‘Brangelina' show home is the one we all want to see

When it comes to viewing a show home that's been inspired by a ‘celebrity' lifestyle then it seems we all want a window onto the world of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Seeing how Hollywood's golden couple might live was top favourite among respondents to an on-line survey by Redrow Homes, closely followed by Coldplay front man Chris Martin and actress Gwyneth Paltrow, as well as the celebrity pairing that is ‘Brand Beckham'.

Sadly there was little appetite to see a show home inspired by how Gordon and Sarah Brown might have decorated 10 Downing Street; and respondents weren't too interested in seeing the imagined interior design tastes of ‘queen of pop' Madonna and movie director Guy Ritchie either.

But quite apart from whose imaginary lifestyle home buyers would like to go ‘through the keyhole' and view, the survey did prove that a fully furnished show home is still the top draw for most would-be home owners.

Fifty-five percent of respondents said a show home helped them most when choosing a new home. Floor plans and illustrations also proved important (34%) but there was much less interest in scale models and computer generated fly-throughs - proof that for most people you still can't beat the real thing.

A whopping 88% of those surveyed said they would be more inclined to visit a development if they knew there was a show home to see and a third of people were prepared to travel up to 50 miles to view it.

Also reinforcing the fact that most people want to see, touch and experience a real-life show home, while many respondents said being able to view a show home on-line would be useful, the vast majority - almost 75% - said they would still go and visit in person if they liked what they saw.

Neil Fitzsimmons, Redrow's chief executive commented: "Redrow invests heavily in show homes around the UK and this survey has reinforced our view that, even in this modern age of computer wizardry, when it comes to choosing a new home people like to be able to see and touch what they are buying. In a show home they can appreciate the quality of the fixtures and fittings and begin to imagine living there themselves."

The survey also threw up some useful guidelines for Connections in Design, the company charged with creating Redrow's inviting interiors around the UK. Most people wanted to see a show home that was maybe a little beyond their own interior design skills or budget, but still something they could aspire to. They didn't want to see something too weird or wonderful - however memorable it might be!

Dawn Kitchener, managing director of Connections in Design, said: "People definitely want to see one or two ‘wow' factors but it seems they're quite traditional at heart and don't want anything that goes too over the top. We'll be taking a good look at the full research and using it to help our designers plan future show homes for Redrow."

Redrow has show homes open or planned at most of its 100 or so developments around the UK. For details of where they're building and what's available to view, go to Redrow.co.uk.