Insight Partner EMCOR explores the third of our megatrends, the future of work… They were live at the IWFM Conference 2021 held on Monday 13 September, As Abraham Lincoln once famously said, ‘The best way to predict your future is to create it’ and that is exactly what is happening now as
The building of a new 16,986 sq. ft flagship car dealership on a 1.63-acre plot has completed, been leased to Volvo Cars UK with the investment sold to CBRE Global Investors. St Francis Group and its development partner iSec have confirmed the completion and sale of a16,986 sq ft new
The proposed City Plan 2030 will address Climate change Affordability Providing more homes Providing more jobs How people move around This proposal is a comprehensive and bold plan to make sure future development in Edinburgh is sustainable, meets the needs of Edinburgh’s growing population and communities and helps the city
New research released during Gas Safety Week finds that over half of Brits are open to owning a hydrogen boiler – but despite 90% knowing they are more sustainable than existing natural gas units, most would rather someone else try one first… Sustainability is a huge topic, and we are
Network Space has revealed its plans for the redevelopment of the former Cartwright headquarters on Atlantic Street in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. Re-branded as Broadheath Networkcentre, the proposals include a mixture of high quality refurbishment alongside new builds, creating a modern, multi-let industrial site which will appeal to a variety of
A new poll from C|T Local, Sir Lynton Crosby’s real estate advisory business, and the Adam Smith Institute, finds that Conservatives could achieve majority-securing electoral boost by building more homes ● 1.6 million vote boost for Conservatives building more homes in a way that levels up, securing the 2019 majority
RED Construction, the specialist main contractor, has announced a new group structure and two distinct operating companies to facilitate the next stage of the company’s growth. The new structure comprises RED Construction Group, RED London, and the newly formed RED South West. Founded in 2016, RED Construction Group has fast
Leading construction and fit-out company Gilbert-Ash has just announced its results for 2020. The company credits its strong performing team, the continued trust of its clients and the success of its sector diversification strategy as key to the growth with profits doubling in 2020 to £10.9 million from £5.6 million
Find out how you can use picture frames to encase colorful fabric and bring your living space to life in six simple steps. Whether you’re decorating your new home or renovating your old one, you may find out there’s a huge wall space that’s in dire need of decor. Now,
Insight Partner EMCOR explores the third of our megatrends, the future of work… They were live at the IWFM Conference 2021 held on Monday 13 September, As Abraham Lincoln once famously said, ‘The best way to predict your future is to create it’ and that is exactly what is happening now as employers seek to modernise workplaces to better suit those who use them. Workplace of the future is about creating destinations of choice where people can collaborate, connect and succeed; delivering personalised experiences and customer choice; are centred around health and wellbeing, are sustainability focussed and digitally SMART. Clearly the mood has changed. Rather than the workplace simply being thought about as a building, now we are putting the needs of the building occupants front and centre. That means looking at everything from the space and how people use it, maximising technology and digital tools to boost both building and people performance, accommodating new hybrid ways of working, even making workplaces desirable places which not only support but also attract the best employees. At the same time, the wellbeing and sustainability agendas are also colliding with the rise of workplace technology and AI. Ultimately, for people to be at the heart of this new ultra-connected, data-driven world, organisations must now completely realign their culture and their purpose. It’s a heady mix. Interestingly this change in focus is not simply a ‘nice to have’ – it’s a fundamental paradigm shift. If wellbeing is not at the heart of a wider people engagement and business strategy, organisations are unlikely to succeed or survive into the next decade. Similarly, if sustainability is not a core purpose of business, customers and employees will become disenfranchised. We must achieve our carbon neutral goals. Are employers doing enough? According to our recent poll on the IWFM LinkedIn page, 38% of employees think wellbeing is a top priority in their business; a similar number, 37%, believe it definitely is not. Food for thought? Perhaps. So how can business leaders and facilities managers balance cost pressure and stakeholder demand with reimagining, redesigning and creating sustainable workplaces for the future? It’s a complex challenge which requires critical thinking. But creating environments in which people enjoy enhanced levels of experience, wellbeing and engagement enables networking, collaboration and socialising, and is a clear indication of an organisation’s future intent. ‘We are seeing an unprecedented demand for new workplaces that support the challenge to deliver great work, which promote wellbeing and contribute to more productive outcomes in the context of a flexible work life balance.’ Ian Baker, Head of Workplace Solutions, EMCOR UK Time to find a better way Take a fresh look at workspace, how it should be used and how much you actually need Identify what users think and feel about their workplaces and the services they receive Capture data through employee experience surveys, sensors and monitoring tools, which can be converted into insight and positive action Use evidence-based analytics to change, inspire, adapt and sustain a transformative workplace Optimise building performance using environmental monitoring sensors to measure temperature, light, humidity, CO2 and noise levels Build a next generation culture with SMART workplace technology that connects systems and subsystems into one core data platform Create intuitive, sensitive and adaptable workplace ecosystems. Workplaces need to become a destination of choice; providing people with flexible options of when, where and how they work. But they can also be so much more. Consider the important social elements of the workplace for example. And what about how workplaces can actively encourage and embed shared values and a positive company culture? One thing that has become clear is that creating a sustainable workplace of the future is so much more than the facilities.
