KENSINGTON FEBRUARY 2014

ABSOLUTELY FEBRUARY 2014 £3.95

KENSINGTON

A TOUCH OF

THE FRENCH ART OF SEDUCTION

Idris Elba

MEETING THE MAN OF THE MOMENT

Adriana Natcheva INSIDE THE ARCHITECT'S KENSINGTON HOME

Suzannah Crabb TALKING TO THE TAILOR

S T Y L I S H . I N T E L L I G E N T. E L E G A N T. A B S O L U T E LY COVERS FEB 2014 NEWb.indd 2

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facebook.com/struttandparker twitter.com/struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Westbourne Park Road, W2

A very attractive and unusually wide five bedroom house, with the advantage of a charming south-facing garden.

ÂŁ4,500,000 Freehold

2,932 sq ft (272.38 sq m) Three reception rooms | Two kitchens | Five bedrooms | Three bath/shower rooms | Utility room | Garden | EPC Rating: E

Notting Hill 020 7221 1111 nottinghill@struttandparker.com

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Abingdon Road, Kensington W8

An outstanding and beautifully presented four bedroom family house with excellent entertaining space.

ÂŁ5,250,000 Freehold

2,924 sq ft (271.64 sq m) Drawing room | Kitchen/family room | Four bedrooms | Three bathrooms | Study | Media room | Terrace | Garden I EPC Rating D

Kensington 020 7938 3666 kensington@struttandparker.com

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NORTH KENSINGTON NORTH KENSINGTON NORTH KENSINGTON NORTH KENSINGTON

NO NO NOT NOT

HOLLAND PARK HOLLAND PARK HOLLAND HOLLAND PARK PARK

BROOK GREEN BROOK GREEN BROOK GREEN BROOK GREEN

HEAD OFFICE HEAD OFFICE HEAD OFFICE HEAD OFFICE

BISHOPS PARK BISHOPS PARK BISHOPS PARK BISHOPS PARK

BARNES BARNES BARNES BARNES

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LITTLE VENICE LITTLE VENICE LITTLE VENICE LITTLE VENICE

MARYLEBONE MARYLEBONE MARYLEBONE MARYLEBONE

GTON GTON TON TON NOTTING HILL NOTTING HILL NOTTING HILL NOTTING HILL MAYFAIR MAYFAIR MAYFAIR MAYFAIR

PARK ND PARK DND D PARK PARK KENSINGTON KENSINGTON KENSINGTON KENSINGTON SOUTH SOUTH SOUTH SOUTH KENSINGTON KENSINGTON KENSINGTON KENSINGTON

CHELSEA CHELSEA CHELSEA CHELSEA

PIMLICO PIMLICO PIMLICO PIMLICO &&&& WESTMINSTER WESTMINSTER WESTMINSTER WESTMINSTER

FICE ICE ICE CE EARLS COURT EARLS COURT EARLS COURT EARLS COURT

S PARK PARK PARK PARK FULHAM FULHAM FULHAM FULHAM

CLAPHAM CLAPHAM CLAPHAM CLAPHAM

BATTERSEA BATTERSEA BATTERSEA BATTERSEA

BALHAM CLAPHAM SOUTH BALHAM CLAPHAM SOUTH BALHAM CLAPHAM SOUTH BALHAM &&&& CLAPHAM SOUTH

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contents February 2014

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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ABSOLUTELY LOVES Absolutely’s top ten this month

44

PROFILE Idris Elba

CU LT U R E 15

WHAT’S ON February’s diary

19

THE AGENDA Talking topics

ST Y LE 29

LOVE STORY The school of seduction with Soft Paris

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FASHION NOTES Sartorial stories

36

FASHION SHOOT Lacy days

I N T ER IOR S 51

INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS On the home front

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CREATIVE SPACE At home with architect Adriana Natcheva

FOOD & T R AV EL 77

FOOD NOTES Gourmet news

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EATING OUT W8's Min Jiang; W10's Redepmption

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ALLITERATIVE TRIPS Baku, Bermuda and Brazil

PROPERT Y 110

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

120

PROPERTY NEWS

128

PRIME PURCHASE

ON THE COVER

NOTTING HILL: SOFT PARIS KENSINGTON: JOUBI.CO.UK

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NU - LINE

BATHROOMS .COM

Nu-Line Bathroom Showroom at: Unit 12-14 Malton Road London W10 5UP

T: 020 8206 5177 F: 020 8206 5188 E: sales@nulinebathrooms.com www.nulinebathrooms.com

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ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

EDITOR Pendle Harte EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Catherine Hales EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Lindsay Baker, Pearl Boyd, Emma Harpin CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY EDITOR Arabella Preston SENIOR ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER Rochelle Streater GROUP PROPERTY DIRECTOR Alexandra Hunter CENTRAL PROPERTY MANAGER Anna Hutton-Potts ART DIRECTOR Ray Searle PRODUCTION MANAGER Stewart Hyde SENIOR DESIGNER Pawel Kuba PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Gemma Isteed, Tahir Kapucu DESIGNERS Andrew Mavin, Ekrem Yilmaz JUNIOR DESIGNER Rebecca Noonan COPY CONTROLLER Christine Mann FINANCE DIRECTOR Alexandra Hvid DIRECTOR Greg Hughes 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 marianne@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.

Published by ZEST MEDIA PUBLICATIONS LTD, 213 WESTBOURNE STUDIOS, ACKLAM ROAD W10 5JJ WWW.ZEST-MEDIA.COM T: 020 7704 0588 F: 020 7900 3020 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.

Editor’s Letter

t's already proving to be a slightly schizophrenic year, foodwise. On the one hand there's the health trend, with its raw, suage-free, gluten-free, coconut oil and wheatgrass fads, while on the other there’s the entirely incompatible dirty food brigade. This second camp is mostly about American diner-style food, served up with a nod to sustainability, but still with a large portion of fries.

And even if your arteries can’t tell the difference between an ironic burger and a unreconstructed one, your senses certainly can. It’s all in the surroundings of course. Both schools can be found in our part of town and really it’s in Westbourne Park Road that the burger revival first began, at Lucky Seven, and now Kensington Church Street’s latest opening is Dirty Bones, a haven for lovers of meat and design (Lee Broom conceived the look). It’s not a place for anyone jumping on the vegan January

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trend, of course (they are better served at eternal favourites Portobello Wholefoods and the Grain Shop). Adding to the mix are the artisan food people and the coffee purists and the baking enthusiasts and all the others leading food trends that are set to make this year an even more foodie year than last year. We will try to cover all of them in these pages.

Pendle Harte Editor EMAIL: PENDLE@ZEST-MEDIA.COM FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ABSOLUTELY_MAGS FACEBOOK ‘ABSOLUTELY NOTTING HILL’

www.zest-media.com

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T H I N G S W E A B S O L U T E LY

BIG CHEESE

Finally, a cheese shop for Portobello Road. Of course not just any old cheese shop. La Cave à Fromage is the ultimate cheese-lover’s dream – and for Valentine’s day, a perfectly ripe heartshaped Normandy Neufchatel is just the thing. 148-150 Portobello Road W11.

QUEEN OF HEARTS Everything this month must be heart-shaped. We love this NARS Leather Pochette, £50, narscosmetics.co.uk

la-cave.co.uk

Fancy footwork BEST OF THE BUNCH

Roses may be standard issue at this time of year, but Wild at Heart is championing the tulip as its flower of romance. Sure, they’re still offering a beautiful rose bouquet for purists – but we can’t resist this vibrant spring tulip bouquet of multi-coloured English-grown blooms.

From £60, wildatheart.com

Hobbs has recruited the brilliant Olivia Morris as its new footwear designer, which comes as good news to all of the fans she left behind when her Portobello Road shop closed. Cheer yourselves up with her Hattie sandal, £159. hobbs.co.uk

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CREATURES OF LOVE

At 190cm high, Donna Wilson’s Giant Creatures are taller than most humans and have more personality than many. Each one is unique and knitted to order; you can snuggle up to one at Westbourne Grove’s SCP before you commit. £490, donnawilson.com

CHOCOLATE HEARTS

Heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are de rigeur, best of all if they’re from Westbourne Grove’s Artisan du Chcocolat, and even better if they include a salted caramel or two. artisanduchocolat.com

SKIRT THE ISSUE

GLASS HOUSES

Lalique’s beautiful limited edition Fleur du desert decanter is the ultimate beautiful piece. £1,600, lalique.com

BLOOMIN LOVELY

With a new store on Notting Hill Gate, Oliver Bonas is everwhere. We love these cheap and cheerful Cusco earrings, £14. oliverbonas.com

A bright print is the best antidote to February misery.

Lauren Foxglove print dirndl skirt, £395, clementsribeiro.com

SPELL IT OUT Sue Timney’s beautiful new hand-embroidered wool alphabet cushions for The Rug Company are eye-catching and stylish, £95.

124 Holland Park Avenue, W11 therugcompany.com

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ABSOLUTELY | A RTS & CULTUR E

DI ARY F E B R U A R Y

LA BOHĂˆME

Royal Albert Hall 17 February - 9 March Nothing quite captures the romance and the futility of the poor student in Paris and the Bohemian lifestyle like Puccini's tragic opera.

Set in the French capital in the 1940s, it tells the story of three impoverished artists and their cohorts whose lives descend into tragedy set aginst the backdrop of vibrant cafĂŠ society and the bitter cold of the police checkpoint.

Kensington Gore, SW7 royalalberthall.com

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DIA RY F E B R U A R Y

THREADS OF LIGHT The Mosaic Rooms Until 22 February

Threads of Light is a two-part exhibition that features paintings by Iraqi artist Hanoos Hanoos in the main space, and a selection of art books and broadsheets from the project Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here in the lower gallery. Drawing on themes of language and communication Hanoos's works offer a unique perspective which is well worth a look.

Tower House, 226 Cromwell Road, SW5, 020 7370 9990 mosaicrooms.org

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MIS

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CORIOLANUS

The Gate Cinema 5 February

Fresh from starring roles in Thor and The Avengers, not to mention his turn as F. Scott Fitzgerald in Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, Tom Hiddleston is now taking on the title role of Shakespeare’s Roman epic Coriolanus. When Rome is threatened by an old enemy, the city summons its staunchest defender; however, Coriolanus’ return is complicated by enemies within the city gates, a famine causing civil unrest and the rising of the realpolitik. One of the lesser-performed

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COME AND SEE tragedies in Shakespeare's canon, due perhaps to the complicated nature of its central character, Coriolanus was made famous by Laurence Olivier's portrayal of the tragic hero, leaving Hiddleston with big shoes to fill. Early reviews of the play indicate he is giving it the college try and, for the most, part, succeeding. National Theatre Live gives everyone the chance to catch this all-star production of one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known masterpieces.

87 Notting Hill Gate, W11, 0871 902 5731 pictureouses.co.uk

Serpentine Sackler Until 9 February

Jake and Dinos Chapman rose to prominence in the early 90s with their recreation of Goya’s ‘Disasters of War’ in miniature model form. This exhibition displays works which showcase the pair’s painstaking thoroughness and exaggerated depictions of violence.

Kensington Gardens, W2 020 7402 6075 serpentinegalleries.org

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THE NATIONAL WEDDING SHOW Kensington Olympia 21 - 23 February

lanning a wedding nowadays is a task akin to launching a large-scale military campaign: supplies need to be carefully allocated, budgets strictly adhered to and even a hair out place is a court marshall offence. Luckily the National Wedding show offers stressed brides and bemused grooms a chance to strategise by seeking advice from wedding professionals, testing out products and gathering dress inspiration from the fashion shows.

Hammersmith Road, W14, 020 7385 1200 weddingshow.co.uk

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JAMEEL PRIZE 3 V&A Throughout February Showcasing the work of the ten shortlisted candidates, the exhibition features over 20 pieces. Inspired by the ancient Islamic traditions of art, craft and design, the collection explores the relevance of cultural heritage to modern living in a stunning diversity of mediums.

Cromwell Road, SW7 020 7942 2000; vam.ac.uk

YOUNG GODS The Griffin Gallery Until 7 February

he 2014 edition of annual exhibition Young Gods will take place simultaneously across two locations in west and east London. Held as a showcase of the most exciting graduates from the summer of 2013, the artists have been selected and the exhibition curated by Zavier Ellis, director of Shoreditch gallery Charlie Smith.

The Studio Building, 21 Evesham Street, W11, 020 8424 3239; griffingallery.co.uk

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IGNIS The Print Room 8 February - 1 March dance theatre experience exploring and inspired by fire, Ignis is the second part of a trilogy celebrating the elements.

The piece is choreographed by Hubert Essakow, a rising star and Print Room Associate Artist, and stars Olivier Award-winning actress Sara Kestelman, who returns to the Print Room following her role in the critically acclaimed production of Amy Herzog’s 4,000 Miles.

34 Hereford Road, W2, 020 7221 6036 the-print-room.org

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WINTER SHOW 12 February – 8th March th

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17/01/2014 15:24

ABSOLUTELY | A RTS & CULTUR E

agenda THIS MONTH'S HIGHLIGHTS t don'

MIS

S

LUCK OF THE DRAW

New from Taschen is the beautiful Illustration Now! Fashion, a directory of fashion illustrators from all over the world. Featuring new work by 90 artists alongside commentary from fashion world experts, this is a stylish and informative book for clothes lovers everywhere. £34,99, Taschen

THE GOOD LIFE

Password Emil hildren from Kensington and Chelsea schools are among the 50 stage detectives that appear in the National Theatre’s current production of Emil and the Detectives. An adaptation of a German children’s novella set in 1930s Berlin may not be an obvious choice for the National Theatre’s newest family show, but this small story takes in a number of elements that lend themselves perfectly to theatre: a

C

Tom Hodgkinson is offering a course on How to Change Your Life for the Better at the Idler Academy this month. Who could resist? Called The Power of Idling, the six sessions will look at ideas of a good life, alongside strategies on how to achieve one. It starts on 25 February; book now at idler.co.uk

classic villain, an innocent young boy, a big group of children and pre-war Berlin. And in the vast space of the Olivier it’s an impressive performance, memorable for its choreography and sheer visual impact. The child actors put on a fantastic performance, filling the stage with character as they chase the villainous Mr Snow to justice in project Password Emil.

Emil and the Detectives runs until 19 March. nationaltheatre.org.uk

NEW WAVE

F O OT F E T I S H West London's insatiable collectors of trainers (you know who you are) will love the new Sneakers: The Complete Limited Editions Guide which features not just trainers but rare trainers, 300 of them, beautifully and adoringly photographed for worshippers to pore over. Written and designed by U-Dox, it’s published this month

by Thames & Hudson, £16.95.

Annie Lennox (who has put her Notting Hill house on the market for a rumoured £12 million) is set to return to the stage with Dave Stewart for a special Eurythmics reunion as part of a Beatles tribute night at the Los Angeles Convention Centre.

The band has not performed together since 2006. UK fans are hoping for a TV screening date to be announced soon.

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16/01/2014 18:21

NOTTING HILL’S BEST KEPT SECRET The Ballroom at Beach Blanket Babylon Hire our decadent Ballroom for private dining, cocktail and canapé receptions. Sit down dinners for up to 70 guests, standing receptions for up to 150. New banqueting menu is now available for a truly memorable celebration

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BBB.indd 2

20/01/2014 11:51

ABSOLUTELY | PA RTIES

A B S OLU T ELY

SOCIAL FUTURE KICKS AND TAMARA FOSTER

JO WOOD AND BRIX START SMITH

cirque du soleil QUIDAM: THE PREMIERE

Photography by KEVIN MORAN

uidam premiered in Montreal in 1996 and has toured in five continents, being seen by over 10 million people since then.

Now its final London run is set to finish at the Albert Hall on 16 February. An international cast of 45 acrobats from 19 countries perform amazing and award-winning acts in this imressive show. VIP guests at the star-studded opening night included included Alex Zane, Arlene Philips, Ashley James, Brix Smith Start, Camilla Rutherford, Cara Theobold, David Emanuel, David Webb, Esther Rantzen, Fay Ripley, Future Kicks, Gail Porter, Jo Wood, Karren Brady, Kelly Hoppen, Lisa Snowdon, Natasha Kaplinksy, Nicholas Parsons, Nigel Harman, Olivia Inge, Ollie Baines, Plum Sykes, Sir David Jason, Sir Paul Smith and Tamara Ecclestone.

Q

SIR DAVID JASON

NATASHA KAPLINSKY

CENTRE -KIMBERLEY GARNER, ASHLEY JA MES AND GUEST

DANIELLE LLOYD

ALEX ZANE AND LORENA MANCINI

TAMARA FOSTER

ARLENE PHILLIPS AND CRAIG REVEL HARWOOD

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SOCIALS QUIDAM.indd 21

16/01/2014 19:20

ABSOLUTELY | PA RTIES

MONTEGO BAY Kensington's own Richard Young jetted to Montego Bay for two nights of international fashion and high profile partying organized by Theresa Roberts, the unofficial Jamaican Cultural Ambassador to Europe. Guests from around the world enjoyed an event that evoked memories of the 50s and 60s when Jamaica was the glamour destination of choice. Attendees included Lennox Lewis, Colin Salmon, September Marley.

Photography by Richard Young

A B S OLU T ELY

SOCI A L FRAN CUTLER A glamorous local crowd descended upon Paradise by Way of Kensal Green for a festive feast organised by publicist and party planner Fran Cutler. Stars dressed to the hilt in furs and winter trends populated the private first floor rooms and gorged on comfort food and espresso martinis. Fashionistas, thespians and models partied the night away, finishing up with a hearty sing-a-long session. Guests included Kate Moss, Sadie Frost, Mary Charteris, Jaime Winstone; Nikolai Von Bismarck,Tom Parker Bowles, William Sitwell, Dan Mcmillan, Ben Chaplin, Shola Ama and Willa Keswick.

Photography by Hannah Young

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Parties FEB NH.indd 22

16/01/2014 19:18

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FULL PAGE.indd 2

23/09/2013 12:59

Who can resist a pink present this Valentine’s Day? 3

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VALENTINES GIFTS NH DPS.indd 24

16/01/2014 19:23

ABSOLUTELY | VA LENTINE'S DAY

11 8

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1.

Qui est Paul? Picto birdhouse, £49, urbansuite.co.uk

2. REN Rose Otto bath oil, £30, renskincare.com 3. Pride and Prejudice kindle case, £25, klevercase.co.uk 4. NARS Adelaide Illuminator, £22.50; selfridges.com

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5. Rose gold and rose quartz polygon ring, £1,840, kattri.com 6. Tykho radio, £49, conranshop.co.uk 7. Heart LED garland, £35, habitat.co.uk 8. Tattinger holographic rose champagne, £45, oddbins.com

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9. Kirsten Goss Minnie earrings, £175, kirstengoss.com 10. Mimi Holliday raspberry ripple bra and thong, £98, damaris.co.uk 11. Lanolips rose balm intense, £9, lanolips.com 12. Orla Kiely rhubarb scented candle, £24, orlakiely.com 13. Power purse with concealed smartphone charger £84.95, cuckooland.com 14. 100% cashmere bedsocks, £29, johnlewis.com 15. Sennheiser momentum ON pink headphones , £169.95, johnlewis.com

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VALENTINES GIFTS NH DPS.indd 25

16/01/2014 19:24

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NAIL & GRACES_OCT.indd 2

Follow us:

16/12/2013 17:12

ABSOLUTELY | INTERV IEW

the EXFILES Sally Beerworth runs a business bringing humour to divorce from a Kensington pub.

