Blog

Curtain and Blinds

Change the look and light levels of any room with curtains, blinds and shutters. Curtains and blinds offer a huge range of window coverings and accessories made to enhance the appeal and comfort of your living area. Indoor and out, country blinds, curtains and doors have so many options to complement your home. Roller blind is extremely popular as numerous people are utilizing it within their bathrooms given that they can easily rolled down as well as rolled upward for permitting light to the rooms. These blinds can be used in kitchen too. Persian blinds are the most common. They consist of many of metal or vinyl, horizontal stats , they are mostly connected with the string which can be rotated and let the light pass. The venetian blind had horizontal stats, one above another. There are many types of blinds which are very useful. One of them are the venetian blinds which are basic slatted blinds. They are made of metal or plastic; wooden stats are suspended by strips of cloth called tapes, or by cords. The vertical blinds are of more use because they catch less dust as compared to the horizontal blinds. Since they easier and faster when sliding because they draw to the side rather than lifting and lowering. The doors and windows which slide and open from the sides, these types of blinds are ideal for them. The blinds which are vertical are made available in fabric, flat plastic, faux wood materials ,embossed and metal wood. The Japanese vertical blinds are also very famous as they are a modern modification, since they are with wood which is trimmed at the top and sometimes the bottom and mid way also. They are very easy to use.

Roman shades are a type of window blind used to block out the sun. They are often referred to as a Romans or Roman blinds in the UK. The Romans without overlapping, stack up evenly and open easily and cover the full length window. How to choose the perfect curtains for your room? There is a lot to consider when selecting a design. Chic curtains bring color, pattern and texture to a room. It is important to pick the best style? How can you start by choosing whether you want a casual or formal, contemporary or traditional style. You have to take some practical considerations when selecting a curtain. You can consider the transparency and weight of the fabric and the shape and outlook of the window. For convenience and speed, the ready made curtains are the best option. Here’s what to take into account when deciding if they’re right for your room. They start at affordable process. You can buy them off the shelf and take them home ready to use. They are often washable, so are very easy to keep clean. You’ll find good range of colors, including bright shades in washable cottons. The blinds and curtains of light color add space to the room.

Bathroom Refurbishment

Bathrooms accessories can have one or more towel bars or towel rings for hanging towels. Some bathrooms contain a medicine cabinet for personal hygiene products and medicines, and drawers or shelves for storing towels and other items. A bidet can be added in a bathroom. The bath must incorporate both the hot and cold water facilities. From a decorating point of view the bathroom presents a challenge. Floor, wall and ceiling materials and coverings should be not let water seep and they must be cleaned regularly. Some smooth plastic materials and ceramic glass can be a lively addition. Such surfaces are often cold to the touch, however the water resistant bath mats or even bathroom carpets may be used on the floor to make the room more comfortable.

Lights, heated towel rails, heaters and other electric appliances are needed other than the sockets and plugs because of the cold weather of the UK. This minimizes the risk of electric shock. Ground fault circuit interrupter electrical sockets can reduce the risk of electric shock and are required for bathroom socket installation by electrical and building codes. In United Kingdom , there are special sockets which are made available for electric toothbrushes and electric shavers which are permitted in bathrooms and are labeled as such UK building regulations also define what type the type of electrical fixtures which can be installed in the bathroom and which does not carry any threat to the person. These fittings have to meet the regulations criteria.

In-order to minimize glare, bathroom lighting have to be uniform and bright. Activities which involve grooming, showering, shaving etc a person must have enough light and space in a the bathroom. The mirror area should definitely have atleast two sources of light. Wall and ceiling lights must not be a threat to the user. Bathroom installation requires time and effort since it takes clever remodeling to refurbish a bathroom. The cost in doing so can vary. The small spaces and the bathrooms which are difficult to remodel is a big challenge. Give your bathroom design a boost with a little planning and inspirational bathroom remodel ideas. If you are looking for ideas to remodel your bathroom. You can take help from pictures to update your old one, start with inspiring ideas for refurbishing your bathroom. Small renovations can also do the thing, it doesn’t have to be a full renovation project. Just by adding some details can change the theme of your bathroom. The old accessories can be changed with the lastest new ones. Don’t be afraid to combine similar yet different bathroom decorating ideas to create a look that’s completely appealing yet comfortable. Bathroom fixtures are easily available in the market at a nominal cost.

Three Important Elements Of Interior Design

Creating unity and harmony in a space.

