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.
Jasper Conran: my design London
Jasper Conran, designer and CEO of The Conran Shop, is a champion of cutting-edge British design. Here he reveals his favourite London-based designers, interiors pieces and fabric shops - and shares his top tips for transforming a room.
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
Design news
By Katie Law
The bird with bright plumage
Abigail Ahern at Bluebird
Belle Robinson, who runs eclectic fashion and lifestyle Chelsea store The Shop at Bluebird is always on the look out for quirky new additions to make her shop more exciting. So Abigail Ahern, who specialises in jazzing up furniture with glossy paints as well as designing her own home accessories, fits right in. Her luxury Madrugada cushions (£195), and ceramic bowls (£82.50) and gold ladles (£117), are to die for, naturally.
Abigail Ahern at The Shop at Bluebird, 350 King's Road, SW3 (020 7351 3873; www.theshopatbluebird.com).
Brew blue
La Cafetiere
Wake up to the bright colours of La Cafetiere's new teapots and cafetiere coffee plungers this season, which include aqua, apple green, bright red and cobalt blue, prices from £20. Or stick with the classic chrome plunger for the best in simple style.
See www.lacafetiere.com or call 01352 717555.
Comfort blankets
Peacock Blue
Cosy up with Peacock Blue's mohair and lambswool throws, blankets and cushions. Choose from the new range of restrained patterns that include dog's-tooth, ticking, Windsor and reverse spot, or just plain, from £59 for a throw. Order on 08450 17 5566, or visit www.peacockbluehome.co.uk.
Feathered friend
Fashion time
Grey is the colour of the season, according to Julien Macdonald's latest home collection for Debenhams.
His soft-grey feather throws (but don't worry, there is not a real feather in sight) is backed with even softer polyester fabric, and costs £80 and measures 200cm x 150cm.
Buy online at www.homesandproperty.co.uk/shopdebenhamsthrow.
Cheap and cheerful
John Lewis value added
The department store that prides itself on never being "knowingly undersold" is going head-to-head with the other superstores by bringing out its own competitively priced value range of homeware.
A set of three saucepans with glass lids is £12; kitchen gadgets start at £1.50; and a Zack folding chair is £6.25.
You will find value in the bed and bathroom too, with double duvets for £10 and pillows at £4 per pair.
See www.johnlewis.com.
More articles
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Bargain news
Relax in a versatile ottoman bed; enjoy a 10 per cent discount on luxury sofas; commute to a gorgeously green garden office; enjoy a spring sale on tiles; and spruce up your period property with made-to-measure windows.
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Chelsea Flower Show 2013: the highlights
We highlight the best of this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show gardens, with modern British designs among the gold medal winners featuring exuberant sculptures and inspiring planting ideas for Londoners.
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A guide to Chelsea Fringe Festival
The shops, streets, galleries and gardens of London go flower-crazy as the alternative flower show, Chelsea Fringe, takes place. Don't miss any of the festival's highlights with out guide.
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Mary Berry's chocolate brownies
Mary Berry shares her decadent - and easy - chocolate brownie recipe, with a hint of coffee and the crunch of chopped walnuts.
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Perfect extensions
Londoners planning to extend their homes should follow a simple golden rule: go for quality, not grandeur.
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White, bright and full of light
Inspired by light, airy Parisian interiors, this owners of this south London terrace house mixed bargain finds with design classics to create a cool and elegant family home.
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Chelsea Fringe: signature cocktail
The top bartenders at Sketch have created a signature cocktail to celebrate this year's Chelsea Fringe Festival, infusing fresh fennel with Kentish strawberries, lemon, honey, lavender, pressed apple and Tanqueray gin.
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Design trends: summer florals
Bring summer into your home regardless of the weather with this season's pretty collections of flower-filled wallpaper, fabrics, furniture and china.
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Chelsea Fringe Festival: what's on this week (May 24-29)
Pattie Barron highlights what's on at the Chelsea Fringe Festival this week, from the edible wildflower meadow at Broadgate and urban bird watching to a guerilla gardening tour of Elephant & Castle.
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Jasper Conran: my design London
Jasper Conran, designer and CEO of The Conran Shop, is a champion of cutting-edge British design. Here he reveals his favourite London-based designers, interiors pieces and fabric shops - and shares his top tips for transforming a room.
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