This former glassworks factory had been abandoned for over a decade, and the sea air in Brighton had slowly eaten away the exterior of the building while the interior was left to decay.

The client had a vision to transform this previously commercial building into a modern living space by adding authentic full-width double doors, a unique front door, a balcony door, as well as some sliding sash windows made from Accoya.

Although this was indeed a vast transformation, the client felt it was only right to keep the style and authenticity of the factory at the heart of the project.  As a result, the original fixtures and fittings from the building, such as the internal floorboards, brickwork, and iron pillars, were preserved.

In order for the windows and doors to sync nicely with the aesthetic of the building, the client took inspiration from time-honoured designs.

Nathan McCarter Joinery put forward a complete set of custom-designed and handcrafted doors and windows, which would be seen on the property’s front elevation. These included:

• Three large, ground-floor, double-width doors with opening fanlights
• One ground-floor front door with a centre door knob
• Two first-floor balcony sliding sash windows
• One first-floor balcony half-glazed door

It was vital for the windows and doors to be made with high-performing wood that had a high resistance to sea air as well as being sustainable. This is where Accoya wood comes in. Accoya was a fantastic material choice for the renovations due to its excellent stability and durability, which exceed the advantages of traditional hardwoods, all while being sustainable. To complete the look, the windows and doors were coated with Sikkens RAL 9017 Traffic Black paint, as well as uniform satin brass hardware supplied by long-term suppliers, Coastal Group and the team at Croft.

This project was an extra special one as its renovation journey aired on UK television as an episode of Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations, featuring Nathan McCarter Joinery’s windows and doors.

Distributor: James Latham

Manufacturer: Nathan McCarter Joinery

Coating used: Sikkens RAL 9017 Traffic Black paint

Project completed: December 2021