Orsoni from TREND for beautiful mosaic surfaces

As one of the world’s leading producers of coloured glass mosaic, Venetian enamel, gold leaf tesserae and engineered stone surfaces, TREND Group works with today’s most celebrated designers, architects and artists. The stunning results are seen in residential, commercial and public... View Article

BLANCO supports Kilimanjaro climb

Joe Lyons, Director of LYONS NI Ltd, a Northern Ireland-based kitchen component distributor, braved altitude and rigorous terrain when he climbed the world’s highest freestanding mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, in aid of the Irish Rugby Football Union Charitable Trust. BLANCO UK’s sponsorship of... View Article

Why a garden room packs more punch than your spare room

Forget extensions or conservatories, garden rooms have emerged as the home trend that’s been sweeping the nation over the last couple of years. Whether you’re looking for a stylish guest suite, an office/place to work, or a summerhouse, a garden... View Article

Five things to consider for your self-build

Even years of experience in the construction industry doesn’t guarantee a smooth ride for a self-build, as each project is different. Below, Chris Stanley, Housing Manager at the Concrete Block Association (CBA), discusses his experience building his own home and... View Article

Planning your dream extension

By John M Staves, CEng FIStructE The decision to extend your property should not be taken lightly especially when altering your home. It will be inconvenient, messy and disruptive to day-to-day family life. To ensure that the change to your... View Article

Mortgage Insurance and When It is Required

Sometimes referred to as mortgage payment protection insurance, MPPI, mortgage protection insurance or even just mortgage insurance – regardless, the overarching principle is the same. It’s all about protecting a person and their home by covering the cost of their... View Article

Interior design trends for the year ahead

Sian Astley, property expert for the Homebuilding & Renovating Show and project manager for BBC2 series Your Home Made Perfect, predicts the biggest interior trends for the year ahead: ‘70s retro revival Grey isn’t exactly banished but if you’re a hippy... View Article

The counties in England with the most land for sale

With properties becoming increasingly difficult to afford, many are starting to turn to renovation rather than relocation. Recent research from Hiscox 2018 has found that 25% of 1,200 UK homeowners claim ‘prohibitively high property prices’ is the main reason for... View Article

Windows of opportunity

The Browns had never considered building their own home, but the chance to create a ‘Glasshouse’ with views of the Forth Bridge and Edinburgh Castle was too good to miss. Roseanne Field reports Alan and Lucy Brown had been looking... View Article

The UK’s biggest self-build opportunities

Thanks to TV programmes like Grand Designs, it’s no surprise that 1 in 7 Brits are currently in the research process of building their own home – dubbed as self-builders. In fact, this form of building development is on the... View Article

Self-build pioneers to star in Grand Designs

Graven Hill, one of the country’s most innovative self and custom build villages, is set to appear on new Channel 4 series, Grand Designs: The Street. The six episodes will follow the stories of 10 ‘pioneers’ as they take part in... View Article

Streamlining the future of planning

In Britain, a mere 10% of housing completions stem from the self-build sector, compared to around 80% in Austria. Establishing why this figure is so low is key to increasing the country’s number of self-builders and based on the information available, planning... View Article