Becoming a Select Decorator for Dulux places us in the top few percent of decorators throughout the UK. By winning the Dulux Select Decorator of the Year competition we cement our position as one of the premier decorating companies in the country.
This prestigious award is run by Dulux to allow members of the Select scheme to enter an annual competition showcasing the high standard of work carried out in private homes for you, our clients.
This project was chosen as our entry as it represents the wide variety of skills within Quality Décor.
The original enquiry from the client was that they needed a decorator to do special effects on two of their fireplaces, estimated at £650.
Using the knowledge learnt by attending several interior design courses we were able to extend our estimate to include decoration of the entire house. With our suggestions regarding correct specifications and product knowledge of Dulux Trade paints the client increased the funding for the decoration considerably and allowed us to carry out a project to one of the highest standards our Company has ever done in its 26 years trading.
The scope of works included designing and supplying specialist joinery, namely, the master bedroom wardrobes, cupboards in the play room, shelving units in the study, alterations to the bottom 3 treads on the staircase, including making specialist oak handrail and newel post to match existing. Supplying and fitting new hardwood windows with modern draft excluders and K glass fitted to exactly match the original.
We sourced and supplied the children’s bedroom furniture and supplied and fitted specialist low voltage down lighters.
The decoration/renovation was of such a standard that having stripped the walls and sealed them with alkali resisting primer, it was necessary to face fill them in some rooms as many as four times. Each time to differentiate, the fillers were tinted a different colour.
Paper hanging was a required skill. Of particular note is the staircase ceiling which curves in three dimensions and required great lining skills. Especially as the flank window threw light across its surface showing up any imperfections.
The living room fireplace, had previously been painted white, reducing its impact, we suggested graining it to match the furniture in the room.
The client was so impressed with the results that he asked us to do something with the kitchen fireplace.
The mantle was removed and raised we then marbled in a Vert de Mer style and heavily varnished it to produce an antique finish.
The cupboards in the dining room fireplace were also grained, as were the new MDF cupboards we had built in the master bedroom.
French polishing, the dark mahogany stained handrail was stripped and the new handrail we supplied was coloured to match exactly the original handrail that we had striped. The finished wood was sealed with No .8 lacquer to resemble button polish but is harder wearing ideal for a young family.
Finish wallpapers were hung on feature walls in the second study and other areas.
The clients needed assistance with colour design, being a young family they required a contemporary feel yet maintaining the soul of an "Arts & Crafts" home. Bold use of colour was the only way, making statements of the fireplaces. In the bedrooms, this was toned down to a strong co-coordinating colour. By preparing several mood boards we were able to demonstrate this to the client.
All the above works had to be project managed within a tight time scale fitting in with other tradesmen.
In conclusion, I would like to say that it was a pleasure to work for such a lovely couple, who were very adventurous; working with the traditional shades and colours supplied within the Dulux range. Also, to have the opportunity to complete such a project has been a delight to all the Quality Décor team.
Ivor Macklin
Director
On behalf of the team: Wendy Macklin, Robert Dul and Alex Branagh
Read the clients report here.