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

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

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

When does cost outweigh conservation?

Paul Trace of Stella Rooflight discusses the importance of maintaining the historical integrity of buildings during an economic downturn. It’s hard to imagine a tougher economic climate. Having emerged from the pandemic, businesses and homeowners are beset by the rising... 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

Access all areas

A kit home has plenty of benefits – including its price tag – but buying a ‘house in a box’ doesn’t mean sticking to the plan, as this wheelchair-friendly redesign near Cornwall’s Atlantic coast illustrates TEXT CAROL BURNS IMAGES EWEN... View Article

Breaking down barriers

For Patsy Parr, getting approval and building her first home in her native rural Staffordshire meant overcoming countless hurdles, but project management experience, plus a bit of family knowledge, resulted in an award-winning build TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES IZAAK CAAN... View Article

Practice makes perfect

Serial self-builder Mark Young’s fourth project, an ICF-built family home, has scored so many hits on his family’s wish list that it might be his last project TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES MARK YOUNG Back in the November/December 2018 issue of... View Article

Maintenance in mind

Choosing the right decking material can be the difference between enjoying your outdoor space and spending all your spare time maintaining it. Caroline Birdsall from Millboard gives some practical advice on picking a long-lasting decking area for your property One... View Article

Recipe for success

Cooking-mad ex MasterChef contestant Ashley Byrne and his wife Alison have managed to create an eye-catching contemporary home through close working relationships with their architect, builder and suppliers – so who says too many cooks spoil the broth? TEXT JESS... View Article

The right balance

When specifying systems to control temperature in your self-build, the key is to balance style, substance and sustainability to ensure the end result ticks all the right boxes. Greg Cooper from Radiana looks at why radiant cooling could be the... View Article

Ask the Expert: Delivering low carbon

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Like a lot of self-builders, you may be looking to stay clear of fossil fuel heating systems and install a heat pump in your home. However, you may be asking how exactly does a heat pump work... View Article

Opening statements

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Being a key first impression of your home, doors also make a statement about who you are. Tracey Pomfret from George Barnsdale offers some advice to self-builders on specification choices The humble door has evolved over the... View Article