UBER Lifestyle - issue 3

THE ULTIMATE IN DESIGN - ISSUE THREE - WINTER 2011

on the South of France

WINTER WONDERLAND Zermatt Peak, Switzerland

FLY, ON THE GROUND The new Lamborghini Aventador

LIFESTYLE

SPOTLIGHT

MAGAZINE AT U B E R ®, W E A R E D E S I G N E R S , S P E C I F I E R S , E X P L O R E R S , I N N O VAT O R S – A N D P U B L I S H E R S

— busnelli collection —

DECOR C. O 1 — Bohémien, design: Castello Lagravinese —

UBER Enquiries: T: 0845 0773280 www.UBER-interiors.com (products) www.UBER-lifestyle.com (magazine) www.UBER-team.org (partners) Designed & Produced by: Maclaren Jones Marketing AG Editor & Art Director: Jim Evans, UBER Advertising contacts For advertising, sponsorship and editorial opportunities please contact the UBER Marketing team on 01565 624380 or email Anita Jones or Jonathan Rogers at ubermarketing@maclarenjones.com Thank you to our contributors This magazine is published on behalf of UBER. The contents in whole or part may not be reprinted or reproduced without prior written permission from the publishers Maclaren Jones Marketing or UBER. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or of UBER. UBER and the publisher bear no responsibility and accept no liability for the claims made, or for information provided by contributors or advertisers. Copyright of all editorial content in this magazine is held by the publishers and UBER. All rights reserved to the respective contributors. Every care has been taken with the preparation of this magazine, but Maclaren Jones Marketing or UBER cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information therein, or any consequence arising from it. All dates, prices and information are believed to be correct at time of going to print but are subject to change without notice and no responsibility is accepted for errors or omissions. All content contained within UBER Lifestyle magazine is provided for general information only. While we endeavour to ensure all firms and organisations mentioned are reputable, UBER and Maclaren Jones Marketing can give no guarantees the mentioned companies will fulfil their obligations under all circumstances. UBER® and UBER Interiors® are registered trademarks of UBER Interiors LTD all rights reserved. This publication must not be sold or re-sold, lent or hired to any company or persons not the original intended recipient as designated by Maclaren Jones Marketing or UBER. If you wish to be considered for future circulation please contact us at the above address. The ownership of UBER lifestyle magazine is the sole property of UBER Interiors Ltd.

WELCOME

With Winter upon us, in this issue we have featured the jawdropping design of the sumptuous Ski Chalet - Zermatt Peak. Zermatt Peak is a property designed to impress - not only because of its cliff top location overlooking the iconic Matterhorn, but also because it is adorned throughout in the most cutting edge design imaginable.

For UBER’s designers and partner companies it’s the detail that sets us apart - so we are also excited to reveal the interior design secrets of the superyacht ‘Slipstream’ featuring the award-winning technology of our automation partner Sensory International. Yachts bring their own unique set of demands that require skilled design, leading edge equipment and gold plated infrastructure to serve them.

When it comes to making a truly exceptional home every aspect requires an exceptional eye. In this issue we talk you through many examples from ornate skirtings and architraves with a contemporary twist, to outdoor sculptures and water features that use light, water and reflections to create surprising and delightful illusions. As always our focus is on great design related to the home and life enhancement.

Our travel features take us to the South of France where we explore a boutique hotel and exquisite restaurant both in the environs of the famous Pampelonne Beach with its echoes of Bardot, yachts and beautiful people. And our feature on the latest Lamborghini will set your pulse racing without getting behind the wheel.

We end with a thank you to our interior design team for making this another award-winning year taking the highly regarded ‘Best Residential’ at the International Design & Architects Awards earlier this year. It was a truly momentous occasion and we hope to repeat this success with our forthcoming shortlisted entries in other prestigious award events.

We love creating, discovering and sharing beauty. We’ll go the extra mile to take your breath away whether you’re a client or a reader... welcome to UBER Lifestyle.

SIMON EVANS, Managing Director, UBER. 1

CONTENTS: ISSUE 3 WINTER 2011

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42 4

MEET THE EXPERTS

UBER in partnership with masters of their craft.

13 AN ASTONISHING DESIGN CONCEPT

The perfect solution for the ultimate party house.

16 A CORNUCOPIA OF CREATIVITY Visit the UBER Interior’s showroom and be inspired by thousands of products sourced from all over the world.

20 WHERE LUXURY COMES IN WAVES The long-awaited Twizzle sailing and racing yacht is now navigating the world.

24 OCEANS APART

Sensory International designs some of the world’s most sophisticated entertainment automation. Wherever the tide may take you.

28 ON THE CREST OF A BETTER CLASS OF WAVE

Sensory International stars at the Monaco yacht show.

30 THE ONLY WATCH AUCTION When time really is money.

UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

6

24 44 SCULPTING TIME AND SPACE

Barnes Walker go way beyond the familiar concept of ‘landscaping’ with ‘vertical gardens’ and ‘water walls’.

54 THE VERY DEEP END

When a new pool and spa were needed for a new-build two storeys underground, Cheshire Wellness dived down to the challenge.

62 FROM A MAYFAIR TOWN HOUSE TO A COUNTRY COTTAGE Capitol Carpets of Chelsea has it covered.

64 SOFT, LUXURIOUS WARMTH. AT YOUR FEET

New trends in carpets for underfloor heating, from Capitol Carpets of Chelsea.

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UBER SEEKS OUT THE BEST...

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WINTER WONDERLAND

Sumptuous Ski Chalet Zermatt Peak in Switzerland is a property designed to impress.

34 SPOTLIGHT ON THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

- Saint-Tropez, home of the well keeled.

- Bienvenue á Villa Marie.

- Restaurant M: glamour and gastronomy, beautifully mixed.

50 FLY, ON THE GROUND

The new Lamborghini Aventador.

66 INSPIRED BY NATURE

UBER utilise natural finishes in a unique way including eggshell, mother of pearl, gold and silver leaf, and ironwork.

68 MAKING WOOD, WORK

Woodscope’s latest project, harnessing ageold craft skills and leading-edge technology.

70 A WINE LOVER’S PARADISE

Grand Hotel de Bordeaux & Spa. Vintage hospitality in the modern manner.

72 TOP 5 READY TO DRINK CLARETS To most wine lovers Bordeaux is the foremost fine wine region, as it has been for many centuries.

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MEET THE EXPERTS UBER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MASTERS OF THEIR CRAFT UBER Simon Evans UBER Interiors

UBER SOFT FURNISHINGS Cordelia Grimes

Simon’s passion for design, and his appetite for product and process knowledge, was fired up during successful self-builds and commissions for prestigious developers. This inspired his dream to create a centre of design excellence - a dream fulfilled with the creation of UBER Interiors in 2009.

Interior design demands both instinct and experience, and Cordelia brings deep reserves of both. She has worked for more than 15 years in the manufacture and installation of beautiful design-led soft furnishings. Her eye for the finest details leads to exquisite solutions for her clients.

SENSORY INTERNATIONAL Neil Sherman Home Automation

BARNES WALKER Colin Barnes Landscape Architect

The marine sector provides a supreme test for automation, as former professional yachtsman Neil experienced first-hand. At Sensory, Neil oversees many of the marine installations and is constantly looking at new products and processes to give clients the very best experience.

Colin’s 30 years as Chartered Landscape Architect have taken him into the private and public sectors, home and abroad. Since the formation of Barnes Walker, Colin has overseen in excess of 1,000 projects. He has also regularly lectured at Manchester Metropolitan University.

SENSORY INTERNATIONAL Steve Cadman Home Automation

BARNES WALKER Nick Walker Landscape Architect

Steve heads up the design team recently overseeing the awardwinning design and installation of complete automation systems for two of the World’s finest 60 metre superyachts. He brings this level of design detail and integrity to all of Sensory’s installations.

Nick is a Landscape Architect with over 22 years’ experience.

His work includes award-winning design and implementation projects, numerous high-quality gardens and masterplans for business and technology parks.

UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

WOODSCOPE Nigel Berry Joinery Expert Nigel is Managing Director of Woodscope and brings more than 25 years’ bespoke joinery experience to the firm and its clients. He and his team combine craft skills with some of the most advanced woodworking machinery available.

CAPITOL CARPETS OF CHELSEA Steven Foster Carpet & Floorcoverings

CHESHIRE WELLNESS Paul Hilton Pools & Spas

Steven began his career at David Linley furniture, working at the very top end of furniture design.

He now teams up with leading interior designers to create flooring solutions of almost limitless variety.

Paul has 30 years’ experience in providing innovative and exciting Wellness facilities for the world’s most exclusive spas, hotels, luxury homes and super-yachts. His unrivalled knowledge is supported by a team of 50 professionals.

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UBER seeks out the best in design - ski chalet living

CHALET ZERMATT PEAK – ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND As you enter this jaw-dropping chalet via its private lift and tunnel, you wouldn’t be surprised to be welcomed with the words ‘I’ve been expecting you, Mr Bond’. For this is a property designed to impress. Perched on the edge of a cliff, with a unique aspect overlooking the whole of Zermatt, as well as the iconic Matterhorn, Chalet Zermatt Peak is adorned, head to toe, in the most desirable, stylish and cutting-edge design imaginable.

Features Sleeps 12 : 5 bedrooms, Indoor swimming pool Outdoor hot tub, Private gym, Spa with steam room and sauna, Massage treatment room, Extensive wine cellar, Ski room with boot warmers, Media snug/library, Terraces and balconies, Services Chef, Butler, Chalet assistant, Housekeeper Rental rates Chalet Zermatt Peak could be yours from an equally jaw-dropping CHF 65,000 - CHF 125,000 per week.

All of these properties form part of The Luxury Chalet Collection - The Oxford Ski Company’s pick of the top 20 most luxurious chalets in the world for this season.

Interior Design by Paul Bowyer

The extensive use of floor to ceiling windows throughout the chalet really does make the most of the situation and view, and also gives the chalet its unique feeling of space and light.

Every detail in Chalet Zermatt Peak represents the highest standards in workmanship and attention to detail from the conceptual lighting featured throughout to the amazing wellness area with custom-built recliners and a large Jacuzzi which extends from within the chalet to the terrace area outside. The 5 bedrooms and various living areas are sumptuous and inviting, but ultimately this is a chalet which demands you stand at the window, overlooking the village lights at night with a cocktail in hand. Preferably shaken, not stirred.

Location Chalet Zermatt Peak enjoys an enviable location right in the centre of the village, close to Zermatt’s famous restaurants and right in the heart of the picturesque car-free streets. The central location situated between all ski areas ensures all ski lifts are just a few minutes away via Electro taxi.

THE OXFORD SKI COMPANY

Ultimately this is a chalet which demands you stand at the window, overlooking the village lights at night with a cocktail in hand. Preferably shaken, not stirred.

WINTER WONDERLAND 7

THE POOL AND WELLNESS RETREAT AREAS ARE A BESPOKE DESIGN WITH CUSTOM-BUILT RECLINERS AND A LARGE JACUZZI WHICH EXTENDS FROM WITHIN THE CHALET TO THE TERRACE OUTSIDE.

THE OXFORD SKI COMPANY

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Interior Design by Paul Bowyer

The Oxford Ski company - How it all began...

Skiing enthusiast, Rupert Longsdon, set up the Oxford Ski Company in 1998 after a friend asked him to find a 5-star chalet with a chef.

He soon realised that this didn’t really exist so he decided to find one and run it himself! After several successful years running Domaine de la Baronne, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, the company began working with similar properties in an agency capacity.

Rupert and his team tailor-make luxury holidays for discerning clients down to the very finest detail – from menu plans and specialist chefs, to Alpine picnics, heli-skiing and private nannies. They have first hand knowledge of all the resorts and properties in their carefully selected portfolio giving impartial, honest, expert advice. This extra concierge service doesn’t cost a penny more than booking direct and is a massive time saver.

For more information and to see the full collection of luxury chalets visit www.luxurychaletcollection.com or call +44 1993 899 429.

Alternatively call The Oxford Ski Company on +44 1993 899 420. www.oxfordski.com for many other chalets and hotels.

UBER READER OFFER Chalet Chesetta, St Moritz

Receive a day’s complimentary private ski guide when you book the Chalet Chesetta - one of the other chalets in this season’s luxury collection.

Simply quote ‘UBER Lifestyle’ when you call us on +44 1993 899 420.

THE OXFORD SKI COMPANY

terzani.com FIRENZE, ITALIA Available at UBER-Interiors.com 0845 0773280, a Terzani main UK dealer.

www.uber-interiors.com Offering a choice of over 6,000 bespoke products from around the world, we’re here to inspire your creativity whether you’re an interiors professional or improving your own home. We provide a hand-picked range of the finest international brands – products often overlooked by mainstream stockists.

So make yourself at home inside our award-winning 6,000 sqft showroom, or peruse our extensive online store uber-interiors.com for the full range.

UBER INTERIORS, CHELFORD ROAD, OLLERTON, KNUTSFORD, CHESHIRE, WA16 8SB T: 0845 077 3280 WINNER OF BEST INTERIORS RETAILER, NORTHERN DESIGN AWARDS 2010

A CHARMING 200 YEAR OLD FARMHOUSE IN THE CHESHIRE COUNTRYSIDE. A MAVERICK CLIENT. AN ASTONISHING DESIGN CONCEPT.

We can report that 24-hour party people are alive, well and urging UBER to create ever-more extraordinary spaces, vibes and atmospheres.

Recently, UBER were delighted to receive a dream brief. A young fun-loving couple came to us with a fabulous vision. They wanted something in complete contrast to their traditional yet contemporary farmhouse. A space where they could relax and party in an oasis of strident style. They wanted an explosion of fun and indulgence - a place you show the grandparents only if there’s qualified medical attention on hand.

The location for this piece of hedonistic heaven is a 6,000 sq. ft. space underneath an existing barn. LED wax candles icker in the recessed pebble borders as you approach. Bespoke black lacquered doors with long spear-like mother of pearl handles create the first point of actual contact.

Reach for the door and prepare your retinas for a full-on feast for the senses...

PTO

UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

INSIDE IS NOTHING LESS THAN A 6-STAR SPA EXPERIENCE WITH DECK LEVEL POOL, INFINITY SPA, STEAM ROOM, SAUNA, TREATMENT ROOM AND GYM. AND FOR THE ULTIMATE IN CHILL OUT, A CINEMA AND BAR (PICTURED BELOW) WITH DANCE FLOOR AND DJ BOOTH.

FULL-ON. FABULOUS. FEISTY. The result is like an ultra-chic night club in the ultimate back yard.

As you wander past a two storey wine cabinet, the bar reflects in the chrome bullet cap walls, the basalt stone pool demands your eye and the ripples from the waterfall trigger an instant emotional response. It opens out onto a stunning terrace with cascading water fall running through a newly created haha in the landscape.

We have to hand it to our design-literate clients. Their understanding that the success of the concept lies in the detail was absolute. The back-lit onyx steam room benches... the etched Buddha images on the glass walls... the bar in faux lizard skin.

Bringing it together in a stunning cohesive whole are the bullet style cappings to the polished plaster walls which frame the cinema. And for an outrageous design statement, how about a neon backlit jellyfish aquarium wall between the dance floor and pool!

Product elements: • Pictured left - UBER designed bespoke underlit coffee table with inset chrome tray and curved sofa to match ceiling detail. Just one example of the bespoke design and manufacturing opportunities offered at UBER. • Large VG shell planters (£1,295) bring the natural element into the atmospheric cinema environment and are displayed column-like tall on black glass plinths (King Pillars by DK Home £546 each).

• Muralis Moulin Rouge dancer black & white photographic artwork - similar available in showroom from £3,470 framed.

• State-of-the-art home automation system by Sensory International.

