House Prices Notting Hill, Holland Park & Kensington Feature High On House Value List : The most exclusive London postcodes where houses sell for £23 million
It's no secret that buying a property in London can ring up a huge bill.
The average London house price stands at £653,965 in September 2020, according to Zoopla. For most of us, this is way too expensive, but for others this is a mere drop in the ocean.
For the wealthy among us, their price range is higher than most - way higher.
While we can all guess some of the luxury areas that the rich and famous like to call home, it's interesting to note exactly where is the most expensive.
Postcodes SW6 in Fulham and NW3 that covers Hampstead, Chalk Farm, Primrose Hill, are prime London’s top spots for £1 million plus property sales so far this year.
When it comes to the absolute pinnacle of prime London property, Chelsea’s SW3 postcode has seen the most transactions so far this year, with nine other postcodes seeing property sales complete over this price threshold.
Houses went for a whopping £15 million.
But again, this pales in comparison to the N2 postcode which saw sales of £23,500,000. The postcode covers Hampstead, Highgate, Barnet and Haringey.
Take a look at the full breakdown below.
The most exclusive London postcodes
1. N2 - Hampstead, Highgate, Barnet and Haringey - £23,500,000
2. W11 - Kensington, Notting Hill and Holland Park - £20,000,000
3. SW1W - Knightsbridge and Belgravia - £18,400,000
4. W1K - Mayfair and St James's - £17,500,000
5. NW8 - St John's Wood, Regents Park and Primrose Hill - £15,396,500
6. SW3 - Chelsea - £15,000,000
7. W2 - Bayswater and Maida Vale - £13,000,000
8. W8 - Kensington, Notting Hill and Holland Park - £12,750,000
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OUR CHANGING PRIORITIES WHEN LOOKING FOR PROPERTIES IN BAYSWATER & NOTTING HILL
Our changing priorities when looking for properties in Bayswater & Notting Hill
Lockdown has put a renewed focus on where and how we live. Some have emerged happier, some have made improvements. Others have decided it’s time to move on. According to a survey by Rightmove, it has changed the priorities for nearly half of renters (49%) and over a third of buyers (39%) currently looking for new homes.
One of the key issues is space. We want as much as we can get, but at the very least, a spare room that can be used as an office. It means there has been a substantial reduction in interest in flats. Before lockdown, the top 5 most sought after properties included both two bed (ranked No.5) and three bed flats (ranked No.3). Now there are only houses in the top five.
1) 3 bed house
2) 2 bed house
3) 1 bed house
4) 4 bed house
5) 6 bed house
For renters, the changes are even more pronounced. Studio flats used to be the most sought after. Now everyone wants small houses and bungalows.
We don’t just want bigger internal spaces, we want more outside space, too. Searches for homes with gardens on Rightmove were up 42% when compared to last year and by 84% for renters. The full list of our priorities is as follows:
63% - a bigger garden (or access to one)
43% - a bigger home
36% - access to parking space or garage
36% - a better home workspace
31% - to live closer to parks and green spaces
30% - to live in a more rural area
24% - to live closer to friends and family
22% - to live in a pet friendly home
15% - to live closer to non-essential amenities
13% - to live closer to essential local services
8% - to live closer to work
Renters have very similar priorities, although they rank ‘living in a pet friendly home’ higher, at No.3 (29%) rather than No.8.
With around half of the people Rightmove surveyed saying they were currently working from home (49%), it’s no surprise to find good internet speeds were also a priority. On the other hand, proximity to transport links and commute times were less so. That’s part of a more general desire to live in more suburban and rural areas, although it’s far more pronounced amongst buyers (30%) than renters (13%).
It will be interesting to see how many of these priorities change when the pandemic is finally over. There’s no doubt, as life returns to our cities, flats’ popularity will be restored. Some things, though, look set to remain. Many have enjoyed the experience of working from home and 21% said they’d like to continue doing so and 55% saying they’d like to mix home and office working.
Whatever your new priorities might be, we at Homesite can help you find your perfect home in any one of the following areas:
How much is south-facing garden actually worth?
‘’…And a lovely, south-facing garden’ – we’ve seen the phrase in many a property listing, but how much does a south-facing garden really add to the price of a house?
With the lockdown, outside spaces have become more sought after than ever, but even beforehand, south-facing gardens were considered desirable because they get sunlight for more of the day. In urban areas, where gardens are smaller, narrower and more shaded, it’s even more important. It is such an issue that agents regularly report people checking the compasses on their phones during viewings to check the house’s exact orientation.
