Selfbuilder Diaries

LISTEN HERE We are Laura and Jamie Currie from the Isle of Wight, and we recently embarked upon our first renovation in Gurnard near Cowes, which we are project managing around our day jobs!  We’ve always lived on the island,... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Eco Products

LISTEN HERE As we all continue to pursue more sustainable ways of living, here we have rounded up some products that combine elegant design with eco-friendliness, which we hope will prove inspiring in your project decision-making 1. LifestyleGarden’s Bistro Dining... View Article

The best laid plans

LISTEN HERE Getting a contemporary bungalow design in south London through planning proved to be a nightmare for Giancarlo Rubano. However, with a combination of his dogged determination, support from parents and architects, and some design compromises, he succeeded TEXT... View Article

Home renovation: how to save money on building supplies

A large part of the building material price increase originates from shipping and supply issues that still echo from the pandemic. The UK’s separation from the EU is another contributing factor that has surged building prices. Using this news it... View Article

Revamping Your Home on A Budget

Giving your home a makeover doesn’t have to break the bank. A refresh or a few tweaks in the interior of your home should not be a daunting task. With a bit of creativity and a few simple tweaks, you’ll... View Article

Grand Designs Live and Green Living Live Show Highlights

Grand Designs Live returned to Birmingham NEC last week and closed its doors on Sunday 9th October after a hugely successful outing. Welcoming thousands of visitors, the show hosted by Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, was packed with hundreds of... View Article

Transforming outdoor space into a cosy autumn setting

Brits are being encouraged to turn their backyards into cosy havens to make the most of their outdoor spaces as the crisp Autumn weather draws near. The experts at Gardening Express have outlined the best ways to create a relaxing ambience... View Article

How can we improve Selfbuilder + Homemaker?

The September/October issue of Selfbuilder + Homemaker (SBH) was recently published, and we are interested to hear your thoughts on the publication. If you have a spare moment, we would be grateful if you could complete a brief feedback survey.... View Article

What’s in store at Grand Designs Live 2022 Birmingham

The sessions, exhibitors, and speakers not to miss at the grand home event plus Kevin McCloud reveals the best, worst, and most mind-blowing moments of 25 years filming Grand Designs. Full of inspiration and expert advice, Grand Designs Live is gearing up... View Article

Home Styling: Magical bedtimes

In designing a children’s bedroom, it’s possible to create a sense of magic, and if you allow yourself to move away from the standard approaches there are no limits. Interior designer Cat Dal offers some practical tips As with any... View Article

No longer a hard cell

With new funding mechanisms slashing the cost of combined heat and power systems run on hydrogen fuel cells, now is the right time to look closely at this income-generating, low-carbon technology, according to Viessmann’s Christian Engelke Hydrogen fuel cell systems... View Article

Grand Designs Live

Whether you’re looking for ideas and inspiration for your renovation, or specific products to furnish your home, Grand Designs Live brings together over 400 companies, all under the one roof Grand Designs Live is split into four sections covering Build,... View Article

A perfect blend of old and new

The clever reinvention of a former bed and breakfast has given the Siegels a stylish and contemporary home for their blended family in south east Scotland TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES AIRBORNE LENS Antonia was already living in East Lothian when... View Article

Delivering expectations

Victoria Brocklesby of Origin explores why lead times are such an important consideration for any self-build project, especially while ongoing supply chain issues and materials shortages continue to affect suppliers and contractors, such as in the case of doors and... View Article

The full effect

Andy Hitchman from Solution Fires advises on the key considerations to be made in choosing the perfect electric fire for a real fire effect There has been a significant rise in demand for electric fires in recent years. A fantastic... View Article

Barn to be wild

A couple in Yorkshire with construction know-how were not intimidated by the prospect of redeveloping an old barn as their home, but its still proved a major challenge TEXT HEATHER DIXON IMAGES BEVAN COCKERILL Friends of Gareth and Rebecca Connell... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

In the first of a series of first-hand articles by self-builders, we track the initial inspiration for Amanda Ritchie’s remote Scottish build, and the challenges of upping sticks to Skye My name is Amanda Ritchie and currently I live with... View Article