Absolutely Kensington January 2017

KENSINGTON

JANUARY 2017 / £3.95

HEAVEN SCENT

ATLANTIC CITY

PERFUME TALK WITH AZZI GLASSER

WHY LISBON IS 2017’S HOTTEST DESTINATION

GAME OF THORNS

ARE YOU CRAZY FOR CACTI?

A MODERN GENTLEWOMAN

NAVAZ BATLIWALLA DEFINES HER TRIBE

Flower

GIRL A FRESH START FOR 2017

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SAVE UP TO 50% IN-STORE NOW Finchley Road I Tottenham Court Road I Kingston I Battersea Reach I Harrods I Notting Hill I Guildford I boconcept.co.uk

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Our Winter sale is now on. Save up to 20% on our furniture and accessories to order and make unmissable savings of up to 50% on our clearance and ex-display items. Don’t forget you can book our free design service in-store.

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Sweet Dreams Introducing PowerView® Motorisation from Luxaflex® A remarkable new system that moves your shades throughout the day, so you don’t have to. Create personalised settings with your smart phone or tablet, or use our uniquely designed Pebble® remote control to activate your favourite pre-set program.

Beautifully stylish, brilliantly innovative - smart shades that simplify your life.

See PowerView® in motion at luxaflex.co.uk LUXAFLEX® SHOWROOMS: Abbotts London 0208 9804150 | Belle Vue Blinds Egham 01784 471122

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Januar y 2017

30 c u lt u r e

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12 14 16

56 fa s h i o n

ABSOLUTELY LOVES

22 FASHION CONFIDENTIAL

WHAT’S ON

24 THE NEW GENTLEWOMAN

GET CREATIVE

29 GET THE LOOK

10 things we’re coveting this month Diary dates for January

We round up our favourite evening classes

AZZI GLASSER

At home with London's most fabulous perfumer

This month’s hottest trends and products

Blogger Navaz Batliwalla's new fashion tribe Stylish winter florals

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

42 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL The month’s best beauty buys

47 FRESH CUTS

Skin-loving new products

Food & Drink

56 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL News from the industry

59 RESTAURANT REVIEWS Parabola, W8 and Bluebird, SW3

Covers:

b e au t i f u l s o u l lo n d o n b e a u ti f u l - s o u l .c o.u k

INTERIORS

64 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS News and views

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64

70 THE CRAZE FOR CACTI Join the club

74 IN THE WARM

Why we should all install cast-iron radiators

t r av e l

88 PORTUGAL

Where the city break meets the beach holiday

PROPERTY

110 PROPERTY NEWS

The best investments in London

124 LUXURY LETTINGS Our pick of the market

absolutely.london

21/12/2016 15:09

WANTED CHANEL HERMES GUCCI MULBERRY Designer clothes agency for ladies and gentlemen

OliverSwann PRE-LOVED DESIGNER CLOTHES AGENCY

48 THE PANTILES, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

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INFO@OLIVERSWANN.COM

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26/09/2016 16:57

EDITOR PENDLE HARTE DIGITAL EDITOR HANNAH HOPKINS EDUCATION EDITOR AMANDA CONSTANCE KIDS' EDITOR HELEN BARON FASHION & BEAUTY WRITER JOY MONTGOMERY ARTS & CULTURE WRITER HELEN BROWN ADVERTISING MANAGER ARRON GUARD 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 AYSHA HABIB CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT For editorial enquiries please email: pendle@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: advertising@zest-media.com Subscriptions are available simply by emailing subscription@zest-media.com You can receive an online subscription for FREE or a postal subscriptions for 12 months, £30 respectively (to cover postage and packaging). Please email us with your preferred option and details.

First Floor, 197 City Road, London EC1V 1JN T: 020 7704 0588 F: 020 7900 3020 ABSOLUTELY.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 T wi t t e r @ABSOLUTELY_MAGS Fa c e b o o k ‘ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES’

EDITOR’S letter

V

ery few people will have been sorry to say goodbye to 2016.

Even leaving global politics aside, it wasn't the best year for London.

So hopes for 2017 are higher than ever and we are all fully expecting things to be better than ever in this new year.

In these pages, we're focusing strongly on our homes. We look at paint colours and wallpaper, we swoon over cast iron radiators and we take inspiration from the supremely stylish and charismatic perfum designer Azzi Glasser, whose house smells as wonderful as you'd imagine. In fact, we will be mostly spending January at home, aside from a few trips to the gym, of course – though we

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will be exercising good intentions for the rest of the year by booking ourselves into some new evening classes. Personally, I'm keen on calligraphy, though you might prefer food styling, candle making or origami. We round up some ideas for a bit of armchair browsing in this issue – and meanwhile, we are very proud of our growing website absolutely.london, so sign up for our weekly newsletter to be kept informed of all developments.

And a happy new year to all our readers. ◆

Pendle Harte Editor

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 17:49

COLOUR POP

Shrimps' colourful fur jackets and accessories are great for injecting colour into winter wardrobes.

The AW16 collection presented an edgier side to the fluff y rainbow vision we are used to and was inspired by a British childhood. shrimps.co.uk

10 Things We

ABSOLUTELY

VINTAGE VELVET

For a tipple with a difference, Vintage Velvet vodka is made with Chardonnay grape. Perfect with your favourite mixer, shaken or stirred in your cocktail shaker. £42; vintage-velvet.com

HEARTS AFLAME

Just because the days are darker doesn’t mean your style has to be. Brighten up your winter wardrobe with this eye-catching printed silk scarf from Greek designer Mary Katrantzou. £141.26; farfetch.com

Compiled by

H E L E N B R OW N

QUARTZ EMBELLISHED These gold-tone earrings are ornamented with faceted black agate and pink quartz.

They're the perfect way to add colour to your look. £200; net-a-porter.com

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ABSOLUTELY / LOVES GRANNY’S ATTIC

Nail AW’s most eccentric trend offering with J.Crew’s classic cable knit. Their timeless turtleneck now comes cropped and pairs perfectly with high-waisted everything. jcrew.com

FLOWER POWER

Inspired by lush botanical gardens, Byredo’s Fleur Fantôme is the perfect antidote to drawn in nights and chilly winter weekends. £55; byredo.co.uk

OLIVIA PALERMO X WESTWARD

Veil those post-party season eyes with this new collaboration from fashion's darling, Olivia Palermo. We like this aviator-style that references 1967's Summer of Love mirrored lenses. £230; net-a-porter.com

BOOT IT

Winter weather is no match for these Valentino Garavani Boots, finished in classic grey calfskin leather. With silver-tone Rockstud embellishments they are perfect for puddle-jumping and adding a tough-girl edge to winter pinks and florals. £805; valentino.com

COUNT DOWN

This vintage-inspired number has a rose gold face and mintygreen soft leather strap so you can count down to the New Year in style. £80; oliviaburton.com

TAKE A PEW

Take a well-deserved, post-festive rest with Fern & Grey's latest range of mid-century cocktail chairs. These plush accent pieces are the perfect addition to any home and are available in two dreamy colours. £480; fernandgrey.com

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absolutely.london

20/12/2016 17:50

Original, limited-edition Art Deco posters by leading artists

Limited to editions of 280, our newly-commissioned Art Deco posters feature glamorous holiday destinations around the world, ski resorts in the Austrian, French and Swiss Alps, and the world’s greatest historic automobiles. Over 100 designs to choose from, all printed on 100% cotton fine art paper, measuring 97 x 65 cms.

Priced at £395 each.

Pullman Editions Ltd 94 Pimlico Road Chelsea London SW1W 8PL www.pullmaneditions.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 0547 Email: georgina@pullmaneditions.com

Our central London gallery

Private commissions are also welcome.

All images and text copyright © Pullman Editions Ltd. 2016

View and buy online at w w w.pullmaneditions.com PULLMAN Pullman EdEDITIONS AbsolutelyNOV.indd titles.indd 11

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CREATIVE CLASSES

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AT HOME WITH PERFUMER AZZI GLASSER

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Overlay (67) by Tim Head at the Saatchi Gallery

> WHAT'S ON

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WILD BY CABTOGRAPHY

PHOTO DUFFY © DUFFY ARCHIVE & THE DAVID BOWIE ARCHIVE TM

Fro m 5 Ja n u a r y B ox G a ll e r y his presentation of oil painted cheetahs, T zebras and other wildlife by South African artist Cabtography reflects the essential magic of the African continent itself.

His intricately detailed portraits perfectly capture the spirit of these magnificent beasts. u 402 Kings Road, SW10; boxgalleries.com

HAUNTED BEAUTY

Fro m 2 7 Ja n u a r y D i ss e nte rs' G a ll e r y est London’s resting place of the rich W and glamorous will open as a gallery this year, starting with a series called Haunted Beauty. Nadine Talalla will kick off the showcase with a collection of what she calls “ugly women” taken from different points in history and embedded in dreamlike narratives. u Kensal Green Cemetary, W10; dissentersgallery.com

BOWIE

by Duffy

F rom 6 Jan uary P roud Chel sea

Celebrating the dynamic relationship between two of the centuries greatest artistic innovators on the anniversary of what would have been Bowie’s 70th birthday and untimely death, Proud Chelsea are showcasing the longevity of Bowie’s distinctive persona. Duffy’s iconic images offer a poignant retrospective to one of the most pioneering and influential performers of modern times.

161 King's Road proud.co.uk

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NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE 1 Ja n u a r y Va r i o u s L o ndo n l o c a ti o ns rap up and head out to join Pearly W Kings, acrobats and West End performers as they celebrate London’s 31st Parade. Watch as they float, twirl march and drum a 2.2 mile route around London's iconic landmarks. u Starts at the Ritz Hotel, 150 Piccadilly, W1J; lnydp.com

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ARTS & CULTURE / TALKING TOPICS must go

CHRISTIE'S ALPINE LATE 1 0 Ja n u a r y C hr i s ti e's f you can’t get to the slopes this January, you can enjoy I the après-ski vibe at Christie’s instead. Discover how Nicky Dobree, of Nicky Dobree Interior Design, creates cosy corners in some of the world’s most luxurious ski chalets, listen to poster expert Paul Rennie as he talks all things arty or take part in a cocktail masterclass from renowned West London institution, Bluebird Chelsea. ◆ 85 Old Brompton Rd, SW7; christies.com

Amaluna From 12 January

R oyal Alb e rt Ha l l

AUSTEN COMEDY

After last year's runaway success, Cirque du Soleil is bringing their ground-breaking show back to the Royal Albert Hall in a dazzling display of acrobatic excellence. From Tony Award-winning director Diane Paulus, this awe-inspiring production is a celebration of love and a tribute to the work and voice of women.

Throughout Ja nu a r y L eicester S q ua re T h e a t re mprov gets a bad rep in this country, but anyone who I dismisses the genre clearly hasn't seen Austentatious. This hilarious and entirely improvised comedy brings you period drama like you’ve never seen before. Join an all-star cast as they create a riotously funny new Jane Austen-esque literary masterpiece, based on nothing more than a title suggested by the audience. ◆ 6 Leicester Place, WC2H leicestersquaretheatre.com

Kensington Gore, SW7 royalalberthall.com

EXHIBITION OF THE MONTH

ROSE HARTLEY, NEON ELEPHANT SCREENPRINT ON PAPER

50 X 50 II Fro m 5 Ja n u a r y

S aatc h i G alle r y his quirky exhibition presents 50 new works of art, each measuring 50 x 70cm, by 50 emerging artists. The creators have collaborated with the Jealous Print Studio to produce a limited edition of 36 signed and

T

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numbered prints. Some pieces aim to shock whilst others are objects of decorative beauty.

Some are abstract, whilst others reflect upon current affairs and all are priced at £95. ◆ Duke Of York's HQ, King's Rd, SW3; saatchigallery.com

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Get Crafty January is a time for new beginnings, so why not take up a new hobby? We round up some tempting evening classes...

Wo r d s J u l i a K r u p s k a

Food Styling

I

n the age of Instagram foodies, taste buds have taken a backseat and it’s never been more favoured to photograph and upload an aesthetically pleasing dish. With the help of food writer and stylist Jennifer Joyce, and former deputy food editor of BBC Good Food magazine, Sarah Cook you certainly won’t need to invest in a five-star dining experience to do so. Their six-week evening course will teach you all tricks of the trade, kit essentials, tips on food photography and prop styling. leiths.com

Calligraphy

Food styling

Calligraphy

C

ounting Burberry, Nike and Jimmy Choo among their client archive, Lamplighter London also offers intimate calligraphy workshops for the public. You can develop beautiful techniques with founder and author of Nib + Ink, Chiara Perano, and receive a personalised selection of stationery treats to take away too. lamplighterlondon.com

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ARTS & CULTURE / CLASSES Candle-making

Candle-making

T

ucked away in the heart of Belgravia is Rachel Vosper's luxurious candlemaking boutique. Create your own bespoke candles in etched glass containers, along with a selection of fragranced decorations while you sip champagne – this is a truly enjoyable experience. ◆ rachelvosper.com

L u x u r y C h o c o l at e Workshop

T

hese indulgent chocolate workshops in Hackney kick off with blending a devilish chocolate vodka martini. You'll discover how to infuse chocolate with essential oils and create a giant chocolate button from delicious Belgium chocolate. During the session you'll taste a selection of amazing chocolates from around the globe then pipe, dip and decorate tasty cream truffles, while enjoying a glass of champagne too. ◆ redletterdays.co.uk

Screen-printing

Screen Printing Print Club London

I

Origami

f you’re a dab hand at Photoshop and looking to create an arty one-off wonder, Print Club London are hosting two-day deluxe workshops offering the chance to create your very own bespoke screen print. With the help of an expert tutor, you’ll digitally create your design - coat, expose and wash screens before delving into the magic of mixing inks and curating layers. ◆ printclublondon.com

Origami

E

ver longed for the secret to the perfect flapping bird? Wonder no more, thanks to Britain’s leading origami artist Sam Tsang and his private, champagne-included, workshops.

Gather a group of friends, split the price and indulge in a totally customisable workshop tailored entirely to your preferences - a choice of mindful, collaborative or educational themes make for a pleasurably nostalgic folding experience. ◆ rulyexperiences.com

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SCENTS OF ADVENTURE Meeting perfumer Azzi Glasser is an education in all things olfactory.

Absolutely is entranced Interview Pendle Harte

I

t’s to be expected that Azzi Glasser’s stylish house in Camden Town smells amazing.

The scent is both welcoming and exotic and it totally expresses the house’s character. Glasser is London’s perfumer of the moment – she describes herself as a perfume designer – and her magical, mysterious fragrances are intriguing, with a depth and roundedness that you could liken to wine.

Azzi is a big personality: chatty, stylish and fun. Our conversation centres very much on love and emotions, on sexiness and identity – worlds away from the marketing-led uniform ideals of the beauty industry, of which she's highly critical. Her skill lies in expressing character through scent, so she’s not

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For an ‘art scent’ she might BOTTLE THE ESSENCE of

STANLEY KUBRICK’S 2001, or the smell of a RAINY DAY

exclusively interested in scents that are nice. She claims to ‘think in smells’ and this innate scent literacy is at the root of everything. Her studio is lined with shelves of carefully labelled brown apothecary bottles, like an alchemist’s laboratory, and she’s talkative and warm.

As well as character, perfume is about love, she says and her signature scent is ‘a real love – and love is strong and powerful and it takes control of your life.’

Her brand The Perfumer’s Story is a year old and consists of 12 fragrances and candles. It’s her first actual brand after 27 years in the industry, though she has designed countless fragrances for clients including Bella Freud, Nicole Farhi, Jasper Conran, Illamasqua and Space NK, among others, since her first own perfume launched in 1999, a

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ARTS & CULTURE / PROFILE are classic perfumes that she professes enormous respect for – Rive Gauche, Arpege, Mitsouko – she’d never wear them. But it was her mother’s trail of scent that started it all, Azzi’s childhood memory of her glamorous mother saying goodbye in false eyelashes and fur coat, leaving ‘an incredibly expensive trail behind her’ which Azzi thought was ‘the most beautiful thing in the world’. Though when she later entered the industry, trails were no more. ‘It was all light and watery in the 1990s, so we brought back chypre, which hadn’t been done since the 70s. I wanted to bring back sexiness and leaving a trail, which was very much against the trend at the time.’

Scent doesn’t have to be pleasing so much as visceral for Azzi and one of her many lines of interest is the ‘art scent’ where, for instance, she might bottle the essence of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001, or the smell of a rainy day. How does she go about making a film into a smell?

‘Ha – well I’ve never been to space but I imagine it as dark and claustrophobic.

So I imagined the smell of the back of the computer, which reminded me also of the plastic of space suits.’ Even discussing individual ingredients is slightly beside the point for her. ‘These days everything’s all about citrus, or all about oud, or whatever, and that’s nonsense. For me, perfume should tell a story, but that’s not what they teach you in perfumery.’ Each ingredient will smell different depending on its interaction with other ingredients, which means that the possibilities are

fragrance for Agent Provocateur, run by her friends Joseph Corre and Serena Rees. ‘I’d had enough of working in an industry where everything smelt the same and all the brands were taken over by multinationals.’ She had been working for a perfume house creating scents for fashion houses. ‘I wanted to do it myself, design the bottle and everything. There’s no point having a great smell in a bottle that looks like everything else, with no story to it.’

Azzi’s own signature scent is Sequoia Wood, from her own collection; she rarely wears anything else. ‘My Sequoia Wood is just so me. If I leave the house without it I have to go back, because I know that everything would go wrong if I didn’t have my perfume on. I’d just be thinking about it all the time.’ While there

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absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:03

Queen 660mm Etch-Coated Polish, Windsor Satin Nickel TRV

Tiles - www.originalstyle.com

Bespoke cast iron radiators | Made in England | www.castrads.com Visit our new flagship store 247 Fulham Road, Chelsea

www.castrads.com

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ARTS & CULTURE / PROFILE

literally endless. Does she worry that she’ll run out of combinations? ‘Never. It’s like paint – you mix red and white, you get pink. And each ingredient has its own properties, so for instance sandalwood adds longevity, while lemon verbena is volatile and has less lasting power. There are 50 different rose oils, each with different qualities.’

Making bespoke scents for celebrities has become a large part of Azzi’s work over the past decade – but she’ll never start by asking someone what smells they like. ‘Asking what they like isn’t so relevant when you’re creating something that’s going to be the love of their life. I need to get to know their personality, so I look at the way they’re styling themselves already. It’s a bit like a fun psychotherapy session.’ She normally only needs one appointment before setting to work – the fee is £15,000 and for that people get a personalized crystal bottle in addition to 20 regular bottles. And of course she’ll keep the recipe for posterity – people put them in their wills. ‘Helena’ (BonhamCarter, it emerges), for instance, calls her Azzi concoction her ‘armour’ – and ‘people always ask her what she’s wearing. She’s very funny, eccentric, like no-one else – very individual and intelligent; she has exquisite taste and loves heritage and history.’ BonhamCarter’s scent is composed of florals

If I leave the house without it I HAVE TO GO BACK, because I know that everything would GO WRONG IF

I DIDN’T HAVE MY PERFUME ON. I’d just be thinking ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

theperfumersstory.com

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that aren’t commercial – ‘you can’t even pick a note in this perfume’ and she has described it as ‘a protective cloud, invisible tool, emotional touchstone and part portal to make-believe land’. Other fans include Johnny Depp – ‘I don’t know if you’ve ever met Johnny’ – whom she describes as ‘intelligent, like a reference book, and very funny and charming; one of the sexiest men on the planet, he loves expensive stuff ’. He calls her a ‘sorcerer’ and believes that ‘three hundred years ago she would have been hung for witchcraft.’ And here’s Bella Freud: ‘It was almost disconcerting to find that somebody had read me in such a spiritual way. It was like she’d nailed a part of me through pure osmosis.’

Apart from being its own language, fragrance uses a lot of musical language.

