20 Questions

Craig Osborne looks after housing and Build to Rent at Vesta Interior Design. You will see Vesta’s work in show homes all over the UK. Alongside interior design, Vesta provides a range of fully curated furniture packages, perfect for first time buyers, providing a full inventory of pieces to furnish your new home

With Craig Osborne

What room at home is your favourite?

I would say the kitchen. I love to cook and am always trying out new recipes. I think kitchens are a great place to unwind after a busy day. They are the heart of the home.

What’s your favourite gadget or technology that at home?

I recently got a Peloton bike. It was an absolute bonus when the gyms were shut and I love competing against my friends!

What colour do you think everyone should have in their home?

Whatever colour makes you happy! Your home should be an extension of your personality and it’s important that you create a space that makes you smile. If you’re wanting to play it semi-safe, white is easy and you can bring out your personality using prints, soft furnishings and statement pieces.

Which three people would you invite over for a housewarming party if you could have any guests?

My close pals, every time. No one makes me laugh more!

What’s your favourite memory from your childhood home?

I remember when I was growing up and my dad didn’t have a car and used to walk home from work. I used to wait at the gate and when I saw him turn the corner of our road I’d run down and meet him and hold his hand proudly back to our house.

What is your favourite song and why?

Impossible question! Today it’s Where is Home by Bloc Party.

Would you rather have a garden or a balcony?

A garden. During lockdown we started to grow our own vegetables and it’s something we really enjoy. The garden was an absolute saviour during those first few months of lockdown, and we really enjoy cooking outside – we do it all year round.

Do you prefer modern homes or period properties?

I love modern homes, but I also really enjoy period features! My ideal home would be a beautiful Victorian or Edwardian property in north London. On Instagram I follow an account by two chaps who have renovated their Edwardian property and it’s stunning – you can see them @LittleEdwardian.

Would you rather have a library room or media room at home?

My absolute dream would be my own home office. It would have a large desk where I could work but also a TV, a reading corner and a state-of-the-art music system. Somewhere I could close the door on the outside world, pour a nice glass of wine and just relax in a comfy chair.

Would you prefer to have a luxurious bathtub or a sumptuous shower at home?

I always say shower and will say it again, even though as I get older, I do miss a good soak in the bath especially on a cold and wet winter's day. But for ease, a shower is so convenient.

Would you rather live in the bustling city or in the country?

City, every time. I’m lucky enough to live and work just outside north London and it’s always really suited me in terms of what I want. There are so many great green spaces in London too, so you can feel like you’re in the country while being slap bang in the middle of it all.

If you were buying a property overseas, in what country would you buy a home?

I would move to New York tomorrow. My happy place. I love absolutely everything about it.

Would you rather have a bigger property or a better location?

Always a tricky one. Storage and extra space is something I lack and I’d love that office I mentioned earlier. But to get that sort of space we would have to move a bit further out, and for me I don’t particularly enjoy driving so I’d need to live somewhere with good transport links.

What is one thing you couldn’t live without at home?

Willow my cat. She follows me everywhere; she is my shadow and sat on my lap now while I answer these questions!

What’s your favourite way to unwind at home after work?

I struggle to unwind, and I think a lot of people who work in our sector will say the same, there is always so much news, information and conversations to be hand, you really do live it 24/7. That being said, we’re a close bunch and we all enjoy what we do!

What’s your favourite thing about your home?

My little front garden. It has a lovely seating area where we like to sit, enjoy a barbecue and a drink on a warm summer's evening.

Where did you buy your first home?

My wife bought her first home in her home town of Borehamwood and I have lived here for the last 11 years.

What advice would you give a first time buyer?

Think furniture. A lot of first time buyers put all their money into their deposits. At Vesta we offer a range of design-led furniture packs meaning you get that interior design offering, and the furniture at a price point that works for you.

What are your views on shared ownership and the property market?

Shared ownership continues to be a fantastic option for those first time buyers it works for. Prices keep going up so it’s important to have an option to get on the ladder with a cheaper deposit than the open market.

What are your top tips for furnishing your first home?

Sounds obvious, but measure the space and make sure things work alongside each other. Try to only buy things that serve a purpose, don’t buy an eight-seater dining room table if you’ll only use it once a year! Most importantly, make it your own!