Bespoke Trends for 2023

With 2023 fully in swing, the first few months of the year have presented many new home requests to our Bespoke team at Octagon. January and February have been filled with new client meetings, with the latest at home ‘must-haves’ in high demand. We caught up with Bespoke Director Laurence Holder, who gives us an insight into the latest emerging trends of 2023…

Golfers Galore

“Golf simulators and putting greens are becoming a regular request from our Bespoke clients. A home golf simulator allows you to practice and play a full round without ever leaving your house, and certainly not being limited by the unpredictable British weather. It also allows one to play a much quicker round, and when time is your biggest luxury, not having to wait for the group in front of you nor being limited to the light hours means our clients can enjoy the great game 24/7 should they desire. It’s an interesting aspect to have to consider when building a property – ceiling heights really play into the design – and given they are normally found in the basements of homes, it can be at considerable expense.”

“Putting greens in the garden are also becoming an increasingly common request from clients who want to improve their short game – again, saving time over having to make a trip to the range.”

Striking Entertainment Features

“Octagon are no strangers to unusual requests from our Bespoke clients, but the latest ‘must have’ is a bowling alley! A step up from games rooms and cinema rooms, both in terms of size and technology, we’re working with two clients at the moment – one inside London and in the home counties – who have requested we incorporate a bowling alley into the designs for their new Octagon Bespoke home. No mean feat given a bowling lane on its own should be 18 metres long – no doubt making it a truly striking feature!”

Embracing the Outdoors

“Throughout the Bespoke division, we’re seeing a lot more requests for different ‘zoning’ areas – so there might be a chill out zone with sofas around a fire pit, alongside a more formal dining area that’s covered from the sun. Likewise, the all-important outdoor kitchen and BBQ area is regularly requested, featuring high stools, a breakfast bar and also a kids space or leisure area to play. From a standard – but spectacular – lawn and planting, through to the more unique requests of aviation-inspired fountains, it’s a priority to ensure our clients feel inspired by a home, both inside and out.”

Striving for Sustainability

“We’re seeing an increase in demand for more sustainable and green features through our Bespoke clients, whether it’s a full Tesla Powerwall installation, or electric car charging ports and solar panels to generate electricity. The technology required for these systems is of extremely high quality, and when looking to have a future proof and efficient home, it makes sense for prime properties to feature these state-of-the-art installations. We have experience in a variety of sustainable avenues, including air source and ground source heat pumps, and many more cost effective and energy efficient options that can be installed into the home.”