brik magazine march 2014

~ et ~

MARCH2014

www.oliverbonas.com

03

brik.co.uk

18INTERIOR & DESIGN

A HEAD FOR HEIGHTSNick Wood, How About Studio

CONTENTS

Brik Magazine is published by Brik Property Ltd (Brik) and the opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of Brik, the editor, publishers or their agents. Articles and other information in this magazine are as up-to-date and accurate as possible, at the time of publication, but no responsibility can be taken by Brik for any errors or omissions contained herein. Responsibility for any losses, damages or distress resulting from adherence to any information made available through this magazine is not the responsibility of Brik or their agents. All property descriptions and photographs contained within are for guidance only and are not necessarily accurate or comprehensive. All content Copyright © 2013 Brik Property Ltd. All rights reserved.

12 INSPIRATION TRANSMISSION 22 PRETTY LITTLE THINGS 34 PROPERTY GALLERY

ISSUE 17BRIK MAGAZINEMARCH 2014

05PROPERTY MARKET

LONDON (STILL) BURNING

09NEWS & INTERESTS

BRIKOLAGE

14HOME TECHNOLOGY

YOUR HOME 2.0Matt Hill (T3 Magazine)

17OPINION

REDISCOVERING THE DISTRICT LINEJustin Quirk, Editor House magazine

20MORTGAGE MARKET

RUNAWAY TRAINAlistair Hargreaves (John Charcol)

25BUYERS GUIDE

FEEDING FRENZYJosh Woodfin

28SELLER’S GUIDE

MONEY WELL SPENT

31LANDLORD’S GUIDE

MASTER OF ALL YOU SURVEY

32INTERIOR & DESIGN

ARMCHAIRSMagenta Pink

~ et ~

PLOUM sofa. Design: Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

05

brik.co.uk

It seems like everyday the front pages deliver more tails of terror and woe from the property market, usually accompanied by mind-blowing figures from the capital. And true enough, since 2008/2009 and the depths of the financial crisis, the property market has been, shall we say, unsettled. There have been peaks, troughs, boom and bust. Bubbles big and small have built-up, burst, and come to nothing more than sensationalist headlines.

Some of the stories are initially fun. A recent report from The Guardian reported on the derelict mansions on Bishop’s Avenue in North London. This stretch of real estate, known un-affectionately as ‘billionaire’s row’ was voted the second most expensive street in England last year. Yet The Guardian estimates there is over £350 million worth of derelict property on the street, which includes a row of 10 mansions worth an estimated value of £73 million. It is believed the property was bought on behalf of the Saudi royal family, and has sat empty since they were bought in a four-year splurge between 1989 and 1993. The buildings are in a sorry state, with water streaming down the walls of once grand ballrooms while bird skeletons litter the carpet. It all seems unreal, like something from a film, or a different city – London’s version of the derelict neighbourhoods in Detroit. But the laughter starts to dim when you see this report sitting next to news of the so called ‘bedroom tax’ - these mansions contain over 120 vacant bedrooms.

Depending on your position, this news couldn’t have come at a better or worse time. The national housing shortfall – estimated at 100,000 homes a year – is a political hot potato. And Mayor Boris Johnson recently ruffled feathers in Downing

LONdON’S (STiLL) buRNiNg

ProPerty Market

THiNkiNg, wORRyiNg ANd ARguiNg AbOuT pROpERTy, iT SEEMS, HAS REpLACEd THE wEATHER AS THE NATiONS NuMbER ONE CONvERSATiON TOpiC. pEOpLE diSCuSS iT ON THE wAy TO wORk, AT wORk, iN THE pub, OvER diNNER, ANd ON HOLidAy. iT iS THE CAuSE Off COuNTLESS ARguMENTS bETwEEN fRiENdS, fAMiLy, COLLEAguES, ANd LOvEd ONES.

33% RESIDENTAL (23.1%) 66%

INVESTMENT (46.2%)

70% NON-UK BUYERS

30

% UK BUYERS

PRIME LONDON BUYERS

26% CHINA

19% ITALY

7% RUSSIA

4% SAUDI

4% AUS

3% JAP

2% EU

10% FRANCE

9% INDIA

16% UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

06

brik.co.uk

Street by stating that taxes should be cranked up on owners who leave their properties vacant. He told investors from the city: “London homes aren’t ... just blocks of bullion in the sky.” He said that owners should live in their homes, or rent them out. David Ireland, the Chief Executive of the Homes from Empty Homes campaign group says in The Guardian article,

“ THiS iLLuSTRATES EvERyTHiNg THAT iS wRONg wiTH THE LONdON HOuSiNg MARkET. THE HigH vALuES ARE bEiNg uSEd AS AN ExTREME iNvESTMENT vEHiCLE AT THE ExpENSE Of HOMES bEiNg HOMES.”

This, of course, is an extreme case. Bishop’s avenue is not the norm. So what about the properties in the “bottom” end of the market? Where first time buyers are battling it out for a place on the ladder. The Office for National Statistics says the average price of a UK home is £248,000, rising to £441,000 in London. But a closer look at the variation of prices within the capital shows even more interesting news.

Over on the other side of town, away from the green streets of SW6, house prices in the über cool enclave of Hackney are flying. The Land Registry shows prices rose 17% over 12 months, which gives the borough the dubious award of having the biggest price hike, year-on-year, in all of England and Wales. Still riding high following the 2012 Olympics, East London’s renaissance continues in force as buyers priced out of more expensive areas of the capital, are finding homes of equal size and quality in this often derided borough. The average house price in Hackney is £502,000, compared with nationwide average of £176,500. Although Hackney’s prices pale in comparison to the big boys over in Kensington & Chelsea, where the average prices tickle £1.2m. The figures provided by the Land Registry – which are based on completed sales – show that prices in the area increased by 2.6% in December 2013.

PRINCE CONSORT ROAD, SW7 £5,499,000

DRAYTON GARDENS, SW10 £5,234,000

NAPIER AVENUE, SW6 £4,030,000

LONDON £441,000

UK £248,000

HACKNEY £502,000

FULHAM £890,000

CHELSEA & KENSINGTON £1,200,000

CADOGAN SQUARE, SW1 £5,746,000

BISHOPS AVENUE, N2 £6,203,000

EGERTON CRESENT, SW3 £7,369,000

EXTREME PRICE AVERAGES THROUGHOUT LONDON

ProPerty Market

£1m

£2m

£3m

£4m

£5m

£6m

£7m

07

brik.co.uk

These staggering numbers aren’t just appearing in house price listings either. The nationwide figures for first time buyers in December 2013 was up by a gob smacking 82.1 per cent on 2012, with these staggering numbers being attributed to the governments Help to Buy scheme. In the capital the numbers of first time buyers increased by 86.4 per cent. More reassuringly the average mortgage taken out by first-time buyers also rose 13 per cent to £119, 288, showing an apparent rise in confidence of mortgage lenders.

After a disjointed 2013, which saw a steady market, potter along for the first half of the year, before picking up in the summer ahead of a huge increase in sales from October through to late November. All of which has gone to prove that there is huge demand in the first time buyers market, but there’s still a huge shortfall in supply. And this trend looks like it will continue throughout 2014 as confidence among lenders and first time buyers remains high, despite the fact that demand is growing eight times faster than supply.

