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CONTENTS 12
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The House that Holland Built
Born to be Wilde
As Henry Holland launches his second collection with Habitat, he talks minimalism, home decor and his design favourites
British actor Gabriella Wilde tells Olivia Sharpe about her love of fine jewellery, starring in Poldark and motherhood
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Made to Measure
Green is the New Black
Lauren Stevens discovers the interior designers meeting the needs of the most extravagant homeowners in London
Angelina Villa-Clarke discovers how a rising demand for sustainability is changing the face of the luxury market
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First Place
Home from Dome
Ahead of the launch of her new book, interior architect Tara Bernerd tells Ellen Millard the secret to the perfect hotel
A weekend destination with a difference, Jerusalem has all you need for the ultimate city break
This magazine is distributed throughout the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, including Chelsea, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill and Holland Park, and parts of Belgravia, Fulham and Hyde Park
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On the Cover... This March sees the launch of Yves Delorme’s new Chelsea-based store, which will bring the label’s Monogrammed Linen Shop and Yves Delorme Couture under one roof for the first time. Learn more about the Walton Street boutique and discover the S/S17 collection on pages 70 to 71. On the cover of this month’s Notting Hill & Holland Park Magazine, Mappin & Webb’s brand ambassador Gabriella Wilde stars in the label’s 2017 campaign. The British actress talks fine jewellery, country life and motherhood on pages 26 to 28.
Cover image: Kensington & Chelsea Magazine: Yves Delorme S/S17 collection Notting Hill & Holland Park Magazine: Gabriella Wilde stars in Mappin & Webb’s S/S17 campaign, photography: Matthew Shave
38 Timothy Oulton
62 Handbags
86 Highland Escapes
APRIL 2017 s issue 062 Editor Olivia Sharpe Assistant Editor Ellen Millard Editorial Assistants Lauren Stevens Alicia Osborne-Crone Senior Designer Grace Linn Brand Consistency Laddawan Juhong Production Hugo Wheatley Alice Ford Jamie Steele Client Relationship Director Friday Dalrymple Executive Director Sophie Roberts General Manager Fiona Smith Managing Director Eren Ellwood
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Collection
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Art & Antiques
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From the EDITOR “I love the way fashion can change how you feel; it’s a way of expressing who you are and how you’re feeling on a certain day, which suits my personality. I’m a bit all over the place.” No doubt a backlash against all that happened in 2016, 2017 is a year for making a statement in the design world. Whether it be the literal slogan tees that are all the rage or the more subtle, but nonetheless impactful, new homeware ranges, the industry is crying out for us to be more bold and expressive than ever before in our tastes. Henry Holland is a man who has never shied away from saying what he thinks. It has been just over a decade since the designer broke into the industry with his witty Fashion Groupies catchphrase T-shirts and judging from this season’s runway collections, his influence is still being heard. Now a household name, his wacky aesthetic has filtered down into homeware; he discusses the launch of his second furniture collection in collaboration with Habitat on pages 12 to 15. Similarly, straight-talking British furniture maker Timothy Oulton has been defying the traditional rules of design since he launched his eponymous brand in 2008. I sit down with him to discuss his inspirations, his commitment to hand craftsmanship and how he marries tradition and innovation (p.38). Another match made in heaven is that between Gabriella Wilde and Mappin & Webb. The actress is the perfect brand ambassador for the jeweller, both sharing a strong British heritage, as well as beauty, elegance and refinement. The actress, model and former Notting Hill resident shares her love of jewellery, life in the country away from the limelight, and what it was like working with Aidan Turner on the set of Poldark (p.26). Rounding off our unintentionally but decidedly British issue, Ellen Millard speaks to home-grown talent Tara Bernerd as she releases her latest book looking back at 15 years in the interiors business (p.20). Meanwhile, Lauren Stevens goes behind the scenes of the most lavish bespoke interiors projects commissioned by local residents and international clients. Visit pages 16 to 19 for the full article.
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So whether it’s the blossoming florals of French linen brand Yves Delorme’s S/S17 range or the theatrical fabrics of Christian Lacroix’s latest collection for Designers Guild that catch your eye, please sit back and be inspired by our dedicated design and craftsmanship issue.
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Olivia Sharpe Follow us on Twitter @KandCMagazine or email KCeditor@runwildgroup.co.uk with any comments
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The House that
Holland Built
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On the eve of the launch of Henry Holland’s second collaboration with Habitat, the designer tells Ellen Millard about shopping for antiques, his S/S17 collection and why fashion faux pas are a good thing
s business meetings go, the dance floor at a friend’s post-nuptial knees-up isn’t the most ideal of locations – but for Henry Holland, the fashion designer who shot to fame with his rhyming slogan tees, it was the perfect moment in which to arrange a collaboration. While shimmying at a former employee’s wedding reception, Holland bumped into the PR for Habitat and the pair got talking. The result was a jazzy collection of home furnishings, a clash of colour, print and texture themed around the living room, with zany palm print sofas and leopard print cushions in a riot of orange, blue and pink shades. Launched in 2016, the same year that Holland’s fashion label, House of Holland, was marking a decade in business, it was perfect timing for the designer, who felt that the two brands had “good synergy”. Rewind 10 years and Holland was a budding journalist, working as a fashion editor for the likes of Bliss and Smash Hits (both now discontinued), where he would write features teaching teenagers how to “mum-proof” their outfits. “We were basically telling them how to get their short skirts and low-cut tops past their parents,” he laughs when I speak to him ahead of the launch of his second collection with Habitat. He began his foray into the fashion world by making joke T-shirts about the industry for friends and reached stardom when Gareth Pugh wore one emblazoned with “Get yer freak on, Giles Deacon” to his 2006 London Fashion Week show. Now fondly known in the industry as the Fashion Groupies T-shirts, Holland reintroduced them last year in honour of his label’s 10th anniversary, this time with gags for a new generation of style stars, including “I’m yours for a tenner Kendall Jenner” and “Let’s breed Bella Hadid”. His second collection with Habitat makes a nod to his roots with slogans “Free to Roam” and “Check Me Out” printed onto floral and gingham cushions. The new line is available from March, a selection of bubblegum pink furniture, duvet sets and soft furnishings inspired by Josef Koudelka’s photography, with designs that mirror Holland’s S/S17 fashion collection. Ahead of the launch, he discusses the new range, decorating his own home and his favourite design hotspots in London.
F0r my second collection with Habitat we decided to focus on a different room. With the first range, we were thinking more about the living room, but this time we’re working around the bedroom. The collection is similar to my S/S17 womenswear range, which was inspired by traveller communities, with different floral and gingham prints. Designing for the interiors collection has been exciting because I get to use different techniques and work on new products. I get really proud when I see House of Holland’s DNA being interpreted into lots of different product categories such as sofas and bedding. My favourite piece from the collection is a hand-cut and tufted rug made in India. They were able to cut the pile at different heights to create this amazing 3D effect. It was a big learning curve for me, but I had the amazing team at Habitat to help me navigate all of the differences between clothing and homeware.
This page: Henry Holland, photography: David Titlow; Opposite page: Henry Holland takeover at The Hoxton, Holborn
INTERVIEW
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“If you’ve never had any fashion faux pas then you’ve never had any fashion triumphs either”
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This page: Henry Holland for Habitat, photography: David Titlow; Henry Holland takeover at The Hoxton, Holborn; Opposite page: Henry Holland for Habitat, photography: David Titlow
I tend to buy a lot of antiques. My mum is an antiques dealer, so she is always searching for things and suggesting pieces that I might like. I like the idea of finding something that’s a bit unique. Alfies Antique Market in Marylebone is really nice, but it’s quite expensive. I go to Criterion, the auction house on Essex Road, quite a lot, and there’s some good stuff on Brick Lane and Camden Passage. The best antique I’ve found is a haberdashery cupboard. There’s a guy at Columbia Road Flower Market who sells a lot of industrial-style furniture with reconditioned metalwork. I got a great cupboard from him a few years ago that’s still in my house.
Travel is often a real inspiration, too. Last summer I went on a road trip through middle America, which inspired quite a lot of my A/W17 collection. It’s a bit of a love letter to American culture and is a riot of colour and pattern.
My partner and I have kept the canvas quite plain in our home. The floors are wooden and the walls are white, and we’ve injected colour and personality through different prints and soft furnishings. I love the minimalist trend, but I just couldn’t live with it. I’m too messy and my brain is too eclectic and noisy to be confined to keeping something like that up.
We did our A/W17 show at the Tate Modern so I’d have to say that that’s probably my favourite gallery. It’s the one I go to the most, and we went to see the new extension recently. I haven’t yet been to Tate Britain’s David Hockney exhibition, but I’m desperate to get there. So many people I know have been and said it’s amazing.
For as long as I can remember, fashion is something I’ve loved. I love the way it can change how you feel; it’s a way of expressing who you are and how you’re feeling on a certain day, which suits my personality. I’m a bit all over the place.
I really like photography and I’m a big fan of Martin Parr. I’ve got a few of his prints in my house. I just like the Britishness that he can capture in his images. We actually worked with him last year on our menswear collection, which was really fun.
If you’ve never had any fashion faux pas then you’ve never had any fashion triumphs either. You have to get it wrong a few times to get it right. I think it’s important to push yourself and wear things that are a bit different; it’s quite fun to look back on.
We have done a takeover of a room at The Hoxton, Holborn. As the second collection with Habitat is more focused on the bedroom, we thought that a good way to get people to interact with the pieces would be to create this fully immersive environment where they can go and live amongst the collection and experience it first-hand. It means that people can see the pieces in a different environment, as well as in the store.
I think there’s a real level of respect for all fashion designers because everyone understands the difficulties [of the industry] and how tough it is. I love a lot of the British designers, such as Christopher Kane, Erdem, Preen and Roksanda. I wear a lot of James Long and a bit of Agi & Sam, too. It’s quite an exciting time for the fashion industry because so many people are exploring different ways of doing things. We’re no longer feeling confined by the old world order and everyone’s feeling a lot more open to trying new ways of doing things. A lot of my inspiration comes from the need to tell a certain story. I often get inspiration from films or even TV shows because it’s about telling the stories of the characters, and I love the characterisation of fashion and the way that you can tell so much about a person just by what they wear.
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If you’re going to stay at The Hoxton, I would suggest going to the Dominion Theatre and then for dinner at J Sheekey. There’s also an outdoor swimming pool at Oasis Sports Centre in Covent Garden that no one really knows about. It’s got a really nice sun deck, which isn’t particularly useful at this time of year, but it’s one of those hidden gems in London. What I love most about London is the people. I grew up in the north of England and I also travel a lot for work, but the diversity and melting pot of cultures and ideas that you get in the capital is like nowhere else in the world. The House of Holland takeover at The Hoxton runs until 31 March, £199 per night, 199-206 High Holborn, WC1V, thehoxton.com; House of Holland for Habitat is out now, from £45, 208 King’s Road, SW3, habitat.co.uk
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Lalique entrance, image courtesy of: Elicyon
FEATURE
Made to
Measure From small-scale aquariums to ice rooms, LAUREN STEVENS discovers the most extravagant bespoke homes created by some of the Royal Borough’s best interior design companies What would you expect to find behind the doors of a premium London property? Perhaps a hallway decorated with Lalique panelled flooring, a wall of mirrored castings to house your collection of Baccarat vases, or an aquarium filled with sharks in the basement? These are just a few examples of commissions that have been undertaken by some of the most prestigious interior design firms in the Royal Borough. It was Knightsbridge-based Taylor Howes (taylorhowes.co.uk), for instance, which was given the task of crafting the aquarium (no, I wasn’t joking) for a client’s family home in Chelsea. It was built next to the existing basement pool to house their son’s school of miniature sharks. With many more exceptional projects under the company’s belt – including a cooler room dedicated to a client’s fur collection and a marble-floored swimming pool which transforms into a dance floor – I’m interested to learn if there’s anything that the designers at Taylor Howes won’t do. “We are lucky in that most of our clients do have their feet on the ground when it comes to requests, but there is a big requirement at the moment for different ways of keeping fit and healthy, so things like golf simulators are high up on the wish lists,” says founder Karen Howes. While building a mini aquarium in someone’s basement may be no biggie, the idea of creating an alternative climate in a residential home is something I would never have deemed possible – until now, that is. Notting-Hill based Wolff Architects (wolffarchitects.co.uk) took on the challenge in 2012, crafting an ice room as part of a spa inside a Hampstead home. “Our clients explored every single spa that was available, not only in Britain but around the world, and decided to kit out their own with whatever features they thought would be smart to have,” recalls founder and architect David Wolff, who was in charge for building the spa as part of a 27,000 sq ft new build. “The ice room came up as one of them. It was like making ice in a refrigerator, but in a room rather than in a machine.”
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Clockwise from left: Bespoke chandelier by Philippe Starck and Baccarat, image courtesy of: Elycion; Ice Grotto, image courtesy of: Wolff Architects; Sirius chandelier, Raffe Burrell, image courtesy of: London Connoisseur; Chaise PensĂŠe, Joy de Rohan Chabot, image courtesy of: London Connoisseur; Ebury drinks cabinet, image courtesy of: Elycion; Lalique entrance, image courtesy of: Elicyon
FEATURE
However, since the Westminster mega-basement restrictions were introduced back in 2015, there has been a change in the ways in which the capital’s residents are spending money on interiors. In a crowded city like London, the best way to increase your home’s space was initially to go underground, but the restrictions have made planning permission much harder to obtain. “The restrictions now are so complicated that a lot of clients simply cannot face the costs and the time it takes to extend,” explains Howes. Wolff, who as an architect has experience in building basement extensions, agrees. “Space is limited because there’s now a restriction on the depths of your basements, so in fact you can’t put as many facilities in. I think the things we’re doing are probably going to be reduced rather than increased, depending where their house is located.” One thing that’s clear about luxury interiors in London is that if extravagance doesn’t come in the form of size, it comes in diamonds and pearls. “I think we are always influenced by fashion and jewellery just as fashion and jewellery designers are influenced by interiors,” says Howes. However, Helen Chislett, also known as the London Connoisseur (londonconnoisseur. co.uk), who acts as a middle woman between clients, artists, architects and interior designers in London, believes that luxury today is not so much to do with large scale extravagance or following trends, but with client involvement and one-off bespoke designs. “Maximalism started off as a kind of rebound from taupe and beige, but I would say it’s becoming more about having lavish pieces within the home.” And although it’s clear that glitz and glamour will probably always have a market, Chislett believes that this trend is becoming dated. “It’s no longer about the bling of ubiquitous brands – I see that as people not totally understanding what luxury is all about now,” she explains. “In my opinion, luxury nowadays tends to be much more to do with the amount of time that somebody has spent making something for you and the personal nature of it, of actually going to the studios and having conversations. It is about the time, mastery, care and love that goes into a truly bespoke piece.” A prime example of this is a Hyde Park residence designed by Chelsea-based Elicyon (elicyon.com), for which the client requested to have Baccarat and Lalique features fitted. “The Lalique crystal panels were exceptional. Not only had they never been used before as a floor detail, but the design process was truly unique. A motif of birds and grapes was backlit and inset into the marble floor, creating a breathtaking effect,” recalls Charu Gandhi, director of
Elicyon. “The spectacular stag head chandelier in the dining room, which is part of the Philippe Starck collection for Baccarat, is a memorable piece for us. We developed the glass colour alongside the specialist team in Murano. It is the only piece of its kind in the world.” Another interesting trend emerging is art-inspired technology; in other words, products that combine artistic design with electronic devices, which have become an integral part of people’s everyday lives. Last year saw Maurizio Pellizzoni collaborate with electronics specialist Bang & Olufsen to create an exclusive design for the Beoplay A9 music system, blurring the line between art and technology. Chislett recalls commissioning a bespoke television screen for a client which followed a similar concept. “The client wanted to make their huge TV more like an artwork, and so we created an effect which would depict a moon over water with reeds in the foreground. It was lacquered and then gilded to achieve an ancient Japanesestyle finish. It took two artists to complete, which wouldn’t usually happen, but both had interesting ideas about what they wanted to do and the client liked both. Luckily, they didn’t mind working together. “It is a truly beautiful piece,” she continues. “It’s almost like having the most stunning handmade mural on the wall, which is being used to cover a lot of unsightly technology at the same time.” For Chislett, it’s not just art and craftsmanship that are changing the face of luxury interior design. “The whole idea of maximalism is being challenged. People with money are getting younger and more concerned with how they are spending it, and therefore we’re witnessing a push-back against that fashion influence of a trend,” she points out. “People don’t want things in such a prescribed way anymore. They’re worrying about what they should be buying, and they want to know where things are sourced from. I’m quite heartened by that.”
“Luxury is about the time, mastery, care and love that goes into a truly bespoke piece”
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Place
First
As leading interior architect Tara Bernerd launches Place, a new book with Rizzoli, the designer tells Ellen Millard about her inspirations, the secret to a good hotel and celebrating 15 years in business
Agatha Christie famously required a bathtub and a bag of apples to pen her whodunits; Mark Twain favoured a remote cabin in California; and Jack Kerouac, Thomas Wolfe and Dylan Thomas would hole up in New York’s now closed Hotel Chelsea. The writing caverns of the world’s best wordsmiths are particular at best, but none hold a candle to the 15,000 sq ft island retreat that interior architect Tara Bernerd fashioned for one of her author clients recently. Located in Mallorca, the sandstone build boasts unrivalled views over the bay of Palma, best seen through
INTERVIEW
Clockwise from main image: Thompson Chicago; photography: Philip Vile; Tara Bernerd portrait, photography: Jason Alden; both ©Tara Bernerd: Place by Tara Bernerd, Rizzoli New York, 2017
a floor-to-ceiling window that stretches the length of the client’s study, in front of which the author has studiously placed his writing desk. The villa is one of many featured in the designer’s new book, Tara Bernerd: Place, a retrospective and nostalgic look at some of her and her team’s best work over the past 15 years, ranging from a penthouse in Westminster and a yacht in Istanbul, to a collection of lodges and tree houses for Center Parcs. For Bernerd and her team, it was a chance to pause and reflect on what they have achieved.
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“It was so interesting to look back at the past 15 years; it was a great reminder of the body of work that we have done,” she tells me. “Through imagery and personal instinct we took a selection from each part of our journey, and had to be a bit ruthless about some of the others.” A protégé of Philippe Starck – with whom she worked at the YOO Studio during the ‘90s – the designer established her own company, Tara Bernerd & Partners, in 2002, and quickly garnered a reputation for her sleek eye for interior architecture, which has transformed lofty towers and
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Clockwise from top left: Westminster Terrace Penthouse with artwork by Jim Lee and Guido Mocafico, photography: Philip Vile; Tara Bernerd: Place; Sixty Soho, photography: Adrian Gaut; all ŠTara Bernerd: Place by Tara Bernerd, Rizzoli New York, 2017
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cavernous penthouses into slick spaces for private clients, hoteliers and developers. Her USP is “a home from home”, crafting hotels and yachts into comfortable spaces in which to hole up. “Hotels are very much our main focus, but we feel very attuned to that marriage of the residential feel within a building that so many people enjoy,” Bernerd explains. “In a sense hotels are the lifestyle homes of today. We understand the philosophy of what might be a beautiful bedroom in someone’s house, but instead there are 200 of them and what might be a marvellous study may become a lounge or bar in a hotel.” The name of her new book, Place, stems from her ongoing desire to produce contemporary projects without infringing on the local area; for instance, the Mallorca-based villa comprises materials used on the island, while a chalet in Gstaad features grey quartzite extracted from a nearby quarry. “When we’re in a place, our aim is to be very indigenous and to bring out what the area demands, what the local neighbourhood might want from it and what the client is looking for,” Bernerd says. “Each project has its own life and its own DNA.” Travel and hospitality design has been an interest of Bernerd’s ever since she was a child. As the daughter of property developer Elliott Bernerd, her passion for high quality service was instilled in her from a young age and she recognised early on in her career that the design of a building is just the beginning of a hotel’s road to success. “I was very fortunate to be able to travel a lot as a girl. I was always so interested in the hotels and these different worlds that we went into,” she tells me. “When we are designing, I think what inspires me is that you’re creating an atmosphere; it’s not just about wall finishes and different trends, it’s about layer upon layer of decisions and how, after each one is applied, you are creating an atmosphere that will make people want to return. That’s something that still intrigues me today.” Although she admits that she’s “not great with favourites”, she praises the Belmond group for having “some of the most beautiful hotels” and staff members who “are such characters”. Her stand-out hotspots include the Belmond Hotel Caruso in Italy’s Ravello (“it’s so beautiful and so tasteful”) and The Mercer in New York (“I can still walk in and think ‘wow’; when André Balazs first did that hotel with Christian Liaigre it was so cool and it still is”). She also has a soft spot for Claridge’s, where she likes to meet her mother for lunch. Of her own projects, the ones that she recalls most fondly are Sixty Soho in New York and Thompson Chicago, although she struggles when it comes to her out and out favourites.
