Designer Contracts worked with Homes by Esh to create two pandemic beating dream escapes for the developer’s show houses at West Park Garden Village in Darlington.
With a long standing relationship, Homes by Esh tasked Designer Contracts with two ‘escape-from-it-all’ briefs for their site – part of an award-winning redevelopment project spanning 49 hectares in Darlington, and the first new park to be created in the town for 100 years.
Said Faye Goddard, design sales manager for Designer Contracts: “The brief for both homes was to give people a taste of holidays and city breaks overseas – something everyone has been desperately missing over the past year.
“The two show homes to be designed were the four bedroomed Richmond and Westminster houses. Both needed to give visitors a completely different feel and experience: the brief for the Richmond was to transport potential buyers to the beach resort holiday they were dreaming of; for the Westminster it was to replicate the mood of The Hoxton Hotel in Paris – a bustling, contemporary venue located a short distance from Le Marais and The Louvre.”
The show home team at Designer Contracts hit the brief for the Richmond with sea inspired tones and natural materials throughout, giving it a luxurious beach resort feel. Vibrant touches of orange and tropical prints add to the holiday atmosphere.
A sweeping sofa in the lounge offers refuge and a place to relax at the end of a long day, layered with tactile and textured fabrics. Soft taupe and sand tones were used, adding to the calming feel, further accentuated by mirrors using natural grasses around the frame. On the feature chandelier, wooden beads are delicately suspended over the rattan woven coffee table.
The light and spacious theme continues into the kitchen with transparent wall to wall, wave headed curtains across the bi-folding doors while woven pendants hover brightly above the wooden dining table.
For the Westminster scheme, the design style is in complete contrast, showcasing a more city-led look with rich tones of burnt red, mustards, feature walls and dark choices of furniture.
Star of the lounge is a statement mustard, velvet sofa set against gemoteric wallpaper full of rich maroon, blacks and brilliant white. The glam vibe is completed with an impressive sideboard dressed with gold hardware and skilfully coordinated with brass lighting and detailing on the sidetables and lamps.
The stylish Parisian hotel feel continues into the kitchen where a bold cocktail bar wallpaper makes an instant first impression while the dining table, set to entertain six, has velvet seating in rich reds at each end and muted grey benches for guests. The look is crowned by a golden globe feature pendant.
Upstairs, the rich tones continue. In the master bedroom, a striking mustard headboard on deep blue panel effect wallpaper sets the feel of luxury while brass pendants over the rich wooden bedsides, along with the extravagent chandelier create a moody atmosphere.
Said Faye:“Homes by Esh always offer exciting inspiration for their show homes. Each scheme is completely different to the next and allows for inspiring new experiences for their potential home owners.
“Ensuring the brief for the show homes is both relatable and aspirational is a delicate balance. The final reveal, come install day, is always one we look forward to as a team”.
West Park Garden Village site has been designed to offer properties which are greener and more economical than older homes, helping to reduce energy consumption, water usage and waste. With a range of two, three and four bedroom homes, the development offers house types for those looking for everything from their first time home to families and households looking to downsize.