Soho goes from trashy to flashy as media trendies move in

Once upon a time Soho was seen as a sleazy red-light district and to be avoided at night. Now it’s a thriving hub for creative and media types set in the heart of London’s West End. With amazing tube links (Heathrow is just 28 minutes away) the area also boasts an array of dynamic restaurants, from Spanish tapas to Chinese to Peruvian.

London's bustling West End

Many people who work here also have weekend pads elsewhere: “It’s a British stronghold but there's more interest from international buyers, mainly from Europe,” Laurence Glynne of LDG the West End estate agent says.

In terms of shops Soho caters for urban cool types and Carnaby Street also offers a range of high-end boutiques. In addition there's a number of record shops for those vinyl fanatics. Once upon a time Soho was also very green area – a royal park during the reign of Henry the VIII. Now you’ve a pick of pretty open spaces such as Soho or Golden Square – great to relax in when it’s sunny!

So what kind of property’s up for grabs? Well most period flats are above commercial premises and there’s also a mix of established modern blocks, new-build apartments and local authority properties. Starting prices for rent tend to be around £500 a week, whilst the average price of a one-bedroom flat is £650,000.

For a longer version of this article please go to the Times website.

Look For Ex-Council Hotspots

If you are looking for a housing trend, follow the designers and architects. When they start snapping up the ex-council properties in an area, you can be sure it’s on the up.

Peckham is one such area. Famously the home of Del-boy and Rodney in Only Fools and Horses 30 years ago, it’s seen a face-lift recently. Cafes, boutiques and independent shops line the streets, along with bollards designed by no less than Antony Gormley. The newly extended East London line, linking the area easily with Shoreditch and the City has helped too.    

  

Other ex-council residences have been sold in Euston, where interior designer Jan Reid has completed a full restoration project on a flat in Wellesely House, now onsale through West End estate agents LDG. The area is close to Fitzrovia and Covent Garden, and the flat shares great communal gardens.

In King’s Cross, architect Ed Barker of Michael Baylis Associates bought property on the Rowley Way estate, which starred in the Jude Law film ‘Breaking and Entering’. ‘When you first see it, you might think what an ugly load of concrete, but then you realize how clever it is,’ says Barker, of the thoughtfully designed estate, which was created to foster the sense of community of its inhabitants.

Soho Fashion Flat For Sale

A Soho flat and studio that belonged to the late photographer Corinne Day is on the market for £675,000 with Soho estate agents LDG. Day and her boyfriend Mark Szaszy worked on the interior of the flat themselves, creating a spacious modern pad that featured as the background to many of her famous fashion shoots.

Day worked with Kate Moss frequently in the early nineties, famously creating the iconic beach shoot for the Face magazine, which included the cover picture of Moss on the sand wearing a feathered headdress. 

The flat has wooden floorboards, where Szaszy says the imprints of Moss’ stilettos heels can still be seen, mementos of a visit from the model and pal Sadie Frost, who flamenco danced to celebrate the latest improvements to the property.  

Interior Trends to Watch This Year

Interior design this year has seen a handful of exciting trends come on the scene. Some are returning favourites, dipping in and out of fashion over the years, and other are brand new, incorporating elements of wild innovation and artistry.

Baroque Minimalism

A Baroque theme teamed with restrained minimalism work together beautifully to add sweeping grandeur and elegance to homes this year. Bold, sophisticated pieces of furniture stand alone to give an extravagant edge – a luxurious chaise lounge or a dramatically carved bed add a regal feeling, and glittering display cabinets featuring elaborate designs make for magnificent features. The key is not to overdo it – one or two pieces make impact, but cram an item into every nook and cranny and people will wonder if they've meandered into an auction house.

Creative Lighting

Tying in wonderfully with the Baroque nature of interior design this year is creative lighting. Unusual and grandiose lighting features heavily in many different styles – grand chandeliers and quirky lighting made from household items are two favourites this year. It's not uncommon to find lampshades made from bottles and hats, and we've even spotted a transparent lampshade encasing a family of rubber ducks. If that's too wacky for you, opt instead for an understated chandelier to add a hint of gentle elegance.

Natural Materials

To balance the overwhelming feel of grand Baroque furnishings, add some natural décor to your home. If you've been thinking of swapping out your dreary carpets for something lighter and easier to look after, now is the perfect time to uncover your floorboards and sand them down to give a rustic feel. Wood and stone features slide in effortlessly amongst minimalist trends.

Pastels and Brass

Pastels and brass work beautifully together this year, much as sweet and spicy complement each other on the tongue. Brass, naturally, fits in seamlessly with the Baroque style, while pastel colours ensure that calmness prevails.

Geometric Shapes

Edgy, geometric shapes might be the last thing you'd expect amongst a Baroque theme, but consider the quirkiness of the lighting we're seeing and the way in which wood and brass lend themselves to simple shapes, and it all starts to come together.

