tip 1 - work with the right people

It is really important that you have a good relationship with your architect – building projects are quite an intense experience, and you have to be sure that your professional is on the same wavelength, and listening to what you need and want.

tip 2 - think about what you want

Try to be as clear as possible about what you think you want to achieve in your project. Write a list of ideas you have had, and put them into priority order. Find images of styles you like, and of those you don’t like - both help to visualise your taste.

tip 3 - be realistic about your budget from the start

Be prepared to discuss your budget and funding from your first meeting – we need to understand what sort of money you are thinking of spending on your building, to make sure that it matches your design expectations. It is much better to have this discussion at the start, rather than spend money on designs which cannot be realised at a later date.

tip 4 - be prepared to have to spend time on your project

Every element of your project requires a decision from you. We work closely with our clients through the whole project, guiding on when decisions have to be made, whether about the size of an extension or new property, or about the style of light switches to be installed. All these decisions take time, and you need to make allowances around your daily routines, to keep the project on programme.

tip 5 - be patient !

Building projects take time. Planning Approval takes a minimum of eight weeks, and even small projects take several months to actually build. When you add in design time, plus finding the right builder and booking a building slot with them, it takes months, not weeks, to realise your vision. My heart sinks when a prospective client says ‘We want to be in by Christmas’! Not only is it a difficult time of year for building work – short days and poor weather – but it often involves the chaos and organisation of family visits. To add the pressure of completing a building project, maybe involving a new kitchen, with its new appliances to learn about and getting the cupboards filled when the builders have left, is a recipe for stress