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
Design trends: style with tiles
Six new trends prove tiles are making a comeback. By Katharine Burnett
Tiles are back on top as the perfect way to combine practicality with long-lasting good looks. New print techniques create fabulous patterns and realistic wood and stone effects. We take a look at six hot new trends.
1. Subway
Known as either metro or subway, this oblong tile shape has replaced the square for simple but striking walls, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms. Ceramica Elias's red gloss version starts from £102 a square metre (0116 276 2532; parksidetiles.co.uk).
Known as either metro or subway, this oblong tile shape has replaced the square for simple but striking walls, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms. Ceramica Elias's red gloss version starts from £102 a square metre (0116 276 2532; parksidetiles.co.uk).
2. Patterns
Patterned floors are back. Inspired by handsome and hard-wearing Victorian encaustic tiles, these give a modern twist and are easier to care for. Refin's FRAME collection starts at £80 a square metre (020 3603 1884; refin-ceramic-tiles.com).
Patterned floors are back. Inspired by handsome and hard-wearing Victorian encaustic tiles, these give a modern twist and are easier to care for. Refin's FRAME collection starts at £80 a square metre (020 3603 1884; refin-ceramic-tiles.com).
3. Wood looks
Wood-look ceramics such as these Larix tiles in Sun, which come in the shape of floorboards from Refin at £104 a square metre (refin-ceramictiles.com), are incredibly realistic and available in a wide range of finishes — think smart, wide "boards" for your hall and a rustic, distressed parquet look in the kitchen.
Wood-look ceramics such as these Larix tiles in Sun, which come in the shape of floorboards from Refin at £104 a square metre (refin-ceramictiles.com), are incredibly realistic and available in a wide range of finishes — think smart, wide "boards" for your hall and a rustic, distressed parquet look in the kitchen.
4. Cement
Concrete and cement tiles are perfect for the raw textures of the rough-luxe trend. Ann Sacks stocks these cement Paccha tiles, made in Morocco by Popham Design, priced at £119.39 a square metre (020 3055 0802; annsacks.com).
Concrete and cement tiles are perfect for the raw textures of the rough-luxe trend. Ann Sacks stocks these cement Paccha tiles, made in Morocco by Popham Design, priced at £119.39 a square metre (020 3055 0802; annsacks.com).
5. Geometrics
When it comes to geometrics, be bold. Try contrasting colours, with grout as well as tiles. Mosaics, 3D textures and printed patterns all add to the dazzling array of options. This monochrome waterwheel (£750 a square metre) works equally well on walls and floors (020 7371 7778; parisceramics.com).
When it comes to geometrics, be bold. Try contrasting colours, with grout as well as tiles. Mosaics, 3D textures and printed patterns all add to the dazzling array of options. This monochrome waterwheel (£750 a square metre) works equally well on walls and floors (020 7371 7778; parisceramics.com).
6. Metallics
Metallic tiled surfaces look fabulous, especially with the burnished patinas and textures that are hot this year. What could be more decadent than quilted gold walls? Rombos by Adex costs from £475 a square metre (020 7376 5820; rimdesign.co.uk).
Metallic tiled surfaces look fabulous, especially with the burnished patinas and textures that are hot this year. What could be more decadent than quilted gold walls? Rombos by Adex costs from £475 a square metre (020 7376 5820; rimdesign.co.uk).
A good place to start your search, to browse a wide range of tiles and to take away advice and samples, is Surface Tiles, which has branches in Battersea (020 7819 2300) and Islington (020 7354 7000). Visit surfacetiles.com for more details.
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Mary Berry's chocolate brownies
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Bargain news
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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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Mission possible: our Cornish home
It wasn't all plain sailing when a London family set out to turn a derelict building in a glorious Cornish location into a modern waterside home.
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Bargain news
Add some colour to your home with Aztec print lamps; get up to 30 percent off luxurious upholstered sofas; receive a 50 per cent discount on comfy mattress toppers; and get made-to-measure storage for your home.
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A guide to Chelsea Fringe 2013: London's alternative garden festival
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Extending an Edwardian home
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