HISTORY BROUGHT RIGHT UP TO DATE
One of the most popular and enduring of architectural styles, the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th and early 20th century grew from a desire to bring back the skill and creativity of individual craftsman; and to revive the ‘simplicity’ and ‘honesty’ in the way buildings and furnishings were made.
The Arts and Crafts influence can be seen in many character homes from later periods too, especially the 1920s and 1930s, which still prove as popular today as when they were built.
We’ve taken inspiration from this era to create our Heritage Collection and deliberately set out to bring a high degree of individuality to the external design of our homes. Characterful features include bay windows, hipped roofs, dropped-eaves, decorative tiling and brickwork, canopies above doorways and the use of timber.
Stuart Norton, Redrow’s group design and technical director, explains: “Working closely with our founder Steve Morgan to develop a new collection in 2010, we looked at various periods of architecture and found Arts and Crafts was prevalent in most British towns and cities, and this style of property remained among the most sought-after. It has a look and feel that is very familiar and is often reminiscent of the homes many of us grew up in.
“We’ve taken all of those desirable features – traditional porches, archways, painted timber posts with gallows-style brackets, brick plinths, tile creasing on plinths and windows, cedar boarding, finials and many more - to create a highly distinctive look and feel for our Heritage Collection. We also use a mix of brick and rough cast render finishes to create interesting street scenes.”
By listening to what people really want in a home, we’ve combined traditional architecture and period features with open-plan living spaces and an up-to-the-minute specification to create a collection of homes that we know you will love.
DESIGNED FOR THE WAY YOU LIVE
The welcoming external qualities of our Heritage homes are perfectly complemented by the high quality interiors, with their high ceilings, taller than average doors and windows, deep skirting boards and large architraves, all influenced by the traditional properties of the past.
And did you know our open plan living spaces are also inspired by the Art and Crafts era? Its pioneers first introduced the idea that open spaces could be defined for different uses in the home. The Arts and Crafts’ architects recognised that people want to spend time together in shared spaces within the home as well as having separate areas to enjoy time on their own.
Stuart Norton, our group design and technical director, explains: “As soon as you walk through the door of a Heritage Collection home we’re making a statement. There’s a sense of grandeur with impressive wooden staircases and lots of light, blended with the use of natural materials so the quality of craftsmanship is evident straight away.
“We understand the kitchen is the hub of the home, so we’ve created open-plan kitchen dining and family areas, where natural light and space is paramount. Large patio doors are a feature in almost every home in our collection, helping to bring the outside in. And it’s features like this, together with our high ceilings and taller windows and doors, which form the DNA that runs through all of our homes.”
Stuart adds: “These homes have the familiar look and external character of older period-style properties but none of the drawbacks. Everything in a Heritage Collection home is clean, fresh and brand new; homeowners can start living straight away and don’t need to waste time and money bringing an older property up to the same standard.”
Indeed, why spend tens of thousands of pounds knocking down walls to make an old property more open plan, replacing out-dated and inefficient kitchens and bathrooms, when a beautiful brand new home from Redrow will save you all the trouble?
New homes are also much more efficient than the character properties of yesteryear, which can mean drastically reduced running costs.
Visit our Heritage Collection to find your dream home.
