november 2017 s ÂŁ5
Hall of fame A peak inside Harrods’ new gastronomic playground
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Glorious food special In the kitchen with Alain Ducasse, Yotam Ottolenghi and Marie Guerlain
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contents
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64 22
upfront 10. Contributors
54. Pop & Suki Suki Waterhouse and Poppy Jamie on their new bag brand
12. Editor’s letter
57. Style file
14. Five minutes with... Yotam Ottolenghi on his new book, Sweet 16. Diary notes
58. Beauty notes
18. Spotlight A sneak peek at Harrods’ new-and-improved food hall 22. Profile Alain Ducasse marks ten years at The Dorchester
culture 28. Art & antiques
interiors 64. Modern marquetry The brands championing the 16th century craft 30. Royal Hospital Chelsea Celebrating 325 years of the Chelsea institute
collection 36. Jewellery box
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37. Objects of desire
68. Design notes 70. Russell Sage Behind the scenes with the designer of The Botanist 74. Home accessories How to dine in style with this season’s top tableware trends
high life 78. Food & drink 80. Marie Guerlain The pots and pans making waves in the kitchen
travel 87. Globetrotter
38. Gouache How gouache shapes today’s jewellery houses
88. India Tracking tigers in the Ranthambore National Park
42. Reinventing the wristwatch
92. Washington Discover a more luxurious side to America’s capital
fashion 46. Style notes 48. Fashion shoot
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property 99. Luxury homes in the Royal Borough
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contributors
Melanie Backe-Hansen
Camilla Apcar
Melanie Backe-Hansen is a freelance historian specialising in the social history of houses and is the author of House Histories and Historic Streets and Squares. This issue she discovers the story behind the Royal Hospital Chelsea (p.30-32).
This issue luxury lifestyle journalist and deputy editor of The Mayfair Magazine, Camilla Apcar cooks up a storm with legendary chef Alain Ducasse, who is marking his tenth anniversary at The Dorchester with a special menu (p.22-25).
N OV E M BE R 2 01 7 Editor Dawn Alford Contributing Editors Mhairi Graham Richard Brown Assistant Editor Ellen Millard Editorial Assistants Lauren Stevens Anna Booth Senior Designer Daniel Poole Junior Designer Paris Fielder
K aren Bowerman
Mike Ruiz
Sub Editor Jan Jacques
Karen Bowerman is a travel writer and TV presenter who has twice won Travel Broadcaster of the Year. She has contributed to National Geographic Traveller and The Independent. This month, Karen visited Washington and fell in love with the city (p.92-93).
Mike Ruiz has worked for the likes of Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller and Italian Elle, specialising in fashion, beauty and celebrity photography. This month his delectable food-themed fashion shoot graces the front cover of The Kensington & Chelsea Magazine.
Brand Consistency Laddawan Juhong Production Hugo Wheatley Alice Ford Jamie Steele Executive Director Sophie Roberts General Manager Fiona Smith
on the
COVER Left: Lock Couture Walkies hat, £495, lockhatters.co.uk; Right: Photography by Mike Ruiz, mikeruiz.com
On the cover of The Kensington & Chelsea Magazine, fashion photographer Mike Ruiz provides food for thought with his gluttony-inspired shoot. On the cover of The Notting Hill & Holland Park Magazine, Lock & Co’s couture collection takes centre stage. Discover the range on page 45.
Managing Director Eren Ellwood Proudly published & printed in the UK by
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editor’s letter
From top: Harrods chefs, 1929 (p. 18); Alain Ducasse’s new menu (p.22)
november “One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating” – Luciano Pavarotti The team have thoroughly enjoyed putting this glorious food issue together and discovered that the next best things to eating food are talking about it, writing about it and gazing longingly at mouthwatering images.. Autumn is the time when we allow ourselves to be a little more indulgent, content in the knowledge perhaps that an extra pound or two can be concealed in chunky knits, warm coats and boots. Our monochrome fashion shoot on page 48 ticks a lot of those boxes in bangon-trend style. My colleague Ellen Millard was lucky enough to get a sneak peek and tour of the Harrods’ new-look food hall – where the offerings are as sumptuous as the historical surroundings. On page 22, master of haute cuisine, Alain Ducasse tells us of the secrets to his success and celebrations planned to mark his 10 years at the Dorchester. Of course it’s not just the food that makes a great restaurant. The décor, layout and lighting also subtly
contribute to our experience and enjoyment. One man who knows how to make an eatery interesting is hotel and restaurant designer Russell Sage. On page 70 he reveals his stunning new designs for Sloane Square’s The Botanist which is crammed with charm, character and curiosities. We hope this issue will inspire you to spend time enjoying a meal with friends and family. Because as the celebrated cook and author Julia Child said: “People who love to eat are always the best people.” Enjoy the issue and bon appétit Dawn Alford, editor
regulars
I’ve always loved food. I love everything about it: the celebration, the communal nature of it – getting together, sharing dishes around – the connection of food to place and memory and the experimentation.
The years Helen and I have spent working together mean that we’re very robust when it comes to judging a bake, so it never becomes personal. We’ve also got a huge shared archive of recipes and vocabulary so we can speak in a sort of shorthand which also helps.
My first job in a professional kitchen was whisking egg whites, which I did pretty much consistently for three months. I was very junior in the kitchen and my job was to prepare them for the popular vanilla soufflés we sold. My parents are both great cooks so that was a good starting point for me. Claudia Roden has always been an inspiration too, and all the chefs I work with at Ottolenghi. Baking-wise, Rose Levy Beranbaum has taught me a lot in her books. Helen [Goh] and I have been baking together for more than ten years, so our book, Sweet, has been a long time in the making. We were always going to do it, it was just finding the right time for us both.
five minutes with
Yotam Ottolenghi The cook discusses his new book, Sweet, his co-author and fellow baking fanatic Helen Goh and why he will always have a soft spot for Notting Hill as told to Ellen Millard Clockwise from main image: Yotam Ottolenghi; Cinnamon pavlova with figs; Chocolate, banana and pecan cookies, both ©Peden + Munk; Sweet hamper, from £120, available at Ottolenghi Notting Hill; Yotam Ottolenghi
There is a cake, cookie or dessert to suit every occasion in the book, so it’s really hard to pick a favourite. I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for alcohol in sweet things, though, so the Vineyard Cake, which takes a whole bottle of wine in the batter, is certainly a bit of a favourite. If you’re baking for the first time, cookies are always a really good place to start. Making the cookie dough alone for the chocolate chip cookies, for example, is thrilling enough and delicious to nibble on before you’ve even turned on the oven. I’ve always loved Notting Hill. It’s a great neighbourhood with tonnes of energy. The match between what we were trying to do [when we launched Ottolenghi] and the customer base was a good one. Sweet by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh is out now, £27, published by Ebury Press, penguin.co.uk
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Royal Albert Hall, ©Stephen Frak
Music
Cue the music
©Amy Murrell 2017
Jools Holland and his celebrated Rhythm & Blues Orchestra return to the Royal Albert Hall for two nights this November. Along with tracks from his solo career, Holland and the band will perform a unique combination of Latin and pop music with the help of Grammy award-winning guitarist and singer-songwriter José Feliciano. Grab a drink and get ready to boogie-woogie the night away. From £19.50, 24-25 November, Royal Albert Hall, SW7, royalalberthall.com
diary notes words by Anna Booth
Event
Go wild
Joanna Lumley, ©Ben Foster
Escape from London life with the Transglobe Expedition Trust, which is hosting its annual series of evening lectures at the Royal Geographical Society. With an introduction by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, four distinguished travellers – including Joanna Lumley and Mike Stroud – will tell tales of their adventures around the world, from the polar ice caps to the heart of Australia. £30, 16 November, Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, SW7, transglobe-trust.org
Film
Silver Screen Treat yourself to a unique movie experience this month with The South Kensington Cinema Club at The Ampersand Hotel. Take your pick from a selection of carefullycurated screenings and unwind for an intimate night, complete with gourmet popcorn and bespoke cocktails.
£25, until 6 November, 2 Harrington Road, SW7, ampersandhotel.com
Event
Back with a bang
Marvel at a dazzling display of light and colour this November during Bonfire Night weekend, for which The Roof Gardens invites us to a firework-filled evening of celebrations. Enjoy resident DJs, cocktails and a barbeque grill – all of which will precede a firework display in the Spanish Garden. £20, 4 November, 99 Kensington High Street, W8, roofgardens.virgin.com
regulars book worm
Courtesy of Kensington & Chelsea Events
Feast your eyes upon our top foodie reads that will inspire you to get creative in the kitchen Courtesy of Evan Sung
Japan Easy T I M A N DE R S ON Delve into the world of modern Japanese cooking with Tim Anderson. From gyoza to yakitori, he is on a mission to prove that anyone can recreate traditional dishes with ease. £20, hardiegrant.co.uk
Charity
ivy league It’s never too early for a spot of Christmas shopping and this November the Junior League of London kicks off the festive season with its prestigious annual event, Boutique De Noel. The fair will feature live entertainment and a silent auction, as well as a range Christmas gifts. £35, 13 November, Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road, SW3, jll.org.uk
Left: Jack Goes Swimming, 2013 Right: Choco Leibnitz, 2006, both ©Rose Wylie
Exhibtion
Eccentric taste
Discover the emerging talent of Rose Wylie as she debuts her first institutional solo exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery. Using visual material as inspiration, such as art history, celebrity stories and daily observations, she creates a new perspective of the world through her bold and large-scale paintings. 30 November – 4 February, Serpentine Sackler Gallery, W2, serpentinegalleries.org
Vietnamese Cuisine
Mexico: A Culinary Quest
T OM MO OR M A N A N D L A R R Y MC G U I R E Uncover the hidden gem of Austin, Texas with Tom Moorman and Larry McGuire as they reveal the Frenchinspired Vietnamese recipes from Elizabeth Street Cafe. £29.95, uk.phaidon.com
HO S S EI N A M I R S A DE G H I Inspired by his travels across Mexico’s 32 states, Hossein Amirsadeghi explores the longstanding traditions behind the country’s most popular dishes. £45, thamesandhudson.com
Made at Home
Rum
G IOR G IO L O CAT E L L I The fiery chef celebrates his cultural roots and how his homes from Northern Italy to North London have inspired a range of delicious concoctions in the kitchen. £26, amazon.co.uk
DA N JON E S Rum fans, look no further – liquor enthusiast Dan Jones presents more than 40 ways to mix your favoured tipple, from fruity Piña Colada’s to punchy Mai Tai’s. Cheers! £10, hardiegrant.co.uk
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cru nch A culinary coup is underway in the food halls of Harrods, where the first stage of the Taste Revolution – a four year overhaul of the gastronomic landmark – is set to be unveiled this November
time
words by Ellen Millard
D
ear residents of Knightsbridge: I hate to point the finger, but there is a trickster amongst you. Armed with a Le Creuset dish and a Harrods’ fish pie, this cunning culinary calamity has hoodwinked their neighbours into believing they are the second coming of Nigella Lawson – and, frankly, I’m just disappointed I didn’t think of it first. The story goes that a local resident with a penchant for poached fish and potato popped in one weekend and asked the store’s chefs to fashion a bigger, more dinner party-friendly version of her favoured dish, in order that she might pass it off as her own. The cooks, naturally, were only too happy to oblige. This exposé comes courtesy of Harrods’ head of food, April Preston, who admits she wasn’t surprised in the slightest – nor, I imagine, will you be. After all, this is the store that famously acquired a lion cub for one adventurous shopper, and a baby elephant for another.
Artist’s impression of the new The Roastery
Harrods’ chefs in 1929
“It was one of the things I was blown away by when I joined Harrods, and it’s the first thing they teach you: nothing is too much,” Preston says. “That really is the way we live and breathe.” Founded in 1834 by Charles Harrod, the nowdepartment store began life as a humble East End grocer and tea merchant before moving to Brompton Road to capitalise on the trade brought in by the Great Exhibition of 1851. Fast forward 166 years and you can’t walk down the Knightsbridge street without casting an eye on the gargantuan store, now a destination shop for, well, everything – including a bespoke fish pie, should you require one. It’s a big leap for what began as a bog-standard fruit and veg stall, now more known for its clutch bags than its cucumbers – but this is all set to change as, for the first time in 30 years, the fabled food halls are being given a makeover, with a strong focus on the local customers who pop in daily for a pint of milk.
spotlight Artist’s impression of the new Bake Hall
The first phase of the Taste Revolution, a fouryear project, will launch this November with a new-andimproved The Roastery and Bake Hall. Currently, should you venture beneath the bustling foodie mecca, you’ll find a 150-strong team of chefs kneading, basting and frying to their hearts content – but, come November, much of the activity will be found on the shop floor. “The food halls have always been about amazing displays with wonderful food, but they just sit there,” Preston admits. “We’ve been hiding our light under a bushel a bit, but with the Taste Revolution it’s going to be much more live; you’ll see everything happening.” The Bake Hall will be home to an impressive scratch bakery, where a team of 14 bakers will put its dough expertise to the test and produce 80 per cent of the store’s bread, with two fresh loaves coming out of the oven every half an hour. More than 30 new types of bread have been created especially for the occasion, including a signature loaf that was the wellhoned project of Harrods’ master baker Lance Gardner.
“It’s been a real work of love,” says Gardner, who spent four months perfecting the recipe. “I wanted to keep it really special, because it’s an iconic loaf. It has been based on my own experience working at different bakeries, seeing what’s trending in food and the Harrods customer as well – sourdough is huge, so I wanted to try and bring that to the forefront.” It sounds like a lot of effort for a simple loaf, but the crux of the Taste Revolution is creating core staples that people will pick up on their way home from work. As such, the bread has been made in both a small, every day, size, and as a 2kg wheel that can be rolled out at gettogethers (only Harrods could make bread a fancy affair). Other new treats include a delicious truffle, Parmesan and mushroom focaccia made from ingredients sold in the food halls, and flaky croissants produced using butter from Montaigu in France. Next door to the bakery, The Roastery will churn out more than 35 coffee blends (including a new signature, aptly named the Knightsbridge blend) in a 25 kilo roaster that will be producing all of the coffee that Harrods sells, both in the food halls and in its restaurants. “We have been taking food trends into account and coffee is massive; when I was young, you could have black or white – now you can have everything in between,” Preston says. “But it’s more than just a trendled thing; it’s about wanting to do the simple things really well. We wanted to roast our own beans because we know that is the best way to get the best quality.” Bean buffs will be on hand to offer advice on the best brew for you, as well as the chance to taste the blends available before you buy, as a hot caffeine fix during the day or as an espresso martini at night.
“It’s more than just a trend-led thing; it’s about wanting to do the simple things really well”
Lance Gardner
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spotlight Harrods’ bakers in 1929
Along with beans, you’ll be able to buy your favoured coffee in ground or pod format, so even those with a Nespresso machine can join in the fun (we’re looking at you, George Clooney). In addition, a Roast and Bake cafe will be launching, where you can tuck into the best treats found at the new counters. If tea is your poison, a visit to the Tea Tailor should do the trick; spin the roulette wheel of flavours to pick your favoured tastes, and the store’s resident tea sommelier will whip you up the perfect cuppa. Finally, in the centre of the space, the patisserie counter will take pride of place, with desserts hand-crafted by head pastry chef Alistair Birt and his team. Colourful treats that look more like works of art than works of chocolate will be the stars of the show; one is Champagne and peach flavoured, another coffee and star anise. “The range is a lot more pared back in terms of finish, and much more slick,” Birt, who recently reached the finals of the prestigious Master of Culinary Arts award, explains. “We really worked with tonal colours, so the strawberry and yuzu dessert is all different colours of red, and we’ve got a matcha one that’s three different shades of green.” It has been a labour of love for the team, which has been working flat out to get the first stage finished in time for the big reveal come November. For Preston, who likens her career to that of a footballer (“I get paid to do what I love”), it has been the cherry on an already pretty good cake. “I just love working with chefs; I love the way their brains work, I love the creativity, and the fact that they can produce this amazing food. I’ve been in the industry for forever but I learn something new every day” she chimes. “To still be learning so much at this stage of my career is a fantastic thing, and is really what gets me out of bed in the morning.” That and, I imagine, a strong cup of Harrods’ signature brew...
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B r e akfa s t Signature Loaf Knightsbridge Blend Coffee Lunch Truffle, Parmesan and Mushroom Focaccia Dinner Fish Pie Champagne and Peach Dessert
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alain
duca sse The legendary chef reflects on a decade at The Dorchester, where he’ll be serving a special anniversary menu to mark his tenth year in the capital words by Camilla Apcar
profile
T
he total tally seems almost unreasonable for a chef dealing in haute gastronomy: Alain Ducasse has 26 restaurants. There are the two in Tokyo, another in Doha, the one at Versailles and the one up the Eiffel Tower. But should one man have quite so many? Ducasse is perfectly relaxed on the subjects of food and cooking, if not a little weary from his international travels. Yet on his creative vision, he sparks up. So the French chef’s answer to the question of numbers is of course yes, but not without explanation. “No two of them are the same.” For Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, his vision back in 2007 was to conjure a casual yet chic elegance on Park Lane, with maybe one Michelin star – but never, he imagined, three. The chef gained his first back in 1984, then struck out on his own to open Le Louis XV-Alain Ducasse in 1987. He had been in training since he was 16 years old (and now holds 18 stars). “Initially we didn’t want to do haute gastronomy at The Dorchester, it was meant to be a more informal restaurant. But we understood that there was an audience for something that would go a bit further.” Further it does go – imagine tasting langoustines with Earl Grey tea, for example – and as he sits in the hotel reflecting on the decade since it has opened, it seems Ducasse has no regrets about how the restaurant may have deviated from his original designs. On a typical evening, its contemporary French cuisine might come in the form of wild mushrooms, Anjou pigeon, veal medallions or, in an unexpected Entente Cordiale sort of turn, Eton Mess. To celebrate its tenth anniversary, a special menu will be served from 25 October to 23 December, celebrating the restaurant’s past, present and future.
There will be duck foie gras, white truffle and a mysterious citrus iced chestnut dessert among the seven courses, as well as a one-night-only dinner with the chef himself on 24 October (£430). Of culinary changes over the past ten years, Ducasse regards an uptick in quality as the most notable, and the now widespread use of local, seasonal produce (something he says that his outpost at The Dorchester “has always done”). It all echoes Ducasse’s first memories of the kitchen, at 12 years old – the smells coming from his grandmother’s cooking. “She would use local produce from the farm we were on in south-west France, the river and forest nearby. Poultry from the farm, vegetables from the garden,” he reminisces. “Very local and very healthy.” His taste has not changed so much: when at home, Ducasse likes to go to the market and cook with whatever is on offer. “Very simple, of course, as there is no commis to help,” he smiles. Just as important is his garden, where he grows not just the basic vegetables and herbs. His harvests include pumpkins, from butternut squash to massive gourds, to the figs, prunes, plums and kiwi currently in season. “Although it makes sense for a restaurant to have one, it is a personal luxury to have a garden,” says Ducasse. Thanks to property prices and upkeep, “it costs more to have one than to buy your food in the supermarket.” The chef’s views on sustainability and the future of food are, in turn, sensibly reasoned. “We ought to pay a lot more attention to taking care of the planet, how we use the resources available,” he says. He recommends less sugar, salt, fat and animal protein, as well as eating sustainable fish. “If we eat animal protein, it’s about producing and eating less, but in a better way, so everyone can have their fair share of what’s available on the planet.”
