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 trends: bronze
By Corinne Julius
Precious heavy metals are the look — and what could be "heavier" than bronze? This ancient material, an alloy of copper and tin, has been used forever for household items, weapons and statuary. It can be shiny or matt, ranges from a gorgeous gold to a moody blue-green via a beautiful brown, and captures the fall of light. With more than 100,000 visitors to date, the success of the Bronze exhibition at the Royal Academy shows this metal is the material and colour of the moment. Bronze is at the Royal Academy, Piccadilly, until December 9.
1. Wall Tiles
A bathroom wall covered in ribbed bronze tiles by Ann Sacks, £33 each (annsacks.com 020 3055 0802).
A bathroom wall covered in ribbed bronze tiles by Ann Sacks, £33 each (annsacks.com 020 3055 0802).
2. Stunning lighting
The Toro light, by Giovanna Ticciati, £99 (01798 342 777; giovannaticciati.com) is one way to be bullish with bronze.
The Toro light, by Giovanna Ticciati, £99 (01798 342 777; giovannaticciati.com) is one way to be bullish with bronze.
3. In the round
Big, bold and bronze-like, these Tom Dixon copper shades are £340 each (tomdixon.net).
Big, bold and bronze-like, these Tom Dixon copper shades are £340 each (tomdixon.net).
4. Fabulous firedogs
Mattia Bonetti's magnificent firedogs, called "Flame Japan", are in polished bronze with black patinated stands. They stand 43cm tall and cost £5,500 plus VAT. From David Gill Gallery 2-4 King Street, SW1 (020 3195 6600; davidgillgalleries.com).
Mattia Bonetti's magnificent firedogs, called "Flame Japan", are in polished bronze with black patinated stands. They stand 43cm tall and cost £5,500 plus VAT. From David Gill Gallery 2-4 King Street, SW1 (020 3195 6600; davidgillgalleries.com).
5. Strictly hardware
Choose from a range of bronze door handles, from £38, from Rocky Mountain hardware, available at Courtyard Accessories (01564 792312; courtyard-accessories.co.uk).
Choose from a range of bronze door handles, from £38, from Rocky Mountain hardware, available at Courtyard Accessories (01564 792312; courtyard-accessories.co.uk).
6. Burnished fabrics
Among bronze fabrics from Rubelli, particularly seductive is Chiaroscuro, £124.20 a metre (020 7349 1590; rubelli.com). Or go for the unusual bronze wallpapers, such as The Other Eden and Typecast, available from Barneby Gates; £78 a roll (07713 483530; barnebygates.com).
Among bronze fabrics from Rubelli, particularly seductive is Chiaroscuro, £124.20 a metre (020 7349 1590; rubelli.com). Or go for the unusual bronze wallpapers, such as The Other Eden and Typecast, available from Barneby Gates; £78 a roll (07713 483530; barnebygates.com).
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Chelsea Flower Show 2013: the highlights
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Perfect extensions
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White, bright and full of light
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Chelsea Fringe: signature cocktail
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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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