Absolutely Chiswick:Richmond:West May 2017

ABSOLUTELY CHISWICK WEST RICHMOND MAY 2017 / £3.95

IN THE LARDER

HOME COOKING WITH TOMMI MIERS

THE HIVE

WOLFGANG BUTTRESS ON BEES, ART AND MUSIC

ARTS & CRAFTS

TOURING EMERY WALKER'S HOUSE

LOOK SHARP THE NEW SEASON'S PALETTE STYLISH / INTELLIGENT / ELEGANT CHISWICK_May17_COVERS.indd 1

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VICARAGE ROAD, EAST SHEEN A truly stunning semi-detached family house situated in this most sought after Parkside location with the benefits of a beautiful south facing garden and off street parking.

EPC = E.

LANGHAM ROAD, TEDDINGTON A fantastic Edwardian family house in one of Teddington’s top 3 roads. It includes a 70ft south-facing garden with wonderful original features and is in catchment for Collis Primary School. No onward chain. EPC = F.

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GUIDE PRICE

£2,300,000

LARKFIELD ROAD, RICHMOND HILL A stunning five bedroom Victorian detached house located in this pleasant crescent right in the heart of Richmond town centre.

EPC = C.

SHEEN 020 8876 4567

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ASKING PRICE

£1,499,950 TEDDINGTON 020 8977 8118

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GUIDE PRICE

£1,895,000 RICHMOND 020 8940 1575

CUMBERLAND ROAD, KEW Arranged over three floors and located within a few hundred yards of Kew Gardens village, this modern town house boasts an impressive open plan kitchen-living space as well as a separate sitting room. EPC = D.

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£1,325,000 KEW 020 8940 7676

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Battersea Clapham Putney Barnes Richmond

Chiswick Hammersmith West Kensington Fulham Chelsea

Kew Sheen Twickenham Teddington Kingston

featherstoneleigh.co.uk

CUMBERLAND ROAD, KEW Located a few hundred yards from Kew Gardens Village and Underground Station. This elegant detached family home with an attractive South facing garden approximately 140 feet, garage and small driveway complete this incredible house. EPC = E.

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TO LET PCM

£8,500 UNFURNISHED KEW 020 8940 7676

CHALMERS WAY, RICHMOND An exceptional, detached family house built by Octagon in this award winning riverside development. The property further benefits from excellent storage, utility room, air conditioning, off street parking and garage. EPC = C.

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TO LET PCM

£10,000 RICHMOND 020 8940 2332

TENANT FEES

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£60.00 (incl VAT) per person for referencing

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£250 (inc VAT) per property for the tenancy agreement

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17 Chiltern Street London W1U 7PQ Tel 0207 486 7310

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May 2017

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26 fa s h i o n

ABSOLUTELY LOVES

26 FASHION CONFIDENTIAL

WHAT’S ON

29 ARMY DREAMERS

HIVE OF ACTIVITY

37 MOODBOARD

10 things we really want this month Diary dates for May

This month’s hottest trends and products Khaki is having a moment

Absolutely meets Wolfgang Buttress, the brains behind The Hive

Designer Julie Townend shares her inspirations

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y ABSOLUTELY CHISWICK

ABSOLUTELY CHISWICK

40 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL The month's best beauty buys

T r av e l

56 ASIAN VIBES

Beach and city in Vietnam

MAY 2017 / £3.95

MAY 2017

43 SLEEP CURES

IN THE LARDER

HOME COOKING WITH TOMMI MIERS

ARTS & CULTURE • FASHION • HEALTH & BEAUTY • FOOD & DRINK • INTERIORS • KIDS & EDUCATION • TRAVEL • PROPERTY

THE HIVE

WOLFGANG BUTTRESS ON BEES, ART AND MUSIC

ARTS & CRAFTS

TOURING EMERY WALKER'S HOUSE

LOOK SHARP

ZEST.LONDON

THE NEW SEASON'S PALETTE STYLISH / INTELLIGENT / ELEGANT

Cover: MARCH 11 SS17 march11.us

All our favourite skin saviours

Food & Drink

interiors

66 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS News and views from the designers

46 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

68 EMERY WALKER'S HOUSE

48 THOMASINA MIERS

92 PROPERTY NEWS

Tasty happenings from the local area and three of the best places for afternoon tea Home cooking with the founder of Wahaca

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46 Arts and Crafts style in Hammersmith

PROPERTY News and views on the area

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 10:12

MADE TO MEASURE,

*On selected kitchens and appliances only, see conditions in store. SCHMIDT GROUPE SAS - RCS COLMAR B 326 784 709 - Photo credit : Atelier Marc BARRAL BARON and Preview - Non-contractual photographs

MADE AFFORDABLE

SCHMIDT MAY.indd 1

Visit www.schmidt-hammersmith.co.uk to find out more, or come see us in store at 323 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 9NH Schmidt Hammersmith | 0203 714 6000 | Design@schmidt-hammersmith.co.uk

20/03/2017 14:29

EDITOR PENDLE HARTE DIGITAL EDITOR HANNAH HOPKINS EDUCATION EDITOR AMANDA CONSTANCE FASHION & BEAUTY WRITER JOY MONTGOMERY ARTS & CULTURE WRITER HELEN BROWN SALES DIRECTOR ROLLO DENNISON COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR LEAH DAY-ABALOS PROPERTY DIRECTOR ANDY ELMER PROPERTY EDITOR TAMAR VANDERHOEK ART DIRECTOR PHIL COUZENS SENIOR DESIGNER PAWEL KUBA PRODUCTION MANAGER CHRIS COUCHMAN MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER EKREM YILMAZ DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN MARKETING MANAGER NEFELI KRITIKOU FINANCIAL CONTROLLER JERRIE KOLECI CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT PA TO DIRECTORS KERRY HOLLINGSWORTH For editorial enquiries please email: pendle@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: advertising@zest-media.com

First Floor, 197 City Road, London EC1V 1JN T: 020 7704 0588 F: 020 7900 3020 zest.london Zest Media Publications Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media Publications Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors.

We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters.

All rights reserved.

Fo l l ow Us O n Fa c e b o o k ‘ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES’ T wi t t e r & In s t a g ra m @ABSOLUTELY_MAGS We b si t e

a b s o l u t e l y. l o n d o n

EDITOR’S letter

K

ew Gardens has countless fans all over west London and the world, but one exhibit that has attracted more visitors and gained more attention for the gardens than any other is The Hive. This unusual and compelling large-scale replica beehive made of metal is responsible for increasing 2016's visitor figures by more than 40% as people continue to flock to experience life inside a beehive.

Because this is probably as close as a human can get to being inside an actual buzzing colony without getting close to any real bees. I was lucky to meet the brains behind the project, Wolfgang Buttress, who shares his infectious enthusiasm

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for bees and art that's alive and meaningful – and there seem to be no fi xed plans to move The Hive to a new home any time soon, so let's hope it stays in Kew. Also in this issue I meet Thomasina Miers to talk about domestic cooking, we tour the newly reopened Emery Walker house in Hammersmith and we drool over beautiful Moroccan rugs, alongside the usual mix of topics.

Enjoy the magazine. ◆

Pendle Harte Editor

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 10:09

10

ELLIE LINES

This London-based brand focuses on 100% silk and gorgeous prints. Pieces are luxurious, stylish and fun and encapsulate the jet-set era of the 60’s and 70’s. This dress is from a selection at ellielines.co.uk

Things We

ABSOLUTELY COCKTAIL OPULENCE

With its subtle notes of Siberian 'golden root' and beautifully embossed bottle, Russian Standard Gold embodies the vibrant spirit of Russian generosity and gift giving. £22; thewhiskyexchange.com

EXOTIC INTERIORS

Add cheer to your favourite chair with this toucan print yellow cushion. Its bright colours and exotic design will bring an element of fun into vintage home furnishing. £19.54; maisonsdumonde.com

Compiled By

H E L E N B R OW N

ABSTRACT ACCESSORIES

Isabel Marant's earrings have a creative artsy feel. Tap one of this season’s favorite trends and wear yours one at a time. £180; net-a-porter.com

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12 04/04/2017 10:00

ABSOLUTELY / LOVES UTERQÜE

Fall in love with Zara’s posh and grown up sister brand, Uterqüe.

It has the same knack for nailing designs women want to wear with luxe fabric and high-end designs. uterque.com

HANG TIME

This pendant lamp has been designed

by Cristina Celestino with the structure of women’s jewellery in mind. It’s perfect for adding a touch of Italian elegance to any home. £390; theconranshop.com

GOLDEN VIEWS

These Aviator-style sunglasses from Tomas Maier are crafted in Italy from gold-tone metal. The sleek brow bar flatters many face shapes and the yellow lense is perfectly on-trend for spring. £200; net-a-porter.com

SPRING SLIDES

Gucci's horsebit-detailed loafers are so iconic they're included in the costume collection at New York's MoMA. This Princetown pair is reworked into a backless slide style that is ideal for warmer days. £480; net-a-porter.com

CULT CARRIES

COLOUR CLOCK

Philosophy Di Lorenzo Serafini’s SS17 collection drew inspiration from cult ‘80s film The Blue Lagoon. Perfectly sized for the essentials, this cross body bag will be your spring style staple. £285; farfetch.com

The classic design and radiant green dial of this timepiece from Thomas Sabo radiates positive joie de vivre throughout the year. £210; thomassabo.com

13 Chis_May17_AbsLoves.indd 13

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 10:05

‘Theatre at its most imaginative.’

HHHHH Daily Mail

Based on the novel by

Charlotte Brontë

Devised by the original company

MON 12 – SAT 17 JUNE

0844 871 7651*

atgtickets.com/richmond*

*Fees apply. Calls cost up to 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

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> WHAT'S ON

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WOLFGANG BUTTRESS AND HIS HIVE

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Illustration by Eliza Southwood

SOUNDS OF THE CITY The London Transport Museum's annual prize for illustration attracted over a thousand entries; the 100 shortlisted works go on display on 19 May and the winning piece will adorn a poster on the tube. ltmuseum.co.uk

15 CHIS_May17_Culture_Opener.indd 15

absolutely.london

03/04/2017 16:24

XXXXXXXX / XXXXXXXXX

UNDERBELLY FESTIVAL O n go i n g S o u thb a nk nderbelly merges the hugely successful Udderbelly Festival and U London Wonderground into one festival running throughout the entire summer.

Headline shows include a thrilling new production from acclaimed circus troupe Casus, Edinburgh Fringe hit Catch Me and comedy highlights from James Acaster, Al Murray and Sara Pascoe. u Belvedere Road, SE1; underbellyfestival.com

SUMMER OF LOVE Fro m 1 May Ro y a l Al b e r t Ha ll et ready to explore this iconic venue’s role in the hippie movement. To mark G the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, the Royal Albert Hall is hosting a fantastic season with gigs, screenings and talks from the likes of Joe Boyd, Billy Bragg, Laura Mvula and The Zombies. u Kensington Gore, SW7; royalalberthall.com

Jimi Hendrix's Shavasana Disco 12 May O lympic Studios

50 years ago Jimi Hendrix released the groundbreaking ‘Are You Experienced’. It became an instant classic, widely considered one of the greatest recordings of all time. Mark the anniversary with a group meditation and album playback in the very studios it was originally recorded in 1967.

117-123 Church Road, SW13;

willwilliamsmeditation.co.uk

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RICHMOND MAY BALL 1 2 May Ri c hm o nd G re e n he Richmond May Ball is all set for another sell out year in its elegant T marquee on Richmond Green. This year the event will be in support of two charities very dear to the hearts of people in the local community - Kew-based React and The Poppy Factory. u Richmond Green, TW9; richmondmayball.com

16 04/04/2017 09:58

ARTS & CULTURE / TALKING TOPICS

Pink Floyd, Photographer Storm Thorgerson®Pink Floyd Music Ltd.

CITY OF GLASS

2 0 Ap r i l L y r i c Ha m m e rs m i th hen reclusive crime writer W Daniel Quinn receives a mysterious call in the middle of the night, he unwittingly becomes the protagonist in a thriller of his own. This bold and ground-breaking production uses stagecraft, projection, magic and illusion to bring this seminal American novel to life. ◆ Lyric Square, King Street, W6; lyric.co.uk

PINK FLOYD

must see

From 13 May Vi c to r i a & Albe rt Mu se u m

HORRIBLE HISTORIES

Take a spectacular and unparalleled audio-visual journey through Pink Floyd’s unique and extraordinary worlds. Featuring over 350 artefacts from the band's five decades, this specially curated collection chronicles the music, design and staging of the group, from their debut in the 60’s through to the present day.

From 27 May Hamp ton Co urt Pa l a ce ould you beat battling C Boudicca? Or escape the clutches of Burke and Hare?

Will you lose your heart or your head to Henry VIII? Can Parliament survive gunpowder Guy? The most famous characters in Britian's rich history come together in this outdoor performance in the beautiful gardens of Hampton Court Palace. ◆ Molesey, East Molesey KT8; hrp.org.uk

Cromwell Road, SW7; vam.ac.uk

EXHIBITION OF THE MONTH

OUR RICHMOND Fro m 1 5 May R i c h m o n d Hi ll B ak e r y

adia Day is a landscape artist with an increasing following in the Richmond area. Her work is impressionistic, balancing a strong sense of place with the movement and atmosphere of the moment. This new series of paintings titled 'Our Richmond'

N

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showcases the most famous views of Richmond, in celebration of the town's natural charm and beauty.

Areas of particular interest are the Thames path from Petersham Meadows to Richmond Bridge and the view from Richmond Hill.◆ 54 Friars Stile Road, TW10; richmondhillbakery.ca

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 09:58

Buzz

WORDS The Hive is attracting record numbers of visitors to Kew Gardens. Absolutely meets Wolfgang Buttress, the man behind it words pendle harte photography jeff eden, rgb kew

‘Y

ou can’t miss him. He’s very tall with a huge beard,’ says Youki Crump, my contact at Kew Gardens. In fact, she tells me, someone recently compared Wolfgang Buttress’s voluptuous beard to the Hive itself, for its sprawling complexity. It’s not a bad comparison. In person, Buttress is kind and smiling, enthusiastic and clearly clever, a man at one with his intriguing fusion of art and science (and definitely not someone with bees in his beard).

Buttress’s Hive installation was an enormous success at Milan’s World Expo in 2015 and was intended to be a temporary exhibit at Kew Gardens in 2016. But when visitor numbers increased by 40% during its residency, its stay was extended indefinitely; so far no finish date has been set. It’s a fitting home for a

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piece that functions as a living sculpture representing the inner workings of a beehive, encompassing sound and vibration in thousands of hexagons and probably everyone would like to see it make Kew a permanent home.

It’s an impressive structure. Made from 170,000 metal parts, all of them numbered, it’s a feat in construction.

Stand inside it on the glass floor and you’re part of one of 2016’s most instagrammed vistas – but it’s not just a visual thing. The constant hum has a changing volume that relates to the actual beehives at Kew, so the bees’ flucutating levels of activity are literally reflected.

I was expecting Buttress to be a bee enthusiast, and he is – but only as a result of working on the Hive. The project didn’t start with an obsession with bees, but with the idea of doing something inspired by the British countryside, and it wasn’t even his idea to apply for the World Expo

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ARTS & CULTURE / INTERVIEW

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absolutely.london

03/04/2017 16:27

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ARTS & CULTURE / INTERVIEW

Bees are a BAROMETER for the HEALTH of the EARTH - if they're HEALTHY then the WORLD is too in the first place, but one of the architects in his studio. ‘At first I was skeptical,’ he says. ‘But then I thought of taking a little piece of the British countryside over to Milan. I wanted to make it an immersive experience but I needed something to hang it on, something universal – something a five-year-old could understand as well as an academic – so I thought of the bee.’ And from there a series of ‘steps of serendipidy’ happened, through which Buttress met Dr Martin Bencsik of Nottingham Trent university, whose research into bee communication had led to amazing discoveries about

the sounds and vibrations involved. It was a visit to one of Bencsik’s hives that really crystallised the idea for the Hive.

‘It was life-changing in a lot of ways,’ says Buttress. The sound – a deep drone – and the smell was incredible – and ‘I thought it would be great if you could express what it would be like to actually be inside a hive and to have maybe some kind of empathy.’ Bencsik’s research involves installing accelerometers in hives to measure vibrations. The next step for Buttress was to use these digital signals and turn them into light and sound. ‘We thought that if the activity in the hives in Nottingham could be sent live to Milan, we’d have a sense of being connected to nature and it would be a fluid thing, not just a lone sculpture that vaguely represented a honeycomb. We wanted to create an emotional connection.’

