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JANUARY 2015 / £3.95

FABULOUS FACIALS

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PILLOW TALK WITH DONNA WILSON

A.C GRAYLING

ON LONDON’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL COLLEGE

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BEAUTY HEALTH AND HARMONY IN THE NEW YEAR

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contents Januar y 2015

65 ART & CULTURE

18 HEALTH & BEAUTY

07 WHAT’S ON

28 HEALTH & BEAUTY NOTES

10 GRAY AREA

30 FACE VALUE

Diary dates for January

A.C Grayling’s controversial Bloomsbury college

15 18

SPEECH THERAPY

Lessons in conversation at The School of Life

A miracle massage at the Well Garden Future-proofing yiur face with five fantastic facials

FOOD & DRINK

39 TABLE TALK

Helmsley + Helmsley’s courgette and aubergine curry

FASHION

STYLE CONFIDENTIAL

School up on the newest trends

20 GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART Chic and silky numbers to sleep in

41

FOOD REVIEW

Helen Baron and Richard Mellor tuck into right royal roasts

INTERIORS

44 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS Ten of the best metal accessories

48 PLAYING HOUSE

Why we love Donna Wilson’s folksy furnishings

TRAVEL 65 ALL CHANGE Covers C&A: Helen McArdle E a s t: M a r y L i n g

Keep calm and carry on with a spot of yoga in Morocco

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39 PROPERT Y 78 LOCAL AREA

News and views on buying and letting

84 EXTRAORDINARY STOREYS Nigel Lewis on flamboyant fireplaces

92 IN THEIR OWN WORDS

James Marshall at Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, Islington

JANUARY 2015

10/12/2014 09:37

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EDITOR HELEN BARON EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ELIZABETH HUTTON EDITORIAL INTERN LOUISE GODWIN ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER KRISTIAN BRUMBY PROPERTY DIRECTOR ANDY ELMER PROPERTY EXECUTIVE JENNI RAWSTHORNE NORTH PROPERTY EDITOR HUGO HUNTER ART DIRECTOR RAY SEARLE SENIOR DESIGNER PHIL COUZENS PRODUCTION MANAGER STEWART HYDE MIDWEIGHT DESIGNER GEMMA ISTEED PROPERTY EDITORIAL DESIGNER ANDREW MAVIN DESIGNER EKREM YILMAZ JUNIOR DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN PRODUCTION CONTROLLER CHRISTINE MANN FINANCIAL CONTROLLER ZUL MUHAMAD CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT AYSHA HABIBI PA TO THE DIRECTORS MARIANNE MCFADDEN DIRECTORS GREG HUGHES, ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT For editorial enquiries please email: helen.baron@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: advertising@zest-media.com Subscriptions are available simply by emailing marianne@zest-media.com You can receive an online subscription for FREE or a postal subscriptions for 12 months, £30 respectively (to cover postage and packaging). Please email us with your preferred option and details.

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I

EDITOR’S letter

didn’t want to start 2015 by banging on about diets and fitness. So while you’ll find recommendations for books about nutritious eating, a healthy recipe and a round-up of the best anti-ageing facials among these pages, it’s the concept of mindfulness that’s really at the heart of this issue.

The health industry is booming, but do we value healthy minds as much as healthy bodies? We think nothing of going to the doctor when we have physical ailments, and we spend vast amounts of money on healthier foods and gym memberships. But how much time do we devote to our mental health, to flexing our intellectual muscles, or increasing our sense of emotional wellbeing? How often do we think about practising kindness to our fellow man, at home or at work or somewhere in between (London’s roads and public transport sometimes seem like little more than viaducts of pure hate).

One place to begin the process of broadening your horizons and reconnecting with basic human empathy is Bloomsbury’s School of Life, where founder Alain de Botton has implemented a cultural programme offering, quite simply, good ideas for everyday life. In times of social and personal uncertainty, de Botton is trying to help people cope better with and in the world. Head to

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page 15 to find out how I fared at my first School of Life class, How to Have Better Conversations.

Staying on the philosophical bent, we also met up with AC Grayling, whose New College of the Humanities (also in Bloomsbury) sparked so much debate in the press and among educators up and down the country. Though controversial, Grayling’s foray into private higher education sheds interesting light on some of the key questions facing our underfunded public education system - and the man himself proves to be a fascinating and insightful interviewee, with an applaudably holistic approach to arts education.

More mindfulness can also be found in Alex Jones’ travel review, as she embarks on a week-long yoga retreat for the first time in her life – and realises just how interlinked mind and body health can be.

Some things to think on, then, as we hurtle into the New Year. After a month of Christmas madness, let’s hope we can all practise some acceptance, serenity and goodwill to all.

Helen Baron Editor

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A.C GRAYLING'S CONTROVERSIAL COLLEGE

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THE SCHOOL OF LIFE

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ALLEN JONES

> WHAT'S ON

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CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

CHARLES JOURDAN, SPRING 1979 © GUY BOURDIN

F ro m 6 Ja n u a ry R oyal Alb e r t Hall eturning to the Royal Albert Hall with their awe inspiring new show R Kooza, Cirque du Soleil's spectacular contortionists and trapeze-artists combine acrobatics and clowning to create an electrifying and exotic world. ◆ Kensington Gore, SW7; royalalberthall.com

MAT RICARDO: SHOWMAN 1 9-21 Ja n u a ry S ou th b ank C e ntre ’s P u rc e ll R o o m

GUY BOURDIN Image Maker

Guy Bourdin’s images have always evoked a sense of desire. The scenes he photographed were meticulously staged so are consistently striking and seductive. Charting his 40-year career, this exhibition presents over 250 of his finest works, including a series of never-before-seen sketches, paintings and notes. This large-scale retrospective gives a fascinating insight into the mind behind the camera.

Strand, WC2R; somersethouse.org.uk

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◆ Belvedere Road, SE1; southbankcentre.co.uk

WIND IN THE WILLOWS

Th rough out Jan uary Somerset Hou se

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

f, like the majority of us, you think that juggling is boring, think again.

Professional juggler Mat Ricardo's self-deprecating humor, entertaining storytelling, dapper appearance and innate charm has successfully changed our minds.

Bring on the balls.

I

Un t i l 17 Ja n u a ry T h e Vau de v i lle T h e atre he much-loved adventure of Toad, Ratty, Mole and Badger T comes to life at The Royal Opera House with the help of singing narrator Alan Titchmarsh. Having been offered the part in the Olivier Award-winning play after joking that becoming the narrator was his ultimate dream, this is a performance not to be missed. ◆ 404 Strand, WC2; roh.org.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE / WHAT’S ON WELLCOME LIBRARY, LONDON

BOOK PICKS

THE INSTITUTE OF SEXOLOGY

Janu a r y’s Top T h re e He a l thy Recipe Books

Thro u gho u t Ja n u a ry We llc om e C olle c ti on

ex sells, so this candid exploration of sexual behaviour and identity is going to be popular. Inviting you to undress your mind, the Wellcome Collection is showing over 200 erotic objects, images and artworks. Challenging the stereotype of the prudish Brit, this exhibition is utterly saucy. ◆ 183 Euston Road, NW1; wellcomecollection.org

S

THE ART OF EATING WELL Meli ssa a n d Jas mine He ms l e y Ebur y P ress, £25

BECKY BAIER, OVER THE HILLS

STUDIO COLLECTIVES

16-23 Ja nu a ry R ed B ul l S tudios orking to both manipulate and W distort images, illustrator and graphic designer Becky Baier and

Berlin-based interactive digital artist Juan Hurle have collaborated to see the power that piecing still and moving images together can have.

Well worth seeing. ◆ Tooley Street, SE1; redbullstudios.com/london

◆

DELICIOUSLY ELLA E lla Wo o dw ard

Yellow Kite, £13.60

From scrumptious raw desserts to colourful salads to go, Borough-based Ella's philosophy is all about embracing the natural foods your body loves. Simple, easy and tasty, this muchanticipated book features over 100 new sugarfree, gluten-free and dairy-free recipes.

ALICE’S ADVENTURE IN WONDERLAND

Un ti l 16 Ja n u a r y R o yal O pe ra Ho u s e olourful, theatrical and inventive, this vividly C imagined stage production of Lewis Carroll's 1865 novel is truly fantastic. Join Alice as she journeys thorough Wonderland and meets countless strange creatures, including the grinning Cheshire Cat and the highly-strung Queen of Hearts. As gloriously unhinged as the book itself, this is wonderful. ◆ Bow Street, WC2; roh.org.uk

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Throw the rulebook out of the window this January. The Hemsley girls offer alternatives to your vice foods, meaning you'll lose weight, gain energy and feel better with little effort. This is our kind of detox.

must read

◆

PURE: JUICING FOR LIFE Ro o ts & Bu lb s: Sarah Cadj i Quadr ille P ubli shing, £13.49

Listen to your mother and eat your vegetables! This new book from the people behind London juice bar Roots & Bulbs is full of recipes that will revitalise and replenish your system.

JANUARY 2015

10/12/2014 11:07

Gray Area SPOTLIGHT

A. C. Grayling’s New College of the Humanities opened in Bloomsbury in 2012 amid huge controversy. Here he explains why NCH represents the future of higher education Wo r d s A l e x a n d r a J o n e s P o r t r a i t s L e a n n e D i xo n

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n her introduction to the Penguin edition of the Walter Trevis classic The Queen’s Gambit, Lionel Shriver points out that ‘one of the greatest achievements of a good novel is its ability to draw you into an alien world in which you did not realise you were interested.’ In the case of The Queen’s Gambit, this is chess. Boy, does Trevis make chess seem interesting.

Speaking to philosopher A. C Grayling, who has a particularly mesmeric way of imparting knowledge, is a little like this.

I suspected that this might be the case after reading a couple of his books and discovering a latent interest in philosophy (he was once quoted as saying that his greatest achievement was that he had ‘opened up the great philosophical treasure chest and made it available to a wider readership’). But then, books can have that effect even when the authors do not.

This author did. If I were asked to quantify this ability I’d do it like this: one part his voice, which has a particularly listenable, Radio 4 cadence; one part the quality of his arguments, which are fluid and well formed; one part an attentive way of being questioned. He often ‘unpacks’ my questions, that is to say, addresses a number of nuances; this I can tell is a form of flattery (some questions really don’t deserve that much attention), but it’s engaging nevertheless.

Physically, he has the presence of the master of a college; he is tall, imposing even,

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People THOUGHT THAT I had betrayed [MY] PRINCIPLES, THAT I’d gone over to the DARK SIDE

though sufficiently crinkle-eyed and smiley, so as not to be intimidating. He is dressed in a sharp blue suit and crisp white shirt, not a hint of the mad-professor. Put simply: he gives good interview.

Anthony Clifford Grayling was born in (what is now) Zambia in 1949, the youngest of three children. His father was a banker and the family lived as part of an expatriate community, a life beloved by his father and loathed by his mother.

'We were living in a kind of exile; we’d get an airmailed edition of The Times two or three days late, that’s how long it would take to find its way to those dark interior places.

And my mother would say, ‘Ooh, look what we’re missing at the West End.’ So I used to think, ‘The minute I can get out of here, I’m off to London.’

And off to London he went at the age of 18. After undertaking two undergraduate degrees (one at Sussex University and the other as an external student at University of London), he continued to climb the academic ladder, completing an MA at Sussex, then

a doctorate at Magdalen College, Oxford.

He stayed at Oxford, lecturing at St. Anne’s College, until 1991. He then moved to Birkbeck where he would eventually become a Professor of Philosophy, before resigning in 2011 to found the New College of the Humanities. And it is this newest role, at this newest of institutions, that we are here to discuss.

Now on the cusp of its third intake of students, the New College of the Humanities (NCH) was co-founded by Grayling and Matthew Batstone, and opened in 2012.

‘One motivation was to offer a richer, more demanding, model in higher education,’ explains Grayling, cup of tea in hand, from his bright, book-lined office.

And certainly NCH’s USP has proven to be its exceptionally rigorous courses. As well as their BA, which is awarded through the University of London (NCH has yet to gain university status), students are expected to study the college’s three ‘core’ subjects of Applied Ethics, Logic & Critical Thinking and Science Literacy, and ‘minor’ in a secondary (complementary) BA subject.

