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THE BRAND OF THE BRANDS
FENDI CASA BENTLEY HOME TRUSSARDI CASA HERITAGE COLLECTION RITZ PARIS PAUL MATHIEU MILAN
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CONTENTS 16
28
Storm in a Teacup
Game of Homes
From crystal to chinaware, Richard Brendon’s contemporary craftsmanship is making waves in British design
Hannah Lemon meets two designers in the Royal Borough transforming palatial properties into friendly family nests
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The Royal Treatment
Wheel of Fortune
In honour of HM The Queen’s 90th birthday, Angelina VillaClarke explores the Royal residences’ rich design history
Olivia Sharpe considers how the British shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood is paving the way for the future of footwear
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84
One Step Ahead
Write Away
As Notting Hill architects Michaelis Boyd scale international heights, Camilla Apcar speaks to its founders
Forget about your worries and your strife with a visit to India. Clare Vooght treads in the path of The Jungle Book
The Notting Hill & Holland Park Magazine is distributed in W8, W11, W14 and parts of W2, W9 and W10
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On the Cover... Craftsmanship is king in the realms of contemporary luxury, a notion absolutely appreciated by Richard Brendon, the artist and designer turning heads with his china and crystalware collections. Brendon’s creations – like these striking Art Deco-inspired, matte black and burnished gold bone china plates – take on traditional British materials and techniques, reimagined for contemporary living. Step into his studio and discover why it was chosen as one of Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow on p. 16.
Notting hill & Holland Park APRIL 2016 s issue 039 Acting Editor Hannah Lemon Contributing Editors Olivia Sharpe Richard Brown Camilla Apcar Editorial Assistants Natasha Levy Senior Designer Grace Linn Brand Consistency Laddawan Juhong
Cover image: Plates from Richard Brendon’s Arc collection. Courtesy of: Richard Brendon
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88 The Big Apple
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From the EDITOR “Decorate your home. It gives the illusion that your life is more interesting than it really is.” In a world where everyone uses Instagram feeds and Facebook location check-ins to narrate their lives, bragging about trips to the Bahamas or superfood smoothies has become second nature. So why not continue the habit at home, as the American cartoonist Charles M Schultz so eloquently suggests? As Her Majesty The Queen hits 90 this month, Angelina Villa-Clarke recommends pampering your pad with the royal treatment on page 20. “Working for The Queen is as inspirational as it gets,” says Mikhail Pietranek, Royal Warrant holder and interior designer to the Royal family. Craftspeople like him offer bespoke mattresses, dazzling gilt-bronze foliate balustrades, exquisite furniture and historic paintings to those who can afford it, even if they don’t live in Balmoral Castle or Buckingham Palace. Though, perhaps you would rather fill your house with contemporary creativity; Camilla Apcar meets architects Tim Boyd and Alex Michaelis at their Notting Hill HQ to discuss statement staircases (p. 24); while I talk to interior design duo Charlie Wickenden and Melissa Hutley about eclectic antiques and comforting soft furnishings (p. 28). In another part of the neighbourhood, Richard Brendon explains how his charming teacups began life in local boutique Wolf & Badger and ended up being awarded a place on Walpole’s list of Brands of Tomorrow. “I guess the biggest challenge was, ironically, finding success so quickly,” he tells Olivia Murphy (p. 16). “Before I knew it, I had worked with Paternity and Fortnum & Mason.” And if all that isn’t enough to get your paint rollers out or your living room revamped, the Spotlight section lets you know what antiques you can bid on this month and what exhibitions to visit (p. 43). Alternatively, follow in the footsteps of Clare Vooght through India to see the creatures that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book (p. 84), or Annabel Harrison as she takes a bite of the Big Apple (p. 88). If anything, these journeys will make great holiday snaps to brighten up your white walls. After all, home wasn’t built in a day.
Acting Editor
Hannah Lemon
Follow us on Twitter @KandCMagazine or email KCeditor@runwildgroup.co.uk with any comments
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His Cup
Runneth Over
FEATURE
From fine crystal to chinaware, Richard Brendon’s contemporary craftsmanship is making waves in British design. OLIVIA MURPHY steps into his cluttered Ladbroke Grove studio
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ucked away from the hubbub of Portobello Road, Richard Brendon’s studio is everything one would expect from a 28-year-old entrepreneurial artist and designer. Ceramics, pottery, plates, glass, crockery, cups, saucers – it’s a true Aladdin’s cave. The worktops are unashamedly untidy; his desk is covered with strewn papers and visual patchworks of colour and creativity. “It all started in my final year of university when I was studying product and furniture design,” beams Brendon. “I loved antiques, and realised there were a lot of ‘orphan’ saucers because people break teacups more regularly. I had the idea of making a cup to reflect the pattern on the saucer, reuniting the two and making the antique saucer valuable again.” And so this became the Reflect collection (from £60) of platinum and gold-gilded mirrored cups paired with saucers sourced from antique dealers across the country. A boyish giggle lights up his face as he reminisces about his university years. “As soon as I graduated, I entered a competition run by Wolf & Badger, who started selling my range as a result. The more I sold, the more I learnt about antique saucers and the history of the ceramics industry. That led me to learn about the history of porcelain, and then
All photography: courtesy of Richard Brendon Inset from left: Reflect collection unknown maker c.1880 saucer; Willow Cobalt 34cm rimmed charger (£90); Reflect collection unknown maker c.1880 saucer
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bone china – which, being a staple British material, is used across many of my collections.” Brendon bursts with ambition and passion, as if he’s been working in the industry for decades. Handing me a cup of tea, he laughs as I tentatively compare my saucer to a white and blue collection treasured by my grandmother. “In the 1920s, hand-painted details were much more graphic and ornate compared to other periods in British history. This traditional blue and white Willow pattern was a staple on my gran’s shelf too. That’s what my Arc collection (from £50) strives to bring back, but in a contemporary way.” Brendon talks me through his collaborations and inspirations, which include Georgian ceramics and Art Deco designs by the likes of early 20th-century maker Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper. His artwork and tableware designs celebrate tradition in an innovative way, and showcase the skills of decorators working in Stoke-on-Trent potteries: “I love the tradition of British ceramics, and the quality and talent of British craftsmanship. I’m saddened that such reputation has been diminished or forgotten over the years.”
For someone who found recognition so soon, surely there isn’t much he would have done differently, if he had the chance? “I guess the biggest challenge was, ironically, finding success so quickly. There was no planning; everything happened organically. Before I knew it, I had worked with Paternity and Fortnum & Mason.” Of course, Brendon did not think to stop at ceramics. He launched his Diamond collection (from £40) of lead crystal barware last September, and shows me the decanter and glasses with pride. Every piece is mouth-blown and hand-cut, including the moulds. “I’m using another traditional material that lasts forever, and am working with craftspeople who are the best at what they do. Bohemia has been the centre of all things glass and in recent times has established itself as the world-leading centre for lead crystal production.” Although 2015 brought a whirlwind of exciting news, including the launch of two more collections, a display at the Victoria and Albert Museum and an exhibition at the Maison & Objet trade show in Paris, 2016 has been no less exciting so far. Brendon has been selected by Walpole – the
Every piece of Brendon’s lead crystal barware collection is mouth-blown and hand-cut
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“I love the tradition of British ceramics, and the quality and talent of British craftsmanship” organisation devoted to promoting, protecting and developing British luxury brands – as one of 2016’s ‘Brands of Tomorrow’, and recently introduced a bespoke service that has made his designs available in a palette of 12 personalised colours. “Think of it like personalising your Nike trainers, but better,” he winks. “Looking ahead, I would like to create a whole lifestyle brand, and a shopping experience that brings together the best handcrafted tableware, food and drink.” Not a lot on his porcelain plate, then.
A VIEW FROM THE TOP Walpole’s members talk luxury, London and British brands Marc Hare, founder of Mr Hare “I really like what Cottweiler do, and my other favourite brand in London is By Walid, which uses meticulously-
richardbrendon.com
sourced vintage Asian fabrics to make clothes that I want to wear. “Nowhere else has the rest of the world so integrated and together as London. I didn’t travel abroad until I was 17, but because I had encountered so many other cultures at home here, nowhere else ever felt too foreign. That surely has to be a great platform to communicate from.”
Hugh Seaborn, Cadogan chief executive “The luxury consumer continues to seek out original and authentic experiences that can’t be seen or bought online. They’re focused on craftsmanship, tailoring, impeccable, personalised services, and bespoke products in an elegant environment.”
Stephanie Betts, founder of Josephine Home “I remain constantly delighted by Timothy Everest, and love the developments at Orlebar Brown – all the products are stunning, and the branding is very sharp. I’m also watching up-and-coming male grooming brand Mojo, which I think will be a great success. “London is one of the most exciting cities in terms of opportunities, and a great home for creative minds. One is never short of inspiration… or temptation.” thewalpole.co.uk
Opposite page: Diamond collection This page, clockwise from top: Reflect collection Thomas Forrester & Sons 1940 saucer; Willow Cobalt teapot (£180); Reflect collection Coalport c.1910 saucer; Patternity Warp teacup and saucer (£110); Arc collection; Brendon’s studio
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Royal
in Residence
In honour of Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday, ANGELINA VILLA-CLARKE explores the Royal residences’ rich design history – and talks to the interior specialists inspired by them
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hen Buckingham Palace first opened its doors to the public in 1993, it attracted crowds from across the world eager to see how Her Majesty The Queen lives. As she celebrates her 90th birthday in April (and officially in June), we’re still just as curious about our sovereign’s official London residence – hundreds of thousands of visitors queue each year to gaze in awe at this masterpiece of lavishness. The palace’s ornate architectural history can be traced back to the early 17th century, but it was not until the reign of George IV that it began to transform into the opulent showpiece we know today. Regency architect John Nash was put in charge of designing the new property, adding the grand staircase with its dazzling gilt-bronze foliate balustrades. From the majestic, marble columns in
Clockwise from left: Sanderson Bengal Red Living Room, sanderson-uk.com; Dorma Crystal Bathroom Collection, dorma.co.uk; Sanderson Josette duvet cover set, as before Opposite: Buckingham Palace – Throne Room, Courtesy of: Royal Collection Trust ©Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016
the impressive entrance to the acres of green – emerald silk walls, porcelain and jade upholstery – in one of the drawing rooms, Nash transformed the palace into an archetype for luxury that continues to inspire designers the world over. “This regal style is not easily translatable, even in the grandest homes, but we can borrow a little of its glamour,” says Daniel Hopwood, president of the British Institute of Interior Design. “In a modern context it’s best to mix and match old and new pieces and use heritage colours. A touch of gold is always good, although use it sparingly to avoid looking garish. I borrowed an element of this grandeur in a recent project I designed for a client in Barnes, west London.”
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Add in the priceless art and antiques belonging to The Royal Collection, and you have the ultimate in uber-luxe decor. “Among my favourite pieces are several excellent works by the 18th-century Birmingham industrialist Matthew Boulton,” describes antiques dealer Nick Wells, an accredited member of The Association of Art and Antiques Dealers (LAPADA), “including the Derbyshire Blue John mounted perfume burners, the famous mantel clock known as the ‘King’s Clock’ and a gilt-bronze perfume burner of exceptional magnificence.” Its longest-standing residents, The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, live in private apartments on the north side of Buckingham Palace, which is just one of their many homes. Windsor Castle, Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle (reputedly The Queen’s favourite) are among the most used and, while boasting different styles, are equally impressive.
“The Royal family is the epitome of British style: elegant, timeless, classic” “Taste,” The Queen is supposed to have said, “doesn’t always help” – meaning perhaps that having the right artworks on your wall doesn’t count for everything. Despite the swathes of claret carpet, Fabergé eggs and Canaletto masterpieces she owns, there’s the impression that in private The Queen likes to keep things a tad simpler. The Royal residences are also stocked with best of British pedigree. The 800 Royal Warrant holders range from suppliers of paints and carpets, to wallpapers and crockery. Royal Doulton, Cole & Son, Dorma and John Lewis are among those called on to supply the Royal household. “There aren’t many businesses that can claim to know the Royal family well, but as their trusted bed provider, Hypnos can,” says the company’s group marketing director Chris Ward. “Indeed, we are considered their sleep and bed experts, organising the manufacture of beds and mattresses for the Royal household, the Royal family and all their palaces, as well as crafting bespoke beds for visiting dignitaries.” Hypnos’ designers draw on the Royal archives to create the regal aesthetic across its collections (from £1,200). Brintons, the Royal Warrant holder and carpet maker, is launching a ‘Fleece to Floor’ campaign to raise awareness of its heritage, coinciding with The
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Clockwise from top left: Sanderson Io wallpaper, £55 per roll, as before; King’s Drawing Room, Windsor Castle, 2006, Courtesy of: Royal Collection Trust / ©Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016; Sanderson Icaria Velvets, as before; Daniel Hopwood’s design for a private client in Barnes, danielhopwood.com; Mikhail Pietranek Clarence Crystal Whisky Decanter & Glasses, mphome.co.uk; Cole & Son Historic Royal Palaces Collection, cole-and-son.com; Designers Guild, The Buckingham Collection, designersguild.com
Queen’s birthday and celebrating its 200 years of British manufacturing. “The very first carpet Brintons created was a tartan in 1953 for Prince Albert’s sitting room in Balmoral Castle,” says in-house archivist Yvonne Smith. “We can call on our archive to recreate any existing or original carpet – such as the Blue and White Room carpet or the 1844 Room rug we supplied for Buckingham Palace by matching the original designs.” Sanderson has held a Royal Warrant for over 90 years, supplying Royal households with wallpapers, paints and fabrics. “The Royal family is the epitome of British style: elegant, timeless and classic. Regal design can be conjured using damasks, such as our Richmond Damask, which add a sophisticated elegance to the room,” suggests head of design Rebecca Craig. “For a classic country house style, combine a floral print with a simple stripe, such as our Sissinghurst or Tournier.” Based on historic fabrics and by studying the interiors of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and St James’s Palace, Designers Guild adds new designs to its Royal Collection of fabrics and wallpapers each year. “It was incredibly thrilling to be given exclusive access to the Royal residences and in particular the Royal archive – a vast space filled with wonderful treasures, from incredible silks literally taken from the walls of the throne room, to exquisite furniture and historic paintings,” enthuses founder and creative director Tricia Guild. “The Buckingham Collection includes the Tapestry Velvet design inspired by a late 17th-century chair in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Windsor velvets and wallpapers that evoke the pastoral landscape of Windsor Park and Castle.” (Fabrics from £80 per metre; wallpaper from £249 per 12-metre roll.) Mikhail Pietranek, Warrant holder and interior designer to the Royal family, has worked in Balmoral Castle and designed a new collection of regal-inspired home accessories. “While the state rooms, with their gilding, plush fabrics and impressive masterpieces, are very grand, the private rooms in most properties are, of course, a little more relaxed. “These are places that have a sense of tremendous history, so there’s a lot of responsibility to get it right. Having said that, working for The Queen is as inspirational as it gets.”
“The Royal archive is filled with treasures, from incredible silks to exquisite furniture”
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Structural
Integrity As Notting Hill architects Michaelis Boyd scale international heights, Camilla Apcar speaks to its founders about staying true to their roots To FIND A LINK between a UNESCO heritage site in Botswana, Sunset Boulevard’s Soho House, and Flavio Briatore’s 19th-century Victorian Chelsea triplex may seem unlikely. But at the centre of this Venn diagram lies Michaelis Boyd, the internationally acclaimed architectural practice with an altogether local pedigree. In 1995, Tim Boyd and Alex Michaelis laid their foundations in Notting Hill, where the pair have lived for much of their lives. They have since been tapped by Flavio Briatore, the Enthoven family, Tom Aikens and the developers of Battersea Power Station for their design-led sustainable architecture. The pair are sowing seeds in every corner of the world, yet every project still begins at their offices on Palace Gardens Terrace. Their workplace is a modest, friendly type of smart/casual cool that bespeaks the welcoming
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modernism of their residential creations: white, light and high-ceilinged – and in this case, filled with Macs. Sat at a long birch table of their own design, within a glass-walled room on its open-plan ground floor, the pair say that – at least for now – they couldn’t be tempted to move from their Notting Hill base. “We could have moved to east London, where many architects are now, in Clerkenwell or Shoreditch,” explains Michaelis, “But our roots have been established from working with a lot of clients who live here.” On a spring stroll around the Hill, look lively. “We did a project a while ago for Harry Enfield,” continues Michaelis, ”who said it was very funny because we used to cycle around like ‘archi-vicars’, saying hello and waving to everyone.” (He often takes to two wheels; Boyd will start again in the summer: “I’ve cycled in the rain for 15 years, that’s more than enough.”) It seems a likely story, and testament to the relationships they’ve forged over the last two decades. Having first worked on a client’s flat, many have returned to commission work on a country house, then a property abroad – and their once-young children might look to Michaelis Boyd for a venture of their own. Both trained with architect John Miller, and met at his office. “His ethos is probably the kernel of what we think: simplicity, flow, light, form,” describes Michaelis. “The trick is
Photography: courtesy of Michaelis Boyd. Clockwise from top: Campden Hill Road interior architecture; master bathroom; basement swimming pool; Tim Boyd and Alex Michaelis
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to keep it simple. Architecture has become very complicated in many magazines now – all the shiny different forms hit you.” The practice has grown to a size where its founders are often working independently, but Boyd assures this shared education and aesthetic sensibility means they don’t often disagree. With time, the pair have also seen tastes move on from minimalism to the industrial New York warehouse style clients are drawn to today. “Crittal black-framed steel windows are hot at the moment, but it doesn’t actually affect what you’re doing architecturally,” explains Boyd. “That’s the finishing layer.” He identifies one such property on Campden Hill Road, a pair of identical new builds for a developer, as a good example of contemporary taste. “It has quite a strong, defined look, but does resemble existing buildings in the surrounding area.” Inside, each house has a 12-metre basement swimming pool (plus sauna/hammam and poolside bar) with light streaming in through glass skylights to a courtyard masterminded by RHS Chelsea Flower Show medallist Philip Nixon. The project features in Michaelis Boyd’s first book Thinking and Living Like an Architect, which highlights more than 30 of their most creative and captivating projects so far, from west London remodels to 1,000 sq ft restaurants or vast country houses – and everything in-between. Many clients, aware of the proliferating lean towards the urban warehouse look, are keen to veer in another direction. “There’s a danger that people think they should be doing or buying ‘the right thing’,” says Boyd, “and it’s a sort of fear of
how others are going to perceive them. They go too far, and try so hard that it ends up as an incredibly sterile environment to be in, and loses any sort of personality.” An injection of individuality is prerequisite to each of Michaelis Boyd’s projects, and the duo have gained a particular reputation for statement staircases. Due to the historical restrictions of existing properties in the Royal Borough or typical London floorplans, “a beautifully designed staircase can become the most important feature of a house,” says Michaelis. “It’s one way you can really express yourself... a Matrix-like transformation of the interior.” There’s Campden Hill Road’s bold blackened steel balusters finished with a timber
Photography: courtesy of Michaelis Boyd. This page from top: Battersea Power Station; Kintbury House, Berkshire. Opposite page, clockwise from top: Soho Farmhouse Boathouse pool hall; Soho Farmhouse, ©Soho House; Manresa Road elliptical staircase; Elvaston Place red steel staircase; Clarendon Road staircase, courtesy of Michaelis Boyd
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handrail; a set in Oxford Gardens that has a children’s slide running parallel; a vivid red steel design that appears to defy gravity. “It’s about doing clever things like pulling light down through the staircase into the lower levels, so that it becomes a glowing beacon at the heart of the house,” illustrates Boyd. For a five-bedroom triplex on Manresa Road for Flavio Briatore (with whom the practice collaborated on Queen’s Park Rangers stadium), Michaelis Boyd worked with the late Alberto Pinto’s studio. “He was an astonishing interior designer,” says Michaelis. “He did Louis XIV-style as well as crisp white interiors, and was fascinating to work with.” Further afield, the business is scaling new heights. In 2013 the pair won their bid to become the residential interior architects for 254 flats in phase two of Battersea Power Station’s grand redevelopment. The Grade II-listed building is one of the largest brick structures in the world, and the multi-phase and decades-long facelift has also attracted the expertise of Foster + Partners and Frank Gehry. Michaelis Boyd’s loft-style apartments will pay homage to the station’s industrial past (more Crittal glass, metal screens, and plenty of open brickwork). Some will sit atop the central boiler house and turbine halls, with a private garden. Another meeting of minds can be found at Soho Farmhouse, the Cotswold countryside retreat that opened last summer in Great Tew. Michaelis Boyd collaborated with Soho House on the design for the boathouse, main barn, cinema and Cowshed gym, having worked on Nick Jones’ Soho Houses in Los Angeles and Berlin. As the 160-page tome illustrates, their fresh, elegant versatility has been welcomed across the globe: from the Williamsburg Hotel in New York to safari camps and lodges in Kenya and Botswana, and houses in Nepal for Gurkha pensioners. Each is as stunning as the last; their site-specific approach dodges any sense of having been sketched using the same stencil. Michaelis and Boyd have a host of residential new builds to come, as well as more hotels and projects in Dubai, Qatar, Shanghai and South Africa. Yet as they divide and conquer, their allegiance to their roots is unwavering, with
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“A beautifully-designed staircase is one way you can really express yourself” around ten local projects on the go at any one time. “We’re still doing a lot of London houses,” says Michaelis. “It’s what we started with and love doing.” Just watch out for the blur of their bicycles when crossing the road. Thinking and Living Like an Architect will be published by Clearview books on 4 April michaelisboyd.com
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Game of
Homes HANNAH LEMON meets two designers transforming palatial properties in the Royal Borough into friendly homes suitable for all the family – including their pets
From left: Charlie Wickenden and Melissa Hutley
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hen a new client requests Wickenden Hutley to redesign their house, Charlie Wickenden and Melissa Hutley insist on looking around it straight away. It enables the interior design duo to decipher tastes, pet hates, what furniture is being discarded and which items are staying. Thinking of the peculiar antique taxidermy fish that is hidden away in a room of my family home (much to the chagrin of my father), I ask what happens with items they really detest, but the client loves? “It depends what it is,” replies Charlie rather diplomatically. “If it is an heirloom, we would perhaps try and put it in a room of the house that isn’t used as much; it wouldn’t go in the kitchen or drawing room, but perhaps a guest bedroom. If it’s a sofa in a hideous fabric, we might ask to reupholster it or add different cushions. But our clients are the ones who have to live there; if they really love it, it stays. We have to be tactful and understand how important that piece is to them.” This is all part and parcel of Wickenden Hutley’s concept of a house as a home, rather than a display cabinet.
Chelsea: “For one of our first projects, the brief was to create an elegant yet comfortable sitting room where the
“I think it’s important for interiors to be inviting and not too stuffy and formal”
owners could relax in the evening. They were very keen to use an eclectic mix of antiques and a calm, moody colour palette.”
This appeals to my sensibilities and it’s an easy guess as to where this influence came from. “My mother isn’t an interior designer but she should have been.” Charlie’s childhood home in Barnes provided ample inspiration. “The house was probably a bit more chaotic than I would like now, but it was very cosy and welcoming. It was all about being comfortable rather than being on show. It definitely influenced my design. I think it’s important for interiors to be inviting and not too stuffy and formal.” The virtues of patience and mildness in Charlie are obvious and I can guess that she is the more conservative and reserved of the pair, something that filters through to her design. “Melissa is probably a little bit more eclectic, crazy and colourful. I am probably more matching and boring,” Charlie laughs. “It’s quite a good compromise – we rein each other in.” For fresh ideas, Charlie and Melissa (who is away on maternity leave when I call up the office), along with the four other girls in their team, produce a ‘show and tell’ every Friday. “I took in a photo of a sunset the other day as I thought the colour palette was nice.” And with an endless supply of books, magazines and visits to art galleries, auction sites, trade shows and showrooms, inspiration never runs dry.
