The above property is on the market with Knight Frank http://search.knightfrank.co.uk/rsi090741, doesn’t look lmuch from the outside but has a price tag of €14,000,000 and set in grounds of over 5 acres, wonderful.
Last Self Build Blog For Awhile.
THE HOUSE IS FINISHED
This is how it turned out, pictures first , blurb at the bottom…
The house is located in a discreet section of Highgate and incorporates all the 21st century mod cons and niceties. The amazing open plan detached pavilion style reception has direct access to the heated lap pool and heated spa and lawned garden on one side and a 10 m balcony on the other.
We enter the house via a hacienda style courtyard with black bamboo for contemporary greenery or electronically controlled spacious garages with space for three cars. We achieved the massive amount of light through the enormous expanse of glass sliding and bi-fold doors which can be completely opened adding to the openness of the ground floor living area, perfect in the summer when entertaining.
Running adjacent to the living area is a large but intimate snug, we went with a natural wood burning fire rather than gas.
An Intelligent lighting system with a myriad of pre-set lighting scenes controls the mood with full iPad/iPhone functionality.
The light box in the kitchen housing the extractor which has complete colour change control depending on your mood or the occasion. Lighting again is picked up in the lap pool and spa with a cascade waterfall bringing the wall to life.
Three of the bedrooms have their own ensuites and direct access to another 10 m balcony whilst the master bedroom has direct access to the decked terrace and it’s own master ensuite. The boutique style bathroom is furnished with Duravit drawers and console with Hansgrohe fittings and matching Victoria and Albert volcanic limestone bath and double basins. Epoxy Resin flooring throughout this -2 level.
Sustainable features include a sedum roof, rainwater recycling, LED and Compact Fluorescent lighting. The guest WC and utility room is located on the ground floor with a plant room housing the boilers and water tanks directly under garage one.
The lighting is my favourite bit, using the iPhone to control the lights is great, my husband says my phone is surgically attached so works for me.
If you would like more details about any of the build, what we used and from where we bought please email, I’m happy to oblige.
;0))
NB Photographs by Murray www.realfocus.co.uk. Many thanks the pictures came out great.
And a big thanks to Ingrid http://www.ipwinteriors.co.uk, interior designer with flair.
Diary of a Self Builder Part 4.
Haven’t blogged for a while, I’ve even deleted my Facebook account (for a short time only) just so I could concentrate on the house and my business, outside of the children and the summer holidays of course.
This is the last but one blog on this particular subject (for the time being), will need a break to rest and recoup from the stresses of delays and being let down completely. I wish I could say that we never had to worry about the money, but that would be a lie.
Diary of A Self Builder Part 3
I can TASTE the finish (my husband just tastes dust!), but mistakes can still be made, so a high degree of concentration mixed with strong negotiation skills and style is paramount.
To be a Self Builder you require a variety of skills, for example:
- Instilling Confidence – especially with the banks. If you borrowed money on your project before the crash like us, when banks were throwing money at you and then having to ask for more during the 2nd worst recession ever, well no university can teach you how to keep from losing it all. (Sorry should have mentioned they did lend and it wasn’t due to luck. Just perseverance, passion, conviction and likeability).
The rest of the skills needed are in no particular order:
- Mathematician
- Negotiator
- Critical Thinker
- Interior Designer
- Architect (Grrrrr)
- Budget Planner
- Accountant
- Amicable/Diplomatic
- Composed
- Man-Manager
- Decision Maker
- Lighting Designer
- Researcher
- Labourer
- Cleaner…
The list goes on but above all you need a great sense of humour, nerves of steel and some knowledge of the Polish language for a good site morale and the banter, of course.
Before I upload the pictures I would like to mention the lighting, WOW haven’t we moved on from the equally spaced ceiling halogen lights. All LEDs now darling and low energy fluorescent strip lights in light boxes with wall/ceiling washes. We’ve taken the sophisticated lighting designs from the likes of Harvey Nichols and Selfridges to create seamless illumination to curves, coves and subtle light washes in the corridors and stair area. Hence the ceiling boxes in this photo.
For visualization: Except in our kitchen there will be a light box running above the full length and width of the 4m by 1.3m Island.
At the moment its all about the LIGHTS. Lights around the garden, down the walls in side and out and in the pool/spa. There are so many great examples to pump you full of inspiration.
Just a few pics of where we’re at! Busy Bees and the Plasterers doing (having t0!) a fine job.
