insideKENT Magazine Issue 97 - April 2020 | Page 139

PROPERTY
WESTERHILL HOMES
Q&A with SUNA Interior Design
KENT-BASED DEVELOPERS WESTERHILL HOMES HAVE ASKED THEIR LONDON-BASED
SHOW HOME INTERIOR DESIGN COMPANY SUNA INTERIOR DESIGN SOME INTERESTING
QUESTIONS; JUST HOW DO INTERIOR DESIGNERS GO FROM SEEING A PLAN TO A FULLY
INSTALLED SHOW HOME AND HOW CAN WE GET INSPIRATION FOR OUR OWN HOMES?
REBECCA TUCKER, DIRECTOR AT SUNA TELLS ALL!
Were you given a brief by Westerhill Homes,
how does this influence your concept
proposals?
The brief for the Westerhill Homes showhomes
at Forstal Mead, Coxheath was a really appealing
one for us, as the client wanted us to base the design
on how real people live in their homes, moving
away from the more typical ‘showhouse’ look that
can be hard for purchasers to aspire or relate to.
They wanted their buyers to walk into the houses
and feel instantly at home, and to be able to imagine
themselves and their families living in these
lovely homes.
What were your influences when designing
the interior s for the show homes at
Forstal Mead?
For every design we work on for our clients we use
the location, target market and development brand
as our first inspiration. Forstal Mead is located just
outside a rural village, benefitting from the local
amenities whilst also being surrounded by stunning
Kent countryside, so we wanted the homes to feel
luxurious but also comfortable and welcoming, cosy
and homely.
We look at each room as a part of the whole, and
make sure that the furniture layout would work for
the home owners, and that the furniture, styling and
artwork all reflect the lifestyle, interests and hobbies
of the potential purchasers.
How do you decide on a colour palette?
In the same way that we decide on a direction for
the style and mood of each scheme, the colour palette
follows along the same lines. For the showhomes at
Forstal Mead we chose some bright contemporary
colours for the young couple’s home, softened with
oaks and warm woods. And then the palette for the
family home was a little bit more muted and natural,
blues, greys and taupes.
Where do y ou get your inspiration fr om?
Everywhere! From interior exhibitions, trade shows,
magazines and suppliers, to Pinterest, Instagram
and Houzz. But inspiration can strike at any time,
a piece of fabric or wallpaper or artwork can form
the starting point for a whole interior design scheme.
The wallpaper in the hallway of the three bed
showhome at Forstal Mead was pretty much
the inspiration for the colour palette through the
whole house!
What interior tr ends ar e ther e for 2020?
Natural textures will remain prominent for 2020.
The use of rattans and natural textures, from
macramé to wicker, woven textures and natural
fabrics, bamboo and reclaimed wood, all tap into
the ongoing environmental awareness that we are
seeing. Bright and contrasting colours from opposite
sides of the spectrum will keep colour at the forefront
of the palette for 2020.
Westerhill Homes recently launched their Forstal
Mead, Coxheath development, offering a range of
3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes, priced from £345,000.
See www.westerhillhomes.co.uk for further
information.
139