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Bayswater: “This was for a young, busy, international family. It was great designing a house that wasn’t dominated by their kids. It’s a child-friendly, practical home, but the style is grown-up and sophisticated with splashes of colour coming from the art. We sourced antique pieces to complement the existing furniture, which we updated with new fabrics. These sit alongside newer pieces that were sourced from America and locally in London.”
With this in mind, I imagine Charlie’s house is a sophisticated melee of all of the above, but when I ask her about her own abode, I’m slightly disappointed by the answer. “My house is a complete building site,” her measured, demure voice reveals. “It’s a little Victorian terraced cottage in Barnes that I am completely refurbishing. There are no windows and doors – there’s just brickwork and a few stud walls.” The pressure is on from friends, families and clients to make it a good example of her work. There’s sure to be no problem of that as Charlie’s portfolio is pretty extensive; from properties in Surrey and Shropshire, to retreats in Barbados, as well as mansions in the Royal Borough. It all began with a history degree at the University of Edinburgh (where she met Melissa) followed by a stint at the renowned Inchbald School of Design. After a few years of cementing their skills in the industry, the two women were finally ready to come together, merge their surnames and start a company. “Melissa and I both worked in interior design for about eight years. We discussed collaborating at some point in the future and we ended up overlapping at Helen Green Design for a few months. After that, we decided that we could work together. We got to the point where we were running teams of eight or ten people and we thought that if we could do it for someone else, we can do it for ourselves.” Finally, in 2013 they took the leap. Three years later, there are plenty of projects to keep them both busy. Charlie mentally ticks off the list:
FEATURE
“We are working on a large house in Kensington for a family of four and a spaniel, doing the full interior architecture and the design; a chalet for an English family in Megève; and we are in discussion with a developer at the moment to do some show flats in Chelsea.” Browsing through pictures of their properties, you can quickly gather a sense of their style. The fresh clean walls are
“It’s a shame things become fashionable, but if we don’t like it, we won’t do it” the backdrop for a contemporary layout of antiques, artwork and comforting soft furnishings. How would Charlie describe the company’s aesthetic? “Welcoming, hopefully elegant, not too stuffy, and timeless – that is, if we can convince clients not to follow trends and to stay away from grey.”
Like many fashion designers, artists and creatives, the sleek pair try to avoid mainstream tastes and predictable patterns, but it’s never easy to cut popular fads out entirely. “If a client says they want crittal doors, we will try to include crittal doors. It’s a shame things become fashionable as they don’t always work, but that’s where we will step in. We do follow trends and keep up to date with new collections, but if we don’t like it, we won’t do it.” So, if someone else was designing her house, what would she insist stays put (aside from her boyfriend – “and my dog”)? “Well, I bought a really lovely marble bowl in Greece a few years ago. It’s so tactile and it sits on the kitchen island. I was on holiday with my family and my boyfriend when I got it.” I assume that once the building work is completed, Charlie can firmly place it back in the most used room of the house – without anyone to tell her otherwise. wickendenhutley.com
Kensington: “This was for a young bachelor who liked entertaining. It needed to be easy to maintain, comfortable, and masculine but not serious.”
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ALT1-C CLASSIC
TH E BR EMONT ALT 1- C WILL L AST YOU A LIFETIME. POSSIBLY LONGER . The Bremont ALT1-C is a mechanical aviation chronometer that’s 99.998% accurate. It’s painstakingly built by hand at our workshops in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England. But if the inside of the ALT1-C is delicate, the outside is anything but. The case is made from steel that’s seven times harder than you’ll find in ordinary watches. (We bombard it with electrons to toughen it up.) The crystal is sapphire and scratch-resistant. (We know, we’ve tried.) And the whole thing is water resistant to 100 metres. We hope you enjoy the ALT1-C. After all, you’ll be together a long time.
City of London Boutique 12 The Courtyard, Royal Exchange, London, EC3V 3LQ Tel: +44 (0) 207 220 7134 royalexchange@bremont.com
collection
Two Worlds Collide To celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Reverso wristwatch, Jaeger-LeCoultre has given Christian Louboutin free reign to apply his own inventiveness on the iconic timepiece. The original Reverso was designed by Jacques-David LeCoultre in 1931 at the request of British army officers in India. They wanted a watch that could stand the trials of a polo match. LeCoultre’s answer was a flip dial watch whose face could be concealed against the wrist during play. Louboutin’s Reverso Classic Duetto is available in two sizes: 34.2mm x 21mm and 40mm x 24.4mm. It retains the watch’s emblematic face on the front, while the back takes on a far more Christian Louboutin feel – framed, as it is, by two rows of diamonds on either side of the dial. Reverso Classic Duetto, small (pink gold) £15,200, medium (steel) £7,950, Jaeger-LeCoultre, jaeger-lecoultre.com
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JEWELLERY BY OLIVIA SHARPE
Bee Line
Vogue On British Vogue has been setting trends in the world of design for a century. In light of this milestone, royal jeweller Mappin & Webb – which appeared in the very first issue published in September 1916 – has chosen to collaborate with the publication on a unique piece of jewellery. The limited-edition Vogue 100 sterling silver bracelet pays tribute to the magazine’s centenary through the engraved medallion and diamond set charm, and honours Mappin & Webb as one of Britain’s leading silversmiths. This reputation was cemented in 1897 when it was granted a Royal Warrant by HM Queen Victoria. Vogue 100 bracelet, £295, Old Bond Street, W1S mappinandwebb.com
There has evidently been a hive of activity at Theo Fennell’s Chelsea workshop because the company has just released a series of pieces in collaboration with Forevermark diamonds. “It has been wonderful to work with the best cut, most recognisable, ethically-sourced stones in the world. I believe we have done them justice,” Theo Fennell comments. Fusing the jeweller’s trademark meticulous craftsmanship with Forevermark’s diamond expertise, it is a partnership that has got the jewellery industry buzzing, with standout pieces including the Bee brooch. Featuring a 3.13-carat diamond with pavé stones and set in 18-carat gold, it also doubles up as a pendant. Bee brooch, £125,000, 169 Fulham Road, SW3, theofennell.com
Ahead of the Game
Drama Queen Never one to rest on her laurels, Lydia Courteille’s new Queen of Sheba collection reigned supreme at this year’s Paris Haute Couture Week where it was unveiled. The jeweller has paid homage to the legendary biblical figure in 18 high jewellery pieces comprising precious stones that originate from Ethiopia, the country she famously ruled over. A ring featuring vivid tsavorites and tourmalines is set in earthy brown rhodium gold to showcase its natural beauty, while a green peridot tiara surrounded by diamonds, sapphires and tsavorites (that form two snakes in the centre) is the perfect tribute to the mythical queen. £POA, lydiacourteille.com
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As we await the 2016 Olympic & Paralympic Games in Rio, all eyes are on Brazil and how the country will shape up in preparation for the world-famous event. Brazilian-born jeweller Lily Elia, however, has already proven her weight in the fine jewellery industry. Since launching her company, Lily Gabriella, in London in 2011, it has gone from strength to strength and this year sees the arrival of her first website. Allowing customers to browse through collections and buy pieces online, the site also showcases the latest collection: Love Me. Sassy Chic and Ouh Lala ear cuff, £750 each, lilygabriella.com
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Photography Philip Waterman | Stylist Jess Stebbings
A Website. A Mindset. A Lifestyle. @luxurylondonofficial
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19/02/2016 14:28:58
WORLD
of WATCHES BY RICHARD BROWN
Gold Standard The world’s most iconic precious metal has been reintroduced to one of Audemars Piguet’s most iconic watches. Missing from collections for years, yellow gold returns to a range of the brand’s Royal Oak timepieces. Considered a purer alternative to red or rose gold, yellow gold versions of eight watches are now available, including the Royal Oak Chronograph, Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar and Royal Oak Selfwinding. City boys will be thrilled. audemarspiguet.com
Strike Three Ahead of Baselword 2016, the brothers behind British brand Bremont have announced the launch of three new core collection timepieces. The MBII (£3,595) is now available with a white dial and features a striking new look, with a distinctive knurled effect on the aluminium barrel; the ALT1-C Polished Black Chronograph (£4,695) adds to Bremont’s first non-limited edition polished steel range; while the ALT1-ZT/51 (£4,295) is one of the brand’s most handsome timepieces to date. bremont.com
Collector’s Edition The recently revealed Luminor 8 Days Set is sure to make any selfstyled ‘Paneristi’ weak at the knees. The collectible set contains two watches inspired by models created between 1993 and 1997 – the period from the brand’s first public collection, to the year it was acquired by the Richemont group. Only a tiny number of watches were produced in that time and they have become highly sought-after. The box contains a Luminor Black Seal Left-Handed 8 Days, a Luminor Daylight 8 Days, and a model of a slow-speed Siluro a Lenta Corsa torpedo. Luminor 8 Days Set, £15,200 panerai.com
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World Traveller Time travel is the watch world’s current buzzword du jour. Everyone from small independents to industry heavyweights is thinking up ways of keeping us on time wherever we are on the planet. While lacking second time zone or world time functions, Vacheron Constantin’s updated Overseas collection has been designed with the jetsetter in mind. The range includes five new models (12 references in total), all of which are equipped with manufacture movements and are water-resistant to a minimum of 50 metres. Available in steel or gold, the sporty timepieces can be dressed up or kept casual thanks to easily interchangeable bracelets and straps. vacheron-constantin.com
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Work Like A
Charm
Fawaz Gruosi has become a superstar on the international jewellery scene and at 63, he shows no signs of slowing down. The Geneva-based founder of De Grisogono discusses women, diamonds and the future with Olivia Sharpe
C
harm is an impossible thing to define, but very easy to spot. I can therefore confirm that after meeting Fawaz Gruosi, founder of De Grisogono, he has it in diamonds. And judging from the steady stream of female celebrities pictured with him over the years, I am not the first woman to think so.
All store images courtesy of: Adrien Dirand
This year, De Grisogono opened its new London flagship and while the design project was undertaken by the David Collins studio, Fawaz played a big hand in terms of the overall look and feel. The sumptuous interior, from the emerald green and ruby red upholstery to the amethyst floors, complements the vivid gemstones on display. The space is divided into three separate areas – the Corte, Stanza del Tempo and Grand Sala – based on the idea of a traditional Italian house to tie in with the founder’s Florentine heritage. At 63, Fawaz Gruosi hasn’t let standards slip, impeccably dressed in a custom-made suit courtesy of Milanese tailor A.Caraceni and a bespoke Turnbull & Asser shirt. As he talks airily, lightly waving a cigarette around and occasionally pausing to sip his coffee, I can see how the sophisticated jeweller, with his old school Italian glamour, has won over so many female fans over the years. The turnover for the store’s creation occurred in the record-breaking time of just 12 months, making it very clear that the jeweller has by no means settled for the slow lane in life. Fawaz founded his company in Geneva in 1993 and it currently boasts 14 stores around the world, but he insists that he wants to cap the number at 30. “My principle from the beginning was for ladies at cocktail parties not to be wearing the same jewellery pieces,” he explains. “This is what has been happening in fashion for a long time, but it has almost never happened with us and I want to keep it that way. This is why I’m against opening too many shops. It will mean losing the charm of the company.”
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The jeweller’s playboy lifestyle has been well-documented over the years (his annual Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc parties in Cannes have become the stuff of legend), but make no mistake, he has never lost his shrewd business acumen. Having started De Grisogono on a shoestring, unable to afford “to open a chocolate shop never mind a jewellery company”, this made him more resolute than ever to steer his own path. “If you look in every major city – New York, London, Paris, Milan, Dubai – you see so much jewellery. I realised that the market needed something new, something different.” While financially hard up when starting his business, Fawaz had a wealth of experience in the industry (albeit no formal training), starting as young as 18 working for a jeweller before being taken on by two heavyweight brands: Harry Winston followed by Bulgari. As Winston’s representative in Dubai in the late ‘70s, Fawaz was given a taste of true luxury, looking after clients when the oil boom in Saudi Arabia had resulted in “money falling from the sky”. Like something out of Wall Street, he was taken out for lavish lunches and dinners and barely worked three hour days, but he confides how he soon got tired of the high life. “Life was getting too easy and I was scared, scared because I realised I was starting to develop the same mentality as them. There is nothing wrong with that if you have the money, but I didn’t. If I had stayed another three years, I don’t think I ever would have left.”
Following this, he went on to work for Bulgari for eight years under the mentorship of then CEO Gianni Bulgari. A huge contrast to Dubai, after three months of being confined to Gianni’s office living off an apple and a yoghurt every day and “nearly dying from the cigarette smoke from six in the morning until midnight” (when he no doubt picked up his habit), Gianni gave the then 33-year-old Fawaz the post of looking after VIPs worldwide. “It was probably the best time of my life”, he reminisces. “Bulgari was considered God at the time and pieces were selling like hot cakes.” However, according to the jeweller, a family disagreement resulted in the CEO walking out in 1985 and Fawaz following him. Both experiences taught Fawaz some invaluable lessons, the most important of which was that he had to offer something different from a market that had become tired and derivative. “There were a lot of rich people who bought a lot of jewellery, but they stopped buying because it had all become the same.” Therefore, after splitting from his two partners, he took his first (of several) major business risks when he started buying black diamonds, which at the time had no market value. After receiving a lot of criticism, he nearly decided to pack it in altogether, but then he received his big break in 1995 when two other big name jewellers starting using the stones too. Today, natural black diamonds are valued very highly, thereby proving that his decision paid off. From then on, it seemed that everything the jeweller touched turned to gold as he next invested in milky diamonds. Up until that point, they had been widely disregarded as “defective stones”, but Fawaz rebranded them ‘icy diamonds’ and they were an overnight
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success. Along with mixing unusual stones and materials, the jeweller was breaking new ground when it came to design, experimenting with off-the-wall creations that were praised for their daring, playfulness and ingenuity. “I was coming out with a lot of craziness, but that craziness was quickly becoming something that was considered innovative.” A true artist, Fawaz has never sacrificed design in favour of making a profit and he therefore puts shape first, stones second. “You have to be completely crazy to cut a 15-carat ruby because it is extremely unusual and rare to find, and you lose a lot of the weight by cutting it.” Fawaz’s motto is: “It is in the freedom of details that you find pure luxury.” In 2000, De Grisogono launched its first timepiece collection. A relative stripling in comparison to other historic Swiss watchmakers, I ask Fawaz what distinguishes his contemporary designs apart. “It’s very simple. A lot of jewellers sell classic watches that are exactly the same style as their grandfathers’. For instance, I don’t do jewellery sets because the client ends up looking like a Christmas tree. It’s like clothes. You mix colours, styles, but you have to have a bit of taste to put them together properly.” While acknowledging at the time that he knew nothing about the mechanics of watchmaking, what he has always known is design. Therefore, tired of seeing the same
old traditional styles, Fawaz instead wanted to create more simple, pared-back pieces that emphasised function. Over the years, De Grisogono has brought the watch industry forward with pioneering innovations, such as the Meccanico DG: the first mechanical watch to power a digital-style display. Fawaz teases that the one thing his female customers all share in common is jealousy: “When a lady comes into our shop, there is typically another woman with her saying, ‘no it doesn’t suit you’, or ‘no it’s too expensive.’ So I hate it when a few ladies come in because 90 per cent of the time we lose a sale.” However, it is clear that it is his love of women that has enabled him to tap into what kind of jewellery they want to wear. And he even goes so far to admit that one of his longest-standing clients, Sharon Stone, shares many similarities with him. “She is the one I get along with most because she’s a bit crazy like me. She’s always fun, but very difficult at the same time,” he finishes, smiling. Today, De Grisogono is a truly global force and although its founder notes that the rest of the industry is afraid of how the current political unrest will affect sales in the future, for the jeweller it is business as usual. “I’m going on like everything is perfect.” And considering Fawaz’s life experience, you can see why.
“I hate it when a few ladies come into my store because 90 per cent of the time we lose a sale”
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15a New Bond Street, W1S, degrisogono.com
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3/4/16 11:27 AM
spotlight
Winds of Change With a career spanning more than five decades, fashion photographer Norman Parkinson snapped the most daring and delightful designs in vivid colour. Elegance in Vogue, an exhibition hosted by Eleven Fine Art, reveals what Parkinson saw from behind the lens and presents a carefully curated selection of his unseen work from over the years. Chronicling the couture dresses from 1950s Paris, the youthful aesthetic of the ’60s modelled by Twiggy and the sleek ’70s trends playfully worn by Jerry Hall, the show promises an illuminating insight into notable moments in fashion history. Until 24 March, Eleven Fine Art, 11 Eccleston Street, SW1W, elevenfineart.com
Paris Drama, British Vogue, May 1950, Copyright: Norman Parkinson Ltd. Courtesy: Norman Parkinson Archive
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Illustration: Mai Osawa
From left: Silk satin, lace and whalebone corset, 1890-5; cage crinoline, the ‘Princess Louise Jupon Patent’, 1871, both Victoria and Albert Museum, London
LOCAL LIFE The Big Reveal The Victoria and Albert Museum bares all in its latest exhibition, Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear. With more than 200 examples on display, the show will tell the intricate and intimate story of the garments we slip into every day. Visitors will receive an education in underwear design, from the whalebone corsets that helped create the Victorian hourglass figure to modern numbers by Agent Provocateur. Looking at the practical and the personal, the sensory and the fashionable, and opening up discussion about notions of the ideal body, this exhibition will do more than make you blush. £12, 16 April-12 March 2017, Victoria and Albert Museum, vam.ac.uk
Images courtesy of: ©Phipps/Sutton Images Collection
Speedy Snapshots Track the life of a racing legend with Proud Chelsea’s latest offering, James Hunt: Girls, Beer and Victory. Celebrating 40 years since Hunt’s Formula One world championship win, this exhibition takes visitors on a thrilling ride through the highs and lows of the British racer’s extraordinary career. A collection of stunning photographs by David Phipps will expose Hunt’s dramas both on and off the race course, including his turbulent rivalry with Niki Lauda and the famed race at Nürburgring in 1976 that allowed Hunt to speed into victory that season. Until 3 April, Proud Chelsea, 161 King’s Road, SW3, proud.co.uk
spotlight on the royal borough of Kensington & Chelsea: news, events, reviews & local interest stories
From Gig to Gallery
Photography: Rolling Stones Archive
It’s sex, drugs and rock’n’roll at the Saatchi Gallery for the launch of Exhibitionism, a show that will explore the 50-year history of one of the greatest bands of all time: The Rolling Stones. Visitors will have the chance to revel in the British rockers’ influence over popular culture through a recreation of their backstage dressing room and the Barnes recording studio where Let It Bleed and Beggars Banquet were brought to fruition, as well as some 500 artefacts from each member’s personal archive, including rare instruments, audio footage and diaries. £19, 6 April-4 September, Saatchi Gallery, King’s Road, SW3, saatchigallery.com
Digital Image In her latest solo exhibition, artist Christabel Blackburn explores a modern habit that’s tricky to kick – disconnecting from technology. Blurred and almost pixelated, Blackburn’s paintings depict everyday scenes with a photo-realistic stillness, from deserted streets to a lone figure waiting for the bus. Hosted just a step away from the Embankment at The Foundry Gallery, Christabel Blackburn: Recent Paintings deals with contemporary culture and the idea that through the ubiquity of smartphones, we have all become photographers who can document and visually manipulate the world around us. 22-28 April, The Foundry Gallery, 39 Old Church Street, SW3, thefoundrygallery.org
From left: Christabel Blackburn, The City of London; Christabel Blackburn, Woman at the Royal Academy
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Green Screen
The Artist’s Garden at Eragny, 1898, Camille Pissarro French ©National Gallery of Art, Washington
Expert in translating the wonders of the art world into cinematic glory, Exhibition on Screen has turned its hand to the Royal Academy of Art’s latest show, Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse (closing on 20 April). Exploring the intriguing relationship between some of the world’s greatest artists and horticulture, the new film will transport viewers into a selection of the most beautiful outside spaces ever depicted on canvas, such as Monet’s waterlilies in Giverny. Alongside appearances from international gardening specialists, the documentary includes interviews with modern artists Lachlan Goudie and Tania Kovats, who will discuss how the natural world continues to bloom with inspiration. 6.15pm, 14 April, Curzon Chelsea, 206 King’s Road, SW3, exhibitiononscreen.com Photography: ©Exhibition on Screen
It’s All Relative Family life can certainly be turbulent at times, and the Gate Theatre uses this source of inspiration for its latest series, Nuclear: A Season about Family. This instalment, The Iphigenia Quartet, will see four UK playwrights respond to Euripides’s Iphigenia at Aulis, a tragic tale of familial murder. By way of sacrifice, ruin and deceit, artistic director Christopher Haydon explores how the family unit can be both a place of security and complete disruption. Complicated, and compelling. £30, 23 April-21 May, 11 Pembridge Road, W11, gatetheatre.co.uk
Photography: Daisy Cooper
Strictly Business
Perfectly Patriotic
If you find yourself oft-inspired to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit, then book a place on The Idler’s Business for Bohemians course post-haste. Over eight evening and two day-long workshops, the course will educate in the mechanics of running a small creative company, finishing with a one-to-one consultation to develop your business idea. As well as learning how to tackle taxes, handle spreadsheets and promote your ‘brand’, attendees will be able to tap Agent Provocateur co-founder Serena Rees and Emily Coltman, chief accountant at FreeAgent, for advice. And how to wash down all this new knowledge? The Idler is one step ahead: gin and tonics provided. £1,200, course runs from 14 April-2 June, 53 Pembridge Villas, W11, idler.co.uk
Celebrate St George’s Day in style at the Royal Albert Hall, with a gala hosted by classical maestro Raymond Gubbay. The Royal Choral Society and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will perform uplifting renditions of favourite English pieces such as Scarborough Fair, Jerusalem, Rule Britannia! and Walton’s Crown Imperial. Joining the
orchestras on stage will be mezzo soprano Laura Wright, the first official singer for the English rugby team anthem, and actor Kevin Whately, who will read a selection of poetry. A Land of Hope and Glory, indeed. From £18, 7.30pm, 30 April, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7, royalalberthall.com
Photography: David Iliff
spotlight on the royal borough of Kensington & Chelsea: news, events, reviews & local interest stories
Image: ©The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
Room for Thought Jenny Gibbs, founder of the KLC Design School, talks about educating the next generation of interior-savvy individuals and finding inspiration in the Royal Borough. What is the best aspect of a carving a career in interior design? It’s an immensely rewarding type of creative career: one of the great attractions is that no two days are ever the same. A morning might involve taking a brief from a new client and a site visit, the afternoon sourcing pieces in showrooms and galleries. How has interior design evolved since you began your career? Over the last 30 years or so, the focus has changed from decorative schemes and furniture layouts to a much more architectural approach that requires a knowledge of spatial planning and ergonomics. Interior design has been firmly established as a profession in its own right. Tell us more about the KLC Design Changes Lives Foundation that you founded last year. There are three strands to the Foundation: a programme of talks and competitions to inspire potential young designers; annual bursaries for courses at KLC, and a commitment for students and staff to participate in and support projects involving care for buildings. What inspiration does the Royal Borough offer to your students? We’ve been based here for over two decades, but our students come from all over the world. They really appreciate the proximity to such rich and varied architecture, whether looking for project research or simply for new ideas. For designers, of course, the V&A is always a particularly excellent resource. klc.co.uk
Out of the Cocoon Returning to the Natural History Museum for the eighth time, Sensational Butterflies is back and sure to set hearts aflutter. Now with even more winged creatures than before, the exhibition offers an amazing opportunity to get up close and marvel at the diversity of species from around the world. Visitors will be able to wander through the tropical butterfly house at leisure, following the transformation of colourful caterpillars, and learn fascinating facts about one of nature’s most astounding life cycles. £6.50, 24 March-11 September, Natural History Museum, nhm.ac.uk
Photography: Paula Court©; below: Magazine restaurant
A Sensory Sensation The Serpentine Gallery and Fiorucci Art Trust have collaborated to stage The Magazine Sessions, a monthly series of immersive, site-specific experiences that work across disciplines – think music, spoken word and visual art in a truly multi-sensory melange – and serve specially-devised menus at the gallery’s Zaha Hadid-designed art space. April’s session sees Swedish-born, New Yorkbased artist Emily Sundblad perform her erotic collage operetta Dichterliebe/ Divine Bitches, mixing contemporary chart toppers like Chandelier by Sia with Romantic German lieder. A unique evening out. £7.50, 8pm, 18 April, Serpentine Sackler Gallery, Kensington Gardens, W2, serpentinegalleries.org
Photography: courtesy of KLC School of Design
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ART ANTIQUES BY Rebecca Wallersteiner Clockwise from left: Neale Worley, Mother and Child (Russell Gallery); Tjokorda Wiratmaja, Symbol of Wealth (Gabriel Asian Arts); Simon Gudeon, Hummingbird (Sculpture by the Lakes) ©ChelseaArtFair
A Splash of Colour The Chelsea Art Fair, held over four days in the historic Chelsea Old Town Hall, offers an ideal venue in which to admire modern and contemporary art. The fair will bring together around 30 galleries from across the UK, selling everything from paintings and watercolours to ceramics and photographs – with prices ranging from £500 to £50,000. Don’t miss Simon Gudgeon’s stunning bronze sculpture The Hummingbird from Dorset exhibitor Sculpture by the Lakes, or Janet Golphin’s exuberantly colourful painting The Red Rug, presented by The Russell Gallery. A lively programme of events will take place throughout the fair, including free talks and tours. 21-24 April, Chelsea Old Town Hall, SW3, chelseaartfair.org
Travel Back in Time The Museum of Brands will open the doors of its sizeable new Lancaster Road premises on 1 April, with a separate exhibition space, tea shop and garden. As well as rediscovering the museum’s 12,000 eclectic objects, history buffs will enjoy a display exploring the story of Johnnie Walker – the whisky supremo celebrates its 200th anniversary this year – and a film charting 60 years of iconic TV campaigns. This time tunnel will transport visitors back to experience wars and coronations, changing fads and fashions, and the coming of cinema, radio and television. Over Easter weekend the museum will host a programme of talks, crafts and trails – ideal entertainment for teenagers. Museum of Brands, 111-117 Lancaster Road, W11, museumofbrands.com
Photography: Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising
Art in the Park Set among Holland Park’s spring blooms, find the annual Friends of Holland Park art exhibition in the Orangery from 16 April. Works on display will include paintings, ceramics, jewellery, bronzes, prints and photography. This year’s show spotlights artist Mao Wen Biao, who was responsible for the wonderful largescale mural in the park’s arcade. Born in Shanghai, Mao trained at the Royal College of Art and has since exhibited and won awards internationally. Visitors can experience his large-scale mural of Holland Park, facing the Dahlia garden, and view smaller works inside the Orangery. 10.30am-6pm, 16-24 April, The Orangery, Holland Park
Clockwise from left: Elisabetta Fatone, David Bowie, acrylic on canvas and mixed media; Sara Pope, ALLURE, oil on gesso board with neon light; Paola Bazz, LAUGHING ROUND, printed paper and cardboard
Seated Luohan, Chinese, 14th century, Yuan or Early Ming, carved wood, gesso and polychrome, 117 x 73 x 46cm. Photography: Claire Nathan
Art dealer Richard Temple on a rare rediscovery at his Holland Park gallery Q. How long have you been dealing in religious art? A. I founded The Temple Gallery in 1959 as a centre for the exhibition, sale, study and restoration of ancient icons and sacred art.
