Glittering jewels of the sea are the inspiration behind the show home at the North East's most eagerly awaited new housing development.
One of the most naturally beautiful stretches of the North East coastline, the shore at Seaham is also, quite literally, scattered with sparkling treasure.
Treasure which will be on the doorstep of the new £250m Seaham Garden Village, which is set to bring open space, sustainable living and well-designed, energy efficient houses to Durham’s heritage coastline.
In the mid-19th century, when Seaham boasted the largest glass bottle works in Britain, surplus glass would be routinely deposited in the North Sea.
And, when Miller Homes North East’s show home opens later this month (April), its interior design scheme will reflect the area’s glassmaking history and the sparkling links with that past that can be found on the seashore.
For, more than a century later, pieces of glass, smoothed and shaped by the sand and sea, wash up on Seaham beach attracting glass ‘pickers’ from across the region and beyond.
And Seaham’s sea glass has inspired everything from the colour scheme of the show home to its wall coverings, some of which contain glass beads, gently refracting light and casting rooms in a soft shimmery glow.
“The most common glass to be found on Seaham beach is coloured green and clear, however you will also find teal, aqua or milk glass, which has pastel tones of yellow, blue and green,” said Caragh Penney, of Jasmine and Lilah Design, which created the show home’s interior.
“The design has both direct and indirect references to sea glass,” she said, with a soft flow of colour from room to room – each in a different shade of sea glass – giving a nod to Seaham’s history.”
To reflect the development’s coastal location, other natural materials, such as wood and seagrass have also been incorporated, while many of the accessories on display, such as bowls and vases, are also made of glass.
“By embracing the beauty and functionality of glass, we can help create a more sustainable future for generations to enjoy,” said Caragh, who has also filled the space with houseplants, reflecting the site’s garden village status.
Seaham Garden Village will create an entirely new community surrounded by thriving wildlife havens, with almost 50 per cent of the site given over to open spaces and landscaped areas.
And, along with the 375 new build homes Miller North East will build in total, the development will include a primary school, an innovation centre and a community hub.
Less than half an hour drive from both Newcastle and Durham and sited on the East Coast train line, Seaham is well placed for those looking for semi-rural living.
“It really is a beautiful area,” said Lauren Angus, sales director at Miller Homes North East “and, because glass – and now sea glass – is such a feature of the area, it was the perfect inspiration for our show home.”
For more information about Miller Homes properties at Seaham Garden Village or at various other sites across the North East visit www.millerhomes.co.uk/new-homes/ north-east/seaham-garden-village-ph1. aspx