When undertaking interior design, you need to look at the building as a whole. Do not consider each room to be separate but to be part of a larger room that is connected via halls, stairs and doors. When thinking this way you should aim to link all of the rooms together in a fluid and continuous style and a fantastic way to achieve this is with the use of colour.

Color can be selected in a set of 3 to four tones, and varying shades of those tones can be utilised in each room throughout the building. By doing this you introduce each room to the next and keep a common theme throughout that helps create an identity for the building as a whole. If you prefer to stick to single shades in each room, then try to build a connection by introducing separate tones to the woodwork or window frames, therefore, bringing each room together.

Contrast is important.

Contrast is found everywhere you look and is also a major player when it comes to design. To utilise contrast you can use 2 opposing colours or shapes to create the effect. Think of traditional contrast colours such as black and white, or red and green. They hold a pleasing aesthetic that is almost comforting to the eye while creating interest.

The use of contrast, especially with colour can liven up a space and give it a modern sleek feel. Be careful with how you place contrasting pieces and colours as it can also cause a room to feel busy and disorganised. A great example of how to add some contrast to a space would be cushion covers and curtains in contrasting shades to the main colour scheme.

Focal points make or break a space.

When it comes to interior design the most well-known objective is the focal point. A focal point is what makes a room have interest and removes boredom from the space. In fact, every well-designed space should have one or more focal points to add interest to it. Depending on the size of the space you are working with, a great example of some focal points would be a brick fireplace, a large flat screen TV or a feature wall.

A focal point should aim to draw the eye to it by creating interest, but should not dominate the eye line, this is why feature walls work so well. If every wall were to be heavily decorated in a striking pattern, then there would be nothing that specifically draws the eye to it. A feature wall is one wall decorated in a more extravagant and bold style that complement the 3 other plainer walls of the room. The focal point is also the most fun part of interior design and is when you get to create something a little bit more unique that gives a space its main identity.

If you are looking for home refurbishment in Leicester, the Craven & Hargreaves can assist you in creating the type of home that you dream of.

Time to Welcome The Festive Season

Christmas is fast approaching and for many, it is a time to dig out the decorations from the attic and find the perfect tree. This year the theme for Christmas very much returns to a more traditional look and feel. Wooden decorations, crystal decanters, mason jars, cake stands, and decor in keeping with an old-world traditional Christmas is very much on point.

Decanting Is Desirable

The tradition of decanting is one that has slowly disappeared from the modern home as people take to pouring and storing directly from the bottle. However, decanting your drinks this Christmas adds a truly traditional feel while bringing a touch of class and elegance to the occasion. Christmas is a time of luxury and indulgence and decanting is very much en-vogue this season. An etched glass decanter available here is an absolute must have this Christmas.

Cake Stands Are Customary

Rather than simply serving up your dessert to guests with standard dishes, choose to add a sense of occasion to the day and present your mince pies and gingerbread on a multi-tiered cake stand. If you rewind the clock 40 years, cake stands could be found adorning many festive tables and mantels across the country. A simple yet tradition white stand provides the perfect contrasting backdrop for your caramel and gold treats.

Candles In Mason Jars

Candles in mason jars have become a popular home trend over the past few years and can add a real festive touch to the Christmas season. While it may no longer be a safe option to adorn your tree with candles as in times gone by, you can still create that warm Christmassy glow by purchasing some jars and placing a solitary white or red candle inside of it. The great thing about placing candles in jars is that it helps prevent hot wax dripping onto your sides and furnishings while creating a soft ambient glow reminiscent of an open fire.

Wooden Wonders

As tradition once again takes hold of the festive season, decorations are very much focussed towards the wood and brass trend. Merry go round horses, nutcrackers, cherubs, and bells are all making a comeback and will soon be adorning trees and mantelpieces up and down the country.

As the theme, this Christmas is very much based on organic materials such as woods and metals, finding decorations that tie in with your interior becomes much easier. Cast aside the garish plastic glitter balls and led lights and enjoy getting back to basics by decorating your tree in a simplistic style.

Christmas is a time to relax with your loved ones in a space that helps enhance the spirit of the season, and this season takes Christmas decor right back to its roots.

The Resurrection Of Curtains In The Home

The past decade has been somewhat of a boring period when it comes to dressing your windows. Blinds have ruled the roost and provided a simple yet unattractive finish for windows. Luckily the tide is changing and it’s time to draw the curtains on the reign of the blind and enjoy the luxuriant touches curtains can add.

