Vantage Magazine July 2015 by Runwild Media Group

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contents

Off to a good start

Scene

10 RUBIK'S CUBE

29 wishlist

She’s the face that’s launched countless fragrances, but supermodel Anja Rubik thought it was time to create her own

14 found in translation Forget what you thought you knew about holidays. From detoxing in Vegas to networking on planes, everything is changing

60 lady in red

Ladybird Books marks 100 years

32 in the picture With the release of Picturing England, we consider the role of photography in preserving architectural heritage

36 a summer lock in

Style

19 wishlist

39 WISHLIST

20 watch news

22 ONE MAN BRAND Meet Hublot ambassador Usain Bolt ahead of the 2015 World Championships in Athletics

27 jewellery trend

Ethnic bands and boho baubles

Interiors 65 wishlist Mexican-inspired wallcoverings from Jennifer Shorto

Missoni's exclusive tableware collection for Amara

68 parallel lines

All eyes on Iris Apfel

40 style update

Mind-blowing minimalism from Roger Dubuis

In honour of National Lipstick Day on 29 July, we delve into the history of the scarlet pout

66 INTERIORS INSPIRATION

Discover Camden's hidden gems

Collection Eddie Redmayne for Omega

New Pucci prints and Versace's blinged up accessories

42 SHIFTING SANDS Classic swimwear shapes in coastal colours and bright prints

52 top of her game Designer Rebecca Minkoff's debut athletics line

His credits include Rupert Murdoch’s yacht and a private golf club for the Samsung family, but designer Christian Liaigre’s dream project is a stable

Health & Family 77 Wishlist Talking Tables’ new Truly Alice tea-party collection

81 health news Markus Lupfer's new kicks

Food & Drink 85 wishlist

Krug & Chips from Tom Sellers

86 foodie favourites Test drive Social Wine & Tapas

88 stormin' norman Polpo restaurateur Russell Norman speaks from the heart

Travel 93 WISHLIST

La Portegna's holiday must-haves

96 When in Rhône Explore award-winning vineyards

98 jump for joya For those wanting a relaxing getaway, Vila Joya in Portugal may be just the ticket

From the editor

ou may not be familiar with Anja Rubik’s name, but there’s no doubt you’ll recognise her arresting doe-eyes from the fragrance campaigns of Chloé, Elie Saab and Salvatore Ferragamo. After 16 years on the fashion scene, having settled in New York at the age of 31 (via Poland, Greece, Canada and South Africa), she’s releasing her very own scent, named, quite aptly, Original. “There’s so much information out there telling you how to dress, how to be and everyone is expecting something different, so it takes a lot of courage to say ‘no, this is what I want’,” she says. Her transition from supermodel to shrewd businesswoman has been a lengthy affair and she’s invested blood, sweat, tears and cash into something she describes as an “embodiment of herself and her vision of womanhood”. While chastising her for a lack of note taking (Rubik also edits her own magazine) she tells Lauren Romano all about her journey (p. 10). As fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff launches her first ‘athleisure’ line, we talk working out, fashion icons and juggling a career with motherhood (p. 52), while in honour of National Lipstick Day on 29 July, Gabriella Dyson delves into the history of the scarlet pout (p. 60). We’ve also picked up some style tips from interiors king Christian Liaigre and his wife Déborah. As they open their first London showroom, they discuss the art of the perfect edit (p. 68). “Sometimes we can spend all year working on one piece and then it doesn’t make it in because we don’t have the right feel about it.” A wise man once said “the journey, not the arrival matters”. Decades have passed since TS Eliot wrote these words and yet they still ring true. Over the coming weeks, those who are ahead of the game will be detoxing in the world’s party capitals and using their precious time away from the office to network their way to better business. Everything about the way we travel is being turned on its head, says Sarah Statman Kari Colmans (p. 14). You heard it here first. Editor Follow us on Twitter @VantageNW

Rubik’s Cube, p. 10 Original by Anja Rubik, photography by Paola Kudacki

Runwild Media Group Publishers of: Canary Wharf, The City Magazine The Kensington & Chelsea Magazine The Mayfair Magazine

J U LY 2 0 1 5 i s s u e 6 0

Editor Kari Colmans

Editorial Director Kate Harrison

Assistant Editor Lauren Romano Collection Editor Annabel Harrison

Production Hugo Wheatley Oscar Viney Jamie Steele Alice Ford

Contributing Editors Richard Brown, Olivia Sharpe

General Manager Fiona Fenwick

Sub Editor Jasmine Phillips

Executive Director Sophie Roberts

Features Writer Gabriella Dyson

Client Relationship Director Friday Dalrymple

Senior Designer Daniel Poole

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

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She might be the face that’s launched countless fragrances, but Anja Rubik thought it was time to create her own. The supermodel lets Lauren Romano in on the story behind her debut scent

“Y

ou can smell me,” Anja Rubik begins, extending a gazelle-like arm in my direction. Pushing back the sleeve of a white maxi dress, she reveals a tattooed wrist (the unexpected inking is of her late pet rat Fibi), lightly scented with her debut fragrance, Original. As greetings go, it wasn’t what I was expecting, but it turns out a quick wrist sniff is much more of an icebreaker than a formal handshake or awkward air kiss. I doubt Rubik will be loosing any sleep over the social etiquette faux pas, however. Dressed head-totoe in Chloé, with a slouchy black waistcoat thrown over an ethereal, floor-skimming dress, the Polish supermodel looks as though she could have arrived at the Connaught’s Coburg Bar via Woodstock Festival, chanelling a devil-may-care attitude to match. Sliding effortlessly from the sofa to perch on a small stool nearer to my chair, Rubik sets her wide-eyed, unblinking gaze square on me. “You’re not taking many notes,” she observes, somehow surreptitiously clocking my notepad. The combination of otherworldly looks and straight-talking sass is quite

disarming; approximately four minutes in and it’s evident Rubik is not to be underestimated. Certainly, naming your first fragrance Original takes guts. However, it would be very wrong to dismiss Rubik as just another public figure filling the celeb perfume mould. Her transition from supermodel to shrewd businesswoman has been a lengthy, completely selffunded affair. She has invested blood, sweat, tears and cash into something she describes as an “embodiment of herself and her vision of womanhood”. There has been no corner cutting either. From fragrance blending with renowned nose Patricia Choux of Takasago, to the packaging and even the business meetings (Rubik personally met with the team at Liberty, where the scent is exclusively stocked), she has been involved every step of the way. “I like to tell people that Original is my baby and it’s four years old. It should be starting kindergarten now,” she smiles. Ideologically, the move from fashion to beauty wasn’t an unimaginable leap, and Rubik admits that after 15 years working as a model, the two industries are somewhat intertwined for her. In fact, the starting point for the scent was a mood board that cited many

i n t e rv i e w

ÂŠ Paola Kudacki 11

sartorial influences. She lists fashion designers Geoffrey Beene and Anthony Vaccarello (the designer behind her risqué Met Gala gown, with a hip bone-high slash) as sources of inspiration. “I love the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe too, in particular his lily series. I find lilies very beautiful and minimalistic. There’s an innocence to them but they are also a symbol of erotica, a contrast that many women possess,” she says. As the face of several fragrances – from Chloé to Salvatore Ferragamo and Elie Saab – Rubik is certainly no stranger to selling scents. “I would embody the vision of the designer, but it wasn’t really me,” she explains. “I wanted to develop my identity and create an embodiment of sexiness and confidence; something empowering,” she continues. “I wanted to design something reflecting me, but also for modern women, who are like me – they want to feel feminine and sensual but empowered and successful.” A crisp, contemporary blend of lily with a hint of pink peppercorn, woody amber hues and unisex green tea notes, Original is Rubik’s trademark confidence and sensuality in a bottle. And for anyone looking for a further boost, each box contains a written manifesto neatly folded up inside. “The idea is that it speaks to you, so that every time you wear it it triggers that emotion,” she says. Anyone who has ever picked up a copy of Rubik’s magazine 25 will already be versed on her ‘vision of womanhood’. The first issue caused waves for focusing on erotica from a woman’s point of view. In an interview with nymag.com at the time of the edition’s release, Rubik’s motive was clear: “It was bothering me how the world is nowadays – how we approach nudity and sexuality and beauty. Today, sex and nudity is either so vulgar or so prude. I wanted to create something inspiring, beautiful and sensual to get people to think in a different way,” she said. More than three years later and the magazine, which is produced by a small team in New York, is still going strong and the most recent issue is a celebration of the five senses, inspired by the Original scent. It’s evident that Rubik has never been one to shy away from inflammatory issues. A recent incident during a shoot for Vogue Paris on a Miami beach springs to mind. A passer-by complained to the police about Rubik posing topless, saying ‘what if my seven-year-old son saw this?’ Rubik’s comeback was straight to the point: “What would happen if her sevenyear-old saw me topless?” she wrote on style.com. “If his future was irrevocably damaged from seeing my tiny breasts, then God help the rest of the world.” Today she’s less guns blazing: “I want to encourage women to follow their own path, that’s the whole idea behind Original. Empowered, sexy and in control, that’s my interpretation of the modern woman, but it is

difficult for women to find themselves,” she concedes. “There’s so much information out there telling you how to dress and how to be and everyone is expecting something different, so it takes a lot of courage to say ‘no, this is what I want’.” Rubik is adamant that her confidence has come with age, and at 31 she is settled in New York with her husband, Serbian model Sasha Knezevic and their dog Charlie. “You start to know yourself better, you become aware of your pluses and minuses. As a result you are more comfortable with saying yes or no, but that takes time.” Born in Poland and raised in Greece, Canada and South Africa, Rubik decided to pursue modelling by entering a competition aged 15. She didn’t win but she did manage to bag herself an agent and left Poland for Paris by the time she turned 17. Here she worked weekends to pay for her private school fees and modelled during her holidays. She made her name as a catwalk stalwart in New York. The story goes that she turned up at her agency armed with steely determination and a list of photographers she wanted to work with – something that I can well imagine. “I love to challenge myself,” she smiles. Confidence carries through to her style too. “I’m gravitating more toward simplicity and minimalism,

“Empowered, sexy and in control, that’s my interpretation of the modern woman, but it is difficult for women to find themselves”

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with a bohemian touch,” she says of her fashion choices. “Ultimately there should be ease in your look, it shouldn’t feel forced.” She admires women like Patti Smith and Blondie, who have carved out their own identities and insists that despite her job, her self-esteem isn’t dictated by what she sees in the mirror. “I feel at my most confident when I get good feedback from the projects I’m working on. The moment I start to sacrifice or bend my vision, that’s when I lose my confidence. That’s why I didn’t agree to collaborate with a big name, because I wanted full control and I didn’t want to sacrifice my vision,” she says. Rubik turned to 25’s art director Julien Gallico for packaging direction and opted for a white bottle despite warnings that it would get dirty and smudged – “That’s the point, if it’s got fingerprint marks on it, it’s part of the wearer.” There are some high-profile campaigns on the horizon for Rubik. As well as another potential product launch under the Original banner, you might have spotted her in campaigns for Marc Jacobs, Furla and Anthony Vaccarello, but she is less forthcoming about drawing similarities between her two different day jobs. “I can’t really compare them,” she says, reflecting for a moment. “I guess the perfume is a little bit more nerve-wracking because this is really me, whereas when I walk the catwalk I have this persona that I put on and hide behind. Having said that,” she laughs, “at least there’s no chance I might break a heel and fall on my face.” n

Original by Anja Rubik eau de parfum, £60, is available at Liberty, Regent Street, W1B © Gaele Pierre 13

FOUND IN

Translation Forget what you thought you knew about holidays, says Sarah Statman. Those who are ahead of the game are detoxing in the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s party capitals and using their precious time away from the office to network their way to better business

f e at u r e

Opposite page: © NRM / Pictorial Collection / Science & Society Picture Library. Image will be exhibited as part of Riviera Style: Resort & Swimwear since 1900 at the Fashion & Textile Museum, with the print available to buy at kingandmcgaw.com Below: © P&O Heritage Collection. Image will be exhibited as part of Riviera Style: Resort & Swimwear since 1900 at the Fashion & Textile Museum, with the print available to buy at kingandmcgaw.com

wise man once said “the journey, not the arrival matters”. Decades have passed since TS Eliot wrote these words and yet they’d serve as the perfect tagline for the latest luxury offerings. Over the coming weeks, those who are ahead of the game will be shunning the way we normally do things: instead, they’ll be detoxing in the world’s party capitals and using their precious time away from the office to network their way to better business. Everything about the way we travel is being turned on its head.

High Flyers

Indeed, it seems the hottest thing an airline can sell us this summer is a flight that not only gets us from A to B, but one that benefits us in an educational or enterprising way in the process. Delta’s recently launched ‘Innovation Class’ gives passengers the chance to book a seat next to a world leader in science, technology or art. It’s essentially a mentoring program; whoever is sat in the VIP seat has the entire journey to impart their knowledge on the person sat next to them. KLM is another company that clearly wants us to put our time spent at 35,000 feet to good use. Its ‘Meet and Seat’ app enables travelers to pick who they’re seated next to onboard, according to how network-worthy they are. Before boarding, passengers can check out their fellow commuter’s social media status: their LinkedIn, Twitter and so on, and then book the seat next to them. It’s a clever idea and perfect for those high-flyers for whom switching on their out of office message doesn’t mean switching out of work-mode – it certainly gives the milehigh club a whole new meaning. But for every enterprising type out there, there are plenty more who see a trip abroad as an opportunity to leave the office behind: once they’ve passed duty free they want to face nothing more taxing than deciding whether to plump for gin or vodka with their tonic. As a member of the latter tribe, it’s safe to say that the next time I fly with KLM, I may well try out ‘Meet and Seat’ – but only to ensure that I’m not seated next to someone’s screaming toddler.

Holistic meets hedonistic

Until recently we could effortlessly decide where to head for our summer sojourn according to what kind of trip we fancied. Most holiday spots could essentially be lumped in to one of three categories: predictable party pitches; obvious arty/educational/historical sites and (my own favorite) the ‘nothing to do here but have fun in the sun’ resorts. And while this obviously still rings true for some places (it’s unlikely that Benidorm will ever be our go-to for a luxurious cultural weekender) this summer the hotels in some tourist traps are finding clever ways of challenging our expectations. A prime example is Las Vegas. It’s safe to say that when overworked, overtired and in desperate need of catching up on some zeds, Vegas isn’t the obvious place

to head. However, in the city best known for its sins, a new trend is emerging. This summer, some of its top hotels are pioneering ways to help their guests enjoy improved wellbeing – starting with a better night’s sleep. The Westin is offering its guests Lark Technologies wrist sensors, which are designed to monitor nocturnal movements and analyse the cause of any restlessness. Additionally, the Crowne Plaza has just introduced insulated wall panels and noise-reducing headboards, which work together to reduce ambient noise by 30 per cent. Perfect for light sleepers, or simply for drowning out the sounds of your neighbours’ 4am room party. Taking things a step further, the MGM Grand has made the concept of improved sleep the backbone to its Stay Well experience. Taking over the hotel’s entire 14th floor, the Stay Well collection boasts 171 rooms and suites featuring more than 20 health and wellness features. REM-boosting gadgets include lighting designed to regulate melatonin, simulators to encourage gradual awakening and black-out shades. Other healthboosting contraptions include air purifiers to reduce toxins and a vitamin C infused shower. Hangovers won’t stand a chance. By the same token, it’s no secret that the renowned party isle of Ibiza has been steadily churning out wellness retreats. However, until now, visitors were expected to choose between a week of raving and a week of R&R. Now a new breed of hotels and packages are emerging, the kind of which offer a hybrid holiday. This summer, revelers who want their Jägerbombs served with a side of yoga are heading to Cas Gasi. The boutique retreat serves up digital detoxes and bespoke menus curated by an in-house nutritionist.

f e at u r e Opposite page: © NRM / Pictorial Collection / Science & Society Picture Library. Image will be exhibited as part of Riviera Style: Resort & Swimwear since 1900 at the Fashion & Textile Museum, with the print available to buy at kingandmcgaw.com Right: © P&O Heritage Collection. Image will be exhibited as part of Riviera Style: Resort & Swimwear since 1900 at the Fashion & Textile Museum, with the print available to buy at kingandmcgaw.com

To sum the place up in a sentence? You’ll find Naomi Campbell hanging by the pool between nights out. Meanwhile, over at Can Verru (Kate Moss’s villa of choice) a concierge will organise your table bookings at Ibiza’s best clubs, while yoga and massages are available on tap. Its pop-up fitness retreats combine vigorous exercise and a clean-eating plan with trips to foodie hotspots such as Cotton Beach Club. Coconut water is served, but so is champagne. In a nutshell, when planning how we ‘do Ibiza’, we no longer have to choose between holistic and hedonistic. So what’s sparked this change in approach? We live in a society where we want, expect and know we can have it all. So while we may opt to spend some nights dancing tequilafuelled until the sun rises, who says we won’t want to detox the following day? It makes sense that when we do eventually hit the sack after a 48-hour partying binge, we want a ruddy good night’s sleep. As Scott Sibella, president of the aforementioned MGM Grand puts it: “You can have the Vegas experience without giving up your commitment to healthy living.”

would usually expect from a hotel – airport transfers, massages, day trips, luggage storage, even room service – while jet-setters should check out Airbnb's Superhost section, a listing of only the finest properties. While it seems we’re remaining loyal to our tried and tested holidaying partners – families will always take their end-of-term trips; couples will continue to bond over joint adventures; girly holidays will live on as the ultimate test of friendship – not everyone is sticking to this model. This month, one brave person will be spending six weeks exploring the globe with a different companion in each city. Match.com has funded a global trip for one competition winner, where the ‘lucky’ singleton will be expected to sample the offerings of each location’s local dating scene. It’s essentially the world’s most extreme speed-dating event. Unusual as it might seem, considering how many dating holiday websites now exist, not to mention how influential Match.com has been in shaping the way we now date, it could just be a taste of things to come. By ripping up the rule book we’re discovering unlikely holiday destinations and lapping up alternative onboard entertainment. And the best thing about all of this unpredictability? It means that on a broader scale, we’re having to be a little more open-minded to new ways of doing things, and in turn we’re being rewarded with new experiences. And let’s face it, isn’t that the whole point of travel in the first place? n

We certainly now live in a society where we want, expect and know we can have it all

Shifting expectations

While the line between categories of holidays is blurring, the divide between types of accommodation is becoming similarly obscure. Remember when camping became ‘glamping’? In a similar bid to dent our love affair with hotels, home-lending services like One Fine Stay are raising their game, giving guests an even more exclusive experience. They recognise that holidaymakers have an increasing desire to live like locals – albeit ones who live a very plush lifestyle. BeMate offers everything you

Riviera Style: Resort & Swimwear since 1900 Until 30 August, Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, SE1, ftmlondon.org

www.bachet.fr

collection

wish list

ROLL CAMERA He may not be James Bond but Eddie Redmayne is just as suave and sophisticated; so is the opinion of Swiss watch brand Omega, which has cast the Oscar-winning actor in the role of international ambassador. Redmayne, unsurprisingly, looks effortlessly stylish in the new campaign, pictured in a navy overcoat and holding a vintage camera, with the Omega Constellation Globemaster (unveiled at this year’s Baselworld) on his wrist. Having sported an Omega himself for many years, Redmayne seemed the obvious choice for its president Stephen Urquhart: “He brings true elegance and integrity, and is incredibly humble about his success – something that sits perfectly with the Omega spirit.” Joining the likes of George Clooney and Nicole Kidman who have previously been brand representatives, the actor is in very good company.

