Luxury interior designer Vesta Interior Design has seen a trend in homeowners requiring a solution to allow multiple generations to live in harmony under one roof. This has traditionally been popular among Middle Eastern and Asian families, but Vesta notes an increase among British and European buyers as a result of the current property market conditions.
With moving now so expensive, and both upsizing and downsizing coming with their own challenges, many families are opting to consolidate their potential purchasing power and buy together. Indeed, they recently undertook a project for leading developer St James at their Fitzroy Gate development in Isleworth to do just this.
Chris Dale, Managing Director at Vesta Interior Design, comments: “Multi-generational living is becoming an increasingly popular way of life and we have seen a real shift in the layouts of new homes and the brief when designing the interiors for a property. We recently undertook a project for leading developer St James at their Fitzroy Gate development in Isleworth where a key demographic at this development was extended family groups and multi-generational living, compared to most developers who are targeting downsizers. Multi-generational living has always applied culturally to Asian and Middle Eastern families, but we are seeing an extension of this with British buyers and Europeans.”
Fitzroy Gate comprises of four, five and six bedroom family houses on a gated estate on the banks of the River Thames. Not only will the Grade II listed estate be converted in 39 flats and houses, it will also offer a care home for the elderly.
Vesta has recently completed a show home at the scheme which appeals to every generation from grandparents to adult children and the traditional nuclear family. This is all thanks to clever layouts and multi-use spaces.
Chris adds: “Fitzroy Gate has a real sense of community and a family structure which applies to all ages. The new show home caters to the different demands of these age groups within a single abode, offering both a formal living area and a relaxed area to entertain, along with plenty of seating to cater to all at meal times.
“The formal dining area is the most important part of the home and for many cultures – including Chinese and Indian – it’s an area which showcases a family’s status. Therefore, we had to make sure that as well as flexible, it was elegant, impressive and a room the family could be proud of. With this in mind, we used high quality furniture, luxurious finishes and grand artwork on the walls, making sure it really stood out to anyone who visited.”
The dining area was completed with an oversized table, with bench seating on one side which would allow lots of people to fit around the table. For the older generation, comfortable dining chairs make up the rest of the table’s seating.
The relaxed entertainment area is tailored to the younger generation, with a focus on comfort and media, but again with a lot of seating. Vesta made sure it was fully equipped for watching television and using computers, but also for playing board games as a family – a space where everyone can relax together.
As well as ensuring the space was functional for the whole family, it was also important for individuals to have their own space, so Vesta had to consider tailoring the bedrooms to this requirement. Chris adds: “Every room had full media capabilities, with all bedrooms pre-wired should they wish to add an entertainment system, such as Sonos, allowing people to enjoy their own space, with their own music.
“When it came to design, it was important that each room was designed to suit each generation; the master and second bedroom were situated on the first floor and we took a more traditional approach to the design of these rooms as they would be used by the parents and grandparents of the family. Both had an ensuite bathroom for convenience. The kids’ bedrooms were on the second floor, with their own shared bathroom, and were large enough for additional seating should they wish to have friends over or have some privacy from the rest of the family as they grow older. The upstairs space was somewhat self-contained, which is appealing to families who have children who will likely want independence as they grow older.”
Isleworth itself is a small town which offers a village setting within easy commute of Central London, and its riverside location is appealing to residents of all ages and Fitzroy Gate has a real sense of community. Residents even have use of a private communal garden space where they can entertain on the banks of the Thames, giving a family further flexibility. Furthermore, later in life, elderly members can make use of the onsite care home, giving their children the peace of mind that comes with being close by.
For further information about Vesta Interior Design, please contact 0800 135 7888 or visit: www.vesta-london.co.uk