“Each project has evoked so much and there have been so many incredible people involved that every one is a family member in itself,” she explains. “There are projects that I’m very close to just because of the people who are involved. Each one is an experience.” As the company celebrates its 15th anniversary this year – which Bernerd hopes to mark with a party at The Hari hotel in Belgravia – the team is working hard on projects in the USA (a New York office is opening imminently) and looking forward to the future, in which the designer plans to expand the brand and continue to work on projects around the world. Looking back at the past 15 years, Bernerd reflects on how much the industry has evolved since she started. “It has changed in two ways; one is how we constantly try to understand people’s preferences, whether it be a living space and how people might want to use that,” she explains. “What might have been a traditional layout for a living room once may not suit how people live today. “The second fold of that is how we work in our studios,” she continues. “It’s very hard to go to a presentation without computer-generated images, so our design process is far more technical.” When it comes to her own home, Bernerd favours mid-century furniture, but cites The Conran Shop as her go-to for ceramics and glassware. Her own apartment in Battersea is the first featured in her new book. The space is the ultimate representation of Bernerd’s design style, but it was actually the location that drew her to the building in the first place. “I run every morning in Battersea Park and I love my view of the river; I think Albert Bridge is one of the most beautiful in the world,” she enthuses. “I like the energy that London has and I think that it’s one of the most creative hubs globally. The amount of talent that comes out of here, we’re just spoilt by restaurants and chefs, museums and art galleries.” But with projects based all over the world, it sounds as though Bernerd gets to spend less time in the capital than she would like, and when I ask her about her plans for the future, she laughs at the prospect of looking further than the next few weeks, which are set to be hectic to say the least. “Right now, I feel that if I can make it to the airport tomorrow and get to Hong Kong in one piece, then come back to London and go to Paris, Munich and then Mexico, we’ll be on the right track.” Passports at the ready... Tara Bernerd: Place is out now, £42.50, rizzoliusa.com
“What inspires me is that you are making an atmosphere; it’s not just about wall finishes”
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collection
Portrait of a lady Judging by International Women’s Day, women the world over seem united in a common cause. And this is a similar message being spread by Pomellato in its new advertising campaign to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The fine jewellery brand called on six independent female figures in a bid to pay tribute to women’s diversity and authenticity. They include nutritionist Rosemary Ferguson, artist Anh Duong, brand advisor Helen Nonini, art curator Caroline Corbetta, writer Pihla Hintikka and model Larissa Hofmann (pictured wearing the M’ama non m’ama range). Pomellato has also released a new collection, Ritratto (Italian for ‘portrait’), which incorporates the antique portrait-cut used in Indian jewellery to cover miniature paintings. Ritratto, from £2,180-£8,100, pomellato.com
Larissa Hofmann, Pomellato Global Advertising Campaign, photography: Peter Lindbergh
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COLLECTION
Born to be
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The face of Mappin & Webb and one of the stars of BBC hit period drama Poldark, British actress and former Notting Hill resident Gabriella Wilde talks jewellery, life in the country and working with Aidan Turner
espite first impressions, Gabriella Wilde is no shrinking violet. Granted, with her angelic features and softly spoken voice, it would be an easy assumption to make. However, having decided to pursue two of the toughest and most competitive industries, modelling and acting, she is by no means timid and for those of you who watched her in the second series of Poldark, in which she plays the feisty Caroline Penvenen, you perhaps never would have thought it. Speaking to Wilde, her slightly reserved nature undoubtedly makes her come across as more reticent than some of her acting peers and she admits that she has never been one “to shout the loudest in the room”. And yet, this to me suggests that she is far more self-assured than many others in the film industry, which is ironically riddled with self-doubt and low self-esteem. Her most recent role as the brand ambassador of Mappin & Webb is admittedly more in line with Wilde’s work to date, having worked as a model before becoming an actress. With her natural elegance and poise – no doubt born from her English aristocratic heritage – Wilde was the ideal choice for the jeweller, which has more than 241 years of history and a Royal Warrant that was first granted by Queen Victoria in 1897. The actress needed no introduction: “I practically grew up with Mappin & Webb,” she comments. “My mum knows the brand for its jewellery and my dad for its silver. It is one of those brands that I feel has such a long-standing history.” Wilde’s roots are similarly tied to English tradition and her family lineage can reportedly be traced back to Charles II. She is the daughter of businessman John AnstrutherGough-Calthorpe, former chairman of the Watermark Group and grandson of Sir Fitzroy Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, 1st Baronet. Her mother, Vanessa Hubbard, was also a model when she was younger and sat for David Bailey CBE. Wilde changed her moniker when she became an actress
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(her agent suggested it after coming across Oscar Wilde’s name on her bookshelf), but otherwise remains very close to her family. With both parents having children from previous marriages, the actress is blessed with many siblings: “I have hundreds of brothers and sisters so my fondest memories are growing up and playing with them in the country,” she says, smiling. Her sister Isabella and “unofficial” stepsister Cressida Bonas (while no blood relation, Bonas’ mother was once married to Wilde’s father) have similarly pursued acting careers. Growing up and describing herself as “incredibly shy”, Wilde never considered acting, but at 14 was talentspotted by Naomi Campbell. She joined Campbell’s agency, Premier Model Management, and the teenage Wilde found herself swept up in the frenzy of the fashion world, fronting campaigns for Burberry, Topshop and Abercrombie & Fitch: “It was such a mad way to start within that industry,” she recalls. “I did a few shoots with Isabella Blow, which was amazing, then I met Naomi and she took me to her agency. I think I just got swept up in the ride of it all.” Wilde, with her good looks and illustrious name, also caught the attention of the press, which attempted to brand her as an ‘It’ girl and named her the second most eligible girl in Britain. However, Wilde rejected these labels and by 18, she had decided to walk away from modelling. “I stopped because it didn’t make me happy and I didn’t feel comfortable doing it,” she tells me. “I think you need to have a very strong personality to exist in that world and I wasn’t prepared for it.” Her next step was to enrol in a fine art course at City & Guilds of London Art School, but she wasn’t long there before realising she wanted to act. Having never even appeared in so much as a school play, this decision
Opposite page : Mappin & Webb 2017 campaign starring Gabriella Wilde, photography: Matthew Shave This page, clockwise from top: Floresco white gold Bombe ring, £7,000; Carrington cushioncut blue topaz drop earrings, £2,750; Carrington blue topaz and diamond ring, £2,750
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This page, clockwise from left: Mappin & Webb 2017 campaign starring Gabriella Wilde, photography: Matthew Shave; Floresco diamond & sapphire cuff, £40,000; Mappin & Webb 2017 campaign starring Gabriella Wilde, photography: Matthew Shave
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came as a surprise to her family and friends. “I still have friends who can’t understand how I could be an actress because normally I’m quite introverted,” she says. “It was never a route I had expected to go down, but was something I found I was interested in.” In 2009, aged 20, Wilde made her acting debut in the film, St Trinian’s 2: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold, appearing alongside Rupert Everett, Colin Firth and Talulah Riley. Shortly after this, the actress appeared in an episode of Doctor Who, a role which saw her reunite with her St Trinian’s co-star David Tennant. Her following film, The Three Musketeers (starring Matthew Macfadyen and Orlando Bloom), in which she played the queen’s lady-in-waiting Constance Bonacieux, was received poorly by both critics and audiences. However, her next big film – the third film adaptation of Stephen King’s supernatural horror novel, Carrie – was a box office success. Her latest role in BBC’s hit period drama Poldark, which has won over millions of fans since it premiered in 2015, is possibly her most diverse to date. She plays Caroline Penvenen, the manipulative niece of wealthy landowner Ray Penvenan (John Nettles). A far cry from one of the Posh Totties in St Trinian’s or the simpering girl next door in romantic film Endless Love (in which she starred alongside Alex Pettyfer in 2014), Caroline is far more complex as a character and one which Wilde enjoys playing. “She’s really fun,” she says. “She’s not what she seems and is very naughty and quick-witted. She’s a bit of a feminist in her own way for that time and while she’s restricted as an heiress, she’s still feisty.” For Wilde, acting is far more rewarding and “creatively fulfilling” than modelling as it challenges her to explore a
different side to herself. “It’s an incredibly exciting thing to do. Every job is different and the things you learn and discover when creating a person are endless. I’m not a very outgoing person, but I think there’s a difference in being myself and playing someone else. I really separate the two.” The actress finds this process very liberating, and explains how she always has to identify with her character before committing to the role: “Sometimes I read a role and just don’t relate to it on any level and so it’s not something I want to do. It has to come from somewhere truthful.” It has been confirmed that Wilde will reprise the role of Caroline in the third series of Poldark, which is due to air later this year. Aside from enjoying getting to evolve her character (and starring alongside Aidan Turner, whom she describes as “a really lovely guy”) – the other aspect of being in Poldark Wilde loves is filming in Devon. Having grown up in Hampshire, the actress’ heart lies in the country, which is why after four years living in Notting Hill she decided to uproot to Somerset, where she now lives with her husband, Alan Pownall (lead singer of electronic band Pale), and her two sons: Sasha Blue and Shiloh Silva. She may look the epitome of a girl’s girl, but again, Wilde is full of surprises, describing herself as a “real tomboy” and often finds herself wearing pieces from her husband’s wardrobe which, with two small boys under the age of five, is no doubt very sensible. “Don’t get me wrong, I love clothes,” she says. “My favourite brands are probably Céline, The Row and Chloé. But day to day I dress quite practically. I live in black jeans, and I like wearing T-shirts and jumpers.” The red carpet is the time when she feels she can dress up and show her feminine side, but even then, she stands firmly by the principle of “dressing comfortably and being yourself” as “there’s nothing worse than being in an environment and feeling unsure of what you’re wearing.” By keeping her work and private life separate and having learnt from a young age to ignore any diatribe the press might print, 27-year-old Wilde finds it easier balancing her career with motherhood, although she admits it is sometimes a struggle. “It’s important to me to spend as much time with my children as possible, but also it’s important for me to work. It’s hard, but fortunately I’m very lucky that I have a very supportive husband and family, and a job that allows me to bring them with me a lot. That’s a luxury a lot of mothers don’t have so I’m very grateful.” mappinandwebb.com
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JEWELLERY BY OLIVIA SHARPE
Zero Hour
Diamonds in the Ruff As part of its patronage of the National Portrait Gallery and lead sponsorship of the Portrait Gala – a special annual event which sees vital funds raised to support the gallery’s work and research, which is taking place on 28 March – William & Son has designed a jewellery collection to mark the occasion. Drawing on one of the gallery’s most famous paintings, The Ditchley Portrait of
Queen Elizabeth I, the necklace and earring set features ethically sourced aquamarine stones that have been surrounded by 11.83-carats’ worth of baguette-cut diamonds, drawing inspiration from the traditional Elizabethan ruff sported by the British monarch in the painting. POA, available from spring, 34-36 Bruton Street, W1J, williamandson.com
As one of her last projects before her death, architect Zaha Hadid recreated Bulgari’s most iconic ring: the B.zero1. The piece, which was originally inspired by the Roman Colosseum, has been through countless redesigns since its creation in 1999, but this is perhaps the most dramatic to date. The ring’s trademark motifs – the tubogas (a flexible band of sleek contours produced without soldering) and the Bulgari double logo – still feature, but Hadid daringly deconstructed the central looping band to incoporate her free-flowing, dynamic design aesthetic. The ring is available in four versions: a four-band in pink gold, a three-band in white or pink gold, and a pendant in pink gold. From £1,580 to £2,270, 177-178 Sloane Street, SW1X, bulgari.com
Still Waters In these politically turbulent times, the fashion industry takes it upon itself to draw comment on what is going on in the world around it, as could be seen from the A/W17 New York Fashion Week shows. Political statements shouted out from T-shirts bearings slogans such as ‘I am an Immigrant’ and ‘We are all Human Beings’ (Prabal Gurung and Creatures of Comfort, respectively). Elsewhere in the luxury world, however, some brands have chosen to inject a note of calm in such chaos – cue De Beers. The jeweller has just added three new pendants to its Enchanted Lotus collection, all of which capture the serenity and beauty of this ancient flower. Carnelian, lapis lazuli and jade have been embedded within a micro-pavé lotus motif on the front of each pendant, which can be worn in reverse, revealing a delicate single round brilliant diamond. Carnelian and lapiz lazuli pendants, £2,425 each, available now; Jade pendant, £3,250, available from 1 May, debeers.co.uk
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Drama Queen There were many jewels which shone out at Paris Couture Week earlier this year, but those that arguably sparkled brightest of all were those in Chopard’s Garden of Kalahari collection. The groundbreaking collection has been created from the exceptional 342-carat rough diamond of flawless colour and purity that was sourced in Botswana’s Karowe mine a year ago. Chopard craftsmen were given the arduous task of cutting the rough stone into 23 diamonds, of which five weigh over five carats and are all D-colour and flawless. These were then set into six jewellery pieces – two rings, a necklace, bracelet, pair of earrings and a secret watch – each one representing a different flower. POA, Chopard, chopard.com
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collection
WORLD
of WATCHES BY RICHARD BROWN
Richard Mille’s Material World Motorsport fanatic and one-man marketing machine Richard Mille introduces a new material to watchmaking, with help from McLaren You don’t see many Richard Mille watches. Outside of industry events, I have only ever seen one. It belonged to a Swiss chap employed in crisis management. We were both guests in Verbier’s most exclusive ski chalet – me on a pinchyourself press blag, him on account of being close friends with the chalet’s owner. He had arrived in a Bentley and couldn’t ski. He was here for the party. At dinner, passing across a platter of sashimi, I asked in which type of crisis management he dealt. “The Sepp Blatter and Russian Olympic Committee sort,” he said. An average day for him, he continued, might include flying to Abu Dhabi for an hour-long meeting with a prince embroiled in torture accusations, before flying straight back home. Who runs this world? People who own Richard Mille watches. Other clients include Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. There’s also celebrity venture capitalist Tom Perkins, Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault and
News in Brief Bremont to expand Henleyon-Thames HQ – Following the launch of its brand new 40mm Airco pilot’s collection, Bremont has announced planning approval for a huge new Henley facility. The 1,800 sq m space will take the brand one step closer to its dream of manufacturing its own movement. Roger Dubuis opens Harrods flagship – Roger Dubuis’ first London store landed in Harrods in March. Two unique timepieces
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are available exclusively in the boutique; the mesmerising Excalibur Knights of the Round Table, and the brand’s pocket watch – the Excalibur Spider Pocket Time Instrument. Breitling and Swatch Group increase UK prices – Nine months after Brexit, a range of Swatch brands, including Omega, Longines, Rado, Tissot, Hamilton and Certina, increased their prices by around 5 per cent in
March. Breitling increased its UK prices by 6 per cent. UK Europe’s largest importer of Swiss watches – Between January 2016 and January 2017, Swiss watch exports to the UK rose by +0.9 per cent, confirming Britain’s position as the largest export market in Europe. During the 12-month period, Britain imported watches worth CHF 1.21 billion, almost equal to Japan (CHF 1.26 billion) and China (CHF 1.29 billion).
Juan Carlos I – the former King of Spain. Richard Mille isn’t a businessman; he’s a business, man. In 2001, he invented a completely new genre of timepiece. He’s spent the ensuing decade-and-a-half creating the ultimate status signifiers. His latest handiwork is the RM 5003 McLaren F1. Weighing less than 40 grams – strap included – it is the lightest mechanical chronograph ever created. The watch incorporates graphene, a material that’s six times lighter than steel, and 200 times as strong. It is the first time graphene, which McLaren is currently trying to integrate into its F1 cars, has been used in watchmaking – firstly, in the RM 50-03’s carbon-based case; secondly, in its rubber strap, into which the material has been injected to add toughness. Having shown a prototype at SIHH in January, the brand has now unveiled what the production RM 50-03 will look like, updating the model with an orange strap, crown rubber and rehaut (the ring that sits between a watch’s dial and bezel). Production will be limited to 75 pieces. Don’t expect the price to put off the planet’s puppet masters. RM 50-03 McLaren F1, £996,500, Richard Mille, richardmille.com
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Return of the
Minute Repeater As time has moved from our wrists to the smartphones in our pockets, mechanical watches have survived by appealing to our romantic side. So it’s fitting that one of the world’s most romantic watchmakers should revive the most romantic complication of them all, writes RICHARD BROWN
W
atches are to timekeeping what floppy disks are to storing data. Like DVDs, Microsoft Internet Explorer and FHM, mechanical timepieces should be consigned to memory. Things made of cogs, gears and wheels belong in museums. Weird, then, that between 2000 and 2015, the mechanical component of Switzerland’s watch industry more than trebled in size. Despite two years of contraction, last year the country still exported £11.8 billion’s worth of wristwear powered by a spring. Devices, that is, that serve their primary purpose less ably than the digital clock on your microwave oven. One way of explaining the paradox is by considering the story of the minute repeater. As chiming watches that were conceived in the 17th century as a way of telling the time in the dark, minute repeaters today serve the same sort of function as the Corinthian columns that line the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica. Just as those decorative pillars serve to represent the ideals of one type of art form, minute repeaters embody the zenith of another. Minute repeaters are to watchmaking what St. Peter’s Basilica is to Renaissance architecture.
What is a minute repeater? A repeating watch is one that chimes the time on demand, rather than a sonnerie, which chimes the time in passing, much like a mantel clock. Typically, minute repeaters are activated by pushing a sliding lever, usually located at 10 o’clock. Repeater watches sound the time to varying degrees of precision; a quarter-repeater will strike the number of hours followed by the number of quarter-hours; a minute-repeater will chime hours followed by quarter-hours followed by minutes.
How does a minute repeater work? Once the slide lever is pushed, mechanical ‘feelers’ read the time from the position of gears. Two hardened-steel hammers then strike the time on two differently-tuned gongs. Minute repeaters chime three different sounds; the hours are typically signalled by a low tone, the quarter-hours by a sequence of two tones and the minutes by a high tone. If the time is 02:49, for example, the minute repeater will sound two low tones, representing two hours, three sequence tones, representing 45 minutes, and four high tones, representing four minutes.
A dying art form The first patent filed for an on-demand striker, or ‘repeater’, was granted to Englishman Daniel Quare in 1687. The first minute repeater – Quare’s sounded only hours and quarter-hours – is credited to fellow Englishman, Thomas Mudge, around 1720. The complication evolved under Abraham-Louis Breguet, who, in 1783, created the first striking repeater to be operated by a gong-spring rather than a bell. In 1899, Audemars Piguet became the first watchmaker to miniaturise a minute repeater into something small enough to be worn on the wrist. In the ensuing century, the minute repeater became the magnum opus in any watchmaker’s arsenal, imbuing a status far beyond any other complication, even that of the tourbillon. But two World Wars followed by the 1970s Quartz Crisis hardly created the perfect market conditions for the most expensive and time-consuming type of watch to thrive. By the 1980s the minute repeater was all but horological history. Enter Patek Philippe. Determined to bring the art of the repeater back to life, the brand spent the best part of a decade dismantling antique
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Calibre 89 watches for clues as to how to achieve the perfect chime. Patek Philippe’s first modern repeater landed in 1989. Issued to celebrate the brand’s 150th anniversary, the Calibre 89 incorporated 33 complications, making it the most complicated watch ever made. (It was bested by Vacheron Constantin’s Reference 57260 in 2015, which has 57 complications).
Patek Perfection
5213G–010
5539G–001
Grandmaster Chime
Having resumed regular production of its striking watches in 1992, Patek currently offers 12 non–limited minute repeaters within its family of watches. Manufacturing more than any other brand, the company has assumed leadership of the most exclusive club in watchmaking. Patek Philippe minute repeaters, says the brand, have to be audibly distinguishable as Patek Philippe minute repeaters. That comes from the top down. Every single piece goes to company president, Thierry Stern, for approval. Having spent his life around minute repeaters, he acts as the final QC. So what makes a minute repeater so hard to produce? Whereas a tourbillon might consist of between 60 and 70 components, a minute repeater movement will comprise more like 100. Each one takes between two and three years to make – one watchmaker working on a timepiece from beginning to end. A good number will be rejected by Mr Stern. These will then have to be taken apart, fine tuned and reassembled by hand.
In the flesh
Calibre 89
5208P–001
It’s rare to hear a minute repeater in action. Only around three examples pass through Patek Philippe’s Bond Street boutique each year, during which time the brand might make 20 pieces in total. When a model arrived in London earlier this year – en route to a costumer in Glasgow – I was invited in store for a listen. Since time-keeping went digital, mechanical watches have dealt in the business of romance. There’s not a watchmaker more romantic than the family-owned Patek Philippe, and there’s not a timepiece more poetic than one that doubles as a music box. Once the gongs are set, Patek explained, a watch is sent to a vacuum chamber where microphones analyse chimes. A computer will know which parameters the tone of certain calibres and case materials should fall within. If a watch isn’t perfect, a watchmaker must take it apart, file down the gongs, resemble and retest the piece until it is. On accepting responsibility for the completion of St. Peter’s Basilica, Michelangelo wrote: “I undertake this only for the love of God.” Listening to the enchanting tones of a minute repeater in the flesh, you can see how a watchmaker might approach the manufacturing of one with similar trepidation. patek.com
5216P–001
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ORIGINAL, LIMITED-EDITION ART DECO POSTERS
Limited to editions of 280, our newly-commissioned Art Deco posters feature glamorous holiday destinations around the world, ski resorts in the Austrian, French and Swiss Alps, and the world’s greatest historic automobiles. Over 100 designs to choose from, all printed on 100% cotton fine art paper, measuring 97 x 65 cms.
Priced at £395 each.
Private commissions are also welcome.
Pullman Editions Ltd 94 Pimlico Road Chelsea London SW1W 8PL www.pullmaneditions.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 0547 Email: georgina@pullmaneditions.com
Our central London gallery
All images and text copyright © Pullman Editions Ltd. 2017
View and buy online at w w w.pullmaneditions.com
spotlight
Justin Time Justin Van Breda has just launched exclusive boutique The Fabric Room in Chelsea, carrying bespoke designs from around the globe. Some of the select few whose work is housed within the store include fellow South African artists Mally Skok, who hand-screens her fabrics in Massachusetts, and Philip Pikus, whose ethical designs are woven from linen and bamboo in Cape Town. The boutique will also exclusively stock designs from Michelle Nussbaumer, Arjumand’s World, Robert Kime, and of course, Van Breda himself. 132-134 Lots Road, SW10, justinvanbreda.com
Wall covering by Fromental, cushions by Michelle Nussbaumer
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Illustration: Mai Osawa
Photography: Anna Kunst
LOCAL LIFE If the Shoe Fits Recreating Pauline Viardot’s salon opera of Cendrillon, Opera Prelude – a charity run by volunteers – will be returning to the historic Leighton House Museum for an incredible evening of performance. The charity will present Viardot’s adapation of the Cinderalla story which, while similar to the plot of the original, offers a more light-hearted version of the famed fairy tale. £40, 5 April, 12 Holland Park Road, W14, leightonhouse.co.uk
Image courtesy of: Jenny Packham
Play Your Ace
Aisle Antics Celebrating her 2017 Bridal collection, Jenny Packham will be hosting an exclusive catwalk show and champagne afternoon tea at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. The event will be in partnership with Jo Malone London, Jane Packer Flowers and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, which will be hosting a series of pop-up stations. Brides-to-be can expect to enjoy a bridal makeover, workshops on how to create their own bouquet and a lesson in layering scents to create a unique perfume for their special day. £30 per person, 1 April, 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X, RSVP to events@jennypackham.com
This April, ACE, the official charity of the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle school in South Kensington, is hosting a cocktail reception at Kensington Palace. This event will raise funds to provide support for children with disabilities and special educational needs and to supply financial assistance for families. The event will be held in The Orangery, where there will be live music from the Cosmopolitan Quartet and The Diamond Boys, and no shortage of champagne and cocktails. 27 April, The Orangery, Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace, W8, lyceefrancais.org.uk
spotlight on the royal borough of Kensington & Chelsea: news, events, reviews & local interest stories
Left to Right: Jack Dee, ©Jay Brooks; James Morgan and Juliette Pochin; Pete Townshend
Funny Bones
Show-Off Renowned for supplying beautiful and contemporary furniture, Lorfords has opened its first London showroom in Chelsea. Styled room sets have been spread across three floors, each with a unique layout. The ground and first floor house Created, a contemporary furniture and lighting collection, with pieces either handmade in the Cotswolds or sourced from artisans across the globe, while the lower ground floor comprises beautiful one-off fabrics and home accessories. 9 Langton Street, SW10, lorfordsantiques.com
Musicians and comedians are joining forces in support of charity Parkinson’s UK for Symfunny No.2, which returns for a second instalment following its debut in 2014. Taking place at the Royal Albert Hall, the show will be hosted by comedian Jason Manford, who will be joined by the likes of Rob Deering, The Who’s Pete Townshend, Jack Dee, Josh Widdicombe and the team from BBC Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, to raise money for the charity. 19 April, tickets from £22.90, Royal Albert Hall, SW7, royalalberthall.com, parkinsons.org.uk
Take Note Alan Tongue will conduct The Beecham Orchestra and pianist Iain Farrington (who played at the 2012 London Olympics opening cermony) and together they will present three Mozart pieces at Cadogan Hall this April. Divertimento in F, K.138, Piano Concerto No. 13 in C, K. 415, and Symphony No. 41 in C, K. 551 will be played during a one-off matinee performance, providing a welcome afternoon break for music connoisseurs. 2.30pm, 4 April, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X, cadoganhall.com
Easter Eggstravaganza This Easter is set to be a cracking one thanks to the Kensington Roof Gardens. Families will be welcomed between 10am and midday, and again at 2pm until 4pm for an Easter celebration that is truly egg-squisite (sorry). For the adults, bubbly will be in full flow, alongside an assortment of canapés and BBQ treats, while children will be entertained with a selection of crafts, face-painting and fun activities – including a special egg hunt, led by the Easter Bunny himself. 17 April, £15 for adults, £10 for children, 99 High Street Kensington, W8, virginlimitededition.com Photography: ©Kensington Roof Gardens
covering kensington, chelsea, knightsbridge, holland park & notting hill
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Spotlight On…
Timothy Oulton
Olivia Sharpe sits down with the British furniture maker who has made a name for himself with his unmistakably bold and masculine design aesthetic
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f Alexander McQueen was the enfant terrible of the fashion industry, then the same nickname surely applies to Timothy Oulton when it comes to the world of interiors. Despite his traditional background – his father introduced him to antiques at an early age and he himself worked in the business for 10 years – the British furniture maker is anything but conventional. From the offset, the straight-talking man from Manchester sought to defy the established codes of furniture design and rewrite the rule book by reinventing classic pieces and reclaimed materials into modern designs, and then proudly displaying them in a showroom painted black – a bold move at a time when the industry was awash with beige and muted tones. His unapologetically unique vision is no doubt what has won Oulton his legion of fans across the world. Today, his eponymous brand’s international presence amounts to 38 stores including standalones and concessions, and his main showroom where his pieces are meticulously crafted is based in Gaoming in southern China. Despite plans for further global expansion this year, Oulton remains loyal to his British heritage in his aesthetic. His latest 2017 collection showcases both his innovation and his commitment to hand craftsmanship. Divided into two concepts, Ultralounge and Hosted Living, they consider the art of relaxing and hosting, respectively. The former has been realised in sinkable sofas and lazy
chairs featuring destroyed leather and weathered oak frames, while the latter introduces the Weave chair, which includes a new and distinctive woven leather finish. Here, he discusses his inspirations, why he chose black and his hatred of sagging jeans. What was the starting point for the 2017 collection? It was really to connect with how people are using their homes, and then design specifically for those needs. Your home is where you connect with your family and friends, but people do this in different ways – and that’s what we’ve explored. How do you push the boundaries in terms of the materials you use to create your pieces? I think the Glacier dining table is the case in point. First you take the old timber, burn it, then bury it in pure acrylic. Two in five go wrong, so you just end up throwing the ruined ones away and I think that’s interesting because it’s creating a real paradox between old and new. And I kept being told, ‘It’s too difficult, it’s not technically possible’, but that made me want to do it even more. It was a big decision for us, but it does sell because people appreciate that it’s hard to make. The vision has got bigger over the years as the brand has got stronger.