The building of a new 16,986 sq. ft flagship car dealership on a 1.63-acre plot has completed, been leased to Volvo Cars UK with the investment sold to CBRE Global Investors. St Francis Group and its development partner iSec have confirmed the completion and sale of a16,986 sq ft new build to suit flagship car dealership leased to Volvo Cars UK and sold to CBRE Global Investors at its Horizon 38 mixed-use development in Bristol. The development on a plot of 1.63 acres has been let on basis of a 20-year lease and was sold with a forward commitment to purchase from the new owners. The showroom was delivered early by contractors MCS Construction. Speaking about the sale and development – St Francis Group Director Gareth Williams said: “We are delighted to have completed another exciting project at Horizon 38 and a sale to CBRE Global Investors. This is the second car dealership on site, and everyone involved with its delivery deserves a huge pat on the back when you consider the extremely difficult conditions that we have faced over the last 18 months. Horizon 38 serves as the premier mixed-use destination in Bristol and the South West and has been a tremendous success – now home to a thriving community of occupiers” Also commenting, Richard Howell Principal Investment at Avison Young “We are seeing unprecedented demand for secure long income investments especially in prime established locations such as Horizon 38. We were delighted to have signed Volvo on a 20-year lease and then secure the forward commitment to purchase from CBRE Global Investors on behalf of St Francis and iSec” Simon Bennett, Director at JLL also said “We are really pleased to have secured this opportunity for CBRE Global Investors. Horizon 38 is a well-located development that has been successful in attracting a wide range of tenants such as GKN, Car Shop and Selco. This investment offers the fund a secure long term income stream with rental uplifts at an attractive yield to other sectors”. Avison Young acted for iSec / St Francis, and JLL acted for the buyer, CBREGI. Horizon 38 is Bristol and the South-West premier mixed-use development spanning 65 acres, featuring Logistics, Industrial, Trade, Hotel, and Car Showroom opportunities totalling over 1M sq ft. It is home to leading occupiers including Ceva, The Delivery Group and Sytner together with GKN in a 115,000 sq ft R&D facility and Village Resorts in a new 153 bedroom hotel. For further information visit: https://www.horizon38.com/
The proposed City Plan 2030 will address Climate change Affordability Providing more homes Providing more jobs How people move around This proposal is a comprehensive and bold plan to make sure future development in Edinburgh is sustainable, meets the needs of Edinburgh’s growing population and communities and helps the city achieve its Net Zero 2030 ambition. The report on the proposed City Plan 2030 will be considered by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Planning Committee this Wednesday (29 September). This proposed plan for the next ten years sets out how areas of the city will be linked together building on existing transport networks as well as making full use of education and healthcare facilities already embedded in communities across the Capital. Resetting the direction of development to bring about a joined-up city rather than spreading outwards also provides a positive and sustainable step for future decades to come. Edinburgh’s population is rising, and people are making huge changes in the way they live their lives due to the global climate emergency and the current health pandemic. This is how the plan proposes to address these challenges. Future development would be managed through the preferred approach set out in the ‘Choices for City Plan 2030’ document, which went through a major consultation exercise with Edinburgh residents and stakeholders. The proposed plan will support the Scottish Government’s 20-minute walkable neighbourhood plans as well as directing development to and maximising the use of brownfield rather than greenfield land. In the west a new mixed-use neighbourhood is to be created, well served by existing infrastructure, with the tram line running through as well as an adjacent station, in an area previously designated largely for business development in the 2016 plan. New neighbourhoods on brownfield land at the Forth Waterfront will also be taken forward. Land has also been designated for new developments at Seafield, Redford Barracks, Astley Ainslie, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Liberton Hospital, Bonnington, Fettes and other major sites across the city. The draft plan also sets out how the Council will deliver land to meet Edinburgh’s housing needs over the next decade, securing a minimum contribution of 35% affordable housing from any new development as well as policies to help manage the number of short term lets (STLs) operating in the city. In addition to the plan, a consultation is running separately at the moment asking for views on ‘the whole of Edinburgh becoming a ‘STL control area’. If agreed by the Council and the Scottish Government, it would mean all residential properties in Edinburgh, which are not an owner’s principal home, being let as STLs in their totality would require approval of a ‘change of use’ to operate them. Councillor Neil Gardiner, Planning Convener, said: This proposed development plan can recalibrate how development happens in this city, positively shaping how our Capital grows and changes over the next 10 years and beyond. Rather than growing forever