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PICTURED ABOVE HILLS C8 CORNER SOFA BY SWAN ITALIA options shown £12,696 A generously proportioned and hugely versatile set of modular options (shown above with chaise angled left). Wooden frame, coil and feather base and cushions. Finished in silky cotton viscose mix with adjustable backrests.

PICTURED LEFT ELIKA DINING TABLE BY PORADA - Prices from £2,549 Dining table with base in solid canaletta walnut fixed on a metal disc and tempered glass top. Available in 130, 140, 150 and 160 diameters and various finishes.

A CORNUCOPIA OF

CREATIVITY IF YOU HUNGER FOR INSPIRATION, UBER UNDERSTANDS YOU PERFECTLY. AT THE UBER SHOWROOM WE WELCOME EVERYONE WHO SHARES WITH US A PASSION FOR THE CREATIVE, THE UNEXPECTED AND THE SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL. AND OUR SHOWROOM IS JUST THE START OF A FEAST FOR THE SENSES: NOW YOU CAN EXPLORE A FURTHER 5,000 PRODUCTS ONLINE AT WWW.UBER-INTERIORS.COM

Photograph by Stephen at Juno Photographic.

PICTURED TOP LEFT STREAM CHANDELIER BY TERZANI - £24,000 Another stunning design from Christian Lava, STREAM is an impressive presence in any room.

PICTURED RIGHT SOFA: Ascension Latorre, Mayfair 4 Modula sofa finished in ‘Shiny 3’ fabric and chrome studs with left chaise £7,592 CHAIRS: Flofa Chair with asymmetrical back and sloping cushions in black velvet

by Ascension Latorre, with nickel studs and wenge wood base £2,073.

SIDE TABLE: Rome Chrome Side Table.

Hand made by artisan wire frame tinkers at DK Home. h78cms x diameter 60cms £1,657 COFFEE TABLE: UBER bespoke ‘fiddle back’ lacquered sycamore with ebony inlay £5,995 BUDDHA HEAD ORNAMENT: Thai XI Buddha,

by Eichholtz finished in aluminium on a black stand £1,824. h170cms CHROME GIANT GINGER JAR: Chrome and ceramic h88cms x diameter 40cms £582, by Andrew Martin RUG: art-silk finished rug by Capitol Carpets of Chelsea.

Size made to measure, £150m2 CHEST: black mock-croc leather medium sized with wooden struts £95 FANTASY 4SET CHROME CANDLES on a tray £115

UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

2 DISC BLACK BALLS on silver-type tray £44.80

AGENT UK & IRELAND: Alberto Schiatti - Tel. +39 0362 328162 - info@schiatti.it

22060 CABIATE (Como) Italia - Via P. Buozzi, 2 - LocalitĂ Porada - Tel. +39 031 766215 - Fax +39 031 768386 - 766527 - info@porada.it - www.porada.it

WHERE LUXURY COMES IN WAVES

Approach Twizzle from a distance, and her sleek, sculpted proďŹ le signals immediately that this is no ordinary sailing yacht. But it’s not until you step on board that the real difference becomes clear. For a refreshing and breathtaking charter experience, the extraordinary Twizzle is waiting.

BURGESS YACHTS

DON’T JUST LIVE THE DREAM: SAIL IT. THE LONG-AWAITED TWIZZLE SAILING AND RACING YACHT IS NOW NAVIGATING THE WORLD. FOR AROUND $245,000 A WEEK YOU CAN ENJOY THE BRACING SALT AIR - WHILE BEING COSSETED IN FIVE-STAR LUXURY. Like the oceans she has been created to sail, Twizzle has hidden depths.

If Twizzle were a racehorse, she’d win the Derby. If she were a Formula 1 car, she’d have been created by Red Bull.

First and foremost, Twizzle is an oceangoing sailing and racing yacht of the highest order. Her pedigree is impeccable, and it shows: she was brought to life by a team who had already won accolades for their previous 55-metre creation.

Now comes a yacht that is built for competition, for traversing the globe - and for a whole lot of fun.

Her advanced mast, rig and sailing systems are purpose-designed for both performance and play. The rig allows precision adjustment and rapid furling for fast tacking and racing in all wind conditions. At the same time, with circumnavigation in mind, the Panamax sail plan is designed to clear Panama’s Bridge of the Americas at low water.

Her leading-edge swing centreboard can be lowered or raised to any angle in less than a minute, even at speed or when sailing. This provides flexible racing options and acts as a stabiliser when motoring. It also opens up a host of shallow-water anchorages the world over.

But for those more focused on relaxing than tacking, Twizzle is replete with creature comforts, space and grace. Unusually for a sailing yacht, her entire main deck has been allocated to owners and guests. Giant wraparound windows of one-way glass offer panoramic sea views beyond the foredeck.

The airy main saloon integrates (via full-width automated glass doors) with an expansive cockpit complete with bar, comfortable sofas and shaded dining. This creates an imaginatively conceived indoor/outdoor living area.

The flybridge provides another al fresco living area with sunbeds, plenty of seating, casual dining amenities and a barbecue.

Twizzle offers the best of both worlds, without compromise.

From a distance, Twizzle cuts a silhouette of pure-bred, oceangoing elegance. But step aboard and her true depths become deliciously apparent.

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Motor yacht comfort with a true sailing experience.

They say that the longer you stay aboard a yacht, the more it seems to shrink.

Everything about Twizzle embodies an understated, refined aesthetic.

Not this one. The designers have brooked no compromise when it comes to the feeling of elegant and open space, with sumptuous creature comforts at every turn.

On the lower deck, eight guests enjoy every luxury. There are two double cabins, a further twin and the magnificent Master Suite with bathroom, spa shower and private study leading directly up to the aft cockpit.

The style is minimalist, understated and ultra-contemporary. At every turn there are cashmere throws, leather door handles, woven linens, hand painted silks, limed oak blinds, chocolate lacquer and

pale polished Italian marble in the bathrooms. Twizzle’s design concept is an essay in comfort without clutter, complete with state of-the-art entertainment and communications systems.

When the mood takes you, Twizzle is also designed for all kinds of water-based activities. A splitlevel platform lowers you down to the ocean, so you can swim, kayak, fish, snorkel or dive.

Design touches like these abound, born from years of seagoing experience. The owners’ longstanding captain Gordon Percy and several crew members were intimately involved in the practical areas of the build. And when it came to the all-important question of hospitality, Oliver McKeown, the Michelin star trained chef, directed the design of his mezzanine galley and all the practical aspects of gourmet cuisine for long voyages.

Remarkably for a superyacht, stringent environmental design means that Twizzle is carbon neutral and is certified for even the most sensitive waters. All carbon emissions from her main engine, generators and tenders are offset, as was the footprint from her original construction. Twizzle offers a sublime combination of contrasts: exhilarating spray-in-yourhair ocean sailing, racing and discovery, coupled with luxury, comfort and protection. It is a craft that has been built with love and is crewed with passion.

Welcome aboard.

Twizzle’s ingeniously engineered stern platform forms a split-level swim deck and tender dock, with direct access to the kayaks, sailing dinghy, water toys, snorkelling gear and Nitrox dive centre.

BURGESS YACHTS

Innovation, taken on board.

Twizzle glides lightly in the natural world: she is carbon neutral.

> Twizzle boasts one of the most advanced sailing rigs ever created with 1,780 m2 of sail. Both main and mizzen sails can be hoisted simultaneously - and silently - in under two minutes. > Her ‘glass cockpit’ bridge has active glass panels and multiple screens, with a fully integrated navigation/communications data and monitoring system. > She has a 62.5m carbon fibre Panamax main mast and a 58m mizzen mast - the tallest ever built. > In 60 seconds her swing centreboard can be adjusted to any angle (whether at speed or when sailing) for flexibility, stability and access to shallow waters. > Twizzle has her own cellular phone network. Even in poor or no reception areas, you receive the SY Twizzle Network signal on your Blackberry or iPhone. > A single iTouch remote allows guests to control lights, airconditioning, blinds, satellite TV and Twizzle channels, and the full range of Kaleidescape music and DVD options. > Two Castoldi 6.4m jet tenders are hidden in concealed bays beneath the foredeck.

