Aspire Autumn 2014 by ABSOLUTELY Magazines

South West London's Leading Estate Agent

ASPIRE COVER FINAL.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:18

INTRODUCTION

A fresh and distinctive new look for the South West London property market from Aspire

elcome to the autumn issue of our own lifestyle and property magazine, which regularly brings you the best of local businesses and a selection of some of the best local property for sale and to let. This month we have launched our refreshed brand to deal with the demands of a growing agency in a changing London property market. The new brand was officially rolled out on 1st October and we hope to complete the first phase of the rebrand by the end of October. Since the launch of the Aspire brand in 2003, the company has been successfully growing - from one office to the network of eight SW agencies we are today. During that time the London housing market has also changed dramatically, as has the demographic of our customers, and a rebrand gives us the opportunity to ensure we are not only relevant but that we are communicating to our customers as clearly and appropriately as possible. The company’s underlying ethos is to add value to customers’ property experience, wherever it can, and considers this as the ‘orange thread’ running through the business. The property industry is a competitive market these days. There are a

MATTHEW'S INTRO.indd 2

multitude of agencies out there all occupying the same ground – our rebrand gives us the opportunity to broadcast how we can really add value to the process. There is no longer such a thing as a typical buyer in the South London property market. Whilst our network of eight offices means we have SW London pretty wrapped up, our aim is to create a brand which reflects our entire network working as one entity for the benefit of our clients. Tasked with the design brief was graphic design agency, Ideas Factory, who have over 25 years experience in building brands and creating acclaimed design. Chris Wigan, creative director, commented, “We based the new brand around what the word Aspire means; to aim for; to desire; to want. The triangular symbols are used as a device to communicate this ‘aspirational’ theme while making a subtle nod to the A in the word-mark. The design needed to combine a timeless quality with a vibrancy which was reflected in both the typographic style and the colour palette. The combination of the slate and burnt orange colours also gave us an instantly recognisable platform to build upon for the Aspire brand going forward.” I hope you enjoy the issue!

02/10/2014 15:18

MATTHEW'S INTRO.indd 3

01/10/2014 12:23

CONTENTS CONTENTS.2.indd 2

01/10/2014 17:22

CONTENTS.2.indd 3

06 - 09

Brand new

10 - 13

Community news

14 - 15

Bottom’s up

16 - 17

Perfect taste

18 - 19

Good health

20 - 21

Blank canvas

22 - 25

Leading lights

26 - 27

West is best

28 - 29

High profile

30 - 66

Property

Ask the Expert

Aspire reveals its exciting and fresh look

News and events from your area

‘We Brought Beer’ brewery owner talks craft beer and Balham

Come for a cocktail at Newtons on Abbeville Road

Apples & Bees play host to Sprout Juicery and explain their philosophy on eating well

Carl Louw, founder and owner of Intent Productions, shares the secret to his success

Discover the key to airy and contemporary interior design with Olive Design Studio

Discover why Londoners are decamping to the West Country to find that perfect life/work balance

Jeremy Owens on following in his father’s footsteps and his passion for SW

Aspire’s guide to the finest homes in South West london

Sales manager of Aspire’s Battersea off ice, Russell Smith, shares his views on property condiitions

02/10/2014 14:24

REBRAND

“Aspire were efficient, polite and incredibly helpful throughout the whole process. But what’s that funny bubble thing in their logo all about?” Chris Wigan on Aspire. June 2014

REBRAND FOUR PAGER.indd 2

01/10/2014 14:40

ur focus has always been on our customers. So when we learnt they loved our service, but weren’t so keen on our

branding, we decided to do something about it. We’ve been busy developing a new identity. But it isn’t just a cosmetic facelift, it represents much more than that. Underpinning it all is our main focus – listening to our customers and ensuring that we are doing everything we can to offer them the best service possible. So if you’re interested in seeing our shiny new logo, or would like to find out more about us, visit aspire.co.uk

REBRAND FOUR PAGER.indd 3

01/10/2014 17:38

REBRAND

We are a proudly independent London estate agent that do things differently. At Aspire we not only listen, we hear what you have to say. Combining expertise and energy with flexibility and integrity, we provide clients with the utmost level of attention and care throughout all stages of their buying, selling or letting experience. Client relationships are fundamental to Aspire’s success, so instead of us doing the talking we’ve asked some of our clients to speak for themselves.

REBRAND FOUR PAGER.indd 4

02/10/2014 14:26

“For me, their local knowledge really stood out. Their approach to the valuation impressed me too. It was considered and backed up by tangible comparable evidence. This enabled us to achieve multiple offers and put us in the best financial position imaginable.” Alexander Baker

“As a landlord of over 20 diverse properties in South London, I expect an expert, reliable and efficient service across all offices. Aspire exceed my expectations at every step. They are outstanding.” Nigel Gee

“The exceptional rental value they achieved for our family home is a reflection of their professional expertise and knowledge of the local area. A genuine local estate agent.” Susannah Bartlett

“Aspire understand the intricacies of marketing different types of property. They are experts at getting ‘inside the head’ of a property and its target audience. I was inspired by their hunger for the business, positive attitude and genuine integrity.” Stuart Dyble