“Although it makes sense for a restaurant to have one, it is a personal luxury to have a garden” Clockwise from top left: Hand-dived sea scallop from the anniversary menu; Ducasse; Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester; Seared foie gras; Native lobster, both from the anniversary menu, all ©Pierre Monetta
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Clockwise from top: Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester; Halibut, oyster and seaweed; Rum baba, both from the à la carte menu, all ©Pierre Monetta
So there must be something more than a trendy local boast about the Dorset crab and Scottish seafood on The Dorchester restaurant’s à la carte menu. As he describes recreating a connection between producers and those eating at restaurants, by making them understand where their food has come from, it appears that Ducasse seems to have a sense of social responsibility about food. “It’s a virtuous circle,” he says. “We will have to pay more for our produce, but we will eat less. Then, paying more to the suppliers will encourage the producers more.” Back in the realms of gastronomy, Ducasse’s definition of haute cuisine is about creating a “unique experience”. Is it not just the produce on the plate, but the tableware, a perfectly paired wine list and everything in between – another evolution of the past decade, with diners increasingly expectant of that something ‘extra’. “I choose everything. Everything. The place settings, the thickness of the paper used for the menus... it’s not a democracy,” he jokes, in seriousness. For chefs themselves, the most notable change has been that the kitchens are more comfortable – less hot, with tools that perform better, allowing them to be more technically precise. This comes with a word of warning from Ducasse, however: “The tools must not
profile
lead the kitchen. You have to keep that identity and personal touch in your cooking, otherwise there’s a risk of having a cuisine that’s quite uniform and generic.” Understanding what the competition is doing, but not being influenced by it, is paramount. He cites molecular cuisine as an example of a pitfall when new techniques become available. Suddenly everyone was doing it, getting over-excited by liquid nitrogen and foams of every flavour conceivable. Yet falling prey to a ‘this is how we have always done it’ mentality is a bugbear for Ducasse. “The key to the success of this company has been the capacity to innovate and create all the time,” he says. “My job is to push that, to be demanding and – almost – never happy with what we have.
“But entrepreneurship is about taking the risk that you might not succeed – and success can be measured as the average between what worked and what didn’t. What’s the most important is to understand why something didn’t work, in order not to repeat that mistake in the future.” The greatest challenge is still knowing how to “seduce” guests, creating a cuisine that appeals to the local market but without losing its French roots. “It’s a balance between what we know about the place and what we think could work, but there’s no recipe – sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.” Ten years in, Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester is still striking it. 53 Park Lane, W1K, alainducasse-dorchester.com
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a n n iversa r y menu Hand-dived sea scallop, citrus, caviar Seared duck foie gras, salsify and apple Fillet of turbot artichokes, white truffle Native lobster, ratte potatoes, wild mushrooms ‘Volaille de Bresse’, Albufera sauce Comté Garde Exceptionnelle, cru 2014 Iced chestnut and lime – £280
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Prince of pop Proud Galleries’ latest exhibition Picturing Prince: Photographs by Steve Parke dedicates itself to rare and unseen images of the legendary musician, taken by his artistic director and close friend. 9 November – 3 December, Proud Central, 32 John Adam Street, WC2N, proudonline.co.uk
Just a reflection of kisses, Spain, 1999 ©Steven Parke
Light it up
The Serena Morton gallery presents works by Louise de Lima and Paul Vanstone in a joint exhibition, titled Out of Darkness. The show’s theme has been uniquely interpreted by both artists. Lima takes inspiration from new beginnings, stressing importance on “the light that can appear out of nowhere when things seem hopeless”. Vanstone on the otherhand, explores the process of carving sculptures, which allows him to see a new form emerging “from the shadows”. 3 November – 1 December, Serena Morton Gallery, 343 Ladbroke Grove, W10, serenamorton.com
Sculpture by Paul Vanstone, artwork by Louise de Lima
art&antiques
Still life, Edward Ladell
words by Rebecca Wallersteiner
Red flag
Marking the 100th anniversary of Russia’s October Revolution, the Saatchi Gallery is hosting an exhibition exploring Russia’s most prolific activists. Art Riot: PostSoviet Actionism features a host of inventive performance artists, including Oleg Kulik, Pyotr Pavlensky and feminist punk band Pussy Riot. On display will be posters, slogans, video art, photography and performances. 16 November – 31 December, Saatchi Gallery, King’s Road, SW3, saatchigallery.com
fair play
Mark a date in your diary for the annual Winter Art & Antiques Fair, which celebrates its 27th year at Olympia London this autumn. Highlights of the event include Joseph Teal Cooper’s ravishing Allegory of Autumn oil painting presented by the Parker Gallery (c. 1725), a pair of sculptural silver owls at The Old Corkscrew and the finest antique table clocks at Howard Walwyn Ltd. ©Oleg Kulik, I Bite America, America Bite Me, 1996
31 October – 5 November, Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, W14, olympia-antiques.com
culture Fit for an emperor
Coinciding with Asian Art Week in London, familyrun business and leading Asian art dealer Marchant presents an incredible exhibition of Kangxi Chinese porcelain. The show features 38 unique pieces, including an imperial porcelain famille verte rouleau vase and a pair of Chinese porcelain fish bowls, both delicately painted and spectacular to see. Kangxi Famille Verte: Marchant, 30 October – 10 November, 120 Kensington Church Street, W8, marchantasianart.com
Artist of the
Month
©Alexander Newley, 2017
Alex a n der N ewley
Adding to his renowned collection of paintings, Alexander Newley has returned to Riccardo’s restaurant to unveil his latest creation. Located on Fulham Road, his still life is a feast for the eyes featuring bread, fruits and wine executed in oils. This month, Newley will also be hosting a series of art workshops in the restaurant’s atrium, perfect for those who want to learn from the best. With previous successes including portraits of local writer Jeffrey Archer and Sir Nigel Hawthorne CBE, Newley will undoubtedly have some great skills and stories to share. Until 24 October, 126 Fulham Road, SW3, alexandernewleyartclasses.com
Left: Evening; Right: Barn Below the Big Horns, both ©T. Allen Lawson
American dream
The Jonathan Cooper gallery presents a solo exhibition with contemporary American artist T. Allen Lawson, renowned for his paintings that capture the vastness of the American West and the rugged beauty of New England. In 2008, he painted the White House Christmas card, depicting the view from the Truman Balcony. His new works, The Scale of Operations and The Salt Lick, use pigment to form the different textures and layers that create the abstraction and depth he feels in nature and the world around him. An American Vision: from Wyoming to Maine, 16 November – 16 December, Jonathan Cooper Gallery, 20 Park Walk, SW10, jonathancooper.co.uk
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in Chelsea Mom ent s
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1681 King Charles II issued a Royal Warrant authorising the construction of the Royal Hospital
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Sir Christopher Wren commissioned to design and build hospital buildings
First 99 pensioners moved in to the new hospital
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Statue of Charles II by Grinling Gibbons moved to Royal Hospital after the death of the king
Robert Adam redecorated the Council Chamber and State Apartments at The Royal Hospital
culture
In its 325th year, the Royal Hospital Chelsea remains a haven for retired army veterans and their ruby red coats, which have come to symbolise not just the Chelsea Pensioners, but Chelsea life, too words by Melanie Backe-Hansen
T
he symbolic red poppies are once again in circulation and as a nation we stop to remember. Remembrance Sunday is a significant day in the yearly calendar, and despite being almost 100 years since the very first Remembrance Day, following the end of the First World War, today we continue to honour the sacrifices of the many who have fought and died through all conflicts. Chelsea has a long association with honouring service men and women, in particular with the connection to The Royal Hospital. This year it celebrated its 325th anniversary, first opening its doors to army pensioners in 1692, and the scarletcoated residents continue to be much respected members of Chelsea society today. The connection with the army in Chelsea continues with the National Army Museum, which this year saw the opening of its three-year £23.75 million redevelopment. The Royal Hospital Chelsea was established by King Charles II as a place for soldiers who were ‘unfit for duty as a result of injury or because of long service’ and it still serves that purpose today. The idea for a hospital for soldiers was first given royal warrant in 1681 and renowned architect, Sir
Left: A Chelsea Pensioner at the RHS Chelsea Flower 2016, photography by Luke MacGregor; Below: Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, circa early 1900s
Christopher Wren, was commissioned to design the new hospital buildings. Construction began in Chelsea in 1682, including the Chapel and Great Hall, with Wren extending the buildings in 1686 to create College Court and Light Horse Court. The new Royal Hospital, with the first 476 pensioners, was then completed in 1692. The central Figure Court (named after the gilded statue of Charles II by Grinling Gibbons) is the oldest part of the Royal Hospital, with much of Wren’s work still retained. But one of the other key features of the Royal Hospital Chelsea is the accommodation for the pensioners, known as the long wards, which were also designed by Wren. These were originally 1.8 metres square, with small extensions in 1955 and 1991, but in 2015 the pensioners were provided with a revolution in their living quarters, with renovations adding a study area and en suite bathroom. Despite its prestigious heritage, the Royal Hospital is a 21st century facility offering care for British Army veterans who have fought in conflicts in recent history, including the Second World War,
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1918
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Sir John Soane completed a new Infirmary building at The Royal Hospital
The Duke of Wellington lay in state in The Great Hall at The Royal Hospital
The North-East wing of The Royal Hospital is damaged due to enemy bombing (it was rebuilt in 1923)
The North-East wing of The Royal Hospital destroyed by V2 Rocket
1850
1913
1941
Chelsea Embankment constructed, reducing the size of the original gardens
The first RHS Chelsea Flower Show held in the South Grounds of The Royal Hospital
The Infirmary at The Royal Hospital destroyed by an aerial mine
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culture
Right: Chelsea Pensioners at the RHS Chelsea Flower 2016, photography by Luke MacGregor; Left: Chelsea Pensioners with cricketer Bobby Abel, circa 1920s
Korea, and The Falkland Islands, and in the future will extend to the conflicts in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Any former soldier over the age of 65 ‘facing their advanced years alone’ is eligible to apply, which has also included women since 2009. As you can imagine there are many more applications than places available, with candidates considered on their army service record, how they will benefit, and how they might represent the Royal Hospital. The architecture of the Grade I listed Royal Hospital is a significant feature, as along with Wren it also features the work of other notable architects, including Robert Adam and Sir John Soane. However, it is the pensioners themselves who inspire the most honour. They
need to k now With free entry, the newly renovated National Army Museum is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm and provides an opportunity to remember the “stories of ordinary people with extraordinary responsibilities”.
British Crown’ and moved to its current location, and purpose-built Brutalist building, in 1971. It perhaps gets overshadowed by its much grander and more famous neighbour, but the National Army Museum holds an incredible collection relating to the services of the army, To mark the Remembrance going back to the 17th century. In March 2017, a period The National Army three-year transformation was unveiled, creating Museum will be holding a a “bright new museum” to engage the 21st free event on 8 November century visitor. The newly designed museum, with an evening of poetry costing £23.75 million, with £11.5 million from and spoken word with are not only service personnel who have fought The National Lottery, aims to reveal the stories of performances by special for their country, but they have become a symbol the men and women of the British Army, as well guests, nam.ac.uk of pride, whether walking the streets of Chelsea as provide an avenue into the history of conflicts or appearing at events across the country. and the role of the army in the past and today. The Chelsea Pensioners will once again join in The redevelopment of the museum includes with the parade at the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at The five new galleries: Soldier, Army, Battle, Society, and Insight. Each Cenotaph and they will also attend The Royal British Legion’s gallery offers the visitor a different perspective of the role of the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. army, including its engagement and connection with other nations, Adjacent to the Royal Hospital is another landmark honouring stories of individual soldiers, the evolving history of the army as the country’s military personnel – the National Army Museum. an institution, as well as the impact of the army on British culture. It was founded in 1960 for the purpose of ‘collecting, preserving and In addition, there is also a space for researchers, including those exhibiting objects and records relating to the Land Forces of the investigating their family connections to the army.
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2009
The Infirmary at The Royal Hospital rebuilt (after bomb damage in 1941)
The first female Chelsea Pensioners welcomed to The Royal Hospital
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1971
National Army Museum established by Royal Charter
National Army Museum moved to purpose-built ‘brutalist’ building, designed by William Holford & Partners, beside The Royal Hospital
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2017 National Army Museum opens to the public after three-year £23.75 million re-development
WHEN SHE SHINES With diamonds by the dozen and so much more, including designers you know and love, plus the newest names to note, the Harvey Nichols Fine Jewellery Department is officially a girl’s best friend. Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, SW1X, 020 7235 5000, harveynichols.com
Clockwise from top left: 18kt white gold diamond ring £13,950, Ortaea; 18kt yellow gold necklace set with diamond clasp £13,190, Marco Bicego; 18kt yellow gold pendant with Akoya pearls £1,500, TASAKI; 18kt rose gold diamond and ruby earrings £2,550, Ralph Masri at Talisman Gallery; 18kt white gold, aquamarine, diamond and sapphire necklace £12,000, Niquesa; 18kt white gold pavé diamond ring with Akoya pearls £2,440, TASAKI; 18kt white gold and diamond bangle £1,900, Annoushka; 18kt yellow gold belt bangle £1,600, Annoushka; 18kt rose gold and diamond belt bangle, £1,900, Annoushka; Dance 18kt white gold, amethyst and sapphire earrings £18,000, Niquesa; Diamond chandelier earrings £21,500, Mozafarian
Under the hammer
The Art of de Grisogono diamond necklace will tour New York and Dubai before being auctioned at Christie’s in Geneva this November. The largest D colour, flawless diamond ever to come to auction, it weighs 163.41 carats. and is suspended from an elegant emerald and diamond necklace.
A street-smart collaboration
The Art of de GRISOGONO will be auctioned on 14 November 2017, christies.com, degrisogono.com
jewellery box words by Mhairi Graham
Pinky promise
The new Boodles collection of Pinky Rings is a creative play on words, made up of rosy rings for the little finger. Decorative designs are inspired by traditional henna handpainting and feature butterflies, flowers and swirls, set with white and signature pink diamonds. Pinky Rings from £4,000, boodles.com
Vibran
a t jewels for dark
utumn nights
Perfect geometry Chanel’s storied history twinkles in the new Gallery collection, which reinterprets the iconic chain of the 2.55 handbag and the octagonal shape of Place Vendôme, Paris. Elegant, geometric designs in yellow gold are fashioned with diamonds, vivid green tourmaline and malachite for a mesmerising finish. POA, chanel.com
British jeweller Stephen Webster has joined forces with Thames, a streetwear label founded by skateboarder Blondey McCoy. The star-like ‘T’ from the Thames logo is a recurring theme throughout the 12-piece capsule collection of pendants, rings and earrings, embellished with diamonds, black onyx and citrine. Thames by Stephen Webster, £340 - £11,000, stephenwebster.com
Cocktail hour
Add a burst of colour on dark November nights with a striking cocktail ring by Hirsh London, a fine jeweller renowned for its unique stones and unusual cuts. Rare rubies, sapphires and tourmalines are flanked by diamonds, handcrafted in Mayfair. POA, hirshlondon.com
collection Pierre Salagnac’s sculptural centrepiece is hewn from a single block of brass with 437 gold leaves – it took 250 hours to make bottoms up Kossiflore Bonsai £69,363, rubelli.com
Corkscrew
O b j e c t s of desi re
£495, purdey.com
Go for gold when entertaining at home
Champagne bucket
Crystal and gold, £3,700, baccarat.com
THE INNER CIRCLE
Forget elaborate swans and lotus folds: employ a not-so-humble napkin ring to set the tone for dinner. £140 for a set of four, l-objet.com
Crystal glassware
from £255 per pair, waterford.co.uk
Bottle stoppers
Sterling silver, from £800 each, asprey.com
OPULENCE FOR MINIMALISTS
French-Lebanese designer Carla Baz has created a pared back candelabra of dreams, in rings of matt and polished brass. £1,200, bonadea.com
Bottle opener
£49, Joanna Buchanan, harrods.com
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This page: The Coeurs Enlaces bracelet from the Van Cleef & Arpels Le Secret collection; Right: A to-scale drawing of a necklace from Boucheron’s Hiver Imperial collection
f you’re not familiar with gouache, you could be forgiven for thinking it sounds vaguely like an awkward fashion mistake or hearty Hungarian dish. Dig a little deeper and a ravishing world of colour opens up. Gouache is the art of painting in opaque watercolours and was used by masters like Matisse and Toulouse-Lautrec. What is less well known is that bespoke jewellery designers use it to create fabulous pieces. Both the precious jewels and the drawings charting their design are beautiful works of art. Top houses like Boucheron, Dior and Piaget insist on the delicate process which designers have been using to guide craftsmen for centuries. It’s known as a words by Rachael Taylor render in the trade and is passed from stone setters to goldsmiths to polishers. Chelsea-based fine jewellery designer Luis-Miguel Howard explains: “The process of creating a gouache is quite straightforward, but it is time consuming and requires some skill. “Most are painted on vellum, tracing paper or coloured Ingres paper. Shadows are painted in Chinese ink, metal and stones in washes of gouache of varying intensities, often leaving areas unpainted to give a sense of lightness and delicacy.” Once the jewel has been created, brands will keep the gouache on file, dated and signed by the designer. This will be used in the
As the time-honoured tradition of gouache continues to defy the tech era, discover the craftsmen turning paint and paper into precious jewels
collection
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This page, clockwise from right: Conchiglie bracelet in titanium with pearls and gemstones by Giampiero Bodino; Primavera ring with three rubies by Giampiero Bodino; A sapphire, pearl, diamond and enamel cocktail ring from the Hiver Imperial collection by Boucheron
future for designers to refer back to and also when trying to authenticate a gem. Cartier’s archives include 30,000 sketches that track the history of the brand from its origins in the 19th century. They are kept in pristine conditions in temperature and humidity-controlled rooms. And the gouache is managing to survive modern technology. Although computer programmes can take the place of hand sketches, the finest houses insist on the creation of jewels in paint and ink before gold and diamonds. Chopard artistic director Caroline Scheufele recently unveiled a new series of gouache to celebrate its Silk Road collection. She says: “The process of creating gouache can take from a few hours to several days for the most complex pieces. “It doesn’t have to be 100 per cent accurate – another more technical design will then be made from it and used by the jeweller– but it still has to give the best possible idea of the final piece.” Scheufele relies on her in-house designers, but some jewellery creators prefer to do the work themselves.
“I believe what goes from the head to the hand truly has an emotional influence and there is something about its beauty that moves you from within”
collection
Giampiero Bodino, art director of luxury brand Richemont, is also the master of his own fine jewellery brand. Passionate about his art, he explains: “I am blessed by being very fast – once I get inspired, the whole process can take less than an hour.” His latest collection, revealed during Paris Couture Week, was a radiant ode to the Mediterranean sea with seed pearl shells on bright titanium and azure rolling wave motifs in diamonds and sapphires. He adds: “The high jewellery world is still very much craft oriented, therefore the original handmade drawing must be part of the process, from creation to purchase.”
