With the official start to spring still several weeks away, most people are taking advantage of the dark evenings by hunkering down and embracing the Scandinavian art of staying cosy. Luxury developer City & Country has taken some Nordic inspiration and crafted a hygge haven in its brand-new Bedminster two-bedroom show apartment at Factory No.1.

'Hygge' is a Danish concept and means to evoke a cosy mood, characterised by contentedness and conviviality, which is at the heart of the luxury developers' latest design. Capturing hygge in the home is all about bringing our interior design closer to nature; such as earthy tones of creams, beige and warm whites; soft, rounded furniture such as curved armchairs and cosy organic materials like textured cushions, chunky throws and exposed wooden legs on free-standing pieces like armchairs and cabinets.

Sophie Alberry-King, Interior Designer at City & Country, says: “Scandinavian inspired interior design has blown up in the last several years – and who can blame homeowners for wanting to create that cosy, hygge feeling in their own homes, especially in the winter months when we spend so much time indoors.

"For this show home, we wanted a luxurious Scandinavian-inspired theme featuring a bold, modern black and white colour palette. We opted for a curved sofa and chairs in the living room in a soft cream colour, along with an exposed wood coffee table to create this earthy, natural feeling of hygge. Similarly, we've used a lot of cushions and throws in the bedroom, with that layering effect helping to achieve the sense of warmth and cosiness.

“While it is cosy, we also wanted the design to be striking and modern. We opted for some visual contrast by using dark and light tones, which you can see in the artwork and on some of the larger pieces of furniture, such as the TV stand. By incorporating a mix of bold geometric patterns juxtaposed against the organic, natural 'hygge' textures, we've creating a sophisticated and contemporary design, that still feels cosy and appeals to a lot of the Millennial and Gen Z buyers we see here at Factory No.1.”

The two-bedroom show apartment in Wills House is a new build property, benefitting from an unusual, curved shape and west facing balcony, ideal for curling up and making the most of the afternoon sun. The sociable open-plan kitchen and dining room is perfect for preparing meals and hosting quiet nights in with friends or relaxing on your own. The bedroom features built in storage and 100% wool carpets, with premium fitted features such as fully integrated SMEG appliances throughout the kitchen.

Shelley West, Group Sales and Marketing Director at City & Country, says: “Here at City & Country we have our own in-house interior design team, who offer the final touches of creativity and craftmanship you can see through our homes. Our designers live and breathe the product and therefore know exactly what our younger buyers want to see when they cross the threshold of a City & Country home.

“We cater to a lot of first-time buyers here at Factory No.1. We meet many people in their twenties and thirties, who have either lived with family or in rented accommodation and who have never had the chance to decorate a home themselves. For first-time buyers, walking into an empty apartment can be daunting and having to mentally plan a room layout is another stress on top of everything else. This is why having a show home is so key – being able to see how the experts have interpreted the best way of using the space and being able to use this as a guide for when they buy, is a massive help for young buyers.”

Located on the site of the former Imperial Tobacco Factory, Factory No. 1 is a collection of over 280 conversion and new-build apartments. Set around beautifully landscaped gardens, this development presents a new chapter for this site, with one, two and three-bedrooms new-build apartments available.

Only a five-minute walk from Bedminster train station and 15 minutes from Bristol's Temple Meads station, Factory No. 1 is well connected, with trains taking you to London in 1.5 hours.

The show home is available to visit daily from 10am-5pm and is currently on the market for £420,000.

For more information, call 01174 535 155 or visit www.cityandcountry.co.uk.

ENDS

For further details about City & Country, contact Laura Hellon-Hughes on laura@building-relations.co.uk or       07309 115424.

About City & Country

• City & Country has over 60 years' experience in the restoration and conversion of historic and listed buildings, and the development of new homes within sensitive conservation areas.
• City & Country's live development portfolio includes landmark residential projects located across England and Scotland.
• City & Country has won an impressive 110 awards, including Housebuilder of the Year in 2024 and Best Medium Housebuilder from the esteemed WhatHouse? Awards. It has also won awards from the Evening Standard New Homes Awards, First Time Buyer Readers' Awards, Scottish Homes Awards, and the UK Property Awards.