Which brings us round to the B word. Whispers of another housing bubble are another favourite hobby of gossips and newspapers. But are we in danger? Brik co-founder, Mike Horne, doesn’t think so. “The definition of a bubble is tricky, because people hear the word and think everything’s going to go wrong in six months. And I don’t think that’s necessarily the case.Foreign interest in London is still growing,

literally by the second. That particular statistic only seems to being going up. First of all it was the French moving into SW6 for three or four years, then there’s outside investment from Asia and the Middle East. Will that change? No, I don’t think it will. London’s property market still seems like the place to be.”

“ THE dEfiNiTiON Of A bubbLE iS TRiCky, bECAuSE pEOpLE HEAR THE wORd ANd THiNk EvERyTHiNg’S gOiNg TO gO wRONg iN Six MONTHS. ANd i dON’T THiNk THAT’S NECESSARiLy THE CASE.”

But while Horne is positive about the future, he doesn’t think we’ll see the kind of explosive growth in the market that singled 2014 out as such an interesting year. “I don’t think we’ll see growth like we saw last year, which was in the region of 15 to 30 per cent at times. I think that we’ll see a more gradual rise of somewhere in the region of 5 to 7 per cent, which is more like a normal year in SW6. Still pretty epic, compared to the rest of the country, but a bubble? I’m not so sure. At the moment we’re at the top of the peak, and I think it will flat-line or rise gradually for the next 18 months.” So there’s no bubble, and certainly no bursting. Unless there’s some kind of cataclysmic financial or physical event that is…fingers crossed, eh?

ProPerty Market

FIRST TIME BUYERS

BUyerS aVeraGe MortGaGe

201420132012

100k

0

200k

300k

£105k

£110k

£115k

£120k269k£119k

201420132012

08

brik.co.uk

Bristol sofa, Tribeca coffee table - design Jean-Marie Massaud. Mad Chair armchair design Marcel Wanders.

Poliform UK Ltd 278 Kings road - sw3 5aw London - tel. +44 (0)20 7368 7600 - www.poliformuk.comDesign Centre Chelsea Harbour sw10 OXE - tel. +44 (0)20 7352 0064

09

brik.co.uk

bRikOLAgEQU

OTE “ diffERENT’ ANd ‘NEw’ iS RELATivELy EASy. dOiNg

SOMETHiNg THAT’S gENuiNELy bETTER iS vERy HARd.”JONATHAN ivE

NewS & INtereStS

Based on the memory when he was left alone in a car as a child, London-based fine art photographer Martin Usborne created a beautiful portrait of dogs as they sit and wait inside locked vehicles for their owners to return. As gorgeous as it is haunting, the photo series is captured in this beautiful coffee table publication. £35 | amazon.co.uk

THE SiLENCE Of dOgS iN CARSART BOOKS

Finding unique, quality hand-crafted elements to decorate your home with is quite a sport in London and with so many collectors about, many merchants pop-up to sell ‘stylish’ products. So for young craftsmen gaining exposure for their products seems to be an impossible task.

Set up by designers, project group ‘Start Your Trail’ gives a hand to creative entrepreneurs to break into this market and introduce them to the high street.

“ OuR AiM iS TO pROvidE RENEwEd iNTEREST iN THE HigH STREET ANd HELp yOuNg CREATivES gET ON THE RETAiL LAddER.”

By educating the designers and ‘matching’ their hand-made product with local businesses, they not only bring quality products onto the shelves, but question the economic system of the ‘high-street’ in general.

Currently operating from London’s epi-centre of young designers, the products can be found and purchased from the shelves from local businesses in Stoke Newington (Hackney). Find out where exactly on the website: startyourtrail.co.uk.

START yOuR TRAiLCOLLECTIBLES

At Brik we believe our job is more than just selling and letting property. We work to improve the industry, ourselves and to hopefully inspire people with how and what we do. Hence being in business to us is more than just ‘us’, it’s very much us & everyone who has any interaction with Brik, no matter how small. Did you know: The ampersand originates from the latin word ‘et’ meaning ‘and’. The ampersand symbol is a ligature of the letter ‘et’ but its shape evolved to how we know it today since it was first used in the 1st century A.D.

AMpERSANdCOVER

~ et ~

MARCH2014

10

brik.co.uk

NewS & INtereStS

Whilst you may get some interesting looks reading a book with such a title on the tube in the morning, you can sit smugly in the knowledge that only those that have also read it

will be able to understand the irony of that, for this book (the second from self professed, inspiration artist Simon Sinek) is about as opposite to the ‘me first - business mentality’ that at first glance the book suggests. After ditching a career in law and ‘spending some time’ soul searching for why some people enjoy their jobs and others don’t, Simon Sinek seems to have made it his one man mission to change the world and inspire people to change the course of the often toxic business practises that effect not only the ultimate success of the businesses themselves but also the achievement of the people that work within them.

It turns out that, you, we, us haven’t changed biologically for about 50,000 years, we are the same today as we were ‘back then’. Our bodies and minds it seems have evolved to work efficiently in small groups of up to 150 people in harsh, sometimes scarce environments using a collection of rewarding chemicals as incentives. These four major chemicals as, Sinek explains can be divided into ‘Selfish Chemicals’ and ‘Selfless Chemicals’ all of which are designed to motivate us ‘to keep tracking the deer, even in mid-winter’ or to ‘build trusting and supportive relationships to protect the group’. According to Sinek, the problem is that these days businesses, being the equivalent of our modern day tribes, are set up to reward people with only the easiest and quickest feel good chemical response - Dopamine - being a ‘Selfish Chemical’ which is released when we hit a target or get a pay rise or get praised for an idea by our boss. It makes us feel great - temporarily - but isn’t designed to build trusting relationships between our colleagues. This ‘Dopamine addiction’, creates a stressful, ‘me first’ environment where “...a vicious cycle is set in

motion. The less our colleagues and leaders look out for us, the less we look out for them. The less we look out for them, the more selfish they become and, as a result, the more selfish we become. And when that happens, everyone loses.” The ultimate result is that when we aren’t getting our Dopamine high we have the stress hormone, Cortisol, flowing through our veins, most of the time, a state that we weren’t designed to operate in - which Sinek neatly points out is not only bad for business but also bad for your health.

“ wHAT TOO MANy LEAdERS Of ORgANiSATiONS fAiL TO AppRECiATE iS iT’S NOT THE pEOpLE THAT ARE THE pRObLEM, THE pEOpLE ARE fiNE. RATHER iT’S THE ENviRONMENT iN wHiCH THE pEOpLE OpERATE THAT iS THE pRObLEM. gET THAT RigHT ANd THiNgS JuST gO.”

The solution according to Sinek is to re-address the balance and to encourage and to incentivise the release of the major ‘Selfless chemical’ - Oxytocin - that encourages people to look out for one another, share ideas and work efficiently as a team. The problem is that this takes time to build and the effects aren’t felt immediately and is perhaps the reason why businesses don’t encourage it. Cultivating this environment creates ‘a Circle of Safety’ where people feel that as others are looking out for them they will look out for others and encourages selfless co-operation, efficiency and ultimately a much more successful business.