This page, clockwise from top: Message des Hirondelles necklace from the Le Secret collection by Van Cleef & Arpels; Earrings from the Silk Road collection by Chopard
While the handing over of gouache is a rite of passage at Bodino’s eponymous label, it’s a case of don’t ask, don’t get at other houses such as Chopard. Scheufele says: “We normally keep them for our archives, but if a client wishes to keep it, we would of course gift them with a copy.” In fact, some designers believe that having the original could add up to 20 per cent to the price should the piece go to auction. Jewellery gouache is valuable enough on its own. A collection of 17 Cartier drawings recently fetched £5,000 at auction house Bonhams. Exclusive jeweller Nirav Modi who opened in London last year says: “It is about the entire process – the vision behind it and the creativity, the craftsmanship that goes into making each and every jewel a piece of art. “I believe what goes from the head to the hand truly has an emotional influence and there is something about its beauty that moves you from within.” He adds: “As someone who has always looked up to art and architecture for inspiration, the allure of an actual sketch is certainly a whole lot more [inspiring] than that of a computerised rendering.” It’s good to know that in our tech-dominated world, the traditional method is hard to beat. This year, designer Anna Hu became the first contemporary jeweller to host a solo exhibition at Christie’s. Her art is so enchanting that she often sells jewellery straight from gouache to clients. She says firmly: “It’s a very important process and one that I focus on the most. Often during this stage I’ve got to communicate with my clients and learn more about their personal stories and needs, which always touch me so much. “This is not something that technology could replace.”
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collection
watches
Reinventing the
wristwatch Has Zenith just created the world’s most accurate timepiece? words by Richard Brown
H
ow to future proof an analogue product in the digital age? While TAG Heuer is pinning its hopes on capturing Generation Z through smartwatches and partnerships with EDM DJs, LVMH stable mate Zenith is looking forward by revisiting the past. The Le Locle-based brand has been working with mathematical physicist Guy Sémon, a onetime jet pilot whose reputation in watches was acquired through a series of specialist precision projects for TAG Heuer. Sémon’s latest innovation does no less than reinvent the way a mechanical watch ticks. Since 1675, when Dutch horologist Christiaan Huygens presented his sprung balance principle to the French Academy of Sciences, mechanical watches have relied on the force of a coiled spring to drive a gear train via a pallet fork and an escape wheel (known collectively as an escapement). Packaged inside the new calibre ZO 342, which finds a home in Zenith’s new Defy Lab series, is a regulating
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system that does away with an individual balance wheel, hairspring and pallet fork, and instead incorporates some 30 components into a single, circular disc. The Zenith Oscillator, as the component has been coined, measures just 0.5mm thick and, being etched from silicon, is impervious to both magnetic fields and that other great obstacle to accurate timekeeping, friction. The result, says Sémon, is an accuracy to within one second across the calibre’s 70 hour power reserve. If that’s true, the ZO 342 will be the world’s most accurate mechanical movement. Zenith has produced 10, all slightly different, Defy Lab watches, selling them collectively in one, ultimate gift box, reportedly to meet the stipulation of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève – colloquially referred to as the ‘Oscars of the watch world’ – which specifies that all entries must have been
The Zenith Oscillator, as the component has been coined, measures just 0.5mm thick available for sale. All 10 timepieces feature a 44mm case constructed from Aeronith, a new aluminium composite that’s 2.7 times lighter than titanium and, incredibly, 10 per cent lighter than carbon fibre. After a three year hiatus, organisers of Switzerland’s International Chronometry Competition, the industry’s most rigorous, independent testing panel, have said that the contest will return for 2018. We might have to wait until then to see if Zenith and Sémon have really rewritten the watchmaking rule book.
fine mechanical watchmaking, from japan.
Trimatic symbolizes three Seiko inventions that ensure the highest levels of reliability and durability in its mechanical watches.
CARDS AS UNIQUE AS EACH FLAKE OF SNOW
HEads up From simple tweed hats to shaggy faux-fur bonnets in mint green, there’s something for every occasion in Lock & Co’s latest couture collection. From £495, lockhatters.co.uk
fashion Hopeless romantics
Find your next wardrobe staple in the new collection from L.K. Bennett and Preen by Thornton Bregazzi. In a brand new collaboration, the two labels have joined forces to create a 16 piece capsule collection comprising signature romantic Preen silhouettes and designs inspired by Scottish artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
words by Lauren Stevens
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Tongue tied
The signature Sergio Rossi sr1 leather tongue shoe is making a comeback for the Winter 17/18 collection. Boots, slippers, sabots and moccasins arrive in structured geometric shapes and prints inspired by architecture and interior design, all finished with the brand’s signature leather tongue and metal bar combination. From £495, sergiorossi.com
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Four seasons
Dressing for the seasons can be fun, but there’s no reason you can’t wear your favourite summer dress in the winter. The Resort 18 collection by Tibi knows no boundaries; each piece is both structured and modern, and designed to be worn all year round. From £265, tibi.com
Father of fashion
All About Yves is the latest book on Yves Saint Laurent, the man who helped revolutionise the female wardrobe. This guide to the designer’s life documents his many inspirations, from his childhood all the way through to his final collection. £35, All About Yves by Catherine Örmen, laurenceking.com ©Larousse
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From £195, lkbennett.com
book tickets today 4 November - 24 February CANADA SQUARE PARK, CANARY WHARF, E14 5AB
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Banish colour from your wardrobe in favour of the latest looks by Temperley London, Michael Kors and Ashish photogr apher Turi Løvik Kirknes
stylist Victoria Wright
This page Left: Dress, POA, Vilshenko, vilshenko.com; Right: Dress, ÂŁ1,295, Temperley London, temperleylondon.com
this page Bag, £995, Charlotte Olympia, charlotteolympia.com; Dress, £1,025, Bora Aksu, boraaksu.com opposite Bag, £995, Anya Hindmarch, anyahindmarch.com; Dress (worn as top), £1,530, Ashish, brownsfashion.com; Skirt, £520, Bora Aksu, as before; Shoes, £995, Christian Louboutin, christianlouboutin.com
this page Coat, ÂŁ1,550, MICHAEL Michael Kors, michaelkors.co.uk opposite Dress, POA, Bodysuit, POA, both Dolce & Gabbana, dolcegabbana.com; Shoes, ÂŁ675, Charlotte Olympia, as before
Hair Alexandru Szabo at Carol Hayes Management using Bumble and Bumble make-up Mario Brooksbank at Carol Hayes Management using Bobbi Brown models Dom at Established Models and Ava at Premier Model Management PHOTOGRAPHY Assistant Justyna Radon
interview
CA N DY C RUS H
Best friends Suki Waterhouse and Poppy Jamie talk sisterhood, style icons and starting their accessories brand on social media words by Lauren Romano
Clockwise from above: Poppy Jamie and Suki Waterhouse, ©Masha Maltsava, masha.photo; Alphabet charms, £15 each; Cotton Candy Carryall bag, £400; Poppy Jamie and Suki Waterhouse, ©Masha Maltsava, masha.photo; Make-up cases, £75; Camera bags, from £180
S
uki Waterhouse and Poppy Jamie first clapped eyes on each other across a dance floor in Hollywood. “Our bond kind of surprised us. It was a huge relief to find a soulmate in the jungle of LA,” begins Waterhouse. “Sometimes you meet people and things are just meant to be.” Fast forward six years and the pair has gone from throwing shapes together to designing handbags. Their accessories label, Pop & Suki, turns one this month. To celebrate, the brand’s first pop-up store in the capital will open in Selfridges, stocking arm candy in the form of leather and velvet camera bags and totes in cognac nubuck or emerald, plum and midnight blue leather, each of which can be personalised with monograms, charms and accessories. As you’d expect from a model turned Hollywood actress and a TV presentercum-social media entrepreneur, the pair and their pals are never far from the glare of the paparazzi flashbulb, which is handy when you’re trying to spread the word about your new brand. To date everyone from Lena Dunham to Laura Bailey have been snapped sporting their monogrammed numbers, but the duo insists that they get
fashion
just as excited seeing a stranger in a restaurant carrying one of their designs as they do Lady Gaga on stage – “although the day I saw Pippa Middleton wearing one I did scream internally,” concedes Waterhouse. Launching Pop & Suki in the capital (their home town) is not where they thought they would end up when they had their first eureka moment in an LA vintage shop. “We became inspired by this bag we found and began brainstorming how we could do it ourselves. The starting point was to design something that could match all scenarios in life for a woman on the go,” says Jamie. “You can play with the straps to change your day bag from cross body to a clutch, beltbag or even a backpack,” she explains. If anyone could pull off a belt-bag, it’s Waterhouse, whose style is nothing short of chameleonic. “When I started modelling, I was allergic to heels or dresses, or
anything that wasn’t really baggy,” she says. “Now I just enjoy fashion and love experimenting.” Her style icon is Anita Pallenberg, while Jamie is a fan of feminine dresses and Brigitte Bardot. Their wardrobes might differ, but they both feel empowered when wearing labels that were started by female entrepreneurs (La Ligne and LemLem are favourites). Do they think it’s harder for women to succeed in the fashion industry? “Times are changing,” says Jamie. “There’s still a tonne more to be done but look at Natalie Massenet, Stella McCartney and Hannah Weiland – what inspirations.” “It’s not harder; you just have to voice an opinion and not back down if it’s questioned,” adds Waterhouse. Pop & Suki launched on Instagram, which the pair says helped them speak to their customers directly. But social media is not without its pitfalls, as Jamie well
“The day I saw Pippa Middleton wearing one I did scream internally”
knows. This summer she launched mental wellbeing app Happy Not Perfect – designed with help from her mother, a psychotherapist, and neuroscientist at UCLA. Daily exercises aim to enhance relaxation and emotional resilience in the digital age. “Our world has become more intense than ever, especially since we all got smartphones; the pressure to do more, be more, achieve more is exhausting, because more doesn’t necessarily make us feel better,” she says. Instead, she finds solace from social media by taking a yoga class five times a week, while Waterhouse uses an app called Freedom to block Instagram and Twitter for a few hours at a time. But do they ever need downtime from each other? “It’s the absolute dream [running a business together]” Waterhouse insists. “We’re sort of chalk and cheese. Poppy is a great people person, she can persuade anyone to do anything.” “And Suki is basically the barometer of cool,” Jamie interjects. And together, they are the #dreamteam. Pop & Suki launches in Selfridges on 21 November, popandsuki.com
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fashion Roger that
Sailors and city dwellers alike will enjoy Belstaff’s latest line of outerwear, inspired by the clothing worn by the British Royal Navy during WWII. The Jolly Roger collection combines classic maritime silhouettes such as pea and duffle coats with waxed cotton and Melton wool to make the perfect winter warmers. From £350, belstaff.co.uk
style file words by Ellen Millard
foot loose
Scents of style
For A/W17, Tom Ford has introduced three new additions to his Private Blend Oud range: Oud Minérale, Tobacco Oud Intense and Oud Wood Intense. The latter blends Angelica roots, ginger, cypress and juniper with, of course, a generous dose of oud for the ultimate autumn scent. £210, tomford.com
Swiss precision
Handmade in Switzerland with a focus on fine materials and an accurate fit, Zimmerli’s latest line of night and underwear is the stuff that pyjama days are made of. The 700 Pureness range, a collection of T-shirts and boxer shorts, is designed to feel like a second skin. Pair with the Perfect Symmetry trousers and set your alarm to snooze... From a selection, zimmerli.com
£290, Bally, bally.co.uk
In the frame
£470, Moncler, farfetch.com
To mark the opening of its fifth UK store on Jermyn Street, Cubitts has launched the St James’s collection, a line of 16 spectacles modelled on classic shapes from the past century – each guaranteed to give you serious specs appeal. From £425, 68 Jermyn Street, SW1Y, cubitts.co.uk
£69.99, TOMS, toms.co.uk
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beauty
beauty notes
There is no shortage of striking colours and bold designs with make-up artist Yasmin Heinz, who paints a unique vision of beauty on every face. With 180 stunning photographs of her creations, her new book, Elements, aims to inspire those looking to get creative with colour. £45, prestel.com
words by Anna Booth
No filter needed
By Terry’s new Expert 2017 collection creates long-lasting results and flawless skin that doesn’t require photo touch-ups, perfect for the social mediaobsessed world. Dual matte powders, complexion tools and 16 shades of concealer will make you look radiant without a filter. From £24.50, byterry.com
Golden girl
Musical notes
Acqua Di Parma’s Note di Colonia IV is the fourth fragrance in its music-themed collection. Inspired by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, this captivating blend boasts notes of bergamot, Turkish rose and orange blossom. £280, acquadiparma.com
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Embracing the classic looks and upbeat spirit of the 1920s, Guerlain has unveiled its latest gold-themed make-up collection. The gold palette (pictured below), embodies a Great Gatsby vibe and features a complete set for face, eyes, lips and brows. Its wet and dry texture allows you to play with your look, delivering different colour intensities and accents that are perfect for the party season. From £20.50, guerlain.com
©Felix Lammers, Flair Magazine, Austria
Face time
It’s never too late...
LUXURY BODY BUTTER IN WHITE CASHMERE FROM THE BATH & BODY COLLECTION
www.lilouetloic.com
Make believe
The new collection by Velveteen was inspired by founder Laura Egloff’s childhood memories of dressing up for her parents’ dinner parties. Dresses, skirts, jumpsuits and tops in autumnal hues make up the collection, with sequins and bursts of gold thrown in for good measure. From £28, alexandalexa.com
kids’ kingdom words by Lauren Stevens
R ’S PIC O K IT
Outside the Lin e new season h t o t e es bring p arkl s s o me s Hoodwinked
Shine on
Steal the light in this shimmery plisse skirt, a highlight of the latest collection by girls wear brand Outside the Lines, available in midnight blue or gold – perfect for the upcoming party season. £35, outside-the-lines.co.uk
ED
From a selection, fenwick.co.uk
Former 3D artist Claudia Carvalho, who worked on adverts for Beauty and the Beast, has found a new way to channel her creative side with her childrenswear brand, Piupia. The latest natureinspired range features dainty woodland prints, along with a bonnet that doubles-up as the ultimate Halloween accessory. From £18, piupia.com
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Fenwick of Bond Street’s mini edit has arrived for 2017, offering a curated selection of children’s clothing and accessories from the likes of AKID and MGSM. Shop the pop-up between now and Christmas –don’t miss out!
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opinion
Should I get my
child a tutor? It’s a decision many parents will consider to offer their son or daughter the best start in life. Adam Jafari of PSJ Tuition explains how to make the right choices
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t’s a fact of life that no educational system – even at the best public or private schools – can offer each student the individual attention that private tuition can. But there are various key times in your child’s education that you may consider getting extra help for your child, and it’s important to make the right choices. From GCSE and A-level to tutoring for degrees and university interviews, I have found that most students are grateful to their parents for enabling them to either catch up, or have extra study time. I’m often asked by parents and guardians how they can tell if their child requires tuition and I always start by explaining that the key is to get help at the first sign of any difficulty. Although we have frequently achieved miracles with students at the last minute before their exams, beginning one-to-one tuition as early as possible is vital. Not only will the extra help allow them to build their confidence from an early stage, it is important to recognise that GCSE and A-level examinations are extremely important. These key benchmarks can entirely determine their child’s future educational progress – and even their resulting careers. Extra help can, for example, affect the type and quality of university a student can enter, and time and again I have parents – and the students themselves – who
have told us that tutoring has ensured that they are able to access some of the world’s best educational institutions. A good private tuition agency should not need to match the personality of the child to the tutor as first class tutors should always be able to adapt to the needs of any student, and quickly form a very productive relationship with them. It is imperative that tutors are not only dedicated to teaching the current syllabus for any course, but that their expertise is complemented by regular reviews with examiners from the different examination boards. In our case, the majority of tutors are qualified teachers in top UK schools, and many of them are officially ranked as being “Outstanding” by educational regulator OFSTED in their school. Tutoring should never add extra pressure to your son or daughter’s homework schedule. In fact, enhancing the skills and abilities through tutoring typically means they can do their homework far more quickly and with much less stress. Our experience, at PSJ Tuition, is that each and every student advances, academically, at a far faster rate than at any school, even those attending Britain’s most prestigious public schools – and that builds confidence, and it’s true that confidence breeds success. numbers speak for Our themselves. And yet again, 100 per cent of our GCSE level students achieved grade A/A* in their A-levels. All of our A-level students were offered places at the top UK universities of their choice. Our university students also had another excellent year; all but one degree student gained a “First Class” Honors degree,and our Masters students all achieved either a “Merit” or a “Distinction”. So to parents wondering if tutoring works, I would advise researching the right company for your child and then making that choice as soon as possible. Your son or daughter will thank you for it.
Each and every student advances, academically, at a far faster rate than at any school
Adam Jafari is a director and senior lecturer at PSJ Tuition, Liberty House, 222 Regent Street London, W1B 5TR, info@psjtuition.co.uk , 020 3086 7977
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When choosing private tutors, wouldn’t you prefer tutors with a proven record of delivering the top grades in exam results… ALL OF OUR A LEVEL STUDENTS SCORED A OR A * THIS YEAR!! PSJ Tuition for EXPERT, INTENSIVE, ONE -to- ONE TUITION in most subjects, at all levels: • GCSE • A Level • University Degree • University Masters
Call me today for a chat about your children’s educational needs, or to arrange to visit our offices at your convenience Mr. Adam Jafari (Member of IOD) / Director of Studies and Senior Lecturer Address: PSJ Tuition, Liberty House, 222 Regent Street, London, W1B 5TR T: 0203 086 7977 / M: 0758 324 7570 / E: info@psjtuition.co.uk
True Blue
The new Collector’s House range from John Lewis offers statement home accessories in jewel tones – from Tom Dixon candles to Georg Jensen glassware. From a selection, johnlewis.com
words by Camilla Apcar
From Linley to Lotusier, discover the designers championing the intricate 16th century craft of marquetry
Into the woods feature
interiors
O n 17 October,
a macassar ebony and bird’s eye maple cabinet by Studio Job will go under the hammer at Sotheby’s with an estimate of £40,000 to £60,000. It is one of an edition of six, made only in 2006, when the Dutch design duo were at the forefront of a renewed and revived interest in marquetry. Such graphic skeletal designs were far from the conventional use of technique, in which incredibly thin veneers are cut to a design, pieced together and applied to a solid wooden base. Studio Job turned heads, and created an appetite for the technique that – as the Perished cabinet’s appearance at auction suggests – has not diminished. Veneer marquetry evolved in the 16th century from the idea of stone inlays and intarsia. A new jigsaw blade made it possible to cut precious woods into ever thinner sheets; the technique swept through Flanders and into France, with cabinetmaker André-Charles Boulle leading the way at Versailles. A century later, elaborate veneer designs had outstripped most other decorative furniture techniques.