Globemaster Co-Axial Master Chronometer, £4,785, omegawatches.com

collection

watch news Knight Time A mind-blowing display of miniaturisation from Roger Dubuis sees the Knights of the Round Table cast in bronze and reduced to the height of drawing pins. The legendary figures form the focal point of the brand’s second Excalibur ‘Knights of the Round Table’ timepiece. Positioned around a black jade dial, their swords replacing traditional hour-markers, each knight stands 6.5mm tall and is completely unique. Proving that the mechanics underneath matches the artistry above, each of the 172 components that make up the watch’s movement is stamped with the prestigious Poinçon de Genève, the industry’s highest seal of approval.

Knights of the Round Table II, £205,600, rogerdubuis.com

one to watch Allun Michaels, store manager at Fraser Hart in Brent Cross, selects his watch of the month:

“The 1950s-inspired Breitling Transocean Chronograph oozes vintage cool and the less-is-more philosophy really adds charm to the piece. We particularly like it on a leather strap, which makes it into a great summer all-rounder” 20

Blue Steel Vacheron Constantin has updated its elegant leisure watch line with the introduction of two new Overseas models. Both new references feature a deep blue dial and are delivered with two dark blue straps, one in vulcanised rubber, the other in alligator leather. The selfwinding caliber of the Overseas Dual Time drives a dual-time display with day/ night indication and power-reserve indicator. Water-resistant to 150 metres, both it, and the pared-back Overseas Simple Date, are designed with the active life in mind.

Overseas Simple Date, £9,550, Overseas Dual Time, £13,550, vacheronconstantin.com

Best of British Struthers London has once again teamed up with fellow family-run British manufacturer Morgan Motor Company to give us the Struthers for Morgan II. Created in homage to the relaunch of the Aero 8 sports car, the watch houses a recommissioned vintage Omega base calibre, with customisations including wandering seconds and a greater choice for customised hand-finishes. A solid 18-karat white gold case features handengraved Morgan wings and limited-edition serial numbers located within an outer hinged back, which swings open to reveal the movement hidden beneath sapphire. The dials are hand-turned from 18-karat white gold by Struthers in-house. Only eight will be made.

Struthers for Morgan II, £22,500 londonmorgan.co.uk; struthers-london.co.uk

Transocean Chronograph, £5,970, Breitling Fraser Hart, Brent Cross, 020 8732 8459 BrentCross@fraserhart.co.uk @FHBrentCross

One man

brand

Ahead of the 2015 World Championships in Athletics, Annabel Harrison meets Hublot ambassador Usain Bolt; surprisingly, the world’s fastest man comes across as a normal 20-something

s I approach Hublot’s boutique, the only hint that something is afoot is a jittery photographer outside. Inside, a small group of us wait in the timepiece treasure trove, between displays of the Big Bang watches and ‘H’ branded cupcakes. When the man himself arrives, he strolls in with no fanfare or fuss. He’s clearly used to the media circuit now but it must have been strange for this man, as his sporting star ascended, to get used to being in front of eager groups of inquisitive journalists, all wanting to have a moment of time with Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world. Now this superlative accolade interests me. There are very few sports today in which there is one competitor who is indisputably pre-eminent, in terms of both achievements and consistency. Take tennis, for example. Roger Federer has won 17 Grand Slam singles titles, but despite being the most successful male tennis player in the world, on paper, other top players are getting ever closer to his victory tally; Rafael Nadal has won 14 Grand Slams. Usain Bolt, on the other hand, is one-of-a-kind in the discipline of track sprinting. He is, literally and statistically, head and shoulders above the rest, with race times that none can dispute or, at present, overtake. He is the first man to hold both the 100m and 200m world records (since fully automatic time measurements became mandatory in 1977). Along with his teammates, he also set the world record in the 4×100m relay. He is the reigning Olympic champion in these three events, the first man to win six Olympic gold medals in sprinting, and an

eight-time World champion. He was the first to achieve a ‘double double’ by winning 100m and 200m titles at consecutive Olympics (2008 and 2012) and topped this all with the first ‘double triple’ (including 4×100m relays). These are the kind of achievements that could make some people unbearably self-satisfied; prepared to rest on their laurels and sit back as the world marvels. Usain exhibits no such behaviour: despite being an ambassador for Hublot, associated with big watches and big ideas, he is dressed in an understated fashion and is sporting, of course, a Hublot watch (a Big Bang Unico All Black). After an hour in his company, I am seriously impressed. His self-belief is staggering – “I am gifted. I have proven that. I have set the standard [in track and field]” – but he repeats again and again that this goes hand-in-hand with natural aptitude and hard work. “My coach told me that everyone on the circuit has talent. You have to work the hardest to become the greatest.” He’s not particularly complacent either, coming across as hungry to better his own records. “There is always room for improvement; what can I do to make myself better?”

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Photography Frez Merz

It is his coach who is responsible for answering this question. “It’s really technical... The key is to be consistent and to practise and practise nurturing these things so when you get on the track, it happens automatically.” He makes the whole room laugh when he admits that although he’s getting to that age where he should try to eat properly, “I’m a really bad example because I just eat what I want!” This is followed by “but it’s always key to get the right food in so you can get the energy you need”. I think this postscript is for the benefit of the 11-year-old Usain fan among us. Indeed, something Usain says not once but twice, when talking about his influence on kids, is the simple, heartfelt “I live to inspire”; this man may seem like a ready-made soundbite machine but somehow when you hear him say it, it sounds genuine. “When I was growing up, I looked up to Michael Johnson and all these guys, so for me to inspire kids, it feels good.” When it comes to his brand partnerships – he’s affiliated with big guns such as Puma, Gatorade, Virgin Media, Nissan and, of course, Hublot – he is either very smart or very well-trained. I suspect it’s a bit of both but am nonetheless impressed by his answer about his relationship with the watch company. “Hublot approached me and said they would like me to be an ambassador, so I was, like, ‘alright, cool’ and I checked it out. I was never initially a watch fan… but I’m really into it now. I’ve been to the factory, and all the technical things they do by hand are ridiculous… watchmaking is hard! It’s like me training and then I go on the track and I see the finished product; that’s

how I feel when I see these watches, because I’ve seen what they’ve gone through to get to that stage. This brand is on a different level. It’s all about the quality.” This is why he likes Hublot. It’s a word he uses to describe himself too – “my brand is about quality, and high standards” – and the homepage of his website declares his brand message: WORLD’S FASTEST MAN. This is set over images of Usain, dressed sharply in a grey suit and throwing some shapes, which sums up how he comes across in person. He’s composed and mature, patiently answering questions he’s certain to have been asked a hundred times before, but his speech is still peppered with youth-speak like ‘whatever’ and ‘IG’ [Instagram] references. You can (almost) believe he’s a normal 28-year-old guy who loves PlayStation, has a crush on Rihanna and supports Manchester United. In terms of passions he “used to be really into cars” but now “it’s just shirts and videogames”. Is there a human limit to how fast the 100m can be run? “Right now there’s room for improvement! I just want to keep setting goals for myself and breaking those goals... People talk about Muhammad Ali and Pelé and Maradona. I want to be in that group when I retire. I want people to say ‘Usain Bolt was one of the greatest athletes to ever grace the track’. That’s what I want and if you want something in life you’ve got to work for it.” With his track record to date (pardon the pun), I have no doubt that the name Usain Bolt is going to have its place in the record books for centuries to come, and deservedly so. n

TEN YEARS OF the BIG BANG Usain Bolt launched the Big Bang Unico All Black model last year and this year the brand is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its iconic watch collection with three new models and a series of 16 ‘Manufacture’ photographs, each representing a key stage in the design of a Big Bang watch. In 2005, Jean-Claude Biver, now president of Hublot and president of the Watch Division of LVMH, presented to the industry and watch fans worldwide the Big Bang Gold Ceramic. He was inspired by an idea which is central to the art of fusion, a concept championed by Hublot: the combining of objects and materials that never appear together under normal conditions. With 70 components, the Big Bang is larger than life, both in size and in ambition. With thanks to Hublot, hublot.com

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jewellerynews Taking the Reins

Viva Forever Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe was Georg Jensen’s most iconic female muse, responsible for creating the Danish silversmith’s famous watch design, the Vivianna bangle, in 1967. To this day, her spirit continues to live on in the house’s creations and a case in point is the SS15 Vivianna Dew Drop collection. Paying tribute to Torun’s love of natural forms, the contemporary range incorporates organic materials – including gold, blue topaz, prasiolite, rock crystal and pure silver – into its sculptural pendants. Innovative and free-spirited, we feel sure that this is a collection of which Torun would have been proud.

Vivianna Dew Drop collection, from £250, georgjensen.com

28 year-old designer Eugenie Niarchos may have only created two collections for her fine jewellery label Venyx thus far, but these have been so well-received that she has chosen to update them. For Theiya, the jeweller’s second range, which speaks to her love of all things sci-fi, Niarchos has continued the galactic theme:

The Zara Phillips Collection by Calleija, available in The Royal Arcade store, Old Bond Street, W1S, calleija.com

A Life of Its Own There are few jewellers that can compare with Fabergé when it comes to the company’s rich history. Shrouded in mystery, intrigue and romance, the story of founder Peter Carl Fabergé’s royal patronage to the Russian Tsars in the 19th century has fascinated historians for more than a century. And now, this story has been retold in an award-winning documentary, Fabergé: A Life of Its Own, which can be seen on London cinema screens from 29 June for a short time only.

Cutting Edge

“I am very inspired by mythology and Theiya is the mythological Mother of Light. I love the magical feel of dusk and dawn so I wanted to create pieces based on their beauty, as well as other natural visual phenomena. The stunning colours of the auroras, the effects of lightning and a falling meteorite” – Eugenie Niarchos

British royal equestrian Zara Phillips’ passion for both horses and jewellery has been harnessed in a new collection with internationally renowned jeweller Calleija. Together they have created Unbridled Elegance, following a meeting in 2013 at the Magic Millions Horse Racing Carnival in Australia. Zara attended in her role as Ambassador of Racing Women Australia, sporting a dazzling array of Calleija jewels (the brand was the event’s official jeweller). The range currently comprises the Coronet and Saddle Suites, both of which pay tribute to Zara’s gifted horsemanship and Calleija’s passion for beautifully shaped jewellery and the world’s finest gemstones.

Venyx, available at net-a-porter.com

Cinema listings and tickets available at fabergefilm.com

ELIZABETH STREET ELIZABETH STREET SW1 SW1 Bespoke fine jewellery We invite you to visit our website www.devroomen.co.uk 59 Elizabeth Street, London, SW1W 9PP +44 (0)207 730 1901

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On the

FRINGE Channel your inner hippie as festival season arrives with floral accessories, leather bracelets, charms and fringing

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12 1 Bud to Bloom necklace, £45,000, Pippa Small, 201 Westbourne Grove, W11 2 Crystal necklace, £665, Valentino, farfetch.com 3 Set of three woven diamond and turquoise bracelets, £490, Scosha, net-a-porter.com 4 Filigree clip-on earrings, £415, Dolce & Gabbana, farfetch.com 5 18-karat yellow gold Lunaria aquamarine ring, POA, Marco Bicego, marcobicego.com 6 18-karat yellow gold tassel necklace, £4,890, Dima, Talisman Gallery, 020 7201 8582 7 18-karat yellow gold earrings with diamonds, £2,979, Amrapali, 55 Beauchamp Place, SW3 8 Homsa bracelet (large), £115, Zayiana, farfetch.com 9 Diamond, turquoise and yellow gold ring, £5,715, Irene Nerwirth, matchesfashion.com 10 18-karat yellow gold Vine ring, £2,025, Pippa Small, as before 11 18-karat yellow gold and silver bangle with diamonds, moonstone and turquoise, £2,950, Amrapali, as before 12 Gold-tone, agate and quartz anklet, £105, Sabbia, net-a-porter.com 13 Gold-plated resin clip earrings, £180, Oscar de la Renta, net-a-porter.com 14 Gold-plated arm cuff, £230, Arme de l’Amour, net-a-porter.com 15 Jacquie Aiche bead and porcupine earrings, £140, Finds, net-a-porter.com 16 22-karat yellow gold and emerald Greek ring, £21,500, Pippa Small, as before

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ON THE SHELF Ladybird Books’ precious paperbacks have adorned children’s shelves for generations, leaving us with both stories and images that we’ve never forgotten. Celebrating its 100th birthday this year, Ladybird will be showcasing more than 120 original illustrations from its classic title archive this summer at the House of Illustration’s Ladybird by Design exhibition. Expect to see iconic work from well-known illustrators including Charles Tunnicliffe (What to Look for in...), Harry Wingfield (Shopping with Mother and Key Words), Eric Winter and Robert Lumley (Well-loved Tales), John Berry (People at Work) and Robert Ayton (Great Inventions and The Story of Oil) as well as rare photographs and correspondence.

From 10 July, 2 Granary Square, N1C Shopping with Mother, 1958, Harry Wingfield

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update

Soldier’s Song Music provided a source of hope and pleasure for many of those whose lives were touched by the horrors of the First World War. It was heard on the battlefield and it echoed in our concert halls, reflecting and affecting the countless emotions of battle. So what better way to mark the centenary than the Royal Academy of Music’s newest exhibition? War Music explores the untold stories of the trenches through a host of previously unseen paraphernalia, from wind-up gramophones to camouflaged instruments and the long forgotten song-books of our lost soldiers.

Until 31 October, Marylebone Road, NW1

Life’s a Beach If you can’t get to the beach this summer then let it come to you. The JW3 piazza has been transformed into a summer hub complete with sand, deckchairs and seasonal treats. Sit back and relax with a cocktail alongside great music and entertainment that promises to be fun for the whole family. Children can enjoy the sun in the built-in paddling pool and splash area, while adults can take a seat at Zest – JW3’s restaurant and bar – to tuck into one of the specially designed dishes from the beach hut and grill. Who needs Spain?

5 July – 31 August, 341-351 Finchley Road, NW3

in progress If you’re heading over to the Courtauld Gallery this month, don’t be surprised to discover that most of the work on display is unfinished. The galley’s latest exhibition explores the world of art left incomplete by its creators; offering an unparalleled insight into the artists’ minds and processes and raising the question as to why these ‘imperfect’ works were kept and collected in the first place. You can explore the potential of this work in progress until 20 September.

The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, Strand, WC2R

Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist, 16th century, Perino del Vaga

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Installation view from Zabludowicz Collection: 20 Years, photography by Tim Bowditch

An Enchanted Evening The Dutch National Ballet brings everyone’s favourite fairytale to life this month in the UK premier of Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella. Having earned an international reputation for excellence, Wheeldon promises to elaborate on the traditional story with a wit and lyricism that will resonate with a 21st century audience. Performed live by Royal Ballet Sinfonia to Prokofiev’s original score, you can expect sumptuous costumes, beautiful choreography and a truly magical evening all round. Just make sure you’re home by midnight.

8-11 July, London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N

Push the Limits Zabludowicz Collection celebrates 20 years of pioneering activity with an exhibition epitomising the bold and experimental attitude that has come to define it. The exhibition, which will run until 16 August, features more than 30 leading international artists who have long been testing the acceptable parameters of art. Turner Prize winners Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst rub shoulders with newly emerging talent such as Guyton\Walker and Pamela Rosenkranz in a collection that takes ‘an irreverent approach to the boundaries between figuration and abstraction’. Dutch National Ballet, Cinderella, photography by Angela Sterling

176 Prince of Wales Road, NW5

east meets west Griffin Gallery brings together the work of six Japanese artists in its new exhibition Two Truths. Photography, painting and sculpture form part of a wider dialogue about the climate of contemporary art and each of the artist’s cultural heritages. The exhibition will also explore the relationship between artistic communities in both Japan and London, noting the unique juxtapositions between traditional native customs and today’s modern influences.

