Wood is good, inside! The return of Timber in interiors

The demand for the use of wood in interiors has seen a massive revival in recent years as home buyers’ preferences have moved away from metal and glass in the home.

Nowhere is this trend more evident than in the stairparts market where metal and glass balustrading is no longer the ideal choice for customers demanding a more homely touch to their staircase.

There are many well known reasons for the popularity of wood in interiors. It has various unique qualities and benefits over other materials commonly used in the home. The first and most obvious of these is its green credentials, which have become an increasingly important factor for developers in recent years. Wood is sustainable, renewable and in some cases, actually a carbon positive resource.

Often the most important factor for potential homebuyers to consider is what it will be like to live with. Wood is a comfortable and tactile material which is particularly important in choosing stairparts such as handrails. Combine this with its natural beauty, durability and environmental appeal, and it is easy to understand why it has been the favoured material in the home for centuries.

Despite this, the perception of many developers in recent years has been that a modern and stylish interior means metal or glass finishes. When, in fact many homeowners find these materials too cold, clinical and commercial in appearance.

However, a historical lack of innovation in the stairparts industry has limited the choice of modern Timber designs available. The options have been either outdated, traditional turned spindles or plain stop chamfered designs which many developers specify despite their unimaginative style.

The solution therefore is for wooden stairparts manufacturers to innovate and create something in timber with greater design appeal than the metal or glass offerings, plus all of the added benefits of wood as a material.

The most prominent example of this has to be id modern stairparts which were designed by Clive Durose specifically to fill this gap in the market. The new id modern stairparts range, which is unlike any other wooden stairparts currently available in the stairparts market, is driving the timber stairparts revival amongst homebuyers.

Now, developers can cater for the needs of customers both in terms of design and choice of material. id modern stairparts feature three cutting edge spindle designs:- ez, flo and vu, which create stunning visual effects thanks to their interesting modern shapes, combined with clever features like the innovative safe-grip handrail and multi newel system.

Visit www.idstairparts.com to view the range, for more information or to find a local stockist. To speak to a member of the id modern stairparts team, call 0800 978 8143 or email hello@idstairparts.com

100mph winds? No problem! Woodburning Stoves continues trading!

Recent 100mph winds damaged the UK’s online stove distributor. Despite this, Woodburning-Stoves, but despite this, it continues to make impressions on the online market this winter with their great prices and products; www.woodburning-stoves.co.uk has recently undergone an overhaul as the taxonomy/navigation was completely redone to optimise navigation for the user.

In fact, there has been no damage to the structure; only the webcam strapped to the top of the roof was damaged in the strong gusts throughout the week. The webcam pointing south west usually shows Bredon Hill, but during the incredible winds, all it displayed was pitch black as the webcam hung on for dear life by a few cables. The strong will of the webcam (tough outer casing) meant that no repairs were required and it was easy enough to reposition and bolt on to the roof to once again display the stunning view of the Bredon Hills (during daylight hours at least).

Woodburning-Stoves are one of the most pronounced online sellers of woodburning stoves and multifuel stoves, with a wide variety of both contemporary and traditional models for customers to choose from; there is something for everyone. The website has recently undergone an overhaul as the taxonomy/navigation was completely redone to optimise navigation for the user.

Scott Morris, E-Commerce Manager at Woodburning-Stoves comments on the website refinements: “It took a great deal of time and patience to come up with a navigation system which would address the way 99.9% of people search for woodburners, whether it’s by brand, output, look or colour, they will be able to do that through our unique taxonomy. It was laid out with usability as the sole focus and it may not look like the fanciest thing out there, but it’s fast, it’s usable and above all else, it’s simple.

Enough of all this, back to the central story, the webcam! For those who are really interested and compelled by this webcam, the view it provides can be found on Google Maps and when operational, it really is a beautiful sight. However, with more harsh weather anticipated, who knows how long this dear webcam has left, it could be months, perhaps weeks, maybe even only days; regardless, it will always be remembered as the one who braved the storms.

