New homes showtime

Show homes offer a stylised version of life and plenty of ideas. Sharon Dale reports.
The dining table set for the perfect dinner partyThe dining table set for the perfect dinner party
The dining table set for the perfect dinner party

The best show houses and apartments can be a great source of interiors inspiration and there are plenty of opportunities to view them thanks to a government push to tackle Britain’s home shortage.

Developers are very active at the moment and are building out sites and staging open days to launch their show homes. These events can be enjoyable and informal with no pressure to buy, though you may find yourself turned onto the idea of a brand new, low maintenance property.

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Be aware that worst show homes can be bland in the hope of appealing to a wider range of buyers.

The curved velvet sofa adds wow factor to the family roomThe curved velvet sofa adds wow factor to the family room
The curved velvet sofa adds wow factor to the family room

Greige, beige or magnolia throughout certainly won’t offend but neither will it excite and that’s what the viewing public want - something better and braver than they have in their existing property.

No-one can accuse interior designer Jeanette Holmes of playing safe when it comes to styling show houses.

Jeanette, a freelance best known for her work with Miller Homes, likes to surprise.

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She also spends a lot of time getting into the mindset of the buyer before hijacking them with the lifestyle she knows they really want. Accessories play an important part here.

The master bedroom with fashionable ochre coloured walls.The master bedroom with fashionable ochre coloured walls.
The master bedroom with fashionable ochre coloured walls.

Jeanette uses plants and flowers to add feel-good factor. She sets the table for the dinner party you rarely have but if you did this is how it would want it to look.

On the worktop, there is a tray with fresh coffee and another with fancy olive oils bought from those Farmers Markets you always intend to visit.

The latest trends figure too. A good example of this is the show house at Miller Homes’ Holme View development in the picturesque Pennine town of Scholes.

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“I wanted this show home to push some design boundaries and challenge the expectations of how a large show home in a rural location may typically look,” says Jeanette.

The Greatest Showman is the theme in this room.The Greatest Showman is the theme in this room.
The Greatest Showman is the theme in this room.

The main colour palette is centred on navy, mocha, copper and ochre. In the family room, the focal point is a curbed, blue velvet sofa.

One of the bedrooms has a‘Greatest Showman’ theme complete with circus-themed pelmets, opulent soft furnishings, decadent silver furniture and a Big Top ceiling.

The master bedroom was sparked by Louis Vuitton’s signature style with an ochre wall and accessories. The bed is dressed as in a five star hotel.

Ochre - a dark yellow - is a key colour for 2019.

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Jeanette says: “Shades of ochre are still at the top of the trends list this year and they are great for adding some zing and vibrancy to simple schemes.”

*Miller Homes is building 39, three, four and five bedroom homes at Holme View and a selection of four and five bedroom homes are available priced from £349,995 for a four bedroom ‘Mitford’ house type.

Holme View is located on Cross Lane, Scholes, Holmfirth, HD9 1SA. The sales centre is open each Thursday – Monday from 10.30am to 5.30pm.

Further information can be found by visiting www.millerhomes.co.uk.