Friday, 18 April 2014

Homes for every taste on the Wentworth Estate

According to recent research from Savills the most coveted property to own outside of London is a period house, which have continued to outperform all others post 2008 credit crunch being properties on exclusive estates.

The salubrious Wentworth Estate and St George's Hill Estate in Surrey lead the pack in desirability in the South East of England.  Both estates were designed between 1911 and 1930 by builder Walter  Tarrant who was a visionary with the foresight to create two exclusive housing developments designed around golf courses. The bright greens of the championship golf course with state of the art homes carefully nestled between produced something that had not been seen before in Surrey but which would set a precedent for some of the most luxurious estates of the future all around the World.

Little did Tarrant know (as his business went bust in 1931) that he had designed the two most expensive estates outside of London - likened by Savills to Central London's Eaton Square or Kensington Palace Gardens.  Many have also equated these grand estates to California's Beverley Hills and Hong Kong's The Peak.

Sadly some say, many of WG Tarrant's homes have since been erased and replaced with modern, cutting edge properties literally fit for a king, but look a little deeper behind the dense foliage that hides these magnificent piles, and you can glimpse a whole host of differing property styles, one for every buyer taste which is a key part of what make these estates so unique.

James Wyatt partner of prime estate agents in Surrey Barton Wyatt and Wentworth born and bred resident, comments,

"One of the things I love about Wentworth is that no two houses are the same.  This makes it a fabulously interesting place both to live and sell homes. The care and consideration that has gone into these houses - not to mention the money - has created a diverse web of properties, each of which has its own uniqueness and individuality.

"There are streets in Surrey villages such as Cobham and Oxshott where almost every house has been torn down and rebuilt in almost the same design. It is virtually impossible to tell one house from the next and they sit shoulder to shoulder with no space between them.

"It is a sad reality of the age we live in," continues Wyatt. "The traditional Tarrant homes that adorned Wentworth are not the homes that oligarchs and kings want to live in. Buyers love to admire them but ultimately they want to live in a house with impressive high ceilings, state of the art technology, swimming pools, and plenty of bedrooms, all with luxurious en-suite bathrooms."

Whilst period properties may be aesthetically pleasing they can be a serious drain on your time and your pocket. Leaky roofs, damp patches, woodworm, cracked drains, missing roof tiles or just plain, old fashioned rot: the list is endless. According to insurance company Gocompare 81% of people searching for a home want one that needs very little work with less than 25% prepared to take on a property that needed major renovation work. 

There is another reason behind the Wentworth Estates' ongoing desirability - the strict covenants which do not allow plots to be sub-divided and built on. On Wentworth one plot will only ever house one home.

To get expert advice in property for sale in Virginia Water, please contact Barton Wyatt estate and letting agents.

Sunday, 9 March 2014

All I want for Christmas is September House

Article provided by

Barton Wyatt Letting Agents Surrey


In 1946 when Don Gardner first published the song 'All I want for Christmas is my two frontChristmas Wreath SH teeth' he could never have guessed that almost 70 years later this harmless little jingle would become a festive anthem.

Now there isn't a child alive in the UK who actually wants front teeth for Christmas - they want Modern Warfare Call of Duty 3, a new Blackberry and an iPad.  But what about the grown ups?  It becomes somewhat futile buying presents for many of this generation.  A new woolly jumper does not have the same excitement level that it did in the 70's and although Cath Kidston is working hard to make oven gloves sexy, we don't really want them wrapped up and under the tree on Christmas day.

So what do adults really want? We actually secretly aspire to a very sleek Aston Martin, a Tiffany diamond bracelet or perhaps a new house, ready to move into?

Well let us introduce you to September House - built, furnished and ready to move into for Christmas Day.  And as an extra special gift a free membership to the world famous Wentworth Golf Club is being included in the price! *

This really is the most incredible house, built on the Wentworth Estate, in Surrey.  It has been decorated and furnished by the fabulous designer Alexander James Interiors who worked with the construction team to ensure that September House would stand out above all others. 

September House Christmas HallFrom the moment you pass through the electric gates there is a feeling of superior quality about this house.  The initial budget of £60,000 for the garden was completely blown and the developer decided that the garden needed to be as fabulous as the inside. 

The impressive front double door has a fabulously welcoming feel, opening onto a spacious entrance hall with a sweeping staircase fit for a royal.  This triple height hall could house the ubiquitous Christmas Norwegian spruce and there is plenty of space for an awful lot of presents.  The main electric controls are operated from the hall, giving you the option of turning on lights around the house and perhaps loading the internal sound system with some Christmas carols from the moment you walk in the door.

