Absolutely Wimbledon January 2017

WIMBLEDON JANUARY 2017 / £3.95

JANUARY RESOLVE

PICTURE THIS

MARION DEUCHARS’ ART SCHOOL IN A BOOK

FINDING THE BEST GYMS IN TOWN

CLASS SYSTEM

NEW YEAR, NEW HOBBY

IT’S A WRAP ALL THE JOYS OF...

STAYING AT HOME

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WIMBLEDON £1012 per ft² CADOGAN TATE £1 per ft² WHEN YOUR SPACE IS WORTH A PREMIUM MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY SQUARE FOOT Store your seasonal sports equipment with us Sports equipment – When the season starts, we deliver your skis and snowboard to your door and remove your flippers and surfboard Having a party – We clear the contents of your home or remove your selected items for a party or special occasion and carefully reinstall the next day Wine storage – Keep your fine wines on tap – one click and we deliver that case of Margaux for your next dinner party Seasonal wardrobe – As snowdrops emerge in the spring we deliver your summer wardrobe to your door and remove your winter collection Family heritage – Store valued furniture and family heirlooms in a private temperature controlled environment, preserving them for future generations Art collection – Store your art and view online with our itemised photographic inventory – iLive. Select items for delivery to Wimbledon or any global destination

Experience the ultimate in managed storage when you place your consignment in our secure private lockers, rooms or containers from £10 per week

020 8108 4149 Home Contents Storage 020 8712 8563 Art Storage For our full range of Moving, Storage & Shipping services visit cadogantate.com

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Foil Oro Nero Skis – 8,000 year old certified bog oak with 14 karat gold-plated bindings and poles plus bespoke hand-stitched, full grain leather travel bag. From £41,000. Available at foilskis.com

Everything, handled with care

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For beautiful homes, inside and out

Transform your home Full Refurbishments Building & Construction Kitchen & Loft Extensions Bathrooms Joinery Interior Design Painting & Decorating

For over two decades Rupert Lines and his team have prided themselves on attention to detail and professional craftsmanship for all types of building and renovation in South West London.

R&M Lines’ experienced Project Managers provide home owners with a dedicated point of contact ensuring the entire process runs smoothly, to plan and with minimal inconvenience.

Call us today for a free quote.

“ As a family, R&M Lines have made us very happy because we open the door and we love our home” Alex, Wimbledon

T 020 7978 7840 E info@rmlines.com W www.rmlines.com

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Januar y 2017

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36 fa s h i o n

ABSOLUTELY LOVES

24 FASHION CONFIDENTIAL

WHAT’S ON

26 THE SHOOT

MARION DEUCHARS

32 THE TREND

10 things we really want this month Diary dates for January The illustrator whose 'art school in a book' can teach us all to draw

20 NEW SKILLS

Looking for a new hobby for 2017? Here are some classes to try

This month’s hottest trends and products Luxe loungewear with a rock'n'roll edge Beautiful winter florals

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

36 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL The month's best beauty buys

39 CHANEL VS ABSOLUTELY Our special reader event

interiors

44 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS News and views from the designers

50 PRACTICAL PROJECTS

Upcycle tired pieces, Scandinavian style

Covers: DELAM CASHMERE Photographed by Elizabeth Gibson delamlondon.com

58 SPIKE OF LIFE

Sign up for Cactus Club and await your delivery...

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Food & Drink

66 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL Tasty happenings from the local area

70 KITCHIN STORY

Winter recipes from Tom Kitchin

t r av e l

74 SKI SCOTLAND

Take the Highland sleeper for a weekend on the slopes

PROPERTY

94 PROPERTY NEWS News and views on the area

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 15:42

The Art of Flooring Bespoke flooring • Engineered wood flooring Range of soft carpets • Add robust tiles to your kitchen

For beautiful new flooring that will last, give us a call on 020 8543 9083 258 - 260 The Broadway, London SW19 1SB

abbotswoodflooring.co.uk

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EDITOR PENDLE HARTE DIGITAL EDITOR HANNAH HOPKINS EDUCATION EDITOR AMANDA CONSTANCE KIDS' EDITOR HELEN BARON FASHION & BEAUTY WRITER JOY MONTGOMERY ARTS & CULTURE WRITER HELEN BROWN ADVERTISING MANAGER ARRON GUARD SALES DIRECTOR ROLLO DENNISON COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR LEAH DAY-ABALOS PROPERTY DIRECTOR ANDY ELMER PROPERTY EDITOR TAMAR VANDERHOEK ART DIRECTOR PHIL COUZENS SENIOR DESIGNER PAWEL KUBA PRODUCTION MANAGER CHRIS COUCHMAN MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER EKREM YILMAZ DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN MARKETING MANAGER NEFELI KRITIKOU FINANCIAL CONTROLLER AYSHA HABIB CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT PA TO DIRECTORS MARIANNE MCFADDEN For editorial enquiries please email: pendle@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: advertising@zest-media.com Subscriptions are available simply by emailing subscription@zest-media.com You can receive an online subscription for FREE or a postal subscriptions for 12 months, £30 respectively (to cover postage and packaging). Please email us with your preferred option and details.

First Floor, 197 City Road, London EC1V 1JN T: 020 7704 0588 F: 020 7900 3020 w w w. z e s t . l o n d o n 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.

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

Fo l l ow Us O n T wi t t e r, In s t a g ra m a n d Fa c e b o o k @ABSOLUTELY_MAGS

EDITOR’S letter

V

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

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

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

In these pages, we're focusing strongly on our homes. We look at paint colours and wallpaper, we swoon over cast iron radiators and we take inspiration from art dealer Serena Morton, while enjoying a scented candle or two from the comfort of our sofas. In fact, we will be mostly spending January at home, aside from a few trips to the gym, of course – though we will be exercising good

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intentions for the rest of the year by booking ourselves into some new evening classes. Personally, I'm keen on calligraphy, though you might prefer food styling, candle making or origami. We round up some ideas for a bit of armchair browsing this month.

Meanwhile, we are very proud of our growing website absolutely.london – sign up for our weekly newsletter to be kept informed of all developments.

And a happy new year to all our readers. ◆

Pendle Harte Editor

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 15:46

COLOUR POP

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

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

10 Things We

ABSOLUTELY

VINTAGE VELVET

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

HEARTS AFLAME

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

Compiled by

H E L E N B R OW N

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

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

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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ABSOLUTELY / LOVES GRANNY’S ATTIC

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

FLOWER POWER

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

OLIVIA PALERMO X WESTWARD

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

BOOT IT

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

COUNT DOWN

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

TAKE A PEW

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

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 15:10

A hilariously funny tale of five extraordinary women coming together one treacherous night to recreate The Great Escape... senior citizen style!

Fri 3 - Sat 11 Feb rosetheatrekingston.org Box Office 020 8174 0090 World class theatre on your doorstep

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MARION DEUCHARS

p. 16

CREATIVE CLASSES

p. 20

The Beatles, by Peter Laurie, 1964 Condé Nast Archive London at the National Portrait Gallery

> WHAT'S ON

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

SCHOOL OF MATERIAL 2 0 - 2 2 Ja n u a r y Royal College of Art xplore the creative process of some of the world's most exciting up-andE coming designers in Ceramics, Jewellery and Metal. Traditional techniques and materials are stretched to and beyond their limits in this tantalising exhibition. u Woo Building, 22 Howie Street, SW11; rca.ac.uk

AMALUNA F rom 12 Jan uary Royal Albert Hall

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

Kensington Gore, SW7 royalalberthall.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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SCOTTISH BURNS NIGHT 2 0 Ja n u a r y Battersea Arts Centre o celebrate Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns, the Battersea Arts T Centre are putting on a classic Burns Night Ceilidh. Expect traditional verse, music, plenty of drink and general frivolity, fuelled by a fairy-lit feast of haggis, neeps and tatties. u Lavender Hill, SW11; bac.org.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE / TALKING TOPICS

HEARING THINGS

3 1 Ja nu a r y O m ni b u s T he a tre eople often fear the stigma P and mistreatment from mental health workers. From award winning playwright, Philip Osment, Hearing Things explores the relationships between both staff and patients in mental health institutions, drawing together stories, dilemmas and challenges faced by those receiving and providing care. u 1 Clapham Common North Side, SW4; omnibus-clapham.org

must see

Ground Control 23 January

Ne w Wi m b le d o n T he a t re

AUSTEN COMEDY

“Good morning, Earth!” This is how Chris Hadfield - writing on Twitter - woke up the world every day whilst living five months aboard the Space Station. Join him, one of our most celebrated astronauts, as he tells of his 21 years on the job, his three spaceflights and unbelievable 2600 orbits of earth.

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

93 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19; atgtickets.com

PLAY OF THE MONTH

US/THEM Fro m 16 th Ja n u a r y D o rf m an T h e at re

fter a sell-out run at the Edinburgh A Fringe Festival, Bronks bring this incredibly moving yet matter-of-fact production to the National Theatre. When a group of terrorists stormed a school in Beslan taking hundreds of children hostage, the ensuing

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siege lasted three days and left many dead. This innovative piece of theatrical storytelling recounts this tragedy and explores the entirely individual way children cope with traumatic situations.  Stage Door Avenue, SE1 nationaltheatre.org.uk

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 15:37

ABSOLUTELY london

www.absolutely.london is now live

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

FOLLOW US AT @AbsolutelyMagazines @absolutely_mags

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ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION

CHRISTMAS AT KEW As twilight falls, the magic begins...

I

t’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas when the trees, temples and glasshouses of Kew are playfully lit and all aglow. There’s something for everyone at this festive time of year as the one mile sparkling path winds its way through the world-famous gardens in a magical after dark experience. Now in its fourth year, our new 2016 winter trail is a botanical wonderland inspired by the garden itself. Enter between two giant Christmas trees festooned with ribbon and wander beneath unique tree canopies drenched in seasonal colour. Follow the path between a carpet of light gently swaying like blossom and stop for a moment of reflection at the scented Fire Garden. Continue towards glittering trees dripping with giant crystals and gaze at colour-changing reeds rising high into the night sky. Just ahead glimpse the Tunnel of Lights, this year animated by over 60,000 lights.

TICKETS

ADVANCE Peak / Off peak Adult £18 / £16 Friends of Kew £15 / £13 Family** £52 / £48 Child 4-16 £10 / £10

This year, framed by sparkling hedges, the Palm House Pond springs to life with brightly coloured laser beams, fans of light and flickering orbs that dance in time to music inspired by much-loved Christmas classics.

Why not complete your Christmas treat under the stars with spiced cider, mulled wine or hot chocolate whilst the aroma of roasting chestnuts fills the air. Gather to toast your own marshmallows and enjoy Kew’s well stocked gift shops and other traditional fare.

For the young ones, the playful atmosphere of White Peaks will welcome you with a Victorian carousel*, helter skelter* and other family rides* and don’t forget to look out for Santa and his elves at the North Pole village along the way. 

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ON THE DAY Peak / Off peak £20 / £18 £17 / £15 £58 / £56 £12 / £12

Pre paid parking at Brentford Gate £7 to be booked with ticket/time slot

Book at: kew.org/christmas 0844 995 9675

Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge All tickets are subject to a single transaction charge £2 per transaction for print at home tickets, £2.50 for tickets sent by first class post. £1.00 when booking tickets in person at Kew. See kew.org/christmas for further information and full terms and conditions. On the day prices apply from midnight on the day prior to your visit.

Not open 12, 13, 24 and 25 December. **Family ticket 2 adults and 2 children (aged 4-16) *Extra charges apply

Open until 2 January Between 5pm - 10pm

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08/12/2016 12:16

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STRAIGHT TO THE

art

Illustrator Marion Deuchars’ portfolio includes countless commercial projects as well as activity books for children. Absolutely meets her Interview Pendle Harte

A

rtist Marion Deuchars' CV spans everything from stamps to window displays, menu designs, food illustrations and book covers. In 2011 she published her first art activity book for children, Let's Make Some Great Art and its instant success led to two more. Her covers for Penguin's George Orwell novels won the V&A's book illustration award and her long-standing collaboration with Carluccios has made her work familiar to many. Born in Scotland, she studied at the Royal College of Art and now works from her studio in north London.

PENDLE HARTE: You have provided illustrations for everything from stamps to menus, via newspapers and book covers. How do you tailor your style to different needs?

MARION DEUCHARS: A new commission is always an interesting challenge for me to make some new artwork. I like that I don’t always know what it will look like, that it will be a surprise in some ways.