Backed up by a staggering amount of case studies and examples of businesses from Goldman Sachs to organisations such as the US Marine Corps, Sinek makes a compelling argument that is difficult to ignore and serves as an inspiration to all of those in positions of leadership. Highly recommended.

LEAdERS EAT LASTSIMON SINEK

11

brik.co.ukNewS & INtereStS

A tense civil war is still boilling in Syria since March 2011. But with ‘civil war’ we often think about two groups of men fighting each other, forgetting these same men are often fathers as well. Children on the Frontline tells the intense story of the children, who chose not to flee but stay and support their fathers at the frontline in Aleppo, (Syria’s largest city and the fighting ground of the civil war) and how their family life has adjusted to a life with a user-manual.

Forced to grow up really fast, Farah, aged 8, talks about how her

life has changed and the graphic scenes she has witnessed when the interview is interrupted by the sound of another explosion:

“ THAT wAS CLOSE by... iT didN’T ExpLOdE. iT wAS A TANk SHELL, buT iT didN’T ExpLOdE”

While Farah and her cousins try to continue their lives, 12 year old Aboude is labeled a hero for singing inspiring songs of freedom to the men and women of the Syrian uprising. As young as he is, he is very well aware of the importance of his role, as well as

the dangers of it. Characters such as Aboude who inspire the Syrian uprising to continue fighting are well known to suddenly disappear overnight, never to be seen again.

An intense documentary with scenes reminiscent of Europe’s worlds wars. Watch the full film on Youtube or channel4.com.

CHiLdREN ON THE fRONTLiNEDOCUMENTARY

VIDEO

After 40 years, Ford decided to bring the very next Ford Mustang to the UK in 2015, with indeed, the steering-wheel on the right hand side. The sports car was originally developed for the relatively cheap fuel-price and driving distance of the plains of the United States, and not so much for the European roads. But the 2015 model comes other than the V8, also in a more fuel-sufficient four-cylinder EcoBoost model, starting at approximately £30,000. Nice.

2015 MuSTANg SPORTS

12

brik.co.uk

iNSpiRATiON TRANSMiSSiON

This house by Japanese architect Nobuo Araki was designed to connect with the sea. The large windows enable the residents to view the sea from the huge living room and roof terrace. Using concrete, glass, wood and steel, Araki kept this house minimalistic and warm at the same time, creating a mixture of natural colours and Japanese design.

HOuSE iN AkiyA AKIYA, JAPAN

German practice Hornung and Jacobi Architecture created an uber-contemporary family home in strong contrast with the existing curved road and stone wall wrapping the coast of Rhodes. The mathematical paneling on a background of natural lines create a fascinating structure individualistic to its classic environment.

viLLA fRHODES, GREECE

Anticipating on the shortage of light, architect Ido Kenji manipulated the volume of the interiors to enable light through the skylight to penetrate down to the lower floors. The walls of the first floor bear the most structural load while the walls of the second floor slightly rotate to allow light through, but also create unique and evocative living space.

TAMATSu HOuSEOSAKA, JAPAN

archItectUre

13

brik.co.uk

London studio Hayhurst and Co. went ahead and brought the summer into London by creating a beach-house inspired extension to a Maisonette in a Victorian house. Paneled both inside and outside with pale white larch (and even the kitchen counters) the wood brings in light and warmth into a large family kitchen.

HAMpSTEAd bEACH HOuSELONDON, UK

archItectUre

14

brik.co.uk

yOuR HOME 2.0WordsMatt Hill,Deputy Editor of T3 Magazine

Unsurprisingly, entertainment outfits have been quick to capitalise, from Sky letting you browse and record TV programmes remotely with a tap of an app to audiovisual brands such as Sony and Samsung harnessing smartphones and tablet as tactile interfaces for their smart TVs. The new generation of high-end games consoles have inevitably followed suit, with games able to be bought, cued up and even debated on the move if you must.

Audio firms have also capitalised on the might of mobile app control. Parrot’s impressive Zik Bluetooth wireless headphones utilise an app to manage sound levels and environmental settings on the fly, while Bose has introduced a SoundTouch system across all its products, letting you control, browse and playlist your streaming tunes from your mobile device. The leader of the connected sonic pack, Sonos, offers a series of

app-controlled streaming speakers in all sizes for stylish but simple multi-room audio, too.

But while media-rich playthings are an obvious app stomping ground, it’s the gamification of less commonly pleasurable pursuits where they’re really pioneering. We’ve talked before of the Nest thermostat, created by former Apple designers to give your phone control over your central heating, but the firm’s new Nest Protect extends the courtesy to your smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, giving you real-time updates and a sense of safety alongside the slick Silicon Valley icons and interface. iSmartAlarm is one of many attempting to do the same for home security.

In the kitchen, you can install a Scanomat TopBrewer tap and dispense freshly ground coffee and juices straight from your worktop in 15 seconds, all custom options chosen and actioned from your phone or tablet screen. Indeed, Apple has this very setup in its own offices. A quick glance to the bathroom and Crosswater’s range of connected tubs lets you set your water temperature and even start running water remotely from an app, be it from the comfort of your morning duvet or as you near home from a long day at work.

While the fitness market is awash with wearable technology right now, adding even more connected mobile devices to tap into the app ecosystem, the likes of Technogym are taking this back to the homefront. Its upcoming Unity treadmill runs on Google’s Android operating system, syncing with apps and trackers such as MapMyFitness,

A NEw AgE Of AppS iS upON uS, ONE THAT ExTENdS THE CONTROL, CONvENiENCE ANd wANTON diSTRACTiON Of OuR TOuCH-SCREEN pOCkET pALS TO THE bROAdER wORLd. iN fACT, wE NEEd NEvER TOuCH, OR EvEN bE iN THE SAME ROOM AS OuR MANy wORLdLy pOSSESSiONS AgAiN, AS OuR pHONES ANd TAbLETS ARE bEiNg gRANTEd ENTRy iNTO AN EvER-MORE iNTERCONNECTEd wONdERLANd Of TECHNOLOgy THAT TALkS EACH OTHER’S LANguAgE.

hoMe techNoloGy

15

brik.co.ukRunkeeper and Withings so that your workouts and data are all synced and consistent. The Unity even supports Google’s smart Glass specs, which utilize an app to let you control running speed and gradient with your voice and view real-time stats in your eye line.

“iN THE kiTCHEN, yOu CAN iNSTALL A SCANOMAT TOpbREwER TAp ANd diSpENSE fRESHLy gROuNd COffEE ANd JuiCES STRAigHT fROM yOuR wORkTOp iN 15 SECONdS”

Apps will even be controlling the car in your garage by the end of the year. Ford’s integrated Sync setup is filtering the likes of hands-free entertainment, from directions to Spotify, through to its many car lines, while Google has recently announced the Open Automotive Alliance, which sees the likes

of Audi, Hyundai and Honda running their maps, entertainment and in-car navigation systems on an Android operating system. Apple is expected to do the same in the very near future, too, with the age of the badly holstered Bluetooth smartphone satnav is soon to be behind us.

