58 Redcliffe Square: The ultimate city bachelor pad March 26, 2015 William Samuels, interior designer and co-founder of property development company Wilben is putting his two-bedroom Kensington bachelor pad on the market. Located on the western side of a picturesque garden square with a church in the middle, the apartment was being rented by students when Will spotted its potential, stripped the place bare and re-designed [...]
Don’t bury your head in the sand over the spectre of the ‘mansion tax’ March 26, 2015 If you think increased taxation on high end properties doesn’t affect you, then think again. We should all be grateful that the Budget didn’t further raid one of the nation’s biggest piggy banks, because when the top end of the property market suffers, it has a trickle down effect; pretending otherwise is a dangerous exercise [...]
The mansion made for Versace where Mayfair meets Milan March 12, 2015 Many houses are marketed as a fusion of the old and the new, east meets west or even luxury meets shabby chic. But 50 Charles Street is a rare fusion of Mayfair mansion and Milanese palazzo. This unusual combination is the result of one of London’s most ambitious conversion projects, designed to woo one of [...]
Turning penthouse living inside out: Tara Bernerd on creating interiors that stand the test of time March 12, 2015 If you’re the sort of person who forks out on a luxury penthouse at the top of a London skyscraper, then it’s safe to say you’ve got a lot of cash to splash. It’s probably not your only home either, rather one of many, but etiquette dictates that you have to furnish it with a [...]
Focus on Battersea: Home of dogs, cats, families and riverside living March 12, 2015 Battersea’s venerable institutions – from its power station to its Dogs and Cats Home – often overshadow its considerable success as a residential destination. While houses easily soar over the £1m mark in this part of south-west London, UK buyers still account for 76 per cent of the market, 80 per cent of whom use [...]
Private View: On the market in Battersea March 12, 2015 HONEYWELL ROAD £1.695m This good-sized family house is on a popular road that’s in the catchment area of Honeywell Primary School. It boasts a south-facing garden and five bedrooms spread across 2,200sqft of space, including a master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom in a converted loft space on the top floor. Contact sales agent Hamptons [...]
Got $63m to spare? The most expensive New York City townhouse ever March 12, 2015 Feeling flush? Got $63m to spare? Then you could be the proud owner of the most expensive townhouse ever to go on sale in Manhattan. You do get rather a lot for your money – the six storey, 32ft-wide limestone mansion spans 17,850 sqft, including 10 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and 2,300sqft of outside space. [...]
Talking ‘bout the older generation: Kensington Row is the development that’s built for life March 12, 2015 There’s plenty of debate how our healthcare system is going to cope with an ageing population, but less fuss is made about how housing is going to meet the challenge. We generally think the older generation has been blessed in the property department, but finding a place to downsize in central London isn’t as easy [...]
Amazing Spaces’ George Clarke on how to deal with empty homes March 12, 2015 Last week, over a thousand City workers stood at the bottom of Tower 42’s monumental staircase and thought, “Why did I sign up for this?” Joining them was City A.M.’s digital team and architect-turned-TV personality George Clarke, who reached the top of the skyscraper in a very respectable nine minutes and 29 seconds, all in [...]
Take the long view – bet on a new home before the election March 12, 2015 Savvy investors have been making bold decisions in downturns for centuries. For me, it seems only natural to buy when the market has hit a low, whether during a recession or in the lead up to a crucial event like a General Election. Contrary to what some think, the property market has not ground to [...]