The Sleep Council, the consumer education arm funded by the National Bed Federation, the trade association for British bed manufacturers has designated the month of March National Bed Month.
The Sleep Council’s longest standing awareness campaign, started in 1990, promotes the importance of getting the very best from your night’s sleep and the role that a good bed plays in achieving this.

• March is National Bed Month (The Sleep Council)
•  The human brain needs sleep to survive (University of Rochester, USA, 2013)
• Millgate work with Alexander James Interiors to create magical master bedrooms

Historically lack of sleep has been used as a form of torture and there is good reason for this as many new parents can relate to! Sleep is vital for mental and physical health and wellbeing; for without this precious commodity, an individual will eventually encounter long-term health problems.

At the end of 2013 scientists at the University of Rochester (US) found that the human brain actually NEEDS sleep to survive. It is during sleep that the brain cleans out the junk that we accumulate during our waking hours.

The scientists found that unlike the body which has waste cleared out by the lymphatic systems, the brain is disconnected from that and needs another way to remove waste. This essentially happens during our sleep, where space is cleared for a new day. And it transpires that ‘brain cleaning’ is 10 times more efficient during sleep than when we are awake so, yes sleep is a necessity.

The Sleep Council has a plethora of useful and practical advice on how to maximise your sleep, from kitting out your bedroom with the right bedframe, mattress, lighting and temperature, introducing specific ‘wind-down’ procedures to combat stress and worry as well as diet and exercise tips.

Luxury house builder Millgate is equally passionate about creating a perfect night’s sleep for their home owners with the team drawing upon their 25 years building experience to create magical bedrooms.
The master bedroom in a Millgate home will, if possible, be located at the rear of the house away from any potential road noise. Famous for their softened feature walls which are often seen within a Millgate master bedroom suite, these beautiful curves create a flow through the room, eliminating any harsh corners. Many of their master bedroom suites will also afford an exterior terrace or balcony, wonderful for enjoying the morning sunrise but also useful for allowing fresh air into the room by throwing the doors open.

A dedicated seating area is always incorporated into a Millgate bedroom, somewhere to read or wind down before sleep catches up with you. The bathroom areas are set away from the bed and unlike many constructors Millgate do not install lights that automatically turn on as you enter the bathroom which could disrupt a light sleeper. The wardrobes in the dressing rooms have soft close doors to keep noise to a minimum and create a feeling of calm and wellbeing.

As with everything they do, Millgate takes things one step further working with Alexander James Interiors to dress their Show Homes. Creating bedrooms that are both functional and conducive to sleep is a crucial part of the work carried out prior to launch.

No ordinary beds will be found in a Millgate home. Indeed, each product is hand selected from a varied range of specialist suppliers. It is very important that each bedroom looks unique and in no way resembles anything that might be found in a conventional new home.

The furniture will have been hand-selected to mirror the ‘feel’ of the room and create something to capture the imagination of the prospective buyer. The bed itself will be a work of art. Almost every master bedroom will feature a super king sized bed with a handmade headboard which ties in seamlessly with the design theme. The finest Egyptian cottons and exotic silk throws dress the bed, with plump feather filled pillows and a plethora of designer’s guild style cushions to add the final touch of indulgence.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) did a study aptly named ‘Case for Space’. Their study looked at the room required for comfortable living within a home. The results found that the minimum size that a bedroom for two people could be is 11 square meters. A master bedroom in a Millgate luxury country mansion is likely to boast 25 square meters – all very conducive to a better night’s sleep.

The detail, care and attention which goes into every single magical Millgate bedroom should be seen to be believed. Visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk and see for yourself luxury at the top of its game.

Freshly dressed and key ready is the brand new luxury penthouse suite which tops Westbrook House in Ascot. With just a road between your terrace and the race track, this is surely a winning combination for someone with a passion for horse racing or looking for a home with a grandstand view.

•  65% sold and all to downsizers in under 2 months

The desire to experience an affluent lifestyle has led to an increasing demand for such a classic high class homes. Owners have come to demand more from their properties and today’s premium penthouse is likely to be adorned with avant-garde modern luxuries that serve as a status symbol for well-heeled individuals. The penthouses in Westbrook House from premium house builder Millgate do exactly that, but there is nothing gauche within, here you will find traditional luxury features that are timeless and will not date.

These luxury apartments boast three en-suite bedrooms and are enhanced with well-designed touches. Hand-painted cabinets in the kitchen, top quality kitchen and bathroom wear, beautiful fitted wardrobes with soft close doors, air conditioning and pre-wiring for audio installation are just a few of the features. Other touches include under-floor heating, security systems, acoustic glazing to the front elevation windows and hardwood decking on the roof terrace. Each penthouse also boasts a hot-tub with views towards the racecourse – the perfect spot for relaxing, whatever the weather.

