Absolutely South West October 2021

SOUTH WEST

South West OCTOBER 2021 / £3.95

Light fantastic

SPECIAL 65 Pages of inspiration and insight

All the lamps you need now

OCTOBER 2021

BOHO

STYLE

Fabric FOCUS Reuse, repair and recycle: the no-waste solution

Design tips from Kit Kemp

TOP COAT LUXE LOOKS FOR THE SEASON

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Bed: Sandö | Fabric: Designer´s Guild Tammaro Smoke | Carpet: Light Beige | Bed Linen: Storm Shell | Bedside table: Holme CARPE DIEM BEDS STORES: STOCKHOLM | LONDON | LYSEKIL | GOTHENBURG 15 WIGMORE STREET | LONDON W1U 1PE carpediembedsofsweden | #stayinbed | www.carpediembeds.co.uk | +44 (0) 20 3982 3252

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STAY I N B E D The ultimate luxury is taking time to unwind in a bed so comfortable that you never want to leave

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E x p re ss yo ur EXTRAORDINARY WITH THE NEW 2022 COLLECTION

Battersea Reach, Harrods, Finchley Road, Notting Hill, Tottenham Court Road, Guildford, Bentalls Kingston, Westfield London

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Discover brand new statement furniture and accessories in-store, along with new seasonal fabrics and colours. Customise our collection with the help of our Interior Designers and find the perfect match for your style. Change the size, colours, finishes, configurations and more. Call us today to book your free interior design consultation in-store or in the comfort of your own home. For further inspiration explore our new 2022 lookbook online.

I N - S T O R E N O W A N D A T B O C O N C E P T. C O M

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Some furniture is made for the here and now. Some is built to stand the test of time.

At Neptune, we believe that the best can do both.

Good design never grows old.

Neptune Chiswick, 020 3814 1220 Neptune Fulham, 020 7371 9997 Neptune Wimbledon, 020 3362 8240 neptune.com/victoriasdiningroom

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ABSOLUTELY

Contents OCTOBER 2021

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82 C U LT U R E 12 ABSOLUTELY LOVES

H E A LT H & B E A U T Y 53 BEAUTY NOTES

16 WHAT'S ON

61 FITNESS FOCUS

FOOD & DRINK 26 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

HOME 68 TOP TEN

28 EATING OUT

73 CREATIVE REVIEW

News from the design industry

32 RECIPES

74 MAD ABOUT...

10 things we’re coveting this month

Your diary for October

News from the industry

Isabel; Massis

Tim Anderson's Japanese dishes

FA S H I O N 40 THE SHOOT Colour explosion from Rianna + Nina

48 JEWELLERY Pretty pearls

What's hot and what's new

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Find your exercise class

All the best lamps and lights

Kate Watson-Smyth's interiors wisdom

82 COPENHAGEN DREAMING

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N The online guide to inspirational London living that helps you stay one step ahead of the crowd and gives you the chance to win exclusive prizes.

At home with Marie Louise Hostbo

E D U C AT I O N 143 SCHOOL ADVICE Just ask Gabbitas

O N T H E C OV E R riannaandnina.com

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Beautiful timber windows & doors

EDITOR IN CHIEF PENDLE HARTE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND DIGITAL EDITOR LAYLA TURNER MAMA EDITOR CARLY GLENDINNING ART DIRECTOR PAWEL KUBA SENIOR DESIGNERS MIKE ROBERTS SAMANTHA SCOTT MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN MEDIA CONSULTANTS STELLA ADAMS ANABELA KOLECI FINANCIAL DIRECTOR JERRIE KOLECI CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTORS CRAIG DAVIES, LEAH DAY, JAMES FUSCHILLO

Make an entrance

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT

For editorial enquiries please email: pendle@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 3981 7187 or email: craig@zest-media.com

zest.london Zest Media Publications Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media Publications Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors.

We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters.

All rights reserved.

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For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

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Fo l l ow Us O n Fa c e b o o k @ABSOLUTELYMAGAZINES T wi t t e r & In s t a g ra m @ABSOLUTELY_MAGS We b si t e

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Wandsworth | Crouch End | Dulwich

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Editor’s

LETTER ABSOLUTELY’S October issue highlights

1

Mad about the house

At home with Kate Watson-Smyth

2 Glaze on

HK Living's fabulous ceramics

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5

Lounge for life Stylish pyjamas from Orchard Moon

ctober is always a big month for interiors at Absolutely, and this issue's Home section is no exception. Everyone is more interested in their homes now than they ever have been before, so we're all keen to get them exactly right. But what makes a home exactly right? Kate Watson-Smyth knows – as one of the biggest names in interiors blogging, she has a lot to say about how to get your house right. Not only is her own north London house a living example of how to combine style and functionality, but she has just launched an online course, sharing all her knowledge and ideas with anyone who wants to sign up. Her aim? To make us all as mad about our houses as she is about hers. I went to her house to find out more – read all about it on page 74. Also in the Home section we look at everything from lighting to flooring, via wallpaper, kitchen equipment and radiators.

But it's not all interiors this month. As well as all the usual food, culture and fashion stories, we're featuring pets, pyjamas and Portugal this month. Enjoy October.

PENDLE HARTE EDITOR

4 Pretty green

Cute earrings from Scream Pretty

3 Lighten up

All our favourite lamps

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Wish LIST 10 things we Absolutely love COMPILED BY

PENDLE HARTE

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SLIPPER S AG E There's no need to sacrifice style over comfort with Daphne, Olivia Morris' signature House Slipper, in sumptuous lime green cotton velvet trimmed with an oversized bow and grosgrain binding. £245 oliviamorrisathome.com

POP ART Nude's Rock and Pop artist collection comprises four Mirage highball glasses with striking painted motifs. £37 for four. nudeglass.com

JEAN GREENIE T WO TO N E Designed by Clara von Zweigbergk for Hay, this wooden chess set in green and black makes a colourful change from the standard monochrome. £39 royaldesign.co.uk

The Anine Bing Ramona Bowie sweatshirt is crafted from 100% organic cotton and features a David Bowie print at the front and Bowie text at the back. Expect lasting comfort as well as a distinct look. £149 farfetch.com

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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ABSOLUTELY • LOVES

PRETTY GREEN Scream Pretty's affordable pieces are made in recycled sterling silver and include a new range of lime green opal pieces, including these cute huggies, £45. screampretty.com

GREEN C R AY O N Chinti & Parker has teamed up with Crayola to present a collection that is at once nostalgic and luxurious. It's a rainbow-bright line-up of sweaters, tracksuits, and tees crafted from wool, cashmere, and cotton. chintiandparker.com

LIME LIGHT Original BTC's classic Hector wall light in translucent bone china comes in a cool light green shade in various sizes. From £155 originalbtc.com

PA P I E R V E R T Papier's beautiful stationery comes in a huge variety of colours and patterns. We love the Love in Bloom diaries and planners, from £19.99 papier.com

B OT T L E GREEN A new limited edition fluted bottle of the popular English Pear and Freesia fragrance is Jo Malone London's newest launch.

Fresh and fruity indeed. £120 jomalone.co.uk

EMERALD CITY Aubade's Toi Mon Amour nightie has a chic, glamorous look with its 16mm silk and matching jacquard lace motifs. Elegant, graceful and remarkably comfortable, it is available in a new Émeraude shade. ameliesfollies.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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C U LT U R E

PALOMA FAITH WILL BE PERFORMING AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM ON THE 22 & 23 SEPTEMBER

What's on 16 • Museum of the Home 18 • Decorex 20 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Agenda

LO N D O N ’S H OT T E ST H A P P E N I N G S

EV E N T

London Cocktail Week Throughout October VARIOUS LOCATIONS London Cocktail week is back - and has been extended to the whole month of October. With an incredible lineup of events, including unmissable parties, pop-ups, masterclasses and immersive experiences for everyone, amateur to expert, this is a must to add to your ‘to-do’ list this October. londoncocktailweek.com

A RT

Affordable Art Fair 21– 24 O C TO BE R , BAT TE R S EA PARK

Discover the joy of collecting art this autumn as Affordable Art Fair returns to Battersea, with thousands of inspiring artworks from 100 top local and international galleries. Whether you’re looking for the perfect piece to complement your home, a bold new talking point, or inspiration for your workspace, you’re sure to find it at the fair, with prices from £50-£6,000.

E XH I BI T I ON

Pablo Bronstein 6 October-2 January S I R J O H N S OA N E ’ S M U S E U M Pablo Bronstein: Hell in its Heyday will feature a new body of work created especially for the Sir John Soane’s Museum by the contemporary artist.

Expect an ambitious cycle of 22 large-scale watercolours that will present visitors with a very vivid, yet colourful vision of hell. soane.org

affordableartfair.com

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CULTURE • TALKING TOPICS

EV E N T

Decorex 10-13 October K E N S I N G T O N O LY M P I A Uniting the interior design community for 43 years, Europe’s leading high-end interior design show Decorex is delighted to announce that it will return to Kensington’s Olympia London this autumn. A four-day exhibition will be followed by a virtual event, Decorex Virtual, which will feature all exhibitors from the live show across three days from 16-18 November. decorex.com

T R E AT DAY Where to enjoy Chocolate Week from 14-18 October

SAID DAL 1923

This Soho spot has gained a mass following on Instagram for its decadent dessert options. Guests should try their super chocolatey hot chocolate, which comes in three flavours: milk, dark and hazelnut. If that wasn’t enough, the hot chocolate is then drizzled in a white, milk or dark chocolate sauce.

It’s seriously messy, but worth it. said.it/en/locations

T H E AT R E

MAGIC MIKE LIVE

This Month’s Must See

Ongoing LO N D O N Conceived by Channing Tatum, Magic Mike Live has been causing quite the stir. Now, the Hippodrome where the show is staged has launched a new Bellini and a Bites VIP package for just £29, offering ticket holders the chance to get up close and personal with one of the dancers, whilst enjoying premium cocktails and nibbles on the threetiered Rooftop Terrace ahead of the show.

Get a taste of those Magic Mike Live dancers whilst enjoying the new drinks package. hippodromecasino.com

ROCOCO CHOCOLATES

ROYAL ST YLE I N T H E M A K I NG

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U NTI L 2 JAN UARY • KEN SIN GTON PALACE

real royal treat, this temporary exhibition, situated in the newlyconserved Orangery at Kensington Palace, delves deep into exploring the intimate relationship between fashion designer and royal. Revealing the process behind the creation of a number of the most iconic and important couture commissions in royal history, it is an exhibition not to be missed. hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace

Rococo Chocolates have been dubbed the finest chocolatiers in London, having been in the game for more than 30 years. With five locations across London, the shops are filled with luxurious chocolate gift ideas and, of course, their famous handmade truffles – all sourced from ethical ingredients. rococochocolates.com

ARTISAN DU CHOCOLAT

Artisan Du Chocolat proudly sits on the menus of several Michelin starred restaurants throughout the UK, so you know it’s good. The chocolates are hand-crafted at their Kent atelier, and are available to purchase in both Selfridges and their own boutique not far from the Saatchi Gallery. We recommend the salted caramels. artisanduchocolat.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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CULTURE • MUSEUM OF THE HOME

“Pets have been central to home and family life for centuries”

Pets at HOME

A look at the Museum of the Home’s current immersive exhibition, Pet Life

By EVE HERBERT

P

et Life is a multi-sensory immersive experience from the Museum of the Home exploring the role of pets on their owners’ well-being in the home.

The museum’s first family-oriented exhibition features animations, projections, hands-on activities and stories scripted and brought to life by author and storyteller Bernadette Russell.

Pet Life is the museum’s first visitor experience after reopening with its mission to reveal and rethink the way we live and what home means to us.

Visitors will be able to choose and care for an animal companion throughout their journey in a newly imagined home at the Museum. The companion will unlock animations, projections, and real-life stories reimagined, scripted and brought to life by author and storyteller Bernadette Russell.

There are four available pets (Leon the rabbit, Roughie the dog, Bob the bird and Wednesday the cat) each with individual stories and animations for

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visitors to discover. Children will learn valuable skills and life lessons as they care for their pets with hands-on activities, such as grooming their pet and picking up its litter to understand the effort that goes into taking care of a pet.

Curator Vanessa Meade says: “Pet Life celebrates the many ways our furry friends help us feel loved, secure and contribute to our wellbeing in the home. It unlocks real-life stories of pets and their owners.”

Professor Jane Hamlett and Dr Stephanie Howard-Smith from Royal Holloway, University of London say: “We're very excited to share our research with the Museum of the Home. Although many aspects of pet-keeping have changed over time, the stories we explore here demonstrate they have been central to our experiences of home and family life for centuries.” Tracy Genever, Head of Education at Blue Cross, says: “Pets bring so much joy and companionship into our lives. We hope visitors enjoy finding out more about each pet and how we can provide our four-legged friends with a wonderful life in return.”

MUSEUM OF THE HOME Pet Life continues until 31 October. museumofthehome.org.uk • @museumofthehome

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CULTURE • DESIGN

Decorex 2021

Five reasons why you can’t miss the acclaimed design show Words E V E H E R B E R T

A The design elite will be in attendance and you can meet them

fter some 43 years of connecting the industry, Decorex has become a firm favourite amongst design lovers across the globe. As Europe’s leading high-end design event, their annual show attracts the most influential industry names each year – and 2021’s edition will be no different.

The event organisers are gearing up for a grand celebration at Olympia London from 10-13 October, which will be shortly followed by Decorex Virtual from 16-18 November. After nearly two years without events or trade exhibitions, this is your long-awaited opportunity to get that vital boost of creativity, source new products and connect with your peers.

Still not convinced? We’ve whittled down five reasons why you simply can’t miss this year’s edition.

Sharing their wisdom on important topics, hear from the sharpest minds in design such as Suzy Hoodless, Jay Blades, Alexandria Dauley and Lee Broom.

1. LATEST PRODUCT RELEASES

5. WORLD CLASS ARTISANS

Decorex presents the latest design collections, so find new suppliers and everything you need for your next project.

What marks Decorex out from other design shows? The quality of their exhibitors; see the bespoke craftsmanship behind their products first-hand.

Join the design community from 1013 October at Olympia London for a supreme celebration of design. With face-to-face interaction having been limited lately, many of us are eager to mingle – as safely as possible – and share inspiration in a well curated setting.

Decorex is the perfect meeting place.

2. OPPORTUNITIES TO SOCIALISE Spend four days catching up with your peers; the design elite will be in attendance and there’s plenty of opportunity to meet them.

3. TOTAL IMMERSION IN DESIGN Immerse yourself in their amazing features: enjoy the breath-taking entranceway design, circus-themed bar created by Sara Cosgrove, Liberty. Café area and hundreds of design stands.

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4. INSIGHTS FROM EXPERTS

DECOREX For more information about attending, purchasing your ticket and Covid safety measures that have been put in place for 2021, visit their website at decorex.com

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20 %O Q UO F TE F T XM IC AS K 20 ET S*

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** BOOK BOOK IN IN CONFIDENCE CONFIDENCE KNOWING KNOWING THAT, THAT, SHOULD SHOULD THE THE FAIRS FAIRS BE BE UNABLE UNABLE TO TO GO GO AHEAD, AHEAD, TICKETS TICKETS CAN CAN BE BE TRANSFERRED TRANSFERRED TO TO AA FUTURE FUTURE EVENT EVENT OR OR REFUNDED REFUNDED**.. * Offer valid on standard adult tickets only, not valid on Luxe, VIP or add-on ticket items. Offer expires at 11.59pm on 8 November and is not valid in conjunction with any other offer. £3.50 applies per transaction. **Refunds exclude the transaction fee and SEE Tickets Refund Protection cost. Organised and presented by Immediate Live. The event will operate under the industry’s All Secure Safe Standard. Please visit the website for a full list of safety measures in place at the event. Details correct at time of print.

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CULTURE • PARTNERSHIP

FAIR GAME Finding your dream artwork at an art fair

By JENNIFER CONNER

I

t’s art fair Season. October is a key month for fairs in London at all levels of the industry; from the spectacular phenomenon of Frieze to the more shoppable – and less intimidating – Affordable Art Fair. Fairs are buzzy and exciting - but can sometimes feel overwhelming. Here are my top tips for how to make the most of the experience, in order to find the perfect artwork for you.

COME PREPARED. DO SOME ADVANCED RESEARCH

“ALWAYS PURCHASE ARTWORK BASED ON YOUR EMOTIONAL REACTION”

JFK TURNER, UNTITLED, MIXED MEDIA, £600, AFTER NYNE CONTEMPORARY

Go to the art fair’s website and take a look at the participating exhibitors. Find the galleries whose work most resonates with you, and then dig deeper and learn about specific artists. You’ll walk into the fair knowing where you’ll want to spend most of your time, and with a handful of questions to learn more.

MAKE FRIENDS: SPEAK WITH THE GALLERISTS/ARTISTS Gallerists are a wealth of knowledge and will gladly wax poetic about their artists and the artwork on sale. Don’t be afraid! They know that not everyone is ready to buy, and will enjoy sharing their knowledge and passion with you. There are many collectors who are there to learn… just like you.

AFFORDABLE ART FAIR AT EVOLUTION LONDON, BATTERSEA PARK. PHOTO BY GUY BELL.

walk away from a work and 10 minutes later start panicking that someone else may get it before you, that’s a sure sign in my book. Always purchase artwork based on your emotional reaction, rather than on what you consider to be its worth. The most valuable works are those that bring you joy every day.

The Affordable Art Fair is at Battersea Park from 21-24 October, and is offering two tickets for the price of one to all Absolutely readers.

To claim your ticket, use code ABSOLUTELY241 at the checkout.* affordableartfair.com *offer excludes Private View and Late View tickets.

USE YOUR CAMERA. TAKE PICTURES OF THE ARTWORK & NOTE THE GALLERY/ TITLE Take your time to walk around and absorb everything. Take photos of the artworks you love, and see where your own taste lies.

Be sure to snap the exhibition card which will note the gallery name, artist and title of the work. That way, you’ll be able to refer to it later – even after the fair, if you decide not to make a purchase in the moment.

NOTE YOUR REACTIONS. BUY WHAT YOU LOVE Most importantly, listen to your gut. If you

JENNIFER CONNER Jennifer Conner is the Regional Managing Director of the Affordable Art Fair in the UK, as well as Art Advisor at After Nyne Contemporary. She has held previous roles at Lisson Gallery and Sotheby’s auction house.

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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FOOD & DRINK

NATURE’S KITCHEN THE GATE

The Gate was one of the first vegetarian restaurants in London and now there are four sites in the capital. Highlights of the Marylebone menu include mango, avocado and shimeji mushroom ceviche with tomato salsa and pickled red onion or miso glazed aubergine with toasted cashew nuts, Ponzu sauce, micro coriander and sesame seeds. thegaterestaurants.com

Food notes 26 • Eating out: Isabel 28 • Recipes 32 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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WHAT TO DRINK

IN THE spirit Gin recommendations for the month

TASTING NOTES

London’s food news and most exciting openings this month

By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

By MR HOBBS

Mr Hobbs 150 Gin 70cl 40% ABV  £34 Mr Hobbs 150 is a classic London Dry Gin with quintessential English heritage, which marks the 150-year anniversary of the family owned, British boating institution; Hobbs of Henley. The award-winner is bursting with nine botanicals, making a serious gin that will leave you wanting more.

Rhubarb & Ginger Gin Liqueur 50cl 21.5% ABV  £25 Blended with the very best British rhubarb to produce a perfectly balanced gin liqueur.

Summer fruits and herbs on the nose with well-rounded ginger notes and plenty of rhubarb on the palate. The perfect addition to any drinks cabinet, this is an exceptional base for seasonal cocktails, sparkling or otherwise.

Mr Hobbs Henley Gin 70cl 45% ABV  £36 Harry Hobbs’ old recipe dates back to 1870, and they have based this recipe on five of his original botanicals, one of which is still a family secret – so no telling here – and added lime flower and lemon peel to give it a citrus twist. A bona-fide thirst quencher.