It’s All About Framing

Blinds lack the ability to frame your windows. With curtains, you can frame your windows in several different ways. The most important aspects of any curtain are the length and colour. And the current trends point toward neutrals and whites. While trends allow us to understand the direction home fashions are moving in, sometimes it’s a good idea to opt for individuality and go for styles and colours that fit the interior of your home.

Framing your windows allows you to enhance and highlight the views that lay beyond the panes. It also allows you to bring the space together by connecting matching fabrics and colours found throughout the room. Contrary to popular belief, curtains do not need to match the carpet, they need only to compliment it. Much in the way we frame our faces with our hair, curtains can add a softer, more elegant touch to any room.

Think About Fabric And Flow

The type of fabric you opt for will decide as to whether your room is flooded with natural light or if it will be a more atmospheric space. If you are looking to maximise the quantity of light pouring in through the windows then you will want to select a light fabric in a light and neutral shade. Think along the lines of silk and cotton.

If you prefer a subdued duskiness to your room, then you could opt for a heavier weight for the fabric. Consider jacquard, damask, or a rich velvet to create a dramatic yet calming space. Flow also helps create the feel you are looking for. If you appreciate a summer breeze, then a fabric that is gently swayed by it will help improve the mood and feel of the space.

To Pleat Or Not To Pleat? That Is The Question

The pleat of the curtain is one of the basic fundamentals that many people tend to overlook, however, the pleat is what gives the curtain its finish and feel. If you don’t quite know which type of pleat will be best suited for your interior, then why not seek the professional and tasteful advice from interior design experts in Leicester at https://www.cravenandhargreaves.co.uk/services/curtains/.

There are several variations of pleat and tab top to choose from. These range from a Single pleat, Double pleat, Triple pleat, Pencil pleat, Cartridge pleat, Goblet pleat, and Tab top. Each pleat style will give your curtains a different drape effect when open and closed and all add their own unique touch to the design and style of the room.

At the end of the day, the choice to have curtains over blinds is a personal one and one that helps bring a touch of elegance and softness to even the harshest of designs. While blinds will always have their place, the curtain is fast becoming the must-have window dressing once again, and it is about time too.

Add Value To Your Property Via Home Renovation

Making improvements to one’s home can have many fantastic benefits both to the property and for the quality of life for those living within its four walls. In fact, renovating your home not only makes it look and feel better, but it can also add substantial value to it. In fact, a property in Leicester valued at £200,000 could add a further £74,000 to its value by making three desirable changes to it.

So, what are some of the most important aspects of a home renovation? And what should you consider before moving forward with it? The advice below will help you better understand the complex processes involved and, hopefully, help you decide as to whether a home renovation is the right choice for you.

Understanding the Renovation Process.

The renovation process [1] involves several key steps, which begin with the evaluation of the existing property layout and exploring the potential for an increase in profitability. Once this has been completed, the next step is the design process. The design process involves taking every aspect of the current building’s design into consideration and then working out how to improve upon it. This can be a complex and at times frustrating task to complete, especially if you struggle to see the completed picture in your mind.

Once the design process is complete and the plans have been laid out, the restoration and repair of the key features can begin. This step allows the home to retain some of its original features that lend themselves to creating a sense of character. It is important to know whether you should repair a feature or if you should replace it. Removing too much of the original outlay can leave a property looking sterile or as if something is not quite right. In fact, the renovation and restoration processes are as much of a science as they are a skill.

Structural changes may also play a big part in the renovation process and help you create more usable space throughout your home. Structural changes such as a loft or garage conversion not only help provide more space but also add an increase to the value of your property. It may also involve the removal of internal walls, and this is where expertise is required. Removing a load bearing wall could see your property reduced to the ground at the very worst or structurally unsound at the very best.

Other Things to Consider

There are also many other factors such as updating the electrical wiring throughout the home, adding or removing windows and doors, repurposing the function of a room, and adding or removing exterior extensions. If you are considering performing a home renovation in Leicester, then consulting with a dedicated and professional company who understand your desires would be your best option.

Deciding to renovate your home can be a stressful and time-consuming choice. However, the end result can create a property that you have always dreamed of while increasing its value by up to 21%[2].

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renovation

https://www.policyexpert.co.uk/insurance-blog/house-home/how-to-add-the-most-value-to-your-home/

Accessories To Enhance Your Home

Bring Your Walls To Life

All too often, the walls of the home are reserved for hanging paintings and plaques on. However, the walls can play host to some interior enhancing accessories such as vintage style clocks, wall art, and Pinboards.

