Our team at Somerset Estates has always worked with the highest-level and most trusted contractors in the industry. Above all, our priority is collaborating with experts in their field, no matter how niche, and we are therefore delighted to introduce one of our esteemed partners, Athena Stonecare. Athena’s expertise in natural stone restoration and maintenance has made them a leading stonework professional, and a go-to for our clients in London and its surrounding counties.

With elegant endurance at the core of all that they deliver, we have chosen Athena for their know-how in a variety of professional services. Natural stone in your home is often an investment and needs to be looked after to retain its character and decorative finish. Athena Stonecare specialises in everything from grinding, to resurfacing, polishing and cleaning marble, limestone, travertine, granite and all types of natural stone.

With client peace of mind at the core of each service that we at Somerset Estates deliver, we have chosen a partner whose stonecare – and aftercare – services know no limit, be it a scratched and stained limestone floor that needs refinishing, or a marble bathroom that has been damaged through incorrect maintenance, Athena Stonecare transforms stone to look brand new.

As a leading provider of natural stone with a team trained and qualified to the highest levels, Athena’s services are always aligned with the most up-to-date technological advancements, while being tailored to both historic and contemporary stonework.

Most recently, our team Somerset Estates was working on a private estate in Surrey, where the limestone in our client’s pool had been damaged and misused, leaving blue residue across the area and a balloon-sized floor stain.

After assessment of the work involved, we immediately arranged for Athena to attend the site, and they arrived promptly that Sunday. Their process of restoration began instantly, and in explaining their course of work, the level of their expertise became apparent. With diamond grinding and stone polishing within Athena’s main area of specialism, for the purpose of elevating the beauty of both natural and man-made stone, Becca Cranfield, Director of Athena Stonecare states:

“Restoring stone can be a complex process involving several stages. The initial grinding phase serves to even out poorly-laid tiles, remove scratches and restore worn or soiled stone surfaces before honing or polishing. The desired finish is then achieved by a system of higher grit diamond segments and pads that can be used in stages for matte, satin or high shine. Every floor is unique and so all of our services are completely bespoke. This means that we keep in constant communication with the client throughout the process to ensure that we achieve the desired finish.”

Athena’s tailored edging equipment and hand-held tools allows the team to provide full treatments right up next to skirting boards, kitchen units and edges to leave a flawless finish regardless of the task.

With Athena, grinding and polishing can be a one-off restorative project, a corrective procedure, or a maintenance programme – popular with most of their clients.

“Our maintenance programmes are tailored to your stone type and budget,” notes Athena. “This means that we can provide a more intensive process to high-traffic areas to ensure that the finish across the area is flawless without unnecessary expense for you. As a chemical free process, stone polishing using this method is an eco-friendly way to enjoy natural stone for many years.”

Matching the right contractor to the right client or property is something that our team at Somerset Estates has long prided ourselves on. In managing the processes and relationships between our contractors and clients, our reputation as a trusted property management company has only strengthened. Our long-standing relationships with contractors like Athena, who are masters of their craft, gives Somerset Estates the ability to provide clients with only the most specialised services.

For an initial quote or survey, and to learn more about Athena and our contractors, please get in touch at info@somersetestates.com

The post INTRODUCING: ATHENA AFTERCARE appeared first on Somerset Estates.

Last year, whilst one of our clients was out of residency, their penthouse experienced an electrical surge, which caused a significant amount of damage to various appliances within the property, including numerous audio-visual items, fan coil units, lighting equipment and white goods.

How we reacted

We were alerted to this situation immediately, as it is common practice for audio visual specialists and security teams to be monitoring properties 24/7 and contact us for any issues.

We attended the site immediately to investigate the situation. We appointed our electrical contractor to complete a full diagnostic check and discover the source of the problem, which was proven to be an electrical installation fault within the landlord’s main switch room. It was our duty to ensure a detailed inspection was completed and that the insurers were immediately informed. Their policy covered the damage caused by the electrical issue so we arranged for the remedial works to be carried out and ensured that everything was back the way it should be.

The resolution

This was a complex case for a multitude of reasons. Due to the nature of the fault, the severity of the damage, the sophisticated technologies in place and multiple third-party communication, it was necessary to manage the expectations and interests of all parties. These included the client, the loss adjusters and insurers, numerous contractors, the landlord and building management.

Personal service 

At Somerset Estates, our pivotal role is client peace of mind. As we care about our clients on a personal level, we complete a full background check on insurance statuses and insist that all covers are in place. We leave nothing to chance, the risks are simply far too high for an “i” not to be dotted, or a “t” not to be crossed.

