Interior Inspiration: Lighting

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Different aspects of lighting such as colour and brightness have the power to influence how you feel about a room – which is why it needs to be considered in the early stages of design. Here are... View Article

Home Styling: Post-lockdown on the farm

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Richard Bradley of V33 offers styling tips on achieving the ‘modern farmhouse kitchen’ look, and plants some seeds on possible finishes to go for in your build Most people would understand completely what a traditional farmhouse kitchen... View Article

Ask the Expert: Cut your losses and save CO2

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Improving insulation is at the heart of the country’s mission to reduce CO2 emissions in new homes. Matthew Evans of Kingspan Insulation answers key questions around the materials and details to consider to avoid heat loss in... View Article

Highland society

LISTEN HERE 🔊 After seven years in a caravan and the birth of their daughter, Ailsa and Jonny Laing decided it was about time to set up a proper home in the Highlands TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES DANIEL WILCOX PHOTOGRAPHY... View Article

Four times lucky

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Taking on one major renovation project is ambitious enough – but what happens when you take on four simultaneously, including a historic mill? John Chasey and Eleanor are reaping the benefits of embracing the challenge TEXT EWEN... View Article

Beating the odds

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Achieving an affordable ‘forever home’ in the right location seemed an impossible dream for a Berkshire family, but Laura Hardie-Gleed and husband Ian succeeded against all the odds by transforming a run-down 1960s property TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD... View Article

Appealing to owners

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Enhancing a property and adding to its kerb appeal is all about making the right choice of windows, entrance doors, landscaping and, of course, the garage door. David O’Mara of Hörmann UK explains more Although often overlooked,... View Article

A guide to energy-efficient heating

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Alex Burgess of The Radiator Company provides some advice to self-builders on achieving energy efficient heating solutions for their property, for planet and pocket WHAT ARE THE MOST EFFICIENT RADIATORS? With the population increasingly looking to find... View Article

Up, up and away

LISTEN HERE 🔊 When the daily commute became too much for a busy pair of air industry entrepreneurs in west Scotland, they came up with a way to avoid it completely: build a house on their airfield! TEXT NICHOLA HUNTER... View Article

First time lucky

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Presented with the opportunity to do a self-build in his East Grinstead home’s garden, Tim Lamont found it impossible to resist, and he enjoyed it so much he’s already planning the next instalment TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD The... View Article

Victorian values brought up to date

LISTEN HERE 🔊 A family in London found the ideal Victorian property for a renovation project that would provide the space they needed – though it needed a major overhaul to the layout, plus some contemporary touches of their own... View Article

Master of Arts & Crafts

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Thanks to years of experience in the construction industry, Howard Vaughan knew exactly how to transform a rundown Arts & Crafts house into a polished gem for his family to enjoy Text Rebecca Foster Images Carl Blank... View Article

The great bungalow rescue

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Years of wet and windy winters in rural Shropshire had brought the 1960s bungalow on Bob Griffiths’ farm to the point of near collapse, but he decided to give it a new lease of life Text Roseanne... View Article

Functional flooring

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Darren Trivett of Ridgespear Group offers insights into why developments in underfloor heating make it a practical option, and gives some installation tips The commonest forms of underfloor heating (UFH) involve circulating water through a high-performance plastic... View Article

Radiating future relevance

LISTEN HERE 🔊 With energy efficient heating systems fast becoming vital components of new homes, Chris Harvey of Stelrad Radiators looks at some of the hottest ideas when it comes to radiator innovation for self-builds With the major changes taking... View Article

Power your life

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Mark Chewter of Plug In Solar explains why solar energy remains a great investment, and how a solar PV system can be used to help you meet Building Regulations, while saving money on your self-build home’s future... View Article

Long distance champions

LISTEN HERE 🔊 How virtual project management was the answer for long-distance clients to turn a Victorian vicarage into a modern masterpiece TEXT JAYNE DOWLE IMAGES MATTHEW CATTELL When the major renovation of Melinda and Chris Swann’s Victorian vicarage near... View Article

Contemporary blend

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Set in a secluded Hampshire valley, a very contemporary home blends into its rural setting thanks to a design by two architectural practices that echoes traditional local buildings. James Parker reports TEXT JAMES PARKER IMAGES RICHARD CHIVERS... View Article

Setting the bar high

LISTEN HERE 🔊 After a couple of frustrating years spent hunting for a new home, Paul and Sarka embarked on a self-build journey with Huf Haus to realise a property that met their high expectations TEXT EMMA HEDGES IMAGES LOTHAR... View Article

A chalet for all seasons

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Christa and Del Dobson had been planning their alpine-style project for nearly 20 years, and it has finally come to fruition in a luxurious off-grid chalet TEXT NICHOLA HUNTER IMAGES DOUGLAS GIBB Although Christa grew up in... View Article