Pendle Harte meets her to discuss the Joy of Ex sually, you’ll find Sally Beerworth at the pub. The Hillgate, specifically. Which is not to say that she’s drowning her sorrows (surprisingly for a woman who makes a living from slogans such as ‘my book club only reads wine labels’ she hardly drinks) but rather that her business started out at a pub table and graduated to a small office upstairs at the same pub. I say ‘business’, though really her maverick organisation Joy of Ex, which sells greetings cards and comedy slogan pieces in places like Paperchase and the Saatchi Gallery, exists in order to give away money.

But really, Beerworth’s business is all about divorce.

It’s said that the first back-towork Monday in January is the most miserable day of the year, a fact deriving partly from the spike in divorce applications that ring through solicitors’ tills on that day.

And despite February’s much-hyped

U

Valentine’s offerings and marriage proposals, it’s noteable that over 40% of UK marriages end in divorce, and still the process isn’t simple.

Not that she’s bitter. Beerworth used to have a high-flying career in advertising (Saatchi’s brought her over from Sydney to head up their T-Mobile campaign) but she gave that up after her divorce, which changed her way of thinking entirely. ‘The only thing that got me through was my sense of humour,’ she tells me over lunch (the Hillgate, of course).

It wasn’t just the heartbreak – her main beef is with the ‘horrendous process’ that ended up swallowing her entire £20,000 savings (they didn’t even have children) and going to the high court before she was able to be rid of her philandering ex.

Beerworth’s fast brain works in diagrams and throughout our conversation she’s scribbling words and arrows to illustrate her thought processes. ‘So I thought, I can’t offer services – I’m not a lawyer or a counsellor – but I started writing a blog with some funny stuff and it got a lot of facebook followers and it seemed I could make people laugh.’

THE IDEA WAS TO MAKE LAUGHS INTO MONEY, AND THEN REDISTRIBUTE THE CASH TO PEOPLE WHO NEEDED IT FOR THEIR DIVORCES

The idea was to make those laughs into money, and then redistribute the cash to people who needed it for their divorces. So she started a small line in cards and teatowels printed with positive, funny phrases that focus on ‘the silly things you do after a breakup. I would never write anything negative. There are over 3,000 sites dedicated to killing your ex and that’s not my thing,’ she says. For her, it’s ‘My kitchen is for dancing’ and ‘everything is a good idea at 2am’ and ‘channel surfing is a sport’ and ‘proud to lick cake bowls’.

Her table at the Hillgate was soon groaning under the weight of the parcels she was packing herself, because in October 2011, her first month of trading as Joy of Ex, she turned over £2,000. Soon after that came Cyber Monday, and she banked £5,000 in a single day. This was with 10 cards and a tote bag.

The bank still wasn’t interested in helping her and told her, blind to the irony, that what she really needed was a husband as a guarantor.

Luckily, Beerworth’s advertising days left her with a talent for persuasion and she bagged a grant from the Arts Council. Now she has signed deals with US giants Walmart and Target, taking her total global stockists to over 60.

Since the start of the business she has given away almost £5,000, helping about 30 people through their divorces. She doesn’t hand over money – her method is simply to put people in touch with local solicitors and then quietly take care of the bills. There’s a limit to how much she can and will help each individual, but the whole thing seems to function very smoothly.

And meanwhile, she’s still at the Hillgate, where evidence of her influence comes in the form of posters. ‘Last night a sausage roll saved my life,’ says one. Beerworth’s infinitely positive outlook really is a joy. joyofex.org

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F r e n c h

FA N C Y Seuction, according to French lore, is an art. In preparation for Valentine’s Day, Porchester Road’s Shimmy hosted a seduction masterclass with French experts Soft Paris, leaving participants with these eight commandments…

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LOVE YOURSELF

It may be a cliché but this is the starting point. At Soft Paris, every woman is beautiful.

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2

…BUT NOT TOO MANY

As every capitalist knows, a scarce resource is a desirable resource. Basic economics say you mustn’t make yourself too available.

MAKE COMPLIMENTS…

Everyone loves a compliment.

Go on, say something nice.

Men’s egos are fragile but easily boosted.

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CHANNEL YOUR INNER FRENCHWOMAN

It’s a style thing. Keep it subtle. Choose between a short skirt and a low-cut top – never both. Eye make-up or red lipstick – never both.

Wear stockings but always under a long skirt.

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BE SOMEONE ELSE SOMETIMES

This is a role play thing. Soft Paris advise becoming a fantasy French maid. Obviously not everyone’s thing.

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LEAVE SOCIAL MEDIA OUT OF IT

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Put your own needs first and spell them out.

It's empowering.

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Never document your romantic encounters on Twitter. And certainly not on Instagram, Live in the moment.

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COMMUNICATE AND INITIATE

TAKE VALENTINE’S DAY SERIOUSLY Use 14 February as a starting point and maintain your intimacy all year. Resolve to do something romatic every day.

All images courtesy of softparis.com

17/01/2014 17:20

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fashion NOTES F o r t h e s a r t o r i a l ly m i n d e d

Check mate vivienne Westwood and tartan go back a long way. So it came as no surprise that when fashion’s grande dame was called upon to design costumes for the Vienna State Ballet at the International New Year’s Day concert, bold checks were a feature. The women wore short kilts with tulle skirts, tartan bustiers and silk taffeta tartan blouse with bow tie and tartan thigh-high socks and garters. Like the look?

Try these Westwood Red Label tartan trousers, £375 at Matches.

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LOVE HEARTS

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PRINT

RUN The new jungleinspired prints by Silken Flavours feature traditional pen and ink techniques from print designer Victoria Murdoch in stylish silks and beautiful cuts.

They’re hitting the rails imminently at Donna Ida in Westfield and at

silkenflavours.com

DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND Brighten up the dull February days with some Madeleine Thompson cashmere – this Seve jumper (£317) is as cheerful as it is snug. Austique.co.uk

IT’S THE BOMB

The bomber jacket is having a moment and this Bristol version by Hobbs ticks all the boxes – a good varsity shape, a subtle print and a nod to the returning spring pastel trend. £229 hobbs.co.uk

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1. Leather heart clutch, £75; radley.co.uk 2. Psychedelic Heart large necklace, £37.50; tattydevine. com 3. Love key ring, £60; my-wardrobe.com 4. Love Me suede pumps, £990; net-a-porter.com 5. The Nut Cracker rubber knicker, £122; damaris.co.uk

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c B Cranbrook Basements

26-28 Hammersmith Grove London W6 7BA Swimming pool 6 Wine cellar 6 Family room 6 Gymnasium 6 Guest suite 6 Spa 6 Cinema 6 Kitchen

www.cranbrook.co.uk 0800 525 883 Free no obligation initial design survey, feasibility advice, quotation and 3D visualisation

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PHILIP TREACY LEONARD TRILBY IN PRINTED SINAMAY WITH FEATHER AND FANTASY TRIM £750; philiptreacy.co.uk

ISSA AW13

TORY BURCH SHERRY CRYSTAL EMBELLISHED BOUCLÉ COAT £940; harveynichols.com

AGENT PROVOCATEUR MATINÉE BLACK KIMONO £475; agentprovocateur.com

JOIE DARYN SNAKE-PRINT SILK TOP £240; harveynichols.com

ONE VINTAGE NOELLA MAXI DRESS £3,950; net-a-porter.com TOPSHOP LACE FRINGE KIMONO £60; topshop.com

PATTERN P A L E T T E

KURT GEIGER EARL BOOTS £495; kurtgeiger.com

Brown, beige, black: work the trend for February JASON WU LEATHER AND LACE-TRIMMED STRETCH-PONTE DRESS £1,630; net-a-porter.com

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Undercover

LOVER Racy lacy looks for Valentine’s Day Photography STEVE WALLINGTON ALEX LONGMORE

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Black plain bra, £42 and black plain pants £21

by Studio La Perla, laperla.com, or at houseoffraser.co.uk 08456 021 03 Lace bunny ears, £7, urbanoutfitters.co.uk

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Black baby doll, halter neck negligee £425, myla.com, 08448736111 Black pants £18 by Sexy Pants and Naughty Knickers, pomlampson.com, 020 7376 5336 Heart and arrow necklace £208, daisyknights.com, 01608811889

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Black stripy lingerie dress, £350, bordelle.co.uk, 02089684488 Black patent peep toe platform heels £140, Kurt Geiger Star necklace, £180, kirstengoss.com

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Nude and black lace body, ÂŁ385, Sarrieri, sarrieri.com Black stones knuckleduster ring ÂŁ316 by ESHVI.co.uk 02033999303

Photography: Steve Wallington Styling: Alex Longmore Assisted by: Beatrice Trodden Hair & Make Up: Aly Hazelwood using Rococo Nail Apparel Model: Tyler @ FM With thanks to The Portobello Hotel 22 Stanley Gardens, W11 2NG 020 7727 2777

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SS/14 COLLECTION AVAILABLE IN STORE AND ONLINE

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17/01/2014 25/10/2013 17:25 12:30 23/10/2013 14:33

LIVE

WIRE

From Stringer Bell in The Wire to Nelson Mandela in Long Walk to Freedom, Idris Elba is fast becoming a legend in his own right.

Shaun Curran meets the man himself t’s been a challenging few months for Idris Elba. The London-born actor has had to juggle the weight of considerable global expectation with the passing of someone who made a significant impact on both him and his career.

The 41 year-old had become close to the family of Nelson Mandela following his portrayal of the former South Africa President in Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, and the timing of the great man’s passing, on the eve of the film’s world premiere, was as perfectly fitting as it was profoundly sad.

All this, and the Portobello base he uses when in London, is a long way from the Ford motor factory and nightclubs of east London where Elba won his first meaningful employment. A challenging upbringing around the rough and ready environs of Dalston appeared

I

to have mapped out a much more ordinary life for the actor. ‘That was the plan,’ he laughs. ‘And that might have been the case, but something in me wanted more. You look at Mandela and it’s the same thing, the same stimulus. It’s about looking at what you’ve got, looking at the world around you, and deciding you want more… perhaps that you deserve more. For me, it was about maximising the potential I was sure I had inside. Sure, I love east London, I love the people there, and I love going back to spend time there. I would never detach myself from where I grew up because I am so proud of the area and the people.

But none of that has ever been a reason for anyone to feel they have to settle for what they have.’ Having broken away from his roots and achieved a bevy of bit-part roles, the actor got his first major break in 2002, when he won the role of Russell ‘Stringer’ Bell in HBO crime drama The Wire.‘What it came down

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to was having respect for myself and wanting to prove my talent,’ he says.

‘I have always had to fight for what I’ve had in life – it’s not like we grew up in poverty, but you always strive for more, no matter what you do, and earning something the right way, doing it for myself, was always really important for me. The Wire was really the start of that being realised.’

Of course, achievement is that much more achievable when everything about you exudes confidence, as is certainly the case with Elba. You sense that, even when working night-shifts sorting car parts, he was the kind of guy other people would see as epitomising ‘cool’. Would he agree?

‘Growing up, wanting to look good was what it was all about within my group of mates,’ he admits. ‘I wouldn’t say there was competition, but it was always good to be seen out looking smart and playing the part, y’know? I think, with guys, it’s important not to be seen to be trying too hard. I don’t wear anything outlandish – it’s just a case of knowing what works for me and sticking with it. And I’ve always said it’s more about who you are than what you wear – but if clothes give you confidence and energy, then you’re a better person for them.’

Of course, looking good wasn’t a

IT’S ABOUT LOOKING AT WHAT YOU’VE GOT, LOOKING AT THE WORLD AROUND YOU, AND DECIDING YOU WANT MORE… PERHAPS THAT YOU DESERVE MORE. FOR ME, IT WAS ABOUT MAXIMISING THE POTENTIAL I WAS SURE I HAD INSIDE

prerequisite for the Nelson Mandela role, which demanded instead humility, respect and absolute dedication to arguably the most keenly observed film role of recent memory.

‘I’m so proud to have been given the role,’ Elba says today. ‘Words cannot express what the whole thing has meant to me – it’s by far the biggest thing I have done; perhaps the biggest thing I will ever do. I so wanted to do it justice and I hope people believe I have done. Nelson Mandela was such an inspirational figure – a true global giant in a sometimes cheapened world of celebrity culture. It makes you realise how truly important his contribution was. I’ve always felt, and I still feel, that there were other actors out there who could have at least matched me on this. But unless I believed I was good enough for this I knew I wouldn’t stand a chance of doing it justice. And when you get an email from Zindzi, Mandela’s daughter, saying how thrilled the family is that you’re doing the role... well, that kind of cements it.’

Elba is now the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Daniel Craig as the next James Bond, but he refuses to be drawn on the speculation. ‘No matter what happens in future, it’s got to be about how you view things as a person. I guess the respect is what you do it for, but the knowledge that deep inside you have succeeded will always outweigh praise from others or the assorted trappings that go with this industry.’

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This

Woman’s Work

SuzannahCrabb Fashion Designer

Interview by Lindsay Baker Portrait by Emma Harpin

outure designer Suzannah Crabb, founder and designer of the Suzannah label, is describing a recent commission. 'It was a complete honour but totally, mind-blowingly stressful,' she says. Her task? To design an outfit suitable for the aunt of Prince George at his christening at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace.

The pressure was on, she says, 'to get it absolutey right for the event.' Fortunately, all went well. Pippa Middleton wore a cream wool trapeze coat with pale pink trim matched with a blush lace ‘Paris’ dress, and was a picture of appropriateness. Somehow the ensemble’s clean, sculptural lines made it also feel modern and relevant.

Working away for the past few years, first in Maida Vale and now in the studio below her boutique in New Quebec Street, Marble Arch, Suzannah has grown her brand steadily, with her couture and off-the-peg creations both gaining quite a following – word of mouth is a powerful thing.

'It’s quite a discreet location and has great privacy, so I do have a few famous clients who come there,' says the designer. Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice are clients, and she has some showbiz fans too – among them singers Katherine Jenkins, Paloma Faith and Nelly Furtado - along with numerous high-flying professional women.

Suzannah was born and raised in Hull, and her parents were business people – in the coal industry – she attributes her fierce work ethic and entrepreneurial flair to them. 'And my dad was always fabulous with his customers – he loves people. I think I inherited that aspect. I love being client-facing.' Her mother, who was in charge of the accounts, encouraged Suzannah to be creatve and to learn to entertain herself. 'I spent a lot of time indoors making and re-inventing clothes.'

A course in fashion and textiles at York was followed by a degree at Southampton, and then Suzannah moved to London – into a flatshare in World’s End, 'near to the Vivienne Westwood shop and American Classics'. She worked for several years as a designer for various high-street fashion brands.

'It was hard work. It’s a tough industry, which got harder as the pressure was on for brands to design

C

and create clothing more for price than perfection.'

She started designing dresses for friends alongside her full-time work, and then left the day job when she realised there was a real demand for her pieces.

She faced challenges setting up, but had good support, including some of her clients who also happened to be top lawyers, giving business and legal advice. 'I used to work seemingly every waking or should-be waking hour. I never took holidays.'

Despite her starry client list, the 40-year-old designer is unassuming and low key in manner – though clearly passionate and sincere about her craft. She enthusiastically cites vintage couture as a big influence.

'Those outfits can be so feminine and elegant.

I love working on a mannequin and on the ultimate cut – I’m a real perfectionist and the pieces need to look amazing from every angle, be fashion relevant but timeless.'

So it’s perhaps no surprise that the designer describes Portobello market on a Friday as 'a must'.

She often arrives home after a visit with carrier bags full of 'inspiration' – scarves with interesting prints, handbags with unusual frames or clasps, or 1940s silk gloves in unexpected colours. She loves to 'mooch around the neighbourhood'. Home for the past six years has been in Queens Park with her husband Adam and baby girl Stella Ruth, named after her great grandmother. Suzannah is a fan of the park – and the area in general. She loves eating out at Puglian restaurant Ostuni in Londsale Road, and visits Frame Studios for her pilates classes.

When she and her husband got married in 2011, Suzannah wore a floor-length vintage sheer lace dress – and a corseted underdress made by her own hand 'to give the silhouette structure –I’ve got a boyish figure but the corsetry gave me a fabulous waistline.' For the evening she made a 1950s inspired full-skirted dress, which she now recreates as part of her couture collection.

Her business now runs more smoothly, she says, allowing her some 'mind space' and time with her family. And her advice for budding entrepreneurs?

'Be persistent, keep trying, developing, progressing and keep navigating in different directions to create the correct path for you. Go with your gut instinct.'

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INTERIOR

INSPIRATIONS Tara Craig & Emma Storey look to the 50s and 70s for their new aesthetic ZEBIDE EMERALD LINEN FABRIC

Inspired by far off excursions, Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s latest collection ‘Eastern Promise’ mixes striking geometric patterns with strong colour combinations, to create an illustrious and orientalist pattern. £288 per 4.57m roll, available in six colourways, 100% linen. tissusdhelene.co.uk

FLUX ESPRESSO CUP AND SAUCER

A collection of talented designers from Stoke-on-Trent, such as Sarah Callard and her ‘Geometrix’ collection, came together to form ‘Flux’, a ceramics brand that combines tradition with cutting edge design, craftsmanship and quality manufacturing. Symmetry and form are encapsulated within this collection, adding a contemporary edge with gilded platinum. £78, Flux Geometric Collection flux-shop.com

IRISH SOFA

by Virginia White

Virginia creates homes for modern living. Push together the upholstered chairs to make a sofa or split it in two, to create an intimate and social space, by placing a table in the middle. £5,940, Sofa in two parts, in Racing Green Cotton, 020 7226 1344 virginiawhite.co.uk

TALISMAN LUCITE TABLE LAMP

Vitra’s Hang It All Utilitarian designers of the 50s Charles & Ray Eames were renowned for their supreme creations and this hanger is no exception. An alternative to coat hooks, the spherical wooden hanging balls were made colourful to encourage children to hang up their things. But the Vitra Design Museum have launched this steel and wooden hanger for use in many places.

Bring a bit of original 70s retro to your interior with this oneoff Lucite lamp. Talisman are experts at finding unique designs spanning many eras. Each piece is sourced to last the test of time; an antique for the future. £3,200, Lucite Table Lamp with Nickel Plated Stem talismanlondon.com

£198, 245-249 Brompton Road, SW3, 020 7584 2066; skandium.com For further interior ideas, visit Tara Craig at tcraig.co.uk

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Creative Living Architect Adriana Natcheva’s Kensington studio flat is an impressive space with many functions Words Emily Wheeler Photography Ingrid Rasmussen

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driana Natcheva, a partner at Groves Natcheva architectural practice, challenged all the rules about decorating small spaces when she refurbished her studio flat. Having fallen in love with the look of the building, a former stable block just a stone’s throw from Kensington Gardens, Adriana bought the flat in 2008 and set about creating a warm, comfortable home by using natural materials with dark tones, such as wood and leather, and ceramic tiles along with the clever use of space that one would expect from a top architect.