Throughout scenarios such as this, we ensure our clients are fully updated, but provide assurance and a stress-free facilitation service, enabling them to feel secure that their property is in the safest of hands.

The post CASE STUDY: OUR RESPONSE TO A LUXURY PROPERTY NIGHTMARE – MAYFAIR, LONDON appeared first on Somerset Estates.

As you prepare travel plans for the holidays, ensuring the protection of your vacant property is of utmost importance for ensuring your peace of mind. Worrying about your property when you are away – especially during the festive season – should never be an issue, and our team is committed to giving our clients’ homes the same care when they are vacant as when they are occupied. 

From security threats to damaging water leaks, our team is here to check your property on a regular basis, and at the ready to tackle any logistical and technical challenges that may occur when you are away. 

As you enjoy your holiday, our staff is available round the clock to address each and every one of your needs, as well as unanticipated situations. We organise and supervise cleaning, oversee contractors, run errands and pay household bills, and tend to all unexpected urgent matters, from trespassing concerns, to power failures, and faulty air conditioning. Our team remains available 24/7, with an emergency phone number allowing us to be of help in any time zone. 

Perhaps most importantly, our regular maintenance of your home in your absence significantly reduces costly repairs and insurance premiums: our ongoing checks prevent potential damages, and ensures that your property is kept in perfect working order, and protected from seasonal changes.

We run your heating and cooling systems on a reduced and steady mode – known as ‘vacancy mode’ – keeping your property running efficiently. We flush taps to avoid harmful bacteria build-up within pipes, and always take preventative measures for seasonal damages. 

Come your return, be it in the middle of the night or on the weekend, we will ensure that your property is ready for your arrival – from having the heating set to your ideal temperature, to having the fridge stocked with your favourite items.

To find out more about our vacant property management services, please get in touch with Philippa or Rachel by calling +44 (0) 20 3457 2857 / +44 (0) 7904 607136 or emailing  info@somersetestates.com to ease your mind this Christmas and anytime you are away. 

The post LET OUR VACANT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES EASE YOUR MIND THIS CHRISTMAS appeared first on Somerset Estates.

Mark: Tell us about your background and when you started Decorum?

Barry: Decorum is the result of a long career in the super-prime construction sector which began over 30 years ago with Laing Group in their special projects business, Holloway White Allom (HWA). I began as a carpenter and worked my way up through the ranks, eventually becoming a Board Director with responsibility for looking after our most important private client relationships and new business opportunities.

After 15 years with Laing, changes in the marketplace made it ripe for a new entrant. I co-founded SizeBreed with another former HWA Director, Darren Size, and we built a hugely successful main contracting business specialising in the most special of super-prime residential projects. We quickly became the go-to builders for a select group of internationally-recognisable ultra-high net worth families and constructed, refitted and went on to maintain their residences in London, the Home Counties, the Alps and the Côte d’Azur.

In 2019, I sold my share of the business to Darren, who has continued to take it from strength to strength, and founded Decorum as the go-to client representatives in this small niche of the construction sector.

M: What areas have become your expertise, now that you’re more independent?

B: Working client-side felt like a natural development for me. As the client-facing co-owner at SizeBreed, I have long-standing relationships that, in some cases, transcend multiple generations of the same family. With fashions changing, and with ever-increasing pressures on the sector, the market continues to develop with new people and businesses each doing amazing new things.

Working directly with the clients, we work to ensure that we have exactly the right team around them for their projects, with suitable expertise, experience and, most importantly, client fit. In a sense, it’s a bit like matchmaking – choosing the team that is most likely to set these huge and significant projects up for success (while the smallest start is at around £500,000, many run into the tens of millions of pounds).

This journey often starts with helping the client source the right property, then putting forward a “beauty parade” of the most suitable architects, heritage/planning consultants, interior designers and specialist consultants (from Quantity Surveyors to Mechanical and Electrical, to lighting, Audio Visual and engineering).

As their desires, designs and concepts take shape, we then make early introductions to potential tenderers for their works, so that the spirit of collaboration and partnership between us, the client and the delivery team begins at the earliest possible stage.

M: How would you describe a typical client?

B: Our clients are so varied and their requirements so diverse, it is hard to describe a “typical” one. They tend to be very busy people, with exacting timelines, high standards, and sophisticated tastes. Above all, however, most have had high-level experience of top-tier construction projects – they recognise the need to get a strong team on board and leave the details to that team in order to get the most favourable result and manage the inherent risks in construction as best possible.

M: You’ve had 30 years of experience, which stands for itself, but why do clients come back to you? 

