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Choosing a design style
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Organic Architecture
If you like homes with elegant clean lines, light-filled open plan living spaces and large expanses of glass, but are left cold by the flat, plain white walls and clinical atmosphere of Modernist houses, then the new more natural style that is currentl
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Sustainable House Design
Renewables may grab the headlines but, in reality, the key fundamentals of a successful green house remain what they have always been — low-energy design principles and investment in the building fabric. By Michael Holmes
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Inside Outside Spaces
Create the perfect space for summer entertaining and make your home feel lighter and more spacious all year round by blurring the boundaries between inside and out. By Michael Holmes
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Classical Style
Grand or modest, all new homes have something to learn from Classical architecture. Robert Adam – one of the UK’s leading architects and advocates of traditional design – explains what it is, and how to get it right.
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Oak Frame
A rare material that excites traditionalists and modernists alike for its superb quality and character, it’s not surprising self-builders love it so much. Michael Holmes reveals how to master oak frame design.
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Contemporary Style
Building a contemporary house isn't cheap. Jason Orme looks at the costs and conventions of designing a cutting edge home.
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Arts & Crafts Style
If you love the character and charm of the traditional country cottage but want to build a home on a more substantial scale, then Arts & Crafts could be just the architectural style you are looking for. Michael Holmes shares his tips for successfully...
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Open Plan Living
So many of us aspire to the benefits that open plan layouts bring – light, flow, informality – but don’t understand the practicalities. Natasha Brinsmead reveals how to make it work.
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Georgian Style
The Georgian style is one of the most popular design styles for self builders. Classic in appearance, it looks simple to achieve, but it's also easy to get wrong.
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Bungalows: Making Single Storeys Special
The negative associations with bungalows are a thing of the past with more and more people choosing to build single storey regardless of planning constraints. Michael Holmes provides advice on how to take this house type beyond the ordinary, and explains...
