Frame your view
A
s a nation we have a shared obsession with our homes and how they look, and as recent trends
demonstrate one of the major ways of putting our personal stamp upon those homes is by choosing windows that enhance and differentiate them.
‘In the 1980s and early 90s people replacing their
old single-glazed windows often chose not very sympathetic windows for their low-maintenance properties without considering the aesthetics, or how they matched a building’s heritage,’ says Simon James, Head of Marketing at VEKA, ‘but now they’re being done for the second time - as more than 70 per cent of such purchases are - very often it is a much more considered decision. People want to make their homes look better, not just fit a window.’ For the last 20 years VEKA has worked closely with
a group of over 100 professional fabricators and installers, across the UK, now branded known as
‘
The customer is provided with a unique 10 year Insurance Backed Gaurantee
Independent Network: ‘It was established with our help as a membership organisation to promote quality and responsibility within an industry which at the time was too often regarded as dodgy,’ says Simon. With Independent Network the product guarantee flows from VEKA through an Independent Network fabricator and installer to the end customer, who is provided with a unique 10 year Insurance Backed Guarantee. The company and its partners see two overarching
aesthetic trends in the market: ‘Some customers are focused on the heritage aspect, looking for a faithful recreation of original materials and vertical sliding windows and so on; while others want a very contemporary look - big windows, bi-fold doors larger
20 County Life
patio doors - we’ve just launched a product called Imagine Lift and Slide and recently exhibited a five metre wide two-door version. ‘People are inspired by programmes like Grand Designs where you’ll see huge units shipped in from Germany, costing tens of thousands of pounds. Ours are rather more accessible!’ For the heritage side of things Independent Network
offer windows with foil coatings that match traditional wood and paint finishes, like subtle creams and rosewood or oak woodgrains. ‘It’s difficult to tell some of our vertical sliding sash windows apart from timber. Some have even been installed into conservation areas, obviously on a case-by-case basis, where authorities have taken the approach of asking if it looks right, not if it’s the same materials,’ he explains. For those seeking a contemporary architectural style one element dominates: ‘Using colour now is the big
The Major Trends
Massive growth in coloured window units. Rise in bespoke look through detailing. Creating a contemporary look with units that open up space. Phenomenal rise in customers specifying greys. Statement Heritage windows using woodgrain finishes. Sales of flush sash casement windows almost doubled last year.
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