Bona products have been used by Timbered Flooring, Bona Certified Contractors, for the installation and finishing of a 20mm engineered, dark fumed oak parquet floor at London’s new urban hotel, Assembly London. First, Bona D501 primer was applied to the WBP plywood subfloor, and then the parquet blocks were stuck
Maximising space in the workplace is a pressure that all businesses face, as space has an impact on many things, including productivity and staff happiness. It’s easy to fall into routines and stick with an office design and features that have been unchanged for year; therefore these 10 tips will
Washroom Washroom, the innovative washroom designer, manufacturer and installer, has expanded its product range, offering concrete vanities as part of Arpeggio vanity units, which also includes solid surface Corian, granite, zodiaq and glass. As the ideal solution for those seeking to create on-trend industrial-inspired washrooms, concrete is hard-wearing, easy to
Speirs + Major, a UK lighting design practice has announced that it will be closing its Edinburgh offices and will operate solely from its London offices. The move comes in response to the ‘ever-expanding international market’, and is part of a strategy that will see the lighting design firm open
William Garvey, British furniture designers and makers, were commissioned by furniture designer Catriona Braybrooke to create a collection of freestanding wooden furniture for the kitchen, bathroom, dining and bedroom areas for the dower house of a Gloucestershire property. The firm was responsible for project management, surveying working drawings, CNC, manufacture,
People are proud of having their own home. Whether it is a house or an apartment, they chose this type of residence and built their own home in it. The most important thing for having a good looking home is to regularly clean it. People know the importance of the
Claremont Group Interior Solutions LLP has acquired Bartle House in Manchester in a £2 million deal. The 7,071 sq ft, three storey building in Oxford Court was purchased from Stonebridge and will contribute to Claremont’s involvement in the North-West property market. “This investment by Claremont Interior Solutions LLP enables us
How many times have you stood in a store in front of a gorgeous arrangement of yarns, in all the colors of the rainbow, without being able to decide which one to choose for your next project? Many knitters choose their yarn based on color or texture, but there are
Leanne Wood, Diversity Creative Interiors Design Director, discusses how focusing on the design detail can help you to avoid building regulations pitfalls in commercial spaces. A beautiful new office space with great furniture, stylish lighting and state-of-the-art equipment can be an inspiring place to work – boosting staff creativity, productivity
A new way to purchase a new home, which gives purchasers very real choices, is now available in Chapelton, Aberdeenshire. Purchasers are able to buy a plot, make a large number of choices about living spaces, room layouts, and the fitting and finishing and then leave the building work up
Bona products have been used by Timbered Flooring, Bona Certified Contractors, for the installation and finishing of a 20mm engineered, dark fumed oak parquet floor at London’s new urban hotel, Assembly London. First, Bona D501 primer was applied to the WBP plywood subfloor, and then the parquet blocks were stuck down using Bona R848 silane adhesive. This blocks were then finished with Bona Craft Oil 2K (Frost) and buffed back again to achieve a white limed effect in the grain, which also took away some of the darkness of the fumed oak. After, that, two coats of Bona Traffic HD (silk matt) lacquer – Bona’s most durable polyurethane finish – were applied to provide the hard wearing surface required in the busy bar area. Both Bona Craft Oil 2K and Bona Traffic HD allowed the Timbered team to work within a tight timetable, due to their fast curing time. “We also provided a maintenance specification to the client which included regular cleaning with Bona Cleaner and an annual rebuffing and resealing with Traffic HD. Following a maintenance regime like this means the floor will always look good and the expense and downtime caused by sanding it back to bare wood will be avoided,” said Laurence Warburton from Timbered Flooring. Available in a range of 11 standard colours, Bona Craft Oil 2K can also be turned into custom shades that can be mixed on request. Already a hard wearing finishing treatment when used on its own, the oil can also be overcoated with any version of Bona Traffic to provide ultimate durability – a useful option for busy public areas like Assembly London’s rooftop bar space. Opened in May 2018, Assembly London is located in the centre of the city’s thriving West-End. Fun, sophisticated and playful, the hotel gives everything that matters for a great night’s sleep!