And this emotional connection was felt not least by Buttress himself, who

21 Chis_May17_Wolfgang_Buttress.indd 21

became more and more fascinated by the life of the bee, life-changingly so in fact, he says. ‘It’s incredible how it sometimes just takes one thing in your life; this has changed my practice as an artist.’ Having just bought a new house, he’s planning bee hotels in the garden, as well as a traditional hive. ‘Bees are fascinating,’ he says. ‘They’re perfectly formed; they haven’t evolved in more than 120 million years – they’re perfectly in tune with the environment and they act as sentinels of the planet. Bees are a barometer for the health of the earth – if they’re healthy then the world is too. Which is what makes them so topical too, because as everybody knows, the honeybee is dying in unprecedented numbers now due to climate change, pesticides and diseases.

And despite bees having fascinated humans for millennia, there are still lots of things we don’t know about them and the highly ordered hierarchies of their colonies. ‘Bees are superorganisms,’ says Buttress. They are one of the few insects that live all the time, collecting honey for the winter. They’re amazing at keeping a constant temperature and the bees on the outside sacrifice themselves to keep the hive warm.’

The Hive has taken on a life of its own.

‘It’s not something you admire from afar, you’re inside it and you get incredible vistas depending on the seasons and how the light hits it so it’s changing all the time, it feels alive and fluid; it’s not shouting at you, but you’re connected to it and there’s a sense of magic. Even though there’s 50 tonnes of metal in there it doesn’t feel heavy or claustrophobic, it’s open and the hexagons frame nature,’ says Buttress. If you haven't seen it yet, then go now. ◆ The Hive remains at Kew Gardens throughout summer 2017; kew.org.uk

absolutely.london

03/04/2017 16:27

NOVA FORTUNY Offering a contemporary collection of the season’s most beautiful clothes, this boutique has curated an exciting selection of dresses that are perfect for special occasions. With friendly, helpful style assistants you can be sure to receive outstanding customer service in a spacious and relaxed atmosphere.

Whether you are looking for special piece or an entirely new look, you will find it here.

146 High Street, TW11; 020 8977 3769

BUSHY HOUSE, TEDDINGTON

THE LENSBURY

THE LOCAL EXPERTS

The Lensbury is full of surprises, nestled on the banks of the Thames at Teddington.

Set in 25 acres of landscaped grounds it has unrivalled indoor and outdoor leisure facilities including a fully equipped gym and award-winning spa. With 171 unique bedrooms, free wifi, onsite parking and a team of dedicated professionals, The Lensbury is the perfect choice.

To find out more, call us on 020 8614 6400 or visit lensbury.com

Absolutely discovers who’s who in Teddington

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22 04/04/2017 09:33

ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION

TEDDINGTON Spotlight on TW11

JENNY BLANC The Jenny Blanc Just Rooms Service design solution is a pared down interior design service offering all the benefits of the company's expertise, attention to detail and extensive product knowledge.

With Just Rooms we will help you to make the right choices tailored to your budget and timescale.

59 High Street, TW11; 020 8943 4440; jennyblanc.com

I

t’s no wonder that this quiet and leafy Thames-side suburb attracts families from all over west London. Not only does the area offer good schools, housing in quiet residential streets and good transport connections, but there are also watersports at Teddington Lock, lots of green space at Bushy Park and an excellent array of local shops and services too. Also, architecturally, Teddington is a stylish place. There are Victorian villas and detached Arts & Crafts style houses, as well as terraces in the Park

Road conservation area. The High Street's Landmark Arts Centre was originally devised as an exact replica of the Notre Dame in Paris (though its builders ran out of money before it could become one) and 17th century Bushy House (pictured, left) is a local landmark.

Notable Teddington residents have included actor Keira Knightley (who grew up here and went to Teddington School) and the flamboyant Sir Noel Coward, who is celebrated with a bust in Teddington Library. u

Architecturally, TEDDINGTON is a STYLISH place

KINDLE STOVES

SELENA LUDICK

Your local specialist in high efficiency, cleanburn stoves, family run Kindle Stoves offers a full supply and installation service.

Their stunning range of wood and multi-fuel stoves offer the perfect way to bring life back to your fireplace and a warming focal point to the heart of your home - while saving you money on fuel bills too. Visit their showroom in the heart of Teddington at 1 Station Road, Teddington, TW11 9AA 020 8973 3995; kindlestoves.co.uk

Specialist Family Law Solicitor Selena Ludick joins Morrisons Solicitors as a Senior Associate. Selena brings a huge amount of experience, including particular expertise in complex financial disputes following the relationship breakdown of married couples, non-married couples and civil partners and involving corporate, trust and international issues. She also has expertise in children's matters, including contact, finances and removal from the jurisdiction. selena.ludick@morrlaw.com; morrlaw.com

PHYSIO & THERAPY LONDON Physio & Therapy London's team of professionals is dedicated to helping clients achieve optimum health and fitness through physiotherapy, sports massage, acupuncture, personal training, running MOTs, yoga and Pilates. Recovery from sporting injuries and surgical procedures is achieved through the expert use of these bespoke services.

80 Broad Street, TW11; 020 8943 2240; physioandtherapylondon.co.uk

23 Chis_May17_Teddington_Feature.indd 23

MAY 2016

04/04/2017 09:33

ABSOLUTELY london

www.absolutely.london is now live

Your guide to inspirational London living From the team behind Absolutely Magazines

FOLLOW US AT @AbsolutelyMagazines @absolutely_mags

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> FASHION CONFIDENTIAL

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TREND: MILITARY DRESS

p.29

HERE COMES THE SUN Everyone’s biggest girl crush, Miranda Kerr, has collaborated with Mother Denim to create a 12-piece capsule collection. Inspired by the 1960s, the line features everything from slogan tees and embroidered shirts to high-rise jeans and cut-out jumpsuits. Bring on summer. motherdenim.com

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absolutely.london

03/04/2017 16:30

st y l e C e n t r a l

Dare to flare, choose sculptural accessories and fall in love with the Boyy bag this May Wo r d s j oy m o n t g o m e r y

BRAND PROFILE:

HILLIER BARTLEY The design duo bringing ageless eclecticism to the style stage WHO

Theirs is a very fashionable love story.

Katie Hillier and Luella Bartley’s friendship stretches back to 1999, when they worked together on Luella’s eponymous start-up label.

Fast forward 14 years and the design duo took New York, securing prestigious roles at Marc by Marc Jacobs: creative director and womenswear design director, respectively.

Their accessible yet adventurous designs sent the FROW into paroxysms of delight.

When the brand closed in 2015 Hillier and Bartley announced the launch of their own luxury brand: Hillier Bartley, and later that year they debuted their first collection. Two years later - in January 2017 - the label was awarded the acolade of ‘Brand of Tomorrow 2017’ by Walpole. u

WHAT

With Hillier on accessories and Bartley on read-to-wear, the brand fuses the eccentricity of English aristocracy with the eclectic edginess of London style. Bartley describes the Hillier Bartley woman as “an indie by heart, rakish and irreverent by nature, who is maturing into refinement and naturalness.”

The result is an individual, and unusually, non age-specific aesthetic. For SS17 the brand has embraced silk dressing gowns, feather trims and a juxtaposition of high shine fabrics with crisp tailoring. 1970s bohemia meets 1980s power-dressing. It’s statement-making style for the Kate Moss generation. The it-girl has grown-up (ish). hillierbartley.com

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And The Bride Wore…

W h i s t l e s We d d i n g

Ready the aisle and grab your bouquet, because Whistles has released their first bridal collection. Designed with the modern bride in mind, the line will comprise of seven pieces in a range of contemporary silhouettes: from stepped hems and one-shoulders, to high necklines and jumpsuits.

The looks, which will retail at £499-£699, will focus on fashion forward details and party-ready practicality – whether it’s for a countryside celebration or city wedding. whistles.com

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FASHION / NOTES

5

RETRO REVIVAL Current/Elliott

If you haven’t already got the memo skinny jeans are out, non-stretch ’90s fit is in. This Current/Elliot high-rise pair are a flattering shade of mid blue and offer just the right balance of wide leg silhouette and ankle-flashing crop. These babies will work just as well with a white tee and leather sandals as they would with a sheer cocktail blouse and killer heels; £245. net-a-porter.com

of the best

TRUMPET SLEEVE KNITS ADAM LIPPES

Ruffled two-tone merino wool sweater, £650; net-a-porter.com

SCULPTURAL AFFAIR Uterqüe

Since it’s inception in 2008, Uterqüe has won our hearts with their effortlessly grown-up take on seasonal trends. The brand’s new season offering of sculptural and eclectic jewellery is not to be missed. These Cubist-inspired resin and zinc earrings will be a sunny day essential. Simply pair with an offthe-shoulder sun dress, raffia tote and sun-kissed skin; £45. uterque.com

WAREHOUSE

Flare cuff crew neck jumper, £39; warehouse.co.uk

H&M

Rib-knit frilled jumper, £34.99; hm.com

RANCH STYLING & Other Stories

Characterised by a stylised yolk and whimsical embellishment, western shirts achieved iconic status when worn by silver screen cowboys in the 1950s.

They’ve come a long way from their ranch roots, yet their decorative appeal has been well and truly embraced by the fashion industry. & Other Stories’ iteration offers a Dali-inspired twist with quirky lip and lobster motifs; £40. stories.com

editor’s

PICK

THE ROW

Darcy bell-sleeve cashmere silk-blend knit-top, £1,260; net-a-porter.com

BOY TOY Boyy bags

We’re always on the lookout for the next it-bag, and for 2017 the Boyy bag is giving a good run for the title. The accessory brand caught our eye this season with their contemporary spin on the traditional structured handbag.

Aside from their signature oversized buckle, Boyy bags come in a plethora of styles: from multicoloured fur to soft suede and sequins. One for every outfit. boyybag.com

27 Chis_May17_Fashion_Confidential_02.indd 27

ELLERY

Immortal bell-sleeved cottonjersey sweatshirt, £590; matchesfashion.com

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03/04/2017 16:31

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FASHION / TREND MAISON MICHEL Henrietta showerproof fur-felt hat, £420; michel-paris.com

HAIDER ACKERMANN Raw-edge wool cropped jacket, £654; matchesfashion.com

J.W. ANDERSON Pierce medium leather shoulder bag, £1,450; j-w-anderson.com

KAREN WALKER EYEWEAR Super lunar oversized sunglasses, £195; matchesfashion.com

HELMUT LANG Patch pocket cotton jumpsuit, £580; net-a-porter.com

J.CREW Cotton-twill midi skirt, £120; net-a-porter.com

ALEXA WAGNER Domino leather overthe knee boots, £562; matchesfashion.com

EQUIPMENT Major sleeveless silk maxi dress, £517; matchesfashion.com

VICTORIA BECKHAM SS17

ISABEL MARANT ÉTOILE Khaki canvas ilona oversized jacket, £375; avenue32.com

MILITARY DRESS

TOGA Patch-pocket crewneck sweater, £171; matchesfashion.com

COURRÈGES Cut-off detailing knit blouse, £929; farfetch.com

Stand to attention with spring’s khaki-coloured trend B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

JOSHUA SANDERS Zipped slip-on sneakers, £287; farfetch.com

BALENCIAGA Spy leather sandals, £565; balenciaga.com

29 Chis_May16_Fashion_Products.indd 29

absolutely.london

03/04/2017 16:33

Ref le ction s Be bold this spring and take inspiration from Uterqüe’s expressive detailing and striking silhouettes Uterque’s SS17 collection is available at uterque.com

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Vicki Sharpe Photography

BOA Boutique 8 Richmond Hill, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6QX

Spring

www.sheilahardinglondon.co.uk info@sheilahardinglondon.co.uk

ART FAIR

to book an appointment please call 020 8948 2340

SHEILA HARDING LONDON

Untitled-3 1

20 & 21 MAY 10AM - 5PM

20/05/2016 11:13

Made in England

Admission £4, Concessions £3, under 16s & LAC members FREE www.landmarkartscentre.org

LandmarkArts

Landmark Arts Centre

Ferry Road, Teddington, TW11 9NN. 020 8977 7558 Registered Charity No: 1047080

Vicki Sharpe Photography

landmark-absolutelyrichmond.indd 1

08/03/2017 21:32

SHEILA HARDING LONDON Made in England

BOA Boutique 8 Richmond Hill, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6QX

www.sheilahardinglondon.co.uk info@sheilahardinglondon.co.uk

to book an appointment please call 020 8948 2340

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03/04/2017 16:11

FASHION / MOODBOARD

MY INSPIRATIONS Julie Townend, fashion designer, shares her moodboard

JULIE TOWNEND

j u l i e t o w n e n d .c o m MARK ROTHKO (1903-1970)

YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE FROM YOUR CURRENT COLLECTION?

My favourite piece is the Charliz satin shirt in daffodil with poet sleeves. The shirt has a glamorous uplifting look and feel and great for the spring season.

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG

ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL

YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGNER?

Diane von Furstenberg is an extraordinary woman who built a fashion empire while raising two children, she designed the iconic wrap dress and she is my inspiration.

FORMENTERA

DVF SS17

YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION?

I love Ibiza and Formentera because it’s full of energy and life.

CHARLIZ SATIN SHIRT IN DAFFODIL

YOUR SIGNATURE SCENT?

Channel no 5, a classic perfume which I have worn since my 20s.

YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF ART? Rothko's Purple and Red. It's so stunning.

37 NH_April17_JULIE TOWNEND MOODBOARD.indd 37

YOUR FAVOURITE BUILDING?

St Paul’s Cathedral one of the most iconic buildings in London and a famous image around the world. It survived the Blitz and makes me proud to be British.

julietownend.com Stockists include Baar & Bass, 336 Kings Road, Chelsea and The Place, 27 Connaught Street, W2

absolutely.london

03/04/2017 16:38

TPC Absolutely MEDiSpa coolsculpt 20% female_Westside Coolsculpt advert aug 15 04/01/2017 16:03 Page 1

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Call The Park Club MediSpa team on 020 8003 2933 and quote: Absolutely and book your FREE consultation and up to 20% off your Coolsculpt treatment.

Parking available at The Park Club MediSpa The Park Club, East Acton Lane, Acton, London W3 7HB

MEDISPA.indd 1

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> BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

p.40

TREND: BEAUTY SLEEP ESSENTIALS

p.43

BEACH BABE Beauty buffs take note: cult hair styling brand ghd has released a new limited edition collection inspired by summer escapism and exploration. The wanderlust line is made up of five styling tools (AKA hair-smoothing saviours) in a range of lust-worthy shades.

This year's beach holiday must-haves. ghdhair.com

39 CHIS_May17_BEAUTY OPENER.indd 39

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 11:10

t r e atm e n t R e v i e w

Sleep saviours, stylish spinning and achieving a bridal glow for May W o r d s J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

BHUTI Richmond, TW10

Wo r d s Lu cy B u t t e r f i e l d

S

pring is finally on the way. £1 daffs are ubiquitous and blossom litters our Instagram feeds. But changing seasons often cause our skin to freak the hell out. Dryness, oiliness and full-on break-outs are all on the cards.

My face is no exception, so I headed to Bhuti in Richmond for their Signature Glow Facial. Bhuti describes itself as an ‘eco-wellbeing centre’, and seems to do just as it says on its biodegradable tin.

White wood and neutral colour schemes abound, complemented by a vegan café and sunlit yoga studio.

After filling in an unusal background form (being asked ‘what makes my heart sing’ almost drove me to existential crisis) I was handed over to my therapist, Becky.

She cleansed and examined my face, pronouncing it in fairly good shape. But several areas remained stubbornly dry, so my treatment was tailored to rehydrate my skin.

This facial used Oskia products, which slid on without stickiness. Lymphatic drainage and acupressure lift techniques were equally relaxing and restorative.

The room was candle-lit, the music unobtrusive, and Becky’s massage skills were top notch.

When my 75 minutes were up, I was led to the relaxation room to drift about with fellow Bhutians. I felt like I’d joined a clan of Dornish women in GoT. My face felt extraordinarily soft for days. If you’re looking for a sub-£100 treat, this is the place.

75 minute Signature Glow facial, £95. ◆ BHUTI 50 Hill Rise, Richmond TW10 6UB bhuti.co

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Chis_May17_Beauty notes.indd 40

Walk the Line Marc Jacobs Beauty

Kaia Gerber is the latest in a long line of genetically blessed celebrity offspring chosen to front a multinational beauty campaign. In an apparent homage to her mother’s ‘80s fame, Kaia's latest campaign for Marc Jacobs embraces crimped hair and leopard print to promote the brand’s new matte highlighter gel crayons. marcjacobsbeauty.com

40 04/04/2017 11:12

HEALTH & BEAUTY / NOTES editor's

BEAUTY SLEEP

6

PICK

M&S Absolute U ltimate Sleep Cream

It's this year's unexpected sellout beauty buy. M&S's Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream is packed full of fatigue-fighting ingredients that help mimic the look of eight hours' beauty sleep - even when you’ve been burning the wick at both ends.

