Products

• Vintage Chic Kitchen -Design inspiration Kitchen 2009-2010

  
  23 July 2009
  

  Create a vintage chic, pretty and floral kitchen. Tongue and groove walls combine with a soft grey colour scheme. Lime green accessories add zest to the room.

  Room: Kitchen Colours: Green; Style: Floral; Traditional; Budget: Low Programme: Changing Rooms Designer: Linda Barker; Feature: Rose stenciled tablecloth

  Vintage Chic Kitchen -Design inspiration Kitchen 2009-2010
  

  		Walls Fix tongue and groove panelling to the wall opposite the window. Then paint the whole room in a soft grey/green colour.
  		Fretwork Add glamour to alcoves with fretwork fascias. Cut these from MDF using a jigsaw and then paint pale cream to blend with the walls.
  		Tablecloth Make a tablecloth from chartreuse green cotton. Stencil a large rose pattern onto the fabric. Use varying shades of pink and red paint to create a stunning effect.
  		Tiles Paint the kitchen tiles a soft blue colour to match the walls. Make sure you use special tile paint for a professional looking finish.
  		Worktop Give wooden worktops a complete makeover. Thoroughly clean and sand the worktops before bleaching the colour out with a special bleaching kit.
  		Curtains Make long lavish curtains out of the same lime green fabric used for the tablecloth. Add a splash of colour at the bottom of each curtain with a stripe of rose patterned fabric.
  		Cupboard doors Add interest to cupboard doors. Simply drill small holes in a star pattern in the front of each door panel. Then paint each door white. Make sure that you dont block up the drill holes with paint.
  		Pin board Make a simple but bright pin board by covering a sheet of MDF with patterned fabric. Why not use the same floral fabric as the curtains. Then pin ribbons onto the face of the pin board in a criss-cross pattern.
  		Mirror Position a large mirror between the windows. Create a funky fretwork feel frame from MDF. Make a simple square frame then position a circular fretwork pattern over the top. Paint the fretwork cream to match the alcoves.
  		Chairs Cover the chairs in new fabric to match the rose-stencilled tablecloth. Use felt and the patterned fabric used on the curtains to make little bags to hang on the chair backs and hold the childrens toys.

   

  (BBC home design news)

• Contemporary Kitchen -Design inspiration Kitchen 2009-2010

  
  23 July 2009
  

  Turn your out of date kitchen into a contemporary eclectic kitchen with blues, greys and pinks, a mobile kitchen table and chairs, and a wire mesh utensil cage.

  Room: Kitchen Colours: Blue; Grey; Style:   Budget: Low Programme: Changing Rooms Designer: Oliver Heath; Feature: Mobile table and chairs

  Contemporary Kitchen -Design inspiration Kitchen 2009-2010
  

  		Wall colour Paint different walls of the room in shades of blue, grey and pink.
  		Updated kitchen units Paint panels of 6mm MDF to match the walls. Use a roller for a smooth finish. Then nail the panels to the kitchen units. Hold the MDF in place with adhesive before making secure with a nail gun. Attach modern handles to complete the look.
  		Tiled wooded floor Cut marine plywood into 40cm x 40cm square tiles. Stain with dark oak wood stain following the direction of the grain. Lay each tile against the grain of the previous tile to add texture to the room. Glue down and varnish to seal.
  		Metal shelving Use square inch wire to construct a metal cage shelving unit. Spray paint with metallic silver spray
  		All terrain table Make the table top out of 18mm marine plywood and varnish with dark oak quick-dry wood stain. Use two brushed chrome effect legs to keep the table stable at one end. At the other end, attach two bike wheels to allow it to be moved to where it is needed.
  		Mobile kitchen chairs Make your kitchen chairs mobile so that they too can be easily wheeled out of the backdoor. Re-upholster second hand office chairs in pink fabric and use as kitchen chairs.
  		Chain window dressing Hang lengths of ball chain in front of the window. Staple a number of strings of ball chain to a baton and then firmly attach to the wall.
  		Finishing touches Attach old spoons and other utensils to an off cut of wire mesh, spray paint silver and hang to the wall. Finally, position herbs around the room to give a fresh vibrant feel.