I have to think beforehand; should it be type-led? colourful?, serious? I try to produce artwork that I think suits the subject best rather than have a one-style-fits-all approach. I start all projects by playing with different materials as a way of coming up with ideas and direction.

I think the

PROCESS OF MAKING and DOING is as IMPORTANT as the END RESULT

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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PH: Your art books for children have so much character and enthusiasm.

How did they come about? Tell us about the new one.

MD: The books have all grown from my first book Let’s Make Some Great Art. It was like art school in a book, so the subsequent ones are the result of doing the many exercises in the book. My latest

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ARTS & CULTURE / PROFILE Marion Deuchars in her studio

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 12:17

A Nuffield Southampton Theatres and Curve Production in association with Lyric Hammersmith

Season d e t i m i L For Four nly Weeks O

Adapted for the stage by Sam Holcroft

25 Jan - 19 Feb Tickets from £15 | lyric.co.uk | 020 8741 6850 Registered Charity, No. 278518

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ARTS & CULTURE / PROFILE Art books for children

endless source of inspiration. At the same time, I’m always looking at contemporary art and Illustration. There have also been some great contemporary exhibitions recently, Ai Weiwei and Carsten Holler to name a few. I try to get to as many exhibitions as I can.

PH: What is your typical working day like?

Walk the dog, walk the kids to train station, pilates class, walk to work. I

It's like

ART SCHOOL IN a book

one, Art Play, is the most accessible of all my books. It’s based on how I approach all of my work, which is first and foremost to play. I think the process of making and doing is as important as the end result and this book tries to celebrate that.

It’s a book for the very young and old.

PH: How would you describe your style?

MD: I use a lot of hand lettering, but I also love to draw and paint. I use mainly conventional materials like paper, pencil, paints, and scissors… It's always hard describing your own style, but I receive many comments about my 'effortless' feel – I work hard at that.

PH: How did you come to be an illustrator? When did it start?

I studied at Duncan of Jordanstone in Dundee. The first year was about trying everything

Spreads from Art Play

from ceramics to photography to painting. By the end of the year we had to decide what to specialise in and I chose the Illustration and Printmaking department as it seemed to be where my work was heading.

PH: What is your favourite kind of commission?

MD: One that takes me to a place I don’t know. Milton Glaser says that ‘we should work towards the unknown’ and I completely agree.

PH: What other artists and illustrators do you like?

MD: I love seeing the greats.

London has had so many fantastic exhibitions recently, from Matisse to Hockney. I also love looking at ancient art like Aztec. The British Museum is an

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average a 25 hour working week, which is never long enough but it’s all I can do if I want to achieve a nice work/family life balance. I work in a shared open plan studio with 24 other creatives. It used to be a Victorian shoe factory. It’s a nice place to go every day. I have lots of space and can make a mess. It’s nice to have lunch at a table that’s not my desk, it’s good to ask for advice when I need it.

PH: What are you working on next?

MD: I’m working on another picture book for Laurence King as a follow up to Bob the Artist, which will be released next autumn. We also have plans to make a number of Bob the Artist toys and gifts including Bob Dominos. 

Art Play by Marion Deuchars (Laurence King Publishing) is out now.

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 12:18

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Get Crafty

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

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

Food Styling

I

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

Calligraphy

Food styling

Calligraphy

C

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

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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ARTS & CULTURE / CLASSES Candle-making

Candle-making

T

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

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

T

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

Screen-printing

Screen Printing Print Club London

I

Origami

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

Origami

E

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

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

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 12:19

Wishing all our well groomed clients a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 3 Bennet Court, 1 Bellevue Road, London SW17 7EG

020 3475 6644 • anthonylabanhome.com

For latest news & offers join us @LabanHome

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> FASHION CONFIDENTIAL

p. 24

THE SHOOT: LUXE LINGERIE

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TREND: WINTER FLORALS

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

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 14:30

st y l e C e n t r a l

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

4 OF THE BEST

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

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

lululemon.co.uk ◆

02

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

michiny.com ◆

03

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

04

Social Star

gap.com

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

varley.com ◆

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

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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Magda Butrym

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FASHION / NOTES

7

CAMO LUXE Elizabeth & James

of the best

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

MILITARY COATS Stand to attention this season

01 02

editor’s

PICK

BODY SCULPTURES Jessie Harris London

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

03

04

05

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

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

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FEMME FATALE A m e l i e s Fo l l i e s

Underwear drawer in need of a spring clean? Use the New Year as an excuse to treat yourself to new lingerie from Amelies Follies. The boutique offers a plethora of chic underwear and swimwear designs, alongside a fitting service - from A to J cup - to ensure you find the perfect set. ameliesfollies.co.uk

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07

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

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08/12/2016 15:04

LOUNGE LOVER

This season’s muse is a late-night seductress with a rock & roll soul, ruling the room in dazzling demi-couture and lingerie made to be seen P h o t o g r a p h y a g e n t p r o v o c at e u r

a g e n t p r o v o c a t e u r. c o m

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08/12/2016 15:05

Anissa Slip, £695

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agentprovocateur.com

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LINGERIE • NIGHTWEAR SWIMWEAR • BEACHWEAR Lingerie and swimwear measuring and fitting service available all year round without appointment from A to J cup (size 8 to 20) GIFT VOUCHER AND GIFT WRAPPING AVAILABLE 34 Webb’s Road, London SW11 6SF Tel: 020 7924 3826 www.ameliesfollies.co.uk

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FASHION / TREND MARC JACOBS, Floral-Flocked Gingham Blouse, £305; matchesfashion.com GUCCI, Princetown Fur-Lined Floral-Brocade Loafers, £515; matchesfashion.com

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

ERDEM AW16

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

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

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

SELF-PORTRAIT

Antoinette Blouse, £200; selfridges.com

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

Embrace the brooding beauty of the English garden

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

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

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

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

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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32 08/12/2016 14:43

Beautiful Bespoke Jewellery

Bespoke Platinum Oval Diamond Ring

Let it Sparkle Let it Dazzle Exceptional Pieces for every Occasion Specialist Bespoke Goldsmith and Jeweller Complex Restoration Work & Valuations undertaken on site by Master Jewellers

www.michaelplatt.co.uk Goldsmiths and Jewellers in Wimbledon Village 1 Church Road | Wimbledon Village | London | SW19 5DW Tel. 020 8947 4772 | info@michaelplatt.co.uk

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07/12/2016 15:56

CALM C O M E B AC K T O

Take a step out of the hustle and bustle and into an oasis of calm. Situated on the roundabout of Granville Road and Merton Road, we offer a range of different Yoga classes from relaxing Yin to invigorating Vinyasa Flow along with both small and large group Pilates classes.

JOIN US IN INDIA FOR OUR

PANCHAKARMA AYURVEDIC RETREAT INDIA FEB 2017

10 or 14 day Ayurvedic cleanse programme to rejuvenate body, mind and spirit For more info and to book go to: www.samsaramindandbody.com/retreat

New Class: Therapeutic & Restorative Yoga every Wednesday at 8.30pm Ideally suited to those suffering with fatigue, stress and insomnia this class incorporates traditional yoga postures, somatic movements, yin and restorative yoga, mindfulness and pranayama to melt tension and help press the reset button.

New client offers: 2 weeks unlimited yoga for £25 60min Massage & 10 yoga classes (to be used over one month) £75* * Terms and Conditions apply. For new clients only. Call 0208 874 4500 for more details or go online at www.samsaramindandbody.com

205 Merton Road, Wandsworth, SW18 5EE Tel: 0208 874 4500 www.samsaramindandbody.com

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06/12/2016 12:57 11:14

> BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

p. 36

READER EVENT - CHANEL

p. 39

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

Watch this space. dior.com

35 CHIS_December16_BEAUTY OPENER.indd 35

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 14:20

FItNESS C o l u m n

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

5 OF THE BEST

GYMS From holistic and luxury to trendy and budget 01 • DESIGN

The Third Space, Tower Bridge With sister clubs in Soho, Marylebone and Canary Wharf, Third Space Tower Bridge is the latest in a line of beautifully designed workout spaces. With muted interiors, modern art and naked lightbulbs aplenty, this is the go-to gym for design-lovers.

thirdspace.london

02 • TRENDY

1Rebel, Broadgate From the son of Fitness First owner comes 1Rebel, the hipster exercise joint that brands itself as the 'anti-gym'. Their sites offer industrial chic interiors that are divided into two rooms: one for spinning and one for ‘reshape’. Expect coolerthan-thou 20-somethings. ◆

1rebel.co.uk

03 • FAMILY-FRIENDLY The Park Club, Acton

This Acton-based family-friendly health club is set on 27 acres of land and hosts a plethora of sports activities and events for kids. Tired parents can also enjoy pampering at the on-site Medispa or a child-free dinner at the Terrace Restaurant.

theparkclub.co.uk

04 • BUDGET

The Gym, Vauxhall If you're looking to save the pennies, or simply prefer a more functional gym experience, then check out The Gym. This contract-free, 24-hour access gym offers an extensive range of equipment and classes in a no-frills space.

thegymgroup.com

05 • HOLISTIC

Grace Belgravia Launched in 2014, Grace Belgravia is the womensonly members club leading the way in wellness.

Led by a host of experts, the venue houses a gym, spa, restaurant and wellbeing clinic, offering a truly multi-disciplinary approach to health.

gracebelgravia.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Chis_Jan17_Beauty note.indd 36

Seasonal Escapism Guerlain

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

36 08/12/2016 14:18

HEALTH & BEAUTY / NOTES

8

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

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

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

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

SCARLET WOMAN Lancôme

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

of the best

NAIL STRENGTHENING POLISHES

1 3

editor's

PICK

EXTRAORDINARY The Ordinary

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

DRINK UP Aveda

January is a tough time for our skin.

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

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

7

4 6

8

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

37 Chis_Jan17_Beauty note.indd 37

5

2

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 14:18

ANTIQUE OAK FLOORING

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

20 Smugglers Way Wandsworth London SW18 1EG 020 8871 9771

www.naturalwoodfloor.co.uk

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

HEALTH & BEAUTY / READER OFFER

Absolutely & Chanel

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

B

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

Complimentary champagne and soft drinks will also be served throughout the evening.

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

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

39 Chis_Jan17_CHANEL READER'S EVENT.indd 39

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 12:52

ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION

FRE SH

FACED All the must-have beauty treatments of 2017 are available at Ten Facial Aesthetics

Y

ou deserve to look as great on the outside as you feel on the inside.

Dr Sarah Takroni, a practitioner at Ten Facial Aesthetics, explains how non-surgical cosmetic treatments can work for you. Based at Ten Dental, Clapham, Balham and Wandsworth, Ten Facial Aesthetics offer a wide selection of luxury, bespoke treatments that help with the most common concerns patients have including: • Fine lines and wrinkles that make you look older than you are • Dull skin that may be suffering from acne, scarring or pigmentation • Thin lips that you have always wished were fuller or more defined • Embarrassing excessive underarm sweating

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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What treatments are available?

Ten Facial Aesthetics is committed to ensuring you always receive the most upto-date, effective treatments available in the industry producing natural, rejuvenated and believable results. Non-surgical cosmetic treatments include: • Anti-wrinkle treatments to smooth away unwanted lines • Excessive underarm sweating treatment • Gummy smile correction • Facial fillers to restore volume and define the face • Eight-point facelift to turn back the clock for a younger, refreshed appearance • Lip enhancement for more defined and plump lips • Skin peels to improve acne, pigmentation and skin tone • Tailored skincare programmes using award -winning products

Will people be able to tell I have had treatment done?

It is their priority to ensure that results are completely natural and believable looking. Friends and family will be thinking you look fantastic and refreshed without guessing you have ever had treatment done.

Are the treatments safe?

You can rest assured that all treatments are carried out by highly trained and experienced clinicians, using only the best products available on the market with the safest techniques.

Does it hurt?

Apart from the small injections most antiwrinkle and dermal fillers treatments are relatively pain-free and you should be able to return to work within 24 hours. Duty of care to clients is of the upmost importance.

Staff will guide you through every step of the treatment process so you know exactly what to expect. Two weeks after your treatment a follow-up appointment monitors how the results are progressing.

How much does it cost?

Bespoke treatment plans enable maximum results at your budget. Arrange your free consultation to find out how we can help you look and feel your best.