REBRAND FOUR PAGER.indd 5

02/10/2014 14:26

COMMUNITY NEWS

Aspire in the

Community The day we shut up shop to help a local charity – KLSettlement

s part of an ongoing programme of support for local organisations, schools and charities, we closed the doors of our Fulham and Battersea offices last month in order to help local charity – Katherine Low Settlement – with improvements to their historic building based in the heart of Battersea. Staff and helpers from Aspire helped clear an overgrown garden area, completely redecorate two offices and clean and improve the centre’s nursery. KLSettlement has been a multi-purpose community and social action centre since 1924, dedicated to fighting the effects of poverty and isolation and providing services for older people, newly arrived communities and unemployed people in the Wandsworth area. Their rooms offer space for people to come together to build

relationships, to develop themselves and have a good time – from yoga and line dancing classes to pensioners lunches and youth clubs. Local organisations also operate from their premises. Their aim is to respond proactively to local needs and issues, encouraging and supporting self-advocacy so that people can participate in and run their own groups to meet these needs. “We were delighted to be supporting a local charity with such worthwhile causes,” says Mark Howell, director of Aspire’s Battersea office. “Especially where there is clearly a benefit to the local community. All our staff and helpers had a wonderful and worthwhile day off from the office and really benefited in being able to be involved in such a great project.“ Juices and energy

COMMUNITY NEWS_SEPT.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:29

bars were provided throughout the day by Apples and Bees Health food shop and Sprout Juicery and the most wonderful lunch suddenly appeared, kindly supplied by the rather wonderful Park Road Kitchen who are a local neighbourhood rotisserie and deli in the heart of Battersea. Aaron Barber, MD of Katherine Low Settlement, confided after the event, “Not only was it so useful and productive for us, we also had a really fun day with the Aspire team who did their company proud. These types of days mean a lot to us as they enable us to have the man/woman power to do large scale events we can’t normally do, as well as work with new friends in the local community, which in turn means that we can offer a better service to those we work with in Battersea.” Donations towards this event can still be made at

www.everyclick.com/Aspireestateagent The amount raised will be matched by Aspire. For further information please visit;

www.klsettlement.org.uk For further information about Aspire please contact

Mark Howell, Aspire’s Battersea office on 020 7801 3400 or Tom Ward, Aspire’s Fulham office on 020 773 66110 www.Aspire.co.uk

COMMUNITY NEWS_SEPT.indd 3

02/10/2014 14:29

COMMUNITY NEWS

Aspire in the

Community Local estate agent continues sponsorship of highly successful Clapham Opera Festival

Justin Greaves, director of Aspire’s Clapham South office, explains, “We are delighted to once again be the main Friend of The Festival for such an interesting programme and we are pleased it is already creating a lot of interest amongst local

ollowing the highly successful Clapham Opera

people and the wider community.” Festival founder

Festival, which took place for the first time last

and Artistic Director, Marie Soulier adds, “My

year, plans are well underway for this year’s

dream was to bring opera to my neighbourhood

Festival which will provide an entertaining

in Clapham. We are most grateful to Aspire who

and varied programme of operatic concerts

have kindly committed to the Festival once again

together with a fully-fledged opera. Booking

and without whose support last year the event

is already open and the response has been tremendous.

would not have been able to happen. They not only

Local estate agency, Aspire, are once again proud to

supported us financially but also gave much in the

be the Festival’s main supporter. Whilst an incredible

way of promotional support – flyers, posters and the

725 people attended last year’s event, the organisers

Festival programme.”

are anticipating over 1,000 this year. They will have

The Grand Opening took place on Sunday 21st

the opportunity to experience some great talent from

September with a concert that celebrates the arias

Guildhall, Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy

of the great Divas and Divos of opera. In October,

of Music, as well as artists who have performed at

there will be concerts of beautiful baroque music

Glynebourne, the Royal Opera House and Wigmore Hall.

(‘Simply Baroque’) and the works of Mozart and his contemporaries. The Festival finishes in November with two performances of Rossini’s La Cenerentola (Cinderella) opera. Unique to the Clapham Opera Festival is the desire to create a sensory experience for the audience. The visual impact will be just as powerful, wonderful refreshments evoke taste, and the Festival even has its own Olfactory Advisor. The audience also have the chance to get up close and meet the artists immediately after each performance. Festival tickets can also be bought in-branch at Aspire’s offices or online at:

www.claphamoperafestival.com

COMMUNITY NEWS_SEPT.indd 4

02/10/2014 14:29

The ‘Sir Owain and the Lady of the Well’ Story Walk

O A Fulham first; Aspire provides an annual scholarship to a pupil at Music’all - a Music school in Parsons Green

s part of an ongoing programme of support to Music’all, Aspire in Fulham is pleased to announce that from September it will be offering a scholarship to a pupil at their dynamic music school which runs on Saturdays in Parsons Green. Tom Ward, director of Aspire’s Fulham office asserts, “We are delighted to be offering a scholarship to a Music’all pupil who requires financial assistance and for whom the money will help towards instrument rental, ensemble participations and lessons. We are always keen to support local organisations and we believe Music’all, which is a registered charity, is a very worthy cause.” Music’all aims to give all children a variety of musical experiences, from performing themselves to attending concerts. It employs 28 music teachers and offers individual tuition on 14 different instruments for pupils from age 6 as well as classes for younger pupils age 4-6. “We are thrilled that Aspire will be funding a pupil at Music’all,” confirms Principal, Natalie Lindsay. “At Music’all we wish to be able to provide a musical experience to as many children as we can, and in particular attract students from more disadvantaged backgrounds.” Aspire is the only local estate agent to be offering such a scholarship. Tom Ward, director of Aspire Fulham, will help select the scholar during the Summer and will attend recitals as part of the judging process.

