Oaks Hamlet - an ENVIRON community

the specification at
oaks hamlet

It is the attention to detail that makes Oaks Hamlet special.

Carefully chosen bricks, clay and slate roof tiles all provide texture and colour giving a mellow and harmonious character to the scheme. Elevations vary between soft red brick, render in pastel colours, tile hanging and the characteristic Kentish white boarding.

Typical features include decorative brick detailing and plinths, white painted windows, decorative leadwork detailing and stone sills. Features such as chimneys, bay windows and porches all add to the individuality of each home.

Traditional construction methods are used, imaginative and authentic detailing provides individuality signalling that these are 21st century homes with low maintenance, sustainability and functionality to the fore.

Of particular note is the care that goes into the landscaping. The evident respect for nature makes this scheme different and it has the atmosphere of a miniature nature reserve designed to attract wildlife. It features bird tables, nesting boxes and quiet seating areas to watch the wildlife.

The streetscene is vibrant with diverse and colourful planting schemes for the individual front gardens. Additionally, tree planting forms an essential element of the design.

the interior design of the homes

The relationship to outside space has been an important part of the internal design of the homes. Wherever possible the window sills are low and full height glazing is provided at the rear of the homes so that the garden has the character of an outside room that forms an integral part of the house. This together with rooflights and internal glazing means internal views give an element of surprise as well as making these homes full of light.

Purchasers at Oaks Hamlet are offered highly individual and spacious homes with good sized rooms and plenty of storage. They are designed to be functional, to have space that flows but also to be flexible allowing for the different activities and requirements of today's lifestyle. For example, features such as underfloor heating liberate furniture layouts and full height American style pocket doors mean that the house can be open plan or divided into more private areas subject to the mood or individual requirements.

Kitchens are designed to be at the hub of the home and wherever possible feature an American style bar for breakfast or for enjoying that early evening glass of wine while preparing supper. In larger layouts, kitchens form part of a family room catering for a range of activities.

It is our belief that a home without a hearth is a home without a heart and so all our homes have space for a fireplace. The interiors are based on shaker simplicity with our own purpose made doors and staircases which give a feeling of ‘modern country'.

We believe individuality is crucial so our homes have varying ceiling designs to include cathedral ceilings, dormer windows, storage walls, beams and bookcase recesses. There are many other attractive details that illustrate the thought that has gone into the design of each of the homes.

about the specification

Generally we aim to offer our purchasers as much choice as possible to individualise their home subject to the building stage reached. In addition, we offer a wide range of upgrades and options to personalise a home and its style.

Interior Finishes

The interior walls and ceilings have a smooth plaster finish. Ceilings are painted orchid white. Purchasers are able to choose four colours in total from our colour range for the walls and two colours in eggshell finish for the woodwork that is again subject to the building stage of the house. Similarly, choices are available in kitchen finishes and bathroom tiles.

Leading tile supplier Domus has devised three distinctive and exclusive bathroom moods for Oaks Hamlet, capturing the design essence associated with today's lifestyle. The choice is yours from:

Modern Country: At the heart of Oaks Hamlet character and style, these interiors contain natural clean elements and evoke an inviting, practical and sophisticated
atmosphere.

Contemporary: These bathrooms contain sharper lines and a cleaner style, with more minimal elements and an air of space and consistency via generous modules and smooth surfaces.

Traditional Classic: A warm comfortable feel combines organic tones and textured surfaces, providing an inviting environment for peace and relaxation.

The floors to the bathrooms and cloakrooms are ceramic tiles but elsewhere floors are left boarded ready for the purchaser's own choice of floor coverings.

Kitchens

The kitchens follow the ‘modern country' theme and are available in a number of attractive finishes. Worktops are available as standard in either wood or laminate with matching upstands while the surface behind the hob is stainless steel or glass.

The kitchens have been carefully designed for ease of maintenance and have plenty of storage. They come well equipped to include a full height integrated fridge freezer, a gas hob, an externally vented extractor, a combined oven with microwave, an integrated dishwasher, a one and a half bowl sink with mixer tap and lighting under the wall cupboards.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are in a sleek contemporary style and incorporate base and medicine cupboards in a choice of wood finishes. All baths are steel and where there is not a separate shower, have a glazed shower screen. The shower supply is thermostatically controlled, with the added convenience of a flexible hose and sliding bar. Shower trays are in porcelain and include glazed screens.

High level tiling surrounds the bath with a feature mirror inset at one end. A shaver socket, extractor, downlights and a white heated ladder towel rail are also included. The towel rail is run off the primary hot water system, allowing towels to dry even in summer. Smaller details are not forgotten either - toilet roll holders and soap dishes all match the design of the chrome taps.

Storage

The homes have been designed with storage as a priority and as a norm at least two of the bedrooms have built in or walk in wardrobes. There is easy access with full height sliding doors to the built-in wardrobes and an internal storage racking system using shelving, drawers and variable height hanging rails ensures the space is utilised to the optimum.

Those homes which do not have a separate utility include a storage wall in the hallway which incorporates shelving, hanging space for outdoor gear and space for a washer/dryer thereby isolating the noise from the living areas. Useful storage cupboards are also positioned under the stairs.

The lofts have large access hatches together with a ladder and loft light, and are provided with 10 square metres of flooring.

Garages are designed to have a storage curtilage at one end for childrens' paraphernalia as well as garden equipment. Similarly carports have a built in storage pod.

Heating

The high efficiency central heating systems are gas supplied. The apartments and the ground floor of the houses have underfloor heating with all the benefits of radiant heat. The upper floors of the houses have radiators with individual thermostatic valves providing flexible heating levels. The walls, floors and roofs are all insulated to a high standard. All windows and patio doors are the high performance double-glazed type fitted with draught excluders.

Electrical

There is a generous provision of double plug sockets installed throughout the houses. BT and TV/ FM points are provided in most rooms and are linked to a communal television aerial with provision for satellite reception. Downlighters feature throughout and these, like the sockets, are in a white finish Smoke detectors are installed on all floors with a separate fused supply and back-up power source while the apartments have the added safeguard of an automatic sprinkler system. All the houses have exterior lighting and an external socket. The garages and carports also have light and power.

Security

The design of Oaks Hamlet offers the security of a private residential community but security issues are still paramount. There are security gates to the Country Park as well as gates to the communal parking courts. External street lighting has been carefully positioned and to the rear of each property are external lights on sensors.

All windows to the homes are lockable and external doors feature high security locks. Any glazing to external doors is laminated for additional security and all homes have a burglar alarm with infra-red detectors

Gardens

All the houses, including the ground floor apartments, have front gardens specifically designed for year-round interest, easy maintenance and increasingly drought resistance. These gardens are individually designed and planted by award-winning Julie Johnson whose work is inspired by the beautiful country gardens of Gertrude Jekyll. Rear gardens have turf, structural tree planting and decking or genuine sandstone paved areas. These back gardens can also be individually designed and fully planted as part of our Options Service.

Upper floor apartments have balconies overlooking the formal landscape of Manor Court and the avenue of trees framing the vista towards the Country Park.

Boundaries to rear gardens vary between plots but treatments include walling, hit and miss vertical fencing or hedging in combination with hazel-woven panels. Front boundaries vary between walling, chestnut hurdles in combination with hedging or the typical Kentish white picket fence. Front pathways are of sandstone.

We wish to encourage flourishing gardens which reflect the beauty of the Garden of England so we have even remembered external taps. Communal areas are maintained by the Management Company.