Expert advice and treatment Dr Sarah Takroni (GDC number 193842) is an experienced provider of facial aesthetics and dentist. Having worked in the UK and Australia, Dr Takroni is dedicated to perfection, continually attending courses, keeping her finger on the pulse of the latest techniques and advances to help you look exceptional for your age. u

To arrange a FREE Consultation contact: Ten Facial Aesthetics 10 The Pavement, SW4 0HY; 156 Balham High Road, SW12 9BN; 194 Trinity Road, SW17 7HR; 020 33432 4626; tenfacialaesthetics.co.uk

40 08/12/2016 12:00

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU FREE CONSULTATION

*Terms and Conditions apply

10% OFF! s *Offer end 17 0 2 ry a u n Ja 31st

• Anti Wrinkle Treatments • Facial Fillers • Lip Enhancement • 8 Point Facelift • Chemical Skin Peels • Bespoke skincare programmes

To arrange a FREE consultation please call us on 020 3432 4626 quoting ABSOLUTELY or visit: www.tenfacialaesthetics.co.uk Ten Facial Aesthetics TEN FACIAL.indd 1 Ten Full Page Ad Final.indd 1

@Tenfacialaesthetics

@Tenfacial 05/12/2016 01/12/2016 15:35 23:57

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

EST. 1962

Shoreditch & Leatherhead 020 7253 3206 or 01372 379810

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

29/11/2016 10:28 10:13

> INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS

p. 44

FOCUS: RADIATORS

p. 54

JOIN THE CACTUS CLUB

p. 58

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

43 Chis_Jan17_INTERIORS OPENER.indd 43

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 14:49

10 of the best

WA L L PA P E R S ALICIA DE COSTA

Modern ideas, designs and styles for your home

Toucan Wallpaper, £125 graduatecollection.co.uk

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

PIERRE FREY Pampa, £POA pierrefrey.com

COLE & SON

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

MURALS WALLPAPER

Marbelised papers, £25 per sq m muralswallpaper.com

DESIGNERS GUILD

Delahaye, £59 designersguild.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

CHIS_Dec16_Interiors_Notes.indd 44

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

44 08/12/2016 14:45

HOMES & INTERIORS / NOTES FERM LIVING

MOOMIN MANIA

Forest wallpaper, £65 nunido.co.uk

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

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

must

HAVE editor’s

PICK WORLD ORDER

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

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

OSBORNE & LITTLE Pavilion Garden, £POA osborneandlittle.com

HARLEQUIN

Cranes in flight, £POA harlequin.uk.com

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

GREENER CLEANER

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

COLOUR CODE

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

45 CHIS_Dec16_Interiors_Notes.indd 45

FIRED EARTH

Alhambra Palace, £50 firedearth.com

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 14:45

DEDICATED TO DESIGNING AND FITTING AT THE BEST VALUE FOR MONEY GERMAN KITCHENS WITHOUT COMPROMISING QUALITY.

FREE DESIGN & QUOTATIONS 428 Garrat Lane SW18 4HN London www.kitchenconnections.co.uk T: 0208 9476180

KITCHEN CONNECTIONS.OCT.indd 1

13/09/2016 12:10

HEALTH AND BEAUTY / PRODUCTS ROCOCO

Chocolate scented candle, £37.50; rococochocolates.com

DIPTYQUE

Gingerbread Candle, £48; spacenk.com

JO LOVES

Shot Candle, £80; joloves.com

THE PERFUMER'S STORY

Black Moss Candle, £49 theperfumersstory.com

LOLA JAMES HARPER

BYREDO

The Red Garden candle, £34; selfridges.com

Bibliotheque Candle, £50; byredo.co.uk

100 ACRES

Signature Three-wick Candle, £48 100acres.co.uk

JONATHAN ADLER Muse d'Or Ceramic Candle, £88; jonathanadler.com

JONATHAN ADLER

ETERNAL FLAME

Hashish ceramic candle, £68; jonathanadler.com

12 of the chicest candles to cosy up to this January By pendle harte

Celebration candle, £55; wilneliaforsyth.com

ECOYA

Mini Madison Gift Set, £39; johnlewis.com

ACQUA DA PARMA

LALIQUE

Fruit and Berries Candle, £90; selfridhes.com

Chili candle; €65 lalique.com

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WILNELIA FORSYTH

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 12:45

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

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

See PowerView® in motion at luxaflex.co.uk LUXAFLEX® SHOWROOMS: Abbotts London 0208 9804150 Belle Vue Blinds Egham 01784 471122 | Gilroy Interiors Gerrards Cross 01753 899007

LUXAFLEX.indd 1

24/11/2016 12:44

HOME & INTERIORS / GET THE LOOK Northern

SOUL

HOME Loves

Simple, stylish pieces from Scandinavia

Easy Living ferm LIVING

Drawing on the traditionally simple aesthetic of Scandinavian design, ferm Living is one of the most Danish companies. With a distinctly modern edge, it doesn’t get much better than this. fermliving.com

HALLWAY TO HEAVEN Skagerak

Whether you want it to or not, the hallway tends to become a place of storage. Designer Chris Liljenberg Halstrøm has created a beautiful collection of furniture that will make the most of the narrow, but vital, space. cloudberryliving.co.uk

Compiled By Elizabeth Hutton

DA N I S H DESIGNS AY T M

With a focus on quality, Danish design house AYTM creates luxury home interiors and small pieces of furniture that are simple but eye-catching. aytm.dk

ROCK OUT

ON THE BOOKS Normann Copenhagen

Normann Copenhagen have designed Daily Fiction, a collection of over 200 everyday objects. There are notebooks, gift wrapping, stickers, pencil sharpeners and more. foscarini.com

Rivsalt

Swedish designer Jens Sandringer was inspired to create a salt grater after dining at a Japanese teppanyaki in Beijing.

Bringing an artistic flair to seasoning, the rock of salt makes a great centerpiece before it is grated over your food. From £24; rivsalt.com

Scandi Sofas S ø re n L u n d

For the first time in Søren Lund’s 50 year history, their upholstered furniture will be sold in the UK. Stocked exclusively at Another Country, this is chic and functional modern Danish design. anothercountry.com

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 14:59

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

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

Vacuum clean the inside of the drawers.

PRACTICAL PROJECTS

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

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

50 08/12/2016 15:01

HOMES & INTERIORS / PROJECTS

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

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

1

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

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

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

by Thames & Hudson, £16.95

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

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

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

Repeat this method for the outside back.

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

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 15:01

N8 O

I N T E R I O R S

Elegent, sophisticated interiors where every project is infused with passion and creativity

+ 44 (0 ) 20 8780 3053 | +4 4 ( 0 ) 7 9 5 8 9 3 4 7 6 4 | in f o @ n o 8 in t e r i o r s . c o m

w w w. no8in t eriors.com NO 8 INTERIORS_V3.indd 1

24/10/2016 10:15

FASHION / MOODBOARD

MY INSPIRATIONS

Neneh Cherry as Frida Kahlo

Serena Morton, art dealer and gallery owner

MY STYLE ICON

is Neneh Cherry (here) as Frida Kahlo, photographed by the iconic Jamie Morgan.

The Alhambra, Granada

Serena Morton

MY FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION is Olhão in Portugal because painter Piers de Laszlo’s crumbling foundation epitomises the type of place I like to stay in. It’s living installation art.

MY FAVOURITE DESIGNER

is Yves Saint Laurent. He understood women. I love this Yves Saint Laurent

David Hockney's Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy

RONNIE WOOD IS not just a

guitar hero – he's AN

picture of him with Betty Catroux et Loulou de la Falaise outside the first Rive Gauche Boutique, London, September 1969.

MY FAVOURITE PIECE OF ART

is ‘Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy’

by David Hockney. Painted between 1970 and 1971, it depicts Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell in Notting Hill.

Piers de Laszlo’s crumbling foundation

MY FAVOURITE BUILDING is the Alhambra, Granada, Andalusia because it reminds me of my old life in Spain.

Ronnie Wood

53 NH_CH_Dec16_MOODBOARD copy.indd 53

ARTIST TOO

MY FAVOURITE MUSICIAN

is Ronnie Wood because not only is he a guitar hero but also an artist.

MY FAVOURITE PAINTING

from my forthcoming exhibition for Damian Elwes is ‘Haring Studio (New York)’. ◆ serenamorton.com

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 14:58

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX

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

ABSOLUTELY: What’s special about cast iron radiators?

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

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

ABS: Are they efficient as well as pretty?

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

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

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

What are your best sellers?

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

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

NB: I’m a geologist-chef by training.

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

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

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

ABS: Where have your radiators been installed?

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

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

THE HOUSE warms a little slowly BUT IT ALSO COOLS SLOWLY

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

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

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

ABS: Where is it all made?

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

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 12:27

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HOMES & INTERIORS / SPOTLIGHT

From the Hearth Thinking of installing a fireplace? Here’s how Wo r d s E v e H e r b e r t

R

obert Leach of Install My Fireplace has worked on some of London’s most elite properties, most recently with Fabricari at 39 Palace Court in Bayswater, and he's the go-to stove man for countless interior designers including Anna Hewistson. With 14 years of expertise, he is adept at recommending the best option for your home, with both design and price in mind. What sets him apart is his personal approach: all his projects run smoothly and are finished to extremely high standards. "I'm a perfectionist," he says – so he completes all jobs himself, from start to finish, never sending a team in, and always taking the utmost care not to leave any mess. It is this one-on-one approach that has led to ongoing relationships with designers and clients.

A STOVE fireplace can add 5% TO THE VALUE of your home As an online business with no showroom, overheads are kept low and a comperehnsive online gallery provides lots of ideas to choose from. Stoves give off a great source of heat, with up to 89% efficiency.

By contrast, an open fire, loses most of its heat up the flue, resulting in only 20%, or less, efficiency. Stoves are easy to use, with minimal mess and are quick to clean.

Prices start from £650 for a stove, which gives off 89% of the heat that it produces, perfect for bringing that wholesome rustic warmth into your home. A stove fireplace can actually appreciate in value, adding up to 5% to the price of your property on the market. Practical, stylish and it will never go out of fashion, what better investment to make this autumn/ winter? u installmyfireplace.co.uk

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 14:47

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

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

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

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

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

They’re the ultimate LOW

MAINTENANCE

house plant

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

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

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

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

PH: Packaging a cactus must be tricky!

How does that work?

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

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

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

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

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

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

PH: What’s next for Club Cactus?

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

PH: What will be in the boxes?

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

clubcactus.co.uk

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 12:21

ABSOLUTE DEC 16 ADVERT_Layout 1 30/11/2016 14:31 Page 1

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HOMES & INTERIORS / Q & A

Design Duo Joseph Joseph’s technicolour kitchen equipment has shaken up the British worktop. Absolutely meets the founding twin brothers, Antony and Richard Joseph Wo r d s P e a r l B oy d

Q. It all started with a chopping board. How did it come about?

A. Design has always been in our blood. We grew up in a family manufacturing business and spent summers as kids designing new products in our shed at home. In fact, we both started out on career paths in product design, and came together in 2003 to design and sell our own collection of innovative products.

Our approach was, and still is, all about solving everyday problems through intelligent product design.

Basing our brand on a simple idea that we could improve everyday items or solve everyday problems with intelligent design is really what drives us forward.

bowl set which is a great space saving storage solution. Totem, the waste and recycling bin, is another one we’re extremely proud of, but that was also the hardest to get right.

It was a departure from what we had done before and was our biggest launch to date so it took a lot of development time.

Q. Can you define your aesthetic?

A. Functional ideas are the core of what we do. We believe if you’re going to take the effort to design a product from the start there’s a great opportunity to design it with a considered aesthetic.

Q. Your products are about solving kitchen problems that we didn’t know we had. How do you identify what to address?

A. It’s different with each product.

Sometimes we’ll identify a problem through testing and other times it’ll be noticing an everyday problem we’ve come across ourselves and we’ll know exactly what we want to create the solution. We build lots of prototypes and test them thoroughly to make sure our ideas work.

Q. You have launched a lot of recycling-related products. Was that due to demand? Or what made you think of it?

A. It was through extensive research. We found that each council has different recycling requirements, especially in London, so from personal experience we knew that there wasn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. And with storage space being a problem in most kitchens we recognised the need to combine waste and offer recycling options in one space-saving unit.

Q. If good design is about combining practicality with beauty, your products certainly fit. Which ones are you most proud of, and which ones have been hardest to get right?

