Established family home renovation in Shropshire by Three Spires Glass

From boot room to whole house renovation

For this renovation, Alison and her husband Stu wanted to bring more natural light into the main living spaces and create a far stronger connection with the garden.

The original design included a new boot room and larger utility space but this eventually developed into a much bigger project that resulted in a brand new kitchen, changes to the internal layout and existing oak-framed room as well as opening up previously separated spaces.

Crittall steel, chosen for continuity

The property already had Crittall windows: original single-glazed steel frames that the family had lived with for 21 years. When the time came to replace them, retaining genuine steel felt like the only option.

“I’ve always admired Crittall windows and doors, compared to aluminium alternatives,” explains Alison. “The thinner profiles are truly unique and can’t be matched, while the timeless aesthetic will look remarkable for many years to come.”

Specifying Crittall also perfectly suited the home’s aesthetic which had been deliberately designed from the outset to evoke the character of an older home.

The completed renovation sees Crittall steel windows and doors used across the entire property, replacing the original single-glazed frames with modern alternatives delivering modern thermal performance.

A stand-out feature is the oak-framed extension that was originally supposed to remain unchanged. It wasn’t until Alison asked Three Spires Glass to explore how Crittall could work in this space that it was incorporated into the build. The addition proved highly successful alongside the existing oak structure, by effortlessly drawing the different parts of the house together.

The impact on the home

The renovation has changed how the family use the house. The oak-framed room and garden-facing areas were once relatively disconnected from the main living space; now the kitchen, garden and adjoining rooms function as one part of the home.

In fact, the kitchen and surrounding family space has become the room where everyone naturally gathers. Alison and Stu can now admire their garden while cooking and, on sunny days, they can open the doors directly onto the outside space.

Why this project was a Crittall House of the Year 2026 finalist

The judges admired the homeowner’s decision to replace original single-glazed steel with genuine Crittall to maintain the property’s established character and deliver the performance a modern family home requires.

The whole-house approach was also an important factor to the judges as was the installation by Three Spires Glass which created an open, connected home that reshaped family life, while respecting what drew the owners to the house in the first place.

“What really stood out to us was how naturally the Crittall steelwork sits within this home,” said Russell Ager, Managing Director of Crittall Windows. “Staying with the genuine article gives the renovation continuity, while the slim profiles work well with the oak, brickwork and overall design.

“Using Crittall throughout creates a lovely flow between the different spaces, particularly the kitchen, living areas and garden. It’s a home that feels cohesive and considered, while retaining the character that made it special in the first place. Three Spires Glass has played an important role in achieving that.”