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

Jarvis specifies Earthborn paints

Jarvis Homes, a family company for more than 250 years, set out to improve the sustainability of its building processes and specified Earthborn paints for its Chequers Green development near Ashford. Russell Jarvis, company director, said “We switched to Earthborn... 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

Let your walls breathe

If you’re building a new house, or an extension, you want to bring each room into use as as soon as possible. Painting the newly built walls is often the last step in a long process that you want to... 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

Get in to shape – and colour

The retro look of steel windows, doors and screens is very much ‘in’. Crittall says they don’t have to be just rectangular and white… Interior designers and home decor influencers say retro naturalistic greens, bright colours, sky-blues, purple-blue hues, vibrant... 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

Introducing the Fireline FQ5 from Charlton & Jenrick

LISTEN HERE 🔊 A new addition to the Fireline 5kW line-up, the FQ5 features a modern door style making it perfect for contemporary interior spaces. Performance and environmental credentials are guaranteed with our tertiary air and airwash features. The optional... View Article

GALVANISED STEEL: SIMPLE, STRONG AND SECURE FENCE POSTS

Galvanised steel fence post systems provide a modern fencing alternative to traditional concrete. For any self-builder looking to undertake as much work themselves as possible – it is also an ideal option. Here, John Abernethie, Managing Director at Birkdale explains... View Article

Five key tips to make your new kitchen sustainable

Deciding how your new kitchen is going to look can be very exciting but now there is an added expectation – that our design choices should be sustainable. Refurbishing and building can be very costly from an environmental perspective. So... View Article

Ideas & Inspiration: Home offices

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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.... View Article

Raising the roof

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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... View Article

Drain care or beware

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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... View Article

Ask the Expert: Connecting with the outside

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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... View Article

Navigating the trickle vent conundrum

Stuart Judge, managing director of Tradelink, explains what the new Part F of the Building Regulations means for window installers… Trickle vents in windows have long been used in the background as a means of complying with Part F of the... View Article