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Don't miss out on what's happening at Richard Burbidge, plus lots of guides and tips for successful home renovations.

Wall Panelling: A Guide to Different Looks

Use these top wall panelling ideas to add interesting details to your space. Decorative Wall Panels are a great way to upgrade your interior style. From traditional shaker styles to more modern alternatives, wall panelling looks great in both contemporary and period homes. The perfect way to elevate an otherwise simple space, decorative wall panels work well in bedrooms, living rooms and hallways, but can be used almost anywhere in the home. Whether you’re trying to break up a large room, help make a room look more spacious, adding architectural shape or making a stunning focal point; the versatility of decorative mouldings is endless.   Sometimes known as wall cladding, moulding, or wainscoting, wall panelling comes in lots of different forms. If you’re new to DIY, the various types of panels and how to fit them may seem puzzling. Never fear – we’re here to give you the lowdown so you can achieve picture-perfect panelling in your home. Shaker Style Shaker-style panelling, sometimes known as board and batten, is arguably one of the most popular types of DIY panelling. The traditional square appearance adds three-dimensional depth to your room, creating a cosy, homely feel. You’ll often find this style of panelling in bedrooms, as it makes a great feature wall behind a headboard. Plus, shaker-style panelling is quick and simple to install if you choose to do it yourself. Victorian This traditional style of panelling emulates the interior design of a colonial house, alternating wide and narrow panels that can either span half height or full length. Although Victorian panelling takes on various forms, we recommend opting for floor-to-ceiling panelling if you are looking to achieve a truly regal design. The most traditional colour pairings for Victorian panelling are pale greys and blues. Shiplap Shiplap is a type of panelling originally used to waterproof boats. It was installed with grooves cut into the top and bottom of the panels so that they could overlap, forming a tight seal to keep water out. Although made in a similar way today, shiplap panelling is now often used as a decorative addition in nautical-themed bathrooms. Half Wall Panelling Elevate your living room design and give it a touch of Edwardian grandeur with a half-wall DIY board and batten design for added dimension, subtle interest, and texture. Both smart and stylish, opt for panelling in a fresh neutral finish and contrast with an uplifting shade on walls to mix things up with a two-tone scheme. Richard Burbidge recently created a new collection of ready-primed wall panelling kits designed to deliver faster and smoother finishes for interior design projects.  For time-efficient and cost-effective DIY solutions, our PaintReady kits arrive ready for fitting, with no sanding, filling or priming needed, achieving a smoother, faster finish, streamlining the renovation process and expediting installations.   The collection features four distinctive wall panelling kits, significantly expanding design possibilities and DIY projects. These kits include versatile squares, elongated rectangles, and half-wall variations, providing endless creative opportunities for homeowners to install easily.  Looking to find guidance on how to fit wall panelling? Check out our ‘How To Guides’. For inspiration on how to install decorative mouldings into your home, take a look at one of our recent case studies.    View our full collection here: https://richardburbidge.com/shop/mouldings  

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Archwood Group Achieves Planet Mark Year 3 Certificate

Archwood Group has achieved a Year 3 Certificate with Planet Mark, a sustainability certification that verifies and measures carbon and social data to reduce emissions as part of its continued sustainability initiatives. Since teaming up with Planet Mark in 2021, Archwood has achieved a remarkable 66% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions. This success stems from focused efforts to decrease energy consumption and emissions directly at the operational level. Key initiatives include installing a 1MW Solar PV system, transitioning to 100% renewable energy sources, upgrading the FLT fleet to zero-emissions trucks, and optimising site layout, extraction processes, and machine efficiency. This year, Archwood Group is prioritising the reassessment of Scope 3, supply chain emissions, and is actively developing closer collaborations with suppliers. With Scope 3 emissions constituting a significant 95% of Archwood’s total carbon footprint, the group is engaging with 15 key global suppliers, collectively representing 80% of the total company spending. The aim is to share sustainability updates and discuss policy changes, emphasising the pivotal role of these collaborations in achieving their sustainability goals. In 2021, Archwood Group partnered with the sustainability accreditation, Planet Mark a Business Certification internationally recognised sustainability certification for businesses reporting its carbon footprint and demonstrating continuous progress, encouraging action and building an empowered community of like-minded individuals. As part of Archwood’s commitment to environmental best practise, the business has also joined the United Nations Race to Zero campaign. Race to Zero is the UN-backed global campaign rallying businesses to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world. Due to Archwood Group's sustainability initiatives, the business was honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development 2024. This prestigious award, announced on Monday, 6th May, recognises Archwood Group as one of 252 organisations nationally for its excellence in sustainable practices. This accolade is a testament to Archwood Group’s commitment to sustainability. Josh Burbidge, Managing Director of Archwood, commented: “As a business, it is critical that we measure our own impact on the environment. Planet Mark are supporting us with measuring and validating our carbon footprint, creating a clear picture of all our environmental impacts. This support will enable us to identify ways to take rigorous and immediate action to halve our carbon footprint by 2030 and achieve Net Zero by no later than 2050. “After many months of data collation and external verification, we are proud to announce that we’ve achieved the Planet Mark Year 3 Business Certification. This is an incredible achievement involving the entire business. “Through our partnership with Planet Mark, we have protected an area of endangered rainforest thanks to Cool Earth; a charity working alongside rainforest communities to halt deforestation. Additionally, by collaborating with Planet Mark, we are also contributing to the Eden Project – an educational charity building connections with each other and the living world, exploring how we can work together towards a better future.” Josh adds: “Being honoured with the King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development 2024 is an incredible achievement involving the entire business. We want to continue to do our part in having a positive impact on the planet and society. Each and every one of us plays an important role in our sustainability journey, and we’re encouraging colleagues and customers to get involved in any way they can.” Download Year 3 Certificate here Find out more about our Sustainability Journey here

