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.

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.

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.

Grey is a neutral colour that offers a classic yet modern look that is desirable amongst homeowners. Moreover, this article discusses why grey decor is so popular amongst homeowners. 

Grey Decor Is Versatile

As grey is a neutral colour, it’s versatile and works with almost all other colours. 

Unlike white, it doesn’t offer a blank canvas. Instead, grey offers subtle tones of other colours, meaning it complements almost any colour. 

Moreover, grey decor can be calming and relaxing for a home. It’s a colour that doesn’t have its own personality, so grey works by bouncing off other colours. Pairing the decor with something from the same harmonious family will complement the home nicely. 

Hence, anthracite grey window frames can balance the home and look appealing both outside and in. Grey decor can incorporate into furniture, walls and fixtures. 

There Are So Many Options

The grey spectrum is huge. Furthermore, it ranges from warm tones to cool. Some shades have blue hues, whilst others are more green and purple or even yellow. 

There are bold statement options like charcoal grey or softer and paler choices like light grey. 

Moreover, each shade of grey can differ in terms of subtleness and neutralness. Hence, grey works in all aspects of the home – from the carpet through to accessories. 

Grey Is On-Trend

Despite being a timeless classic, grey decor remains on-trend and stylish no matter the home. Furthermore, grey is not an attention-seeking shade – it’s a colour that blends into a room. 

Moreover, grey always looks crisp and clean, adding a contemporary touch too.

Grey Decor Ideas

If you want to add a hint of grey to your bedroom, why not try a grey bed in the centre of the room? Finish the look with a splash of grey decor like wall art or a fluffy rug. 

In your living room, centre your furniture around a key piece like a grey sofa. The grey here will complement navy’s and green’s to create a luxurious feel. 

Furthermore, in the kitchen, the grey decor doesn’t have to be bold. A grey kettle, microwave and toaster will make a world of difference to the feel of the room.

The post Why Is Grey Decor So Popular? appeared first on Windows Manchester.

By doing so, you can make your property as smooth or as textured as you require on the outside. On the other hand, applying a coat of cement to internal walls is known as plastering. But why should you render your home? 

Render To Improve The Appearance Of Your Home

First impressions make a huge difference. Moreover, rendering can make a home look more appealing and modern. It can enhance the curb appeal of your home and add a sense of luxury. 

Furthermore, if you are considering selling your home in the future, render will attract potential buyers. There is a wide range of colours, textures and finishes available for the render, meaning you can customise the style of your home. 

Poor brickwork or a mixture of masonry can be hidden with rendering. Moreover, render can tie in new additions of the home to the old structure – making newer extensions blend in. 

The home’s appearance can therefore be transformed to look more fresh and crisp. Rendering can prevent cracking of walls too and prevents the need for painting externally! 

Improve Thermal Performance

Rendering can act as an external insulation system if your home is draughty or if you can’t insulate internally. Hence, render can improve the thermal performance of your home’s solid walls and enhance energy efficiency. 

Moreover, rendering keeps your walls weather-resistant against the elements. It protects the walls against water ingress and prevents damp penetration. Furthermore, render can let your walls breathe. 

Summary

Rendering your home can be costly, but the benefits of doing so are worth it. It is durable and provides longevity as well as weatherproofing your property. It’s also fire resistant in some cases and improves the overall aesthetic of your home. 

The post Should I Render My Home? appeared first on Windows Manchester.

Many people opt to hire a painter and decorator to decorate for them. But doing it yourself can save you money and help you put your stamp on your home. 

If you’re a novice, then use this simple guide to help you get your hands dirty and successfully decorate your home. 

Planning Your Design

Before you get down to the nitty-gritty, you need a careful and thorough plan of how you want to decorate your home. 

You might have an idea of the colour scheme you are hoping to achieve. You might have pieces of furniture you are planning on incorporating. Create a mood board on paper or on your phone to plan out your décor. 

Colour Choices 

When you decide to decorate your home, picking the perfect colour can be difficult. The colour of your dreams might not be ideal for the room. You need to consider: 

• The size of your room
• The direction that your room faces
• The furniture you have or want
• The colour your thinking of

Each colour has different shades, which have underlying tones and hues. Are you hoping to achieve a cold space or a warm space? 

No room has just one colour. Furthermore, the paintwork usually incorporates the main colour of the room. But paintwork only contributes to 60% of the room. 

Around 30% of the room uses a secondary colour. Usually, this takes the form of a feature wall, flooring, ceilings, and so on. 

However, don’t mix the colours up too much when decorating your home. Instead, create a cohesive feel within the room, and more importantly, within the home. 

Choose three complementary colours and use them throughout the home to tie the rooms together. Furthermore, maintain consistency. 

