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1 week ago | 
granddesignsmagazine.com | Mary Richards
No matter what budget you’ve got, nor the age or design of your home, there’s always something you can do to improve its energy efficiency. We talked to Simon Bones, founder of ’intelligent retrofit’ specialists Genous, to get advice on green home improvements to suit every pocket. Genous CEO Simon has advised numerous homeowners on the right sustainable improvements for their homes.
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2 weeks ago | 
granddesignsmagazine.com | Mary Richards
Celebrated joiner and furniture designer Will Floyd McLean argues freestanding units are a more sustainable choice than fitted kitchen – and he’s put his money where his mouth is with his new company that makes stylish, sustainable modular kitchens designed to last a lifetime.
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4 weeks ago | 
granddesignsmagazine.com | Hugh Metcalf |Mary Richards |Jason Podesta
Love this boutique hotel-inspired concept, but not sure it will work for everyday living? Here’s what you need to know. Whether you’ve stayed in a luxury hotel that features one, or simply seen one in the pages of a glossy interiors magazine, chances are you’re familiar with the idea of a freestanding bath situated in a bedroom. How you feel about it may be a different story.
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1 month ago | 
granddesignsmagazine.com | Mary Richards
Dom French first fell in love with architecture as a young boy when he watched the very first series of Grand Designs with his mum. He never dreamt back then that one day he’d own a stunning home special enough to feature in Grand Designs magazine. But, by working together with his wife and chosing an excellent architect, that’s what he’s achieved. So we went to meet Dom in his newly renovated, stylish and sophisticated north London family home.
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1 month ago | 
granddesignsmagazine.com | Jason Podesta |Mary Richards
Research shows that 54% of Brits say they’re capable of DIY, although just 9% of these refer to themselves as ‘very’ capable. Whichever camp you fall into, it can be tempting to save money by tackling home maintenance jobs yourself. Certain jobs, however, should be left to the professionals, and with good reason – botched DIY attempts at tile grouting, plumbing and structural work can be incredibly costly and cause further issues in other parts of your home.
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1 month ago | 
granddesignsmagazine.com | Mary Richards |Caroline Rodrigues
The story we often hear about heat-pumps is that they work in well insulated modern homes but aren’t so good in older houses. Well, Professor Nick Cowern and Margaret Martin beg to differ, and they’re keen to tell heat-pump sceptics all about how their beautiful 17th Century Shropshire home is kept toasty warm by their new air-source heat-pump.
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1 month ago | 
granddesignsmagazine.com | Mary Richards |Amy Cutmore |Hayley Gilbert
A gradient may seem like a challenge to landscape, but these sloped garden ideas show how creative landscaping, structural work and planting can deliver an impactful outdoor space. ‘A slope can be an opportunity to create visual interest in the level changes,’ says James Scott, MD of The Garden Company.
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1 month ago | 
granddesignsmagazine.com | Mary Richards |Victoria Purcell
This striking former water tower built in 1964 is now a stylish, sustainable holiday home, thanks to the hard work of owners, designers Matt and Ali Grey. Standing at 23-metre (75’) high Tonwell (pronounced Tunnel) Tower is a wonderful example of Brutalist industrial design in a rural setting on the edge of a hamlet.
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1 month ago | 
granddesignsmagazine.com | Mary Richards |Jason Podesta
Being able to move freely around your own home is something most non-disabled people take for granted. But most homes in the UK are not accessible, which can make life very difficult for anyone who has mobility issues and those who use wheelchairs. However, there are many adaptions and specialist products that can make daily life easier. Annabella Fudge-Harman is an interior designer with expertise in accessible design.
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1 month ago | 
granddesignsmagazine.com | Jason Podesta |Mary Richards |Andrea Manley
Quartz is a superior worktop solution due to its durability, low maintenance, and aesthetic versatility. Unlike marble, which is a natural stone prone to scratches, stains, and etching from acidic substances, quartz is an engineered stone material composed of natural quartz crystals combined with resins. This composition makes quartz non-porous, highly resistant to stains, and impervious to moisture and bacteria; ideal for maintaining a hygienic and beautiful kitchen environment.
