So you’ve been the Pittville, Cheltenham Showroom, worked with our kitchen and bathroom designers, everything has been installed and you’ve got your new Pittville Bathroom or Kitchen styled to a T! Now what about the rest of your house? We’ve put together a few of our favourite home styling tips to help get you started…
Show off your personality!
Don’t be afraid to put a real stamp on your home! They say ‘home is where the heart is’ so let all the little quirks of what makes you, you spill out into your home.
Balance is good!
Consider each space individually and ensure you have decluttered enough to keep things streamlined (remember, less is usually more!) whilst having enough pieces on show to give your home the character you are after.
Shake it up!
Try mixing it up with different textures. You may have sleek stone worktops in your kitchen but perhaps you have a couple of fur throws over your dining chairs and some cool geometric wallpaper to add a third texture to the mix! This will not only help your home feel more balanced but will keep it from becoming too clinical.
Let the light flood in! But don’t be afraid of the dark!
We all know our homes look so much better when the sun light is streaming through the windows. Our advice is to take every opportunity to get more natural sunlight into your home, however, don’t be afraid to pair this with strategically placed dark pieces or paint colours. This can add some real drama and depth to your space.
Floating furniture
All to often our go to for furniture placement is to push everything up against the walls but this doesn’t always do justice to the space and can make conversation across the room tricky. If your space doesn’t feel like it’s quite working why not try finding a focal point, perhaps a coffee table or fireplace and anchor your furniture off that rather than automatically using the walls as the anchoring points. See what difference it could make.
Lindsay has designed hundreds of kitchens throughout her time as a designer but we thought we’d narrow it down and ask her about one of her recently completed projects. It was in Pittville in Cheltenham, near our showroom and needed to tie in with the clients period property but also have a timeless feel. Lindsay’s clients wanted to be able to use their kitchen for both entertaining guests and for somewhere to set up their laptop when working from home. And, of course, provide plenty of practical storage solutions.
What products did you use and why? We went for a British-made kitchen, ‘Carnegie’ from Masterclass as this was ‘Classic’ and in-keeping with the style of the property but also offered luxurious oak effect interiors and contemporary pull out solutions for the modern lifestyle. Silestone worktops, for ease of cleaning and durability, coupled with Siemens appliances complimented the design perfectly. My clients could not decide between induction and gas hobs so I included a flex induction hob alongside a smaller gas domino hob, for the best of both worlds.
What colours did you use and why? I decided upon a sage green and ivory colour palette. This was a lovely fresh take on a classical kitchen. It pulled in the colours from the trees outside the window and kept the room bright and spacious. I’d suggested two different colour worktops to contrast with the mixed colour units which I feel works particularly well, especially as the island is a real feature.
Where there any hurdles to overcome? How did you do it? As this kitchen was on the first floor of a Georgian building, we overcame a number of considerations such as access, sound-proofing and out-of-square walls! We also decided against additional ceiling lighting as we didn’t want to cause damage to the lath and plaster. Instead we were clever with positioning of LEDs above the wall units to light up the beautiful cornice and offer some diffused lighting when using the kitchen in the evenings.
Why is your favourite thing about it? I love the size and shape of the island and in particular the low level table with solid oak central leg. It offers a traditional alternative to a breakfast bar or contemporary table and is also a very practical multi-purpose space, with a hidden socket for a nice decorative lamp, it gives the feel of a luxury dining area.
What do your clients say about it? They love it!
Siemens boast that you will ‘never clean your ovens again’! Sounds great, right?! But how? Their ActiveClean self-cleaning system turns all remnants left in the oven after baking, roasting or grilling etc to ash in seconds all you need to do is wipe them away with a damp cloth!
Whilst we’re on the subject of time-saving ovens, let’s talk about Siemens Home connect feature! Siemens WiFi enabled ovens allow you to control cooking times and temperatures straight from your phone! No need to get up and change the temperature manually, you won’t have to wait for the ad breaks, or get out of the bath in time to stop the dinner from burning!
Let’s not forget Gaggneau too! Gaggenau enamelled shelving and Pyrolytic technology allow for a complete self-cleaning experience without having to remove shelves first! We love this move towards self-cleaning within appliances, not just because of the obvious time saving benefits but also because it eliminates the need for harmful chemicals when cleaning out your oven. A win for the environment is a win for everybody in our books!
Gaggenau are also leading the way with sleek design and handleless ovens giving you the option to open your oven by the touch of a button on the TFT touch display.
This season we are offering upgrade options like this on all kitchens ordered before the end of January 2019.
Meet Lindsay Hatherall… 
We’ve been busy grilling our designers lately to help you get to know them and their design style better! First up on the blog is Lindsay one of our Kitchen designers. You can read her interview below and see some lovely shots of her some of her projects in future posts, so stay tuned!
Let’s start off with some of the all-important personal details…
D
o you have any pets?
Yes – a cheeky little border terrier named Stewie
What do you like to do to relax?
Long walks in the countryside when the sun is shining, or a glass of wine in the bath when it’s cold outside!
Where’s the most interesting place you’ve travelled to?