The real future for apps, though, takes convenience beyond previously assumed barriers, not just tech embellishment but genuinely life-changing new frontiers. Yves Béhar’s FuseProject has developed The Kernel, an app-powered necklace that takes a blood or saliva sample and sends it for analysis to a doctor via the cloud, with diagnosis and next steps messaged back swiftly. This should be a reality in just five short years, which should make your home First Aid Kit something to behold within the decade.

Left

Zik wireless headphones by Parrot

Sonos streaming speaker

Bottom

Nest Protect carbon monoxide alarm

Scanomat TopBrewer tap

The Kernel by FuseProject

hoMe techNoloGy

16

brik.co.uk

Reference ID Gold. The Loewe Reference ID television combines state-of-the-art technologies with a beautifully minimalist award winning design. Every TV is made to order and can be customised with a range of exquisitely finished aluminium frame colours and speaker fabrics. Special Editions are available in Oceanic Walnut and 24 carat Gold plate. www.loewe.tv

The new Gold standardin Home Entertainment.

LOE_AZ_MZ_Reference_ID_Gold_200x250_LOUK.indd 1 04.12.13 09:47

17

brik.co.uk

Recently, a widely-circulated article on Buzzfeed – the vast, traffic-hoovering website made up of funny, well-observed lists and flickering hoards of appropriate gifs – rated and ranked all of London’s tube lines. The District Line – the stripe of British racing green which links up Richmond in the south east with Upminster in the east – fared poorly. Ranked a dull, middling eighth out of fifteen, it was damned as:

‘A slowly trundling caravan of disappointment and crushed ambition. You have such dreams, such hopes, so many amazing places you want to go. Then you end up in Earl’s Court. Also it smells weird because there’s something funny with the brakes. On the plus side, you get phone signal on most of it! Think of it less like a Tube line, more like a really long bus, and suddenly it all seems a bit better.’

Three years ago, I might have agreed with this withering assessment. Growing up in Twickenham, Richmond was my nearest tube station and I feel like I lost countless, cumulative days of my life grinding across London on the District Line’s trains. After moving to Aldgate, in east London, my view of the line scarcely improved, that 47-minute plod back to my family’s home feeling more like the kind of day-long trek that Ranulph Fiennes would have balked at.

However, now that I’m living back in South West London, my view of the District has changed. While it’s still not going to rival the Waterloo and City Line for ruthless efficiency, or the Jubilee Line for speed, I’ve come to appreciate its charms. Since I bypassed it back in the early 1990s, the area of London between Richmond and South Kensington has improved notably. The smart drag of Chiswick High

Road with it’s wide pavements and almost endless restaurants and pubs (the bistro at High Road House and pubs like The Roebuck are worth checking) has had a halo effect on the surrounding districts, pulling in nearby stations Turnham Green and Ravenscourt Park, parts of Hammersmith to the east and the waterfront developments of Brentford Dock to the south-west. Meanwhile, the District Line’s southern branch takes an impressive route through West Brompton, Fulham Broadway and down to Putney Bridge, a pocket of London which still has a distinct ‘village’ character, and has been sympathetically developed around the original architecture rather than just being given over to glass boxes and chain stores.

Even the train line seems more enjoyable than it used to. Partly, it’s that it has genuinely improved – faster than it was, the phasing out of the old D-Stock trains in favour of the more energy efficient S-Stock trains will improve things further (by 2015 if all runs to schedule). Partly, it’s that it suits my life in a way that it didn’t as a teenager: it conveniently transports me to one of my offices in Royal Oak, Kew Gardens is now somewhere I’d voluntarily visit, and now that everyone is constantly online, a tube line largely running overground is a major bonus.

And finally, the view from both of the District Line’s river crossings – the only part of the tube line which traverses the Thames above ground – is genuinely beautiful. The sudden opening up of London’s skyline over Kew Bridge and the nearby island of allotments, or Putney Bridge and the lines of rowers is one of those London sights which never fails to lift the spirits. And there aren’t many parts of the London Underground that make you feel like that.

WordsJustin Quirk , Editor House magazine

REdiSCOvERiNg THE diSTRiCT LiNE

oPINIoN

18

brik.co.uk

It is often thought that something bold and high impact will make the most difference to a property’s value. For this reason it’s often glamorous extensions and basement developments that grab peoples imagination when they consider developing their home. The humble roof extension is often dismissed as the first rung on the ladder of home development - offering a new lease of life to redundant space rather than creating new rooms to grow into.

However, converting your existing loft remains an economical way to make the most of the space you have, and depending on the size and roof shape of your existing property this addition can range from a little extra space for a home office or extra bathroom, to a master bedroom with en-suite.

Areas of Paris have a thriving rooftop culture, where locals make the most of views and natural light that successfully render the dirt and chaos found in the streets below a distant memory. Of course a framed view of the Eiffel Tower (or the London skyline) is a rare luxury enjoyed only in certain areas that have the necessary topography, but the restorative effect of large areas of sky and the feeling of a room flooded with daylight cannot be ignored.

The level of daylight you can achieve will relate directly to the size and location of the window openings. If you live in a conservation area then it is likely any new additions will be limited to the rear slope of your property, preserving the historical look and feel of the area. Therefore the orientation

“THE RESTORATivE EffECT Of LARgE AREAS Of Sky ANd THE fEELiNg Of A ROOM fLOOdEd wiTH dAyLigHT CANNOT bE igNOREd.”

of your house in these areas will greatly effect the time of day you receive light and in what quantities.

Any use of the loft space will require a minimum head height of 2.3m, which you can measure from the top of the joist to the underside of the central ridge beam. If your ceiling height falls below this there is no need give up, as depending on the height of the rooms below it may be possible to lower the ceiling to achieve necessary height requirements.

An experienced builder will be able to execute the majority of the works from the outside using scaffolding, so although a relatively simple measure, lowering ceilings will create a little more disruption to your life, so is best done as part of more extensive works. However, the final effects are often worth it.

A key consideration beyond how the new spaces you create will compliment life in your existing home, is how they are stitched into the existing fabric. Breaking through to the rest of the house is typically only done once all alterations to the roof are complete and your home is sealed against the elements.

Depending on the scope and quality of finish, a loft extension can cost between £8000 - £50,000, and depending on complexity the construction period could last from 4 to 8 weeks. Along with reorganising the existing spaces to achieve their full potential, these works could increase the value of your home substantially. Meeting building regulation standards for insulation also means you will put an efficient cap on top of your property, which will reduce energy use in the colder months.

A HEAd fOR HEigHTS WordsNick Wood, Architect / founder of How About Studio www.krop.com/nickwood

INterIor & DeSIGN

19

brik.co.ukINterIor & DeSIGN

20

brik.co.uk

For the last three years the Bank of England and the Government have been attempting to stoke the mortgage and housing market, trying to rouse it from its stupor. Coal, in the form of 0.5% base rate, quantative easing, Funding for Lending and the Help to Buy schemes have been shovelled into the engine by successive Governors and Prime Ministers, and finally last year the mortgage locomotive started to make its way up the hill of recovery.