‘I liked the external environment and the views,’ she says. ‘I also liked the volume of the space, and knew that I could work with it to create something good. All the fundamentals were there.’

When Adriana first moved into the flat, it was split into several different rooms with low celings and only one north-facing window. She gutted

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A black glass coffee table by Willy Rizzo is the focal point in the double-height living room.

the whole space, tearing down the partition walls and leaving only a shell, and added windows at the back to bring in light from the south, along with a mezzanine level above the dining area to contain the bedroom.

The kitchen and bar, dressing room and a hallway leading to the bathroom were concealed behind sleek sliding doors, which can be open or shut to instantly transform the room. On the mezzanine level, her bedroom appears to float above the dining space, while a library, accessed by ladder, is tucked into the space above the sliding doors.

Adriana kept the space cohesive by using the same materials throughout, including African ebony for the floors and staircase, mahogany for the windows and shutters, black laquer for the sliding doors and kitchen, and white plaster for the walls. ‘I wanted the space to have a single volume, like a boat,’ she says, ‘which would contain all the different elements of a house.’

Adriana’s design philosophy for her professional practice is manifested in her designs for her own home.

The warm tones of the floors and shutters provide a sophisticated backdrop to the vintage furniture and luxurious fabrics.

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A vintage Eames recliner sits in the corner of the sitting room, beneath the mezzanine.

On the mezzanine level, the bedroom is a simple space with a luxurious leather floor.

‘If there is a common thread in my work it is the belief that the spaces we live in, and the objects we interact with, should be beautiful, and this beauty we find in the human form,’ she explains. ‘So we look to humanize our work, and anything we can’t make beautiful, we hide out of view.’

Everything in the flat has been chosen with beauty in mind, including Venini chandeliers, designed at the time when Carlo Scarpa was artistic director at the Murano glass house, and a glass coffee table by Willy Rizzo in the main living space. Beneath the mezzanine platform, a mahogany table from Sweden, surrounded by mahogany and leather chairs, defines the dining area. When it comes to her clients, Adriana believes that their homes should be a reflection of their personalities – and applies the same principle to her own home.

‘Since this is my space, it reflects who I am and what is beautiful to me,’ she says. ‘I live in one room, which has many guises, just like a person has many moods. I love every one of them.’

Extracted from Creative Living London, published by Thames & Hudson at £19.95

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S

FR to PE w EE Abs OF C he lin o n en lu FE IA y o t te L u hro ly R or w re de , ad r y wo er ou rth s. rs £ of 89 a. ,

Shop for your sofa off the high street.

Pay for British craftsmanship, not unnecessary overheads.

Key in lock. Jacket on newel post. Feet out of shoes. Ah, yes…that familiar welcome home as you sink into your Sofas & Stuff sofa.

It’s the shape you decided on from the dozens we offer. It’s stuffed anywhere from cloud soft to supportive. It’s covered in the fabric, colour, texture and fibre you found most sympathetic from our huge range of samples (Belgian linen and Harris tweed are becoming very popular).

And, if you have exceptionally long legs, or wanted a sofa a bit higher in the back, say, you may have opted for a ‘made-to-measure’.

By operating off the high street, at Sofas & Stuff we save you (and ourselves) stress and money. So you’re able to park near and for nothing. And we’re able to offer a lifetime guarantee on every frame and spring.

Window-shop the range on our website. Or, for information and directions to your nearest Sofas & Stuff, let’s speak on 0207 078 8835.

sofasandstuff.com 7 PARSONS GREEN DEPOT, PARSONS GREEN LANE, LONDON SW6 4HH

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Architecture and Interior Design Planning and Project Management Design and Build

Crawford and Gray Architects Ltd

7 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 1DF www.crawfordandgray.co.uk

Specialists in residential projects and interventions in period buildings with twenty years of experience and a portfolio of over 300 building projects successfully completed in Central London.

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Grate Expectations has been established and successfully running for over 25 years and remains a family business.

Whether you're looking for a rare antique feature, a classic reproduction, or a truly impressive contemporary feature we offer you the technical advice & assistance required with full in house bespoke design fans and chimney lining a speciality.

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3

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e t th pu le on t ket

of the

best teapo ts 5

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1. OKA, Kraak Teapot, £59; okadirect.com 2. Wedgewood, Cuckoo Teapot, £70; johnlewis.com 3. Joanna Wood, King’s Road Teapot, £34; joannawood.co.uk 4. habitat, lapsang Glass Teapot, £18; habitat.co.uk 5. Alex Clark, Rooster Teapot, £25; johnlewis.com 6. Emma Bridgewater, Egg and Feather Four-Cup Teapot, £54:95; emmabridgewater.co.uk 7. Oigen, Pink zundo Teapot, £160; harrods.com 8. Royal Collection Trust, Great Exhibition Teapot, £75; harrods.com

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OnTrend Daniel Kostiuc, Director of award-winning interior design studio Intarya, talks to Absolutely about new ideas for 2014 interiors Absolutely: What will 2014 see in terms of design?

Daniel Kostiuc: The return of bold patterns and colours (which started in 2013) as well as strong character in design. Slightly overstated luxury is also bound to re-emerge as well, after the less conspicuous aesthetics in fashion over the last few years.

Abs What would you say are the main trends to look out for?

DK 2013 was all about mixing prints, so I predict 2014 will be about

unusual colour combinations that haven’t been paired together before.

Don’t be afraid to be more daring!

Abs How can we do that?

DK Bright hues can make a wonderfully theatrical impact when used in the right composition. In an entrance hall, dramatic teal and black woven wall coverings are ideal as they draw in the eye upon entering a property.

Integrating a secondary colour such as canary yellow or vermillion will create a showstopping look.

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Abs Woven wall coverings?!

Are they better than wallpaper?

DK Wallpaper doesn’t provide the same luxurious feel as woven silk.

Besides a unique texture, silk yarn also gives such colour intensity, which will emphasise the trend for statement hues. When paired with shiny brass light fittings, furniture or ironmongery, it’s even more dramatic.

Abs Let’s talk about furniture.

How can we up the drama there?

DK Rather than settling for plain silk lampshades, add colour, texture and vibrancy for a statement. Whether opting for a bold geometric print or a funky braid, any lampshade can be tailor-made to add personality to an interior scheme.

Abs And the lamp itself?

DK We’re likely to see more precious stone lamps. Slices of amethyst and rock crystal clusters are beautiful, organic and make stunning lamp bases. Top these with a pared-back shade so they retain the starring role.

Abs What about other types of general decoration?

DK Over-scaled artworks can almost replace the use of wallpapers. They instantly bring character and colour to an otherwise simple space. The use of abstract or geometric compositions further enhances the feel of modernity – more and more of our clients have been enjoying this lately.

Abs Final word of advice?

DK Timeless, quality design is always a good investment. Instead of going for the latest trends in furniture, I advise my clients to go for classic shapes, which can be made up-to-date with the use of contemporary fabrics and materials.

Intarya Intarya has been at the forefront of British interior design since its inception in 1994, creating remarkable and highly acclaimed interiors in the UK and internationally.

Daniel Kostiuc and his team of interior designers and architects boast a varied portfolio, ranging from grand townhouses to sleek penthouses, sumptuous palaces and award-winning yachts. Their previous projects demonstrate their experience in the luxury residential market and a commitment to delivering timeless interiors that appeal to a discerning international clientele.

Intarya’s dedication to excellence have resulted in close relationships with highly-skilled craftsmen and artists who ensure that all bespoke furniture, lighting and textiles are hand-crafted to the highest level. Their exacting standards mean that every detail of a project is considered, revealing the property’s true potential, adding value.

Albion Riverside, 8 Hester Road, SW11, 020 7349 8020; intarya.com

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T he love bug Look your best for Valentine's Day

STRIP

For that special someone in your life, spoil them this year with a unique Valentines gift that will be sure to get you noticed! Strip is now offering personalised Valentine e-gift vouchers at the click of a button. E-vouchers can be used in stores for their world renowned waxing services, exquisite lingerie pieces or luxurious skincare products. Buy online now giving you more time to plan the night!!

To book your free consultation please call Strip Notting Hill 020 7727 2754, Strip Chelsea 020 7590 0050 or visit stripwaxbar.com

JIVITA

A luxurious, mind-soothing pampering session at Jivita Ayurveda is the perfect Valentine's gift. Sure to make an impression, a two-hour treatment package designed for this occasion consists of a foot and body scrub, a full body massage and a face treatment using high quality organic and beautifully fragrant ila products.

89 Chamberlayne Road, NW10, jivitaayurveda.com, 020 89644 993

LOVVIT

For a fast-track new you, everybody is singing the praises of LOVVIT's Strawberry Laser Lipo slimming treatments, achieving instant inch-loss in minutes. It's a simple procedure that promises fantastic results. If you want to look svelte in your Valentine's lingerie, you will be well looked-after with LOVVIT, based in a luxury boutique spa in Kensington.

Treatments from ÂŁ75.

Adamina Spa, 276-280 Kensington High Street W8 lovvit.co.uk

BODYWORKS WEST

The beautiful and tranquil new heated 18-metre pool is the perfect place to unwind. Followed by a eucalyptus-filled steam and sauna or a moment in the jacuzzi, this sanctuary will get you fit and de-stress in no time. Gentle aqua aerobic classes take place daily, as well as a more intermediate/ advanced swim training session on Monday evenings at 7pm.

Lambton Place, W11 bodyworkswest.co.uk 020 7229 2291

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TUTU MUCH Every little girl loves a frothy tutu and the very frothiest of all come from Dolly

by Le Petit Tom. These multi-layered pettiskirts are the stuff of fantasy, and each skirt comes with a matching doll’s version to complete the dream.

There are pink ones, of course, but we prefer the navy, pictured.

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Off the wall If you’re designing a nursery or want to update a child’s room check out Kidsen’s range of exciting interiors, especially the products with a graphic touch from Danish company Ferm Living. The prints are quirky without being overbearing, so they are a great way to add character to a room. There’s also great fashion and footwear at the award-winning children's boutique, so it's always worth a detour.

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ROMANCING THE PAST Notting Hill-based Elfie London’s gorgeous range of nostalgic children’s clothes evoke an innocent age of fairytale, when children played with skipping ropes instead of iPads and wore smocks with Peter Pan collars instead of crop tops. The winter collection is currently on sale and the summer pieces are about to land – don’t miss the discounts on these delightful frocks. Elfielondon.com

CARNIVAL ACTION It’s carnival time at Kensington’s Maggie & Rose this half term. Kids can practice Indian desert dancing, make their own Venetian masks and try their hand at Rio Carnivalstyle cookery. Activities are geared for children aged 12 months to 10 years, with prices from £17 for a class to £49 for day-long camps for the older ones. maggieandrose.com

111 Chamberlayne Road, NW10, 020 8969 7565

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The new independent co-educational senior school for students aged 11-18 in West London

KEW HOUSE SCHOOL.indd 2

@kewhouseschool

17/01/2014 11:03

ABSOLUTELY | EDUCATION

BY ANY MEANS… A new survey reveals the lengths some professional parents will go to get their children into the school of their choice.

Amanda Constance investigates

ST MARY’S ABBOTS IN KENSINGTON – 'THE HOLY GRAIL OF CHURCH PRIMARY SCHOOLS'

eet Martha. She’s busy organizing Sunday school for her local church, where she’s a ‘key helper’. Then she’s got to get Alfie to his Mandarin lesson and Arthur to jiu-jitsu. James, her other half, is busy at home cooking meals for the homeless – more church points in the bag, thanks very much.

Life’s tricky at the moment. They are desperately trying to buy a house in the catchment area for St Mungo’s but property is just so expensive: it’s all sealed bids, even for derelict houses, or so it seems to her. Then again, they’re using her mum’s home address as back-up, so they should be OK. Martha was educated privately, of course, as was James, but there’s no money in publishing these days, is there? Really, it’s enough to make you move to Kent…

Martha is fictitious but hers is a familiar story for any professional London parent. Indeed, a recent report from education charity, the Sutton Trust, has revealed just how

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far some wealthier parents will go to get their children into the mostsought after state schools.

The survey, entitled ‘Parent Power?’, focuses on the upper-middle classes.

It reveals that a third of professional parents sought out a good school when moving house, with 18% choosing the catchment area of a specific school. This is hardly news for any Londoner, where catchment boundaries are pored over, Zoopla is updated by the minute, and aggressive gazumping near good schools is the norm. I know of one family who rented opposite the school gates of a desirable North London primary (at great cost) because the catchment area had shrunk to a radius of just 300 metres.

Another family, in Camden, rented an additional property on their own street to get into a catchment area, moving back into their own home when their child had secured a place.

The research, led by academics at King’s College London and London Metropolitan University,

and based on interviews with 1,173 parents across England with school-age children, lays bare some of the more underhand tactics the sharp-elbowed set will use to cheat the system. An astonishing 5% of upper-middle class parents admitted to buying a second home, then using that address to gain access to a specific school, while 6% of professionals illegally used a relative’s address for the same purpose. One in 10 confessed to feigning religious beliefs to get into a desirable church school. And nearly one in five wealthier families employed a private tutor specifically to prepare their child for a school entrance exam – almost four times the rate of other parents.

While there’s no denying that some of these methods are extremely pushy at best or plain immoral at worst, is it really so bad to do the very best for your child? David Cameron has, after all, pointedly refused to denounce pushy parents but then, he’s in no position to – his kids are at St Mary’s Abbots in Kensington, the Holy Grail of church primary schools for many professional London parents.

The Sutton Trust report’s authors, however, are less equable. One of them, Professor Becky Francis, says: 'Our research shows just how far equality of opportunity is being undermined by the greater purchasing power of some parents. The ability for some parents but not others to use financial resources to secure their children’s achievement poses real impediments for social mobility.'

The report recommends the expansion of lottery-style entry rules to break the middle-class stranglehold on places, as well as monitoring the social background of pupils to help create a more balanced intake. It also advocates means-tested vouchers to enable poorer families to pay for extracurricular activities.

None of which would be popular with the overstretched professionals who often go to legitimate, if extreme, lengths in an attempt to make sure their children get into good schools.

As Nick Faith, from the Policy Exchange think tank, says: 'It’s not right to stigmatise parents for trying to do the best by their children. Instead of making scapegoats of people who are simply attempting to improve the life chances of their kids, the focus should be on driving up the quality of teaching in the poorest areas.'

The Marthas of this world would surely agree with that.

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CIF_Desire_C14_134x90_CIF_Desire_C14_134x90 12/12/2013 13:15 Page 1

JEWELLERY & SILVERSMITHING FAIR

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13:29 13/01/2014 16:25

20/01/2014 11:47

ABSOLUTELY | HEA LTH & BEAUT Y

REFRESH YOURSELF Rochelle Streater is treated to a reviving and relaxing massage at Notting Hill’s fabulous boutique spa, Espace Privé

a little more at the bottom, to which I agreed, always having been of the opinion that hairdressers usually know what looks best. As anyone who has had their hair bleached can tell you, it’s a lengthy process and takes most of the afternoon. As I sat, my head covered in foil, I was able to observe the salon and the impression I came away with was one of enthusiastic and skilled stylists interacting with interesting and eager clients. I couldn’t have been happier with my end result, the dyed portion was vibrant and shiny (even using ammonia-free dye) and the layers gave the whole style a new twist. Magda’s finishing touch was to style my new coiffure into loose curls, an appropriate look as the salon specialises in curly hair. I walked out of 10500 and managed to make my way home snatching admiring glances of myself in every reflective surface on the way, already thinking about my next appointment.

mid all the New Year’s resolutions involving sacrifice and hard work there should be at least one that allows us to indulge.

Personally, I am finding ways to treat myself at least once a month and after the stress of Christmas and onset of the January blues there is no better way to do that than a really good massage.

Espace Privé, a boutique spa in the heart of Notting Hill, specialises in a range of treatments ranging from shellac manicures and eyebrow shaping to a range of massages and an acclaimed advanced nutrition programme. In order to provide the bespoke service they are known for, I relay my various aches and pains to my therapist and we decide that 60 minutes of deep tissue is the way to go. A more intense option than the Swedish massage, it is designed to really tackle the deeper layers of muscle and tissue. My therapist immediately puts me at my ease with her gentle manner and the wonderful smelling oils she applies to my shoulders, back and legs do the rest. As the massage continues my therapist uses her hands, elbows and feet to apply deep pressure, which is at once intense and a great relief. By the end I feel thoroughly relaxed and, unlike with some massages, energised and refreshed, too with any hint of sluggishness having been banished. If one of your resolutions this year is to treat yourself once in a while I can’t recommend Espace Privé enough – and if it isn’t, perhaps it should be.

284 Westbourne Park Road, W11, 020 7229 3777; 10500hair.com

1 Courtnell Street, W2, 020 7243 1718; espaceprive.co.uk

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TO DYE FOR Catherine Hales experiences expert styling at 10 500, one of Portobello’s hottest salons flurry of activity greeted me when I walked into the reception area of 10 500 and was welcomed with a smile by my stylist Magda Jagri. As owner and artistic director of 10 500, Magda still puts in her hours on the salon floor and clearly enjoys doing so, greeting clients as old friends and joking with her colleagues. I had come in to have my hair re-dyed; at the moment the top layer is my natural brown and the underneath is dyed blonde and due to my negligence the blonde was almost gone. Magda understood what I wanted instantly and enquired about the cut as the ends of my hair had begun to split and become damaged. Without any pushiness Magda suggested adding in some layers to let the blonde peek out

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ABSOLUTELY | HEA LTH & BEAUT Y

make up

INSIDER

1

Arabella Preston on the February flush

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BURBERRY SS14

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omen have been reddening their cheeks for millennia in a bid to attract a mate. Flushed cheeks speak on a primal level of youth, health and heightened sexuality.

Thankfully modern make-up is a million miles away from the ochre and wine residue of Roman times. Powders, gels, tints, creams – there’s a plethora of products to choose from, in shades from palest peaches, pretty pinks and the perfect dusky rose.

Ultimately, blush is about bringing a natural-looking health and glow back to your skin. Think about how you look after a run or exercise class. Flushed cheeks and a dewy glow are the elixir of youth.

Traditional powder blushes give a lovely soft finish and are easiest to use and get right.

Burberry have a wonderfully subtle tangerine blush with the merest hint of a sheen.

Cream blushes are the best for adding moisture to your skin and enhancing that misty youthfulness. I love the Wild About Beauty multi-purpose tint: it can be used on the apples of your cheeks (dab into the centre then pull out onto your cheekbone), but also makes a lovely lip colour.

Gels are the latest products to bring a flush to our cheeks. They give the glow of a cream but the staying power of a powder.

