ONE OF LIFES LITTLE LUXURIES

Chilly winters are thing of the past in a Victorian flat in central London that has been given a 21st century makeover.

Management consultant Robert Cameron was aiming for a clean, uncluttered look with no pipes and radiators to spoil the design. Electrical underfloor heating from Speedheat helped to fulfil the brief and saved money on the heating bills!

We wanted a very modern design with clean lines for the flat, said Robert. This effect can be ruined by radiators on the walls, even if they are the modern high-tech versions.

Economy was also a factor in the redesign, so we were looking for a heating system that was within our budget, would not involve major work and that would be cost-effective to run.

The new look for the two-bedroomed, first floor flat part of a large house built in 1875 included carpet, vinyl, tile and natural wood flooring. The versatility of the Speedheat cable system meant that it could be easily installed under all these floor finishes and could be individually controlled in each room.

Speedheat engineers installed the system, monitoring the condition of the heater while other work was being done on the flat. Once the floors were finished, the engineers returned to commission the system and adjusted the programming to suit the lifestyle of Robert and his young family.

During the first cold snap after installation, the Camerons discovered that the system provided a more comfortable heat than that from radiators and was so effective that they did not need to put up ugly, secondary double glazing on the flats large sash windows, as they had in previous winters. And they still managed to save up to 30 per cent on the energy bills.

The flat has recently been sold and Robert is convinced that the Speedheat underfloor heating was a definite selling point. He added that he would certainly consider installing it again in his next home.

As he said: Being able to step into a bathroom that is comfortable and warm underfoot on a cold winters morning is one of lifes little luxuries and at very little cost.