There are notes and compositions, tuning and balance, and an untouchable sense of flow. Azzi’s scent literacy is all about emotion, not lists of ingredients. Her Amber Molecule, for instance, is, she says, ‘a loyal friend who’s always there, comforting, who will make you feel good but is quite predictable. I love wearing it on the plane – it’s a bit like a cashmere scarf.’ And a collaboration with Swedish director Jonas Akerlund led to the simply named ‘Ditch’ because ‘he said he hates perfume but he loves the smell of a ditch, so I thought, fine, let’s do that. It’s wet, muddy and grassy – and lots of people love it.’ Stephen Fry is a fan of Old Books, a scent inspired by ‘libraries and falling apart books in grandma’s attic’ while 54 is ‘the smell of the night – exotic, untouchable, a fabulous woman’ and Tuscan Suede is ‘a really expensive white suede sofa, very sexy’.

The idea of home is bound up with the sense of smell on an emotional level, and fragrancing the house is another of Azzi’s interests. She sees her range of candles as being suited to different rooms in a scheme that she calls ‘fragrance architecture’. Her widely praised Black Moss candle is for the hallway or living room (this is the smell that greets me in her house) while Twisted Iris ‘will make your bathroom smell like a stately home bathroom’.

So is it fun? ‘Oh yeah,’ says Azzi. ‘Thank God for that, really. It’s so nice to hang out in your own smell world and get away from the ridiculous world. It’s also nice to hear people’s stories over time, because memories are so connected to smell.

Smell is so evocative and so intense.’ ◆

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:03

Michael Michaud Jewellery captures the beauty and exquisite detail of nature using soft patinas on bronze cast from plants, leaves and flowers.

Michael Michaud Jewellery is renowned for its beauty and workmanship and is featured in the finest museums, galleries and speciality retailers internationally. Many collections are commissioned by leading museums such as The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, The National Gallery of Art and the Château de Versailles.

www.michael-michaud.com

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> FASHION CONFIDENTIAL

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THE NEW GENTLEWOMEN

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TREND: WINTER FLORALS

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TRÈS TRÈS CHIC Meet Uterqüe: the impossibly cool fashion brand loved by those in the know. For AW16 we’ll be investing in their classic polos, crisp poplin shirts and perfectly proportioned cashmere knits, which will carry us right through to spring. uterque.com

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absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:05

st y l e C e n t r a l

Embrace camo luxe trousers, military cool and the new 'it' bag this January Wo r d s j oy m o n t g o m e r y

4 OF THE BEST

ACTIVEWEAR BRANDS Kick-start your new year workout with cool new kit 01

BEST FOR BASICS • Lululemon This Canadian sportswear label has gone from strength to strength, offering gym bunnies a wide range of high quality workout gear and accessories in classic fits and flattering hues.

lululemon.co.uk ◆

02

NEW BRAND TO KNOW • Michi If you're looking for a lesser-known name then head over to Michi, the high-end workout brand that offers a sexy twist on gym basics. We love their mesh panelled leggings which hug in all the right places with miraculous leg-sculpting results.

michiny.com ◆

03

MOST STYLISH • Varley For those wanting workout wear that can be worn from desk to gym to supermarket, Varley is the name to know. Inspired by California’s costal culture and London’s eclectic style, this brand uses unique and eye-catching prints to deliver Instagram-worthy looks.

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Social Star

gap.com

Madga Butrym’s label was founded in 2014 yet has already graced many a star-studded Instagram feed. Combining modern design with traditional craftsmanship, Butrym offers an avant garde yet accessible aesthetic. For AW16 she has cleverly married feminine accents with an anarchic glamour, securing her a place in the fashion big leagues. magdabutrym.com

varley.com ◆

HIGH STREET HERO • GapFit It might not be the first brand that springs to mind when you think of sportswear, but Gap is every gym bunny's affordable gem. From yoga and studio-wear, to barre and running kit, their wide-range of high quality separates come in a plethora of trend-led cuts and high-tech fabrics.

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Magda Butrym

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FASHION / NOTES

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CAMO LUXE Elizabeth & James

of the best

We love discovering new hero pieces, and for AW16 Elizabeth & James has seriously delivered. These luxe quilted trousers tick both the military and athleisure trends, and can be glammed up for drinks or dressed down with layered knits for weekend casual. Win win. £265; net-a-porter.com

MILITARY COATS Stand to attention this season

01 02

editor’s

PICK

BODY SCULPTURES Jessie Harris London

If you haven’t heard of Jessie Harris, then you will soon. Graduating from Chelsea College of Art in 2010, Harris has already graced the covers of countless glossy magazines. Handcrafted in her east London home, the brand offers sculptural, high-end silhouettes at truly affordable prices. jessieharris.co.uk

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THE NEW ‘IT’ BAG J .W. A n d e r s o n

It's official: the ‘it’ bag is back. Step aside Chloe Faye, because J.W.Anderson’s pierce bag is the look to love this season. Rendered in soft lamb leather, this septum piercinginspired bag has, fittingly, been spotted on the arms of countless ‘it’ girls, and will add the perfect punk edge to any outfit. £1,965; j-w-anderson.com

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HERITAGE CHIC Archive by Alexa

Alexa Chung's Archive by Alexa line for Marks & Spencer is back for a second season with a host of sell-out looks. Fusing her own unique brand of retro style with a fashion forward twist, the Ellerby coat and Headrow jumper are sure to be a sellout. marksandspencer.com

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07

1. MAJE, Long military-style coat, £479; maje.com 2. ZARA, Jacket with toggles, £89.99; zara.com 3. BURBERRY, Cape-back wool and cashmere-blend coat, £2,495; net-a-porter.com 4. PINKY LAING, Navy velvet military jacket, £ 700; avenue32.com 5. TOMAS MAIER, Double-breasted wool-blend pea coat, £645; net-a-porter.com 6. ROBERTO CAVALLI. Cropped embellished velvet jacket, £1,445; net-a-porter.com 7. SACAI, Military coat, £1,410; farfetch.com

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:06

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX

The League of Gentlewomen Absolutely meets Navaz Batliwalla, aka Disneyrollergirl, author of The New Garconne: How to be a Modern Gentlewoman

T

ime is such a valuable resource; there are literally only 24 hours in a day and that’s never going to change. I think people are starting to realise that it’s so precious.”

This is a sentiment you might expect from an elderly relative or perhaps a disenchanted lawyer-turnedyoga-instructor, but not from a fashion blogger star-cum-creative consultant.

Navaz Batliwalla, aka Disneyrollergirl, is in many ways the quintessential millennial style maven. Her hit blog chronicles the ins and outs and ups and downs of a fast-paced, multi-million dollar industry. Her Instagram is a wellcurated tableaux of style inspiration, beauty product assemblage and glimpses into an exclusive and glamorous bubble.

Yet, in a seemingly curveball move, she has written a book. Not only this, she has written a book that espouses the value of timeworn objects and the joy of style that transcends the trend-led mania of contemporary fashion.

The New Garconne: How to be a Modern Gentlewoman is a series of profiles and

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

NH_Jan17_NAVAZ FASHION.indd 24

PHOTO: EMMA MIRANDA MOORE

I n t e r v i e w J oy m o n tg o m e ry

There’s a belief that POSSESSIONS are SOMEHOW SHALLOW,

but I disagree

interviews with women who embody this unique and seemingly counter-cultural ‘gentlewoman’ aesthetic. "She’s the type of woman who loves design and is a voracious shopper, yet craves meaningful things, rather than chasing trends."

Navaz explains. "She is careful about what she buys because she likes quality."

The book is illustrated with stunning photography that captures these women – from fashion designers and CEOs to singer-songwriters and comediennes – in their homes and creative studios.

In an age of e-books, photo-sharing and perfectly edited Instagram feeds, these eclectic, imperfect and personal spaces become as biographical as the interviews themselves. Well-thumbed books and coffee table detritus are relics of their owners’ stories and embody the garconne’s reverence of beautiful, physical objects. "There’s a belief that possessions are somehow shallow, but I disagree", Navaz argues. "We can’t help attaching an emotional value to things that represent a moment in time or a personal landmark."

Navaz set up her blog in 2007 when she was working as fashion director at

24 20/12/2016 18:11

FASHION / PROFILE

PHOTO: DONNA WALLACE © KASIA BOBULA

Cosmo Girl magazine. Disneyrollergirl began as a way for the editor to practice her prose (there was minimal writing on the magazine), yet she decided to remain anonymous. Soon the readers started to trickle in, intrigued by this person with such unique insight into an elusive industry. "At the time blogs were really insignificant. No one bothered to look at them and there weren’t very many, especially in the UK," she explains. "But as time went on they started to gain power - in terms of speaking directly to like-minded people and consumers.

These days people tend to set up blogs because they see it as a glamorous career, as opposed to having something to say."

This rejection of fashion’s commodification is at the heart of The New Garconne. Navaz alludes to the overwhelming ‘content overload’ and ‘perfectionism’ of social media, and

These days people tend to SET UP BLOGS because they SEE IT as a GLAMOROUS CAREER

25 NH_Jan17_NAVAZ FASHION.indd 25

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:11

ANTIQUE OAK FLOORING

Over 100 designs | Expert advice | 20,000m2 of stock | Fast delivery SHOWROOM

20 Smugglers Way Wandsworth London SW18 1EG 020 8871 9771

www.naturalwoodfloor.co.uk

NWF.indd 1

09/11/2016 17:32 12:48 08/09/2016

FASHION / PROFILE PHYLLIS WANG © ELISE TOÏDÉ

lives of modern 20 and 30-somethings.

They crave the constant influx of data yet feel disillusioned by the disconnection of digital life. Navaz Batliwalla’s book comes with the renewed fetishisation for homemade, artisanal produce and the touchy-feely appeal of scandi living (hello hygge). This is where The New Gentlewoman succeeds: Navaz Batiwalla captures the zeitgeist of a generation overwhelmed by choice, and instead offers an antidote in the form of modern day muses who propse a different, and perhaps more appealing, way of living.

Welcome to the future.  The New Garconne: How to be a Modern Gentlewoman is out now. Published by Laurence King. £16.95

People are wanting TO SLOW DOWN & be more mindful of things like ENDURANCE A& SUSTAINABILITY

BELLA FREUD © KASIA BOBULA

instead looks to ‘minimalist and calm’ magazines like Kinfolk and fashion brands such as Céline and &OtherStories. Are we approaching an era that rejects the Kardashianisation of fashion and visual culture? "I’ve never really liked the celebritification of fashion." She muses.

"Most people like it because they want to be told what to wear - they like following.

However I’ve been working in fashion for years and that’s the way it works: everything is a reaction to whatever has gone before it."

Whether it’s putting away your phone and picking up a book, or choosing quality over quantity, it’s clear that Navaz sees ‘slow’ as the adjective of choice for 2017. This may seem counterintuitive considering the number of brands jumping on the ‘shop from the runway’ bandwagon, yet Navaz remains optimistic for the future: "It would seem that if this carries on fashion is only going to get faster, with people consuming more and more, but I don’t think it’s going to work out this way. I feel like people are wanting to slow down and be more mindful of things like endurance and sustainability."

The tension between digital and detox embodied in The New Garconne may seem contradictory (it’s worth noting that the book’s concept was developed on a Pinterest board) however it's a contradiction that is ever-present in the

27 NH_Jan17_NAVAZ FASHION.indd 27

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:11

AntA

made in Scotland

Pure SILKS J OA N N A MAC DO NAL D S H AW L 2 12 X 81cm £240

14 Hinde St M a r y l e b o n e l on d on

w w w. a n t a . c o. u k

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r e e t

21/10/2016 16:44

FASHION / TREND GLAMOROUS, Floral Brocade Bomber Jacket, £55; glamorous.com

MARC JACOBS, Floral-Flocked Gingham Blouse, £305; matchesfashion.com

GUCCI, Princetown Fur-Lined Floral-Brocade Loafers, £515; matchesfashion.com

ERDEM AW16

CHRISTOPHER KANE, Floral Embroidered Cotton-Jersey Sweatshirt, £395; net-a-porter.com

MARNI, Flower Print Asymmetric Dress, £1,660; farfetch.com

JONATHAN SAUNDERS, Alex Embroidered Floral Shirt, £575; farfetch.com

SELF-PORTRAIT

Antoinette Blouse, £200; selfridges.com

WALL FLOWER WHISTLES, Gwyneth Jacquard Dress, £195; whistles.com

Embrace the brooding beauty of the English garden

RED VALENTINO, Sequinned Flower Tote, £755; farfetch.com

GUCCI, Appliquéd Silk-Blend Organza Gown, £2,740; net-a-porter.com

B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

LAURENCE DACADE, Pete Embroidered Velvet Ankle Boots, £615; net-a-porter.com

29 USE Chis_Jan17_Fashion_Products.indd 29

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:23

SEA BREEZE Reinvigorate your wardrobe with ecletic colours and textures b i m b ay l o l a .c o m

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20/12/2016 18:26

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

ABSOLUTELY.LONDON.indd 1

09/11/2016 15:31

FASHION / MOODBOARD

MY INSPIRATIONS Fanny Moizant, Founder of Vestiaire Collective

FAVOURITE FASHION DESIGNER?

I really love what Julie de Libran is doing at Sonia Rykiel, but also Demna Gvasalia at Vêtement. Shoe wise I am fan of Francesco Russo and Gianvitto Rossi.

Fanny Moizant

Roka, Charlotte Street

ULTIMATE STYLE ICON?

I love Charlotte Gainsbourg – she makes denim look chic even when paired with a simple white t-shirt.

BRAND TO WATCH FOR 2017?

Racil. They make the most amazing blazers that fit perfectly!

Charlotte Gainsborough

HERO BUY FOR AW16?

Vêtement ankle boots, Racil blazer and a Celine chunky knit.

I really LOVE what JULIE DE LIBRAN is doing at SONIA

Gazelli House

RYKIEL

CAN’T-LIVE-WITHOUT BEAUTY PRODUCT?

Products from Joelle Ciocco are my favourite – I can’t recommend them enough. Joelle is a French Epidemiologist and her products are fantastic because they leave your skin feeling so healthy. You can buy the products in the UK from ohmycream.com, which is a site I’m also obsessed with!

Sonia Rykiel AW16 Francesco Russel

37 NH_CH_JAn17_MOODBOARD.indd 37

BEST RESTAURANT?

Roka on Charlotte Street in London has the most delicious Japanese food. I love the open kitchen where you can see the food being prepared and pick up some tips. It all adds to the experience.

FAVOURITE WAY TO RELAX?

Massage at Gazelli. ◆ vestiairecollective.com

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:30

DOLCI FOLLIE.indd 1

20/12/2016 12:12

BEAUTIFUL HOME FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES

125 QUEENSTOWN ROAD, LONDON SW8 3RH / WWW.DECARA-HOME.CO.UK INFO@DECARA-HOME.CO.UK / TEL: 0207 622 3388 DECARA HOME.MAY.indd 1

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21/04/2016 16:13

21/12/2016 11:54

FASHION / JEWELLERY

UNDER THE SEA 1

2

3

8

6

4

7

5

1 OSCAR DE LA RENTA JET SEA TANGLE CUFF, £318; modaoperandi.com • 2 FERNANDO JORGE FLUID PARAIBAS BRACELET, £3,800; harrods.com 3 ANNELISE MICHELSON ALGAE SEA LEAVES EARRINGS, £382; annelisemichelson.com • 4 LYDIA COURTEILLE, 18-KARAT WHITE GOLD SAPPHIRE & AGATE EARRINGS, £15,450; net-a-porter.com • 5 ANNOUSHKA MYTHOLOGY LOBSTER AMULET, £7,500; annoushka.com • 6 STEPHEN WEBSTER TOPKAT 18-KARAT GOLD DIAMOND NECKLACE, £2,550, stephenwebster.com • 7 VENYX LADY V RING, £1,700; net-a-porter.com 8 MIZUKI 14-KARAT GOLD PEARL EARRINGS, £1,310; mizukijewelry.com

39 NH_Jan17_JEWELLERY.indd 39

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:33

SHINING A LIGHT ON LASER LONDONS NO.1 HAIR REMOVAL SPECIALISTS

With the latest in laser technology our highly trained therapists can now offer solutions for skin rejuvenation, unsightly veins and pigmentation, as well as our leading laser hair removal treatments.

Visit us at Strip Chelsea, Notting Hill or Islington for your complimentary consultation.

Reader Offer: Receive 30% off single treatments or 10% off courses when you mention Absolutely Notting Hill.

WWW.STRIPWAXBAR.COM

STRIP NH.indd 1

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> BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

p. 42

READER EVENT - CHANEL

p. 51

DANCE WITH KAREN HARDY

p. 53

CIAO BELLA She’s one half of the Hadid modelling duo whose film noir beauty has captured the heart of a generation. This year Bella Hadid hit the jackpot after being announced as the new face of Dior beauty. Will this millenial launch the historic fashion house into a social media age?

Watch this space. dior.com

41 CHIS_December16_BEAUTY OPENER.indd 41

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:34

sa lo n R e v i e w

Start your year the right way with the latest beauty & wellness trends W o r d s J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

STRIP Laser skin smoothing Wo r d s Lu cy L a n d

R

enowned for offering virtually pain-free waxing treatments, it’s perhaps not surprising that Strip now offers the latest in laser treatments complete with a dynamic cooling device (I assume this is to ensure these treatments are also virtually pain-free).

As well as hair removal, other laser treatments include thread vein removal, skin tightening (which works by stimulating collagen production), and pigmentation removal. I was booked in for the latter to get rid of a small sunspot on the left side of my face.

My laser therapist, Terri – who has eight years’ experience in laser treatments alone, having previously worked with other beauty treatments – led me to a smart, white room where she took me through a health questionnaire. Recent sunbed sessions or fake tan applications were definite no-nos.

Terri is a stickler for year-round SPF 50 application – she recommends Heliocare 360 (available at Strip). Her own skin is baby smooth and pigment-free so she likely has a point.

The actual treatment lasted a few seconds. The protective eyewear and smell of burning hair (on my face) was scarier than the slight sting. A small scab developed during the next couple of days, which friends mistook for a mole that they’d never previously noticed. It fell off after 10 days, revealing smooth sunspotfree skin. ◆ S T R I P WA X B A R 102 Fulham Road, SW3; 020 7590 0050; stripwaxbar.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Chis_Jan17_Beauty note.indd 42

Seasonal Escapism Guerlain

From Guerlain’s iconic fragrance comes a holiday make-up collaboration with supermodel Natalia Vodianova. Inspired by the romantic legend of Shalimar, this three-piece edit comprises of illuminating pearls, shimmer mist and an intense rogue lipstick. A portion of the profits will go to Vodianova’s charity, the Naked Heart Foundation, so you’ll do good while looking good. guerlain.com

42 20/12/2016 18:38

HEALTH & BEAUTY / NOTES

8

POSH BEAUTY Victoria Beckham x E s t ée L a u d e r

She's the girl power pop star turned fashion designer who has turned her hand to beauty. Continuing to smash expectations, Victoria Beckham has delivered a show-stopping collaboration with Estée Lauder.

Hero buys include a double-ended eye pencil and the perfect red lipstick.

Is there anything she can't do? from £22; esteelauder.co.uk

SCARLET WOMAN Lancôme

To celebrate its 25th birthday, iconic Lancôme lipstick L’Absolu Rogue has had a chic reinvention. Make-up artist to the stars Lisa Eldridge has partnered with the brand to create 14 new shades, from nude pinks to extroverted reds, all in a variety of textures. We’ll have one in every shade please. £25.50; lancome.co.uk

of the best

NAIL STRENGTHENING POLISHES

1 3

editor's

PICK

EXTRAORDINARY The Ordinary

It's rare that we come across premium skincare for under £10, but The Ordinary is breaking the luxury mould. The no-frills range of 10 serums focuses on simple, active ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and retinol. 30,000 were sold within two weeks of launching and its virtues extolled by countless beauty editors. Get it before it goes. £4; ordinaries.com

DRINK UP Aveda

January is a tough time for our skin.

Indulgent feasting, boozy New Years and lack of vitamin D mean our skin is in need of a boost. The beauty gods have offered us respite in the form of Aveda Botanical's new Kinetics Hydrating Treatment Lotion.

