Take a sneak peek inside one of the swankiest family homes on the market today in the exclusive area of Hadley Wood.

During an Open House event over the weekend, leading luxury housebuilder Bellis Homes flung open the doors to this stunning 6-bedroom home in the coveted Hadley Wood neighbourhood in North London, popular with a whole host of celebrities, successful businesspeople and sport stars.

Calleva House, a brand new, detached four-storey mansion, comes complete with generous six bedrooms, dressing room, seven bathrooms, an enormous lounge, modern kitchen-diner plus separate dining room.  Leisure facilities include a games room, gymnasium and private home cinema.

“We really wanted to ensure that Calleva House stands out as an exceptional property in many ways, whilst at the same time creating the perfect environment for modern family life.
The open plan kitchen is naturally the heart of the home, but it was important to give the house an extra something special and the games room and private cinema felt like the right features for such a luxurious property.”

Henry Fordham, Director, Bellis Homes

In keeping with its external beauty, Calleva House has been furnished throughout with bespoke fittings and considered styling by Alexander James Interior Design, one of the World’s Top 100 Interior Designers.

“The impressive stature of Calleva House rightly demands an air of elegance, but to be equally matched with bold statements of colour upon a neutral yet inviting tactile base.

“The entertaining touches of pesto, navy and burnt orange hold their position well on the ground floor alongside the calmer more serene tones of the Master and Second Bedrooms. Bedroom Three reminds us of the somewhat defiant and playful schemes on the lower level. 

“Confident and colourful artwork blends effortlessly with the excellent base build finish specification to create a warm and inviting yet uber-sophisticated and cohesive interior.”

Laura Leadbetter, Interior Designer, Alexander James Interior Design 

Calleva House is on the market for £3.5 million and viewings can be arranged by appointment.

For more information, contact Bellis Homes on 01279 424 733 or visit www.bellishomes.co.uk

Family run house builders, Bellis Homes have noticed an increasing number of empty-nesters who are planning to downsize their existing property but also involve the rest of the family in their decision as to what to buy next.

This often results in a multi-generational co-purchase, where several members of the family own the property together used as a downsized, lower-maintenance home for the empty-nester and a holiday-or occasional weekend ‘pied-a-terre’ for the adult children.

We get the low down on this new trend from Henry Fordham, Director of Bellis Homes:

Q: With the Office for National Statistics forecasting that of the 65 million people currently in the UK, 8.45 million will live to 100 years old, how is Bellis Homes preparing for this growing older generation when planning your new developments?

A: We carefully consider the locations for our homes to ensure that they work for a range of owners and that the properties continuously suit them as they transition through different stages in life.

A younger person might need a good base to commute from, but they also need schools nearby and a range of other local services to make it easier to blend work and personal life.
Older residents, retirees and empty-nesters have different needs too and as they are living longer, are much more active and social than ever before and their daily lives reach far beyond the home.

Creating homes to suit the needs of more than one generation, be they living in the property at the same time or not, is something we are striving to really cater for when designing our developments.

Q: Traditionally retirees would remain in the family home once their children had left home. How has the way older adults live changed?

A: Whilst some retirees still enjoy the space and familiarity of the family home, re-decorating the house, tending to the gardens and hosting their grandchildren as they come to visit for Christmas and weekends, equally many feel the desire to start a new chapter in their lives once the kids leave home.

Many no longer want to stay in a home too big for their needs, where their children’s bedrooms now stand empty with doors closed and radiators turned off. They want to embrace their new freedom and make the most of it!

The answer, quite often, is to downsize. We are seeing more and more older clients making this choice and it can be a very positive move, an opportunity to start afresh rather than hang on to the past.  As well as reducing high monthly outgoings and the hassles of upkeep, it can also release equity to supplement pension income.

Q: What options are there for downsizers?

A: The last few years has seen a real shift in the choice available for those looking to downsize. No longer is it either a small, 2-bedroom new build flat or a retirement community by the sea, today’s downsizers are demanding more and they have the funds to make it happen.

Here at Bellis Homes we are seeing more and more older buyers trading in their large family homes for centrally located, luxury apartments such as our new Four5Two development overlooking Hampstead Heath in North London.

The buyers of these exciting new apartments are drawn to the prominent Hampstead location and connectivity to central London. They are looking to live life to the full; hop on the tube to see the latest West End show, eat at Michelin starred restaurants, visiting the latest art exhibitions or simply take a stroll around the iconic Hampstead Heath upon which the apartments back onto.

