Val Chapman talks to the Omar Group’s sales and design director and takes a close look at two iconic models

The design is the single most important aspect of a park home or lodge; the wow-factor that will inspire you to buy it.

So how are stunning interiors achieved?

They’re built to last at least 50 years. They’re all made to BS 3632:2015 residential specification. And they come from a background of 50 years of experience.

The Omar Group builds park homes and lodges for both holiday and residential use. And, last year, the group was selected as one of 1000 companies to Inspire Europe, in a report produced by the London Stock Exchange Group. The report listed the 1000 most dynamic and fastest-growing small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe; only 150 businesses to have received this honour were British.

Omar Group makes their park homes and lodges at their main HQ and production facility in Brandon, Suffolk and a second production facility in Hull. Wessex is a division of the Omar Group.

A long, proud heritage. But what makes today’s Omar Group homes so stylishly unique?

While Omar and Wessex are distinctly different in style from one another, they do have something in common. Peter Berwick, Group Sales & Design Director, leads design for the Omar brand and oversees design for Wessex.

Jill Withers, Wessex’s original designer, returned to lead design for the Wessex brand last year after six years working for another manufacturer. Jill’s first luxury lodge design following her return is the Sanctuary. 

Peter Berwick, commented on Jill’s return: “As the designer who created the iconic and aspirational look and feel that Wessex became so well known and loved for, it’s great to have Jill back on board.”

And Dean Westmoreland, Omar Group CEO, said: “Jill is incredibly talented, with a real flair for design and a keen eye for detail. I am delighted to welcome her home.”

So from where do Pete and Jill get their inspiration?

I asked Pete: “A lot of research. Keeping an eye on the latest colours and trends, not just within the industry but further afield and thinking outside the box. We also see what our competitors are doing, of course!” A whole miscellany of influences shape the designs. “All our customers have expectations; our aim is not just to meet these expectations but to exceed them.”

And the starting point?

“We have a design brief on each home. That will detail the features which we expect to give the customer.”

And the bedrooms?

Above: The Omar Anniversary bedroom

The main bedroom is island-style, with the bed in the centre of the room; its large white headboard serves as a room divider, with a unit housing a multiplicity of drawers on the reverse side. The wardrobes are 

behind it – so this forms a self-contained dressing area. Calm fawns are here, too, along with more plaid-inspired fabrics, mixing fawns with pale blue.

The second bedroom has the same warm feel; this time teamed with a soft pink for the plaid cushions, floral curtains and quilted bedcover.
The Anniversary melds modern with a classic design; that, together with its stunning layout, leads us to say it’s little wonder it’s an incredibly popular choice.

Jill Withers’ Sanctuary Lodge was the first with an integrated barbeque area on a veranda. The brief for that home, Pete tells me, was to bring the outdoors indoors. They achieve it in three areas: by creating a barbeque alcove, with a Smeg Grill, adjacent to the dining area (alfresco eating whatever the weather would be ideal here).

Using a decking area outside the main bedroom (perfect for morning coffee) and by French doors to the lounge and dining areas, allowing the living space to open up outside.

The interior's main colour theme is charcoal; so trendy and so cool, for the settees (dotted with lime and charcoal cushions) and also for the walls, where the subtle horizontally-aligned pattern expands the look of space. A weathered oak sideboard and a feature central footstool with integrated storage space add to a stunning design.

In the kitchen, Smeg appliances include a range cooker with a wok support, a pizza stone, plus a dishwasher and washer-dryer. The island unit houses a wine cooler and wine rack. There are a Samsung American-style fridge-freezer and a Bosch microwave.

In the main bedroom, the furniture is freestanding. The bed is fantastic – a French colonial style king-size four-poster. Marble tops are on the two-drawer chest and the bedside tables. And there’s an Italian leather chair, plus a Willis & Gambier Whitechapel bookcase.

The second, twin-bed bedroom has wardrobes with sliding doors and freestanding furniture including a bedside cabinet and tall boy, a vintage leather stool and an Italian leather chair.

The Sanctuary holiday lodge has a high design character created by its mix of modernity and natural wood plus Colonial touches.

Find out more here: www.omar.co.uk