First Utility has said that if things continue as they are, energy bills for some households could overtake the cost  of mortgage repayments. The increase in energy bills is increasing so steeply that they say this could become reality by 2018.

The research showed that fuel bills have risen an average of 8.5% each year over the last five years. Whilst consumers have been advised to turn their heating down there has been criticism that certain Government policies around renewable energy have added unnecessarily to the cost of energy bills.

But is it practical to say to simply turn your heating down? Where does it end? With increasing fuel and food bills hitting most households hard too the day to day running costs of most homes appears to be ever increasing. It doesn’t help when the public hear announcements of massive profits by many of these companies when so many people are struggling to cover their existing expenses.

Renewable energy is one alternative and companies like Carmichael Browns are helping many to look at potential ways that they can save on their energy bills by moving to renewable alternatives, one of the main benefits of this is that there are many Government schemes available that may actually help you make money from such a move.

Looking at ways of cutting your own costs by trying not to waste energy can help too, things like using TRVs on your radiators, making sure lights are turned off when you leave the room, wear more layers indoors so that you can turn your thermostat down. There are lots of things you can do to help yourself but there has to be a longer term plan and this can only be achievement by the Government, energy companies and members of the public working together to come up with an affordable solution for people.

Whether your plan is to change one room or a whole home its important to start with a structured approach. It’s very easy to get caught up in the fun stuff such as choosing colours, furniture and new radiators and forget about the practical elements. The first thing to consider is how you will use the room and from there come up with an accurate plan so that you can start to really understand the space you have and how you can use it.

The place to start is by measuring your room and them draw a to-scale floor plan, there are lots on online tools that can help you to do this for free, so spend some time searching for one that you find suits your needs. Make sure you note anything that cannot be moved, for example doors and windows and the postitioning of radiators as well as any large furniture or fitted cupboards that are going to stay where they are.

It’s also important to mark sweeps, these are the spaces allocated to opening draws, doors and windows. Mark on your plan power points, aerials sockets and telephone sockets to make sure that they don’t get covered up. It’s also important to remember that depending on the scale of your project some of this may well be moved around, but for purposes of this blog post I shall assume that this is a purely aesthetic project.

Next think about the flow of the room, if you spend time watching TV for example then make sure in the lounge area all the sofa’s in regular use make this easy. Also think about how people will walk around the room and how easy it is to access things. It’s a good idea to cut out furniture shapes so that you can move them around easily on your plan to find out which works best for you.

Once the main layout has been decided then you can move onto the fun bit, choosing your colours, designs and soft furnishings, oh and don’t forget your new designer radiators (sorry, couldn’t resist!)

There are lots of different designs available in the designer radiator market now so how do you decide which contemporary radiator to go for? Well here are some ideas and things to consider.

Your Project

Are you looking at replacing all of the radiators in your home or just one, what kind of project is it?  How much leeway do you have in terms of moving pipes, how much space you will have available and what kind of heat output will you need.

It’s important to understand this before you start thinking about design as this may constrict the choice of radiator. For example if you are having a loft conversion you may be short on wall space and so getting the best output could be your biggest consideration. Or if you are having a new bathroom installed you may want to have a vertical towel radiator put in so that you can have lovely warm, dry towels when you get out of the shower or bath.

The Décor

Once you know the type and size of radiator that you will need you can start to think about colour, design and the shape that you want. You need to first take into consideration the décor of that room, are you going for a traditional feel or minimalistic or modern.  In this post we are focussing on contemporary radiator ideas.

For contemporary style radiators you want to next decide if you are looking for clean lines and simplicity or one of our feature radiators that really stands out and looks almost like a piece of art rather than a functional radiator. I always say to remember that these are going to be in place for a while and as investment pieces you need to make sure that you make the right decision for you before you buy.

Whether you are moving into a new home or updating an existing one, installing designer radiators can add style and elegance to any room. The days of ugly white radiators that basically make a whole wall of living space unusable are a thing of the past. As well as being functional the designer radiators that we supply throughout the UK can turn what is normally seen as a boring necessity into a fashion piece.

Types of Designer Radiators

There are lots of different types of designer radiators; the list below covers just a few of them:

• Feature radiators – A real centre piece, in fact you could say a piece of art in their own right, these tend to be the higher end of the designer radiator market and are relatively new within the UK.
• Towel Rails – probably the most popular form of designer radiator, towel rails not only look good and save you space, they also have a function in giving you somewhere to store and heat your towels. We have seen these in the UK for a number of years now and are still increasing in popularity.
• Space Savers – what I like to call space savers are modern style designer radiators which are formed in a way to save you space. Again relatively new to the UK, the chrome versions are incredibly popular.
• Traditional – sounds like a conflict, mentioning the word traditional in an article about designer radiators. With the level of history we have in the UK, these radiators are particularly aimed at period properties, those who want a traditional look with modern materials, increased heat output and the energy saving benefits that the more modern designer radiators give.

Not only do designer radiators come in a wide range of styles, they are now also available in a large number of colours too, so if you want your radiator to fit in with the décor of your room, it is really easy to do so.

Please take a look at our range of designer radiators. We deliver all across the UK and offer free delivery for all of our designer radiators.

Radiators are no longer just seen as a functional means to heat your home, but are becoming more integral to a room’s interior décor. Choosing a vertical designer radiator allows you to take full advantage of the benefits of trendy modern radiator styles.

Make a statement with a vertical designer radiator

Just by choosing this style you are already making a style statement that sets your designer radiator apart from most others, as horizontal radiators tend to be the more usual choice. Vertical radiators are relatively new to the UK market and are at the cutting edge of designer style.

