Tag: for sale

Dogging Assange

Gold wrapped van advertising “elite” dogs parks opposite the Ecuadorian Embassy ‘home’ of bail skipper Julian Assange

The silly season has come early in Knightsbridge: Sighted Sunday evening and parked, rather appropriately, opposite the Embassy of Ecuador ‘home’ of the fugitive bail skipper Julian Assange, was a gold wrapped van advertising protection and guard dogs for sale.

A visit to the website of Elite Protection Dogs London is a revelation. The “superdogs” offered by the firm are described as having “elite genes”, “military bloodlines” and the “highest IQs”. They are marketed as costing in the staggering range of £10,000 to £20,000 ($13,000 to $26,000, €11,000 to €22,000 or درهم48,000 to درهم96,000) and take up to six months to train.

A YouTube video – which bizarrely illustrates the “spa service” for the dogs concerned – follows. They are described as “intelligent warriors” and pictured “perfecting their biting skills” even.

July 24, 2017
An Ugly Brake

Rare “ugly duckling” seven-seat 1967 Mercedes-Benz shooting brake to be offered at auction; it will generate the same reaction as Marmite

An extremely rare yet somewhat ugly 1967 Mercedes-Benz 230S ‘Universal’ is to be sold at auction this month with an estimate of £35,000 to £40,000 ($45,000 to $52,000, €39,000 to €45,000 or درهم167,000 to درهم191,000).

Just one of three examples ever produced for the UK market and converted to a shooting brake by IMA of Mechelen, Belgium, the special-order vehicle is said to have cost “three times the price of an equivalent estate from Ford of Vauxhall” when new. It features an original Ivory steering wheel, and seating for seven.

Finished in Dunkelblau dark blue with a Sky Blue leather interior, the uprated 2.8-litre car will be offered at The Silverstone Classic Sale 2017 by Silverstone Auctions on 29^th and 30^th July.

A representative of the firm comments: “This stylish estate is a true performer… It is a beautiful, timeless classic and has to be the ultimate seven-seater estate. Original and usable, get the picnic sets out let’s get off to Goodwood!”

July 23, 2017
Gothic Grandeur

Oxford’s only Strawberry Hill Gothic house for £2.15 million in spite of needing complete renovation

A house built in the Strawberry Hill Gothic style in Oxford has gone on sale for £2.15 million ($2.80 million, €2.43 million or درهم10.29 million) in spite of needing complete renovation.

Constructed circa 1840 – 1850 on the site of an earlier house, The Priory in Iffley Village has a battlemented stuccoed front on rubble with 19^th century Gothic traceried windows, a crenelated parapet and a Welsh slate mansard roof. It is described as being Oxford’s only example of this flamboyant style of architecture and was at one point run as a school run by Ursuline nuns.

Grade II listed since 1972, the 4,817 square foot property includes 6 reception rooms, a first floor kitchen, 6 bedrooms and 4 basement rooms but just 1 bathroom. It stands on a private, mature plot of 0.93 acres adjoining the Hawkwell House Hotel and is offered by agents Butler Sherborn.

July 19, 2017
Great Minus Garden

San Francisco landmark mock Tudor house with stunning ‘Great Room’ for sale for £12.2 million – in spite of no longer having its garden

Built in 1909 as a wedding gift from Morris Meyerfeld, a partner in San Francisco’s Orepheum Theatre, to his then 19-year old daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband Leon Roos – of Roos Brothers Men’s Clothing – 3500 Jackson Street in the city’s Presidio Heights district has been placed on the market for £12.2 million ($16 million million, €14 million or درهم58.8 million).

Consisting of 10,313 square foot of accommodation and constructed in half-timbered, mock Tudor style, Roos House at 3500 Jackson Street is a listed architectural curiosity that includes 6 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. It centres around a ‘Great Room’ with 20-foot ceiling heights and also has 2 terraces, a wine cellar, a double garage and off-street parking.

The house, which was designed by Bernard Maybeck (1862 – 1957) – an Arts and Crafts architect responsible for the domed Palace of Fine Arts, a “vision of how Roman style could fit in a California context” – is being sold by Dr. Jane Schaefer Roos, the widow of Leslie Roos, son of Leon Roos. It sadly lacks a rear garden as this was sold off “after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake to raise funds for repairing the rest of the house” according to the Curbed San Francisco blog.