   

  (BBC home design news)

• Traditional and Contemporary Kitchen -Design inspiration Kitchen 2009-2010

  
  23 July 2009
  

  If you can't decide whether to go for a traditional or modern kitchen, why not combine elements of both? Traditional rustic paint colours are combined with bright splash backs and modern accessories.

  Room: Kitchen Colours: Natural; Style: Modern; Traditional; Budget: Medium Programme: Real Rooms Designer: Beverly Stuart-Vaughan; Feature: Mosaic splash backs

  Traditional and Contemporary Kitchen - Design inspiration Kitchen 2009-2010

  		Rustic walls Apply a cream base coat to the walls and leave to dry. Liberally paint over this base with a deep mustard topcoat and wipe it off with a wet rag. Then put a cream wash on top to create a 3-D effect.
  		Mosaic tile splash back When using splash backs, remember that bright colours around work surfaces make a real impact. Mosaics look lovely but are timely to make, so buy them in square blocks and treat them like normal tiles.
  		Blinds To update a country kitchen, dont use chintzy patterns but go for something more modern with stripes and simple lines. Roman blinds that have colour on both sides will give a kitchen a modern look.
  		Flooring When deciding on which floor tiling to choose, remember to look at the textures. Slate will be difficult to cut and rough under foot, while some tiling may be too slippery and smooth.
  		Rustic style Add some moulding and antique style handles to the kitchen cabinet doors to bring a rustic feel into the kitchen.
  		Saucepan rack Drill holes at various points in two batons and fix onto the wall. Measure metal poles to fit between the two batons and fix into place. Buy meat hooks and hang saucepans and kitchen utensils from them.
  		Wooden shelves Fix wooden batons onto the wall and fix shelves onto the batons using shelf brackets.

   

  (BBC home design news)

• Romantic Kitchen -Design inspiration Kitchen 2009-2010

  
  23 July 2009
  

  Create a multi-functional family kitchen space with a romantic theme. Italian designs and frescos cover the revamped kitchen units.

  Room: Kitchen Colours: Lilac; Style: Global; Natural; Traditional; Budget: High Programme: Home Front Designer: Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen; Feature: Window seats

  Romantic Kitchen - Sample photo design inspiration Kitchen 2009-2010
  

  		Utilise all available space Streamline the space in your kitchen by lining up the units along one wall. Make sure that the cooker, sink and fridge are easily accessible. Are you utilising all your space to its full purpose.
  		Hand-paint the doors of your units. Start by priming the doors with a malamine or laminate primer. Using either artists oil paints or acrylics, paint the design of your choice. Coat the finished doors with several layers of varnish to make the image durable.
  		Bring the window architecture into the design Add curved arches to the top of your windows to enhance the romantic feel of the room. If you have radiators under your windows, why not convert them into attractive window seats.
  		Let as much light into the room as possible Light is important in any room of the house, especially the kitchen. Open up the area in your room and where possible enlarge the windows. This will let the light in and enable you to enjoy views of the outside world.
  		Fresco your walls with romantic images. Photocopy your images onto lazertran paper. Soak in water for a few minutes, until the image becomes a transfer. Then carefully place the transfer onto the walls. Colour wash with watered down emulsion for a faded fresco feel.
  		Bring the ceiling into the design To give a room a coherent feel, make sure the ceiling is consistent and blends in with the rest of the room. A wooden tongue and groove ceiling works well and once painted cream, fuses the design together.
  		Use romantic accessories to enhance the design To complete the romantic look, position a delicate chandelier in the centre of the room. A light feminine chandelier with a leafy design works especially well in this romantic room. Use soft fabrics and tapestries to give the room a rich opulent feel.

  (BBC home design news)

• Funky Pink Kitchen -Design inspiration Kitchen 2009-2010

  
  23 July 2009
  

  Create a warm and sociable kitchen that maintains functionality but combines this with a chic modern funky style. Pink is the main colour theme for the kitchen, but this is counter balanced with sleek, cool steel features and rounded shapes.

