We chat exclusively with top TV property presenter Sarah Beeny, who shares her personal property ladder journey and top tips for sprucing up your home to add value.
Greener bathrooms for UK homeowners Smart Solutions for effortless gardening!
Since we launched our S1 Roof Lantern in 2021, it’s become hugely popular. It offers the perfect combination of refined architectural styling and sleek aesthetics, letting in an abundance of natural light without compromising on thermal efficiency.
It’s not often we get the chance to sit down with homeowners who have had not one but two of our award-winning S1 Roof Lanterns installed. But that’s precisely what we did when we spoke to a homeowner in Derby who has recently had a pair of lanterns installed.
Here’s what they had to say about their project, and why they’d recommend the S1…
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT?
We bought our 1930s house in Derby with ambitions to renovate it and transform our living space. After careful consideration, we knocked two rooms together downstairs, extended by adding a single-storey kitchen/ diner space, and renovated.
WHY DO YOU THINK ROOF LANTERNS ARE SO APPEALING FOR EXTENSIONS?
For a flat roof extension, roof lanterns are a great choice because they flood the space with natural light and the shape adds a sense of height and openness. If they're going to be visible from the outside you also want something that looks good and fits with the rest of your home, and for us lanterns were perfect.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE S1 ROOF LANTERN?
We wanted a slim aluminium design, but one that also offered good thermal efficiency to help save on heating bills! Since the roof lanterns are visible from the upperfloor windows, it was important to us that they had a sleek, streamlined appearance from the outside. The S1 ticked all these boxes.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR S1 INSTALLATION?
The slim white profile blends into the ceiling, allowing for an uninterrupted view of the sky. They also look great from the garden, adding to the overall aesthetic of our home. I'm also relieved that they're very good at keeping themselves clean!
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE CONFIGURATION?
We prioritised a design that maximised light and gave uninterrupted views of the sky, which we achieved with a simple 4-hip design on the S1. We opted for a white profile to integrate with the interior, ensuring the focus remains on the natural light and outdoor scenery.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TWO LANTERNS INSTEAD OF ONE LARGER INSTALLATION?
There were a few reasons, but we preferred the look of two lanterns as often having one large one can give the room more of an 'orangery' feel, which looks great but wasn't quite the direction we wanted to go in this case as we wanted the room to feel a bit more integrated with the rest of the house.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHER HOMEOWNERS CONSIDERING AN S1 ROOF LANTERN?
There are loads of options in terms of configuration, colour etc, so take the time to go through the images and literature on offer - they really helped us make an informed choice, and we couldn't be happier with the result!
Are you interested in adding an S1 Roof Lantern to your home? Get in touch with us today 01332 978 000 or email info@sheerline.com for more information.
Sarah Beeny Property GenieRocking Countryside Life!
Improve Magazine speaks exclusively with top TV property presenter Sarah Beeny, who shares her personal property ladder journey, top tips for sprucing up your home to add value, and spills how she’s swapped city party life for ‘simpler’ family life in the country, where she’s now podcasting and spinning songs and plates alongside properties!
Effortless Gardening and a Prize Giveaway!
Unveiling 2025: Smart solutions for effortless gardening! Say farewell to lawn care challenges! STIGA is transforming your garden maintenance experience with cutting-edge upgrades to its Autonomous Robot Mowers, designed to be smarter, faster, and incredibly user-friendly.
Prize Giveaway!! See pages 19.
Improve Magazine has teamed up with Webb Garden Power, to offer three lucky readers the chance to win one of these amazing prizes! That’s over £360 worth of prizes! To enter email: christina@improve-magazine. co.uk with your address and the answer to this question: Which of the following products would you like to win?
1 Webb Eco Cordless Rotary Lawnmower
2 Webb Eco Cordless Line Trimmer and Edger
3 Webb Eco Cordless Pruning Saw
You can also enter via Facebook, just visit our page: www.facebook.com/IMPmagazine/
Choosing the Right Door, Timber Windows & Doors, Heritage Styling, Replacement Windows
When consumers opt to purchase a new door they are thinking about three factors: energy saving costs, security and the kerb appeal of their home. New research conducted by premium window and door designer, The Residence Collection has unveiled what Brits’ front door colours are today and what trends are on the rise in the future.
As the weather warms up and the heating gets switched off, attention is going to turn to keeping our homes cool and comfortable. The right shading solutions can make a significant difference. Whether it’s regulating indoor temperatures, enhancing outdoor living spaces or controlling glare shading can help create an altogether more pleasant environment around your home this summer.
To receive future editions of your free magazine, direct to your inbox, please email: christina@improve-magazine.co.uk
Christina Lazenby Editorial Director
Greener Bathrooms, Wardrobe Trends and Alternative Flooring
Abode, award-winning designer and distributor of market leading kitchen sinks and taps, boiling water taps, bathroom taps and showering, plus newly extended bathroom solutions, breathe new life into the contemporary bathroom with the launch of CAVA, an eco-conscious range of basins that provide a greener alternative for UK homeowners.
Looking for particular products to help renovate or extend your home?
You’ll find all of these products in our Showcase section: skylights, roof lanterns, windows, doors, conservatories, orangeries, balustrades & balconies and gardening products.
As the days grow longer, we’re here to bring you lots of new ideas for refreshing your living space, enhancing your outdoor areas, and embracing the Spring season. From home decor to garden tips & tricks and
this issue is filled with everything you need to help you
Enquiries Christina Lazenby T: 01302 278756 E: christina@improve-magazine.co.uk www.improve-magazine.co.uk
Angela Sara West chats exclusively with top TV property presenter
Sarah Beeny, who shares her personal property ladder journey, top tips for sprucing up your home to add value, and spills how she’s swapped city party life for ‘simpler’ family life in the country, where she’s now podcasting and spinning songs and plates alongside properties!
Looking to improve to move? Or maybe you’d rather renovate, not relocate… Look no further than this go-to property guru for refurbs, restoration, styling tips, buying advice or even building from scratch.
If anyone knows how best to transform a home from drab to fab in no time at all it’s property specialist Sarah Beeny. Leaving no stone or brick unturned, she has been dishing out expert advice on the UK housing market, renovation
expertise, as well as windows, doors and floors inspo, storage solutions, easy revamps, energy-saving tips and more for decades.
Savvy Sarah’s business head is brimming with all the tricks of the trade, and with top tips’n’hacks aplenty in her trusty toolbox, this property passionate presenter is your woman with a plan when it comes to building, rethinking or completely redesigning your home.
With selling season upon us, March is prime time to improve to move, and the housing market’s gearing up for a huge spring surge thanks to recent mortgage rate changes. From how to give your home a facelift, to the benefits of new builds, Sarah shares her top tips for transforming an abode, whether it’s improving its look to make a great first impression, maximising its value and potential for a quick sale, or how to add the ‘wow’ factor, she smoothly guides people through property projects, pitfalls and more.
Best known for Channel 4’s ‘Property Ladder’, in which she offered professional experience and practical suggestions to budding property developers, numerous other small-screen shows later the much-loved property expert is back on the box.
As her latest TV series ‘Sarah Beeny’s New Life in the Country’ currently airs on Channel 4’s catch-up, I tell Sarah how great it is to see her on our screens again following her recent successful cancer treatment. How has the new series been received?
“Thanks so much! People have loved it, especially the tea dance!” the TV property presenter tells me. “The pig episode got a bit of backlash from a few people but made for lively debate on the reality of where meat comes from, which is what we were aiming for, so all good!”
From renovating her first flat to restoring stately homes, she’s spent her life in the property fast lane, but would you believe Sarah Beeny’s first home was actually a van?
“I was ‘the lady in the van’, but maybe more like a slightly annoying teenager in a van!” she reveals. “I’ve always liked the idea of being in an environment that I could control and felt safe in. So, I guess, that’s where the concept of ‘home’ comes in – it felt like a home.”
