Our Portholme show homes are now furnished and ready to view.
With modern interiors and smart design features in every home, we took the chance to speak to Chloe, our interior designer for Portholme, to discover how we make life, built in happen for every show home.
Where do you get your inspiration?
When we’re given a brief for a new neighbourhood, we check out the local area and its history. If there are any notable landmarks or historical events, we always try to provide a design concept based on this. Visualising prospective homeowners plays a big part too – what their jobs would be, what their aspirations are, where they shop, what brands they like, their hobbies and so forth. We then incorporate current design trends that are aspirational yet achievable.
What are the biggest challenges and best rewards?
Time plays a major part in our challenges – from short lead times and tight schedules, we’re well versed in getting site surveys and producing bespoke items against the clock. The most rewarding part is finding out that our well-furnished show homes and welcoming interiors play a big part in people going for our first homes, family homes and forever homes.
Which current trends do you like the most?
When it comes to interior design, we love the Scandinavian ‘hygge’ trend. Cosy, yet minimal, hygge uses clean lines with distinctive design features alongside natural materials like oak and woven textures. We also love the botanical theme – there’s something so wonderful and timeless about bringing the outside in. We are fairly timeless with our home design; we think a good design will never date.
How do you combine beauty and function?
For a modern interior, storage and practicality are essential to living a life, built in. If we choose light colours on sofas, they are made from stain resistant fabrics. Light rigs are always made of polypropylene so they can be cleaned using bleach-based products. Show homes have to withstand lots of visitors, so we choose fabrics and furnishings that are robust. We also try to provide as much storage as possible, such as bedside tables with drawers or beds with lift up storage bases.
How would you approach a blank canvas for a new home?
Choose a theme or a style for your home’s interior and make it consistent. We wouldn’t recommend choosing one colour for any home design, as this can be overbearing, so choose a colour palette that sits together in a complimentary way. Then choose a furniture style and stick to that style throughout your home – this will help it to flow through, and enables you to use different colours in different rooms. Finally, don’t compromise on key pieces like beds or sofas.
What are your design secrets or top tips to add character to a new home?
Whether a property is large or small, old or new, always ensure your home interior has two things: features and textures. In a contemporary or older home, that may be a feature fireplace, beams or panelling. In a modern interior, it may be a media wall, a full height headboard or a bold feature wall with distinctive wallpaper. Never underestimate the power of colour – even a subtle shade of taupe can make a huge difference. Finally, be unique! Buy pieces you love, not because they are on trend. It’s your home, so it should be a reflection of who you are.
Practicality, quality, efficiency, built in
Book an appointment today and discover homes with light, bright spaces and practical finishes. every show some feels future-ready from the moment you step inside.
Whether you’re looking or a first home, family home, forever home, your brand new house or apartment from Legal & General Modular Homes has everything you need to call home.
Pay a visit
Our show homes are just a ten-minute walk from Selby railway station, with excellent mainline links to York and Leeds, and a ten-mile journey to York city centre by car. Selby’s also close to Harrogate and Knaresborough, as well as the famous Dales and Moors.
The 102-home Portholme neighbourhood is next to Selby town centre – a town recently voted Best Place To Live In Yorkshire* (Halifax Bank Quality of Life Survey, 2020).
With a superb high street, the historic Selby Abbey, as well as great schools, colleges and amenities within easy reach, make Portholme your first port of call for your first home, family home or forever home today.