The Mr Hobbs Gin range of products is brought to you by the family pleasure boating business, Hobbs of Henley, who give you the most enjoyable way to “mess about on the river’’. Today they are very proud to share their cherished family tipples with you and raise a glass to their Henley heritage.

mrhobbsgin.co.uk

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A Mediterranean Touch THE ENGINE ROOMS

Beautiful classic cars and a more than impressive modern art collection are on show in north London’s The Engine Rooms, creating a truly unique restaurant experience. Owner Paul Michaels has a vision to create a simple, regularly evolving menu that encapsulates the joy that Mediterranean dining brings, whilst using the best of seasonal British stock. theenginerooms.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK • NOTES

INDIAN SUMMER Exploring some of South Asia’s finest

GREAT STEAK H E R I TAG E

All Day Italian ISOLA

After months of waiting, Heritage Dulwich is now open in West Dulwich. With over 30 years of experience in Michelin-starred Indian kitchens including Tamarind and Zaika, executive chef Dayashnkar Sharma has created a menu containing spectacular dishes. heritagedulwich.co.uk

This autumn sees the opening of Isola, a relaxed yet stylish Italian brasserie and bar set by the award-winning San Carlo Group. Located in St Christopher's Place, you can expect vibrant dishes featuring the best in Italian produce. It boasts a menu concocted of impeccably sourced seafood dishes such as grilled swordfish and stuffed squid, to freshly made pasta dishes and innovative meat dishes. sancarlo.co.uk/restaurants/isola-london

FLAT IRON

Flat Iron are opening a new spot in September, located in the heart of London’s historic Bankside. The Clink Street location will continue Flat Iron’s single-minded commitment to serving great steak for everyone. Their short menu consists of the signature ‘Flat Iron’ steak - taken from the oftenoverlooked feather blade and known for its flavour and tenderness when butchered with skill and care - and sides including beef dripping chips. flatironsteak.co.uk

THE CINNAMON CLUB Vivek Singh’s flagship restaurant The Cinnamon Club serves the divine dish of spiced clove smoked grouse breast amongst its booklined shelves. The flavours of the subcontinent are seamlessly married with resolutely British game. We can't get enough of it. cinnamonclub.com

C O M P L E T E

EXPERIENCE MANTECA

A Traditional Twist FATT PUNDIT

With their second restaurant having opened in August on Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, Fatt Pundit continues to tell the story of Indo-Chinese cuisine, a melting pot of cultures found within India’s Chinese community. Borrowing classics from their Soho site, the new Fatt Pundit will bring fresh dishes to the forefront, such as Crab 65, crunchy soft-shell crab with spice and curry leaf flavoured yoghurt. fattpundit.co.uk

BENARES Inventive Indian cooking with British flair, Michelin-starred restaurant Benares is a culinary landmark in the heart of Mayfair. Executive chef Sameer Taneja’s menu reflects his passion for seafood with standout dishes such as baked malabar scallop, a plump Scottish scallop baked in the shell with rich coconut curry. benaresrestaurant.com

Set across two floors in the heart of Shoreditch, David Carter and the team have found a permanent home for Manteca, opening in late October. With a continued focus on hand rolled pastas, nose to tail cooking and fire cooked cuts to share, the menu will evolve to include new dishes. mantecarestaurant.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW

ABSOLUTELY eats out…

“This glitzy space could be almost anywhere in the world”

ISABEL

High glamour in Mayfair B y PENDLE HARTE

I

sabel is buzzing with a glamorous, international young crowd. This Mayfair sibling to Notting Hill’s starry Casa Cruz is an impressive space, with a shiny ceiling covered in rows of brass lamps, fabric-covered walls and a huge square bar in the middle of the room. It’s air-conditioned and private – and you could be almost anywhere in the world. The acoustics are excellent – a soundtrack of 80s pop is loud but magically doesn’t interfere with conversation.

Up first are cocktails, which Isabel is clearly an expert at. My Cilantro Margarita (tequila, red chillies, coriander, lime, agave) is as intense

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FOOD Light, creative and high class

as it sounds – a fiery combination of chilli heat and tequila burn is not for lightweights, whil my partner’s non-alcoholic Janeiro (lychee pomegranate, lime, popcorn) is intriguing with its grown-up fruity popcorn flavour that has nothing of the children’s party about it.

The menu is brasserie-like, with a section of grills (including a 600g Westholme Wagyu picanha at £100).

I start with wild sea bass ceviche with lime, chilli and coriander (like my cocktail) and it’s delicious, all flavours sharp and fresh. Tuna tartar with ponzu dressing, crushed avocado, wasabi and lime caviar is just as good with a well-balanced

DECOR Shiny, international jet set

PRICE In a word: expensive

wasabi kick. Main courses are wild halibut fillet with courgettes, tomato and lemon, and Herefordshire dry aged sirloin steak. The fish is soft, buttery and luxurious – and the beef is even softer, with an improbably silky texture. For pudding, we’re wondering what the Isabel “Eton mess” (their quotes) could be – and it turns out to be a clever meringue cupcake case filled with berries and topped with cream – a delicate construction that shatters on contact with a spoon to create perfect mouthfulls of cream, fruit and meringue. A matcha cheesecake is, by comparison, a bit of a sombre affair – light and frothy, yet maybe a little bit too woody.

Any account of Isabel wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the loos: the spacious unisex cubicles are luxe and beautiful, with gold de Gournay wallpaper and high tech locking systems.

I SA B E L

VERDICT A glamorous night out

26 Albemarle Street, W1; 020 3096 9292 isabelw1.london

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Poggenpohl Wigmore · 118 Wigmore Street · London W1U 3RT · 020 7224 1986 · wigmore@ poggenpohl.com | Poggenpohl Chelsea · New Studio Opening Autumn 2021 · 265-267 Fulham Road · London SW3 6HY · 020 7730 7927 · chelsea@poggenpohl.com | Poggenpohl Hampstead · 477-481 Finchley Road · London NW3 6HS · 020 7794 7801 · hampstead@ poggenpohl.com

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FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW

ABSOLUTELY eats out…

“It’s a relaxed, easy place and the food is full of flavour”

MASSIS

FOOD Mezze – and lots of it

Lebanese mezze reimagined in Paddington B y PENDLE HARTE

T

he stretch of canal at Paddington Basin has become a foodie destination, with its promenade of waterside eateries and restaurants on barges.

The combination of towering glass buildings in a futuristic cityscape, the towpath with its clutter of walkers, cyclists and diners, plus a collection of painted canalboats and barges makes for an interesting new London landscape that feels slightly like Dubai. Within all this, Massis

30

DECOR is a large, busy modern Lebanese restaurant with lots of outdoor seating overlooking Sheldon Square and a vast menu of ‘reimagined’ mezze. It’s a relaxed, easy place and the food is full of flavour and easy to like, which is why their catering service is so popular too.

After all, who doesn’t love mezze?

The idea is to order a lot of small things, which we embark on happily. Service is quick and friendly; between three of us we get through quite a lot, starting with cold dishes of hummous and moutabal with delicious crispy pita bread, a fresh and sharp tabouleh

Bright, modern and fun

PRICE Mezze dishes £4.50 - £12

and some large and juicy green olives. From the hot mezze menu we choose falafel with tahini sauce – which arrives super hot and very moreish – and kibbeh kras, minced lamb meatballs with cracked wheat, onion and pine nuts, plus fried calamari in light tempura batter with tartare sauce. Everything is elegantly served in pretty, colourful bowls with bright garnishes.

From the grill we order Shish Taouk, a favourite, marinated chicken with slaw and crunchy garlic, and charcoal grilled halloumi as well as a lamb shawarma. Everything is laced with garlic and spice to make an enjoyable and interesting meal.

For pudding, there’s Lebanese churros, which is much like regular churros only in smaller pieces, and baklava, which is as sweet, sticky and delicious as you’d expect. In all, Massis is an excellent spot.

VERDICT

MASSIS

Easy dining in a buzzing space

9 Sheldon Square, W2; 020 7286 8000 massis.co.uk

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Japan

ST Y LE Fun and simple Japanese recipes to cook at home Wo r d s T I M A N D E R S O N

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

WasabiMarinated Octopus with Okra Serves 2

One of the very first izakaya meals I had in Japan was somewhere in Tokyo, fresh off the boat en route to my tour of duty as an English teacher in Kyushu.

My Japanese language ability has never really been more than rudimentary, but at that point I couldn’t even read most menus. So I ordered basically just the few things I could read – one of which was tako-wasa, written in the simpler hiragana orthography, as opposed to kanji, which is highly complex. I had no idea what tako-wasa was, but I correctly guessed it contained octopus (tako) and wasabi.

It turned out there wasn’t much more to it than that: just raw octopus, chopped up, then marinated in a generous amount of piquant wasabi and other simple seasonings. It’s pretty hard to source octopus that’s fit to serve raw in the UK, so in this recipe, the octopus is cooked.

Raw octopus also has a delightfully slippery-slimy texture, so to replicate that, I include a bit of okra. But if you can get sashimi quality raw octopus, by all means have a go with that. Also, if you can’t get octopus at all, this would be quite good with squid or cuttlefish instead.

INGREDIENTS •2 large or 4 small octopus tentacles, raw or cooked (this is about 300 g (10½ oz) raw or 150–200 g (5–7 oz) cooked) • 4 okra pods • 1 tbsp prepared wasabi • 1 tbsp mirin • 1 tbsp sake •¼ tsp dashi powder (kombu rather than katsuo, if possible) or MSG •½ tsp sugar •2 –3 pinches of salt •½ dried red chilli, finely snipped with scissors, or 1 pinch of red chilli (hot pepper) flakes (optional) •¼ lemon • 1 small handful of chives, chopped

METHOD 1 If your octopus is raw, cook it.

Bring a large pan of water to a high simmer, then lower in the octopus and cook for 45 minutes– 1 hour until tender but not soft (it should still be slightly chewy). ). Drain well, then transfer to a roasting tin and leave to air-dry for 10 minutes or so.

2 Mince two of the okra pods and cut the other two into slices about 5 mm (¼ in) thick. Combine the wasabi, mirin, sake, dashi powder, sugar, salt, minced okra and chilli, if using, stirring well to dissolve the sugar.

3 Place the octopus under a very hot grill (broiler) and cook for a few minutes on each side until lightly charred.

4 Dice the octopus into bite-size chunks and mix with the sauce along with the sliced okra. Enjoy straight away or leave in the fridge to marinate for a few hours, up to two days.

5 Serve at room temperature or cold, garnished with the lemon wedge and chopped chives.

SakeSteamed Clams Serves 2

Just like sashimi, clams steamed in sake boast an enormous deliciousness-to-effort ratio; they are so simple they almost don’t require a recipe, and the resulting broth of clam juice and sake is like an umami supernova. But also like sashimi, they rely on good-quality fresh ingredients; in this case, you need to make sure you get good, fresh clams that are free of grit.

The only way to really guarantee this is to buy them from a trusted fishmonger.

There are only three places where I trust the clams in London. Which is

not to say there aren’t more sources of good clams, it’s just that now that I’ve found three, why would I take a risk on anywhere else? So find yourself a reliable clam guy and hold onto him forever.

Nira, or garlic chives, are an excellent alternative to leeks in this recipe, if you can get them. They are sold at any Asian supermarket, usually under their Chinese name, kow choi.

INGREDIENTS •4 00–500 g (14 oz–1 lb 2 oz) clams • 1 00 ml (3½ fl oz/scant ½ cup) sake •½ leek, cut in half and thinly sliced at an angle, or 2 stalks of nira (garlic chives), cut into 2 cm (¾ in) chunks • 1 garlic clove, minced or finely grated •A few sprigs of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

METHOD 1 Wash the clams under running water; if you can see or feel any dirt or grit on them, scrub it off.

Check that all the clams’ shells are closed and intact; discard any that are broken or that are open and don’t close when you tap them.

2 Place the sake, leeks or nira and garlic in a frying pan (skillet) and bring to the boil, then tip in the clams and place a lid on the pan.

3 Steam for about 4 minutes until all the clams have opened up. Remove the lid then add the parsley and toss it through, cooking for another minute or so. Remove from the heat and discard any clams that have not opened.

4 Serve piping hot, and make sure you have some rice or bread on hand to soak up the juice.

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

METHOD

ProsciuttoWrapped Crab and avocado sushi roll Serves 2

Top-tier sushi is not really achievable for home cooks, nor even for most professional cooks. But Japan is full of sushi found at more accessible settings and price points, from convenience stores to kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt sushi) shops, as well as home kitchens. This is not the stuff Jiro dreams of – but it’s still pretty tasty. What’s more, I don’t think it can be reasonably be denigrated as ‘inauthentic’. While sushi containing odd ingredients like cream cheese or chilli sauce is generally considered the domain of Americanised Japanese food, in Japan they can get a bit silly with sushi, too. I recall one kaiten-zushi place I went to in Tokyo that served gyoza nigiri – literally an

overturned gyoza on top of a little pillow of rice. Other places serve things like pork cutlet sushi and Korean barbecue sushi. Kura Sushi, one of Japan’s most popular sushi chains, sells sushi topped with cheese tempura. Cheese tempura!

Global discourse on sushi is so focused on elite chefs that it’s easy to lose sight of this more plebeian and arguably more fun side of sushi. Are spicy tuna rolls or nigiri topped with tiny cheeseburgers going to win any Michelin stars? Probably not.

But they will make loads of people happy.

Hopefully this particular ‘B-grade’ maki will, as well – basically a California roll, but with salty Italian ham in place of the usual nori.

1 Cook the rice according to the instructions below. While the rice is cooking, stir together the vinegar, sugar and salt until the sugar and salt dissolve. Once the rice is cooked, spread it out in a large bowl or tray and sprinkle over the seasoned vinegar.

2 Mix the vinegar through the rice using a rice paddle or spatula with slicing and turning motions. Let the rice cool to room temperature before making the rolls.

3 If you have a sushi mat, wrap it in cling film (plastic wrap). If not, you don’t need to get one – just wrap some sturdy card or a few sheets of paper together in a few layers of cling film; this will be an adequate makeshift rolling mat. Lay three slices of ham down on the mat or paper, slightly overlapping so they form a solid layer of ham.

Wet your hands, then gently spread and press half of the rice out in an even layer on the ham, leaving a gap of about 1 cm (½ in) uncovered along the far edge of the ham (you will use this to seal the roll).

4 Lay the crab meat out in a tidy row along the near side of the ham, about 1 cm (½ in) from the edge, then top with the avocado and lettuce. Use the paper or mat to curl up the edge of the ham, tucking in the fillings with your fingertips and tightening the roll as you go with gentle pressure.

5 When you’ve rolled to the far edge of the ham, squeeze the roll together to seal. Transfer to a cutting board and slice with a sharp, wet knife. Repeat with the remaining ingredients and serve with ponzu or soy sauce and wasabi.

INGREDIENTS • 150 g (5 oz/¾ cups) rice • 1½ tbsp vinegar • ½ tbsp sugar • ¼ tsp salt • 6 slices prosciutto or similar cured ham • 50 g (2 oz) crab meat • ¼ ripe avocado, cut into long slices about 3 mm (⅛ in) thick • 2 leaves little gem lettuce, halved lengthways • Ponzu or wasabi and soy sauce, to serve

Extract taken from our Home Izakaya by chef and MasterChef champion Tim Anderson, published on 14 October by Hardie Grant

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Veuve & Grooves AWARD WINNING BOTTOMLESS CHAMPAGNE & SEVEN COURSE BRUNCH

BY VEUVE CLICQUOT BRU N CH every Saturday and Sunday from 12-5pm

Awarded the BEST ALFRESCO SPOT in South West London The Sanctuary by Yum Sa in Putney opens a fully climate controlled outdoor dining experience.

Serving our signature Veuve & Grooves Champagne Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from noon onwards with music and a 7 course Modern Asian Menu All Thai’d Up.

BY RESERVATION ONLY

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YUM SA RESTAURANT 3 plaza gardens 88 upper richmond road putney, sw15 2dt (opp east putney tube station)

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FOOD & DRINK • NOTES

DRINKS CABINET What to drink this month

By PENDLE HARTE

SPOTLIGHT

IN THE PINK PA L E F OX

Tequila for trees Annabel's for the Amazon

By EVE HERBERT

Pink Prosecco is rapidly gaining in popularity around the world, with Kylie Minogue recently adding a rosé prosecco to her wine range and Rose all Day launching earlier this year. The new Pale Fox vintage Prosecco Rose contains a blend of white Glera and red Pinot Noir grapes that work harmoniously to create a structured, complex sparkling wine reminiscent of red berries, pomegranate and white flowers.

£29.95; palefoxprosecco.com

MIRROR IMAGE H AC H A Hacha's award-winning Mirror Margarita looks like a glass of water, but is in fact a stunning Margarita with the perfect balance of sweet and sour notes. And now you can buy it by the bottle for delivery.

£35; hachabar.com

ICE BABY PA STA I O Pastaio's signature slushies are inspired by favourite cocktails from some of Soho's coolest neighbouring bars, including Quo Vadis, El Pastor and Golden Gai. The fortnightly-rotating slushies are available exclusively at Pastaio’s Soho restaurant on Ganton Street.

pastaio.co.uk

A

s part of its rainforestsaving commitment to plant a million trees by March 2023, worldfamous private members club Annabel’s has partnered with ultra-premium PATRÓN tequila on a limited-edition bottle of Reposado tequila, sold exclusively online and in-store at Selfridges. Every bottle purchased globally directly contributing to the reforestation of the Brazilian rainforest. Each bottle of PATRÓN Reposado* costs £85 and will plant 22 trees. In addition, three unique Amazon Cocktails are on the menu at Annabel’s, with each planting an additional 10 trees.

Design inspiration for the bottle and its box (both fully recyclable) was taken from the natural beauty of the Brazilian Rainforest but also from Annabel’s itself.

Members and guests might notice a distinct nod to The Jungle Bar - one of Annabel’s’ most coveted spots – with the collaborative bottle also featuring some of the stunning hand-drawn illustrations that line the distinct mirrored-panel walls of the room. This exclusive collaboration - a first for the infamously private members club - is part of wider initiative, Annabel’s for the Amazon. The inaugural Annabel’s for The Amazon event was a huge drive to help save the rainforest, hosted by The Caring Family Foundation in partnership with One Tree Planted. The aim is to contribute to the replanting of the rainforest and to emphasise the significance of the deforestation crisis. This now annual global charity event will bring together Annabel’s members, international celebrities and key environmentalists in a huge philanthropic drive to help save the Amazon rainforest. annabels.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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FA S H I O N

FLOWER POWER PUMA X LIBERTY

Using bold visuals and bright colors, the Puma x Liberty collaboration plays on the enduring heritage of both brands, bringing them together to create a unified story. Using the famous Liberty floral prints in a wild garden theme, the collection brings a very fresh and feminine look to Puma silhouettes. puma.com

The shoot 40 • Pjyama party 47 • Jewellery 48 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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SHE'S A rainbow Riotous pattern and bold colours are inspired by a lifetime of vintage love at Riana + Nina RIANNAANDNINA .COM

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FASHION • PYJAMAS

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P YJ A M A P A R T Y GET YOUR LOUNGE ON IN STYLE

S O F T TO U C H C Y B E R JA M M I E S

Made from super-soft 60% cotton, 40% modal, Cyberjammies' animal leaf print pyjama set is the ultimate in comfort. It's a technical fabric that really keeps its softness – and the cut's well-designed too. £48 cyberjammies.co.uk

2

D U S K T I L DAW N ORCHARD MOON

These vegan and cruelty-free pieces are designed in London and made in Europe The 'dusk till dawn’ pyjamas are relaxed yet smart, blurring the line between nightwear and daywear. orchardmoon.com

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C AT N A P

DESMOND&DEMPSEY

The Long Pyjama Set has a tailored fit, with the shirt a little shorter than D&D's signature style. It has a sculpted hemline, buttoned cuffs and piping detail on the rounded lapels, pocket and cuffs. £150 desmondanddempsey.com

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4

C H EC K M AT E HASTENS

The Swedish sleep experts have designed these comfortable cotton pyjamas made of 100% satin cotton in the brand's classic blue-check pattern, to match the mattress. hastens.com

5

SLEEP SOUND EBERJEY

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Eberjey uses Tencel modal to give their PJs their characteristic softness – and the fabric is completely biodegradable too.

The Gisele long set comes in lots of lovely colours, £132 net-a-porter.com

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Our appointment book is now open, just go to ameliesfollies.co.uk and use the Book a Fitting button. We will operate by appointment only for the foreseeable future.

We can’t wait to see you all.

GIFT VOUCHER AND GIFT WRAPPING AVAILABLE LINGERIE • NIGHTWEAR • SWIMWEAR BEACHWEAR • NURSING BRAS

34 Webb’s Road, London SW11 6SF

Lingerie and swimwear from A to J cup (size 8 to 20)

www.ameliesfollies.co.uk | ameliesfollies@yahoo.com

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Tel: 020 7924 3826

22/09/2021 11:24

FASHION • JEWELLERY

Mother of Pearl The natural beauty of the jewellery world

By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

ALIGHIERI

BUDREVICH FINE JEWELLERY STUDIO

ALIGHIERI

La Calliope choker, £250, alighieri.co.uk

Pear drops, £3,050, budrevich.co.uk

The Cascading Affair earring, £390, alighieri.co.uk

COEUR DE LION Necklace freshwater pearls & chunky chain 4-in-1 white-silver, £349, coeur.uk

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LEBRUSAN STUDIO

JESSIE THOMAS

Marie Pearl ring, £POA, lebrusanstudio.com

Precious stone earrings with detachable pearls, £3,250, jessiethomasjewellery.com

VAXA

CHLO BO

OLIVIA AND PEARL

Falla earring, £POA, vaxajewellery.com

Confetti Falls necklace, £229, chlobo.co.uk

Keshi choker necklace, £225, oliviaandpearl.com

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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The Sky’s the Limit

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MORE THAN H E A LT H C A R E , THIS IS LIFECARE.

Private Client by Bupa is a premium service providing expertly curated health and wellbeing plans insured by Bupa Global.

Bupa Global is a trading name of Bupa Insurance Limited and Bupa Insurance Services Limited. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Bupa Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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22/09/2021 10:21 25/08/2021

HEALTH & BEAUTY

DAME KELLY HOLMES

“THE WORKOUT IS GREAT, IT’S GOT A GREAT VIBE AND ENERGY. I LOVE THE SMALL CLASS WORKOUT, YOU FEEL MOTIVATED AND WORK REALLY HARD. I REALLY ENJOYED IT” metal.roar-fitness.com

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Beauty notes 53 • Fitness focus 61 • Eyes on you 63 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES

BEAUTY NOTES

The latest in luxury makeup and skincare

By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

FOCUS

FOREVER

Amber

EDITOR’S PICK

Kayali Invite Only Amber, the new fragrance designed by Mona Kattan, is sensual and addictive.