Van life fast turned into flipping homes with her brother and boyfriend at the time. “I was looking at properties for a long time and wanted to be self-employed, and once I got my head into the concept of dealing it really interested me. We couldn’t afford our first flat, so we all clubbed together and bought a one-and-a-half-bedroom flat with an outside loo in a not very good area. So, we needed to be creative with accountancy and a lot of luck and hard work.”
The property specialist soon moved on to purchase property after property, learning how to make a house a home. And with a career spanning multiple industries, the respected businesswoman, broadcaster and authority on all things property, environmental sustainability and business development has established herself as a household name.
Design dilemma? Makeover meltdown? With over 20 years’ experience, Sarah is one of the most familiar and trusted names in the world of property, offering advice aplenty to homeowners keen to showcase their properties at their finest to secure optimum selling price. And with home-selling season kicking off in March, now is the perfect time to get your abode looking its best before listing it on the market.
For those not on the move but looking to improve for a fresh new feel this spring, Sarah is the ultimate renovator, offering plenteous top tips for those in need of inspo. While seven out of ten Brits believe their homes are dysfunctional and the answer is to move, Sarah spills the solution is often right under your nose in her hit show ‘Renovate Don’t Relocate’, which uses smart tech and life-size floor plans to help families re-imagine and renovate their homes, rather than make the move.
As one of the nation’s favourite property experts, she’s fronted a plethora of other successful shows sharing her coveted expertise. “I LOVE my job!” she gushes.
Throughout her life, Sarah Beeny’s been obsessed with the idea of home. “As a child, I spent a lot of time creating little ‘homes’, or more dens, really, in corners of garden sheds,” she divulges to me. “I think the concept of creating a safe space for yourself is really guttural in a lot of people. Later, when I understood building more, it seemed the obvious career.”
From her childhood growing up in a countryside cottage to renovating her very first flat in London, right through to restoring a stately mansion in Yorkshire and building her new majestic ‘forever’ home in Somerset from scratch, she has never shied away from the hard work and graft required to turn a house – no matter how rundown – into a home.
She tells me she was still in her teens when she first set foot on the property ladder. “I bought my first flat in Battersea when I was 19 with my then boyfriend and my brother, Diccon.”
Hardcore Sarah set up her first property development and investment company aged just 24 with her brother and now husband Graham Swift. A few years later she was headhunted to present the hugely successful Channel 4 show ‘Property Ladder’, launching her TV career and seeing her go on to present plentiful other property shows, such as ‘Help! My House is Falling Down’, which saw handy Sarah rescue families suffering serious problems with their properties.
Laying the solid foundation for her extensive career in property both on and off our screens, she and her artist husband Graham have together founded a number of influential businesses, development and investment companies.
The popular presenter’s other TV credits include ’Little House, Big Plans’, seeing Sarah team up with awardwinning architect Damion Burrows to follow people converting their small living spaces into bigger places, while ‘Sarah Beeny’s Streets Ahead’ saw her assist communities in turning their roads into more desirable places to live. There’s also been the daring ‘Double Your House for Half the Money’, where the renowned property doyenne helped people achieve their property dreams without breaking the bank, while home sellers checked out their rival vendors’ properties for inspiration in ‘Sarah Beeny’s Selling Houses’.
Spirited Sarah ventured beyond property into the digital space in the noughties, launching groundbreaking dating website MySingleFriend, subsequently setting up Tepilo, one of the country’s first online estate agencies, revolutionising the way in which we sell our homes. She further cemented her status as an innovator in business with her hit TV show ‘Sarah Beeny’s How to Sell Your Home’, seeing her meet pioneering homeowners ditching traditional estate agents as they tried to sell their homes online to save cash.
With a wealth of experience in various fields, after succeeding in saving customers millions of pounds in fees, the innovative entrepreneur even set up her own event space and interiors line. Ten years ago, she joined forces with living solutions specialist Hafele UK, to launch the Sarah Beeny Home Collection, for which she designed a stunning range of fixtures for small-scale upcycling right up to large-scale renovations.
In 2012, her passion and commitment to architectural preservation took centre stage in riveting documentary series ‘Sarah Beeny’s Restoration Nightmare’, following the transformation of a Grade II* listed stately home, where we joined her and husband Graham’s action-packed journey taking rundown Rise Hall from a building at risk and turning it into an award-winning wedding venue.
With blood, sweat and tears plus a few epic fails, their attempts to save a near-derelict ginormous Georgian building and open it up as a luxury events venue saw Sarah, her husband and kids divide their time between London and Yorkshire while restoring and then running Rise Hall as a highly successful business, wedding and events establishment.
Rising to the challenge of restoring Rise Hall’s beautiful glass dome and more, we watched in awe as they returned their unique property to its former glory and beyond. “It’s absolutely beautiful and we turned it into a really successful venue!” she proudly tells me.
Never short of ideas and imagination, the aimable presenter showcases a sparkle of fun plus boundless enthusiasm to tackle new projects with Sarah’s signature wit and wisdom, no matter how challenging.
She’s shared her sticky stopcock solutions, exposed hidden nasties in woodwork causing ceiling collapses, and so much more. What enticed them to take on a property in such desperate straits and dire need of repair? “There’s a massive subject about listed buildings and buildings at risk, and that whole journey of protecting buildings that nobody wants is really interesting,” the dedicated fixer-upper explains. “You get a sort of financial problem when you’ve got a building where even if you did all the restoration, it’s still not worth the end amount, and it ends up being a building at risk.”
Location’s crucial when it comes to such structures. “If it’s in central London, you turn it into a hotel or whatever, but these buildings generally tend to be located in parts of the country that are difficult to get to, without good transport links etc.” she explains. “We were both really captivated by this journey of these problematic buildings that cost more to restore than their worth, have no purpose and have sort of negative equity before you even start. In our late 20s, we looked at lots and found them all fascinating, and someone dared us to never buy one. And that’s how we ended up with a 97-room stately home that was falling down!”
Boasting no fewer than 32 bedrooms alone, taking on this titanic task was no mean feat. Sarah and Graham
opened the doors of their unique home to a camera crew, with the ‘Restoration Nightmare’ TV show charting their painstaking yet phenomenally rewarding journey as the pair successfully turned a total wreck into a unique and beautiful business venture.
“Rise Hall was a mad and crazy thing to take on as it was a building at risk with no purpose. But it was many years of an amazing ride and so lovely to leave it in great shape. We bought it knowing that it wasn’t a financial plan – it was just like a kind of mad dream where we thought, ‘you only live once, so let’s do it!’ We had a property investment company and thought, ‘why not?’ so we did.”
When the kids came along, the couple decided to turn Rise Hall into a venue for other couples tying the knot. “So, we then started the proper restoration. Before that, we were largely just re-roofing it and had a lot of parties!”
Following the transformation of their exquisite stately home, with its countless trials and tribulations played out on our screens, the pair sold up in 2020. “With the boys growing up and businesses all over the country, it was time to say goodbye to Rise Hall now that it was up-andrunning, so we sold it to a lovely couple who are brilliant professional caterers and have taken it to the next level. It’s now a really elite wedding venue.”
She says their tireless renovation of Rise Hall was one of her most challenging but favourite projects. “Plus, completing the challenging restoration of the neglected property meant we were safeguarding an important piece of architectural heritage for future generations,” she smiles. “We have built and refurbished so many buildings over the years, and with each one you learn something you shouldn’t do again and take it forward, but you also learn from the things that went really well. Above all, I have learnt that there are no two buildings with the same planning situation, same construction, same foundations etc. so it’s a constant learning curve!”
After documenting the incredible renovation of their enormous Yorkshire mansion on TV, the family relocated to Somerset, where they took on the amazing new-build project being played out and shown on our screens today.
