The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in your home. If you want to completely redesign your bathroom and give it a new lease of life then you need to ensure that it works for you. Below we explore some tips and ideas for your bespoke bathroom design
Large tiles and mosaics
Tiles are not only practical, but they help to create the overall look. Concrete wall and floor tiles are popular for a natural look. Large wall tiles can help to make a small room look bigger and mosaics can add that pop of colour.
Importance of lighting
Get creative with your lighting. Install shelf lighting to light up a sink or vanity. Pendants can be hung over a bath and a backlit mirror can use different coloured lights. LED strip lights can be used around the shower.
Floating vanity
If you want to make a small bathroom look bigger then think carefully about your choice of bathroom furniture. A floating vanity tricks the eye, making it appear that there is more available floor space. They also give the bathroom a truly modern feel.
Clever storage
You need to think about how you and your family will use the space. A huge part of this is being able to store items in an easy and practical way. Floor to ceiling storage cupboards, under vanity storage, and shelving placed around the sink and shower, are all good options.
If you are looking for a company who can design and install bespoke bathrooms in the St Albans area then we can help you. We offer a design and bathroom installation service that includes Gerbrit bathrooms. To learn more about how we can help you simply get in touch with us today.
If you have decided to refurbish your house, it can seem like an overwhelming and confusing process. To avoid any confusion, simply read our guide to everything you need to know about property refurbishment below.
1. Start with a schedule of works
If completing property refurbishments is beginning to feel a little overwhelming, ask the house refurbishment company you are working with to provide you with a clear schedule of works. A schedule of works is essentially an outline of every single job and task that must be completed on your refurbishment project and how long each job is expected to last.
2. Try to avoid ‘unforeseen costs’
Many people will tell you no matter what kind of refurbishment project you are trying to complete, there will always be unforeseen costs. While to some extent this may be true, if you have a building report completed by a chartered building survey completed before starting any work, this will help you to identify potential problems easily.
3. Future-proof your refurbishment
Are you refurbishing an area of your home to add value to your property, or to make the property more suitable for your needs? For example, adding an extra bathroom to a property can increase the price of a property by 6.1% and refurbishing a loft can add an extra 10%. Whilst you may not need an extra bathroom installation or bedroom currently, think of the long-term plans you have with the property.
Interested in refurbishing your home? Contact Hawk Kitchen and Bathrooms today. We can help guide you through every step of a refurbishment process and can help you wish every refurbishment decision you may have to make.
Are you considering refurbishing your home? Perhaps you want a new kitchen or need new bathroom furniture? There are so many benefits of choosing to have a house refurbishment. Here we explore the four key benefits of property refurbishments.
Increase value
One of the key benefits of choosing to have a house refurbishment is that it will add value to your property. This is especially advantageous if you wish to sell your home in the near future. Potential buyers pay particular attention to the bathroom and kitchen, so these two rooms are key targets for refurbishment.
More space
A bathroom or kitchen refurbishment can add a feeling of space while creating a more practical and user-friendly zone for everyone. This can involve the installation of new shelving, positioning cupboards and countertops in new positions and knocking down interior walls to create that open-plan living space.
Easier than moving property
Property refurbishments are a much cheaper alternative than buying a new property. House refurbishment enables you to stay in your own home as the space is adapted for you and your growing needs, especially if you are caring for elderly relatives.
A cleaner and lighter look
Finally, a house refurbishment is a great way to create that lighter and brighter home. Choosing new bathroom tiles, installing a new shower cubicle and swapping those dark brown kitchen tiles for pale grey ones are great ways to freshen up the living space.
Here at Hawk Kitchens and Bathrooms, we can help you design and install that new kitchen or bathroom. To learn more about how we can help you with your house refurbishment needs, then please do get in touch with us today.
Bathroom installation and design is a really fun interior project, but some of us can get a bit overwhelmed when it comes to deciding what we want.
Whether it’s an entire house refurbishment or a passion project for the one room, we’ve created an easy to understand guide to bathroom design and installation.
Work out your budget
Like many other rooms in the house, bathroom installations can be high end or affordable. From about £4K you can get a bath, sink and toilet set, and from £4.5K upwards an entire set including a specific shower enclosure can be yours – plus, many bathroom fittings come with finance options to make them more affordable.
