A dramatic rescue

LISTEN HERE A cottage in the Cornish village which hosted Poldark saw its own share of drama when it was rescued from the point of collapse by Mark Semmens TEXT ALEXANDRA PRATT IMAGES CORNISH GEMS In 2018, a tiny cottage... View Article

Ascending to
greatness

LISTEN HERE Young couple Lianne and James took the design of their home into their own hands, despite a challenging steep plot in Neath, South Wales, and managed to take full advantage of their surroundings while offering a residence that... View Article

A long time coming

LISTEN HERE For Paula and David Matthews, creating their dream home began back in the late 90s when they first bought their house, completing decades of good (and not-so-good) alterations before finally unlocking its full potential TEXT HEATHER DIXON IMAGES... View Article

Ask the expert – The art of colour selection

LISTEN HERE Choosing the right paint colours for different rooms is more than just a matter of aesthetics – it’s about understanding how colours interact with light, influence mood, and create a sense of continuity. Dulux Heritage’s Dawn Scott paints... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

LISTEN HERE Jo and Andrew’s dream New England-style home on the Dorset coast is finally taking shape after years of planning woes, and their original builder dropping out a week before demolition began! Jo takes up the story… When we... View Article

Design your very own ‘Wonderwall’

LISTEN HERE Interior designer Judith Harrop describes how with careful design, you can make a media wall for all your home entertainment needs that’s an integral part of your interior design, and provides the right balance of aesthetics and function... View Article

Wetland wonder

LISTEN HERE Simon Roberts and Sarah Bruml managed to achieve their innovative, sustainable and flood-resilient cabin on a highly sensitive site next to a tidal creek and natural wetland in Southwold, thanks to a bedded-in design TEXT DEBBIE JEFFERY IMAGES DAVID... View Article

A grand slam for eco-living

LISTEN HERE This year, Grand Designs Live promises an immersive experience with exhibitors across four key sectors: build, kitchens and bathrooms, gardens, and interiors.  The show will take place over nine days, including engaging talks led by renowned TV broadcaster... View Article

Directing a Cornish fairy tale

LISTEN HERE Anglophile and ex-Disney executive Kathleen Gearhart-Filmer moved to Cornwall to turn a concrete house into a magical coastal retreat TEXT Alexandra Pratt IMAGES Leighton James Several years ago, while on holiday with her baby daughter in Carbis Bay, west... View Article

Home Styling: Bathing in texture

LISTEN HERE Jorge Hernandez of Bathroom Brands Group explores how applying texture can make it transformative in modern bathroom design. From fluted accents to intricate tiles, discover how tactile and visual approaches can elevate your space Whether you want your... View Article

Affordable warmth

LISTEN HERE Dean Asher from Polypipe Building Products uncovers the sustainability and practicality advantages of underfloor heating for modern homes As carbon emissions are an increasing concern for homeowners and with the cost-of-living crisis not easing up anytime soon, many... View Article

Home Styling – Open up your home to a world of colour

LISTEN HERE Whether building a house from scratch or renovating a period property, choosing colour is intrinsic to creating the spaces you desire. Dawn Scott of Dulux Trade explains how to create a colour scheme which closely reflects your personality... View Article

Open to alternatives to open-plan living

LISTEN HERE Ben Brocklesby of Origin offers his advice to self-builders looking to create more functional floor plans, which move away from open-plan to ‘broken-plan’  The way we use our homes has changed significantly in the past three years. The... View Article

Rural charm & heritage in harmony

LISTEN HERE Discover the remarkable journey of Chris and Sarah Dale as they breathe new life into a centuries-old barn, turning it into a light-filled haven TEXT EWEN MACDONALD IMAGES MATTHEW SMITH ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY When Chris and Sarah Dale purchased... View Article

Retreating to
the city

LISTEN HERE For many self-builders, the big goal is moving from the city to the country, but a couple from the Scottish Highlands had the opposite aim in building their ‘secret garden’ home in Aberdeen TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES JIM... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

LISTEN HERE Nicole Collison and her husband Rob, along with their two young daughters, are moving from the coast to the countryside, renovating a Grade II listed Kent barn in search of a rural dream in their home county We’re... View Article

Building excitement

LISTEN HERE 4-8 October, Birmingham’s NEC WHAT’S ON AT THIS YEAR’S GRAND DESIGNS BIRMINGHAM? THE EXHIBITION A great opportunity to meet hundreds of suppliers across different project areas, all under one roof. The five areas of the show are: Build, Kitchens... View Article

Ask the Expert – Get your light right

LISTEN HERE With so many options available from so many suppliers, choosing the right rooflight can be a bit of a minefield. Here Paul Trace from Stella Rooflights answers the key questions you will need to consider when seeking out... View Article

Home Styling: Panel visions

LISTEN HERE Achieving a cohesive, attractive interior means combining ‘interest, contrast and texture,’ says Robyn Park of Robyn Park Interiors. She explains how panelling can be a great way to do this, and how it’s having a big moment in... View Article

Wheel of good fortune

LISTEN HERE A young couple seeking their first home together in Cumbria brought in family help to maximise the benefits of a site that once housed a water mill, and on which now sits their four-bed property TEXT LAURA SHADWELL... View Article