Crittall Windows

We first encountered Crittall Windows when working on a flat in Astral House in Westminster, a classic expression of the Art Deco style (not far from the much-loved, and much-filmed, Regency Cafe).

Astral-House

Crittall windows are steel framed and are distinguished, in contrast to typical sash windows, by their repeating patterns of glazing bars and smaller panes.

The company, named for its founder Francis Berrington Crittall, is still going strong, long after its founding in Essex in 1889.

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Smile Plastics

As well as techniques and materials in our own field, we’re we’re always interested in hearing about innovation generally.

Smile Plastics, based in mid-Wales, are talented recyclers of plastic: chopping board off-cuts, old yogurt pots — you name it, they’ve taken it and turned it into something functional, but also beautiful.

Their Black Dapple sheets would make a particularly striking worktop.

blackdapple3_lowres

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In praise of Holman Paints

We recently placed an order with Holman Paints for our upcoming front door project: Sikkens Rubbol Primer and Rubbol XD Gloss, both tinted to Basalt by Little Greene. There’s going to be excitement and high drama among the passers-by when David is finished with this door, let me tell you…

A hearty to salute to Holman Paints and all who sail in her — if only every other supplier in the industry took the trouble to nail their online service the way these ladies and gents have. We recommend Holman to all painters and decorators in London and beyond.

Sikkens-Rubbol-XD

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Harris Icon paint brushes

A few months ago, I insisted — perhaps a little imperiously — that in considering what paint brushes to buy, it was high end or the highway. Purdy, Wooster, Corona: these are your friends, not the ne’er do wells to be found in multipacks in Poundland.

Well, while Poundland and their ilk remain firmly off-limits, it seems that David has something interesting to add to this debate. He writes:

“The Harris Icon Soft Tipped Paint Brushes from B&Q were particularly good when used in oil. I bought these as emergency brushes as I had left my good Purdys behind. Whilst being soft tipped brushes, I found they retained a certain uniform stiffness when applying paint — this was great for bristle control and accuracy.” 

(David implies a sound practice which you, too, will soon follow: matching different paint brushes to different types of paint.)

So there you have it: an affordable, if not filthy cheap, option of excellent quality. 

Harris Icon Brushes

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