Designing Character & Comfort at Brabazon
We often talk about the homes we design as stories. Not just places to live, but places that say something - about identity, lifestyle, and the kind of future people want to build. The Coanda Show Home at Brabazon was a chance to bring that idea to life in a very real, very Bristol way.
Situated on the historic site of Filton Airfield, Brabazon is one of the South West’s most ambitious new developments. It’s not just a housing development - it’s a reimagining of how urban living can feel. And in the heart of its second phase, The Heritage District, we were asked to design a show home that could set the tone.
Where Comfort Meets Character
From the outset, the brief was clear: make it feel personal. Coanda had to reflect the ambition of the development, but also feel grounded - a space that prospective buyers could imagine as home.
We began with tone and material. A deep terracotta sofa anchors the living room with warmth and confidence. Framed artwork, including a vintage nod to the Port of Bristol and a print of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, roots the space firmly in place. The bespoke joinery around the TV adds rhythm and order, while allowing enough openness for individuality to take shape over time.
The palette balances the bold and the calm. Rust, green, and earth tones are layered with soft neutrals. Materials were chosen not only for durability, but for their sensory appeal - bouclé, walnut, brushed brass, natural linens. These details catch the eye slowly, offering depth without drama.
A Bedroom That Belongs
Upstairs, the primary bedroom tells its own story. A textural headboard in a paprika hue sits against a hand-painted mural of abstracted shapes. Rather than dominating the room, the mural works as atmosphere: subtle, graphic, and expressive.
Lighting was critical. We opted for a statement vintage-style glass pendant paired with soft side lamps to shift the feel from practical to inviting. Layered textiles like tactile throws, striped cushions, structured bedlinen bring both sharpness and comfort.
It’s a space that feels composed but never contrived. A room with personality, and without prescription.
A New Take on Work-From-Home
One of the standout elements of the Coanda Show Home is the dual home office - a small room that reflects a big shift in how people live today.
We transformed a modest space into something both practical and personal. Each side of the room was designed with its own identity: one light and airy, the other grounded and moody. This quiet duality makes the room work for multiple working styles which is an important consideration for modern living, especially in new builds.
For developers and buyers alike, it’s proof that square footage is only part of the story. How that space is considered and used is what ultimately makes the difference.
Design Details That Ground and Lift
Small choices in the Coanda Show Home were made to feel intentional, not ornamental. In the kitchen, simple cabinetry and warm-toned wood flooring create a neutral backdrop that feels fresh without being stark. Small, considered details like the terracotta pot on the hob nods to the earthy tones used throughout.
There’s also a clear sense of rhythm between spaces. Each room feels distinct, but connected, a flow that’s critical in show home design, where navigation and atmosphere go hand-in-hand.
A Bristol Story, Told with Care
Filton Airfield is no ordinary patch of land. Once home to WWII Hurricanes and the birthplace of Concorde, it’s now being reimagined by YTL Developments as a bold new neighbourhood that blends innovation, community and sustainability.
Almost 300 homes are now complete, with hundreds more on the way, including those in The Heritage District - low-carbon homes designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, complete with solar panels, EV charging and air-source heat pumps.
Brabazon is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a place designed for the long term, with new schools, green spaces, a future train station, and even the planned YTL Arena Bristol set to open in 2028.
We were proud to contribute to this vision and to show how design can reflect and support it.
Interior Design That Goes Beyond Style
For us, the Coanda Show Home was a chance to show exactly that: a space that knows who it’s for, and what it wants to say. Whether you’re a developer looking to create a lasting impression or a homeowner seeking to bring more depth to your interiors, it all starts with the same question:
How should this space make you feel?
That’s the kind of question we love to answer.