Maximising space in the workplace is a pressure that all businesses face, as space has an impact on many things, including productivity and staff happiness. It’s easy to fall into routines and stick with an office design and features that have been unchanged for year; therefore these 10 tips will help you create a better environment for your employees. 1.Maximise light and open space As natural light is a well-known mood booster, it is important to remove items from window sills and any other light blockages. By doing so, the room will be brighter and will give everyone the feeling of extra space. If the office has a limited amount of natural light however, the best way to attract it is yo rearrange the desks so that more are positioned close to windows. Avoid heavy furniture Heavy furniture, such as desks, are not necessary in the modern day because people do not use them for storage that much anymore. Even though the classic large dark mahogany desk may appear trendy, when it comes to optimising a space, they are troublesome. Where possible, heavy, traditional desks should be switched with furniture that is lighter in terms of colour and weight. 3.Multipurpose spaces These spaces can accommodate almost anything, from catch ups with clients to group meetings. In an open plan office, a meeting pod can give privacy without needing another room and can double up as a semi-permanent working space or meeting room. 4.Hot-desking Hot-desking involves the removal of personal desks and the introduction of large, communal desks. These are assigned each day on a first come first served basis. From folding tables and laptop tables, there is quite literally a space-saving option to suit any space for hot-desking workers, while also encouraging creativity. 5.Declutter Having a space that is clear and organised makes productivity much easier, so encourage employees to be ruthless with what is kept in the office. 6.Rethink the corridor Make use of every space in the office, including the corridor and the staircase and turn them into productivity-boosting activities, such as phone booths for making calls away from the hustle of the main office area. 7.Sit-stand desks Sit-stand desks are invaluable for productive working as they not only aid health benefits by increasing standing, but are also useful for meetings within an office space. 8.Quiet zones Open-plan offices are becoming a norm; however, it is important to design a quiet zone for those that needs to work with no distractions. 9.Bring nature inside An office full of pictures and accessories spoils productivity and creativity. Fix this by adding a few plants and indoor trees around the office, which will boost productivity long-term. 10.Store files offsite/online An office full of unordered files piled together all over the place makes it look stressful and cramped. Choose to share to-do lists and post-it notes as a spreadsheet and store files on a cloud-based system.
Washroom Washroom, the innovative washroom designer, manufacturer and installer, has expanded its product range, offering concrete vanities as part of Arpeggio vanity units, which also includes solid surface Corian, granite, zodiaq and glass. As the ideal solution for those seeking to create on-trend industrial-inspired washrooms, concrete is hard-wearing, easy to maintain and can create a stylish high specification design, which is the reason this material is becoming more popular for varying applications. Washroom Washroom has recently refurbished an office, manufacturing bespoke vanity units with cast polished concrete tops manufactured by MASS Concrete to create a contemporary washroom space. “Keeping a close eye on current and future trends and product developments is something we pride ourselves on so we’re always on the look-out for the new materials and finish options to offer,” said Trevor Bowers, director at Washroom Washroom. “We’re excited to extend our standard range, but that’s by no means the end of the story as our design team are always happy to discuss your specific requirements for bespoke projects in order to deliver the unique finish you expect from a Washroom Washroom project,” he continued. Washroom has also created a brand-new product option to add to its integrated glass Concerto duct panelling range,meaning that the manufacturer can now supply glass duct panels complete with unique metal mesh inserts for a truly unique finish. These panels can be seen at the new Saneux showroom in Clerkenwell. Established in 2001, Washroom has grown to become one of the leading providers of high specification commercial washroom, toilet and shower cubicles, vanities, lockers and benching together with a bespoke joinery service for sectors including commercial, health leisure, education and the public sector. The company has successfully built on its philosophy to design, manufacture and install high quality and innovative washrooms, leisure and changing facilities on time and to budget for projects as diverse as the Shard, one of London’s most iconic landmarks to the Aldar HQ, the first circular building in the Middle East.
Speirs + Major, a UK lighting design practice has announced that it will be closing its Edinburgh offices and will operate solely from its London offices. The move comes in response to the ‘ever-expanding international market’, and is part of a strategy that will see the lighting design firm open new studios in other key locations. “We are always evolving and in recent years we have observed changes in the way we get the best opportunities and results,” said Keith Bradshaw, Principal at Speirs + Major. “We know how much love and effort goes into realising a great lighting project and now is the time to change the way we work on new international projects and support both our client’s expectations and our own ambitions.” The practice is now looking at both East Asia and Europe, following a period of consolidation for its UK operation. Currently, it is in the process of establishing new studios. “More than 50% of our workload is international and it is increasing. We are currently working in Europe, Scandinavia, North America, the Middle East, East Asia and Australia,” said Mark Major, Principal at Speirs + Major. “Whilst previously we have handled overseas projects from the UK, the scale and ambition of some of the work we are now engaged on demands a local presence.” Speirs + Major is a multi-award-winning independent design practice that uses light to enhance the experience of the visual environment. Established for over two decades, the team is inspired by light and its innovative use and application. The firm’s work encompasses architecture, strategic branding and innovative product design, as well as raising awareness of the lighting design profession globally. The team at Speirs + Major works in close collaboration with architects and designers, using light to reveal and accentuate the core principles of the architectural design. As lighting architects, the team develops environments where light is an integrated part of the final built form, combining creativity with pragmatism and ensuring the client’s lighting solution is both sustainable and easy to manage.
