Notting Hill & Holland Park Magazine December 2016 by Runwild Media Group

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CONTENTS 14

Mistletoe and Wine

Feather Christmas

Sophie Conran shares her top Christmas tips with Ellen Millard, from the food to cook to the decorations to hang

Diamonds are forever, not just for Christmas: discover the jewels and timepieces to invest in this season

Through the Looking Glass

Off the Wall

Lauren Stevens goes behind-the-scenes of Harrodsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; festive window display, created in collaboration with Burberry

Jack Watkins speaks to Pullman Editionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; founder Georgina Khachadourian about the rise in vintage poster art

Lady of the Manor

Magic McKnight

Lady Weinberg, aka Anouska Hempel, discusses The Franklin Hotel, her latest interior design project

Sam McKnight tells Scarlett Russell about styling the hair of the late Princess of Wales, Madonna and Kate Moss

The Notting Hill & Holland Park Magazine is distributed in W8, W11, W14 and parts of W2, W9 and W10

On the Cover... Considered to be one of the most innovative and pioneering architects of the 21st century, the late Dame Zaha Hadid will this month be remembered in a retrospective exhibition of her paintings and drawings, which will be taking place, rather fittingly, at the Zaha Hadid Architects-renovated Serpentine Sackler Gallery. Find out more about the exhibition on page 41 and discover the firm’s successor, Patrik Schumacher, on pages 78 to 81, where he discusses his new role at the helm of Zaha Hadid Architects and the company’s latest furniture collection.

Notting hill & Holland Park decemBER 2016 s issue 047 Acting Editor Olivia Sharpe Assistant Editor Ellen Millard Editorial Assistant Lauren Stevens Senior Designer Catherine Johnson Brand Consistency Laddawan Juhong

Cover image: Metropolis, 1988; ©Zaha Hadid Architects

98 Val d’Isère

102 Arctic Circle

104 Phil Howard

Production Hugo Wheatley Danny Lesar Alice Ford Jamie Steele Client Relationship Director Friday Dalrymple Executive Director Sophie Roberts General Manager Fiona Fenwick Managing Director Eren Ellwood

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Editor’s Letter

Fashion

Drinking & Dining

110

Collection

Local News

Art & Antiques

Home & Garden

Health & Beauty

Travel

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From the EDITOR We are drawing to the end of 2016 and it seems almost unbelievable how much has happened. From the EU referendum to HM The Queen’s 90th celebrations and the Rio 2016 Olympic & Paralympic Games, it has been a topsy-turvy old year - but you can’t say it has been dull. Among the headline-breaking news, this year sadly marked the death of visionary architect Dame Zaha Hadid. From the London Aquatics Centre to the MAXXI museum in Rome and the Guangzhou Opera House in China, she was responsible for some of the most iconic cultural institutions of the 21st century. To honour her legacy, the Serpentine Sackler Gallery – which was renovated by Hadid’s architecture firm in 2013 – looks back on her work in a retrospective exhibition that traces her creative mind through her paintings, illustrations and private sketchpads, all of which will be on display this month. Visit page 41 for more details. As well as reflecting upon the past, we also look to the continuation of Hadid’s legacy with Patrik Schumacher, the newly appointed principal at her architecture practice. “[When Zaha passed away] there was a huge wave of sympathy and encouragement, people wishing us well and wanting us to continue. We gathered everybody in the office to talk about her legacy, what we have achieved and how we will be moving on… how we also need to reinvent ourselves partially, and remain innovative.” The German-born architect speaks to Camilla Apcar about his plans for innovation on pages 78 to 81. Another woman to have made her mark on the design world is Anouska Hempel, aka Lady Weinberg. The brains behind Blakes Hotel and the Hempel Hotel sits down with Ellen Millard to discuss her latest interior design project in Knightsbridge – The Franklin (p.22). With it being our December issue, our thoughts naturally turn to Christmas and how we can make it one to remember this year. Designer Sophie Conran therefore shares her top tips with us, from the food to cook to the decorations to hang (p.14), while Lauren Stevens goes behind-the-scenes of Harrods’ festive window display in partnership with Burberry on pages 18 to 20. If that doesn’t put you in the Christmas spirit, then I don’t know what will.

Acting Editor

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

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All images courtesy of: sophieconran.com

Mistletoe

AND WINE

As we prepare to deck the halls for the festive season, Sophie Conran shares her tips for the perfect Christmas with Ellen Millard, from the food to cook and the decorations to buy to the tree stand to avoid “‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse” – that was, of course, until somebody knocked the quick relief button on the Christmas tree stand. “Can you believe it?” Sophie Conran laughs. “My son reached under the tree to get a present and pressed it by mistake. It was hilarious.” As festive disasters go, it’s certainly one to which many can relate. A Christmas tree with a strong sense of gravity, a burnt turkey and an over-competitive Scrabble game gone wrong are just a few of the festive traditions that we look forward to year upon year. And yet, when the

countdown begins, we can’t help but slip back into the festive spirit. “I think it’s just that feeling of everybody being around,” says Conran, who will be in charge of her family’s festivities this year. Cook, author and designer to boot, Conran’s CV spans everything from an apprenticeship for couture milliner Stephen Jones to designing interiors and collaborating on numerous lifestyle projects with brands such as Portmeirion, Drummonds and Burgon & Ball. When we speak, she’s still on a high from hosting an event at Spencer House for Macmillan Cancer Support, which raised £36,000. “It’s a fantastic charity,” she gushes. “I love the ethos and the nurses are amazing. I’ve had a number of friends and family who have had cancer

interview

and they’ve told me so many stories about the Macmillan nurses; they’re just angels.” Along with event planning and collaborating with brands, Conran also created her own pie enterprise (which won four Fine Food Awards in 2005), is the author of three cookery books and has decorated many a kitchen with homeware products from her eponymous lifestyle brand – so it comes as no surprise when she answers my 11am call and confesses that she’s already been tending to the stove. What does come as a bit of a shock, however, is that the contents of her bubbling pot is not a delicious filling for a new pastry dish, but instead a meaty concoction for canines. “I’ve been experimenting with dog food,” she laughs. “My daughter’s boyfriend came in and said, ‘oh can I have some of that’? It was very funny.” Hound à la carte aside, the daughter of designer and restaurateur Sir Terence Conran and food writer Caroline Conran is the best of both of her parents’ worlds, having carved herself a successful career in design and food industries respectively. “My parents were very influential, both of them,” she tells me. “They made [my childhood] a sort of adventure, saying look at this and isn’t this great and look how that works. They made everything exciting.” It’s her skills in the kitchen and at the drawing board (along with her party planning prowess) that has resulted in Conran becoming the designated hostess for her family’s Christmas festivities. If you’ve been tasked with organising the main day too, be sure to take heed of the designer’s definitive guide to the food to eat, the alcohol to drink and the decorations to hang. Cue the festive music.

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ON THE DINNER... We will all be cooking the Christmas dinner in my house; the key is planning. Have a big breakfast and then get started early. A selection of smoked fish is a lovely starter. Royal smoked salmon fillet is amazing; it’s very expensive, but it’s incredible. You cut it like sushi. My ideal Christmas lunch would include a big roast turkey or goose, roast vegetables, red cabbage, sausages, bread sauce, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cranberry sauce, at least two types of stuffing and gravy – that’s very important, and not to be forgotten.

On the table... It’s always nice to have a colour theme. If you’ve got room, it’s quite nice to put food on the side so that people can go and help themselves, and then you can get decorating the main table. Hanging sparkly things from the ceiling is lovely and lighting masses of candles to make that nice warm glow. I like to put ivy or eucalyptus down the middle of the table and then decorate that. Don’t make it too high though as otherwise people can’t talk to one another.

On the tree... We always have a Christmas tree. In fact, we have two. We have a little one at the front of the house, which has lots of crazy colours and all of the Christmas decorations from when the kids were little, and we have a big one in the sitting room, which fell over last year.

ON THE DECORATIONS... In July, my team and I went to Antwerp on the train to visit a Christmas emporium and it was just amazing. It was like Christmas fantasy land. That’s where we get our decorations from. We’ve got some really lovely things this year and had a lot of fun choosing them.

On Christmas traditions... I think my family’s traditions are probably similar to everybody else’s. Lots of decorating the house, lots of cooking, lots of eating, crackers, jokes, dressing up, stockings, things going wrong, the turkey not being cooked, you know. The dog eating something it shouldn’t...

On the location... We’ll be at our house in Wiltshire this year. We’ll cram everybody in: the kids, their dad, my husband, his mum, my mum, and anybody who might happen to be alone at Christmas is invited, too. I love my family, but I don’t see enough of them because we’re all busy and in different places. There’s a particularly good feeling when everybody is together.

interview

ON GIFT WRAPPING... I always get a bit carried away with wrapping and like to work with a theme, so I might go for a woodland idea and find some adorable mushrooms to put on top, combined with red ribbon and white paper. One year I did a ‘roses’ theme and found some black paper and black ribbon and clipped a red velvet rose on top, which was rather fabulous. Sage green and lilac with velvet pansies to finish was another favourite – the sky is the limit! My advice would be to enjoy it and have fun.

On the outfit... I always like to dress up on Christmas day. Any excuse! A gorgeous red dress is usually my go-to outfit.

On hosting a Christmas party... Get everybody involved – teamwork is the best. Deck the halls to the absolute max; get really carried away and into the spirit and do as much preparation beforehand as possible, especially with the food. Make lots of lists and get yourself ready before the big day. Ensure you have lots of candles for the short days and, of course, Christmas music.

ON THE PARTY FOOD... Bowl food always works really well at a party as it’s easier for your guests to carry around and eat, or a table ladened with help-yourself goodies, such as a tasty pasta or risotto. I think it’s always nice to offer your guests a cocktail when they arrive and to make an effort to create a special soft drink for those that aren’t drinking alcohol, as they can sometimes feel a little left out.

On the entertainment... At our staff party everyone comes along with a game and they are always quite silly and funny, and make for fantastic entertainment and a lot of giggling. On Christmas day, we open presents in the morning after a late breakfast and then we have a very late lunch followed by a walk at some point for a breath of fresh air, and a game of Scrabble.

ON THE CHRISTMAS WISHLIST... New socks, please! Macmillan Cancer Support’s Celebrity Christmas Stocking Auction takes place on Tuesday 6 December. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit macmillan.org.uk/stockingauction or call 020 7840 4800; sophieconran.com

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Through the

Christmas in London typically involves warm coats, last minute rushes, mulled wine and, most excitingly, Harrodsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Christmas window displays. Lauren Stevens discovers whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in store this year

feature

LookingGlass

Anyone who Has traversed the streets of London during the festive period will have undoubtedly witnessed the annual spectacle that is the Harrods Christmas window display – it’s hard to miss. Each year, the windows provide a substantial contribution to the city’s Christmas decorations and their unveiling has joined similar events, such as the city’s numerous light displays, to become one of London’s greatest festive attractions. So popular are the windows that it’s often hard to get close enough without being nudged by someone else trying to get a look in. Ever since the first display, which dates back to the 1880s when Harrods first opened, Harrods has taken it upon itself to make children’s (and adults) Christmas dreams come true. Usually taking inspiration from various aspects of popular culture, the windows have seen some incredible features over the years, including a giant pair of glittering red shoes (inspired by The Wizard of Oz) which emerged from the walls of the department store back in 2009. As tastes, culture and technology have evolved, it’s inevitable that the windows have developed accordingly,

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and every year we are surprised with ever more innovative concepts and features. But despite the fact that the store is now able to fly a miniature plane across its display without having to use some sort of string mechanism, what has remained a constant in each of its festive windows is its dedication to the traditional Christmas spirit. “One thing I’d say for Harrods, especially related to Christmas, is that we’re not trying to be clever. We’re just trying to be traditional and really evoke the festive feeling for all children and adults,” explains Alex Wells-Greco, head of visual merchandising at the store. It’s Harrods’ ability to appeal to both children and adults that continues to make these windows so well received. “We have to try and make it work for everybody. It’s not just for children, it should be a family experience,” Deborah Bee, director of creative marketing at Harrods, tells me. It’s hard to imagine how these displays, with all their glitz and glamour, wouldn’t appeal to viewers of all generations, and it’s often the sense of nostalgia that they bring that makes them so enjoyable.

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“Whenever you jump in a cab in London and ask the driver to take you to Harrods, they will inevitably make a comment about visiting the store at Christmas as a child,” Bee agrees. It’s for this reason that the team makes it one of their greatest priorities to ensure the experiences are just as memorable for children today. “There is an expectation of us from all of our consumers and the residents around Knightsbridge not only to create this festive feeling, but also those long-lasting memories of coming to Knightsbridge, walking along the Brompton Road displays, stopping and enjoying that classic window shopping experience – as I remember doing myself in the 1990s,” recalls Wells-Greco. Having worked as a visual merchandiser in five major cities over several years, it is no wonder that, with all his experience and credibility, Wells-Greco was appointed the position of head visual merchandiser at London’s most famous department store in 2009, and again in 2014. “I genuinely do believe that London is at the epicentre of all visual merchandising and display, even from an arts and curating standpoint,” he says. “Just walking down the streets or towards the museums and galleries, you can see that what’s available here is far more interesting and current compared to other major cities around the world and I think we’re really lucky to actually be a part of that.” With such a demand to maintain the aesthetic and reputation associated with the capital, it’s quite surprising that the team behind the scenes doesn’t burn out of ideas. Last year’s Christmas display saw the floor of Harrods raised 60cm to uncover impressive under-thefloorboards theatre scenes for children to enjoy at eye-level. A swinging circus performer and

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giant gingerbread house were among other features, as well a display of collections from designers including Stella McCartney and Balenciaga. But as they do every year, the team behind the windows has managed to come up with yet more innovative ideas, and this year we’re in for an equally magical treat. In an exclusive collaboration, Harrods has joined forces with Burberry in what is the store’s first ever festive brand collaboration. “We’ve never done a brand partnership at Christmas so it’s great to have a point of difference this year,” says Wells-Greco. Both quintessentially British, the two brands are equally well-established and have long been associated with quality craftsmanship and luxury. “Burberry is the perfect choice for a collaboration because it has a similar heritage to Harrods – it’s British, classic and traditional. It’s also incredibly forwardthinking in terms of innovation,” says Bee. Dubbed A Very British Fairy Tale, this year’s display follows a magical story of two children on an enchanting adventure through a snow-swept country house. Special features include flying cars, floating bathtubs and secret passageways and a series of interactive and sensory experiences run throughout the store and the windows, including the opportunity to change the lighting and music of the display. An exclusive Burberry collection of menswear, womenswear, childrenswear and accessories is also available, and the first ever Harrods Christmas tree on Hans Crescent has been decorated by the brand. The store now dedicates an impressive 65 windows to Christmas, and Wells-Greco and Bee were joined by 30 other creatives to build the eye-catching storefront over a 10-night period. As London embraces the festive spirit, the competition is on to impress with yet another standout display – but the team at Harrods isn’t feeling the pressure. “I think competition exists everywhere and is really healthy, but when it comes to Christmas we don’t want to compete because we are the number one destination for the holiday,” Wells-Greco says, matterof-factly. “We want to create a real traditional festive feeling and I don’t think you can compete with that.” 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X, harrods.com

Dear Santa... Five gifts from Harrods to add to your Christmas list

Bentley Rideon Car, made to order from £5,000, GRE Classics

Silver brogue shoes, £450, Burberry

Dauphine Phone bag, £995, Dolce & Gabbana

Metallic Cloqué dress, £895, Burberry

Disco Thing sandals, £615, Aquazzura

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Photography: Janos Grapow

Lady of theManor Lady Weinberg, aka Anouska Hempel, sits down with Ellen Millard to discuss The Franklin, the latest project by the interior designer

interview

ight, so we’ve got to do this stupid interview and I’ve only got about five minutes to do it.” It’s 7pm at The Franklin Hotel in Knightsbridge and it’s safe to say that Lady Weinberg is, for want of a better word, frazzled. I arrive amidst a dispute about fireplaces and am ushered into a neighbouring room while she wraps up her other meeting. When she comes in she apologises, explaining that she’s been extremely busy as the new hotel – which was refurbished by her architecture and interior design firm Anouska Hempel Design – is yet to open. But didn’t it open this autumn? “No, no, it doesn’t open until Christmas,” she insists as two guests walk past. “You can book a room here, but in my eyes it’s not open.” The brains behind Blakes Hotel, Blakes Amsterdam and Hempel Hotel, not to mention countless restaurants and retail spaces for the likes of Tom Aikens, Louis Vuitton and Van Cleef & Arpels, Lady Weinberg is petite and softly spoken, but at the same time slightly intimidating, on more than one occasion commandeering the interview and turning the questions back on me (“go on, you answer and we’ll use your words”). The whole experience is rather amusing – something of a novelty after countless media trained interviewees – and it’s clear from the get-go that we’re going to have a lot more than problematic heating to discuss. But first, the hotel. You’d be forgiven for mistaking The Franklin for another red-bricked townhouse on Egerton Gardens, the only clue to its presence being two slate grey F’s stamped on columns either side of the front door. Indeed, when I first visited a few weeks earlier, I walked right past it, and it was only when the doorman flagged me down that I realised my error. Inside, charcoal and ivory stone tiles lead through to the almost-reception, a round table on which neatly displayed coffee table books circle a lone concierge, who could just as easily be mistaken for a fellow guest. The entire space is made up of six townhouses that encircle a private garden, a haven of tranquillity just moments from the frenetic Brompton Road. “It was inspired by Venice,” Lady Weinberg explains. “Every floor looks like a Venetian piazza or a Venetian well and not one is exactly the same; they are all different and disparate.” The hotel has 35 rooms and suites decorated with plush velvet upholstery, metal frames featuring floral illustrations and mirrored furniture. The monochromatic colour scheme continues in the lobby, where grey and white ikat print cushions perch on charcoal sofas; the only pop of colour comes from the vibrant

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foliage propped in the corners and the odd gold detail peppered here and there. The effect is striking and at the same time homely, and not at all what you would expect to be hiding behind the red-bricked facade. “[The idea for The Franklin] has been in my mind for a long time,” the designer tells me. “It should be very similar to the Brompton Oratory, if ever I did such a thing in this area, and how lucky am I to have six houses to do it in? It looks like the Duomo in Milan and the auspices of the Brompton Oratory, in the tiny back streets of Knightsbridge.” A former actress who cut her teeth starring in films such as James Bond flick On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Lady Weinberg traded the silver screen for silver service in 1978, when she opened her first luxury boutique hotel – often credited as the first of its kind – Blakes in South Kensington. An amalgamation of objects that the designer collected on her travels, Blakes is a mismatch of cultural influences, and is not dissimilar to The Franklin with its townhouse layout and mix of designs. It has been the hotel of choice for the likes of Princess Margaret and Gwyneth Paltrow and to this day remains one of the best in its league. Has the industry changed since it was founded? “Oh, dramatically,” she exclaims. “There are boutique hotels all over the place now; they’re two a penny. You don’t use the word boutique any more. I’ll have to think of something new, won’t I?”

Fresh ideas seem to come thick and fast to Lady Weinberg, whose design team has been at the helm of many a lavish building. She struggles to pinpoint her favourite project (“I love them all”) and looks positively baffled when I ask if designing for The Franklin’s townhouse setting was a challenge. “I don’t know what you mean by that,” she says. “I find it all inspirational and wonderful to do. Everything’s a challenge, but that’s a word I don’t know how to use.” She is equally befuddled with a question about her design style, too. “I am specific as a person. Just by talking to me you can tell just how specific I am, but that doesn’t mean I have a specific style,” she shrugs. “That’s up for other people to judge.” Design style or no design style, the interior mogul’s projects have been consistently well-received, so much so that Architectural Digest named her in a list of 100 top interior designers and architects in the world, not just once, but twice. For The Franklin, Lady Weinberg took charge of the creative side of things (it’s owned by Italian group Starhotels) but, with four of her own hotels under her belt, the designer is no stranger to the hospitality sector, which goes some way to explain her stressed demeanor when I arrive – perfecting the design is just one string to a successful hotel’s many bows. As somewhat of an expert in the field, does she have any hotel pet peeves? “Of course I have, don’t you? What are yours?” She quizzes me before taking pity on my bumbling reply, and adds: “If you go backwards and forwards and nobody recognises you, or if your little whims and wishes aren’t looked after. The people are the most important thing; not the decoration, not the design, but how the place is run and what the atmosphere is like when you get in.” Along with The Franklin, the designer and her team are working hard with projects in Istanbul, Paris and New York. “We’re flat out,” she tells me. “I’ve got a little group of very creative, highly talented people and we go all over the world.” The designer herself is heavily involved with each venture, telling me that she was in France the previous day for her impending Parisian project. When she’s not travelling, she stays at her home in Knightsbridge, in a house that she describes as “a complete shambles”. “Everything’s all over the place; there are shoes

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everywhere, chewing gum all over the joint, kids’ writing, it’s an absolute shambles. But outside I’m slightly different,” she says with a smile. Of the capital, she expresses a particular fondness. “London’s been very good to me. I’m so happy in this part of the city; the whole corner of this world is part of my very early days of magic and I’ve come back to it.” As we wrap up the interview, a waitress brings us a tray of canapés and is met with a lesson on hors d’oeuvres delivery 101: napkins are essential. As she runs off to find some, Lady Weinberg lets out an exasperated sigh and puts her head on the table. “Come back when we’re open and I’ll be in a much better mood,” she jokes as I leave. The same canapé-wielding member of staff runs to get the door for me as I take one lasting glance at the pristine interior. It may not be ready in its designer’s eyes but, if this is The Franklin at its worst, I for one can’t wait to see it at its best. From £360 per night, The Franklin, 24 Egerton Gardens, SW3, thefranklinlondon.com

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Milano: Galleria V. Emanuele

ITALIAN TRAVEL BAGS SINCE 1952

Available at Harrods, Selfridges, John Lewis and caseluggage.com

collection

Orbis Terrarum Special Edition Great Britain, Montblanc

Genève Tempus Terrae 25th

The C1 Great Malvern Power Reserve, Christopher Ward

Anniversary Edition, Andersen

Sarpaneva / Black Badger Northern Lights collection

SalonQP 2016 Montblanc and Chopard celebrated SalonQP with the launch of new timepieces in November. Meister Driver Chronoscope, Junghans

Montblanc used the UK’s largest premium watch show to unveil the Orbis Terrarum Special Edition Great Britain, a world-time wristwatch with a dial adorned with a Union Jack; Chopard debuted an 18-karat rose gold version of its L.U.C GMT One. Elsewhere, Girard-Perregaux marked its 225th year by exhibiting a collection of 225 unique timepieces, which are usually housed in its La Chaux-de-Fondsbased HQ. Curated shows educated guests on the history of the diving watch, the emergence of ‘travel time’ pieces, and a range of rare skills that the watch industry is almost single-handedly responsible for keeping alive. Established in 2009, SalonQP has been hosted in the Saatchi Gallery for the last

Sarpaneva / Black Badger Northern Lights collection

six years. The event has operated as part of the Telegraph Media Group since 2014. salonqp.com

Petite Heure Minute Thousand Year Lights, Jaquet Droz Sarpaneva / Black Badger Northern Lights collection

Overseas World Time, Vacheron Constantin

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L.U.C GMT One in 18-karat rose gold, Chopard

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box

JEWELLERY BY OLIVIA SHARPE

Strictly Come Dancing The sizzling Spanish flamenco was the inspiration for Annoushka Ducas’ latest collection. The undulating folds of a fan – a traditional prop used by dancers to send coded messages to their suitors – have been captured in smoothly carved pink mother-of-pearl, as well as referencing the soft, feminine ruffles of their dresses. The recognisable fan motif gives Flamenco a distinctly Art Deco feel, as the motherof-pearl has been cleverly offset with black rhodium and baguette diamonds for true vintage glamour. The limited edition range was recently extended to include pale green jade pieces. Flamenco 18-karat white gold with diamond and mother-ofpearl cuff, £39,000, and jade & diamond earrings, £16,500, Annoushka, 41 Cadogan Gardens, SW3, annoushka.com

Connect Four

Boucheron has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to mixing metals in fine jewellery, as illustrated by the Quatre collection. The bold yet strikingly simple four-stacked ring design has become a Boucheron signature and since its launch in 2004, has been reinterpreted around the four iconic motifs: the Double Godron, Ligne Diamants, Grosgrain and Clou de Paris. This year, the jeweller has deconstructed Quatre into the Grosgrain and Clou de Paris motifs, which can now be worn alone or together. The former’s ribbed, vertical lines reference Frederic Boucheron’s family of drapers, while the latter’s 3D design traces the cobblestones of the Place Vendôme – where Boucheron famously set up shop in 1893. Quatre collection, from £5,100, boucheron.com

Written in Stone

Be Boodles Boodles invites us all to be more like the jeweller with its latest collection, launching just in time for Christmas. Available from 1 December, its new ‘icon collection’ for 2017 sees Boodles’ signature letter ‘B’ woven into a delicate lace openwork motif, which has then been set into feminine jewellery pieces, including a bracelet, pendant, earrings and two rings. Each piece is set in 18-karat rose gold and platinum, featuring diamond pavé and round brilliant-cut diamonds. From £6,850, 1 Sloane Street, SW1X, boodles.com