Described as seduction in a bottle, this irresistible scent envelops amber resin and Madagascan vanilla mixed with black cherry, honey de provence and tobacco leaf. £98, hudabeauty.com

Make a wish H U DA B E AU T Y

Wishful – a range of results-driven products to target specific concerns – is the brainchild of years of research that simplify building the perfect regime. Wishful’s Honey Whip Peptide Moisturiser, an extension of the Honey Moisturiser range, boasts a blend of manuka honey, cica, peptides and collagen to help firm, lift, repair and plump the skin. £37, hudabeauty.com

H E A D M A ST E R S

With the AW21 catwalks in full swing, we asked Headmasters’ creative director, Andrew Barton, about the hair style trends complementing them. “The bob takes centre stage as one of the must-have cuts this season. From sweeping side lengths to full straight cut, the fringe the biggest hair story this season. And big glamorous blow drys and curls are back for the party season.”

Visiting agua x sea containers

S

M O N A K AT TA N

THREE FORM

NATURE’S SECRETS ituated in the heart of London’s Southbank, you will discover a sanctuary within a sea container. This month I had the pleasure of visiting agua, experiencing one of their most exclusive treatments – ‘The Bust Blossom’, a bespoke bust massage using Hedgerow by agua products, working to release any tension in the spine and shoulder girdle. It is a therapeutic experience focusing solely on the upper torso, inducing a deep trance of relaxation, aiding flexibility, improving posture, breathing, and releasing all the tensions and stresses that we all unconsciously hold in our upper body. By treating the entire thoracic cavity through gentle manipulation and breathing techniques, this treatment promotes the drainage of tension from the solar plexus and muscles of the chest, balancing breathing rhythm and increasing the overall detoxification of the tissues through improved circulation.

Hedgerow by agua consists of six ingredients: lemon balm, rosemary, St John’s Wort, peppermint, comfrey and marigold, all of which are delivered through the medium of massage, utilising techniques derived from herbalism and aromatherapy. All of the treatments are centred around sustainability and self-sufficiency, aiming to educate and inspire the understanding that we can harness the power of nature to be healthy and to provide that next level care.

This is a chance to experience a walk on the natural side.

SEA CONTAINERS LONDON

20 Upper Ground, SE1 9PB 020 3747 1000 seacontainerslondon.com

50% off colour sale from 2-30 October, headmasters.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • TREND AESOP Hair calming shampoo 500m, £33, aesop.com

THICK TAILS Root stimulating daily serum, £17.99, uk.thicktails.com

KRISTIN ESS Beach wave spray, £12, kristinesshair.com

MADARA Repair and dry rescue mask, £22.25, lookfantastic.com

FOAMIE Shampoo bar with argan oil for frizzy hair, £7, lookfantastic.com

EDITOR’S PICK

CHANEL Hair mist, £48, chanel.com

KAYALI Hair mist déjà vu white flower, £34, hudabeauty.com

ROOTS TO SUCCESS

FOAMIE Dry shampoo brunette, £6, lookfantastic.com

Absolutely’s round up of our favourite haircare products this month

AESOP Hair sage & cedar scalp treatment 25ml, £25, aesop.com

By ELLIE MAE-HAMMOND

THICK TAILS Exfoliating scalp scrub, £19.99, uk.thicktails.com

KRISTIN ESS Curl Defining cream, £12, kristinesshair.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • PARTNERSHIP

M E T A L G U R U Roar Metal – weight training for everyone, Kensington and worldwide

By EVE HERBERT

L

ondon’s leading body transformation fitness brand, ROAR, has launched its first ever group training fitness class concept at a brandnew, state of the art space.

Three-times Olympian Sarah Lindsay’s training facility is the preferred choice of notable celebrities including Vogue Williams, Nick Grimshaw, Professor Green, Pixie Lott, Christine Lampard and Henry Holland and now it has opened its doors to the public for small but perfectly formed group training classes available in studio and online.

ROAR METAL is a results-focused studio session, lasting 45 minutes. Each rock star who attends the studio sessions at Roar Kensington will have their own custom-made workout bench within the new space for an intuitive and seamless workout experience. And for the first time ever, to expand the Roar community globally, connecting like-minded, hard-working and positive fitness lovers, Roar Fitness has also launched an online platform, which makes Roar Metal available digitally, via live streamed classes and on-demand sessions.

Roar, famed for its jaw-dropping body transformations, has launched group training sessions in a democratic move to make its premium training model accessible to fitness lovers as well as offer an inclusive training environment for anyone who doesn’t feel fully confident weight training alone yet.

The powerful ethos of the brand remains

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true to the class concept – it’s a full body, weight training programme, where elite ROAR METAL instructors will ensure technique and motivation is optimum at all times, set to a fierce soundtrack, and promising show-stopping results.

The in-studio classes are streamed live to online members, who can join classes in real time or access the library where all classes are saved, to join at a time and location that suits.

ROAR Fitness founder, Sarah Lindsay says: “The expansion of the ROAR brand to offer group training and online fitness as ROAR METAL makes total sense to how people want to train now. They understand the importance of weight training and the impact of the results from it – so our ROAR methodology is applied to group classes that are more affordable, enabling

us to welcome more people to the uber positive ROAR community – and after over a year of not meeting new people, it’s a salve for mental health, as well as physical. Oh, and expect a blistering soundtrack while you sweat…”

ROAR METAL is a class for a maximum of ten people per session, each with their own bench and weights. At the epicenter of the method is both compound and isolation muscle movements using a suite of ROAR METAL weights to work all your muscle groups in the most effective way possible.

“In all my years of competing and then going on to train high performing individuals, what becomes more apparent every year is the need to keep exercise engaging, challenging and crucially, convenient.” Sarah adds, “ROAR allowed us to lay the foundations of truly transformational exercise programmes. ROAR Metal gives us a chance to bring that experience to more people, to create a bigger, more inspiring community. We want our ethos and our rockstar workout prowess to go global! ROAR Metal is just the start, but we can’t wait to welcome fans, near and far, to our high-octane new concept.”

R OA R F I T N E S S 190-192 Kensington High Street, W8 7RG metal.roar-fitness.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • PARTNERSHIP RELAX AFTER A WORKOUT IN THE SPA AREA

Making GAINS

Inside the redeveloped David Lloyd Raynes Park, which offers you all manner of opportunities to improve your health and wellbeing

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f the pandemic has made you re-prioritise your health and wellness, there’s no better time to get started on your fitness journey.

A huge £7m makeover is currently underway at David Lloyd Raynes Park to firmly position it as one of the area’s leading health, spa, and racquets clubs.

The first phase of the investment is a revolutionary new 1,215m² gym space that opened mid-September. Alongside a large free weights area, functional training zones, low-impact cardio equipment and weight machines, the new space features an 8-station circuit

by EGYM. Utilising the latest technology, the EGYM system delivers a bespoke and effective full body, resistance workout without the use of plates or free weights. The innovative EGYM Smart Strength machines guide you through every single session and your personalised training schedules to create ideal conditions for successful workouts.

There’s also an exclusive training zone for their newest group training innovation, Delta. Get results fast, regardless of your current fitness level and train with likeminded people across a six-week cycle to reach your peak fitness by utilising the benefits of progressive training. The new holistic area features the latest products from Five Concept, ideal for movement preparation and recovery.

Fitness enthusiasts will be thrilled to add the latest big thing in fitness to their routine. Blaze has taken the nation by storm,

“At the heart of the new investment is a new luxurious super-spa”

EXPECT THE LATEST FITNESS EQUIPMENT

and now David Lloyd Clubs’ unique HIIT class is launching in Raynes Park. Set in its own purpose-built studio with 30 stations available, Blaze combines cardio training with strength and combat to give an allround intense workout, and is designed to significantly improve cardiovascular fitness and burn calories fast. Participants will enjoy being part of a community brought together with the help of Myzone heartrate monitoring, which encourages those in the class to reach their fitness goals.

At the heart of the new investment is a new luxurious super-spa, known as the

Spa Retreat. The area will feature hydro pools, Finnish and salt saunas, crystal and citrus steam rooms, feature showers, a plunge pool, heated beds, and deep relaxation rooms. There'll be a wide range of luxury facilities you can choose between to find peace and soothe your muscles.

The makeover also includes an extensive new outdoor leafy garden area called the Spa Garden, with a sauna, relaxation pods and a dedicated yoga and meditation area so you can unwind in the fresh air. Best of all, the spa pool is connected to the indoor spa pool, giving you the ability to swim in and out.

DAV I D L LOY D R AY N E S PA R K Bushey Road, Raynes Park, SW20 8TE 0344 245 8058 davidlloyd.co.uk/clubs/raynes-park

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • FITNESS

FITNESS

TOP

PICKS WINTER IMMUNIT Y BOOSTING CAPSULES

NOTES

By FELICITY CARTER

P U R E S P O R T M I N D & B O DY MUSHROOM BLEND Chaga, Reishi, Shiitake, Maitake, Lion’s Mane & Cordyceps – all featured in this blend – have all been shown to have immune balancing effects and antioxidants, which fight free radicals in the body. £29.99

I N N E R M O S T R E C OV E R CAPSULES These contain Maca, which reduces physical and mental stress on the body, Magnesium, which supports muscle function, Ubiquinone CoQ10, which supports the mitochondria (energy producing powerhouses) of our bodies, and Vitamin D. £18.95

T HE EYES H AV E I T Why you can blink and not miss out on vital wellbeing tips

I N N E R M O S T D E T OX BOOSTER This is a supergreens powder that contains ten of the most highly-regarded health boosting ingredients in an easy to use powder.

In particular, antioxidants in Matcha Green Tea helps to improve the skin. It can be added to water or a hot drink/smoothie. £24.95

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ince the pandemic, the number of people working from home has dramatically increased, and alongside this, so has the length of screen time we are all getting – and we are also less likely to have the appropriate work from home set up to properly protect our eyes from the digital devices we use so often. Therefore, we are more prone to experience common eye conditions such as eye strain and eye fatigue.

This month, Absolutely London

has taken inspiration from Chatty Dobson, yoga teacher and owner of FLEX Chelsea, who holds sessions to combat these issues that may now be the new normal. Eye yoga is simply a series of stretches for the muscles in your eye structure.

Similar to regular yoga, each time you practice the muscles involved will become both stronger and find more length.

“Start by setting yourself up comfortably, sitting still with a straight spine – sitting in a chair’s fine if you’re uncomfortable on the

floor,” Dobson starts. “To stretch, relax the muscles of the face.

Wiggle out the jaw and eyebrows to help soften them. Gently close your eyes. Keeping the eyes closed, look all the way up and count to four, slowly look all the way down, count to four. Repeat three times.

“To strengthen, blink as fast as you can ten times, then sit with your eyes closed for a slow count of five. Repeat five times. Sit for a while longer at the end to see what sensations you may notice.” flexchelsea.com

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HEALTH AND BEAUTY • EYEWEAR

EYE S P Y

Spectacles have never been more stylish. Absolutely visits some of London’s best eyesight destinations Wo r d s P E N D L E H A R T E & A B B I E S C H O F I E L D

F I N L AY L O N D O N

Finlay London’s background is in fashion.

The brand started out as designers of wooden sunglasses, but it’s come a long way since then, and now the focus is on eyecare as well as eyewear; they have an expansive own-brand collection of frames (Meghan Markle has been spotted wearing several of them) and they have shops in Notting Hill and Soho. “Glasses can be the first thing you notice about someone,” says co-founder Dane Butler. “And trends in eyewear tend to last between three and seven years. So it’s not unusual for people to own four or five pairs of glasses.” And probably more sunglasses.

The Finlay collection is unisex, and frames come in a wide variety of colours and shapes.

At the Notting Hill store, choosing frames to suit is aided by friendly and decisive staff who will tell you what suits you as well as what will work best for your prescription.

There’s a curated selection of frames from Finlay’s favourite brands in addition to their own brand, and downstairs is a special area for children. It’s a nice place to be, and the eye test is almost enjoyable. finlayandco.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • EYEWEAR TAYLOR MORRIS

T AY L O R M O R R I S

“Glasses can be the first thing you notice about someone”

Taylor Morris has been in the business of sunglasses since they launched in Harvey Nichols in 2013. But it wasn't until 2020 that they launched opticals, in a chic new shop in Golborne Road. Despite lockdown, they're thrving in their new home which is designed to be a fun place to hang, with a bar and a relaxed vibe. Plans for the shop to host events are currently on hold, but appointments for choosing your frames are very much on. There's no testing, so you have to bring your own prescription, but glasses are made up in just a couple of days. Alongside a good selection of acetate frames in lots of colours is a stylish selection of metal ones – very popular in Europe – and pricing is easy, with most single vision glassses at £125. As an independent eyewear brand, Taylor Morris believes in keeping costs down and they're also too serious to see glasses as fashion pieces to change with the seasons. The collection is set to grow, though, so the temptation to build up a spectacle wardrobe is real. taylormorriseyewear.com

TH E EY E PL AC E

The Eye Place is owned and operated by third-generation optometrist Alex Kemp, who strives to provide a ‘different’ level of eyecare. He has spent the last two decades building an enviable reputation founded on using state of the art and cutting-edge technology.

With six locations, Alex has created a custom level of eye examination which is now The Eye Place standard. His eye examination harnesses the full power of specialist eye health technology and using their newest piece of technology, spectacles can be dispensed from a distance taking the precise measurements needed to suit the individual to create lenses personalised to the user and their needs.

Eyewear brands are selected from around the world for their individuality and high quality. From super premium eyewear made from luxurious materials to on-trend brands via mid-range and budget, there is something to suit all styles and budgets. the-eye-place.co.uk

AUERBACH AND STEELE

AU E R BAC H A N D STE E LE

THE EYE PLACE

Auerbach and Steele’s store on the King’s Road is large and bright, with colourful frames lining the walls like little pieces of art. There is a children’s area, a private room for those who would like to try on frames discreetly and even a small garden - a far cry from the usual dingy examination rooms.

The glasses on offer are contemporary and cool, unusual colours paired with innovative shapes that make a statement. Specs are no longer a symbol of bookishness or a lack of glamour; they are a fashion accessory.

As well as being a pioneer in optical style, Auerbach and Steele prides itself on clinical excellence. The state-of-the-art machinery is exquisite and the whole atmosphere of the King’s Road store paired with the brilliant advice from the sales assistants makes for a pleasant - even fun - experience. auerbach-steele.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Colour WATCH AUTUMN TRENDS

Sludgy shades and varied textures make up the new looks for autumn. Mix bright colours with natural materials and some fluffy comforts for a contemporary and comfortable look.

inside this section TOP TEN: LIGHTS p68 L E S S O N S W I T H K AT E WAT S O N - S M Y T H p 74 C O P E N H AG E N I N S P I R AT I O N p 8 2 KIT KEMP 'S BLOOMSBURY STYLE p90 W I N A N E R C O L L OV E S E AT p 1 0 7 TERRAZZO IN THE KITCHEN p108 R EVIVI N G D E ADSTOCK FAB R I C S p1 14

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SHADE WORK 10 of the best... lamps and lights COMPILED BY PENDLE HARTE

GREEN LIGHT

Formed from a continuous chain of curved arches that form a single element, Hay’s Arcs Shade creates a spatial volume that plays with light and shape. £195 twentytwentyone.com

MOON SHADOW David Hunt Lighting’s Lunar Collection includes this four light multi arm pendant with antique brass hardware and a beautifully hand-finished smoke blue body. £720 davidhuntlighting.co.uk

IN THE ROUND

Ligen Roset’s Azabu is a ball-shaped light in mouthblown Murano glass which diffuses warm, evenly-coloured light. Put it on a table or just on the floor. £531 heals.com

OFF THE WALL

Davey’s Well glass wall light is an industrial style screw type well glass light, suited for both indoor and outdoor use, and aprticularly fine in a bathroom. £305 thewallightingcompany.co.uk

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H O M E | TOP TEN

LOLLY POP

Broste Copenhagen’s Lolly ceiling pendant in white opal glass is stylish in a pared back, Scandi way. £389 brostecopenhagen.com

BEST CHINA

LOW LIGHT

Pebble is a new statement pendant hand-crafted in Stoke on Trent from bone china. Combining centuries-old manufacturing techniques with the latest in technology, this is an intricate and intriguing piece. £1,499 originabtc.com

Pooky’s dinky Wilma lamp is perfect for bringing character to a little alcove, a book-case, or the end of a shelf. £74 pooky.com

CARRY ON

SowdenLight’s Shades is a collection of lamps with multiple configuration possibilities. These battery lamps are practical and stylish. sowdenlight.com

FRINGE BENEFIT

Beauvamp is an independent, British lighting brand specialising in traditional, hand-stitched silk lampshades combining traditional sewing techniques with vintage-inspired design and contemporary style. From £355 beauvamp.com

SPECIAL K

The K Lamp consists of two parts: a shade that acts as a diffuser and a base that houses the lamp.

The base form houses the lamp and the shade gently reflects the light into the room. £220 vitaminliving.com

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H O M E | NEWS

H OT E L ST Y L E LOST P O E T

Design firm Cubic Studios has made a foray into hospitality with new hotel The Lost Poet. The stylish space harnesses the colour and playfulness of Portobello and takes inspiration from the market, mixing the old with the new.

CREATIVE

R E V I E W Updates from the industry

cubicstudios.com

Compiled by P E N D L E H A R T E

FA S H I O N ' S OFFCUTS TALLER MARMO

Luxury womenswear label Taller Marmo’s debut homeware collection is a range of environmentally conscious cushions made from fabric offcuts from the brand’s main womenswear collection and available at Matches. matchesfashion.com

ART OF GLASS

CLUB TROPICANA COX&COX

NUDE GLASSES

This beautiful new Palm Table Lamp is crafted from iron with a tall, slightly twisted trunk, individual palm leaves over three exposed bulbs and a deliberately antiqued finish. £175

Designed by Erdem Akan, Nude's Neo whisky glasses have a beautifully bevelled edge and a gently flared rim. At the collection’s core is clear lead-free crystal, which — due to the remarkable craftsmanship, depth and detailing — appears more sculptural than decorative. nudeglass.com

coxandcox.co.uk

C A N DY D A R L I N G

HK LIVING

HK Living's Gallery Ceramics are inspire by the curved furniture and powdery hues of the 80s. It's a playful mix of organic shaped tableware in blush pinks with touches of blue hues and sunny yellow softness. hkliving.nl

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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H O M E | NEWS Compiled by

PENDLE HARTE

I N T H E N E WS U P DAT E S F R O M T H E I N D U S T R Y

BENCH MARK

DANISH DESIGN

PENNY MORRISON

H AY

Penny Morrison's new core collection of furniture includes the stylish Suzani bench, upholstered in an exquisite antique blue and cream suzani fabric and finished with turned bobble legs. £3,000 pennymorrison.com

Designed with maximum comfort and minimum details, Hay's Mags sofa combines strong aesthetics with timelessness to create a classic.

Solid construction means that it's built to last. £2,693 hay.dk

SPIN ME ROUND LIGNE ROSET

The Moa swivel armchair is designed by Keiji Takeuchi taking inspiration from the Japanese home with its lines and flow. Its minimal beauty and technical sophistication makes it a forever piece. ligne-roset.com

SO FT FOCU S EVIE & SKYE Evie and Skye's uplifting designs are underpinned by the glamour of eras past. The unique designs complement one another, encouraging the cushions to be mixed, matched and layered. evieandskye.com

PATTERN CUT O T T O L I N E WA L L PA P E R S Ottoline's trademark is playful use of colour and composition. These unique and contemporary patterns are inspired by a love of nature, as well as an appreciation of historic styles, cultures and art forms. ottoline.co.uk

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R O F O R

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H O M E | PROFILE

Are you mad about your house?

Kate Watson-Smyth has launched a course in making your space work for you Words P E N D L E H A R T E

W

alking into Kate WatsonSmyth’s north London house, I’m immediately struck by how familiar it looks. Not because I’ve been here before, but because – along with more than a quarter of a million other followers – I’m used to seeing bits of it on instagram. This much-photographed house is a living example of how to achieve successful design, and now Watson-Smyth, a journalist and blogger who has become a serious design mover, is launching an online course to help the rest of us realise our interiors dreams. As the woman behind the UK’s number one interiors blog, Mad About The House, she’s used to being asked for advice and it’s her honest and relatable tone – as well as her great eye – that makes her such an authority.

The big thing about Kate is that she’s not snooty or dogmatic, and her mission is to demystify the process of decorating your house the way you want it. And because deciding on the way you want it is almost half the battle, that’s what she focuses on with this course, which is mostly about finding your own interior design style. Note ‘your own’ – she’s not advocating recreating her own style (though I’d wager that many of her followers are quite

It’s about choosing the colours that you love and then matching the mood of them to the room you need A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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If there’s a dirty great white radiator in the middle of it, what are you thinking? It is not a feature keen to do exactly that) because her core belief is that living somewhere you love has an enormously positive impact on your overall happiness and wellbeing. But what really makes her so engaging is her warmth and humour.