There are also an amazing range of vertical styles available, many of which look more like modern artworks or sculptures than heating appliances. Take a look at some of the feature vertical radiators we offer and you’ll see what we mean:

• The Treo vertical designer radiator has a unique three hole design that makes it look like it came straight from an art gallery
• The Ice double vertical radiator’s mirror-like stainless steel finish means that few will realise it is actually a radiator at all
• The striking Tuboni radiators also come in double or triple options for even more impact
• The Blade vertical design is a gorgeous example of sculptural minimalism

Each of these would be a real signature piece and talking point in any modern home.

Maximise your use of space with a vertical designer radiator

Choosing a vertical designer radiator allows you to make the most of the space you have available without compromising on heating quantity or quality. Using the height of the wall instead of the width means less worrying about how to fit your furniture around your radiators, and the stunning styles can often replace the need to hand any further artwork. This is a great example of how a simple change of style can make a huge difference.

As well as in your main living space, vertical radiator styles are also particularly suited to entrance hallways, creating a dramatic impact as guests enter your home while using the minimum of space. They also come into their own in the bathroom, as vertical designer towel radiators provide the perfect mix of space saving form and function.

Whether you are looking for a signature piece for your living room, a dramatic style for your entrance or a luxurious addition to a bathroom or bedroom, please browse our range to find the perfect vertical designer radiator for your home.

We are used to seeing white rectangle radiators in pretty much every room of every house, but there are so many more options. Contemporary radiators take what was once a boring necessity and turn it into something much more exciting. With every colour, shape, material and style you can imagine available, contemporary radiators have come a long way.

The history of contemporary radiators

We first saw radiators in the early 18th century, though they really only became widespread in the 20th century and since the 1980’s have been a feature in the vast majority of homes. We have tried everything over the years to make the most of them. Ugly and cumbersome, we have painted them to merge into the background, covered them over, put things in front of them (not the most energy efficient thing to do), pretty much anything we can think of to help them fit into the overall décor of a room.

Different types of contemporary radiators

Below are some of the types available:

• Classic Towel Radiators – the first contemporary radiators we really saw
• Designer Radiators – contemporary, colourful and with a multitude of shapes and sizes
• Feature Radiators – These contemporary radiators are there to give the wow factor, to become the centre-piece of your room

Which type of contemporary radiator is right for you

These are just a small handful of the kinds of contemporary radiators that are available today. So whatever your taste, whatever size of room you have there is an option for you. If you have an older property then there are a whole host of radiators which have the old cast iron feel with all of the energy efficiency we expect from a contemporary radiators. If you like the minimalistic look, why not try the mirrored versions, or if you like the more traditional style then there is a designer radiator for you too. Please browse through our selection of designer and contemporary radiators and we are sure you will find the right solution for your home.

The whole aim of a radiator is to emit heat through radiation and convection, in other words to heat out homes. Because they really are a functional item the design aspect was pretty much ignored for a long time. It’s only recently that we have seen consideration towards making radiators stylish and contemporary.

Don’t choose design over output

Radiator design does have its restrictions though. Regardless of how stylish a radiator you want to purchase, there is really no point unless it also works and keeps your room warm. One of the things that you need to think about when purchasing a designer radiator is the amount of output you get. This varies considerably and you will often find that some of the cheaper designer radiators on the market do not emit sufficient heat and are really more about looks than substance. Please do check that you aren’t so focussed on radiator design that you overlook this very important consideration.

Things to consider when choosing your design of radiator

Some other things to consider are:

• That the radiator design fits with your room’s decor
• That it doesn’t overwhelm in terms of size
• Obviously output
• Quality vs price – it is not always best to buy the cheapest
• That you choose a design of radiator that won’t age quickly

Room Decoration vs Radiator Design

Whichever colour and style radiator you choose it needs to fit in with your existing decor, so be sure that you aren’t going to dramatically change it. There is nothing worse than being left with a radiator that stands out like a sore thumb and is no longer in keeping with the rest of the room. Also remember that you are going to have the radiator for a long time so make sure you are happy with the design and that it won’t date quickly or you won’t get fed up of it.

Please do browse our selection of radiator designs and we’d love you to give us your feedback

Feature radiators tend to be very design focused and at the higher end of the spectrum in terms of both price and quality. Often available in a wide range of colours and designs, feature radiators really will create a talking point in your home.

If you are more interested in function then this probably isn’t the best choice for you, but rest assured all of the products we stock are not only aesthetically pleasing, but we make sure that they live up to the job as well. Make sure when choosing any kind of radiators that they are going to produce the required output for your room and do the job that they are supposed to as well as looking pretty.

Why are Feature Radiators different?

Many of the feature radiators available don’t actually look anything like radiators. With mirrored or art frontage and all kinds of shapes and colours they often resemble sculptures rather than radiators. So you can create a big impact in your home by going for something that little bit different.

What kinds of homes are feature radiators suitable for?

I wouldn’t recommend feature radiators if you have an old property with very traditional decor. Whilst you want your purchase to stand out, you don’t want it to look out of place. So if you choose a minimalist design then you should have a similar approach to the rest of the interior decor in that particular room. Sounds like common sense I know, but you would be amazed at the number of people that do not take this into consideration.

Whichever kind of feature radiator you purchase remember that it will be in your home for a long time. Most come with at least a 5 year guarantee, some up to 20 years, so when you are investing in these products it really isn’t an impulse buy. Please do not hesitate to ask us if you have any additional questions about our feature radiators.