Improve Magazine Spring 2023

Spring 2023

IT’S TIME TO BRING YOUR DREAMS TO LIFE

5 STEPS to Choosing PVC Cladding

Max and George

Amazing Spaces, The Tool Club and some pretty cool conversions, including an ambulance makeover! We talk to TV celebrities Max McMurdo and George Clarke

Gardeners Theme Park and Perfect Wedding Venue – with Geoff and Nick Hamilton

Awnings – A Shading Product to Transform the Inside and Outside of Your Property

Add Real Value to Your Home – With Coloured Windows and Doors

BY DECEUNINCK

BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS

MAKE BEAUTIFUL HOMES

This prestigious collection of Award Winning Flush Sash Windows and Doors offer outstanding performance and beautiful looks, achieving the perfect balance between energy efficiency, security and design.

www.heritagewindowcollection.co.uk

Spring 2023

Contents

7 GARDEN ROOMS, PATIOS & HOME EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE

• Making the most of the garden all year round

• Five steps to choosing PVC cladding

• A theme park for gardeners

• Intelligent garden care - cable free

23 HERITAGE AND PERIOD PROPERTIES

• Picture perfect dream home

• Grade II listed renovation - a true labour of love

• The old Post Office - breathing new life into old buildings

31 EXTENDING AND RENOVATING YOUR HOME

• Barn conversion and extension

• Stunning aluminium front doors for instant kerb appeal

• Flooding your home with light

• Stargaze flat roof lights

• Adding colour to windows and doors

• Advanced steel framed windows

59 INTERIORS

• The Clean & Tidy Home Show - an unmissable event for homemakers

• Tap design for the kitchen and bathroom - energy efficient solutions

65 BLINDS, SHUTTERS AND AWNINGS

• 8-cluster premium pergola’s

• Holiday at home with Caribbean Blinds

• Awnings - a shading solution to transform the inside and outside of your property

74 CELEBRITY FEATURE

• Max McMurdo’s Amazing Spaces, Motors & More! Hate the thought of throwing things away purely because you don’t have the know-how or tools? Then help is at hand, in the form of TV’s top upcycling guru Max McMurdo, who has shared the spotlight with Banksy and recently starred as George Clarke’s sidekick, as the popular Channel 4 presenters collaborated to create a very personal caravan for gifted architect George to celebrate 10 years of ‘Amazing Spaces’.

Click

Welcome to the Spring Edition of Improve Magazine!

Spring is in the air and we’ve experienced some beautiful sunny weather of late. However, we always get fooled at this time of year and it’s often the case that we still need to keep putting the heating on now and again! With many of us concerned about energy costs, our thoughts move to spending more time outdoors, without the heating on! We have lots of ideas on how you can utilise your garden more this Spring and Summer, and indeed, all year round!

A great way to enjoy your outside space is with a garden room. Providing shelter from inclement weather while affording uninterrupted views of the garden, glass rooms are a popular way to extend a building’s interior into the garden without the requirement for planning permission.

Hate the thought of throwing things away purely because you don’t have the knowhow or tools? Then help is at hand, in the form of TV’s top upcycling guru Max McMurdo, who has shared the spotlight with Banksy and recently starred as George Clarke’s sidekick, as the popular Channel 4 presenters collaborated to create a very personal caravan for gifted architect George to celebrate 10 years of ‘Amazing Spaces’. You can read the full Celebrity Feature in this edition.

Enjoy this issue as always.

Christina

Christina Shaw

Editorial Director

Flood your home with light with The Aluspace Interior Screening Range from Mercury

To kick start your home renovation or new build project, contact the Mercury team today.

• Available in a range of styles, colours and sizes.

• Excellent thermal properties and energy efficiency.

• Range of width, glazing, hinge and furniture options.

• Designed to create light and airy internal environments.

• Provides an effective acoustic barrier.

• Can be configurated to suit any internal design theme.

• Manufactured and installed with sliding door and hinge door options

Aluminium is a strong, secure, beautiful material with a long lifespan – the perfect material for these types of products. You’ll have a wide range of colours to choose from too, so the frames can blend in or stand out depending on the look you want to achieve.

T: 01452 383 344

E: sales@mercuryglazing.co.uk

Garden Rooms, Patios & Home Exterior

Maintenance

Specialist website mycladding. com, run by major manufacturer Freefoam Building Products, takes you through five easy steps to incorporate PVC exterior wall cladding in to your home improvement or new build project. STIGA brings autonomous mowing to British gardens.

With the focus shifting to that of environmentally friendly ways of caring for our gardens and lawns, new innovation and design has come to the fore at STIGA.

Click here to go back to contents

The following section covers...

• Making the most of the garden year round

• Five steps to choosing PVC cladding

• A theme park for gardeners

• Intelligent garden carecable free

Making the most of the garden year round

WITH CRL GLASS ROOMS

Simple to construct, CRL Glass Rooms feature an intelligent modular design, with an aluminium structure that requires minimal supports, even over large areas. The innovative connectors give a high degree of flexibility with many variations possible, while optional extras including sliding doors, vertical blinds and ceiling blinds come together to create a unique space to be used all year.

Cheshire Bespoke Glass & Doors in Poynton recently used the CRL system to create a multi-use room and extension to their client’s existing kitchen area. With the customer keen to retain the open view aspect to the property, CRL Glass Rooms was the ideal solution, with Managing Director Anthony Richards commenting: “The product is well engineered and manufactured, with quality machined components resulting in a straightforward assembly and install by our team.”

The system’s modular design enables the Glass Room to be configured to suit any space, from simple rectangles to more complex L shape designs. The drainage is cleverly integrated into the post, with rainwater channelled through the gutter into the drain pipe. The front profile of the post can be easily removed using a clip system to allow easy access to the drain.

All rafters come with integrated channels for fitting lighting and attaching motorised awnings. Available in white, grey and anthracite, CRL Glass Rooms have a maximum projection length of 6m and can support spacing up to 6.8m without a third support.

The sleek, lightweight look of the aluminium, combined with the stability, robustness and longevity of the material make CRL Glass Rooms the perfect way to add an attractive outdoor room to any style of property.

For further information call 01706 863600, email crl@crlaurence.co.uk , or visit www.crlglassrooms.co.uk .

Providing shelter from inclement weather while affording uninterrupted views of the garden, CRL Glass Rooms are a popular way to extend a building’s interior into the garden without the requirement for planning permission.

STEP ONE: GET IDEAS AND INSPIRATION

Looking at what others have achieved is a great way of researching options for your cladding project. Websites and social media are the first stop for all of us. Instagram and Pinterest are fantastic sources of inspiration, create mood boards and virtual scrapbooks of ideas.

TOP TIP

It’s also worth checking out manufacturers websites, they often feature a gallery of product images and in many cases are only too happy to receive photos of their products to share with others.

Visit the Freefoam gallery: https://www.mycladding.com/gallery

The versatility of PVC wall cladding means it can be used on a huge variety of projects from a feature wall on part of an existing building, an exterior finish for a new extension or part of a lo ft conversion. Cladding is rapidly becoming one of the quickest and simplest ways to totally transform the look of your home.

STEP TWO: RESEARCH

YOUR MATERIAL OPTIONS

Modern manufacturing techniques mean that traditional building materials are constantly being refined and cladding is no exception. Exterior wood cladding has long been a traditional external covering for properties in the UK — particularly in coastal regions including Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex.

Timber creates an attractive and desirable finish, but many are put off by the time consuming and cost of ongoing maintenance required to ensure it remains weatherproof. PVC is the low maintenance and low lifetime cost option, and for many years has become a standard material for windows replacing old and tired wood frames. The same trend has now become common for cladding with PVC exterior wall cladding boards being used to replace wood boarding.

Available in a variety of finishes from smooth white to embossed wood effect or a ‘foiled’ woodgrain finish, PVC can mirror traditional weatherboard and shiplap designs. For many years white was the only option but now manufactures have developed cladding ranges in a wide variety of colours from traditional browns and cream to more contemporary greys and blues.

STEP THREE: TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

Many manufacturers now have sophisticated digital tools that superimpose products on to your home, such as flooring, paint, tiles, etc. Cladding is no different.

Try Freefoam’s clever cladding visualiser to see how cladding looks like on YOUR home.

TOP TIP

Visit company websites to order samples, you’ll be surprised at what you can get for free!

Get a high quality image all ready to add to your social media: https://www.mycladding.com/visualiser

STEP FOUR: ORDER A SAMPLE

Choosing home improvement products is not easy. Colours vary and styles differ so it’s essential to be able to see exactly what you are buying. The light and aspect of your property can affect the eventual look so it’s important to view anything new in the location where it will be fitted.

Luckily manufactures understand that consumers need help. Dulux revolutionised the marketing 30 years ago with tester pots, and similar offerings are now a standard part of the buying process.

TOP TIP

Visit company websites to order samples, you’ll be surprised at what you can get for free! Order a cladding sample: https://www.mycladding.com/cladding-sample-request

STEP FIVE: FIND A RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY LOCAL INSTALLER

One of the most crucial parts of any home improvement project is finding the right tradesperson. With horror stories in the media about rogue traders we’ve all become very aware of how important it is to choose a company who are reputable, trustworthy and knowledgeable. Again the web has revolutionised this process with sites such as Trust a Trader and Rated People acting as an online directory for local tradespeople, alongside ratings helping you to make an informed decision.

TOP TIP

Look out for manufacturers own Registered Installer schemes, independent companies who are familiar with the product range and aware of the latest developments, are able of offer expert help and advice and are skilled and experiences fitters.

a theme park for GARDENERS and the perfect wedding venue

Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland, on the edge of the East Midlands, has been enthralling garden fans since 1983, when Geoff Hamilton, the muchloved presenter of BBC Gardeners World, bought a Victorian farmhouse with over 5 acres of land. Barnsdale was Geoff’s ‘great experiment’ in peat-free and chemical-free growing, and so this continues today.

Photo credit: Steve Hamilton

Geoff’s legacy continues with his son, Nick, ensuring that the 38 gardens are kept to the stunning standard for which they are renowned, these include a Cottage Garden, Versailles Garden, Wildlife Garden, the Allotment and many more.

Often described as ‘a theme park for gardeners’, Barnsdale Gardens is open all year round (only closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing) and offers visitors the chance to enjoy delicious food and drinks at the Helenium Tea Room daily.

Private events can be held at the gardens too, there are not many places which are better suited as a venue for a wedding than Barnsdale, which excels in providing a magically romantic setting for that special day.

To celebrate the 40th Anniversary this year there will be a number of special ‘birthday’ events throughout the year, including a ‘Gardeners Question Forum’ at Barnsdale, with special guests, the launch of a special ‘Geoff Hamilton Afternoon Tea’ in the ‘Helenium Tearooms’, competitions and a display stand at BBC Gardeners World Live.

Photo credit: Steve Hamilton

Photo credit: Steve Hamilton

Photo credit: Steve Hamilton

The Rose ‘Geoff Hamilton’ will also be highlighted again this year for the 40th anniversary. This beautiful ‘English Rose’ has all the flower shape and scent of the old varieties and the disease resistance of the new. The delicate pink flowers are held on stiff stems over a long season. This variety is available in person from the Barnsdale Gardens Nursery or from their online plant shop.

Nick Hamilton has also recently released his book ‘The Right Genes’ a witty, happy and joyful excursion into the weird and wonderful journey of the Hamilton family. It shows how the lives of a father and son can follow the same pattern and ultimately mirror each other.

This beautifully written story of a boy growing up with his soon-to-be-famous dad has been entered for the McKitterick Prize. It tells the tale of growing up as the son of a visionary of sustainable gardening. Geoff was a firm believer and pioneer in organic gardening and Barnsdale Gardens was his ‘great experiment’ in peat-free and chemical-free growing. This ethos continues there today.