This is the utility room and the tech hub of the house with all the wires which incorporate the wired and wireless light and alarm system operated by Rako’s funky switches, PIRs and now by your iPad/iPhone, love it.
Whilst the sun is shining…Just 3 weeks until the balconies arrive.
I’d love to hear your story or very happy to help, we’re not selfish in that department.
The end is in sight!
Kitchen, bathrooms, floor finishes, tiles, garden, lighting, swimming pool, jacuzzi, balconies, paint finishes, wardrobes, the list goes on…
Garden leading from the kitchen area with raised beds and painted battens to add to the contemporary design of the house.
Lazy lawn to protect the slate tiles, notice the difference? Been lucky with the weather, as it’s been raining way too much since the hosepipe ban. On dry days the Rainwater Harvester holding 1500 litres will be used for the garden and all WC’s.
Making a stylish effort on the rear of the swimming pool, as well as using Jackson’s Fine Fencing, we’re planting Bamboo and Silver Birches.
On the terrace outside the -2 bedrooms, hard wooden painted slats, surrounding the balau decking for security and privacy.
The floor is being poured end of next week (all 5ooo sq ft of it) and we’ve decided to go with a…
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Diary of a Self Builder Part 2
The end is in sight!
Kitchen, bathrooms, floor finishes, tiles, garden, lighting, swimming pool, jacuzzi, balconies, paint finishes, wardrobes, the list goes on…
Garden leading from the kitchen area with raised beds and painted battens to add to the contemporary design of the house.
Lazy lawn to protect the slate tiles, notice the difference? Been lucky with the weather, as it’s been raining way too much since the hosepipe ban. On dry days the Rainwater Harvester holding 1500 litres will be used for the garden and all WC’s.
Making a stylish effort on the rear of the swimming pool, as well as using Jackson’s Fine Fencing, we’re planting Bamboo and Silver Birches.
On the terrace outside the -2 bedrooms, hard wooden painted slats, surrounding the balau decking for security and privacy.
The floor is being poured end of next week (all 5ooo sq ft of it) and we’ve decided to go with a Mid Grey ‘Shake and Bake’ buffed concrete finish, to stay true to the building.
So out goes…
And in comes…
Notice the section without underfloor heating, that’s where the kitchen island will be at 3.6m in length with floor to ceiling cupboards, totaling 13 m! Not to mention the utility room, plant room and the 2 garages to store an extra freezer!
Like this:
Children back at school from next Monday so full steam ahead…
Diary of a Self Builder Part 1
In between Lets, Sales, Children and Dogs, I’ve squeezed this little baby in!
If you don’t know already me and my husband have been building this 5000 sq ft (all singing all dancing) house in leafy Highgate. Hence the blood, sweat (hubby) and tears (moi). We did a ‘Grand Design’ and sacked everyone, including the architect as they were all treating it as their own personal ego trip, except our Quantity Surveyor, Mark, who comes down every month from Salford, my old town. Coincidence by the way.
So I’m now at the stage of choosing (in no particular order):
And Just For Fun.
I’m more than happy to share my experiences of being a Self Builder, and I’d love to hear from you, we can share the frustrations, achievements and as we’re still building any advice.
Until next time…
Middle of Nowhere
Let me start by saying that my middle daughter is gorgeous, talented and extremely bright, but has a tendency to be more demanding than my other two. I asked of my 16 year old son, “Do you think that bla de bla is like that because she’s the middle child?” and without any hesitation he replies, “Of course. She’s not the oldest (which is me), who’s allowed to stay up late and has more freedom and she’s not the youngest, who we treat like the baby and is allowed to get away with more stuff”. Wow. Adolescent Sigmund Freud. How typical are we? Felt rather ordinary after that.
Which got me thinking about all things Middle. Middle class, Middle of the Road, Stuck in the Middle, Middle of Nowhere!
I’m not willing nor really equipped to explicate the above and also it’s too beautiful a day. But I like the idea of being in the Middle of Nowhere.
So let’s roam around the great British Countryside to put you in a dream like state and see what’s on offer for ‘if only’ rent!
Kent
Savills £5500 pcm
Glen Andred forms the significant portion of this imposing Victorian manor house which was designed by the notable architect Norman Shaw in 1867. The property takes influence from the ‘Old English’ architectural style with some Gothic overtones.
Leicestershire – HUSBAND’S CHOICE
Jackson-Stops and Staff £5000 pcm
A magnificent four storey house within one of the finest 18th century mansions in the country. Two-storey painted staircase hall, 6 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 4 car garage. Spectacular views over Rutland Water. Use of 67 acres of gardens and parkland.