The accessories you add to your home all work together to help enhance the look and feel of the space and can be a quick and easy way to change the atmosphere of the room. Pinboards make an excellent alternative to picture frames and can create a personalised finish to your family photos, drawings, and notes.

Don’t Forget Your Shelves

Bookshelves can sometimes become sterile and tired areas and are often overlooked in favour of other areas of the room. Enhancing your home with interior decoration involves bringing otherwise overlooked areas of a room to life. Simple additions can be made, such as statement-making bookends, backlighting, and artistic pieces.

In fact, why not think about changing the way you would usually use a space in its entirety? A tired cabinet can be brought back to life by making it a focal point and using it to stand a statement piece on instead of holding coasters. Take books out of bookshelves and utilise bookends so that they can be freestanding on a mantel or windowsill. The Idea is to give new purpose to older items and give it a fresher look and feel.

Lighting Can Be A Feature

For most people, lighting is a necessity and not an area that they see as a possible statement piece. However, lighting is one of the most important players in the look and feel of a room. Instead of a standard lampshade, why not look at stained glass shades that cast different shapes and shades around the room to create a vibrant and exotic feel to the home.

Chandeliers are often thought of as the reserve of large stately homes, but, in fact, they are suitable for any size room, you just need to understand the way in which size and scale work together in harmony. Up-lights can bring the upper half of the room to life, while diffuse lighting helps create a soft and ambient glow. If you are looking for home furnishings in Leicester, then, Craven & Hargreaves can help you turn your visions into reality.

Mixing Old With New

When it comes to home furnishings, all too often people decide on either a vintage look or opt for a more modern feel. The majority of the time there is no middle ground and a home can either look dated and stuck in time or cold and sterile. Creating an inviting and warm home takes a keen eye to work out how to bring the two styles together in harmony.

A vintage style photo frame placed atop a glass table against a classic cream wall is a perfect example of how old and modern styles mix well. Things don;t need to look out of place, and matching two different styles to work as one is an art form in itself.

Accessories are what finish a home and help place a unique and individual stamp on it. The accessories should reflect those who they surround and help give your home an identity that reflects who you are.

How To Create A Luxury Look In Home Renovations

You don’t have to huge to create a luxury living space; you just need to follow professional advice on the investments that will give add glamour and style to your home. When it comes to decorating your home, paying attention to the small details such as is paramount because they will help in creating a luxurious interior that will not cost you much. Carrying out home renovation in Leicester requires adding to the glamour and luxury of the home, and it is imperative to maximise your budget. Adding a mix of furniture, accessories, solid flooring, lighting and wall covering are the essentials of adding a designer-look to the interior of your home, you don’t need to worry much about the rest because they will inevitably fall in line.

Use Wall Covering

Creating a luxury-style living room will give you an excellent place to relax in after a busy day. You can create the look, by using rich textures, such as suede or silk fabric wall coverings even if they are used on one feature wall only. These styles work well in bedrooms or areas with less work, and there are various imprinted faux-leather or suede designs that will add texture to a design scheme.

Pay Attention to Lighting

An Art Deco-style chandelier with an ever-popular look will always be on trend. Think lots of crystal and a beautiful form of a classic, yet modern feel. Consider mood lighting for all your rooms, and the living room should have a realistic daytime lighting as well as a dimmable wall, table, ceiling, and floor lamps for evenings. Wall lights are a great addition to home furnishing, they add another dimension, and are perfect for focusing light onto accent pieces.

Use High-Quality Doors

Doors with good weight on them are excellent investments for your home. A well-made door will not only uplift the appearance of your home but will also add to the resale value of the property. When trying to add a luxurious feeling to your home, you shouldn’t overlook the type of door that you use, especially the external ones. Consider using doors with a bevelled glass inset to create a spacious and glamorous feeling in the living and dining rooms. If possible, it is advisable not to limit your budget on doors, because most people can judge your home with the type of your entrance door.

Work on your Floor

To obtain the look of glamour, consider using light-coloured natural stones, for flooring, you can opt for marble or limestone, they are ideal choices to create a luxurious and spacious feel. Opting for a central design or an inset border within the floor in a hallway will give your living space extra opulence. You should consider using traditional marble on your bathroom floor if you’re redesigning it. Traditional marble is a classic floor option that will never go out of modern flooring option. If you are a lover of natural textures and you are looking at adding a high-level of luxury in your living room and bedroom, consider using a silk carpet or rug. If you are on a budget, you can also consider using fine faux silk which presents a good deal of feeling for your underfoot.

