A conversation with Ollie Thomas, Founder & Partner at Thomas Fischer Interiors.
We’re delighted to announce the launch of our brand-new ‘Tay’ showhome at Bonnyton Brae in Pitmedden, opening its doors to the public on the 11th April.
Following its successful debut in Colinsburgh, this is the first time the ‘Tay’ has been showcased in Aberdeenshire, offering visitors the opportunity to experience this thoughtfully designed three-bedroom home in person.
Created with modern family living in mind, the Tay combines generous proportions, a carefully considered layout and high-quality finishes throughout. To bring the space to life, we partnered once again with Thomas Fischer Interiors - marking our seventh collaboration with the award-winning design duo Ollie Thomas and Jay Fischer .
We caught up with head designer Ollie, to talk through the inspiration, design approach and how the team have made the most of this exciting new housetype. Let’s dive in…
Designing a home that feels instantly liveable
From the moment you step inside, the Tay showhome has a warmth and ease to it, something that was very intentional.
“We wanted that homely feel,” Ollie explains. “Somewhere people can walk in and instantly imagine themselves living. It’s about creating a personality that buyers can relate to and aspire to.”
The layout naturally supports this way of living. A formal lounge to the front offers a calm retreat, while the open-plan kitchen, dining and family space at the rear becomes the true heart of the home, designed for everything from entertaining to everyday life.
“That’s where life happens,” Ollie says. “By adding a sofa into the kitchen area, you’re showing how it’s not just somewhere to cook - it’s somewhere to live, relax and spend time together.”
A subtle nod to Pitmedden Gardens
Every Thomas Fischer Interiors project begins with its surroundings, and here, Pitmedden Gardens, played a quiet but important role.
Rather than taking a literal approach, Ollie and his team looked to the structure and symmetry of the gardens for inspiration.
“We didn’t want to go overly botanical or floral,” he explains. “It was more about the formality, the structure, and translating that into the interiors.”
This influence comes through in the home’s balanced layout and cohesive palette of earthy greens, taupes, warm browns and terracottas.
“By keeping the colours quite pared back, it allows the texture, shape and form of the furniture to really shine.”
And texture is where the design truly comes to life, layered linens, velvets, wood and stone creating depth without overwhelming the space. The result is a contemporary country aesthetic that feels both current and timeless, perfectly suited to modern living.
Design details that make a difference
Look closely, and the showhome is full of clever, considered details. Many of which visitors can take inspiration from in their own homes.
In the lounge, for example, what appears to be a striped wallpaper is actually something much more inventive:
“It’s a plain linen-effect wallpaper,” Ollie reveals. “We’ve just alternated the drops to create that stripe. It’s a really effective trick and it hides any joins beautifully.”
Hung horizontally, the wallpaper wraps the room, creating a cocooning, cosy feel inspired by the stripes of a freshly mown lawn (another subtle nod to Pitmedden Gardens).
Elsewhere, it’s all about layering:
“We’ve paired that linen texture with a lustre velvet curtain, so you’ve got that sheen against something more matte. Then another velvet on the sofa, boucle cushions… it’s those layers that stop a neutral scheme from feeling flat.”
Even the scale of pieces has been carefully considered.
“Using oversized rugs, large artwork and generous furniture helps to ground the space and really show off the proportions of the room.”
A master suite designed to feel like a hotel retreat
Upstairs, the Tay continues to impress, particularly in the master suite, which spans the full width of the home.
Rather than treating it as a single room, the space has been thoughtfully zoned into areas for sleeping, dressing and relaxing.
“It really is a suite,” Ollie says. “We wanted it to feel like a sanctuary, a place you can properly switch off.”
A key part of this is the dressing area, cleverly designed with double-sided built-in wardrobes, creating a natural transition between the bedroom and the en-suite. This not only maximises storage but enhances the sense of flow and separation within the space.
Beyond this, the generous en-suite adds to the feeling of luxury, completing the experience of a true master retreat.
Subtle design references continue here too, with herringbone patterns echoing garden pathways and layered textures enhancing the sense of comfort. At the far end of the room, a dedicated seating and dressing area creates a boutique, hotel-inspired experience.
“That little retreat space just changes how the room feels, it gives it purpose beyond just sleeping.”
Flexible living for modern life
One of the biggest strengths of the Tay is its flexibility and the interiors have been designed to showcase that.
Bedroom two is styled as a guest room, complete with a king-size bed to demonstrate the generous proportions.
“It’s about showing people what’s possible,” Ollie explains. “You’re not compromising on space, you can have full-size furniture and still have room to breathe.”
Bedroom three takes a different approach, doubling as a workspace.
“More people are working from home now, so it’s important to show how a room can do both. It can be a bedroom, an office, or a bit of both.”
Simple design choices, like taking curtains wall-to-wall, help enhance that sense of space.
“It softens everything, makes the window feel bigger, and just gives that slightly more luxurious, hotel feel.”
“It’s rare to find this level of detail in a new build”
For Ollie, one of the standout aspects of the Tay is how it challenges perceptions of new build homes.
“The level of quality and detail here is second to none,” he says. “It’s very rare to see this level of attention in a developer home, albeit what we’ve come to expect with Kirkwood’”
Storage, in particular, is a major highlight.
“There’s so much of it and it’s usable storage. Understairs cupboards, a pantry, fitted wardrobes in every bedroom, additional storage on the landing… it makes such a difference to how you live in a home.”
Combined with the thoughtful layout, it creates a home that feels both spacious and practical.
The evolution of a Kirkwood favourite
The Tay represents the next chapter in Kirkwood Homes’ design evolution.
Building on the success of the ever-popular Craig housetype, this newly refined version has been enhanced by our technical team to improve flow, maximise space and better reflect modern lifestyles.
The result is a home that feels intuitive, balanced and effortlessly liveable, while retaining the character that made its predecessor so well loved.
A collaboration that continues to evolve
Now in their seventh project together, the relationship between Kirkwood Homes and Thomas Fischer Interiors is built on trust and collaboration.
“That trust allows us to push things a bit further,” Ollie says. “Some of the choices are quite bold, but we know they’ll work. And that’s when you get the best results.”
From early concepts through to final styling, it’s a shared process. One that ensures every detail is considered.
Visit the Tay showhome
The Tay showhome at Bonnyton Brae officially opens on Saturday the 11th of April, and we warmly invite you to experience it for yourself.
Walk through the space, experience Kirkwood’s signature quality and begin to picture your own life. Whether you’re actively searching or just starting to think about your next move, visiting a showhome is a wonderful way to get a true feel for how different spaces can look and live.
We look forward to welcoming you.