“Marquetry is an extraordinary illusion, even in this day and age” At Decorex in September, bespoke specialist Zelouf and Bell launched a number of designs that offer a delightful contemporary approach to marquetry, in their own way. “What interests us is not so much the making for its own sake, but the ability to use different techniques as a way
This page, from top: Studio Job, Perished cabinet; Zelouf and Bell Othello credenza; Jungle cabinet Opposite page: Tim Gosling’s corridor door
to express ourselves and our interests,” says cofounder Susan Zelouf. “We’re more interested in style and expression than woodworking.” At the moment, geometric and repetitive patterns are inspiring the duo, such as a credenza with 22,000 triangles of macassar ebony inlaid into a grid of pale pink sycamore (Othello, £28,000). The pattern is inlaid back into the timber, like a jigsaw. Other new projects have taken particularly artistic cues from nature. A champagne cart mirrors one of the largest mazes in the world, at Reignac-surIndre (£8,100); for the Jungle cabinet (£16,500), the pair worked with a fashion illustrator, playing asymmetrical offset marquetry. To achieve such vibrant colours, pressure-dyed veneers are used, although care must be taken with placing – like any fabric or painting, all woods react to sunlight. Zelouf and Bell’s new feather cocktail cabinet, meanwhile, marries both graphic and naturalistic inspirations (£26,150). “We were excited by the idea of a very formal and linear joinery, then introducing one organic element,” says Zelouf. To wit, hyper-real marquetry hen feathers decorate its rippled sycamore drawer fronts, while opening the plain centre drawer reveals a matching tray. The idea of marquetry as artwork in its own right is continued at Linley, where the craft is at the company’s core. It was founder David Linley’s
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Clockwise from top left: the making of Linley’s Cassiopeia screen; Zelouf and Bell, Serpent in a Maze champagne cart; marquetry from Francis Sultana’s new collection; Linley, Girih cabinet; Linley, London skyline screen
specialisation when he studied fine furniture, admiring the work of Boulle and William Kent. This year at Masterpiece, Linley brought a triptych screen made in collaboration with artist Jonathan Yeo, using 40 different veneers (£125,000). “It brought a figurative element to marquetry,” says Linley’s creative director Carmel Allen. “Our designer really looked at brushstrokes and chose the grains of the wood to reflect that. We are constantly experimenting and trying to push the boundaries a little.” Each panel rotates on its own support; a Connolly leather-clad valet and drinks bar sits on the reverse. “Modern marquetry is very much about exciting surface design and pattern, bringing in some colour and wit, making it really relevant for now,” says Allen. “So often people associate marquetry with brown furniture – and it really doesn’t have to be.” Case in point, is the striking royal blue Girih cabinet in sycamore and satinwood (£75,000), inspired by an eight-pointed star mosaic tile that Linley spotted on a visit to Doha. Huge city skyline screens, which Linley first started producing around the turn of the millennium, each include more than 30,000 pieces and take more than 750 hours to put together (£75,000 for London). Every time he goes to New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s room of 15th-century trompe l’oeil marquetry tops furniture designer Tim Gosling’s list. “It’s one of those incredible techniques that never seems to fail to amaze you as you approach it – realising it’s not three-dimensional, but flat,” he describes. “It’s an extraordinary illusion even in this day and age of movies and iPads. To still see craftsmanship that makes you look at it differently is wonderful.” When in his 20s, Gosling met Jack Wild, a craftsman who worked on the Orient Express. “He had perfected
interiors
treasure box
the art of marquetry like no one else,” says Gosling. “He was in his 80s then and we had a couple of years of him being able to train younger people. To hand that baton on is incredible.” One of Gosling’s concerns is that A trio of accessories with such crafts are less likely to be commissioned marquetry in miniature if the intricacies of the techniques are not understood – and then might die out. Some pieces might take months to create. One of Gosling’s most impressive creations is a door at the end of a corridor that turned out like a drawing in itself, with about 4,000 pieces of hand-cut wood creating an optical illusion as if looking further down the corridor Christophe Pourny, a French furniture and out over a balcony. Many of the edges designer based in New York, has worked on were sandburnt to provide extra shading (the public projects including the restoration of wood is shuffled gently into a pile of hot sand, City Hall, and countless private commissions Cufflink box, £3,100, Dior, dior.com charring the edge). In the coming centuries, involving straw. “Marquetry was always as the woods start oxidising, the dark woods reserved to the ‘happy few’ that could afford, will become light and vice versa. or had the lifestyle or home to welcome it,” The most modern aspect of marquetry says Pourny. Straw was originally used by today is the use, in some cases, of laser those wanting a cheaper alternative to wood cutting instead of cutting by hand, to achieve marquetry in the 1700s, but its rediscovery painstakingly detailed designs. But there is by Art Deco designers created a demand and little space for purism, says Gosling, and this expense that could only be afforded by the Tray, £1,500, Francis Sultana, francissultana.com in turn helps crafts survive. “I sometimes wealthiest households in Paris. think it’s really great to use laser cutting. Today there is an additional obstacle. It does a very different thing as opposed “The process of creating is not as challenging to cutting it by hand – you end up with a as creating the desire for clients to appreciate slightly burnt edge. But straw cutting is all it. We worked for several years promoting done by hand, and remarkable because in a this craft, before we saw large projects photograph it doesn’t capture the light in the planned.” The rye straw that Pourny uses is same way as if you actually walk past it and grown organically in France, specifically for see the iridescence of the straw.” marquetry. The bundles are imported to Tea humidor, £9,950, Lotusier, When Hermès reissued a selection of Brooklyn, where each stalk is split by hand lotusier.com Jean-Michel Frank pieces in 2013 that and ironed flat. Only the best are kept. Gosling also worked on, he was spurred The designer’s specialty includes to find craftspeople expert in straw. “A lot of them are based in impressive waterfall tables inspired by Jean-Michel Frank, Normandy because Mont Saint-Michel was used as a prison shimmering over the curve of the wood, and covering entire walls during the Napoleonic wars, where they had nothing else to do in straw marquetry. The foyer of a new European home took all day except use the straw on the bottom of their cells to make nearly two years to complete. pictures,” says Gosling. “It was born out of that tiny little industry Where Pourny sticks to infinitely mesmerising golden hues, in the 1800s.” Francis Sultana’s latest work uses straw marquetry to colourful Gosling has now started to look at inlaying bone and mother of effect. The designer’s imagination was captured by straw pearl into the straw. “It’s using three sets of different craftsmen to marquetry on trips to Baku and Istanbul, combining strong colours create something that wouldn’t have happened before, a century with the natural straw. The result is a collection of chevrons and ago,” he says. Another table features a 3-metre accent of green blocky stripes in bright green and blue (from £7,225). “Whereas straw, dyed in the south of France and worked on in Normandy, in the 1920s and 1930s it was all natural in colour, we have created before the panels are sent to Gosling’s workshop in Whitby. something entirely contemporary,” says Sultana. Hundreds of years on, the horizons of marquetry are still expanding. Bethan Laura Wood focuses on laminate marquetry for her limited series of Hot Rock furniture POA at Nilufar Gallery), while Allen notes a trend for incorporating metal. Meanwhile, at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, Lizzo has just introduced wallcoverings by Japanese specialist Tomita (£309 per m). Thin sheets of lustrous paulownia wood are cut then placed together, alternating the grain of the wood, with more paulownia or paper mulberry inlaid in a contrasting direction to complete the effect – intricate, and ever enchanting.
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design notes words by Lauren Stevens
Autumn hues
New for A/W17, Multiyork’s Ambleside sofa is adorned with Shalimar, a new Sanderson fabric inspired by the Indonesian batik technique. The floral print comes in an autumnal palette of deep red, orange and grey. £2,469, multiyork.co.uk
Design bible
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A novel idea
If your bookshelves are beginning to overflow, look to Graham & Green for storage units with a difference. The new Hana bookcase merges modern and Art Deco design with gold iron framework and marble shelves – a timeless piece in which to store your favourite classics. £995, 4 Elgin Crescent, W11, grahamandgreen.co.uk
This year marks the 21st anniversary of Andrew Martin’s Interior Design Review, an expert’s guide to the world’s top 100 designers, many of whom will be in the running for the brand’s prestigious International Interior Designer of the Year Award (an accolade which notably helped launch the careers of Kelly Hoppen and Kit Kemp). Grab the latest copy and prepare to be inspired. £45, andrewmartin.co.uk
Self service
Upgrade your kitchen with the new integrated unit range by Steel, which offers storage, sinks and preparation tops that can be arranged to suit your own tastes. Each unit is designed to visually complement the other, whichever way you choose to place them. POA, bradshawluxury.co.uk
interiors five minutes with
Kelly Hoppen Interior designer Kelly Hoppen on her home furniture collection for Sonder Living at Harrods and her top dinner party hacks as told to Lauren Stevens Design for me is about creating luxury pieces that people can incorporate into their own homes. Not everyone will buy a whole room-set, so it’s about loving one piece. I’ve designed each piece of furniture in the Sonder Living collection with a beautiful back, because furniture should be seen from every angle. You know when you get dressed, you look in the mirror to make sure your bum looks alright? It should be the same with furniture. A desk might be up against a wall, but then again it might not, so you’ve got to make sure that everything works in terms of perspective. The designs are also based on my love of vintage pieces and the creativity of mixing textures, whether it’s woods, metals, brass, nickel, lacquer, mohair, velvet or suede. The collection is called Retrospective, and within it I’ve created pieces that I know have worked for people during my 40 years in the industry. There are several dining tables within the collection. A dining table needs to be big enough but not so big that you can’t talk to people sat across from you. It’s all about textures; the surface is important because that’s the first thing you’ll see.
The very first book I wrote was called Table Chic, and it was all about creating themes around a table. I always have flowers on a table at a dinner party, and lovely linen napkins. Glasses should also be at different heights, and you should have beautiful candles to give a lovely smell. I always burn a candle, and people often comment not only on how beautiful they look, but also how lovely they smell. I love to entertain at home as it’s such a beautiful house. I think people prefer to go to people’s houses for dinner, it’s better. We have a table that seats 30, so we have these big dinners every month. The food will be gluten and dairy free, but I’m not a vegetarian so we’ll have fish and vegetables – and a lot of alcohol. From £115, available at Harrods, sonderliving.com
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interiors
sage The brain behind the designs of The Savoy Grill, Jason Atherton’s Social Eating House and, most recently, The Botanist 2.0, Russell Sage discusses the art of crafting kitchens for cooks and rooms for royalty words by Ellen Millard
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ussell Sage is a busy man. After my initial phone call is cancelled due to his imminent return from India, I finally catch him seven hours later, during a moment’s peace between a meeting and a mad dash to catch yet another flight – this time to Scotland. “I’ve just worked for three days in Delhi, I’m now working for two days in Scotland and then I’ll spend one day in Brussels,” he says over the thrum of Gatwick airport. “I try to minimise my travel, so I usually do ten days every three or four months on our international projects, and then the rest of the time I really focus on the London work.” It sounds exhausting, but the designer is not one for the simple life. What began as a career in fashion has segued from sculpture to circus performance and back to fashion again, making his mark at London Fashion Week with his clothes-come-upholstery collections, before finally settling on interior design. His company, Russell Sage Studio, was founded some 15 years ago and has since become the go-to for restaurateurs and hoteliers alike. Its design repertoire includes the likes of Social Eating House, The Goring and Dishoom.
Clockwise from main image: The Goring; The Townhouse Club room at The Zetter Townhouse, Clerkenwell; The Townhouse Deluxe at The Zetter Townhouse
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Clockwise from right: The Botanist restaurant; The Botanist bar; The Royal Suite at The Goring; The Zetter Townhouse, Clarkenwell
“The interiors world has more longevity and you can take more care over things,” he says of his chosen industry. “Fashion is so quick, and I always describe it as a young person’s game. You can only endure it for about five years and then you’re too old to be in it. What I love about interiors is that there’s something new to learn all of the time.” His latest project is Chelsea’s The Botanist, which is marking its tenth anniversary with a reboot, complete with a new design, a new head chef (Ameya Bhalekar) and a new menu. The latter will comprise European-inspired dishes such as burrata with baby beetroot and sea bass ceviche, but it’s not the food that Sage is interested in – rather the kitchen it will be cooked in. “The Botanist has always had a contemporary feel, and has always been a real character on the corner of Sloane Square, so we were very keen to preserve that, freshen it up and move it along,” Sage says. “With all projects the key thing is to preserve the ongoing story, and The Botanist’s story is very strong. We’ve just changed the
way things flow in the space so that customers can get a lot more enjoyment from it when they visit.” The result is a navy, green and rose-coloured design with leather banquettes and a 45-seater brass bar that takes pride of place in the middle of the room. A nod to Chelsea has been made with bespoke tiles designed by graphic artist Kevin Hill, who has overlaid prints of former Chelsea resident Sir Hans Sloane’s botanical drawings, versions of which are on display at the nearby Natural History Museum. It’s not the first time Sage has designed with a local resident in mind; a previous project at The Goring came with the added pressure that the future Duchess of Cambridge would not only be the first to use what is now the Royal Suite, but she would also be staying there the night before her wedding. “It was such a lovely thing to do,” Sage says of his brush with royal fame. “The staff at The Goring were really lovely and supportive; we had to pull it out of the bag to get it ready about two months earlier then planned in time for the royal wedding.”
“...hotels are increasingly reaching for their interiors
interiors
The suite in question is vast; there are two bedrooms, both furnished with antiques and attached to marble bathrooms, a large sitting room and a dining area with a grand piano and room for six guests. The entire space is peppered with references to the royal family: handwritten letters, stationary and military regalia decorate the rooms. It’s a fitting tribute and an ideal location for a due-to-beroyal bride to stay (although when I hear of the life-sized portrait of Queen Victoria in the master bathroom, I’m surprised Kate made it down the aisle...). It sounds like a dream project for Sage, who instantly comes alive when I ask him about his love of antiques. “I have a big storage facility in my home in Somerset, because a lot of our projects use antiques,” he explains. “I often spend my week going to auctions in places such as Tetbury and Axminster. I’ve got some early photographs of the pyramids taken in the
1920s and 1930s and they’re just beautiful; they don’t have a huge value but to me they’re really special.” Visit one of Sage’s projects and you’re likely to find a plethora of antiques that the designer has sourced himself; places such as The Zetter Townhouse in Clerkenwell and Avebury Manor marry his love of history with contemporary design – a style Sage is happy to see catching on. “Hotels and restaurants are getting braver; we often get contacted by quite mainstream, five-star hotel brands simply because they’ve seen some of our more unusual projects, such as The Zetter Townhouse,” he says. “I absolutely love that because hotels are increasingly reaching for their interiors to tell a unique story about the space that they’re in, which is what I specialise in.” Another sticking point is the importance of hospitality, as essential to a hotel or restaurant’s design as much as it is the service, Sage says. “Proper five-star hotels get very confused about what luxury is and actually it’s about giving people a breathing space,” he explains. “The ultimate hotel is not about gold leaf and a pillow menu, it’s about having fantastic service that is enabled by brilliant design, and brilliant design is as much about back of house as it is about front of house.” The same follows for people’s own homes; atmosphere is key and often, Sage says, the problem can be fixed with the simplest of solutions: “Look at the lighting; it’s not about colour or even comfort, it’s about getting the lighting right so that it matches the mood,” he advises. “It’s a really simple thing to do and people sometimes forget, and then they wonder why they live in such gloomy rooms.” For design tips à la Sage one only need visit the restaurants and hotels on which he has made his mark, the list of which is growing by the minute. Currently, he has 30 projects on the go, from a hotel in Scotland to a restaurant in Delhi, to a member’s club in LA and a darts venue in Chicago – all of which will receive Sage’s eclectic seal of approval. But despite his love of unique artefacts, the designer tells me those looking for a quick fix needn’t bother scouring the country for antiques – he’s just as happy shopping in the most run-of-the-mill places. “I look at everything; every company has something good. It’s about having a constant interest in your subject,” he says. “I can’t say I have a go-to brand, because I’m often amazed by the bits that I see in places like Tesco’s and Sainsbury’s.” Turns out you really can live well for less. The Botanist is open now, 7 Sloane Square, SW1W, thebotanistsloanesquare.com
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A
chic dining room is no longer defined by an opulent crystal chandelier. Gone are the days of the requisite set consisting of a perfectly matched table and chairs. Instead, mixed furniture styles, fabrics and finishes create a look that is less contrived and more welcoming. When it comes to inspiring guests, a statement is best made with a one-of-a-kind centrepiece. Ultimately, good food and good company make for the best dinner parties, but you can bring together the whole event with a fabulous central bouquet. From rustic to elegant, a floral centrepiece can set the perfect tone for your meal, while clusters of pretty tea lights and candles can help set a more intimate mood. Be sure to consider the entire room, as well. The recent trend for larger-than-life mirrors, frames and artwork adds a playful punch to any dining area. Whether hung, painted as a mural or leaning against a wall, From mismatched crockery to oversize décor makes a bold and stylish impact. gold accessories and statement Brushed metal is out, centrepieces, discover the and shiny warm metals tableware trends that favour are in (think bronze and gold). Refined eclecticism over uniformity shapes, metallic details, graphic motifs and words by Julia Zaltzman fabric-inspired finishes are best for celebrating contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship. Elevate placemats from overlooked extras with original textiles, and use black, gold, and pops of colour to create place settings that are unexpectedly vibrant and unapologetically luxe. While a simple plate, fork, spoon and knife set-up may do the job, if you really want to impress your dinner guests, take the extra time to set the dining room table correctly. Before you feel a grand dinner party or an informal gastro-inspired the need to start shopping around for an oyster fork, consider gathering with your friends, following the right table what type of evening you have in mind. Whether you’re hosting setting rules can be quite overwhelming, and getting it right will depend on several factors, including: the formality of the event, how many courses to serve, and how to serve them. The informal table setting is probably the most widely used. It is a great fit for casual weddings, dinner parties, or any occasion that needs just a bit of dressing up without being too stuffy, with fewer utensils and glasses involved than a formal table setting. Also, a butter plate may or may not be provided. Last of all, play around with similar hues, scale and proportion. A well-set table should be functional, yes, but fun. Add a bit of fantasy by incorporating a few elements that the cold-hearted might call ‘superfluous’ for the average dinner; fine cordial glasses, for example, add a touch of effortless glamour. The result will be a magical night to remember, for both you and your diners.
How to
dine in style
interiors SPINNING PLATES
With quirky animal illustrations and gilt gold detailing created by Yvonne Ellen, this fun and fabulous plate set is perfect for impressing guests at your dinner or tea parties, and is guaranteed to get the table talking and the party started.
