Having recently moved into her Victorian property in Altrincham, Alison wanted to bring back more of its original character at the front while taking a very different approach at the rear. The existing white uPVC casement windows did not feel right for the front of the property, so traditional-looking cream woodgrain sliding sash windows became the priority. At the rear, Alison chose modern grey aluminium windows and a glazed door to create a cleaner, more contemporary finish.
What makes the project particularly interesting is the contrast. Rather than forcing one style throughout the whole house, the finished scheme respects the period appearance at the front and introduces a much more modern look at the back.
Project at a Glance
| Location | Altrincham |
| Property Type | Victorian period home |
| Products Installed | Cream woodgrain uPVC sliding sash windows; grey aluminium windows and glazed rear door; moulded timber internal architraves |
| Colour | Cream woodgrain to the front; grey aluminium to the rear |
| Installer(s) | Dean and Nigel |
| Project Highlights | Restoring a traditional sash appearance at the front; contemporary grey aluminium at the rear; reinstated timber architraves; increased natural light through the rear opening |
The Customer Challenge
Alison had only recently moved into the property and wanted to restore some of the Victorian character that had been lost over time. At the front, the existing white uPVC casement windows did not suit the look she wanted, and her biggest concern was finding replacement windows that looked convincingly close to traditional timber sliding sashes.
She had already received quotes elsewhere but was not convinced that the products being suggested would give her the authentic appearance she wanted. She had also experienced a much more pushy sales approach from a national company, which made the relaxed, advice-led process especially important.
At the rear, the objective was deliberately different. Alison wanted a sleeker, more contemporary appearance using grey aluminium, together with a wider glazed opening that would allow more natural light into the house.
Our Recommendation
Sally took the time to listen to the two different objectives for the property and recommend products to suit each part of the house rather than trying to make one style work everywhere.
For the front, cream woodgrain uPVC sliding sash windows were chosen to recreate a more traditional appearance. Alison felt they captured the look of the original timber sashes while also giving her the security, energy efficiency and low-maintenance benefits that were important to her. Internally, moulded timber architraves were reinstated to sit comfortably alongside the original period features.
At the rear, grey aluminium windows and a glazed door provided the clean, modern contrast Alison wanted. A visit to our showroom also played an important part in the decision-making process, giving her the opportunity to see the products and finishes in person before committing.
Installation Summary
Dean and Nigel completed the installation, carrying the design choices through to the final details. At the front, particular care was taken with the internal finish, including reinstating moulded timber architraves around the new sash windows so that the new work felt sympathetic to the existing period features.
At the rear, the old white uPVC elements were replaced with grey aluminium windows and a glazed door, creating the more contemporary appearance Alison had planned. The supplied photographs show the contrast clearly, from the traditional cream front bay to the clean grey frames at the rear.
The Finished Result
The finished project gives Alison the two distinct looks she wanted. The cream woodgrain sliding sash windows bring a much more traditional feel back to the front elevation, while the moulded timber architraves continue that attention to period detail inside the house.
At the rear, the grey aluminium windows and door create a sharper, more contemporary finish. Alison also noticed an immediate improvement in the amount of natural light entering the house. She described coming downstairs on the first morning after the installation and being struck by how much brighter and more open the space felt.
Before & After
Front Elevation
Rear Windows and Door
Rear Door Detail
Internal Window Detail
Finished Project Gallery
What Our Customer Said on Google
Open the original Google Review
Customer Q&A
What made you decide to replace your windows or doors?
Having only recently moved into the property, I wanted to restore some of its original Victorian character. My vision was to have traditional sliding sash windows at the front to complement the age of the house, while choosing modern grey aluminium windows and doors at the rear for a more contemporary look.
Why did you choose The Window Company?
I was initially recommended The Window Company and then decided to visit the showroom. I'd recommend that to anyone because seeing the products in person made my decision so much easier. Before that, I'd had one of the national companies visit, but I found the sales approach far too pushy and they continued to hassle me afterwards. The experience with The Window Company was completely different.
What was most important to you when choosing the new products?
It was really important that the new windows at the front looked as close as possible to the original timber sash windows. I chose cream woodgrain uPVC sliding sash windows because they perfectly capture the traditional appearance while also being secure, energy efficient and virtually maintenance free. When I moved in, I knew the existing white uPVC casement windows did not suit the property, so restoring its original character was a priority.
