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.

Many people tend to want to buy a new build or a period home that the hard work has already been completed at. However, have you considered the benefits of buying a renovation project instead? Our article discusses why you should look to buy a fixer-upper instead of something ready done. 

Renovation Projects Tend To Be Cheaper To Buy

If you’re currently looking at the housing market, you will notice that prices are incredibly high. However, dependent on your budget, you might be able to bag a bargain – if you’re willing to put the work in. 

If your budget is £150,000, you could buy a house that’s ready to be moved in to for that price, or you could look for something that requires some work for considerably less. Moreover, this way, you can spend your money on getting your house to look exactly how you want it. 

Financing A Renovation Project

Houses are expensive investments, but worthy ones too. If you are a first-time buyer, you can ask for an additional amount from the bank for any renovation work you plan on carrying out. If you have sold a house to buy another, you can use some of the equity from the sale to fund the renovation instead. 

Get On The Housing Ladder

As house prices are increasing rapidly, there is no time like the present to get on the housing ladder. As renovation projects are typically cheaper, you won’t have to put as big of a deposit down. Hence, you will be able to get on the housing ladder sooner. Moreover, every day you own a property, every day it could be increasing in value too. 

Make It Your Own

As we have already mentioned, buying a renovation project means you can make your home completely your own. It provides you with a blank canvas. You can rip up carpets, pull out bathrooms and kitchens, scrape off wallpaper and start from scratch. 

The post Why Buy A Renovation Project? 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.

Living in a building site is taken quite literally during the process of a renovation as the house can end up in chaos. If preparation has not been carried out, even the smallest of renovations can result in dust and damage to the rest of the home. However, it’s easy to lessen the disruption and keep the dust at bay.

Isolate The Work

When renovating, try to focus on one room at a time. By doing so, you will isolate the work and the chaos to one area at a time. Hence, the dust, the noise and the disruption will be kept to a minimum meaning keeping a clean and tidy home will be more manageable.

If possible, carry out some of the work outside on dry days as this will keep the mess at bay and paint and chemicals out of your home.

Wear Protective Clothing During House Renovation

Dust collects anywhere and everywhere. So, if you’re walking through the home during the renovation, the dust will cling to you. Moreover, just like it does to the floors and furniture. 

Disposal overalls and protective shoe covers can help in preventing the dust from sticking to your clothes and shoes, and it being walked into other rooms. Moreover, these are cheap and easy to buy from DIY stores. 

Protect The Home Too

Not only does dust and dirt cling to you, but it will cling to your furniture and flooring too. In some circumstances, new carpet may be put down before the walls have had a fresh lick of paint. Hence, putting down protective carpet film or dust sheets is a must to ensure the flooring is protected. Dust sheets can also cover any furniture that is staying in the room too. 

The post How To Minimise Disruption In A House Renovation appeared first on Windows Manchester.

The rituals and quirky beliefs that come with owning lucky items are a way of letting old wives’ tales live on and bring charm to your home. We have developed a list of the luckiest items you can have in your home to ease those superstitions you may have. What’s wrong with a little bit of spirituality within the home?

Fresh Flowers

The laws of feng shui suggest that having a fresh bunch of flowers in the home will bring positive energy and aura to the house and those within. So the next time you are at the supermarket, don’t forget to treat yourself to this so-called lucky item.

Horse Shoes As A Lucky Item

A popular symbol of luck is a horseshoe. Hence, the Irish strongly believe that a horseshoe that creates a U shape should be hung above your front door. Moreover, doing so will mean your luck will never run out. However, the French argue that hanging the horseshoe upside down is luckier, as the luck will rain down on all who pass the threshold.

Dreamcatchers As A Lucky Item

Native Americans believe that keeping a dreamcatcher above your bed will capture the evil spirits whilst you speak and will encourage good fortune for you. If nothing else, dreamcatchers are a lovely addition to any bedroom.

Paint Your Front Door

Another law of feng shui suggests that any south-facing front door should be painted a bright red or shade of orange. However, north-facing doors should be blue or black. West-facing doors should only ever be grey or white, whilst east-facing front doors should stick to a brown or green colour. Doing so will encourage good luck.

The post Lucky Items To Keep In Your Home 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.