If you’re a long-time reader, you’ll have seen these words many times in the Build It annals: there’s no substitute for trying products in person. You can do all the research in the world, but without seeing and testing out things you might include in your project, you can never be sure you’re getting something you’ll be truly happy with three, five or 10 years down the line.
For self builders, the epitome of that mantra is visiting a show home. Here, you can see and interact with everything from bricks and render through to windows, glazed doors, flooring, heating systems, smart tech and more in the setting they were designed to be used in. What’s more, you can get a very real sense of how different architectural features might work for you and your plot. Visiting a real-life build, then, can help you to better understand what you want to achieve out of your project, and better visualise how 2D planning drawings might work for you in reality.
There are a number of excellent self build show homes up and down the country, and we don’t have room to mention them all, but here’s a quick look at some of the best places you can go in the UK to experience a real-life completed project.
MORE GREAT PLACES FOR SELF BUILDERS TO VISIT
Border Oak Show House Herefordshire St Michaels Cottage is a 192m 2 cottage-style home that beautifully balances the charm of oak with contemporary touches. www.borderoak.com