Bucking the Trend.
House sizes have not changed a great deal since the 1980s, but the number of rooms we squeeze into our homes is rising, due to the popularity of en suite bathrooms, utility rooms and home offices. With this in mind, sliding systems are now popular within every kind of house, from small new build and apartments where they are used as a space saver or room divider, refurbishments of old buildings using the system to create a dynamic, cost effective feature up to high value properties providing dramatic backdrops for bedrooms with the varying styles and colours that are available on the market.
With the open plan style being used in many properties, room dividers are a very effective way of breaking up an open space and making it seem like there are more rooms. This can be used as an office space or somewhere to put the television.
Pocket doors are now also available to use in small kitchens, bathrooms etc, they use the minimum amount of space by sliding into a pocket of an adjacent dividing wall so you do not have the hassle of having to accommodate a door opening inwards or outwards.
One of the great things about the sliding system is that it can be made-to-measure so it is effective whatever space you have to put it into. For example, if you have to fit a system into a tight space due to a refurbishment of an old building or are working around a strange shaped ceiling, then providing the exact measurements means that the system you choose will fit perfectly regardless of the shape.
Due to the massive growth of the sliding system the doors can now be made much wider, up to 1000mm wide as opposed to hinged doors at 300mm-500mm. The next trend for the following years will be to have a system that appears to have an apparently frameless door where the wide panels appear even larger due to the lack of a visible surrounding frame.
Systems today do not have to rely on standard door sizes. Plot specific systems can run from floor to ceiling or wall to wall, maximising on the space you have to work with – a true fitted system.
ABC&D August 2008
Does size matter?
In this day and age size within a home really does matter, according to RICS data, a typical house built today is 55 per cent smaller than one built before 1920. House size has not changed a great deal since the 1980s, but the number of rooms we squeeze into our homes is rising, due to the popularity of en suite bathrooms, utility rooms and home offices.
So, if this is the case, how do we ensure that we make the most of the space that is available? With the arrival of the minimalist look in the late 1990’s – how people viewed their house interiors took a dramatic turn. The UK homeowner chucked out the chintz in favour of a more streamline look. Bedroom furniture finally caught up with the sliding wardrobe system taking over from hinged doors.
With more and more properties being built nowadays as starter or 3 storey homes there is a real need in the market for something that does not take up a lot of space but looks stylish and effective.
Made-to-measure
One of the great things about the sliding system is that it can be made-to-measure so it is effective whatever space you have to put it into. For example, if you have to fit a system into a tight attic space due to a refurbishment of an old building or are working around a strange shaped ceiling, then providing the exact measurements means that the system you choose will fit perfectly regardless of the shape.
British Builder and Developer – July 2008
Providing a unique range of sliding doors that are quick and easy to install whatever the use, be it for wardrobes, room dividers or to provide storage space, Portico are the leading choice for use in new build projects throughout the UK.
The acquisition of Britannia will mean that Portico has a wider presence throughout the UK, offering national installation for an extensive range of products. This coupled with broader manufacturing skills and vaster industry knowledge makes them the product of choice for new build projects.
Andy Gough, CEO of Portico Midlands comments: “We are delighted with the acquisition of Britannia Wardrobes and are looking forward to having a greater presence within the market place. We know that our products provide great solutions for new build projects and we want to highlight this.”
There are no plans at this time to make any changes to either company. Britannia is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Portico Midlands and it will continue to trade as Britannia from their current location in Hemel Hempstead.
Specifier Review May 2008
Sliding systems are now popular with every kind of house, from small new build and apartments where they are used as a space saver, refurbishments of old buildings using the system to create a dynamic, cost effective feature up to high value properties providing dramatic backdrops for bedrooms with the varying styles and colours that are available on the market.
Professional House Builder and Developer, May 2008
The sliding systems are not always used just as a space saver but also to add a dramatic look for larger properties. High value property has also moved towards sliding systems that are made plot specific and fit the room with full floor to ceiling storage adding that ‘wow’ effect.
