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Home Design Consultation - case study #2

5/17/2016

kitchen table before extension

Early in 2015 I visited our client at home in Bramhall, Cheshire. We sat around the kitchen table to discuss our clients wishes for their home and what they needed for their project. Now a completed extension, this blog is a review of what we achieved with this project in a small space on a tight budget.

"I needed some professional drawings for a small extension to my kitchen and advice on building regs, etc. I had a rough plan with my initial ideas and someone to build it but needed some more accurate plans that my builder could build from. The house is 300 years old so nothing is straight!"

before extending

The planned extension was small needing to fit in a lot of functionality. The brief included:

new downstairs loo
cloakroom
larger dining area off the kitchen
new entrance hall
covered unheated porch
to feel like sitting in the garden
maintain maximum light into the kitchen

As this was a small project, not requiring planning permission, of traditional build and our client had a competent builder in place, it was possible for the project to progress with only our sketch design. The client and builder made all decisions on detailed design, although we were available should our support be required during construction. Building regulations were dealt with on notice by the builder.

home design sketch plan

Although the space was limited we managed to create:

new downstairs loo, with easy access giving more privacy upstairs
new front door position, visible from the road making it easier to find especially for deliveries
larger space for dining, with better light and direct views and access into the garden
cloakroom area with dedicated space for coats and storage in the new hall
gallery space

"I really enjoyed our discussions and solutions and everyone was really excited by the plans. The extension took 5 months but it is now finished and we have the final sign off certificate."

If you want to make a massive difference to your life with some home improvements let us know and book your own Home Design Workshop with iarchitect.

completed extension external view

"It is gorgeous, really gorgeous and has made a massive difference to our lives. Thank you so much for the design - you did a fab job."

Lime the wonder product!

5/5/2016

Lime is the mortar recommended both by architecture conservationists and eco builders for bonding masonry walls. Why lime? There are several reasons, including:

easy to remove and reuse the bricks / stone
deals with water in masonry better
protects surrounding masonry from damage
flexible so enables movement
the traditional bonding material

We're looking forward to getting hands on at this lime practical course on Saturday 14th May. The Pendle Heritage Centre is a beautiful setting for a course and the Heritage Trust for the North West is a great cause to support. The perfect CPD!

The benefit of working with an architect is that we carry out regular training to update our skills and knowledge. At iarchitect this CPD (continuing professional development) is used to make sure we are up to speed with best practice and latest technologies.

Lime Practical CPD flyer

Meet the Architects

4/22/2016

Next week on Thursday 28th April, I'm looking forward to taking part in a lively and interesting debate. We will be discussing the latest developments, innovations and trends in architecture design and BIM, Art and Architecture, as well as forecasting investment opportunities.

If this sounds like your cup of tea then I look forward to meeting you there.

Build 2016 Expo Flyer

I'd love to hear what you think about the latest developments and innovations in architecture design and BIM, art and architecture or what you hope to be investing in next. Let me know by commenting below.

Historic Impressions in Northenden

4/21/2016

On the drawing board at the moment is Northenden War Memorial. We are looking at conservation works to the landscape along with improved access.

Here we share with you some images of the memorial - past, present and future.

Northenden War Memorial 1922

This is an artists impression of the war memorial taken from The Stockport Advertiser, April 28th 1922.

Artist Impression of Northenden War Memorial 1922

Northenden War Memorial mid 20th Century

This photograph is of Durham Light Infantryman, Brereton, blowing the last post during a Remembrance Sunday service, exact date unknown.

Northenden War Memorial 2015

A recent photograph of the memorial following Remembrance Sunday 2015, showing the memorial site in need of a little TLC.

Northenden War Memorial future

An iarchitect sketch of the proposed new level access route, new safe steps and wild flower poppy planting areas. Also proposed are refurbishment works to the crazy paving to level the surface and drain away the puddles.

