Buying a first home together is a consolidating and important step forward for any couple – not least for Ranvir and his husband Manoj, who fell in love with a Weston Homes apartment at The Laundry Works in Watford, an £85m development on the 2.5-acre site of the old Watford Laundry Factory. Hotel night manager Ranvir, 34, and 39-year-old Manoj, a software engineer, are British born, with families from different parts of India. Delighted with their new home together, they are excitedly preparing to welcome their new flatmate: a Holland Lop house rabbit.
The Laundry Works features eight architecturally distinctive brick façade buildings, ranging in height from three to 13 storeys, which provide 248 new one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The development is set within a wide tree-lined boulevard with extensive communal landscaped gardens.
Ranvir and Manoj found their paths intertwined while Ranvir was living in Japan. An introduction by a mutual friend led Ranvir to Manoj, who was then working for a city bank in Canary Wharf. Their instant romance resulted in Ranvir moving back to the UK to be closer to Manoj and from there to Belfast, where Manoj was transferred for work, and together they explored the Northern Irish capital, ultimately tying the knot in a joyous ceremony. With a shared desire for a place to call their own, they discovered The Laundry Works, in Watford, a place they both instantly knew was the one.
“Rents are crazy wherever you live, and you never feel settled with a landlord,” says Ranvir. “Manoj had been looking for an apartment and surprised me one morning by insisting I went with him to look at The Laundry Works in Watford. In fact, we looked at two apartments, but the Weston Homes apartment was by far the best. It came with many integrated appliances that we would have had to spend money on that we did not have. I fell in love with it. It was twice the size of our rented flat, and it is in a fantastic location”.
The Laundry Works’ residents enjoy seamless access to central London and beyond, ensuring locals remain connected to the buzz of city life. “Transport links were a top priority for us,” explains Ranvir. “As the night manager of a big hotel in Kensington, quick connections are essential. Fortunately, it’s only a 12-minute walk to the station from here, where I can jump on the Metropolitan line and be in the heart of the city in just 40 minutes. We also like visiting India, and if we want to go to the airport, there is a local bus. You can get anywhere from here. Neither of us drives, but with everything so close, we don’t need to”.
Ranvir is a devout Hindu, and in their home, the couple have a small shrine, which is a bright and lively statement to his faith. Its installation gave them a sense of place when they moved in with very little in the way of furnishings. “We sat on the floor until the sofa arrived,” says Ranvir. “But there was already so much comfort with our fitted kitchen, luxurious bathrooms, fitted wardrobes, and fitted floors. We just had to put the heating on, not that we use much heating as our home is so well insulated.”
In a corner flat on the tenth floor with a vista of the countryside beyond the thriving town, Ranvir and Manoj enjoy the peaceful surroundings. “There is so much open space around us. Cassiobury Park is a huge country park with fountains and flowers. I love flowers and have big plans for the balcony,” Ranvir says. “We can walk for miles along the canal path”.
Manoj and Ranvir regularly save to complete the job of furnishing their apartment. With curtains arriving in a few days, they’re eagerly eyeing some sleek cane furniture for their balcony so they can enjoy their outdoor space. Ranvir adds, “We have magnificent views from our apartment, and the sun even sets in the corner of our sitting room”.
Mr. or Mrs. Rabbit will be joining their household in the next few weeks and, like its loving owners, will be taking up residence in the perfect new pad. Awaiting their floppy-eared resident is a stylish glass enclosure, complete with five-star amenities: bespoke bunny furniture, a snug tepee for naps, and an array of toys including a stuffed carrot. Ranvir and Manoj eagerly anticipate stepping through the door of their Laundry Works apartment, greeting their furry friend with the joyful call, “Bunny, we’re home!”.
Suzanne Aplin, Group Sales & Marketing Director at Weston Homes says: “We’re thrilled to see how happy Ranvir and Manoj are with their new home at The Laundry Works. Their journey from renting to owning highlights the appeal of our developments, where modern design meets comfort and convenience at affordable prices. We’re especially excited about their plans to bunny-proof their apartment for their new house rabbit – it’s a perfect example of how our homes cater to a variety of lifestyles!”
All the modern apartments at The Laundry Works feature Weston Homes’ fully comprehensive premium specification as standard with well-conceived interior features. Stylish and flexible open-plan living spaces have floor to ceiling windows flooding the apartments with natural light.
The contemporary kitchens by Oakwood Kitchens have quartz stone worktops and upstands, a wide range of integrated appliances and stainless-steel sink with integrated removable chopping board, tap with hose-spray extension and separate instant boiling and cold water filtered tap. The bathrooms have white suites, walk-in Fascino Smart showers or bathtubs, heated towel rails, integrated vanity storage, an illuminated mirror with de-mist feature and porcelain floor and wall tile colours and finishes.
The last few two-bedroom apartments are priced from £282,000. For further information on The Laundry Works contact Weston Homes contact Tel: +44 (0)1252 957 843 or click here.