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While diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, they are often our bank balance’s worst enemy. And that is why Steven Stone – a family-owned jewellery company founded in 1937 – prides itself on offering its clients only the highest quality, GIA certified diamonds and fine jewellery at competitive prices. Its showroom in London’s Marylebone houses a stunning selection of diamond and gem-set jewellery, as well as samples of its wedding and diamond ring collections available for you to try before you buy. Visit the store now for expert advice on the best gifts or if you’re looking to propose to that special someone this Christmas. 24 St Christopher’s Place, W1U, stevenstone.co.uk

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For stockists call: 01628 770988 | www.seiko-astron.com

In the

Driving Seat Laurent Feniou, managing director of Cartier UK, looks back on this year’s brand highlights and speaks to oLIVIA SHARPE about Cartier’s exciting plans for 2017 2016 has certainly been a busy year for Cartier. Kicking off in January at SIHH, the prestigious annual watch fair in Geneva, the French brand launched the men’s DRIVE de Cartier collection. Next came Magicien – a collection of one-off jewels first glimpsed this summer in the French Riviera and which have since been making their tour around the globe. This was followed by Cactus, Cartier’s cooler, more contemporary jewellery offering. And as the year closes, the jeweller plans to extend its signature Love range with new pieces in time for Christmas. The man behind the wheel of Cartier’s UK operations is Laurent Feniou. Formerly at Rothschild, he took over from executive chairman Arnaud Bamberger when he stepped down after 23 years at the helm. Moving from the corporate world to the luxury world of fine jewellery, watches and accessories might not seem the most obvious career step, but sitting opposite him in his office in in London, I couldn’t imagine a man more suitable for the job. Feniou evidently hasn’t forgotten his former banking roots, being smartly suited up in formal business attire for our meeting, but one flash of the Frenchman’s own DRIVE watch tells me that he is Cartier through and through. Indeed, the French brand couldn’t have hoped for a better ambassador for its latest and most masculine model to date. Despite the sporty connotations, DRIVE hasn’t been designed for the action man, but rather for the modern day gentleman in need of a watch for all occasions. “I believed from day one that DRIVE de Cartier would be a success in the UK market and it was,” he comments. “It’s very elegant, timeless and English. Men are becoming more educated about watches and they like to have a collection with different models depending on how they dress and what they do.” While not exactly a departure from Cartier’s collections to date, it is true that DRIVE is a new direction for the brand, having steered away from its traditionally unisex timepieces. As the managing director notes, the clean, crisp aesthetic of the Cartier Tank or the elegant curves of the Ballon Bleu sit well on both male and female wrists, but

the DRIVE, with its strong lines, defined proportions and masculine guilloche dial, could only really work on a man. Cartier’s fresh take on its watch offering is hardly surprising given the house’s long-standing tradition of innovation. This summer saw the launch of Cactus de Cartier, a collection that immediately spiked the interest of press and clients alike because of its daring aesthetic. Drawing on one of the hottest trends of the season (cacti have been cropping up everywhere, from Paul Smith & Gufram’s psychedelic coat stand to Prada’s plant-based A/W16 collection), the range is a far cry from Cartier’s more traditional blooms. Pieces are bold and sculptural, featuring spiky and curved shapes in vivid shades of green chrysoprase, emerald and warm yellow gold, capturing the arid desert landscape. “Cactus de Cartier is the great novelty of 2016,” confirms Feniou. Unlike classic collections such as the Paris Nouvelle Vague or the Juste un Clou – “the key pillars of Cartier”, according to Feniou – Cactus is not immediately identifiable as Cartier, presenting an edgier, more contemporary side to the jeweller with chunky cocktail rings, well-proportioned cuffs and statement earrings. The collection experiments with different and more unusual gemstones, mixing emeralds with chrysoprase, lapis lazuli and carnelian beads. Cartier has never been afraid to explore new ground when it comes to unusual stones. “In the past, we’ve worked with fossilised stones for instance, which aren’t as precious as diamonds, but are extremely rare,” argues Feniou. “So what we’re looking at is the rarity and the interest from a design perspective.” And if you know anything about Cartier’s history, you’ll know this isn’t the first time the jeweller has been avant-garde – the now iconic panther design caused quite a stir when it was first unleashed in 1914. “When you think about Cartier over the years and the many collections we’ve launched, you can see how we’re constantly trying to create something that’s daring and different,” he adds. Every year, Cartier unveils a new high jewellery offering and this year’s Magicien is

collection

This page, clockwise from top right: Mandragore earrings, POA, Magicien, Ben Hasset @Cartier; Cactus de Cartier bracelet in 18-karat yellow gold, lapis lazuli, brilliant-cut diamonds, £62,000; Cactus de Cartier ring in 18-karat yellow gold with diamonds, £12,000 Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Luminance necklace, POA, Magicien, Vincent Wulveryck ©Cartier; Quetzal ear cuffs, POA, Magicien, Vincent Wulveryck ©Cartier; DRIVE de Cartier, £18,200; Incantation earrings, POA, Magicien, Vincent Wulveryck ©Cartier

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COLLECTION

Illumination bracelet/ring, POA, Magicien, Vincent Wulveryck ©Cartier

arguably its most spellbinding to date. The collection aims to highlight the magic of transforming a precious stone into a priceless piece of jewellery, an act performed by the dedicated team of craftsmen. Feniou explains how the design process always begins with the stone and in reverence to its skilled artisans – many of whom have been with the maison for years – they were each given the choice of which stone they’d like to work with. The next stage of the process involves the finished creations being presented in front of a committee to ensure that they reflect Cartier’s DNA. The managing director’s favourite piece is the Illumination bracelet, featuring brilliant-cut diamonds, carved rock crystal and one central 31.16-carat D IF emerald-cut diamond, which can be removed and transformed into a ring. “There are some pieces that one can imagine ending up in the Cartier Collection one day and this is it,” he says. “It’s a true masterpiece and requires the know-how of people who have been working as craftsmen for generations to create.” Feniou is well-placed to give advice on the best gifts for Christmas. For the Frenchman, who unsurprisingly has a taste for the finer things in life, you cannot go wrong with a bottle of Château Lafite or a holiday abroad. He

has already gifted his two sons, aged 11 and 13, two Cartier watches each in the hope that they will continue to build their collections for years to come, and for his wife, a beautiful Ballon Bleu. While Feniou cannot predict which will be the most popular products for customers this Christmas, he notes that the internet is increasingly becoming an essential source of sales and is something the company is investing in for the future. “It is an extremely important element in the luxury world and it’s not just buying, it’s the whole experience. Before entering our boutique, clients spend lots of time on the website, educating themselves on products, style and price so that they come to the store fully prepared.” Plans for 2017 don’t suggest that Cartier is slowing down, as the director reveals that the team is currently in the midst of planning an exciting exhibition in London for mid next year. And while he refuses to go into too much detail, he hints that it will be of international weight. “London is an extremely interesting, international hub. People from all over the world visit and live here so it will always remain a very important place for Cartier.” 143-144 Sloane Street, SW1X, O20 7312 6930, cartier.co.uk

Magie Blanche bracelet, POA, Magicien, T. Deschamps & J. Claessens ©Cartier

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Feather

Christmas

Photographer: Emma Todd Stylist: Natalie Read

Clockwise from top left: Hortensia white gold, sapphire and diamond “Voie Lactée” earrings, £24,770, Chaumet, chaumet.com; Swallow emerald and diamond earrings, POA, Jessica McCormack, jessicamccormack.com; 18-karat white gold and diamond Serpent Bohème Necklace, POA, Boucheron, boucheron.com; Marquis diamond necklace, £90,000, Yeprem, yepremjewellery.com; Rose cocktail ring, £7,800, Piaget, piaget.com; Double finger amethyst, emerald and black diamond cocktail ring, £28,524, Ara Vartanian, aravartanian.com; 18-karat white gold Thorn bracelet, £20,950, Stephen Webster, stephenwebster.com; 18-karat white gold and diamond Angel hand bangle, £22,000, Messika, messika.com; 18-carat white gold and emerald drop earrings, £39,000, James Ganh, jamesganh.com; Secret Combination platinum and diamond hoop earrings, POA, Harry Winston, 14 Basil Street, SW3, harrywinston.com; White gold and diamond Flower Chain, £23,000, Chanel, 169 Sloane Street, SW1X, chanel.com; Oceana 18-karat white gold, diamond and sapphire cuff, POA, Vanleles Diamonds, vanleles.com

IT’S

Snow Time

Clockwise from top left: Oro Rosso gold watch, £17,800, Luminor Panerai, panerai.com; Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41 steel and yellow gold watch, £9,350, Rolex, rolex.com; Historiques Cornes de vache 1955 watch with brown strap, £45,000, Vacheron Constantin, vacheron-constantin.com; Timeless silver watch with blue dial, £660, Gucci, 18 Sloane Street, SW1X, gucci.com; Constellation Calendar Watch with tan strap, £5,925, Omega, 9 Sloane Street, SW1X, omegawatches.com; DRIVE De Cartier 18-karat pink gold watch, £15,500, Cartier, 143-144 Sloane Street, SW1X, cartier.co.uk; Mechanical Perpetual Calendar Watch, £119,350, Patek Philippe, patek.com

WORLD

of WATCHES BY RICHARD BROWN

MB&F’s Mad Mad World If you’re familiar with MB&F, you’ll know that the brand’s creations seldom sit within one product category. While they do indeed tell the time, MB&F watches display the hours, minutes and seconds of the day in such inventive and intricate ways that to categorise them merely as timepieces would be to do a disservice to company founder, Max Büsser. Büsser doesn’t create watches; he conceives machines. The latest of which, the Horological Machine N°8 (HM8 - pictured below, right), is inspired by a Can-Am race car. It inverts a Girard-Perregaux base movement so that a battle-axe-shaped winding rotor faces upward, positioned between two ‘roll bars’ so that it is visible through anti-reflective sapphire-crystal glass. Dual optical prisms vertically display bi-directional jumping hours and trailing minutes. As you can see, it’s not your typical piece of wrist wear. Then again, there’s rarely anything conventional about Büsser’s works of art, watch-wise or other. Having worked previously with highend clockmaker, L’Epée 1839, to co-create a table clock, and with music box specialist, Reuge, to launch a mechanical, musicplaying mini-space-ship, Büsser recently branched even further away from traditional

watchmaking. His latest partnership, with coveted pen and crayon maker, Caran d’Ache, is the Astrograph, a fountain pen designed to resemble a space rocket. Available in high-gloss rhodium, sandblasted matt rhodium or anthracite ruthenium, an ‘entry door’ to the rocket, concealed in the ring of the pen, activates the lowering of three stabiliser legs, on which the Astrograph can stand. The pen, comprising 99 components, comes with a miniature, magnetic astronaut figurine and a presentation box in the form of a launch pad. What to get the man who already has everything this Christmas? Max Büsser has just provided the answer. Horological Machine N°8, £66,900, Astrograph pen, £19,995, mbandf.com

The Nautilus at 40 All year the watch world has been waiting to discover how Patek Philippe would honour the 40th anniversary of its most famous timepiece, the iconic Nautilus. The answer arrived in October in the shape of the platinum, time-only 5711/1P (44mm), and the enormous (49.25mm) white gold chronograph 5976/1G (left). Both watches arrive with blue dials, bearing anniversary inscriptions, and feature baguette-cut diamond hour markers. The 5976/1G will retail for £69,960; the 5711/1P is yours for £82,310. patek.com

collection

Cape Cod’s Landmark Year

Lange’s Honey Trap There’s a reason that all A. Lange & Söhne datedisplaying timepieces are photographed with 25 in their date window. On 24 October 1994, Walter Lange held a press conference announcing the restoration of the company his great-grandfather had established in 1845. Knowing that daily newspapers would be reporting the announcement the following day, Lange set the date on his new flagship Lange 1 wristwatch to 25, and, alas, a tradition was born. To mark that watch’s 22nd birthday, the brand has unveiled a ‘Dresden’ edition of the Lange 1 Time Zone. Differentiating the special issue from its standard version are subtle colour changes; the dots between city names and GMT are blue instead of red, as is the previously black peripheral ring of the second time zone. Not so subtle is the replacing of ‘Berlin’ with ‘Dresden’ to represent Central European Time. The watch arrives in 18-karat ‘honey’ gold and has a diameter of 41.9mm. Only 100 will be produced. Lange 1 Time Zone Dresden Edition, £46,400, A. Lange & Söhne, alange-soehne.com

When Apple was looking for a way of elevating its first smartwatch from geeky gadget to executive accessory, it was telling that the tech giant chose to talk to fashion types through a collaboration with Hermès. Not for nothing is the (almost-entirely) family-owned French fashion house one of the most coveted luxury goods specialists on the planet. The Apple Watch Series 2 dropped in September, and with it the news that Hermès would continue making leather straps for a special edition of the timepiece, into which Apple would incorporate watch faces based on the Hermès Clipper, Espace and Cape Cod – the last of which is currently celebrating its 25th birthday. Launched in 1991, the Cape Cod was designed by Henri d’Origny, who had previously created the Hermès Arceau and Clipper, and took its inspiration from the chain of an anchor. In 1998, the Cape Cod appeared on the catwalk with a double wrap-around strap, thanks to the vision of women’s ready-to-wear art director, Martin Margiela. Several new iterations of the Cape Cod have been launched during 2016. A men’s model is now available with a cuff-style wristband, while dial options have expanded to include mother-of-pearl, white lacquer, onyx and lapis lazuli. New gem-set editions have also been added. uk.hermes.com

Red Handed Maurice Lacroix has made a limited-edition version of its Masterpiece Skeleton Chronograph for Harrods. The 45mm timepiece was unveiled at SalonQP and incorporates a new automatic chronograph movement, produced exclusively for Maurice Lacroix by calibre creators Concepto. The hour and minute hands are diamond-cut and lined with luminescent coating. The Harrods edition comes with a red seconds hand and a red 30-minute chronograph disk at 3 o’clock. Masterpiece Skeleton Chronograph Harrods Edition, £5,350, mauricelacroix.com

Par Excellence Your closest Glashütte Original boutique is now just a two-hour Eurostar journey away. October saw the German watchmaker open a new flagship store on Paris’s Rue de la Paix. Glashütte Original now operates 21 boutiques across the world, though, sadly, London still remains lacking. To mark the occasion, the brand bolstered its Senator Excellence line with the launch of the Panorama Date (steel £7,100, red gold £14,100) and the Panorama Date Moon Phase (steel £7,900, red gold £14,900). Both models are equipped with Glashütte’s Calibre 36, which provides a 100-hour power reserve from a single spring barrel. The impressive feat – typically power reserves of more than 48 hours require the use of more than one

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spring barrel – was achieved through compacting the case in which the movement’s silicon balance spring sits. The Panorama Date mounts two concentric display discs on the same level, eradicating the need for a separation bar in its date window; once properly set, the Panorama Date Moon Phase will need correcting just one day in every 122 years. Glashütte Original was founded in 1994, following the privatisation of Germany’s Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB), a collection of watch, clock and instrument companies that had been nationalised in 1951. Unlike Lange (above left) the brand says it presents watches with 25 in the date window purely for aesthetic reasons. glashuette-original.com

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PI CK A C AR D. ANY C AR D. UNIQUE MOME NT S DESERVE A BEAU TIFU L C H RISTMAS C ARD NOW AVAIL ABLE TO PERSONALISE ONLINE

spotlight

Between the Lines Considered to be one of the most innovative and pioneering architects of the 21st-century, the late Dame Zaha Hadid will this month be remembered in a retrospective exhibition of her paintings and drawings, which will be taking place, rather fittingly, at the Zaha Hadid Architects-renovated Serpentine Sackler Gallery. Originally visualised with Hadid herself, the exhibition will showcase the architect’s creative mind through her paintings and illustrations, which she used as a tool to envisage her architectural ideas. On display will be the Hadid’s private notebooks and sketchpads that reveal her visionary skill and resulted in some of the world’s most famous buildings, from the London Aquatics Centre to the Bridge Pavilion in Spain and the Lilium Tower in Poland. 8 December 2016 – 12 February 2017, Serpentine Sackler Gallery, Kensington Gardens, West Carriage Drive, W2, serpentinegalleries.org

Confetti ‘The Peak’, Hong Kong, China 1982-1983; ©Zaha Hadid Architects

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GoingOnce To mark Christie’s 250th anniversary, Rebecca Wallersteiner meets Imogen Kerr and Kate Flitcroft, who represent the new generation of female specialists at the renowned auction house making a name for themselves on the global art scene The Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci that was sold to Bill Gates for $US30,802,500 (roughly £24 million). The black Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s for £467,200. The Oppenheimer Blue diamond which went for a recordbreaking 56.837 million CHF (approx. £40 million) earlier this year. These are just a handful of some of the most headline-worthy sales that have taken place at Christie’s auction house over its lengthy tenure. This year marks a milestone in the international art world as the illustrious London auction house celebrates its 250th anniversary. Founded by Scotsman James Christie in 1766, the first auctions sold household goods, including sheets, chamber pots and Indian works on glass. In the beginning Christie’s was a male-dominated environment, but it has since moved with the times. For the past two years, Patricia Barbizet has been at the helm of Christie’s as CEO and many of its current leading specialists and auctioneers are women. “Since 1766 our passion for art has been constant. As more people in more places are captivated by art and wish to acquire it, whether buying, selling or trading, our clients count on us to understand both its cultural and commercial value,” comments Barbizet. Two other women currently making substantial waves in the art world are New Zealander Imogen Kerr and American Kate Flitcroft, both of whom are based at Christie’s South Kensington. ”Things have come a long way since 1766 when James Christie first auctioned pillowcases, crockery, hay bales and even a bespoke coffin, which was no longer needed by the recovered consigner,” explains Kerr. In a moment of characteristic ingenuity, Christie soon switched from such practical items to objects of desire and beauty – with a sale devoted entirely to pictures. To his delight all the lots sold – bought largely by people who had made their fortunes in the Industrial Revolution and were eager to emulate the landed aristocracy who had traditionally

collected art. In an early landmark sale, in 1795, Christie sold glittering jewels belonging to Madame du Barry (former mistress of King Louis XV who had been guillotined) for £8,791 4s 9d – more than £2.7 million in today’s currency. Traditionally, auctioneering is a domain lorded over by men, but now there is an increasing number of women conducting sales. As Christie himself discovered, being on the rostrum is an art form in itself. “I am proud to be a Christie’s auctioneer,” says Kate Flitcroft, who is also an associate director and specialist in silver, and has a degree in architecture. She first stood before buyers with the hammer in hand four years ago when she conducted an Interiors sale at South Kensington. Does she ever get nervous? “At the beginning yes, but once the sale begins I focus on connecting with the bidders and excitement drives me on,” she answers. Different auctioneers develop different mannerisms to keep the excitement going – some are theatrical, others approach it like a musician. “I regard it as an art form – knowing how to read the mood and energy in the salesroom, but being able to control the bidding,” says Flitcroft. This is where female intuition comes in useful. “Phone bidding is exhilarating as there is always a relationship with the person on the other line.” However, she must remain aware of everything going on in the room and take bids from colleagues on the telephone and internet. “When you are auctioneering a star object you need to slow down the bidding when approaching high figures to give clients time to respond,” advises Flitcroft. Do things ever go wrong? “Once I took bids from a five-year-old whose mother let him raise the paddle – but thankfully things turned out well,” she tells me with a smile. Imogen Kerr, a specialist in Impressionist & Modern Art, puts together auctions and compiles Christie’s beautiful catalogues. “Curating art is an important element of what we do,” she explains. “We are interested in the intriguing stories behind the works as well as their inherent value.” Every day Kerr sees work by a huge range of artists, many

Traditionally, auctioneering is a domain lorded over by men, but this is changing

SPOTLIGHT Claude Monet (1840-1926), Le Bassin aux Nymphéas, Christie’s Ltd.

Thomas Gainsborough, Portrait of James Christie (1730 - 1803)

L-r: Sir Roger Bannister CBE running shoes, sold for £266,500; Oppenheimer Blue diamond, sold for 56,837 million CHF; Christie’s Ltd.

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marginalised during their lifetimes. Earlier this year she organised a landmark sale, with the catalogue including a dedicated section featuring contemporary female artists, including pictures by Françoise Gilot, a muse of Picasso, and Tamara de Lempicka. “Traditionally art by women has fetched lower prices than art by men at auction, but this is changing. Many have yet to achieve the same heights as their male counterparts, but this surely makes these skilled artists great prospects for the future,” predicts Kerr. How does she envisage Christie’s future? “We are living in exciting times. As a global industry we work together to promote the sales that attract clients from all over the world to come to London. There’s no reason why London – alongside New York and Hong Kong – shouldn’t continue to be the great hub of the international art market.” In 2017 Kerr will oversee four sales, two online and two live at Christie’s South Kensington. “There is a developing breadth to the company. Our online business is attracting new buyers, many of whom have never bid at an auction before. We remain at the pinnacle of the art world and there are so many more stories to be told beyond the established canon.” If James Christie were alive today he would no doubt be thrilled that his auction house is a leader in its field. Christie’s has seen many remarkable artefacts pass through its halls, including Princess Diana’s gowns, Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels, Picasso’s paintings and a Rothschild Fabergé egg. Whatever next? Christie’s South Kensington, 85 Old Brompton Road, SW7, christies.com

Going Once: 250 Years of Culture, Taste and Collecting at Christie’s, (containing 350 colour illustrations) published by Phaidon, £39.95

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Illustration: Mai Osawa

Photography: ©Trustees of NHM, London

LOCAL LIFE

Jurassic Dark

Make the countdown to Christmas all the more bearable with the Natural History Museum’s Dino Snores for Kids Christmas special. Held on 23 December, the event includes a torch-lit trail of the museum, a T-shirt-making workshop, a science show presented by a resident expert and a sleepover in one of the museum’s galleries, followed by breakfast and a live animal show the next day. Rumour has it Father Christmas himself will be popping in too to say farewell to Dippy the Diplodocus, which will embark on a tour of the UK in 2017. £130 each, 23 December, Natural History Museum, nhm.ac.uk

Umpire State of Mind

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall and to mark the occasion, the event is bringing out the big guns. Former World No.1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe will be among the players taking part alongside two-time US Open champion Pat Rafter and former British No.1s Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski. The event’s official charity partner, SportsAid, is also celebrating a milestone anniversary and on the 2 December a special event will honour the charity’s 40th year with a parade of Olympians and Paralympians, live competitions and a performance from English soprano Laura Wright. From £18.50, 30 November – 4 December, Royal Albert Hall, championstennis.co.uk

True Colours

Bringing colour to Notting Hill’s wintry streets is Redearth Education’s annual charity exhibition, Colours of Africa. Each painting has been created by Ugandan school children and artists to portray a unique view of village life. For many of the children this was their first opportunity to express themselves using paints, charcoal and pastels. All proceeds go towards improving rural education. 13-17 December, 35 Powis Square, W11, tabernaclew11.com

spotlight on the royal borough of Kensington & Chelsea: news, events, reviews & local interest stories

Photography: Historic Royal Palaces

A Christmas Story The Notting Hill Bookshop selects its five top reads to keep you occupied this Christmas Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness Marie Tourell Søderberg Danish actress Marie Tourell Søderberg traverses her home country to discover the nation’s cooking, decorating and entertaining secrets. £12.99 The Tale of Kitty in Boots Beatrix Potter The forgotten fable of Beatrix Potter is brought to life with illustrations by Quentin Blake, who captures Miss Kitty’s adventures with Mr Tod and Peter Rabbit. £12.99

Reign or Shine If you’re wondering what to do now that ITV’s Victoria has come to an end, look to Kensington Palace for royal-themed entertainment. From Christmas trees to the traditional turkey feast, many of our festive traditions were brought about by the influential British Queen. This season, experience an authentic Victorian Christmas at Kensington Palace, which will be adorned with festive decorations and will be the venue for lantern making workshops and live musical performances. From £16.50, 26 November 2016 – 2 January 2017, Kensington Gardens, W8, hrp.org.uk

An Open Book Those who fell in love with characters Cecilia Tallis in Ian McEwan’s Atonement, Lyra Belacqua in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials and Greit in Tracy Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring will be pleased to hear of an opportunity to star as their own character in a new novel by the acclaimed authors. In aid of human rights charity Freedom of Torture, the aforementioned writers and 12 of their peers are donating character naming rights to the winners of the Immortality Auction. Along with a live sale, guests at the event will be treated to readings by selected authors and the charity’s creative writing group, Write to Life. £60, 17 November, Sixty One Whitehall, SW1A, immortalityauction.org

Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow Yuval Noah Harari Discover the future of humankind as seen through the eyes of historian Yuval Noah Harari, who examines the ways in which science, history and philosophy will shape the 21st century. £25 Nutshell Ian McEwan The latest novel from the critically-acclaimed author features a betrayal in the marital home, a murder and a plot twist – all of the ingredients for a compelling read. £16.99

Photography: ©Zaha Hadid Architects

Do the Maths This December the Science Museum is multiplying its offering with a new gallery dedicated to all things mathematics. The Winton Gallery will reveal the pioneers of the complicated discipline and the tools and methods they used to shape the modern world. More than 100 objects from the museum’s collections will help to illustrate the innovative work that’s moulded society over the past 400 years, including the Enigma machine from the Second World War. Mathematics: The Winton Gallery opens on 8 December, Science Museum, sciencemuseum.org.uk