I’ve recently returned from my Honeymoon. We chose a Mediterranean cruise which gave us a great insight into lots of interesting places that we would love to return to and explore in more detail! Rome was truly amazing; I could have spent forever just looking at the architecture and meandering through the small winding streets.
What’s your favourite kind of music?
I love most types of music but I would these days you will find me listening to a selection of acoustic and rock tunes, mixed in with some guilty pleasures such as the Greatest Showman soundtrack!
What’s your favourite food?
Steak… as rare as possible! Although that’s a tough call as I equally get very excited about thai curry and pizza!
Lindsay has been in the interior design industry since leaving university in 2006 and has been focussed on kitchens for the last 9 years.
How did you get into design?
I’ve always loved art for as long as I can remember so chose to follow my dreams, starting with a BA (Hons) degree in Art & Design. This was then followed by a job at Ripples as their junior bathroom designer… this sparked my direction into interior design and the rest, as they say, is history!
What were you doing before you started designing?
I’ve had a few random part time positions in the past including Halfords & the West Midlands Safari Park!
What is your favourite thing about your job?
Meeting new clients makes my job very interesting and means it varies from day to day. I really enjoy seeing the project develop from concept to completion
Let’s get into your design style and process…
How would you describe your design style?
Contemporary with clean lines and a little element of surprise!
What can people expect when they come to you for a kitchen?
Usually I would encourage potential clients to visit the showroom first to see the products we offer and to have a casual chat about the project in general. This will then be followed by either a site visit or a meeting to discuss architects plans in more detail. I’ll aim to come up with a few potential designs that can work in the space along with an initial indication of price. We will then meet again at the showroom so I can talk through my ideas on the big screen.
A snapshot of Abigail Ahern’s dreamy insta squares!
What other designers inspire you?
I’m a fan of going ‘dark’ wherever possible! So I admire Abigail Ahern as she was really one of
the first interior designers to be brave enough to do this! I appreciate it’s not to everyone’s taste but I do think a step into the unknown can often give rewarding results.
Other than your clients’ requests and requirements, what else inspires your designs?
I often look through the latest editions of glossy home magazines to get inspiration and see what the latest trends coming through might be. Pinterest is also a great way to gather ideas and clever solutions.
What’s in your toolbox?
We have recently changed our computer design program to Winner Design which I am excited to get to grips with as the visuals look so realistic. I’m still a fan of good old fashioned notebook and pen, particularly coming from a hand-drawn design background, I still enjoy mapping my ideas out first.
What are your favourite products to work with and why?
Our German kitchens are a dream to design and sell. Our dedicated sales team in Germany are so thorough and double check our plans so everything arrives as it should, each item has its place like a jigsaw. Another favourite product is the Quooker boiling tap, it really is one luxury I believe every kitchen should have!
What are some of your favourite trends?
Currently, I am loving the dark navy and ochre yellow colour trends that are really coming through into all aspects of design. I enjoy a splash of gold here and there too!
What trends are you glad to see the back of?
Magnolia and brown! About 4/5 years ago this was all you could sell in kitchens so it’s nice that clients are becoming braver with colour choice and I think that greys are going to be around for a long while yet.
Are there any other ways you express your creativity?
I used to paint and sell large abstract canvases which I hope to return to one day. In the meantime, I’ve been enjoying decorating and accessorising our new home! I also make my own cards and write poetry for friends and family.
When local girl, May Burgess, came into our kitchen showroom looking for some input to her school design project, I don’t think anyone expected she would soon be helping to design our new ‘Home Office’ display!
With the ambition of studying product design at university next year, May was so pleased with the help from one of our senior designers, Craig Lacey, on her school project, she asked if she could come in for some work experience to understand a little more about what we do and how we do it. We were delighted to help and here’s some of her highlights:
“Having held little expectations for the week ahead of me, I walked into Pittville’s kitchen showroom on the morning of Monday the 31st of August to be greeted with smiling faces from Lindsay and Craig, the designers. Shortly after I met Alison, the manager, who outlined Pittville and its many branches as well as providing me with a flexible day-to-day plan for the week, to dip in-and-out of: an elevating start.
My main project for the week was introduced; to re-design a section of the downstairs showroom to reflect a home office theme that tied into the existing living space display, while remaining functional for use by staff to (sit clients down and discuss products). Having been given time to go through product brochures to help me produce an outline for the space, I began sketching some ideas to be drawn up on the computerised design program Pittville use later on in the week.
My week was spent shadowing all the staff to get an understanding of what each area of the business does. I learnt how important it is to double check plans and measurements with suppliers before work begins to ensure that few surprises occur and any potential lag time in production is prevented. (Something that was very relevant to my school design projects too!) I was also amazed by the amount of work that goes on ‘behind the scenes’ to help make sure customers jobs are completed efficiently and on time.
Towards the end of the week I was let loose with the design program to begin bringing my sketches for the home office showroom to life; using genuine dimensions to fit the space provided as well as experimenting with and changing materials to create a style that followed current trends. On Friday I presented my ideas to Alison and Lindsay (they seemed really pleased!) and we wrapped up with a friendly discussion of my week over some tea and cake!