The By Terry Cellularose Blush is a knockout. The colours look extreme in the pot but when dabbed and blended into skin turn into the subtlest, sheerest tint imaginable.

And Benefit has a new tint this spring in the form of Lollitint – a glorious lilac toned hue that requires immediate blending on application but won’t budge once dry.

But we have to leave the final word to the make-up maestro Francois Nars.

His product names are notorious, with his best-selling Orgasm blush telling it like it is.

The latest launch is called, quite simply, Sex Fantasy. I rest my case.

1. Chantecaille Cheek Creme

£19.50, uk.spacenk.com

2. NARS Blush in Sex Fantasy

£21.50, uk.spacenk.com

3. Benefit Lollitint, £24.50

benefitcosmetics.co.uk

4. Clarins Multi-Blush Cream Blush

£18, clarins.com

5. Wild About Beauty Multi-purpose Tint in Lynee, £16.50, wildaboutbeauty.com 6. By Terry Cellularose Blush Glace in Flower Sorbet, uk.spacenk.com 7. YSL Blush Palette, £42.50, yslbeauty.co.uk 8. Burberry Light Glow Tangerine Blush

£29, uk.burberry.com

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THE NOTTING HILL HEALTH CLUB

GYM / POOL / SPA, SAUNA & STEAM ROOM / STUDIO CLASSES / PILATES STUDIO / PERSONAL TRAINING / MASSAGE & TREATMENTS / NUTRITIONAL THERAPY / PHYSIOTHERAPY / YOGA

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BODY WORKS WEST.indd 2 43564 DEC] Body Works West Ad Campaign_AW.indd 4

16/01/2014 15:59 16/01/2014 09:09

ABSOLUTELY | PROMOTION

THE KEY TO WELLNESS PARK CLUB WELLNESS MANGER, TERRY RODHAM RECOMMENDS A LITTLE EXPERT HELP nevitably at this time of year, countless column inches are committed to health, wellbeing, losing weight, how to get motivated to exercise in 2014 and so on.

So how can I make this article special, any different to any you have read before? Will I be able to provide the diet of all diets, a magic exercise routine the likes of which you had only dreamed, or a special new mantra that gives instant inner peace?

Maybe not. But first and foremost, health and wellbeing (wellness) involves engaging in physical activity and regular exercise, eating balanced and healthy meals and being positive. It’s not rocket science.

The Wellness Pyramid above shows how these three key elements of 'wellness' (movement, nutrition and mental approach to life) interact with each other. It’s the balance between them that will govern your

I

success in achieving wellness. Put another way, being stressed, not sleeping and trying to run a marathon every day is not good for you. The key to wellness is balance.

While you can achieve this on your own, having a little expert help is a key to success. At our clubs we provide unprecedented levels of support and expert guidance as standard. It’s not by accident that a new member receives five personal training sessions in their first month and a further complimentary personal training session every month of their membership thereafter. Rather it’s by design. It enables our team get to understand you, your motivation (or lack of it), your good and bad habits and how they affect your wellness and how we can best help you achieve what you want to achieve.

As part of the balance, physical activity doesn’t have to be pounding a treadmill.

Our breadth of facilities are there to appeal to your different tastes, be that a macho circuit class, yoga, swimming, tennis or myriad other sports. Our clubs also provide secondary services as part of the balance.

From preventing injuries to overcoming them, we provide comprehensive medical and rehabilitative services. And to relax and de-stress there's massage in beauty therapy, Jacuzzi and steam. The clubs are extremely social, so interaction with staff and other members are important elements towards supporting a happy and healthy you!

In short, balance and the right support are key. Oh and membership of a great club, ofcourse. Call us to start your journey.

The Hogarth, 020 8994 0500 thehogarth.co.uk The Park Club, 020 9740 4599 theparkclub.co.uk

*INFORMATION SOURCE FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: ADAPTED FROM ACSM-AHA POSITION STAND: MED SCI. SPORTS EXERC. VOL 59, NO. 8, PP 1423-1434, 2007. * INFORMATION SOURCE FOR DIET: WWW.PYRAMID ITALIANA.IT-INSTITUTO DI SCIENZA DELL' ALMENTIZONE, UNIVERSITA LA SPAIENZA. ROME.

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MyFitness Studio is for every person who wants to feel good and achieve more We champion a personal, one-on-one approach amid a welcoming environment where you can focus on building fitness and maintaining a healthy lifestyle Time to get fit? Call 020 8960 3655 For 10% off your first session quote: GetFit

@myfitnessstudio myfitnessstudio.co.uk 9 Buspace Studios, Conlan Street, London, W10 5AP

MY FITNESS STUDIO.indd 1

23/10/2013 09:53

PONY

TAIL

At the Hyde Park Riding Stables, London’s equestrian history is alive and kicking. Pearl Boyd reports

here is something about bestriding a fine horse that makes a man feel more than mortal, he has doubled in status and added to his dignity the power, the speed and the stateliness of the beautiful animal on which he is mounted. Horse riding is marvellously healthy for mind and body, it tones your thigh and buttock muscles, oxygenates your brain and it is uplifting for the spirit to connect with large animals. For hundreds of years, riding played a major part in fashionable social ritual, but in this high-tech age people stagnate hunched over their computers and squint over their kindles instead of acquiring elegant and energising accomplishments.

Records show that numerous riding stables have existed in the vicinity of Hyde Park since Stuart times. One was started by Monsieur Foubert after fleeing religious persecution in France, and his establishment continued for generations. In 1900 there were at least 300,000 working horses in central London, but now there are less than 300, including the army. Apart for the odd police officer, it is unusual to see people on horseback in London today. In the past, everyone could expertly handle a mighty beast and apart from the practical advantages of getting from A to B, riding was many people’s chief recreation to relieve the stresses of life. Sedentary bank managers could do well to emulate previous generations.

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Splashing through puddles brings out romantic Dick Turpin tendencies In an article published in 1920, it was stated that an hour’s canter for a businessman before going to the office, was ‘the salvation of many a brain weary man’.

Only two riding stables now remain in the centre of the city.

Hyde Park Riding Stables, owned

by Richard Briggs OBE, is the only one that is open all year round. It is a jolly place situated a hundred yards from the park which offers five miles of bridleways, and is open every day and in all weathers.

In fact ‘foul weather riding’ enjoys surprisingly great popularity and clients return after an hour of braving bracing wind and rain with glowing complexions and rosy cheeked humour, and enthusiastically rebook for the following week.

They say it does wonders for a hangover. One can only presume that splashing through puddles brings out romantic Dick Turpin tendencies, though it is just as joyful and glamorous a pastime to ride out in the spring or summer sunshine. Indeed the stables can take credit for a number of weddings between couples who have met there and many other

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ABSOLUTELY | PROMOTION

romances have flourished. Everyone looks impressive on horseback. At the stables ambassadors, peers and younger members of the Royal Family mix with assorted celebrities and film stars as well as the general public. Twelve horses of varying sizes guarantee a suitable mount for riders of all abilities and courage. Cheerful dedicated staff welcome timorous beginners and with expert tuition they soon become riders of a capable and polished standard.

Children are welcome from the age of five and are first taught on a leading rein in the arena. Safety is of paramount importance and once they have confident command of the horse they can make their much-anticipated debuts on Rotten Row. In a short time they will have achieved an important accomplishment and need never feel embarrassed in their future life at being unable to ride.

Birthday parties are available together with an accompanying educational

lecture on stable management. Children love learning about all aspects of keeping a pony, even if they haven’t got one.

Hen parties are also welcome (as long as they don’t frighten the horses).

All horse riding is accompanied by an escort/instructor. The more experience you have the more freedom you will be given when riding. If one of the riders is a novice and the other is experienced then the beginner can be kept safely on a lead rein, while the experienced rider can have a more adventurous ride. This way both can enjoy Hyde Park together.

This also applies to larger groups, and the stables always supplies sufficient instructors. So get out there, ban sluggishness and wasted opportunities in your life and get fit.

020 7723 2813 hydeparkstables.com

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Ukai (oo-kaaee), our name, is inspired by the traditional method of river fishing practiced for some 1,300 years using Cormorant birds to catch sweetfish.

Spawned in 2006, Ukai has quickly become a favourite amongst sushi lovers in the London area, with its first outlet in trendy Portobello. Ukai offers a culturally rich Japanese experience in a contemporary setting.

Due to interest, many of its various Japanese inspired products including flower teas (which blossoms in front of your eyes), delicate incense and a variety of stylish tableware are now available to be purchased.

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19/02/2013 16:03 11:35 19/12/2012

ABSOLUTELY | FOOD & TR AV EL

WE’LL DRINK TO THAT...

Tristan Stephenson, owner of critically acclaimed cocktail joints Purl and The Worship Street Whistling Shop, picks the top tipples guaranteed to impress this Valentine’s Day

Ingredients • 50ml Scotch whisky • 25ml Martini rosso vermouth • 2 dashes (2ml) of orange bitters • a twist of orange zest, to garnish

tir all the ingredients together with cubed ice for around 90 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a small twist of orange zest. You might like to add a touch of sugar syrup if you have a sweet tooth, or depending on what Scotch you use.

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ESPRESSO MARTINI Ingredients • 50ml/2 oz. belvedere vodka • 20ml/2⁄3 oz. espresso • 10ml/1⁄3 oz. sugar syrup (see below)

hake the ingredients together with cubed ice and single strain into a chilled martini glass.

Back when I first cut my teeth as a cocktail bartender, when bigger cocktail lists were better and flaming an orange twist was regarded as innovative, the Espresso Martini was the height of cool. Caffeine, alcohol, sugar. Everything the body needs for a good night out, and all held together by our 1980s superhero, the martini glass. The Espresso Martini is based on a drink created by the UK’s crown prince of cocktails, Dick Bradsell, again while he was working at the Soho Brasserie. The story goes (and it does vary depending on who you ask) that an attractive female model approached the bar where Dick was working and asked him for a drink that would ‘pick me up, then f*ck me up’ – if only all drink requests came with such exact requirements. Dick eyed the bar’s shiny new espresso machine and promptly mixed vodka, espresso and sugar together, then served it in a martini glass.

The Espresso Martini was born.

The growing popularity of espresso coffee in the 1980s and 90s made the Espresso Martini an inevitability. The espresso in the drink achieves three things at once: first, it masks the alcohol in the vodka; second, it gives a caffeine kick to the receiver; and third, it turns the drink

ROB ROY

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a stunning opaque brown. Also, if you use a good-quality coffee and extract the espresso correctly, you’ll be rewarded with a pale foamy head, produced by the CO² bubbles dissolved in brewed coffee. Serve an Espresso Martini in a half-pint glass and it really does look like a Guinness!

Sugar syrup

Sugar syrup (2:1 ratio). To make about one of litre sugar syrup, gently heat 660g caster sugar (you can also use soft brown/ muscovado sugar) with 300ml water and 30g vodka in a saucepan. Once all the sugar has dissolved, bottle it and pop it in the fridge for up to six months.

The Curious Bartender: The Artistry and Alchemy of Creating the Perfect Cocktail

by Tristan Stephenson with photography by Addie Chinn.£16.99, Ryland Peters & Small.

NEGRONI Ingredients • 25 ml Tanqueray no. ten gin • 25 ml Campari • 25 ml Martini rosso vermouth • a slice of lemon (or grapefruit), to garnish

tir all the ingredients over cubed ice for 60 seconds, then strain into a chilled rocks glass with cubed ice (or use a large hand-cracked piece of ice).

Garnish with a slice of lemon.

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Our aim is to give you the most authentic, modern mexican food experience in London

BOOKINGS

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food NOTES Absolutely the best edibles in town

COLOUR BLOCK

Dirty Bones Okay, so Kensington Church Street’s newest eaterie is going against the (whole)grain when it comes to healthy eating. So don't come here with your detox. Dirty Bones, with its stylish interior designed

by Lee Broom, offers high class versions of the classic hot dog,

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plus fried chicken, ribs and steaks, with classy sides and relishes (such as the charred sweetcorn above) By day, the place can pass as a traditional hot dog spot, while after dark there are quirky cocktails and a programme of live music.

20 Kensington Church Street, W8 dirty-bones.com

DONATE AND DINE Congratulations to Ledbury Road’s Walmer Castle, which raised an impressive £4,675 for a Thai orphanage through as simple ‘donate while you dine’ scheme. For every portion of prawn crackers sold, the pub donated 25p and diners added an optional £1 to their bill. The Walmer Castle has supported Baan Tharn for the past three years and made a big difference to the lives of the children there. thaipubs.co.uk

Harvey Nichols’ newest own brand food range is Riot of Color, featuring beautifully designed packaging and a healthy, eclectic assortment. The collection of 70 pieces includes herbal teas, oils such as avocado and coconut, seed and fruit and nut mixes in large pill-type jars, reducedsugar jams, snack bars, bread sticks, a variety of porridges, rice cakes and more healthy ingredients.

Everything comes in unmissably eye-catching, brightly coloured boxes and tins. £19.5 to £29.95, harveynichols.com

A PASSION FOR PATISSERIE Paul’s French bakery is offering a veritable Valentine’s variety of decadent treats, including this Coeur Douceur, (£10.95). A velvety white chocolate mousse sits on a Genoese sponge base with a strawberry and raspberry compote filling running through the centre. Who could resist that?

82a Holland Park Avenue W11, paul-uk.com

FISHY TALES And there’s more quality fast food on offer at Kensington Place, where the just-launched FISHbone pop-up is taking over the private dining room to offer a series of ‘fast fish’ dishes. A large communal dining table plays host to a menu of Scallopdogs, Prawnish pasties, crab bhajis and more, all washed down with jugs of white wine sangria. FISHbone is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday to Saturday.

210 Kensington Church Street W8, 020 7727 3184

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FOOD REVIEW

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CHINATOWN Catherine Hales samples the fare at acclaimed Chinese eatery Min Jiang

The great redeemer Redemption, 13-15 Golborne Road W10 redemptionbar.com

edemption, set at the foot of Trellick Tower inside a new project space called the Goldfinger Factory, is a place full of good intentions. Set up by Catherine Salway, a branding expert who spent many years working for Richard Branson, the idea here is to be healthy – as in vegetarian, partly raw and alcohol-free. Yes, this is a bar that doesn’t serve alcohol. Citing the lack of places to go without being offered alcohol as the inspiration for this, Salway is confident that she has hit on a successful philosophy. So there’s coffee and tea of course, as well as a range of cleverly conceived mocktails, served in jamjars with salt rims and straws.

The feel is friendly and homespun – ‘a slice of east London in west London,’ she says – and if it feels unprofessional, that’s because it is. A self-confessed neophyte when it comes to food (‘I’m good at startups but not at food), Salway hired a nutritional consultant to devise a menu and is hiring local chefs to cook it. On our visit a mug of red lentil soup was wholesome and filling, a plate of dips for sharing was fresh and light, while a serving of plantain pancakes were a proper treat.

Coffee and service is high class – and this new spot should persuade doubters to cross the Golborne bridge. PH

R

aving travelled up to the 10th floor of the Royal Garden Hotel, my companion (in this case my mother) and I were lead to our table, which provided a marvellous view over the city. Several of our fellow diners were Chinese, a fact my mother pointed out as distinctly encouraging. Our waitress Martina talked us through the menu making suggestions, before referring us to the sommelier. With an enormous smile he advised us, accomodating our tastes but also nudging us in the right direction. We settled on a beaujolais and once he had left my mother praised his manner and spiel commenting that ‘very often a sommelier dealing with two women alone is incredibly patronising.’ What followed was a veritable feast. We started with a steamed dim sum

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platter (a crab meat dumpling taking the prize) followed by smoked jasmine ribs with sesame seeds, which were sensational, tender and succulent and not a single one left over. Then came the 'legendary' wood-fired Beijing duck, served in three stages: first, the skin dipped in sugar (something my mother refused to do but I thought was fantastic), then in pancake form, both traditional and with a contemporary twist, and finally with fried noodles. Although each stage had me savouring every bite, it was the pancakes that won out due in large part to the decadent plum sauce. Not content with this, we also ordered two recommended mains: clay pot San Pei chicken and diced ribeye of beef with black pepper sauce. The chicken was delicious, moist and flavoursome, but the beef was utterly exceptional as was the tenderstem broccoli that accompanied it. Our dessert of cheesecake and green tea ice cream was very tasty but not in the same league as our starters and mains. The atmosphere and unrivalled quality of the food resulted in a fantastic evening that left us stuffed but still wanting more.

Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington High Street, W8, 020 7937 8000 royalgardenhotel.co.uk

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Gilpin Lake House LAKE DISTRICT aromatherapy blend consultation, a dip in the pool, a sauna and body scrub, a blissful massage, afternoon tea in the cosy little boathouse and a spell in the hot tub with a glass of champagne.

Book to start in the late afternoon – nothing beats a hot tub under the stars.

THE RESTAURANT

THE HOTEL

Just two miles from Lake Windermere, the family-run Gilpin Lake House is a perfect base for exploring the Lake District.

Surrounded by varied trails, taking in charmingly traditional pubs (many with their own microbreweries), it is a wonderful destination for walkers, not least because they’ll have the roaring sitting room fire to look forward to, after an afternoon, exploring. Personal touches here make the difference – staff will find you wellies, lend you maps and recommend routes so that you make the most of your stay..

THE ROOMS

After a private transfer up to the main hotel, you can look forward to some seriously fine dining for dinner.

Having been awarded three rosettes by the AA Restaurant Guide, Head Chef Dan Grigg serves up local Lake District produce and West Coast seafood to create modern British masterpieces – think line-caught mackerel, sauced beets, apple compressions and horseradish bark.

All rooms at the Lake House are suites and, with just six on offer, stays here are not only exceptionally exclusive but totally private too. All with quintessentially British names, highend cosiness is the order of the day and bathrooms are stocked with home made Jetty Spa products. If you can, stay in Harriet, the most decadent room with lake views.

THE SPA

Perched on the banks of the serene lake waters, The Jetty Spa is an award-winning modern architectural masterpiece. Twin massage beds look out across the lake, allowing for couple treatments. For the most decadent, try the Jetty Spa Trail – 5 hours of pure indulgence, starting with a bespoke

THE DAMAGE

From £485 per room, per night, including a five course dinner, full English breakfast and VAT, plus complimentary chauffeur to and from Gilpin Hotel for dinner. The ‘Jetty Spa Trail’ is exclusive to guests staying at Gilpin Lake House, £300 for two people. 01539 488 818; thegilpin.co.uk

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Alexandra Jones really dislikes travelling, so what was it about Bermuda that made her never want to leave?

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ery rarely do I get the sense that I’d rather not leave a place. I will forever be that ghastly thing that no person with even vague pretentions towards adventure would want to be called – a homebody. For me, home is heavenly. My one, rather doomed, foray into backpacking, for example, ended with me on an early plane back, sick to the stomach (literally and metaphorically) of South America and strange beds and my own stilted Spanish.