TWIZZLE LOA - 57.5m (188.7ft) Builder Royal Huisman, The Netherlands, 2010 Exterior & interior styling Redman Whiteley Dixon Interior decor Todhunter Earle Interiors Cruising speed 12 knots under power Guests - 8 in 4 cabins Crew - 11 Winter 2010/2011 Caribbean Summer 2011 Mediterranean Charter rates from US$245,000 per week Twizzle is offered for charter

by Burgess as Central Agents.

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www.sensoryinternational.com

OCEANS APART SENSORY INTERNATIONAL DESIGN SOME OF THE WORLD’S MOST SOPHISTICATED ENTERTAINMENT AUTOMATION. WHEREVER THE TIDE MAY TAKE YOU.

It’s late at night. You’re aboard your yacht anchored somewhere in the Maldives.

On a whim you decide to see the latest Hugh Jackman movie. Before retiring, your guests in the next cabin are checking their stocks on CNN. And in a cabin further along, someone’s catching live coverage, in HD, of the Liverpool/Everton derby match back home (well, there’s always one, isn’t there?).

Just like in a hotel, everyone calls up their own individual choices. Movies. TV. Music. On demand. All of which takes skilled design, leading-edge equipment and gold-plated infrastructure to serve them.

UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

The company providing just that to some of the world’s most exquisite yachts is Sensory International. More than any other company we’ve worked with at UBER, they’re not simply brilliant techies. They’re automation designers.

Yachts bring their own unique set of demands.

An obvious one is reliability: you can’t very easily call out an engineer in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Space is also at a premium. Although some yachts may resemble a floating block of luxury apartments, the space inside is intended for king-sized beds, Jacuzzis, capacious upholstery, lengthy dining tables and indeed chandeliers. So although yacht owners want the largest possible screen for a movie audience of a dozen guests, they want that screen to vanish into thin air once it’s over.

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CASE STUDY: SLIPSTREAM

Sensory’s design for Slipstream was the winner of a ‘Best Marine’ CEDIA award (the Oscars of automation technology). The shipyard that built the superyacht was also so impressed with the installation what it has now become the core system for their standard specification

UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

Slipstream is a 5-deck, 60 metre superyacht with luxurious accommodation for 14 people.

With a range of 5,000 nautical miles it is a genuinely global cruising yacht.

Sensory was brought in by Burgess Yachts to design the entertainment automation and carry the project through to a successful installation.

The brief called for an on-board entertainment system which would give each guest control over their own entertainment. In theory, this could mean up to 15 different sources of audio and video being accessed all at the same time. The brief also specified that if any piece of equipment should be damaged or fail, this would not result in losing major parts of the system.

SENSORY’S SOLUTION Sensory designed a ‘central nervous system’ of cabling serving every cabin and major space.

This would not only support all the installed equipment but also future-proof the yacht for additions and upgrades.

To answer the design brief, Slipstream features individual, standalone systems in each cabin, with a yacht-wide audiophile Linn distribution system, multiple Sky+HD receivers, Kaleidescape music and movie distribution and an iPod docking station.

Only the Kaleidescape system communicates with a central server for content. In the unlikely event of the connection being lost, every cabin still has its own complete repertoire of local discs, satellite channels and iPod music.

In addition to this cabin entertainment, a Kaleidescape audio player provides four independent audio feeds for external areas and for party or vessel-wide audio. Guests or crew are able to play a single piece of music throughout the yacht.

THE FLOATING CINEMA In addition, the Sky Lounge features a completely hidden projection system, with a motorised projector lift which is built into the deck head design so that it is invisible when retracted.

A sofa unit with a motorised seating section slides back and allows a 90-inch wide tabtensioned projection screen to rise out of the base. A local receiver provides 5.1 surround sound in this area and motorised blinds complete the transformation.

In addition to the motorised devices in the Sky Lounge, other devices are concealed when they’re not in use.

The Main Saloon features a lift and swivel mechanism in a piece of furniture behind a sofa.

When activated a screen is raised up and can be rotated for viewing from any area in the Saloon.

In the Master Cabin, a display is mounted inside a motorised ‘artwork’ frame. When a video source is selected, the artwork automatically rolls out of the way.

All of these devices help to realise the full potential of Andrew Winch’s amazing design for the interior of this yacht. Every detail was considered, including all of the in-ceiling speakers being custom painted. At its heart is a design that means the entire system can be operated simply and intuitively. So when it comes to setting up a movie with 5.1 surround sound and optimum lighting, you really can give the crew the night off.

AWARD-WINNING THINKING Sensory’s design for Slipstream was the winner of a ‘Best Marine’ CEDIA award (the Oscars of automation technology). The shipyard that built the superyacht was also so impressed with the installation that it has now become the core system for their standard specification.

Sensory International also designs and installs entertainment automation for residences on dry land.

www.sensoryinternational.com

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ON THE CREST OF A BETTER CLASS OF WAVE UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

SENSORY INTERNATIONAL STARS AT THE MONACO YACHT SHOW. Although there are still many global destinations where you will see vast displays of wealth, Monaco somehow brings an extra dimension with its heritage of glamour, royalty, old Hollywood, Formula 1 and fame.

It is only natural, then, that the yachting world’s most prestigious exhibition event should be the Monaco Yacht Show. This is superyacht heaven: some 30,000 people exploring a floating nirvana of 100 craft which range from a ‘mere’ 25 metres long to well over 100 metres.

It is also a mark of Sensory International’s standing in this rarefied world that they should be proud exhibitors for a fifth year. The organisers ensure that only the super elite of yachting’s architects, designers, brokers, builders and specialists find a berth here.

The 2011 show proved to be Sensory’s most successful yet, generating both firm business and huge interest in their entertainment automation systems.

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Patek Phillipe ‘Ref. 3939’ attracted the highest bid of €1.4 million

Audemars Piguet Bell & Ross Blancpain Blu Bovet Fleurier Breguet - Celsius - Chanel - Chaumet Chopard - Corum - Cyrus - De Bethune Delacour - De Witt - Frédérique Constant Girard Perregaux - Glashutte Original Hermès - Hublot - Ikepod/Marc Newson Jaquet Droz - Laurent Ferrier - Louis Vuitton Maurice Lacroix - MB&F - Mont Blanc Patek Philippe - Piaget - Richard Mille Romain Jérôme - Tag Heuer - Ulysse Nardin Urwerk - Van Cleef & Arpels - Zenith

WHEN TIME REALLY IS MONEY AN AUCTION OF EXQUISITE TIMEPIECES RAISES €4.5M FOR CHARITY The “Only Watch” auction is the biggest charity event in the Swiss watch industry’s calendar.

This very special event, which only takes place every two years, was held in September at the Hotel Hermitage in Monaco. Among Monaco’s great, good and celebrities were Prince Albert II and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.

The auction featured a collection of 40 timepieces created specifically for the auction by the major Swiss watchmakers. Before the auction, the pieces were displayed on a world tour that included Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York, Milan, Geneva and Monaco.

As is traditional, it was a Patek Phillipe that attracted the highest bid of the evening for its ‘Ref. 3939’ (see photo top left). The stainless steel minute repeater wristwatch with tourbillon escapement, black enamel dial and a stainless steel prong buckle fetched €1.4 million; nearly three times its asking price.

By the close of the evening, research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy had benefited to the tune of €4.5 million.

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TAG HEUER MONACO MIKROGRAPH TAG Heuer launched this very special Monaco Mikrograph at the 2011 Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix. The watch is a one-off creation that was auctioned at the “Only Watch” Charity auction.

CYRUS KLEPCYS ONLY WATCH 2011 The rotative hands for hours, the logo and the discs of the seconds are in red and white colors, that remind us of the place of the event: Monaco. The number 11 highlighted in red on the watch face, indicates the year of the “Only Watch” auction.

