Help & Advice

Kitchens

Here is a selection of this handy hints:

• If you have space for a central island, it can provide a wealth of storage solutions. As it can be accessed from four sides, you can plan for drawers and cupboards just where you’re likely to need them. Islands also provide added worktop space and can even house the fridge, oven, hob or sink!
• Kettles and toaster are no longer available in only stainless steel or plastic. Choose them in an array of colours to match your bread bin, biscuit barrel, and tea towels, and tone with the overall theme of your décor.
• Glass is an excellent material for kitchens, especially small kitchens or those with little natural light. Glass can be used for cabinet fronts, splash backs and frosted glass can even be used to divide eating and cooking areas effectively.
• Make the most of corner cupboards by installing carousel shelves which swing out to allow easy access.
• Appliances are now available in a multitude of colours, designs and patterns which can look stunning against a white backdrop.

Bathrooms

Those of us who live in period homes don’t have to miss out on an ultra-modern bathroom – there are numerous ways in which we can create contemporary luxury bathrooms within traditional, even historic houses.

Up-to-the-minute design can look perfect in any home, whether it’s a Victorian mews property or a rambling Georgian farmhouse. Strong clean lines and streamlined shapes in chrome and glass mix and match beautifully with the elaborate effects and detailing often found in period homes.

• Don’t skimp on your budget when choosing wall finishes, bathroom furniture and accessories, the overall effect will not be in keeping with the rest of your property.
• Tiles, for example, should either be as large as you can find and extend up the entire height of the wall, or tiny and used as a shimmering mosaic. Mirrors should be as generous as possible and always heated to prevent steaming.
• When selecting a bath, modern stylish curved designs work well in period homes as do more upbeat contemporary free standing baths in traditional shapes.
• The right shower enclosure can add to this contemporary feel, especially if you choose from one of the frameless or minimalist ranges, and new metallic finishes, stylish profiles and shaped door handles all help.
• If you have restricted space (a cosy period home perhaps) it may be more difficult to achieve a modern look which inevitably works best with lots of natural light and space.
• A softer more traditional look can be achieved in these smaller bathrooms by carefully choosing products especially designed for a limited space.
• Furniture can really make a difference to a small bathroom. Many manufacturers offer ranges of stylish and carefully designed furniture that incorporates clever space saving ideas often desperately needed in unusually shaped or smaller bathrooms.
• In many older properties the challenge of limited space is further complicated by low or awkward shaped ceilings and walls that are uneven, at angles or of different heights. Once again, manufacturers have responded by developing shower enclosures that can either be custom-made to requirements or specifically designed to fit into unusual spaces.
• Lighting is an important factor in a smaller bathroom, whether you go for the contemporary or period look – it can give the impression of shadow and space that don’t really exist. You should invest in quality LED lighting for a contemporary feel, in the form of spots or lamps, paying particular attention to the areas above mirrors.
• If your tastes are strictly traditional rather than contemporary it is similarly easy to create your dream bathroom with beautifully styled suites that re-create the period feel.
• Freestanding claw toe baths, for example, can be purchased from many of the modern bathroom showrooms. Dark wood storage units, high level cisterns with polished plumbing, Victorian style sculptured baths, high fashion radiators, pine surrounds, dramatic taps and even nostalgic showers with ‘drench’ showerheads or walk in enclosures are all available to purchase in modern showrooms.