Future-roofing

With a global gas supply crunch, issues with renewables and strong demand pushing up energy prices, the energy efficient design of roofing and insulation is vitally important for homeowners, as Lisa Grosse from Cedral explains In 2025, The Future Homes... View Article
Sheffield steel

Sheffield steel

Kitchen thieves, a collapsing roof, and then a pandemic would be enough to make anyone throw in the towel on a renovation project, but Suzanne and David Williamson are made of sterner stuff TEXT & IMAGES HEATHER DIXON The Williamsons... View Article

Paving responsibly for rainwater runoff

Chris Hodson from Interpave explains the importance of taking a responsible approach to rainwater runoff from paving around both new and existing homes to protect them and the wider community Another year of flooding around the UK provides a timely... View Article

Best of both worlds

Dealing with planners can be a frustrating business, but to modernise a substantial Victorian building in Devon, Geoff Hall also had to negotiate heritage surveyors, ecologists, conservationists and archaeologists TEXT EWEN MACDONALD IMAGES CO CREATE ARCHITECTS A ramshackle 19th century home... View Article

Money to burn?

Installing a wood burning stove in your home can not only save you money on your heating bills but can also enhance the aesthetic value of your living space. Dennis Milligan of the British Flue & Chimney Manufacturers Association (BFCMA)... View Article

Building a case for keeping it clay

A campaign has been launched to inform self-builders on why they should stay with clay brick rather than look at concrete newcomers. Keith Aldis of the Brick Development Association explains further The campaign we have launched features an illustrated comparative... View Article

Converted to Class Q

For Kat & Tris Baxter-Smith, the challenge of converting an agricultural barn on the farm belonging to Tris’ family – to his own design – became a lesson in the pros and cons of Class Q permitted development  TEXT ROSEANNE... View Article

De-mystifying lighting design

Lighting plays a vital role both inside and outside our homes, setting the ambience and affecting the overall feel of a space. It’s imperative therefore that any lighting decisions are taken with consideration and care to ensure optimum performance. Here,... View Article

Home Styling: Designs that work for you

Hybrid working is here to stay, so it’s no surprise that a dedicated workspace has become a staple of houses’ layouts. But where do you start when planning a home office? Steve Hird of Edward Thomas Interiors gets down to... View Article

Ask the Expert: Fully kitted up

Your choice of construction method will affect almost every aspect of your project. Derek Dawson of Scandia Hus answers some common questions on kit homes, explaining how they can be the ‘ultimate solution’ for a self-build WHAT IS A KIT... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Lighting

Whether it’s for accenting individual items, creating overall ambience, or achieving the right light levels for working from home, getting lighting right is one of the first priorities for a great interior design. Here we round up a selection of... View Article

Fit for purpose

During their long saga to build a home with stables on an exposed site on the west coast of Scotland, David and Louisa Wallace discovered that bigger isn’t necessarily better when they had to edit their plans down TEXT NIK... View Article

Nine interior design trends for 2023

When it comes to interiors for 2023, this year is about bold colours, 70’s glamour and an opportunity to bring personal style and vigor to your space. Whether it’s a renovation or a refresh, interior designer Benji Lewis predicts the... View Article

Top interior trends for 2023

Homeowners looking to stay put and improve in the current climate can spruce up their abodes and add value with top interior trends from home experts. Everyone loves having a fresh start in the new year, and what better way... View Article

A small victory

As an owner of a company that designs and builds furniture, Hamish Forbes wasn’t initially daunted by a full renovation of his one bedroom cottage in the west of Scotland. However, he soon realised small doesn’t always mean simple TEXT... View Article

John forges the right result

When John Wilkinson took the decision to buy a run down former blacksmith’s cottage just outside York, he wasn’t quite prepared for the renovation journey that lay in front of him TEXT HEATHER DIXON IMAGES DAVE BURTON John Wilkinson felt... View Article

Stop energy costs going through the roof

The rising cost of energy prices and the recent introduction of more stringent building regulations (Part L) have pushed thermal efficiency to the top of the priority list for self-builders and renovators considering new glazing solutions for their homes.  These... View Article