THE WAY WE LIVE NOW Our homes have never been more important

THE WAY WE LIVE NOW At the beginning of 2020, fired up by the prospect of a new decade, we published our confident predictions for the year ahead – including the way we thought we’d all be decorating our homes. Well, you know what they say: if you want to make the universe laugh, tell it your plans… Words by Deri Robins

Meanwhile, over in the rarefied world of have begun as contingent solution may well translate into a permanent interiors, Dulux announced that its Colour new way of living; the non-commute is better for the planet, less timeof the Year would be Tranquil Dawn. This wasting for workers, and probably healthier all round. It might even hue, they said, encapsulated “the nation’s turn out to be cheaper for business owners, too, as that quaint and mood on the approach of a new decade,” costly pre-Covid construct ‘the office’ becomes redundant. offering the perfect antidote to an “increasingly Partly due to this seismic shift in working styles, and partly because disconnected” modern society. we’re still not going out to socialise anything like as much as we used to,

We did think at the time that this seemed there’s never been a time when our homes have felt more important. rather a lot to expect from a slightly When it feels as if the whole world has wishy-washy, greeny-grey coloured paint, spiralled out of control, we need a refuge. but we played along. Soon after we’d gone to press, an “Covid disconnected us A sanctuary, in which we can retreat from all the craziness. obscure bug brought the whole planet to a grinding halt, and daily life turned into all – and this time not even Perhaps you feel that the times are too uncertain to splash out on a major science fiction. Covid ‘disconnected’ us all in a way we could never have imagined, a fresh coat of Tranquil overhaul; we get that. On the other hand, if you budgeted for a holiday that and this time not even Tranquil Dawn could save us. Still, at least our walls were Dawn could save us” went up the spout this summer, you may decide to put the cash towards a room a nicer colour for the Zoom chats. makeover instead; a proper home office,

Fast-forward to September 2020, when perhaps, with a cool little Bauhaus desk, a the tide is gradually beginning to turn. mid-century swivel chair and an original

Restaurants, cafés, shops, salons and galleries are reopening; we’re able 1227 Anglepoise lamp. To be honest, they’ll give you far more lasting to meet up with family and friends, at least to some extent. We’re slowly pleasure than a tan from Marbella. getting connected again; with a bit of luck, we may end up even more No wonder interior designers report that they’ve never been busier, connected than before, or at least a little more compassionate. It feels as but they’ve still kindly found time to answer the pressing questions if we’re more aware of one another, at least, these days. of the day. Are florals in or out? Is grandmillennial the same as retro

One of the most interesting legacies of Covid is that hundreds of fusion? Do we really have to do the terrazzo thing? Is rattan back? thousands of workers have discovered that it’s entirely possible to do Whither bouclé? And why are we still so obsessed with Nordic chic? For their jobs perfectly well, perhaps even better, from home. What may the answers to some of the above, and much more, read on…

NORDIC RETREAT Our love for all things Nordic is more deep-rooted than ever: what could be more soothing in these weird times than a chilled-out, hyggetastic haven in which to rest, regenerate, and if we’re allowed, socialise? It’s a wildly liveable look, in which uncluttered interiors are layered up with natural textures: sheepskin rugs, soft knits, fringed cushions, rattan light shades, pale wooden furniture and jute rugs.

“It’s simple and timeless; but you need to be careful not to go too minimal, as you’ll risk making the room look cold and uninviting,” advises Sarah Bailey of SJP Interiors. And sure enough, this year has seen a move away from the classic, rather stark, white Scandi palette; the new look is gentler and warmer, with walls in soft pinks and nudes. new look is gentler and warmer, with walls in soft pinks and nudes.

Look out, too, for new sub-trend Japandi: Look out, too, for new sub-trend Japandi: a hybrid of Japanese and Scandinavian a hybrid of Japanese and Scandinavian style that combines the cosiness of style that combines the cosiness of hygge with Japanese feng shui and hygge with Japanese feng shui and minimalism; for example, by mixing minimalism; for example, by mixing a low, simple Japanese-style bed with a low, simple Japanese-style bed with piles of pillows and cosy blankets. piles of pillows and cosy blankets.