This wonderful opportunity has given me a glimpse into the industry and has added new skills to my roster, ones that would be hard to gain from purely a classroom surrounding.
I started the week with no expectations and finished with a smile. Thank you Pittville!”
Whether you want your precious objects hidden away or to tell stories from open shelves you can flexibly arrange the modular elements of Silenia to satisfy your needs. Come and see our new display on the ground floor of our Kitchens and Living Spaces Showroom on Prestbury Road, Cheltenham. Shelving and drawers can be arranged to suit your space and can even tidily support your home entertainment systems.
Downstairs our team can show you around the modular bedroom system which can also be adapted to your needs. With pull out trouser hangers, shoe racks, LED lighting, laundry bags and drawers you can be sure of everything in its place while our designers can help you select door finishes and handles to complement your scheme.
We are authorised resellers of Italian brand Silenia – a design led company based near Venice, where they design and manufacture high quality products which go on to be enjoyed across the world.
So whether you are reworking your kitchen with an ever-popular open living space or looking for new bedroom furniture to complement your new en-suite bathroom get in touch and let our team of designers and installers help you create your dream space.
Order your new Hydropool swimspa or hot tub in July and August for FREE installation and delivery*.
Whether you are looking for relaxation, swim training, family fun or a combination of all three, we have a spa to suit from our partners at Hydropool, who are the only brand to offer self-cleaning swim spas and hot tubs.
To compliment the spas we also offer, in our showroom on Battledown Industrial Estate, a wide range of stylish outdoor buildings and furniture to help you create a complete spa retreat at home.
Contact us to find out more or to book a trial in one of our demonstration spas.
*Free delivery applies within a 25 mile radius of Cheltenham. Free installation is subject to site survey to determine suitable access. Suitable base and electricity supply is not included and needs to be provided by the customer prior to installation.
Our bathroom designers pride themselves on incorporating the latest interior design trends in the range of options they present to our clients. Some areas they are currently drawing inspiration from include 70’s inspired indoor plants, the latest Scandi trends and the elegance created by deep inky blues. If you are looking to turn your bathroom into a relaxing summer retreat, here’s their pick of the latest furniture finishes, paints and wall coverings.
Club tropicana
Lush, tropical themed bathrooms continue to be popular, particularly in this hot summer weather. Greens, blues, wood and metallic finishes all combine to complement this look along with the super retro hip clusters of succulents and cheese plants. Whether you are looking at a renovation or a simple design update, the addition of plants and tropical prints can bring your interior on point.
Lagom
Just getting used to pronouncing Hygge, the Danish design trend which took the UK by storm in 2016? Now it’s all about Lagom, where the design aesthetic seeks to achieve balance, moderation and wellbeing. Draw your inspiration from natural materials, muted simple colours, minimal accessories and the addition of some indoor plants – try gentle pink tones paired with calm blues bring sophistication and relaxation.
Navy is the new black
Deep inky blues give a rich, elegance which can be paired with soft greys and pinks in furniture to maintain a welcoming and relaxing space. The perfect foil for wood and even metallic finishes adding drama to more neutral sanitary ware and furniture. Or consider bathroom furniture in dark blue which can look dramatic with ultra-white ceramic washbasins.
Inspired by our trends? Investing in a well-designed, quality bathroom makes it easy to adopt new interior trends as they emerge. Come in and have a chat, we can guide you through our impressive range of products and help you put together a scheme which works for you now and in the future.
It’s a sure sign of Summer when Wimbledon starts.
Quintessentially British, it’s a great time to try something different alongside the strawberries and cream. This recipe from Great British Chefs provides a refreshing cocktail to enjoy in the garden, or maybe even in the hot tub.
Watermelon and Prosecco sorbet
1 watermelon, medium, chopped, total weight 450g once prepped
1 lemon, large, juiced
75ml of Prosecco or Elderflower Presse for non-alcoholic version
Rosemary syrup
2 sprigs of rosemary, large
100ml of water
100g of caster sugar
To serve as a cocktail
Prosecco
Recipe from Great British Chefs. For more details: http://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/watermelon-prosecco-sorbet-cocktail-recipe
We are exhibiting at the Cheltenham Food and Drink Show – 9-11th June 2017, Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham.
We can’t wait to share all our interior and outdoor design advice and will have fabulous offers which will be available exclusively at the show.
We are sponsoring the Chef’s Kitchen Theatre where local chefs from leading restaurants and hotels will show-case local and regional food with inspiring demonstrations of creative cooking, sharing some of their cooking tips. After the demonstration browse around our space where we’ll be available to discuss projects for both your inside and outside spaces with demonstration products for you to explore.
We look forward to seeing you!
http://garden-events.com.gridhosted.co.uk/
Our twin showrooms face each other on Prestbury Road, 200 metres north west of Pittville Gates on the B4632 leading towards Prestbury and Winchcombe. Here you can find all you need to know about our Bathrooms, Kitchens, Bedrooms and Living Spaces services.
On street parking is available, some free, some paid for. Subject to available spaces, you are also welcome to park at the rear of the Bathroom showroom – for Sat Nav use GL52 2BU Malden Road.