Putting a value on it, however, is not so simple. Fortunately, Rightmove have now done most of the hard work, trawling through their data in search of answers. So what did they find?
Of the 400,000 homes they analysed, the average increase in value was £22,695, or 7%. In London, you’d expect those figures to be even higher, and they were, in financial terms - £57,903 - but in percentage terms they only ranked third, which suggests there is a ceiling to what are people are prepared to pay. The keenest gardeners are to be found in Yorkshire and The Humber, which saw the biggest percentage boost at 14%.
Region Asking price premium Price difference
Yorkshire & Humber 14% £35,628
North West 12% £31,698
London 9% £57,903
South East London 9% £38,535
East London 9% £33,959
North East 8% £14,613
West Midlands 8% £23,038
Wales 6% £15,088
South West 6% £21,768
East Midlands 5% £14,119
Scotland 3% £7,596
East of England 2% £8,559
South East 2% £8,000
Average GB 7% £22,695
During their research Rightmove discovered south-facing gardens didn’t just affect the price of a house, they also meant the house sold faster. Again, Yorkshire and The Humber performed best, shaving 8 days off the a property’s time on the market. The average across the country was was 2 days or around 5%.
Region standard time to find buyer Days saved
Yorkshire & Humber 47 8
North East 58 6
West Midlands 42 5
South West 47 4
East of England 49 4
Scotland 33 3
East Midlands 44 3
Wales 47 1
South East 50 0
London 45 0
North West 48 0
Average GB 47 2
In more general terms, Rightmove also report searches for gardens were up by 56% since lockdown began. It means that, even if your garden is not south-facing, it still adds to the attraction of your home and it’s therefore important to make the most of all your outside spaces, mowing the lawn, repairing and painting fences and sheds. You should then make sure you get some really good shots taken, especially while all the flowers are still out.
Rightmove’s Miles Shipside says,
“Since the market reopened we’ve seen a huge rise in demand for homes with a garden as buyers place greater importance on outdoor space. For as long as I can remember, south-facing gardens have been viewed as the crème de la crème of outdoor spaces among home-hunters.
“It doesn’t mean your house will automatically be worth £22,000 more if it has a south-facing garden as this is an average and it will also depend on the condition and location of your home, but it’s certainly something to shout about in a listing as it could mean your home makes it on to a buyer’s shortlist over another property down the road, or even on the other side of the street.”
A moving story
When was the last time you moved house? How often does everyone else do it? And does that mean you are mister or missus average, or are you forging your own path?
Our relationship with our homes is changing. In the wake of the crash of 2008, we have seen the rise of Generation Rent. Home ownership has fallen from 70.9% in 2003 to 63.3% and is now way below the EU average of 70%. And, although around 1,200,000 UK residential properties change hands each year, the fact is that we are moving far less frequently. Over the last thirty years the turnover in housing stock has slumped from 12% to 4.5% (source: Intermediary Mortgage lenders).
These days, over our lifetimes, the average person moves home 8 times, with a quarter of us moving up to 10 times. We only own 3.2 of these homes, because the figures include parental and rented accommodation. Naturally, we tend to move more often when we are younger, until we settle into a ‘forever’ family home.
It means our typical home lives now look something like this: as a child, we are likely to live in one or two different family houses. The high cost of accommodation means we leave home far more slowly than we used to, but from 18 onwards we begin flying the nest. Mostly, our first taste of freedom is in a rental property and we will probably live in 3 or 4 rented homes before we buy. During this period we are likely to meet our life partner (average age 27) and some of us will get married (age 32 for men and 30 for women). When we hit 37 we buy our first property, which will be a flat costing approximately £177,601 (considerably more for Londoners).
In order to save enough money for a deposit, a number of us may have to move back home for a while - 3.3 million 20-34 year olds are said to be currently living at their family homes (source: ONS). In addition, by this time, there may be babies involved too, because most babies are born to mothers between the ages of 30 and 34. This is some time before we buy our first property, so it is unsurprising to find that a number of women are having children much later. Conception rates between 35 and 39 year olds have doubled since 1990 and women graduates now tend to have their first child aged 35.
With the UK birth rate hovering around 1.9 per couple, there is a good chance there will be even more children involved by the time we hit 41 and, rapidly running out of space, this is when we take the plunge and trade up to a 3 bedroom, terraced house. Many of us will move once or twice in the interim period, most often as a result of a change of employment, divorce/separation or either improving or deteriorating finances. By the time we are 60, the nest is empty (but not always) and we begin to consider downsizing. At this point in our lives, we no longer need the space. We want to reduce our overheads and perhaps give some money to our offspring to help them get on the housing ladder. The optimum time for downsizing is reputed to be 64, when many of us will trade in our 3 bedroom terrace for a bungalow or maybe a cheaper property by the sea.
