Home Styling: Magical bedtimes

In designing a children’s bedroom, it’s possible to create a sense of magic, and if you allow yourself to move away from the standard approaches there are no limits. Interior designer Cat Dal offers some practical tips As with any... View Article

No longer a hard cell

With new funding mechanisms slashing the cost of combined heat and power systems run on hydrogen fuel cells, now is the right time to look closely at this income-generating, low-carbon technology, according to Viessmann’s Christian Engelke Hydrogen fuel cell systems... View Article

Grand Designs Live

Whether you’re looking for ideas and inspiration for your renovation, or specific products to furnish your home, Grand Designs Live brings together over 400 companies, all under the one roof Grand Designs Live is split into four sections covering Build,... View Article

A perfect blend of old and new

The clever reinvention of a former bed and breakfast has given the Siegels a stylish and contemporary home for their blended family in south east Scotland TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES AIRBORNE LENS Antonia was already living in East Lothian when... View Article

Delivering expectations

Victoria Brocklesby of Origin explores why lead times are such an important consideration for any self-build project, especially while ongoing supply chain issues and materials shortages continue to affect suppliers and contractors, such as in the case of doors and... View Article

The full effect

Andy Hitchman from Solution Fires advises on the key considerations to be made in choosing the perfect electric fire for a real fire effect There has been a significant rise in demand for electric fires in recent years. A fantastic... View Article

Barn to be wild

A couple in Yorkshire with construction know-how were not intimidated by the prospect of redeveloping an old barn as their home, but its still proved a major challenge TEXT HEATHER DIXON IMAGES BEVAN COCKERILL Friends of Gareth and Rebecca Connell... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

In the first of a series of first-hand articles by self-builders, we track the initial inspiration for Amanda Ritchie’s remote Scottish build, and the challenges of upping sticks to Skye My name is Amanda Ritchie and currently I live with... View Article

Energising inspiration

The organisers of the London Homebuilding & Renovating Show (being held 30 Sept-2 Oct at ExCeL) say that UK’s first National Home Energy Week “opens up new opportunities” for the self-build sector  The London Homebuilding & Renovating Show will be... View Article

Lessons in landscaping

Ronan O’Dowd from AG Outside Rooms shares his top landscaping lessons for maximising your outdoor space and adding value to your property There was once a time when British gardens sat largely unused except for the sporadic BBQ upon sighting... View Article

Trevor Huggins, licence to build

A James-Bond inspired home in Cornwall makes use of a steep sloped small unused space to create an architectural gem on the edge of the River Tamar TEXT & IMAGES EWEN MACDONALD When Trevor Huggins and his family envisaged a... View Article

Garage door policies

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Enhancing your property and adding to its kerb appeal is all about making the right choice for your home’s exterior – the windows, entrance doors, landscaping and, of course, your garage door. Here, David O’Mara of Hörmann... View Article

Ask the Expert: Security first

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Kenny McHugh of Secured by Design answers self-builders’ questions on creating a physically secure home, from the layout and boundaries, to physical security and alarms Every self-builder will be looking to create a safe and secure home,... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Bedrooms

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Bedrooms should be somewhere that you can really relax and feel comfortable, beyond just places to sleep. From wardrobes to dressing tables to underbed storage, you can co-ordinate your pieces to ensure that the whole space feels... View Article

A different angle

LISTEN HERE Architect Lanre Falase adapted an existing design to create a striking home for his family in south London, full of unique quirks and clever elements that maximise its tight, triangular site TEXT TOM BODDY IMAGES LUKASZ WIELKOSZYNSKI &... View Article

Coat of many colours

Home colour choices can say a lot about your personality. Lisa Grosse from Cedral discusses how to use the ‘colour wheel’ approach to get the look you want for a new build home or a makeover Colour is one of... View Article

A labour of love in Lanarkshire

When James and Lorna Hamilton made their decision to self-build, their new home had to meet not only the demands of their growing family but also recognise Lorna’s heritage, sitting on the family farmstead TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES DAPPLE PHOTOGRAPHY... View Article

Søren’s Scandi fashion house

A Danish minimalism-inspired renovation of a former fashion showroom in a prime west London site has resulted in a light, elegant home which has its owners’ sense of style, and a ‘Hygge’ feel TEXT TOM BODDY IMAGES RACHAEL SMITH, STÅLE... View Article

Ranch dressing

Animal lovers Jules Hamilton and Nigel Shore have extended and transformed a Suffolk bungalow, using traditional timber cladding and a ranch-style feel to help the home blend with its rural surroundings TEXT JESS UNWIN IMAGES NIGEL SHORE “Oh, you’re the... View Article

Take your stairs for a spin

Michael Edwards of Complete Stair Systems shares his expert advice on choosing a spiral staircase for your new build or refurbishment project With so many choices available, choosing a spiral staircase can seem like a daunting task, but it is... View Article