spotlight Images courtesy of: Timothy Oulton 2017 collection
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SPOTLIGHT
For this year, for instance, we’ve introduced our first water-resistant leather and a cutting-edge finish called Carbonstone, which is created using a complex carbon-based process to transform reclaimed shards of quartz into solid crystallised stone. How do you begin your design process? Do you start with a piece or a material? It’s the finish normally. We always start with a vintage element, but we don’t want it to look like a f***ing antique shop or granny’s front room so we then explore how we can reinvent it. I think antiques on their own are boring; it’s not a creative process. What I’m trying to do is reinvent them. I wouldn’t call myself a designer because I’m not one. A designer is someone who takes pen to paper and sketches out an idea, and I don’t do that. How do you borrow from the past to create your pieces? I like to think of them as a nod to the past, but I don’t want to live in the past. You can’t change who you are so having gone to school at an old Benedictine monastery [Ampleforth College], I loved the period features and the fabrics. I love leather especially because it never dies. I don’t tend to think in periods, I think in materials. When did you realise your passion for antiques? I left school when I was 18. My dad said, ‘Why don’t you come and work with me in antiques’? And I thought, ‘f*** that’! He was in the army and left to open an antiques shop. It didn’t take me long. I was only in antiques for about three months, and I could feel myself getting addicted. The quality of the things made in the UK, during the golden era of the late Georgian and early Victorian periods, was amazing. We had the finest furniture and England was so powerful because of the British Empire. Did your family collect antiques? My mum was a real hoarder. My dad, on the other hand, was a real bugger [laughing]. He would say he had nowhere to put all the things we had collected, and I would say to him, ‘Don’t flog it because it would be such a shame’, but he did it anyway. But it’s not a matter of owning antiques. My friend Martin Waller [founder of furniture brand Andrew Martin] is interesting; he had this little fairground ride, the cutest thing I’ve ever seen and I said to him, ‘Why did you sell it’? And he said he was just happy to own it for five minutes. I would never have sold it. What are your most popular pieces? It changes. The Chesterfields are always popular, but I didn’t invent it. I just copied it. The military drums I love because they’re distinctly ours. At trade shows, I don’t want to have to put our name on everything. I want people to know it’s us.
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Why did you paint your showrooms black? Because I liked it. People were very against it; it’s a very strong statement because homes aren’t black so its incongruous. I never wanted to go down the beige route, not that I’m against it. I just wanted people to leave the store and say, ‘That was unique’. You can spend a bunch on advertising to go from being nobody to being a brand, but I think the best way is to open stores and do them differently to any other furniture shop. And some won’t buy it, some will leave and think, ‘Well, that was interesting, but who buys it? That English guy is a right idiot’. You currently have 38 stores; what further plans do you have for expansion? We plan to open more in carefully selected cities, but at the moment we’re thinking of leaving it at 50 stores. We don’t want to be in every city of the world, but we want to be in the best. We don’t have a standalone gallery in London currently, but we love that people can come to our galleries within Harrods or Heal’s, feel the quality of our leather and timbers and see the craftsmanship that goes into every piece. Are you planning to expand into new product categories? We stick with what we do and what we enjoying doing and I’m OK with that. We don’t do outdoor, but I think we should have one great outdoor table, for instance. We found this great semi-concrete, ceramic table, but it looks like timber, and I think that would be great for outdoor. If it were normal wood and it was sitting outdoors all the time, it would deteriorate. Your son, Oliver, is also in the antiques business, working at Rare by Oulton on Chelsea’s Lots Road. Do you share similar tastes? Yes. I mean he’s grown up in that environment, but obviously there are things he doesn’t like. He tends to be more modern. But at the end of the day I stick to what I do. I don’t chase trends because I know they’re short-lived. Are there any contemporary trends that you really dislike? When young people used to wear their jeans below their waists. I used to hate it, it was awful! It didn’t last long in fashion, thank the lord. Your collections often focus on the art of hosting; who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party? Bob Marley. Mick [Jagger] or Keith [Richards]. Keith I love, but Mick’s the glue. The Stones would not have been successful without him. Mick could cook and do the drinks. Timothy Oulton 2017 collection, available at Harrods Third Floor, timothyoulton.com
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ART ANTIQUES BY rebecca wallersteiner
Images courtesy of: Chelsea Art Fair Singing for His Supper, Jenny Wheatley, £2,500
Rock Around the Clock If you are an experienced collector hoping to spot the next Paolozzi, the Chelsea Art Fair is the one for you. Now in its 22nd year, the well-established event brings together around 30 leading art galleries under one roof, selling a host of modern and contemporary art, from drawings and paintings to sculptures, prints and photographs. Highlights this year will include a charming still-life, Singing for His Supper by artist Jenny Wheatley (pictured left), which is being presented by the Russell Gallery. In contrast, Guy Portelli will unveil his new sculpture of his music hero, Prince, to commemorate the first anniversary of his death. A special project space will be dedicated to legendary musicians who famously roamed the King’s Road in the ‘60s and ’70s, such as the Sex Pistols, David Bowie and John Lennon. Ben Cooper, the fair’s director, comments: “Art, music and fashion have always been closely interwoven with Chelsea and its most famous road.” 27-30 April, Chelsea Old Town Hall, SW3, chelseaartfair.org
Celebrate Design Now in its 33rd year, The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair is back this spring. If you would like to add some sparkle to your home, you’ll find plenty of beautiful, unusual pieces from more than 150 exhibitors. The fair’s highlights include an exquisite early 19th century painted pine Venetian jardinière stand presented by Marcelline Herald, (£1,500); Zugasti will bring a graceful, white metal 1960s heron-shaped lamp, (£980) and James Worrall will display a pair of chairs, designed in the 1970s by Italian luxury manufacturer Giorgetti (£3,200). In the fair’s foyer, a special display, The Morning Room Revisited, will demonstrate imaginative ways of creating an all-year-round indoor garden. The Spring Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair, 4-9 April, Battersea Evolution, Battersea Park, SW11, decorativefair.com
L-R: Lacca Povera-style Italian commode, c.1920s; Early 19th century Chinese ceramic pot; White metal heron lamp, c.1960s; Painted Venetian style jardinier, early 19th century; Images courtesy of: The Spring Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair
Selfie-Expression
Artist of the
month
Milla Eastwood
The Dot Project on the Fulham Road prides itself on discovering exciting, young artists. From 23 March, the gallery will unveil new work by Milla Eastwood, a graduate of Camberwell College of Arts, whose paintings are a burst of zinging yellows, reds and oranges. Her powerful work is infused with a raw and elemental quality and the artist experiments with unusual juxtaposition and layering of intense colour to create a sheer energy and tension. Eastwood creates a visual sensation that connects to the eye and the body through movement. Moving quickly over the canvas and turning it upside down, she uses materials she has to hand. Don’t miss seeing it. Cable Salad, a Solo Show of Milla Eastwood’s paintings, 23 March – 9 May, The Dot Project, 94 Fulham Road, SW3, thedotproject.com
It would appear that selfies are no longer confined to social media, as the Saatchi Gallery’s latest exhibition attests, exploring this 21st century phenomenon as a legitimate art form rather than simple narcissism. “In many ways, the selfie represents the epitome of contemporary culture’s transition into a highly digitalised and technologically-advanced age as mobile phone technology has caught up with the camera,” comments Nigel Hurst, the gallery’s CEO. Artwork from 10 exciting young photographers who entered into the #SaatchiSelfie competition will be displayed alongside stunning self-portraits from Velázquez and Van Gogh to Juno Calypso and Tracey Emin CBE. The winner of the competition, to be judged by renowned artists, will be announced at the show’s opening. From Selfie to Self Expression, 31 March – 30 May, Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3, saatchigallery.com
Metanoia, 205cm x 205cm
Above: The Jam, ©Martyn Goddard; Left: Guy Portelli with his Spice Girls sculpture, photography: James Gillham; Images courtesy of: Saatchi Gallery
Arts & Crafts
Kabelsalat, 122cm x 91cm
Images courtesy of: Milla Eastwood
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Expect an interesting crowd at Christie’s South Kensington, when the gallery unveils an exciting exhibition of artists, such as Pablo Bronstein, Hugo McCloud and Richard Aldrich, ahead of Christie’s First Open auction on 5 April. Visitors will also be able to see beautiful, one-off pieces by contemporary designers Sebastian Cox, Georgia Kemball, Edmond Byrne and Charles Haupt, among others. Zoë Klemme, Christie’s head of First Open in London, and Raffaella Goffredi, Christie’s design specialist, comment: “We invited The New Craftsmen and Southern Guild to collaborate with Christie’s to celebrate and explore the dialogue between contemporary art, design and crafts.” Estimate prices start from just £300, so there should be something to suit most pockets. Contemporary Living: Art, Craft & Design, Viewing dates: 1-5 April at Christie’s, 85 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, free entry. The artworks will also be on view at the Christie’s Late event on 4 April dedicated to Contemporary Living. Visit christies.com/lates for more information on the talks and activities
Haywire D1 Wenge and Copper, David Krynauw, 2016; courtesy of: Christie’s Images Ltd 2016
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ART Images courtesy of: Flow Gallery
ANTIQUES
Images courtesy of: Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising
Hands That Don’t Do Dishes
Folk Artists
In light of the recent International Woman’s Day on 8 March, the Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising has launched a speciallycommissioned short film, 10 from 50. Produced by Lindsey Clay, former president of Women in Advertising and Communications London (WACL), it examines how the depiction of gender in advertising has changed since the 1950s. “Advertising is a key part of popular culture and a reflection of social norms,” explains Clay. “The progress that has been made in advertising of the portrayal of women mirrors how society has developed.” Well-known advertisements in the film include the 1960s Fairy Liquid ad showing a mother and daughter with the famous catchphrase “For hands that do dishes”. Thankfully, women have come a long way from being confined to the kitchen sink. 10 from 50, a short film by Lindsey Clay is showing until 25 June, accompanied by a series of talks at the Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising, 111-117 Lancaster Road, W11, museumofbrands.com
From 26 April, Flow Gallery on Westbourne Grove will present a range of pieces by Dutch artist Marian Bijlenga and Chilean artist Isabel Lecaros made from natural materials. “My work draws on the South Chilean craft of delicate weaving with dyed horse-hair, known as Crin, which is centuries old,” explains Lecaros. Both women explore space, pattern and colour to push the boundaries of their craft. “I am fascinated by dots, lines and contours, by their rhythmical movements, but also by the empty space they confine. Instead of drawing on paper, I draw in space by using material as a textile,” says Bijlenga, whose colourful artworks are certain to jazz up any home. Fibre, 26 April – 24 June, Flow Gallery, 1-5 Needham Road, W11, flowgallery.co.uk
Art and Flowers
Clockwise from top: Diamond Dots IV, Marian Bijlenga, 2011, 60cm x 60cm; Crin Lights, Isabel Lecaros
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As April heralds the arrival of fresh spring flowers popping up in Holland Park, so too does it welcome the return of the annual The Friends of Holland Park art exhibition at Orangery Gallery. Works on display includes paintings, drawings, prints, Image courtesy of: The Frie nds of Holland Park jewellery, sculpture and ceramics. Along with displaying works by local artists, this year’s show spotlights artist Olivia Chalmers, a long-term exhibitor at the Orangery, who discovered her passion for botanical art after taking classes at the Royal Botanical Gardens under the renowned painter Annie Ferrar. After seeing Chalmers’ exquisitely painted flowers hanging on the walls of the Orangery, visitors can then compare them to the real thing in Holland Park’s grounds, where flora will no doubt be in abundance. 10.30am-6pm; 1-9 April, Orangery Gallery, Holland Park, W8, thefriendsofhollandpark.org
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reader event KENSINGTON & CHELSEA MAGAZINE IN PARTNERSHIP WTH INSPIRED 2017 INVITE ITS READERS TO
An exclusive preview of the latest designs in luxury bespoke furniture and contemporary silverware
Wednesday 3 May 6 - 8pm Goldsmiths’ Centre 42 Britton Street London EC1M 5AD Join us for a private preview and meet world-class furniture makers and celebrated silversmiths, who will be showcasing new, never seen before works available to buy or commission. Leading experts, curators and designers will be on hand to offer astute advice and insight into these original, highly collectible pieces.
To secure your place please RSVP rsvp@festivalofsilver.com Inspired is a must-see luxury silverware and bespoke furniture selling showcase. Now in its fifth year, this exhibition is renowned for bringing together the UK’s finest and most highly skilled artisans under one unique curated platform.
More about Inspired at www.festivalofsilver.co.uk
fashion Stroke of Genius Shona Heath, the brains behind some of fashion’s most arresting set designs, has shared her creative prowess with Jimmy Choo. The brand commissioned Heath to create a range of lavish artwork to serve as the background for its S/S17 campaign. Sweeping flowers painted onto colossal canvases in purple, blue and orange provide an artistic backdrop to the label’s latest line of accessories, which is inspired by the vibrant hues found in nature, the works of David Bowie and Frida Kahlo, and the 2003 Falling Garden installation by Swiss artists Gerda Steiner and Jörg Lenzlinger. Add a splash of colour to an otherwise monochrome outfit with the Artie boho bag (pictured). From £425, 32 Sloane Street, SW1X, jimmychoo.com
Photography: Daniel Jackson; image courtesy of: Jimmy Choo
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Green
is the New Black A rise in ethically motivated consumers is changing the landscape of the luxury fashion and interiors worlds. As a result, a new crop of top-end brands is emerging, offering chic homewares and clothing, reports Angelina Villa-Clarke The world of luxury is changing. Where once ‘high-end’ meant opulence, glitz and glamour, a new breed of consumers is redefining what luxury means. Many are opting for an understated, pared-down design ethos in their homes as well as their wardrobes and brands are switching on to this new way of thinking. ‘Sustainable’, ‘ethically made’ and ‘environmentally aware’ are the buzzwords that have begun to resonate with today’s luxury consumers. We still want to buy beautifully made pieces, but also maintain a clear conscience when we get them home. However, until recently, ‘ethical’ has had an image problem. Unsophisticated designs and rough-hewn looks simply do not cut it with the world’s style-makers. Stella McCartney was one of the first to add a touch of glamour to her eponymous fashion house’s environmentally friendly ethos and finally other brands are now following suit. On the high street, for instance, H&M’s Conscious Exclusive range and Asos’ Eco Edit are echoing this new mood and slowly changing perceptions. Selfridges’ recent Material World project, focusing on sustainable textile development, further endorses a forward-thinking approach to the subject. Gillian Osrin, founder of Style with Heart (stylewithheart.com), an online directory of ethical fashion labels, agrees: “Ethical fashion used to be an unappealing prospect aimed at a niche audience. But nowadays brands such as Seasalt and People Tree have been instrumental in changing the way many of us think about what we wear. They offer genuinely wearable clothes to a younger, more morally
driven consumer. Meanwhile, innovators, such as Everlane and Thought [formerly Braintree Clothing], are leading the way in transparency about where our clothes are made and the fabrics that are used to make them. The fact that the London College of Fashion now has its own Centre for Sustainable Fashion is very promising for the designers of the future.” Beautiful Soul London (beautiful-soul.co.uk), a British, luxury womenswear label based in Notting Hill, is one of the new emerging brands. Founded by designer Nicola Woods, her whimsical collections are based around the concept of slow fashion, offering “pieces that can be cherished for a lifetime”. “I aim to reconcile style and sustainability,” she comments. “Ultimately, fashion has to have hanger
FEATURE
Clockwise from left: Beautiful Soul Chika navy stripe dress; Cloe Cassandro S/S17; Retrouvius, image courtesy of: retrouvius.com, ©Tom Fallon; Made bracelets; Nkuku Chopping Board collection; African Toga earrings & Delta Rain cuff, Eden Diodati; Beautiful Soul collection
appeal, but I also want to ensure that sustainability is at the core of the brand’s DNA.” The same principles apply at Bibico By Snow (bibico.co.uk), a UK-based label by Spanish designer Nieves Ruiz Ramos (also known as Snow). Its business is focused on producing good quality garments made from natural and sustainable fabrics, made in fair-trade cooperatives and ethically-run factories. Cloe Cassandro’s (cloecassandro.com) ethical, resort wear label, meanwhile, is created by artisans in Bali and sold in Heidi Klein stores in Westbourne Grove and Chelsea. “These days designers need to know exactly where their garments are manufactured and how they are being produced,” says Cassandro. “Ignorance is no longer an excuse. You have to lead from the top, and the only way to change the industry long-term is to make sure people are more aware of environmental and ethical issues.” Snapped up by the fashion pack for Insta-worthy shots in the sun are Sophie Anderson’s colourful, handwoven hats and bags, created in collaboration with artisans in Colombia, and available at Net-a-Porter. “I first became inspired to start my brand while living in South America,” she says. “I collaborated with local artists to create hand-made, woven bags. Now, from those original three weavers we provide work for over 750 people, which is something I am hugely proud of.” As equally passionate about the subject is David Hothersall, co-founder of Spottinstyle (spottinstyle.com), an online hub that celebrates ethical and sustainable fashion. “It feels as if we are on the cusp of something big. Sustainable fashion is about to move in the same direction as the fairtrade food scene did 15 years ago. But it is a complex and varied arena. “From maintaining good conditions in factories to how textiles are treated, the term ‘ethical fashion’ covers a wide remit,” he continues. “Ultimately, it’s a question of awareness. There’s a new generation of fashion-savvy consumers who want to wear their values quite literally on their sleeves.”
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Sophie Anderson, available at net-a-porter.com
Offering unique jewellery and handcrafted leather accessories made by crafts-people in Kenya, Made (made.uk.com) marries a luxe approach with craftsmanship, collaborating with big-name brands such as Louis Vuitton, Tommy Hilfiger and Whistles. The label focuses on offering jewellery made using time-honoured skills, and provides safe conditions, training and education to its team of 60 employees. “The image of sustainable fashion has changed radically,” says Made founder Neal Gershinson. “There are now brands with an ethical and sustainable philosophy offering incredible campaigns and inspiring visual communication, far removed from the hippie connotations of old. We are very much part of this approach and aim to communicate our story – Handmade in Kenya – with character, imagination and elegance.” Beloved by the Duchess of Cambridge, Mirabelle Jewellery (mirabellejewellery.co.uk) also offers fair trade and handmade pieces, as well as a signature British Made collection. “It has always been important to me to create a brand that is not only beautiful and timeless, but also comes from reliable and ethical suppliers,” says founder Veronique Henry. “Increasingly, people want to know where they are getting their products from – whether that’s food, furniture or clothing.” High-end jewellery brand Eden Diodati – stocked in Harvey Nichols and created by Jennifer Ewah – works with a co-operative of inspiring women who survived the genocide in Rwanda. The intricate pieces – think bold chokers and arm cuffs – are made from 24-karat gold and semi-precious materials. Applying the ‘shopping with soul’ approach to the interiors market is new launch Aerende (aerende.co.uk).
The online shop sells beautiful homewares – such as natural, striped bed linens, organic-cotton cushions and hand-carved shopping boards – all made in the UK by people facing social challenges. “I’ve always loved nice things but felt guilty about buying products that could have harmed the world or the people in it,” reveals founder Emily Mathieson. “By offering beautiful, individual, handmade products that will get better with age, and providing opportunities for people who can’t access conventional employment, we’re trying to do things differently. Aerende is part of an uplifting and growing movement of conscious retailers and consumers who want to do things properly, but don’t want to compromise on service or style. “Our aims are both quite ambitious and in some ways very simple — recognising the power of beauty to lift the spirit, tapping into the slow living ethos, not just through clever branding, but with genuine integrity, personality and style,” she continues. “Aerende products are designed to have as much positive impact as possible, for the people who make them, the people who buy them, and the world we live in. Hence our strapline, ‘Life-improving Homewares’.” With a similar ethos, but sourcing its wares from across the world, Banbayu (banbayu.com) brings together a unique collection of handcrafted, ethically-sourced interior pieces from diverse cultures. Nkuku (nkuku.com), meanwhile, is a one-stop shop for unique home accessories sourced from artisans around the world. “It has always been an important part of the Nkuku ethos to produce and select products that are not fashionled and can stand the test of time,” says Alex Cooke, joint founder and owner. “The materials we work with really define our collections and this has led us to work with natural, sustainable and recyclable materials; keeping alive handmade traditional skills. Every product has a story and this offers consumers something unique in a fast-paced world.” For something truly one-of-a-kind, vintage clothing and reclaimed furniture are inherently sustainable. Based in Kensal Green, Retrouvius (retrouvius.com) is one of London’s insider secrets. A warren of spaces – some of which are semi-styled with curated items – it stocks a wide range of one-off reclaimed furniture and architectural salvage that can bring instant character to a home. “We are a destination shop, beloved by interior designers and home enthusiasts alike,” says owner Nicholas Hughes. “We attract people who love the charm and inherent quality that our pieces have. “We offer an ever-evolving stock – from collector’s cabinets to stone pillars,” he continues. “We don’t choose items based on how fashionable they are or to fit in with any trends. For us it’s about the long-term – we look at the patina of a piece, that elusive character, the unique story. It’s all about the heart.” Mirabelle necklace
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WHITE CAVIAR ILLUMINATING PEARL INFUSION
INFUSE YOUR SKIN WITH LIQUID LIGHT TARGET THE THREE CHROMATIC BARRIERS TO A LUMINOUS COMPLEXION. UNIFY, BRIGHTEN AND CLARIFY WITH THE FIRST CONCENTRATE OF LIGHT.
