Member Article

Dorset development opens doors to first sustainably designed show home

Barratt Homes in Dorset has introduced a brand-new show home with an all-sustainable interior, following the developer’s pledge to reduce its carbon footprint.

Quarter Jack Park, located in the traditional town of Wimborne, has partnered with national interior design firm, Edward Thomas Interiors, to create a bespoke, eco-conscious haven, perfect for mindful buyers.

The light and airy three-bedroom “Morseby” design was chosen to reflect the leading housebuilder’s commitment to sustainability. Barratt instructed Edward Thomas Interiors to implement simple but effective ideas around the home that could inspire even the most inexperienced of decorators.

Incorporating vintage and upcycled furniture, the team, led by Creative Brand Manager, Sam Jones, wanted to show buyers that creativity doesn’t have to come at a cost.

Tammy Bishop, Barratt Homes Sales Director, Southampton Division, said: “Barratt Homes is committed to reducing its impact on the environment, and we want to inspire our buyers to do the same in their new homes.”

Research from Google trends* has revealed a 277% increase between February and June 2022 in online interest around “furniture upcycling near me”, while social media platform TikTok received a staggering 8.6 billion views for the hashtag ‘Upcycling’.

Tammy added: “The appetite is there, and with these impressive designs in our Moresby show home, we have proved that the goal is not as difficult as you may think.”

Implementing a stylish mix of upcycled and vintage furniture, as well as sustainably sourced products, Barratt Homes, along with Edward Thomas Interiors, has been able to showcase a variety of ideas that are easy to emulate at a low cost.

Sam said: “There are so many videos online where you can learn different ideas, and you don’t need elaborate tools and unlimited budget to do them. For example, we created a lamp and its shade from an old gin bottle and garden twine, we repurposed rattan plant pots as kitchen light shades, we decoupaged bedside cabinets with pages from the Jungle Book, and added bamboo strips to make new chest of drawer fronts.”

Another recommendation which can be seen throughout the home is the introduction of vintage pieces of furniture.

“Fast furniture is similar to fast fashion,” said Sam. “It costs less, but you have to replace it quicker. By changing your way of thinking and investing in second-hand furniture you can achieve surprising results. For instance, the Ercol dining chairs we used in the Morseby’s open plan kitchen/diner are from the 1970s. They’ve been repainted and look as good as new.”

As well as using eco-friendly furniture, the semi-detached show home has been styled with sustainable wallpapers and fabrics including bamboo, rattan, string, rope and driftwood, inspired by the nearby coastline. The Barratt team has also used local carpenters, artists, plumbers and electricians to invest in the local economy while reducing the carbon footprint that comes from a worker’s travel time.

Quarter Jack Park has been designed with the fundamental values that has made Barratt Homes a leader in green building.

Each property has energy-efficiency as a key design consideration. With highly thermally efficient insulation and argon-filled double glazing as standard, buyers can benefit from savings of up to £2,600 per year.

The homes also come with the latest water and energy saving appliances, with their water efficient kitchen and bathroom fittings estimated to reduce consumption by up to 26% per day per person, compared to the national average.

Tammy said: “We hope this special show home design will not only show our buyers how they can live sustainably, but will also highlight the importance of using local suppliers and shopping responsibly, particularly during this difficult time.”

Quarter Jack Park offers an exclusive range of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes close to ‘Outstanding’ OFSTED rated schools and an excellent array of shops, family friendly pubs and restaurants.

There are excellent road links to Bournemouth, Poole, and Southampton, and the New Forest National Park just a 20-minute drive away.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Barratt Homes .