The four receptions rooms lead off from the grand hall giving a serene feeling of openness about the property.  From here you can head into the dining room, sitting room, study or, like most families just head straight into the kitchen.

This room is guaranteed to be the focal hub of this family home and on Christmas Day there would be hours of fun and entertainment in this part of the house alone.

The architect has designed this house so that the indoor swimming pool is fully integrated offSeptember House Kitchen 2from the kitchen.  Although accessed separately, any parent can be in the kitchen stirring the bread sauce whilst keeping an eye on their children playing in this fabulous 10 metre pool. 

The kitchen itself has been superbly hand crafted and has beautiful hand-painted shaker style units.  This kitchen is definitely a cook's dream; all the appliances are top of the range and incorporate the very latest in modern technology - a sub zero wine chiller, integrated coffee machine and two dishwashers to say the least.  With equipment like this in the kitchen, cooking the Turkey is going to be a breeze - 4 ovens ensure that you will have room for all your trimmings without having to worry about keeping food hot.

September House dining table The dining room is already laid up and ready for your Christmas dinner.  Candles are waiting to be lit and napkins ready for laps. The dining room has a feature gas fire to make your lunch extra cosy.

Finding somewhere to relax after lunch could be tricky, there are so many places to rest in this sumptuous house!  The sofas in the kitchen area invite you to put your feet up and watch a movie on the 50" flatscreen TV or play on the Wii or Xbox? Or perhaps relaxing on a lounger in the pool area would be a treat to get away from the chaos for a while and enjoy a real change of scenery. 

But the sitting room will also be calling you - this room is really rather large and boasts a wonderful fireplace.  Fitted out with luxury sofas which you will just melt into might be hard to resist. This room has double doors out to the rear garden and patio. Beyond which is a wooded area giving you complete exclusion from the outside world.

September House has a few other aspects that could make your Christmas even moreSH Kitchen lounge area surprising than ever.  The music system has in-built ceiling speakers through out the house so whether it is Christmas carols, Lady Gaga or Bach that is your fancy, this is going to be perfect for any party. 

If you wanted to make it an alfresco Christmas this year then you could chance your hand at cooking your turkey in the outside kitchen which has been very nattily incorporated into the garden. If not for the winter this outdoor kitchen is going to be the place to be seen in the summer in Wentworth.

The property has fabulous guest and/or staff facilities - depending on what suits you best.  If having mum-in-law for a week or two has been a challenge then the quarters over the triple garage will come in mighty handy.  With their own stairs to and from the back entrance this will give your guests or employees a wonderful sense of independence.  These quarters have their own kitchen area including washing machine and dishwasher to keep your workload down to a minimum.

September House bathroomEvery bedroom in the main house - of which there are 6 - comes with its own en-suite bathroom.  All decked out with the very latest in luxury bathroom equipment - it might be difficult not to spend an inordinate amount of time enjoying this living space in your home.

The master suite in September House is lavish on a scale that most homes will never be privy too.  The walk in dressing area in this house is an example of the very finest craftsmanship.  No expense has been spared to create something that is functional whilst being beautiful and designed to keep your clothes and shoes in perfect order. 

The bedroom itself has a wonderful fitted gas fire for Father Christmas to visit and theSH Master Bed suite furniture that has been selected for this room is totally luxurious. You could be sitting in a 7* hotel in Dubai or New York with the finery in this awe-inspiring master suite.

September House is priced at £6,500,000 and is ready to move into today.  The furniture within the house is there to keep if desired and since the house was designed with this furniture in mind - you would be mad not to have it.

So if moving into September House is your Christmas present sorted then just call the delightful team at Barton Wyatt Estate Agents in Surrey for a viewing.

Thursday, 9 January 2014

Looking for the Best Roofing Contractor in Windsor

Having a good and sturdy roof is just like investing on a safety vault that will keep all your possessions and belongings safe. But the problem with most homeowners is that they do not have any knowledge about the proper maintenance of the types of residential roofing that they have. If you are one of them, the best option would be to look for a roofing contractor in Windsor to hire. You might end up spending for the services of the roofing professional, but this can actually guarantee that your roof will stay in excellent condition and will last for a long time. Keeping your loved ones and your valuables safe should be your main priority and this is enough reason why you need a roofing contractor.