You've got to see it to believe it.

Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream 50ml, £22; marksandspencer.com

of the best

CIATÉ LONDON Lip scrub stix, £15; lookfantastic.com

BRIDAL GLOW Skinade

Every bride wants their skin to look its best on the big day. Although make-up can offer a polished finish, sometimes you need to work from the inside to get real results. Say hello to Skinade: the anti-ageing drink that boosts the body’s natural production of collagen and hyaluronic acid. Results include increased hydration and radiance, reduction of fine lines and healthier looking hair and nails.

30 day supply, £105; skinade.com

BOOKISH CHARM

BY R E D O B i b l i o t h e q u e

Inspired by the scent of leather-bound books, Bibliothèque is the latest fragrance release from Byredo. This 100ml collector’s edition eau de parfum is born from the brand's bestselling candle. With base notes of vanilla and patchouli and top notes of peach and plum, the result is a complex and leathery scent that lingers long after it’s sprayed. £150; byredo.com

2 BLISS Fablips sugar lip scrub, £14; lookfantastic.com

3 4 5 DIOR ADDICT Lip sugar scrub, £24; dior.com

FRESH Sugar lip polish, £20; fresh.com

M·A·C Lip scrubtious, £12.50; maccosmetics.com

SPIN DOCTOR Psycle

Everyone’s favourite spinning class is branching out for 2017 with a brand new venue in Shoreditch. Packing all the high energy, music-pumping action of its sister venues, the brand’s new digs will include a 4,500 sq ft studio space, 44 bikes, and Psycle’s signature energy kitchen juice and smoothie bar. psyclelondon.com

41 Chis_May17_Beauty notes.indd 41

1

LIP SCRUBS

CLINIQUE Sweet pots, £15; clinique.com

6

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 11:13

WEST LONDON DERMATOLOGY CENTRE: 227-229 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick W4 2DW

WLDC HAIR.indd 1

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HEALTH & BEAUTY / PRODUCTS CLINIQUE

Moisture Surge Overnight Mask, £30; clinique.co.uk

NUXE

Creme Prodigieuse Night, £23; uk.nuxe.com

OMOROVICZA

Rejuvenating Night Cream, £110; spacenk.com

MURAD

KIEHL’S

Midnight Recovery Concentrate, £38; kiehls.co.uk

MICHAEL KORS SS17

Essential-C Night Moisturiser, £59.50; feel unique.com

DR. DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE

Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum, £77; net-a-porter.com

ELEMIS BIOTEC

Skin Energising Night Cream, £75; elemis.com

SARAH CHAPMAN

Skinesis Overnight Body Treatment, £49; sarahchapman.net

ORIGINS

Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, £24; origins.co.uk

GET YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP

CAUDALIE

Vinosource Overnight Recovery Oil, £26; feelunique.com

Make the most of your natural restorative powers B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

ESTÉE LAUDER

Advanced Night Repair Eye, £40; esteelauder.com

FIRST AID BEAUTY

Eye Duty Triple Remedy, £26; lookfantastic.com

43 Chis_May17_BeautyProducts.indd 43

CIATÉ

London Knight in Shining Armour, £9; thehut.com

absolutely.london

03/04/2017 16:44

GOODE & WRIGHT BISTRO s e r vi n g c r ea t i v e c a s u a l f oo d Brunch • Lunch • Dinner Bottomless Sunday Roasts 271 Portobello Road | Notting Hill | London | W11 1LR 02077275552

GW.indd 3

hello@goodeandwrightbistro.com www.goodeandwright.co.uk

24/02/2017 12:21

> KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL: BEST AFTERNOON TEAS IN YOUR AREA

p.46

NATION’S FAVOURITE Curry is the nation’s favourite dish, but it can be daunting to cook. 30 Minute Curries, from Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, is filled with quick and easy curry recipes to transform boring weeknight dinners. £22.99, Absolute Press

45 CHIS_May17_Food_Opener.indd 45

absolutely.london

03/04/2017 16:51

What to drink

GRAPE NEWS

Wine recommendations for the month

kitchen

CONFIDENTIAL West London’s food news and delicious things to see you through May Wo r d s H A N N A H H O P K I N S

By B E R RY B R OS . & R U D D

2016 BERRY BROS. & RUDD AUSTRALIAN CHARDONNAY BY FRANKLAND ESTATE £12.50 Aromas of white peach with a fresh sea-salt hint. Ripe pears and yellow apples flavours follow with a lemon citrus note which gives the wine a refreshing zip. A delicious accompaniment to seafood linguine and creamy chicken dishes alike. ◆

2012 BERRY BROS. & RUDD RIOJA BY BODEGAS AMÉZOLA DE LA MORA £11.95 Rich and rewarding and full of blackberry fruit flavours, this is not a shy wine but one that boldly states its origins: coconut and vanilla spice come to the fore and a broad base of warm, dark fruit coats the palate. Perfect with spring lamb. ◆

2015 CHURTON SAUVIGNON BLANC, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND £16.95 A vivacious Sauvignon Blanc with fragrances of fresh gooseberry. Its fresh flavours with grassy, lemon and tropical fruit notes make it a perfect match for grilled seafood. ◆

New Opening

B E R RY B R OS . & R U D D

The Ivy Cafe Richmond

Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchant, having traded from the same shop since 1698. Today the company also has offices in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, a Wine School and an exclusive fine wine and dining venue in St James's. bbr.com

The Ivy Cafe continues its expansion with a new opening in Richmond. Moments from Richmond Park, the all-day British cafe-brasserie will serve up British classics and Ivy-famous dishes.

9-11 Hill Street, TW9 theivycaferichmond.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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FOOD & DRINK / NOTES editor’s

PICK

SIGNATURE SERVE Half Hitch Gin

Produced in the former warehouse vaults of Camden Lock, new spirit Half Hitch Gin is made using a gin base that is blended with tinctures of black tea, pepper, hay, English wood and bergamot. Try their Twisted Martini - Half Hitch Gin on the rocks with a twist of orange. halfhitch.london

TO P 5 F O R . . .

PICTURE PERFECT

Charlotte’s Place This space from Charlotte’s Group (Charlotte's Place, Charlotte’s Bistro and Charlotte’s W5) is the prettiest new dining room in the heart of west London. Bright and airy, it’s the place to sample exquisite plates of food while overlooking beautiful Ealing Common.

16 St Matthew's Road, W5 place.charlottes.co.uk

AFTERNOON TEA Afternoon tea is a delightful tradition thank goodness the Duchess of Bedford created it in 1840. Here are some of the best places to try in your area.

Wo r d s C H A R L O T T E J O H N S T O N E

01 THE PETERSHAM HOTEL

Stunning views over the surrounding meadows and river abound at The Petersham. Get ready for The Royal Afternoon Tea in May - so good it’s been recognised by HRH The Queen herself… petershamhotel.co.uk

NEIGHBOURHOOD DINING

Hawkers Bar & Brasserie Kingston's newest neighbourhood restaurant, Hawker’s Bar and Brasserie combines stylish interiors inspired by aviation hero Harry Hawker with a dedicated gin menu and signature mains like Hawkers puff pie made with 18hour slow-roasted lamb shoulder.

1 Skerne Road, KT2 hawkerskingston.com

02 DRINK ME EAT ME

It’s cupcakes and mismatched china tea cups galore at this charming little tea shop in Hammersmith. Choose from a range of private afternoon delights - from Scone Teas to LA Sushi Tea Parties. drinkmeeatme.com

03 BINGHAM

A gorgeous Georgian Townhouse on the banks of the River Thames offering a unique setting in which to enjoy your loose leaf tea and freshly-baked scone (however you pronounce it). thebingham.co.uk

VIBRANT VEGAN

The Retreat Kitchen Co-owned by TV’s Nick Knowles, this new plant-based café has everything from gluten-free cakes and brownies to scrambled tofu and spicy baked beans for lunch.

There’s even vegan afternoon tea.

16 Hill Rise, TW10 theretreatkitchen.co.uk

47 CHIS_May17_Foodnotes.indd 47

04 STRAWBERRY HILL

Take tea like a real princess in Horace Walpole’s Gothic-inspired fairytale castle surrounded by lawns, meadows and an open terrace overlooking the river. thecloistercoffeehouse.co.uk

05 LENSBURY

Lensbury afternoon teas are a sumptuous affair with a good choice of sweet treats and light bites to enjoy in one of Teddington’s most magnificent country house hotels. lensbury.com

absolutely.london

03/04/2017 16:53

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FOOD & DRINK / INTERVIEW

Home

COOK Absolutely meets Thomasina Miers to talk about kitchen management, Mrs Beeton and Bake Off words pendle harte

T

homasina Miers – Masterchef winner, founder of Wahaca, food columnist and mother of three – is not too busy to have written a new book. Well, actually she is – in fact she turned the project down four times – but being pregnant with her third and unable to sleep created a new window of nocturnal opportunity, which she saw as a chance to write. The resulting book, Home Cook, is focused on family life and the domestic kitchen, so it’s fitting that I have come to her actual home to discuss it.

There’s an appealingly chaotic feel to Tommi Miers’ Kensal Rise house – toys strewn, children chattering, walls crowded with pictures and a lively, busy kitchen. Not for her the ubiquitous minimalist white surfaces; hers is a kitchen where things happen. The new

book is about sharing the wisdom that she’s gathered: how to make a kitchen work even when you’re pressed for time, how to make healthy dishes for whoever’s around without feeling stressed, and how to shop properly to enable all this.

‘It’s old-fashioned really. It definitely goes back to Mrs Beeton but I felt there was a gap in the market for a common sense approach,’ she tells me. ‘I feel that people really get their knickers in a twist about food a lot. I used to too – about eating and what to eat. But all the faddism is crazy; it’s a lot easier to feed people than you’d think. It’s just not that difficult to cook affordable, fun, healthy food, and it doesn’t take forever.’

She doesn’t look quite as relaxed as she says she is, however – and no wonder, because who can run a large business, write a column, cope with three tiny children and publicise a new book, all while being primed to throw dinner on the table

It's just not that difficult TO COOK

FUN, HEALTHY FOOD

49 NH_April17_TOMMI_MIERS.indd 49

absolutely.london

03/04/2017 17:11

london’s favourite food & Drink festival

WITH TOP CHEFS

Syon Park, London 27, 28 & 29 May

30% oTfOfffer

TICKE

Redeem code AB30

www.foodiesfestival.com FOODIES 1 Absolutely FESTIVAL.indd Magazine Syon Park.indd 1

30/03/2017 12:40 09:32

FOOD & DRINK / INTERVIEW

For me FOOD is the GEL that BINDS US ALL TOGETHER , it’s a common LOVE that people bond over for 12 unexpected guests without so much as a tiny trip to Tesco? Not to mention the huge and ongoing project she has launched with her local primary school, devising and fundraising for a vegetable garden and an outdoor classroom.

She concedes that her husband thinks she does too much. But she is clearly on a mission, or a variety of missions. ‘We worry about obesity – yet we feed our children chicken nuggets and chips! And just look at the children’s yogurts in the supermarket!

We have none of that. But then if we’re baking we do use sugar and butter because

it should be about pleasure. If you’re mainly eating fibre and wholegrains and vegetables, then it’s fine.’ Miers complains that there’s too much neurosis around, and yet she will only buy farmers’ market milk, which she agrees sounds a bit inconsistent.

‘As a mother you do think about nutrition and our soil nutrition has plummeted. But I’m very suspicious of fads.’

As well as representing her cooking present, the book harks back to Miers’ cooking past, which is home-taught and family-oriented. ‘I grew up cooking by my mother’s side and I’ve returned to the kind of cooking we did at home.’ Her mother would buy cheap ingredients – ‘like marrow’ – because money was tight, and Tommi, who wasn’t interested in toys, or in playing with her siblings, would hang around the kitchen, developing an interest in cooking. ‘I started asking, can I

51 NH_April17_TOMMI_MIERS.indd 51

cook? Because I wanted to do something more interesting with what we had, and I found it so boring eating the same things over and over again.’ At 26 she went to Ballymaloe (the Irish cookery school whose alumni includes Stevie Parle) and at 29 she won Masterchef, and after that she was slightly surprised to find herself actually in a career as a chef. ‘For a few years I felt like I should have spent years in the kitchen as an apprentice, so my food got more cheffy as I tried to prove myself.’ It’s not cheffy now, she insists – it’s simple, practical and healthy. ‘I spend money on ingredients – the kitchen is about management. I’ve always got livers for chicken liver pate and cods roe for taramasalata, and those things are cheap as chips. If I come home shattered there’s always something I can make. I’ve always got the basics.’

What would she suggest for an easy dinner party? ‘Roast chicken definitely,’ she says. 'With lots of tarragon, butter, garlic and lemon. It’s just delicious. With boiled new potatoes – and if you have time, smash them, cover them in thyme, garlic and olive oil and roast them. There’s so much anxiety about whether it’s pretty enough, exotic enough and whether there’s too much fat, but for me food is the gel that binds us all together, it’s a common love that people bond over. The way I see my friends is around this kitchen table. I am very social and I love people.’

Running Wacaha is a three days a week job, something Miers built into her contract from the start to give her space to write. She manages it all with the help of two PAs (one at home, one at work). The day before we meet, the Standard has suggested that she might be the next Bake Off presenter – is it true? I ask? ‘Not true! They came to my book launch and I’d had a few mezcals, so when they asked me about it I said yes, great idea, and of course it all got printed word for word.’ She would, however love to do Strictly, she says, if she had time. And with that, it’s time for the school pick up, and she's got to go. ◆

Home Cook by Thomasina Miers is published by Faber, £25 h/b

absolutely.london

03/04/2017 17:12

...

Cocktail Hour Mon - Fri 5 - 7pm

Little Bird, 1 Station Parade, Burlington Lane, London, W4 3HD Tel (020) 3145 0894 Email chiswick@littlebirdrestaurants.com LITTLE BIRD.indd 1

29/03/2017 10:08

FOOD & DRINK / REVIEW

It’s an UNUSUAL BRITISH TAKE on ITALIAN CUISINE , with a paired wine to match.

THERE’S NOT ONE PIZZA IN SIGHT.

Vinoteca Chiswick Charming Chiswickians with its quality wines and intriguing menu Wo r d s C h a r l o t t e J o h n s t o n e

I

t’s true, put ‘vino’ at the beginning of anything and it already sounds good. So when I heard about Vinoteca my attention was already piqued.

One step through the door and I’m pleased to see an entire wall serving as a wine cabinet - that’s always a great start.

Surrounding the vino-led pièce de résistance the décor is rather like the wine it champions; soft, elegant and earthy. Dim lighting and low music makes it feel intimate and it’s immediately obvious that most of the crowd are repeat guests and knowing locals.

With a 200-strong wine list it’s hard not

to feel intimidated, so with a little help we are recommended the Sicilian Mandarin Bellini which is delicious with homemade chunky mandarin syrup. As unexcited as I am over the thought of Italian food, I am intrigued by Head Chef James Robson’s menu. It’s an unusual British take on Italian cuisine, with a paired wine to match. There’s not one pizza in sight.

An absolute highlight was the hare agnolotti for starters; ravioli-style parcels of tender hare in delicate homemade pastry on a bed of cannellini beans with Sicilian kumquats that beautifully offset the dish. The Elwy lamb leg for mains was also a winner, with crushed Jerseys, artichoke, peas and salsa verde. I was

53 CHIS_May17_FOOD REVIEW.indd 53

impressed with the creativity of adding fried whelks to my main of hake.

But it was the wine that stole the show. We asked for an organic white and were given a one-year-aged Chenin Blanc from Loire, the Fiefs Vendeens Mareuil ‘Clos St Andre’ 2013 (£38). As thick as a full-bodied red but crisp, dry and slightly spicy, it’s the kind of wine that’s so moreish you realise your glass keeps mysteriously emptying. To keep guests (and staff) on their toes, creators Brett Woonton, Charlie Young and Elena Ares change the wines twice yearly to maximise on quality.

Deep in the throws of low chatter I look around and realise not one seat in the house is empty. No mean feat for a Monday night. “The secret,” I am told by our waitress “is a daily changing menu.

Once the dishes are done, they’re done.