In refurbished properties they are bringing a new edge to an old feel, cost effectively adding an up-to-date look with the minimum of effort.
The traditional wooden door with a relief feature is now long gone and so are finishes such as pine and mahogany. Wardrobes are no longer painted and the full panels have been replaced with split glass systems which not only offer a great effect but bounce light back around rooms making them appear larger.
Plain glass was predominantly used when the sliding systems first became popular and this has grown to using effects such as coloured glass to make bold statements and frosted glass to add softer tones.
All systems are framed by aluminium adding to the contemporary feel.
The trend for 2008/2009 is a split panel look with a combination of effective high gloss reflective glass.
Housebuilder and Developer, May 2008
Smooth Installations and Sliding Doors from Portico
Sliding wardrobe doors, storage solutions, mirrors and room dividers from Portico are proving popular in many of the largest and most prestigious new developments around the country.
By supplying a made to measure service with installation directly to the new build industry, spaceslide storage solutions from portico are enabling builders and contractors to add a value added service to their developments. As a result of the offering this efficient and unique service, Portico has been able to successfully survey, supply and install products to many of the most talked about developments of recent times.
In addition to the oak finishes available from Portico, they can also provide alternative cutting edge designs, including black, silver, white, cherry and pearwood along with a choice of specialist glass, including metallic silver, soft white and black.
The range of room dividers effectively provide 'sliding walls' that allow an area to be partitioned off.
The safety backed glass panels offer a multitude of options including highly reflective coloured glass or silver mirror, a variety of frame colours including wood veneer and even a choice to split each panel horizontally using Oriental style bars.
UK Construction, March 2007
Spaceslide
Sliding wardrobe doors, storage solutions and room dividers from Portico have been fitted throughout a number of developments in the UK. By supplying made-to-measure products with installation directly to the new build industry, Spaceslide storage solutions from Portico are enabling builders and contractors to add value added service to their developments. Among the projects are 67 apartments with room dividers at Titanic Mill in Huddersfield, 50 room dividers and 200 wardrobes into Bridgewater Tower, Leeds and 600 complete systems into the Jupiter development in Birmingham.
FX Mag, February 2007
Moving Walls
At Titanic Mill in Huddersfield, 57 apartments have been fitted with sliding wall room dividers from Portico. They allow partitioning of an area, separating dining from lounging or creating a temporary bedroom space. The safety backed glass panels are available in a variety of frame colours.
Architecture Today, February 2007
Smooth installations and sliding doors
Sliding wardrobe doors, mirrors, storage solutions and room dividers from Portico are providing popular in many of the largest and most prestigious new developments around the country. By supplying a made-to-measure service with installation directly to the new build industry, Spaceslide storage solutions from Portico are enabling builders and contractors to take advantage of a value-added service for their developments. Portico's room dividers come with many cutting edge designs, including black, silver, white, cherry and pearwood along with a choice of specialist glass, including metallic silver, soft white and black.
Specifier Review, January 2007
House sizes have not changed a great deal since the 1980s, but the number of rooms we squeeze into our homes is rising, due to the popularity of en suite bathrooms, utility rooms and home offices. With this in mind, sliding systems are now popular within every kind of house, from small new build and apartments where they are used as a space saver or room divider, refurbishments of old buildings using the system to create a dynamic, cost effective feature up to high value properties providing dramatic backdrops for bedrooms with the varying styles and colours that are available on the market.
With the open plan style being used in many properties, room dividers are a very effective way of breaking up an open space and making it seem like there are more rooms. This can be used as an office space or somewhere to put the television.
Pocket doors are now also available to use in small kitchens, bathrooms etc, they use the minimum amount of space by sliding into a pocket of an adjacent dividing wall so you do not have the hassle of having to accommodate a door opening inwards or outwards.