Until 11 July, 21 Evesham Street, W11

Obstacle, Steel and plastic, by Ben Woodeson, 2015

obstacle course Ben Woodeson is exploring the delicate balance between attraction and repulsion this July, in his latest solo exhibition Obstacle. Tampering with the basic laws of physics, this maverick artist creates pieces which tread a fine line between stability and fragility, exploring the precarious relationship between uncertain sculptures and their human viewers. But how will spectators react to such problematic artwork? Head over to the Berloni Gallery to find out for yourself. From top: Untitled, Ichasu, 2015; Monuments II, Kazuya Tsuji, 2013

Until 1 August, 63 Margaret Street W1W

in the

picture To coinside with the release of a photographic tome documenting Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic landmarks, Jack Watkins considers the role of photography in preserving our architectural heritage

This page, clockwise from top left: Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire; Foyer, Odeon cinema, High Street, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, 1936-39, by John Maltby (1910-80); Cottages at Wilford, Nottinghamshire, 1860-70, unknown author Opposite page: Staircase at Landâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s End House, Beggars Hill Road, Charvil, Berkshire, 5 March 1935, Millar & Harris

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hen people with a taste for such things first started taking photographs of historic places from around the middle of the 19th century, the government quango English Heritage wasn’t a gleam in anyone’s eye, let alone that of its eventual creator, Sir Michael Heseltine. The Ancient Monuments Protection Act, the law that marked the first tentative steps of central government towards direct intervention in safeguarding the nation’s most valued monuments, was still 30 years away. More than a century and a half on, and English Heritage which, for all its failings, did some pretty inspirational things after its eventual creation in 1984 by a Thatcher administration, but has now been cleaved in two. A new charity, the English Heritage Trust, has taken over the running of the 400 plus buildings and monuments, which are known as the National Heritage Collection, while Historic England has been set up to continue to advise the government and act as the “champions and protectors of the historic environment.” Given the deplorable muzzling of Natural England, the equivalent body to English Heritage for the natural environment, since 2010 conservationists will be keeping an anxious eye on whether the split has a similar watering down effect on those speaking up for buildings. But at least the new body has got off to a solid and, you could even argue, symbolic start with one of its first major new publications Picturing England: The photographic collections of Historic England. This book brings us back to where “heritage” all began. Antiquarians may have been ruminating about the past since at least the late 17th century, when the particular fixation was on prehistoric sites like Avebury and Stonehenge, which they associated with the Druids. But it was the invention of the photograph that surely helped kick-start the almighty interest in exploring, explaining and “saving” our heritage which has lasted to the present day. In a pictorially delightful and textually engrossing 300-odd pages, the authors of Picturing England take the reader through the early days of the new visual medium, when practitioners were often gentlemen of private means, largely concerned with taking shots of romantic ruins or idealised rustic scenes, to the 20th century stylists with their pin-sharp focus, and finally to the digital era, when almost anyone can upload an image

of their favourite heritage location with a spectrum of filters to boot. The early photographs, invariably taken outdoors on sunny days because of the need for natural lighting conditions and long exposure times, have great period charm. Scenes such as the ivy-clad runs of Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire, or Bodiam Castle, East Sussex, were typical, as were pictures of hovels overlooked by gnarled veteran trees and muddy tracks. Such images suggested an innocent rural paradise but, as the authors note, “few inhabitants of the time probably shared that view”. These photographs reflected both the assumptions of their upper class creators about the rightful social order and a landscape still rooted in the agrarian past, as well as the belief that photos should carry the same pictorial values as a landscape painting. After all, the great photographic pioneer William Henry Fox Talbot’s experiments in the medium arose out of his frustration at being unable to draw to the standard expected of gentlemen amateur artists. But by the end of the 19th century and early 20th century a new class of professional photographer had risen, able to produce top-class images of both the exteriors and interiors of new buildings. It was the dissemination of such images via architectural journals and in magazines like Country Life which introduced

Photography was the perfect medium for conveying the charms of art deco, as well the cold geometry of modernism

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modernist architecture to the British public – a style previously seen as restricted to the continental mainland. Today, Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff’s De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea is seen as one of the prime sparks of life in a dowdy seaside town, but how alien its shiny steel, chrome and glass must have looked to locals in 1937. Photography was the perfect medium for conveying the charms of art deco, as well the cold geometry of modernism. But it also became an agent of the conservationists. Picturing England adeptly balances both the way it was used to document the rise of new buildings and cities, and the changing industrial fabric of the nation, while showing how images could be used to stir up enthusiasm for protecting valued buildings or monuments. John Gay, the German émigré, who came to settle in Hampstead, was a photographic master at capturing a sense of time and place, and worked with Sir John Betjeman on his London’s Historic Railway Stations, published in 1972. A photo of Liverpool Street Station highlights its ironwork in all its quasi-ecclesiastical glory. At a time when Britain’s Victorian railway heritage was seriously undervalued at an official level, Betjeman hoped Gay’s pictures would influence the environment minister to consider making subsidies available to maintain it. Sometimes photography has been useful in effectively memorialising a disappearing past, such as poignant pictures of the sea coalers who still work the beaches of the north-east coast with their horses and carts, tenaciously perpetuating a trade that has endured for centuries. How long will following generations have the spirit and endurance to continue? But almost all of us have our own bit of the past which we cling onto in hope. A scan of the internet reveals heritage to be everywhere, from canal-side walks to World War II pillboxes – such is the plethora you could even worry there’s too much looking backwards and not enough thinking about the future. Too much reverence for the past becomes like excess baggage weighing us down when each generation has the right and need to move forward. But it’s also why, at a time when developers and politicians try to ride roughshod over local opinion with controversial, big bucks projects like High Speed Two, that we are poised to hold them to account more readily. We are that bit better informed about what gets swept away in the process. Picturing England is as entertaining as it is informative, but it also reflects the fact that what was once the domain of the leisured classes now belongs to all of us. n

Picturing England: The photographic collections of Historic England by Mike Evans, Gary Winter and Anne Woodward, £45, published by Historic England, historicengland.org.uk

From top: Serpentine wall and sign at the Prospect Inn, Minster, Thanet, Kent, 29 October 1938 Millar & Harris; Liverpool Street Station, City of London, 1960-72, by John Gay (1909-99); Crowsteps, Tydehams, Newbury, Berkshire, 1929, by Harry Bedford Lemere (1864 –1944), Bedford Lemere & Co

www.wtrlondon.com 0207 243 3776 188 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RH

A summer lock in

Camden Market is upping its game in the culinary stakes. With an exciting season including night markets, an outdoor film festival and additions to the global street food on offer, there are plenty of reasons to visit Camden this Summer...

he British Summertime might only make a fleeting appearance, but as soon as the sun does start to shine, nobody could accuse Londoners of letting the longer days pass by without a celebration. If you don’t fancy elbowing your way through the throngs of tourists joining the mile-long queue for paella at Borough Market, then Camden Market has plenty of gourmet treats and lively open-air events to fill your Summer calendar.

For six weeks from 30 July the Summer Night Market returns on Thursday evenings, bringing with it a selection of the best street food vendors, who will be serving global cuisine way past the market’s usual bedtime. Taking residence in a canal-side location on Camden’s famous cobbles, the stalls will be decked out with bunting and twinkling fairy lights for the occasion and visitors can tuck into an array of international dishes, from jerk chicken to fragrant curries, before enjoying a live music performance or doing a spot of late night shopping.

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There’ll also be numerous cocktail bars dotted about to ensure guests are well hydrated. Look out for newcomer Half Hitch Gin Shop, which will be serving thirst-quenching G&Ts, infused with a blend of black tea and bergamot. Fifty years after the last gin production left Camden Lock, Half Hitch founder Mark Holdsworth has reintroduced the craft, which has historic ties to the area dating back to 1869 when it was the heart of London’s gin empire. To ensure guests get into the spirit of things (quite literally), the tasting room bar sits among the distillery tanks, so you can learn a little about the production process as you sip. The Summer Night Market is the icing on the cake for Camden Market, which has recently welcomed some exciting food outlets into its eclectic melting pot. Alongside West Yard’s Global Kitchen (where visitors can enjoy Argentinian, Peruvian, Korean, Turkish, Indonesian… you name it, it’s cooking), several innovative foodies are choosing the area as the place to open their first standalone location or expand their independent businesses. Foodies should watch this space because the likes of Ghetto Grillz, Mr Piadina and Mama Jerks – all currently stalls on West Yard – will also soon be

setting up shop permanently in the next few months, having established a name for themselves as market regulars. Anyone whose parents put a stop to them eating bowl after bowl of Lucky Charms can relive a blast for childhood breakfasts past at Cereal Killer Café. Set up by enterprising twins Alan and Gary Keery, the kitsch and colourful Camden Stables cafe (complete with bed seats) is their second outpost and serves more than 120 different types of cereal. Visitors will have plenty to get nostalgic about as they deliberate between Honey Loops or Icicles. Another childhood staple, the humble fish finger, is also in line for a gastro makeover thanks to another of the market’s latest arrivals, The Fabulous Fish Finger Company, which serves fish finger sandwiches to shame Captain Birdseye’s from its new Camden home. If you need to digest after all that food Backyard Cinema is returning for a third year. Projectors will be rolled out at a main stage on Camden Lock Place, while a smaller screen – the Cuban Screen – will be installed at The Stables Market on Chalk Farm Road for film buffs who would rather catch a flick under the stars than at the multiplex. The rise of the independent cinema is nothing new; why settle for flip-down seats between date-night teenagers when the alternative involves beanbags, art house films, musical sing-a-longs and burgers flipped by the official food partner, Honest Burgers who will be creating a bespoke Backyard burger for the festival. There’ll also be plenty of entertainment before each film starts (when the sun goes down at around 9pm), including DJs and live Twitter battles. If past Summer celebrations are anything to go by, then Camden certainly knows how to throw a party. Anyone looking for a fun night out, with the best food offering around should forget Maltby Street, Greenwich and Broadway Markets, round up their friends and colleagues and head for Camden Market. n

 NEED TO KNOW 

The Summer Night Markets

Global street food, live music and artisan shopping Every Thursday from 30 July – 3 September, 6-10pm, FREE

Backyard Cinema Film Festival Wednesday 29 July – Friday 4 September Screens at Camden Lock Place (main screen) and The Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road (Cuban screen) Tickets: Main screen, standard: £16.50 Thirsty Ticket: (film and drink) £20 Full Monty: (film, drink and burger) £29 Cuban screen: £14 camdenmarket.com

BESPOKE HANDMADE FURNITURE www.oficinainglesa.com London Showroom

info@oficinainglesa.com +44 (0) 207 2264 569

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All Eyes on Iris If there was one woman many of us secretly wish could be our grandmother, it’s Iris Apfel. Now 93 years old, the veritable icon continues to delight and shock us with her flamboyant and outrageous sartorial statements. A nonconformist both inside and out, Apfel’s inspiring free spirit will be highlighted in a new documentary due to be aired in cinemas from 31 July following a successful US debut. Legendary 87 year-old documentarian Albert Maysles has not only captured Apfel’s glamorous lifestyle, having spent many years on the New York fashion scene, but also her incredible work ethic, a childhood spent in Queens during the Great Depression, and her life with doting husband Carl, with whom she has been with for 67 years. We guarantee you will leave the cinema heart warmed and truly inspired.

Iris, in UK cinemas from 31 July

STYLE Update Fallen Angels Cristallini’s summer evening gowns take inspiration from the duality of the female ego. Aptly named Angel or Demon, the range brings to life the art of contradiction through the use of contrasting colours and a delicate blend of sensuality and sartorial elegance. Core elements of the line include hand-sewn embroidery, delicate lace and luxurious sheer fabrics such as natural chiffon and silk tulle.

From £249, shop.cristallini.com

Versailles' new queen For weeks Dior has been teasing us with glimpses of its 2015 Secret Garden campaign, finally revealing in the final few instalments that singer-come-model Rihanna is the label’s newest face. The campaign sees the international superstar run through Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors in an array of stunning ensembles. The wait is now finally over for a sneak preview of Dior’s latest leather goods, which come in shimmering metallics and moody midnight shades.

Dior.com

Eye Candy Stay close to nature with the Prada Raw SS15 eyewear collection. Crafted from specially selected precious woods, these stylish shades use innovative materials such as black walnut and Malabar ebony. The natural irregularity of the graining ensures that no two pairs are the same, resulting in all specs being as unique as the wearer.

£325, 16-18 Old Bond Street, W1S

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prints charming This month Emilio Pucci’s ‘Cities of the World’ project unveils three new corners of the globe: Milan, Tokyo and our very own London. Conceived as modern-day postcards, each beautifully stylised scarf faithfully replicates the architecture, landscape and charming details of its tribute city and makes an instant impact thanks to the use of vivid colours and hand-finished quality. A tongue-in-cheek patchwork of the capital’s traditional icons makes the London scarf particularly special. Complete with a black cab, traditional red phone box and an intricate border of crown jewels, you can now take a little piece of home with you wherever you go on your travels.

From £285, emiliopucci.com

i dream a Jean 7 For All Mankind is showcasing denim like you’ve never seen it before in the second part of its collaborative capsule collection. The range continues to draw creative inspiration from designer Giambattista Valli to create a range of innovative and characterful pieces that give denim a luxury edge. The fabric is dyed and bleached in order to provide a lasting finish while Valli’s feminine cuts, colours and prints add a fresh metropolitan elegance to the line.

From £210, 7forallmankind.co.uk

monaco meets marylebone One of our favourite transatlantic brands has just taken up shop in a new Chiltern Street location. Club Monaco, well known for its perfect mix of on-trend casuals and tailored pieces, has received something of a makeover for its new Marylebone site. There’s a gentleman’s club vibe to the whole affair, complete with Persian rugs, panelled walls and separate rooms for individual collections. Sadly, the shop is exclusively devoted to menswear – given the recent opening of the brand's women's-only store in Sloane Square – but that won’t stop us from stocking up on some of these stylish shirts.

more is more Whoever said ‘less is more’ clearly never set their eyes on Versace’s new Ornamental Collection. The beautiful capsule range is comprised of opulent accessories for both women and men, from sneakers and textiles to a special selection of bags created by the Palazzo family. The line pays homage to the city of Milan and the handover of the restored Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and in respect to this tribute each accessory features the traditional Versace motif combined with the shopping malls’ iconic domed roof. Never a brand for the faint-hearted, we suggest pairing one element at a time with a basic white shirt and jeans combo for just the right ration of razzle dazzle.

From £120, uk.versace.com

Shirt, £154.18, 2 Chiltern Street, W1U

SHIFTING

SANDS Whether you're heading for Caribbean shorelines or the beaches of the Med, choose classic swimwear shapes in coastal colours and bright prints Photography / Rachael Smith stylist / Elizabeth Hoadly

Swimsuit, ÂŁ144, La Perla, laperla.com; Necklace in 18ct yellow gold, POA, Dolce & Gabbana, dolcegabbana.com; Earrings, ÂŁ196, Vicki Sarge, vickisarge.com

ABOVE Swimsuit, £110, Paul Smith, paulsmith.co.uk; Lower necklace in 18ct yellow gold, POA, Dolce & Gabbana, as before; Top rose necklace, £4,000, Dior Joaillerie, dior.com; Bracelet, collection from £50-£95, Amrapali, amrapalijewels.com

RIGHT Cotton bandeau, £40, and cotton high-waisted briefs, £80, Asli Polat, aslipolatstudio.com; Cover up, £375, Zeynep Tosun, wolfandbadger.com; Earrings, £196, Vicki Sarge, as before; Lower necklace in 18ct yellow gold, POA, Dolce & Gabbana, as before

ABOVE Headscarf, £320, Alexander McQueen, alexandermcqueen.com; Earrings, £3,300, Dior Joaillerie, as before

LEFT Swimsuit, £140, La Perla, as before; Ring, £4,000, Dior Joaillerie, as before; Bracelets, collection from £50-£95 each, Amrapali, as before

Swimsuit, £238, La Perla, as before; Bracelets, collection from £50-£95 each, Amrapali, as before

ABOVE Bikini, £64, Triangl, international.triangl.com; Bracelets, collection from £50-£95 each, Amrapali, as before

RIGHT Kaftan, £300, Paul and Joe, paulandjoe.com; Bracelets, collection from £50-£95 each, Amrapali, as before

HAIR: Davide Barbieri Using AVEDA make-up: Harriet Hadfield Using MAC NAIL TECH: Stephanie Staunton @ David Artists MODEL: Brittni Tucker photographer's assistant: Benny Johnson photographerY RETOUCHER: Sergi Melia Shot on location at: Vila Vita Parc, Portugal, vilavitaparc.com Monarch, the scheduled leisure airline, operates flights to Faro from Birmingham, Leeds Bradford, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester airports with fares, including taxes, starting from ÂŁ39.99 one way (ÂŁ66.98 return) For further information or to book Monarch flights, Monarch Holidays or Monarch Hotels, visit monarch.co.uk

TOP OF HER

GAME

As fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff launches her first athletics line, she talks to Kari Colmans about working out, style icons and juggling her career with motherhood

ur attitude to working out – and what we wear to work out in – has changed so much over the last couple of years that top designers are now releasing collections to see us stylishly through fierce kickboxing classes to the Pilates mat. And they’re also considering those savvy consumers who may just want to look like they fit the gym craze mould, leaving the blood sweat and tears to those not naturally blessed with a teenager’s metabolism. Rebecca Minkoff is one of those designers. Launching her first ‘athleisure’ collection this summer, the line is designed for the modern woman

who needs clothing that can “work well from one activity to the next without compromising on style”. Dark grey performance-inspired spandex, silver metallics, black neoprene and heather grey sweatshirt dresses and skirts create a monochrome palette that is ideal for layering while also hitting this season’s top sporty style notes. “It’s really a reflection of our customer,” says Minkoff. “As we are evolving into a lifestyle brand, we felt like there was a more casual side to the Rebecca Minkoff woman, whereby on the weekend, or even in the week, there are items she wants to wear that are more laidback. She either wants people to know that she’s working out or she wants to look like she’s been working out, even if she hasn’t! So that was kind of the impetus. We have more than 100 girls in our office so they were a good gauge that this was something people were interested in.” Technically, the line is more athletic-inspired than gym appropriate (few could get through a spin class sporting a silver foil mini-skirt or a particularly gorgeous neoprene jacket with a black leather trim), although Minkoff begs to differ. “There are elements of both gym and leisure-wear in the line and we are going to be labelling the items that are high-impact – the ones that are able to be worked out in – and the ones that are more for just kicking back in. It’s really just about focusing on what a girl wants to look like and trying to make it achievable: transition pieces from your working day to working out.” Her favourite items in the collection are a long sweatshirtstyle jacket and “a cute bralette that is a sports bra but with an added little bit of fabric. I love all the silver pieces as well”. But with such a tight schedule balancing work and family, the resident New Yorker

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Photography by Paul Maffi

doesn’t have much time for wearing them herself, although she does aim to get the gym at least two days a week. “I go to the gym. I would like to take some classes but my schedule is always shifting so it’s just easier for me to go to the gym. I do a lot of mixed exercises, like squats, light weights and suspension training with TRX. There’s not really a set thing that I do every time because my workout is constantly changing.” So even when she can’t squeeze it in, will she throw on a pair of leggings and dab her forehead with a wet towel to give the impression she has? “I personally don’t like to look like I’ve been to the gym if I haven’t,” she laughs, not totally getting the irony. “If I’m going to look like I’ve worked out then I want to work out… But I appreciate the person that wants to look like they have. I can see it from both sides.” She also follows a gluten free lifestyle and she loves to cook. “We cook as often as we can at home and we try to be conscious of eating organic food wherever possible. I also follow a high protein diet.” Minkoff developed an affinity for design while in the costume department in high school. After moving to the Big Apple aged 18, she got her first break back in 2001 when an ‘I love New York’ T-shirt from her first five-piece collection made a guest appearance on The Tonight Show. While fame and fortune took a while to follow (the next few years were spent sewing T-shirts on the floor of her apartment to meet demand), Minkoff became a household name through the success of her Morning After Bag, AKA the M.A.B., in 2005. When it comes to her own style, she sticks “pretty much exclusively” to her eponymous label. “There is always a casual element to the way I dress,” she says. “I usually wear jeans. I like to tie an outfit together with a great leather jacket. Usually I like my accessories to be the thing that I’m showing off – so I like to have a great bag or a great pair of shoes. I love that all the trends right now are really easy and flowy – I love dresses. There is this bohemian vibe that’s not hippy, it’s just relaxed and pretty.”