The chef will create a new one.” I’m sure it probably has something to do with their offer of up to 50% off all wines on Monday evenings. Nevertheless, the house is full and the ambience is on fleek. ◆ VINOTECA

18 Devonshire Road, London, W4 2HD; 020 3701 8822 vinoteca.co.uk

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 09:01

THE APP FOR TODAY’S STYLISH MAMAS Download the Absolutely Mama App to receive every issue before it hits stores

The Absolutely Mama app, updated bi-monthly with each issue of the magazine, offers the freedom to seamlessly glide between articles and features from parenting experts, top influencers and some truly inspirational mamas.

Download the app to discover, learn and share the latest MAMA trends and news

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03/03/2017 09:54

> BEACH AND CITY IN VIETNAM

p.56

RETREAT TO CORNWALL

p.63

GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM Of the nine million inhabitants of Hoh Chi Minh City, at least six million own a moped.

We enjoy the beach and the city in one of Southeast Asia's most beautiful destinations.

55 Chis_May17_Travel_Opener.indd 55

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 12:31

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX

ON THE WILD SIDE

An intoxicating mix of city and beach, Vietnam is a dream come true for holidaymakers seeking the best of both worlds Wo r d s F i o n a B r a n d h o r s t

L

ong haul thrill seekers are spoilt for choice when it comes to holidaying in Southeast Asia, but Vietnam is ramping up its offering of combined city and beach breaks designed to showcase its unique cultural and historical heritage.

Ho Chi Minh City (renamed 40 years ago after its revolutionary leader but still affectionately called Saigon by locals) is now a 12 hour non-stop flight with Vietnam Airlines, flying three times a week to the cosmopolitan metropolis.

My first stop is Saigon, a city of nine million people, six million of whom own a moped.

Riders and their pillion passengers make their journeys with astonishing ease, in spite of being piled high with goods and chattels thus providing endless photo opportunities. I’m glad to have the services of an experienced driver who works his way through the traffic as we head away from the city to the Mekong Delta, home to a further 18 million people, for my first night in this incredible country.

Arriving at the luxury Victoria Can Tho Resort, set in lush tropical gardens on the bank of the Hau River, a tributary of the mighty Mekong, there’s time for a relaxing swim before retreating to my French colonial-style bedroom. Don’t be fooled, many of Vietnam’s hotels are excellent copies of original colonial architecture.

By seven the next morning, I’m aboard the Mekong Princess, an elegant wooden cruiser, for breakfast and to catch the bustle of the Cai Rang wholesale fruit and vegetable floating market. Vendors live on their wooden barges, moored in the centre of the river, and vie for business, each with a sample of their produce displayed on a long pole.

The Victoria Resort offers overnight cruises on its romantic Song Xanh houseboats which moor up at the secluded riverside Le Longanier restaurant in the village of Cai Be. Reached only by river or on foot we stop for lunch to sample the local fried “elephant ear” fish.

Back in Saigon, which has set its sights on becoming a destination for upmarket visitors and business travellers

Explore FLOATING markets from an ELEGANT cruiser

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Chis_May17_ VIETNAM.indd 56

56 04/04/2017 09:06

TRAVEL / WANDERLUST The emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam

57 Chis_May17_ VIETNAM.indd 57

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 09:06

C R E AT O R S

OF THE WORLD’S MOST DESIRABLE FIREPLACES

We created our unique FIRE RIBBON BURNER technology in 2003 with a large, glamorous and distinctive flame quality

CVO Fire | Unit 4 Beaumont Square | Newton Aycliffe | County Durham | DL5 6XN 01325 301020 | sales@cvo.co.uk | www.cvo.co.uk

CVO.indd 4

03/04/2017 14:54

TRAVEL / WANDERLUST

Victoria Can Tho 's spacious Colonial Suite

La Veranda Spa Resort is the newest island retreat on Phu Quoc

The perfect spot for sunset cocktails at La Veranda's in-house bar

The BEST WAY to DISCOVER saigon is on FOOT or the BACK of a scooter alike, I check in to the sanctuary of the Park Hyatt Hotel. The luxuriously appointed suites are equipped with the latest technology such as in-room iPads, bedside USB sockets and Nespresso machines. My suite overlooks the lush gardens and pool. Before dinner in the hotel’s Square One restaurant offering authentic Vietnamese cuisine and a western menu of grilled Wagyu steaks and fresh seafood, I take relaxation to another level with a 90-minute full body massage in the hotel’s mystical Xuan Spa. The best way to discover Saigon is on foot or on the back of a Vespa scooter.

Ruled by the French from 1887 to the mid1950s, many of Saigon’s original colonial buildings remain from the Notre Dame Cathedral to the imposing former Central Post Office building. History buffs and mid-century architecture aficionados will appreciate a tour of The Independence Palace, the former headquarters of the South Vietnam Government.

Le Loi street leads to the tourist shopping magnet of the famous Ben Thanh Market piled high with cheap souvenirs and clothing but the Vincom Shopping centre is the place to head for luxury designer stores from Ralph Lauren to Jimmy Choo. The scale of Saigon’s urban sprawl can really be

appreciated from the 49th floor Skydeck at the Bitexco Financial Tower with stunning 360 degree, far reaching views.

At night the EON Heli Bar up another three levels is one of Saigon’s most impressive cocktail venues.

For the final leg of my trip, I catch a 40-minute flight to Vietnam’s newest island retreat of Phu Quoc to stay at the boutique beach-side La Veranda Spa Resort. Set amid tropical gardens, my spacious apartment-style suite with a private veranda features a huge four poster bed draped in mosquito nets; luckily I don’t spy any unwelcome midges during my stay. A world away from the clatter of Saigon, the day starts with yoga on the terrace followed by a choice of holistic treatments at the Le Spa. The most taxing decisions are whether to swim in the pool or the warm sea or be served dinner by the award-winning Pepper Tree restaurant on the terrace overlooking the ocean. The nearby town of Duong Dong boasts a bustling night market and a host of bars and seafood

59 Chis_May17_ VIETNAM.indd 59

restaurants. By day there are trips to the cooling Suoi Tranh waterfalls and traditional fishing village of Ham Ninh.

As I leave Vietnam I’m reminded of the beautiful Lotus flower, the country’s national emblem, symbolising commitment and optimism. Good qualities for a country set on welcoming more tourists to its shores. ◆

SOUTH VIETNAM TOURS

 Vietnam Airlines (vietnamairlines.com) offer nonstop flights to Vietnam from Heathrow to Hanoi or Saigon.

Bespoke travel experts Experience Travel Group (0203 468 6268; experiencetravelgroup.com) offer seven-night holidays from £2,101 per adult, including 2 nights at the Park Hyatt Saigon (saigon.park.hyatt. com); two nights at the Victoria Can Tho (victoriahotels.asia/en) and three nights at La Veranda, Phu Quoc

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 09:06

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT! New skills • New friends • New opportunities

Courses for work, life and leisure, 2 minutes from Richmond Station.

BOOK NOW!

ENROL NOW Online | By phone | In person www.racc.ac.uk RACC.indd 1

03/04/2017 09:06

TRAVEL / UK GETAWAY THE HOTEL

O

wned by celebrated chef Raymond Blanc, Le Manoir is the ultimate gastronomic staycation in the UK. It has won countless awards - from being named best UK and European Hotel 2016 by The Times to Favourite UK Hotel 2016 from TripAdvisor - and with faultless service and Michelin-starred food it’s not hard to see why. Set in a grand, old house in a small, secluded Oxfordshire village, it nails old-fashioned luxury and is an ideal respite from hectic London life.

BELMOND LE MANOIR AUX QUAT’SAISONS

THE ROOMS

OX FO R D

A

ll 32 of the rooms are individually designed with decor inspired by Blanc’s French heritage. Some are based in the house itself, but our favourites were the Garden Suites, just down the path from the main building. Not only are they the largest but they have their own small but serene gardens, too. Before your dinner, take time to stroll the expansive kitchen gardens, providing veg and herbs to be served in the restaurant.

Wo r d s H a n n a h H o p k i n s

THE FOOD

E

xpect full-on gourmet grandeur.

Raymond Blanc’s two-Michelinstarred restaurant is headed up by executive chef Gary Jones, who has created a celebrated menu of modern French dishes.

Go all-out by opting for the five or sevencourse tasting menus, which can be paired with wine chosen by the sommelier. Just make sure you’re quick - there are only 32 tables and they can get booked up three months in advance. Dinner kicks off in the hotel lounge, where over a glass of Brut and moreish canapes you can survey the menu.

Standout dishes include risotto of wild mushrooms with truffle cream, roasted fillet of Aberdeen Angus beef and melt-in-themouth pear tarte tatin.

WHAT TO DO

B

ased in the beautifully green Chiltern hills, there are plenty of options for outdoorsy types.

Hikers and bikers are well catered for and the hotel team can also arrange golf, fishing, riding and shooting if you fancy it. Visit beautiful Blenheim Palace, only eight miles away, where you can tour state rooms and private apartments of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough.

THE DAMAGE Double rooms start from £572 a night. Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Great Milton, Oxford OX44 7PD, belmond.com

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absolutely.london

04/04/2017 09:08

ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION

LONDON GOLF West London’s premier golf club is open to new members

S

ome of the smoothest, fastest greens and best-kept fairways in the country are on your doorstep in leafy Ealing, just eight miles from central London.

Ealing Golf Club is a modern, friendly club that welcomes new members, visitors and groups – with a wide range of membership options including lower cost Lifestyle membership, and reductions for under-35s.

Laid out by the distinguished golf course architect Harry S. Colt, this golfing haven is home to 18 holes of delightful but challenging parkland golf. The course’s general condition and presentation receives constant compliments, with Golf Monthly Magazine rating its greens “some of the finest and fastest greens around”. This has made the club a regular fixture on the TP Tour pro circuit, alongside such courses as Walton Heath, The Grove and Royal St. Georges.

READER OFFER

The club is one of the first nationally to be awarded the new GolfMark accreditation for its work in getting beginners and Juniors into golf. Its two experienced pros, Ricky Willison and Neil Jordan, offer individual tuition as well as running popular Junior and Ladies Academies and innovative new Start Golf and Play Golf membership schemes.

The Clubhouse is also a perfect venue for weddings, parties and business events, providing a warm welcome, great food and

No joining fee and as an additional bonus new members mentioning this offer will receive 10% of their first year’s fee on their club swipe card for use on discounted food and drinks. (offer valid until end June 2017).

service, with the flexibility to host everything from small gatherings to up to 170 guests.

Check out membership details on their website and give them a call to fix a taster round. ◆ EALING GOLF CLUB

Perivale Lane, UB6 8TS, 020 8997 0937 ealinggolfclub.com

A picturesque nature reserve in the heart of London... a unique venue for the perfect wedding Hold your ceremony at WWT London Wetland Centre, a lush oasis with lakes, ponds and meadows.

Witing the spectacular setting of this work famous conversation site we have two rooms licensed for wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships - Wetland Living - a fisherman’s hut replica in the middle of the reserve and the Water’s edge room.

020 8409 4400 functions.london@wwt.org.uk wwt.org.uk

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22/03/2017 16:49

03/04/2017 16:21

TRAVEL / UK GETAWAY THE AREA

P

olzeath is a tiny beach town on Cornwall’s north coast, within easy reach of Padstow and Port Isaac. It’s an area of stunning natural beauty, whatever the season. Port Isaac is atmospherically beautiful and Rick Stein’s Padstow is famously wellequipped with seafood establishments.

ACCOMMODATION

S

even stylish, contemporary and high-specification residences were built last year to take full advantage of the impressive view over a wildflower meadow and to the sea. Ours is Bailey, a spacious three bedroom house with an upside down configuration – open-plan living area upstairs, bedrooms below, to take full advantage of the light and the view. Our living area has floor-to-ceiling windows that create a dramatic vista and it’s equipped with everything you need.

There’s a large dining table and a wellequipped kitchen, underfloor heating as well as a large free-standing wood burning stove, ample sofa space, a huge smart tv and even (to our children’s great joy) two outsize beanbags that you can jump off the stairs on to.

THE POINT AT POLZEATH C O R N WA L L

Wo r d s p e n d l e h a r t e

WHAT TO DO

O

bviously, surf. The nearest beach, at Polzeath, is a 15-minute walk away and there are others all around. Otherwise, walking, eating and shopping are good activities. We visited the Eden Project, a small drive away, with its impressive rainforest biome offering some welcome relief from the chill. At 50 metres tall, this is the world’s largest rainforest in captivity and it is filled with tropical plants, a real waterfall and an awe-inspiring treetop walkway.

THE SITE

T

his is a golf course (though golf is optional) and there’s a health club attached, free to use for anyone staying, with a pool, gym, dance studio and a programme of classes including spin and yoga. There’s a trail of walking routes and a great feeling of space, sky and freedom. Dogs are welcome too.

THE DAMAGE Three bedroom cottages start at £600 per week The Point at Polzeath, St Minver, Near Polzeath, Cornwall, PL27 6QT 01208 864 603; thepointatpolzeath.co.uk

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absolutely.london

04/04/2017 09:12

CURTAIN CALL

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

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm • Sat 10am-6pm Evenings by appointment 52 Friars Stile Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6NQ 020 8332 6250 • curtaincall@blueyonder.co.uk

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29/03/2017 12:34

> INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS

p.66

INSIDE EMERY WALKER'S HOUSE

p.68

ROCKS OFF The JJ chair, designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia,comes in a variety of forms but our favourite is the rocker covered in Mongolian lamb fur. £POA chaplins.co.uk

65 Chis_May17_INTERIORS OPENER.indd 65

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 12:28

10 of the best

time pieces

Modern ideas, designs and styles for your home

NEWGATE

Pluto Starburst Wall Clock, £125 heals.com

Wo r d s p e n d l e h a r t e

GEORG JENSEN Koppel clock, £185 scp.co.uk

HABITAT

Perdy metal desk clock, £15 habitat.co.uk

TIKTAK TIME Concrete clock, £49.95 cuckooland.com

Go green PROGETTI

Little Red Riding Hood Wall Clock, £150.00 amara.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Chis_May17_Interiors_Notes.indd 66

Graham and Green Graham and Green's new spring catalogue is full of beautiful things, laced with references to the natural world. There are plants, vases and planters, as well as artificial plants and lots of prints and pictures featuring animals, plants and wildlife. grahamandgreen.co.uk

66 04/04/2017 09:24

HOMES & INTERIORS / NOTES

PRINT RUN

Lucienne Day at John Lewis To mark 100 years since Lucienne Day’s birth, John Lewis have released an exclusive collection of elegant cushions and fabrics using six of the designer’s most renowned designs - including Calyx. johnlewis.co.uk

DOTCOM GIFT SHOP 1950s Wall Clock In Pink £19.95 dotcomgiftshop.com

editor’s

PICK HIDE AND SEEK

MENU

McCarron and Co Clever storage is what makes a kitchen work. The team at McCarron and Co are experts in making use of space in unexpected ways. We love this ingenius knife drawer that utilizes otherwise wasted inches. mccarronandco.com

Marble wall clock in green, £240 finnishdesignshop.com

UMBRA

Ribbon Wall Clock, £40 johnlewis.com

SOFT TOUCH

must

Piglet in Bed Stonewashed linen is the ultimate in comfortable, stylish and practical bedlinen, and the new range from London-based Piglet in Bed is soft, durable and beautiful, and designed to improve with age. pigletinbed.com

HAVE

HAY

Wall clock in mint, £85 futureandfound.com

GET FIZZY

Sodastream If buying sparkling water in bottles is creating a recycling surplus in your house, the simple solution is here: a Sodastream. Slimline and simple to use, it turns tap water into fizzy in seconds. sodastream.co.uk

67 Chis_May17_Interiors_Notes.indd 67

BLUE BRIDGE DESIGNS

Citrus Clock, EUR 45.00 designist.ie

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 09:24

TIME CAPSULE

Emery Walker’s house in Hammersmith is one of the best preserved Arts & Crafts interiors in London, and it reopens to the public this month Wo r d s P e a r l B oy d

T

he best preserved Arts & Crafts home in Britain will reopen on 20 April after an 18 month closure for vital restoration work.

Emery Walker was the home of one of the key members of The Arts & Crafts Movement, a close friend of William Morris and father of the Private Press movement.

The contents of his riverside House at 7 Hammersmith Terrace – around 6,000 items - were removed for cataloguing and conservation. This allowed vital repair work, including the replacement of the roof, to be carried out, creating a safer environment for the house’s remarkable collection. The project has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Chis_May17_EMERY WATERS HOUSE.indd 68

68 04/04/2017 09:25

HOMES & INTERIORS / HISTORY

through the Arts & Crafts Hammersmith project, a joint initiative with the William Morris Society, for which match funding has been found from charitable trusts and individual donations.

