In celebration of the upcoming three year anniversary of Somerset Estates and a year after the publication of her piece Striking Gold in Female-Led Businesses, I sat down with Rachel Milliams, Property Account Manager at Somerset Estates, to talk about confidently breaking into a traditionally male-dominated field, and the challenges and opportunities it entails. 

When first meeting Rachel Milliams, you might find it hard to believe that she is still in the early stages of her career. Exuding competence and approachability alike, Rachel’s expertise – that she would argue is still growing – comes from working in a fast-paced industry, and learning to be simultaneously proficient and quick. “We need to react quickly to situations, resolve complex construction issues and meet short deadlines; getting things resolved quickly and efficiently is important, but having an understanding of difficult issues is pivotal,” she says, having personally handled a number of complex mechanical and electrical issues. 

Most recently, in February, Rachel tackled a serious issue with no heating or hot water at one of Somerset Estates’ properties. The issue was multi-layered, with faults on a magnitude of equipment that occurred following an energy surge in the area. The repairs necessitated a number of tradesmen to be employed from a variety of sectors. It was imperative that Rachel had a broad understanding of how the mechanical and electrical systems work in a property, to help ascertain what could have gone wrong in order to manage and coordinate the best engineers for the works. Without this knowledge, there would have been no positive or quick end result. 

This very aspect brings me to Rachel’s key pointers for other young women aspiring to enter the industry. Confidence, according to Rachel, is of utmost importance. “A lot of people can overlook young women in the construction industry, assuming that our knowledge is limited,” she tells me. This includes not only making your own capabilities known, but also being unafraid to ask for help and assistance. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Rachel reminds me; if anything, asking questions shows an eagerness to learn. 

On the subject of learning, Rachel’s education combines a perfect balance of possessing a hands-on approach together with knowledge acquired both in the classroom, and  through her family. Rachel grew up with an awareness of the construction and property industry, with her father being the MD of a successful mechanical and electrical building services company. In a typical childhood rebellion, Rachel was set on steering her career as far away from the industry as possible before following in her family’s footsteps.

Today, Rachel is setting her own path, and has big plans not only for herself, but for the industry’s development. “At the moment, it still seems unusual for a woman to work in the Property and Construction industry,” she admits. “Long-term, I’d like to see more female involvement in the industry and further innovations with digitisation.” Always keen to further her education, once joining Somerset Estates Rachel enrolled on a marketing programme to enhance her communication skills and deliver alongside the hands-on experience she was already gaining.  

Rachel’s role models go beyond her father: her commitment to learning from female colleagues in order to succeed in a traditionally male-dominated industry is acute. “I really struck gold with Philippa,” says Rachel of the Somerset Estates’ director. “Having her as a line manager has been fantastic for my career progression because she has taught me the most proactive ways to approach issues, and has provided me with support that continuously improves my confidence.”

In an industry with no shortage of challenges, often unexpected, Rachel has learned how to overcome roadblocks and above all what to take from them. “I learned early on that it is easy to be overlooked and have your opinions drowned out in Property and Construction – whether that’s down to my gender, my age, or how new I am to the industry, I couldn’t say. 

On numerous occasions I have had thoughts or opinions glossed over, until other colleagues have reiterated my same point. This is exactly why confidence in my own abilities is essential, and not being afraid to push to be heard.” 

Rachel is the first to admit that being a female property manager for a female-led company has allowed her to grow in unique ways. Whilst the collective focus remains ensuring that client needs are met, Rachel sees being female-led as an additional asset in presenting the team at Somerset Estates as approachable and trustworthy. 

A balanced team is not a bonus but a shared value – of both Rachel and Philippa’s – and having a female boss has made all the difference, including making conversations easier. “I have definitely been given more room to grow and taken on more responsibility quicker than I might have done  at other companies,” Rachel says, in recognition of her own personal competence and confidence. With an unwavering focus on growth, I look forward to seeing  Rachel making strides in an industry where equality within its workforce is becoming more the norm.. 

Written by Mark Howarth, Marketing Director

The post PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, NO LONGER JUST A MAN’S WORLD 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

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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

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Somerset Estates is delighted to be included in Spear’s 2021 Property Advisers Index, a list of this year’s Top Recommended providers of prime property management services. We are particularly thrilled to know that our ranking has come as a result of feedback and nominations from an all-rounded group of clients, peers, firms, research and editorial teams, and interviews. 

As noted in the magazine, “When it comes to working with property at the highest level, the difference between a good and great property manager can have a material impact.” 

Being a company who has always lived by exceeding expectations rather than meeting expectations, we have remained focused on honouring both this statement and our values built upon trust and effectiveness. The strength of our team, led by Philippa Somerset, a 2021 Top Recommended Property Manager, has been paramount in both gaining and maintaining the trust of our clients, whose properties and homes we care for in the same way that we would our own. 

A top and trusted provider of property management services is vital for high-net-worth individuals possessing one or more properties, in the United Kingdom or internationally. 

“I am absolutely thrilled to be featured as a Top Recommended Property Manager in such a distinguished publication, alongside other accomplished leaders in the industry. We are honoured to continue to provide our clients with exceptional services that stem from our commitment to trust and excellence alike.”