B: We treat all of our clients as relationships. This means that we are open, honest and looking to partner with them and their families for the long-haul. Above all, they need to be happy with the end result. To our clients, we are only as good as our last project, so we move heaven and earth to ensure that they are delighted with the outcome.

M: From an age range point of view…if you’re dealing with the next generation versus older family members: is the next gen just ready to go? Do they want fast-moving new and fresh versus older members of the family wanting to go through more of a process?

B: It would be a mistake, in my view, to fall into the trap of believing that new or young wealth holders are impatient or prone to rushing. In our experience, they are often very sophisticated clients. They do tend to have different needs, and things can change very quickly for them (during the course of a project, for example, their family might grow) – helping them to manage these changes and make important decisions about how best to complete their projects is a real value-add we can provide.

Somerset Estates Management Team

M: Do you want to speak a little more to how you’re collaborating with Somerset and where you see upcoming opportunities?

B: Somerset shares our values of excellence and client care – I see a real overlap in our ethos and approach. What I also love about them is the personal and attentive care clients get – Philippa and David are always at the end of the phone, so the clients get to speak with the decision makers quickly and directly. 

P: The more we’ve grown, the more we have needed to add to our supply chain, and Barry has been really helpful with introductions, as we prefer to only work with businesses with a proven track record at the highest levels of care and personal attention. 

M: You spoke to your core values: honesty, transparency, and reputation. Are there any others that you consider to be integral to the way that you operate as a team? 

B: Value for money is a big one. This often doesn’t mean “low cost”, but value for money is a concept that pervades even the most salubrious passion projects. What matters most, therefore, is the quality, attention to detail, service and fun (yes, fun!) that the clients receive. Often, these residences are “forever” homes; celebrating personal successes and growing families – the process should be enjoyable, and it’s our job to do our best to make sure that is the case. The service and the delivery need to be perfect.

M: Where do you see the key area for growth or nurturing together?

B: Following a difficult couple of years for London, it is so reassuring to see the transactions at the highest end of the market setting global records for prices achieved. London is open for business and, with anxieties over the post-Brexit landscape fading fast, presents a particularly attractive proposition to the global elite. The volume of transactions in the real estate market today serves as a brilliant proxy for the construction sector pipeline in 2-3 years, as these trophy acquisitions will come to be renovated, refitted and maintained thereafter.

M: What are some of your favourite brands and companies to work with? AV, technical, interior design… who is really moving and shaking at the moment?

B: There are far too many to list – the quality in the sector today is truly better, in my view, than it has ever been. In the design world, we love working with Elicyon, Charlton Brown Architects and SP3. For AV, there are some real front-runners in the space – CSS, Tillman Domotics, Nucleus and Cornflake. Of course, there’s Ideaworks, they’re one of the leaders in the luxury residential and marine space. 

M: Talking a bit about how the market is developing: where do you see the biggest challenges in the UK property market at the moment, particularly the high end?

B: It’s harder to find quality labour for the subcontractors: we’ve lost a lot of the Eastern European labour. There’s only 10% of the apprenticeships available, so a real lack of professionals progressing in the industry. Material costs are increasing percentage-wise on steel, timber and concrete. Even getting hold of certain items is proving difficult. 

M: Philippa – anything you’re noticing around current trends and challenges in the marketplace?

P: There has been such a demand in the luxury rental space, particularly in London for properties being firstly available and secondly meeting UHNW client standards. 

Earlier in the year, like many professionals in construction and property we faced delays getting hold of and importing certain goods into the country such as handcrafted parisian leather wallpaper and parts for fan coil units. But I’m a firm believer there’s always a solution to a problem! Our service is continuously thinking outside the box, problem-solving and always delivering a high level of personal attention to each client. 

M: And any changes in terms of clients’ preferences for service? In terms of communications, is it direct contact or through representatives?

B: I find that clients like to be copied in themselves, because sometimes the house staff won’t understand certain issues on the same level as the homeowners. Particularly if there are variations to a contract that will result in extra cost or a potential increase to the programme. And this is equally true of a change of £500 or £50,000. Clients like knowing and being able to monitor these things. 

M: Where do you see the significant areas of development in London, aside from the ones we already know? Is it your typical Nine Elms and areas such as the ones expanding through Battersea? Where else is going to be hot? 

B: Elephant and Castle is probably one of the last that’s catching up and being developed, but that’s not where the super high net worth people are: they’re in the Peninsula; the new units at the top end of Park Lane; the houses that are derelict that need refurbishing in Mayfair, Holland Park and Belgravia; the air spaces; the ones that desire 10/20,000 sq ft apartments without gardens because they do not want the maintenance of a garden. 

