Journal
Honest writing about the craft of painting, decorating, joinery and restoration — and the homes across Cumbria and Lancashire we look after.
Kendal · Interior Painting & Decorating
The new RENOV8 Volkswagen ID. Buzz fleet is now on the road across Cumbria and Lancashire, bringing the same careful craftsmanship to every project in a modern, fully electric vehicle.
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Kendal · Interior Painting & Decorating
Matt, eggshell, satin or gloss? A room-by-room guide to choosing the right sheen level for older stone cottages in Kendal and the Lakes, where damp, breathability and period detail all change the answer.
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Milnthorpe · Interior Painting & Decorating
RENOV8 Northwest is introducing an electric VW ID. Buzz fleet to cut emissions on every journey across Cumbria and Lancashire. Here's how we're shrinking our carbon footprint.
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Sedbergh · Surface Preparation
The paint is the last five percent of any decorating job. Here's why the hours spent filling, sanding, priming and stripping back are what actually determine whether a finish lasts two years or twenty.
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Troutbeck · Restoration & Repair
A full restoration of a decorative Victorian timber entrance in Troutbeck — paint stripped back, resin and putty repairs, and a heritage-quality high-gloss finish.
Read article →Kendal · Interior Painting & Decorating
Kendal's stone-built townhouses demand patience, the right primers and a respect for original detail. Here's how we approach interior work in the South Lakes' historic capital.
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Windermere · Exterior Painting
Lakeside properties take a battering from wind, rain and sun reflected off the water. Here's what good exterior painting looks like in Windermere.
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Ambleside · Wallpaper Hanging
Ambleside's slate-clad cottages and boutique interiors are made for considered wallpaper. Here's how we approach hanging in older Lakeland walls.
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Lancaster · Surface Preparation
Lancaster's Georgian and Victorian housing stock rewards thorough preparation. Here's what really happens before the first coat goes on.
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Grange-over-Sands · Window Restoration
Grange-over-Sands has some of the finest Edwardian sash windows in the North-West. Here's how we restore rather than replace them.
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Kirkby Lonsdale · Door Restoration
A front door does more work than any other piece of timber on the house. Here's how we restore Kirkby Lonsdale's period doors to look — and shut — like new.
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Ulverston · Restoration & Repair
Ulverston's market-town cottages need careful repair before decoration. Here's how we approach the unseen work that makes the finish last.
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Bowness-on-Windermere · Bespoke Joinery
Bowness homes ask a lot of their joinery — boot rooms, snug seating, lakeside views. Here's how we design and build bespoke pieces that fit.
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Preston · Fitted Wardrobes
Preston's mix of terraces, semis and new-builds throws up every kind of bedroom shape. Here's how we design fitted wardrobes that fit them all.
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Garstang · Media Walls
A media wall is the new heart of the family room. Here's how we design and build them for Garstang homes — clean, integrated and easy to live with.
Read article →Grasmere · Fitted Furniture
Grasmere's heritage cottages don't suit catalogue furniture. Here's how we design and build fitted pieces that look like they've always been there.
Read article →A Final Thought
Honest advice, careful preparation and beautiful results across Cumbria and Lancashire.