Swapping their shared life in central London and the north for a rural farm in the Bruton countryside to create the home of their dreams, the couple and their four young sons moved to a 220-acre semi-derelict dairy farm where they embarked on a grand build and land restoration, with a focus on bringing biodiversity back into farming.
With planning rules and guidance to work around, plus design requests from each family member to factor in, Graham drafted and redrafted really big plans to create
their all-new dream home, all chronicled in ‘Sarah Beeny’s New Life in the Country’, a popular series now in its fourth season, showcasing the TV stalwart and her family’s hands-on approach to rural living and sustainable building.
For her ultimate ‘passion project’, her most recent property adventure has seen the family build their “dream forever home” from scratch at the former farm. The latest TV series follows the family’s exploits as they continue their country adventure embracing rural life, from building the empty shell right through to capturing every minute interior creation detail.
“I hope everyone’s enjoyed watching it as much as we loved making it!” she says. “It was a challenging but exciting series to make because it has Graham and the kids in it. The tricky thing was the fact that it was filmed at home and is about my family, but that made the challenges and the good things almost tie together.”
Filming followed the family’s endeavours to tackle a different part of their grand country house at a time, resulting in a rollercoaster of a ride. “This huge venture was about diggers and mud and concrete for so long! This is what I call ‘making a home’.”
After finalising the build, the family turned their hands to personalising the interior, including creating a family portrait wall. The property loving pair and their children have painstakingly but successfully created an ‘aged’ look in a new build, with the boys learning new skills, such as tiling the bathroom and heating maintenance, along the way.
Complete with an indulgent staircase, having created an exciting eclectic mix of eccentric and extraordinary spaces and regal room gems, Graham and Sarah’s stunning reveals on our screens showcase clever use of MDF strips to create a panelled look around the windows, and artist Graham transferring his skills into stencil detailing, along with delightfully decorative plasterwork.
“For a wall space that needs breaking up, fake panelling can work really well,” home aficionado Sarah advises. “Use gripfill or similar to fix the MDF strips and panel pins for the dado, and you can really play around with style and layout, although I do think painting it all one colour gives the best results.”
Sarah says ceilings are the ‘fifth wall’ and, consequently, shouldn’t be ignored. “So many people forget their ceilings, or just paint them white, but you can actually do something really dramatic, such as a mural, which can come on wallpaper rolls you can just paste up, turning your ceiling into something that looks really cool, fabulous and fun.”
Not forgetting plenty of space to hide things away. “The key to a sane household is storage!” the inspirational property genie strongly advises.
Alfresco, as new owners of acres of farmland too, the blank canvas of tree-free fields also needed to be filled, so the family planted over 25,000 mixed British woodland trees and several miles of hedgerows within months of moving in.
Creating impressive new structures, housing animals and building their new country house and farm life over the past five years, as they work to build their new life in the country, they have also been creating outstanding outdoor spaces for the whole family to enjoy, making the most of the freedom the countryside offers.
The hardworking hands-on clan have built a boathouse and jetty on their expansive wild swimming pond – one of two they have dug – a top treehouse, rehomed endof-commercial life chickens, and keep quails, cats and dogs too, while their ‘mini houdini’ pair of piglets have given them the runaround on epic escape missions, all caught candidly on camera. They’ve had the joy of being beekeepers, too, while her sons’ recently discovered penchant for wildlife photography saw them build a deer hide.
The introduction of biodiversity at her rural idyll was important for Sarah. “I have learnt that Mother Nature is so much cleverer and more resilient than I had ever appreciated. Effectively, the more you leave things alone the more she repairs the damage that human beings have wrought.”
Growing their own, with a few tips from local gardening legend Charles Dowding, the family have taken to country life in a big way. “When we first moved here, it just had a monoculture, so we’ve planted nine different species of wild grassland planted together in one field, and they work symbiotically, helping each other to grow. It’s a better food source for sheep grazing or cattle food.”
They’ve also taken measures to help prevent flooding. “We’ve re-introduced hazel, rose and hawthorn
hedgerows, and planted oak, beech and birch trees and lots of other British woodland varieties here. It’s the ancient woodland of tomorrow!”
Along with harvesting honey from their bees, the construction connoisseur’s been busy growing apples and more. Transforming the large greenhouse into a stunning warm and welcoming space enjoyed all-year round, Sarah’s “favourite place to sit” is bursting with home-grown produce including various varieties of top tomatoes.
What’s more, after discovering some of the soil on the vast farm is suited to growing grapevines, the irrepressible pair planted a vineyard in an attempt to create their own ‘Chambeeny’ sparkling wine! Sarah now loves spending her time “pottering”. “This house is an absolute testament to the incredible skills of so many trades and hard-working suppliers. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard (overcoming more than a few obstacles!) to get us here. And thank you to viewers for watching the chaos!!”
Full of grandeur but affording her that longed-for simpler life, is Sarah’s fabulous new stately farm ‘manor house’ now her forever home? “Yes, it definitely is as far as I can imagine. On a sunny spring day, there is nowhere in the world more beautiful than here!”
A bestselling author too, the multi-skilled businesswoman has written regular columns for national newspapers and magazines, along with bountiful books and straighttalking DIY guides.
Her latest title, ‘The Simple Life: How I Found Home’, is an unmissable memoir on how she has achieved living more modestly and finding her forever home. An instant bestseller, it tells the open and honest story of Sarah’s extraordinary life through the homes she’s lived in, sharing tales and experiences in everything from property, parenting and friendships, to nature, the environment and her recent cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“I’m so lucky to have had the most amazing career where I’ve met many interesting people all over the country and learnt lots of things,” she explains. “So, I thought I’d write a book about those interesting things, but it ended up being a bit of an autobiography through my homes.”
‘Sarah Beeny’s New Country Lives’ show has also been on our screens recently, seeing her follow city folk across the West Country as they take on the challenge of setting
up rural businesses or tackling property developments. But from city living to hay making, that’s not all Sarah Beeny’s been up to...
Set in beautiful surroundings with landscaped views, allsinging, all-dancing Stokeford Studios is the culmination of Sarah’s creative vision of a community arts/music/TV/ film studio to support creative endeavours.
Her latest property project is a beautiful barn renovation with sustainability, creativity and community at its heart. Invigorating the local economy and creating jobs, her creative countryside redevelopment has transformed a rundown outbuilding into a multi-purpose space for art events and film production. “It was a massive barn, but the steel frame was in pretty good order, so we just reclad it in insulated steel sheet, and it all came together,” she explains. Having stripped it right back to its basic structure, the disused hay barn has been completely renovated to create a sensational space, with Sarah and Graham giving the dilapidated building a whole new lease of life. “Sometimes, I did worry that I’d bitten off more than I can chew,” she admits. “But you plough on to make it happen.”
As a guest on Sophie Ellis-Bextor ‘Spinning Plates’ podcast, entrepreneur Sarah talked top props and more with the pop star, and she’s teamed up with musicians and TV stars aplenty for her own popular podcasts.
“I’ve recorded ‘Round The Houses’ podcasts with Twiggy, Jo Wood, Joe Sugg and Lynn Bowles, to name a few famous faces,” she tells me. “I’ve been lucky to meet so many people in my career… childhood icons like Richard Branson, Joanna Lumley, Dawn French, Graham Norton, Terry Wogan and even the King, as I am an Ambassador for the King’s Foundation.”
Sarah’s fellow ambassadors comprise a few of my other interviewees, including ‘Great British Sewing Bee Judge’ Patrick Grant and national gardening treasure Alan Titchmarsh, whom I interviewed for the cover of Improve last year. “Not to mention Rod Stewart and David Beckham!” she adds.
“I find inspiration in so many people I meet and am equally inspired by people who are not well known.” Altruistic property authority Sarah is deeply committed to philanthropy and environmental advocacy and is also a Patron of Brain Tumour Research and Age UK, whilst actively supporting Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie and Breast Cancer Awareness.