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Although she has her reservations about the 70s throwback: “When I look back at the bad bell bottoms phase the first time around... Not the sequins, which are fashionable right now, but the ones that are really badly made. You know where the seams are just open and need more fabric? I just think they are really bad. I’m still not a fan of huge platforms. I don’t think women need them. I think they look funny, like they are on stilts, and I just don’t think that they are very flattering.” She cites Bianca Jagger and Coco Chanel as her fashion icons – “I think they are two strong females who had a great sense of style, and were smart” – but that she doesn’t have a specific muse when it comes to inspiring a new collection. “I just try to focus on the things that I want and things that my customers want. I really try to keep both of those things exciting.” And while she isn’t in the capital very often, although this will soon change with her newly launched store in Harrods (“I’m on the road about 30 per cent of the time”) she does find the talent coming out of London “fresh and exciting”. Balancing her quickly ascending career with motherhood isn’t easy, but she’s proud that more and more women are achieving the top industry posts – “It’s time for us to shine and show what we can do as creatives, as entrepreneurs and as mums balancing it all. Or not balancing… juggling! You have to get good at time management and multi-tasking. I feel that if I can set an example of hard work and success, my children will have a great idea of how to work hard and be successful.” When I ask if she feels women can have it all, her sunny but to-the-point tone bristles. “Who has it all? That’s a statement set up to make people feel they are failing. You have to reach for the stars and actualise what you want. Sometimes you will have great barriers but you have to keep going towards the goal.” n

“I’m still not a huge fan of platforms. I don’t think women need them”

rebeccaminkoff.com

All decked out Photography / IAN WALSH styling / VANISSA ANTONIOUS

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From L-R: Plimsoll, £195, Tory Burch, mytheresa.com; Clutch bag, £300, Sophie Anderson, matchesfashion.com; Sunglasses, £186, Oliver Peoples West, selfridges.com; Sandals, £250, Tabitha Simmons, matchesfashion.com; Beach bag, £620, Miu Miu, mytheresa.com; Towel, £375, Hermès, uk.hermes.com; Sunglasses, £335, Linda Farrow, lindafarrow.com; Sandals, £310, Chloé, mytheresa.com

beauty Update It’s Personal Have you ever fancied creating your very own signature scent? Then you’re in luck, because the Floris Bespoke Experience is about to turn your dream into a reality. A two hour appointment at the perfumers’ Jermyn Street store will take you on a full olfactory journey. Choose from a wide variety of fragrance bases and adapt your personal scent to suit your own individual tastes. Once you’re satisfied with the final creation you can opt to have it re-poured time and again for the additional sum of £160, plus it can even be added to the historic Floris ledgers to ensure that your signature perfume is protected for future generations to come.

From £450, 89 Jermyn Street, SW1Y

Photo Finish

40 Winks Holistic Silk founder Joanna Weakley has combined her two bestselling products to create an innovative range of anti-aging eye masks. Made from the purest silk, the masks are hypoallergenic and have been proven to help offset early signs of ageing. Scented with organic French lavender and designed to completely block out surrounding light, these miracle masks help to ensure that wearers get the deep restorative beauty sleep that they deserve.

£58, available at Liberty, Regent Street, W1B

This summer Charlotte Tilbury is paying homage to the legendary photographer Norman Parkinson with an exciting series of limited edition cosmetics and makeup bags featuring his work. There’s everything you need to achieve a classic movie star look, including dreamy highlighters, sunkissed bronzers and bold vintage inspired lip colour. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a stylish range of compacts and bags presenting some of Parkinson’s finest photography. With plenty of vintage swimwear and Hollywood glamour on offer, be sure to get your hands on a little piece of style history while stocks last.

From £32, charlottettilbury.com

Disco Fever Get summer-party ready with MAC Cosmetics’ new Le Disko range. The collection – which is the epitome of glitz – has everything from sparkling eye shadows in riotous hues to vibrant lipsticks in a variety of glittering shades. Go for gold and get your hands on the Pure Show liner for the perfect shimmering cat eye, or opt for the Nocturnal liner for a truly statement look.

From £16, maccosmetics.com

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In the bag Our pick of the latest must-have handbag essentials 1. Achieve Tom Ford’s signature look with this understated new colour quad collection. Each compact contains four shades in as many luxurious finishes – sheer, shimmer, satin and matte – to help you to replicate a variety of catwalk-ready looks. We recommend Cocoa Mirage for the perfect smoky eye.

£63, Tom Ford, selfridges.com 2. The Ferrari Essence Collection has launched three sophisticated unisex eau de toilettes named Noble Fig, Bright Neroli and Pure Lavender. Each nature-inspired fragrance pays homage to a different facet of a typical Mediterranean garden, making them ideal for those summer holiday nights. Match with your other half for the ultimate holiday romance.

£75, Ferrari, harrods.com 3. If you liked Louise Young’s best-selling Super Foundation Brush then you’ll love the newly-released handbag-sized version. Its rounded shape helps to highlight and shade with concealer, blusher and liquid foundation in order to achieve the perfect contours.

£19, Louise Young Cosmetics, selfridges.com 4. Bare Minerals’ new Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream provides radiant coverage for a variety of skin tones while protecting it from harmful UV rays. Locking in moisture for instant hydration with its unique blend of natural minerals, the formula is free from oil, silicone, parabens or fragrance.

£26, Bare Minerals, bareminerals.co.uk 5. The hazelnut oil found within Clarins’ limitededition After Sun Shimmer Oil nourishes and softens your skin while mandarin, grapefruit, ylang ylang and tonka bean add a sweet summery scent. Sweep it across your body for a subtle, yet long-lasting glow.

£32, Clarins, clarins.co.uk 6. We can’t get enough of Illamasqua’s new shine lipgloss in Iridesce, for both aesthetic and 90s nostaligia purposes. The lustrous gloss glides onto your lips to provide an ultra-shiny look without leaving a tacky finish and can be used on its own or combined with lipstick to create definition.

£18, Illamasqua, illamasqua.com

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lady in

red

In honour of National Lipstick Day on 29 July, Gabriella Dyson delves into the history of the scarlet pout Audrey Hepburn, image courtesy of moviestorecollection.com

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Victorian era, when lipstick was viewed as impolite rom rosy pastel hues to brilliant vermilion and an indulgence to be avoided by proper ladies. stains, catwalks everywhere were awash On the eve of the 20th century the red-lipped with red lips for the summer. Made famous look was revived by the suffragette movement, whose by the starlet’s of Hollywood’s Golden Age, leaders proudly donned bright shades as a symbol the crimson pout has long been a symbol of their emancipation. Their vivid, look-at-me hues of femininity and sex appeal, but there’s more to this scandalised older generations but thrilled and inspired timeless look than simple aesthetics. A brief glance at the women too. Girl power was catching on fast and it history books reveals that the significance of red lips has looked like cosmetics were here to stay. evolved throughout time; from a tell-tale sign of women In 1923 the twistable lipstick tube that we all know of the night to an emblem of female emancipation. and love was created by James Bruce Mason Jr and The ancient Sumerian Queen Puabi is widely cosmetic powerhouses such as Max Factor, Dior and believed to have been the first woman to have rocked the Chanel began to mass produce their iconic shades. Given colour red circa 2,600BC. Using a lethal recipe of white this widespread popularity, by the start of the Second lead and crushed rocks, this stylish monarch and her World War women were actively encouraged to don fashionable followers sought to attain a new level red lips as part of the greater war effort. Shades were of beauty by grinding precious stones to a fine dust given war-appropriate names such as Regiment Red and dabbing the exquisite remnants to their lips. and Lips in Uniform and the cosmetic was viewed as The rest of the ancient world was quick to catch so integral to public moral that Winston Churchill on and in 40BC the illustrious Cleopatra VII was allegedly refused to allow it to be rationed. known to have crushed beetles to combine their By 1950 the war had been won and carmine blood with beeswax in order to create cosmetics were deemed to be acceptable for her very own personal shade of rouge. all. Hollywood was the home of scarlet lips By the turn of the millennia, scarlet lips and Audrey Hepburn swore by “primping were firmly established as a symbol of in leisure and wearing lipstick”. Stars like power and prestige and everyone who Ruby Woo, £15.50, MAC, Marilyn Monroe and Ava Gardner were was anyone sported the look. maccoesmetics.com doing their bit to propel cosmetic wear to the During the latter half of the dressing tables of an estimated 98 per 1500s, Queen Elizabeth I set the style Maharajah, £27, Armani, cent of American women, and rumour bar for women throughout Britain. armanibeauty.co.uk has it that screen icon Elizabeth Taylor Her white powdered face and rubyflatly refused to allow anyone else to red lips were all the rage and some wear the same shade of lipstick as her historians have even credited the on set – an attitude that the original Virgin Queen with the invention of Fire, £26, Cleopatra would have approved of. the first ever lip pencil (whipped up Dolce & Gabbana, harrods.com As the century progressed, so too by her servants using a combination of did the popularity of shades on the colouring agent and ground alabaster). 999, £26, spectrum. The Mods were all about Indeed, red lipstick became so popular Dior, selfridges.com pastel pinks and the Punk revolution gave in Elizabethan England that many stylish rise to purple undertones and rebellious socialites swore by the cosmetics power to maroons. In 1985 Madonna pledged ward off evil spirits and even stall death. her allegiance to the crimson look by So prevalent was this superstition that by exclusively wearing MAC’s Russian Red her own demise in 1601, Elizabeth was for her Like a Virgin tour and while believed to be donning over half an inch of other shades emerged over the course the stuff at a time, and even the Gloriana’s of the 1990s, daring reds remained the death mask was painted with her signature original, revolutionary shade of choice. crimson mouth. Fast forward to today and this By the late 1700s however, the tide summer is all about bold, standout was beginning to change. Make-up was Union Red, £25, Burberry, colour. Burberry’s blood-red Ruby reviled by religious fanatics for its alleged burberry.com remains an essential catwalk colour associations with the devil. By 1770 and every cosmetic brand worth its parliament declared that any woman who salt is featuring a range of rouge hues. had seduced a man into matrimony If you fancy getting on board with through use of lipstick could have their this timeless trend then check out the marriage annulled and could even find Rouge Dior collection or head over to themselves on trial for witchcraft (yes, Dolce & Gabbana for its 13-shade red you read that correctly). Painted lips lipstick range. Whichever brand you became the brand of lowly prostitutes choose, don’t be afraid to go bold and and its popularity began to wane. make a statement: after all, you have Unsurprisingly, this negative history on your side. n reputation continued late into the

TOP 5 REDS

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Some like it hot Lauren Romano lets off some steam at the marocMaroc hammam at Urban Retreat

ne of my lasting regrets from a trip to Marrakech a few years ago is being too chicken to brave the public hammam. I’d had a Turkish Bath in Fethiye a couple of years before when a middle aged man wearing what can only be described as a tea towel fashioned as a loin cloth scrubbed my skin to within an inch of its life, taking my tan with it. But the bustling public steam rooms of Morocco where groups of women go to cleanse and chill out, while letting it all hang out, was a step too far for me and my equally prudish friends. Thankfully, up on the fifth floor of Harrods, Urban Retreat is replicating the traditional cleansing ritual, albeit it in a more discreet fashion and with paper pants. After being ushered into a soft robe I am led through a fabric draped corridor with veiled relaxation areas coming off it. I glimpse women glistening with argan oil, sipping fresh mint tea and unwinding within as I’m led past towards the hammam, where I will be scrubbed, polished and doused in rose water to emerge smelling like a box of Turkish delight three hours later.

The only sound is the constant flow of water as it gushes out of regal taps into golden bowls The ancient hammam might still be a cornerstone of everyday life in Morocco, with people making time for the traditional purifying ritual at least once a week, but as this is very much a one-off for me, I go for the ‘indulgent’ option. This consists of an 80-minute hammam, complete with an exfoliation, scalp massage, hair wash and traditional stretching massage followed by a 50-minute facial and hydrating body wrap (you can also opt for a ceremonial massage). The hammam itself is beautiful. It’s a series of seven marble chambers, partitioned by delicately wrought lattice, and the only sound is the constant flow of water as it gushes out of regal taps into golden bowls. My kessala (hammam assistant) Gabriella invites me to lie down on the heated marble as she ladles warm water over me and applies a layer of vitamin E-enriched black soap, made from ground olives. She massages this in to open up my pores before my entire body is scrubbed vigorously with a kessa glove. Just when I think the exfoliation part is all over, I’m given a full body scrub using a honey rich Miel d’Ambre. One invigorating body stretch later and an orange-infused silky soft moisturiser is left to sink in, before Gabriella turns her attention to my

hair, applying a nourishing shampoo which smells of marzipan and an argan oil mask. The heady aromas of all the various different lotions combined with the heat leave me feeling sleepy, so the bucket of icy cold water which follows is a rude, but refreshing, awakening. After a few minutes resting, stage two begins over in the treatment rooms. Here the lights are a little brighter and the music a little louder than expected, which, after the dimly-lit hammam takes a bit of getting used to. Serenity is restored, however, with a nourishing layer of body balm, which is applied all over before I am wrapped up in plastic and a tingling face mask is left to do its magic. Afterwards I head back to the relaxation area for mint tea. It might have taken a while to get round to, but my first proper hammam was worth the wait, and luckily there wasn’t a loin cloth in sight. n

marocMaroc Indulgent Hammam (includes facial and body wrap or ceremonial massage) £250, Urban Retreat at Harrods, SWIX, urbanretreat.co.uk

“the fitness guru viewed by the entertainment industry as the 4th emergency service” The S und ay Tim e s , St y le M a g a zin e

“ When I n e e d e d to get in sh a p e f o r a f ilm, h e t o o k me s a f e ly d o wn f ro m a s i z e 1 2 to size 8 in just six weeks.. . Da v id ’s p ro g ra mme h a s ma d e me a ma z in g l y f i t a n d mu c h s ma lle r. ” Rach e l We isz, Actre ss

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Off the Wall For her debut wallcoverings collection, textile connoisseur Jennifer Shorto has called upon the work of Mexican surrealist artist Pedro Friedeberg. She stumbled upon his pieces in a vintage furniture shop in Mexico City, and was inspired by his eclectic collections of antique cigarette boxes and model houses. Taking note of the colours, lines and ancient religious symbols in Friedebergâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work (shown in Cadre Noir, pictured), Shorto uses surreal motifs and circular patterns to play on the concept of symmetry.

From ÂŁ180 per meter, jennifershorto.com

Interiors inspiration A kind of magic Interiors brand L’OBJET has a reputation for finesse. Using bespoke plaster moulds so fine they can only cast 15 pieces, and gilding photo frames up to three times in 24k gold is nothing out of the ordinary for the company’s atelier. Now, this attention to detail will also be applied to a new collaboration with renowned textile artists house of Fortuny. The decorative home accessories range, entitled Alchimie de Venise, takes inspiration from the vibrant prints of the centuryold textile house and colourful motifs adorn earthenware, lanterns and even chargers.

From £45, available at Thomas Goode & Co, 19 South Audley Street, W1K

hot seat When the first ever televised election debate took place in 1960, John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon both took their seats in The Chair, an elegant creation by the late Danish furniture designer Hans J Wegner. “A chair is to have no backside. It should be beautiful from all sides and angles,” he once said, and his trademark, pared-back aesthetic is being revived this season at the familyowned Danish joinery workshop PP Møbler. Kick back this summer in one of Wegner's classic designs, including the retro Circle Chair and the striking, monochrome Web Chair.

Circle chair designed by Hans J Wegner and manufactured by PP Møbler from £4,510, discoverdeliver.com

In the spotlight If your ceiling is crying out for a certain finishing touch, such as a 1940s British industrial light fitting, a German railway shade, or even a helipad landing light transformed into a pendant (pictured), then look no further. Skinflint specialises in retro shades and salvaged lighting treasures and the most recent finds include fixtures from a Hungarian factory and Czechoslovakian lampshades.

From £198, skinflintdesign.co.uk

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Once upon a table Overhaul your home linens with a trip to the Once Milano store found within Soho's Ham Yard development. The SS15 collection includes a selection of new colour palettes and designs, all hand-cut and dyed in Italy. The fringed cream linen tablecloths add an effortless bohemian touch to dining rooms and patio tables in time for the barbecue season. Meanwhile, the soft and crushed linen collection of throws and quilts in rich ochre yellow and vibrant turquoise will introduce a splash of summery colour to bedrooms. We particularly love this beautiful light linen throw, which doubles as a snuggly wrap to ward off summer evening chills.

Bedding from £70, tablecloths from £162.50, Once Milano, Ham Yard, W1D

Missoni impossible Homeware retailer amara.com decided it wanted something extra special to toast its upcoming tenth birthday, so it called on the designers at Missoni Home to create an exclusive collection of tableware. The rainbow-bright range of plates, cups and saucers is the brand’s first foray into porcelain and it will join the popular zig-zagged patterned poufs and cushions already stocked on the website.

Poufs from £236, dinnerware collection from £74, available from amara.com

Tutti frutti Guanabana, sapote and curuba: no, these aren’t South American insults, they are actually all found in the average Colombian fruit bowl. Inspired by the colourful markets of Bogota, Marni has released a collection of ornamental sculptures resembling exotic fruits that are a far cry from the average Granny Smith. The collection also features stools and chairs made with PVC weaving. These have been crafted by a group of Columbian women, and all proceeds will go towards their workshop.

From £180, marni.com

Picnic time The sandwiches might be squashed and the Pimm’s lukewarm, but the picnic remains a British summertime institution – and selecting a suitable blanket is a must. If your throw is covered in strawberry stains from last year it might be time to upgrade to a striped number from the latest Ralph Lauren collection, which has the added advantage of being suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Choose from the classic nautical-inspired Harborview Stripe, or the bright, Racing Point Stripe rug in green and blue. Pass the carrot batons...

Rugs available in three sizes from £300 to £950, Ralph Lauren Home, 1 New Bond Street, W1S

Parallel lines Christian Liaigre’s glittering design credits include Rupert Murdoch’s yacht and a private golf club for the Samsung family, but, as Lauren Romano discovers when she meets the charming interior designer and his wife, his dream project is actually a stable

Déborah Comte-Liaigre © Camille Gentil

P. Christian Liaigre © Franco

Tettamanti

ehind every great man there’s usually a great woman. But in the case of the Liaigres, it’s more of a side-by-side partnership. At the age of 70, Christian Liaigre has transformed the boats, beach shacks, hotels and homes of the rich and famous across the globe. His first showroom opened in Paris in 1987, and has multiplied into a conglomerate of 26, including the latest London outpost, which opened on Conduit Street last month. These days, however, his wife Déborah Comte-Liaigre shares the limelight. Today, her silhouette is backlit by blinding sunshine streaming in through the showroom’s floorto-ceiling windows. “We were so surprised,” she says softly in languid tones, adjusting the elegant Hermès scarf knotted at her neck. “Usually when we visit London the weather isn’t like this.” Even her self-

conscious stab at British small talk doesn’t detract from her typically Parisian insouciance and effortless charm. Perched on a plush but clean-lined sofa of her own design, Déborah is responsible for the gradually multiplying Liaigre collection of furniture and lighting. It is on her multitasking shoulders that the responsibility for the upkeep of showrooms also falls. Each one is refreshed twice a year, which means factoring 52 refits into her already full schedule. “It’s crazy,” she smiles shyly. The new Mayfair showroom has been the latest tick on the list. A two-floor boutique showcasing 80 specialist furniture designs and 30 lighting styles from the classic collection, the Liaigre brand’s clean and simple aesthetic is clearly visible. Modern, understated and timeless, the collection celebrates traditional craftsmanship. “We have been working with craftsmen in France for so many years that they are part of the company. It’s important to keep these skills going or else sometimes they can die out,” she explains. “We are the inverse of trends; we build on our collection gradually. Sometimes we can spend all year working on one piece and then it doesn’t make it in because we don’t have the right feel about it.”