Geoff Hamilton

Photo credit: Steve Hamilton

Photo credit: Steve Hamilton

appeared on BBC2’s

The son of gardening legend Geoff Hamilton, Nick is a well-known horticultural expert in his own right. He trained at Writtle College before gaining experience at several wholesale nurseries prior to going into business with his dad at Barnsdale. They worked together for several years before Geoff’s untimely death. Subsequently, Nick took on Barnsdale Gardens and, in 1997, opened them to the public. They continue to inspire, educate and enthral the many gardeners and non-gardeners who visit each year.

Nick

Why Choose Alumina?

Sleek, stylish and cuttingedge, Alumina bi-fold doors are a contemporary home improvement option.

Alumina is a fully aluminium system featuring bi-folding, residential and French doors panning up to 2.5m high. The Alumina profile has been designed to offer A + standards of thermal efficiency . This means that they work to retain the heat within your home, allowing you to keep warm and comfortable during the winter months.

As well as being available in practically any colour imaginable , what makes Alumina unique is that it’s also available in a beautiful woodgrain or flat foiled finish , enabling you, the homeowner, to choose a style that perfectly matches the windows of your property, for a perfect match.

Intelligent garden care. Cable-free.

for a more intelligent mowing session

STIGA A 1500 | A 3000 | A 5000. Autonomous robot mowers. Guided by AGS technology

STIGA BRINGS AUTONOMOUS MOWING INNOVATION TO BRITISH GARDENS

With the focus shifting to that of environmentally friendly ways of caring for our gardens and lawns, new innovation and design has come to the fore at STIGA.

This year the team has brought cablefree and intelligent garden care to gardeners in the UK with their brandnew autonomous robot range. At the heart of these machines are the ease of use, benefits both to lawns and nature, and the energy efficiency of the design. With its new robots, STIGA aims to solve some of the most common problems of normal robot mowers, for example: loss of GPS signal, blocked radio signals, lawn damage due to over-mowing.

NO-CABLE

With no need to lay cable in your lawn, you can simply use the App to drive the robot mower around the perimeter of your lawn and any obstacles within it. You do it once and it remembers every detail. Because it is virtual, it is hassle free to adjust if the layout of the garden should change should you add a pond, bush, or garden furniture.

AGS RTK GPS USING CLOUD BASED 4G SIGNALS

These autonomous robots are the first to bring predictive AGS technology to gardens, ensuring organised and always smooth mowing, even on complex and challenging lawns. They are able to cover all zones of the lawn, avoiding over-mowing by passing several times in the same area, for an even and beautiful lawn every time. The patented STIGA Active Guidance System (AGS) enhances the GPS RTK signal reliability by using 4G to transmit the vital course correction data. This means the link between robot and base remains reliable, no matter what obstacles or distance lies between the base and robot. The system learns satellite blind spots throughout the garden at various times of the day, ensuring that the robot has an unbroken link to the infrastructure that allows it to navigate with the high accuracy required.

CARING FOR THE LAWN

By using accurate navigation, the robot can cover the lawn significantly more efficiently. This means less cutting time when compared to a random navigation robot. Less cutting time allows the plant time to heal between cutting schedules. This way the grass stays healthier.

CARING FOR NATURE

By designing high efficiency robots that are able to manage cutting session during daylight hours, STIGA have ensured that nocturnal animals such as hedgehogs can safely occupy the garden overnight.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Because the Stiga ePower systems are so efficient, this in turn offers a much more sustainable way of lawn and garden care. It goes without saying that the longer the battery time, the less charging time is needed. The unique ePower system ensures longer battery life and excellent energy-efficiency by running longer between charges, so the lawn is properly cared for in just two cutting cycles per day, although allowing maximum flexibility on sessions’ scheduling , with little chance of over-mowing. This also means more time for the grass to recover and stay healthy. By introducing systematic cutting: with multiple mowing patterns and direction settings, autonomous robot mowers can cultivate healthier, lusher lawns.

The new autonomous robots, A 1500, A 3000 and A 500, will be available from March 1st from authorised robot dealers and the STIGA website: www.stiga.com/uk

Heritage and Period Properties

The Residence Collection and Renovate Leeds help create a dream home for North East celebrity, Gaz Beadle. Our second case study - Grade II listed property owners choose Bereco, working alongside Channel 4’s Restoration Man programme to track the mill’s gradual transformation. In another renovation, new owners of the Old Post Office needed wooden windows and doors that would satisfy Historic England, but at the same time offer modern performance and complement the modern yet classic interior the family hoped to achieve from their new home.

Click here to go back to contents

The following section covers...

• Picture perfect dream home

• Grade II listed renovationa true labour of love

• The old Post Officebreathing new life

PICTURE PERFECT

The Residence Collection and Renovate Leeds help create dream home for North East celebrity, Gaz Beadle

Geordie Shore star, Gary Beadle (Gaz), started the renovation of his new family home with arguably the most important part – the windows. Situated in the idyllic suburbs of Yorkshire, Gaz’s luxury cottage home is blessed with scenic countryside views, though the view from the inside was a different story thanks to outdated windows that blocked out light.

The TV personality, who shares his home with wife Emma McVey and their two children, tasked Renovate Leeds to install a whopping 98 new windows, transforming the interior and exterior of their new home and maximising the potential of its stunning location.

Working closely with premium window and door designer, The Residence Collection and a local window and door manufacturer, HWL Windows, Renovate Leeds installed stunning bespoke windows designed by The Residence Collection throughout the property, bringing the couple’s vision to life. What was once a protruding window profile with dark brown frames and bars across the glass, are now stylish flush windows with a fresh grey exterior.

To ensure the perfect windows were chosen, Renovate Leeds, who’s customer response has been excellent in their 4 years of trading, helped the couple choose their dream windows with expert advice. Through samples and social media stalking, The Residence Collection were the front runners thanks to their impeccable design, quality and modern technology. Naturally, The Residence Collection’s R7 collection was the obvious choice, thanks to its beautifully flush finish both inside and out. The collection, which was chosen by Gaz for his home, adapts a modern aesthetic that is also versatile with superior acoustic and thermal properties. The windows consist of a traditional mechanical joint that provides the ultimate timber alternative aesthetic that doesn’t compromise on style.

The R7 collection is available in a variety of modern and tasteful colours to suit every homeowner’s style. Gaz opted for Eclectic Grey, a favourite amongst consumers, for his exterior. For the interior, a classic Chalk White was chosen, to suit the minimal and cosy interior of the home. The R7 collection is available in an array of shapes and sizes, from

bay windows to orangeries as well as arched windows and French doors – offering the family the necessary choices they needed for their home.

Although style and aesthetics were incredibly important when choosing the perfect windows, it was vital to consider other elements such as quality, longevity and performance. Luckily, The Residence Collection are well established leaders in the industry, known for their quality and high performance, which is why Renovate Leeds encouraged the family to consider them when making their decision. The Residence Collection R7 windows boast an energy rating of A++ that are double or triple glazed as standard, all with a maintenance-free finish. This means that not only has The Residence Collection windows created a seamless, stylish, and symmetrical finish throughout the whole property, but they insulate and protect the home too.

Gaz Beadle, the owner of 98 brand new windows from The Residence Collection commented: “I couldn’t be happier with my windows. When we moved into our home, the windows were outdated and blocked out a lot of light, so we knew they needed updating. Now, I can’t believe the difference and how open and airy our home feels. Not only that, but the windows have completely transformed the aesthetic to suit our modern family lifestyle. I couldn’t recommend The Residence Collection windows enough and Renovate Leeds did a fantastic job at installing them.”

Gary’s home has gone through a transformation in its own right. What was once a cottage with outdated and dark windows, is now a beautiful cottage with 98 fresh and stylish windows. Gary and his family are still transforming the interior of their home but the windows match the contemporary but simple aesthetic they are dreaming of while providing first class modern technology.

To find out more about The Residence Collection, including the R7 range that

www.residencecollection.co.uk

Gary chose for his home, please visit

a true labour of LOVE

THRUM MILL, NORTHUMBERLAND

The building was originally a working corn and water mill, used to make animal feed before its grinding days finally ended. The Hedley’s run holiday cottages and were looking to buy another property to transform into their new home. Margaret thought the mill was well out of their price range or capabilities but, before she knew it, Dave had made an appointment to view, and they subsequently found a way to buy it. Margaret had faith in her husband’s vision given she hadn’t seen the interior of the mill before they put the offer in.

The property is Grade II listed and there were 29 restrictions in total. Strict conservation requirements meant replacing the existing windows presented a huge challenge as the size of each opening could not be increased. Margaret was keen to ensure as much natural light entered the property as possible whilst framing the picturesque view of the river.

Bereco’s conservation-approved Flush Casement timber windows with a cottage bar design were the perfect choice. Slim frame sections maximise glazing areas whilst retaining the property's period aesthetics and complementing the Mills external façade. The noise of the river can be quite loud when in full flow and Restoration Man presenter, Architect George Clark, was fascinated by the effective soundproofing properties the bespoke wooden windows provide.

One of the last major conservation areas to be finished was the replacement of the mill wheel. The couple have had this remade with limited references to follow and is used as an energy-efficient method of powering the property!

For Margaret and Dave Hedley, the renovation of the Grade ll listed Thrum Mill in Rothbury, Northumberland was a true labour of love. The couple took on project management and completed much of the renovation work themselves, whilst working alongside Channel 4’s Restoration Man programme to track the mill’s gradual transformation. Tel: 01709 838188

new life into old BREATHING

THE OLD POST OFFICE

Situated in one of England’s most picturesque villages, this characterful Grade II listed former Post Office needed a major renovation. Working with listed buildings is far from a straightforward process; Historic England who govern all listed properties of historic interest around England are very particular about the approach of those seeking to breathe new life into old buildings.

The new owners of the Old Post Office needed wooden windows and doors that would satisfy Historic England, but at the same time offer modern performance and complement the modern yet classic interior the family hoped to achieve from their new home.

With detail and styling a key consideration, the Bereco Heritage Range with lambs tongue beading and putty line mouldings were chosen as a perfect match for the property.

Their Flush Casement windows were teamed with Flush French Doors and Classic Entrance Doors to complete this historic renovation. The windows and doors all feature 14mm SlimLine glazing units with slender 8mm internal spacer bars, perfect for imitating the aesthetic of traditional single glazing whilst keeping the home snug and warm reducing the families’ heating bills.

The attention to detail didn’t stop there, the beautiful Heritage timber casement windows were accessorized with 25mm horizontal lambs tongue bars, decorative butt hinges and traditional Monkey Tail handles in an antique black finish and came factory finished in an environmentally friendly water-based paint matched to Farrow & Ball Hardwick White.

To top it all off, all Bereco’s products are made from FSC®100% timber, so you know that they are sustainably sourced, and come with a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty for your peace of mind.

resurgence

Why Choose Resurgence?

Resurgence is the Flush Sash window for the 21st Century, with the charm of a traditional timber window and all the benefits of modern energy efficiency.

A fully mechanically jointed ‘timber alternative’ PVCu window which has successfully passed BSI security testing (PAS24 and Secured by Design)!

A + rated windows with a 10 year mechanical warranty on friction stays, window handles and Sentinel easy fit locking mechanism.

A stunning looking window that homeowners across the UK love, available in a range of classic or modern foiled colours

Extending and renovating your home

Grade II listed barn in North Yorkshire - an incredible transformation using Schüco aluminium systems to extend and modernise the property while paying homage to its agricultural heritage.

Also in this section, we bring you a guide to increasing natural light into your home.

Looking for a stunning new front door to add instant kerb appeal? You’ll love Haus!

Click here to go back to contents

The following section covers...

