Skirting Skiffers for the period home

The new Skirting Skiffers, which protect your skirting board corners, are a great hit - I think a few are even finding their way into stockings this Christmas, judging by the telephone call I took from a customer yesterday.  They are such a simple idea, but really do the business and you can put them all over the house - providing your skirting is loosely at a right angle!

I know you are meant to fit them, when you've just freshly painted and your skirting looks pristine, but they are also great at covering up marked and scruffy skirting - a brilliant quick fix!

They are particularly designed for the period property, being relatively ornate, and will complement other decorative accessories you may have in the home, such as finger plates or door handles. But, if you do have a modern house and want to create that "period" charm, then Skiffers are certainly a great starting point, as they do add a lovely decorative feature and yet are very practical too. I've noticed customers are tending to buy them in quantities of four or six and antique brass is the finish of choice.

Skiffers are one of those style ideas, which we'll soon think has been around for ever, and we'll be wondering what we did before they came along. They are dead simple to fit too - yes, anyone with a screwdriver will be able to fix these in place.  Made of solid brass they withstand no end of bashing by the hoover, suitcases, the childrens' toys etc. and so protect your paint or woodwork beneath, from chipping. I understand some guest houses and restaurants are now fitting them too.

I did get asked the other day, if they need polishing, as the lady thought that as they are brass they would automatically need Brasso or something similar. What a nightmare!  Thank goodness, the answer is no, as they have a protective coating on them, which means they just need dusting, along with the skirting boards.

So, if you are looking for a last minute stocking filler, then a Skiffer to two may be the answer!

Watch Kirstie for some great ideas

I've been catching up recently on some back programmes of Kirstie's Homemade Home on Channel 4 (Tuesday at 8pm) and came across the one about the Victorian heap in Wolverhampton, with a truly dingy staircase. I must admit I've warmed to Kirstie - she does give an insight into some long-forgotten crafts and is prepared to have a go herself.  I was particularly impressed that she decided to fit proper, solid brass stair rods on the renovated staircase, which just looked fabulous against the Crucial Trading stair runner.

The rods she chose were the Premier Hanover, which are a classic design made by Stairrods (UK), with a smart pencil finial (end).  In polished brass finish they contrasted well with the dark wood staircase, but we also sell them in a variety of other finishes including the more contemporary satin brass, and chrome, satin nickel, black, antique brass and pewter.

Some home owners do not realise that you don't have to have the latest trendy runner to fit stair rods - if you have a fitted carpet then just select the FRONT FIX or SIDE FIX stair rod options, when you have chosen the design you like.  The front fix option has a different style of bracket, but looks almost exactly like a runner stair rod, whereas the side fix ones, just attach to your stringboard. I didn't spot Kirstie actually fitting them, on the programme, but it is simple, so long as you can use a screwdriver.

This is an example of a side fix Premier rod on a traditional Persian style carpet. Even a tired old carpet can be pepped up with a smart set of stair rods, and give it a new lease of life. And customers are always so relieved when they discover that each rod is lacquered, so that you don't even have to clean them, just a quick wipe down, now and then, and that's it!

So, if you are inspired to have a go at transforming your staircase with stair rods, in time for Christmas, then don't leave it too long, as most of them are made-to-measure and take at least a week to send out.