Paving the way forward

Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and key SuDS techniques have been a planning requirement for several years now. But the current focus on climate change makes them more important than ever, as Chris Hodson of Interpave, explains With climate change, we... View Article

Dig for victory

A mother and daughter collaboration created a bespoke city pad that shows just how much can be achieved on brownfield sites, even picking up a design award TEXT & IMAGES EWEN MACDONALD Bristol has long been a trend-setting place. So,... View Article

Keeping it in the family

It took blood, sweat and tears for Gill and Tim Denham to transform a derelict 19th century cow barn in County Durham into what is now a stunning five bedroom holiday let TEXT HEATHER DIXON IMAGES DAVE BURTON Perched on... View Article

Victorian value, unlocked

When Amanda and Kevin decided to renovate their Victorian home in south London to provide better space for their family, their chosen architects managed to unlock the home’s full potential and achieved a trouble-free project TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES LORENZO... View Article

Shaping their future

LISTEN HERE Designed with a contemporary form to fit into the picturesque landscape of New Zealand’s Cass Bay, the architect of Aaron and Christine Green’s new curving copper family home has produced a unique building TEXT TOM BODDY IMAGES AARON... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Living rooms

LISTEN HERE 🔊 As their name suggests, living rooms tend to be used daily by everyone in the family, so must be carefully designed to provide comfort and relaxation in addition to practicality. That’s why every detail counts; here we... View Article

Ask the Expert: Home and dry

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Andrew Scanlon of Everbuild answers some of the basement waterproofing queries asked by self-builders to help them avoid getting out of their depth in their projects Basement conversions have long been a popular way to increase the... View Article

Brick by brick

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Jason Hughes of Imperial Bricks looks at the different brick options available to self-builders, and reviews new alternatives to reclaims A self-build project is one of the single largest investments most people will ever make. Now, thanks... View Article

Going underground

Selecting and installing underground rainwater harvesting tanks can be a complicated process for self-builders, here David Stagg of Graf UK provides advice People’s increasing interest in rainwater harvesting, which was particularly noticeable during Covid lockdowns, means there is now a... View Article

Choosing a home lift

Steve Hill of Terry Lifts discusses the benefits and specifications for modern home lifts, and what you should consider when futureproofing your home Whether you are planning a self-build or renovating your home, it’s likely you will want the house to... View Article

What makes a great roof?

Before embarking on any self-build or renovation project it’s important to understand the difference between offsite manufacturing (OSM) and traditional build roofing. Here Chris Powell from Pasquil explains the differences, and highlights the benefits of OSM What makes a great... View Article

Restoration drama

Carl and Rachel Philips invested everything they had in breathing new life into one of the oldest, and most fascinating, properties in Stratford-upon-Avon TEXT HEATHER DIXON IMAGES CARL PHILLIPS Carl and Rachel Philips’ house is so old, and so ‘wonky,’... View Article

Factoring in the future

Implementing some planning wisdom into your build will help you design a home that meets your needs, as you get older. Yola Mealing of Stiltz explains There is an excitement that comes with planning a new build. Alongside the practical... View Article

A window to the future

Phil Brown of Pilkington UK looks at three advanced glazing trends that can help make your project more sustainable, as well as some of the regulatory measures you need to be aware of when building or renovating your own home... View Article

Sussex ups and downs

For Ian Perry and his wife, building their own home in the Sussex countryside meant finally fulfilling a dream they’d held onto for many years, but it was a voyage of several discoveries, including Covid challenges TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES... View Article

True to their words

When Astrid Woloszczuk and her husband set out on their self-build journey, they wrote a list of key words that captured how they wanted their new home to feel. The result’s a project that has realised all their dreams –... View Article

A brighter future

A couple looking to turn their cramped Victorian house in east London into a bright, open and spacious home for their growing family, used a fairly unproven architect to help them strike the right balance TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES ADAM... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Lighting

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Different aspects of lighting such as colour and brightness have the power to influence how you feel about a room – which is why it needs to be considered in the early stages of design. Here are... View Article

Home Styling: Post-lockdown on the farm

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Richard Bradley of V33 offers styling tips on achieving the ‘modern farmhouse kitchen’ look, and plants some seeds on possible finishes to go for in your build Most people would understand completely what a traditional farmhouse kitchen... View Article

Ask the Expert: Cut your losses and save CO2

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Improving insulation is at the heart of the country’s mission to reduce CO2 emissions in new homes. Matthew Evans of Kingspan Insulation answers key questions around the materials and details to consider to avoid heat loss in... View Article