Page 15 Norwegian? Would. Cole & Sons paper from Bracey Interiors

SHOPPING LIST 1. Delicate twiggery; Rebel Walls (at Bracey Interiors) 2. Ikea were so keen to show Ikea were so keen to show us this hyggelicious roomset that us this hyggelicious roomset that they forgot to make the bed 3. Sheepskin, Midgley Green, £80 Sheepskin, Midgley Green, £80 4. Hey basket, BoConcept, £60 Hey basket, BoConcept, £60 5. Gamlehult footstool, Ikea, £60 Gamlehult footstool, Ikea, £60

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GO GREEN OR GO HOME Already a big trend pre-Covid, eco-aware, sustainable design is more in demand than ever as we seek a greater connection to nature. We’re craving the tactile joys of handmade objects, natural textures, imperfect materials such as weathered woods and stone, in rooms full of bleached, faded hues, natural pigments and timeworn patinas. We’re liking our leather sofas distressed; we’re rekindling our love of bamboo, rattan and wicker. We want furniture and fi xtures with a conscience; we’re upcycling whenever we can. And if we want to make it all a bit edgier, we’re mixing in some vintage, mid-century or modern bits and pieces, too.

GRANDMILLENNIAL Last year we were calling it retro fusion; now it’s evolved into grandmillennial. Both add up to much the same thing: combining upcycled period furniture in a careful and considered way, mixing vintage and modern to an eclectic yet stylish eff ect. Careful how you go, though; too much midcentury and you’ll fi nd yourself living in a Terence Rattigan stage set.

The trick is to merge eras and styles. Mix the greens, browns and mustards beloved of the 1970s with the scalloped shapes of Deco, with a smattering of Danish 1950s design, hand-medowns from your nan’s house (foxed mirrors, wicker, chintz and needlepoint, tassels and chinoiserie etc), in an otherwise modern room. As well as being environmentally friendly, your home will never look exactly like anyone else’s; it’s like going to a party in a vintage frock when everyone else turns up in Reiss.

“I’m always on the lookout for that piece that we can upcycle and give a new lease of life,” says Kay James of K Interiors. “Clients are more interested than ever in the footprint of interiors, and shopping local is so now.”

“Upcycling, mixing old and new is big for 2020, as so many people are looking to save costs,” agrees David Hutton. “I often keep an eye on online auctions and fi nd that old furniture is making a comeback, as prices seem to be creeping up.”

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SHOPPING LIST 1. Rebel Walls (from Bracey) team Rebel Walls (from Bracey) team a modern abstract paper with mida modern abstract paper with midcentury furniture century furniture 2. 2. Green majolica jardiniere, £240, Green majolica jardiniere, £240, Dig Haüshizzle Dig Haüshizzle 3. 3. Victoria Taylor sells gorgeouslly Victoria Taylor sells gorgeouslly upcylced pieces; fi nd her at her Etsy upcylced pieces; fi nd her at her Etsy shop, Handsome Vintage shop, Handsome Vintage 4

SHOPPING LIST 1. Kay James loves these lampshades, £180, from Molts Lighting 2. Poirot chair, from £730, Arlo & Jacob 3. Aloe Humilis living plant, £3.45, Mila Plants 4. Tropical Forest tray, £14, Bristol Artisan

BIOPHILIA In a similar vein, foliage is still everywhere, with fl oral and leafy motifs blooming across cushions, sofas, curtains and wallpapers. We’re even unearthing our long-abandoned copy of The House Plant Expert as we try to persuade cactuses and monsteras not to die on us; spider plants can’t believe their luck as they bask in their biggest popularity resurgence since the 1970s.

“As 2020 progresses we will continue to bring the elements of the natural world into our interiors to encourage personal growth as well as evoking a feeling of calm and protection,” predicts Joa Studholme of Farrow and Ball.

HOLDING PATTERNS The modern interiors scene is always a bit yin and yang, and in contrast to the restrained Nordic styles we’re also seeing a shift towards a more fl amboyant décor. You can go as bold as you dare; and we’re not talking a timid feature wall here or there, either; we’re covering whole rooms with blousy/jazzy designs. Sometimes we’re even taking it up across the ceilings.

Some patterns embrace abstract expressionism; the fun, free-spirited interiors trend that steals from abstract artwork, hand-drawn sketches and line drawings (that’ll be all those Cocteau and Matisse-style faces we’ve been seeing on cushions, then), with playful blocks of colour and bold design.

