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Seeing the light: The lasting legacy of Sir John Soane
For Sir John Soane, the tools of the trade included skylights, tinted glasses and mirrors, as much as classical motifs, bricks and mortar. Carla Passino retraces the life of the man who chased the poetry of architecture and left an extraordinary gift to the nation
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The most incredible drinks cabinet you'll ever see: 'Who wouldn't want to have a whisky out of a hippo?'
Not just a bronze sculpture by a modern French master, but a bronze sculpture which opens to reveal a whisky bar. Carla Passino found out more from the art dealer who fell so hopelessly in love with the piece that he was desperate to buy it himself.
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Marianne North: The intrepid Victorian who climbed mountains and paddled up rapids to create unforgettable natural art
Victorian artist Marianne North braved jungle rapids, forests and mountains to capture the blowsy beauty of tropical plants on canvas. Carla Passino paints the life of a woman who defied conventions to forge her own path.
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Hugh Grant's former South Kensington penthouse on the market with £700k price cut
I'm just a girl, standing in front of a 3,000 sq ft London penthouse, asking it to please let me in.
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Curious Questions: Why was John Nash, London's most celebrated architect, despised in his own lifetime — and for decades afterwards?
John Nash is the man responsible for London's most beautiful buildings — yet he was once as reviled as he is now revered. Carla Passino retraces his life to see how his star rose, fell and rose again.
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How Wimbledon went from a backwater of 46 houses to the capital's greenest suburb, 'as un-Londonish as if it were a hundred miles out'
Living in Wimbledon has long been a popular choice for those who want a mix of town and country life. Carla Passino takes a closer look.
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It shouldn't happen at a coronation: A brief history of crowning day disasters
Things don’t always go to plan at a coronation, from stumbling peers to muddled clergy, dripping candles and even earthquakes, reveals Carla Passino.
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To mow or not to mow? That is the question every May
Two charities are urging gardeners to stay their own hands and refrain from mowing their grass in a bid to support biodiversity.
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'Inside-out living' at this modern take on the Arts-and-Crafts house, with exotic curves, glass walls and spectacular country setting
Striking interiors meet delightful grounds and magnificent country views at Checkendon Hill House, near Streatley-on-Thames, in Berkshire.
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How Sir Giles Gilbert Scott left an indelible mark on London — and how that infuriated his critics
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s designs shaped London as we know it — but despite his famed ‘unruffled serenity’, not all of his creations were met with rapt enthusiasm. Carla Passino takes a look.
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Best country houses for sale in Kent, from townhouses and mansions to a home atop the White Cliffs of Dover
From a beautiful Tunbridge Wells townhouse to a clifftop home in a stunning location, here's our pic of some of great properties for sale in Kent.
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A ghost tour of London on foot
Many out there believe that the capital’s streets, pubs and even hospitals are home to myriad ghosts — a few friendly, some less so. On a walk through some of these supposedly haunted sites, Carla Passino tries to separate fact from fiction.
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Seven of the most beautiful barn conversions for sale in Britain right now
If you are looking for a country property that's eye-catching and a little different, a barn conversion could be for you and we have handpicked some of the best currently on the market.
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James Bond's London: Where to see 007's haunts around the British capital
Carla Passino treads in the footsteps of James Bond and his creator, author Ian Fleming.
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Battle over the green verges of Britain as many 'slashed while in full bloom'
When should a grass verge be cut? It might seem an innocuous question, but it's something of a battleground between residents and local councils, as Carla Passino reports.
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A small historic country estate in the Dartmoor National Park that's up for sale for the first time in just under 30 years
Hidden gems come in all shapes and sizes — this particular one in the form of a Devon longhouse, crying out for restoration and set amid 19 acres of spectacular Victorian walled gardens, meadows and woodland.
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A beautiful Grade II listed farmhouse near Exeter that's set within 16 acres of dreamy Devon countryside
Loxbrook Farm looks like your typical farmhouse on the outside — but its interiors tell a different story.
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A beautifully remote thatched cottage in Devon with just under 13 acres of magical gardens
Lower Park is a true idyll in an enchanting rural location, surrounded by lake, pasture and woodland and offers charming accommodation.
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A handsome Regency house for sale on a pretty crescent in Royal Leamington Spa
Number 5 Claredon Crescent is a beautiful six-bedroom property located on one of Leamington Spa's most desirable roads.
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The strangest things named after Queen Elizabeth II, from flower markets to a Filipino teenage celebrity
A rose, a reservoir and a telescope are only some of the many quirky places and objects called Elizabeth II after The Queen, finds Carla Passino.
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A magnificent house for sale in one of Kingston's most sought-after private estates
Simorgh is a sublime property, located in Coombe Estate, offering bight, easy living space and beautiful private gardens.
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A wonderful home in north London that will make you forget that you're living in the capital
With a dining room to rival that of a high end restaurant in the city centre, and gardens akin to those you would find embedded deep within the rural countryside, Long Pond House is a glorious blend of city and country.
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Gardens by a Chelsea Flower Show gold medallist on offer at this truly remarkable Edwardian home — and it's just as beautiful inside
Hill Farm House in the village of Kelvedon, in Essex, not only showcases spectacular, recently renovated interiors, but magical landscaped gardens designed by an award-winning designer.
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One of Winchester's 'finest private residences' is up for sale for £6.95 million — and the views won't disappoint
Breathtaking Grade II listed Mulberry House is a spectacular property, not just in terms of location, but stylistically too, blending timeless Georgian features with bespoke interiors.
