New homes in London's Zone 1 on a Zone 2 budget
Our exclusive research shows a "price wall" formed by the Northern line, with property values to the east less than half those in the west. We reveal the emerging lower-value districts in Zone 1 for buyers on a Zone 2 budget.
Embassy exodus returns acres of central London to its residents
As the embassies exit Mayfair and Marylebone, their former bases will free up stunning family homes. While the move of many embassies to Nine Elms at Vauxhall is creating a new residential quarter including thousands of new apartments.
Oxford spotlight
The small city of Oxford is famous for its university and honeyed stone architecture, but its huge range of property - from affordable new homes to luxurious Victorian houses - and one hour commute to London, are big attractions to home buyers.
Brighton spotlight
The East Sussex city of Brighton and Hove offers its residents the best of both worlds: a relaxed life at one end of the line within an hour's commute of London, and a good mix of Regency terrace houses, seafront apartments and family homes.
Clerkenwell Design Week 2013
Discover one of London's most creative neighbourhoods at this year's Clerkenwell Design Week. This three-day event showcases the hottest trends in design, architecture and cutting-edge furniture.
Find a rated tradesman
Want to add value to your property, make your house a home, or sell your place fast? With 1,000s of tradesmen nationwide, rated and recommended by previous customers, this is the smart way to find a reputable tradesman.
Buy of the week: Putney Hill, SW15
This glossy new apartment just off Putney Hill has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a bright open-plan reception space with floor-to-ceiling windows and spectacular skyline views.
Out of town: Wigginton, Oxfordshire
This three-bedroom Grade II-listed thatch in the pretty village of Wigginton, near Banbury, is a tempting package of beams, wood burners and cottage gardens.
Life-changer: Tiverton, Devon
A five-bedroom house set in a valley at Cheriton Fitzpaine, Tiverton, surrounded by farmland and sweeping gardens, with B&B potential and a garage block ripe for conversion.
East Grinstead spotlight
East Grinstead in West Sussex is 30 miles south of the capital in the High Weald. The town's exclusive gated estates attract celebrity home buyers such as Tom Cruise, while London families are drawn to the area's good mix of period homes and modern flats.-
Buy of the week: Putney Hill, SW15
This glossy new apartment just off Putney Hill has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a bright open-plan reception space with floor-to-ceiling windows and spectacular skyline views. -
Out of town: Wigginton, Oxfordshire
This three-bedroom Grade II-listed thatch in the pretty village of Wigginton, near Banbury, is a tempting package of beams, wood burners and cottage gardens. -
Life-changer: Tiverton, Devon
A five-bedroom house set in a valley at Cheriton Fitzpaine, Tiverton, surrounded by farmland and sweeping gardens, with B&B potential and a garage block ripe for conversion.
Property search
Who supplies wall beds?
We've teamed up with Homes & Gardens to bring H&P readers this decorating and interiors Q&A service
Our expert Celia Rufey answers your questions
Celia Rufey has been the Homes & Gardens decorating expert for over 30 years and she also has her own range of fabrics.
LY, Stroud, Gloucestershire.
The London Wallbed Company (020 8896 3757; wallbed.co.uk), offers a range of models, including beds that disappear into a cabinet (right), from £869 for a double. The simple SwingAway from Hideaway Beds (01752 511111; hideaway.co.uk), sits in its own subframe so that it can be used alone, curtained or fitted into a cabinet, £669 for 152cm wide. Encompass (02392 410045; encompassco.com), supplies the elegant La Literal wallbed, which elevates on gas pistons into its cupboard; the 150cm width costs £2,030.
More decorating and interiors Q&As
How to submit your questions
Read our interiors expert Celia Rufey's answers to decorating problems and conundrums free every month at www.homesandproperty.co.uk/yourspace. If you want to ask Celia a question, you can do so free if you are a Homes & Gardens subscriber. Email your query to Celia at: hgcontactus@ipcmedia.com. Include your full address and subscriber number.
For non-subscribers, there is a £12 fee per query. Cheques and postal orders are payable to IPC Media Ltd. Send query, payment and a self-addressed envelope to the address below. This is a subsidised service. We are unable to answer more than one question per reader each month.
Subscription offer:
Get three copies of Homes & Gardens magazine for £3. Visit www.homesandgardens.com or call 0844 848 0848.
Decoration service
Do you need help with your home? Supply us with the details and, for £85 per room, Celia Rufey will send you samples of suggested fabrics, wallpapers, paints and floorings. Allow a month for a reply; please include your name, address and telephone number.
Tell us how the room is to be used, giving dimensions, plus the number of windows and which direction they face. List any furnishings you wish to retain, and supply swatches or colour references for fabrics. Outline any particular preferences or dislikes you have in terms of colour, style or pattern.
Are there children or pets to be considered? Provide a budget for any furnishings that you wish to replace.
Send your letter, a colour photograph of the room, plus a cheque or postal order for £85 per room, payable to IPC Media Ltd, to: Decoration Service, Homes & Gardens, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU.
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