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.
Fast new commuter routes are changing London's property map
Regeneration throughout London continues to change the property map, with the orbital train network and recent Tube line extensions creating faster commuter routes with good-value homes, including Deptford, Bromley and Woolwich.
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.
Canterbury spotlight
The compact city of Canterbury sits 60 miles south-east of London in Kent. In recent years its property market has been boosted by a high-speed rail service into St Pancras, which cuts the journey time to the capital to less than an hour.
Chelsea Flower Show preview 2013
This year the RHS Chelsea Flower Show promises to be suitably fabulous as it celebrates its centenary year with stunning gardens, including the Forget-me-Not Garden by B&Q and Prince Harry's charity.
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: Stoke Newington, N16
This modern home of almost 1,000sq ft is close to Stoke Newington's high street. A 27ft reception room and two large bedrooms give the flat a spacious feel.
Out of town: Tetbury, Gloucestershire
The beauty spot of Leighterton, with its poppy fields, ivy-covered churches and popular local gastro pub, is home to this four-bedroom house with stone-walled gardens.
Life-changer: Dolwyddelan, Conwy
Have a station all to yourself by buying the Old Station Master's house at Roman Bridge, where trains will stop at your door on request. You also get three bedrooms and 10 acres of grounds.
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.-
Buy of the week: Stoke Newington, N16
This modern home of almost 1,000sq ft is close to Stoke Newington's high street. A 27ft reception room and two large bedrooms give the flat a spacious feel. -
Out of town: Tetbury, Gloucestershire
The beauty spot of Leighterton, with its poppy fields, ivy-covered churches and popular local gastro pub, is home to this four-bedroom house with stone-walled gardens. -
Life-changer: Dolwyddelan, Conwy
Have a station all to yourself by buying the Old Station Master's house at Roman Bridge, where trains will stop at your door on request. You also get three bedrooms and 10 acres of grounds.
Property search
Design trends: wicker and woven
By Amira Hashish
This summer woven furniture has become a must — but not the bland beige kind. Leading designers have given traditional wicker and raffia inventive and colourful new twists to lend any space an instant update.
1. MARNI CHAIRS
High-end Italian fashion label Marni’s limited edition of 100 chairs, produced by ex-inmates of Colombian jails, are handmade in the country’s north-eastern city of San Gil using salvaged metal frames and multi-coloured PVC threads woven around seatbacks and armrests.
Proceeds go to the institute ICAM of Milan, a project to allow children of imprisoned mothers to live in a family environment.
First shown — and snapped up — at the pop-up Marni boutique at Milan furniture fair, the seats, priced from £161 to £363, are now gold dust. Look out for future ranges at marni.com
High-end Italian fashion label Marni’s limited edition of 100 chairs, produced by ex-inmates of Colombian jails, are handmade in the country’s north-eastern city of San Gil using salvaged metal frames and multi-coloured PVC threads woven around seatbacks and armrests.
Proceeds go to the institute ICAM of Milan, a project to allow children of imprisoned mothers to live in a family environment.
First shown — and snapped up — at the pop-up Marni boutique at Milan furniture fair, the seats, priced from £161 to £363, are now gold dust. Look out for future ranges at marni.com
2. PLAY PATIO LIGHT
Made from wicker with strong metal bases and two-tone shades, Play patio lights are from ubiquitous designer Philippe Starck for outdoor furniture brand Dedon.
Available with chalk/carbon; chalk/terracotta; terracotta/stone, and platinum/titanium finishes they come in oversized Anglepoise, standard lamp (pictured) and pendant light versions. Expect to splash out £2,000-plus (uber-interiors.com) for which you’ll get an über-stylish terrace accessory.
Made from wicker with strong metal bases and two-tone shades, Play patio lights are from ubiquitous designer Philippe Starck for outdoor furniture brand Dedon.
Available with chalk/carbon; chalk/terracotta; terracotta/stone, and platinum/titanium finishes they come in oversized Anglepoise, standard lamp (pictured) and pendant light versions. Expect to splash out £2,000-plus (uber-interiors.com) for which you’ll get an über-stylish terrace accessory.
3. CAMPANA BOWL
The Campana Brothers’ bowl is made from a “repurposed” scooter tyre and wicker. Produced for Design With Conscience, a project by Artecnica that pairs leading designers with artisans in the developing world, each item is made by Hai Tai rattan weavers and women weavers from the Hmong mountain region of Vietnam through non-profit organisation Craft Link.
A worthy investment (from £62; artecnicainc.com).
The Campana Brothers’ bowl is made from a “repurposed” scooter tyre and wicker. Produced for Design With Conscience, a project by Artecnica that pairs leading designers with artisans in the developing world, each item is made by Hai Tai rattan weavers and women weavers from the Hmong mountain region of Vietnam through non-profit organisation Craft Link.
A worthy investment (from £62; artecnicainc.com).
4. ALEXANDER ROSE HUTS
If you want to get ahead, get a hut. Alexander Rose provides the ideal bolthole from summer showers. Each hut is made from woven fibres to create a strong and weatherproof wigwam-style shelter.
The Ocean range (£1,199 to £2,299; alexander-rose.co.uk) is available with cosy full enclosure or cut-out sides so you can enjoy views of your rain-soaked garden.
If you want to get ahead, get a hut. Alexander Rose provides the ideal bolthole from summer showers. Each hut is made from woven fibres to create a strong and weatherproof wigwam-style shelter.
The Ocean range (£1,199 to £2,299; alexander-rose.co.uk) is available with cosy full enclosure or cut-out sides so you can enjoy views of your rain-soaked garden.
5. RAMI TAREEF CHAIRS
Young Israeli designer Rami Tareef creates chairs with geometric patterns by wrapping polypropylene cords around steel-rod frames. Alternating colours of cord create a secondary pattern in the weave that emphasises the chair’s structure.
The pieces are the product of the COD (Crafts Oriented Design) Project, in which Tareef updates traditional weaving methods. He applies skills learnt from a wicker craftsman in the Old City of Jerusalem to contemporary forms and materials. Priced at £2,176, they are available from outdoorzgallery.com/rami_x
Young Israeli designer Rami Tareef creates chairs with geometric patterns by wrapping polypropylene cords around steel-rod frames. Alternating colours of cord create a secondary pattern in the weave that emphasises the chair’s structure.
The pieces are the product of the COD (Crafts Oriented Design) Project, in which Tareef updates traditional weaving methods. He applies skills learnt from a wicker craftsman in the Old City of Jerusalem to contemporary forms and materials. Priced at £2,176, they are available from outdoorzgallery.com/rami_x
6. FLO STOOL
Spanish architect/designer Patricia Urquiola has created a red-and-white lozenge-pattern wicker stool for Conran. With a painted steel frame, it is a practical piece that will add warmth to any kitchen.
Made to order, these charmers are available online or at the Chelsea shop (£561; conranshop.co.uk).
Spanish architect/designer Patricia Urquiola has created a red-and-white lozenge-pattern wicker stool for Conran. With a painted steel frame, it is a practical piece that will add warmth to any kitchen.
Made to order, these charmers are available online or at the Chelsea shop (£561; conranshop.co.uk).
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