Going Pop Find brilliant colour around the corner this month, with a visit to Lacey Contemporary in Holland Park. From 30 March the gallery presents Going Pop, an exhibition that reflects on and satirises the impact of Pop Art on contemporary creations. Highlights include an acrylic on canvas tribute to the late David Bowie by Elisabetta Fantone, whose work has been collected by the likes of Céline Dion, Muhammad Ali and the Kardashians; vivid oil paintings by Sara Pope that raise questions about contemporary ideals of beauty; striking works on paper shown by Paola Bazz; and Finn Stone’s fibreglass sculptures. Don’t miss this punchy, uplifting show. 30 March–9 April, Lacey Contemporary Gallery, 8 Clarendon Cross, W11, laceycontemporarygallery.co.uk
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Q. What are your highlights for April? A. The rare life-size 14th century Chinese carved wood figure representing a luohan (a Buddhist disciple who has reached the highest level of spiritual development) for sale and on view at our Clarendon Cross gallery. It dates from the early Ming dynasty, and was discovered hidden under layers of darkened varnish and grime. Unusually, much of its original polychrome has survived. Q. Who does the Temple Gallery count among its clientele? A. We have a small range of specialist private collectors, and as a member of the Art Fund’s advisory panel, I work with major institutions like the British Museum and the Louvre acquiring sacred art. Q. Which of your celebrated publications are available at your gallery? A. Our titles include Icons: Divine Beauty, a beautifully illustrated introduction to the world of icons; The Art of Meditation, a personal account of Buddhist meditation in Thailand; and a fully illustrated catalogue accompanied our 50th anniversary exhibition Masterpieces of Early Christian Art and Icons. 6 Clarendon Cross, W11, templegallery.com
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Life Through His Lens American photojournalist Paul Strand travelled extensively around America, Mexico and Europe during his 60-year career, capturing people and places through his masterful lens. The Victoria and Albert Museum is now presenting a major retrospective of his influential work – the first in England since Strand’s death in 1976. Around 200 objects, including his cameras, films and sketchbooks, gritty street portraits, and studies of railyards, wharves and factories, will be displayed alongside early masterpieces such as Wall Street, which depicts the anonymity of individuals hurrying to work beneath the towering city. The exhibition will also include vintage prints from the V&A’s own extensive photography collection. Paul Strand: Photography and Film for the 20th Century, 19 March–3 July, vam.ac.uk Paul Strand, Couple, Rucăr, Romania, 1967, ©Paul Strand Archive, Aperture Foundation
Reigning Robes Join Historic Royal Palaces curator Libby Thompson for a glass of fizz and a talk about regal fashions at Kensington Palace. A trained textile conservator with a focus on 20th century fashion, Thompson is dedicated to the painstaking care of the royal family’s clothes at its six palaces. Thompson will describe the journey of a garment from design and tailoring, through to being worn by Her Majesty The Queen, Princess Anne, or the Duchess of Cambridge – before finally making its way into her hands for conservation. The talk accompanies the palace’s Fashion Rules Restyled exhibition, which delves into the craftsmanship and timeless elegance of royal wardrobes. The Journey of a Royal Dress, 11am-12.30pm, 16 April, Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, W8, hrp.org.uk
Above: Fashion Rules Restyled Room 5; below, from left: Fashion Rules Restyled Catherine Walker for Diana Princess of Wales, 1992 ©Historic Royal Palaces; Hardy Amies for HM The Queen, 1970s, Historic Royal Palaces ©Lord Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto
A large Iznik-style pottery vase, Samson, France, circa 1880, 38.8cm ©Christie’s Images Limited 2016
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Islamic Arts For anyone drawn to Indian and Islamic art – and thinking about collecting – ceramics, textiles and calligraphy are both fascinating and accessible. On 22 April, Christie’s South Kensington will offer nearly 300 such treasures from prestigious private collections, including exquisite Indian textiles collected by the late Mark Zebrowski; Indian paintings belonging to the late Peter Coats, aidede-camp to the Viceroy of India; and beautifully-crafted ceramics such as a 19th-century vase (estimate £4,000-6,000) modelled after a well-known Iznik example in the British Museum. Revealing the history of 19th-century European taste, these pieces will appeal to new and seasoned collectors alike. Arts & Textiles of the Islamic and Indian Worlds sale, 22 April, 85 Old Brompton Road, SW7, christies.com
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Best of British Forget the contemporary Scandi trend. JACK WATKINS discovers how antique English furniture remains as popular ever
Peter Bunting Antiques
“Take a walk in Battersea Park and bring your dog to shop with you,” entreats the friendly publicity encouraging a visit to the spring Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair. The sentence catches the breezy, informal air that awaits. Now in its 31st year, serious dealers, collectors and casual visitors chat and browse shoulder to shoulder among the stands, which number up to 150. The range spans the international and parochial, from Tokyo to St Petersburg, to the Old Kent Road. And, for the merely curious – no matter how much you might marvel at the Rococo furnishings from France or the snazzy 20th-century designs from Italy – you may be tempted to reflect that, to judge from many of the items on display, the works of British furniture designers over the centuries don’t stand up badly by comparison either.
Antique English Chesterfield sofa
There are invariably some classic British brand names, or the work of talented individual craftsmen on view. Walnut reception chairs made in the 19th century to a design by Gillows of Lancaster recall the great Lancastrian furniture maker. Robert Gillow began working as a cabinet-maker in the early 18th century. Importing mahogany from the West Indies enabled him to build a reputation for making furniture from materials of the highest quality and the best craftsmanship. Gillow’s son Richard is credited with originating the first telescopic dining table, and eventually the business grew to such an extent that they were able to offer complete interior designing for an individual home, including furniture, stained glass, wallpaper, and cabinets. The company wasn’t averse to producing material by other well-known figures, such as Thomas Chippendale, Thomas
SPOTLIGHT
A William Morris Arts & Crafts sofa designed by Philip Webb, c. 1870, in carved mahogany
Sheraton and George Hepplewhite. This trio came to be known as ‘the big three’ among 19th-century English furniture makers, and items in the style of their work regularly grace the fair. By the time Gillows was bought out by Waring of Liverpool at the end of the 19th century, another famous name, Heal’s, which had run a store in Tottenham Court Road for over 60 years, came to the scene. It was the arrival of Ambrose Heal at his family’s company in 1893 that was one of the keys to integrating the Arts and Crafts ethos of ‘good design’ – Ambrose Heal’s slogan was “Nothing need be ugly” – into the commercially focused approach of the machine age. Heal’s Arts and Crafts-style desks still look functional today, though his business-like approach doubtless alienated many of the more purist practitioners. Ernest Gimson, one of the most influential designers of the movement, had utopian aspirations for the complete reform of society, and a return to the craftsman-like, handmade approach of the Medieval period. It was idealism in its purist sense and didn’t have a cat in hell’s chance of succeeding, but many of the ideas
Ambrose Heal’s arrival was one of the keys to integrating the ethos of ‘good design’
William & Mary period, rare, small gateleg table in oak. Late 17th century, £1,250
Arts & Crafts Abingwood chairs, 1897, made in ash, designed by George Walton in conjunction with Charles Rennie Mackintosh
incorporated within his Cotswold-style creations are not only still admired, but used by manufacturers. Leaping forward a few decades, but still in-keeping with the pared-down functionality of the Arts and Crafts movement, HK Furniture was founded in 1930 by Howard Keith. He fled his native Austria for England during the Second World War, transferring his company to these shores. It provided furnishings for the QE2 and The Royal Train and, more popularly, created the mid-20th century classic the wing-backed Bambino chair. Talking of mid-century classics, to mark the 90th birthday of Her Majesty The Queen, there will be a foyer at the fair dedicated to creations with a royal connection – for the Royal Collection, royal palaces, or royal occasions, such as ceremonial seating. If you’ve visited the fair before, come again. There is always fresh stock and a smattering of new exhibitors, plus, you never quite know when you might lay your hands on a Chippendale or Gillows. The Spring Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair, Battersea Evolution Marquee, Battersea Park, SW11, 21-24 April, decorativefair.com
The Lion’s Share A capsule exhibition of rare etchings by artist Herbert Dicksee will be shown by specialist print and picture dealer Nicholas Price at the fair in association with the Park Gallery. Dicksee was the leading wild animal painter of Edwardian Britain. He lived in Hampstead and daily walked down the hill to the London Zoological Gardens in Regent’s Park to produce these bewitching studies of lions, all the more impressive as done without the modern aid of photographs; most artists relied on the use of stuffed animals as models. Regrettably, most of Dicksee’s etchings were destroyed on his death in 1942, but those on display here are rare survivors. pricefineart.com
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Sister Act Two From the phenomenal success of the H&M and Balmain collection last year to the sell-out Roland Mouret for Banana Republic line in 2014, designer and high street hook-ups have become something of the norm. And another exciting fashion pairing set to darken our wardrobes this month is Rodarte for & Other Stories. The S/S16 collaborative collection of ready-to-wear, shoes and jewellery is very much in tune with Rodarte’s “Californian lifestyle”, say founders Kate and Laura Mulleavy. These include crushed velvet, suede, mohair, and mixed metal, all of which have been used to great effect to create versatile wardrobe staples. Magpies among you will no doubt be drawn to the crystalembellished wrap dress, which is already on our wish list. Rodarte & Other Stories S/S16 collection, stories.com
Photography: Harley Weir
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The Tree of Life Marni has returned to its roots for its S/S16 collection: designer Consuelo Castiglioni has packed her latest range with plenty of colour and print for which the brand is renowned. Standout pieces include a punchy red, yellow and blue tunic with a matching skirt, which together call to mind Connect Four, and a leaf print jumpsuit in cobalt blue and white. With statement bangles and earrings to complete the look, you are certain not to blend into the background this summer. 26 Sloane Street, SW1X, marni.com/gb
Photography: Tom Hunter/ Giovanni Bianco & GB65
HER STYLE By olivia sharpe
Set in Stone Fascinated by the way clothes sculpt the body, Viktor & Rolf chose to explore this in depth in its Haute Couture S/S16 Performance of Sculptures collection, incorporating geometric and graphic volume into the garments. The range has also been recast into an exclusive three-piece capsule collection: a piquĂŠ polo dress, tunic and polo shirt, all of which are now available in black or white on the Moda Operandi website. Available at modaoperandi.com
Bomb Shell When K&C interviewed Charlotte Simone at the end of last year, we knew the designer had something up her sleeve. And it turns out we were right: she has just released her debut collection of jackets. In line with her existing scarf collection that has earned Simone her reputation, the shearling bombers and crop jackets are luxuriously shaggy and come in the brand’s signature candy colour palette, including: blue, pink, white, grey and black. We’ve always known Charlotte Simone wasn’t pure fluff. From £475 to £575, charlottesimone.com
Chain Reaction You can’t help but be happy-golucky when you’re Emma Hill: after a successful career as Mulberry’s creative director, she has triumphed again with the launch of her own accessories brand, Hill & Friends, which she founded with close friend Georgia Fendley (also ex Mulberry) last year. This year sees the collection land in Harrods and to celebrate, a limited edition number of bags were delivered to the department store, including the exclusive Happy Chain style. With ready-to-wear reportedly in the pipeline too, we are very much enjoying watching Hill & Friends’ rise to fame. Happy satchel, £1,795, exclusive to Harrods
Roll out the Red Carpet If there was an award for a luxury footwear brand’s leading role on the red carpet, it would go to Jimmy Choo. While this title may have once been held by the likes of Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik, in recent years Choo has taken the lead, with its celebrated Minny sandals being one of the most popular styles for Hollywood ladies at awards ceremonies. In tribute to its 20th anniversary this year, the brand has created a capsule collection of shoes and accessories dedicated to its historic red carpet heritage, called Memento. Comprising 20 pieces, this will include signature styles such as Minny and Lace, which have been suitably embellished to mark the occasion, along with new designs. Memento collection, available from April at jimmychoo.com
Photography: Shanghai Tang S/S16 campaign
Along the River Bank It is thanks to brands like Shanghai Tang that China is now firmly on the fashion map. Having effortlessly fused its eastern sensibility with western tastes through its collections, the brand’s latest campaign is no exception. Shot in Seville, which serves as the perfect backdrop, the range reimagines Miao fabrics in layers of graphic shapes and embroideries. The ‘60s has also been revived in giant floral pop-art prints, which blend perfectly with the accompanying line of pastel accessories. 6A/B Sloane Street, SW1X, shanghaitang.com
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Wheel of
Fortune
The footwear industry is taking steps towards the future and one of the pioneering figures paving the way is Nicholas Kirkwood. Having opened his new shoe installation in Harrods and with further product categories on the horizon, Olivia Sharpe considers how the British designer is keeping the wheels turning
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n the race to be the most progressive and forwardthinking in the fashion industry, footwear brands have been stepping up their game in the last few years and coming up with huge advancements in 3D printing, fabrications and sustainability. Among the contemporary designers leading this shoe renaissance is Nicholas Kirkwood. Since launching his eponymous business in 2005, he has been lauded for his distinctive, sculptural creations that bridge the gap between fashion and art. From his aerodynamic platforms to his backwardly-angled heels, he is truly ahead of the curve. Thrice named Accessories Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards, he is also the first accessories designer to have been awarded the British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund in 2013. Eleven years and four worldwide stores later, the brand has a firm foothold in Europe, the US and Asia. The 35-year-old recently opened a special colour wheel shoe installation in Harrods as part of its ‘London Calling’ campaign. Along with Stella McCartney and Emma Hill, Nicholas was one of the leading British designers selected, showcasing his new Beya loafer S/S16 collection. The sleek, pointed shoe features a geometric polished heel that elevates the humble flat to new heights and has fittingly been given its own altar within Harrods Shoe Heaven where customers may worship. Presented in a kaleidoscopic range of colourways and textures, there is also an exclusive, limited edition laser-cut style in white and a crystal loafer in black. Arriving at Harrods to meet Nicholas, it is the start of London Fashion Week and unsurprisingly the store is a hive of activity. Stylish journalists and fashion bloggers eagerly crowd around waiting to get their moment with the designer. His chiselled face doesn’t disguise his boyish features and with his softly spoken voice and slightly nervous giggle, I expect that Nicholas is perhaps not quite as fond of the limelight as his audacious shoes. Nonetheless, he greets me warmly as we sit down to chat. This is far from being the designer’s first foray into Harrods,
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with the London store having been one of his first ever stockists. “When I started 11 years ago, I was doing a showcase of the male loafer, which is a style that has always done particularly well here.” Now with his own store firmly rooted in London’s Mount Street, I quiz him as to whether we can hope for a store in the Royal Borough, but all Nicholas will reveal is that the team is currently moving its offices to nearby Soho. In 2013, Nicholas Kirkwood was bought by luxury conglomerate LVMH, thereby rubbing shoulders with the likes of Louis Vuitton, Céline and Christian Dior. Joining forces with the powerful group inevitably means further international expansion for the brand and the wheels are already in motion to launch new product categories. Clearly not wishing to give much away, trying to get information out of Nicholas is a bit like pulling teeth: “I’m still working on many other aspects of the business, but I think there are going to be new elements added over the next coming season, such as jewellery and handbags,” he comments, evasively. “There are many other accessories I’m looking to explore.” What about the rumours that he’s looking to expand the men’s shoe offering that launched two years ago? “The men’s line was something we did in a very small way. We’re not looking to expand that just yet.” Moving on, I change tack and ask Nicholas how he would sum up his brand’s spirit and this is when he finally relaxes, becoming almost poetic. “It’s that kind of irreverent elegance and tension between the masculine and feminine details,” he explains, passionately. “It’s the idea of having a skinny strap sandal, but contrasting it with a block heel. It’s that element of surprise. The pearl that you find underneath the heel which you don’t notice straight away but when you discover it, it’s like finding buried treasure.” Nicholas strives to produce thoughtprovoking designs and his love of creating dramatic tensions – reality
versus appearance, revealed versus concealed, masculine versus feminine – is further explored in his latest S/S16 collection: Spaces in Between. Nicholas once again references architecture in his pieces, which feature bold outlines, sculpted shapes and reflective surfaces to create the illusion of camouflage and invisibility. After graduating from Central Saint Martins (where he studied fine art) and Cordwainers’ College (part of London College of Fashion), Nicholas first got noticed for a pair of
“I’m not here to torture women. I want women to feel empowered when wearing my shoes”
FASHION
curvilinear, vertiginous platform heels, which have since become his signature. While looking fierce, what made these heels so unique is the way they fused innovative style with comfort. “I’m not here to torture women,” he quips. “I want women to feel empowered when wearing my shoes.” In his mission to make his shoes both practical and stylish, Nicholas has always advocated the use of finer leathers to make them lighter and subsequently more comfortable. It was only after seven years of founding his company that Nicholas eventually launched his range of flats. Is this because women are now looking for comfort and practicality as well as style? “It’s definitely become more of a focus in the last two years,” he agrees. “There are far fewer women wearing super high heels in the day to get round the city, and wearing the same pair in the evening. There’s definitely been a division in fashion.” Nicholas is well-versed in the subject of fashion, having done numerous collaborations with leading designers, including Erdem, Rodarte and Peter Pilotto. Nicholas believes the fashion industry is currently in a very creative phase as fashion brands are now pushing the boundaries with their shoe lines more than ever before. He notes how this has been driven by female customers whose increasingly hectic lives have resulted in greater demand for more styles. This is what led Nicholas to take tentative steps towards his first mid-heel range. “It was probably the mid-height that was more of a shock to people than when I launched flats, but also much more of a challenge at the time because there’s always the danger of it looking like the lesser hero of the high heel.” Despite his apprehension, the mid-height has since become one of his most popular styles: “It’s lucky that fashion has gone that way as well,” he says, modestly. “You now have Vogue editors walking around in mid-height shoes, which was unheard of a few years ago.” As heels come down in size, this has resulted in fabrics and materials becoming more adventurous. Nicholas stresses the importance of craftsmanship, something he learnt while working for milliner Philip Treacy (and living with Isabella Blow). He began his career hand-making all of his shoes before opening his factory in Italy. Here, his artisans employ traditional methods, as well as experimenting with modern innovations such as 3D printing. “I’m always up for the newest way of making something. Having the expertise of the past combined with the brilliance of modern technology and what this can offer really excites me. Again, it’s about that tension.” Nicholas believes that technology will continue to play a huge role in the next few years and so he recently launched an Instagram initiative for Valentine’s Day in a bid to engage his consumers. The designer is constantly on the lookout for emerging design talent, having discovered Sophia Webster. So as we wait to see which way the tide will turn in the world of footwear, we know that the man at the helm is Nicholas Kirkwood.