With spring the most popular season to buy or sell a home, how can prospective sellers attain that top price? “Adding value is all about handing a property over to someone else with as little to do as possible,” Sarah exclusively shares with me. “That and good design and balance, i.e. having the right-sized garden for the number of rooms and the right number of bathrooms for bedrooms etc.”
She also strongly advises making sure the fabric of the building is sound. “A good roof, plumbing, electrics, then bathrooms and kitchen, as they’re the most complicated things for a new buyer to put in. When it comes to kerb appeal, if you have a garden, plant, plant and plant again. Put in small and let nature create a wonderful outside magical space that it is hard for money to buy.”
How can we easily add the ‘wow’ factor to our home? “Be brave… People often make the mistake of keeping too neutral for fear of getting it wrong and you just end up with ‘bland’. Have the courage of your conviction and confidence in strong colours and patterned wallpapers and you will end up with a house that feels like a home.”
Small spaces? Sarah says it’s worth investing more to make them fabulous. “In a small bathroom, you can go for a composite slab finish (squashed up, recycled stone and glass mixed with resin) which is affordable, light and hardwearing. Kitchen-wise, always start with the essentials – sink, fridge and cooker. Optional essentials include a dishwasher and washing machine, where you could consider a really clever space-saving design – a ‘drawer’ dishwasher which fits under the sink.”
As for buying, “Never view a house on a sunny day!” she advises.
Don’t miss Sarah’s star turn on ‘The Great Celebrity Bake Off’ for Stand Up To Cancer this spring, seeing her compete in the famous culinary tent with a cluster of other stars, including Kate Garraway, Gloria Hunniford, Roman Kemp and Chris and Rosie Ramsey, along with actress Maxine Peake and fellow property experts Scarlette and Stuart Douglas.
In addition to her professional achievements, Sarah is the proud mother of four sons, whom she credits as a constant source of motivation and her “greatest inspiration”. With their passion for music, teens Billy, Charlie, Rafferty and Laurie formed the indie rock band The Entitled Sons with their dad Graham and, amongst others, have released a single about their much-loved mum.
Her talented boys even won a competition to perform at Glastonbury. “They’ve since been on two tours and are now selling out shows almost as fast as they book them!” says self-confessed “super fan” of the band Sarah. “I have always said, ‘take your opportunities’, and they are certainly doing that. Their October tour is with Live Nation and Wasserman, which is great. They’re really flying!”.
She’s also loving her latest podcast project. “I am SO enjoying recording my new podcast, ‘Seriously?! With Sarah Beeny’, which I record with two of my sons, and sometimes my husband Graham. We dig into honest conversations that people don’t always have, although sometimes they’re perhaps a bit too honest!!”
The prodigious podcaster describes her fun new family podcast as a “frank, funny dive into the tricky topics that we’re all sometimes guilty of avoiding at home, which we hope will spark important open conversations for families who struggle to talk. It’s been an eye opener for me, and I’m so thrilled that we’ve had such amazing feedback!”
Win a signed hardback copy of Sarah’s book ‘The Simple Life’ , along with superyacht charters in Mallorca, fine dining experiences and more in Angela’s silent charity auction in aid of Cancer Research UK, the Royal Marsden cancer hospital and Ukrainian charities (humanitarian aid).
To be in a chance of winning, visit: www.jumblebee.co.uk/surreyfashionweekcharityauction2024 or click link in bio: @surreyfashionweekuk on Insta.
Alongside being a cover journalist, Angela is the cofounder of Surrey Fashion Week (SFW) and its celebrity charity catwalk shows, which she launched with Surrey’s own Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt.
And Sarah’s sons will be performing at SFW’s charity festival this September. The Entitled Sons will take to the stage alongside other famous faces at SFW’s Ukraine Rocks!
Keep an eye on Angela’s Insta @angela_sara_west for announcements.
Follow Sarah on Instagram: @sarah.beeny | www.sarahbeeny.com
© Angela Sara West 2025
Start your #myresidence journey today!
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• In-App Support: Access comprehensive step-by-step guides and troubleshooting tips directly within the app whenever you need assistance.
• Intelligent Navigation: Enhanced obstacle detection and zone management ensure your mower is more efficient than ever before.
STIGA’s 2025 Autonomous Robot Mowers aren’t just tools; they are revolutionary solutions that elevate your gardening experience. With superior performance, smart automation, and a seamless user interface, achieving a breathtaking lawn has never been easier—or more enjoyable!
ARE YOU READY TO REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR APPROACH TO LAWN CARE?
Transform your garden today!
Explore your options and purchase your robot from STIGA retailers or visit the official STIGA website: www.stiga.com/uk .
Wire-Free Navigation – No perimeter wires, just smart GPS precision
Quiet & Eco-Friendly – Low-noise, battery-powered, zero emissions
Smart & Connected – App control, obstacle detection, adaptive cutting
For Every Lawn – Models suited for all garden sizes
Spring is here and, with milder weather and longer days, it’s time to get your garden shipshape. Whether you’re a passionate gardener or one who does the bare minimum, making gardening activities easier and more convenient is always a plus.
The cordless Webb Eco range of garden machinery does just that! With no emissions, quieter operation, and lower running and maintenance costs than petrol equivalents, plus no power cables to get in the way, Webb Eco gives you the freedom to complete a range of garden chores easily and effortlessly.
Webb Eco equipment – which includes lawnmowers, line trimmers, hedge trimmers, pruners, tillers and garden blowers – feature a long-lasting 20v Lithiumion battery which has a super-fast recharge. What’s more, the battery is easily interchangeable across all tools in the range, for maximum convenience and valuable savings.
With the onset of warmer weather, your lawn wakes up and starts to grow. It might seem early, but you do need to start cutting your lawn in Spring.
Using the Webb Eco 20V 33cm Cordless Rotary Lawnmower, cut your lawn every fortnight and start with a high blade height of 4cm.
With a 33cm cutting width and 35 minutes of run-time per charge, the Webb Eco 20V 33cm Cordless Rotary Lawnmower is ideal for small to medium lawns. It features, adjustable cutting heights via a single-lever, and a 35-litre mesh collection box which reduces trips to the compost heap! Weighing only 13.0kg, it is lightweight and manoeuvrable. At £159.99, this lawnmower also represents great value for money.
Once the lawn is mown, add the finishing touch by making sure your lawn’s edging looks defined and neat by using the Webb Eco 20v 30cm Cordless Line Trimmer and Edger, which is priced just £79.99. With a large 30cm cutting width, 8000 RPM and 1.4 line diameter, it efficiently covers larger areas offering up to 28 minutes of cordless operation. It’s very easy to use, with its telescopic shaft, guide wheel for accuracy, and a simple switch to change from trimming to edging.
It may seem that the garden has only just come to life in Spring, but there are plants – certain shrubs in particular – that benefit from a prune at this time of year. Using a manual saw is one option, but the Webb Eco 20V 15cm Cordless Pruning Saw is so much easier! Featuring a 15cm bar length, 4.9m/s chain speed, 0.03 inches chain gauge, and 3/8” chain pitch, the Webb Eco Pruning Saw allows for precise and efficient pruning. With a tool adjustment system for easy chain tension adjustments and up to 40 minutes of runtime. Priced at £89.99, this handy tool is a BBC Gardeners’ World Best Buy!
To discover
Improve Magazine has teamed up with Webb Garden Power, to offer three lucky readers the chance to win one of these amazing prizes! That’s over £360 worth of prizes!
TO ENTER
Email: christina@improve-magazine.co.uk with your address and the answer to this question: Which of the following products would you like to win? 1 Webb Eco Cordless Rotary Lawnmower 2 Webb Eco Cordless Line Trimmer and Edger
Webb Eco Cordless Pruning Saw
You can also enter via Facebook, just visit our page: www.facebook.com/IMPmagazine/ Enter via our Facebook page!!