n a beautiful Bank Holiday Monday 5 May 2014 a wonderful event, a medieval Story Walk, took place on Tooting Common. Two parades set off one from each end of the common. One from the Balham Boxing Club and one from Sprout Community Arts. The people paraded onto the common with choirs singing, drummers drumming and poles flying. A Giant Spirit of the Wild standing more than two meters high made by Chestnut Grove School Art Students led the way from the Triangle whilst a red and gold dragon chased by a magnificent lion came rushing down from Furzedown. The two parades met in a cacophony of sound and colour with The Young Voices and Great Gustos choirs, Maypole dancers and Stilt walkers, jugglers and fire-eaters. There was Fanshen Theatre Company and Blackshaw. There were old fashioned stocks with soaking sponges, coconut shys, black knights, and the boxers from Balham Boxing club showing how hard those knights of old would have to train. And of course a story! An old tale about a Knight and a Lady, the coming of the summer and the changing of a destiny. All the props, costumes, scenery, and masks were made beforehand in workshops in community spaces around the common. We thank all those local companies who contributed financially: Andrew Croft, Body Action Campaign, Budgens and the Arts development team and Family Learning team at Wandsworth Council. Our thanks go to all those people who made wonderful contributions to the events of the day. And, of course, to Aspire who recognise the importance of such projects which develop the strength of our communities around the common.

www.musicall.org.uk

COMMUNITY NEWS_SEPT.indd 5

02/10/2014 14:30

WE BROUGHT BEER

We Brought Beer

Beer and Homebrew General Store

James Hickson owner of recently launched ‘We Brought Beer’, talks to us about his real passion for craft beer and how he came to open a Beer and Homebrew General Store in Balham.



ased in Hildreth Street in the heart of Balham is a shop crammed with interesting craft beers and an enviable home brew section. Run by James Hickson, and his small band of ‘dedicated beer geeks’ who believe that beer is a special product, ‘We Brought Beer’ - a beer and homebrew general store - beckons people inside and enticing them to new experiences and flavours. James previously worked for an independent craft brewery for a number of years, has been a big beer fan for a lot longer and has certainly bought a lot of special beers over the years. It was only a matter of time before he

transferred that passion into launching his own business. “I live in Clapham and there isn’t really anywhere to buy special beers and on a trip to America I was blown away by the number of breweries, the quality of their bottles and the ranges in their shops. I came back really inspired and set about drafting a business plan, finding a site, working on a website and, after a lot of hard work, we opened up ‘We Brought Beer’ on 11th August.” The shop fits well amongst other independents in the locality and appears to have been the right time and the right place to open - already the local business and residential community have shown great support and interest. James was also keen

WE BROUGHT BEER.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:32

to be in an area that is on the up and if the property market in Balham is anything to go by he has picked exactly the right place. On the shelves, around 140 different beers abide with a service of take away ‘growlers’ (bottles or jugs which are filled each visit), something which is common in the States, but still quite rare to find in London. The idea behind the growlers is that they are filled from the taps in store, taken home to drink and then brought back and refilled with a different beer on the next visit. “Our beers on tap are always changing, so we will never have the same one twice or at least not very often. It provides beer from kegs which a lot of people like and means that they don’t have to have their own keg system at home.” James and his team strongly believe that beer should be celebrated. They love the fact that beer can be immensely diverse in style and taste and that there is a beer for everyone; “We think that those who say they don’t like beer just haven’t tried enough of them!” His passion for craft beer stems from the fact that the plethora of different hops, malts and other ingredients all create such a huge variety of styles & flavours. Most of ‘We Brought Beer’s’ target customers are in their mid-late 20s and 30s, the type of people who have disposable income, and are general ‘foodies’, with an interest in different types of products such as cheeses and coffees - of which beer is one. “The good thing about beer is that it’s the kind of product that attracts a variety of people. Since opening we have had customers who are 19 right through to 70 years old.” James thrives on working with the various breweries and seeing the huge range of beers available; he is always amazed at the latest ingredients and what they are adding. Of huge interest to him is the process of brewing and so the store also offers homebrew kits as well. “The homebrew section is a big part of what we want to be doing. We started quite small but we want to grow this side of the business as there are so few homebrew

“Our beers on tap are always changing, so we will never have the same one twice or at least not very often. It provides beer from kegs which a lot of people like and means that they don’t have to have their own keg system at home.”

shops in London.” James is hopeful that by offering an increasing range of homebrew choices he will be appealing to a growing number of cooking enthusiasts who enjoy experimenting with flavours. He is particularly excited about talking to customers and suppliers about different ingredients and the various ways of brewing. “I love running the shop – people come in and look around, they are really interested to talk about the products and fascinated by how many we have. The beauty of this type of retail outfit is that people rarely come back and buy the same thing; they may have their favourites but generally they will buy different beers each time. It makes altogether for a more interesting relationship!” There is already a website up and running – webroughtbeer.co.uk – offering a separate sales channel, but with a very similar range to in store plus many more, with free delivery on orders over £50. This makes it very appealing to those not only living in London bit further afield including Europe. The website will also offer advice and a range of interesting articles from anything on the different beers that are available to brewery tours in the locality. “I am so interested in what I am doing and I wanted to run a business that I was passionate about. I am lucky that I do something for a living that makes business a pleasure and not a chore.” @webroughtbeer, webroughtbeer.co.uk