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Monochrome Staircases

In today’s society, colour trends within interior design are constantly evolving, in the past several key trends have emerged from bright vivid colours, pretty pastels to muted neutrals, each bringing its own unique aesthetic and mood to spaces. Choosing a style for your home is a crucial step in the design process that sets the tone for the entire space and can often be tedious and overwhelming process due to the number of options available. The Rise of Monochrome Staircases In recent years, research has shown a shift in homeowner preferences. Many are now favouring contemporary designs over the more traditional, where variations of a single colour can create a cohesive, sophisticated look. This approach can be striking with monochrome interiors creating a sleek, modern aesthetic and can make a space feel more expansive and unified. By varying textures and finishes within the same colour family, designers can add depth and interest without the need for multiple colourways. The monochrome staircase is at the forefront of this trend, offering a bold, stylish alternative to more conventional styles such as dark oak or glass staircase. A monochrome staircase, with its stark contrast between black and white, embodies modern elegance. The clean lines and minimalist aesthetic create a striking visual centrepiece in any home. Whether it's a glass staircase with black accents or a white staircase with black railings, the monochrome look is both sophisticated and versatile. Creating your Monochrome Look This classic colour scheme offers versatility and sophistication, making it a favourite among homeowners seeking a modern aesthetic. Whether you're remodelling an existing staircase or planning a new build, Richard Burbidge can help you achieve the perfect monochrome staircase design in a few simple steps. Paint-Ready Rails Begin with the foundation of your staircase by opting for either a pine or PaintReady rails.  Our PaintReady stairparts arrive ready for fitting, with no sanding, filling, or priming needed, they feature a range of timber stair parts pre-finished in an ultra-smooth, eco-friendly, water-based primer, ready to be painted on arrival and perfectly set the stage for the following contrasting elements:  Black Metal Balusters For a sleek and contemporary look, consider installing black metal balusters. These slender vertical supports provide a contrast against white handrails, creating a striking visual that guides the eye upward. Painted Balusters and Rails Alternatively, the same eye-catching look can be achieved by flipping the contrast, by painting the balusters white, while keeping the rails black. This reverse approach still achieves the monochrome effect while allowing for variation in how the contrast is expressed. To explore the full Richard Burbidge range, click here.

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A Guide to Choosing Stairparts

Whether you're starting a renovation project or building your dream home from the ground up, your staircase serves more than just a functional purpose—it’s a fundamental design feature that sets the tone for your entire interior space.  As the UK’s leading manufacturer of stairparts, we’re here to demystify the process of choosing a staircase and explain what you should consider when selecting your parts.  Materials  Oak and pine are the most popular material choices for stairparts, and both have unique advantages. Oak is renowned for its durability and timeless appeal. It has a natural texture and warm undertones, from subtle reddish hues to deeper yellow tones. As a hardwood, its strength and longevity make it an ideal choice for high-traffic areas, ensuring resilience against daily wear and tear.  Pine is known for its light colour, distinctive grain patterns, and rustic allure. As a softwood, pine isn’t as hardy as oak, but it's lightweight and versatile, making it a cost-effective and highly customisable choice. Pine takes finishes and waxes well, so you can paint or stain it any colour of your choosing to match your furnishings.  Richard Burbidge’s PaintReady collection offers a range of timber stairparts ready finished in an ultra-smooth, eco-friendly, water-based primer. This means No sanding, no filling, no priming, for less time on the job. Customers also have the flexibility to mix and match different timber options or combine timber with a painted finish. Your Property The staircase plays an integral role in the overall look and feel of your space. When selecting stairparts, it's essential to consider the character and style of your property to achieve cohesive and harmonious interiors.  If you live in a heritage or period property with original architectural features, opt for stair parts crafted from rich, enduring hardwood materials like oak. Oak has a timeless elegance and sophistication, perfectly complementing the historic charm of your property while adding a touch of grandeur to your staircase.  Alternatively, if your home has a more contemporary or eclectic aesthetic, consider stair parts made from a combination of pine, glass or metal to achieve a modern, airy ambience.  Selecting Stair Parts A staircase is only as impressive as the sum of its parts. At Richard Burbidge, we have a collection of stairparts to suit every home, with a choice of glass, metal and timber that can elevate the ordinary into the inspirational.  Choosing your stairparts involves understanding each component's purpose and design to create a functional and visually striking staircase.  Let’s break down some of the core elements:  Spindles and Balusters: Stair spindles, also known as balusters, are the vertical rods connecting the handrail to the stairs. These components can be made from wood, metal, or glass to suit your interior preferences. Think of each spindle as individual design elements that work together to form a complete, visually striking staircase.  Baserail: A baserail is the horizontal component of a handrail system that runs along the bottom of the staircase, providing support and safety. It typically sits at the base of the balusters or spindles and serves as a structural element to which the spindles are attached. The baserail may feature a groove for spindles to slot into or remain solid, with metal spindles or glass brackets directly affixed to it. Our baserails are available in various timbers to match any interior style, including oak, pine, hemlock, and a white finish.  Newel posts: The newel post is the pillar that supports the handrail on a staircase. Though newel posts offer safety and are a structural stairpart, they also function as decorative elements in your interior design. Easily transform your staircase with our ReNewel Cladding System, the ideal solution for refreshing or modernising old newels that are tough to replace. Customisable kits are available in Oak and Pine finishes, offering a convenient way to update your staircase. Our unique and innovative designs enable you to transform most staircases in a matter of days. Check out our complete selection of stairparts here.  Safety  When renovating your staircase, safety should always come first. Richard Burbidge stair systems undergo thorough testing and evaluations by FIRA, the recognised authority in timber product testing. Not only does this ensure that our products last the test of time, but it also verifies that they comply with all necessary building regulations. You’ll have the peace of mind that your staircase prioritises safety without compromising style or quality.  No matter the design, the most integral part of any staircase is the quality of the materials and the parts. With over 150 years of experience manufacturing timber products, you can be confident that your Richard Burbidge staircase will be an excellent investment. To book a design consultation, click here; our expert team will contact you soon.  

