Journal257 posts, 2017 to 2026
The design and build journal.
Every job teaches something. This is where it gets written up. Planning, basements, costs, finishes and the people who build them.
Page 511 pages
More from the archive.
-
Interior design4 min read
London interior designers: 10 checks
Choosing a London interior designer? Ten checks on evidence, scope, fees, purchasing, coordination, site involvement and aftercare.
-
Basements3 min read
Basement ideas for 2026 in London
Where London basement design is heading in 2026. Wellness rooms, cinemas, work studios, daylight and lower running costs.
-
Home renovation3 min read
Private family estates in London, 2026
What the owners of private family estates in London ask for in 2026. Privacy, wellness, multi generational living and back of house.
-
Home renovation3 min read
A guide to design and build professionals
How to choose a design and build team for a London home. What to expect at each stage, what to look for and what to ask before you sign.
-
Construction2 min read
Ten questions for a design and build firm
Ten things worth asking any contractor before you appoint one, from who prices the drawings to how a change on site gets costed.
-
Basements3 min read
Basement companies in London: what to ask
How to compare London basement companies on their documents rather than their sales pitch. Surveys, waterproofing, temporary works and the quote.
-
Construction2 min read
What to look for in a construction company
Seven things to look for in a construction company, from how it communicates to how it records quality, handles change and sources materials.
-
Design and build2 min read
Five benefits of design and build
Five reasons design and build has become the preferred route on London homes, and how NU Projects came to be organised that way.
-
Interior design2 min read
Next Day Rooflights and Nick Jeffries
Nick Jeffries has joined the rooflight manufacturer Next Day Rooflights as a part-owner. What the company makes, and why daylight matters in a build.
-
Home renovation1 min read
Renovating a Notting Hill home
What a Notting Hill renovation involves, from a stucco front to a rear return. The planning, the sequence and the finishes.
-
Interior design1 min read
Chelsea luxury interior design firm
What to look for when choosing an interior design firm in Chelsea. Tailored schemes, premium finishes and the questions to ask first.
-
Interior design1 min read
Choosing an interior designer in Kensington
What to look for in an interior designer in Kensington. Period houses, listed buildings, planning limits and how the work is actually run.
-
Interior design1 min read
Choosing an interior designer in Mayfair
What an interior designer in Mayfair needs to get right. Period architecture, planning limits, and how prime London projects are run day to day.
-
Basements1 min read
Basements to roof terraces: adding value
How basements and roof terraces add space in London’s prime postcodes. Cinemas, wellness suites, outdoor rooms and what they add in value.
-
Home renovation2 min read
Eco-friendly renovation in prime London
What sustainable luxury means in a Mayfair or Belgravia refurbishment. Materials, systems, and why quiet design and low energy now meet.
-
Design and build1 min read
Design and build for super prime homes
Why design and build has become the preferred route on super prime London homes, and what changes when one team carries both halves.
-
Basements2 min read
10 questions before building a basement
Ask these 10 questions before appointing a London basement contractor, covering experience, planning, structure, waterproofing, cost and aftercare.
-
Home renovation5 min read
London building costs per square metre
Compare 2026 London building costs per sq m for extensions, lofts, renovations, basements, new builds and prime specifications.
-
Home renovation1 min read
From churches to homes: London conversions
Turning churches, chapels and industrial buildings into homes. How vaulted ceilings, stained glass and brickwork are kept in a modern scheme.
-
Home renovation2 min read
Sustainable luxury in London’s prime areas
How an eco-minded renovation works in a prime London house. Insulation and glazing first, then heat pumps, low-carbon materials and water.
-
Home renovation3 min read
Luxury design and build in Chelsea
Three ways to add value to a Chelsea or South Kensington home. Basement conversions, extensions and interior updates, with what each involves.
-
Home renovation1 min read
Notting Hill home renovations by NU
What a home renovation with NU Projects covers in Notting Hill. Whole house work, period property, interiors, kitchens and structural change.
-
Design and build2 min read
The hybrid design and build model
Why design and build replaced the architect plus contractor split on London homes, and what changes when one team carries both.
-
Interior design2 min read
Luxury interior brands for prime London homes
Twenty interior brands we specify in prime London homes. Furniture, bespoke kitchens, lighting and stone, and what each one is known for.
Your home
Reading about it is one thing. Building it is another.
Your name and one way to reply are enough. It goes straight to the studio.