outwards, the proposed plan focuses on developing new communities on brownfield land which mix living, working and leisure uses. These locations utilise and add to already existing infrastructure. This plan is about us as a city collectively making the right decisions now so that our residents can make reasonable and informed choices about how and where they live and how they get around in the future. City Plan 2030 has been developed taking on board the views of residents, businesses, and other stakeholders from across the city to help us meet our core priorities for Edinburgh: making Edinburgh a sustainable city, which supports everyone’s wellbeing and enables our residents to access homes they can afford. The plan also facilitates travel options and networks so that residents won’t have to own a car to move around, while having every opportunity to share in their city’s success. Our proposal of mixed-use communities in the plan aligns to Scottish Government’s 20-minute neighbourhood vision, which is especially relevant now as the global pandemic continues to make massive changes to the way people live their lives. This includes how we all use and appreciate green spaces with the health and well-being benefits they bring. Community resilience also includes easy access to facilities and neighbourhoods need a mixture of services within easy reach such as shops, health and education, as well as the potential to find a job near where you live. We also need to rethink how we accommodate our growing population and I believe that our emphasis on prioritising brownfield land and making the best use of the limited space we have is the right approach. In the west a new neighbourhood with a mix of uses within easy walking distance is to be created. This is also well served by existing infrastructure, with the tram running through the community as well as a mainline station. This area was previously designated largely for business development in the 2016 plan. Other significant sites across the city will all require masterplans ensuring that in each case the whole is much more than the sum of the parts, better meeting the needs of new and existing communities. Going forward we need to work with developers asking them to rise to the challenges of rapid climate change and finite resources. Developers need to think more carefully about location, using the land we have available effectively, with sustainable design. This proposed plan better connects existing communities through development of underused brownfield land. We need to protect Edinburgh’s beautiful green setting from the Pentlands to the Forth, increase biodiversity, physical and mental wellbeing, reduce flooding and other climate impacts, and improve air quality. Developers will need to make sure that one third of their houses in residential developments are affordable. We will also continue the city’s own programme to build affordable housing. Edinburgh currently has almost a third of all STLs in Scotland, policies included in the plan help us to take further action and manage these. This quantity of commercial use puts pressure on house prices and rents and takes much needed houses out of supply as well as
New research released during Gas Safety Week finds that over half of Brits are open to owning a hydrogen boiler – but despite 90% knowing they are more sustainable than existing natural gas units, most would rather someone else try one first… Sustainability is a huge topic, and we are all aware of the need to be more sustainable in our own lives to help protect the future. However, new research launched to coincide with Gas Safety Week has found that many consumers in the UK are wary of welcoming hydrogen gas fired boilers in their home, while over half of Brits quite accepting of this technology and its environmental benefits. Our findings also revealed that almost 9 out of 10 homeowners are influenced by the sustainable credentials of a hydrogen boiler to have one installed in their home. However, over half (51%) stated they would rather someone else tried one out before getting one themselves. As well as their greener environmental credentials, another advantage of a hydrogen boiler is the cost vs other energy efficient technologies. Saving £6,400 versus an electric heat pump was enough to sway over half of Brits (51%) to opting for hydrogen as their future home heating solution. However, whilst the intentions are good, more education is needed still as a significant 59% of Brits do not feel they know enough about the emerging green technology to make a decision about buying one. Martyn Bridges, Director of Technical Communication & Product Management commented; “With around 24mhomes on the gas grid, hydrogen boilers will be a key player in the technology mix for decarbonising our homes. “However, if Government targets are going to be reached and we as a nation are to ‘go green’ in our homes, it is clear from these stats that more education and reassurance around hydrogen gas is needed. “Knowing that over 50% are accepting of hydrogen, it is a big wake-up call that we all need to debunk concerns for the remaining 42% who have doubts– which comes from further education – and move forward to a greener future. There have been several really successful trials in the UK confirming the safe application of hydrogen gas, so it’s now on all of us as a nation to open our minds and homes to the concept of a hydrogen future.” For more information on hydrogen boilers and the future of home heating visit: https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/future-of-heating.
