INTERIORS LANDSCAPING & EXTERNAL WORKS
supplier, wherever they’re based. THE ‘SEEING IT MADE’ TEST
One of the main advantages of sourcing features close to home is that the self- builder can go and see it in person. Visiting the workshop where a door is made – watching a leaf being fi nished, feeling its weight, hearing the particular sound as it closes – turns an abstract specifi cation into a feature a person can judge with their own hands. It’s also a quiet test of a supplier, as those confi dent in their work will be happy to demonstrate how it’s done. In opposition to this, the apparent economy of buying off the shelf or from overseas can prove to be a false one. A door that arrives a fortnight late can stall plastering and decorating, and upset the entire project timeline. A door that doesn’t quite match is a compromise that will be seen every day. Choosing a door supplier that’s relatively local can be an insurance against both.
HOW IT WORKS IN THE REAL WORLD The difference is clear in a fi nished home. In one contemporary West Yorkshire project, the brief was for a single oversized door to distinguish the entrance from the open-plan space beyond it, fi nished to sit in balance
A door that doesn’t quite match is a compromise that will be seen every day
with the panelling around it. The owner described the bespoke ‘pivot’ door as being the best match possible, a
statement feature that serves to pull together and make coherent the entire downstairs – as well as commenting on how straightforward the design, manufacture and installation process was. A refurbishment in Essex made the same case by its absence. Partway through the project, a homeowner who’d already bought a front door from one company found that no standard range could supply internal doors to match it – a long supply chain saw them out of options. After they’d begun to think it wasn’t possible to fi nd exactly what they wanted, they turned to a specialist British maker and had a consistent set produced to sit with the entrance they’d already chosen and were delighted with the results.
On a build with countless moving parts and most of them with long supply chains, the few a self-builder can keep within easy reach – made to measure, matched by design and accountable to a single point of contact – tend to cause the least trouble down the line. Doors are seen and touched every day and are a part of every room – it’s worth keeping the designer, maker and fi tter as close to home as possible.
Ian Chubb is managing director at Deuren
Image credit: HMG Paints Chartwell Green – the garden colour trend
to watch in 2026 HMG Paints has identifi ed Chartwell Green as one of the defi ning exterior paint colour trends shaping garden renovation projects in 2026. HMG have seen a noticeable increase in demand for the colour Chartwell Green, with homeowners increasingly embracing heritage colours that offer a timeless alternative to darker, trend-led exterior fi nishes. Originally associated with the historic home of Winston Churchill at Chartwell House, Chartwell Green has evolved into one of the UK’s most recognisable heritage paint colours. Today, it is widely specifi ed across both traditional and contemporary properties, offering a timeless alternative to darker, trend-led exterior fi nishes. The muted green shade complements a wide range of materials including timber, brick, sandstone, composite cladding and exterior metalwork, allowing it to work across a variety of property styles without overwhelming surrounding outdoor spaces. The growing popularity of Chartwell Green refl ects a wider shift in exterior design preferences, with homeowners increasingly moving away from darker grey fi nishes in favour of softer, more natural colour palettes inspired by traditional British architecture and garden design. HMG Paints has seen particularly strong demand for Chartwell Green across its decorative coatings portfolio, most notably within the HydroPro Garden Paint range. Chartwell Green sits alongside a carefully curated selection of timeless and versatile shades.
0161 205 7631
www.hmgpaint.com 66
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
