Show properties in Essex transformed by TV star

Television design guru Derek Taylor has transformed a trio of Taylor Wimpey show properties in Essex to offer style-conscious property-seekers a sneak preview of the very latest interior design trends.

The star of ITV’s 60 Minute Makeover programme has worked his magic on three show properties which are now open at the leading housebuilder’s Praecedo development of new homes for sale in Colchester, and Derek says the results are ahead of their time.

“I have access to the very latest trends, and I’ve used these to guide my designs,” says Derek, who is delighted with the finishes he achieved to the show properties in Colchester.

“What you will see in the show homes in Colchester are the kind of design ideas which will eventually trickle down into the ‘real world’ in six months’ time.

“It’s a fabulous development in Colchester with good-quality homes and I’m proud to have been behind the showhomes at Praecedo. I approached each property in a completely different way so that each appeals to a different type of purchaser – and I hope visitors like what I’ve done.

“It’s been great to work with Taylor Wimpey – they trust me and let me get on with things, so this has been a great project to work on.”

Derek took inspiration from the 1950s and 1960s when designing the two-bedroom ‘Pelle’ coach house-style show apartment in Colchester.

“There’s currently a huge move towards the influence of the ’50s and ’60s on interior design, although I’ve not created a museum piece – the apartment has a contemporary look with a nod to the era.”

The apartment’s interior design fuses modern clean lines with retro accessories and fittings that have been included to appear as though they’ve been collected over a long period of time.

Sixties-inspired furniture, Andy Warhol pop-art prints and wallpaper with geometric shapes provide a smart retro look, while the guest bedroom pays homage to the golden age of superhero comics with a stunning Wonder Woman mural.

Enjoying a more contemporary feel, the two-bedroom ‘Naylor’, meanwhile, has been transformed into a home to appeal to a second-time buyer who has upgraded from an apartment to a house.

With a calming colour scheme that blends turquoise, cream and silver, the ‘Naylor’ showhome has a wonderful lounge/dining room at its heart. Metallic duck-egg blue feature walls reflect light from the French doors around the room, while fresh white lacquered furniture brings slickness to the overall look.

Upstairs, the master bedroom features an eye-catching ceiling-height headboard above the bed, with art deco-style wallpaper, mirror and furniture completing the luxurious scheme.

A traditional family-sized home, the three-bedroom ‘Bailey’ showhome’s look takes inspiration from a number of cutting-edge design concepts.

“The distressed look is very much in-trend, with wallpaper, plasterwork, distressed metals and wood all proving popular with designers. In the formal sitting room I have used wallpaper with a faded heraldic crest pattern, which looks just beautiful. In the family room/kitchen, I’ve used a wood panelling wall covering which looks like it’s been there a number of years.”

Upstairs, the first floor of the showhome benefits from a more formal look, with an affluent colour scheme of reds, creams and silks, punctuated with opulent chandeliers.

One bedroom has been designed in a quirky manner to appeal to an equestrian-loving teenager, with a monochrome horse-riding image on the wall, and Perspex bedside table and boxes stuffed with straw.

On the top floor, the master bedroom enjoys a fresh, colonial theme with wallpaper providing the illusion of white wooden shutters, and large storage trunks adding to the feel of a seaside home in the Hamptons, New York.

Two-bedroom houses are currently available at Praecedo from as little as £157,995, while three and four-bedroom houses are on sale from only £182,995 and £249,995 respectively.

All new homes at Praecedo are completed to a high standard specification, including energy efficient central heating, double glazing and a fitted kitchen with integrated oven, hob and hood.

Praecedo – which means to surpass or excel in Latin, in a nod to Colchester’s famous Roman heritage – is a collection of high-quality properties in a well-connected yet peaceful location overlooking the cricket ground in Mersea Road, with the tranquil open space of Abbey Field beyond.

Commuters will appreciate good rail and road links to Chelmsford, Brentwood and London as well as to Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge and the Midlands. Colchester Town railway station is located just a short walk from home for regular services to London Liverpool Street.

Visitors can explore the Derek Taylor-designed showhomes by visiting Praecedo, which is located off Mersea Road, Colchester, CO2 7TB, and open Thursday to Monday from 10am to 5.30pm. Alternatively, see taylorwimpey.co.uk/eastlondon.