The latest Stately Albion Harvard park home, with a conservatory-style lounge, tartan and leather soft furnishings, is an imposing home with a strong character.

Words by Val Chapman
Photography by Richard Chapman

When most people get a conservatory they do so because they want an extra room. But how about a conservatory as your main living room? With a big bay frontage. And a plethora of light flooding in from the roof. And significant space. That’s what the latest creation from Stately-Albion provides.

This is the new Harvard, a prestigious dwelling with an imposing look that will set your home apart from anything else on any park home estate.

Inside, the giant bay window-conservatory look creates an light, bright living area. Three big-armrest, ultra-comfortable brown leather sofas are in the ‘conservatory’. They form an inviting lounging area facing the rock-coal-effect fireplace.

A scattering of cushions introduces pale mustard shade plus white and grey tartan-type pattern as a contrast to the dark brown. The tartan pattern is the main fabric feature of the room, in the array of curtains that run around the curved conservatory window line. As the ceiling follows the curved shape, it’s also fanned, in segments, each with a bright inset spotlight. The effect is stunning.

And there’s more to wow you in the lounge area. The wall behind the largest of the three settees is clad in woodwork. Short sections of horizontally-aligned, sculpted natural wood create an interesting panel. There's a surprise: along the top is a strip of purple LED lights. The whole look is amazing. It's spacious and sophisticated in a game-fair, country mansion sort of way.

Dining area

The four-seater oval dining table makes the best use of the conservatory styling, too. The furniture is somewhat cottagey in style. It blends well with the sumptuous leather sofas and tartan curtains.

Kitchen

The kitchen is L-shaped, with an island unit in the centre. The outer part of this unit forms a breakfast bar. There are two backrest-stools upholstered in leather to match the settees and sitting on chunky, circular chrome bases.

Pale grey gloss cabinets inject an ultra-modern ingredient to the total Harvard look. Grey rock-effect surfaces enhance the modern image. A large brushed-steel extractor fan swoops down from the ceiling over the hob, on the island unit.

Brushed steel also makes a big statement in the fridge-freezer with water dispenser. The grey and white tartan theme continues here. A blind with three outsized steel eyelets dresses the window. The whole kitchen effect is gorgeous.

Bedrooms

One bedroom has twin beds. The room has ample floor space and plenty of storage accommodation in a wardrobe and chest of drawers. We love the tartan pattern here again, this time in a fresh, light green shade with a hint of mustard and an outline of red.

The colour palette in the main bedroom is warm browns, with a feature wall incorporating creams and peach shades. The room has a sumptuous, luxurious feel, and ample storage space. The en suite shower room is luxurious, with cream tiling and a large shower.

The Stately story

The Harvard comes from a long pedigree. Stately-Albion is Europe’s oldest park home manufacturer. The company has been building residential park homes and luxury holiday lodges for generations.

The history of Stately-Albion is a fascinating one. The company grew out of a manufacturer of holiday homes and touring caravans near Bristol, called Premier Caravans. Bluebird bought the company in 1963. Premier Caravans then discontinued.

Four shop floor workers from Premier rented a farm building a few miles away, constructed a 30ft mobile home and set up Stately Caravans. The reason for the choice of the name Stately has become lost in the mists of time. It survives by inference, though, in the names of most of today’s Stately homes.

The Harvard, though, is a name of more far-reaching influence. Harvard University springs to mind. It's America’s oldest higher education institution. The establishment ranks as the third best university of the world. So, a distinguished name for a distinguished home.