- Tat London
- 7 hours ago
- 5 min read
Tete A Tat With Sekforde Property Founders - John McDavid & Rosie Falconer
I don’t think it will come as any surprise that we are thrilled by property. The reason we began our property features was simple. I was searching for houses morning, noon and night. No, I wasn’t moving. I was simply keen to see what was on my street, in my neighbourhood, just outside London and then, as any normal person would, what lay in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, the Borders and so on. I blame Country Life for this affliction. Their front pages were the gateway drug and Zoopla and OnTheMarket are my fixes. Those are for when you have time on your hands. If you want the dopamine hit delivered quick fast, you go to the boutique (a terrible word, I know) agencies. They are where the dream properties are laid out with barely a millimetre of imagination required. They have done the work for you. The houses sit there beckoning tired eyes to their well lit, curated worlds.
So you can imagine my delight when two shining lights of the industry requested the pleasure of my company for breakfast. I love a good breakfast and this was an excellent one, more so for the company than the food. I can say that as I chose the location. John McDavid and Rosie Falconer were my companions on this fine day, both of whom will forget more about the housing market than most of us will ever know. John began his career in one of the long standing national agencies before founding Aucoot, a design focused estate agency that quickly earned a following for its thoughtful approach. Rosie arrived by way of The Modern House and Inigo, where she rose to Senior Director and oversaw more than sixty staff, a role that required both a sharp eye and a good deal of stamina.
Between them they have handled Georgian rectories, art deco apartments, mid century spreads and the odd postmodern marvel. It amounts to a combined twenty five years of looking closely at buildings and understanding the people who love them. With sales, children and all that life fills up with, they decided their paths lay in a new venture, Sekforde Property. Here they would no longer be selling the properties. They would in fact be the ones buying, not for themselves of course, but for the astute clients who enlist their skills. With their combined experience they are finding their clients their dream property, and in some cases something better than the dream itself. They are so well acquainted with the market that they can conjure homes which well exceed the expectations of their clients. They care about proportion, atmosphere and the small architectural details that give a place its soul. They understand the difference between a house that has been lightly shepherded through its years and one that has been sanded into anonymity.
What makes them right for Tat is not simply their professional pedigree, although it is reassuring. It is the sensibility underneath it. They value character, honesty and the unvarnished life of a home that has lived. They appreciate the wobble in the wall and have little patience for the contemporary enthusiasm for rounded arches, Carrara everything and the forlorn lollipop light sitting in the centre of a ceiling. In short, they look for the same things we do.
I am not only excited for their Tête à Tat but for the fact that they have taken on the feature Dream Properties. It feels rather a coup.
Favourite restaurant?
John: St. JOHN in Smithfield. There’s a beauty in its simplicity, the white walls, the hum of quiet conversation, and food that’s thoughtful without ever being showy. It feels effortlessly London to me.
Rosie: In the Summer, Rochelle Canteen with friends for a long lunch is bliss. In the Winter, you can't beat a cosy dinner at 40 Maltby Street.
Do you believe in ghosts?
John: I’m not sure about ghosts, but I do believe some places hold on to a feeling, a kind of memory in the walls. You can sense when somewhere has been loved, or lived in well.
Rosie: I'm agnostic about spirituality and religion, but some of the most fascinating people I know believe in higher or other beings and l love talking to them about it.
Are you a fan of surprises?
John: Only the considered ones. The kind that feel like someone really knows you.
Rosie: That depends what type of hormone they elicit! I'm a fan of change and spontaneity. Surprises less so.
Favourite poem?
John: Philip Larkin’s “The Whitsun Weddings.” There’s something about the rhythm and observation of ordinary moments that feels deeply human and quietly moving.
Rosie: Waking with Russell by Don Paterson on the magic of becoming a parent for the first time, or Wild Geese by Mary Oliver on acceptance, connection and perspective.
Any good advice? Who gave it to you?
John: “Trust your eye.” Said by an architect friend years ago, and it’s stayed with me. When something feels right, it usually is, even if you can’t explain why. It's an extension of trusting your gut which applies to so many aspects of life. Conversely, if something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.
Rosie: In my early 30s, my friend Charlie said to me 'life isn't a dress rehearsal'. It really resonated and I try to live by it. If you're in the wrong job, career, relationship, or home then you are doing yourself a disservice if you don't try to change it for the better.
If money was no object what painting (or piece of furniture ) would you like to own?
John: A Jean-Michel Frank console. It’s all about proportion and restraint, that sense of calm perfection that doesn’t need to announce itself.
Rosie: If I'm that rich, can I have the contents of Fondation Maeght please? Or the Diego Giacometti's corner library commissioned by Marc Barbezat.
Top destination in the UK?
John: The Cotswolds, but the quieter corners. The ones where the light feels softer and you can walk for an hour without seeing anyone.
Rosie: London. I always feel immense happiness coming back after any journey in the UK or abroad.
A film you can watch again and again without getting bored?
John: Chef. It’s one of those films that just makes you happy, the music, the food, the father / son relationship. You can’t help but smile through it.
Rosie: The Talented Mr Ripley. The plot, the cast, the clothes, the atmosphere and the locations are all perfect.
Dream meal?
John: A long lunch in Italy, somewhere with sun-warmed stone, good wine, and seasonal plates that just keep arriving. Ideally with friends who don’t look at the time.
Rosie: Sunday lunch cooked with friends and enjoyed with lots of wine at home, either theirs or mine.
What song will always make you tap your foot?
John: “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads. Clever, joyful, and a little eccentric, it never fails to lift my mood.
Rosie: Human by A Brief Encounter.
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