Many buyers at Four5Two have purchased the apartments for themselves and often with their grown-up children to enjoy the space as equals. The apartments are modern and luxurious with stylish décor and double bedrooms for adult friendly accommodation.

Q: What else is proving appealing to these older buyers?

A: The 24/7 concierge we have put in place at Four5Two has proved a real draw for buyers. Being able to phone to the concierge day or night to order a taxi, to take delivery of the weekly shop, book theatre tickets or arrange the dry cleaning is a service highly valued by our older clients. They lead busy lives and enjoy the additional support and service which the concierge offers.

The security aspect we have also found to be very appealing. Knowing someone is always on site is comforting and being able to ‘lock up and leave’ the apartment for a weekend safe in the knowledge that your home is being kept an eye on is important for many of our buyers.

Other appealing features of Four5Two include the secure parking spaces, rare in London, which enables residents to retain their independence as well as the lifts to all floors to future proof accessibility.

Q: Do you feel that spacious apartments in central locations such as Four5Two will grow in popularity?

A: Empty-nesters still want to help their adult children and spend time with their grandchildren and the extended family however, they may not want to give up all their time, energy and freedom solely to be the supporting parent or caregiver but instead are looking for ways to socialise with their families on a more equal playing field, whilst keeping their independence and activities.  They want to begin a new chapter in their lives and invite their descendants to share some aspects of it.

This can mean that they downsize and move to a more urban area where their children and grandchildren can visit and together they can explore all the interesting things that the area has on offer. That changes the dynamic between parent and adult child; it becomes shared leisure time, rather than them falling back into old pre-defined roles, which some – and often both parties – can find stifling.

To ensure the investment is as future-proof as possible, many downsizers are involving their adult children in the buying process, often investing together in something which is smaller than the original family home but still large enough to accommodate multi-generational sharing of the space as the primary address for one party and secondary to the other. This is where developments such as Four5Two tick many boxes.

Four5Two, Finchley Road, London

A selection of 13 high spec apartments in the prominent area of Hampstead.
With contemporary design, these apartments are arranged for deluxe living within a walkable distance from both Golders Green and Hampstead tubes stations. Several of the homes enjoy balconies with direct views over Hampstead park.
Apartments are available from £1.1 million.

For more information, contact Bellis Homes on 01279 424 733 or visit www.bellishomes.co.uk

• Spotlight on the ancient village of Much Hadham
• Luxury builder Bellis Homes supports families and culture by giving away lifetime memberships to the Henry Moore Foundation

It’s a dream for many of us: moving out to the country and enjoying a more wholesome lifestyle outside of our careers.

We want to go for country walks, have cosy pub lunches with good friends, surrounded by happy, rosy-cheeked children, bouncy gun dogs and muddy wellies.

At the same time however, we’d like to be able to easily reach the capital, have access to quality education for our kids and not feel as though we are ‘out in the sticks’.  In other words, we want the best from a life in picture-postcard rural England without sacrificing our cultural and social needs.

One such rare place and an absolute jewel of the countryside is the village of Much Hadham in Hertfordshire.

This ancient and quaint village is situated between Ware and the market town of Bishop’s Stortford and is surrounded by glorious rural views.  A truly quintessentially British village, it has artisan shops, gastro pubs and several excellent schools nearby.

A few miles down the road is Perry Green where internationally distinguished sculptor Henry Moore lived and worked.

Today its home to the Henry Moore Foundation, a registered charity, which was established for education and promotion of the fine arts. Its Institute in Leeds specialises in the study of sculpture while the Foundation supports a range of different artistic movement’s as well as preserving the Moore legacy. There is an art gallery and gardens, a shop, library and café.

Much Hadham is well connected.  London’s Liverpool Street station can be reached directly by train in just over an hour from Bishops Stortford station. Both the M11 and M25 are under 30 mins drive away.

It is easy to see the charm of this area, but here’s the catch:

Just as it is not possible to make old friends, the trouble with entering a heritage area is the lack of new property. Anyone who has ever attempted to make the dream a reality will know, that should they even be lucky enough to find a suitable area, there may not be suitable homes available to buy.

It is therefore nothing short of a miracle that there are not one, but two brand new family homes on the market in Much Hadham from local family-run housebuilder Bellis Homes – a rare opportunity to acquire the dream lifestyle.

Magna House, Much Hadham
£2.3m

This detached six-bedroom house has contemporary and modern touches throughout, but its external design remains in keeping with the historic nature of the area.  It has a pitched roof, dormer windows, bay windows and traditional timber and brick elements.