Heart of glass
This handmade, mouth-blown Mamba decanter from Riedel’s Fatto a Mano collection features optical blown glass and a black-and-white decorative line to enhance the dynamic design. £495, available in Harvey Nichols
From £32 each or £104 for a set, johnlewis.com
BUTTER UP
For a side dish with a difference, select this handmade porcelain J.L Coquet butter dish in brushed gold POA, harlequin-london.com
Know your place
Give your table setting a dose of luxury with Chilewich’s Lattice Placemat. Woven on leno looms, it boasts a crystal-like clear coating that will shimmer as it catches the light over a romantic candlelit meal or sophisticated dinner party. £24.50, available at Harrods
wine down
This Cabernet Merlot glass from the newly unveiled range of varietal-specific wine glasses by Riedel is made using traditional Venetian techniques and features colourful handmade stems and bases. £495 for a set of six, available at Harvey Nichols
WAX LYRICAL
A collection of marble candlesticks and tea lights to set the mood for any occasion. From £15, 208 King’s Road, SW3, habitat.co.uk
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There’s Always So Much To Do At This Time of Year tel: 01372 469378 www.surreyhousekeepers.co.uk | www.londonprivatestaff.co.uk
Thirst Aid In their new book Doctor’s Orders, bartenders Chris Edwards and Dave Tregenza give their top tips on how to make a medley of revitalising cocktails. Available from 16 November, £12.99, hardiegrant.co.uk
Photography: Giles Christopher
food&drink words by Ellen Millard
Party time
The founders of travelling pop-up One Star House Party are on a 20-month trip around the globe, serving food in each city they stop in. This autumn they arrive in London, where they will be serving dishes from their travels inspired by the likes of China, Oman and Kenya – but we’re most looking forward to trying the dish originally served at the Everest Base Camp. Snow cones, anyone? £85, until 3 November, Unit 1 Gallery, 1 Bard Road, W10, onestarhouseparty.com
nd the Mandarin Orie a m o o Theatre h s i D t ntal meets food this No vember a ©Thomas Alexander
Roxy music
London’s favourite Indian eatery is unveiling a Kensington branch this winter, and it’s opening with a bang. Dishoom, a Bombay-inspired restaurant, will play host to Night at the Bombay Roxy, a jazz production that harks back to the 1940s. Expect live music and a lavish feast of classic Dishoom dishes, before the restaurant officially opens its doors on 12 December. £72, 27 November – 11 December, The Barkers Building, 63-97 Kensington High Street, W8, nightatthebombayroxy.com
No rest for the wicked
Earlier this year, Wicked was crowned the 16th longest running show in London’s theatre history, stealing the spot from Billy Elliot the Musical. To honour the occasion, the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park has created an afternoon tea with Wickedthemed treats. Expect a matcha and hazelnut éclair topped with a sparkly shoe and a chocolate and caramel mousse shaped like a witch’s hat. £53, The Rosebery Lounge, 66 Knightsbridge Green, SW1X, mandarinoriental.com
high life All that jazz
Funny bones
Following its refurbishment earlier this year, the Dirty Bones’ Kensington branch has reopened its doors, bringing a taste of New York City to west London. To celebrate, a new menu of comforting dishes has launched. Enjoy mac and cheese, pork belly ribs and cheeseburger dumplings. 20 Kensington Church Street, W8, dirty-bones.com
Should Jay Gatsby have thrown brunch parties in favour of late night soirees, Harrods’ The Georgian is surely where he would have held them. The store’s flagship restaurant has partnered with Perrier-Jouët Champagne to launch a new Sunday brunch menu that has a suitably Gatsby-esque, 1920s theme. Live jazz music and a cocktail trolley serving unlimited Bloody Marys and glasses of fizz are set to draw the crowds, along with a self-service patisserie bar and a traditional British carvery. From £65 per person, every Sunday from 11:30 until 15:00, to book call 020 7225 6800 or email reservations@harrods.com
Go nuts
Cause for celebration
It has been 30 years since Kensington Place opened its doors in Notting Hill, and to mark the occasion new head chef Arnold Ivey has fashioned a special, seafoodfocused menu. For the first two weeks of November, a shellfish platter comprising langoustines, oysters, mussels and razor and palourde clams will be available, alongside dishes such as yellowfin tuna tartare and braised octopus. 201 Kensington Church Street, W8, kensingtonplace-restaurant.co.uk
If you thought Nutella was good, then have we got news for you. Chocolatier Pierre Marcolini’s Casse-Noisette collection features a spread to end all spreads. In a nutshell (sorry), the treat is made from 65 per cent hazelnuts, blended with the finest cocoa, sugar, whole milk and a pinch of salt. To complete the collection, Marcolini favourites Barre2 and Carre2 have been updated with almond praline. Get cracking. £13.50, available at Harrods
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interview
Cooking up a
storm
It’s not uncommon for recipes to be passed down through generations, but what about the pots in which you cook those tried and tested dishes? Marie Guerlain wants to turn the frying pan into a family heirloom, with her cookware range, designed to withstand the test of time – and the most temperamental of chefs words by Anna Thornhill
U
tter the name ‘Guerlain’ and the first thing that springs to mind is probably perfume; saucepans not so much. But Marie Guerlain (the great-granddaughter of Pierre-François-Pascal Guerlain, founder of the French fragrance and cosmetics house), is causing a stir in the kitchen with the launch of her luxury cookware brand Ondine. As an artist and nutrition health coach, Guerlain’s seven-piece collection, which is now stocked in Harrods, combines her culinary and creative passions. The range (which comprises small and medium
saucepans, a skillet, casserole dish, sauté pan, stock pot and roasting pan that can all be used from oven to table), has been five years in the making and was developed in partnership with skilled craftsmen from the family-run Serafino Zani factory in Brescia, Italy. Each piece takes up to four months to create and finish, with handles individually cast in bronze and Guerlain’s initials carved into the side (going forward the brand also hopes to offer bespoke engraving). “I’m trying to change the mindset that cookware needs to be shut in a drawer. I want people to show it off in their kitchen, or bring it to the table if they’re hosting a dinner party,” Guerlain explains. The beauty of the pans is not just surface deep. Made from noncorrosive 316 titaniumgrade stainless steel, the surface area won’t “erode or leach over time”, which prevents potentially harmful chemicals ending up in your food or impairing the flavour. “When I designed the range I was cooking for my small children and using all these wonderful organic ingredients so I wanted to
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continues Guerlain. “The way the titanium conducts the heat is amazing, so things cook really evenly.” The nonstick, easy-to-clean properties (Guerlain has bought tried and tested pans from her own kitchen to our meeting at the Baglioni hotel, and I can report they look spotless) means the Ondine range has already been a hit with professional chefs, including French pâtissier and Albert and Michel Roux protégé Eric Lanlard. Guerlain’s passion for food began in childhood when she cooked with her mum and would throw dinner parties for her family. “I’d create a French restaurant with only one table and all my family would sit down and pretend they were out for dinner,” she smiles. Her roast lamb is still a firm family favourite: “My sister books in advance. She’ll ring me and say: ‘I need my lamb fix on 19 August’.” When she has a night off from cooking, she likes to head to Notting Hill for dinner – an area she first got to know back when she studied at Chelsea College of Art. Today she returns to west London regularly to shop at Whole Foods or peruse the local galleries. Guerlain admits that her painting has taken a bit of a backseat of late – “I have three children under ten,” she smiles – but she enjoys being part of the Future Contemporary’s Committee at the Serpentine Gallery. Cooking is now her main creative outlet, and while the chefs she most admires (Alain Ducasse and Joël Robuchon) are masters of French cuisine, she is constantly looking to broaden her culinary horizons. “I recently had dinner at Nathan Outlaw’s restaurant in Port Isaac, which was amazing. He’s my new favourite chef of the month,” she says. Alain, Joël, Nathan – if you’re in the market for some new pots and pans, head to Harrods.
“These pans should last for generations. I want them to be heirlooms to be passed down” make sure they were being cooked in the best possible material,” says Guerlain. “These pans should last for generations. I want them to be heirlooms to be passed down. We live in such a disposable society now, so I’m trying to go back to authentic living. Yes, it’s more expensive, but you’re investing in something for life.” The unique surface means that less oil is required, too, which is good news for health conscious chefs. “I wanted to enhance the cooking experience,”
The Ondine cookware range is available at Harrods, ondine.com
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high life
All food images courtesy of Villa Mamas, ©Carol Sachs; all other images courtesy of MAM
Dinner for two Two new local restaurants bring a taste of Vietnam and Bahrain to the Royal Borough words by Lauren Stevens & Ellen Millard
MAM
Villa Mamas
All Saints road
I’m seated near the door of Villa Mamas,
16 All Saints Road, W11
in Notting Hill is pretty quiet at 8pm on a Thursday night – save for a few bars and restaurants, including the new Vietnamese spot recently opened by Colin Tu (the brain behind Salvation in Noodles in Dalston and Finsbury Park). This one is called MAM, and it specialises in Vietnamese-style barbecue. Meat skewers are the main deal here, but the menu also boasts a selection of vegetarian options, as well as classic Pho dishes. We decide to go for a variety of sharing plates to get a real taste of the menu, and enjoy a Goi Du Du (green papaya salad with king prawns) to start before tucking into some crispy chicken wings served with fish sauce. A main of beef, chicken and prawn skewers arrives with a mixed salad and rice noodles, and we are advised to wrap everything in a lettuce leaf and dip it into the traditional nuoc cham sauce, which we do in true Vietnamese style. My attempts at wrapping are pretty poor, but the rolls are delicious all the same. We finish off with the Bánh Xèo, a savoury crepe complete with chicken and prawns, an odd combination which I have to admit wasn’t my favourite. Nonetheless, it’s washed down with a few more glasses of Prosecco and my guest and I leave with satisfied stomachs after an enjoyable, street-food inspired experience. LS
25-27 Elystan Street, SW7
which means I have a prime view of the constant stream of hopeful diners being turned away throughout the night. “Well, well done you,” one man chortles, impressed despite being told to go elsewhere. It’s a Tuesday evening, a little more than a week since it opened, and the restaurant is fully booked. And there’s good reason; founding chef Roaya Saleh’s traditional Middle Eastern dishes drew the crowds when Villa Mamas opened in Bahrain in 2012, and it is doing much the same in Chelsea. An appetiser of sliced aubergine topped with crunchy caramelised onions, walnuts and whey sauce is delicious, as are the chunks of lamb tikka cradled in the world’s smoothest hummus, best mopped up with a round of crispy flatbread. The latter also comes dosed in a generous lashing of Mahywa, a tangy fermented fish sauce. A main of slow-cooked lamb shank atop a bed of pine nuts, vermicelli and rice is equally as good, as is the Machboos chicken and rice, a signature Bahraini dish. A bread pudding is fine, but not outstanding, and I regret not opting for another main instead. The presentation is slick, the service impeccable and the food divine, but it’s by no means a fancy affair – and this, I detect, is Villa Mamas’ secret. It’s homecooked food without the washing up; a neighbourhood joint you’d take out-of-towners to; and the sort of place you’d pop in on a Tuesday for a mid-week meal. Just make sure you book first. EM
Memorable occasion. Memorable space. P UB L I C H O US ES & D I N I N G R O O M S • C U B I T T H O U S E .CO.U K
We offer tailor-made private events that are in a completely different league. Relax in one of our pubs this Christmas knowing every detail is in hand. There has never been a better time to celebrate. Contact our events team on 020 7730 6064 or events@cubitthouse.co.uk to find out more.
DIVE INTO LUXURY
Experience the ultimate in fitness and relaxation at The Peak Health Club & Spa, Knightsbridge’s exclusive urban retreat. Enjoy unrivalled views of London whilst working out in the state-of-the-art gym, unwinding with a dip in the heated indoor pool or being pampered by one of our expert spa therapists. To find out more about our range of memberships including short-term, pool-only and under-30s, call 020 7858 7300 or visit peakhealthclub.com.
Design right
The Marcel Wanders designed Mondrian Doha is a visual feast, with more colour, print and sculpture than you can shake a stick at. Check in and prepare to be impressed. Ftrom ÂŁ190, mondriandoha.com
Koh Samui’s most exclusive and discrete luxury villa estate, Samujana is positioned in the most sought-after location on the island. Offering complete privacy just a few minutes’ drive from Samui International Airport, the estate boasts a hill-top location just a short distance from the stunning beaches of Choeng Mon and popular Chaweng. +66 (0) 77 423 465 RESERVATIONS@SAMUJANA.COM
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This winter, raise a glass to the warmer climates of Bangkok, where the the highest alfresco whisky bar in the world has opened. Perched more than 800ft in the air, Lebua’s Alfresco 64 boasts aerial views of the city’s skyline and the Chao Phraya river – best enjoyed with a cold glass of whisky in hand. lebua.com
globetrotter words by Anna Booth
Food for thought
With more than 80 villa estates to rent in Tuscany, The Luxury Travel Book has got your Italian retreat covered with its new series of food and wine tours. Experience the authentic taste of Italy with guided vineyard and olive grove tours and, at select properties, learn how to make the ultimate pizza from the comfort of your very own hilltop home. From £2,124 per person per week, theluxurytravelbook.com
Wild thing
Located next door to Tanzania’s largest national park, Timbuktu Travel’s Jabali Private House is the perfect place for any animal-lover to visit. Sleeping six, the property comes complete with a private chef, safari guide and vehicle, as well as plentiful opportunities to spot the park’s large population of wild animals. From £2,541, timbuktutravel.com
Buen Apetito
This autumn, Spanish resort Princesa Yaiza will be hosting a series of gastronomic events with world-renowned Michelin-starred chefs María Marte and Arnau Bosch. The cooks will be serving exclusively designed menus with an emphasis on international cuisine, with all dishes created using locally-sourced ingredients. From £173 per night, 16-18 November, princesayaiza.com
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EY E OF THE
TIGER Track tigers in the Ranthambore National Park and marvel at the magnificence of the Taj Mahal on a tour with a difference in India words by Laura French
I
’m in the African savannah. Or so it seems. Spindly trees soar up from a mass of dusty, gold-speckled plains. Giant rocks and lunar landscapes lead the way as we bump across the sandy tracks in an open-top, jeep-style canter, battling with overhanging branches along the way. “Tiger footprints!” yells our guide. We follow them, eyes intently focused on the ground. I’m actually on a morning safari drive in India. So far I’ve seen bright blue peacocks, pink-beaked storks, sleeping owls and glaring yellow ‘golden warrior’ birds. I’ve craned my neck to watch baboon-like langur monkeys piggybacking their babies, and spied elegant spotted deer and Sambar antelopes prancing through the trees – the only patches of green on the otherwise desert-like landscape. But still no tigers.
This image: The Taj Mahal, courtesy of Newmarket Holidays; Left: Tigers at Ranthambore National Park
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Clockwise from above: Indian Roller bird; the Ganges at Varanasi; Ranthambore National Park; Gray langur monkeys
I guess that’s the magic of it. Instead I make do with browsing their habitat – the lakes next to which they sit, camouflaged, waiting for their prey; the great fiery ball of a sun under which they lie, now glowing bright red in the 6am light. Then the engine stops, and our guide points. It’s utterly silent. In the distance, I think I see stripes. We amble over, tense with anticipation, cameras poised. But by the time we reach the spot, it’s gone. I’m at Ranthambore National Park, a 17,000-square-kilometre stretch of protected land in the district of Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. Once a hunting ground for Maharajas, it’s now one of around 50 protected tiger reserves in the country, created under the government’s Project Tiger in 1973 to help conserve the species (numbers had fallen dramatically from the early 20th century; from an estimated 20-40,000 to just 1,800 by the 1970s). “The tigers here are completely wild so we can’t promise sightings,” says our guide Vipul, although he recommends coming in the spring months, when he assures me visitors have an 80 per cent chance of seeing them. “Protecting them is our priority; tigers are the kings of the jungle, at the top of the food chain. The whole ecosystem depends on the tiger.” We might not get up close to any big cats, but the experience is an evocative introduction to India’s vast abundance of untamed nature. It’s a side that doesn’t get all that much attention. Everyone’s heard of the madness of Mumbai, the magic of the Taj Mahal. But Ranthambore? Not so much.
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food – paneer tikka, rich, flavoursome vegetable curries and cardamom-infused sweets – is delicious. We dance the night away to a backdrop of live drumming with our local hosts, who whirl and spin around like it’s second nature, colourful saris swishing elegantly in the wind. It’s all a far cry from the first half of my trip, which took me from hectic Delhi to hassling Jaipur. But they held a different kind of charm – one of ancient history and longstanding cultural heritage, shown in exuberant palaces, iconic architecture and centuries-old walled cities. Among the latter is the UNESCOlisted, 16th-century Amer Fort, set just outside the pink city of Jaipur and built as the imperial home of the Mughal dynasty, which ruled much of the region for more than 200 years. A yellow-pink stretch of sandstone and marble courtyards, the fort is set on the hillside overlooking a shimmering jade lake, and is an opulent reminder of the region’s multi-layered, pre-colonial past. The fort is also a reminder of its ancient craft heritage thanks to the Mubarak Mahal (or Auspicious Palace), which displays royal textiles, including embroidered shawls and sparkling saris once worn by the Maharaja’s family. Ten minutes away in the town of Amer itself lies the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, where intricate works are elegantly displayed, giving a nod to the region’s long-standing reputation as a hub for the arts. It’s something I decide to explore further in Jaipur, visiting a local craft cooperative, where an elderly, white-haired local gives us a block printing demonstration. I browse printed silk bed sheets and exquisite, hand-made woollen carpets, and learn they take up to a month and a half to complete (John Lewis is one of their buyers). It takes me back to the Taj Mahal and its astonishing level of detail: the jade, turquoise and amethyst stones laid into the marble-work, the intricate inscriptions and incomprehensibly perfect symmetry. Our time sightseeing is the antithesis of the tiger sighting, but both trigger the same feeling: awe. I’m frequently moved throughout my visit to India; whether by the country’s vibrant, celebratory people, its imposing mosques and extravagant palaces. or its rugged wilderness. India is a land of striking contrasts and I want to delve deeper.
In the distance I think I see stripes. We amble over, tense with anticipation, cameras poised..
Somehow it all feels pleasingly cut-off, kept apart from mainstream tourism despite the fact it’s a regular on touring itineraries. Staying at the nearby Regency Hotel, a jungle-lodge with a luxury edge, we meet wildlife enthusiasts who have come from far and wide to learn more about these wonderful creatures. Keen to explore the wilderness further we travel to the remote Vanaashrya tented camp, set among the foothills of the Aravalli Mountains, around a fourhour drive north. Along the way, tiny villages give us a glimpse of local life: camels, donkeys, pigs and cows wander along the road and locals wave and stare as if we’re the world’s hottest new band. On arrival we take a camel-and-cart ride to explore the area, trotting our way along dusty, yellow-sand roads interspersed with giant pine trees. Back at the camp I take it all in – and it’s pure serenity. There’s total silence bar the faint hum of birds flitting around outside my door. We might be in the middle of nowhere, but that doesn’t mean compromising on creature comforts. The tents here house king-size beds and warm en-suite showers. The pool is beautiful and the
Newmarket Holidays’ ten-day India: Tigers and the Taj Mahal tour costs from £1,199 per person, based on a departure on May 22 2018, including return flights, newmarketholidays.co.uk
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American beauty Despite what House of Cards would have us believe, Washington DC isn’t all about politics – it’s a lap of luxury, too words by Karen Bowerman
T
he Hay Adams, one of the most prestigious hotels in Washington, makes a bold claim: “Nothing is overlooked but the White House.” As I glance out of my guest room window, tracing the building’s iconic pillars and triangular pediment through the trees, there’s no denying the view. The home of every US president since John Adams stands just feet away in a small park called Lafayette Square. I’m so close I can even see the secret service guys on the roof. I leave the window and take in my room, with its regency striped wallpaper and sumptuous bed. It’s then that I spot my very own white house, with a note of welcome on the desk. Hand-sculpted from white chocolate, with a roof at a jaunty angle to reveal pralines hidden inside, its lawn is candied flowers. If you’re a guest of the Hay Adams, it’s true that nothing is overlooked at all. The hotel, with its Renaissancestyle facade, is grand, gracious and refined. The Obamas stayed here in 2009 ahead of moving into the White House. Opposite is St John’s, the so-called “Church of the Presidents” with the presidential pew, number 54. A short stroll away is the White House Visitor Centre. On display are chocolate moulds used to emboss petit-fours with the presidential shield and President Lincoln’s chair. As I pour over a 3D model, trying to find the Oval Office, I’m overheard talking about the building’s “front” and the “back”. “Only we don’t say that,” Tyesha, one of the guides, exclaims. “It’s the North and the South side. The President’s helicopter may land on the lawn [she points to an area behind] but no one wants to say he entered by the back door!” Later, as my friends and I stand on the grassy Mall, a two-mile stretch of open space in the city, President Trump does indeed fly over. Three helicopters
Clockwise from bottom left: The Lincoln Memorial; Room with a White House view at the Hay Adams; Washington Monument; The Rosewood, Washington DC; Rasika West End
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With Washington only seven miles from one of the top ten shopping centres in the country, Tysons Corner, I have to pay it a visit. Home to more than 300 stores, it has also won a recent US design award. At Tysons you can buy loose diamonds, Gucci bags, artisan chocolate and even Steinway pianos. At the jewellers, Lenkersdorfer, I spot a $100,000 platinum watch which took three years to make. I spend my last two nights in Georgetown, DC’s most exclusive neighbourhood, where multi-million dollar houses line cobbled, leafy streets. My hotel, the Rosewood, is classy and stylish, with staff to match. It has the feel of a town house, with a canal-side dining room, a wood-panelled bar serving cocktails and rare rye whiskies, and a lounge where you can browse books on literature and art. “Our typical guests are elegant yet trendy,” a member of staff says. “Think CEOs who want to feel young again.” There’s certainly an element of playfulness in the high-tech gadgets, giant poolside Jenga and rooftop bar. I explore the district’s university, visit Martin’s Tavern where JFK proposed to Jackie, and discover the ice cream parlour which once served Barack Obama. Apparently, his favourite flavour is coconut. The former president also celebrated both his 52nd and 56th birthdays at Rasika West End, an acclaimed Indian restaurant, nearby. I join the in-crowd for a four course tasting menu. Besides traditional tandooris, there’s braised lobster in a pastry crust and black cod with honey and star anise. Rasika comes from Sanskrit meaning Flights from London “flavours” and it’s a truly flavoursome feast. Gatwick to Washington On my last evening, I relax at the Rosewood’s (Baltimore) with Wowair stunning rooftop bar, overlooking one of the cost from £400 return via most powerful cities in the world. Georgetown Reykjavik, wowair.co.uk. buzzes with nightlife, while across the Potomac Baltimore airport is an easy river, floodlit memorials honour statesmen, 30 minute train journey presidents and heroes. from Washington DC. In the distance, the Washington Monument frames the view. As night draws in, the 500ft Rooms with a White House obelisk to the country’s founding father view at the Hay Adams transforms into a shard of light. It rises above DC’s cost from $729 per night, corridors of power and the brick filigree romance hayadams.com of Georgetown, piercing the clearest of skies.