M: Philippa, how is that comparing to new business and where you’re seeing areas of growth?

P: Our portfolio includes beautiful properties in Belgravia, Eaton Place, Mayfair and Surrey. There is so much demand for luxury rental properties at the moment and management of vacant properties that are being brought back to life following the lift of international travel. Despite the new restrictions, London is still in a really positive place. 

To hear more about our Property Management services, please get in touch with Philippa by calling +44 (0) 20 3457 2857 / +44 (0) 7904 607136 or emailing  info@somersetestates.com

The post WORDS OF WISDOM FROM BARRY BREED appeared first on Somerset Estates.

Where form meets function from our friends at Lanserring

When our friends at Lanserring created this wonderful new collection for 2021, Celandine Manor, we couldn’t help but tell you all about it!

In the last year, home has started to mean something different to modern families. We have developed a deep intimacy with interior spaces and their design details have become our daily companions.

Meanwhile, relationships are brought into focus. Work and family selves, once distinct, have for the professional working from home, become united. Our homes, and especially our kitchens, must work harder to support the gamut of family and working life – all whilst offering a sense of sanctuary and stability that we now crave more than ever. This was certainly evident when having conversations with our clients. 

What is notable about this work is that it was created in response to the emotional shift observed in clients’ briefs. This superb collection showcases the signature materiality and craftsmanship involved in its creation. It provides a calm, mesmeric space for spending time with family and loved ones; it soothes and comforts; it is a sanctuary.

Photo Credit: Lanserring

The preparation kitchen is an incredible feature which exists to preserve the calm of the main kitchen and there has been a huge focus on the space itself which allows a sense of calm and enjoyment of  all that surrounds you. Spending time as a family: chatting, reading or playing games, untroubled by the clutter of day-to-day life.  We could all do with that now!

There’s lots of solid marble which works incredibly well while still feeling contemporary and clean. It’s great to see the realisation of an attention to detail that Somerset Estates clients require: a design that truly has presence; a gentle, homely ritual for a regenerative space.

Philippa, Director of Somerset Estates was only too happy to comment on the work: “Lanserring are a company at the very top of their game – thoughtful, innovative and ultimately striving for outstanding quality at every step is exactly what we look for in any partnership”. 

Celandine Manor is a wonderful example of home as therapy: a place to regroup and regenerate, a place of sanctuary in the family home.

There are no opulent features designed purely for impact: this is a design that will reveal its intricacies over time. We are big fans of Lanserring’s work and our clients seem to be too!

If you’re looking to make any renovations to your home get in touch with Philippa or Rachel to see how Somerset Estates can assist by emailing info@somersetestates.com

The post YOUR HOME IS A SANCTUARY: WHERE FORM MEETS FUNCTION FROM OUR FRIENDS AT LANSERRING appeared first on Somerset Estates.

And Why To Make Them Your New Summer Project  

With summer right around the corner, our team has been eagerly anticipating the soon-to-arrive days of alfresco dining and outdoor entertaining. And what better time than now to design, renovate, or redecorate the outdoor kitchen of your dreams? We know outdoor kitchens are a game-changer when it comes to making use of your garden, rooftop, or grounds, and particularly in the warmer months, they can easily become what you most love about your home. 

Get inspired by our outdoor kitchen tips and must-haves; then get in touch with our property and home management team to bring your vision to life!

1) Have a theme   

Whether you want your kitchen to feel like a conservatory, a poolside oasis, or a place to cook and play your favourite music while watching the clouds change, nailing down your kitchen’s ideal look early on – whether you are starting from scratch or initiating a makeover – is key. From wicker chairs to leather barstools, to wider designs ranging from the styles of Axel Vervoordt to Chester Jones, mapping out your project and seeing it come to life will make for most fulfilling results.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

We can’t imagine an outdoor kitchen without a pizza oven. From rustic, to modern, to old world Italian, the options are endless. Whether you are opting for wood, charcoal, or gas fuel, this essential can be either a subtle complement to your outdoor kitchen, or a showstopper of a centerpiece. We love this trattoria-style oven, whose cupboard doors make the big reveal that much more exciting.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

3) WWOO

For those of you spending less time at home as offices begin to reopen, consider lower-maintenance, environmentally conscious options that don’t require constant supervision. We are currently loving Dutch designer Piet-Jan van den Kommer’s WWOO garden kitchens, whose concrete bases are made to resist harsh weather conditions, no matter where you live. With their unique finishes including integrated sinks, fireplaces, wine crates and cutting boards, WWOO is one to keep your eye on.

