If you are looking to update your kitchen but you want to steer clear of the glossy white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and marble countertops, look no further. The cottage style of kitchen will never date. 

Even if your kitchen is small, utilising the cottage style will make a statement and give it loads of character. Think oak worktops, modern farmhouse style accessories, 1930s doors. 

Wicker Furniture

Wicker is a versatile material that will keep your home looking modern, yet classic. Moreover, it is easy to find in high street shops or even in charity shops. It will provide any room with texture, warmth and cosiness. 

Add some wicker baskets to the kitchen to store fruit, vegetables, bread or even laundry to create a cottage feel. 

Porcelain Crockery

If you want to add a cottage feel but you’re working to a budget, why not just update your crockery. Add some porcelain plates and dishes to your collection. Moreover, floral teacups and jugs can also add a country element to your kitchen. 

Open Shelving

Whilst most people like to hide their clutter in cupboards and drawers, why not embrace it instead? Add some open shelving to the walls in your kitchen and stack up plates, pots, pans for a cottage vibe. Moreover, if you’re a fan of wallpaper and you’re feeling brave, put some floral patterns behind the shelving for the ultimate cottage feel. 

If you’re not convinced about open shelving, stick to utilising the cupboards and cabinets for storage. Spruce them up by painting them in muted tones to enhance the English heritage. 

Cottage Kitchen Dining Space

If your dining table lives in the kitchen, mismatch old wooden chairs around the rustic table to enhance your cottage style. Moreover, place a vintage radio on the table, some floral placemats and dainty cutlery. 

The post How To Create A Cottage Kitchen appeared first on Windows Manchester.

Our article discusses the advantages and disadvantages between both reclaimed doors and new doors, to help you choose the best way to upgrade your internal and external doors.

Reclaimed Doors

If you’re looking for a cost-effective solution to your doors, whether they are internal or external, reclaimed may be the best choice for you. Doors that have been used previously can have a rustic and cosy feel to them. They are also more environmentally friendly!

However, reclaimed doors, particularly internal, may need some refurbishment and some TLC. If they are wooden, they may require sanding down to ensure they fit securely. Moreover, reclaimed doors can be difficult to hang in the frame that is already in place. They can also warp over time.

New Doors

Alternatively, buying brand new may be more ideal than buying second hand or pre-loved – especially if you’re looking for something more modern and contemporary. They can be bought ready-made from DIY retailers or made to measure from door manufacturers and companies. Moreover, because they are often custom-made, they can be more expensive.

However, buying new may not have the same history as a reclaimed door would if you decided to buy one of those. Yet, there are various designs to choose from to achieve a similar effect. They will hang easily as they are designed to fit the frame that’s in place or the new frame that will come with the door.

So Which Should I Choose?

Either way, when choosing internal or external doors for your home, picking between reclaimed and new can be tricky. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. However, weighing up the two options can be beneficial. Choose a door that suits the style of your home, and reflects your personality. Consider your budget and how easy it will be to install the door too.

The post New Doors Or Reclaimed Doors: Which Should I Buy? appeared first on Windows Manchester.

The most popular interior doors are discussed in our article below.

Tudor and Jacobean Interior Doors

Interior doors like these were first seen around the 1600s. They are made of plain vertical wooden boards, nailed together, with horizontal battens spaced out on the back. Moreover, Tudor doors would typically have cast iron hinges and handles.

Georgian

If your home is from the Georgian period, the early 1700s to mid-1800s, the doors within would typically have two to six panels with no carving or patterns. Furthermore, double doors were also common in this era.

Shaker Interior Doors

The shaker movement came about from the mid-1700s to the mid-1800s and was massively influential in the decor of homes. Shaker kitchens are still popular today.

Shaker doors are a simple design made from lightweight pine wood. Moreover, they are well-made, practical and stand the test of time whilst adding elegance to the home.

Regency

In the early 1800s, regency doors came out. These are similar to Georgian doors but tend to be carved into four or six panels. Furthermore, these were tall and were usually found in pairs, dividing reception rooms.

Victorian and Edwardian

Between the 1830s and the early 1900s was the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Moreover, Victorian doors were common in stately homes and mansions. These doors were thick and had four panels, often with glass in the top half of the door.

