The Blade Manchester

Located within Manchester’s vibrant New Jackson neighbourhood, The Blade stands as an iconic symbol of modern architecture. This project as part of the Crown Street Phase 2 development features a striking 51-storey skyscraper designed by Simpson Haugh, which aims to redefine luxury living in Manchester.

Our skilled team worked alongside Renaker to take on the task of decorating 414 apartments which in total created 88,000m2 of luxurious living space within the tower. Walls, ceilings, floors and timberwork were all painted, with approximately 7,000lm of skirting and architraves being prepared and brought to final coat stage at our Offsite facility in Carlisle. Beyond individual apartments, our scope of works included communal spaces, two staircores, amenities, spa, gym, spin studio, yoga studio and changing rooms.

A range of products were used to create the finishes, including Johnstone’s CovaPlus Vinyl Matt emulsion and Water Based Satin within the apartments. Johnstone’s Flortred was used in the basement, staircase and plant room areas and bespoke Vescom and Tektura wallcoverings were applied within the penthouses and communal lounges.

Working alongside 64 other trades on-site, our team of 18 dedicated painters and decorators ensured the seamless execution of this ambitious project within a timeframe of 15 months. The collaborative effort contributed to the successful integration of our work into the broader development scheme.

Story Decorating Group’s commitment to quality and precision shines through in every aspect of The Blade project. From the attention given to individual apartments to the comprehensive decoration of communal spaces, we aimed not just to meet but to exceed the expectations associated with this landmark residential building in Manchester.

Testament to our achievements, this project was selected as a Finalist at the Johnstone’s Painter of the Year Awards in 2023 and was also Commended in the Residential Category at the Painting and Decorating Association’s Premier Trophy Awards 2024.