This is supplemented by more contact hours than at most universities (with at least one hour of one-on-one tutoring time per week) as well as markedly smaller class sizes. Of course Grayling is effusive about this style of tertiary learning (‘At many places [students] don’t get enough of the demanding stuff, where they’re asked questions or pushed on a topic by their

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ARTS & CULTURE / PROFILE

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ARTS & CULTURE / PROFILE

tutors’) but, it seems, so are the students.

When I catch up, a week later with third year Josh Dell, he explains it like this: ‘At NCH your voice is heard at every moment.

In lectures there’re a maximum of 15 people so you can have an ongoing discussion with the lecturer. You’re not just listening to someone, you have the opportunity to ask questions, to really comprehend stuff.’

By all accounts, this more demanding model of education is producing first-rate humanities scholars. But given that its fees are £17,814 per annum, NCH needs for this to be the case. I had gone into the interview feeling not exactly cynical but certainly not convinced. The problem is this: if we agree that NCH is sufficiently superior to warrant double the fees of other institutions, then what NCH is offering is a superior education only to those who can afford it. ‘Welcome to Doshbridge’, screamed a headline in The Sunday Times, while in 2011 a number of Grayling’s former colleagues from Birkbeck signed an open letter (published in the Guardian) decrying his efforts: ‘NCH is at the vanguard of the coalition’s assault on public education.’

‘It was a kind of paradox,’ Grayling says quietly, ‘because my politics... have always been on the left. A lot of people thought that I had betrayed those principles, that I’d gone over to the dark side.’ The criticism that he faced was fierce and, I imagine, difficult to handle. ‘Yes, I was quite hurt by some of

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the personal vilification. There were some beastly things said…’ (Addressing the furore, the Independent last year ran a piece entitled ‘A. C. Grayling: Whatever happened to the most hated man in academia?’)

‘What really surprised, and kind of upset me, was the ignorance that my colleagues had about their own institutions. They said – shocked – you’re starting a private fee paying institution!" ’ But, I mean, Oxford University, UCL, they’re private institutions… no university in the country is publicly owned…they all charge fees, they all engage in commercial activity. UCL owns 11 or 12 companies, the most successful of which manufactures socks. They sell millions of pairs every year, because footballers like them.’

Though Grayling concedes that the vilification wasn’t wholly unfounded (‘I actually agree with the motivation’), he is adamant that we’re living in a period where a ‘£9.99, supermarket price’, has been put on university education. ‘In the next five years you’re going to see… some of the very top universities in this country cut their chord from government…’

And indeed, Professor Andrew Hamilton, the vice-chancellor of Oxford University, has suggested that fees needed to be raised to better reflect the cost of educating an undergraduate. He had in mind £16,000 a year.

Grayling nods gravely, ‘Yes, well, it’s in the public domain that at Cambridge the £9,000 fee is half what it costs them to

educate undergraduates. And they subsidise undergraduate teaching to the tune of £60million a year, that is the figure told to me by [Leszek] Borysiewicz, the vice-chancellor.

It is unsustainable for them to [keep taking undergraduates]; the only way they can is if they charge the kind of fees that Eton charge.’

His proposed solution is to follow the Americans in adopting an endowment model. Currently around a third of students at NCH are given full or partial scholarships that cover the costs of tuition and living.

‘My ideal would be to have a means-blind system, based solely on academic merit,’ says Grayling. ‘This was my motivation in setting up a new institution: let’s make it incredibly good so that people will support it, through donations to the Trust. Harvard has $30billion of endowment. When I’ve got $30billion you can all come forever for free and it’ll be brilliant. Harvard started in two small cottages on a swampy site in Cambridge, MA in 1636 and I’m in a mansion in Bedford Square in 2014. In 400 years what will we have achieved?’

His intentions are unarguably good, and it is clear that his ideal system would mean that anyone, from anywhere could come to the college. Still, though, affordability is a nagging question. Bear in mind that students are not yet eligible for government loans; putting myself in the scenario, even if I had been offered a reduced fee, could I have afforded to feed and house myself in London? No. Having said that, it is clear that students who currently attend don't feel short-changed

by NCH. They are taught in a beautiful building in central London, they are offered unrivalled support and stimulation and they are continually challenged to be better, to think more. For the right type of student, this would be an incredibly inspiring environment.

And perhaps, if the current trend continues, questions of affordability will become defunct in a future where everywhere is just as expensive as everywhere else. ‘Already in our first few years we’ve had a fantastic response from big City law firms, from banks and big consultancies who are interested in our students,’ Grayling tells me when I ask what a degree from NCH means, fiscally.

‘We get very good internships. From the Oscar Wilde perspective – "knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing" – we’re very good.’

If I were being completely honest, he won me over. Money aside, NCH does look like a rigorous and challenging environment in which to study the humanities. Much as Shriver said of The Queen’s Gambit, Grayling and the college have that certain magical quality of drawing you into worlds you never knew you’d be interested in. Just being there for a morning, leaves me certain that I would have loved to study there – if I’d had the chance to go. u nchum.org

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ARTS & CULTURE / LOCAL SPOTLIGHT WE CAN learn

to see conversation as an ‘UNREHEARSED intellectual ADVENTURE’.

Speech Therapy Helen Baron seeks enlightenment at London’s School of Life

I

descended the stairs to the lower ground floor of the School of Life with some trepidation.

Initially, I’d thought I was booked in for a straightforward talk, ‘How to Have Better Conversations,’ but as it turned out (and as I’d just found out, on arriving at the school’s elegant premises in Bloomsbury), this was to be a class discussion where all present would chew over the chosen topic together. I am not the kind of person who does things like this – but it was too late to back out. So I took the plunge, entering the classroom amid the hum of my fellow classmates.

If better conversations were the goal of

the session, I supposed, there was no time like the present to put my skills to the test.

Of course, I needn’t have worried. Not only were my fellow attendees a very pleasant and personable bunch, but class leader Gaylene Gould was adept at keeping the flow of ideas and interaction flowing.

Over the course of two hours, we were asked to consider questions such as ‘What is the most lifechanging conversation you have ever had and why?’, and, ‘Do you put good conversation down to content or chemistry?’ We were also given a good overview of the kind of intellectual tools we might use to approach such questions, not

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least an awareness of the recent history of conversation, including developments and trends that still influence our awareness of the concept today: eighteenth century oratory prowess being one, the Victorian elevation of rationality over self-expression another. Twentieth century developments in conversation such as the rise of emotionally open conversation were also discussed, and the upshot was that all present could see quite clearly the fluctuating nature of our society’s conversational habits and expectations.

That said, this is no simple self-help session: the class does not propose to reveal the secret to the ‘art’ of conversation.

But while I don’t leave feeling like some hitherto invisible mental floodgates have been thrown open, my interest is definitely piqued. The class provides a focus for my own increasing sense of self-awareness, mindfulness and a personal desire to challenge some of my more inhibiting traits.

It encourages positive thinking around conversational scenarios, with the general thrust being that we do not have to see conversations as inherently difficult, nor inherently off-putting because of their potential for difficulty. We can instead challenge our assumptions and learn to see conversation as an ‘unrehearsed intellectual adventure’. Armed with a bevy of relevant quotations from some of the world’s best-known thinkers, I leave with a feeling that life’s misty veil of confusion has been lifted somewhat – and this feeling brings with it a renewed enthusiasm for (or determination regarding) the embrace of social opportunities. u

The School of Life was established in 2008 by best-selling author Alain de Botton and former Tate Modern curator Sophie Howarth. The organisation now operates across the globe.

The School of Life EQ Certificate programme offers ‘a structured journey through rich, enlightening and transformative material’ as well as a personal tutor and the chance to ‘navigate around seven subject areas which touch on the most important aspects of modern life: Work, Love, Self, Home, Community, Meaning and Culture’. Priced at £1,500, the programme lasts a year. u

Visit theschooloflife.com for more information.

JANUARY 2015

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> FASHION NOTES

p. 18

GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART: SUMPTIOUS SILKS FOR SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS IN

p. 20

COLD COMFORT Don’t be caught out by the deep freeze this January. Instead, turn to MaxMara for the elegant solution to big chill problems. Think sharp, simple silhouettes and sophisticated layering. Winter’s not so bad after all. gb.maxmara.com

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JANUARY 2015

09/12/2014 10:15

st y l e C e n t r a l

Wrap up warm in blanket coats and read the new portrait biography of Yves Saint Laurent words helen baron

ALL ABOUT YVES B y R ox a n n e L o w i t

irst there was the biopic, now there’s the book – a new F portrait of Yves Saint Laurent, featuring backstage shots from legendary fashion photographer Roxanne Lowit with contributions from YSL muses such as Jerry Hall, Grace Jones and LouLou de la Falaise.

The pioneer who brought Piet Mondrian and ‘le Smoking’ to fashion prominence, Yves Saint Laurent was also one of the most subversive and controversial designers in post-war couture – and his talent made a lasting impression on the industry. Lowit’s pictures document her personal history with Saint Laurent from 1978 (the year they met) to the last show he gave, in 2002, affording readers a glimpse of the backstage experience and sharing a unique portrait of a fashion genius. ◆

Orla - la Orla Kiely

There isn’t much we don’t like about Orla Kiely’s AW14 collection. In fact, there’s nothing we don’t like about it. From the midnight blue two-piece to the swinging Sixties shift, we love it all. This textured jacquard sleeveless dress in peony (£299, pictured) is Betty Draper to an absolute ‘t’. orlakiely.com

● Y V E S S A I N T L AU R E N T £29.95, Thames & Hudson, out now

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FASHION / NOTES 6 of the best

PIECES OF GREAT

BLANKET COATS

Oscar de la Renta

A tad summery it may be, but we just couldn’t resist this parrotembroidered full-pleated skirt by the dear departed Oscar de la Renta. Influenced by Japanese artistry, this piece is silk-lined and fitted at the waist – perfect for al fresco lunches if you’re headed away for some winter sun. £1,725; harrods.com

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GOODY TWO SHOES

PLÜMO AW14

French Sole

Two-tone colour can be a difficult trend to pull off, but these gorgeous ‘Penelope’ pointed flats by French Sole in contrasting suede tick all the right sartorial boxes. Team with a blazer and cigarette pants for a timelessly elegant look. Penelope Navy and Purple Suede Leather Flats, £160; frenchsole.com

02

SNOW DAY Claudie Pierlot

Claudie Pierlot has managed a magnificent fashion feat by deftly combining fringing with none other than... a parka. And not just any old parka: a shiny, knee-length wonder with faux fur collar. The winter collection puts a decidedly urban spin on the brand’s usual contemporary classics. claudiepierlot.com

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BLACK MAGIC Freya

Further exoticism can be found in these vivacious booties from the new Freya Rose Couture collection: the playful ribbon detail is an indulgent nod to the Victorian era.

