With style inspired by Scandinavia and beyond and amazing design elements, Aspire makes truly aspirational homes. We review three of them – including one with a roof terrace.

Words Val Chapman Photography John Chapman

Aspire has built its reputation on innovation and extraordinary style and a high level of luxury. The styling influence of many of Aspire’s collection of 12 lodges is from Scandinavian design concepts.

None exemplifies that more closely than the Nordica.

Nordica

The Nordica (see main image) is a leisure home of amazing, elegant design, an architectural masterpiece with a staircase taking you from within the home to a roof terrace sheltered by a glass balustrade. Scandinavian-inspired design elements and luxury features are everywhere.

A cylindrical ‘log burning’ stove stands in a corner of the lounge. It has a remote control to turn ‘flames’ on and off. There is surround-sound, and the roof light closes automatically in response to rain. White chairs of plain Scandinavian style are up to the breakfast bar which divides the awesome lounge from the equally stunning kitchen.

Spanish tiles line the walls and the roof above the solid bamboo breakfast bar. On the kitchen side of this wide surface is an induction hob with an extractor fan positioned, not above it, as you might expect, but in the centre; it pulls steam and aromas downwards and out from the lodge, through hidden ducting.

They set two ovens and a microwave into a ‘floating’ bamboo-framed unit surrounded by white light. Bright light, both natural and artificial, is a feature everywhere in the Nordica. A part wall separates the solid oak six-seater dining table from the kitchen by the part-wall at the end of the breakfast bar.

This area feels like a separate room. Alongside the hallway (where there’s a seat, plus basket-style hideaways for shoes) a glass door leads outside, to the Nordica pièce de résistance: the roof terrace.

A metal staircase takes you onto the roof, where seating, slate-effect walls border a sun lounger and a coffee table. The wall includes planters, and they are all sheltered by glass walls. And when the weather dictates your relaxation has to be indoors, you can enjoy the cosy sophistication of the lounge.

Among the design elements are two white cabinets with circular inlaid wood – the pattern is the cross-section of a tree trunk – and the upwards-slope of the ceiling which creates a lofty look. And there’s more to notice.

The blinds comprise two layers of fine, but robust, voile-like fabric, along horizontally aligned sections of fawn fabric. When you want to ‘close’ the blinds, you gently move the pulley control so that the fawn sections on each of the layers line up, to close the blinds. Amazing!

At 55ft by 22ft , the Nordica is a ‘super lodge’ – one of the largest in its category.

Bohemia

Another of Aspire’s stunning creations melds Scandinavian style with other influences from around the globe. That’s the Bohemia.

Walnut furniture and bright and airy décor, enormous windows, natural colours and textures, tactile stone-effect tiled walls in the bathroom – the Bohemia has many with striking features.

Aspire describes the Bohemia as having ‘unconventional originality’ and we have to agree. This is a home with bags of personality. One feature we especially like is the wall that separates the dining kitchen from the lounge.

While it surely is a wall, because it stretches from floor to ceiling, this wall has eight shelf areas, some square, some rectangular, open to both sides, so that the living space integrates, yet the lounge feels separate.

Willowdale

The Willowdale’s lounge, dining room and kitchen are separate. The Willowdale has three entrances – into the kitchen, into the hallway and into the dining area. Although there are no doors, the walls and archways create a separate feel.

Wood-effect flooring runs from the dining area into the kitchen where the main style statement is the contrast between white units and dark grey for some drawers and the sink unit.

The worktops are marble effect; the coolly modern, plain scheme works perfectly. Among other notable features in the Willowdale is the gorgeous grey rock-effect tiling in the bathroom.

This lodge has a utility room, alongside the main entrance door, with a washing machine, a sink, a drainer and plenty of places to hang outdoor garments.

Your choice

Aspire offers a range of floor plans with specified interiors, or you can special-order a home customised to your choice and requirements.

All of Aspire’s lodges are built to exceed the BS 3632 residential standard for park homes.

Contact
Aspire Park and Leisure Homes
Snowdon House
Snowdon Street
Porthmadog
Gwynedd
LL49 9PQ
T 01766 800200
W aspireleisurehomes.co.uk