WE BROUGHT BEER.indd 3

02/10/2014 14:32

NEWTONS

Shaking Things Up Ben Childs of Newtons shares his aim of creating a great all-round experience and his passion for sourcing the right products and tastes 

t took brothers Ben and Toby Childs over a year to find just the right venue in just the right location for their own business venture. And with over 10 years’ experience in restaurants, bars and clubs, the duo were particularly keen to take all that knowledge and combine it to create a business, which demonstrates a passion for, and proficiency in, all areas - from food and drink to service and quality. Newtons’ transformation has seen it change hands from one family to the next as Toby and Ben took the helm to combine the traditional with the modern. The Abbeville Road location draws on a local customer base and the brothers see this ‘secret’ venue as offering great potential and allowing for the personal touch, which they were so keen to convey. “We are passionate about good food and drink as well as good service and quality,” affirms Ben. “We really value the locale and spent a long time

searching for the right place. Our aim is to be an integral part of the Abbeville Road community!” With enthusiasm by the bucket load, the new ‘family’ in the Clapham South location have given the food menu a complete overhaul offering modern British food and the cocktail menu a new lease of life with an extensive and enticing classic cocktail list featuring alongside a range of wines. Customers can enjoy the very best of brunches with muchloved Eggs Benedict, royale or trusty bacon sandwiches and a lunch with a range of main dishes such as the popular Newtons Homemade Burger or battered fish and chips and a range of small plates and snacks. The evening menu also packs a punch with dishes such as roasted lamb rump, steaks, lobster frites, sea bass as well as a range of fish sourced straight from Billingsgate Market. All dishes including desserts are made or prepared fresh on site. Ben and Toby have run some top venues in their time in

NEWTONS.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:34

“We are passionate about good food and drink as well as excellent service and quality. We really value the locale and spent a long time searching for the right place. Our aim is to be an integral part of the Abbeville Road community!” London and cocktails is an area they believe they are excellent at. “Having added a cocktail menu, Newtons is definitely a place where you can come for a relaxing drink without feeling like you have to eat. We wanted to offer Abbeville Road something other than a pub for drinking and we love people coming in for our happy hour to sample our wide range of cocktails and wines.” The Childs believe they have just the right ingredients to make this a truly great place for both winers and diners. The team is made up largely of people they have worked with before, from Managers to head chef Richard, all who are passionate about getting the right products and the right tastes with every producer, product and wine hand-picked by

NEWTONS.indd 3

the team. With a choice of dining table or pews at the bar to one of their welcoming Chesterfield sofas and whether it is a chic date-worthy dining experience or simply sampling one of an array of classic cocktails, Newtons certainly appears to be offering something for everyone in Abbeville Village. 33 Abbeville Road, SW4; newtonsrestaurants.co.uk

02/10/2014 14:34

APPLES & BEES

Apples & Bees Health Food Shop

Apples & Bees Owner, Mikhail Jesmenov tells us about his passion for keeping the customer at the heart of his health shop General Store in Balham. 

pples & Bees, in Battersea Park Road, is an independent family-run health shop set up by owner Mikhail Jesmenov and borne out of a passion for health, fitness and wellbeing. Mikhail grew up in Estonia and came to the UK ten years ago and soon found work in a health food shop. It was in this environment that his interest in healthy living, eating organically and using natural supplements was awakened. “I learnt more and more about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and I became increasingly interested in all aspects of healthy eating – so much so that I knew one day I would like to run a shop of my own. I knew that I wanted to make a difference – and the more I looked into it the more aware I became that the health food industry is very commercialised. I wanted to echo something of my own upbringing and provide a buying environment that was

traditional and authentic.” Mikhail was keen to open a shop which had more of a small, homespun feel to it and would offer natural and organic products in an independent family run business that was customer focused rather than results driven. It was about 3 years ago that Mikhail and his wife started to seriously think about setting up on their own but knew they needed to wait, as the recession was hitting retailers and it would have been “foolhardy to open up at that time.” A year further down the line they started to put some concrete plans in place and, although it took a while to find the right shop and the right location, six months later they opened Apples & Bees. “I looked at a lot of high streets and some were so empty with closed units all over the place that when I came and saw this one on Battersea Park Road I had a good feeling about it.” Those initial positive vibes appear to being paying off and business is thriving – so much so that Mikhail is just about to open a second shop in East Sheen. “The shop is very busy; we have plenty of customers and many are from the local community who are appreciating what we can offer to support a healthy and natural lifestyle. And a lot of the shops around us are busy and thriving now too, so there is generally a good feel to the area.” Although Apples & Bees is a family run business (Mikhail’s wife helps him in the shop whenever she can) Mikhail has a small

APPLES & SPROUT.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:36

but growing and dedicated team. The product range offers natural and organic health foods, natural skin care and supplements and a range of organic pet food. “Our aim is to help our customers live a healthier life by offering top quality natural health products, together with information and tips to help them look younger, feel great and have more energy – and importantly all at affordable prices.” His customers range from the young to the old although he says at the core are those in their 30s and 40s, where health and family wellbeing is of prime importance and eating naturally and organically is part of a lifestyle. An Apples & Bees website is currently under construction but will soon be up and running and offering the range online. And Mikhail will not be stopping there – he plans to open a few more shops, “but not too many as I want to stay true to my original concept of an independent family business with the customer at its heart.” info@applesandbees.com, applesandbees.com, 020 7223 3330

Sprout Juicery

Passionate about healthy living, Danielle Hayley, talks about her newly launched venture – Sprout Juicery. 

prout Juicery is the manifestation Danielle Hayley’s vision, a devoted yogi, who wished to share her love and passion for all things healthy. From juices and smoothies to vegan sweets and cleanses, Danielle has teamed up with the team at Apples & Bees – Battersea’s one stop shop for all things healthy. Sprout offers fresh, organic and cold-pressed juices, made to order and bottled fresh every morning. Originally from Toronto, Canada and a keen juicer herself, Danielle launched her juicery four months ago after moving to the area and not finding anything like it. Wanting to offer something to the local Battersea market, her friend and owner of Apples & Bees, Mikhail, offered for her to open up a juice bar in a corner of his shop on Battersea Park Road. “My initial interest in health and wellness stemmed from agonizing digestive