There is excellent living and entertaining space including a large basement featuring a leisure area with a gym, wine store and cinema room.  The ground floor of Magna House boasts a large living room featuring a contemporary fireplace and open plan kitchen area, with comfortable family living space with bi-fold doors opening out to the garden.

The property’s generous accommodation includes three large reception rooms situated off the impressive entrance hall including a formal dining space. The six bedrooms are set over two floors, four have their own en-suites whilst the second-floor rooms utilise one expansive shared bathroom.

Millers View, Much Hadham
£1.3m

An exceptionally well designed six bedroom detached family home positioned perfectly within this exclusive development in the award-winning village of Much Hadham. The spacious and contemporary rooms are well proportioned, providing excellent living and entertaining space.

This beautifully built home excels the modern day new build with innovative design and high specification, whilst blending into the surroundings with its traditional presence. The ground floor boasts a large living room featuring a contemporary fireplace and open plan kitchen area, with comfortable family living space with bi-fold doors opening out to the garden.

***

Bellis Homes have been building houses and welcoming families into new areas for over 20 years and are aware that sometimes a small additional gesture can really make a big difference to peoples’ lives and how they settle in.  Therefore, they have decided to give buyers of Magna House and Millers View free membership to one of the cultural hubs of Much Hadham and Perry Green – the Henry Moore Foundation.

“Much Hadham may be a small village in Hertfordshire, but it holds a rich history appearing as far back as the Doomsday Book.  It has been home to many notable residents, not least sculptor Henry Moore. As we introduce these two beautiful new homes to the village, we want to embrace and support the past as well as enable new residents to become part of the local community.  As a moving-in gift we will be presenting them with a lifetime family membership to the Henry Moore Foundation at Perry Green.”

Henry Fordham, Director, Bellis Homes

For more informatiBellis Homesn, contact Bellis Homes on 01279 424 733 or visit www.bellishomes.co.uk

• Rosary Manor redevelopment has presented unique challenges for Bellis Homes
• Focus has been on presenting interiors that reflect the natural surroundings
• ‘Historic yet contemporary’ brief has created 12 truly individual homes in Mill Hill Conservation Area

Developing a Grade II Listed building comes with its own unique challenges and rewards, as family-run housebuilder Bellis Homes knows well.

The Bellis Homes team is delighted to have  obtained the opportunity to turn the former Sisters of Charity St Vincent convent, nestled in the Mill Hill Conservation Area and the North Barnet Area of Special Character, into unique residential accommodation.

The company is nurturing the derelict buildings into 11 luxury apartments and one three-bedroom house with a communal gym. Turning a derelict site negating the character of the area into a prosperous development maintaining the origins and history of the building starting a new chapter in the site’s history.

“One of the most interesting aspects of working on a site such as Rosary Manor has been how to present the homes’ interiors. The Grade II listing rightly imposed certain restrictions on the redevelopment process, in order that the character of the original buildings could be retained. We wanted to reflect this internally as well, while also providing a luxurious, contemporary feel. It was a wonderful balancing act that has resulted in the creation of 12 very individual homes.”

Henry Fordham, Director, Bellis Homes

With 3.3 hectares of mature grounds, Rosary Manor has a wonderfully countrified feel, despite its London location. Each apartment is unique, with individual proportions fitted to the shape and space available within the original manor house. The planning phase of the redevelopment was intricate, to say the least, with Bellis Homes keen to retain the character of the site while also delivering outstanding contemporary homes.

Upgrading structures that date back to the 17^th century to comply with current standards presented a need for serious innovation at times, but the result is a superbly sympathetic redevelopment.

Externally, the process has involved careful landscaping to discretely provide apartments with private areas whilst retaining the open nature of the landscape. Internally, the design has been all about natural materials and tones.

“A key focus of the interior design has been to reflect the natural surroundings that Rosary Manor enjoys, while providing a sense of serenity and indulgence. The large, light-filled rooms create a sense of connection with nature that flows throughout the development, ensuring that the interiors are just as unique as the exterior.”

Henry Fordham, Director, Bellis Homes

In the kitchens, that has meant plenty of deep woods with greys. Handmade British shaker style kitchens provide a traditional contemporary style that balances the building’s heritage with modern convenience. Bathrooms also reflect this traditional yet modern style, with traditional vanity units paired with contemporary colours and brassware. Meanwhile, flooring in the living areas is a mixture of beautiful wooden herringbone and grey planks.

