Before and after: Crittall–style glazing gave this tired space a contemporary edge

There is no denying that Crittall-style glazing is having a bit of a moment in the interiors sphere. From doors to windows, shower screens and even cabinets, this iconic iron glazing style is a statement that commands attention. 

Rob and Paul's tired home in Birmingham benefited hugely from knocking down an interior wall, creating a large, open plan kitchen diner. By swapping their original French windows and white uPVC frames for striking Crittall-style glazing that contrasts perfectly to their crisp white walls, they've given the space a strikingly contemporary edge. We've chatted to Rob to find out more.

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The before 

The original kitchen space was small and dark, with minimal worktop space for cooking and no room for socialising. 'The kitchen was so dated and cold,' Rob says. The window frames were fairly nondescript and small, allowing little natural light to enter the room. 

'There was originally a lounge at the rear that was really tired,' Rob says. The traditional style French windows weren't to Rob and Paul's taste, as they craved a more modern and striking design.

‘Paul is a keen cook; we wanted a kitchen where he could prep food while talking to others, so we knew knocking through the rear reception room and in the kitchen would be a good idea,' Rob continues. 

The after

The transformed space is so much brighter. 'We’re north-west facing, so we get the sun at the back in the morning before it moves to the front of the house. We chose to have so many windows here because this is where we spend all our time– I even work down here.' 

When it came to choosing the glazing, we went through some quite radical ideas – we gave our architect Anna Parker free reign. We love the heritage aluminium windows we eventually chose from Origin because they have an element of Japanese simplicity to them. They also frame the garden really well, so it's really lovely to sit inside and look out at our green space.’

'As the house looks like a very typical 1930s semi from the outside, it’s always great to see people come in and look surprised at what they find. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved and it still feels exciting when I walk in. We don’t take it for granted.’