The weather may be on the chilly side, but don’t let it stop you from enjoying your garden this Spring.
Whether it’s sitting in with a chiminea, having a drink with friends or cuddling up by an outdoor firepit with a loved one, there’s something special about socialising outdoors, even in the UK’s temperamental weather. But you don’t have to wait until summer to enjoy your outdoor space as British Garden Centres has all you need to make your garden cosy so you can enjoy it all year round.
The joy of outdoor living shouldn’t be confined to the summer months, and your local British Garden Centres store has everything you need to create a warm and inviting atmosphere to relax in. British Garden Centres’ outdoor living range boasts a wide selection of options, from heat-radiating chimeneas to firepits with grills that are perfect for outdoor cooking. Whether you envision curling up with a book by a roaring fire or simply staying warm while tending to your garden, our collection has something for everyone.
From the compact and affordable La Hacienda Explorer Firepit to the elegant and contemporary Colorado Steel Chiminea , you can be sure to find the ideal centrepiece for your patio or garden. The range includes classic fire bowls like the Tamba , a modern mesh chiminea in Leon , and rusticdesigned fire pits such as the Kala and Icarus , all with a small footprint to suit any setting.
Homeowners have increasingly been reconnecting with the outdoors and nature and now want to give their garden a cosy feel, making it the “fifth room” of their home and turning it into a relaxing space all year round. Ample seating is essential for a cosy garden gathering or relaxation, and what better way to complement your firepit and chiminea than with British Garden Centres’ range of outdoor furniture?
Designed for both style and comfort, our furniture suits any outdoor setting and is perfect for large families or outdoor entertaining with friends. Why not try the Austin Corner set , which is made for good times with the sofa provides comfortable and contemporary seating, creating a welcoming space for gatherings. Its durable construction and comfortable cushions ensure hours of relaxation. The Grasmere Lounge set has natural charm, made from acacia wood and handwoven rattan and is part of our exclusive Fern Living brand. This stylish and comfortable set is perfect for enjoying everything from morning coffee to evening cocktails.
Bring the indoors out with the Austin Lounge set , which offers a perfect blend of style and comfort. Its versatile design and coffee table make it ideal for any outdoor setting, from casual gatherings to relaxing evenings with a good book and a drink.
Garden lighting beautifully enhances gardens and outdoor spaces, creating a warm, inviting ambience and extending the light where needed in the evenings. Since we invest so much time and money into our gardens, why not try some of British Garden Centres’ outdoor lighting ranges to extend the daylight hours throughout the year?
Enhance your garden’s beauty day and night with the Smart Garden Triton 365 Stake Lights . This pack of four sleek, solar-powered lights automatically turns on at dusk and does not need cables or batteries. Simply place them into the ground to illuminate pathways, driveways, borders and illuminate the night. Or why not add a touch of sparkle to your evenings with the Cole & Bright 10 Rose Gold Diamond Solar String Lights ? These minimalist lights feature a stylish rose-gold metal finish and are fully solar-powered, illuminating your garden at dusk and ideal for adding a twinkle to trees, archways or pergolas.
Amy Stubbs, Project & Development Manager at British Garden Centres, said:
“Don't let the chill keep you indoors! From firepits and chimineas to furniture and outdoor lighting, British Garden Centres has everything you need to create a warm and inviting outdoor space, whatever the season.”
When consumers opt to purchase a new door they are thinking about three factors: energy saving costs , security and the kerb appeal of their home . New research conducted by premium window and door designer, The Residence Collection has unveiled what Brits’ front door colours are today and what trends are on the rise in the future.
The most popular front door colours currently installed in British homes are:
White (36%)
Brown (18%)
Black (10%)
Grey (8%)
Blue (8%)
As the universal colour for cleanliness, it’s unsurprising that almost two in five Brits currently have a white front door. However, the survey data also revealed what colour front door Brits would choose if they had the opportunity to install a new one.
The top five colours included: Black (15%)
Blue (14%) White (13%) Grey (11%) Green (10%)
While white was still a popular choice for people choosing a new front door colour, more than four in five Brits (87%) wouldn’t choose it if they had the chance. Black and Blue were keen favourites that The Residence Collection predicts will grow in popularity as Brits start to embrace home improvements in the New Year.
Generational trends also reveal distinct tastes: over 30% of Boomers favour grey doors for their versatility and inviting appeal, while 29% of Millennials lean towards the classic simplicity and clean look of traditional white doors.
Jo
Trotman, Marketing Manager of The Residence Collection,
said:
“It’s always interesting to see what consumers are interested in when surveying what they currently have in their home and what they would choose given the option.
“The survey confirms sleek, sophisticated and clean colours will always be important to consumers when choosing a new front door, but white may not be the first choice as a desire for black and blue doors increases.
“The Residence Collection has a variety of windows and doors in exclusive colour combinations, and we hope this new data gives installers insight into what growing colour trends we could see in 2025.”
To find out more about front door trends, please visit https://www.residencecollection.co.uk/news/trending-door-colours-for-2025/
Snowdrop Cottage was built in the 1840’s by the gentleman who owned the local village brewery. After being fitted with plain uPVC windows for decades, Bereco performed a full removal, replacement & finishing service.
It is once again graced with timber casement windows featuring beautiful Gothic bars on its front porch way, preserving its traditional 1840’s charm and enhancing its period aesthetic. When Kay and Graham purchased the cottage in 2021, they began a thoughtful renovation project that honoured the property’s history.
Seeking an authentic look true to the cottage’s heritage by choosing Bereco Flush Casements, they selected Parlour NCS S 1005-Y20 for the exterior, which harmonises beautifully with the natural Bath stone exterior, while Traffic White RAL 9016 was used inside to provide a fresh, clean finish.
Location Somerset
No. of Bereco Windows & Doors
1 Door, 6 Windows
Beading Style
Traditional Internal Ovolo Mouldings and External Putty Style Design
For the window handles, Kay and Graham chose Antique Black Monkey Tail handles, inspired by those found in the neighbouring pub, lending a fitting, authentic touch.
This choice also complimented the Barrington Black Bulb End handle on the door, creating a cohesive aesthetic throughout.
Window Styles
Flush Casements
Door Styles
Flush French Door
Colour
Internal RAL 9016 Traffic White, External Parlour NCS S 1005-Y20R
The porch features a fully glazed Single-Leaf Door alongside a fixed Flush Casement, both showcasing an elegant Gothic bar design that enhances the cottage’s period charm. Other windows incorporate 25mm Ovolo bar, styled in cottage or Georgian bar patterns based on the window height.
Kay and Graham are delighted that both the appearance and functionality of their new door and windows were brought to life exactly as they had envisioned.
The warmth of their cottage has noticeably improved, thanks to the excellent thermal performance of their new Bereco timber windows.
From the initial consultations with our Design Consultants through to the guidance provided by their dedicated Project Manager they found our process smooth and straightforward. They mentioned how friendly and approachable Bereco staff are, always on hand to help or assist.
Kay particularly praised our superb installation team for their professionalism and organised, respectful approach throughout the process.
The Bereco installation team are timber window and door fitting experts, offering the highest standards of fitting and finish to match the quality of our premium timber windows and doors. This ensures that they perform to their maximum potential and lifespan.
Looking forward, the homeowners plan to work with an architect to open up the kitchen and hope to replace additional windows as they continue with their thoughtful renovation.
Book your own free online virtual consultation with Bereco to discuss your home renovation.
Tel: 01709 838188
Email: info@bereco.co.uk
www.bereco.co.uk
TESTIMONIAL FROM KAY AND GRAHAM
“We
have enjoyed working with Bereco as the quality and workmanship has been of a very high standard and the company has been very nice to work with.’’
As the weather warms up and the heating gets switched off, attention is going to turn to keeping our homes cool and comfortable.