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Vertigo Yacht © Mark Seelen

There aren’t many couples who could cope with running a global business for 16 years without showing the strain. My insinuations that it must be difficult working in your partner’s pocket are brushed aside with an airy wave and a wry smile. “A little bit sometimes, but no, it’s easy, it’s a good collaboration,” she says, adding that the pair tend to work separately. Christian emerges quietly, (after Déborah summons him: “Deux questions, s’il vous plaît” from where he’s been hiding downstairs) dressed in a well-cut but relaxed blue suit and comes to sit next to

“This is why we wanted to evoke the spirit, to bring in light and a bit of dark too, to create sanctuary and serenity”

François Nars’ home in Bora Bora © Jean-Philippe Piter

This wait and see attitude is on-brand with the Liaigre DNA, of course. Born and raised on the west coast of France on a farm by the sea, husband Christian has had a life-long appreciation for traditional techniques and a simpler way of life, which is apparent in the design of their own home. The couple live with their young son Léonard in an 18th-century townhouse on Paris’ Left Bank. “I will not say that it’s going to be a showroom,” Déborah hesitates, when I ask her about the décor. “It’s a real mix of furniture collected by my family in Vietnam and Asia, which I grew up around. Lots of 17thcentury pieces in particular.” Her husband, pioneer of simplicity loves the extravagance of 18th-century design and is enjoying the challenge of kitting out their new abode, which he brands “very Versailles”, with just a hint of sarcasm.

me on the sofa carrying his eponymously titled book, which showcases 12 of his recent projects. The hefty coffee table tome is the first in seven years and when I ask how he selected what made the cut, he deadpans, “I choose the projects where we have authorisation to put it in,” with a mischievous grin. Pushing his tortoiseshell specs further up his nose he shuffles up closer, places the book on my lap and begins to flick through, murmuring softly, almost bashfully under his breath. He arrives at one of his favourite feats; a Korean country golf club he designed for the Samsung family. “It is like a fortress,” he says of the brooding, vaulted space. “We were inspired by Korean temples,” he continues. “Because there have been so many wars in Korea, there is just one temple remaining from the past, the others are destroyed.” I think maybe I have misheard him, but he nods sagely, and although I’m not particularly well-versed with the monastic history of Korea I suspect something might have been lost in translation here. Either that or Mr Liaigre is pulling my leg, which I wouldn’t put past him. “This is why we wanted to evoke the spirit, to bring in light and a bit of dark too, to create sanctuary and serenity.” I comment that his work could be perceived as minimalistic, although husband and wife both protest that that adjective is too severe and that their trademark look is more about simplicity. “It’s very funny you should say that,” Christian responds. “I was working on a project in Hong Kong and people said to me, ‘oh you know very well feng shui’. And I don’t really know what it is!” he smiles,

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incredulously, adding, “but perhaps we do some things in common without knowing what the rule is. Feng shui is bon sens.” He reverts back to his man-of-few words stance when I press him for details of his favourite clients. “Oh yes”, he says sincerely and then pauses abruptly. Any particular favourites, I persist? “Larry Gagosian, Rupert Murdoch…” he trails off leaving me to read between the lines and the many column inches. I infer that after a stay at the Liaigre-designed Mercer Hotel in downtown Manhattan, Murdoch and his wife invited Christian to design their triplex loft conversion in SoHo. “He just asked for the key,” Christian says off-handedly about the notoriously demanding media mogul. Names like Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld, Calvin Klein and François Nars crop up in the design archive, but multi-million pound apartments don’t really hold a torch to his dream design project: a stable. Christian is currently working on a modern Maharaja Palace in India which has a private polo field. It might seem an odd choice, but after studying at the Paris Academy of Fine and Decorative Arts and teaching drawing at the Académie Charpentier, Christian quit Paris to spend a decade as a horse breeder, heading back to his rural roots in the Vendée region. He doesn’t disguise the fact that his interior design career didn’t really kick off until he was in his forties;

From top: St Moritz Chalet © Mark Seelen; a bedroom at François Nars’ Bora Bora home © Jean-Philippe Piter; Korean golf club for the Samsung family © Cheolhee Lee; sitting room of an Athens villa © Mark Seelen

he didn’t publish his first book until he was 60. But he has little intention of slowing down. His own father, a vet, lived to the ripe old age of 104. “My son keeps me young, even if I’m not,” he smiles. As well as a new showroom in Munich, Déborah will be taking on her first solo project in Singapore, and the couple will collaborate on a new Costes Hotel in Paris, which will offer suite-only accommodation. Christian will be kept busy too with the aforementioned stables and a yacht. But what does one of the world’s most in-demand interior designers do in his down time? “I go to the country and ride with my young son,” he says. The family will also be spending time at their home in St Barts, which also features in the book. “It’s just a cabana on the beach, very simple,” he insists, flicking to the relevant pages, where ‘simple’ turns out to be sun-bleached woods, dark, rich mahogany and crisp white furnishings, offset by an unexpected 17th-century painting. “That’s an ancestor of Déborah’s,” he says of the portrait, although I’m not sure if he’s joking. He tells me that he’ll be very proud if his son follows in his footsteps, and adds touchingly that he’d have been a vet like his own father if things hadn’t worked out. But for now, horse-riding and the Maharaja Palace will have to do, and even if he decides to quit the day job sometime soon, which seems unlikely, Déborah will be there to fill his shoes. n

Liaigre, published by Flammarion, £85 Christian Liaigre, 52 Conduit Street, W1S christian-liaigre.us

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three’s a

trend

Gabriella Dyson picks some wise purchases for a summery interiors face-lift

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8 summer blues 1 Malachite Teal Vase, £129, Jonathan Adler, jonathanadler.com 2 Kayin Wallpaper, POA, Osborne & Little, osborneandlittle.com 3 Jonathan Adler Living Room, as before 4 Atomic Suspension Light, POA, Delightfull, delightfull.eu 5 Blue Trees Velvet Drumstool, £273, Boho & Co, anangelatmytable.com 6 Westerly Candle, £55, Tory Burch, toryburch.co.uk 7 Cocos Cushion in Teal, £77, Matthew Williamson, amara.com 8 Bold Cubism Cushion Cover, £110, Mariska Meijers, mariskameijers.com 9 Blue Party Armchair, £2,162, Sancal, nest.co.uk 10 Arabesque Tray, £239, J Fleet, harrods.com

interiors

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east is east 1 Alchimie Venise Lantern Medium, £845, L’Object, harrods.com 2 Lucille Hanging Basket, £350, Llot Llov, llotllov.de 3 Art Deco gilt metal sunburst ceiling wall light, £1,150, Debenham Antiques, lapada.org 4 Atelier Fornasetti Aastepaper Bin, £950, Holly Johnson Antiques, hollyjohnsonantiques.com 5 Jefferson 3-drawer chest, £1,395, India Jane, indiajane.co.uk 6 Crochet Nightstand, POA, Boca do Lobo, bocadolobo.com 7 Soleil Qui Brille Wallpaper, £203.50 p/m, Dedar, dedar.it 8 Moroccan Pouffe in Tan, £98, Bohemia, bohemiadesign.co.uk 9 Early 20th Century Moorish Heavily Inlaid Occasion Table, £2,650, Debenham Antiques, as before 10 Duchess Embroidered Cushion, £495, India Jane, as before 11 Mulberry Home Bohemian Romance Range, gpandjbaker.com

interiors

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11 1 4

8 7 heavy metal 1 Pixel Cabinet, POA, Boca do Lobo, as before 2 Sunburst Mirror, POA, Christopher Guy, christopherguy.com 3 Tom Dixon Etch Shade, £340, Tom Dixon, nest.co.uk 4 Eugenie Strie Damask Wallpaper, POA, Zoffany, zoffany.com 5 White Marble Wall Clock, £219, Menu, menu-design-shop.de 6 Yasmine Side Table, POA, Koket, bykoket.com 7 Natural Gold Casca Bowl, £372, Anna New York, amara.com 8 Table Top Millionaire Safe, POA, Boca do Lobo (Private Collection), as before 9 Dolphin Bowl in Black, £450, L’Object, l-objet.com 10 Venice Mirror, POA, Maison Valentina, maisonvalentina.net 11 Eden Centre Table, POA, Boca do Lobo, as before

interiors promotion

service & style When a supplier let Suzanne Archer down weeks before Christmas, Wren stepped in to save the day

ust a few weeks before Christmas, Suzanne and her partner Keith were told the kitchen they’d expected was not going to be ready until January. “I’d already dismantled my kitchen. And I had family coming to stay,” said Suzanne. “I was beside myself.” Facing the nightmare prospect of being kitchen-less over Christmas, Suzanne decided to give Wren a call. “I’d previously looked at a Wren kitchen so I called and explained that I needed a kitchen before Christmas!” Since it was the busiest time of the year, Suzanne thought she’d be

laughed away. “The assistant I spoke to said he’d call me back and I remember thinking at the time, yeah, right!” To Suzanne’s amazement, he called back the same day and the couple headed straight to the store, where more help was waiting in the form of a Wren designer. “The service we received was amazing,” said Suzanne. “Wren’s designer really looked after us and went out of his way to make sure everything was possible in the time we wanted. They got us out of a huge hole.” Suzanne and Keith already had an idea of what they wanted and quickly settled on the Shaker Alabaster Timber. Their 9ft by 9ft kitchen already had traditional, free-standing wooden school cupboards, so the style was in keeping with the rest of the room, but with a slightly more contemporary feel. Suzanne was equally impressed by Wren’s installation team. “Our fitter was a real craftsman. Not only did he take great pride in his work, he also told us how to care for the kitchen. He added extra touches and left the place spotless!” The new kitchen was finished by 8 December, having taken just four weeks from start to finish. Suzanne was thrilled. n

“The service was amazing. They got us out of a huge hole”

wrenkitchens.com

It’s never too late...

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

www.lilouetloic.com

fa m i ly

wish list

Queen of Tarts If organising childrens’ parties makes you as mad as a hatter, then don’t despair. Talking Tables’ new Truly Alice collection has your summer celebrations all wrapped up, with everything you could possibly need for the perfect tea party. With curious cake toppers and paper teacups, miniature cupcake domes and oversized roses, you can recreate the magic of Lewis Carroll’s much-loved story in the comfort of your own garden.

talkingtables.co.uk

nurserynews Dress to impress Fancy Kids is your newest one-stop destination for organically produced children’s fashion, toys and lifestyle accessories. Launched this spring, the platform is devoted to providing a stylish and unique shopping experience with an eco-friendly philosophy at its heart. Designers such as Marie-Chantal, Melissa Odabash, and Margherita Kids have been hand selected to ensure that all of the products available are as beautiful as they are ethical.

fancykids.com

Cavalli kids Bright, zesty pops of colour and natureinspired prints take pride of place in Roberto Cavalli’s junior summer range of clothing and accessories. We love the Vintage Rose Leopard Dress, which is perfect for long summer days. Made from matte silk, it features jewelled seahorses and shells, delicate roses and Cavalli’s classic animal print motif – can we get it in an adult size?

From £38, childrensalon.com

tiny travellers Get a head start on your summer holiday packing with the new mini range from Steamline Luggage. The Entrepreneur case is ideal for little city-hoppers; complete with ample room for all their business essentials (like colouring books and crayons) there is also a detachable wash bag included. Meanwhile, the Correspondent case (pictured) sings sophistication for mini sun seekers, available in a variety of colours – from pastels to bold hues. Both ranges come in carry-on and stowaway sizes.

From £120, steamlineluggage.com

fa m i ly

Little helpers With the summer holidays on the horizon there’s plenty of time to get digging for creepy crawlies and Wild & Wolf’s Little Thoughtful Gardener collection will arm budding gardeners with all the tools they need to get better acquainted with the great outdoors. Designed especially for small hands, the range features everything from gloves and watering cans, to trowels and even insect hotels. Little ones will not only look the part, but they’ll get up close and personal with wildlife too; learning everything they need to know about tending their very own plot, so they can leave your flowerbeds alone.

From £7.95, wildandwolf.com

Soft touch Is it a teddy or is it a cushion? We’re not quite sure... But one thing that's certain is that Ferm Living’s Little Miss Rabbit and Little Mr Dog cushions are oh-so adorable. These huggable creations will add a cute factor to your children’s bedroom or play space and as they are made from 100 per cent organic cotton and feather down, they are super soft and suitable for all ages.

winter Top Summer winners Days Out Stop fretting about the imminent summer holidays with our top picks for family days out this month

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Sensational Butterflies Get up close and personal with some beautiful butterflies at the Natural History Museum. Explore the world of these enchanting creatures and chart their incredible lifecycle. There are hands-on workshops for children and an ‘edible insects’ wine tasting evening for parents.

Family ticket £19.80, nhm.ac.uk

Picnic at Primrose Hill Keep it simple and head out for a summertime picnic. Plan some games and pack plenty of finger food as well as these colourful cups by Ukrainian artist Helen Dardik.

thekidwho.eu

£30 each, available from thekidwho.eu

Sloths at sunset Visit the zoo after hours with ZSL’s Sunset Safari event. Book yourselves onto a guided safari tour or watch an exciting performance at the Theatre of Life. As the sun sets sit back and relax at the Safari Base Camp, where an acoustic guitar performance will wrap up the evening.

Every Friday until 17 July, 6:00-10:00pm From £15, zsl.org/sunset-safari

23 women every day are diagnosed with cancer of the womb, the most

common type of gynaecological cancer in the UK. early diagnosis and treatment has led to a major increase in survival rates. experienced gynaecologists and oncologists work alongside our highly skilled team to support you at every stage of your journey.

Call our team today www.thewellingtonhospital.com

020 7483 5000

health&fitness

health & fitness NO SCRUBS A thoughtful present for new mums who are craving a bit of me time, or just a little luxury for those stolen moments of peace and quiet, Jo Malone’s two new bathtime products will have you soaking for that extra 15 minutes, despite any racket outside. The new shower oil (£32, pictured) comprises a nourishing formula of sunflower seeds, jojoba and coconut oil, enveloping your skin with silky softness, and comes in Lime Basil & Mandarin to energise, Blackberry & Bay to refresh or Peony & Blush Suede to calm. Follow this with a Geranium & Walnut Body Scrub polish (£40), which contrasts herbaceous geranium with the comforting warmth of walnut through minute fragments of walnut shell, and is infused with conditioning shea butter.

jomalone.co.uk

BOOM shake The Swedish eye for good taste has already permeated our kitchen tables – from minimalist tableware to the freshly baked sourdough served on top of it – but now we are following suit when it comes to our gym clothes too. Founded by Ann Johansson, a Swedishborn, Canadian-bred workout fanatic, BoomBoom Athletica infuses professional quality activewear with a typically Scandi less-is-more aesthetic. Exclusively sourced and produced in Europe, each garment is carefully designed so as not to chafe over the last hour of a marathon – Game of Thrones or otherwise.

boomboomathletica.com

head to toe

First unveiled at Markus Lupfer’s AW15 show, the designer’s new trainer collection takes inspiration from enchanted forests and fairytale woodlands for a fun and sporty take on next season’s most opulent sports-luxe trend. Embroidered flowers are offset by glitter and holographic leather and silk, with embossed botanical motifs and a rich colour palette of burgundy and green. Personally, we’d team the blue and silver style with anything from a shift dress to wide-leg culottes to ensure dry feet throughout a very British summer.

From £245, markuslupfer.com

Saving your

Skin

Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Anjali Mahto, discusses melanoma, the signs you should be looking out for, and how to stay safe while you are enjoying the sun

With summer finally here, there has never been a better time to What changes are you looking for? think about the sun and its effects on your skin. Most skin cancers The acronym ABCDE can be extremely helpful to evaluate moles. occur as a direct result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation If a mole shows any of these features, it warrants review in the sun’s rays. Melanoma, the most serious type by a dermatologist. of skin cancer, has the potential to spread to other meet the parts of the body and can be fatal. • Asymmetry: one half of the mole is different specialist to the other Dr Anjali Mahto (MBBCh, BSc, MRCP Melanoma is a cancer of the melanocytes or (Derm) is a consultant dermatologist pigment producing cells of the skin. It most • Border: irregular, scalloped or poorly who practices at The Wellington Hospital. often presents as either a new or changing defined edge Her special interests include general mole. It is the fifth most common cancer in dermatology, children’s dermatology and the UK and rates of diagnosis have been • Colour: uneven or variable colours skin cancer. Dr Mahto also works as a increasing since the 1970s. This is thought to within a mole consultant dermatologist in North West be due to a combination of increased foreign London Hospitals NHS Trust, where she is the lead for paediatric travel, cheap package holidays, sun-seeking • Diameter: the mole is bigger than 6mm in size dermatology services. behavior and use of tanning beds. • Evolving: the mole changes in size, shape or colour Early detection is key There is no doubt that catching skin cancer early can save lives. Other signs to look out for include any new moles appearing, a mole If melanoma is caught early, it is almost always treatable. The that looks significantly different to the others (known as the ugly longer it is left, the higher the chance of it spreading to other duckling sign), or any skin lesion that bleeds or fails to heal. organs such as the brain or lungs. As the skin is a visible organ, any changes are outwardly detectable. Learning to look for What should you do if you notice any changes? changes and monitoring your skin is vital to good skin health. Any concerns should prompt a visit to your GP. Your GP is likely Most dermatologists recommend you self-examine your moles to refer you to a dermatologist who will perform a full skin once a month. examination with the use of a hand-held tool known as a

health promotion

dermatoscope. He or she may go on to either cut out or excise a mole, or take a sample or biopsy of any unusual growths or patches on the skin. These procedures are usually carried out under local anaesthetic. Can you prevent melanoma? It is possible to reduce your chances of getting melanoma by limiting your sun exposure. It is important to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen, at least SPF15-30, that offers protection against UVA and UVB radiation in addition to sensible clothing. Your dermatologist will be able to provide you with more details regarding the best methods of sun protection based on your skin type at consultation.

For further information or if you would like to arrange an appointment at The Wellington Hospital, please contact the Enquiry Helpline on 020 7483 5000 or visit thewellingtonhospital.com

More than just a name, Snow Lepoard vodka was created to help save this beautiful creature from extinction. 15% of profits from the brand are given directly to Snow Leopard conservation projects. Award winning Snow Leopard vodka is the first luxury vodka to be made from the Spelt grain, which provides a unique and distinct, nutty fresh taste. Available from Selfridges, Hedonism Drinks and Fortnum and Mason

www.snowleopardvodka.co.uk

food&drink

wish list

FEELING CHIPPER There are some pop-ups we can’t help but get excited about – especially when they don’t contain the words burger, BBQ or buns. One of our favourite Champagne houses, Krug, has teamed up with Michelin-starred chef Tom Sellers for a high-end Krug & Chips offering this summer, pairing the Restaurant Story chef’s unique take on British seaside staple fish and chips with a glass of Krug Grande Cuvée. Diners will be able to choose from three dishes – potato ravioli with fish in tartar sauce, monkfish cheek curry with matchstick fries, and lobster claw wrapped in potato spaghetti – served in special chip shopthemed dining pods.