Photo credit: Wwoo

4) Consider your surroundings

When making plans for your outdoor kitchen, think about its proximity to other favourite areas of your property, and think about the view. Will it face your rose garden? A fountain? Can you watch the sunset from the counter? Furthermore, thinking about complements to your dining space can make your alfresco experience that much more enjoyable. Having a stocked bar fridge within a few steps from the pool, or built-in chopping boards facing a city skyline, using where you live as the foundation of what your kitchen will become is essential to its character.

Photo credit: Francesco Lagnese

5) Incorporate your garden 

We mean this literally. For all of you organic fruit and veg lovers, whether you are putting your own green thumb to use, or sharing ideas with one of our landscaping maintenance specialists or domestic staff hires, there’s nothing quite like reaching for an extra handful of fresh rocket whilst moseying around your outdoor kitchen to your favourite tunes. Let “from farm to table” take on a whole new meaning.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

6) Get Creative 

Whether obvious or understated, have that one thing that makes your outdoor kitchen stand out from the others. Whether you are lining your countertops with antique brass candlesticks, modern glass wine decanters, or having bistro-style chalkboard walls to record shopping lists and recipe ideas, an outdoor kitchen can be as much of an art studio as a place to enjoy good food and drinks with friends. 

Photo credit: Ryan Benoit, The Horticult

7) Stay close to home 

There is certainly an appeal to a kitchen that is somewhat isolated to the main house, but for those of you that like to have all within arms’ reach, consider your outdoor kitchen to be an attached extension of your home. Whether you are extending counters from your main kitchen to the garden or creating a seamless indoor-outdoor space, the options are endless with the right ingredients at your disposal.

Photo credit: Houszed

If you would like to speak to Philippa or Rachel, please get in touch at info@somersetestates.com

The post OUTDOOR KITCHENS AND WHY TO MAKE THEM YOUR NEW SUMMER PROJECT appeared first on Somerset Estates.

How to Return Feeling Like You Never Left

As London opens in tandem with the arrival of spring, we are ready to embrace the steady return of the city we know and love with full force, and are here to remind you of the first and most crucial step in doing so: ensuring that your UK home is ready for your return.  

Having an international client base has made vacant property management an integral part of our services, which are carefully tailored to each client’s requirements – from security checks, to payment of household bills, to emergency repairs, to stocking fridges. From our experienced team delivering our prime property management services across London and its surrounding counties, we’re here to make your trip back to London as smooth as possible with the following services – and more. 

For us, our attention is always in the detail, giving peace of mind to our clients, wherever they are in the world. 

• There’s nothing better than stepping into a hot shower after a long flight or drive, but when bathrooms and kitchens are not regularly used, bacteria can easily build up within water outlets and be harmful if ingested. Our team is here to flush your taps and outlets on a regular basis, which is easily completed during our routine property checks.
• Ensuring that you don’t come home to any unpleasant surprises is of utmost importance, and by providing thorough seasonal upkeep and preventing any damages due to factors such as temperature change allows you to return home stress-free. We make sure the air conditioning is perfectly running and underfloor heating has been tested.
• Security and protection come first and foremost, and while our team will frequently oversee that your security tech is up-to-date and running, our in-person visits leading up to your return hold the purpose of making you feel safe at all times. 
• Sometimes it’s the little things. From making sure your room is heated to your ideal temperature, to running errands, to organising and supervising cleaning, to stocking your fridge with your favourite food and drink, to preparing your home comforts, we’ll make your return as comforting as can be. 

Our team at Somerset Estates is here for you any day and at any time. Above all, we look forward to welcoming you back to London, and to ensure that your return home is as smooth and happy as can be.

Contact Philippa and Rachel on info@somersetestates.com or calling +44 (0) 20 3457 2857 .

The post LONDON REOPENS – HOW TO RETURN FEELING LIKE YOU NEVER LEFT appeared first on Somerset Estates.

It’s the end of a long day and your eyes are starting to go slightly square from the Zoom meetings that have dominated the afternoon. You feel like you need a weekend of pampering and decompressing, and it is only as you saunter into your bathroom and feel the floor’s heat on your feet that you realize the idyllic spa you were dreaming of is right here in your home. 

You need to simultaneously zone out and clear your mind, and as you set the steam shower to 39°C on the dial disguised as just another piece of the wall’s mosaic – hesitating only momentarily in deciding between a lavender or bergamot scent – you channel jazz from the built-in sound system and step into the warm and fragrant rain. Come the end of your shower, you pull open a refrigerated drawer and lather cooling lotion onto your skin. 