As progress was made more fuel was thrown into the fire to make sure that this did not stall, or worse, slip back, and we truly now have a full head of steam. However, the train is now over the brow of the hill and starting to race down the other side alarmingly fast. Suddenly, having fed the engine so much, slowing down in a safe manner appears to be a lot harder than everyone thought. The prospect of another (train) crash has started to loom its ugly head once more. Forgive my clumsy train metaphor, but I think it illustrates the immense effort taken in trying to get the mortgage and housing markets up and running

whilst not allowing the recovery to run away and form a bubble. My friends at BRIK will be able to talk about their experiences with house process in Fulham and Notting Hill; and this is certainly echoed across London looking at my clients. Across the UK prices are going up, but not by as much as in the capital.

So how do the regulators ease the growth without derailing it? Well traditionally the Bank would increase the base rate to slow down lending; however, as seen by the flapping that followed Mark Carney’s announcement of linking the base rate to unemployment, increasing the base rate is not something that anybody wants to do. The Office of National Statistics estimates that there are over a million households in the UK that are just about managing to pay their mortgage because they are on a base rate tracker at 1% or lower. Increasing the rate will trigger a potential mass repossession. So what else can be done?

Well, firstly, Funding for Lending was withdrawn in January, so taking away a flow of cheaper funds. Next I would expect the Bank of England to impose greater capital requirements on lenders. This means that banks would be asked to retain a larger percentage of liquid capital on their books, in relation to their overall lending. This

WordsAlistair Hargreaves,Mortgage Consultant

RuNAwAyTRAiN Help to Buy

MORTgAgE bORROwERS

Funding For lending

MortGaGe Market

21

brik.co.uk

usually has the impact of mortgage rates charged by lenders being increased, and overall lending reducing as banks try to fund the extra capital needed to be retained, without affecting their profits.

“ THE TRAiN iS NOw OvER THE bROw Of THE HiLL ANd STARTiNg TO RACE dOwN THE OTHER SidE ALARMiNgLy fAST”

A further measure (although probably unintended) is the potential affect of the Mortgage Market Review (MMR). This is a post mortem into the mortgage and housing crash of 2008, in an attempt to stop it happening again. A number of recommendations have been made, and these are due to be implemented in April this year. A key element here is a greater scrutiny of a client’s ability to afford the mortgage – so not just saying you can have five times your income, but actually looking at a borrower’s bank statements and accounting for all of their outgoings and spending. Therefore, if you are applying for a mortgage in May 2014 expect to be asked many more questions around your incomes and expenditure. I would expect this new process to prolong the time to it requires to go from application to mortgage offer (both in terms of the work completed by a mortgage broker and a lender), leaving providers

the choice of employing more staff to do the extra checks; or producing fewer offers, eg, taking on less business.

The upshot of all of the above will be a gentle increase in rates, and potentially a slow down in the growth of lending. I still think that more money will be lent this year than in 2013, but not at such a fast rate. Hopefully this in turn will lead to Messers Carney and Osborne releasing some of the pressure on the mortgage express, and a more manageable market as opposed to a run away train crashing into the next station (which, according to the guard, is No More Boom and Bust – a once thriving town, but now a run down and sad suburb, packed full of bookies, pawn brokers and charity shops).

The impact for my clients is that rates are going up. We have already seen Santander, NatWest and Clydesdale pull their market leading five year fixed rates, and I believe that this will continue. If you are on a lifetime tracker or discount paying 2.5% or more, at a loan to value of 80% it is time to move. Rates are only going to go up, so if you want to lock in for medium to long term security you need to hurry, as the last train is leaving, and you do not want to be stuck on the rail replacement bus service.

0.5% Base ratequantative easing

tHe Housing MarKet

MortGaGe Market

22

brik.co.uk

INterIor & DeSIGN

pRETTy LiTTLE THiNgS

0401

02 03

0605

THE STORY OF A MOVEMENT AND A COMMUNITY

We at Design Hotels™ are celebrating our 20th year of curating the most expressive and unique hotels worldwide. This special anniversary edition of our annual book looks back on the last two decades of innovative hotel design and forward to the future of cutting edge hospitality. The publication is available as a coffee-table book and a Limited Collector’s Edition that includes two timeless design pieces by Artek, the pioneering Finnish design company. Together, Design Hotels™ and Artek have created a peerless objet d’art for design addicts around the world. Get your copy here:

designhotels.com /book

25

brik.co.uk

if yOu wANT A HOME, pREpARE fOR wAR. THAT MigHT SOuNd dRAMATiC, buT iT’S A NEAT wAy Of SAyiNg THAT THE MARkET iS, SHALL wE SAy, COMpETiTivE. THE bOOMiNg pROpERTy MARkET iN THE uk SHOwS NO SigN Of SLOwiNg dOwN, SO iT’S iMpORTANT THAT yOu LEARN TO MOvE AS quiCkLy, EffiCiENTLy, ANd AS dECiSivELy AS pOSSibLE.

You have, of course, read the horror stories: National house prices rising by 3 per cent (around £5,583) in a single month (October 2013), and a cool 17 per cent over the year according to the Land Registry. Average London house prices are hovering around the £400,000 mark, and an average of 14 people are now competing for every London home. A recent survey on behalf of the National Housing Federation – complied by analysts Oxford Economics ¬– suggests the average London home could climb by 40 per cent in the next six years, meaning prices will be more like £650,000 by 2020.

The Government’s Help to Buy scheme further saturated the market, with many buyers adopting a ‘now or never’ mentality, which might be fuelled by terrifying headlines, the desire to keep up with friends or pressure from family, and the October roll-out of the Governments second phase of the scheme. Despite concerns that the program might stimulate another housing bubble, the governments guarantee to underpin 15 per cent of a loan, on just a 5 per cent deposit, has proved incredibly alluring for many first time buyers.

All food for thought. But don’t start packing up and making plans to move out of this fair city just yet. With planning, preparation and some good tactics, you can steal a march (to return to the earlier military metaphor) on your fellow house hunters and get in there now when the going’s good. Here’s some tips to make sure you’re ready to move when you need…

Get Pre-Approved If you’ve sold a house, you’ll know, but if you haven’t, this will still make sense. Imagine your home is on the market. Your agent calls one day to tell you that two offers have been made. The first is from an unknown quantity that is still in the early stages of financing and mortgage approval. The second offer is from a couple holding a current credit check, mortgage in principal, and a fat deposit sitting in their bank account. Who is the seller going to choose? The second couple could tell them they plan to turn the place into a drum & bass nightclub and they’d still be mad not to bite their hand off. The merits of having your finances in order before going to market cannot be underestimated. You will find the whole process is turned on its head when you can prove you are ready to buy at the drop of a hat.

“gOiNg HOuSE HuNTiNg wiTH A pRE-AppROvEd LOAN LETTER iN yOuR bACk pOCkET MEANS yOu CAN HuNT wiTH A fAR CLEARER HEAd.”