• Barn conversion and extension

• Stunning aluminium front doors for instant kerb appeal

• Flooding your home with light

• Stargaze flat roof lights

• Adding colour to windows and doors

• Advanced steel framed windows

Stunning Grade II listed barn conversion and extension

This Grade II listed barn in North Yorkshire has undergone an incredible transformation using Schüco aluminium systems to extend and modernise the property while paying homage to its agricultural heritage.

Photo credit: Jim Varney

Along with converting the existing red brick barn, the homeowners wanted to substantially increase the footprint of the property, flood their future home with natural light and make the most of the stunning views out over the North Yorkshire Dales.

Taking inspiration from agricultural architecture, architects Bramhall Blenkharn Leonard designed the extension to give the impression of small buildings and sheds often found dotted around farmland. The design incorporated large areas of aluminium-framed glazing throughout the home, with Schüco doors and windows chosen to deliver the architect’s vision.

A major challenge was constructing a very large sliding door system, creating a transparent link between the original

barn and new extension, which was designed to slide open through a structural opening in the kitchen-diner area. The mammoth system combined two Schüco sliding doors to achieve an overall size of 9.5m x 2.7m.

Director of Bramhall Blenkharn Leonard, Mark Bramhall, explained why the practice like to use Schüco products, commenting that Schüco offers “what we find to be the best engineered solutions on the market and its systems can handle big panels, like the ones needed for this project.”

The architect commissioned experienced Schüco fabricator Gresson to manufacture and install the feature door. Gresson Director, James Johnson, added: “Schüco systems enable us to create really large doors that would be difficult to realise with other system suppliers.

Photo credit: Jim Varney

“We use Schüco because of the quality of its products. Not only is the client getting a good outcome, but it means we don’t have any problems down the line.”

One of the homeowners is a keen triathlete and had an elongated training pool installed at the back of the home. The feature sliding door has a flush threshold to create a seamless connection to the garden, incorporating the pool into an indooroutdoor space when there is good weather.

A top priority for the homeowners was building a bright, light-filled home. Not only was this achieved in the kitchen-diner, but also in the added leisure area where three sets of Schüco side hung doors look out over the pool and fill the space with natural light.

Schüco aluminium windows feature throughout the home offering views of the picturesque countryside surroundings. Doors and windows from the Schüco HI (Highly Insulated) range were chosen to ensure the home remains warm, comfortable and energy efficient, ideal for the North Yorkshire climate.

The large expanses of glazing throughout the property give the barn a modern feel, filling the building with light. The glazing also lends the extension a lightweight appearance, ensuring it is a contemporary but respectful addition to the listed property. And it is all tied together by the large sliding doors providing a tasteful transition between the old and new.

Photo credit: Jim Varney

Educating the homeowner on ‘plastic’ windows

PVC-U is a highly recyclable building material with a Building Research Establishment Green Guide to Specification A and A+ rating for domestic and commercial application.

A new poll reveals almost half of UK homeowners would not purchase home improvement products containing plastics because of concerns about the impact plastic pollution is having on the planet.

Rob McGlennon

The findings of the independent survey conducted by leading pollster, YouGov found that 44% of total respondents flatly rejected the prospect of buying home improvements manufactured in ‘plastic’.

A further 27% were unsure and 29% said it would not dissuade them from buying them.

At the same time, of those surveyed, 69% said that windows in their homes were currently manufactured from PVC-U.

This compared to 23% for wood, 7% aluminium, 2% other, while 14% of respondents were unsure of material used in the manufacture of the windows installed in their properties.*

When asked if they knew what the abbreviation ‘PVC’ stood for, 54% admitted that they had no idea.

“The results highlight a challenge for the PVC-U window and door industry”, said Rob McGlennon, Managing Director, Deceuninck.

“As a starting point it’s clear that for a lot of UK homeowners, plastic-building products are being tarred with the same broad brush as bottles, bags and other single use plastics.

“The increased awareness about the impact single use plastics are having, is great. For our industry, the fact that this survey reveals that consumers aren’t drawing a line between them and low maintenance, long-life and fully

recyclable plastic building products, is a warning of things to come – unless we act now and start to communicate effectively with the homeowner.”

PVC-U is a highly recyclable building material with a Building Research Establishment Green Guide to Specification A and A+ rating for domestic and commercial application. This is founded on a recognised Reference Service Life of at least 35-years and that PVC-U can be recycled up to 10 times without impacting on performance.

Deceuninck has invested more than €15million in support of PVC-U recycling in one of the world’s most advanced recycling and compounding facilities.

This gives it the capability to reprocess up to 45,000 tonnes of post-consumer and post-manufacturing PVC-U per year – the equivalent of preventing 3million windows from going to landfill annually.

Use of recycled material also delivering a reduction in CO2 emissions of 90,000 tonnes compared to virgin feedstocks as well as a 90% energy saving.

The Deceuninck commissioned study also found that 63% of UK homeowners surveyed said that they would be more likely to purchase home improvements, which they saw as being more ‘sustainable’** while 38% of said that they would be prepared to pay more for them.

“As we’ve highlighted, the survey isn’t all stick – there’s a lot of carrot their too. People will choose products which they see as more sustainable over those that they don’t, and are prepared to pay more for them”, continued Rob.

To read the full white paper report covering the YouGov research on attitudes towards sustainable home improvement products, please call 01249 816969 , email deceuninck.ltd@deceuninck.com or visit www.deceuninck.co.uk

*Commissioned by Deceuninck, research was conducted online by YouGov between the 15th and 16th November 2021, using an online interview administered to the YouGov UK panel of 800,000+ individuals. A total of 2000 plus interviews were conducted amongst a sample of 18+ UK adults (including Norther Ireland), of which 1,351 were homeowners. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

As well as educating the homeowner about PVC-u windows and doors, and continuing to invest heavily in recycling, Deceuninck’s range of choice is one of the best the industry can offer. Further survey research undertaken by Deceuninck reveals some homeowner preferences.

FLUSH WINDOWS

Combining the style of traditional timber windows and doors with modern energy efficiency and security, the Heritage Flush Collection from Deceuninck is the perfect addition to both period and contemporary homes. What are the most important things to think about when buying new or replacement windows? Energy efficiency, cost and security are all essential elements, but for many homeowners, it is style and choice of colour that is now right at the top of their list.

A YouGov survey, commissioned by leading window and door company, Deceuninck UK, revealed that 75% of homeowners consider choice of colour when looking at new windows, preferring to pick from a palette of greys, creams, blacks and woodgrain effects, rather than stick to plain white.

And while the report highlighted that homeowners are now more likely to opt for a colour when specifying their new windows, it also illustrated an increasing desire for products that offered a more premium aesthetic.

Given the choice between a standard or a flush style PVC casement, 62% of those surveyed by YouGov, stated a preference for the latter.

Deceuninck’s award winning Heritage Flush window combines outstanding aesthetics, with class leading performance. Rated A++ for energy efficiency, it offers exceptional weather performance and is available with either double or triple glazing.

Featuring sleek, slimline frames, it can be specified with high quality, heritage

style hardware, authentic Georgian bar options and traditional timber style joints.

Highly engineered, it features multipoint locking as standard and is tested to meet the rigorous standards of PAS24 for enhanced security.

Deceuninck’s Flush Sash forms part of the company’s Heritage Flush Collection. This includes a matching flush patio door, which has been designed to perfectly compliment the style, security and performance of the flush window.

Both are also compatible with Deceuninck’s market leading range of colours, with 30+ standard options and a further 20 available on special order.

“Our Heritage Flush Collection is the end result of a considerable amount of R&D,” continues Rob. “That’s reflected in the quality and the attention to detail that has gone into both the Flush Window and the Flush Door.

“The fact that both can be suited with our full range of foiled finishes, makes them even more appealing,” he concludes. “From smooth Anthracite Grey for a contemporary, aluminium style finish, to Golden oak for a truly authentic timber effect, there’s a colour to suit any style and any age of property.”

easy on the eye HAUS ENTRANCE DOORS

The Ultimate Aluminium Entrance Door with Instant Kerb Appeal

AN INSPIRED CHOICE

Dutemänn Haus range is a highly insulated contemporary aluminium entrance door, made bespoke to your specification

With 24 styles, the Dutemänn Haus entrance door features a range of architectural pull handles made with marine grade stainless steel. Options include brushed steel, coloured handles or contrasting colour handles.

One of the best features of the Haus entrance door is the impressive size to meet the customer demand for wider and taller door sets.

LOCKED AND LOADED

Your Haus door is supplied security tested to PAS242016. The locking system is premium German engineered automatic multi-point locks, which is the preferred specification for Secured by Design. With options for electronic locking or smart-locking, you can upgrade to the latest technology, proximity devices, fingerprint readers, even retina technology with a Dutemänn Haus door.

TOUGHER THAN YOUR AVERAGE

Each Dutemänn Haus panel is a massive 44mm thick constructed from two pressed aluminium sheets on the outer faces reinforced with laminated wooden sheets all encasing the highly thermally efficient inner core.

The result is a highly stable, thermally efficient product which is unaffected by extreme weather conditions. Glazed panels are bonded into openings for security and held in place with an internal bezel.

PACKS A PUNCH

The Dutemänn Haus Door range provides exceptional thermal performance. All of our door systems are manufactured to exceed current U-value building regulations. Our panels are 44mm thick constructed of two pressed panels of aluminium with a highly insulated inner core, this construction gives us a panel U-value of just 0.71w/(m2k) for both glazed or solid panels.

When we combine our panel with our superior high insulation door system, the whole Dutemänn Haus Door is as low as 1.2w/(m2k).

The combination of a thermal barrier, multiple weather seals and high performing glass maximises heat retention increasing fuel efficiency and helping to minimise fuel bills.

WEATHER RESISTANCE

Your Haus door is designed for use in all European climates. All doors have been tested to, and have passed, the very latest testing criteria for both air and water resistance. Our frames have multiple rubber weather seals ensuring your home is safe, dry and warm, even during the harshest of weather conditions.

BE BOLD

Your Haus door can be finished in a choice of over 200 RAL colours, so you can really take an opportunity to show off your personality…. be bold, be vibrant.

BEST VALUE

We offer a top quality stylish product with high insulation values. Our doors will exceed your expectations in terms of mechanical and thermal performance. We therefore believe that Dutemänn Haus is the best value contemporary aluminium door available on the market.

DISABLED ACCESS

The standard weathered threshold used on the Haus Door system is part M compliant for disabled access providing the internal and external floor levels are constructed correctly (see recommended construction details).

INSPIRING SPACES WITH THE GLIDE-S - THE SCHUCO ASS70FD BIFOLD

Dutemänn Glide-S is the next generation of sliding doors, boasting industry leading thermal insulation, a smooth lift and glide mechanism and maximum glass area. With impressive maximum height and width options Dutemänn Glide challenges traditional preconceptions of sliding doors.

Glide-S easily meets the requirements of the 2022 building regulations, which aims to limit your carbon footprint.

Enhanced Energy Efficiency – i.e. thermal performance can be enhanced by your choice of glass. With Dutemänn Glide-S you can choose double or triple glazed units, up to 55mm thick should noise reduction be an important factor.

Dutemänn Glide-S with its 38mm sightline is the most technically advanced lift and slide door available in the UK. This extraordinary door can carry up to 400kgs per moving glass panel. So you, the home owner, can order a two panel door, that can exceed 6 Metres in width and lose just 38mm of glass.

Dutemänn Glide-S allows you to enjoy your full vista! Whilst ensuring superb protection from the worst of our English weather and securing your property to the latest standards. Unlike some ‘other’ slim systems, Glide-S is easily reglazed. If your glass is ever damaged, ‘you can simply change the pane not the frame’.

Supplied through its nationwide network of approved installers Dutemänn is renowned within the industry as the best trade supplier.