To your right is a window looking out at the world, to your left, the wall is an aquarium, and as you watch a school of sunset-coloured swordtails peacefully float by, a sense of serenity takes over. You feel as though you are in a La Mer advert, and wanting to stay on theme, you pick up a soap-bar-shaped remote control and your mirror becomes a television, where the opening scene of Splash melts the steam from the glass. 

As someone outside the door mentions dinner, your eyes veer to the bathtub, whose side table suddenly seems perfect for a charcuterie board and glass of wine. You remember why this is your favourite room in the house.  

Our team at Somerset Estates is here to make your dream bathroom a reality, and above all to prove that tech and tranquillity can harmoniously coexist. Whether your taste is modern and minimalistic, rustic, or edging on Victorian, our team integrates tech sympathetically into new and old design in ways that will make it impossible to identify in your bathroom. Here are our Top Five Tech examples that will make your bathroom the best place to begin the day on a fresh and bouncy note and end it on a calm one. Yours to discover. 

1) RESPONSIVE LIGHTING  

Enjoy the benefits of a candlelit spa or of a bright room flooded with sunlight. A must-have on our list, responsive lighting is the first step in creating your ideal bathroom atmosphere, and falls into the realm of tech that is so subtle, you won’t even know it’s there. 

We currently love Christopher Wray’s range of bathroom lighting that stretches from classic designs to modern looks.

Photo credit: shutterstock

From showers that include integrated lighting, to water choreographies, to fragrances and aromatherapy, these might just be one of our all-time favourites in the realm of bathroom tech. Inspired by nature, weather and spas combined, there is no limit to these showers’ features, whether you want to decompress under warm rain and colours that emulate dawn, or feel revitalized in a cloud of icy mist following a high-intensity workout. 

Dornbracht’s range of experience showers is, in our opinion, unbeatable, whether you are opting for an Aquamon sanctuary, a Comfort Shower or a Sensory Sky.

Photo credit: Dornbracht

3) WATERPROOF IN-WALL TELEVISIONS 

Enjoy your favourite films from a steaming bath or catch up on shows while applying your makeup, at the simple touch of a waterproof remote. These televisions include everything from internally built-in speakers to fog-free LED screens, making your bathroom experience an entertaining one too. 

Get in touch with Ideaworks for high-solution and embeddable televisions.

Photo credit: Ideaworks

4) JAPANESE TOILETS

Make your visits to the loo as luxurious as possible with a Japanese toilet, whose sensor-activated lid will open and close automatically and emit a warm light in the night hours. Best of all, you can customize each experience either via remote control or Smartphone. 

Our current favourite is the Grohe Sensia Arena Wall Hung Shower Toilet, whose features include everything from miniature massage-spray cleansing showers to a warm air dryer.

Photo credit: Grohe Sensia Arena

5) BUILT-IN SOUND SYSTEMS 

Whether you are decompressing to Debussy as you get ready for bed, enjoying a home-spa experience with Enya playing in tandem with your shower, bopping to oldies as you kick off your morning, catching up on a podcast as you dry your hair or setting the mood with some jazz, having a built-in sound system is the ultimate game-changer. Its versatility will make all the difference in setting an atmosphere that matches your mood.

Check out Smart Home Sounds for the best in-ceiling speaker suited to your bathroom.

Photo credit: Smart Home Sounds

If you would like to speak to Philippa or Rachel, please get in touch at info@somersetestates.com

The post THE BEST TECH FOR YOUR LUXURY BATHROOM appeared first on Somerset Estates.

An introduction to Minerva Tutors

As many of you who have read our recent posts will know, we at Somerset Estates place considerable importance on our business values and choose to work with only those business partners who share the same values. So I was delighted to be able to chat recently to Hugh Viney of Minerva, and discover a complete meeting of minds when it comes to providing only the highest standards of service for our respective clients.

Hugh is the head of Minerva Tutors, an education company that provides educational services for the children of high, and ultra-high net-worth clients (UHNWs) who live globally. Minerva’s services include tutoring, homeschooling and securing school placements for their clients’ children, aged between 4 and 18, not only within the UK but around the world.

Describing their work Hugh told me that: ‘Typically, Minerva works with families who want to send their kids to the best British private schools, so we guide them on that journey in order to help them get there. We also send tutors around the world to form part of the household staff of UHNWs, alongside their nannies, butlers and drivers. Anything that you could possibly want help with, in relation to your child’s education, we provide it’.

Why brand values matter

Hugh then went on to talk about the core brand values that Minerva lives by, and how those values were reflected in their service. ‘Firstly, we started the company with the idea that every child should have the opportunity to succeed, so we are committed to ensuring that happens for every child in our care. In terms of values, there are four things that differentiate us from our competitors. We call them “The Four Ts”.