A. We’re probably most proud of our first award-winning product, the Chop2Pot; our first folding chopping board but also our Nest 9 stacking

josephjoseph.com

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 14:51

Paint it White Absolutely goes in search of advice on the whiter shades of pale Wo r d s P e n d l e H a r t e

C

hoosing paint colour for your walls is daunting. It’s tempting to go for white because it’s always stylish in an airy, Scandi way – and it will make your rooms seem bigger, too, right?

Unfortunately, wrong. Apart from that not necessarily being the case, just choosing white isn’t really any kind of decision because the concept of white probably covers more shades than any other colour. You might have chosen white, but which white is it?

A brief look at colour cards will show a vast spectrum of whites. And interestingly, what we see as white has become more and more grey over recent years. “Our perception of neutral has changed; what we felt was white 15 years ago is now incredibly yellow to the modern eye,” says Joa Studholme, Farrow and Ball’s international colour consultant and probably the UK’s most influential colour guru. “We’ve gone greyer as time goes on. All our greys are selling like hot cakes — and these are becoming the new neutrals; soft and organic, as in French Gray or Pigeon, or darker, even going into Off-Black walls with Pitch Black woodwork. What has replaced

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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What we felt was white 15 YEARS AGO is now INCREDIBLY YELLOW to the modern eye

Floor and stairs in Slipper Satin

magnolia as the classic neutral is a cool, chalky Cornforth White, which has a grey undertone. Nobody wants colours with a yellow base any more.”

Not that she’s all that keen on an allwhite scheme throughout a house, and her belief is that, counter-intuitive as it may sound, painting a dark room white isn’t going to disguise its darkness – and anyway, darkness isn’t necessarily always a bad thing. ‘A small space painted white is very boring,’ she says. Generally, it’s good to try strong colours in north-facing rooms, while south-facing rooms can remain neutral,’ she says. Sympathetic whites are calmer and more interesting looking than dazzling, toothpaste whites that can feel cold and stark. A warm white, on the other hand, can be cosy and create a good backdrop for colourful furnishings as well as contrasting skirting boards, doors, window frames and architectural details.

‘Think about the architecture. Do you want features such as cornicing to stand out? But don’t be a slave to it.

Just because it’s a Georgian house don’t think you have to have a Georgian colour scheme. And of course, light is key.

Ultimately, it’s what you feel comfortable with,’ says Studholme.

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HOMES & INTERIORS / FOCUS

Walls in Cornforth White

Bathroom in Wimborne White

When decorating, it makes sense to start with the hall. For one thing because it creates a first impression, and for another it can set the tone for the rest of the house. Paint it a dramatic dark shade, for instance, and it will create the illusion of extra brightness for rooms leading off it. Also, painting doors and frames the same colour can create a grander, more finished effect, and coloured doors add interest to white walls and ceilings.

Whether you want a warm white or a cool one, a clean one or a muddy one, tester pots are the only way And for more advice, consult Joa Studholme's invaluably detailed, practical and inspirational new book, How to Decorate, published this month

by Octopus Books, ÂŁ30. u

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Farrow and Ball

Farrow and Ball showrooms can be found at 146 Northcote Road, SW11 90 High Street Wimbledon, SW19 farrow-ball.com

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 14:25

B L U E B I R D’S B A C K !

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

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

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

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> KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL: HEALTHY DRINKS

p. 66

WINTER RECIPES

p. 70

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

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

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 13:02

What to drink

kitchen

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

GRAPE NEWS

Wine recommendations for January B y k e v i n l at o u f

S PA R K L I N G

Casa Ciste Piane Prosecco An organic Prosecco made the same way as Champagne from a tiny vineyard in the heart of Prosecco land. It's clean, fresh and sparkling with so much character and flavour. It's only 11% alcohol so works as the perfect aperitif and only 30,000 bottles are made, so it's pretty exclusive.

WHITE

Vermentino, Antonio Camillo Located in the south of Tuscany, Antonio makes wines that showcase the exact place they are grown.

This vermentino is a great alternative to Chardonnay and is packed with flavour but still remains dry and crisp.

The perfect winter white.

RED

Casa di Si, Chiquitin Casa di Si’s mission is to hand-craft organic wines expressive of the vineyard and their specific region.

The high altitude of the vineyard – 700-1000m – helps keep the wines fresh and extremely drinkable. Chiquitin is 100% handpicked Garnacha – no naughty machines here.

thewinebutler.com

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Ruby Murray Motuindian Kitchen

Paying homage to a British love for the Indian takeaway is Motu - a name derived from the affectionate Hindi term for ‘Fat Man’. Delivering their indulgent dishes to Fulham, Clapham, Chelsea, Wandsworth, Putney and Battersea, choose from simple mains or luxurious ‘feast boxes’. motuindiankitchen.com

66 08/12/2016 12:56

FOOD & DRINK / NOTES editor’s

PICK

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

Eschew the usual bottle of bubbly in favour of the world’s first quinoa vodka. Created by ethical spirit brand FAIR, the drink is made from organic quinoa seeds grown in Belize and has notes of almond milk and spices. Filtered to perfection, the resulting spirit is as clean as your conscience will be. fairspirits.com

TO P 5

HEALTHY COCKTAILS

Bars are stirring superfoods and botanicals into drinks that are more forgiving on our waistlines.

Here are five of our favourites...

UNDERGROUND DINING Basement Galley

For an alternative food event, look no further than the Underground Supper Club. They'll be hosting ‘Chefs on the Tube’ - four-course dinners hosted by London’s best culinary talent. Starting on the 19th of the month, expect convivial dining and global flavours. basementgalley.com

01

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

farmacylondon.com

02

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

firstaidbox2015.com

VINOTYPING

03

Humble Grape

For an unstuffy approach to wine, head to Humble Grape's new Wine School.

Guests can taste eight artisan wines, learn about grape varieties, have an individual Vinotyping session and eat a three-course lunch.

2 Battersea Rise, SW11 humblegrape.co.uk

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

thelidocafe.co.uk

04

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

redemptionbar.co.uk

FROM FARM TO TABLE Nutbourne-Restaurant

Battersea locals will be transported to the English countryside at Nutbourne, from the owners of the popular Rabbit and Shed restaurants. Taking its name from their farm in Sussex, the dishes and wine offer a taste of rural life.

35-37 Parkgate Road, SW11; nutbourne-restaurant.com

05

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

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

tredwells.com

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

rocktails.co.uk

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 12:57

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

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

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

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

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FOOD & DRINK / RESTAURANT REVIEW

A cool,

CONTEMPORARY

and gallery-worthy DESTINATION in itself

As we make our way through our next round of cocktails (the Peach and Elderflower Collins and the Bison and Grass), the Mixed Grill Sharing Platter arrives. A haven for the carnivores of Clapham, packed with grilled meats including chicken, sausage, streaky bacon, pork ribs, scotch egg and most importantly the house-special, haggis skewer. The platter comes complete with a salad garnish, chips, coleslaw, blue cheese sauce and red devil sauce - adding a hint of seasonal spice for the colder months.

To finish with something sweet, we share the triple chocolate brownie. A hearty portion of melt in the middle chocolate and

Esca

A new artistic eatery in Clapham Wo r d s E ly s i a Ag n e w

E

sca is a new gem on Clapham High Street, re-launched as a contemporary restaurant, grill and cocktail bar. The place is packed with delicious sharing platters, bar snacks, wines, beers and a cocktail list you’ll want to make your way through. But what strikes me about this new venture is the artwork. Artist and illustrator Paul Davis contributed to the design and decoration, alongside Stephen Coates and Paul Gorringe who also helped collaborate. This Celtic-inspired restaurant combines art, good food and cocktails in a creative environment.

Esca means river in Celtic, and Paul’s designs flow on from this idea, with a river running across the walls all the way through the restaurant and into the bar.

Paul’s personality and the restaurant’s

unique image are combined to create something quite spectacular and fascinating in all respects.

First up: the cocktails.

We make our way through this exciting list that forms the basis of the bar, starting with the Aperol Spritz, bittersweet perfection - and the Sacred Negroni, a freshly prepared spiced ginger cocktail topped with wild thyme and green olives.

We like the idea of a sociable sharing plate, so opt for the Grand Charcuterie and Cheese Board to start. It comes on a wooden board packed with grilled cheeses, cured meats, warm sourdough and sauces that complete the package. A sharing platter is always a talking point - this one is worth shouting about.

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homemade ice cream.

This creative Clapham venture ticks all the boxes for an evening of cocktails and Celtic-inspired dishes.

It’s cool, contemporary and a gallery-worthy destination in itself. The staff are here to enjoy the experience too, evident in their friendly faces and genuine knowledge. Esca offers bright and colourful food in a bright and colourful environment and we can’t wait to return. ◆

● ESCA

160 Clapham High Street, SW4 020 7622 2288; esca.london

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 13:00

Kitchin Story

These comforting recipes for January come from Harrods' guest chef Tom Kitchin Wo r d s t o m k i t c h i n

STARGAZY FISH PIE Ser ves 4 -6

I n g r e d i e nt s • 2 litres milk • 600g firm fish fillets (Salmon/Hake/ Cod), diced into 2cm cubes • 200g smoked fish fillet (smoked haddock) • 4-6 prawns • 2 hard boiled eggs, peeled and quartered • 1kg Maris Piper potatoes

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• 2 tablespoons butter • Salt and pepper • 1 beaten egg • Cleaned langoustine heads to decorate finished pie Bechamel sauce • 500ml milk • 60g butter • 50g tablespoons flour • 2 tablespoons grain mustard M e th o d 1 To make the béchamel sauce: • First bring the milk up to a simmer in a small pot and set aside.

• In another pan, melt the butter gently over

medium heat, then add flour and stir until the mixture is smooth.

• Begin adding the milk a little at a time to avoid lumps. Keep adding milk and stirring until you have a creamy sauce.

• Allow to cook slowly for 5 minutes and then add the grain mustard. Set aside.

2 Cooking the fish: • Gently heat the 2 litres of milk. Add the fish fillets and poach for 3-4 minutes. Add the smoked fish and poach for a further 3-4 minutes. Carefully remove the fish and set aside.

3 To make the mashed potato: • Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Bake the potatoes until crispy and soft.

• While still hot, scoop out the flesh, discard the skins and pass the potato through a drum sieve to remove lumps.

• Heat the milk used for poaching the fish and fold 2 tbsp butter through potato mixture. Season to taste.

4 To make the pie: • Preheat the oven to 190°C/Gas 5. Butter a baking dish and spread a small amount of bechamel on the bottom of the dish.

• On top of that spread the poached fish and quartered eggs.

• Spread with the remaining bechamel.

Top with the mashed potatoes, place the langoustine heads in the potato, and brush with an egg wash. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and. ◆

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FOOD & DRINK / RECIPES

SCALLOPS BAKED IN THE SHELL Ser ves 4

I n g r e d i e nt s • 1 carrot, chopped • 1 leek, sliced • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil • 2 scallops per person or 3 x ½ • 100g puff pastry • 2 egg yolks White wine sauce • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 100g shallots, sliced • 250ml Noilly Prat vermouth • 250ml fish stock • 250ml whipping cream • Salt and pepper • ½ tablespoon grain mustard • 1 tablespoon chopped dill

M e th o d 1 Preparing the white wine sauce • Heat a heavy-bottomed pan on top of the stove and add the oil • Sweat the shallots gently for 3-4 minutes • Add the Noilly Prat and the fish stock and continue to cook until the mixture is reduced and has a syrupy consistency • Add the cream, bring back to the boil and reduce again slightly • Season with salt and pepper, then pass through a strainer or sieve • Add the grain mustard and chopped dill 2 Preparing the scallops • Slip a thin sharp knife between the shells and cut through the large white muscle tab (the abductor muscle) to release one side of the shell • Pry open the shell and pull everything out • Using a spoon, neatly scoop out the meat • Separate the white meat from the outer skirt and roe (the skirt and roe can be kept for making sauces and they freeze well) • Rinse the scallops and keep them in the fridge on a paper towel. Rinse the shells and pat them dry.