You can personalise your doors using a choice of hundreds of RAL colours, however Dutemänn have taken time to stock the top six colours used in the UK for Schuco Bifold and Haus doors and three stocked colours for our Glide-S.

Dutemanns website is available for you to view the full range, including the stunning Glide-S, the Schuco ASS70FD bifold and the high performance aluminium HAUS entrance door systems. You can now visit www.dutemann.co.uk to view the range in the comfort of your own home and be inspired by some really aspirational photography.

HAUS ENTRANCE DOORS

Instant Kerb Appeal

Aluminium high performance entrance door systems

44mm thick panels providing energy efficient thermal performance

Intense security locking system with dual security hinges

200 RAL colour finishes available

6 door configuration options

flood your home with light

Not only does a home flooded with natural light have the ability to make us feel more relaxed and improve our wellbeing, but it also transforms the internal décor of the home to make it more eye catching. And if you’re thinking of selling your home in the future, it’s been proved that light, bright houses are more appealing to potential buyers. So, if you are looking at ideas for a home remodel, or even a new build, here are some ideas that can help.

Here’s our guide to increasing natural light into your home.

INTRODUCE INTERNAL GLAZED PANELS

From internal glazing to internal screens doors, these aluminium broken plan room options are a masterclass in versatile modern living. They offer the perfect compromise creating divisions within your interior and providing each space with added privacy and an effective acoustic barrier. And due to their slim aluminium profiles, they help flood to flood a previous dark room with natural light.

THE BENEFITS OF ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS

Whether you choose aluminium bifold doors, aluminium sliding doors or internal screening, you’ll be making a great choice that should add value to your home. Aluminium is a strong, secure, beautiful material with a long lifespan – the perfect material for these types of products. You’ll have a wide range of colours to choose from too, so the frames can blend in or stand out depending on the look you want to achieve.

CREATING A GLAZED WALL

Sliding aluminium patio doors offer a sleek, understated door design that lets the glass take centre stage. By design, the slim, elegant frames of an aluminium sliding patio door create a truly contemporary finish that will enhance any home and because they can fit wider door apertures, they make a great design statement with an uninterrupted glass expanse.

They offer great design functionality as the doors have numerous configurations including a fixed pane option or a choice of all moving panes, giving you the perfect compromise between indoor-outdoor living. And you can choose how wide to open the sliding panels to control the airflow into your home too.

They are invaluable where space is tight because the panels slide back on each other, so they don’t take up excess space when open.

Their versatility makes them a popular choice on all property styles and can be used as an external door or internal door divider which can help to increase natural light into the home and tackle a darker room too.

NOT JUST FOR GROUND FLOOR

Aluminium sliding doors are not just for ground floor rooms. Consider adding an aluminium patio door to a bedroom extension and it will deliver a light flood vista to make the most of any views.

A SEAMLESS TRANSITION

If you’re looking to create a seamless transition from the home to the garden, then there is no doubt that aluminium bifold doors are the aspirational choice.

When closed, they give you a beautiful glazed wall with slim, elegant frames. When open, they seamlessly connect the inside and outside into one space for a sophisticated designer touch.

They are very flexible in terms of their configuration. For example, the panels can fold in or out and you can choose whether the main opening panel sits on the left, the right or in the middle.

When fully open, bifold doors have a seamless transition from the inside to the outside which makes them a popular choice in new build extensions and conservatories.

A SPECIALIST MANUFACTURER AND

When you choose Mercury Specialist Frames to manufacture and fit your aluminium products, you’ll be choosing a company with a reassuring reputation for quality at every level. We have been manufacturing and fitting cuttingedge windows and doors for over two decades so you can be sure you are working with the experts.

Addlite launches STARGAZE; flat glass rooflights

Leading suppliers of natural daylight

solutions, Addlite is pleased to announce the launch of Stargaze; flat glass roof light range, built to complement flat roof buildings.

Many building owners are seen verging towards investing in natural light solutions. Flat glass roof lights are proven to offer a wealth of benefits including improving energy efficiency levels as well as general health and well-being.

The Stargaze range consists of six products, including builders’ curb, manual, electric PVCu upstand, manual ventilation, and electric ventilation. All of which come with a 10-year warranty.

Stargaze flat glass roof lights are carefully designed to meet the needs of the installer and the building owner. This aesthetically pleasing and economical natural light system can add value to any building type from private to public architecture.

Director of Addlite Tom Davies comments, “The systems we have, are not limited by any means, in fact, we strongly believe in adding value to interior spaces. Choosing the right rooflight for a new build or home extension can make a significant difference to its overall look and feel. We are excited to announce the launch of Stargaze as we believe it to be a system that is well-suited for many structures.”

WHY CHOOSE A FLAT GLASS ROOFLIGHT

Flat glass roof lights are more economical, easier to install and allow natural light to enter directly into a room. Stargaze offers more choices in terms of opening options including manual and electric opening options and is considered a contemporary option due to its slim, clean lines and sleek frames.

If you are looking for a system that allows maximum light and is discreet from the outer building view, then a flat glass rooflight is the solution. The system comes as a single, clear inner laminated pane with clean unbroken bands, allowing extra light and a discreet view from outside. The maximum upstand level is 30cm which eliminates the obstruction of the upper-level building.

Stargaze is a high-quality flat glass rooflight and is available at highly competitive prices. The roof light comes in multiple operations, from fixed, manual, and electric openings, and is available in a wide variety of sizes. Unless a buyer wants a fixed system, all other operations come with a free winding pole.

Want to add real value to your home?

It is that time of year when we all start to look at ways to update, upgrade or improve our homes.

There are many home improvements that can add true value to a property, and colour is now one of the great ways that will bring huge profits and a fast return on investment.

If you are considering installing new windows and doors, then a hint of colour on the frames can reap thousands of £s, compared to having standard white frames fitted.

Many people across the UK are choosing alternative colours to add their own personal touch to their home…. a decision that is really paying off for them.

What is more if your windows have been Kolorsealed, it means that they have a 10 year guarantee and you can have virtually any coloured windows you want – from Farrow & Ball options to traditional RAL colours. So if you are looking to add more value to your home there is one new aspect to consider –Kolorsealed windows and doors.

HIGH PERFORMANCE, STYLISH AND SOPHISTICATED OPTIONS

As many homeowners recognise, security, noise insulation and energy efficiency are essential considerations when investing in home improvements. Now, colour is a fast growing trend. Whether it is a single front door, an extension project or a complete renovation, colour can now add tremendous value to a home.

At Kolorseal, we have been working alongside window and door fabricators for over 18 years, to help provide greater colour choice for homeowners.

As an award-winning, colour coating specialist, we provide not just the standard colour foils, but we offer one of the broadest choices on the market today, providing window and door options in the Farrow and Ball range, as well as RAL and many other colour chart alternatives.

THE PERSONAL TOUCH

Deborah concludes, “As an award winning company, our colour coating services have been recognised to provide many benefits, being weatherproof and low maintenance which eliminates the need to paint the windows and doors.”

The Kolorseal team can advise on the best colour options to suit your individual requirements and can put you in touch with the right manufacturer to help you create the perfect, colour match for your home.

We understand that you are looking to create your dream home and with a list of national manufacturers we can help you to make that possibility a reality. It is possible to really personalise your property with vibrant colours that will complement your home, such as greens, red or yellow. Alternatively if you prefer a more pastel appearance we have a wide variety of pastel colours in a variety of shades or tones that will match the overall aesthetic of your home.

COLOUR THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME

Deborah Hendry, Managing Director, Kolorseal Ltd comments, “We fully understand about making personal touches to a property – whether it is a terraced home, a detached one or even a listed home that has colour limitations due to building or planning restrictions.

“Colour coating windows and doors adds a style and sophistication that will add value and make the appearance of a property unique.

“Coloured windows and doors can greatly improve the kerb appeal of any sized house. By colour coating new windows and doors with a long-lasting alternative that is guaranteed for 10 years, will make your home much more attractive to potential buyers.”

Today’s coloured windows and doors need to maintain comfortable temperatures all year round and provide secure safety features that give you reassurance. This will help to reduce energy bills and noise insulation ….but imagine the appeal of your own personalised Kolorsealed touch!

“By colour coating new windows and doors with a longlasting alternative that is guaranteed for 10 years, will make your home much more attractive to potential buyers.”

IN THE KNOWLEDGE

Burglary is common in the UK – a new break-in occurs every 106 seconds –

With the colder, longer, darker nights, we especially start thinking about home security and keeping down our energy bills – a particularly important consideration during the current cost of living/energy crisis.

Crittall Windows, the pioneer of iconic steel frame window manufacture for almost 180 years, says its advanced steel framed window, HomelightPlus ticks all the boxes for making your home more secure and helping keep down costly energy bills.

“The ‘eyes of the home’, windows play their part in home security and potential energy savings,” says Russell

Ager, managing director of Crittall Windows. “Factors like security and energy savings are key factors when deciding which windows are best for your home. You can put your mind at rest and significantly save on costly energy bills by choosing high quality, well designed, stylish steel windows.

“Look to the innovation in window frame development. For example, our re-engineered HomelightPlus range of residential windows is the 21st Century enhanced version of the original Standard Metal window first made by our company during the 1920s.

“It brings new-look styling and window profiling, plus higher energy-savings, performance, and enhanced security.

“Whatever the type or size of your property, it’s an authentic ‘like for like’ steel window. Peace-of-mind is reassured through an improved, robust, security multi-point locking option tested to the Enhanced Security PAS 24 standard – so the window is especially secure. With higher energy-saving accreditations, the window is thermally improved to meet Part L of Building Regulations by achieving either a Window Energy Rating (WER) Band B or a U value as low as 1.0w/m2k.”

For additional energy efficiency, HomelightPlus windows include double weatherstripping, and feature larger, high performance, double glazing units which, coupled with minimal profile sizes, achieve excellent Window Energy Rating standards.

These features provide year-round comfort ensuring this bespoke modern steel window retains heat during cold winters, and controls heat in the summer, whilst also generally reducing noise levels.

Easy to replace, HomelightPlus windows replicate the original Homelight Standard Metal window with modular, multi-light construction and comes with fixed, top or side hung including projecting options.

While its even slimmer ‘timeless’ frame profiles and sight-lines, present a light delicate feel inside and out, creating a welcome sense of airiness and space.

that’s 34 burglaries per hour, 817 per day. There’s a one in 43 chance of your household being burgled.

Photo: Burgess Architecture

To maximise daylight, the window’s design incorporates larger areas of glass than any other window of a similar size.

Quality-made, galvanised steel windows like this will last over 60 years. They are competitively priced, economical to maintain long-term. While being Polyester powder coated ensures a consistent, even, coating, not requiring redecoration for 25-30 years.

The window is available through the nationwide network of Crittall Specialist Partners in a choice of styles (including true divided glazing bar options) and as part of the Crittall Contemporary Colour Collection in 46 colours, plus different colours can be specified for internal and external surfaces. The steel window frames can match –or contrast with – your interior décor.

DO IT IN STYLE

Mr Ager adds: “When choosing window frames for your home, carefully consider the style and material. They have a dramatic impact on the look – personality – of your home. Even affecting its value.

“It’s important that the windows chosen match its style, contemporary or traditional. Installed appropriately, quality steel windows can enhance a property.

“It’s not worth spoiling the look of a property for the sake of a cheap installation. Ensure you install the window brand it says it is – only the original, genuine, make. As a top brand in the marketplace and as the original steel window company, our steel windows, doors and screens are often imitated but never matched.”

Photo: Endymion House | 246 Photography

The Homeowners CHOICE

In today’s society there is a wealth of choice when it comes to new windows and doors. There is one thing for certain, whether you are extending your home or building from scratch, The Bi-Fold Network has a product range to meet your needs.

