For specifiers working on bespoke residential projects, every detail plays an important role in contributing to the finish and functionality of a space. In this article, Richard Lister from The Radiator Company highlights how designer radiators can elevate a room’s visual appeal and deliver efficient heating performance. As a practical but potentially unsightly addition to a design, specifying the right radiator plays a crucial role in achieving a harmonious scheme
Radiators have been a crucial aspect of domestic design since the mid-nineteenth century. Initially they were treated as visible signs of wealth and modernity, which were celebrated and embellished with patterns and designs. However, as central heating became more commonplace and mass production enabled larger numbers of people to purchase radiators, functionality and cost efficiency took precedence over appearance and designs became more utilitarian and functional.
In recent years, a greater appreciation of historic styles and demand for more varied contemporary designs has greatly diversified the options available to architects and designers. Consequently, varying the style, colour and placement of a radiator can now play a key role in a design scheme, helping to reflect yours, and your client’s vision.
For example, if you are working on the renovation, rebuilding or extension of a Georgian, Victorian or Edwardian home, cast iron and column radiators provide an excellent solution as a respectful period addition that references the heritage of a building. Alternatively, if the client is looking for sleek modern, minimalist interiors, a flat fronted or simple tube design may be most suitable – as their clean lines and simple geometry will mirror those of the house.
The choice between a floor or wall mounted radiator can also help reinforce the heritage feel of a project, with a free-standing radiator echoing original nineteenth and early twentieth designs, some of which were even round and located centrally in rooms. If you have the space, a floor mounted cast iron column radiator can become an eye-catching detail within a room, that excellently serves both a decorative and functional purpose. On the other hand, wall mounted designs compliment a minimalist aesthetic, particularly when paired with colours that reduce the visual impact of the radiator.
The colour chosen for a radiator can have a dramatic effect on the room in which you place it. Selecting a colour or shade that pairs with a chosen wall colour can help to create a harmonious finish. Conversely, you could specify a radically contrasting colour to help inject some variation into a room and provide a focal point.
Dark colours like Blue Black have connotations of timeless luxury, adding an element of sophistication to any room. Finishes in brass, and copper achieve a similar effect, providing a premium touch that compliments other fittings and fixtures in high-end projects. Contrastingly, selecting a radiator in a vibrant colour like Ruby Red or Zinc Yellow can add a bold, contemporary temporary element to a scheme, injecting playfulness that complements many modern aesthetics.
Not everyone wants to make a statement, so selecting colours that blend with the paint scheme of an interior is also a great way to ensure a specified radiator works with your design. In order to achieve this, working with a manufacturer who offers a variety of paint options is recommended. The Radiator Company, for example, can provide most designs in a choice of 188 RAL colours, alongside 32 special finishes and the option to colour match to your chosen interior palette.
Exploring the design and colour options available is essential to providing architects and designers with a huge variety of choice, which can help to ensure a chosen radiator contributes to the overall design vision, and isn’t simply an afterthought.