need to k now
emblazoned with “United States of America” come in low. At the last minute one drops down to land as the decoys spin away. We take in some of the sights: the stunning Library of Congress, the largest in the world, with its 29 million books, marble staircases and mosaics, and Capitol Hill, the seat of US government where a prized advance ticket gives us an exclusive tour. We stand beneath the 180ft dome, topped with the Statue of Freedom. The figure points east, illustrating the hope that the sun should never set on liberty. Dinner at the Hay Adams is an elegant affair: lobster salad followed by Dover sole, deftly filleted at our table. When we decline dessert, the restaurant manager tempts us with a strawberry soufflé. “I will not accept that you are full,” he says, “because dessert goes to your heart, not your stomach!” That evening, the hotel arranges a bespoke tour. The Mercedes is so shiny that it reflects the city’s sparkling lights. Our chauffeur has driven Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Angelina Jolie. “But everything they told me stays in the car,” he says. We cheekily remind him to do the same. The highlight is the Lincoln Memorial. Over a sea of selfie-sticks, the 16th President who preserved the Union and promoted the abolition of slavery, sits, looking steely and dignified.
Rooms at the Rosewood cost from $495 per night rosewoodhotels.com A four-course tasting menu with wine pairings at Rasika West End costs $100, rasikarestaurant.com For more on information on Washington DC visit washington.org
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M dr e a m i t
do it Ferrari’s retrospective at the Design Museum charts the brand’s speedy trajectory to supercar stardom, from its humble beginnings on the streets of Maranello to the finish line of the world’s most famous racing tracks words by Jennifer Mason
ozzafiato is perhaps one of the least appreciated words in the Italian language. It translates as ‘breathtaking’ – and is the perfect word to describe the Design Museum’s newest exhibition: Ferrari: Under the Skin. Showcasing everything you ever wanted to know (and some things you didn’t know to ask) about Ferrari – arguably the greatest motoring brand in the world – the collection embodies the spirit and forward-thinking of Ferrari’s creator. The great Enzo Ferrari once said: “If you can dream it, you can do it”; and the bringing together of unique Ferrari cars and artefacts from around the world represents a life-long dream of the museum’s founder, Sir Terence Conran. “The Ferrari story is truly one of the great adventure stories of the industrial age and I am very proud we are able to tell it at our Design Museum. What excites me so much about this exhibition is the rare opportunity to glimpse
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behind the scenes and experience the dynamic between engineering, manufacturing and design which produces Ferrari’s magic ingredient. It is a magic ingredient that means I am here, aged 85 and still lusting after the idea of owning a Ferrari – I want to go out with a beautiful, powerful and perfectly designed vroom.” Obviously one of the main draws will be the selection of classic and incredibly rare Ferraris on display, including the 250 GTO and the first-ever Ferrari, the 125 S, many of which have never been housed under the same roof before. But there’s so much more to see than just the cars. Those interested in the nitty-gritty of the world of the motor maestro will be fascinated by the early design models, drawings, letters and memorabilia. You’ll even have the chance to see never-before-exhibited archival material, such as hand-sculpted models in clay and wood. After becoming a racing driver for Alfa Romeo in 1919, Enzo Ferrari decided he could do better. His passion for racing was unmatched when he launched his first car in 1947. Despite the economic instability in post-war Italy, Ferrari produced his first 12-cylinder engine, designed entirely with performance in mind. It’s a goal that the brand has stuck to ever since; no powered-down, affordable or sensible road cars for Ferrari. “I have yet to meet anyone quite so stubborn as myself and animated by this overpowering passion that leaves me no time for thought or anything else,” Clockwise from top left: L-R Dylan Jones, editor of GQ, with Design Museum co-directors Alice Black and Deyan Sudjic OBE, photography by Rosie Reed Gold; The 156 F1, no. 50 with 6-cylinder V65 engine in the foreground; Present day manufacturing of the Ferrari California car; First Ferrari win in a Grand Prix valid for the Formula 1 World Championship, 1951; Enzo Ferrari in the factory, 1947; Enzo Ferrari at the entrance of the Ferrari factory, 1957
Ferrari is quoted as saying. Ferrari: Under the Skin reveals how integral the man behind the brand was, in intricate and spellbinding detail. But cars aren’t my thing, I hear you say. When it comes to this exhibition, trust me when I say it doesn’t matter. You don’t have to be a petrolhead or racing fanatic to appreciate what’s on show. Yes, if you can recite the stats of each of Ferrari’s F1 championships you’ll be in your element; but ultimately this exhibition presents the lifestyle that Ferrari brought to the forefront of modern motoring. His cars attracted the attention of the rich and fabulous around the world, from Steve McQueen and John Lennon to Elvis Presley and Nick Mason. Ferrari brought an exclusivity to the world of supercar ownership which means it still retains its title as the most sought-after of motoring brands, even in the modern era of extravagant car creativity. The exhibition also looks to the future. Despite the fact that Ferrari has remained at its home in Maranello since its inception, the brand is not only keeping up with modern technological innovations, it is often at the forefront of them. Many credit this to the fact that Ferrari has kept its F1 team in-house, adapting the latest Formula 1 advancements and trickling them down to its road cars. The LaFerrari was a prime example of using F1 hybrid-technology to produce one of the most exciting supercars to date. Ferrari: Under the Skin offers a glimpse of what Ferrari has in store over the coming years. So if you’re interested in finding out what makes Ferrari tick, or simply getting up-close and personal with some of the rarest and most beautiful cars in history, take a trip to the Design Museum this winter. It’s a lot closer than Maranello. £18, 15 November – 15 April 2018, The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8, designmuseum.org
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The Botanist
020 7341 2320
7 Sloane Square
umamilondon.co.uk
SW1W 8EE
White Circle Collection
P13-14 New Covent Garden
SW7 1EX
020 7730 0077
71 Walton Street
Flower Market
020 7591 0288 londonland.co.uk
DELICATESSENS
thebotanistlondon.com
La Bottega
Boujis
65 Lower Sloane Street
43 Thurloe Street
London Land Management
SERVICE
Roses Only
1 Montpelier Street
SW3 2HT
SW8 5NA
020 7989 9890
020 7622 1622
whitecirclecollection.com
rosesonly.co.uk
PSYCHOTHERAPIST
CHILDCARE
Specialist Services
Suzanne Thomas
SW1W 8DH
SW7 2LQ
020 7730 8844
020 7584 2000
labottega.co.uk
boujis.com
Kensington Nannies 3 Hornton Place
Lethbridge London Ltd
suzannethomas.co.uk
Ottolenghi Delicatessen
MEMBERS’ CLUBS
Kensington High Street
Building & Decorating
suzannethomas.co.uk
W8 4LZ
Specialist
63 Ledbury Road
BUILDERS & DECORATORS
07770 378791 suzannethomas@
W11 2AD
Chelsea Arts Club
020 7937 2333
020 3609 1918
020 7727 1121
143 Old Church Street
kensington-nannies.co.uk
lethbridgelondon.co.uk
CLEANERS
William Gaze Ltd Basement, Loft &
SW1W 0RH
Hillside Clothes Care
Extension Specialist
020 7123 4544 /
ottolenghi.co.uk Partridges
Westminster Security Ltd
SW3 6EB 020 7376 3311 chelseaartsclub.com
2-5 Duke of York Square
SECURITY SERVICES
34 Buckingham Palace Road
SW3 4LY
The Sloane Club
118 Kensington Park Road
020 7078 8874
0755 4000 300
020 7730 7102
Lower Sloane Street
W11 2PW
williamgazeltd.com
westminstersecurity.co.uk SHORT-LET RENTAL
partridges.co.uk CHOCOLATIERS
SW1W 8BS
020 7243 6900
020 7730 9131
hillsidedryclean.co.uk
MOVING SERVICES
Infusion Haberdashery
Abels Moving Services
sloaneclub.co.uk
Melt Chocolates
Business Affairs
59 Ledbury Road
COMPUTER &
W11 2AA
TECHNOLOGY HELP
020 7727 5030 meltchocolates.com
Richard Darsa
MANAGEMENT
and Dry Cleaners
UK Residential, European
Easy Rental Services
3 Chepstow Road
and International Removals
aurelie@easy-rental-services.
W2 5BL
& Storage
com
020 7243 8735
01842 816600
020 3567 0604
infusion-haberdashery.co.uk
info@abels.co.uk, abels.co.uk
easy-rental-services.com
PETS
PICTURE FRAMER
78 Cadogan Place William Curley
SW1X 9RP
198 Ebury Street
07768 200 551
SW1W 8UN
richard@darsa.net
020 7730 5522 williamcurley.co.uk
COURIERS
Selena Courier Service
Purple Bone
Frame Set & Match
95 Notting Hill Gate
111 Old Brompton Road
W11 3JZ
SW7 3LE
020 7985 0903
020 7589 7635
purplebone.com
framesetandmatch.com
Suite 86, 235 Earls Court Road SW5 9FE 020 3643 5410 selenacourier.co.uk
LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 097
Image courtesy of Taylor Howes Image courtesy of Haberdashery
Image courtesy of Pulse Cinemas
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www.exclusivelyliving.com
E_Living_Advert_drf11.indd 1
08/10/2017 19:11
showcasing the finest homes & property from the best estate agents
Lap of luxury Behind the doors of the most exclusive properties in the Royal Borough hitting the market this autumn
Featured estate agents KENSINGTON 8 Hornton Street century21uk.com
W8 4NW
henryandjames.co.uk
jll.co.uk
020 7937 9371
BELGRAVIA
CHELSEA
1 Motcomb Street
2 Cale Street
1stasset.co.uk
NOTTING HILL
CHELSEA
10 Clarendon Road
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
SW1X 8JX
SW3 3QU
7–9 Tryon Street
W11 3AA
168 Brompton Road
020 7235 8861
020 7399 5010
SW3 3LG
020 7229 1414
SW3 1HW
020 7014 3800
KENSINGTON
020 7584 2044
375 Kensington High Street W14 8QH
NOTTING HILL chestertons.com
301 Westbourne Grove
hlrlets.com
aylesford.com
CHELSEA
W11 2QA
CHELSEA
CHELSEA
60 Sloane Avenue
020 7717 5311
117 Sydney Street
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
440 King’s Road
SW3 3DD
SW3 6NR
174 Brompton Road
SW10 0LH
020 7594 4740
020 7351 7822
SW3 1HP
020 7351 2383
PADDINGTON
020 7306 1610
4c Praed Street KENSINGTON
W2 1JX
116 Kensington High Street
020 7717 5313
020 7087 5696
W8 7RW beauchamp.com
020 7937 7244
MAYFAIR
PIMLICO &
hutchison-whampoa.com
kfh.co.uk
WESTMINSTER
CHELSEA
EARLS COURT
24 Curzon Street
NOTTING HILL
50 Belgrave Road
5 Hester Road
243 Old Brompton Road
W1J 7TF
30 Ledbury Road
SW1V 1RQ
SW11 4AN
SW5 9HP
020 7499 7722
W11 2AB
020 7717 5315
020 7350 5640
020 7740 2020
020 3040 8585
beauchamp.com
SLOANE SQUARE
FULHAM
7 Lower Sloane Street
825-827 Fulham Road SW6 5HG
SW1W 8AH
MAYFAIR
crayson.com
29 Curzon Street
NOTTING HILL
MAYFAIR
W1J 7TL
10 Lambton Place
48 Berkeley Square
FULHAM AND CHELSEA
020 7408 0007
W11 2SH
W1J 5AX
29 Effie Road
020 3284 1888
SW6 1EN
020 7221 1117
020 7717 5317
harrodsestates.com
john-taylor.com
CHELSEA
020 3486 2280
020 7731 0051
58 Fulham Road carterjonas.co.uk
SW3 6HH
HOLLAND PARK &
hamptons.co.uk
NOTTING HILL
CHELSEA
8 Addison Avenue
134 Fulham Road
W11 4QR 020 7371 1111
HOLLAND PARK
020 7225 6700
128 Holland Park Avenue johnwilcox.co.uk
W11 4UE
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
HOLLAND PARK
020 3542 2111
SW10 9PY
82 Brompton Road
13 Addison Avenue
020 7717 5291
SW3 1ER
W11 4QS
SOUTH KENSINGTON
020 7225 6506
020 7602 2352
29 Harrington Road
KNIGHTSBRIDGE &
HAMPTONS
SW7 3HD
CHELSEA
COUNTRY HOUSE
020 3040 6370
47 Beauchamp Place
8 Chertsey Street, Surrey
SW3 1NX
GU1 4HD
020 7584 7020
01483 339740
property
Notting Hill
WEST CHELSEA
2-6 Kensington Park Road
140 Fulham Road
knightfrank.co.uk
W11 3BU
BELGRAVIA
020 7313 2890
SW10 9PY savills.co.uk
020 7373 1010
82-83 Chester Square
londonland.co.uk
SW1W 9JH
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
South Kensington
196-200 Fulham Road
KENSINGTON
020 7881 7722
1 Montpelier Street
29 Harrington Road
SW10 9PN
103 Kensington Church Street
SW7 1EX
SW7 3HD
020 7578 9000
W8 7LN
020 7591 0288
020 7590 0800
CHELSEA
CHELSEA
020 7938 3666
352a King’s Road
KENSINGTON
SW3 5UU
145 Kensington
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
020 7349 4300
Church Street
66 Sloane Street
malverns.co.uk
nicolasvanpatrick.com
W8 7LP
SW1X 9SH
FULHAM
KENSINGTON
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
020 7535 3300
020 7235 9959
203 New King’s Road
Malvern Court
20 Montpelier Mews
SW6 4SR
Onslow Square
SW7 1HD
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
NOTTING HILL
020 7751 2400
SW7 3HU
020 3770 3474
188 Brompton Road
303 Westbourne Grove
SW3 1HQ
W11 2QA
020 7581 5234
020 7221 1111
020 7589 8122 Hyde Park 1 Craven Terrace
Notting Hill
SOUTH KENSINGTON
pastor-realestate.com
168 Westbourne Grove
90 Old Brompton Road
marshandparsons.co.uk
MAYFAIR
W11 2RW
SW7 3LQ
KENSINGTON
Chelsea
11 Curzon Street
020 7727 5750
020 7581 7000
54-56 Kensington
Rawlings House
W1J 5HL
Church Street
2a Milner Street
020 3879 8989 (sales)
W8 4DB
SW3 2PU
020 7938 4311
020 7591 5570
W2 3QD 020 7871 5060
SLOANE STREET 139 Sloane Street
48 Curzon Street
SW1X 9AY
winkworth.co.uk
W1J 7UL
020 7730 0822
Kensington 118 Kensington Church Street
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
Earls Court
60 Sloane Avenue
246 Old Brompton Road
SW3 3DD
SW5 ODE
020 7591 8600
020 7835 0620
BELGRAVIA
Knightsbridge
NOTTING HILL
Holland Park
pegasi.co.uk
77-79 Ebury Street
& Chelsea
298 Westbourne Grove
57 Norland Square
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
SW1W 0NZ
289 Brompton Road
W11 2PS
W11 4QJ
207 Sloane Street
020 3714 0749
SW3 2DY
020 7229 0229
020 7605 6890
SW1X 9QX
020 3195 9595 (lettings)
W8 4BH 020 7727 1500 sothebysrealty.co.uk
020 7589 6616
020 7245 4500 SOUTH KENSINGTON
Kensington
Notting Hill
157 Gloucester Road
9 Kensington Church Street
178 Westbourne Grove
SW7 4TH
W8 4LF
020 7871 4111
020 7368 4450
W11 2RH struttandparker.com
020 7727 3227
russellsimpson.co.uk
CHELSEA
North Kensington
Chelsea
43 Cadogan Street
South Kensington
136 Lancaster Road
5 Anderson Street
SW3 2PR
123a Gloucester Road
W11 1QU
SW3 3LU
020 7225 3866
SW7 4TE
020 7313 8350
020 7225 0277
020 7373 5052
LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 101
Hidden
03/10/2017 10:23:32
6R
32
6 Royal Crescent K&C November 2017
03/10/2017 09:55:03
Chester Street, Belgravia SW1 An elegant Grade II listed Georgian house An exceptional family house with outstanding scale and proportion. This elegant, south facing Georgian house is located in a prime residential street to the east of Belgrave Square and has access to the communal gardens (by arrangement). 8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, drawing room, dining room, kitchen, breakfast room, study, 2 cloakrooms, laundry room, wine cellar, terrace, garden. Approximately 358 sq m (3,858 sq ft).
KnightFrank.co.uk/knightsbridge knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5913
Leasehold: expires 25th December 2040
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/SLA040124
Kensington and Chelsea November Chester Street
05/10/2017 17:42:48
K&
48
Vicarage Gardens, Kensington W8 A wider than average family home in prime Kensington Arranged over predominantly four floors only, this is a wonderful white stucco fronted family home with an excellent balance of living and family accommodation. The house is set well back from the road and to the rear is a south facing garden mostly laid to lawn. 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, garden. EPC: E. Approximately 311 sq m (3,357 sq ft). Freehold
Guide price: £7,150,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/kensington kens@knightfrank.com 020 3551 5156 Struttandparker.com/kensingtonsales kensington@struttandparker.com 020 7938 3666
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/KEN170141
K&C - 9 Vic gardens 2
06/10/2017 15:29:52
Roland Mansions, South Kensington SW7 An elegant and well-proportioned apartment This spacious two bedroom property is situated on the first floor and offers open plan living accommodation, perfect for entertaining and a reception room that enjoys a south west facing aspect which offers an abundance of natural light. 2 bedrooms, bathroom with bath and separate shower, shower room, reception room, kitchen. EPC:D. Approximately 88 sq m (947 sq ft). Leasehold: approximately 148 years remaining
Guide price: £1,695,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/southkensington southkensington@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6122
@CentralLondonKF KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/STK1600062
K&C Nov 2017v3_with crops
06/10/2017 13:41:36
Ke
36
MOVE. Faster. Sell with Knight Frank. Our understanding of the everchanging market enables us to price your property accurately, so you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving. Call us today for a free market appraisal of your property.
