Summer and Jonathan Move in After Buying Off-Plan
Summer Tong, 31, and her husband Jonathan Barrington, 30, moved into their dream home at Berkeley’s Oval Village development after reserving their two-bedroom apartment off-plan back in 2019. Summer said: “When we started searching for homes online, we looked for properties by Berkeley because they have a great reputation for quality. We wanted to stay in South London, close to friends and Jonathan’s family, and Oval Village was one of the first developments we came across. We loved its appearance and Central London location, and thought it would be an excellent investment.”
For the couple, the decision to buy their new home before it was complete was a strategic one financially. Summer explains: “We knew we wanted to buy rather than to keep renting, however we had time on our side. Buying off-plan meant we could secure the best apartment to suit us and gave us a few years to save up before moving in.”
This forward-thinking approach allowed them to secure the home of their choice and ensured they got the layout, aspect and price that they wanted. They opted for a spacious two-bedroom apartment on the eighth floor at Phoenix Court, the first phase of homes available, with ample natural light and views of the landscaped courtyard garden and the London skyline.
One of the biggest advantages of buying off-plan was being able to personalise their home in advance. The couple were able to choose the interiors to suit their taste, from kitchen cabinetry and bathroom tiles to paint colours and flooring. As owners of Designer Drapes, a soft furnishings company headquartered in Penge near Crystal Palace, Summer and Jonathan took full advantage of the opportunity to curate their furnishings to reflect their bold and creative style upon moving in. Summer says: “We designed all the soft furnishings ourselves and went for vibrant patterns - maybe not to everyone’s taste, but we love it!”
Their striking interior choices even caught the attention of their neighbours, who have since hired them to design their own spaces.
Beyond their beautifully designed home, the couple is relishing their new lifestyle. Summer said: “Moving here has completely changed our way of life. We have access to luxury amenities, including a 24-hour concierge, cinema, meeting room, courtyard garden and even a roof terrace. The views are stunning; we can see the New Year’s Eve fireworks from our spare bedroom window, and we host parties for our friends to watch them.” Jonathan adds: “We were always missing deliveries because we both work full time and having a concierge to hold our packages is massively helpful!”
Nearby to the Nine Elms regeneration area, neighbouring the famous Kia Oval cricket ground and thoughtfully designed around the iconic Oval Gasholder, Oval Village is already a thriving neighbourhood. The location couldn’t be a better choice for the couple, according to Summer: “Since moving here, we’ve been introduced to the world of cricket, so being a few minutes’ walk to the Oval cricket ground is so exciting. We’ve been to the stadium a few times, which is a great day out and it’s a real bonus that it’s so close to home.”
Oval is an established boutique area, a short walk from the Thames, boasting plenty of independent shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs. It features many parks and commons, including Kennington Park and Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Oval offers unparalleled connectivity, with a PTAL (Public Transport Accessibility Level) rating of 6b - the highest possible ranking available and something only 4% of Londoners benefit from. The neighbourhood is served by the Northern Line (trains reach Bank in 9 minutes), while Vauxhall is on the Victoria line; Victoria can be reached in 4 minutes and Oxford Circus in 9 minutes. Trains from Zone 1 Kennington, an 11-minute walk away, stop at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station. Summer comments: “The local area offers an abundance of green spaces, unrivalled transport links and it is a fantastic pre-made community. Moving to the neighbourhood is the best decision we ever made.”
During a visit from China, Summer’s mother was equally impressed with the development and decided to invest in a one-bedroom home in the same building, which she now rents out for additional income. Summer adds: “Everyone at Berkeley has been very kind and supportive. My mum doesn’t speak English but a lady in the sales team spoke Mandarin, and she really appreciated her help.”
Prices at Oval Village start from £690,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. Visit ovalvillagelondon.com.