Based on Asian skincare routines, this intensely hydrating treatment is made from Algae extract and will offer your skin that enviable dewy glow. £34; aveda.co.uk

7

4 6

8

1. BUTTER LONDON, SHEER WISDOM NAIL TINTED MOISTURISER, £15; lookfantastic.com 2. DEBORAH LIPPMANN, TURN BACK TIME ANTI-AGEING BASE COAT, £18; harrods.com 3. ELEGANT TOUCH, NAIL APOTHECARY, GOLD RIDGE FILLER 03, £8.95; boots.com 4. MAVALA, FORTIFYING AND PROTECTIVE BASE COAT FOR NAILS, £16; allbeauty.com 5. SECHE, SECHE REBUILD, £11.95; lookfantastic.com 6. JESSICA, RESTORATION BASE COAT, £18.95; feelunique.com 7. IBX, NATURAL NAIL STRENGTHENER, £10; louellabelle.co.uk 8. NAILSINC, NAILKALE COLOUR, £14; nailsinc.com

43 Chis_Jan17_Beauty note.indd 43

5

2

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:38

ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION

Anita can MAKE a women LOOK and FEEL like the VERY BEST version of themself

PICTURE PERFECT

Absolutely gets the ultimate makeover and photography session with celebrity stylist Anita Warszawska

Y

ou may not have as many million Instagram followers as Cara Delevingne and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, but that does not mean that your own personal branding should go overlooked. We’re all judged by how we look, how we dress, how we present ourselves.

Just having a picture on LinkedIn makes a profile 14 times more likely to be viewed by others and studies have proven that, despite the age old adage about judging book covers, our brain establishes a first impression before we even make a conscious decision about a person. But how do we nail the right look? While holiday snaps work fantastically for social media, they have quite the adverse

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

AW_PCL_Jan17.V2.indd 44

affect on professional profiles. These images tend to give the impression we’d rather be anywhere than at work. Presenting the right image is crucial, and increasingly so in our digital-savvy society, with 60% of employers using social media to screen candidates.

This is where experts like Anita Warszawska can help. Anita is a professional make-up artist, hair stylist and photographer with a long list of celebrity, model and bridal clients. Alongside makeovers, bridal consultations and trials, shoots and make-up tutorials, Anita creates a personal photography portfolio for each client. This is a unique service, run from her beautiful little Venice-based studio.

Arriving at Anita’s discreet, attractively lit studio for an afternoon is like being welcomed into a luxury spa. After swapping

my coat and boots for a gorgeously soft robe and slippers, we sipped tea and discussed the three different looks – beauty, professional and glamorous – that we would create with the clothes and jewellery I had brought along. Anita is hugely creative but also easy to develop a rapport with, which means that the experience feels collaborative, fun and personal.

Anita does an incredible job of making women look and feel like the very best versions of themselves. Her passion for make-up is infectious. It is clear that she keeps ahead of make-up trends and, because she doesn’t affiliate herself with one single cosmetic brand, Anita is in the unique unbiased position of choosing from many tried and tested favourite products. Anita was incredible generous in giving expert advise throughout my makeover. She taught me to press powder rather than brushing to avoid a dull complexion from the product sitting on the tiny hairs that cover the face, and which colours best suit my skin tone, amongst many other invaluable hints and tips. Anita’s completely self-run service is hugely ambitious and very unique.

Her success lies within her remarkable skill. Anita’s expertise ensured that I felt completely relaxed during the shoot. She made me look and feel amazing. u

Anita Warszawska 07766 503 817; anita@anitawarszawska.com; anitawarszawska.com

44 20/12/2016 18:40

USPAAH.indd 1

15/12/2016 16:34

Home-style Scandinavian cuisine & cocktails prepared with modern simplicity

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THURSDAY: Jazz | FRIDAY & SATURDAY: Lisa’s Jukebox | SUNDAY: Jazz For bookings please email: bookings@lisasportobello.com

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LISA'S.FEB.indd 1

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HEALTH & BEAUTY / PRODUCTS SHISEIDO,

Shimmering Cream Eye Colour, £22; harrods.com

NUXE,

Huile Prodigieuse Or, £19; spacenk.com

MAC,

Strobe Cream, £24.50; maccosmetics.co.uk

BENEFIT,

Benetint, £24.50; benefitcosmetics.com

BOBBI BROWN,

Intensive Skin Serum Foundation, £40; bobbibrown.co.uk

LAURA MERCIER

Lip Balm SPF 15, £17.50; spacenk.com

PERRICONE MD,

No Foundation Foundation Serum, £45; perriconemd.co.uk

HOURGLASS,

CHARLOTTE TILBURY,

Veil Mineral Primer, £46; net-a-porter.com

THE BODY SHOP,

Brow & Lash Gel, £10; thebodyshop.com

Mini Miracle Eye Wand, £29; charlottetilbury.com

FRESH AS A DAISY Press re-set with the best skin-loving beauty buys B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

URBAN DECAY,

Naked 2 Eyeshadow Palette, £38.50; urbandecay.co.uk

7. ESTEE LAUDER,

Perfectionist Serum Compact Makeup SPF15, £43; esteelauder.co.uk

NARS,

Illuminating Multiple, £29; narscosmetics.co.uk

BARE MINERALS,

SPF 25 Mineral Veil, £21; bareminerals.co.uk

47 Chis_Jan17_BeautyProducts_.indd 47

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:39

#TaylorMorrisExplorer

www.taylormorriseyewear.com

TAYLOR MORRIS.indd 1

25/11/2016 14:06

HEALTH & BEAUTY / HAIR

THE WORLD OF TRESSES can be stressful at the BEST OF TIMES

ASK HARI

As Hari’s opens in Lebury Road, the famed hairdresser offers hair counselling to Absolutely readers

A

Wo r d s h a r i

t last, a place for us to speak frankly about our hair: the trends worth talking about, noteworthy science as it breaks, those cutting conundrums and the real reason behind your good and bad hair days. Say what you will about the British, while we may have good-getting-better hair, we’re afraid to speak out in the salon chair.

How many times have you looked at your less-than-lovely new ‘do, only to murmur, ‘it’s perfect’?

My name is Hari, and I am here to help.

I have been cutting hair for over 35 years,

watching the exciting evolution of styling, from my early days at Leonard’s salon cutting Twiggy’s hair to today’s modern manes created at my four eponymous London-based salons, the latest of which opened up in Notting Hill this month.

But reader, we’ve left you behind, and I’m sorry. You see, I’ve noticed the one thing that has fallen behind the cutting curve is a British women’s confidence in her own hair. And it’s not surprising, because the world of tresses can be stressful at the best of times. With that in mind, this column, aptly named ‘Ask Hari’, is your monthly forum to speak up and out, all in pursuit of hirsute perfection – it’s time to let our best hair down.

49 NH_Jan17_HARI'S.indd 49

Think of #AskHari as a two-way conversation, between you and me. This is the backwash chat before you get to the salon chair, arming you with everything you need to know before you head to the hairdresser’s chair. In short, your perfect hair wish is my column’s command.

All you have to do is pose your mane questions on Twitter to @HARIsSALON and @Absolutely_Mags using the #AbsolutelyAskHair, and we’ll answer and print them right here. u

G O W E ST

● Hari’s Notting Hill didn’t want to arrive without making some kind of a Bohemian bang, complementing the area’s own unique, lassez-faire style, with that same west London vitality. We opened the doors to our newest bijou salon with treatments designed to let the locals' hair shine. Step forward our bespoke Chili & Oyster Hair Shot - the ‘ultimate Winter blow out’ if you like. Developed by our in-house biochemist, Nausheen Quershi, this 60-minute treatment uses natural Japanese oyster extract and chili extract, and a whole lot of scalp and mind boosting massage in-between, to rebuild and repair, while stimulating and strengthening every strand. “I designed the oyster and chill shot to stimulate circulation and promote growth,” explains Quershi, who also infused the blend with amino and water-based azalaic acids and zinc to transform hair quality. Hari’s is calling this the antidote to moody winter manes and minds. £95 for an hour with blow-dry.

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:46

u im

W E D D I N G S& C I V I L C E R E M O N I E S At Hotel du V in W imbledon

THE PERFECT STAGE FOR YOUR WEDDING

W ith exquisite private rooms, gorgeous suites, a tranquil terraced garden, heavenly dining elegantly from ceremony to wedding breakfast and beyond. Hotel du V in W imbledon is the perfect venue for weddings and civil partnerships.

Visit our website for more details: HOTELDUVIN.com HOTEL DU VIN& BISTRO WIMBLEDON events.wimbledon@hotelduvin.com 0330 024 0706 Please ask sk at time of booking for or standard booking terms and conditions.

HOTEL DU VIN.indd 1

19/09/2016 13:14

HEALTH & BEAUTY / READER OFFER

Absolutely & Chanel

READER EVENT Chanel's new Coco Codes collection is revealed at a series of exclusive reader events Wo r d s e v e h e r b e r t

B

etween 20 and 27 of January, readers will have the chance to visit one of three Chanel standalone beauty boutiques (Covent Garden, Spitalfields or Burlington Arcade) and try out the new collection. The £45 ticket will be redeemable against purchase of a one-hour full make-up appointment with a Chanel make-up expert – perfect for that special birthday or anniversary. If this isn’t enough, attendees will walk away with a complimentary goody bag filled with luxury Chanel samples. Complimentary champagne and soft drinks will also be served throughout.

Chanel’s Coco Codes collection was created to celebrate, reinterpret and decipher the brand’s five iconic colour codes of red, black, gold, white and beige. It is a journey into the colours that shaped the life of Gabrielle Chanel. Her use of colour was defiant,

unexpected, elegant and bold - and always utterly original. Now a part of the very fabric and history of Chanel, it is impossible to imagine the House without them. Yet in this collection, Lucia Pica, Chanel global creative makeup and colour designer, has found a way to re-infuse these classic shades with her own elegant irreverence, breathing new life into these beloved colours, and challenging conventional modes of beauty. Coco Codes encourages women to embrace the codes of Chanel and reinterpret them for their own individual style. ◆ l To book your appointment call or email the boutique of your choice: For Covent Garden telephone: 020 7240 2001 or e-mail: covent.garden@chanel.co.uk. For Spitalfields telephone: 020 7247 5513 or email: spitalfields@ chanel.co.uk. For Burlington Arcade telephone: 020 7629 7621 or email: burlington.arcade@ chanel.co.uk.

51 Chis_Jan17_CHANEL READER'S EVENT.indd 51

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:47

R E S TA U R A N T & B A R D E D I C AT E D TO T H E R E G I O N A L C U I S I N E O F P U G L I A

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25/08/2016 22/03/2016 10:12 18:28

HEALTH & BEAUTY / FOCUS

A quick-footed LATIN ROUTINE can burn 300 CALORIES an hour

FOXTROT TO FITNESS

Ballroom and Latin in a land of luxury at the Karen Hardy Dance Studio

I

Wo r d s h e l e n b r o w n

t’s January. So, somewhat depressingly, it’s time to start thinking about working off those mince pies. But a health kick needn’t involve a slavish slog in the gym if the very thought fills you with dread. Instead, the Karen Hardy Dance Studios in Imperial Wharf, offer one of the most exhilarating and effective ways to gain fitness and lose weight. Karen enjoyed an incredibly successful career as a professional dancer and now divides her time between the studio, motherhood, BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and judging world-wide championships. She believes

that anybody can learn to dance and set up the venue after seeing a gap in the market, saying: “There are 5* hotels, 5* spas, 5* restaurants, I want there to be the first 5* dance studio.” The venue is unique. “There is no other studio like us,” Karen says. She recognises that people have increasingly busy lives and consequently the studio does not run the standard group sessions.

“It’s all private and bespoke. People book lessons one-on-one,” Karen says. “We can move as slow or quick as anyone wants to go.” You need only look at the incredible transformation effect Strictly has on its contestants to see that the benefits of dance are endless. A quick-footed Latin routine

53 NH_Jan17_KAREN HARDY.indd 53

can burn around 300 calories an hour as well as working all of your major muscle groups. A quick step, such as the Jive, will give you a full-on cardio effect and the step movement of the Cha Cha Cha is like riding a bike. “Right across the board, the benefits are huge.” Karen tells us. “Even if you did a slow dance, you could relate that to yoga almost. You don’t have to be doing full-on cardio to get results,” she says. “We see the weight loss, we see the fitness. We have Olympians panting at the end of a quick step or a tango.” Members will work with their own personal dance planners to work out individual aspirations and a goal. “The studio is very clear that every member that walks in, is bespoke, an individual person with individual goals.” The advantages of taking up Ballroom and Latin aren’t just physical. Karen’s classes are a release from the fast-paced tech era we live in. No phones are allowed during classes, so each session is a form of escapism. “We can’t change people’s busy lives, but it’s an escapism for as little or as long as they want,” she continues. “People get in the gym or they’ll get on a bike and use the same old muscles, but there are so many benefits to dance and you’re having fun while you are doing it,” Karen says. Some fitness mantras are easier to get behind than others and none could be more motivating than a spin around the dance floor in a world of total luxury and glamour. u

10 The Boulevard, Imperial Wharf, SW6; 0207 731 7316; karenhardystudios.com Join before 31 January for 3 months complimentary membership.

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:51

B L U E B I R D’S B A C K !

The beautiful newly refurbished Bluebird Restaurant is centred on its marble-topped cocktail bar, which is the perfect place to start or finish a night to remember. When it comes to the food you can expect an array of delicious dishes from Executive Head Chef Liam Smith-Laing’s modern European menus, with a selection of small plates and sharing dishes designed to fit around Bluebird’s signature sociable atmosphere.

The Bar at Bluebird Chelsea is a destination in its own right: a perfect place to meet friends, go on a date, enjoy pre-dinner drinks or party the night away.

350 KING’S ROAD | LONDON | SW3 5UU | 020 7559 1000 @bluebirdchelsea | @bluebirdchelsea | /BluebirdChelsea www.bluebird-restaurant.co.uk

BLUEBIRD.indd 1

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> KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL: HEALTHY DRINKS

p. 56

WINTER RECIPES

p. 60

HOW TO HYGGE Kick-start January with the Danish appreciation of life’s simple pleasures.

Brontë Aurell’s new book ScandiKitchen: Fika & Hygge celebrates cosy days with friends, slowing down and taking the time to enjoy homemade treats. £16.99, Ryland Peters & Small; rylandpeters.com

55 Chis_Jan17_Food_Opener.indd 55

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:52

What to drink

3 of the Best

BAKERIES From biskies to éclairs to freshly baked cinnamon buns, we’ve whipped together the best in London pâtisserie’s for you to sink your teeth into

kitchen

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

By Julia Krupsk a

P E A R L & G R O OV E

Pearl & Groove are the go-to for sweet treats with a twist. Appeasing cravings in the healthiest of ways, ground almonds are used instead of regular flour and every creation is gluten free, forming a nutritious but still wholesomely delectable pudding.

341 Portobello Road, W10 pearlandgroove.com

NORDIC BAKERY

Indulge in a touch of hygge at the Nordic Bakery. This Scandinavian style coffee shop specialises in dark rye bread and cinnamon buns - offering a safe sanctuary to indulge in the two. Also home to the #MyQuietMoment hashtag, they encourage customers to upload a majorly instagrammable snapshot.

37b New Cavendish Street, W1G nordicbakery.com

MAITRE CHOUX

Maitre Choux is the chic pâtisserie specialising in éclairs and choux pastry. For those not in the know, this light pastry dough contains a soft, hollow inside with a golden, crispy outer shell. They make for the perfect gift box and with Michelin-starred pastry chef Joakim Prat hand-crafting each creation, they’re guaranteed to satisfy even the most discerning of taste buds.

15 Harrington Rd, SW7 maitrechoux.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

NH_Jan17_foodNotes.indd 56

What’s Ours is Yours Restaurant Ours

One of the hottest openings of this year, we've found the perfect excuse to visit Restaurant Ours. New Head Chef, Jared McCarroll (of Chiltern Firehouse) has created a set lunch menu with seasonal winter ingredients. 264 Brompton Rd, SW3 restaurant-ours.com

56 20/12/2016 19:00

FOOD & DRINK / NOTES editor’s

PICK

ETHICAL TIPPLES Fa i r s p i r i t s

At your next dinner party, eschew the standard bottle of bubbly in favour of the world’s first quinoa vodka. Created by ethical spirit brand FAIR, the base of the drink is created from organic quinoa seeds grown on an altiplano plateau in Belize and has notes of almond milk and spices.

Filtered to perfection, the resulting spirit is as clean as your conscience will be. fairspirits.com

TO P 5

‘HEALTHY’ COCKTAILS

RECORD-BREAKING RUM Cottons-Restaurant

Cottons Caribbean has just been awarded a Guinness World Records title for the bar with most varieties of rum (372 to be exact). Sample a few of their best bottles, and if you fancy stirring some up yourself, sign up for their newly-launched Cocktail Training School.

157-159 Notting Hill Gate, W11 cottons-restaurant.co.uk

editor’s

GREAT BRITISH BAKING

PICK

01

FARMACY • Notting Hill Farmacy’s emphasis on clean indulgence carries into their bar, where the likes of flaxseed oil, cayenne pepper and even cannabis oil are stirred into juices and cocktails.

farmacylondon.com

02

FIRST AID BOX • Herne Hill At the Shrub & Shutter’s little brother bar in Herne Hill cocktails are ‘prescribed’ in intravenous fluid bags, as liquids in syringes or in botanical infusions. Check out the (nearly) holierthan-thou quinoa vodka cocktail…

firstaidbox2015.com

03

breadahead

Wannabe bakers will love Bread Ahead, the new bakery school on Pavilion Road in Chelsea. Based above the shop of the same name, courses will teach artisan baking, Nordic and gluten-free baking, to name a few. Eat your heart out Mary Berry.

Pavilion Road, SW1 breadahead.com

THE LIDO CAFÉ • Herne Hill Brockwell Park’s The Lido Café is the perfect place to hole up on a cold January day, virtuous cocktail in hand. We recommend the Green Goddess, made from a base of Kamm & Sons

thelidocafe.co.uk

04

SWEET TREATS R Chocolate

Just opened in Ebury Street is R Chocolate, founded by self-confessed chocoholic Sir Evelyn de Rothschild with Jessica de Rothschild and Ben Elliot. Taking inspiration from the best chocolatiers around the world, there are countless sweet treats in the repertoire and our favourites are the signature Sea Salt Caramel Elephants which support the Elephant Family charity.

198 Ebury Street, SW1 rchocolatelondon.co.uk

57 NH_Jan17_foodNotes.indd 57

Bars are stirring superfoods and botanicals into drinks that are more forgiving on our waistlines. Here are five of our favourites...

REDEMPTION BAR • Shoreditch Seek a little redemption from booze at this aptlynamed, alcohol-free bar. Our favourite sin-free tipple has to be the Beet-O-Tini: beetroot and orange juice, lime and coconut water.

redemptionbar.co.uk

05

TREDWELL’S • Covent Garden Tredwell’s caters to the health crowd with coldpressed cocktails, created with Bob’s Juicery.

Try the strength-giving Gimlet with gin, ginger, pineapple and wheatgrass and the Hail Mary – a more virtuous take on the classic.

tredwells.com

And for healthy cocktails at home…Try Rocktails detox-friendly drinks with low sugar, less than 90 calories per serving and botanical ingredients.

rocktails.co.uk

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:00

THE STAR OF SW1...

Aster, the newest dining destination from luxury restaurant group D&D London and is set to be the new star of SW1 when it opens in February 2017. Aster is part of the area’s vibrant new Nova food quarter. The food concept is Nordic/French, inspired by Executive Chef Helena Puolakka’s Nordic heritage and classic culinary technique.

Aster will be split across two floors and include a relaxed café and wine bar with a heated terrace on the ground floor, with a spectacular statement staircase leading upstairs to the chic restaurant and cocktail bar. The interior is being designed by iconic Russell Sage Studio, who also created glamorous Quaglino’s in St James’s and 100 Wardour St in Soho, and will be light, bright and luxurious.

