Garden Decorating Archives - Pinnacle Works Sussex

Revamp Your Lifestyle Without Moving House – Redesign Your Home Interior

Apr 26, 2021 | Construction

Walking into a fresh, perfectly laid out space or a room that makes you instantly feel at home and relaxed is always the ideal. Pinnacle Works provides a wide range of services to our clients that can transform the atmosphere, usage and design of any home interior – making your property bespoke to your lifestyle without needing to pack a single bag.

The challenge for so many homeowners is that it can be difficult to see beyond your existing interior and imagine what you could achieve with creative craftsmanship, contemporary materials, and a little reconfiguration.

Here we’ll run through some of the concepts we have worked on with our clients that have made a profound change to how their home flows, the amount of functional space on offer, and as a compelling way to remain in the property you love, making it work for you.

Open Plan Property Reconfigurations

One of the most sought-after home reconfigurations is to create a light, airy, open plan living space. This aspiration is extremely popular in family homes and properties where it is essential to maximise natural light and ensure there is sufficient space and storage for busy families.

Many period homes and traditional properties contain multiple separated living spaces. For example, a ground floor layout might be split into a utility space, kitchen, dining room, conservatory, hallway and lounge. While separated living can work for some homeowners, it can have several downsides:

Smaller rooms can be dark, cramped, and rarely used.
Family members in different parts of the property become isolated.
It is less sociable, with designated spaces often not large enough for entertaining.
There is reduced capacity for larger pieces of furniture due to narrow doorways and wall space.

One of the reasons for this separated living style is that older homes didn’t benefit from the building materials and resources now available. For example, a closed off living room might have been cosier and less draughty and retain heat from a fireplace without it spreading throughout unoccupied spaces.

However, today’s homeowners have a vast array of options, from underfloor heating to triple glazed windows, panoramic Bi-fold doors and recessed lighting solutions, rendering those practicalities far less of a factor than having a light, spacious and appealing home.

Redesigning Your Home Interior

The kitchen is always a focal point in a home where meals are cooked, and people gather to talk about their day. Hence, it is no surprise that we often manage projects focusing on expanding this space and incorporating a generous kitchen/diner into what was a boxy, stuffy room.

Converting a kitchen can be a relatively simple job, with maximum impact on how you use your property. Some clients opt to retain their existing appliances and cabinets with a floor layout change to ensure the room feels wide open and attractive.

For example:

Separate kitchens can quickly become hot, steamy and damp without enough space for the heat caused by cooking to disperse – whereas reconfiguring this can revamp it into an entertaining area, with large windows, vents and plenty of light.
Galley kitchens can be tiny, with sufficient space for only one person at a time. Kitchen diners are more social and allow the person cooking to converse and chat with others in the dining space, or perhaps for them to lend a hand!

If you’re considering reconfiguring your ground floor to allow for an impressive kitchen/diner, it’s unlikely you’re keen to move. However, a fresh new kitchen can add around 10% to the value of your property. Large, open-plan kitchens are also one of the most desirable qualities on a buyer’s wish list.

Removing Redundant Walls

The next redesign project we work on regularly is in knocking down unnecessary walls. The amount of space you can gain by opening up an interior is astonishing.

Remember that a wall inside your property isn’t just a layer of bricks but includes plaster, insulation, and fittings. We often hear that clients are amazed by the change in space and how much valuable capacity a simple wall had taken up.

There are two scenarios here, depending on whether the walls you’d like to remove are load bearing or not. Non-structural walls can be knocked through quickly, with work required to make good the walls and flooring where the previous structure had been. This might be to:

Create a larger bathroom.
Open up a conservatory or sunroom to extend your living space.
Convert two small bedrooms into one generous room.
Knock through an unused box room to make it more usable.

Load-bearing walls (or support walls) are more complex but can still be removed if you want to increase the space, light and airflow in your property. This type of wall is part of the property’s structure and holds the weight above it through the foundations.

Even if you have a sizeable load-bearing wall running smack bang through the middle of your property, this can be removed and reinforcement built in to ensure the weight of the floor or roof above remains correctly supported. This usually involves creating a temporary support wall for the removal project and fitting a structural beam to carry the load. We can also add structural steelwork frames connected through robust bolting systems to ensure the new, more expansive space is structurally sound.

Note that it is essential to use a professional contractor to remove any structural walls. If they are removed incorrectly or the weight is not correctly supported, it can lead to disastrous consequences, including collapsed ceilings.

We regularly work on these types of reconfigurations and can provide professional advice about the best solutions to suit your property and intended use of your new open-plan space.