Since it takes 25 years to pay off the mortgage, the bulk of us will finally pay it off when we are 67. We will then have 14 years free from the tyranny of those nasty monthly payments before we pass on to the next world, aged 81, and our homes go back on the market for the final time.
Whatever your stage in life, whether you’re trading up or down or just wanting to move on, we at Homesite can help you find the perfect home in:
#NottingHill
#Bayswater
STAMP DUTY HOLIDAY
In a major boost for the housing market, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has just announced that, until 31st March of next year, stamp duty (SD) will not be payable on the first £500,000 of any house purchase. Buy-to-let investors and second home owners will also be eligible for the reduction but must continue paying their 3% surcharge on the full purchase price.
So how does the tax actually work?
What do the changes really mean?
How will this impact the sales market?
Stamp duty is a progressive tax, ie you pay nothing for the first £125,000 (£300,000 for first time buyers) and then 2% for the next £125,000, 5% for the next tranche and so on.
Standard bands (pre-holiday levels)
Bracket
Up to £125,000
£125,001-£250,000
£250,001-£925,000
£925,001-£1.5m
Over £1.5
According to Rishi Sunak, the changes mean 9 out of 10 primary home buyers will, during the holiday period, not have to pay any stamp duty at all. As you can see from the table below, savings top out for properties costing £500,000 plus, whose buyers will see their purchase costs come down by £15,000.This is a significant cash saving for purchasers as previously the stamp duty charge would have been paid from personal savings . The average buyer in London spends £628,284 and will save £15,000 . The table below gives you a rough guide to savings at different price levels.
Property value Standard Stamp Duty SD holiday rate Saving
£100,000
£200,000
£300,000
£400,000
£500,000 and above £15,000
Any purchaser buying in Notting Hill & Bayswater, where we specialise in, will directly benefit from the substantial saving due to the high value of property in the area as demonstrated in the tables below.
Notting Hill Standard Stamp Duty SD Holiday Saving
Average home: £1,908,765 £142,801.80 £127,801 £15,000.80
Average flat: £1,061,035 £49,853.50 £34,853 £15,000.50
Average terrace: £3,569,400 £342,078.00 £327,078 £15,000.00
Average semi: £7,315,090 £791,560.80 £776,560 £15,000.80
Bayswater Standard Stamp Duty SD Holiday Saving
Average home: £ 1,440,122 £87,762.20 £72,762.20 £15,000.00
Average flat: £ 1,069,049 £50,654.90 £35,654.90 £15,000.00
Average terrace: £ 2,931,231 £265,497.72 £250,497.72 £15,000.00
Average semi: £ 3,801,250 £369,900.00 £354,900.00 £15,000.00
The temporary reduction in SD is likely to substantially boost demand and is also likely to stimulate activity from both investors and second home buyers who’ve been previously put off by the high levels of tax.
looking back to 2016, when the then Chancellor, George Osborne, announced a 3% SD surcharge on BTL and second home purchases, it resulted in a huge spike in demand before the tax kicked in, almost doubling the normal number of sales in the month beforehand.
So taking into account the very real cash saving for purchasers plus the impact we have previously seen on the market when there have been significant tax changes in the past it seems the SD holiday represents an excellent opportunity for purchasers that are in position to buy and for sellers to capitalise on a once in a life time event allowing more buyers to enter the market, for a limited time only.
If you are considering selling & would like to discuss the above or any other property related matter the please feel free to contact Nigel or Douglas on 020 7243 3535
OUR PICK OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS AND FURNITURE SHOPS IN NOTTING HILL
When buying a new home in central London, you might want to create that special feeling of coming home. Notting Hill, Queensway, and Kensington are full of beautiful boutiques and shops to add the finishing touches to your home. Whether you are looking for something pretty to decorate your home or whether you want a total style revamp, we selected some of our favourite interior designers and furniture specialists in the area.
Jimmie Martin
What can we say! We love Jimmie Martin! If you want something truly exceptional, a piece of art wrapped up in antique furniture, there is no other place to go. Yes, its avant-guard, definitely at the edge of creative interior design, and these truly unique pieces will make you smile every day.
Not only do they sell one-off pieces and soft furnishings. Jimmie Martin’s approach to interior design is to create a space which makes you feel glamorous, warm and vibrant, inside and out. They have a wide portfolio of work in some fantastic homes, including a sumptuous townhouse in Notting Hill, and put their creative stamp on a beautiful property in Bayswater.
