Interior Inspiration: Living rooms

As their name suggests, living rooms tend to be used daily by everyone in the family, so must be carefully designed to provide comfort and relaxation in addition to practicality. That’s why every detail counts; here we round up some... View Article

Ask the Expert: Home and dry

Andrew Scanlon of Everbuild answers some of the basement waterproofing queries asked by self-builders to help them avoid getting out of their depth in their projects Basement conversions have long been a popular way to increase the usable space in... View Article

Brick by brick

Jason Hughes of Imperial Bricks looks at the different brick options available to self-builders, and reviews new alternatives to reclaims A self-build project is one of the single largest investments most people will ever make. Now, thanks to the pandemic,... View Article

Going underground

Selecting and installing underground rainwater harvesting tanks can be a complicated process for self-builders, here David Stagg of Graf UK provides advice People’s increasing interest in rainwater harvesting, which was particularly noticeable during Covid lockdowns, means there is now a... View Article

Choosing a home lift

Steve Hill of Terry Lifts discusses the benefits and specifications for modern home lifts, and what you should consider when futureproofing your home Whether you are planning a self-build or renovating your home, it’s likely you will want the house to... View Article

What makes a great roof?

Before embarking on any self-build or renovation project it’s important to understand the difference between offsite manufacturing (OSM) and traditional build roofing. Here Chris Powell from Pasquil explains the differences, and highlights the benefits of OSM What makes a great... View Article

Restoration drama

Carl and Rachel Philips invested everything they had in breathing new life into one of the oldest, and most fascinating, properties in Stratford-upon-Avon TEXT HEATHER DIXON IMAGES CARL PHILLIPS Carl and Rachel Philips’ house is so old, and so ‘wonky,’... View Article

Factoring in the future

Implementing some planning wisdom into your build will help you design a home that meets your needs, as you get older. Yola Mealing of Stiltz explains There is an excitement that comes with planning a new build. Alongside the practical... View Article

A window to the future

Phil Brown of Pilkington UK looks at three advanced glazing trends that can help make your project more sustainable, as well as some of the regulatory measures you need to be aware of when building or renovating your own home... View Article

Sussex ups and downs

For Ian Perry and his wife, building their own home in the Sussex countryside meant finally fulfilling a dream they’d held onto for many years, but it was a voyage of several discoveries, including Covid challenges TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES... View Article

True to their words

When Astrid Woloszczuk and her husband set out on their self-build journey, they wrote a list of key words that captured how they wanted their new home to feel. The result’s a project that has realised all their dreams –... View Article

A brighter future

A couple looking to turn their cramped Victorian house in east London into a bright, open and spacious home for their growing family, used a fairly unproven architect to help them strike the right balance TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES ADAM... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Lighting

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 a few products... View Article

Home Styling: Post-lockdown on the farm

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 look would entail.... View Article

Ask the Expert: Cut your losses and save CO2

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 your build, and... View Article

Highland society

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 It all started... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Flooring

From creating a flow from the interior to the exterior using hard-wearing tiles, to making your living space into a cosy retreat, flooring has a crucial role to play in your home’s overall effect. Here are an array of new... View Article

A grand return

Grand Designs Live returns after a two year break to Birmingham’s NEC in October Featuring over 400 companies across four key home project areas, Grand Designs is back! The organisers have staged the 2021 event to be “the perfect day... View Article

Light up your life

Lucy Mather from Arighi Bianchi offers some hints and tips to take lighting up a level, with a decorative approach using the latest looks and trends in fixed and accessory lighting solutions There are so many choices and considerations when... View Article

Bringing the inside out

Peter Wilson of Setcrete explains how an internal living space can be seamlessly extended onto an outdoor terrace with the help of floor tiling The trend amongst homeowners to ‘bring the outside in’ is well established, driven to a large... View Article