How much do architects charge? [2023]

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Profile pics from Pereen, Tom and Liam, architects on DfM.

How much do architects charge? Architect’s fees for a home project vary depending on the type and scale of the job. There are no official standards or guidelines for architect’s fees, so it’s between the client and the architect to negotiate the fee, often dependant on the following: The extent of the architect’s services (see ‘splitting… Read more »

How to build a house in your garden – a concise guide

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Can you build a house in your garden? If you have a large garden (or driveway in fact) that’s accessible directly from the road, it can provide a fantastic development opportunity to build a house on your land. The advantages of this approach to a self-building are potentially huge: It could significantly increase the total value of… Read more »

Planning for a mansard roof extension

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Extension design above by Amos, architect from Islington, London. See more and shortlist them for your home project here. You may be considering applying for planning for a mansard roof extension if your existing loft space is not high enough or the wrong shape for a straight conversion or dormer extension. What is a mansard roof… Read more »

Do I need a party wall surveyor?

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Extension design above by Gareth, architect from Haringey, London. See more and shortlist them for your home project here.   Before we answer the question, ‘Do I need a party wall surveyor’, we’ll address the more important question, ‘Do I need to serve a party wall notice?’ as you may not require a surveyor if… Read more »

Product review: sliding folding doors / bi-fold doors

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Profile pics from architects on designforme.com

This week, I have been mostly designing…  a rear extension! As this is rather a common project on Design for Me, I thought I’d share some of my research. The brief was quite simple. It involved extending the living room to create a dining area (the client’s current dining table is too small for a family… Read more »

Architects’ Services

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Featured image by Oliver, architect on Design for Me. See his profile here to shortlist him for your project.    If you’re looking for an architect’s services for an extension, home building or renovation project you have definitely come to the right website. As a residential architect myself, I created Design for Me to help… Read more »

Does my architect need to have insurance?

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Does my architect need to have insurance? Even for a small house extension or renovation, it’s hugely important that your architect (or other architectural designer) holds professional indemnity insurance. If anything goes wrong with your project as a result of their advice or work, it will be much more straightforward to claim back any financial… Read more »

Finding the most comfortable sofa bed of 2020

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Best sofa bed reviews 2020 Urgh I HATE sofa beds! They’re ugly, squeaky, lumpy, the mattress is too thin, you end up wedged in the middle with your bed fellow. Then to top it all, you go and lose your glasses down the side. Not only are they uncomfortable to sleep on, they’re uncomfortable as a sofa… Read more »

How to reinstate a fireplace

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If you live in a period property it’s likely that you will have a number of fireplaces around your home. With modern heating, it’s unlikely that you’d want to bring them all back to life, but it can be a fantastic focal point in a living area and provides some extra cosiness on a cold… Read more »

Do I need a project manager for a self build or home renovation?

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Should you hire a project manager for a self build or home renovation project? The question should really be, ‘what does a project manager do, and do I need one?’. In the building industry the term ‘project manager’ often gets muddled. When a building professional refers to a ‘project manager’ their meaning could fall broadly… Read more »