Our latest development at Cala at Mowbray, Hawksbourne in Horsham offers residents their own slice of homely heaven in West Sussex by incorporating our latest community initiative, Showhome of Support.
With nature reserves and woodlands, local shops and excellent schools nearby, we know there are plenty of reasons to love Cala at Mowbray. But now that our three showhomes have launched, we had to give you another.
To mark the opening of the showhomes for viewings, we sat down with Felicity Stevens, Director at Haus Interiors, who designed the four-bed Laurel showhome, to find out what inspired her team of designers and how they turned The Laurel into a Showhome of Support with the help of local Horsham suppliers.
Tell us about some of the key design trends you’re currently seeing...
“We’re really excited by the colours we’re seeing at the moment. They’re giving us the perfect mood for the season by filling homes with warmth.
“Beautiful autumnal tones like burnt orange and terracotta are being mixed with powerful royal blues as well as some softer powder blues to create a warm and cosy feeling. We’re also seeing the full spectrum of red becoming popular, from bright and strong shades to deep burgundies.
“Personally, I’m really taken by colours of Aubergine that pair with a mustard yellow, khaki green or sharp citrus chartreuse to create a strong and rich colour palette. It all feels really at home in Mowbray which is surrounded by so much green space.”
Tell us about your design inspiration for the Laurel showhome at Mowbray. How did you incorporate any design trends of the moment?
“One of the best parts about designing the interiors of a Cala home is that you’re working with a high-quality blank canvas. We wanted to design a home that gives prospective buyers a feeling of the dream lifestyle they could have in a Cala home, whilst giving them inspiration for how they might make the home their own.
“We incorporated some of our favourite colours of the moment into the soft furnishings against a timeless light, bright and neutral background. It’s also really important to use texture to add depth to interiors whilst keeping it natural and bright.
“It creates feelings of freshness and cosiness that still invites thoughts for personal touches. Look out for mustard pillows and textured throws!”
Where did you begin when designing this home?
“A key part of what we wanted to achieve was creating somewhere homely, and striking pieces of artwork and well-considered furnishings are a great way to do that.
“Paint is always a sure way to add to the mood you want to create, so to work with our light and bright feel, we put some artwork into the home to add to the cosiness. For example, the bird we’ve placed as you walk in is soft and beautiful, but it still works hard in delivering some impact and creating some homeliness.
“Fabrics and furnishings are really important too. We kept our upholstered items light but textured. In the lounge we opted for a plush velvet upholstery fabric to the sofa which feels very luxurious, and the off-white boucle fabric used in the family room is far more family-friendly whilst the colour does a lot to warm up a bigger space such as an open-plan kitchen and living area.
“Add in some soft light curtains and you’ll never want to leave!”
What’s your favourite room in this home?
“It’s got to be the open-plan kitchen and living area for me. You can really imagine the whole family here on a Sunday or weekday evening enjoying the space and time together. It’s also a fantastic space to entertain guests, given the spacious lounging area and dining table.
“It is a light space due to the amount of space, the high ceilings and the vaulted ceiling in the family area which makes it feel quite grand. To make it feel inviting at the same time, we used a taupe vinyl wallpaper in the kitchen and some darker furniture, such as the sideboard and dining table, to create a grounding feeling.
“With French doors leading into the garden it’s the perfect place for a family BBQ in the summer.”
The Laurel is a Cala Showhome of Support, with detail and finishings provided by local Horsham suppliers. What are some of your favourite items?
“We were delighted to spend time sourcing items from local, independent businesses to help furnish this home, as part of Cala’s Showhome of Support initiative which shines a light on talented designers, artisans and retailers in and around their developments.
“The Linseed Oil and Honey on display from Flax Farm is particularly nice, and we’re sure it will tempt potential residents to spend their Sundays shopping for similar local produce.
“The handmade home fragrances from Blossom are also wonderful as seasonal scents are some of the best ways to make you feel at home.
“We also love the inclusion of school uniform from Bohunt Primary School in the children’s room as it brings together a very real sense of what life could be like for new families in the community here!”
For more information about Cala’s Mowbray development, or to book an appointment to view the showhomes, please visit our Hawksbourne page. For more information on Cala’s Showhome of Support, please visit www.cala.co.uk/showhomeofsupport.