‘The first ‘T’ stands for ‘tutoring style’ whereby our tutors focus on motivation, confidence, and well-being above academic attainment. If your child is happy, if your child is motivated, if your child is confident, the academics will come along and your child will achieve top results.

‘Our second ‘T’ relates to our ‘tutor team’. Our tutors are, quite deliberately, a small, close-knit team that we know really well, and who possess the most impeccable academic backgrounds, those from Oxbridge or Cambridge university or top American universities. Each tutor’s background is checked before coming through a stringent three-stage interviewing process.

‘Our third ‘T’ stands for ‘tech’, which is massively important to us. We provide a tech platform for parents, a parent portal where they can log in and track the progress of their child over the long or short term. And our final ‘T’ stands for ‘training’. We are committed to upscaling our tutors so we provide training for them every month.’

When asked about how important it is for Minerva to find the right people and how they go about doing that, it was pleasing to hear that, as with Somerset Estates, they begin with ‘a consultative approach’ especially because UHNW customers want the best of the best. Hugh went on to say:
‘When parents come to us, we listen to their needs and those of their child. We take time to get to know them, so the perfect match can be made between the tutor and the child. That is the most important thing; the right tutor for the right child’.

In a similar way to Minerva, our business principles are based on core values, namely quality, trust and transparency. These values are fundamental to our approach in upholding a markedly high level of service that we have been offering to UHNW clients over many years. Our clients expect nothing less.

The importance of recruitment

Furthermore, when it comes to our staff, we only employ those who fully understand the importance of our values and are capable of adopting a professional and considerate approach towards our clients at all times. It is all about choosing key people whom we and our clients can trust implicitly to care for their properties.

Clearly, there are close parallels between our two companies, but what I find particularly interesting is that not only do we share core brand values, but we also share family values as both our businesses were founded and run by family members.

Discretion and confidentiality

When moving on to the subject of discretion and client confidentiality, Hugh was asked where discretion might have been challenged and what rules were adopted to ensure client confidentiality.

Hugh mentioned two examples. ‘Firstly, there was a Hollywood family from LA who were over here in the UK shooting a film for a year. Sending their children to a local school for a year wasn’t feasible, so they home-schooled them with us. It was a lovely job. One of the tutor’s was an aspiring actress, and she was thrilled to be doing it. She fully understood the importance of family discretion and would never disclose anything that she should not have disclosed. Discretion is one of our golden rules with our tutors.

‘Secondly, when working with certain royal families, the tutor has to sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) before they start work. It just shows the kind of environment our tutors work in, but they are used to it.’

Again, as with Minerva, we too work with royalty and absolute discretion is certainly a requirement that we insist upon but, at times, it can be challenging. The storage and sharing of data, for example, can bring its own challenges. We always make sure that staff are completely aware that, yes, we do work with important clients, and it is fine for us to discuss client issues within the confines of the office, but that these discussions always remain confidential.

The challenges and opportunities of lockdown

As with countless other businesses throughout the world, lockdown has presented its own unique problems. Hugh explained that: ‘As soon as lockdown hit in March, we had to move our entire operation online. We launched an online learning platform, Minerva Tutors TV, and offered familiarisation webinars to parents who weren’t experienced in online tuition – so they could see just how easy it would be for their child to learn from one of our tutors via Zoom. As lockdown lifted, parents were keen to start face-to-face tuition again, which has been a challenge in some areas, but this is at the tutor’s discretion and where restrictions permit.’

At Somerset Estates, lockdown has presented us with similar challenges. Things can easily change on a daily, weekly and monthly basis especially in the property world where, for example, we have found gaining access to supplies has been a bit more challenging. In some cases it has led to delays.

One case in point concerns a refurbishment of a client’s property and a request for a particular type of leather wallcovering that was only made in Paris. The lockdown in France affected the manufacturing industry which, in turn, led to delays in the supply chain. What this has meant for our client, in spite of our best efforts, is that their refurbishment is unlikely to be completed before Christmas. However, whilst recognising that we have to adapt to living in different times we will always endeavour to meet our clients’ expectations and make them feel valued.

Communication is key

Clearly, when it comes to dealing with demanding expectations, UHNWs have extraordinarily high expectations. So it was very interesting to learn the ways in which Hugh and his team have managed those expectations, and why people keep coming back to them.

He believed that: ‘Communication is essential. Our tutors are interacting with our clients on a daily basis, and our tutors really are a cut above the rest or we wouldn’t have such good repeat business. And because we also have such a solid client manager team it means that parents or guardians always have someone else to talk to who is not a tutor.

