Budding Interior Designers Get A Taste For Industry With Linden Homes
30 Nov 2015

Five up and coming young interior designers from Southampton Solent University have presented their original design ideas for a show home to a panel of top local professionals. The competition is part of a wider partnership between Linden Homes South and the University.

The students, (who were invited to Linden Homes’ St Michael’s Place development in Waterlooville for inspiration earlier this year) went off to create and perfect their schemes before being shortlisted for the final.

This month, the five finalists, selected by the senior lecturer from Solent University’s Interior Design Decoration course, took it in turns to pitch their ideas at Linden Homes’ Hawthorn Mews development in Bedhampton. The finalists included: Jason Livingstone (23), Eve Morgan (19), Danica Younghusband (24), Anna Richards (21) and Molly Gatcum (19).

The panel included Andrew Reynolds, sales and marketing director at Linden Homes South and Tina Chalk, the marketing manager at Linden Homes South and Carrie Edwards from the interior design specialists, Claude Hooper.

Andrew says the panel was impressed by what it saw: “The students had been given a brief which set the scene for where the homes would be sold, the market they were aiming at and the house types that the scheme would apply to. After they were briefed, the students went to see St Michael’s Place to get a feel for the development, its location and the style and shape of the show home space.

Out of the five design concepts pitched to the panel of property experts, they felt that Jason Livingstone excelled in his design and execution.

Andrew explained: “All of the students’ designs were excellent – the skills they are showing at such a young age are so impressive. They have designed fabrics of wallpaper as part of their detailed interior schemes and also provided samples. It was an extremely difficult task to choose a winning concept as the standard was so high.

“The winning design selected really encapsulated our target market for our St Michael’s development. The colours, textiles and accessories used to support the concept were very well thought out, creating an attractive space that would appeal to potential buyers.”

Jason, the overall winner of the competition said: “I want to thank Linden Homes for the opportunity to present and pitch my ideas for the show home project. The project has allowed me to gain real life experience in the field of interior design and one that I have enjoyed thoroughly. Not only to be a finalist and then be chosen as the overall winner but the chance to have feedback from professionals on my designs and work has been an experience I will not forget in a hurry!”

Lydia Southwell, course leader at Southampton Solent University commented on the project with Linden Homes which has run for a second year: “The students have gained invaluable experience in the arena in which they plan to work. Being able to go and visit the site really helped them understand how the industry works in practice and brings their learning to life. I would like to thank the team at Linden Homes and Carrie from Claude Hooper for their time. An opportunity such as this is second to none, as it allows us to bring industry and education together, reinforcing the vocational aspects of the degree and enhance the real learning aspect.”

Jason received £100 worth of shopping vouchers whilst the runners up all won £50 for their efforts.

For more information on the homes available at St Michael’s Place in Waterlooville or for those at Hawthorn Mews in Bedhampton, please visit the Linden Homes’ website. You can also call 02392 809 219 for more details on St Michael’s Place or 02392 809 670 for information about Hawthorn Mews.

-ENDS-

Media can contact Emma Cox or Fotini Efstathiou at Remarkable Group on 01962 893893 for more information, images and interviews with Linden Homes.

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