NewsPage 10
A dressing room island: drawers, jewellery trays and size
An island in the middle of a dressing room adds storage and a folding surface, but without enough clearance it cramps the room. Size, layout and lighting.
Read the story
Bookshelves in a child's room: organised at child height
A child who can take a book and put it back unaided builds a reading habit more easily. Shelf height, depth, safety and adapting shelves as children grow.
Read the story
Classic bedroom furniture: carving, patina and gilded details
Carving, patina and gilding give a classic bedroom its character, but used without restraint they weigh a room down. How to choose and balance these details.
Read the story
Toy storage: open shelves, boxes and drawers
Tidy toys start with a child who can put them away. How to plan open shelves, boxes and drawers around a child's height and play habits.
Read the story
Locks on office cabinets and protecting confidential files
HR, finance and contract files should not sit in a cabinet anyone can open. We cover lock types, key management and a sensible storage plan.
Read the story
Upholstered furniture for allergy sufferers
Sofas and armchairs collect dust, mites and pet hair. How to choose fabric, filling and a care routine when someone in the family has allergies.
Read the story
Materials for a TV unit: laminate, veneer or lacquer?
A TV unit is the most looked-at piece in a living room and has to cope with dust, fingerprints and heat from equipment. We compare laminate, veneer and lacquer.
Read the story
Planning units for built-in appliances: oven towers and dishwashers
Built-in ovens, microwaves, dishwashers and fridges need planning together with the cabinets. Tower height, ventilation, dishwasher position and fixing the furniture fronts.
Read the story
Sun fading: protecting furniture from UV light
One side of the sofa by the window fades, a pale patch appears where a vase stood on the table. How sunlight affects fabric, wood and lacquer and practical ways to protect furniture.
Read the story
What affects the lead time for custom furniture
Lead time for custom furniture is more than workshop hours: measuring, design approval, materials, paint finishing and installation sequence. What lengthens it and what shortens it.
Read the story
Adjustable legs and plinths: level furniture on uneven floors
No floor is perfectly flat, yet worktops and wardrobe doors need millimetre accuracy. How adjustable legs and plinths bridge the difference.
Read the storyKitchen island: when it works and how big it should be
An island adds worktop, storage and seating, but only if enough walkway remains around it. How to decide on an island's size and function.
Read the story
Grease and steam marks on kitchen cabinets: daily care
Grease settles in a thin film on fronts near the hob, and steam attacks the edges. Daily and weekly care routines for each type of front.
Read the story
3D visualisation: what to check before you approve
A 3D render shows how furniture will look, but not everything. How to check dimensions, openings and colours before approving the design.
Read the storyPush-to-open: how handleless opening mechanisms work
Handleless fronts look clean, but the opening mechanism decides everyday comfort. We compare mechanical, soft-close-compatible and electric systems.
Read the story
Formaldehyde in furniture boards: what E1 class means
The smell of new furniture often comes from the glue in the boards. Where formaldehyde comes from, what E1 class means and what to pay attention to.
Read the story
Barbershop furniture: mirror stations and tool storage
In a barbershop, furniture is both the interior clients see and the barber's working tool. How to plan mirror stations, tool storage and the waiting area.
Read the storyOpen-plan offices: spacing between workstations and screens
Packing desks tightly in an open office adds seats but creates noise, blocked walkways and distraction. How to plan spacing and screens properly.
Read the story
Modular sofas: a system you can rearrange
A modular sofa is built from separate blocks and can change along with the room. When it beats a conventional sofa, and when a one-piece sofa is more practical.
Read the storyCables and devices in a TV unit: hidden routes and ventilation
Even the neatest TV unit looks messy with wires hanging behind it. Ways to hide cables, keep devices cool and make sure the remote still works.
Read the storyWardrobe depth: when shallow or standard depth works
Wardrobe depth decides how hangers sit, which doors you can use and how much walkway remains. When shallow and standard depths each make sense.
Read the storyA schoolchild's desk: height, depth and placement
Children grow every year while the desk stays put. How to plan the height, depth, light direction and storage of a desk for a school-age child.
Read the story
Ottoman lift-up beds: how practical is the storage underneath
A storage box under the mattress adds real capacity to a bedroom, but not for everything. We look at the mechanism, the box itself and how it works day to day.
Read the storyJewellery stores: lockable display cases and lighting
A jewellery display must make pieces sparkle and keep them secure. We look at case construction, glass, locks and lighting for a jewellery store.
Read the story