When to Choose Grey or White Wood Flooring

Posted by & filed under Advice and tips, DfM, Inspiration, Renovations.

  There’s no doubt that grey and white wood floors are proving to be a massive hit at present. A wooden floor has become the norm – it’s beautiful, sustainable, hygienic and classic. But before grey and white wood flooring became so popular, the real flooring innovation happened below the level of colour, at the point where engineered… Read more »

New planning policy for brownfield sites

Posted by & filed under planning applications, Self-Build.

What is the new planning policy for brownfield sites? An amendment to the Town and Country planning act (General Permitted Development) in 2020 has allowed development of new build houses to benefit from fast-track planning on small brownfield sites. The official published guidance states that the following criteria should apply: ‘Owners of vacant and redundant… Read more »

Interior design ideas for small flats

Posted by & filed under Inspiration, Interiors.

Interior design ideas for small flats Before you start searching for an interior designer near you, I’d recommend first collecting some ideas and looks that you like. Not only will this guide you in your search to find the best interior designer for your style, it will also be hugely beneficial in the design process,… Read more »

How to make a small garden look bigger

Posted by & filed under Gardens.

This is a simple starter guide to garden design where space is limited. We asked some of the garden designers on Design for Me for their top tips on how to make a small garden look bigger.   1. Avoid large expanses of grass, paving or decking It may seem counter-intuitive but large lawns will… Read more »

5 things to know about barn conversions

Posted by & filed under Advice and tips, Conversions, Cost Planning, Legal Considerations.

Beginner’s guide to barn conversions An old barn can provide the perfect shell to create your ideal home. These large and often very solid structures give the opportunity to create a house with huge expanses of space and high ceilings. Most importantly, by retaining the original form, materials or structure, it adds character, charm and history to your otherwise… Read more »

What is a feasibility study?

Posted by & filed under Advice and tips, Designers, Extensions.

Do I need a feasibility study? All projects, big or small, will go through the feasibility phase; which is basically a research phase to help decide whether a project will proceed or not. A feasibility study will usually also inform the design and construction method. The decision to proceed lies with the client of course,… Read more »

How much do local house movers cost?

Posted by & filed under Advice and tips, Guest post.

Should you local hire movers or go DIY?   Hiring Movers vs. DIY A three-bedroom house averages around £1700, rising to £5500 for long-distance relocations. Item count matters. Movers often prefer flat rates over hourly charges, which can get expensive. International moves may exceed £15000 when factoring distance and items. DIY moves entail heavy lifting,… Read more »