One dish and a glass of Krug costs £35. Krug & Chips will open in the East Piazza, Covent Garden from 8-12 July. Tickets on sale now at krug.com/krugandchips

Foodie favourites From Good Stock A mecca for west London’s yummy mummies, Daylesford has answered our call to prayer and opened a Marylebone base on Blandford Street. Joining the likes of the Natural Kitchen et al, the farm shop and café is peddling organic fruit and vegetables from its market garden, fresh milk, cheese, yoghurt and butter from its creamery and an array of healthy snacks and juices. The café serves seasonal organic dishes for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and supper, as well as brunch on the weekends.

6-10A Blandford Street, W1U

Candy Crush If you have an insatiable sweet tooth, then you’re in for a treat at the Sweet Things bakery. One of Primrose Hill’s best kept secrets, this cosy little café is a regular haunt for locals and celebrities who share a mutual passion for sugar. We recommend tucking in to one of the awardwinning afternoon teas, complete with scones, miniature cupcakes and brownies (as well as some savoury sandwiches for the party poopers) which are so good that queen of cakes Nigella Lawson dubbed them “out of this world”.

138 Regents Park Road, NW1

The French Connection A byword for refined French elegance and delicate culinary combinations, Orrery has reopened following a summer-ready refurbishment. As well as a new look for the indoor bar, the rooftop terrace overlooking the St Marylebone church gardens has also had a refit – and is the perfect place to unwind with a glass of champagne, courtesy of head sommelier Lorenzo Abussi. Follow this with a trip downstairs and a light summer meal of seasonal asparagus with quail’s eggs, a fresh truffle risotto, and strawberries and meringue with a strawberry sorbet. Practically perfect in every way.

55 Marylebone High Street, W1U

In FINE Taste The quirky New York stalwart Hotel Chantelle, known for serving dishes that require something of an open palate, will be opening its first London outpost this month – right by Selfridges. Fusing ‘upscale American dining with fun French fare’, the menu weaves together a fusion of molecular gastronomy, comfort food and haute cuisine. Expect signature dishes such as waffle-crusted fried chicken with maple syrup cotton candy, a tuna tartare cigar served in a vintage glass ashtray, and frosted flake-encrusted stuffed French toast.

23 Orchard Street, W1H

food&drink

Restaurant Review

Social climber

“T

Kari Colmans has her expectations surpassed at Jason Atherton’s new Marylebone opening, Social Wine & Tapas

here is no sincerer love than the love of food,” said George Bernard Shaw. And Jason Atherton obviously agrees, as the quote heads up the enticing menu at his just opened Social Wine & Tapas in Marylebone. Now a ‘celebrity chef’ of sorts (could a cook dread an accolade more?) following the critics’ gushing praise of Berners Tavern, as well as the successive triumphs of his other restaurants (including City Social, Pollen Street Social, Little Social and Social Eating House), there’s no doubt that good food – no, utterly perfect food – still fuels Atherton’s raison d’être. It has been open all of one day when I visit, so I’m already mentally prepared to cut it some slack: even the best restaurants have teething problems. But no such slack is needed, and things run like clockwork from the moment I pull up a green upholstered pew on the ground-level bar and eating space. Eating for two, but drinking for none, I can only really comment on the solid half of the restaurant’s namesake, although my lucky friend, who works across the road and relented to my lunchtime pleas, can attest to the quality of the wine selections on offer. On first impressions, everything here has been considered, even down to the soundtrack in the toilet: wine lectures delivered with clipped, Victorian-English diction. The premise for the 70-cover bar and restaurant is its array of quality, rare and fine bottles alongside a tapas and snacks menu, created by head chef Frankie Van Loo (formerly Social Eating House), and headed up by executive sommelier Laure Patry, who has worked with Atherton for more than a decade. But even without a sniff of wine, the food is good enough to stand on its own. We begin with ham

croquettes; small, lightly fried golden balls of heaven, oozing with melted cheese and a mix of smoky, tangy and flavoursome Spanish hams (there’s no Bernard Matthews here); salt-covered Padron peppers (which could have done with five more minutes in the pan); and a small plate of delicious yet simple Teruel Serrano ham, cut wafer thin and served on

I vow to come back for all the bump-unfriendly options come autumn an easel-type-contraption. Two light salads follow, and we argue over which we love more; an heirloom tomato salad with truffle burrata, basil and gazpacho vinaigrette only disappoints with its conservative size, while the salt-baked beetroot with sairass ricotta, drizzled in a red wine and pine nut dressing, has so many intriguing and unexpected tastes and textures that the

menu description doesn’t do it justice. A slow-cooked egg with oxtail dashi and creamed potato is the favourite of the mains, even though it pains me to avoid the gooey, oozing orange of the yolk; tasty, unctous meat, enveloped in an indulgent, spuddy velvet. Roasted sea bream with piperade and coriander is also faultless; the delicately flavoured fish is perfectly cooked, while the chunky tomato and sausage topping packs an after-punch. I vow to come back for all the bump-unfriendly options come autumn: rose veal and foie gras burgers with pulled pork, avocado and pickled cucumber; Szechuan fried chipirones with ink aioli; raw Orkney sea scallop with yuzu, radish and cucumber. But the chocolate tart with Madagascan vanilla cream provides a bittersweet finish for today. As Atherton continues his climb to the upper culinary echelons, two carefully considered social rungs at a time, we can be sure that this ‘sleb chef has nothing left to prove. He’s arrived.n

39 James Street, W1U

STORMINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

NORMAN

Olivia Sharpe considers the changing face of the restaurant scene as she interviews Russell Norman, owner of the award-winning Venetian eatery Polpo

food&drink

here’s something weird happening in Chelsea. Walking through Duke of York Square, I spot a group of 20-something students, bed-haired and tattoo-clad. Before I start wondering whether Chelsea’s conservative residents are trying their hand at becoming hipsters (what a disturbing thought), I remember that Polpo, Soho’s award-winning Venetian restaurant, has just opened its doors in the area and the trendy people I see are its new members of staff. I am meeting its illustrious owner Russell Norman and at 11am it is already a hive of activity. ‘The Restaurant Man’ (as dubbed in the BBC Two series) is often pictured looking a little rough around the edges, invariably unshaven and casually dressed, but on this occasion he is impeccably turned out in a three-piece suit, welladapted to his sophisticated new surroundings. The King's Road was once considered dead in the water when it came to its gastronomical offerings but when I tentatively point this out to Russell, he responds confidently: “I like hearing that because it vindicates our decision to come here. Even though previously we’ve opened Polpos in areas with lots of restaurants, I still believe that what we do is different enough to justify being there. I think the landlord, Cadogan Estate, is very forward-thinking in what it wants to create.” The site for Polpo Chelsea has taken over from where Patisserie Valerie

once was in a Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse and while it might not seem the most obvious choice, it was for Russell and business partner Richard Beatty. Indeed, having launched Polpo Notting Hill last year, the pair seem determined to cast the business’s net further west. “The original Polpo, and all the others since, have been neighbourhood restaurants. I don’t want people travelling across town… we’ve built this one for the people who live and work in the area.” In spite of Soho’s supposedly avant-garde and liberal persona, Russell found that its inhabitants were surprisingly snooty about Polpo’s laidback aesthetic compared to Chelsea residents, who have taken to it like ducks to water. “We found early on that some people were a bit confused and couldn’t understand why we would serve wine in glass tumblers or have menus printed on brown paper,” he comments. “With Chelsea, we’ve noticed that they’re a very welltravelled and sophisticated crowd, so it’s just clicked straight away. I think they’re as pleased to have it as we are to be here.” Since opening the original Polpo on Soho’s Beak Street in 2009, the business has grown exponentially and now encompasses six restaurants. This has resulted in some press referring to it as a chain, which Russell used to vehemently reject but now he no longer lets it bother him. “It used to upset me, if I’m being honest. The reason why

Polpo Notting Hill Photography by Jack Hirons

Polpo Soho, Beak Street

is because there’s a bit of a derogatory connotation attached to the word. But I’m now confident that what we do with each of them is different enough to satisfy me that this isn’t the cookie-cutter approach some restaurants have.” He explains how each Polpo outpost has a point of difference, not just in terms of location but down to the smallest details; for instance, he pinpoints the light shades unique to the Chelsea restaurant that he found while out shopping in Venice. Saying that, as I survey the restaurant’s stripped back interior, featuring red brick walls, a rusted tin ceiling, antique Venetian maps and the trademark red leather banquet seats lining the walls, it is clear that it retains the essence of the original restaurant, based on the concept of a traditional Venetian bacaro. What’s more, Polpo Chelsea is the only branch that has an outdoor seating area, making it feel the closest to Venice out of all of them. The businessman first fell in love with the Venetian culture of dining when he visited the city in the 80s with best friend Richard and knew that he wanted to create the experience back in London. However, Russell had to temper his vision, fully aware that Londoners wouldn’t take kindly to having to stand up as they ate. So he looked to one of his other favourite cities, New York, and decided to incorporate the relaxed vibe of downtown Manhattan: “I really love those Williamsburg bars and restaurants... they’re all neighbourhood joints, very few of them take reservations, they all play music a little bit too loud and the lights are always a little too low. So Polpo is a fusion between a New York setting and Venetian food. Once those two elements came together, that’s when I realised I had an idea that might actually work in London, and if it appealed to me, it might appeal to more people.” While the concept of small plates and no reservations are fairly commonplace today, when Polpo first opened, it was fairly unheard of and even Russell admits to it having been a nerve-wracking experience, not least of all because they opened just a year after the Lehman Brothers collapse. No-one was more apprehensive than business partner Richard, whom he describes fondly as having had a bit of a “wobble” in early 2009. However, Russell had the courage of his convictions and considering their success (the pair now has nine restaurants), thank goodness he did. The menu at the Chelsea outpost is almost

identical to the others, divided up into small plates of authentic Venetian-inspired snacks, including mini pizzas, fritto misto and meatballs. However, while Russell believes the food is an important aspect, he doesn’t believe it is the be-all and end-all of any restaurant. “Of course you eat food when you go to a restaurant but for me, that isn’t the main reason I go. You can make the comparison that books aren’t actually about words. They’re about the ideas, thoughts, feelings and emotions that the writer conveys. So restaurants, for me, are about the people you come with and the people at the next table who are laughing along with their guests.” Given his linguistic analogy, it’s perhaps not surprising to learn that, before entering into the restaurant business,

Russell is currently in the midst of transforming a row of old sex shops into a restaurant

food&drink

Russell was an English teacher; he asks me to forgive his indulgence when he explains how the root of the word ‘restaurant’ originates from the French verb ‘restorer’ meaning ‘to restore’ and so a restaurant should therefore be about restoring its patrons by creating the right atmosphere. Although some people might consider it a hindrance that Russell has no formal training as a chef, the restaurateur believes this, in many ways, works in his favour. In his experience, badly-run restaurants are those which, more often than not, are headed up by the chief cook. “I do love chefs and I hope they forgive me for saying this but when they’re in the kitchen and they’re under a lot of pressure, they don’t necessarily make the right decisions because they’re focused on the food. By not being a chef myself I’m privileged to be able to see things from the customer’s perspective. What I often say to the chefs at my restaurants is

‘we serve food that people want to eat, not food that chefs want to cook.’” After his stint as a teacher, Russell worked as operations director of Caprice Holdings, which owns The Ivy, Daphne’s and J Sheekey, and therefore had first-hand experience of what it takes to run a successful restaurant business. Russell believes that the secret to any restaurateur’s success is hard graft, something which he has never shied away from: “A lot of people imagine opening a restaurant is like having a dinner party but with a till in it – and they imagine it’s quite easy, but it isn’t. You’ve got to be prepared to do the hard work but also, perversely, be able to enjoy it too.” It is clear from the excitement in Russell’s voice as he begins talking about his latest venture that he gets an addictive buzz from the prospect of work. Returning to his roots in Soho, Russell and his team are currently in the midst of transforming a row of old sex shops, one of which is named Spankerama, into a restaurant, due to open in 2016. Unable to help myself, I ask Russell whether he has considered keeping the original name: “I must confess, I never went into Spankerama personally, but I love the name”, he says, laughing. “In truth, I am toying with the idea of having the basement level as a bar and calling it Spankerama but I think I’ll have to do some market research first!” While some locals have voiced their concerns about Soho’s famed sleazy nature becoming lost due to gentrification, Russell believes that no matter how many new restaurants open, it will never lose its identity: “You could argue that removing the sex shops is chipping away at that dirty reputation and character, but I think what is taking their place is appropriate for Soho in 2015. I have spent most of my life working there and it feels just the same as it always has, like a village, and I think it’s better now than it’s ever been.” In spite of all of his enterprises, Russell still finds time to be a family man. When he was younger, he was forbidden by his stepfather to ever enter the kitchen but this is something the 49-year-old hasn’t passed down to his own three children, mentioning how one of his perfect weekends is spent making “daddy bread”. With that, his restaurants and his wife’s imminent 40th birthday celebrations, Russell Norman certainly has a lot on his plate. But if anyone can handle it, it’s him. n

Polpo, 81 Duke of York Square, SW3 020 7730 8900; polpo.co.uk

Escape to Kentisbury Grange - the ultimate boutique country hotel.

Discover fine dining at The Coach House by M ichael Caines.

Set in the heart of North Devon on the edge of Exmoor National Park â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just three hours from London Paddington.

Kentisbury Grange, Kentisbury, Barnstaple, North Devon EX31 4NL reception@kentisburygrange.co.uk | 01271 882 295 www.kentisburygrange.co.uk

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In the bag Lengthy check-in queues, empty baggage carousels and delayed flights might be at odds with the whimsical notion of travel, but nonetheless, Spanish accessories brand La Portegna wants to reinstate a little romance to your summer sojourn. From buttery suede backpacks in Mediterranean olive green to roomy canvas totes, compact leather clutch bags and espadrilles, the new SS15 collection is simple yet elegant. Inspired by his grandmother’s tales of meeting Ernest Hemmingway on a boat trip to Bombay in 1933, founder José Urrutia decided to take a step back in time with his beautiful handcrafted designs. The Maria tote, made from waterproof-treated canvas, will take you from plane to beach with ease, or for a touch of chic, upgrade to a Carlota suede version in a summery burnt mustard.

Canvas totes from £80, suede totes from £225, 26 Marylebone Road, W1U, laportegna.com

TRAVEL in style HOT SPOT in July

Maasai Mara, Kenya For a safari experience with a difference, follow the wildebeest river crossings this month The grasslands of the Maasai Mara will begin to rustle this month as more than a million migrating wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras, gazelles and antelopes head from the plains of the southern Serengeti in Tanzania in search of the game reserves’ lush, green landscape. As well as being the world’s largest animal migration, the 800km trek is one of the most dangerous, taking in treacherous predatorfilled territories and crocodile-infested waters, and for spectators, the July river crossings providing a fascinating climax to the awe-inspiring journey. The balconies of Richard Branson’s Mahali Mzuri safari camp within the Olare Motorogi Conservancy provide front row seats for watching the action unfold. Guests can take part in twice-daily safari drives, hot air balloon trips or explore the bush on foot before retreating to their luxury tents, which come with a private terrace and views out over the spectacular grasslands. After a long day behind the binoculars, spy on lion pride territories battling for dominance, as well as roaming elephants, zebras and giraffes as the camp’s chefs man the bush barbecue and keep the champagne flowing.

From £700 a night, including game drives, bush walks and meals, virginlimitededition.com

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Scandi-clad Artwork inspired by renowned fairy tale author Hans Christian Anderson provides an apt finishing touch to the Scandinavian rooms and suites of the re-opened Danish Court at Dormy House. The last stage in a multimillion pound renovation of the 17th century farmhouse, the eight newly refurbished suites and rooms boast their own secluded outdoor space, while over in the main hotel building, guests can make the most of the revamped award-winning spa, complete with outdoor hot tub and thermal suite.

From £245 per room per night; suites from £320 per room per night, dormyhouse.co.uk

Alfresco nights Situated in Salento, Puglia at the southern tip of Italy’s boot, Masseria La Spinetta sits amid ancient olive groves. The traditional villa houses a clash of Mediterranean and Moorish interiors, with lofty stone vaulted ceilings, marble floors and shaded cloisters. A secluded bolthole from which to explore the surrounding landscape and villages, the space is kitted out for families and can comfortably accommodate up to 12 people. Post-siesta, the large vinecovered pergola and outdoor kitchen with a wood-fired pizza oven enables guests to get into the alfresco swing of things, while little ones (and big kids) amuse themselves with the outdoor pool, trampoline and ping pong table.

From £3,250 a week, masserialaspinetta.com

Meet and Crete Dazzling like a diamond bobbing on the blindingly blue Aegean Sea, The White Palace at Rethymno, Crete makes the most of its Cretan Riviera surroundings. Bringing a touch of the postcard-perfect scenery indoors with aqua-toned mosaics and chic design flourishes, the set-up is nothing short of serene. For the best views in the house, opt for a Yali waterfront suite, which comes with its own terrace and private pool.

From £198 a night, thewhitepalace.com

winter Taste the winners difference 

SHORT HAUL



Culinary culture Sun Gardens, Dubrovnik has launched an indulgent four-night foodie package, entitled a Culinary Journey through Dubrovnik. Highlights include wine tastings at vineyards within the renowned Peljesac region and menus featuring regional favourites, such as Mediterranean shrimps with Istrian black truffle. Anyone who wants to work off the excesses of the day can take part in a visit to the medieval fort at Ston and walk a 5km stretch of the ancient wall. Alternatively, select a sunlounger at the resort’s private beach.

Gastronomic packages from £500, dubrovniksungardens.com



LONG HAUL



Raising the steaks One&Only’s Palmilla resort in Los Cabos has now reopened with a host of new eateries to cater to all tastes. Carnivores should make a beeline for the new steakhouse SEARED by JeanGeorges Vongerichten, and fish lovers for Suviche restaurant, with its floorto-ceiling windows offering spectacular views of the Sea of Cortez. One thing that hasn’t changed for guests staying in the 173 oceanfront guest rooms and suites is the service; every single guest is served by a butler whose role is to cater to your every whim.