You imagine that even shopping for radiator valves could be fun with her. Sitting in her kitchen (well-designed with a practical layout, intriguingly muted paint colours and fabulous storage, naturally) over coffee, not only do I learn a lot about decorating houses, but I’m also enjoying being entertained.

The course launch’s timing really couldn’t be better, with the idea of wellbeing at home becoming more relevant than ever over the past 18 months. “I think a lot of people have now realised the link between your surroundings and your mental health,” Kate tells me. “In the past, a lot of people would move into a house, slap a colour on the wall, think ‘that’s quite nice’, and then go to work and not see it again in daylight until they were on holiday. Being forced to spend time indoors has led people to think,

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‘well actually I hate this room’ and then start to analyse why they hate it. So that’s led to an interest in working out what colours you like and what you use your rooms for. And that’s where my courses and books come in.”

For Kate, the starting point is to ask six basic questions, just as she was taught as a trainee journalist. It’s all about the who, what, why, when, where and how. “It’s about knowing what questions to ask. It’s fine if you like teal blue (though that’s not a colour for me) but you can’t look at a colour in isolation and think, ‘I love it; I’m going to paint it all over my living room’. You have to think, how does that colour make you feel? And if it makes you feel energised, buzzy and ready to start the day, then maybe that’s not the colour for the bedroom. Maybe it’s more the colour for the kitchen. It’s about choosing the colours that you love and then matching the mood of them to the room you need.” And it’s not just colours – it’s important to consider carefully what the purpose of each room actually is. This is something that people often get wrong, she says.

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QUALITY IS NOT AN ACT, IT’S A HABIT B E A U T I F U L LY H A N D C R A F T E D W O O D F L O O R S

Showroom located at: 141 Lower Richmond Road, Putney, SW15 1EZ

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22/09/2021 11:51

H O M E | PROFILE

“They don’t think who’s using a room, so it ends up not fit for purpose. Typically, someone might put a beautiful buttoned upright sofa in the sitting room, that nobody wants to sit on because it’s uncomfortable. Then they add an extension on the back of the house and put a squashy sofa in the kitchen, with a telly in there – and from then on nobody ever uses the sitting room again. You have to know what, why and who.”

The course is essentially five hours of video material broken down into manageable 15 minute lessons explaining where to start and all the questions you should ask. “It’s not about being didactic and saying this is how it’s done, it’s saying, if you follow this process you will know how you want to do it – you’ll have learnt how to do it yourself,” says Kate. It’s illustrated with a walk-through of her own very lovely and well-considered house (pictured here) with honest reference to mistakes she has made and things she has changed or would do differently.

Kate and her husband moved into the house more than ten years ago, with their two small sons (now teenagers) and they converted it from two flats back into a single dwelling, A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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and learnt a lot along the way. Is it finished? A house is never really finished, of course, but “all the rooms are in the right places now.” By this she means the kitchen and bathrooms. “If you get your plumbing rooms in the right place then your approach to bedrooms can be fairly fluid,” she says. The family have all swapped bedrooms a lot as their needs have changed, which is something that many of us don’t think about doing, she points out. “Parents of small children tend to take the master bedroom, because it’s called ‘the master bedroom’. For us, the boys shared the master bedroom when they were little because they had the biggest toys and they could fit them all in there.

As they got older, the toys got smaller and they moved into their own rooms. Sometimes the solution is just to move the rooms around.” Now she and her husband do have the master bedroom, where they have devised an ingenious half-wall to partition a dressing room area.

For bedrooms, one piece of advice she has is to look at hotels. “They’re often ahead of the curve – look at the industrial style a few years ago, when every pizza joint in town had distressed furniture and tin tile ceilings.

Hotels have to get a lot of functions into a small space: a desk, a chair, a place to watch tv, some sort of bathroom, a double bed, everything has to be highly functional in a small space. If you want to build an en suite you can, for example, make the wall ¾ height and put a pane of glass on top so you are borrowing light – hotels do that a lot and there’s no reason why you can’t in your own home.”

The major game-changer for interiors in the past decade or so has been Instagram, which Kate loves.

“Instagram has been hugely important for interiors, and democratised it. Magazines remain influential and inspirational, but only certain types of houses get featured,

while Instagram has allowed everybody to put their houses up. If you live in a one-bedroom flat you’ll be able to find inspiration on Instagram from someone who’s done their one-bed flat beautifully. Magazines are frustrating – they might credit everything except, say, the coffee table – and to find out about it all you can really do is to write to the editor, but they never reply, while on Instagram you can interact. People are doing whole tutorials on how to paint your UPVC windows and everything. It’s made us all more design literate. If you wanted to see what someone’s house looked like in Japan, 30 years ago you’d have had to go to

I’m a huge fan of sliding doors. I can’t believe that nobody talks about doors Tokyo, but now you can see how people live and use space instantly.” There’s a chapter in the course on navigating social media, because it’s easy to become overwhelmed with so much inspiration out there. If you have 300 pins on your kitchen board, you’re not going to know what to do.

I have to ask about her bugbears. What mistakes are we all making? Of course there are several. “Hanging pictures too high is one. And the rug island with the coffee table boat – I can’t bear that. Another thing: you have got to paint your radiators to match your walls. I’m not even going to discuss it. If you have gone to all the bother of testing 47 different paints to find the right colour and there’s a dirty great white radiator in the middle of it, then what are you thinking? It is not a feature. Paint it to match the wall and it will disappear.”

And then there are doors. Another chapter of the course is dedicated to doors, which makes total sense when she talks me through all the different ones in her house. “The standard door can take up a lot of space,” she explains.

So on the landing there is one that’s cut in half and folds backwards to save space, while the door to her en suite is cut in half and hinged on either side, again saving space.

“Plus I’m a huge fan of sliding doors. I can’t believe that nobody talks about doors.”

Another interesting element of the course focuses on relationships. Or, more accurately, on persuading one’s husband to agree to things like pink walls and gold grout.

Not that Kate managed to get gold grout past her own husband. “We have developed something over the years called the marital veto. It’s only been used about three times – last time was when we were doing the loft six years ago and I wanted gold grout in the bathroom. He just said no. I cried on Instagram for a bit but now I hate to think that he might have been right.” Still, there’s bound to be an Instagram tutorial for painting your grout, and as Kate keeps saying, you can change the colours of everything as long as you get the layout right. And then you could be mad about your house too. @mad_about_the_house Kate Watson-Smyth’s course, How To Be Mad About Your House, costs £127 at createacademy.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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At home in Copenhagen with design manager and architecture specialist Marie Louise Hostbo Words F E R M L I V I N G .C O M

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H O M E | HOUSE TOUR

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“The main thing that I learned in architecture school wasn’t so much to draw, but to really see”

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H O M E | INSPIRATION

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oday, Marie-Louise is a renowned architecture specialist and aesthetic advisor living in Copenhagen. With 25 years of experience in the industr y, she specialises in Danish design and architecture, using her extensive knowledge on the subject to educate others. “The main thing that I learned in architecture school wasn’t so much to draw, but to really see,” Marie-Louise tells us. “It forms the basis for what I do today – which is communicating what I see to others and starting a dialogue

about architecture, how we can learn from it, and what it represents.” Among her many projects, Marie-Louise is the author of Secret Places: the architect’s guide to distinctive buildings in and around Copenhagen, which has been published in both Danish and English, and chronicles Marie-Louise’s guide to the city’s 50 best-kept architectural secrets. “Every time I had guests visiting Copenhagen, I would show them my favourite places. Once we had experienced the basics, like Grundtvig’s Church, Arne Jacobsen’s SAS Hotel and the National Bank of Denmark, I still had a long list of places for people to visit. But I was missing literature to complement the visit – a kind of introduction. That’s where I got the idea for Secret Places.”

Though she cannot pinpoint a specific moment that sparked her initial passion for architecture, Marie-Louise does remember that she has always had a particular fascination with spaces. “I can remember all kinds of rooms, going way back into early childhood. I have always loved to draw, and I started sketching floor plans for different rooms from a young age.” That interest brought Marie-Louise from her hometown of Hvide Sande in Western Jutland to Copenhagen at the tender age of 18, where she began studying architecture at the Royal Danish Academy. During her studies, Marie-Louise took an internship

at an architecture firm specialising in government and listed buildings, and started working at Dansk Møbelkunst, a gallery specializing in rare, original works of Danish furniture from the 1920’s through the 70’s. After graduating with her master’s degree, she continued her collaboration with both companies.

Today, Marie-Louise is self-employed, and her work as an independent consultant within architecture and design is both varied and diverse: no two days are the same.

“There’s no such a thing as a regular workday for me. If I’m writing, I start by looking for material – either in my own personal library or at a public library or database – and then in the afternoon I’m out looking at buildings in person and taking pictures for the project I’m working on. That’s the thing about architecture – you have to get out and experience it – it isn’t enough to just read about it in a book or on the internet.”

When asked about her favourite architectural period, Marie-Louise cites a 50-year time period that spans between the 1920’s and 60’s, when the architects in Denmark were inspired by classic idioms which transitioned into Functionalism, the human element becoming more significant in architecture: “Architecture expresses so much about its surroundings – the region, the time period – but also about people.

Our history is written in bricks, and each building holds stories, an atmosphere and a sense of tactility.” In addition to her expertise in Danish architecture, Marie-Louise is heavily influenced by the Japanese design tradition, which she

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“The most important thing about home is that it’s a warm, inviting place where you want to spend time” says is not so different from their Nordic counterparts. “It’s truly fascinating that the two countries are so far apart yet have developed similar building techniques – they are just based on different materials – in Denmark, we use brick, whereas in Japan, they use paper.”

Marie-Louise’s home, which also functions as her professional workspace, bears numerous signs of her profession, most discernibly in her extensive collection of architecture and design books, which take up two walls in each of the adjoining living rooms: “As I work from home, I have to be close to my books – they are my primary source material.

But their presence also makes me feel at home.” This neatly sums up MarieLouise’s approach to decorating her home. As a self-proclaimed ‘practical aestheticist’, it’s a space where function meets intuition, where memory and future intersect. Classic Danish design pieces in natural materials like oak and leather share the space with small, thoughtful vignettes that are made up of souvenirs, inherited treasures and family photographs. The colour palette is neutral, understated and calming, allowing Marie-Louise’s book collection,

which encompasses a kaleidoscope of colours and sizes, to act as the dominant decorative element.

A classic Copenhagen apartment centrally located in the Copenhagen borough of Østerbro, Marie-Louise shares her home with her two teenage daughters. “The most important thing about a home is that it’s a warm, inviting place where you want to spend your time,” Marie-Louise tells us. “It’s important that there’s a good atmosphere and that it’s a place where we can contemplate – where my children’s friends feel welcome, and where we can all drink a cup of tea together and feel at home.” fermliving.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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There’s a lot that goes into your bathroom before you do.

At Ripples, we work slightly differently from others. Our talented bathroom designers try to get to know you first. They chat with you about what you like and what you don’t like. They go over your ideas, your torn out pages from magazines, your Pinterest boards – whatever it is that inspires you. Before we do anything, we find out exactly what you’re looking for, and then we make sure as much of you goes into our ideas as possible. We don’t do one size

fits all solutions, but we do take dreams and ideas and turn them into bespoke designs for your new bathroom. From the moment you step into our showroom to the moment you step into your new bath, we make the whole process as smooth and stress-free as it can be. It’s the Ripples effect.

Let’s have a chat about what we can do for you.

C R E AT I N G B E A U T I F U L B AT H R O O M S S I N C E 19 8 8 RIPPLES CHELMSFORD, 8 BOND STREET NORTH, CHELMSFORD, ESSE X, CM1 1GH | 01245 287977

ripplesbathrooms.com

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H O M E • SCENT

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BIG SMOKE T O M D I XO N

Fog gently disperses Tom Dixon's incense cones through a handcrafted brass vessel that’s substantial in weight and, considering its tiny size, packs a determined punch. tomdixon.net

ENSURE YOUR HOME SMELLS FABULOUS THIS AUTUMN

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S U G A R M E LT S

R AW E

Heat a wax melt to release aromatherapy aromas into the air. Rawe's wax melts are safer, healthier and cleaner than candles. Plus they don't pose a fire risk or emit any soot. rawesugar.co.uk

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L I G H T WO R K SUZANNA K

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This British, cruelty free, sustainable home fragrance brand iscentred around wellness, luxury and style.

Made with sustainably sourced ingredients that are 100% natural, and free from phthalates and parabens. suzannak.com

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S C E N T S TO RY T E R R I T O RY S C E N T S

This new subscription-based diffuser concept has a choice of three intriguing fragrances in reusable bottles, designed to be refilled every three months. Sign up and you'll never run out. territoryscents.com

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P OT LU C K

J O N AT H A N A D L E R

Jonathan Adler's stylish Pop candles are a soy/paraffin blend for a cleaner burn and stronger scent reach. The pots are pretty enough to be reused as small vases too. jonathanadler.com

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Charlotte Street Hotel drawing room featuring a chairs in EDIT’s Harlequin fabric

EDIT’s ‘Vanessa Bloom’ fabric, named after Vanessa Bell

BOHO

DESIGN Get the look: how to create a Bloomsbury-inspired interior

By KIT KEMP

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t’s no secret that I have long been inspired by the work and creativity of the Bloomsbury Group, a set of artists and intellectuals including Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant who lived and worked in Bloomsbury during the early 20th century. The group believed in creativity, innovation and beauty, but it is their sense of fun and freedom that I am most drawn to. Charlotte Street Hotel sits in the heart of Bloomsbury and the interiors for the hotel make specific reference to the Bloomsbury Group. There is much to learn from this fascinating group of artists – here are some ideas for how to create a Bloomsbury interior of your own.

When creating your own Bloomsburyinspired interior, there is no better way to seek inspiration than by visiting the Charleston farmhouse near Lewes, in East Sussex, where the group’s interior style can be most distinctly seen. Vanessa Bell, with artists Duncan Grant and Roger Fry, wanted art to be democratic and thought that furniture, ceramics and textiles should be given as much attention as fine art. So

here they filled the home they shared with beautiful things and painted every surface.

Another place from which to draw Bloomsbury inspiration is Monk’s House, also in East Sussex, where the spirit of not only Virginia Woolf, who lived here with her husband Leonard, but also of the Bloomsbury Group and the many artists, writers and thinkers who visited, fills the rooms.

The Bloomsbury Group truly loved colour.

Their interiors and paintings were a riot of dusky blues, artichoke greens, damask rose, burnt orange and aubergine. It is a totally unique colour palette that can be both moody and uplifting. Annie Sloan, the chalk paint specialist, has collaborated with the Charleston Trust to create a unique range of paint colours inspired by these distinctive hues. In the Drawing Room and Library at Charlotte Street Hotel, the curtains have been made up in Duncan Grant’s ‘Queen Mary’ fabric, which was intended for use in the First Class Lounge aboard the RMS Queen Mary ocean liner in 1935.

This is available from Charleston’s shop.

Sydney-based fabric house EDIT offers a A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Charlotte Street Hotel

selection of incredibly colourful and vibrant fabrics which take the Bloomsbury aesthetic into the 21st century. I have used EDIT’s ‘Harlequin’ fabric on occasional chairs at Charlotte Street Hotel in both the Library, positioned below a painting by Roger Fry, and the Drawing Room.

I have also used EDIT’s ‘Vanessa Bloom’ – named after Vanessa Bell – on a comfortable fireside armchair in the Drawing Room. This fabric evokes the spirit of the Bloomsbury Group with its rich, painterly forest green, pink and blue florals.

A great way to update a room is to paint the furniture in it. The Bloomsbury Group loved breathing new, colourful and witty life into everyday items by painting them with decorative motifs and geometric patterns. At Charlotte Street Hotel, there is a small desk that was hand-painted by The Omega Workshop, over which hang paintings by Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell.

The Omega Workshop was founded by Roger Fry in Bloomsbury’s Fitzroy Square in 1913, with the aim of selling furniture, fabrics

A great way to update a room is to paint the furniture in it and household accessories designed and made by the Bloomsbury Group’s unconventional group of artists. They had an eclectic set of influences, where Cubist design would sit next to Italian frescoes and neoclassical pieces rest against English Arts & Crafts designs. In the same way, be inspired in your own home by mixing different styles and eras, displaying things you find both useful and beautiful, but most importantly things that you really love. In the Library at Charlotte Street Hotel, Vanessa Bell’s painted panels set the Bloomsbury mood, teamed here with a wing chair covered in a modern Bloomsbury-inspired fabric.

Extract taken from Design Secrets

by Kit Kemp, £25, Hardie Grant kitkemp.com

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21 – 24 O C TO B E R Battersea Park, London Contemporary art from £50 – £6,000

Book tickets and buy art affordableartfair.com I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H

G E T CLO S E R TO ART G E T 2 F O R1 O N T I C K E T S U S I N G C O D E A B S O L U T E LY 2 F O R1 AT T H E C H E C KO U T

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H O M E • KITCHEN KIT

C O O K A L O N G ESSENTIALS FOR A WELLEQUIPPED KITCHEN

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IN THE MIX KITCHENAID

The iconic stand mixer is an invaulable addition to any kitchen, and the new Dried Rose shade is certainly one to covet. £499 kitchenaid.co.uk

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FA L C O N E N A M E LWA R E

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Enamelware is versatile: put it in the oven or on the hob, serve salads, bakes and pies in style and take the unbreakable plates on picnics. We love the red and white. falconenamelware.com

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SW I TC H U P IKETTLE

Waiting for the kettle to boil is so 2020. With the smart iKettle, you can switch it on from upstairs or even from the end of the road, using your phone. Why wait? £99 smarter.am

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FINE FIZZ AARKE

Aarke's stylish carbonators look good in any kitchen, and make an environmentally friendly alternative to buying endless plastic bottles of San Pellegrino. £179 aarke.com

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G R AT E N E W S MICROPLA NE

The new bowl grater easily and efficiently grates vegetables, fruit and cheese directly into a bowl. Genius. Beware, though: it's very sharp. £19.95 johnlewis.com

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H O M E | PARTNERSHIP

Perfect ® Pirouette

Just like a balletic movement, Pirouette® Shades from Luxaflex® combine grace and beauty with technical performance

evening light linger for longer in the dining room. Not only do these shades diffuse light for day-to-day convenience and comfort, they also protect your furniture and flooring; Pirouette® Shades block up to 81% of harmful UV rays with the vanes open, and 99% with vanes closed, extending the life of your furnishings.

VERSATILE VANES Luxaflex® Pirouette® Shades feature unique soft fabric ‘floating’ vanes attached to a sheer backing which give complete control over your home’s natural light. As well as raising or lowering the shade, you can also choose to have the vanes fully open, contoured, or closed for the perfect level of light and privacy. This unique design offers multiple looks and can create a host of moods, with undulating vanes and luxurious weaves combined in one stylish blind.

The design offers multiple looks and can create a host of moods, with undulating vanes and luxurious weaves combined in one blind 96

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FLOATING FABRIC Unlike other window coverings, the unique design of Pirouette® Shades means they appear to float without visible cords or tapes, diffusing harsh sunlight while still allowing clear view-through, with a discreet level of privacy.

With airy sheers or room-darkening fabrics, sophisticated silk effects or luxurious linen, and a choice of timeless neutrals or bright statement tones, there’s a Pirouette® that’s perfect for you.

HERE COMES THE SUN Exclusive Luxaflex® fabrics gently filter and disperse natural light to suit you and your home, allowing you to cut out afternoon glare in the home office or let the

SAFET Y AND ST YLE At Luxaflex® they know the importance of innovation in every detail. From their UltraGlide® retractable cord to their PowerView® smart home automation, they combine technology and creativity to put child safety first. Speak to your local trusted Luxaflex® retailer to see their innovations in action.

MADE-TO-MEASURE Knowledgeable Luxaflex retailers are marked out by their skill and experience in custom-creating bespoke window treatments. Contact your local specialist to discuss your ideas and gain helpful advice on everything from design to installation.

LUX A F L E X Find your local showroom or request your free brochure online. luxaflex.co.uk

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“Design elements are taken from Georgian and Victorian blockprinted papers”

P A P E R T

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A new collaboration between Little Greene and the National Trust revives some classic wallpaper designs Words E V E H E R B E R T

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a t i o n a l Tr u s t Papers II is an eclectic collection of contemporary wallpaper designs based on original patterns from the National Trust’s historic houses.

The collection comprises 42 colourways across seven designs; the collection is a celebration of enduring design, with the origins of these contemporary wallpapers spanning over 400 years of historic decoration. Each wallpaper in the collection has been redrawn and recoloured, respectfully acknowledging the traditional methods and materials from which they were originally crafted. Design elements are taken from Georgian and Victorian block-printed papers and also from older, decorative objects including a leather wall-hanging and a 15th century tapestry.

The contemporary interpretation of each design makes this a timeless collection of papers for homes of all architectural styles.

Patterns include the delightful, trailing Massingberd Blossom from Gunby Hall in Lincolnshire, the playful and charming Burges Snail from Knightshayes Court, authentic late Georgian Beech Nut, uncovered at Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk, Mandalay, a tree of life design taken from a leather wall hanging purchased by Rudyard Kipling, scrolling damask design Tulip, small-scale print Moy and delicate botanical Millefleur, inspired by a lovingly conserved tapestry at Montacute House.