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3 Assembling the dish • Sweat the carrot and leak in the oil over a low heat. Season and cook until they are soft but not browned - allow to cool • Take 4 washed shells and divide the leeks and carrots between them • Cut the scallops in half through the middle, season and place 4 pieces on each shell • Cover with 3 tablespoons of white wine sauce and top with the other shells • Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6 • Roll out the puff pastry and cut into thin strips • Place a pastry strip around each scallop to seal the two shells together • Using your fingers, gently press the pastry in place to ensure that the seal is tight and there are no holes • Brush with egg yolk and cook in the hot oven for -10 minutes until the pastry is golden brown 4 Serve • Remove the scallop shells from the oven and run a sharp knife all the way around the outer crust • Serve on a bed of seaweed or some rock salt mixed with a little water to stop the shells rocking about and let your guests open the shell themselves. ◆

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 15:02

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

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13/10/2016 11:10

> SCOTLAND - A FAMILY SKI PARADISE p. 74

SLOPE OFF Forget the Alps. Amanda Constance and family catch the Highland sleeper for a weekend's skiing in Coylumbridge, home to the UK's highest funicular railway.

73 Chis_Jan17_Travel_Opener.indd 73

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 12:34

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX

SLOPING OFF Catching the Highland Sleeper for a weekend of skiing in Scotland is less faff and more fun than it sounds, even with three children in tow Wo r d s A m a n d a c o n s ta n c e

I

f I told you that you could catch a train on a Friday night from central London and be skiing in the sunshine in Scotland by 10am the next morning, you wouldn’t believe me, would you? But that’s what we did. With three children.

For the weekend.

I know it sounds like a schlepp, but actually it couldn’t have been easier and was certainly less of a pain than hiking out to Gatwick or Heathrow and catching a plane. We trundled out of the house, wheelie cases in tow, and 15 minutes later we were on the Highland Sleeper at Euston, ready for the 9.15pm departure to Aviemore.

We were met on the platform by David, our liveried steward for the journey.

He showed us to our quarters: two interconnecting berths and one separate cabin. The interconnecting cabins make life a little easier with children, even three stupendously overexcited ones. There isn’t really room to swing a cat but with a little jostling and organization we all managed to get bed ready.

The sleeper still has some of the romance of a bygone age; the rolling stock might have seen better days but the staff are formal to a tee and the dining car carries a whiff of whisky and memories

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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Rolling up the blind TO REVEAL SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS was a wonder WE’LL NEVER FORGET

of cigars. Tweedy gents have long used it to get to the grouse moors, and they are now joined by more modern MAMILs (Middle-Aged Men In Lycra) off for a weekend of mountain biking or climbing.

Its very slowness – it takes 11 hours to trundle from London to the Highlands – is utterly at odds with our rushed modern lives. You are unaware of the shift, rocked to sleep as the train lurches towards our island's fringes.

We were woken just after 7am with tea and juice. The thrill of rolling up the blind in our cabin to reveal snow-covered mountains was a wonder we will never forget. The train pulled into Aviemore; we took a taxi to the Hilton in Coylumbridge

and were tucking into porridge and a fry-up by 9am.

Skiing in Scotland is obviously very different to somewhere like the Alps. For one thing, there are fewer mountains.

The Hilton in Coylumbridge sits in a pine forest far from any snowy slopes, but what Scotland does have it makes great use of, even if it means another journey to get there.

After our breakfast we marched onto the road in our ski gear, where we hailed the bus to CairnGorm Mountain. Our fellow travellers included many quite weathered, elderly skiers who looked far more ready for the slopes than me. These hardy Scottish types take to the slopes regularly, we were told, and feel very protective of ‘their’ mountain.

The bus climbed to the base of CairnGorm Mountain – widely considered the most beautiful and most challenging place to ski in Scotland.

Natural Retreats, who manage it, have recently introduced their own in-house ski school, and within minutes we were booted, matched with skis and heading to the top of the mountain on the funicular railway (the highest in the UK) with Alison and Phil, our ski instructors.

Most skiing in on CairnGorm is based around the Top Station, which boasts

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TRAVEL / WANDERLUST

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 12:31

TRAVEL / WANDERLUST both the highest restaurant and highest postbox in the UK. There is also a viewing station with extraordinary panoramic views across the Highlands.

When we reached the top it felt more like the school run than a ski mountain. Everyone knows each other here; skiing is a very local thing in Aviemore. The school children all ski, often as ‘shredders’ – groups of youngsters who zip over the mountain with their ski instructors. There is none of the ooh la la of being in, say, Val d’Isere. It is all far more functional than that, but I loved the sense of community, of Scottishness, of the skiers on the mountain. As I went up one T-bar lift with Phil, he called out to a small blonde girl whizzing down the mountain. She raised a pole in cheery THE PTARMIGAN RESTAURANT AT THE TOP STATION ON THE CAIRNGORM MOUNTAIN

AT THE TOP, it felt more like the SCHOOL RUN than a ski

mountain, Everyone KNOWS EACH OTHER HERE

greeting: “Ah, that’s my neighbour’s wee girl,” he said by way of explanation.

Alison, an ex-RAF pilot and top snow jumper, took charge of our five-yearold. He wore a vest with a handle which meant she could hold him between her legs, and before long he was flying over moguls and mounds with her, having the time of his life. I stayed with them while the other three had a lesson with Phil, a local and dedicated mountain man. Our biggest issue was getting too hot. The sun was blazing on a warm March day, which didn’t match our expectations, so we cooked in thermals.

The mountain has a wide range of routes on offer, including plenty of challenging off-piste routes. There are a total of 12 lifts, including the funicular at the resort, and in terms of runs there are seven greens, six blues, eight reds and one black, the longest of these stretching for an impressive 3.3km.

More than enough for a weekend.

We had such a good time that we missed the bus back to Coylumbridge.

No problem, Phil gave us a lift in his battered Land Rover. Now that's something you don't get in the Alps.

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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t r av e l d e ta i L S Caledonian Sleeper The Highland service runs in both directions Sundays to Fridays (not Saturdays) and serves more than 40 Scottish stations. There is also a Lowland Sleeper between Euston, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Tickets (one way) are from £40 (seated), £80 per person (standard class) and £150 per person (first class).

Call 0330 0600500 for information. sleeper.scot The Hilton costs from £149 per night for a family of 4 (2 x double beds in the same room). hiltonaviemore.com

For ski pass prices and equipment hire on CairnGorm Mountain visit: cairngormmountain .org / wintersnowsports

CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK The Cairngorms National Park is the largest National Park in the UK, twice the size of the Lake District, and is home to three of Scotland’s five ski areas: CairnGorm Mountain, the Lecht and Glenshee. It has be voted among the top 20 places to visit in the world

by National Geographic Traveller. visitcairngorms.com

The next day was far more Scottish; it was freezing on the mountain and a virtual white-out. I am definitely a fairweather skier these days and found not knowing my way around unnerving, but the children were oblivious and loved it. When most of us gave up at lunchtime, too cold to go on, our eldest skied the whole way down the mountain with Phil, an achievement that left him glowing with pride.

Catching the train back at 9pm on Sunday night was possibly even more exciting than our first journey. Waiting in the pitch black for the sleeper to arrive from Aberdeen, we all felt a bit Railway Children. Then it was a mad scramble to get everything on board and into the cabins before the train pulled off. Not surprisingly, everyone was fast asleep soon afterwards and before we knew it we were waking up as the train drew into Euston, just before 8am. We emerged tousled, bleary-eyed amongst the dash of the city’s commuters, an assault on our senses after feeling a world away from London. We got home within the hour and all three kids made it to their desks at school, albeit half an hour or so late.

The sleeper isn’t cheap – you could fly for less – but it is far less faff and far more fun, especially if you are under 12. We are already planning another ski trip and possibly mountain biking in the Cairngorms next summer, just so we can take the sleeper again to the glorious Highlands. 

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TRAVEL / STAYCATION THE HOTEL

S

earching for a sophisticated stayaction right here in the city?

Those looking for an elegant bolthole in the middle of one of London’s best postcodes need look no further than the Marriott Hotel Park Lane. A prime spot for business travellers, families and couples alike, it also makes the perfect mid-week treat for a Londoner living on the edge of Zone 2. But it's more than just a good location: the hotel overlooks Hyde Park and boasts its own indoor swimming pool and high tech gym, too. The interiors are sumptuous and subtle with pops of colour giving them a modern edge and the marble floors give it a proper Park Lane finish. u

MARRIOTT HOTEL PARK LANE London

W o r d s R o m y va n d e n B r o e k e

THE SPA

L

ike many overworked Londoners, there are few things I enjoy more than a really good spa treatment; I decide to book into the The Club (the Mariott’s own spa) for The Absolute Facial and am excited to learn that all the treatments offered at The Club use products from luxury skincare brand AromaWorks.

When I arrive I am greeted by my therapist who carries out a brief consultation which includes choosing my essential oil (I opt for Serenity, a wonderful mix of geranium and lemongrass). What follows is 55 minutes of bliss; after cleansing and exfoliating my face and décolletage, my therapist massages in the essential oil and applies the super hydrating Absolute Face Serum before administering a heavenly hand massage. I leave relaxed with my skin glowing. u

THE RESTAURANT

W

hile Mayfair and Soho are known for their food, it's also worth staying in for dinner at the hotel's own eaterie, Lanes of London. The restaurant is a modern British eatery offering a seasonal menu, using locally sourced British rare-breed and wild food produce. On recommendation, we start with the beef carpaccio and then move on to the grill menu (which has fillet, rib eye, sirloin or a wagyu burger just under beef). There are fish and veggie options too, and the homemade fish and chips is a real winner. The wine list is comprehensive and the sommelier is informed and eager to help.

A delightful meal and dining experience. u

THE DAMAGE London Marriott Hotel Park Lane, 140 Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 7AA +44 (0)20 7493 7000 londonmarriottparklane.co.uk

79 CH_Oct16_UK_Getaway copy.indd 79

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08/12/2016 15:08

DISCOVERMORE

Embracing an innovative, modern approach whilst keeping traditional values at its core, Kew House School takes an exciting stance on 21st century education. With state-of-the-art facilities, a broad curriculum and excellent pastoral care, Kew House is a place where you would want to be – a place of learning and discovery, laughter and friendship.

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

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

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

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> SMALL TALK - BEDLINEN, TENTS AND BOOTIES

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

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The Study is a leading prep school situated in the heart of Wimbledon Village. We identify and nurture each girl’s unique academic, creative and sporting skills in a caring and supportive community.

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

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

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

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

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o one does classic like Jacadi does classic.

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

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

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

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

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KIDS & EDUCATION / SCHOOL TALK

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

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

P

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

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

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

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

MP for a week is

AN INTERACTIVE game WHERE THE PLAYER must make DAILY DECISIONS

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

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

85 Chis_Jan17_Education.indd 85

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

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

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

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

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

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“It’s fine.

The heart wants what the heart wants.

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WE ARE OPEN Mon - Sat 10am - 6pm | Sun 11am - 4pm Kitchen Revolutions Ltd 580 Kingston Road Wimbledon SW20 8DR

T 020 3302 6266 E info@kitchenrevolutions.co.uk W www.kitchenrevolutions.co.uk

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PROPERTY NEWS p.94 IN THEIR OWN WORDS p.100 NIGEL LEWIS: FAMOUS PLACES p.106

CLARENDON DRIVE, PUTNEY SW15

beautifully presented, five double bedroom, semi-detached period house for sale. Comprising two reception rooms, ensuite master bedroom, 89 ft south facing garden, cellar and large loft area.

Clarendon Drive is a popular West Putney road a short walk from Putney town centre and mainline station. The excellent local primary schools are within easy reach, and the River Thames is close by. u

A

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kfh.co.uk

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08/12/2016 15:49

MOVE FASTER Sell with Knight Frank Our understanding of the everchanging market enables us to price your property accurately and as, on average, we have achieved 94% of the guide price on sales in the past 6 months, you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving.

Call us today on 020 8022 1358 to arrange your free market appraisal or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/wimbledon

Guide price: £699,950

Ridgway, Wimbledon SW19 A fantastic contemporary second floor apartment in an ideal location for the amenities of both the village and town. 2 bedrooms, shower room, open plan reception room and kitchen, secure communal entrance. EPC: B. Approximately 80.4 sq ft (866 sq ft). wimbledon@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8022 1358

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Guide price: £4,650,000

Westmead, Putney SW15 An attractive and substantial double fronted family house with a 126ft landscaped south facing garden. 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, kitchen/dining/family room, gym and shower room, wine cellar, utility, WC, garden. EPC: B. Approximately 543 sq m (5,845 sq ft). wimbledon@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8022 1358

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MOVE FASTER Sell with Knight Frank Our understanding of the everchanging market enables us to price your property accurately and as, on average, we have achieved 94% of the guide price on sales in the past 6 months, you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving.

