Northamptonshire is an absolutely stunning part of the country. Acres and acres of wonderful green space, quaint market towns, cosy villages, and bustling central hub complete with an independent cinema and redeveloped waterside marina. 

But it isn’t all style and no substance, Northampton has a bespoke manufacturing heritage that dates back almost 900 years, the influence of which still permeates the world today. Centred around shoemaking, many of Northamptonshire’s towns and villages were, at one time or another, home to leather merchants, tanneries, shoemakers and other related businesses. This created a rich manufacturing network which birthed some of world’s most successful and highly-regarded shoe companies, including Dr. Martens, Grenson, Church’s and John Lobb.

Here at Fraser James Blinds, we feel as though this heritage is part of our DNA, which is why we take our craft so seriously and strive to provide the highest quality made-to measure blinds in the region. To celebrate this connection, in this guide, we’re going to be listing some of Northamptonshire’s best residential areas, and advising how to style their associated properties with the appropriate blinds.

Northampton

Situated on the River Nene, Northampton is a fantastic town with lots of parkland and a thriving cultural scene. No matter what you’re looking for, you will find plenty of variety on the market, so all you have to do is get looking!

For young couples or first-time buyers, there’s no shortage of apartments throughout the town centre. Over in Cliftonville, you will find some repurposed industrial buildings that have been turned into wonderfully modern apartments, perfect for young people looking for convenience. For this sort of property, the Fraser James team would recommend opting for roller blinds as your primary window dressing. Simple and functional without skimping on style, roller blinds are perfectly suited to apartment living.

However, if you’re looking for a slightly out-of-town location, take a look at Kingsthorpe. With local schools and amenities nearby and great transport links into Northampton and other areas, it’s certainly worth considering. Given that many of the homes in Kingsthorpe are modern two-beds, we would recommend going for Duette blinds as your primary window dressing. They look great in any room in the home and are particularly suited to modern spaces. Their high thermal efficiency means you’ll be saving on your energy bills too.

Daventry

Boasting postcard-ready villages, award-winning attractions and excellent transport links to London, Daventry is one of the most sought-after areas in Northamptonshire. It’s the perfect place to balance a rural and urban lifestyle, and a growing property market in the area means that you will have plenty of choice.

If you are considering Daventry, the chances are you are looking to settle down in one of its picturesque villages and bathe in pastoral perfection. From Boughton to Brixworth, you will find cosy cottages with thatched roofs, friendly locals and acres of gorgeous countryside. To reflect the natural beauty of this area, we would recommend that you opt for wooden blinds in your property. Not only will they look fantastic, but they also offer valuable insulation for those cold winter nights. However, if you want to achieve the wooden aesthetic without some of the potential drawbacks associated with natural wood window blinds, you could always opt for faux wood.

Kettering

One of Northamptonshire’s smaller market towns, Kettering still has a lot to offer. With close proximity to the A14 and a mainline railway station that gets you to St Pancras in under an hour, Kettering has become a major county hub with plenty of things to do, see and be a part of.

In terms of architecture, Kettering strikes a balance between traditional and modern thanks to its diverse array of Victorian and Edwardian properties which all offer fantastic value for money. While starter homes can be purchased for around £100,000, semi-detached family homes can be bought for £170,000 and up, so it’s a great location for first-time buyers. 

Whether you choose a modern flat by the train station or a detached Edwardian home, you can’t go wrong by opting for Venetian blinds for your windows. Elegant and timeless, Venetian blinds offer great light control for all rooms and are equally at home in modern or historic spaces. 

Wellingborough

Like many Northamptonshire towns, Wellingborough thrived thanks to the boot and shoe industry. This led to a quick expansion and the creation of a number of different historically-significant buildings, including Wellingborough railway station, Wellingborough School and Ninian Comper’s Church of St Mary on Knox road, labelled one of the county’s most stunning churches. 

Thanks to Wellingborough’s rich history, you can now find Wellingborough Museum located next to the Castle Theatre, exhibitions of which tell the story of Wellingborough and the surrounding villages’ past.

If you’ve purchased a property in this area and are looking for a fitting way to style it, the Fraser James Blinds team would recommend choosing Roman blinds. Thanks to their thick fabric construction, Roman blinds offer a room both privacy and warmth, and their unique aesthetic will pair well with architecture from any period – useful for an area as diverse as Wellingborough!

If you’re looking for, or have recently purchased a home in Northampton and are looking for some bespoke window blinds, shutters or awnings to start your design journey, Fraser James Blinds are here to help. We design, supply and install a variety of different shading solutions for customers throughout Northamptonshire, and have built up a happy customer base in the area who continue to use our services. From the initial consultation right up to installation, we will work with you to ensure that you get the product and finish you desire.

To learn more about our range of products, or to book in a free home consultation with one of our experts, all you have to do is get in touch.