With hints of their signature theme to add a touch of colourful fun to a neutral backdrop, making this home feel spacious yet homely and warm, with, of course, that feeling of opulent comfort which comes with Jimmie Martin’s style.
Find more about Jimmie Martin
Katrina Philips
Walking into this shop on Portobello is a wonderful, soothing experience. This style is timeless, serene, and cosy. With an eclectic mix of simple yet elegant furnishings, you can find pieces of furniture and soft furnishings to fit your home's décor. From gorgeous ch
unky pieces wrapped in classic style, items which draw the eye such as demur oversized vases, tabletop decorations and large clusters of crystals to bring a sense of wellbeing into your home.
Katrina Philips is known for styling homes, with a portfolio of work in London and Ibiza, bringing this bohemian chic influence to her style. As you walk through the shop, you can imagine the feeling of the sea breeze as the drapes flutter softly, sipping coffee and checking your morning emails. All, after morning meditation, which feels like an easy task in the peaceful environment created by Katrina Philips design.
Find out more about Katrina Philips
The Cloth Shop
A local favourite, this shop has been situated on Portobello road since 1992 when it relocated from Soho. Walking into their shop is like a trip back in time, it has an earthy, natural feel and is a delight for any fabric lover, filled with rolls of fabric of various designs and soothing tones, trimmings of all styles and colours.
Their ethos is only to buy products that they love themselves, and this is very much felt as you walk through the rolls of fabric. The shop sells a wide range of natural materials from linen, velvet, cotton, muslin, and vintage fabrics.
They are incredibly knowledgeable about their products and have lots of friendly advice about using fabrics. The cloth shop is well known for the quality of its materials and is a popular choice among interior designs and individual customers alike.
Find out more about the cloth shop
Graham & Green
Colourful, mindful design Graham and Green design their own furniture. It all started in 1974, when they opened their first shop on Elgin Crescent, in the heart Notting hill gate, bringing a range of eclectic finds from their travels around the world. Forty-five years later and they have evolved into a much-loved brand, known for their colourful and stylish designs, adding a touch a chic to any urban home.
The influence of travel is felt in the design of their furniture, which brings antique and retro styles into unique yet practical pieces that are perfect for London living. From clean-cut lines to more unusual designs, their designs are classic, functional, and made with lots of love.
Their love of interior design is evident through their attention to detail in marrying their larger pieces to their soft furnishings to create a beautifully warm cosy space that you can transport into your own home. Graham and green is a perfect choice to add a touch of fresh colour, bringing some character and that cosy feel into your home.
Find out more about Graham & Green
Between the eclectic style of Notting Hill, the antique history of Kensington Church Street and Portobello Road, and the furniture stores of Westbourne Grove, there is a wide variety of styles and furnishings to choose from in Notting hill and surrounds. You can enjoy meandering and become inspired by the creativity that goes into designing that perfect property, from the inside out.
GETTING FIT IN NOTTING HILL- AN INTERVIEW WITH ELISSA FROM FORM STUDIOS
At the end of last year, I had the pleasure of speaking with the lovely Elissa from Form Studio, a vibrant fitness studio in Notting Hill. Elissa and her Partner run this fresh and funky space, located on the corner of Portobello and Lonsdale Road. I wanted to find out more about the lady behind the classes and the upbeat vibe that pumps out of the door as we walk past when carrying out viewings.
Over a coffee at Gail's on Portobello Road, I got to meet Elissa and have a chat so that I could find out more her passion for fitness at Form.
Elissa's background is in dance and Pilates, something she has done her whole life. As a little girl, she watched her mum dance as a professional ballerina. Since then, copying her mum and incorporating it in her world, it has always been part of her life. As a natural progression from her career as a professional dancer and athlete, she began to share and impart her knowledge and experience, becoming a fitness instructor. Nowadays, Elissa brings her balanced approach to health and fitness, and as the founder of Form, she creates her own programs which you can find at this unique fitness studio.
What classes do you do at Form?
We offer nine different types of classes which include TRX, HIIT, BOX FIT, Yoga. We are also one of the very few studios in west London offering Ariel yoga which is a hugely popular class. We cater to all levels and welcome anyone motivated to get fit.
We talk about how Form Studios began.
The studio started with my Pilates-hybrid workout, which I created and has become my signature class, recalls Elissa. I designed this dynamic Pilates workout to target the core areas, giving you a complete and balanced workout. We started with these in 2015, and have grown so much.
It's all about balance, Elissa explains. We are all about diversifying your workout so that your body is always evolving and not getting stale or stagnant by repetitive movement, whilst continually keeping the mind active and engaged. No class is ever the same, which keeps it new and exciting, and from a fitness point of view also avoids causing repetitive strain injuries.
