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

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 UK offers his... View Article

Ask the Expert: Security first

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, but security doesn’t... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Bedrooms

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 like a holistic... View Article

A different angle

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 & BOLANS ARCHITECTS... View Article

Combinations unlocked

Combining cladding with stone, brick and other materials on residential facades can create character and have effective results, as Lisa Grosse from Cedral explains Contemporary houses are particularly suitable for combining cladding materials – we are seeing a shift away... View Article

Challenges & opportunities

Dennis Milligan from the British Flue & Chimney Manufacturers Association gives his view on the ups and downs for the stove and chimney/flue industries currently The regulatory framework for construction is changing; from the Building Safety Act to the Building... View Article

There’s more to floors

Manufacturers can help specifiers navigate their carpet choices to help underpin sustainability aims, says Becky Gordon from Interface Building sustainably is a challenge that applies at a macro level across entire projects. However, there’s no silver bullet; it’s ultimately achieved... View Article

Practice Profile: Scott Brownrigg

Consistently ranked among the leading UK architectural practices, Scott Brownrigg have grown steadily and diversified over the decades. Tom Boddy speaks to CEO Darren Comber about how they have evolved while nurturing talent internally Scott Brownrigg’s origins date back over... View Article

The compliance balancing act

Balancing air quality and guidance with meeting energy and carbon reduction metrics can be a challenge. Ian Rogers from Gilberts Blackpool offers compliance advice  Designers and specifiers of HVAC are facing a raft of new, diverse issues to address, prompting... View Article

Offsite technology innovation

Taking place at the Coventry Building Society Arena on 20-21 September, Offsite Expo is the home of innovative offsite building and digital construction technologies Offsite technology is now seen as the most important solution to overcome many of the challenges... View Article

The roof event returns

The Roofing Cladding and Insulation (RCI) Show has announced that registrations for the specialist construction event held at Stadium MK, Milton Keynes on 18-19 October, are now open, enabling visitors to enjoy a face-to-face experience Over the years, the RCI Show... View Article