Norfolk – WRITER’S CHOICE – FOR THE PADDOCKS
Sowerby’s £2,500 pcm
A substantial seven bedroom barn conversion offered fully furnished and equipped for a potential long let. Situated a short drive from the beautiful Georgian town of Holt and is convenient for access to the North Norfolk Coast.
And La Piece De La Resistance is
Surrey
Knight Frank £35000 pcm
Occupying an idyllic site of about 2.3 acres adjoining the 14th fairway of the famous Wentworth golf course in a peaceful secluded setting at the end of Shepley Drive. The Wentworth Estate extends to about 750 acres in addition to having the Wentworth Club providing a 30 metre heated outdoor swimming pool, restaurants, at least 13 tennis courts a health and leisure club.
Maybe you are a middle child or have a middle child or have dreams of moving out in the middle of nowhere, if so please comment. Obviously I expect properties in a more realistic rental band. ;o)
South of the River, for a Change.
Mid way through the half term, and my two youngest have doubled into four, you got it, a BIG playdate. And where best to trip off to but the architecturally fabulous TateModern. I love it’s industrial strength, the straight lines (which feeds into my slight OCD) and the simplicity of it all. What a Powerhouse of Modern Architecture.
A little background on the building – The Tate Modern (formerly the Bankside Power Station) together with Battersea Power Station, were originally designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and built in two stages between 1947 and 1963. The Bankside power station closed in 1981 and the building was transformed into the modern gallery it is now by architects Herzog & de Meuron. The Tate Modern first opened in 2000. The tallest part of the building stands at 99m (33 storeys)! The Turbine Hall, the largest part of the building, is five storeys tall with 3,400 square metres of floorspace.
The Tate is undergoing a £215 million major extension which is scheduled to open in 2012 hopefully ready for the Olympic Games. This will make the Tate Modern the No 1 most visited modern gallery in the world.
And we’re in it – The Turbine Hall.
Watching the exhibition by Tacita Dean, a British born artist living in Berlin and best known for her use of film, was fantastic. This particular FILM is an 11-minute continuous silent 35mm piece projected onto the gigantic white 13 metre high column at the end of the very very dark hall. Superb.
The girls loved it. They played ‘It’ and ‘Hide and Seek’ for about 1.5 hours.
After which we popped up to the Interactive Area on Level 5 to play on a ‘touch pad ipad thingy megingy’ according to my middle one! This gave me the opportunity to stroll around the photographic exhibition on the same level. It’s amazing how much there is to do in one building.
We then ended up on the Millenium Bridge, much to my fright as I’m so not good with heights. I walked very quickly holding two little hands all the way to the other side. Phew. How sad am I!
Properties in the Area.
No day will go by when I’m not working or thinking about property, it’s right up there with listening to LBC to send me to sleep at night and still needing that teeny weeny bit of sugar in my tea. All part of what makes me me.
Looking locally, the nearest obvious residential development is Neo Bankside SE1 which are four pavillion buildings going up at the back of the Tate (they can be seen on the main picture). It’s a £3oo million scheme in the Bankside ‘cultural quarter’. One bedroom apartments are being marketed from £700,000. They come equipped with Balthaup kitchen, comfort cooling, underfloor heating and far reaching views over Westminster.
Just down the road (100 yards) on Great Suffolk Street, a one bedroom apartment is on for £395,000 or a 2 bedroom at £525,000 in a RIBA award winning development with a lift and all the mod cons.
Further down the road towards London Bridge, a one bedroom apartment situated in a Victorian Warehouse Building close by to the famous Borough Market and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, is priced at £325,000. A two bedroom on Weller Street, with balcony close to Borough station and priced at £439,950.
While I’m South of the river, I’d like to give a mention to the ongoing redevelopment of the area next to Battersea and Vauxhall known ‘as Nine Elms’ and a property ‘hotspot’. Last year Knight Frank predicted this area to grow by 140% by 2015! Situated on the 450-acre former industrial riverside wasteland around the glorious Battersea Power Station, which will include a new embassy complex for the US and a Northern Line Extension. A one bedroom ‘off plan’ apartment starts from £418,000, with balcony, 24 hour porter, clubhouse for residents to include a gym.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the gallery or any other interesting spots to visit in London. Please suggest something similar for the Easter Break. I’ll need it.
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Flickr Photos
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