You’re one step ahead of the many other buyers, so rather than panicking about the hordes other

WordsJosh WoodfinBuyers Guide (James Sims / MIke Horne)

fEEdiNgfRENzy

BUyer’S GUIDe

26

brik.co.uk

hunters, which might colour your judgement when it comes to a property, you can stop, take a breath, and ask yourself ‘is this really the property you want to buy?’

Find A Good Estate AgentAnd make friends with them. Trust on both sides is important. You cannot, and should not, work with someone you’re not completely comfortable with. They need to understand your hopes, dreams and requirements from your plans for the future, down to the nitty-gritty of location, quality of finish, and whether or not there’s residents parking, for example. You also want to be the person your agent calls first when a new listing becomes available. Communicate what your want, and what your position is, clearly, concisely, and rationally:

“yOu wANT TO buy A HOuSE - yOuR AgENT wANTS TO SELL iT TO yOu.”

That’s the dream relationship you’re looking to find. Equally, buying a house comes with a fair amount of admin you’ll be unsurprised to know. And whether you’re a first time, or fourth time buyer, having a knowledgeable guide to help you navigate the labyrinthine T&Cs of buying a home cannot be underestimated. How do you find this agent? Find someone who’s bought or sold a house with them and ask them. Has a friend or family member recently made property move? Talk to them. Honest, first hand info on a possible agent will help you make a decision or back up any gut feelings you have.

Lead With Your Highest Offer Found the right house, in the right place, for pretty much the right price? Then *cue A-Team music* it’s go time. By this point you should have spent some time monitoring similar properties, in the same or similar area that you want to buy in, so you should have a handle on how much they’re selling for, and how quickly they’re being bought. These are both little things that will further equip you and put you in the best possible position when the time comes to put your money where your mouth is. Think about it: if the properties in the area you want to live in are

selling slowly, below the asking price, then you are in a better, more informed position to put in a lower offer. Conversely, if the house prices in your desired area, or even street, are stable or increasing, you need to lead with your best offer. It won’t feel great initially, but you have to make a decisive move if you’re to win out in such a competitive market. Put the offer in writing, then if the seller is interested, the negotiations start. At this point it’s worth pointing out that as a buyer, at this point, you’re at a slight disadvantage. The seller has a professional negotiator working for them in the form of the agent, while as a buyer you’re left to your own devices. If this is a concern for you, then you can appoint a buyers agent to provide support.

Consider A Bridging LoanCalling this a last resort is a little strong, but if you know you want a very, very specific property, then this might be your solution. A bridging loan is exactly as it sounds – it’s a loan that allows people to complete the purchase of a property before selling their existing home, by providing short-term access to money at a high-rate of interest. Often used by property developers and those buying at auction, these loans are not for the faint of heart. Although they are growing in popularity due to the speed they can be granted in comparison to the relatively sluggish banks and building societies, beware: you could end up facing interest of 1.5 per cent a month, which translates to a whopping 18% a year. There also legal and administration fees to be heeded. But if you want to make a fast, cash purchase, these are worth investigating.

Think Fast, Move Fast So the futures not as bleak as some of the headlines might make you think; Buying the home you want is very possible, and it’s going to remain that way. What you need to do, like an expert chef, is prepare yourself. Prep everything, from finances, to timelines, to details on where you want to live and why. Have the answer to any and every question ready in your arsenal. Give yourself options and you’ll find it. That house. That home.

INterIor & DeSIGN

27

brik.co.uk

BRIK

FINA

NC

E

fiNANCES AT THE REAdyHaving your finances in place prior to the house hunt will set you one step ahead of the competition who may be stumbling to arrange a mortgage as they put their offer in.

bRiNg A pENDon’t allow your emotions to complicate a stressful deal. Be clear headed and be ready to ‘do the deal’, or someone else will.

buyiNg iN LONdON: A SuRvivAL pACk

MOvE fASTKnow the hurdles and get everything in place to sprint through the process. The market, solicitors, finances etc - like a taxi on a rainy day a keen seller won’t wait around for long!

ESTATE AgENTBecome friends with a good estate agent. They know the market like no other and will call you first when something comes up. Invaluable.

CONSidER bRidgiNgAs a last resort, to allow your purchase to be completed before you sell your house. Think of it as a reserve chute. Something to use if there’s no other option on the table.

ObSERvE ANd RESpONdObserve the market in your area for a while so you can quickly react to new property coming on the market and offer accurately.

BUyer’S GUIDe

28

brik.co.uk

SellerS GUIDe

THiNkiNg AbOuT SELLiNg yOuR HOME? wELL yOu SHOuLd bE THiNkiNg AbOuT gETTiNg pRE-AppROvEd pLANNiNg pERMiSSiON TOO. fOR A COMpARATivELy SMALL AMOuNT Of MONEy, yOu CAN RAdiCALLy iMpROvE THE pRiCE TAg ANd AppEAL Of yOuR pROpERTy.

“It increases the value of your property, plain and simple,” states Brik co-founder, Mike Horne. “If you’re in an environment where there’s no stock on the market, but there are ten buyers for every house, which you are if you’re selling in SW6, then having pre-approved planning permission could net you a big win.” And when you lay out the facts and figures, it all makes a lot of sense. Say, for instance, your house is 2000 sq ft, worth £2 million, and can hold a basement that will cost around £500,000. That conversion, if built, would push the value of the property up to around £3 million. But with pre-approved planning permission, and a near guaranteed and dramatic increase in value, combined with a current market that’s incredibly low in stock, you could potentially sell your property for up to £2.5 million. That’s a lot of potential return on an investment of just couple of thousand pounds and a bit of paperwork!

Applying, and hopefully being granted planning permission before you sell your home will not only increase the value and appeal of the property, but could save you money too. If, for example, you decided to carry out some major works while you were still in the house, you might find yourself footing the bill of rented accommodation while the really messy part happens at home. And planning permission isn’t even that hard. Your end of the grunt work shouldn’t take more than two-weeks when fitted in around the rest of your life, but much less time if you block out a couple of days. Once

submitted, it shouldn’t take more than eight weeks for the council to get back to you.

Where the process could dogleg is with the architects and surveyors who tend to be booked up quite far in advance. But that’s not the only reason you should seriously consider getting your skates on – the Community Infrastructure Levy. This two-tier tax will apply to extensions and new builds across the capital – it’s already being applied in central London – and will charge by the square meter. Currently in consultation in Hammersmith and Fulham, according to the councils website, the charge will be £50/m2.

“iT JuST STRikES ME THAT ANyONE wiTH THE pOTENTiAL TO ExTENd, SHOuLd, buT Of COuRSE, ObTAiN pLANNiNg pERMiSSiON, bECAuSE iT fuTuRE pROOfS yOu TO A CERTAiN dEgREE.”

But this could go up. But if you applied for planning permission now, you would be exempt from the levy, and even if you’re not planning to move right now, your documents will last five years and can be renewed for a significantly smaller fee. Putting the levy aside for a moment, having planning permission in place is just a good idea, because you simply don’t know what else is around the corner.

