Retire with all of your treasures
ONe disadvantage of downsizing is having to part with your cherished possessions, collected over time.
But what if you could find a retirement apartment large enough for all those treasures?
Retired businesswoman Anne Hobson, 78, found room for three antique dolls’ houses — one dating from 1740, in her apartment in Battersea Place, London’s first luxury retirement village, managed by Lifecare Residences.
There is currently a twobedroom apartment for sale at £1.599 million ( lifecareresidences.
co.uk, 020 8939 9600). ‘I’m so happy to have these lovely things around me,’ says widow Anne, who moved to her two-bedroom home a year ago.
Her companion Christopher Buckmaster, 79, a former mayor of Kensington and Chelsea, has a collection of Napoleonic china spanning an entire wall in his penthouse at the development.
‘They were originally made in honour of Napoleon, then seized by an ancestor of mine after the Battle of Waterloo and subsequently handed down through generations of my family.
‘When I was looking to downsize, it was essential to move somewhere with enough room in which to display such special pieces.
‘There is plenty of space to showcase it here and the range of security measures in place, from the concierge on the front desk to the key code system, helps me feel at ease.’
For David Seabrook, 79, his set of toy automobiles, on display in his apartment at Richmond Letcombe, Richmond Villages’ development in Oxfordshire, is a reminder of his childhood.
‘I started collecting when I was a boy,’ he says of his 1,000-strong assortment of Matchbox, Corgi and Dinky trucks and cars. ‘It was important that I was able to bring them and it’s fantastic there’s space to have them on display’.
His collection has attracted interest from fellow owners. ‘Residents come to admire them. I try to change the display every year.’
Richmond Villages is selling similar apartments at the new development in Wit ney, Oxfordshire, priced from £225,000 to £660,000, richmond. villages.
com, 01993 627355. Retired business executive Robert Voyce, 90, bought a twobedroom apartment at Renaissance Villages’ Durrants Village, near Horsham, 18 months ago that could accommodate his antique furniture. He now has room for an expandable dining table and has installed a mahogany drinks cabinet in the sitting room.
‘My furniture reminds me of my wife Betty and my childhood,’ he said. ‘They are treasures from my past and I don’t want to part with them.
Robert has even brought his old desk, a china cabinet, bookcase and armchair. Durrants Village has 173 apartments and cottages and a leisure complex. Prices are from £510,000 for twobedroom cottages and £535,000 for three-bedroom cottages, durrants village.co.uk, 01293 851935.