If you have any old photographs of the Northenden War Memorial we would love to see them. Please email them to us at jane.leach@i-architect.co.uk

Help the Flood Victims

1/5/2016

Sitting down over the Christmas holidays
watching the terrible scenes of flooding across the UK made many of us realise how lucky we are not to live in a floodplain. As our facebook feeds filled up with affected friends and family, telling us of their difficulties dealing with the rising water, we could sit back in our lovely dry living rooms and help ourselves to another mince pie and cup of tea.

There are some things we can all do to help reduce the risks, extent or severity of future flooding.

Hebden Bridge under Flood Christmas 2015

Alongside short term help, by donating time and money to those affected by the latest floods, these home improvements will help over the long term, especially if you live upland of flood risk areas:

1. Make your drives and patios porous so they don't add to surface water run-off

Porous Drives and Patios

You do not need planning permission to lay a permeable (or porous) drive as this is permitted development. You do need planning permission to lay a traditional non-porous driveway.

Examples of porous materials are: gravel, reinforced grass, specially laid block paving, and permeable asphalt, concrete or resin bonded aggregate.

Alternatively you can drain to a soakaway so that the water will soak into the ground nearby.

You can find more information in this government guidance document.

2. Fit water butts to your rainwater downpipes to slow water flow

Rainwater Harvesting - Water Butt

This is a simple example of rainwater harvesting and easy to retrofit. You can then use the water stored in the water butt to water your garden or wash your car and windows.

There are many rainwater harvesting techniques, which can give you a store of water to flush toilets, wash clothes and for other non-potable needs. These can also reduce your water use costs. The options vary in complexity and ease of retrofit for existing houses.

We have a focus on sustainable design and can advise on ways to both save water in use and by rainwater harvesting, along with other energy efficiency measures.

You can book an i-architect Home Design Consultation to discuss your options.

3. Plant trees and thirsty plants

Planting Flood Control

Landscaping your garden can help, both in flood risk areas to direct water and floating debris away, and in other areas to control wet areas and flow. There are many ways to use landscape to control water, such as creating a rain garden with wet-tolerant planting, an area of lower ground which fills up during wet weather and dries out during a (hopefully) sunny summer.

Trees are especially good at taking up water with some mature trees taking 50-100 gallons a day. If the ground is often very wet then you need to use trees and plants that won't die when roots stay wet for extended periods.

Be careful to plant trees that are sized appropriately to your garden and placed where they will not cause damage to foundations and drains.

Although most of us were not directly affected by the terrible floods we have seen recently, it's likely that more of us will be affected by flooding in the future, as the water tables rise. In the short term, even if our own homes are not in need of expensive and exhausting clean up and repair, we are all still likely to be affected indirectly as insurance premiums increase and the cost to the tax payer of flood defences and repair rise. We all need to take action.

What actions will you be taking to stabilise the water table in your area?

Northenden War Memorial Photo Appeal

11/9/2015

Northenden War Memorial Remembrance Day crowd 2015

The Northenden Branch of the Royal British Legion are raising money to refurbish The Northenden War Memorial. The team have successfully won up to £9k of funding from Manchester City Council and Manchester Airport and are applying for more from The War Memorials Trust to make the memorial safe and more easily accessible. The plan is to complete works in advance of the centenary of the end of World War 1 in 2018.

“In recent years the hard landscaping around the memorial has become very uneven and the steps have started to collapse. More and more people attend the remembrance services each year and many have restricted mobility so it is important to repair the paving and create a new ramp up to the podium for those in wheelchairs and needing easier access. Especially important now as we build up to 2018 and the centenary of the end of World War 1.” said Stephen Morrison, Secretary of The Northenden Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Helped by the conservation team of construction professionals, Project Architect Jane Leach of iarchitect, Landscape Architect Elaine Cresswell of reShaped, and Quantity Surveyor Fiona Hull of Construction Q, they will research the history of the memorial and design a new ramp to be built in the existing memorial garden. The team are seeking help from the public to see what the memorial looked like when it was built.

