Dara Huang is an interior designer who has been used to receiving requests for ‘wow moments.
For most of us that might be a nice feature wall, a copper worktop or — if you are pushing the boat out — a home sauna. Dara has higher standards for her clients.
“They are looking for the best and most innovative solutions.
HARFORD MANOR £30M: Set in 40 acres of prime polo territory just outside Windsor, the nine-bedroom home has a gym, swimming pool and stables.
Harford Manor’s wine cellar is a luxurious property. The main bedroom has three separate bathrooms, as well as 16 storage units.
Dara Huang (38), interior designer and dream maker, stated that her clients demand the best. Her comments were further emphasized by Huang: “Your clients expect the best of the best.”
That means designer entertainment bars, clear-glass garages and waterfalls — lots of demand for the latter, apparently — as a starter for ten.
Dara says, “It could go anywhere, from something as basic as a home theater to as extravagant and luxurious as baby shark tanks,” Dara once said. She was the wife of Prince Beatrice’s husband Edoardo Maglio Mozzi, as well as mother to her five-year old son Wolfie.
In the inaugural episode of Britain’s most expensive houses, we meet Dara (38), in which the channel 4 show takes us behind-the scenes at Sotheby’s International Realty, an elite estate agent.
AMBERWOOD HOUSE £75M: A 15,300sqft mansion spread over five floors in Knightsbridge, central London, that until 1991 was the Panamanian Embassy. An entire floor can be occupied by one of the five large en-suite bedrooms.
Amberwood House has a pool that features a number of mirrors, a chandelier and a swimming area. Margot Fonteyn was a ballerina who lived here for many decades.
Think Selling Sunset British style, although while — like the hit Netflix show following the lives of Los Angeles real estate brokers —there is property porn aplenty, there is sadly little in the way of back-stabbing or personal drama.
Unless you count Dara being asked to design a bespoke ‘S&M room’ for one of her clients, that is.
She says, “But you know what, we are very professional about this: we don’t hesitate.” “We do what they ask.”
They refer to ultra-high-net worth individuals that drive the UK’s booming property market.
In the past year London had the highest number of luxury home purchases of any city in the world, a £2.7 billion market.
Demand for capital city penthouses has been outmatched by a feverish demand for country castles and stately homes.
Guy Bradshaw is the managing director at Sotheby’s International. He tells Mail: “This year has been remarkable.” ‘We’ve sold a number of properties between £10 million and £15 million in the past few months.’
ST PANCRAS CHAMBER £4.6M: A penthouse located on the second floor of the clock tower of one of the capital’s most iconic buildings. Spanning 1,600sqft with triple-height windows, the interiors — personally customised by the owner, model Lily Cole — include a painted rainbow over one of the distinctive Gothic window arches.
Guy believes that contact is everything in finding clients. Guy said agents can rely on their little black books to find new clients.
‘Uber networker’ Diana Tran’s bulging contacts book recently saw her successfully match a client with two penthouse apartments in the heart of Mayfair for a combined £50,000-a-week rental.
She says, “I receive a lot referral business from past clients.” My Instagram is a great source of business.
The commission for a big deal is also high. Agent fees in the UK are anywhere from 8 to 10 percent of rent and 1 to 4 percent of sales price. Sotheby’s receives a portion of this, while a substantial amount goes to those who get the customers to sign the agreement.
LANGDALE HOUSE £10.25M: A new-build six-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion near Roehampton, South-West London, that includes a wine cellar with space for some 1,000 bottles, a games room with jukebox and projector screen, and basement flat for staff or family
You can see how eager Diana (36) is to sell Amberwood House. This mega-mansion, located in Knightsbridge central London was, until 1991, the Panamanian Embassy. It also served as the home for Margot Fonteyn, the ballerina.
It was purchased four years ago by property developer Kam Babaee, who has spent £28 million transforming it into a 15,300 sq ft mega-mansion spread over five floors, complete with a triple basement and a cantilevered staircase.
It now has a retail price of £75 million, meaning even a 1 per cent deal would result in £750,000 commission.
Diana says, “It would make a nice payday but it would also secure a sale at this level would be something that I would be proud of.” “It would be like winning the Bafta.
Shereen Malik Akhtar is 32 years old. She started her career as an office manager for Sotheby’s 8 years ago. She then went on to become the lead of the central London sales department. She is thrilled to have snaffled the sale of a £12 million penthouse in Southbank Tower, an iconic development on the bank of the Thames.
It’s not even completed yet — for that you get ‘shell and core’, meaning a 4,400 sq ft blank canvas, albeit one with 40 ft-high floor-to-ceiling windows framing epic views.
Shereen says, “It is actually a bargain.” ‘If it was on the other side of the river, it would cost £40-£50 million.’
It was Dara Huang’s vision of interior design that sold Dara Huang, a young Scots entrepreneur, to buy it. This includes an interior dining space, roof terrace and entertainment bar with glowing onyx, as well as dual ‘cool and jacuzzi’ swimming pools.
The shark tank was also requested by another penthouse owner in the same block. Shereen said, “Nothing is too difficult for you in this job.”
“For female clients, it is often about clothing and shoes. A fur fridge is an area that’s set at a controlled temperature so furs can be kept in perfect condition. It also includes a makeup fridge. It opens up a world of possibilities.
We also have the opportunity to visit Plas Glynllifon on North Wales’ Llyn Peninsula. This 110,000 square foot, 102-room Neoclassical Grade I listed mansion has its own Batman-style cave.
It costs a mere £2 million but it needs around £20 million spent on it to restore it to its former glory.
Guy says that clients have significant amounts of money, and it’s important to prepare for the long-game. Guy is looking for property to garage more than 50 cars.
‘Someone might come to you with £50 million to spend but they’re not going to spend that in two weeks. This could take up to a year or more. It is necessary to establish a connection.
Mary Robertson, a broker, can attest to the fact that even in such cases, there is no guarantee. She has nurtured a four-and-a-half-year-long relationship with a French Moroccan millionaire developer and socialite based in Dubai, and is convinced that he is the perfect match for Harford Manor, a £30 million property set in 40 acres of prime polo territory just outside Windsor.
HUXLEY HOUSE £17M: In the Bishops Avenue in Highgate, North London, regularly listed as one of the most expensive streets in the UK, this is a sprawling 14,500sqft abode featuring eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms
Huxley House, a beautifully furnished and decorated room that includes a sitting area. A full-service leisure facility with pool and spa is available at the property.
There is a pool, stables for horses, a wine cellar, and staff quarters. The main bedroom has an en suite bathroom with not just one but three bathrooms.
Her client thinks it’s perfect for his needs — but Covid rules mean he can’t get into the country to see it, and he’s not prepared to spend £30 million without viewing. This means that there is no sales.
Mary states that it has been difficult. “Some properties disappear before you have a chance at them. But the last thing I want is to make people feel pressure or urgency.
“Sometimes, you may build a relationship that lasts for at least two years before even considering looking into a property.
Diana states that it’s like being the matchmaker for property. “I consider them to be in a long-lasting, loving relationship with my client.
For the rest, we can just look around and imagine.
Channel 4 will broadcast Britain’s Most Expensive Houses at 9pm December 29. All episodes are available to view and download from All 4 starting on that day.