Beginner’s guide to self-build

EDITOR’S LETTER

CLAIRE LLOYD has been a member of the

MEET THIS MONTH’S EXPERTS...

TIM PULLEN Tim is an expert in sustainable

GAMECHANGING HELP TO BUILD SCHEME LAUNCHED

£150m pledged to kickstart a ‘self-build revolution’

Self-build & renovation

WATCH THIS SPACE All new homes in England

NEW MVHR PLAYER OPENS UP THE CONSUMER MARKET

Green

Kitchens

MODERN KITCHEN SOLUTIONS Responding to the ever-changing nature

Bathrooms

COMPACT LUXURY BC Design’s new freestanding Tamorina Petite

ADDING SPACE & VALUE

IMAGE: VALE GARDEN HOUSES GLAZED GABLES There are

Finding your self-build plot

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

Choosing a build route

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

Working from home?

Signing OFF…

What the Homebuilding team have seen, recommend and love this month

MID-CENTURY MAKEOVER

Sara and James Barrett pulled out all the stops to transform Sara’s dream 1960s house into a striking family home

A HOME FOR LIFE

When experienced self-builders Helen and Victor Day found the perfect plot to build their multi-generational home on, their decision to use oak frame created a house glowing with character

DESIGNING A NEW GARDEN

It’s hard to believe Helen and Victor Day’s

A unique home built for £97k

Set designer and theatrical prop maker Clare Barr and husband Gordon Coomber have converted a barn and cow shed into a wonderfully characterful home on a tight budget. Here, Clare talks to Alison Wall about the project

THE BUILD

BEFORE: A PLOT WITH POTENTIAL BEFORE: THE HAYLOFT

REIMAGINING THE BUNGALOW

Architectural designer Tim Downes and his wife Claire have turned an old bungalow into a charming, modern home for their family

THE KNOWLEDGE

STRUCTURAL DETAIL The original structure of the

Updating a classic

Ed and Melissa Addington have totally transformed a dilapidated 1930s house in London into a striking family home, using an ingenious extension and clever remodelling ideas

“It’s taken us three years to start on site”

Simon and Nina Maxwell are fulfilling a life-long dream of selfbuilding, but the process has not been without its challenges

“Designing our Shaker-style kitchens”

This month, the couples are united in their desire to achieve a classic look in the heart of their homes

Overheating potential

Making sure our renovations and new builds are cool in the summer is an underappreciated necessity of design, says David Hilton

Expert advice

All the information you need to ensure that your project is delivered on time and on budget!

DRAINAGE

It’s not the most exciting part of a self-build but it’s certainly one of the more important areas to get right. Self-build expert Mark Brinkley investigates the pros and cons of mains drainage versus on-site drainage

How (not) to budget for your renovation project

In this month's column, Natasha Brinsmead warns against taking a haphazard attitude towards organising the funds for a renovation

PART 11: ASSESSING CONSTRUCTION RISKS

Following on from last month’s piece on appraising a plot’s planning potential, this month we discuss the second step of the plot appraisal process

7 THINGS TO ASK A BUILDER

When you go out to tender, make sure you glean all the details you need to pick a builder that will be right for your project

CLAY ROOF TILES

HOW TO CHOOSE

ASK THE EXPERTS

T his month, our experts tackle your questions on exterior paint, tiling, engineered wood flooring, working with conservation officers and windows

Design

Advice, ideas & inspiration for your self-build, renovation or extension project

HOW TO BE YOUR OWN interior designer

A skilled professional interior designer can be worth their weight in gold — but if you’ve decided to take on this role for your own project, our beginner’s guide will help you understand the process

Lighting sloping ceilings

Stunning ideas for illuminating a vaulted ceiling

The glazed link

BEHIND THE DESIGN

The latest HOUSE NUMBERS

1 This Modern Acrylic House Sign from ForYouGifts

Renovating a 1930s semi:10 GREAT DESIGN IDEAS

1930s semis may not enjoy the same architectural recognition as their Victorian and Georgian predecessors, but they actually hold a lot of renovation potential