Tales of the Peculiar Ransom Riggs This beautifully illustrated volume of short stories follows on from the bestselling Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, ideal for young fantasy fans and adults alike. £12.99 13 Blenheim Crescent, W11, thenottinghillbookshop.co.uk

covering kensington, chelsea, knightsbridge, holland park & notting hill

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ART ANTIQUES BY REBECCA WALLERSTEINER

Long Live Punk Relive the anarchic spirit of Punk at the Museum of Brands this winter. Forty years since The Sex Pistols first exploded onto the Notting Hill music scene with their irreverent lyrics and distinctive sound in 1976 – a new show, The Graphics of Punk, presents the equally striking variety of graphic art created by these young rebels. On display will be some of the iconic record sleeves of the day, including the Sex Pistols’ God Save the Queen designed by art student Jamie Reid (1977), alongside posters that promoted each new release. The exhibition also includes record sleeves from The Clash, Buzzcocks and The Damned. Until 29 January 2017,111-117 Lancaster Road, W11, 0207 243 9611, museumofbrands.com

Image courtesy of: the Saatchi Gallery, 2016, Spirit Guides and Sunflowers, Raffi Kalenderian

Paint the Town Expect an interesting crowd at the Saatchi Gallery this winter. From 30 November, Painters’ Painters presents artists of today who inspire those of tomorrow, featuring work by nine leading painters, ranging in age from their 30s to their 60s, seeking to inspire a new generation emerging from art schools. These include Turner Prize nominee Dexter Dalwood and David Brian Smith, who Tracey Emin cites as her inspiration, as well as Bjarne Melgaard, the artist behind 2014’s controversial chair design. Individualist and nonconformist, all these successful artists are concerned that painting shouldn’t be eclipsed by other art forms. Painters’ Painters, 30 November 2016 – 28 February 2017, Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3, saatchigallery.com

Christie’s Images Ltd. 2016

Artist of the

month

Damian Elwes

SUm faceseque et quam dollecumet am essersperi reseque nat. t

First in Line

For several years Damian Elwes has painted the studios of his favourite artists in Paris. Until 17 December, the Serena Morton gallery is exhibiting his new paintings of studios belonging to Matisse, Cézanne and Kahlo, revealing the working methods of these geniuses. “These people were so visual that even the negative space has been thought about,” comments Elwes. His study of Matisse in the South of France unearthed the picturesque house in Collioure where the artist discovered Fauvism in 1905. To delve into the souls of Cézanne and Kahlo, Elwes recreated the original arrangement of furniture and atmosphere in their studios. To research how the buildings that were occupied by these artistic luminaries looked in their day, Elwes scrutinised photographs and books, as well as their own paintings. Until 17 December, 343 Ladbroke Grove, W10, info@serenamorton.com

Throughout its distinguished 250-year history, Christie’s can lay claim to a number of firsts. The founder, James Christie, held the first picture sale in 1767; Christie’s was the first to auction a meteorite that crashed to earth in 1803 and the golden typewriter on which Ian Fleming wrote James Bond. This December the auction house can mark up another first – Christie’s first online auction dedicated to Modern British Art. Alice Murray, associate specialist and head of sale in this department, comments: “This exciting sale will present works by some of the greatest 20th century British artists, from Stanley Spencer and Henry Moore to L.S. Lowry, John Hoyland and Elisabeth Frink.” It’s bound to appeal to a new generation of collectors with starting bids from just £1,000. Modern British Art Online, 2-13 December, Christie’s, 85 Old Brompton Road, SW3, christies.com. The artworks will also be on view at the Christie’s Lates event on 6 December Image Courtesy of: Jonathan Clark 2016

Angular Forms

Images courtesy of: Serena Morton Gallery, 2016

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Until 2 December, Jonathan Clark Fine Art is showing an exhibition of late sculpture by Kenneth Armitage, marking a centenary since his birth in 1916. Ruggedly handsome, enigmatic and prickly, Armitage worked from his Chelsea studio, becoming a well-known local figure. Jonathan Clark commented: “Armitage’s distinctive focus on the human figure, his use of wit and movement, and his taste for prehistoric forms were ingredients in an approach to sculpture that won him a far-reaching public audience, as well as numerous awards.” Armitage first attracted an international reputation at the Venice Biennale in 1952, where he was shown alongside his contemporaries Eduardo Paolozzi, William Turnbull and Lynn Chadwick. Kenneth Armitage (1916-2002) How many miles to Babylon? Until 2 December, 18 Park Walk, SW10, jcfa.co.uk

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& ANTIQUES

ART Modern Masters

William Coldstream (1908-1987) and Euan Uglow (1932-2000), who famously painted a nude of the young Cherie Blair, were two of the foremost proponents of post-war figurative painting in Britain. This winter, family-run Piano Nobile gallery pays tribute to these two art luminaries with an exhibition of their nudes, still lifes, cityscapes and portraits, and exploring their close personal and artistic relationship. “Both artists were renowned for their painstakingly methodical painting processes, neither was prolific and thus their works remain rarities, infrequently seen. Their pictures are masterpieces in rigorous refinement and quiet passion,” comments Matthew Travers, the gallery’s director. William Coldstream/Euan Uglow: Daisies and Nudes, 22 November 2016 – 14 January 2017 at Piano Nobile, 129 Portland Road, W11, piano-nobile.com

Images courtesy of: Piano Nobile 2016 Frenchmans Creek III, Judy Buxton

Back to Nature If summer seems like a distant memory, then Cascade, Judy Buxton’s latest presentation of her expressionist, en-plein-air new paintings – inspired by her native Cornwall and her love of nature – at the Thackeray Gallery can help bring them back. “Buxton’s work is instantly recognisable. A truly accomplished artist with that innate confidence of letting the paint take over as she works, allowing each image to emerge from the shadows almost unconsciously, be it a still life, a reflection, a creek or a sea. Her surfaces are tactile and abstract and at the heart of this beautiful balance of light,” comments Sarah Macdonald-Brown, gallery director. Buxton’s pictures are held in eminent collections, including the Guinness Collection, Swiss Bank Corporation and Tresco Estate. 6-22 December, 18 Thackeray Street, Kensington Square, W8, 0207 937 5883, thackeraygallery.com

The Art of Mexico

Images courtesy of: Michael Hoppen Gallery, 2016

Renowned for introducing interesting artists, the Michael Hoppen Gallery will shortly unveil an exhibition of photographic portraits by Mexican artist Eugenia Martinez, exploring her native country’s multi-layered identity and turbulent history. “Working with Mexican portraits of the past, Martinez incorporates quotes from politicians, song lyrics and slang, in different shades of white, into her portraits to create a hypnotic and even optical effect,” comments Marion Hoppen. The artist, who names Frida Kahlo as an influence, has recently been exhibited at the Galeria de Arte in Mexico and Ramis Barquet in New York. Eugenia Martinez Xmas Exhibition, 3-23 December, at the Michael Hoppen Gallery, 3 Jubilee Place, SW3, 0207 352 3649, michaelhoppengallery.com

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CHRISTMAS IN

BELGRAVIA Christmas in Belgravia will once again return with seasonal Christmas markets on Pimlico Road, Elizabeth Street and a celebrity carol service at St Paul's Church. CHRISTMAS ON PIMLICO ROAD Saturday 3 December : 10.00 - 16.00

BELGRAVIA CHRISTMAS SUNDAY Sunday 4 December : 11.00 - 17.00

BELGRAVIA CHRISTMAS WINDOWS

Throughout December

ST PAUL'S CELEBRITY CAROL SERVICE Tuesday 6 December : 18.30

For full event details visit: WWW.GROSVENORLONDON.COM BELGRAVIA_LDN

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GROSVENOR_LDN

07/11/2016 17:37

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Off the

As the demand for vintage poster art prevails, Jack Watkins speaks to Georgina Khachadourian, one of the founders of Pullman Editions, about its origins and continued relevance in the 21st century I’ve always thought that poster art must be one of the most satisfying commercial design mediums for the artist. Your name may remain anonymous, but the prominence of poster placements guarantees a comparatively large audience, and the need to make an immediate impact demands imagination and economy. The high point of poster art was predominantly in the early decades of the last century. As the world started to move at a swifter pace thanks to developments in transport and telecommunications, and art trends favoured simplicity, firm lines and geometric patterns, the inherent minimalism of posters caught the zeitgeist. Some names now revered, such as Man Ray, Graham Sutherland, Sybil Andrews and Edward Bawden, worked in the medium. And on the continent, poster art reached its peak during the Art Deco period of the 1920s when posters, largely commissioned by Swiss and French railway companies, were placed on station platforms as billboards with the aim of persuading the affluent and the adventurous to indulge in luxury travel. The influence of that bygone era can still be seen in the best of public poster art today. But the stylistic appeal of vintage posters goes very deep, and is the basis for Pullman Editions. Founded by husband and wife Simon and Georgina Khachadourian, it is dedicated to creating posters that capture the spirit and style of the ‘Golden Age’, but with original designs, offered at more affordable prices. Simon, a former City shipbroker, began collecting antiques and memorabilia related to vintage motoring 30 years ago. He established the Pullman Gallery in Mayfair in 1998. Looking at the prices original vintage posters go for today confirms their continued desirability. The last decade has seen an enormous growth in the market, according to Simon, but most of them were destroyed decades ago, and so the supply is finite. Good quality posters from the 1920s and ‘30s depicting winter sports frequently achieving fivefigure sums at auction, rising to as much as £30,000 on the rare occasions that they become available, excluding all but the wealthiest collectors.

It was this gap in the market for affordable Art Deco style posters – regularly featuring glamorous travel destinations around the world, winter sports in the Alpine resorts, and historic automobiles – that lay behind the creation of Pullman Editions, run by Georgina Khachadourian. “We started in 2010, the premise being that, as well as offering original artwork, we would bring designs up to date in terms of image and colour palette,” she explains. “Some resorts have been fashionable for a century or more, but others that are hugely popular now, like Verbier,

spotlight

for example, didn’t exit as a ‘destination’ in the 1920s. So we have been able to create unique, new designs for these resorts that appeal to a modern audience.” Their production methods largely stick to timehonoured practices, she continues. “Our posters are created in the same way as they were back in the 1920s and 30s, starting with a painting in gouache. All our artworks are hand-painted, which is quite unusual nowadays, as many poster and graphics artists prefer to work digitally. The artwork is used to create plates for printing posters using a traditional printing press. The quality of our posters, all printed on 100 per cent cotton fine art paper, is far superior to the originals produced ‘in period’, which were never made to last.” Asked to name one of her own favourite creators of Golden Age poster art, she cites Adolphe Mouron, one of the best known exponents of his heyday, also known as ‘Cassandre’. “His stark Art Deco style contrasted strongly with earlier Art Nouveau imagery, and informed a generation of artists and designers. You can see more than a trace of his stylistic influence in some of the Pullman Editions’ output. Its house artist, Charles Avalon, has been an illustrator for 40 years. “He specialises in cars, but is amazingly proficient at any aspect of the Art Deco style,” Khachadourian comments. “Each poster is strictly limited to an edition of 280, and each is numbered and embossed with our ‘blind seal’ of authenticity. We have clients in every continent and ship unframed posters worldwide.” According to Khachadourian, privately-commissioned artworks are becoming a bigger part of the business. “We recently designed and published the poster for the 2016 Concours of Elegance, which we have done every year since the inaugural event in 2012. We have worked with clients all over the world, from Mayfair to Mustique!” To view and buy Pullman Editions’ original and exclusive limited-edition posters, visit 94 Pimlico Road, SW1W pullmaneditions.com Clockwise from left: Pure Swiss Air; 1974 Ferrari 365 GTS4 - Route du Soleil; Africa Safari - Imperial Airways; Aston Martin DB4GT ZagatoLondon Motor Show, 1960; Cap d¹Antibes - Eden-Roc; all Charles Avalon, Pullman Editions

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23 K EN S I N GTON PAR K ROAD , W 11 2EU S U N S P E L .C O M

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12/09/2016 16:06

fashion

Strong Suit If it is your aim to master the double denim look like a gentleman, then look no further than Ermenegildo Zegna. For its A/W16 collection, the Italian menswear brand has launched a breakthrough fabric which presents denim in a completely new light. The Trofeo Wool Denim has been made using an innovative process that involves indigo-dyeing wool so that the properties of traditional denim are kept, while also maintaining the richness and warmth of wool. Statement pieces include a three-piece suit, a classic Crombie coat and a denim jacket, all of which are available in the brand’s just opened flagship store on Mayfair’s New Bond Street. From £475, 37-38 New Bond Street, W1S, zegna.co.uk

Image courtesy of: Ermenegildo Zegna

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Photography: Zoe McConnell

Knit Wits Hayley Menzies has had a whirlwind of a life thus far, from studying fashion to becoming a model and later planning events at the Royal Opera House. Her latest pursuit however, which involves designing plush shawls, seems a little more relaxed. Her eponymous brand offers ethically sourced knitwear, pashminas, scarves and leather goods that define laidback luxury. A key piece this season is the Portobello Blanket – a cashmere and merino knitted shawl with a shearling collar, available in cream, grey and black. From £180, 5 Portobello Green Arcade, W10, hayleymenzies.com

Leather Weather Invariably timeless and elegant in style, we can rely on Agnona to suit our wardrobe needs whatever the season. This winter we look to the brand’s A/W16 accessory collection, which offers a fine selection of timeless leather bags and boots in a range of styles. Each tote (which can also be purchased in miniature form) features a powder-style finish in soft leather, is sealed with a hammered ring and worn using a chain lined with cashmere. Leather boots are also available in wintry colours of black, nude, taupe and rose. From £765, available at Harrods, agnona.com

HER STYLE By lauren stevens

Girl Code Taking influence from historical periods, Alexandra Long’s Enigma II collection for A/W16 is inspired by elegance and espionage during the Second World War. Following on from S/S16, the new range celebrates the empowered female and is named after a German code that Joan Clarke, a codebreaker during the war, helped crack. With an emphasis on fine British fabrics, including handwoven Harris Tweed tartan, the range of luxury evening wear and outerwear maintains a sense of secrecy, with hidden zips and pockets concealed in dresses, jumpsuits, capes and coats. From £330, alexandralong.com Photography: Ionut Staicu

fashion

Fashion Forward Long gone are the days of rummaging through your clothes to find something to wear. Lauren Stevens discovers Vestiaire Collective, the luxury resale website helping us to declutter our wardrobes

We’ve all experienced that feeling of guilt when receiving an expensive Christmas gift from a relative that we know we’re probably never going to wear. After a thank you and a smile, we store it away in the back of our cupboards to collect dust, along with that forgotten pair of Manolos and a bunch of impulse buys we haven’t given a second glance in years. Our justification is that old excuse, “I’ll start wearing it again next year” – but never do. Then, before you know it, a new season is on the horizon, enticing us with a plethora of shiny new collections and enabling the forgotten items to become, well, even more forgotten. And the worst thing about it? They could probably pass for brand new. If there were a phrase to define this, we think “wardrobe hoarding” would be fitting. We’re all guilty of it, whether it’s out of sheer laziness, lack of time or because for some reason we just can’t let go. For those of you who can relate to this (and we’re pretty sure most of you can), you’ll be relieved to know that luxury resale website Vestiaire Collective has taken the initiative to do something about it. Since its launch in 2009, the company has committed to helping us rehome those unwanted designer pieces, detoxing our wardrobes and consequently making us feel more liberated for doing so. With more than five million members across 47 countries, the company is growing and, if things continue the way they are, we believe the term “wardrobe hoarding” may well become obsolete. With Vestiaire Collective, the selling process is fairly easy – the trickiest part is deciding what stays and what goes. Once that’s done, all it takes is a few snaps and a short item description, and voila! Your item is ready to be rehomed. The company also offers a VIP concierge service exclusively for London-based members, which means you don’t even need to lift a finger. “The concierge service is great for people who don’t have time to sell pieces themselves,” says Fanny Moizant, co-founder of Vestiaire Collective. “All you have to do is simply email to arrange either an at-home wardrobe detox with our VIP manager or a pick up if you’ve already cleared out your closet. The concierge

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team will send a courier to collect and handle the entire selling process for you, including the photography, product descriptions, pricing and dealing with buyer enquiries. Once the product is sold the money is transferred directly into your bank account." If that’s not first-class service, we don’t know what is. To find out more about this exclusive selling service email: conciergelondon@vestiairecollective.com; vestiairecollective.com

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NoËl

Deck the halls with boughs of holly and yourself with as much sparkle as you can muster. From sequin embellished Andrew Gn capes to golden animal print blazers by Just Cavalli, discover the brands championing the festive spirit this Christmas Photographer: Phillip Waterman

Stylist: Deborah Latouche

Left / Cape, £4,150, Andrew Gn, andrewgn.com; Dress, POA, DSquared2, dsquared2.com; Gloves, £79, Karl Lagerfeld, karl.com; Bag, £100, Edie Parker, edie-parker.com Right / Waistcoat, £1,700, Julien MacDonald, julienmacdonald.com; Shirt, £160; Trousers, £195; both Brooks Brothers, brooksbrothers.com

Above / Jacket, £885, Trousers, £395, Casely Hayford, casely-hayford.com; Shirt, £160, Brooks Brothers, as before; Shoes, £505, J.M. Weston, jmweston.com; Pocket Square, £55, Richard James, richardjames.co.uk; Bow Tie, £45, Gieves & Hawkes, gievesandhawkes.com Left / Jumpsuit, £10,200, Julien MacDonald, as before; Bag, £1,815, Roberto Cavalli, robertocavalli.com; Shoes, £895, Christian Louboutin, eu.christianlouboutin.com; Ring, Kate Spade, £88, katespade.co.uk

Above / Dress, £1,495, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, preenbythorntonbregazzi.com; Jacket, £978, Diane Von Furstenberg, uk.dvf.com; Bag, £1,598, Philipp Plein, plein.com; Ring, £300, Ternary London, ternarylondon.com Right / Jacket, £900, Just Cavalli, justcavalli.robertocavalli.com; Shirt, £435, Philipp Plein, as before; Trousers, £195, Kenzo, kenzo.com; Tie, Vintage Yves Saint Laurent, Stylist’s own

Models: Sally Jonsson @ Milk Agency and Seb @ Models 1 Make-up: Neusa Neves @ Terri Manduca using NARS Cosmetics and Zelens NAILS: Amy Atkins @ Terri Manduca using Nails Inc HAIR: Renda Attia using Bumble and Bumble Stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistant: Julie Lee HAIR assistant: Selasie Ackuaku MAKE-UP assistant: Faith Eastwood Shot on location at Quaglinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quaglinos-restaurant.co.uk. With special thanks to The Macallan, themacallan.com

M ANUFACTUR E DE H AU TE H OR LOGER IE

TONDA CHRONOR ANNIVERSAIRE

Rose gold case Rose gold openworked movement Integrated split second chronograph Big date at 12 h Hermès alligator strap Made in Switzerland parmigiani.ch

ATELIER PARMIGIANI 97 MOUNT STREET, MAYFAIR, LONDON W1K 2TD, TEL. 020 7495 5172 LONDON SELFRIDGES, THE WONDER ROOM | WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND | FROST OF LONDON HARROGATE & YORK ODGEN | SCOTLAND AND NEWCASTLE ROX DIAMONDS AND THRILLS

Parmigiani_HQ • Visual: Tonda Chronor Anniversaire • Magazine: Mayfair 26_10_16 (GB) •

Image courtesy of: Gucci Photography: Glen Luchford

Puppy Love Now that he won’t be frolicking on Rhode Island with Taylor Swift et al anymore, Tom Hiddleston’s new favourite pastime is to lounge around on a velvet green sofa with an Afghan hound by his side, it would seem. Or at least that’s what Gucci’s A/W16 men’s tailoring campaign would have us believe. When you’ve finally torn your gaze away from the blonde pooch (whose hair is suspiciously similar to that of a certain pop star ex), take note of the actor’s dapper uniform, which showcases Alessandro Michele’s design genius. This season it’s all about grid-check blazers, burgundy two-piece suits, vibrant orange piping and embroidered loafers. From a selection, 18 Sloane Street, SW1X, gucci.com

HIS STYLE By Ellen Millard

A Place in the S.U.N Harrods has seen many ‘firsts’ over the years, including England’s first ever escalator and the teddy bear that first inspired A.A Milne’s Winniethe-Pooh. But it may come as a surprise to learn that it is also home to London’s first ever ‘Gentlemen’s Outfitting Department’, which opened in the 1890s to supply socks, underwear and nightwear. Now, the space has been redesigned to span over 2,100 sq ft. If you’re tired of receiving novelty socks for Christmas, direct loved ones to the S.U.N department, where brands such as Sunspel, Calvin Klein and Versace offer a more stylish selection of stocking fillers. Lower Ground Floor, Harrods, harrods.com

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Mac Daddy To combat colder climes, Hackett has created a capsule range of trench coats using Ventile™, a smart fabric first devised during wartime England. The textile is said to be so insulating that it increased the life expectancy of fallen pilots stranded in the ocean from a just few minutes to 20, so you can rest assured that Hackett’s new range will keep you warm and dry during the winter months. Available in a single and double-breasted option, and two colourways (navy and tan), the London-manufactured coats offer a practical and stylish alternative to the common anorak. From £750, hackett.com

Signed, Sealed, Delivered If you’re yet to take advantage of Burberry’s monogramming service, there’s no better time to test it out than the advent of Christmas. This season the offering expands to include festive gold thread for the label’s heritage trench coats, gold lettering sourced from an 18th-century British embroiderer for its rucksack, a choice of foil embossing for the range of small leather accessories and a monogramming service for the brand’s signature Mr Burberry scent. Secret Santa, sorted. Monogramming from £50, 2 Brompton Road, SW1X, uk.burberry.com

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the essence of caviar introducing skin caviar essence-in-lotion Gentle, yet highly effective, extravagant, yet essential, rich with caviar water, it will become the first transformative step of your daily lifting and firming ritual. There is nothing else like it, so beneficial to your skin, so sophisticated, so utterly precious. You will discover that the missing link to ultimate skincare,was the very first step: Skin Caviar Essence-in-Lotion.

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With the holiday season fast approaching, get your brain in Christmas shopping mode with these luxurious gift ideas for him and her

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Raise a glass The best thing about a whisky connoisseur is that they’re always the easiest member of the family to buy for when it comes to choosing a gift. The only decision to be made, then, is between two of The Macallan’s single malts. The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Gift Tin brings to life the natural beauty and quality of the oak used to make the casks with beautiful photography, making it a decorative and eye-catching keepsake for whisky enthusiasts. But if you’re looking to go the extra mile, choose The Macallan Rare Cask, which sees soft notes of opulent vanilla and raisin pique the nose, giving way to a sweet ensemble of apple, lemon, and orange. A single malt produced through meticulous dedication to wood – with some of the casks used to age the whisky from sherry bodegas no longer in existence – it is the perfect gift for those who are fans of craftsmanship and quality. As Mark Twain once said: “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough.” The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Gift Tin, £38; The Macallan Rare Cask, £200, themacallan.com

Rituals and relaxation Roasting chestnuts. Spiced gingerbread. Mulled wine. Nothing has the ability to evoke an emotion quite like our sense of smell. And while the heady aromas of Christmas are just the ticket around December, everyone needs a scent to see them through the rest of the year, too. Step forward the new luxury gift sets from Rituals, with their unique blend of home and body products; a great gift idea for almost anyone. Available in small, medium, large and extra large, choose between The Ritual of Dao, The Ritual of Sakura, The Ritual of Laughing Buddha and The Ritual of Ayurveda for a special lady in your life, and either The Ritual of Samurai or The Ritual of Hammam for a man who prides himself on looking sharp. Bursting with shower foams and scrubs, body creams, muds and oils, the extra large gift sets contain a unique combination of home and body products. What’s more, the new environmentally-friendly packaging can be reused as a keepsake box for your jewels or mementos. Rituals new Christmas Gift Sets, small, £19.50; medium, £29.50; large, £39.50; extra large, £65, uk.rituals.com

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All that glitters Fashionista, socialite and businesswoman to boot; few lend as cool an air to accessories as Jade Jagger. The designer’s maverick sensibility and unique eye for design has put her firmly in line as one of the leading visionaries and artisans of the fine jewellery industry. Wear each piece on its own for a simple, chic look, or stack for a more eclectic image. Just as beautiful, but totally different in style, is Maria Kovadi. The fine Italian craftsmanship translates the poetry of the designer’s vision into innovative, playful, extravagant and enchanting creations, which come made-to-order or in a limited edition. From Italy to Greece, Athens-born Takis Etho, the designer behind the awardwinning jewellery house Etho Maria, takes inspiration from architectural shapes and sculptures. With its unique colour combinations that represent the light in his native Greece, Etho Maria marries impeccable craftsmanship with superior design, which translates into exquisite, wearable pieces that make a bold and lasting statement. Choose a cuff from the River collection, with its dazzling shades of blue, green and purple precious stones. For something classically beautiful, a ring from Wendy Yue’s TsikiTsiki collection could never disappoint. Just as bold, but totally different in style, the designer creates wonderful and whimsical works of art through her unique and fun

Clockwise from left: Rose Handpick, Wendy Yue, £36,000; River Bracelet, Etho Maria, £30,400; Bohemian Ring, Jade Jagger, £11,650; Kiss ring rose gold, £900. Me ring white gold, £2,500. Both Maria Kovadi

jewellery. We especially love the almost fantastical displays of horticulture and animals in the Forbidden Forest, The Orient and Bird Mythology ranges. If you’re feeling particularly generous, choose a piece from each house for a Christmas to remember. As they say, life is too short to wear boring jewellery. jadejagger.co.uk, kovadi.com, ethomaria.com, wendyyue.com

Perfect scents For a foolproof Christmas gift, the perfect scent always makes perfect sense. An encounter between two symbols of excellence – Maison Baccarat and Maison Francis Kurkdjian – Baccarat Rouge 540 fuses the ethereal facets of jasmine and the radiance of saffron, carrying with it ambergris mineral notes and woody tones of freshly cut cedar. Or for a more floral choice, Luxury by Mizensir – the fragrance house founded by Alberto Morillas, one of the world’s most renowned perfumers – magnifies the natural scent of the skin with a splash of orange tree flower and a touch of iris, combined with notes of benzoin, vanilla and tonka bean. For that special man in your life, choose Creed’s Aventus, a heroic fragrance that is for the bold, spirited and confident: top note blackcurrant blends with bergamot from Italy, while apple and pineapple mingle with the middle notes of birch and jasmine, and base hints of oakmoss and vanilla. As the bottle motif suggests, Aventus’s roots are very classic, yet the fragrance is contemporary, forceful and roaring with energy.

