Volvo S90 review: A nice car for nice people November 21, 2016 When Grey Advertising was given the unenviable task of changing the public perception of motorcyclists in America, the firm came up with the memorable 1960s ad campaign: “You meet the nicest people on a Honda.” Five decades on, these nice people would feel right at home in a Volvo S90. The S90 and its sibling, [...]
Strutt & Parker Research names six real estate trends making their way to the UK from across the pond November 21, 2016 The Coffice If don’t fancy signing an office lease but dread the local coffee house guilt, then perhaps a coffice visit is in your future? Using an app on your phone, reserve dedicated workspace at the local coffee shop that has designated office space built-in. It is cheaper than a co-working space contract, but a [...]
New Builds: On the market this week from a Roman site in the City to a £400m piazza in Islington November 21, 2016 Landmark Place, City of London From £810,000 A rare chance to live in the City of London has arisen with the opening of a new show apartment. The three bedroom duplex was unveiled by Barratt London on the 23rd floor of its Aldgate Place development last week. The new homes will be on Water Lane, [...]
Focus On Stoke Newington: Why leafy north London enclave Stoke Newington went from zero to hero on the housing market November 21, 2016 Stoke Newington, a leafy north London borough untroubled by a connection to the London Underground network, has become a byword for the kind of middle-class urban elite that drives UKIP voters round the bend. Once dismissed as a undesirable destination, the gentrification of Hackney has seen Stokey’s fortunes turn full-circle, and while it doesn’t yet [...]
The Titanic’s grade II-listed London ticket office has been turned into £5m luxury apartments November 21, 2016 Got £5m burning a hole in your pocket and an interest in gruesome maritime history? This might be for you: a developer has just unveiled a block of luxury flats in the building where the Titanic's ticket office was located. Grade II-listed Oceanic House, in Trafalgar Square, has been redeveloped into six luxury apartments, including [...]
From idea to IPO in three years: Purplebricks founder Michael Bruce November 21, 2016 "Every time you mention the word ‘estate agent,’ everyone gets a little bit of a smile on their face and an inner feeling of unhappiness,” says Michael Bruce, chief executive at Purplebricks, the online estate agency that has turned the industry on its head in a little over four years. Bruce has traversed the world [...]
One of the world’s most luxurious ski resorts has opened a curious new attraction November 18, 2016 High up a mountain, at 1,550m and with snow all around, my children are screaming with laughter as they’re swept off their surfboards by a giant wave. No, you read correctly; surfboards. We may be in what’s more commonly regarded as a skiing mecca – Courchevel, France – but if there’s one other feature this [...]
Opinion: Installing tech gadgets could increase the value of your home by £25,000 – if you do it tastefully November 18, 2016 Performing a valuation is never as simple as it appears. A property's true value can only be determined once you step inside and inspect in great detail. A home’s more obscure characteristics, from off-street parking to its historical significance, can often add a substantial premium. In our most recent agent survey, Savills looked at what [...]
The Long Weekend: take a trip to Jersey for beautiful beaches, quaint villages, amazing seafood November 18, 2016 Take a long weekend at the Grand Hotel, Jersey The weekend: The Bailiwick of Jersey (Bailiwick being the term for British Crown dependencies of the Channel Islands, administration fans) has been a summer holiday staple for decades, boasting beautiful beaches, quaint villages, amazing seafood and a genuinely relaxed, welcoming vibe. The small island boasts a [...]
Interiors: Two big trends are dominating Christmas homeware – contemporary and cosy – what will you choose? November 18, 2016 Contemporary The depths of winter always benefit from a little razzle-dazzle, which is one reason we like to put on the glitz for the party season. And this year it's true of our homes, too. Trailblazer Tom Dixon adopted metallics as a signature look many moons ago and his copper Melt pendant lights, as seen [...]