Finding plots in London and other major UK cities With empty plots of land being difficult and often very expensive to come by, it’s no wonder that many self-builders and renovators instead convert an existing building into their dream home, applying for a change of use to residential. This is particularly of interest in the UK’s… Read more »
Do I need planning permission for a garden room? Garden rooms or buildings do not require planning permission, if they fall within permitted development guidelines. To classify as an ‘outbuilding’ under permitted development rules, it must not contain sleeping accommodation and must be single storey with a maximum eaves height of 2.5m. There are a few… Read more »
Above projects from architectural designers on designforme.com – click on the image to see their full profile and shortlist them for your project. Do I need an architect? If you feel your project is very simple and straightforward, and perhaps you’ve found that you don’t require planning permission, you might ask: do I need an architect… Read more »
Can I add two storeys to a house without planning permission? Thanks to a planning amendment in 2020, it is now possible to extend upwards, even adding a double storey extension to your home, using the prior approval route. However, this permitted development right is not applicable to all properties. Design above by Simon,… Read more »
If you’re about to start making home improvements, incorporating energy saving solutions could help you save money and reduce your home’s environmental impact. Here’s a list of the top five energy-saving and home improvements tips. 1. Insulate your house Insulating your walls usually that makes the most difference in reducing energy consumption, and at… Read more »
Can architects work from home? Fortunately most private residential architects are very well placed to work from home and in fact many freelancers / sole traders already work from a home office. A home building and extension project doesn’t usually require more than one or two people to be working on it. This really helps… Read more »
Image by Simon, garden designer from East Hampshire, South East. Click here to see more and shortlist them for your home project. Never before have our gardens been more important than now, and thankfully Spring has already brought us some sunshine. Now is a perfect time to turn your attention to home life and… Read more »
Image above by Kivia, interior designer from London. Click here to see more and shortlist them for your home project. In light of social distancing measures required during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis, many of our users are asking us whether now is a good time to start planning an interior design project. Can interior designers… Read more »
It’s well known that brick is a commonly used building material for house extensions; it’s cost effective and resilient but with some thoughtful design, it can also look beautiful. Michele Pecoraro, from P+P Architects, uses brick extensively in residential work. His studio has used brick not only for its inherent practical credentials but also as an attractive, exterior… Read more »
What is Hempcrete? Like its eponym – concrete – hempcrete is a mixture of materials that harden to become a construction material. It’s made of hemp hurd (also called shives) and lime. Its primary purpose in construction is as thermal insulation. It can be used in the entire building envelope – walls, floors and roof. As hempcrete doesn’t have inherent… Read more »