150 VICTORIA STREET | LONDON | SW1E 5LB | 0203 875 5555

w ww. a s t e r -re s t a u ra n t . c om @astervictoria

ASTER.indd 1

21/12/2016 09:42

FOOD & DRINK / RESTAURANT REVIEWS

Bluebird SW3

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

eopening after a £2 million refurbishment, King’s Road’s iconic Bluebird has re-established itself as a place to be seen. Paying homage to the building’s heritage as the first garage of the Bluebird Motor Company in 1923, the original steel frame of the atrium has become a striking feature, painted a deep red, highlighting the space’s high ceilings and impressive structure. The industrial feel is softened with lots of greenery – trailing plants and potted trees, and new custom-made velvet and leather-backed chairs designed by Celia Birtwell are arranged to create a variety of different seating options. Our window table gives us a good view of King’s Road, and the big and busy New chef Liam Smith-Laing, formerly of Petrus and The Savoy Grill, brings a modern European menu that’s varied and likeable. Dishes are for sharing and we enjoy queen scallops with chorizo, apple and breadcrumb, an impossibly creamy burrata with tomato and basil and some tasty crispy squid to start, followed by linguini with salty bottarga and an intriguing yellowfin tuna with cauliflower tabbouleh that has a lovely smokiness to the fish. Puddings are decadent – profiteroles and crème brulee, and service is charming and very French, suffering only from a slight slowness in wine pouring. The new Bluebird is big and busy, and set to become a favourite. u

R

Parabola Y The Design Museum, W8 Wo r d s p e n d l e h a r t e

ou’d expect the restaurant belonging to the Design Museum to be designery – and Parabola has a pared back, measured look that fits John Pawson’s spacious, minimal building. Floors and walls are oak, most furniture is blue, and we’re impressed with the clever wireless lamps on each table. We’re on the top floor and there are sweeping views over Holland Park, as well as over the slightly oddly positioned new blocks of luxury flats on which the project’s funding depended. Parabola is set to have a changing rosta of guest chefs, and the first is Rowley Leigh, whose local reputation is unparalleled. Leigh has been missed since Le Café Anglais closed, and his menu for Parabola includes favourites that will be familiar to diners who have followed his career – and he is walking round greeting people on the night we visit. It’s a set menu, four courses with a wine matching option

(glasses are especially small to allow for this; it’s a grown-up kind of place) and as pre-starters there are miniature parmesan custards with anchovy toast, a cheesy and delicious Leigh classic. Only two options for each course makes things easy, and allows us to get through the entire menu between us. My warm radiccio salad with slightly blackened quince and walnut puree is good, while pike sausage – a pike mousse rolled into sausage form – is light and appealing.

Main courses of partridge wrapped in cabbage, and hake in squid ink are predictably high class, while lemon tart for pudding is creamy and zesty. Rowley Leigh will be in residence until 28 January, and guest chefs for the rest of the year include Valentine Warner and Marianne Lumb. u

● par ab ol a

224-238 Kensington High Street, W8, 020 7940 8795 parabola.london

59 NH_Jan17_Restaurant Review.indd 59

● b lu eb i r d-restaurant 350 King’s Road, SW3; 020 7559 1000 bluebird-restaurant.co.uk

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 18:56

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX

TURKEY & RASPBERRY SALAD Serves 6

Fresh raspberries and shaved asparagus turn an everyday rice salad into something more exotic.

Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 20-25 minutes I n g r e d i e nt s 200g (7oz) easy cook brown rice 50g (2oz) wild rice 6 small red onions, cut into wedges 1 tablespoon olive oil 100g (4oz) red cabbage, thinly shredded 200g (7oz) cold roast turkey, diced 150g (5oz) asparagus, trimmed 175g (6oz) raspberries Large handful of rocket leaves Dressing 2 tablespoons redcurrant jelly 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Winter Spice Stylish New Year recipes on a berry theme

Wo r d s s e a s o n a l b e r r i e s . c o . u k

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Chis_Jan17_Recipes.indd 60

I n g r e d i e nt s 1 Preheat the oven to 200oC (400oF), Gas Mark 6. Bring a medium saucepan of water to the boil, add the brown and wild rice, bring the water back to the boil then simmer for 20-25 minutes until just tender. Drain into a sieve, rinse with cold water and drain again. 2 Meanwhile, add the onions to a small roasting tin, drizzle with the oil and roast for 25-30 minutes until softened and golden around the edges. 3 To make the dressing, add the redcurrant jelly, vinegar, mustard and lemon rind and juice to a small saucepan.

4 Season with salt and pepper then whisk over a low heat until the dressing is smooth and the jelly has melted.

Leave to cool. 5 Add the rice, onions, red cabbage and turkey to a large salad plate or bowl. Drizzle over the dressing and lightly toss together. 6 Shave the asparagus into thin strips by laying the stems on a chopping board and running a swivel bladed vegetable peeler along the length. 7 Sprinkle over the salad with the raspberries and rocket then serve.

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FOOD & DRINK / RECIPES

C h o co l ate le av e s 1 Snip about 20 holly leaves from a small branch, leaving just a little of the stem on. Wash and dry the leaves then brush the shiny top of each leaf with a little melted chocolate leaving a little of the leaf and stem uncovered. 2 Put leaves on a baking sheet lined with non-stick baking paper, chocolate side uppermost and chill in the fridge until the chocolate has set. 3 Cover with a second thin layer of melted chocolate (you’ll only need about 75g (3oz) of chocolate in all) and chill again. 4 When ready to use, hold the stem end of the leaf and very gently begin to peel and curl the leaf away from the chocolate. 5 Arrange on the top of the roulade.

BAKED RASPBERRY & CHOCOLATE PUDDING WITH RICH DARK CHOCOLATE SAUCE Serves 4

Make these rich dark chocolate puddings earlier in the day then just cook for 10 minutes while you clear the table. Serve with a drizzle of warm cinnamon spiced chocolate sauce and complete with a scoop of vanilla ice cream – then sit back and bask in the compliments.

Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 10 minutes

Puddings Little butter for greasing 65g (21/2oz) dark chocolate, broken into pieces 40g (11/2oz) butter, diced 2 medium eggs 50g (2oz) caster sugar 40g (11/2oz) plain flour 2 teaspoons cocoa 100g (4oz) raspberries, plus a few extra to decorate Sau c e 100g (4oz) dark chocolate, broken into pieces 25g (1oz) caster sugar 125ml (4fl oz) milk Large pinch ground cinnamon Few drops vanilla essence Vanilla ice cream to serve M e th o d 1 First make the puddings. Brush the inside of 4, 7.5cm (3 inch) diameter, 2.5cm (1inch) deep individual Yorkshire pudding tins or foil dishes with a little butter then line the base of each tin with a circle of non-stick baking paper. Add the chocolate and butter to a small saucepan and heat very gently, stirring until both have melted then take off the heat. 2 Add the eggs and sugar to a bowl and whisk together for a minute or two until frothy. Gradually whisk in the melted chocolate and butter mix then the flour and cocoa until smooth. 3 Divide between the buttered dishes then scatter the raspberries over the top. Chill for 1-2 hours, or longer if it suits you better until ready to cook.

4 Add all the sauce ingredients to a small saucepan and heat very gently, stirring until smooth then take off the heat. Cool then cover and transfer to the fridge. 5 When ready to serve, preheat the oven to 180oC (160oC fan assisted), Gas Mark 4. Put the puddings on to a baking sheet then cook for 10 minutes or until just set in the centre.

6 Take out of the oven, leave to cool for a minute or two then loosen and remove from the tins. 7 Peel away the lining paper and transfer to serving dishes. Decorate with extra raspberries, warm the sauce through then drizzle over the puddings and serve with scoops of vanilla ice cream.

Co o k’ s ti p s Try these puds with blackberries too or a mix of raspberries and blackberries.

61 Chis_Jan17_Recipes.indd 61

JULY 2016

20/12/2016 19:07

Exclusively made for You Established in 1962. Wharfside is the world-leading supplier of European Furniture. From dining to living, office, kitchen & bedrooms - all is made to your chosen specifications, woods and sizes.

EST. 1962

Shoreditch & Leatherhead 020 7253 3206 or 01372 379810

www.wharfside.co.uk WHARFSIDE JAN.indd 1 Absolutely Magazine December 2016.indd 1

29/11/2016 10:28 10:13

> INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS

p. 64

JOIN THE CACTUS CLUB

p. 70

FOCUS: RADIATORS

p. 74

PAPER PATTERN Harlequin's Cranes in Flight wallpaper comes in a deep green as well as this calming peach –we round up ten favourite wallpapers on page 64. harlequin.uk.com

63 Chis_Jan17_INTERIORS OPENER.indd 63

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:10

10 of the best

WA L L PA P E R S ALICIA DE COSTA

Modern ideas, designs and styles for your home

Toucan Wallpaper, £125 graduatecollection.co.uk

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

PIERRE FREY Pampa, £POA pierrefrey.com

COLE & SON

New Contemporary Woods, £POA cole-and-son.com

MURALS WALLPAPER

Marbelised papers, £25 per sq m muralswallpaper.com

DESIGNERS GUILD

Delahaye, £59 designersguild.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

CHIS_Dec16_Interiors_Notes.indd 64

Warm Up Castrads Castrads, the cast iron radiator experts, have opened their second London showroom in Chelsea. It's located handily next to Farrow and Ball, who supply contemporary colours and signature finishes to complement the radiators' stylish shapes. 247 Fulham Road, SW3; castrads.com

64 20/12/2016 19:11

HOMES & INTERIORS / NOTES FERM LIVING

MOOMIN MANIA

Forest wallpaper, £65 nunido.co.uk

Adventures in Moominland The UK's first major exhibition dedicated to the Moomins continues at the Southbank Centre until April – and best of all, it brings a pop-up Moomins shop to the Festival Hall.

Here you'll find all Iittala's lovely ceramics featuring Tove Jansson's iconic illustrations. shop.southbankcentre.co.uk

must

HAVE editor’s

PICK WORLD ORDER

Future Maps The Future Mapping Company has been re-defining wall map design for over a decade.

Combining a modern aesthetic with age-old printing processes each map is made to the highest quality, celebrating the beauty in map data. They look stylish in any space. futuremaps.com

OSBORNE & LITTLE Pavilion Garden, £POA osborneandlittle.com

HARLEQUIN

Cranes in flight, £POA harlequin.uk.com

FARROW & BALL Arcade, £POA farrow-ball.com

GREENER CLEANER

Tincture New British brand Tincture creates all-natural cleaning products for the home. Using active botanical ingredients and essential oils, these beautifully packaged products look stylish and smell herby fresh while delivering impressive results. tincturelondon.com

COLOUR CODE

V& A Pa i n t The V&A has launched its new Classic Paint Collection, developed in close collaboration between Master Paintmakers and the V&A. The range features unique shades, using the finest pigments to achieve the highest quality paint product available in its category. vandapaint.com

65 CHIS_Dec16_Interiors_Notes.indd 65

FIRED EARTH

Alhambra Palace, £50 firedearth.com

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:11

LONDON

SALE UP TO 40% OFF

0333 011 3333

WESTONE BATHROOMS.indd 1

13/12/2016 10:00

HOMES & INTERIORS / INSPIRE

The industrial-

style GLASS & METAL FRAMED shower door lends an AIR OF URBAN CHIC

T

CLEAN LIVING Take inspiration from this beautiful shower room, made by Drummonds for Waldo Works Wo r d s P e a r l B oy d

his contemporary ensuite shower room in a London apartment was commissioned by architects and interior designers Waldo Works and executed

by Drummonds. An industrial-style glass and metal framed shower door lends an air of urban chic and the nickel-finished Nene shower is clearly visible through it. Hand-glazed period style tiles in rich blue hues, which run around the room and extend into the walk-in shower, were commissioned specially for the project from Victorian Ceramics. Drummonds’ Hebdern vanity creates a striking focal point in nickel finish with black Marquina marble that co-ordinates perfectly with the room’s colours and detailing. We admire the stylish blue, black and white colour scheme, and the impeccable sense of balance and style with which it's executed. Planning a new bathroom in 2017? Take note. u • Single Hebdern vanity, £3,300 • Classic pop-up mixer taps with Mull heads in nickel, £1,170 • Nene shower with warm arm and 300mm shower rose in nickel - £2,664 drummonds-uk.com waldoworks.com

67 NH_Jan17_DRUMMONDS.indd 67

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:16

LINE THE DRAWERS OF A WORK TABLE M ATE R I A L S : small Scandinavian worktable with drawers + printed fabric + iron + strong spray adhesive + assorted braids + wall stapler + fabric glue 1 Choose your table: Choose a typically Scandinavian table – one made in light polished wood, and with metal or wooden compass legs is ideal. You can buy one for around £100, although be prepared to pay more for a signature piece. Or find a small chest of drawers, which will cost around £140–200.

2 Prepare the table: Rub down the wooden legs with a soft cloth and some antique polish.

Vacuum clean the inside of the drawers.

PRACTICAL PROJECTS

Inspired to improve your life in 2017? Start by revamping some tired pieces of furniture Wo r d s : S o n i a L u c a n o Photography: Frédéric Lucano

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

NH_Jan17_SCANDI -DIY.indd 68

3 Line the drawers: Measure each drawer– width, length and depth – to determine the size of fabric you will need, remembering to add a 2-cm turnover at all edges. You can use the following formula as a guide: Fabric length: drawer length + 2 x depth + 2 x 2 cm (the turnover).

Fabric width: drawer width + 2 x depth + 2 x 2 cm (the turnover).

So, for example, in the drawer illustrated, which is 39 x 27 cm, 5.5 cm in depth: Length: 39 + 2 x 5.5 + 2 x 2 = 54 cm Width: 27 + 2 x 5.5 + 2 x 2 = 42 cm You should, therefore, cut a 54 x 42-cm rectangle for the lining of your drawer.

Carefully mark the position of the drawer’s interior corners on the fabric. Then cut from each corner of the fabric to a point 0.5 cm from the drawer corner. To reduce overlap, trim away the fabric in a V shape at each corner, either side of your cut, making sure to leave a 2-cm turnover.

Before positioning the fabric, fold the 2-cm turnover to the wrong side and iron flat. Fold and iron the lines of the drawer’s inner edges. Apply spray adhesive to the drawer and lay the fabric inside, making sure that it fits neatly into the corners.

Press the fabric firmly into place, taking care to smooth out any creases: start at the centre and work your way out to the sides. Once secure, staple the fabric at 5-cm intervals, 5 mm down from the upper edge. Repeat at the corners, again inserting staples 5 mm from the join.

4 Add the braid: Measure the length of the braid you need: 2 x length + 2 x width + 1 cm overlap. Apply glue to the braid and position on top of the upper staples.

68 20/12/2016 19:16

HOMES & INTERIORS / PROJECTS

REVAMP A 1950s CHAIR M ATE R I A L S : 1950s chair + khaki cotton upholstery fabric (3 x 2.3 m) + fabric spray adhesive + wall stapler + yellow piping (2 m in length) + sewing pins + sewing needle + assorted cotton threads Choose your chair: Items such as this Pierre Guariche barrel-style chair were very popular in the 1950s. They can be easily sourced online or in shops that stock vintage furniture. They will often be covered in imitation leather, and have compass legs of metal or wood. You can expect to pay between £20 and £40 for such a chair in reasonable condition. Don’t worry if the imitation leather is damaged –it won’t be visible once the chair has been re-upholstered.

If you see another style of chair that you prefer, don’t hesitate to buy it: the technique of re-upholstering will be the same.

1

Repeat this process for the hole at the bottom, this time sewing together the front and back sections without the piping.

To cover the seat, cut a generoussized piece of fabric, estimating the size required as before. Apply adhesive to the seat, position the fabric on top and pull hard to avoid creases. Cut away the excess material, retaining a margin of 10cm. Use a knitting needle to push the fabric into the internal joins. Turn the chair upside down, turn the fabric under by 1 cm and pull tight on to the underside, using the stapler to fix into place as before.

Extract taken from Interior Inspiration: Scandinavia by Sonia Locarno, published

by Thames & Hudson, £16.95

2 Prepare the chair: Clean the imitation leather and the legs with soap and warm water, removing any grease with a cloth and some stain remover.

3 Start covering: This is a three-stage process: starting with the back rest, then the outside back and finally the seat. Cut a generous-sized rectangle for the back rest; estimate the size by holding the material up against the chair. Allow for a 10cm overlap, which will be fixed to the outside back, and 7cm for the internal join. Spray the adhesive on the back rest, position the fabric on top and press firmly to secure.

For a close-fitting finish pull the fabric tightly across the surface, following the direction of the weave. Now cut away the excess material. Cut 7cm-wide notches in the overlap, apply adhesive, and pull tightly onto the outsideback. Repeat with the hole at the bottom. Use a knitting needle (or screwdriver) to push the fabric into the internal joins, ensuring that there are no folds or creases.

Repeat this method for the outside back.

Cut a large rectangle of fabric. Cut away the excess material, leaving a return of 10 cm. Cut 7cm notches in the return and fold under before sticking to the back of the chair with the adhesive. When you reach the underside of the seat, turn the fabric under by just 1 cm and pull firmly, using the stapler to fix in place. Position the yellow piping along the top of the back to hide the join, pin down to secure, and sew to fix in place.

69 NH_Jan17_SCANDI -DIY.indd 69

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:17

Game of Thorns Cacti are everywhere. Absolutely meets Meg Sangster, whose newly formed Club Cactus is spreading the love by sending plants to subscribers every month Wo r d s P e n d l e H a r t e

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Chis_Jan17_cactus.indd 70

70 20/12/2016 19:17

HOME & INTERIORS / INTERVIEW succulent or house plant and, depending on your plan choice, botanical accessories.

No matter what plan you choose though, there are always little surprise extras!

PH: Your brand’s illustrations and aesthetics are lovely. Can you tell us about them?

MS: Before moving on to floristry, I studied fine art at uni and my boyfriend, Alex, is an illustrator, so we worked on this part of Club Cactus together. We live in a really creative environment where we’re constantly bouncing ideas off each other. We had a clear vision in mind of how we wanted everything to look and I’m so pleased me’ve managed to achieve that.

They’re the ultimate LOW

MAINTENANCE

house plant

PENDLE HARTE: What is the appeal of the cactus and why do you think they are having such a moment?

MEG SANGSTER: I think people like cactuses for a few reasons - for me, they’re a nice way to bring a bit of life and greenery into your home, plus they’re the ultimate low maintenance house plant. They’re great for busy people or even people who haven’t had much luck with plants in the past. Not to mention they look really cool!

PH: What have you learnt about plants through setting up the club?

MS: Since setting up the club I’ve learnt more about plant care and things like which plants like to live in which rooms. I’ve also had to try to work out ways to post plants successfully without upsetting them.

PH: Packaging a cactus must be tricky!

How does that work?

MS: It’s definitely not the easiest thing I’ve done! I’ve learnt now I just have to be firm with the plants, grab a pair of gardening gloves and just do it, wrap it up and then wrap it up again for good measure! We also use little card disks around the tops of the pots to help keep the soil firmly in place.

PH: But your club isn’t exclusively about cacti is it?

MS: We’re offering all sorts of botanical themed goodies from house plants, cactuses and succulents to plant accessories.

PH: What made you think of a delivery box subscription? Is your background in plants?

MS: I’m a trained florist and have always liked plants, and my mum has always been a keen gardener - so from an early age I’ve loved gardening and flowers and have always been around plants.

I also love giving and receiving beautifully packaged presents and our service sort of feels like getting gifts through the post!

PH: What’s next for Club Cactus?

MS: In addition to the subscription boxes, we’re currently working on an online shop, where you’ll be able to buy a larger selection of houseplants, plus lots of botanical themed goodies. So if there was something you really loved from your box one month you’ll be able to re-purchase it individually. We’ve also had lots of interest from the US and Canada, where we unfortunately can’t post plants, but everything else from the web shop will be available to them. ◆

PH: What will be in the boxes?

MS: Well the specifics are a surprise! It will vary from month to month, but you can expect a potted plant - be it a cactus,

clubcactus.co.uk

71 Chis_Jan17_cactus.indd 71

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:17

U SH R B O EA W U R T TO O O I F U IN M L N SP IS EW IR NO 3 E YO W FL U OP OO EN R

O

CLARITY BEGINS AT HOME

Fine fitted kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms

3,200 Square feet of contemporary kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms from Italy and Germany. Mark Nicholas Design one stop shopping for the finest home interiors on display in London. Why not call today to arrange a consultation to find out what we can do for you.

48 Penton Street, Islington, 32-34 Penton Street, Islington,London LondonN1 N1 Tel: 020 7278 7573

MARKNICHOLAS.indd NICHOLAS.indd 11 MARK

Fax: 020 7833 2273

Email: enquiries@marknicholasdesign.com

www.marknicholasdesign.com

16/05/2016 15/09/2014 17:37 16:32

PLEASE CHECK PAYOFF TA

HOMES & INTERIORS / STYLE

Fresh flowers &

SCENTED CANDLES

are useful & effective TOOLS

HOME TRUTHS Selling your home this year?