APPLES & SPROUT.indd 3

and hormonal disorders over ten years ago. An early realisation that conventional medicine was not ‘fixing me’, I turned to alternative resources and realised that I needed to treat the body as a whole with good and natural nutrition!” Sprout has been doing well since it started – so much so that many local businesses, from a gym to a café, are starting to stock the juices and Danielle is now appearing on TV Chef Jamie Oliver’s YouTube channel demonstrating how to make them. She is also considering a pop-up event in the not too distant future. With the holiday season over and people possibly wishing to shed those few extra pounds gained over the summer, Danielle is also confident that she will see an increase in footfall in Sprout over the Autumn. “We also offer bespoke juice cleansing plans and detox programmes for those who are experiencing health issues, such as needing to shed some extra weight or suffering with low energy, we can provide one, three or five day juicing plans which will help to overcome their problems”. “I am so delighted that I am here in Battersea. The area is being regenerated and I can see that it is constantly on the up,” and with the opening of the Battersea Power Station Danielle is sure that the area will continue to grow as a thriving business and residential community. To find out more about Sprout Juicery follow on Twitter: @sproutjuiceryuk or Facebook/Instagram: Sprout Juicery

02/10/2014 14:36

INTENT PRODUCTIONS

Poles Apart Carl Louw founder and owner of Intent Productions, describes how he has finally found his true commercial calling 

ntent Productions have specialised in providing stretch tents to venues in the UK since 2006. Now firmly established and supplying to the whole of the UK and parts of Europe, founder and owner of the Wimbledon based company – South African Carl Louw – has been involved in the development of the stretch tent fabric and the tents since their creation in 2000. He proudly claims that Intent Productions were the first stretch tent provider in the UK. Carl’s career, however, did not lead him straight down the path to running his own company. “I have done many things – I have been a computer programmer, worked in the property market and studied cost accounting, but I never felt I had found my niche – nothing in particular challenged or excited me.” Carl first became aware of the stretch tents some years ago through a friend who had made the tents commercially available in South Africa, but they were not yet waterproof and hence not ready for the UK market. Having moved to the UK to marry and set up home with his British born wife, Carl took a job in advertising and after being made redundant some years later and, still not having found his passion, he decided to take a gamble and set up on his own, once learning that the first waterproof stretch tent was being made available. He initially invested in a few models and worked out of a horse stable in Surrey. “For the first time, I was genuinely excited about what I was doing – I saw an opportunity to bring something into the UK which had not been introduced before. The company started to do well and it was not long before I found I needed to move to slightly larger premises in Guildford – this time on someone’s farm!” Despite the recession hitting businesses hard in 2008, Carl has maintained a 30% year on year growth and more recently

moved into much larger premises in London and now has over 10,000 square metres of tents in their warehouse. Intent Productions have a large range of stock and can cater for any size and type of space however unusual. The company offers a nationwide UK service, operates also within Europe and, since 2009, has a partner in the US. “We pride ourselves on providing unrivalled experience and being able to stretch outdoor under-utilised spaces into personal vibrant places. “It’s a very stimulating product to work with and you have

INTENT.3.indd 2

02/10/2014 15:21

to be creative when you are putting up the tents – each job requires an inventive approach from a structural angle and so no two jobs are the same, particularly when it comes to one off events in peoples’ gardens. The best thing is the unique edge they give peoples’ gardens and spaces – the tents are so versatile and we can genuinely transform a space.” Intent Productions’ core target market is festival and corporate events but they also do a lot of personal parties. “I enjoy these immensely as I love the human contact – it is still very satisfying to work for an individual and create something

INTENT.3.indd 3

for them for their special event that they thought was not possible and are then really excited about when they see it.” Carl is also excited about the future. He hopes he can continue to grow the business and be the best in the market. “I find it very rewarding to see our employees grow and give them the tools to work with such an exciting product. Our challenge will be in competing with the new players who are hungry for the business and make their mark in the stretch tent market – we need to continue to position ourselves as the experts and give outstanding service.” But what is certain is that Carl has at last found his niche – he is hugely passionate about his product offering and how he can transform a space. He has had to put in the hours over the years and summer is his busiest time, but for the first time in eight years he took a much deserved holiday this year with his wife and children. carl@intentproductions.com

02/10/2014 15:22

THE OLIVE DESIGN STUDIO

Clean & Bright Olive Design Studio

KATIE SINGLETON.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:39

KATIE SINGLETON.indd 3

01/10/2014 14:59

THE OLIVE DESIGN STUDIO Top:

Katie Singleton

Bottom:

Lucy Clark

live Design Studio, London was set up in 2012 by Katie Singleton and Lucy Clark, two London-based interior designers. At their London Studio, they have created an exciting, fresh, new generation architectural interior design company working on a range of luxury residential and commercial interior design schemes. Olive Design Studio offers a unique fusion of Lucy and Katie’s design skills which have evolved over more than a decade working in the UK and abroad on significant, high end projects. They offer a tailor made design service to create a perfect space that is individual to their client’s needs and aspirations while paying attention to detail, ensuring budgets are efficiently managed and often adding significant value to the property. Armed with their “little olive book” of leading architects, contractors, sub contractors and suppliers, together with their team, Lucy and Katie personally oversee all projects from concept right through to completion effectively delivering a high end, high quality, bespoke interior style that meets the requirements and standards of today while reflecting their core values of timeless elegance.

