Decorating

This perenially popular window style is worth restoring. For when that’s not possible, here’s how to find new ones with traditional appeal

Everything you need to know about sash windows and the definitive guide to wood flooring – from styles and finishes to how to fit it. Plus, interior designer Joanna Laajisto shares her styling tips

First used in the late 17th century, and found almost everywhere from Georgian properties and Victorian terraces to rural cottages and stately homes, sash windows remain an intrinsic part of British architectural history. Consisting of two wooden panels, or ‘sashes’, that slide vertically one in front of the other, they can feature a single glass pane or a series of smaller ones, depending on the era. Although originals can be prone to problems such as rotting, distortion, sticking and rattling, it’s always preferable to restore rather than replace; restoration being a more cost effective and less disruptive option than replacement. It’s also worth noting that original frames and sashes were made of slow-grown soft wood of a much higher quality than the timbers available today, so in most cases, even if they seem beyond repair, windows can be brought back to life. If both frames and sills are rotten, or a window has been substituted with an unattractive replica, your best option is to order a new bespoke window. Windows for period properties must be chosen carefully, and although salvage ones are available from reclamation yards, unfortunately the chances of finding one that fits an existing space are slim to none. Specialist manufacturers will have made-to-measure ranges to suit Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian homes, and most can replicate any design.

Above This beautiful arched sash window, with an elaborate design of panes, provides a beautiful focal point above the sink in ‘The Real Shaker Kitchen’ by Devol