“Having the expertise of the past combined with the brilliance of modern technology and what this can offer really excites me”
Beya loafer S/S16 collection, from £295-365, available at Harrods Shoe Heaven, nicholaskirkwood.com
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Pure
Shores
Make waves with bold prints, neon brights and clashing patterns this spring Photographer: Phillip Waterman
Stylist: Camilla Turner
Silk printed dress, £1,340; Cotton skirt, £850; Shoes, £500, all Marni, 26 Sloane Street, SW1X; Collar necklace, £80, Moxham at Kabiri, kabiri.co.uk
Left / Dress, £1,000, Marco De Vincenzo at Matches Fashion, matchesfashion.com; Jacket, £1,545, Christopher Kane, 6 Mount Street, W1K; Shoes, POA, Paul Andrew, paulandrew.com; Gold collar necklace, £48, Cooee at Kabiri, as before Above / Top, £1,100, David Koma, davidkoma.co.uk; Gold earrings, £120, Noritamy at Kabiri, as before; Printed skirt, £270, Caterina Gatta at Matches Fashion, as before
Above / Cotton sateen embroidered trench coat, £2,995, Burberry, uk.burberry.com Right / Silk top, £610; Skirt, £800, both Roksanda Ilincic, selfridges.com; Shoes, £495, Paul Andrew at Matches Fashion, as before
HAIR & make-up: Rachel Jones @ Terri Manduca using MAC Cosmetics and Kevin Murphy Model: Ineta @ IMG Models Photographer’s assisTANT: Kiti Swannell sTYLIST’s ASsisTANT: Sadie Kohler
photography: Vincent Peters
Havana Nights The British gent goes abroad for Gieves & Hawkes’s S/S16 collection. This season, the brand was inspired by the balmy, tropical climate of Havana, Cuba to create its more relaxed wardrobe. Taking a softer approach to tailoring, silk is a key component of the range, lending fluidity and lightness to the printed shirts, knitted tees and outerwear, all of which come courtesy of chief creative officer Jason Basmajian. In a versatile colour palette of navy, terracotta and rainforest green, all of the pieces reflect an off-duty spirit that is perfect for carrying you through the summer. Gieves & Hawkes, 1 Savile Row, W1S gievesandhawkes.com
HIS STYLE By NATASHA LEVY
The Royal Treatment We can only presume that Dunhill’s S/S16 collection, which pays tribute to the idiosyncrasies of English dress, was done partly in light of HM The Queen’s 90th birthday this year. Looking back in time to the Royal styles of Edward VIII and Prince Charles in his youth, the brand honours the dapper Englishman’s ability to play with his traditional wardrobe. The line includes staples such as a tweed jacket and knitted tie, alongside quirky accessories like the floral print silk pocket square. Belgravia single-breasted jacket, £1,950; Lightweight blouson, £625, dunhill.com
Freedom of Choice Mr.Hare has looked towards liberty and freedom of the individual as a source of inspiration for S/S16. Although the range is supported by classic styles such as the penny loafer and lace-ups, many of the shoes boast unusual design features, such as asymmetric monk straps (demonstrated in Andreas) and contrasting colour schemes. Each pair has also been skilfully designed to create a slim silhouette on the feet and so the shoes are ideal for adding a subtle twist to your look. From £240, 22 Powis Terrace, W11, mrhare.com
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Call it a Night In between the demands of work and social life, finding the time to relax is certainly a luxury. Fitting, then, that British brand Sir Plus makes the act of lounging a truly stylish affair with its elegant collection of dressing gowns – reminiscent of those famously sported by Noël Coward. The brand has maintained its focus on quality and pieces therefore incorporate some of the finest materials, including the Kingsley (pictured) which has been made from 100 per cent lightweight wool, and the Vermeer, which is fashioned entirely from Italian herringbone cashmere. Each gown also features intricate details such as piping around the cuffs and neckline. From £99, sirplus.co.uk
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BESPOKE HANDMADE FURNITURE www.oficinainglesa.com London Showroom
info@oficinainglesa.com +44 (0) 207 2264 569
lifestyle
House of cards Maison Christian Lacroix has looked back in time for its new S/S16 collection: Art de Vivre. The Incroyables et Merveilleuses fabrics range, in collaboration with Designers Guild, has been named after the fashionable citizens of the French Revolution and embraces the spirit of liberty. Lacroix has created a host of off-the-wall prints, including Cocarde – a cotton satin emblazoned with rosettes that were sported by soldiers – while Maison de jeu has been decked out in antique playing cards. Alternatively, Bagatelle places 18th-century architectural folies and contemporary skyscrapers within a lush jungle print. Prints are available on cushions, rugs or as wallpaper. Vive la France. From a selection, available at Designers Guild 267-277 King’s Road, SW3, designersguild.com
Photography: Richard Powers
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& GARDEN
HOME
BY NATASHA LEVY
Window Shopping The windows at Harrods are currently undergoing a major spring clean, ready to receive The London Edit – the homeware department’s round-up of this season’s hottest interiors trends, which is being unveiled this month. The edit comprises four styles: the Shoreditch Loft, the Chelsea Townhouse, the Notting Hill Villa and the Hampstead House. Several exclusive launches, including the debut furniture collection by Matthew Williamson in collaboration with Duresta (see page 24) and the launch of British lighting brand Anglepoise, are also taking place in conjunction with this. From a selection, available at Harrods
Photography: Hampstead House, available at Harrods
In Orbit David Hunt has widened its circle of products with the extension of its Orb pendant collection: lighting fixtures now come in a solid copper fitting with an antique finish. An embodiment of skilled craftsmanship, each orb is expertly bent, bolted, coated and then wired by hand. Perfect for high ceilings and large hallways, the lighting’s clever design gives off a striking optical illusion when viewed from different angles. Available with either three, five, six or eight lights (with the additional option of a Byron shade to create a softer effect), whichever size you opt for, it’s guaranteed to light up any room. Orb copper lighting, from £995 davidhuntlighting.co.uk
Natural Feeling Bring the outside world in (regardless of whether you have floor-to-ceiling windows) with BOSS’s new S/S16 home collection of linens and soft furnishings. Highlights include the Mirage range, which captures the varying, mesmerising hues of a glowing sunset, and Canopy, which features a strong graphic print that subtly evokes the density of ribbed leaves. Draped onto cushions and bed linens, it provides the perfect cover under which to snuggle. From £35, available at houseoffraser.co.uk
Photography: Matthieu Carpentier and Christophe Chaverou
Photography: ©Eric Kuster Interior Design, published by teNeues, teneues.com; ©Eric Kuster 2015, erickuster.com
By the Book International interior designer Eric Kuster is sharing his design know-how in a new coffee table tome: Interior Design. With a back catalogue of famous projects – from restaurants to five-star retreats, and an array of bespoke interiors pieces created under his Metropolitan Luxury label – Kuster is well-versed in working to briefs of all shapes and sizes. Illustrated with some of his most opulent configurations, the book offers professional advice to budding interior designers looking to add a touch of luxe to their living rooms. From £45, teneues.com
Good Times
Good as Gold In anticipation of the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic & Paralymic Games, The Conran Shop’s Espírito do Brasil collection captures the country’s landscape, culture and lifestyle, from the mid-20th century to the present day. The collection encompasses furniture and lifestyle accessories, which will be released in stages throughout spring and summer as we journey from the south to the north of Brazil in this exotic design narrative. The range brings together the brand’s iconic designs with those from new and emerging talent. Pieces to look out for include the architecturally-inspired Bertoia Diamond chair, which comes in a luxurious 18-carat gold finish, and a Beehive pendant light by Marc de Groot. Bertoia Diamond chair, £2,136, 81 Fulham Road, SW3, conranshop.co.uk
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Timothy Oulton continues his mission to revive the lost art of dinner hosting with his 2016 collection, which introduces the new Hudson bar cabinet. Inspired by prohibition-style speakeasies, the piece is clad in black leather, which has been carefully dyed to enhance its natural hide and to create a worn, vintage appearance. Featuring a sideboard, bar cabinet, cupboard, coffee table and desk, there’s plenty of room to house all your drinks and is the perfect accoutrement for sharing great nights in with friends. From £2,675, available at Harrods, timothyoulton.com
Clear Cut Combining Lalique’s artistry in crystal-making with Mario Botta’s affinity for crisp lines and sharp angles, together they have created the GEO vase. A perfect square with a circular centre, this limited edition design (inspired by the Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara in Italy) has been covered with three-dimensional pyramid shapes that masterfully reflect and refract light. Each vase has been signed and numbered, and there are just 250 available in either clear, black, or midnight blue crystal. From £9,500, lalique.com
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INSPIRED INTERIORS THE FINEST DESIGN AT HARRODS
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CONTEMPORARY LIGHTING
No longer satisfied with standard uplighters, downlighters, shades and bases, a group of sharp contemporary designers – among them Tom Dixon and Lee Broom – is taking pleasure in turning the humble light fitting into a work of art. Harrods’ new lighting department showcases the latest designs, and introduces some of the less famous names currently making waves in interior-design circles, including Petite Friture and Rubn. Contemporary Lighting, Third Floor, Harrods
MUD AUSTRALIA
Between the worlds of fine china and handmade ceramics lies Mud Australia. The brand, dreamed up by designer Shelley Simpson, has made it big in Australia with minimalist tableware in matte finishes that look and feel like handcrafted stone. Her palettes encourage a mix-and-match approach: putty with pink, ash grey and bottle green – then add a splash of coral, just because... Alongside Mud, Harrods’ tableware department features the world’s largest selection of china, porcelain, crystal and cutlery. Entertaining at Home, Second Floor, Harrods
BED LINENS
There are white-sheets people (who are probably also white-towels people), who will always be whitesheets people. However, some of us are now being quietly seduced by colour. Brands like Nina Ricci, Society and Toast are putting a fashion spin on bed linens. Ribbon trims, double piping and coutureworthy embroidery appear in Nina Ricci’s latest collection, while cotton bedspreads have reversible traditional Indian patterns at Toast. Meanwhile, Society’s highly pigmented dyes evoke the Mediterranean. Bed Linens, Second Floor, Harrods
POLTRONA FRAU
It’s as comfortable as it looks. Seriously. But that’s precisely what we’ve come to expect from Poltrona Frau. Founded in 1912, the Tolentino-based company has added to the prestigious reputation that a “Made in Italy” label has come to represent. Specialising in sofas and armchairs handcrafted to look as heavenly as they feel, Poltrona Frau’s latest designs are now on display at Harrods. The collection suits contemporary and traditional tastes, and both large and small spaces. Whichever you choose, the quality shines through. Poltrona Frau,
Third Floor, Harrods
+44 (0)20 7730 1234 harrods.com
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&
HEALTH BEAUTY BY CAMILLA APCAR Photography: ©Burberry/Testino
Plump It Up Channel the sculptural plump and polish of Salvador Dali’s sofa and Lulu Guinness’ clutch bags with Burberry Full Kisses: a new range of lip pens that promises to define, shape and enhance all in one swift glide. The hydrating finish will soak in for up to eight hours, courtesy of flat-topped tips that follow every lip curve, in 14 shades that take inspiration from Burberry runways – from nude to lilac, oxblood and coral tones. Move over, Mae West. £24 each, uk.burberry.com
Image courtesy of: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
Coco’s Rainbow Chanel has only just launched its Rouge Coco Stylo, a lip pen that delivers ultra-nourishing, creamy colour in a simple click, instead of the traditional twist – but later this month comes 11 new nail shades to covet. There’s everything, from vibrant raspberry to a pale limited edition gold, alongside four favourites (including the classic Rouge Noir) that use the same new reinforcing formula. Try the burgundy Mythique when feeling bold or Monochrome grey for something a little more tempered. Combined with Le Gel Coat (£18), that lacquered lustre will last for six days – unless you can’t wait to try on another, of course. Le Vernis nail varnish, £18, available from 22 April; Rouge Coco Stylo, £26, Photography: Chanel Le chanel.com Vernis Rouge Essentiel
Nude on the Beach While spring is in your step, look to Bobbi Brown’s Malibu Nudes collection for a natural, windswept glow inspired by that beautiful stretch of Pacific shoreline. Its matte eye palette offers four nude shades and a dark – but very flattering – brown. Finish the look with a rosy dusting of Brown’s long-lasting blush duo. “Your perfect shade should match the colour of your cheeks when you’re naturally flushed,” describes the make-up maven. Start the season fresh-faced and fancy-free. Nude on Nude eye palette, £36; ink liner, £21; mascara, £23; blush, £29.50, bobbibrown.co.uk
Photography: ©YSL Beauté
Generation Y Renowned for its radiant sheen, YSL’s Touche Éclat has been lending a radiant glow for nigh on 23 years. Its illuminating Le Teint Touche Éclat progeny was introduced in 2012; now, there’s a new foundation formula to awaken and energise skin. Using “catchlight technology” and added anti-fatigue to eliminate shadows and dullness with even coverage, Le Teint’s update boasts vitamin E and Ruscus extract to soothe and boost microcirculation. Application, as ever, is key – and YSL’s new sturdy, bristled brush has a Y-shaped design that creates a small valley in which to sparingly pump the magical liquid, one drop at a time. £32.50 each, yslbeauty.co.uk
Arresting Zest
With a Youthful Air
Diptyque’s latest fragrance, Eau des Sens, comes in the form of a citrus octave with just a hint of floral charm: bitter orange blossom, juniper and patchouli come together in an accord above a woody and spicy undertone. With essences taken from leaves, flower and peel, the Parisian candle connoisseur has created a disarming unisex scent. From £60 for 50ml, diptyqueparis.co.uk
BY Elizabeth Finney
Image courtesy of: Diptyque Paris
Mediterranean Marvels When nipping to Syracuse for a spot of sun, sailing and sublime seafood isn’t an option, there’s Acqua di Parma’s recently launched Italian Resort collection of six age-defying botanical face products. All include an anti-oxidising re-activating complex – 15 years in the making – that uses Sicilian maritime pine bark to combat those pesky free radicals and revitalise skin cells. For those seeking a new skincare regime, the range will see you through, from cleansing oils to UV protection. A restoring mask releases active ingredients overnight, while the moisturising lotion with hydrating fig extract boosts natural elasticity. Capture the Mediterranean maquis from the comfort of home. Italian Resort cleansing oil, £37 for 200ml; from £37-90 each uk.acquadiparma.com
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If you want to get serious about your skin, call on Debbie Thomas. With 16 years’ experience as an advanced skincare specialist and a shiny new location in Chelsea, I’m keen to sample her carefully developed treatments. She starts with a soothing cleanse before applying an invigorating exfoliator, both by Exuviance, then uses hydradermabrasion with a hyrdrafacial to slurp up impurities. Thomas then applies the just launched Exuviance Bionic Oxygen Facial, which foams and bubbles vigorously as my skin soaks it up. Prepped for my gentle session of laser treatment – and conjuring thoughts of Star Wars stormtroopers – I don an LED light mask. When the collagen and elastin-stimulating contraption is removed, my face tingles with new energy and my complexion is already glowing. Thomas has rejuvenated my skin to the bright-eyed and bushytailed luminosity of my youth. Treatments from £95, available at the Chelsea Private Clinic, The Courtyard, 250 King’s Road, SW3, debbiethomas.co.uk Bionic Oxygen Facial
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Kids KINGDOM BY Natasha Levy
Make a Splash Summer is well and truly on its way so dive in to Sunuva’s new 2016 collection, which has an amazing selection of swimwear on offer for children of all ages. For girls, there are statement watermelon prints, as well as pieces that draw on Mexican folk culture, while the boys can choose from designs featuring exotic animal patterns (inspired by the Costa Rican jungle), or opt for more classic Riviera-influenced pieces. For the first time, Sunuva is launching a ‘mini-me’ capsule collection for parents who want to join in with the summer fun and coordinate with their children this season. This includes matching tie-dye dresses for mothers and daughters, and tailored swim shorts for sons and fathers. From £38, sunuva.com
Image courtesy of: Chloé
Summer of Love French fashion house Chloé has journeyed across the Atlantic to sunny California in order to create its effortlessly elegant S/S16 wardobe for girls. Like the adult line, the latest collection employs a warm colour palette of gold, powder pink and ocean blue, and comprises a selection of casual separates, delicate chiffon blouses and floaty dresses featuring feminine details such as floral embroidery and braided denim. Stylish yet easy to wear, pieces offer the perfect style solutions for the warm, balmy days ahead. Available at childrensalon.com
Rabbit On After the success of its Baby Bunny first step shoes, Minna Parikka has bounced back with a brand new collection. Arriving in sizes 21 to 24, the range is now available for toddlers and pre-teens alike. An explosion of glitter, fluffy pink tails and pointy ears make up the playful designs. In honour of its new line, Minna Parikka has opened a bunny-themed pop-up store in Harrods, where customers can try and spot the shoes through peekaboo boxes. From £100, available at Harrods
Tiny Tales Make sure bedtime stories are a hit by taking note of who is nominated for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2016. Now in its 12th year, the award celebrates burgeoning talent in three categories: illustrated books, younger fiction and older fiction. Judged by the store’s own booksellers, children’s assistant buyer Florentyna Martin describes how the potential winners not only offer brilliant escapism, but also “illuminate life in all its shades of light and dark”. The shortlist is made up of a host of titles that are perfect for little bookworms, including Katherine Woodfine’s The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow. waterstones.com
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Setting Up Camp
Purr-fect Pals Wherever Karl Lagerfeld goes, you can be sure that just a few whiskers away is his beloved cat Choupette. And now children can have their very own feline friend too because the designer has just released a toy version of his pet as part of his new kids’ collection. Made from cotton poplin, the soft toy has been formally dressed in black tie to match its designer’s own staple uniform. Choupette even comes with a pouch bag, perfect for carrying her around town. £36, available at melijoe.com/uk
A playhouse, a stealthy spot for hide and seek, a cosy nook for reading: these teepees by Spanish brand Nobodinoz are as versatile as they are stylish. Available in a selection of understated yet colourful fabrics and in two different sizes (large and mini), the teepees will complement any space and are also suitable for outdoor use - should your children decide to take their play elsewhere in the warmer months. Large teepee, £129, available at mollymeg.com
Take the Throne Christopher Guy has taken tea time to whole new heights with his latest high chair design. Originally created for The Georgian Restaurant in Harrods, the designer has now made the piece available to the public. A truly elegant design, buyers can even select their own bespoke finish to ensure that their child’s dining experience is one-of-a-kind. If only they came in adult sizes. £2,151, available at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, SW10
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Take on IRONMAN® 70.3® Staffordshire triathlon alongside Gordon and Tana Ramsay. They’ve secured 100 places on the sold-out event for their team – the GTR100.
Join the GTR100 and receive: Top of the range HUUB Archimedes wetsuit HUUB tri-suit, cycling jersey, bib shorts and running kit Musculoskeletal screening with Team GB Physiotherapists Invitation to training events alongside elite athletes
With only 100 places available, secure your place today.
gosh.org/GTR100
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Registered charity no. 1160024.
high life PEACE OF PARADISE Find total relaxation in the Costa del Sol by encasing yourself in peaceful paradise at one of The Oasis by Don Carlos Resort’s rooms, suites or apartments. A stay in a sleek apartment with furniture inspired by Jean Prouvé and Charles Eames will set the soul at ease, where a private terrace and infinity pool offer sparkling views of bewitching blue sea. In the water lily-scattered garden, unwind with yoga and pilates to the harmonious serenade of tropical birds and waterfalls, or take to a wellness cabana for a massage or body wrap. Breathe deep, and take in the breeze. From €362 per night doncarlosresort.expohotels.com/en/the-oasis
Image: Suite Altaïr, infinity pool with sea views
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Travel
THE WORLD By Hannah Lemon
Safari Sleepover This kind of camping doesn’t warrant muddy boots, soggy sleeping bags and a bad night’s sleep. The Loisaba Tented Camp in Kenya offers four stylish and spacious double rooms, one deluxe tented suite and two family tents with shared verandas. Plop into the infinity pool and enjoy views across the Laikipia plains, where The Nature Conservancy strive to provide a safe sanctuary for elephants, buffalo, zebra, kudu and other indigenous wildlife. All profits generated by tourism activities at Loisaba are dedicated to conservation – so even more reason to pay a visit. magicalkenya.com
Park Your Skis There’s still time to hit the slopes and with the new Chubut restaurant adding to the culinary delights of the Grand Hotel Park in Gstaad, you’ll be fired up to tackle even the steepest black run. Named after a province in Patagonian Argentina, the restaurant produces spectacle as well as good food as hand cut beef is scorched in front of diners on an open grill. Watch chef Agustín Brañas at work and indulge in empañadas and bife de solomillo, followed by homemade flan inspired by his grandma. grandhotelpark.ch
Thai Island The 130-room Nai Harn reopened in January after an extensive 18-month refurbishment. The simple and contemporary designs offer a nod to local heritage; Southern Thai art hangs on the walls, freeform sculptural furniture fills the rooms and rich textured fabrics decorate the interiors. Every detail has been considered, from the designer bathroom products, private barbecues on the terrace and beach-side butler service. But our favourite feature has to be the Champagne button on the terrace – we’ve always been of the glass half full mentality. thenaiharn.com
New Neighbours Closer to home, on the corner of Old Brompton Road, The Kensington opens its refurbished doors. Made up of four white Victorian townhouses, the plush daytime hangout serves fresh juices and afternoon tea in The Drawing Room, while K Bar’s leather wingback chairs, velvet sofas and tartan accents provide a handsome setting for a nightcap. But the pièce de résistance has to be The Brompton Suite, designed to look like an art curator’s apartment with views over the rooftops of South Kensington. 109–113 Queen’s Gate, SW7, doylecollection.com/kensington
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WELLNESS
as an Art
Oasis gives you a moment to stop and take a breath. Feel the freedom and relaxation in your body and mind. Let your senses be inspired in a private paradise. It is all waiting for you. The art of wellbeing.
The Oasis by Don Carlos Resort · Boutique Hotel Experience · Marbella T (+34) 933 271 455 · dcreservas@expogrupo.com · www.doncarlosresort.expohotels.com/en/the-oasis · www.expohotels.com
Bare Necessities
The
Forget about your worries and your strife with a visit to India. CLARE VOOGHT follows in the footsteps of Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli and Baloo the Bear
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hildhood classic The Jungle Book tells the story of an orphaned boy living with animals in a dense Indian forest. Much has changed since Rudyard Kipling – born in Mumbai 150 years ago last December – penned the tale, but with Disney’s live-animation remake due out in April, seeing a real-life Shere Khan in his natural habitat rose up the ranks on my to-do list. The scene Kipling painted in our minds of India as a country of colour, mystery and beauty but with dangerous jungledwelling creatures remains as true as ever. Before he eventually settled on Seoni, in neighbouring state Madhya Pradesh, as the location for his story, Kipling had Rajasthan in mind when writing The Jungle Book – which is where I am now, in Ranthambore National Park, on the lookout for a tiger. Today the majestic creatures are much harder to come by; according to WWF the world’s wild tiger population has depleted
by 97 per cent in little more than a century due to poaching and the destruction of their habitats. Ranthambore is frequently cited as one of the world’s best places to see tigers, but it’s still fairly common not to see one on your first safari, so I’m not expecting a miracle. My safari group enters the national park just after dawn; we pass a muster of peacocks stalking through the undergrowth and monkeys playing in trees. Then a fresh paw print on the dusty track tells us we must be close. Less than 45 minutes into the safari, a cawing sound disrupts the quiet. “That’s an alarm call. There’s a tiger nearby,” says our guide, as we press on. Through long grass at the edge of a marsh we see a spec of orange, tiny but visible – a big cat is lazily sauntering closer to the jeep. She is a she, it turns out, as our guide identifies her as a young female. Orange, beautiful, unnerving and sizing us up, she walks
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directly across our path, then sits upright with her back to us for a full ten minutes before deciding to stalk off into the trees. Monkeys panic in the branches, making their warning calls. Whatever stillness there was in the national park is a distant memory in the loud, brimming city of Jaipur, where tightly packed cars flow within inches of each other like molecules of running water. But there are still plenty of animals in the city: monkeys playing in the streets, camels draped in neon fabrics pulling carts, and wandering cows left to their own devices because of their sacred status under Hinduism. Bundles of sugar cane for sale lie in heaps on the roadside, and people are everywhere, going in and out of markets and shops, which are draped in lights for Diwali, and the usual strings of flowers and reams of fabric. Jaipur is famous for its textiles, and long strips in every colour hang drying in the sunshine. India is well set up for luxury tourism. I stay in many beautiful five-star hotels during the course of the trip, which follows an itinerary created by Insight Vacations, a premium tour company. I am welcomed like royalty into the palatial Fairmont Jaipur: there is music, singing, and a scattering of rose petals on my head as I walk through the hotel’s vast courtyards and under multifoil arches. My forehead is anointed with red and I am ushered inside the high-ceilinged Anjum lounge for high tea. The hotel’s restaurants are hard to top – Zarin offers a particularly spectacular selection of Indo-Persian dishes – while the rooms are equally impressive. Ornately carved dark-wood furniture, opulent, deep-coloured fabrics and lavish bathrooms with enormous shell-like sculpted baths are enough to tempt you into pretending you slept through your wake-up call so as to linger a little longer. The following morning the group heads to the waterside City Palace, past a snake charmer sitting at its gate. Walls and arches are painted with floral designs, but most impressive are gold gates adorned with sculpted blue peacocks and their plumes of painted feathers. Also on the site is a museum of royal Indian clothes, and our specialist local guide Rajeev gives a running commentary as we look at the fur-lined coats of the Maharajas and brocade-detailed sarees the women wore in Kipling’s time. Insight Vacations prides itself on giving guests behindthe-scenes experiences, so the cherry on top is being ushered
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past a sign that reads ‘Private’, through a courtyard with hot pink bougainvillea-lined walls and into the residences of the Jaipur royal family. We are led to a reception room where gold paint detail adorns the walls. It is filled with a collection of art and artefacts dating back to the 17th century – candelabras, screens and a fascinating brass chair with two lions as armrests and lions’ paws as its feet. There are photos of the Jaipur royals with world monarchs, including one with Charles and Diana, and one with Charles and Camilla. And then there is a room for taking tea, which is like stepping into a cave dripping with jewels. Every spare inch of the wall is decorated with mirrors, gold paint, and red and green glass. The 18th-century Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who built the palace, named it Shobha Niwas, meaning place of beauty. Hospitality in Jaipur goes a long way back. The city was once painted pink under orders of Maharaja Ram Singh, to impress Prince Albert and Queen Victoria on their visit in 1876. It was this love affair with the colour – the city has been home to peach and rose sandstone buildings for centuries – that earned Jaipur the nickname The Pink City. One such building is the Amber Fort, a magnificent fortress blending Rajput and Islamic Mughal architecture with perfectly manicured courtyard gardens. As we arrive at its restaurant 1135 AD, said to be Jaipur’s best and so named after the year the fort’s foundations were laid, we are each given a garland of marigolds to wear. In the private dining room, decorated with cut-glass candelabras and silver ornaments, we eat thali – a selection of traditional dishes from paneer and spinach to dal – with gold cutlery, sitting on silver chairs with red-velvet cushions. The itinerary also takes us to the Taj Mahal (every bit as beautiful up close as it is in pictures), staying in the spacious suites at Agra’s ITC Mughal, filled with wellnessInsight Vacations’ nine-night Luxury Gold focused treats such as ayurvedic Essence of India with Ranthambhore and spritzes promising (and Fascinating Mumbai trip costs from £3,450 per delivering) a tranquil sleep, and person based on two people sharing. It includes water-soaked almonds for a hair VIP private airport transfers, return international and skin boost. flights from London Heathrow, luxury fiveThe journey ends in star accommodation, sightseeing and Mumbai, with a stay overlooking signature experiences. the ocean at the beautiful Oberoi insightvacations.com, 0800 533 5625 hotel – and a little Kipling history. Although the bungalow where he was born has since been rebuilt and restored, the mint green cottage standing on the same spot at the Sir JJ School of Art remains a quiet monument to the author. A stone’s throw away is Crawford Market, where there stands a fountain designed by Lockwood Kipling – Rudyard’s father. It no longer runs with water, but the fountain is still vibrant with colour, depicting scenes of the Indian jungle – and that not-so-elusive tiger.