The repertoire in each class is varied, and our instructors are trained to the Form method, maintaining the high standards of alignment and Form, hence the name! This is really part of what we stand for, ensuring a solid foundation, that everyone is doing each exercise correctly and safely, and that teaching is of the highest level.
How do you get people motivated in your classes?
Music is a strong component in a lot of our classes; it can serve to motivate and relax. Our fitness classes are fun, vibrant, with upbeat music and a great vibe to get pumped up for a powerful workout. With small class numbers, we can mix it up, keeping it fresh and giving our members the attention they deserve to achieve their fitness goals.
For those who want to push that extra mile- We also offer specialist fitness programmes which include personal training for specific sporting activities such as marathons, rowing and sporting competitions. We have some pro-athletes who come in and give specific one-to-one training.”
It sounds great! I'm starting to feel like I need to pay more attention to my fitness! What would you say to an absolute beginner?
Just come down and get training! Everyone is a beginner at some point. We are here to foster your passion for your fitness and wellbeing. We will help you create a programme to get the best results for your body.
We always explain why we are doing each exercise and the benefits so that, even at beginner level, members can understand and integrate their workout with the knowledge that they are working towards achieving the best results.
Elissa is also passionate about motivating people away from their desks too!
"People spend so much time sitting at their desks, hunched over computers. With constant information and research, we know how detrimental it can be to the body and mind. Keeping mentally and physically fit and agile is important. But going from sitting 7/8 hours per day and then going to an intensive workout and killing it in the gym is not the right way to do it. That's why balance is an essential component, it’s integral to our work at Form so that you are giving your body and mind diversity to stimulate and balance both inside and out.
Form Studio has won the Tatler Gym Award 3 years running, even in your first year of opening, that must have been a great feeling?!
Yes, it really was! We have a fab piece of equipment, similar to a Pilates reformer but this requires more core engagement, so it works you harder than most apparatus. It is challenging, but it really strengthens the core. We are the only studio offering these pieces of tech, and we have designed classes to get the best out of you.
We run two different classes using this apparatus, pure core and sweat core. They are both performed on this equipment and both Pilates-inspired. Sweat Core is more focused on cardio while Pure Core is a highly effective session, engaging and working all the ab-muscles.
These are our award-winning classes, and it was a really exciting time for us and has added to the personality of the studio.
Why did you choose to set up your fitness studio in Notting Hill?
I have always had a connection with Notting Hill and have lived in the area for over 15 years, so it was a natural progression to open a studio locally. However, the studio doesn't just welcome local residents, we have members who come from across the borough and beyond to take part in our classes at Form.
What's your favourite place to eat in Notting Hill?
I love Farmacy and their fresh take on plant-based food. We also just love having all these lovely eateries on our doorstep with so much variety.”
We end our interview on my favourite subject, food, which Elissa lightly and naturally turns back to health and wellbeing. It is clear that she is passionate about fitness, and a healthy & full lifestyle which comes through in her in-depth knowledge on this topic. She creates inspired classes and programmes to motivate and push the boundaries, keeping it light, balanced and high vibe! She loves jumping into classes as she is always inspired by other ways of doing things and being a lifelong student.
Her bubbly, light energy has rubbed off on me during our conversation and would love to feel as fit as she describes! Well, it's January, and it's a great time to start those new year's resolutions to get down to the gym and work it out!!
You can find out more about Elissa's work, and Form Studios classes, as well as their introductory offers here!
FIND SOME OF THE MOST PET-FRIENDLY PLACES IN NOTTING HILL
It’s not always easy looking for a place to live that allows pets in London. If you are looking for a pet-friendly property to rent, we are here to help. At Homesite, we have furry friends of our own, so we know how hard it can be finding accommodation that accepts animals. We are a pet-friendly estate agent in Notting Hill. We liaise with our landlords so that we can help you find a suitable home for you and your pooch.
Notting Hill has a community of dog-loving humans, both at home and at work. It’s quite common to walk into a shop or office and find a pouch curled up under the desk or popping out to greet you. Our pooches come to work with us too and on our walks about the area. They get enjoy the many dog-friendly cafes and welcoming water bowls outside some of the local shops and eateries.
Are there any dog-friendly cafes in Notting Hill?
There are quite a few dog-friendly cafes in the area. Spots that are well known for welcoming our furry friends include Farm Girl Café, for example. Situated behind St Peters Church on Portobello Road, not only do they dish up a range of holistic brunches, lunches and juices, but they are also known for being dog- friendly. Some of the local pubs, such as the cock and bottle and the Grand Union also allow your doggie to come inside as long as they are well behaved. It means Sunday pub lunch is still possible in central London without having to leave your dog at home.
