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A show home provides an instant illustration of how a new property might look and feel once the final box has been unpacked.
In the case of Perth-based Stephen, the overwhelming majority of show home visitors are not only impressed by what they see but view their visit to the show home as a key stage in the house-buying process.
Indeed, at Stephen’s flagship development at Clathymore, near Gleaneagles, the show home was last year awarded a national Commendation for ‘Best Luxury Show Home’.
Set amongst some of the most striking countryside in Scotland, the Clathymore development of four and five bedroom homes enjoys an unrivalled location. The unique homes have been expertly designed by local architect James Denholm whose skill and expertise has shaped the epitome of sumptuous and impressive living.
But what goes into a show home, how do designers and builders get it right and, more to the point, what do they actually achieve?
For over 15 years’, Eileen Kesson at Stirling-based Envision has worked with Stephen on interior design. As a result, she knows exactly what they like, what works and what doesn’t and, most importantly, who their target audience is.
Eileen explained, “Stephen is a very particular company, quite unique in many ways and, as a result, a client we love working with. They are very much quality-led, favouring understated and timeless design. Although their properties are contemporary and forward-thinking, they shy away from trendy or brash, instead favouring a classic appeal. Put simply, their own philosophy is that their houses are solidly built, built to last, and the design should reflect that.”
Working with a range of house-builders, Eileen is highly experienced in changing trends and varying target audiences.
She continued, “Where competition on some developments is intense and sometimes featuring many builders together, the need to create ‘stand-out’ or ‘high-impact’ interiors is crucial but the combination of Stephen’s largely rural settings alongside their individual philosophy means that their show homes reflect a more relaxed fusion of quality and classic styling. In the case of Clathymore, they are appealing to a more rural, discerning and classic buyer who will benefit from the very best available in a new build in Scotland - very modern kitchens, bathrooms and technology but with classical proportions.”
Key to the house-building process, Eileen becomes involved in the interiors approximately eight to ten weeks before completion. With the look and feel primarily focused on the location and the client’s wishes, Eileen is consulted with regards to everything from tiling and flooring to lighting, wall coverings and artwork, creating ‘mood boards’ and being highly involved in discussions on how best to dress and furnish the home.
With Clathymore, Eileen was quick to realise that the interior needed to reflect a particular lifestyle – people who travel, have lots interests, a love of spectacular scenery and the outdoors. She also wanted to reflect a family lifestyle, adding, “… not in a showy, superficial sense but an eclectic mix of different features which would appeal – nothing too coordinated or matched, more a compilation of a family’s life”, she explained.
Putting furniture and decor aside, a show home undoubtedly plays a key part in the house-buying process.
“A show home is very much a visual manifestation of a floor plan. Many people are good at reading plans and visualising how they might translate into their ideal home but, to most of us, visual aids are crucial to help with that visualisation. There is nothing like standing in a space that could potentially become your home and visualise how things could fit, how the house flows, which might be the more casual or formal spaces and so on. Providing a link between an empty property and a possible home, it’s a further illustration as to how they might live there and how it works and is much more meaningful and exciting to see than merely plans on paper”, she added.
Echoing Eileen’s sentiments, John Stephen, Managing Director added, “Having enjoyed a long-standing business relationship with Eileen, we have developed a mutual understanding of our target market and their expectations and inspirations. Working closely with our marketing team to ensure the designs meet our target market, we have come to enjoy a real partnership approach which draws on the design influences of our homes and the latest trends in interior design. We have absolutely no doubt that our show homes engage, excite and assist our clients and prospective clients in the process of choosing a new home.”
Prices at Clathymore start from £540,000 to £1,750,000.
For more information, please contact the sales team on 01738 620721.