GET YOUR GARDEN SPRING AND SUMMER READY WITH BEAUTIFUL BI-FOLDING & PATIO DOORS

Bi-Folding doors are a contemporary update for any home due to the fact that they can extend the feeling of outdoor living and provide an uninterrupted view of the garden. It’s a great way to bring more light into your home!

Available in a range of opening configurations to suit any application, Visofold doors can be folded internally or externally and with the opening at the side (so the sashes all fold one way), at one end (to create a single entrance door) or in the middle (to give the option of a double door).

Visofold’s flexibility makes it the ideal choice for projects where large, uninterrupted openings are required, with the system providing maximum light and space to give unimpeded views. The highly-versatile, easy-to-operate system is the perfect option for even the largest project, capable of opening up an entire wall, yet presenting a contemporary, elegant glazed façade when closed.

Sliding doors also provide maximum light and afford the most unobstructed views of any system when closed and with a wide range of systems and options, you can select and tailor a door system to exactly meet your own specific requirements.

With a choice of frame sizes, sliding formats wether two, three or four pane systems, together with a choice of highquality hardware and a wide range of colour options, the slim lines of these elegant doors make them the perfect solution for any home.

ADDING KERB APPEAL – ADDING VALUE TO YOUR HOME

The handsome range of entrance doors, available from The Bifold Network, will impress your guests and keep out both the elements and unwelcome intruders. Alitherm doors are designed for use as open out or open in, single or double doors, internally or externally beaded with side-light and low threshold options.

Elegant, yet strong and durable Alitherm doors enhance the beauty of your home, keep in the warmth and let in more light because of the slim sightlines. Peace of mind is ensured by the enhanced security provided by a multi-point locking system.

CONTEMPORARY, MODERN OR TRADITIONAL PROPERTY? NEW WINDOWS IN A RANGE OF STYLES

Alitherm Heritage provides the ideal solution for heritage applications such as listed building renovations and large scale replica-refurbishment projects where planning constraints are to be considered.

The Alitherm Heritage window is designed to be built as a series of horizontal modules which can be stacked using horizontal couplers to form a multi-part window featuring a specially design drip bar between modules.

Bifold Network is one of the UK’s leading trade suppliers of Smarts aluminium bi-folding, patio, entrance doors and windows. The team at Bifold Network will help you from start to finish with your project, supplying products and fitting teams, throughout the UK.

If you would like further help please call our friendly staff on 0114 231 3133

Add value to your home with Cortizo Aluminium Sliding Patio Doors from Mercury

Aluminium is a strong, secure, beautiful material with a long lifespan – the perfect material for these types of products. You’ll have a wide range of colours to choose from too, so the frames can blend in or stand out depending on the look you want to achieve.

T: 01452 383 344

E: sales@mercuryglazing.co.uk

To kick start your home renovation or new build project, contact the

Mercury team today.

• Available in both single and dual colour options (different colour options for both exterior and interior sight lines).

• PAS24:2016 accredited (meeting current building regulation standards).

• Inline sliding door (wide glass panels, allowing for a better outside view and flooding light into your home).

• Superb contemporary styling.

• All projects catered for, refurbishment or new build.

• Panes up to 2500mm wide.

• Slim and secure interlock.

Interiors

On 7-8th October 2022, thousands of inquisitive homemakers from the UK and beyond gathered at ExCeL London for the brand new Clean & Tidy Home Show. This year’s date for the diary is 14th & 15th October. Mrs Hinch, Stacey Solomon, Charlotte Greedy and other celebrity names are among the show’s social following, having visited in 2022. More within this section, Paul Illingworth, Design Manager at Abode gives a rundown on the latest water filtration products, which are helping to serve real needs for the UK homeowner with a series of cost efficient, retrofit solutions that deliver on style and substance.

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The following section covers...

• The Clean and Tidy Home Show - an unmissable event for homemakers

• Tap design for the kitchen and bathroom - energy efficient solutions

Tidy Home Show

An unmissable event for homemakers & home brands

Your solution to a healthier, happier and more positive living space

On 7-8th October 2022, thousands of inquisitive homemakers from the UK and beyond gathered at ExCeL London for the brand new Clean & Tidy Home Show.

Although the next edition is not until October, the popularity of the show within the homemaking community continues to boom. More than 1000 visitors have already purchased their 2023 ticket.

Among the marketing team is a Shine Squad of 30 influencers, who have a collective following of 5 million+ on social media. Plans to significantly increase this number of ambassadors for 2023 are being finalised as the community continues to expand.

Mrs Hinch, Stacey Solomon, Charlotte Greedy and other celebrity names are among the show’s social following, having visited in 2022.

Numerous brands and retailers will each be bringing a range of samples, activations, competitions

and exclusive show offers for visitors. Among those returning for 2023 are the likes of Minky Homecare, The Pink Stuff, KonMari, The Label Lady and Fill, but many new businesses will be joining the show as firsttime exhibitors for 2023.

Returning to host the Main Stage is ITV presenter Georgina Burnett, aka The Home Genie, who will again cover topics from decluttering to goal-setting and sustainability to mental health.

Over on the Demo Stage, Richard Pearson of Filthy House SOS will be hosting face-to-face demonstrations from expert homemakers and upcyclers, including KonMari consultants.

New for 2023: a third stage will be added – The EXTRA Stage – due to popular demand and the enthusiastic

Consumer Cleaning, Decluttering & Organising Event

Saturday 14th October 2023 9am-5pm and Sunday 15th October 2023 9am-4pm

ExCeL London, Royal Albert Dock, 1 Western Gateweay, London, E16 1XL

For more information about Clean & Tidy Home Show, please email: penny@cleanandtidyhomeshow.com

www.cleanandtidyhomeshow.com

contribution of content and thought-leadership within the homemaking space.

Although the show is currently an annual event, demand for regional meet ups is shaping the trajectory of the Clean & Tidy Home Show. The community is active all year-round, as are the show and its exhibitors. Founder of independent start up Gleaming Gloss, attributes her best-ever day of sales to he Clean & Tidy Home Show, despite having not even exhibited yet. “The support is overwhelming from the show team and the Shine Squad,” she confirms.

Exhibitors can also say hello to Laura Mountford, aka LauraCleanaholic, as she returns to host Clean & Tidy TV, chatting to different home brands and enthusiasts throughout the day. Other media partners

including YourHomeStyle and The Know, who will also be inviting conversations whilst looking for the most interesting products and services.

Everyone who attends the show will receive a goody bag to conclude their visit, filled with free samples and memoirs of the event.

The Clean & Tidy Home Show are proud to be working with and/or supporting the following organisations:

• APDO Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers

• The British Institute of Cleaning Science

• The Hygiene Bank

• Hoarding UK

• Mind in Tower Hamlets and Newham

a fun

“Our first EVER show. What

experience. What a fun weekend. I couldn’t have smiled any more if I tried. Such a positive experience. I loved it.”

Jemma Solomon Founder, The Label Lady

Abode, answer call to

This month, Paul Illingworth, Design Manager at Abode gives a rundown on the latest water filtration products, which are helping to serve real needs for the UK homeowner with a series of cost efficient, retrofit solutions that deliver on style and substance.

Truly a tap for the ages, the new Naturalé 3 IN 1 Water Filter Tap is designed to deliver fresh, cold filtered water alongside your regular domestic hot and cold, to present a green tap solution for the modern kitchen with a big conscience and minimal impact to the environment and home energy use!

The beauty of the new and exclusive Naturalé 3 IN 1 tap is its ability to deliver fresh, filtered whenever you need it, so you can reduce your reliance on single use plastics without compromising on style. 100% contemporary by design, Naturalé features a conical tap body that naturally tapers to a narrow spout with soft, smooth angles in a series of durable, high-quality finishes. An ergonomic, teardrop-style single lever handle effortlessly controls the water with cold start valve integration, which helps to reduce the home’s energy wastage. The Naturalé also features a

5Lp/m flow limiter to help households considerably reduce water wastage each year without a drop in pressure!

A simple twist of the FSC®-certified Beechwood timber handle gives instant access to crystal clear, filtered water and is sourced from responsibly

managed forests, so you can enjoy the benefits of quality raw materials while becoming part of the solution to plastic pollution. Made of the finest components and precision engineered, you can be safe in the knowledge that the new Naturalé 3 IN 1 Water Filter Tap by Abode, delivers on style, performance, and quality as standard.

For those who want the benefits of fresh filtered water without purchasing a brand-new kitchen mixer, then through one small ‘Swich’, you can convert any tap, old or new to deliver fresh and filtered water whenever you need it. Our new Swich wood is the latest model to join the Swich Range, crafted entirely from FSC approved materials and expands upon our current range, providing a natural look and feel to the kitchen whilst giving you the ability to reduce your reliance on single use plastics.

Supporting the three R’s that currently define today’s eco-conscious home and lifestyle, Swich® Wood REDUCES single use plastic, REUSES sustainable materials and RECYCLES redundant high resin filters just like Naturalé, via the Filter Recycle Scheme unique to Abode.

Abode Swich Round Handle in Brushed Brass with Classic Filter

Abode Naturalé 3 IN 1 Water Filter Tap in Chrome

Whether it’s a focus on limiting energy consumption, saving water, reducing waste, or opting for eco-friendly materials and functions that help reduce a home’s carbon footprint, the pressing issue of sustainability continues to change the narrative when it comes to qualitative tap design in the kitchen and bathroom.

Energy-efficient retrofit solutions by

make the home more sustainable

The exclusive and patented Swich® Water Filter System works in conjunction with a normal kitchen mixer tap, providing immediate access to the domestic water supply and fresh filtered water via the Swich® filter cartridge. Simply turn the knob to divert the water from the domestic supply to fresh filtered cold water, which is free from chemicals and offers a better overall taste, appearance, and quality of drinking water.

Now, we know that tackling the ever-growing environmental crisis can seem like a daunting task, but we believe that lots of small actions can allow for big changes. By choosing the Abode Swich, you can help be part of the solution to the plastic pollution as one of our Swich filters can provide you with the equivalent of 2920 1L single use plastic bottles, not only will you be doing your bit for the planet, but you’ll also save money.

Abode offer two filter options for Swich® that feature activated carbon to improve the taste and reduce impurities

– (1) Classic Filter with a maximum flow rate of 2-3 litres per minute, which is ideal for soft to moderate water types, and (2) High Resin Filter with Ion exchange water treatment system, which is best suited to hard water areas and also part of the Filter Recycle Scheme.

Abode Swich Round Handle in Matt Black with High Resin Filter

Why Choose Alumina?

Sleek, stylish and cuttingedge, Alumina bi-fold doors are a contemporary home improvement option.

Alumina is a fully aluminium system featuring bi-folding, residential and French doors panning up to 2.5m high. The Alumina profile has been designed to offer A + standards of thermal efficiency . This means that they work to retain the heat within your home, allowing you to keep warm and comfortable during the winter months.

As well as being available in practically any colour imaginable , what makes Alumina unique is that it’s also available in a beautiful woodgrain or flat foiled finish , enabling you, the homeowner, to choose a style that perfectly matches the windows of your property, for a perfect match.

Blinds, shutters and awnings

Do you have an outside area which gets just too much sun to be comfortable? Perhaps you have patio doors, French windows or large glazing which let too much light and heat into your home? Installing an awning could cure your problems and set you on the path to getting the most from the inside and outside of your property. The British Blind Shutter Association (BBSA) assesses the different types of these versatile systems.

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The following section covers...

• 8-Cluster premium pergola’s

• Holiday at Home with Caribbean Blinds

• Awnings - a shading solution to transform the inside and outside of your property

Caribbean Blinds installs

8-CLUSTER PREMIUM PERGOLA to complement renowned London members’ club

If the global pandemic and multiple lockdowns taught us anything, it’s the importance and value of outdoor spaces. All hospitality and commercial establishments had to reconsider the use and functionality of their outdoor areas, and for many, this is still a priority.

