Architect’s Advice

Applying for CIL exemption is one of the many legislative headaches we have to deal with in our projects. But how can a fee that most of our clients aren’t liable for in the first place cause so much trouble? Here are the dangers of CIL, and how you can avoid them. What is the…

Basement extensions are increasingly popular in London, as strict planning laws and limited space push homeowners underground in the quest for more space. But basements extensions are also costly and complex, especially if your existing property is going to be perched on top. Here are my tips for planning a basement which is going to…

The Daily Telegraph recently reported that the average new build house is currently 30% cheaper than buying the equivalent existing property. Not only is building your own home cheaper, you also get to decide on every single detail to create a space that is perfectly adapted to your needs, lifestyle and taste. Why spend months…

One of our most common briefs is to create a seamless transition from interior to exterior, a style of design called indoor/outdoor living. Our portfolio is packed with homes that blur the line between living space and garden, but how is it achieved? Here are the four essential ingredients to successful indoor/outdoor living. Sunlight Your…

Many people believe that getting planning approval for a basement in Barnes is impossible. However, when we found ourselves tackling Richmond basement policy in a recent project, we discovered that you can do a lot more with basements in Barnes than you might expect. Why is Barnes basement policy so strict? There are three Flood…

In my last blog, I wrote about an unfortunate and frustrating situation where one of our clients discovered that a roof extension, built prior to the purchase of their house, was so poorly constructed that it endangered the entire property and had to be condemned. This extension was built by a well-known Design and Build…

When you’re buying a house, you’re also buying any works that have been carried out on it, whether they were finished decades ago or just prior to selling in an effort to increase its value. One of the ways that buyers can be reassured that these works haven’t compromised the house is with a Building…

Three diggers had to be craned in and out to excavate the double-depth basement required for Wimbledon Villa’s full-size underground pool. Excavating a basement is a complex, expensive and potentially dangerous undertaking. There aren’t many residential architects who planning departments will trust with subterranean developments, but we’re proud to say that we’re one of them,…

Kylie and Neil approached the Kingston Upon Thames planning department with what seemed, at the time, to be a modest request: they wanted to add a pitched roof to their cramped cottage so that it would match the roof level of the larger adjoining property. What they didn’t expect was a firm and unequivocal “no”.…

Beautiful glazing, sculpted staircases, tasteful furniture – these may all make a strong first impression, but what makes a home today truly modern isn’t what stands out, it’s what’s hidden in the walls and transmitted through the air. From multi-room wireless audio and to complete smart home systems, technology is changing our homes as much…