Draw up the floorplan
A floorplan is pretty important when it comes to a bathroom installation. Work out what you can include within the space you’ve got to work with.
For larger spaces, pick bathroom fittings which complement the area, and try not to clutter the bathroom with too many things. For smaller spaces, work with the area you have and install practical, space-saving bathroom fittings for maximum efficiency. Within this, you can also work out what bathroom fittings you need, as well as any additional you want.
Decide on a style
You can really have some fun when it comes to bathroom styles. From contemporary, Pinterest-worthy designs to modern bathrooms, go for a design which injects freshness into the room and works in harmony with the rest of your interior. You can even go for a beach style so every day feels like you’re at the coast, or a more traditional style.
For more advice, or a full bathroom installation service, get in touch.
Do you want a new kitchen? Are you wondering what that new bespoke kitchen will cost you? Well, bespoke kitchens can set you back anything from a few thousand pounds upwards, depending on the size of your kitchen and what you want. But there are a number of things that you need to consider that can hopefully save you money in the long run, without compromising on quality. Below we share what you need to know when thinking of bespoke kitchen ideas and planning that new kitchen.
Stick to the budget
The most important thing to remember when designing and building that new kitchen is that you need to stick to your budget. You need to set yourself a realistic goal and then stick to it. This is achieved with careful planning and being realistic about your use of space, materials and accessories.
Do what works for you
During the design process, you must make sure that the kitchen will work for you and your family’s needs. This needs to be discussed with any kitchen design professionals when expressing your bespoke kitchen ideas. Do you need a kitchen island? Do you need a dishwasher? Fitting out the kitchen with the appliances you need and making the space work for you will help to save you money.
Always use the professionals
When it comes to the cost of bespoke kitchen design and build, then it is vital that you use a professional service. Ill-fitting designs and poorly installed kitchen cabinets and appliances will only cost you more money in the long run. You want your kitchen to last you for many years, so don’t skimp on this.
Here at Hawk, we offer a range of services to suit all budgets. We provide a kitchen and bathroom design service alongside build services. From luxury kitchens to small kitchen ideas, we can help you create your perfect space. To discuss your bespoke kitchen ideas and to learn more about how we can help you design and build your new kitchen then please get in touch with us today.
Inkwell offers bold, yet elegant
sophistication. Transform your kitchen into the grandest of spaces with
Inkwell’s sumptuous shade. This beautifully deep colour has previously been
available in the Masterclass Classic Collection as a shaker kitchen. However,
Inkwell is now available within the modern Sutton and H Line Sutton ranges as
well. This allows those beautiful, blue modern kitchens to be obtainable for
all budgets.
Hunter Green
Give your home a natural feel
with our new opulent, nature-inspired Hunter Green colour. It’s an ideal choice
for those seeking a sublime green kitchen. This charming shade is available in
the Silk and Ash Painted ranges like Hampton, Roma, Marlborough, Ashbourne,
Carnegie, Hardwick, Sherborne and Solva. It also comes as a beautiful colour
option for H Line Hampton and as an elegant H Line handle rail colour.
Wisteria
Embrace adventure with this new
heavenly lilac kitchen colour. Wisteria is a delicate and graceful colour that
is the perfect balance between subtlety and statement. It comes as a colour
option in the gorgeous Silk and Ash Painted ranges such as Hampton, Roma,
Marlborough, Ashbourne, Carnegie, Hardwick, Sherborne and Solva. The H Line
Hampton range also offers Wisteria as a colour option for doors and handle
rails.
Natural Oak
Warming woods and diverse tones
epitomise this new Natural Oak finish. Give your kitchen an organic and
unrefined feel with this country classic. The Natural Oak shaker kitchen comes
in the divine Solva range, which boasts the beautiful, varied characteristics
that natural wood so elegantly displays.
The all white kitchen is becoming a thing of the past with people wanting to put their own personal stamp on their kitchens. Not only are dark coloured kitchens increasing but also matte black fixtures and hardware are growing in popularity. This client opted for matte black handles to add a contrasting industrial edge to their traditional Shaker style kitchens.
Image via Quooker
Following this trend, tap manufacturers are also having to re-think their offering. Quooker are the most recent brand to have also tapped into this trend and released a black version of its fusion tap earlier this month.