Network Space has revealed its plans for the redevelopment of the former Cartwright headquarters on Atlantic Street in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. Re-branded as Broadheath Networkcentre, the proposals include a mixture of high quality refurbishment alongside new builds, creating a modern, multi-let industrial site which will appeal to a variety of businesses. The development will deliver 196,000 sq ft of accommodation across eight buildings, with workspace available from 2,100 sq ft to 28,000 sq ft. A sustainable development, Network Space will seek to reuse and recycle existing structures and is proposing the use of photovoltaic panels for renewable energy provision, as well as electric vehicle charging on all units. Simon Eaton, senior development manager at Network Space, explains: “Given its location within South Manchester and proximity to Manchester Airport, the M60/M56 and city centre, Broadheath Networkcentre will appeal to a wide range of occupiers, from local businesses and trade occupiers, to last mile and urban logistics firms. “The development has also been designed with sustainability at the top of the agenda and, by recycling existing steel frames and concrete structures, we are able to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the scheme. This, in addition to the renewable energy generation and re-use on site, means that Broadheath Networkcentre will score very highly in its green credentials.” A planning application has been submitted and Network Space hopes to start on site early next year, with some of the high quality refurbished units being ready for occupation in summer 2022 and new builds by the end of the year. The development will revitalise the site, creating new jobs and providing much needed speculative workspace in the region. Jonathan Williams at Savills and Will Kenyon at B8 have been appointed as letting agents for Broadheath Networkcentre. The wider professional team includes Walker Sime, project management and quantity surveying, AEW architects, Tetra Tech engineering services and Spawforths is the planning advisor.
A new poll from C|T Local, Sir Lynton Crosby’s real estate advisory business, and the Adam Smith Institute, finds that Conservatives could achieve majority-securing electoral boost by building more homes ● 1.6 million vote boost for Conservatives building more homes in a way that levels up, securing the 2019 majority at the next general election ● 75% of those who would like to purchase a home in the next 5 years say they cannot afford to or are unsure if they can ● 71% would back housebuilding if local residents had the power to agree when they were confident it would benefit their community ● 52% back higher national targets for house building, 18% disagree ● 60% back a ‘zoning system’ with ‘Protection,’ ‘Renewal,’ and ‘Growth’ categories, 10% oppose ● 52% support building more homes if it will reduce wealth inequality between older people and younger people Members of Parliament (MPs) from across England and planning reform advocates have backed new research which shows how to fix the housing crisis with popular local support. “Housebuilding is a key driver of levelling up. It’s not just about building more homes, it’s about building for sustainable local economic growth,” said Ben Everitt MP for Milton Keynes North and Chair of the APPG for Housing Market & Housing Delivery. “Houses are the hardest, slowest and most expensive part of the recipe for success, but having the right homes in the right place, at the right time will be fundamental to delivering levelling up. It’s too important to not get right.” The polling and analysis, outlined in Build Me Up, Level Up: Popular homebuilding while boosting local communities from C|T Local and the Adam Smith Institute (ASI), presents a roadmap for how to restart the stalled planning reform process by linking it closely to rejuvenating local communities. ● 67% back housebuilding if it would bring benefits to their family ● 68% back housebuilding if it meant local services would see an improvement ● 64% back housebuilding if it would help protect their local high street ● 64% back housebuilding if it led to people living closer to better paying jobs, reducing income inequality and boosting wages ● 62% back housebuilding if it meant greater investment in local health and education services “This powerful research demonstrates that we won’t be able to build the houses that Britain needs unless we ensure that communities benefit,” said Mark Jenkinson MP for Workington, “It starts with using new housing developments to invest in community-wide infrastructure like roads, public transport, broadband, hospitals, and schools. Turning development into a win-win for locals.” The research indicates that the Conservatives have the most to gain from housebuilding, or to lose if they fail. ● The Conservatives could get a 5 percentage point