ONLY WATCH AUCTION

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spotlight on

the South of France

SAINT-TROPEZ HOME OF THE WELL KEELED UBER seeks out the best - Saint-Tropez The Saint-Tropez peninsula.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the fishing port of Saint-Tropez was created in the 1950s.

So even if you don’t have a movie to plug or a party to be seen at, Saint-Tropez remains a rich experience indeed.

It was here that a young French director, Roger Vadim, made a movie called And God Created Woman. In the process he unleashed a sensation in the form of Brigitte Bardot, whose searing beauty and disdain for traditional social etiquette both delighted and outraged the world in equal measure.

Ramatuelle The now legendary Baie de Pampelonne is located in the district of Ramatuelle, which also boasts exquisite architecture, culture and the celebrated contemporary hotel, Villa Marie.

The location for much of the film - Pampelonne bay - became one of the world’s most alluring stretches of sand. Mick and Bianca Jagger were married in the town, and in high summer the world’s uber wealthy start descending to tie up in its shimmering harbour.

Today, Saint-Tropez still retains an unmistakable chic with more than its fair share of exquisite boutiques, luxury villa specialists and yacht charter companies. And yet, the charm that predates its A-lister invasion is still very much intact.

Ramatuelle is a picturesque medieval village perched on a rocky cliff-top. Every lane, nook and cranny reveals a captivating past and a beautiful present. Indeed, it is a microcosm of Provence and the Riviera, with its escargotshaped heart giving on to narrow streets, shops and workshops. All around, ochre façades and pastel shutters are adorned with jasmine, honeysuckle and bougainvillea; a feast for the eyes and the senses.

Going back to the 18th century, SaintTropez was a flourishing port and centre for agriculture. This authentic village still bears witness to its heritage, with its picturesque lanes, a 16th century citadel, the famous Musée de l’Annonciade (Annunciation Museum) and a Provençal market.

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UBER seeks out the best - Villa Marie

Bienvenue à VILLA MARIE

spotlight on

the South of France

In its truly best-of-both-worlds location, Villa Marie commands a breathtaking view of the Baie de Pampelonne and the sea. It sits tucked away in the heart of a parasol pine wood. Yet when the mood takes you, the glamour of Saint-Tropez is just ten minutes away.

A cross between an Italian villa and a house by the sea, Villa Marie’s colourful ambience contrasts beautifully with the white stone of the south: ochre, in response to the sun; Roman tiles, echoing the earth, and an indigo sky reflecting the Mediterranean.

Most of its 42 bedrooms are designed according to the innovative bathroom/ boudoir concept, and have a sturdy character: washbasins in cassis stone, some rooms with four-poster beds, others with personalised bed-heads.

This 3-hectare oasis features a series of themed gardens (aromatic, aquatic, exotic, citrus fruit) dotted with cool ponds, patios, stone alleyways and terraces. A delightful swimming pool opens out onto a blue-toned ocean with the sky and the open sea as its horizon.

The bar, pearly with seashells, has a Riviera saloon-style terrace and a wrought-iron conservatory. The celebrated restaurant nestles luxuriously in gardens on different levels and is suffused with the scents of Provence. Inside, various shades of beige, ivory and taupe combine with magnificent wrought iron sofas, designed like works of art.

Villa Marie is the very essence of the new and old Saint-Tropez. This is time-honoured hospitality and signature Mediterranean cuisine, served amidst breathtaking surroundings and a true sense of contemporary elegance. www.villamarie.fr

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spotlight on

the South of France UBER seeks out the best - Restaurant M

RESTAURANT

M

Glamour and gastronomy, beautifully mixed

IF THERE’S ONE EXPERIENCE GREATER THAN ENJOYING TRULY INSPIRED FOOD – IT’S DOING SO IN ONE OF THE MOST GLAMOROUS PLACES ON EARTH. Cuisine, ambience, inspiration, location; it all collides quite beautifully at the Muse Hotel in St. Tropez. More accurately, Muse is located away from the madding crowd, at Ramatuelle, close to Pampelonne beach with its echoes of Bardot, yachts and beautiful people.

Nestling in this other world, where wealth is quietly enjoyed away from the prying lenses of the paparazzi, Hotel Muse wears its history beautifully.

Once a mill house, it has been exquisitely re-conceived into an oasis of calm, taste and luxury. Visitors are greeted by a restrained and elegant mélange of muted beiges and whites.

Stone and natural surfaces abound, surrounded by gardens designed by Sophie Agata Ambroise.

Inside lies Restaurant M, graced with white club chairs and Bombay-inspired crowned wingbacks, and offering a menu inspired by land and sea.

Bring a good appetite. The restaurant is presided over by Nicolas Le Tourmelin, famed for his masterly cuisine at One O One at the Sheraton in Knightsbridge. And, taking personal charge of the truffle menu is Michelin-noted Clement Brun.

Here, the slow food philosophy comes to life in all its irresistible glory. A tart of red mullet with aubergine, caviar and baby mozzarella. Aberdeen Angus fillet with a deep and complex red wine reduction. Sea Bass baked in a crust of salt, or flambéed with thyme.

Decisions, decisions. www.muse-hotels.com

RESTAURANT M

Segni by Gessi available online at www.uber-interiors.com www.gessi.it

Image Š Gill German

01235 859300 www.davidharber.com

VERTICAL GARDENS Pictured above: Lushly planted vertical gardens, pioneered by French botanist Patrick Blanc. This system of planting has taken the landscape and architectural world by storm. Smaller scale systems can be installed in a garden setting.

WATER WALLS Pictured far right: A water wall is a striking feature and can be customised to any design or size.

Pictured right: A living water wall combines feature planting and water.

UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

S

www.barneswalker.co.uk

SCULPTING TIME AND SPACE

With over 2000 commissions under their belt, Barnes Walker is one of the most experienced and creative landscape architects in the UK. In their remarkable history they have worked on everything from country cottages and city centre roof gardens to fine country houses and sweeping parkland.

A key to their success lies in their constant innovation in embracing ideas, features and constructions that go way beyond the familiar concept of ‘landscaping’. The creative use of lighting, topiary and statuary are just some of the visual assets which they employ to enrich a panoramic vista or an intimate space.

Barnes Walker also push the boundaries with innovative planting such as lushly planted vertical gardens (see main image left), which can be used in tight spaces such as basement gardens and light wells.

Garden sculpture also plays a key role, and Barnes Walker guides its clients to some of the country’s freshest and most inspired exponents of the art. The sundials of David Harber are especially popular: they can lend a classic or indeed completely contemporary atmosphere to a space, serving as anniversary presents, memorials or simply as works of garden art in their own right.

LIGHT SORCERESS

GARDEN SUNDIALS

A beautiful, mysterious copper garden sculpture. The verdigris copper figure is hand-beaten into shape and carries either a vertical sundial or a mirrored disc that reflects the garden light. Random openings in the copper add to the arresting effect. As each is handcrafted, the sex and stance of the figure can be customised.

A sundial forges a strong link to both history and the heavens. In an age dominated by the electronic and the virtual, they speak of a past where time was viewed less rigidly.

Barnes Walker has introduced clients to sundials that use a wide range of styles and materials including stone, slate, glass, resin and perspex. Metals also give spectacular results — notably bronze, brass, copper and stainless steel.

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OUTDOOR LIGHTING THAT LOOKS AS IF IT’S INDOORS. Outdoor standard lamps shine light onto tables instead of using parasol lighting.

UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

LIGHTSCAPE GARDENING

A PASSION FOR VISUAL INSPIRATION NEVER LEAVES YOU. Indeed, it demands to be constantly reinvigorated and refreshed, whether inside your home or outside it. That’s why UBER works closely with Barnes Walker, the landscape architects who love nothing more than to challenge the conventional way of doing things. This attitude, coupled with real advances in weather-proofed lighting, leads to some strange and stylish outcomes. A standard lamp on a terrace?

