Twin peaks

EDITOR’S LETTER

Claire Lloyd has been a member of the Homebuilding & Renovating team for over 13 years. She’s currently in the midst of another renovation

Major self-build review published

A round-up of the latest self-build and home renovation news, products and events. By Jack Woodfield and Amy Reeves

Inside number 9

After renovating a dated cottage in Ealing, Joanna and David Rakowski turned to the neighbouring infill plot to build their innovative family home

Room to grow

Katy West and Nick Evans renovated and extended their Victorian villa in Glasgow to create a bright home for their family

A lesson in style

Katy and David Green have restored an old schoolhouse to its former glory, turning it into a spacious family home in the process

Old meets new

James and Tessa Gatti have added a striking two-storey extension to their Victorian vicarage to create a bright and spacious family home

Amazing basements

Digging down to create light-filled subterranean floors has added space and value to these inspirational homes

“I think we underestimated how hard it would be to live on site”

Assistant Editor Amy Reeves and her partner James Parker are renovating a mid-century property in Shropshire

8 things a QS can bring to your project

What is a quantity surveyor and why might you need one for your build project? We take a look at the advantages that come with engaging these professionals

FINDING (AND KEEPING) TRADES

Natasha and husband Bill discover that employing — and being nice to — good tradespeople is essential if you want to stay within budget and get a quality result on your renovation

Pocket doors

Convenient, space-saving and stylish — here’s how to plan for a pocket door in your new home

RADIATORS

Create a warm welcome with these beautiful designs

THE SECRETS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT

What does a project manager do? Could you fill the role yourself on your build and save on hiring a professional? Bob Branscombe shares his advice

generation The game

How can you design a home that’s flexible enough to accommodate multiple generations under one roof ? Architects Nimi Attanayake and Tim O’Callaghan explore what to consider when renovating or extending to create a multi-generational home

Woodburning stoves

Woodburning stoves bring character, charm and warmth to any home. Our guide explains everything you need to know before you buy

NEW STOVE STYLES

CLASSIC WITH A TWIST Add a splash of

HOW TO CHOOSE TOOLS FOR YOURBUILD

Planning some serious DIY on your project? Check out our top six power tools for all manner of on-site jobs

The snug

If you’re looking to create a cosy and compact space for relaxing, then our room planning tips will help you design a snug you’ll want to reside in

A FOND FAREWELL TO HB&R’S FOUNDING EDITOR

Former HB&R Editor Michael Holmes remembers the magazine’s founding Editor Peter Harris, who died in summer 2021

THE RENOVATION FILES

SAVED FROM AUCTION DISASTER

ASK THE EXPERTS

Got a burning question about your self-build, extension or renovation project that you need answering? Drop us a line by emailing homebuilding@futurenet.com and your question could be answered by one of our magazine experts

Built-in joinery

Freestanding furniture and storage doesn’t always make the most of a space so go bespoke with built-in joinery

Beginner’s to guide self-build

There are many benefits to building your own

Pre-build essentials

Here are some of the key things you need to consider before ‘going on site’ with your build

Financing your build

Funding your project may require a specialist self-build mortgage…

Finding your self-build plot

It’s the starting point to any self-build dream. Here’s what to consider when plot hunting

Choosing build route

Self-build is a broad church — you needn’t lay a single brick if you don’t want to!

Meet your SAP obligation

What is SAP, how is it changing, and how does it help your project meet the Building Regs for energy efficiency and carbon emissions?

Life on the river

The Creek House was designed by AR Design Studio in response to its waterside plot. Here, founder Andy Ramus details the ambitious project

Ofgem’s green light for new ideas fund

The energy fund will encourage plans to ensure more homes go green

Approval for landmark eco scheme

RECYCLED DESIGNS CTD Architectural’s Tinte ultracontemporary glazed ceramic

Greener by design

Architect David Jamieson of Zone Architects designed this low-energy, zero-carbon self-build in Fife for his client to settle down in after years living abroad

The green credentials of wood

We’ve been burning wood to keep our homes warm for millennia, but how sustainable is this practice in an age of climate crisis? Tim Pullen answers this burning question

What is “cradle to cradle ?”

We explore this approach to sourcing sustainable building materials and how it might be applied to your own self-build or renovation project

Should we worry about VOCs?

More and more products are being advertised as minimising use of these chemical compounds — but what’s the science behind the sales pitch?