New Curtains and Blinds – Uplift that Décor Scheme

Do you want to freshen up your living room or bedroom but don’t have the money to do a complete redecoration from top to bottom? You can accomplish your aim without having to make a massive capital investment. One way to refresh things around your home is to treat yourself to a new set of curtains or blinds. Whether for your living room, bedroom or bathroom, curtains and blinds Leicestershire can offer just as much to the design of a space as any interior décor item. That’s because some of the fabulous designer fabric available today is so eye-catching, dramatic and lovely, not to mention textured enough, to alter the mood in any space in a home completely.

The best part of it is that you don’t have to stick to the current colour scheme in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, etc. either. Curtains can add instant grandeur and cosiness while blinds use a portion of the fabric required for curtains, however, the variety of textiles and styles available means they don’t fall short on impact as well. The possibilities are limitless, you can have made to measure curtains run up to create a new accent shade or simply purchase a few lamp shade, coloured candles, and maybe even cushions in the same fabric, and you’ll have a whole new interior scheme ready to be enjoyed whenever the mood takes you.

It is not uncommon these days to go into someone’s home and find the same curtain fabric and style in almost all the parts of the house, the hall way, living room, bedroom, dining room and the study room. Though this may be a good idea as regard money saving because it is less expensive buying fabric in bulk. However, this type of decorating scheme does not actually work because, in interior décor, every room has a different purpose, and as such, each should have its own unique character. And, as human need variety, so do homes, besides, wouldn’t you get tired looking at the same style and pattern in every room after a while? Variety is essential when it comes to window decorations and dressing.

It is paramount to get samples of the curtain or blinds that you want to use beforehand, this help to get a better idea of how it will look when you hang it on your window. This is essential because they make a dramatic difference to the look and feel of a room. You cannot underplay the role curtains and blinds play in lifting the mood of your room, so head for curtain shopping and give your windows some love.

Home Refurbishment: How to add space and value to your property

Replace your roof

One important part of a home that contributes to a poor energy rating is the insulation of the house. It is imperative to ensure there is adequate insulation by replacing your roof. If your house was done with concrete roof tiles, going for a slate roof will not only improves the appearance of the exterior but will also add value to your property. Why replacing the roof of your house is important is that when potential buyers see that the roof was recently changed, it will take away the worry of changing it in the near future, thereby adding value to your property.

Upgrade your central heating

When carrying out home refurbishment in Leicester, the central heating should be given proper attention, because installing an efficient central heating will not only appeal to potential buyers but will reduce your energy bills as well as creates warmth in the house. You don’t have to get a new boiler when upgrading your central heating, however, be pragmatic when making your choice. Going for a cast iron radiator may appear attractive, but it may cost you more, you can reserve it for rooms on the ground floor, and go for aluminium or steel model in other parts of the house.

Convert your loft

Converting your loft will give you additional space that can be used for a playroom, an extra bedroom, or an office. You can consider a dormer extension, which can give you extra headroom, however, it should be located at the back of your home rather than the front or side, this is to make it less visually intrusive.

Improve the layout

Most times you don’t need an extension to increase the space in your home; correcting a wrong room or layout size might be what you need. Maximising the views to your garden and improving the structural flow can add value to your property, however, if it is done right. Seeking a professional advice is paramount before you start restructuring the internal walls of your home. Though improving the layout of your home, like removing interior walls to open up a dining to kitchen space or combining smaller rooms to make a bigger one may cost you few thousand pounds, however, the added value, as well as the refreshed space, cannot be compared to the cost of creating the space.

Install new windows

Energy rating is a factor that affects the worth of a building. If your home has single glazing, replacing it with double or even triple glazing will improve the energy rating as well as the warmth inside your home; this is especially important if there is outside noise. Installing a new window on the house will enhance the external appearance when the chosen window option is in vogue. The style of the window matters because a double-glazed window of over ten years can no longer perform well and probably the seal must have gone with the unit, so keeping with style is paramount. On the other hand, you can also open up new windows to enhance the internal light. The best part of the house that you should consider adding a new window should be the place that has the best possible source of light.

Create a Refreshed Interior with Home accessories

In the bid to create an elegant and comfortable home décor, homeowners have adopted various home accessories. It has been a quest for most individuals to create a home that offers both comforts as well as style. It is quite easy to spice up the interior of a home with the different type of home accessories. Home accessories products and elements such as curtains, wall plaques, furniture, painting, lighting, and prints, complement the overall furnishings in home décor. In recent past, home décor has gained tremendous popularity.