AVAILABLE AT PETER JONES
Her STYLE BY lauren stevens
Soft Touch Cashmere specialist Eric Bompard covers a wide range of trends with its S/S17 collection, offering classic knitwear in pop, nautical, tribal, summer and vintage designs. The bright pink star-printed jumper is playful and light for summer, while vintage-inspired pieces such as the lace trim camisole and pleated midiskirt offer something different from the usual signature styles. From £95, 29 King’s Road, SW3, eric-bompard.com
Bag It Up Luxury Italian bag brand Il Bisonte has appointed British accessory designer Emma Hill (formerly at Mulberry) as its new consultant creative director – and she has designed an eightpiece capsule collection to mark the occasion. Made from the brand’s signature unlined cowhide material, the bags retain the casual chic aesthetic associated with Il Bisonte, but Hill has been sure to add her own stylish spin to the collection. The new designs feature brass hardware and slouch pockets, inspired by the leather aprons worn by traditional artisans. From £295, ilbisonte.com
Work It
The Body Shop Sunny getaways are for relaxing, not worrying about how one’s bikini body fares compared to the other sculpted physiques on the beach. To ease our swimwear worries, Heidi Klein is releasing its brand new Body range as part of its High Summer 17 collection. The carefully crafted, form-flattering pieces are created using an exclusive high compression dual-fabric and feature underwired cups and side bonding for invisible support. The range of bikinis and swimsuits arrives in three colourways – black, burgundy and cornflower blue – and are available to purchase from the beginning of April. From £225, 257 Pavilion Road, SW1X, heidiklein.com
Following her husband’s resignation last year, Samantha Cameron – who has long been admired for her sartorial taste and is an ambassador of the British Fashion Council – is carving out her own niche in the fashion industry with her new womenswear brand, Cefinn. Debuting for S/S17, Cameron has designed the capsule collection in accordance with her own lifestyle, for modern business women who work hard day-to-night in style. The elegant collection comprises tailoring, separates and dresses in a classic colour palette of black, white, navy, red and khaki. From £110, available at Selfridges
Art and Sole Clockwise from left: Cereza, 2001; Manolo Blahnik: The Art of Shoes; Cadiz, 2001-2002
Step into the world of one of the most famous shoe brands in Manolo Blahnik: The Art of Shoes, in which author and critic Cristina Carrillo de Albornoz Fisac speaks to the label’s eponymous founder about his creativity and influences over his illustrious 45-year career. Along with personal anecdotes from Blahnik and musings on his relationships with fellow creatives Anna Piaggi and Diana Vreeland, the tome also contains original design sketches, serving as a visual catalogue for over 200 selected styles – an essential compendium for fashion enthusiasts. Manolo Blahnik: The Art of Shoes, £32.50, available from 1 April, published by Rizzoli, rizzoliusa.com
London Calling
Strap In Inspired by the original Artemis bag launched in 2007, the Artemis strap by Louboutin offers a new and unique concept for S/S17. Named after the Greek goddess and huntress, the original bag is a celebration of the bold female, designed using feather and stud details which draw attention to the shoulder. Taking influence from the initial design details, the new straps arrive in three distinct styles and can be used on the Paloma bag (pictured) or clutch, Louboutin’s latest style for the season. From £845, available at Harrods
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Hermès’ Chelsea store is moving to a new destination after serving 30 years on Sloane Street. But regulars need not worry – the new boutique will be just down the road and will be almost double in size, offering a larger selection of jewellery and accessories. Originally designed by Michael Rosenauer, who was also the architect behind the property that now houses Hermès’ Bond Street flagship, the listed building is the perfect new home for the French brand. A selection of exclusive products will be available, including the reissued London Bag (pictured), which arrives in four new and exclusive colourways. POA, 1 Cadogan Place, SW1X, hermes.com
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Top, £475, Osman, matchesfashion.com; Shirt, £300, Vince, matchesfashion.com; Skirt, £495, Alexandra Long, alexandralong.com; Shoes, £450, Giuseppe Zanotti, 49 Sloane Street, SW1X, giuseppezanottidesign.com/uk
Out of the
Shadows With summer on the near horizon, brighten up your wardrobe with yellow, teal and metallic shades for an edgier alternative to spring dressing Photographer: Alexander Beer
Stylist: Graham Cruz
Above / Top, £235, Theory, theory.com; Shirt, £975, Bally, bally.co.uk; Necklace, £278.97, Miansai, miansai.com Right / Sweater, £625, Theory, as before; Shirt, £165, Nanushka, nanushka.hu; Skirt, £1,010, Paule Ka, 161 Sloane Street, SW1X; Shoes, £325, Merah Vodianova, merahvodianova.com; Socks, £10, Falke, falke.com
Above / Shirt, £350, Osman, as before; Skirt, £275, Red Valentino, 133 Sloane Street, SW1X, redvalentino.com; Shoes, £420, JF London, jflondon.net Left / Shirt, £105, Filippa K, filippa-k.com; Trousers, £265, Karl Lagerfeld, karl.com; Shoes, £640, Marni, 26 Sloane Street, SW1X, marni.com
Above / Top, £800, Andrew GN, matchesfashion.com; Shirt, £190, By Malene Birger, bymalenebirger.com; Skirt, £1,250, Neil Barrett, neilbarrett.com; Boots, £645, Christian Louboutin, 23 Motcomb Street, SW1X, eu.christianlouboutin.com Right / Shirt dress, £418, Diane Von Furstenberg, matchesfashion.com; Top, £35, COS, 19 Duke of York Square, SW3; Trousers, £1,295, Bally, as before; Shoes, £550, Sergio Rossi, sergiorossi.com
Model: Clarice Vitkauskas @ Next Model Management Hair and Make Up: Jonas Oliver using Mac Pro Set designer: Dominic Chinea
Getting the
Hang of It Designers are enjoying a spring fling with wristlet and single strap handbags in every size, shape and colour imaginable. camilla apcar reports on where to find the prime movers
FASHION
WHEN IT COMES to handbags, each season the conversation returns to size, structure and shape. This spring is no exception: there are miniscule box bags and minaudières galore, sack bags that practically dwarf the torso and all manner of far from utilitarian shapes. But straps are also sharing the limelight. Wristlets or designs with a single strap attached at one central point were shown on the catwalks by many fashion houses for the first time. “Wrist and strap bags are emerging as serious contenders for the number one evening bag spot,” says Ida Petersson, Browns’ accessories buying manager for womenswear. “I always favour a wrist bag as it allows me to have both my hands free, and I am less likely to accidentally leave my clutch behind. Our customers are going crazy over Alaïa’s version, in particular the perforated leather in white.” Wristlets have become a staple of Alaïa’s accessories collections. Its three Palmelato calfskin designs this season are especially striking, and ideal for daytime, too: in black, studded with the grommet eyelets that Azzedine Alaïa used in his first collections from the 1980s (£1,530); the white laser-cut style so popular at Browns (pictured right, £1,790); and a new nude appliqué silhouette that has around 80 floral studs mounted by hand like a neat miniature flowerbed (£1,400). At 82 years old, Giorgio Armani still has plenty of invention to offer – including a new wristlet in the metallic and soft Impressionist prints that ran throughout his latest collection, nicknamed ‘Charmani’. In calfskin or snakeskin with twist turn closures, it is a classic take on the wristlet, compact and boxy (pictured overleaf, from £990). Lanvin’s new creative director Bouchra Jarrar – who stopped designing under her own name to take up the post last year – delivered her first show in September. It was full of the sharp tailoring for which she is known, and the draping that Alber Elbaz developed before her accession. Among this spring’s accessories is the fringed Chaîne by Lanvin mini drawstring bag, created by hand in an atelier near Florence. “It has been designed to be worn like a jewellery piece on the wrist while remaining functional and powerful,” says Lanvin’s studio. “From casual handbag to evening, this shape is very feminine and delicate. It will bring the final touch to a modern and edgy silhouette.” The Chaîne channels 1970s style with ivory snakeskin and black velvet calfskin (pictured top left, £1,260), in shades of black with a giant gemstoneencrusted flower (£925) or elongated to a rectangle in
black with electric blue side panels (£885). Each features the Art Deco chain with which Jarrar has made her first mark. Some interpretations on the wristlet are much bolder: Salvatore Ferragamo’s chunky strap on its crocodile creation comes in a brave canary shade (pictured opposite, POA), while Japanese designer Issey Miyake has taken his Pleats Please line in a kaleidoscopic direction with geometric and block colour pieces, sparingly punctuated by black and white. Many of his bags are attached onto unusual shapes by long wristlet cords: crinkled PVC buckets (pictured bottom overleaf, £360), an oddly twisted and pleated number that resembles bright white coral (£275) and
Opposite page: Salvatore Ferragamo, POA This page, clockwise from top left: Chaîne by Lanvin, £1,260; Chloé Nile bag, £1,195; Narciso Rodriguez runway look; Alaïa laser cut bag, £1,790
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small calf leather horseshoe – is turning heads (pictured previous page top right, £1,195). “The most wanted bag of the season is the new Chloé Nile bag,” says Selfridges’ accessories buying manager, Josie Gardner. “The signature brass gold circular metal handle encapsulates the label’s sophistication and easy-going attitude.”
“Wrist and strap bags are emerging as serious contenders for the number one evening bag spot”
Clockwise from top: Mulberry white Tyndale small classic grain bag, £995; Issey Miyake Carapace black bag, £315; Issey Miyake Nougat block black bag, £360; Giorgio Armani wristlet bag in calfskin, £990; Giorgio Armani wristlet bag in laminate snakeskin, £1,350
sporty, androgynous structural pouches (pictured far right, £315). Mulberry’s creative director Johnny Coca lays often contrasting ideas of Britishness, respect and rebellion onto his designs this season, including sacks and satchels that juxtapose punk and countrified glamour in khaki, navy, oxblood and racing green. “It’s about how we can use tradition, to make it feel modern,” says Coca. “How we can break the rules, to make it new.” His new Tyndale, while sporting a longer strap, was styled as an oversize wristlet-cum-bucket bag on the runway – folded in on itself at the sides, and scrunched at the top (pictured top, £995). Elsewhere, Diane von Furstenberg’s geometric wristlet uses soft nappa leather in an origami-inspired style (£308). Narciso Rodriguez – the New York designer that Michelle Obama wore at the former President’s first and last State of the Union addresses – brought an opentop bucket wristlet to the catwalk back in September (pictured previous page, bottom right). Although it was not destined to be produced, like Mulberry’s Tyndale, it demonstrated the versatility of large wristlets. Gone are the days of the ‘It bag’, but an unusual strap by Chloé – a large hoop bolted atop a
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Its saddle shape and suede marquetry are ready to lend an equestrian edge to a chic city look. “What I love about the Nile is that it is has a dual purpose,” says Clare Waight Keller, Chloé’s creative director, who will step down at the end of March. “You can wear it cross-body, it’s got a bracelet, you can hold it in your hand.” Although the cross-body strap can be attached at whim, Chloé recognises all too well that there is a more interesting way to hang a handbag this season – dangerously dangling. alaia.fr, armani.com, brownsfashion.com, chloe.com, dvf.com, ferragamo.com, isseymiyake.com, lanvin.com, mulberry.com, narcisorodriguez.com, selfridges.com
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It’s never too late...
LUXURY BODY BUTTER IN WHITE CASHMERE FROM THE BATH & BODY COLLECTION
www.lilouetloic.com
FASHION
Through the
LookingGlass Glasses maker Tom Davies is known for his slick eye for design, but what of the craftsmen behind the frames? Sophie Halse discovers the artisanal talent moulding titanium and horn into exquisite specs A lot can happen in 22 hours. A whole day can be lived, the sun can rise and fall again and, in the age of modern technology, one can catch a plane to the other side of the world in time to see it ascend once more. It is also how long it will take the master craftsmen at Tom Davies to fashion a bespoke pair of specs entirely from scratch. Founded in 2001, the eponymous Tom Davies brand was set up after its founder spotted a gap in the market for eyewear that championed both cutting-edge design and meticulous craftsmanship. Sixteen years on and Davies is renowned for his frames that boast an attention to detail unique to the industry. As half of the brand’s glasses are completely bespoke, a challenging and detailed production process is required to ensure that the needs of each wearer are met. As such, Davies necessitates that every member within his team of skilled artisans has a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the trade, in order to guarantee that each frame is made with the highest quality craftsmanship. And it’s not just the makers who are subject to a scrupulous selection process; the quality of the materials used to create Davies’ eyewear is a key component of the designer’s USP. The Natural Horn collection, for example, is
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named after the product with which the frames are made, used for its gentle properties and lightweight feel. The sheets of horn are filed down to 0.8mm and laminated together for added strength, sometimes combined with silk and carbon fibre for a flash of colour. The arms of the frames are crafted from titanium, which are ion-plated to keep the metallic colour locked in and, elsewhere in the collection, pure cotton acetate is used, sourced from Japan, where Davies believes the best raw material is made. With the materials in place, the makers craft the creative visions of Davies into wearable works of art that succeed in both form and function, ensuring that each frame is individually fitted to the wearer. It’s a demanding process – conducted entirely by hand – that takes between 16 to 22 hours, but the result is certainly worth the time and effort that is put in. As if a handmade, bespoke design wasn’t enough, each pair of Davies’ spectacles is personalised with an engraving of the wearer’s name, which is hidden inside the arms of the frame – needless to say, there is more to Tom Davies than meets the eye. Bespoke eyewear from £495, ready-to-wear from £295, 54 Sloane Square, SW1W, tdtomdavies.com
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Image courtesy of: Hugo Boss
Like a Boss The oldest parachute design appears in a manuscript from the 1470s and while the initial concept would likely have been unsuccessful if put to the test, it set the wheels in motion for a device that is still used some 500 years later. The technical prowess of the invention is the inspiration behind Boss’s S/S17 collection. The line of tailoring and sportswear emulates the airborne device’s lightweight form, with suits cut from linen jersey fabrics, anti-crease shirts and wind-resistant jackets. From £65 for accessories, from £109 for ready-towear, 55-57 Brompton Road, SW3, hugoboss.com
HIS STYLE By Ellen Millard
Night on the Town
King of the Hill
If one were to recall the smell of London at night, a combined aroma of doner kebab, rain and petrol is likely to spring to mind. But for Francis Kurkdjian and Christopher Bailey MBE, who were tasked with creating Mr Burberry Eau de Parfum – the latest addition within the Mr Burberry line – it was a blend of tarragon, cinnamon, patchouli, amber and vetiver that they believed best represented the Big Smoke. The scent launches this April alongside an extended grooming line, which comprises an aftershave balm, face scrub and a hair and beard clay. From £26 for the hair and beard clay, 2 Brompton Road, SW1X, uk.burberry.com
Notting Hill often strikes a nostalgic chord, whether it be for the historic Portobello Road, the Trellick Tower or Richard Curtis’ much loved romcom. For Paul Smith, it’s the Notting Hill Carnival and its raucous after parties in the ‘60s that he recalls most fondly, and to which he looked for inspiration when designing his S/S17 collection. The range combines typical Caribbean colours with 1960s tailoring, and features an updated turquoise version of the designer’s signature A Suit to Travel In. A Suit to Travel In, from £225, 122 Kensington Park Road, W11, paulsmith.co.uk
Sole Man The cobblers and craftsmen that construct Christian Louboutin’s red-soled shoes are the focus of the label’s S/S17 collection, a nod to the Italian craftsmanship that has been at the helm of the brand ever since it launched in 1992. Combining traditional methods with contemporary design, the Culture Convergence line shows off the skills of its creators with spike detailing and contrasting textures (Daurassic), metallic studs (Crapamale) and supple suede leather (Charlie Me), hand-crafted into brogues fit for all manner of occasions. From £565, 23 Motcomb Street, SW1X, eu.christianlouboutin.com
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interiors take the stage Maison Christian Lacroix brings the spectacle of theatre to our homes with its S/S17 collection in collaboration with Designers Guild. The brand has extended its Art De Vivre collection with the new Au Théâtre Ce Soir line, a range of fabrics and wallpaper featuring an eclectic mix of prints inspired by theatre productions of Molière’s Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme and Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Look out for Goya, a tropical palm tree print inspired by a magical forest, and the floral Tumulte Arlequin design, which pays homage to romantic heroines. From £75 per metre, 265-277 King’s Road, SW3, designersguild.com
Photography: Richard Powers
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& GARDEN
HOME
BY lauren stevens
Time Capsule Old meets new with the latest fabric and wallpaper collection by Rubelli. Drawing on the brand’s archive, which dates back to the 18th century, classic patterns and fabrics have been redesigned and remastered using new techniques. 3D-effect wallpaper is created by overlapping patterns and colours, while new weaves have been introduced for the fabric collection. In keeping with tradition, signature materials such as melange wools, rich velvets and embroidered voile remain part of the collection. From £96.50 per wallpaper roll and from £109 per fabric metre, Design Centre East, Chelsea Harbour, SW10, rubelli.com
Dress the Walls If you’ve seen any of the fabric collections by luxury fabric supplier Lelievre and master of haute couture Jean Paul Gaultier, you’ll know that this particular pairing makes for a good collaboration. 2017 sees a new venture for the creative duo as they present their debut wallpaper collection, which follows on from four collections of fabrics and accessories. “Completing a [fashion collection] or an interior space requires the same approach,” comments Gaultier. “Wallpaper is both traditional and innovative at the same time, taking us on a new adventure with Lelievre.” The 15-piece range offers a variety of styles in couture-inspired textures and prints. From £110, lelievre.eu Photography: Morgane Le Gall
Millefiori bed linen, duvet covers starting from £175, Yves Delorme S/S17 collection
New Threads Blossoming French linen brand Yves Delorme is opening a new flagship store on Chelsea’s Walton Street, having relocated from its former spot just a few doors down. Opening in March, the new space, spread across two floors, will be the label’s only London standalone store to bring together Yves Delorme, the Monogrammed Linen Shop and Yves Delorme Couture under one roof. The latter bespoke range enables clients and interior designers alike to tailor products to their own tastes, choosing from a variety of colours, fabrics, sizes and embroideries. The store will also house the new S/S17 collection (pictured), plus the well-known monogramming service from MLS, nightwear and homewares. 158 Walton Street, SW3, 020 7589 4033, uk.yvesdelorme.com
White Stripes British designer Lee Broom has collaborated with Wedgwood to create a capsule collection of limited edition bowls and vases. Arriving as part of Harrods’ Art Partner’s initiative, which launches in April, Broom (who is marking his company’s 10th anniversary this year) has put his own contemporary spin on a selection of Wedgwood’s classic Jasperware pieces that he grew up admiring. A limited number of items will be available to buy exclusively at Harrods from April, including a black-and-white striped panther vase, which is at the core of the collection. From £7,500, available at Harrods
Photography: Michael Bodiam
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Burn Bright There are certain things that just make you feel good, whether it’s reading an uplifting quote or relaxing by the light of a burning candle – so why not do both? The new range of wicks by Maison Ves offers the perfect pick-meup (or wind down) for your home, each featuring a playful and positive hashtag such as #PartnerInCrime and #GoodVibesOnly. Mix and match scents and quotes to suit your home and mood, including vanilla and coconut, and melon and papaya. From £42, maison-ves.com
Bring it Home After more than a century of showcasing other brands’ homeware ranges, Harrods has finally launched its very own furniture collection under the Harrods of London banner. The Art Deco-inspired range, which comprises 11 pieces, has been designed using bespoke materials, including a satin-feel velvet, and features brass accents and rich upholstery in an elegant colour palette, embodying the classic aesthetic associated with the department store. “We have curated an exceptional edit across the furniture floor that crosses a wide range of interior styles, from the most traditional to the most cutting edge,” explains Annalise Fard, the store’s director of home. “For me the Harrods of London range brings together contemporary understated finishes with the finest materials.” From £1,439, exclusive to Harrods
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Dream
Weaver
As she launches her new collection of decadent floor fillers, Lady Deirdre Dyson speaks to Ellen Millard about fusing art and interior design, her love of Chelsea and trading in her home for a hoover
There is a certain irony in the fact that the wife of the man behind one of the world’s most innovative vacuum cleaners is similarly pioneering when it comes to rug design. Lady Deirdre Dyson crafts the perfect floor fillers on which to test her husband’s slick air pressure equipment, creating capacious runners, mats and carpets, all of which feature an abstract print hand-drawn by the designer herself. You will find her boutique – a gallery-shop hybrid where the rugs hang from the walls – in the Chelsea Design Quarter, where it rubs shoulders with the likes of The Rug Company and Loomah. However, coming across one contemporary rug designer, let alone three, wasn’t always
so easy. During the late ‘90s, Dyson went on a mission to find an appropriate modern rug with which to decorate her oak floorboards, but was stumped to find that there was nothing of the sort available. “I couldn’t find anything,” she tells me, when I meet her at her shop on the King’s Road. “Nobody had gotten into contemporary carpet design, or if they had I just couldn’t source it.” Instead, she took matters into her own hands, using her background in fine art to fashion a design for herself and in so doing, struck up a partnership with the now closed Chelsea Handmade store. When this collaboration came to an end,
INTERIORS
Dyson decided to branch out on her own, and she set up her eponymous label in 2000. The brand is now nearly two decades old and has gained a reputation for its striking designs. Dyson’s latest collection, Vista, draws from nature – nine new prints of scattered leaves, tumbling pebbles, lily ponds and silver birch trees in a muted colour wheel of dusky greys, blues and beiges. Her favourite, Bulrushes, came about through a project in partnership with the Royal United Hospital in Bath, for which she has been commissioned to create a painting for the new cancer centre, which is due to open in 2019. It was inspired by a still lake located near the hospital, which she decided to transform into both a painting and a rug – the first time, she says, she’s “had a complete crossover”, despite the similarities between the two mediums. “They both employ the same skills,” she says matter-of-factly. “It’s just wool instead of paint. I’ve spent a couple of years doing pure abstract stuff, but this collection is much more symbolic. It still includes a lot of grading colours, but from actual scenes of nature that I’ve seen around my home in Gloucestershire.” Each design is first handdrawn by Dyson, before being scanned into a computer and recreated digitally. This then turns into a design map with markers indicating changes in colour and material, which is sent to the workshop in Nepal, where the weavers create their own chart that details the rug stitch by stitch. Each creation is finished in a matter of months (the length of time depending on the piece’s size) and are all made completely by hand. Dyson and her team also offer a bespoke service, although this typically involves adapting an existing piece to suit a client’s home, rather than creating a completely original design. Her most extravagant commission to date has been for two carpets, both vast at six square metres each. “They’re huge; we’re a bit worried because we’re going to have to inspect them first and we haven’t got the floor space,” she laughs. “We might have to hire somewhere just to look at them.” As I’m shown around the boutique, Dyson confides how she is surprised by how timeless her
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designs have become, joking that “maybe they’re not that contemporary” after all. “As I’m designing all the time, things get superseded, but it’s amazing that all of my designs from 1998 are still being bought by people today.” While her own creations have stood the test of time, Dyson contests that the industry as a whole has changed dramatically in the past two decades, largely due to the way people perceive interior design. “All those TV programmes about how to tart up your house and how to make it more valuable quickly have changed everyone’s perceptions of how design can benefit you financially if you get it right,” she says. “It’s
Clockwise from top left: Falling Leaves; Deirdre Dyson portrait; Tumble; Unravel; Falling Leaves, Bulrushes; all images courtesy of: Deirdre Dyson
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Clockwise from top left: Maple; Scattered Leaves; Lily Pond; all images courtesy of: Deirdre Dyson
more about style than comfort often, which I’m not sure about. Sometimes it can look so sterile – but everybody’s got their own tastes.” Her personal style is a mix of antique and contemporary; she favours Georgian architecture and furniture, but likes juxtaposing this with modern homeware from her daughter’s Notting Hill-based boutique, Couverture & The Garbstore, chairs from Cassina and soft furnishings from Ferm Living. When it comes to art, she has a particular passion for David Hockney, who was at his prime when she was an art student. “I love him because he’s so experimental and he doesn’t make divisions between photography, design and fine art,” she enthuses. “Some of his paintings are quite primitive and some of them are quite detailed. You can just see that he has fun.” As someone whose background has been so creative, and whose career up until she founded her label was largely solitary, I wonder whether her transition from painter to businesswoman was a difficult one. But, having watched her husband grow his own brand from scratch (they’ve been together since they were students), the designer is well-versed on enterprising dos-and-don’ts, although she admits that she found the prospect somewhat daunting. “I never dreamt I would have a business, but I’ve found the whole process just as creative as making a carpet or a painting, and I didn’t think that that would be the case. It’s really inspiring watching it grow. “You’ve got to nurture a business but at the same time be brave enough to take risks,” she continues.