1920s and 1930s Interior Doors

Around 100 years ago, stained glass in doors became popular. At the same time, the increasingly popular 1930s Craftsman door came into style. These have three panels to the bottom, and a larger panel to the top, and look modern and contemporary whilst maintaining tradition.

Throughout the rest of the 1900s, plywood and flush doors became popular. Furthermore, sliding, concertina and folding doors were introduced in the 60s and 70s to maximise space within the home too.

The post How To Choose Interior Doors appeared first on Windows Manchester.

However, designing a kitchen can seem like a difficult task. As the most used room of the house, a kitchen needs to be functional and practical. Hence, our article discusses kitchen design ideas perfect for your home.

Storage

Most people tend to want a minimalistic home, so they like to hide away clutter and belongings in cupboards. However, within the kitchen, an exposed pantry can help you to achieve a rustic and cosy feel.

If your kitchen is small, it can be handy to use the walls as storage with shelving and boxes. Adding decoration within the open shelves can distract from any mess and create a trendy statement piece.

Alternatively, standalone furniture like a glass cabinet can be an affordable and neat way of adding extra storage space to your kitchen.

Countertops

If you’re lucky enough to have a kitchen island, you will want it to be the centre point of the room. Hence, the worktop of the island must be eyecatching and stylish to draw attention to the focal point.

Mismatching the countertop of the island to the rest of the kitchen worktops can make a statement. However, matching the floor and the countertops can create a sense of unity and can tie in the colour scheme.

Why not build in an extra-large sink to your countertop? Not only are they practical, but they look modern and luxurious too. They can work in both traditional and contemporary kitchen designs with their sharp edges and added texture.

Splashbacks often get overlooked when it comes to kitchen designs. However, mosaic-style tiling to the walls above the countertops can add a stylish element to any kitchen whilst maintaining practicality.

Dining Table

Not everyone will have the luxury of a kitchen island that can double as a dining table. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t add a sense of luxury with an actual table instead. Place it in the centre of the room to create a cosy country feel that will suit both traditional and contemporary kitchen designs. Utilising a tall dining table can also add an extra countertop to your kitchen.

The post Kitchen Design Ideas appeared first on Windows Manchester.

Hallways, landings and stairs are used as the main passageway in and out of the house, up and down the floors. Hence, they are a vital part of the home and our lives. Because of this, we think they deserve to be spruced up and styled accordingly. Check out our ideas below.

Utilising The Wall Space Of Hallways, Landings and Stairs

It’s tempting to stick to neutral colours when decorating the hallways, landings and stairs of your home. However, why not jazz them up with patterned wallpaper or pops of colour?

Place some patterned tiles on the floor and add a two-tone coloured wall to create a panelling effect. Doing so will attract the attention of your visitors and will make a statement about your home.

Add a hook rail to the wall, some artwork or prints in frames and a mirror mosaic for the finishing touch. Moreover, create a gallery wall up the staircase of photos of family and friends or memories.

All of these ideas are practical, easy and achievable on a budget too!

Decorate The Space

When decorating the hall or landing, open up the space with furnishings. Moreover, this can create an airy feel whilst providing practicality with storage solutions.

Turn the landing into an office space by strategically placing a desk, chair and computer in the antispace, if you’re lucky enough to have the room.

Add a large mirror, lamp and chair or stool to the landing as an alternative way of making the most of each room.

If you have plenty of room within your hallway, why not add some clever shoe storage by means of a shoe rack or cupboard to hide them away out of sight?

Radiator Ideas

Most hallways or landings have a large radiator mounted to the wall which can be unsightly in some circumstances. Instead of letting the radiator act as an eyesore in the space, why not add a trendy radiator cover and blend it into the wall with a pop of colour?

Or dress the radiator by covering it with a console table, and adding a print, plant, candle and book to the top. Furthermore, this is a practical way of maximising space and adding an industrial feel to the home.

The post How To Dress Hallways, Landings and Stairs appeared first on Windows Manchester.

Alongside being the heart of the home, the kitchen is a space where practicality is paramount. It’s where meals are made, catch-ups are had, entertaining friends takes place, and often a workspace too. Creating an open plan kitchen diner space can allow more natural light into the home, enhance the space and make a great social hub in your home.