If you are feeling fancy, you can head to The Pet Boutique & Café on Westbourne Grove. One of the trendiest pouch friendly places, this spot is doggie heaven. You can let them be their true furry self, all while you sip on a glass of wine. This is the ultimate pet café where dogs are as welcome as humans. They also offer grooming and a dog sitting service, in case you need a couple of hours to do things while leaving your pouch in the most capable hands.
Daylesford Organic Foods on Westbourne Grove leaves a large water bowl outside their shop, as does Gail’s bakery. There are many places which have outside seating and blankets to wrap up in on cold days so that you can sit with your furry friend. Notting Hill is a great area and a welcoming environment for man’s best friend.
Where can you walk your dog around Notting Hill and Bayswater?
You can take a stroll through Kensington Gardens which is within easy walking distance from both Notting Hill Gate and Bayswater. It’s a great inner-city spot as it has a large dog-friendly area. They can run in the long grass, chase the squirrels and meet other furry friends. You can grab a bite to eat from one of the nearby cafes or supermarkets in Queensway and have a picnic while your dog is getting some fresh air and a runaround.
Little Scrubs is a large green park at the end of Dalgarno Gardens. It’s a dog walking park so you can let them off the lead for a run around as there’s lots of space and it’s securely fenced. If you want a vast space for your dog to stretch his paws, you can go a bit further to Wormwood scrubs which is a wide open space that feels a bit like being in the countryside. A lovely walk here will definitely tire out your four-legged friend.
If you don’t have a lot of time, Avondale Park and Powis square have dog-friendly areas and are good spots for a quick exercise. These parks get busy after school hours and at the weekend when the playgrounds are busy children, so morning and early afternoon seem the best times for walkies.
You can also walk along the canal, as long as your dog is not a bird chaser! They have been known to jump in to try to catch the ducks! But it’s a lovely, peaceful walk with no traffic, and lots of natural sights and smells for doggies to sniff out.
Where can you buy doggie food, treats and toys in Notting Hill?
The Mutz Nutz, situated on Westbourne Park road, this is treat and toy heaven for pets and their owners. With a large selection of pet foods, accessories and fluffy toys, it’s hard not to furnish your home with doggie toys from this shop! The resident cat is friendly too and comes out to greet friendly doggies who pop in for packets of treats.
Portobello Pet shop on Portobello Road is one of the longest standing shops in Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove. It’s certainly the oldest local pet shop. They are a traditional style shop selling everything you need for your pets. They have all the good stuff that doggies want, rubber rings, strings of sausages, bones and chewy toys to suit all types of breeds.
Purplebone on Notting Hill is a cute colourful pet shop specialising in dogs in the city. They provide a nice selection of items for our furry friends. As well as offering a dog grooming service in-store, they have a lively attitude and provide lots of useful doggie care tips and info on their website.
We love our dogs, and so do some of our landlords. If you are looking for a home for you and your four-legged friend, get in touch to see how we can help you find a suitable pet-friendly property in Notting Hill, Bayswater, Kensington & Holland Park.
For more information about moving to the area, see our area guide for Notting Hill and Bayswater.
You can find out more about our office doggies in our meet the team section.
COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL, CHANGING THE FACE OF NOTTING HILL
Commercial to Residential. Changing the Face of Notting Hill and Bayswater Road.
Notting Hill Gate and Bayswater Road, have for years, retained their linear 1950’s look along the high street and towards Kensington Gardens. In a bid to revive some of these tired buildings, a number of developments set to change the street's outline are taking place, bringing these buildings into the present and revitalising the colours of Notting Hill’s street scene.
Two major developments are taking place, both of very different nature. At the Notting Hill Gate end, Notting Hill Estate, a predominately commercial development, is undergoing a significant refurbishment, and at Queensway, Park Modern, a prestigious residential building, which will also include some retail units, is under construction on Bayswater Road. Both projects aim to bring more life and commerce back into our area.
Notting Hill Estate
Situated across 3.11 acres in Notting Hill, this Freehold Estate comprises 36 shops and restaurants, 53,500sqft multi-let offices, 145 flats, and 91 parking spaces. Frogmore development and investment firm have begun this huge undertaking consisting of 171,618 sq ft of space, 70% of which is divided into retail units. The Estate comprises several sites along Notting Hill Gate itself. This project will revamp the outlook of 5 office and retail buildings along the road, injecting some colour and updated design into the high street.