The style and lifestyle of people are continually changing this also affects the kind of home accessory products they adopt. Home accessories Leicestershire highly influence home furnishing theme, and this has brought out various types and styles of the goods used for different purposes in home décor. The good thing about home décor is that it is possible to create your home fashions and accessories, as well as purchase accessories from stores. By combining purchased products with your own ideas, you can create a space that is uniquely yours for a meagre cost.

Home accessories and home elements add beauty and elevate the ambience of your living space making a fashion statement about your home the very minute you place them inside. What home accessories do is help in creating a fresh and cosy look of your home. If done well, home décor will not only add a comfy and cosy feeling to your home but will also add to the overall resale value of the property.

Investing in bespoke furniture is not only practical but will create a unique, stylish design. The good thing about spending on bespoke furniture is that they are designed to your specification. They will maximise every inch of space in your home, and pieces such as drawers can be made to fit a particular space in your room, and they can be made to include divisions to suit your belongings. To create a more luxury look in your home, you should consider using fabric clad styles, mirrored or high-gloss woods and apply handcrafted finish pieces such as gold or chrome details.

Having an integrated appliance in a home is a major factor if you want to create a luxury look. Making a fresh coffee in your kitchen in the morning is great, especially if you’re the type that likes coffee, and an integrated machine works fine in both convenience and luxury. So it is an excellent idea if you consider an integrated coffee machine with a hot water tap, though it might appear more as a conventional approach, however, it is a luxury in itself. Though it may come at a cost, you should also consider incorporating a sound system, because it makes you home seamless with sound.

Most people fail in this aspect. Not giving your interior decorations the required finishing touch may render all your designing labour useless. There are some amazingly lifelike silk flowers which are a great low-maintenance option and add a permanent wow-factor to your interior. Opt for an eye-catching arrangement, in fresh colours, such as ivory and green, displayed in a modern vase such as a Perspex vases with lights on the inside. Also, invest in artworks, go for modern frames with mirrored or metallic finish.

Creating an Innovative Kitchen with the latest on-demand Designs

When it comes to home refurbishment, the kitchen is one of the areas that require special attention. You can create a cutting-edge space with the latest kitchen fixtures and fittings. We want our homes to be standard, and kitchen is the best place to illustrate how standard you want your home to look. Personalising the design of the kitchen with contrasting cabinetry and surfaces with a more eclectic mix of materials has gained tremendous popularity. Creating designs with unusual materials and finishes is the latest look for kitchens, as such should be considered when thinking of giving your kitchen a new look.

Texture and colour create a perfect contrast, and both can be used in much the same way to bring balance to low-sheen lacquers, flat matt walls, and sharpen worktops. When talking about textures, doors are not left out; what will always remain a strong trend is a textured door finish. While this trend can take the form of an unfinished raw natural material and rough-hewn, however, foils, vinyl wraps, and lacquers that depict the look and feel of stone, cement, and wood are far more accessible. The admiration for the look of natural materials with the consistency and practicality of man-made, stone-effect worktops, cladding, door fronts and splashbacks continues to feature in modern kitchen refurbishment in Leicestershire design schemes.

Metal-wrapped doors and panels, and textured surfaces in the kitchen are an emerging trend, while over the past few years, bright metallic finishes have skyrocketed in popularity. Concrete and stone finishes and decors are now monolithically used together with matching panels and worktops, to achieve a homogenous appearance making the kitchen look as if it was cast in concrete. Metal coatings have texture and depth; they can be mixed with book-matched blanch, gloss lacquers, or a textured finish to establish a flaky effect. Also, metal sheets add to their beauty as they age because they acquire natural lustre during their ageing process.

In a switch from natural materials, there is now a trend to include luxurious and anarchistic surfaces in a kitchen. Rather than rely on expensive and sophisticated appliances to achieve a luxurious look, textures and materials can be used and as such, they have become an essential element, ranging from mirrored splash backs to stainless steel. Ceramic worktops that look like natural stone are also being used in open-plan living areas to give the design an opulent feel. They’re set to be the next big thing as they’re hugely practical and come in a wide variety of colours and finishes.

When the fittings and fixtures of your kitchen have been chosen, the flooring and walls should be the next point of call. Replica tiles and heritage paints create authenticity and can be a good point to start. Sticking to neutral colours with modernity such as grey is a good choice; however, blues and soft greens have gained tremendous popularity and can also be considered. No matter what you are looking to achieve with your design, whether you want a modern, minimalist, traditional or rustic look, there are many material options to choose from to accomplish your design goal.

← Previous 1 … 5 6 7 … 17 Next →