boost at the ballot box, the equivalent of 1.6 million people switching their vote, if they commit to building 2 million new homes. ● If Labour made a similar housing commitment, they would receive a 4 point bounce, and there would be a 3 point decline for the Conservatives. “Housing reform is absolutely essential if Britain’s long-held dream of a property-owning democracy is going to succeed, and this research by the Adam Smith Institute shows it can, providing it’s done the right way,” said John Penrose MP (Weston-super-Mare). “There are plenty of people who will support building more local homes if it helps their friends and family afford to live where they want, and if local residents control where they’re built and how they look.” The research also found that it is possible to win over many ‘Nimbys’ — Not In My Back Yard opponents of local house building — by delivering local benefits from development. Nimbys can be persuaded to support more building in their area if the homebuilding leads to: ● more investment in local services; ● more young people to move out of their parents’ homes; ● more people living and working in the community; ● a reduction of the overall cost of housing in the area; and ● a reduction of the cost of rents in the area. C|T Local and the ASI find strong support for a range of initiatives to tackle the housing crisis, including: ● 60% support a ‘zoning system’ proposed in the Government’s Planning for the Future white paper; ● 52% support for the ‘Infrastructure Levy’ replacing affordable housing requirements ● 58% support reducing red tape to help smaller and medium-sized builders ● 75% support building on brownfield (former industrial) sites ● 63% support allowing villages to build new homes nearby, if they choose ● 58% support automatic permission for converting offices and 48% support converting high street shops ● 58% back automatic permission for mansard extensions, just 22% disagree ● 48% support ‘street votes’, just 22% disagree Other key findings include: ● 52% have an incorrect understanding of what the Green Belt, 14% cannot say what it is at all ● 54% of those who feel their area has improved in recent years support more homebuilding in their local community ● The polling shows that Nimbys are louder, but less electorally impactful than politicians believe. They are more likely to attend town halls and send a letter / email to their local councillor, but Yimbys are more likely to vote for a party that will build more homes locally, and they outnumber Nimby’s by more than two-to-one C|T Local Managing Director, Gavin Stollar said: “This research is the most explicit roadmap ever produced for both Government and the real estate sector. The public tell us how they can be persuaded to come on the (house building) journey but also, crucially, why that journey is so important and fascinatingly, why it is in all political parties’ interest to deliver. Communities across the UK are there to be convinced, the question now is, are developers prepared to listen and respond and are the Government prepared to legislate to ‘get it done’?” ASI Head of Research Matthew Lesh said: “The future of the
RED Construction, the specialist main contractor, has announced a new group structure and two distinct operating companies to facilitate the next stage of the company’s growth. The new structure comprises RED Construction Group, RED London, and the newly formed RED South West. Founded in 2016, RED Construction Group has fast become an established market leader in the London region. The company has a reputation for working in partnership with clients to deliver complex, high profile landmark projects in the capital. The new group structure creates a series of connected businesses with shared values and operating methodologies. Each is led by respected industry experts, with RED Construction Group’s main board providing strategic input. Based in Bristol, RED South West offers unparalleled expertise and market knowledge and can deliver across a wide range of markets in line with regional requirements. These include commercial, residential, education and industrial buildings. The RED South West team is led by Derek Quinn, who has been appointed as managing director. Derek has 35 years of experience, most recently as Executive Director at Bristol-based Midas Construction, where Derek worked closely alongside other key members of the RED team. Derek qualified as a quantity surveyor at John Laing, following which he worked internationally before holding a senior position at a FTSE250 construction company. Born in Bristol and with extensive experience in the South West, Derek brings a detailed understanding of construction solutions specific to the region’s needs and client base. Graham Sturge, Managing Director of RED Construction Group, commented: “Our strong, consistent and considered growth is creating a number of exciting new opportunities