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With their crafted wood finishes, colourful wall tiles and an expansive range of electrical appliances as standard, the open plan kitchen style in the retirement apartments nearing completion at Windsor Court, Singleton, near Ashford, is proving a massive hit with home buyers.
Based on the designs of Sandringham Court, the Daily Mail UK Property Awards 2005 award winning development of retirement apartments in Essex from the same builder as Windsor Court, the collection of new Singleton homes has received many appreciative comments since the project was launched just a few months ago, and this has largely been because of the internal layouts.
"One of the things we learnt from Sandringham Court is that residents enjoy the opportunity to entertain, and when they do they like to be able to prepare meals or drinks in their kitchen at the same time as chatting to their guests," explains David Sparks, managing director of Great Homes Limited, the company behind the project, which sees its first residents moving in this May.
"It was for this reason we decided to style Windsor Court's apartments in an open plan kitchen, dining room and lounge arrangement to ensure our buyers would be happy in their new home environment," says Mr Sparks.
Windsor Court is designed with buyers of 55 years and over in mind, with each of the 46 apartments affording its own private hallway, one or two bedrooms depending on which style is chosen, and a bathroom, plus the spacious open plan living area.
The kitchen in each apartment, itself, offers an impressive range of electrical appliances fitted as standard, including a washer/dryer, fridge/freezer, a double oven and hob, and an extractor hood. They are decorated with subtle tiling and flooring, complemented by a dark worktop.
Spot and under pelmet lighting will ensure every kitchen will be as atmospheric as they are practical, and therefore a relaxing place to entertain. "I love the arrangement of my apartment. It is open plan and I can cook or make coffee and chat to visitors at the same time," says Sandringham Court resident Grace Halley of her open plan apartment in Essex.
Fellow residents of Sandringham Court, Rosalind and Alan Stewart, adore their kitchen too. They like the fact that it has been designed for convenience with a surface for the preparation of food next to provision for storage and cooking in what designers would call a work triangle, plus with having the dining area and lounge adjacent, their rooms' patio doors bring in lots of light.
"We really liked the open plan layout of the apartment," says Rosalind and Alan, remembering when they first saw their ground floor apartment, fell in love with it and decided to buy there and then. "It is really convenient having the kitchen where we eat and we have patio doors out to the garden. It's like having our own garden."
The sentiment is expressed by Doreen Watson, another resident of Sandringham Court. "I decided that if I was entertaining I didn't want to be in another room, so I chose my apartment with the kitchen off the lounge area. It was the best thing for me and works very well," she says. Doreen also loves the fact that her apartment, like many of those at Windsor Court, has French doors to a juliette balcony, and lots of finishing extras like satellite and terrestrial television, BT points for her computer and a free internal telephone system to maintain her friendship with fellow residents.
Windsor Court, which nestles in a quiet area of Singleton close to a varied collection of shops for everyday needs, and within easy reach of Ashford centre for an expansive range of leisure and shopping opportunities, including the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet village, has been designed to give maturing residents complete peace of mind and an independent lifestyle.
It not only offers exceptionally high levels of build finish and specification such as fitted carpets and flooring, elegant bathrooms with vanity units, white oak internal doors and a stylish residents' lounge and conservatory interior designed in a soft honey and terracotta colour finish that overlook its private landscaped gardens, but also many security and safety features throughout.
For example, Windsor Court will feature a CCTV entryphone system for the safety of all residents that allows only known visitors to enter the building, along with lift access to all the floors of the three-storey building, and a 24-hour emergency support system provided by specialist management company Peverel. A visiting day manager will ensure the smooth running of the development and be on hand to help residents with day-to-day queries. Fire alarms are, of course, fitted throughout.
Windsor Court offers a refreshingly different approach to independent living - and a chance to socialise in style with friends. For further information telephone the sales centre on freephone 0800 0288177 or visit Great Homes Limited's website on www.greathomesltd.co.uk
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