James Cook, a Web Admin at Woodburning-Stoves.co.uk takes us through some of the webcam perils: “Well, the winds were harsh, brutal enough to dislodge our sturdy cam. We needed some brave soul to venture on to that roof, adhering to all health and safety codes, obviously, and fix that webcam! Eventually the hero emerged, after being bribed with copious amounts of fudge and biscuits, he climbed up the ladder and plopped it back on with a few screws, nuts and bolts and the task was completed. The webcam resumed service the following day and has totalled over 2,000 views, against all odds, the webcam has prevailed.”

Woodburning-Stoves has been part of the Plumbworld Network since launching in 2010. This year it continues to make its mark on the online stove market. Plumbworld was an early pioneer of online trading, started by James and Anita Hickman in 1999 and was sold to the Grafton Group PLC in December 2006, Plumbworld now employ more than 50 people in their purpose built warehouse and offices and boast an astonishing 50 websites selling everything from draper tools and bathroom vanity units to convector radiators and barbecues. The business has a turnover in excess of £18 million and is growing at more than 20% year on year.

Log fires. For Christmas and beyond

Carefully placed mistletoe and oversized stockings surrounding a roaring fireplace is a quintessential Christmas image. However, given that open fires are notoriously poor heat emitters (typically producing efficiencies of just 10-15%) it is understandable that homeowners prefer to reach for the central heating controls rather than chopping another pile of logs. With this in mind, AGA Stoves, part of the AGA Rangemaster Group, has produced a handy guide to outline the benefits of choosing a wood burning stove and explain why they are not just for the festive season – they can last a lifetime.

The guide provides homeowners with all the information they need to make an informed decision when purchasing a wood burning stove. From running costs to maintenance, manufacturing quality to expected lifespan, the AGA Stoves log burning guide is a must read with winter just around the corner.

AGA Stoves manufactures a wide range of wood burning stoves which are perfect for a variety of homes. Notable models in the range include the Little Wenlock Classic and the Minsterley. The Little Wenlock Classic is a compact stove (H 533mm x W 400mm x D 415mm) which has been designed for smaller homes and standard fireplaces.

By using a combination of high quality engineering and intelligent design, it is exceptionally efficient (over 81%) and is supplied with a supplementary wood grate, providing the option of burning wood or mineral fuels. To not exclude city and town dwellers, AGA Stoves has also developed a smoke exempt version which can be used in smoke control zones – the Little Wenlock Classic SE.

The Minsterley boiler stove is designed to provide plentiful heating and hot water for a family home and is capable of running up to 8 radiators. Thanks to its interchangeable fuel plate, it can also be used with either wood or solid fuel, and has a minimum rated heat output of 3.6kW with a hot water output of 7.5kW. The Minsterely retails at £1,825.

The full guide is available as a downloadable PDF at: www.agaliving.com/media/stoves/AGA_Stoves_Christmas_21.10.11...

Exclusive New Products Unveiled at UK Oak Doors

UK Oak Doors (www.ukoakdoors.co.uk) are delighted to announce a selection of brand new products that have been added to the existing portfolio of solid oak doors.

New products include a traditional style 1930s oak door and a 'shaker style' 5 panel oak door. The 1930s style door features a large flat panel in the top section with 3 vertical panels underneath, hence they are sometimes referred to as '1 over 3' doors.

This style of door is found in many 1930s homes up and down the country and is popular with those looking to maintain the period features of their property. The flat panels are removable so if you're looking to add light to an area of your property then you can try swapping the panels for glazing.

Another new addition is the shaker style 5 panel door. The shaker style has been around for years and is used in many homes regardless of era. There are no raised mouldings in these doors, just simple, clean flat panelling. The five panel door is contemporary in design, yet strong, sturdy and exceptionally durable.

Traditional construction methods are used in both of these doors with mortise and tenon joints and 35mm thick solid European oak. These oak doors are made from PEFC certified sustainable wood; helping the forests and keeping your conscience clear.

You might expect that you'd have to pay over the odds for solid oak doors, but not when you shop with UK Oak Doors. Their doors are competitively priced, offering a superior product at great value for money.

UK Oak Doors cater for traditional and contemporary home styles (and everything in between), and continually strive to add high quality new products to the existing lines and firm favourites - all at the same quality their customers have come to expect from them.