An eclectic concoction of styles work together in a unique way this year, a juxtaposition you wouldn't necessarily think would fit at first glance. But the overarching Baroque theme pulls everything together in a sophisticated, stylish blend of colours, materials and shapes. Natural materials work harmoniously with a minimalist theme and pastel colours, while the boldness of geometric shapes, brass fittings and outlandish Baroque furniture bring everything to life. As with all interior design, you don't have to incorporate every trend – mix and match your favourites to uplift your home and wow your guests.

Thanks to Robert Holmes estate agents for this guest post. They offer a wide range of houses for sale in Wimbledon and the surrounding areas.

Image from www.freedigitalphotos.net

Suitability Of Wooden Floors In Rental Properties

Written for LDG Estate & Lettings Agents by WoodNBeyond Ltd.

Most properties will benefit from a fresh coat of paint between occupancies and some will require even more work to help keep the property desirable. Of the various renovation work that landlords may undertake, one of the most popular is replacing an old floor in an attempt to bring the property’s décor up to date. If you are contemplating wood, there are a few considerations to take into account.

The Building Regulations Approved Document E of 2003

Under this government regulation document and its various revisions over the years, as a landlord you have a duty to minimise noise when you have downstairs neighbours (naturally in apartment buildings). Whether you are fitting wood flooring or any other flooring solution, noisy flooring can get you in hot water. An underlay with acoustic sound barrier will help ensure that you meet these regulations. When sourcing an underlay pay close attention to two features: walking noise reduction (in percentage) and impact noise insulation in dB (Decibel).

Is Wood Flooring Appropriate In Your Property

Most estate and letting agents will agree that well-fitted wood flooring can help transform a property and make it more desirable to a bigger group of potential prospects. If you intend to sell a property investment, it can help you meet your sales schedule. If the property is to be let, it can make it standout and more appealing to a bigger group of tenants.

However, there are cases in which the limitations of wood as a natural product must be take into account. The good news is that there are two types of wood flooring on the market and one of the two is guaranteed to fit your property.

Solid Wood Flooring – These are the most widely used wooden floorboards in the UK. Each plank is made from complete natural wood in various degree of thickness. On a positive note, the use of 100% wood means that service life is lengthy. However, solid wood flooring is unsuitable for fitting over under floor heating, a growing form of heating mechanism in many properties.

Engineered Wood Flooring – These were introduced to overcome some of the limitations of natural wood and to make wood flooring more affordable. Each plank contains solid wood (as a top layer) supported by MDF, Plywood and Softwood. On a position note, you can fit these floorboards across the entire property including over under floor heating. However, service life is shorter when compared to solid wood flooring.

Choosing Solid Or Engineered Wood Flooring

Once you come to terms with the pros and cons of each of the two, you need to decide on the most suitable type for your personal circumstances. Oddly enough, it is easier to answer this question by asking further questions.

Q. Will The Floor Be Fitted In High Humidity Areas?

A. Natural wood does not cope well in the face of humid and wet conditions such as conditions that might appear in the kitchen, basement and bathroom areas. In these areas only engineered wood flooring will stand the test of time.

Q. Would You Need To Sand and Recoat The Wood?

A. It is often useful to sand and recoat the wood between occupancies. Sanding removes a 1mm layer of ‘old’ wood and exposes new wood. It gives the impression that the floor has been freshly fitted for a very small investment. Solid wood flooring can be sanded up to 7 times during its lifetime, while engineered wood flooring is limited to 3 times.  

Q. Does the Property Have Under Floor Hearting?

A. Natural wood reacts to changes in temperature by expanding in hot conditions and contracting in cold conditions. While solid wood can tolerate some levels of fluctuations, it may eventually damage the wood. Furthermore, under floor heating can lead to humid condition above the sub-floor. Engineered wood due to its varied build of natural and artificial materials will not over fluctuate and thereby makes perfect wood flooring over under floor heating.

Q. Are You Renovating On a Tight Budget?

A. Solid wood is often the dearer of the two due to the complete solid wood build. Engineered wood is cheaper and quickest to fit, meaning that cost savings can be extended to the cost of labour work.   

Wood Species

By now you are aware that both solid and engineered wood floors contain natural wood to a vary degree. Your options when it comes to the species of wood include common trees such as Walnut and Oak to more exotic trees such as Cumaru and Iroko. Before opting for one over the other, check with the seller as to the origin of the wood to ensure that it was ethically sourced and comes from managed forests. Certainly Oak flooring and Walnut flooring are sourced responsibly, as to more exotic species, we urge you to check prior to placing an order. 

Wood can uplift the look of your property. It is merely a question of matching one of the two types to your property.

Written for LDG Estate & Lettings Agents by WoodNBeyond Ltd. 

The 10 Best Things About Covent Garden

In this occasional guide to the areas that we know and love here at LDG, here's a round up of reasons to buy, rent, live and work in Covent Garden. There is a real range of property in this area, including interesting conversions and purpose built apartment blocks as well as some fabulous penthouses.