From £385 a night, oneandonlyresorts.com

when in

Rhône As British Airways scoops gold for best cellar in the sky, Lauren Romano heads to the vineyard that produces its award-winning white

A tranquil lunch spot in Bédarrides near Châteauneuf-du-Pape

ruising (or boozing) at 30,000 feet with eight half-filled wine glasses lined up on my tray table is, as it happens, the most successful remedy I have found to quell my fear of flying. The flight to Lyon does, quite literally, fly by with a little help from the four whites and four reds poured by our travel companion, Master of Wine Keith Isaac of Castelnau Wine Agencies, who also works with BA on its wine list. Tasting wines with Keith is a lot of fun and he quickly dispels many an oenophile stereotype, by whipping out a cool bag and a commandeered corkscrew (the first didn’t make it through security) as soon as the fasten seatbelt sign is switched off. Having already tried all the wines on the ground in the BA Club Lounge, ranking our favourites and taking pointers from Keith and his decidedly more distinguished palate (he is one of only 323 Masters of Wine in the world) we then decide to compare the same tipples in the air. As experiments go, it probably isn’t conducted in the most controlled conditions. There is some debate as to whether or not the taste has been affected once airborne, and more chat about bottle variation and optimum serving temperatures. Even though its already gone to my head, I have a clear standout both on and off the plane: the Condrieu Les Ravines 2012 from Domaine Rémi Niero. It’s unlike any other wine I’ve ever tasted, with hints of peaches and cream, as Keith helpfully notes – for once, a wine critic fruit salad reference that I can detect. It also just happens to be the wine that won the gold medal for the best business class white wine at the Cellar in the Sky Awards (yes, such an award exists, who knew?). Served in Club World on the A380 Washington route, BA also won the overall gold medal for the best business class cellar in the sky, up against 35 other airlines. It’s also doubly lucky that I like the Condrieu because I’m about to drink a whole lot more of it given that we’re off to visit the winning winery. Rémi Niero’s vineyard in the Côtes du Rhône has been in his family for three generations and as he gives us the grand tour we bump into his parents boxing up

The rocky terroir at Font de Michelle vineyard

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Wine tasting at Rémi Winery

 NEED TO KNOW  Rooms at Hôtellerie Beau Rivage from £140 a night, hotel-beaurivage.com Rémi Winery in Condrieu and Font de Michelle in Châteaneuf-du-Pape both host wine tastings. For more information, visit: vins-niero.com; font-de-michelle.com

Font de Michelle winery

the next order for BA’s Club World in the small bottling room. The specific appellation is called the Condrieu, and the landscape is quite spectacular with the River Rhône snaking around a bend far below. Climbing up a valley so steep that it could give a mountain goat vertigo, you really appreciate the labour intensity of growing grapes here and wonder who was crazy enough to ever work the land in the first place. So steep is the gradient, in fact, that all work on the vines must be done manually. After inspecting the grapes we head down to the cellars to taste some of the 2014 vintages maturing in rotund oak barrels, and I get to practice using phrases such as malolactic fermentation (try dropping that into a sentence) and practice my spitting etiquette, which quickly turns out to be very important when sampling so many wines before lunchtime. Foggy headed, we spend the evening at the Hôtellerie Beau Rivage, a beautiful hotel overlooking the Rhône. The rooms are comfortable and rustic, with wooden shutters opening out onto balconies, but the real show stealer is the restaurant. I feast on asparagus gazpacho, dense fig bread, sweet seared langoustine tails doused in honey and roasted turbot, before tackling the most impressive cheese board imaginable. Between us we sample truffle-oil infused truckles, blue veined slabs and a dome of fromage so pungent it sits beneath its own protective plastic cap, all washed down with more delicious Condrieu and Côte-Rôtie reds. Another day, another winery: this time our destination is Font de Michelle in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. I say vineyard, but after a tour of Guillaume Gonnet’s hectares you feel as if you could be on Brighton Beach. The rocky terrain is made up of prehistoric-looking boulders that seem as though they require Arnie-style strength to be able to shift. The heat coming off them is intense and this I learn has the effect of ripening the grapes. Some of the vines are particularly old too and erupt from the ground in terrifying gnarled formations, extending, and twisting arthritic looking tendrils over the shallow soil. As the afternoon sun beats down and the wind picks up, two of the staff have the gruelling job of helping to manually work a juggernaut of a tractor to weed between the vines. “It’s a good workout,” Guillaume shrugs with a smile. Back at the Font de Michelle HQ, a classic-looking French farmhouse with atmospheric, cobwebbed cellars, Guillaume and his wife Kelly have set up a tasting of two of their wines from 2009 to 2013. We try each of the bold reds in succession before making a stab at the year of a special wine opened just for us, which turns out to be a 1985 vintage (I’m just a tad off with my guess of 2000). It’s an enjoyable afternoon, although perhaps a little more tasting experience would have helped me distinguish the subtle differences between some of the wines. Looking down at my notes I notice that the BA Club World wine list also includes vintages from New Zealand and South Africa. It might be a long way to travel for a glass of wine, but then again, as they say, practice makes perfect. n

jump W for

joya For those wanting a relaxing getaway in an exclusive setting, Vila Joya in Portugal may be just right. Sharna Heir makes herself at home in the elegant guesthouse

e step out of our taxi into the warm air, navigating a large circular bed of yellow hibiscus that forms a roundabout in the driveway and head towards a walkway bordered by purple clematis, breathing a sigh of relief. Inside the entrance hall an array of porcelain crockery designed by the Vila Joya’s chefs catches my eye, followed by a striking blue Lear’s Macaw that has taken up residence in the lobby, whistling away happily. Over the past few decades, Vila Joya has remained a well-kept secret among a collective of loyal guests who return to the 22-room guesthouse year after year. “Welcome home” is the common greeting from the staff, as returning guests walk past us and are escorted to their dining tables, situated on the porch overlooking a sandy stretch of beach. “Welcome to Paradise” a waiter says as he hands us an ice-cold glass of champagne and we watch waves concertina to the shore. The sea is certainly the focal point here – you can hardly go anywhere without seeing it gleaming in the background. I am enjoying the incredible view from the large terracotta-tiled balcony – palm trees swaying in the wind, a cloudless sky – so much that I almost forget

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about the rest of the guestroom. That is until I catch sight of the bedroom, with its open-plan bathroom and huge walk-in wardrobe, which makes me wonder why I opted to take only hand luggage. Needless to say we readily unpack and move in right away. We wake the next morning to sunshine pouring in through the circular portholes in the bathroom. I fling

Vila Joya has remained a well-kept secret among a collective of loyal guests back the curtains of the two bay windows and adjust my eyes to the bright light by running a hand over the finishing touches: travel literature, a collection of large shells (just in case you forget you’re so close to the sea) and Molton Brown bathroom treats. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the aforementioned restaurant. A fresh banquet of breads, meats, cheeses and fruit is available each morning, until the generous hour of 11am, helpful for the likes of myself and my partner, having stayed up way past sunset the night before, sipping wine from under a canopy on the terrace. For gastronomes, the six-course taster menu is the best way to get a flavour of the Michelinstarred cuisine on offer. We feast on salty lemon scallops, Atlantic lobster with passion fruit and dashi vinaigrette, a fillet of veal with tomato and chanterelles and a mango, coconut and tapioca

dessert – all expertly matched with some beautiful wines. The sommelier points us in the direction of some local tipples, although we end up favouring the Château Les Justice Sauterne 2010, a delicately sweet, amber-coloured wine which lives up to its ‘liquid gold’ nickname. As we compare tasting notes, a few surprises appear in between courses, the most memorable being a couple of opinion-dividing apple and wasabi shots. Despite there being little to no distance between your room and the gorgeous sandy shores, it is not a simple trip to the beach, unless you can ignore the combined distractions of the tennis court and outdoor Jacuzzi. For those looking for relaxation, a spa treatment is a must. My partner and I opt for a full body massage, which is certainly needed after three strenous days of sunbathing and beach walking. The massage room itself is tranquil, with low lighting, and I start to snooze to the hum of Tibetan music. Thankfully I am pointed in the direction of one of the villa’s quiet rooms, with plumped cushions and draped curtains. A member of staff walks past and asks if I would like her to light some scented candles. “Or a peppermint tea, perhaps?” I nod, sleepily as she scurries off, dreaming of excuses to come back again soon. n

 NEED TO KNOW  Rates at Vila Joya start from €300 per night based on two people sharing a double room and include breakfast and all taxes, vilajoya.com

Property Listings See below for estate agents in your area

Arlington Residential 8 Wellington Road NW8 9SP 020 7722 3322 arlingtonresidential.co.uk

Hanover Residential 102 St John’s Wood Terrace NW8 6PL 020 7722 2223

Laurence Leigh 60 Queens Grove NW8 6ER 020 7483 0101 laurenceleigh.com

49 Welbeck Street W1G 9XN 020 8128 0675 hanover-residential.com

Marsh & Parsons 35 Maida Vale W9 1TP 020 7368 4458

Aston Chase 69 / 71 Park Road NW1 6XU 020 7724 4724 astonchase.com

Globe Apartments 45 Chiltern Street London W1U 6LU 020 7034 3430 globeapt.com

RUNWILD MEDIA GROUP

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91 Salusbury Road NW6 6NH 020 7624 4513 marshandparsons.co.uk

Knight Frank 5-7 Wellington Place NW8 7PB 020 7586 2777

Parkheath 208 Haverstock Hill NW3 2AG 020 7431 1234

79-81 Heath Street NW3 6UG 020 7431 8686

8a Canfield Gardens NW6 3BS 020 7625 4567

55 Baker Street W1U 8EW 020 3435 6440

192 West End Lane NW6 1SG 020 7794 7111

60 Salusbury Road NW6 6NP 020 3815 3020

148 Kentish Town Road NW1 9QB 020 7485 0400 parkheath.com

Savills 7 Perrin’s Court NW3 1QS 020 7472 5000 15 St John’s Wood High Street NW8 7NG 020 3043 3600 savills.co.uk

savills.co.uk

Hamptons International 99 St John’s Wood Terrace NW8 6PL 020 7717 5319 21 Heath Street NW3 6TR 020 7717 5301 hamptons.co.uk

ian green residential 28 De Walden House Allitsen Road, NW8 020 7586 1000 iangreenresidential.com

PHILLIPS HARROD 85-87 Bayham Street NW1 OAG 020 71234 152 info@phillipsharrod.com

TK International 16-20 Heath Street NW3 6TE 020 7794 8700 t-k.co.uk

2c England’s Lane NW3 4TG 020 3815 3350 knightfrank.co.uk

If you would like to appear within the property pages of VANTAGE, contact Friday Dalrymple, property manager, on 020 7987 4320 or f.dalrymple@runwildgroup.co.uk

Vantage P R O P E RT Y

showcasing the

finest HOMES & PROPERTY from the best estate agents

Elegant & exclusive The latest prime properties

Image courtesy of Marsh & Parsons

Photography ÂŠ Sarel Jansen

Outside the box Marc Schneiderman of Arlington Residential reflects on the importance of a garden and why a number of north-west London residents are moving to Mayfair

property

he sun is shining when Marc Schneiderman shows us around an immaculate garden flat on Hamilton Terrace. “Now this is an impressive outdoor space,” he says, opening the French doors out onto a generouslysized landscaped garden that climbs 125 feet up to a studio. “To find a garden as big as this in St John’s Wood is very rare,” he continues, admiring the view from the raised terrace seating area. Leafy Hampstead and Highgate usually hold the reputation for having the most expansive gardens in north-west London, so stumbling upon this green gem

makes Marc undeniably excited. “Big gardens offer huge appeal to buyers. If you have a substantial plot there’s always the possibility to extend or build without encroaching too much on the greenery.” And it’s not just above ground extensions that can add value; the trend for basement conversions shows no sign of slowing down either. Arlington Residential recently sold a home in St John’s Wood with a mews house at the foot of the garden. The two properties were linked underground via the swimming pool. “It sounds dramatic, but it’s not as rare as you might expect,” Marc smiles. “Those kinds of facilities are expected when dealing with properties of a certain price point.” Whether you have £5 million or £25 million to spend, lateral living is top of the search criteria. “If you can find a house that has a kitchen and living space on one level with access out onto the garden then it’s going to be highly sought-after,” he explains, adding that the wider, detached properties on offer across north-west London are usually compatible to this sort of family-friendly layout. As well as the area’s obvious leafy appeal and excellent transport links, Marc believes that the creative and artistic heritage of St John’s Wood continues to attract buyers. “We are currently marketing a beautiful property on Clifton Hill which has its original studio, dating back to the mid-1800s,” he says. Seeking out properties such as these can sometimes be a lengthy process, so Marc is adamant that clients should pick up the phone rather than just trawl the internet. “We conduct about 20 per cent of business off market,” he says. “This offers a real attraction for certain vendors and buyers who want to retain their privacy. We believe discretion is essential.” This year marks Arlington Residential’s 20th year in business and during the past two decades the agency has established a reputation in north-west London and beyond into more central postcodes. Recently Marc has started to notice a trend for buyers at the top end of the market migrating to Mayfair, where the prospect of portered blocks, a central location and renowned restaurants and galleries on the doorstep presents an attractive proposal. “If you feel Mayfair is just a little too central and are looking for a trophy home we have just been instructed on an exquisite, unspoilt 10,000 sq ft Robert Adam house on Portland Place. I would say there are no more than five single family houses on the street making this a very rare commodity,” he says. “This particular building has planning consent to be renovated back into a single house.” The approaching anniversary has made him understandably reflective and Marc admits modestly that he’s immensely proud of how his business has developed and what it has achieved with the input of his close-knit team. “When I started out as a junior for a firm in the West End it was initially just as a part-time summer job. In fact, I would like to have been a boxer!” he laughs. Today he still trains twice a week, but it’s very much the future of the agency that keeps him on his toes. n

Arlington Residential, 8 Wellington Road, NW8, 020 7722 3322; arlingtonresidential.com

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Photography ÂŠ Sarel Jansen

Park Life As Knight Frank opens a new Belsize Park outpost on Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lane, office head Mark Proctor and head of lettings Chanel Rodriguez explain why the area is a natural fit, and highlight two prime properties currently on the market

property

ith more than a decade’s worth of experience working in northwest London between them, it’s no wonder that Knight Frank’s new Belsize Park office is already thriving, say office head Mark Proctor and head of lettings Chanel Rodriguez. Having been open for less than a month when we visit, the premises saw as many as nine sales in its first two weeks, and the lettings side is quickly following suit. “Belsize Park is a great location for us, as it was the missing link in our north-west London stronghold,” says Mark. “We already have a robust community presence in Hampstead, St John’s Wood, King’s Cross, and more recently Queen’s Park, and now we are able to bring our international expertise to Belsize Park and the surrounding village.” With stunning period properties currently priced less than their counterparts in neighbouring areas Hampstead and Primrose Hill, as well as further afield, Mark doesn’t expect the situation to stay this way for long. “The properties in Belsize Park are currently undervalued, but that will soon change,” he says. “Buyers from outside the area are slowly beginning to discover it. You can find similar properties to those in somewhere like Belgravia, for example, but for far less money.”

“There is an amazing civic spirit, and in particular a lot of French people who have decided to move to the area to be close to the lycée in Kentish Town” The community feel is another thing that will attract people to the area, both to buy and to let, says Chanel. “The community here is less transient than in other places,” she says. “There is an amazing civic spirit, and in particular a lot of French people who have decided to move to the area to be close to the lycée in Kentish Town.” With the office situated just next door to local favourite Ginger & White, it is in prime position to attract those passing through England’s Lane to or from Camden, Primrose Hill and Hampstead. “The residents have been so welcoming,” says Mark. “We are very excited about getting involved in the local events. While of course our global reach is of huge benefit to our clients – after all, the local market isn’t just about local buyers – it is important to us that we get to know our neighbours too.” Chanel agrees. “We don’t want to be seen as a big corporate entity, as there is so much more to us than that. For us, it is all about the people.” n

2c England’s Lane, NW3 020 3815 3350 knightfrank.co.uk

 NEED TO KNOW 

TO RENT: Belsize Park, NW3 £4,750 per week

An impressive four floor property in excellent condition, the 4,905 sq ft space incorporates numerous period features and well-proportioned family accommodation. Boasting three reception rooms, a study, master bedroom with en suite bathroom, a further five double bedrooms and three further bathrooms, two guest cloakrooms, utility room and a spacious eat-in kitchen with direct access to a south-facing lawned garden, further benefits include a private garage and off street parking The property is conveniently situated for the Jubilee Line (Swiss Cottage), the Metropolitan Line (Finchley Road), The American School, South Bank International School and the many restaurants and shops of the surrounding area.

TO BUY: Chalcot Gardens, NW3 Guide price: £6,500,000

This unique period house was built in 1883 by a leading arts and crafts architect for an artist and is located in an exceptional, secluded private road. A detached family home in need of modernisation, it offers generous accommodation over four floors. The unusually high ceilings (approx 11ft on the reception floor) create an exceptional sense of space and volume, while in the main entertaining space, a wall of 7ft-high windows opens to a magnificent green view over south-east facing mature gardens. Chalcot Gardens is an attractive residential road located approximately half a mile from Belsize Park and Chalk Farm underground stations (Northern Line) – and Swiss Cottage (Jubilee Line), as well as the open spaces of Primrose Hill and rolling acres of Hampstead Heath.

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Chevening Road, Queen's Park NW6 Characterful family home with garden A substantial house presented over three floors and offering southerly views towards Queen's Park. With excellent proportions throughout the property could benefit from further refurbishment to create an exceptional family home catering for modern family living. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms and garden. EPC: E. Approximately 227.8 sq m (2,452 sq ft). Freehold

Guide price: £2,850,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/queenspark queenspark@knightfrank.com 020 3815 3020

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/HPE150053

Vantage - July 2015

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Run

Knight Frank, Celebrating Queen’s Park Open to the public since 1887, Queen’s Park is a green oasis set across 12 hectares of wild grass, woodland and ornamental garden. The park is popular for its unique sports and play facilities including a pétanque pitch, pets’ corner and a restored Victorian bandstand. We are delighted to have joined the neighbourhood. Whatever your property needs, our team will be able to help, so please pop in for a chat or call 020 3815 3020. 60 Salusbury Road, Queen’s Park NW6 6NP KnightFrank.co.uk/queenspark

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SPRINGFIELD ROAD, ST JOHN’S WOOD NW8 GUIDE PRICE £9,250,000

A SUBSTANTIAL DETACHED, DOUBLE FRONTED FAMILY HOME SITTING ON A DOUBLE PLOT

With a south westerly facing garden and carriage driveway, this low built residence is located on one of St John’s Wood’s most popular tree lined roads. On the market for the first time in 25 years, this freehold house benefits from lateral living accommodation, seven double bedrooms and spans over three floors. Conveniently located for the many transport links and shopping facilities in the area.

St John’s Wood

020 7586 2777 KnightFrank.co.uk

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3261

ACACIA ROAD, ST JOHN’S WOOD NW8

Double fronted, 7 bedroom house for sale in St John’s Wood, NW8. An elegant newly built detached house providing spacious family accommodation in excess of 9,700 sq. ft. The property stands behind a gated carriage driveway and has been finished to an exemplary standard. Designed to offer state of the art living and leisure facilities with an elevator which services all floors. This impressive freehold residence is completed by secure parking for several cars. This fine home is located on a sought after street in East St John’s Wood minutes from the amenities of St John’s Wood high street and the Jubilee Line but also benefiting from close proximity to Regents Park and Primrose Hill.

