Ranch dressing

Animal lovers Jules Hamilton and Nigel Shore have extended and transformed a Suffolk bungalow, using traditional timber cladding and a ranch-style feel to help the home blend with its rural surroundings TEXT JESS UNWIN IMAGES NIGEL SHORE “Oh, you’re the... View Article

Take your stairs for a spin

Michael Edwards of Complete Stair Systems shares his expert advice on choosing a spiral staircase for your new build or refurbishment project With so many choices available, choosing a spiral staircase can seem like a daunting task, but it is... View Article

The trails all lead home

Calum and Gladys Trail looked at a lot of options for pursuing a self-build, and they managed to find the answer under their noses, on their existing site in the north east of Scotland TEXT TOM BODDY IMAGES NEIL GORDON... View Article

Home Styling: Mastering bedroom bliss

Bedrooms should be a place to relax and rejuvenate. Rob Lessmann from interior design studio Design’d Living explains how to create the perfect master bedroom ambience We spend a lot of our time in a bedroom, so it is imperative... View Article

A concrete idea for efficient builds

Chris Stride from the Insulating Concrete Formwork Association explains why this type of modern method of construction could provide the answers for your self-build when it comes to speed, efficiency and air-tightness Building your home can be a challenging task.... View Article

Ideas & Inspiration: Home offices

With many people now using a mix of home and office working since the pandemic, self-builders are placing the design of home offices right at an even higher priority. Here are some of the latest ideas 1. Warwick Buildings’ Curved... View Article

Raising the roof

When David and Lisa Collins’ circumstances changed, a tired 1960s bungalow in Leeds offered not only the chance to build their dream house, but also gave them the perfect opportunity to move nearer to their daughter TEXT HEATHER DIXON IMAGES... View Article

Drain care or beware

Self-builders face particular challenges when it comes to wastewater drainage options, says David Stagg from Graf UK While the self-build sector proved more resilient than the wider new housebuilding market during Covid, new challenges are making themselves felt. Although there... View Article

Ask the Expert: Connecting with the outside

Considering bifold or sliding doors for your self-build or renovation project? Matt Higgs from Kloeber answers some of the key questions to help ensure you choose the right glazed doors for your home It’s not surprising that bifold and sliding... View Article

Considering the orientation of your home to channel light

Peter Daniel, product innovation director at The Rooflight Company, discusses how the orientation of your home can transform how light channels through your space. Natural light is essential for modern homes. Not only does it create bright and airy spaces,... View Article

Top tips for sprucing up your home’s exterior this summer

With summer fast approaching, homeowners wishing to upgrade their property’s exterior features and garden this year can look to these home improvement tips, compiled by the experts at East Midlands based Stormclad. John Evans, managing director at Stormclad home improvements,... View Article

Breaking the rules

Julia Kendell, interior designer for the Homebuilding & Renovating Show, offers her tips on which kitchen design rules can be broken. First of all, ignore the kitchen work triangle ‘rule’. This concept of ensuring minimal movement between the cooker, sink and... View Article

Garden lighting: How to plan your own installation

When it comes to garden lighting, knowing what and where to illuminate can seem confusing. In this article, Rachel Morris of 4Lite offers her advice on how to approach your own installation. An effective lighting installation can transform gardens, improving... View Article

Goodbye grey – hello navy and black

Colourtrend reveals the darker hues as the most sought-after shades for paint, according to recent searches Shades of grey have been spotted everywhere in interiors over the last few years, with the muted neutral being cemented as one of the... View Article

Home Styling: Make room for relaxation

While you may already know how you want your kitchen and bathroom to look, the crucial space that is the living room can be more tricky to conceptualise. Interior designer Claire Rendall of Berkeley Place provides some styling tips Living... View Article

Looking into timber

Richard Dollar from The Sash Window Workshop discusses what self-builders should consider when choosing wooden framed windows for their home, in order to ensure that the windows not only look right, but also help make it more comfortable to live... View Article

Laying out the options

With flooring being the first thing you feel underfoot every morning, it’s important to consider all factors when specifying a floor that works within your home. Here, leading suppliers Quick-Step and Abingdon Flooring provide their insights into the options when... View Article

Seeing the light of day

Choosing the most suitable rooflight for your build can be anything but straightforward, with a variety of important aspects to consider including shape, size, and the materials it’s made from. Paul Trace from Stella Rooflight offers some practical advice to... View Article

Graven Hill returns to Build It Live

Following on from the success of 2021’s event, Graven Hill has announced plans to return to Build It Live, which will take place Saturday 11 June until Sunday 12 June at Bicester Heritage in Oxfordshire. Graven Hill, the UK’s largest... View Article