Little Greene’s Ruth Mottershead explains:“We are immensely privileged to have access to the National Trust’s incredible portfolio of properties that are so beautifully looked after and treasured by the Trust on behalf of the nation. With the National Trust properties each containing such diverse decoration, creating a

collection that encompasses the wideranging styles found in these historically significant interiors is a real joy.”

Clare Brown of the National Trust is appreciative of Little Green’s sensitivity.

“Little Greene really understands and respects the decorative arts and designs that can be found within the National Trust’s historic houses. Seeing how the places in our care continue to inspire not just visitors, but contemporary interior design as well, is so thrilling. Not only will these beautiful designs be a great addition to any home, but the sale of every roll will help support our work.”

A contribution from the sale of every roll of Little Greene wallpaper will be made in support of the National Trust’s conservation work, to ensure the nation’s historic houses, gardens and open spaces can be enjoyed for generations to come. littlegreene.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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D A N I S H D E S I G N BoConcept’s award-winning designs are both contemporary and timeless Words E V E H E R B E R T

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t BoConcept, personalisation is their passion – that’s why clients are invited to make their mark on the brand’s Da n ish de sig ns. From fabric to fitting, every last detail can be customised to become distinctly you.

Earthy neutrals will play a central role in the coming season, creating a sense of calm, composure and relief from a chaotic world. We are all seeking to find solace in nature to combat the effects of coronavirus, so consumers will welcome tones with a soothing and grounding quality. Shades of taupe and ash grey are set to be key colours,

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offering balanced tones that evoke feelings of settlement. Dark oak is also forecast to be one of the key colours for the 21/22 season, and it’s a grounding shade which has a nostalgic undertone. Dark oak has a timeless appeal, drawing from evergreen nature and precious treasures. Consumers will be seeking joy and reassurance in challenging times, and this will impact the colours they buy and how long they are attached to them for. Emotion will remain a key driver, and colour will provide an uplifting and reassuring sense of warmth.

This year, BoConcept is increasing the focus on both dark oak and ash grey.

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H O M E | PARTNERSHIP

Shades of taupe and ash grey are set to be key colours this season LEFT: CUPERTINO DESK BELOW: ADELAIDE CHAIR

The Adelaide chair, pictured below, will now be available in ash grey. The soft colour complements the organic shape in a beautiful way. It gives the opportunity to create a trendy monochrome look at a very competitive price. Combining the ash grey base with the upholstered chair creates a new contemporary and exclusive look.

The ash grey base adds a new, trendy and fresh look to both the Adelaide and the Vienna dining chairs. The combination of

the new, coloured, quilted velvet and the ash grey base is stunning.

With a workspace set to become a part of the fabric of the home, BoConcept’s Cupertino desk has become something of a go-to piece. With its clean, minimalist aesthetic, it doesn’t compromise on style, bringing an air of sophistication as well as a feeling of calm to any office, study or designated workspace. The Cupertino is now available in two additional colour combinations: dark oak with matte black and oak with ash grey. Whether integrating into a large and airy space or a small, city-style apartment, Cupertino can be customised to complement any home.

Avid writers will be pleased to learn that the Cupertino also features a scratchresistant surface, inviting you to scribble at will without fear of damage. Just choose your preferred colour combination and pull up a chair for another day at the home office in elevated style.

BoConcept offers 120 different fabrics to choose from. Turn an ordinary place into an extraordinary space with their interior design service – with advice in store, at home or virtually, they will turn your ideas into a living reality.

Visit a BoConcept store to see their new 2022 collection and get expert advice about modern living and interior design.

Stores can be found in Battersea Reach, Finchley Road, Notting Hill, Tottenham Court Road, Kingston, Guildford and now Westfield London or see the new 2022 lookbook online at boconcept.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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vernacular and architectural language including mansard roofs and lower ground floor levels. As such, TR Studio wanted to create an interior with equal character for its client.

With conservation area restrictions in place and limited external changes permitted, TR Studio stripped the property back to its external shell: a tall, narrow terrace.

TR Studio began the build by completely reconfiguring the vertical circulation between floors to create a more connected interior for the family of four to interact.

The studio relocated and reconfigured the main staircase to create a better flow and maximise space. Moving its footprint allowed for a double-height main stairwell, successfully opening up the space and creating a dramatic interior. Located centrally, the staircase creates a sense

“Located centrally, the staircase creates a sense of symmetry”

TALL

of symmetry which opens to a new main kitchen, dining and living space on the raised ground floor level.

Here the studio removed several walls and extended the property into the garden with a double height infill extension. Utilising floor to ceiling sliding doors and a glazed roof created a light and airy interior and a

S T O R Y

How this four storey townhouse in Chelsea was entirely redesigned Words E V E H E R B E R T

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rchitecture and interior practice TR Studio recently completed the ex t ension a nd ex tensive refurbishment of this west London terrace house.

TR Studio were briefed by the private residential client to structurally overhaul the internal layout of the property and undertake a contemporary refurbishment to create a functional and inviting family home. The four-storey townhouse in Chelsea is surrounded by a mix of grade II listed houses from the mid-19th century, sharing a similar local A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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H O M E | HOUSE TOUR new heart to the properties spatial design alongside providing a better connection to the garden.

A tonal palette of chalky, earthy hues is employed throughout the property. In the main living space, a mix of fluted joinery, mid-century furniture pieces, natural materials, textiles, and rustic accessories create a texturally rich environment. Original large sash windows add a complementary sense of tradition to the modern feel of the open plan floor. The bespoke kitchen is a contemporary delight: crafted from cross sawn oak veneer, marble, and touches of satin brass, it effortlessly evokes an understated luxury.

TR Studio explored textured clay walls for the first time in all key rooms along-

“Aa continuous timber handrail runs playfully all through the house” side the main stairwell to help connect the spaces vertically. Oak flooring was chosen for cohesion, while a continuous timber handrail runs playfully all through the house, uniting each room.

On the lower ground floor is a casual family room and snug, with an open fireplace providing a warm and inviting environment and a bespoke cocktail bar for entertaining cleverly nestled into an alcove under the stairwell.

Leading to the upper floors, TR Studio created a double height space in the main stairwell with curved walls and a skylight.

Curved corners to stair raisers feature here, a signature of the studio. A linear pendant combined with the soft textured walls creates an atmospheric space.

Upper floors house a master bedroom with ensuite, two children’s bedrooms, two guest bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Echoing the design details of lower floors, fluted timber, brass, and marble create a cosy and relaxed but undeniably chic bathroom complete with a free-standing bath, a Crittall-style glazed shower room door crafted from a variety of textured panels and handmade Moroccan zellige tiles cladding walls with subtle colour and character.

TI House is unique family home that is both beautiful and functional. Showcasing modern luxury it uses space, light, natural materials, and neutral tones to achieve a calm and serene interior, with a timeless contemporary appeal.

Commenting on the project, founder and lead architect Tom Rutt said: “This house was really about creating a refuge, balancing being in an urban environment with the need for calm, connections to nature, and a softness that is often lacking in London interiors. The owners had returned from living in the US where they had balanced life in New York with a small lake house in

the Hamptons. Here, in Chelsea this house had to provide both the urban hub and the retreat in one property. We used texture and some finely crafted details quite a lot in this house. Not in an old-fashioned stuffy Chelsea way, but in a very clean, modern way. There is stimulation, both visually and to the touch, but it is subtle. Ultimately it is a house that flows well now for a lively family with the kitchen as the absolute heart of the house – one of the requests from day one.” trstudio.co.uk

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H O M E | COMPETITION

Classic STYLE

Win an ercol Heritage Loveseat worth £799 with Absolutely’s new competition

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his autumn sees a step change for ercol, the British furniture brand that has partnered with Barker and Stonehouse since 1946. Launched in 1920 by Lucian Ercolani, generations of ercol fans have fallen in love with the understated elegance, timeless craftsmanship and comfort of its furniture.

Its latest evolution comes with the launch of five new flagship studios in Barker and Stonehouse stores, including Battersea and Guildford. These form beautifully designed studios-withina-store wherein you will find a curated collection of ercol’s furniture.

To celebrate, Barker and Stonehouse and ercol are giving one lucky Absolutely reader the chance to win a Heritage Loveseat in a clear matt finish.

FOR YOUR

Win

CHANCE TO WIN Visit absolutely.london/competition and answer a simple question to be in with a chance to win the Heritage Loveseat, inspired by the ercol 333 chair designed and created by ercol’s founder Lucian R Ercolani.

@barkerandstonehouse barkerandstonehouse.co.uk @ercol_uk • ercol.com ERCOL HERITAGE LOVESEAT, £799

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ROCK ST E A DY This Notting Hill kitchen showcases stylish terrazzo worktops. Absolutely quizzes its owner Theres Hoyos Words E V E H E R B E R T

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heres Hoyos’ work has taken her around the globe for the past 10 years, so when she decided to find a permanent base in London it had to be just right. She and her husband came across an apartment in Notting Hill in need of refurbishment that perfectly fitted the bill – and they moved in by the skin of their teeth on the very first day of lockdown.

How did you come across Diespeker?

I’m interested in the heritage of products, including where stone has been used, and I was doing some research. I found Diespeker on social media and drove over to have a look. John gave us an impromptu tour.

The design was your own inspiration?

Although my expertise is marketing I also have a background in design – in fact I’ve now moved into

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H O M E | DESIGN

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CONNECTED SPEAKERS

Sounds better togeth er Introducing Connected Speakers. Enjoy music throughout your home the Bang & Olufsen way: simple, seamless, stunning.

B E OV I S I O N CO N TO U R BEU OP VG I SRIA ODNE CYO ON RM E E N T E R TA I N M E N T UTROHUO U P G R A D E YO U R H O M E E N T E R TA I N M E N T

REMASTERING R E M A S T E R I NTGH E H O M E CRI N EM AA S TEEX RPI N EM EG RIENCE T HSOTMEER ICNIG N E M A E X P ETRHI E NHCOEM E C I N E M A E X P E R I E N C E RH EE MA

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H O M E | DESIGN

I wanted to create a kitchen that is an extension of the living space, so you don’t really feel like you’re in a kitchen interior design. I like the idea of using a home flexibly and wanted to create a kitchen that is an extension of the living space, with an open-plan design, so you don’t really feel like you’re in a kitchen. The overall concept is all about ‘moments’ – moments of cooking, moments of socialising, moments of working, all in one space.

Tell us about the choice of terrazzo.

I wanted to create a sense of calm in my new home to balance what was going on in the world outside during the pandemic. I needed something neutral.

Both the kitchen island and worktop are a cementbased terrazzo. I opted for a polished finish with a sharp mitred edge.

The cladding is unusual – what was the inspiration?

It’s fluted wood with a metal surround, painted in Farrow & Ball’s Wevet (a delicate white with a hint of grey). It brings in texture and is visually engaging, breaking up the neutral colours).

THERES HOYOS

What do you think of terrazzo as a choice for a worktop?

I chose cement rather than resin as it’s less porous. I’m aware that terrazzo needs a little bit of love to keep it looking beautiful. So far, as long as spills are wiped up quickly there haven’t been any issues. We’re resealing the countertops every six months to help protect the surface. I think it would be great to get a chopping board made from the same terrazzo.

The worktops really are the anchor of our mixeduse kitchen, giving the space character without taking away from the tranquil, desaturated colour palette. Plus, I love that terrazzo is among the more sustainable decorating options.

Interior design: Theres Hoyos at MAIE.com Kitchen appliances: Smeg; Kitchen tap: Fohen; Coffee machine: La Pavoni; Wall and kitchen paint: Farrow & Ball; Contractors: Belgravia Prestige diespeker.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Since 1989

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H O M E | PARTNERSHIP

“Our aim is simple: to design and make wonderfully considered and crafted kitchens”

The

KITCHEN MAKER

The experts Inglis Hall offer a blow-by-blow account of how they created this dream space

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his was a development project where all elements of the upgrade needed to add value.

Our brief was to create a large family kitchen with broad appeal in a modern extension to a large Arts & Crafts property: a perfect brief for a company rooted in craft and the love of real materials. The kitchen became the main selling point in the property’s sales literature, and helped our clients sell the property within weeks of going on the market.

The materials used for this kitchen include Caesarstone Statuario Maximus quartz for the worktops. All our cabinets are made with oak veneer birch ply, and in this kitchen we included a patinated brass recessed edge handle detail. The doors and end panels are finished with

the original Forbo Furniture Lino in pebble. The recessed patinated brass edge handles are made to a unique Inglis Hall design. Made from 6mm solid brass, they make for a clean minimal look with the brass adding a subtle layer of interest.

Lino does present construction challenges, but through experience and careful handling, it is beautiful to work with and has very impressive green credentials as it is made from only linseed oil and pigment.

To avoid filling the space with cabinetry, we decided to use the entire back wall of the extension to accommodate everything needed and to move laundry essentials to the new utility room. This allowed space for a raw band-sawn oak island complete with Inglis Hall-designed stools, and a spacious seating area at the garden end of the kitchen.

A beautiful kitchen that complies to our design approach of blocks and zones, for a cooking experience that would more than satisfy a keen amateur or a professional chef.

INGLIS HALL Unit 3, Phoenix Works, Lewes, BN7 2PE 01273 486 177 inglishall.com

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Jules Haines is reducing waste in the interiors industry by reselling leftover fabrics and deadstock.

Absolutely quizzes her Words P E N D L E H A R T E

What is the Haines Collection?

Our mission at the Haines Collection is to reduce waste in the interiors industry by selling leftover and unwanted designer fabrics, wallpaper, lights and accessories.

What made you start thinking about waste in the interiors industry?

I worked for a textile designer for five years and I saw first-hand the waste in the industry. I’ve experienced the frustrations of having scraps and leftover designs as a brand, and not having a beautiful platform to represent them. People are so busy often the easiest option is to chuck it out, or it feels like a hassle to think about what can be done with small scraps. Warehouses can buy designers’ old stock for a tiny fraction of the price, whereas you know it’s worth much more than that - so I work on behalf of the designers and manufacturers to sell their unwanted stock. There are resale platforms for fashion like Vestiaire Collective or Depop, so why not one for the interiors industry?

How did you come to start Haines?

The idea finally solidified after a chance meeting in

a pop-up shop in my home town of Tunbridge Wells.

A soft furnishings business owner was selling a range of luxury leftover fabric, and I heard him say what a hassle doing a shop once a year was, but he couldn’t see this going to waste. It made me think that there should be someone who could offer that high end resale service, a better option than ebay.

I knew printers and designers who have waste, all a by-product of what they do and something they don’t have time to deal with. So I emailed him, had a meeting and he became my first supplier, and still is! I had a one year-old and a three year-old at the time, plus a four day a week job so I started it at a low level on the side for a year, and then in early 2020 I was able to officially launch the business and work on it full time.

How does it work?

Designers and makers approach us with information and photos of their leftover stock and we sell it on our website for around half the retail price. Often we don’t see the fabric or item, the trade just use us as their sales platform. We try and be as flexible as possible to suit the needs of the supplier: some people just want us to buy it outright, and some A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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want to donate stock, in which case we are able to give a proportion of sales revenue to charity. We add new stock to the website at 6:30pm every Monday, so it’s worth keeping your diary free as when it’s gone it’s gone! Generally it’s small volume, so we are useful for fabric buying for blinds, cushions and small upholstery projects. We can’t always supply samples and our fabric can take up to two weeks to arrive if we aren’t sending it from our office - but it’s always worth the wait.

How do you source items?

We have been very lucky and most of our suppliers have come to us organically - they have read about what we are doing in interiors magazines, word of mouth, or found us on Instagram. We handpick everything on our website so it is a curated collection of luxury waste, but all in perfect condition and ready for a second home. We are exhibiting at Decorex this year to get more suppliers and let more people know about what we are doing and how we can help them reduce their waste.

Can you tell us about the collaboration with Levis?

This was a dream come true! It started with a DIY project I had in mind, as I came across a beautiful scrap of embroidered fabric that I thought would look amazing on the back of a jacket. Luckily one of the members of our team knew someone at Levi’s and so we approached them with our idea - knowing that the Levi’s Haus shop sells only upcycled denim and has in-house tailors to make bespoke items. We then chose six designers to work with us, designers who we have worked with or have a similar ethos to us, and used their beautiful scraps to upcycle Levi’s items. We love the concept of upcycled fashion textiles and upcycled interiors textiles coming together in a way that we had not seen before. It was a huge success, Levi’s extended the collaboration to last six weeks and it has now moved up to their Manchester Levi’s store.

Are your workshops popular and will you be expanding them?

Our Lampshade Workshops are so popular, they usually sell out in hours. I love them but there is only one of me so I need to juggle them with my day job which is sometimes a bit of a challenge being out of the office often. Lampshade making is really therapeutic so it’s always a really special few hours where creatives get together and you come home with a totally bespoke shade that will look amazing in your house. You are upcycling a leftover piece of fabric as well as saving money buying new!

What are your best-sellers?

We mostly sell fabric and the designs that fly off the shelves are the new designs by the top design houses

There are resale platforms for fashion, so why not one for the interiors industry? like Ottoline and Molly Mahon, but as always these are in small volume and one-off. It’s a case of fastest fingers first when buying on a Monday night! We never know what we are going to have so it’s worth always checking on the website.

What’s next for Haines?

We are launching a mini-series in late October where I chat to businesses such as Edward Bulmer who are focused on being an eco-friendly option when shopping for your home. There is so much to learn about how we can be more sustainable when shopping, so I’m hoping people are keen to come on the journey with us.

In late November we will open our Eco Christmas Gift Shop that has a range of luxury gifts made from our upcycled fabrics such as wool tote bags, silk eye masks and a bag for all of your gift wrapping needs.

We have lots of new projects and collaborations coming up and are launching a new section of our website in January but that is all still under wraps! hainescollection.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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THE INTER IOR DESIGN SHOW FOR PROFESSIONALS 1 0 th — 1 3 th O c t o b e r 2 02 1 Oly mpia L ondon 1 6 t h — 1 8 t h N o ve m b e r 2 0 2 1 V i r t u a l e ve n t

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H O M E | PARTNERSHIP

Work smart

How 25 EP will make the return to the office an exciting one

G 25 EP IS BASED AT ECCLESTON YARDS

It seamlessly blends leading hospitality with flexible office space SOCIAL HUBS MAKE IT PERFECT FOR OFFICE WORKERS

one are the days of competing for prime office space in the heart of bustling urban hubs, as businesses make way for the rise of flexible working spaces, and home workers are finally ready to come up for air and enjoy the thrills of a working atmosphere and coffee breaks with colleagues once again – cue 25 EP. With the abrupt shift to working from home as the pandemic began to take hold, many have reluctantly had to adapt to a new way of working life and overcome an array of obstacles. With Grosvenor Britain & Ireland at the helm, 25 EP has risen to the occasion and arrived with a brand-new workplace concept in the heart of Belgravia, which seamlessly blends leading hospitality with flexible office space, offering a home away from home to those craving the perfect blend of cosy comforts and a much-needed change of scenery – four legged furry friends welcome!

Located within Eccleston Yards, an urban oasis offering fitness, wellness, dining and creative spaces, it is surrounded by a picturesque, sunny courtyard. The community includes food and drink from Wild by Tart, atis, Morena, Jones Family Kitchen and Ole & Steen, with wellbeing offerings from Barry’s Bootcamp, Re:Mind and Hotpod Yoga.

The space has been expertly designed, with the look and feel of a private members’ club, appealing to professionals seeking the best of both worlds – a fully functional workspace in an excellent location, with unique, fresh features, allowing for equal amounts of work and play. From the front desk to the management, the team at 25 EP has been pulled from 5* London hotels, as well as bringing long-standing

THEY OFFER FLEXIBLE SPACES

experience from the flexible co-working sector. Whether you need a hard-to-get reservation or a fresh water bowl for your dog, the dedicated, conscientious and discreet concierge team is on hand to help.

Working from home isn’t for everyone and the days can soon start to blend into one, with the feeling of isolation creeping in and creative juices grinding to a startling halt – 25 EP is just the answer to coax you back to the big city with a choice of hot desks, permanent set ups and private offices accommodating from two to 50 people, complete with all-inclusive memberships tailored to specific working needs.

With the shared office landscape evolving, high end co-working here provides its members with the perfect hybrid setup – all the advantages of home perks as well as the efficiency of traditional office working.

It’s time to reimagine your day-to-day routine and 25 EP gets our vote.

25-ep.com instagram.com/25ecclestonplace/ A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Real wood flooring is a classic choice that works across any style of property

Oak Aged Parquet Ebony with an Oiled finish, from The Natural Wood Floor Co.

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eal wood flooring is a versatile, timeless option that brings nature indoors while filling the home with warmth and character.

Parquet flooring is a particularly popular option that always stands the test of time.

Real wood flooring is a classic choice that works across any style of property, from contemporary to traditional and everything in between. It is also a surface that is suitable for virtually any room in the home, from making an entrance in the hallway, to creating a sense of calm and tranquillity in our living spaces and bedrooms.

Engineered wood boards, thanks to their construction, are suitable for damp and humid areas and can be installed

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H O M E | PARTNERSHIP Oak Parquet Silver White Oiled The Natural Wood Floor Co.