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“That’s how my husband was so successful – he was quite rash, which was terrifying. At one stage we had to sign our house over to the bank. I remember having this dreadful meeting with lawyers who said: ‘Do you realise what you’re doing? If you don’t pay back this loan by a certain date you will be homeless’ – and we had three children.” The couple now split their time between their homes in Gloucestershire and London, where they live centrally, having moved from Chelsea after many years to be close to the Dyson store on Oxford Street. And yet, their love of the Royal Borough has never waned and the designer revels in the location of her showroom. “I love the King’s Road because it was so important during the ‘60s when I was a student,” she says. “I know it’s changed enormously since then, but it still feels like home to me; it’s the river, being near the Embankment and the pretty Georgian houses. At first this end of the road wasn’t very good, but now the whole street has picked up.” When the area was rebranded as the Chelsea Design Quarter in 2013, Dyson was thrilled, and now her boutique shares a home with a bevy of burgeoning interior design and homeware brands, which vie for attention along the Fulham stretch of the King’s Road. At 17 years, there are no concerns over the longevity of Dyson’s label and, while she jokes that “it’s like nursing a baby and watching it grow”, I have no doubt that the designer and her array of abstract rugs will continue to weave a name for themselves in the interior design world – one brightly-coloured stitch at a time. From £930 per sq m for a hand-knotted carpet in Tibetan wool and Chinese/Indian silk, 554 King’s Road, SW6, deirdredyson.com
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HEALTH BEAUTY BY alicia Osborne-crone
Image courtesy of: Chanel
Eye Candy Eyes are often thought to be windows to the soul, harnessing the power to express emotions without saying a word. Christian Louboutin has created Les Yeux Noirs to draw attention to these silent messages, aiming to enhance them through eye makeup. Inspired by Kathakali, a form of classical Indian dance which sees elaborate makeup applied to dancers to highlight their expressive eye movements, the collection has been formulated with extreme pigment for rich colour, ranging from the blackest black to chartreuse yellow. From £33, eu.christianlouboutin.com
Image courtesy of: Sisley
Coming Up Roses
You Glow, Girl Designed to enhance and brighten your natural glow, Chanel’s Les Beiges collection has been expanded to include three new products: Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Touch Foundation, Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette and Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick Blush. Lightweight and made up of 56 per cent water, the foundation provides immediate freshness and hydration for your skin, while the colour sticks, which can be used easily on-thego, will add a rosy glow to your cheeks. Vamp up and intensify the sparkle in your eyes with a mixture of the pearly and matte eyeshadows, and you’ll be good to go. Available nationwide from 28 April, from £34 for the blush to £46 for foundation, 020 7493 3836, chanel.com
The budding blooms in Sisley founder Isabelle D’Ornano’s garden are the inspiration behind her label’s latest fragrance, Izia. Roses home-grown by the beauty mogul are at the core of the scent, which comprises a lengthy array of ingredients: top notes of bergamot, freesia, tea and pink peppercorn are mixed with a heart of pear, jasmine, peony and lily of the valley, while musk, amber and cedar provide a woody base. The overall result is a sweet, fresh scent that is reminiscent of the first signs of spring. From £69 for 30ml, sisley-paris.com
The Lanesborough Says Relax The newly opened The Lanesborough Club and Spa is set to become one of London’s most exclusive fitness and health destinations. Set in the shadow of Buckingham Palace and a short walk from Harrods and Sloane Street, the spa is a luxury haven from the hustle and bustle of Hyde Park Corner. With wellbeing a top priority, members can be sure to receive a personalised experience characterised by intuition and discretion, including bespoke programmes from world-renowned experts and signature treatments courtesy of La Prairie, Ila and Anastasia Achilleos. The Lanesborough, SW1X, lanesborough.com
Victoria Beckham Estée Lauder London Look
Posh Spice Luminous, innovative and fierce – sound good? This just about sums up Victoria Beckham’s new makeup collection for Estée Lauder; a range bursting with intense pigment and smoky, cityinspired looks. Following on from the sell-out debut collection last year, the second instalment of this collaboration includes the Modern Mercury highlighter, a firm favourite of Beckham’s, as well as a unique series of Eye Metals, Foils and Inks, and the Morning Aura Illuminating Crème. To create a London-inspired look, opt for edgy, smudged Kajal liner and Nude Spice on the lips, or, for a sun-kissed LA glow, use the Java Sun bronzer and a swipe of Moroccan Heat lip gloss. From £22 for the Kajal liner to £68 for the Illuminating Crème, esteelauder.co.uk
Taking Liberties The Merchant of Venice, the luxury fragrance house which seeks to emphasise the ancient city’s role in the history of perfumery, has created Liberty Eau de Parfum – combining unique scents with Venetian craftsmanship. The perfume embodies the warmth and spice of saffron, skilfully combined with white lily and base notes of amber and patchouli. The Venetian exclusivity is reinforced through the bottle’s design, which features golden patterns overlaying a deep blue background, making for a truly beautiful, signature fragrance. £250 for 100ml, available exclusively at Harrods
And Stretch Missoni is bringing Italian chic to your yoga sessions. Renowned for its geometric designs and zigzag motifs, the brand has collaborated exclusively with luxury online store My Theresa to release its first ever activewear range. Designed by Angela Missoni, the collection features six styles, including tops, a cardigan and comfortable trousers, each featuring the house’s classic woven design. Working out has never looked so good. From £224, mytheresa.com
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Fit
A Perfect
David Marshall, aka the Bodydoctor, has toned the physiques of Sophie Dahl, Lily Allen and some of the UK’s top football players with his fitness regimes. With the launch of his new programmes, Kate Harrison finds out how anyone can benefit from his expertise “Get fit, lose fat, call the Doc. If you do that, I will change your life forever,” says personal trainer David Marshall. Having seen the results first-hand, I know he’s right. Think of pretty much any newsworthy body overhaul from the past two decades and you will find this man behind it, holding kettlebells at the ready. Marshall is the trainer responsible for taking Sophie Dahl from a point-proving size 18 model to a beautifully svelte – and healthy – size eight; he sent Lily Allen away three dress sizes smaller in just six weeks; and turned Rachel Weisz into a lean Russian sniper for her role in Enemy at the Gates. Better known as the Bodydoctor, Marshall has been transforming bodies for more than 20 years. With a book of high-profile clients passing through his studio, Marshall has complete faith in his abilities to make people fit and enjoy the process. “You only look good when you feel good, and you only feel good when you’re healthy. That only happens
when you restore your body to optimum health and put your body back into balance. The aesthetic is a by-product,” Marshall says with conviction. “You need to have fun doing it or you look for excuses to quit.” I personally completed Marshall’s six-week training programme and emerged a stone lighter and two dress sizes smaller (while still enjoying the odd glass of wine). With an abundance of energy I never thought humanly possible for a mother of three children under five, I can vouch for the prolonged success of his training techniques. Marshall is an intriguing character with a largerthan-life personality. “Bless you my child for you have thinned” is a phrase that can be heard as you finish your final reps. Marshall takes the drudgery out of exercise with humour and has surrounded himself with the very best to ensure optimum results. Marshall’s A-team works in unison to ensure a holistic approach to his fitness regime, which explains his ability to achieve maximum results in minimum time.
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The trainers are fantastic – each having signed up to the Bodydoctor cult themselves. They make sure you don’t slack off even for a single rep; an hour spent at the gym is exactly an hour of working out. Marshall has even put together a handy eBook so you can keep up the programme while on the go. Nutritionist Amanda Moore completes the magic circle, with a personalised guide to ensure you get the most out of your training sessions. She collaborates with local restaurants and has devised a healthy eating menu, which can even be delivered to your door (the bento boxes from Chisou are a personal favourite). The studios are predictably kitted out with every fitness machine you could possibly imagine – and a fair few you couldn’t. Based on resistance training over a full range of movement (a bit like yoga or Pilates with weights), a combination of exercises are designed to fatigue each muscle group in turn. The philosophy is rather clean cut; train to a level where the body accepts exercise. Ultimately, practising each exercise with correct posture and core awareness gears your body towards maximising your energy expenditure in minimal time.
“You create lean muscle, you raise your metabolism, you burn fat and lose weight – simple” Once learned, the exercises are hard to forget. Marshall’s favourite, the GTS (gravity training system), is a machine that uses a glideboard to replicate every kind of lunge and resistance exercise conceivable. Every exercise works from the tummy out. “You create lean muscle, you raise your metabolism, you burn fat and lose weight – simple,” he chants happily. So popular is the equipment that Marshall has launched a series of small group training sessions with a maximum of six participants per class. Marshall is keen to assure that this programme is about getting people healthy, not weight loss. If you need to lose weight you will; similarly if you need to put it on, then you will. In the days of a looming national health crisis, his attitude is something to which we should all pay attention. In fact, Marshall has devised the Bodydoctor junior fitness programme to help combat the growing issue of childhood obesity and provide a positive outlet for pre-teens and teenagers at the constant mercy of technology and social media. “You only have a happy kid if you have an active kid,” he points out. He hopes to implement a fitness regime into schools nationwide to provide the right education for children from an early age that will see them through life.
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The Bodydoctor doesn’t stop there. With bespoke training in mind for everyone, Marshall is launching couples training Fit for Love, based on his belief that “a couple that sweat together, stay together”. Training in pairs is perfect for those preparing for a wedding or a parent looking to spend some quality time with their child. Simply put, subscribe to the Bodydoctor fitness regime in whatever capacity, do the sessions and enjoy the results. David Marshall at Bodydoctor Health & Fitness, 36 South Audley Street, W1K, 020 7499 9990, or 119 Eaton Square, SW1W, 020 7235 2211, bodydoctor.com
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Kids KINGDOM BY lauren stevens
Off You Trot! After serving a loyal 25 years in the same location, Trotters High Street Kensington has moved four doors down the road – and taken its famous giant fish tank along with it. Here, founder Sophie Mirman reveals all: The famous mini aquarium has been relocated to the new store; what’s the story behind the original tank? One of the main reasons we founded Trotters was because my son William had a wobbly when I took him to get his hair cut as an infant. You spend the early years of your child’s life telling them not to touch anything sharp, and so when a stranger comes up to them with a pair of scissors it’s normal that they get scared. Fish are very calming for the children while they get their hair cut, and they’re familiar with them, too. All of our poor fish have huge identity crises because each child who comes in calls them by a different name. What sets Trotters apart from other children’s stores? With Trotters we’ve created an environment that’s fun for children, where they very much feel as though it’s their own hairdresser’s or shoe shop. I think these things are a very important memory for children to have; we get a lot of people who came here for their first pair of shoes or first haircut coming back with their own children years later. How has Trotters changed since you opened in 1990? We’re constantly revisiting what we do and looking at ways of improving; whether it be the shop or the merchandise, we’re always looking to evolve. We are also very customer-focused. Initially we were buying and selling pretty much what was already available on the high street, but little by little we got to know who our customers were and what they wanted, and so became focused on that. We now design everything – all of our clothing is exclusive to Trotters. How is the new store different? The site is just fabulous. We still have our famous Trotters Express model, but we’ve now got a pirate ship called the Jolly Trotter, which looks terrific. But there are no major changes; everything we do is an evolution rather than a revolution. 139-141 High Street Kensington, W8, trotters.co.uk
PET’S
CORNER
Go Walkies
The Royal Treatment With more than 30 years’ experience and the childhood bedrooms of Princes’ William and Harry under their belt, the hand-painted furniture specialists and masters of carpentry at Dragons of Walton Street certainly know a thing or two about children’s interiors. The British brand has now opened the doors of its new showroom in Chelsea, having closed its original store in the heart of Knightsbridge two years ago. The store displays the extensive collection of bestselling furniture, as well as offering the company’s interior design service. To mark the launch, the beautiful Regency-style wardrobe is available to purchase as the first part of the new collection. Interior design service, by appointment Monday to Friday, 17 Elystan Street, SW3, dragonsofwaltonstreet.com
Walk your dog with ease and in style using the new harness range from London-based pet accessories brand Hiro + Wolf. Designed for long walks, the soft cotton harness distributes weight evenly around the body to ensure a comfortable walk for both you and your dog. The harness is available in two sizes and four jazzy colourways, and has adjustable straps to suit small and mediumsized breeds, from labradors to dachshunds. It also features two clip fastenings that are quick and hassle-free to use. Priced at £45, hiro-and-wolf.com
Singing in the Rain
New Kids in Town
April showers are not always welcomed with a smile, but if it means donning one of this season’s snazzy raincoats then children should be more keen to embrace the damper weather. Discover our pick of the best and brightest S/S17 waterproofs, including a multicoloured number from Billieblush, the new brand arriving at Harrods this April, which is guaranteed to brighten up those rainy days.
Liberty London has welcomed one of its new favourite brands, the Soft Gallery, to the Little Liberty department. Every season the Danish kids fashion label collaborates with local and international designers to create fresh and unique collections, and Liberty has handpicked a selection of pieces for babies and children from its new Latin-American-inspired S/S17 range, Rise and Shine. Look out for playful cactus-printed clothing and accessories for babies and children. From £20, available at Liberty London, libertylondon.com
£85-£95, Kenzo, kenzo.com
Hippie at Heart Girls can embrace their free spirits with the new collection from Outside the Lines. Inspired by 1970s bohemian style and the folklore trend, the range offers a selection of hippieinspired clothing which caters for girls aged three to 10 years old. Soft greys and natural shades are met with bursts of neon, fringed detailing and folk-inspired pom-poms. Opt for a contemporary white embroidered playsuit or keep it 100 per cent hippie with a lace petticoat dress. From £22, outside-the-lines.co.uk
£48, Billieblush, available at Harrods
£119, Stella McCartney alexandalexa.com Photography: Dan Scudamore
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Elliott Erwitt, 2015
Michele De Lucchi - Giancarlo Fassina: Tolomeo
high life
popa don’t preach This year, Myanmar is welcoming visitors to explore its countless historical attractions and stunning landscapes – and The Luxury Holiday Company is on hand to assist you with the journey. With a 14-day tailor-made trip, you will be introduced to grand Buddhist temples and travel through remote villages and monasteries, gaining a privileged insight into the the country’s unique traditions. Highlights include a hike up Mount Popa to marvel at the temples, a balloon flight over the ancient city of Bagan and a visit to the stilted villages of Inle Lake. Including all meals, modes of transport and boutique hotel stays, the once-in-a-lifetime expedition strikes the perfect balance between luxury and adventure. From £4,500 per person for a 14-day trip including flights, theluxuryholidaycompany.com
Photography: Saravutpics/Shutterstock
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Travel
THE WORLD By Alicia Osborne-Crone
Closer to Home
Don’t Look Down Not for the faint-hearted, Erosantorini is perched on a vertiginous cliff 1,000 feet above the Aegean Sea, offering a truly unique experience for those looking for ultimate seclusion, as well as the best in hospitality and luxury. The two-acre estate, which has been designed to host up to 10 adult guests and four children, comprises five independent suites. Each suite comes with its own heated plunge pool, Jacuzzi, floating fireplace and of course, staggering views that capture Santorini’s picturesque whitewashed villages and seascapes. From €5,000 per night, erosantorini.com
Ten Trinity Square
Photography: Louisa Nikolaidou
The Royal Treatment Feel like a king or queen at La Réserve Ramatuelle – one of the few hotels in France awarded Palace status by the French minister of tourism. Two Provencal-style villas (one three-bed and one five-bed) have been added to this French Riviera hideaway’s collection of rooms and suites, each with its own private swimming pool and sea view. Most notably, a new bespoke scheme has also been put into action, promising to grant guests their every wish. With an entire team on hand 24/7, ranging from butlers to sports coaches, you are in for a truly luxurious experience fit for royalty. £3,048 per night for three-bedroom villa, £3,310 per night for five-bedroom villa, lareserve-ramatuelle.com
Images courtesy of: La Réserve Ramatuelle
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Ten Trinity Square has long been a stately landmark of the capital and, being located within the oldest part of the City of London, the building has lived through many a historical moment. From the WWII bombings to a starring role in James Bond flick Skyfall, the Grade II-listed property has seen its fair share of blitz and glamour. Now, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has given it an extensive renovation; as well as a newly restored UN Ballroom, Ten Trinity Square now holds a total of 89 guest rooms and 11 suites, as well as a new Roman-inspired spa (opening this month) and private members’ club. From £430 per night, tentrinitysquare.com
Green Thumb Framed from top to bottom in lush foliage, the Hotel Viu in Milan offers an oasis of calm within the up-and-coming district of Porta Volta. Established as the only hotel in the city with an outdoor rooftop pool, the Viu offers beautiful 360-degree cityscape views – the perfect setting for a swim or relaxing meal. It’s also ideally located for those visiting Salone del Mobile this April, being only a short train journey away from the area in which the prestigious fair is held. Guests can marvel at the latest furniture and design from across the globe before heading back to the hotel for a dip al fresco. From €220 per night, hotelviumilan.com
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The
High Road Need a break from the crush of the capital? Jeremy Taylor seeks out some of Scotland’s remotest getaways in the Highlands Snow-capped mountains, empty roads and the crackle of a log fire in the evening – Scotland has everything you need to get far from the madding crowd. Heading north to the Highlands should be on everybody’s must-do list. Long before the holidaymakers and midges fly in, spring is the ideal time to make a driving tour of the country’s glens and islands. Whether you take the high road or the low road, it will still be at least an eight-hour drive to the Highlands from London and even when driving in a luxurious Range Rover, the twisty route north of Glasgow can be challenging. But once the traffic has disappeared and the views open up, Scotland’s dramatic beauty, rugged terrain and sweeping vistas will no doubt charm you. Here’s my guide to some of the best places to find the open road and leave the rat race behind.
Inverlochy Castle, Fort William You can have a beautiful hotel, but without great service, it all falls apart. Fortunately, Inverlochy Castle has both. Situated by a lake at the foot of Ben Nevis, it’s no wonder
Queen Victoria famously claimed she had “never seen a lovelier or more romantic spot”. Everything from the heavyweight lock on the front doors to the Venetian chandeliers suggests a historic past. The delightful billiard room looks like it has come straight from the pages of a Flashman novel and my cavernous bedroom features Jacobite wallpaper, sumptuous furnishings and spectacular views of the loch. However, those who can’t do without mod cons shouldn’t worry – rooms come complete with Bang & Olufsen stereos and a Philips television, which has been cunningly disguised behind a gilt-edged mirror. A sense of tradition and history continues into the dining room, where guests are required to don a jacket to enjoy the culinary delights courtesy of father and son Albert and Michel Roux Jr., who head up the kitchen. The chefs have adapted their French palates to incorporate authentic Highland flavours, with highlight dishes including slow-cooked duck egg and beetroot and gin-cured Shetland salmon. The public rooms are all impressive, with plump cushions that tempt guests to take up residence by an open fire. Service is formal, but unstuffy – the staff is knowledgeable and welcoming. One even de-iced the
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Range Rover before I left in the morning. Inverlochy Castle, a Relais & Chateaux hotel, rooms from £335, inverlochycastlehotel.com, relaischateaux.com
Eilean Shona, Loch Moidart Travelling to a remote island is always an adventure, but just finding the ferry to Eilean Shona made me want to pen a follow-up to a Robert Louis Stevenson novel. The roads around the Ardnamurchan peninsula twist and turn through craggy hills and woodland – wandering sheep rule the road and signposts are scarce. Out to sea, the islands of Muck, Rhum and Eigg steal the horizon. Closer to shore, Eilean Shona island braves a more sheltered spot in Loch Moidart. Populated by crofters until the mid-18th century, a small hunting lodge was later built here for the seafaring Captain Swinburne. J.M. Barrie rented the Hebridean island, an hour from Fort Williams, in the 1920s and found inspiration for Neverland in the moss-covered trees and lakes. Eilean Shona is now owned by Richard Branson’s sister Vanessa, who bought it in the ‘90s as a family bolthole, but then proceeded to convert the cottages and rent them out to paying guests. There are seven properties dotted around this rugged and mysterious island – I’m in tiny White Cottage. If you’re looking for Wi-Fi, phone signal and television, this isn’t the place. Some of the cottages remain totally off-grid and use gas lamps. Fire lighting skills are essential. The old village hall is a meeting place for guests and the only spot to tap into Wi-Fi, if you really feel you must. A tiny shop opens at random times, but otherwise, everything I needed for my stay had to come out on the boat. Careful planning is crucial as once the boat’s left – that’s it! Otherwise, Eilean Shona has everything I could dream of as a castaway on my own island. Come here
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to leave the car behind, switch off from the real world and go a bit Peter Pan yourself. Cottages from £625 per week, eileanshona.com
Airds Hotel & Restaurant, Port Appin Port Appin is the perfect base to explore the lochs and inlets of the west coast in glorious solitude. Hire a canoe, grab your walking boots or just soak up the calming atmosphere in this sleepy district, just north of Oban. It’s easy to drive right past the unimposing frontage of Airds Hotel. The former ferry inn stands on a quiet road into the village. Views from the front bedrooms look out towards Loch Linnhe and postcard-perfect Castle Stalker. On a cold spring evening, the lights of the restaurant prove more welcoming than the distant lighthouse. Once the open fires are lit, Airds has a homely feel, although my room wasn’t quite as cosy as I’d hoped, despite a sensationally comfortable bed.
