We have officially launched a stunning new showhome at our prestigious Ury Estate development - the impressive 4 bedroom detached ‘Lyon’.
Located on the outskirts of the picturesque, coastal town of Stonehaven, this executive development enjoys a range of 3, 4 and 5 bedroom luxury homes, all offering an exceptional build quality coupled with a high internal specification throughout. The elevated setting of Ury Estate allows for an abundance of countryside and coastal views, yet the town of Stonehaven, and it’s wide range of amenities, is easily within walking distance. Aberdeen city is a comfortable 20 minute commute from the development whilst the AWPR is on the doorstep, allowing for easy connectivity to further afield.
We recently caught up with the interior designers who designed and styled this beautiful showhome - Amy Bruce and Kerry Rae from Andersons of Inverurie. They have shared what they loved about ‘The Lyon’ and how they brought it to life through their imaginative styling - with an exciting offer from Kirkwood Homes at the end of this blog post...
What were your first impressions of ‘The Lyon’ at Ury Estate?
‘The Lyon’ is an outstanding detached home, featuring a contemporary layout and a range of superior features that are well suited to a modern family lifestyle.
Amy said: “The home has a lovely open-plan layout in the kitchen/dining/family area which is ideal for modern family living. We really wanted to make the most of the space in the lounge as it’s a great layout - perfect for hosting family and friends.
“The upstairs layout is fantastic as well - you’ve got the gallery landing with an office area which is a really unique element of the house, and especially useful in these times when a lot of us are working from home long-term.”
Kerry added: “‘The Lyon’ is very much a family home for those looking to settle and enjoy their space as well as their surroundings - which I think a lot of people are looking to do as we come out of lockdown. We envisioned a family living here, with a teenage girl and a boy around 7 or 8 years old. With the location of Ury Estate, the development is just off the AWPR and close to the train station to keep you well connected if you’re a commuter, but the scenery outside is fantastic which makes it feel like the perfect location for a family.”
How did you decide on the design concept for ‘The Lyon’?
With a superior housetype and a prime location to build upon, the styling of ‘The Lyon’ showhome clearly embodies the prestigious and welcoming setting of Ury Estate.
Amy said: “We were looking to create a sleek, hotel style that felt very luxurious but had a modern family in mind. Lighting was very important to make a real feature out of and set the tone of the house to make it look high end but homely at the same time.”
Kerry said: “We really wanted to create something a bit different and new, but also something timeless. It was all about making an impact in a way that would still be commercial and appeal to a lot of different people. To achieve this, we went with smoky tones, but colour wasn’t our first consideration - it was more about texture and structures for an understated, deluxe look.
“The hotel look is particularly relevant at the moment with us not being able to travel like we used to, so a lot of people want to bring that luxury feeling into the home, plus it looks very striking which is ideal for a showhome.”
What were some of your key considerations and sources of inspiration for this project?
Designing ‘The Lyon’ showhome involved a number of considerations to create a contemporary family home that reflected Kirkwood’s unrivalled specification.
Kerry said: “For our inspiration, we really looked to our suppliers to see what was brand new and bring in products that people would never have seen before. We always want to stay relevant and up to date, and represent the exceptional quality of Kirkwood as well as Andersons.
“With the way things are now on social media, you need to have very strong imagery that draws people in. We were designing and styling the showhome throughout the pandemic, so we were very aware that some people might not be viewing houses as much as they used to, and knew that this home had to stand out in a photo as well as in the flesh.”
Amy said: “When designing a showhome, it’s important that the style isn’t too heavy on one particular look or trend. You want the interiors to be appealing to a range of different people and still be stylish in years to come, so those were very important considerations for us when choosing the interiors.”
How did you go about styling the kitchen, dining and family area?
To the rear of ‘The Lyon’ is a bright and spacious kitchen, dining and family area. Complete with a stylish breakfast bar and French doors to the garden, this space is undoubtedly the hub of the home.
Kerry said: “The kitchen was something we really wanted to highlight because the quality was already exceptional in terms of the finishing, the units and the appliances. It was important that we brought the interiors up to that high level of specification.
“We chose a beautiful, round marble table from Calligaris with a sculptured base to complement the marble countertop and splashback, and make the space feel very high-end. As the table is round, it’s very sociable and brings a really family feel to the space. We also chose bar stools from Kartell at the breakfast bar for quick eating or having a cup of coffee, and two armchairs for a more relaxed setting. It’s a very versatile space and perfect for spending time as a family or having guests over.”
