Traditional, Stylish And a Little Bit Different

There are lots of innovations that have sprouted up in the home over the last decade but the ones that really stand out as icons are those that retain the style but are just that little bit different. The Mini when it first came out was a revolution in style that was endlessly copied but never successfully replicated, as one fashion guru put it, “It’s got style up the ying yang”. Ten years ago the sparkling wine Prosecco was unheard of outside mainland Europe but now it has a firm hold on the Champagne market. It has style but it’s just that little bit different enough to stand out. And even in the world of home interior design there are fixtures and fittings that make a similar statement.   When it comes to internal doors there are no huge surprises at the home trade shows but some styles do stand out as being unique and desirable. The Mexicano style has risen in popularity significantly over the last decade but when it comes to the more traditional styles the Victorian six panel door is the gem that stands out as being stylish but just that little bit different.   The ubiquitous Victorian four panel door rightly deserves it’s mass appeal but many people never consider the six panel version and there in lies a good reason to introduce it as something to review. Renovations by there very definition mean new in place of old where the old cannot be rejuvenated. But renovating a property doesn’t mean new for old must be precisely like for like. The more open minded interior designer affords themself some freedom to experiment and upgrade the feel of a home without diluting its period charm. This is why when replacing old four panel Victorian doors the consummate designer can see the potential of different styles in the same place as a tired and common one.   The six panel Victorian door has the deep bottom rail to catch foot scuffs and a same sized middle rail to keep the proportions right. Above the middle rail it has two panels the same size as the lower half of the door but then in contrast to the four panel it has two small panels at the top to complete the six and it works. It’s not revolutionary but it’s different enough to offer something to interior designers looking beyond the routine four panel. So here’s to those things in life that have style but are just that little bit different, the Oscar Pistorius and the Victorian six panels in life that add a novel twist in a traditional world.