February 2020

Tips for extending

By 
Ed Martin

Setting out on a home renovation can feel daunting and exciting in equal measure. Knowing where to start can be tricky, with so many considerations to weigh up. With our Don’t Move, Improve shortlisting, we’ve put together some of our best tips.

Dream Big

Our advice would be to allow yourself some initial thinking space – to let your imagination run free with all the ways in which you would like your dream home to work for you.  

In our opinion, the beauty of architecture is that there is never a right or wrong answer, simply different arrangements of spaces that work for different people at different stages of their lives.

Are you keen cooks, intent on opening up the kitchen as the central hub of the house? Do you long to retreat to a cosy snug at the end of a long working day? Do you want to be able to watch the kids play in the garden while you potter about the house?

Reflect on your priorities, and immerse yourself in the many websites and resources offering inspiration such as Houzz or Pinterest. You might even want to begin creating your own mood-board at the start of the design process, which we can review together and bring to life in the right way for your home.

Master planning

The main aim when briefing in your architect or designer is to be clear about your needs and preferences. Which spaces do you wish were bigger or smaller? Where in the house are you in desperate need of additional storage? Are there any parts of the living space that cause you a real headache? Where in the house do you spend most of your time?

Having all of this clear in your mind upfront will allow your architect to push these themes forward through the design. It will ensure your new home reflects your living preferences and is not held back by stereotypical layouts or constraints.

Also bear in mind that flexibility in design gives a family the right setting to grow without wholesale future redevelopments. A layout within which rooms can change function when required helps achieve this, and we recommend seeing your design as a master plan for the property - giving you a blue print which you can work towards over a number of stages if needed.

“To create, one must first question everything.”

Eileen Gray

No items found.
February 2020

Tips for extending

By 
Ed Martin
No items found.

Setting out on a home renovation can feel daunting and exciting in equal measure. Knowing where to start can be tricky, with so many considerations to weigh up. With our Don’t Move, Improve shortlisting, we’ve put together some of our best tips.

Article Link

Dream Big

Our advice would be to allow yourself some initial thinking space – to let your imagination run free with all the ways in which you would like your dream home to work for you.  

In our opinion, the beauty of architecture is that there is never a right or wrong answer, simply different arrangements of spaces that work for different people at different stages of their lives.

Are you keen cooks, intent on opening up the kitchen as the central hub of the house? Do you long to retreat to a cosy snug at the end of a long working day? Do you want to be able to watch the kids play in the garden while you potter about the house?

Reflect on your priorities, and immerse yourself in the many websites and resources offering inspiration such as Houzz or Pinterest. You might even want to begin creating your own mood-board at the start of the design process, which we can review together and bring to life in the right way for your home.

Master planning

The main aim when briefing in your architect or designer is to be clear about your needs and preferences. Which spaces do you wish were bigger or smaller? Where in the house are you in desperate need of additional storage? Are there any parts of the living space that cause you a real headache? Where in the house do you spend most of your time?

Having all of this clear in your mind upfront will allow your architect to push these themes forward through the design. It will ensure your new home reflects your living preferences and is not held back by stereotypical layouts or constraints.

Also bear in mind that flexibility in design gives a family the right setting to grow without wholesale future redevelopments. A layout within which rooms can change function when required helps achieve this, and we recommend seeing your design as a master plan for the property - giving you a blue print which you can work towards over a number of stages if needed.

“To create, one must first question everything.”

Eileen Gray

Key considerations:

Alongside your design brief, there are a number of practical considerations to be aware of before you get started:

Budget - It’s advisable to have a ballpark budget clear in your mind upfront. Your architect will use this to guide you on what’s achievable, ensuring any design options presented are feasible based on how much you’re looking to put towards your refurbishment.

Costs - Your total project costs will likely include: Council planning costs; professional fees e.g. for an architect, a structural engineer, building control inspector and party wall surveyor; building and materials costs; VAT at 20% (with only a few exceptions); fixtures, fittings and furnishings.

Neighbours - It’s always best to speak to your neighbours at the outset of your project. This can help alleviate any possible concerns before a formal planning application is submitted.

Planning permission - Your local Council will need to grant permission for your design to be realised, including allowing neighbours and local residents the opportunity to comment on your plans. We’ve taken many designs through planning, and it typically takes around eight weeks for permission to be granted, unless you utilise the permitted development rights provided to households.

Appointing a contractor - It’s crucial to find the right building contractor to suit your project and personality. We ask a minimum of four contractors to price each build. This gives a clear indication of build cost as well as inviting different types of contractor to tender.

If you’re looking for advice or inspiration for your home renovation, why not speak to Delve? We can talk your through our design process, and answer any questions you might have. Contact us by phone (020 3488 4408), email us and follow us online via our Instagram page to keep up to date with all our current projects and design ideas.

“As an architect you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown.”

Norman Foster