“Get it now before the council changes its mind,” states Horne. “Lets say in two-years time the council banned basement conversions or loft extensions. It’s probably not going to happen, but lets just say that they did, it would be superb if you had the maximum amount of permission already in place. It just strikes me that anyone with the potential to extend, should, but of course, obtain planning permission, because it future proofs you to a certain degree. If you can afford it, do it.”

MONEy wELL SpENT

EXCLUSIVE POGGENPOHL KITCHEN DESIGN CENTRESAberdeen � Ascot – Berkshire � Barnet – London, Herts � Birmingham � Carlisle � Cambridge � Colchester Dublin � Edinburgh � Exmouth � Gibraltar � Glasgow � Guernsey � Guildford � Kilmarnock � LeedsLeicester � London – Finchley Road NW3 � London – Knightsbridge SW3 � London – Pimlico SW1London – Clapham SW11 � London – Waterloo SE1 � London – Wigmore St W1 � ManchesterSt. Albans � St. Lawrence – Jersey � Wilmslow – Cheshire � Worthing – Sussex � Winchester – Now OpenFor a brochure or details of your nearest studio please call 0800 612 9748or visit our website www.poggenpohl.com

[email protected]

+SEGMENTOThe simplest appearance often belies the most complex thinking. +SEGMENTO‘s exquisite and simple design hides decades of thought and experience. Thin worktops, handle-less surfaces and a purity of lines combine to refi ne the visual experience.

Sophisticatedsimplicity

Anz_Poggenpohl_+SEGMENTO-Brik magazine-200x250.indd 1 10.07.2013 (KW 28) 13:05

31

brik.co.uklaNDlorD’S GUIDe

SO yOu wANT TO bECOME A LANdLORd, gOOd fOR yOu. buT bEfORE yOu MAkE THE big STEp, wE’vE gOT SOME ANSwERS TO yOuR MANy quESTiONS…

Welcome to the wonderful world of being a landlord. You are now the proud owner of your very own property empire. Or, perhaps you’re just thinking about getting into the renting game. Either way, you need to ask yourself some important questions (which is a fairly good rule of thumb when entering into any transaction that involves large sums of money anyway). Brik’s Lettings Manager, Tyrone Olivier Marla, breaks down some very frequently asked questions for any would be landlords

I’m buying a house. When do I have to decide if I’m going to rent it out? Pretty much straight away. Ultimately, if you ask a lettings agent to value the property, and you tell them you’ve just bought it, we’re going to assume straight away that a decent amount of documentation is in order. But then first of all the agent will want to make sure that your mortgage company is going to let you rent it out!

How much is renting a house going to cost? You want to make sure that you’ve got a competitive lettings fee. This can be achieved by speaking to various agents to make sure you don’t get over charged. And it’s stating the obvious slightly, but it’s a really good idea to make sure that lettings agents are working with you, and not for themselves. For example, they should give you the option to pay the letting fee on a monthly

basis, as apposed to paying it up front, so the agent can then forget about you.

Ok, so I’ve bought a property that I’d like to rent. What’s the first thing I should do? The first thing that you would do is contact the lettings agent. You’d get them to come over, give you a valuation in terms of current market value. They’ll then give you advice to maximise any amount of rental income you’re looking to receive. Your agent will advise you get various documentations, that you’ve got an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) for example.

How much should I charge for my property? We can’t take a clients mortgage payments or rates into consideration. We will simply quote a price to you that we feel the property is worth. The actual overheads of letting a property, after the agency fees and your mortgage, include a gas safety certificate, an EPC (if you don’t have one), and I would always advise that clients get a PAT (Portable Appliance Test), which isn’t a legal requirement, but for the sake of a couple of hundred pounds, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“A LOT Of LANdLORdS ARE NOw TAkiNg OuR RENTAL iNSuRANCE, TOO, wHiCH COvERS yOu, SHOuLd THE TENANT STOp pAyiNg RENT fOR SOME REASON”

What legal rights do I have? Should I register somewhere…No, as long as you’ve gone through an ARLA (Association of Residential Lettings Agents) registered agency, which means everything has been done absolutely by the book, you can enter into a rental agreement in complete confidence. Because if something does happen, once you go to a solicitor, you know that your paperwork is in perfect order. A lot of landlords are now taking our rental insurance, too, which covers you, should the tenant stop paying rent for some reason.

MASTER Of ALL yOu SuRvEy

32

brik.co.uk

Compiled by Magenta Pink Interiors, magentapink.co.uk

Interior & Design

ARMCHAiRS

A contemporary grand interpretation of a wing chair with a high buttoned back. Can be upholstered in any designer guild fabric.

Inspired by the curved petals of the lotus flower, this chair is designed with with smooth lines and soft to the eye, making a perfect piece for a bedroom in silver grey.

A fabulously stylish chair shown here in sunshine matt velvet. This chair is sure to brighten up any room. Available in other colours and fabrics.

A modern take on a traditional design. This great little 60’s inspired chair comes in an assortment of bright colours and is a really great price.

This beautiful Goathide armchair is perfect for all stylish homes. The chair will add a touch of fun and reference to the country to sitting room or bedroom.

A classic design in nubuck and mohair velvet. It’s classic design and soft colour make a true statement piece for every living room or library.

HARpER£1350 | designersguild.com

After Philip Pollock’s original of circa 1963, this wonderfully low square chair comes on an aged bronze or nickel plated frame. And can be decorated with different fabrics.

pOLLOCk CHAiR £1517 | julianchichester.com

LOTuS ARMCHAiR £289 | made.com

THE SARk£595 | sofa.com

kubRiCk wiNg bACk CHAiR£379 | made.com

THE gOAT HidE CHAiR £395 | rockettstgeorge.co.uk

The classic Egg Chair by Jacobsen is given a very modern twist with a patchwork make-over, creating a playful piece, and a unique eye-cathcher.

THE Egg CHAiR£1395 | theoldcinema.co.uk

A stunning piece of 100% British design, hand signed and numbered, which makes it not only a great one, but also a unique piece of design.

Tux CHAiR£1975 | stuartscott.co.uk

A beautiful rotating tub chair in the Art Deco style, made to order by Linley. Choose your own fabric to really make a statement and make it the perfect eye-cather for your living room, bedroom or library.

A generously deep seated leather club chair, with a high, deep buttoned back. Built by hand in England and covered in a fabulous vintage leather. Available on line in black, brown or other colours.

THE dECO Tub CHAiR £2950 | davidlinley.com

fLORENCE viNTAgE CHAiR£1090 | oldbootsofas.com

giANT CLub CHAiR£4010 | ochre.net

Sumptuous duck-down cushions make this a very comfortable and stylish chair, perfect for contemporary interiors. It is available in an array of leathers.

LC3 gRANd CONfORT SOfT£1312 | iconicinteriors.com

33

brik.co.ukInterior & Design

34

brik.co.uk

what Moreto wISh ForAn outstanding fully extended victorian family home fit for a bishop.

35

brik.co.uk

36

brik.co.uk

An outstanding fully extended Victorian family home. Finished to the highest specification and located in the desirable Bishop’s Park area. Arranged over four floors and extending to just under 4,000 sq ft, the bedroom and living spaces have been both implemented and balanced well.