What, then, to make of Bermuda? On the last day, having spent an afternoon in the sun, hopping from one heartbreakingly beautiful beach to another, I experienced something like an epiphany: a brilliant, completely mad idea that maybe I should just stay. A month, or six, would be about enough.

I turned to our taxi-driver-cumtour-guide (many taxi drivers in Bermuda are also experienced tour guides and can offer tips and potted histories of the island as they ferry you around): ‘You know Larry, maybe I should stay for a while.’

He nodded a little. ‘I guess you enjoyed the Rum Swizzles, then.’

At Sharky’s Bar, a shanty sort of set-up, built around a split in the cliff, facing out onto a crystalline bay, you could get any drink you wanted as long as it was rum. On that last afternoon,

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Sharky had played Smooth Operator by Sade and expounded on the glories of the island and I think the spirit of Mark Twain, who first visited Bermuda in 1867, was hovering around whispering in my ear about how I could go to heaven, but that he was staying in Bermuda. And I thought to myself, you’ve got it right there Mark, clouds and divinity paled in comparison to pink sand beaches and deadly cocktails.

The question is this: was it, as Larry had wryly surmised, the rum talking?

After all, I did get on the plane. But in London, far from feeling that familiar relief (a gentle sigh like a cork unstopping, ‘ah, home’), I was still wrangling with the crazy thought that maybe I should have stayed. So, what to chalk this up to?

Settled in the 17th century by a shipwrecked Admiral George Somers

and his 150 or so crew, the uninhabited island had been overlooked for over a century by Spanish sailors, who had used it as a stop-gap on journeys to the new world, but never claimed it. Thought to be the inspiration for Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Bermuda has had a reputation for being a paradise for over 400 years.

And its natural charms are unquestionable; the beaches around the island are some of the best in the world with achingly lovely blue-green waters and excellent marine life for snorkelling or diving. A subtropical climate means that temperatures are mild to hot and that more often than not, it is gloriously sunny. The island proper (all 21 miles by 1 mile of it) abounds in lush green vegetation and fresh, wild-growing fruits. It is, quite simply, a beautiful place.

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Divided into ‘parishes’, houses are often painted in candy-sweet pastels and the church is still considered the heart of the community. The town of St. George’s, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is largely unchanged since it was founded and built in the late 17th century and offers a picturesque glimpse into life on the island way back when.

For me, it was enough to walk around and absorb the history, but for those who are looking for more of a story, St. Peter’s Chapel, the oldest Anglican Church outside of the British Isles, is largely unaltered since its completion in 1612.

Meanwhile the Royal Naval Dockyard, though geared towards mass-tourism, is a fascinating hub of shops (be sure to get some cake from the Bermuda Rum Cake Company), museums (the National Museum of Bermuda is housed in the sprawling fortress) and even a Dolphin Quest, where you can swim with the winsome creatures.

For their part, the islanders take the paradisiacal reputation seriously. This means two things: firstly, service in hotels, bars and restaurants is in the American mode – quick, quiet, effusive – while locals are almost unfailingly helpful and friendly. Secondly it means that Bermuda is extremely safe. As Larry put it, ‘in the Caribbean you’re told to stay inside your resorts, in Bermuda the whole island is your resort.’

Be that as it may, as befitting a paradise, the hotels cater to a luxury market and can be hard to leave. I stayed in the Fairmont Southampton, a

‘ If I ate nothing other than the Reef and Beef steak topped with Guinea chick – for the rest of my life, I would be perfectly content.’ sweeping coral-pink building, set atop a hill on the south side of the island.

Classically furnished throughout, with grand staircases and dark wooden beams it has a solid, American Deep South charm. I would recommend that you go for a Fairmont Gold stay.

Each ‘Gold’ floor has a lounge where breakfast is served in the mornings and where an almost constant flow of canapés, cream teas and cocktails will have you wondering whether to even bother with dinner.

Not bothering, though, would be a mistake. The food in Bermuda is often a delight. From the very top end – the Blu Bar & Grill in Warwick Parish is a cool and plush with heavy white tablecloths and comprehensive sushi selection - to the unpretentious local-favourite with a killer Bermuda Fish Chowder – the Swizzle Inn at Baileys Bay, you’d be hard pressed not to find some really wonderful seafood. My particular favourite was Mad Hatters in Hamilton, where the list of specials was longer than the menu and took our waiter ten minutes to reel off. If I ate nothing other than the reef and beef – steak topped with Guinea chick, a type of Bermudian lobster – for the rest of my life I would be perfectly content. And I’m not even a big fan of red meat.

Just like I’m not a big fan of travelling.

Perhaps Bermuda, then, is a haven for

us homebodies. It is suffused with a particular charm: no nasty surprises, no dodgy characters. There is history: beautiful, engaging, protected pockets of history that spark the imagination.

There is food: traditional or nouveau, whatever your tastes, it’s all well cooked and well presented. There are trails to explore: the disused railway forms an 18mile circuit of Bermuda that will have you rounding corner after corner of dazzling island vistas.

It can be walked, cycled or taken on horseback. And there is the knowledge that you won’t feel at all guilty if all you want to do is lay on the beach and drink some rum and listen to Sade.

Prestige Holidays (01425 480400; prestigeholidays. co.uk) is offering 7 nights departing in April staying at the Fairmont Southampton in a Moderate room on room only flying from Gatwick with British Airways including private transfers. Prices start at £1589 per person and includes 2 free nights saving £416 per couple for travel until end of April 2014. Based on 2 adults sharing. For more information about Bermuda, please visit gotobermuda.co.uk

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BA KU to the future

Edwina Langley heads east to explore the delights of a very modern Muslim city ‘Where is Baku?’

‘AZERBAIJAN.’ ‘Where’s that?’

This is the conversation I had with pretty much everyone prior to my visit to the Eastern capital. I’d vary my response depending on who I was talking to.

To my friends it was: ‘bang next to Georgia, overlooking the Caspian.’

To my mother: ‘on the cusp of

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Europe, Mumsie. Just bordering Iran!’ Either way it sounded exciting and exotic, exactly the sort of place for an intrepid traveller.

When I arrived in Baku it was 4am, so as I drove through nigh on deserted streets to the Fairmont ‘Flame Towers’ hotel, my first impressions of the city were limited.

One thing, however, did stand out. The place was immaculate.

Pavements were spotless and almost gleamed under the glow of lights

from passing cars. It was eerily clean. When I woke up to daylight, however, it all made sense. For the view over the city from Baku Turkish Martys’ Memorial said it all: it’s just too beautiful to be dirty.

Aesthetics are foremost in Baku and its architecture is some of the most interesting I’ve ever seen.

A lot of it is fairly new-build, but it doesn’t look it. Much was built in the early 20th century, instigated by its ruling power, Russia, taking inspiration heavily from Europe.

The Azerbaijani State Philharmonic Hall (1912) for instance, was built in the style of the Italian Renaissance, while the Baku Puppet Theatre (1910) owes its design to that of the French. Fountains are abundant and wide streets remind of Parisian boulevards. Not for nothing is Baku known as the ‘Paris of the East’.

But then you see plainly its Soviet influence. Part of the Soviet Union from 1920 until its collapse in 1991, Baku’s cityscape nods to that era of structural domination.

But there is more than just ‘Soviet-European design’, for much can be made of Baku’s Islamic architecture; Shia Islam is, after all, Azerbaijan’s majority religion.

Walking through the cobbled streets of the ancient Old City, past the 12th century Maiden Tower, you could be in Marrakech. Stray cats creep cautiously across slim alleyways, while washing hangs on lines from balconies above. Mosques stand discreetly near dusty carpets for sale, and Aladdin surely lurks in the shadows. This is the magical walled city that was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003 – fitting protection for this ‘undiscovered’ architectural jewellery box.

But then you turn your attention to the inexplicably new and modern structures of the city, like Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid’s new project, the Heydar Aliyev Centre (2012). A difficult building to describe, it looks rather alien in its current location – by the busy main road that lead out of the city. It’s a conceptual, spaceshipesque structure, which to me, looked like something from the future: ‘in the year 2100, buildings will look like this…’. The curves and fluidness of design make it a shapely madam – extraordinary, huge, and awe-inspiring.

Named after Heydar Aliyev (leader of the Soviet Azerbaijan from 1969-

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82), the centre was built for culture and contains a conference hall, a gallery hall and a museum. It was fitting therefore that I got to see some Azerbaijani culture in play while I was there, a gala concert.

This musical spectacle took place in the auditorium and incorporated energetic folk dance (men ‘en pointe’ – shockingly without pointe shoes), a desperately fiddly instrument plucked dextrously and a duo of haunting solos. Turkish dancers meet leaping Cossacks, if you need a visual.

In addition to its musical heritage, from carpets to history, Baku houses many museums and galleries. I’m not usually a fan of modern art, but I highly rated 3ABO, presented by contemporary arts space organisation, YARAT. 3ABO (or ‘Zavod’) is a new project designed to exploit unconventional art spaces.

The Baku Air Conditioning Plant was where I visited – a factory that, one day, was shut down and left untouched for over a decade. This was until YARAT ‘re-discovered’ it and invited 29 young artists to

Heydar Aliyev Center, designed

by Zaha Hadid, first opened in May 2012 and celebrated its gala opening in November 2013.

The center will host various events to promote Azerbaijani art and culture.

Heydar Aliyev Centre is a conceptual, spaceshipesque structure, which looked like something from the future

find inspiration there for a new exhibition they had planned. The idea is to be able to walk around the plant and come across installations that seem part of the factory’s DNA. I am not an art buff, but 3ABO blew me away. One installation, for example, was simply a line of clocks, which had been collected from around the factory and had long-since ceased to tick. What was happening when they stopped, the installation asked, and why? Another exhibit was a video of a beach, with an ebbing and flowing tide, projected onto a factory wall. It depicted the sort of conditions the air-cooling plant was designed to create. It was mesmerising.

I was increasingly coming to believe that Baku was indeed, as its been celebrated, an ‘Islamic Culture Capital’, but its nightlife had yet to be tested. Rated eighth in the top 10 party cities in the world by Lonely Planet, I can tell you now that Baku deserves this accolade. Pacifico, for example, is one of the most popular nightclubs and lies on Seaside Boulevard, overlooking the Caspian.

With a ‘Boujis-esque’ feel it has a terrace outside which is ideal for late night tête-à-têtes if the club itself gets a bit steamy – or smoky; Baku appears to be the last place on earth where smoking is allowed indoors.

Dancing is pretty wild and drinks flow freely, which, for an Islamic country, is most unusual.

So when you wake to the inevitable (and deserved) hangover, what do you eat? If I am to be truly honest, I wasn’t all that enamoured with Azerbaijani cuisine, though thankfully it varies a fair bit. The

cow tongue I tried one night, for instance, was disgusting. The Beluga caviar, however, was not. A typical ‘starter’ is a spread consisting of all sorts of cheeses, salamis, olives, nuts and breads – with an aubergine dip that made its way everywhere. One lunch I was presented with ‘Bolva’, a traditional type of soup. It was tepid, and came in a tall glass, which allowed me to dubiously eye its white-ish colour and the green bits floating around inside. A massive gulp of it came straight back up again – apparently along with dill, hard-boiled eggs and cucumber, one of its main components is sour milk.

I am still reeling from my visit to Baku. It’s almost indescribable and I still can’t quite get my head around it. What I can say is that I have never felt safer. It wasn’t that I expected to feel ‘unsafe’, but with unfamiliar lands it is something I think about. The genuine warmth of the Azerbaijani people, without exception, made the trip. For while many do not speak English, with a right amount of hand gesturing and enthusiasm, you get there in end.

And so I’m glad I made it to Baku in the end too. Wherever it is.

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Bums & beaches, buns & Bond, Edwina Langley finds it all in Brazil

If you Google the word ‘Brazilian’, this is what the search engine suggests you might be looking for: ‘wax,’ ‘blow dry’, ‘butt lift’.

Apparently, when the world searches for Brazil, it’s beauty they’re after.

That might seem a little contrived, but in the days leading up to my trip it was generally beautiful things I thought about – Astrud Gilberto’s ‘tall and tan and young and lovely’ girl from Ipanema, the colour explosion of Carnival, Gisele Bündchen…

The day before I touched down in Rio de Janeiro, British beauty Cara Delevigne had flown in for a Vogue Brazil shoot and as I pulled up outside my hotel, the notorious Copacabana Palace, I was told past guests included Madonna, Marilyn Monroe and Diana, Princess of Wales. Yes, Brazil plays host to the beautiful people, both past and present.

Copacabana Palace is indeed palatial and sits overlooking the bay of Copacabana Beach, a glistening white tooth in the curved smile of a beautiful Amazonian. Built in 1923, the hotel is a landmark in its own right and in 2011 underwent a $20million refurbishment, which saw the lobby extend by 90%, its 145 rooms redesigned and the introduction of two new boutiques. In spite of its facelift, however, there is something very traditional about the place. The rooms are elegant and understated – ornate bathrooms in muted colours and a small sitting room overlooking the

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Atlantic. To swim in the outside pool at night as Fly Me To The Moon floats along on the breeze and waiters plump sun bed cushions nearby, is to feel you’ve been transported back to the 1950s. Cocktail hour will commence after you’ve beehived your hair, the feijoada (stewed beef with beans) will be served up piping hot, the pão de queijo (cheese flavoured buns) will be fresh from the oven, and everything will, of course, look beautiful.

What’s also beautiful is the view from the top of Corcovado Mountain by the foot of Christ the Redeemer.

The 98ft reinforced concrete and soapstone statue stands with arms outstretched, guarding the swell of Rio below. Mighty in size, you can’t help but feel humbled by it, not least since the winds there are so strong you get treated to a rather different type of Brazilian blow dry – whether you’re after one or not. The view backwards,

from Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf ) mountain overlooking the city, with Christ as the backdrop, is no less beautiful, nor dramatic, plus you have the added thrill of imagining yourself in a real drama. The 1979 Bond flick Moonraker was filmed there, most famously the hair-raising 007 v. Jaws battle for the cable car.

For those visiting Rio for the World Cup (this June) or the 2016 Olympics, there are many more beautiful things to gawp at. The Santa Teresa District comprises cobbled winding streets with higgledypiggledy houses dressed in murals, whilst the tiled steps of Escadaria Selaron, designed by Chilean artist, Jorge Selarón, mirrors the bohemian feel the area exudes. But for boho meets music, there’s only one place to go: Rio Scenarium Restaurant and Nightclub in Lapa. If it’s décor were to have a theme it would be ‘film set vintage’. Old televisions, telephones and artwork hang from the walls, its windows are guarded by 1950s-style shutters, fans whirr from the ceiling and people chatter quietly eating dinner downstairs, until…the music starts. At around midnight the building erupts, live bands play, bums wiggle and hips sway as the rhythm takes over and you lose yourself entirely in the fiesta.

If I were you, I’d spend most of my time swimming in the bay or canoeing (rather, capsizing) around the mini island

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ABSOLUTELY | TR AV EL overlooking the coast, an infinity-edged plunge pool and an open-air shower. I mean, what more could a human want?

Away from bungalow haven, there are nature trails to be had (as an avid walker I would say they are more ‘strolls’ than ‘treks’), which lead you to castaway white sanded beaches.

If I were you though, I’d spend most of my time swimming in the bay or canoeing (rather, capsizing) around the mini-island. And after all that exercise, there is a sweet little restaurant on site to stock up on those lost calories, serving up my favourite type of food: octopus. I must have had it about three times in a row. But don’t worry, they do make other things too – notably, the most delicious and freshly baked bread.

Whilst that’s not ideal if you’re hoping to acquire a perfect beach bod, it is simply too good not to scoff.

So no, it’s no surprise I didn’t come back from Brazil with a more beautiful body. What I did come back with, at least, was a tan, a plastic gold necklace of Christ the Redeemer, and a newfound love for shaking my posterior. Perhaps that’s what Google meant by ‘Brazilian butt lift’.

COPACABANA PALACE From £485 per room, per night, including taxes based on two sharing a Superior City View Room with breakfast. Call Orient-Express Hotels Ltd UK reservations on 0845 077 2222; copacabanapalace.com

And if Rio is the place to lose yourself, then Ponta dos Ganchos is most definitely the place to find yourself again. Just a two-hour flight from Rio to Florianopolis and a 50-minute drive from there, you’ll find you’ve arrived at heaven. Literal heaven. Somewhere so beautiful

that only the most beautiful people would visit. Like, Beyoncé and Jay Z, for example.

This privately owned peninsula lies peacefully near the waters of the Emerald Coast. Discrete but luxurious bungalows ( just 25 in total) sit hidden in sunspots on the hillside. Designed strictly for adults, this resort is a no children zone, which means everything really is as peaceful as you’d hoped it would be. With a modest but perfectly usable fitness centre and a heated swimming pool, you can work off any Rio-induced stress with vigour. But you don’t really want to stay indoors because Ponta dos Ganchos is all about the outside. Whilst each bungalow boasts an open fire, double showers, double lavatories, double wardrobes (no arguments allowed), a sauna, a Jacuzzi and a massive telly, they also feature an outdoor hammock

PONTA DOS GANCHOS From BRL 1410 (approx. £364) per bungalow per night based on two sharing, +55 48 39537000; pontadosganchos.com

TAM Return flights to Florianópolis via São Paulo from London Heathrow with TAM Airlines start from £864 per person and depart daily. TAM Airlines is part of LATAM Airlines Group and flies to over 50 destinations across South America. For three or more flights within Brazil and across South America, get up to 60% off with LATAM Airlines Group’s South American Airpass; tam.com.br

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Smart explores the local area.

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FEBRUARY 2014

ABSOLUTELY

PROPERTY

HOLLAND PARK, HOLLAND PARK W11 This extraordinary apartment is approximately 5,941 sq ft and has been completely refurbished to the most exacting of standards by the current owner.

Guide price ÂŁ13,950,000 Share of freehold Holland Park & Notting Hill I 020 7371 1111 l hollandpark@carterjonas.co.uk

PFC_NottHill_Feb.indd 2

JSA Knight Frank Kensington

16/01/2014 16:57

The Negotiator Awards 2013 (for the 2nd year running!)

Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year 2013 - Gold (for the 2nd year running!)

Community Champion of the Year

Best London Estate Agency

The Negotiator Awards 2013 - Silver

Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year 2013 (Medium) - Gold (for the 4th year running!)

Stanley Crescent W11 ÂŁ19,000,000 Built to designs by the well known architect Thomas Allom in circa 1850, this imposing ten-bedroom Grade II listed, double fronted house offers beautifully proportioned rooms, with stunning garden views from both the front and rear of the property. Of particular note is the spectacular raised ground floor drawing room and itchen family room, with magnificent ceiling heights and e ceptional garden views. Offering direct access to Stanley Crescent Gardens and use of Ladbroke Square Gardens. Joint Sole Agents: Savills

PRIME SALES: 020 7368 4197 PrimeSales@marshandparsons.co.uk

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Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/marshandparsons

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/marshandparsons

Visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/marshandparsons

SALES

See all of our properties online: marshandparsons.co.uk

Douro Place W8 ÂŁ13,000,000 One of a pair of Victorian houses, built on the north side of this sought after Kensington road, by builders Frederick Woods and William Wheeler in 1846. This well presented house offers balanced, well configured accommodation over four floors. The magnificent reception space is complimented by generous bedroom accommodation including a fabulous master suite, a guest suite and four double bedrooms served by a large family bathroom. The lower floor provides a two-bedroom apartment, a gym and utility services. Freehold. Sole Agents.

