Homebuilding & Renovating

Designing a new kitchen is one of the highlights of an extension, renovation or self-build project. This space will likely become the heart of your home once complete — and a well-designed kitchen has the ability to make daily life that little bit ea

Self-builders could be affected by a new Building Regulations’ requirement to install electric car charging points in buildings. From 15 June 2022, all new-build homes and buildings in England will be legally required to have electric car charging po

Raymond and Wendy Heighway lived and worked in Shropshire’s Clun Valley for two decades before deciding to sell their business and retire to a forever home. Keen to remain in the area, they began searching for the right property — one with a view. Ho

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge that councils can enforce for new developments of 100m2 or more. Self-builders are generally exempt, providing they submit the correct paperwork at the correct time. Failure to do so can result in f

ARCHITECT Amy Briers Architects: www.amybriersarchitects.com MAIN CONTRACTOR CLAS Building and Renovation: www.clasbuilding.co.uk OAK FRAME Welsh Oak Frame: www.welshoakframe.com QUANTITY SURVEYOR Lumsdon Wood Partnership: www.lumsdonwoodcouk.word

HOMEOWNER Rosie Rockel LOCATION Brixton, south London PROJECT Side return extension to three-bedroom basement flat in a Victorian house BUILD COST £120,000 Not all of us fall in love with our homes on the first viewing, but that doesn’t mean a p

KITCHEN Pluck: www.pluck.kitchen.com BUILDER Greater Space: www.greaterspace.co.uk GLAZING Future Glass & Windows: www.futureglassandwindows.co.uk CORK FLOORING Granorte: www.granorte.pt SANITARYWARE Tikamoon: www.tikamoon.co.uk; Aston Matthews:

HOMEOWNERS Lu and Ralph Selby LOCATION Wirksworth, Derbyshire PROJECT Contemporary self-build SIZE 244m2 (annexe 36m2 ) CONSTRUCTION Masonry lower ground; timber frame ground floor BUILD TIME June 2015-Aug 2016 BUILD COST £441,758 Period prop

BEFORE Formerly a site that featured a ‘hot’ house (the heated greenhouse of a nearby Georgian property), Lu and Ralph had to contend with the listed status of a garden wall. DURING Planning restrictions relating to privacy meant the house could on

ARCHITECT Mansel Architects: 01773 825693 MAIN CONTRACTOR Naylor Construction: 01335 347028 ELECTRICIAN Karl Chamberlain Electrical Services: www.kcelectrical.co.uk SPECIALIST JOINERY Maple Joinery: www.maplejoineryservices.com; Lee & Sons: 01335

HOMEOWNERS John and Jane Cameron LOCATION Edinburgh PROJECT Extension and internal remodel of 1980s detached house SIZE 350m2 BUILD ROUTE Main contractor CONSTRUCTION Timber frame extension with brick outer leaf BUILD TIME Seven months (Aug 17

The two-storey granny flat was turned upside down so that the bedroom moved to the ground floor, and the living areas to the first floor. The windows were reorganised to improve privacy between the two units and the staircase was rebuilt. “We wante

Surrounded by other buildings, the conversion of a Victorian gin distillery in London by Open Practice Architecture hinged on the injection of natural light while maintaining privacy in the urban setting. Rupert Scott, the client and architect, creat

We have now been living in our renovated cottage for nine years (where did that time go?) and I’d say we finally finished the last bits and bobs a little while ago. Those last ‘bits and bobs’ were actually the decoration of our bedroom, which until t

Whether you’re building a new home or undertaking a bathroom upgrade, a fixed overhead shower will add instant impact, and create an immersive experience that few standard models can beat. While they look undeniably sleek, there’s more to installing

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to interior finishes. Don’t feel you have to follow trends to get a ‘look’; like the rest of your home, this space should reflect your style. Exuding a sense of calm is key, so opting for tints and

Last year was quite a year in the construction industry, with price rises across many materials, Covid-related site shutdowns and shortages of key construction workers to contend with. In this article, I am going to give you an idea of what areas I f

hough oak has been used to T build houses for centuries, modern construction techniques have given this traditional system a 21st-century overhaul. High quality precision engineering means the design possibilities are endless, from barn and country-s

There’s a compelling argument to say that the house-buying process in this country should come with serious health warnings. If the charming cottage you’ve just purchased for an eye-watering sum turns out to be a subsiding money pit without any legal

Ryobi produces some brilliantly affordable yet powerful tools, and its cordless combi drill fits this description perfectly. You can drill through masonry, ceramic and tiles with this drill, which has 24 torque settings (up to 50 Nm) to provide versa