“Funding from the War Memorials Trust will allow us to repair and refurbish the original design and materials. Anything new that we add will be very carefully designed to be sensitive to the original memorial”, explains project architect, Jane Leach. “We are looking for any photos of the war memorial over the years, and the earlier the better, so we can make sure that we choose the right materials and remain sympathetic to the original design.”

Northenden Remembrance Day November 2015

If you have any old photographs of The Northenden War Memorial please email them to The Northenden branch of the Royal British Legion: rblnorthenden@aol.com

Home Design Consultation - Case Study #1

2/13/2015

We frequently save our clients thousands of pounds through our Home Design Workshops. This project is an example of how our analysis and assessment of our clients needs and their homes ensure that we design solutions that suit both lifestyles and budget.

In this home our clients wanted a better connection from the family room to the garden and kitchen. They enjoy entertaining and wanted to host their legendary barbecues in a sunnier patio with quicker kitchen access. The old conservatory was blocking the garden view and the lean-to store was blocking out evening sunshine from the patio.

Existing Ground Floor Plan

Existing Ground Floor Sketch Plan

Extension Option

Sketch Plan Proposed Option

Our clients felt they would need an extension to achieve this. So we looked at how an extension might work to create more room, to link to the steeply sloping garden and between the kitchen and family room. They also wanted to move the laundry and freezer from the lean-to store room and into the house to make them easier to access.

We discovered that they had an unused space under the stairs ideal for storage and that their kitchen was brand new and that they were happy with it, apart from the poor link to the family room.

As an alternative we showed them how to create additional storage space within the kitchen, improve the connection with the family room and create a sunnier and easier to access space for entertaining in the garden. This option would simply mean some minor internal alterations, garden landscaping and demolition of the dilapidated conservatory and lean-to store. An option which would save them over £20k in construction costs.

We love improving our clients lives and whenever possible saving them money at the same time. We could help you to do the same with one of our Home Design Consultations.

Light Touch Option

Sketch Plan Proposed Option

Winter Warmers #1

1/27/2015

We were challenged by Nick Knowles, presenter of DIY SOS, to share our knowledge when we disagreed with his comments that only very rich people can afford to insulate and make their homes warmer and more energy efficient. This is first in a series of blog posts where we will share effective DIY tips that you can use to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your home or property for free or very cheaply.

If you would like us to help you make your home or property feel warmer and more comfortable and reduce your energy bills contact us. We specialise in eco refurbishing - making existing buildings work better and more efficiently for you. We also design extensions and new builds following passive house principles and a fabric first approach.

DIY Air Tightness with Sticky Tape

Air tightness is a growing area of knowledge in the construction industry. We now know that up to 40% of heat loss can be due to leaky buildings.

We often feel cool draughts from the uncontrolled air leaking in and out of cracks, holes and gaps in our buildings. By blocking up some of these we can both feel warmer and save on heating bills.

What you will need for this DIY project is a simple roll of sellotape.

Look at your doors and windows and stick a piece of sellotape over any keyholes that are either unused or not used very often. This might be some patio doors to the living room which you can easily reuse again in the summer by removing the sellotape.

This is an almost invisible and simple fix to quickly reduce draughts.

Warning! We do need some ventilation in our buildings to keep our indoor air healthy so don't block up everything!

Share your DIY draught excluding tips in the comments below. #winterwarmers

Reducing Draughts with Sticky Tape

New Year. New You. New Home

1/8/2015

The beginning of a New Year is always busy with new projects and resolutions. Starting the year afresh and make it better than the year before.

After a fortnight at home with the family, many homeowners decide that they need to make changes or add more space. Space to host large dinners for a growing family, a spare room for visitors or somewhere to work on all those new years resolutions - perhaps a home gym or project room.

There are lots of things to consider when improving your home. You need to think strategically when deciding what work to have done to make sure you get what you want and need and it's within your budget.

To help you with your decision making here are some tips to consider when deciding how to improve your home.

1. Decide what you need

I often find that through carefully questioning my clients during our first meetings, to understand the bigger picture, I find solutions that they hadn't imagined and that can be much better value for money.

