A MALTON interior designer has been appointed to add the finishing touches to a £3.75 million scheme to transform a former 1920's car showroom and warehouse into ten apartments.

York-based developer Northminster has commissioned Rachel McLane for its Piccadilly Lofts development.

Having started her own business in 2004, Ms McLane has provided interior designs for The Feversham Arms Hotel in Helmsley; The Devonshire Arms Estate and the Chatsworth Trust in Derbyshire; Arsenal Football Club, The Mere Golf Resort and Spa in Knutsford and The Star Inn The City, York.

Her work at Piccadilly Lofts covered the interior design of more than 70 rooms across the ten loft apartments including the communal lobby and corridor.

As well as reconfiguring some room layouts, Ms McLane and her four-strong team specified all the bathroom furniture, kitchen units and appliances, flooring, and bespoke joinery.

Rachel McLane, said: "I saw the fantastic potential of Piccadilly Lofts immediately. The challenge for us was understanding the three-dimensional space so we could make the most of the best attributes of each apartment including the use of light and space.

"We wanted to ensure that the finishes and design enabled prospective purchasers to imagine themselves living there with their own possessions. We kept to a neutral pallet but highlighted features within each apartment."

Northminster managing director George Burgess added: "Piccadilly Lofts is our first residential scheme for 12 years as we have been busy developing Northminster Business Park.

"The nature of the original structure and the architectural design created the potential for us to deliver highly distinctive properties and we commissioned Rachel McLane to maximise their design potential."