Made with fine Chantilly lace and black silk satin with Japanese clay beads as embellishments, they’re practically works of art. £695; freyarose.com

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06

1. PLUMO Blanket Cardigan, £149; plumo.com 2. JIGSAW Geo Wool Blanket Coat, £149; jigsaw-online.com 3. TOAST Tapestry Knit House Coat, £225; toa.st 4. AGNONA Cashmere Colourblocked Coat, £4,165; stylebop.com 5. MONSOON Chester Blanket Coat, £129; mytheresa.com 6. APRICOT Faux Fur Blue & Yellow Aztec Blanket Wrap, £29; apricotonline.co.uk

JANUARY 2015

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Goo d ni ght

SWEET HEART Adorn yourself in sumptuous silk for slumber time this winter Photography Helen McArdle Styling Charlie Moore

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Tulle baby doll £345, by Agent Provocateur White cotton bodysuit (underneath), £130, by Simone Perele On right hand gold love bite ring, £85, by Maria Black, gold ring from a selection at Alex Monroe On left hand ring from a selection by Alex Monroe

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Cashmere Roll-Neck Sweater, £325, Issa

Cashmere sweater, £109, by Pure Collection Silk chiffon bra, £79 and matching knickers, £49, both by Made By Niki

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Gold lace chemise, £330, by Gilda & Pearl at Selfridges Nude silk bra, £57.50 and matching knickers £48 (underneath chemise), by Damaris On right hand - 14 carat gold plated star ring, £29, by Annie Haak 22 carat gold plate baroque ring, £132, by Alex Monroe On left hand - rings from a selection by Alex Monroe

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Silk Black and White Striped Pyjama Shirt, £330, as part of a set, by Olivia Von Halle at Fenwicks Left hand - Beige Gold and Diamond Coin Ring, £3,805, and Brushed Gold Ring (right hand), £1,630, and Gold and Diamond Loupe Pendent, £3,780, all by Dina Kamal at Dover Street Market

STOCKISTS

Photography Helen McArdle at Kayte Ellis Agency Styling: Charlie Moore Make up: Helen Asher at ERA Management using M.A.C Hair: Jason Crozier for No.74 Hair and Beauty London using Bumble & Bumble Model: Charlotte Pallister at Select With thanks to the Sloane Club, 52 Lower Sloane Street, SW1W, 020 7730 9131; sloaneclub.co.uk

FashionShoot_Jan_5pp.indd 24

winderlondon.com princessetamtam.co.uk sarrieri.com houseoffraser.co.uk purecollection.com madebyniki.co.uk selfridges.com anniehaak.com fenwick.co.uk doverstreetmarket.com alexmonroe.com maria-black.com damaris.co.uk winserlondon.com

09/12/2014 11:59

BATH SORTS

BATHROOM DESIGN SPECIALISTS

38 Offord Road, Islington N1 1DL 020 7700 1333 www.bathsorts.co.uk

BS.indd 2

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Start off the New Year on the right foot...

SHOES MADE ANYWHERE ELSE ” “ I WOULDN’T HAVE MY-Kathleen Turner

ANTHONY ANDREWS BESPOKE CELEBRITY SHOE DESIGNER FOR LADIES & GENTLEMEN

12 New Cavendish Street, W1G 8UN 020 7486 4664 | info@specialfootwear.co.uk | www.specialfootwear.co.uk

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> HEALTH & BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

p. 28

FACE VALUE: FIGHT AGEING WITH THESE FIVE FACIALS

p. 30

LUSCIOUS LASHES It-girl-about-town Alexa Chung is the face of eye make up expert Eyeko’s dazzling collection. Finally there are tools to help us get Chung’s perfect ‘60’s liner flick.

Prices vary; eyeko.com

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JANUARY 2015

09/12/2014 16:44

TRIED & t e s t e d

STUDIO NINETY Hair CVT

Fitness

CONFIDENTIAL Get in shape with the top fitness trends, tips and gear

Wo r d s H e l e n ba r o n

Wo r d s r o m y va n d e n b r o e k e

pparently, us Brits spend a whopping six billion on A hairdressers every year – but how often do we like the hairstyle we end up with? Forget relying on Photoshopped images of Alexa Chung as a reference for your stylist, Hair CVT has come up with a better (and more reliable) idea: browse thousands of styles seen on REAL PEOPLE, search for looks (dip dye, balayage, highlights) and choose your favourite stylist.

Mine was Madeline Hale of Studio Ninety, and she didn’t let me down. I wanted to swap my outdated balayage for more subtle highlights while keeping my darker colour at the roots, it being winter; Madeline did so with aplomb, using Davine products and their unique plastic mesh strips (instead of foils) for highlighting (the process is actually called flamboyage).

What’s more, the coolly decorated salon was a chilled-out haven. As Madeline only ever sees two clients at a time, the vibe is laid-back. You can relax in a big comfy armchair while you’re waiting for your colour to set in, without the fuss and frenzy of a typical big-name salon. I was chuffed to bits with my new ‘do’ – nothing too bleached or blonde, just subtle honey shades scattered throughout and a killer blow-dry to boot. u

●STUDIO NINETY To check out Madeline’s work for yourself, head to HairCVT to view her portfolio; haircvt.com

Take the Piste net-a-sporter

The online retailer has introduced luxury brands such as Fendi, Pucci, Lacroix and Peak Performance to its new skiwear collection. net-a-porter.com

90 De Beauvoir Road, N1; studioninetylondon.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

C&A_Dec_H&F_Notes.indd 28

28 10/12/2014 11:13

HEALTH & BEAUTY / NOTES

PICK

Ayurvedic Massage

DULY NOTED

Wo r d s H E L E N B A R O N

Daily Greatness

Get 2015 off to a bright start with a Daily Greatness Journal; a 12-week diary in which you track your health and fitness so as to be more aware of your progress vs. your goals. £29.95; dailygreatness.co

ounded by very talented Ayurvedic massage specialist Lily Fraser, the Well Garden has recently expanded from a single room to a much larger space, a holistic heaven with a list of therapies as long as your arm and, more importantly, amazing therapists with magic hands. Nowadays, Fraser herself sees about six clients a week – and therein lies her secret.

Massages in spas and salons often leave much to be desired, amounting to little more than a prolonged series of unsatisfying strokes.

Therapists are paid a fixed amount to administer as many massages as will fit into a day – and however hard they try, their hands can’t help but tire. Due to the limit she places on the number of her clients, Fraser’s hands are always at their best. The same applies to her fellow therapists at The Well Garden, who are trade-tested to ensure they meet the centre’s high standards.

For my part, this is the massage of my life, no question. Fraser works magic on my back, addressing muscles that are prone to spasm and relieving tension right up into my neck and head, working effectively into each shoulder blade. The Ayurvedic approach isn’t all about massage – it encompasses diet, yoga, meditation and herbal remedies as well, all essential for wellbeing and health – and the Wellness Garden is a great place to learn more about it. It’s a philosophy I can get behind. After a blissful hour, I feel completely unknotted – a feeling so rare and delightful, I know I’ll be back for more. ◆

F

FULL BLOOM B loom Teas

Consider swapping your coffee for a cup of Supercharge Matcha Green Tea. Matcha is grown exclusively in Japan, the fine powder delivers its antioxidant ingredients at a much higher potency than normal green tea and contains caffeine if you still need that morning pick-me-up. £19.80 for 30g; bloomtea.co.uk

WHIZZ KIT Nutribullet

Why do we love the compact Nutribullet?

There’s no need to peel fruit and veg, just whizz them up, including stems, seeds and skins (therefore keeping the nutrients and fibre intact) in minutes, with minimal cleaning. You can even chuck in nuts or dried fruit and it comes in three cool colourways. Start 2015 the right way by blitzing your 5-a-day at breakfast. £99.99; buynutribullet.co.uk

h o l i st i c r e v i e w

THE WELL GARDEN

editor’s

BARRE BAND Kitsch

Keep your hair out of your face when working out with one of these cute headbands from Kitsch. Available in four different colours, choose from ‘Zumba Zealot’, ‘Voga Vixen’, ‘Pyscle Sister’ or our favourite, ‘Barre Core Babe.’ £7.50; mykitsch.com

●THE WELL GARDEN 17 Amhurst Terrace, E8; thewellgarden.co.uk

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JANUARY 2015

10/12/2014 09:59

HEALTH & BEAUTY / SPOTLIGHT

MURAD AHA RAPID EXFOLIATOR FACIAL

merica’s first authentic doctordeveloped brand comes to Dalston.

Based on scientific principles and formulas that have been researched, developed and perfected by renowned dermatologist Howard Murad over more than fifty years, the unique and patented blend of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and hydrators soothe and revitalise skin, revealing a more luminous complexion.

A

The Result:

Face Value

2015 is here and facials are at the forefront of the New Year’s antiageing trend. Absolutely reports on five fantastic future-proofers...

KLAPP COSMETICS FACIAL

ith over 35 years of experience, Klapp Cosmetics have finally W brought their expertise from Germany to London. Using active ingredients, modern methods and high-tech technology – including a hydro-steamer – treatments combat an array of ailments from ageing, sensitivity and redness to dehydration and acne.

The Result: A therapeutic and deep cleansing facial that, with the aid of steam treatment and stress-relieving massage, opens pores and allows for the therapist to purge, penetrate and detox my skin’s many layers. The Hyaluronic facial would be my saving grace this winter, with different sized molecules of hyaluronic acid creating a brightening effect from within the upper epidermis. Five different steps include micro-peeling, a bubble mask, hyaluronic concentrate steam and massage jelly. eh  Facials start at £60 for 60 minutes. Kalma Spa, 180 Broadhurst Gardens, NW6; kalmacosmetics.co.uk

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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PERRICONE MD INSTANT RESULTS SIGNATURE FACIAL

e’ve loved Perricone MD products ever since they launched and now, due to customer demand, the brand has devised two facials – which are available for the first time in the UK at George Northwood’s go-to salon for the fashion elite.

The Result: Choose from a facial combined with a Caci machine (which delivers microcurrent impulses for a non-surgical face-lift) or a more holistic facial that uses massage to lift and tone the facial muscles.

The latter also employs some much-needed neck and shoulder massage (remember that the neck muscles are connected to those in the face). The massage stimulates circulation, firming and toning, so that afterwards my face feels like it’s had a bit of a workout. hb  Instant Results Signature Facial, £70; Lifting & Toning Facial, £105. George Northwood Salon, 24 Wells Street, W1; georgenorthwood.com W

Using a UV camera to reveal the amount of sun-damage to the skin, this treatment may leave you feeling slightly shocked by the ravages exposed. Help is, however, at hand: my facialist tailored my treatment so that it contained the correct amount of damagereversing vitamin C. This is a crucial element to any anti-ageing programme, as sun damage is the number one cause of fine lines and wrinkles. eh  £95 for 75 minutes. Smooth You Town Spa, Dalston Square, E8; smoothyou.co.uk

THALGO ANTI-AGEING FACIAL

halgo, purveyors of marine-based skincare, have developed a range of facials with anti-ageing properties; the treatments use a key marine complex to regenerate skin and maintain its youthfulness.

T

The Result:

Using a combination of the brand’s Ultimate Time Solution and Super Silicum range, my face was kneaded and massaged until it pretty much ached; but that meant it was effective, and I left with a radiant visage to prove it. Massage to the neck, décolletage, arms and even feet is included and afterwards you can spoil yourself in the Langham Hotel’s luxurious Chuan Spa, with its vitality pool and Himalayan salt sauna. hb  Facials start at £95 off-peak. Chuan Spa, 1C Portland Place, W1; chuanspa.com/en/London

THE DIY OPTION The future of your face may lie in the hands of this nifty tool from cult beauty brand Clarisonic, taking cleansing to the next level via an oscillating brush that makes for a deeper, more penetrating and effective clean. Proven to reduce surface oil and the build-up of make-up, skin feels clearer and fresher for longer – even after a single use. Let’s face facts – this is one beauty gadget that could change the way you cleanse forever.u Clarisonic Aria, £155; clarisonic.co.uk

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TO THE

RESCUE Repair the festive season’s damage and get your health back on track in 2015

HIGHGATE PRIVATE HOSPITAL With easy access to private GPs and over 250 expert consultants throughout treatment, Highgate Private Hospital is not only recognised by all private medical insurers but has free parking and flexible appointment times to suit you, without long waiting lists. Call reception to find out more about the extensive list of GP and medical services. Private GP Services, 17-19 View Road, N6, 020 8341 4182; highgatehospital.co.uk

RUN HACKNEY

NET A PORTER

If you’ve set yourself a New Year challenge, signing up to the Vitality Run Hackney Half Marathon is an ideal incentive. You’ll not only be setting a worthwhile goal but will enjoy the live music and local crowds cheering you round the closed-roads route, which covers Hackney Marshes and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The run takes place on Sunday 10th May. Sign up at runhackney.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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ABSOLUTELY XXXXXXXXX//PROMOTION XXXXXXXX

HAMPSTEAD HYPNOTHERAPY

BODYISM If your New Year’s resolution is to get in shape, Bodyism is a full-concept fitness service run by coaches and experts in weight-loss. A favourite of Elle 'The Body' Macpherson, the brand have now launched their own bodywear range. The 'Brazilian' collection is inspired by women who want to look good while they work out and combines fashion with function and state-ofthe-art, breathable, lightweight fabrics. Find out more about Bodyism and the Clean & Lean philosophy by heading to the website. bodyism.com

Monica Black is a leading Master Clinical Hypnotherapist, Master NLP Practitioner, EMDR Practitioner, Coach, Trainer, Public Speaker and Media Lifestyle Commentator. Monica has successfully helped many people overcome conditions such as stress, confidence, fears/ phobias, weight management, smoking cessation and more thus enabling them to make positive changes in their lives. MONICA BLACK ANLP, BAThH, CHNC GHR, 020 7419 2211, 07776230332 hampsteadhypnotherapy.com

TEMPO PILATES Reformer pilates combines weight training, lunges and squats with stretching and posture exercises on machines to strengthen and lengthen limbs, as well as addressing back issues, while at the same time working the muscles to help you shift inches inches. The studio is headed by Daniel Le Roux – a man much raved about in the industry. Studio 204, Netil House, 1-7 Westgate Street, E8; tempopilates.com

FISH MARKET X FRAME

PILATES CENTRAL

This new ‘fitness followed by foodie’ experience at The Warehouse weekend Club gives you the chance to take part in an hour long yoga session in front of Old Bengal Bar’s floor-to-ceiling mirrors, then enjoy a healthy brunch (put together

by Frame’s inhouse nutritionist) at Fish Market next door every Saturday. No ifs, just great butts. moveyourframe.com

At this superb state-of-the-art Pilates studio, trainers will devise a programme to suit your needs, whatever your age and fitness level. Within easy reach of Kings Cross, Clerkenwell and the City, it’s not only the ideal place to get back to fitness after a break – it’s a post-injury and post-training recovery centre too. 10-12 Gaskin Street, N1, 020 7288 8080 pilatescentral.co.uk

THE LABORATORY SPA & HEALTH CLUB This exclusive health club in Muswell Hill was named the country’s Best Health Club in 2014 at the prestigious National Fitness Awards.

The outstanding facilities – which include a sky-lit pool, in-house juice bar, state-of-the art gym and luxury spa – beat off strong national competition to take the crown.

The Avenue, N10, 020 8482 3000; labspa.co.uk

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JANUARY 2015

10/12/2014 10:21

DON’T MISS OUT ON OUR

EJxANcUlARuY sOFiFvERe

LAB SPA.indd 2

09/12/2014 14:02

THE LAB WINS AGAIN! HEALTH CLUB OF THE YEAR

JOIN & CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE.

MUSWELL HILL THE AVENUE N10 2QE CALL 020 8482 3000 MILL HILL HALL LANE NW4 4TJ CALL 020 8457 3300 LABSPA.CO.UK

LAB SPA.indd 3

09/12/2014 14:02

timeless

Crouch End 128 Crouch Hill London N8 9DY Telephone 020 8341 2020

Islington 42 Cross Street London N1 2BA Telephone 020 7359 4041

www.funktionalkitchens.co.uk

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> TABLE TALK

p. 39

FOOD REVIEWS:LE COQ AND NUMBER 90 p. 41

IN-SPIRALIZED The Helmsley + Helmsley Spiralizer is the perfect complement to the chart topping cookbook The Art of Eating Well, which was released to critical acclaim earlier last year.

The health conscious cook’s secret weapon is available online this month. £29.95, amazon.co.uk

37 C&A_Jan15_Foody_Opener.indd 37

JANUARY 2015

10/12/2014 10:24

TRO N I H ONT M A £3

DU

FFER O N CTIO

TRY NEW THINGS So far this year, we’ve been up 2 towers- the Oxo Tower and the Shard; we’ve sung our hearts out in a Reggae Choir, gone scuba diving, had walks & picnics, as well as some fantastic nights out!

MEET NEW PEOPLE Through our regular meet ups and events, we give people the opportunity to make new friendships & connect with each other.

CONNECT WITH THE BOROUGH We showcase some of the fantastic things on offer from community organisations and local businesses.

SAVE MONEY Our Camden source & arrange deals for our Members with local businesses. This enables us to support independent business & encourage people to shop locally whilst making great savings.

Contribute.

Celebrate.

Connect. www.ourcamden.org 0203 488 0020 OUR CAMDEN.indd 1

08/10/2014 11:48

FOOD & DRINK / NOTES RECIPE

COURGETTE & AUBERGINE CURRY B y HE MS L EY & H E MSL EY Serves: 4 simple one-pot supper that is

A warming for the soul. The coconut and ginger have incredible immuneboosting properties.

INGREDIENTS • 200g bar of creamed coconut (use the oil for frying) • 2 large onions, diced • 2 thumbsized pieces of fresh root ginger (about 80g) – unpeeled if organic – grated • 6 large garlic cloves, diced • 200g red split lentils, rinsed • ½−1 litre bone broth or water • 1 large aubergine, chopped into 1.5cm pieces • 4 large tomatoes, quartered • 2 large courgettes, diced • Grated zest and juice of 1 unwaxed lime or lemon • 2½–3 tsp tamari or 2 large pinches of sea salt • 1 tsp maple syrup • Handful roughly chopped fresh herbs such as coriander, mint or basil

TABLE TALK A healthy Hemsley & Hemsley recipe and London’s fantastic new home delivery service METHOD

In a large wide pan, dry fry the peanuts or cashews for a few minutes to toast them, roughly chop and set aside.

02 In the same pan, heat the coconut oil over a medium heat and fry the onion, ginger and garlic for 10 minutes until soft.

03 Add the lentils, the coconut solids and then most of the bone broth or water and stir well. This should be enough liquid for the coconut solids to dissolve, but keep an eye on the liquid levels so that the lentils don’t stick and burn at the bottom.

04 After 6 minutes of cooking over a medium-high heat, add the aubergine and stir. 05 After a further 10 minutes, add the tomato, courgette, lime or lemon zest and the tamari or salt. 06 After 6 minutes, turn off the heat and add the lime or lemon juice, the maple syrup and fresh herbs, then stir and taste. 07 Top with the nuts and serve with watercress or your chosen side dish. If we’re having guests round, we like to serve our curry with some bowls of extras (nuts, herbs, lemon or lime wedges) so everyone can help themselves to extra toppings. ◆ 01

Deliveroo

FAST FOOD NATION The dual forces of Chicken Shop and Dirty Burger have come east to share their particular brand of haute fast food with the hipsters of the hood. If you like chicken… and beef, you’ll love this double whammy.

27a Mile End Road, E1; chickenshop.com, eatdirtyburger.com

ew premium delivery service Deliveroo is just the cleverest thing.

Order online and it will pick up a meal from a restaurant near you and bring it straight to your door; just look up your postcode and see what's on offer. We went for Mexican – other options for the surrounding area include Banana Tree, The Diner, United Ramen and Homa. deliveroo.co.uk

N

TRADE UP

rade is the perfect place to grab a tasty flat white or to settle in for brunch on a Sunday afternoon. The Smashed Avo, avocado mixed with lime, feta, red chili and served on grilled sourdough, is light, flavoursome and utterly scrumptious – while those looking for something a little more heavy duty should try the Pastrami Benedict: Eggs Benedict with house-smoked pastrami. Heaven. 47 Commercial Street, E1; trade-made.co.uk

T

Taken from The Art of Eating Well (Ebury Press)

39 C&A_Jan_Food_Notes.indd 39

JANUARY 2015

10/12/2014 10:27

INTERIOR DESIGN SPACE PLANNING DECORATION FURNISHING DESIGN & BUILD LIGHTING

07850 101011 SARAH ROSS_FP.indd 1

www.sarahrossdesign.com 08/12/2014 11:46

FOOD & DRINK / REVIEW

NO.90

A roast with the most W o r d s HELEN BARON

LE COQ

Eating happy, healthy hens with a lamb-loving chicken-sceptic

I

Wo r d s R i c h a r d M e l l o r

t’s all about poultry tonight.

Departing the Hen and Chickens Theatre Bar, a game old bird in tow, I strut over to a new neighbourhood rotisserie.

As coops go, this one is mighty promising. Stylishly sparse yet cosy inside, LeCoq is positioned plum on the Highbury end of St Paul’s Road, its arrival confirming this parade as a foodie hotspot. Italian trattoria fave Trullo is doors away and TripAdvisor-topping fishmonger Prawn on the Lawn is a little further.

While I smugly watch non-reservers get turned away, my date gazes at the plump, golden fowl on the spit – before declaring that she (whisper) doesn’t really like chicken. I’m aghast: it’s the only main course option, you pratt. Still, if any joint can convert a chook-sceptic, it’s surely LeCoq. The rest of the menu comprises inventive starters, sides and puds, all of which change weekly. Tonight’s offerings have a Persian tang, including the sweet, more-ish lamband-pistachio meatballs with which we begin.

‘God, I bloody love lamb,' says my companion, just as the chicken arrives.

But LeCoq’s chickens aren’t any old chickens. They’re Sutton Hoo chickens.

Sutton who? Hooray. Basically, they lived a happy, free-range existence on a happy, free-range farm, and you can tell as much when you bite in. After devouring one last subtle, succulent breast, I vow never to chomp on cheap meat again.

We vamoosh the LeCoq’s perfectlycrispy roast spuds, too, washing them down with a decent on-tap Sicilian white.

For dessert, my companion’s robiola cheese is a further revelation; literally oozing with creamy flavour, and cleverly accompanied by medjool dates. All of this – excluding wine – for £22 each, too.

Bargain.

I like it here. But is my pal convinced?

Don’t count your chickens.

'I might come back on Sundays,' she olive-branches. On Sundays, you see, the spits rotate with other, non-chicken meats. Rotisserie octopus, anyone? u

● LeCoq

292-294 St Paul’s Road, N1 le-coq.co.uk

41 C&A_JAN15_Food_Review_x2.indd 41

o.90 is a large, no-frills space set by the N warehouse River Lea, overlooking the canal and what were once the desolate surrounds of Hackney Wick.

Now, of course, this is part of the 2012 Olympic regeneration zone – and in true East London style, the founders are making the most of the industrial badlands that still cling on in this corner of East London, turning the downbeat locale to their entrepreneurial advantage.

It was only a matter of time before big developers began to spread here, searching for pastures new; No.90 is pre-empting them.

Admittedly the sense of being ‘on the edge’ of things remains: you’d be right in thinking you were in the middle of nowhere, but ultimately this works to the Wick’s advantage, infusing its thriving arts, nightlife and rave scenes with the all-important ‘underground’ flavour. The new wave of eateries slots in nicely, and now there’s No.90, cooking up mean Sunday roasts. New Head Chef Boris van Meeuwan, whose culinary history includes the esteemed Nobu, has created a bespoke menu and sources his prime cuts from the much-feted Rare Breeds Company. The veggie option is unmatched in the local area. This is a real win for No.90, especially when you think of all the gastro-pubs – some of great standing – that can’t even be bothered to prepare a veggie gravy. We tucked into our nut roast with porcini gravy and in true day-after-the-night -before style, barely said a word – just wolfed down the sustenance with gratitude. ◆

● No.9 0

90 Wallis Road, E9; number90bar.co.uk

JANUARY 2015

10/12/2014 10:33

NEW KITCHENS @ SHOREDITCH

Luxury European Furniture since 1962

London & M25 Showrooms 020 7760 7558 WHARFESIDE.indd 1 absolutely-ad11.indd 1

absolutelywharfside.co.uk 18/11/2014 14:08 18/11/2014 11:47

> INTERIORS INSPIRATIONS

p. 44

FOLKSY FURNISHINGS WITH DONNA WILSON

p. 48

PENDANT POWER To mark Poul Henningsen’s 120th birthday, Louis Poulsen has launched the stylish PH 3½-3 pendant, based on the designer's original drawings from the late 1920s and early 1930s. The pendant has metal shades, available in green, yellow, red and white. £632, skandium.com

43 C&A_JAN_Interior_Opener.indd 43

JANUARY 2015

10/12/2014 10:34

10 of the best

heavy metal accessories 01

This month we’re all about metal magic and upcycled chic Wo r d s G e m m a B i l l i n g t o n

TOM FORD

Scent London Diffuser, £35; occa-home.co.uk

ARTISANTI

Bardem 3 Drawer Metal Dresser, £502;artisanti.com

02 03

SKULTUNA

Brass Bottle Opener, £60; conranshop.co.uk

04

ALESSI

Chip Magnetic Paper Clip Holder, £33; design55online.co.uk 05

THE CAST IRON BATH COMPANY

Marseille Cyprium Copper Bateau Bath, £2,495; castironbath.co.uk

On a Wing O sborne & Little for Multiyork

The weather outside might still be frightful, but Multiyork’s new Osborne & Little fabrics are just delightful. The collaboration between two of Britain’s most established and revered interior brands includes this whimsical butterfly print, which would have to be our pick of the bunch. Murrayfield Chair in Osborne & Little Butterfly Gardens fabric, £1,439; multiyork.co.uk

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Chis_Jan_Interior_Insp.indd 44

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HOMES & INTERIORS / NOTES ROWEN & WREN

Moscow Mule Copper Mugs, £18 each; rowenandwren.co.uk

editor’s

TAKE A PEW

PICK

Nigel Coates

Want to take a piece of maverick designer Nigel Coates home with you? Recently unveiled at Decorex, this striking Back to Back sofa is upholstered in Dedar fabric and is an updated version of the original, created in 2008 for Italian furniture makers Fratelli Boffi. Back to Back sofa

by Nigel Coates upholstered with Dedar fabrics, £8,300, cushions as shown £1,050;

nigelcoates.com

06 07

DOG DAYS Occa Home

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but clearly no one told this dapper off-piste pooch. This quirky Autrement Dit cushion is one of three to collect from Occa Home. We’re a tiny bit obsessed with them. £54; occa-home.co.uk

OLIVER BONAS

Double Trinket Dish, £18; oliverbonas.com 08

09

JONATHAN ADLER

Large Brass Bird Bowl, £398; uk.jonathanadler.com

SECOND LIFE Pipoca

Pipoca is a haven of upcycled and vintage furniture. The team stock eye-catching, lovingly restored homeware and also offer a bespoke ‘customer design’ service, whereby a client’s old piece of furniture can be given a new lease of life. pipoca.co.uk

BLOOMINGVALE

09

Black Table Lamp with Copper Shade, £206; debenhams.com

BOOKY NOOK The London Alcove Company

Too many books and not enough storage? Call on The London Alcove Company. Their bespoke interior cabinets and bookcases will have your beloved library neatly displayed in no time at all and there's a free design and quote service available. londonalcove.com

45 Chis_Jan_Interior_Insp.indd 45

SASSY HARDWICK FURNITURE

Copper Drinks Cabinet , POA; sassyhardwick.co.uk 10

JANUARY 2015

10/12/2014 10:42

62-64 Lower Clapton Road, Clapton, London, E5 0RN Tel: 020 8985 6388 - sales@harriselectricalltd.co.uk

www.harriselectricalltd.co.uk

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09/12/2014 10:13

THE SALE INSTALLATIONS AND CONNECTIONS YOU CAN TRUST Harris Electrical is a family run business that has retailed domestic appliances and home entertainment from showrooms on Lower Clapton Road, Hackney for more than 80 years.

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FOLLOW US

09/12/2014 10:13

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PROFILE

Playing House Enter the whimsical world of local designer and ‘knit revolutionary’, Donna Wilson I n t e r v i e w A b s o l u t e ly

ABSOLUTELY When did you realise you had a passion for design?

DONNA WILSON I think it was at quite a young age, I was always drawing and making things and was always most happy with a pencil in my hand. I didn’t know what I wanted to be as a child, but I knew it was going to be something to do with art and design.

more disturbing knitted creatures with two heads or extra long legs, each with their very own character; the more peculiar the better for me.

ABS How do you start your design process?

DW I usually do sketches in a notebook – they look like little cartoons, tiny bodies with huge exaggerated heads. I get their look and idea on paper first, then start knitting; usually they turn out very much like the drawings but occasionally I’ll make some out of the scraps or off-cuts.

Sometimes these rejects are just as successful as the planned ones.

ABS Where do your inspirations come from?

DW All over the place: the landscape, music, dreams, magazines, ceramics, Scandinavian design, people. Sometimes I just see a tiny snippet of something which triggers an idea, which is then developed into a product. I recently went to a small, remote island off the coast of Newfoundland and came back feeling really inspired by its landscape of boats and houses; but normally I find inspiration everywhere: it can be a tiny piece of cloth, a picture in a book or a found object from my travels. Nature is also a big inspiration for me, particularly the plants and animals in the British countryside.

ABS How did you get to where you are?

DW I studied Textile Design at Grays College of Art in Aberdeen and graduated in 1999. I then got a job in a knitwear company as an assistant designer for a year. After that I went back to college to do my MA at the Royal College of Art, where I specialised in Mixed Media Textiles. I had fantastic tutors there. At the RCA I started making products and sold them in shops like Couverture and Supra Girls London. They started off as the long, leggy dolls and evolved into the slightly

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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ABS What has been the highlight of your career so far?

DW There have been so many highlights, [especially] working with a great team of people who help me to have the best job! Meeting designers like Rob Ryan and Orla Kiely, and making the creatures and props for a music video for Gideon Conn.

Also, winning the Elle Decoration British Designer of the Year award in 2010.

My SKETCHES look like CARTOONS, tiny BODIES with

HUGE EXAGGERATED heads.

ABSWhich famous artists/designers do you admire or inspire you the most?

DW I like Alexander Girard, Stig Lindberg, my grandma (but she wasn’t famous)!

Another designer I admire is Hella Jongerius – I love the sofa she did for Vitra a long time ago with the odd buttons! I’d never seen anything like this and I love the way she uses textiles and colour a lot in her work. Her designs are clever and thoughtful and have that human element.

48 09/12/2014 12:15

HOMES & INTERIORS / FEATURE ABS What five words would best describe you?

DW Colourful, smiley (most of the time), messy, bendy, Scottish.

ABS What are five things you couldn’t live without?

DW A sketchbook, a stapler, music, colourful paints, the sea.

ABS How did you learn to knit? How old were you at the time?

DW My grandma tried to teach me to knit and crochet when I was really young but I didn’t have the patience. Even now I’m not very patient for hand-knitting, I prefer to machine-knit. We were taught the basics during my BA, how to cast on and off etc.

That was in 1996, and after that I taught myself the rest to get the effect that I was looking for. I always love the way I can create a fabric from a strand of yarn in the texture, colour and pattern I want.

ABS How did it feel to have a sell-out show at the Royal College of Art? How did this affect your career plans?

DW It was very encouraging, I knew that I wanted to start my own business when I left the RCA. It gave me the confidence to exhibit at a public show called Designersblock, which opened my work up to a wider audience too. I’d never have done that if it wasn’t for the RCA. ABSYou studied in Holland for a while.

Did it influence you?

DW I took part in a student exchange to Maastricht. It was such a great experience, being completely out of my comfort zone, meeting new people, and I still have a couple of friends that I met there after 10 years.

It was great to do some of the course in a completely different environment and with different tutors. I had a really nice time.

ABS What was your first knitted creature?

What inspired you to create him/her?

DW After the long leggy creatures I made the weirder creatures. I had a small family

EVERYTHING we do is DESIGNED to make people SMILE. I love WORKING WITH COLOUR.

and I can’t remember which one came first, as they were all born around the same time: Edd Red Head, with the giant head and tiny body; Angry Ginger, who was ginger with a hairy chest; Bunny Blue, who had four sets of ears and four eyes; and Canibdoll, who was inspired by a story that was in the news at the time – a German cannibal advertised to find a mate to eat and he got a few applicants! Although the creatures sound a bit gruesome, they were not scary, they were more collectable companions that people wanted to look after.

ABS What does the job of a ‘knitting designer’ involve?

DW For my own business, I do a bit of everything, selecting colours, mood boards, designing, making samples, production, marketing, admin and everything to do with the day-to-day running of the business. I’m still learning as I go along.

ABS How did you go about establishing your online shop?

DW I had a website pretty much straight after leaving the RCA, I felt it was important for shops and customers to see what I did.

The first site was very hand-drawn and had

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HOMES & INTERIORS / FEATURE

a little animation of the creatures. I wasn’t trying to pretend I was a big company, I liked the fact that I was just starting out, was independent and could do small numbers and small quantities. The web shop took about six years to establish itself as a successful part of the business.

ABS As well as the animals we love your scarves and knitwear. How do you bring so much personality to these pieces?

DW Everything we do is designed to make people smile. I love working with colour and I think that brings a lot of personality to people.

ABS Do you have any favourite yarns you like to work with?

DW I always work with natural yarns, mainly lambswool, I love the colours you can get as well as its felting properties.

The crafted nature of the product is as important as the design process. When I’m making things I have to use the same process for each but because they’re made by hand, their form varies from one to another and when we get to the stage of stitching their features on, I create a new personality every time – embroidery is like drawing with a needle and thread. The proportions and placement gives each one a different look. People have asked me why I don’t get them mass-produced – it would certainly be less time consuming – but for me I think they would lose their charm, identity and oddness.

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ABS Do you have a favourite knitting project you’ve worked on?

DW The knitted wedding was the most fun knitting project, organised by Rachel Mathews from Cast Off. Everything from the cake to the sandwiches, dj’s microphone and even the confetti was knitted. I was a bridesmaid, and my job was to knit the 30-metre long train. Luckily I had a knitting machine with a motor on it!

ABS What’s the most challenging part of your job?

DW The business side of it, and making the right decisions about what to spend our time doing. I want everyone to feel part of the company and us all to be motivated and inspired when we come into work.

DW I love it! I think knitting is a very healthy, creative and satisfying habit. I think it’s fantastic that the stereotype is being broken.

ABS What is your favourite product in your collection?

DW My favourite product right now would be the new pie chart patchwork blanket.

I love the way it feels, the rainbow of colours, and the fact that it looks like a textile pie chart! It’s made by our seamstress Eva who makes patchwork quilts in her spare time. It’s such a lovely traditional process and this one looks really bold and colourful. I’d like to have on my wall!

ABS What do you love most about it?

DW Designing, and I have only recently given myself a bit of time to do this. I used to design in my own spare time, and on the back of an envelope on the bus! But I have been spending the last few weeks making mood boards, sketching and trying things out on the machine, and I remember why I love it. Being creative is a fantastic feeling, and I’d recommend anyone to give it a go. I also really enjoy making things that make people smile!

ABS Do you collect anything?

DW I have to try very hard not to collect too many things. If I had enough space I would collect everything as I love being surrounded by inspiring objects. I do have a shelf at home that’s got a collection of painted wooden dolls in all shapes and sizes. Some are from a trip to India, others are dolls that I’ve made, and some are lovely antique dolls with round ball heads from Japan. I love how there is a strange variation among them but that they all have nice faces. 

ABS What do you think about the increasing popularity of knitting among young people?

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n case you haven’t noticed, London and, I indeed, the whole planet has gone positively Paddington potty! On the back of his first ever live action film comes Love From Paddington, a new book from creator Michael Bond. The first Paddington book to be written from the beloved bear’s perspective, Love From Paddington is a collection of letters penned to Aunt Lucy, who lives in the Home for Retired Bears in Peru. Like the old bear himself, this book is set to become a true family favourite. ◆

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KIDS & EDUCATION / SCHOOL TALK

Cracking code

Since September 2014, ‘coding’ has replaced ICT (information and communications technology) on the new National Curriculum Wo r d s A m a n d a C o n s ta n c e

I

n its simplest terms, coding is telling a computer what you want it to do. This involves typing in step-by-step commands for the computer to follow. It’s often likened to learning a foreign language and it’s certainly double-Dutch to most parents. But in a world where coding powers our digital world, where every website, smartphone app, computer program, calculator and even microwave relies on code in order to operate, we all – but particularly children - need to understand it.

The coders of the future will be the architects and builders of the digital age.

Kathryn Parsons, chief executive and co-founder of Decoded, a company in the heart of east London’s Tech City which runs Code in a Day courses, says: 'We desperately need digital creators – talent – for the UK to be a global player in tech. Coding is the new building block for the world. There are lots of intelligent, young people out there but only a fraction of them are learning to code on the web. Bringing coding alive is essential, not just in the classroom but also by parents sitting down with their kids and learning together.

Whether you are six or 60, this has a place in everyone’s lives. Coding is the new literacy.'

Two enterprising women are bringing coding into London classrooms.

BlueSHIFT Coding was set up by Heather Lyons, a web designer and Elizabeth Tweedale, an architect, designer and computer scientist. Both have young children and a missionary zeal to get kids coding.

'Our aim is to enable young people to become creative users of technology

CODERS OF THE FUTURE will be the ARCHITECTS and BUILDERS of a DIGITAL AGE rather than passive consumers,” says Tweedale, a 30-year-old American.

'We are not trying to create a nation of computer scientists but in future we all need to have some understanding of computation,' she says.

BlueSHIFT Coding is already running classes at Chepstow House School, Wetherby and Falcon School for Girls, as well as after-school courses at the company’s studio in Monmouth Road.

Tweedale and Lyons have developed their own approach to teaching code to children between the ages of 5-12.

Tweedale explains that, traditionally, computer science has only been taught at university level and the teaching for younger children has often been

57 CHIS_JAN_Education.indd 57

a 'watered down' version. 'That just doesn’t work for children,' she says.

'It’s too slow. Have you ever seen a three-year-old work an iPad? They’re so quick, they aren’t held back by preconceived ideas.'

BlueSHIFT Coding is all about 'taking creativity in all forms in order for children to solve problems', says Tweedale. She describes a favourite project in the lessons– ‘Teddy Hacking’.

This is when the children bring in old, no longer loved soft toys and turn them into robots by adding sensors, LEDs and other micro-controls. It’s great fun.

'The huge challenge is finding teachers that can teach this,' says Tweedale. From now on, KS1 (Key Stage1) children will have to understand core elements of computer science, while those in KS2 must be able to understand and edit code and KS3 pupils must learn to be able to write their own code. At the latter stages, the teacher will need training in computer science. There is currently a huge shortage, Tweedale says.

Despite the dearth of qualified teachers there are plenty of initiatives for keen coders. Founders4Schools recently held an Appathon UK to get students to design and create an app prototype – the top three were then coded by university students and the winners were presented with their winning apps in the House of Commons last November. And Code Club, a nationwide network of volunteer-led after school coding clubs, now has more than 2,000 clubs up and running. u

blueshiftcoding.com

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GREAT EXPECTATIONS A regular column tracking the highs and lows of pregnancy from the first inkling to the final push Wo r d s H E L E N B A R O N Illustration Annie Smith

F

or me, finding out the sex of my baby has been invaluable, allowing me to bond with her in a more precise way. In the fortnight before my 20week scan, I had started to imagine I was having a boy. It was an unconscious and pointless exercise, but I suspect countless women would admit to something similar.

When the scan arrived and the gender pendulum (the gendulum?) swung the other way, I felt a sudden and unexpected pang of disappointment as my figmentson faded into obscurity. Of course, it wasn’t long before the pang itself was replaced by gratitude, excitement and affection for my forthcoming little girl, but the experience was an interesting insight into the maternal mind: the bond between a mother and her unborn child (even, in my case, an imaginary version of it) can be incredibly swift-growing and strong.

In a bid to better understand and strengthen this bond, I returned to hypnobirthing, this time with the aid of birth preparation expert Cheryl MacDonald, founder of Birth ROCKS. Cheryl and her specialist team (which includes midwives, massage therapists and yoga teachers) founded the Birth ROCKS Academy, which offers courses and therapies for new and expectant parents.

Courses can be designed around your preferences, and look to slow down the often hectic hurtle towards birth, allowing you to plan and prepare properly for what is, after all, a major life experience (and possibly a brand new one).

I now FEEL much

The team also runs Baby ROCKS, a course which addresses the practical side of parenting once baby has arrived. My hypnobirthing session was impressive, and went a long way to explaining the link between relaxation and stress-free birth while breaking down various lingering fears. I now feel much more accustomed

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MORE ACCUSTOMED to the IDEA of LABOUR as a NATURAL PROCESS to the idea of labour as a natural process, one in which the calmer I am, the more stress-free and straightforward it will be.

My partner – usually quite the cynic – echoed my sentiments, having found the mindfulness aspect of the session a bit of an eye-opener.

Of course, even as I’ve been learning to relax and prepare for a positive birth, I’ve been gearing up for the practical side of having a baby. Researching strollers and all manner of other accessories is quite a task. Amid a mountain of reviews, reports, test-drives and best-buys, one stroller stood out for us: the Mamas & Papas Urbo2: lightweight, manoeuvrable and adaptable from birth to 36 months and up. It also folds down easily – great for me, as I’m not the most mechanically adroit. The stroller is available in a range of sleek colours and there’s even a special edition printed version featuring a design

by Donna Wilson; it is also compatible with the Cybex Aton Q car seat, which is the best in the business. Alongside my very desirable new baby-changing rucksack by Kipling - think grainy black leather, moisture-proof inner lining, all sorts of useful pockets and a changing mat to boot – it has me ready and raring to go. All I need now is the baby… 

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p. 62

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RELAX & UNWIND Writer Alexandra Jones takes steps to a healthier and happier lifestyle for the New Year at the beautiful In:Spa Retreat just outside Marrakech, Morocco. See page 62 for a review of her life-changing experience.

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XXXXXX / XXXXXXX WELLNESS

ALL CHANGE If the festive season has left you with a muffin top and a perpetual hangover, an in:spa retreat is the perfect detox break Wo r d s A l e x a n d r a J o n e s

T

o give you a sense of what you’re dealing with, I’ll begin with a few admissions. Firstly, I never really ‘got’ yoga. It seemed to me a hobby that people who never exercise take up to make themselves feel better about not exercising. Secondly, sugar has been a ruling force in my life ever since I discovered the joys of the school vending machine; because really, what’s better than a 4pm snack of two Mars bars and a packet of Maltesers? This appreciation – some would call it an addiction – has dogged me through my whole podgyaround-the-middle life. It was something that I had resigned myself to: I would always, always be the person who ate a second dessert and skipped spinning. It’s just how I was made.

The idea of in:spa, then, intrigued me.

The company offers week-long detox retreats. You go along to a luxury location (be it villa, hotel or riad) in a sunsoaked country and, along with a group of strangers (between 10 and 20 in total), are schooled by a nutritionist, personal

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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trainers, a yoga instructor and a chef in all the intricacies of health and wellbeing.

There is a full exercise timetable, including two hikes and two 5km runs, and all meals are prepared by the chef – who flies out with you. The retreat I attended was in Morocco and, while I’m not sure I learned anything groundbreaking about nutrition or exercise, I did learn a great deal about myself. In fact, if I were prone to hyperbole, I’d say this holiday changed my life.

The riad itself, a few miles outside Marrakech, was picture-postcard perfect.

On the first night, our group of twelve nervously eyed one another across the main atrium and Mel – the nutritionist who had flown out with us from the UK – explained that we would have as much opportunity to explore as we wanted.

“Above all else, this is a holiday, none of the activities are compulsory,” she assured us. Everyone, however, seemed game enough; the group was made up almost entirely of women, a doctor and an ambulance driver among them. There was one man, a burned-out entrepreneur escaping from too many hours in the office.

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TRAVEL / MOROCCO THE feeling of ACHIEVEMENT was INCREDIBLE Each day we’d partake in a programme that included at least an hour of yoga and two to three hours of aerobic exercise in the form of fitness classes run by a personal trainer. This would be supplemented with one-on-one tutoring in food and fitness. Thankfully, this did not entail hardcore workouts at 5am; there was no military-style shouting and for real fitness fanatics in:spa probably isn’t the right way to go. The earliest you rise is 7am, for a 5km run which you can actually walk, if you like. I ran – it was the first time I’d run 5km in my life and the

feeling of achievement was incredible.

For those of middling ability (me) who go to the gym only sporadically but desire to go more, in:spa is a balm for your motivation levels. You’re not going to leave transformed but you will be inspired to try.

All meals are eaten en masse and (apart from dinner) in a buffet style, so you can help yourself. Food throughout the week is treated with a lot of positivity: the focus is very much on what you can have, not what you can’t. For breakfast this means quite a lot: eggs, fruit, glutenfree buckwheat pancakes, vegan bircher muesli – all delicious. Ditto lunch: think chargrilled chicken, homemade hummus, carrot salad with raisins and tamarind dressing. For both of these meals you’re invited to go for two helpings, or three if you really want. The only restrictions come around dinner time – dinner is two small courses with little flexibility in portion size. Of course you can request more, but then that’s sort of defeating

the point. I can’t say that I was hungry, though those first few days without sugar certainly left me craving something sweet.

Things like portion control or how each meal should be balanced (50% greens and vegetables, 25% carb, 25% protein) are dealt with in no-nonsense group sessions with the nutritionist. On the one hand, these sessions don’t necessarily cover new territory, but they certainly hammer home the basic facts that you blithely ignore when you pick a packet of crisps over carrot sticks. There are also oneon-one sessions with the nutritionist that are designed to be as specific as possible

MARRAKECH PALMERIE Morocco

to helping each individual achieve their goal. Very few people in the group seemed to be there to lose weight, and in:spa as a company certainly don’t make any claims about helping you shed pounds. The approach is more holistic – each person’s needs are assessed before the meeting, then the nutritionist doles out advice on a case by case basis. Predictably, my addiction to sugar was the main topic

65 C&A_JAN_ Morocco.indd 65

under discussion. “If you can go without it for three weeks, your habit will be broken,” explained Mel. Three weeks to break the habit of a lifetime? I didn’t quite believe her, but after the first few days, when the cravings had subsided, I was willing to give it a try.

In the weeks following the retreat there are things that, irrespective of how beneficial they were at the time, I haven’t been able to stick with. No alcohol, for example. For the most part, though, I am sugar-free and exercising more than I have ever done in my life.

The genius of in:spa is that everything on offer is absolutely top-notch. Advice from a wonderful team, food from an exceptional chef, accommodation in a beautiful setting; at the very least you’ll leave with the deep sense of calm that only seven nights of blissful sleep can supply. And at most, you could end up like me – not wholly transformed, but with far more faith in your own ability to change. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. u

u Seven nights at the in:spa luxury health and detox retreat starts at £1,895 across a variety of in:spa programmes and locations, including Morocco, Spain and France. Prices are based on two sharing a small double room on an all-inclusive basis. Prices include seven nights all-inclusive accommodation, all group physical activities, one nutrition consultation, one personal training session, two massages and airport transfers. Prices exclude flights.

● in:spa retre ats

020 3235 0120; inspa-retreats.com

JANUARY 2015

09/12/2014 12:26

TRAVEL / UK GETAWAY THE HOTEL

T

he handsome and intimate late 17th century former home of inspirational horticulturalist Rosemary Verey (whose beautiful garden frames the building) is the setting for this Cotswold hotel.

Eschewing a chintzy or old-timey decor scheme, the house provides the ideal bolt-hole for stressed-out Londoners, a holistic hideaway for those seeking some pastoral downtime with the mod cons of their urban lives still intact.

Our room was in the old building with a bay window overlooking the garden.

Our bathroom was huge, with quaintly slanting wooden floors, double sinks and a rainforest shower, its glitzy tiles in contrast to the neutral decor of the bedroom. The spa experience was extended to the room with a huge hot tub featuring more knobs than we knew what to do with. Expect to be in your robe for much of your stay. With only 18 rooms, the hotel is boutique-y, and the spa (which is reached by a picturesque woodland walkway) is a big draw, with five treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room, relaxation room and – the jewel in the crown – a heated hydrotherapy pool, much enjoyed in colder months thanks to its steam-misted view of the surrounding cow-studded pastures. 

BARNSLEY HOUSE T H E COTSWO L DS Wo r d s H E L E N B A R O N

THE RESTAURANT

W

e dined at The Potager Restaurant – another reference to the esteemed Ms Verey and her famous ornamental vegetable garden. It makes sense then that the vegetables themselves come straight from garden to fork. Specialist vegetables are the stars of the plate here. The Sunday roast draws many a local, as we learned the next day at checkout – the whole house was abuzz with the kind of comings and goings you might expect at Downtown Abbey, guests piling into the drawing room to start proceedings with a glass of fizz. The restaurant itself looks straight out onto the hotel’s main lawn and in the summer months meals can be enjoyed on the picturesque terrace. 

