Bespoke Interiors Attracting Buyers To Hertfordshire Homes

We talk to Rutu Buddhdev, founder of Amara Property, on how their latest ‘mini village’ provides the best of both worlds.

Rutu, where did your property career begin and how did you get to where you are today?

I set up Amara Property in 2010 and we have organically grown from individual projects to one-off spectacular mansions and large multi-unit developments with the main objective of creating homes that had the something special. It’s a tired saying in this industry, but I found that a lot of new builds all followed the same template and that it was difficult to distinguish a difference across various sites and developers. We work closely as a team and one of our aims from the outset was for each of our new homes to have a character of its own, whilst still being recognisable as by Amara. I believe, we have achieved that and it’s evident at our latest scheme, Little Saddles, with each home having its own bespoke exterior, yet when you step inside you know it’s one of our homes.

Amara Property has recently launched a ‘mini village’ of just eight new homes called Little Saddles, can you tell us more?

This is a special project for us, as it fits our mantra of creating unique properties where an owner can feel as though their home is different and personal to them. We wanted to create a private gated community, with a select number of units with bespoke styles to add a sense of exclusivity. Each property has a character of its own, with customisable interior palettes, which allows purchasers to create their perfect home.

You’ve provided a show home at the scheme that offers two interior design choices for potential purchasers, is one proving more popular than the other?

Interestingly, there has been a 50/50 split. The interior packages allow purchasers to choose a design that suits their own tastes, styles, choice of furniture etc. and we’re receiving a lot of positive feedback for both. The main difference is the choice of colour palette and a slightly darker or lighter use of materials, such as marble and tiling, however, they both enjoy a really high-quality finish, so the choice is coming down to whether people favour a more classic or contemporary look in their home.

Who do you think these homes are going to be appeal to?

We have received a large amount of interest from families and all homes sold to date have been to couples with younger children who are looking for a good-sized home in a nice location yet still within easy reach of the city when needed. We also received a large number of enquiries from downsizers who have much larger older homes and want to reduce the maintenance that comes with these properties, but want their new home to provide ample family and entertaining spaces and, importantly, large gardens.

Are you offering any particular incentives to buyers at Little Saddles?

The fact buyers have a choice of specification has been a draw, whilst an added incentive has been for those who buy early to make certain customisations, allowing them to put their own touch to the interiors.

Has the pandemic influenced the way you’ve designed these homes, to provide a better work/life balance?

Yes, very much so. The pandemic has changed how we live our lives and with that what we look for from our home. Overnight, people’s homes became an office, gym, day care etc. so as a developer we needed to factor in a noticeable shift in demand. To create a comfortable work from home space, we included large studies into all of the homes as we can see Little Saddles being especially popular with those looking to split their time between home and the office when restrictions are fully lifted. The studies are large enough to have a desk and seating area and can accommodate two people comfortably.

What else is Amara Property focusing on in the coming year?

We have a few exciting sites in the pipeline. All I can say for now is watch this space!

How is the Hertfordshire property market performing at the moment?

The Hertfordshire market has proved to be resilient and strong over the last year, with its countryside feel and array of properties attracting a lot of people looking for more space inside and out. We have seen a huge demand from people who are prioritising their homes and supply hasn't yet caught up, so there is a big opportunity here.

What’s the best tip you can think of for a new homebuyer looking to move out of London to secure a family home?

Make sure you shortlist an area and if you’re buying a new home then research the developer and their past work. Always look for quality as this brings the most value to your home and your lifestyle. Another important factor is space and connection, find somewhere that retains good access back into the city, whilst at the same time offering plenty of green space and amenities, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

And finally, where do you see Amara Property in five years' time?

We see our Amara Family continuing to grow with the mammoth momentum we have seen over the last decade. We hope to launch our Bespoke Homes division soon and focus on increasing our capacity to bring more homes to the market, whilst maintaining our design and quality attributes which we have become known for.

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