Olive Design Studio has recently completed the refurbishment of a stunning loft apartment just off the King’s Road in Chelsea for a private client. The team managed the build and interiors from concept right through to turn key styling. Fulfilling the brief of timeless yet contemporary elegance, the apartment was designed to enhance the “loft” feeling of space embracing the abundance of light and striking views through the original crittall windows. Incorporating a bespoke antique mirrorblock wall in the dining area and polished plaster in selected area further enhanced the quality of natural light, creating a feeling of calm opulence. Antique mirror glass panels were used within the bedroom wardrobe door, to again reflect and enhance the feeling of space. Overall, a neutral palette of soft warm tones and the use of interesting, light coloured marbles helped to create a feeling of eclectic simplicity, understated elegance and most importantly space.

523 Old York Road, SW18; theolivedesignstudio.com

KATIE SINGLETON.indd 4

02/10/2014 14:40

KATIE SINGLETON.indd 5

01/10/2014 14:59

GO WEST

Go West

Richard Waters of The County Homesearch Company highlights why moving to the West Country is no longer the preserve of the retirement and second-home brigade 

fter 15 years of living in Wandsworth and working for an estate agency in nearby Fulham, with his third child on the way, Richard Waters decided to up sticks and move to the West Country to find more space for the needs of his growing family. It seems there is a growing migration of a younger professional demographic moving to the West Country – all eager to cash in and take advantage of the widening gap between country and London property prices and to take advantage of what the region has to offer. “The reasons for moving are plentiful,” observes Richard, “but fundamentally

it comes down to quality of life, a great selection of schools and a wonderful environment in which to bring up the children.” The internet, too, is changing the where and when we work at such a rapid rate that many are able to move away from areas like London and bring their careers with them. Plus, for those who still need to commute London is, for many, only about 90 minutes away. “Technology and high speed transport make it easy to up sticks and work elsewhere; there is a growing number of people who are finding the countryside a compelling option.“ The draw of a larger house, a bigger garden for the kids to play in, great local schools, a vibrant creative community and easy

GO WEST.2.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:41

“Technology and high speed transport make it easy to up sticks and work elsewhere; there is a growing number of people who are finding the countryside a compelling option.“ and discreet home finding service acting exclusively for buyers of residential property. “I know the area extremely well and through my network of contacts can often get access to properties before they go live on the property portals or websites. My role is to find, negotiate and secure the right property on the very best terms for my client, with the least amount of stress and worry to them.” If you are considering a move to the West Country and would like to find out more about the services that The County Homesearch Company provides, please contact Richard Waters on Tel: 01225 830930 or visit www.county-homesearch.co.uk.

access to London is prompting many buyers to consider areas in the West Country as a viable base. Far from being a forgotten backwater, it seems the West Country – if you are qualified, creative and looking for a whole new kind of work-life balance – is very much the place to be. Richard has certainly been happy with his decision, a choice he made 11 years ago. “We have a beautiful house in a village just outside Bath and the children are growing up with the city almost on their doorstep, countryside just seconds away and the sea within short driving distance. It is an ideal environment for them – they have space, it’s clean and plenty of freedom to play, as well as being safe to roam around our village. And whatever line of business you are in or hobby or pursuit you wish to take part in, there is something for everyone.” Richard now works for The County Homesearch Company helping to find the right house for potential buyers seeking a property in Somerset, Wiltshire or Dorset, with a focus on those not already living in the area. An independent company, it provides a bespoke

GO WEST.2.indd 3

02/10/2014 14:42

PROFILE

Profile Agent

Jeremy Owen talks about his love for property and South West London.

B 

ranch Manager of Aspire’s Furzedown/ Tooting office, Jeremy Owen grew up with a fascination for property. Born in the Worcestershire area, as a young child he witnessed his mother’s involvement in the property market in which she had a number of buy to let properties. From an early age he experienced first hand the variety that the property market can bring - ‘no two days are ever the same’. His interest had been awakened. No sooner than he left The Kings School Worcester Jeremy wanted to get his foot on the career ladder and earn some money! Whilst his first job was not in estate agency but in a local printing company, it was not long before Jeremy made his way into the world of property starting out in a big corporate in Malvern where he received excellent training and a solid background. He readily admits that he may well have stayed there were it not for meeting his future wife who came from London and he soon upped sticks for her and moved to the capital to marry. Over the next few years he worked for a variety of estate agencies from small/medium sized ones through to the well-known large corporates. During that time he gained great experience and knowledge and armed with those skills he joined Aspire’s Furzedown/Tooting office earlier this year. “I saw immediately that I was moving to a solid company base and was also attracted by the South West London area – a location which has always been of interest to me. It is a family oriented area and I get a lot of pleasure out of finding a suitable house for a family, getting them settled in their new home.” Enjoying not only the location and the company environment, Jeremy says the local community has also made him feel very welcome. “There is a great atmosphere

in the locality and we are constantly busy,” and his particular office has enjoyed significant growth in few the months since his arrival. Happily married and with his first child on the way early in the new year, Jeremy finds his commute from home in Biggin Hill to the office to be extremely helpful to his working day. He starts early and checks his emails over breakfast and uses the drive into London to plan his day and work out his priorities. He typically arrives in the office at 8.30am and rarely leaves on time but finds his day goes by very quickly - “I love what I do so I never get tired or bored.” He thanks his upbringing for his good work ethic – his father was a successful businessman and his mother a successful music teacher and with the family regularly attending a local Salvation Army church Jeremy enjoyed growing up in a strong moral framework - he believes these ethics have also helped him through any challenges that work can throw up over the course of the years. Despite a busy work schedule, Jeremy still finds time to pursue hobbies - from playing in one of the Salvation Army bands to watching his beloved Worcester Warriors play rugby. And he is also relishes discovering new restaurants in and around the South West London locale. Jeremy is looking forward to continuing to grow the Aspire Furzedown/Tooting office and would dearly love to open another office in the area in time to come. He maintains that he draws his inspiration from his father and modestly claims that, “if I am half as successful as he was I will consider myself a very lucky person.”

