A small victory

As an owner of a company that designs and builds furniture, Hamish Forbes wasn’t initially daunted by a full renovation of his one bedroom cottage in the west of Scotland. However, he soon realised small doesn’t always mean simple TEXT... View Article

John forges the right result

When John Wilkinson took the decision to buy a run down former blacksmith’s cottage just outside York, he wasn’t quite prepared for the renovation journey that lay in front of him TEXT HEATHER DIXON IMAGES DAVE BURTON John Wilkinson felt... View Article

Stop energy costs going through the roof

The rising cost of energy prices and the recent introduction of more stringent building regulations (Part L) have pushed thermal efficiency to the top of the priority list for self-builders and renovators considering new glazing solutions for their homes.  These... View Article

Stop costs running away

Collecting rainwater for domestic use is nothing new; it’s been done since Roman times and is still used today in modern, sustainable homes. Jae Lester from RainWater Harvesting looks at how technology has changed, though the principle remains unchanged In... View Article

The rising trend in lifts

People today are generally moving houses less often, indicating they are buying and building homes to live in for many years to come. Alastair Stannah from Stannah looks at how futureproofing your house with a lift can ensure you can... View Article

5 interior trends to look out for in 2023

A new year means new trends! Whether you are designing your own home or are simply looking for inspiration to give your home a fresh new look, check out the top interior trends to look out for in 2023 from... View Article

Unleaded benefits

Water ingress may damage your property or cause wet and dry rot. Nick King from Klober explores the reasons behind choosing lead-free flashings for maintaining a watertight roof, and outlines the installation considerations to be aware of The roof is... View Article

Home Styling: Saving gracefully

Reusing and recycling materials can save huge amounts of energy, as well as costs. Looeeze Grossman explains why refurbished kitchens can be attractively sustainable options There’s no doubt about it, kitchens are expensive. They’re also, usually, the heart of the... View Article

Retiring – but far from shy

Realising their Victorian house would be unsuitable as they approached retirement, Elaine and Tom Devine decided to take matters into their own hands and tackle a new build in their garden, but their timber-framed project faced some planning battles TEXT... View Article

Overheating is out

TuffX’s Paul Higgins explains what the new Part O of the Building Regulations means for glass and glazing in new homes The new Building Regulations Approved Document Part O is designed to tackle overheating in new residential buildings. As the... View Article

Ask the Expert: Insuring peace of mind

LISTEN HERE Jake Fitness from Self-Build Zone answers some FAQs on how to choose the self-build insurance you need WHEN DO YOU NEED TO INSURE YOUR PROJECT?  As soon as you have completed the conveyancing and bought your plot. The... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

LISTEN HERE We are Laura and Jamie Currie from the Isle of Wight, and we recently embarked upon our first renovation in Gurnard near Cowes, which we are project managing around our day jobs!  We’ve always lived on the island,... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Eco Products

LISTEN HERE As we all continue to pursue more sustainable ways of living, here we have rounded up some products that combine elegant design with eco-friendliness, which we hope will prove inspiring in your project decision-making 1. LifestyleGarden’s Bistro Dining... View Article

The best laid plans

LISTEN HERE Getting a contemporary bungalow design in south London through planning proved to be a nightmare for Giancarlo Rubano. However, with a combination of his dogged determination, support from parents and architects, and some design compromises, he succeeded TEXT... View Article

Home renovation: how to save money on building supplies

A large part of the building material price increase originates from shipping and supply issues that still echo from the pandemic. The UK’s separation from the EU is another contributing factor that has surged building prices. Using this news it... View Article

Revamping Your Home on A Budget

Giving your home a makeover doesn’t have to break the bank. A refresh or a few tweaks in the interior of your home should not be a daunting task. With a bit of creativity and a few simple tweaks, you’ll... View Article