In a bid to redesign the decor in their three-bedroom semi-detached home, Valerie and Brian Sleightholme called upon the expertise of Gary Shaw (General Manager) and his team at Sliderobes Stockton.
The couple is nearing retirement and, having not carried out any major changes to their home’s fixtures and fittings since moving in to the property some 25 years ago, they felt it was time to give it a complete makeover. Here, they explain how they went about giving their bedroom a refreshing new look:
What space did you have to play with?
‘We bought our home as part of a self-build scheme 25 years ago. When we moved in, the structure and all the fittings were built to our tastes so we didn’t need to do any work for quite a while. Recently, we decided to redecorate throughout – the décor was looking tired and when we retire in a couple of years, we’ll be spending a lot more time at home. We wanted to get it ready in advance of this.
The house has been completely revamped from top to bottom and redesigning the bedroom was one of the first jobs we decided to tackle. It previously featured fitted bedroom furniture with cupboards that went all the way around the room and over the bed head, and a built-in dressing table and seating area. It was frivolous with lots of detail so the style felt outdated. We decided to take it out and replace it with a beautiful new look that was minimal in style and elegance – that’s where Sliderobes came in.’
What were you trying to achieve?
‘To modernise the house and add the ‘now’ factor, we chose fixtures and low-slung furniture for the living room. The bedroom needed to reflect this new contemporary yet classic style. We wanted to create a look that felt sleek, calm and clutter-free which, at the same time, gave us the storage practicalities we needed.’
How did you make your choices?
‘Sliderobes was advertising on TV and we weren’t impressed by what we found locally so we requested a Sliderobes brochure. We fell in love with the range on offer so we decided to go and visit the Sliderobes showroom in Stockton to see the range up close and personal. The moment we walked in, we knew it was great quality and we fell in love with the styles we saw.’
How did you make your choices?
‘We had our heart set on a light wood. We knew we wanted to incorporate mirrored panels which open up the room and reflect the light. Sliderobes offered us wood samples to take back to our bedroom to see how it would look under the light there. On returning to the showroom, the Sliderobes’ team showed us a whole sliding wardrobe panel of the finish we liked. This gave us a clear idea of what the door would look like and reassured us that we had picked the right style and colour.
The next step was for a Sliderobes designer to visit our home and work out a design for our new bedroom. Using 3D computer software, they showed us what the finished room would look like and we were impressed by what we saw.
We chose a seven-panel sliding wardrobe in a stunning Lancaster wood. Three of the doors feature curvaceous mirror panels, which look great with the wood and brass bed and lamp fittings. Sliderobes also made the matching bedside cabinets and the look is tied together with gold satin curtains, a stylish gold natural-leaf wallpaper print and biscuit-coloured carpet. Seven spotlights above each sliding door panel highlight the beauty of the wood and bring the room to life.
When it came to the wardrobe’s interior, we were spoilt for choice; the storage options are vast. We chose pull-down hanging rails for easy access, pull-out trouser rails, tie racks and chrome sliding drawers. Every inch of space is used to its full potential with a corner hanging area and big deep shelving that comes in very handy for linens, jumpers and duvets. There’s a 10-inch storage space at the top of the wardrobe that’s ideal for odds and ends.’
Did your experience of Sliderobes meet your expectations?
‘When it came to craftsmanship, we were impressed by the attention to detail. For example, instead of sliding the wardrobe open to reveal the wall at the back, our wardrobe is finished in a wood to match the fascia of the wardrobe – it’s a glamorous touch.
Sliderobes was very helpful and the fitters were fantastic. They fixed the wardrobe with a minimum amount of mess and arrived when they said they would.’
Would you recommend Sliderobes to your friends?
‘Yes, definitely. The showroom really stood out as there’s such a great choice and the service was wonderful. The aftercare service is reliable too. Once our bedroom was finished, th Stockton team phoned to check we were happy with it all and, indeed, we really are…’
If it is not convenient for you to visit a store, a Sliderobes designer will visit your home, at a time to suit you, for a free, no-obligation design appointment to discuss requirements. For more information about Sliderobes, please call 0800 454 465 in the UK and 1800 352 352 in ROI or visit www.sliderobes.com. For interior design and home suggestions, follow Sliderobes on Twitter and Facebook.
