Radiators have been a burden for many years, ruining homes with their ugly white metal appearance. The radiator is no longer a utility item, but a design statement in itself.
‘Clients are increasingly looking for a style element from their radiators,’ says Andrew Dunning, design director at London Contemporary (londoncontemporary.com). People are realizing that reintroducing cast-iron radiators, which were ripped out of historic properties in the 1970s, will add a stylish element into their home.
“This time, we are doing it with color; that shocking-pink radiator on your hallway suddenly becomes a talking piece.”
These are some of the most popular choices this season:
Old school: The Radiator Company Linton radiator in antique brass is from £137. Inset: A black towel radiator, priced £229.99, bathroommountain.co.uk
COLUMN COOL
Column radiators are similar to those found in old schools or churches, but now they come with stylish and modern finishes. The bigger the design, better.
At Victoria Plum, you can find colourful radiators in mulberry or English mustard as well as trusty white and grey (prices from £135, victoriaplum.com).
You can even have a custom-made curved model created. The Ancona design fits into bay windows and around columns (prices from £49.12, theradiatorcompany.co.uk).
COLOUR ME HAPPY
A painted finish is a great way to brighten up a room, or blend in with an existing scheme. Many radiator companies offer thousands of shades and promise to colour match with Farrow & Ball and Little Greene favourites.
The Radiator Company offers cast iron radiators that are painted in a range of popular colours with a durable, long-lasting powder-coat finish. This is a very special application that requires radiators to be heated to 200c. These radiators are guaranteed at least ten year.
You can purchase paints to give your radiator a new look.
A word of warning from the experts: ‘Radiators supplied with painted finishes have a very durable baked-on, powder-coated finish that will not fade,’ says Simon Morris at The Radiator Company. The warranty will be voided if they are repainted.
You can choose between a metallic or a color from the Bisque range (bisque.co.uk). Its iridescent finishes, which change from gold to red and then into silver, are captivating.
PICTURE HERE
Glass radiators can heat your house while also acting as a painting on your walls. If you have limited wall space or cannot fit a horizontal radiator, the vertical designs are the best.
The cost of some of these art imitations may make you go hot under the collar, however, with prices between £860 and £1,397 for the Eucotherm Mars Vitro (justradiators. co.uk If you’re a dab hand with a camera, you can have your own image added by designerbathroomconcepts.com (prices from £820).
THE FINISH LINE
Both brushed and etched finishes are very popular for stainless steel covers in bronze, copper, anthracite, aluminium, and aluminium. The Milano Windsor metallic bronze column radiator is eye-catching yet timeless (£249.95, bestheating.com).
For those with larger budgets, you can check out the Arteplano designs, in copper and brass, at Bisque. These are individually acid-etched for an artistic appearance. You can even find leather and rust-effect finishes (from £710, bisque.co.uk).
METAL DETECTOR
Select the best type and grade of metal. Traditional cast iron radiators are heavy and dense. They take time to heat up to the right temperature, but they remain hot long after the heat is turned off.
For more control and a range of designs, steel radiators — a lighter, less dense metal — heat up and cool down quickly. Aluminium is another highly efficient conductive material, which will heat up quickly. To establish how much heat your room needs, use an online tool such as the heat output calculator at theradiatorcompany.com.
Don’t forget bathroom radiators: A wall-mounted rail adds functionality, helping to keep a bathroom tidy and uncluttered
TOASTY TOWELS
To keep your towels warm, don’t forget to get bathroom rails and radiators.
The Vos and Hix collection of bathroom radiators and towel warmers from JTP was launched recently with designs that can be matched with brassware accessories (from £305, jtpuk.co.uk).
Alternatively, try the artistic-looking Arezzo Anthracite rail (£269.95, victoriaplum.com).
Dunning suggests Bisque designs, where bathrooms are
radiators are shaped like coat-hangers or a coiled spring (Hot Spring) — and are available in all manner of finishes (from £801.60, bisque.co.uk).
There are inexpensive models at Screwfix (from £64.99, screwfix.com) or at Wickes, where you can pick up an anthracite grey towel radiator from £150 (wickes.co.uk).
A wall-mounted rail can also be useful in keeping a bathroom neat and tidy.
WHAT YOUR HOME NEEDS IS A… STORAGE CHOICE
The ancient Egyptians made storage chests with decorative decorations, turning a utilitarian item into something beautiful. They are so popular that they sell for thousands of dollars at auction.
For a modest price, you can get the chest you need to store extra bedding or limit fuel consumption.
Practical: You can purchase the handsome chest you need for your home this winter at a very affordable price
The £126.99 Pittsfield chest from Wayfair has an antique feel (wayfair.co.uk). The £119 Fife in grey with a pine lid from Oak World has a cosy Cotswold cottage vibe (oakworld.co.uk). Maisons du Monde’s range includes the Chalet, a set of two aged pine chests with metal handles (maisonsdumonde.com/uk).
An English 18th-century carved oak chest has a guide price of £2,236 on IstDibs, the auction site (pictured, 1stdibs.co.uk). These chests were replaced by lighter metal trunks in late 19th-century England.
Anne Ashworth
