Journal402 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 617 pages

More from the archive.

  1. Home renovation3 min read

    Transforming London homes: 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.

  2. Construction2 min read

    Ten questions to ask a London 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.

  3. Basements3 min read

    Basement companies in London, and what to ask each one

    How to compare London basement companies on their documents rather than their sales pitch. Surveys, waterproofing, temporary works and the quote.

  4. 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.

  5. Design and build2 min read

    Five benefits of design and build, and how NU came to work this way

    Five reasons design and build has become the preferred route on London homes, and how NU Projects came to be organised that way.

  6. Interior design2 min read

    Next Day Rooflights, and Nick Jeffries joining as part-owner

    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.

  7. Basements3 min read

    Choosing a London basement company: ten questions to ask

    Appointing a basement company in London? Ten questions to ask about design responsibility, waterproofing, temporary works, cost and aftercare.

  8. Home renovation1 min read

    Renovating a Notting Hill home, what the work involves

    What a Notting Hill renovation involves, from a stucco front to a rear return. The planning, the sequence and the finishes.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. Basements1 min read

    From basements to roof terraces: adding value to London’s super prime properties

    How basements and roof terraces add space in London’s prime postcodes. Cinemas, wellness suites, outdoor rooms and what they add in value.

  13. Home renovation2 min read

    Sustainable luxury, 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.

  14. Design and build1 min read

    Why super prime clients choose design and build

    Why design and build has become the preferred route on super prime London homes, and what changes when one team carries both halves.

  15. Basements2 min read

    10 questions to ask before building a basement in London

    Ask these 10 questions before appointing a London basement contractor, covering experience, planning, structure, waterproofing, cost and aftercare.

  16. Home renovation5 min read

    Building costs per sq metre in London 2026: the complete guide for prime and standard projects

    Compare 2026 London building costs per sq m for extensions, lofts, renovations, basements, new builds and prime specifications.

  17. Home renovation1 min read

    From churches to homes: conversions and contemporary renovations that fuse past and present

    Turning churches, chapels and industrial buildings into homes. How vaulted ceilings, stained glass and brickwork are kept in a modern scheme.

  18. Home renovation1 min read

    Super prime renovation trends 2025

    Five things super prime London owners asked for in 2025. Wellness rooms, glazing that opens right up, dual islands and quieter interiors.

  19. Home renovation2 min read

    Sustainable luxury living in London’s prime postcodes

    How an eco-minded renovation works in a prime London house. Insulation and glazing first, then heat pumps, low-carbon materials and water.

  20. Extensions3 min read

    Kitchen extensions in Fulham: planning, design and delivery

    Planning a kitchen extension in Fulham? Understand layouts, daylight, planning, structure, services, cost control and how to compare delivery teams.

  21. Basements3 min read

    London basement companies: 10 checks before you appoint

    Comparing London basement companies? Use these 10 checks to assess design, waterproofing, temporary works, cost control, delivery and aftercare.

  22. Home renovation3 min read

    Luxury design and build services London: NU Projects in Chelsea & Kensington

    Three ways to add value to a Chelsea or South Kensington home. Basement conversions, extensions and interior updates, with what each involves.

  23. Basements2 min read

    How to pick a basement contractor in Fulham

    How to choose a basement contractor in Fulham. Experience, the process from survey to handover, guarantees, and what the new space can hold.

  24. Extensions1 min read

    NU Projects, Fulham’s experts in home extensions

    What NU Projects builds in Fulham. Single storey, double storey, rear, side return and wraparound extensions, designed and built by one team.

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