This intricate blending of old and new has created an ambience that is historic yet contemporary – an impressive achievement that will serve those who are part of the next phase of the convent’s history well.

Apartments at Rosary Manor are available from £1.1 million to £4 million with completion due from March 2018. For more information, contact Bellis Homes on 01279 424 733 or visit www.bellishomes.co.uk.

• Gym traffic jumps 40% between December and January
• But a few weeks later only 5% of total sign-ups still visit regularly (Golds Gym)
• Rising number of buyers require homes which offer options for combining family and leisure time (Bellis Homes)

Aah, yes. The New Year.

Time to wipe the slate clean. Time to end the debauchery of the festive period; the booze, the food, the dodgy dancing…

As we emerge from underneath the layers of novelty jumpers and woolly socks we are confronted with the inevitable consequence of our seize-the-moment existence of the last two months – hello weight gain, sluggishness, bad skin and low mood.

Something needs to change; we spring into action, sign up for the gym and vow to start training for that marathon. But in between busy careers, children and long commutes we are lucky if we manage to wing one workout a week…!

So, what’s the solution?

Luckily, a new and forward-thinking generation of home builders is beginning to provide alternatives to real people with real commitments by designing homes with built-in health and fitness facilities.

Family run development and construction business, Bellis Homes, has established a reputation for building homes to the highest quality whilst providing a very personal service to their clients. It is this close rapport which tuned the Bellis team in to the rising demand for health facilities in the home.

Bellis Homes now aim to incorporate space for gyms, swimming pools, saunas or hot tubs into most of their planned residential developments and are leading the way towards new standards of home building.

“We want to offer owners beautiful and functional spaces where they can rest, play, work and exercise in a flexible manner which seamlessly blends into their daily lives, freeing them up for the things which really matter.”

Henry Fordham, Director, Bellis Homes

New homes on the market with on-site fitness facilities

Eleven Trees, Mill Hill, London
From £4.5 million

The Eleven Trees development, which was completed in June 2017, comprises three brand new detached homes, two with five bedrooms and one with six.

Designed by HAP Architects, and finished by Alexander James Interior Design, all properties include gyms with changing rooms as well as swimming pool and spa areas complete with steam rooms, saunas and hot tubs. There is even a hydro pool for those who are serious about shaving off a second or two from their PB.

Rosary Manor Apartments, Mill Hill conservation area, London
From £1.1 million – £4 million

An altered house of late 17th-century origin, Rosary Manor was purchased by The Sisters of Charity St Vincent in 1887 and expanded it into a convent. The Grade II listed building has been brought back to life by Bellis Homes and transformed into 11 luxurious apartments ranging between one and three bedrooms.

The development has its very own fully equipped gym and enjoys spectacular views across the countryside with its many rural lanes and footpaths which are ideal for jogging and cycling.

Magna House, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire
A£2.3 million

A brand new, detached family home located in the ancient and quaint village of Much Hadham.

This stunning 6-bedroom contemporary house has spacious and well-proportioned rooms which have been finished to a very high standard. There is excellent living and entertaining space including a large basement featuring a leisure area with a gym, cinema room and a wine store.

The ground floor of Magna House boasts a large living room featuring a contemporary fireplace and open plan kitchen area, with comfortable family living space with bi-fold doors opening out to the garden.

The property’s generous accommodation includes three large reception rooms situated off the impressive entrance hall including a formal dining space. Six bedrooms are set over two floors, four have their own en-suites whilst the second-floor rooms utilise one expansive shared bathroom.

For more information, contact Bellis Homes on 01279 424 733 or visit www.bellishomes.co.uk.

For media information and images  please contact:

Maria Tilev, AB Property Marketing Ltd
Tel: 00 44 845 054 7524

Email:  maria@abpropertymarketing.co.uk

• Big kitchens, spacious lounges, cinema rooms & pools all key to festive entertaining (Bellis Homes)
• Sparkling wine sales peaked at 600 bottles per minute on ‘Fizz Friday’ (Sainsbury’s)
• Walk-in fridge at Mulliner House is the ultimate party pad amenity (Bellis Homes)

It’s that time of year again – Christmas adverts are all over TV and social media, Christmas trees have sprung up in supermarkets across the UK and shoppers everywhere are preparing for the festive season in earnest. With the arrival of December, the party season will get into full swing as families up and down the country get into the festive mood.