Having seen the demand for their range of high-quality weatherproof awnings, external blinds and pergolas rise by 161% during the pandemic, Caribbean Blinds is leading the market as it continues on its mission to turn open spaces into year-round revenue creators.

In June 2022, Caribbean Blinds installed 8 of its original louvered roof pergola canopies – the Outdoor Living Pod™ – at a collaborative members’ club in Covent Garden, London.

THE CLIENT

Having previously installed the Outdoor Living Pod™ at their Mayfair location in 2018, The Conduit wanted to replicate this design at their new club – on a much larger scale. The flexible shade and shelter provided by the Outdoor Living Pod™ would allow the terrace to be used all year round, offering an important revenue stream for the business, along with a unique dining experience for their discerning members.

THE BRIEF

The client wished to cover two thirds of the 300sq/m roof terrace with pergolas, leaving the remaining third completely open. The ‘Prestige’ model of the Outdoor Living Pod™ was chosen due to its rotating louvered roof that fully retracts and is completely watertight when closed.

THE FINISHED RESULT

The perimeter edges of all 8 Outdoor Living Pods™ were equipped with screens to offer protection from the elements, whilst additional ‘doorways’ between certain modules would allow for different areas to be zoned off. Each module was installed with infra-red heating and festoon lighting to create a cosy and pleasant environment all year round.

Stuart Dantzic, Managing Director at Caribbean Blinds, explained: “Throughout this entire project, we worked closely with the architect, designer, contractor and end client at every stage to ensure a seamless process and journey, with the help of a dedicated co-ordinator who oversaw the entire project to ensure it ran smoothly, on time and on budget. Manufacture from order sign-off was 12 weeks, with installation taking two weeks for our trained teams to complete – all in time for a VIP client 4th July party.”

Anthony Pollak, Facilities Director at The Conduit, added: “The Outdoor Living Pods™ have enabled us to use our roof terrace all year round. When the weather is good, we can open up the space effortlessly and, in the winter, when the roof is closed, the sides are down and the heaters are on, it gives us some much needed outside space. From the initial design meeting to the installation, the Caribbean Blinds team were pleasant and professional

they made the whole experience very smooth and straightforward.”

THE OUTDOOR LIVING POD™ EXPLAINED…

Ingeniously designed for those who want to live life outdoors, the innovative rotating louvered roof offers an open-air alfresco feel when left fully open, and ensures a completely water, wind and snow-tight roof when closed. Optional windproof screens, ambient LED perimeter lighting and instant infrared heaters mean a cosy and pleasant environment can be achieved all year round. Built for durability and longevity, the low-maintenance Pod is constructed from super strong, corrosion resistant, powder coated aluminium and adapts to any outdoor lounging or dining space.

Holiday at Home

PLACE TO CHILL | A PLACE TO GRILL | A PLACE TO ENTERTAIN

Whatever you choose, the Outdoor Living Pod™ has you covered come sun, wind, rain or even snow. Award-winning pergolas, for discerning homeowners and businesses. Bespoke manufactured in Suffolk in less than 2 weeks.

a shading product to transform the inside and outside of your property

Do you have an outside area which gets just too much sun to be comfortable? Perhaps you have patio doors, French windows or large glazing which let too much light and heat into your home?

Photo credit: Markilux

Installing an awning could cure your problems and set you on the path to getting the most from the inside and outside of your property.

The British Blind Shutter Association (BBSA) assesses the different types of these versatile systems.

FOLDING-ARM AWNINGS

Fixed to the side of the home, the fabric is extended using a motor or manually, and kept tensioned by a spring or gas piston arms.

If you opt for the motorised version, make sure you ask your local BBSA member about sun sensors which will automatically extend the awning to protect your home from overheating, and vibration sensors which retract it when the wind becomes too strong, protecting it from damage.

When fully closed they take up a small amount of space and a cassette can fully conceal the arms and fabric.

TERRACE AWNINGS

A more permanent structure than their folding-arm counterparts, the frames of these awnings can withstand wet and windy weather conditions.

The fabric can be retracted or extended, while side screens can also be incorporated to provide further protection from the elements.

FREE-STANDING AWNINGS

Standing independently from other buildings, this style of awning provides shelter while lighting and heating options can be added to enhance the enjoyment of your outside space.

For some free-standing awnings no operation is required, but other models allow the user to retract the cover – or covers –to allow natural light to flood the space via motorisation.

DROP-ARM AWNINGS

Perfect for when there is not enough room above your glazing for a folding-arm awning, the front profile is fixed to side arms which are lowered from a pivot point.

They are typically operated with a winding handle linked to a gearbox, or via an electric motor. A spring mechanism or gas piston device draws the arm up, tensions the fabric and provides resistance to wind buffeting.

Awning fabrics are available in an extensive range of designs and most are resistant to UV, water, mould and dirt. Ask your local BBSA member for more information.

External shading is more effective at keeping buildings cool than internal shading in most circumstances. For more information on how blinds, shutters and awnings can help buildings remain cool in the summer and warm in the winter visit www.bbsa.org.uk/blinds-make-better or contact your local BBSA member.

Photo credit: Caribbean Blinds

Photo credit: Markilux

Max McMurdo’s Amazing Spaces, Motors & More!

Hate

the thought of throwing things away purely because you don’t have the know-how or tools? Then help is at hand, in the form of TV’s top upcycling guru Max McMurdo, who has shared the spotlight with Banksy and recently starred as George Clarke’s sidekick, as the popular Channel 4 presenters collaborated to create a very personal caravan for gifted architect George to celebrate 10 years of ‘Amazing Spaces’.

Celebrity Journalist Angela Sara West chats with Max about his magical makes and the TV pair’s ambitious caravan construction journey, while George tells Angela about a decade of “brilliant and often bonkers builds” by small-space pioneers.

If you’re looking for some small-space project inspo, you’ve come to the right place with this issue of Improve!

Aficionados of ‘Amazing Spaces’ have been glued to globally-renowned architect George Clarke’s latest design activities on their TV sets every Monday throughout January and February, enjoying the latest brave’n’brilliant (and sometime bizarre!) builds to blow us all away.

From a ‘floating’ glass-fronted ecolodge, upcycled vintage bus and train-turned-school library by a trulytalented teacher, to a two-storey tepeewith-a-twist and an old horse-drawn caravan transformed into an extending, accessible space. Not forgetting the shepherds’ huts created from scratch

by a teen mastercraftsman and half a plane converted into the ultimate crashpad, complete with the ultimate 'boys’ toys', including a jet engine hottub…

The latest series showcased some SERIOUSLY amazing spaces from budding and pro self-builders, architects and designers alike.

A DECADE OF AMAZING SPACES

Imaginative builds and cutting-edge design take centre stage on this hugely popular Channel 4 design series, with caravan conversions frequently a firm favourite for those looking for their own static holiday home or mobile abode for those with itchy feet.

But this very special series has also been celebrating its 10th anniversary and has not only showcased more intrepid self-build heroes, but also followed one of George’s most personal builds ever with his good friend, British designer/engineer/entrepreneur and upcycling expert Max McMurdo, seeing the multi-talented duo also discovering a unique and clever way of choosing a picture-perfect colour scheme.

No stranger to ‘Amazing Spaces’, handy dandy Max starred in the very first episode of the show, documenting his incredible rescue, reclamation

and restoration project of a rusty old shipping container, which he geniously turned into his happy houseboat home. Although George achieved his original caravan overhaul in series 1 with another of his ‘Amazing Spaces’ sidekicks – his good friend and master craftsman Will Hardy, who helped him renovate a genius getaway of a multifunctional static caravan which brought the outside in using foldout walls - Max also played a huge part in the first ever episode of the show, meaning the 10-year anniversary marked a poignant commemoration for him, too.

And as the series launched its 11th series, 10 years on, we saw George engage Max’s unrivalled renovation services to replace his perishing old caravan with a brand-new Arts and Crafts-inspired holiday home, handcrafted and built from scratch, culminating in one never-seen-before utterly amazing space!

Max upcyles ambulances, among other ambitious projects, for his other innovative company, OUTLANDISH

AT HOME WITH MAX AFLOAT

The six-month build of his houseboat, moored in Bedford marina, saw Max swap bricks’n’mortar for life on the water. Having sold his house, he ploughed the £50k profit into his inspirational floating abode, filling it with stylish fixtures’n’fittings made from upcycled materials. Having set his sights on uncharted waters to live mortgage free, the eco designer’s crafty skills, coupled with his incredible imagination, saw Max conceptualise and construct an enviable built-from-scratch houseboat bursting with nifty space-saving wonders and inspiring gadgets a-go-go, resulting in an astonishing eco treasure trove of an abode afloat.

“Sustainability isn’t just about upcycling, it’s also about reducing the items we need and consume,” he says. “I was determined to build a floating home that was affordable and sustainable and my entire home is entirely upcycled, from the actual container itself, to the scaffoldboard flooring, pallet-wood wall and copper pipework.”

Now boasting a bedroom, bathroom (with one tap which pivots to also serve the kitchen) and storage, the lounge comes with complete with a pop-up dining table made from a wash drum and unit made from an old suitcase, a gas canister-cleverly-turned stove/pizza oven, log burner and a much-coveted Eames chair, “Everything I need!” says uncompromising eco-master Max.

Everything’s controlled on a voice-activated app to ensure everything is switched off as much as possible. “I have an incredible infrared heated ceiling keeping me toasty while halving my heating bill, and the glass sliding doors harness the beautiful natural light which also creates heat.”

This simple solar gain concept is coupled with LED lighting throughout, while Max uses a hydroponic system outdoors.

“I love my natural surroundings, and a wall of bi-folding glass doors keeps me linked to nature. It’s my happy place!”

We’re all well aware that being eco-friendly is an important way of life and for many a mindset change. Upcycling is fun, educational and saves not only the planet but your pocket, too.

Max aims to go totally solar and live completely off-grid. “Technology is now advanced enough to make this possible and affordable,” he says.

FROM SPACESHIPS TO GEORGE CLARKE’S SIDEKICK!

A skilful mini Max started turning junk into treasure as a child, crafting washing up liquid bottles into spaceships. Growing up, his parents naturally led a non-wasteful lifestyle, so being frugal is in his DNA. “We grew our own veg, reused everything we could and tried to fix anything that broke. I guess my design style is to incorporate those core values with a stylish, contemporary twist.”

Having studied Product Design and Visualisation at uni, Max fulfilled his boyhood dream and became an automobile designer in Germany, kickstarting his career designing cars in Cologne, where he observed the country’s efficiency at reuse and recycling. This German inspiration intervened, seeing him so inspired by beautiful items of waste that he quit his job, purchased a VW camper van, and returned to the UK intent on creating a business utilising waste destined for landfill.

In 2002, Max started up his own company to design, engineer and manufacture bespoke creations from junk, transforming trash into treasure in the form of high-end furniture with the aim of proving that upcycled furniture, accessories and eco-friendly products from objects destined for landfill can be turned into contemporary, stylish and desirable objects.

ENTER THE DRAGONS’ DEN…

The recycling whizz set up his Reestore upcycling company, had several design awards under his upcycled belt and had featured in gallery exhibitions galore before he rose to smallscreen fame.

No stranger to our screens these days, Max’s first TV appearance saw him face the Dragons as he entered the BBC’s fiery ‘Dragons Den’, showcasing a few of his innovative products, including upcycled supermarket trolley chairs and a carrier bag recycling bin, in hand. Quickly snapped up by the BBC Two BAFTA-nominated show’s investors Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis following his perfect pitch, he coolly left ‘The Den’ £50k in backing better off. “I still keep in touch with their teams and families!”