Left: Luxury from Mizensir, £165 Centre: Baccarat Rouge 540 Maison Francis Kurkdjian iconic bottle, natural spray, 70ml, £195. Also available in a limited and numbered Baccarat crystal edition, 100ml, £3,000; Right: Aventus for him, from £99-£490

Creed available from Creed Boutique, 99 Mount Street, W1K, creedfragrances.co.uk; Maison Francis Kurdjian and Mizensir available from Black Hall Perfumery at Harrods, harrods.com

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An oud to tradition There are few perfumes with a history so ingrained in a region’s culture as oud. Famed for its talismanic heritage, Arabian Oud sources its elixir from the most expensive scented wood known to man. The Agarwood tree, from which the wood originates, is indigenous to only a few remote regions in India, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia and Brunei, and the trees are left to mature for hundreds of years before the perfume is extracted. If you’re looking for a truly precious gift to give, the House’s Kashmir scent is an ideal choice for men, with its fruity top notes of Japanese yuzu, blackcurrant and plum; heart notes of oud, rose and jasmine; and earthy base notes of white musk, Kashmir oud and vanilla. Meanwhile, women will adore Madawi with its combination of Eastern and Western aromas. Expect softer top notes of peach and apple blossom, but the signature base notes of wild rose, musk and patchouli. If you’re left wanting more, then head online, or to the European flagship store on Oxford Street. Set over two floors, the lower floor is reserved for VIP customers by appointment only. Kashmir, £175; Madawi, £160, 435-437 Oxford Street, W1C, arabianoud.co.uk

Swiss precision What to buy for the tech fan who has everything? Swiss start-up SIRIN LABS has just the answer with its first product, SOLARIN. Launched this May, the smartphone already boasts an A-list clientele and is the result of more than two years of intensive research and development. SOLARIN is pioneering in both appearance and function, offering superior features such as an industry-leading camera, a screen of unbeatable clarity, the richest sound system, unrivalled global connectivity and WiGig (the WiFi of the future), all of which are safeguarded by state-of-the-art cyber-threat protection. This is further enhanced by the militarystandard 256-bit AES (aka super strong security software), which ensures that your private information stays, well, private. The result is the best of both worlds: a top of the range handset with an unrivalled level of privacy that can’t be found outside of the agency world. As well as online, SOLARIN can be bought from its Bruton Place boutique and Harrods’ Technology department. The specialist teams based in each store offer clear consultation, full joining assistance and will provide on-going support to the lucky receiver. It certainly beats another pair of novelty socks. From £9,500 + VAT, 34 Bruton Place, W1J, 020 7495 8572, sirinlabs.com

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Hidden gem An exceptionally rare jewellery experience awaits you in the heart of Mayfair’s Royal Arcade, where international award-winning Jeweller, Calleija, has opened a brand new multi-level boutique. Calleija is renowned for meticulous attention to detail, skilled craftsmanship, carefully curated coloured gems and spectacular diamonds. Most notable are the Australian Argyle Pink, brilliant white and striking yellow diamonds and, of course, the brand’s signature diamond, the Glacier®. Dedicated to creating personalised bespoke

Left: ‘The Audrey’ ring, 6.53ct diamond, Rose Gold and Platinum bands, encrusted with rare Pink and White Diamonds. Right: ‘Mini Bellarina’ Necklet, White Diamonds and Rose Gold

masterpieces of the highest quality, Calleija encourages one’s personal style to be expressed through the exquisite wonders of each jewel. Each design is bespoke from start to finish, concepts are hand drawn and designs are handcrafted by Calleija’s dedicated team of artisans, who will assist you in creating the perfect gift for that special someone in your life. As one of the most well-renowned Australian jewellers in the world and with more than 35 years experience in the industry, the brand’s founder John Calleija is known for his relentless quest to create spectacular one-off masterpieces from the finest diamonds and gemstones, making Calleija the go-to boutique for jewellery that will no doubt be cherished for generations. Remember: diamonds are forever, not just for Christmas 28 Old Bond Street, No. 7 The Royal Arcade, W1S, calleija.com

One man’s treasure While you won’t find anything that resembles ‘trash’ on the super stylish pre-owned luxury clothing portal Vestiaire Collective, you may just find some treasure. Featuring only the most coveted brands – from Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Céline to Burberry, Hermès and Gucci – the site, which can be accessed online or through the easy-to-use app, attracts a community of more than five million fashion lovers who buy and sell. If you weren’t hot off the mark the first season around, or if it’s vintage you’re after, you’ll find more than 400,000 pre-loved items for sale: from accessories to clothes and interior finds, all of which have been vetted for authenticity and style by the in-house quality control team. If your mantra is ‘out with the old and in with the new’, then why not try the highly efficient concierge service, which provides a complete end-to-end selling facility to the London area. It’s a one-stop treasure trove of gifting ideas. vestiairecollective.com

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As Loïc would have it We’re huge fans of British lifestyle brand Lilou et Loïc, which offers a range of luxury scented home fragrance, bath and body products. Decadent oversized bath foam decanters in handmade glass are filled with luxurious scented bath foam for the perfect present. Refillable, they will be the centrepiece of any bathroom. Or gift the Luxury Body Butter, which nourishes and hydrates the skin. Presented in a beautiful handmade glass jar, it can be refilled or reused throughout the home. Other gift options include scented candles, stylish room diffusers, or oversized Emperor candles. The fragrance library has been developed to offer an extensive range of scents that appeal to both sexes, such as Ginger & Saffron for some festive ambience or Black Amber & Saffron for Middle Eastern opulence. Candles make the ideal treat for party hosts or a special teacher at school. To top it off, everything is stylishly packaged in its signature grey and white striped cylinder gift boxes, to eliminate any Christmas shopping stress. All products are developed and manufactured in the UK and are paraben free. From £30, lilouetloic.com

Off the wall If your walls are begging for a standout vintage find, then nothing says New York loft quite like an Art Deco poster. Pullman Editions designs striking original limited-edition posters, and its latest pieces feature glamorous travel destinations from around the world, winter sports in the European Alps, and the greatest historic automobiles. With the finest vintage posters reaching as much as £30,000 (on the rare occasions they become available), Pullman Editions produces new artworks to provide a modern alternative to the costly period originals. Hand-painted by leading poster artists, each with their own unique signature style, its editions combine originality with the quintessential heritage and dramatic imagery of vintage posters. Available in strictly limited editions of 280, they are printed using traditional techniques on 100 per cent cotton fine art paper, and are signed, hand-numbered and bear Pullman Editions’ embossed stamp of authenticity. An ideal gift for a house-proud friend or loved one, choose a monochrome frame against a feature wall for that magazine-perfect look. £395 each (unframed), 94 Pimlico Road, SW1W, 020 7730 0547, pullmaneditions.com

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Perfect skin – the perfect gift The Laser Treatment Clinic, located on London’s renowned Harley Street, has been helping both women and men achieve their beauty and grooming goals since 2000, and the clinic has been effectively treating all types of unwanted skin lesions for the past 17 years. It offers advanced skin rejuvenation treatments for acne, scars, stretch marks, pigmentation, unwanted tattoos, sun damage, thread veins, rosacea and black skincare concerns. The Laser Treatment Clinic uses its own brand of highly natural and highly effective advanced Marine Skin Care products, in synergy with cutting-edge laser treatments to achieve amazing results. It’s never too late to start looking after your skin, and this is one of the best places to start. Take advantage of the Christmas offers by booking a free consultation with a skin specialist or simply purchase a laser treatment or skincare product gift voucher, for someone special. Christmas special offer: up to 50 per cent off laser skincare treatments (for a limited time period) The Laser Treatment Clinic, 1 Harley Street, W1G, 020 7307 8712, thelasertreatmentclinic.com

A sweet deal For that one person who is impossible to buy for, we suggest a trip to chocolate aficionado Leonidas for something simply irresistible. Having celebrated its centenary three years ago by receiving a Royal Warrant from His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium, even the fussiest of foodies will delight in the Snow Queen chocolate box with its four delicious Christmas tree treats. The milk chocolate is filled with oozing dulce de leche, a caramelised milk cream; the white with speculoos, a spiced Belgian biscuit; the dark with a mandarin ganache and the dark Christmas tree with Indian black Assam tea, mixed with

N E E D • T O • K N O W

fruits and spices. With a story that began in 1910, when Leonidas Kestekides represented Greece at the Brussels

For our readers, Leonidas is pleased to offer a free 150g gift box filled with a selection of chocolates (worth £7.35) for all purchases over £22* during November 2016 in the following participating stores only: Formosa Flowers & Chocolaterie, 2 Formosa Street, W9 1EE. Leonidas, The Arcade, 20 Liverpool Street, EC2M 7PN. Leonidas, 125 Kensington Arcade, Kensington High Street, W8 5SF. Leonidas, 12 Oak Road, Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre, W5 3SS. Manon Café, 43-45 Eastcheap, EC3M 1JA. Manon Café, 85 King William Street, EC4N 7BL. Manon Café, 110 Fleet Street, EC4A 2AF. Manon Café, 21 Copthall Avenue, EC2R 7BP. Leonidas, 132 St John’s Wood High Street, NW8 7SE. Leonidas Harrods (Chocolates & Confectionery, Ground Floor). *Terms and conditions apply: offer limited to one free gift box per transaction, per day and per customer

World Exhibition, winning the bronze medal for his artisanal confectionery, and then gold at The International Exhibition in Ghent, these prize-winning luxuries are as highly revered today as they were when first created. Crafted using the finest fresh ingredients – real Belgian chocolate, vanilla from Madagascar, oranges from Valencia and almonds from California – each is blended by a maître chocolatier with more than 100 years of Leonidas family knowhow under its (elasticated) belt. leonidas.com

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Left: Fortnum & Mason Classic Christmas hamper, £165

’Tis the season After more than 300 years making Christmas merrier, Fortnum & Mason has merry-making down to a fine art. Nobody does the festive season quite like Fortnum’s. The famous shopfront window displays are always a treat, but it’s inside where the real magic happens. For friends near and far, hampers are packed from bottom-to-brim with yuletide delights. In the extraordinary Food Halls, there’s food and drink enough to cover every inch of your festive feast. And in The Christmas Shop there are beautiful decorations, show-stopping crackers, personalised stockings for people and pets, and advent calendars – including one filled with tea. The man in red himself even stops in every year to read a Christmas story and take last-minute present requests. With gift personalisation and worldwide delivery in-store and online – and with a selection of travel-ready gifts at their St. Pancras and Heathrow Terminal 5 stores too – Fortnum’s has Christmas all wrapped up like pigs in blankets. All you need to do is make your list and check it twice. 181 Piccadilly, W1A, fortnumandmason.com

the perfect gift Want to buy the ultimate gift for a loved one this Christmas but don’t know where to begin? Huntress & Grace is at your disposal. The product of a love story, the company was founded by siblings Sophie and Grace, who were approached by a good friend on the hunt for a unique wedding gift for his fiancé. All he had to go on was her passion for shoes, but he didn’t know the difference between Louboutin and Ladurée. Using their expert knowledge of the luxury landscape, the sisters set about creating the ultimate gift for his wife-to-be. The pair tracked down limited edition footwear collections that were unavailable on the open market and created a bespoke Sex and the City-inspired walk-in shoe closet to house them in. Needless to say, the lucky bride-to-be was completely blown away, and Huntress & Grace was formed. This is just a small example of the lengths that the pair will go to to deliver the ultimate unforgettable and truly unique present for its clients. Every gift is distinctly personal, originating from a one-on-one creative meeting where the duo look to understand the client ‘s true passions and interests. Consider Huntress & Grace your very own personal Santa Clause. huntressandgrace.com

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not all privacy is created equal SOLARIN is the ultimate mobile phone that combines the latest advanced technologies with the highest levels of privacy and the most elegant of designs.

34 Bruton Pl, Mayfair, London W1J 6LD | Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7XL www.sirinlabs.com

lifestyle

A White Christmas It seems Santa’s helpers have come early this year as luxury lifestyle brand The White Company has our kids’ outfits sorted for the festive period. Super soft velour baby suits offer the perfect solution for a cosy night’s sleep on Christmas Eve, and for the older ones (who we assume won’t be getting much in the way of sleep) a selection of pyjamas are available for those early morning present opening sessions. When it’s time to smarten up for lunch, boys can choose from a selection of statement jumpers and comfy denim, while pretty dresses and tutus are available for girls. £10-£99, 4 Symons Street, SW3 thewhitecompany.com

Photography: ©Melanie Rodriguez

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& GARDEN

HOME

BY lauren stevens

Stands Out Luxury bath brand Victoria + Albert has added to its traditional collection of freestanding baths with a new model: The Warndon. Manufactured in the brand’s exclusive material QUARRYCAST® (a blend of volcanic limestone and high performance resins), the bath is smooth and scratch-resistant, and also retains maximum heat. The design is inspired by the traditional Roman bath, with ribbed edges that imitate classic stonework detailing and follows the rules of symmetry to make it the perfect centrepiece for any bathroom. From £3,000, 316-317 Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, SW10, vandabaths.com

Flower Power It’s easy to forget how much a bunch of flowers can brighten up a dull space, and Willow Crossley is here to ensure that doesn’t happen. With a distinctive style that sets her apart from other florists, Crossley boasts a high-profile clientele, including Anthropologie, Jo Malone London and Mulberry, to name a few. But she’s not one for keeping secrets – her new book Flourish shares ideas on how to decorate homes for different occasions, plus tips for growing your own plants for the less greenfingered among you. The book, which introduces 37 different types of flower, is perfect for professionals, first-time enthusiasts and anyone in-between. £19.99, kylebooks.co.uk

Photography: Emma Mitchell

Image courtesy of: Yves Delorme

Smells like Home

French Fancy For those of you seeking winter bedroom inspiration, look no further than French luxury home-linen brand Yves Delorme. The new STELLA range defines home comfort, offering a selection of white bed linen, towels and bathroom accessories made using sateen-cotton and embellished with glittering and geometric patterns. A sandalwood scented candle is also available, making for a great addition to the home or the perfect Christmas gift. From £79, 1 Ellis Street, SW1X, yvesdelorme.com

Finishing Touch Clothing and homeware brand Anthropologie is meeting all of our decorative needs this Christmas, offering a wide selection of carefully curated homeware pieces. The range spans from crockery to Christmas decorations, including finely crafted products by the brand as well as exclusive collaborations with a range of designers. Browse cushions and baubles from Quill & Fox, or illustrated crockery from Molly Hatch and Nathalie Lete. From a selection, 131-141 King’s Road, SW3, anthropologie.com

Former model Wilnelia Forsyth has traded in her high heels for pen and paper to fulfil her ambition of building a lifestyle brand – and she’s starting with candles. Inspired by exotic fragrances of the Caribbean where she grew up, the latest addition to her eponymous collection, The Celebration Candle, captures the essence of glamour with a vintage-inspired scent of rose, bergamot and jasmine fused with patchouli and sandalwood. The classic matt black jar comes with an elegant gold polished lid, perfect for use as a coaster or candle extinguisher. £55, available from Fortnum & Mason, wilneliaforsyth.com

Craft Masters Get festive with Bluebird Chelsea’s resident party and events florist Hannah Martin, who will be hosting a Christmas wreath-making session for DIY fans. The event will take place at the restaurant, where Martin will demonstrate how to make the perfect wreath using natural materials, sparkling decorations and embellishments. All materials will be provided on the day. 21 November, £65, 350 King’s Road, SW3, bluebird-restaurant.co.uk

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Heart of Glass A component of Czech heritage, Bohemian glass has long been associated with beauty and high quality – a fact not lost on lighting and design brand Lasvit, which reintroduced the luxury material to the modern market. Offering the best of bespoke lighting sculptures and art installations, Lasvit collaborates with renowned designers and artists to produce unique glass collections. Among the latest is Polygon by Jan PlecháČ & Henry Wielgus, a lighting collection designed using 3D modelling. Arriving in a selection of colours, the lampshades are matte finished, refracting light by day and revealing the full beauty of the design by night. From £1,270, 81 Fulham Road, SW3, conranshop.co.uk

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Blueprint for

Future

When Zaha Hadid passed away in March, her office partner Patrik Schumacher suddenly became the architectural practice’s new principal. Camilla Apcar meets him to talk about Hadid’s legacy, his plans for the firm and its latest furniture collection

Clockwise from top: Maxxi museum, photography: Hélène Binet; Guangzhou Opera House, photography: Hufton + Crow; Beijing new airport terminal building, Render by Methanoia, ©Zaha Hadid Architects; London Aquatics Centre, photography: Hufton + Crow; Patrik Schumacher, photography: Martin Slivka

lifestyle

atrik Schumacher joined Zaha Hadid Architects as a student in 1988, two years before completing his architectural diploma, when the practice was still a small studio. After Hadid passed away in March, Schumacher – by then office partner and a director – was chosen to lead as its new principal. The circumstances of Schumacher’s move into the spotlight were tragically unforeseen, and the sudden loss of the ‘starchitect’ of such a large research-led firm – now with 400 creatives, built from just four in 1979 – was also somewhat unprecedented. “Emotionally it was very tough, of course. For 30 years Zaha and I were communicating daily and bouncing ideas off each other,” says the German-born architect. “We built the brand together.” Hadid’s legacy has already written itself. In 2004 she became the first female winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, and the first woman to receive the Royal Institute of British Architects gold medal, earlier this year. Despite struggling to win proposals for decades in the UK, her prolific work is internationally renowned and valued for eschewing stylish fads in favour of the theoretical. The Hadid aesthetic is unmistakable: concrete, glass and steel brought together in vast futuristic forms that play with curves. Two prime examples are buildings that Schumacher co-designed with the architect herself – the Guangzhou Opera House (pictured top right), with its freestanding concrete auditorium set inside an angular exposed granite and glass-clad steel frame; and the MAXXI museum in Rome (pictured above), where swerving ceiling tracks and staircases put black and white in curvilinear contrast, leading to a periscope-like viewing platform over the city. “Architecture is about communication,” says Schumacher. “[Buildings] need to be expressive.”

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“Architecture is about communication. Buildings needs to be expressive”

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Clockwise from top left: Central Bank of Iraq, courtesy of: Zaha Hadid Architects; Lisse chandelier, courtesy of: David Gill Gallery; Messner Mountain Museum Corones, South Tyrol, Italy, photography: ©inexhibit.com; Liquid Glacial Console 2; UltraStellar coffee table, chair and table, all courtesy of: David Gill Gallery

The Guggenheim Museum in Taiwan and London Aquatics Centre are among the many other cultural sites the firm has to its name, and its portfolio of mixed-use residential and office headquarters is growing steadily. The Middle East remains an important market, where the practice is working on the Central Bank of Iraq. Elsewhere, the new and improved Beijing airport is under construction. Zaha Hadid Architects now has 54 projects in 26 countries either under construction or in detailed design, and will complete a building every year for the rest of the decade. Its offices can be found across the globe from Hong Kong to New York and are soon to come in Dubai and Mexico City. Yet it is down to Schumacher, in the large part, to shape the firm’s future. The question of how to move on without the eponymous founder remains a difficult one, and the answer remains to be seen in the coming years. “Zaha was very intuitive in her way of working,” Schumacher describes, “while I have an element of

analytic overlay and reflection – to write, theorise and explain the rationality of what we’re doing. I think it’s important to explain that the environments [we are creating] aren’t only stimulating, but very efficient in structuring the live processes of our contemporary world.” After Hadid passed away, the practice had a week of contemplation during which friends and colleagues gathered in its Clerkenwell headquarters every day. “There was a huge wave of sympathy and encouragement, people wishing us well and wanting us to continue. We gathered everybody in the office to talk about Zaha’s legacy, what we have achieved and how we will be moving on… how we also need to reinvent ourselves partially, and remain innovative.” This innovation is key to Schumacher’s vision; environmental and material efficiency is just as important to him as design and aesthetics. “We are very savvy when it comes to the computational [intelligence] within our design process, using evolutionary algorithms and structural organisation in respect to fabrication logics,” he explains, expounding with academic enthusiasm on the ‘synergies’ between architectural theory and modern technology. The team is also looking at 3D-printing in concrete and other materials, as well as robotic fabrication techniques.

lifestyle

Hadid’s sculptural, almost fluid limited editions straddle the fine line between furniture and works of art “The next stage of innovation is no longer coming from small studios, as it was maybe 30 years ago,” he continues. “That was when we had to break the mould of modernism into the study of more complex urban situations. [Today], larger firms have the chance to build research departments. It’s a bit like Google in the world of tech. You have some start-ups, but in the end it’s larger firms that are really cutting-edge and bringing things into realisation.” Schumacher is also investing in what he refers to as ‘social functionality enhancement’. “We want to model the live process that goes on in buildings,” he says. The concept is particularly relevant for large buildings or complexes, and the company uses digital technology to simulate how people gather, communicate and roam in certain spaces. The practice’s future and any reinvention will call on its vast team, who are all given their own artistic scope. Ever wary of falling into routines, “Zaha’s contribution really was to create that open-source ambience for creative flourishing,” recalls the new principal. Perhaps testament to this freedom, none of the practice’s talents have left since March, he reports, even though headhunters came knocking thick and fast. Another area that Schumacher is turning his attention to is the firm’s interior design arm: sculptural, almost fluid limited editions that straddle the fine line between furniture and works of art. The latest collection, UltraStellar, marks a departure from the sleek acrylic and often transparent icy shapes that have characterised Zaha

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Hadid furniture to date. It is her final collection for Mayfair gallerist David Gill, who will be exhibiting the works until 29 October and selling them thereafter. Packed with wooden furniture and orange or lime leather, the new series includes tables – large and small – as well as benches and chairs. The change of direction was inspired by looking back at 1950s and ’60s modernist timber furniture, says Schumacher. “It’s something we’ve never done before, and is very organic.” Acrylic has not been left entirely behind, however – it is married with the collection’s walnut curvature. The Liquid Glacial range (from around £16,000), launched in 2012, has been extended with two consoles and a bowl in both clear acrylic and sterling silver. Gill has also unveiled a sinuous steel and glass chandelier (pictured above), a cobweb-like design that was initially shown as a prototype at the 2014 London Design Festival and now manufactured for the first time. “These pieces are more unique and varied because they are robotically constructed or milled,” says Schumacher. “The technology of [their] making is not premised on mass production and uses complex curvature, which has a tactile quality. They are inherently appealing, like the forms of nature. There’s a strong continuity between buildings and the theory of furniture.” The future, it seems, is bright. David Gill Gallery, 2-4 King Street, SW1Y davidgillgallery.com, zaha-hadid.com

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All she wants for Christmas...

LUXURY BATH & BODY AND HOME FRAGRANCE COLLECTIONS

www.lilouetloic.com

promotion

Starrynights Light up winter evenings and celebrate Christmas with Rituals There are festivals throughout the world that celebrate light, from Diwali to Hanukkah, and this winter Rituals is celebrating Christmas with its new, limited edition The Ritual of Light Collection. Inspired by sparkling Christmas trees, candles in churches, and roaring fires on cold winter nights, Rituals also hopes to remind everyone to kindle their inner light this festive season. The collection encourages people to take a moment to reflect, and not only offer gifts but their time, attention and love to family and friends. The range of comforting and indulgent home and body products includes candles, shower foam, and tea, to promote an atmosphere of peace and serenity, and all the products are scented with classic orange and cinnamon notes for a festive feel.