In 1992, in her book Bernard Maybeck: Visionary Architect, Sally Woodbridge described the interior of Roos House. She remarked:

“Panels of mauve plush edged with gold gimp harmonize with redwood walls. Redwood battens and moldings have Gothic profiles. Indirect lighting and diffused light from wall fixtures softly illuminate surfaces and details, while hanging chandeliers sparkle against the dark heights of the roof timbering. Tables of dark oak and chairs cushioned with rose velvet supplement the furnishings selected from the owner’s collection of medieval pieces. Wall coverings, light fixtures, and furniture – even the heraldic crest of the owner’s initial ornamenting the entrance door – were fashioned from designs by Maybeck.”

Launched to the market last week, Nina Hatvany has the listing.

July 18, 2017
Five of the Best – ‘Star Cars’ at Silverstone

A selection of five cars owned and previously owned by ‘personalities’ to be auctioned at the Silverstone Classic Sale in July

On the 29^th and 30^th July, Silverstone Auctions will sell both classic and contemporary cars at their Silverstone Classic Sale in Northamptonshire. Amongst them are five cars owned or previously owned by the Sultan of Brunei, the actor Rowan Atkinson, the singer Lulu, the television chef Gary Rhodes and the musician Elton John.

1996 Aston Martin DB7 i6 Volante – £28,000 to £32,000

($37,000 to $42,000, €32,000 to €37,000 or درهم‎‎135,000 to درهم‎‎154,000)

Supplied new to the Sultan of Brunei and kept by him until 2005, this British Racing Green and Chancellor red leather interior Volante is being marketed as a “future modern classic.” It comes with a “huge history file” as well as its royal pedigree.

2015 Land Rover 90 Celebration Heritage Edition – £38,000 to £45,000

($50,000 to $59,000, €43,000 to €51,000 or درهم‎‎183,000 to درهم‎‎217,000)

One of the last 400 traditional Land Rovers made and offered on behalf of its current owner Rowan Atkinson CBE, this example has just 2,260 miles on the clock. The actor and comedian is selling as he has recently upgraded to the 110 four-door version.

1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5-litre coupé – £100,000 to £120,000

($131,000 to $157,000, €114,000 to €137,000 or درهم‎‎481,000 to درهم‎‎578,000)

Delivered new to then wife of Maurice Gibb, Marie McDonald McLaughlin Gibb (AKA ‘Lulu’ and now Lulu Kennedy-Cairns OBE), this “last of the line classic” was kept by the Boom Bang-a-Bang singer for three years. It has had two additional owners since and needs its air conditioning recommissioning.

2006 Ferrari F430 F1 – £125,000 to £155,000

($164,000 to $203,000, €143,000 to €177,000 or درهم‎‎602,000 to درهم‎‎746,000)

Owned by television chef Gary Rhodes from new and having covered just 558 miles in its 11-year life, this Ferrari is capable of a top speed of 196 miles per hour and 0-62 miles per hour in just 3.7 seconds. It has been serviced four times and is described as “a unique opportunity to buy a real collector’s piece.”

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona – £525,000 to £575,000

($688,000 to $753,000, €600,000 to €657,000 or درهم‎‎2.5 million to درهم‎‎2.8 million)

Owned by Sir Elton John from 1973 to 1975 and supposedly bought off the back of the success of his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album, this Daytona has covered 81,675 miles from new and is said to be “presented in excellent order.”

For more details about the auction and viewing, click here.

The Wing Building, Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire, NN12 8TN.

July 16, 2017
A Cottage in the Clouds

New York penthouse complete with a ‘Nantucket style cottage’ on the roof goes on sale

A New York penthouse with a difference has gone on sale for £2.7 million ($3.5 million, €3.1 million or درهم12.9 million).

Situated in Minthorne House at 72 East 1^st Street in the East Village, a fourth to sixth floor 3,000 square foot walk-up comes with not only a duplex with a ‘great room’ with 18-foot ceiling heights but also a ‘Nantucket style roof cottage’ with weathered shingles, a cupola and a wrap-around terrace.

Offered by realtors Compass, the 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom penthouse is one of just three residential units in a building constructed in 1841. It truly is a one-of-a-kind and is described as having “low monthlies” also.

July 15, 2017
Breaking For Gold

Thatched seaside cottage in West Sussex for sale; it has a plot laid out in the style of the Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winning garden of 1936

A thatched seaside cottage on what has been described as “the Sussex Riviera” has gone on sale for £3.25 million ($4.19 million, €3.67 million or درهم15.39 million) through agents Savills.