Matthew Brazier, Senior Sales Manager for Westbrook House comments:
“Since opening the penthouse apartment last week there have been a further two reservations at Westbrook House.  This means that we are almost 65% reserved since initial launch in late-January.  The reception that our luxury apartments have received has been extraordinary.  To date every purchaser is a downsizer which is incredible.  It is nice to know that Westbrook House will be full of like-minded people who will undoubtedly have a terrific time living here.”

Ascot itself possesses a unique atmosphere, where well-to-do suburbia meets relaxed, rural life.  For many it is important to be seen hob-knobbing in the highly sought after Royal Enclosure at Ascot week, mixing with the great and the good at the polo and being seen at the Wentworth PGA golf championship. But the gentler side of Ascot is more about donning your wellies to explore open Berkshire farmland, crossing fish-filled rivers and streams, discovering hidden woodland areas and getting in touch with nature.

For those looking for a lifestyle that offers such fantastic diversity, Ascot has it all. The town also features a boutique High Street, which bustles with local amenities, offering trendy bars, elegant restaurants and chic clothing stores. And as a backdrop to this stage, local residents can enjoy the 5,000 acres of deer park which makes up Windsor Great Park, while Virginia Water and Chobham Common are just a stone’s throw away. The area is awash with essential ‘things to do and see’ such as Savill Gardens, the Discovery Centre at Bracknell, Legoland, Thorpe Park and Alice Holt.

Guide price £1,650,000.  For more details on these beautiful penthouses, contact the appointed selling agent Edwards & Elliott on 01344 87 6363 or visitwww.millgatehomes.co.uk

For many homeowners the Ideal Home Show, which returns once again to the iconic Earls Court London this March, is the highlight of their year and 2014’s Spring Ideal Home is promising an event that is bigger than ever, with more surprises, celebrity guests and inspiration.

But this year perhaps you could save your time, energy and inevitable sore feet and just book a viewing at the new show stopping ideal Show Home in Sunninghill on edge of Royal Berkshire?

Millgate are opening the doors of their latest creation on Saturday 29th March and this spectacular house, simply named ‘Oakwood’, is set to be as lavish and majestic as their masterpiece Highview Manor in Boars Hill, close to the spires of Oxford, which won numerous awards and accolades last year.

Oakwood is a magnificent new English country home set within its own exquisite mature grounds and is the ultimate expression of quality, distinction and style. Accessed via a private driveway to offer total seclusion, Oakwood is a six bedroom home that has been created to exceed modern day needs and aspirations. Sensitively designed it blends perfectly with its surroundings and offers the ultimate in modern luxury accommodation.

Sunninghill, where Oakwood is situated, is nestled between the prestigious racecourse at Ascot and the world-renowned Wentworth golf course. It is surrounded by affluent estates, Arcadian villas and an ambrosial patchwork of open farmland and dense forest. The village offers a life of privilege in one of the most desirable parts of the country.

Just under an hour into central London and yet still maintaining its own unique charm, Sunninghill is bustling with bijou boutiques, elegant beauty salons, inspiring interiors emporia and decadent eateries. The short but well-heeled High Street is a microcosm of archetypal English village life.

Jonathan Cranley, Sales & Marketing Manager of award-winning house builder, Millgate says:
“Much as the Ideal Home Show is bristling with great notions for home improvements, this year why not save the fuss and just buy the ideal Show Home instead? We have exceeded even our own expectations in Oakwood using all the talent available to us to build an ‘Englishman’s castle’ complete with delightful grounds and the most beautiful pool.”

Jonathan and his expert team at Millgate have spent over 25 years perfecting the ideal Show Home, working with established interior designers such as Alexander James Interiors to create not only properties dressed to impress but also those that function as warm, family homes.

Oakwood is being sold by Hamptons International and Regional director, Julian de la Poer Beresford, comments on this new country mansion that will be opening its doors this March:

“Millgate really are ‘best in class’ for new build country homes – and they are up against some very stiff competition in Surrey and Berkshire. Their passion to be “the best in British house building” is evident from the quality of work that they consistently produce. Hamptons International has sold several developments for Millgate and they always receive a highly positive response from our clients.

“Oakwood Place will provide a wonderful opportunity for one discerning buyer to acquire a beautiful home, set in a semi-rural location, with a garden that is rarely seen with surrounding new build property.”

“The average house price in England and Wales rose by 4.4 per cent in 2013. That is perhaps a bit lower than the impression many people have got from the press, so while prices are 11 per cent up on the trough of spring 2009, they are still 8 per cent below 2007 peak! With the stock of homes to sell having fallen by 9 per cent, as the market has picked up, demand by buyers, especially in the country, has risen by 28%, so this is an ideal time to be considering a move to Oakwood Place, South Ascot, before house prices start their increase in this sector.”