PRIME SALES: 020 7368 4197 PrimeSales@marshandparsons.co.uk

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Local know-how. Better results.

Our offices:

Battersea

Chelsea

Fulham

Kensington

Mayfair

Pimlico & Westminster

Balham

Bishops Park

Clapham

Hammersmith

Little Venice

North Kensington

South Kensington

Barnes

Brook Green

Earls Court

Holland Park

Marylebone

Notting Hill

Pembridge Square W2 £3,250,000 This spectacular top floor apartment is located in a magnificent period Villa on one of Notting Hill’s most prestigious garden squares.

The uni ue property offers an open plan kitchen/reception/dining room and a smartly designed me anine level, providing access to a demised, private roof terrace. The bedroom accommodation comprises a generous master suite, a second bedroom with en suite bathroom and a third bedroom/study with views over gardens. Share of Freehold. EPC=D. Sole Agents

NOTTING HILL: 020 7313 2890 sales.not@marshandparsons.co.uk

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Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/marshandparsons

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/marshandparsons

Visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/marshandparsons

SALES

See all of our properties online: marshandparsons.co.uk

Pembroke Place W8 ÂŁ2,695,000 This beautifully presented period house, arranged over four floors, boasts a fantastic master suite with en suite bathroom, two further bedrooms, bathroom, a spacious reception room, a contemporary kitchen/breakfast room, study room and a private terrace. Pembroke Place is located just south of Kensington High Street and benefits from the ample local amenities and the green, open spaces of Holland Park. Freehold. EPC=D. Sole Agents

KENSINGTON: 020 7368 4450 sales.kns@marshandparsons.co.uk

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The Negotiator Awards 2013 (for the 2nd year running!)

Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year 2013 - Gold (for the 2nd year running!)

Community Champion of the Year

Best London Estate Agency

The Negotiator Awards 2013 - Silver

Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year 2013 (Medium) - Gold (for the 4th year running!)

Gloucester Terrace W2 ÂŁ950 per week This beautifully presented three-bedroom apartment is situated on the raised ground oor of period building moments from Paddington. The apartment features an eat-in kitchen, a stunning reception room with a large dining area, three double bedrooms, two with en suite bathrooms and a further family bathroom. Gloucester Terrace is well located for the transport links at Paddington Station and allows easy access to Heathrow irport ia the .

NOTTING HILL: 020 7313 6910 lets.not@marshandparsons.co.uk

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Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/marshandparsons

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/marshandparsons

Visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/marshandparsons

SALES

See all of our properties online: marshandparsons.co.uk

Princedale Road W11 ÂŁ1,100 per week This immaculate three-bedroom family home is presented in excellent condition throughout. Situated a stones throw from Holland Park tube station the house benefits from a well proportioned double reception room and a semi open plan kitchen on the ground floor. The upper floors boast three bedrooms, two bathrooms, ample storage and a beautiful roof terrace. EPC=E

HOLLAND PARK: 020 7605 6890 lets.hol@marshandparsons.co.uk

Westbourne Park Road W11 ÂŁ550 per week This amazing and spacious one-bedroom flat is situated on the first floor of an end-of-terrace, Victorian house located close to the Portobello Road. The flat comprises a substantial double bedroom with a large walk-in wardrobe, an immaculate bathroom and a double aspect reception room. EPC=C

NORTH KENSINGTON: 020 7313 8350 lets.nkn@marshandparsons.co.uk

Tenant fees apply, see www.marshandparsons.co.uk/services/lettings/tenant-fees for more information.

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Offices throughout the UK

CARTERJONAS.CO.UK To view The Collection 2013/14, simply visit cjview.me/thecollection

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HOLLAND PARK HOLLAND PARK W11 This extraordinary apartment is approximately 5,941 sq ft and has been completely refurbished to the most exacting of standards by the current owner.

6 reception rooms n Kitchen n Master bedroom suite n 5 further bedroom suites, including 1 staff en suite bedroom n Gym n Cinema n Steam room with integrated shower and sound system n Spa n Plant room and large storage n Landscaped private garden enjoying full afternoon sun n Energy efficiency: Band D

GUIDE PRICE ÂŁ13,950,000 Holland Park & Notting Hill 020 7371 1111 gareth.jones@carterjonas.co.uk JSA Knight Frank Kensington 020 7938 4311 knightfrank.co.uk

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THIS PROPERTY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS ON MOBILE OR DESKTOP SIMPLY VISIT URL:

cjview.me/ahp13

17/01/2014 09:40

ABSOLUTELY Property

Ask the Experts

Our panel of professionals give you the edge in the property market

1

Should I redecorate pre-sale?

Y 2

S

es, a fresh coat of paint can make a room feel bigger and brighter, it also demonstrates that your property has been well looked after.

When is the best time to sell?

4

5

Best BTL investments?

O

ne and two bedroom properties in purpose built blocks. These appeal to corporate tenants, couples and sharers, so you are covering all levels of demand by purchasing these. As well as this, they often come with the modern amenities that today’s tenant requires, such as integrated kitchens and wi-fi access, along with often providing secure parking and the security of a porter.

pring (February – April) and Autumn (September and October) are always buoyant times to sell your property as demand is normally at its peak outstripping supply. As a result, multiple bids are common and you can be confident that the price you achieve will be a strong one. Spring gives buyers the opportunity to move in over the summer months, while the autumn market gives buyers the opportunity to move in pre-Christmas and mid-winter. Certainly a garden flat would benefit from a spring or summer market and the lighter and brighter the weather, the better the overall appeal of a property.

Despite the above, the central London market has its own busy hub and can be exceptionally busy year round from late January. Chinese New Year is around 23rd January and therefore there are some very strong Far Eastern buyers in the market at this time, while the month pre and post Ramadan can also be a busy period. We have even had best bids on the 16th December before!

3

I

Best Buy-To-Let investments?

T

here seems to be no end in sight to the increasing appetite for West London properties of all descriptions, and we’re currently seeing an increase in enquiries from a range of nationalities. With borrowing rates at the lowest level in years and properties in high demand, now is a very good time to invest.

Confidence in the market looks set to stay for the foreseeable future and buyers can purchase a property these days with the knowledge that in a few years’ time they will have made a healthy return on their investment. A key factor to keep in mind when purchasing a buy-to-let investment is to ensure you minimise any periods when your property is void of tenants. Choose areas that are in high demand and buy something regularly sought after. Regular maintenance is essential; keep things fresh, clean and up to date. A property within easy reach of transport links, parks and restaurants will always be more desirable and will be able to command higher rents than those that aren’t.

Easy lending means buyers are flooding the market and record prices are being achieved

Why hasn’t my property sold?

t’s too overpriced. It may sound harsh, but the reality is that everything that is within the realms of reality is selling well right now. Easy lending means that buyers are flooding the market and record prices are being achieved in many locations.

Director, Mountgrange Heritage

Sales Manager, Bective Leslie Marsh

2. Kim Turner

3. Stewart Boyd

020 7221 2277 • mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

020 7795 4288 • bective.co.uk

020 8960 4947; winkworth.co.uk

1. Michael Wilson

Director, Winkworth

4. Ed Woolgar

5. Michael Palmer

020 3040 8343 • chestertonhumberts.com

020 3282 1551 • kfh.co.uk

Director, Chesterton Humberts

Lettings Manager, KFH

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some things get so much better with time

Established 2001...

020 7937 9777 21 Earls Court Road, Kensington, London, W8 6EB Tel: 020 7937 9777 • 020 7938 3425 Email: info@rickmanproperties.com

www.rickmanproperties.com

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facebook.com/struttandparker twitter.com/struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Hyde Park Square, W2

An attractive and well presented three bedroom upper maisonette on a popular communal garden square, close to Hyde Park.

Asking price ÂŁ2,600,000 Leasehold

1,604 sq ft (149 sq m) Entrance hall | Drawing room | Eat-in kitchen | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom | Two further bedrooms | Shower room | Communal garden access | EPC rating D

Notting Hill 020 7221 1111 JSA: Douglas & Gordon 020 7727 7777

Addison Place, W11

An immaculately presented and recently refurbished three bedroom house, with the benefit of an integral garage and private south-facing patio garden.

ÂŁ2,595,000 Freehold

1,736 sq ft (161 sq m) Entrance hall | Drawing room | Kitchen | Dining area | Three bedrooms | Bathroom | Two shower rooms | Cloakroom | Garage | Patio garden | EPC rating C

Notting Hill 020 7221 1111 JSA: John Wilcox & Co 020 7602 2352

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Kensington Court, W8

An outstanding and beautifully presented three bedroom maisonette, on the top two floors (with direct lift access).

The property has excellent entertaining space and a fabulous terrace.

STRUTT & PARKER FEB.indd 2

ÂŁ3,500,000 Share of Freehold

1,528 sq ft (141.96 sq m) Entrance hall | Drawing room | Kitchen/dining area | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing area | Two further bedrooms | Two shower rooms | Terrace | Direct lift access

Kensington Sales 020 7938 3666 kensington@struttandparker.com

17/01/2014 10:58

facebook.com/struttandparker twitter.com/struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Cornwall Gardens, South Kensington, SW7

An elegant and spacious ground and lower ground floor flat offering ideal family accommodation with access to communal gardens in this well maintained Victorian building.

£2,500 per week *Unfurnished

2,349 sq ft (218.22 sq m) Reception room | Kitchen | Five bedrooms | Four bathrooms | Access to communal gardens | EPC E

Kensington Lettings 020 7938 3866 kensington.lettings@struttandparker.com

*The following Tennant charges may apply prior to tenancy commencement: Tenancy Agreement £210 (inc VAT) Credit References per application £54 (inc VAT). All advertised prices are excluded and other associated services.

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Norland Square, W11

A beautiful family home situated on this prestigious garden square in Holland Park with stunning views over the communal garden square.

£3,950 per week* Unfurnished

3195 sq ft (297.1 sq m) Two receptions| Kitchen| Dining room| Master bedroom en-suite | Three further bedrooms all en-suite | Study| Garden | EPC rating: E

Notting Hill Lettings 020 7221 1111 nottinghill.lettings@struttandparker.com

*The following Tennant charges may apply prior to tenancy commencement: Tenancy Agreement £210 (inc VAT) Credit References per application £54 (inc VAT). All advertised prices are excluded and other associated services.

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IN THEIR OWN

WORDS ELAINE DYER Senior Sales Negotiator : Camerons Stiff Photography: Rebecca Noonan

O

n leaving school at sixteen, my ambition was to be a buyer in a large department store, following my grandfather who was a buyer in Selfridges. Unfortunately, not being academic and with a tendency to be a little cheeky and chat too much, my head teacher gave me a lousy reference and therefore that dream never materialised.

My first job was in a finance company, which also dealt in buying and selling property - I was hooked and ever since all my jobs seemed to end up in sales.

I got married very young and had my daughter at 18 years. My husband of 47 years was a graduate graphic designer and was offered a chance in a life time job as an art director in Barbados. Obviously we grabbed the opportunity and lived there for two years.

We arrived back in Britain in 1971, when I was first introduced to Geoffrey Stiff Snr – he was looking for a secretary in his then company Camerons Estate Agents, on Walm Lane. I worked there for ten years selling flats, this was where I learnt the art of selling from Geoff.

In 1982 Geoff broke away from his partnership and Camerons Stiff was launched... The first day was exciting but rather terrifying, thinking that noone would come through the door. In fact, on the very first day I had an enquiry from an investor with a whacking budget of £25,000 – that was the first sale we made and we have never looked back.

020 8458 9182

It‘s hard to believe that today we are selling properties over £3m with the cheapest flats achieving £250,000. It seems that our area has at last been discovered, buyers are now recognising that the magnificent properties around the Mapesbury Conservation area, Queens Park, Brondesbury Park and Kensal Rise are such excellent value, ranging from £550 £1,000 per square foot.

With the arrival of the popular independent school, Maplewalk, in Harlesden we are getting some very ‘posh’ people asking for houses in the area – it does make me chuckle to think that these people would never walked - let alone buy - in the Harlesden area a while ago.

I can only comment on the area I know so well.

With the interest rates being at their lowest, surely the safest bet is to invest in bricks and mortar. Who knows over the next few years if there will be any security in pensions? The market will fluctuate over the years but with the London area being so popular with the over-seas clients, it has to be the safest economy to invest in. I’m not alone in my prediction, you only have to take a look at how prosperous London looks with all the beautiful shops and buildings being built.

Reminiscing over the past 40 years, I feel so lucky to have been part of this fantastic business – I have met some very colourful characters. Hoping that there are still more years left in me and indeed that Camerons Stiff will still have me, I don’t intend to move on just yet.

|

cameronsstiff.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY Property

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You may know us from walking your dog, local charity events or simply recognise a familiar face.

Because many of our agents live where they work, they really understand what matters to buyers and sellers there. And because people know us, time and again we are able to sell and let properties more quickly and more profitably than anyone else.

K A T E F LY N N L E T T I N GS M AN AG ER

A local resident of W10, Kate is enshrined in Notting Hill life both professionally and socially and heads up our very successful lettings team in Westbourne Grove. Unusually for a letting agent, Kate has a degree in chemistry which brings a near forensic approach to her work and the ability to work coolly under extreme pressure. Just as well in a busy spring market.

C H E L S E A 0 2 0 7 5 8 9 6 67 7 — K E N S I N G T O N 0 2 0 7 7 9 5 42 8 8 N O T T I N G H I L L 0 2 0 7 2 2 1 4 8 0 5 — L A D B R O K E G R O V E 0 2 0 7 2 2 1 0 3 3 0 — B R O O K G R E E N 0 2 0 76 0 3 51 8 1 W W W. B EC TIVE .CO.U K FIND US ON

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P H OTO G R A P H S BY T I M CO L E W W W.TI M - CO LE .CO M

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Prime Location OSSINGTON STREET NOTTING HILL W2

A magnificent Georgian family house on this quiet residential street in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The property is presented in excellent condition throughout and arranged over four floors with two floors dedicated to entertaining space. Features include an expansive 54ft open-plan family and dining area leading directly into a large west facing garden.

5 B E D R O O M S , 4 B A T H R O O M S , R E C E P T I O N R O O M , D I N I N G R O O M , K I T C H E N / B R E A K F A S T R O O M , F A M I LY R O O M , U T I L I T Y R O O M , S T U DY, V I S I T O R S S U I T E , 2 R O O F T E R R A C E S , PAT I O , W E S T FA C I N G G A R D E N .

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FREEHOLD ÂŁ4,750,000 BOB CROWLEY BC@BECTIVE.CO.UK NOTTING HILL OFFICE 020 7221 4805

2 74 S Q M / 2 ,9 4 9 S Q F T A P P R O X E N E R GY R AT I N G E JSA KNIGHT FRANK 020 7229 0229

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Amazing Garden NEWTON ROAD NOTTING HILL W2

This impressive low build period house has everything one could ever want in a family home; spacious entertaining rooms, big family kitchen, dining room and plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms all spread over only three light-filled floors with lovely private garden, garage and off street parking for up to three cars.

5 B E D R O O M S , 2 B AT H R O O M S , S H OW E R R O O M , 2 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S , K I TC H E N , D I N I N G R O O M , 3 S T U D I E S , U T I L I T Y R O O M , GA R AG E , F R O N T A N D R E A R GA R D E N S , O F F S T R E E T PA R K I N G .

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FREEHOLD ÂŁ5,000,000 BOB CROWLEY BC@BECTIVE.CO.UK NOTTING HILL OFFICE 020 7221 4805

255 SQ M / 2 ,755 SQ FT APPROX E N E R GY R AT I N G E

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Nothern Light B R O N D E S B U RY R OA D Q U E E N ’ S PA R K N W 6

A wonderfully large family house in the enviable location close to the Salusbury Road and Queen’s Park. The property has been extended to create an exceptional kitchen breakfast room and is presented beautifully throughout. The property further enjoys extensive accommodation, a cellar and off street parking.

7 B E D R O O M S , B AT H R O O M , 2 S H OW E R R O O M S , 2 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S , K I TC H E N / D I N I N G R O O M , U T I L I T Y R O O M , C E L L A R , S TO R AG E , GA R D E N , O F F S T R E E T PA R K I N G .

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FREEHOLD £2,695,000 M AT T H E W M A R C H A N T MM@BECTIVE.CO.UK LADBROKE GROVE OFFICE 020 7221 0330

28 0 SQ M / 3 ,0 13 SQ FT APPROX E N E R GY R AT I N G E

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Heart of Notting Hill BLENHEIM CRESCENT NOTTING HILL W11

A beautifully designed and spacious family house in the heart of Notting Hill. Light floods into this broad Victorian terraced house emphasising the high ceilings and elegant details. Blenheim Crescent is a tree lined street off Ladbroke Grove, close to Portobello, Westbourne Grove and Notting Hill. Local shops, excellent transport links and underground station are close to hand.

4 D O U B L E B E D R O O M S , 2 B AT H R O O M S ( 1 E N S U I T E ) , S H OW E R R O O M , 2 C LOA K R O O M S , D O U B L E R E C E P T I O N R O O M , O P E N P L A N K I T C H E N / D I N I N G R O O M , S T U DY, U T I L I T Y R O O M , W I N E S T O R E , PAT I O , 2 T E R R A C E S , B A L C O N Y.

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FREEHOLD ÂŁ4,800,000 M AT T H E W M A R C H A N T MM@BECTIVE.CO.UK LADBROKE GROVE OFFICE 020 7221 0330

3 02 SQ M / 3, 251 SQ FT APPROX E N E R GY R AT I N G F J SA SAV I LL S 0 2 0 753 5 3 3 0 0

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Prestigious Location WOODSFORD SQUARE HOLL AND ROAD W14

F U R N I S H E D/ U N F U R N £ 3 , 5 0 0 P E R W E E K

A recently refurbished contemporary styled house located in this gated development. The property has been refurbished to an exacting standard with particular attention. Woodsford Square is ideally located within the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms (3 en suite), 2 reception rooms, patio garden, garage/utility room, off street parking, caretaker. EPC Rating D.

F R A N C E S C A F O R T U N AT I FF@BECTIVE.CO.UK KENSINGTON OFFICE 020 7795 4288

Garden Haven MONMOUTH ROAD NOTTING HILL W2

U N F U R N I S H E D £ 1 ,9 9 5 P E R W E E K

A high specification family house offering a wealth of receptionspace and beautiful landscaped west facing garden, ideal for entertaining. Monmouth Road is a quiet road tucked behind Westbourne Grove, with its wonderful array of boutiques, cafes and restaurants. 5 bedrooms, bathroom, shower room, reception room, kitchen/dining room, 2 cloakrooms, utility room, garden, off street parking. EPC Rating E.

K A T E F LY N N

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KF@BECTIVE.CO.UK NOTTING HILL OFFICE 020 7221 5388

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Artesian Village NORTHUMBERL AND PL ACE NOTTING HILL W2

U N F U R N I S H E D £ 1 ,9 5 0 P E R W E E K

An immaculately presented family house, refurbished in a modern style whilst retaining many original features. The property offers three different reception rooms which make it ideal for entertaining, in addition to carefully thought out bedroom space well suited to family life. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en suite), en suite shower room, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, conservatory, cloakroom, garden. EPC Rating D.

K A T E F LY N N KF@BECTIVE.CO.UK NOTTING HILL OFFICE 020 7221 5388

Designer Duplex

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ST MARKS PL ACE NOTTING HILL W11

FURNISHED/UNFURN £9 95 PER WEEK

A rare opportunity to let this immaculate duplex flat on the upper floors of this period conversion.

The property has been refurbished to an exceptionally high standard, with special attention to detail and boasts an extremely large roof terrace ideal for entertaining. 2 bedrooms, bathroom, reception room, kitchen, cloakroom/utility room, roof terrace. EPC Rating D.

K A T E F LY N N

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KF@BECTIVE.CO.UK NOTTING HILL OFFICE 020 7221 5388

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Property News

Ed Woolgar & Enna-Mae Assiter Associate Directors at Chesterton Humberts, Notting Hill branch

020 3040 8585 • chestertonhumberts.com

2014 Kicks Off!

T

he New Year has brought with it a well needed wave of new applicants looking to buy and rent in the first quarter of the year after the usual seasonal dip in activity around Christmas. Surprisingly, enquiries have ranged from small studios to large family homes, which has really opened up the market to all types of properties in the Notting Hill area. With corporations also planning their staff secondments for the beginning of the year, the lettings market especially is experiencing a very exciting and busy period to kick off 2014.

Miles Meacock Head of Strutt & Parker’s Notting Hill office

020 7722 1111 • struttandparker.com

Strong demand to continue in 2014 Just as trading in 2013 continued right up until Christmas Eve, the New Year started almost as soon as we opened for business in January. The London market has made a robust recovery over the past eighteen months and has shown extraordinary resilience since the recent global recession.

A look through our transactions in 2013 reveal that 32% of the sales in this office exceeded the asking price, transaction levels were up by nearly 25% and, on average, we received 6 offers for every property we sold. 2014 looks set to continue this strength of demand.

Victoria Grove Mews

HOUSE HUNTING

Michael Palmer

Property I’d most like on my books and why?

Specialising in an area like Notting Hill means that I am always on the lookout for particular styles of property, which are consistently hard to come by. In particular, large, lateral apartments, with access to a private garden square, are always highly sought after but there are never enough to satisfy demand.

The most interesting property I have been involved in is: I once marketed a somewhat infamous Notting Hill property previously owned by Jade Jagger, which was also known as ‘The Black House’ or ‘Villa Musica’. It is tucked away a few moments from trendy Portobello Road, completely detached and set over three floors with a terrace.

The best place to invest?

Despite an extremely difficult economic climate over the last few years, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has continued to be an incredibly safe place to invest. According to the most recent Land Registry figures, the borough has had an incredible 9% growth over the last 12 months, while some particularly desirable streets in W8 and W11 saw growth of up to 16% year on year.

Lettings Manager at KFH’s Holland Park branch

Finest property showcase: Victoria Grove Mews, Bayswater, W2.

A beautifully presented two double bedroom mews house benefiting from a large bright reception room and a modern kitchen. Located within walking distance to Notting Hill Gate tube station. £2,817 per month - Plus £210 tenancy agreement fee.

Other fees apply.

020 3542 2120 • kfh.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY Property

An excellent start to the year!

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he Notting Hill rental market remains strong, with good demand for most types of property. January got off to an excellent start - we’ve been busy with applicants looking for high end luxury properties while demand for smaller units, one and two bed apartments, is also high. We’re also busy with corporate lets, with executives from Europe, the USA and the Far East accounting for much of the current activity – many of these are from the finance sector. Young professionals are playing a key role in the

Marc von Grundherr Director, Benham and Reeves Residential Lettings

rental market and, unusually for this time of year, we’re continuing to see strong demand from students.

Homes at the new Portobello Square development continue to attract plenty of interest. It’s not hard to see its appeal – it’s close to the tube and Notting Hill and there are no new developments like it in the area.

020 7938 3522 • brlets.co.uk

Lights, camera, action for Short Lets

T

his time of year is extremely busy for the film industry with a whole raft of films going into production in studios such as Pinewood and Shepperton.

2014 looks to be no exception, with many in the industry choosing the Notting Hill area as their base. Not only is it cool, chic and oozing culture but it also offers easy road access to the studios.

The Mountgrange Heritage short let service has

proved incredibly popular with film companies, offering a stylish home from home rather than the sterile feel of a serviced apartment. We’re currently marketing four stunning apartments on Basing Street with a full concierge service and several other unique properties available in the area.

020 7221 2277 • mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

5 minutes with...

Matthew Harrop John D Wood & Co., Kensington

020 7908 1100 • johndwood.co.uk What makes John D Wood & Co. the go-to-agent in the area?

A client’s testimonial described us as being consistently professional, knowledgeable, trustworthy, providing a friendly and personal service. We always put the client first by acting entirely in their best interests - ensuring a happy experience for both buyers and sellers.

How long have you been in the area?

The company was established in 1872, with the Kensington office opening some 41 years ago and boasts an impressive archive of properties dating back to 1973. I started working for John D Wood & Co. 25 years ago, operating in both Kensington and Notting Hill.

Price rises of 9-10% in RBKC

A

s we head into 2014 the Sales market remains extremely strong in the Holland Park and Notting Hill areas, with a distinct lack of property available to buy across all price brackets.

Holland Park and Notting Hill are extremely well located for easy access to the West End, the City and the English Countryside. This part of London is blessed with a terrific cross section of boutique shops and bars, fabulous parks and schools and as a result remains a prime target for both foreign and domestic buyers.

Sebastian Anduze Sales Manager, Jackson-Stops & Staff Holland Park

On the supply side, owners in this select area invariably tend to hold onto properties instead of selling and will add to their portfolio of houses and flats as rental investments. The outcome is more demand than supply with prices rising around 9-10% on average within the borough.

020 7727 5111 • jackson-stops.co.uk

What is your company ethos?

Very simply. it is going the extra mile to consistently provide the best service, whilst acting in the client’s best interest.

Performed with integrity, enthusiasm and a smile. The art is making what can be a stressful business into a pleasurable experience!

What can we expect for the market in the New Year?

We can expect a healthy and buoyant market with a continuing demand for property at all levels. This is due t low interest rates, “help to buy”, a strong stock market, economic recovery and London remaining a safe haven for investment - making all the above good for property prices!

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Completely at home in London With 50 branches across the Capital and over 35 years’ London property experience, we are perfectly placed to help with all your property needs.

So, if you’re thinking of buying, selling, renting or letting visit kfh.co.uk today.

Our services Sales and Lettings Financial Services Chartered Surveyors Block Management Commercial Property

KFH_Brand_Adverts_January 2014 TEMP.indd 1 KFH.indd 2

09/12/2013 15:33 09:32 10/01/2014

02.1

Queen’s Gate Terrace, South Kensington, SW7 £11,500,000 Freehold

Holland Park 020 3542 2111 Email shp@kfh.co.uk

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A Grade II listed freehold building of special architectural character and historic interest situated on a prestigious South Kensington road close to the beautiful expanse of Hyde Park. Queen’s Gate Terrace is one of the principal terraces within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Queen’s Gate Conservation Area.

• • • • • • • • •

Freehold Prestigious address Six apartments Lift access High ceilings Large windows Near Kensington Palace Close to Hyde Park EPC rating D

03/01/2014 15:33 10:30 10/01/2014

Prince’s Square, Bayswater, W2 £2,500,000 Leasehold Bayswater 020 7724 1222 Email sbw@kfh.co.uk

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A beautifully finished and classic three bedroom home set within a redeveloped period building on a popular garden square, moments from Kensington Gardens and Westbourne Grove.

The stylish accommodation includes three bedrooms, all with en suite bathrooms, elegant entertaining rooms and a fantastic family kitchen opening onto a peaceful large rear decked terrace.

• • • • • • • • •

Beautiful period property Elegant living rooms Three bedroom suites Fantastic family kitchen Classic high ceilings Large rear decked terrace Access to gardens Surrounded by local amenities EPC rating F

07/01/2014 15:33 11:36 10/01/2014

02.1

Pembridge Gardens, Notting Hill, W2 £6,934 pcm Furnished or unfurnished

A stunning four bedroom duplex apartment offering over 1,500 sq ft of accommodation which has been finished to a high standard throughout and is situated on the desirable Pembridge Gardens.

• • • • • • •

Duplex flat Four double bedrooms Double reception room Four bathrooms Fully fitted kitchen Patio garden EPC rating E

Holland Park 020 3542 2120 Email lhp@kfh.co.uk £210 tenancy agreement fee per property. Other fees apply, visit kfh.co.uk/lettingsfees

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03/01/2014 15:33 10:31 10/01/2014

ALLEN MANSIONS, W8 A 1st floor flat with a garage and a well proportioned double reception with sash windows.

Close to Kensington High Street Underground station. Approx. 1,432 sq ft. Energy Rating: .

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms 1 en suite , double reception, communal terrace, store room, garage.

Lease to 2134 Guide Price £2,350,000

johndwood.co.uk

KENSINGTON 020 7908 1100 kensington@johndwood.co.uk S

S

Palace Gardens errace W8

Guide £3, 50,000

Victoria Grove

S

ews, W2

Guide £1,4 5,000

7 offices in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea:

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ar Place, W2

S

Guide £2,990,000 Kensington Church St, W8

Guide £2,4 5,000

Chelsea (2), Holland Park, Kensington (2), Ladbroke Grove, South Kensington.

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Abs

CAMPDEN STREET, W8 A beautifully presented Victorian house designed with much flair in a contemporary style, arranged over 4 floors. Close to Notting Hill Underground. Approx. 1,441 sq ft. Energy Rating: E. 3/4 bedrooms, bathroom, en suite shower room, reception, dining room, 2 terraces, patio garden.

Freehold Guide Price £2,900,000

johndwood.co.uk

KENSINGTON 020 7908 1100 kensington@johndwood.co.uk SOLD

Argyll Road, W8

SOLD

Guide £8,350,000 Jameson Street, W8

SOLD

Guide £1,950,000 Kelvin Court, W11

7 offices in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea:

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SOLD

Guide £1,150,000 Philimore Gardens,W8

Guide £15,000,000

Chelsea (2), Holland Park, Kensington (2), Ladbroke Grove, South Kensington.

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ABBOTSBURY CLOSE, W14 A charming house set over 2 floors, with off-street parking. Beautifully presented and adjacent to the entrance of Holland Park. Approx. 1,390 sq ft. Energy Rating: D. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, garden.

Freehold £2,950,000

johndwood.co.uk

HOLLAND PARK 020 7727 2233 hollandpark@johndwood.co.uk SOLD

Woodsford Square, W14

SOLD

Guide £3,950,000 Holland Park, W11

SOLD

Guide £2,800,000 Princedale Road, W11

7 offices in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea:

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SOLD

Guide £2,950,000 Pickwick House, W11

Guide £499,000

Chelsea (2), Holland Park, Kensington (2), Ladbroke Grove, South Kensington.

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Abs

HARVIST ROAD, NW6 A substantial family home in a desirable location which has recently been opened up to offer maximum living space. Close to Queen’s Park Underground and Mainline stations. Approx. 2,859 sq ft. Energy Rating: C. 4/5 bedrooms, 3/4 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, garden.

Freehold Guide Price £3,000,000

TAVISTOCK ROAD, W11 A beautifully presented 4 storey family house with a private south facing garden. In a great location, close to Portobello Road and Westbourne Grove. Approx. 2,238 sq ft. Energy Rating: E. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms 2 reception rooms, garden.

Freehold Guide Price £2,850,000

johndwood.co.uk

LADBROKE GROVE 020 7229 2356 ladbrokegrove@johndwood.co.uk SOLD

Norburn Street, W10

SOLD

Guide £2,000,000 Latimer Road, W10

SOLD

Guide £1,795,000 Westbourne Gardens, W2

7 offices in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea:

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SOLD

Guide £1,100,000 Hiley Road, W11

Guide £850,000

Chelsea (2), Holland Park, Kensington (2), Ladbroke Grove, South Kensington.

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ABSOLUTELY Property

Prime Purchase

Vendor Advice Taking on a second property

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� A beautifully presented house offering bright, well proportioned rooms and well balanced accommodation over five floors.

O

ccupying a wide plot, this stunning property has direct access to a walled communal garden. Space for entertaining includes a fabulous kitchen/dining room on the lower floor, a double reception on the raised ground floor and a magnificent first floor drawing room and library. Generous bedroom accommodation includes a large master suite served by a dressing room and

Details

Holland Street, W8 £6,350,000

a beautifully fitted bathroom. The additional double bedrooms on the top floor are served by a large family bathroom. A short distance from Kensington Gardens, Holland Street is a quiet, predominantly residential, road in the heart of Kensington, moments from the High Street with its wealth of excellent amenities.

The immediate area retains a delightful village feel and offers an unexpected oasis of calm from the bustle of its city surroundings.

Contact

Marsh & Parsons 020 7368 4197; marshandparsons.co.uk

f you decide you want to rent out a second property, you would need to discuss this with your existing lender to see how much they are willing to lend you. Most experts say that the finance should be against the rental investment you are buying. Buy-to-let mortgages are calculated on different criteria to residential mortgages, therefore you need to get professional advice from an FSA qualified broker. However, as a general rule of thumb, you will need to put down a minimum of 25% of the purchase price and the monthly rental income projection should be at least 125% of the monthly mortgage interest costs. If you have a mortgage on your current home and decide to let it, you will need to inform your mortgage provider, as well as your buildings insurance company.

Keith Rigby

Director at Bective Leslie Marsh, Ladbroke Grove 020 7221 0330 • bective.co.uk

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THE QUADRANT, W10 - £475 PER WEEK

CHESTERTON ROAD, W10 - £475 PER WEEK

This immaculate two double bedroom, two bathroom penthouse This beautifully presented two bedroom apartment on the raised PORTOBELLO SQUARE, W10 £400 PER WEEK apartment offers fantastic outside space. Each room has a ground floor would make a perfect home for a professional A beautiful, spacious,with brand bedroom situated on the second flooror of sharers. an award winning Portobello Square development. This balcony combined a new veryone large privateapartment roof terrace. couple fantastic property has an airy reception/dining area leading onto a private balcony and an open plan, fully equipped kitchen, double bedroom with built in storage and a big modern bathroom.

OARE, WILTSHIRE £2,750,000 FREEHOLD An extraordinary and individual modern country house in a stunning location. Built originally in 1962 for the artist John Merton, Pound House

ST. HELENS W10 - £500 WEEK ST CHARLES W10£475inPER is broadly Palladian GARDENS, in style and is a wide, single storeyPER building with large windows over looking SQUARE, the gardens. It was extended 1978WEEK to include a garden room and a large studio complex including a workshop and dark room . The property currently has very high ceilings and Having been newly refurbished, this flat is in superb condition. An This beautifully refurbished two double bedroom apartment is brick parapets surrounding the roof which has good storage space.

PAVILION TERRACE, W12 £600,000 open plan kitchen and living room is a sociable environment ideal finished to a high standard including designer furnishings. Set on A rarely available upper maisonette in one of North Kensington’s most sought after property hotspots.

The Edwardian property extends | for entertaining. ever popular Stcellar Charles Square in North Kensington.

Four bedrooms | four bathrooms | garden room | hall | drawing room | studio complexthe | dining room | wine | integrated garaging | small lake arboretum to just over of 1450 over six acres landsqft over two levels and offers flexible living space, generous room sizes and its own street entrance. The property offers

two double bedrooms, a west facing reception room with a large bay window and a large kitchen. The property is offered in good condition overall but there is scope to improve and reconfigure to suit the new owners taste.

THE WHOLE WINKWORTH NETWORK, NOW IN YOUR POCKET Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

020 7792 5000 | northkensington@winkworth.co.uk

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winkworth.co.uk/north-kensington 16/01/2014 17:12 18/02/2013 15:11

MORE THAN A LICK OF FRESH PAINT We can’t wait to welcome you.

We have completely redesigned our office with you, our clients, in mind. Warm tones, comfortable bespoke furniture, and a local theme.

Our new office reflects our ethos. We pride ourselves on offering a unique perspective in all that we do, from the moment you step into our office and for the duration of our working relationship.

We’d like to welcome you for a look around, so whether it’s to discuss buying, selling, renting or letting please come and see us.

Winkworth. See things differently.

Winkworth Willesden Green 020 8451 1000 | willesden@winkworth.co.uk 90 Walm Lane, NW2 4QY

Stewart Boyd Director

Russell Chilvers M.N.A.E.A

Head of Sales

winkworth.co.uk/willesden-green Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/willesden-green

See things differently.

020 8451 1000 willesden@winkworth.co.uk WINKWORTH KENSAL RISE.indd 1

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SUMMERFIELD AVENUE NW6 £1,500,000 F/H OARE, WILTSHIRE £2,750,000 FREEHOLD

HARTLAND ROAD NW6

£679,950 L/H

NEW IN 2014: A fantastic family home in the heart of Queens Park, NEW IN 2014: A superb garden flat in prime Queens Park just off Located in the Wiltshire countryside and built in the 1960’s as a large, modern country house with far-reaching views and extremely flexible just to the east of the park itself on Summerfield Avenue. Please call Salusbury Road please call for more details. accommodation to find out more...with potential to extend further. Located in the Wiltshire countryside and built in the 1960’s as a large house.

Four bedrooms | four bathrooms | garden room | hall | drawing room | studio complex | dining room | wine cellar | integrated garagingr

OARE, WILTSHIRE £2,750,000 CLIFFORD GARDENS NW10FREEHOLD £525,000 L/H

HARLESDEN ROAD NW10

£435,000 L/H

Located the Wiltshire andgarden built inflthe as aoflarge, modern country with far-reaching views andflextremely flexible NEW IN in 2014: A superbcountryside two bedroom at in1960’s the heart NEW IN 2014:house A fantastic two bedroom garden at with flexible Kensal Rise please for more accommodation withcall potential todetails... extend further. Located in the Wiltshireaccommodation countryside andoffered built in to thethe 1960’s aswith a large house. market a long lease, please call for |more Four bedrooms | four bathrooms | garden room | hall | drawing room | studio complex diningdetails… room | wine cellar | integrated garagingr

winkworth.co.uk/north-kensington Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/kensal-queens-park

See things differently.

020 8960 4947 kensalrise@winkworth.co.uk

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Living The Dream

The most luxuriously appointed properties on the market.