Here are some styling tips Wo r d s s a b r i n a t i g h e

01 • FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Favourable first impressions are key.

Tidy the front entrance of the property.

Freshen up plant tubs, front garden, drive. Re-paint if required, focus on front door and entrance. Ensure that hallway is clutter-free, clean and tidy. Add large mirrors and an attractive console table if not already in situ to define the space and create an attractive and welcoming entrance. Fresh flowers/scented candles are a useful and effective tool in helping to create a welcoming space.

02 • THE DETAILS

Living areas must be tidied, de-cluttered and to some degree de-personalised.

Consider re-painting to neutral tones and add cushions/throws/rugs to introduce colour and texture if needed.

Ensure lighting is crisp and use lamps to illuminate drab corners. Invest in a few accessories – coffee table books, candles, rugs, attractive vases/objets. Create a focal point - perhaps an attractive fireplace, feature painting or mirror and accentuate it by presenting it in the best way possible. Fresh flowers and scented candles again always help.

03 • PROPS

Kitchens and bathrooms are key in successfully selling a home and must be spotless and tidy. Clear kitchen worktops

73 NH_Jan17_No.8.indd 73

as much as possible and use a few simple props – attractive bottles of artisan olive oils and vinegars, pots of fresh herbs, dress the dining table, the use of polished silverware and glass will reflect light and add a touch of glamour to what is ordinarily a functional, utilitarian space, remove any stickers or post-its from the fridge or cabinets, ensure no leaking taps or broken cupboard handles or knobs.

Similarly, bathrooms must be gleaming.

Again de-clutter and place fresh towels, soaps and attractive bottles of bath/body wash in shower or bath.

04 • THE GARDEN

If there is a garden, ensure it is tidied and presents as best as possible. If summer months place cushions on garden chairs, add outdoor lanterns and tidy away bikes and toys if any. If there are pets ensure they are contained, no pet smells are apparent and remove pet bowls, water containers etc.

05 • THE BEDROOMS

Always, always ensure all beds are made, invest in a few throws and cushions and if curtains, blinds or shutters dress/arrange them so they are hanging, or presenting as attractively as possible. It is essential to tidy and de-clutter and where possible, only display attractive items on dressing tables and bedside tables. Keep wardrobe doors closed and create as streamlined a space where possible. u no8interiors.com

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:20

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX

THE WARM UP Cast iron radiators are efficient as well as stylish. Absolutely meets Castrads’ Nick Baylis Wo r d s p e a r l b oy d

ABSOLUTELY: What’s special about cast iron radiators?

NICK BAYLIS: We like to think they’re a perfect balance of form and function.

They keep rooms toasty warm while creating a real focal point. Our handfinished radiators look magnificent in a huge range of interiors - modern and traditional alike. There’s just no comparison with steel panel monstrosities. What’s more they’re totally, 100% customisable. Every one of our radiators is hand-built to specification in Manchester, meaning that our customers can design as much or as little of the radiator as they like, from the style of bleed valve to the degree of shine on hand-polished finishes.

ABS: Are they efficient as well as pretty?

NB: Of course. A cast iron heating system is different to a steel-panel one. Think low frequency heating cycles. The house warms a little slowly but it also cools slowly. One aspect of cast iron radiators that our customers love is that, in a well insulated home, you can achieve incredibly stable temperatures with the boiler just ticking over to maintain a comfortable environment. Heating isn’t as aggressive as with steel panel systems.

ABS: The range comes in so many different possibilities. How many are there?

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

B&C_Jan17_Castrads.indd 74

74 20/12/2016 19:21

HOMES & INTERIORS / FOCUS NB: I don’t think we’ve ever managed to put an exact number on the different styles – there are just too many. Our cast iron range has over 15 styles, which are all available in various heights, widths and of course finishes (of which there are hundreds), and then we have our steel column designs too – perhaps one day we’ll be able to put a number on it but then of course we’re always designing new styles too.

ABS: What are your best sellers?

NB: The Grace range is definitely our bestseller, as it’s so versatile, streamlined and incredibly powerful. We’ve had customers buy these radiators for their Victorian or Edwardian homes, as well as those with new builds – they really do fit in with any style. The matte finishes tend to be the most popular, but again, it completely depends on what the customer

ABS: What’s your background? What made you go into radiators?

NB: I’m a geologist-chef by training.

I studied Earth Sciences to Masters level and during that time, having spent two years training in restaurants in France, I was also cooking professionally.

Radiators were the last thing on my mind. But as a kid I’d helped my dad to restore old radiators in his architectural salvage business. My dad had set up this new venture, Castrads, in 2006 after getting bored with early retirement and after a couple of years, as I was nearing the end of my studies, the business had started really picking up. My dad needed someone to help him out with this rapidly expanding business so I decided to start working with him in this new startup. It was fun.

A lot of work, but a lot of fun. And together we built what’s now a really successful business with a global portfolio of clients.

ABS: Where have your radiators been installed?

NB: All over the place. From Carnegie Hall to Westminster Abbey and from Cambridge University to Leeds Castle.

But not just in large places either. Our radiators are in over 25,000 homes across more than 20 countries. Most of our business is in the UK but we’ve supplied

THE HOUSE warms a little slowly BUT IT ALSO COOLS SLOWLY

projects in Australia and New Zealand, America and Canada, Tunisia, Russia and all over Europe too.

Right now we’re really excited to be working with some of the UK’s most innovative architects who are using our products in unexpected ways, for example in ultra modern refurbishments of iconic buildings. I think they can be used to great effect for a touch of solidity in a modern aesthetic. ◆ castrads.com

is looking for. Sometimes they want a completely different radiator in every room, sometimes they want them all the same, and sometimes they just want one statement model to really make an impact.

ABS: Where is it all made?

NB: Our Manchester warehouse is the hub for all manufacturing, and where we hand make every single one of our radiators. We employ specialists for every part of the manufacturing process to ensure everything is made to the highest quality. Each radiator is made to order, so an order can take anywhere from one to four weeks to complete, depending on the finishes requested.

75 B&C_Jan17_Castrads.indd 75

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:22

B E S P O K E FURNITURE

WARDROBES

DRESSING ROOMS

CINEMA ROOMS

STUDIES

STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Specialists in quality bespoke furniture and celebrating over a decade in design, Wyndham provides a complete custom design and manufacturing service. Fluid in a range of materials and diverse designs from concept to completion, we liaise closely with you to turn your initial ideas into luxury dream spaces.

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19/01/2016 16:42

HOMES & INTERIORS / DESIGN look and feel of the whole house and the continuous flow. I never look at the design in isolation but rather take a holistic view of the space. That being said, I feel that the kitchen is such a diverse room with the possibility of such exciting textures and finishes. The ability to make it feel both functional and homely makes it an exciting design task and the room I get most excited about.

Home Front

Roselind Wilson’s luxury interior design has roots in her South African background.

Absolutely meets her

ABS: What would you most like to see trending or revived in interior design?

RW: I am a huge fan of wicker and woven materials and would love to see the craft of weaving revived and trending. This is such a humble and honest craft that produces beautiful, elegant and timeless pieces that can work in any space.

ABS: How do you and your team prepare for a new project?

RW: We are firm believers in good processes and pre-planning. Projects will be successful if there is careful planning upfront to ensure resources have been allocated efficiently and the entire team works harmoniously.

We have a super internal task management system that ensures all information is tracked on a project so that nothing falls

Interview eve herbert

ABSOLUTELY: What made you decide to start your own company?

ROSELIND WILSON: Deciding to start my own company wasn’t a decision I took at a specific time or phase of my life but from a broader view it has always been that part of my personality that continues to move the goalposts just that little bit further and to push just that bit harder to achieve as much as I possibly can. To have control over these outcomes you just cannot be within the constraints of other people’s agendas.

ABS: What sets Roselind Wilson Design apart from other luxury interior designers in London?

RWD team from left to right: Alex Jurkiewicz - Senior Designer Nicole Langmuir - Junior Designer Ros Wilson - Owner & Creative Director Geraldine Wilson - Chief Marketing Officer Gus - RWD office watchdog

RW: Our brilliant team is one of our greatest USPs. There is an authenticity in our approachability and this translates into our work, resulting in authentic designs that exude understated luxury. Our clients always feedback to us that the process is not only professional but fun from start to finish. Completely refurbishing or redesigning one’s home can be extremely stressful and we aim to make the process pleasant and smooth.

ABS: How do your South African roots influence the way you approach interior design?

RW: Growing up in South Africa with its warm Mediterranean climate, sunny weather, blue skies and an abundance of natural light, architecture focuses on clean lines, earthy and natural tones and the use of big expanses of glass to capitalise on the views. Influences in interior design use these architectural features as a backdrop.

In addition there is a strong trend towards linens and loose cover sofas and chairs to showcase a more relaxed lifestyle.

through the cracks and we debrief after each project to document what went well and areas that need improvement. We sit down together as a team and plan the tasks and timings up to four weeks in advance so that the entire team is aware of their goals and deliverables. These are tweaked weekly to ensure all new works are seamlessly added. Once the serious yet pertinent planning is done the fun stuff can begin!

ABS: Which room are you most excited about when remodelling a house?

RW: I’m always most excited about the

020 3371 1779 info@roselindwilsondesign.com roselindwilsondesign.com

● r os e l i n d w i l s on de s ign

77 C&A_Dec16_SPIRIT.indd 77

absolutely.london

21/12/2016 09:34

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 a place where you would want to be – a place of learning and discovery, laughter and friendship.

Open Days January 13th (9.15am) January 17th (7pm) - 6th Form Only January 31st (9.15am) February 21st (9.15am)

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

KHS.indd 1

@kewhouseschool

29/11/2016 17:36

> SMALL TALK – BEDLINEN, TENTS AND BOOTIES

p. 81

EDUCATION – GET POLITICAL

p. 83

CARNIVAL COOL Singapore-based label Gardner & The Gang has opted for a carnival theme for Winter, making for a collection of wearable pieces in fun, harlequinesque patterns and colours. harrods.com

79 Chis_Jan17_KIDS OPENER.indd 79

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:22

GRATE EXPECTATIONS.indd 1

03/10/2016 14:30

ABBEY ROAD

FRAMING

Picture Frames, Mirrors, Prints, Cards & Gifts

020 7328 6915

67 Abbey Road St John’s Wood London NW8 0AE

ABBEY ROAD FRAMING.CO.UK ABBEY ROAD FRAMING NH.indd 1 AbsolutelyNottingHill&Kensington-1612-AbbeyRoadFraming.indd 1 _NH_ADVERT_PLACEMENTS.indd 2

13/12/2016 14:15 07/12/2016 16:01 21/12/2016 11:54

KIDS & EDUCATION / NOTES

B R A N D FO C U S

DREAM TEAM Wo l f & R i t a x J C d e C a s t e l b a j a c Spring style for littles doesn’t come cuter than this – a collaborative capsule of contemporary pieces featuring arty prints and a fun bohemian aesthetic. Très chic.

Available at Scandimini.co.uk

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

N

SMALL TALK The launch of Little Loafers and a play-tent of one’s own

SLUMBER PARTY Sleepy Doe Snuggle alert: this new label makes beautiful sleepwear and bedlinen for little ones and their mamas. Choose from a range of tasteful, print-based designs.

From £24; sleepydoe.com

Fleece Booties, £29; jacadi.com

PEAK CONDITION

PLAYING HOUSE

Loaf ¢ Loaf’s new Little Loafers home furnishings and accessories collection offers lots of Scandi-style quirk and character – we love this mountain-themed bedroom in all its pioneering glory. Prices vary. u

Djeco ¢ This easy-to-assemble play-tent from Djeco is ideal for indoor camp-outs, with a bright harlequin design and roll-up door. Littles will love having a den of their own. u £49.99; crafts4kids.co.uk

loaf.com

81 CHIS_Jan17_KIDS NOTES.indd 81

o one does classic like Jacadi does classic.

Founded in 1976, such was the demand for the French brand’s children’s clothing that within two decades it had expanded as far west as Los Angeles and as far east as Taiwan. The secret formula?

High-end garments designed with timelessness and traditional charm. Simply put, Jacadi makes the kind of clothing that crosses the boundaries of intergenerational taste, eliciting sighs of delight and approval from great-grandmas and trend-conscious first-time mamas alike.

Highlights from the AW16 collections include schoolwearinspired day dresses in blue gingham check, cute workshirts in steely blue for little boys and a range of nautical sweaters emblazoned with fun insignia.

Our pick for babies is a pair of white, fleece-lined newborn booties (pictured), which are sure to keep little toes toasty. ◆

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:23

KEW HOUSE SCHOOL SIXTH FORM

Kew House School takes an exciting stance on 21st century education. With state-of-the-art facilities, experienced staff, inspirational career guidance and excellent pastoral care, Kew House is a place where you would want to be – a place of learning and discovery, laughter and friendship.

Kew House School is currently recruiting into Sixth Form 2016 and will be opening its new Sixth Form Centre in 2017.

Sixth Form Open Day Event 17 January 2017 (7pm)

Open Dates for all year groups: January 13th (9.15am) January 31st (9.15am) February 21st (9.15am) 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

KHS SIXTH FORM.indd 1

@kewhouseschool

29/11/2016 17:37

KIDS & EDUCATION / SCHOOL TALK

Playground Politics It’s more important than ever to engage young people with democracy. And where better to start than parliament itself?

Wo r d s A m a n d a C o n s ta n c e

P

ost-Brexit and Trump it has never been more important to engage young people in politics and to make them feel that they have a stake in their future. As Vivienne Durham, former super-head and director of the school’s advisory service at Enjoy Education says: “Today’s children will be the voters and politicians of tomorrow and they can already see the mistakes being made by the adult generation. Most teenagers are naturally politically responsive – they question and expect more from the society they see around them.” But how do you engage young people? For parents and teachers alike, Parliament itself is a good place to start.

The Parliament Education Service organises school visits, outreach services and has a wide range of online resources.

Last November it launched its first ever Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) with Future Learn. ‘An introduction to the UK parliament’ involves two hours study per week for three weeks and is open to all to learn more about how laws are made, the differences between Parliament and Government and the work of Government itself.

The Education Service website has a huge array of films, games and multi-media resources, catering for all Key Stages. These range from ‘Parliament, laws and you’ aimed at KS1 to ‘Lawmaking in the House of Lords, the journey of a bill’ for KS3-5. There are films on ‘What is the House of Commons?’ and ‘What is the House of Lords?’, plus an Election Toolkit and research tools such as a World War I source pack or information on the suffragettes. You can even play ‘MP for a week’, an interactive game where the

MP for a week is

AN INTERACTIVE game WHERE THE PLAYER must make DAILY DECISIONS

player must make the daily decisions and choices of an MP. Schools can also arrange visits to Parliament. There is a new education centre at Westminster, complete with 360˚ virtual reality upper and lower chambers. Visitors will also tour the House of Commons, Lords and Westminster Abbey and have a workshop. If your local MP is available, they will also come and see you.

If you can’t get to Parliament, why not get Parliament to come to you? A team of outreach officers visits primary and senior

83 Chis_Jan17_Education.indd 83

schools to inspire youngsters and you can even book member of the Lords and Commons to pay your school a visit.

The ‘Peers in Schools’ programme for 14 to 18 year-olds started in 2007, and since then peers have talked about their work to more than 50,000 children. Or you can Skype the Speaker of the House. In a new initiative, it’s now possible for your school to have a live Q&A session with the RT Hon Jon Bercow MP. Young people who really want to get involved can take part in the UK Youth Parliament. This offers 11-18 year-olds the opportunity to make their voices heard. Its 369 members are elected from all regions in the country. They organise campaigns and events in a bid to influence decision-makers around the issues that matter to people of their age. Every year in November, during Parliament Week, the MYPs (members of youth parliament) hold a debate in the House of Commons chamber on issues that concern them. Political experience doesn’t get more real than that.

A great way to get children enthused in politics and public speaking is to set up a debating society at school or to hold mock elections. Vivienne Durham said: “The enthusiasm and political interest which students invested in a school mock election on the day of the General Election had to be seen to be believed - it’s great!” ◆

 For more information visit parliament.uk/education or email educationoutreach@parliament.uk Bookings for summer term 2017 visits open on 13 January 2017 at 8:30am on 020 7219 4496.

For information on the UK Youth Parliament ukyouthparliament.org.uk

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:24

EATON HOUSE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Opening September 2017

A new boys’ preparatory school in Kensington for ages 8-13 Entry by 8+ assessment in January 2017 Please contact Jennifer McEnhill for further information on registration

020 7924 6000 www.eatonhouseschools.com THE EATON HOUSE GROUP OF SCHOOLS





IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

THE NEW APP FO R A N E W B R E E D OF MAMAS

Mama THE MAGAZINE FOR STYLISH MUMS

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

Meet Marie-Chantal

A CORNISH

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Talking to the queen of kids' fashion

At home with blogging superstar Live Loud Girl

Gifts, Glorious

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Absolutely Mama is the exciting new parenting title for stylish, active, ambitious mums Packed full of news, views and on-trend lifestyle content, Absolutely Mama is firmly focused on what mums really think, feel, want and need. The magazine covers everything from the latest fashion and beauty to nutrition, technology and travel for families, and features contributions from some of Britain’s foremost parenting experts and baby brands – not to mention some truly inspirational mamas.

Download the Mama app from iTunes now and subscribe to receive every issue in digital form before it hits the shops

www.absolutely-mama.co.uk

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WONDER WOOL

The cutest winter knits for littles

08/11/2016 17:04 21/12/2016 12:15

ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION

What is TWO WEEKS of work if YOU can SET your CHILD up for life? is two weeks of work, if you can set your child up for life?

As he turned over the last page of the paper he was heard to exclaim: “What? Is that the end? That was millions easier and I’ve never finished a paper before!” His teachers knew nothing of him having the ALC program and accused him of someone else doing his work.

Worried about your child’s upcoming 11+ Exams?

Stressed that they won’t make the grade because they experience learning difficulties or any of these symptoms?

EXAM PLAN With exams ahead I felt worried for my sons... but ALC-UK’s programme made a huge difference

A

s both of my boys were failing academically I knew I needed to get help for them before they started their exams.

At a Parent-Teacher consultation we were told not to worry that our child didn’t excel in reading and writing, instead they’d encourage what he was interested in and hope the rest would follow.

This wasn’t the answer, I knew they could do better.

Aidan was pleasant at school, but lacked self-confidence and if his writing was messy enough, his teacher wouldn’t be able to read it to see if there were any spelling mistakes.

He always had the excuse that he had to rush or he wouldn’t be able to keep up with

the others. With the start of exams looming I felt worried for him.

I feared for both boys, because although they had strong points practically, learning academically was frustratingly hard work which was fast becoming a negative downhill spiral. Then I heard from my sister-in-law of an eye therapy program offered by ALC-UK. Seeing as the program was non-invasive we felt that there was nothing to lose. I was very keen to start the program before the exams commenced. So we booked in and travelled to the centre each day for two weeks. It was quite a commitment, but as parents we were determined to make this succeed. We supported all homework and provided encouragement every step of the way. Yes, it did take time, but seriously, what

85 ALC_PCL_Jan17.indd 85

• • • • • • • • •

Reading Wr i t i n g Spelling Memor y Comprehension Headaches Concentration Un d e r s t a n d i n g M a t h s H i gh An x i e t y

If so, talk to us about one of our upcoming treatment programs - running now.

Call us now to book your place - there are only a limited number available - and get your child moving ahead in the right direction now. u

Programs available in our London Kensington Centre: 020 3745 7302; alc-uk.com

absolutely.london

21/12/2016 11:50

A World of Sophisticated Beauty Armani Hotel Dubai brings to life the “Stay with Armani� philosophy delivering a genuine home approach and a unique lifestyle experience where every need and desire is fulfilled for each guest individually. www.armanihoteldubai.com

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13/10/2016 11:10

> PORTUGUAL – A BEACH HOLIDAY AND CITY BREAK COMBINED p. 88 TRAVEL IN STYLE WITH ASTON MARTIN p. 92

HILL STATION A tram ride through Lisbon is probably the most fun you can have on public transport. If you can get on one, that is.

