New England in Devon

Posted by Steph, on March 30th, 2009, under Lifestyle, RSS

We always love to speak to our customers to find out where they are from, and to hear about the homes they are furnishing. Having recently noticed an increased number of orders from South Hallsands in South Devon – a hamlet with a perilous past – a couple yesterday told us all about Prospect House.

Amanda Lubrani bought this landmark building, and has beautifully renovated and restored it, developing sixteen new homes – most of which have the most stunning ocean views.

Prospect House has a most remarkable history. In 1917, after repeated high seas and tearing gales, most of the small fishing village of  Hallsands was destroyed by the sea. Two sisters and residents of the village, Ella and Patience Trout invested the little compensation they received from the loss of their home into a small plot of land on the cliff top above the ruined village. With Ella’s dreams of a hotel but nothing to spend on construction costs the sisters set to work building a small guesthouse by hand, which opened in 1925. Over the next 30 years the guesthouse grew into Trouts Hotel, gaining national acclaim for its perfect location, fine food and friendship and warmth of Ella and Patience.

After the death of the sisters in the 1950’s the hotel was closed by their other sister Edith who lived there as a recluse until the 1970s allowing the building to run into decay.

When Amanda Lubrani purchased the rundown building in 2006, it took her very little time to decide that “New England” was the style she wanted to use for the development. “After all,” says Amanda, “many of the first settlers who took the English culture and America originated from Plymouth. The shape of the building is classically similar to those that were replicated in America.” Retaining as much of the original building – and the history – as possible, the resulting properties are simply stunning.

The inspiring New England interiors are created with many soft soothing shades of white – giving a light and clarity to reflect that of clear sunshine. A peaceful, practical environment in harmony with nature and the sea is created using a splash of sea blues and greens, driftwood greys and the subtle warmth of natural wood with stone. Whitened timber flooring stretches throughout the properties; externally arctic white weatherboarding reflects the sunshine.

Tags: Amara Estates, New England Properties, New England Style, New_England_interior, Prospects House, South Hallsands

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Bedroom Furniture Design

Posted by Nick Burrin, on March 28th, 2009, under New England News, RSS

When I’d finished my New England Style house on the beach in Elmer, West Sussex I went out to go and look for suitable furniture. As I have always created white interiors, I decided I wanted to buy all white furniture and accessories. Having visited the usual suspects such as Laura Ashley, Heals, Habitat, Conran and John Lewis I discovered that no one really produced a comprehensive white range of furniture.

And so I decided to draw my first piece of furniture. In my design I created a bedside table with just one drawer and an open shelf below. I have always really liked the effect of tongue and groove as it gives a real seaside feel to furniture, so I designed the bedside table with a tongue and grooved top and sides. This piece is now known as the Manhattan Bedside Table – and over the next few weeks the range slowly evolved with the Chest of Drawers, Wardrobe and Blanket Box.

A year or so later, New England Lifestyle was born as a company. I had a dream one night that I was standing in a very large warehouse, full of furniture as far as I could see. This vision gave me the idea that we should always keep our furniture in stock for delivery as quickly as possible, as most of the furniture companies I visited in the beginning had a 6-14 week lead time.

Since then, I have found that many of my designs have come through necessity. When my children were born, so was the Maine Range beginning with the Sleigh Bed, child’s size wardrobe (known as the Maine Wardrobe), Maine Bedside Table, the tall white chest of drawers and white bookcase.

It is great fun and very rewarding to see my drawings brought to life in the 120 or so items – both furniture and accessories – we now sell.

Tags: bedroom furniture, sleigh bed, white accessories, white bedroom furniture, white_bedside_table, white_bookcase, white_furniture, white_wardrobe

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The great White Dresser hunt!

Posted by Steph, on March 26th, 2009, under New England News, RSS

We have always thought that the prices for our white New England Style Dressers were very competitive.

Recently we had a look at the kitchen dressers available from some of our competitors, just to see how we compare.

Laura Ashley sell a white dresser called the Provencale Triple Display Cabinet, measuring 218cm high by 185cm wide, with a full price of £2251.70. Even in their current sale, this dresser would set you back £1688.78, and you would have to wait 8 weeks for delivery.

Similarly, Belle Maison sell a soft white Provencal Three Door Open Top Dresser measuring 220cm high and 190cm wide for £1995. This can be compared with our Burlington Dresser, with a full price of £1200 and currently available in our sale for just £1020, and in stock for delivery within 3-4 weeks. They also have a Provencal Two Door Open Top Dresser with Oak Top, measuring 220cm high x 130cm wide, retailing for £1395. Compare this to our Burlington Dresser Small, measuring 220cm high by 110cm wide which usually retails at £898 but is currently avaialble in our sale for £763.30.

Redwood Bay sell the large Secrets De Cuisine Dresser finished in either Cream or Sand, similar in proportion to our New Hampshire Dresser, for £2450.

We have found it particularly tricky to even find dressers for comparison, its not half as easy as we thought it would be! And we are very pleased to find that, as we thought, our prices are indeed very competitive and that we continue to provide high quality products demonstrating great value for money.

Tags: Belle Maison, kitchen dresser, Laura Ashley, New England Style Dresser, Redwood Bay, white dresser

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