The collection has now been returned to this atmospheric time capsule which is packed with Arts & Crafts treasures, including one of the largest in situ collections of Morris & Co wallpapers in the world and outstanding textiles and embroideries. Amongst Walker’s many possessions are items which were created especially for, or given to him by his close friends and colleagues; leading artists of their day.

These include Morris’ 17th Century Library chair, Philip Webb furniture and glass, ceramics by William de Morgan and a Burne-Jones portrait of May Morris.

Other, very personal possessions include a lock of Morris’ hair, snipped off on his deathbed, and a mould of Philip Webb’s

ears. This multi layered and eclectic mix of belongings, all with their own fascinating and personal pedigree, makes this a unique house museum, perfectly embodying the Arts & Crafts aesthetic.

Extended opening hours means visitors can now step back in time on Thursdays and Saturdays when there will be three tours a day. These must be pre-booked online, as the size and fragile interiors of this Georgian, terraced house makes it possible for only eight visitors to enter at a time. Visitors are accompanied by an expert guide and steward, making it a unique and intimate experience with a new exhibition space offering the chance for visitors to get close to and even handle some of the objects in the collection.

The house has extended its tour season until November and launched a new and informative website. ◆

(FAR LEFT) REPRODUCTION OF STUDY OF FANNY CORNFORTH BY DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI BEING REHUNG IN THE DINING ROOM ON WILLIAM MORRIS WALLPAPER; WILLOW VARIATION, WITH WILLIAM MORRIS EVENLODE DESIGN CURTAINS (CENTRE) LEARNING & VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT OFFICER JESSICA LOUKAIDES TAKES A DUST SHEET OFF THE BED IN THE BEDROOM, UNVEILING THE BEDCOVER EMBROIDERED

BY MAY MORRIS

emerywalker.org.uk

69 Chis_May17_EMERY WATERS HOUSE.indd 69

VOLUNTEER JO EATON OPENS THE CURTAINS IN THE DINING ROOM. THE CURTAINS ARE OF THE EVENLODE DESIGN BY WILLIAM MORRIS

absolutely.london

05/04/2017 17:17

WEST LONDON DERMATOLOGY CENTRE WLDC EXRO.indd 1

31/01/2017 09:45

HOMES & INTERIORS / FOCUS Emma Wilson's house in Essaouira

Tribal GATHERING

Emma Wilson’s eye for Moroccan rugs makes her one of the best dealers in London. Absolutely meets her Wo r d s P e n d l e H a r t e

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absolutely.london

04/04/2017 09:27

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX

W

hen Emma Wilson first went to Morocco 18 years ago, she wasn’t expecting to live there, and nor was she expecting to start a business. But fast forward to 2017 and she has two thriving business between London and Essaouira, and she’s known in both places as an expert in her field. Her speciality? Rugs, the kind that people have traditionally bought in the souks, though hers are the most beautiful and rare of all.

Berber rugs are everywhere at the moment, and they have been heavily in demand for the last five years at least. And while everybody wants to return from a trip to Morocco with a rug, buying one can be a fraught process. Is it actually what it says it is? How can we be sure of quality? And how do we know what we should be paying?

All of these issues are Wilson’s pet subjects.

“Most rugs I choose are from the 70s or 80s, or even the 60s,” she says. “It’s just my taste.

But they work with the way we live, with our open plan spaces and our stone or wooden floors. And it’s quite grey here, so a splash of colour just looks fantastic. Designers like Alvaro Aalto and Verner Panton were buying Moroccan rugs in the 1950s because they worked well with their furniture, but then they went out of fashion.”

Wilson ended up buying a house in Essouira and renovating it, then returning

Wilson's house in Essaouira

Emma Wilson and her son Kai

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

NH_March17_Beldi_Rugs.indd 72

more and more often until she was actually living there. She set up Castles in the Sand, a holiday house rental company and her innate sense of style and eye for space let to her houses being featured in magazines internationally, and to her guests seeking her advice on rug-buying. “I met this guy Mustafa who had been working with rugs since he was 12 and I learnt a lot from him.

Then I realised I was taking people to buy from him and I wasn’t getting anything out of it, so my friend Tamsin and I thought we should do something, and before we knew it, we were.” They set up Beldi Rugs and for Wilson, it’s a passion. Her enthusiasm for rugs is visible, and she’s very protective over

them. “I want them to go to a good home.

It’s not about money. Someone once asked if they could cut a rug to make it square and I said, absolutely not – if you’re going to cut it, you can’t have it.”

Her most popular rugs are Beni Ourains, big, heavy pieces made of 100% sheeps’ wool and natural dyes, which were traditionally made on home-made looms by women in their spare time and used to keep families warm in unheated houses with concrete floors. They are one-off, personal pieces, each one unique with its trademark diamond pattern slightly imperfect; often they have dates woven into the fabric. These rugs are are robust and designed to last a lifetime.

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HOMES & INTERIORS / FOCUS

Rugs on display in the garden

Rugs in Wilson's house with its traditional concrete floor

YOU OFTEN FIND PEOPLE SAYING rugs are Azilals when THEY'RE NOT and I'm obsessed with GIVING PEOPLE THE RIGHT INFORMATION

“They would take a year to make, working every day in your spare time as a woman.

Then you’d make your mark in the pattern.”

Wilson has one in her studio that’s 50 years old and she refers to it as a piece of art.

“Imagine the work in that!” she says, admiring its substantial weight. Beni Ourains are of course still made, but commercially, so new ones are more uniform and not as characterful as those made on hand looms in the 1970s.

They’re also thinner, whiter and less lush.

“I don’t sell all kinds of rugs. Only ones that I personally really like, and I trust my taste,” she says. “I won’t buy anything I won’t live with.” Her beautiful house, pictured here, is evidence of her impeccable taste.

Slightly thinner than Beni Ourains and with more colour, Azilal rugs are becoming increasingly difficult to find because of their huge popularity. “You often find people saying rugs are Azilals when they’re not, and I’m obsessed with giving people the right information,” says Wilson. Different designs and colours come from different tribes and areas in the Atlas mountains, and she’s able to identify most pieces as reliably as possible.

Buying a rug from Beldi is a personal experience. You can visit her London studio and she’ll let you take a rug home and try it out before you commit. Several companies have tried to recruit her as their buyer, but she’d rather stay independent, and it's easy to see why. ◆ beldirugs.com; castlesinthesand.com

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absolutely.london

04/04/2017 09:27

DISCOVERMORE

Embracing an innovative, modern approach whilst keeping traditional values at its core, Kew House School takes an exciting stance on 21st century education. With state-of-the-art facilities, a broad curriculum and excellent pastoral care, Kew House is

Open Days May 16th (7pm) June 28th (9.15am)

a place where you would want to be – a place of learning and

September 19th (9.30am)

discovery, laughter and friendship.

October 11th (9.30am)

Currently recruiting into the Sixth Form with a new Sixth Form Centre opening in 2017.

T: 0208 742 2038 E: info@kewhouseschool.com W: www.kewhouseschool.com An independent co-educational senior school for students aged 11-18 in West London

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@kewhouseschool

20/03/2017 17:28

> SMALL TALK: COLLABS AND GIFT IDEAS

p.77

EDUCATION

p.79

ON THE WATERFRONT Inspired by the sea, Missoni's SS17 girls collection is as versatile as it is elegant.

Separates combine effortlessly, while dresses make graceful occasionwear. missoni.com

75 Chis_May16_Kids Opener.indd 75

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 09:29

KEW GREEN preparatory school

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

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

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

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

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - July 2015

Open Mornings 9:15am Wednesday, 10th May 2017 9:15am Wednesday, 14th June 2017 To register your attendance at one of our open mornings, please phone 020 8948 5999 or mail secretary@kgps.co.uk

Kew Green Preparatory School

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

www.kgps.co.uk KGPS.indd 1

20/03/2017 17:30

RAVENSCOURT PARK

preparatory school

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

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

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

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

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - March 2016

Open Mornings 9.00am Thursday, 4 May 2017 9.00am Tuesday, 13 June 2017 To register your attendance at one of our open mornings, please phone 0208 846 9153 or mail secretary@rpps.co.uk

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

www.rpps.co.uk RPPS.indd 1

_ADVERTS CHISWICK.indd 2

20/03/2017 17:29

03/04/2017 16:11

KIDS & EDUCATION / NOTES

BRAND FOCUS

GLOBAL NOMAD O utside th e L in es

SS17 takes its inspiration from global travel combining bohemian 70s style with contemporary looks for free-spirited girls. outsidethelines.com

KIN G D O M O F ORI G I N Their debut collection looks to the 60s and 70s

SMALL TALK The new season's looks, fun fashion, bird facts and mazes POP ART

G.Kero The latest arrrivals from Marguerite Bartherotte at G.Kero just fizz with colour. Featuring hip-hop sweatshirts, shirts and tee-shirts, she harmonizes colours and shapes to produce clothes guaranteed to brighten up any drab day. en.smallable.com/gkero

kingdomoforigin.co.uk

BIRD TRUMPS

LOST AND FOUND

Little Lulubel ¢ Forget football, My Little Pony and Minions. The only Top Trumps worth having are these brilliantly educational birdlife ones, full of intriguing facts and figures. Tweet tweet. £8.99; laurenceking.com

MAZE PIC

77 Chis_MAY17_Kids.indd 77

K

ingdom of Origin's creative director Vanessa Wright is constantly inspired by her love of British fashion and textiles, and the launch collection, for ages four to 11, features contemporary shapes and exquisitely soft fabrics, over 90% of which are sourced and milled in the UK. Inspiration stems from the rock ‘n’ roll era: think Jane Birkin, Pattie Boyd and Mary Quant. Being adventurous and creative is fundamental for a Kingdom of Origin girl.

Vanessa also designs timeless pieces which can work across seasons. Using adjustable straps on dungarees, rolled up hems and cuffs and soft elasticated waistbands, she hopes that each piece can be worn and cherished as children grow, and then passed on. We want it all. ◆

Amazed ¢ Readers must navigate towering treetops, prickly cactus fields, mysterious caverns and crumbling statues in Aleksandra Artymowska's beautifully illustrated book that features ten compelling mazes to solve. ◆

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 09:30

ST BENEDICT’S SCHOOL EALING a

m i n i m i s

i n c i p e

Outstanding Catholic Independent school for boys & girls aged 3 - 18

Additional Year 6 class now available

Open Mornings Senior School Thursday 04 May Nursery & Junior School Thursday 18 May Thursday 15 June

New Nursery & Pre-Prep building opening September 2017

View our website for a full list of our Open Events or arrange a personal visit with our Registrar, Louise Pepper, on 020 8862 2254 www.stbenedicts.org.uk ST BENEDICTS.indd 1 absolutely_chiswick_west_richmond.indd 1

27/02/2017 10:50 24/02/2017 14:47:25

KIDS & EDUCATION / SCHOOL TALK

ONE for ALL

When 700 guests celebrate Ravenscourt Park Prep’s 25th birthday it will be a family affair Wo r d s A m a n d a C o n s ta n c e

W

hen Julia Shipman steps through the darkened doors of St Paul’s Hammersmith this month, it will be quite a moment in her personal history, as well as that of Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School.

Shipman attended the school as a child along with three other siblings. She then returned as an adult to teach in the successful family-run Gardner Schools Group (GSG). This month she will join other alumni, the odd celebrity and all the current pupils when 700 guests celebrate RPPS’s 25th anniversary at a special evening concert at the church.

Ravenscourt Prep, right next to the park itself in Hammersmith, is now a well-established, much sought-after school educating boys and girls aged four to 11. 300 pupils register for 60 places every year (be sure to do it by your child’s first birthday). But when Maria and Edward Gardner identified the need for a co-educational, nonselective independent preparatory school in west London in 1991, they didn’t know how their dream of a caring, family-centred prep would be received.

“We had no idea of the impact the new

It was HARD WORK but it also had its FUN TIMES

school would have,” says Maria Gardner.

The school opened in an abandoned drama and dance school in a building dating from 1848 that had no windows, electricity or floors, yet “parents came in hordes to ask for a place”, she says.

She recounts how she met a prospective father in the building site playground in the summer of 1991.

Surrounded by dust and chaos, he told Gardner he wanted all his three children to start in September. He then handed her £10,000 in a Tesco carrier bag.

When a rather perturbed Gardner said, “But you don’t even know me!” He said: “I’ve met you, I like you and I want my children to come to you.” This is just one of her many tales of “the hunger” for such a prep school at the time.

Gardner’s stories of getting the school off the ground already sound like the stuff of legend. There were surprisingly few regulations at the time and it was all hands on deck. “We all mucked in,” says Gardner. “It was really hard work but it also had its fun times,” she says. Teachers cleaned loos, cooked school lunches and even swept the playground.

79 Chis_May17_Education.indd 79

With a background in state education, Gardner wanted to “combine best practice for both sectors” at RPPS. This included a mixed ability intake, not interviewing children at three years old and employing teachers who had already done at least two years in the state sector. There has always been a very strong emphasis on openness and honesty with pupils and parents and a timetable rich in the creative arts and “every sport you can think of”, she says.

There’s no doubt that the Gardners hit on a successful formula for a happy school.

Continuing demand for their brand of family-centred education led the Gardners to open another prep for 4-11 year-olds, Kew Green, in 2004 and then in response to the demand created by both schools, GSG opened Kew House School, a co-ed senior school for 11-18 year olds in September 2013.

Things have changed greatly at RPPS since 1991. 43 students started in 1991 in the old dance school; 414 pupils are currently on role in what is now a state-of-the-art building which opened five years ago. Aspects of the school are distinctly starry – speakers at Book Week have included Harold Pinter, Flora Fraser, Ben Okri, Michael Gambon and Dominic West, and children move on to the usual slew of top London senior schools, although the majority now go to Kew House. But GSG is still a family company,

run by Maria Gardner, her son Theo and the board of directors. And its feet remain firmly on the ground. Most families are local and the school still has a “lovely community feel”, says one parent.

'It's very down-to- earth,' says a mother.

'Very normal – for London.' ◆ rpps.co.uk

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 09:31

“It’s fine.

The heart wants what the heart wants.

Discover rural homes with sea views using keyword search.

PL.indd 1

11/07/2016 15:20

We’ll shop

online.”

PL.indd 2

11/07/2016 15:19

40 Years experience “A level of service I believe goes above and beyond.

Thank you Roger!” Louise, W4 • Fully qualified installation professionals • Project managed - design conception to completion • CAD (Computer Aided Design) • A proud member of the KBSA

OSBORNE INTERIORS.APR.indd 1

Call us on: 0208 742 2236 or visit our showroom: 20 Fauconberg Road, Chiswick, London W4 3JY

www.osborne-interiors.co.uk

27/02/2017 17:42

PROPERTY NEWS

p.92

HERITAGE PLACE TW8

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

NIGEL LEWIS: INTERVIEW

p.118

his brand new two bedroom apartment is situated on the second floor at Kempton House, the latest phase at the Kew Bridge West development. Generously proportioned, the living area comprises a spacious dual aspect reception with floor-to-ceiling windows that afford plenty of natural light and lead out to two separate balconies. Residents also benefit from a concierge service and a secure parking space. u

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ÂŁ540 PW

KEW 020 8326 1960

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p.110

brlets.co.uk

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 10:37

BURLINGTON LANE, CHISWICK A modern and incredibly spacious detached family house with a secluded garden, outdoor heated swimming pool & gated off-street parking for three to four cars. The overall foot print comprises of c4,500 square feet of living accommodation. EPC = C.

9

5

2

ASKING PRICE

£3,500,000 CHISWICK 020 8994 6567

SILVER CRESCENT, CHISWICK A beautiful end-terraced, family home recently renovated and extended into the side return with a high level of quality and a premium specification throughout.

Located close to Chiswick High Road and Gunnersbury Station for both the District Line and Overground. EPC = D.

4

2

2

ASKING PRICE

£1,300,000 CHISWICK 020 8994 6567

FSL.indd 1

04/04/2017 10:59

Chiswick Hammersmith West Kensington Fulham Chelsea

Battersea Clapham Putney Barnes Richmond

Kew Sheen Twickenham Teddington Kingston

featherstoneleigh.co.uk

LINDEN GARDENS, CHISWICK A rare to market townhouse beautifully refurbished and remodelled throughout. Linden Gardens is ideally located immediately off Chiswick High Road where there is an abundance of local shops, restaurants and excellent access to public transport. EPC = D.

5

3

2

ASKING PRICE

£1,999,950 CHISWICK 020 8994 6567

COMPTON CRESCENT, CHISWICK An elegant Edwardian house located on a highly desirable road in Grove Park, Chiswick. The property has approved planning permission for extensions and remodelling and is also within a 10 minutes’ walk to Chiswick High Road. EPC = D.