Call us today on 020 8022 1358 to arrange your free market appraisal or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/wimbledon

Guide price: £995,000

Alexandra Road, Wimbledon SW19 A substantial extended period house set over three floors, close to Wimbledon town centre.

Master bedroom with en suite, 3 further bedrooms, family bathroom, double reception room, kitchen/dining room, garden. EPC: D. Approximately 159.3 sq m (1,715 sq ft). wimbledon@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8022 1358

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Guide price: £2,650,000

Corscombe Close, Kingston upon Thames KT2 A beautifully presented detached house in a quiet cul-de-sac with planning to extend into the roof (15/14771/HOU). 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, kitchen/family room, gardens, garage, off street parking. EPC: C. Approximately 500.2 sq m (5,388 sq1 ft). wimbledon@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8022 1358

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Victorian Heights, Thackery Road SW8 Rare two bedroom flat with private courtyard garden A large split level apartment located in the popular Victorian Heights, a secure gated school conversion in SW8, Battersea. The apartment benefits from its own private garden and parking. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Mezzanine, Kitchen/dining/reception room, Private garden, Parking.

EPC: D. Approximately 138 sq m (1,485 sq ft)

Leasehold: approximately 983 years

Guide price: £1,200,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/Battersea Battersea@knightfrank.com 020 3866 2930

@KFBattersea KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/CPM160098

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07/12/2016 11:47:52

Ramsden Road, Wandsworth SW12 Located within the popular Nightingale Triangle A handsome double fronted period home of substantial proportions with off street parking. 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (1 en suite), 3 reception rooms, kitchen/dining room, conservatory, utility room, cellar, downstairs cloakroom, large garden, off street parking. EPC:F. Approximately: 306 sq.m. (3300 sq.ft.).

Freehold

Guide price: £3,150,000

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

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/WND150167

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08/12/2016 11:30

07/12/2016 17:02:07

Property ROUND UP The inside scoop in your area

HOUSE HUNTING

MOST SATISFYING TRANSACTION:

I NEVER THOUGHT I’D SEE:

After six months of marketing with another agent, we stepped in and attracted four competing bids within a fortnight! We achieved a record price for Muncaster Road.

MOST INTERESTING PROPERTY:

CHARLIE STEATFIELD Sales Manager Marsh & Parsons

JUST SOLD

BATTERSEA RISE • SW11 1HG •

£800,000 ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

PRU_Batt&Clap_Jan17.indd 94

An apartment in Royal Victoria Patriotic Building. Steeped in history; it was an orphanage during the Crimean War, then became an interrogation centre during World War II. The flat was previously owned by an ex member of Duran Duran. his property had previously been on the market with another agent for a number of months with no joy. After valuation and a suggestion to do minor works to the interior which included repainting throughout, carpet cleaning, re-grouting and re-sealing in the bathrooms to freshen them up, the property became more saleable. It was later sold at 98% of the asking price.

However during the sales transaction, the buyers mortgage

THE FLAT WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY AN EX MEMBER OF DURAN DURAN

The amount that Battersea and the rest of London has changed over the last decade I’ve been working here; with the development of Battersea Power Station and a whole wealth of other investment and development in the area.

FINEST PROPERTY SHOWCASE:

Royal Victoria Patriotic Building, SW18 u Marsh & Parsons Battersea, 020 7228 9292; marshandparsons.co.uk

vendors to make properties as presentable as possible in this market, where there is a lot of competition. Basic works can really give a property a boost it needs. It’s imperative buyers also use a financial advisor for their mortgage as most will know which lenders will lend on properties above commercial. u

T

got declined as it was above commercial. He then applied through a different lender and it went through. It’s important for

CHESTERTONS Battersea & Clapham, 020 7924 4400;

chestertons.com

94 08/12/2016 15:52

PROPERTY / NEWS AG E N T O N D E S I G N E X P E RT A DV I C E

TIERNEY ROAD, STREATHAM HILL, • SW2 •

£525,000 NEWS

OPENING OF MARTIN & CO I N ST R E AT H A M

W

ith the majority of the capitals stock being Victorian houses and conversions, it can pay to have something a little different. This beautiful and well-loved conversion is a superb example, it has the period exterior that many buyers wish for, it also has a stylish interior. The difference is seen with the vaulted ceilings showing off the original beams in the roof space, giving a different perspective and feel. This feature not only allows natural light to flood in, it makes the flat stand out from the crowd. The property also offers scope for improvement should someone wish to fit a new kitchen, or even create a second bedroom! u

artin & Co’s newest addition to their 200 strong-office network is busy carving out a niche in the sophisticated Streatham lettings market, with property sales going from strength to strength too. Partner Philip Royal explains "The firm’s aim to provide a quality service that is truly ‘Talk of the Town’".

Since arriving in SW16 the estate agency has aimed to take the lettings market by storm, firmly establishing

M

Martin & Co Streatham 0203 621 3215 martinco.com

NEWS

K F H R A I S E S OV E R £ 2 ,70 0 F O R B R E A ST C A N C E R H AV E N inleigh Folkard & Hayward (KFH) has raised over £2,700 in support of Breast CancerHaven, the national charity providing care and support to those affected by breastcancer. On Tuesday 11th October, offices across the Group wore pink, held raffles andsecured the help of local businesses to raise money as part of Breast CancerAwareness Month.

Breast Cancer Haven offers

K

Portico Clapham, 020 7501 0454; portico.com

the firm as a player in the prestigious family house sector and now the sales team are following suit. With Streatham prices still rising and a lack of stock currently on the market what advice can Martin & Co offer its clients? ‘Be realistic and if you are looking to move, sell now, there is no time like the present.” u

emotional support, help with symptom control andpractical advice to anyone affected by breast cancer. While the total figure currently stands at £2,713, we are still welcoming donations. u If you would like to help please visit our JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/ KFHbreastcancerhaven www.kfh.co.uk

Dominic Pasqua Partner & Office Head Knight Frank

Where should I invest?

Wimbledon has always been a good place to invest in property. Wimbledon is a very pretty Village within London with exceptional transport links into the City and Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

As we have some of the best schools in London on our doorstep (Kings College School and Wimbledon High School to name but two) Wimbledon is always attractive to families and as such there is always a decent market for family properties, unlike parts of central London which have relied heavily on overseas investors. Rental yields are good, but capital appreciation is always what investors are more interested in.

Over the past five years, research shows that property values have increased by 69% (source www.mypropertygenius. co.uk), even though the market has cooled a little of late. Wimbledon Village, Wimbledon Town, West Wimbledon and Raynes Park are all popular locations for investors. u

Over the past five years... property values have increased by 69% Knight Frank Wimbledon, 020 8946 0026 knightfrank.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT ON SOUTHWEST PROPERTIES LET

BY PROPERTY TYPE

1 BEDROOM FLAT

2 BEDROOM FLAT

3+ BEDROOM FLAT

HOUSE

25% 46% 12% 18% Data provided by LonRes

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absolutely.london

08/12/2016 15:53

NOW LAUNCHED CONTACT CONTACT US US TO TO BOOK BOOK AN AN APPOINTMENT APPOINTMENT WITH WITH THE THE SALES SALES TEAM TEAM

A An n e e xc xc ll u u ss ive ive c c ol ol ll e ec c tt ii on on of of ss u u it it e e ss ,, o o ne ne ,, tt wo wo ,, tt h h re re e e & & ff o ou u rr b b ed ed ro ro o om m ap ap aa rr tt m m ent ent ss ,, d u pl e xe s an d l u x u r y pe nt h o u s e s w it h o u t st a nd i ng s p e c i f i c at i o n . d u pl e xe s an d l u x u r y pe nt h o u s e s w it h o u t st a nd i ng s p e c i f i c at i o n .

Prices Prices from from £450,000 £450,000 Set Set to to become become a a landmark landmark destination destination for for north north London London with with cinema, fitness centre, supermarket, eateries and shops* cinema, fitness centre, supermarket, eateries and shops*

Set Set across across four four sleek sleek and and stylish stylish buildings buildings including two spectacular towers including two spectacular towers

11 minute minute walk walk to to the the new new western western entrance entrance of of Finsbury Finsbury Park Park station station for Victoria and Piccadilly tube links and National Rail connections for Victoria and Piccadilly tube links and National Rail connections

Panoramic Panoramic views views overlooking overlooking the the beautiful beautiful 110 110 acre Finsbury Park and across the acre Finsbury Park and across the capital capital

Connections Connections to to King’s King’s Cross Cross (4 (4 mins), mins), the the West West End End (9 (9 mins), mins), Holborn (11 mins) and Moorgate (13 mins) Holborn (11 mins) and Moorgate (13 mins)

Access Access to to The The Pavilion, Pavilion, a a communal communal roof roof garden garden featuring exclusive residents’ Wi-Fi featuring exclusive residents’ Wi-Fi Lounge Lounge

24 24 hour hour concierge concierge service service & & further further private private gardens gardens

Completions Completions from from Summer Summer 2019 2019 -- Spring Spring 2020 2020

Finsbury Park station Finsbury Park station 1 minute walk 1 minute walk

Kings Cross Kings Cross 4 mins 4 mins

Oxford Circus Oxford Circus 9 minutes 9 minutes

Holborn Holborn 11 minutes 11 minutes

Moorgate Moorgate 13 minutes 13 minutes

Victoria Victoria 13 minutes 13 minutes

Piccadilly Circus Piccadilly Circus 15 minutes 15 minutes

The City The City 16 minutes 16 minutes

Joint Selling Agents: Joint Selling Agents:

Computer generated images of City North. *Subject to lease. Prices correct at time of going to press. Times from Finsbury Park station courtesy of www.tfl.gov.uk.

Computer generated images of City North. *Subject to lease. Prices correct at time of going to press. Times from Finsbury Park station courtesy of www.tfl.gov.uk.

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14/11/2016 17:31

CALL CALL NOW NOW TO TO BOOK BOOK YOUR YOUR APPOINTMENT: APPOINTMENT:

A joint venture between: A joint venture between:

020 3620 8001 www.citynorthlondon.com www.citynorthlondon.com TCN.indd 2

14/11/2016 17:31

PRICES COURT, BATTERSEA Fantastic two bedroom, two bathroom top floor apartment located in this popular riverside development further benefitting from a porter service and underground parking.

EPC = D.

2

2

1

ASKING PRICE

£620,000 BATTERSEA 020 7228 2278

MARCILLY ROAD, BATTERSEA Spacious and well presented period house located moments from the ever-popular St John’s Hill with its many shops, bars and restaurants and a short walk to Clapham Junction station. Available from early January.

3

2

1

TO LET PCM

£2,500 BATTERSEA 020 7228 2278

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Battersea Clapham Putney Barnes Richmond

Chiswick Hammersmith West Kensington Fulham Chelsea

Kew Sheen Twickenham Teddington Kingston

featherstoneleigh.co.uk

GLYCENA ROAD, BATTERSEA Three double bedroom victorian house with potential to extend to the loft and the side return subject to all permissions and located on a quiet street. EPC = D.

3

1

1

ASKING PRICE

£1,100,000 BATTERSEA 020 7228 2378

COPTAIN HOUSE, BATTERSEA Stunning three bedroom apartment situated on the third floor of the ever-popular Riverside Quarter development. Further Benefitting from parking, gym and swimming pool.

EPC = C.

3

2

1

TO LET PCM

£3,380 BATTERSEA 020 7228 2378

TENANT FEES

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•

£48.00 (incl VAT) per person for referencing

•

£210.00 (incl VAT) per property for the tenancy agreement

07/12/2016 10:33

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PROPERTY / PROFILE

IN THEIR OWN

WORDS

Sam Sproston PA R T N E R , O F F I C E H E A D K n i g h t F r a n k , Wa n d s w o r t h

REBECCA NOONAN

I

’m sure everyone is expecting me to say that everything is going extremely well for us here at Knight Frank in Wandsworth and considering I’ve been kindly allowed a feature in this fantastic magazine, I thought I would take up the opportunity to shout about it. We have had another rather turbulent year to deal with in terms of the political outlook but on the whole I’m very proud of the hard work put in by my team here. Of course, all agents have faced the same problems in the market and I know that many are struggling or have had to close down completely. So we must be doing something right.

