Blog236 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 910 pages

More from the archive.

  1. Interior design2 min read

    Why use an interior designer in Fulham

    What an interior designer adds to a Fulham, Chelsea or South Kensington home. Sourcing, a coherent plan and the time it saves.

  2. Home renovation2 min read

    Five ways to add value to a Fulham home

    Five improvements that raise the value of a home in Fulham, Chelsea or South Kensington. Where to start and what buyers notice.

  3. Construction1 min read

    We are interested in buying your land

    We buy land and property for development across London. The sites we look for, and how quickly we can exchange contracts.

  4. Design and build3 min read

    The NU Projects 12-stage process

    See NU Projects’ 12-stage design and build process, from consultation and feasibility through planning, construction, handover and aftercare.

  5. Loft conversion3 min read

    Loft conversions, everything you need to know

    What a loft conversion actually involves, from dormer structure to planning approval. Which house types suit one and how the box is built.

  6. Interior design3 min read

    6 reasons to hire an interior designer

    Six reasons to bring in an interior designer before work starts. Costly mistakes, function, future plans and holding the budget.

  7. Construction2 min read

    Permitted development rights: NU’s guide

    Before starting an extension or renovation project in London, the first obstacle many homeowners bump into is Planning Permission.

  8. Extensions3 min read

    Property acquisition, a guide

    How NU sources and buys an unmodernised London home. Stamp duty savings, feasibility checks, negotiation and designing before you own it.

  9. Construction2 min read

    Innovative way of building: SIPS

    What structural insulated panels are and how they go together. Thermal performance, air quality, speed of build and sustainability explained.

  10. Construction1 min read

    London home extension: 5 ideas

    Five ways to make a London extension more interesting. Timber and zinc cladding, skylights, glass boxes, orangeries and extra storeys.

  11. Home renovation2 min read

    Small spaces and home office: 5 tips

    Five ways to fit a home office into a small London flat. A shelf, a change of paint, the stairs, a kitchen cupboard or the loft.

  12. Extensions3 min read

    Home extension or conservatory?

    When it comes to home enhancement in London, there are plenty of choices, but several things to consider before you pick one.

  13. Home renovation3 min read

    Time to split your London property into flats

    If you were ever in the position of hunting for a flat in London, you know the struggle: the demand is high, the supply is low.

  14. Basements3 min read

    Basement planning, from surveys to fit-out

    Plan a London basement properly: permissions, surveys, structure, waterproofing, party walls, MEP, costs, programme and contractor checks.

  15. Home renovation3 min read

    7 steps of home renovation in London

    The seven stages of a home renovation in order. Strip out, structural work, first fix wiring, plastering and second fix explained.

  16. Interior design2 min read

    7 steps of interior design at NU Projects

    How our interior designers run a scheme, from the first site visit to handover. The concept, the costs, the bespoke furniture and the artwork.

  17. Basements3 min read

    Basement conversion: a step by step guide

    The stages of a West London basement conversion. Surveyor visit, contract, design and planning, party wall agreement and the build.

  18. Construction3 min read

    Home extension in London: a checklist

    Use this London home-extension checklist to plan the brief, permissions, design, structure, cost, party walls, procurement and construction.

  19. Loft conversion3 min read

    Extension or loft conversion in London?

    Extension or loft conversion for a London home that needs more space. Compare the space gained, long term value and the time each takes.

  20. Collaboration1 min read

    NU Projects and Covet House, 2021

    A 2021 note on a sourcing arrangement with Covet House, a collective of furniture brands. Kept for the record, not a current partnership.

  21. Extensions10 min read

    Kitchen side return and wraparound extensions

    Plan a London kitchen extension with clear guidance on side-return, rear and wraparound layouts, planning, cost, structure and design-and-build delivery.

  22. Design and build11 min read

    Getting your name out there, Nick Jeffries

    Nick Jeffries on the Founding Network podcast in 2020. How NU started, why he makes content every day, and what he learned losing a business.

  23. Interior design2 min read

    Internal window security shutters London

    Internal window security shutters for prime London homes. Bespoke, invisible security integrated with luxury interior design. Specialists at NU Projects.

  24. Interior design3 min read

    Safe rooms in prime London homes

    How a safe room is planned inside a prime London home. The security brief, structure, fire escape routes and the services it needs.

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