Spread over three different project sites, the Estate includes
· Astley house which houses HSBC, subway, and Barclays bank
· David Game House, whose current residents include Eat, Pret a Manger, Crispin, and Calder pharmacy.
· And, on the opposite side of the road, United house, which used to house Jamie Oliver’s restaurant & deli, and Boots, which is still there today. United House also includes numbers 100 to 106 Notting Hill, which houses Itsu, as well as the adjacent block, numbers 114 to 120 where Tesco’s is currently situated, on the ground floor.
The current retail units will remain in place during the work, and it will be interesting to see who will fill the newly refurbished commercial spaces that are being redesigned. There are also rumours of a medium-sized hotel on the United house site, although I have been unable to find concrete information about this so that we will be watching this space.
Although the design for each individual project is slightly different, each will include being raised by an extra floor, and United House on the corner will rise by two additional floors, largely increasing its capacity. These will remain office and retail units with no new residential homes included. They are set to increase job opportunities in the area and to contribute to revamping the face of some of Notting Hill Gates's buildings.
Squire and Partners, the architects who designed the new facades, have retained the original 1950’s theme of the buildings, which they say is “a key component of the local character and history of Notting hill gate” and that their designs “aim to sensitively integrate new and existing elements” into the present street line. The colours are influenced by nearby Kensington Gardens and remain in keeping with the horizontal lines of the current streetscape. You can get an idea of what the new developments will look like from the impressions provided by Squire and Partners on their website.
The work on Astley House began in the summer of this year and is also set to take around 18 months to complete. The work on the three buildings will be carried out in phases and is estimated to take approximately 21 months in total. Due to the location of the construction, it has been important that this work is carried out with minimal disruption to local business and traffic. Each phase has been carefully considered by Kensington and Chelsea and time scales agreed with the developer, in order to be carried out with a little disturbance to current residents and the busy flow of traffic in Notting Hill.
Park Modern
A bit further down the road, heading towards Marble Arch, along Bayswater road, a different kind of development is taking place. Situated on the corner of Queensway and Bayswater road, the former pub and hostel that span the length of the block to Inverness Terrace are being transformed into luxury housing and retail space. Park Modern is thought to be one of the most exclusive and luxurious residential developments currently being constructed in the capital. Spanning over 190,000 sq ft, this mixed-use development is set to pave the way for Queensway’s transformation into Bayswater village. One of Londons hottest properties, The £450m project by developer Fenton Whelan will contain 30,000 sq of retail space, but its key feature is the top of the range new homes being built, boasting prime position overlooking Kensington Gardens and the Royal Palace.
This prestigious development will rocket to 9 storeys and to house its 57 luxury apartments, including a super lavish five-bedroom penthouse with double-height ceilings, and comes to a price tag of cool £30 million. At the cheaper end of the spectrum, smaller apartments of 1000 sq ft, without park views, are being marketed around the £2 million mark. The majority of apartments will feature a balcony overlooking the park, with the most prestigious units comprising a wraparound balcony which comes at a premium. Whatever the aspect, there is no doubt that each apartment will be designed to the highest specification. The buildings will also contain features such as residents’ spa, swimming pool, and private restaurant, which will offer 24hour room service. How’s that for convenience! With such a desirable location and an address which boasts Royalty as neighbours, it is easy to see how this will attract some of the wealthiest clients’ attention.
Not only will this be one of prime central London's most luxurious residences, but it also boasts a highly desirable address and postcode, a stone's throw from the royal park and the convenience of the west end on one's doorstep. A project in its own right, this prestigious development is also set to pave the way for the regeneration of Queensway and the former Whitley’s building which, at the top end of Queensway, is undergoing its own transformation. Designed and planned in conjunction with Westminster Council, who are also contributing to Queensway’s new look and feel, it will be interesting the new face of Queensway, including its new retail plans, spanning from Park Modern to Whiteleys.
To find out about Whitely's development, click here.
With both Notting Hill Estate and Park Modern currently undergoing major work, it will be interesting to see the results of each project, both in terms of contribution to the area's commercial activity and retail offering but also to see this much-loved road being revamped and brought into the present through colour and new design.
A LOOK AT INTERIOR DESIGN WITH JIMMIE MARTIN
I popped down to Jimmie Martin's a few weeks ago to say hi. As Notting Hill estate agents, we walk past their colourful shop window quite a lot while out and about on viewings, so I wanted to find out more about this creative duo and their work.
What makes them exciting is that they take vintage furniture and bring it in the modern-day, wrapping it in their signature Avant-guard style. This is revamping at its best!