4

2

2

ASKING PRICE

£1,195,000 CHISWICK 020 8994 6567

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04/04/2017 11:00

HACKBRIDGE • LONDON

CGI is indicative only > Not representative of the final product.

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Houses from £470,000 To find out more please call: 0208 712 9765 or email: millfields@redrow.co.uk

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04/04/2017 11:40

LOCAL INDEPENDENT INVOLVED

At Finlay Brewer, we’ve been deeply involved in the local community since 1992.

We know the area, and we understand our clients.

www.finlaybrewer.co.uk 020 7371 4171 info@finlaybrewer.co.uk

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01/03/2016 11:46

BROOK GREEN 138 SHEPHERDS BUSH ROAD W6 7PB SHEPHERDS BUSH 113 ASKEW ROAD W12 9AS ACTON 27 CHURCHFIELD ROAD W3 6BD

www.finlaybrewer.co.uk

STERNDALE ROAD W14 £1,650PW / £7,150PCM • • • • •

5/6 BEDROOM HOUSE 2 RECEPTIONS KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM SEPARATE DINING AREA 4 CONTEMPORARY BATHROOMS (3 EN SUITE)

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • • •

BRACKENBURY ROAD W6 £435PW / £1,885PCM • • • • •

2 DOUBLE BEDROOM FLAT SPACIOUS RECEPTION WITH WOOD FLOORS FITTED KITCHEN BATHROOM PATIO GARDEN

MEDIA ROOM SOUTHERLY FACING GARDEN EPC RATING D 63 AVAILABLE BEGINNING OF APRIL

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • • •

NEWLY REFURBISHED IDEAL FOR TRANSPORT LINKS AT SHEPHERDS BUSH EPC RATING C 72 AVAILABLE NOW

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

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UPPER MALL W6 £1,500PW / £6,500PCM • • • • •

WONDERFUL ORIGINAL FAMILY HOME 4 DOUBLE BEDROOMS MASTER SUITE WITH MEZZANINE STUDY AREA 2 FLOORS OF LIVING SPACE WOODEN FLOORS THROUGHOUT

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • • • •

BATOUM GARDENS W6 £1,625PW / £7,042PCM • • • • •

BEAUTIFUL & STYLISH FAMILY HOME 4 BEDROOMS ELEGANT 1ST FLOOR RECEPTION GORGEOUS FULL WIDTH KITCHEN/DINING ROOM FAMILY ROOM/PLAY ROOM

2 BATHROOMS & 2 SHOWER ROOMS 2 COURTYARD GARDENS EASY ACCESS TO HAMMERSMITH & CHISWICK EPC RATING D 57 AVAILABLE BEGINNING OF MAY

LETTINGS 0207 371 4071

• • • •

2 BATHROOMS (1 EN SUITE) & EN SUITE SHOWER ROOM DRESSING ROOM LOVELY TERRACED GARDEN EPC RATING D 66

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

FB.indd 2

04/04/2017 10:55

BROOK GREEN 138 SHEPHERDS BUSH ROAD W6 7PB SHEPHERDS BUSH 113 ASKEW ROAD W12 9AS ACTON 27 CHURCHFIELD ROAD W3 6BD

www.finlaybrewer.co.uk

BLOEMFONTEIN AVENUE W12 GUIDE £1.5M FREEHOLD • • • • •

SEMI DETACHED FAMILY HOME 5 BEDROOMS DOUBLE RECEPTION KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM 1 BATHROOM & 2 SHOWER ROOMS (1 EN SUITE)

ASKEW ROAD 020 8749 7719

• • • • •

BECKLOW ROAD W12 GUIDE £1.15M FREEHOLD • • • • •

END OF TERRACE DOUBLE FRONTED HOUSE 4 BEDROOMS FULL WIDTH RECEPTION KITCHEN UTILITY ROOM

MEDIA/PLAYROOM GUEST CLOAKROOM EAVES STORAGE WESTERLY GARDEN WITH SIDE ACCESS EPC RATING D 62

ASKEW ROAD 020 8749 7719

• • • • •

BATHROOM GUEST CLOAKROOM GARDEN POTENTIAL TO EXTEND INTO THE LOFT STPP EPC RATING E 50

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

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HEBRON ROAD W6 GUIDE £2.2M FREEHOLD • • • • •

5 DOUBLE BEDROOMS DOUBLE RECEPTION 19'11 KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM 2 BATHROOMS SHOWER ROOM

WINGATE ROAD W6 GUIDE £1.85M • • • • •

4 DOUBLE BEDROOMS DOUBLE RECEPTION KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM 2 BATHROOMS GUEST CLOAKROOM

BROOK GREEN 020 7371 4171

• • • • •

UTILITY ROOM WINE CELLAR EXTENSIVE STORAGE PAVED & WALLED GARDEN EPC RATING D 56

BROOK GREEN 020 7371 4171

• 55' WEST FACING LAWNED GARDEN • EPC RATING D 56

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

FB.indd 4

04/04/2017 10:55

PROPERTY R O U N D U P

THE INSIDE SCOOP IN YOUR AREA

Most satisfying transaction

I never thought I’d see

This very month we moved a disabled lady move from her current flat where she lived for 30 years to a retirement flat which we helped update.

HOUSE HUNTING

Most interesting property From selling all 22 flats in St Stephens Court one mad weekend in 1987 to some really charming period properties including former Georgian era work houses now converted to warm and inviting modern homes.

by GARY SINTON Managing Director Sinton Andrews

MY BOSS THEN SAID "GARY YOU WILL NEVER SEE PRICES RISE AGAIN" THAT SAME HOUSE IS NOW £1.3M

When I was a junior negotiator the first house I ever sold was a 4 bed semi in Queens Gardens, Ealing for £10,000.

My then boss said “Gary you will never see prices rise again”. That same house is now £1.3m.

Finest property showcase Culmington Road Ealing, W13 £2,000,000. A detached house, well restored and thoughtfully extended with a walled sunny garden.

EALING / 020 8566 1990 / sintonhomes.com

SPOTLIGHT ON

WEST LONDON

£854 £976 House

£371 £510

3+ bedroom flat

2 bedroom flat

1 bedroom flat

Achieved rental values £ per week (last 12 months)

Credit: LonRes

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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PROPERTY / NEWS AG E N T ON DESIGN

SULGRAVE ROAD W 6, G u i d e P r i c e : £1 ,9 0 0,0 0 0 A beautifully presented Victorian home, comprising six bedrooms, a double reception room, a further kitchen/breakfast room and two bathrooms.

MODERN EXTENSION properties that cleverly combine contemporary style and period elegance are always popular with buyers. The architecturally striking wooden clad addition to the rear of this house compliments the property’s original features.

Feature Property

Just Sold

SECOND AVENUE

RAVENSCOURT ROAD

W 3 , £ 7 75 ,0 0 0 A stunning interior designed ground floor garden flat that offers surprisingly large reception/entertaining space leading via bi-folding doors onto a secluded garden with useful separate access. The property is quietly situated at the southern end of Second Avenue and is converted within a section of substantial Edwardian house.

by EUAN ROLLO, MANAGER The popularity of the area means that once people settle in Chiswick, they like to stay local! A recent sale is a great illustration of this. We sold a house for a customer on Ravenscourt Road who bought on Ravenscourt Gardens, less than 100 metres apart with and only the beautiful park separating the roads!

PHILIP WOOLLER

JOHN D WOOD & CO.

Shepherd’s Bush, 020 8811 2929;

Chiswick, 020 3151 4309; johndwood.co.uk

philipwooller.com

GLASS The property also incorporates sheets of glass windows throughout the extension, an effective way of creating a seamless flow between the inside and outside, while also providing plenty of natural light. The glass roof compliments this, giving a better perception of volume and space.

who have been at the heart of our community in Richmond, supporting disabled veterans into employment for over 90 years.

The Ball committee would be delighted to hear from would-be guests - and of course from wouldbe sponsors and prize donors.

News

THE RICHMOND MAY BALL 2017 SELLING OUT FAST

SAVILLS

Brook Green & Shepherds Bush 020 3618 3777; savills.co.uk

The Richmond May Ball is already three quarters full and the remaining tables are selling fast!

Another great evening raising money for deserving locally-based charities is promised on Friday 12th May. This year's Richmond May Ball will be in support of two charities; React, based in Kew who provide urgent assistance for low income families looking after children with life limiting illnesses; and The Poppy Factory,

For further information contact: richmondmayball@gmail.com

by NATALIE SIMS HEAD OF SALES RESIDENTIAL

Brook Green and Brackenbury Village are my top tips if you’re looking to invest in this part of West London. The area is known for its village feel, strong sense of community and attractive Victorian residential streets. The choice of property suits young professionals looking to take their first step onto the property ladder, with flats in the area starting at prices from around £400,000, to charming cottage style houses, circa £1,200,000, and larger family houses pushing budgets north of £2,000,000. If you’re looking for better value, buyers head to Shepherd’s Bush where they can secure more space for their investment in an area that is constantly improving. Boscombe Road, with its generously proportioned Victorian family homes is a great example, offering excellent space within both walking distance to Ravenscourt Park and the local schooling, close to all the local amenities.

Family buyers dominate our market and have made up 65 per cent of demand since the beginning of the year, with the renowned Godolphin and Latymer Secondary School and the Latymer Upper School all very close.

“The village is known for its sense of community and attractive Victorian residential streets” SAVILLS

Brook Green, 020 3618 3773 savills.co.uk

93 Chis_May17_PRU.indd 93

EXPERT ADVICE

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 10:55

77 Goldhawk Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 8EH sales@kerrandco.com

020 8743 1166 www.kerrandco.com

OAKLANDS GROVE, W12 £1,195,000 FH A four bedroom terraced house offering a great opportunity to reconfigure and extend in order to create a truly wonderful family home.

The ground floor provides the kitchen and reception rooms with original fireplaces and cornicing. The upper floors provide four double bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large loft space.

There is a useful storage cellar which could be converted s.t.c. and to the rear is a 32’ garden.

CATHNOR ROAD, W12 £765,000 LH An exceptional two bedroom duplex flat conveniently located for the broad spectrum of transport and recreational facilities at Westfield London. This stunning apartment has recently been extended and fully refurbished and now offers highly stylish accommodation. It provides a master bedroom suite, an additional second bedroom, reception room with open plan kitchen. Separate shower room and delightful West facing roof terrace.

INDEPENDENT. LOCAL. EXCEPTIONAL.

KERRCO.indd 1

04/04/2017 11:30

77 Goldhawk Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 8EH sales@kerrandco.com

020 8743 1166 www.kerrandco.com

LIME GROVE, W12 £1,995,000

FH

ENORMOUS VICTORIAN FAMILY HOME

A rare and fantastic opportunity to acquire this substantial semi detached family home with an exceptional 110’ x 25’ West facing rear garden.

OVER 2,900sqft OF ACCOMMODATION

This semi detached house offers the perfect opportunity for someone to create their ideal home. The house, currently provides in excess of 2,900 square feet of accommodation over four floors which with love and care could easily make a wonderful 6 double bedroom family home with two floors of living space. There is scope to extend and enlarge the house to the rear subject to the usual consents.

110’ x 25’ WEST FACING GARDEN FOUR FLOORS SIDE ACCESS TO REAR GARDEN POTENTIAL TO EXTEND STC IN NEED OF COSMETIC IMPROVEMENT ABILITY TO TAILOR TO YOUR OWN TASTE FIVE BEDROOMS

INDEPENDENT. LOCAL. EXCEPTIONAL.

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EN E W4

£1,395 Per Week (£6,045 Per Month) A beautifully presented house on the edge of Bedford Park. Recently refurbished to ex a c t i n g s t a n d a r d s. C o m p r i s i n g ; m a s t e r bedroom with ensuite bathroom and walk-in w a r d r o b e , f o u r f u r t h e r b e d r o o m s, o n e w i t h l a r g e r o o f t e r r a c e a n d t w o b a t h r o o m s.

194 CHISWICK HIGH ROAD

|

LONDON

|

• • • • • •

24 hour emergency helpline Ar ranging repairs & maintenance Tr a n s f e r o f u t i l i t i e s Stunning family house Bedford Park boarder s Recently refurbished

W4 1PD

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VALUERS

ESTATE AGENTS

LETTING & MANAGING AGENTS

ESTATE MANAGEMENT 04/04/2017 12:04

SWORN LETTERHEAD MASTER CMYK_Layout 1 12/06/2015 11:13 Page 1

FITZROY CRESCENT, CHISWICK, W4 £450,000 L/H A bright and spacious one bedroom apar tment situated on the fir st floor of this p o p u l a r a n d s o u g h t - a f t e r d eve l o p m e n t i n t h e G r ove P a r k a r e a o f C h i sw i ck . D u a l a s p e c t living/dining room, double bedroom has a m p l e b u i l t i n s t o r a g e. G a s c e n t r a l h e a t i n g , a l o n g l e a s e a n d a l l o c a t e d O S P.

• • • • • • •

Bright dual-aspect living/dining room Double bedroom with built-in storage Separate kitchen with gas hob B a t h r o o m s u i t e w i t h s h o w e r ove r Vi d e o e n t r y - p h o n e Gas central heating Long lease & Allocated parking *Subject to the necessary consents

194 CHISWICK HIGH ROAD

LONDON

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ESTATE AGENTS

LETTING & MANAGING AGENTS

ESTATE MANAGEMENT

04/04/2017 12:05

LIVING THE

DREAM The most luxuriously appointed properties on the market

1

MERCHANT TERRACE W 6 , £ 2 , 2 0 0,0 0 0

A

WAVENDON AVENUE W4 , £2, 5 0 0,000

T

collection of eight stunning townhouses, which were awarded ‘Best House’ at the ‘What House Awards’ in 2016. This particular property is arranged over four floors, the ground floor comprising a spectacular openplan living space, incorporating the kitchen and dining room, with a further reception room.

There is also a generous roof terrace offering panoramic views over West London. u

his exceptional Edwardian five bedroom, semidetached family home on one of Chiswick's premier roads.

Offering a spacious living area, modern open plan kitchen and 46ft South facing garden.

The property is located moments away from the amentities of Chiswick High Road and Turnham Green underground station which provide easy access into Central London. u

SAVILLS Chiswick, 020 8987 5550; savills.com

KFH Chiswick, 020 3792 0877; kfh.co.uk 1

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PROPERTY / NEW TO THE MARKET

DISRAELI ROAD W 5, £ 1 , 3 9 5 ,0 0 0

A KEW BRIDGE ROAD

WOODSTOCK ROAD W 4 , £9 9 5 PW

S

tall and elegant Victorian villa backing towards and enjoying views over Walpole Park.

Ideally placed on the sunny west side of this popular and leafy avenue with views over Walpole Park and within easy reach of Ealing Broadway. This charming house has been thoughtfully restored to provide a comfortable and well appointed family home still rich in period appeal. u

ituated in a classic, red brick mansion block, this fantastic three bedroom flat boasts bright and spacious open-plan living space finished to an exceptional standard. The stylish kitchen cleverly opens up to the dining room through a breakfast bar space, which opens further on to a private balcony. The well-proportioned rooms are in fantastic condition u

SINTON ANDREWS Ealing, 020 8566 1990; sintonhomes.com

FOXTONS Chiswick, 020 8996 600; foxtons.co.uk

T W 8 , £ 5 3 1 PW

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his spacious two bedroom apartment is situated in Rothschild House, at the popular riverside development Kew Bridge. The apartment comprises of an open plan reception room with space for dining, a fully fitted kitchen and large floor-to-ceiling windows leading out to a private balcony.

The apartment is offered furnished and has been neutrally decorated throughout. u

THE STYLISH KITCHEN CLEVERLY OPENS UP TO THE DINING ROOM THROUGH A BREAKFAST BAR SPACE

BENHAM & REEVES RESIDENTIAL LETTINGS

Kew, 020 8326 1960; brlets.co.uk

99 Chis_May17_LTD.indd 99

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 11:00

TO LE T FO R SALE

ROAD OAD,W W1122 SV TEESLPAN MO R , 0 0 0E FORFE F ER HE OELHDO L D £ 6 9 5 , 0£0 10 , 1S5H0 AR Extendedrefurbished Victorian family house • • Stunning ground floor garden flat bedrooms • • 24 double bedrooms Bathroom • • Bathroom Shower room en suite • • Spacious reception / kitchen / dining space Cloakroom andgarden laundry cupboard • • Secluded patio

PHILLIP WOOLLER_NEW.indd 1

• • Study Double reception room • • Covered external storage Light kitchen / dining room • • Additional side entrance South facing garden • • High quality finish and fittings Extensive shelving andbespoke cellar storage • • 861 sqsq mm approx.