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Take some time out to indulge in a decadent bath by soaking in the Rituals creamy bath foam, and use the body scrub with its organic sugar and soothing jojoba and sweet almond oils to give dull skin its glow back. Complete the scene with the metallic scented candle, which is also available in an extra large size with three wicks and 70 hours of burning time as a statement centrepiece. Finally, add fragrance sticks to extend the scent throughout the home. From December, sets of six fortune crackers will also join the range â&#x20AC;&#x201C; perfect for an elegant touch to table settings. Each contains a quote or saying and either a miniature Fortune shower oil, The Ritual of Dao Stress Relief serum or The Ritual of Ayurveda hand balm. From ÂŁ8.50, uk.rituals.com

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Magic

McKnight

Creating iconic hair styles for everyone from the Princess of Wales to the Queen of Pop, Sam McKnight reflects on 40 years in the industry with scarlett russell as Somerset House dedicates its new exhibition to the scissor-wielding prodigy Princess Diana’s slicked-back ‘90s hairdo, Tilda Swinton channelling David Bowie for Vogue in 2003 and Cate Blanchett’s soft waves when accepting her Oscar in 2014 – all courtesy of one man. Three months before this issue is due out, hair stylist to the stars Sam McKnight has a 25-minute window for an interview with me before his diary fills up with Fashion Weeks, editorial shoots and final approval over his upcoming exhibition at Somerset House. And you thought supermodels had a full schedule. “Oh, it’s always busy,” he laughs. “But I’m an opportunist. I’ve grabbed every opportunity that has come my way and ran with it. I think that’s what has shaped my career.” The career in question is one that has spanned 40 years and includes no less than 190 Vogue covers,

Karlie Kloss for British Vogue, November 2015. photography: Patrick Demarchelier

Madonna’s Bedtimes Stories album cover and lifelong working relationships-turned-friendships with Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Karl Lagerfeld and the late Princess of Wales. He first met Princess Diana on a shoot in 1990. “She said, ‘what would you do if I gave you free rein [with my hair]?’” recalls McKnight. “I said, ‘cut it short.’ She said, ‘Can you do it now?’” From then on, he took charge of of Diana’s hair up until her death in 1997. Gone were the perms and in was a stylish crop that cemented her transformation from girly princess to a powerful leader and certified fashion icon. “I always tried to change things with her – go shorter, wavier or slicker,” he comments. “She had started to modernise her clothes and I thought her hair should

©Alexei Hay, Trunk Archive

LIFESTYLE

Tilda Swinton, Vogue Italia, February 2003 ©Craig McDean, image courtesy of: Art + Commerce

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Kate Moss, Patrick Demarchelier, ©The Condé Nast Publications Ltd

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LIFESTYLE

reflect that. We had slicked it back a few times in private and the first time she wore it out in public I knew it would cause a stir.” Having grown up on a council estate in Ayrshire, Scotland, McKnight swept hair at a local salon before heading to London and Molton Brown in the 1970s where starlets including Bianca Jagger would pour in to have their hair cut. It led to Sam styling on shoots and entering the fashion world at a pivotal time. “The industry was bubbling by then,” he says. “The ‘60s kicked it all off, of course, but then we came out of the three-day week and London started being cool again. By the ‘80s, The Face, i-D and London Fashion Week had started and things had become exciting.” He started shooting regularly for Vogue. During a stint living in New York, along with make-up artists Mary Greenwell and Val Garland, and photographers Steven Klein, Patrick Demarchelier, Steven Meisel and Herb Ritts, McKnight became implicit in the supermodel-defining decade of the ‘90s. “Suddenly, Cindy [Crawford], Linda [Evangelista], Claudia [Schiffer] had more power and money than Hollywood actresses. It was crazy. I walked into a shop with Claudia and a girl actually fainted.” McKnight first met Kate Moss when she was 16 and having test shots taken by Klein. “We all thought, ‘you’ll never make it’, and then Steven took these Polaroids of her and we were like, ‘wow, OK, she really is different.’ I’ve worked with her ever since. Kate takes it further than anyone else; that’s why she’s so brilliant. She wants to make every shoot the best she’s ever done. She keeps us all on our toes. And she’s got the dirtiest sense of humour.” In 1994, Madonna asked McKnight to style her hair for the cover of her next album, Bedtime Stories. “She was lovely,” he says. “Patrick [Demarchelier] and I spent a day with her in a studio in Miami. She invited me to her birthday party that night, but I had a job for Vogue in New York in the morning so I apologised and explained I couldn’t go. Hello! Who turns down a party invite from Madonna?” Having celebrated his 60th birthday last year (a lavish affair at Tramp in Mayfair with 600 guests, including Stella McCartney, Mario Testino and Moss on the DJ decks) McKnight now celebrates his career with a retrospective at Somerset House, Hair, and accompanying coffee table book. It’s been in the works for almost three years. “It’s daunting,” he admits. “And quite emotional going through my entire archive. But it’s great. The exhibition is more than just pictures on a wall. We’re having wigs, clothes, books, other people’s voices. It’s exciting. I couldn’t pick a favourite aspect, but seeing everything together will be very special.” Opening this month, it’s the first major hair exhibition at the cultural institution, which has been home to many a Fashion Week show. Some of McKnight’s fondest memories of London are there.

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“So many fashion shows, but my friend Oliver Peyton used to have a restaurant there, The Admiralty. There are lots of fabulous and hazy memories.” Having previously lived in Kensington, McKnight is now a NorthWest Londoner. On the rare occasion he isn’t working, he can be found gardening – “nothing makes me happier these days” – walking through Hyde Park’s rose garden and shopping on Kensington Church Street. His career shows no signs of slowing down. Considering he worked through the 1990s – a decadent decade fuelled by supermodels, grunge and Brit Pop – does McKnight feel that the glory days of culture, celebrity and fashion have been deflated by social media? “It was certainly much more elitist and guarded back then,” he says. “There was a mystery and a glamour to that world. Now, Instagram shows everyone working on the inside and it has become a little fake. We didn’t know what people were having for breakfast, put it that way.” But one thing that won’t change is the cultural impact a hairstyle can have. Whether it be Princess Di’s crop, Victoria Beckham’s bob or Gigi Hadid’s beachy waves, looks from catwalks and covers sweep their way to high street salons and Pinterest boards to become global obsessions. “British people have the most interesting relationship with hair,” says McKnight. “We aren’t afraid to not wash our hair for a week, bleach it blonde or make it pink. People look to Brits to be inspired and I love that.” Hair by Sam McKnight opens at Somerset House on November 2. The book is published by Rizzoli, £35, rizzoliusa.com

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HEALTH BEAUTY BY Olivia sharpe

Images courtesy of: Burberry

Stardust So used are we to the fresh-faced beauty looks in Burberry’s fashion shows that it came as quite a shock when we saw models sporting metallic eyes, lashings of mascara and holographic glitter for A/W16. Burberry beauty maestro Wendy Rowe has since waved her magic make-up wand and created a series of limited edition festive products, inviting us all to get the look this Christmas. Must-haves include the Gold Shimmer Dust, which should be placed haphazardly around the outer-eye corners and cheekbones for an effortless touch, and the Gold Touch cream highlighter for a luminous glow. From £15 for the Burberry nail polish, uk.burberry.com

To Your Heart’s Desire

The make-up rule of thumb is that you should either accentuate lips or eyes, never both. However, after seeing Dior make-up artist Peter Philips’ holiday make-up collection, we believe it is time to do away with the handbook and just have fun. The beauty maverick has created a glamorous and bold range of products to mark the festive season. Our favourites include the new lipsticks in rich hues of dark plum and vivid red paired with intense, smoky eye shades. As Philips said in a previous interview, “Girls want to have fun with makeup and they’re not afraid.” From £20.50, dior.com

Up in the Air Breathe a fresh lease of life into your home with Charlotte Rhys’ heavenly collection of diffusers. The Atmosphere range comes in a number of different scents, including No.17, St. Tomas, Victor, Under the Leaves and Ruby Grapefruit. While we love the fresh citrusy scent of Ruby Grapefruit, Victor is undoubtedly the perfect scent for winter, with warming notes of rich leather and spicy black pepper complemented by subtle traces of nutmeg. Atmosphere diffuser, £68 for 100ml, charlotterhys.uk.com Images courtesy of: Dior

Moon Face It may have received mixed reviews when it first came out, but the 1927 German sci-fi Metropolis is now one of the most influential films in cinema history and has been a source of inspiration for countless artists since. As well as being the backdrop for fashion brand Delpozo’s S/S16 collection, it has also inspired Francois Nars’ latest holiday make-up collection in collaboration with photographer Sarah Moon. The duo looked to the intense smoky eyes, pale face and dark lips of female protagonist Maria to create the campaign and accompanying set of products. Sarah Moon for NARS Get Real Audacious Eye & Lip Set, £32, narscosmetics.co.uk

Miracle on Sloane Street Jo Malone has once again surpassed itself this year when it comes to its seasonal gifting offerings. Along with brand new products and exclusive launches, 2016 also sees the return of its Ultimate Christmas Cracker. The perfect under-the-tree present comes complete with five signature Malone products from which you can choose your preferred scent, including the cologne, home candle, body crème or cologne intense body crème, and the body & hand wash. Visit the flagship Sloane Street store to discover what else the brand has to offer, including its beautiful Christmas wreath. Ultimate Christmas Cracker, £206-£245, 150 Sloane Street, SW1X, jomalone.co.uk

Three of the Best If the stress of finding the perfect gift for your loved one is proving too much, you can’t go wrong with a gift from Clive Christian. The luxury British fragrance house has launched two special editions of its Original Collection for men and women this Christmas. Each box set comprises three of the house’s founding scents which no true perfume connoisseur should be without, which include 1872, NO.1 and X, all arriving in 30ml bottles. The Feminine Collection, 30ml x3 gift set, £425, available at Harrods, harrods.com

Pursuit of Passion Aesop has had quite the adventure these past 29 years. Founded in Australia, the skincare brand has since travelled the globe, filling bathroom cabinets with its covetable line of beauty products. As part of its Pursuits of Passion 2016 collection, Aesop pays tribute to the free-spirited adventurer within all of us with a series of gifting kits. The Avid Explorer kit comprises four signature Aesop formulations that will hold you in good stead throughout the winter months, all designed to nourish and hydrate hands and body. They include the Resurrection hand wash and hand balm, the Rose by Any Other Name body cleanser and the intensive body balm. The gifting collections are now available in Aesop’s newly opened flagship store in Notting Hill. Avid Explorer kit, £75, 61 Golborne Road, W10, aesop.com/uk

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Home Sweet Home Founders of Scandinavian-inspired British lifestyle brand Lilou et LoĂŻc, Aldis Firman and Malin Wright, discuss their love of home, design and fragrance with Olivia Sharpe

lifestyle

in creating the products that it wasn’t until much later that they realised they needed a name for their concept. However, like everything else, this proved very easy. “Funnily enough the name is just perfect and once we identified it we knew it couldn’t be anything else,” says Malin, smiling. “It came from my daughter’s nickname, Lilou, and her imaginary friend, Loïc, who used to accompany us when we were in France. We then decided to add wings to illustrate her guardian angel.” All of the brand’s heavenly fragrances are inspired by Aldis’ and Malin’s travels. One fragrance that particularly resonates with Aldis is the Oriental Sandalwood & Black Pepper, which takes her back to her time in Japan. “I’ve been all over and one thing that travelled with me throughout, whether it was Nagasaki in the south or Sapporo in the north, is sandalwood. It retains its scent in the wood for centuries and it’s one of the most common incenses used for religious ceremonies.” While Aldis tends to lean towards the slightly sweeter scents, Malin prefers the traditionally more masculine fragrances. “I love Black Amber & Saffron,” she says. “It’s very sophisticated and I like the fact that it goes through all of our collections.” All of the fragrances in the Lilou et Loïc range are unisex as the founders are keen to break down gender barriers. This once again highlights their Scandinavian roots, a region famed for being one of the most gender equal in the world. “Many women don’t want a typically feminine scent,” explains Malin. “We believe people should be able to express their personality and fragrance choices freely.” Aldis confirms that their male to female client ratio is 50/50, particularly when it comes to their Essentials range, launched earlier this year. The pair also hopes to roll out their bespoke offering to companies next year, having recently been commissioned by a member of the royal family. One thing that unifies the brand is the two founders’ love of design and the home. As Aldis puts it, “Home is where you can really be creative and express yourself.” As we enter one of the most family-orientated times of the year, I ask the two women how they will each be spending Christmas. While Aldis is taking her whole family to Iceland for a Nordic affair, Malin is staying in the UK, where they will celebrate in both Scandi and British style. We wouldn’t expect anything less. lilouetloic.com

Photography: Sarel Jansen

I have serious home envy. It’s 10am and I’ve just arrived at the house of Aldis Firman, one of the founders of lifestyle brand Lilou et Loïc, located minutes from Barons Court station. The open-plan kitchen and dining area is as attractive and welcoming as its owner. The dark wooden dining table, sourced from Milan, and accompanying Ralph Lauren chairs perfectly complement the white Statuario marble kitchen countertops. I take mental notes of the Art Deco-inspired chandelier and the floor-to-ceiling mirror. If it hadn’t been for the high chair placed discreetly round the breakfast nook, I would never have guessed this meticulous residence was a family home. Aldis lives here with her husband, racing car driver Ralph Firman, and their two small children. The pair did up the property completely from scratch, although she tells me, smiling, that her husband had very little involvement in the design. The Icelandic businesswoman has had several homes in London (all situated in the Royal Borough), which have all been minimalistic in style up until recently. “My first home used to be completely Scandi. You’d walk in and you knew a Nordic person lived there.” However, her style has evolved over the years and her latest home has traces of her brief sojourn in the States when she was a child and her travels to Japan. “Essentially it’s a Scandinavian home, but with touches of contemporary and classic.” And this is the perfect way to sum up her lifestyle brand Lilou et Loïc, which specialises in home fragrance, bath and body products, and fragrance, which she founded together with close friend, Malin Wright, in 2011. The former Swedish model – who arrives impeccably dressed in a cream poloneck and leather trousers – used to live in Fulham, but has since moved to the country with her husband and three children. The blonde beauties first met 10 years ago in London where they worked for the same company. “I think it’s our Nordic mentality, but we had an instant connection,” says Aldis. The pair then reconvened in France, where Malin had been spending the majority of her time, and bonded over their love of fragrance. “We spend summers in our house in Grasse and it is amazing the scents you discover there,” explains Malin. “The jasmine, rose, violet and orange blossom, all of which can be found in our bestselling White Cashmere fragrance, originate from here.” Without further ado, the two set about creating their first product line, which developed organically thanks to a strong shared vision. Drawing on their personal tastes, the simple, monochrome packaging (designed by Malin) and the luxurious handmade, reusable glass bottles, very much reflect their Scandinavian sensibility, while the products themselves have all been made in England, marking Lilou et Loïc out as a British brand. So engrossed were they

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Kids KINGDOM BY laura dunham & Lauren Stevens

Sister Act Sisterhood is a bond that lasts a lifetime and the latest clothing range designed by the Crown Princess of Greece Marie-Chantal evokes the beautiful connection that siblings share. The collection features subtle hues and liberty prints that recall memories of the Princess’s own childhood and includes a selection of dresses, shirts, skirts and coats. From £45, mariechantal.com

Ski School This winter, Harrods is preparing little ones for the slopes with a new ski department exclusively for kids. Launching on the fourth floor, the new space will be dedicated to a selection of outerwear and stylish ski accessories from a variety of outdoor sporting brands. Extra warm coats will be available from Canada Goose, while products from ski brand Bogner will be available to shop for the first time. The department will also house two new brands, including Shred, which offers a selection of helmets and goggles built for extreme protection, adding the perfect finishing touches to mini ski outfits. From £79.95, Fourth Floor, Harrods, harrods.com

The Green Light Continuing its mission to provide eco-friendly products, Mini Rodini has launched a homeware collection of upcycled products in a bid to minimise its textile waste. Using fabrics left over from its main collection, the Swedish brand has produced a range of blankets and pillow cases in a selection of house prints. Each design is unique and therefore limited in stock – get your hands on them before they’re gone. From £15, minirodini.com

Party Time Creative director Cordelia de Castellane embodies Christian Dior’s inner party animal with the Baby Dior A/W16 collection. Paying homage to the founder’s love of dancing and dressing up, the range is characterised by an assortment of shapes and fun combinations, mixing different textures with vibrant pops of orange, lime green and red. Metallic fabric and velour pieces are also available in sparkling tones of powder pink and sky blue, reflecting the glitz and glamour that comes with Christmas parties. From £240, 160-162 New Bond Street, W1S, dior.com

Photography: Melanie Rodriguez

Jammy Dodger Following a successful launch on luxury fashion website YOOX back in March 2015, Margherita Kids – the eponymous childrenswear collection by Margherita Maccapani Missoni Amos – returns to the website this month with an exclusive pyjama collection. Designed for both mothers and children aged up to 12 years old, the ‘mummyand-me’ range is available in three stylish designs and a selection of prints and fabrics. From £102, yoox.com

Hold Tight Dressing up in quirky attire is part of the fun of being a child and creative accessories brand Braveling has merged style with comfort to allow for carefree play with its tights range, Little Titans. Featuring four new patterns (bear hug, robo-tot, emberglow stripe and shapes) each design has been created for both boys and girls and, with soft toe linings and non-slip soles, they’re ideal for running around. From £15.99, braveling.co.uk

Mice to See You From Steamboat Willie to Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Walt Disney’s famed character has seen many a transformation since its creation during the late 1920s. Now, thanks to Steiff, the iconic mouse has been reinterpreted back into his original form. Designed in Germany at the headquarters in which the original character was created, the toy is handcrafted using felt and fabric. From £225, steiff.com

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Bah Hum-Pug Get your cat feline good this Christmas with a trip to Chelsea’s The Pet Spa, where treatments for pampered pooches, rabbits and cats are on offer, from haircuts and nail clippings to cat washes and rabbit brushing. For man’s best friend, canine spa treatments such as teeth cleaning, aromatherapy massages and blueberry facials (yes, really) are on offer for dogs that are feeling a little bit ruff. From £39.95, Lower Floor, The Chelsea Chair Hairdressers, 305 Fulham Road, SW10, petspalondon.com

PET’S

CORNER

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Piste Off In the words of Meredith Willson, “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” and while London maintains its staunch weather position of grey, grey and more grey, those after something a bit snowier should look to skiing expert Gabriella Le Breton’s latest tome for winter retreat inspiration. The Ultimate Ski Book: Legends, Resorts, Lifestyles & More outlines everything you need to know about the winter sport, including where to find the longest run in the Andes, who the first ski superstars were and the most memorable slope fashions. The handy guide is illustrated with striking photographs of chalk white landscapes, neon-clad skiers and pine trees – “the sturdy kind that doesn’t mind the snow...” £45, published by teNeues, teneues.com

Image courtesy of: The Ultimate Ski Book - Legends, Resorts, Lifestyle & More by Gabriella Le Breton, published by teNeues, teneues.com Photography: Krachel, Stuben, ©Tim Hall

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Travel

THE WORLD By Dorothy musariri

Image courtesy of: Virgin Limited Edition

Closer to Home

Ice, Ice, Baby With the ski season upon us, winter sports fans will be pleased to know that Virgin Limited Edition’s usually privately-rented The Lodge in Verbier, Switzerland, is offering skiers the chance to book individual rooms in the nine bedroom chalet for one week only. There will be opportunities for heli-skiing, paragliding and snowshoeing expeditions, too, but those who are more après ski-inclined needn’t worry – The Lodge features both an indoor and outdoor Jacuzzi, an indoor pool, a spa, a steam room, two bars and your own personal chef, so it’s unlikely you’ll want to be venturing outdoors, anyway. From CHF 4,125 per person for three nights based on two adults sharing, 10-17 December, virginlimitededition.com

Image courtesy of: AlmaLusa Baixa/Chiado, Lisbon

Culture Club Calling all design fans: Lisbon’s Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) has opened. To mark the occasion, boutique hotel AlmaLusa Baixa/ Chiado – which is located 20 minutes away in the historic square of Praça do Município – is offering guests who book online free entry to the museum, 10 per cent off their booking and 20 per cent off meals at the hotel. Design fanatics can marvel at the impressive MAAT building designed by Amanda Levete before retreating to the hotel’s eatery to taste Portugal’s finest delicacies. We recommend the bacalhau à bras, a medley of scrambled egg, cod strips, onion and fries. From €145 per night, Until 15 March 2017, almalusahotels.com

Images courtesy of: The Berkeley

It’s a Wonderful Life

Bourn to Be Wild If, like us, your ideal holiday involves striking views, then you’ll be happy to know that, after a 15-year break, luxury cruise liner Seabourn Sojourn is making a return voyage to Alaska, the US state that offers everything from crystal glaciers and icy mountains to rugged green landscapes. The ship will set for sail in June 2017 with an 11-day Ultimate Alaskan Sojourn (with stops at British Columbia and Vancouver) and will offer several itineraries, including a visit to the historic city of Sitka. Passengers will be able to enjoy historical, scientific, naturalist and wildlife lectures from the ship’s experts and plentiful wildlife sightings. From £5,258 per person, seabourn.com

Take advantage of the luxury festive experience at The Berkeley’s Health Club & Spa this Christmas, when it will transform its rooftop garden into a pine-filled forest cinema. Snuggle under Moncler blankets while tucking into mince pies and biscuits, and sipping on mulled wine, hot chocolate or champagne if you’re keen to toast the merry season. Hotel guests and visitors will be treated to classic Christmas flicks, including Miracle on 34th Street and Santa Clause: The Movie. From £65 per person, 1-26 December, Wilton Place, SW1X, the-berkeley.co.uk

Image courtesy of: Seabourn

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OnCloud Nine Soaring above the Val d’Isère skyline, Chalet Eagle’s Nest is the pinnacle of winter ski luxury, says Annie Biziou

TRAVEL

blooming cloud threatens a fresh barrage of snow across the jagged lines that distinguish mountain from sky. As dusk sets in on Val d’Isère, the chocolate-box town lights up, twinkling like strings of lights on a Christmas tree in the valley below. Such is the view from the newly-fitted hot tub at Chalet Eagle’s Nest, where I’m wallowing with a mug of steaming hot chocolate. Chalet Eagle’s Nest has made quite a name for itself in Val d’Isère. In fact, it is one of the most coveted properties in the Alps, claiming more than its fair share of titles. Spanning four levels and sleeping up to 13 guests, it sits regally on a vast stretch of land that was handed to French ski champion Jean-Claude Killy as thanks for winning three gold medals at the 1968 Winter Olympics. It’s also classified as one of luxury travel group Scott Dunn’s flagship chalets, of which there are just three sporting the label in the world – a big deal

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given the ski holiday company’s exacting standards. And to top it off, the owners showered their abode in €750,000 worth of new kit to ring in 2016, including the aforementioned alfresco hot tub on a brand new tiered terrace, a games room and a revamp of the traditional alpine-themed rooms and en-suite bathrooms. Fabulous rooms aside, I could wile away the weekend on this terrace, breathing in crisp air that’s like tonic to my city-soaked lungs. But duty calls; there’s champagne and canapés waiting in front of a wood fire in the cavernous lounge, which has also been fixed up with new furnishings. The evening passes, just as any good mountain getaway should, in a blur of food, wine and copious amounts of cheese. It’s quite marvellous the things that brisk mountain air can do to a wine-befuddled mind. An early start pays off when I’m lucky enough to swipe first tracks (ski speak for getting onto the slopes before the lifts open to the rest of the horde) and the untarnished views make up for a slightly wobbly start. Carving my way through virgin snow alongside my much-needed instructor, Alex, I come to understand why Val d’Isère is often top of the list for snow bunnies – and it isn’t just because of record snowfall, lively aprèsski or the infamous ‘La Face’ run; used in the 1992 Winter Olympics and in countless competitions since, the vertiginous run is considered to be one of the most challenging black-rated pistes in the world. Linked to Tignes, the Espace Killy ski area spans 300km of well-groomed pistes that suit all levels, and infinite effort is put into maintaining its legendary ski status. The lift systems are constantly being upgraded and the dreaded button lifts have been replaced with a new series of fantastic uphill carpets that would give Aladdin cause for celebration. Alex, who has spent the last three years instructing here, is clearly proud to be a part of the whole process and doesn’t hold back in explaining why. “To help ready the pistes for the various competitions that take place here each year, every instructor gives up a certain number of days to assist with the prep, and in return we’re gifted ski passes for the day.” It’s clearly a streamlined operation. As it happens, there’s also more than one property here getting a facelift. Le Yule is a new hotel that opened for the 2016 season, so I pitch up at the hotel’s front-deneige terrace and enjoy a glass of Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé, before bundling into the restaurant for lunch. A Scandinavian theme runs throughout, reflected in 41 plush rooms and a lower level spa, operated by Nuxe skincare brand, with a pool looking out on the Bellevarde slope. En route back to Eagle’s Nest, I sneak into a few of Scott Dunn’s other properties, perhaps the boldest

being Chalet Husky. A bolthole worthy of a James Bond charade, Chalet Husky has an arresting glass atrium at its centre, disco light floors, a swimming pool with a glass side and a feature waterfall and climbing wall laid into the natural rock formations. It’s the polar opposite – modern and ostentatious – of Chalet Eagle’s Nest, but equally suited to hedonists. Eager to return to the classic charms of Eagle’s Nest, I barrel in through the front door kicking snowflakes as I go. It’s straight downstairs to the epic spa zone for a pre-dinner dip, where a sauna, steam room and lap pool with a jet stream awaits. As to be expected, Chalet Eagle’s Nest comes hosted by an army of staff, including a chef. The highlight though, is perhaps the company of MasterChef 2014 champion Ping Coombes, with whom Scott Dunn first partnered in the summer of 2015. Bringing her Malaysian-inspired fare first to the travel group’s villas, Coombes has since rolled out a new menu across the winter portfolio for 2016. “It’s an Asian take on chalet dining,” she explains, as we inhale flavorsome mushroom laksa, washed down with her signature spiced gin and tonic. “The warmth of these Asian flavours reflects the comfort aspect of winter food, but it’s lighter.” And indeed, her delectable cuisine is a welcome alternative to the heaviness of a typical chalet feast. The time comes to salute the cast bronze eagle that guards Chalet Eagle’s Nest, sculpted by celebrated contemporary artist Livio Benedetti and cloaked in a glittering veil of fresh snow. En route to Geneva airport in Scott Dunn’s souped-up minivan, we come to a sudden halt. Two cars up ahead are having a rumble. A woman advances on her antagonist, screaming blue murder, before reaching into the car window and slapping her adversary. “She’d be a damn sight more relaxed if she spent a week at Chalet Eagle’s Nest,” one of my fellow passengers murmurs, with a privileged glow. “Never mind, there’s always next year.”