37

brik.co.uk

FINLAY STREET, SW6£3,250,000 (For Sale)6 beds | House | Freehold

38

brik.co.uk

MoreMooreAn outstanding three bedroom garden flat, arranged over the ground and first floor of a victorian house, on the borders of Chelsea.

39

brik.co.uk

40

brik.co.uk

This outstanding three bedroom garden flat features a superb open plan kitchen/living space with French doors onto a private decked garden, a spacious master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and two further double bedrooms and two bathrooms.

41

brik.co.uk

HOLMEAD ROAD, SW6£1,400,000 (For Sale)5 beds | Flat | Share of Freehold

42

brik.co.uk

An impressive three double bedroom freehold house, built just over 3 years ago with a recently extended ground floor to create an excellent open living space with access onto a private rear patio/garden.

the NewhorDer

43

brik.co.uk

HORDER ROAD, SW6£1,150,000 (Under Offer)3 beds | House | Freehold

44

brik.co.uk

45

brik.co.uk

hUrlINGhaMhoMe

A unique, five bedroom victorian house directly opposite Hurlingham park on Hurlingham Road.

46

brik.co.uk

This stunning house, directly opposite Hurlingham Park, has been lovingly decorated by the current owner to a high standard, and includes Neff and Bosch appliances in the kitchen, under floor heating in most rooms and Cat5 cabling.

47

brik.co.uk

HURLINGHAM ROAD, SW6£2,495,000 (For Sale)5 beds | House | Freehold

48

brik.co.ukAn outstanding two bedroom flat, arranged over two floors of a Victorian property in Chelsea, with two double bedrooms on the first floor. The top floor features a superb open living space, bathroom and separate kitchen with doors leading out onto a south facing roof terrace with river views.

creMorNeroaD

49

brik.co.uk

CREMORNE ROAD, SW10£1,495,000 (For Sale)2 beds | Flat | Leasehold

50

brik.co.uk

A large four bedroom house in prime Fulham gated development, with impressive reception space, a substantial kitchen and dining area (on the ground floor), with doors leading on to a secluded private garden.

hUrlINGhaM SQUare

51

brik.co.uk

HURLINGHAM SQUARE, SW6£1,850,000 (For Sale)4 beds | House | Freehold

52

brik.co.uk

BroNSart roaDa unique and substantial Victorian family home with significant potential to extend. expanding to 1,884 square feet and currently arranged over two floors this property is positioned on a corner plot which gives it the benefit of a significantly larger than average footprint. Includes four bedrooms and two reception rooms, and consequently a 37 x 27ft rear garden.

BRONSART ROAD, SW6£1,895,000 (for Sale)4 Beds | House | Freehold

53

brik.co.uk

MUNSTER ROAD, SW6£1,395,000 (Under Offer)4 Beds | House | Freehold

MUNSter roaDa four bedroom Victorian family home offering almost 1,800 sq ft of living accommodation, a short walk to Parsons Green. the house has fantastic entertaining space with a double reception room, wood flooring and a feature fireplace, leading onto a modern extended kitchen with bi-folding doors to a patio garden.

54

brik.co.uk

colehIll laNea stunning three bedroom Victorian family home. the ground floor is split between a reception room at the front and a modern kitchen/breakfast room to the rear, which opens out onto a South facing rear patio/garden. on the first floor there is a sizeable bedroom and study which can be easily converted back into a bedroom, with a large family bathroom to the rear.

COLEHILL LANE, SW6£1,250,000 (Under Offer)3 Beds | House | Freehold

55

brik.co.uk

HORDER ROAD, SW6£1,150,000 (Under Offer)3 Beds | House | Freehold

horDer roaDa stylish three bedroom Victorian family home with the ground floor split between a reception room at the front and a modern kitchen to the rear, which leads out onto a South facing rear patio/garden. on the first floor there are two bedrooms and a large shower room. the loft space has been converted into a spacious master bedroom with an en suite bathroom.

56

brik.co.uk

SPace &Style

A well located and superb four/five bedroom family house within the popular ‘bury Triangle’ area.

57

brik.co.uk

58

brik.co.uk

The ground floor consists of a lovely formal reception room with dark wooden floors flowing through to a double bedroom. Stairs leading down to a large, modern and open plan fitted kitchen/dining area and a second reception room on the lower ground floor leading to a south west facing garden.

59

brik.co.uk

HAZELBURY ROAD, SW6£1,075 per week (Let Agreed)4 beds | House | Available now

60

brik.co.uk

this stunning large three bedroom, two bathroom split level flat is located in the popular west Brompton part of Fulham with excellent transport links close to hand. Spread over the first and second floors of a Victorian terraced house.

oNGarroaD

61

brik.co.uk

ONGAR ROAD, SW6£695 per week3 beds | Flat | Available now

62

brik.co.uk

this two bedroom apartment is in immaculate condition with fantastic ceiling height throughout. the apartment has an exceptional living room with a large fully equipped eat in kitchen. the flat not only offers two double bedrooms but also a North east facing garden with various areas of storage.

chelSea’SweStGate

63

brik.co.uk

WESTGATE TERRACE, SW10£750 per week2 beds | Flat | Available now

64

brik.co.uk

a stylish, two double bedroom, seventh floor apartment with a large open plan living space with doors leading onto a south facing balcony overlooking the river, two double bedrooms and a family bathroom and also ensuite.

waterMaNS QUay

65

brik.co.uk

WATERMANS QUAY, SW6£595 per week2 beds | Flat | Available now

66

brik.co.uk

laNGthorNe Streeta homely two bedroom apartment, finished to a good standard and consisting of two double bedrooms, one bathroom and a large open plan kitchen and living area. the living space looks out over a spacious lawned garden with an additional out house featuring a large social space, a pool table and seating area.

LANGTHORNE STREET£450 per week2 Beds | Garden Flat | Available now

67

brik.co.uk

Call us for a free valuation: 020 7384 6790

Get IN toUch

MEETbRik

Mike HorneCo-founder NFOPP qualified

Ben LittlewoodCo-founderNFOPP qualified

Chris LittlewoodCo-founderNFOPP qualified

James SimsSales Manager NFOPP qualified

Tyrone OlivierLettings Manager MARLA

Alex WeldonSalesNFOPP qualified

Adrian TwibillSales

Contact

020 7384 6790

[email protected]

bRik

@bRikLONdON

bRik.CO.uk

77 Parsons Green LaneFulham, SW6 4JA

opposite the white horse pub

11 Colville MewsNotting Hill, W11 2DA

Near the Design Museum

like many people we believe estate agency is in need of improvement. we started Brik to challenge the status quo and our reputation has grown by delivering record break-ing prices and quick sales with minimum fuss. our formula is simple, sound advice plus friendly approach equals good result.

we BelIeVe

THE

MA

RYLE

BON

E M

INI •

ASP

INA

LOFL

ON

DO

N.C

OM

• 0

845

052

6900

ASPINALMiniMARL_BRIK_FEB14.indd 1 06/02/2014 14:27:15

brik magazine march 2014

Documents

brik property

property marketlondon

property galleryissue

property marketth

property descriptions

worth of derelict property

responsibility of brik

brik magazinemarch