There’s no getting away from the now overused phrase: “it’s been an unprecedented year” and the property world has been no different. After all, what’s happening in the property market often directly indicates the health of the economy at a macro level, but also the everyday hopes and aspirations of those of us dreaming of a chic city pad close to coveted boutiques or a country home with breath-taking views from the kitchen window. As a specialist property and interiors PR agency we get to pore over some of the finest properties in the UK and across a global stage, so it seems fitting that as we wrap up 2020, we reminisce on some of our favourite properties we have had the fortune to share with the media.
First up, and nominated by our Senior Account Executive, Freya Martyniak is this historic and unique house in Cheniston Gardens in South Kensington, represented by our client Harrods Estates for £9,995,000. When we worked on this story in February – close to St Valentine’s Day, it was a delight to discover that the property was once used as a registry office where many happy couples were wedded in this memorable period property. Freya says: “It’s no wonder that this property was used as a wedding venue as it provides the perfect backdrop both internally and externally for stunning wedding photos due to its Grade II listed Queen Anne style façade and stained-glass windows, which was built in the mid 1880s”. The property has enjoyed for a variety of uses over the past century, including a home up to before the Second World War, and then an Air Raid Precaution store and depot during the war.
At the other end of the country, the Elevate PR’s Carter Jonas team’s imagination was truly sparked by what is thought to be the smallest detached house in the UK! Sunset Lodge at Grimston Park in Tadcaster, York, caused quite the media stir – going viral and hitting the headlines across multiple national media outlets. Country Life, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, Yahoo News, AOL News, House Beautiful, Yorkshire Post and many more covered this little beauty. Polly Martin, Communications Director recalls: “As soon as we set eyes upon this property, we saw the story potential – a recently renovated and converted lodge guarding the gates of Grimston Park – a Grade II Listed Georgian country house in North Yorkshire. Not only was the price attractive at £250,000 but this was an opportunity for someone to own a slice of English heritage and enjoy the perks of being ‘Lord and Lady’ of the manor – without the high overheads.” Our client Rachel Macpherson, Head of Residential in York at Carter Jonas who listed the property told the Daily Mail that “being in the home is rather like being on the estate used for filming “Downton Abbey.”
If there’s one thing that the team at Elevate PR loves, it’s a topical property story, and Washington House on Basil Street in SW3 was a gift of a story during the US Elections in November this year. Harrods Estates offered to the market a truly presidential living experience for £5,975,000; the entire three-bedroom homes was interior designed to an exceptional standard with many luxurious features, including a full air cooling and warming system, underfloor heating, Lutron lighting, bespoke bedroom wardrobes and polished timber flooring throughout. The red-brick mansion block resides alongside other Presidential namesakes: Jefferson House and Lincoln House, forming part of Knightsbridge’s very own ‘Mount Rushmore’. Kirsty Merritt, Communications Director at Elevate PR says: “At the time of Washington House’s construction in 1915, Woodrow Wilson was the US president. President Wilson was known for his efforts in strengthening the UK-US ‘special relationship’ - perhaps adding weight to the decision to name these residential mansion blocks after three highly influential US presidents.”
For more story inspiration, sharing the type of work we do for a range of property clients please drop us a note via info@elevatepr.co.uk