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The Torridon, Wester Ross
The garden at Airds Hotel & Restaurant, Port Appin
Airds is boutique rather than budget, but some of the decor feels strangely out of place – think the Home Counties more than west coast of Scotland. I have no complaints about the food, which is locally sourced and served in a dining room with access to some of the best views imaginable. There probably isn’t a better place to rest and eat in Argyll & Bute, but somehow, Airds lacked the warmth and character I expected. And that was despite the Relais & Chateaux listing. Rates from £152.50 per person, per night, including dinner, airds-hotel.com, relaischateaux.com
The Torridon, Wester Ross The tiny train station at Achnasheen is more than 20 miles away and public transport is virtually non-existent. To reach the luxurious Torridon hotel and inn during the winter months, a Range Rover-like 4x4 is pretty much essential – although a helicopter landing pad is also available (naturally). This part of Wester Ross is on the road less travelled, but it should be on everybody’s must-see list. The windswept shores of a loch provide the backdrop, with accompanying views of Liathach Mountain. Torridon stands in a staggeringly beautiful location however you get here. Romantic and remote, the former shooting lodge was built in the Scottish baronial style. Downstairs, it epitomises old-world charm and sophistication, from the zodiac-signed ceiling in the dining room, to the woodpanelled walls of the reception hall. Upstairs, the decor is more contemporary, although I found a mammoth ‘wall’ of whisky in the bar took the sting off some of the crazy wallpaper. An open fire, sinkable sofa and inviting four-poster bed reconcile me to the three-hour journey I had made from Inverness to get here. And then there’s the food. Chef David Barnett has used local produce to perfection. Orkney scallops, whisky parfait and Dornoch lamb, all blended with herbs and vegetables from the hotel’s extensive kitchen garden. A night at The Torridon isn’t cheap, but when you’ve travelled this far, anything less than perfect would be a let down. I arrived in sunshine and left even happier. Rooms from £255, thetorridon.com, prideofbritainhotels.com
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Otter Cottage, Ardaneaskan
Otter Cottage, Ardaneaskan
Bedroom in Otter Cottage
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Not every hideaway in Scotland has to be lost up a glen – Otter Cottage is on the outskirts of Inverness. A terraced house imaginatively restored for two guests, the property is now a haven of luxury. Panoramic views from the front windows look out across the Caledonian Canal. Beyond that is the Moray Firth and Kessock Bridge. In the morning, it’s a scene of bustling activity thanks to bird watchers and joggers. After a long drive from London, Otter Cottage is perfect for the weary traveller. The rooms are warm, but a wood-burning stove is also ready to light. A roll-top bath dominates the bedroom and there’s a separate shower room, too. Otter Cottage has every modern convenience to help recharge the batteries. The Clachnaharry Inn is a few minutes walk away and serves good food – central Inverness boasts plenty of restaurants. A home from home, the cottage is named after an otter that swims right outside the kitchen. What could be more charming? From £220 for a two-night stay, caledonianholidaylets.com
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One of the world’s most luxurious destinations, Dubai has become the holiday hotspot of the United Arab Emirates. Modern skyscrapers soar over the entire city, perfectly balanced by palm trees at every turn. Qantas A380 flies twice daily from London Heathrow (from £318), and one feels like having landed not just in another country, but in some futuristic wonder-realm. The 2,717-foot Burj Khalifa is perhaps the finest example of Dubai’s lavishness. Standing at the heart of the city, it is the tallest building in the world – and the extravagance does not end there, for at the foot of this impressive structure lies The Dubai Mall (again, the world’s largest). In addition to a string of designer boutiques, there is an aquarium where you can watch more than 300 sharks and stingrays swim, an ice rink and even a dancing waterfall – complete with a light show set to operatic music. As Dubai continues to place itself at the forefront of technology, many more buildings are in construction ahead of the six-month World Expo that will be held here in 2020. A mammoth 25 million visitors are expected to visit its 438-hectare site, which will be connected to three international airports and its own transport network. Meanwhile, the business bay area is emerging as a city within the city, materialising the grand vision of Sheikh Mohammed, who has been the UAE’s vice-president and prime minister since 2006. Man-made canals and everchanging landscaped gardens provide a sense of calm amid the high-rises; luxury hotels are aplenty and many boast the ostentatious glamour one would come to expect from the region. Beyond the buildings lie miles of desert calling for adventure. You can continue to marvel at the cityscape from the beach or head to the marina to enjoy its attractions and some spectacular sunsets. Excess is the way of life here, and this modern metropolis is only just getting started.
Weekend Break In...
Dubai
A destination where glamour is part of everyday life, Natalie Read finds an oasis in the desert
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Where to stay With a string of awards to its name, The Oberoi, Dubai, is a peaceful haven of luxury away from the bustle of city life. Guests can enjoy an entire floor dedicated to health and wellness, while spacious suites have floor-to-ceiling windows from which to admire the stunning views. This place of serenity focuses on minimalism and subtle decadence, a welcome contrast to some of the city’s more elaborately designed hotels. The scent of jasmine fills every floor; outdoors, trees attract white-eared bulbul birds. You could easily forget you are in a city at all. From approx. £142, oberoihotels.com
suitcase ESSENTIALS
Top, £495, Matthew Williamson, matthewwilliamson.com
Where to eat Ananta is the signature Indian restaurant at The Oberoi, capturing the country’s rich culinary heritage through a variety of authentic dishes. Delicacies encompass both traditional and contemporary Indian cooking, and pay tribute to the royal courts of Hyderabad, Lucknow and Rajasthan. Kashmiri lamb rogan josh is countered by plum curry and truffle paneer bhurjee; and for dessert, plum fondue or Kashmiri apple pie with blackberry caviar. Admire the chefs’ showmanship through the glass-fronted kitchen while experiencing exceptional service. There’s also restaurant Nine7One, which serves a delectable mix of Arabic, Asian and Western cuisines to suit all taste buds.
Sunglasses, £755, Linda Farrow, uk.lindafarrow.com
Suitcase, £1,860, Gucci, net-a-porter.com
K&C RECOMMENDS After a day exploring the city, why not head up to The Oberoi’s dedicated wellness floor and treat yourself to an indulgent massage at the spa? A comprehensive menu of holistic massage therapies that include Western, Balinese, Thai and Ayurvedic techniques are available. Rise early and take part in a yoga lesson on the beautiful outdoor yoga deck or relax by the 25-metre pool, soaking up the sun and zen-like ambience.
Shoes, £895, Jimmy Choo, jimmychoo.com
Top and bottom right: Dubai cityscape, photography: Shutterstock. All other images courtesy of: The Oberoi, Dubai
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Jerusalem’s walled Old City, with the gilded Dome of the Rock, seen from the Mount of Olives photography: Nick Smith
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Dome
Home from
With its boutique hotels, bustling street culture and inexhaustible opportunities to visit cultural, historical and holy sites, Jerusalem – both ancient and modern – must be one of the world’s most fascinating holiday destinations, writes Nick Smith
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ooking out over the Old City from my viewpoint on the Mount of Olives, it’s easy to see why Jerusalem is sometimes called the ‘City of Gold’. Dominating this stunning vista is the beautiful gilded Dome of the Rock. Enclosing the city are ancient limestone walls, watchtowers and fortified gates that were once in place to fend off attack, but now shimmer peacefully in the early morning light. There are few places on earth that can match the sheer grandeur of a city that seems to have taken up, unlike any other, so many pages of the world’s history books. The walls are there for a reason. The city that was once thought to be the ‘centre of the world’ has also long been the focus of never-ending dispute. In the past three millennia, it has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked a further 52 times, captured and recaptured 44 times. Today, there’s little evidence of the city’s bloodthirsty past, and it has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. Overlooking the Garden of Gethsemane, all I can detect is the atmosphere of a busy, energetic city in the process of waking up. In the soft yellow light that’s a photographer’s dream, I’m reminded that Israel’s unofficial national anthem is Jerusalem of Gold, while closer to home, for those of us who enjoy their rugby, England’s equivalent is William Blake’s Jerusalem. Everyone, it seems, has a connection with this most important of pilgrimage sites. Driving into Jerusalem, my first impression was that this was going to be a travel writer’s worst nightmare. And that’s because this really is the place where (sorry about this) East meets West, ancient and modern worlds
walk hand in hand, where old and young, religious and secular, civilian and military all intermingle in a tapestry of contrasts that makes a fool of anyone daft enough to attempt to describe it. Sitting on my five-hour flight from London to Tel Aviv – you need a taxi for the final 40-odd miles inland – I’d been slightly more than taken aback by the liberal sprinkling of hackneyed clichés that competed to spoil my guidebook to Jerusalem. I was about to visit, I was informed, one of the “most historic cities in the world”, that I was going to spend my next few days in a “city of gold”, where even when the sun goes down, “there is still plenty that shines”. For once, though, the guide books are not exaggerating; as we thread through the complex of narrow streets in a smart area of the modern metropolis, I have the distinct impression that this is one city where those tired old platitudes about café culture, vibrant night life and lively restaurants have been coined with good reason. Everything here is extraordinary. As I pay my taxi driver, I look up to see hundreds of brightly coloured umbrellas suspended above the street. In a city where summer rain is front-page news, I conclude that something else must be going on. It turns out that the people of Jerusalem take their public art very seriously. Everywhere you go there are myriad installations, galleries, museums, musicians, statues, artists and poets. Because Jerusalem is a ‘city of contrasts’ you can very quickly find yourself at opposite ends of the cultural spectrum. One minute I am in the Israel Museum looking at Damien Hirst’s 40 ft spot painting L-Leucine15N, 2001, or at Albert Einstein’s statue, while the next I am in the heart of the Old City walking along the Via
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Dolorosa, ticking off the Stations of the Cross in my notebook. As part of the city’s Open House weekend, I find myself touring a military pillbox from the British Mandate era (that’s now an impromptu modern art gallery and a camera obscura), the Ticho House art museum (that was Jerusalem’s first ophthalmic surgery), and a former leper sanatorium. There are workers’ and artists’ collectives, open air choral performances and, of course, the fabled Machane Yehuda Shuk market, where fresh and dried fruits, spices and nuts are in abundance and where, if you enjoy talking with the stall holders, plenty of samples are to be had for free. But the big attraction is the Old City and, although not everyone will feel the spiritual call to walk among the cobbled stones of scriptural history, it would be a very incurious traveller who didn’t want to see first hand what all the fuss is about. While, in medieval times it took Chaucer’s pilgrims weeks to travel from Southwark to Canterbury, for me to get to the most ancient parts of Jerusalem is but a short walk along the high street. Follow the tramline, said a helpful cabbie, and within 10 minutes I was standing at the Jaffa Gate about to take a stroll down the backstreets of the bible. As I made my tour of the Old City, visiting the Room of the Last Supper (that isn’t really the Room of the Last Supper), weaving my way along the Via Dolorosa (that isn’t the original route along which Christ carried the cross), and gazing in awe upon the empty Tomb of the Messiah (that likewise probably isn’t the empty Tomb of the Messiah, no matter how awe-inspiring), I couldn’t help feeling that here, archaeological history is as much about what you want it to be as anything else. You can spend days, and I did, wandering the walled city’s four quarters – Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Armenian – marvelling at the synagogues, churches and mosques. A labyrinth of shabby, narrow alleyways leads you past site after site of mind-boggling antiquity and reverence. From the Western Wall to the Pool of Bethesda, from the Dome of the Rock to King David’s Tomb, the Old City is a living history book. In the furnacelike heat of noon I sat shaded in the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which, according to fourth century tradition, houses both the site of the Crucifixion and the burial tomb of Christ. One of the most fascinating things about the courtyard though – despite watching the inexhaustible stream of pilgrims walk by – is an innocuous ladder, located beneath a first floor window, looking for all the world as
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Clockwise from top left: Pilgrims in the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; Modern sculpture at the Israel Museum; Sacred stained glass with Hebrew script; Improvised iconography in the Old City’s alleyways; Traditional local glazed ceramics; Stateroom in the American Colony Hotel; All photography: Nick Smith
though left there by a workman. In fact, that’s exactly what the ‘Immovable Ladder’, as it is now called, is. Made of cedarwood, it’s been there since at least 1757 because no one in authority can be sure of the legal and ecumenical issues connected with moving it. The local people of Jerusalem cheerfully admit that “it’s a crazy place”, and if you ever wanted confirmation, look no further than the ladder, which by holy order of Pope Paul VI, cannot be moved until the Catholic and Orthodox churches reach a state of harmony. No time soon, then, it would appear. Upon leaving the Old City you may wish to contemplate such matters in the wonderful American Colony Hotel. Located within walking distance of the city walls, north of Herod’s Gate, with its cool, green gardens and colonial architecture, this is where the discerning traveller to Jerusalem stays. And you’ll be in good company. Everyone who is anyone has checked in: from Lawrence of Arabia to Bob Dylan, Sir Winston Churchill to Sting, Graham Greene to Mikhail Gorbachev. John le Carré wrote a book here, while Sir Peter Ustinov (whose grandfather was one of the hotel’s first proprietors) made a film on site. The hotel’s atmosphere of shady palms and Turkish carpets, exquisitely painted ceilings and tranquil fountains lends an air of a secret oasis that, while only yards from the hustle and bustle of the Old City, transports the weary pilgrim a thousand miles away and a century back in time. Today’s feeling of utter peace and calm is strangely in keeping with the origins of the American Colony, which, as its name suggests, has its roots in a utopian society for American and Swedish exiles. All too soon it’s time to return to London. But not before one final look over the Old City where the golden Dome of the Rock still dominates a skyline so rich in history, so steeped in tradition and so out of tune with the modern world. On the plane home my guidebook informs me that I have just left a “city of the imagination”, and although the writer in me can’t help wincing at yet another cliché about this ‘city of cities’, I also know that there are times when a place can leave you simply lost for words. Nick Smith visited Jerusalem as a guest of iTravel Jerusalem, itraveljerusalem.com. For more about the American Colony Hotel, visit: americancolony.com
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& DINING
DRINKING
BY ellen millard Photography: Patricia Niven
Seafood, Eat Food Following the closure of Hibiscus in Mayfair (the original in Ludlow earned two Michelin stars before it was relocated to the capital), Claude Bosi will open his second London-based eatery this March. Taking over the Bibendum Restaurant at the Sir Terence Conran-owned Michelin House, Bosi will dedicate the ground floor space to seafood, offering a menu of dressed Cornish crab, oysters and lobster aioli. Upstairs will house a second eatery specialising in fine dining with an Anglo-French twist, serving dishes such as smoked eels with beef jam and Dover sole farcie. Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, SW3, bibendum.co.uk
A Matter of Taste Discover the artiest (and the tastiest) food and drink on offer this April Photography: Patricia Niven
A Bigger Splash
Come Dine With O’Keeffe
Work of Art
To celebrate Tate Britain’s David Hockney exhibition, Californian eatery Pomona’s has launched a series of cocktails inspired by the artist and his vibrant paintings of life in Los Angeles. Modelled on some of Hockney’s most recognisable works, the menu includes Grand Canyon (a carrot-flavoured negroni), Bigger Green Valley (vodka, citrus, cucumber and chartreuse), Rainy Promenade (port, tequila and orange) and Beach Umbrella (pisco, arrack and pineapple). 47 Hereford Road, W2, pomonas.co.uk
She’s a master at manipulating colour, but unbeknown to many Georgia O’Keeffe spent much of her spare time deliberating over a different type of palette. In New Mexico, where she lived for much of her life, the artist discovered a new-found love for wild ingredients, and would often look to food for inspiration when painting. Dinner with Georgia O’Keeffe: Recipes, Art & Landscape will be published this April and will highlight 50 of O’Keeffe’s favourite recipes, alongside artwork and images from her time spent in New Mexico. £32, assouline.com
The modern masterpieces of Banksy, Yayoi Kusama, Damien Hirst, Mark Rothko and Alexander Calder have been reimagined by Rosewood Hotel’s top pastry chef Mark Perkins. A new afternoon tea features tasty treats in the form of some of the artists’ most recognised works, including a white chocolate replica of Banksy’s Balloon Girl and Kusama’s pumpkin sculptures recreated as a chocolate mousse and passion fruit crémeux creation (pictured). From £50 per person, 252 High Holborn, WC1V, rosewoodhotels.com
Sunday Best
Easter Treats
For Sunday lunch with a difference, head to Alain Ducasse’s Rivea London at the Bulgari Hotel, where a new Sunday feasting menu has launched. Designed for families and friends to while away the afternoon, the new menu offers large sharing platters in a nod to the typical style of family meals enjoyed in Italy and Provence. Dishes include côte de boeuf, roasted chicken with lemon and thyme, and lamb served with baby vegetables and a navarin-style jus. Until 16 April, £48 per person, 171 Knightsbridge, SW7, bulgarihotels.com
Milk and dark chocolate box, £35, charbonnel.co.uk
Easter chicken, £7.90, laduree.com
Italian Job
Hand-decorated egg, £39.95, available at Fortnum & Mason
A childhood spent learning how to cook from his mother at their family home in Italy’s Parma – a region famed for its delectable ham and cheese – put chef Alberto Rossetti in good stead for a career in the kitchen. Now located at the recently reopened Brunello bar and restaurant at the Baglioni Hotel, Rossetti presents an informal lunch menu of traditional Italian grub, including risotto with lobster, courgette and lime, tuna steak and crème brûlée served with Sicilian pistachios. 60 Hyde Park Gate, SW7, baglionihotels.com
Pierre Marcolini Kimono doll, £125, uk.marcolini.com
Camille Walala limited edition egg, £350, available at Harrods
Hyde and Seek
Oeuf dentelle, from £46, pierreherme.com
s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s
Opposite the church in which Oscar Wilde was wed and located on the same plot that John Constable, the son of the famous landscape artist, once lived, The Royal Park is steeped in history. But a new addition to the hotel means that now a visit to the townhouse will involve more than just a trip down memory lane. The recently opened The Hyde, a bar serving classic cocktails, offers the chance to ogle the hotel’s period furniture, oil paintings and antique wares (handpicked by Cash in the Attic presenter Jonty Hearnden, no less) while enjoying signature concoctions created by bartender Luca Rapetti, wines produced by independent vineyards and a menu of small plates devised by head chef Matt McKiernan. 3 Westbourne Terrace, W2, theroyalpark.com
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Photography: Getty Images
Meet Your Makers
Georgina Campbell
Nicola Roberts
Martha Ward
Sarah Ellen
Immy Waterhouse
Natalie Imbruglia
Billie JD Porter & Sai Bennett
Yasmin & Amber Le Bon Leah Weller
What: Burberry February 2017 Collection Launch When: 20 February Where: Makers House, 1 Manette Street, W1D Who: Penélope Cruz, Dame Anna Wintour, Naomi Campbell, Erin O’Connor and Jourdan Dunn Why: The Makers House was this year’s fitting host for the launch of Burberry’s February 2017 collection, which was inspired by the abstract work of sculptor Henry Moore. Christopher Bailey’s arty new collection explores hard-wearing fabrics, sculpture and the silhouette, with the finale showcasing 78 unique unisex capes, inspired by the scale and form of Moore’s elemental sculptures. The soundtrack to the show was provided by English singer-songwriter Anna Calvi, who performed live from a balcony overlooking the runway, accompanied by her band and members of the Heritage Orchestra and Choir.
Down Under
Sarah Ann Macklin
Alice McCall & Jade Jagger
Amber Le Bon
Alice McCall, Natalie Imbruglia, Yasmin & Amber Le Bon
What: Alice McCall 2017 Collection Launch When: 23 February Where: Albert’s Club, 92 Old Brompton Road, SW7 Who: Natalie Imbruglia, Amber Le Bon, Immy Waterhouse, Jade Jagger and Nicola Roberts Why: To celebrate the launch of her collection, We Float, Australian designer Alice McCall threw a stylish soirée at South Kensington’s Albert’s Club. Guests Amber Le Bon, Natalie Imbruglia and Immy Waterhouse enjoyed a three-course dinner and passion fruit martinis while perusing McCall’s line of floaty dresses, playsuits and floral tops – no doubt they were floating on air by the time they left.
The Wheel Deal Poppy Jamie Photography: Jonathan Birch Mandy Dickens, Steve Backshall, Helen Glover MBE, Commodore David Dickens CBE from Fishermen’s Mission, Helen Rowe
What: Range Rover Velar Launch When: 1 March Where: The Design Museum, Kensington High Street, W8 Who: Poppy Delevingne, Rob Brydon, Jimmy Carr, Sharleen Spiteri and Rag‘n’Bone Man Why: Unveiling the fourth member of the Range Rover family, the world premiere of Velar was a thrilling affair. Held at The Design Museum, guests indulged in canapés and cocktails, and watched an exclusive screening of The Crafting of Simplicity. Directed by award-winning documentary maker Ben Lawrie and narrated by British actor Damian Lewis OBE, the short film told of the detailed creation and development of Velar.
Sweet Charity Helen Glover MBE Gina Moore from Fishermen’s Mission, Nathan Outlaw & Nicola Phillips from Seasalt
Gina Moore from Fishermen’s Mission, Nathan Outlaw & Commodore David Dickens CBE from Fishermen’s Mission
What: Seasalt’s Charity Campaign Launch When: 28 February Where: Capital Hotel, 22-24 Basil Street, SW3 Who: Helen Glover MBE, Steve Backshall and Nathan Outlaw Why: Cornish fashion brand Seasalt has collaborated with stars Jo Whiley, Alison Steadman OBE and Helen Glover MBE, among others, to create a series of bags in support of Fishermen’s Mission. The brand celebrated the launch of the new Charity Jute Shoppers at the Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge, where guests enjoyed a seafood-inspired champagne and canapé reception hosted by head chef Nathan Outlaw, who also designed a tote for the occasion.