87 C&A_Jan17_Travel_Opener.indd 87

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:25

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX Cascais

Atlantic City Can’t decide between a beach holiday and a city break? This Portuguese family holiday takes in both Wo r d s P e n d l e H a r t e

P

ortugal is having a moment. Portuguese tiles are on every interiors wish list, parties serve miniature pasteis de nata and vinho verde is an increasing presence on wine lists. And as a tourist destination, Portugal has been having more than just a moment for quite some time. Since the invention of the budget airline, Lisbon has been the European city of choice for visitors from all over the world, drawn to its manageable size, unspoilt stylish tiled exteriors and coastal location. No wonder that in 2016 it won several awards, including Best Short Break Destination in the Travel Media Awards, and Lonely Planet lists it as one of the world’s Top Ten Cities for Travel.

We are here with two children, who though relatively well-travelled, are still less keen on wandering the streets of a new city than they are on jumping into a pool. And getting out and jumping in again. Again and again until dinner time.

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

C&A_Jan17_Portugal.indd 88

Martinhal, Cascais

Lisbon COUNTS as one of the world’s TOP TEN CITIES for travel

So our trip is designed to take in both – to visit Lisbon, and to go to the beach and the pool too. We’re aware that our girls – aged seven and ten – are interested in new places and that as a family we’re ready to move on from purely pool-based holidays. This realization is laced with nostalgia, because nowhere is the passing of time more visible than on holidays, which, recurring at regular intervals, always remind us of their predecessors.

What was last year’s favourite paddling pool is this year’s babyish reject. So we are heading first to the pool, to Martinhal in Cascais, a family hotel and younger sibling to the established Martinhal in the Algarve, which is known as a haven for parents for its attention to every detail.

One of the first things we see on arriving is a bulbous mound emerging from the grass, like a strange crater, or half a huge ball. What is it? The children run towards it, kick off their sandals and take a leap. It’s a trampoline, of course, a landscaped one, raised and visibly bouncier than any other trampoline. It’s

88 20/12/2016 19:26

TRAVEL / WANDERLUST

Lisbon

an unusual looking hotel, a low rise main building in the suburbs of Cascais, set in lush surroundings. It’s small and intimate, though also spread out and uncrowded.

Facilities for families – trampoline aside –include indoor and outdoor pools as well as kids’ clubs for all ages, well-thought out accommodation that includes a row of small, modernist houses with doubleheight living areas and sunny terraces as well as standard interconnecting hotel rooms with lavish bathrooms. There’s even a menu of mushy dishes for babies.

Cascais itself is a beach town about half an hour’s drive from Lisbon. It’s

89 C&A_Jan17_Portugal.indd 89

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:26

Join us in 2017 at London’s last family-owned and run boutique 5 star hotel You’ll find us on a quiet street between Harrods and Harvey Nichols

Your neighbourhood guest room

Featuring Michelin starred Outlaw’s at The Capital restaurant A UNIQUE APPROACH TO MODERN BRITISH SEAFOOD BOUTIQUE HOTEL KNIGHTSBRIDGE 22-24 Basil Street, Knightsbridge SW3 1AT CAPITAL HOTEL.indd 1

020 7591 1202

www.capitalhotel.co.uk 15/12/2016 10:02

TRAVEL / WANDERLUST

rival a summer weekend in Amsterdam.

Immediately we feel for anyone who uses the 28 for actual transport. The tuk-tuks, we discover, began a few years ago in response to this overcrowding, because they’re the only vehicles that can rival trams in negotiating the steep and winding landscape. Abandoning our tram ambition, we take a tuk-tuk ride that becomes a rollercoaster of excitement, a whistlestop tour of Lisbon’s highlights including the fantastic market. But ultimately the effect of tourism on this city's transport infrastructure leaves us feeling slightly uneasy.

We are staying at the Four Seasons, which not only has a rooftop running track that offers amazing views over Lisbon and its sunset, but also has a warm welcome for children. Of our two interconnecting rooms, one has been specially prepared with Disney duvet covers, welcome cookies and miniature dressing gowns and slippers (these create enormous excitement). There’s also a treasure hunt that takes kids through the hotel searching for clues. This Portuguese trip does that rare thing of combining grown up pleasures with childish ones, keeping everyone happy. u

Above & right: Four Seasons Lisbon

a beautiful spot, a small town with a busy tourist trade and lots of sweeping beaches. Martinhal runs a regular taxi shuttle into town, so we fall into a lazy routine of heading to the town’s beaches after mornings by the pool. This satisfies everyone’s requirements in terms of relaxation and entertainment and after a few days we are ready to move on.

Lisbon is completely transformed since my last visit, which I remember clearly – the late 90s, the early days of budget airlines. Back then, we couldn’t have forseen what effect cheap flights and, later, Airbnb could have on a small city. Then, we got on a passing tram and toured the city’s famed seven hills, some of their impossibly steep winding streets

Cascais is a SMALL TOWN with a BUSY TOURIST trade and lots of SWEEPING BEACHES

inaccessible by car and narrow enough for washing to be strung overhead.

Lisbon’s iconic yellow trams are stylish and clattery, the older ones dating back to the early 20th century, and an actual ride on one is what our children are looking forward to most. But trying to recreate this tram journey today is no joke. Route 28 is reputed to take in the steepest hills but whenever one passes, it’s so crowded (with tourists) that there’s no chance of getting on. We head for the beginning of the line but quickly it dawns on us that we’re not the only ones. A swarm of tuktuks signposts what turns out to be the stop we’re after, only it is surrounded by hoards of tourists, more than enough to

91 C&A_Jan17_Portugal.indd 91

 Martinhal Lisbon Cascais Family Hotel Low season: from 178€ per night in a double room, with breakfast included. High Season: from 248€ per night in a double room, with breakfast included.  Martinhal Lisbon Cascais Family Resort Hotel, R. do Clube Casa 36, Quinta Da Marinha, 2750-002 Cascais Portugal +351 211 149 900 info@martinhal.com martinhal.com/cascais Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca, 88, Lisboa, 1099-039, Portugal fourseasons.com/lisbon

absolutely.london

21/12/2016 11:48

The Art of Living Travel in style in an Aston Martin DB11 W o r d s K at i e M o n k

I

don’t see it coming. Its gaping jaws are upon me before I know what’s happening. I slam on the brakes and stop just in time. I’m sure James Bond didn’t have any run-ins with tractors, but then again, he didn’t spend much time in Stow-on-the-Wold.

I’m test-driving a brand-new DB11 around the English countryside, taking it from Aston Martin’s HQ in Gaydon, Warwickshire, to Cowley Manor in the Cotswolds. It’s a two-hour drive, and absolutely nail-biting from start to finish.

Not just being behind the wheel of such an expensive piece of kit, but navigating narrow lanes and blind bends and sticking to the speed limit. It feels a little bit like riding a racehorse in a bungalow.

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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Aston Martin has recently launched a series of luxury getaways, fusing the brand’s ethos of quality and exclusivity with world travel and gastronomy. It’s called the Art of Living series because this kind of travel requires not just nerves of steel, but a thirst for adventure and an appreciation for the finer things in life.

Guests can experience the cars in destinations such as Cuba, New Zealand, Italy and Japan, driving a 2017 model around a range of epic scenery, from the Dolomites and California’s Monterey Peninsula to the Scottish Highlands and the vineyards of Tuscany. All trips are personalised and high-end, drawing on Aston’s 103-year history as one of Britain’s most iconic brands. If Bond were to do mini-breaks, he’d surely book one of these.

92 20/12/2016 19:30

TRAVEL / THE JOURNEY

As with any luxury experience, driving an Aston eclipses anything else you’ve ever known. When you slip into the driver’s seat, a range of settings and angles mold the seat to your body like a very classy massage chair. The leather is beautifully soft – hand-cut and stitched in-house, like an haute-couture garment on a supermodel.

In fact, everything on an Aston Martin is designed and hand-crafted in England – aside from the engine, which is made in Cologne. The DB11 is Aston’s most advanced and powerful DB yet. The aluminium body is lighter, stronger and more aerodynamic than previous models.

And under the bonnet is a potent 5.2-litre, twin-turbo V12 engine, which goes from 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 200mph. There are nine gears, operated by ‘paddles’ on either side of the steering wheel. Or you can just keep it in automatic and play with the driving modes – GT, Sport and Sport Plus – which gradually intensify the engine’s response.

Whilst at Aston HQ in Gaydon, I attended an Art of Living Design Masterclass to watch the cars being made. Each vehicle begins as a series of sketches on paper or iPad, which are then turned into clay models, where

each element can be manipulated until it’s just right. Then a number of talented craftspeople and engineers bring all this to life. Over 700 people work on the factory floor, turning the designs into the finished article.

Each component has its own section and specialists, and everything runs like clockwork. It’s the cleanest and classiest factory I’ve ever been to. Once a customer has made their purchase, they can come here as much as they like and watch their car being created. Because much of the vehicle is bespoke, the buyer can choose the colour of the paint job, the leatherwork, and the interior. Some match it to their lipstick, others to their favourite tie.

The care and attention to detail is staggering. These aren’t cars at all – they’re works of art. Which is why I really, really don’t want to crash mine. I make it to Cowley Manor unscathed, and enjoy a fabulous pit-stop lunch on the

A thirst for ADVENTURE & an appreciation for the finer THINGS IN LIFE

93 NH_Jan17_ASTON MARTIN.indd 93

hotel’s terrace. Then we hit the road again for the short drive to the newly opened Painswick Hotel – a converted 18thcentury Cotswold stone mansion – where we stop for the night.

Painswick is famous for its Rococo garden and close proximity to Prinknash Abbey and the lovely town of Stroud, but I think we’ve had enough fun for today, so we hang back and enjoy the hotel’s open fires and cocktails instead.

The following morning, I’m ready for my adrenaline hit and busy plotting where we can go next in this car. Icedriving in New Zealand, perhaps? A spin around Lake Lugano in Switzerland?

Suddenly the world feels very different, like a far more thrilling place. u

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:30

ASPINALLFOUNDATION.ORG 0 1 3 0 3 2 6 4 6 4 7

PORT LYMPNE.indd 1 84227_PL_Treehouse_Hotel_Absolutely_Advert_Outlined_FAW.indd 1

20/12/2016 17:44 16:59

TRAVEL / UK GETAWAY WHAT IS IT?

T

he Knight Residence by Mansley is a block of five-star serviced apartments in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town in the shadow of the world-famous Edinburgh Castle and a stone’s throw from the city’s best shops and restaurants.

The one, two and three-bedroom apartments are designed as a homefrom-home whether you are visiting for work or leisure. The apartments have everything you need from wi-fi to a movie selection plus essentials such as fresh milk, breakfast cereals, bread, butter and tea and coffee all waiting for you. The concierge was brilliantly attentive, we had recommendations on where to dine and in the morning stepped straight from the front door and into a taxi without a moment’s wait. There is also private secure parking for guests that costs £9 a night with profits being used to plant native trees in Perthshire and the Cairngorms.

THE KNIGHT RESIDENCE BY MANSLEY EDINBURGH Wo r d s J a s m i n e R o b e r t s o n

THE CITY?

E

dinburgh is one of the world’s most beautiful cities, from the volcanic splendour of Arthur’s Seat to the cobbled Royal Mile running from the Castle all the way down to Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament, to the grandeur of 18th century New Town. It also a thoroughly modern European cultural destination.

There are galleries, museums, great restaurants and shops, from department stores such as Jenners and Harvey Nichols to great independent gift shops in places such as Broughton Street and Stockbridge.

THE ROOMS?

T

he rooms are all individually designed with a modern palette: modest greys and blues and glass fronted wardrobes. The beds were very comfortable and there was a large central sitting room with sizeable television.

The décor was functional rather than funky but the point of the apartments is not to sit around in them but get out and explore the city.

THE DAMAGE Room start at £139 for a two bedroom or £179 for a three bedroom apartment. To book please contact The Knight Residence by Mansley on 0131 622 8120, email edinburgh@bymansley.com or visit bymansley.com The Knight Residence by Mansley Serviced Apartments, 12 Lauriston Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9DJ

95 Chis_Dec16_UK_EDINBURGH.indd 95

absolutely.london

20/12/2016 19:33

“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

FITNESS • SURFING • GOLFING • CYCLING WALKING • COASTEERING • EATING • CHILLING

Make the most of the dramatic north Cornish Coast and the buzzing surfing beach of Polzeath

With a stunning 18-hole golf course, North Cornwall's top Health Club, featuring an indoor pool, Spinning® room, fully equipped state-ofthe-art gym, dedicated new studio, tennis courts, restaurant with top reviews, accommodation ranging from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom houses together with 7 NEW contemporary apartments, The Point at Polzeath is a favourite destination for both short breaks and family holidays.

thepointatpolzeath.co.uk • holidays@thepointatpolzeath.co.uk 01208 863 000 • The Point at Polzeath Cornwall PL27 6QT

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PROPERTY NEWS

p.110

NIGEL LEWIS: FAMOUS PLACES

ELLERBY STREET SW6

£4,200,000

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IN THEIR OWN WORDS

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ocated on the south side of the Alphabet streets, this beautiful six-bedroom family home is presented in immaculate condition, providing over 3,500 sqft of luxurious living and entertaining space throughout. Upon entering the home, guests are welcomed with a pristine double reception room, featuring a bay window and floor-to-ceiling mirrors that create a wonderful light-filled space. u

L

BISHOPS PARK 020 7993 9888 marshandparsons.co.uk

OIRO

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absolutely.london

21/12/2016 09:04

carterjonas.co.uk

RUSSELL GARDENS MEWS Holland Park W14

A stunning upper maisonette designed by an international multi-award winning architect set in a charming Victorian cobbled mews.

Holland Park & Notting Hill 020 7371 1111 hollandpark@carterjonas.co.uk

Open-plan kitchen/reception room • 2 bedrooms • 2 bathrooms • Good storage • Contemporary finish • EPC rating C

Guide price £1,300,000

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CHESHAM MEWS Belgravia SW1X

A charming property on a peaceful and secure cobbled mews in the heart of Belgravia; arranged over three floors, this lovely home offers wonderful, bright living space. Chesham Mews is ideally positioned in close proximity to Knightsbridge, Sloane Square, and Hyde Park.

Knightsbridge & Chelsea

020 7584 7020 knightsbridge@carterjonas.co.uk

Reception room • 3 bedrooms • 2 bathrooms • Garage • Access to communal gardens • EPC rating G

Guide price £2,950,000

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25/11/2016 17:40

Hillsleigh Road, W8 ÂŁ2,650,000 Freehold

A sensational architect designed house with an integral garage and a stunning west-facing garden. Arranged over three floors connected by a glass spiral staircase, this exciting property presents custom design behind a traditional facade. Situated in a peaceful enclave on the doorstep of Holland Park, the house falls within the Campden Hill Square catchment area (subject to application). EPC=D. Reception room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen and garden. Joint Sole Agents

020 7937 9976 gabriella@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Kensington 020 7937 9976 MOUNTGRANGE.indd 1

North Kensington 020 8960 0181

Notting Hill 020 7221 2277 20/12/2016 14:58

Stratford Road, W8 ÂŁ1,250,000 Leasehold

A beautiful split-level maisonette located in the heart of Stratford Village.The flat has recently been refurbished and has large sash windows throughout which flood the flat with natural light. Stratford Road is home to a variety of independent shops and is within walking distance of a wider range of shopping and transport facilities on Kensington High Street and Earls Court Road. EPC=D. Reception room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and kitchen. Sole Agents

020 7937 9976 michael@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Kensington 020 7937 9976 MOUNTGRANGE.indd 2

North Kensington 020 8960 0181

Notting Hill 020 7221 2277 20/12/2016 14:58

Bracewell Road, W10 ÂŁ1,150,000 Leasehold

A fantastic split-level flat which forms the upper part of a Victorian terrace house on this desirable tree-lined street. Arranged over two floors this property has been tastefully refurbished to create a bright and spacious oasis. Bracewell Road is a vibrant street in the heart of North Kensington and is within easy reach of Portobello road, Golborne Road and Westfield shopping centre. EPC=C. Reception room, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen and terrace.

020 8960 0181 shauna@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Kensington 020 7937 9976 MOUNTGRANGE.indd 3

North Kensington 020 8960 0181

Notting Hill 020 7221 2277 20/12/2016 14:58

Pembridge Villas, W11 ÂŁ940,000 Share of Freehold

A very pretty one bedroom apartment featuring a fantastic open-plan kitchen reception room. Positioned on the top floor (with access on the first) of a handsome Victorian building which has undergone recent internal and external renovations. Superbly positioned, the building is just a short walk from Notting Hill Gate and Westbourne Grove. EPC=D. Reception room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. Sole Agents

020 7221 2277 ben@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Kensington 020 7937 9976 MOUNTGRANGE.indd 4

North Kensington 020 8960 0181

Notting Hill 020 7221 2277 20/12/2016 14:58

Ladbroke Grove, W11 ÂŁ950 per week Fees Apply

Truly stunning first floor flat with wonderful living and entertaining space in the heart of Notting Hill with access to beautiful communal gardens.The property is superbly located for the many and varied local shops of Westbourne Grove and Portobello Road. EPC=D. Reception room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, open-plan kitchen and access to communal gardens. Furnished.

020 7221 2277 hannah@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Kensington 020 7937 9976 MOUNTGRANGE.indd 5

North Kensington 020 8960 0181

Notting Hill 020 7221 2277 20/12/2016 14:58

Pet friendly people‌ Renting pet friendly property! We need more landlords who are willing to accommodate tenants with pets. Call any of our team now on 020 7221 2277 or pop into our offices for more information on renting your property to people with pets.

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Lexham Gdns, W8 £415 per week Fees Apply

A charming and spacious flat overlooking the award-winning garden square to which there is access. Close to Kensington High Street. EPC=E. Reception room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and communal gardens. Furnished. Joint Sole Agents

020 7221 2277 hannah@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Dukes Lane, W8 £2,000 per week Fees Apply

Stunning four bedroom house on this quiet street just off Kensington Church Street, moments from the shops and restaurants on Kensington High Street and Notting Hill Gate. EPC=E.Three reception rooms, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, utility room, kitchen, garden and garage. Furnished. Joint Sole Agents

020 7221 2277 sophie@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Stratford Road, W8 £375 per week

Fees Apply

A newly decorated and spacious flat with private patio garden in Stratford Village. Close to Kensington High Street and Earls Court Road. EPC=C. Reception room, bedroom, bathroom, open-plan kitchen and patio garden. Furnished. Sole Agents

020 7221 2277 india@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Magnolia Lodge, W8 £550 per week Fees Apply

Blithfield Street, W8 £1,450 per week Fees Apply

020 7221 2277 hannah@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

020 7221 2277 india@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

A newly decorated flat on the second floor with a secure, allocated parking space. EPC=B. Reception room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, juliet balcony, communal garden, parking space, residents gym and 24 hour porter service. Furnished. Sole Agents

A simply stunning family house that has been refurbished to a high standard on this pretty tree-lined street in Stratford Village. Walking distance to Kensington High Street and Earls Court Road. EPC=E. Reception room, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, conservatory, kitchen and terrace. Unfurnished. Sole Agents

mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Kensington 020 7937 9976 MOUNTGRANGE.indd 7

North Kensington 020 8960 0181

Notting Hill 020 7221 2277 20/12/2016 14:58

Portobello Rd, W10 £390 per week Fees Apply

Newly refurbished one bedroom top floor flat with wood floors throughout. Fantastic location, only moments from both Ladbroke Grove and Golborne Road. EPC=D. Reception room, bedroom, bathroom and open-plan kitchen. Furnished or unfurnished.

020 7221 2277 india@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Sirdar Road, W11 £1,250 per week Fees Apply

Simply stunning property which has been redesigned to create the most perfect living and entertaining space.The house has a sunny paved garden and a wonderful kitchen dining room with a glass atrium. EPC=E.Two reception rooms, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen and paved garden. Unfurnished. Sole Agents

020 7221 2277 hannah@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

St Mark's Rd, W10 £545 per week Fees Apply

Stunning flat on the raised ground floor of this impressive period property offering stylish flexible accommodation.The property is a short walk from Ladbroke Grove tube station. EPC=D. Reception room, two bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen. Unfurnished.