Focal Point

Within your open plan kitchen diner, create a centrepiece, a focal point, something that makes a statement. Whether this is a kitchen island or exposed brickwork on a wall, create a statement within.

Simplicity

Minimalism can help to enhance the space inside your kitchen diner. Keep the walls plain, the counters bright and the decor clean to tie the whole room together and create a homely feel within the kitchen.

Colour Scheme

Picking a complementary colour scheme can help in keeping the room cohesive. Moreover, choosing a bold colour can help to make the walls pop when paired with matching decorations and furnishings.

Modern, pastel shades go well with grey and white colour schemes. Furthermore, coppers and greens look nice together too.

Other Kitchen Diner Ideas

If you have a large open space, you’ve got freedom. You can organise the kitchen diner however you wish, and you can move the furniture around as and when necessary to suit your needs. You can divide the space using the furniture to create two separate rooms too.

Flooring can also work wonders in separating or uniting the space. Parquet flooring can lead to kitchen tiles to create a practical and coordinated environment.

Print, patterns and tiling can also tie the space together subtly. Florals for example can be used on the kitchen wall, the dining room table and the crockery.

The post Open Plan Kitchen Diner Ideas appeared first on Windows Manchester.

They provide an ideal space for storage and, when filled with shelving, can be cosy and useful at the same time. They are a practical and aesthetically pleasing way of storing your belongings.

However, do you choose built-in shelving or floating shelves? Do you insert a cabinet? What’s best? 

Our article discusses the best way to make the most out of your alcove with shelving ideas. 

Alcove Home Cinema

Are you sick of your television taking up floor space with a cabinet? If so, why not use your alcove to slot it in? 

You can either shift your television and cabinet into the space or build shelving into the alcove to house your television as a home cinema. The space beneath can be styled with trendy cupboards and, around the television, storage shelves can be utilised to dress with plants and trinkets. 

Alcove Bar

The home bar has become a staple addition to any home in recent years, whether it be indoors or in the garden – or even in a man cave or shed. However, why not utilise your alcove space by turning it into a mini bar? 

Add a slim wine fridge, some shelves for booze and glasses, and a little countertop for the ideal home bar. Moreover, this will ooze glitz and glamour and will really impress your guests! 

A Home For Your Pets

If you’re an animal lover, why not turn your alcove into a little home for your pet? Add a pet bed or cat litter into the alcove and make it their safe space in your home. 

Wood Storage

Make your home a little bit more cosy by adding a storage place for the logs for your stove or fire. Not only is this practical, but it also creates an eye-catching centrepiece within the room. 

Alternative Ideas

• Create a bookshelf
• Set up a home office
• Use wallpaper or a pop of colour to create a feature

The post Alcove Shelving Ideas appeared first on Windows Manchester.

Chimney breasts and alcoves can be tricky to make use of. However, they have loads of potential and can help to shape the whole room when used correctly. 

Period features like these needn’t be neglected. They can be incorporated into the home and experimented with to make the most of the space. 

Lounge Chimney Breasts

The most obvious place to find chimney breasts and the alcoves that come with it is the lounge. However, to spruce it up, why not add a wood stove and ditch the traditional fireplace? Not only will this add value to your home, but it can also be a safer and cleaner option than an open fire. Moreover, it creates a focal point and a feature to the room. 

Additionally, stripping the wall back to brick around the stove or fire can help to bring character to the home and add a rustic touch. 

Alcoves are the ideal place for building in storage shelves too. Furthermore, this adds value and character – but can be costly initially. As an alternative, freestanding furniture, like a bookcase, can also fill the space effectively. 

Kitchen 

If you have a chimney breast in the kitchen, use it to open up the wall. Add a freestanding cooker to the space and build worktops to the sides to create a continuation. 

Hallway

A lot of homes benefit from alcoves or chimney breasts in the hallways. Painting them with a pop of colour can make them stand out. Adding furniture and picture frames to the wall can also create a designer style feature. 

Bedroom

Alcoves are apparent in a lot of bedrooms, particularly those of period properties. Wardrobes can fill the space perfectly, and provide ample storage whilst not taking up much-needed floor space. 