for the business in and out of the capital. The creation of the group structure, including the launch of RED South West and the appointment of the highly regarded Derek Quinn as MD, will allow us to continue our expansion, but without over-reaching or compromising on the quality of what we achieve with our clients. Derek and his counterparts in RED London are experts in their fields with unique insight, with the support, innovation and values that drive everything RED Construction does.” RED South West Managing Director, Derek Quinn, added: “It is fantastic to be joining RED Construction Group to lead RED South West. The new business has been created to respond to the significant need in the region for a main contractor with the depth, breadth and reliability that RED is renowned for from its work in London. I look forward to working with Graham and the board to grow another successful business as part of the Group, drawing on the team’s experience in high-profile projects in the region.” Graham Sturge continued: “We are very proud of what we have achieved as a team throughout 2021. Our new structure will continue this momentum with the focused operating companies and their highly motivated, client-focused, and effective leadership. There are very exciting times ahead for the business.” Sitting alongside RED South West in the new structure is RED London, established experts in complex construction in the capital. Current RED London projects include the restoration and redevelopment for Lore Group of 100 High Street in Shoreditch to create a new independent hotel concept, the redevelopment of 80 New Bond Street for Hines to deliver a flagship mixed-use destination in the heart of the West End, and the construction of the Brent Cross Town visitor pavilion for Argent Related and Barnet Council.
Leading construction and fit-out company Gilbert-Ash has just announced its results for 2020. The company credits its strong performing team, the continued trust of its clients and the success of its sector diversification strategy as key to the growth with profits doubling in 2020 to £10.9 million from £5.6 million in 2019. This was along with an increase in turnover to £176.2 million, up by 8% from £163 million the previous year. The results reflect strong sector growth for Gilbert-Ash over the twelve months as well as the completion of a broad portfolio of successful construction projects across a growing range of sectors including arts and culture, workplace, hotels and leisure and education. Commenting on what was a record year for Gilbert-Ash with the highest profit in the company’s history and second highest turnover, Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson said: “These strong financial results are testament to the outstanding work of our people and the trust and continued support of our clients and supply chain partners. “In what was an incredibly challenging year for all, we are proud to have continued to maintain both healthy turnover and profit-levels and to be in a position to support the people who work for us. Coupled with a healthy pipeline, this puts us on a strong track for the future.” The company paid an exceptional dividend of £9 million this year, reflecting its achievements in becoming a more profitable company over the last five years, strengthening its balance sheet while realising its diversification strategy. Gilbert-Ash also officially opened its new £5 million headquarters at Boucher Place in Belfast in June 2020. “We have made great progress in implementing our five-year strategy, the effects of which are now becoming visible. Gilbert-Ash’s ‘As One’ ethos ensures a culture of respect and togetherness, which underpins our relationships with our colleagues and clients through to our supply chain network and wider public,” added Ray Hutchinson. Projects completed in 2020 included the prestigious £24m Royal College of Music project in London, the £26m Premier Inn in Shoreditch, London, the £18m St Edward’s School Quad Development in Oxford, the £42m Canterbury Christ Church University Building in Kent and the £12m Central Foundation Boys School project in London. “The highly demanding situation with the coronavirus did not deter us from pushing forward with our client projects while prioritising the health and safety of our team and supply chain partners. I am very proud of our entire team – we really showed our mettle and resilience this last year as well as strength of our relationships with clients,” Ray continued. All staff received a bonus to reflect their performance and commitment in 2020. Last June, Gilbert-Ash joined a small number of UK businesses to reach Investors in People Gold Accreditation with assessors highlighting the commitment from the top of the company to develop and embed its ‘As One’ culture. The Gilbert-Ash Board also reaffirmed a healthy forecast for 2021, envisaging sales growth across all sectors.