Wall covering ideas might be late-stage choices, but they are one of the most important decisions for the day-to-day enjoyment of your home. The surface material you choose to finish your internal walls with sets the tone for the entire interior sche

There are few more exciting stages in a self-build, extension or renovation project than designing and planning a new kitchen. But excitement aside, there are a lot of decisions to be made. Many of the buying processes for the various routes you can

Whatever buying route you take, there will be additional extras you’ll need to consider that will add to your costs. Some of the items you can choose to buy through a kitchen supplier if you opt for that route but you can buy them separately, or will

If you have already appointed a main contractor or kitchen fitter for your project, then you have the option of going via the trade-only supplier route. Companies like Howdens, Benchmarx and Jewson Kitchens for example don’t sell their products direc

Budget kitchens can start from around £1,000 upwards, but this would exclude worktops and appliances, flooring and so on. Mid-range kitchens from high street stores will start from around £10,000 but that will depend on quality, number of units you c

For the purist, a bespoke kitchen means that the kitchen is designed and made specifically for your space, without the limits of standard cabinet sizes. While this means individual elements can be customised, bespoke kitchen makers still tend to work

If you plan to buy a timber kitchen look for FSC certification. Awarded by the Forest Stewardship Council, this accreditation means that the timber used has been sourced from sustainably and responsibly managed forests that also provide environmental

If you’re a competent DIYer and want to get stuck into fitting your kitchen, then there are many options available. It will give you flexibility and creative control and can help keep budgets low. Many of the companies mentioned previously have ‘of

“Curved cabinets on islands make them more interesting, individual and more of a statement piece to introduce personality,” says Emma Cowburn from Harvey Jones.  Freestanding islands can give the illusion that a space is bigger than it is, as you ca

Buying second hand is one kitchen buying option growing in popularity. “From a money-saving perspective, second hand kitchens really do add up, allowing buyers to afford kitchens from top designers that their budgets may not otherwise have stretched

There are many benefits to building your own home. It is an opportunity to create a unique home tailored around your lifestyle. It can be a route to creating a home that will adapt as your needs change, for instance accommodating wheelchair use. It a

Once you have purchased your plot there are a good number of steps you need to take before you can begin building your dream home… You’ll likely need a designer on board to help you formulate plans for your dream home. This might be an architect, an

There are two significant costs when building your own home: the building plot and the build itself. There are also a few additional costs that you’ll need to factor in — see the box on the bottom right of this page. You’ll need access to money to bu

Anew range of 90% recycled tiles has been released by Walls and Floors to provide a sleek, seamless look that’s environmentally friendly. The Yuri tile range is made from 90% recycled raw materials, water and minerals, with each tile featuring a char

Self-build is a broad church and there are many routes to getting an individual home built. However, generally speaking most self-builders choose one of the following routes: ● Project managing the entire build themselves, including hiring and coor

The Green Homes Grant was a “slam dunk fail”, according to a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report, which said the grant badly underperformed, was poorly designed and had a troubled roll-out. The scheme, to fund homeowners to make energy-efficient h

BUILDER AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT Urbane Eco: www.urbane-eco.co.uk TRAINING AND INFORMATION The Green Register: www.greenregister.org.uk BUILDING BIOLOGY AND PASSIVHAUS EXPERT Tomas Gaertner: www.se3design.co.uk RAFT FOUNDATION Isoquick: www.isoquick

A deep retrofit and conversion of this 19th-century dairy and milking parlour in the West Yorkshire hills has breathed new life into the traditional sandstone and slate building. A particularly challenging aspect was the building’s irregular L shape

The owner of this Herefordshire cottage, Gervase Mangwana of Waxwing Energy, has carried out a retrofit to EnerPHit standard using PHPP modelling software. Green Building Store provided the triple-glazed timber windows and doors, and designed, suppli

Your planning permission questions answered Bungalow design ideas Renovating on a budget Cost-effective steps to a greener home Inspiring self-build, renovation and extension projects APRIL 2022 ISSUE AVAILABLE FROM 3 MARCH ■

Klaus and Mary [the homeowners] were very clear that they wanted a low-energy house that was also an exciting piece of contemporary architecture. In their brief, they shared what they wanted to achieve with the house and how they wanted to live in it

HOMEOWNERS Nick and Chrissie Lloyd LOCATION Bristol PROJECT Three-bedroom green self-build SIZE 150m2 , plus 15m2 garage BUILD ROUTE Own building company (Urbane Eco) CONSTRUCTION Thin-joint natural clay blocks BUILD TIME Oct 2018 – Sept 2019