THE AREA

B

ibury is the prettiest village I’ve encountered in the Cotswolds (and just a short drive from the area ‘capital’ of Cirencester).

Arlington Row is a strip of neatly assembled weaver’s cottages built of local stone – which makes a welcome change from the honey-coloured stone with which the area is so synonymous.

The village sits astride the River Coln and next to the Bibury Trout Farm and Saxon church of St Mary. The cottages were built in 1380 as a monastic wool store and are one of the most photographed scenes in the Cotswolds. 

THE DAMAGE Rooms start at £290 per night.

Barnsley House, Barnsley, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 5EE; 01285 740000; barnsleyhouse.com

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FIND

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YOU D E S E RVE

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We’ve married the iconic styling of our 50s and 60s furniture, with our renowned comfort and craftsmanship.

Original inspiration. Timeless quality.

Be inspired at your local G Plan Vintage specialist.

gplanvintage.co.uk Image shows The Fifty Nine in Tonic Charcoal.

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Opening Times After Noah Ltd, 121 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1QP

www.afternoah.com

020 7359 4281

Mon-Sat: 10am – 6pm Sun: 11am – 5pm Easter Sun and Christmas Day to New Year’s Day: Closed

14/08/2014 17:21

Property Absolutely

January 2 0 1 5

> PROPERTY ROUND UP p. 76 IN THEIR OWN WORDS p.80 NIGEL LEWIS p.84

East Village, E20

Starting from ÂŁ355 Per Week

East Village, formerly the London 2012 Athletes’ Village, sits on the doorstep of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Westfield Stratford City, and includes just over 1,400 private rental homes. Each of the one to four bedroom homes feature open-plan living, underfloor heating, and fitted wardrobes in every bedroom. Spacious balconies, terraces or winter gardens and an abundance of natural light via floor to ceiling windows offering stunning views of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

020 3714 8083

getlivinglondon.com

71 PROPERTY FRONT COVER.indd 1

JANUARY 2015

09/12/2014 16:32

currell.com

illowen oad, , hare of reehold onverted ictorian

aisonette

his splendid three dou le edroom ictorian conversion, situated ust north of the pretty assland ardens, is well placed to en oy the green spaces of ictoria ar .

ore oad, , easehold iews over ictoria ar two dou le edroom duple apartment in immaculate condition, situated on a uiet residential road. he apartment has uno structed views across ictoria ar .

ictoria ar victoriapar

CURRELLS.indd 1

currell.com

09/12/2014 09:27

currell.com

ayland venue, , , reehold stylish family home n e ceptionally spacious, four edroom ictorian terraced house, situated on a uiet turning off Dalston ane.

Demonstrating a great sense of style and period features, this property has een painsta ingly restored y the current owners. Benefitting from a large, landscaped garden the property is conveneitenly located for Dalston Junction and ust minutes to iverpool treet from ac ney Downs. rating D

ac ney hac ney currell.com

CURRELLS.indd 2

09/12/2014 09:27

BlakeStanley

Goldsmith's Row, E2

ÂŁ425 pw

A charming split level two bedroom converted apartment enviably located between Broadway Market and Columbia Road, a short walk from London Fields Park and Regents Canal overlooking Haggerston Park. The property benefits from a spacious and bright reception with wood floors, separate fitted kitchen, bathroom with shower over bath and good storage. Unfurnished. Available now.

Unfurnished

info@blakestanley.co.uk BLAKE_STANLEY.indd 1

11-13a Broadway Market, London Fields, London , E8 4PH 09/12/2014 17:47

www.blakestanley.co.uk

Harry Zeital Way, E5

020 7254 7554

£285,000

Set on the fourth floor of this modern purpose built block within this popular canal side development is this well presented one bedroom apartment. The property comprises of a west facing reception with Juliette balcony, modern fitted kitchen offering integrated appliances, three piece bathroom suite and plenty of storage.

Within close proximity to the amenities of Upper Clapton Road and a short walk to Clapton Station providing direct access to Liverpool Street. This would be ideal for a first time buyer's purchaser or rental investment Leasehold

Gransden Avenue, E8

info@blakestanley.co.uk BLAKE_STANLEY.indd 2

£415,000

Offered to the market in excellent decorative order is this two bedroom apartment. The property is located on the fourth floor and comprises an open-plan kitchen / reception with Juliet balcony, two double bedrooms, two bathrooms (one en-suite to master) and plenty of storage. The development also benefits from lift access and a communal roof terrace.

Located between the vibrant life of Victoria Park Village & Roman Road and the varied transport links of Bow Road, including Bow Church DLR and the District Line.

Leasehold

£500 pw

A bright and spacious live/work unit moments from London Fields and Broadway Market. A large open-plan living area with fitted kitchen and office area. Upstairs is the main bedroom and a second room which good be used as a work space, there is a large bathroom with shower over bath. The property also offers one off street parking space, there with excellent transport links via rail, bus and Bethnal Green tube station is within easy reach. Available 15th December, part furnished.

Unfurnished

Fairfield Road, E3

Queensbridge Rd, E2

£360 pw

A beautiful one bedroom apartment to rent in this lovely Victorian conversion. The property comprises of a large open plan kitchen and lounge with solid tiger bamboo flooring, along the corridor leads to a bathroom with shower over bath and good sized double bedroom which overlooks the garden. The property benifits from having a large shared garden which has many different seating areas and bike storage. Minutes from Columbia Road Market and Broadway Market. Available end of January 2015.

Unfurnished

11-13a Broadway Market, London Fields, London , E8 4PH 09/12/2014 17:47

Property Round Up FEATURE PROPERTY The Textile Building, E9, ÂŁ750,000 Leasehold

T

hese 22 duplex apartments crown the 64 factory conversions and enjoy far reaching views. Set over the 4th and 5th floors the apartments feature floor to ceiling windows and under floor heating. This particular apartment offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms (one en-suite), utility area, separate w/c, a striking kitchen, and a fantastic living space opening to a private South West facing balcony.

Stirling Arkroyd, Hackney 020 7749 3807; stirlingackroyd.com

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76 09/12/2014 12:44

PROPERTY | NEWS

The INSIDE SCOOP of NEWS in your area Pentonville Road, N1, £475,000 Leasehold A well appointed and spacious second floor, one bedroom apartment minutes from the regeneration zone of Kings Cross with Google soon to be local residents. The property benefits from a large private balcony, wood flooring throughout and a modern kitchen and bathroom. The modern development provides a communal courtyard, security entry system and a lift to all floors. The location affords ideal transport links being minutes from Angel station and a short walk to the vibrancy of Upper Street and Covent Garden.

020 7291 0655; edmundcude.com

Hurford Salvi Carr expands network of city offices to open in City Road, N1 Hurford Salvi Carr is opening their new 2,000 sq ft, high-tech office at 227 City Road, located midway between Angel and Old Street, London, N1.

The opening increases their network of offices to five across central London, the City fringes and Docklands and will provide a focal point for the company’s activities in the City Fringes. David Salvi, Director of Hurford Salvi Carr, said, 'Hurford Salvi Carr identified this area some time ago as having huge potential but has been eager to wait for the right location and space, which we have now

PRIME LOCATION.COM

SUGGESTS

Royal Wharf, E16. The residential heart of London’s Royal Docks, releases its next phase

T

he second phase of Royal Wharf, the residential centerpiece of the Royal Docks in East London, is now available for sale. Phase two, bordered by the park and riverfront, releases 760 new properties to the market.

Royal Wharf, by Oxley and Ballymore, will be a new neighborhoodof 3,385 riverside properties, complete with a high street of shops, bars and restaurants, garden squares, two new parks and three pocket parks, new community infrastructure which will include a school and a 14,000 sq ft leisure facility, all with a 500m river frontage. The first phase of Royal Wharf was launched in London in March 2014 and sold out in days. John Mulryan, UK Managing Director of Ballymore, added: 'Phase two of the Royal Wharf offers a unique opportunity to buy into an area of the capital that is set to drastically change and evolve in the coming years.'

Prices starting from £250,000 Royal Wharf 0800 160 1200; royalwharf.com

found. We have designed the office to have a spectacular 60 foot glass frontage with bespoke displays to advertise our clients' properties alongside a high-tech ‘digital wall’ which is 3.5 x 1.5 metres in size.'

Hurford Salvi Carr, City Road 020 7549 6969; hurford-salvi-carr.co.uk You can use our market-leading free smartphone and tablet apps on any device to search over a million properties instantly whilst on the move. So, no matter where you are or what device you're on, you can now

access properties for sale and to rent and much more when you are out and about.

Find out more here: (www.primelocation.com/apps/)

Spotlight on E3

Average asking price - £431,843 | Average asking rent - £1,670 pcm | Average property value - £398,709

Data provided by

77 PROPERTY ROUND UP.2.indd 3

JANUARY 2015

09/12/2014 16:32

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE

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WELCOME TO THE END OF AN ERA

JUST FIVE STYLISH TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS REMAINING Only 0.7 miles from the lively town of Brentwood and the station Brentwood Station to London Liverpool Street by train in less than 40 minutes

PRICES FROM ÂŁ420,000* Viewings by appointment only 01279 817 882 sales@cityandcountry.co.uk Pastoral Way, Brentwood, CM14 5GF Prices correct at time of going to press

Internal photographs taken from show homes

www.cityandcountry.co.uk

C&C.indd 1 Absolutely Magazine JAN ISSUE 297x210 FP_AW_PRINT.indd 1

08/12/2014 10:39 08/12/2014 09:46

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Sandy Sitlani Senior Lettings Negotiator at Currell, Victoria Park Photography: rebecca noonan

O

riginally from India, I have lived in Africa, Dubai and most recently in Byron Bay, Australia. I have been fortunate to experience lifestyles and cultures of people from all parts of the world and there is no better place to put that to use than a customer facing role in London.

I moved to London in 2009 to complete a degree in Music Production. While I was working towards this I had a number of sales jobs, using experience gained in property sales in Dubai. I soon found myself in a lettings role at a small, private agency based in south-east London. I was amazed by the pace of the market. You always hear about the pace of the London market but experiencing it is really quite exciting.

In early 2013 I joined Currell in Victoria Park as part of the lettings team. Regeneration of the area is well underway and the lettings market here is really strong. For people that don’t know the area well, Victoria Park is a great oasis in this massive city. Almost every new visitor is amazed to find a beautiful village feel just a few streets away from the hustle and bustle of Mare Street and Mile End Road.

Regeneration has brought a wealth of new industries, shops and restaurants to the area,

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while more traditional east end shops also remain. The park itself is a huge draw for residents, especially in summer when it’s a real treat to have an area of open green space to enjoy. The quality of the schools, like Lauriston Primary School, is another big draw for young families and this has heightened demand for large family homes.

I have lived in and around Hackney since I moved here and have seen first-hand the huge changes in the area. Luckily, two things that haven’t changed are the diversity of local residents and the creative atmosphere.

Coming from a music background and DJ’ing in bars and clubs since I was 17, I feel right at home with the creative vibe. Victoria Park and Hackney have so many great venues that showcase various styles of music, pop up bars, restaurants and galleries; there’s always something going on. The icing on the cake is that I have met quite a few musicians and artists who have been looking for properties in the area. I’ve even got free tickets to some gigs! This is the kind of area which attracts all kinds of people. Meeting new and interesting people is the most enjoyable part of the job as you never quite know who you’ll come across next.

020 3222 5555; currell.com

80 09/12/2014 11:05

PROPERTY | PROFILE

81 ITOW.indd 3

JANUARY 2015

09/12/2014 11:05

all on 020 7354 3000 for a FREE quote Commercial & Residential Property Corporate & Commercial Disputes Employment Insolvency Wills & Probate

HELP WITH THE LEGAL DETAIL WHEN YOU WANT TO EXTEND YOUR LEASE OR BUY YOUR FREEHOLD

Hema

Partner, Enfranchisement and Commercial Property

"Efficient, thorough, and always a pleasure to tal to. Hema was particularly good at providing reassurance and clarity."

"I always felt that with Hema we were in really safe hands."