Licensed and Professional Roofers in Windsor

Depending on the condition of your roof, it is important that you look for a suitably licensed roofing contractor, someone who is aware of the legal stipulations when it comes to building construction, especially on the area where you live. You must ask for a documentation that will verify that such roofing contractor is indeed licensed and professional. It is also important that they are knowledgeable with the types of residential roofing that you have. Above all, they should have a good reputation in the industry.

Ask Recommendations

The best way to know if a certain roofing contractor is of good reputation is to ask recommendations from friends or from people you knew who have tried hiring a roofing contractor. Ask for suggestions and tips and see if they knew a good roofing contractor that is well knowledgeable on the field. If you make use of the EDPM roofing material for your roof, then the roofing contractor that you will hire must be well knowledgeable on this kind of roofing material. Conduct and interview and ask questions just to prove that he knows what he is doing. It is also a good idea to invite the roofing contractor to come to your house so he can do some inspections on the types of residential roofing that you have.

Remember that installing and replacing a roof is considered a major investment and you should be very careful when it comes to choosing the right roofing contractor for the job. You might not see any reason why you need a roofing contractor for now, but do not wait for the time to come that you and your family will suffer as a result of some leakage in your roof.

Sunday, 2 September 2012

Retail Window Dressing Tips

Retail Window Dressing

is the art of displaying merchandise to help increase the shop visitors and sales volume in an engaging manner.

In the hands of professional store designers, visual merchandising can turn into a very strong instrument that will allow you to set up an effective communication method between you and your potential clients. This will influence your customers' choices, and improve (even maximise) your potential sales.

With the visual merchandising experts on your side, you can inform your customers on your  services and products to improve your sales.

The professionals will also help you maximise your window dressing potential as well
  • by making use of the correct lighting
  • and with a correct visual order
through renowned methods of display for retail.

Visual Merchandising

You would expect the professionals to have extensive knowledge of visual merchandising in display for retail sector so that they can help you save time and money by selecting the most effective methods to satisfy to your individual requirements.

The experts will be able to create a sensible design for your shop to match your budget. Their experience should also pay dividends in creating an efficient and quick methodology for the renovation of your shop.

Monday, 20 August 2012

Rightmove and DPG in the spotlight....

NAEA members in Surrey have called on their organisation to focus all their resources on their own portal. PropertyLive is the NAEA and ARLA's own website, and Surrey members want to see it challenge the major portals.

Chairman James Wyatt said "Our local Surrey members want to see every single UK property on PropertyLive, which will require our national board to alter their stance considerably. We see this wholesale change as a gangway to a large number of new members and a profitable property portal."

In a letter to the Associations board, Wyatt and his committee have demanded that a "commercial" stance be taken to PropertyLive to ensure better results. Surrey members are already deserting the major portals in support of PropertyLive, but Wyatt wants more. "We're up for the fight, but our Association has to be brave and support our move."

James Wyatt is also a partner at Barton Wyatt estate agents in Surrey. Barton Wyatt provides exclusive range of property for sale in Virginia Water.

Thursday, 31 May 2012

Homes fit for a Queen this Jubilee

Article by Barton Wyatt Estate Agents Surrey

Worth in excess of £300 million, with a spread of glorious castles and multi-million pound palaces across the land to call home, HRH Queen Elizabeth II certainly affords an impressive property portfolio.

But for those Royal subjects of more modest means, it is still possible to own a home fit for a Queen. In celebration of her Diamond Jubilee, luxury developers Millgate Homes and most exclusive Surrey estate agencyBarton Wyatt explain what it takes to make a Royal feel right at home as well as handpicking the most sumptuous and awe-inspiring properties on the market today.

Absolutely top of the list is a supersized bedroom suite. A stunning view, a luxurious bathroom with top of the range fixtures and fittings, perhaps a four poster bed, roll top bath, power shower, mood lighting and an ambience that could normally only be found in a top international hotel. The bedroom suite requires ample storage, a fully operational his and hers dressing room with stacks of shelving, hanging space and shoe racks.

Essential for any Royal home, the entertaining area will be a well used space. A formal dining room and sitting room goes without saying, with warmth from subtle under-floor heating and surround sound, fully integrated sound system hidden in the walls and ceiling.

Royalty or not your kitchen will be the hub of the home yet festooned with discretely hidden white goods, a well stocked wine fridge, plenty of champers for me lady and a bevy of the latest mod cons such as a boiling tap to replace the traditional kettle, in-built Nespresso machine (George Clooney optional) and a selection of rest areas for the all important kitchen chit-chat.

On the Market:

Queenswood Queenswood, Sunningdale, in Royal Berkshire! A Perfect jubilee pad - this magnificently restored country house occupies a stunning location overlooking Sunningdale ladies golf course.  