Guide Price: £1,795,000
Park Walk, Chelsea SW10 A spacious two to three bedroom flat on the raised ground floor of an attractive mansion block. Located on a quiet street near Fulham Road, the flat also benefits from direct access to a communal patio garden. EPC: D. Approximately 104.9 sq m (1,129 sq ft). chelsea@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 5903
Knightfrank.co.uk/chelsea chelsea@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5903
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £899,950
Redcliffe Square, Chelsea SW10 A bright two bedroom flat on Redcliffe Square, situated just off The Little Boltons. The property has been refurbished to an immaculate standard, providing stylish and contemporary accommodation. EPC: C. Approximately 61.8 sq m (665 sq ft). chelsea@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 5903
Ken & Chel - November 2017
06/10/2017 16:46:19
Trevor Place, Knightsbridge SW7 A stunning five bedroom period house This property has been meticulously refurbished and extended providing a rare opportunity to rent a luxury family home. 4 bedroom suites, staff bedroom, 5 bathrooms, guest cloak room, double reception room, media room, spacious open plan kitchen/dining room, second kitchen, utility room, store room, private patio, comfort heating and cooling, video entry, alarm and CCTV. EPC: D. Approximately 297 sq m (3,204 sq ft). Available for long let, furnished
KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings knightsbridgelettings@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6019
Guide price: £6,950 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/KNQ237230 All potential tenants should be advised that as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
4 Trevor Place Ad
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
06/10/2017 16:51:41
K&
41
Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater W2 Beautifully presented two bedroom apartment A newly refurbished apartment located on the fifth floor of a large mansion block close to the local amenities of Queensway and Westbourne Grove. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, bedroom 2, bathroom, reception room, separate kitchen, lift, porter, residents' gym and swimming pool, parking by separate negotiation, access to communal gardens. EPC: C. Approximately 86.2 sq m (928 sq ft). Available furnished
KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings nottinghilllettings@knightfrank.com 020 3463 0062
Guide price: £650 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/NHQ85370 All potential tenants should be advised that as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
K&C Niovenber 2017 Lettings
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
06/10/2017 15:15:27
Chelsea is back on the map James Pace, partner at Knight Frank’s Chelsea office, says a village feel and sense of real community is making residents feel they have found a home
Photography: ŠSarel Jansen
property
J
ames Pace looks very at home as he surveys the gardens of the spectacular house we’re meeting in. Situated at the heart of The Boltons Conservation Area, Cresswell House is beautifully designed with exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail. It is, says Pace, the perfect home for a family who wants to live in a real community – even if it means holding out for a buyer who can afford the £30 million-plus price tag. More modest homes are again being filled by families who are moving back – or seeking out the area - and it has been a buoyant autumn so far for the Knight Frank Chelsea team. As we tour the home and view the suites, pool and cinema room, Pace talks with optimism and passion about the area he has worked in for 21 years. “Chelsea is back on the map,” he says. “For some time, buyers were swayed by other postcodes but now it is all about the home itself, what it offers and the community in which it is located. “I see London as a series of villages and buyers are once again being allured by Chelsea’s charm. The wonderful thing about our current market is that people are buying property in Chelsea in order to call it home, be part of a real community and to raise their children here.” Pace has witnessed this uplift first-hand and official Knight Frank numbers speak for themselves, showing a substantial rise in both sales and instructions. Between January 2014 and June 2016 the amount of homes bought and sold in Chelsea fell by 54 per cent. Yet between January 2016 and June 2017, they have increased by 24 per cent. “People have come to terms with higher rates of stamp duty and the quality and variety of local amenities continues to develop, with more shops and restaurants opening, as well as excellent new schools such as Wetherby.
“Chelsea is a wonderful and relatively safe place in which to live; an enviable place to call home and a village with a perpetual draw. The Saatchi Gallery and Duke of York Square provide cultural havens away from the hum of Sloane Square and King’s Road. “Chelsea’s architecture chronicles the area’s popularity as a residence throughout the ages – from the area’s oldest buildings south of the King’s Road to the newest, now being constructed at Chelsea Waterfront near Lots Road. Chelsea was the beating heart of the fashion world in the swinging 60s and bohemian 70s, and many of the famous faces that lived here then still live here now. “There are some who felt that spirit had been lost for a few years but it’s certainly back now and Chelsea is firmly back on the map as the place to live. “Chelsea has evolved into a gentrified area whilst retaining its character. It’s comfortable and home to great people and beautiful properties. “I love seeing the bustling weekend farmers’ market and it’s interesting to see all the new businesses opening up thriving. It’s great to see the King’s Road so vibrant again. “Property-wise, I personally love the garden squares surrounded by elegant townhouses – they offer some of the best standards of urban living anywhere on the planet.” So as we approach winter, Pace and his team are optimistic about the market in 2018 and beyond – and he says he expects an offer soon even on the £32.5 million Cresswell House. He says: “It’s an incredible home with exquisite style, sophistication and elegance. It’s truly unique: classic on one level and extremely cool on another. I look forward to meeting the family who will eventually move in and make their life here.”
“Property-wise for me it’s the garden squares surrounded by elegant townhouses that offer some of the best standards of living on earth”
352a King’s Road, SW3, knightfrank.co.uk
LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 111
WILTON MEWS BELGRAVIA SW1 A STUNNING FAMILY RESIDENCE LOCATED IN THE HEART OF BELGRAVIA Wilton Mews is a luxury new build house which has been interior designed to an exacting standard. The property has large reception rooms ideal for entertaining, spacious bedroom accommodation and ensuite facilities. This unique home also has an indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, passenger lift and garage. Accommodation: Entrance hall, dining room, kitchen, 2 large drawing rooms, master bedroom with ensuite bathroom & dressing room, 4 further bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, study, cinema room, staff bedroom with ensuite shower room. Amenities: Lift, roof terrace, swimming pool, gym, wine cellar, plant room, garage, parking. 9,803 sqft.
£28,000,000
Gary Hersham
Freehold
gary@beauchamp.com
Joint Sole Agents
+44 (0) 20 7205 2297
www.beauchamp.com
·
24 Curzon Street, London W1J 7TF
·
+44 (0)20 7205 2297
BUCKINGHAM GATE ST JAMES’S SW1 A SPECTACULAR GROUND AND 1ST FLOOR DUPLEX APARTMENT This is a three bedroom apartment, 4,663 sqft, set over two original townhouses and across two principal floors, with its own front entrance off Buckingham Gate. There is also access to the apartment via the concierge entrance, with a discreet third access and service route via the car park. Uniacke, who applies an accomplished and thoughtful contemporary interior style to enhance the quintessentially classical architecture. Accommodation: Large drawing room, dining room, living room, kitchen/breakfast room, master bedroom suite with ensuite shower & bathroom & dressing room, 2 further bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, guest cloakroom, utility room. Amenities: Storage/wine cellar, 2 balconies, 2 terraces.
£10,000 / Week
laura@beauchamp.com
No tenant fees
+44 (0)20 7205 2864
www.beauchamp.com
·
24 Curzon Street, London W1J 7TF
·
+44 (0)20 7205 2864
K&C Mag November.indd 1
29/09/2017 17:49:25
K&C
9:25
A top floor apartment with a sun-drenched roof terrace.
Matching people and property in London for over 160 years.
www.marshandparsons.co.uk K&C Mag November.indd 2
29/09/2017 17:49:26
Gloucester Walk, W8 £6,700,000 An impressive five-bedroom house set over four floors of this imposing redbrick building, with direct access to communal gardens. Leasehold.
• Roof terrace • Immaculate condition • Maisonette • Period home Kensington Sales : 020 8033 9025 sales.kns@marshandparsons.co.uk
www.marshandparsons.co.uk K&C Mag November.indd 3
29/09/2017 17:49:28
K&C
9:28
Alexander Square, SW3 Price on application Built in 1830, this exceptional Grade II listed, five-bedroom Georgian townhouse has private on-street parking and a secluded garden. Freehold.
• Five bedrooms • Communal garden • Period property • Terraced Chelsea Sales : 020 8033 9045 sales.chs@marshandparsons.co.uk
www.marshandparsons.co.uk K&C Mag November.indd 4
29/09/2017 17:49:31
ABBOTSBURY ROAD, HOLLAND PARK W14 ● ● ● ●
4 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Reception room Kitchen / dining room
● ● ● ●
Study Paved garden Off-street parking EPC: current (C) potential (C)
£2,090 per week Unfurnished For more information, call Ken Dowling 0208 104 1140 or email ken.dowling@eu.jll.com
Potential tenants are advised that administration fees may be payable when renting a property. Please ask for details of our charges.
387 Kensington High Street London W14 8QH
jll.co.uk/residential
EGERTON CRESCENT, KNIGHTSBRIDGE SW3 ● ● ● ●
3 Double bedrooms 3 Bathrooms (en suite) 2 Reception rooms First floor drawing room
● ● ● ●
Guide price £8,500,000 Freehold For more information, call Robert Lewis 020 7306 1620 or email rob.j.lewis@eu.jll.com
Dining room 60ft South-west facing rear garden 30ft Front garden Approx. 3,052 sq ft (283.53 sq m)
174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP
jll.co.uk/residential
.
HOLLAND PARK HOLLAND PARK W11
ÂŁ1,500,000 leasehold
bedroom | open-plan reception and kitchen | bathroom | high ceilings | communal garden | Epc F
www.century21uk.com/nottinghill
nottinghill@century21uk.com
KENSINGTON COURT KENSINGTON W8
£2,500,000 share of freehold
three bedrooms | open-plan reception, dining area and kitchen | two bathrooms | fireplace | lift | Epc D
10 Clarendon Road London W11 3AA
020 7229 1414
Established 1897
A bright and private, rare to the market, top floor duplex Evelyn Gardens, South Kensington SW7 • Three Bedrooms • 1,317sq ft • Lift access
GUIDE PRICE
£2,350,000 TENURE
Share of Freehold
• Abundance of light • Private balcony • Ample storage throughout
EPC RATING
E
CONTACT
CHELSEA OFFICE +44 (0)20 7225 5752 francis.burca@harrodsestates.com
H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M
Established 1897
An eighth floor two-bedroom apartment with panoramic views Warren House, Kensington W14 • Two double en suite bedrooms • Large wrap around room terrace • Reception with excellent views
GUIDE PRICE
£1,500,000 TENURE
Leasehold: Approximately 981 years
• 24-hour concierge • Underground parking • 1,000sq ft/ 92.90sq m
EPC RATING
D
CONTACT
KENSINGTON OFFICE +44 (0)20 3650 4600 joel.hughes@harrodsestates.com
H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M
First impressions Local agents on why making a good first impression in property could be the key to a successful sale Bedford Gardens, W8, £4.95m, Marsh & Parsons
Marsh & Parsons
Edward Woolgar Sales manager at Earl’s Court While there is definitely a market for unmodernised ‘project’ properties, many people are looking for the finished product when purchasing a home. Therefore, presentation can certainly add to the value. Immaculately presented homes obviously photograph better and, in a world where images are more prevalent than ever and buyers can view your property at the touch of a screen, people are more likely to request viewings on homes that stand out on a search page. The same can be said for lettings, as tenants are particularly drawn to beautiful properties they can imagine themselves living in.
There are several steps that landlords and homeowners can take to ensure their properties are viewed in the best light. These three simple steps cost very little to implement but can certainly improve a property’s selling and letting value. The first is depersonalisation. Depersonalising a property for sale is crucial. Make sure you remove clutter, family photos and any unusual ornaments. The second is rejuvenation; paint over any scuff marks you can see and cover worn walls with a lick of paint. Ensure the bathrooms are mould and dirt-free, and the kitchen looks like a fully-functional family space. Finally, presentation: dressing a house to make it feel warm and homely is crucial in helping buyers envision living there, so make the beds, dress the dining table and ensure the pillows are puffed up. All these little touches and elements will ensure buyers and tenants pay the optimal price for your property. This is particularly true for buyers as they will benefit from not having to make any significant alterations that inevitably add costs to their purchase, which will decrease their offer price. marshandparsons.co.uk
property
Pastor Real Estate David Lee Head of sales at Pastor Real Estate
pastor-realestate.com Chelsea Gate Apartments, SW1W, £1.6m
Pegasi Photography: ©Sarel Jansen
The phrase ‘dress for success’ is as relevant to property sales as it is to job interviews. First impressions matter. If you are to have any chance of achieving the strongest possible sale price, then it is vital your home is presented immaculately. Start by completing a top to bottom clean, then continue to carry out regular vaccuming and dusting thoughout the sales process. Following a strict cleaning regime will help ensure rooms and furniture are presented at their best. Fresh flowers will also help add a sense of style and glamour, ensuring your property stands out from the crowd. When it comes to lettings, presentation is absolutely key. Tenants, usually with restricted times for viewings, will either like or disregard a property within the first few moments of opening the door, making first impressions vital. Ensure the property is thoroughly cleaned and in pristine condition as the competition is fierce. Good lighting, beds made and dressed with crisp linen, cushions and a throw, and a few well thought out accessories in the living area and in the kitchen will make all the difference between a property that is memorable and a property that is quickly forgotten.
Grosvenor Square Apartments, W1K, from £2,000 per week, Pegasi
Jo Upton Property director
For an investor in residential property, the single most important consideration, aside from location, is the customer. Great customers stay longer, feel valued and in return, pay for the services that they receive. They also tell their friends and family. It’s essential, of course, to deliver an empathic, discreet and responsive service once residents take up their tenancy, but to attract the best customers, the property must not only look beautifully presented – it must feel welcoming. One size does not fit all, and while Pegasi has an identifiable style, we take care to ensure that each apartment is appointed to reflect its own character. Our furniture and window dressings are individually selected for every letting and we’re flexible on what we provide. We thoroughly vet all our contractors and suppliers, many of whom have worked with us for years and see our customers as theirs too, taking real pride in ensuring quality in what they do. Our residents come from all walks of life and many stay with us for a great number of years. For investors, treating every decision you make on how to refurbish and present a property with as much care as you would your own home, will give that subtle advantage over competitors in attracting the most discerning customers. pegasi.co.uk
LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 127
property
Chestertons
Beauchamp Estates
Rowland King Sales director
Preparing a property for sale is important as it potentially adds tens of thousands of pounds to its value. Homeowners can carry out a whole host of quick, short-term improvements to help with the overall presentation of their home, such as decluttering, repainting and maintenance work in the garden, for example. Long-term considerations, like renovation work, can offer the biggest return on investment, but it does take time and is therefore not always possible. We believe in the return on investment for our clients and will always look at a property and advise of anything that we think needs to be done. A technique we have found to be particularly successful is furniture rental, or ‘staging’. We are being instructed far more frequently on former rental investments, which in many cases are presented to us unfurnished and sometimes in need of a small makeover. Using a staging company helps lift the spirit of a property that might otherwise seem drab and unloved. It adds character and gives buyers a much better first impression of the property. I regularly use and would highly recommend Kelling Designs, based in Lots Road in Chelsea, which delivers an excellent service. chestertons.com
Harrods Estates Robert Cox Sales manager
First impressions may not increase the value of your property, but they are highly significant in obtaining that all important offer, whether it be an offer to buy or rent. For this reason, it is important to make sure that the first impression is positive. A neat and tidy exterior, known as curb appeal, may be the initial impression your home will make on a visitor and is therefore the most important. A fresh coat of paint on a front door and neat flowerbeds and window boxes will help make your home look inviting and fresh. The interior should also be clean and appealing. Remove all unnecessary clutter and overly personal items; at the end of the day, the person coming to view your home will want to imagine themselves living there. Opening blinds and windows is also crucial in creating a light and fresh first impression; natural light is the most flattering and will show off your home by making it look bigger and more inviting. Plants and fresh flowers are also good props, and diffusers and scented candles will always make a home more appealing – but it is important that these smells are not overpowering. Getting the opportunity to create a first impression is not easy, but if the opportunity is squandered, you may not get a second chance. Make it count. harrodsestates.com
128 | LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK
Rosy Khalastchy Senior negotiator There is only one chance to make a first impression and that is as true of property as it is of anything. Potential buyers arrive expecting to see what they are looking for and don’t want to be confronted by what they are not looking for: an untidy, cluttered home, full to bursting point of your possessions and looking uncared for. While good presentation may not necessarily increase the value of a property or increase its asking price, it can be hugely significant in attracting viewings and securing your asking price, particularly in a challenging or slow market. In considering how to present a property to its best advantage, it is important not to overlook what potential buyers see first: the front and exterior of the property. While it may not always be possible to create maximum curb-appeal, ensuring that it is as well presented on the outside as it is on the inside is key. Clear away any rubbish or clutter and decide if anything might be improved with a clean or coat of paint. Also ensure that any garden or terrace is tended to; mow the lawn, tidy away clutter and jet wash any paving. Moving inside, similar principles apply: put things away and make all areas clean and tidy. If the property is slightly too full, it may be appropriate to consider placing some items in a storage facility and again assess whether any particular location would benefit from a fresh coat of paint. It is all about presenting the property in the best light and in a way that reflects the lifestyle that the owner of such a property might expect and ideally aspire to. Once you have set the stage it is also important that this then be captured with good photography, but also that when potential buyers visit, that the presentation of the property is broadly the same as the pictures. beauchamp.com
Unique London lifestyle, in a new selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom waterside homes at Chelsea Creek Fairwater House Now Launched PRICES FROM £880,000 CALL NOW FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CHELSEA CREEK MARKETING SUITE, 9 PARK STREET, LONDON SW6 2FS 020 3733 1153 I CHELSEACREEK.CO.UK | SALES@CHELSEACREEK.CO.UK
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STC_CC_Kensington_Chelsea_Mag_297x210_Oct17.indd 1
04/10/2017 14:42
property
Property news
PrimeQResi JOURNAL OF LUXURY PROPERTY
PRIME RESI provides us with a comprehensive monthly round-up of key news about the local luxury property market
New luxury development with an arty twist opens in South Kensington
Palatial Buckingham Gate mansion offered at £35k per week
A stately Italianate mansion directly opposite Buckingham Palace has hit the long-let market at £35,000 per week. Forming the jewel in the crown of Tai United’s ultra-prime scheme, The Buckingham, the 15,845 sq ft property at No.6, was kept firmly under wraps while the six new apartments at Nos. 7-9 were launched in May. There are seven floors boasting original features; the ceilings hit 4.4 metres in places, and there’s a suite of five grand receptions, six principal bedrooms, staff accommodation, a private garage, a six-person passenger lift to all floors. It also boasts a 24 hour concierge and a sizeable spa area with a ten-metre swimming pool, sauna, gym, bar and treatment room. An asking price of £35k per week puts the instruction on a level with a penthouse on Carlos Place as the most expensive long-let rental option of 2017 so far. It is also being listed on the sales market on a POA basis. Hong Kong-based Tai United swooped on 6-9 Buckingham Gate last year, buying the Grade II listed block from a joint venture between Brockton Capital, Mountgrange and The Rothschild Foundation for £112m. The terrace was originally the work of Sir James Pennethorne (a protégé of John Nash, who also designed the south wing of Buckingham Palace, including its famous ballroom), with construction by George Trollope & Sons, which also worked on the Palace. Once home to some of the capital’s most powerfully titled individuals during the 1800s and 1900s, the mansions later served as offices and government premises until 2008, when, in need of refurbishment, they were put on the market.