LONDON LIVING Images courtesy of: Burberry/Josh Olins Suki Waterhouse, Naomi Campbell & Penélope Cruz
outside the
b or oug h
Adwoa Aboah, Lily Donaldson & Jean Campbell
Dame Anna Wintour
Christopher Bailey MBE & Penélope Cruz
Erin O’Connor
Jourdan Dunn
Photography: Antonio Salgado/JLR
Poppy Delevingne
Clare Balding OBE
David Gandy Spencer Matthews & Hugo Taylor
Damian Lewis OBE
Example
Matilda Lowther
Sharleen Spiteri
s l u x u ry london . c o. u k s
Wiley
George Lamb & Rob Brydon
Jimmy Carr
Damian Lewis OBE & Rag’n’Bone Man
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The Concierge What is it you require, sir? How may I help, madam? The Concierge is here to help with every need, whim or wish, however great or small Apparel
For the Home
Repairs & Cleaning
FurniturE, SOFT furnishings APPLICANCES & design
The Chelsea Day Spa
April Russell Design
69a King’s Road, SW3 4NX 020 7351 0911 thechelseadayspa.co.uk
Jeeves of Belgravia 123 Fulham Road, SW3 6RT 020 7589 9229 jeevesofbelgravia.co.uk
89 Larkhall Rise, SW4 6HR 020 7720 0046 aprilrussell.com
Sloane Tailors & Dry Cleaners 69-71 Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8DA 020 7824 8644
Katharine Pooley 160 Walton Street, SW3 2JL 020 7584 3223 katharinepooley.co.uk
Precious Pieces
Ligne Roset
Jewellery Valuation & repair
23/25 Mortimer Street, W1T 3JE 020 7323 1248 ligne-roset.co.uk
Hawkes and Son 50-52 Walton Street, SW3 1RB 020 7589 2523 hawkesandson.com Watch Repair
Beauty Salons & Spas
Nina’s House 281 King’s Road, SW3 5EW 020 7751 5827 ninashouse.com
216a Kensington Park Rd, W11 1NR 020 7727 2570 hydrohealing.com
Strip Wax Bar
12 Raddington Road W10 5TG 020 8962 0635 portobelloclinic.com
112 Talbot Road, W11 1JR 020 7727 2754 stripwaxbar.com
Haute Cuisine
Urban Retreat at Harrods
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA 020 7201 3899 barboulud.com
Dining
Bar Boulud 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL 020 7893 8333 urbanretreat.co.uk Medical & Dental Services
Bibendum 81 Fulham Road, SW3 6RD 020 7581 5817 bibendum.co.uk
Cartier
Sub-Zero & Wolf
Cadogan Street Dental Office
251 Brompton Road, SW3 2EP 0845 250 0010 subzero-wolf.co.uk
47 Cadogan Street, SW3 2QJ 020 7581 0811
The Watch Gallery
Pampering & Wellbeing
Vintage Watch Sellers
42 Pembridge Road W11 3HN 020 7229 5542 42thedentalpractice.com
The Portobello Clinic Hydrohealing Spa
143-144 Sloane Street SW1X 9BL 020 7312 6930 cartier.co.uk
129 Fulham Road SW3 6RT 020 7952 2730 thewatchgallery.co.uk
42 The Dental Practice
The Cow Chelsea Consulting Rooms 2 Lower Sloane Street, SW1W 8BJ 020 7763 9100 chelseaconsultingrooms.com
89 Westbourne Park Road W2 5QH 020 7221 0021 thecowlondon.co.uk
Hairdressers
Hari’s 305 Brompton Road, SW3 2DY 020 7581 5211 harissalon.com
Medicare Français
Electric House
198/200 Earl’s Court Road, SW5 9QF 020 7370 4999 info@medicarefrancais.com medicarefrancais.com
191 Portobello Road W11 2ED 020 7908 9696 electrichouse.com
Watches of Knightsbridge 64 Knightsbridge SW1X 7JF 020 7590 3034 watchesofknightsbridge.com
Richard Ward
Smile Style Dental Care
Gaucho
82 Duke of York Square, SW3 4LY 020 7730 1222 richardward.com
146 Holland Park Avenue, W11 4UE 020 7727 5810 smilestyledental.co.uk
89 Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DX 020 7584 9901 gauchorestaurants.co.uk
WANT TO SEE YOUR BUSINESS LISTED HERE? If you are interested in promoting a service on these useful pages, please contact Sophie Roberts for more information s.roberts@runwildgroup.co.uk 020 7987 4320
CONCIERGE
The Ledbury Restaurant 127 Ledbury Road, W11 2AQ 020 7792 9090 theledbury.com
The Mitre 40 Holland Park Avenue, W11 3QY 020 7727 6332 themitrew11.co.uk
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay 68 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HP 020 7352 4441 gordonramsay.com
Drinking
Childcare
The Botanist
Kensington Nannies
Abels Moving Services
7 Sloane Square, SW1W 8EE 020 7730 0077 thebotanistlondon.com
3 Hornton Place Kensington High Street W8 4LZ 020 7937 2333 kensington-nannies.co.uk
UK Residential, European and International Removals & Storage 01842 816600 info@abels.co.uk, abels.co.uk
Boujis 43 Thurloe Street SW7 2LQ 020 7584 2000 boujis.com Members’ Clubs
Scalini
Chelsea Arts Club
1-3 Walton Street, SW3 2JD 020 7225 2301 scalinilondon.co.uk
143 Old Church Street SW3 6EB 020 7376 3311 chelseaartsclub.com
Umami 100 Cromwell Road SW7 4ER 020 7341 2320 umamilondon.co.uk
The Sloane Club
PICTURE FRAMER cleaners
Frame Set & Match Hillside Clothes Care 118 Kensington Park Road W11 2PW 020 7243 6900 hillsidedryclean.co.uk
Infusion Haberdashery and Dry Cleaners 3 Chepstow Road, W2 5BL 020 7243 8735 infusion-haberdashery.co.uk
Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8BS 020 7730 9131 sloaneclub.co.uk
Purple Bone
La Bottega
Business Affairs
95 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ 020 7985 0903 purplebone.com
65 Lower Sloane Street, SW1W 8DH 020 7730 8844 labottega.co.uk
computer & technology help
Delicatessens
Ottolenghi Delicatessen 63 Ledbury Road, W11 2AD 020 7727 1121 ottolenghi.co.uk
59 Ledbury Road, W11 2AA 020 7727 5030 meltchocolates.com
William Curley 198 Ebury Street, SW1W 8UN 020 7730 5522 williamcurley.co.uk
s l u x u ry l ondon . co. u k s
London Land Management 1 Montpelier Street, SW7 1EX 020 7591 0288 londonland.co.uk psychotherapist
Pets
Suzanne Thomas 07770 378791 suzannethomas@suzannethomas.co.uk suzannethomas.co.uk security services
Little Luxuries
Westminster Security Ltd
Flowers
34 Buckingham Palace Road SW1W 0RH 020 7123 4544 / 0755 4000 300 westminstersecurity.co.uk
Roses Only P13-14 New Covent Garden Flower Market, SW8 5NA 020 7622 1622 rosesonly.co.uk
SHORT-LET RENTAL MANAGEMENT
Selena Courier Service
Easy Rental Services
Suite 86, 235 Earls Court Road SW5 9FE 020 3643 5410 selenacourier.co.uk
aurelie@easy-rental-services.com 020 3567 0604 easy-rental-services.com
specialist services BUILDERS AND DECORATORS
Lethbridge London Ltd Melt Chocolates
pRIVATE HOME SERVICES
Richard Darsa
Couriers
Chocolatiers
111 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3LE 020 7589 7635 framesetandmatch.com
78 Cadogan Place SW1X 9RP 07768 200 551 richard@darsa.net
Partridges 2-5 Duke of York Square, SW3 4LY 020 7730 7102 partridges.co.uk
moving services
london lifestyle service
Building & Decorating Specialist 020 3609 1918 lethbridgelondon.co.uk
White Circle Collection
William Gaze Ltd
71 Walton Street SW3 2HT 020 7989 9890 whitecirclecollection.com
Basement, Loft & Extension Specialist 020 7078 8874 williamgazeltd.com
lifestyle services
EMOTIONAL WELLBEING THROUGH WRITINg
Ease your emotional baggage through writing. Sit with a writer and, using a specially developed format, write out your traumatic event or problem to release it. To book 60 or 90 minute appointments email info@lilybass.com or call 07733 112333, lilybass.com
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Mayfair £3750 per ft² CHELSEA £2750 per ft² Cadogan Tate £1 per ft² CADOGAN TATE £1 per ft²
WHEN YOUR SPACE IS WORTH A PREMIUM, MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY SQUARE FOOT WHEN YOUR SPACE IS WORTH A PREMIUM, MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY SQUARE FOOT
HAVING A PARTY? PLACE YOUR SHORT TERM STORAGE WITH US HAVING A PARTY? PLACE YOUR SHORT TERM STORAGE WITH US
Weremove remove selected selected items items for atat your convenience after thethe event We for aa party partyor orspecial specialoccasion occasionand andcarefully carefullyreinstall reinstallthem them your convenience after event Should you need longer term storage, we have individual containers or secure private rooms Should you need longer term storage, we have individual containers or secure private rooms with full photographic inventory if required, allowing you to view your consignment online. with full photographic inventory if required, allowing you to view your consignment online. We can also ship individual items or your entire consignment to any global destination We can also ship individual items or your entire consignment to any global destination
Family heritage – Store your valued furniture and family heirlooms, preserving them in pristine condition for future generations
Seasonal Wardrobe – As snowdrops emerge in the spring we deliver your summer wardrobe to your door and remove your winter collection
Art collection – Store your collection under the care of our experienced art technicians. Choose from a range of secure storage options that link with our global shipping network
Wine storage – Keep your fine wines on tap. One click and we deliver that case of Margaux (or two) for your next dinner party
Experience the ultimate managed storage in secure private lockers, rooms and containers from £10 per week
Experience the ultimate managed storage in secure private lockers, rooms and containers from £10 per week Art Storage 020 8108 4109 Home Contents Storage 020 8108 4302
Art Storage 020 8108 4109
Home Contents Storage 020 8108 4302
For our full range of Moving, Storage & Shipping services visit cadogantate.com
For our full range of Moving, Storage & Shipping services visit cadogantate.com
Cadogan Tate Everything, handled with care
HOMES showcasing the
finest HOMES & PROPERTY from the best estate agents
Spring to Action A new lease of life for Sales & Lettings in prime central London
Image courtesy of
MOVE. Faster. Sell with Knight Frank. Our understanding of the everchanging market enables us to price your property accurately, so you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving. Call us today for a free market appraisal of your property.
Guide Price: £550,000
Wharfedale Street, Chelsea SW10 A well presented one bedroom apartment in Chelsea's Wharfedale Street. The property was reconfigured and refurbished approximately two years ago and would make an excellent home or rental investment. Bedroom, bathroom, kitchen/reception room. EPC: D. Approximately 40 sq m (426 sq ft). chelsea@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 5903
Knightfrank.co.uk/chelsea chelsea@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5903
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £2,250,000
Grove Court, Chelsea SW10 This flat has been newly renovated to an impeccable standard and benefits from wonderful light due to its dual aspect and has incredible sweeping views of the London skyline. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room. EPC: D. Approximately 105 sq m (1,130 sq ft). chelsea@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 5903
Ken & Chel - April 2017
01/03/2017 12:05:34
K&
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Campden Hill Square, Kensington W8 A wide family house set within a well regarded garden square Campden Hill Square is located on the borders of Kensington and Notting Hill with Holland Park close by. The house is particularly wide at 7.9m (25ft 10in), offers gracious living space and a large south facing garden. 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 5 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, 2 guest cloakrooms, terrace, garden. EPC: D. Approximately 502 sq m (5,408 sq ft). Freehold
Guide price: £13,500,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/kensington kens@knightfrank.com 020 3551 5156
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/KEN150069
K&C - 14 CHS new
01/03/2017 11:48:19
Guthrie Street, Chelsea SW3 A unique and attractive end of terrace house, on a quiet Chelsea street This superbly modernised and fully extended house has been refurbished to a very exacting standard, with striking interior design. It benefits from a self contained one bedroom flat. 4 bedrooms (2 en suite), family bathroom, 2 reception rooms, dining area, office, kitchen, kitchenette, separate self contained 1 bedroom flat, private garden, roof terrace. EPC: E. Approximately 206 sq m (2,214 sq ft). Freehold Guide price: £3,650,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/knightsbridge knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5913 johndwood.co.uk cst.sales@johndwood.co.uk 020 7352 1484
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/SLA160045
Kensington and Chelsea April 2017 JSA Guthrie Street
28/02/2017 15:39:58
1
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Elgin Crescent, Notting Hill W11 Beautifully presented semi detached communal garden house An exceptional opportunity to acquire a newly rebuilt, luxury specification house on one of Notting Hill’s most highly sought after garden square addresses. Master bedroom with his and hers walk in wardrobe and en suite bathroom, 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, double reception room, open plan kitchen/reception room, cinema room, wine cellar, office, utility room, guest cloakroom, garden. EPC: C. Approximately 378 sq m (4,068 sq ft). Freehold
Guide price: £14,950,027
KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5449
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/NGH170009
115 Elgin Crescent K&C March 2017
28/02/2017 16:52:20
Kens&Chelsea - Hollandgreen Place
01/03/2017 12:11:27
Ke
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Palace Court, Notting Hill W2 A bright and expansive four bedroom apartment A stylish second floor apartment in this keenly sought after development which benefits from lift and porter. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing room, 3 further bedrooms (1 en suite), bathroom, reception room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom. EPC: E. Approximately 205 sq m (2,207 sq ft). Available unfurnished
KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings nottinghilllettings@knightfrank.com 020 3463 0062
Guide price: £3,200 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/NHQ119061 All potential tenants should be advised that as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
Kens & Chelsea Mag Letings April 2017
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
01/03/2017 11:57:16
EATON MANSIONS CLIVEDEN PLACE SW1 AN IMMACULATELY PRESENTED FOUR BEDROOM LUXURY APARTMENT This newly refurbished apartment features a double reception room and large kitchen/ breakfast area that enjoys an abundance of natural light throughout with far reaching views towards Eaton Square. Benefiting from 4 bedroom suites, as well as a separate study and utility room. Accommodation: Entrance hall, reception room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, master bedroom with ensuite bathroom and dressing room, 3 further ensuite bedrooms, guest WC, study, utility room. Amenities: 24-hour porterage, lift.
Marcus O’Brien marcus@beauchamp.com Joint Sole Agents
www.beauchamp.com
·
24 Curzon Street, London W1J 7TF
£8,750,000 Leasehold 125 years remaining
·
+44 (0)20 7408 0007
GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET SOHO W1 A MODERN DUPLEX 4 BEDROOM PENTHOUSE APARTMENT This is a truly breath-taking penthouse apartment, comprising some 2,217 sqft. Interiors provide a contemporary style and natural light floods in from the sash windows to large open plan living spaces. The apartment is complete with composite decking and timber benching and privacy screens. Accommodation: Entrance hall, open plan living/kitchen/dining, study, guest cloakroom, master bedroom with ensuite bathroom and shower room, 2 bedrooms with ensuite shower rooms, one further double bedroom and a guest bathroom. Amenities: Lift, store/laundry room, 2 private terraces.
£5,295,000 Long Leasehold
www.beauchamp.com
Paul Finch paul@beauchamp.com Joint Sole Agents
·
24 Curzon Street, London W1J 7T F
·
+44 (0)20 7499 7722
ONE HYDE PARK KNIGHTSBRIDGE SW1 A BRIGHT, MODERN RECENTLY REFURBISHED THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT Comprising some 3,475 sqft and moments away from Knightsbridge and Hyde Park, the apartment offers the very best in luxurious living. This prestigious area has an array of high-end fine dining restaurants and bars and some of London’s leading hotels, including the Mandarin Oriental Hotel just next door. Accommodation: Entrance hall, Reception room, Kitchen, Dining room, 2 Bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and dressing rooms, 1 Further bedroom, Guest shower room. Amenities: Terrace, 24-hour concierge, Residents only spa and leisure facilities.
£12,000 / Week
Karolina@beauchamp.com
No tenant fees
+44 (0)20 7499 7722
www.beauchamp.com
·
24 Curzon Street, London W1J 7TF
·
+44 (0)20 7499 7722
A charming period property with a modern extension.
Matching people and property in London for over 160 years.
www.marshandparsons.co.uk
Alexander Square, SW3 £7,550,000 A magnificent five-bedroom Georgian townhouse with generous entertaining space, set behind beautiful private gardens, moments from Knightsbridge and Chelsea. Freehold.
• Five bedrooms • Approx. 3,300 sqft • Allocated parking space • Prime location Chelsea Sales : 020 8033 9045 sales.chs@marshandparsons.co.uk
Hereford Road, W2 £4,750,000 A wonderful, imposing five-bedroom home configured over five floors, located on a sought-after Victorian terrace just off Westbourne Grove. Freehold. EPC=E
• Five bedrooms • Exceptional Entertaining Space • Wonderful Proportions • Private garden Notting Hill Sales : 020 8033 9029 sales.not@marshandparsons.co.uk
Campden Grove
ÂŁ4,600,000
Kensington W8
freehold
A unique 4 bedroom, former artist studio house, situated on one of Kensington’s prime residential streets. Extending to approx. 2,874 sq ft (266 sq m), over 4 floors, particular highlights include a grand 24ft reception room with high ceilings & a quiet south facing patio at the rear of the property. Campden Grove is within close proximity to the shops & restaurants Kensington Church Street & Notting Hill Gate have to offer. EPC rating F
Kensington
020 7937 7244 sales.kensington@chestertons.com
chestertons.com
Lexham Gardens
Kensington W8
A remarkable 3/4 bedroom lateral apartment occupying the 1st floor of 2 imposing Victorian buildings, overlooking the stunning communal gardens. The accommodation comprises 2 grand reception rooms, a fully-fitted kitchen, 3 bedrooms & 3 bathrooms (2 en-suite). Lexham Gardens is ideally located within close proximity to the local amenities of Stratford Village & Kensington High Street with its excellent transport & leisure facilities. EPC rating E
Kensington
020 7937 7244 sales.kensington@chestertons.com
OIEO ÂŁ3,850,000 leasehold
Sydney Street
ÂŁ5,450,000
Chelsea, SW3
freehold
An exquisite 5 bedroom, Grade II listed townhouse which has teamed period features with crisp white lines & contemporary accents, & offers the rare benefit of an interconnected garage to the rear of the house. The property measures approx 3,170 sq ft. EPC Rating D
Chelsea
020 7594 4740 sales.chelsea@chestertons.com
chestertons.com
20 Montpelier Street Knightsbridge London SW7 1HD
Oakley Street, SW3 SW7 CRANLEY GARDENS, LYALL MEWS, SW1X 2 Bedrooms (1 Entrance Hall 2Bathrooms Bedrooms | 2En | 4 Bedrooms ||4|2En Suite Bathrooms Suite) | Reception Room | Kitchen/ Bathrooms | Kitchen/Reception Guest Cloakroom |2 Reception Rooms| Breakfast Room sqft | EPC |D Room | 718 sqRoom ft| |1,000 Lift | EPC ERoom Kitchen/Dining | Laundry 2,418 sq ft | Integral Garage | A charming off-street maisonette positioned on theto Additional Parking | Access premier levels of this attractive Belgraveupper Square Gardens | EPC Cwhite An excellently proportioned bright two stucco Victorian block and and is entered on double bedroom apartment, within An end-of-terrace freehold housethe the raised ground floor.mews Internally, the flat heart ofinSouth Kensington. Positioned onsouthsituated arguably one ofreception Belgravia’ swith most comprises a spacious the second floor (with lift) of this attractive desirable locations. This low built house westerly aspects overlooking the street, a period building, the flat benefits from was disassembled; comprehensively rebuilt separate eat-in kitchen and well-equipped wooden floors in this stunning semi open and fully modernised benefitting from the bathroom providing cloakroom facilities. plan living room with fully-fitted kitchen. latest technology advancesoffers including Above, the apartment two airbedrooms The apartment further comprises a master conditioning, Lutron lighting, motorised blinds, and a further bathroom with optional en bedroom with modern en suite bathroom, a built in entertainment system, underfloor suite access. The flat enjoys an abundance second bedroom and heating and a fully kitchen withshower Miele of natural light asfitted welladditional as tranquil pretty room. The property is flooded with and Gaggenau appliances. The property also views to the back over Margarettanatural Terrace. light, offering an east-west exposure and enjoys private use of an integral garage as Planning permission is easily obtainable for dual over Evelyn Gardens asviews additional off-street parking inalongside the mews awell rear extension providing an additional Chelsea’s roof tops. and access to the prestigious Belgrave Square 160 sqft, potentially for a third bedroom. gardens, subject to separate negotiations.
£2,000,000 £1,550,000,STC STC £6,750,000
Share of Freehold Leasehold (121 years remaining) Freehold
Park Mansions, SW1x CLAREVILLE GROVE EATON PLACE, SW1X MEWS, 2 Bedrooms Bathrooms| (1 Entrance HallSW7 | 2 Bedrooms 2 En Suite)
Entrance Hall Reception Room | | Bathrooms (1 en||Suite) | Kitchen/Dining/ Two Bedrooms En Suite Bathroom Kitchen/Dining |Cloakroom 1,119 sqft| | Reception Room||Room 855 sq ft | Basement Shower Room Guest 24 hourRoom Porter| |Shared Lift | EPC F | Access Storage Terrace Reception/Dining Room | Kitchen | to Belgrave Square Gardens Utility Room | 915 sq ft | EPC E
A apartment, idyllically Anbeautifully elegant flatpresented with plentiful charm, occupying A charmingonmews house floor idyllically positioned the ground of this approximately 855 sq ft of lateral spacepopular on the positioned in this quiet cobbled cul-de-sac, Edwardian purpose built block behind Harrods. third floor of this well-located handsome period within the heart of an South Kensington. The flat comprises entrance hall, modern building. Arranged over the full width of the The propertygenerously is presented in immaculate kitchen, proportioned bedroom building,one the principal reception room is flooded condition anddouble has been carefully designed and a further bedroom which could with natural light from its south-facing aspects throughout with Italian wood also configured as asolid The floors property over be the street. In addition tostudy. the expansive and contemporary furnishings. This attractive is serviced by an en suite bathroom, sitting area, the room boasts a bespokefamily house additionally benefits from south bathroom and capacious with integrated kitchen and spacereception for dining;room perfect westerly aspects andover plentiful natural light. south-facing aspects this well-connected for open-plan entertaining. The apartment Clareville Grove Mews is a secure gated street. apartment from large awardsThe admission to afurther superbbenefits shared terrace, lane,windows located atand thean north end offireplace, Clarevillea sash attractive positioned to the peaceful rear of the first floor, Street, moments from the bountiful amenities wealth of storage options well as a can video overlooking Belgrave Mews.asOccupiers’ and restaurants, the area is famous for. entrance phone and resident porter. also enjoy exclusive access to Belgrave Square gardens, subject to the usual consents.
£1,250 £1,250 Per PerWeek Week £1,900,000 STC STC
Furnished Furnished (174 years remaining) Leasehold
T: +44 +44 (0)20 (0)20 3770 3770 3474 3474 T:
info@nicolasvanpatrick.com info@nicolasvanpatrick.com
SHAWFIELD STREET, CHELSEA SW3 ● ● ● ●
3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Reception room Dining room
● ● ● ●
Guide price £3,350,000 Freehold For more information, call Giles Cook 020 7399 5010 or email giles.cook@eu.jll.com
Study Garden and roof terrace Approx. 1,817 sq ft (168.8 sq m) EPC: E
2 Cale Street Chelsea London SW3 3QU
jll.co.uk/residential
SOUTH EATON PLACE, BELGRAVIA SW1 ● ● ● ●
6 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms (1 en suite) Drawing room Dining room
● ● ● ●
Study and utility room Garden Separate 1 bedroom basement flat Approx. 3,267 sq ft (303.50 sq m)
Guide price £8,600,000 Freehold For more information, call Richard Barber 020 7306 1620 or email richard.barber@eu.jll.com
174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP
jll.co.uk/residential
.