One of the great things about the sliding system is that it can be made-to-measure so it is effective whatever space you have to put it into. For example, if you have to fit a system into a tight space due to a refurbishment of an old building or are working around a strange shaped ceiling, then providing the exact measurements means that the system you choose will fit perfectly regardless of the shape.
Due to the massive growth of the sliding system the doors can now be made much wider, up to 1000mm wide as opposed to hinged doors at 300mm-500mm. The next trend for the following years will be to have a system that appears to have an apparently frameless door where the wide panels appear even larger due to the lack of a visible surrounding frame.
Systems today do not have to rely on standard door sizes. Plot specific systems can run from floor to ceiling or wall to wall, maximising on the space you have to work with – a true fitted system.
ABC&D August 2008
Does size matter?
In this day and age size within a home really does matter, according to RICS data, a typical house built today is 55 per cent smaller than one built before 1920. House size has not changed a great deal since the 1980s, but the number of rooms we squeeze into our homes is rising, due to the popularity of en suite bathrooms, utility rooms and home offices.
So, if this is the case, how do we ensure that we make the most of the space that is available? With the arrival of the minimalist look in the late 1990’s – how people viewed their house interiors took a dramatic turn. The UK homeowner chucked out the chintz in favour of a more streamline look. Bedroom furniture finally caught up with the sliding wardrobe system taking over from hinged doors.
With more and more properties being built nowadays as starter or 3 storey homes there is a real need in the market for something that does not take up a lot of space but looks stylish and effective.
Made-to-measure
One of the great things about the sliding system is that it can be made-to-measure so it is effective whatever space you have to put it into. For example, if you have to fit a system into a tight attic space due to a refurbishment of an old building or are working around a strange shaped ceiling, then providing the exact measurements means that the system you choose will fit perfectly regardless of the shape.
British Builder and Developer – July 2008
New acquisition doubles Portico’s turnover.
Portico Midlands Ltd is delighted to announce their acquisition of Britannia Wardrobes based in Hemel Hempstead. This takeover is set to further enhance Portico’s stance as the leading manufacturer of sliding wardrobes throughout the UK.Providing a unique range of sliding doors that are quick and easy to install whatever the use, be it for wardrobes, room dividers or to provide storage space, Portico are the leading choice for use in new build projects throughout the UK.
The acquisition of Britannia will mean that Portico has a wider presence throughout the UK, offering national installation for an extensive range of products. This coupled with broader manufacturing skills and vaster industry knowledge makes them the product of choice for new build projects.
Andy Gough, CEO of Portico Midlands comments: “We are delighted with the acquisition of Britannia Wardrobes and are looking forward to having a greater presence within the market place. We know that our products provide great solutions for new build projects and we want to highlight this.”
There are no plans at this time to make any changes to either company. Britannia is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Portico Midlands and it will continue to trade as Britannia from their current location in Hemel Hempstead.
Specifier Review May 2008
Trends in fitted wardrobes
With the arrival of the minimalist look in the late 1990’s – how people viewed their house interiors took a dramatic turn. The UK homeowner chucked out the chintz in favour of a more streamline look. The first rooms to change were kitchens with the “ye olde cottage” look being replaced with unfussy smooth lines, fitted carpets throughout then changed to laminate flooring and bedroom furniture finally caught up in about 2001 with the sliding wardrobe system taking over from hinged doors.Sliding systems are now popular with every kind of house, from small new build and apartments where they are used as a space saver, refurbishments of old buildings using the system to create a dynamic, cost effective feature up to high value properties providing dramatic backdrops for bedrooms with the varying styles and colours that are available on the market.
Professional House Builder and Developer, May 2008
Sliding into the latest trends
Does size make a difference? When it comes to building, yes. With more and more starter homes and smaller apartments being built, there is a real need in the market place for a solution that doesn’t take up a lot of space but looks very effective in-situ. The sliding system is perfect in this respect and has helped, particularly with smaller properties where the out-dated hinged styles lack sufficient space to avoid hitting the bed when opened.The sliding systems are not always used just as a space saver but also to add a dramatic look for larger properties. High value property has also moved towards sliding systems that are made plot specific and fit the room with full floor to ceiling storage adding that ‘wow’ effect.