‘This means that there is, always, a third person involved in the educational journey of their child, and parents feel really supported by that. Parents also have our online portal, Temple, where they can log in and track the progress of their children’s journey with us. Everything is accountable, everything our tutor and their child has done in the last week or the last term, is all there for them to see.

‘Sometimes a client’s demands can be extraordinarily high. For example, one job came in where the client, based in Namibia, wanted a tutor – nothing out of the ordinary – but the catch was we didn’t have a long recruitment period. We pulled out all the stops and had a tutor on the plane for them in under 48 hours. When she arrived they loved her so much she stayed for two years! I like that one because a day or two earlier the tutor had no clue what was about to happen. But you get that with tutoring – it’s always a bit of an adventure.’

Celebrating the power of partnerships

Finally, it was great to hear Hugh’s thoughts on why he thought Somerset Estates makes such a good partner company for Minerva and how saw that partnership evolving?

‘The more I have got to know Philippa, the more I have seen how much integrity she has, and how much integrity the business has. Their values are totally in line with ours. To top it off, they are a family business and we see the value in that. We’re on a shared journey – it’s the perfect match!’

If you would like to speak to a member of the team from Minerva Tutors or Somerset Estates please get in touch at info@somersetestates.com

Written by Philippa Somerset (Director)

The post NAMIBIAN ADVENTURES – WHAT’S NEEDED TO SUPPLY STAFF IN JUST 48 HOURS! appeared first on Somerset Estates.

With the ongoing national lockdown and travel restrictions preventing families from visiting their second homes, we are operating  as usual, ensuring that vacant properties are protected and not vulnerable to threats. The past year has been challenging for most, and amidst the magnitude of difficulties and stresses that those around us have experienced, worrying about property shouldn’t be one of them.  

Part of our commitment is to ensure that the properties we look after receive the same level of care when they are vacant, as many of us are familiar with  horror stories such as undetected water leaks causing horrendous damage to property and possessions, or clients returning from overseas to find their air conditioning to be broken. 

Our vacant property management service is designed for international clients with residential property in London that remains unoccupied for part(s) of the year.

Over the past few months, we’ve seen a large  increase in enquiries, so we’ve put together our main reasons why prime properties require  regular visits during periods of vacancy. 

Year-round peace of mind 

Being based overseas with property in London can provide international owners with logistical challenges, particularly when problems occur. 

Our team on the ground will check that your property is secure and protected during their regular visits, easing unnecessary worry. We’ll oversee contractors, run errands, organise (and supervise) cleaning, pay household bills and will be on call for any unexpected emergencies such as power failures, or where there are security concerns such as trespassing. Our dedicated team is available around-the-clock in all time zones, with services including a 24/7 emergency phone number for any urgent matters. 

Having regular visits in place can also significantly reduce insurance premiums.

 Regular maintenance reduces costly repairs 

Ongoing, regular inspections and maintenance reduces the need for repairs, prevents damage and lessens costs overall. 

Frequent maintenance also ensures that properties are kept in good working order so that they aren’t affected by seasonal changes (or unexpected pandemics), particularly if a given property is not the owner’s main residence. It is standard practice for vacant properties to run heating and cooling systems on a reduced but steady mode – often called ‘vacancy mode’ – which keeps the property running efficiently throughout the year. This is recommended, as the effects of making drastic temperature changes to heating and cooling systems can create problems which may not always be easy to resolve. This also applies to any seasonal upkeep, such as maintenance of underfloor heating in the winter months. 

Flushing of taps regularly is essential

Flushing taps and water outlets to prevent water bacteria developing is essential if kitchens and bathrooms are not used on a regular basis. It is paramount that this process is completed regularly in order to avoid any bacteria build-up within pipes, which can be extremely harmful if ingested and a costly headache to eradicate.

Ready for your arrival

Arriving in the night or on the weekend? We’ll make sure your property is ready and ‘turned on’ for your arrival – this includes getting your home comforts ready, setting the heating to your preferred temperatures and stocking the fridge with your favourite items.

Personal assurance 

Giving our clients peace of mind is at the heart of everything we stand for. We know how important it is to have a responsive and attentive service that you can rely on, delivered by a team of people who understand the intricacies of estate management. We take away the hassle and stress of maintaining a home and property and look after it as if it were our own.  We ensure that each aspect is taken care of and that you’ll only ever liaise with the same trustworthy personnel.  

To hear more about our management services, please get in touch with one of the team, please contact us by calling +44 (0) 20 3457 2857 / +44 (0) 7904 607136 or emailing  info@somersetestates.com

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