What was important when designing ‘The Lyon’s’ bedrooms?
Heading up the winding staircase, and off the gallery landing there are four generously sized bedrooms, which have been beautifully styled as a master, a guest bedroom and two children’s bedrooms.
Kerry said: “We definitely kept a modern family in mind when designing the bedrooms, but the master bedroom and guest bedroom is where we really got to bring in the luxury hotel style. Instead of using bold patterns or prints, we used an oversized headboard to create a statement feature in these rooms, then added a lovely dressing table and accent chairs for a look that feels modern yet classic.”
Amy added: “For the teenage girl’s room, we definitely wanted to bring something fun and quirky, but didn’t want to follow too much of a theme - which can be a challenge when it comes to designing a child’s bedroom. In the little boy’s room, we brought a bit of a nautical theme to the space, but again, we wanted it to focus on the quality of the finishing and not have it feel too gimmicky. It’s youthful and fun, but still embodies a very high quality.”
How have you styled the lounge?
‘The Lyon’s’ formal lounge features a striking bay window and a well-proportioned square layout to create an excellent space for a family to relax in or entertain guests.
Kerry said: “The lounge was another great opportunity for us to showcase something that people haven’t seen - there’s a lot of matte gold finishing on some of the items which we haven’t used a lot of before. We also went in a new direction with the furniture, bringing in a new supplier for the sofas to create a lasting impression on viewers.
“Like the kitchen, the lounge is a very sociable space with a layout that lends itself well to entertaining guests. We selected two sofas and an armchair to provide plenty of potential seating options, and a lovely display unit for bringing in personal pieces and decorative items. It was a great room to style - loads of fun!”
What was your favourite room to design, and why?
Kerry said: “I really enjoyed styling the study area upstairs. It was really different and there’s a lot of walls to work with, so there was actually a lot we could do with this space. The industrial, metallic wallpaper and bookcase bring in a bit of personality to the space.”
Amy said: “My personal favourite was the lounge. It was a great space for layering up different textures and the natural light flowing in from the tall windows makes the room feel very spacious. The beautiful texture of the rug on top of the herringbone floor gives the room a cosy feel, while small details really catch your eye as you enter the room - such as the geometric braid on the bespoke footstool and along the bottom edge of the roman blinds. The space feels elegant and understated - so it appeals to a lot of buyers.”
How did you accessorise and add finishing touches to the showhome?
The stylish home accessories in ‘The Lyon’ bring the image of an idyllic, modern family home to life, helping viewers envision what life could be like in this exceptional home.
Kerry said: “For me, it was the larger pieces that really added to the space. The mirror in the hallway is absolutely lovely, and there’s also a mirror on the navy wall in the kitchen which helps to break up the space and give it a pop of light. With these bigger statement pieces, the style is elevated and comes across really well in photographs.”
Amy said: “We tried lots of different options when it came to the accessories, but the mirrors and lighting were definitely the most important finishing touches. In this showhome, textured wallpaper was another really big feature to create a subtle interest and make the home look cosy and welcoming, while bespoke upholstery, such as the headboards and the footstool, allowed us to bring a sense of luxury and comfort.”
What are your favourite products in the showhome?
Kerry said: “My favourite piece is the gold display cabinet in the lounge. It’s the first time I’ve used matte gold and brought it in as an element with dark wood and I think it looks fantastic!”
Amy said: “The bespoke upholstered footstool in the lounge is probably my favourite piece. We designed this piece ourselves and our amazing upholsterer brought it to life. The braid and leg detail really make it a centerpiece of the room.
Are there any small details or hidden treasures in the showhome?
As well as the larger sociable spaces, ‘The Lyon’ showhome offers an impeccable sense of style that flows through every room.
Amy said: “I really like the downstairs WC. It’s not a space you notice right away but when you walk in, it instantly creates an impact with dark and moody tones that feel very luxurious.”
Kerry said: “I love the girl’s bedroom because, again, it’s something a bit different to what you usually see. It’s not too young but it’s not too grown up, and offers a sense of fun with the accessories and the cool splatter print wallpaper.”
Don't miss out on our exclusive offer on 'The Lyon'!
We have an exciting offer available for Plot 89, 'The Lyon', at our prestigious Ury Estate development:
🔺 Price £499,995
🔺 LBTT paid in full worth £23,349
🔺 £3,291 worth of extras and upgrades
🔺 Turf to rear garden
🔺 Ready to move into