Oak Parquet from The Natural Wood Floor Co.

on top of underfloor heating, so your real wood floor is as luxuriously warm to walk on as it is beautiful to look at. This is because an engineered board has up to 11 layers of plywood backing, with each layer glued at a 90-degree angle to the adjoining layer. The top layer of a precious hardwood is then glued on top, resulting in a much more stable floor with negligible reduction in the lifespan of the floor and a robust construction that is perfect for any room. This includes most kitchens and bathrooms, where humid conditions won’t cause the wood to warp.

Injecting personality and character into large and small spaces alike, the trend for real wood flooring means parquet has never been so popular, bringing a timeless elegance combined with a modern twist to the home. Creating an elegant and

sophisticated look, the combination of colour, wood detailing and pattern makes for a real statement floor.

From herringbone and basket weave to brickwork and chevron, the pattern options with parquet are just as diverse as the range of woods available. Go large with 600mm sized blocks for a modern twist on a design classic or opt for an aged design to add extra character with a reclaimed effect. The style of laying pattern chosen will depend on the setting, the size of the parquet, the species and grade of wood and even the finish, but the end result will be the same regardless; a beautiful wood floor that will be a focal point of the room.

Once laid, keeping real wood parquet looking as good as new is straightforward.

A combination of dry cleaning to remove dirt and dust particles and damp cleaning to protect it against scratches is really all that is needed for a lacquered or oiled floor. For weekly cleaning, a capful of correct concentrate mixed with water and applied with a damp mop will suffice, while to refresh the look and lustre annually, which is important in high traffic areas such as the kitchen, use a concentrated polish, again applied with water and a damp mop.

Chosen well and with the right care, a parquet floor will look the part for many years; the most difficult decision will be in choosing which wood type to opt for.

Peter Keane is director of the Natural Wood Floor company.

For more details visit naturalwoodfloor.co.uk

Pattern

options include HERRINGBONE

Herringbone is a classic laying pattern for parquet, with the blocks laid so they inter-lock in a diagonal pattern. Most commonly, the points of a herringbone pattern floor are laid parallel to a room’s longest wall, or towards the window. Traditional in style, this pattern is suited to wood with an aged look, so that it resembles reclaimed wood. To give the look a modern twist there is no reason why different species of wood or different finishes can’t be combined, for a really striking impression.

BASKET WEAVE

Equally as traditional is basket weave parquet, which can be laid in several different styles.

Each pattern has its own unique style and is ultimately down to individual preference and the size of the blocks being used.

BRICKWORK

For something a little more contemporary brickwork and ladder patterned parquet look particularly striking when chosen for long, narrow spaces such as entrance hallways.

CHEVRON

A timeless classic that never goes out of fashion, chevron parquet really looks the part when laid over large spaces. Choose individual chevron blocks of standard sizes to lay one by one, or engineered chevron boards glued together in a row on a board for easier fitting.

Parquet Premier Grade Oak Pre-finished is a new range from Natural Wood Floor Co, pictured (from left) in Ebony, Raw and Antique, all with an Oiled finish and priced from £60 per square metre

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THESE BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURAL OBJECTS ARE ALL UNIQUE AS THEY ARE MADE FROM OFFCUTS OR WASTE FROM MAKING OTHER FURNITURE PIECES, SO NO TWO OBJECTS ARE OF THE SAME SIZE OR SHAPE AND THEY ARE MADE FROM VARIOUS TIMBERS AND FINISHES

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n sustainable methods in f ur niture making, Teer & Co speaks on behalf of and works closely with a carefully selected network of highly skilled, vetted and trusted Designer-Makers who are mostly based in the UK and operate their own independent workshops and practices.

Sustainability in handcrafted furniture making covers many things. A sustainable approach starts at the outset of furniture creation and continues by keeping things simple in the design process. A simple design that minimises components but incorporates durable, high-quality materials and requires less energy to produce helps lay the foundations for sustainable furniture

making. A piece that is designed to last and that can be re-used, repaired, recycled or upcycled is more sustainable and will reduce waste.

Raw materials will typically be sustainably sourced like FSC timbers from responsibly managed forests, and local sources wherever possible will obviously reduce carbon footprint and support the local economy.

The processes that our makers use ensure a sustainable approach to making fine furnishings that will stand the test of time.

This is central to the way most designermakers operate their independent workshops. Processes that maximise the act of making-by-hand and minimising as much as possible the use of automated machinery

that draws on electricity and impacts the environment. Low energy consumption is of course friendlier towards the environment and minimising the creation of waste or repurposing waste is integral to process.

Packaging for local or overseas delivery is another significant factor in operating sustainably and exploring innovative ways to package furniture and avoiding plastics and using FSC rated cardboard as well as recycled papers for any instructions, care guides, labels, etc.

Partnering with firms like Ecologi to offset our carbon footprint, including emissions from our home, from personal travel, holidays, food, hobbies and more. In return, Ecologi plant trees to restore healthy forests

“A sustainable approach starts at the outset of furniture creation” A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Energy Efficient, Timber Windows and Doors High quality windows and doors, made in the UK. Preserving the character of your home, while incorporating double glazing, where permitted.

Trusted trader

01344 868 668 www.sashwindow.com

®

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H O M E | LIVING

around the globe and fund the world’s best climate crisis solutions.

Teer & Co collaborates with independent Designer-Makers to produce made-to-order handcrafted soft and timber furnishings using only the finest sustainably-sourced local materials such as FSC timbers to minimise transportation to workshops for making.

We operate a lean and efficient ‘drop-ship’ business model that means they do not carry any stock at any time. Any order received is made-to-order and shipped from the respective Designer-Maker’s own workshop to minimise transportation direct to just one final customer destination.

One of the Designer-Makers works exclusively with fallen trees sourced from the British Isles and is always transparent about and knows and passes on to clients from what woodland, estate or street his timber originates and why it has come down, whether because of storm damage, disease or development purposes.

The goal of this Designer-Maker is always the same: to save beautiful timber that would otherwise be chipped, burned or sent to landfill, and to preserve the story of that tree in a piece of enduring furniture that can be passed down through generations.

Other Designer-Makers make use of offcuts of solid timber from the production of other furniture pieces and use every bit of waste timber material possible to create objects that can be sold to maximise material usage and ensure they repurpose waste and minimise their impact on the environment.

Another Designer-Maker is a traditional weaver specialising in zero waste ethical hand-woven textiles. She strives to decrease to the minimum; yarn waste and unnecessary cuts, carbon footprints, the use of machinery, water and electric energy. By adhering to a zero waste philosophy, she

LATH CABINET MADE EXCLUSIVELY WITH FALLEN TREES SOURCED FROM THE BRITISH ISLES.

TEXTILES – THIS IS THE TRADITIONAL WEAVER LADY THAT SPECIALISES IN ZERO-WASTE. SHE STRIVES TO DECREASE TO THE MINIMUM; YARN WASTE AND UNNECESSARY CUTS, CARBON FOOTPRINTS, THE USE OF MACHINERY, WATER AND ELECTRIC ENERGY.

A piece that is designed to last can be re-used, repaired, recycled or upcycled aspires to make hand-weaving an increasingly sustainable craft exclusively using natural undyed materials.

The precise timbers used are always specified in the details that Teer & Co presents in our online Shop. Any stains and oils used by independent makers in the finishing process are eco-friendly. Not all, but the majority of their timber products avoid the use of metal parts like hinges that will not biodegrade and so damage the ecosystem.

Our intention with new product introductions will be to avoid, as much as is possible, the use of metal parts or any components that will not biodegrade.

In these times, buying a certain quality matters because it makes social, environmental, economical and ethical sense.

When we say ‘buy well’ we are encouraging people (whenever possible) to buy quality for which we will invariably pay more. That said, the quality should increase the useful life-expectancy of a piece of furniture, and

minimise our future consumption and resulting impact on the environment.

We take the view that buying cheap inferior quality mass-produced furnishings (that can exploit cheap labour) is a false economy because life-expectancy is likely to reduce and lead to further spending on buying replacements, and therefore increasing our consumption and impact on the environment. As the saying goes, ‘Buy cheap, buy twice’.

Of course we recognise that not everyone can afford to buy well. So with the environment front of mind, we encourage investing in timeless, high-quality, skilfully handcrafted and sustainably-sourced timber furnishings that are made to last longer, and may be re-purposed when their use is finally retired. Of course we know that repurposing and repairing items we already own will save many items going to landfill. teerandco.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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MAKING A CONNEC TI O N

There’s no place in your home sweet home for poor broadband

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H O M E | PARTNERSHIP

Future proofed for generations to come Swish’s network is currently able to expand to speeds of 10,000Mbps, with the ability to upgrade even further so it’s always ahead of true demands.

Where can I find information on the progress of the network installation?

Say hello to 4k streaming, hardcore gaming, crystal clear video calls and smart home living

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ome is where the heart is, but if your broadband connection doesn’t have the heart to serve up all of your needs, there’s really no place for it in your home. Go beyond today’s broadband and bring Full Fibre into the heart of your home with Swish.

As part of a £250 million-pound investment to create a state-of-the-art 10,000Mbps Full Fibre network, Swish Fibre are currently building their network across towns in the Home Counties, to help you work, surf and play with confidence.

Unless you’re one of the lucky few UK households, chances are you have a fibreto-the-cabinet broadband (FTTC). This means the final stage of the journey to your home is being made by the traditional copper telephone wire. Think of copper like a leaky bucket, where it quickly loses speed over the distance to your home.

Swish Fibre doesn’t stop at bringing you blistering performance that’s way beyond today’s average speeds. Like their Full Fibre network, they’ve thrown away the rule book and redesigned a range of services that put you first and firmly in control.

Speed united Unlike traditional broadband services, Swish Fibre delivers an upload speed that matches the eye-watering download speed of your chosen package.

Make every millisecond count. Make poor video calls, slow file uploads and gaming lag a thing of the past. With split-second response rates, Swish always delivers when it matters most.

Endless possibilities Say hello to 4K streaming, hardcore gaming, crystal clear video calls and smart home living, all across multiple devices at the same time – day and night.

For more information on where Swish is installing fibre, visit swishfibre.com/ locations. These will include build plans, an evolving bank of frequently-asked-questions and opportunities to speak with the Swish team. They are committed to providing regular updates here to keep you informed of progress.

The good news is, you can now pre-order or order Swish Fibre in Marlow, Gerrards Cross, Princes Risborough, Beaconsfield, Bourne End and Wooburn Green. But if you feel like you’re missing out, well fear not. Swish Fibre is making its way around Berkshire and Buckinghamshire and Full Fibre will soon be available in Flackwell Heath, Ascot and Sunningdale.

What is involved with installing Swish Fibre networks?

Like all utility companies, their network installation involves digging trenches.

However, Swish Fibre use a variety of trenching methods in order to minimise traffic disruption and time spent in your area. At the same time, their engineers will install street cabinets for their high speed fibre connections.

If you live in one of these areas, you can register your interest online to hear more information about what Full Fibre can do for you and to find out when your home is ready to be connected, plus you can also pre-order online or visit them at the Swish Fibre hub in Marlow. Once your property is ready for service, one of their expert installations team will be in touch to schedule in a suitable time for you to get connected.

SW I S H F I B R E Visit 6, 6a Market Square, Marlow, SL7 1DA 0800 0489415 swishfibre.com

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RUg STORE specialise in a wide selection of new, old and Antique Persian, Turkish, Caucasian and Turkmen Carpets. Various antique, old and new kilims are available.

We offer a professional hand-cleaning and restoration service. We buy old and antique carpets - even damaged rugs. Part exchange and evaluations.

312 UPPER RICHMOND ROAD WEST, EAST SHEEN, RICHMOND, LONDON, SW14 7JN. Tel / Fax: 020 8876 0070 INfO@RUgSTOREONLINE.CO.Uk WWW.RUgSTOREONLINE.CO.Uk

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CURTAIN CALL INSPIRED INTERIORS Our redesigned and extended showroom is now open, incorporating a large Luxaflex design studio showing the latest motorised blinds, nestled alongside nearly new curtains and a huge choice of fabrics to be made to measure as curtains and blinds Please call for Showroom appointments

Opening Hours: Tues-Sat 10am to 5pm • Closed Wed from 1pm 52 Friars Stile Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6NQ 020 8332 6250 • curtaincall@blueyonder.co.uk

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H O M E | DESIGN

T R E A D T H E B O A R D S AH Peck is one of London’s top wood floor specialists B y L AY L A T U R N E R

W “The world of high-end wood flooring can be a maze of confusion for the uninitiated”

ood flooring adds warmth, comfort and character to a home. Its versatility me a n s that it not only elevates the look and feel of a room (and potentially the value of a property), but it can also be a challenge to find just the right option from the hundreds of woods, styles and finishes available for your space.

AH Peck has been a fixture in Putney for more than 60 years as one of London’s finest wood flooring specialists, with a heritage steeped in quality and craftsmanship.

When Albert Peck launched a business supplying timber to the building trade in 1959 he could not possibly have dreamed of the renaissance his company, and the flooring sector itself, would go through over the decades that followed. Today the world of high-end wood flooring can be a maze of confusion for the uninitiated. Will you choose oak, walnut or ash, mahogany, maple or cherry? Grey tones, brown tones or darker; contemporary or traditional – and will it be solid wood or engineered? Or maybe you’ll want to use reclaimed wood.

What finish will you choose – brushed and oiled, lacquered or varnished – and what about the style – planks (but what width?), herringbone, parquet or chevron? And then there are all the bespoke options, limited only by your imagination.

Moreover there’s the question of sustainability, where the wood comes from and what efforts suppliers make to respect the forests they tend and harvest from and how they give back to the environment.

AH Peck’s newly reopened showroom was designed meticulously around their desire to simplify a customer’s journey. It took seven months, a master builder, lighting specialists, structural engineers and many others to extend and transform this space into a stunning modern showroom and fully

equipped workshop, as well as a perfectly practical space for flipping traditional retail on its head – instead of selling wood flooring for installation in your home, they start with your home and carefully select the precise flooring choice to suit your interior design aspirations.

With the launch of their new showroom and collection they have also created a whole new wood menu just for interior designers – a beautifully finished carry box with a multitude of slots for an interior designer to insert their own selection of AH Peck samples.

Over and above one of the widest selections of carefully curated luxury wood flooring from across Europe (sustainably harvested by FSC certified suppliers) AH Peck have just debuted a brand-new collection, 45 varieties – in grades, styles and finishes – of beautiful Belgian wood flooring for use throughout the home.

They’re rather excited about it, so if you find yourself in Putney, do pop into 141 Lower Richmond Road to experience for yourself just how transformational a really good wood floor could be for your home. ahpeckltd.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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H O M E | FOCUS

H E AT

is ON

Castrads radiators are stylish as well as sustainable Words E V E H E R B E R T

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idden away in Leeds is an unexpected little c om mu n it y c a l l e d Secret Garden, where homes are built with sustainability in mind.

Secret Garden, Leeds is a climate innovation district, created specifically to combat climate change. Castrads radiators were chosen for one of the homes because they’re compatible with sustainable heating, such as air and ground source heat pumps.

Castrads radiators are a sustainable heating option with a timeless aesthetic.

Castrads is committed to working against inbuilt obsolescence, with radiators that are built to last centuries. Castrads is the first radiator company working towards using exclusively recycled iron and mycelium packaging.

Castrads is committed to working against inbuilt obsolescence Castrads provides innovative technology, like their thermostatic control valves, that encourage people to heat their homes efficiently, reducing energy use and wasted heat. This fully mechanical valve allows you to set the ambient temperature in the room. When the room reaches the desired temperature, the valve closes and the radiator stops heating. The room then cools, the valve opens and the radiator begins to heat again.

While cast iron radiators look at home in period properties, Castrads’ wide range of colours and styles fit seamlessly into more contemporary homes as well. Castrads offers 24 exclusive finishes in their Bare Metal and Signature ranges as well as any colour from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene or Benjamin Moore, giving you over 500 colour options.

Castrads’ Mercury line was created by their in-house design engineers. With 15 height and depth variations, it is the most comprehensive radiator range

ever created. With so many size options, the Mercury is perfect for a cohesive look throughout your whole house.

Whether you’re looking for something tall and narrow in a hallway or short and wide enough to double as a window seat, the Mercury is the ideal choice.

Castrads offers virtual and on-site consultations, heat loss calculations, design suggestions with colour samples, and expert advice every step of the way.

For inspiration follow their Instagram and order a free brochure.

If you’d like a one-to-one consultation and to see their radiators in person, visit one of Castrads’ showrooms in Chelsea or Wimbledon. castrads.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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TRAVEL

ISLAND LIFE MADEIRA

Its enduring Green List status and year-round sunshine makes Madeira an attractive destination for holidaymakers. We visit the island's Savoy Palace hotel, famed for its spa, gastronomy and location.

Luxury in Madeira 134 • A Devon cottage 139 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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THE MAGIC The Portuguese island of Madeira is a

of beautiful year-round destination

MADEIRA

By SA N DY CA D I Z- S M I T H

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TRAVEL • MADEIRA

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he idyllic Portuguese island of Madeira is part of an archipelago in the Atlantic. Although just a four-hour flight from the UK, it promises pleasant weather year round and offers spectacular landscapes, sparkling azure seascapes and an inspiring food culture. It’s a diversely remarkable and bountiful island with officially 24 different microclimates, which means there always seems to be a place where the sun is shining. This is our kind of island.

And the magnificent five-star Savoy Palace Hotel is our kind of hotel and a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. It sits imposingly overlooking the sparkling Atlantic across the pool’s inviting blueness. Funchal’s eclectic architecture climbs the hill behind fabulous views wherever you look.

“24 DIFFERENT MICROCLIMATES, MEANS THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE A PLACE WHERE THE SUN IS SHINING"

From the moment we stepped into the glistening marble lobby with its mesmerising chandelier and flower displays we knew we were living a truly palatial lifestyle. And this was solidly reinforced when we saw our suite at the top of the hotel. The huge space was dominated by a giant bed with the plumpest of pillows and softest of linen.

We enjoyed the Savoy Premium Experience with its fabulous extras.

In-room treats appeared like magic - the famous pastel de nata Portuguese tarts, macarons, exotic fruit and bottles of heady Madeiran wine. We had exclusive access to the hotel’s roof top with its infinity pools, bar, mega comfy loungers - and even more breathtaking views.

The stunning Laurea Spa ia 3,100 squaremetre luxurious destination spa is inspired

by Madeira’s beautiful Laurissilva Forest.

There’s a stunning (and enormous) heated indoor pool with invigorating waterfalls, Turkish baths, Himalayan salt room, sauna and jacuzzi and expansive relaxation areas for destressing. We also treated ourselves to superb muscle-relaxing massages.

When it comes to eating, there’s a world of wonder to discover at Savoy Palace. Lazy poolside days are punctuated by visits to the stylish Alameda restaurant just a stone’s A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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TRAVEL • MADEIRA

“AN EXCEPTIONAL CULINARY EXPERIENCE IN THE MOST SPECTACULAR OF SETTINGS WITH PANORAMIC SEA AND MOUNTAIN VIEWS” throw away. We tasted inventive fish dishes including local favourites - scabbard, tuna and octopus - and the tastiest of salads. At Jacaranda on high we savoured a fabulous Nikkei experience with the freshest sushi and sashimi as well as other Japanese delicacies. But best of all was the creative and mouthwatering tasting menu with wine pairings at Galaxia Skyfood. The restaurant offers an exceptional culinary experience in the most spectacular of settings with panoramic sea and mountain views.

There’s also plenty to discover outside the hotel. We explored the volcanic

island’s dramatic mountainscapes by jeep, taking the road less traveled and eating breakfast at a secluded picnic spot after some peace-inducing yoga.

We ambled along the unique lavadas (the network of mini-canals throughout the island that are used for irrigation), taking in stunning views and getting a taste of local life. And of course we took to the seas to commune with the schools of Atlantic spotted dolphins and took in the staggering view from the vertico-inducing glass platform of Cabo Giro - the highest sea cliff in the world.

There’s also the quaint Old Town (Zona Velha) with its poncha bars, restaurants and traditional shops as well as the colourful Mercado dos Lavradores. This foodie heaven sells myriad local flowers, vegetables and fruit (including more types of passion fruit than I knew existed). It’s also a great spot to pick up a souvenir. Because you’re definitely going to want to take a little bit of Madeira home with you.

Testing for Travel This was was my first post-covid trip, which means tests! We went with Qured, who provide Covid-19 testing delivered to your door. Simply order the test pre-trip and it arrives at your door. Once you do your PCR test yourself at home, it needs to be posted off in your nearest priority postbox (ours happened to be opposite our house, luckily).

You activate your test when you take it and when you receive your results, upload them to the Qured site to get your Fit to Fly certificate.

You will need to show this upon arrival at the airport when checking in. Note that some countries don’t require a Fit to Fly certificate if you have had both double vaccinations.

Your also need to do a lateral flow test prior to returning to the UK which will also be sent to your home address so don’t forget to take it with you. And finally, there’s the day two test, two days after arriving home - again it is sent to your home and you post it off for your result.

All details are at qured.com.

savoysignature.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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AU T U M N 2021 WITH

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THINGS TO DO

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his spacious Grade II listed Tudor cottage has been beautifully and sensitively refurbished by its owners. It sleeps six in three bedrooms, and has a wellequipped kitchen, stylish living and dining areas plus an actual cinema room. It’s dog-friendly, there’s a garden with a bbq and decor is stylish and comfortable.