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD HOUSE KENSINGTON W8
£3,450,000 leasehold
3 bedrooms | double reception | kitchen | 2 bathrooms | fireplace | third floor | lift | porter | Epc C
MELBURY ROAD W14 £3,150,000 fh
HOLLAND PARK W11 £1,595,000 lh
3 bedrooms | garden | garage | Epc D
bedroom | high ceilings | communal gardens
www.century21uk.com/nottinghill
nottinghill@century21uk.com
ACADEMY GARDENS KENSINGTON W8
£4,300,000 share of freehold
two adjacent apartments | high ceilings | fireplaces | pool | gym | valet parking | 24-hour concierge | Epc C
BREAKSPEAR HOUSE UB9 £1,295,000 lh
QUEEN’S GARDENS W2 £1,950,000 sf
2 bedrooms | communal gardens | parking
2 bedrooms | high ceilings | first floor | balcony
10 Clarendon Road London W11 3AA
020 7229 1414
A grade II listed, five-bedroom, detached house in the heart of Kensington Bedford Gardens, Kensington W8 • Master suite complete with terrace • Three large reception rooms • Sauna Guide price £4,650,000
• Mature garden • 2,948sq ft / 173.9sq m • EPC rating F
KENSINGTON OFFICE: T: 020 3650 4600
nicholas.shaw@harrodsestates.com
HARRODSESTATES.COM
Freehold
A well-appointed four double bedroom terraced house Clareville Street, Chelsea SW7 • Lateral living over five floors • Over 3641sq ft • Integrated garage Guide price £5,950,000
• Staff accommodation • Two terraces • EPC rating D
CHELSEA OFFICE: T: 020 7225 6700
mark.greenway@harrodsestates.com
HARRODSESTATES.COM
Freehold
Queens Gate Mews, Knightsbridge, SW7 A two bedroom, first floor flat in this impressive Victorian building, benefitting from high ceilings and period features. Including a lift and access to the communal gardens. The flat includes two spacious double bedrooms and beautiful wooden floors throughout. Harrington Gardens situated in a sought-after residential street, conveniently located close to Gloucester Road underground station and the other local shops and amenities this area has to offer Total area: 767 Sq. Ft Let Type: Not Specified
PRICE: ÂŁ775 Per Week Furnished / Unfurnished
020 7591 0288 | info@londonland.co.uk | www.londonland.co.uk
Elvaston Place, South Kensington, SW7 1,965 SQ.FT/182 SQ.M
A substantial, contemporary apartment with impressive entertaining space. Occupying the raised ground and lower ground floors of a beautifully maintained period building. 40ft Double Reception Room : 27 ft Kitchen/Breakfast Room : Guest W.C : Utility Room : 2-3 Bedrooms with En-Suite Bathrooms : Media Room : Patio & Terrace
Price £3,595,000
L/H + SHARE OF FREEHOLD
Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, SW7 5,080 SQ.FT/472 SQ.M
An exceptional, interior designed house with six bedrooms, each bedroom has an en-suite bathroom/shower room. Superbly located opposite Hyde Park in a private gated road with 24 hour security. Accommodation:
Gloucester Road, South Kensington, SW7
Reception Room : Dining Room : Kitchen/Breakfast Room : Study : Media Room : Cloakroom/W.C : Laundry Room : Master Bedroom with En-Suite 535 SQ.FT/49.7 SQ.M Bathroom, Dressing Room & Private Roof Terrace : Five Further Bedrooms with En-Suite Facility : Roof Terrace : Passenger lift: Parking For Two Cars. A bright and superbly presented two bedroom apartment situated on the third floor. French doors open from the reception room onto a west facing Juliette balcony and both elevations have impressive, open views. Entrance Hall : Reception Room : Kitchen : Two Bedrooms : Bathroom : Juliette Balcony.
Price: £13,800,000 FREEHOLD Price £850,000 L/H 984 YEARS 020 7590 9339 020 7590 9339 38 GLOucESTER ROaD, Sw7 38 GLOUCESTER ROAD, SW7
www.DOMinicLOnDOn.cOM WWW.DOMINICLONDON.COM
SaLES@DOMinicLOnDOn.cOM SALES@DOMINICLONDON.COM
The Hereford Collection, Notting Hill W2 A boutique collection of four freehold houses in the heart of Notting Hill which have been meticulously rebuilt and designed by award winning architects Gebler Tooth and LXA. This one off scheme consists of two stunning town houses, a stylish double fronted mews house and a unique LA style low built house tucked away behind a private gated entrance, Prices range from: ÂŁ3,250,000 to ÂŁ7,500,000. Sole agents
020 7580 2030 WWW.ROKSTONE.COM 5 Dorset Street, London, W1U 6QJ enquiries@rokstone.com
PROPERTY
Park Life Native Land gets set to unveil Holland Park Villas this spring, a prestigious new development adjacent to one of London’s most picturesque parks Holland Park Villas in Kensington is a prestigious new development set on an exclusive and verdant site immediately adjacent to London’s 50-acre Holland Park. The development boasts 68 apartments and four penthouses within a gated community, and benefits from a 24hour concierge. Residents are provided with the highest level of security as well as privacy via the security lodge, which registers visitors and monitors access to the villas and residents-only underground car park. Holland Park Villas’ developer, Native Land, is known for its prestigious projects, and has worked on developments such as Cheyne Terrace in Chelsea and 10 Montrose Place near Belgrave Square. Led by Native Land, Holland Park Villas is a joint venture with Grosvenor, Hotel Properties Limited and Amcorp Properties Berhad, and will be sold through Knight Frank. Spread across four contemporary buildings, the development features a lavish circular driveway entrance and an elegant lobby. Inside, the apartments champion lateral living with an open-plan design and benefit from high quality oak, marble, granite and stone furnishings and fixtures. Each property features a private terrace or balcony. A communal club room provides a suitable space in which to host dinner parties, while a business suite is ideal for meetings and the cinema perfect for private screenings of the latest blockbuster flicks. Residents will also have access to a fully-stocked library, wine cellar, a 20m swimming pool with a Jacuzzi, gymnasium and private studio for those who wish to practise Pilates or yoga. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow for stunning views of the surrounding woodland or garden courtyard. Designed by landscape architect Gillespies, which lists The Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street, Crossrail Place Roof Garden in Canary Wharf and the Television Centre in west London on its CV, the outdoor space features stone pathways, bridges and a bevy of lime, maple, beech and oak trees. The courtyard and a children’s playground provide residents with unique access to private green spaces – a rarity in the capital. This, coupled with its proximity to one of London’s most beautiful parks, makes Holland Park Villas the perfect city home. Holland Park Villas in Kensington, W8, is due for completion this spring. For enquiries please call 020 7758 3188 or visit hollandparkvillas.com
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s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s
For you, the family (and the downward facing dog). A collection of beautifully finished 4 and 5 bedroom family homes with an additional mews studio space (to finally create that personal yoga sanctuary). Prices from ÂŁ2,150,000
Developer
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
A S H C H U R C H V I L L A S .C O M 020 3504 5408
@ASHCHURCHVILLAS
Sales Agents
PROPERTY
PrimeQResi
Property News
Journal of Prime Property
PRIME RESI provides us with a comprehensive monthly round-up of key news about the local luxury property market
primeresi.com
Spring to Action Gabriella Wilcken, head of Lettings at Strutt & Parker’s Chelsea SW10 office, explains what factors are driving the prime central London rental market this spring
After what has felt like
Baker’s House in Chelsea seeks redevelopment For those looking for a remodelling project this spring, an exciting new opportunity has become available in Chelsea’s Old Church Street. A characterful 2,013 sq ft Georgian terrace is now on the market through JLL and although it requires a complete makeover, it comes with endless possibilities for its new owner, having recently been granted planning permission to enlarge the property by approximately 1,000 sq ft. Currently spread over four floors with four bedrooms along with a studio and vault, renovation plans submitted by the property’s current owner include transforming the ground floor into a large entertainment area with a reception, lounge and garden room. Meanwhile, the lower ground floor, home to two bedrooms and a bathroom, would be turned into a kitchen and dining room with a family room to the rear and access to the newly-built basement, complete with gym, shower room and storage area. “While taking on a project can be daunting, it does have its benefits, from creating a tailor-made home to paying less stamp duty, as the purchase price is lower than the value of the finished article,” comments Giles Cook, director at JLL. “Priced at £4.75m, once works are complete, in line with planning permission and to a high standard, I would expect it to achieve circa £7,000,000.” Please contact JLL’s Chelsea office on 020 7399 5010, jll.co.uk
Chelsea Waterfront powers ahead After more than a decade of design, plans for the regeneration of Lots Road Power Station and its surroundings – the biggest development on the Thames’ north bank in more than a century – have been signed-off. The eight-acre riverside enclave – now rebranded as Chelsea Waterfront – is being developed by Hutchison Property Group, with architecture practice Farrells running point on design. Farrells has now completed the planning process for the major scheme, which straddles the Royal Borough and Hammersmith & Fulham, with section 73 consent granted for new architecture in relation to the original 2005 planning consent. New plans allow another 420 units (165 affordable and 255 private) on the Kensington and Chelsea side of the site. The original power station building is being fitted out by Formation Architects, while Farrells is behind two monumental glass residential towers which soar 37 and 25 storeys into the West London skyline, flanking the Victorian red-brick power station and intended to mirror the original chimneys. A total of 10 separate buildings (including the Power Station), three new bridges and two new public open squares will make up the new eight-acre quarter, with 600m of Thames walkway being installed as part of the process.
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a long winter in the UK property sector, spring has finally sprung in the lettings market and we’re beginning to see some positive activity. Applicant levels are starting to rise across all price brackets, although the upper end of the market, at £5,000 per week and above, has seen the most significant increase in interest. The current economic conditions post-EU referendum and the increase of rates in Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) for additional home purchases have both been having an inevitable impact since this time last year. There were nearly 11,000 property lets agreed in PCL in 2016, which was down 31% compared to 2015
The UK’s impending exit from the EU has benefitted the lettings market when nearly 16,000 lets were agreed. Our profiles show that more than 40% of tenants are European and it’s these tenants who are renewing their current contracts and staying put, waiting until Article 50 is triggered this March before making their next move. Having said this, the UK’s impending exit from the EU has benefitted the lettings market over sales. We have seen a large increase in the amount of available stock to rent as reluctant landlords choose to rent out their properties rather than sell. We also saw a higher number of terminations from our European-based market and in certain pockets we have seen new developments completing over the past six months, bringing more new builds to the market than usual. According to LonRes, in the last quarter of 2016, there were 11% more properties listed in PCL for rent and 30% more across its fringes than at the same point last year. All this competition has put pressure on the values we can achieve as tenants are keen to negotiate. Recently renovated, new to the market and sensibly priced properties continue to receive the most attention, especially with our corporate tenants. Sadly, this is not the market to achieve record prices, but landlords do need to make sure their properties are as immaculate as possible. LonRes data shows that prospective tenants are paying on average 7.8% less than the asking price in PCL at the end of 2016. Strutt & Parker, 140 Fulham Road, SW10 9PY, struttandparker.com
s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s
THE BEST OF WATERSIDE LIVING APARTMENTS READY FOR OCCUPATION
Battersea Reach SW18 1TX Prices from £679,950* batterseareach.co.uk
Chelsea Creek SW6 2FS Prices from £2,850,000* chelseacreek.co.uk
Fulham Reach W6 9GD Prices from £1,999,950* fulhamreach.co.uk
Please contact the Battersea Reach Marketing Suite for further information or to arrange a viewing Tel: 0203 504 5317 Email: batterseareachsales@stgeorgeplc.com Address: Unit 3 Kingfisher House, Juniper Drive, London SW18 1TX
Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies
Photography and CGIs are indicative only. *Prices correct at time of sending to press.
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What value do you place on peace of mind with your family’s treasures?
• UK Residential Removals • Worldwide Relocations • Weekly European Removals • Storage Services • Car Transportation & Storage • Office & Commercial Moving • Antiques, Fine Art Packing, Storing & Moving Telephone: 020 3773 5796 E-Mail: enquiries@abels.co.uk www.abels.co.uk
Memb No: A001
FS 23942
198656
HOLLAND GREEN PLACE, LONDON W11
Price: £4,400,000
Greenstar is pleased to present to market a beautiful, 2 bedroom apartment in the newly completed Holland Green development in Holland Park. The apartment boasts a quiet aspect being located on the first floor, overlooking landscaped gardens at the rear of the building, providing private spaces that aren’t overlooked. It is a unique property in an excellent location off High Street Kensington, and would provide an excellent pied-a-terre for a discerning buyer. Holland Green is a recently developed collection of three luxury residential blocks surrounding the newly opened Design Museum at the south end of Holland Park. The apartments have been completed to the highest specification and have access to amenities that include a concierge, gym and business spaces.
Contact Us:
• • • • • • • •
2 bedroom apartment 1st floor overlooking landscaped gardens New build with contemporary, high quality finishes Approximately 1,400 sq ft (130 sq m) Located on the first floor 24 hour security and Harrod’s concierge Peaceful views overlooking manicured gardens Long leasehold
info@greenstarcapital.co.uk +44(0)778 238 1893
Property News PRIME RESI provides us with a comprehensive monthly round-up of key news about the local luxury property market
The Right Price Elena Dimova, managing director of CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, advises landlords and sellers to market their properties at the right price level to ensure a successful sale
We often highlight the importance of pricing correctly in any market, whether it is flying or not. For landlords, overpricing could end up being the largest cost in their rental venture. A lengthy void period is something everyone should try to minimise. A recent price change on a house we were marketing in Holland Park, for example, resulted in seven times more viewings in one week compared to the weekly average over the previous four weeks. On another flat we just let in Kensington, we saw 15 viewings within a few days of the price change and two immediate offers.
Buyers and tenants tend to search at the top of their affordability range Sometimes landlords forget that the market price is simply a matter of supply and demand. In other words, how many properties are there available that a reasonable prospective tenant would consider alongside your property? This should then be weighed against the number of tenants a landlord has to choose from who would commit to their property over all the rest available on the market. Much like buyers, tenants tend to search at the top of their affordability range and they will only look at properties up to a certain figure. If a property is not marketed at the right level, it is not the best property a prospective tenant is seeing and therefore will inevitably not be the one they choose. When your agent is advising you that the market is not reacting well to a certain marketing price, and backing that up with comparable evidence, you would do well to listen in order to maximise the rent you generate over a 12-month period. The same principles apply when selling. If your property is misaligned with the market, it will not sell and that could cost you the new home on which you had your eye. Your agent’s advice is crucial. We are already experiencing a busier period in both sales and rentals, as milder spring weather arrives and more people are looking to move. If you’re thinking of selling or letting, this is a good time to launch your property onto a returning market. CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, 10 Clarendon Road, W11 3AA, 020 7229 1414, century21uk.com
Finchatton unveils luxury new apartments in Knightsbridge International design and development firm Finchatton has announced the launch of Kingwood, a ground-breaking new-build development of 10 apartments located at 55 Hans Place. The fully-furnished, 4,544 sq ft duplex penthouse and a 5,698 sq ft triplex apartment have already been completed, while the remaining apartments are due for completion by May. Along with offering the very best amenities – including 24-hour concierge, a 1,300 sq ft gym, a games and media room, and wine cellar – the luxury development also provides a fully equipped professional catering kitchen for owners’ use when entertaining, which is serviced by a separate staff lift direct to each principal apartment; a dedicated chauffeurs’/staff restroom complete with kitchenette, shower, TV, Wi-Fi and storage facilities; and a private residential fitness and wellness service courtesy of SP&Co. Finally, every apartment features bespoke kitchens, marble bathrooms and contemporary fireplaces, and residents have exclusive access to the residents-only Hans Place Garden. Pre-launch enquires have resulted in contracts having already been exchanged on three of the 10 apartments – so make sure to hurry before the rest go. For more information, visit finchatton.com
PROPERTY
PrimeQResi Journal of Prime Property
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Gated residential scheme in the heart of Chelsea offered for £40m A rare freehold slice of prime Chelsea residential investment real estate has come to market, as Residential Land looks to offload Peony Court for £40m. Bruce Ritchie’s firm invested approximately £500m in central London projects last year, and has ambitions to invest similar sums in 2017. However, the company is opting to free up some capital by selling all 19 units in Peony Court, off Chelsea’s Park Walk, as an investment prospect. The private gated scheme has been fully refurbished, is fully let and, at £40m, represents a potential yield of 3.35%. There are seven three- and four-bed townhouses (coming in at 9,313 sq ft) and 12 apartments (8,752 sq ft), all of which have been decked out with state-of-the-art Crestron systems, kitchens courtesy of Intervari, marble fixtures, and some form of outdoor space nestled within the development. A 1,136 sq ft retail unit (let to Tamara Beckwith’s The Little Black Gallery) is being included in the sale. And there’s more: planning permission has been granted to create an 840 sq ft penthouse apartment on the roof of the existing apartments overlooking Park Walk. Knight Frank and Savills are on marketing duties.
Peony Court, image courtesy of: Residential Land
JLL predicts positive outlook for 2017’s property market According to JLL’s recent residential update for the first half of 2017, things are looking up in PCL’s sales and lettings markets. Despite the doom and gloom that pervaded the market in 2016 due to stamp duty changes and the EU referendum, JLL believes 2017 is set to be more positive. According to the estate agency, the final quarter of 2016 saw the number of transactions increase by 36% compared with Q3, which bodes well for market prospects in 2017. The number of domestic buyers also increased while the weak pound spurred international purchasers back into the market. The average price fall of just 0.1% in Q4 was a slight improvement on the 0.2% drop in Q3 and a notable change from the 1.1% and 0.9% falls seen in Q1 and Q2, respectively. JLL therefore expects transaction levels to be notably higher in 2017 compared with 2016 and predicts that prices will remain broadly flat during the year ahead. JLL also forecasts that rental values will remain stable during this year before pushing higher from 2018. Visit jll.co.uk for more information
s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s
Silver Lining Despite recent political events that negatively affected the UK property market, Nick Crayson, founder of Crayson, urges us to see the positives and look towards the future of the industry
The phrase “America sneezes and Europe catches a cold” could herald an omen. As Newton’s third law teaches us, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For the purpose of trying to remain relevant in my often wandering diatribe, the world works in mysterious ways; there is a balance – it is thanks to the laws of nature that things even out and this principle applies to the property market, too. There is too high a ‘moan’ level in London’s property sector at the moment as it continues to be at the mercy of events and circumstances out of its control. In my view, estate agency is disintegrating and this doesn’t bode well for service if it just ends up being a numbers game. If we don’t watch out it won’t be long until the person to whom you speak on the phone – the person who takes you on viewings and eventually sells you your new pile of bricks – is a robot. High service (again, in my opinion) is the only way to go. Being professionally equipped to navigate the market’s choppy waters and to think beyond today’s headlines are absolutely necessary skills for the person with the serious job of buying and selling people’s most valuable assets. Whinging is not helping – so where are these opportunities? Well, in truth, there aren’t many at the moment, especially if you’re expecting that monster call from a headhunter. You have to look hard, but the opportunities are out there. So, let’s plot the future. There are serious reasons for people to buy now. Every past cycle teaches us the same lessons. When it’s all gone down the plughole, you buy. Prices are down and sellers out there who want to sell are (or at least should be) aware of market conditions. Interest rates have even gone beyond the record lows of last year. All the Europeans working here in finance are not going to be booted out of London and the tens of thousands of jobs which they occupy are not suddenly going to disappear. London property is as attractive as it ever was for overseas buyers, what with readjusted prices and exchange rate advantageous for a large basket of foreign currencies. Representing clients’ properties is a privilege. We’re all responsible for our own PR from both company and individual perspectives. The silver linings are visible – we just need to look for them. Just like that. It’s magic! Crayson, 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH, 020 7221 1117, crayson.com
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Roland Gardens, SW7
£4,950 per week* Furnished
A stunning four bedroom penthouse apartment with panoramic views of London. Reception Room | Dining Area | Kitchen | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing room Two further bedroom suites | Further bedroom/study | Utility room | Balcony | Direct lift access EPC Rating E 3,485 sq ft (323 sq m)
South Kensington 020 7581 7000 southken@struttandparker.com * The following Tenant charges may apply prior to tenancy commencement: Tenancy Agreement £222 (inv VAT) Credit Reference per application £54 (inc VAT). All advertised prices are excluded and other associated services.
60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
Holland Green, Kensington W8
£5,000 per week Furnished/Unfurnished
An exceptional three bedroom lateral apartment on the third floor of this prestigious development on the southern edge of Holland Park.
Entrance hall | Three bedrooms | Reception room | Bathroom | Two shower rooms | Kitchen (Bulthaup) Utility area | Two Juliet balconies | Storage | Secure underground parking space | 24 hour concierge Lifts | Swimming pool | Gymnasium | Private screening room | Executive boardroom EPC Rating B 2,285 sq ft (212 sq m) Kensington 020 3813 9411 kensington.lettings@struttandparker.com * The following Tenant charges may apply prior to tenancy commencement: Tenancy Agreement £222 (inv VAT) Credit Reference per application £54 (inc VAT). All advertised prices are excluded and other associated services.
/struttandparker
@struttandparker
struttandparker.com
Sloane Court East, Chelsea SW10
ÂŁ1,550,000 Leasehold
This outstanding first floor flat benefits from great ceiling heights and tremendous light especially in the sitting room which has full height windows overlooking the communal gardens. Reception room | Kitchen | Bedroom | Bathroom EPC Rating D 663 sq ft (61 sq m)
Chelsea 020 3813 9448 chelsea@struttandparker.com
60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge SW1
ÂŁ2,780,000 Leasehold
A well balanced west facing two bedroom apartment on the fourth floor with great ceiling heights. Presented in excellent order throughout. Entrance hall | Reception room | Master bedroom suite | Second double bedroom | Second bathroom Guest WC | Lift | Caretaker EPC rating C 1,162 sq ft (108 sq m)
Knightsbridge 020 3813 9270 knightsbridge@struttandparker.com
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Bedford Gardens, Kensington W8
ÂŁ3,695,000 Freehold
A charming four bedroom Grade II listed family house, set behind a pretty front garden, occupying approximately 2,053 sq ft over four floors only. Entrance hall | Drawing room | Dining room | Sitting room | Kitchen | Study | Four bedrooms | Bathroom Shower room | Cloakroom | Vault | Garden 2,053 sq ft (190 sq m)
Kensington 020 3813 9477 kensington@struttandparker.com
60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
Drayton Gardens, SW10
ÂŁ5,850,000 Freehold
Occupying one of the key houses on the preferred western terrace of this popular address, this elegant Grade II listed five bedroom property provides for a comfortable and stylish family home. Entrance hall | First floor drawing room | Dining room | Kitchen/breakfast room | Family room | Study Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and separate dressing room | Four further bedrooms Two further bathrooms | Utility room | Cloakroom | Attic space | West facing garden EPC rating F 3,667 sq ft (340 sq m) Chelsea SW10 020 3813 9587 Chelseasw10@struttandparker.com
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