What do you like most about the finished result?
I absolutely love the finished result. The cream woodgrain sash windows look incredibly authentic and really suit the property. I also appreciate the attention to detail inside, where the fitters reinstated moulded timber architraves that match the original period features throughout the house. At the rear, the aluminium windows and door look sleek, modern and incredibly strong and secure. From Sally, who helped with the quotation, through to Dean and Nigel who completed the installation, everyone was courteous, professional and genuinely cared about my home. I work in HR, and you can tell The Window Company is a business that values and looks after its employees.
What difference have you noticed since the installation?
The biggest difference has been the amount of natural light coming into the house. By replacing the old rear doors with a much wider aluminium opening, the room feels brighter and far more open. The first morning after the installation, I came downstairs and couldn't believe how much light was flooding into the space.
From Wayne
What made this project stand out for me was the way Alison wanted to achieve two very different looks within the same home. She had a clear idea of what she wanted the property to feel like, and I think the finished result shows how well those two ideas can work together.
At the front of the property, it was really important to retain the original character. We recommended traditional sliding sash windows in a cream finish, along with timber internal architraves, to recreate the feel of the original period detailing. At the rear, Alison decided to go in a completely different direction, choosing grey aluminium for a much more modern and contemporary finish.
One of Alison's biggest concerns was getting the sash windows right. She had already received quotes from other companies but did not feel that the products being suggested would give her the authentic appearance she wanted. With a period property, the wrong window can completely change the character of the house, so that concern was completely understandable.
When Sally visited to discuss the project, she really listened to what Alison was trying to achieve rather than simply recommending a standard product. We also encouraged Alison to visit our showroom, where she could see the different options for herself and compare the details and finishes before making a decision. I think that gave her the confidence that she was choosing the right products for the property.
Dean and Nigel then carried that attention to detail through the installation. The moulded timber architraves inside are a good example of the sort of finishing detail that matters on a period home, and it is great to hear Alison recognise the care they took with her property.
For anyone considering replacing windows in a period home, this project is a good example of why you do not necessarily need to use the same style throughout. You can respect the original character where it matters while introducing something much more contemporary elsewhere. The important thing is choosing products that suit each part of the property rather than treating every window in exactly the same way.
For me, this project shows why listening to the customer is every bit as important as fitting great windows. Every home is different, and taking the time to understand what somebody is trying to achieve and then recommending the right solution is what makes the biggest difference. That's the approach we've always taken at The Window Company, and after nearly 40 years, it's still the way we do business.
Products Used
- Cream woodgrain uPVC sliding sash windows
- Grey aluminium windows
- Grey aluminium glazed rear door
- Moulded timber internal architraves around the new sash windows
Areas Covered
Victorian sash windows Altrincham, sliding sash windows Altrincham, uPVC sliding sash windows, cream woodgrain sash windows, period property replacement windows, grey aluminium windows Altrincham, aluminium doors Altrincham, traditional front and contemporary rear glazing, moulded timber window architraves, window showroom Manchester
Frequently Asked Questions
Can uPVC sliding sash windows work on a Victorian property?
In Alison's project, cream woodgrain uPVC sliding sash windows were chosen because the traditional appearance suited the front of the Victorian property while also meeting her priorities for security, energy efficiency and low maintenance.
Can traditional and modern window styles be used on the same house?
Yes. This project deliberately uses a traditional sash style at the front and grey aluminium at the rear. The key was choosing each product for the part of the property where it made the most sense.
Why did visiting the showroom help?
Alison said that seeing the products in person made her decision much easier. It allowed her to compare the look and finish before choosing the final combination.
Can the internal timber details be retained when replacing sash windows?
On this installation, Dean and Nigel reinstated moulded timber architraves around the new sash windows so the internal finish sat comfortably with the original period features.
Did the new rear glazing make a difference to the room?
Alison said the wider aluminium opening brought noticeably more natural light into the house and made the room feel brighter and more open.
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Get in Touch
If you are renovating a period home and want to keep its original character while introducing a more contemporary finish elsewhere, our team would be happy to talk through the options with you. Visit our showroom to see products in person, or get in touch to discuss your project and arrange a quotation.