Guests are welcome to help themselves to anything edible in the gardens such as figs and fresh rosemary and at the end of the front garden there is also a village children’s playground and outdoor tennis court, with an outstanding view of the beautiful Devon countryside.

THE AREA

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orth Devon is known for its beautiful beaches, and the nearest one to Atherington is Saunton Sands, which is a breathtakingly vast stretch of sand popular with

surfers. Not much further are Croyde and Woolacombe, award-winning beaches that attract thousands of people every summer but are large enough never to seem busy. The beautiful surrounding Devon countryside offers thatched cottages, lovely views, quiet villages and so much more within easy reach. Exmoor is nearby with waterfalls, walking, cycling, ponies and zoo.

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weekend

THE HOUSE

urfing, obviously. Lessons for all levels of experience can be booked at all nearby beaches. The excellent Tarka Trail for cycling and walking is 30 miles of former railway, with cycle hire, running around the Taw estuary only 20 minutes away. The historic market town of South Molton, the 'gateway to Exmoor' is nearby, with its regular markets, tea shops, restaurants, antique shops and swimming pool. Barnstaple is within easy reach, with its cinema, theatre, pannier market and variety of shops.

D ESTINATI O N S

TRAVEL • UK GETAWAY

he nearby Orchards farm shop has a large choice of supplies, while there’s an excellent fish and chip shop in nearby Braunton. The Saunton Sands hotel is famed for its afternoon tea, while The Pyne Arms in East Down offers award-winning pub food.

LEMONS COTTAGE AT H E R I N G T O N , NORTH DEVON

By P E N D L E H A RT E

A dreamy Tudor cottage with contemporary comforts LEMONS COTTAGE From £235 per night lemonscottage.com sandandstoneescapes.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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DISCOVERMORE

Open Days

Embracing an innovative, modern approach whilst keeping traditional values at its core, Kew House School takes an exciting stance on 21st century education. th November 1st/7 (9.30am/care, 9.30am) With state-of-the-art facilities, a broad curriculum and excellent pastoral st Kew House is a place where you would want to be – a place November 15thof /21learning (7.00pm/ 9.30am) and discovery, laughter and friendship.

November 29th (9.30am) Please go to the website for open event dates and to book your place: kewhouseschool.com/openevents T: 0208 742 2038 E: info@kewhouseschool.com W: www.kewhouseschool.com An independent co-educational senior school for students aged 11-18 in West London

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@kewhouseschool

17/08/2021 15:55

E D U C AT I O N

OPEN DAYS C H O OS I N G A S C H O O L

October is the season for open days.

Anyone thinking about admissions for September 2022 should be spending this month visiting prospective schools in person and online to make sure to find the best fit for every child.

Advice from Gabbitas 143 • The Moat School 149 • Girls on top 153 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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EDUCATION • AGONY AUNT

Question TIME The experts at Gabbitas Education have the answers

ANASTASIA HATVANY Senior Education Consultant and SEN Specialist

We're looking to place my daughter in a UK boarding school next September, but as we are living overseas, we're not really sure how to manage the process of shortlisting and visiting schools.

What would you advise?

One of the first things you need to establish before you start looking at new schools is your daughter’s academic level. You want a school where your daughter will sit comfortably amongst her peers. Prospective boarding schools will also want to know what your daughter can offer

Q

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“Universities don't demand months of work experience under candidates’ belts, just enough to show interest and aptitude”

to them – both in terms of academics and extracurricular.

At boarding schools, children become totally immersed in their surroundings, and what they give, they get back tenfold. With this in mind, look at the school and see what they offer to the child: will your daughter be able to get involved with school life?

As you’re abroad, I’d advise you to look at full-boarding options, as everyone tends to stay in during the weekends. Even if there is the occasional quiet weekend, Saturdays will still comprise of lessons in the morning and sports fixtures in the afternoon, and many schools are keen to keep weekends as busy and as purposeful as weekdays.

Visits and open days are imperative. Do go on these if you are able to, as they are the best way to gauge a school’s atmosphere and ethos. You’ll also get to see how pupils interact with one another and engage with their teachers, and in turn see how the staff interact with parents.

Many schools are now offering in-person tours, so try and go for an open day, and then afterwards schedule a private visit. Having said this, Zoom is still a very good way to view a school and there are plenty of excellent virtual open days.

Look at reviews, listen to word of mouth, but most importantly have confidence in yourself as a parent – you will know in your gut if a school is right for your daughter.

Q

Is it a good idea to move my daughter to a new school for sixth form?

She's said that she might like 'a change of scene' at 16, but we're not sure how easy it will be to make the transition – both academically and socially.

If you’re looking to move your daughter for sixth form, ideally you need to have started shortlisting schools by the end of year 10. Many schools tend to close their registrations by the end of September, and by the very latest, the end of October, as many of their candidate assessments take place during October.

Many children – whether they joined their current school at 11 or 13 – can find the change refreshing, but please bear in mind that this needs to be a very considered decision as she is at a critical age. The process will not only take up valuable time that she could use for GCSE revision, but she will also be leaving behind friends and a structure that she has been used to for at least three years. Remember, too, that competition is often tough for sixth form places, and some schools will have a limited number of spaces; rejection can be disheartening.

Your daughter’s current teachers and pastoral staff know her academic ability and level of wellbeing, so be sure to consult them for their thoughts on the matter. Ask your daughter her reasons for a scene change; for example, is she looking

A

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EDUCATION • AGONY AUNT

SARAH OSHUNWILLIAMS Client Account Manager

for a change in curriculum, or is she looking for a better cultural fit?

If you’re thinking of moving her from a day to a boarding school, this is often an excellent stepping stone for higher education. She’s likely to develop better organisational skills and grow in independence, all in the comfort of school’s safety net – meaning moving to university won’t come as such a shock.

Alternatively, she may be wanting to move closer to home with less school structure. Many children grow out of the school bubble before higher education, and flourish when working more independently.

Overall, I would urge you to research what is out there and bring your daughter onboard the decisionmaking process. She will be able to give you a better idea of what she believes she is missing and this should help shape the final decision.

My son has his heart set on going to veterinary school but knows it's highly competitive and he needs to prove aptitude as well as academic ability. What can he do to improve his chances of acceptance?

The methods of improving your chances of acceptance to veterinary school are very similar to those of getting into professions like medicine or law; work experience is essential.

Besides academic ability, he will need to prove his enthusiasm for the field and should try volunteering or shadowing as many vets and animal practices as he can. Many

Q A

universities understand that sometimes it’s hard for certain candidates to gain experience, so they do not demand months of work under candidates’ belts, just enough to show an interest and an aptitude for veterinary.

Work experience will also help your son to be sure that this is the field he’d like to pursue, as it can be a gruelling process preparing for this career. His time at university will be comprised of a lot of exams, laboratory-based anatomy and a lot of contact hours, so it is imperative that he is prepared for the training.

Research is equally important.

There are currently only 10 veterinary schools in the UK, so make sure to research the benefits of each course. Additionally, prospective students can only apply to 4 of those 10, and as you’re aware, each school has very competitive entry procedures.

Regarding how he might prove his academic ability, consider employing a tutor. Many agencies – like Gabbitas – have tutors who are experts in their chosen field and specialise in veterinary school applications. This will also help him prepare for any interviews he has, and to know what to expect from the course. A tutor can also be useful in helping him revise for his exams, to ensure that he meets his offer.

“Moving from a day to a boarding school is often an excellent stepping stone for higher education, helping students develop better organisational skills and grow in independence” A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Tailored

not uniform

When it comes to a good education, one size does not necessarily fit all.

At MPW, one of the UK’s best known names in fifth and sixth-form education, we offer a distinctive alternative to traditional schools.

A levels and GCSEs in over 45 subjects Personal tutors providing individual academic and pastoral support

Strong teaching and outstanding pastoral care.

Oxbridge-style tutorial groups with nine students or fewer Excellent results and progression to top tier universities Best in class inspection reports from the ISI and Ofsted

The Good Schools Guide

DISCOVER MPW Book your interview and personal tour

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Call 020 7835 1355, email london@mpw.ac.uk or visit our website www.mpw.ac.uk

25/08/2021 11:25

EDUCATION • INSIDER

Audition SUCCESS

Uppingham School's music and drama heads discuss how best to help your children succeed with music and theatre scholarship auditions

I

t is natural for parents to want to nurture and encourage the talents and passions of their child as they progress to senior schools.

Scholarships can be part of this journey and there are a number of key steps which can be taken to help guide a child through the music or drama audition process so that they feel prepared and able to flourish in a new environment.

For many parents, the scholarship process is not only an excellent way for their child to gain recognition for their abilities, but also to identify the support schools offer by way of nurturing, encouraging, and growing a child’s talents as part of their wider educational experience.

Understanding the criteria that the adjudicating panel will be using to make their scholarship decisions is essential in giving your child the best chance of success. For example, alongside requirements such as a grade level on their instrument of choice, the panel may also be looking for a good working knowledge of historical aspects of the pieces your child will be performing. Knowing such details in advance of the audition will help you to prepare your son or daughter effectively.

Schools offering music and drama scholarships will often have an accompanying booklet or information pack

“Set positive, yet realistic expectations for your child – many scholarship auditions will consist of several different stages throughout the day”

which will detail the eligibility criteria for candidates, alongside key information such as what the panel will be looking for and the expectations of a Scholar at the school. It is a good idea to read this in detail so that both you and your child feel you have all the necessary information required to have the best experience possible.

Scholarship auditions can be very daunting for a child. However, as a performer the scholarship process can be an excellent opportunity for children to learn coping methods for nerves and empower them to thrive in an audition environment. It also provides more live performance experience to support their portfolio.

Practice relaxation methods with them such as deep breathing or how to take a quiet moment to collect themselves before entering the audition so that they feel calm and ready to do their best, but also remind ABOVE A pupil at Uppingham School

them that it is perfectly natural to be nervous.

Set positive, yet realistic expectations for your child – many scholarship auditions will consist of several different stages throughout the day, and if your child knows what to expect from each of these stages they will feel more at ease.

Most auditions for musicians and actors will require the child to bring one or two pieces to recite or play in front of a small panel, so selecting pieces in which they are fluent – and pieces they have performed in public before – usually gives children confidence to do their very best on the audition day.

Many scholarship auditions also include an interview, and it may help your child to consider how they may answer key questions. However, as parents, it is important to remember that schools will greatly value the child who is able to show flexibility and independence of thought in their responses in an interview.

While scholarship auditions can be an intimidating and nerve-wracking process for pupils and parents alike, it is important to remember that the school seeking talented Scholars through this process is there to support your child every step of the way and help them to succeed.

A N D R E W K E N N E DY Director of Music

C L A R E H AY E S Artistic Director (Theatre) Uppingham School A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate An Excellent rated (ISI) school welcoming children aged 3 months to 19 years.

Find out how we can help support your child to achieve their aspirations in our unique prep, middle and senior four-school model.

Call to arrange a private tour or join us at our next open day on 27 November 2021.

Visit our stand at the ISS London Show 13-14 November

www.qe.org

“To be the best that I can, with the gifts that I have.” www.qe.org | admissions@qe.org | 01423 333330 | York YO26 9SS

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EARLY START

The Moat School helps children with a variety of learning difficultires

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By EVE HERBERT

he Moat School is a independent specialist school for children with SpLDs such as dyslexia and dyspraxia.

Based in Fulham, the school has been providing award-winning education for pupils since 1998.

Since learning differences and unique learning profiles are often identified later in life, children are sometimes left to fall behind in their classwork and personal development before interventions are put in place to support them.

In 2017 The Moat School launched an initiative to provide a space for young pupils to gain the support they need and learn in an academic environment that is also supportive

towards any learning differences they may be experiencing.

The Moat’s Lower School team has been headed up by Colwin Bristol who has been a fantastic asset to the 9-10-yearold learners. The role within the school is an important one: often pupils within the Lower School will continue through to The Moat Sixth Form, as such these initial years are extremely important for young people and the rest of their learning careers.

Since 2017 The Moat’s Lower School classes have grown exponentially, having run a combination of combined year groups and individual year five and six classes. The classes have been invaluable in helping pupils find ways to work together and progress towards the national

“These initial years are extremely important for young people”

EDUCATION • FOCUS

curriculum. The Moat’s lead Lower School teacher Colwin Bristol says “The pupils who have come through my class over the years have always been bright and friendly, but often lacking in confidence when they first join us. My job is to lift these young people up and create confident, intelligent and often hilarious children who will go on to thrive in their education.

I’m extremely proud of the work I and my Lower School team have done over the years, and I hope it continues to grow for many more.”

The Moat Lower School accepts applicants during all terms of the school year. This allows for parents and carers to approach them throughout the year with either new EHCPs (Educational health care plans) or questions or concerns about their child’s learning progression in a mainstream setting.

The Moat allows potential pupils to join their Lower School class for two days where they take part in regular lessons alongside the rest of the class to determine if they are a suitable fit for the class.

With class sizes so small (max 12 to a class) it is important pupils are admitted knowing they have the potential to thrive and grow along with the rest of the pupils.

T H E M OAT S C H O O L For more information on The Moat School, the admission process and other details email office@moatschool.org.uk or visit moatschool.org.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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X X X X / X• X XXXX EDUCATION FEATURE

BELOW US captain Megan Rapinoe celebrates a goal with the team during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup match against Thailand at Stade Auguste Delaune, France

E Girls on TOP

Traditional male sports are finding favour among girls, but there’s more work required to level the playing field

By LIBBY NORMAN

arlier this year, an Oxford High School Year 11 student called Apolline wrote a letter to a national newspaper questioning why the men’s Six Nations Rugby had gone ahead – despite Covid-19 restrictions – whereas the women’s competition was delayed and shortened. She asked: “Is this so called ‘sporting equality’ that clubs, teams and associations claim to have just for show? Before Covid-19 we were led to believe that sporting women were starting to have better opportunities”.

Apolline made a fair point. She noted the disparities in sponsorship and financial rewards, adding: “It is not an excuse for the inequality”. The Six Nations disparity was spotted and remarked upon by many others who care about women’s progress in what were traditionally men’s games.

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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RAVENSCOURT PARK

preparatory school

An Independent School for Boys and Girls aged 4-11 Quality of Pupils’ Achievement and Learning - “Excellent” Quality of Teaching - “Excellent”

Quality of Extra-curricular Provision - “Excellent” Quality of Pastoral Care - “Excellent”

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

Quality of Pupils’ Personal Development – “Excellent” ‘’The curriculum is excellent for all ages and abilities, and is expertly matched to meet the needs of the range of pupils in the school.’’

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - March 2016

Open Mornings Open Mornings

9.15am Tuesday 14th November To book your place on an open morning,

9.15am Thursday 9th May 2019 please go to www.rpps.co.uk/openmornings 9.15am Thursday 18th January 2018 9.15am Tuesday 11th June 2019 or phone 020 8846 9153

9.15am Thursday 1st February 2018

To your place on an open morning, pleasemornings, go to To book register your attendance at one of our open rpps.co.uk/admissions or phone 020 8846 9153 please phone 0208 846 9153 or mail secretary@rpps.co.uk

Ravenscourt Park Prep School 16 Ravenscourt Avenue, London W6 0SL

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KEW GREEN preparatory school

An Independent School for Boys and Girls aged 4-11 Quality of Pupils’ Achievement and Learning - “Excellent” Quality of Teaching - “Excellent”

Quality of Extra-curricular Provision - “Excellent” Quality of Pastoral Care - “Excellent”

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

Quality of Pupils’ Personal Development – “Excellent” “Pupils of all ages benefit from a rich and exciting curriculum.”

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - July 2015

To book your place on an open morning, please go to www.kgps.co.uk/openmornings or phone 020 8948 5999

Kew Green Preparatory School

Layton House, Ferry Lane, Kew Green, Richmond TW9 3AF

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EDUCATION • FEATURE

“THE ADVENT OF TV COVERAGE OF WOMEN PLAYING TRADITIONAL MALE SPORTS HAS OPENED UP A WHOLE LOAD OF ROLE MODELS FOR YOUNG GIRLS”

ABOVE Sandroyd has gone co-ed on cricket to level the field

There’s a growing fan base for all these ‘trad’ men’s sports among girls – rugby most certainly, but football and cricket too. They are gaining traction because they are the big crowd pullers, the hero team sports.

So why wouldn’t girls want to play them?

Alexis Williamson-Jones, Director of Sport at Sutton High School and Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) Consultant Teacher for Sport and PE, has seen the change coming over the past ten years. “I’ve been teaching PE for 22 years and when I first came to into it not many girls would play those traditional sports associated with boys.” The shift is, she believes, down to the influences (and influencers) girls are exposed to now, but also because of grassroots development in the girls’ game.

“We always say 'if you can’t see it you can’t be it'. If you don’t have a role model that’s there, how do you know that you can do that,” she says. “The advent of more TV coverage of women playing traditional male sports has opened up a whole load of role models for young girls to be empowered

by – it becomes a circle that grows the sport.” Men’s sport still dominates the airwaves, but the women playing these sports – the female heroes – are hugely influential not least because they show a potential pathway. Girls recognise that they might play for school, local team, elite women’s squad or even country. The arrival of female pundits has also helped, even though there are too many men who struggle to take female pundits, let alone players, seriously.

Williamson-Jones cites the impact of the 2019 Women’s World Cup in helping to shift perceptions in a positive way. She says both the play and the belief and stewardship of Phil Neville helped convince many doubters.

“That summer we definitely saw a reaction in positivity, in the way it influenced girls to play football. That’s because it was given airtime and kudos more in line with the men’s game.” She has no doubt that it will continue to grow in importance – especially since so many more schools are putting football on the timetable.

Williamson-Jones adds that there A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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EDUCATION • FEATURE

RIGHT Female footballers at York House School

are important influencers beyond TV. Parents, friends and teachers are vital in influencing girls’ choices. But females also need competition – and a route to the highest levels if they are really good. This is one reason why GDST has established a Select Cricket Team (with a Select Football Team to follow next year) so that girls from across its 25 schools can aim higher. It’s a ‘build it and they will come’ approach, and one that is already proven at national level in cricket. “The sports that got themselves organised the quickest have seen the most benefit.

So, for example, cricket got its female pathway sorted really quickly and that’s why they have so many women coming through and so many young girls playing cricket,” says Williamson-Jones.

Co-ed preps are also helping to prepare the ground for the next generation of female players. Sandroyd School in Wiltshire recently announced a full transition to co-ed cricket teams to enable its boys and girls to share the field. With an even split between the sexes, it makes sense on many levels.

Sandroyd’s Head of Girls Games Faith Golding knows a thing or two about taking sport to elite level as she’s a former Commonwealth Games’ Gymnast and she says it’s the logical thing to do.

“Our attitude is simple: gender in sport doesn’t matter, what counts is the player’s interest, skill level and enthusiasm.”

Like Williamson-Jones, Golding sees the importance of pathways. “Every child at Sandroyd is given the opportunity to play sport with their friends in a competitive environment. Mixed teams demonstrate to our children that they are all equal, they all need to be treated with the same respect, and they all have the same opportunities. It helps everyone understand their self-worth; it also allows us to field the strongest

“OUR ATTITUDE IS SIMPLE: GENDER IN SPORT DOESN’T MATTER, WHAT COUNTS IS THE PLAYER’S INTEREST, SKILL LEVEL AND ENTHUSIASM” possible competitive teams,” she says.

York House Prep in Hertfordshire is also taking girls’ participation in traditional male sports seriously. It began with football, then cricket and now it also offers rugby. “The girls at York House are passionate about their sport and have taken to these more traditional male sports with great positivity, resilience and intense enthusiasm,” says Head of Girls Games Rhiannon Burr.

She sees clear evidence that giving airtime to women’s sport works, citing the Lionesses’ success in France in the 2019 World Cup, after which the Women’s FA reported an increase of more than 850,000 females participating in football. She says: “Increased female sports coverage,

leads to increased female participation, resulting in a greater pool of potential female athletes for our National Governing Bodies to support through their elite pathways”. Burr adds that change has to happen across the board. “Ultimately, it is a collective responsibility to ensure equality and representation in sport.”

Last word goes to Oxford High student Apolline, who was inspired to write to the papers about the state of play with women’s rugby. Her letter adds: “I am supported to explore all possibilities within sport. Yet as soon as I look out to the wider sporting community, I realise just how much is wrong within the sporting world... more attention to this issue would be a step closer to resolving it”.

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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SPECI A L ISSUE

absolutely-mama.co.uk

In this section:

Language learning

Starting them young •

LO U N G E LOVER With their classic look, Eberjey’s Gisele pyjamas borrow their style from the boys, but are cut from super-soft jersey and tailored for a more feminine silhouette.

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A new range of slings •

Life without plastic

It’s easy if you try

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mama PROMOTION

“It allows for parents to spend precious time with their children while learning”

S M A L L T A L K Through a range of innovative programmes, Pepe and Tete brings the Spanish language to life

P

epe and Tete is a Spanish language experience business that offers learning for all ages and levels. The journey to create Pepe and Tete started in Pilar de la Horadada, Spain where their founder is from and worked as a tennis coach for nine years.

This period strengthened her passion for all sports as well as heavily influencing Pepe and Tete’s approach to learning.

The approach is founded on two principles; first is that learning is all about curiosity and they take every day as an opportunity to discover something new.