020 7221 2277 hannah@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Brunswick Gds, W8 £625 per week Fees Apply

St Luke's Mews, W11 £435 per week Fees Apply

020 7221 2277 sophie@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

020 7221 2277 sophie@mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

A stunning, bright flat situated just off Notting Hill Gate.The spacious reception room has a west-facing balcony over-looking this beautiful tree-lined street. EPC=D. Reception room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and balcony. Unfurnished. Sole Agents

A stunning newly refurbished one bedroom flat, located in the heart of Notting Hill.

Minutes from the buzz of the trendy Westbourne Grove and the local amenities of Portobello Road. EPC=D. Reception room, bedroom, bathroom and open-plan kitchen. Furnished or unfurnished. Sole Agents

mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Kensington 020 7937 9976 MOUNTGRANGE.indd 8

North Kensington 020 8960 0181

Notting Hill 020 7221 2277 20/12/2016 14:58

Property ROUND UP The inside scoop in your area

HOUSE HUNTING

I NEVER TH0UGHT I'D SEE

MOST SATISFYING TRANSACTION

The sale of a £6,250,000 house in Chepstow Villas, Notting Hill. The vendors had full confidence in us and we repaid their faith by achieving an excellent price.

MOST INTERESTING PROPERTY

IAIN BEGG

We were marketing a 5,133 square foot converted factory on the canal in W10. The property used to be a gun factory then a powderpuff factory. The vendor may still consider a one-off viewing.

Parents buying a £4,500,000 flat for their son to use whilst at University.

PARENTS BUYING A £4,500,00 FLAT FOR THEIR SON TO USE WHILST AT UNIVERSITY

FINEST PROPERTY SHOWCASE

Prince Edward Mansions £6,550,000. The penthouse apartment has recently undergone an extensive renovation program which has modernised whilst retaining its period features. u

Chestertons

Sales Manager

Notting Hill, 020 3040 8585

Chestertons

chestertons.com

F E AT U R E P R O P E R T Y

ST QUINTIN AVENUE • W10 •

£1,999,995 Share of Freehold

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

NH_Jan17_Prop_PRU 2.indd 110

rare opportunity to purchase a truly remarkable apartment which provides circa 1,512 square feet of luxury living space. This exceptional property primarily occupies the first floor of a handsome period house in prime North Kensington. Immaculately presented, the property offers superb ceiling height, period fireplaces throughout, plenty of natural light, an

A

abundance of storage and a fantastic south-facing terrace with an unusually open aspect. u

superb ceiling height, period fireplaces throughout Mountgrange Heritage North Kensington, 020 8960 0181 mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

110 21/12/2016 09:10

PROPERTY / NEWS EXPERT COMMENT 5 MINUTES WITH

STRUTT & PARKER • struttandparker.com •

HEATHER CARTER-DRAKE Manager Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings

T

homas Earl House is a new building that will complete in March 2017 at the 375 Kensington High Street property development.

Many apartments here were bought by overseas investors rental investment purposes, demand and rents remain steady here.

We’ve had a lot of interest in the development from corporates coming here with their families on secondment to work at banks and

NEW BUILD

NAPIER PLACE • W14 •

£2,675,000 stunning Holland Park mews house, which has been entirely rebuilt, featuring entertaining space, high ceilings and three double bedrooms all with en suite bathrooms. The entire ground floor comprises a luxurious reception room, bathed in

A

natural light, with beautiful wood flooring and a feature fireplace. On the lower ground floor is a bespoke fitted kitchen with space for entertaining and dining, as well as a utility room and WC. Upstairs are two double bedrooms on the first floor, each with en suite bathrooms.

The master bedroom suite spans the second floor, complete with a large skylight and an en suite bathroom. u

Marsh & Parsons Holland Park, 020 7605 6890;

marshandparsons.co.uk

NEWS

CAMERONS STIFF & CO MERGE WITH QUEENS PARK PARTNERSHIP IN 2017

other global institutions.

Professional couples are also renting here and the launch of Thomas Earl House is sure to draw in new interest. Recently, we let an apartment at 375 Kensington High Street to a tenant who particularly appreciated the secure parking for his top of the range Ferrari. u

Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings Kensington, 020 7938 3522 brlets.co.uk

amerons Stiff & Co is delighted to announce that as of the 3rd of January 2017 Queens Park Partnership will be rebranded as Camerons Stiff & Co inc Queens Park Partnership. Established in 1982 Camerons Stiff & Co has developed an enviable reputation as one of London’s leading independent Estate Agencies in Sales, Lettings and Management. With the acquisition of a third office in Queens Park and the subsequent link up between offices, Camerons Stiff can

C

provide a more powerful brand to increase our coverage both through printed media and portal advertising. The name in Queens Park will change but the outstanding values that they have built will remain. Spencer Jacobs and Oliver Morgan-Townley will both front the team based in Queens Park. u

Camerons Stiff & Co 020 8459 1133/020 7328 2828 cameronsstiff.co.uk

Edward Thompson Associate

Str utt & Parker

Q&A HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS AREA?

I joined the Chelsea office in 2010 and have lived in Notting Hill for 11 years or so. I have also worked in Kensington and lived in Chelsea.

WHAT IS YOUR ETHOS?

My reputation and integrity is everything. Whether it be between clients, customers or agents, I play with a very “straight bat” and work very hard to get the best results for my clients.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE PROPERTIES RIGHT NOW?

Easy - a true lateral (purpose built period/c1900), six window wide, two bedroom second floor flat with a lift, resident caretaker and low services charges in Cheyne Gardens.

MARKET PREDICTIONS FOR THE COMING MONTHS?

We have a weak Sterling which is causing inflation, so bank rates will gradually rise. Availability of quality property will remain low, thus prices will remain steady next year. u

Strutt & Parker Chelsea, 020 7225 3866; struttandparker.com

SPOTLIGHT ON PRIME CENTRAL LONDON 2 BED

I BED

1 – 5 YEAR CHANGES IN AVERAGE PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT BY NUMBER OF BEDROOMS

3 BED

42.4% 34.1% 27.9%

Data provided by LonRes

111 NH_Jan17_Prop_PRU 2.indd 111

absolutely.london

21/12/2016 09:10

ARE YOU GETTING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE YOU DESERVE? The ESTAS is the largest independent customer service awards scheme for estate agents, mortgage brokers and conveyancers in the UK property industry.

Companies who sign up to The ESTAS are committed to giving YOU the best possible service they can.

So if you’re searching for an estate or letting agent, conveyancer or mortgage broker look out for the official ESTAS logo to give you peace of mind and the service you deserve. Whatever your experience, you’ll have the chance to give your feedback, helping us recognise firms that provide excellent customer service throughout the home moving process.

To find out more visit our website

theestas.com

Because Service Matters ESTA.indd 0048 ESTAS1Absolutely Magazine Ad Oct 2016 AW.indd 1

02/11/2016 12:42 10:35 19/10/2016

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20/12/2016 10:03

275 Willesden Lane, NW2 5JA 020 8459 1133 enquiries@cameronsstiff.co.uk

EPC - D

CHRISTCHURCH AVENUE, NW6

£3,999,950 Freehold

Situated on this wide tree lined road of elegant 30’s built properties, with easy walking distance to Queens Park & Salusbury Road with their many bars & restaurants. It is also within the catchment area of good local schools. MUST BE SEEN.

• 6 beds, 4 bathrooms, dressing room • Open plan kitchen/breakfast room • South facing rear garden, OSP for 2 cars • TV games room

EPC - F

CHEVENING ROAD, NW6

£2,195,000 Freehold

Fabulous opportunity to purchase this spacious semi-detached period property of approx. 2000 sq ft with the potential to create a beautiful family home. Situated on popular location within easy access to Salusbury Road and the excellent transport links of the area. Currently divided into two flats.

• 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms • 3 reception rooms • 73 ft west facing rear garden • Lots of period features throughout

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EPC - E

HANOVER ROAD, NW10

£1,600,000 Freehold

Situated on this prime residential road close to Queens Park & Kensal Rise along with the excellent shopping and transport facilities of the area is this beautifully modernised terraced house arranged over three floors offering 2171 sq ft. Fabulous space for a growing family. Sympathetically restored.

• 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms • Open plan kitchen/reception, 2 receptions • 48 ft rear garden easily maintained • Fabulous space for growing family

EPC - C

CHANDOS ROAD, NW2

£849,950 Share of Freehold

One of the finest garden flats to enter the market in Willesden Green, skilfully extended to provide the maximum internal living space possible of 1218 sq ft creating a superb entertaining space. Garden studio fully wired with electric heating and water.

Superb quality fixtures & fittings throughout. MUST BE SEEN.

• 2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms • 28 ft kitchen/reception room • Superb quality fixtures & fittings • Prime Willesden position

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62 Salusbury Road, NW6 6NS 020 7328 2828 enquiries@cameronsstiff.co.uk

EPC - D

MOWBRAY ROAD, NW6

£829,950 Share of Freehold

A well presented 938 sq ft 2 double bedroom flat arranged on the ground floor of a red brick semi-detached residence, boasting a 21 ft reception room, modern fully fitted kitchen, family bathroom & plenty of storage space. Offered CHAIN FREE.

• Bright & spacious accommodation • Overlooking the communal garden • Wooden floors, bay windows • Close to Queens Park & Kilburn

EPC - E

MILMAN ROAD, NW6

£1,275,000 Leasehold

Offering beautiful views over Queens Park, this duplex apartment provides bright & spacious living space with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 23 ft reception room, use of the rear garden, private entrance & extra storage space. Viewing is highly recommended.

• Spanning 1360 sq ft over 2 floors • Excellent position close to transport links • Period conversion, wooden floors • Modern kitchen with stairs to garden

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EPC - D

KEMPE ROAD, NW6

£1,799,950 Freehold

Stunning family home of 2040 sq ft comprising of 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, modern 29 ft kitchen/diner opening onto a 33 ft sunny rear garden, double reception & utility room. Enviable position close to Kensal Rise & Queens Park with numerous shops, cafes & good schools. Excellent transport links into Central London.

• Terraced family home • Master bedroom with en-suite • Wooden floors throughout GF • Bright & spacious kitchen/diner

EPC - D

HARTLAND ROAD, NW6

£1,850,000 Freehold

Situated just off Salusbury Road with its many cafes & shops, close to the open space of Queens Park is this fully extended 4 bedroom/2 bathroom mid-terrace family home retaining plenty of the original charm, combined with a modern touch, providing 1706 sq ft of living space. Must be seen to be fully appreciated!

• 21 ft open plan kitchen/diner • Double reception, south facing garden • Converted loft with bedroom & en-suite • Close to local amenities & schools

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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

BUTE GARDENS W6 £1,450PW / £6,283PCM

NETHERWOOD ROAD W14 £750PW / £3,250PCM

• 5 BEDROOM HOUSE • DOUBLE RECEPTION • STYLISH KITCHEN

• 3 BEDROOMS • DOUBLE RECEPTION • MODERN KITCHEN

• 2 BATHROOMS • PRETTY GARDEN • EPC RATING D 61

• DINING ROOM • LOVELY PRIVATE GARDEN • EPC RATING D 63

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

HEBRON ROAD W6 £700PW / £3,033PCM

GIRDLERS ROAD W14 £500PW / £2,167PCM

• 3 DOUBLE BEDROOMS • SPACIOUS RECEPTION • MODERN FITTED KITCHEN

• 2 DOUBLE BEDROOMS • SPACIOUS RECEPTION • SEPARATE KITCHEN

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• 2 BATHROOMS • LARGE PRIVATE GARDEN • EPC RATING D 59

• FAMILY BATHROOM • ROOF TERRACE • EPC RATING E 42

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

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BLYTHE ROAD W14 PRICE ON APPLICATION FREEHOLD

BATOUM GARDENS W6 GUIDE £2.875M FREEHOLD

• 5 DOUBLE BEDROOMS • 2 RECEPTIONS • KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM

• 5 DOUBLE BEDROOMS • DOUBLE RECEPTION • KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM

• FAMILY/MEDIA ROOM • GARDEN & ROOF TERRACE • EPC RATING C 71

• DINING/FAMILY ROOM • 48' SOUTH FACING GARDEN • EPC RATING D 63

BROOK GREEN 020 7371 4171

BROOK GREEN 020 7371 4171

SINCLAIR ROAD W14 GUIDE £1.2M LEASEHOLD

HAMMERSMITH GROVE W6 GUIDE £995,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD

• 2 DOUBLE BEDROOMS • 21'4 x 21' RECEPTION • OPEN PLAN KITCHEN

• 2 BED 2 BATH • RECEPTION • CONTEMPORARY KITCHEN

• 2 BATHROOMS (1 EN SUITE) • 38' GARDEN • EPC RATING B 81

BROOK GREEN 020 7371 4171

• PRIVATE GARDEN • PP TO EXTEND • EPC RATING C 69

BROOK GREEN 020 7371 4171

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

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STING’S FORMER MATERIAL WORLD

NIGEL LEWIS

FAMOUS PLACES London hides a plethora of celebrity homes. These are the most recent to come on the market

MCQUEEN’S FORMER FASHIONABLE ADDRESS

he late Alexander McQueen is best known for his five-year stint heading up Givenchy as well as his celebrity friends including Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, David Bowie and even Prince Charles.

Before his suicide in 2010 such starry connections and his prestigious talents earned him substantial wealth and in 2009 he bought a large part of a townhouse in Dunraven Road, Mayfair for £2.52 million which, at the time of his death, he was doing up while he lived around the corner in a rented flat. Six years on and the top storeys have finally been finished.

The three-bedroom duplex flat by interior designer Paul Davies is on the market for £8.5 million with joint agents Wetherell (020 7529 5566) and Knight Frank (020 74899 1012). The property comes with portraits of both McQueen and his friend Isabella Blow as well as fashion shots of McQueen’s clothing plus there are references to his favourite skull motif all over the duplex including within several wall mounted mirrors. u

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his death in 1965. The road was and remains a fashionable place to live and is a short walk from both the Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park. And the Churchills are not the only famous residents to have enjoyed its brownstone mansion blocks and Victorian villas. The founder of the Scouts, Lord Baden Powell lived on the street as did writer Virginia Woolf and more recently broadcaster Nigella Lawson. The Churchills former home at No.28 is now for sale through agent Strutt & Parker (020 7313 8408) for £23 million and comes with seven bedrooms, a 55ft back garden, four reception rooms, a wine cellar and three bathrooms. u

ost people in relationships can recollect where they first met their partner and for Sting and his wife Trudie Styler, it was a stucco-fronted square in Bayswater. The pair lived there during the late 1970s in separate apartments on Leinster Square but it wasn’t until a hot summer’s day in 1977 that Trudi spotted him walking down the street. Sting was then already married with a small boy, had green hair and The Police had only just formed – but just four years later they were an item. Leinster Square is a shadow of its former self. Once a hangout for struggling musicians and actors, nowadays only City professionals can afford it. Next door to Sting’s old basement flat developer Alchemi Group is restoring five properties at 13-19 Leinster Square, a large portion of the street. The development will include 15 lateral and triplex apartments with either three or four bedrooms and they are now available to buy off-plan. Prices start at £5.995m. Leinster Square, like many private squares of its kind in the capital, also has a residentsonly garden at its centre. This is currently also being renovated by Alchemi Group and designed in collaboration with architects TateHindle. u For more details call 020 7499 3881 or visit alchemigroup.com.

M

£8.5 Million

WHERE CHURCHILL WENT AFTER THE WAR

hen Winston Churchill was ejected from power following the 1945 General Election he and his wife Clementine needed a home after five years spent at No.10 while he was wartime Prime Minister. He bought this home on Hyde Park Gate in London which, except for his four-year return to power in 1950, they called home until

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PROPERTY / STAR HOMES Prices start at

£5.9

£23

Million

Million

The Churchills are not the only famous residents to have enjoyed its mansion blocks PUB’S STARRING ROLE IN MANY MOVIES

s locations go this former pub in Notting Hill has proved unusually popular with movie and TV drama producers. It was converted into flats and offices during the late 1980s but during its beer serving days the boozer feature in 1951 film The Lavender Mob starring Alec Guiness, 1970s TV series The Sweeney, the 1977 film The Squeeze starring Stacy Keach and the 1986 Sex Pistols movie Sid and Nancy. But the pub is best

A

known for its appearance in the defining movie of the 1970s, Quadrophenia starring Leslie Ash, Sting, Raymond Winstone, Toya Wilcox, Michael Elphick and Timothy Spall. In a famous scene, mod Spider played by Gary Shail is attacked by rockers when his scooter breaks down outside the pub. The area is a bit more genteel now. A fourbedroom, three-bathroom apartment within the building is for sale at £1.4 million through agent Dexters (020 7243 4500) featuring a huge reception room, dining room, open plan kitchen and a roof terrace. u

Million

GINGER ALE, ANYONE? C

hris Evan’s short tenure at Top Gear this year ended despite his efforts to give it

£1.15 Million

121 Chis_Jan16_famousplaces.indd 121

£1.4

his ‘best shot’ although the ever-ebullient Evans is unlikely to crying into his beer. He’s got famous friends to commiserate with including Gary Barlow, Tom Jones and Paloma Faith, all of whom drink with the Radio 2 DJ at his local pub in Surrey, The Mulberry. He owns it jointly with manager Camilla Hensen after the pair bought it in the village of Chiddingfold ten years ago.

But Evans has clearly tired of being a landlord. The freehold is now for sale for £1.15 million through agent Fleurets.com and comes with a restaurant, lounge bar, large patio, verandas on three sides, three en-suite B&B rooms and a four-bedroom home for the landlord or lady to live in. At the height of his fame Evans used the millions he pocketed from the sale of Virgin Radio to buy up several pubs, including The Mulberry. Then in 2007 he bought the Lickhold Inn near Midhurst in West Sussex for £1 million and, in the same year, the Newbridge Inn at Tredunnock, near Usk in Wales, for £900,000. u

absolutely.london

21/12/2016 09:11

Internationally respected, locally renowned

Rickman

A refreshing yet professional approach to selling or renting your home

Avonmore Road, West Kensington, W14

£550,000 LH

Hornton Street, Kensington, W8

A wonderful, raised ground floor one bedroom apartment in this classic red brick Victorian house with access via a balcony to its own patio garden.

The flat enjoys very high ceilings, has a reception room, separate kitchen, bedroom and bathroom and is exceptionally well placed for access to High Street Kensington and Olympia. The flat would benefit from some further improvement but will make a wonderful investment for the future. EPC rating D.

Lyall Mews, Belgravia SW1X

A spectacular, newly refurbished raised ground floor flat with its own street entrance. The accommodation comprises 30’ Reception/kitchen, two double bedrooms with ensuite bathroom or shower room, cloakroom, and plenty of storage. The flat has particularly high ceilings and is located in the quieter section of Hornton Street to the north of Kensington Town Hall but is still only a short walk to the underground station and the shopping along the High Street. EPC Rating C.

Fairholt Street, Knightsbridge SW7

£5,500pw*

*administration fees apply RICKMAN_NEW.v2.indd 2

£2,250pw*

A beautifully refurbished three bedroom house which has been rebuilt only 400 metres from Harrods within Knightsbridge Village. Available unfurnished. A beautifully refurbished house in the heart of Knightsbridge Village offering 2,150 sq. ft. over 5 floors. The accommodation comprises master bedroom with en suite bathroom and terrace, two further en suite bedrooms, double reception room leading to a terrace, large ultra-modern kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom and media room. Comfort cooling and integrated Hi Fi throughout. Approximately 400 metres from Harrods. EPC rating C.

A sensational mews house offering nearly 4,000 square feet, extensive parking for four cars and a garage. The unusual dual aspect of the property ensures the house is bathed in natural light, whilst the extensive and flexible accommodation allows for lateral living rooms and up to five bedrooms on only four floors. One can also use the rear door to provide a self-contained lower ground floor flat for staff, guests or children. The house enjoys an enviably quiet location within one of the most sought-after cobbled mews in prime central London, just off Belgrave Square and close to all amenities of Knightsbridge and Belgravia. EPC Rating C. 21 Earls Court Road, London W8 6EB info@rickmanproperties.com I rickmanproperties.com

£1,525,000 LH

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020 7937 9777 15/12/2016 17:16

Live where the West End begins

Join us for our launch in January 2017 West End Gate is located in one of Central London’s most prestigious postcodes. Its elegant 30-storey tower affords dramatic views from luxury Manhattans, one, two and three-bedroom apartments. ❖

Exclusive W2 location, minutes from Marylebone

❖

Swimming pool, spa, gym, concierge & cinema room

❖

Excellent transport connections, Zone 1

❖

Private tranquil gardens

For more information www.westendgate.co.uk

| 020 3432 1772

www.westendgate.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

Prices and details correct at time of going to press. Computer-generated image is indicative only. Details subject to planning permission.