Architectural Property Redesign

We love the opportunity to work on exciting and innovative home reconfigurations – and to see the potential of properties with outdated layouts or tired interiors take on a whole new life.

We have specific architectural and structural steelwork experience, which is a fundamental component of any successful redesign where integral parts of the structure need to be changed, moved or removed. Led by our Director, Dave, who has 18 years of professional architectural steelwork expertise, the Pinnacle team has the know-how to advise on a wide range of property redesign projects, including help with reimagining your internal space and the range of layouts available within your property.

Please contact the Pinnacle Works team for more assistance with your home improvement project, whether you need initial design inspiration or are keen to get to work!

Designing the Ultimate Garden Fire Pit

Mar 17, 2021 | Construction, Decorating

A garden fire pit is a stylish, chic and popular way to make the most of your outside spaces.

Our team receives frequent enquiries about constructing bespoke garden fire pits – and as the weather warms and we all appreciate the benefits of spending more time outdoors, that’s only going to increase! Your fire pit style depends very much on the shape, size and aesthetic of your landscaping and what garden inspiration you want to bring to your home.

Here, we’ll run through some of the many benefits of garden fire pits to revitalise your outdoors and how you can adapt your entertaining areas to your own unique tastes.

What are the Benefits of Having a Garden Fire Pit?

There’s little more romantic and relaxing than having a softly cracking fire, warming your toes (and perhaps your marshmallows) as you chill out with friends, enjoy dinner with family, or catch up with your nearest and dearest.

While fires have always been an autumnal tradition, garden fire pits bring this instant ambience into year-round use.

A garden fire pit can be purely decorative or used for cooking and toasting.
Year-round use means you can have a cosy garden seating area, whatever the weather.
Fire pits provide gentle light, mood and atmosphere perfect for entertaining.
Being usable throughout the summer extends your garden space into the night.
Garden fire pits are safe, with flames properly contained and limited to your drum and fuel source. You can also add fire guards and covers if there are young children around.

Fire pits can be as straightforward or as intricate as you like – speak to us about your garden inspiration, and we’ll be delighted to share some design ideas with you. There are thousands of garden design styles to choose between, from slick, contemporary sunken seating areas to snuggly warm dens, functional outdoor kitchen spaces to casual family relaxation pods.

Another benefit is that having a fitted garden fire pit in your property can add value to your home! That depends on what fuel source you use, how well the fire pit has been maintained, and whether it’s a permanent installation or occasionally used in a seating area or deck.

Are Fire Pits Expensive to Maintain?

Garden fire pits are multifunctional, used for warmth, cooking, as a design statement, or entertainment. You can burn a wide range of fuels on your fire pit, and if installed correctly with stable foundations, they require little maintenance apart from periodic cleaning.

Examples of suitable fuel sources include:

Charcoal
Kiln-dried logs
Almost any dried wood – birch, oak, alder and ash are popular.
Smokeless fuels
Wood briquettes

Choosing an aromatic kiln-dried wood is a great way to bring a pleasant scent to the evening air and add to the atmosphere.

Maintenance is simple – you should remove ash and any debris from the garden fire pit, clean with a non-toxic solution, and rinse. Most fire pits only need a general clean from time to time and a deep clean every six months or so. It’s essential to allow your fire pit time to dry after it has been cleaned to ensure it will burn just as brightly next time you want to use it.

Most garden fire pits will burn for anything from three to six hours, depending on how regularly you top up the fuel source. They can be lined with sand to ensure the heat distributes evenly, and cleaning is a little easier.

With so many diverse styles available, Pinnacle can also fit bespoke seating areas, raised or sunken, around a standalone fire pit of your choice. Some homeowners prefer an option with a removable drum for easy storage when not in use.

Why are Garden Fire Pits so Popular?

There’s little doubt that what was once an unusual quirk is now something that millions of homeowners wish to install in their gardens – and the trend for fire pits has taken off significantly in the last few years. Many of the reasons relate to personal taste and how we value our gardens and want to maximise the fresh air and natural light we experience daily.

Particularly over the last year, when so many of us were confined to our homes, we have a newfound appreciation for how much our outdoor spaces bring to our lives. It is essential to ensure your property is somewhere you can relax, spend quality time, and enjoy the best that British summertime has to offer.

