FINE TRADITION Timeless designs take on a whole new life with a few subtle updates

Smart monochrome

Create the base for a sophisticated black and white living room with textured flooring that combines the softness of wool with hardwearing sisal This twist on a classic plaid design comes in five neutral colourways Team with charcoal walls for a space with impact Sisool Plaid Rich Black, 80 per cent wool/20 per cent sisal, £110 a sq metre, Crucial Trading

Country manor

More than any other feature, the front door and windows highlight the period and style of a home. This handsome door in European redwood is painted in a steely grey and has classic mouldings and glazed panels Neat hedging and a stone path also create an entrance with formal elegance

Frenchay door in Anthracite, £2,600; flush casement window in Oxford Clay paint finish, £500; both Timber Windows

Natural elegance

A smart fireplace can lend an air of grandeur to a room. The simple lines of this carved limestone fire surround have a classical elegance Complementing the surround, the understated fire basket and ball-shaped fire dogs bring this living room up to date beautifully Burlington fireplace, £2,130; Soho freestanding fire basket, £450; Spherical steel fire dogs, £390; all Chesney’s

Room with a view

When opening up the back of the house with bifold doors, rather than having an expanse of plain glass, think about choosing a design that includes glazing bars to add a hint of traditional style These multi-folds concertina to open completely. However, for convenience, the two centre leaves can be used in the same way as French doors Multifold bespoke timber doors (W4.5m), £12,600, Ayrton

Rustic element

Practical slate will stand the roughest treatment. Choose it in shades that vary from charcoal to green and it will perfectly disguise footprints in a boot room, corridor or hallway The mixed hues and textured surface will give even a townhouse a country feel It looks fantastic teamed with tongue-and-groove panelled walls. Grey Riven Slate, £19.46 a sq metre, Mandarin Stone

Metal luxe

Open-plan extensions often make a feature of a wall of glass, but this inspired version breaks up what would otherwise be a bare expanse of glazing by incorporating framed panes Available in a mid or dark tone, this bronze frame has a rich patina Keep furnishings simple and streamlined to allow the window to be the main focal point Bronze screen complete with doors, £25,000, Architectural Bronze Casements

Urban attraction

Anyone with a keen eye for design will have latched onto the trend for polished concrete floors but there’s an easier way to get the effect – using porcelain tiles

Hardwearing and frost-resistant, these large-format tiles are just the thing to lead from an extension out onto the terrace. Barbican porcelain tiles, £69.80 a sq metre, Fired Earth

Modern neutral

Rather than replacing a staircase, consider refurbishing an existing one. By introducing new treads, balustrades and newel posts, the whole look of a hall can be transformed without the time and disruption involved in a complete refit

Pale wood, walls and glass panels make the entrance look light and spacious Staircase refurbished with Grey Bardolino Oak and Glass balustrade; prices start at £2,400, Neville Johnson

Scandi glow

No longer confined to the traditional fireplace position, a woodburning stove can inject warmth and interest to a dark corner of a room Provided that an outlet can be found for the flue through an adjacent outside wall, or via a flue pipe exiting through the ceiling, it can make a fantastic freestanding feature

Woodburning stove, 6843, £1,600, Morso