EPC -C 1593sqsqftft/ 80 / 148 approx. incl. eaves storage. EPC - C

04/04/2017 11:38

FO R SALE

S E C O N D AV E N U E , W 3 £ 7 7 5 , 0 0 0 L E AS E H O L D • • • • •

A stunning interior designed ground floor garden flat 2 double bedrooms Bathroom Additional WC Spacious reception / dining space

PHILLIP WOOLLER_NEW.indd 2

• Kitchen open plan • Patio garden with separate access • Wood floors • Extensive shelving and built-in storage • 947 sq ft / 88 sq m approx. EPC - C

04/04/2017 11:38

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04/04/2017 10:35

S M a l l wo n d e r

by N I G E L L E W I S

Relatively young ‘pre-retirees’ with small or no mortgages are selling up their houses and moving into urban flats. Nigel Lewis finds out why.

f you are in your 50s, approaching retirement and living in a large house long emptied of dependent offspring, then you may be thinking about downsizing.

It’s a trend that has been gaining momentum recently as an assortment of social, financial and family factors have conspired to persuade many parents to use their equity to help their children on or further up the property ladder.

According to research by Savills, across the UK two-thirds of all housing wealth is tied in homes owned by retirees and approximately 55,000 people downsize each year, releasing equity of some £7 billion.

In London, this equity comes in very handy. The capital’s shockingly high average price for first-time buyers – currently running at £462,600 according to online agent eMoov – means even relatively well-paid professional couples in London struggle to get on the ladder.

This has created a two-tier trend of downsizing among their equity-rich parents, who have been realising that the large unmortgaged houses they live are one way to help their children out.

These downsizers fall into two categories – those moving in from the countrywide to the bright lights, and those already living in London.

Those moving in from outside number approximately 14,000 people every year, according to exclusive research carried out for Absolutely London magazines by Hamptons International.

It also says that the most popular outer boroughs among inbound

I

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50-somethings are Richmond upon Thames, Croydon, Havering, Bromley, Sutton and Bexley while the most sought-after inner boroughs are Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster.

"While London has long been a magnet for the young, in the last three years the number of over 50s moving to the capital has risen 9%,” says David Fell, a research analyst at Hamptons International.

“The majority end up in Outer London, with two-thirds of the over 50s moving to the capital ending up in one of the 20 outer boroughs.

“For most, the move is the first time they've lived in London, but there's also a large minority who are returning to the capital after a 20 or 30-year absence to live closer to their

own children,” David says that over the next few years the number of over 50s moving into London is set to increase as London’s cooling house prices shrink the price gap between the capital and the rest of the UK. And he says an increasing number of outer London developments are therefore now being marketed at older buyers as “house builders look to capture a slice of the growing grey-pound,” he says.

But not everyone is inbound from the sticks. Many older home owners already living in London are downsizing to release equity for children or their pension planning, but also to be nearer children and grandchildren.

Developer St James puts some astonishing figures on this emerging market. It reckons that there are nearly half a million over-55s living in Greater London who own houses with three beds or more.

“Many older buyers are looking to make a move from the suburbs to retire to the city, to downsize to a new home in a central, wellconnected location without having to compromise on design,” says Sean Ellis, Chairman of St James.

“Private developments are wellsuited to fulfil the lifestyle needs and aspirations of today’s retirees – and as such more are taking advantage of the broader choice on offer.

“At Albert Embankment, we’re creating three schemes of extraordinary quality, offering thoughtfully-designed homes with

View of the Corniche, The Dumont and Merano Residences by St James on Albert Emankment

104 04/04/2017 11:28

PROPERTY / DOWNSIZING

Exterior of townhouses in Charles Baker Place

on-site leisure amenities, 24-hour concierge and security, against a backdrop of globally recognisable views across Houses of Parliament and the London Eye.” Another location where downsizers are at centre stage is to be found on Muswell Hill, where developer Hill is building Woodside Square, a development of 161 one, two and three bedroom apartments, 70% of which are available exclusively to over 55s looking to downsize. Prices start at £760,000.

“We’ve had a lot of interest at our Woodside Square development from people who live close by and want to downsize, and those who live in the suburbs and now want to be closer to their family and friends,” says Tony Woodman, sales director at Hill.

“Downsizers’ needs are quite

“For most, the move is the first time they've lived in London, but there's also large majority who are returning to the capital after a 20 or 30-year absence to live closer to their own children ”

Interiors of a Chelsea Island living room

different to those of other buyers as they want an easy to manage, lowmaintenance home.

“Their focus is on quality, a community atmosphere and location, which is what we aim to provide.

“At Woodside Square, we’ve designed the apartments around communal gardens where residents can mingle as we know this appeals to over-55 buyers and the full-time concierge on site has also proved popular. Our furnished guest suite is ideal for residents with family members who wish to stay overnight.”

One word developers mention less often these days is retirement. It’s a concept that in London is less fashionable, partly because many over 55s don’t see themselves as retired.

Last year research by the Department of Work and Pensions found that only 17% of those over 50 were planning to stop work completely and that 39% thought to work flexibly or part time would be the best way to retire.

One of the few developments that does pitch itself as a ‘retirement’ one is Chelsea Island, where sales director James Taylor of Hadley Property Group says that the desire to downsize “is perhaps the biggest trend we see with retirees”.

“At Chelsea Island, we’ve noticed strong interest from the over 60s who are keen to have the best of both words: the dynamic city lifestyle in a contemporary apartment.

“This trend is particularly noticeable

105 Chis_Mar17_Downsizing.indd 105

Front view of Chelsea Island exterior

with families in the suburbs, where the children have now flown the nest, and the parents are left with a substantial home and high maintenance garden to take care of.

“Hassle-free living has huge appeal in this case, especially for those looking to enjoy their new-found leisure time.”

Another development where over-55-year-olds are knocking at the showroom door is Charles Baker Place in Bellevue Village by Wandsworth Common in SW17.

Its assortment of houses, mews homes and cottages starting at £1.295 million would put off retirees, you might think, but Nick Herrtage of developer Chester Row says he’s seen a mix of downsizers mostly from the local area selling their large homes but wanting to stay nearby because their children live there.

“Unfortunately, we also find a lot of 50-somethings getting divorced and then selling up to both move into smaller homes, which is an additional form of downsizing,” he says.

“Our development is proving popular with downsizers because it’s an attractive area close to the common. Also, six of the properties don’t have gardens and feature terraces instead, which many downsizers want.”

And the world of downsizing comes full circle quite often, too. Nick says a lot of his customers want a property that is big enough to fit their children and grandchildren into when they invite them around for tea. u

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 11:28

www.sintonhomes.com

ESTATE AGENTS & SURVEYORS

DIRECTLY OVERLOOKING EALING COMMON A BEAUTIFULLY APPOINTED AND EXQUISITE FAMILY HOME OF DISTINCTION This unique house has been architecturally designed and rebuilt to provide a fantastic home of nearly 3000 sq ft that must be seen to be appreciated. Great family space plus a separate coach house/studio.

£2,695,000 Freehold

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04/04/2017 12:03

CREST OF CASTLEBAR HILL FEEL ON TOP OF THE WORLD

With a visit to this swish top (9th) floor 2 bedroom apartment enjoying amazing views across West London. Also has huge lounge, plus garage and use of indoor pool.

£650,000 Virtual Freehold

BRENTHAM ESTATE FORGET EGGS, HUNT THIS ONE DOWN!

This exceedingly charming 2 bedroom house in a sylvan setting would make any Easter Bunny hop with joy. Lovely throughout and a south facing garden.

£765,000 Freehold www.sintonhomes.com / 020 8566 1990 / 8 Springbridge Road, Ealing Broadway, London W5 2AA SINTON.indd 2

04/04/2017 12:04

STAMFORD BROOK ROAD, W6

ÂŁ2,250,000

A wider than average semi detached period house with a large secluded garden and off street parking | Master bedroom | Four further bedrooms | Study/Bedroom | Large loft space | Two bathrooms | Large entrance hall | 30' Through reception room | 30' Kitchen/breakfast room | Utility room | Cloakroom | Secluded 70' landscaped garden | Off street parking for three cars | Ideally situated opposite the park and within close proximity of Stamford Brook tube Station, numerous bus routes and Chiswick High Road | EPC-E.

HYPERION TOWER, TW8

ÂŁ995,000

A stunning penthouse apartment situated on the 11th floor of this landmark building with far reaching views and a full wrap around balcony | This recently built apartment is finished to an exceptionally high standard and comprises; Master bedroom with ensuite | Two further bedrooms | Bathroom | South facing 26' x 19' open plan kitchen/reception room | Wrap around balcony | Amazing views | Entrance hall | Lift | Secure underground parking with 2 allocated parking spaces | Concierge | Gym | 42 sqft store room | Long lease | There are numerous transport facilities close by including Kew Bridge (main line) Station and the A4/M4 for routes in and out of London | There are a good number of local shops, cafes and restaurants with Chiswick High Road's extensive facilities also close to hand | EPC-C.

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04/04/2017 12:08

WAVENDON AVENUE, W4

ÂŁ2,250,000

Rarely available, an impressive semi detached period family house ideally located in this prestigious residential road close to all amenities | Five double bedrooms | Large loft | Bathroom | Separate WC | Large entrance hall | Three reception rooms | Kitchen | Private 45' south facing garden with original orchard wall | Situated just south of Chiswick High Road offering close proximity to Turnham Green Station and the extensive shops, cafes and restaurants | EPC-F.

SILVER CRESCENT, W4

ÂŁ899,950

*Subject to the necessary consents A beautifully presented semi detached period house situated on this quiet residential street running north off Chiswick High Road offering excellent access to shops, cafes and restaurants, Chiswick Business Park and Gunnersbury (District and Overground) Station. The house comprises; Three bedrooms | Family bathroom | Lovely reception room with bay window and fireplace | Cellar | Full width kitchen/breakfast room with French doors on to a pretty west facing garden | Whilst offering close proximity to Chiswick's numerous facilities, Kew Gardens and Strand on the Green's historic Riverside are also within a short walk and there is also very easy access to the A4/M4 for routes in and out of London | EPC-F.

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04/04/2017 12:08

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Chis_May17_ITOW.indd 110

110 04/04/2017 11:07

PROPERTY / PROFILE W I N KWORT H

I N T H E I R OW N WO R D S

Michael Cooley A family man, the Chiswick Sales Manager hones in on the appeal of this leafy London area Photography by R E B E C C A N O O NA N

B

eing the oldest child in a close family with three siblings has meant that taking responsibility and caring for others comes naturally to me. Hence, why choosing an industry where people are experiencing one of the most stressful events in their life, i.e. moving and guiding them through the sales process and all the ups and downs of a move with clear, honest advice comes naturally to me.

I have been in the industry for more years than I care to remember and take great satisfaction from changing people’s perception of an estate agent. Someone who worked with me once said "He is a passionate and committed manager who knows his market and his customers. With Michael, it is all about service, respect and probably most importantly a determination to have fun at work and getting the best out of others." I do believe selling is about taking the time to get to know your clients, having the ability to listen and above all, always giving the best advice possible.

While working in the South West and West London markets, I have managed large offices in Richmond, Twickenham and Chiswick. I have also operated in the corporate arena and managed multiple offices in South

West London.

On returning to the industry, I am very excited to be heading the Chiswick office for Winkworth. I previously worked for Winkworth for fourteen years, so it was very much a case of returning to a company I love. I’ve always regarded Winkworth as a household brand, with an intimate knowledge of the locality, with the ability to draw upon the strength of the network of London offices and its international presence.

Our office has been providing excellent customer service within this leafy London village for over 25 years, and my colleagues all just love the cafes, restarants, bars and boutique shops the area provides. Chiswick also has the most beautiful river walks, wonderful open spaces such as Dukes Meadow, historic landmarks such as Chiswick House and excellent transport by tube, bus and car into the city and out to Heathrow. The other factor that makes it such an attractive location for families is the range of local schools.

I think it would be fair to say that we have witnessed some ups and downs of late in the property market but the fundamentals always apply. I believe Chiswick is one of the best places in London to live (although I am of course biased!) and it plays host to some of the very best properties.

We see ourselves as very much part of the community here at Winkworth in Chiswick, where we have traded on the same prominent

“WE SEE OURSELVES VERY MUCH A PART OF THE COMMUNITY HERE AT WINKWORTH CHISWICK” corner site on busy Chiswick High Road. We regularly support a variety of local worthy causes, one of these being a street party in Grove Park in June this year. Please do come and join us, more details will follow nearer the time!

Very much a family man, I am happily married with two teenage daughters. We are all animal lovers, and we have six Bengal cats and our Cavapoo dog residing with us.

Walking Dave the dog gives me the opportunity to release those daily stresses, unwind and enjoy the company of other dog walkers.

In my youth, I enjoyed learning about selfdefence by way of karate, although these days I tend to indulge in my passion for a good film and Jazz! u

CHISWICK • 020 8994 7096 • winkworth.co.uk

111 Chis_May17_ITOW.indd 111

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 11:07

A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

BLOEMFONTEIN AVENUE £1,350,000 FREEHOLD A SUPERB FAMILY HOME ON THIS EVER POPULAR, QUIET RESIDENTIAL ROAD. This stunning four bedroom Victorian house has been the subject of full and meticulous refurbishment by the current owners to an exceptionally high standard without a single detail being missed.

Oozing with charm and flooded with light, this extended house is immaculate throughout.

Four Bedrooms | Double Reception Room | Extended Kitchen/Dining Room | Two Bathrooms | Garden | Cellar | 1820 Sq Ft / 169.1 Sq M | EPC Rating Band D

SHEPHERDS BUSH & ACTON | 020 8735 3266 shepherdsbush@winkworth.co.uk

winkworth.co.uk/shepherds-bush

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OFFICES IN LONDON, THE COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS. SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY

04/04/2017 12:20

A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

STILE HALL GARDENS, W4 £1,524,950 A wonderful four bedroom, three bathroom family home that benefits from much charm, character and original period features. With a five minute walk to both the River Thames and Chiswick High Road, this property is perfectly located with a variety of transport links including Gunnersbury Tube and Kew Bridge Station.

Four Bedrooms | Three Bathrooms | Open Plan Kitchen/Dining Room | Rear Garden | EPC: E

CHISWICK | 020 8994 7096 chiswick@winkworth.co.uk

winkworth.co.uk/chiswick

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OFFICES IN LONDON, THE COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS. SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY

04/04/2017 12:26

A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

FITZJAMES AVENUE, W14 £1,295,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD A NEWLY REFURBISHED THREE DOUBLE BEDROOM FLAT WITHIN THIS SOUGHT AFTER MANSION BLOCK. Immaculately presented throughout, the property further benefits include front and rear courtyards which are demised, with the possibility to add French doors giving direct access (suject to necessary consents being obtained). Fitzjames Avenue is a gated development of red brick mansion blocks, with porter, on a most attractive tree lined street. The location is ideal for the numerous amenities on offer in Brook Green, Hammersmith and Kensington High Street, whilst the closest underground station is Barons Court, where both District and Picadilly lines are on offer.

Reception Room | Dining Room | Kitchen | 3 Bedrooms | Study | Bathroom | Shower Room | Utility Room | Cloakroom | 1670 Sq Ft/155.1 Sq M | EPC Rating Band E

HAMMERSMITH | 020 7371 4466 hammersmith@winkworth.co.uk

winkworth.co.uk/hammersmith

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OFFICES IN LONDON, THE COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS. SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY

04/04/2017 12:27

A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

WOODVILLE GARDENS, W5 £3,000,000 FREEHOLD A magnificent family residence, located in one of the most prestigious addresses in Ealing, occupying a corner plot enjoying access from both streets. Period features include high ceilings, feature fireplaces, ornate cornicing and much more. The property comprises seven bedroom suites with six individual bathrooms, three reception rooms, kitchen and utility room and guest cloakroom. There is also a sizeable garden extending to over 100' at the maximum point; together with a garage and driveway as well as ample parking to the front. Tenants remain in situ until October end 2017.

Detached House | Period Features | Seven Bedrooms | Six Bathrooms | Three Reception Rooms | Large Garden | Off Street Parking | Garage | EPC: E

EALING & ACTON | 020 8896 0123 ealing@winkworth.co.uk

winkworth.co.uk/ealing-and-acton

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OFFICES IN LONDON, THE COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS. SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY

04/04/2017 12:27

A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

STANLAKE ROAD, W12 £500 P/W

An impressive over 1000 t split level two double bedroom stunning flat in the heart of hepherd s Bush. Unfurnished. Available th April.

Bedrooms | Balcony | Maisonette | 1000 Office | Utility Room | EPC: E | Rent £ ,1

ft | Great ocation | eperate .