An arc of seductive light over an exterior dining table? Everything is possible, a fact Barnes Walker continue to prove.

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www.giorgiocollection.it

giorgio collection Sunrise Range available online at www.uber-interiors.com

THE NEW LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR

UBER seeks out the best - Lamborghini Aventador

FLY, ON THE GROUND THE NEW LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR WITH THE WORLD’S MOST ‘EMOTIONAL’ GEARSHIFT – AND 700 BHP OF REFINED POWER – LAMBORGHINI’S NEW AVENTADOR IS A LEGEND IN THE MAKING. Imagine for a moment that you are accelerating at such a rate, you will reach 62mph from a standing start in about the same time you’re taking to reach the end of this sentence.

That’s the astonishing power that awaits you aboard the new Lamborghini Aventador.

This all-new 6.5-litre V12 engine will propel you to 62mph in just 2.9 seconds. And what unforgettable seconds they will be.

But then remarkable stats come as standard with this supercar. Its powertrain produces 700bhp, while taking you to a top speed of 217mph. Quite where you can open out this car and enjoy its maximum capabilities is perhaps a moot point. But the fact is, it can if you can, whilst enclosing you in a cockpit that owes more to aircraft, rather than automobile, design. The Aventador represents an entirely new technology package, brought together in a powerful and highly functional design language.

Gentlemen, start your engines This car is born to perform, with the aid of an innovative carbon-fibre monocoque. It also has what Lamborghini describes as ‘the world’s most emotional gearshift’ thanks to its superfast shifting ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) system. It comes with three driving modes adjusting engine, transmission, diff, steering and dynamic control: ‘Strada’ (road), Sport and ‘Corsa’ (track). The pushrod suspension inspired by F1 - is married to aluminium double wishbones and carbon-fibre ceramic brakes.

With the Aventador, Lamborghini is redefining the very pinnacle of the world super sports car market. Brutal power, outstanding lightweight engineering and phenomenal handling precision are combined with peerless design and the very finest equipment to deliver an unparalleled driving experience.

Lamborghini is showing how a great marque never rests, no matter how many laurels they may have garnered in a glorious past. All that matters is the future, and this legend-in-themaking now races into the lives of a lucky and select few.

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RACING BULL IT IS A TRADITION AT LAMBORGHINI TO NAME THEIR CARS AFTER BULLS; IN PARTICULAR, THE MOST COURAGEOUS PERFORMERS OF THE SPANISH CORRIDA. AVENTADOR WAS ONE SUCH BULL, WHO EARNED THE TITLE ‘‘TROFEO DE LA PEÑA LA MADROÑERA’’ IN OCTOBER 1993 AT THE SARAGOSSA ARENA. POWER. PERFORMANCE. HEART. NOW AVENTADOR LIVES ONCE MORE.

THE NEW LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR

Sculpted to perform If it never moved a muscle, the Lamborghini Aventador would still be a beautiful form to behold. Like a piece of sculpture, it is clothed in the marque’s signature values: aggressive power, sheer might and taut muscularity. It is as if the car is resting on its haunches before surging forward.

Yet out of function comes a beautiful form. Although every line, surface and contour exists for the sole purpose of aerodynamics, the Aventador is a breathtaking and cohesive whole. The sharply honed front, the extremely low roofline; the subtle rear diffuser – this is a design language that speaks volumes.

Naturally, the doors of the carbon-fibre monocoque open upwards. Ever since the legendary Countach, and for subsequent V12 models such as the Diablo and Murciélago, it has become a hallmark.

The Aventador also echoes the Murciélago with its electronically managed air intakes.

Indeed, if you want to share the technical mastery of your Aventador, order the transparent engine bonnet. It exhibits the twelve-cylinder engine like a work of art in a supercar museum.

centre tunnel, housing the push-start that fires this 12-cylinder powerhouse into life.

The dashboard owes much to aeronautics: as on latest-generation aircraft, instruments are presented on a TFT-LCD screen, with a second screen for multimedia and navigation.

The Aventador has been igniting Britain’s roads since its launch. Price? A shade over £200,000, excluding tax.

Inside, the surprisingly spacious cockpit is an essay in premium materials and ergonomically placed equipment. This includes a switch cover on the broad

SPECIFICATION Engine 6.5 L V12 CO 2 emissions 398 g/km Horse Power 690 bhp 0-62mph in 2.9 sec Top speed 217 mph Power-to-weight 2,25 Kg/PS Price from £201,900

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THE VERY

deep end WHEN A NEW POOL AND SPA WAS NEEDED FOR A NEW-BUILD HOME TWO STOREYS UNDERGROUND, CHESHIRE WELLNESS DIVED DOWN TO THE CHALLENGE. UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

www.cheshirewellness.co.uk

A dream, new-build home is a project that few people ever bring to fruition. And even fewer can achieve a project where most of the living space is actually underground.

However, the challenge wasn’t going to deter Steve and Clare O’Connor, and nor did it faze one of the more adventurous specialists in pools and spas, Cheshire Wellness.

The home in question, Stepping Stones, is in Helsby, Cheshire, perched on a hill looking down on swathes of green fields. Yet the interior is equally compelling, with the house built into a cave that was dug more than two storeys down. (Indeed, more than 15,000 tons of Cheshire sandstone were removed to make way for it).

The project took five months’ work and the breathtaking result is 15,000 sq. ft. of dynamic living space, spread over four storeys. The house stands independently of the cave that surrounds it, with only the bedrooms above ground. In all, the new home matches the footprint of the original cottage.

LIGHT. FANTASTIC. If you think ‘subterranean’ must also mean dark and dingy, Stepping Stones is an object lesson in what you can achieve. Natural light floods a large open-plan living area through panoramic windows and by six circular skylights (which in turn inspired the name of the house).

This incredible build also hosts a roll-call of new technology, and the design brief called for a pool and spa that, two storeys down, would complement the state of the art feel of the house. No pressure there, then...

Main photograph above and photograph to the right by Paul Fawley.

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A POOL OF TALENT In a house full of stunning surprises, it follows that the pool and spa also needed to be something of a show stopper.

Photographs by Paul Fawley.

Cheshire Wellness was delighted to be assigned the task of design and build. Their company has over 25 years experience of working in diverse surroundings and this project was exactly the kind of challenge for which they’re renowned.

UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

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LUXURY POOL AND SPA AMBIENCE BY DAY AND BY NIGHT The spec. called for a 12m x 3.6m deck-level pool with a sloping floor, an automatic pool cover system and a fully equipped, luxurious spa. At the centre of the shallow end, two steps link the deck-level spa into the pool. Despite certain obstacles posed by working at a significant depth underground, the project came to fruition without any issues.

UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

The night-time lighting setting electrifies the blue of the tile as the LED lights reflect underwater

AWARD-WINNING ATTENTION TO DETAIL As with any project, it’s the attention to detail, materials and finish that separate a good project from an outstanding one.

The Stepping Stones pool: • Is finished with high-quality mosaic tiles • Has a complex sprayed concrete shell • Features a detailed stone deck level channel • Is completed by an automatic pool cover system, hidden in the base when not in use.

Cheshire Wellness won the prestigious Residential Swimming Pool of the Year Award in 2010. They believe that the Stepping Stones project puts them in prime position to repeat the achievement in 2012 .

Photographs by Paul Fawley.

For more information please call 0151 336 3417 www.cheshirewellness.co.uk

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FROM A MAYFAIR TOWN HOUSE TO A COUNTRY COTTAGE: CAPITOL CARPETS OF CHELSEA HAS IT COVERED

FROM UPSCALE RESIDENCES TO SIMPLE FAMILY HOMES, CAPITOL CARPETS OF CHELSEA DEVOTES THE SAME CARE AND POFESSIONALISM TO EVERY PROJECT. UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

A customer’s tale “Like most people, I used to use one of those carpet warehouses when I needed new carpet for my property projects. They yell about big discounts and seem to have quite a bit to choose from.