– Philippa Somerset

The post SOMERSET ESTATES RANKED TOP RECOMMENDED PROPERTY MANAGER BY SPEAR’S 2021 appeared first on Somerset Estates.

We’ve all heard the saying: “Behind every great man is a great woman.” This International Women’s Day, I want to explore this statement from a business perspective, that behind every great company is a great woman.

This is certainly true of Somerset Estates, the female-led business I struck gold with, that has allowed me to grow in unique ways. Somerset Estates has the advantage of being approachable and trustworthy, and gender parity within the company is not only a bonus, but a shared value. Having Philippa Somerset as my line manager has allowed me to work directly with a fantastic role model, and has given me ample room to grow and take on more responsibilities.

Philippa ensured that from the moment we started working together that I was fully involved in, and understood, the day to day running of each of our clients’ properties. This meant that in any emergent situation, I know exactly what to do in order to provide the best service and outcome for our clients. On one occasion, just before Christmas 2019, I discovered a leak at a client’s penthouse during a routine property check. The training I had received from Philippa is likely the reason that I didn’t simply panic. I was quickly able to arrange for a maintenance team to attend to investigate and stop the leak, before any further damage occurred. Confidence, competence, and an unwavering focus on growth makes us stand out in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and has shaped my personal journey, desire to learn, and ability to make my capabilities known.

I grew up with an acute awareness of the challenges surrounding construction and property. My father is the Managing Director of a small but successful M&E company, and he ensured that from a young age I had some basic knowledge of all things construction – a fact that never fails to surprise people! I’d like to see more female involvement in the field.

In a field with no shortage of challenges, which are often unexpected, I have learned how to overcome roadblocks. Embracing difficulties and learning from them – What would I do differently next time? Would I handle that situation differently in the future? –  this is all part of learning and developing in any career. We need to experience the times when things haven’t gone to plan; when we’re pulled left, right and centre out of our comfort zones. These experiences are just as important as the successes – its character and career building. Early on, I recognised that it is easy to be overlooked and have your opinions drowned out in Property and Construction. A lot of people can overlook young women in the construction industry, assuming that our knowledge is limited. I sometimes wish I could tell my younger self to speak up more and push to be heard and ask more questions, to both show people my own capability but also to be unafraid to ask for help and assistance. I used to think this revealed a sign of weakness, when ultimately it simply shows a desire to learn more!

I have learned to talk about myself in higher regard and be proud of my success so far – writing this personal article is an achievement for me! I often get the impression that many men don’t experience this ‘anxiety’ surrounding talking about themselves. I urge all women, today and every day to be proud of your achievements and shout about your story. As an industry, we are making prominent strides towards equal opportunities. This has resulted in a higher number of women in senior roles, which I know has gone hand-in-hand with the positive progression of our industry.

I’d like you all to think of a great woman behind the successful running of your own business or development, and take note of how they have driven its growth. I am sure that amongst the stories of successful women in business you will hear this week, you will be able to relate with your own personal experiences. I thank you personally, and on behalf of Somerset Estates for your support in advancing successful women in business, and am wishing a Happy International Women’s Day to the women that inspire us in every way.

Written by Rachel Milliams (Property Manager)

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While the UK’s supply chain becomes accustomed to post-Brexit trading amidst a national lockdown, our team continues to operate and provide clients with our personal and trusted property management service. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic remains at the forefront of our minds, the pre-lockdown Brexit conversation has inevitably come back to light. With Parliament approving the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement after four years of negotiations, customs and regulatory checks have undergone changes and new requirements, causing significant shipping delays this year. 

Much like the everyday high street shops, the luxury property market both prides itself and relies heavily on European imports, with countless products manufactured or sent back for alterations to the continent – both bespoke and ready-made. In just the first month of 2021, we’ve experienced serious delays in shipments from European suppliers.  

Much of the interior design in our prime residential properties is made up of European furnishings. Moreover, whilst most maintenance issues that we come across can be easily resolved onsite, many others require the manufacturer’s attention. Lately, one of our suppliers experienced significant delays in importing a bespoke leather Parisian wallpaper. Earlier in the year, one of our clients identified a defect with their bioethanol fireplace that needed to return to Europe for repair. Following a similarly frustrating delay in its export, we managed to resolve the issue as quickly as possible!

Whilst this extensive time at home has, on the one hand, been an ideal opportunity to redecorate, we understand that it has been equally challenging due to lags in receiving the necessary items to do so. We are here to help you think outside the box and problem-solve when the usual routes might not be the quickest.  

How we are navigating Brexit

We have and continue to navigate challenging situations by staying true to our business values, and above all by working exclusively with partners who reflect our exceptional client care and supply chain management. 

Our list of trusted suppliers have long been preparing for Brexit and have come to understand the details of the new importation and exportation rules. 

The complexities of Brexit mean some inevitable delays, and whilst everyone becomes accustomed to new processes, we’ve remained committed to ensuring that our clients’ needs are met at all times. 

If you would like to get in touch, please contact rachel@somersetestates.com

Written by Rachel Milliams (Property Manager)

The post FROM MISSING LEATHER WALLPAPER TO BROKEN FIREPLACES IN A POST-BREXIT ENVIRONMENT 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

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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)

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