Rear extension with skylight, Egham, TW18
An increasingly popular kitchen extension choice for homeowners is a rear kitchen extension. Replacing a conservatory by building out towards the garden can make for a larger, open-plan space where homeowners can cook, eat and entertain with ease.
A current trend is to let as much natural light into the room as possible by installing a combination of pitched roof windows or one large flat roof window, such as a Korniche roof latern. Doing this can make the room feel bigger and help create the ultimate fresh air dining experience.
Laminate Flooring, Richmond, KT2
Laminate flooring can be installed in any room of the house; some manufacturers even allow their product to be used in bathrooms. Here, it’s critical to follow installation instructions to the letter, particularly regarding sealing the edges to prevent water intrusion. While much of laminate flooring has a smooth, high gloss surface, it’s also available with pressed-in textures.
Rear Extension (single storey), Ealing, W13
Building a budget extension is achievable with some careful planning and clever design considerations. But keeping costs down doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. Mixing off-the-shelf products with bespoke finishes can create a high-end look at a fraction of the price. Being savvy about where you should save and where you should splurge is key. An extension or addition to your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, provided certain limits and conditions are met.
Garden Brick Wall, Guildford, GU1
Every home enthusiast knows that a truly great garden isn’t just about planting the right flowers at the right time and watching them bloom. It’s about holistic, creative design and careful consideration of exactly how you want to use every inch of that precious green space. With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at the vertical aspects of modern garden aesthetics. With so many of us focused on achieving an immaculate lawn, enjoying a gorgeous summer patio or filling the garden with stunning plants, it’s easy to overlook one key element of garden design – the walls that demarks this special space as yours.
Loft Conversion, Islington, EC1A
Taking time to think about the size and position of your windows is an important aspect of a loft conversion design. As a general rule, glazing should make up 20 percent of the roof area if you’re keen to maximise natural light.
The position of the windows will often be dictated by the shape of the roof; for example, a long, shallow room will benefit from windows spaced evenly along its length, whereas a narrow, deeper room will benefit from one large window.
Garden Decking, Harrow, HA1
Premium hardwoods, with their high load-bearing bending strength, is another reason they are a fantastic choice for heavy items like planters. There is little cause for concern in these extremely low-maintenance decking materials. High-density hardwoods like Cumaru hardwood has lovely reddish brown tones and naturally resists pests and water damage without chemical treatment.
