Tiling, bathrooms and kitchens in Rushden & Higham Ferrers

Rushden grew quickly in the late Victorian and Edwardian boot and shoe boom, and street after street of red-brick terraces from that time still form the heart of the town. They're solid houses with compact rooms, which makes them ideal for a well-planned bathroom or a kitchen with a bold splashback.

Next door, Higham Ferrers is far older — a medieval market town whose historic buildings include Chichele College and the Bede House — and its stone properties call for a sympathetic approach. Around and between the two, later estates and newer developments have added plenty of modern homes, and Rushden Lakes has made the area busier than ever.

Whatever the age of the house, the same rule applies: the finish is only as good as the preparation underneath. Older floors are checked for movement and level, and newer homes get the attention to detail that builder-standard tiling often lacks.