MORE INFORMATION
All images courtesy of: Insight Vacations
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The view from the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park
A bite of
THE APPLE One of the most wonderful times of year to visit the city that never sleeps is in spring, before the heat of the summer envelops it (and many more visitors); no other global tourist hotspot embraces holidays, shopping and seasonal overindulgence like New York. ANNABEL HARRISON reports
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It has to be done, given that the weather has finally turned a corner and the temperature is rising. Less than 24 hours after landing at JFK, I am jogging through Central Park, feeling as though I’m on a film set – after all, growing up in the UK, New York features continuously on our screens, small and large, and it’s certainly the most familiar to me of the world’s capital cities. This morning’s run is not quite as exciting for my husband, who has lived here before and circled the reservoir many times, but it’s only my second visit and I love it. I leave confident in the fact that NYC is an adult’s playground if you’re not working and we easily fill our time socialising with friends and exploring.
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Exercise (essential, given New Yorkers’ proclivity for eating out and eating well) comes in the form of walking, which I find is the best way to get to grips with somewhere. I love meandering through the downtown areas, from Tribeca and Soho up through the Greenwich and East Villages and the brilliant Meatpacking District (home to the urban garden that is the High Line). We also cycle around Central Park, joining the throngs of weekend dog-walkers, buggy-pushers, runners and roller-bladers, because our first home for the weekend is The Mark. Not only does it have bikes to lend but it also happens to be about 30 seconds from the park, in a prime location.
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into something equally indulgent and delicious” – followed by the raw tuna and wasabi pizza heaped with shreds of pickled ginger, and grilled black sea bass. Desserts are exceptional, “particularly the Grand Marnier soufflé and warm, melt-in-themiddle chocolate cake”. On a cool spring evening, we’re venturing out to do as the locals do, fuelled by the energy of the city (and a couple of cocktails), and we find ourselves at a table in Freemans in Soho, booked by our friends who live here. Working in advertising, they have a finger firmly on the pulse of the foodie scene. It’s a busy, buzzy hive dedicated to early American cuisine and pitched as “a rugged, clandestine, colonial American tavern”; imagine a chaotic, inviting melange of fairy lights, fireplaces, taxidermy, wall-mounted antlers and bookcases. One drink leads to another, and steak leads to sticky apple maple cake and espresso martinis. Suffice to say, I’m very grateful for Central Park’s proximity to The Mark in the
The Living Room at The Mark
Worked out and warmed up, we return to The Mark, which refers to itself as “New York’s most boldly lavish hotel”. I don’t know about lavish; I’d say decidedly and definitively stylish, with monochrome Art Deco flair, the chicest lobby I’ve seen in a while and a genial, we-don’t-take-ourselvestoo-seriously feel to it, which I appreciate in a five-star establishment. One email from the hotel paired a charming, tongue-in-cheek illustration with the words: “The internet is so fast, the painting was in my suite minutes after I put in my bid.” Our bedroom is gorgeous, far more spacious than I expected (I’d heard tales of space-strapped Manhattanites using their kitchen cupboards for shoes) and it’s the first hotel room I’ve stayed in all year that I’d actually like to transport home. Soft cream carpets, Art Deco silver accessories and the smartest cream leather and brown wood wardrobes are bettered only by the blissfully comfy bed and colossal bathtub, housed in a monochrome marble bathroom. I could have languished in my robe for hours had the bar downstairs (and a glass of chilled Champagne) not demanded my attention. In fact, the bar is the only place in the hotel that doesn’t champion understated chic. It’s bold and brash and brilliant, with cow-print seating, ’70s-style carpet and diamond-panelled, spotlight-studded walls and ceilings – perfect for a drink pre-supper. I didn’t dine at the restaurant run by Michelinstarred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten during this stay but a local friend did recently and reported great things. The menu is created with a view to bringing a light Asian feel to more standard French and American fare; my friend recommends the spiced chicken samosas and crispy sushi – “a deep-fried take on the Japanese dish that turned a rather healthy option
It’s the first hotel room I’ve stayed in all year that I’d actually like to transport home
The Penthouse Terrace at The Mark
Park Studio Bedroom at The Mark
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The Ritz-Carlton Battery Park
The Ritz-Carlton Battery Park
DO: MOMA* and the Met (the former for those who love modern art, the latter for those who don’t), the immersive ‘promenade’ performance that is Sleep No More at the McKittrick Hotel, and shows at the Comedy Cellar
EAT: Brunch at the Glasserie in Greenpoint (Brooklyn) or Miss Lily’s in Soho. Supper at Freeman’s or Fedora, or try Five Leaves in Williamsburg (Brooklyn)
DRINK: Randolph’s, The Lodge at Gallow Green, or The
morning; a brisk walk clears the head and we pack up, heading to Lower Manhattan for the second part of our stay. En route, I note that the Big Apple moniker seems ever more appropriate; the large, neon-white fruit shape is ubiquitous and the city is home to no fewer than six Apple stores. Arriving at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, we’re treated to an unimpeded view of the Grande Dame of NY, the statue of Liberty herself, and Jersey City on the US mainland. It’s testament to how much, and quickly, the city changes; when my husband lived here in 2007, Hoboken in Jersey was the place to go out but now tides have turned and it’s Williamsburg in Brooklyn on the opposite side that’s the happening area. The hotel itself is big, with a team of welcoming, efficient staff, and its location near Wall Street and the financial district means it’s very well suited to business travellers, as well as those looking for a respite from the hustle and bustle of the tourist-packed midtown areas. We unpack in our spacious room, complete with a panoramic view and telescope, and enjoy the most spectacular pinky-purple sunset; the sky burns as the water lights up and the details of the buildings are lost as they morph into blacked-out silhouettes. There’s no need to remain peckish or thirsty at any point during your stay. The Club Lounge on the 11th floor serves what the hotel refers to rather grandly as ‘Light Culinary Presentations’ – these are in fact simply breakfast, midday snacks, cocktails/hors d’oeuvres and desserts. We sip glasses of Champagne (me) and red wine (him) and chat over a game of Scrabble and canapés before heading out into the illuminated darkness to enjoy the best of the city’s night-time scene. We laugh until our stomachs ache at the Comedy Cellar and find an unassuming little restaurant, fairy-lit to within an inch of its life, in which we eat pizza, listen to jazz and reminisce about a wonderful New York long weekend.
Wythe hotel’s rooftop bar (Williamsburg) *All locations are in Manhattan unless otherwise specified
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The Mark, 77th Street at Madison Avenue, from $500 per night, themarkhotel.com The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park, from $395 per night, ritzcarlton.com/batterypark
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& DINING
DRINKING
BY CAMILLA APCAR
Images courtesy of: Gordon Ramsay Group
Small Wonder Leisurely lunchtimes during the week have sadly become a thing of the past for most, which is a shame considering the wealth of lunchtime offers available in London. Take the Maze Grill on Royal Hospital Road, for instance. One of three outposts from Gordon Ramsay’s outfit, the restaurant is primarily known for its steak, but it also serves up a daily Japanese ‘Kozara’ (small plates) menu. Offering three dishes for £15 or five dishes for £20 Monday to Friday, it is remarkably good value. Nearby Ramsay’s namesake flagship, where you can still spot suited businessmen colluding over bottles of wine, the atmosphere at the Grill couldn’t be more different. With its relaxed and intimate decor of leather banquettes and exposed brick walls, and refreshingly simple menu, it is the new local hotspot. All dishes are extremely tempting, but must-haves include the succulent chicken satay and the moreish pork belly steam buns. Depending on how hungry you are, I’d also highly recommend the crab steamed buns, which provide a nice, crispy texture to the otherwise gelatinous meal. The sushi is superb,
Cicchetti and Cocktails
the beautifully light spicy salmon maki rolls being some of the best I’ve tasted. One dish that left me slightly confused was the smashed miso aubergine. I don’t know whether head chef Owen Sullivan has inherited some of his boss’s rage-like tendencies, but it arrived battered within an inch of its life and served with weedy wonton crisps. Apart from this, however, the food was excellent. One thing that does slightly let it down is the staff. While our waitress tried her best to be obliging, she felt the need to explain every little point of the menu down to what a maki roll is which, considering we now live in a city with an Itsu on every corner, seemed a tad unnecessary. However, if you’re looking for great food at reasonable prices one laid-back lunch hour, then this is the place. Olivia Sharpe 79 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 gordonramsayrestaurants.com
From Abruzzo to Veneto, every day from noon until midnight, the King’s Road’s new addition Bar8 will serve a sip of each Italian region with 20 different wines by the glass. Its seasonal menu takes in homemade burrata with blood oranges, as well as fresh grilled octopus and salsa verde, and sea bass carpaccio; the bar’s eight cocktails are inspired by its vast collection of vermouth and amaro. Try the Tricolore, a sharp blend of micro basil gin, martini and pistachio or the Monalisa – Grey Goose La Poire with rhubarb, moscato wine and parmesan chips. 257 King’s Road, SW3, gastrovino.co.uk
Photography: Sonya Metzler
Dinner at Daphne’s Two years ago a fire tore through the kitchen of Daphne’s, resulting in a closure for several months. But what comes down, must go up – its doors reopened in June 2014 with a glamorous new look by Martin Brudnizki, and it has maintained its status as one of the most exceptional restaurants in Chelsea ever since. Perch on a stool at the pink marble-topped bar for a Half-Century Negroni, or take a seat in the conservatory to devour the seasonal set lunch menu (two courses for £21; three for £25) or an exquisite dinner (we recommend the crab linguine). Warm up by the roaring fire when it’s cold or indulge in rare English rays with the retractable roof in the summer. 112 Draycott Avenue, SW3, daphnes-restaurant.co.uk
Fresh Bait The Notting Gill Chippy has popped up again on Kensington Church Street. There’s traditional fish and chips with tartar sauce and mushy peas on the menu, but those angling for something new will fall hook, line and sinker for chef Tim Peirson’s mackerel sliders, salt and pepper squid, or smoked bacon and apple scotch eggs. Order at the old-style counter to eat in or take away in tabloid newspaper wrappings. Until 3 May, Kensington Place, 201 Kensington Church Street, W8, kensingtonplace-restaurant.co.uk
s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s
Photography: Toby Keane
Steak of the Decade Hawksmoor first appeared in the East End on the site of a once boardedup kebab shop in 2006, but it wasn’t long before they ventured west. Celebrate the steakhouse specialist’s tenth anniversary at the Knightsbridge branch, with a menu that honours the dishes, drinks and people that have defined their decade. Dishes include the short rib nuggets with kimchi ketchup that have been on the menu since it first opened, pork belly ribs from The Ginger Pig’s Richard Turner (Hawksmoor’s executive chef), and salted caramel dessert treats. Raise a toast of a dram with a specially-bottled Speyside 16-year old single cask malt. Hawksmoor Knightsbridge, 3 Yeoman’s Row, SW3, thehawksmoor.com
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Photography: David M Benett Courtesy of: Burberry
Mad about the Girl
Alexa Chung
Andréa Dellal & Elisa Sednaoui Dellal
Elisa Sednaoui Dellal
Hum Fleming
WHAT: Burberry and MyTheresa Dinner WHEN: 21 February WHERE: Thomas’s Café, 5 Vigo Street, W1S WHO: Elisa Sednaoui Dellal, Justin O’Shea, Alexa Chung, Daisy Lowe, Alice Dellal, Camille Charrière and Mimi Xu WHY: All eyes were on Elisa Sednaoui Dellal as the who’s who of the fashion crowd got together to celebrate her announcement as the next MyTheresa woman. In its latest campaign, Elisa models Burberry’s Function Regalia collection, so it’s only right that the fashion house also got involved in the event, with Thomas’s Café as the dinner’s setting.
Crafty Behaviour
Justin O’Shea & Elisa Sednaoui Dellal
Mimi Xu
Daisy Lowe, Martha Ward & Alexa Chung
Princess Elisabeth von Thurn und Taxis
Justin O’Shea & Alexa Chung
Photography: Poppy Hanbury Photography
Veronika Heilbrunner & Justin O’Shea
Sabine Getty & Elisa Sednaoui Dellal
WHAT: Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust Fundraiser WHEN: 25 February WHERE: V&A, Cromwell Road, SW7 WHO: Lady Kitty Spencer, Olivia Grant, Sir David Tang, HRH Princess Basma of Jordan and Sol Campbell WHY: Talent was in abundance as the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) held a fundraising dinner to support excellence in British craftsmanship. QEST scholars joined the evening’s host, Viscount Linley, and demonstrated their skills in everything from stonemasonry to stained glass-making. There was even craft in the cocktails as mixologists from Diageo created special tipples for the night’s guests, who enjoyed drinks before dashing off to the venue’s Raphael Gallery for a British feast. The live auction raised an amazing £80,000.
Handbags at Dusk WHAT: Ladies Winter Lunch in aid of Child Bereavement UK WHEN: 25 February WHERE: Bulgari Hotel, 171 Knightsbridge, SW7 WHO: Emily Candy, Lady Marsha George, Yasmin Le Bon, Lohralee Astor, Lulu Guiness and Astrid Harbord WHY: It was a girls-only invite as 117 of some of the city’s most notable women took to the Bulgari Hotel for a meal in aid of Child Bereavement UK. A lovely three-course lunch was put on, which included pan-seared sea bass and delectable pistachio macaroons. This was followed by a silent auction of designer handbags, which were generously donated by brands such as Mulberry, Stella McCartney and Gucci, raising a wonderful £30,000.
Gallery Gallivanting
Sophie Stanbury
Jasmine Guinness
WHAT: Serpentine Galleries and Harrods Future Contemporaries Party WHEN: 20 February WHERE: Serpentine Sackler Gallery, W2 WHO: Edie Campbell, Lily Donaldson, Quentin Jones, HRH Princess Eugenie of York and Alice Naylor-Leyland WHY: Creative types gathered together for a collaboration between the Serpentine and Harrods. The evening is held annually to raise funds for the gallery’s art, architecture and design programmes. There were delights for the ears and eyes as guests listened to musician Jack Peñate and gazed at a specially commissioned text installation by author Alexandra Kleeman. On the menu was rather indulgent buttermilk fried chicken by Kofler & Kompanie and liquid nitrogen ice cream courtesy of Whipsmiths.
LONDON LIVING Photography: Marcus Dawes
Anya Hindmarch
Gerry Farrell
Viscount Linley
Olivia Grant
Sabine Römer
Sol Campbell
Nick Crean
The V&A
Toby Young
Viscount Linley
Photography: ©Richard Young/Getty
Adwoah Aboah
Derek Blasberg & Edie Campbell
s l u x u ry london . c o. u k s
Gizzi Erskine & Bruce Langlands
Hans Ulrich-Obrist & Julia Peyton-Jones
Julia Peyton-Jones & Jason Broderick
Lady Kitty Spencer & Harrods Green Man
Lily Donaldson
Quentin Jones and George Northcott
Tigerlily Taylor
Alice Dellal
Violet Hudson & Alice Naylor Leyland
Lou Hayter
095
The Concierge What is it you require, sir? How may I help, madam? The Concierge is here to help with every need, whim or wish, however great or small Apparel
For the Home
Richard Ward
Medicare Français
Repairs & Cleaning
FurniturE, SOFT furnishings
82 Duke of York Square SW3 4LY 020 7730 1222 richardward.com
3 Harrington Gardens SW7 4JJ 020 7370 4999 medicare-francais.co.uk
Beauty Salons & Spas
Smile Style Dental Care
& APPLICANCES
Jeeves of Belgravia 123 Fulham Road, SW3 6RT 020 7589 9229 jeevesofbelgravia.co.uk
Hutch Interiors 61 Golborne Road, W10 5NR 020 3659 4320 hutchinteriors.com
Sloane Tailors & Dry Cleaners 69-71 Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8DA 020 7824 8644
Precious Pieces
The Chelsea Day Spa Katharine Pooley 160 Walton Street, SW3 2JL 020 7584 3223 katharinepooley.co.uk
69a King’s Road, SW3 4NX 020 7351 0911 thechelseadayspa.co.uk
146 Holland Park Avenue W11 4UE 020 7727 5810 smilestyledental.co.uk
42 The Dental Practice Hydrohealing Spa
42 Pembridge Road W11 3HN 020 7229 5542 42thedentalpractice.com
Jewellery Valuation & repair
Ligne Roset
Hawkes and Son
23/25 Mortimer Street, W1T 3JE 020 7323 1248 ligne-roset.co.uk
216a Kensington Park Rd W11 1NR 020 7727 2570 hydrohealing.com
April Russell Design
Strip Wax Bar
89 Larkhall Rise, SW4 6HR 020 7720 0046 aprilrussell.com
112 Talbot Road, W11 1JR 020 7727 2754 stripwaxbar.com
12 Raddington Road W10 5TG 020 8962 0635 portobelloclinic.com
Sub-Zero & Wolf
Urban Retreat at Harrods
Haute Cuisine
251 Brompton Rd, SW3 2EP 0845 250 0010 subzero-wolf.co.uk
87-135 Brompton Road SW1X 7XL 020 7893 8333 urbanretreat.co.uk
Dining
50-52 Walton Street, SW3 1RB 020 7589 2523 hawkesandson.com Watch Repair
The Portobello Clinic
Cartier 143-144 Sloane Street SW1X 9BL 020 7312 6930 cartier.co.uk
The Watch Gallery
Nina’s House
129 Fulham Road SW3 6RT 020 7952 2730 thewatchgallery.co.uk
281 King’s Road, SW3 5EW 020 7751 5827 ninashouse.com
Cadogan Street Dental Office
Pampering & Wellbeing
47 Cadogan Street SW3 2QJ 020 7581 0811
Vintage Watch Sellers
Medical & Dental Services
Hairdressers
Watches of Knightsbridge 64 Knightsbridge SW1X 7JF 020 7590 3034 watchesofknightsbridge.com
Bar Boulud Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA 020 7201 3899 barboulud.com
Bibendum 81 Fulham Road, SW3 6RD 020 7581 5817 bibendum.co.uk
Chelsea Consulting Rooms Hari’s 305 Brompton Road, SW3 2DY 020 7581 5211 harissalon.com
WANT TO SEE YOUR BUSINESS LISTED HERE? If you are interested in promoting a service on these useful pages, please contact Sophie Roberts for more information s.roberts@runwildgroup.co.uk 020 7987 4320
2 Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8BJ 020 7763 9100 chelseaconsultingrooms.com
The Cow 89 Westbourne Park Road, W2 5QH 020 7221 0021 thecowlondon.co.uk
CONCIERGE
Electric House 191 Portobello Road, W11 2ED 020 7908 9696 electrichouse.com
Gaucho 89 Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DX 020 7584 9901 gauchorestaurants.co.uk
The Ledbury Restaurant 127 Ledbury Road, W11 2AQ 020 7792 9090 theledbury.com
Chocolatiers
Melt Chocolates 59 Ledbury Road, W11 2AA 020 7727 5030 meltchocolates.com
Drinking
The Botanist 7 Sloane Square, SW1W 8EE 020 7730 0077 thebotanistlondon.com
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
Boujis
68 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HP 020 7352 4441 gordonramsay.com
43 Thurloe Street, SW7 2LQ 020 7584 2000 boujis.com
Scalini
Members’ Clubs
100 Cromwell Road SW7 4ER 020 7341 2320 umamilondon.co.uk Delicatessens
La Bottega 65 Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8DH 020 7730 8844 labottega.co.uk
Ottolenghi Delicatessen 63 Ledbury Road, W11 2AD 020 7727 1121 ottolenghi.co.uk
M.A. Dog Training and Services White Circle Collection 71 Walton Street, SW3 2HT 020 7989 9890 whitecirclecollection.com
William Curley 198 Ebury Street SW1W 8UN 020 7730 5522 williamcurley.co.uk
The Mitre
Umami
Chelsea Arts Club 143 Old Church Street SW3 6EB 020 7376 3311 chelseaartsclub.com
07547 716076 madogtraining@gmail.com madogtrainingandservices.co.uk moving services
Childcare
Abels Moving Services Kensington Nannies 3 Horton Place, Kensington High Street, W8 4LZ 020 7937 2333 kensington-nannies.co.uk
UK Residential, European and International Removals & Storage 01842 816600 info@abels.co.uk, abels.co.uk PICTURE FRAMER
cleaners
Frame Set & Match Hillside Clothes Care 118 Kensington Park Road W11 2PW 020 7243 6900 hillsidedryclean.co.uk
Infusion Haberdashery and Dry Cleaners 3 Chepstow Road W2 5BL 020 7243 8735 infusion-haberdashery.co.uk Pets
111 Old Brompton RoadSW7 3LE 020 7589 7635 framesetandmatch.com psychotherapist
Suzanne Thomas 07770 378791 suzannethomas@suzannethomas.co.uk suzannethomas.co.uk security services
Westminster Security Ltd 34 Buckingham Palace Road SW1W 0RH 020 7123 4544 / 0755 4000 300 westminstersecurity.co.uk
The Sloane Club
Purple Bone
Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8BS 020 7730 9131 sloaneclub.co.uk
95 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ 020 7985 0903 purplebone.com
Business Affairs
Flowers
Easy Rental Services
Nikki Tibbles Wild at Heart
aurelie@easy-rental-services.com 020 3567 0604 easy-rental-services.com
Little Luxuries
computer & technology help
Richard Darsa 78 Cadogan Place, SW1X 9RP 07768 200 551 richard@darsa.net
222 Westbourne Grove W11 2RH 020 7727 3095 wildatheart.com
Couriers
specialist services BUILDER
Partridges
Selena Courier Service
2-5 Duke of York Square SW3 4LY 020 7730 7102 partridges.co.uk
Suite 86, 235 Earls Court Road SW5 9FE 020 3643 5410 selenacourier.co.uk
s l u x u ry l ondon . co. u k s
dog training
london lifestyle service
40 Holland Park Avenue, W11 3QY 020 7727 6332 themitrew11.co.uk
1-3 Walton Street, SW3 2JD 020 7225 2301 scalinilondon.co.uk
lifestyle services
William Gaze Ltd Basement, Loft & Extension Specialist 020 7078 8874 williamgazeltd.com
SHORT-LET RENTAL MANAGEMENT
EMOTIONAL WELLBEING THROUGH WRITINg
Ease your emotional baggage through writing. Sit with a writer and, using a specially developed format, write out your traumatic event or problem to release it. To book 60 or 90 minute appointments email info@lilybass.com or call 07733 112333, lilybass.com
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HOME OF COMPASSION A CARING HOMES RESIDENCE
Luxury care home in beautiful Thames Ditton
What matters to you, matters to us Home of Compassion, the impressive Grade II* mansion in the heart of Thames Ditton, is re-opening as a luxury care home. We are dedicated to providing dignified and respectful residential, nursing and dementia care, from qualified professionals with facilities to rival those of a grand hotel. Residents will be able to live the life they wish in a very comfortable and prestigious setting.
