Instashade looks at some of the trends shaping outdoor living in Spring/Summer 2026... As outdoor spaces continue to evolve from functional add-ons into fully realised extensions of the home, InstaShade – premium partner of Grand Designs – reveals the key trends shaping how we live, entertain and unwind outside this season. With insight drawn from both residential and commercial projects across the UK, InstaShade’s latest trend forecast captures a market that is becoming mo

As the demand for frame-style and Art Deco-inspired shower screens continues to rise, CRL’s Quadrato Shower System is a cutting-edge solution that combines style, versatility, and ease of installation. This innovative system provides designers with the creative freedom to transform ordinary bathrooms into stunning, on-trend spaces. The Quadrato Shower System by CRL offers a sophisticated and customisable look, leveraging the elegance of metal flat bars to create a striking gr

As the UK’s leading authority on steel windows, doors and screens, the Steel Window Association (SWA) represents manufacturers, suppliers and specialists committed to maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship, performance and design across the industry. Here, the SWA talks to leading interior designer, Amelia McNeil, about how steel in the home steals the show for aspirational clients. Internal W20 doors and screens in a Fulham townhouse. Design and vision by Amelia

Paul Trace From Stella Rooflight Discusses Why Material Choice Matters In Conservation Rooflights Conservation rooflights are often judged on aesthetics first. Sightlines, glazing bars, flush detailing and planning compliance understandably dominate the specification conversation, particularly within listed buildings and sensitive heritage settings. Yet beneath the visual detailing lies a far more important consideration that is still too often overlooked within the industry:

NASA’s first manned flight around the moon for 50 years has sparked fresh interest in space exploration while also reminding us of the tantalising properties to a vacuum: especially back here on earth. As the poster for the original Alien movie said: “In space no one can hear you scream.” There are many industrial applications for vacuum technology, and these continue to expand as technology advances. At the same time, falling costs are making it an increasingly practical s

Window and door sealant tape specialist ISO Chemie is investing further in supporting the house building sector with a new exhibition at a showroom dedicated to Passivhaus principles, sustainable innovation, and smart eco-living. The move will see a permanent showroom at Home by Milestone - The Passivhaus Centre of Excellence in Matlock, Derbyshire, enabling the company to showcase its thermal insulating and load bearing bracket support system WINFRAMER Type 1 and Hybratec

Home renovators, self-builders and construction professionals are invited to visit The National Self Build and Renovation Centre Spring Show on the 15th and 16th May, where Ecological Building Systems will be showcasing practical solutions for both new build and retrofit projects. Visitors will be able to explore two dedicated exhibition stands from Ecological Building Systems, one focused on retrofit solutions and the other on timber frame new build systems. Technical spec

Architects today are under more pressure than ever. Tighter programmes, complex planning constraints, heightened sustainability targets and exacting clients mean there is little room for friction anywhere in the supply chain. When it comes to cast stone, architects are not simply looking for a manufacturer; they are looking for a partner who understands design intent, technical reality, and the long-term value of the buildings they create. Here, based on years of close collab

Following a successful debut in 2025, Taylor Maxwell returns to Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) this month from 19–21 May 2026. Alongside SBS Cladding, Taylor Maxwell Timber and Vobster Architectural whom form part of the Taylor Maxwell Group, the company will host a dynamic programme of events at its Clerkenwell showroom, while also exhibiting at the festival’s central hub in the ‘Commercial Design in the Park’ area (Stand PA2). In keeping with its sponsorship of World Champio