However, on a recent renovation project for a holiday cottage, I decided to visit Capitol Carpets of Chelsea at their showroom at UBER Interiors in Chelford. My husband had grown increasingly mistrustful of all these “80% OFF!” merchants.

The moment we entered the showroom we knew we were in for a different experience.

The designs were stunning and the choice was truly excellent. Steven, who heads up the business, explained they can provide any type of carpet and they even guarantee to match any ‘like for like’ written quotation.

It got better. While the prices are surprisingly comparable – the service wasn’t. It far exceeds anything we ever experienced from a carpet ‘warehouse’.

Remember service?

First, I gave Steven my brief and my budget.

He showed me a myriad of samples and, crucially, his expert’s view of their suitability.

He then, free of charge, offered to bring the samples on-site, as well as other similar colour palettes so I could explore all the options. It was like having my own interior designer/carpet guru to assist me.

Two days later I had a full and very competitive quote which included high-quality underlay and fitting. Now in my experience, fitting has always been the nightmare part of the process, but Capitol Carpets of Chelsea take full responsibility for their fitters and honour the quotation they give you.

Delivering their promises On the day, the fitter did a superb job and Steven took the time to come back, make his own inspection and make sure we were happy.

It has been a revelation to find old-fashioned personal service at a highly competitive price.

Capitol Carpets of Chelsea care about what they do and, naturally, are very happy when we recommend them to others. Which of course we have, repeatedly.”

Mrs A Rodgers, Knutsford

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UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

SOFT, LUXURIOUS WARMTH. AT YOUR FEET. NEW TRENDS IN CARPETS FOR UNDERFLOOR HEATING, FROM CAPITOL CARPETS OF CHELSEA. One of the biggest innovations in flooring has been the arrival of effective and affordable underfloor heating.

However, if you decide to choose this option your contractor will probably tell you you’ll have to have marble, stone, tiles or wooden flooring.

At Capitol Carpets of Chelsea, we beg to differ. Although a luxurious heavy-wool Wilton will indeed prove too much of a barrier, there are now several specialist options to choose from.

The key? The TOG rating. For underfloor heating to work at its best, your carpet and underlay must not exceed 2.5 TOG. Generally, this works out as underlay with 0.8 /0.9 TOG and the carpet with 1.4 TOG. On the right are a number of suitable solutions, each with the optimal tog rating.

So now you can have underfloor heating and a beautiful carpet with no problem.

LOW TOG, HIGH QUALITY SISALS Sisal is traditionally used in rope making and its inherent strength makes it ideal for floor covering. It is also immensely versatile: sisal fibres combine well with selected colours and can be woven into an extraordinary range of styles and patterns for carpets. If you’re looking for both durability and good looks, sisal carpets are the answer for almost anywhere (except bathrooms). £50 per m2

TATTY TWEED SISAL Extracted from the Agave Sisalana plant, which is farmed in Mexico, Brazil and East Africa, Sisal carpets are well suited as a flooring material.

TattyTweed Sisal offers a little more luxury by combining with wool. This 50/50 blend gives you that luxurious underfoot feeling and a stunning design aesthetic. £94 per m2

ECO FRIENDLY BAMBOO CARPETS Bamboo could have been created for carpets.

Its fibres have natural anti-bacterial and humidity-regulating properties. And when it’s turned into carpet yarn it is exceptionally soft to the touch.

The plant’s amazing renewing properties (it can grow up to 60 cm per day), and careful harvesting from selected plantations, mean the Bamboo Collection is an environmentally friendly choice and perfect for sustainable buildings.

Bamboo carpets are also easy to maintain, resilient and wonderfully comfortable underfoot.

A beautiful lustre gives all 28 colours of the collection a luxurious silky look. £38 per m2

HARD WEARING CARPETS When practicality is key, this range of 100% stain-resistant, bleach-cleanable carpets offers a durable long lasting solution to any room. It is also relatively cost-effective, despite looking every inch like an expensive velvetfinish carpet. £18-90 per m2

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UBER’S DESIGN PRACTICE CONSTANTLY SEEK ONE-OF-A-KIND SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR INTERIOR DESIGN SCHEMES GIVING A TRULY PERSONAL SIGNATURE TO EVERY HOME.

INSPIRED BY

NATURE TUMBLE XXL CHANDELIER

BY DK HOME. £33,830 This beautifully imposing chandelier is made from hundreds of individual glass drops surrounded by a coiled, peel-like metal structure which is encased with wire frame work in anthracite giving a delicate yet weighty impression.

The wire work itself is carried out entirely by hand. Each piece bears the signature of the steady hand and eye that formed it.

A laborious process, but rewarded by the evident beauty.

UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

BLOCKS ‘STATEMENT’ TABLE This striking table is made from blocks of shagreen, ebony, grey parchment and stainless steel. Of all of these materials ‘shagreen’ is perhaps the least known. This exotic leather was elevated to the status of luxury material in the 17th Century because its qualities of both Mother of pearl and leather captures and plays with light which is its principal attraction for artisans today.

ROME CHROME SIDE TABLE This round side table is made from chrome wirework, a hand crafted technique which creates light, airy shapes, with clean lines.The creative and expressive potential inherent in traditional wire work techniques is incalculable. What can be imagined, in the hands of a skilled and seasoned artisan, can be crafted. The process is slow and exacting. The result: material form unlike any other.

BUOY STAINLESS STEEL AND NATURAL FINISH VASE This striking DK Home extra large vase is made from stainless steel and black seashells, with a crazy cut finish. There is a surprising degree of variation in the shape and pattern of seashells and the luminous quality and colouring of every shell is extraordinary and unique. However it is the hand crafted process of cutting, shaping, grinding and polishing the shells that renders them truly magnificent.

Inspirational design starts with inspirational materials from scorched duck eggs, seashells, ebony, mother-of-pearl, natural horn and wire work to parchment leather. Mother nature provides a vast array of resources to delight the senses.

UBER UTILISE NATURAL FINISHES IN A UNIQUE AND CREATIVE WAY - WHETHER IT BE DETAIL ON A DOOR HANDLE, THE INLAY INTO BESPOKE CABINETRY AND DOORS, OR THROUGH UNIQUE AND INSPIRATIONAL PRODUCTS AS INDIVIDUAL STATEMENT PIECES. 67

Photographs by Stephen at Juno Photographic.

Arched patio doors let in light which is reected back into the room from the polished plaster ceiling.

UBER-LIFESTYLE.COM // 0845 0773280

MAKING WOOD, WORK

WOODSCOPE’S LATEST PROJECT, HARNESSING AGE-OLD CRAFT SKILLS AND LEADING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY.

Good design is only good design if you can actually make it happen. Inspirational drawings are only part of the task; issues of materials, craft skills and of course budget are fundamental challenges that every designer must address.

This is why craftsmen such as Woodscope are firm favourites at UBER. They love a challenge - indeed, you could say they bring it on themselves. The designers at UBER give their creativity free rein, knowing that Woodscope offer a rare combination of craft skills and technology to turn concept into reality.

A case in point was a recent commission for a fine house in Knutsford. Although the project was in fact a brand new development, the design concept drew heavily on the visual statements and signatures of grand houses of the past.

Working in close collaboration with UBER’s design team, Woodscope assisted with the design implementation and installation of the joinery package. In bringing the designs to a spectacular and precise reality, they achieved a modern take on a classic design.

The design Many grand houses today owe a debt of gratitude to the Victorians. The deep ornate skirtings and architraves of that era still make an imposing and relevant statement about a fine residence today.

In this house, the contemporary design seeks to simplify some of the more intricate mouldings whilst maintaining the visual impact. Woodscope took full advantage of the properties of modern materials to create

a blend of simple curves and round sections, giving a clean but grand feel to the house’s corridors and circulation spaces.

Woodscope also manufactured and installed the wall panelling, bespoke windows, skirting & architrave, plinth blocks, and the internal and external doors.

Throughout, they were able to take advantage of the stability and material sizes of modern sheet material, incorporated with traditional hardwoods and construction methods, while harnessing the precision and full capabilities of advanced CNC cutting technology.

