Affordable warmth

LISTEN HERE Dean Asher from Polypipe Building Products uncovers the sustainability and practicality advantages of underfloor heating for modern homes As carbon emissions are an increasing concern for homeowners and with the cost-of-living crisis not easing up anytime soon, many... View Article

Home Styling – Open up your home to a world of colour

LISTEN HERE Whether building a house from scratch or renovating a period property, choosing colour is intrinsic to creating the spaces you desire. Dawn Scott of Dulux Trade explains how to create a colour scheme which closely reflects your personality... View Article

Open to alternatives to open-plan living

LISTEN HERE Ben Brocklesby of Origin offers his advice to self-builders looking to create more functional floor plans, which move away from open-plan to ‘broken-plan’  The way we use our homes has changed significantly in the past three years. The... View Article

Rural charm & heritage in harmony

LISTEN HERE Discover the remarkable journey of Chris and Sarah Dale as they breathe new life into a centuries-old barn, turning it into a light-filled haven TEXT EWEN MACDONALD IMAGES MATTHEW SMITH ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY When Chris and Sarah Dale purchased... View Article

Retreating to
the city

LISTEN HERE For many self-builders, the big goal is moving from the city to the country, but a couple from the Scottish Highlands had the opposite aim in building their ‘secret garden’ home in Aberdeen TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES JIM... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

LISTEN HERE Nicole Collison and her husband Rob, along with their two young daughters, are moving from the coast to the countryside, renovating a Grade II listed Kent barn in search of a rural dream in their home county We’re... View Article

Building excitement

LISTEN HERE 4-8 October, Birmingham’s NEC WHAT’S ON AT THIS YEAR’S GRAND DESIGNS BIRMINGHAM? THE EXHIBITION A great opportunity to meet hundreds of suppliers across different project areas, all under one roof. The five areas of the show are: Build, Kitchens... View Article

Ask the Expert – Get your light right

LISTEN HERE With so many options available from so many suppliers, choosing the right rooflight can be a bit of a minefield. Here Paul Trace from Stella Rooflights answers the key questions you will need to consider when seeking out... View Article

Home Styling: Panel visions

LISTEN HERE Achieving a cohesive, attractive interior means combining ‘interest, contrast and texture,’ says Robyn Park of Robyn Park Interiors. She explains how panelling can be a great way to do this, and how it’s having a big moment in... View Article

Wheel of good fortune

LISTEN HERE A young couple seeking their first home together in Cumbria brought in family help to maximise the benefits of a site that once housed a water mill, and on which now sits their four-bed property TEXT LAURA SHADWELL... View Article

Open up to light relief around the home

LISTEN HERE TuffX’s Paul Higgins explains how rooflights can provide innovative solutions to maximise natural light, create dedicated work zones, and balance energy efficiency with comfort in your self-build or renovation Times have changed, and our homes are changing with... View Article

Ask the expert: Wetrooms 101

LISTEN HERE In recent years the wetroom concept has taken a leap into mainstream popularity, and installations in homes are more desirable than ever to meet a range of needs. Shaun Hunt from Impey answers some self-builder Frequently Asked Questions... View Article

Home styling: Shed some light on the issue

LISTEN HERE You can transform an existing dark hallway – or dark internal spaces in a new build – by opening up the space using attractive Crittall-style glazed doors. Lucy Bartley of lucyb home explains how you can see the... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

LISTEN HERE Leanne and partner Mark recently took on a renovation in Barnsley, while also tackling the running of their own business and raising three girls When we first moved into our current home, we never planned to stay there... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Living rooms

LISTEN HERE Natural materials, which might even be reclaimed, combined with a focus on luxury for key pieces. These are the trends that are driving design of our living rooms at the moment, and here we offer some great ideas... View Article

Ask the Expert: Tips on going to ground

LISTEN HERE When investing in a ground source heat pump system you’ll want to make sure it runs as efficiently as possible. James Coe at Kensa Heat Pumps shares how to get the most out of your low-carbon heating installation... View Article

Classical concert

LISTEN HERE Imagination and creative space planning saw an Edinburgh apartment refurb bring all the elements together to give the owners the ideal composition TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES ZAC+ZAC When grandparents Alan Patrick and Cynthia Croatti spotted this West End... View Article

Home Styling: Designs that work for you

LISTEN HERE Hybrid working is here to stay, so it’s no surprise that a dedicated workspace has become a staple of houses’ layouts. But where do you start when planning a home office? Steve Hird of Edward Thomas Interiors gets... View Article

Ask the Expert: Fully kitted up

LISTEN HERE Your choice of construction method will affect almost every aspect of your project. Derek Dawson of Scandia Hus answers some common questions on kit homes, explaining how they can be the ‘ultimate solution’ for a self-build WHAT IS... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Lighting

LISTEN HERE Whether it’s for accenting individual items, creating overall ambience, or achieving the right light levels for working from home, getting lighting right is one of the first priorities for a great interior design. Here we round up a... View Article