Transaction numbers have fallen recently, with fewer properties changing hands – and this is something the whole of London has felt. There is no doubt that the cause of the problem is the cost of moving. The other day I worked out that if a buyer were to move up the traditional property ladder from a £1.5m house to a £3.5m house and then a £5m ‘forever house’ they would be spending over £1,100,000 on Stamp Duty for the two last moves, assuming they own a second property somewhere

We've sold things that are not on the market and things that aren't even built

too. This issue is lengthening the time people are looking to stay in their current homes and reducing the number of moves they make, preferring to dig basements or convert lofts. The other result of this is that we are seeing younger buyers purchasing bigger houses.

We have also seen that Brexit has had very little impact on the market. The period immediately after the referendum was an opportunistic time for buyers and while everything we had under offer at the time was renegotiated on, we did exchange on all of them and a few of those houses had been on the market for over two years.

We’re now agreeing houses at record prices again, so while I may be an eternal optimist, we think we have turned a corner again.

Last month, a buyer flew over from the other side of the world to view two houses – we agreed one of them, he put down a security deposit and flew back.

The single most frustrating thing for us this year has been the new anti-money laundering regulations that have been brought in by the HMRC. It took me three months to obtain the documents we needed from a Russian client whose BVI company had a house they wanted to sell through us. Not straightforward, but it is a legal requirement before we can show buyers. To great relief we have a centralised team doing it all for us now.

To finish on a lighter note, part of our success is probably down to our passion for our jobs. We get to see the best houses and the coolest flats across London.

We’ve sold things that are not on the market and things that aren’t even built. We have support from a fantastic network with amazing colleagues in local offices, Knight Frank Finance, KFInteriors, valuations, international, research and commercial departments to name a few. We have newly developed websites now and have launched mypropertygenius.com, a new innovative tool for checking the local market by postcode. As a firm we are investing heavily to deliver a better service all round, for buyers and clients. To see how all this can help you, please call us. u

KNIGHT FRANK / 020 3811 2478 / www. k n i gh t f r a n k . c o m

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08/12/2016 14:58

An exclusive private-gated development of only four 3 bedroom family homes, located in a quiet mews just off Etherstone Road in SW16. Each house has large open-plan kitchen/dining/living areas with bi-folding doors leading out into landscaped private gardens; generous master suites with en-suite bathrooms, two additional large double bedrooms and an integrated private garage.

New Homes

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Prices starting from ÂŁ740,000.

Location: Hearn Place, Etherstone Road, West Norwood, SW16 To download the brochure or to register your interest visit hearnplace.com.

Call 02077386839 or visit: www.hearnplace.com www.peddernewhomes.com Pedder New Homes 167 Herne Hill London, SE24 9LR

DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANCY

09/11/2016 25/10/2016 14:58 20:23

We’ll send you packing

South East London has much to offer (like great schools, green spaces, and superb acces to the centre of town), but its best attribute is the value of property here.

If you need more space but don’t want to pay SW prices, come and talk to us. We sell and let more than anyone in SE London, and have a huge range of properties to choose from.

Pedder. Nobody knows South East London like we know South East London.

Residential Sales | Residential Lettings | Property Management | New Homes Specialists | Mortgages Commercial Property | Land / Development | Chartered Surveyors | Property Maintenance

www.pedderproperty.com

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09/11/2016 14:59

STREATHAM SW16

BRIXTON SW9

BRIXTON SW9

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH LONDON BOROUGH LAMBETH

BRIXTON SW9 BRIXTONSTREATHAM SW9

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

SW16

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

LONDON BOROUGHLONDON LAMBETHBOROUGH OF LAMBETH

STREATHAM SW16 LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

BRIXTON SW9 LONDON BOROUGH LAMBETH

BRIXTON SW9 BRIXTON HILL

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBET

SW9 BRIXTON HILL SW2 BRIXTON LONDON BOROUGH LAMBETH LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

STREATHAM SW16 BRIXTON SW9 LONDON BOROUGH LAMBETH BRIXTON SW9

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

LONDON BOROUGH LAMBETH

93%

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OF OUR LONDON LANDLORDS RATE MARTIN & CO AS EXCELLENT.*

29/11/2016 10:21

SPECIALISTS IN SW16

ILL SW2

HUBERT GROVE, STOCKWELL, SW9 Located on the sought after Hubert Grove an exceptional 4 double bedroom house. The ground floor briefly comprises white high gloss dining kitchen boasting bi-folding doors allowing access to a well maintained garden and 2 spacious reception rooms. The first floor offers 3 good sized bedrooms and shower room and to the second floor a further bedroom and bathroom with shower over the bath. The property features excellent storage and large windows allow ample light.

Ample original features mixed with contemporary fixtures and fittings make this property an ideal family home.

LAMBETH

£1,250,000

THIRLMERE ROAD, STREATHAM, SW16 Martin & Co in Streatham are delighted to offer a fantastic 5 bedroom detached family home. The property briefly comprises through reception room boasting feature fire places and large windows allowing ample natural light. Modern kitchen with integral appliances open plan to dining room and access to well maintained garden via the conservatory. Arranged over 3 floors and further features 5 double bedrooms, 2 en-suite bathrooms plus 2 further bathrooms serve the property. The property further includes fully equipped kitchen ideal for a nanny, gated off street parking and garage. £5,400 PCM

Martin & Co Streatham 0203 621 3215

e: streatham@martinco.com 11 Leigham Hall Parade • Streatham • London • SW16 1DR

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29/11/2016 10:21

STING’S FORMER MATERIAL WORLD

NIGEL LEWIS

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

MCQUEEN’S FORMER FASHIONABLE ADDRESS

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

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

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

T

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

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

M

£8.5 Million

WHERE CHURCHILL WENT AFTER THE WAR

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

W

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PROPERTY / STAR HOMES Prices start at

£5.9

£23

Million

Million

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

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

A

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

Million

GINGER ALE, ANYONE? C

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

£1.15 Million

107 Chis_Jan16_famousplaces.indd 107

£1.4

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

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

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 15:54

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Wimbledon Village, SW19 A charming and beautifully presented Grade II listed cottage nestled in a delightful courtyard on Denmark Road. Situated in a sought after conservation area in Wimbledon Village, the property provides 2/3 bedrooms, a pretty southeast facing garden and roof terrace. EPC: C

Guide Price £1,075,000 • Grade II Cottage • Village Location • Courtyard Setting • Conservation Area • 2/3 Bedrooms • SE Terrace & Patio

Hamptons Wimbledon Sales. 020 8454 7249

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08/09/2016 17:59

Prince of Wales Drive.

Computer generated image, indicative only.

SHOW APARTMENT NOW OPEN Introducing Prince of Wales Drive, a brand new collection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments just moments from Battersea Park, Zone 1 and a mile from Sloane Square*.

Set around 2.5 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens, these spacious apartments offer a premium specification and distinctive interior design. The state-of-the-art facilities include a 17m pool, sauna, steam room, 8th floor roof terrace, 24-hour concierge and secure basement parking.

Prices from ÂŁ690,000 For your appointment to view the show apartment please call 020 3797 4939 or email sales@princeofwalesdrive.co.uk or visit www.princeofwalesdrive.co.uk

Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

*Distances and travel times are approximate only. Source: Transport for London. Details are correct at time of going to press and subject to apartment type and availability. Computer Generated Image depicts Prince of Wales Drive. Š Hunter for Berkeley Homes.

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09/09/2016 09/09/2016 13:44 13:14

Balham 020 8772 9373 balham@lauristons.com

Battersea 020 7978 5800 battersea@lauristons.com

Kennington 020 7385 2296 kennington@lauristons.com

Land 020 8943 2211 land@lauristons.com

New Homes 020 8879 9099 newhomes@lauristons.com

Putney 020 8780 8780 putney@lauristons.com

Wandsworth 020 8417 8054 wandsworth@lauristons.com

Wimbledon 020 8946 9468 wimbledon@lauristons.com

Espirit House, Putney SW15

ÂŁ799,950 Share of Freehold

This beautiful two bedroom second floor apartment has been recently refurbished to a very high standard. A superb 30' double aspect reception room with a stunning open plan kitchen with separate dining space and a private balcony making this a fantastic entertaining space. There are two large double bedrooms, the master bedroom boasting its own private balcony and en suite bathroom, and a further shower room off the hallway.

The property also has the added benefits of secure underground parking, lift access and a secure entry system. Both East Putney Tube station and Putney Mainline station are within 0.1m and 0.4m. EPC EER C Putney Office: 020 8780 8780

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Kennington Park Road, Kennington SE11

ÂŁ1,850,000 Freehold

A most impressive and beautifully presented five bedroom Georgian home situated in the heart of Kennington. Arranged over five floors with neutral tones throughout, this Grade II listed period property provides over 2,400 square feet of accommodation. Amongst its many features, the Georgian 'Bowed Bay' at the rear of the house is particularly magnificent. Kennington Park Road is less than a mile from the South Bank, Westminster Abbey and Houses of Parliament (the property falls within the 'division bell') whilst both The City and West End are easily accessible.

Kennington Underground station (City & West End branch of the Northern line) can be found 100 metres from the property. EPC EER C. Kennington Sales: 020 7385 2296

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09/11/2016 14:46

NIGEL LEWIS

OFFICE POLITICS

The need for more homes in London plus more relaxed planning laws are spurring on developers to turn more and more offices into homes, reports Nigel Lewis

A

few months ago I walked past an office block in Clerkenwell where I’d worked during the 1990s and to my surprise it had a Savills’ residential For Sale sign hanging outside it.

It turns out that the care-worn Art Deco offices I once toiled in are now a set of top-notch apartments which, since my walk-by, have all sold for between £2m and £4.5m.

This is happening all over London.

Recent government house building figures show an 11% jump in the number of new homes, an increase that the figures show was down to the number of former industrial and office workplaces being in turned into apartments.

The largest one-off conversion in London is Delta Point in Croydon town centre, which has turned 29,000 sq m of former office space into 348 new homes. Similarly large schemes have also been given the go-ahead in eleven other London borough including, most notably, Richmond, Barnet, Islington, Camden and Lambeth. This deluge of office conversion is largely down to planning changes which in 2013 temporarily relaxed ‘permitted development rights’ (or PDR) regulations for offices being turned into residential.

These rules have just been made permanent, it was revealed recently, so the surge in office conversions is likely to continue with thousands of new homes be built within former offices next year. It’s a trend that politicians are desperate to

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encourage as they try to solve the housing crisis. “We promised to turbo-charge housebuilding so more people can have the security of their own home, and that is exactly what we are doing with the biggest increase in the number of new homes in many years,” said Housing Minister Gavin Barwell recently.

But the huge increase in office to residential conversions does not come without controversy.

Jane Duncan, president of the Royal Institute of British architects says she is “concerned that office-toresidential conversion is occurring without proper oversight by local authorities, and that as a result homes are being delivered at a

“It’s a trend that politicians are desperate to encourage as they try to solve the housing crisis” standard which would otherwise be deemed totally unacceptable”.

Developers, as you might imagine, disagree and are getting stuck in to this emerging new sector. “The impact of the revision of permitted development in England is already being felt,” says Jean Liggett, MD of Properties of the World.

“Developers are using their imaginations about how to transform some of the country’s beautiful but neglected buildings into stylish, modern apartments, breathing new life into them while preserving their original architectural appeal.” Hossein Abedinzadeh, founder of developer MHA London, is currently busy converting a former Brutalist office block on Old Street into flats and says office spaces can make good, affordable housing. “We had an opportunity here to take a tired, run-down office block and turn it into a trophy building to demonstrate our capability to construct and deliver something extraordinary,” he says.

The building, formerly called Barbican House and until 2010 let to accountants Franks LLP for

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PROPERTY /FEATURE

£164,000 a year, was a five-storey block that has been essentially refaced with a modern skin that will render it almost unrecognisable. 30 Old Street will have shops on the ground floor but also contain eight two- and three-bedroom luxury apartments starting at £1.255 million.

A more unusual example of an office conversion can be found in Westbourne Grove in Maida Vale.

It’s a large Grade II listed police station built in 1911 that’s being converted into 25 apartments by developer Redrow.

It’s famous because the station is where Russell Brand was taken after being arrested during the 2001 May Day riots in central London.

But more typical of the office

redevelopments you find in central London is Beau House on Jermyn Street in St James’s. It’s named after Beau Brummell, the 18th century fashion icon whose statue stands on the street. The former offices at the property, will soon contain eight apartments from developer Dukelease which has partnered with interior designer Oliver Burns for the project.