Don’t just take our word for it, come and see for yourself, our marketing suite is now open for viewings.
0808 223 5003
www.homeofcompassion.co.uk enquiries@caringhomes.org High Street, Thames Ditton, KT7 0TT
HOMES showcasing the
finest HOMES & PROPERTY from the best estate agents
Vote of Confidence
How will the outcome of the EU referendum affect the London property market?
Image courtesy of
Open new doors Move with Savills
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
Guide £2.995 million
PONT STREET SW1 2 2 2
1,350 sq ft EPC=C
EARL’S COURT
Guide £2.25 million
SOUTH KENSINGTON
Guide £1.1 million
BOLTON GARDENS SW5 3 1 2
1,223 sq ft EPC=D
GLOUCESTER ROAD SW7 2 1 2
687 sq ft EPC=D
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Call us 7 days a week on 020 7877 4640 savills.co.uk
HOLLAND PARK
Guide £1.85 million
CHELSEA
Guide £2.495 million
ELSHAM ROAD W14 4 1 2
1,496 sq ft EPC=D
FRANKLINS ROW SW3 3 1 3
1,672 sq ft EPC=E
Guide £0.00 million
12:47
SOUTH KENSINGTON
Guide £1.91 million
CHELSEA
Guide £1.625 million
CRANLEY GARDENS SW7 2 1 2
1,120 sq ft EPC=D
WESTGATE TERRACE SW10 2 1 2
1,076 sq ft EPC=C
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Call us 7 days a week on 020 7877 4640 savills.co.uk
BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED WHITE STUCCO PERIOD FAMILY HOUSE
BRUNSWICK GARDENS W8 6 4 3
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3,606 sq ft EPC=D
Guide ÂŁ8.5 million
4 reception rooms | kitchen | 5 bedrooms | 5 bathrooms study/staff bedroom | utility room | sauna | wine vaults | paved garden
09/03/2016 12:36
6489
STUNNING SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE IN DESIRABLE LOCATION
NEEDHAM ROAD W11 5 3 3
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2,717 sq ft EPC=D
Guide £5.25 million
3 reception rooms | 5 bedrooms | 3 bathrooms | kitchen cloakroom | garden
09/03/2016 12:37
Call us 7 days a week on 020 7877 4640 savills.co.uk
BEAUTIFULLY PROPORTIONED NEWLY DEVELOPED FAMILY HOME WITH REAR GARDEN
PHILLIMORE TERRACE W8 4,756 sq ft 5 4 5 EPC=C
Guide £12.95 million
Reception room | family room | playroom | study | dining room | kitchen/breakfast room 4 bedroom suites | further bedroom | staff bedroom suite | loft | garden JSA – John D Wood | Matthew Harrop | mharrop@johndwood.co.uk
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WONDERFUL HOUSE IN THIS EVER-POPULAR STREET ADJACENT TO HOLLAND PARK
ILCHESTER PLACE W14 5 5 3
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4,126 sq ft EPC=E
Guide £13.95 million
Potential to significantly expand (STPP) | 5 reception rooms | kitchen 5 bedrooms | 4 bathrooms | swimming pool | utility room | garden
09/03/2016 12:33
Contact us on 020 7877 4640 or mews@savills.com savills.co.uk
NOTTING HILL
Guide £1.595 million
SOUTH KENSINGTON
Guide £1.975 million
VERNON YARD W11 1 2 2
897 sq ft EPC=B
DOVE MEWS SW5 3 1 2
962 sq ft EPC=E
KENSINGTON
Guide £2 million
SOUTH KENSINGTON
Guide £3.75 million
NAPIER PLACE W14 3 1 2
1,036 sq ft EPC=E
CORNWALL MEWS WEST SW7 2,055 sq ft 3 2 3 EPC=E
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BEAUTIFULLY FINISHED AND STYLISH MEWS HOUSE IN SOUTH KENSINGTON
REECE MEWS SW7 3 2 2
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1,790 sq ft EPC=C
Guide £3.65 million
Reception room | kitchen/breakfast room | master bedroom suite 2 further bedrooms | bathroom | guest cloakroom | terrace | garage
02/03/2016 10:56
Call us 7 days a week on 020 7877 4640 savills.co.uk
KENSINGTON
£1,250 pw + fees apply*
NOTTING HILL
£1,000 pw + fees apply*
WARWICK GARDENS W14 3 1 3
1,717 sq ft EPC=C
VERNON YARD W11 1 2 2
897 sq ft EPC=B
CHELSEA
£700 pw + fees apply*
KENSINGTON
£2,250 pw + fees apply*
BOLTON STUDIOS SW10 1 1 1
618 sq ft EPC=C
TASKER LODGE W8 3 1 3
1,615 sq ft EPC=C
* Fees to include drawing up the tenancy agreements and reference change for one tenant – £282 inc VAT one-off fee. £36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependant on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details visit savills.co.uk/fees
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BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR DESIGNED APARTMENT
KENSINGTON HIGH ST W8 3 1 3
2,064 sq ft EPC=B
£5,500 pw + fees apply* 2 bedroom suites | entrance hall | open plan reception room/kitchen balcony | pool | lift | concierge
AN IMPRESSIVE FIRST FLOOR APARTMENT
PONT STREET SW1X 3 1 3
2,215 sq ft EPC=G
£3,950 pw + fees apply* 3 double bedroom suites | entrance hall | reception room kitchen/breakfast room | balcony | air conditioning | underfloor heating | lift
* Fees to include drawing up the tenancy agreements and reference change for one tenant – £282 inc VAT one-off fee. £36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependant on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details visit savills.co.uk/fees
17:59
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Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
Lennox Gardens, SW1X
£975 per week, Furnished charges apply)*
Situated in one of the areas most sought after garden squares, this beautiful raised ground floor apartment has been finished to exacting detail. EPC: D
• • • • • •
Hamptons Knightsbridge Office Lettings. 020 7584 2014 | Sales. 020 7717 5461
One Bedroom High ceilings Hardwood floors Open fireplace Contemporary styling Communal gardens
*Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges
Malvern Court, Onslow Square SW7
£1,200 per week
A three bedroom apartment near South Kensington Tube Station. Which benefits from an
•
abundance of natural light and a superb finish throughout. EPC: C
• • •
*Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges
Hamptons Chelsea Office Sales. 020 7717 5431 | Lettings. 0207 3700 774
• •
(charges apply)*
Three Bedrooms Walk-in Wardrobe to Master Bedroom Two Bathrooms Concierge Lift Unfurnished
Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
Elsham Road, W14 £380 per week* Furnished A bright one bedroom apartment on the first floor of a period conversion. EPC:D
Kensington Green, W8 £575 per week* Furnished A one bedroom apartment in a popular and centrally located Development with 24 hour concierge and secure parking. EPC:C
Hornton Street, W8 £550 per week* Furnished A beautiful and spacious one bedroom first floor flat in the heart of Kensington. EPC:C
‘Small is beautiful’ according to our potential tenants. Hamptons International has built its reputation on being ‘all things to all people’, bringing properties of all shapes and sizes and prices to the market. Right now we are in great need of properties to let at the mid to lower end of the market for the large number of potential tenants who have registered for 1 and 2 bedroom flats in your area. This increased demand now presents an excellent opportunity to let. If you would like to find out about the comprehensive service we offer, please give us a call.
hamptons.co.uk
Dukes Lane, W8 £775 per week* Furnished A bright and modern two double bedroom apartment, ideally located moments from Kensington Church Street. EPC:D
Hamptons Kensington Office Sales. 020 7717 5461 | Lettings. 020 7717 5459
Warren House, W14 £650 per week* Furnished A spacious two bedroom two bathroom apartment on the 4th floor (with lift) of this secure development. EPC:B
Iverna Gardens, W8 £950 per week* Furnished A superb two bed, two bath modern apartment with wooden floors and secure parking in central Kensington. EPC:B
PROPERTY
A World of Its Own Laurence Lai, partner and office head at Knight Frank South Kensington, admires the cosmopolitan atmosphere of this flourishing prime central patch If you listen to the scaremongers out there, you would be forgiven for thinking that the property market is crashing around us. The Chinese economy has stalled, stamp duty is about to increase again, Britain may or may not leave the European Union, and Donald Trump could well be the next US president – and I don’t deny that all of these are contributing factors to the London property market in one way or another. Nowhere is recession-proof and different areas of London will fluctuate at different times. We are fortunate to have a diverse cross-section of buyers and sellers in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea – both domestic and overseas – and must not lose sight that the South Kensington property market has experienced excellent growth since 2011, and on many occasions, this growth has outperformed other areas in the capital. According to LonRes data, some parts of South Kensington have seen a rise of 45 per cent over the past five years. There is no mistaking South Kensington for any other part of prime central London. We have many prestigious museums, a world-renowned university, excellent schools, wide leafy streets, pretty garden squares, excellent transport links and an abundance of period architecture. In short it is a great place to live and, whatever happens to the property market, is a very desirable location with a strong European influence and cosmopolitan feel. You merely have to walk along the Old Brompton Road towards South Kensington tube station (on the District and Circle lines), and are more than likely to hear at least three different languages being spoken. If you haven’t considered living here yet, come and see us, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed...
19 Gledhow Gardens, £4,750,000
44 Onslow Gardens, £4,250,000
157 Gloucester Road, SW7, 020 3773 5954, knightfrank.com
Queen’s Gate Place, £6,500,000
s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s
113
Abbots House, Kensington W8 A stunning penthouse apartment with parking and private pool This newly developed four bedroom duplex apartment is arranged over the top two floors of Abbots House. With extensive entertaining space, panoramic views and indoor swimming pool, this rare property is the ultimate penthouse. 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, study, utility room, swimming pool, 2 terraces. EPC: D. Approximately 57 sq m (7,072 sq ft). Leasehold: approximately 998 years
Guide price: £13,950,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/kensington kens@knightfrank.com 020 3551 5156 savills.co.uk kensington@savills.com 020 7535 3300
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/KEN150192
K&C Mag - Abbots House
08/03/2016 10:24:32
LG
:32
Chepstow Crescent, Notting Hill W11 Charming two bedroom flat with a garden A beautiful flat with great entertaining space situated in an impressive detached white stucco fronted period building and set in arguably one of the most desirable locations in Notting Hill. 2 bedrooms, bathroom, reception room, kitchen, dining room, garden. EPC: E. Approximately 74 sq m (795 sq ft). Leasehold: approximately 92 years remaining
Guide price: £1,200,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5449
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/NGH160030
LGF 14 Chepstow Crescent K&C April 2016
04/03/2016 17:06:06
EXCEPTIONAL LOCATIONS We pride ourselves on exceptional service and unrivalled market knowledge, with a global network of 417 offices across 58 countries that can showcase your property to the widest possible audience. If you are considering selling your property please contact us on 020 3641 5913. KnightFrank.co.uk/knightsbridge knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5913 Guide price: £3,950,000
Cadogan Gardens, Knightsbridge SW3 An elegant south-facing raised ground floor flat close to Sloane Square. 4 bedrooms (2 en suite), bathroom, impressive interconnecting reception and dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, basement store room, resident caretaker. EPC: C. Approximately 176 sq m (1,900 sq ft). knightsbridge@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 5913
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £5,750,000
Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge SW1 A wonderful upper maisonette on a highly regarded garden square. 4 bedrooms (1 en suite), bathroom, reception room, dining room, kitchen, roof terrace, lift, resident caretaker, access to communal garden. EPC: E. Approximately 196 sq m (2,110 sq ft). knightsbridge@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 5913
Kensington & Chelsea April 2016 - Cadogan Gardens 87/ Cadogan Sq 34H
08/03/2016 09:49:41
K&
:41
Milner Street, Knightsbridge SW3 Elegant three bedroom flat by Helen Green Design Situated in an elegant town house, with contemporary interiors designed by the award winning Helen Green Design, this apartment benefits from a sunny southerly aspect. Master bedroom with dressing room, 2 further bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large reception room, custom built kitchen, Miele appliances, utility room, hardwood floors, air conditioning, underfloor heating. EPC: F. Approximately 176 sq m (1,897 sq ft). Available furnished
KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings knightsbridgelettings@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6019
Guide price: £2,750 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/KNQ234244 All potential tenants should be advised that as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
K&C April 2016
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
08/03/2016 17:23:03
Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill W2 Family house with off street parking and direct access to communal gardens Set over four floors, this bright house features a large kitchen/breakfast room on the lower ground floor with private garden. Accommodation comprises 4/5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2/3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, utility/shower room, cloakroom, terrace, patio garden, direct access to communal gardens and off street parking. EPC: E. Approximately 250 sq m (2,691 sq ft). Available unfurnished Guide price: £ 4,350 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/NHQ127730 All potential tenants should be advised that as well as rent, and administration fee of £276 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
K&C March 2016 - Blenheim Cr
KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghilllettings@knightfrank.com 020 3551 9610
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
08/03/2016 11:41:19
PROPERTY
Sense and Sensibility Knight Frank’s Notting Hill office has spring in its step, and finds the market beginning to bloom once again This year has started off positively and spring is in the air. “It is fair to say that it has taken a good 12 months for the first real signs that buyers and sellers have begun to absorb the stamp duty changes announced in December 2014. Although transaction levels in prime central London are down, we are starting to see an increase in both supply and demand, and a market returning,” Caroline Foord comments Caroline Foord, partner of Knight Frank’s Notting Hill office. A degree of pent-up demand is being released as buyers become increasingly motivated after months of inaction, although hampered by a lack of good quality stock in some markets. Recovering demand has translated into a rise in viewing levels, which are higher than this time last year. “Since the New Year we have transacted on a really encouraging number of properties across the spectrum, ranging from a flat on Pembridge Crescent that was listed off-market, various houses on Portland Road, Kensington Park Road, and a significant family house on Clarendon Road,” says Foord. Sensible pricing remains key to a successful sale. “It is all about sanity and not vanity.” In uncertain and more challenging markets there is without question a “flight to quality, and that is where we really shine at Knight Frank,” comments Foord. “Our deeply rooted heritage, experience, extraordinary track record, passion and ability to source buyers is second to none.” As we move through spring and into the summer months, there will undoubtedly be much political rhetoric leading up to the EU referendum
Kensington Park Road, W11, £3,850,000
and the mayoral election. However, London remains a world-class city, and property has historically outperformed many other asset classes – and with its breath-taking communal gardens, luxury retailers, top-tier restaurants and village charm, Notting Hill remains one of the most desirable places to live in central London. Knight Frank Notting Hill, 294 & 298 Westbourne Grove, W11, knightfrank.co.uk, 020 7229 0229, @KFNotting_Hill
Portland Road, W11, £2,400,000
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A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON...
STANHOPE GARDENS, SW7 ÂŁ3,750,000 Share of Freehold A wonderfully balanced three bedroom maisonette arranged over the entire ground and lower ground floors of this well maintained mid terrace period conversion. This charming flat is presented in good order throughout and extends to an impressive 2084sq/ft (194sq/m) of well-proportioned and arranged accommodation that would ideally suit the needs of a family. Entrance hall | double reception room | kitchen/breakfast room | guest w.c | master bedroom suite with a dressing room and bathroom | two further double bedrooms | en-suite bathroom | shower room | utility room | private garden | terrace | access to communal gardens | Council Tax Band H
SOUTH KENSINGTON | 020 7373 5052 southkensington@winkworth.co.uk
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QUEEN’S GATE GARDENS, SW7 £825 Per Week £3,575 Per Month A simply stunning first floor flat that has been completely refurbished to the highest of standards.
1-2 Bedrooms | 1 Reception Room | 2 Bathrooms | First Floor Period Flat | Balcony | Communal Garden Access | 866 Approx Sq Ft | Any Furnishing | Band G
SOUTH KENSINGTON | 020 7370 6767 lettings.southken@winkworth.co.uk
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OFFICES IN LONDON, THE COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS. SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY
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MELBURY COURT, LONDON, W8 ÂŁ4,750,000 LEASEHOLD An exceptional lateral five bedroom apartment (2700 sq ft/250 sq m) situated on the top floor (with lift) of this prestigious portered block with secure parking. This beautiful fifth floor apartment has long views over the roof tops of Kensington and excellent entertaining space with two large interconnecting reception rooms, a well-equipped kitchen/dining room and study. The five double bedrooms have ample wardrobe space. There is also a large storage room in the basement.
Entrance Hall | Two Reception Rooms | Study | Kitchen/Dining Room | Five Bedrooms | Two Bathrooms | Cloakroom | 24 Hour Porterage | Separate Storage | Parking | EPC: E
KENSINGTON | 020 7727 1500 kensington@winkworth.co.uk
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ABINGDON VILLAS, LONDON, W8
ÂŁ3,500,000 FREEHOLD
An attractive and beautifully presented four bedroom Victorian terraced house with attractive rear garden. This bright property has excellent entertaining space with a double reception room on the raised ground floor and a large kitchen/dining/living room which leads directly onto the pretty rear garden. The four double bedrooms, bathroom and shower room are situated on the upper floors. There is also a study, guest WC/utility room and storage vaults.
Entrance Hall | Double Reception Room | Kitchen/Dining Room/Living Room | Study | Four Double Bedrooms | Bathroom | Shower Room | Guest WC/Utility Room | Storage Vaults | Large Garden | EPC: D
KENSINGTON | 020 7727 1500 kensington@winkworth.co.uk
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DURHAM TERRACE, W2 ÂŁ1,475,000 LEASEHOLD A stunning, contemporary two bedroom two bathroom apartment, the results of a well thought through refurbishment programme, providing extensive and exceptionally well arranged open living space, flooded with light throughout in this pretty, peaceful spot.
Maisonette | 2 Bedrooms | 1 Reception Room | 2 Bathrooms | 999 sq ft | Balcony
NOTTING HILL | 020 7727 3227 nottinghill@winkworth.co.uk
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VERNON YARD, W11 ÂŁ1,595,000 FREEHOLD A fabulous and unique, three storey, one bedroom mews house, refurbished to an exceptional standard in this attractive, cobbled mews off Portobello Road, in the heart of Notting Hill.
Mews House | Freehold | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bathrooms | 2 Reception Rooms
NOTTING HILL | 020 7727 3227 nottinghill@winkworth.co.uk
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ENNISMORE GARDENS, SW7 £1,999,500 STC Having been comprehensively refurbished, to include bespoke joinery and high quality fixtures and fittings throughout, this superb second floor conversion flat occupies a quiet position in one of Knightsbridge’s premium garden squares. One Bedroom | One Reception Room | One Bathroom | Period Flat | Second Floor | Communal Gardens | Resident Parking | Service Charge £1000 pa | 786 Approx Sq ft
RUTLAND GATE, SW7 £1,850,000 STC With wooden floors throughout and a sense of light and space, this recently refurbished property is situated on the East side of this quiet garden square, with attractive West-facing views over the communal gardens. One Bedroom | One Reception Room | One Bathroom | Period Flat | First Floor | Balcony | Service Charge £4,200 pa | 723 Approx Sq ft
KNIGHTSBRIDGE | 020 7589 6616 knightsbridge@winkworth.co.uk
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CHESTER STREET, SW1X £3,950 PER WEEK A grand six bedroom town house in the heart of Belgravia. Finished to a high standard throughout and offering bright, spacious accommodation and the benefit of a patio garden and a roof terrace. 6 Bedrooms | 4 Reception Rooms | 5 Bathrooms | Period House | Patio | Roof Terrace | Resident Parking | 3280 Approx Sq ft | EPC rating: E
FIRST STREET, SW3 £2,750 PER WEEK A recently refurbished three bedroom Chelsea house with large eat-in kitchen and patio garden. The house is situated in a sought after residential street between South Kensington and Sloane Square. 4 Bedrooms | 2 Reception Rooms | 2 Bathrooms | Period Terrace House | Patio | Roof Terrace | Balcony | Resident Parking | 1710 Approx Sq ft | EPC rating: E
KNIGHTSBRIDGE | 020 7589 6616 knightsbridge@winkworth.co.uk
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OFFICES IN LONDON, THE COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS. SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY
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SSIBLE We don’t want to be part of the pack.
Why should selling or buying a property be formulaic or even torture? We’re not different for difference sake. We do business differently to get great results which is why we’re statistically so effective at selling and buying in our particular patch. Give us a call today and find out how.
020 7221 1117 www.crayson.com
10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH
Holland Park Avenue Notting Hill W11 House for great parties, inside and out. Home to work, rest and play... A charming house at the centre of the Notting Hill universe, yet in a world of its own.
