Proving that you don’t need loads of money to make your home look fantastic, CAPITAL&CENTRIC tasked the founders of Manchester-based interior design studio a-nd to fit out one of their new PHOENIX city centre apartments with just £1,000.
Creative duo Abi and Dan were tasked with filling the apartment with a mix of new and up-cycled pieces, using online platforms such as Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace to buy unusual but affordable items.
Tim Heatley, co-founder of CAPITAL&CENTRIC said:
“We thought we’d show our new residents that they don’t have to break the bank to get their ideal home, especially as many are first time buyers who have already spent hard-earned savings on their first home. We intentionally designed Phoenix so that you don’t need to do a lot to it.
“We loved a-nd’s upcycling approach, using basic materials and making them beautiful, rescuing unloved pieces from across Manchester and giving them a new home.”
Dan Gregson, Creative Director at a-nd said: “Interior design is about striking the right balance between functionality and expressing identity – of the building as well as the occupier. Every inch of the living space at Phoenix has been well thought through and the apartments have heaps of character which we could work with.”
Each room was given a colour theme, and they then went out, attending auctions and second-hand furniture warehouses to get what they needed. They also managed to cleverly disguise building materials, create home-made art pieces and even make a coffee table out of concrete building blocks!
“We generally kept our eyes open for a bargain everywhere we went,” said Abi Carpe, also Creative Director at a-nd. “The task was to find cost effective solutions, but these also needed to be beautiful items.”
Dan and Abi’s advice for fitting out your own home? “Always keep the space and your concept in mind whenever you are out and about. These amazing bargains often get snapped up and you have to act quickly if you are going to secure a bargain.”
This was no mean feat as the apartments are already on average 35% larger than other properties in Manchester. Within Phoenix, all of the 548 sq ft one-bedroom homes also come with a large balcony.
Named after Phoenix Works, that once produced machinery for the textile industry, the £25m development is CAPITAL&CENTRIC’s first residential development to complete in the city. PHOENIX is available with Help to Buy with prices starting at £195,000.
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Interested in buying an apartment at PHOENIX? Find out more and book a viewing at www.phoenixmcr.com