They have created pieces for superstars like Madonna, who made her grand entrance to the American Super bowl, rocking one of Jimmie Martins majestic thrones. Other pieces include furniture for a number of celebrities like Kylie Minogue and a vintage chair for Jamie Oliver's charity gala, decorated with Jamie's special Victoria sponge recipe. I love it! (the chair, and Victoria sponge!)
I walked into their boutique on Kensington Church Street, a street renowned for its antique art and furniture shops. Nestled among Oriental antiques and furniture from eras past, this shop, with its splash of colour, is ideally located among the antiques and art of Kensington.
I was greeted by Jimmie, who immediately invited me to take a seat on one of their funky spikey chairs; a Victorian piece brought back to life and style by their creative design. And, yes…it has spikes on the seat, the artwork on the backrest states' love hurts' which made me smile. I happily obliged. Taking a seat, I discover the spikes are softer than I thought, I contemplate that actually love doesn't hurt that much, at least not today! In fact, it feels full of fun!
The shop is strewn with furniture, or should I say artwork? It feels like both — large unique statement pieces, soft furnishings that will make you grin as you meander around your own home. I wanted to find out more, so I grabbed Jimmie for a chat to find out more about how this all came into being.
Q: How did your unique style and design come about?
A: I've always had a love of antiques, art, and fashion. It started when we had our first flat in London. We bought some old vintage pieces that nobody wanted. Everybody wanted modern, minimalism style at the time. We revamped the pieces for our flat because, at the time, we couldn't afford new furniture, but we really wanted to have some fun and colour in our space.
It started with an old chair that we had found in a charity shop. We redecorated it and displayed it in the window of a hair salon in Soho. Much to our surprise, we received a call from the Design Decoration award telling us that we had been shortlisted to become the best new designer in the UK! We won the award, which was amazing for us. That was 15 years ago and the beginning of an incredible journey.
Q: What inspired you?
A: Years ago, when I first arrived in London, I worked as a bellboy at the Sanderson Hotel. I was inspired by Phillip Stark's design. This led me to create fresh designs on old pieces.
Mixing luxury and vintage with street art and fun is a mix of my background and experiences. We love bringing things back to life; some of the frames we use are over 100 years old. Every image on our pieces is hand-painted.
Q: Your work is very unique, and maybe a little controversial. How do you feel about that?
A: We know it's not for everybody. Some people love it, others don't, and that's fine. Like a lot of art, it creates a reaction whether one likes it or not. It makes people pause to look, to think and feel.
We have some wonderful clients which include celebrities and royalty. They appreciate art and want something a little bit different, and this is what we are about, something original, fresh, with vintage style.
There are plenty of styles for everybody, if our art and furniture are loved by some and not all, that's fine. Do what makes you happy! Being innovative is also about, playing, breaking the rules, and balance. We would like to think we are part of this movement of contemporary interior designers.
Q: I'd love to know more about your interior design work.
A: It's like painting a 3d painting for the client.
Interior design does not have to be neutral or linear. Homes don't need to be boring and only functional. We mix colours, artwork, textures, and different styles to create a warm environment for the person or family living there — one which embraces their character. I believe home is such an essential part of our environment, mood, and personality.
Your home is very much about physiology. If you feel amazing at home, it can transpire into your life. Colour and texture in your living space will make you feel good, you can enjoy it from different angles, always seeing something quirky, which makes you feel joyful.
I'm designing it for the client to think 'wow this is my home.' But also, to create a space you can come home to, put your feet up on the table in total comfort and style. We all want something different, unique, and funky to cheer up our space. Coming home and seeing things that make us smile every day gives us an element fun, so we can take it out into the world and feel happy to return home.
Jimmie’s Passion is evident. It's chic, sophisticated design with a double dose of fun and personality. Personally, I felt that I was looking at some sort of Banksy artwork in interior design form, they all had a message, cheeky or cheerful, hand-painted into vintage pieces of furniture, ready to inject joy into your home.
You are not just taking home a piece of furniture. You are investing in a piece of art that will make you smile for as long as you have it. You can also extend this feeling to your home with Jimmie Martin's interior design creation. A bespoke service where you will have the privilege of having the guys come over and create something truly unique that will make your home feel super special. As I sat with Jimmie, I thought of how much I would love this happy, creative and colourful designer to come and make my home a joyous, bright and inspiring place to be, and definitely with one of those controversial spiky chairs; for the mother in law (Jimmies words, not mine J) You can get in touch with Jimmie and Martin to see more of their unique furniture and discuss interior design options for your home.
https://jimmiemartin.com