Features Articles

In order to build in the Kent green belt, Richard and Susan Skelly had to exactly replicate the dimensions of an old barn they were replacing. Roseanne Field reports on how this constraint has given their home a unique character.... View Article

Martyn Haworth from Bison Frames answers your questions about the wide range of window and door options available to self-builders, while describing some of the benefits of different styles and materials, and what to watch out for. Windows and doors... View Article

Ceramique Internationale’s Peter Vann discusses the tiling trends that are currently influencing the market and the options available to self-builders. According to recent statistics, planning applications for major renovations and conversions have soared by more than 25 per cent over... View Article

Homeowners and self-builders whose projects feature two or more domestic buildings on one site, could be earning themselves a profitable income by utilising a simple district ground source heat pump system architecture to unlock quarterly payments from the Government’s Non... View Article

Richard McLane of Bisca Staircases discusses various lighting options to bear in mind when designing a feature staircase, and why you should consult a specialist lighting designer as well as an architect to get it right. Astaircase is the central... View Article

Shaun Davis of LED lighting specialists tp24 explains why it is essential to plan early to ensure the perfect lighting scheme. Agood lighting scheme can really define a house and its interior .design. Getting it right is all about planning... View Article

New and returning brands, innovative product launches and a host of seminars set to inspire as Grand Designs Live returns to London’s ExCeL exhibition centre in May. Grand Designs Live, proudly sponsored by Anglian Home Improvements, will return to London’s... View Article

When installing a woodburner it’s important to consider what you’re going to burn in it, especially given the Government’s increased determination to clamp down on the use of ‘unsuitable’ fuel. Stephen Talbot of Logs Direct explains further. According to research... View Article

GROHE UK’s Michael Gray discusses the growing trend for including smart technology to help create a spa-like haven in the bathroom, and the types of solutions available. Smart technology should be considered in any new bathroom design, particularly as more... View Article

Despite British Standards regarding slating and tiling being updated, sadly practice is still lagging behind, resulting in voided warranties and significant roof failures. Dr Kevin Ley of Redland explains. The first iteration of BS 5534, the ‘Code of Practice for... View Article

Paul Hutchens is Director of Midlands-based solar specialists, Eco2Solar. He is a board member of the Solar Trade Association, the UK’s leading solar industry voice, and Chairman of the STA’s New Build Working Group which aims to inform governments, councils,... View Article

Tony Pell of the Wood Window Alliance and Sarah Latham, founder of interior design agency Etons of Bath, look at the resurgent trend for period features in homes, and the key importance of windows. With our fixation on the future... View Article

Howard Reay and Amber Valentine both worked in TV and film, but this didn’t prepare them for the drama of their own journey to creating a grand home in Buckinghamshire. Roseanne Field reports. Tucked away up a steep lane in... View Article

You want your home to be a relaxing and peaceful haven – and it’s easier to accomplish than you might think, as British Gypsum’s sound solutions expert Sarah White explains. The hustle and bustle of everyday life can be deafening,... View Article