We have recently celebrated two promotions in the LA team!

In the latest in our regular series, we meet Romanian Architectural Assistant, Ema, and discover the role a humble pencil had in her choice of career, why LA are such a good fit for her to fulfil her potential and how she recharges by immersing herself in nature and taking part in sports activities.

Welcome to Lees Associates’ regular look at what’s new in the prime residential market, compiled from the best of London’s leading real estate professionals and property experts. Please visit contributor websites for more information.

Delivering dream homes for HNWIs is never without its challenges. There is often a disparity between what clients want and what planning and conservation officers are willing or able to approve – and that means compromise is sometimes the only solution.

For high-net-worth individuals, there is no specific "must-have" gadget on the wish-list for their new home. In a few cases, in our experience, the reverse can sometimes be true, with some wealthy owners for example preferring to shun high-tech control panels for lighting, curtains, audio visual and a plethora of other items in their home, in favour of simple on-off switches.

It is a rare residential project for us that doesn’t include a swimming pool of one kind or another. Either an existing one to be overhauled or a new one, designed and built from scratch. Consequently, we have gained a wealth of experience over the years designing pools and pool spaces. And during that time, the top lesson we have learned is to always work with the best specialist in their field.