Showhome Spotlight: The Turner at Blackthorn Walk, Gloucester

Nestled in the Gloucestershire countryside and with the beautiful Cotswolds as its backdrop, the new village of Hunts Grove is blossoming into a thriving and sought-after community among first-time buyers and families alike. Bellway’s Blackthorn Walk development of new-build homes in Hunts Grove is a collection of energy-efficient 3, 4 and 5-bedroom properties that offer contemporary living in historic surroundings, just a few miles from the culture-rich city of Gloucester.

In our latest edition of Showhome Spotlight, we take you inside the stylish, urban-inspired Turner showhome at Blackthorn Walk, and introduce you to the interior designers who created it – who share their tips on how you can introduce the city aesthetic to your own new Bellway home.

Introducing the Turner showhome at Blackthorn Walk

Boasting a sought-after open-plan kitchen and dining space, a separate front-facing living room, an en-suite bedroom and two additional bedrooms, the Turner is a 3-bedroom Bellway Artisan Collection home with broad appeal to first-time buyers, young families, downsizers and ‘rightsizers’ alike. The Turner showhome at Blackthorn Walk in Gloucester was designed by the team at Show Business Interiors, who imagined a young professional couple falling in love with this house style and the flexible, future-proofed space that it offers.

“We envisioned the future residents of the Turner showhome as first-time buyers who have worked hard to purchase their first home,” explains Amie Reeves, Sales Director at Show Business. “For them, this space represents both a sanctuary and a place to celebrate, somewhere to unwind after busy days but also to gather with friends and entertain.

“The vision for its interior was therefore ‘achievable aspiration’; a design that feels stylish, on trend, and attainable, with stand-out features that make it memorable, and combines a contemporary urban feel with soft, tactile finishes.”

The Show Business team took cues from city living when planning out the Turner showhome interior: “Think downtown New York apartment reimagined with softer, more tactile touches” adds Amie. The process began with the creation of mood boards, beginning with a foundation of cool neutrals to create a sense of calm and continuity throughout the interior, with layered pops of blue, rose, and warm mustard to introduce colour and personality. Black accents played a grounding role within the design through statement pieces such as the fluted dining table and the spherical-stand coffee table; the contrast and depth of these sculptural elements give structure to the softer colour palette.

The goal was “a home that feels modern, lived-in and full of character; a refined interpretation of city style that is both bold and inviting”, but inspiration was also drawn from the surrounding environment of the Gloucestershire countryside, to ensure that the design felt authentic to its setting.

Emphasising space and socialising in a future-ready home

“Maximising space is always a core consideration in our showhome designs,” Amie explains. “Every element of the interior has been carefully scaled to the floor plan to ensure the layout feels open, functional, and inviting.”

The future buyers of the Turner showhome at Blackthorn Walk were imagined as being a sociable, early 30s couple with a love of entertaining, and so their home would need to support their lifestyle with a flowing layout that easily accommodates guests.

“The open-plan kitchen and dining area was envisioned as the heart of the home, a social hub for entertaining and hosting,” Amie reflects. “Artwork was carefully chosen to reflect the playful spirit of the design, while organic shaped furnishings help create an easy conversational flow.

“Fluted detailing on the dining table and overhead lighting bring in that urban touch, adding texture and interest. Patio doors opening out to the garden enhance light, flow and connection in a space designed for living, gathering and enjoying.”

The Show Business team wanted the interior of the Turner to reflect the way we live today, with a layout that feels “welcoming, stylish and sociable, with open, flowing spaces that encourage connection. Each detail was considered to balance comfort with personality, from inviting textures and layered tones to thoughtful lighting that transitions easily from relaxed evenings to lively get-togethers.”

The designers planned the living room layout around “flow and functionality”, styling two sofas facing each other to encourage conversation and social connection. The floating media unit and wall-mounted TV anchors the statement wallpaper and maximises the available wall space.

Upstairs, a floating dressing area in the first bedroom was introduced to create a sense of space and flow without compromising practicality. Bedroom 2 provides a permanent guest room while the third bedroom was designed to serve multiple purposes; with no children in their household, the couple's third bedroom functions as a home office, and incorporates a daybed to comfortably accommodate additional guests for when dinner parties turn into house parties that go on into the early hours. Should the couple choose to grow their family in the future, this bedroom would make a cosy nursery.

Stand-out features in a style-forward showhome

Every minute detail of the Turner showhome’s striking interior style was intentional, from the bold patterns to the multitude of textures used throughout the home. Upon entering this energy-efficient Bellway home, you are greeted in the hallway with statement wallpaper that evokes life and energy, with contrasting artwork and an organic-shaped mirror to give it a “quirky, modern edge with a hint of urban fluidity”.

Amie tells us that the feature wallpaper was paired with a gallery wall to create “an immediate sense of personality, drawing the eye upward and adding movement through the vertical space. It sets a strong first impression and continues the home’s expressive, design-led story.

“Distinctive wallpaper in the living room anchors the space and is complemented by a glass-top coffee table for lightness and modern refinement. The balance of texture and transparency reinforces the home’s contemporary urban edge.”

In the third bedroom, a panelled feature wall introduces an industrial feel with character and dimension; Amie adds that “the detailing enhances the room’s versatility, making it equally suited as a guest room or relaxing retreat”.

Recreating showhome interior style in your own home

If the urban-inspired interior of the Turner has captured your imagination, Amie shares her advice for recreating its style in your own home.

First, focus on layering texture, tone and material, says Amie. “Start with a neutral foundation such as soft greys, warm whites and gentle taupes, and build depths with pops of colour like the mustard, rose and muted blue used in this Bellway showhome.”

The next step is to incorporate a mixture of materials to achieve that refined city living feel: “Don’t be afraid to mix industrial touches like black accents or exposed textures with softer, more tactile finishes to keep the balance grounded yet sophisticated.

“Finally, add artwork and statement details that reflect your personality. A bold feature wallpaper or an eye-catching mirror can easily transform a space and bring individuality to your home.”

Three interior designer tips for decorating your new-build Bellway home

While moving into a new-build home is exciting and brings an abundance of design possibilities, it’s surprisingly normal to feel overwhelmed at the prospect of getting started – this phenomenon is known as ‘white box syndrome’ and can be easily overcome with guidance and inspiration to point you in the right direction.

We asked Amie and the Show Business team to share their advice on how to begin the process of decorating your new Bellway home, so you can start making adding your personality to its perfect blank canvas even before you’ve finished unpacking.

• Start with a clear palette - “Choose two or three core tones that flow throughout your home to create a sense of harmony. From there, layer in accent colours through accessories, textiles or artwork to add warmth and personality.”

• Think about how you will use each space - “Plan your layout to suit your lifestyle, whether that is entertaining, relaxing or working from home. Practical design decisions, like multi-purpose furniture or clever storage, can make a big difference in how the space feels and functions.”

• Add your own character - “A showhome can inspire your interior, but the finishing touches make it your home. Mix in pieces that tell your story, from a vintage find to a favourite print, to create a home that feels authentic and lived-in.”

For more ideas and inspiration read our Showhome Spotlight features on the Ashfield at Perceval Grange in Midhurst, or the Draper Life in Wynyard; you can also peek inside the homes of real Bellway homeowners including Alex and Ollie’s peaceful Bellway Scrivener, and Helen and Alan who downsized to a Bellway Watchmaker, before you search for your nearest developments of new-build Bellway homes and take the next exciting step in your home buying journey.