more information Scott Dunn offers seven nights at Chalet Eagle’s Nest, Val d’Isère from £1,790 per person. This is based on full chalet occupancy and includes British Airways club class flights, private airport transfers, Scott Dunn chef, host and in-resort driver service. Visit scottdunn.com or call 020 8682 5050

TRAVEL Bedroom, Chalet Eagle’s Nest

Swimming pool, Chalet Eagle’s Nest

Living room, Chalet Eagle’s Nest Sunbathing at L’Ouillette Val d’Isère

Fabulous rooms aside, I could wile away the weekend on this terrace, breathing in crisp air that’s like tonic to my city-soaked lungs Chalet Husky, photography: Andy Parant

Bedroom at Chalet Husky Photography: Andy Parant

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Photography: Mia Litström

Raising theRoof

Jeremy Taylor faces one of nature’s most challenging obstacle courses when he drives to the Arctic Circle with the roof down in his Fiat 124 Spider BRACE YOURSELVES: It’s October in the Arctic Circle and night-time temperatures have already dipped to -6°C. In a month’s time that will drop to -40°C – forcing aircrafts to be blasted with de-icer before they take off at snowbound Luleå Airport. The Swedes have swapped their summer clothes for winter layers and stuffed their car gloveboxes with snus – moist tobacco pouches that drivers suck for a nicotine hit. It helps keep them awake on the long, slow journeys through this woodland wilderness. Silver birch and fir trees – millions of them blanket the countryside inside the Arctic Circle. Even the trucks are heaving with arrow-straight trunks bound for pulp and paper mills. Every load leaves a vapour trail that fills the open cockpit of my Fiat 124 Spider with eau de Christmas tree. And yet, I’m content on a heated seat with the fan on full blast. It’s cosy in the tiny cabin, while Fiat’s longawaited convertible roadster is clearly giving a nation of Volvo owners a warm, fuzzy feeling too. It could be the raccoon fur hat keeping my ears warm, or the fact that I’ve driven from London with the hood stowed, but I haven’t seen Scandinavians this happy since ABBA stormed Brighton at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. The Spider is retro cute, easy to drive and relatively inexpensive. Surely driving it from England to the north of Sweden with the roof down will expose a few weaknesses? “Driving to the Arctic Circle in a Fiat? You’ll never make it pal!” London cabbies truly have an opinion on everything. Twenty years ago I might have agreed, but then I remind him the 124 is the sister car of the iconic Mazda MX-5. He’s taking me to the start point for my Arctic adventure – the quintessentially English Montague on the Gardens hotel, in Bloomsbury. London is enjoying a warm spell and the magnetic bronze Fiat has even impressed the doorman, who is more used to loading a cavernous Bentley. The manual hood folds flat in a couple of seconds and soon I’m purring along the Embankment, with the Sat Nav locked on the Channel Tunnel. So far, the 1.4-litre turbo engine is coping well with the capital’s stop-start traffic and it feels a bit nippier than the MX-5.

Unfortunately, industrial north France and Belgium don’t pass in a flash and it takes a frustrating nine hours to make Amsterdam by nightfall. The migrant crisis isn’t helping and there are various check points along the route. I imagined the Dutch capital on a Friday night would be less than sober. Instead, I find a city of calming canals, cobbles and cyclists. There’s hardly any traffic and those pedaling give hand signals – most unlike London. The recently-opened Waldorf Astoria is an amalgamation of several grand, 17th century properties. It looks over a UNESCO-listed canal on the Herengracht and is packed with art work. Best of all is a breathtaking staircase, designed by the architect of Louis XIV. There’s barely time to enjoy a passing narrowboat the next morning before loading up to head for Hamburg. I’m not certain how the Fiat will fare on the high-speed autobahn, but it holds its own at around 95mph. The heater is powerful and I can still hear the Bose sound system. The traffic jams continue for the rest of the morning. The only transport moving slower than me in Hamburg are the monster Triple E supertankers, manouevering on the River Elbe. I stop to buy fuel and German sausage – it’s another five hours to Copenhagen, but at least the scenery has improved. The Danish capital has a nautical vibe, but today the sky is grey and rain is falling. I’m a big fan of crime drama The Bridge. It’s not just detective Saga Norén’s 1970s Porsche 911, but the bleak scenery that adds to the atmosphere. I can see the towers of Oresund Bridge rising out of the mist from my room at the busy Hotel Bella Sky. I determine to rise early the next day to drive the five miles across to Sweden. Twelve hours later and the weather is even worse, so I point the Spider north and cross the freezing straits to Malmö. In the remoter parts of Sweden, telephones are a vital piece of safety equipment during the winter months. Studded tyres are allowed from October and everybody carries a candle – a low-tech source of heat if the worst happens. No need for that in Stockholm, which is enjoying sunshine. However, I’m staying at Hotel With – an unusual

travel

underground hotel without any windows. It also prides itself on having the fastest broadband in Sweden! Upstairs is the trendy Urban Deli, a popular spot for city types. After leaving the capital I head north and it becomes more remote with every passing mile. I take a break at Gävle, where an incredible two metres of snow fell in one day in 1999. Traffic is really scarce by the time I reach subarctic Umeå and pass the 63rd parallel. I’m staying in a hotel converted from a seamen’s mission. The bar at Stora Hotel is empty, candles are glowing and it feels like Ingmar Bergman could walk in any minute. I’m about five hours from the Arctic Circle here. It’s only a couple of weeks before snow really starts falling, but not to worry because today it’s kanelbullens dag – Cinnamon Bun Day. At every fuel and coffee stop I’m presented with one of the delicious sweet rolls. The floor of the Spider is sprinkled with sugar, while even the fur of photographer Mitstrom’s hat has taken a hit. I’m heading for a place called Jokkmokk, where daylight lasts less than three hours in the winter.

The road cuts through pine forests, past crashing rivers and occasionally snow. There are few signs of life until an ugly metal road sign comes into view. I’m half expecting a white line painted across the tarmac but this is it: the Arctic Circle. I’m 66 degrees north on a latitude that passes through Greenland, Alaska and the very north of Russia. My little Spider seems strangely out of place – mainly because it isn’t a 4x4. Then to cap it all, that evening I see the Northern Lights while staying in a funky tree house at the Treehotel. They shimmer above the Spider for hours, as ice forms on the roof and the windscreen turns opaque. We’ve covered just over 2,300 miles in five days and the Fiat hasn’t missed a beat. The 124 Spider may live in the shadow of the mighty MX-5 for a while, but it is far more than just a re-bodied Mazda. It has true character and will appeal to a different audience. And if I had the number of that London cabbie I’d bloody well give him a call.

more information Jeremy Taylor stayed in London at the Montague on the Gardens (montaguehotel.com); the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam (waldorfastoria.com); AC Hotel Bella Sky in Copenhagen (marriott.co.uk); Hotel With in Stockholm (hotelwith.se); Stora Hotellet in Umea (storahotelletumea.se); the Treehotel in Harads (treehotel.se). He was kept warm wearing clothing supplied by 66 North (66north.com)

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Streets Ahead

Many men hit 50 and the biggest challenge they face is a mid-life crisis, but not Phil Howard. After heading up his two Michelin star restaurant The Square for 25 years, this year sees Howard embarking on a new venture. Olivia Sharpe hears from the British chef about his mission to reinvent fine dining and put simplicity back into cooking What is Elystan Street’s USP? Quality. You can be a highly successful restaurant in terms of its operation and food, but I think what’s rare about Elystan Street is that there’s a huge amount of experience that has gone into its creation. I’ve been doing what I’ve been doing for an awfully long time at a certain level. And with experience comes confidence, wisdom and knowledge, all of which you don’t have when you’re younger. What’s the atmosphere like? We’ve had a very good grown-up look at what a restaurant in 2016 needs to be in order to be popular. It’s not going to be a cheap and cheerful neighbourhood restaurant, but we’ve designed it so that you can walk in without feeling you’ve come to worship at some temple of gastronomy. You’ll be served food that’s at the top of its game, but in a relatively casual setting. How does it differ from The Square? At 50, I wanted to cook straight from the heart and to strip it back to the bare essentials. The impact of the food is achieved solely through the quality of the ingredients rather than the presentation, props and wizardry. No canapés, petits fours or cheese trolleys; all those knick-knacks that traditionally go with fine dining. How did you come up with the concept for the menu? I’ve been around long enough to know what I like eating. We all know that feeling of eating something special, whether it’s langoustine and truffle ravioli or a bowl of cornflakes with full fat milk and sugar. The menu is strewn with crowd-pleasing dishes along with more sophisticated cooking. So there’s a Caesar salad, but it’s an exceptional dish. There are carpaccios and tartares, but with lots of flavour. Fish features heavily. There’s meat, but I’ve included seasonal specialities such as grouse rather than simply beef, pork and lamb. How has the industry changed over the years? It’s a completely different state of affairs to when I started. It’s a consumer’s game. The sheer variety of restaurants is just extraordinary. Such variety has resulted

in a real appetite from London diners and that’s why it has become ferociously competitive. How has your cooking evolved since you started? I’m far more interested in getting it right than trying to show the world what I can cook, which is what I wanted to do when I opened The Square in my 20s. I’m more aware of what the general public wants to eat too. The honest truth is that there were services at The Square that were unenjoyable because increasingly diners were becoming difficult about what they ate. And that is why I’ve made sure that menus, particularly at lunch, are catering to mainstream preferences so there’s very little gluten and dairy, for instance. Do young chefs tend to overcomplicate dishes? A lot of chefs aren’t honest in their youth. We’ll often get someone in who has been at some progressive restaurant and has a recipe that requires 561 grams of something. It’s things like that that makes chefs think they’re clever because they’re cooking to such an exacting degree when actually it’s about judgement and the harmony of flavours. It’s not rocket science and at the end of the day, customers don’t give a toss at what temperature you cook the turbot. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt? My business partner Nigel was instrumental in teaching me the importance of cooking from a consumer perspective. Cooking is actually very simple if you just allow nature to speak and take ego out of it. It’s a creative thing of course it is, but it’s mainly about achieving impact through flavour, and I think that’s what stood The Square in such good stead all these years. How did you overcome the stresses of the job?

drinking&dining

I remember at The Square, trying to let go was very difficult, but I think the excitement of seeing other people who you’ve empowered to deliver the same product when you’re not there is enormous because it means you can achieve so much more. Too many chefs are control freaks. I ran every afternoon in my professional life for about 15 years and so keeping fit was very important. But no balance is no business for sure. And I think everyone says ‘you’re mad opening seven days a week’, but in fact that pushes you to make better decisions because you can’t possibly be there the whole time. Why do you think chefs find achieving that balance so difficult? I think there’s a variety of reasons, but bloody hell it’s hard work. There are many sacrifices, but I think if you persevere and run a successful restaurant, there’s a great

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

living to be had. Whereas the temptation to do a second, third, fourth restaurant can cause distractions. What does the future hold? Going forward I need to have a clear idea of why I’m doing anything. And I think anything after Elystan Street is probably unlikely. I want to give it 110 per cent, but I also want to enjoy my life and at 50 you realise the clock is ticking. Originally I thought I’d open a restaurant in the Alps because I’m a keen skier and I liked the idea of doing something in the mountains. But I think the site we chose for Elystan Street presents a great neighbourhood and a great kitchen. I have a massive appetite to get in there and create a fantastic restaurant that people love. 43 Elystan Street, SW3, 020 7628 5005, elystanstreet.com

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DRINKING&DINING

Come DineWith Me The Dorsett Hotel in Shepherd’s Bush welcomes its newest, and highly acclaimed resident: head chef Nitin Padwal. Olivia Sharpe sits down with him to sample the delights of his inventive Christmas menu The Dorsett Hotel is not content with resting on its laurels. After opening its doors just two years ago in Shepherd’s Bush, this year sees it welcome a new head chef at its restaurant, Pictures: Nitin Padwal. Hailed from Petrichor restaurant at The Cavendish London where he was head chef for six years and awarded two AA Rosettes, the ever ambitious chef hopes to achieve an even greater level of success at The Dorsett. Indian-born Padwal has risen through the ranks during his career, his love of food nurtured from a young age. Padwal champions the concept of sustainability and incorporating seasonal ingredients into all of his dishes, which has been reflected in his new Christmas menu at Pictures. To start, dishes include Suffolk chicken & duck liver paté, celeriac & apple soup and Scottish scallops. Alongside traditional festive fare, the chef has created a series of contemporary dishes that are in keeping with The Dorsett’s modern and Asian-inspired aesthetic. The duck benedict sees this brunch staple elevated to new heights, the duck having been tea-smoked – a signature style of Szechuan cuisine. Similarly, a staple starter of prawn cocktail has been given a refresh, incorporating crab, marinated avocado, quail eggs and topped with a sourdough croute. For mains, turkey roulade and hearty Irish beef Wellington sit alongside sea bream fillet and a wild mushroom risotto. The beautifully cooked fillet is well-executed, featuring a satisfyingly crispy skin and accompanied by cauliflower florets, cauliflower purée, crispy capers and garnished with shrimp butter. For dessert, do not expect just your standard Christmas pudding (although traditionalists may opt for this if they wish). Instead, the chef has once again thought outside the box and introduced a lemon & orange posset, chocolate avalanche, Baked Alaska and rice pudding. The posset is a crowd-pleaser, featuring popping candy for some Christmas theatre, while the star of the show is the Baked Alaska. The Dorsett Hotel is already taking bookings for its festive menus – including private functions, afternoon tea and Christmas Day – so make sure to reserve your space now.

more information For reservations please call: 020 3262 1026 or email: reservations.shepherdsbush@dorsetthotels.com; Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush, 58 Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8QE, dorsetthotels.com/london/shepherdsbush

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& DINING

DRINKING

BY ellen millard

Photography: Paul Winch-Furness

review

And All That Jazz Set your Sky box to record: there’ll be no time to watch The Apprentice any more now that the K Bar at The Kensington has introduced its Thursday music nights. Created in collaboration with Sipsmith Independent Spirits, the hotel will play host to British soul band, the Farrah Joy trio, every week. The Sips and Sounds night will allow guests to enjoy the sultry melodies of jazz and blues classics while trying the latest concoctions created by bar manager Ben Manchester, including the Classic Martini, Sloe Down Baby (sloe gin, vodka, creme d’abricot, lime and grenadine) and Smells Like Tea ‘n’ Spirit (Earl Grey-infused gin, grapefruit, sugar and egg white). Every Thursday at The Kensington, 109-113 Queen’s Gate, SW7, doylecollection.com

Bluebird Chelsea Bluebird Chelsea comes highly recommended by Jo Malone MBE who, during a recent interview, insisted that I go at once to marvel at the redevelopment and discover the tastes of new head chef Liam SmithLaing (of 100 Wardour Street fame). As the nose that launched a million pound business (and then some), one can only assume that Malone’s taste buds are up to standard, too. After taking heed of her advice, I can safely say that this assumption is correct: the prolific perfumer knows how to spot a good eatery as well as she does a bestselling fragrance. The Arts Club and Sartoria designer Sagrada is responsible for the restaurant’s recent makeover, for which wild flowers, lofty trees, Celia Birtwelldesigned textiles and plush aquamarine armchairs were used to create an outdoor-vibe (think less The Rainforest Café and more The Ivy terrace with a roof). It’s cosy and homely with a marble-topped bar in the centre for sundowners and aperitifs, and an expansive seating area for diners. The menu boasts European cuisine with mostly seafood-based small plates to start and a selection of pasta, fish and meat dishes for mains. My guest and I opt for the steak tartare and tiger prawns with aioli to begin. The former is refreshing, mixed with red pepper and spring onion and doused in a tangy tomato sauce that has a mild kick to it. The prawns are delicious and could be enjoyed on their own, but those who do will miss out on the tasty aioli dipping sauce, which could just as easily be devoured on bread, with crudités, or simply with a spoon.

We put the sommelier to the test by ordering both lamb and chicken for our second course, but the wine connoisseur has no problem selecting a crisp white for us, which complements the two dishes beautifully. Both meats are cooked to perfection – the roast baby chicken with tarragon and lemon is particularly tasty – but the mains are soon overshadowed by the arrival of the potato purée side dish (aka posh mash). The spuds are whipped to a paste and mixed with what could quite possibly be an entire bulb of garlic. It’s perhaps one best avoided if you’re on a first date, but you’ll be hard pushed to find a better carbgarlic hybrid this side of the river. For dessert, ignore everything else on the menu and order the hot molten chocolate, and then make sure the rest of your table orders it, too – this is one you won’t want to share. Is it a cake? Is it a sauce? Honestly, it doesn’t matter. It’s a piping hot bowl of chocolatey goodness that will taunt you in your dreams when the annual January diet begins. Before then, make the most of the run-up to Christmas and indulge in enough garlic mash, aioli sauce and hot molten chocolate to feed Santa’s entire toyshop workforce. ‘Tis the season, after all. 350 King’s Road, SW3, bluebird-restaurant.co.uk

O Christmas Tea Save the cheesy one-liners for your Christmas cracker; this year’s advent calendar selection is rather more sophisticated. Take Newby Teas’ limited edition offering, a 24-day countdown featuring the brand’s classic teabag collection. Housed in a threedimensional design inspired by N. Sethia House – the home of Newby Teas – the fragrant sachets include a selection of black, green, oolong, herbal and fruit teas. £48, newbyteas.com

Home Sweet Home As often is the fate of London’s best pop-up restaurants, Mediterranean eatery Ceru has found itself a permanent home in the capital following a string of temporary spaces in Fitzrovia, Tower Bridge and Cannon Street. Specialising in delicacies from the eastern Mediterranean coast, the restaurant will bring classic mezze dishes, grilled meats and salads to its new base on South Kensington’s Bute Street. Pop in for slow-roasted lamb shoulder, apple, pomegranate and mint salad, and lamb kebabs marinated in rosewater. 7-9 Bute Street, SW7, cerurestaurants.com

The Macallan’s Whisky Hotspots Christmas is upon us and there’s no better way to toast the festive season than with a glass of whisky in one of the Royal Borough’s swankiest bars. Here The Macallan shares its top spots in which to enjoy its iconic tipple. Beach Blanket Babylon When one thinks of The Macallan, we imagine a seductive and soothing space – somewhere like Beach Blanket Babylon, one of London’s most luxe drinking spots. The bar’s roaring fire provides the perfect respite from the winter weather, best enjoyed with a glass of The Macallan Rare Cask. 45 Ledbury Road, W11 Maxims Casino Club If you’re feeling lucky, head to Maxims Casino Club in Kensington and try your hand at Blackjack or Three Card Poker. Afterwards, be sure to make a beeline for the Whisky Lounge Bar, which boasts a choice of 15 cocktails and The Macallan Gold 1824 Series. 1a Palace Gate, W8

Photography: John Carey; Shoes, Jimmy Choo

The Capital The only bar in London to offer a cheese and whisky pairing masterclass, The Capital is so dedicated to Scotch that its manager Cesar is the youngest ever UK Keeper of the Quaich. Swot up on your whisky know-how and revel in the chance to try 30- and 18-year-old bottles of The Macallan Gran Reserva. 22-24 Basil Street, SW3 11 Cadogan Gardens Nestled between Chelsea and Knightsbridge, the bar at 11 Cadogan Gardens makes for the perfect pit-stop in between Christmas shopping. Rest your feet in the inviting space while sampling The Macallan’s finest to celebrate a successful day of retail therapy. 11 Cadogan Gardens, SW3 PJ’s Bar and Grill Polo fans and whisky drinkersalike will enjoy PJ’s Bar and Grill. Marvel at the equine-themed decor while perusing the venue’s drinks list, which includes The Macallan Gold. 52 Fulham Road, SW3

If the Choux Fits How could one possibly improve a Burberry trench coat? Make it edible, of course. This was certainly the thinking of Mourad Khiat, head pâtissier at The Berkeley, who created the hotel’s famous fashionthemed afternoon tea, Prêt-à-Portea. Now in its 10th year, the high tea has become the subject of a new book that showcases the chef’s best recipes, all of which were inspired by runway trends. Learn how to make a blueberry sponge handbag à la Anya Hindmarch or a butterfly and chocolate fascinator dome inspired by Philip Treacy’s multicoloured hat. £12.95, Prêt-à-Portea: High Fashion Bakes & Biscuits is out now, The Berkeley and Laurence King Publishing, recipes by Mourad Khiat, laurenceking.com

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Tish Weinstock, Tess Ward & Amber Le Bon

Wild Things What: Ethan Koh’s Fruit Disco Launch WHEN: 26 October WHERE: Blakes Hotel, SW7 Who: James Blunt, Sofia Wellesley, Amber Le Bon, Hum Fleming, Amy Jackson, Misse Beqiri, Lily Fortescue, Tish Weinstock and Tess Ward WhY: Accessories designer Ethan Koh invited fashion heavyweights to join him in launching his A/W16 collection entitled Fruit Disco. Comprising an exotic selection of accessories and statement handbags, the collection was inspired by Koh’s love of the vibrant colours and tropical fruits associated with his native Singapore. Succulent dishes of truffle ravioli, miso black cod and mille-feuille were on the menu at Blakes Hotel in the newly-refurbished Chinese Room. DJ Raiden provided entertainment for guests, who enjoyed vodka mojitos and a signature Koh Cocktail while admiring the new range.

Sofia Wellesley, Ethan Koh & James Blunt

Misse Beqiri

Advance to Mayfair

Amber Le Bon

Hum Fleming

Ethan Koh

Photography: Piers Allardyce Rosanna Falconer

Roxie Nafousi & Hattie Clark

Roxie Nafousi & India Whalley Chelsy Davy

What: The Mayfair Awards 2016 WHEN: 25 October WHERE: The Ritz London, W1J Who: Nigel Havers, Lord Bruce Dundas, Charlie Gilkes, Lord Mayor of Westminster, Mark Henderson, Linda Pilkington and Emma Willis MBE What: Mayfair’s elite came together for The Mayfair Magazine’s annual awards ceremony at The Ritz London, in association with headline sponsor Pastor Real Estate and associate sponsors Grosvenor and Rossana. Taking place in the William Kent House, luxury event planner Bruce Russell decorated the rooms with Roja Dove candles, Lalique vases, cake pops from The Pastry Girls and Paul Thomas flowers. Billecart-Salmon bubbles and The Macallan whisky cocktails were flowing, while guests could visit illustrator Ayumi Togashi to receive a hand-drawn portrait and listen to the Estilo String Quartet. BAFTA-nominated actor Nigel Havers handed out the awards, which included Dior for Best Showroom Design and Smythson for Best Display of Craftsmanship.