But all this conversion activity has also been blamed on a reduced supply of office space in London.

Ask anyone who has recently tried to find an office in London and you’ll soon hear tales of months spent searching for available space, and sky-high rents.

Nicky Gavron, chair of the London Assembly Planning Committee says:

113 Chis_Jan16_OFFICE CONVERSIONS 2.indd 113

“Employment space is vulnerable to developers looking to make a quick buck by converting it to housing.

“It’s not as though London doesn’t have plenty of space for houses – it doesn’t need to sacrifice employment space. Doing so threatens the businesses and jobs London needs to grow.” But the desperate need for homes in London is spurring on office conversions regardless of these concerns. London Councils, the organisation which presents the capital’s 32 boroughs and the City of London, says that over the past three years at least 830,000 sq m of office floor space has been converted into 16,600 homes in 2,639 developments. And my old office was probably one of them. u

absolutely.london

08/12/2016 15:55

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

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

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

PROPERTY / INTERVIEW NIGEL LEWIS

THE STAR-CITECT Zac Monro, TV’s no-nonsense architect talks conversions, sustaibability and Grand Designs.

Y

to buy a home to convert is that they should find the worst, dishevelled and decrepit house you can, because you’re going to gut it anyway so it doesn’t matter what it’s like.

In my opinion Victorian houses don’t function well as modern homes, so I say that you’ll have to do a lot to make them work as somewhere to live, bring in normal levels of light and have them properly heated.

Don’t get wrapped up in the romance of old buildings if you want modern standards.

ou’ll find architect Zac Monro at his Brixton office most days quietly employing the skills he’s been sought after for decades – designing Londoners’ dream homes.

But his fame is now national. Zac recently began appearing on TV alongside his hero, Kevin McCloud, in Channel 4’s House of the Year while also presenting his own show, Inside Out Homes. Nigel Lewis caught up him to grapple with some of the current big architectural trends.

NIGEL LEWIS: Isn’t using an architect just for the wealthy?

ZAC MONRO: You could say that but I prefer to say that our projects are properly designed. Architecture isn’t about elitism; TV programmes like Grand Designs have raised the bar of what people expect from their homes. It’s about better lifestyles.

And we’re just lucky that in the UK a lot of people own their homes and therefore there’s a growing market for good design.

NL: I hear you’ve been on TV ZM: I was picked up by Channel 4 for a TV series called Inside Out Homes that looks at people’s existing properties and tries to do what Californians have been doing for years – mixing up what’s ‘interior’ and ‘exterior’.

It’s about how you deal with the relationships between the exterior and the interior. Hence why it’s called Inside Out Homes.

The show is unusual because it’s not ‘presented’ but rather the person doing the work to the property is the person talking.

It’s them saying ‘I’m in trouble’ rather than the presenter.

I’ve also got involved with the 2015 and 2016 House of The Year show also on Channel 4. I’m filmed wandering around several of the buildings talking about them.

Don’t get wrapped up in the romance of old buildings if you want modern standards.

NL: What’s it like working with Kevin?

ZM: What’s lovely about Kevin is that I think we really needed a champion for architecture on primetime TV and more and more that’s him.

Many people might think Grand Designs is just about posh houses, but he makes it clear that stuff that happens at the top of the market will filter down to the rest of us. He’s made people believe in doing the impossible when they build a new home for themselves.

NL: Why are conversions getting more fashionable?

ZM: It’s rare to find new build plots in London rather than developer-built homes so my clients tend to buy existing properties to convert. What I say to people who want

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NL: What are you views on building sustainability?

ZM: The fashion for recycling buildings is driven by the law which is very tight on sustainability these days and it means - for example – that a Victorian house is completely unsustainable these days. They are coming to the end of their lifespans as they were designed to last 100 years.

People tend to think of sustainable homes as experimental kind of wattle and daub affairs and that they only want bricks and mortar, but this attitude is changing.

You can see it in the trend for the ‘recycling aesthetic’. We did a project recently where the client stuck all her old floorboards from the original house up on the wall of the new one. I think people are starting to accept that ‘recycling’ when done properly and carefully can look great. It’s all about the detailing.

NL: Has one of your own projects been on Grand Designs?

ZM: Yes, a conversion I worked on overlooking Brockwell Park in South London that was featured in a 2013 programme. It’s between the church and the park’s boundary at the northern end and the clients still live there. We took an existing property and started from scratch as much as we could. And it’s clad in wood. u More information from: www.z-m-a.co.uk

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08/12/2016 16:00

PROPERTY / NEW TO THE MARKET

LUXURIOUS

LETTINGS London’s Finest Assets

RAYNERS ROAD

SW15

£850 PW

stunning ground floor two double bedroom, two ensuite bathroom apartment. The property benefits from a large reception room and open plan living/ dining area with doors to private patio, off street parking and access to attractive communal garden. This superb apartment is ideally located within easy walking distance of Putney Mainline and High Street and East Putney Underground (District Line). u  Chestertons Putney, 020 8704 1000; chestertons.com

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PETWORTH STREET

SW11

£1,300

Petworth Street is ideally located just off Albert Bridge Road and offering easy access to local amentities, Battersea Park, Chelsea and the popular Kings Road. u  John D Wood & Co. Battersea, 020 7223 8848; johndwood.co.uk

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his four bedroom family home is set across three floors, the ground floor comprises of an eat-in kitchen and reception room with French doors leading out to a large private garden. The first floor offers a family bathroom, two double bedrooms and master bedroom which overlooks the front garden and has ample built in storage. On the second floor there is a further double bedroom and family bathroom.

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ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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BRIDGES COURT ROAD

SW11

£800 PW

unique two bedroom property situated within the popular development, Vicentia Court in Battersea. This split level apartment has been beautifully decorated throughout and benefits from a secure

underground parking space, 24 hour concierge service and direct access to the communal courtyard. The property includes an open plan living area and kitchen with a mezzanine level, a master bedroom with a modern

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ensuite, second double bedroom and a second modern bathroom. The property would be ideal for professional sharers or a couple. u  Portico Battersea, 020 7738 1538; portico.com

116 08/12/2016 15:58

STREATHAM’S HOTTEST NEW ADDRESS A stunning collection of studios, 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments

Introducing London Square Streatham Hill, a smart development of studio, 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments, located within a few minutes’ walk of shops, cafés, restaurants and Streatham Hill Station, where you can reach London Victoria in as little as 17 minutes. Designed for the fashionable SW2 lifestyle, apartments boast light and spacious open plan living areas and are situated around private landscaped gardens, with the added benefit of a concierge, gym and parking.

One bedroom apartments from £425,000 Two bedroom apartments from £560,000 The Sales Suite and two bedroom Show Apartment, 142-170 Streatham Hill, London SW2 4RU, open daily

To organise your viewing appointment call 0333 666 2131

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Computer generated images depict London Square Streatham Hill and photography depicts the two bedroom Show Apartment and are indicative only. Details and prices are correct at time of going to press - November 2016.

Travel times sourced from National Rail Enquiries. Parking on selected plots only.

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09/11/2016 14:48

PROPERTY / NEW TO THE MARKET PRIME

PURCHASE London’s Finest Assets

SHELGATE ROAD

 BATTERSEA, SW11

£750,000

ocated in a prime L ‘between the commons’ position, is this incredibly spacious two bedroom, two bathroom split level conversion apartment, which benefits from a secluded private patio garden. The first floor offers a generous living space with open plan living/ dining areas and a separate kitchen. Shelgate Road is within easy reach of Clapham Junction station, whilst the boutiques, cafes, bars and restaurants on Northcote Road and Battersea Rise are also on the doorstep. u  KFH Battersea,020 3792 1088; kfh.co.uk

MOSTYN ROAD

LONDON, SW19

£2,825,000

beautifully presented detached home within the sought after Merton Park Conservation area. The house has generous reception space, superb bedrooms, a garage, ample off-street parking and truly stunning rear garden with summer house. On the ground floor the hallway gives access to the generous principal reception rooms, a stunning drawing room, dining room,

family room and Italian tiled kitchen/breakfast room with granite worktops and large patio doors leading onto the garden. u  Knight Frank Wimbledon, 020 8946 0026 knightfrank.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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CLAIBORNE ROAD

SW12

£2,600,000

split over four levels. This incredible family house has been completely refurbished and almost entirely rebuilt by the current owners. It is evident from the moment you enter the hallway that no

n extremely impressive semidetached Victorian house offering approximately 3407 sqft of accommodation

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expense has been spared and the quality of the finish is exceptional throughout. u  Rampton Baseley Battersea & Clapham, 020 7228 5111 ramptonbaseley.com

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A collection of exclusive four storey townhouses and a stunning 3 bedroom penthouse, only minutes away from Oval and Kennington Stations in Zone 2.

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Images are CGI representations of St Agnes Place and St Agnes Place show home photography

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08/09/2016 18:24

ON WHITE

ON GREEN

Ballin don Road

,2

per week

n absolutely stunnin Victorian house which has been refurbished and decorated by the current owners to an e tremely hi h standard. The house has been e tended on the round floor into the side return, on the top floor into the loft space and the basement has a utility room and further stora e. ive bedrooms ouble reception Kitchen/family room round loor W tility room ellar Two family bathrooms n suite arden bathroom and walk throu h dressin room n

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ÂŁ240 inc VAT for the tenancy agreement and ÂŁ42 per person referencing fee

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07/12/2016 10:21

ON WHITE

RAMPTON BASELE Y

ON GREEN

battersealettings@ramptonbaseley.com

RAMPTON BASELE Y

Western Lane £625 per week The spacious accommodation is laid over the top two floors of a Victorian house. On the first floor there are two double bedrooms, both with built in wardrobes, and a bathroom with overhead shower. There is also an eat in kitchen and dual aspect reception room with wooden floors. The master bedroom is on the second floor with an en suite bathroom and access to the incredible roof terrace.

Beautifully presented Kitchen/breakfast room Reception room with dual aspect windows Three double bedroom Two bathrooms Wonderful roof terrace n

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£240 inc VAT for the tenancy agreement and £42 per person referencing fee

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07/12/2016 10:21

ON WHITE

ON GREEN

rodric

oad ÂŁ ,750,000 Freehold

This spectacular end-of terraced family house has been completely refurbished by the current owners to an incredibly high standard throughout. The property is presented immaculately and offers ust shy of 000 sq ft of accommodation, which is arranged over three floors. An impressive double reception room is positioned towards the front of the building on the ground floor and boasts a stunning wor ing fireplace, bay window and wooden flooring with underfloor heating throughout.

Six bedrooms Four bathrooms (three en-suite) Kitchen/ dining room Double reception room Family room Study Downstairs cloa room Garden ff street par ing Cellar n

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07/12/2016 10:21

ON WHITE

RAMPTON BASELE Y

ON GREEN

30 Bellevue Road, London, SW17 7EF 020 3846 0999 wandsworthsales@ramptonbaseley.com

RAMPTON BASELE Y

St Ann's Crescent ÂŁ1,575,000 Freehold An extremely impressive Victorian house positioned on this quiet residential street. The current owners have recently extended and completely refurbished the property and have gone to great lengths, sourcing high quality materials and fittings throughout.

The interior is beautifully designed with family living in mind. The accommodations arranged over three floors and there is a good sense of light and space throughout.

Five bedrooms Three bathrooms (one en-suite) Kitchen/ Family room Double reception room Downstairs WC Cellar/ Utility room Garden Eaves storage n

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Get help to make a new home more affordable A new home at Balham Walk could be more affordable than you think, with our 5% deposit match offer.* This could mean lower mortgage repayments and more money to spend furnishing your brand new home.

Come visit our superb new Show Home and speak to one of our Sales Executives to find out how we could help you move.

Call 0203 837 7068

or visit taylorwimpey.co.uk/balham-walk Sales centre open Friday – Wednesday 11am – 6pm and Thursday 12pm – 7pm *Deposit Match is an interest-free loan of up to 5% of the purchase price of the property offered for a period of up to 10 years subject to a second charge on the property.

Full details of all the offers available on request, on selected properties only. Offers can be withdrawn at any time and only one promotion offered on each purchase.

All offers subject to using a Mortgage Broker and Solicitor from Taylor Wimpey’s panel who will act solely for the applicant. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE. Photographs and computer generated image show typical Taylor Wimpey homes, which may include optional upgrades or extras available at additional cost. Please ask your Sales Executive for details. Details correct at time of going to print.

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