At the traditional end of the spectrum are the fl orals; these have been big (literally) for a while, but now we’re seeing them with a more delicate, nostalgic, even old-fashioned feel, with fi nely drawn outlines; this needn’t mean chintz (though it can), as many designers interpret the trend in a decidedly modern, thoroughly in-your-face way.

“Clients are becoming more adventurous,” says Alison of Bracey Interiors. “It’s interesting to see the infl uence of old archived designs; these are coming back into production, sometimes recoloured to make them more relevant to today’s clients. I’m loving the re-emergence of classic designs with a contemporary twist.”

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HUE GOES THERE? Looking for the easiest and cheapest makeover in the book? Change up the colours.

“I think we’ll either be seeing moody autumnal and jewel shades, or dusty pinks and smoky blues,” predicts Alison Bracey. “Mustard seems to be prominent, too; it’s versatile, and works well with a green, rust or blue palette.”

“Greens continue to reinforce our connection with nature, which is even more important post-lockdown,” says Joa Studholme of Farrow and Ball, “but the natural palette has expanded, as we look to bring in warmer tones to add personality and elegance while remaining comfortable. Surrender to the urge to escape and fi nd refuge in the beauty of nature by using the colours of the earth, from mushroom tones to moodier India Yellow”

Laura Reynolds of kitchen designers Fifteen Twelve is also loving the green hues and earthy tones. “They’re a great way of bringing in the outdoors, and they complement the period properties of Bristol beautifully.” (That said, navy Shaker kitchens are also in big demand).

“Over at K Interiors we have always been Team Colour, even through the beige and grey days, but it’s great to see colour being embraced by the nation,” says Kay James. “The rich SHOPPING LIST 1. Didn’t make it to Andalucia this year? This Cole & Sons ‘Seville’ wallpaper from Bracey will have you hearing the distant click of castanets 2. The never-knowingly undersubtle Timorous Beasties 3. House Doctor face cushion, £36, Mon Pote 4. Bleeker knitted cushion, £44, Truce 5. A subtle take on the fl oral theme: the Jangal range from Paint and Paper Library, at Bracey

jewelled colours and primary pops are still going strong but there’s also been a shift in the neutral tones from the greys to warmer tones such as blush and sand tones.”

“For AW20 we’re seeing a lot more terracotta, clay and rust colours coming through,” says Charlie Marshall of Loaf. “We don’t focus too much on trends, but opt more for lasting style. The same goes for colour; to stand the test of time it doesn’t need to be trendy, but it should be stylish. People are becoming more adventurous in their homes. A few years ago it was all about neutrals but with sites like Pinterest and Instagram, it’s easier to get bolder colours right.”

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BATHROOMS “Spa bathrooms are becoming increasingly popular,” says Neil Curtis of Ripples. “Clients are looking to create their own, unique getaway, somewhere they can fl oat away from the chaos of the current world.

Colourwise, white and black bathrooms are on Neil’s radar. “Expect to see more white brassware and muted black tones, such as dark slate tiles, and textured fi nishes on taps and showers, like brushed onyx or gunmetal grey. I also love the fl uted glass shower screens; they are stylish, modest and introduce a soft vintage feel.”

All of a sudden, white sinks look unacceptably boring... Sam Lander for Ripples, £1,109 THE HOME OFFICE “Home offi ces are defi nitely the buzz word,” says Alison Bracey, who says that the key elements are suffi cient desk space and storage, with colours creating a welcoming and calming environment.

Laura of Fifteen Twelve says that keeping clutter down is key. “My advice would be a good set of drawers underneath the desk, as well as a wall cupboard above. Add an old candle holder for pens and a simple jar with fl owers to bring nature to the table.”

“The space needs to motivate you,” says Sarah of SJP. “A view, if possible, and lots of light, otherwise you’ll end up back at the kitchen table. If you don’t have much natural light then make the lighting really good; if you don’t have an inspirational view then create one with a mural or wallpaper or pictures that inspire you.”

“It’s very important that your offi ce doesn’t take over the home,” says Linda Pålemo of Rebel Walls. “If you don’t have your own room for an offi ce, try to clear away all of your work things by the end of the day. Turn off everything and ‘go home’, just as you normally would. If you do have an offi ce room, perhaps try creating a diff erent style, so it feels separate from the rest of the house.”

