Summer: A Season for Memories, Change & Preparation
Happy summer holidays!
For those of you with children and teenagers of school age we hope the end of term brought plenty of celebration in your household. A very special congratulations to any families, like ours, with students finishing their GCSEs or A-Levels this year. That's a milestone well worth celebrating!
As always, we'd love to share a few things that have been keeping us busy over the past month...
Supporting our Local Community
We are so proud to announce our sponsorship of the brand new Junior Parkrun at Hiltingbury Recreation Ground. It's already proving to be a wonderful addition to our local community.
As much as we love helping to create beautiful homes, we also believe deeply in the world beyond the front door. After all, there is nothing quite like a morning out in the fresh air to make coming home feel even more special.
The atmosphere each Sunday is brilliant. The 2km course is filled with children of all ages, running, walking, skipping their way to the finish line, however they choose. Fostering a healthy and joyful relationship with exercise from a young age is something we feel passionately about, and Parkrun embodies that beautifully. In just twelve events, the team at Hiltingbury Parkrun Junior have already achieved something pretty amazing:
Over 1300 children have crossed the finish line
More than 500 different children have taken part, 115 of which is their very first organised running event
135 volunteers have got themselves involved with the event
Parents are telling us their children have discovered a genuine love of exercise and are proudly collecting their milestone wristbands
Families are spending more quality time together outdoors, away from screens and making new friendships within the community
We feel sponsoring Hiltingbury Parkrun Junior is a fitting way to give something back to the neighbourhood. It’s a lovely reminder that when you choose to work with a local business, you are helping to build something bigger: a strong sense of community in your area. Your confidence in us is what makes supporting initiatives like this possible, and we don't take that lightly.
Jr Parkrun at Hiltingbury takes place every Sunday at 9am at Hiltingbury Recreation Ground, Hiltingbury Road, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 5NP. It's completely free, you just need to register here before your first visit (a one-time step), and remember to bring a scannable barcode on the day to record your time
If you make it along, we'd love to see your photos! Do tag us on social media, whether you're cheering from the sidelines, volunteering or running alongside a young runner for encouragement.
Getting Everything Ready Ahead of University
For many of our clients, September will bring one of those big, bittersweet family milestones: sending a child off to university. It's an exciting chapter, and every parent wants to make sure their student feels truly settled and at home in their new space.
You've probably had the uni shopping trip on your radar for a while, and it's well worth approaching it with a little intention. Immy, who has been part of the Hiltingbury Interiors team this past year, is preparing to take that step herself, and has written a blog post with advice and tips for parents. Written from a student's perspective, it's packed with practical tips, design advice, and even a shopping list to help you get organised. Click the link here to read her blog and access our downloadable checklist.
Looking Ahead
Once your practical foundations are in place, this is where the real joy begins. Stone, timber, tiles, lighting, metal finishes; these are the elements that give a kitchen its personality and make it feel distinctly yours.
If you're incorporating upholstered elements such as bar stools or built-in seating, always choose fabrics that are designed to cope with everyday life.
For lighting, we always recommend a layered approach. By combining spotlights, pendants, under-cabinet lighting and floor lamps, you move effortlessly from bright, practical task lighting to a warm, ambient atmosphere at the flick of a switch.
If you'd like to explore these ideas further, Darren and Alice have both kindly written blogs for us, packed with additional design inspiration and planning advice. You can read Darren's article here and Alice's here . If you’d like to visit their showrooms we'd thoroughly recommend both. Searle and Taylor are based in central Winchester, and Herbert William can be found in West Wellow, just outside Romsey near the A36.
Ready to start your kitchen journery?
We know it feels a little strange to be talking about cosy interiors when the sun is shining. But trust us, now is exactly the right moment to start thinking about how your home will serve you when the seasons shift.
The way our homes need to work for us is changing too. After recent heatwaves and increasingly unpredictable weather, we’re all looking for homes that can adapt comfortably throughout the year.
Whether you're thinking about refreshing your interior scheme to bring more warmth and comfort into the colder months, or exploring practical upgrades such as improved heating, air conditioning or window filming to help combat extreme temperatures and sunlight, now is the ideal time to get a project scoped and booked in before the autumn rush.
Summer always feels like a season of transition. Whether you're making memories with family, preparing children for their next chapter, or starting to think about how your home will work for you through the seasons ahead, we hope you enjoy making the most of the weeks ahead.
If an autumn project is on your mind, we'd love to help you start planning while there's still time before diaries begin to fill.
Visit our website to learn more about our services, reply to this email, or give us a call on 07542 030544 to arrange an initial consultation. We'd love to hear about your plans.
Last not least a quick reminder about our annual MacMillan coffee morning on the 25th Sept. This is becoming another well attended community event, and of course gives us an opportunity to support another charity which is dear to our hearts. Pop the date in your diary and we’ll look forward to sharing more info with you next month.
Enjoy the rest of your summer.
Best wishes,
Becci