Having the look of something you might also find in the Hamptons in America, The Breakers on the Willowhayne Estate at East Preston, near Littlehampton was built in 1936 in the Arts and Crafts style and restored over the last nine years by the current owners.

Providing 6,006 square foot of accommodation over three floors, the house includes 4 reception rooms, 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. It stands on a 0.75-acre beachside plot laid out in the plan of the winning garden at Chelsea Flower Show in 1936 and has an outdoor swimming pool – built in 2010 – also.

A neighbouring house, owned by one of the original question setters for the game Trivial Pursuit, burnt to the ground in January 2014.

July 9, 2017
A Slumping Square

Eaton Square penthouse offered for £825,000 or 30% lower sum than it was marketed for two years ago; it comes with several catches

A penthouse in Eaton Square, Belgravia has gone on sale for £1.925 million ($2.483 million, €2.178 million or درهم9.121 million) in spite of being held on a lease with just 16 years remaining and being in a building with a Blue Plaque to the paedophile politician Lord Boothby (1900 – 1906).

1 Eaton Square was home to Lord Boothby until his death in 1986

The fourth floor lateral flat – complete with colourful wallpaper and furnishings that would make even Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen blush – on offer at 1 Eaton Square spans two buildings and was previously offered for £2.750 million ($3.548 million, €3.111 million or درهم13.029 million) two years ago. It totals 1,202 square foot and includes a reception room, a dining kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a roof terrace.

For sale through Savills, the Grade II listed, portered apartment is subject to a service charge and ground rent totaling £10,000 per annum ($12,900, €11,300 or درهم47,400 per annum) also.

July 9, 2017
One Owner From 1840

Small country house in Derbyshire that has been in the same family since it was built for sale for £2.5 million

Owned by the same family since it was built in 1840 and occupied by them since the 1930s, Nether Hall at Hathersage in Derbyshire is to be sold for the first time ever with a guide price of £2.5 million ($3.2 million, €2.8 million or درهم11.9 million) through agents Savills.

The 9,301 square foot “small country house” on offer has been Grade II listed since 1985 and comes with 54.99 acres of land. It is currently home to businessman Michael Shuttleworth and his artist wife Lizzie and is built of coursed gritstone with ashlar dressings, coped gables and a slate roof. It includes 5 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms as presently configured and comes with a gate lodge let on a protected tenancy and a 2-bedroom barn conversion.

Aside from additional outbuildings, the estate also includes 605 metres of fishing rights on Hood Brook, a walled kitchen garden, a grass tennis court and let farmland. A clause is being applied on the uplift in value in the event of any planning permission being granted within 25 years of the date of the completion of any sale.

July 6, 2017
Anything But Liberal

Former Liberal Democrats headquarters for sale for somewhat reduced but still anything but liberal sum of £36 million (to include a Rodin)

A building that was originally the London office of the North Eastern Railway Company and the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party and then their successors, the Liberal Democrats, between 1982 and 2011 has gone on sale for £36 million ($46.9 million, €41 million or درهم172.1 million) – with all furnishings and a bronze sculpture by Rodin said to be amongst the luxury items included in the price.

Then Liberal Democratic Party leader Nick Clegg outside 4 Cowley Street in 2010

A protest outside 4 Cowley Street during the Liberal Democrats’ tenure of occupation

Offered to rent in 2011 for £225,000 per annum ($291,000, €256,000 or درهم1.1 million per annum) and then sold for around £10.8 million ($14 million, €12.3 million or درهم51.4 million), Mansion House – as it has now been rather grandly named – is situated in Cowley Street, Westminster. Constructed in 1905 and Grade II listed, this dark red brick terraced town house was designed by Horace Field and is described as being of “lavish late 17^th century style, rather out of scale with its neighbours but with fine Arts and Crafts detailing.”

Consisting of 7,000 square foot of accommodation whilst in use as offices, developers Saigol DDC have expanded the space provided to create an 11,075 square foot residence of mammoth proportions. Aside from 5 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms, the 5-storey mansion has an 8-person lift, a wine room, an indoor swimming pool, a gym and a roof terrace.

Mansion House, which is for sale through Knight Frank, was previously listed earlier this year for the higher price of £42.28 million ($54.77 million, €48.22 million or درهم201.21 million). The effects of Stamp Duty hikes, Brexit uncertainties plainly might cause it to fall yet further.

July 4, 2017