TWO TONE KITCHENS
Image via Hawk K&B
Continuing from last year we are still designing lots of kitchens with two different cabinet colours. Not only two different colours but also different textures and finishes too such as wood effect cabinets next to gloss painted cabinets as seen here.
CLEVER & CLEAN STORAGE
Images via Masterclass
As our kitchens become ever more the heart of the home, a place where we eat, cook, entertain and spend a lot of time, the storage needs also increase. It is for this reason that people are seeking kitchens with maximised clever storage solutions.
Masterclass have a variety of kitchen storage solutions for even the smallest of kitchens. From their signature corner pantry that makes the most of awkward corner spaces to pull out larders available in a range of widths and heights to suit many different spaces and lifestyles.
OPEN SHELVING
Images via Hawk K&B
As well as more integrated storage, more open storage such as open shelving is also becoming more popular, giving the kitchen a more personalised, lived in feel in keeping with the rest of the home. It also opens up the kitchen, as lots of wall cabinets can often make a kitchen feel enclosed.
Image via Masterclass
Similarly we are also seeing an increase in open freestanding units such as the Neptune Potboard or the Masterclass open ended island ‘Chef’s table’ both shown above.
Image via Siemens
SMART STREAMLINED APPLIANCES
We will continue to see integrated appliances become more streamlined and seamless but also more smart too. Induction hobs continue to be popular and now come alongside downdraft extractors that are set into the worktop behind the hob, hidden from view, emerging only when needed.
Appliances from Siemens (and later this year, Neff), can also now be voice controlled through Amazon Alexa with their Home Connect function, allowing you to send recipes to your oven and coffee requests to your coffee machine with the appliances alerting you when the task is complete.
For many, the most important part of the festive period is the entertaining. From a lavish family Christmas dinner to canapes and cocktails with friends, the kitchen becomes the focus. Creating the correct atmosphere in your home will make your guests feel immediately welcome and with the right space to do so, you can put on a party that everyone will enjoy, including you, the host.
An open-plan living and dining area works wonderfully for entertaining, creating a space that achieves the perfect balance of socialising and cooking. A spectacularly laid dining table is essential for a family Christmas dinner and in an open-plan setting, the guests and hosts can intermingle, creating the perfect social atmosphere. Coupling your dining area alongside a cosy seating area means guests will also have somewhere to relax and recline after dinner.
Image via Hawk K&B
For evening entertaining, an informal seating area, on an island or breakfast bar is great. An island can act as a great focus in a room, particularly when laden with beautiful food and drink. People will congregate around it and any high stools will allow guests to take a seat without feeling left out.
Image via NEFF
Finally, the addition of good quality appliances is vital when it comes to the cooking itself. Integrated double ovens will give you plenty of cooking space and details such as Circotherm on NEFF ovens allows you to cook on up to 4 levels at the same time without any flavours intermingling, not to mention the Slide & Hide door meaning you won’t be getting in the way of guests when tending to things in the oven. Alternatively leave the cooking entirely up to the oven by opting for a Siemens oven with Home Connect. Just can send all your recipes and cooking instructions straight to your oven from your phone and receive notifications when the cooking is finished via your phone or Amazon Alexa, allowing you to sit back and enjoy entertaining.
As the new season of The Great British Bake off gets underway, we find ourselves not only drooling over the baked goods emerging from the ovens, but also lusting after that great British kitchen look. We’ve put together our tips on achieving a showstopper kitchen in your own home.
Image via NEFF
NEFF SLIDE & HIDE OVEN
There would be no baking without it, the NEFF Slide and Hide oven is one of a kind, with its door that neatly slides back underneath for easy access. It is also packed full of features and functions such as bread baking, dough proving, bottom heat (no more soggy bottoms!) and surface grilling alongside NEFF’s famous CircoTherm fan technology.
Positioned within the island unit in the Bake Off tent and paired with a NEFF proving drawer it can also be built into a tall wall cabinet meaning you can get even closer to your bakes. As a NEFF master partner, we champion this oven as a star baker.
Image via Hawk K&B
SHAKER STYLE
Nothing says British kitchen like a shaker style with its elegant simplicity. Our array of suppliers from Neptune to Masterclass and even our own bespoke shaker kitchens will be perfect for achieving this look. Also, Neptune and our own range can be hand painted in any colour of your choosing, meaning you can even have the perfect bake off blue if you so wish.