Jeremy.owen@aspire.co.uk

AGENT PROFILE.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:43



Jeremy Owen

branch manager of Aspire, Furzedown/Tooting

AGENT PROFILE.indd 3

02/10/2014 14:44

BRIXTON HILL.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:47

Brixton Hill SW2 An incredible three bedroom penthouse with a huge wraparound roof terrace with the most breathtaking 270 degree panoramic views across the whole of the London skyline.

FOR SALE £1,250,000 020 7840 3700 hs.clapham@aspire.co.uk

BRIXTON HILL.indd 3

02/10/2014 14:47

Briarwood Road SW4 A beautifully presented five bedroom house, with a charming garden and full of period features.

BRIARWOOD ROAD.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:49

FOR SALE £1,625,000 020 8675 1222 s.clapham@aspire.co.uk

BRIARWOOD ROAD.indd 3

02/10/2014 14:49

Narbonne Avenue SW4 Stunning four bedroom family home in the popular Abbeville Village with original period features and beautiful sunny garden.

NARBONNE AVENUE.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:50

FOR LET £860 Per week 020 8675 1222 s.clapham@aspire.co.uk

NARBONNE AVENUE.indd 3

02/10/2014 14:51

BEDFORD ROAD.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:52

Bedford Road SW4 This newly refurbished one bedroom flat in a handsome Grade II listed building comprises bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and reception room, and has a beautiful private rear garden.

FOR LET £375 Per week 020 7840 3700 hs.clapham@aspire.co.uk

BEDFORD ROAD.indd 3

02/10/2014 14:52

LEITHCOTE GARDENS.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:56

Leithcote Gardens SW16

FOR SALE £775,000

A quite extraordinary family home that has been entirely

020 8673 6111

refurbished with an astonishing master bedroom in the loft.

balham@aspire.co.uk

LEITHCOTE GARDENS.indd 3

02/10/2014 14:56

Laitwood Road SW12 “Thanks so much for all your help and support during my stressed-out moments. Aspire have been absolutely fantastic from start to finish.”

LAITWOOD ROAD.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:57

FOR SALE £1,250,000 020 8673 6111 balham@aspire.co.uk

LAITWOOD ROAD.indd 3

02/10/2014 14:57

Chestnut Grove SW12 In superb condition throughout, this four bedroom property has been refurbished to a contemporary style while keeping its period character and charm.

CHESTNUT GROVE.indd 2

02/10/2014 14:59

FOR LET £810 Per week 020 8673 6111 balham@aspire.co.uk

CHESTNUT GROVE.indd 3

02/10/2014 14:59

Pretoria Road SW16 A truly stunning 4 bedroom house finished to the highest of standards and set on one of Furzedowns most highly sought after Roads.

SOLD Offers in excess of £925,000 020 8769 7900 furzedown@aspire.co.uk

PRETORIA.indd 2

02/10/2014 15:00

PRETORIA.indd 3

01/10/2014 15:36

RIBBLESDALE.indd 2

01/10/2014 15:39

Ribblesdale Road SW16 A superb example of how to combine period features with modern design. The property has been finished to a high standard and is set within walking distance of popular local schools.

SOLD £880,000 020 8769 7900 furzedown@aspire.co.uk

RIBBLESDALE.indd 3

02/10/2014 15:01

FOR SALE £1,150,000 020 7801 3400 battersea@aspire.co.uk

Lumiere Apartments SW11 This penthouse apartment in St John’s Hill is situated on the sixth and seventh floors with unrivalled panoramic views across the London skyline.

LUMIERE.indd 2

02/10/2014 15:03

LUMIERE.indd 3

01/10/2014 15:40

Surrey Lane SW11 A three double bedroom, three bathroom house situated moments from Battersea Park with planning permission for an extension at the rear of the property and loft conversion have previously been granted.

SURREY LANE.indd 2

02/10/2014 15:04

SOLD £1,200,000 020 7801 3400 battersea@aspire.co.uk

SURREY LANE.indd 3

02/10/2014 15:04

PRIMROSE MANSIONS.indd 2

02/10/2014 15:05

Primrose Mansions SW11 An immaculately refurbished two double bedroom ground floor mansion flat opposite Battersea park, presented to a high standard throughout.

FOR LET £550 Per week 020 7801 3400 battersea@aspire.co.uk

PRIMROSE MANSIONS.indd 3

02/10/2014 15:06

Warriner Gardens SW11 A lovely three double bedroom split level conversion based on one of Battersea Park’s most popular residential road just a stone’s throw from the park itself.

WARRINER GARDENS.indd 2

02/10/2014 15:07

LET AGREED £600 Per week 020 7801 3400 battersea@aspire.co.uk

WARRINER GARDENS.indd 3

02/10/2014 15:07

FRISTON STREET.indd 2

02/10/2014 15:09

Friston Street SW6

FOR SALE

Offering over 2100sq ft with potential for further extension

£2,250,000

which could see this end of terrace house becoming one of

020 7736 6110

the largest in the South Park area.

fulham@aspire.co.uk

FRISTON STREET.indd 3

02/10/2014 15:09

Stephendale Road SW6 An awe inspiring five bedroom property arranged over three floors offering simply stunning interior design throughout and finishes to a very high specification.

