More and more people in the UK are considering building their own home, particularly as getting onto the housing ladder is becoming increasingly less affordable. There are new government initiatives to encourage self-building in an effort to help solve the nation’s housing crisis with bodies such as the ‘National Custom and Self Build Association’ (Nacsba) behind… Read more »
Work from Design for Me architects: (click to view their full profiles) Matt, Corin, Robert, Tom, Rashid, Giles Is it worthwhile extending your home right now? Planning rules have been relaxed In recent years the government have relaxed planning rules in regards to extensions. The changes have given homeowners more flexibility to improve and increase the… Read more »
(Self Build Architects from Design for Me. From Left to Right – Jake, Mark, Lucy, James, Liam, Felix) Ever dreamed about having a house designed just for you? How good would it be to have control over the shape of every room, materials, fittings and fixtures! You ‘bespoke’ means ‘expensive’ but it might be more affordable than you think… especially when you consider there… Read more »
A side return extension can be a really cost-effective way of creating more space and adding value to your property without eating into your precious garden space. It can transform a narrow kitchen into the most amazing living / dining area – even becoming the social hub of your family home! But how much does a side return extension cost?… Read more »
What is a side return extension? Side return extensions are most common in Victorian terrace houses where the original building leaves a strip of land on the side of the house making an L shaped garden. If you have lived in a house like this you are aware of how useless this dark, dingy passageway is…. Read more »
Image above: View Profile of Giles, architect of dormer loft conversions above We frequently get asked for cost guidance by homeowners on Design for Me. We would always encourage you to discuss designs and budgets with your architect or designer and then get quotes from builders, but we know that a rough starting point… Read more »
Summer is here! Time to dust off the garden furniture, grab a good book and relax in your beautiful, well maintained garden. Not quite? OK, so it might be in need of a bit (or a lot) of TLC first… Now the question is, what do you want from your garden? Not an easy question, particularly… Read more »
We asked our UK-wide community of architects and designers on Design for Me – How much does a ‘typical’ loft conversion cost? Image above by Ayca, architectural designer on Design for Me. See her full profile here. As you can see, the estimates below vary significantly, which illustrates just how subjective this question is! However, if… Read more »
How much do Interior Designers charge? If you’ve already researched interior designer’s fees online, you may have discovered how difficult it is to find industry standards or rules of thumb; a good general estimate is difficult to find… The cost of your interior designer will depend on several things, such as their experience and expertise, but also the… Read more »
Hiring a designer is an important decision since this person will have a huge impact on your home and the way you live for potentially a very a long time. A good personal connection is key! Yes, of course, compare quotes. But there is so much more to the decision than this, and it’s personal. You’ll… Read more »