Garden design is also completely adaptable, and so you can create any seating area, decking, patio or landscaping that captures the personality of your home and family. Some of the most popular options include:

Using sunken rendered walls to create a sleek feel, with curved edges and a smooth finish to deliver a dedicated seating area for dining with guests.
Tiling your garden fire pit area, whether a bright pop of colour to inject energy or a subtle pattern, to blend in seamlessly with your garden design.
Creating shape with elongated fire pit designs, complementing your garden’s layout and bringing unused areas back into value.
Making your fire pit a focal and social hub of your garden, by building outwards from the seating area.

There are also multiple material options, ranging from modern concrete block to Mediterranean inspired designs, robust brickwork to traditional stone.

Whatever your garden inspiration might be and how you use your outside spaces, a garden fire pit can bring a new dimension to your property and expand your use of the outdoors. From warming winter evenings to relaxing summer nights, family dinner times to barbecue parties, fire pits bring a touch of luxury living that offers real benefits to our wellbeing.

For more information about garden design inspiration or to view previous garden fire pit installation projects, get in touch with the Pinnacle Works team to begin your garden transformation – just in time for summer!

Customise Your Own Home Bar – Indoors or Out!

Feb 21, 2021 | Construction, Joinery

Over the last year, we’ve all spent a lot more time at home than usual. Among all the challenges, it’s also been an opportunity to make the most of the sanctuaries that we call our homes. The Pinnacle Works carpentry teams have been hard at work creating bespoke timber creations for properties across West Sussex. Our number one requested design? Home bars!

Here we’ll run through some of our favourite ideas, and inspirations for unique home bars that bring a sense of fun and family to any property.

For help with bringing your imagination to life, or designing a bar that reflects the style and decor of your house or apartment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

A Social Summer Is Coming!

As the weather slowly warms, and the first green shoots of spring appear, the promise of a glorious summer is on the horizon.

Nobody yet knows quite what that will look like this year; but with hopes of pandemic restrictions lifting, we’re all anticipating social occasions, warm hugs and laid back BBQ days enjoying the sunshine, friends and family. Garden projects have increased by almost 50% during the pandemic!

Now is a great time to think about new planting, and restoring joy to your outdoor spaces after a long, cold winter. Along with cleaning off the grill, dusting off the paddling pool and getting the lawn back into great shape, installing a high quality, timber bar will transform your home into an entertainment venue like no other.

Outdoor home bars can be as large or small as you like, with tailored designs to fit neatly into any unused corners of your outdoor space and give it fresh purpose.
Customised finishes mean that, if you can visualise it, we can create it!
High-quality carpentry creates home bars to withstand the elements.
Bring an injection of colour, style and energy to empty patios – think twinkling lights, Hawaiian leis, or slick, pared-back contemporary city styling.

Staying in is the new going out; and whether you’re thinking of colour blocks and martini glasses or an all-out summertime fiesta, the skilled Pinnacle Works carpentry team can build it.

Lighting Solutions for Outdoor Home Bars

When you’ve got an idea about your bar’s theme and position, the next consideration is lighting. We have a range of suggestions from previous designs!

There are limitless options, and it’s well worth looking at other home bars since well-placed lighting can add ambience, fun, mood and atmosphere – and mean you’ll be out enjoying the fresh air long after the sun has set.

Fairy lights are a traditional outdoor bar lighting option, with a calming effect and multiple battery-operated options.
Wired light bulbs bring a sense of cool loft lighting, and can be bright and welcoming or dimmed and relaxing depending on your event.
Outdoor LED lights are an excellent solution for eco-friendliness and require very little installation time or running costs.
Hardwired lighting is available through the Pinnacle team, creating a long-term outdoor lighting solution suitable for year-round use.

Indoor Home Bar Designs

Of course, your entertaining doesn’t have to be reserved for the garden; and we’re all well aware that the British summer doesn’t make a lot of guarantees regarding the weather…

Through our established team of joiners and carpenters, Pinnacle can design home bars for kitchen and living areas as well as the outdoors. There are lots of great benefits to opting for a home bar design:

Space-saving entertainment area, which can slot into even tiny places.
Make the most of the footprint of your home by utilising every corner.
A cost-effective option, and suitable for kitchens, living rooms, conservatories and outdoor spaces.
Bespoke designs create a bar that aligns with the decor and theme of your home.

Our recommendations for the highest quality materials, finishes and construction methods are always adapted to the type of bar you would like, and where in your home this is to be fitted.

Bringing the Outside In

When you think of a home bar, it’s essential to understand that this doesn’t have to be a typical open top, rectangular construction.

Timber is a versatile, natural material with few limitations!