Sometimes a big extension is not the answer to giving you the home you need. Ask yourself the following questions to help identify what you need and how your home can meet this:

What do you want to be able to do but your space is not allowing you to do?
How many people does the space need to work for?
What spaces do you have now and how do you use them?
Are there any unused or underused spaces?

Where do you get the best light and views and are these important to you?

2. Set a Budget

It's best to be realistic about money. Once the budget is set make sure that the works are chosen carefully to fit within this budget. Be aware that sometimes spending a little extra in some areas can save you money in the long run. It's not always necessary to carry out all the work at once but it is usually best to have it all designed together so that the final result is a harmonious whole.

When considering how much to spend make sure you include costs for the following:

professional fees: architect, structural engineer, quantity surveyor, party wall surveyor, etc
local authority applications: planning and building control

possible extras: storage, rental / holiday elsewhere during the work, professional deep cleaning afterwards, more takeaways and meals out while the kitchen is out of action

VAT: remember to take into account the likely extra 20%

contingency: setting aside an extra 5-15% is wise, particularly if the work involves an existing building

I recommend getting cost estimates based on sketch designs early on to ensure that the works carried out are in budget and give you the best value. The Home Design Workshop gives you sketch designs that meet your needs and are a good basis to check out practicalities like cost.

To give a finger in the air idea of how much the extra space might cost to build I use a rate of £2k per m2. Although nowhere near as accurate as a quantity surveyors estimate, this calculation helps guide initial decisions on how much space is worked on to suit the budget.

3. Consider build options

How you choose to have your project built can have a huge impact on the cost and speed of the construction and the quality of the end result. Consider how much time you have to devote to the project yourself and what skills you have. Do you want to get hands on and self-build or do you want to hand over the keys and come back to a completed project?

These are some of your build options with pros and cons:

design and build: one company that carries out everything from the design to the completion of the build. This gives you the least design and quality control but the most cost certainty. Typically this is the most expensive option as the companies which deliver this option take on all the risks of keeping the project on time and in budget. There is the potential that they may reduce quality to offset unexpected expenses incurred during construction.

main contractor: you employ a design team to carry out the design and apply for permissions, then a contractor to manage and carry out the construction. This gives you full control of the design and quality and allows you to make changes during construction. However, I recommend that changes during construction be avoided by making the right decisions during the design stage. Be aware that the later changes are made the greater they impact on cost and time.

self managed with sub contractors: you employ each member of the design and construction team separately, giving you maximum control on design, quality and cost. For inexperienced project managers there is a big risk that the project will take longer and cost a lot more.
self-build: you employ specialists as required but largely carry out the work yourself. This gives maximum control of design and cost but quality can suffer unless you have sufficient skills and it can take a lot longer to complete construction, especially if you have a full time job to fit the build around. Remember that to comply with legal requirements some work must be carried out by a fully qualified tradesperson.

To give you more help with your early decision making I have created the Design Your Home Vision Checklist.

This helps you address key decisions from the start so that you can take your project forward with confidence. You can get that like-new home you've dreamed of!

Click on the button below to get your copy of the checklist.

I want to make a start on my new home!

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

12/19/2014

Eco Art Installation at St Luke's Liverpool

We've had a fantastic 2014 and 2015 promises to be even better. Thank you to all our clients, extended design team members and collaborators who have made this such a memorable year. We're looking forward to continuing with more good work in the New Year and producing more of our special blend of eco friendly and heritage sensitive designs.

Our office will close for a 2 week holiday from 19th December to 5th January.

Photograph of our winter light and colour installation at St Luke's "Bombed Out" Church, Liverpool

Design Your Home Vision

The Design Your Home Vision Checklist will help you kickstart your home improvements.

Download yours with the button below to get your home project off to a great start:

make the fundamental decisions
gather the essential information
set your priorities
define your wishlist

Get started with the free Design Your Home Vision checklist.

I want the Checklist!

Author

Jane Leach, principal architect at i-architect

Tweets by @ArchitectJane

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