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF AMAZING SPACES

2023 marks a huge milestone for ‘Amazing Spaces’, with 10 years of the nation’s small-space trailblazers showcasing their skilful labours of love. From incredible treetop hideaways, to stunning stargazing observatories, proving anything is possible, even the most eccentric ideas come to fruition on ‘Amazing Spaces’.

OUT WITH OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

Our nation’s obsession with homes and mini homes-awayfrom-home means we all need to build green in the current precarious climate, and with that in mind, George commissioned Max to max out on the eco credentials with this build.

And George’s journey from old to new saw the arty pair cook up an ambitious caravan build, with a “bonkers barrel ceiling” idea… The capable pair sure had their work cut out!

MAX X BANKSY: ‘SHOW ME THE MONET’!

The Bedford-based furniture designer was subsequently beckoned by worldfamous Sotheby’s auction house to produce some of his shopping trolley chairs for a collaboration with Banksy for an exhibition and auction, with both pieces of art provoking viewers to consider the environmental impact of our throwaway, capitalist culture. These days, he’s a highly influential, go-to TV presenter for product design and repurposing, personifying the whole craft recycling ethos and presenting it in a way that inspires even the most eco-resistant crafter. “I love that upcycling is accessible to everyone in some form, and is a positive, fun solution to our environmental issues,” he tells me.

CONSTRUCTING A CARAVAN FROM SCRATCH

But back to the drawing board and the brand-new series of ‘Amazing Spaces’ saw seasoned homes and architecture presenter, Max’s buddy George, unreservedly tearful as he recounted his fave family memories inside a much-loved family caravan he brought back to life 10 years ago.

The pioneering presenter renovated the original green 1979 "big tin can" caravan on a plot owned by the National Trust in the strikingly attractive Lake District for the very first series of the popular show.

Many a worn-out caravan has been modernised on the show, but George’s brand-new caravan would be built from scratch and one with a personal twist. Rather than simply hopping aboard the caravan conversion bandwagon, he’s been on a massive mission with Max to bring Arts and Crafts into his small-space holiday home. Above all, it was a ground-breaking build with family at its heart…

ARTS & CRAFTS APLENTY!

George took inspiration from one of his favourite design styles - the Arts and Crafts movement of the 19th century. “It captured EVERYTHING to do with the home,” George explains. “It was such a romantic, beautiful period of architecture, which rejected the Victorian manufacturing for the spirit of medieval craftsmanship.”

Developed in the late 1800s in the UK, this magical momentous movement was influenced by the Lake District art critic John Ruskin and much-loved world-renowned designer William Morris.

Following a downturn in public taste in the wake of the Industrial Revolution and its mass-produced banal decorative arts, before going global, the English aesthetic Arts and Craft movement of the second half of the 19th century saw reformer, poet and designer William Morris found a firm of interior decorators and manufacturers dedicated to recapturing the spirit, quality and style of medieval craftsmanship in 1861.

Max upcyles ambulances, among other ambitious projects, for his other innovative company, OUTLANDISH

STEPPING BACK IN TIME AT BLACKWELL

The new series of ‘Amazing Spaces’ saw design duo George and Max visit Blackwell House, a rare architectural gem in the heart of the Lake District which offers a perfectly preserved snapshot of the movement and early 20th-century living…

Designed by noted architect Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott and completed in 1901, this stunning Grade I-listed building is one of the UK’s finest examples of Arts and Crafts architecture, all topped off with remarkable views towards the rousing Coniston Fells.

Exploring the house and discovering the Arts and Crafts story, George showed Max and viewers an abundance of original features, furniture and objects by leading Arts and Crafts designers and studios.

Boasting cosy fireplace inglenooks and inviting window seats enjoying second-to-none views of the surrounding Lake District scenery, Blackwell retains original decorative features, including a rare hessian wall-hanging in the dining room, leaf-shaped door handles, curious window catches, spectacular plasterwork, stained-glass windows and intricately carved wooden panelling.

Following a guided tour by George of all the ornate features he was keen to capture in his caravan, the presenter tried to persuade Max that many elements of arts and crafts of early 20th-century living could work well in a caravan.

“They were fantastic ideas but bringing them all together to create a caravan was kind of stressing me out!” Max divulges. “There was all the electricity and plumbing and manoeuvring it - ecology, structural design and sustainability to think about, too.”

WORKING WITH THE STARS… SARAH, KIRSTIE & GOK

This sensational upcyler has had several other small-screen sidekicks. Max’s amazing talents have seen him on many a TV show…

A debt-free Max also aptly co-presented C4’s show ‘How To Live Mortgage Free’, influencing canny homeowners alongside architect Damion Burrows and property expert Sarah Beeny. Other credits include co-presenting C4’s hit show ‘Shed of the Year’, while a crafty Kirstie Allsopp soon snapped up natural presenter Max, too, whisking him away to more sustainable TV stardom on C4’s ‘Fill Your House For Free’. Dubbing him ‘The Furniture Hacker’ due to his amazing ability to make “something out of nothing,” Kirstie eventually handed over the repurposing reins to Gok Wan, seeing Max continue on the show with the gifted fashion guru’s team of upcycling experts, including Jay Blades and Nessa Doran O’Reilly, encouraging Britain’s families to embrace saving the pennies, and the planet, through easy upcycling.

Image credit: Command+i Magazine

Image credit: Command+i Magazine

CONDENSING ARTS & CRAFTS INTO A CARAVAN

Despite Max’s concerns that the style wouldn’t work inside a caravan, after a tour of the breathtakingly beautiful Blackwell House, George convinced him that it could.

“We had to turn all the conventional ideas about a ‘cheap, boring, temporary’ caravan on their head,” George explains. “I knew we could transform it into something beautiful... Space-saving built-in furniture, fitting tightly into the corners, decorative detailing, fabrics and textures… And, excitingly, wonderful coloured stainedglass, leaded windows... all of the things that I love.”

From imagination to reality, the TV sidekicks sure had their work cut out with this crafty caravan creation!

OUT WITH THE OLD, TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW

The first step of the project involved clearing the 43-year-old moss-riddled caravan from the site to make way for the new one. And before the battered old build was taken away, George took a moment of reflection inside, sitting on his old hidden-bath-containing bench seat.

The build that began all ‘Amazing Spaces’ builds a decade ago in the Lake District was now a damp-ridden knackered caravan destined for the scrapyard, after being transformed into an “all-singing, all-dancing” one-of-akind holiday home for him and his kids. But 10 years of exposure to the brutal elements had taken their toll and, at over 40 years-old, George’s caravan was now well and truly ready to be recycled and used elsewhere.

“It was a really, really sad day when she was removed…” said a tearful George on camera. “Saying goodbye was way more painful than I imagined. I’ve had so many amazing times and have happy memories of me and the kids in that space. My kids kinda grew up in that caravan… and it created the best memories. But unfortunately, she had to go…”

MAKING YOUR MARK

Whether you’re designing a caravan, garden room or something else, Max and his pal George portrayed a novel way of visualising your build...

Marking out the max space of 11 metres (30 ft long, 9-foot wide) under caravan rules, we watched in awe as the creative duo worked out where the windows would go to make the most of the incredible views.

Plotting out the blueprint by spray painting the outlines of the caravan and its rooms directly onsite, designing it from the inside out on the ground it would stand on, saw Max running around marking things out with white paint and traffic cones.

Front door here, shower room there… once all spaces were drawn up, the design specialist sent up a drone to view it from above so they could check it out from the sky.

Both were now happy that this all-new handcrafted forever caravan would make the very most of the delightful Lake District views from the inside, while making minimal impact from the outside.

REESTORE HQ

The layout sorted, it was time to get to the tangible work at Max’s Bedfordshire-based studio, Reestore Towers, where he and his talented team transform everyday waste items into beautiful home accessories and functional pieces of furniture.

Designing and manufacturing upscale handcrafted furnishings for the home, office and retail sectors, upcycled makes range from roll-top baths transformed into sofas and desks produced from aeroplane wings, to bigger bespoke builds from buses, not forgetting shipping containers, of course! Max and his top team can seamlessly and effortlessly transform any small space.

BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS

While George was really fixated on the details of William Morrisesque Arts and Crafts, Max says realistically, the most important bit was the foundation. With a wood base and foil insulation board down, Max then layered the rest of the non-flammable insulation, making it as sustainable as it is cosy.

“The third and final layer of insulation was made from thousands of recycled plastic bottles,” Max explains. “It’s awesome! The location of the caravan sees a lot of extreme weather conditions, and this type of insulation keeps the heat in during the winter when it’s cold outside but also keeps it cool in the summer.”

“It’s going to be one of the warmest caravans in the world,” smiled George.

With a solid, insulated floor on top of a metal chassis, “That was the easy bit!” says Max. “One of the most exciting and nerve-wracking parts of this build was that George wanted to integrate Arts and Crafts and lots of intricately detailed heavy stuff into what is, typically, a lightweight portable caravan. William Morris didn’t make caravans for a very good reason!”

NAILING THE STRUCTURE

Having beavered away on the base, Max and his top team moved smoothly to make more magic happen…

After creating and erecting the first section of the metal framework on the sturdy base, both Max and George then got to work on adding the walls, using super-strong SIP panels (structurally insulated panels) which come pre-insulated, making them ultrasustainable and easy to install. The clever panels were also robust enough to withstand moving the completed caravan from Max’s workshop to onto its site.

Knocking it into shape, the biggest design challenge for the project was George’s innovative idea to create a dramatic barrel-vaulted ceiling inside the square-pitched roof – the most important part of the build.

At 3.6m high, the pitched roof in place allowed George to properly visualise his dream holiday home.

Having nailed it with the structure, would Max rise to the challenge of creating George’s unconventional idea of a cathedral-inspired barrel-vaulted ceiling?

“Conceptually, I thought it was utterly nuts!” reveals Max, to which George retorted on camera, “That’s why we should do it!”

“I really loved his vision, but the reality of turning that dream and idea into something tangible made out of wood was a big ask...” continues Max. “But I thought it would be worth a shot.”

AHEAD OF THE CURVE

After making a prototype of a mockup of part of the barrel-vaulted ceiling, gratefully approved by its commissioner - “It’s beautiful!” George exclaimed excitedly on first sight of the model arch, making Max’s day (and year!) – the creative genius got to work big time… on all whopping 36 feet of it!

To shape the wood, Max immersed himself in the mammoth task of making a curved frame, into which he clamped thin lengths of wood, before

gluing further layers on. “It’s called ‘lamination’,” George explains. “It was a painstaking process and the whole thing could have sprung apart as Max removed the clamps.”

And there were no fewer than 12 of the huge, time-consuming curves to create, with each taking around 24hrs to make.

“It was quite a stressful process… all because George loves a curve!” adds Max. “I didn’t tell George that I’d never done glue lam before. But it worked! I was really chuffed.”

DIVINE INSPIRATION –FROM CATHEDRAL TO CARAVAN

While Max was busy building the exterior shell, George went in search of some divine inspiration for the interior at one of the jewels of the northwest, Carlisle Cathedral.

Founded during the reign of King Henry 1st, the cathedral celebrates its 900th anniversary this year. The gigantic grand building built from beautiful red sandstone adorned with saints and gargoyles boasts an outstanding roof – pitched on the outside but arched on the inside. “Its heavenly barrel-vaulted ceiling was restored and repainted in 1856 by one of the forefathers of Arts and Crafts, architect Owen Jones,” George explains.

This awe-inspiring larger-than-life ceiling influenced his “very small, humble” caravan’s own. “There was some design method to my madness,” he explains. “I looked at that cathedral’s huge ceiling and thought, ‘How wonderful and magical and surprising would it be to have a simple caravan with a simple pitched roof structure on the outside, blending in brilliantly with the landscape, but you come inside and it’s a different world… with a BEAUTIFUL barrel-vaulted roof!’”

