Profile: Elle Hammond

Icona Point is up there with the postcode’s most desirable developments. It’s got a first-class setting in Stratford’s heart, edged by the Waterworks River and overlooking the sprawling green acres of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Telford Homes, the Icona Point developer, instructed esteemed architect, Stockwool, to create a landmark building in keeping with a blossoming, on-the-pulse neighbourhood. The end result is an elliptical 18-storey tower and two lower sister blocks, connected by immaculate courtyards and flaunting rainbow-hued façades. The tower’s main entrance is actually reminiscent of a Rubik’s Cube, so the design of the place really sets it apart.

There are 249 apartments here, all bright, airy and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows, neutral colour schemes and balconies that offer a bird’s-eye view of the action below. Kitchens are fully fitted with highly-rated Smeg mod-cons, and bedrooms come with handy fitted wardrobes. Apartment interiors aside, nice-to-have factors for Icona Point residents include a round-the-clock concierge service, a gym and secure parking.

Close by, you’ve got the colossal Westfield Stratford City, a miniature town in its own right, packed with stores, restaurants and a cinema. Icona Point is just over a 15-minute walk from Stratford International, and closer still to Stratford Underground, meaning big business and entertainment hubs such as King’s Cross, Canary Wharf and the West End are quick and simple to reach.

The big draw in these parts, though, is just how much residents have on the doorstep. You can spend your free time dipping in and out of quality restaurants (lots of which are independent), enjoying boozy brunches in the authentic pubs and quirky cafés, and exploring the generous green space and riverside walks. If all that sounds too sedate, opt for a ride on the world’s tallest tunnel slide, courtesy of the Olympic Park’s ArcelorMittal Orbit structure.

Crisp. Clean. Modern. Three words to describe homes at The Vibe. The one, two and three-bed apartments here are airy and open-plan, with walls coated in smooth white emulsion, and woodstrip laminate flooring in kitchens, living rooms and hallways. Bathrooms feature contemporary ceramic tiling, while bedrooms are carpeted in a soft neutral shade. Each apartment comes with integrated Smeg appliances, underfloor heating and a video entry phone system, not to mention a balcony that looks out over Hackney or The City.

Elsewhere in the development, there’s a 24-hour concierge, a swanky residents’ gym, and space set aside for bicycles. Head up to the roof, and you’ll find a terrace just made for after-work beers. It’s neatly furnished, with faux grass and a smattering of plants, and its 360-degree view takes in landmarks like The Shard and the Gherkin.

In terms of transport links, The Vibe comes up trumps. It’s a three-minute walk from the development to Dalston Junction, which gets you to Shoreditch High Street (for The City) in just four stops, and to Highbury & Islington (for the West End) in two. Dalston Kingsland, meanwhile, is an eight-minute walk away, and has trains to Stratford and Hampstead Heath.

With so much going on nearby, you might want to stick around. Now one of East London’s most sought-after postcodes, Dalston is an eclectic, technicolour delight. The place is splashed with street art (graffiti king-pin Banksy is known to stop by), and home to some of the capital’s best vintage stores (don’t miss Oxfam on Kingsland Road). As for the after-dark scene, there’s proper East London pubs mixed in with quirky cocktail bars (daiquiri in a teapot anyone?), plus countless restaurants selling cuisines from the world-over.

The Tower Loft Apartments are reminiscent of the airy loft spaces on Manhattan’s sought-after Upper East Side. They’re done out in understated earthy shades, with open-plan lounge and dining areas that provide plenty of room for relaxing and entertaining, plus floor-to-ceiling windows for optimum natural light. There’s a host of luxe features here, too, such as a video entry phone system, underfloor heating, Neff kitchen appliances, and plush carpets and LED lighting in the bedrooms.

Smack bang in the heart of one of South East London’s most connected areas, the Tower Loft Apartments are just a five-minute walk from both Lewisham Station and Lewisham DLR Station. The former provides a direct link via Southeastern services into London Victoria and Charing Cross, while the latter whisks residents to professional hubs like Canary Wharf, Bank and Stratford.

Closer to home, you’re never stuck for things to do. There’s a generous helping of cafés, bars and traditional Victorian pubs on the doortstep. And if you’re a foodie, don’t miss Model Market, a night-time street food extravaganza just down the road from the Tower Loft Apartments. It’s also really easy to reach the renowned Greenwich Park from here. Wander the flower and herb gardens, stop for tea and cake at the Pavilion Café, and soak up the scenery from one of London’s best viewpoints.

One, two and three-bedroom homes are on offer here, in aptly-named areas such as ‘The Nature Collection’, which sits next to the idyllic Woodberry Wetlands nature reserve, and ‘Hartingtons’, a phase fronted by a vast, glittering lake. Those that don’t face either, need fret not – all the buildings are peppered among peaceful courtyards and gardens.

Interiors are top-of-the-range, with a mix of muted tones and bolder statement hues, quality flooring (think plush carpets and engineered wood with underfloor heating), and slick appliances (such as the Bosch touch-control hob and built-in microwave oven). Kitchen, living and dining areas are open-plan and spacious, and each home benefits from floor-to-ceiling windows that let in lots of light. All come with at least one balcony or terrace, too, so residents can make the most of the outdoor surroundings.

When it comes to amenities, Woodberry Down has it all. In fact, think of it as a purpose-built village. Among the long list of establishments on-site, there’s a supermarket, a grocery store, a beautician, a Mediterranean café and an authentic Italian restaurant. There’s also a helpful 24-hour concierge service, a swimming pool and a fitness centre. Close by, you’ll find the West Reservoir Water Sports Centre, which offers activities like kayaking and canoeing. Speaking of activities, there’s plenty laid on for residents, such as summer festivals and weekly outdoor yoga.

While it may be tempting to stay put in the serene, green Woodberry bubble, Manor House tube is less than a five-minute walk away, and has great links to some of London’s commuter hotspots. From here, you’ll reach Kings Cross is less than 10 minutes, Oxford Circus in 12, and Canary Wharf in under 40.

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Less than five minutes’ walk away is Bromley-by-Bow tube station, where Ivy Point residents can make use of the District and Hammersmith & City lines. Canary Wharf commuters, meanwhile, are looking at just a 10-minute journey via Devons Road DLR station, the same distance but in the opposite direction. In terms of things to do in the development’s proximity, there’s traditional pubs, art galleries, and establishments that swap from café by day to cocktail and live music venue by night.

The development is made up of one, two and three-bedroom flats. They’re by no means luxurious, but fresh and neutral-coloured – expect white walls, wood-effect flooring and lots of natural light, courtesy of full-length windows. Kitchens and living rooms are spacious and open-concept, and the former comes with integrated appliances. Each property has a balcony boasting fabulous London views, but head up to Ivy Point’s rooftop terrace for the best ones. It’s got a panoramic outlook of the city’s iconic skyline, and you can see for miles on a clear day.

Elsewhere, residents have access to a 24-hour concierge service, and a modern fitness centre covering 2,500 square feet. There’s an onsite Sainsbury’s Local, so you can skip the walk to the supermarket, too. If it’s the London market lifestyle that appeals, though, the weekly rollcall of stalls on Bromley High Street provide an alternative. Here, shoppers can pick up fresh fruit, veg and more every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.