Charming London Townhouse Gets A Warm Update With Schlüter Solutions

Located in London, a charming townhouse has been thoughtfully transformed by Emily and Hugh, the creative duo behind the popular Instagram account @ourlondonlittlelife. Known for sharing snapshots of everyday life and the renovation of their characterful home, the couple took on one of their most ambitious DIY projects yet - the installation of an electrical floor heating system and a terracotta herringbone-tiled floor in their kitchen and dining space.

With a hands-on approach to renovating their forever home, they were keen to add both style and substance to this area. The result was a stunning and cosy space brought to life with the help of Schlüter-DITRA-HEAT-DUO Peel & Stick, installed entirely by the couple themselves.

The project involved upgrading a 22sqm open plan kitchen and dining area, laid over an insulated concrete base. Wanting to maximise comfort without compromising floor height or design aesthetic, the couple turned to Schlüter's innovative Peel & Stick underfloor heating system.

"Luckily the space was fairly rectangular which meant adding the DITRA-HEAT-DUO-PS was super simple," they explained. "We couldn't believe how quick and easy it was to stick down - we just made sure to prime the surface first for a secure bond."

After preparing the surface, the DITRA-HEAT-DUO-PS membrane was rolled out and adhered in a matter of minutes. The studded structure of the mat made cable insertion straightforward, allowing them to lay out a precise, even heating plan throughout the space.

"The heating cable slotted in perfectly, and we were able to install everything in less than a day," they added. "This was our first time doing anything like this - laying underfloor heating and tiling a floor ourselves - and it was surprisingly smooth thanks to the Schlüter-Systems video tutorials, which were so helpful and made the install process much easier."

To finish the project, the couple chose herringbone terracotta tiles - a classic, durable option that suits the natural feel of their home. DITRA-HEAT-DUO-PS was a great fit thanks to its low build-up height and built-in thermal break, making it ideal for homes which may be impacted by space and height restrictions, and preserving original features is important.

As passionate renovators documenting every step of their home's journey online, Emily and Hugh are no strangers to making design decisions that balance practicality with personality. This Schlüter underfloor heating installation has enhanced the comfort of their kitchen and highlights how, with the right tools and guidance, high-quality results can be achieved.

Now, their kitchen and dining area is not just a beautifully tiled space - it's a warm, welcoming hub they get to call home. "We couldn't be happier with the result," they say. "It's added a level of comfort and luxury we didn't realise we were missing - and we did it all ourselves!"

For further information, call 01530 813396 or visit https://www.schluter.co.uk

Beautiful Commercial Building Returned To Stunning Family Home – With Cast Iron Radiators!

When the owners of a substantial Victorian semi detached property in South Devon bought the property it was still in a split commercial and residential format – with the lower two floors set out as practising rooms and the upper floors as a two bedroomed apartment – but over the year or more they have owned it they have been waiting for planning consent to switch the entire building back to a five bedroomed, three bathroomed family home and only able to do the first tranche of renovation they envisaged when they moved in.

They also plan for an extensive kitchen extension from the rear of the ground floor extending down the garden. But already, the property is quite staggeringly impressive – with high ceilings, huge windows and Victorian shutters, with beautiful polished wooden flooring and two exceptional real life labradors to make it all feel extremely homely. When it came to the heating system – an essential priority in a property of this size and age – it clearly required a total revamp and whilst the work is stalled waiting for the new Worcester Bosch 40kW boiler to drive the system, they have already installed five excellent Stelrad Radiators cast iron radiators which have already proven their value in the recent months.

Traditionally Stelrad has supplied steel radiators and continues to do so with more than two and a half million radiators manufactured each year. But in the past few years, cast iron column radiators – which were first around in Victorian times - have come into vogue again and as always, the company aims to meet the demands of its customers at every level, so it has added a selection of Cast Iron Column radiators to its ever-widening range. The new Stelrad Radiator Cast Iron Column radiator adds undoubted charisma to any modern or period home with its distinctive, ageless look and its Natural Cast finish. With the added options of either Antique Brass or Brushed Nickel TRVs to provide the ultimate in modern heating control.

The classic, clean lines suggest a genuine piece from yesteryear whilst offering the very best in quality and craftsmanship to enhance the very latest in heating technology as it slips effortlessly into the superior elegance of today’s most fashionable of décor. These radiators are floor standing with in-built feet for extra stability as they are significantly heavier than their steel counterparts. They are available in two heights and a wide variety of widths – a total of twenty sizes available. And as you would expect, they come with a cast iron ten-year warranty. In this case, the property owners also stipulated the colour they wanted the radiators delivered in – an attractive gold finish that matches much of the other décor in the home including taps and electric fittings throughout the home.

“We were immediately struck with the look of these excellent radiators and how well they would complement the rest of the décor in the home,” says Amanda Lumley. “The added benefit of being able to specify the colour we needed meant we didn’t have to compromise and the warmth that these radiators deliver proves that they provide the levels of comfort heating we need in these larger rooms where we rely 100% on the radiators to keep us toasty all winter.”

The team at Stelrad is delighted that the cast iron radiators have been met with such positivity: “We’re pleased to be able to respond to customer demand and provide this excellent range of cast iron radiators,” says Stelrad’s Head of Marketing, Chris Harvey. “The arrival of this range confirms our position as a one stop shop for all things radiators and we’re delighted with the early response to the new range we’ve received from installers, merchants, direct customers and even interior designers up and down the UK.” To find out more about Stelrad’s Cast Iron Column radiators go to www.stelradprofessional.com. For more information email marketing@stelrad.com. Alternatively, you can also see regular updates from Stelrad on Twitter @Stelrad and Facebook @StelradRadiators. www.stelrad.com

K3 Radiators - Making Their Presence Known...

K3 radiators have come into their own in recent years as the number of low temperature, renewable heating systems being installed has grown, with more than 60,000 heat pumps installed in the UK in the past year. Lower temperature heating systems can require larger radiators to achieve the comfort heating levels in a home, and in some homes installing larger radiators may be a problem if the wall space does not allow for them.

In these situations, K3 radiators from Stelrad – with three panels and three sets of fins - are an ideal solution – providing 50% more metal heating surface than a standard K2 for example, but from the same size radiator footprint. Alongside better levels of insulation, these radiators can provide the solution required to keep the temperature at the level needed in a home. An alternative solution is the use of vertical radiators which have also grown hugely in popularity, another way of providing larger metal surfaces but in a radiator that takes up wall space form top to bottom of a room rather along the length of a wall space.

Radiators are very much fit for the future and offer a simple to fit, effective heating appliance for new build and replacement heating systems. For more information on the choice of radiators available and for selection and fitting tips head for www.stelrad.com/trade or go to the Stelrad videos on You Tube.