While George was singing its praises from the rooftop, Max creating a curved internal ceiling inside a solid pitched roof could be an engineering nightmare, seeing Max hit the roof!

“Elegantly built, it’s got to last the rest of my life…” insisted green-minded George.

To which Max braced himself for one of the most challenging builds of HIS life.

“So, is this your retirement caravan?” asked Max as they filmed. “Yeah, you’re building a George Clarke OAP caravan.”

CELEBRITY HOLIDAY HOMES IN THE SUN

This isn’t the first holiday home Max has made… he’s also made his green mark on hit show ‘Cash in the Spare Room’, helping people turn their disused spaces into money-making holiday lets and kitted out fellow TV presenter Julia Bradbury’s famous ‘£10,000 Holiday Home’ in Portugal, shown on ITV.

Who did she call to give her a hand? The upcycling genius who gives junk and cast-offs a completely new and fantastic lease of life by transforming them into exceptionally useful products, of course!

Sustainability was hugely important for eco-conscious Julia when renovating her Portuguese pad in the sun, so she called on maestro Max to give her rundown cottage a makeover. With designer/engineer Max’s innovative approach, Julia’s humble tumbledown cottage is now a chic, superbly functional holiday pied-àterre, and he ensured her revamp remained within the strict £10K budget.

Max upcyles ambulances, among other ambitious projects, for his other innovative company, OUTLANDISH

EXTERIOR & INTERIOR PANELLING

Back to Bedford and George’s brand-new caravan build, and the exterior sorted, wooden timber panelling was then installed on the inside to give the caravan an authentic Arts and Crafts look.

He and Max brainstormed unique techniques to build the “beautifully elegant and simple” space-saving built-in writing desk on George’s wishlist for the bedroom, ensuring it integrated completely into the custom-made caravan design.

It took no time at all for multi-award-winning Max to pull a blinder of a plan. The engineering expert extraordinaire came up with a genius engineering masterplan for a fullyintegrated, space-efficient desk, doubling up as a George’s required writing area under the window, resulting in a strong desk-style structure ingeniously hidden within the panelling. “The panelling itself forms the supports. It hinges out and the panelling becomes fold-out legs to support the desk. This was a case of the panelling initially posing a problem, but it actually became the solution!”

GETTING INTO THE GROOVE…

As for the built-in benches, “Getting the tiny details right is SO important,” said George on screen, to which Max retorted, “It’s ‘trial and error’, George, not science!”

Eventually decrypted, “I genuinely really, really love it,” said George, “Because that’s what it’s about – testing out wood details of the armrest edging until we cracked it.”

SLATING THE KITCHEN

To keep his caravan kitchen as Cumbrian as possible, George cooked up the cool idea of cutting a slice of slate from the landscape where his caravan is located.

Visiting his mate’s slate mine, the last working one in England, whose slate has served Buckingham Palace and St. Paul’s Cathedral, buried deep underground in the majestic hills of Honister, he cut out his bespoke kitchen worktop from a large chunk of ‘clog’, a five-tonne slab located in the 11 miles of subterranean tunnels, famous for their green slate caused by magnesium chloride.

BRINGING NATURE IN

On his quest to create a one-of-a-kind Arts-and-Craftsinspired caravan in the Lake District, George and Max included many of the movement’s major design elements, from wonderful wood panelling, to stained-glass windows, plus George’s personally patterned textile design to cover his coveted barrel-vaulted ceiling, creating a cosy feel to the caravan. George’s build was also influenced by his visit to reportedly the UK’s most authentic example of a Arts-andCrafts home, located in London’s Hammersmith, which was owned by Arts and Crafts’ greatest designer, William Morris’ good friend, typographer and antiquary Sir Emery Walker. Bursting at the seams with nature-influenced Morris prints, too, George was beyond inspired, taking away fabrics, wallpaper and pattern inspo aplenty.

Motif-wise for his hand-drawn Morris-inspired fabrics, George co-designed the perfect personal textile, figuratively and abstractly showcasing his love of tree canopies and butterflies in an indoor field of green.

“The secret to making it genuinely Arts and Crafts is all down to the details and bringing the fabric to life,” he says.

THE POWER OF PAINT: MAKING THE MOST OF MOTHER NATURE’S COLOURS

Inspired by its location, the caravan’s colour scheme was created by a very clever cutting-edge approach to nailing the exact colours that blend right in with your natural surroundings, with the inventors, Cameron Prentice, a photographer, and his multi-disciplinary designer/visual artist partner, Alex Longson, assisting George and Max to pinpoint the perfect colour palette for the caravan.

The crafty arty duo’s innovative ideas saw them enlist the services of Cameron & Alex’s hi-tech company, which identifies the ideal colour scheme, dreamed up by the pioneering pair.

“It’s like adding science to art!” says Max.

COMMAND+I CONISTON COLOURS

The creative colour pair together run Command+i Magazine, a unique title which explores our natural world through colour combos, drawing inspo from evocative portraits of locations and curating unique palettes that can be used by designers, from graphic and interior, to products and fashion, to inform their work.

Alongside showcasing the depth of the natural colourscape, command+i also adds a rich geological context to each location. Generating customised colour palettes, the ‘Travel Guide to Colour’ at commandplusi.com personalises colour schemes to stunning swatches pinpointing specific small pixels of colours and shades in the pictures of the natural environment, resulting in colours that are completely unique to a particular landscape, inspired by its exact natural colours and hues.

The beautiful bespoke ‘Golden Summer Greens of Coniston’ palette was carefully curated by Cameron & Alex with George Clarke’s Lake District caravan in mind, seeing George and Max capturing the colours of the area’s landscape on camera before enlisting the pioneering services of Cameron & Alex, so George could perfectly blend his new caravan in with the immediate surrounding Lake District landscape.

THE WILLY WAGON

The final episode saw the finishing touches applied with all hands on deck, including installing infrared panels to the unique curved ceiling and solar panels on the roof to keep the caravan cosy’n’toasty all-year-round, and lining the barrel-vaulted ceiling with bespoke arts-and-crafts-inspired fabric influenced by George’s love of nature.

Hammering out a name for the innovative new build that tells the caravan’s story, “Blood, Sweat and Tears...?” was an exhausted Max’s initial suggestion. “I’ve got it,” he then announced. “It’s influenced by William Morris, so let’s call it The Willy Wagon!’ This inspired name went by the wayside, although George had already come up with William Morrisinfluenced ideas, the design duo ultimately deciding it should be named after Morris’ Oxfordshire manor house home and the joys of living at one with nature. The state-of-the-art caravan was aptly christened ‘Kelmscott’.

“Willy or won’t he finish the wagon in time to meet the deadline for the haulage company to come and put it on the lorry and take it six hours north to the Lakes?” laughed George. But a man of his word, George’s long-time master of design partner Max duly finished the work on the dot, meaning the aesthetic dream had finally come to reality, and Kelmscott (AKA The Willy Wagon) was transported from Max’s Bedfordshire workshop to its final resting place dead on time.

Follow Max on Insta: @maxreestore

Outlandish: www.outlandishprojects.co.uk

Find out more at: www.maxmcmurdo.co.uk

A CUTTING-EDGE CARAVAN - THE BIG REVEAL

Now in situ, it was time for the big reveal and grand tour of George and Max’s completed masterpiece of an AWESOME amazing space, and the series’ finale revealed every last incredible detail…

On surveying the outside, “It’s absolutely AMAZING!” George exclaimed, before taking in the exquisite exterior. Built-in benches inspired by those George admired at Blackwell House beautifully crafted by Max with his cutting-edge tools… joinery perfection, teeming with tiny touches, and a simple but elegant style, giving it the edge.

Opposite the entrance in the middle, a compact eco-powered shower room, complete with a sink and toilet, lies adjacent to the small kitchenette, boasting unearthed Honistor slate tiles from the mine just a few miles up the road, where George also acquired the wonderful worktop he scrupulously cut

out from the local Cumbrian landscape where the caravan is located. “It was really important for me to use wonderful natural materials from my surroundings here and it’s absolutely stunning.”

Incorporating other Lake District textural products, such as brass (another Arts and Crafts material), George had also commissioned and helped design beautiful bespoke stained-glass window apertures celebrating the Arts and Crafts movement, showcasing four small classic, timeless and original geometric panels of seasonal change through stunning spring, summer, autumn and winter designs.

Elegant curves echoed throughout the inside, inspired by THAT barrel-vaulted ceiling, “It’s unbelievable, BEYOND amazing! Way better than I ever imagined. I’m lost for words...” a choked-up George declared. “Gorgeous touches... the ceiling’s PERFECT fabric design, the curved bench, the special individual panel the team created as a surprise for me to celebrate William Morris and Kelmscott,

A HEAVENLY ARTS & CRAFTS HAVEN

On their mission to build a brand-new caravan like you’ve never seen before and George’s unique forever home, these two didn’t just create it, they “smashed it”!

“That archway running all the way through the entire caravan, it doesn’t get much better than that, it’s beautiful”, said George. “Amazingly, the build that took me from the dizzy heights of a soaring cathedral, to the bowels of the earth pushed my and Max’s creativity and design skills to levels they’d never been to before as we strove to fit the very best of Arts and Crafts into my revolutionary, sustainable caravan, was eventually accomplished after eight months, tough design decisions and many endless days and sleepless nights...”

And George can’t thank Max enough for all his hard work in helping to bring his ambitious vision to life and making the seemingly “impossible, possible”. But we’ve done it. And it’s beautiful. It’s all been worth it. This build proves that with vision, passion and a huge amount of imagination, you CAN create your very own AMAZING SPACE!”

“A unique Arts and Crafts caravan in Cumbria. What a way to celebrate our 10th anniversary!” Max tells me.

Although the final seal of approval had to came from George’s kids - Georgie, Emeiio and Iona. “They think the new one is SO much better and cooler than the old one,” he says of his growing children’s verdicts. “And ten years on from finishing that first caravan, we can now look forward to many years of unforgettable holidays together in Kelmscott, making memories that will last us a lifetime.”

Although the kids, of course, might prefer to call it after Max’s moniker, ‘The WIlly Wagon!

with my initials engraved at the bottom... It’s illuminated by one of the absolutely stunning coloured-glass windows reflecting the changing of the seasons, which are just breathtaking... I hope William Morris would give it all a little nod of approval.”

The living area at the front facing the lake enjoys a beautiful bio-ethanol fire and built-in seating, which can be cleverly converted into full-size adult single beds at night - day beds for chilling and proper beds for the kids at night.

“One of the most important features for me was the unique arched window I’d been dreaming about. It’s beautiful. And what a view... Really, this caravan is ALL about that view, down to the lake and out to the mountains... I couldn’t imagine a more wonderful place to spend my days... It’s perfect.”

“The bedroom is OUTSTANDING!” he cried, as he took in his own perfectly panelled tranquil sleeping area with a Queen-sized bed. “Looking up at the arched fabric-lined ceiling, you feel like you’re sleeping under an oak tree canopy...”

What’s more, Max’s brilliant folding writing desk facing the soothing stream seen through the window at the back is SO cleverly and creatively hidden that George failed to spot it! Offering the presenter an impressive home office overlooking the woods, “What a stunning place to sit and work,” said George on its muchanticipated reveal by Max. “Just WOW!”

Watch ‘Amazing Spaces’ on All 4, Channel 4’s catch-up TV service: www.channel4.com/programmes/ george-clarkes-amazing-spaces

Read Angela’s interview with Julia Bradbury about Max’s amazing work on her Portuguese home in Channel 4’s ‘A Place in the Sun’ on the website here

Look out for Max’s new series, ‘Tool Club’, and his innovative TV show with Angela and pioneering TV Director Alfie McArthur,’The Real Street Diaries’.

© Angela Sara West 2023 Insta: @angela_sara_west

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