020 7722 9793

St John’s Wood

020 7586 2777 KnightFrank.co.uk

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Camden Square, Camden NW1 Beautiful family home An elegant semi-detached family home located in the illustrious Camden Square. The house, which is well presented, offers light and spacious accommodation with impressive ceiling height throughout. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, reception room, study, guest WC, garden. EPC: F. Approximately 265.8 sq m (2,861 sq ft). Freehold

Guide price: £2,750,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/belsizepark belsizepark@knightfrank.com 020 8022 5461

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/BSZ150015

Vantage July 2015 42 Camden Square

10/06/2015 12:15:05

St. Marks Crescent, Primrose Hill NW1 A beautiful four bedroom family house A beautiful family house set in one of the most prestigious roads in Primrose Hill. A wealth of period features throughout comprising generous living accommodation in this much sought after road. The property benefits from a bright conservatory and a patio garden. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, reception room, study, conservatory, garden. EPC:D. Approximately 244 sq m (2,613 sq ft). Freehold

Guide price: £4,150,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/belsizepark belsizepark@knightfrank.com 020 8022 5461

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/SJW150013

Vantage July 2015 29 St. Marks Sq

09/06/2015 10:55:33

A new direction Mark Pollack and Simon Deen of Aston Chase discuss the agency’s emergence as a serious contender in the new homes market Photography © Sarel Janson

ston Chase celebrates its 30th anniversary in August, which has left director Mark Pollack in a reflective mood. “I am one of the founding partners together with Richard Bernstone but Simon looks after a very vibrant area of our business that we are committed to further expanding,” he says, shooting a look at his colleague Simon Deen, the head of the new homes department.

Currently Aston Chase are representing seven different new-build schemes, working in conjunction with a number of highly respected development companies. At a time when high-rises are soaring skywards at an increasing rate, Simon and the team are keen to offer a point of difference. “The properties we handle are often a little more versatile than the kind of pile-them-high boxes that many developers produce,” he says, flicking through some of the new-build literature.

property

On the one hand there’s Queens, a beautiful, classical block of 16 bespoke apartments concealed behind the original façade of a 1930s art deco cinema in Queensway. Over in Camden meanwhile, Aston Chase is also marketing The Anello, the former warehouse home of The Anello & Davide shoe factory famous for ‘The Beatles Boot’ as worn by the Fab Four and Marilyn Monroe stiletto heels. The history of these developments provide an obvious USP, but even the new builds without memorable back stories are making waves due to their locations. In Queen’s Park, Aston Chase are handling a 116-unit development called Queen’s Park Place that has generated substantial local interest. “There has been a huge demand from domestic buyers because it’s the first new build of its kind in the area,” Mark explains. “We are dealing with a lot of north-west London clients who are buying partly with investment in mind but also often with a view to getting their children on the property ladder.” Attention to detail is also important. Eight mews houses, which are destined for a development on Goldney Road, Maida Hill, have been designed by the highly regarded architect Julian de Metz. “One of the attributes of Aston Chase is that while we operate from a single office we are not area specific. I sometimes remind our clients of one of my favourite past marketing lines: ‘some of the best properties in Hampstead are sold in Regent’s Park’,” says Mark. As the pair reflect on the direction the industry is moving, both agree that new homes are the way forward given the insatiable demand of overseas investors compounded by strong domestic demand for new builds. “There is definitely an attraction to living in a brand new house. It’s also easier to buy as there is no chain. You turn up on launch day, pay your reservation fee and exchange shortly thereafter,” Simon explains. “It’s straightforward and there’s no refurbishment needed, plus you’re buying into a building often with porterage or concierge, leisure facilities and all sorts of other services.” “Many people are money-rich time-poor so having the convenience of instant gratification, especially if it is to a high standard, is incredibly appealing,” Mark adds. “Loft living is popular but not everyone wants to go to East London. People are drawn to the independent vibe of urban areas like Camden, Queen’s Park and Kentish Town. We’ve been amazed in the case of Queen’s Park about how passionate the residents are about their area.It’s not just faceless investors – people genuinely want to live there.” It was a well-kept secret up until recently. It’s not just faceless investors – people genuinely want to live there.” While the approaching anniversary is an excuse to toast the successes of the past, it’s evident that Mark and the team are looking forward rather than backwards. “I think it’s notable to be a leader in a market over three decades,” he concludes, “but we need to think about the future and our rapidly expanding new homes department is testament that exciting times lie ahead.” n

69-71 Park Road, Regent’s Park, NW1, 020 7724 4724; astonchase.com

 NEED TO KNOW 

The art deco picture house

Queens, 200 Queensway, W2 A unique, art decostyle building designed and built to the highest possible specification, with great attention to detail and architectural integrity.  16 apartments  6 units still available, prices from £1,725,000

The high-rise

Queens Park Place, Salusbury Road, Queens Park, NW6 A first for the area as most of the existing housing stock is second-hand apartments or houses within Victorian or Edwardian style buildings. The apartments benefit from a concierge and Marks & Spencer Simply Food in the commercial space, large communal gardens and underground parking, all within a stone’s throw from Queen’s Park Underground Station and the amenities of Salusbury Road.  116 private apartments  7 apartments and 4 penthouses remaining, prices from £535,000

The mews

The Villas, Goldney Road, Maida Vale, W9 Designed by award-winning architects DMFK, a unique development set within a secure, gated mews.  8 houses in total  Due to be released in September, prices to be confirmed nearer to launch

The loft

The Anello, Bayham Street, Camden, NW1 The former Anello & Davide shoe factory, the building is a true warehouse conversion in the heart of Camden Town.  22 apartments, including two newly-constructed penthouses  Due to be released in September, prices to be confirmed nearer to launch

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SPRINGFIELD ROAD ST JOHN’S WOOD NW8

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GUIDE PRICE £10,000,000

AN EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE THIS DOUBLE PLOT LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SPRINGFIELD ROAD WITH PLANNING PERMISSION TO CREATE A NEW BUILD HOME OF 8,916 SQ FT WITH A LIFT SERVING ALL FLOORS, INDOOR SWIMMING POOL AND OFF STREET PARKING FOR TWO CARS.

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JOINT SOLE AGENTS

FREEHOLD

St John’s Wood

020 7586 2777 KnightFrank.co.uk

12/06/2015 15:03

Elm Tree Road

ST JOHN’S WOOD NW8

An opportunity to acquire a substantial and impressive family home (439 sq m/4,730 sq ft) set back from the road in an extremely private, secure and tranquil environment.

This property has been designed to maximise light and offers large open plan entertaining areas with numerous double volume spaces to create a uniquely dramatic family home. Planning permission has also be secured to create an additional 800 sq ft of accommodation all above ground and plans are available on request.

The house is well situated for the shops, cafés and amenities of St John's Wood High Street, the American School in London and transport links for the City and West End (Jubilee Line). Principal Bedroom with Dressing Room & En-Suite Bathroom, Four Further Bedrooms (all with En-Suite Bathrooms), Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Family Room, Sitting Room, Galleried Study, Staff Bedroom with En-Suite Shower Room, Utility Room, Guest Cloakroom, Landscape Garden, Secure Off Street Parking, Terrace & Balconies off Two of the Bedrooms. EPC=D. FREEHOLD

St John’s Wood

020 7586 2777 KnightFrank.co.uk

JOINT SOLE AGENTS

£8,750,000

All apartments have been interior designed by Freddie van Zevenbergen of Lambart & Browne. Set back behind landscaped communal areas and located within close proximity to all of the amenities of St John’s Wood High Street and

GROVE END ROAD, ST. JOHN’S WOOD NW8

the open spaces of Regent’s Park.

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Leasehold 999 years

Joint Sole Agents

£3,750,000 - £4,950,000

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WADHAM GARDENS

PRIMROSE HILL NW3

A detached double fronted nine bedroom family home (554 sq m/5,972 sq ft) set behind a carriage driveway providing ample off street parking. The house is situated in a very sought after road and is currently arranged over three floors only, boasting spacious entertaining areas and a private rear garden. The house provides the incoming purchaser the opportunity to significantly remodel the internal layout, and reconfigure the space to their own requirements. With its mature trees and hedges, Wadham Gardens is a quiet leafy road just a short walk from the green open spaces of Primrose Hill and is ideally situated within close proximity of Primrose Hill Park and a quick stroll respectively to Swiss Cottage and St John’s Wood Underground Stations, providing connections on the Jubilee Line. Wadham Gardens is close to some of the most renowned schools in North West London, and the world class shops, boutiques, restaurants and cafés of St John’s Wood and Primrose Hill.

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Principal Bedroom Suite with Dressing Room, Sitting Area and Bathroom, Second Bedroom Suite with Dressing Room, Shower Room and Sitting Room, Five Further Bedrooms, Two Family Bathrooms, Drawing Room, Reception Room, Dining Room, Conservatory, Morning Room, Kitchen, Food Preparation Room, Staff Bedroom with En-Suite Shower Room, Utility Room, Cloakroom, Secondary Kitchen, Carriage Driveway with Ample Parking, 55ft Rear Garden.

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Freehold

Joint Sole Agents

Guide Price ÂŁ9,750,000

020 3040 8611

sales.stjohnswood@chestertons.com 122 St. John's Wood High Street, London, NW8 7SG

12/06/2015 15:02

Buckland Crescent NW3

ÂŁ1,700,000

A well-located and extremely spacious raised ground floor apartment, with lock-up garage.

1655 sq ft/153 sq m 24â&#x20AC;&#x2122; reception 3 double bedrooms 3 bathrooms Garage parking Contact Belsize Park Office 020 7431 1234

South Hampstead 020 7625 4567 nw6@parkheath.com

Belsize Park 020 7431 1234 nw3@parkheath.com

West Hampstead 020 7794 7111 192@parkheath.com

Kentish Town 020 7485 0400 kt@parkheath.com

Property Management 020 7722 6777 pm@parkheath.com

Head Office 020 7794 7111 headoffice@parkheath.com

www.parkheath.com

Daleham Mews NW3 ÂŁ2,999,999

A superb mews house with terraces and courtyard, in the heart of Belsize Village.

1732 sq ft/ 160 sq m 3 double bedrooms plus study 33â&#x20AC;&#x2122; reception with vaulted ceiling Two terraces Freehold Contact Belsize Park Office 020 7431 1234

South Hampstead 020 7625 4567 nw6@parkheath.com

Belsize Park 020 7431 1234 nw3@parkheath.com

West Hampstead 020 7794 7111 192@parkheath.com

Kentish Town 020 7485 0400 kt@parkheath.com

Property Management 020 7722 6777 pm@parkheath.com

Head Office 020 7794 7111 headoffice@parkheath.com

www.parkheath.com

WORONZOW ROAD LONDON, NW8 A FOUR FLOOR VICTORIAN HOUSE WHICH, HAVING UNDERGONE A COMPLETE PROGRAMME OF REDEVELOPMENT, NOW OFFERS A STRIKING CONTEMPORARY INTERIOR WITH A NEWLY CREATED LOWER GROUND FLOOR. THE HOUSE PROVIDES 2,724 SQ FT / 253.1 SQ M OF ACCOMMODATION WITH AN IMPRESSIVE FEATURE STAIRCASE RUNNING THROUGH THE CENTRE OF THE HOUSE, BRIGHT OPEN PLAN GROUND FLOOR RECEPTION SPACES LEADING ONTO A REAR TERRACE AND A LARGE LOWER FLOOR KITCHEN/ENTERTAINING AREA. WORONZOW ROAD IS A QUIET AND HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER STREET ON THE EAST SIDE OF ST JOHN’S WOOD WITHIN A FEW MINUTES WALK OF ST JOHN’S WOOD HIGH STREET AND A SHORT DISTANCE FROM REGENT’S PARK.

FREEHOLD

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JOINT SOLE AGENTS

GUIDE PRICE: £4,650,000

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CLIFTON HILL STUDIOS LONDON, NW8 HAVING BEEN COMPLETELY REMODELLED AND REFURBISHED THROUGHOUT, A STUNNING STUDIO HOUSE OF

1,551 SQ FT / 144 SQ M WITH A STRIKING INTERIOR. THE HOUSE IS DISCREETLY POSITIONED AT THE FOOT OF A PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY OFF CLIFTON HILL AND PROVIDES ACCOMMODATION OF PRINCIPAL BEDROOM WITH EN-SUITE BATHROOM, TWO FURTHER BEDROOMS, TWO FURTHER BATHROOMS AND OPEN PLAN DOUBLE HEIGHT KITCHEN/RECEPTION ROOM.

FREEHOLD

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JOINT SOLE AGENTS

GUIDE PRICE: £1,995,000

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Eyre Court, St Johns Wood, NW8 In need of complete modernisation, this four bedroom, two reception room apartment (1,812 sq ft / 168 sq m) situated on the fourth floor of this prominent block in the heart of St John’s Wood. The accommodation comprises of a charming 21’9 reception room, dining room, four double bedrooms, two bathrooms and a good sized kitchen/breakfast room. Eyre Court is an imposing and prestigious building opposite St John’s Wood Underground Station (Jubilee Line) and also benefits from off street parking. Additional benefits include 24 hour porterage, passenger lift, communal central heating & hot water and basement storage.

Sole Agent £2,750,000 Long Leasehold

Elm Tree Road St John’s Wood, NW8 A unique low built double fronted period residence spanning some 3,429 sq.ft/318 sq.m situated in this sought after road in the heart of St Johns Wood. This elegant five bedroom house is arranged over just two floors and offers stunning living space which is enclosed behind electric gates. There is planning permission to expand the basement to create a further 1,000 square feet. Elm Tree Road is ideally situated within half a mile of all the shopping and transport facilities of St Johns Wood High Street. Joint Agent – Beauchamp Estates - 020 7722 9793

Joint Sole Agent £7,500,000 Freehold

West End Office

St Johns Wood Office

49 Welbeck Street, London, W1G 9XN

102 St John’s Wood Terrace, London NW8 6PL

enquiries@hanover-residential.com hanover-residential.com

info@hanover-residential.com hanover-residential.com

020 7486 9665

020 7722 2223

Garden Apartment Hamilton Terrace NW8 ÂŁ2,750,000 Share of Freehold | Sole Agent | EPC Rating D On the market for the first time in over 35 years, a bright and spacious three bedroom garden apartment located on this sought after tree lined road running between St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wood Road and Carlton Hill. A particular feature of this apartment is the magnificent West facing rear garden. The first section 69' x 22'5 is private which in turn leads to a further communal garden.

North End Avenue Hampstead NW3 Price on Application Freehold | Sole Agent | EPC Rating D Located within this delightful semi-rural enclave abutting Hampstead Heath, a detached double fronted six bedroom house of some 5,537 sq ft set well back from the road on an elevated site behind a gated driveway and a south facing 100' landscaped garden. This bright and spacious family house is presented in very good condition throughout and offers lateral accommodation across three floors with all the principal rooms enjoying direct access onto the garden or roof terrace.

M A I DA VA L E W 9

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AN EXCEPTIONAL MID TERRACED VICTORIAN HOUSE RECENTLY REBUILT TO AN EXACTING STANDARD. Comprising 4,766 sq ft / 442.76 sq mt of accommodation, the house offers superb entertaining and family living space with the benefit of direct access to secure communal gardens and a private roof terrace. Having been the subject of a major refurbishment over the last several years, the property includes a private passenger elevator to all floors along with a separate guest/staff studio.

JOINT SOLE AGENT KNIGHT FRANK 020 7586 2777

ACCOMMODATION Reception Room • Kitchen Breakfast Room • Two Reception Rooms • Studio Flat incorporating Bathroom, Bedroom & Kitchenette • Master Bedroom Suite • Second Bedroom Suite/Study • A Further Four Bedrooms • A Further Two Bathrooms • Shower Room • Family Room/Playroom • Roof Terrace • Balcony • Wine Cellar • Passenger Lift • Internal Vacuum System • High Pressure Showers • EPC Rating TBC

PRICE ON APPLICATION

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FREEHOLD

10/06/2015 17:19

SHELL POINT

TRANQUIL ELEGANCE IN TUCKER’S TOWN A private promontory surrounded by a stunning turquoise reef and vistas across Castle Harbour to the Tucker’s Town peninsula, Shell Point enjoys a magical setting comprising 2 acres and 6500 square feet of accommodation between the elegant main house, the guest cottage and apartment. This is one of the most private estates in Tucker’s Town, yet it is within a walk or golf cart ride of the Mid-Ocean and Tucker’s Point golf clubs, their beaches and restaurants. A substantial dock, jetty, boat slip and mooring make this home especially well suited for boaters. Price Upon Request.

WHY SINCLAIR REALTY? As Bermuda’s exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, Sinclair Realty offers the finest cache of properties in Tucker’s Town and island-wide. We look forward to welcoming you to our island with the depth of expertise and ‘above-and-beyond’ service that is the Sinclair hallmark.

Tel +1 441 296 0278 | estates@logic.bm | www.sinclairrealty.com

SINC03-1862_NEW_Kensington&Chelsea_Magazine.indd 1

THE CHELSTON ESTATE

A WORLD-CLASS PRIVATE BEACHFRONT COMPOUND Overlooking the pink sands and turquoise waters of Grape Bay, the 14-acre Chelston Estate is a beachfront compound of rare magnitude. For 30 years it served as the official residence of the U.S. Consul General, hosting a distinguished list of guests including presidents and foreign dignitaries. Understated elegance defines the 10,000 square foot main house and its three guest houses. The outstanding grounds include a spectacular 75- by 40-foot saltwater pool and pool house, croquet lawn, walled gardens, a beach pavilion and staff accommodation. Offered at US$ 45 million.

Tel +1 441 296 0278 | estates@logic.bm | www.sinclairrealty.com

5/7/15 11:20 AM

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Thorngate Road W9 ÂŁ2,695,000 An exceptionally renovated period house with a beautiful garden, situated on a quiet residential street in the heart of Maida Vale. Share of Freehold. EPC=C

Little Venice: 020 7993 3050 sales.lve@marshandparsons.co.uk

Waldo Road NW10 ÂŁ2,250,000 This modern four-bedroom house is newly completed to a high design specification, it also benefits from huge windows that draw in the natural light providing far-reaching views. Freehold.

North Kensington: 020 7313 8350 sales.nkn@marshandparsons.co.uk

St Marys Mansions W2 ÂŁ1,600,000 A stunning and spacious lateral apartment that has been beautifully and sympathetically refurbished to an exceptional standard. EPC=D

Little Venice: 020 7993 3050 sales.lve@marshandparsons.co.uk

Albert Street NW1 ÂŁ1,350,000 A wonderful split-level maisonette set within an impressive early Victorian building, bursting with charm and character and a beautiful south-west facing garden. EPC=D

Camden: 020 7244 2200 sales.cam@marshandparsons.co.uk

Immaculate plot with south facing patio Matching people and property in London for over 150 years.

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