Image via Hawk K&B
FEATURE KITCHEN ISLAND
The bake off islands are in fact the only workspace the contestants have to work off so they are well equipped with an oven, sink and hob, however in a larger kitchen your island won’t need quite as much. If the iconic Bake Off green, blue and purple palette isn’t to your taste either, pick an alternative colour, but ensure your island will stand out as the feature piece in your kitchen.
INDUCTION HOB
Featuring a small domino hob on each island, these are perfect for island cooking. Induction hobs are easy to clean and only require electric so no gas supply is needed. A larger hob can also be used on a larger island but whichever you opt for will maintain a sleek workspace.
Image via Hawk K&B
OPEN SHELVING
At the back of the Bake Off Tent you will spy lots of open shelving, filled with jugs and jars. Displaying your crockery collections and mason jars filled with flours and spices add to the homely, lived in feel of a kitchen and having your ingredients on display will inspire lots more baking!
Image via Hawk K&B
A DRESSER
Often at the back of the judges tent you will see a beautifully filled dresser. Perfect for displaying pretty crockery but also practical for storing cutlery and your larger pieces of crockery, a dresser is a wonderful addition to a kitchen if you have the space. It also makes a perfect spot to display your recent bakes.
Image via Hawk K&B
WOODEN WORKTOPS
Wooden worktops add the perfect natural warmth to a British kitchen however they are often hard to keep in good condition. Instead, opt for natural wood on areas that are less likely to sustain water or heat damage such as on an island and your wood will stay wonderful for longer.
In short, a Great British Bake Off kitchen is achieved through traditional British kitchen design and traditional materials with the added extra of contemporary, state-of-the-art appliances for the perfect cooking experience. With Amazon Alexa sponsoring the show this year, next year we may even see the bakers using Home Connect and Alexa to tell their ovens when and what temperature to heat up to!
Both freestanding and built in bathtubs can turn your bathroom into a luxurious sanctuary but choosing which type to go with can be confusing. Taking into consideration space, style and purpose, we look at which tub suits what bathroom.
It is often thought that a freestanding tub is best for a larger bathroom and a built in, better suited to smaller space, however this is a common misconception. In fact a freestanding bath is often perfect for a smaller space as you are not restricted by where you position the bath, allowing it to fit in small alcoves where a built in bath could not. Due to their shape and occasionally their legs resulting in the tub being raised off the floor, this also creates the illusion of space.
Image via Hawk K&B
With a built in bathtub, the real advantage is the space that the surround provides. It can act as storage, seating and mounting space for taps, spouts and hand showers so the more room you have the better. You can also tile in your bath tying it in with the rest of the room to create a seamless appearance or panel it to match the bathroom furniture as we have done here.
Image via Hawk K&B
However that’s not to say with a freestanding bathtub you will have less storage. If space allows, placing the bath in the centre of the room, as we have done here, frees up valuable wall space for bathroom furniture and storage.
Image via Hawk K&B
Alternatively, built in niche’s into the wall can add that storage space needed for bathing essentials where space is limited.
Image via Hawk K&B
Also worth considering is that any built-in tub under 1700mm runs the risk of compromising the bathing experience. It is crucial to measure and plan your space to truly understand whether you can work with a built-in bath. In this instance a freestanding bath, in particular a slipper bath, is a great choice for a smaller space, allowing you to sit up and relax comfortably in a 1500mm bath for example.
Image via Burlington
A built-in bath is also much better suited for adding a shower to, whereas a freestanding tub is usually for bathing only. You can of course place a shower over a freestanding tub but only with the use of a shower curtain. In recent years however, the emergence of the ‘freestanding shower bath’ by companies such as April and Burlington mean the bath is fixed to the wall along two edges with the addition of a shower screen, resulting in a successful combination of both a fixed and freestanding bathtub.
Image via Hawk K&B
A similar alternative is a back to wall bath which offers the luxury of a freestanding bath whilst sitting flush against your bathroom wall. Designed to be installed in the middle of a wall it allows extra space either side for a basin, toilet and furniture whereas most built-in baths are designed to sit in corners and freestanding sitting in the middle of the room.
There are endless possibilities when choosing a bathtub so don’t feel restricted by your space and style choices. Both freestanding and built-in bathtubs can be adapted to suit your space and we will work with you to design a bathroom that is carefully space planned and is ultimately what you want.
