The beauty of taking on a major project, whether it’s a self build or renovation, is that it gives you the opportunity to create a home that’s truly tailored to your family’s wants and needs. It may not be to everyone’s liking, but it’s yours... and that’s something worth fighting for, as the Jaques (page 36) found when they had to go to appeal to gain planning consent for their Georgian-inspired house. In fact, this month’s reader homes serve up a real variety of architectural styles and inspiring stories – from the Roses’ contemporary prefab box in glorious countryside (page 20), through to Liz Ashley and Brendan Bracey’s wow-factor extension of an Edwardian terraced house, complete with a jaw-dropping guillotine window (page 29).
One of the more controversial types of project in recent years has been digging down to forge a new basement extension, but this remains a viable route to gaining more space in urban settings. Find out how you can get it right on page 62. For more ideas on how to add character and value to your home, check out our guide to creating more kerb appeal on page 66. We’ve also got expert advice on designing a stylish, accessible single-storey scheme (page 94), making your listed building consent application watertight (page 105) and how to ensure you get maximum value for money when buying materials (page 100). And for those of you feeling the winter chill, there’s guides to money-saving smart heating (page 73), stove costs (page 83), insulation choices (page 89) and more.