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Archwood Group Achieves Prestigious King's Award for Enterprise

We have been honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development 2024. Archwood Group is one of 252 organisations nationally to be recognised with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise. As announced on Monday 6 May, Archwood Group has been recognised for its excellence in Sustainable Development 2024. Josh Burbidge, Managing Director of Archwood Group, comments: “Being honoured with the King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development 2024 is an incredible achievement involving the entire business. We want to continue to do our part in having a positive impact on the planet and society. Each and every one of us plays an important role in our sustainability journey, and we’re encouraging colleagues and customers to get involved in any way they can.” The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed last year to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses. The Award programme, now in its 58th year, is the most prestigious business award in the country, with successful businesses able to use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years. The award is proof of Archwood Group’s dedication to sustainable practices, following a remarkable 66% reduction in emissions. Installation of over 2,600 solar panels underscores their proactive stance on reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to 100% renewable energy. In 2021, Archwood Group partnered with the sustainability accreditation, Planet Mark, and also joined the United Nations Race to Zero campaign, whereby the business has committed to achieve Net Zero by no later than 2050. This follows Archwood Group’s appointment of its internal Environmental Action Group to drive sustainable action throughout the business. You can see all the winners of The King’s Awards for Enterprise 2024 in a special supplement of The Gazette: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/64386/supplement/S1

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DIY made easy with our NEW Mix & Match PaintReady Wall Panelling Kits

Following the success of our PaintReady Stairparts range, we have created a new collection of ready-primed wall panelling kits designed to deliver faster and smoother finishes for interior design projects. Wall panelling is currently experiencing a comeback. An interior design style that is low-cost, easy to install and offers soundproofing and insulation benefits, panelling is a home improvement trend that is not looking to stop any time soon. For time-efficient and cost-effective DIY solutions, our PaintReady kits arrive ready for fitting, with no sanding, filling or priming needed, achieving a smoother, faster finish, streamlining the renovation process and expediting installations. Our accessible kits make creating a stylish home easy and with a 20% rise in women DIYers*, we pride ourselves on creating products that inspire design, mix style with functionality and are easy to use. Whether you are a seasoned craftswoman or a DIY novice, our kits make achieving your desired look simpler than ever. The collection features four distinctive wall panelling kits, significantly expanding design possibilities and DIY projects. Within these kits, versatile squares, elongated rectangles, and half-wall variations provide endless creative opportunities for homeowners to install easily. Users can experiment with various kit combinations to achieve the desired look, designed to allow you to effortlessly blend different kits and create a unique aesthetic ranging from traditional to contemporary or even eccentric styles. The high-quality mouldings are precisely cut and mitred to size, then coated with our new water-based primer, providing an ideal surface for paint application and final finishing. With sustainability in mind, we use FSC certified pine, offering eco-friendly design solutions. To view our complete PaintReady panelling kit collection, click here. *Source: https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2024/01/04/sisters-are-doing-it-for-themselves     

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Combining fantastic design with the finest craftsmanship

Established in 1867, family run Richard Burbidge has been passionate about the design, manufacture and supply of timber products for over 150 years. Today we offer a range of innovative products designed to transform your home.

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