Month: December 2018

TBS in City A.M – Have the best of both worlds in pretty Pimlico

Posted on by Philip Eastwood

Philip Eastwood, Head of London at The Buying Solution, talks to City AM about Pimlico.

Pimlico presents buyers with the best of both worlds – an opportunity to live in a traditional part of the capital and benefit from good value as well as potential price growth. According to Philip Eastwood, Pimlico is still viewed as one of the capital’s great addresses and on certain streets it offers buyers better £ per square foot value than Chelsea and Belgravia.

“It’s has hugely benefited from the on-going regeneration in Victoria and as a result has seen an uplift in popularity and desirability. Location wise it’s always been superb and well positioned in central London along with river access, but for various reasons it is often overlooked.

“Its housing stock remains impressive: good quality architecture and high ceilings. However the properties do tend to have smaller gardens, often just a terrace or courtyard, which can be a downside for buyers. But if buyers are fortunate to purchase a home on one of Pimlico’s iconic garden squares then they have the best of both worlds. Warwick Square remains extremely sought after and a large apartment here will reach around £1,300 per sq. ft.

“Over the years we’ve seen parts of Pimlico be encroached by neighbouring Belgravia. Pimlico Road for example has now become a destination for Belgravia rather than Pimlico itself, but it is still very much at the heart of Pimlico’s village triangle along with Orange Square.”

To read the full article you can download the latest version of City AM here: http://www.cityam.com/edition

TBS in The Sunday Times – Design experts share their tips on creating a serene sanctuary from the seasonal hustle and bustle

Posted on by Jonathan Bramwell

Jonathan Bramwell talks to The Sunday Times ‘Home Living’ about how to create a serene sanctuary from the seasonal hustle and bustle.

He advises thinking about lay-out. An open-plan home may be a boon when you’re entertaining in summer, or if you need to keep an eye on small children, but at other times it can be a pain — draughty, difficult to heat, and with no privacy or noise insulation. “Open-plan means most occasions in one’s home tend to centre on the living/kitchen area. Often, there are no escape routes for energetic toddlers, grumpy teenagers or grandparents who need a snooze — and this can get tiring, especially at Christmas, when the extended family gather.”

Bookcases and screens are popular ways to create partitions. And, if you have hordes of relatives descending, consider putting up temporary soundproof curtains between rooms. “These could absorb the sound of grandad’s snoring or the kids’ squabbling,” says Nicholas Stockley, head of design and planning at the online architectural practice resi.co.uk.

A longer-term solution for owners with boomerang kids is a “broken-plan” layout, which has the light and versatility of open-plan living, but creates smaller pockets of space. One great option is internal glazing – an internal wall made from steel-framed glass looks stunning, allowing plenty of light through, but reducing noise and keeping heat in.

Sliding pocket doors are also a good choice. With the mechanism hidden within a wall, they have minimal impact on a space, but offer lots of flexibility.

Read the full article for more tips from designers and suppliers: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/design-experts-share-their-tips-on-creating-a-serene-sanctuary-from-the-seasonal-hustle-and-bustle-bqvhjgj99

TBS in The Times – Why £10m-plus trophy estates are booming

Posted on by Mark Lawson

The market for £10m-plus trophy estates is stronger than it has been for a decade.

The rarified market of country houses worth more than £10m, with more than 100 acres, is booming. Mark Lawson talks to The Sunday Times about who’s buying in the country, and why now?

According to Mark Lawson lack of supply, and the subsequent competition, is fuelling demand for “best in class” estates. “It’s like hunting for unicorns, they are so rare. Often they are sold off market. There’s plenty of pent-up demand. A lot of people have made a lot of money in the past 10 years. At the same time, estate owners don’t need to sell. Interest rates are low and there are fewer people in debt.”

Owners are no longer bumbling Lord Granthams struggling to keep inheritances going. “Estates are businesses now, and are run efficiently, Owners maximise opportunities. It’s all about diversity — making the asset sweat and work.

Myriad revenue streams are derived from letting cottages and land, farm income, development, timber (prices are up 30% in a year), shops, pubs, hotels, festivals and glamping. Green energy (biomass heating, solar and wind power) is another new money-spinner.

Examples of thriving multifaceted modern estates include 4,000-acre Great Tew, Oxfordshire, famous for the Soho Farmhouse members’ club, and 850-acre Miserden, in the Cotswolds, which is going big on biomass. Ethical investment and “natural capital” are buzz terms amongst high-net-worth buyers.

All of these aspects bode well for the revival of the great British estate.

Read the full article here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/why-10m-plus-trophy-estates-are-booming-pq29t8dx7