“By using colour and pattern, you can create a space for creativity and focus that helps to aid your concentration,” says Ruth Mottershead of Little Greene (available from Nola Interiors). “Perhaps use one bold, bright Little Greene (available from Nola Interiors). “Perhaps use one bold, bright colour all over for vibrant impact, or select a more neutral tone, so you introduce a colour highlight on the skirting boards or woodwork.”

Finally, “Make sure it’s far away from the fridge and near a window!” says Paul Simmons of Timorous Beasties. 2

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SHOPPING LIST 1. Rebel Walls list this Nordic Valley design in their kids’ rooms section, but we want it on our offi ce wall. From Bracey 2. Vitra ball clock, POA from Oskar Furniture 3. Beautiful solid oak desk with a touch of Deco, from Loaf; £495. More bulletins from the home offi ce on pages 65-67

THE LIST

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS Fifteen Twelve Unit 9, Bristol Vale Industrial Estate fifteentwelve.co.uk

JMI Bathrooms 52 Bristol Hill; jmibathrooms.co.uk

Kellaway Bathrooms 172-174 Kellaway Avenue kellawaybathrooms.co.uk

Kutchenhaus Unit 11, Clifton Down, Shopping Centre; kutchenhaus.co.uk

Nailsea Electrical 102 Gloucester Road nailseaelectricalonline.co.uk

Ripples 88 Whiteladies Road ripplesbathrooms.com

Schmidt 170-172 Whiteladies Road home-design.schmidt

Sustainable Kitchens Unit D4, Avondale Works sustainablekitchens.co.uk

The Tile and Bathroom Warehouse 6 Eldon Way thetileandbathroomwarehouse.com

Wren Cribbs Causeway Retail Park wrenkitchens.com BUILDING CONTRACTORS Bristol Roofing Unit 7, Bakers park bristol-roofing.com

Build Bristol buildbristol.com

HAL Group halgroup.co.uk

Heads Apart Henleaze House; heads-apart.co.uk

JAS Building jasbuildingservices.co.uk

Mobius mobiusworks.co.uk

TD Cole tdcole.co.uk

Urbane Eco 15 Avon Valley Business Park urbane-eco.co.uk CARPETS & FLOORING Conran Carpets 278-280 Gloucester Road conrancarpetsltd@gmail.com

Eden Hardwood Flooring edenhardwoodflooring.co.uk

Kustom Floors 6 Downend Road kustomfloorsandfurniture.co.uk

Oriental Rugs Bookbarn International orientalrugsofbath.com

The Carpet Barn The Old Coachworks, Unit 1A, Bath Road; thecarpetbarn.co.uk FURNITURE Arlo & Jacob 94C Whiteladies Road arloandjacob.com

Bo Concept 51-53 Merchant Street boconcept.com

Husk Unit 9, Montpelier Central Trading Estate; madebyhusk.com

Loaf Furniture Cribbs Causeway; loaf.com

Mobel 14 Redcross Street; thisismobel.com

Park Furnishers Willway Street; parkfurnishers.co.uk

Raft Furniture 68 Whiteladies Road raftfurniture.co.uk

South West Upholstery 62-64 The Mall, Clifton swupholstery.co.uk

Young & Norgate Unit 10, Montpelier Central Trading Estate youngandnorgate.com

Rebel Walls, at Bracey

HOME INTERIORS Fancy Plants 15 Perry Road; fancy-plants.co.uk

Gardiner Haskins Brunel Rooms, Straight Street gardinerhaskins.co.uk

Ikea Eastgate Shopping Centre; ikea.com

Just Shutters justshutters.co.uk

Red Dog Glass Design reddogglassdesign.com INTERIOR DESIGNERS Bracey Interiors Waterloo Street; braceyinteriors.co.uk

