In need of inspiration? Larchfield place may have the answer

Moving into a new property can be a daunting process, especially when faced with a blank canvas.

Indeed to many individuals it seems impossible to know where to start decorating and what colours and textures to use. Luckily Dee Hawkins, in-house interior designer for Banner Homes, reveals what’s hot for the home and provides some useful tips to guide you through the decorating process.

“The key is not to think of the whole room at once – start with just one item and work your scheme around it,” Dee explains. “It could be some wallpaper, or an item of furniture, or even a simple vase, but let your room grow from it, piece by piece, so that you do not get overwhelmed.”

Dee suggests that, as current trends are moving away from the bland magnolia minimal look, using strong colours and textures is a good way to proceed. “There is plenty of colour around at the moment, and florals are back in too, so there is lots of scope for texture and pattern.” she says. “Stick to more modern designs, though, in order to avoid your scheme looking too ‘busy’.

Dee comments; “It’s great to see the revival of wallpaper which is now available in a vast array of design, colour and texture. The trend for covering one wall with wallpaper to create a feature or enhance a focal point is an effective decorating technique that gives a big impact in the room. Also, by decorating only one wall it is not as daunting as covering the entire room with wallpaper, so people may be more adventurous when choosing designs.”

“Dark furniture is also very much a trend at the moment, and in the Banner show homes I try to mix different types of furniture to create a sense of individuality. I also use mirror and glass alongside this furniture to slightly lighten up the look.”

One of the most important elements of a new scheme, according to Dee, is the opportunity to ‘de-clutter’; “Most of us have things stored in cupboards for 20 years, and 90 per cent of it we don’t miss - you will feel much better if you get rid of it all,” she says. “Use your new design as an opportunity to move forward and shed the old, de-clutter and resume control over your environment. Maximise storage and then you will have a home with plenty of space for you to enjoy.”

Larchfield Place comprises of just five stunning five-bedroom homes each built over three stories and comprising 1,902 sq ft to 2,358 sq ft, in every home. The ground floor boasts a contemporary kitchen/breakfast room and a generous lounge both of which open on to a private garden. There are also two further rooms, a dining room and a study on the same floor. On the first floor there are four bedrooms some of which include en-suites and a family bathroom. Finally, the second floor contains a fifth bedroom complete with en-suite. The amount of space provided allows different zones in which each member of the household can live the their lives, suiting growing families and those in need of space for visiting family and friends. In addition to the fantastic specification, Banner Homes is currently offering purchasers a choice of three incentives, stamp duty paid; £10,000 towards moving expenses or carpets, curtains and turf to the rear garden.

Banner Homes is also offering a worry-free part exchange scheme on the properties.

The scheme offers the best of both worlds to new homes buyers. If they can find a buyer themselves, then they are free to do so within an allotted time period and the completion dates can be tied in. If they cannot find a buyer before the new home is completed, then Banner will take it off their hands and sell it, allowing completion dates to remain the same and eliminating the need for expensive bridging facilities.

Another new Banner Development a few miles away is Deerhurst Park located in Forest Row. This is a select collection of just eight five-bedroom homes situated in a breathtaking setting. The stunning showhome will be open from 21st April.

Prices at Larchfield Place start from £595,000. The development is due for completion in the middle of 2007.

Prices at Deerhurst Park start from £1,250,000. The properties are now being marketed from brochure.

For further information, visit bannerhomes.co.uk.