Decorate Your Home With Furniture Choice And Placement

Pulling your furniture out from the wall can make a huge difference when you decorate your home. 

Many people think that pushing the furniture up to the wall creates more space within the room. However, this is not the case. 

Moreover, allowing your furniture to float and gravitate towards the centre of the room can help to group the pieces. Allow your furniture space to breathe. 

Decorate Your Home With Light Fittings

Light fittings are usually an afterthought when decorating your home. Make them more centre of attention. 

Using your light fitting as a statement piece can transform the design of your room. Many people would previously opt for chandelier style lights. Nowadays, there’s much more choice.

Moreover, try a dimmer switch in some rooms. Doing so will allow you to change the mood of a room at the touch of a button. 

Introduce Texture and Materials

If you’re looking to add dimension when you decorate your home, add some texture. Introduce a rug to the floor or add some scatter cushions to your sofa or bed.

Furthermore, shapes can also add interest to a room – so invest in a funky coffee table for something more eye-catching or a piece of wall art. 

When adding wall-art or mirrors, choose wisely. If you’re installing them on large, bare walls – they’ll drown in the space. Instead, go big. Add a collage of photos or art pieces to a wall, or invest in a large mirror that will fill most of the space. 

Floating shelves can also enhance a large room, as well as busy wallpaper. 

Summary

Centre each room around a few key pieces when you decorate your home. Furthermore, decorate your home by focusing on colours, materials and textures that tie together.

The post How To Decorate Your Home For Beginner’s appeared first on Windows Manchester.

They are easy to spot as they stick out of the front of a property and provide more space within the home. A bay window lets more light enter and provides panoramic views of the outside. 

Traditional bay windows consist of three windows that give a squared appearance to the window. These are most popular as they come in a wide range of styles and suit different types of decoration. 

On the other hand, bow windows are similar but longer and more arched. They usually consist of four or more glass panels.

Now you’ve identified whether your window is bay or bow, it’s time to decorate. 

Decor Options For Your Bay Window

Almost all homes have blinds, curtains or even both over their windows. When it comes to a bay, privacy is vital – as they have more panes and often a wider surface area for people to peep through. 

Roman or Venetian blinds are a popular choice for bay windows as they can pull down vertically to allow privacy. Moreover, they remove the need for curtains and allow ample light into the home. 

So now you’ve decorated your window, it’s time to put it to good use. 

Making The Most Of Your Bay Window

Bay windows are versatile and offer extra space within your home. 

Your bay window is the perfect size for a small home office. You can use the sill as your desk and set up your laptop and notepads there for a busy day working from home. Moreover, the natural light will keep you energised and focused all day. 

Furthermore, why not board underneath your sill and fit a window seat in your bay? Doing so will make your home look and feel super cosy. You can add cushions, books and blankets too, and relax in the window watching passers-by. 

Alternatively, you can add a table and chairs to the bay and start your day off by dining with a view! 

Summary

There are loads of ways to decorate and make use of your bay windows – you’ve just got to use your imagination and make the most of the added space. 

The post The Bay Window: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Windows Manchester.

People tend to focus on their blinds and curtains when it comes to decorating their windows. But the window sill often gets left out. Our handy guide will help you choose window sill decorations to modernise your home. 

Living Room Window Sill Decorations

The beauty of living rooms is that they sometimes benefit from having bay windows. Furthermore, this means that the windows and sills can be styled with both furniture and trinkets. 

Placing furniture within the bay can make the sills look decorated. Moreover, whether you have a bay window or not, you can place potted plants on the window sills to style the room. Cactus plants are ideal for brightening up a room. 

Alternatively, plants can be hung from curtain rails at different heights to really add to a room. 

If you’re not a fan of plants, why not style the sill with some books or magazines instead and use the sill like a table? 

Kitchen Window Sills

Much like the living room, kitchen window sills are ideal for plants. Especially herbs. 

Moreover, you could grow a small herb garden in your kitchen, or store crockery or spices instead.

Bedroom Window Sills

Similar to the living room, if your bedroom has a bay window – why not make it into a seat with some cushions? Moreover, this would be the perfect place for relaxing with a book. 

On the other hand, you could use the window sill to house candles or photo frames with your favourite memories. 

Bedroom window sills can also be used as a dressing table, storing your jewellery or mirror and make-up bits. 

Bathroom Window Sill Decorations

Bathrooms tend to be small. Thus, bathrooms tend to lack storage space. Where better to store your toothbrush and toothpaste or shampoo and conditioner than on your bathroom window sill? 

Add a few candles to make the ultimate relaxation zone.

The post Window Sill Decorations appeared first on Windows Manchester.