Covered bars can be used year-round as a dynamic outdoor space.
Weatherproof roofing protects your bar area whatever the weather.
Adding fire pits, seating areas, grills or an outdoor kitchen makes an outdoor bar so much more than an occasional entertaining space!
You can use trellises to encourage climbers to grow, blending your outdoor bar in with your landscaping.

We have created timber outdoor home bars with multiple functionalities; from outdoor games spaces for kids to relaxing lounge areas to sit down with a good book and enjoy the fresh air.

Canopies and roofs are an excellent idea if you’re looking for a cost-effective home bar that will add value to your quality of living, and allow you to spend time outside, even in the rain. Adding quality lighting, soft furnishings and perhaps even an outdoor music system truly creates a new living space – that can increase your garden’s usability and improve the saleable value of your property.

Outdoor Home Bar Design

There are all sorts of ways to adapt your outdoor home bar to your home:

Bars on wheels are a convenient storage option and can be easily packed away in the shed or garage when not in use.
Plant stands on bars add shelving for all of your barware and provide plenty of room to decorate your bar with some greenery to tie in with your garden.
Buffet stands or tiled bars are long-wearing and perfect for entertaining.
Using blackboards or blackboard paint is an excellent way of creating a unique bar menu for special occasions or themed family evenings.
Building a bar into a deck area can transform its uses, and be a fantastic spot for summer evening dinners.

If you’re considering an outdoor home bar, aren’t sure of the design options to fit into your space, or need some style inspiration to capture the right mood, get in touch with the Pinnacle Works team for everything from design tips to construction solutions.

Let’s make it a summer to remember!

Ideas to Transform Your Outside Space

Oct 3, 2020 | Construction, Decorating

Our outside spaces are an area of privacy and relaxation, where we both play and entertain, and can make the most of our family time.

Lockdown has given us a renewed appreciation of the value our gardens bring to our homes, and how by making the most of the design of outside spaces, we can transform the way we live.

Let us share some of our ideas to transform your outside space, renovation ideas for reimagining your garden, be it through the creative use of design, innovative building placement or smart functionality.

Why Redesign Your Outside Space?

Our team works on a wide variety of construction and renovation projects; from groundworks to decor and roofing to extensions. We know that even small gardens and courtyards can be adapted to deliver dynamic, beautiful and tranquil outside spaces that extend the footprint of your home.

By using weatherproof materials, outdoor eating areas and family-friendly design, you reconnect your interior with the outdoors – making your home feel more spacious, adaptable, and provide contemporary entertaining spaces that are sure to impress.

Here are some of our favourite ways to transform your landscaping and garden design!

Garden Rooms

We love the flexibility and space-saving a garden room offers. If you’re short on space, need somewhere to work or relax, a garden room is a fantastic way to make use of that empty space at the end of your garden – use them for:

Home office
Gym
Kids playroom
Craft area
Weatherproof entertaining
Guest accommodation

The beauty of a garden room is that they don’t have to be large to bring a new aspect to your garden, and a new, usable space, to your family living. Pinnacle Works installs bespoke garden rooms that are fully insulated, glazed, weatherproof and can have mains power supplies and utilities as required.

Rendered Seating Areas

Render is a chic way to add texture and shape to your garden, and is a whole lot more visually compelling than any old garden furniture! Choose from colours, styles, and create dramatic curves or sharp contrasting edges – whilst installing unique furniture that is as eco-friendly as it is beautiful.

Outdoor rendering is sturdy and durable, adapted perfectly to the shape and flow of your garden, and can seamlessly integrate with planting areas and walls to slot perfectly into your outside space.

Jacuzzi Bases and Surrounds

Nothing says opulence like your own Jacuzzi; and you’ll not mind the winter cold when you have a luxuriously warm pool to enjoy, entertain in, and use as your personal haven from the world!

From insulating bases to slip-free matting, chic timber gazebos to contemporary stone seating and scandi-style spa bases to modern slate finishes, Pinnacle Works offer an incredible range of Jacuzzi bases and surrounds to take your outside space to the next level.

Outdoor Kitchens/BBQs/Pizza Ovens

One of the most popular ways to renovate your garden design is to move your kitchen – outside! Alfresco dining makes the absolute best of warmer weather, and with a couple of well-placed heaters and a gazebo or overhead rain cover, can be a delight to entertain in throughout the year. Imagine having your own beautifully tiled pizza oven, and perhaps an outdoor cocktail bar, or the ultimate fitted charcoal BBQ with a herb garden at your fingertips!