In refurbished properties they are bringing a new edge to an old feel, cost effectively adding an up-to-date look with the minimum of effort.
The traditional wooden door with a relief feature is now long gone and so are finishes such as pine and mahogany. Wardrobes are no longer painted and the full panels have been replaced with split glass systems which not only offer a great effect but bounce light back around rooms making them appear larger.
Plain glass was predominantly used when the sliding systems first became popular and this has grown to using effects such as coloured glass to make bold statements and frosted glass to add softer tones.
All systems are framed by aluminium adding to the contemporary feel.
The trend for 2008/2009 is a split panel look with a combination of effective high gloss reflective glass.
Housebuilder and Developer, May 2008
The latest prestigious new development being fitted with Portico units, Bridgewater Tower in Leeds, is one of K W Linfoot’s most exciting and much anticipated developments.
Occupying a gateway position overlooking Granary Wharf, this ambitious 32-storey development is set to be one of Leeds’ tallest buildings, rising a staggering 360ft/110m high.
The popularity of the sliding wardrobe doors, storage solutions, mirrors and room dividers from Portico continues to increase as the developers of many of the largest and most prestigious new developments around the country add value to their properties by receiving a made to measure service, with installation, direct from Portico.
Portico provide many cutting edge designs including black, silver, gold, chrome, white, cherry, beech, walnut, natural oak, mahogany and pearwood along with a choice of specialist coloured glass: including, silver, metallic silver, red, blue, yellow, ivory, green, soft white and black.
Architects Datafile June 07
Architects Datafile June 07
Sliding wardrobe doors, storage solutions, mirrors and room dividers from Portico are proving popular in many of the largest and most prestigious new developments around the country.
By supplying a made to measure service with installation directly to the new build industry, spaceslide storage solutions from portico are enabling builders and contractors to add a value added service to their developments. As a result of the offering this efficient and unique service, Portico has been able to successfully survey, supply and install products to many of the most talked about developments of recent times.
In addition to the oak finishes available from Portico, they can also provide alternative cutting edge designs, including black, silver, white, cherry and pearwood along with a choice of specialist glass, including metallic silver, soft white and black.
The range of room dividers effectively provide 'sliding walls' that allow an area to be partitioned off.
The safety backed glass panels offer a multitude of options including highly reflective coloured glass or silver mirror, a variety of frame colours including wood veneer and even a choice to split each panel horizontally using Oriental style bars.
UK Construction, March 2007
Spaceslide
Sliding wardrobe doors, storage solutions and room dividers from Portico have been fitted throughout a number of developments in the UK. By supplying made-to-measure products with installation directly to the new build industry, Spaceslide storage solutions from Portico are enabling builders and contractors to add value added service to their developments. Among the projects are 67 apartments with room dividers at Titanic Mill in Huddersfield, 50 room dividers and 200 wardrobes into Bridgewater Tower, Leeds and 600 complete systems into the Jupiter development in Birmingham.
FX Mag, February 2007
Moving Walls
At Titanic Mill in Huddersfield, 57 apartments have been fitted with sliding wall room dividers from Portico. They allow partitioning of an area, separating dining from lounging or creating a temporary bedroom space. The safety backed glass panels are available in a variety of frame colours.
Architecture Today, February 2007
Smooth installations and sliding doors
Sliding wardrobe doors, mirrors, storage solutions and room dividers from Portico are providing popular in many of the largest and most prestigious new developments around the country. By supplying a made-to-measure service with installation directly to the new build industry, Spaceslide storage solutions from Portico are enabling builders and contractors to take advantage of a value-added service for their developments. Portico's room dividers come with many cutting edge designs, including black, silver, white, cherry and pearwood along with a choice of specialist glass, including metallic silver, soft white and black.
Specifier Review, January 2007
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