Child’s play

Play experts Foamë offer a ‘how-to’ guide on taking the right steps towards creating a safe home environment for children which still looks great While children should always be monitored, their curious nature means that it can seem impossible to... View Article

Going green on top

Victoria Ramwell from Kemper System discusses specification best practice and the key considerations for green roofs, including design, location and waterproofing aspects Green roofs are evolving rapidly, transforming from a specialist eco-feature to a more mainstream technology which can be... View Article

Good things come to those who wait

Finally moving in to their dream self-built home in Norfolk was a very long time coming for David and Deanna Martin One of the most intimidating aspects of buying a plot of land and building your own house is worrying... View Article

Stepping into the light

Despite having an architecture degree, Tom Holliday and his wife Carly turned to an architect friend to help them transform a dark, dated cottage into a light and spacious family home near York If Carly and Tom Holliday had known... View Article

Building good health

Built on a wooded rural site on the coast near Bristol, a stunning family home has been created that was prefabricated in Germany using natural materials, and designed with health and wellbeing in mind Those who have holidayed in the... View Article

What’s in store?

Grand Designs Live returns to Birmingham in October, providing a ‘one-stop shop’ for anyone looking for inspiration for their self-build, renovation or interior project Whether you’re starting out on your first home renovation, building a new home, adding the finishing... View Article

Open to debate

Jay Patel of aїr aluminium looks at the merits of bi-fold doors versus lift and slide options, and which may be better suited to your self-build. Wide-span glazing has become a critical part of any self-build project, with bi-folding and... View Article

ICF – sense and sustainability

Robin Miller of Beco Wallform gives his views on why insulating concrete formwork (ICF) is the ideal practical choice for self-builders concerned about sustainability and climate change There is growing recognition – now almost universal – that unless significant action... View Article

A clear set of options

When looking to create a unique home, glass gives you a wide range of options, especially when it comes to balconies and even atriums, as Susan Sinden of glass processor ESG Group explains One of the most common themes we... View Article

Managing your build’s bottom line

Despite the numbers of self-builds growing rapidly, getting the right advice on mortgages can be tricky. David Lownds of Hanley Economic Building Society outlines the basics of self-build financing, and gives some tips on how to manage your build’s budget... View Article

The brick essentials

With an increasing number of homeowners choosing to pursue self-build or embark on self-renovation work, Simon Taylor of Ibstock examines one of the key considerations for any self-builder – the aesthetics as well as function of the bricks they will... View Article

Traditionally eco

An eco-afficionado achieved his dream to create a Passivhaus home in Leeds, but it had to be traditional in style so wasn’t plain sailing As a solicitor by profession, Stephen Cirell took a very methodical approach to planning his first... View Article

Back to nature

The world of home improvement is nothing new to Athena and Mark, but their latest project renovating a house to help it nestle into a Sussex nature reserve proved a challenge For some, a major renovation or self-build project is... View Article

The art of compromise

Perseverance and compromise paid off for Clare and Mark Gittins when they took on the virtual rebuild of a derelict cottage just outside Rotherham Most people wouldn’t have given the dilapidated old cottage on the edge of a busy main... View Article

Timber types

How do you decide what style of house is for you? The materials you choose can heavily influence the space you create. Carpenter Oak talk through some of the timber choices open to self-builders who want to put wood at... View Article

Choosing the right rainwater system

Yeoman Rainguard’s Sally Moores discusses the variety of options available when it comes to rainwater systems, and how to choose the right one for your project With an abundant choice of rainwater systems on the market, there is certainly no... View Article

Grand gardens

Millboard discuss the various design approaches available to help self-builders achieve a truly ‘premium’ outdoor space Great outdoor spaces reflect the style and ambience of the properties that they belong to – and they also communicate the temperaments of the... View Article

Electric range cookers – at home in any kitchen

Stylish, versatile and easy to install, modern energy-efficient range cookers are enjoying a new lease of life in both town and country, as ESSE’s Mark Blewitt explains It’s an established rite of passage on the downshifter’s ‘road less travelled.’ Scour... View Article

A healthy home is a sustainable home

Heat recovery ventilation can make homes dramatically healthier, and going a step further with heat pump ventilation can also offer energy efficient heating and cooling, says Clarissa Youden of Total Home Environment With self-builders becoming more aware that they need... View Article