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Teesside student wins pitch with leading housebuilder

17 January 2017

 

A student from Teesside University has won the chance to design a room within an upcoming showhome at Miller Homes North East's newest development in the region.

Julie Watson from Q Interiors Leanda French from Teesside University project winner Charlie Dempster and Phil Dougan from Miller Homes
Julie Watson from Q Interiors Leanda French from Teesside University project winner Charlie Dempster and Phil Dougan from Miller Homes

Charlie Dempster from Sunderland will work with interior designers Q Interiors to bring her vision for a children’s bedroom to life in The Stevenson showhome at Hunters Fold in Middleton St George, which will be open for viewings in May 2017.

The 21-year-old impressed a panel of judges from Miller Homes North East and Q Interiors during a live pitch, after the university’s interior design and interior architecture students were tasked with creating mood boards and presenting their ideas as part of their studies.

As the winner, Charlie will gain first-hand experience of working with a real life client as well as an established interior design company. Her scheme, designed with a young girl in mind featuring soft pastel colours and metallic accessories, will be seen by those looking to buy a new home in the area when viewing the showhome.

Commenting on her success, Charlie said: 'Having the opportunity to work on a project for a client was such an exciting and beneficial experience, and to have had my design chosen to feature in a Miller Homes showhome is unbelievable.

'I really enjoyed the whole process, from researching and planning, to pitching my ideas. To think that my design will be seen by people looking to buy a new home at Hunters Fold is amazing, and I’m looking forward to working with both Miller Homes and Q Interiors to bring my mood boards to life.'

Andrew Somerville, regional sales manager at Miller Homes North East, said: 'Our decision to partner with Teesside University on this project aimed to help enhance students’ learning whilst gaining practical and presentation skills. We were highly impressed with each individual’s talent and professionalism, which made selecting a winning design a difficult task.

This invaluable opportunity with Miller Homes is a great example of how working with a business can help students to develop their skills and experience, with an insight into what life is like in the industry.

Leanda French, senior lecturer in the School of Design, Culture & the Arts.

'It was clear that Charlie had thoroughly researched the area where our Hunters Fold development is located, as well as the high standard of design in our existing showhomes across the region. She will work closely with and be supported by Q Interiors, and we are all looking forward to seeing her bedroom interior when the showhome launches in May 2017.'

Leanda French, senior lecturer in the interiors section of the School of Design, Culture and the Arts at Teesside University, said: 'This invaluable opportunity with Miller Homes is a great example of how working with a business can help students to develop their skills and experience, with an insight into what life is like in the industry.

'It was great to see how excited students were by the prospect of working on a real life project as part of their studies, and for Charlie to have been chosen to work on the design of a showhome is fantastic.'

Hunters Fold will comprise of 122 two, three, four and five-bedroom homes in Middleton St George. For those interested in finding out more, a sales cabin will be available to visit on site in early February, where a dedicated sales adviser can share more information on life at this new development.


 
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