The right shading solutions can make a significant difference. Whether it’s regulating indoor temperatures, enhancing outdoor living spaces or controlling glare shading can help create an altogether more pleasant environment around your home this summer.
Here the British Blind and Shutter Association assesses the options.
Blinds are a popular and versatile choice for interior shading.
If you’re in search of some summer sleep and want to avoid the early morning sun, room darkening blinds are for you. These usually consists of a roller blind using a darkening fabric with a head box to cover the fabric roll, and side and bottom channels to prevent light from entering around the edges.
And when it comes to keeping the temperature down, reflective coatings applied to blinds can be effective. These designs help to reflect heat away from your home, preventing overheating.
But if you really want to be more comfortable, external shading is the way to go because it stops most of the heat before it can even enter the building. This can still be a roller blind or Venetian blind – just an external version.
When
it comes to controlling natural light, the adjustable slats on a Venetian blind allows you to regulate the amount of sunlight entering the room, reducing glare and the likelihood of furniture fabrics fading.
Awnings are a fantastic addition to any home with outside space, providing shade for patios, decks and windows.
Terrace awnings are permanent structures able to withstand weather conditions and are fitted with retractable canopies which can be deployed for protection from the elements, while retractable awnings offer flexibility, allowing you to enjoy the sunshine when desired or providing relief from it during the hottest parts of the day.
Beyond the functional benefits, awnings enhance outdoor living areas, creating a comfortable space for relaxing or entertaining. Whether enjoying a morning coffee or an evening barbecue, a wellplaced awning can make outdoor spaces more enjoyable, protecting you from harsh sunlight and even light rain.
Shuttersoffer a combination of aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency. The adjustable louvres on most shutters allow the user to reduce glare while permitting ventilation and light.
If you want to enjoy the longer evenings from inside your home without sacrificing on privacy, café style shutters could be the answer. The panels cover the lower section of your glazing allowing light to flow in freely through the uncovered top section, while the shutters on the bottom section prevent any prying eyes.
Investing in shading products not only enhances comfort but also contributes to energy efficiency. Whether you choose blinds for precise light control, awnings to extend your outdoor space or shutters for the privacy, the right shading products will keep your home cool and comfortable all summer long.
The cold winter days and nights have, hopefully, long gone and we look forward to the warmer and lighter days ahead as spring arrives and we look forward to summer. The spring season is a popular time of the calendar year for homeowners to start looking at planning home renovations and improvements. We ask, is it time to upgrade those drafty, insecure and ageing windows and doors!
When choosing new windows and doors for your home, there are many initial design aspects to consider.
Colour, configuration and style will undoubtedly add kerb appeal and elegance to your property. However, there are a further two key qualities in security and thermal performance that are just as, if not more vital, when choosing your new windows and doors.
This is why you need to choose a window and door profile system that ticks those all-important boxes.
The ADVANCE 70 System is a PVCu window and door system that ultimately provides you with a plethora of technical, practical and aesthetical benefits that you would come to expect from a modern product. It important that the aesthetics of the product compliment the style, period and location of your home. This includes the colour, configuration or design of the new windows and doors.
Over the last few years, white is no longer considered the main option for PVCu window and doors as a host of colour options have entered the market. You can only notice the sheer volume of coloured PVCu windows and doors being installed in new builds and also within the home improvement market. Coloured windows and doors have become extremely popular, as homeowners look to add that distinctiveness to their homes.
Grey windows and doors continue to be the most popular colour shade within the market. However, Black has now provided a touch of elegance and authenticity as homes are looking for an industrial look to not only the external façade but also internally.
The ADVANCE 70 window and door system provides you with a standard palette of 17 colours, which can be on the outside, inside or both sides of a window or door. Whether you’re looking for the contemporary colour shades of Ulti-Matt Black, Anthracite Grey or Agate Grey or the authentic wood grained finishes of Mountain Oak, Irish Oak or Rosewood, there’s an effect to suit your home and surrounding environment.
When it comes to the configuration and style of new windows and doors, there are a number of options and ancillaries available, all designed to suit an array of property styles. A number of window and door solutions that compliment modern, traditional and period styled homes are available to meet your specific needs. For example, you can have windows with Georgian bar, sash horns or lead to replicate a certain period; tilt and turn windows for easy maintenance, where external access is limited; and flush sash windows that imitate their timber equivalent, which work so well in both modern and traditional homes.
If you’re looking for that elegant entrance door, sliding door solution or traditional opening to the outside there are a multitude of options available. You may require a door simply for practicality and durability, or a door that fits in to both your home and lifestyle.
For durability and robustness there’s a composite door, whereas a French door is versatile and practical with a number of options to open up your home. When it comes to sliding doors, the simplistic and classical appearance of a sliding patio door can help you create large panes of glass and a panoramic view of the landscape beyond.
Alternatively, you can add that real ‘wow’ factor with EASi-FOLD doors, which are the innovative and revolutionary alternative to bi-fold doors. What makes these even more amazing is that each pane of glass moves individually along a track, pivots and swings alongside the master door.
Whilst the appearance of new windows and doors are of major importance in keeping with the character and look of your home, it is vitally important that they also improve the security and the efficiency of the building. ADVANCE 70 windows and doors come with an enhanced security option, tested to PAS 24 and Secured By Design specification and standards.
This makes them extremely secure, meeting the rigorous testing requirements and the official police security initiative. They are also Building Regulation Document Q compliant for enhanced security, therefore giving you complete confidence and peace of mind when it comes to replacement of new build projects. More importantly, protecting your family and home from unwanted visitors.
With rising energy bills, improving the thermal performance of homes continues to be an important factor, helping to not only reduce energy consumption and costs, but also in regards to reducing the impact on the environment. With legislative changes forthcoming, mainly to Building Regulations Document L and the incoming Future Homes Standard, windows and doors can play a major part in improving the overall thermal efficiency of your home.
The thermal performance of windows and doors are measured by their ‘U’ Value, which is the rate of transfer of heat through a structure. ADVANCE 70 System window and door solutions have been simulated with specific glass specifications to meet not only the existing requirements, but also the impending Future Homes Standard. What makes this system more beneficial for the homeowner is that a ‘U’ Value of 1.1 W/m²K can be achieved with standard double-glazed units, making them a more cost-effective solution than its triple glazed counterpart. This can be improved further with a tripleglazed units ‘U’ Value of 0.8 W/m²K and increased sound insulation.
When you are looking to upgrade your existing windows and doors, it can be very difficult to envisage how they may look in your home.
Certain designs, colours and combinations may not entirely compliment the style, period or location of your home. Modern PVCu windows and doors now offer more designs, colours and options than ever before, providing you with a multitude of choices. As the homeowner, how do you know if a particular design or colour will compliment the style of your home?
www.advance70.co.uk provides you with a wealth of information and guidance window and doors solutions. The website also provides you with the facility to design your own windows and doors.
The innovative window and door designing software solution demonstrates its true value to you, the homeowner, when you upload images of your home and start using the home visualiser function!
The Window and Door Designer and Home Visualiser has a complete range window and door solutions, from casement, flush sash and tilt and turn windows through to residential, French, patio and EASi-FOLD doors. It also includes a range of composite doors, so you have a varied range of products, styles and configurations to choose from to improve your home.
The whole design and enquiry process is purposely kept simple. As a homeowner, you can select a number of window and door configurations and styles, choose the internal and external colour, the hardware colour and other glazing options like Georgian bar or leaded glass.
The real beauty of the designer is that you can take photos of your home, upload them in to the home visualiser and drop your newly designed windows and doors on to your home to envisage how they would look!
When you consider that you are investing a large sum of money when upgrading your windows and doors, it’s only right that you are able to visualise how they will fit in to the make-up of your home. It’s also worth remembering the right combination and colour of your windows and doors can add kerb appeal and increase value, but get it wrong and it can have an adverse effect!