PROPERTY LAW SERVICE

Buying or Selling Commercial Property Enfranchisement Landlord & Tenant Lease Extensions Property Disputes

pper treet, Islington, ondon 020 7354 3000 property@colmancoyle.com

www.colmancoyle.com

forward thin ing straight tal ing COLEMAN COYLE.indd 2

1984 - 2014

anniversary

Celebrating 30 YEARS in business | 1984 - 2014

10/03/2014 11:44

020 8985 0106

hackney@castles-estateagents.co.uk

www.castles-estateagents.co.uk

Hackney Sales & Lettings

Waterfront House, E5

Oriel Road, E9

• esira le evelopment • Bedrooms • Private errace • ie s cross River Lea

• nc antin victorian ome • ou le edrooms • n suite at plus s o er room • antastic Location

£385,000 LEASEHOLD

£625,000 FREEHOLD

Hibbert Road, E17

Powerscroft Road, E5

• astefull Refur is ed • 3 Bedrooms • acin rear arden • onvenient Location

• 3 Bedrooms • Potential for improvement • Rear Garden • Popular Location

£475,000 FREEHOLD

£875,000 FREEHOLD

44 Lower Clapton Road, London E5 0RN CASTLES_EAST.indd 1

05/12/2014 14:14

PROPERTY | NIGEL LEWIS

London's MOST POPULAR

Nigel Lewis, Absolutely's resident property writer, takes a look at London's most viewed property: 22 Lyndhurst Road, Hampstead

T

here are 58,596 properties listed for sale in London at the moment and at the time of writing this was the most viewed online of any of them. It’s also the most expensive house for sale in the capital although it’s not the dearest property – an apartment within One Hyde Park in Knightsbridge is currently listed at £64.9 million which, I know, is a lot of

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money for a five bedroom flat.

Better value is to be had if you buy 22 Lyndhurst Road in Hampstead (it has a garden, for starters) as well as an interesting history. Over the past four years it has been owned by a high profile Russian oligarch who in turn bought it off a London property magnate.

Both men have spent considerable sums doing the property up and the

84 09/12/2014 14:44

house now features a very high standard of interior finish. Highlights include an Ionic column-lined indoor swimming pool and a smaller outdoor pool too plus one of the grandest entrance halls in London, according to selling agent Grant Alexson of Knight Frank, in which a huge ornate stone fireplace stands sentinel.

The property, which is on the market for £46.5 million, has been viewed on Zoopla by over 80,000 people since it came on the market in June this year. Such popularity would please the man who built this seven bedroom, six bathroom house in 1896 – Liberal Party MP and shipping millionaire Russell Rea, who twice made it into parliament representing both Gloucester and later South Shields.

What he probably wouldn’t recognise

85 NIGEL LEWIS DPS.indd 3

are its interiors, which are distinctly modern. This includes what Grant Alexson describes as an opulently decorated ‘man cave’ cum office with wood panelling plus there’s a steam room, space for up to eight cars and a dining room that comfortably seats 18 people. What most buyers might find astounding is that such a large, 14,700 sq ft property with a carriage drive and half acre back garden is to be found in the busy streets between Hampstead and Belsize Park tube stations, both of which are a short walk from the house.

But the area has, since it was first developed in the late 1860s, been a favoured spot for affluent Londoners looking for seclusion, civilisation and space away from the madness of central London. And anyone who thinks recent arrivals to the UK owning properties in this area is a new trend should remember that a wealthy Turkish diplomat once lived in nearby Rosslyn Lodge during the 1850s – a house that has sadly now been demolished.

And a nice link to this delightful diplomat is that Knight Frank reckons the property to be ‘ambassadorial’, which indeed it could be – although the children’s slide that runs down from the property’s rear sun terrace to the garden reveals a cheekier, less serious side.

JANUARY 2015

09/12/2014 14:45

PROPERTY | STYLE BIBLE

300 YEARS of the Georgians Wo r d s N I G E L L E W I S

a celebration of georgian architecture

This year we’ve all been remembering those who died during the First World War, however 2014 is the anniversary of a less famous but happier event – the 300-year anniversary of London’s Georgian homes, which were built from 1714 until the 1790s.

It started with the arrival of George I, the first of four Georges, who heralded a period of architectural revolution as London embraced several generations of architects all obsessed with the order of Palladian architecture. This included familiar names including Wren, Hawksmoor, Vanbrugh, Nash, Soane, Holland and the Adam brothers – designers who all, along with many imitators, brought a new and distinctive look to London. Georgian, though, is not a precise term. Pure Georgian architecture began with a Palladian influenced style that ran from 1714 to 1760 but was then followed by the Adam period (named after Scottish brothers Robert and James Adam) until the 1790s, after which the Regency period began.

Symmetry

Order, symmetry and proportion frown down from the brick and stone of London’s Georgian properties as do their large sash windows (an innovation introduced by the

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Georgians), railings and, if you’ve ventured inside one at any time in your life, their wood panelling and wide floorboards.

At the moment the most fashionable Georgian area of London is Spitalfields, whose Hugenot-era houses were saved from being demolished by a group of enthusiasts during the 1970s and which have now become highly desirable and often authentically restored properties.

But there’s plenty to choose from if you don’t want to live there. London experienced one of its most energetic bursts of expansion under the rule of the four Georges (helped by the availability of new build plots following the Great Fire of London in 1666) and by 1753 it had become larger than Constantinople, making it the biggest city in the world.

Perhaps the prettiest and most intact Georgian gem north of the Thames is Bedford Square, between Tottenham Court Road and the British Museum; an undisturbed piece of Georgian construction dating from the late 1770s.

The most famous however is Canonbury Square in Islington; in large part because authors Evelyn Waugh and George Orwell once lived there. But while there’s history, owning a 300-year-old property comes with maintenance responsibilities.

Georgian properties are well known for needing regular refurbishments as wooden door and window lintels lead to sagging apertures, roof trusses crumble after several centuries of duty and chimney stacks wobble as masonry fails. Despite German bombing and the frequent threat of demolition (especially when out of fashion), huge swathes of Georgian buildings still stand and North of the river Georgian properties run from Hyde Park to the City and up as far as Islington, which is still one of the bastions of this period's homes, as well as Highgate (which is home to Little Green Street, a wholly intact street built during the 1780s). Georgian London had less impact south of the river but made it to Clapham Old Town, which is full of the period’s signature flat-fronted, parapet-topped terraced streets.

Despite the fact that we have lost a large amount of London’s Georgian property to demolition and destruction, what remains forms part of London’s history and character. On the 300th anniversary of London’s Georgian homes we can be confident that what is left is cherished and will be well looked after.

86 09/12/2014 14:46

Smart knows where to be seen when selling.

Over 30 million visits per month

ZOOPLA JAN.indd 1 Zest Adverts_Jan2014.indd 3

26/11/2014 08/01/2014 17:04 09:34

PROPERTY | EXPERT ADVICE

EXPERT LEGAL ADVICE

D AV E Y S OF SPITALFIELDS

HEMA ANAND RICHMOND, TW10 > UNIQUE 6 BED £14,500PCM or £4.6M

FROM COLMAN COYLE GIVES HER EXPERT ADVICE ON ALL YOUR LEGAL PROPERTY QUESTIONS Q.We are a block of 8 flats considering Right to Manage (RTM), please can you explain the responsibilities RTM entitles us to take over?

S

ubject to meeting the relevant criteria set out in The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, the management of your block transfers to the Right to Manage company (the RTM company) which is a company set up by the leaseholders. To better understand the responsibilities RTM entitles you to, you must consider the terms of your leases. Essentially, the lease contains the landlord’s duties and obligations most of which the RTM company shall be entitled to take over. For example, these include arranging the buildings insurance, major works, repair and maintenance of the building, and the supply of services which may include heating, hot water, cleaning and lighting common parts.

There are certain obligations

that the RTM company is not entitled to manage which includes collecting and receiving the ground rent and the ability to forfeit i.e. bring the lease to an end. Do also bear in mind that the landlord is entitled to be a member of the RTM company and where the landlord’s permission is required under the terms of the lease you are still required to defer matters to the landlord. The management of a building does not stem solely from the terms of your leases. There is in place significant legislation that governs the landlord’s management of a building and you would be required to comply with such requirements as well. As a result, whilst it is not necessary, it is advisable to consider employing managing agents to ensure that the building is properly managed in accordance with the terms of the leases and statutory requirements.

A dynamic and vibrant agency, working for you...

Don’t miss this opportunity, we will agree a fee that ensures we get your business!

020 7871 9599 I www.daveys.co

65 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL

*Subject to terms and conditions offer expires 01.12.14, one case of wine is equal to 6 bottles, over 18’s only.

www.colmancoyle.com 80 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0NU

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PRINCELET ST, E1 > RARE & ELEGANT 3 BED £1,150PW

info@daveys.co

Contact property partner Hema Anand with no obligation on (0)20 7354 3000 or email hema.anand@colmancoyle.com

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BRICK LANE, E1 > PERIOD 1 BED £375,000

88 09/12/2014 14:46

id Sta th m is p D du ec ty em be r* pa

ILAN SQUARE ilan square is an award-winning development offering a selection of high specification 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments beautifully located on clapton common 1 Bedroom Apartments from £305,000 2 Bedroom Apartments from £420,000 3 Bedroom Apartments from £575,000 Show Apartment Opening Times: Friday - Wednesday 10am - 5:30pm Thursday 10am - 8pm

For more information please call 0344 225 3844 or email ilansquare@hill.co.uk *Terms and conditions apply.

WITH JUST A

5%

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10/11/2014 09:23

Stirling Ackroyd All around East London N16

E5

£1,250,000

£699,950

HACKNEY SALES - NORCOTT ROAD A wonderfully charming & enchanting family residence measuring in excess of 2000 sq ft & arranged over four storeys. EPC - E

HACKNEY SALES - LORNE HOUSE This substantial Grade II Listed Georgian property has been sympathetically converted and refurbished to comprise 9 new apartments. EPC - C

E2

N1

£550,000

£650,000

SHOREDITCH SALES - WINGFIELD HOUSE This absolutely stunning & one of a kind architecturally designed garden maisonette . EPC - Pending

SHOREDITCH SALES - ROYLE BUILDING Set on the second floor of the iconic Royle building this 773 sq ft apartment offers generous living space. EPC - D

BANKSIDE 020 7940 3888

SHOREDITCH 020 7749 3838

CLERKENWELL 020 7549 0606

HACKNEY 020 7749 3807

WEST END 020 7256 3244

IBIZA 0034 971 326 788

COMMERCIAL OFFICE ISTANBUL +90 (0)444 4493 020 7729 7763

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01/12/2014 15:15

E8

E5

£675 pw

£650 pw

HACKNEY LETTINGS - ALBION DRIVE A beautifully presented three bedroom split level property set on the desirable Albion Drive in the heart of London Fields E8. EPC - D

HACKNEY LETTINGS - GLYN ROAD Well placed moments from the ever popular Chatsworth Road in Hackney E5, is this beautifully finished Victorian House. EPC - D

E2

N1

£715 pw

£1,500 pw

SHOREDITCH LETTINGS - APPOLD COURT, GODFREY PLACE A truly fantastic selection of brand new contemporary apartments situated in the heart of Shoreditch E2. EPC - B

SHOREDITCH LETTINGS - THE CANAL BUILDING, SHEPHERDESS WALK An absolutely magnificent 1/2 bedroom penthouse apartment, offering over 2,000 sq ft of beautifully planned accommodation. EPC - C

LETTINGS PRICES EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL FEES. PLEASE SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS.

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01/12/2014 15:15

EW T F ING LAS AIN REM

THE SKYLINE COLLECTION

- AN EXCLUSIVE COLLECTION OF 2 & 3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS AND PENTHOUSES AT THE CITY MILLS, E8 - FANTASTIC LIVING AND OUTDOOR SPACES - CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CITY - SPECTACULAR LONDON VIEWS

PRICES FROM £734,995*

BOOK A VIEWING AT THE SHOW APARTMENT TODAY EXTERIOR IMAGE DEPICTS A COMPUTER GENERATED IMAGE OF THE CITY MILLS

*PRICES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION

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