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 Friday, 03 September 2010 00:00 Cool off this summer with the latest designs for your bathroom.
Our bathrooms are becoming ever more deluxe and showers are increasingly the focal point. From walk-in wet rooms to multiple body jets, now's the time to add a touch of luxury to your daily showering experience. There are three types of More...
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 Wednesday, 25 August 2010 00:00 The time of poky kitchens and separate formal dining rooms is over. A combined kitchen-diner commands sociable behaviour, just follow these simple steps to create the heart of your home.The dining room is out, and the kitchen is in. But not your scrubbing, chopping and boiling kind. This is the age of More...
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 Monday, 16 August 2010 00:00
Be bold in the bathroom – get creative with the latest cutting-edge surfaces.
Once the excitement of choosing appliances has faded and the great tap debate has receded, the tricky decision of what to cover bathroom surfaces with is faced. Most people give in gracefully to ceramic, paint, stone, More...
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 Friday, 06 August 2010 00:00 Built-in models are a great choice to complement the sleek and stylish lines of acontemporary kitchen. Follow our guide and you'll be cooking up a storm in no time.
An oven is one of the key appliances you'll buy for your kitchen, so it's worth spending time thinking about what you need. You can find More...
Book two tickets for just £18 (saving 50%*) when you book in advance and quote SBLD2418. Visit www.granddesignslive.com or call the hotline on 0871 230 5583. Hurry offer ends 30th September! If you’re researching a project and are interested in finding out about the latest products and innovation in the build industry, then look no further than Grand Designs Live sponsored by npower juice. The show runs from 8-10 October at the NEC and will showcase the very best cutting-edge design and innovation for interiors, build, gardens, kitchens & bathrooms, interiors, and technology. With over 500 exhibiting companies and talks from familiar faces Kevin McCloud and George Clarke, the event brings together all aspects of build and design – all under one roof! *Terms and conditions apply: saving based on door rate, offer ends 30th September, transaction fee applies, kids go free when accompanied by an adult. Welcome to TheSelfbulder.comWith continued concerns about the state of the economy, we are pleased to report some good news for self-builders. There is a general consensus that with larger developers releasing land back to the market, prices are falling and availability is increasing fast, creating opportunities for individuals to snap up plots at bargain prices. Our research shows the average plot price has fallen by more than nine per cent in the past year. Add to this increasingly competitive trade rates, plus suppliers keen to sell their products, and the year ahead takes on an altogether more promising outlook for ambitious individuals prepared to take the plunge. Whether you are embarking on a new-build, a renovation or extension, this website brings you a fantastic collection of products and services from the country's leading suppliers to help you on your self-build journey. The Selfbuilder has made it especially easy to enquire about products too. If you need further advice or price details, you can request hundreds of brochures using our ‘Brochure Request' button above. Why not register for the Selfbuilder Newsletter too, so that we can keep you up to date with the latest products, services and innovations throughout the month? And if you're a self-builder who has already completed a project, we want to hear from you. Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with a brief description of your project, along with a few pictures of your finished home.
Need to add space and value to your current home?With property prices falling due to the credit crunch, now’s the time to stay put and make most of your home. Extending your current property to create an extra room could add up to 15 per cent to its sale price and installing a new kitchen around 5 per cent. So transform your home and check out 10 Ways to Add Space and Value. |
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The story so far...
Who?
Architect Marcus Lee of practice FLACQ, his partner, Rachel Hart, and their three young daughters.
Where?
Hackney, east London.
What?
Timber-framed home, informed by Japanese residential architecture, with plentiful glazing and timber screens.
When?
The site was purchased in 2000. The building was started in 2005, and completed in 2007.
How much?
The land cost £70,000 and the build cost around £300,000, although Marcus is ‘still going through the receipts’.
High point?
‘August Bank Holiday 2005, when we first moved in. It wasn’t finished until 2007, but it felt like home’.
Low point?
‘Starting the work without having confirmation of planning, and the planning refusal we got in 2003’.
Tip
‘Despite what I said about being the high point, I’d recommend not to move in until the job’s completed,’ says Marcus.
Biomass boilers
The couple chose the biomass boiler partly for environmental reasons. ‘But the main reason we did it is because the house isn’t plumbed for gas and we were quoted £25,000 to get connected.’
The Baxi biomass boiler was installed by Green Systems and cost £6,500, alleviated by a £1,500 grant. It runs on compressed sawdust pellets, from suppliers such as Welsh Biofuels (www.welsh-biofuels.co.uk).
The pellets are loaded from a ‘silo’ into the boiler and Marcus checks on their progress. ‘Unlike gas, you know how much fuel you go through.’ The pellets burn within the boiler, which heats the water and the house via underfloor heating. ‘It’s very efficient,’ he says.
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