Once you are happy with your newly designed windows and doors, you can submit your enquiry, and a copy of your design will be emailed to yourself. Your design enquiry will be assessed and forwarded to your local approved fabricator / installer for quotation. With well over 250 approved fabricators / installers located across the UK, your enquiry will only be shared with one local supply partner. They will contact you to either quote and / or arrange a more detailed survey to determine your more specific requirements and options available to you.
You can in-turn utilise the Find a Fabricator / Installer feature upon the ADVANCE 70 in the home website to locate as many approved fabricator / installers as you wish, contacting at your will, using your PDF design as a template for your enquiry. This provides you with total control over the number of quotes you wish to receive to further your enquiry.
Is it time to upgrade your windows and doors and make your home more secure, thermally efficient and elegant? If so, head over to www.advance70.co.uk now and start designing!
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Facebook: www.facebook.com/advance70inthehome
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ADVANCE_70
Choosing a door is a big decision. We know one of the rising interior design trends is to make a statement entrance, transforming the humble front door into an aesthetically pleasing entryway. But front doors are not the only doors that require consideration.
Doors at the back of your home and internal doors make a big difference too. Not only in terms of the look of your home, but the way natural light flows through it. These are the doors you have to see every day, so it’s important they’re right.
Another growing design trend is for heritage style products. This is partly because this style offers a timeless look, but it’s also versatile, working just as well in a character property as it does in an ultra-modern, exposed brick living space, and everything between.
This is where Sheerline’s aluminium Classic Heritage Door comes in – it provides authentic heritage styling thanks to its unique lockbox design. While it’s based on traditional art deco styling, it offers a host of contemporary benefits for homeowners.
More than just a trend, heritage aesthetics offer a versatile yet bold design statement for any living space.
There have never been more options for a beautiful door to the rear of your property. You could choose from bi-folds to patios, and of course, there’s our Classic Heritage Door. It’s available as a French or single door and offers an array of practical as well as aesthetic benefits.
For a consistent aesthetic throughout the home, it utilises Sheerline’s signature ‘stepped’ look and offers super slim sightlines of between 60.5 to 73mm depending on the outerframe – your installer or builder will be able to guide you, so you get exactly what you’re looking for.
Although it offers a classic look, it provides thoroughly modern benefits
including the fact that it is thermally efficient (offering U-values of 1.4 and an A+ Door Energy Rating when double glazed) thanks to our built-in Thermlock® technology.
As well as helping to keep your home warm, it also keeps it secure. It comes with PAS24 accreditation as standard, but there’s an optional Secured by Design (SBD) upgrade available. This is a policebacked initiative that aims to build-in security to deter would be criminals.
We describe the Classic Heritage Door as offering a timeless design because it encompasses a stylish aesthetic without compromising on security and sustainability. The fact it can be matched to our other products in terms of styling makes it the ideal addition to your home.
Although open plan living has been popular for years and is not a new concept, the way in which we use our homes has changed, particularly post-covid. We were forced to spend huge amounts of time in our living spaces and learned what worked and what didn’t.
For some, this meant reversing open plan living in favour of partitioning spaces for privacy and clearer divisions of space. But adding a partition or internal door no longer means solid wood. An elegant way to partition internal spaces is by utilising glazed internal doors.
This is because they allow light to flow through the home, which is also why they’re growing in popularity. Our Classic Heritage Door is one such example of this as the glazing is divided by Georgian bars, maximising natural light.
Thanks to our zero-threshold option, our Classic Heritage Door is ideal for internal partitions. It’s stylish, sleek, and can be customised to suit your design vision or décor. We understand the ability to make this door truly your own is hugely appealing.
For instance, you can choose your own handles, the colour, and the placement of the Georgian bars. You can choose from an array of styles, and we have 144 different stocked colour combinations, with bespoke options available too.
DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT, SEE FOR YOURSELF!
If you’re wondering if heritage styling is right for your home and you’d like to see our Classic Heritage Door in-person, contact the Sheerline team to find your nearest showroom.
When our homeowners purchased their property in April 2018, they knew it would need some updates to make it truly their own.
Originally a barn, the building had been converted into a residence approximately 30-40 years ago. An extension added a porch with a boarded door design, creating an L-shape layout.
Stewart, the homeowner, opted to approach the renovation in two phases, leaving the replacement of the Front Entrance doorset, Utility door and a full-height fixed timber window for the later stages of their renovation journey. As all the updates to the home were classified as ‘’like-for-like’’ replacements, there were no planning obstacles, allowing the renovation to proceed smoothly. Having previously connected with Bereco a few years back when researching for another project, Stewart was familiar with the quality of our products and appreciated the ease and convenience of our Supply and Installation package. For the main entrance door, Stewart chose our CR1 Creative Entrance Door design, featuring a flush panel design with a smartline groove design, accompanied by clear glazed full-height sidelights. To achieve a modern, sleek aesthetic, he paired this door with Satin Stainless Steel ironmongery, including a Round Euro Escutcheon and a 1500mm Pull Handle. While this main entrance door adds to the home’s visual impact, the porch door, leading directly to the utility area, sees more frequent use.
Location South Yorkshire
No. of Bereco Windows & Doors
1 Creative Entrance Door and 2 Sidelights, 1 Flush Entrance Door, 1 Full-Height Window
Beading Style
Contemporary Internal and External Pencil Round Mouldings
To complement the existing windows, the clients selected a Silver Grey Satin RAL 7001 finish on both the new doors and the fixed window. For the porch door, one of Bereco’s boarded panel CL7 Contemporary Flush Entrance Door designs, they opted for a classic, timeless look with our Polished Chrome Balmoral Lever handle, matching the home’s overall style.
After the installation was complete, Stewart shared that both he and his family were delighted with their beautiful new doors, which greatly enhance the aesthetic of their home.
Thrilled with their Bereco experience, the clients have since acquired another property in Northumberland and are interested in our supply and installation package for more Bereco timber windows and doors.
Window Styles
Fixed Lipped Casement
Door Styles
CL7 Entrance Door and CR1 Creative Entrance Door
Colour
RAL 7001 Silver Grey Satin
Book your own free online virtual consultation with Bereco to discuss your home renovation.
Tel: 01709 838188
Email: info@bereco.co.uk
www.bereco.co.uk
STEWART’S TESTIMONIAL
“Our installation experience with Bereco was first-class, and we are absolutely delighted with both the look and operational function of the doors.”
Abode, award-winning designer and distributor of market leading kitchen sinks and taps, boiling water taps, bathroom taps and showering, plus newly extended bathroom solutions, breathe new life into the contemporary bathroom with the launch of CAVA, an eco-conscious range of basins that provide a greener alternative for UK homeowners.
The new CAVA basins are part of the reimagined Abode Bathroom Collection, which introduces the company’s latest bathroom design concept, FOCUS 60, which centres around 60cm wash zones. Offering a suite of products that are designed to coordinate in one complete bathroom space, Abode is able to create ‘Streamlined Synergy’ in the bathroom with its latest range of composite stone CAVA basins.
Abode has created a suite of FOCUS 60 packs featuring its new range of basins including CAVA RemaStone and IOX PVD Steel, to help UK customers craft the perfect bathroom wash zone with a ready-made suite of products that work in perfect coordination. Each pack includes your choice of basin, TABLEAU basin shelf, mirror, complementary Abode brassware and UNO accessories.
Made simple in 7 easy steps, all you need to do is (1) Choose your brassware style/finish (2) Choose your basin shape/material (3) Pair with a TABLEAU basin shelf (4) Choose your mirror (5) Accessorise your choice of basin (6) Select bath/ shower pairings (7) Add finishing touches.
