Home gadgets and gizmos have traditionally been just an added extra. But these days developers offer an array of home technology with substance. Johnny Turner has a look.
As we work longer hours and need to relax, technology becomes more and more important to our homes. After all, the Brits put in the longest hours of any European country – and any time and worry saved by the use of machines can mean the difference between a life of stress and one of relative ease. Those who are in the market for a home will find a number of developments where the latest technology helps to clear space in your time – and in your head – for the many challenges that present themselves to you daily.
One area in which technology has changed the way we live is security. Wates Residential offers a magnificent church conversion in Gispy Road, West Norwood, where you will find not only a very high specification and stunning original features but also a colour video entryphone system, which gives you peace of mind.
There are six two-bedroom apartments for sale at this unique development, each with a 125-year lease. The original church features, including stained glass windows and vaulted beamed ceilings, are a beautiful complement to more up-to-the-minute touches such as mezzanine levels, stylish fitted kitchens and contemporary bathrooms. The exceptionally superior finish, which includes American oak wide-plank flooring, reiterates that this is a particularly thoroughly and imaginatively done conversion.
The location is excellent, and those who commute into central London will be surprised at the convenience. Trains from nearby West Norwood station get into Victoria station in only 25 minutes, making both the City and the West End easily accessible. For shopping, Norwood High Street has a wealth of both independent and chain retailers.
Prices for the apartments start at £230,000. Call the sole selling agent Wates Residential on 020 8299 2655 for more information.
In Chafford Hundred, Essex, Bovis Homes offers the ideal home – and a great deal – for the first-time buyer or investor. At Cumberland Rise the developer is offering to pay the five per cent deposit on two-bedroom apartments. And the high-quality internal specification makes these homes even more attractive.
The kitchen has a stainless steel oven, hob and hood, as well as an integrated fridge/freezer, washer/dryer and dishwasher. There is wood effect flooring in the kitchen and hallway, adding to the modern styling. And with the help of technology, these apartments are a secure living environment; each home is fitted with an individual intercom unit which links to the main door.
The location is convenient for the M25, opening up a wealth of connections within the South East. Apartments are priced from £169,950. The sales office is open Thursdays to Mondays 10am to 5pm. Call 0845 230 4440 or visit bovishomes.co.uk to find out more.
A new mixed-use scheme in Islington is being created from the former offices of the British Standards Institute. Called 101 Islington, this development by Tilfen Land is located on Pentonville Road, between King’s Cross and Angel. Those who work in the City will find a very quick commute by bus or tube.
This development has been designed for low-maintenance, contemporary living to a specification unusual in the Islington area. All apartments will have underfloor heating, for instance. And the contemporary Manhattan kitchens feature Caesar Stone quartz worktops and stainless steel Neff integrated appliances including an American-style double-height fridge/freezer. Bathrooms, including the en suites, come furnished with white Ideal Standard by David Chipperfield sanitaryware, full-height mirrors and Vola chrome fittings.
High-tech features include Cat-5e cabling, TV/FM/satellite and BT points standard throughout. Or there is the option of a ‘plug and play’ IT package which provides a range of options including lighting and curtain automation, surround sound system and home cinema. Along with the entertainment possibilities, this makes working from home simple.
The location is excellent, being just a five-minute stroll from the many bars, restaurants and cinemas of Upper Street. Prices start at £315,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. For further information contact DTZ Residential on 020 7710 8116.
Techno-savvy is very much in evidence at Milan Quarter, the third phase of homes at Cassio Metro in Watford. Linden Homes’ new collection of two-bedroom apartments will be launched on 26 June, and its very high level of internal specification will ensure great interest from day one.
Besides desirable features such as private balconies, Milan Quarter will offer the latest in high-tech gadgetry in an effort to provide a lifestyle of luxury and ease. One particularly welcome touch will be television screens in the bathroom as well as incorporated into the bed, connected to the house alarm.
Cassio Metro includes a dedicated concierge service as well as on-site health and leisure facilities. Elsewhere in Cassio Metro, Linden has now opened its new contemporary town house show home in the highly successful Paris Quarter. Meanwhile, those who register interest at the Milan Quarter launch will have a chance to win a free trip to Milan itself!
Prices for the homes at Cassio Metro range from £249,950 to £475,000. For further information call Linden Homes at the development on 01923 229229 or visit lindenhomes.co.uk.
For those who seek a home that is well connected both in terms of transport and technology, look no further than Britannia Walk by Goldcrest Homes. The collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments and live/work apartments is located in thriving Hoxton, where excellent commuter links and entertainment options have drawn a ready supply of willing buyers over the past five years or so. And the homes at Britannia Walk match the modern, stylish surroundings.
Technology is much in evidence here. The latest CAT5 cabling will give home workers the connections they need to do a day’s work without leaving the house, and kitchens are fully fitted with AEG and Electrolux appliances. There is also a private screening room in the development, where residents and their guerrr21sts can relax and watch the latest DVDs.
One-bedroom apartments are priced from £350,000. Contact the sales centre on 020 7731 7679 for more details.