David Hutton 17 Druid Hill davidhuttoninteriors.co.uk

Fawn Interiors Unit 4.6, Paintworks fawninteriors.co

Goodchild Interiors 34 Berkeley House goodchildinteriors.net

K-Interiors 23 Highdale Road; k-interiors.co.uk

Main Interiors 384 Gloucester Road maininteriordesign.com

Nola Interiors 168 Gloucester Road nolainteriors-bristol.co.uk

SJP Interior Design 36 The Mall; sjpinteriordesign.co.uk

Studio Cwtch 9 Bath Buildings, Montpelier studiocwtch-uk.com

Stylemongers stylemongersofbristol.co.uk

TME Interiors tmeinteriors.co.uk

Wuffles @wufflesdesign on instagram LIGHTING Bristol Lighting Company 4B Avondale Works bristollightingcompany.com

Parkway Lighting 343-347 Fishponds Road parkway-lighting.co.uk

The Lighting Studio Unit 2, Bedminster Retail Park thelightingstudiobristol.co.uk PLUMBING & HEATING 360 Heating and Plumbing 360-propertysolutions.co.uk

Bristol Boiler Company 50 North Street; bristolboiler.co.uk

Embers 117-119 St Georges Street embersbristol.com

Kindle Stoves Glenavon Farm, Bath Road kindlestoves.co.uk

Star Plumbing 15 Kenn Court starplumbingsupplies.co.uk WINDOWS AND DOORS Bristol Windows 177 South Liberty Lane bristolwindowsltd.co.uk

Polar Bear Windows Jarretts Garden Centre polarbearwindows.co.uk

Timber Windows 29 The Mall, Clifton timberwindows.com

Ever wished you were a bit braver with your home decor?

Do you love the idea of incorporating bright colours or bold patterns into your interiors but have no idea where to start? Or do you have a niggling design dilemma that’s stopping you getting to grips with a room?

Book an Inspire Session with me to help get your brain fi zzing with ingenious ideas and stylish solutions you won’t have thought of before.

Want to know more?

Battle of the bathrooms

Pretty in pink or colour pop? Swiss bathroom designer GEBERIT, is on a mission to transform the country’s cloakrooms, washrooms and en-suites from boring and beige to bright and beautiful

To help us get inspired, they’ve teamed up with interiors experts, TV presenter Sophie Robinson and best-selling author and journalist Kate Watson-Smyth, to show us how we can get creative and stamp our own signature style on our space.

The challenge? Take one bathroom and transform into two very different and unique rooms. Using the same ceramics and furniture – Geberit’s sleek Acanto bathroom collection in black, state-of-the-art AquaClean Mera shower toilet and luxury flush plates – the interior specialists have gone head to head to create their own striking space.

But which bathroom do you prefer? COLOUR POP Renowned for her colour revolution ethos, Sophie has designed a colour pop bathroom, using contrasting colours such as cobalt blue, pastel pink and sunshine yellow. These bold colours are complemented with a striking chequered floor and playful wallpaper, tying the look together with the black and white of the Geberit furniture and ceramics. Sophie injects even more personality to the space with fun finishing touches – funky plant pots, textured rugs and interesting ornaments on shelves.

PRETTY IN PINK (AND YELLOW) Kate has transformed the same space into a dreamy pretty-in-pink (and yellow) haven, using an eclectic mix of soft shapes and vintage accessories set against a pastel palette. Rounded mirrors and scallop shapes throughout the room help soften the hard surfaces and straight lines of most bathrooms. A combination of upcycled accessories and unusual artwork bring texture and character to the space, from rustic wooden stools, glass jars of potpourri and even an old school radio. And don’t forget those houseplants to help bring the outdoors in... n

For more bathroom inspiration and to find your nearest Geberit retailer visit www.geberit.co.uk/southwest

Fancy Plants

Check out the jungle in the city...

Abeautiful houseplant can transform a dreary corner or a dull desk space, but they do so much more. They oxygenate our air, improve our productivity and just make us feel better about our environment. If you don’t believe us, just step into Fancy Plants on Perry Road, just along from the BRI. It is a real jungle in the city, stocking plants from the tiniest cacti and succulents to the largest palms and birds of paradise. Here are just a few of our top tips when it comes to choosing and looking after your plants.

When you are choosing a new plant, think about its natural habitat when you are deciding which one is right for your home or offi ce... A cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) is a great example. In its natural habitat in southern Mexico it will use trees for support. So it prefers the indirect or filtered light that it would get in this environment rather than direct sun. Other plants such as Calatheas are

Fancy Plants offer..