STEPHENDALE ROAD.indd 2

02/10/2014 15:09

FOR SALE £1,675,000 020 7736 6110 fulham@aspire.co.uk

STEPHENDALE ROAD.indd 3

02/10/2014 15:09

Langthorne Street SW6 Nestled within the ever popular ‘Alphabet Streets’ in West Fulham is this completely refurbished, high specification ground floor flat with Bi-folding glass doors opening onto a South facing grass garden.

LANGTHORNE STREET.indd 2

02/10/2014 15:10

UNDER OFFER £925,000 020 7381 7381 c.fulham@aspire.co.uk

LANGTHORNE STREET.indd 3

02/10/2014 15:11

Rosebury Road SW6 This is beautiful four bedroom house, arranged over four floors with a stunning split-level kitchen and family room opening out onto the landscaped patio garden.

ROSEBURY ROAD.FINAL.indd 2

02/10/2014 15:11

LET AGREED £945 Per week 020 7736 6110 fulham@aspire.co.uk

ROSEBURY ROAD.FINAL.indd 3

02/10/2014 15:12

Fulham Palace Road SW6 A substantial, three double bedroom apartment close to Putney Bridge. At rear of the property lies a sizeable and bright eat-in kitchen with access to a private garden.

FULHAM PALACE ROAD-Ascensis Tower.2.indd 2

02/10/2014 15:13

LET AGREED £625 Per week 020 7381 7381 c.fulham@aspire.co.uk

FULHAM PALACE ROAD-Ascensis Tower.2.indd 3

02/10/2014 15:13

Ascensis Tower SW18

FOR SALE

A luxury 10th floor, three bedroom apartment

£1,500,000

situated within Battersea Reach’s premier block,

020 7801 3404

with stunning views directly on to the river.

riverside@aspire.co.uk

FULHAM PALACE ROAD-Ascensis Tower.2.indd 4

02/10/2014 15:14

Expert Ask the

Russell Smith, sales manager of Aspire’s Battersea office, gives us his views on the current property conditions in in his area and why it is now a fairer market for both sellers and buyers.



What are the current conditions of the property market in Battersea? We are currently experiencing good levels of buyers and sellers in Battersea, although the market is starting to level off and settle down since significant growth over the previous six months. We are no longer witnessing offers being made within hours or days of viewing, nor the significant numbers of properties going to sealed bids. We are certainly in a cooling off period and buyers are far more wary – largely due to talk of interest rate rises and the forthcoming election. In fact, I would say we are back to normal levels, where properties are taking nearer to 4-8 weeks to sell and this appears to be evident across the board, with the possible exception of the core family housing stock, in the 800k to £1.2 million price bracket, which continues to be extremely popular. Houses over £2million are taking longer to sell with the fear of a mansion tax and other duties. All in all, demand has dropped off in the last few months with more caution being exercised by buyers. What do you expect to see in the Battersea market during the latter half of 2014? We anticipate the market remaining as it is currently, with buyers being less frantic to make an offer, but we still foresee prices remaining stable for the latter months of 2014. With a mortgage cap coming at some point in October and the mortgage market review [MMR] slowing down lending people will, indeed, continue to sell and buy, but not at that panic buying level that we were witnessing towards the end of 2013 and at the beginning of this year. Vendors will still sell at high levels, but without the immediate knowledge that if they wait they might get a higher price. In many ways, we are moving back to the good old days of negotiating rather than the scramble to make offers over the asking price. What would be your advice to sellers in the current climate? Over the next 3-6 months key for sellers will be to establish an asking price which is competitive, yet realistic. A good agent will provide comparable pricing examples to justify a reasonable asking price. At the moment, and certainly for the foreseeable future, inflated asking prices will not sell or even attract viewings.

ASK THE EXPERT.indd 3

And your advice to buyers? We would recommend the following to buyers: • Be ready to go in terms of finance - have your finance available or your mortgage agreed in principle; in other words be in a good position to go. • Make sure you do your homework - look around, as there are several choices out there. • Review and update your needs - for those who have been looking for a while and have been experiencing the ‘hot’ market, it may be worth updating your requirements with agents. Pricing has changed and therefore there may be properties and areas that are now available that were not before. • Register with agents - rather than merely waiting to hit the portal websites be aware there is always a proportion of properties that are only available through an agent’s database. Why should people consider Aspire? We pride ourselves on producing property details which are done by professionals - from the photography through to the floor plans. For each vendor we produce a four or even eight page brochure and we firmly believe we take the time and care with all our sellers to show the property in the best but truest light and our photos and details are an accurate reflection. We have had clients who came to us as buyers and were so pleased with the service they received, from the handling of viewings to follow up calls, that they returned as sellers. We always have one point of contact in the office, for both buyers and sellers, and this adds to overall customer satisfaction: we pride ourselves on a personal service. We are also keen supporters of local community projects and enterprises. Whilst many of our staff live locally to their office they all certainly work within their local community and therefore supporting local charities, schools and special events is, we believe, a vital part of our role as a local business.

russell.smith@aspire.co.uk

02/10/2014 15:17

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME | concierge “there are many that could learn from your company. You added value at every opportunity in innovative and useful ways of which your concierge service is but one. It will certainly be invaluable for us” AUTUMN 2014

OBC.indd 2

02/10/2014 15:16