Island Retreat

Welcome

For first timers, the idea of creating your own home

Inspiration

Set in a quiet and leafy location near the Parkstone

Product news

Great shopping ideas for your custom home project

Interiors notebook

Create the rustic, paired back elegance of country farmhouse design by incorporating natural textures and metallic finishes

Your views:

Got a funny story, a gripe or some superb self build advice? Write to us at buildit@castlemedia.co.uk or the address below for your chance to win a prize

An oak frame masterpiece

Richard and Pamela Pearse have self built a characterful contemporary home, nestled in the Worcestershire countryside

Brick and oak fireplace…

One of Pamela’s favourite aspects of her new home’s

A class act

It may have taken 10 years of effort to create, but Joe and Polly Harmston feel their Sussex eco home has been worth the wait

Thermally efficient design…

The south-facing elevation hosts a sun room/conservatory

Radical renovation

Long-overdue repairs turned into an energy-efficient redesign for Glenys and Paul Ferguson’s Victorian end-of-terrace house – resulting in one of the first period properties in the UK to be awarded Passivhaus status

Bespoke staircase…

Nothing in Glenys and Paul’s Victorian house is square

Second time lucky

Andrew Laing and June Russell drew on their first self build experience to create a luxury contemporary home on a highly challenging plot, not far from the centre of Edinburgh

Subtle positioning…

The house looks practically invisible from the roadside

Energy saving feature…

Determined to build an energy-efficient dwelling and

Extensions

We take a closer look at recent extension projects featured in Build It to see how you’ve been adapting existing properties

Internal doors

These fittings are one of the most tactile parts of your home’s interiors, so it pays to look for highquality designs, says Chris Bates

What you need to know about heat pumps

Thinking of installing this renewable tech? Nigel Griffiths looks at the pros and cons of the various options and how they compare to conventional heating

Wow factor conversions

Transforming underused spaces offers the opportunity to create unique living areas to fit with your lifestyle and personality. Sofia Delgado discovers seven stunning projects and shares the top tips for kick-starting your scheme

Why choose slate for your roof?

Synonymous with quality and longevity, slate is a popular choice for finishing the exterior of a home. Emily Brooks explains the main benefits, as well as how to make sure you buy a durable, high-quality product

Decks & patios

From a family area for children to play in, through to a stunning zone for entertaining guests and everything in between, these expert tips will help you create a summer-ready space

How to get a period house renovation right

Alan Tierney reveals how taking a sensitive, well-researched approach can provide you with a comfortable, characterful home

Dealing with trees on site

Trees can be both a blessing and a bane for self builders and home improvers. Here, Mike Hardwick reveals how you can assess their impact on your project plans and the best ways to work with them

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Fantastic inspiration & expert advice for each

Planning in designated areas

From fiercelyconserved green belt land to locally-set policies, there’s a host of planning protections that can impact on self builds, renovations and extensions. Mike Dade reveals how they could influence your development

Why you need to consider overhead glazing

Architect Julian Owen sums up how rooflights can be used to enhance the design of your home, both inside and out

Subsidence know-how

Most movement in the ground beneath your home is harmless, but more acute shifts can cause damage. Tim Doherty explains how best to tackle this issue

Self build mortgages

Looking for funding for your self build project? Each month we round up the best deals from leading lenders – and update you on what you need to know about securing the right finance

Garden build

Martin and Denise Coombes are seeking a solution that will allow them to accommodate Martin’s elderly parents in their home. Planning permission for a new bungalow in the garden has been refused. Mike Dade investigates the alternative options

Ask the EXPERTS

Essential advice on your problems with building, budgeting, DIY & planning from the most experienced names in the self-build industry

Next month…

September issue on sale 25th July

Focus on:

We catch up with Gus Zogolovitch, founder and managing director of Unboxed Homes and NaCSBA (National Custom & Self Build Association) board member about getting a bespoke dwelling through the custom build route