Elif Yigit, in her early 50’s and originally from Türkiye, was living in Paris where her corporate job was based. A new role meant she had to make the move to London in 2014. After working in-house for over 20 years, Elif decided it was time to go out on her own, supporting businesses in in their strategy, business development, marketing and innovation work and she settled in the UK.
Leaving behind the sparkly lights of the Eiffel Tower, Elif was privately renting a one-bedroom apartment in Chelsea until she decided it was time to purchase her own home in 2020.
Elif comments, “To be honest, it took me 2 years to decide whether to purchase a home or not. I’m a very fussy person and it takes me a long time to like anything, let alone buy it. I wasn’t looking in the outer boroughs of London until I saw City & Country’s The 1840 St George’s Gardens development on Instagram. The building just wowed me. I always make fun of Instagram and think who would seriously buy a home from social media, but that turned out to be me!”
“When I visited the development for the first time, I thought it was too far out of the city centre and I was never going to be able to settle here. After visiting five or six times, trying out the stations, travel times and experiencing the neighbourhoods, I knew this was my future home.”
Elif purchased a two-bedroom apartment for £760,000. The home was purchased off-plan which meant Elif had the opportunity to select a different specification if she wanted to. “As I purchased off-plan, I wanted to visualise what my home would look like so when I visited the showhome and it gave me a good idea of how my apartment could look.”
She continues, “I had my heart set as soon as I saw the plans. There were high ceilings and large windows with views over the parkland. The window in my living room is like a church window. It’s so large and lets so much light in. During build, the team discovered an old fireplace. They discussed it with me, and I loved the idea of having a 180-year old original feature as a focal point. After I moved in, I started looking into the history of the building and found out my apartment used to be part of the admin wing. It turns out that it was the manager’s apartment.”
The original features and interesting past was something that persuaded Elif to complete her purchase. “I like to live in authentic places with history. When I was looking at homes, I did consider a new build apartment block closer to Chelsea but couldn’t bring myself to do it. Although new builds were more convenient, they lacked character. The ceilings were low, and they didn’t have any soul. I love old buildings with high ceilings, big windows and character. Having that and the convenience of a new build was why The 1840 ticked all of my boxes. I got a new build home with the features and character of an older building.”
“I’m an eclectic person and one of my neighbours is an interior designer. I got some help from him to dress my home in the way I wanted. I’ve combined so many styles from industrial through to country. I wanted the interiors to reflect my personality, just as the grounds and building reflect theirs.”
Shelley West says: “Each home at The 1840, architects, interior designers and historians have individually designed St George’s Gardens, ensuring our quality homes embrace their historical roots and emphasise the character of each space. It’s lovely to hear that a buyer like Elif, who loves history, was able to call one of our developments home.”
Externally, a total of eight acres of beautifully kept private gardens with expertly designed landscaping, cascading lawns, private courtyards and walled gardens, will be available for residents. Beyond the immediate surroundings, Springfield Village as a whole features a brand-new 32-acre park with walking trails, play areas, informal sporting fields and wetland areas to encourage wildlife and support biodiversity.
What’s more, The 1840 St George’s Gardens is ideally located between Tooting, Balham and Earlsfield. “All three of the main neighbourhoods have different personalities. It’s amazing to have such diverse cultures at my fingertips. One day you can be dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant, taking a stroll throughout many of the green parks or even shopping in independent boutiques in Wandsworth Common, the next day you can discover the vibrant Tooting market” Elif added.
She continues, “Paris and London are both amazing places; I love the art, history and culture both cities provide. However, London is much bigger and more cosmopolitan. As I grew up in a big city, Istanbul, it suits me very well. I like to live in quieter neighbourhoods while still having easy access to the big city. I also love how well-connected it is. I’ve always travelled, and I’ve visited 63 countries. From London, I can easily visit anywhere in the world and the UK, from Scotland to Cornwall, Cotswolds to Brighton.”
“I’m a keen photographer so I take a lot of day trips via the train. I have access to the Northern Line and Victoria Line. I love walking and the tube station is about an 18 minute walk. I’m in Oxford Circus in 40 minutes.”
Properties in Phase One and Two are available from £525,000. A new collection of homes will be released this summer – Orchid Wing – and will start from £425,000. Tailored incentives are available on selected properties. To book an appointment to view or to find out more visit www.cityandcountry.co.uk or call 0203 6274605.