Charlie Dempster from Sunderland won the chance to work with Q Interiors to bring her vision for a children’s bedroom to life in the four-bedroom Stevenson showhome, which is now open for viewings at Hunters Fold in Middleton St George.
The 21-year-old impressed a panel of judges from Miller Homes North East and Q Interiors’ director Julie Watson during a live pitch earlier this year, 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 was given the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of working with a real life client as well as an established interior design company, assisting with all stages of bringing her bedroom design to life.
Her scheme, designed with a young girl in mind featuring soft pastel colours and metallic accessories, will be seen by house hunters looking to buy a new home in the area when viewing the showhome.
Commenting on her success, Charlie said: 'Working on this real-life project has been a huge learning curve as well as an exciting and beneficial experience. I’m really excited for my design scheme to be seen by buyers looking to purchase a new home at Hunters Fold and I am so grateful to Miller Homes for giving me this amazing opportunity.'
Charlie’s interior design skills have impressed both Miller Homes and Q Interiors so much that she also supported with preparations for the launch of showhomes at the housebuilder’s Barley Meadows development in Cramlington which officially opened this month.
Andrew Somerville, regional sales manager at Miller Homes North East, said: 'Working with Charlie has been fantastic and it’s great to see her creative design brought to life within our new Stevenson showhome at Hunters Fold.
'We chose to partner with Teesside University to help enhance students’ learning and practical skills, which we hope Charlie has gained from the experience. We wish her all the best for the future.'
Leanda French, senior lecturer in interiors at Teesside University, said: 'Charlie has hugely benefited from this invaluable opportunity with Miller Homes which has given her an insight into what life is like in the industry. To see one of our student’s pieces of work alongside room schemes created by an established interior design company is brilliant and Charlie should feel very proud.'