When it comes to festive entertaining, having the perfect party pad in which to host friends and family is essential to surviving the season without getting flustered.

When it comes to ideal homes for Christmas entertaining, it’s all about big kitchens, stylish lounges and added extras. Of course, an enormous fridge is also essential. Prosecco and champagne sales over the holiday season are such big business that Sainsbury’s named 23 December 2016 ‘Fizz Friday.’ It followed the supermarket reporting a spend of £5,000 per minute on sparkling wine by shoppers on 23 December the previous year – the equivalent of 600 bottles of fizz for every minute that stores were open!

When it comes to the ideal fridge to store all that fizz for Christmas, few properties can compare to Mulliner House in Hadley Wood, North London, which is available from Bellis Homes. The ultra-luxurious, six-bedroom home comes with plenty of quirky features, including a walk-in fridge that’s perfect for preparing the ultimate Christmas party. Not only that, but the property also includes its own swimming pool, cinema room, lift and staff quarters. Let the festive partying commence!

“We wanted to create a really lavish property at Mulliner House – one that was packed with entertainment options and on-trend features. Walk-in fridges are one of the most sought-after amenities in luxury properties right now and are perfect for this time of year.”

Henry Fordham, Director, Bellis Homes

Calleva House, Mulliner’s sister property, is another detached, six-bedroom home. The property comes complete with an enormous lounge, kitchen and cinema room for entertaining. There’s also a superb steam room for unwinding in style after the festivities are over.

Meanwhile, few party pads offer as much scope for entertaining multiple generations as Eleven Trees in Mill Hill.

The stylish, contemporary home features a cinema room and games room complete with pool table for entertaining younger family members, while the grownups can enjoy milling around with their glasses of fizz in the spacious, open plan kitchen/dining/living room. A formal lounge offers an alternative space for guests to relax in and a chance for them to take a breather from the main party areas, should they so desire.

“With homes of this stature, providing flexible spaces is key. Families need to be able to enjoy their home in a range of ways. That means the property needs to be suited to everything from quiet family evenings in to extravagant entertaining. It’s about creating a whole-life experience, not just a space aimed at one kind of use.”

Henry Fordham, Director, Bellis Homes

This ethos has certainly been reflected at Eleven Trees. The property is on the market for £4.5 million. Meanwhile, Mulliner House and Calleva House are priced at £5.5 million and £3.75 million respectively.

For more information, contact Bellis Homes on 01279 424 733 or visit www.bellishomes.co.uk.

Hampstead is where some of London’s most famous names have chosen to settle; a haven for writers, composers, ballerinas and intellectuals, actors, artists and architects over the ages.

The location, just 4 miles northwest of Charing Cross, is known for having one of the largest urban parks in the world, Hampstead Heath, and being one of the highest points in London it boasts breathtaking views of the city.

Indeed, beautiful views are one of the most desired factors when it comes to purchasing a property for many buyers, however it is not something that’s easily found especially for those seeking the best of both worlds – idyllic countryside views within a reasonable distance of the ‘big smoke’. But luxury housebuilders – Bellis Homes has now made this reality possible.

The family-run housebuilder has just launched their brand new, high-specification development in the heart of Hampstead. With a contemporary design, the apartments of Four5Two are engineered for deluxe living in Hampstead.

The rear of the apartments feature balconies with incredible Hampstead Heath views, the perfect spot to sit back and relax.

“The premium location of Four5Two is ideal for those looking for the perfect blend of rural life with strong city links. The views over Hampstead Heath from the rear balconies are a big talking point when it comes to this development with floor to ceiling windows in the living areas to maximise light and the stunning vista.”

Henry Fordham, Director, Bellis Homes

As well as private underground parking for residents, Four5Two also boasts strong transport links being located just a 10-minute walk from Golders Green station and easily accessible from many major motorways including the A1, M1 and the M25.  The development is just 19 minutes to Kings Cross St Pancras and with several major airports all within easy reach it is undeniable that Four5Two is more than ideally situated for commuters.

Four5Two compromises of 13 apartments, with prices ranging from £1.1m – £2.2m. The living areas in Four5Two offer a large space for socialising and relaxing. The carefully designed floor plan brings in plenty of natural light enhanced with bespoke lighting for each apartment and LED lighting at plinth level through the hallway. The airy spacious area is heightened by the overall stylish and contemporary decor.

To purchase an apartment off plan or for all other enquiries please contact Bellis Homes or their sole agents Glentree 0208 731 9500.