Curtains
Just as dressing in layers of clothing will help you to stay warm during the winter, a house can be insulated with layers of textiles. Chris Tebay, of The Curtain Consultancy, advises that lining is essential when considering how to insulate curtains, ‘Thermal interlining or bonded thermal interlining are the best and they will also help with the acoustics.’ Having a puddle on curtains – a little excess fabric that collects on the floor – will also help to keep out cold air in a house with old windows. Nicky Haslam has combined linen curtains with wool festoon blinds in his own Cotswold gatehouse (below left) explaining that the building, with its tall and wide windows, is prone to draughts.
Meanwhile, discussing the spare room in her family home in Wiltshire (above right), Thea Speke says, ‘I wanted the space to feel warm and restful.’ The bed fits into a nook and is enclosed by check curtains from Merchant & Mills; when shut, they exclude draughts. She has used ‘Both Barrels’, a green archive colour from Paint & Paper Library, on the ceiling as well as the walls to increase the feeling of being enveloped.
Certain fabrics are especially effective at providing an added barrier. In her north London house, Georgina Cave of Cave Interiors was keen to retain the single-glazed Crittall french windows opening out to the garden. So, to reduce heat loss, she has hung heavy mohair curtains. ‘They act as a blanket for the whole room,’ she says. ‘I have also used cashmere curtains in one of my projects and they were especially warm.’
Architectural inclusion
Open-plan spaces can often feel full of light and luxuriously expansive, particularly during the summer. However, when the weather grows colder, it can be a challenge to keep them pleasantly warm and inviting. So it is helpful to be able to separate them into smaller spaces that will contain heat more easily. Internal glazed doors, such as the ones introduced by Maria Speake of Retrouvius in this Georgian farmhouse can offer a solution. With reclaimed mahogany frames and Edwardian copper light panes, these form an interesting architectural feature. As they are pocket doors, they can be pushed back into the wall to open up the room completely in warmer weather.
In the London townhouse above, Howark Design has added floor-to-ceiling Crittall-framed glass to create a useful lobby space between the front door and the entrance hall. This helps to reduce the amount of cold air coming into the house and also provides a dedicated area for storing coats and shoes.
In another London house, Anahita Rigby has installed a wood and glass screen with two doors to separate the sitting and dining spaces. When they are closed, the doors enhance the feeling of having a cosy area by an open fire and help to keep the individual rooms warmer. However, as Anahita explains, ‘Light can still travel between the sitting and dining areas.’ The woodwork has been painted white so that it blends in with the walls and helps to retain the wonderful sense of airiness of an open-plan space.
Radiators
Where to place heating is a common dilemma. If installing radiators, it is essential to take into account how they will function most effectively and then consider how they can fit in decoratively in a scheme. As the majority operate using convection heating, it is important that the air is able to circulate. If you plan to cover them in some way, make sure there is enough ventilation and space around them.
In the west London flat of Tamsin Saunders (above), founder of Home & Found, a radiator has been cleverly concealed under a window seat. Using bespoke joinery means that pieces can be built around heating – in this case creating a place to perch. With a creative approach, heating can be transformed into an aesthetically pleasing addition.
Designer Justin Van Breda turns radiators into what he describes as ‘substantial pieces of furniture’. For a client, he designed a Regency-style ‘Monty’ radiator cover (above), which is sophisticated as well as functional. A grille at the front, hidden vents under-neath and vents at the back allow warm air to move around efficiently.
For her own hallway (above), interior designer Beata Heuman has created a console table with a scalloped edge and faux-marble painted top, which camouflages the radiator and also provides a useful surface for keys and post.
