Open up the potential for big savings

Rachael Munby from Anglian Home Improvements shares her insights on how switching to energy efficient windows could help homeowners save up to £1,800 on their energy bills – while adding greater value to properties With the cost of living showing... View Article

A leap of faith

Renovation novices Claire and Marco were sure they didn’t want a ‘project’ house, but they ended up taking a leap of faith to complete a transformation that realised the true potential of their site TEXT JESS UNWIN IMAGES PHILIP WADGE... View Article

A greener burn when you go off-grid

With solid fuel burning remaining in demand for home heating in rural and off-grid settings, Bruce Allen of HETAS and Woodsure offers guidance for more eco-friendly choices, while cautioning on the importance of maintenance Solid fuel burning is undoubtedly high... View Article

Pump up your indoor air quality

Clarissa Youden, associate director at Total Home Environment, provides a guide to ventilating an energy-efficient, airtight home, going beyond MVHR with heat pump ventilation technology People spend 70% of their time at home, meaning they breathe over 10,000 litres of... View Article

A clean break in Cornwall

When professional artists Pippa Young and David Mankin saw a sub-standard bungalow for sale on the Cornish coast, they decided to leave a lifetime of period properties behind and build a minimalist masterpiece TEXT ALEXANDRA PRATT IMAGES ANTHONY GREENWOOD/DAVEY CONSTRUCTION... View Article

Meeting the Future Home Standard

Victoria Brocklesby, co-founder and COO of Origin, delves into the key question of whether triple glazing is needed throughout a property in order to meet the Future Homes Standard As the UK continues to prioritise the ‘green building revolution’ and... View Article

A Sunningdale success story

Despite facing a host of unexpected cost issues from subcontractors, Julie and Michael Clifford successfully melded contrasting styles to achieve their dream modernist home in a highly desirable part of the south east TEXT TOM BODDY IMAGES JULIE CLIFFORD Situated... View Article

Home Styling – Embracing quiet luxury

Gloria Sanchez of Tailored Living shares her advice on cultivating subtle elegance to follow the trend of ‘quiet luxury’ in your self-designed interior ‘Quiet luxury’ is an aesthetic that captures the essence of subtle and toned-down elegance, using a preference... View Article

Retreating to
the city

For many self-builders, the big goal is moving from the city to the country, but a couple from the Scottish Highlands had the opposite aim in building their ‘secret garden’ home in Aberdeen TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES JIM STEPHENSON Russel... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

Nicole Collison and her husband Rob, along with their two young daughters, are moving from the coast to the countryside, renovating a Grade II listed Kent barn in search of a rural dream in their home county We’re the Collisons!... View Article

Building excitement

4-8 October, Birmingham’s NEC WHAT’S ON AT THIS YEAR’S GRAND DESIGNS BIRMINGHAM? THE EXHIBITION A great opportunity to meet hundreds of suppliers across different project areas, all under one roof. The five areas of the show are: Build, Kitchens and Bathrooms,... View Article

Ask the Expert – Get your light right

With so many options available from so many suppliers, choosing the right rooflight can be a bit of a minefield. Here Paul Trace from Stella Rooflights answers the key questions you will need to consider when seeking out the ideal... View Article

All change

Sally and Tom Marlow didn’t have to look far from their house in south London in their search for more space. The catch was that their new home needed a full renovation as well as multiple extensions TEXT ALEXANDRA PRATT... View Article

A wasted opportunity?

David Stagg, technical manager for Graf UK, says that ‘commissioning’ of domestic wastewater treatment plants is as vital as getting gas and electricity services signed off by specialists, and wonders why it’s not happening  Wastewater treatment plants became established in... View Article

Maintain your rainwater discipline

Maintaining your rainwater system is just as crucial as specifying the right system for your home. Paul Grills of Brett Martin offers insights on best practice for preserving healthy gutters and downpipes Although rainwater drainage systems are far from the... View Article

Integrated building control benefits

Self-builders are at the forefront of some of the most cutting edge building techniques. They now need to lead the way in quality building automation and control solutions, says Paul Foulkes of Theben Automation Remaining in control is important. Not... View Article

Farm from the madding crowd

What does it take to turn a 200-year-old remote Scottish farmhouse with an evocative name – Easter Shian – into a family home and business? Answer: the resilience and imagination of Dave and Debbie Halls-Evans  TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES ROBERT... View Article

Wrap up warmer

Having a solid roof fitted on your conservatory can help to save energy and bills, but it’s important to choose your system carefully to get the best results, Tim Douglas from Guardian Building Systems explains A roof replacement is a great... View Article

EnerPHit for purpose

Bob and his wife have completed a phased retrofit of tight building into an highly efficient and carefully designed home which meets the needs of the future, both theirs and environmentally speaking TEXT TOM BODDY IMAGES AGNESE SANVITO It took... View Article

Structure versus style?

Many people feel that staircases are just a means of getting from floor to floor in a property, but for others it is a focal point which is treated in the same way as a major piece of furniture or... View Article