Notting Hill Gate, W11 A charming two bedroom, two bathroom new build flat in central Notting Hill. There is a ten-year Buildzone building guarantee offering peace of mind to all buyers. The property benefits from limed oak floorboards, a bespoke kitchen, and has been finished to a very high standard throughout.

Situated on Notting Hill Gate, in close proximity to the excellent transport and shopping facilities of Kensington High Street and Notting Hill Gate. The open spaces of Holland Park and Kensington Gardens are also close by.

Guide price

£1,100,000 Faron Sutaria 020 7229 2404 • faronsutaria.co.uk

Bedford Gardens, W8

Pembridge Mews, W11

A fantastic, newly refurbished period house in the heart of Kensington.

The property has been completely refurbished throughout to an exacting standard and provides exceptionally well planned accommodation with all the facilities expected for modern day living. The flexible accommodation includes two reception rooms, fully integrated eat-in kitchen, master bedroom suite, three further bedrooms, bathroom and shower room. The property further benefits from a private landscaped garden.

This stunning property has been designed with meticulous attention to detail and offers an irresistible blend of period and contemporary. Exposed brickwork contrasts dramatically with the spectacular glass staircase, skylights and glass floor panels, which combine to ensure natural light flows throughout. The accommodation comprises three bedrooms, en suite bathroom, en suite shower room, reception room, second reception/media room, kitchen, dining room, study, library, flat roof.

£3,000 Per Week

£3,000,000

John D Wood

Bective Leslie Marsh

020 7908 1100 • johndwood.co.uk

020 7221 4805 • bective.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY Property

Iverna Court, W8 A spectacular lateral apartment in this popular and portered mansion block. The property has been meticulously refurbished throughout to create incredibly stylish accommodation.

The double reception room overlooks the pretty communal gardens and is divided into an elegant dining area and formal sitting room with a large eat-in kitchen opposite. There is a sophisticated master bedroom suite with a walk through wardrobe and bathroom as well as two further double bedrooms with built in wardrobes, a family bathroom and shower room. The property also benefits from a utility room and south-facing balcony.

£4,350,000 Subject to Contract Mountgrange Heritage 020 7937 9976 • mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

St Stephens Gardens, W2 This beautifully presented two bedroom period apartment situated on a quiet residential street has an air of calm and tranquility the moment you enter via your own private entrance. With two double bedrooms, two bathrooms, a generous reception, spacious galley kitchen, peaceful studio set in the pretty secluded garden and a charming front yard, this property has ample space for comfortable living and entertaining.

£1,250,000 Chesterton Humberts, Notting Hill 020 3040 8585 • chestertonhumberts.co.uk

Hyde Park Square, W2 A beautiful three bedroom upper maisonette on a communal garden square. The flat occupies approximately 1604 sq ft and is presented in immaculate condition, with large proportions and an abundance of natural light. Hyde Park Square is conveniently located close to the shops and restaurants of Connaught Street and all the transport facilities for the area.

£2,600,000 Strutt & Parker 020 7221 1111 • struttandparker.com

Spotlight on W11 Average asking price - £2,320,524Average asking rents - £3,898 pcmAverage property value - £1,648,107

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ABSOLUTELY Property

Luxurious Lettings

Lowdown

for Landlords Improvements: What are some easy and affordable ways to get a higher rent and return on investment?

I

�

A luxurious four bedroom Victorian house overlooking the picturesque surroundings of Queens Park.

I

deally located on one of Queens Park’s sought after roads, which is moments from the ever trendy Salisbury road. Comprising of a substantial double aspect reception, four large double bedrooms, two of which have

Details

Milman Road, NW6 £1,495 Per Week

en-suites, a stunning family bathroom and a gorgeous kitchen, which has been tastefully decorated and fitted to the highest of standards.

There is also an additional dining area that leads on to the landscaped garden.

Contact

Winkworth, Kensal & Queens Park 020 8960 4947; winkworth.co.uk

n the current market, we are finding that the properties that are most successfully letting are those offered in excellent order. However, as achieved rents are not yet back up at pre-2008 levels, some clients are unwilling at this time to invest a lot of money into their properties. In such situations, there are various simple yet effective works that can be carried out to ensure that their property is looking its best. The first and simplest is a complete repaint throughout and, should the budget stretch to it, new carpets where applicable.

Also, as bathrooms and kitchens are the first rooms that most applicants consider, landlords should consider replacing old fashioned fittings and regrouting tired bathrooms, whilst kitchen cupboards can be replaced and new, inexpensive appliances fitted to give the room a fresher, more modern look without the cost involved with a complete refurbishment.

Laurelin Taylor Head of Lettings at Carter Jonas, Holland Park 020 7371 3377 • carterjonas.co.uk

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BROOK GREEN

138 SHEPHERDS BUSH ROAD W6

LOCAL

.

020 7371 4171

INDEPENDENT

.

I N V O LV E D

STERNDALE ROAD W14 5/6 BEDROOM VICTORIAN FAMILY HOUSE  RECEPTION WITH WOOD FLOORING  CONTEMPORARY KITCHEN FAMILY/BREAKFAST ROOM  1ST FL RECEPTION  MEDIA/PLAYROOM  STUDY/BEDROOM 6  EN SUITE BATHROOM 3 SHOWER ROOMS (2 EN SUITE)  FANTASTIC SOUTHERLY FACING GARDEN  EPC RATING D 63

GUIDE £2.45M

FREEHOLD

www.finlaybrewer.co.uk

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Kensington

ÂŁ675 pw + Fees Furnished

1 Bedroom | 1 Reception | 1 Bathroom 24hr Porter | Pool | Amenities Closeby | EPC - F Kensington 020 7938 3522 kens@brlets.co.uk Eleven offices open six days a week Monday - Saturday Beaufort Park 020 8732 7980 | Canary Wharf 020 7517 6088 | City 020 7213 9700 | Ealing 020 8280 0140 | Greenwich 020 3440 7010 | Hampstead 020 7435 9681 Highgate 020 8341 2335 | Hyde Park 020 7402 9866 | Imperial Wharf 020 7348 7620 | Kensington 020 7938 3522 | Knightsbridge 020 7581 2112

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To arrange a viewing or for more information call

020 7319 9783

Hyde Park

£475 pw + Fees Furnished

London’s Letting Agency

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

Kensington

£575 pw + Fees Furnished

1 Bedroom | 1 Reception | 1 Bathroom 24hr Concierge | Balcony | Tube Closeby | EPC - C Hyde Park 020 7402 9866 hyde@brlets.co.uk

2 Bedrooms | 1 Reception | 1 Bathroom Period Conversion | Amenities Nearby | EPC - E Kensington 020 7938 3522 kens@brlets.co.uk

Holland Park

Kensington

£725 pw + Fees Unfurnished

2 Bedrooms | 1 Reception | 2 Bathrooms Period Conversion | Close To Tube | EPC - C Hyde Park 020 7402 9866 hyde@brlets.co.uk

£1,500 pw + Fees Furn/Unfurnished

4 Bedrooms | 1 Reception | 3 Bathrooms Garage | Near Kensington High Street | EPC - C Kensington 020 7938 3522 kens@brlets.co.uk

Dubai | Hong Kong | India | Malaysia | Singapore

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Kenneth Crescent, NW2

£1,300,000 Freehold

• 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms,

• Abundance of natural light

• Open plan 37ft kitchen/breakfast room

• Separate lounge, parquet flooring

• Large entrance hallway

• OSP for two cars

Beautifully refurbished and extended 1930’s semi-detached property situated in the sought after Willesden Green that offers an impressive internal floor area of 2613 sq ft in immaculate condition. Early viewing of this substantial family home is highly recommended. EPC = E

Alexander Avenue, NW6

£1,799,950 Freehold

• 5 bedrooms (converted loft)

• Magnificent kitchen, office/playroom

• 3 reception rooms, lounge hall

• Large garden, garage & OSP for 3 cars

• En-suites & family

• Early viewing essential

A truly exceptional contemporary style family home situated on quiet road in the heart of Dobree/ Brondesbury Park Estate that offers plenty of lateral living space. The house has been completely refurbished throughout and offers a ready to move into condition. EPC = D

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Alverstone Road, NW2

£2,850,000 Freehold

• 5 beds + ensuite to master bedroom

• Granny/Nanny/Office Studio annex

• 2 large reception rooms

• Well presented 107 ft garden

• 25ft kitchen/ breakfast room

• Double glazing & OSP

Substantial Mock Tudor Style semi detached house arranged over 3 floors & surrounded by substantial & well laid out gardens to the front and rear providing a country ambience with a London contemporary style lateral living feel of some 3000 sq ft. EPC = F

Chudleigh Road, NW6

£2,499,999 Freehold

• 2 reception rooms

• Panelled walls, d/g & stained glass windows

• Large kitchen with fitted units

• Great position close to Queens Park

• Parquet flooring & art deco fireplaces

• Large garden with raised patio

Situated within the leafy suburb of Brondesbury Park is this substantial 6 bedroom 1930’s ‘art deco’ detached property with garage & carriage drive for several several cars. Early inspection is highly recommended. EPC = E

www.cameronsstiff.co.uk

Incorporating…

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

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Wallingford Avenue, W10 ÂŁ2,350,000 Freehold Located on one of the finest streets in the St Quintin Conservation area is this wonderful family house. Subject to the necessary planning consents, there is the potential of extending the house further by adding a basement. Ladbroke Grove and Latimer Road underground stations are almost equidistant. The amenities of Portobello Road, Golborne Road and Westbourne Grove are all close by. EPC=E. Reception room, utility/cloakroom, open-plan kitchen, double reception room, four bedrooms, family bathroom, shower room and west-facing garden. Sole Agents

020 8960 0181 hannah @ mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

mountgrangeheritage.co.uk Bayswater 020 7402 0070 Kensington 020 7937 9976 North Kensington 020 8960 0181 Notting Hill 020 7221 2277

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Lexham Mews, W8 ÂŁ2,495,000 Freehold A fabulous three storey, non-basement house on a quiet cobbled mews in Stratford Village.The property, at 1,698 sq ft (approx.), boasts flexible accommodation with an architecturally designed atrium, generous entertaining and living space and a luxurious master suite, including walk in wardrobe and study/snug area. Located close to the local shops on Stratford Road, the house is moments from the extensive amenities and transport links on Kensington High Street and Earls Court Road. EPC=D. Two reception rooms, dining room, study area/bedroom three, kitchen, two bedrooms, dressing room and two bathrooms. Sole Agents

020 7937 9976 tom @ mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

mountgrangeheritage.co.uk Bayswater 020 7402 0070 Kensington 020 7937 9976 North Kensington 020 8960 0181 Notting Hill 020 7221 2277

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Recipe of the month

I’m Czech and this is my great grandmother’s recipe, passed down through the generations. It should be served with roast pork or goose and sauerkraut. A traditional way to eat the leftover dumplings the next day is to chop them up, pan fry in a little butter, add eggs and cook as if you are making scrambled eggs. Delicious!

Ingredients

.. .. .. .. .. .. ..

3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder 1⁄ 2 tsp. salt 1⁄ 2 tsp. sugar 3 eggs, beaten 11⁄2 cups milk, or as needed 4 cups dry white bread 4 bacon rashers finely sliced 1 (16 ounce) jar sauerkraut – rinsed and drained salt and pepper to taste 1 teaspoon caraway seeds

Knedliky - Czech Dumplings

How to prepare 1. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar.

Make a well in the centre, pour in the eggs and 1 cup of milk. Stir to blend and add enough milk to make a moist dough. Use a wooden spoon to beat the dough at least 200 strokes, rolling it over in the bowl until smooth and an occasional bubble appears on the surface.

2. Add the cubes of dry white bread and stir into the dough until they disappear.

3. Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Place the dough onto a cheesecloth or white cotton cloth and form into a loaf shape. Wrap the cloth around the loaf and tie the ends with string.

4. Place the loaf into the boiling water and cook for 45 mins, turning the loaf over about half way through. Remove from water, unwrap and cover with a tea towel. Let it stand for 10 mins.

5. Fry the bacon in a small skillet until evenly browned then set aside.

6. Place the sauerkraut into a saucepan and add enough water to cover the surface.

Simmer then add the bacon and season with salt, pepper and caraway seeds. Stir together the corn starch and water; mix into the sauerkraut and simmer for a few minutes before removing from the heat.

7. Slice the dumpling loaf. Drizzle dumpling slices with some of the roast drippings from the pan. Serve with sauerkraut.

2 tsp. cold water 1 tsp. cornflour Serves 8

Petra Kovalcikova Associate – Lettings 020 7402 0070

Pop into any of our offices to collect this month’s recipe…

petra @ mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

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Argyll Road, W8 £1,250 per week

Fees Apply

Great flat on the first floor of this conveniently located block on Kensington High Street close to High Street Kensington underground station. EPC=C. Reception room, kitchen, three bedrooms, three bathrooms and terrace. Unfurnished.

020 7937 9976 georgie @ mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Stanford Road,W8 £2,750 per week

Fees Apply

Stunning family house moments from Gloucester Road and Kensington High Street. Recently refurbished with fabulous entertaining space in contemporary style. Also available for short lets. EPC=D.Two reception rooms, kitchen, five bedrooms, two bathrooms and paved garden. Furnished.

020 7937 9976 georgie @ mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Lexham Mews, W8 £1,825 per week

Fees Apply

Stunning mews house refurbished to a very high standard with private garage. Situated in this charming village location close to Kensington High Street. EPC=D. Reception room, kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, utility room and garage. Unfurnished.

020 7937 9976 abigail@ mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

Vincent Square, SW1 £650 per week

Fees Apply

Pembroke Square, W8 £2,950 per week

Fees Apply

A fantastic flat on the fourth floor (with lift) of this well managed building in Pimlico with working fireplace, excellent storage and wooden flooring. EPC=C. Reception room, kitchen, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Furnished.

A beautifully presented house set on this elegant garden square. French doors opening out onto the private garden, off-street parking and access to garden square. EPC=E.Two reception rooms, kitchen, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, off-street parking, garden and communal garden. Unfurnished.

020 7937 9976 georgie @ mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

020 7937 9976 abigail @ mountgrangeheritage.co.uk

mountgrangeheritage.co.uk Bayswater 020 7402 0070 Kensington 020 7937 9976 North Kensington 020 8960 0181 Notting Hill 020 7221 2277

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seventy-four offices worldwide 28

26

20

Hereford Road Notting Hill W2

ÂŁ750,000 leasehold

A charming 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom period conversion on the 3rd floor. This well presented property, offering attractive aspects & a functional layout, is ideally located for the many transport links & amenities nearby.

EPC rating D

Notting Hill

020 3040 8585

sales.nottinghill@chestertonhumberts.com

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Pembridge Villas Notting Hill W11

£995

per week

A stylish 2 bedroom, 2 en-suite bathroom flat in the popular Notting Hill. Includes wood floors, smart communal areas & is offered fully furnished. In a prime location only moments away from the vibrant Portobello Road & all the amenities of Notting Hill Gate.

EPC rating C

Notting Hill

020 3040 8588

lettings.nottinghill@chestertonhumberts.com

Additional charges apply. Administration: £222 (VAT included).

References per tenant: £42 (VAT included) CHESTERTON HUMBERTS.indd 3

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The spoils of the hardy workplace warrior.

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Sales

ÂŁ2,600,000 Leasehold Hyde Park Square W2 Notting Hill Sales 020 7727 7777 | nhsales@dng.co.uk

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A fabulous split-level apartment in this wonderful location. The apartment boasts character and charm and forms part of this stunning period terrace.

3 bedrooms, En-suite bathroom, Shower room, Reception room, Eat-in kitchen, Communal gardens access, EPC: D. JSA: Strutt & Parker 020 7221 1111 | nottinghill@struttandparker.com

16/01/2014 10:46

Sales

douglasandgordon.com

ÂŁ2,250,000 Freehold Ledbury Mews North W11

A smart and stylish mews house with spacious accommodation and the added benefit of a private garage and off-street parking.

2 double bedrooms, En-suite bathroom, En-suite shower room, Cloakroom, Reception room, Openplan kitchen, Balcony, Flat roof, Garage, Off-street parking, EPC: F.

Kensington Sales 020 7792 1881 | kensales@dng.co.uk

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Sales

ÂŁ1,150,000 Leasehold St. Lukes Road W11

A wonderful garden apartment set in this excellent location moments from Portobello Road.

2 double bedrooms, Third bedroom/study, Openplan kitchen/reception/dining room, Bathroom, Garden, EPC: C.

A wonderful, smart and elegant flat has become available to buy on this highly sought-after square in Notting Hill.

Double bedroom, Bathroom, Reception room, Kitchen/breakfast room, Shared garden, Access to communal gardens, Excellent storage, EPC: D.

Kensington Sales 020 7792 1881 | kensales@dng.co.uk

ÂŁ895,000 Share of Freehold Pembridge Square W2 Notting Hill Sales 020 7727 7777 | nhsales@dng.co.uk

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Lettings

douglasandgordon.com

£925 per week Unfurnished Peel Street W8

A fabulous house, newly refurbished to an extremely high standard, located on this popular street just off Kensington Church Street.

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Reception room, Kitchen/breakfast room, Balcony, EPC: B.

An extremely light and spacious first floor apartment located in this beautiful period villa on Holland Park.

2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite), Reception room, Dining hall, Study, Kitchen, EPC: D.

Kensington Lettings 020 7792 1331 | kenlets@dng.co.uk

£650 per week Unfurnished Holland Park W11 Kensington Lettings 020 7792 1331 | kenlets@dng.co.uk

Douglas & Gordon will charge an initial one off tenancy agreement fee of £240 per tenancy and an individual tenant reference fee of £45 per tenant. For further details please go to www.dng.co.uk/fees

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Lettings

ÂŁ550 per week Furnished Portland Road W11

A beautifully refurbished, stylish and extremely bright top floor flat in a period building located on this prime residential street in Holland Park.

Double bedroom, Bathroom, Reception room, Open-plan kitchen, EPC: G.

A lovely light and neutrally furnished second floor flat in this period building. Campden Grove is located on a quiet residential street, conveniently situated close to Notting Hill Gate.

2 bedrooms, Bathroom, Reception room, Kitchen, EPC: C.

Notting Hill Lettings 020 7727 8000 | nhlets@dng.co.uk

ÂŁ495 per week Furnished/Part Furnished Campden Grove W8 Kensington Lettings 020 7792 1331 | kenlets@dng.co.uk

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More people register with Douglas & Gordon in January than any other month.

Make sure your property is one of the first they see.

Contact your local Douglas & Gordon office to arrange a free market appraisal and see how our experienced team can help sell or let your home sensitively, efficiently and for the best price possible. douglasandgordon.com

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08/01/2014 15:09 09:52 15/01/2014

Our 184 negotiators have perfected the right balance in their approach, so you enjoy the experience and get the results you want.

On average we achieve

Thanks so much for all your extraordinarily hard work on our behalf. You have transformed our lives, and been delightful in the process!

A HAPPY BUYER

OF THE ASKING PRICE

Local know-how. Better results.

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