The house offers 7,638 sq ft of accommodation set over three storeys. You are greeted with a magnificent light-filled central galleried staircase on entering. Three large reception rooms are ideal for entertaining and the expansive kitchen/family room is the relaxed heart of the home.

Staff can be accommodated within the annexe which is located over the separate quadruple car garage. To the rear of the house is a luxurious pool lodge which complements the azure outdoor swimming pool.
For more information about Oakwood contact Millgate on 01344 622 688 or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk.

For years estate agents have been telling vendors that the secret to selling their homes is to fill the air with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and delicious baked bread. But it is in fact the scent of white tea and fig that makes a successful sale according to award-winning house builder, Millgate.

It’s a well-known fact that smells sell; from the “new car smell” now bottled and available to buy through to leading US retailer Bloomingdales using scent marketing in their stores to boost sales and even the new “wake up and smell the bacon” iPhone app and device that wafts the appealing smell of cured meat in time with the alarm clock.

The way something smells has a big impact on the way we value products which is why scent marketing is rapidly growing in popularity not only with retailers but also forward thinking house builders such as Millgate.

Millgate’s Sales & Marketing Director, Johnathan Cranley, comments,
“Here at Millgate we pride ourselves on being cutting edge and embracing new technologies. An extraordinary amount of care and attention goes into each and every one of our Show Homes, from the interior design through to the soft furnishings, the brand of hand wash in the bathrooms and what is stocked in the wine cellar or pantry.

“This obsession with detail led us to consider not only what our homes look like but also how they smell to potential buyers which is why we now use the perfect scent of white tea and fig from global scent innovators, ScentAir, in our Show Homes. We do believe that scent is a powerful way to connect on emotional and memorable levels with our customers, forging a greater assocation when a buyer first walks into a Millgate home.”

And it seems that scents really do make sense as over half of the luxury apartments at Westbrook House in Ascot, where the ScentAir of white tea and fig is gently infused, are now sold.  Eight apartments have been snapped up within just a few weeks of launching and visitor feedback on Holland Place, the stunning collection of 6 bedroom detached homes in Sunninghill which also carry the evocative scent are extremely positive.

Jonathan goes on to comment,
“After extensive testing and consideration, we selected the white tea and fig scent for our homes as the blend creates a soothing, luxurious environment. From its roots in China, white tea is renowned for its health benefits whilst fig exudes a sophisticated yet subtle scent which appeals to our buyers.

“The response to the scent from visitors has been so positive in fact that we are now introducing ScentAir to all our developments, once again raising the bar when it comes to Show Home design and innovation.  Using more or our buyer’s senses to form a bond with a home could play a vital role in the buying process.”

For more information on the luxury 2 and 3 bedroom apartments at Westbrook House in Ascot, available from £795,000 or the 6 bedroom detached country mansions of Holland Place, Sunninghill on the market from £4,250,000, both of which feature the white tea and fig scent, please contact Millgate today on 0118 934 3344 or visitwww.millgatehomes.co.uk.

Editors Notes:
Westbrook House Westbrook House, Ascot                              

Fourteen luxury apartments are underway to create a fabulous gated development opposite Ascot racecourse.

The apartments consist of two and three bedrooms from 1,380 sq ft to over 3000.  Designed with large terraces and balconies owners will enjoy great views towards the racecourse.  Bespoke luxury kitchens and bathrooms creating the very best in indulgent living.

Kitchens feature Siemens appliances, granite worktops and hand-painted cabinets.  A larder style fridge, freezer and dishwasher in the kitchen with washer/driers in the utility rooms.  Bathrooms are equipped with white Villeroy & Boch sanitary ware and chrome furnishings.

The development has secure underground parking with spaces for 2 cars.

For further information please contact Millgate on 01189 348085 or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk or contact the local estate agent Edwards & Elliott on 01344 876 363 or email westbrook@edwardsandelliott.co.uk.

• Ashworth House, Holland Place, Sunninghill

A six bedroom residence located in the heart of the Home Counties just 2 miles from Ascot racecourse.

Ashworth House sits within substantial landscaped grounds and reflects meticulous attention to detail in design, specification and architectural integrity – again setting the benchmark for building excellence.

The property offers exceptional accommodation, arranged over three storeys, boasting a magnificent central galleried staircase with spectacular chandelier, three large reception rooms ideal for entertaining, while the kitchen/family room with an orangery opening out into the garden is the informal heart of the home. Upstairs there are en-suite bathrooms to all six of the bedrooms plus a bonus bedroom/games room.  Staff can also easily be accommodated within the annexe which is found over the triple garage.

For more details on this opulent private development contact Millgate on 0118 934 3344 or Hamptons International on 01372 469279 or alternatively visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk.