Interior designer Leicestershire

Nifty Shades for May: a Brief Guide to the In Colours for 2015

When looking at your home with a fresh pair of Spring-inspired eyes, one of the most satisfying ways of freshening up your interior design is by giving your interior a new colour or shade. As an interior design company in Leicester, we have taken steps to unearth some of the more exciting colour trends for Spring and beyond.

The overriding trend that we noticed was one that is intrinsically linked to our ever more complicated and connected lifestyles. Mobile technology has gripped us like never before and people are choosing to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life in their homes using shades of soothing blues in their homes, instilling a sense of calm and tranquillity. Particularly prominent are the tropical blues including aqua, azure and mellow green, giving further credence to the escapist theory as we all look to bring the holiday vibe into our living space.

These shades of blues can be playfully combined with tans, burnt oranges, corals and lemony colours to revitalise your tired décor and optimize the chill out factor of your home. Once you’ve decided on the exact shades and tones for you, the question remains as to how best to use these colours.

Paint is the easiest and most obvious way to introduce colour, but even after deciding that a lick of paint is the way forward there are many ways in which paint can be used in the home. The idea that paint must be applied to every wall in a room is finally becoming consigned to history and a feature wall may well be what your room is crying out for. A good tip is to choose a prominent wall – such as the wall you first see as you go into a room and make that your statement wall, giving it your soothing blue shade and giving you an instant shot of calm.

Other ways you can boost your tranquillity and update your palette include choosing a piece of furniture – a kitchen table, chairs or desk for instance – and give them the revitalizing colour boost. Outside the realms of paint, you can even use soft furnishings, such as cushions, lampshades and curtains. Moving into bathrooms and kitchens, you have the added option of replacing those tired kitchen tiles with fresh, exciting new ones in the latest, most exciting shades. With the weather on the change and moods lifted, May is a great month to get started.

Mixed Material Accents – an Introduction

If you keep up with the latest Pinterest design trends then you might have noticed the increasing presence of mixed material accents to create statements in the home. With a modicum of thought and inspiration it is amazing the results you can achieve, especially if you take advantage of the advice and expertise of those at the heart of sourcing home accessories Leicestershire. This little article will introduce two of the more prominent examples how this phenomenon is infiltrating the living spaces of those who keep up with the design innovation.

Marble and Brass: This combination is becoming all the rage, especially in the bathroom. Marble tiles and bathroom surfaces are being combined with gorgeous round brass sinks, taps and fixtures, with mirrors hanging from brass fixtures the icing on the cake of this particular example. As you can see, this stunning bathroom even takes the mixed material trend a further step by using wood flooring to add a bit of a rustic and warmer feel, which works beautifully. And, as one blogger commented, ‘brass is the new black.’ Cutting edge furniture design companies have taken up the challenge of integrating this particular set of mixed materials, with this coffee table, one example of how you can get on board without wholesale decorative change. Chopping boards, light fixtures, trays and mirrors all offer opportunities for exploration in mixed materials. Time to explore!

Concrete and Copper: Perhaps an even bolder development has seen the increasing use of copper and concrete accents in the home, lending an industrial feel to the interior, perhaps originating from the trend-setting apartments in old warehouses in the East of London. It is no coincidence, for example, that Dulux’s colour of the year for 2015 is copper blush. Concrete look wallpaper has even emerged to offer a virtual way of integrating the mixed material vibe in your home, without the weight of real concrete to contend with! This can be stunningly offset by hanging pendant light fixtures in copper and mirrors and table ornaments as well. The department stores and boutiques alike have joined in the fun, with lamps of concrete and various metallic contrasts popping up all over the place, offering another chance to explore the many possibilities for exciting mixed materials in the home. Again, the potential for adding a splash of colour is there, just look at how the addition of an orange cushion and visually striking orange egg chair gives a beautiful contrast to the stark grey concrete feel in this room.

Top Window Dressing Trends for 2015

In the world of blinds and curtains exciting things have been happening in terms of what’s hot and what’s not. At the forefront of all things curtains and blinds Leicestershire,we’re in the perfect position to hand out our tips for revamping your window dressings this year.

Grey days

In keeping with the integration of concrete and concrete look in interior design, greys are very much in, with neutral greys dominating in curtains and blinds. You might be asking ‘how can I make this change without leaving my room looking stark and soulless?’

Well here are a few tips…

  • Contrast the grey with a splash of carefully chosen colour. Burnt oranges, lemon yellows and soothing blues are all very much in vogue and for good reason. Blues offer calming properties, oranges work stunningly with the greys and lemon is always great for a splash of vibrancy. Greys can be complemented by warm and cool tones alike – so your options are endless.
  • Add silver touches like candlesticks and trays, light fittings and picture frames, to lend a magical touch to the room. This is an alternative option to the grey/copper contrast that is dominating of late and is another stunning alternative.

  • Time tested olive greens

    If the thought of a trend-driven shift frightens you, then olive greens are stylish with little chance of them going out of fashion any time soon.

    Our tips for integrating olive green

  • Use neutral furnishings, as olive green curtains will provide a stunning backdrop.
  • Dip one foot into the copper trend as olive green and copper are a match made in heaven, while greys also go extremely well with the colour, so concrete effect wallpaper or grey painted walls will not only be extremely in, but will maximise the impact of your new window dressings!
  • Blind Faith

    Blinds can also be used as statement pieces to offset a more minimal, stark wall paint and colour scheme. A hot tip for 2015 is adding to the ‘go to’ neutral of the moment – grey – with a set of vibrant burnt orange blinds, adding warmth to the room. Of course, you might already have enough warmth with some carefully chosen soft furnishings or a feature wall, in which case, art-deco inspired metallic hues are all the rage for retaining the glamour and chic. For kitchens and bathrooms, where perhaps a fresher more invigorating tone is desired, there are some great options, but green tea shades are especially delicate and refreshing.

    Sometimes it Really is Black and White

    There are many ways this spring to give a room in your home a makeover – often involving a feature wall adding a splash of colour, reflecting what’s happening in the natural world. And yet sometimes working within the confines of good old black and white is just what you need to create a chic and elegant room. This piece focuses on the bathroom, from the perspective of our team involved in bathroom refurbishment Leicestershire.

    Bathroom design has so much potential – boundless really and it can be great to let your imagination run wild. However working within the confines of a monochromatic scheme not only frames your project with a dose of realism it also helps avoid the mistake of over-gilding the lily.

    In addition, there is little as eye-catching as a well designed black and white room with matching accessories. Let’s start with these.

    • Crisp, white towels offset with a sharp black edge can really look the business.
    • Soap dispensers or dishes, toilet brush holders and toothbrush holders can all be found in either black or white. Keep consistent both in style and colour and they will add much for little outlay.
    • For those blessed with larger bathroom spaces, you’ll have the luxury of being able to choose some suitable furniture – from chairs to benches. For the smaller bathroom a little black stool can work as a compromise. Soft furnishings in black or white not only fit in with the scheme but also add a touch of softness to what can be an unforgiving palette.
    • All black is a real possibility. If quality matte tiles adorn the walls and floor and a nice matte paint is applied to the ceiling, then there is no reason why you can’t go the whole (black) hog, even opting for black ceramics. The effects of this wholesale switch to the dark side can be surprisingly therapeutic. There’s a fabulous all black tiled swimming pool in the spa at The Grove hotel, where the England footballers stay before matches at Wembley and it is a truly memorable and very calming experience.
    • Black brick-effect tiled walls can look fantastic and fits in with the trend that has seen a shift towards incorporating the industrial into the home.

    Black and white really are a perfect pairing – white reflects and black absorbs – which is why this combination can really yield superb results in the bathroom where bold angles and clean lines dominate.

    Let there be Light in my Kitchen!

    Whether yours is an open plan kitchen or a smaller room, we all have areas in our kitchen from islands to units to corner cupboards that suffer from poor lighting. Fortunately with the enormous range of solutions on the market there is an answer for every lighting issue.

    A very clever and reasonably priced solution, especially for those kitchens whose dark spots change with the weather and time of day, is to introduce flexible spotlights. From spot lights with shades that rotate 90 degrees each side to clamp-on, moveable spotlights with long, flexible, scissor arms that can follow the darkness around, perhaps on a seasonal basis, such lighting options represent a great, flexible and inexpensive option.

    As open plan kitchens have prevailed as our kitchen of choice, so the question has arisen as to what constitutes the best lighting for such a room. It may be that generalised ceiling spotlighting provides the main light to the room and other options fill in the gaps. Recessed halogen spotlights are unobtrusive and efficient and can be spread evenly across the ceiling giving good universal coverage. However there will likely still be areas that need augmenting.

    In larger kitchens a centrepiece hanging light feature like a chandelier or pendant light for a more modern touch, above the island, breakfast bar or dining table can look great and provide character as well as a welcome mood-lighting option. In larger kitchens benefiting from a nice dresser against a wall, perhaps a gorgeous free standing period table lamp could be the answer – with a wall-mounted mirror above the dresser this can be a real coup.

    For the more modern kitchen, LED is an option that cannot be ignored for its potential to add real panache. When incorporated below the kickboards of your kitchen units, waterproof, self-adhesive LED tape or strips can be a wonderful addition to a 21st century kitchen. Whether they are applied below the kickboards, in the recesses of handle-less kitchen drawer fascia or above large cabinets, these fun, low energy lights are a superb option. LED tape is also available with colour changing for the more adventurous among us.

    What often infuriates me is searching around in the back of those hard to reach corner cupboards for the one thing that I need that has happened to fall down the back and it is impossible to see where. To avoid this frustration, for the gadget lovers amongst us, motion sensitive surface mounted lights can be placed inside the cupboard and only activate as we open it. What makes these nifty gadgets even cooler is that as they run out of battery you simply remove them and charge them via a USB cable with your laptop or PC!

    Never has there been a better time to shed some light on the darker recesses of your kitchen spaces and the kitchen refurbishment Leicestershire team are more than happy to show you the way.

    Gas fires vs. Wood-burning Stoves: Modern vs. Traditional

    In spite of the fact that winter is finally just a memory, now is the time to get planning if you are considering adding or renovating an existing fireplace in your home in time for the next frost. There are very few homes with rooms that would not benefit from a fireplace feature as the centrepiece and even fewer people for whom the idea of huddling round a fire in the depths of winter with a glass of wine does not hold great appeal. The challenge of you dreamers as well as the interior designer Leicestershire is selecting the right fireplace for each home.

    This choice may represent country cottages with traditional inglenook fireplaces that simply cry out for a traditional wood-burning stove, or Edwardian houses with a blend of period features and modern touches that could look great with either a traditional option or a glass fronted gas fire with a sleek black surround that sits comfortably below a wall mounted flat screen high definition TV.

    When choosing the right fireplace for you and your home, you should ask yourselves the following questions.

    • What is the primary desired function – heat or decoration?
    • What is more important among ease of use, authenticity or fuel efficiency?
    • Do you have a fuel preference?

    These three questions can go a long way to narrowing down your range of options before you look into the minutiae of detail and the myriad options on the market today. In today’s fast-moving and costly age the gas fireplace has gained in popularity, bolstered also by the minimal design options that match the sleek technology-centred living spaces that many people choose for their homes. Gas, despite recent price hikes remains a competitively priced fuel option and is especially attractive for those whose homes do not benefit from existing masonry chimneys. Gas fireplaces also provide comparable heat and radiance without the mess and storage required for wood-burning stoves. For the young, working couple the time, money and space saving nature of the gas fireplace is an attractive draw. Elegant and modern glass fronted gas fireplaces can look stunning even in big, old properties, a stand-out nod to the modern world in an otherwise rustic surround can be truly stunning.

    This all said, if you are blessed with a property benefiting from a good masonry chimney, properly lined and with a hearty draw, there is nothing quite as satisfying as lighting a real, wood-burning stove and while it can provoke lively debate in the household (“it’s your turn to put another log!”) they really do radiate quite a wonderful heat and atmosphere and you can’t toast a marshmallow through a glass panel.

    Open Plan Living vs. Separate Rooms

    If there has been one trend in home renovation Leicestershire and indeed in home design in general that has stood out over the last 20 years then it is the shift aware from conventional room divisions to open plan living spaces. There is, of course also the in-between option of a little bit of open-plan space such as a kitchen/diner, with separate living room and bedrooms and even a partially open-plan kitchen/dining space that is more about good flow between rooms than a complete abandonment of division.

    It stands to reason that as the typical family dynamic has become more fluid and less traditional, then so has the layout of the average family’s living space. The barriers between male and female division of labour have continued to be dismantled and there are increasingly blurred lines between housework (especially cooking) and leisure time. As cooking and smoothie-making, juicing and other areas of food preparation have become de riguer and somewhat social activities and cooking has evolved into an often shared activity then the role of the kitchen has also evolved. With working roles also ever-evolving, families now spend more time together than ever before and what better solution to this trend than open plan living?

    The benefits of fully opening one’s living space are numerous, but the decision can involve quite drastic building work and before taking the plunge it is wise to consider the pros and cons.

    The open plan kitchen/diner is ideal for those who like to revel in the glory of the mealtime, those for whom a dinner is not microwaved and consumed over 10 minutes on a tray in front of the TV. The open plan living space is also conducive to minimalist design and enables watchful parents to keep an eye on their children while preparing dinner. For the stir crazy among us it can be especially liberating not to sit in a room and feel like the walls are closing in and open planned space can certainly feel less claustrophobic.

    However, with too much open plan space, privacy can become an issue, especially as those children become teenagers and while of course it is possible to retreat to the bedroom this can bring its own worries on occasion! Those with sensitive noses can be put off by the aromas that spread from the kitchen in an open plan ground floor and while this can be partially remedied with odour-neutralising candles, it would be less of an issue in a kitchen shut off from the rest of the ground floor. Even the cons can become pros, however as few could deny the pleasure in the warm waft of freshly baked bread spreading throughout the house. Another drawback of open plan living is that there are obviously less walls throughout the ground floor. Fewer walls equal less wall space to hang art, shelving and cabinets.

    While it is possible that the decision to embrace open plan living could be taken out of your hands by circumstance, if you are thinking of renovating a closed room type house and plumping for the open plan option, hopefully this article will have given you some idea as to where your allegiances lie.

    Thinking of Opting for a Wet Room?

    So, you’ve got a clean slate, but are unsure just what constitutes your dream bathroom – well one attractive option is to plump for a Wet Room. This article aims to highlight the main benefits of this type of bathroom to help you decide whether it suits your needs.

    Wet Rooms in a nutshell
    Wet Rooms differ from traditional bathrooms in that they must be fully waterproofed as the room itself is one giant shower cubicle, albeit one that contains everything you need for a complete bathroom. There is no need for a shower screen, although if you prefer a closed off shower area then a glass screen is a stylish solution. Even so, waterproofing or ‘tanking’ the whole room is advisable.

    Design choices
    These days, in terms of suites there is great variety, with the popular and often smartest addition of tiles from floor to wall with a specially painted ceiling, which makes the waterproofing task much easier and gives you the opportunity to make exciting design choices with a range of tiling options. Despite being a relatively contemporary idea, Wet Rooms can be given either a traditional or modern look, principally via tiling decisions. Massage Brighton

    Why Choose a Wet Room?
    Freedom: On top of the stylish look that a Wet Room can bring to your home, it is also rather liberating to open the door to your bathroom and have everything there, open and free and ready for you to relax into.

    Space Saving: If you have a relatively small space for your bathroom, why shrink it with unnecessary partitioning and a bath tub? The relative absence of fixtures and fittings is tailor-made for smaller spaces.

    Easy to Clean: Shower cubicles, with all their little nooks and crannies are a grime and dirt magnet, so imagine the relief at waving goodbye to all that scrubbing!

    Safe and Sound: With a non-slip tiled floor all over the room, you can relax in the knowledge that your dream bathroom is a slip-free zone. This makes Wet Rooms a great option for anyone living with a disability or those who require easy access facilities.

    Long-lasting: With less fixtures and fittings and things to go wrong, Wet Rooms are a sound long-term investment. Quality water-proofing products are not cheap, but being long-lasting, they are well worth the initial outlay.

    Considerations
    Good ventilation is essential in a Wet Room to prevent the build-up of mould and mildew, while tiles used should be non-slip. In addition it is well-worth considering under-floor heating as it is not a great deal of extra work and as well as providing comfort, it will help dry the room quicker, limiting the potential for mould.

    With the design and project management skills of those involved in bathroom refurbishment Leicester, acquiring your perfect Wet Room has never been easier.

    Finding the Perfect Home Accessory Gift Ideas for Christmas

    As Christmas approaches and the shops get busier, we’re spoilt for choice with gift ideas for friends and family. Yet, while keeping the children happy is rarely a problem, every year it seems to get more difficult to choose that something special for relatives or friends we don’t see very often but who’ve invited us to their Christmas party or to drop in over the festive season.

    Instead of choosing wine, chocolates or flowers, why not pick something that will last longer and look beautiful in your hosts’ home? Save yourself both time and parking problems by looking online. Craven & Hargreaves, an interior design company in Leicester, have a beautiful collection of home accessories to suit any interior design scheme.

    Home accessories make a very ‘individual’ gift, but don’t simply choose the things you’d like for your own home. You need to have some idea of the recipients’ tastes so they’ll be happy to display or use their present.

    If you know their home well, you’ll probably be able to visualize somewhere for a pretty votive or etched glass bottle: either or which would work well in a living room, conservatory or even a bedroom. Do they have a fireplace? If so, think single or paired candlesticks or an attractive photo frame.

    Metallic finishes are currently very popular for interiors and you’ll find them everywhere: from photo frames to pretty hearts for wall hanging, to vintage product themed clocks and signs for the kitchen.

    Many people are on the lookout for ways to streamline busy lives. Craven & Hargreaves have a delightful selection of pinboards which would look good in a hallway, home office or kitchen and, with a range of colours and themes, you’re giving something that’s both practical and attractive.

    Side tables are invaluable in a living area, especially during the party season, so why not give a set of coasters or a pretty glass or metallic bowl or box? Fill with brightly wrapped sweets or a seasonal potpourri as an extra treat.

    If your relatives or friends have recently completed some home renovation work, you could choose something special for their new room. Pretty jars, a cake stand or a recipe book stand would be good choices for a new kitchen, with perhaps an unusual wall hanging for an ensuite or cloakroom.

    Of course, you don’t have to restrict giving home accessories as a gift to Christmas time. When you’re looking for a housewarming present, take the time to choose something individual before your first visit and you’re sure to be invited back! As you won’t know what the design, layout and colours are like, or what changes your friends or family want to make to their new home, find something with a neutral colour or finish. Glass scores highly here and you’ll find there’s a good choice of accessories to give any room a lift.

    Giving someone a gift for their home shows thoughtfulness and allows you to express your creativity too. Enjoy your home accessories Christmas shopping!

    Planning Ahead For Your 2015 Interiors

    While December is a busy month with plans for Christmas brightening the darker days, it’s also a good time to review your home and think ahead for 2015.

    If you’ve got guests staying, have you got enough room or, perhaps with a growing family, would 2015 be the year to extend and add an ensuite? Maybe you don’t want or need to get to that level, but perhaps you just want to update your décor? Here’s a preview of some of the colours expected to be featuring in interiors during 2015. If you use the services of a company experienced in East Midlands interior design, such as Craven & Hargreaves, you’ll get some great ideas for interpreting the trends in ways which will suit your home and family perfectly and, by offering a comprehensive service, possibly save you money too.

    Whether you like bright or muted colours, there are colour palettes for you. Subdued shades such as olive or dusty mint green, aubergine and rust add depth to a room and work well teamed with brighter shades of the same colour, or neutrals to provide contrast. A sitting room or dining room in a period house would take these shades well in alcoves paired with striped or lightly patterned wallpaper for a classic look.

    Stripes always look elegant for wallpaper and immediately add height to small rooms. The stripes can be very subtle: in silver or gold, for example, but they will catch the light and add interest without overpowering the room. You could use striped paper on one wall only, contrasting with a plain finish on the others.

    If you’d rather go vibrant, look for vivid shades of blue which, teamed with white, bring a room to life. Yellow and grey are also on trend partners for blue and, used for upholstery or accessories, such as cushions, will balance your scheme well. There are so many shades of blue that your interior designer will be able to suggest the ones which would work best as layers within your scheme.

    Another upcoming colour palette for Spring 2015 is pastels. If you have rooms which are flooded with light, particularly if they link to the outdoors, you can have fun creating the carefree feel of a holiday home which you live in permanently! Working equally well in living areas or the kitchen, look for aqua blue or flamingo pink for your walls. Paired with brilliant white paintwork and shutters, real wooden flooring with a bleached finish or a natural fibre like coir or sisal, and well chosen accessories, you’ll always have a room to put you in the holiday mood.

    Now is a great time to be thinking about ways to introduce the latest colours into your home. Start looking at interior design blogs and magazines for inspiration then ask an East Midlands interior design company to prepare a mood board based on your preferences. 2015 could be the smartest year ever for your home!

    Spoilt For Choice With Carpet

    Not many years ago, the choice of carpet as floor covering in a sitting room would have been almost automatic. That’s no longer the case, as there is a wide choice of natural floor coverings such as natural wood and stone, which can be maintained quickly and easily.

    However, there’s no denying that carpet provides a luxurious touch to a room. It gives a feeling of comfort and warmth as well as a cushioned surface for young children – or even precious ornaments! – To fall on and, if you live in an apartment, you’ll find it acts as a great noise insulator too.

    Choose your carpet well, perhaps taking the advice of Craven & Hargreaves, interior designers in East Midlands and you can add a strong element to your interior design scheme. If it’s some time since you’ve needed to buy carpet, you’ll be surprised at the colour and pattern choices you have now.

    For some years, neutral colours for walls and floors have been popular and, if you’ve recently moved into a new property, a neutral carpet will certainly work with your furniture, whatever its style, until you have the budget to replace it. However, if you look at interiors blogs or browse interiors magazines, you’ll notice that deeper shades and striking patterns are now becoming popular.

    If your furnishings are highly patterned, it’s best to stick to a plain carpet, to prevent the room looking too ‘busy’ and smaller than it really is. Jewel colours bring richness to a room and work especially well in period homes.

    But if you’ve got plain upholstery and curtains or blinds, and you want a contemporary look, you can go bolder on patterns.

    Stripes and geometrics are popular options and can look amazing in large rooms. However, if your floor space is covered with furniture, the small parts of a large pattern which remain visible will look disjointed and would make a small room look crowded. Monochrome stripes against a pale grey background laid into the room from the doorway would draw the eye in with a smart, classic look. If you like the idea of pattern but don’t have space, choose a plain carpet and top it with a rug either in a vibrant tone or standout pattern.

    Do you have, or want to create, a retro theme? Then choose carpet or rugs in bold colours and patterns. You’ll find information online about retailers specialising in retro/vintage carpet.  Bear in mind that a highly patterned design may not be to everyone’s taste and, if you intend to move before long, try and think about appealing to the widest market possible.

    Carpet is available in a wide range of price brackets but opt for the best spec you can afford while considering practicality: a 100% wool carpet in a plain, pale colour may not be the best option if you have a young family.

    Take advice from your interior designer whose experience of various options will ensure you choose the perfect base for your room.

    Framing the View: Choosing Window Treatments

    Whatever room you’re designing or redecorating, you’ll want your window treatment to complement your colours and theme. An interior design company will be able to give lots of advice on curtains and blinds Leicestershire and show you photos and fabric samples to help you choose.

    Simplicity is the key to interiors at the moment so gone are long, heavy flounces and tiebacks, in favour of a cleaner look, letting more light into the room.

    Before thinking about fabric and style, take a moment to consider the room’s orientation: how much natural light does it get and at what time of day do you mostly use it? In a north facing room, lighter, sheer fabrics make the most of the available light, while in a south facing room you may want to choose something to reduce temperature and glare.

    In a period home where the windows are an architectural feature, choose a bright, stand out patterned fabric to contrast with plain walls, drawing the eye towards them. However, if you have unexceptional modern windows, you may prefer to concentrate colour on the walls and upholstery fabrics and go for neutral curtains or blinds. Make sure you see samples on site and at various times of day so you make sure the colour and weight of the fabric is right. Remember that you can add blackout linings to your curtains or blinds: a useful option if you have a street lamp outside a bedroom!

    If you have a bay window, using separate solid curtain poles on each section can look disjointed, though flexible poles are available. Have four, rather than two curtains, but make sure the curtains aren’t too bulky for the angles where the windows meet. If you have space, why not have a built in seating unit for use during the day and have curtains closing straight across the bay?

    Roman blinds look smart in a contemporary home and use less fabric than other options, so you can upscale your fabric choice while staying within budget. If you’ve looked through interiors magazines or blogs recently, you’ll know that layering features strongly. So, choose the fabric for a blind, which you can close over the window when needed, then frame with matching curtains.

    If you’ve used different shades of one colour for your walls, have lightweight curtains in one of the shades during the summer and replace them with a heavier set using another shade for winter to give your room a fresh new feeling at the start of each season.

    Measuring for curtains or blinds is best left to expert suppliers or interior designers, who will offer advice and make sure that you get exactly the finished length, lining and heading you, want. Check the care instructions for both overall cleaning and spot stain removal.

    Well made curtains or blinds should last many years, so take time to make your choice and you’ll be just as happy looking at your windows as at the view beyond.