If you have a chimney breast in your bedroom, use it as a headboard for your bed. It can be used as a feature to make the perfect backdrop for your cosy bed. 

Other Alternatives For Chimney Breasts

Tiling around the fireplace in the chimney breast can add a modern and fresh appearance to any room. If you don’t have a working fire, how about filling the space with logs to create an eye-catching centrepiece? 

Create a media wall from your chimney breast if it’s no longer in use, by building in the television to make the room appear sleek and contemporary. Or build it out into the centrepiece it deserves to be. 

Wallpaper the walls to create a real feature, or add a pop of colour to attract attention. 

The post How To Make The Most Of Chimney Breasts And Alcoves appeared first on Windows Manchester.

However, the right kitchen cupboard handles can make a world of difference to your kitchen and the decor of your home. It can change the feel of your interior, enhancing modernity or adding a country feel. 

There’s a wide range of styles, finishes, shapes and materials to choose from when picking handles for cupboards. Moreover, the practicality and function of the handles should also be considered.

What To Consider?

• Practicality – are the handles usable? 
• Installation – are they easy to screw in?
• Maintenance – do they have nooks and crannies that dirt will hide in?
• Handling – do they need pulling open using your nails or palm? 

Types Of Cupboard Handles

• Bow or D-shaped

These are the most practical of handles as they are versatile and easy to use. They have a large surface that is simple to grip. Moreover, bow or D-shaped handles are available in various styles and lengths to suit any kitchen. 

• Bar or T-bar 

Similar to bow or D-shaped, bar or T-bar handles are also practical and versatile. They are often considered a more modern alternative, and they look crisp and sharp in any kitchen. Moreover, they are available in various finishes and styles. 

• Cottage cup

If you’re looking for a country-style kitchen or a farmhouse feel, cup handles are ideal. To open the cupboard, simply tuck your fingers underneath and pull. Some are more shallow than others – but they all offer a timeless appearance, available in a variety of finishes.

• Knobs

A more basic option for a cupboard handle is a knob. The shape and finish can be customised to add the finishing touch to your kitchen. They are practical and easy to use by all. 

• Flush cupboard handles

The most contemporary of cupboard handles is probably a flush handle. These space-saving options are safe for children and adults alike, whilst maintaining a modern appearance. They are suitable for sliding door cupboards or pull doors. However, these need to be set into the cabinet themselves. They are a clean, minimalistic option.

• Finger pull

Another contemporary style is a finger pull handle. The slimline design is practical and can be tailored to meet your specifications in terms of size and finish. They are easy to use and suit both traditional and modern kitchens. 

The post Choosing Kitchen Cupboard Handles appeared first on Windows Manchester.

It can be difficult to achieve the perfect ensuite, as they are often small spaces with tricky angles. So figuring out the best layout and design for the space can seem like an impossible task. Our blog is here to help. Check out our ensuite inspiration below. 

Add A Pop Of Colour

Many people shy away from colour when it comes to decorating an ensuite or family bathroom. However, adding a pop of colour is one of the easiest ways to create impact in a small space. So no matter what your style, colour can really work in your ensuite by adding tonnes of character.

Colours with warm undertones are usually ideal as they create a relaxed feel. Cooler tones can often feel cold and damp and can make the space look considerably smaller too.

Keep The Ensuite Fittings Small

If you’re working with a small space, you don’t want to overcrowd it with large fittings like Victorian sinks and baths. Instead, install small fixtures like a neat wall-mounted sink. Hence, you don’t have to compromise on design, function and style. 

Work In Angled Ceilings

Ceilings that have awkward angles can appear difficult to work with, but they are ideal in a space like an ensuite. They can add storage space or create the perfect home for a showerhead. 

Storage is hard to come by in small rooms, so being able to build in storage into an ensuite is a bonus. Try not to let any space go unused. The eaves section that comes with an angled ceiling is the ideal place to store a bathroom cabinet – tucked away but easy to access.

Enhancing Natural Light

Most ensuites benefit from a window. No matter the shape or size, the natural light it allows in is priceless. However, installing a mirror opposite the window can make the space look bigger and brighter by maximising the natural light through the reflection. 

The post Ensuite Inspiration appeared first on Windows Manchester.