Going off grid: How I spent a week living in an ‘apocalypse dome’ May 30, 2017 The more we learn about the effects of social media on the human psyche, the worse it seems to get. The planet is hooked on dopamine squirts triggered by clever algorithms developed by the world’s finest minds, for the sole purpose of keeping us scrolling. And scrolling, and scrolling. We’re connected to thousands of other humans from the second we wake to the [...]
Interiors: Weather-proof furniture ideas to decorate terraces, patios and balconies for the British summertime May 22, 2017 This year, the outdoor room comes of age. Not just a Big Green Egg and some deckchairs, but a full-blown lounge, as if we lived in Palm Springs. Just as we now love to bring the outside in we are discovering that a raft of technical innovations mean we can bring the inside out. The [...]
UK house prices: The average price of a UK flat has risen by nearly £85,000 since 2009 May 21, 2017 Flat prices in the UK have soared over 50 per cent or nearly £85,000 since 2009, according to data from Halifax. The study found that growth in flat prices has upstaged growth in prices for other property types (39 per cent) in the last seven years. The average price of a UK flat has increased [...]
It’s still cheaper to rent than buy a house in these UK cities May 18, 2017 So-called Generation Rent may complain bitterly about being forced to pay sky-high living costs, but a new study has found in many UK cities, it's actually cheaper to rent than it is to buy a home. The study, by Zoopla, found the average monthly rental cost in many of the UK's largest metropolitan hubs is [...]
How London’s most exciting new arts venues are being built by its most profitable housebuilders April 27, 2017 A famous Churchill anecdote recalls the time the former Prime Minister was asked to cut arts funding to aid the war effort. He refused, apparently, remarking, “Then what are we fighting for?” As with most apocryphal tales, there’s a larger truth at its heart. During times of austerity and uncertainty, grants for culture and entertainment [...]
Porsche Design makes the ultimate penthouse for a supercar collector April 27, 2017 Supercars aren’t just made to be driven, they’re made to be seen. To a collector, the curved bonnet, impeccable paintwork and fine leather interior of a $200,000 Porsche is a work of art just as worthy of admiration as a $5m David Hockney painting. The trouble is, cars don’t hang on walls, but Porsche Design [...]
This self-built house by design consultant Ian Silverstein is the coolest thing we’ve ever seen, and it’s yours for £1.75m April 27, 2017 As international design consultant Ian Silverstein works on his laptop in the library, he’s having to block out the sound of furniture being hastily rearranged downstairs. For him, the odd photoshoot request is part of the privilege of owning a uniquely attractive house in a historic part of the British countryside. It’s also a confirmation [...]
Interiors: Fine Cell Work is a charity harnessing the sewing talents of prisoners to make exquisite embroidery April 7, 2017 Walk into any of the upscale Firmdale Hotels in London or New York and you are struck by the confidence, colour and energy of the décor. There’s pattern, texture and embroidery everywhere. And if something catches your eye, there will often be a story behind it, but maybe it isn’t one you expected. Whether it’s [...]
Interiors: White tiles are boring. Impress your house guests with a waterproof wallpapered loo instead March 31, 2017 Don’t underestimate the power of a well-dressed bathroom. During a dinner party, all your beloved guests will need to excuse themselves at some point. “Oh, wow!” you’ll hear them cry. “I love your loo!” Little room, big impact. For too long all-white sanitaryware and plain walls have been safe, a by-word for boring. “People now [...]
Interiors: Get a sneak peek at the furnishings behind London’s new private members’ clubs March 25, 2017 London is abuzz with a raft of new private members’ clubs. From The Devonshire Club through to Nick Jones’s grandiose venture on Poultry, The Ned, they all offer something unique, many now with hotel rooms attached. One way of differentiating themselves is through their interior design. Modern members’ clubs are informal, comfortable and on-trend. We [...]