PCM.

HOLST HOUSE, W12 £380 P/W

A two bedroom, two bathroom apartment located in a modern development with a private terrace and off street parking.

Bedrooms | Reception Room | Roof Terrace | Off treet Parking | Part urnished | Available rd April | EPC: C | Rent £1

For more information on this property call hepherds Bush Acton | 020 8735 3255

.

PCM

For more information on this property call hepherds Bush Acton | 020 8735 3255

CHURCH PATH, W4 £775 P/W

A truly stunning four bedroom ictorian family home with south facing garden situated in Acton Green. Rent £ , PCM. our Bedrooms | Two Bathrooms | Double Reception Room | Decked Garden |

KINGSWOOD ROAD, W4 £440 PER WEEK

An immaculately presented two bedroom, two bathroom maisonette with private garden. Rent £1,900 PCM. Maisonette | Two Double Bedrooms | Two Bathrooms | Priivate Garden |

Unfurnished | EPC: D

Unfurnished | EPC: C

For more information on this property call Chiswick Office | 020 8994 7096

For more information on this property call Chiswick Office | 020 8994 7096

WITH 60 OFFICES IN THE CAPITAL ALONE. WE’VE GOT LONDON COVERED winkworth.co.uk

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OFFICES IN LONDON, THE COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS. SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY

04/04/2017 12:27

A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

LAKESIDE ROAD, W14 £650 P/W (£2,817 PCM)

LAKESIDE ROAD, W14 £415 P/W (£1,798 PCM)

3 Bedrooms | eception oom | itchen

2 Bedrooms | eception oom | itchen | Bathroom | Shared Garden |

A fa ulous three edroom, three athroom maisonette with private garden, arranged over the lower two floors of a Victorian house.

5 S Ft 0 . S M | Furnished

ining oom | 3 Bathrooms | Patio |

nfurnished | Fees Apply | EPC: C

A well presented two dou le edroom property on the raised ground floor of a mid-terrace Victorian house in Broo Green.

Ft

.5 S M | Furnished | Fees Apply | EPC: E

For more information on this property call Hammersmith ffice | 020 7371 4466

For more information on this property call Hammersmith ffice | 020 7371 4466

TWYFORD CRESCENT, W3 £1,038 P/W

WALPOLE COURT, W5 £773 P/W

A wonderful family home in excellent order throughout. Close to Ealing Common and Gunners ury Par . ent £ ,500 PCM. pen Plan itchen | arge eception oom | ownstairs tility | Six Bedrooms |

0S

Stunning penthouse apartment located over the 2nd and 3rd floors of this amazing development close to Ealing Broadway. £3,350 PCM. Finished To An Extremely High Standard | Two Good Sized Bedrooms (En-suite

Three Bathrooms | Set ver Three Floors | Fees Apply | EPC:E

To Main Bedroom) | Two Terraces With Excellent Views | Fees Apply | EPC: C

For more information on this property call Ealing & Acton | 020 8896 0123

For more information on this property call Ealing & Acton | 020 8896 0123

winkworth.co.uk

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OFFICES IN LONDON, THE COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS. SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY

04/04/2017 12:27

f r o m b a k e - o f f to m ov i n g O U T

by N I G E L L E W I S

Why the Great British Bake-off Finalist Jane Beadle kneads to move

J

ane Beedle enjoyed ten weeks of national fame when she made it to the final of last year’s The Great British Bake Off, the last one before the programme transfers to Channel 4.

The 61-year old mother of three says her life hasn’t changed since baking famed beckoned and that she’s been busy back at her garden design business that she runs with her best friend, although she’s also been doing some TV work from her home kitchen for

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Chis_May17_BakeOff.indd 118

both the Good Morning Britain and Lorraine TV shows.

“The big different I noticed in my life is that suddenly everyone wants to talk to you,” she says, which most recently included launching the new Beckenham Market.

Her bake off journey started when her business partner Harriet kept on hounding her to apply to be on the show, and on the third attempt, she was accepted.

Jane says she remembers two of the episodes the best, but for different reasons. She says her

mini mouse cakes made for the showstopper section of week seven were her proudest moment.

“I pity the poor people who had to clean my bench area after that; I have never seen so much mess in all my life,” she says.

But the next week disaster struck when her three-tiered floral cake went wrong and, at the time, left her “fed up and miserable; it was my worst week on the show,” she says.

What a lot of the programme’s fans won’t know is that contestants have a week to practice each of their bakes at home before filming, and Jane used her kitchen in her home in Beckenham as her practice area.

“Lord knows how much icing sugar is hiding behind the units left over from that time,” she says.

The next owners of the house will soon find out. Jane says that now their children have left home, she and her husband want to sell their home and move to a more rural and slower-paced area.

They bought the property pretty much as a wreck. It had belonged to the local Conservative Party and served as their clubhouse and constituency office for over fifty

118 04/04/2017 11:26

PROPERTY / INTERVIEW

“At one point I saw my six-footfive-inch tall son trying to wash his feet in one of the tiny loo washbasins, which was entertaining.

“We put in a new kitchen, but it wasn't a really posh catering one because we always knew we’d be selling up this year and anyway there was such a lot to do here.

“I put in a kitchen that works rather than a really expensive one my kids have always loved sitting at the breakfast bar and chatting while I cook.”

Jane says they always intended the property to be their final push to create a pension pot and that being on TV didn’t deflect them from their plans, which is why they are selling up now.

“My husband wants to work much less, and I want to concentrate on my baking more and do less gardening, so now we can move to somewhere more rural,” she says. u

“My kids have always loved sitting at the breakfast bar and chatting while I cook”

years before Jane bought it, so the first thing she had to do was convert back into a home.

“They had divided the building into two sets of offices and knocked two bedrooms to make a meeting room. When we moved in it still had pictures of all the former Tory leaders hanging on the wall,” she says.

“There was no kitchen to speak of, no bathrooms – just loads of men’s and women’s urinals – and we lived in a small back room and cooked using an electric frying pan and a kettle during the six months that the work took to complete.

119 Chis_May17_BakeOff.indd 119

For more information contact Foxtons on 020 7579 2929 foxtons.co.uk

absolutely.london

04/04/2017 11:26

Think service.

Think success.

Think KFH.

With a reputation spanning 40 years, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of people discover their dream home, relocate or establish a property portfolio.

From managing viewings to closing the deal, we do all the hard work for you – and you only pay once we’ve successfully sold or let your property.

Take advantage of the busy spring market:

kfh.co.uk/valuation

KFH.indd 1 Advert Master.indd 1 Spring_Brand

04/04/2017 14:21 11:36 02/03/2017

Rowan Road, Brook Green, W6 £2,300,000

A stylish and well presented five bedroom Victorian house with planning approved for a full basement and Mansard extension. Located on one of Brook Green’s premier roads, this family home offers an abundance of space, elegant proportions and a private garden.

Brook Green 020 3542 2020 brookgreen.sales@kfh.co.uk

Rowan Road is situated moments away from Brook Green which lends itself to the community with tennis courts and a playground. The property is a short walk away from Hammersmith Broadway and offers easy access to the A4.

KFH.indd 05.17 KFH 2 Chiswick and West.indd 2

• • • • • • • • • •

Five bedrooms Planning approved 2,041 sq ft (approximate) Period features Newly refurbished Two bathrooms and WC Cellar Ample storage Freehold EPC rating E

04/04/2017 11:34 11:36 27/03/2017

Wavendon Avenue, Chiswick, W4 £2,500,000

An exceptional Edwardian five bedroom, semi detached family home on one of Chiswick’s premier roads. Offering a spacious living area, modern open plan kitchen and 46ft south facing garden.

Chiswick 020 8987 0090 chiswick.sales@kfh.co.uk

Located on a popular road moments away from Turnham Green underground station which provides easy access into Central London. Chiswick High Road, with all its fantastic local shops and restaurants, is a short walk away.

KFH.indd 05.17 KFH 3 Chiswick and West.indd 3

• • • • • • • • •

Five double bedrooms Three washrooms plus WC Fully fitted kitchen 46ft south facing garden Large family living area 2,438 sq ft (approximate) Desirable location Freehold EPC rating D

04/04/2017 11:34 11:37 27/03/2017

e

sid r ive

R

Chancellors Road, Hammersmith, W6 £3,791 pcm Hammersmith 020 8563 9889 hammersmith.lettings@kfh.co.uk

A stunning two double bedroom apartment in this exclusive brand new development.

This property boasts balconies with river views, bathrooms with under floor heating, open plan reception, communal swimming pool/spa and gym. Located moments to Hammersmith tube.

• • • • • • • •

Two double bedrooms Wooden flooring Balconies with river views Luxury fitted open plan kitchen Communal swimming pool/gym/spa Moments to Hammersmith tube Furnished EPC rating B

£210 tenancy agreement fee per property. Other fees apply, visit kfh.co.uk/lettingsfees

KFH.indd 05.17 KFH 4 Chiswick and West.indd 4

04/04/2017 11:37 27/03/2017

I WANT TO EXPAND MY INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

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23/03/2017 11:54

LUXURIOUS APARTMENTS IN CHISWICK NOW AVAILABLE • Studios, 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments • A short walk to two London underground stations • Central location on Chiswick High Road • Superior specification • Private landscaped gardens • Most apartments with balconies and terraces Book your appointment today on 0203 733 0840

Prices from £440,000

Travel Times by Tube Piccadilly Circus 26 MINUTES

Travel Times by Car Heathrow Airport 30 MINUTES

King’s Cross St Pancras International 34 MINUTES

Chiswick Roundabout (for M4/A406) 3 MINUTES

Heathrow Airport 22 MINUTES

Charing Cross 44 MINUTES

Sales & Marketing Suite and Show Apartment 500 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London W4 5RG For more details call 0203 733 0840

www.redrow.co.uk/500chiswickhighroad Journey times and distances are approximate. Sources: TFL.gov.uk, nationalrail.co.uk, Google maps.

Computer generated images are indicative only.

REDROW500.indd 1

04/04/2017 11:39

Introducing Beechcroft’s beautifully converted homes THE CHAPEL AT FITZROY GATE Located in a private, gated, parkland setting on the banks of the River Thames, Fitzroy Gate is a collection of just 23 exclusive two and three-bedroom houses and apartments resulting from the sensitive conversion of The Chapel, The Mews and the Grade II listed White House, as well as the newly-built Isabella House.

Each of the four exquisitely appointed threebedroom period apartments in The Chapel feature a wealth of original features and detailing, complemented by contemporary fixtures and fittings and bespoke kitchens and bathrooms.

SHOW HOME OPEN EVERY DAY 10AM TO 5PM The Chapel from ÂŁ1,350,000 Please call for an appointment to view:

020 3813 3504 2782 7590

www.fitzroygate.co.uk

Fitzroy Gate Sales and Marketing Suite Richmond Road, Old Isleworth TW7 7BP

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04/04/2017 10:34

Easy modern living by the River

Apartments to rent at Kew Bridge from £365 per week

1 Beds from £365 per week

2 Beds from £510 per week

Premier waterfront development 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom apartments Residents Gym, 24 Concierge, Parking 2 mins walk from Kew Bridge station Chiswick Park Tube and Kew Botanical Gardens nearby

Call us now on 020 3417 4316 or email kew@brlets.co.uk or visit www.brlets.co.uk Unit 15, 8 Kew Bridge Road, Kew, TW8 0FJ

London branches: Canary Wharf | City | Colindale Ealing | Fulham | Greenwich | Hammersmith Hampstead | Highgate | Hyde Park | Kensington | Kew Knightsbridge | Nine Elms | Surrey Quays | Wapping International: Hong Kong | India | Malaysia | Singapore

Additional charges apply: Tenancy Agreement, Credit Check & Inventory Report. For details visit www.brlets.co.uk/tenantinfo

• BR_CHISWICKNEW.indd 2

30/03/2017 09:40

Ealing Broadway

£925 pw Furnished

3 Bedrooms | Reception | 3 Bathrooms | Apartment 24hr Concierge | Gym | Parking | EPC – B Ealing 020 3302 5763

dy@brlets.co.uk

Sixteen branches open six days a week Monday - Saturday Canary Wharf | City | Colindale | Ealing | Fulham | Greenwich | Hammersmith | Hampstead Highgate | Hyde Park | Kensington | Kew | Knightsbridge | Nine Elms | Surrey Quays | Wapping Additional charges apply: Tenancy Agreement, Credit Check & Inventory Report. For details visit www.brlets.co.uk/tenantinfo

• BR_CHISWICKNEW.indd 3

30/03/2017 09:40

To arrange a viewing or for more information call

020 7319 9783

Brentford

£375 pw Furnished

London’s Letting Agency

info@brlets.co.uk www.brlets.co.uk

Brentford

£520 pw Furnished

1 Bedroom | Reception | 1 Bathroom | Apartment Concierge | Parking | Close to Station | EPC – B

2 Bedrooms | Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment Balcony | Parking | Amenities Nearby | EPC – B

Kew 020 3417 4316

Kew 020 3417 4316

Fulham Reach

kew@brlets.co.uk

£580 pw Furnished

Kew Bridge

kew@brlets.co.uk

£600 pw Furn/Unfurn

1 Bedroom | Reception | 1 Bathroom | Apartment 24hr Concierge | Cinema | Pool | Gym | EPC – B

2 Bedrooms | Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment 24hr Concierge | Gym | Parking | EPC – C

Hammersmith 020 3302 9637

Kew 020 3417 4316

fr@brlets.co.uk

kew@brlets.co.uk

Hong Kong | India | Malaysia | Singapore

• BR_CHISWICKNEW.indd 4

30/03/2017 09:40

PROPERTY / FEATURE Chamonix’s off-piste property appeal

by N I G E L L E W I S

Nigel Lewis visits the famously gnarly Alpine resort to see what you can buy.

T

he day I visited Chamonix the skiing conditions did not look good. The snow was mostly cannon-created, thin and there were rumours in the nearby Three Valleys of resorts being partially closed as water reserves ran low. Then the next day the clouds gathered, darkened and dumped. Chamonix’s pistes were transformed into a powdery heaven and for a time the volume of snow – ironically – closed one of its ski stations.

Such conditions, in which my skis disappeared into huge drifts even on the main pistes, are manna from heaven for Chamonix. It’s where serious skiers go to test their skills and, rather than being a ski resort, it’s more a winter sports wonderland and the town describes itself as the best ‘freeride resort’ in the world.

Walk down Chamonix’s high street on a late January afternoon and you’ll see who the resort tends to attract; weathered Nordic types clutching long, fat skis and plenty of technical bits hanging off carabiner clips clump merrily down to their après dens.

Chamonix has an unusual layout with two ski areas directly above the town but the other ski areas are outside the town.

The skiing in the two nearest areas – Le Brevent and Le Flegere – can, in places, be hairy although there are some blues. But both require a black run or a bubble to get you back to town. There’s also a cable car

on the outskirts of town that takes you to the famous Aiguilles du Midi viewpoint, from where you can ski the 20km-long and world-famous off-piste Vallee Blanche routes. Up from Chamonix is Argentiere which, once you’re up on its pistes, you can only return to via a red or the bubble and it offers mostly blacks and reds with a handful of short blues. For less proficient skiers or those who just want an easier day’s skiing

then down the valley and 10 minutes along the motorway is Les Houches. It is a nice mix of blues and easy reds and offers stunning views over the Chamonix valley on a clear day, and has a pretty village below it where you can have lunch, as well as several piste-side eateries too.

The property market in Chamonix is comparable to other high-profile Alpine resorts, but on average it’s less expensive, partly because demand is lower. It’s not somewhere you own a property for the caché so much, but rather because you’re a serious skier.

It’s a market heavily dominated by apartments; studios kick off at €250,000 while two-bedroom flats start at €450,000 and three-bedroom apartments at €600,00.

The region’s largest house builder, MGM, is also busy in and around Chamonix. It has a large ‘hotel-apartment’ style development called Le Crystal de Jade recently completed next to the Aiguilles du Midi cable car.

It’s a five-star development of 56 luxury one to four-bedroom apartments in chaletstyle, four-storey properties. Attached to them is hotel-style reception with a resident’s lounge, a small bar as well as a sauna, spa, indoor pool, ski lockers and underground parking. The remaining available properties within the development are being sold via the French leaseback system.

“Leaseback means that you own the freehold but lease the property back to MGM; in return the French government gives you back the 20% VAT it charges on new apartments, if you agree to rent it out,” says Richard Deans of MGM. MGM also has two other developmets under way near Chamonix. ◆ More information from www.mgmfrenchproperties.com/property

“It's more a winter sports wonderland and the town describes itself as the best 'freeride resort' in the world” ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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