EXPERT ADVICE
COLOUR WAS USED BEAUTIFULLY INSIDE AND OUT IN ANNA AND JOHN’S HOME – ARCHITECT BILLY SINCLAIR TALKS GETTING THE OUTSIDE RIGHT
As the director of Sinclair Studios, a RIBA chartered architectural practice based in London and Bristol, I specialise in residential projects. For the John and Anna’s house refurbishment, we created an interior sympathetic to its Victorian heritage, while introducing reclaimed and handmade finishes and bold colour. The result is a unique, character-filled home. Depending on whether you live in a 19th-century townhouse or a 1970s semi, paint colour is the perfect tool to emphasise age or contemporise your home. These tips will give you the knowledge and confidence to make your house stand out with pride on your street.
BACK TO BASICS When renovating windows and doors, the only way to achieve a good finish is to first strip off the existing paint or varnish, and get back to the base material. Although it’s tempting to paint over existing paint, this will likely make any new layers more susceptible to flaking in the future. Before applying the finishing paint, make sure to apply a primer, as this provides a flat and stable foundation. And remember to stick to the same brand of undercoats and finishing coats, or the final colour could vary significantly.
IMPORTANCE OF MATERIAL Depending on whether your windows are steel, timber or uPVC, the type of paint and application process varies substantially. For example, the most robust way of finishing a steel or aluminium door is via a process called powder coating, where the frame is dipped or sprayed with a magnetically charged colour powder. This produces a smooth finish which can be matt, satin or gloss. Timber, on the other hand, is traditionally hand painted leaving brush marks which, if done well, produces an authentic texture. However, if you intend for a more contemporary look, then spray painting the timber will provide a cleaner, sharper finish. UPVC windows can also be painted as long as you use the correct primer to provide a good key for the paint.
PERFECT FINISH When choosing a finish for your windows and doors, start by considering the surrounding palette of materials. Is the house built from stock bricks, stucco plaster, stone or timber? A contemporary approach is to match the colour and pain