With Abode CAVA, you’re not just choosing luxury, you’re choosing sustainability and innovation. Check out the many benefits of the new CAVA basin range below:
• DESIGNER – Available in either Round or Tablet shape, each CAVA basin is constructed from reconstituted stone (RemaStone) to give a contemporary designer aesthetic. Choose between two neutral finishes including CHALK, which presents a soft-white matt colour with yellow undertones, and PEBBLE, which offers a warm, mid-taupe colour that sits between brown and grey.
• CUSTOMISABLE – Each CAVA basin allows the basin plinths to be customised, as pictured. Whether you choose to go for the same finish as the basin or select a contrasting colour to coordinate with your choice of brassware, finish options for the CAVA basin plinths include Chrome, Brushed Brass and Matt Black. CAVA coloured basin plinths are priced from £39+vat.
• EXTRA UTILITY – Pair your choice of basin with a complementary TABLEAU shelf, also by Abode and exclusively made from the new RemaStone material. This slimline shelf has been designed with smooth, rounded corners, and anti-splash rim, which create storage and much-needed vanity area around the basin. Available in Chalk or Pebble to mix and match your look, TABLEAU can also be designed with either single or dual towel rails for maximum convenience.
• ERGONOMIC – 100% waterproof, each CAVA basin is designed with a raised lip to create a discreet anti-splash rim, which ensures water splashes stay on the surface, not the floor for added safety.
• 2 IN 1 INSTALLATION – Designed with round edges and generous curves, CAVA basins are ultramodern and will accommodate either deck or wall mounted taps to support different types of installation and utility.
• RECYCLED – With an impressive 35% recycled content sourced from upcycled materials, including old basins, kitchen sinks, and production waste, RemaStone embodies the Abode commitment to help reduce waste and preserve the environment.
• LOW DENSITY – Offering key differences between its natural-born relative, RemaStone is over 20% lighter in weight when compared to natural stone, making it easy to mount directly on a countertop, quick to install, and far more affordable!
Rotpunkt, award winning designer and leading manufacturer of climate friendly German Kitchen furniture provide expert insight into the latest furniture trends for the modern dressing room.
In keeping with the desire to work, rest and play at home, Rotpunkt predicts the bedroom space will undergo huge transformation in 2025, with separate areas reserved for boutique-style furniture arrangements that creatively display, organise, and curate an assortment of personal items.
Matt Phillips, Head of UK Operations at Rotpunkt says, “Walk-in wardrobes are now a key feature of the modern dressing room and this year, we predict both the bed and storage zones will be accounted for in equal measure.
“Naturally, bedrooms that provide dedicated areas to sleep, relax, work, and dress will emerge as front runners in 2025, and serve the growing demand for lifestyle home environments that promote luxury and a modern sensibility.”
The Geometric design trend continues to lend itself to the latest bedroom furniture styles, introducing a range of patterns, shapes, colours and materials in 2025 to walk-in wardrobes and the private dressing room. The most popular wardrobe interiors this year will promote a sense of unity, with contemporary drawers combined with tall open units and display cabinets coming together to create a block-style arrangement of linear shapes and contrasting materials.
This year’s bedroom colours will major on a combination of dark and light with ‘the three neutrals’ coming out as top performers. The white, black and grey colour palette continues to be sought out by anyone wanting to create a tranquil and soothing environment, and as the master bedroom and dressing room are now considered our most private spaces in the
home, 2025 will take a more sensitive, softer approach to colour blending.
Wood remains the ultimate feel-good material choice, adding rich texture and charm to all styles of bedroom furniture. In 2025, oak has moved into the bedroom with the latest dark and light shades being used to enhance key design features across the wardrobe units and drawers. Glass is also a popular choice this year with the latest glass shelving, wardrobe doors and vanity mirrors add
refinement and help to contrast different materials to define and highlight certain areas. Look out for special surface applications like fabric and wood effects, which add durability and elements of quiet luxury.
Optimisation is at the heart of bedroom storage in 2025 so that every inch of available space is fully
All 2025 product innovations by Rotpunkt will be available in the UK from January 2025. For further information, please contact Rotpunkt: email matt.phillips@rotpunktuk.com or visit www.rotpunkt.co.uk and www.rotpunktkuechen.de/en/ . Rotpunkt
leveraged! With creative solutions ranging from dressing room islands to floor-to-ceiling units with open shelving and ample hanging space, furniture which can be configured in different heights and widths will be top priority when ensuring the perfect fit. Integrated lighting solutions will also help to set the mood by creating depth and height, as well as a cosy ambience, which will enhance the wardrobe experience, day or night! From contemporary drawer systems and storage islands through to built-in wardrobes or a dedicated dressing room, Rotpunkt is proud to introduce its most comprehensive furniture solutions to date for the modern bedroom space with boutique-style dressing area.
Go behind the scenes with Lorna Haigh , Creative Director of Alternative Flooring, as she shares the inspirations, trends, and future direction of the brand.
From the evolution of colour to the art of designing bold, textured carpets, she offers an insider’s perspective on what makes Alternative Flooring’s collections truly unique.
What do you love most about your role as Creative Director?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is seeing an idea evolve from a concept into a tangible product that finds its place in our customer’s homes. It’s the entire journey that excites me, from having an initial spark of inspiration, exploring and updating our colour palettes to collaborating with designers that complement Alternative Flooring’s distinctive style. I’m always exploring new ways to push boundaries and ensure our products remain innovative while staying true to our signature look.
My role is varied and I’m pleased that no two days look the same. I readily embrace the different touch points along the way, from working with our talented team, to engaging with the design community and ultimately seeing how our designs come to life in real spaces. Creativity exists in many forms, and my role allows me to embrace that fully.
If you had to pick one favourite carpet, what would it be and why?
It’s a hard choice! Personally, the Quirky Spotty carpet in Damson holds a special place in my heart - I have it on my stairs. It was one of the original Quirky designs launched in 2012, and while my stairs do need a refresh, it has been a much-loved feature in our home. It has stood the test of time, enduring years of family life, children growing up, and even my beloved dog. Now, I’m considering what to replace it with - definitely something with pattern, as I’m drawn to the visual interest it brings. Texture is also incredibly important to me; it creates a sense of cosiness and enhances the acoustics of a space, which is key for our social home filled with dinner parties and gatherings.
Do you have anything on your wishlist?
I am planning a refresh of several rooms, but as always, I’ll base my scheme around my choice of rug or carpet. Natural textures have always been my passion - jutes for example, are a long-standing favourite of mine. I’m also eyeing up a new wool carpet for the bedroom and exploring interesting weaves that not only look beautiful but are cosy and soft underfoot.
How would you describe your interior style?
My home is quirky and eclectic, filled with pieces that bring me joy. I love art and absolutely adore textiles, and what they can bring to a space. I love the weaving, the textures, and the stories behind each piece. For me, interiors must be cosy and sumptuous, with layers of texture and vibrant tones that make a space feel inviting and full of character.
What is exciting you in the interior world right now?
The evolution of colour is something I find particularly exciting. We’re moving away from greys and embracing more saturated, warming hues - which I’m thrilled about! Sustainability is also a driving force in design today. The emphasis on recycling, repairing, and repurposing vintage textiles is inspiring. Textile houses are doing incredible work in turning what could have been waste into something beautiful and functional.
What can we expect to see from Alternative Flooring in 2025?
In three words: colour, pattern, and texture. We’re taking bold steps forward, brightening our palettes, and reimagining our designs across rugs, runners, and carpets.
Expect fresh weaving techniques, exciting colour developments, and new patternsall exclusively designed for us. Alternative Flooring’s distinctive brand continues to thrive, and we can’t wait to share what’s next with you.
Start your #myresidence journey today!
AUTHENTIC TIMBER ALTERNATIVE WINDOWS & DOORS
Conservation Areas, Grade II Listed Buildings & Heritage Design. The Residence Collection combines modern machining with traditional craftsmanship, specifically designed to aesthetically replicate the documented historical window designs from the 19th Century period.