They also found cost-effective solutions to complex design demands such as the curved profiles required to give the doors and windows a light and airy feeling.

Woodscope paid equal attention to the finish of the works. They have their own in-house spraying facility, meaning that all the internal works receive workshop-controlled, consistent paint and lacquer finishes.

George Day, Woodscope’s Customer Technical & Design Manager, comments:

With a wealth of experience in material performance and manufacturing, we are able to offer constructive insight into the design process which can produce both aesthetic and commercial benefits.

Making your own concepts happen Visual inspiration comes from everywhere, and we’ve all seen ideas and touches we’d love to recreate in our own home. With a partner such as Woodscope, you can make those concepts happen.

Whether it’s architectural pieces such as skirting boards, wood panelling or cornicing, or indeed stand-alone cabinetry pieces, simply show Woodscope a photograph of what you have in mind. They have the skilled craftsmen, the technology - and the passion - to turn a dream into a stunning reality.

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A WINE LOVER’S

PARADISE GRAND HOTEL DE BORDEAUX & SPA

PRIVATE LABEL WORLDWIDE

Grand Hotel de Bordeaux & Spa

Grand Hotel de Bordeaux & Spa. Vintage hospitality in the modern manner.

Just as some of the finest wines come from the oldest vines, so the Grand Hotel de Bordeaux & Spa in Bordeaux is once again creating experiences to savour.

It was back in 1990 that the original building closed its doors. But if a city is defined by its finer hotels, it was only a matter of time before Bordeaux, the wine capital of the world, would once again welcome the world in considerable style. It had to happen. Consider its beautiful location, directly opposite the Grand Théâtre opera house, designed by the same architect Victor Louis in the 1770s. And consider its location, sitting at the heart of Bordeaux’s beautifully preserved 18th-century town centre.

Today, the Grand Hotel de Bordeaux & Spa is a member of ‘The Leading Hotels of the World’, an elite group of the world’s finest and most luxurious hotels. Behind the hotel’s imposing stone façade the new incarnation is in fact five times larger than the original. Inside, interior designer Jacques Garcia has given full rein to his theatrical instincts, combining low lighting, plush fabrics, giant flower arrangements and a row of black Baccarat crystal chandeliers.

The bedrooms are all about cossetting, with high beds, deep mattresses, richly patterned

fabrics and marble-and-mahogany bathrooms.

Naturally, cuisine receives the utmost reverence, with the sumptuous Le Pressoir d’Argent restaurant (named after the silver lobster press that presides over the dining room), run by chef Pascal Nibaudeau. The restaurant is also supported by the simpler and also popular Brasserie l’Europe.

Now imagine having that same know-how working for you in the wine capital of the world: Bordeaux. Imagine enjoying privileged access to Châteaux, caves and wineries that are never usually open to the general public.

And taking part in select, invitation-only tastings, guided by some of the region’s most erudite wine experts.

Completing the luxurious experience is the final essential ingredient: a fabulous spa called Nuxe Les Bains de Léa. The décor is an alliance of Roman, Greek and Byzantine influences conveying a universe of sensuality and total suaveness.

This is the concept behind the wine concierge of one of the city’s fi nest hotels, the Grand Hotel de Bordeaux & Spa. It is a service dedicated to helping you discover the very best – and usually inaccessible – places, producers and wines. The service also takes care of every detail: from travel and access details to the all-important food, wine and hospitality that makes these wine adventures so unforgettable.

Taken together, there could be no finer base for a foray into the region’s finest vineyards.

Indeed, they’ve thought of that too. The hotel’s wine concierge service opens cellar doors that others cannot.

The wine concierge.

Uncorking the secrets of Bordeaux.

Creaking open the door to the wine capital’s finest cellars: it’s all about who you know. If you’ve encountered a really good concierge in a fine hotel, you’ll know how they can work miracles.

If you love wine, the wine concierge stands ready to delight you.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL PRIVATE LABEL WORLDWIDE ON: 01628 77 11 71 OR VISIT: WWW.PRIVATELABELWW.COM

A quiet call from them and fully booked restaurants suddenly ‘find’ an extra table.

Unobtainable theatre tickets are somehow conjured into your hands. To them, impossible is nothing; they have the contacts to make things happen.

If you love wine, the wine concierge stands ready to delight you 71

TOP 5 READY TO DRINK CLARETS To most wine lovers Bordeaux is the foremost fine wine region, as it has been for many centuries.

Back in 1663 Samuel Pepys wrote of Château Haut-Brion’s ‘good and most particular taste I never met with’ and while much of today’s attention is focused on the emerging markets of the Far East, the classic Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based blends of such famous names as Margaux and St Emilion continue to captivate wine drinkers the world over.

1 / CHANTALOUETTE 2000 Origin: Pomerol Classification: Case size: 12 Duty paid price: £300

The palate is complex, with mint, a touch of bovril and plenty of dark plum and damson fruit, framed by smooth, ripe tannins. A lovely wine, from a great vintage, at its best now.

2 / POTENSAC 1999

Origin: Haut-Médoc Classification: Cru Bourgeois Case size: 12 Duty paid price: £252 Owned and looked after by Ch. Léoville Las Cases, a pretty dark, chunky Haut Médoc, not dissimilar in style to the Las Cases, but with plenty of secondary and tertiary characteristics to keep the traditional claret drinkers happy.

3 / TERTRE DAUGAY 2001

Origin: Saint Emilion Classification: Grand Cru Classé Case size: 12 Duty paid price: £300 Now owned by Ch. Haut Brion, this is a property with a potentially interesting future. The black cherry fruit is well balanced with the tannins and acidity offering excellent equilibrium.

4 / MARBUZET 2005

Origin: Saint Estèphe Classification: Cru Bourgeois Case size: 12 Duty paid price: £336 Plenty of primary fruit concentration, yet retains the regional expression to define it as a St Estèphe. It is just starting to drink well now, but will happily keep for a good 7-8 years at least.

FIVE BORDEAUX 2010 EN PRIMEUR WINES 1 / CLIMENS 2010 Origin: Barsac Classification: 1er Grand Cru Classé Case size: 12x 37.5cl In Bond Price: £430 Unctuous and pure, this is a wonderful sweet wine full of tangerine peach and subtle spice.

2 / LÉOVILLE BARTON 2010 Origin: Saint Julien Classification: 2ème Grand Cru Classé Case size: 12 In Bond Price: £850 A big, powerful, structured style with lots of ageing potential. The levels of concentration and again purity are amazing.

3 / LES PAGODES DE COS Origin: Saint Estèphe Classification: Case size: 12 In Bond Price: £480 The second wine of acclaimed ‘Super Second’ property Cos d’Estournel is “possibly the finest Pagodes the estate has produced” according to Robert Parker. Blackberries and plums predominate on the palate.

4 / PUY BLANQUET 2010 Origin: Saint Emilion Classification: Grand Cru Case size: 12 In Bond Price: £130 Mid-weighted and dry, this is a classic Saint Emilion at a very attractive price. Blueberry, cassis and a floral note dominate the nose.

Given five years of bottle age this wine will open out beautifully.

5 / TALBOT 2010 Origin: Saint Julien Classification: 4ème Grand Cru Classé Case size: 12 In Bond Price: £465 A rich, ripe style was produced by this popular Château in the 2010 vintage.

Very complex, but fantastically well integrated there are notes of cassis, blackcurrant, cherry, liquorice, smoke and graphite. Impressive stuff.

5 / HAUT BEYZAC 2004

Origin: Haut-Médoc Classification: Cru Bourgeois Case size: 12 Duty paid price: £239.88 A splendid little wine, typical for 2004, so fairly restrained in terms of power and very much in the old fashioned mould, but the fruit, tannins and acidity are in perfect balance.

LAITHWAITES

To purchase these wines and to see many more please visit: www.laithwaites.co.uk or call our Fine Wine/Bordeaux 2010 team on 0845 194 7801 to place your order or for any advice.

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