Ladies Who Lunch

Octavia’s Resort Wear Launch

What: Octavia Hix Resort Wear Launch WHEN: 2 November WHERE: Bluebird Chelsea, SW3 Who: Chelsy Davy, Binky Felstead, Rosie Fortescue, Hum Fleming, Marissa Montgomery and Irene Forte WhY: Designers Hattie Clark and Victoria Thompson were joined by close friends as they enjoyed lunch in the Bluebird’s new private dining room in celebration of the launch of their new resort wear brand Octavia Hix. The intimate affair was attended by Chelsy Davy and Made in Chelsea stars Binky Felstead and Rosie Fortescue. Baar & Bass cocktails were served along with a sumptuous menu of tuna tartare, yellowtail carpaccio, quinoa tabbouleh, steamed sea bass and rigatoni. Lily Frieda, Victoria Thompson, Hattie Clark, Charlie Boud & Rosie Fortescue

Binky Felstead

LONDON LIVING Photography: John Nassari

Lois Peltz & Richard Cutt

outside the

Sophie Grounds from Brownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hotel & Nigel Havers

b or oug h Jayne Weldon from Wetherell Emma Willis MBE & Captain Stuart Croxford

The Pastor Real Estate team Christina Norton from The Maybourne Group Estilo String Quartet Billecart-Salmon

The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Steve Summers

Aris Lazdans from the Mayfair Design Studio & Chanda Pandya from Rossana

Gerry Farrell, Nigel Havers & Lord Bruce Dundas Pierre de Maigret, Floriane Allan & Vincent Perchey, all from Dior Charlie Gilkes & Danilo Tersigni

David Lee from Pastor Real Estate, Chanda Pandya from Rossana, Hannah Lemon from The Mayfair Magazine & Nigel Havers

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Ruby Victor from Smythson

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s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

CHELSEA 196-200 Fulham Road SW10 9PN 020 7578 9000

KNIGHTSBRIDGE 66 Sloane Street SW1X 9SH 020 7235 9959

KENSINGTON 145 Kensington Church Street W8 7LP 020 7535 3300

NOTTING HILL 303 Westbourne Grove W11 2QA 020 7221 1111 SOUTH KENSINGTON 90 Old Brompton Road SW7 3LQ 020 7581 7000

miltonstone.com

Notting Hill 168 Westbourne Grove W11 2RW 020 7727 5750

waellis.co.uk

KENSINGTON 18 Astwood Mews SW7 4DE 020 7835 2888

SLOANE STREET 139 Sloane Street SW1X 9AY 020 7730 0822

KNIGHTSBRIDGE 174 Brompton Road SW3 1HP 020 7306 1610

nicolasvanpatrick.com KNIGHTSBRIDGE 20 Montpelier Mews SW7 1HD 020 3770 3474

CHELSEA 352a King’s Road SW3 5UU 020 7349 4300

savills.co.uk

KNIGHTSBRIDGE 188 Brompton Road SW3 1HQ 020 7581 5234

HOLLAND PARK 128 Holland Park Avenue

KENSINGTON 103 Kensington Church Street W8 7LN 020 7938 3666

sothebysrealty.co.uk BELGRAVIA 77-79 Ebury Street SW1W 0NZ 020 3714 0749

Kensington 118 Kensington Church Street, W8 4BH 020 7727 1500 Knightsbridge & Chelsea 289 Brompton Road SW3 2DY 020 7589 6616

russellsimpson.co.uk Chelsea 5 Anderson Street SW3 3LU 020 7225 0277

winkworth.co.uk

struttandparker.com CHELSEA 43 Cadogan Street SW3 2PR 020 7225 3866 WEST CHELSEA 140 Fulham Road SW10 9PY 020 7373 1010

Notting Hill 178 Westbourne Grove W11 2RH 020 7727 3227 South Kensington 123a Gloucester Road SW7 4TE 020 7373 5052

117

Made in Chelsea Knight Frank Chelsea’s head of sales James Pace and head of lettings Natalie Berthiaud discuss the area’s enduring appeal with Ellen Millard It’s only just turned 9am on a Friday, but Bluebird on the King’s Road is buzzing. Meetings are being held over cappuccinos with a side of eggs and our photo shoot is well underway. It’s a fitting location for my interview with Knight Frank Chelsea’s head of sales James Pace and head of lettings Natalie Berthiaud, whose office is just next door. To them the restaurant is quintessentially Chelsea – and they should know, given that they’ve 30 years' experience in the area between them. We’re here to discuss the property market in the area, both positively and negatively. It has been a rocky year for the industry as a whole and both the lettings and sales markets have borne the brunt of it, but it hasn’t all been doom and gloom. “On the sales side, we have seen the result of the EU referendum act as a catalyst for a price correction that was frankly overdue,” Pace explains. “Chelsea is very much a residential market in which people will have their main home, unlike some other prime central London locations. As a result, the recent increase in Stamp Duty has really affected the sales market, but our viewing levels are now some of the highest they’ve ever been and I’m sure a lot of that has been because of the price adjustment. I think it demonstrates that Chelsea remains a favoured destination, just as long as the prices are right.” The lettings team is busier than ever. “We’ve observed a three-tiered market develop; our flat market has been extremely active and that’s been keeping us busy as there has been a 40% increase in supply since this time last year. At the very top end of the market, vendors who aren’t selling at the prices they expect are being encouraged to think about rentals and we’ve been really successful. There has definitely been a shift within this market place; there are seven times more houses being let than five years ago,” Berthiaud explains. “Then in the middle is the typical Chelsea family home, which has had a tough year. Transactional volumes are reasonable, but there has been more downward pressure on pricing than the two opposite ends of the market. Those target tenants are typically European families, being relocated into London or possibly a family who are already here but don’t feel the time is quite right to commit to a new tenancy.” One of the issues that the area has had to deal with is that many currently active buyers and tenants have been looking for new build lateral apartments – something for which the area is not particularly known. But with a series of new developments on the way (most

Photography: Sarel Jansen

PROPERTY

notably Chelsea Waterfront and Lillie Square in Earl’s Court) the area has seen an increase in activity levels. Indeed, many of the more traditional family buyers have also started looking further afield in places such as Wandsworth or Barnes, which nowadays have similar offerings in terms of schools and green spaces. “There is more choice in London in terms of areas to live in now, so that’s possibly why Chelsea has suffered a little bit, particularly with European buyers,” Pace explains. “What makes the area stand out is its way of life. It’s difficult to put your finger on it but it’s a combination of everything on your doorstep – lots of green spaces, a feeling of safety and tranquillity and a vibrant café culture.” The usually family-orientated area is also becoming increasingly popular with young professionals; both the lettings and sales teams have found that those who might usually venture further afield are favouring the area again over other more typically trendy parts of London. “There’s no question that some people are going to places such as Shoreditch or Borough, which seem to be quite popular with the younger generation at the moment, but what interests me is that they all seem to migrate back to Chelsea in the end,” Pace says. “It is still one of the nicest places in which to live.” As the year draws to a close, the pair agrees that now is the time to act, whether you’re looking to buy, sell or rent. With a renewed confidence in the market and a desire to complete before the Christmas period begins, the office has seen an influx of viewings and they advise those looking for the perfect property to move quickly if they find something to their taste. “With so much more property available to let, the market is very favourable for tenants in the lead-up to Christmas and New Year,” Berthiaud tells me. “If you’re looking to get a deal, now is a great time. If the sales market faces continued uncertainty around prolonged Brexit negotiations next year, we expect to see strong tenant demand.” From a sales point of view, Pace and his team feel that vendors are now more likely to be open to reasonable offers then they have been in the past – unsurprisingly given the current economic climate. “This is a fabulous time of year because it’s the one occasion when people are really motivated to make a decision,” Pace agrees. “Right now we have a really weak currency, historically low borrowing rates and we have just had a price correction. How often over the years can we say that we’ve had this combination of factors? So if as a buyer you find something you like, don’t hesitate because stock of available property is always limited no matter what the market conditions are. Equally, if as a seller you get interest from a strong buyer, listen to offers, because who knows what is around the corner?” Both Pace and Berthiaud feel positive about the coming year and are confident that Chelsea will continue to appeal to both domestic and international buyers and tenants alike. Back at the office, the team is one of the most proactive, service focused and experienced in the area, with many of them having worked in and around the district for many years. When it comes to Chelsea, they have no doubt it will continue to thrive as one of London’s most covetable addresses. “I know that there’s concern about Brexit, but I am a great believer not only in London, but also in Chelsea,” Pace concludes. “The area has been a popular place to live in for hundreds of years and, when you’re looking to buy, it’s all about location, location, location. London will always be one of the main destinations for buyers around the globe.” 352A King’s Road, SW3 5UU, 020 3740 1571, knightfrank.co.uk

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . co. u k s

Cheyne Walk, SW10 £2,750 per week

Beaufort Mansions, SW3 Guide price: £1,400,000

Fernshaw Road, SW10 Guide price: £1,950,000

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Argyll Road, Kensington W8 An elegant family home ideally situated on the Phillimore Estate A handsome six bedroom house with wonderful proportions situated on the prestigious Phillimore Estate. The property has very well arranged accommodation over five floors, balancing superb entertaining space and an attractive west facing garden. 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, dining room, study, 2 guest cloakrooms, front and rear gardens. EPC: E. Approximately 363 sq m (3,910 sq ft). Freehold

Guide price: £8,500,000

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

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/KEN160014

K&C Mag - 10 Argyll Road 2

04/11/2016 10:24:12

Bassett Road, Notting Hill W10 Beautiful two bedroom flat A rare opportunity to acquire a well presented and charming lateral flat arranged over the second and third floors of a handsome detached period building and located on this pretty tree lined street in the heart of north Kensington. Master bedroom with en suite shower room, further bedroom with en suite shower room, reception room, kitchen. EPC: D. Approximately 74 sq m (800 sq ft). Share of freehold

Guide price: £1,000,000

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

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/POD160224

8, 36 Bassett Road K&C December 2016

07/11/2016 11:51:34

Elgin Crescent, Notting Hill W11 Beautifully presented five bedroom house Superbly located with wonderful outlook and direct access to enchanting and highly prized communal gardens. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, 4 further bedrooms, study/bedroom, 3 bathrooms, double reception room, kitchen/dining/breakfast room, conservatory, guest cloakroom, balcony, garden, access to communal gardens. EPC: E. Approximately 300 sq m (3,237 sq ft). Freehold

Guide price: £8,500,000

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

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/POD160224

89 Elgin Crescent K&C December 2016

07/11/2016 11:53:17

Brunswick Gardens, Kensington W8 Exceptional five bedroom Victorian stucco fronted house Set over four floors, the property has beautiful period features and generously sized reception rooms with period fireplaces and stunning high ceilings. The lower ground floor features a large open plan kitchen and dining area. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, dining area and garden. EPC: D. Approximately 309.7 sq m (3,334 sq ft) Available furnished

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings kensingtonlettings@knightfrank.com 020 7938 4311

Guide price: £5,300 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/KEQ110541 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 Nov

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

11/11/2016 14:38:48

Pembridge Crescent, Notting Hill W11 Newly refurbished two bedroom flat A bright flat located on the second floor of grand period building situated on Pembridge Crescent that has recently been refurbnished throughout. 2 bedrooms, bathroom, reception room, kitchen. EPC: F. Approximately 68.6 sq m (738 sq ft). Available unfurnished

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings nottinghilllettings@knightfrank.com 020 3551 9610

Guide price: £695 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/NHQ158598 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

1, 4 Pembridge Crescent - K&C Dec 2016

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

07/11/2016 12:59:43

PROPERTY

Carving a Niche Harvey & Holcroft are bringing a boutique “A-Z” service to prime central London. CAMILLA APCAR speaks to its founders, Thomas Holcroft, and Jonathan and Billy Harvey

Photography: Sarel Jansen

after around six months in the planning, a boutique residential agency opened quietly in London in June. Located in a pretty cobbled mews in the heart of South Kensington, Harvey & Holcroft’s focus is on putting their clients first with the utmost discretion, with its dedicated team of three on call across the city’s prime central postcodes. The two partners, Thomas Holcroft, Jonathan Harvey and his son Billy, have more than 60 years of experience between them. Holcroft joined Savills in 1995, specialising in top end apartments, and by 2007 was in charge of its Kensington flat department. Jonathan spent three decades as director of property advisory Friend and Falcke, working with both residential and commercial clients; his son Billy followed the family path and worked alongside Holcroft at Savills with a focus on acquisitions and sales in west London. Working with a largely international clientele of "high-flyers", the niche agency wants to remain small, engaging with clients for the long-term – and one day perhaps working with their children. “In a year’s time, the ideal would be having some new established clients that we look after having bought and sold a fair few properties around the area," says Holcroft. "We don't have any great expansion plans, but we want to do what we do very well: look after our clients and make sure they’re receiving a superior level of service.”

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

Thanks to their contacts built over years of experience, the company is able to have both a finger firmly on the pulse and to offer an “A-Z” service with a personal touch: be it buying as a nominee (many clients over the past decade have wanted to avoid the exposure of the general market), having their own lawyers available to clients, or managing interior design and furnishings after a sale is complete. “We’re a very quiet, one-stop firm that looks after the client through everything,” Jonathan describes. The trio’s collective knowledge and expertise within the prime central London property market is, of course, at their new company’s fore. “People like to be represented at all levels of the market, and like to know they’re paying the right price – as well as what they should or shouldn’t buy,” says Holcroft. “And when you’ve got people with experience, we can tell them exactly that, so they can confidently go to bed at night, knowing that they’ve bought well.” “The sweet spot at the moment seems to be between £1m and £2m,” he continues, “where there seems to be less risk.” A common thread throughout is value. “Being able to say ‘don’t buy’ is just as key,” adds Billy – and a vital element of building new relationships upon trust. 12B Queensberry Mews West, London, SW7 2DU 020 7591 0040, harveyandholcroft.com

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You’re leaving already?!

CHELSEA CALLOW STREET SW3 3 1 3

6706|01 K&C Sales DPS One ART.indd 1

Guide £2.5 million

1,330 sq ft EPC=E

SOUTH KENSINGTON

Guide £1.95 million

ASHBURN PLACE SW7 2 1 2

1,040 sq ft EPC=D

SOUTH KENSINGTON

Guide £1.95 million

ROLAND GARDENS SW7 2 1 2

1,326 sq ft EPC=C

07/11/2016 15:52

6706

Call us 7 days a week on 020 7877 4640 savills.co.uk

CHELSEA BRITTEN HOUSE SW3 2 1 2

Guide £1.95 million

858 sq ft EPC=D

CHELSEA CHELSEA EMBANKMENT SW3 2 1 2

Guide £2 million

1,282 sq ft EPC=D

Guide £0.00 million

SOUTH KENSINGTON BRAMHAM GARDENS SW5 2 1 2

15:52

6706|01 K&C Sales DPS One ART.indd 2

Guide £1.585 million

1,107 sq ft EPC=D

NOTTING HILL ARUNDEL GARDENS W11 1 1 1

Guide £1.25 million

696 sq ft EPC=D

07/11/2016 15:53

FIRST FLOOR APARTMENT WITH VIEWS TO THE SOUTH AND WEST OVER LANDSCAPED GROUNDS

HOLLANDGREEN PLACE W8 2 1 2

1,264 sq ft EPC=B

Guide Â£3.6 million

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AMAZING NEWLY REFURBISHED MAISONETTE WITH TWO ROOF TERRACES

WESTBOURNE GROVE W11 3 1 4

2,807 sq ft EPC=B

Guide £6.95 million

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Seasonal greetings to all our clients and colleagues and very best wishes for 2017

good

tidings we bring

020 7221 1117 www.crayson.com

10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

to you and your kin

Ladbroke Gardens

Notting Hill W11

Uber-fashionable London at the front, peace and beauty at the back â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this is what Notting Hill is all about

L a

1,430 sq ft/ 132.85 sq m, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, EPC rating band D, Leasehold Sole Agent

2,2 Jo

Guide Price ÂŁ2.75 million

020 7221 1117 www.crayson.com

10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

Woodsford Square Holland Park W14 Live the Holland Park dream in this acme of modernist architecture – and in actual comfort too 2,239 q ft/ 208 sq m, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, EPC rating band E, Freehold Joint Sole Agent

Guide Price of £2.9 million

020 7221 1117 www.crayson.com

10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

Campden Grove

Kensington W8

Things ancient and modern â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a traditional Victorian London house, with an all new, all groovy interior

W h

3,233 sq ft/ 300.4 sq m, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, EPC rating band C, Freehold Sole Agent

3, So

Guide Price ÂŁ6.25 million

020 7221 1117 www.crayson.com

10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

St Charles Square North Kensington W10 Wildly chic, excellent location, newly decorated â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a family house for someone with excellent taste 3,412 sq ft/ 317 sq m, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, EPC rating band E, Freehold Sole Agent

Guide Price of ÂŁ4.2 million

020 7221 1117 www.crayson.com

10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

carterjonas.co.uk

RUSSELL GARDENS MEWS Holland Park W14

A stunning upper maisonette designed by an international multi-award winning architect set in charming Victorian cobbled mews. Open-plan kitchen/reception room • 2 bedrooms • 2 bathrooms • Good storage • Contemporary finish • EPC rating C

Guide price £1,300,000

Holland Park & Notting Hill 020 7371 1111 hollandpark@carterjonas.co.uk

LANSDOWNE CRESCENT Holland Park W11

This is perhaps Notting Hill’s most unique and spectacular apartment, spanning the entire roof space of two buildings forming Lansdowne Court with sensational elevated views, private lift access and a large terrace. 3 reception rooms • 5 bedrooms • 4 bathrooms • Panoramic elevated views • Roof terrace • EPC rating C

Guide price £8,500,000

Holland Park & Notting Hill 020 7371 1111 hollandpark@carterjonas.co.uk

carterjonas.co.uk

PARK MANSIONS Knightsbridge SW1X

A larger than average one double bedroom apartment, situated on the seventh floor of a prestigious mansion building, with lift access and 24 hour concierge located moments from Hyde Park and with wonderful roof top views. Reception room • Bedroom • Bathroom • 7th floor with lift • EPC rating E

Guide price £2,000,000

Knightsbridge & Chelsea

020 7584 7020 knightsbridge@carterjonas.co.uk

ROYAL CRESCENT Holland Park W11 A bright and spacious split-level apartment of approximately 1,100 sq ft, spread across the third and fourth (top) floors of this period building. Externally the property enjoys a roof terrace, views and use of the beautiful resident’s communal gardens. Double reception room • 2 bedrooms 2 bathrooms • Roof terrace • Communal garden • EPC rating D

£750 pw*/£3,250 pcm* Holland Park & Notting Hill 020 7371 3377 hollandpark@carterjonas.co.uk

ASTELL STREET Chelsea SW3 An exceptional detached house situated on a quiet street just minutes’ walk from Kings Road. The property is arranged over four floors, is beautifully decorated in a neutral colour palette throughout and ideal for a family looking to live in the heart of Chelsea. 3 reception rooms • 5 bedrooms • 5 bathrooms • Garden • EPC rating E

£4,950 pw*/£21,450 pcm* Knightsbridge & Chelsea

020 7584 7020 knightsbridge@carterjonas.co.uk *Rent excludes reference and tenancy paperwork fees. Please contact our branch who can provide this information.

A wonderful double-fronted, two-bedroom duplex with two en suite bathrooms and a double garage Matching people and property in London for 160 years.

Campden Hill Court W8 £4,950,000 An immaculate three-bedroom lateral apartment with lift access, 24-hour porter service, finished to an exceptional standard and situated a short walk from both Holland Park and Hyde Park. EPC=E

• Three bedrooms • Lateral apartment • Prime location • Close to transport links Kensington: 020 8033 9025 sales.kns@marshandparsons.co.uk

Pont Street SW1X £2,850,000 A charming two-bedroom apartment with resident’s parking and a private balcony, set in a red-brick period building, ideally located in the heart of Knightsbridge. EPC=C

• Two double bedrooms • Period building • Resident’s parking • Prime location Chelsea Sales: 020 8033 9045 sales.chs@marshandparsons.co.uk

St Quintin Gardens W10 £1,295,000 A stylish and contemporary raised ground floor two-bedroom apartment, featuring a 40 ft private garden, and a fully fitted wine cellar, with Portobello Road just a short walk away. Share of freehold. EPC=D

• Two double bedrooms • Private 40 ft garden • Modern wine cellar • Close to Portobello Road North Kensington Sales: 020 8033 9028 sales.nkn@marshandparsons.co.uk

Back to the Future Sales director Simon Tollit reveals how Sotheby’s International Realty is adapting to the digital age. Ellen Millard reports Photography: Above/ xxxxxSarel Jansen

“Never before in history has innovation offered promise of so much to so many in so short a time,” said Bill Gates of the quick-paced nature of the technology industry, which has rapidly changed the way the world functions in an almost frighteningly fast amount of time. As a print journalist, I know all too well the looming threat that digital can have on an industry, but am also aware of the huge benefits that come with it, how room can be found for both physical and online mediums and how, in fact, one often enhances the other. The property industry is not dissimilar; when once a viewing for a property could be arranged using nothing more than a floorplan, estate agents have found

themselves faced with the challenge of adapting to the digital era and, according to the sales director for Sotheby’s International Realty, Simon Tollit, the 21st-century buyer demands more than just an online portfolio of images. “We’re really driving forward our social media presence as much as possible,” he tells me. “Sotheby’s is passionate about video content as photos really aren't sufficient anymore. Buyers want to see the actual interiors of a property and many vendors are now requesting video content as a matter of course.” The agency, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, offers potential buyers the chance to view a property through its Houseguest series, a selection of

property

short films in which inspirational people trial one of Sotheby's properties. The series allows prospective purchasers to get a feel for a house or apartment before they arrange a viewing and has proved to be a good tool for social media. It's currently only available in America, but there are plans to bring the scheme to the UK soon. The trick, Tollit explains, is achieving the right balance: it’s a great way to offer a sneak preview of a property, but the industry is yet to lose its necessity for face to face contact. “You can’t build a relationship with someone if they’re just watching a video. We still want to get people through the front door so that we can engage with them, learn what they want to buy and then build a relationship,” he says. “We’re getting a lot of referrals from the United States at the moment so, if they’re flying over in a couple of weeks, we can send them a couple of videos beforehand to help them get a picture.” Sotheby’s prides itself on offering the finest properties on the market, providing a curated selection of prestigious houses and apartments with a focus on location and design, and any way in which the company can expand digitally will only enhance its offering. But it’s not all about hightech tactics. Despite a recent rise in the number of online estate agencies, Tollit is confident that a bricks-and-mortar presence is paramount for prime central London agencies. Sotheby’s recently opened a new office in Belgravia, where it has already made itself at home, and the company's team of experts are on hand to share their unrivalled knowledge, not just of the property market, but of the local area, too. “The nuances of the properties in prime central London are so specific that you really need to have an expert who knows how it all works, and because the values of them are so high, you absolutely have to come and see them with your own eyes. Whilst not unheard of, a property is rarely purchased unseen, and I don’t think that will ever not be the case,” Tollit assures me. “You don’t know what the lighting's like, the level of traffic noise, what the views are like or indeed the feel of the property.” As well as local experts, Sotheby’s also offers guidance for foreign investors using its international desks, which are fronted by specialists from India, the Middle East and China – and that’s not to mention the brand’s numerous global affiliates that work closely with one another. “We continue to receive a large number of inbound referrals from our global partners and have just agreed terms with a buyer from Hong Kong who came about through the affiliates,” Tollit says. “It shows that the system’s working and that the affiliates have got confidence in us in London, which is helped by the team that we’re building, the new marketing and social media that we're doing and the digital videos, too.” As Sotheby’s settles into its Belgravia home and continues on its mission to stand out in a technological world, plans are in place to grow the business and the coming year looks like it will be an exciting one for the company. “We’re building the foundations to create a really special, boutique agency. We’re looking to grow and expand the brand within London,” Tollit explains. “We don’t want a shop on every high street because of progression in the digital age – everyone starts their property search online now. We have the right coverage with the right experts in the right areas, all of which is backed up by the huge global Sotheby’s machine.” What more could you possibly need? 77-79 Ebury Street, SW1W 0NZ, 020 7495 9580, sothebysrealty.co.uk

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

Dining Room. Cadogan Court, Draycott Avenue, SW3, Above/ xxxxx £3,400,00

Living Room, Cadogan Court, Draycott Avenue, SW3, £3,400,00

Bedroom, Cadogan Court, Draycott Avenue, SW3, £3,400,00

145

Iverna Court, Kensington W8

£2,350,000 Cadogan Court, Chelsea SW3

£3,400,000

This spacious property has been refurbished to an extremely high standard, benefitting from porter and private gardens.

Having been refurbished, this property offers the opportunity to live in a beautifully finished, lateral turnkey apartment.

2 Beds | 2 Baths 1,378 sq.ft. Share of Freehold

2 Beds | 2 Baths 1,190 sq.ft. Share of Freehold

Sulivan Road, Fulham SW6

£4,250,000 Halsey Street, Chelsea SW3

£5,750,000

A rare opportunity to purchase a large penthouse with wonderful views looking over Hurlingham Park and the River Thames.

A charming, newly refurbished, family house located on a prime residential Chelsea address moments from Sloane Square.

4 Beds | 4 Baths 3,073 sq.ft. Leasehold 94 years approximately

5 Beds | 4 Baths 2,649 sq.ft. Freehold

77-79 Ebury Street, London SW1W 0NZ sothebysrealty.co.uk +44 (0)20 7495 9580 | london@sothebysrealty.co.uk

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Home for Christmas? Whilst the Sotheby’s International Realty luxury real estate network continues to expand worldwide, with more than 850 offices in 65 countries, let us help you discover your ‘home from home’ this Christmas.

13:34

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PHYSIC PLACE, CHELSEA, SW3 Tucked away in the heart of the golden mile, is this exquisite gated private road. This oasis offers peace and security, whilst being minutes’ walk from Chelsea’s trendy shops and restaurants. The house is situated over three floors, comprising three bedrooms, three en suites, and a large double aspect sitting room on the first floor, serviced by a separate modern granite kitchen, with smart dark granite bench top and timber kitchen cupboards. The top floor comprises of two of the bedrooms, both of which have en suites and terraces. This gated community is private, quiet, and secure. There is a garage which presently has a partition wall to allow for separate storage and utility areas. Most rooms have both separate independent air conditioners and built in TVs (3) and Wi-Fi. The additional newly added feature of a bright garden conservatory makes this one of larger houses within this community offering 1937 square feet (180sq m). The location is outstanding, close to the River Thames, the famous Chelsea Bridge, the glorious Physic Garden, and the annual Chelsea Flower Show. Kings Road shops and restaurants are within easy reach. EPC Rating D.