130 | LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK
This autumn, South Kensington welcomes a new luxury development of 11 apartments and one townhouse, located between Gloucester Road and Southwell Gardens. Developed by Henley Space, The Arts House – so named for the area’s rich and varied artistic history – retains its period facade, with original porticos and ornate balustrades. Inside, 11 one, two and three bedroom apartments boast contemporary design features, with no two the same – one has a sun room with a period bay window, and another a roof terrace. Artwork by students of The Royal College of Art, Fred Robeson and Shigetoshi Furutani, will be displayed in the entrace foyer. In addition, there is a two storey, three-bed townhouse adjacent to the apartments. Katharine Webb, sales and marketing manager at Henley Space, says: “These apartments are ideal for buyers wishing to be close to the Lycée Francais Charles de Gaulle or Imperial College... The collection is bringing something new to South Kensington, allowing buyers the opportunity to purchase a luxury home with the latest contemporary specification in a building which encapsulates period charm.” The property is available through Chestertons, with prices starting from £1.895million.
carterjonas.co.uk
WITH 113 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE FROM OUR SOUTH KENSINGTON & EARLS COURT TEAM ALONE, OUR IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR LOCAL AREA IS INVALUABLE WHEN IT COMES TO ADVISING YOU ON THE CORRECT MARKETING STRATEGY FOR YOUR PROPERTY. Since 1855 we have maintained the same values that today affirm our status as a reliable agent, trusted by many key clients including The Crown Estate. With these offerings, we will ensure you receive the greatest possible service, and the best possible price for your property in your chosen timeframe.
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RIVERPARK COURT, CRANLEY GARDENS, SW7 LYALL MEWS, SW1XSW3 Bedroom || Bathroom Reception Entrance Hall 2 Bedrooms |2 | 4 Bedrooms 4| En Suite|Bathrooms Room | Kitchen |2 596 sqft | Rooms Lift | | Bathrooms | Kitchen/Reception Guest Cloakroom Reception EPC RoomE | 718 sqRoom ft | Lift | EPC ERoom | Kitchen/Dining | Laundry 2,418 sq ft | Integral Garage | A wonderfully proportioned one bedroom Additionaloccupying off-street Parking Access to apartment, 596 sqft| on the top Belgrave Square Gardens | EPC C fourth floor, with lift, of this handsome red
An excellently proportioned and bright two brick building with elegant high ceilings double bedroom apartment, An end-of-terrace freehold mewswithin housethe and spectacular uninterrupted views.on This heart of South Kensington. Positioned situated in arguably one of Belgravia’s most superbly arranged flatlift) comprises a double the second floor (with of this attractive desirable locations. This low built house bedroom with fitted storage andfrom river views, period building, the flat benefits was disassembled; comprehensively rebuilt awooden fully equipped bathroom with standalone floors in this stunning semi open and fully modernised benefitting from the bathtub androom separate shower cubicle, plan living with fully-fitted kitchen. latest technology advances including airgenerous eat-infurther kitchen with garden outlooks The apartment comprises a master conditioning, Lutron lighting, motorised blinds, and an excellent reception room with bedroom with modern en suite bathroom, a built in entertainment system, underfloor dual aspectsand an of natural second bedroom andabundance additional heating and a fully fitted kitchen withshower Miele light. Embankment Gardens iswith a charming room. The property is flooded natural and Gaggenau appliances. The property also crescent situated between exposure Chelsea and Physic light, offering an east-west enjoys private use of an integral garage as Gardenand the Evelyn Royal Hospital grounds dualasviews over well additional off-streetGardens parking inalongside the mews including Ranelagh Gardens; opposite Chelsea’s roof tops. and access to the prestigious Belgrave Square Battersea Park. gardens, subject to separate negotiations.
£995,000 STC £1,550,000, STC £6,750,000 STC
Leasehold, 119 years years remaining) remaining Leasehold (121 Freehold
TREVOR SW7 CLAREVILLE GROVE EATON PLACE, SW1X MEWS, 5 Bedrooms En Suite Bathrooms Entrance HallSW7 || 25Bedrooms |2
| WC | 2(1Receptions | Bathroom 2 Kitchens| Bathrooms en|Suite) | Kitchen/Dining/ Two Bedrooms En Suite | Utility Room |Room Store RoomPlant Room| | Reception 855 sq ft | Basement Shower ||Guest Cloakroom 3,142 sqft || 2 Shared Patios D Storage Room Terrace | Access Reception/Dining Room| |EPC Kitchen | to Belgrave Square Gardens Room |Victorian 915 sqtownhouse, ft | EPC E which AUtility spectacular
has been beautifully developed into a lavish An elegant flat with charm, occupying family home. The plentiful extension provides more A charming mews house idyllically approximately 855 sq ft of lateral space on the than 3,000 sqft of living space arranged positioned in this quiet cobbled cul-de-sac, third floor of this well-located handsome period over levels, greatKensington. care having been within6the heartwith of South building. Arranged over the full width of the taken to retain many of its original features, The property is presented in immaculate building, the principal reception room is flooded whilst seamlessly condition and hasincorporating been carefully state-of-the-art designed with natural light from its south-facing aspects technology, natural and throughout with Italianlight solidwells wood floors over the street. In design additionelements to the expansive contemporary throughout. and contemporary furnishings. This attractive sittingproperty area, the comprises room boastsan a bespoke The entrance house additionally benefits from south lobby integrated kitchen and space for dining;providing perfect with adjoining reception, westerly aspectsdouble and plentiful natural light. for open-plan entertaining. The apartment formal dining space and opulent Clareville Grove Mews is aansecure gated awards admission to abuilt-in superb bar, shared terrace,for drawing room with perfect lane, located at the north end of Clareville positioned to the rearBelow, of the first floor,is an entertaining onpeaceful one there Street, moments from floor. the bountiful amenities overlooking Belgrave Mews. Occupiers’ can exceptional kitchen with isfurther dining and restaurants, the area famous for. space also enjoy exclusive access to Belgrave Square and a charming sitting room overlooking a gardens,patio. subject to the usual consents. private
£6,950 £1,250 Per PerWeek, Week £1,900,000 STC STC Long Let, Furnished Furnished Leasehold (174 years remaining)
T: +44 +44 (0)20 (0)20 3770 3770 3474 3474 T:
info@nicolasvanpatrick.com info@nicolasvanpatrick.com
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Number One 297x210mm.indd 2
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198656
29/09/2017 16:06
=AG GINNY TIARKS HICKS SOPHIE
SYDNEY STREET,LONDON, LONDON SW3 020 7351 7822 FAX:M: 020 7351 2274 117117 SYDNEY STREET, SW3 6NR 6NR TEL: TEL: 020 7351 7822 07530 689536 e-mail: ginny@hlrlets.com website: e-mail: sophie@hlrlets.com website:www.hlrlets.com www.hlrlets.com
CHESTER ROW, SW1W
HANS PLACE, SW1X
Fabulous family house which has just been refurbished and is located in a quiet Belgravia street, close to popular Elizabeth Street and Sloane Square and all the amenities they have to offer. The house is extremely light and has excellent well planned accommodation which is spacious and well-proportioned, making it ideal for both entertaining and family living. This property is presented in excellent condition.
An elegant and beautifully presented second floor flat which has been furnished and decorated to a very high standard. The flat is located in a delightful building overlooking communal gardens and within a stone’s throw of Harrods and Knightsbridge underground station.
FIVE BEDROOMS - FIRST FLOOR - DRAWING ROOM DINING ROOM - FAMILY ROOM - KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM FOUR BATHROOMS - GUEST CLOAKROOM - GARDEN EPC RATING E - FURNISHED/UNFURNISHED
THREE BEDROOMS - TWO BATHROOMS TWO LARGE RECEPTION ROOMS - CARETAKER LIFT - COMMUNAL GARDENS - PARKING AVAILABLE BY ARRANGEMENT - FURNISHED - EPC RATING C
£4,150 per week
FURNISHED/UNFURNISHED
£2,250 per week
FURNISHED
QUEEN’S GATE GARDENS, SW7 5LZ
JUBILEE PLACE, SW3
This fabulous, third floor flat in an elegant corner building, overlooks the communal gardens. The flat has been totally refurbished throughout, with wood floors, new bathrooms, good sized kitchen and excellent storage space. With windows on two sides, this flat is wonderfully light and the reception space is arranged to create a separate living and dining area. Conveniently located within walking distance of both South Kensington and Gloucester Road tube stations.
This is a charming house situated in the heart of Chelsea, just off the King’s Road and close to Chelsea Green. Redecorated with wood floors throughout the ground floor. There are three good sized double bedrooms and a fourth bedroom/study. All rooms have excellent storage with built in wardrobes. The house has a patio garden which leads onto a private service road with its own garage.
THREE DOUBLE BEDROOMS - TWO BATHROOMS TWO RECEPTION ROOMS - FULLY FITTED KITCHEN - SMALL TERRACE - LIFT - UNFURNISHED
£1,650 per week
UNFURNISHED
117 Sydney Street London SW3 6NR Lettings: 0207 351 7822 or info@hlrlets.com
THREE DOUBLE BEDROOMS - STUDY/FOURTH BEDROOM TWO BATHROOMS (1 EN-SUITE) - DOUBLE RECPTION ROOM - FULLY FITTED KITCHEN - GUEST CLOAKROOM - FRONT GARDEN - PATIO GARDEN GARAGE - UNFURNISHED
£1,450 per week
UNFURNISHED
Help keep vulnerable Londoners warm this winter. Visit your local Chestertons branch during the month of November and donate your unwanted winter coats. Please only do so whilst the branch is open. All coats in clean and good condition are welcome.
QUEEN’S GATE, SOUTH KENSINGTON SW7 A truly magnificent four-bedroom duplex apartment located in the heart of South Kensington. The property has been tastefully refurbished and interior designed to an exceptional standard, spanning across two grand period buildings. This stunning apartment boasts approximately 4,272 square feet (396.88 square metres) of lateral living space over the first and second floor with direct lift access. The property is situated close to the wide-open spaces of Hyde Park, the shops and restaurants of Knightsbridge & South Kensington, and at a close proximity to the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
020 7580 2030 WWW.ROKSTONE.COM 5 Dorset Street, London, W1U 6QJ enquiries@rokstone.com
Price: £12,500,000 »»First floor duplex apartment »»Four en-suite bedrooms »»Balconies off every room »»Air-conditioning »»Underfloor heating »»Lift access to each floor »»Share of Freehold
St George’s Court, South Kensington Situated in the residential area of stylish South Kensington, St George’s Court is ideally located for Kensington High Street and boasts its own private garden for exclusive use by residents. In addition, the Royal Albert Hall and the museums of South Kensington are nearby.
Pegasi Management Company Limited 207 Sloane Street London SW1X 9QX E: enquiries@pegasi.co.uk | T: +44 (0)207 245 4500 pegasi.co.uk
LEW1190 MAL K&C NOV17_OL.indd 1
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Property news Market savvy Elena Dimova, managing director of CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, suggests potential buyers keep an eye on the rental market too To gauge demand for London property, it is not enough to simply look at the sales market, transaction levels and prices achieved. The Yin to the sales market’s Yang is the lettings market. It is important to understand demand as a whole, as momentum shifts from one to the other over the course of a cycle. Simply saying that sales transactions or prices are down does not paint a full picture of the property market. Potential buyers are not necessarily heading off overseas, they are simply biding their time. They still intend to live in London, but some are choosing to rent for now, until they have clarity on the future of the London sales market. This has coincided with the phenomena of accidental landlords: people that intended to sell, but have not been able to for the price they want, and have chosen to let their properties in the short term rather than crystallise a sale at a price below expectations. The effect is more rental properties on the market, resulting in more choice for tenants, ultimately catering to the increased amount of would-be-buyers choosing to be tenants. As lettings activity is higher, we know that the drop in sales transactions is not due to an exodus, but simply to this wait-and-see mindset. In the last few weeks, we have started to see buyers coming back, especially in the below £3m segment. It is not surprising, as it does not take a lot of searching to find good options that are priced competitively. Once all would-be buyers decide that it is “the right time to buy”, the opportunity for those that might have been braver now would have passed, as the market would have already shifted. The only way to take advantage of the somewhat fragile sentiment is to act before other buyers do.
CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena 10 Clarendon Road, W11 3AA 020 7229 1414, century21uk.com
Chestertons aims to collect thousands of coats in support of winter campaign London estate agent Chestertons is turning its network of 33 offices into public collection points throughout November in support of the Calling London Winter Coat Campaign, which aims to collect thousands of unwanted coats to help needy Londoners keep warm this winter. After helping the Calling London charity to collect 3,500 garments last year, a third of which were collected by Chestertons’ offices, the agency has set itself a bold new target for 2017. It will be accepting coat donations of all sizes at any of its London branches from 1 to 30 November. The Calling London Winter Coat Campaign was established in 2010 by local Kensington resident Frances Manthos. The charity collects warm coats and puffa jackets to distribute to London’s most needy people, such as the homeless, the elderly, refugees and children via various shelters, charities, schools and food banks. Nothing is sold on, just given straight out. Earlier this year, in recognition of her positive contribution to community life, Manthos was awarded the 2017 Mayor’s Award for Services to the Community by the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
property
PrimeQResi JOURNAL OF LUXURY PROPERTY
Top of the properties Prime properties and High Net Worth tenants are unfazed in Prime Central London, says Strutt & Parker’s Alice Umfreville
£25m Knightsbridge double is ‘the highest sale in over two years’ A Sheikh has completed on the biggest resi deal in Knightsbridge since 2015, according to Becky Fatemi’s estate agency Rokstone, acquiring two lateral apartments with a combined value of £25m. The unnamed retail magnate from Oman wanted to live near Harrods, Fatemi said, so bought two flats a ten-minute stroll apart: a five-bed on the corner of Cadogan Square for his own family, and a four-bed on Parkside, overlooking Hyde Park, for guests and staff. Both apartments were offered fully refurbished and dressed: the Cadogan Square lateral which is 6,000 sq ft went for £17m, while the 2,400 sq ft Parkside unit was sold for £8m. The combined deal managed an average of £3,200 per sq ft – which Rokstone calculates as being the highest price achieved for second-hand flats in period buildings in Knightsbridge for more than two years. “Client confidentiality and a non-disclosure agreement strictly limit the amount of information that Rokstone can provide about the transactions”, said the firm in a press release, before revealing that the original search brief asked for either a house or two apartments close to each other, within a ten-minute walk of Hyde Park and Harrods. Gulf, Asian and African buyers are “the only game in town” for £5m+ properties, says Tehran-born Fatemi, as domestic UK and European money is not moving – preferring to rent than buy for now. Rokstone – with its MD’s Middle Eastern connections (Fatemi’s aristocratic family once worked for the Shah of Iran) – is doing well out of this state of affairs: the agency recently listed £85m-worth of instructions in Knightsbridge in just one week.
While we have not seen the traditional seasonal peaks and troughs across the lettings market this year, there is one area which has continued to out perform others; prime properties for High Net Worth (HNW) individuals. Prime properties are typically considered to be those costing more than £4,500-per-week to rent, and the HNW tenants who live in them expect excellent properties, with proximity to first-rate schools and premium amenities. This ties in with the growing trend of ‘accidental’ HNW tenants who initially planned to buy. They have sufficient finances to rent turn-key mega-pads while waiting for the perfect purchase, or for renovation works to be completed on a new home. Tenancy terms on prime properties are often for two years or more and the majority of these tenants are moving to London from abroad with the long-term aim of buying property and educating their children in the UK. In Prime Central London, tenant requirements vary and the market is responding to these needs with aplomb. For example, in Knightsbridge the focus is on apartments which are as luxurious as the world’s top hotels. In contrast, people looking to rent in areas such as Chelsea put more onus on family houses with sufficient space for children and staff. In order to achieve top rents the ‘wow factor’ is imperative. Properties must offer spectacular interiors, the latest techonolgy and smart home systems. The majority of HNW tenants expect the property to be fully managed. Although meeting such high standards can seem costly at first, with the demand for high-end rentals being so strong, it serves as a shrewd investment for those wanting a piece of the prime market.
Strutt & Parker 43 Cadogan Street, London, SW3 2PR 020 7589 9966, struttandparker.com
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Cedar House, Kensington W8
ÂŁ2,950 per week* Unfurnished
A stunning interior designed apartment, with excellent family accommodation over one floor only, finished to the highest standard. Entrance hall | Drawing room | Dining room | Kitchen/breakfast room | Family room/fifth bedroom | Four bedrooms | Two bathrooms | Shower room | Cloakroom | Utility room | Lift | Porter EPC rating D 2,730 sq ft (253 sq m) Kensington 020 3813 9411 kensington.lettings@struttandparker.com
60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
Milner Street, Chelsea SW3
ÂŁ2,950 per week* Unfurnished
A refurbished, spacious family home, situated in this popular Chelsea location within walking distance of Sloane Square, Knightsbridge and South Kensington. Four Reception Rooms | Six Bedrooms | Two ensuite Bathrooms | Two Further Bathrooms | WC | Two Roof Terraces | One further Terrace | Private Garden | Two Balconies EPC rating E 4,171 sq ft (387 sq m)
Chelsea 020 3813 9547 chelsea.lettings@struttandparker.com
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Pelham Court, 145 Fulham Road SW3
ÂŁ560,000 Leasehold
A recently refurbished fourth floor apartment (with lift). Overlooking Pelham Crescent. Two Reception Rooms | Two Bedrooms | One bathroom | Flat | Upper Floor | Communal Gardens | Residents Parking | Lift | Concierge/Porter EPC rating D 862 sq ft (80 sq m)
Chelsea 020 3813 9448 chelsea@struttandparker.com
60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
Cranley Gardens, South Kensington SW7
ÂŁ1,495,000 Leasehold
A fabulous apartment with a sensational private garden.
Reception room | Conservatory | Kitchen | Master bedroom | Ensuite bathroom | Second bedroom | Second bathroom | Patio | Garden EPC Rating D 1,085 sq ft (100 sq m)
South Kensington 020 7581 7000 southken@struttandparker.com
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Hillgate Street, Kensington W8
ÂŁ2,850,000 Freehold
An attractive three bedroom Victorian corner house, occupying 1,658 sq ft, with a fabulous roof terrace. Drawing room | Kitchen/dining room | Master bedroom with ensuite bathroom | Two further bedrooms Further bathroom | Cloakroom | Utility Room | Storage Area | Roof terrace EPC rating E 1,658 sq ft (154 sq m) Kensington 020 3813 9477 kensington@struttandparker.com
60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
Hollywood Road, Kensington SW10
ÂŁ3,450,000 Freehold
A much loved family home that has been in the same ownership for over thirty years. Entrance hall | Drawing room | Dining room/reception room | Kitchen | Further reception room | Master bedroom with dressing room and ensuite bathroom | Three further bedrooms | Two further bathrooms | Cloakroom | Utility room | Balcony | Garden | Patio EPC rating E 2,562 sq ft (238 sq m) Chelsea SW10 020 3813 9587 chelseasw10@struttandparker.com
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