Second is that conversation is the best way to learn a language. So, whether it’s practicing with native speakers or roleplays, their tutors place strong emphasis on social skills as a way of mastering a language across all ages and levels.

Specifically, for children, they have developed a learning model that combines interactive learning and real-life interactions. They use Pepito, a fun and

engaging character that brings to life various aspects of Spanish culture such as family, food and hobbies. An example is this year, for children aged 5-10, they ran a series of art camps that explored famous Spanish artists such as Picasso, Miró and Gaudi.

For adults, they have developed a dedicated one-year programme called Spanish Año. The programme is based on an English family looking to relocate to Spain and thus puts strong emphasis on conversation and practice as a way of mastering the language. They have also SANDRA AVILES, THE FOUNDER OF PEPE AND TETE

BE CONFIDENT IN SPEAKING SPANISH WHEN HOLIDAYING

created a unique programme that allows for parents to spend precious time with their children while learning together.

They recognize that time and flexibility are a challenge especially for families or professionals. Therefore, as online learning becomes the norm, they are constantly looking at ways to innovate new learning options such as maternity and sabbatical programmes, both centered around the student’s availability.

Learning a language does not stop at just being able to speak and listen, but also includes cultural immersion, meeting new people and of course sampling the food. Their full immersions programmes offer the perfect setting to practice and experience the Mediterranean lifestyle in the south of Spain.

So, no matter your learning needs, they would be delighted to bring Spain to you via a journey of fun, new friendships and adventure. If you would like to find out more about the programmes, please get in touch on team@pepeandtete.com. pepeandtete.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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23/06/2021 10:48

ma m a BRAND

Carry on BabyBjörn’s classic baby carrier comes in a variety of styles and colours

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andy beaches, cherry blossoms and timeless spots inspired BabyBjörn to create a new range of colours for the iconic baby carrier. The perfect pink, the anything-butboring grey beige, and leopard print launched last month and the multi award-winning Baby Carrier Mini, Baby Carrier Move and Baby Carrier One Air are now available in new colours including the highly coveted and celebrity favourite anthracite leopard print.

Baby Carrier Mini is a small, easy-to-use baby carrier that mum or dad can quickly

“The carrier can

be used in four different positions as your baby grows” put on for frequent short babywearing sessions. It’s perfect for the first months when the baby needs a lot of closeness around the clock. It’s easy to unfasten the entire front section of the baby carrier to lift out a sleeping baby. The soft fabrics gently hug the baby’s back, legs and hips, and provide good support. Through the fabric, a parent can check the baby’s position and the natural C curve of the baby’s back with their hands.

Designed to fit the needs of a newborn baby up to 15 months, the simple design of the Baby Carrier Move makes it easy to put on, even in the middle of the night, and the luxurious, tactile fabrics are gentle on your newborn’s delicate skin. You can feel your baby is being carried in a natural position, with their back in a gentle c-curve. From 12 months, the carrier can also be used outward facing so you and your baby can explore the world together.

The Baby Carrier One Air offers hours of comfy carrying from newborn all the way up to three years, the carrier can be used in four different positions to grow as your baby does, for perfect carrying ergonomics, use either parent facing, outward facing or for back carrying. The cool air mesh fabric makes sure neither parent or baby gets too hot too. babybjorn.co.uk

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FUTURE

B “Cord blood stem cells can regenerate to replace any damaged blood cell”

Ethical and successful, Biovault Family explains the benefits of cord blood storage – a life insurance policy for your child

e it extra nappies and a change of clothing for a day out, or emergency snacks for a long car journey, the majority of parents are equipped with a back-up plan before they’ve even set foot out of the door. But what do we do when our child’s health is in question? At the heart of cord blood stem cell storage is Biovault, a scientific company that’s been leading the way in human tissue processing for the past 17 years. Working in partnership with the NHS, Biovault offers families cord blood and tissue storage as an insurance policy you’ll hopefully never have to use, but is there to support patients suffering from life-threatening or limiting conditions.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Before your baby is even born, she’s provided with the nourishment she needs via her very own lifeline: the umbilical cord that connects her to her mother. This cord – as well as her placenta – is filled with blood that’s rich in stem cells, which have the remarkable potential to develop into several different cell types within the body. What makes these cord blood stem cells so unique is that they can regenerate to replace any damaged blood cell in the human body –

caused by blood cancers, like leukaemia, for instance – which allow them to treat diseases in the blood and immune system.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CORD BLOOD AFTER BIRTH? When your baby is born, this precious cord blood is typically treated as clinical waste and thrown away. But when it’s preserved, it can continue to be a lifeline for babies and families for years to come.

Cord blood stem cells have been used for over 30 years to treat a range of conditions that affect the blood and immune system, from blood cancers such as lymphoma, to solid tumours such as neuroblastoma.

DOES IT COMPARE TO BONE MARROW COLLECTION? Bone marrow collection can be an invasive and painful procedure, which is what makes stored cord blood stem cells even more favourable to parents thinking about the future. What’s more, the risk of rejection is also eliminated, and your child’s cells will be immediately available, so you won’t have to wait a long time to find a suitable match.

Keen to learn more about cord blood stem cell storage? For more information, visit biovaultfamily.com hello@biovaultfamily.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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FANTASTIC

PLASTIC

It’s the ‘big baddie’ for many children and adults, but is it time we reappraised plastic’s value and educated ourselves in ways to use it more wisely?

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MAMA • SUSTAINABILITY

P

lastic has had a terrible press in recent times, and for many children and families it has become the ‘no-no’ substance. Little wonder, as we consider the damage caused to our oceans by microplastics and the mountains of waste created by single-use plastic. The problem is that every action has a reaction – so totally abandoning one material in favour of another can have unintended consequences.

So before we banish all plastic in favour of bamboo, wood or whatever, consider this: the right plastic used in the right settings is durable, lightweight, easy to clean and economical to maintain. This is, of course, why it is so popular for children’s toys and hardwearing objects such as furniture. In fact, it’s very easy to see why it is so prevalent in children’s lives.

A lot of plastic we use is also recyclable.

What we need to do – and teach our children about – is start to use plastic more wisely, making it last and finding smart reuses so it isn’t wasted. These are all principles of the ‘circular economy’, which encourages us to reuse, recycle and also design these elements in at point of manufacture.

BRITISH RECYCLED PLASTICS’ PLANTERS AND BENCH (ABOVE)

WE SHOULD BE VIEWING PLASTIC AS A RESOURCE AND LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN KEEP IT IN THE CLEAN RECYCLING LOOP Giving plastic a new lease of life is something that exercises Yorkshire company British Recycled Plastic. Managing director Jason Elliott, says we need to consider it as a resource. “Recycled plastic is inherently tough. It is chemically inert, so will never leach any toxic chemicals and will never rot, split or splinter so has a long lifespan. We should be viewing plastic as a resource and looking at how we can keep it in the clean recycling loop.”

He doesn’t underestimate the scale of the problem we currently face, but believes that schools and young people have a key part to play in turning things around. “The average secondary school produces 22kg of waste per pupil each academic year. The figure for primary schools is even higher at 45kg per pupil!”

To that end, British Recycled Plastic has launched ‘Your story is our story’, an initiative to get schools engaged with plastic pollution. The campaign asks schools to share their plastic recycling projects so that it can publicise them via its website and social media.

The company specialises in recycled plastic furniture – much of it destined for schools, colleges and universities, as well as public spaces. Recently, it has showcased two schoolfocused projects in order to show that plastic is not always the bad guy. Its ‘Buddy Bench’ was an initiative to help children returning to school to strike up a conversation. The benches are made entirely of recycled plastic and, with their distinctive rainbow colours, strike a cheery note in the playground.

Another recent initiative was to help a school with a pollution problem. British Recycled Plastic created and installed recycled plastic planters along the roadside in front of the main entrance to Goose Green School in East Dulwich. These ‘smog shields’ were part of a raft of measures to improve air quality. The custom-made designs (all recycled materials) were designed to fit neatly between railing and road, with enough depth to block fumes and provide a decent growing environment for the plants that were also put in place to absorb pollution from

cars. And the result was that air pollution was reduced by around half at Goose Green School. Recycled plastic planters may make a great smog shield, but have many other uses in schools and public settings – inert, sturdy and perfect medium for grow-yourown vegetables or colourful bedding plants.

Jason Elliott believes schools and young people have a key role to play in raising awareness generally – also encouraging better recycling among their communities (and lobbying their local authorities to raise their game by improving our inadequate recycling facilities). He says: “Recycling education programmes have the potential to significantly increase knowledge, promote positive attitudes and increase recycling behaviours in pupils, and we’re keen to hear from schools that are doing their bit to help the planet”.

Thinking local is a start, and if children can start to see even plastic – the ‘big baddie’ of waste – as a valuable global resource, they can start to think smart about conserving all materials. What is certain is that we need the next generation on board with this – and so does our planet.

4 WAYS to recycle toys

1

Pass them on via Freecycle or informal sites such as nextdoor.co.uk

2

Give them to charity – try toys4life.co.uk and thetoyproject.co.uk

3

Set up a swap meet so that everyone gives a toy and gets a new one.

4

Organise a school toy sale, with proceeds going to a local environmental project.

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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PROPERTY

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www.johnmartinestates.com 1995-2020

EALING W5

£1,250,000 FREEHOLD

A spacious halls adjoining semi-detached five bedroom period property in a premier road in the heart of Pitshanger Village which has been modernised and extended throughout. To the ground floor are two excellent sized reception rooms, cloakroom, utility room and extended kitchen/dining/family area. To the first floor are four bedrooms and modern family bathroom. To the second floor is a large bedroom with separate shower room. Other benefits include period features, some double glazed windows, gas fired central heating and a 70’ east facing rear garden. Energy Performance Certificate - E.

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“PITSHANGER’S COMMUNITY ESTATE AGENT”

EALING W5

£1,100,000 FREEHOLD

A well presented mid terraced family home in the heart of Pitshanger Village, superbly modernised and extended by its current owners. The ground floor offers through flowing accommodation including lounge, dining area, cloakroom, well arranged fitted kitchen and spacious family room opening onto the rear garden. To the first floor are three good sized bedrooms and modern family bathroom and on the second floor a further bedroom and en suite shower room.

The property also has some period features, double glazed windows, gas fired central heating, 45’ east facing rear garden with wooden cabin which can be used as a study or entertaining area. Energy Performance Certificate - C

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www.johnmartinestates.com 1995-2020

EALING W5

£620,000 LEASEHOLD

An unusual, split level (first and second floor) conversion apartment, a short walk from Ealing Broadway, which is rich in character and offers spacious living accommodation throughout. The first floor offers large lounge, well arranged fitted kitchen/diner, family bathroom and third bedroom currently used as a study. To the second floor are two excellent sized bedrooms. The property also benefits from an array of period style features (period fireplaces, double hung sash windows), gas fired central heating and well maintained communal gardens. Energy Performance Certificate - D.

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26/08/2021 14:59

“PITSHANGER’S COMMUNITY ESTATE AGENT”

EALING W5

£465,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD

A beautifully modernised ground floor, two bedroom flat only a short walk from Hanger Lane Central Line station and award winning Pitshanger Lane. The property has been tastefully redecorated and is in immaculate condition throughout. The accommodation comprises south facing lounge with balcony/terrace, newly fitted kitchen, two good sized bedrooms and modern bathroom. There is also gas fired central heating, double glazed windows, entryphone system, burglar alarm, two storage units to the rear and communal gardens to the front and rear. Energy Performance Certificate - C.

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Rusthall Avenue, W4 Located in the sought after Bedford Park area, this five bedroom house has excellent entertaining space. There is a formal reception room at the front of the property and a contemporary kitchen at the rear leading out onto a landscaped garden, energy rating e.

Napier Place, W14 A double fronted mews house on a quiet cobbled street forming part of the Holland Park Conservation Area. With three bedrooms and two bathrooms, this home has been skilfully redesigned to include an open plan first floor with a impressive skylight as well as a garage and gym, energy rating d.

£2,300,000 020 8987 3000 chiswicksales@fletcherestates.com

£2,750,000 020 7603 1415 brookgreensales@fletcherestates.com

fletcherestates.com

FLET.indd 1

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Rusthall Avenue, W4

£1,695 per week Harvard Road, W4

Offering over 2,500 sq. ft of living space, this six bedroom home has two reception rooms, three bathrooms and a large west facing garden. This would make the perfect family home, energy rating e.

Set within easy reach of Chiswick High Road, this two bedroom apartment has a large reception room, a modern kitchen with doors leading onto a private garden and a summerhouse, energy rating d.

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

St Peter’s Grove, W6

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

£725 per week Rylett Crescent, W12

This charming two bedroom cottage has been refurbished to a high standard throughout with a contemporary open plan kitchen and dining area. The River Thames is a short walk away, energy rating d.

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

£576 per week

£1,150 per week

A four bedroom family house set over four floors with a double reception room, large kitchen with space for dining and a separate study, ideal for those working from home, energy rating e.

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

fletcherestates.com

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Ridgway Gardens, Wimbledon Village

POA

Lambourne Avenue, Wimbledon

£3,250,000

On a plot of 0.3455 acre with potential to build a new house or annexe on adjoining garden. 4 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, 6 bedrooms and dressing room, 2 bathrooms, loft, cellar, lovely garden, garage/store room, 2 further garages, OSP ER/E.

On a plot of 0.2005 acres located in this quiet cul-de-sac.

2 reception rooms, kitchen, breakfast room, 5 bedrooms, 2 bath/shower rooms, lovely 92’ garden, OSP ER/D

Belvedere Avenue, Wimbledon Village

Church Road, Wimbledon Village

£4,500,000

A beautifully presented family house in a sought after Village road.

3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, 5 bedrooms, 4 bath/shower rooms, annexe with kitchen and shower, 84’ garden, garage & OSP ER/E

£2,250,000

Penthouse apartment set over two floors with amazing 360 degrees views. 2 reception rooms, 3/4 bedrooms, 3 bath/shower rooms, kitchen/ breakfast room, study, 2 roof terraces and balcony, loft, parking ER/D

Wimbledon Village Office Sales: 020 8947 9833 Lettings: 020 8879 9669 • ROBERT HOLMES_2021.indd 1

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www.robertholmes.co.uk

Beverley Avenue, Wimbledon

£925,000

Malden Road, New Malden

£1,000,000

An attractive house in a residential cul-de-sac with huge potential to extend to the rear and into the roof to create a superb family home.

3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, conservatory, garage, garden, off street parking

A superb, newly built 5 bedroom family house in a convenient location in New Malden. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms kitchen / family room, reception room, private garden, off street parking

Langley Grove, New Malden

Warren Road, Coombe

£2,600,000

A beautifully presented detached house of over 5,000 ft2 with fabulous reception rooms overlooking the stunning landscaped garden.

6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 5 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, garden, off street parking

£4,250,000

A stunning detached house located on a private road in the Coombe Estate down a long, gated drive shared with one other residence.

6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, kitchen breakfast room, 4 reception rooms plus double family / sitting room, landscaped gardens, off street parking

Coombe Office Sales: 020 8947 1100 • ROBERT HOLMES_2021.indd 2

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SALES

5 -7 Tur n h a m G re e n Te rra ce, C h isw ic k , Lon don , W4 1R G Te l 0 2 0 8 7 4 7 8 8 0 0 · Fa x 020 8995 7275 E-m a i l i n fo @wh i t m a n a n dco.com · We bsite w w w. w h i t m a n a n dco. co m

FAIRLAWN HIGH AVENUE, W4 W4 CHISWICK ROAD,

£465,000 £650,000

LETTINGS

An presented located this added landmark building centraland Chiswick location with the added benefitluxury of secure Animmaculately amazingly light, well penthouse presented apartment triple aspect flat within with the benefit of in a this balcony private garden.

Three bedrooms, bathroom, underground a master with luxury ensuite bathroom, second double bedroom, reception 14' receptionparking. room, Accommodation fully integratedcomprises kitchen, gas firedbedroom central heating, share in the freehold, balcony and privateshower gardenroom, with24’ side access.room, Ideally fully integrated extensive built-in storage, secure 990 years lease, liftand access.

Ideally situated within close proximity of both Stamford situated withinkitchen, close proximity of Chiswick Park tubeunderground station and parking, the extensive shopping restaurant facilities on Chiswick High Road.

Brook and Turnham Green tube stations as well as the extensive bar, shopping and restaurant facilities on Chiswick High Road. No chain.

LINDENCOTTAGE, GARDENS, W4 W4 LAMB W4 QUEEN ANNES GROVE,

£330 PER WEEK £1.600,000 £3,000,000

A newly decorated flattowith private facing garden.

Large double bedroom wardrobes, reception room with An outstanding Gradelower II listedground period floor homegarden attributed EJ May with awest separate garden studio and west-facing gardenwith located on this premier residential wood bathroom with shower over, garden.four/five The flatbedrooms, is on onethree of Chiswick's located roads, moments from the shops, road in floors, the Bedford Park Conservation Area.

Thefitted main kitchen, house comprises bathrooms,best double reception room, conservatory, bespoke restaurants cafésroom, on the High Road and 5 minutes from Turnham Green station. is annex available early kitchen/breakfast utility room, cloakroom, entrance hall, west facing garden, and The roof property terrace. The of 883 sqftSeptember, includes an furnished. impressive studio room with vaulted ceilings and mezzanine, fitted kitchen, bathroom, and large basement conversion incorporating a sleeping and living area. The plot runs through to Marlborough Crescent which enables flexible use of the accommodation. Offered for sale with no onward chain.

WHITMAN.indd 2

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LETTINGS POINT WHARF LANE, TW8 BARROWGATE ROAD, W4

£350 PER WEEK £2,350,000

An immaculately presentedtwo double frontedbedroom five bedroom periodfloor houseflat ideally located in thissought prestigious residential road close to all amenities.

The house offers generous Beautifully presented double second in this highly after riverside development.

Boasting a stunning open plan proportions throughout with the accommodation comprising a luxuryensuite master suite, four further three further bathrooms, large entrance hall, 21’ double reception kitchen reception room, a river side balcony and a master bedroom.

Largebedrooms, open plan reception room, fully fitted kitchen with granite work room, bespoke Holloways of Ludlow kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom, room/cellar, private landscaped garden, off-street parking for two cars. Situated in this tops,30’ fitted wardrobes and riverside views. Underground parkingutility space included. prestigious residential road offering close proximity to Chiswick High Road’s shops, cafes and restaurants. Transport links include Chiswick Park and Gunnersbury stations, local bus routes and the A4/M4 for routes in and out of London. No chain.

QUEENROAD, ANNES GROVE, LAMB COTTAGE, W4 W4 PARK W4

£430 PER WEEK £1.600,000 GUIDE PRICE £1,500,000

large,available light and beautifully twolocated doublein bedroom on this highly desirable roadresidential in the heart Park, just minutes from AArarely family home on apresented generous plot the perfectflat position on this highly sought-after road.of TheBedford house has been significantly Turnhamon Green underground Top floor beautiful views reception bedrooms. extended the ground floor overstation. the years and nowposition provides ensures approximately 1500sqft offrom lateralthe internal space and which includes four reception rooms, a fitted kitchen, entrance hall, utility room, cloakroom with shower and 28’ garage. The upper floors comprise three bedrooms, shower room and an unconverted loft. To the rear is a lovely open aspect west-facing garden measuring 80’ x 29’. The front garden offers a mature garden section and off-street parking space. The house requires full modernisation throughout and has further potential to extend STPP. No chain.

WHITMAN.indd 3

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JLL.indd 4 20200319_Agency_2020_Absolutely_Prime_April_GJ_r2.indd 4

26/03/2020 24/03/2020 14:33 16:21

PROPERTY • NEWS

THE TEAM CAPTAINS

CLUBBING TOGETHER A competitive golf day involving The Acorn Group and Judge & Priestley resulted in a winning outcome

T

he Acorn Group and Judge & Priestley were delighted to host the third ‘Bromley Property Group Charity Golf Day’ on 30 June at Sundridge Park Golf Club. The event, as always, was a huge success with various fundraising activities throughout the day including the generously supported raffle where everything from golf shoes, to crates of wine and dinner at Marco Pierre White's London restaurant, were up for grabs.

There was a fun but competitive atmosphere from the moment team captains, Rob Sargent & Paul Deveney for Acorn, and Steve Taylor & Mark Oakley for Judge & Priestley, arrived in the

clubhouse. The overall winners, with an 11 ½ to 8 ½ victory, were Acorn who proudly took home the team trophy to display in their brand new Bromley South headquarters.

In total, an overall figure of £5,500 was raised across the course of the day, with

“£5,500 was equally split between two deserving charities” all donations equally split between two deserving charities; Breast Cancer Now and Prostate Cancer UK. The money will be used to help fund the incredible work undertaken by both charities whilst they fight to prevent these dreadful illnesses.

A big thanks to all involved in making the day a success. Visit prostatecanceruk.org to find out more about the fantastic work Prostate Cancer UK do, and for more on Breast Cancer Now, please visit breastcancernow.org A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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country house town house period house modern house dream house moving house?

Estate agency has moved on. house. is different We know people are starting to consider online only estate agents, but still want the reassurance of face-to-face help from local experts.

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We also go further to ensure your property and the lifestyle it enables is shown in the best possible light.

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The premium online estate agency.

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housepartnership.co.uk

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