• Home and office consultations • Delivery available for larger orders in Bristol • Gift vouchers • A pop up Fancy Plants shop in your office rainforest floor plants from South America and so they like to be kept lightly damp and in light shade, ideally with some good humidity. South African beauties like birds of paradise (Strelitzia) love to sunbathe.

How can you make sure you choose the right plant? If you come and see us at Fancy Plants and need some help to choose, we might ask you to think about where you want the plant to go. Is it in direct sun? A shady spot? Which way does the window in the room face? If you’re not sure, check out the compass on your phone and point it at the window. We might ask you if your house is draughty or warm and even if you have pets or children, as some plants are not great for a nibbling puppy or a curious toddler. Lots of our customers bring photos of the room they want a plant for; we love this, as it helps us recommend the best plant for the space.

Can you get rid of the plastic pot and put it in something more attractive? We all love a nice pot to show off our plants and at Fancy Plants we have a big selection of pots and baskets. But whatever you do, don’t take it out of it’s plastic pot unless you are putting it into another pot with drainage holes. The water needs to drain away and not sit round the roots for too long to avoid root rot. At Fancy Plants we reuse plastic pots where possible so pop by to pick up a free recycled pot if you are thinking about repotting. Don’t be tempted to repot in the winter months. The best time for most plants is MaySeptember - and just go up one pot size. ■

Address: 15 Perry Road, Bristol, BS1 5BG Web: www.fancy-plants.co.uk Telephone: 0117 927 3171 Email: sayhello@fancy-plants.co.uk Instagram #hellofancy_plants

MULTI-FACETED, MULTI-DIMENSIONAL…

MULTICOMS is a dynamic company offering a diverse range of reliable and high-quality communication, electronic security and custom audio-visual services to customers in the South-West and beyond. Since launching Multicoms in 2008, directors Matt Trott and Dean Pendry have led with a fi rm commitment to delivering exceptional tailored installations while ensuring the customer’s experience is second to none

As a premium brand, Multicoms works closely with the award-winning ELAN Home Systems providing smarthome automation. ELAN is intuitive and responsive, connecting electronic systems, whether for security or entertainment, across the home. All devices are controlled by a thoughtfully engineered reliable automation system which can be personalised to the customer’s needs. With this easy to use system you can turn on your home cinema room, dim lights, draw shades and adjust room temperature, all surrounded by perfectly-equalized sound. With ELAN’s home entertainment system, a single command using just your voice and Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa turns your media room into a total cinematic experience – all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the show. ELAN home automation systems run seamlessly alongside your busy everyday schedule, at home or away, by intuitively creating perfect moments of comfort when you’re at home and conserving energy when you’re not.

“Home automation brings numerous practical benefi ts,” explains Dean. “For example, your property’s security systems can be monitored remotely, with notifi cations of any activity sent live, providing you with security and peace of mind. ELAN turns on smart lighting to greet you when you wake up or return home, and, when you’re ready for bed, it double checks that all lights are off and security is on, keeping your home comfortable and energy-smart without a second thought. Intelligent features automatically anticipate your needs for indoor temperatures, managing shades, heating and cooling systems. Remote access also helps you heat and cool more effi ciently, with the ability to turn off systems if you’ll be away for longer than expected. Smart homes are also always more energy effi cient. ELAN even provides a detailed history of your energy consumption, enabling you to monitor usage and make informed decisions, all of which has a positive impact on cost and the planet.

“However, the biggest benefi t of a Smart home is the convenience factor: connecting these devices saves the home owner a great deal of time. As authorised ELAN installers, our team will talk clients through the entire installation process, syncing every device to the centralised system controller with its intelligent touch panels, face recognition, voice control and elegant product design. All of this can be controlled via your Smartphone, so it has never been easier to manage one’s home smartly ensuring it’s fully optimized, effi cient, safe and sound.”

As well as full Smart homes, Multicoms specialises in bespoke audiovisual projects. With the growth in popularity of cinema rooms in homes, Multicoms can ensure the best possible audio-visual cinema experience meeting both brief and budget, whether you’re looking for a simple TV mounting, bespoke home cinema or full video wall. Multicoms offers wireless multi-room audio systems using high-end Sonos and Bose audio products for instant streaming of your entire music library anywhere in your home. When it comes to visual, Multicoms’ multi-room video matrix systems are also truly bespoke. Centralised equipment allows distribution of 1080 HD and 4K UHD video content to any screen in your home, giving you complete control of where you watch.