John Taylor UK 48 Berkeley Square, London W1J 5AX Tel: 020 3284 1888 Email: london@john-taylor.com

GUIDE PRICE: £3,500,000 FREEHOLD FRANCE

GERMANY

ITALY

MALTA

MAURITIUS

MONACO

QATAR

RUSSIA

SPAIN

www.john-taylor.com

SWITZERLAND

UNITED

KINGDOM

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JUBILEE PLACE, CHELSEA, SW3 A period Chelsea townhouse with great street appeal, fully modernised and with a front garden and garage. The property mixes a traditional style, with up to date conveniences such as a centralised audio visual system with wireless control, Lutron QS intelligent building lighting, underfloor heating and comfort cooling. There is a cinema/TV room with complete hi-tech discreet surround sound system, a separate gym and a top of the range Boffi kitchen, open plan with a dining area. The three bedrooms and the staff room all have en suite bath/shower rooms. All furniture is available by separate negotiation. EPC Rating C.

John Taylor UK 48 Berkeley Square, London W1J 5AX Tel: 020 3284 1888 Email: london@john-taylor.com

GUIDE PRICE: Â£6,950,000 FREEHOLD FRANCE

GERMANY

ITALY

MALTA

MAURITIUS

MONACO

QATAR

RUSSIA

SPAIN

www.john-taylor.com

SWITZERLAND

UNITED

KINGDOM

UNITED

STATES

ACADEMY GARDENS KENSINGTON W8

ÂŁ4,500,000 share of freehold

www.century21uk.com/nottinghill

nottinghill@century21uk.com

MELBURY ROAD HOLLAND PARK W14

Â£3,150,000 freehold

10 Clarendon Road London W11 3AA

020 7229 1414

A FULLY REFURBISHED TWO-BEDROOM TRIPLEX APARTMENT AIRLIE GARDENS, KENSINGTON W8 • En suite master bedroom • Bay fronted reception room • Exceptional design features Guide price £1,300,000

• Access to communal gardens KENSINGTON OFFICE: • 814 sq ft / 75.62 sq m T: 020 3650 4600 nicholas.shaw@harrodsestates.com • EPC rating D

Leasehold: Approximately 97 years

HARRODSESTATES.COM

A beautifully refurbished, three-bedroom mansion block apartment Cadogan Court, Chelsea SW3 • Fifth floor with lift • 3 metre ceiling heights throughout • Retained period features Guide price £4,250,000

• Over 1,561 sq ft living space CHELSEA OFFICE: • Enviable views across Chelsea T: 020 7225 5752 mark.greenway@harrodsestates.com • EPC rating C

HARRODSESTATES.COM

Share of Freehold

ALEXANDER STREET, LONDON, W2 A beautiful five bedroom house located on a quiet street in Westbourne Grove. The property is presented in excellent condition and offers flexible entertaining and living space. Retaining many original features, it benefits from off street parking, a private garden and wooden floors throughout. With a spacious eat-in kitchen on the lower ground floor with Aga and plenty of storage space, this property would make an ideal family home. 2 reception rooms · Large open plan kitchen/dining room · 4/5 double bedrooms · 3 bathrooms (2 en-suite) · Cloakroom · Study · Utility room · Patio garden · Off street parking · Approx. 2,729 sq ft · Energy Efficiency Rating E

£3,250 PER WEEK

PART FURNISHED/UNFURNISHED

aylesford.com

+44 (0)20 7351 2383

le£ings@aylesford.com

Tenant’s fees may apply: Bank reference fee (charged directly): Lease charge (£180 inc. VAT): Credit reference fee: (£54 inc. VAT): Please contact us for further information.

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09/11/2016 12:01

DPS

LANGTON STREET, CHELSEA, SW10 An unusual and spacious freehold family house located on the Ten Acre Estate - a popular network of quiet, wide, tree lined streets situated between the King’s Road and Fulham Road in Chelsea. The property forms part of an attractive part-stucco terrace and is configured principally over four floors with a good sized garden and terrace at the rear. Open plan kitchen, living room and dining room · Reception room and study · 1 further study · Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and balcony · 4 further bedrooms and family bathroom · Garden · Terrace · 2 vaults · Energy Efficiency Rating D

FREEHOLD

GUIDE PRICE £3,750,000 SUBJECT TO CONTRACT

sales@aylesford.com

12:01

DPS RHP_342681_Aylesford_KenChelMag_DEC.indd 2

+44 (0)20 7351 2383

aylesford.com

09/11/2016 16:51

property

Mr Brightside Nigel Humphriss, Malverns’ head of sales and marketing, tells Ellen Millard why the result of the EU referendum has become an investor’s dream As warm welcomes go, Malverns’ office manager Alfie has got his greeting down to a fine art. He bounds over as soon as I enter the doors of the South Kensington-based agency and shows his excitement at my arrival by running rings around the office floor. It may seem like strange behaviour, but Alfie is no ordinary office manager – he’s a fluffy white Westie, and an incredibly cute one at that. Greetings out of the way, I sit down with the team’s head of sales and marketing, Nigel Humphriss, who’s had an interesting year to say the least. It’s no news that the result of the EU referendum rocked the property boat back in June, but Humphriss has a rather more positive outlook on proceedings. “We all feared that the consequences of the EU referendum were going to be really bad for the property market. However, I would be lying if I said that we weren’t actually quite busy,” he admits. “I’m viewing a lot more now than I was a couple of weeks back. I think people have realised that there are deals to be had out there.” One such client is none other than Dame Diana Rigg, who not only sold her property through the boutique agency, but bought her next home with them, too. This was without a doubt the highlight of the year for Humphriss, who enjoyed working with the English actress and has since become good friends with her – a testament to the welcoming and unique service upon which Malverns prides itself. And it’s not just UK buyers who are showing interest. Malverns has always received its fair share of foreign investors, namely from Europe and particularly France, but recent events and a fall in the pound have seen a rise in global interest and Humphriss has noticed an increase in buyers from Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. “My viewings recently have all been with foreign investors,” he tells me. “Lettings has had a steady flow of traffic, too. There is a new vigour and confidence because the pound has plummeted, but of course we’re not out of the EU yet – the true test will be in a few years time.” For now, the team is enjoying the busy period and is looking forward to its annual Christmas charity Photography: Rob Cadman party on 1 December, when local businesses from in and around South Kensington and the agency’s clients Duty calculator. “Our average age in this office is slightly older than most,” will unite to raise money in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Humphriss jokes. “But we can offer 30 years of experience per person as The occasion will no doubt be a welcome break after an eventful year. well as access to new digital marketing and social media. The public still Looking ahead to 2017, the aim for Malverns is to keep pace with the wants to see that we’re able to compete digitally as well as personally, and I market and the rise in interest from international buyers, something that the think we’ve got that balance. We offer the best of both worlds.” agency has already made headway with thanks to its new website, a clean Malvern Court, Onslow Square, SW7 3HU, 020 7589 8122, malverns.co.uk and easy-to-use portal that offers local information and a handy Stamp

LEW1057 MAL K&C DEC16_OL.indd 1

26/10/2016 22:02

20 Montpelier Street Knightsbridge London SW7 1HD

CLEVELAND SQUARE, W2 CRANLEY GARDENS, LYALL MEWS, SW1X SW7

Entrance Hall | Three Bedrooms | Entrance Hall 2 Bedrooms |2 | 4 Bedrooms | 4| En Suite Bathrooms Two Bathrooms | Reception/Dining Bathrooms | Kitchen/Reception Guest Cloakroom | 2 Reception Rooms| Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room| Room | 718 sqRoom ft | Lift | EPC ERoom | Kitchen/Dining | Laundry Storage Room | 1,692 sq ft | 2,418 sq ft | Integral Garage | Communal Gardens | EPC C Additional off-street Parking | Access to Belgrave Gardens | residing EPC Cof A beautifully Square proportioned apartment An excellently proportioned and bright two the third floor of this magnificent Grade II listed double bedroomfreehold apartment, within An end-of-terrace mewsSquare housethe white stucco building. Cleveland is heart of South Kensington. Positioned on situated inone arguably ones finest of Belgravia’ s most arguably of London’ private garden the second floor (with lift) of this attractive desirablesituated locations. lowofbuilt house. squares, in theThis heart Bayswater period building, the flat benefits from was disassembled; comprehensively The property enjoys integrated surroundrebuilt sound wooden floors in thisbenefitting stunning semithe open and fully modernised throughout, plus underfloor heatingfrom in both plan living room with fully-fitted kitchen. latest technology including air-also bathrooms and theadvances kitchen. Residents may The apartment further comprises a master conditioning, Lutron lighting, motorised blinds, benefit from recent redecoration to the exterior and bedroom with modern en suite bathroom, a built in entertainment system, underfloor common parts as well as exclusive access to the secondand bedroom and additional shower heating a fully fitted with Miele square gardens, subject tokitchen separate arrangement. room. The property is flooded with natural and Gaggenau appliances. The property also Transport links can be sought via Lancaster Gate light, offering an east-west exposure and enjoys private use of an integral garage as (Central line) and Paddington (Mainline services, dualasviews over Evelyn Gardens well additional parking inalongside the mews plus Hammersmith &off-street City, Circle & Bakerloo lines) Chelsea’s roof tops. and access to the prestigious Belgrave Square stations. The area will also profit from the arrival of gardens,services subjectinto2018. separate negotiations. Crossrail

£2,495,000 £1,550,000,STC STC £6,750,000

Share of Freehold Leasehold (121 years remaining) Freehold

PONT STREET, SW1X CLAREVILLE GROVE EATON PLACE, SW1X MEWS, 2 Bedrooms || 2 Bedrooms En Suite Bathrooms | Entrance HallSW7 |2

Reception/Dining Room |Bathroom Kitchen | Bathrooms (1 en|Suite) | Kitchen/Dining/ Two Bedrooms En Suite 880 sq ftRoom | Terrace with Spectacular Reception Room 855 sq ft | Basement Shower ||Guest Cloakroom | Views |Room Lift | Resident ||EPC Storage | Shared Terrace Access Reception/Dining RoomPorter | Kitchen |E to Belgrave Utility RoomSquare | 915Gardens sq ft | EPC E A meticulously refurbished and light second floor (with lift) apartment located the rear An elegant flat withquietly plentiful charm,atoccupying A this charming mews house idyllically of handsome red brick Victorian building in approximately 855 sq ft of lateral space on the positioned in this quiet cobbled cul-de-sac, prime Knightsbridge. The drawing room with third floor of this well-located handsome period withinaccess the heart Southbalcony Kensington. direct to aof private andofmaster building. Arranged over the full width the The property is presented in immaculate bedroom suite enjoy spectacular views the building, the principal reception room is over flooded condition and has been carefully designed gardens of Pont Street Mews, St Saviours church with natural light from its south-facing aspects throughout with Italian solid wood and two bedroom, twofloors bathroom over Harrods. the street.This In addition to the expansive and contemporary furnishings. This attractive property is finished to exacting standards sitting area, the room boasts a bespoke with housefloor additionally benefitsbathrooms, from south under heating, marble integrated kitchen and space for dining;well perfect westerly aspects andMiele plentiful natural light. equipped kitchen with appliances, for open-plan entertaining. The apartment velvet Clareville herringbone Grove Mews is a secure gated carpeting, floors and awards admission to a parquet superb shared terrace, lane, located atjoinery. the north end ofisClareville bespoke walnut Pont Street a positioned to the peaceful rear of the firstvery floor, Street, moments the bountiful amenities popular location infrom Knightsbridge within easy overlooking Belgrave Mews. Occupiers’ can and restaurants, the area isand famous for. reach of Harrods, theaccess shops the restaurants also enjoy exclusive to Belgrave Square of Sloanesubject Street and theusual Kingsconsents. Road. gardens, to the

£2,395,000 STC £1,250 Per Week £1,900,000 STC

Leasehold Furnished (179 (174 years remaining)

T: T: +44 +44 (0)20 (0)20 3770 3770 3474 3474 info@nicolasvanpatrick.com

info@nicolasvanpatrick.com RS: +44 (0)20 7225 0277 info@russellsimpson.co.uk

CADOGAN GARDENS, LONDON SW3 A stunning, recently refurbished, first and second floor flat, with two spacious double bedrooms and two bathrooms spanning across 1,489 sq.ft, located minutes from Sloane Square and the amenities of the Kings Road and Sloane Street. The flat also benefits from access to Cadogan Square. Two Bedrooms – Two Bathrooms – Reception/Dining Area – Kitchen – Guest Cloakroom – Recently Refurbished – Communal Gardens

PRICE: £1,500 per week, Furnished, Available Immediately

020 7591 0288 | info@londonland.co.uk | www.londonland.co.uk

PROMOTION

Memorable Moves What happens when you need to relocate the engines from a Concorde airliner? Abels Moving Services tells all

What does a seven-foot high ornamental elephant, Giovanni Bellini’s magnificent Renaissance altarpiece Madonna and Child enthroned with St Peter and St Paul, a 36-feet long totem pole and the Olympus engines from a Concorde supersonic airliner have in common? The answer is that they’re just some of the unusual items moved by Abels Moving Services over the years. John Watson, managing director of Abels (which holds a Royal Warrant) says, “We have actually moved the sevenfoot ornamental elephant several times, most memorably into and out of an eighth floor London apartment”. The 36-foot totem pole was immensely heavy and required a special transit case and its own 40-foot container to protect it on its journey to the USA. In fact Abels frequently make custom transit cases for their clients’ items such as paintings, mirrors and also statues. “Many of our moves involve the packing, storage and moving of valuable pieces of artwork”, Watson explains, “but few are as valuable as Bellini’s Madonna and Child enthroned with St Peter and St Paul. It is dated 1505, valued at £6million, and we relocated it on behalf of Norwich Castle Museum.”

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While it needed steady hands to safely pack and transport the Bellini altarpiece, another move requiring similar diligence came to light when Abels’ customer services manager inspected the cellar of a large manor house. It was quickly discovered that it contained more than 5,000 bottles of wine. Each one had to be listed, packed in order, transported in a temperature-controlled vehicle, replaced in the same order and Abels succeeded without spilling a drop! Moves often turn out to be more complicated than at first sight. One small two-bedroom bungalow proved to be chocablock with seafaring memorabilia, with everything from barographs to ship’s wheels, which required a week of packing and loading and two large trucks to move. The relocation of a Rolls-Royce car from Kent to Monaco became less straightforward when it was revealed that the car was not only bullet-proof but bomb-proof, too. It travelled direct to Monaco in an Abels truck escorted by the owner’s security detail. But what about the Concorde engines? “After the aircraft was taken out of service, Concorde parts were sold at auction and we shipped them to collections around the world,” Watson explains, “including the engines, which took pride of place in a display in Houston, Texas.” “Whatever you own,” he concludes, “from a grand piano to a precious family heirloom, you can rest assured that Abels will move it safely and securely around the corner or across the world.” Call Abels on 0800 626 769, email: johnwatson@abels.co.uk or visit abels.co.uk

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

THE ART OF MOVING UK RESIDENTIAL, EUROPEAN & INTERNATIONAL REMOVALS

Abels.

Seen in all the prime locations.

• UK Residential Removals • Worldwide Relocations • Weekly European Removals • Storage Services • Car Transportation & Storage • Office & Commercial Moving • Antiques, Fine Art Packing, Storing & Moving Telephone: 020 3773 5796 E-Mail: enquiries@abels.co.uk www.abels.co.uk

Memb No: A001

Prime locations 297x210mm NEW.indd 1

FS 23942

198656

07/11/2016 15:22

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

Drawing of St Dunstan-in-the-West by SPAB Scholar Ptolomy Dean

Founded by William Morris, the SPAB protects the historic environment from decay, damage and demolition. It responds to threats to old buildings, trains building professionals, craftspeople, homeowners and volunteers and gives advice about maintenance and repairs. Since 1877 countless buildings have been saved for future generations.

Information about maintaining your home is available through events, courses, lectures, publications and telephone advice. To support our work why not join the SPAB? Members receive a quarterly magazine, our list of historic properties for sale and access to our regional activities.

www.spab.org.uk 020 7377 1644 A charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales. Company no: 5743962 Charity no: 1113753 37 Spital Square, London E1 6DY

Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, SW7 5,080 SQ.FT/472 SQ.M

An exceptional, interior designed house with six bedrooms, each bedroom has an en-suite bathroom/shower room. Superbly located opposite Hyde Park in a private gated road with 24 hour security. Accommodation: Reception Room : Dining Room : Kitchen/Breakfast Room : Study : Media Room : Cloakroom/W.C : Laundry Room : Master Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom, Dressing Room & Private Roof Terrace : Five Further Bedrooms with En-Suite Facility : Roof Terrace : Passenger lift: Parking For Two Cars.

Price: ÂŁ13,800,000

FREEHOLD

020 7590 9339

38 Gloucester Road, SW7

www.dominiclondon.com

sales@dominiclondon.com

Property News PRIME RESI provides us with a comprehensive monthly round-up of key news about the local luxury property market

Pound for Pound

Right to Rent

Elena Dimova, managing director of CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, considers how the government will keep the electorate happy by providing an effective economic strategy in its Autumn Statement

Lisa Simon, Head of Lettings at Carter Jonas, considers the new UK rental legislation and what it means for the market

The government will publish its Autumn Statement on 23 November. This will be the first major opportunity for the Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and the government to provide a strategy for the economy in a world of upcoming Brexit. The expectations are that the Chancellor will move away from his predecessor’s objectives to balance the books and look to stimulate the economy through fiscal measures, such as infrastructure projects, including incentives for smaller house builders. A Housing White Paper is also due to be published at a similar time, which is expected to overhaul the planning process, with an ambitious objective to deliver a million new homes by 2020. Property market participants in prime central London are watching out for potential U-turns or amendments to some of the fairly recently introduced changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) as well as to mortgage interest relief due to take effect from April 2017. These are probably unlikely, especially at the higher end of the market. In this environment, the pound is the most likely variable. It is currently 20% cheaper than this time last year versus the US dollar and the euro. The pound has become a barometer for the markets’ perceptions of the economic uncertainty due to Brexit. In fact, the pound is affected a lot more by political news than by economic data. For example, UK growth in the third quarter was higher than expected, and yet the currency barely moved. In the prime central London property market, sterling weakness has brought interest from overseas investors able to get a lot more for their buck and we have seen transaction levels rise. We should not forget that the UK economy is a net importer. A sustained lower pound will soon start to hurt local people’s wallets. For the government to keep the electorate happy, they will need to prioritise the value of our currency by offering a plan and restoring confidence. Therefore, for buyers of London property looking to take advantage of a weaker pound, this may be a limited opportunity. CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, 10 Clarendon Road, W11 3AA 020 7229 1414, century21uk.com

It is almost unprecedented for the airline industry to impact legislation around the lettings market, but a new landmark ruling won by carrier Ryanair is set to alleviate pressures exerted on UK landlords following the newly introduced Right to Rent reform. Under the mandate, landlords are responsible for checking whether their tenants have a legal right to rent in the UK, with those in breach facing imprisonment. However, with a significant proportion of London’s tenants coming from overseas, the capital is feeling the burden. Few landlords are equipped to identify a forged passport, but the Ryanair case offers a precedent under which they could be exonerated for innocent and reasonable mistakes. Ryanair was originally fined £4,000 in 2015 for flying two illegal immigrants from Spain to Edinburgh, after it was discovered by UK Border Agency staff that they had entered the UK on false passports. The airline subsequently challenged the fine in the High Court and successfully argued that it’s not fair to penalise airlines when illegal immigrants arrive at UK airports, as most airline staff lacks the experience and training to identify fake passports. Ultimately, the appeal court judge was in favour of Ryanair, and posited that when trained UK Border staff finds it difficult to identify discrepancies on passports, it is beyond the capability of busy airline staff. He even accused the government of devolving part of its border control duty onto airlines. The implication for landlords and agents is clear: should either party be fined for failing to spot falsified documents, the same argument used in the Ryanair case could be applied. While we pride ourselves on a thorough examination of all documentation when a new contract begins, there is little advice offered when it comes to checking validity. London is a hotspot for international tenants and as a city, we can’t turn our back on a major source of buoyancy. However, it can prove tricky when a potential tenant flies in to view a property prior to starting a new job in London, but doesn’t bring their partner or children with them. We then have to explain that they can’t have the keys until all people who will live in the property aged over 18 have had their documentation approved in person. The expectation that the lettings industry is another layer of immigration control – despite a lack of training or guidelines from the Home Office on how to identify and then tackle a forgery – is baffling. As agents we have an advantage over landlords as we check documents more frequently, but the process remains onerous and we are working to ensure that it doesn’t detract from the focus of our job, which is to match tenants with properties and provide excellent, personalised service. Carter Jonas, 127 Mount Street, W1K 3NT, 020 7493 0676, carterjonas.co.uk

PROPERTY

PrimeQResi Journal of Prime Property

primeresi.com

The Future’s Bright nick crayson, founder of Crayson, considers how technological advances have changed the face of estate agency

I am an eternal optimist and

Buying Agent Numbers Plummet The number of buying agents registered with industry watchdog The Property Ombudsman has plummeted by a third in under two years. The redress scheme set up a special code of practice for the sector in 2014 after estimating the total operating in the UK had spiralled to somewhere between 600 and 700. The current tally now stands at a fraction of that – 364 – down from 547 in January last year. The drop-off appears to have accelerated dramatically as the UK’s prime market faces some of the strongest headwinds in a decade. Recent research by investment house London Central Portfolio showed just five £10m+ transactions were recorded by the Land Registry in the three months to August, a fall of 86% on the same period in 2015, when 35 such sales were officially lodged. The deal drought hasn’t been confined to the super-prime range either. Sales volumes in Q2 were down by 42% across prime London compared with the same quarter the year before, according to LonRes. That’s not a lot of potential clients to go round for buying agents, and it seems many operators have simply decided to throw in the towel. Ironically, it’s during markets like this when buyers most need expert representation, and you can find out who has real staying power in PrimeResi’s ‘Prime Movers’ ranking of the top 40 buying agents currently operating in Britain.

The Right Move While some agencies may be consolidating or cutting back their PCL operations, JLL has decided to open up a star-studded new offering in Chelsea. The firm merged with W.A.Ellis in 2014 and the new JLL-branded Cale Street base will be staffed by existing members of the 148-year-old Knightsbridge firm, including the experienced Tim des Forges and David Mills, who’ll be heading up the sales and lettings departments respectively. Three other member of the W.A.Ellis team in Knightsbridge – Giles Cook, James Burridge and Simon McElroy – also be making the move to SW3. Launching in January 2017, the Chelsea office will boost JLL’s resi network across the capital up to 11. The firm is gearing up to fully rebrand W.A.Ellis to JLL later next year and describes the move as “a natural path of expansion for the company”.

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

am therefore becoming tired of all the negative news in the papers. Despite the ups and downs reported, there is only one direction that we are going in and that is forward. It is mankind’s instinct to iron out the vicissitudes and make this a better world – and I have every confidence that we will prevail. Our rate of innovation is faster today than it ever has been. The internet has created a whole new paradigm. Events can no longer be hidden and information can quickly go viral, as seen from recent events in Russia and all over North Africa and the Middle East. This affects us all – the world suddenly becomes smaller and with news constantly being fed to us by PDAs, iPads and computers, we are in a constant state of alert. In turn, the internet has dramatically changed the face of the property market. Apparently more than 97% of buyers in London use the internet as the primary source in their property search and no longer feel the need to walk into an estate agency parked on the high street, which is taking up valuable retail space. (It has of course also allowed a great deal more transparency in terms of information available to both buyers and sellers alike and this can only be for the good). In a bid to move away from the high street as well as to improve our service to local residents, I decided to set up shop in Notting Hill’s Lambton Place. It was the perfect time to build a new business and change the habit of 200 years by moving our offices off the high street. If you fully embrace the new world as it is, you do not need offices in Singapore, Mumbai and Shanghai – you simply need to invest in a web-based infrastructure to deliver your goods and services to a live and dynamic client base globally. Other than that, the other most important thing is having a team of highcalibre individuals who know all the facts and figures, and can speak to anyone as their peers. At Crayson we are fully armed with this powerful supertool and we have a team of people who I believe are the best equipped in the area to sell high value properties to the world. Please do come and pop in to our lovely offices and see what we are doing to change our world. Crayson, 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH, 020 7221 1117, crayson.com

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Campana Road, Fulham SW6

£995 per week* Unfurnished

Fulham 020 7731 7100 fulham@struttandparker.com * 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.

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

Rawlings Street, Chelsea SW3

£1,375 per week* Unfurnished

Chelsea 020 3813 9547 chelsea@struttandparker.com * 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.

/struttandparker

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Pont Street, Knightsbridge SW1

ÂŁ1,695,000 Leasehold

A newly modernised duplex apartment with triple aspect views.

Knightsbridge 020 3813 9270 knightsbridge@struttandparker.com

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

Stanley House, Fulham SW6

ÂŁ1,750,000 Freehold

Fulham 020 7731 7100 fulham@struttandparker.com

/struttandparker

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Cornwall Gardens, South Kensington SW7

ÂŁ3,600,000 Share of Freehold

A grand three bedroom apartment on a sought after garden square.

South Kensington 020 7581 7000 southken@struttandparker.com

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

First Street, Chelsea SW3

ÂŁ3,850,000 Freehold

Chelsea 020 3813 9448 chelsea@struttandparker.com JSA Savills 020 7730 0822

/struttandparker

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

COURVOISIER.COM