1. London Transport Museum

If you're interested in the history of London's incredible transport systems, then the London Transport Museum is the place for you. The museum originated in the 1920s and is the perfect place to explore Victorian transport, the world's first underground, and what transport was like in London during wartime.

2. St. Paul's Church

Not to be mistaken for St. Paul's Cathedral (which is about a mile away), St. Paul's Church is affectionately known as the Actors' Church due to its long-standing association with the vibrant theatre community in the area. It often hosts shows and performances, and is a magical place to spend the evening.

3. The Markets

Covent Garden features markets galore: whether you visit the Apple Market, the East Colonnade Market or the Jubilee Market, you'll find hand-made, British crafts and arts, jewellery and clothes, homeware, a magician's stall, soaps, confectionery, antiques, and many other delights.

4. The Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House is home to the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet, and is ideal for visiting during the day to look around, or for seeing a spectacular show in the evening.

5. The Theatres

Covent Garden is renowned for its Thespian scene, with countless theatres scattered throughout the lands. Whatever your tastes, you're sure to find something to fit the bill. Comedies, musicals, drama or dance, you'll find anything and everything in one of the many theatres!

6. The Bars and Pubs

Whether you fancy a sophisticated evening quaffing cocktails or a cosy night tucked up in the corner with friends and a pint, the bars and pubs of Covent Garden will find a spot for you. Watering holes litter the streets, and you won't have to walk ten paces to find a place to quench your thirst.

7. The Shops

The markets alone make for a grand shopping experience, but that's not all Covent Garden has to offer shopaholics.  Boutiques and designer shops are numerous, along with unique gift shops and delectable sweet treats – you'll find it hard to walk away without at least one new item in your life!

8. The Street Performers

It's not just in the safety of the theatres you'll find people giving performances. Covent Garden is known for its abundance of talented, creative street performers, offering their magic tricks and daring feats to the public for free (or a small donation, thank you kindly!)

9. The Fine Dining

Covent Garden is a fabulous place to treat yourself and indulge in a little luxury. After a day of browsing boutiques and enjoying theatrical shows, you'll be ready for a little sophisticated food, and that's something Covent Garden has no shortage of!

10. The Cheap Eats

Or perhaps the open markets and street performers are more to your taste – in which case, you'll probably love diving into one of the corner cafés for a cheap and cheerful dinner.

Guest blog by Envirosafe Pest Control - keeping Covent Garden free from pests

Tips for Mortgage Hunters

Guest blog from Paramount Properties

Looking for a mortgage can be perplexing and challenging. There’s certainly a lot of information to digest, sometimes the more research you do it seems like the more there is to learn.

Most home buyers do their homework, and have a good general understanding of what is available to them. One of the most important things for any home buyer is to work out exactly what they can afford before they even start the process. What will the repayments be? Do they have the income to cover them and still have enough left for living expenses?

There are many mortgage calculators now available online, which is a great starting point. When you see a mortgage lender he or she will be using one of these too, so get yourself a head start with one of these calculators. As well as working out how much you can afford for a new mortgage, you can find very useful tools to check whether your existing mortgage is right for you, and whether or not you could afford to overpay.

Image from creative commons through planet of success

When you apply for a mortgage your credit rating will be checked. You can do this yourself through one of the many online credit rating agencies for a few pounds. This will give you advance warning of any problems that way be coming your way, so doing it in advance is very useful.

Getting on the electoral roll is very important for anyone applying for a mortgage. It proves that you are the person you appear to be, and is one of the first things that a mortgage lender will be checking about you.

Mortgage brokers work independently from estate agents and they can be very useful, especially for first timers. They will be able to advise you on the different products on the market and what will work best for you. Much of the advice they offer is available on the internet nowadays but many people prefer to be able to talk to an expert before committing financially.

Types of mortgage

There are two types of repayment with any sort of mortgage, interest only or repayment. Interest only mortgages are becoming much rarer, and Nationwide have just announced that they will stop offering them altogether.

Standard Variable Rate (SVR)

This a lender’s basic lending rate. The lender will set the rate as they see fit, which is why there are so many different SVRs on the market. The rate is not linked to the Bank of England’s base rate. Fixed Rate

Fixed Rate

A fixed-rate mortgage is a very predictable product, as the name sounds you will have the rate fixed for a certain period of time so you can be sure of how much your repayments will be. The problem with this type is that the rate itself can be higher than with other products, but this is not always the case.

Tracker

The tracker mortgage will track the Bank of England base rate. If the rate is low then it is to your advantage, but this is clearly not always the case. Tracker mortgages can be unpredictable because of the base rate fluctuations so may not be best for you if you have little room for manoeuvre financially.

Discount Rate

This is where the lender offers a discounted rate for a fixed period as an incentive, then moves you onto a standard variable rate at the end of the discount.

When looking for your mortgage, research the products available and take advice from friends, family or an advisor. Remember you need to be able to afford your living expenses as well as your repayments.

This guest blog comes from Paramount Properties Estate Agents