020 7221 1117 www.crayson.com
10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH
Double reception room Kitchen/dining room Master bedroom suite One further bedroom One further en-suite bathroom Bedroom/office/playroom Cloakroom Utility room Front and back gardens 2,390 sq ft/ 222 sq m Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea EPC rating band F Sole Agent Freehold Guide Price ÂŁ4.25 million
Durham Terrace Notting Hill W2 Top floor flat for slightly smarter people – posh address, lift, you know the deal... Kitchen/dining/reception room, two bedrooms, two en-suite bathrooms, terrace, lift , EPC rating band D Share of Freehold, City of Westminster, 1,022 sq ft/ 95 sq m Guide Price £1,599,950 million
020 7221 1117 www.crayson.com
10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH
Ledbury Road Notting Hill W11 Two beds, two baths over two floors, extremely des res and well under two million... Kitchen/dining/reception room, two bedrooms, two en-suite bathrooms, EPC rating band D Share of Freehold, City of Westminster, 924 sq ft/ 85.84 sq m Guide Price ÂŁ1,599,950 million
020 7221 1117 www.crayson.com
10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH
Grand Designs HANNAH LEMON meets Simon Lindesay-Bethune, managing director of John Wilcox & Co, and British interior designer Nicky Haslam, to discuss South Kensington’s property market
Photography by: Sarel Jansen
AS A JOURNALIST I have been lucky to glimpse extraordinary properties renovated by some of the best professionals in the industry. But none has impressed me more than the one I am standing in today. Nicky Haslam’s home is something else. The British interior designer has spent the past 20 years near Cromwell Road but he has only been in this apartment for the past three. He broke through one of the two bedrooms to form a bright and light high-ceilinged sitting and dining area and transformed the small galley kitchen, bedroom and bathroom into an ideal luxury bachelor pad. And Nicky has not held back with his colourful creativity; the hallway is lined with bamboo wallpaper, the dining room is a plush, dark teal, while the bedroom has stars in the ceiling (in the shape of Nicky’s star sign) and a carpet of emerald Astroturf. These wonderfully wacky walls are laden with pictures of (and by) the rich and famous: Cecil Beaton, Lucian Freud, Andy
PROPERTY
Warhol. There is even a giant photograph of a portrait of Nicky by James Ostrer in the style of Lucian Freud that was once on show at the National Portrait Gallery. “I quite like that photograph,” Nicky says. “I have hung pictures of myself only because nobody else wants them!” It sits next to a gloriously grand fireplace, decked out in an unusual brown marble. What was the inspiration behind the flamboyant decoration? “It’s like you have rooms telling you what to do,” Nicky replies. “Each time I design, I listen to the walls and they tell me things. It’s more than me just saying, ‘I want it all to be like this’. You have to listen to the bones. I didn’t want to over design this; it’s really actually quite thrown together.” Simon Lindesay-Bethune, managing director of John Wilcox & Co, understands the value of dressing a property and the invaluable effect this has on first impressions. “Presentation is terribly important especially when
s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s
markets get tight,” he says. “Everyone who has seen the flat so far has been blown away. They come in and gasp at it and why wouldn’t they? The fact that it has been designed by Nicky Haslam and that it is his property, only increases the attraction.” Simon is working with Nicky to sell the property in a rather unconventional way. “The mechanism is known as a sale and leaseback. Nicky doesn’t move out after the sale takes place, but instead he rents the flat from the new owner.” Simon explains that he has sold several properties using this method, and two of those previous clients recommended Nicky to see him. The designer hadn’t originally thought about selling, “but,” explains Nicky, “when I heard about this idea, I thought it was so attractive.” “After they buy the flat, Nicky has a lease from them for 25 years and the new owners can either charge him a market rent,” continues Simon, “or pay a discounted price, in which case Nicky doesn’t have to pay any rent at all.” The obvious appeal for Nicky is that he gets immediate equity without having to move (the property is available at £1.3 million with 963 years on the lease) and the owner has a substantial investment to add to their portfolio without the inconvenience of having to find a tenant. If Nicky ever decides to move out, the new owners can sell it on the open market with vacant possession and with an uplift in the price. The area provides another key selling point. “The further you head towards South Kensington and Chelsea, the more stock there is,” says Simon. “Although there are plenty of families living around South Kensington and Chelsea, there are also a considerable amount of people with shallower roots who tend to move more frequently.” There is also endless renovation in the area. “It used to be bed-sit land when I was young,” agrees Nicky. “It’s the most convenient place in London to live without any question. I love this area.” “It’s difficult not to,” nods Simon, “John Wilcox & Co has been part of the local landscape for more than 30 years and it has huge appeal across all sectors of the market.” Who does Simon expect to show interest in the property? “Either institutional or private investors,” he replies. “If an investor wants to buy at full market price and receive a full market rent, it is open to anyone, but if they want to buy at the discounted price with the zero rent, they would probably have to be registered with the Financial Services Authority.” With the stamp duty increase in April, it is likely to appeal to professional investors, but what are Simon’s predictions after that? “The EU Referendum is going to be an issue, and values are likely to remain fairly flat, certainly across central London. But there will always be demand. We have more multi-millionaires in London than any other city in the world and we are third on the billionaires list. We have a stable government and transparent politics, judiciary and police. We are the centre of the world for finance, time and language and we offer the most phenomenal work/life balance and a fantastic infrastructure.” This is part of the reason why John Wilcox & Co have recently acquired two houses for clients for more than £15 million each. “Our overwhelming message is: ‘Why wouldn’t you want to come and live or invest in London? It’s about as good as it gets.” johnwilcox.co.uk
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MELBURY ROAD, HOLLAND PARK, W14
To Let – £775 per week (Unfurnished)
Presented in excellent condition throughout with newly fitted carpets, a first floor flat in this beautiful red brick building, moments from the gates of Holland Park and the amenities at Kensington High Street. The property consists of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a very large reception room and fully fitted kitchen. The building benefits from a lovely communal garden and parking on a first come, first served basis.
TAVERNER’S CLOSE, ADDISON AVENUE, W11 To Let - £1,150 per week (Unfurnished) A charming house within a small gated development just off Addison Avenue. The spacious and well presented accommodation comprises very large reception room, with opening to fitted kitchen, 4 bedrooms, 2 modern bathrooms and utility area. The house also benefits from an off street parking space. Addison Avenue is within a few minutes walk from the first class amenities at Holland Park Avenue.
HOLLAND PARK, LONDON, W11
To Let - ÂŁ425 per week (Unfurnished)
A stunning and bright one bedroom flat situated on the first floor of a double fronted villa in Holland Park. The accommodation comprises spacious open plan reception room with modern fitted kitchen off, double bedroom with built in wardrobes, contemporary style bathroom with shower over, fitted carpets and access to a delightful communal garden. Very close to Holland Park and the first class shopping and transport facilities.
VERNON YARD, NOTTING HILL, W11
To Let - ÂŁ850 per week (Unfurnished)
Boasting a private decked roof terrace and stunning kitchen, this two bedroom house in a sought after mews located just off the internationally renowned Portobello Road. The spacious accommodation is split over three floors and comprises reception room, modern kitchen and dining room, 2 bedrooms, office space, 3 bathrooms. Ideal for entertaining.
ABBOTSBURY ROAD, HOLLAND PARK, W14
Freehold for Sale – Price on Application
An architect designed house redeveloped to a high standard. A fantastic four or five bedroom family house of approx.. 2,459 sq.ft. with three reception rooms a 58ft west facing garden and off street parking for up to four cars. The house was completely re-designed and extensively refurbished within the last two years and now benefits from a new lower ground floor.
HOLLAND PARK AVENUE, LONDON, W11
Leasehold for Sale - ÂŁ850,000
A delightful second floor flat in this handsome Grade II* Listed building. The flat extends to 632 sq.ft. and offers spacious living accommodation. The bedroom to the rear of the property is wonderfully light and has views over the neighbouring gardens. Holland Park Avenue benefits from first class shopping and transport facilities and the Westfield complex is within a few minutes walk.
CLARENDON ROAD, HOLLAND PARK, W11
Freehold for Sale - £5,500,000
A comprehensively refurbished and very bright semi-detached family home with lovely views to the rear over the private 43 ft garden. The house has real character is stucco fronted and Grade II Listed. It offers excellent family living with a flexible arrangement. Approx 2,736 sq.ft., the accommodation comprises double drawing room, reception room, kitchen with wine store, conservatory, 4 double bedrooms, bathroom, 2 shower rooms, 2 cloakrooms.
ADDISON AVENUE, HOLLAND PARK, W11
Freehold for Sale - £5,250,000
A wonderfully wide, unmodernised and unlisted family house with masses of potential in this most sought after Holland Park address. The property has enormous character and charm, is low built and boasts a 67’ west facing rear garden. At present the house comprises 3,178 sq.ft. Drawing room with door to terrace overlooking the garden, study, reception room, dining room, kitchen, utility, 3 bedrooms, bathroom, shower room, loft and storage area.
A A perfect perfect example example of of aa late late 70s 70s build build with with original original features features throughout throughout Matching people and property in London for 160 years.
Ladbroke Gardens W11 £2,850,000 A wonderfully positioned three-bedroom property, set in the heart of Notting Hill. Freehold. EPC=D Notting Hill Sales: 020 7313 2890 sales.not@marshandparsons.co.uk
Westbourne Westbourne Gardens Gardens W2 W2 £2,495,000 £2,495,000 AAsubstantial substantialthree-bedroom, three-bedroom,double-fronted double-frontedVictorian VictorianVilla, Villa,ideally ideallypositioned positionedjust justnorth northof ofWestbourne WestbourneGrove. Grove.EPC=D EPC=D Notting Hill Sales: 020 7313 2890 sales.not@marshandparsons.co.uk
Earls Earls EarlsCourt Court CourtSquare Square SquareSW5 SW5 SW5£1,850,000 £1,850,000 £1,850,000 AA stylish Astylish stylish and and and spacious spacious spacious two-bedroom two-bedroom two-bedroom apartment apartment apartment within within within anan an imposing imposing imposing Victorian Victorian Victorian conversion. conversion. conversion. Share Share Share ofof Freehold. ofFreehold. Freehold. EPC=D EPC=D EPC=D Earls Court Sales: 020 7835 0620 sales.ect@marshandparsons.co.uk Earls Earls Court Court Sales: Sales: 020 020 7835 7835 0620 0620 sales.ect@marshandparsons.co.uk sales.ect@marshandparsons.co.uk
Grenville Grenville GrenvillePlace Place PlaceSW7 SW7 SW7£1,795,000 £1,795,000 £1,795,000 AnAn An immaculately immaculately immaculately presented presented presented two-bedroom two-bedroom two-bedroom period period period property, property, property, located located located in in prime inprime prime South South South Kensington. Kensington. Kensington. Share Share Share ofof Freehold. ofFreehold. Freehold. EPC=D EPC=D EPC=D South South Kensington Kensington Sales: Sales: 020 020 7590 7590 0800 0800 sales.skn@marshandparsons.co.uk sales.skn@marshandparsons.co.uk
DD
Colingham Place SW5 £1,650,000 A grand two-bedroom property, set within a stunning Victorian stucco building in the heart of Earls Court. EPC=C Earls Court Sales: 020 7835 0620 sales.ect@marshandparsons.co.uk
Queen’s Queen’s Gate Gate SW7 SW7 £1,395,000 £1,395,000 AAstunning stunningone-bedroom one-bedroomapartment, apartment,presented presentedin inexcellent excellentcondition conditionthroughout. throughout.Share Shareof ofFreehold. Freehold.EPC=C EPC=C South Kensington Sales: 020 7590 0800 sales.skn@marshandparsons.co.uk
Completely at home in West London.
Our services Sales and Lettings Land and New Homes Block and Estate Management Property Solicitors Chartered Surveyors Financial Services Visit kfh.co.uk
With over 35 years’ experience and more than 50 branches across the Capital, our local knowledge and London network will ensure we achieve the right result for you. Local branches include • Fulham • Fulham and Chelsea • Holland Park • South Kensington
04 April 16 Brand adverts.indd 1
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Ellerby Street, Fulham, SW6 OIEO £3,000,000 Fulham 020 3486 2280 fulhamroad.sales@kfh.co.uk
04.16 KFH Runwild Kensington and Chelsea.indd 2
Offering a wealth of period features is this handsome semi detached family home arranged over four floors. Along with five bedrooms, this home boasts a basement utility room, fitted kitchen, conservatory and a large, private garden. Located on one of the most popular roads in Fulham, moments from Bishops Park and the River Thames, this property is within walking distance of Putney Bridge underground station.
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Five double bedrooms Three bathrooms Fitted kitchen Separate dining room Basement utility room 51 ft south facing garden Freehold EPC rating E
08/03/2016 15:23
Oakwood Court, Holland Park, W14 £4,000,000 Holland Park 020 3542 2111 hollandpark.sales@kfh.co.uk
04.16 KFH Runwild Kensington and Chelsea.indd 3
A magnificent four bedroom lateral apartment with elegant interiors, providing an exceptional 35ft reception room, high ceilings and lift access. Oakwood Court is a prestigious Edwardian mansion building with beautiful communal gardens and a 24 hour porter service. This property is situated conveniently for a number of excellent independent schools and a great selection of shops and restaurants in both Holland Park and Kensington High Street.
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Four double bedrooms Three modern bathrooms High ceilings Large windows Lift access 24 hour porter and security Leasehold EPC rating D
08/03/2016 15:23
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Clarendon Road, Holland Park, W11 £1,950 pw / £8,450 pcm Holland Park 020 3542 2120 hollandpark.lettings@kfh.co.uk
04.16 KFH Runwild Kensington and Chelsea.indd 4
A beautifully refurbished duplex apartment, arranged over the lower and raised ground floors of an attractive building. The lower ground floor comprises the master suite, two further double bedrooms, family bathroom and a study room with doors that lead out to the landscaped garden. The raised ground floor offers a fully fitted kitchen, separate dining area and a large reception room with access to a large private terrace.
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Three bedrooms Two bathrooms and separate WC Great entertaining space Terrace Landscaped garden Close to Holland Park underground station Furnished EPC rating E
£210 tenancy agreement fee per property. Other fees apply, visit kfh.co.uk/lettingsfees
08/03/2016 15:24
Savoir faire Je ne sais quoi At 1st Asset we give our clients the luxury of time. Time spent with one of the experienced and highly knowledgable members of our team. Ensuring that their precise requirements and expectations are met. Every time. Get the level of service your most important asset deserves.
If you are looking to buy, sell or rent a property, please get in touch T 020 7014 3800 www.1stasset.co.uk
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E 3 G| T£O 2N .3m SC OH U ET LHS SW6 KA E NSS|WILEASEHOLD N S W£1,479,000 7 | £3.595m FULHAM This stunning three bedroom split-level apartment is situated over the top two floors of an elegant Victorian ‘Lion house’. The property is in fantastic condition throughout and boasts a large reception room with south facing balcony.
This Thisbright newlythree refurbished bedroom twoapartment bedroom on apartment the fourthinfloor Prime has Knightsbridge spectacular Quietly on one of Fulham’sand mostGardens attractive and to desirable views haslocated high over ceilings Stanhope access and streets. The apartment is just a stone’s throw from Fulham Broadway, Imperial two stunning secure communal car parking Wharf, Chelsea Harbour, Parsons Greengardens. andspaces. the King’s Road.
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•• •3 Grand bathrooms Modernhigh fittedceilings kitchen / diner Approx ground 1300 sq/ftfloor •• •2 Raised interconnecting receptions rooms
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South lease facing Stanhope balcony •• •Overlooking Long Gardens •
5 minutes walk from Chelsea
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Close to 22 & 11 bus routes, tube, river
• •Lift Recently access refurbished
• •24Newly hour porter refurbished common parts boat and overground
• •2 Access secure underground to communal parking gardensspaces •
Fantastic local bars, restaurants, parks
• •Purpose Classical built redbrick block building behind period façade and schools • •Use Central of communal Knightsbridge gardens location
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Leasehold (approx 125 years from 2014) Service Charge to be advised
Address Address
FIRST_ASSET_A4_STANHOPE.indd FIRST_ASSET_A4_EDGERTON.indd 1 1
1st1st Asset Asset Management Management
Telephone Telephone
+ 44 + 44 (0)(0) 207 207 014 014 3800 3800
7-97-9 Tryon Tryon Street Street
Email Email
info@1stasset.co.uk info@1stasset.co.uk
London London SW3 SW3 3LG 3LG
Web Web
www.1stasset.co.uk www.1stasset.co.uk
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RUTLAND GATE GARDENS SWT7 A| N Ae R De E SCADOGAN T OH L EO T P £ 1E , 0 0G 0 P r W e kN S
• One bedroom
3 double bedrooms •• ground floor • Raised Prestigious address
SOUTH K E N S| ITO N GLET T O N£1,200 S W 7 PW | £3.595m CHELSEA SW3
This stunning newly refurbished 1 bedroom apartment on the raised ground of this elegant stucco fronted offers Situated on thefloor second floor of a beautiful red brickbuilding building, this apartment been refurbished the highest standard with modern the highesthas standards in modernto interior designed interiors, furniture and woodofflooring throughout. The apartment comprises boasting a wealth hi-tec appliances. a large reception room and dining area, separate modern kitchen, two double bedrooms in storage, studyNichols, area and fully tiled Located within an easywith walkbuilt of Harrods, Harvey modern bathroom. Cadogan Gardens is a prestigious Sloane Street and High Street Kensington boutiques address as well ideally located for the many fashionable boutiques, bars and restaurants as Hyde Park, Sloane Square and The Royal Albert Hall. Chelsea and Knightsbridge have to offer.
This bright three bedroom apartment on the fourth floor has spectacular views over Stanhope Gardens and two secure car parking spaces.
Address P ROPE RTY
AGENT
P R I V E´
Address
• Newly Large receptionthroughout room •• refurbished 2 interconnecting receptions rooms designerkitchen furnishings • with Separate
• Overlooking Stanhope Gardens
•• Open-plan designer kitchen Two double bedrooms
• Lift access
•• Walking distance of Harrods Fully tiled bathroom
• 24 hour porter
Study area room / wet room •• Walk-in shower
• 2 secure underground parking spaces
Wood flooring •• Furnished to the highest standards •• Purpose built block behind period façade Modern furnishings • Available early July 2015
• Use of communal gardens
1st Asset Management
Telephone
+ 44 (0) 207 014 3800
7-9 1stTryon AssetStreet Management
Email Telephone
info@1stasset.co.uk + 44 (0) 207 014 3800
London SW3 3LG 7-9 Tryon Street
Web Email
www.1stasset.co.uk info@1stasset.co.uk
Web
www.1stasset.co.uk
London SW3 3LG
FIRST_ASSET_A4_STANHOPE.indd 1
bathrooms • 13bedroom Immaculate condition •• apartment
05/02/2015 15:20
Established 1897
KENSINGTON HIGH STREET, Kensington W8 This exquisite five bedroom penthouse (approximately 4,311sq ft / 400 sq m) is located on the 11th and 12th floors of this landmark Kensington development and provides the optimum in modern living. The property benefits from wraparound terraces of over 1,400sq ft. Accommodation comprises a large reception area with double-height ceilings, entrance hall, large open-plan kitchen with Gaggenau and Sub Zero appliances, dining area, master bedroom with dressing area and ensuite bathroom, four further bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and separate utility room. The apartment further benefits from four allocated parking spaces and two separate entrances. 375 Kensington High Street is a luxurious new build benefitting from 24-hour Harrods Estates concierge and security. EPC rating C. Guide Price: ÂŁ12,995,000 Leasehold: Approximately 997 years remaining 020 3650 4600 nicholas.shaw@harrodsestates.com
KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 (0)20 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 (0)20 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0)20 7225 6700 KENSINGTON OFFICE: 48-50 KENSINGTON CHURCH STREET W8 4DG T: +44 (0)20 3650 4600
HARRODSESTATES.COM @HarrodsEstates
Established 1897
DRAYCOTT AVENUE, Chelsea SW3 A beautifully refurbished two bedroom apartment (approximately 1,191sq ft/ 111sq m) on the first floor of this Edwardian red-brick period building. The accommodation comprises a fabulous reception/ dining room with floor-toceiling windows opening onto a generous west-facing balcony, a contemporary fully-equipped kitchen, a master bedroom with ensuite bathroom, second double bedroom with a small balcony and a family bathroom. Cadogan Court is a beautiful purpose-built mansion block with a lift and daily porterage. Situated on Draycott Avenue in the heart of Chelsea, it is perfectly located for the shops, restaurants and amenities of Kings Road, Chelsea and South Kensington. EPC rating C.
Guide Price: ÂŁ3,600,000 Leasehold: Approximately 956 years remaining 020 7225 5752 francis.burca@harrodsestates.com
KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 (0)20 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 (0)20 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0)20 7225 6700 KENSINGTON OFFICE: 48-50 KENSINGTON CHURCH STREET W8 4DG T: +44 (0)20 3650 4600
HARRODSESTATES.COM @HarrodsEstates
Proud sponsors of
3rd | 4th | 5th June
Uverdale Road
ÂŁ3,250,000
Chelsea SW10
freehold
A beautifully presented 4 bedroom family house, which has been comprehensively refurbished & interior designed to the highest standards. The house enjoys excellent entertaining space & a west facing garden. EPC rating C
Chelsea
020 7594 4740
sales.chelsea@chestertons.com
chestertons.com
Coleherne Court, The Little Boltons
Chelsea SW5
Arguably one of the most desirable apartments in Coleherne Court, this wonderful 4 bedroom property is ideally situated on the 2nd floor & benefits from breathtaking garden views from each of the principle rooms. EPC rating D
Chelsea
020 7594 4740
sales.chelsea@chestertons.com
ÂŁ4,200,000 share of freehold
Proud sponsors of
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Atherstone Mews
ÂŁ2,150,000
South Kensington SW7
freehold
A 3 double bedroom duplex apartment located in this pretty cobbled mews, ideally situated for the amenities of Gloucester Road & South Kensington. Spread over approx. 1,450 sq ft the accommodation comprises a stunning reception room with dining area, a fully fitted open plan kitchen, utility room, study area & a shower room. There is a master bedroom with a walk in wardrobe & luxurious en-suite bathroom, 2 further double bedrooms & a shower room. EPC rating C
Kensington
020 7937 7244
sales.kensington@chestertons.com
chestertons.com
Observatory Gardens
Kensington W8
A 3 bedroom 1st floor apartment in the sought after setting of Observatory Gardens, located in the heart of Kensington. The accommodation comprises a bright dual aspect reception room/ dining room benefiting from enviable views & high ceilings, a guest cloakroom & a separate fully fitted kitchen which leads onto a south facing terrace. Further benefits include secure underground parking, 24 hour porterage & a 33 sq ft storage vault. EPC rating G
Kensington
020 7937 7244
sales.kensington@chestertons.com
ÂŁ2,995,000 leasehold
PROPERTY
Down the Garden Path For the kids, for sunbathing or for a spot of gardening – the latest research from Chestertons shows that Londoners love an outdoor area. ELLA HARRIS reports Kingwood Road , SW6, £1,895,000
Hugh Street, SW1V, £1,425,000
Walham Grove, SW6, £2,695,000
CHESTERTONS SURVEYED 1,743 UK residents in November last year to reveal the qualities most admired by potential buyers: the size of the property, amount of outdoor space, proximity to local amenities, level of noise pollution and effective use of space. It turns out that London house-hunters will pay a premium for outdoor space – which is considered the second most influential factor on this list – when purchasing a new home. Caspar Bell, research analyst at Chestertons, says: “Across London there are many examples of the impact outdoor space can have on the price of a property, even as small a space as a balcony. For example, in Barnes a two-bedroom flat measuring 1,265 sq ft situated in Harrods Village sold on the open market for £1.16m. However, a two-bedroom flat measuring 1,418 sq ft with a balcony and a terrace on the same development sold for £1.4m. This difference between £917/sq ft and £987/sq ft is £70/sq ft, indicating an eight per cent increase in value created by having this outside space, showing that outside space does indeed add extra value to the overall value of a property.” In-keeping with this increased value, Londoners are also the most willing to invest in their outdoor space. According to Lloyds Bank Insurance’s report Britain at Home, the average amount a person spends on maintaining and improving a garden and outside space in the capital is £561 a year, compared to £366 across the rest of the UK. The 2014 report suggests that the cause of this is perhaps the time we spend in our gardens, with recent research showing that 37 per cent of Brits are spending more time in the garden than they did five years ago. And with the weather beginning to brighten, there’s no better time to head outdoors. chestertons.com
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s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s
www.pastor-realestate.com
FOR SALE EATON GATE, BELGRAVIA SW1
ÂŁ10,800,000
Positioned within a terrace of five elegant townhouses located between Sloane Square and Eaton Square, this delightful Grade II listed residence was built c.1905. The property is sold with listed building consent and full planning permission, allowing the incoming purchaser to create an exquisite family home.
FURTHER DETAILS:
The house sits beautifully on the south side of Eaton Gate with Portland stone cladding from basement level to second floor including a broad first floor canted window. The accommodation is arranged over six floors and benefits from a four person lift, measuring approximately 6,225 sq ft (578 sq m) with a Full Repairing & Insuring lease of 126 years.
