A chalet for all seasons

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 England, her mother’s... View Article

Seven interior designs trends to watch in 2021

Homeowners looking to spruce up their abodes this year can look to the latest and emerging trends from interior design experts to add style and value to properties. From cleverly mixing modern with vintage, to maximising natural light and getting... View Article

Why do over 55s renovate their homes?

Home renovation is a powerful way to add value to a property – and as such, it’s something that’s pursued by homeowners of all ages. But it’s especially popular when we reach 55. At this age, the kids may well... View Article

Self-Build PAT Testing – Everything You Need to Know

Electricity is an indispensable tool in any workplace, and without it, many tasks would be impossible to accomplish. But electricity can also be dangerous, specifically if incorrectly used or left unchecked.  Although the UK enjoys a high standard of safety... View Article

How to Design the Perfect Home Office

Have you found yourself working from home quite a bit in 2020? Like so many others out there, perhaps you were transitioned to a remote environment temporarily and that has now been extended to an indefinite amount of time. Working... View Article

How to create the ideal space for working from home

Have you adapted to remote working this year? The Office for National Statistics reports that almost all of us worked from home in April 2020, the first full month of UK lockdown. While the trend has divided opinion among workers,... View Article

5 ways to improve your home in 2021

Whether you’re building your very own home from scratch and simply do not know where to begin with interior and exterior decorations, or if you’re adding an extension and looking to make a few improvements to the existing part of... View Article

Five ways to increase the security of your home

UK homeowners seeking to improve the security of their homes to feel safer and add value to properties can look to simple tips from home improvement experts. From upgrading doors and windows, to having a protected location for post and... View Article

Patience is a virtue

By astutely saving up for over a decade, Chris and Linda Anderson had the time and money to re-configure their 1930s London semi to be exactly how they wanted, including a dramatic blend of indoor and outdoor TEXT KAREN WILSON... View Article

Offsite, on time

Paul Newman of Potton Self Build explains the ins and outs of offsite construction, and the many benefits it holds for self builders In many people’s minds, construction still happens ‘brick by brick’ on a building site. With the advent... View Article

Surrey splendour

Darren and Juliet Milgate fulfilled their lifelong ambition when they self-built a stunning Georgian-inspired property, sandwiched between central London and the splendour of the Surrey Hills TEXT JENNIFER GRIMBLE IMAGES PAUL NOBLE Darren and Juliet Milgate realised their lifelong ambition... View Article

Vital steps to safety

Kevin Underwood of the British Woodworking Federation discusses why staircase aesthetics must go hand in hand with safety, and why too often design flair can compromise it For many, the staircase is a central feature of any new home, and... View Article

A signature entrance

Choosing the right front door is key to creating a good first impression and enhancing kerb appeal. With so many different products on the market, Stuart Shaw of Hörmann UK provides some insights to help self-builders make an informed decision... View Article

Locally sourced

Carolyn and Chris Brown’s dream house was right on their doorstep, but they still changed it beyond all recognition to create a very modern family home TEXT & IMAGES HEATHER DIXON When it came to the crunch, friends, neighbours and... View Article

Chancellor pressed to extend green refurb grants

Refurb grants for people to make their homes more energy efficient should be available for an extra year rather than finish at the end of March next year, urges the Federation of Master Builders. The trade body is calling on... View Article