Verdant Views

EDITOR’S LETTER

Editor Beth Murton has been a homes journalist and editor for over 20 years and has renovated two homes. She is currently planning her next project

CONTRIBUTORS

DEBBIE JEFFERY An award-winning journalist and property

Optimise your garage

Not just a bedroom for your car, this often underused property space can be turned into a highly organised and functional storage area if you plan it well

Brits show overwhelming support for energy-efficient homes

A round-up of the latest self-build and home renovation news, products and events.

Back to the future

Joe and Sally Locke’s sustainable self-build combines an advanced prefabricated building system, groundbreaking technology and 16th-century carpentry skills

Natural harmony

When the time came to downsize, Graham and Charlotte Thompson built their dream eco-friendly house in the garden of their New Forest home

big Small space ideas

Hayley Gooding and family transformed their 19th-century bungalow in the Edinburgh suburb of Portobello into a spacious family home through innovative design and careful consideration of space

The hıgh lıfe

Turning a small and basic loft conversion into a light and spacious retreat has given Jo and Nick Liddell a whole new perspective

Cutting-edge Passivhaus homes

Energy efficient and impeccably designed, these futureproofed projects are leading the way in eco-friendly house design

13 tips for renovating your own home

Taking on a renovation is invariably exciting but daunting in equal measure —but don’t let that put you off ! Here’s how you can plan, budget and run a successful project from beginning to end

BUILDING BY TREES

Although beautiful to look at and an asset to many homes, trees can be problematic when it comes to extending or building your own home. Ian Rock advises on what you need to consider

A BUILDER’S VIEW

THE DOS AND DON’TS OF HOW AND WHEN TO PAY YOUR BUILDERS

HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE

PART EIGHT: BUILDING THE SUPERSTRUCTURE

LIME PLASTER

OLD HOUSE, NEW HOME

Self-build for beginners

PART SEVEN CREATING DRAWINGS FOR BUILDING REGULATIONS

NEXT MONTH

IMAGES: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) ADAM CARTER; ADAM

How much do surveys and reports cost?

Building a new house or extending your existing one? There are key surveys and reports that you may need to commission. Tim Phillips advises on what they are and how much they’re likely to cost

THE HEALTHY HOME

PART NINE: THE POWER OF NATURAL LIGHT

EXTENDING A BASEMENT

A cellar conversion or basement extension can add valuable extra room to your home without sacrificing valuable garden space. Here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking about adding or enlarging your home at lower ground-floor level

Buying land without planning permission

Is it ever a good idea to invest in a plot of land that doesn’t have planning consent for a house? Our planning expert Simon Rix offers his advice on this self-build dilemma

INDUCTION HOBS

Faster and safer than traditional gas or electric models, this energy-efficient style of hob means only the pan heats up while the rest of the cooktop remains cool

The contemporary home for 2024

What are the trends in building design and how are they going to shape our homes in 2024? We asked some leading architects and designers for their thoughts and here are their predictions

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

Build with confidence

If you’re about to embark on a house extension or conversion, make sure you’re protected by renovation insurance throughout the project —and beyond

Q How do you protect solar panels from birds?

Don’t let bird nests and droppings negatively impact the performance of your solar panels. David Hilton advises how to carry out your own bird-proofing measures for your property’s eco additions

10 bathroom innovations to splash out on

The latest designs can save water and energy, and are guaranteed to ensure that every moment spent in this room will feel like pure indulgence and relaxation

GREEN ROOFS

Verdant coverings look great and provide additional benefits for your home when specified correctly. Our experts look at the practicalities of planting your rooftop and how to make it thrive

Peak performance

Robert Hirschfield Architects designed this contemporary new-build family home in North London with a striking and dynamic take on Arts and Crafts architecture

CONTENTS

COVER IMAGE: ANNA STATHAKI; ABOVE IMAGE: VERONICA RODRIGUEZ

12 steps to planning a kitchen extension

From formulating your design to hiring the best build team, these are the stages you need to consider to get your project on the right track

Rear extensions

A new addition at the back will increase your ground-floor living space and give you better access to the garden

SLIDING DOORS

Sleek, unobtrusive and space-saving, these contemporary styles will suit any project

Side return extensions

Put this often-wasted space to good use with an infill

ROOFLIGHTS

Bring more natural light into your home with one of these innovative designs

Double height extensions

If you’re planning to extend, you can gain even more square footage by opting for a multi-level design

BIFOLD DOORS

Open up your kitchen extension to the garden with these contemporary options

OUT OF THE BLUE

IMAGE: FRENCH + TYE The owners of