Why a fireplace could add serious value to your home October 20, 2014 It's universally acknowledged that art not only beautifies the home but is generally a good investment. And Owen Pacey, owner of Shoreditch’s Renaissance antique furniture specialist and restorer, thinks there’s no better way to keep your bank balance warm than buying a fireplace. “Look,” he starts matter-of-factly, “If I went to view two Georgian [...]
London’s first Four Seasons residences to open in the City October 20, 2014 Do you ever walk through certain parts of London and think that there’s just too much to look at? Between Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and the skyscrapers of the City of London, it’s easy to overlook a couple of astounding pieces of architecture in Tower Hill. Ten Trinity Square in Trinity Square Gardens [...]
How to ski your way to an investment in the French Alps October 20, 2014 As the ski season approaches, it’s perhaps time to consider where you’ll end up this December. Most good skiers are regular ones, so rather than give your money up to the same resorts every year, why not turn your winter holiday getaway into a foreign investment opportunity? That’s what Alpine property developers Sotarbat is hoping [...]
Lord Anderson’s old house up for sale in Westminster October 20, 2014 Stamped on the wall outside number four Lord North Street is a marking urging residents to proceed to their bomb shelters when the air raid sirens rang out. It’s an eternal allusion to the illustrious past behind one of Westminster’s largest homes currently on sale in one of the borough’s most famous roads. In her [...]
Why British homeowners are mad about mews October 20, 2014 It’s a common complaint that all the best properties in London are being bought up by foreign, cash-rich investors, looking to tie their money up in our constantly expanding property market. But there is one section of the market that, until now, has remained largely untapped by foreign investment, a last bastion of British buyers: [...]
The world’s most amazing photography holidays October 20, 2014 Everyone thinks they’re a photographer these days. If it’s not arty shots of coffee cups on Instagram it’s endless holiday snaps on Facebook. However, it takes real skill and dedication to take your amateur hobby to the next level, not to mention a little tuition. Thankfully, you can combine your photographic education with an awesome [...]
How to make Blanchette’s perfect beef fillet October 15, 2014 Tom Storrar, head chef at Soho's Blanchette, on his beef fillet with courgettes, sarladaise potatoes and green peppercorn sauce I’ve been at Blanchette since the restaurant opened late last year. The beef in this recipe is a new dish on the menu; a restaurant version of steak and chips. I chose it because many [...]
Mountain a new challenge this ski season October 13, 2014 1. Tirol, Austria White 5 pass is valid for 10 days from 1 October 2014 to 15 May 2015, for €358 per person, tirol.com If you just can’t wait to go skiing or you want to beat the peak season rush, Austria is the perfect destination this month. The five Tirol glaciers encompass 229km [...]
Film review: The Rewrite October 10, 2014 ★★★☆☆ The Rewrite opens with Hugh Grant playing a charming yet socially inept Englishman abroad, trying to pitch script ideas to film studios. He’s not having much luck because his character Keith Michaels hasn’t written a hit since his Oscar-winning debut Paradise Misplaced. Depressed and nearing bankruptcy, he takes up a creative writing professorship in [...]
Secrets of London part II: Our homebuyer’s guide reveals more hidden gems October 3, 2014 In the second part of our series on hidden London, we reveal the secrets and ancient artefacts living side-by-side with some London’s newest and most innovative residential architecture. Here are just some of the treasures future homeowners will be living alongside, including Ernest Hemingway’s favourite riverside pub in London, a tribute to the [...]