We love an outdoor kitchen and can advise on the best finishes such as marble countertops, stainless steel finishes and acrylic-sealed flagstone paving to make cooking outdoors a joy.

Outdoor Plumbing and Electrics

We work with clients all the time who want to make better use of their gardens, and elevate the value and style of their home – and often, this comes down to the convenience of having amenities and reliable plumbing in an accessible place.

Here at Pinnacle, we offer the full range of construction and renovation skills; whether you need a bespoke seating area crafted by our carpentry and joinery team, a rainproof cover constructed over your outdoor seating area, or full mains plumbing and electricity.

Garden plumbing and electrics can be used for:

Having running water and electrical points in a summerhouse or garden room.
Bringing convenience to outdoor kitchens.
Running water features, light installations, or security fittings.
Powering appliances.

Cedar Cladding

Cedar cladding brings a rich, natural material to your outside space, and is the ultimate blend of traditional wood with a contemporary feel. This material lends itself to multiple garden features – such as garden rooms, fencing, seating and feature panels.

Our carpentry team love working with cedar cladding for the honesty of strong, reliable timber, as well as using outstanding design to incorporate vapour barriers and air vents for a cedar-clad space that will last for years to come.

Artificial Grass

Artificial grass, or all-around grass, is an excellent choice for gardens with high traffic, where soil quality or concrete foundations make planting a lawn difficult, or for homeowners who don’t have the time to maintain that perfect green lawn!

Whether you have busy kids who love to play football or want to avoid the need to mow and tend to a lawn, AstroTurf or artificial grass is cost-effective, zero maintenance, and remains bright and lush all year round. It’s also a fantastic way to bring a splash of colour to smaller spaces!

Fire Pits

We all want to be able to use our gardens year-round, and a fire pit is both elegant and functional.

Create a cool entertaining space by combining a fire pit with a sunken seating area, and install a waterproof cover or decking space to make your fire pit the heart of your outside space.

Sunken Seating Areas

A fantastic way to make great use of a tight space, or to add depth and levels to your garden is to use a sunken seating area.

The Pinnacle groundworks team make light work of crafting a usable, dynamic space, and you can install any style or finish of seating that fits the aesthetic and ambience of your outside space.

Swimming Pools and Surrounds

Perhaps you think your garden isn’t quite big enough for a swimming pool, but would love to develop your landscaping to incorporate a fun, stylish dip spa? There are thousands of choices when it comes to home pools, and Pinnacle Works are experienced in installing tailored pools with surrounds and features to complement your outside space perfectly.

Options include:

Conservatory swimming pool extensions
Plunge pools and swim spas
Sunken swimming pools to sit flush with your patio
Curved, cubic or custom-shaped pools

Outdoor Glass Balustrading

Glass is an excellent material choice for a garden renovation – and can transform smaller spaces with the power of reflection and crystal-clear sightlines to make the tightest corners appear dramatically bigger.

Glass balustrades incorporate lateral angles, elegance and create a focal point while delivering uninterrupted views and security for seating areas, balconies, mezzanines and pool areas.

Outdoor Lighting to Transform Your Space

Illuminating your outside space is one of the fastest and most cost-effective options in outside space renovation.

Building lighting into your garden design can be used in any number of ways, to:

Highlight pathways, features and focal points.
Illuminate pools, ponds and water features.
Add romantic lighting and ambience to dining areas.
Bring colour and soft illumination to fencing, stairways and walls.

Slabbing, Tiling, Porcelain, Sandstone

Alternative ground materials and finishes can have a profound impact on the feel and style of your outside spaces! From using colour and texture to define each area, to creating visual impact and a statement focal point, using contemporary and eco-friendly materials breathes fresh life into patios and pathways.

Mixing materials, creating pattern through diagonal paving or contrasting slick, high-shine porcelain against a cool, textural sandstone delivers a modern look even on a tight budget.

Decking – Composite or Real Timber

Deck construction is one of the most popular garden finishes – raised decking can create new levels and add shape to your garden. Whether you choose a durable, sustainable composite finish or a treated real timber wooden deck, Pinnacle Works can install your new garden feature in any style, shape or area of your garden.

Timber decks are ideal for dining areas, entertaining spaces or children’s play areas, and are a low-maintenance option that visually offsets grass and planting while being easy to use all year round.

We hope these ideas and construction suggestions are useful! If you have a design idea and need a professional, friendly team to make your garden renovation a reality, get in touch with Pinnacle Works. As a family-run business with a passion for outstanding design, our craftspeople are always on hand to help create your ideal outside spaces to bring a fresh new feel to your home.