Customers are consulted at all stages of a project to ensure that they receive the best possible solution for their requirements. “Its really important to understand what the client is seeking to achieve,” says Matt. “The changes in technology over the last 10 years mean so much is possible now. We pride ourselves on providing seamless, costeffective and bespoke solutions on time and on budget.”

WELCOME TO THE VINCENT

PEGASUS, part of Lifestory, has a desire to transform later living into an aspirational and attractive proposition tailored to a new generation.

We want to welcome you to The Vincent, located in the heart of Bristol. Designed by award-winning architects, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, the 64 one, two and threebedroom apartments offer an enviable lifestyle in a beautiful development that harnesses its historical past.

Our community offers a stylish approach to later living; your own apartment in a place you can truly call home, thanks to an ethos driven by community, exceptional service and wellbeing. Part of our philosophy at Pegasus is to create outstanding homes where Lifestory homeowners enjoy their independence. The Vincent takes this to a whole new level with interiors that are sympathetic to the development’s history while conveying contemporary elegance and an understated wow factor.

The Vincent is perfectly situated in the affluent Redland suburb of Bristol, between Clifton and Westbury Park. Just a few steps from Bristol’s Durdham Down, it offers the convenience of a city location with an abundance of green space to explore – that’s in addition to the perfectly landscaped communal gardens right on your doorstep.

The beautifully refurbished Queen Victoria House is ready to welcome new owners to join the vibrant community that already exists in the brand-new Regency-style terrace buildings. Queen Victoria House was originally built in 1886, and has been sympathetically refurbished to preserve its rich heritage and accentuate its unique period features, with the Victorian influence extending to the design of the newly built terraces. The historic clock face at the front of the building has been preserved and, on the top floor, the intricate internal workings have been revealed, creating a striking focal point in the communal space. The Grade II listed obelisk erected by past owner of the then Vincent Lodge, Jacob Wilcox Rickets, in commemoration of Charlotte Augusta, Princess of Wales, still stands in the well cultivated grounds at the heart of the development.

Stepping into the development, you are greeted by the stunning architectural design of Queen Victoria House, which is linked by a Victorian-inspired arboretum to the clean, sleek new-build terraces, aptly named Charlotte and Jacob, paying homage to the history of the site. Inside, owners benefit from a series of elegant and welcoming shared areas inspired by the luxury hotel industry. Here, you are able to make the most of socialising or entertaining guests in the inviting Owners’ Lounge. The perfect place to catch up with friends and enjoy a glass of wine. A range of events, tailored to the owners will be held here, bringing people together.

As you move through reception you are welcomed into the brand-new The Vincent Kitchen, with plenty of seating and doors leading out onto the south terrace. By day, the space is a welcoming café where you can enjoy a morning coffee or catch up with friends over lunch.

By evening the space becomes a superb

restaurant serving fresh and delicious locally sourced dishes, the perfect spot for celebrations or a family dinner.

As you leave Queen Victoria House you’ll see a walkway leading across the gardens to the spa, gym and stretch studio, offering the opportunity for a relaxing spa weekend – without having to leave home. At the spa, you’ll find a herbal sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pool surrounded by loungers, leading out onto a terrace. The gym has state-of-the-art equipment catering for all abilities, while the stretch studio hosts numerous exercise classes, including yoga and pilates. For those who are seeking additional luxuries, massages, beauty treatments and therapies can be enjoyed in the spa’s wellness rooms.

The apartments offer open-plan living areas, beautiful contemporary kitchens, well-appointed bedrooms and bright, modern bathrooms. The homes in The Vincent enjoy traditional high ceilings and large windows which fill the living spaces with natural light.

The Vincent offers exceptional quality

apartments within a secure, thriving community. To view our homes is to discover the exceptionally high specification and high standard of service which owners at The Vincent can expect from the on-site team of Lifehosts and the General Manager. n

To find out more about living at The Vincent or to book a private appointment to view our show homes, call 0117 981 4352 or e mail thevincent@pegasuslife.co.uk. Prices start from £399,999 for a one-bedroom home.

Fifteen Twelve | @fi fteentwelveinterior | 0117 379 0152