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PROPERTY / NEW TO THE MARKET

LUXURIOUS

LETTINGS London’s Finest Assets

LEXHAM GARDENS W8

£1,670 per we e k

his spacious three bedroom apartment is situated on the ground floor of Somerset Court, a striking stucco-fronted building in Lexham Gardens, one of Kensington’s most desirable streets. Refurbished to a high standard, the property comprises a living room with space for dining characterised by high ceilings, wood floors and a large bay window affording plenty of natural light.

Other benefits include an entrance hall with store room, guest cloakroom and direct access to an impressive 40ft garden. u  Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings Kensington, 020 7938 3522; brlets.co.uk

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STUDDRIDGE STREET

reception room and a large low maintenance private garden.

The property is set on the sought after Peterborough Estate and is walking distance to Parsons Green tube station as well as local shops and cafés. u  John D Wood & Co. Fulham, 020 7371 0123; johndwood.co.uk

SSW6

£2,300 per we e k

his superbly presented seven bedroom family home is in a prime location on the Peterborough Estate. The family home spans across four levels and has been finished impeccably throughout. The ground floor consists of an entrance hall, large eat in kitchen, a separate

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HORBURY CRESCENT

W11

£1,600 per we e k

his stunning 2 bed 2 bath duplex apartment is set on Horbury Crescent in a beautiful period building in the heart of Notting Hill. Set

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over the 2nd & 3rd floors (with the entrance on the 1st) it offers spacious accommodation in a prime central location. Finished to an excellent standard it consists of 2 bedrooms both with en-suites, spacious

reception, kitchen and guest cloak room. The flat benefits from a balcony, a roof terrace (non-demised) with views across Notting Hill. u  Chestertons Notting Hill, 020 3040 8588; chestertons.com

124 21/12/2016 09:14

Harrods Estates brings

LONDON property to the world

• LONDON RESIDENTIAL SALES • LONDON RESIDENTIAL LETTINGS • ACQUISITIONS • NEW DEVELOPMENTS • ASSET MANAGEMENT • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: 020 7225 6700 KENSINGTON OFFICE: 48-50 KENSINGTON CHURCH STREET LONDON W8 4DG T: 020 3650 4600

HARRODSESTATES.COM @HarrodsEstates

3ads.indd 1 HARRODS.indd 5091 HE Absolute1

20/12/2016 16:03 17:59 27/09/2016 10:46 22/09/2015 22/07/2015 14:41

A LUXURIOUS AND SPACIOUS FIVE-BEDROOM APARTMENT VICTORIA ROAD, KENSINGTON W8 • Five double bedrooms • Open plan kitchen • Reception with 3m ceilings Guide price: £7,300,000

• Cinema room • 3,325sq ft/309sq m • EPC rating E

Kensington Office: 020 3650 4600 nicholas.shaw@harrodsestates.com

Tenure: Share of Freehold

HARRODSESTATES.COM

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BRIGHT WELL-PROPORTIONED TWO-BEDROOM, TWO-BATHROOM APARTMENT WATERSIDE TOWER, IMPERIAL WHARF SW6 • Purpose built block • River views • Sixth floor • Landscaped communal gardens • On-site security and concierge • EPC rating C Guide price: £995,000

Chelsea Office: 020 7225 6700 francis.burca@harrodsestates.com

Leasehold: Approximately 981 years

HARRODSESTATES.COM

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020 7823 8886 email@ryletts.com

Ennismore Mews, SW7

£1,750 per week

A well laid out, spacious family house over three floors, comprising double reception room, four bedrooms all with en-suite bathrooms, an open plan kitchen/dining room, guest cloakroom, study and two terraces, in a quiet cobbled Mews close to Hyde Park, and Knightsbridge. EPC: D

Sydney Street, SW3

£1,925 per week

A stylish, west facing, four bedroom house in Chelsea with excellent entertaining space and two lovely terraces.

Features include a large kitchen/dining room, formal sitting room, cinema/family room, a master bedroom with en-suite, three further bedrooms and a bathroom and shower room. EPC: D 1 St. Catherine’s Mews Milner Street London SW3 2PX

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Riverside living at its best

Flats to rent at Fulham Reach starting at £550 per week

1 Beds from £550 pw

n 1, 2, 3 Beds & Penthouses to Rent n Pool, Gym, 24hr Concierge, Air-conditioning n 3 mins from Hammersmith Tube & all amenities

2 Beds from £750 pw

020 8528 4110 or email fr@brlets.co.uk or visit www.brlets.co.uk Call us now on

Unit C, Distillery Wharf, Chancellors Road, London W6 9GX 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_NH_NEWEST.indd 1

On-site letttings office at Fulham Reach

21/12/2016 15:00

Chelsea

£2,200 pw Unfurnished

4 Bedrooms | Reception | 3 Bathrooms | House 24hr Concierge | Gym | Pool | Parking | EPC - D Knightsbridge 020 3302 7174

knight@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

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To arrange a viewing or for more information call

020 7319 9783

West Kensington

£380 pw Furnished

London’s Letting Agency

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

Westminster

£550 pw Furnished

1 Bedroom | Reception | 1 Bathroom | Apartment Communal Gardens | Close to Tube | EPC - C

2 Bedrooms | Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment Porter | Close to Amenities & Tube | EPC - D

Kensington 020 3302 5674

Knightsbridge 020 3302 7174

Imperial Wharf

kens@brlets.co.uk

£600 pw Furnished

Fulham Reach

knight@brlets.co.uk

£725 pw Furnished

2 Bedrooms | Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment 24hr Concierge | Balcony | Lift | EPC - C

2 Bedrooms | Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment 24hr Concierge | Parking | Close to Tube | EPC - C

Fulham 020 3503 0015

Hammersmith 020 8528 4110

iw@brlets.co.uk

fr@brlets.co.uk

Hong Kong | India | Malaysia | Singapore

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West Kensington

ÂŁ995 pw Furnished

2 Bedrooms | Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment 24hr Concierge | Close to Tube | EPC - B Kensington 020 3302 5674

kens@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

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To arrange a viewing or for more information call

020 7319 9783

Imperial Wharf

£445 pw Furnished

London’s Letting Agency

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

Knightsbridge

£520 pw Furnished

Studio/Living Space | 1 Bathroom | Apartment Balcony | 24hr Concierge | Gym | Close to Tube | EPC - B Fulham 020 3503 0015 iw@brlets.co.uk

1 Bedroom | Reception | 1 Bathroom | Apartment Concierge | Close to Tube & Amenities | EPC – B Knightsbridge 020 3302 7174 knight@brlets.co.uk

Paddington

Fulham Reach

£795 pw Furnished

£800 pw Furnished

3 Bedrooms | Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment 24hr Concierge | Parking | Close to Tube | EPC - B

2 Bedrooms | Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment 24hr Concierge | Gym | Spa | Cinema | EPC - C

Hyde Park 020 3417 3703

Hammersmith 020 8528 4110

hyde@brlets.co.uk

fr@brlets.co.uk

Hong Kong | India | Malaysia | Singapore

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Kensington’s new quarter n Situated in one of the most desirable locations in London n 24hr concierge, secure parking, gym, pool, spa, private screening room, business suite

375 Kensington High Street, W14

n 5 Minute walk to Tube & Underground stations

Apartments to rent from £600 per week 1 Beds (avg 520 sq ft) from £600 per week

2 Beds (avg 950 sq ft) from £950 per week

Deluxe residents leisure suite

Call us now on 020

3302 5674 or email kens@brlets.co.uk or visit www.brlets.co.uk 5 Thackeray Street, Kensington, London W8 5ET 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

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PROPERTY / NEW TO THE MARKET PRIME

PURCHASE London’s Finest Assets

MULBERRY HOUSE

 SW6

£1,350,000

ased in the heart of Fulham Broadway, the stunning split level Penthouse apartment is brought to the market in an exceptional new development.

This apartment has been designed to a luxurious high specification, with soft wool carpets in the bedrooms, oak flooring throughout the rest of the rooms, a custom designed kitchen with stylish granite worktops. The property offers two bedrooms and an spectacular terrace with a particularly generous open plan kitchen reception space. u  Featherstone Leigh Fulham, 020 7610 9755 featherstoneleigh.co.uk

B

DEWHURST ROAD

 W14

£3,695,000

aving undergone extensive back to bricks restoration and been cleverly reconstructed over 4 floors, this is a sensational 5 double bedroom 5 bathroom family house with a pretty part-paved part-lawn landscaped south westerly garden. On the ground floor is a double reception with Herringbone oak flooring and limestone fireplace. To the rear is a full width custom built ‘deVol’ kitchen/dining/family

H

room with Miele appliances and sliding doors to the landscaped garden. This Victorian terraced property has been masterfully and cleverly rebuilt to exacting standards and is a must see. u  Finlay Brewer Shepherds Bush Road, 020 7371 4171; finlaybrewer.co.uk

PARK STREET

 SW6

£2,999,999

large covered balcony and ample storage space.

Residents benefit from 24 hour concierge, a spa, pool and health club and beautiful communal gardens. Imperial Wharf station is also

spectacular three A bedroom flat finished to an extremely high standard within a new development in Imperial Wharf. The property features a

135 PP_NH_Jan17.indd 135

moments away which is on the District line and with Overground access to Clapham Junction. u  KFH Fulham & Chelsea, 020 3792 4508; kfh.co.uk

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21/12/2016 09:16

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PROPERTY / PROFILE

IN THEIR OWN

WORDS

Geoffrey Stiff DIRECTOR Camerons Stiff & Co

REBECCA NOONAN

W

hen I was approached by the editor of ‘Absolutely’ to write a piece about myself, my initial reaction was one of utter horror. The thought of selfpromotion is something that goes totally against every fibre of my body. Talking about my company and my brand has never been a problem. However, I think talking about oneself without being too modest but not seeming arrogant and haughty is incredibly difficult!

My late father was somewhat patriarchal and was devoted to the idea of his company carrying on as a generational family business. He used to say to me “You can be anything you want to be, it’s a big world out there. As long as you take over the family business”. From when I was 16, I got sent to carry out viewings and run keys around, and days of work experience turned into weeks, and here I am today.

In the intervening years from when I left college and travelling around South America and Asia with just my backpack and my friend Adam, I received the best possible training and guidance from my dad and his two negotiators, one of whom

A good agency is like tending to a garden; you need to work on it everyday

(Elaine Dyer) is still with me today.

In hindsight, I look back on those days and the guidance they gave me, and to a point it saddens me when Estate Agency is sneered at by the public because to me, the professionalism and efficiency of agents like them are what the industry stands for.

However, I can completely understand the criticism some agents receive because, in general, the industry does need shaking up. I do have sympathy for the younger generation, as they are trained in many instances by the corporate model branch managers who simply cannot cope with the number of offices they have to patrol. A good agency is like tending to a garden; you need to work on it every day otherwise it will grow out of control.

That is why I always try and represent all those professional agents that are hardworking,

diligent, honest and emphasise client care. Camerons Stiff is a family business which has had organic growth over the last decade. Firstly from purely residential sales, then into Lettings and Management and more recently into New Homes.

Organic growth built with firm foundations is the best way to expand, and we are all excited about our new venture into Queens Park. My sister, Caroline deals with marketing and overseeing online and printed media outlets, my brother-inlaw Alan oversees the business and ensures a smooth financial every day running, and my wife Andrea heads up the design side of marketing and has recently managed an extremely successful rebranding period with Caroline. I oversee the entire sales operation and work very closely with my negotiators to maximise results and Client care.

I would genuinely like to think my dad would be bursting with pride at how far the business has come since he passed away in 2001. We now have three offices, more than 20 employees all of which are an integral part of the business and without their hard work we would not be where we are today. u

CAMERONS STIFF & CO /02 08459 1133 / cameronsstiff.co.uk

137 NH_Jan17_Property_ITOW_STIFF.indd 137

absolutely.london

21/12/2016 09:20

Westover Road, Wandsworth SW18 100ft South Facing Garden A rare opportunity to acquire a sensational detached double fronted family house in one of Wandsworth's most favoured locations. 8 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double reception room, study, kitchen, dining room/conservatory, utility room, side store, downstairs cloakroom, 100 x 42ft south facing garden, large cellar. EPC:F. Approximately 392 sq.m. (4,220 sq.ft.) including loft.

Freehold

Guide price: £3,950,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/Wandsworth wandsworth@knightfrank.com 020 8682 7777

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/WND080039

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19/12/2016 10:25

13/12/2016 17:44:47

Henderson Road, Wandsworth SW18 Located on the "Toast Rack" A handsome semi-detached family home with a 53ft south facing garden. 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (1 en suite), double reception room, kitchen/dining room, downstairs cloakroom, utility room, cellar, south facing garden.

EPC:E. Approximately: 300.69 sq.m (3237 sq.ft.) including restricted height area & eaves storage.

Freehold

Guide price: £2,600,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/Wandsworth wandsworth@knightfrank.com 020 8682 7777

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/WND150204

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LIVING THE

DREAM The most luxuriously appointed properties on the market

JANINE, PLANTATION WARF

SW11

£1,380,000

he fully operational dutch-barge has recently undergone a complete refurbishment by its owners and offers 1,370 sq ft of luxury living space on the River Thames. Set on a prime stretch of Battersea Embankment, Plantation Wharf provides residents with far reaching views, from Chelsea Harbour, Chelsea Bridge, and the City.

The accommodation offers a master suite with ensuite, two guest bedrooms/study, guest bathroom, a fully fitted kitchen/ dining area and sun deck. u  Harrods Estates Chelsea, 020 7225 6700; harrodsestates.com

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CHESILTON ROAD

SW6

£3,950,000

his truly stunning seven bedroom family home is situated in one of the most sought after streets in Parsons Green combining elegant entertaining space with family living in a special way.

Open plan ground floor layout, 3 metre high ceilings (including the basement) with beautiful cornicing throughout, custom hardwood oversized doors, bespoke hardwood floors, hand carved marble fireplaces, wine store and many other features that have been combined with the modern sophistication of an Italian fitted kitchen. u  KFH Fulham, 020 3792 4840; kfh.co.uk

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PROPERTY / NEW TO THE MARKET

THIS SUPURB HOUSE OFFERS ALMOST 3,900 SQ FT OF SPACE WITH GREAT LIVING AND BEDROOM AREAS

ACADEMY GARDENS

LADBROKE ROAD

W11

W8

W11

per week

his is a beautiful apartment in the heart of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

Sophisticated and elegant, this 6 bedroom apartment with its high ceilings, large open spaces and fantastic views, is set over 5,369 sqft. Academy Gardens is an envious address and is perfect for entertaining family and guests. The property has been meticulously finished to a superb luxurious standard and the quality is clear from the moment you step into this apartment.

With plenty of outside space and natural light, this apartment has everything. ◆  Beauchamp London, 020 7499 7722 beauchamp.com

seven-bedroom, Grade II* listed house with wonderful views over Royal Crescent communal gardens. This superb house offers almost 3,900 sq ft of space with great living and bedroom areas, including a beautiful first floor double reception room. The lower ground floor offers a reception room/family room leading onto a spectacular garden, two double bedrooms and a bathroom. On the ground floor there is a lovely kitchen with a dining area leading onto a wonderful terrace. ◆  W.A.Ellis Knightsbridge, 020 7306 1610 residential.jll.co.uk

£3,500

£12,950,000 T

tunning home which has been refurbished throughout in a contemporary style, with neutral pallets for the interiors finished with hardwood accents. The property retains many of the features of a classical period house. The accommodation includes three reception rooms, a kitchen, five bedrooms and three bathrooms. Located moments from the Gate itself and just a short walk from Westbourne Grove and Portobello Road, this is the perfect home in the Notting Hill area. ◆  Mountgrange Heritage Notting Hill, 020 7221 2277 mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

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ACADEMY GARDENS IS AN ENVIOUS ADDRESS AND IS PERFECT FOR ENTERTAINING FAMILY AND GUESTS

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ROYAL CRESCENT

£5,395,000 A

absolutely.london

21/12/2016 10:17

Completely at home in West London.

Our services Sales and Lettings Land and New Homes Block and Estate Management Property Solicitors Chartered Surveyors Financial Services Visit kfh.co.uk

With 40 years’ experience and 60 branches across the Capital, our local knowledge and London network will ensure we achieve the right result for you.

Our dedicated West London branches include • Bayswater • Earls Court • Fulham • Fulham and Chelsea • Holland Park • South Kensington

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Rosebury Road, Fulham, SW6 £825,000

A stunning two bedroom period conversion in the popular Bury Triangle in Sands End. The property boasts a large reception and a bright kitchen that opens onto a secluded private garden.

Fulham and Chelsea 020 7731 0051 fulham.sales@kfh.co.uk

Rosebury Road is located close to the shops and restaurants of Wandsworth Bridge Road and Parsons Green and is a short walk from the green spaces of South Park. The nearest transport links are Imperial Wharf Overground station and Fulham Broadway underground.

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• • • • • • • • • •

Two double bedrooms Large reception room Bright and light kitchen Secluded private garden Bury Triangle Sands End Transport links Local amenities Popular location Leasehold EPC rating D

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Lettings 020 7751 5100

M LE A T N A & G ED

www.farrar.co.uk

DRAYTON GARDENS, LONDON, SW10 A newly refurbished three bedroom lateral apartment on the 4th floor (with lift) situated in a well maintained red-brick mansion building. The property provides a spacious reception room with fabulous views, a modern fully integrated kitchen with space for dining, master bedroom with ensuite bathroom, two further bedrooms and a shower room. The property has wood floors throughout, benefits from lots of natural light and is positioned moments from all the amenities that the popular Fulham Road has to offer. EPC Rating: E. UNFURNISHED

£950

per week*

*Tenants are advised when renting a property the advertised rent does not include council tax, water or utility charges. The administration fees are £175 (inc. VAT) and referencing charges of £40 per Tenant/Guarantor. The inventory check in cost will vary but should not exceed £150 and a 6-8 week deposit is required.

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PARK WALK, LONDON, SW10 A very spacious (approximately 1300 sq ft) two double bedroom, two bathroom apartment situated on the third floor of this period mansion building. The apartment enjoys wood floors throughout, a fabulous master bedroom suite with a dressing room and ensuite bathroom and excellent storage. In addition, the property also boasts a fantastic large roof terrace with far reaching views.

Superbly located on this quiet street yet just moments from the Fulham Road and Kings Road.

EPC Rating: E. FURNISHED

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£995

per week*

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S U P E R B W O R K O F A R C H I T E C T U R E AVA I L A B L E I N B R I G H TO N S U P E R B W O R K O F A R C H I T E C T U R E AVA I L A B L E I N B R I G H TO N A J O H N P A R D E Y D E S I G N E D H O U S E , A L R E A DY I C O N I C A J O H N P A R D E Y D E S I G N E D H O U S E , A L R E A DY I C O N I C 4 6 4 0 S Q U A R E F E E T, O U T S TA N D I N G V I E W S O F T H E D O W N S A N D T H E C I T Y, 4 6 4 0 S Q U A R E F E E T, O U T S TA N D I N G V I E W S O F T H E D O W N S A N D T H E C I T Y, E A S Y AC C E S S TO T H E C E N T R E E A S Y AC C E S S TO T H E C E N T R E U L T R A H I G H S P E C I F I C A T I O N , B E A U T I F U L M AT E R I A L S , U L T R A H I G H S P E C I F I C A T I O N , B E A U T I F U L M AT E R I A L S , AT T E N T I O N T O D E S I G N D E TA I L . O N LY O N E R E M A I N I N G O I E O £ 2 . 2 5 M AT T E N T I O N T O D E S I G N D E TA I L . O N LY O N E R E M A I N I N G O I E O £ 2 . 2 5 M

01273 829 300 01273 829 300

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01273 230 230 01273 230 230

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