An adventure by the sea

Listen here. Embarking on a self-build sans architect is not for the faint-hearted, but Joey and Charlotte Thomson decided to go the DIY route to creating their perfect coastal home TEXT & IMAGES EWEN MACDONALD In 2015 Joey Auger and Charlotte... View Article
Self-Build Case Study: Ian and Julie Perrin

An uphill battle

Self-Build Case Study: Ian and Julie Perrin were unsure about buying the ‘difficult’ plot of land they ended up building on in Montgomery, mid-Wales, but they convinced themselves to take the plunge TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES NIKHILESH HAVAL | Listen... View Article

Curves in all the right places

Self-Build Case Study: Not only have Roger and Lucy Southcott achieved their ambition of building a home that’s energy self-sufficient with super-low greenhouse gas emissions, they’ve also created something that’s carefully shaped to fit the contours of its Wiltshire location... View Article

Is home heating set for a period of change?

Over the last 10 years it’s become clearer than ever that we can’t go on heating our homes by burning fossil fuels such as gas and oil. As effective as these fuels are, they release carbon into the atmosphere, a... View Article

Pushing the boundaries of home entertainment

New innovations in technology designed to mitigate the risks in wet environments are pushing the boundaries of where AV equipment can be enjoyed in the home. Will Uttley of ProofVision looks at the latest products Over the past two decades,... View Article

Open to debate

Jay Patel of aїr aluminium looks at the merits of bi-fold doors versus lift and slide options, and which may be better suited to your self-build. Wide-span glazing has become a critical part of any self-build project, with bi-folding and... View Article
The brick essentials

The brick essentials

With an increasing number of homeowners choosing to pursue self-build or embark on self-renovation work, Simon Taylor of Ibstock examines one of the key considerations for any self-builder – the aesthetics as well as function of the bricks they will... View Article
The art of compromise

The art of compromise

Perseverance and compromise paid off for Clare and Mark Gittins when they took on the virtual rebuild of a derelict cottage just outside Rotherham Most people wouldn’t have given the dilapidated old cottage on the edge of a busy main... View Article

Clearly beautiful

Tanzeela Yasin of IQ Glass explains the aesthetic benefits of including frameless glass balustrades in your project, but also the safety considerations that you need to take into account. Frameless glass balustrades are becoming a popular glazing feature across many... View Article

The building blocks of driveway success

Lee Dunderdale of Bradstone spells out everything you need to know about block paving a driveway, from planning, design and excavation through to the key aspects of installation, and finishing touches For those who have embarked upon a self-build or... View Article

The lap of luxury

Paul Bailey of Grohe UK offers tips to self-builders on how to add a luxurious feel to your bathroom, whether you’re working to a tight budget, or you are ready to ‘splash some cash’ The term ‘luxury bathroom’ is no... View Article

Expert advice at the ExCeL

The London Homebuilding & Renovating Show returns to London in September, with essential advice on hand to help visitors build their dream property. According to the UK Land Registry, most of the publicly owned land available for new homes will... View Article
Hogarth Architects Project: Open to ideas

Open to ideas

A project in south west London saw a firm of architects tackle a difficult commission to extend a listed former coach house, resulting in a dramatically open new addition. The owners of a terraced house in leafy Barnes, in the... View Article

Making stairs grand again

Jarrod Matthews of Jarrods Staircases is passionate about the potential to elevate staircases to an art form. He explains why creating the perfect staircase should be a priority, not an afterthought. Ioften refer to the space where the staircase sits... View Article

High end, high tech

Ion Smith of Cyberhomes discusses how smart home tech can be seamlessly incorporated into luxury home designs. It’s not that many years ago that smart home technology was available only to high-end luxury homes; but walk into any high street... View Article
Natural stone

Keep it natural

Lee Dunderdale of Bradstone delves into the plethora of hard landscaping materials for delivering a dream garden, and explains why natural stone is the perfect choice. When it comes to building your own house, garden landscaping often becomes one of... View Article

Reduce waste and save costs

Tarmac Cement’s Dr Bill Price explains why it’s important to give mortar and cement careful consideration and how the right product can reduce waste and costs. The value of the self- and custom- build market is forecast to grow by... View Article
From demolition to completion – Back with a bang!

Back with a bang!

Selfbuilder + Homemaker is following first-time selfbuilders Andy and Sarah Ball from the start of their project to completion. The last time we heard from them, they had just lost their builder. Now, a year on, the project is firmly... View Article

Eco performers

Michelle Alcock of Teknos offers an insight into environmentally-friendly paints and how their performance has come on leaps and bounds. Paints and finishes are far more than a design device that brings colour and cohesion to your home. They are... View Article

Untangling the issue

Long delays and landfill costs from dealing with Japanese knotweed could be a thing of the past thanks to new methods available to self- builders, explains Nic Seal of Environet. Discovering the presence of Japanese knotweed on a site where... View Article