David Lee T +44 (0)20 3195 9595 E sales@pastor-realestate.com
PASTOR REAL ESTATE 48 CURZON STREET, LONDON, W1J 7UL • T +44 (0)20 3195 9595 F +44 (0)20 3195 9596
GUTHRIE CHELSEASW3 SW3 ELYSTAN STREET, PLACE, CHELSEA
£4,250,000 £2,200,000
FREEHOLD LEASEHOLD
• FIVE BEDROOMS • FIVE BATHROOMS • TWO•RECEPTION • THREE BEDROOMS • THREE BATHROOMS RECEPTIONROOMS ROOM • • CHELSEA GREEN LOCATION GARDEN AND ROOF TERRACE • NANNY • WOOD FLOORS • PRIVATE LIFT • PORTER • UNDERGROUND PARKING • EPC FFLAT • EPC E •
CHELSEA OFFICE 2 Cale Street, Street, London LondonSW3 SW3 3QU 3QU +44 (0)20 7581 5011 chelseaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk +44 (0)20 7581 5011 chelseaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk
henryandjames.co.uk henryandjames.co.uk
SLOANE COURT WEST, CHELSEA SW3 ELYSTAN PLACE, CHELSEA SW3
£1,350 PER WEEK £2,200,000 LEASEHOLD
• THREE BEDROOMS • TWO BATHROOMS • RECEPTION ROOM • IMMACULATE CONDITION • • DIRECT ACCESS TO COMMUNAL GARDENS • HOUSEKEEPER • EPC E • • THREE BEDROOMS • THREE BATHROOMS • RECEPTION ROOM • WOOD FLOORS • LIFT PORTER • UNDERGROUND £240 TENANCY FEE•AND £60 REFERENCING FEE (perPARKING person) • EPC F
CHELSEA CHELSEAOFFICE OFFICE 2 Cale Street, London SW3 3QU 2 Cale Street, London SW3 3QU +44(0)20 (0)207581 75815011 5011 chelseaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk chelseaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk +44
henryandjames.co.uk henryandjames.co.uk
RUTLAND GARDENS, KNIGHTSBRIDGE, SW7 A triple aspect lateral apartment with panoramic views of Hyde Park from a large reception room. Situated on the 6th floor of this grand period building, located on a private road off Knightsbridge. The apartment comprises, entrance hall with video entry-phone, an open plan reception room / dining room, fitted Boffi kitchen, master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing room, two further bedrooms and 2nd bathroom. There is a 24 hour porter and security, lift and communal gym with part time instructor. Off street parking is available by separate negotiation. EPC Rating E.
PRICE: £6,300,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD
AIX-EN-PROVENCE • BERLIN • BROOKLYN • CANNES • COURCHEVEL • DOHA • GENEVA • GSTAAD • LAKE COMO • LONDON • MADRID • MALTA • MANHATTAN • MAURITIUS • MEGEVE
www.john-taylor.com
BELGRAVIA, SW1X A rare combination of two Mews houses which has created a great 5 bedroom lateral house with a four bay 35.4 foot (17.7m) drawing room. Large open plan sitting and dining area. Perfectly situated within a quiet part of the Belgravia, with a private walled garden, garage and two parking spaces. Planning permission for a first floor conservatory to incorporate a part glazed roof terrace, lift and creation of a basement living space. EPC Rating D.
£9,000,000 FREEHOLD
John Taylor UK 48 Berkeley Square, London W1J 5AX Tel: 020 3284 1888 Email: london@john-taylor.com
MERIBEL • MIAMI • MILAN • MONACO • MOSCOW • PALM BEACH • PARIS • ST JEAN-CAP-FERRAT • ST PAUL DEVENCE • ST TROPEZ • THE HAMPTONS • VALBONNE
www.john-taylor.com
.
HOLLAND PARK HOLLAND PARK W11
ÂŁ950 per week
2 bedrooms | open-plan reception and kitchen | bathroom | first floor | high ceilings | fireplace | Epc F
www.century21uk.com/nottinghill
nottinghill@century21uk.com
ACADEMY GARDENS KENSINGTON W8
ÂŁ1,150 per week
bedroom | reception | kitchen | bathroom | valet parking | 24-hour concierge | swimming pool | gym
10 Clarendon Road London W11 3AA
020 7229 1414
BODENS bodensresidential.com
JUBILEE PLACE, SW3 £2,400 PER WEEK UNFURNISHED
Cloakroom | Front Patio Terrace | 1881 Sq Ft | EPC- D
SUBJECT TO CONTRACT + ADMIN FEES APPLY
BRAND NEWLY REFURBISHED FAMILY HOUSE 2 Reception Rooms | Kitchen with new appliances/Dining Room | 3 Bedrooms | En-Suite Shower Room | Family Bathroom |
lettings@bodensresidential.com
020 7225 0433
102 Draycott Avenue Chelsea SW3 4AD
KENSINGTON GATE, W8 ÂŁ8,650,000 SUBJECT TO CONTRACT
A BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED FREEHOLD FAMILY HOUSE Drawing Room | Dining Room | Fully Fitted Kitchen | Conservatory | Study Area | 2 Cloakrooms | Master Bedroom With En-suite Dressing
BODENS bodensresidential.com
Area and Bathroom | 4 Further Bedrooms | Bathroom 2 (En-suite) | 2 Shower Rooms (1 En-suite)| Media Room | Gym | Utility Room | Paved Patio Garden | Communal Square Garden | EPC - D
sales@bodensresidential.com
020 7589 2000
Lateral thinking Francesca Lee speaks to Bodens’ head of lettings Lajla Turner, head of sales Adam Moorhouse and the founder, Nick Boden Photography by: Sarel Jansen
This year independent luxury estate agent Bodens celebrates its 20 year anniversary. Headed up by Nick Boden, he prides his business on an ‘old-school-type’ approach. “Being a boutique agency, we’re adaptable with good old fashion views and complete confidentiality,” he says. Bodens specialises in properties in Prime Central London, covering sales and lettings in Chelsea, Kensington, Knightsbridge and Belgravia. Adam Moorhouse, who has recently joined the company as head of sales after 28 years in the property industry, is keen to point out that it’s this ‘back-tobasic’ approach that makes Bodens stand out. “We offer a personalised service. If, for example, a prospective buyer wants to see a property at 7am in the morning, we’re more than happy to accommodate and being an independent, we know the ins and outs of every client.” It is this approach and its specialised knowledge of the local area that Bodens is known for. Advice such as the
distance a tenant or buyer is from their favourite restaurant, transport or schools, surprisingly, isn’t always considered, so it’s essential to have an expert on hand to guide them through this process. This is something Nick agrees strongly with: “I would, for example, always advise someone to buy or rent a one-bedroom flat rather than a two-bedroom if it’s in a better location, but this isn’t always something they’ve considered beforehand,” he says. The trio also describe how Chelsea has changed and how it has grown over the years. Adam details: “When I first started working as an estate agent, Chelsea was a small enclave but it has expanded vastly; SW10 is now seen as Chelsea, it’s a big patch.” But what is it that draws people to the area? Adam describes: “It’s a young and vibrant area,” while Lajla Turner, associate director and head of lettings interjects: “It’s also close to Mayfair, in fact, from a lettings perspective you can’t really lose as everything is on your doorstep or
PROPERTY
The trio also describe how Chelsea has changed and how it has grown over the years
within walking distance.” In terms of rentals, Lajla looks after a range of property portfolios and currently has around 90 flats and houses on the books, some which are on with discretion. It’s clear that she’s proactive and has a genuine passion for finding out what people’s needs are. “Not everyone has that but it’s vital in this industry, even more so working for a boutique agency,” she says. With rentals including everything from studios to mansions, Lajla describes how no matter what the budget, she treats every client the same. “We offer a tailored, personalised service for each and every client,” and it’s this kind of approach that makes Bodens stand out as being a family agent. But what is Lajla’s opinion of the current market? “Since the beginning of the year, I’ve seen a rise in £2,000 a week properties as well as a healthy demand from relocation agents and corporate tenants.” Meanwhile, Nick and Adam have both seen the £3-10 million market pick up recently. “As we’re coming into the spring market, it’s a time when people traditionally make decisions, so we’re expecting a flurry of activity,” Nick says. With a combined sales experience of 75 years, Nick and Adam have experience in everything from flying freeholds to rights of way and short leaseholds, but they’re still modest in their approach. “We’ve seen everything but we’re constantly learning,” says Adam. And with a rise of the online market and clients having access to more knowledge than ever before, the pair are keen to stress how the market has gone full circle and that people want ‘an old school approach’. “I pick up the prospective buyer and drive them around the area and only show them properties that I know will be of interest. Again, it’s going back to this boutique agency approach in terms of having common sense, integrity and being honest.” And no one can argue with that… Property featured: Freehold five-bedroom family house in Kensington Gate, W8, £8,650,000.00 102 Draycott Avenue, Chelsea, SW3 3AD, Sales: 020 7589 2000, Lettings: 020 7225 0433, property@bodensresidential.com, bodensresidential.com
s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s
175
international
HOMES showcasing the FINEST PROPERTIES from AROUND THE WORLD
European Getaway Photography by: naran-ho / Shutterstock.com
Swap the stress of the city for life by the sea
Surf
Putt
Dive
Dine
Here in Barbados, every day is just waiting for you to design it. From diving our wrecks and working up an appetite for the day’s catch. To sporting action on land and sea – or total inaction involving a lounger, a book and a glass. We’ve also taken the magic inside. Our architect-designed two to five bedroom residences are exquisitely finished, and located right on the shoreline.
UNNA Luxury Resorts & Residences
For holidays and home ownership visit portferdinand.com and stpetersbaybarbados.com. Then call 0800 097 0847.
Beautiful places to press pause
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struttandparker.com
Vista Villa, Corfu
‘A contemporary home nestled on a hillside with spectacular unspoilt views’
Price on Application
Olive trees and cypresses create a calm atmosphere, inviting peaceful contemplation of the vast sea stretching to the distant horizon. The property enjoys a position that benefits from a breath taking view across the gulf of Gouvia to Dassia and Corfu Town. Totalling 5,381 square feet, the interior space provides four bedrooms and generously proportioned entertaining areas filled with abundant natural light. All main rooms have access to a covered verandah overlooking the sweeping green lawn, which features an exquisite infinity pool circled with teak decks.
5,381 sq ft (500 sq m) Open planned reception area | Kitchen | Four bedrooms | Four bathrooms | Infinity pool | Private garden | 2.41 acres of surrounding land | Verandah
Lulu Egerton 020 7225 3866 lulu.egerton@struttandparker.com
Property News PRIME RESI provides us with a comprehensive monthly round-up of key news about the local luxury property market
Vote of Confidence
Tough Break
Lily Terrell votes that we stay in the EU when the referendum takes place to avoid the potential threat of an economic crash
Managing director of CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, Elena Dimova, considers how the lead up to and outcome of the EU referendum will affect the property market
The national house price inflation rate has been the same as in the last few years, which is to say approximately 4 to 5% per annum. However, there has been a marked fall in transactions, accompanied by less stock coming onto the market. Nationally, there have been 12% fewer sales than in the previous year, while prime central London (PCL) transactions have gone down by 30%. The main reason for this trough is the change in stamp duty, which has a direct effect on properties that are worth more than ÂŁ1m, thereby affecting London disproportionately. With the EU referendum taking place imminently, there is already a level of uncertainty on how this will affect nearly all buyers and vendors. Depending on the outcome, there is a risk that people who work in the City may leave the country to pursue their careers elsewhere. And
If we vote to stay in the EU, then at least we will be taking the first step towards preventing a possible crash since there is a correlation between the market in PCL, hiring levels and remuneration in the City, then if the UK leaves the EU there could well be a direct impact on property sales in PCL. London is an incredibly desirable place to live, but for how much longer? If prices continue to rise and the government keeps setting legislation that makes it harder to buy, then the level of demand to live in London is likely to become secondary to the level of ability. Given the reasons listed above, combined with general overheating in the southeast, it is no surprise current sales are down. Something has to give, or else more people will choose to live outside London, which in turn will encourage businesses to move away from the centre. The snowball effect could be immense. If we vote to stay in the EU, then at least we will be taking the first step towards preventing a possible crash, and hopefully this will enable us to continue to enjoy a robust and active business economy, and avoid a prolonged period of uncertainty. Carter Jonas LLP, One Chapel Place, WIG OBG, carterjonas.co.uk
To Brexit or not to Brexit? This is the question we will be voting on in the EU referendum on Thursday 23 June. Whichever way the vote goes, there will be uncertainty in the period leading up to the referendum. If Britain votes to leave, there will be questions on how it will exit, which won’t be negotiated until after the vote. The biggest and quickest postreferendum reaction will most likely be from the currency. Sterling is likely to weaken due to the perceived risk in the markets. We are already seeing sterling weakness in the lead up to the referendum, reflecting the possibility of a vote to leave. What are the implications for the London property market? A volatile currency is an opportunity for people to make or lose money. The weakened currency has been making some overseas buyers pause
This period of worry and indecision for some could be an opportune moment for others as we await the outcome of the referendum for breath in their searches. This comes combined with weak oil prices, worries over Chinese growth, weaker Asian and Russian currencies, a higher stamp duty rate and an additional 3% stamp duty on second homes and investment properties from April 2016. On the other hand, a cheaper pound makes it easier for overseas buyers to purchase property here. They should look at it as a safe-haven investment, appreciate the structural supply-demand imbalance, the attractiveness of London as a place to live and do business, and the strong ownership rights that English law offers. Then this period of worry and indecision for some could be an opportune moment for others. Whether you choose to buy or sell before or after the referendum on 23 June should depend on what you think the outcome will be. Watch this space. CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, 10 Clarendon Road, W11 3AA 020 7229 1414, century21uk.com
PROPERTY
PrimeQResi Journal of Prime Property
primeresi.com
Images courtesy of: BL Development Ltd and Northacre
The New Paradigm Nick Crayson, founder of Crayson, argues for a return to a high quality level of service from estate agencies in order to maintain an intelligent marketplace
Green Light Westminster planners have given Abu Dhabi-owned BL Development Ltd the go-ahead to knock down New Scotland Yard and build in its place its own luxury Northacre-managed scheme, Ten Broadway. The developer that bought the site in late 2014 for £370m won approval, despite a fair amount of opposition to the plan, and is now in line for a £10m off-site affordable housing contribution. Squire & Partner submitted its plans to demolish all three existing 1960s buildings (of seven, nine and 21 storeys) on the 1.78-acre triangular site just south of St James’s Park, and replace them with six residential-led buildings ranging from 14 to 20 storeys, last summer. The scheme (now approved) will deliver 246 apartments with a total residential GIA of 44,456 sq m (plus another 3,990 sq m for residential facilities). The scheme has been carved broadly into two halves, and will sit on two four-storey “podiums” housing retail units on the ground and three storeys of office space, with the residential buildings arriving in threea-piece on top. There’ll also be four basement levels for parking and facilities, including a gym, pool and spa. Residential units will range from one to five beds, with ten being allocated as affordable and the other 236 going at market prices.
There is a GIANT schism opening up in the property world. Estate agency, as we know it, is moribund. Could it be that I am prone to catchy sound bites or is there a genuine shift in the property marketplace? I will put forward two very different sides to this, both of which I hope will shed some clarity. I have ranted on in the past about the new online, low service hybrids. They have succeeded by offering very little service for virtually no money, thereby capitalising on the fact that so many agents have given so little for far too long. Anyone within the industry who is intelligent knows what a nonsense it is, but there are still plenty of consumers out there who have been completely misinformed. The industry needs to address its standards and thereby bear the responsibility for this low-grade hybrid to have developed and grown. How can people really believe that a low-cost, no-service alternative is the best way to reap the most reward from one’s property? Simply put, sellers are not the best people to sell their own properties. However, what is most frustrating is our industry’s inability to value the service it offers and the difference that can be made to achieving the best prices for clients when experience and hard work are factored into the equation. The rumour mill is flush with stories of top agencies cutting their fees. It’s almost like it is their only answer to the threat of the hybrid. There is value in a premium service, particularly when the agency is the one shelling out the hard cash and is only remunerated in the event of a successful sale. The other side of this new paradigm is the fact that property (as a collective word) is now more about investment funds rather than traditional estate agency. Property is an asset class, rather than simply bricks and mortar. Therefore, if estate agents are to demonstrate their value, they have to show a deeper understanding of property from an investment perspective and be able to speak the same language as the new breed of hedge funds and private equity firms. Valuing high, and dropping fees to win instructions and market share, is a sure way to seal the fate of the side of estate agency that is already on the ropes. Only those who innovate will succeed and flourish. This industry requires an elasticity of mind and purpose to find its future in an intelligent marketplace. Crayson, 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH, 020 7221 1117, crayson.com
s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s
183
20 Montpelier Street Knightsbridge London SW7 1HD
OLD BROMPTON ROAD, SW5 2 Bedrooms| Dressing Room| Shower RoomEntrance Hall| Kitchen| Double Reception| 1,082 sq ft| Lift| EPC E This beautifully presented apartment is positioned on the top (fourth) floor, with lift, of this popular and well maintained mansion block. The flat is offered in superb condition, and would make an ideal turn-key property or rental investment. The master bedroom features a supplementary dressing room, whilst the other double room contains an abundance of fitted storage options. The kitchen has been newly-fitted with modern appliances and a smart surround splash back and worktop. The double reception, encompassing a sitting room and dining room, benefits from plentiful natural light and fantastic proportions, across the width of the apartment, perfect for entertaining.
£1,625,000 Leasehold, plus Share of Freehold
BASIL STREET, SW3 2 Bedrooms| 2 Bathrooms | Entrance Hall| Reception Room | Kitchen| 1,280 sq ft| Lift | Porter |EPC D This beautifully presented apartment is situated on the third floor (with lift) of this popular Edwardian purpose built block. The flat is entered into a central entrance hall with two fully fitted marbled bathrooms to the rear, modern kitchen with space for dining, two generously proportioned double bedrooms and a separate reception room with south-facing aspects over the street. The apartment further benefits from period features including large sash windows and an attractive fireplace with marble slips, a wealth of storage options and wooden floors throughout as well as a video entrance phone and resident porter.
£1,400 Per Week Furnished
T: +44 (0)20 3770 3474
info@nicolasvanpatrick.com
LEW0984 MAL K&C APR16_OL.indd 1
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Living/dining room
Terrace views of Kensington Memorial Park
Last few remaining Reserve a luxurious 5 bedroom townhouse at Argyll Place today
Prices from ÂŁ2,880,000. Available to move into now Selling Agents
020 3667 5569
020 3667 5583
For further information, or to book an appointment to view the show home, please call the selling agents
www.argyllplace.com
Details and prices correct at time of going to press. Photographs depict the show home at Argyll Place.
THE ART OF MOVING UK RESIDENTIAL, EUROPEAN & INTERNATIONAL REMOVALS
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Memb No: A001
Number One 297x210mm NEW.indd 2
Certificate No. FS23942
24/02/2016 16:06
Victoria Grove, W8 1,972 SQ.FT/183 SQ.M
A wonderful opportunity to acquire low built, early Victorian house in one of the most desirable streets in Kensington. The house is set over four floors and has four bedrooms, an elegant double reception room and a 43ft south facing garden.
Price £3,700,000
FREEHOLD
020 7590 9339
Cornwall Gardens, SW7 964 SQ.FT / 89.6 SQ.M
A two bedroom raised ground floor flat with a superb south facing reception room, en-suite bathroom, shower room and a terrace (not demised). There are high ceilings throughout and the flat would now benefit from some updating.
Price £1,695,000
SHARE OF FREEHOLD
020 7590 9339 38 GLOUCESTER ROAD, SW7
WWW.DOMINICLONDON.COM
SALES@DOMINICLONDON.COM
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Turks Row, Chelsea SW3
A charming three bedroom second floor flat, situated in this popular building in the heart of Chelsea, benefiting from a lift and porter.
1,015 sq ft (94 sq m) Reception room | Kitchen | Master bedroom with en suite shower room | Two further bedrooms | Bathroom | Lift | Porter | EPC rating D
Chelsea 020 7225 3866 chelsea@struttandparker.com JSA: Savills 020 7730 0822
ÂŁ2,350,000 Leasehold
Cadogan Gardens, Chelsea SW3
An immaculately presented two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with good ceiling heights and south facing views over communal gardens.
ÂŁ3,250,000 Share of Freehold
1,183 sq ft (109 sq m) Entrance hall | Reception room | Kitchen | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom | Second double bedroom | Shower room | Lift | Access to communal gardens by separate arrangement
Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959 knightsbridge@struttandparker.com JSA: Knight Frank 020 7591 8600
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The Little Boltons, Chelsea SW5
This stunning lateral property is situated on the second floor (lift) of this much desired mansion block, benefitting from private communal gardens and 24 hour porterage.
ÂŁ4,200,000 Share of Freehold
1,971 sq ft (183 sq m) Entrance hall | Reception room | Dining room | Kitchen | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom | Three further bedrooms | Further bathroom | Shower room | Lift | Porterage | Private communal gardens | EPC rating D
Chelsea SW10 - 020 7373 1010 chelseaSW10@struttandparker.com
Earls Terrace, Kensington W8
An outstanding six bedroom house, occupying 4,935 sq ft, with a 93 ft south-facing garden, swimming pool, 24 hour security, underground parking and access to Edwardes Square Gardens.
4,935 sq ft (458 sq m) Kitchen/breakfast room | Dining room | Drawing room | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom | Five further bedrooms | Four further bathrooms | Swimming Pool | South-facing garden | Underground parking
Kensington 020 7938 3666 kensington@struttandparker.com
ÂŁ9,250,000 Freehold
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Norland Square, Holland Park W11
A stunning apartment situated on the raised ground floor of a period conversion, overlooking this highly sought after communal garden square.
786 sq m (73 sq m) 32 ft living space | Kitchen | Two bedrooms | Two bathrooms | Communal garden with Tennis Court | Decked garden | EPC rating D
Sheffield Terrace, Kensington W8
A stunning first floor flat which has been refurbished to an exceptional standard, with fabulous views over the beautiful communal gardens.
£850 per week* Furnished
Notting Hill 020 7221 1111
nottinghill.lettings@struttandparker.com
£975 per week* Unfurnished
870 sq ft (80 sq m) Reception room | Kitchen | Two bedroom suites | Cloakroom | Balcony | Communal gardens | EPC rating D
* The following Tenant charges may apply prior to tenancy commencement: Tenancy Agreement £222 (inv VAT) Credit Reference per application £54 (inc VAT). All advertised prices are excluded and other associated services.
Kensington 020 7938 3866
kensington.lettings@struttandparker.com
Oakfield Street, Chelsea SW10
A bright and spacious three bedroom converted Artist Studio, befitting from a wonderful reception room with double height ceiling.
£1,495 per week* Furnished/Part furnished
1,431 sq ft (132 sq m) Reception room | Kitchen | Master bedroom suite | Two further bedroom suites | Cloakroom | Study | EPC rating E
Tregunter Road, Chelsea SW10
An elegantly presented Grade II listed semi-detached white stucco house, with south-facing garden and gated off-street parking.
Chelsea SW10 - 020 7373 1010 chelseaSW10@struttandparker.com
£6,495 per week* Unfurnished
4,310 sq ft (400 sq m) Four reception rooms | Kitchen | Six bedrooms | Four bathrooms | Terrace | South-facing garden | Off-street parking | EPC rating D
* The following Tenant charges may apply prior to tenancy commencement: Tenancy Agreement £222 (inv VAT) Credit Reference per application £54 (inc VAT). All advertised prices are excluded and other associated services.
Chelsea SW10 - 020 7373 1010 chelseaSW10@struttandparker.com