Find out how you can use picture frames to encase colorful fabric and bring your living space to life in six simple steps. Whether you’re decorating your new home or renovating your old one, you may find out there’s a huge wall space that’s in dire need of decor. Now, while shopping, have you come across a printed fabric, rich in colors, that you want to buy? Or how about you have gorgeous fabric leftover and don’t know what to do with it? Whether leftover or new, follow these simple steps to encase that beautiful print, preserved neatly in a picture frame, and bring your living space live with vibrating colors. Step 1: Purchase and Iron the Fabric The first step is to purchase that stunning fabric or bring out the leftover ones. The secret to having a picturesque view is to make sure the fabric is not wrinkled. Iron it well before encasing it on the picture frame. If you are purchasing a piece of fabric, make sure it’ll accentuate the interior designs of your living space. A specific color or pattern that complements your rug or couch pillows will give an appealing look to your overall space. Likewise, the wall color will become too prominent, creating a distraction. You can hire professional painters if you’re renovating and choose a color that will enhance the beauty of your fabric wall art. Step 2: Measure Your Wall Space You do not want a picture frame that is small compared to the size of the wall unless you want to mount multiple fabric pieces of art on your wall. You also do not want a frame that is too big and takes up a lot of space. Therefore, it is wise to measure the area, leaving a little space on every side, to make it look more breathable, elegant, and classy. When measuring your wall space, check the surrounding elements and furniture in the room, including shelves, mirrors, and lighting fixtures. Doing so ensures the fabric wall art and picture frame harmonizes with the existing elements, creating a cohesive and visually pleasing arrangement. Additionally, leaving space around the fabric art on every side allows the artwork to breathe and interact with the surrounding area. This negative space acts as a visual buffer, preventing the piece from feeling cramped or crowded against the wall. It also adds a sense of balance and openness to the composition, contributing to your living space’s overall elegant and classy atmosphere. Step 3: Purchase Your Desired Frame Picture frames come in all sizes and shapes. There are mirror frames that can also work for your project. The only difference is the frames contain mirrors instead of pictures. These frames also come in different colors. So depending on the interior of your living space, you can choose a variety of designs and colors for the frame. If you want a modern feel, you can choose black or white frames. Black frames offer a more regal, formal look, whereas white ones are more casual. The design and color of your picture frame also depend on the printed fabric. Select your fabric and frame in a way that corresponds to each other. For a heavily designed fabric, you can opt for a simple frame. Likewise, for a simply designed fabric, you can look for expensive or vintage frames. Just remember, your fabric wall art should accentuate the beauty of the fabric, the frame, and your home. Step 4: Measure and Cut Fabric This is a crucial step! Measure the fabric with a fabric marker and cut it according to the size of the picture frame. How to use fabric markers? Simple! It’s like any other marker but with more precision when it comes to textiles. All you need to do is lay the fabric on flat cardboard or any hard, flat surface and place the back cover of the frame on it. Then, like using a scale, trace and draw straight lines to measure the exact sides. And voila! You can now easily trim the fabric to the perfect size. You can also add your designs to the fabric such as writing your name or a positivity quote you want to wake up to every day! Step 5: Stick ‘em If you’re using a hot glue gun, position the fabric accurately on the back cover of the frame, the wrong side facing up. Make sure the portion of the fabric you want to be featured is in place before sticking. If you find this difficult, you can leave a few inches of the fabric and then glue them the same way you’d wrap a gift. Fold the corners first, glue them and then deal with the sides later. You can trim out extra fabric once you have them neatly folded on the back cover. You can also use a light spray adhesive or double-faced tapes if you do not want the fabric to slide around. Step 6: Assemble Now it’s time to put everything together. After ensuring your fabric is strongly glued in place, clean the glass that comes with the frame and put it back on. Then, position the fabric back cover on the frame and close the tabs to secure it in place. You can leave the glass out for a more regal look however, with the glass, it’ll be easier to clean. Now mount your art project on the wall and see the difference it makes to your overall living space. Some Tips So if you’re looking for an easy and inexpensive DIY project, you can try this framing fabric wall art and show it off to your friends and family. It is a quick and creative way to decorate your living space using minimum materials. And when you’re finished, mount it on your wall and stand back to admire a job well done! Takeaways Framing fabric wall art is a beautiful way to add color, vibrancy, and personal expression to your living space. With these
