Practically
perfect

Young newlyweds Euan and Fiona Coleman thought they had found their forever home, but once children arrived they reassessed their wish list of practicalities, which led them to embark on a renovation in Hertfordshire TEXT LAURA SHADWELL IMAGES JWB ARCHITECTS... View Article

The warm feeling of cost-efficiency

Dennis Milligan of the BFCMA explores the efficiency benefits of wood-burning stoves, how they work with heat pumps, and installation essentials Heat pumps work best when they are running at a constant temperature. A stove can complement a heat pump... View Article

The Window View: A look at safety issues

Victoria Brocklesby of Origin discusses what features to look for in your doors and windows in order to achieve the critical security you need for your home When undertaking a self-build project, it can be tempting to overlook home security... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

After overcoming a rocky start, Kerri and her family are now making headway with a self-build in the Suffolk village they’ve lived in for years. She says the excitement and enthusiasm is building as their new home starts to take... View Article

Home Styling: Bathing in texture

Jorge Hernandez of Bathroom Brands Group explores how applying texture can make it transformative in modern bathroom design. From fluted accents to intricate tiles, discover how tactile and visual approaches can elevate your space Whether you want your bathroom to... View Article

Ask the Expert: Floored by choice?

LISTEN HERE To assist self-builders exploring the myriad structural timber flooring options out there, Scott Wolters of EGGER UK provides a brief overview of the choices and solutions I’M LOOKING FOR A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION, WHAT’S BEST? Given the ongoing climate... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Home Offices

LISTEN HERE Whether it’s a dedicated room or an office nook for occasional home working, striking your balance between comfort and professionalism in a home office can be challenging. Here, we’ve gathered an elegant selection of items to help you... View Article

Bookended
sustainably

A home sitting at the end of a famous Edinburgh terrace has undergone a contemporary sustainable transformation, seamlessly blending with the locality while exuding its own distinct allure TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES WILL SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY This self-build project sits on... View Article

Breathe easy

Jay Vitale of Air For Life looks at the essential importance of indoor air quality, and the practical considerations around purification systems, while addressing common self-builder concerns to help you breathe easier Building a home from scratch is a rewarding... View Article

Variety is the spice of self-build facades

Combining cladding with stone, brick and other materials on your exterior can give your home added character and create a strong aesthetic statement, as Lisa Grosse from Cedral explains While brick is widely used for residential exteriors in urban settings,... View Article

Changing the game with Origami

For Hugh and Karen, the obvious response to improving a 1980s house near Stirling was to extend, however in the end a full ground floor reconfiguration with a ‘folded’ appearance was a game changer, creating ‘the Origami House’ TEXT NIK... View Article

Time to turn off the gas

When choosing a heating system for your new-build project, it’s now time to move away from the previous default option of a conventional gas boiler. James Chaplen of Mitsubishi Electric says that UK’s net zero target is just one reason... View Article

The power of daylight

David Clarke of IDSystems explains the transformative power of bringing abundant natural light into the home, and how innovative glazing solutions are reshaping our modern living spaces Over the past decade, there has been a substantial shift in the way... View Article

Form follows
family

Simon and Jo Morris made over their home in Hitchin with their architect, transforming it from an open-plan layout to a set of distinct, harmonious spaces that worked better for their growing family TEXT TOM BODDY IMAGES JWB ARCHITECTS In... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

Film editor Ollie Stothert and his wife’s biggest production yet saw them write a new script to transform a site in Buckinghamshire “And…Action!” – these words have defined my career as a film editor. Little did we anticipate that these... View Article

The lowdown on natural flooring

Crucial Trading’s Scott Hosie walks you through the different looks and feels of natural flooring materials for each part of your home, to achieve a mix of healthy as well as characterful spaces When determining the interior design scheme for... View Article

Seeing the light

Sally and David Jensen love their Edwardian home, so they found extra space for their growing family with a clever rear extension TEXT ALEXANDRA PRATT IMAGES LUKE WELLER/MITCHELL & CORTI Sally and David bought their Edwardian mid-terrace home in 2018.... View Article

Exterior Inspiration: Outdoor Living

A home’s outdoor space serves as a private sanctuary, offering an opportunity to step outside and immerse yourself in nature. With that in mind, explore our curated selection of exterior products which we hope will inspire you and infuse character... View Article

Affordable warmth

Dean Asher from Polypipe Building Products uncovers the sustainability and practicality advantages of underfloor heating for modern homes As carbon emissions are an increasing concern for homeowners and with the cost-of-living crisis not easing up anytime soon, many are on... View Article

Home Styling – Open up your home to a world of colour

Whether building a house from scratch or renovating a period property, choosing colour is intrinsic to creating the spaces you desire. Dawn Scott of Dulux Trade explains how to create a colour scheme which closely reflects your personality and lifestyle... View Article