This fabulous Dutch gabled property is accessed through a brick pillared entrance with wrought iron electric gates. The garden to the rear of the property has a stone paved terrace with gradual steps down to the lawn.   A gravel path leads down the undulating lawn with steps down to the swimming pool area. Many of the trees and shrubs in the front and rear gardens are discreetly lit by an external lighting system.

The elegant pillared front entrance opens to wonderful oak panelled rooms, high ceilings and beautiful fireplaces. Whilst the reception rooms are awash with character and tasteful joinery, the kitchen and laundry are the height of modern living.

The first floor is well thought out with the master bedroom suite boasting 2 dressing rooms. A further five bedrooms all with en-suite and a large games/cinema room makes for an extremely substantial house - perfect for large family living with plenty of space for guests.

Waterford House Waterford House, Wentworth Estate, Surrey- is superbly situated on arguably one of the most prestigious roads within the Wentworth Estate. This house has the most fabulous garden - perfect for a summer jubilee tea party. Created by specialist garden designers you will be the talk of the town with your own mini private estate within Wentworth.

An extensive terrace spans across the rear of the house to a slightly raised dining area off from the kitchen. A pathway leads around the perimeter of the rear garden to a sun terrace in the north-west corner of the garden with an attractive pond and water feature. In the centre of the garden is a very attractive Rill which can be seen as you come through the front door of theproperty.

No expense was spared in the construction of the house using the finest materials and construction methods. Of particular note is the amount of technology boasting Crestron and Lutron systems controlling the audio visual, curtains, blinds and even the running of the bath via IPhone technology! Throughout the house there is a feel of sophisticated luxury with attention to detail and design. With five bedrooms, five bathrooms, five reception rooms, a cinema room, games room, three-car garage with studio annexe over with shower room and kitchenettethis house shouldn't be on the market for long.

Radcliff House Radcliffe House, Boar's Hill, Oxfordshire - A spectacular example of a modern country house from Millgate Homes which boasts the most wonderful outdoor living area within its gorgeous two acre garden. Set within this large garden is a dedicated party area comprising brand new heated swimming pool and the most spectacular pavilion with terrace.

The pavilion is just what one needs to keep the party going, wine fridge, changing areas, WC, power, lighting and a kitchen area. But best of all is the all-weather outdoor kitchen with ample storage, a vast BBQ and sink. This house with its views over to the spires of Oxford is surreal.

The accommodation at Radcliffe House comprises drawing room, dining room, study, family room, kitchen/breakfast room, games room and five bedrooms each en-suite. There is also a detached cottage with kitchen/living room, bedroom and bathroom.

Broomfield House located in Windlesham, Surrey is a magnificent family house featuring an incredible array of modern day living. Celebrating the Jubilee here will be a breeze with CAT 5 integrated request audio system with speakers throughout many rooms, intercom facilities, security cameras and a state-of-the art Rako mood lighting system, this house was meant for some serious partying.

The accommodation comprises a utility room and fabulous kitchen .An impressive entrance hall with marbled flooring and chandelier leading to a further six reception rooms include a study and conservatory. The master bedroom includes en-suite and dressing roomThere are four further bedrooms (2 en-suite) and a family bathroom.

To amuse your guests the recreation area includes a pool and Jacuzzi. There is a steam room and shower plus separate changing rooms and a custom built bar area which has access onto a terrace via 10m fully retractable glass doors.

The property also includes a detached triple garage block with staff flat above. The flat includes a private entrance, kitchen, living area, bedroom and bathroom. If all that isn't enough the grounds of Broomfield House extend to 1.7 acres with fabulous views to woodland.

Kingswood Surrey St Audries House - based in Kingswood, Surrey - so quite clearly a great choice for Royal living.   This amazing country house is just having the finishing touches added and will be ready for a very lucky new owner in mid June. Set within private landscaped grounds is a palatial 6 bedroom detached house offering privacy, exclusivity and allure in equal measure bearing all the hallmarks of a truly exceptional home.

Excellence is in the detail - it is the final touches, sometimes tiny and even imperceptible that separate the truly exceptional from the merely functional. Devotion to detail is what turns houses into homes, an essential part of the Millgate Homes philosophy exemplified at St Audries.


For more details on any of these homes fit for a Queen contact:

Queenswood, Sunningdale, Berkshire. Priced at £4,250,000. Contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

Waterford House, Wentworth Estate, Surrey. Priced at £4,250,000. Contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.