  Room: Kitchen Colours: Chrome; Glitzy; Pink; Style: Modern; Period Style; Budget: High Programme: Home Front Designer: Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen; Feature: Mosaic work surface

  Funky Pink Kitchen -Sample photos design inspiration Kitchen 2009-2010
  

  		Maximise the space in your kitchen If your kitchen is small, ensure that it is not used as a corridor to other areas of the house. Open up the entrance to your kitchen and use a small table and chairs to create a special guest area.
  		Keep to the triangle rule Ensure that your kitchen adheres to the simple principle of good kitchen design, the triangle. Keep the cooker, fridge and sink close together in a triangle formation and make sure that you are able to move freely between them.
  		Use storage solutions to suit you Position objects in your kitchen to suit you and your physique. For example, if you are short, use low-level storage solutions. Why not invest in cleverly designed corner units, which work with the geometry of the room and maximise the storage potential.
  		The choice of kitchen units Kitchen units come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Superstores will design a kitchen for you but you will need to have exact measurements of what you want. Specialist kitchen designers will help you maximise the design and functionality of your kitchen.
  		Paint the walls in a bright vibrant pink colour To ensure that this bright pink does not become over powering, mask off small stripes on the wall and sneak cool blues and greys into the design in a funky coloured barcode pattern.
  		Create a funky 50s look work surface Use glass mosaic tiles to create a work surface. For an individual look, keep the tiles on their backing paper and occasionally insert tiles of another colour and the occasional mirror tile. Then, position the sheet of tiles in place as usual.
  		Use funky flooring to enhance the look Choose your kitchen flooring carefully as it is expensive and therefore difficult to replace. PVC finished tiles are a good option as they are durable, stain repellent, comfortable and warm. For a funky look choose tiles with specks of other colours.
  		Complete the look with sleek steel appliances Use steel appliances in the kitchen to contrast with the vibrant pink colour. Simple steel fittings, such as door handles, add to the 50s feel of the room. Use large steel screens to hide kitchen mess from your guest area.

  (BBC home design news)

• No-Nonsense Bathroom-Design inspiration bathroom 2009-2010

  
  18 July 2009
  

  Transform your bathroom into a no-nonsense, functional bathroom exuding stylish modernity for those with a busy schedule. Create the ultimate urban chic bathroom to suit a busy family or working couple.

  Room: Bathroom Colours: Purple; Style: Modern; Budget: High Programme: DIY SOS Designer: DIY SOS team; Feature: Self adhesive cork matting

  No-Nonsense Bathroom-Design inspiration bathroom 2009-2010
  

  		Flooring The first step is to make safe the floor by taking out the bathroom suite and tackling the pipe-work beneath. Seal the ceiling below, and repair missing floorboards. Lay plasterboard flooring to create a level surface ready for special cork floor tiles.
  		Enlarge the space Enlarge the area in the bathroom by removing any facing stud walls. Build new walls to expand the space.
  		Wall colour Paint the walls lilac. This will give the room a relaxing feel.
  		Bathroom suite Fit new chrome piping and towel rail. Install a white bathroom suite.
  		Shelving Fit shelving to one wall to store all your bits ands bobs. Add lilac curtains and a purple bathroom towel set to complete the look.

   

  (BBC home design news)

• Romantic Bathroom-Design inspiration bathroom 2009-2010

  
  18 July 2009
  

  Abolish those images of tidemarks and soggy towels strewn across the floor, bathrooms are self-indulgent and peaceful pampering places.
  
  A lavishly romantic bathroom can be full of contemporary English country luxury without the grand-sized room and rural residency price tag.

  Room: Bathroom Colours: White; Style: Luxurious; Budget: Low Programme: Housecall Designer: Gordon Whistance; Feature: Classical bath panels

  Romantic Bathroom-Design inspiration bathroom 2009-2010
  

  		Wall effect Create a stone effect on the walls using paint. Mask off squares and paint the centre with a marbled affect. Peal away the tape and soften the edges of the joins.
  		The floor Strip the floorboards and satin or paint the floorboards a deep rich brown. This will contrast nicely with the light colours in the rest of the room.
  		Shelving Add a contemporary feel to modern shelving by adding a beaded edge. Cover with beautiful objects such as pebbles, picture frames and books.
  		The bath Update the bath by simply adding classic bath panels to the side of the unit. Choose classic luxurious bath products to emphasise the look.
  		Fabric Opt for whites, creams and beiges when choosing bath mats and towels. At the window drape long luxurious cream curtains.
  		Furniture If you have the space, position other furniture in the room to give it a more homely feel. Any wood used in the bathroom should have the mahogany-look.
  		Finishing touches Dress the room with beautiful objects, candles and bright green trailing plants such as ivy.

