THOUGH more traditional in style than the radical Lighthouse, the Dorset Harbour is the most recent park home design from Wessex. Its ‘pastel’ look and interior fittings gives it a light, contemporary ‘Country Living’ feel rather than that of an established country cottage.

The exterior has a nice balanced profile, with prominent pitched dormers at either end of the front side elevation above half-height suspended box bays, and with skeleton timber features in the dormer gables. The main entrance is in an inset porch placed almost centrally, with a large window to the right and a small one to the left.

On the front end elevation are five narrow, full-height picture windows, four quite close together to one side, the last towards the other corner. I wondered whether two wider windows would have been a more attractive design, offering better views – one perhaps a patio door for the lounge?


Excellent kitchen

You enter into a nicely carpeted hall that doglegs off to the left. Ahead is a small cloak cupboard; at an angle on the corner is the entrance to the kitchen/dining area.

This is an excellent, light and airy room with lots of cupboards (floor and wall-mounted) and drawers, the fascias in a matt cream finish in the show homes I saw, with lovely square chrome handles. There is very effective plank effect vinyl floor covering.

The kitchen work area is mostly laid out along the back wall of the home, with the boiler cupboard in the corner to the left, then the 11/2 sink and drainer, followed by the four-burner hob with oven below and enclosed, integrated extractor above, and at the end of the worktop range the integrated fridge/freezer (not that some of the pictures here show a mirror image layout). Beneath the boiler cupboard is a washer dryer, and a dishwasher fits beneath the sink. From cooker to extractor is a stainless steel splashback.

In between sink and cooker, and either side, is plenty of workspace, the worktops in attractive blockwood style and including a one-course splashback, and there is a further work area against the partition wall to the left. The wall-mounted cupboards have downlighters and there are inset spots in the ceiling, plus a very attractive smoked glass and chrome, ceiling hung fitting of six low energy lights.

Further workspace and storage is provided by an island unit that separates the kitchen from the dining area.
Unpretentious

A door from the kitchen, on an angled partition, leads to the lounge. This squarish, unpretentious room has three full-height picture windows, plus a large box bay. Between the picture windows is the feature fireplace – with TV above, in the show home, and an inset shelf space for A/V equipment.

There were wicker tables, plus two plump and comfy fabric sofas, and dark oatmeal style carpeting adorned the floor. Light was provided by four wall-mounted uplighters and a three-lamp pendant.

It’s quite a small lounge by twin unit standards (and I think would seem so even in larger versions of the home). The ‘breakfast room’ takes a large chunk of usable space and you must judge whether this arrangement suits your needs.

Simple diner

The kitchen/diner is ‘funnel’ shaped, with diagonal partitions where the doors to the hall and lounge are set, so the dining area, on the front side of the home, is narrower than the kitchen. But there’s plenty of space for the wooden dining table and four attractive chairs – room for a bigger set if you enjoy lots of entertaining.

The table is lit by the large window and a lovely globe pendant lamp hanging low from the vaulted ceiling.

There’s not much else in this area, bar a wall-hung radiator, but you could easily add a cabinet or side table.


Breakfast room

Through an open square arch from the kitchen is a useful corner room with two of the tall narrow windows on the front end of the home.

In the show home I saw, this had wickers chairs, a wicker glass topped table and a wicker nest of tables, plank effect vinyl flooring and wood panel style walls and vaulted ceiling, but it also accommodated a back door and a cloak cupboard, making it feel more like a lobby than a ‘breakfast room’.

Later floor plans show large sliding patio doors where the back door was, and no cupboard. This would be a much better arrangement, making it a more attractive room, suitable for a conservatory or study, as well as breakfast bathed in morning sunlight.


Second bedroom

To the right beyond the bathroom is the second bedroom, occupying half the width of the home and with plenty of walk-round space and a comfortable full-size double bed with attractive slatted bedhead. There were three-drawer cabinets either side, each with double power points above and free-standing, wicker-bodied bedside lamps, plus a wicker-framed mirror above the bed.

At the foot of the bed is a sizeable built-in wardrobe with large, plain sliding doors – practical, but a little institutional-looking.


Interior

In terms of the general interior, drapes are tastefully hung on wooden poles and are varied in style, though colours and patterns are generally pleasantly subdued. The full height windows in the lounge have Roman-style blinds matching the drapes on the bay window, while those in the ‘morning room’ were fitted with Venetian blinds.

Lighting seemed sufficient (though the lounge pendant wasn’t a design I’d personally choose), and there were plenty of power points, plus TV points in the
living area.


Bathroom

Passing from the kitchen to the hall, and past the cloak cupboard, the first door to the right is the bathroom.

As well as the full-size bath, with low-level shower attachment (there is only half-height tiling), a sink on a twin-door cabinet with a mirror and glass shelf above, and the WC, there is a full-height airing cupboard with a radiator, plus a single towel rail above a radiator behind the door.


Roomy master

Opposite the second bedroom is the master, also taking up half the home’s width, but about 40% more length. The main layout and furnishings are much the same as the other bedroom, though it benefits from one of the large bay windows rather than a standard, flush-set unit. However, there’s much more space to flex your muscles.

Beyond the foot of the bed are two doors, the one on the left set at an angle. This is the superb en suite, vinyl-floored, fully tiled and with a roomy shower cubicle. The sink sits on a similar cabinet to the bathroom, with mirror and shelf above.

To the left of the en suite is the walk-in wardrobe, with eye level shelves with hanging rails beneath and a large wall mirror.

OUR VERDICT

There are enough park home designs around to cater for almost any taste in décor, and almost any layout requirement. Though this model has an excellent kitchen and master bedroom, I’m personally not so keen on the dining area and the size of the lounge – not least as there is no direct link between the lounge and the ‘breakfast room’. Others, though, may find that convenient – a place to escape to read, perhaps, or listen to the radio, while partner watches X Factor!

In all other respects the Dorset Harbour is superb – well fitted out and furnished, tastefully decorated, with roomy bedrooms and a winning mixture of traditional and modern. It’s very good value at this price, too...!


Technical details
• Type: Twin unit park home
• Standard: BS3632
• Size: 42ft x 20ft
• Bedrooms: 2

Other versions
• 40ft x 20ft 2-bed; 44ft x 20ft 2-bed; 46ft x 20ft 2-bed

Main features
• Sand patina roof tiles
• Patio doors to breakfast room/study.
• Feature shutters to some windows
• Tongue and groove vaulted ceiling in lounge/kitchen/dining areas
• Shaker-style furniture
• En suite and walk-in wardrobe to master bedroom
• Built in wardrobe with sliding doors to second bedroom
• Berber carpet to lounge, dining area and bedrooms
• Integrated fridge/freezer

Room sizes
Please note: all dimensions are approximate only.
• Lounge 12ft 3in x 12ft 3in
• Breakfast room/study 6ft 10in x 8ft 10in
• Dining room 7ft 7in x 9ft 10in
• Kitchen 15ft x 6ft 10in
• Master bedroom 9ft 6in x 8ft 9in
• En suite 6ft 4in x 4ft 10in
• Walk-in wardrobe 5ft 4in x 4ft 5in
• Bedroom 10ft 2in x 9ft 10in (inc fitted wardrobe)

Price
£89,178 ex works (inc VAT)

CONTACT

Wessex Park & Leisure Homes, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 0RB. Tel: 01258 860455. Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wessexparkhomes.co.uk


This review was published in the June 2009 issue of Park & Holiday Homes magazine. To order our latest issue please click here.


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