Natasha Brinsmead

1 week ago | livingetc.com | Natasha Brinsmead

Swathes of glazing and sweeping open-plan spaces are undoubtedly appealing prospects when formulating a home extension, but all too often, they come at the expense of a sense of privacy. I have recently been watching, with a degree of envy, the progress of a kitchen extension to a house in a village near me. It has just been completed, and the end result is pretty impressive — in the daytime.

2 weeks ago | homebuilding.co.uk | Natasha Brinsmead

It really is not that uncommon for homeowners to ask 'should I remove my chimney breast?' There are all kinds of reasons for carrying out this job, from opening up remodelling possibilities to adding extra floor space. That said, before you start getting too absorbed into looking at how to remove a chimney breast, there are a few factors to consider.

2 weeks ago | homebuilding.co.uk | Natasha Brinsmead

Living rooms with large windows come with so many benefits – an increased sense of wellbeing when spending time in them, the opportunity to highlight details and finishes and greater versatility in terms of how the space can be used. "Home improvement projects should increase the appeal of living room ideas, and one of the first things that should be considered is natural light,” says Edward Stobart, IDSystems’ technical sales manager.

2 weeks ago | idealhome.co.uk | Natasha Brinsmead

If you are in the process of renovating, extending, converting a loft or remodelling a semi-detached or terraced house, and haven't given much thought to the neighbouring properties, you may well find yourself needing a retrospective party wall agreement. Ideally, you should have taken into account any party walls before starting your project, but, in some cases, this can get forgotten about in all the excitement and decision making.

2 weeks ago | idealhome.co.uk | Natasha Brinsmead

You usually don't have to search too hard to find a house being let down by an old-fashioned, leaky glazed add-on, but if you happen to be the owner of one, what can you do to modernise an old conservatory? Far from being out-of-date, these glass structures are actually on the up, with more and more homeowners keen to find modern conservatory ideas that will help them create a greater connection to their outdoor spaces.