   

  (BBC home design news)

• Modern Streamlined Bathroom - Design inspiration bathroom 2009-2010

  
  18 July 2009
  

  Turn your bathroom into a fresh, clean looking room, which uses minimum space to full effect, with ingenious light-enhancing acrylic wall panels. Pillar-box red accessories contrast well with the calm green and white bathroom.
  
  Don't forget, moving a bathroom requires a building notice from the council. An inspector must check the work, especially where a new drainage pipe has been connected to the main sewer pipe.

  Room: Bathroom Colours: Lime; Style: Modern; Budget: Medium Programme: DIY SOS Designer: Brigid Calderhead; Feature: Sanded acrylic window panels

  Modern Streamlined Bathroom - Design inspiration bathroom 2009-2010
  

  		Wall panels Use tongue and groove wood panelling on the walls. Paint it white to match the bathroom suite. Light the room with track lighting and shower resistant spotlights.
  		Bathroom suite For the clean modern look, chose a white bathroom suite, with a wall mounted sink and brass taps.
  		Fresh colours Paint the walls with a fresh pale green colour and accessorise with pillar-box red towels. Use some white mosaic tiles round the sink.
  		Natural light Use pale blue and green acrylic panels in the wall as a light enhancing design. Use a palm sander to make then opaque.

   

  (BBC home design news)

• Oriental Bathroom - Design inspiration bathroom 2009-2010

  
  18 July 2009
  

  Create a bright warm bathroom with an oriental feel and plenty of storage that can be used by all the family.

  Room: Bathroom Colours: Cream; Style: Traditional; Budget: Medium Programme: DIY SOS Designer: Livi Hughes; Feature: Flooring

  Click on the images below for a larger version
  

  		The walls Prepare the walls and paint a warming yellow colour. Paint the skirting boards and window frame simple white to contrast with the yellow.
  		Flooring Lay a chipboard floor over the original floorboards to level off the floor and stick vinyl floor tiles on top to create a completely new look.
  		Bath tiling Tile around the bath and right up to the ceiling. Break up the main colour with a border of different tiles half way up the wall.
  		Accessorises Decorate the room with flowers and candles to create a relaxing haven at bath time.

   

  (BBC home design news)

• Retro Future Bathroom - Design inspiration

  
  18 July 2009
  

  Create a palace of relaxation with this retro future bathroom. A space that is functional as well as a sensual haven. With storage space a premium, this is a great way of utilising a small room.
  
  A curvy design and a walk-through shower together with privacy and good ventilation are key to this room. The bathroom incorporates curved walls and an egg-shaped bath and mirror to maximise the use of available space.

  Room: Bathroom Colours: Chrome; White; Style: Modern; Budget: High Programme: Home Front Designer: Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen; Feature: Central walk through shower

  Retro Future Bathroom - Design inspiration trends 2009-2010
  

  		Space To increase the height of the room, remove the windows and install a skylight. Fit speakers around the room so music can be played to enhance the sensual experience. Build recesses into the curved walls to add more space.
  		Tiling Small circular white tiles are modern and high-tech. Use on all the walls in the bathroom as they continue the theme of curves and give the bathroom a clean feel.
  		Shower With space at a premium instead of installing a shower in the bath or as a separate unit, put a shower in the middle of the room and make it walk through. This will turn your bathroom into a "wet room".
  		Bath The curved shape of the bath fits the design theme and maximises the use of space. It is elegant and adds to the futuristic feel of the room.
  		An abstract image An abstract image of flowing water and plants together with wood panelling, help to bring a touch of nature into the room.

   

  (BBC home design news)