio

The conversion of five grand Bayswater townhouses from a hotel into 32 apartments has been rejected by Westminster’s planners, who have declared: “This decision should serve as a warning to developers that the council means business, when it comes to affordable housing.” The Brimelow McSweeney Architects-designed scheme, proposed by low-key Manchester property tycoon Yousef Tishbi’s Leeds Property Ltd, would have involved the creation of 17 onebed, four two-bed, and nine three-bed units across 3,563 sq m at 35-39 Leinster Gardens (formerly the Holiday Villa Hotel). But there was something of a mismatch between what the developer offered and what the council expected on the affordable housing front. The planning committee was advised that the scheme should be able to generate nearly ten times the affordable housing contribution offered by the developer. Leeds Property pitched in with £381,505 by way of affordable housing contributions, arguing that a profitable development of the listed buildings could not really support on-site or off-site provisions. GVA, acting for the council, disagreed: its viability assessment concluded that an amount of £3.344m should be achievable. This, planners helpfully noted, “greatly exceeds the applicant’s offer”. The decision is part of the council’s “firm stance” on affordable housing; it is aiming to ensure that 30 per cent of new homes in the borough are affordable. According to this script, the Holiday Villa Hotel development needed to create at least 11 affordable homes to meet council policy. The committee did, however, recognise the value of much of the architect’s work, granting listed building consent and noting that “the proposed works would preserve the special architectural and historic interest of this listed building”.

Hot property James Boulton-Lea, head of Strutt & Parker’s South Kensington office, explains why threebedroom properties are worth their weight in gold If you thought the days of strong competition for properties might be fading, consider the rise and rise of the three-bedroom house. With increased demand and limited supply, these family homes are a property ‘sweet spot’, even at times when the rest of the housing market is relatively static. The difference in price between a two-bed flat and a three-bed house can be anything up to £1m. Two-bedroom homes in SW7 and SW5 are often purchased by professional couples or parents looking for homes for their children. Two-beds can be upwards of £1.5m, and anything under this sells quickly. Three-bedroom homes with larger proportions and a communal garden area are the perfect homes for young families looking to up-size. However, they come with a bigger price tag too – typically £2m-2.5m. These buyers face competition from equity-rich downsizers, who typically target three-bedroom homes close to their adult children. And with more downsizers and retirees looking to be back in London, growing families face paying a premium if they want to move into a larger property. So, if you’re a buyer looking to upsize, what should you be aware of in today’s market? First floor apartments often come with a premium, so something higher up in the building or lower ground floors are usually better value. Earls Court might be an option if South Kensington doesn’t work for your budget. However, if you want to stay in South Kensington, head to Onslow Square or Onslow Gardens. Ultimately, there will always be people stepping up or scaling down, depending on personal and family needs. The three-bedroom house is where those two sets of buyers meet, so demand will remain strong. For current market trends, visit struttandparker.com/the-residential 90 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3LQ, 020 7629 7282

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St Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court, South Kensington Situated in the residential area of stylish South Kensington, St Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court is ideally located for Kensington High Street and boasts its own private garden for exclusive use by residents. In addition, the Royal Albert Hall and the museums of South Kensington are nearby.

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Earls Terrace, Kensington W8

ÂŁ6,750 per week* Unfurnished

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Manresa Road, Chelsea SW3

ÂŁ1,950 per week* Unfurnished

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Royal Avenue House, Chelsea SW3

OIEO ÂŁ1,250,000 Leasehold

A beautifully refurbished, two bedroom apartment ideally located close to Sloane Square. Open place kitchen/reception room with balcony | Mather bedroom with ensuite shower room Second double bedroom | Family shower room | Lift | Resident caretaker EPC rating C 823 sq ft (76 sq m)

Chelsea 020 3813 9448 chelsea@struttandparker.com

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Sloane Court West, Chelsea SW3

ÂŁ2,400,000 Leasehold

An impressive 1,496sqft, lateral third floor (with lift) apartment close to Sloane Square. Entrance Hall | Reception room | Kitchen | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom Two further double bedrooms | Family shower room | Resident porter | Lift Access to communal gardens (upon application) EPC rating D 1,496 sq ft (139 sq m) Chelsea 020 3813 9448 chelsea@struttandparker.com

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Cadogan Gardens, Knightsbridge SW3

ÂŁ6,950,000 Share of Freehold

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Palace Gardens Terrace, Kensington W8

Price upon application Freehold

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