William Garvey, British furniture designers and makers, were commissioned by furniture designer Catriona Braybrooke to create a collection of freestanding wooden furniture for the kitchen, bathroom, dining and bedroom areas for the dower house of a Gloucestershire property. The firm was responsible for project management, surveying working drawings, CNC, manufacture, polishing, installation, materials and delivery. William Garvey needed to ensure quality pieces of furniture made from material sympathetic to the architecture of the home and its rich history. Careful discussions led to the specification of hardwood timbers, such as Oak, Ash and Black Walnut, which offer a natural raw beauty with enhanced durability and strength, making it ideal for an active home set in the Gloucestershire countryside. The bespoke freestanding furniture for this project includes cabinetry, fitted base units/drawers with bar handles, and a freestanding tall cupboard with built-in storage, all crafted from solid oak; sink, a wooden Double Belfast Sink made from teak; Kitchen Table, a trestle style dining table, made from walnut; and six chairs, made from walnut and with bound hemp rope backrests and seats – all for the Kitchen – and a 2700mm x 1000mm Dining Table, made from walnut and designed to complement the homeowner’s original set of modernist Italian chairs for the Dining Room. For the Bathroom and Shower Room, William Garvey created a Bath surround, which is a fully enclosed bath tub surrounded with rim and made from teak; a Basin counter and shelving, including built-in medicine cabinets with peep-hole handles, made from teak; and Basin countertop, designed to accommodate the undermount basin with integrated full-length shelving, made from oak. The Bedrooms benefited from a twin set of freestanding wardrobes with ebonised handles, made of ash; a bedside cabinet with three drawers and open storage, made from walnut and another bedside cabinet with open shelf and concealed storage, made from walnut. For the Flooring, the firm decided on American Black Walnut, while for the Interior Doors & Frames it opted out for eight doors and six frames, made from oak and a front door and frame made from oak as well. The oak door is made in the classic time honoured country door fashion of two layers of planks one at right angles to the other. Specialists in the craft of working with wood, William Garvey exploits the advantages of bespoke furniture by tailoring it to the needs of the individual and the space it will occupy.
People are proud of having their own home. Whether it is a house or an apartment, they chose this type of residence and built their own home in it. The most important thing for having a good looking home is to regularly clean it. People know the importance of the cleaning procedures, however, they sometimes fail to achieve the best they should and neglect simple cleaning tasks. What we are here for, is to give you some basic guidelines on how to achieve a perfectly clean home interior and we have some tips on improving the look of your interior as well. At the end, you will find some creative ideas which we will be glad if you consider and include in your home interior. Must-do Cleaning Routines This is the first, and most important step, of achieving a clean home environment. Before you start cleaning anything, you should at least have the idea from where to begin. The one thing, which can help you a lot for the cleaning procedures, is to put them in categories and make a list. Whatever the type of cleaning is, regular deep cleaning, or basic every-day cleaning routines, you should have a schedule and a checklist, which, with time, you will memorize and start doing without even noticing. Daily activities fall in our first category, as they are a must-do every day. They will help you maintain a good and clean home environment and will ease your deep cleaning procedures later on. These activities don’t require much time and as a habit, they are quick and easy to do: Make your bed, first thing in the morning; Wash dishes/run the dishwasher; make sure to include dishes from breakfast; Open windows to let fresh air in; Take care of clean and dry laundry; Put dirty clothes in the laundry; Take care of mail; Wipe kitchen surfaces and working areas; Find items, which don’t belong and put them in their rightful places, to avoid clutter. The second checklist you need to have is of your weekly cleaning tasks. They are also necessary if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises: Change bed linen; Dust furniture; Dust drapes and curtains; Remove cobwebs; Clean radiators; Change towels in bathroom (more often if needed, according to your needs); Vacuum carpets and/or mop floors; Clean taps, light switches, remote controls, handles; Take care of garbage (not necessarily in one day of the week as it can build up in only two days, therefore, take care of it when needed). If you want to make sure everything is done right, divide the different tasks in all days of the week. For example, make Mondays for removing cobwebs and dusting, Thursdays for vacuuming and so on. Remember that you should first dust the furniture/drapes and then vacuum, otherwise, it’s pointless. Monthly cleaning activities: Dust and clean light fixtures; Vacuum woodwork and vents; Clean mirrors and glass surfaces; Dust blinds; Run an empty cycle for the dishwasher and washing machine to clean them. The next checklist is for the cleaning activities, which must be done every three to six months: Launder pillows, blankets, comforters and furniture covers; Vacuum mattresses (you can sprinkle some baking soda and leave it for a few hours, before vacuuming); Clean kitchen appliances (oven, toaster, fridge, etc.), including under and behind; Clean furniture (behind and under bed, couch, etc.); Clean balcony/patio. What should you do once or twice every year is in the following list: Deep clean carpets and upholstery; Clear out gutters; Clean chimney and fireplace; Deep clean windows, mirrors, other glass surfaces. Cleaning Products and Tools The market offers a great variety of cleaning products and tools, but are they really worth it? The best decisions you can make advised by Cleaners London, when choosing cleaning tools and products are these: Substitute expensive cleaning products with homemade cleaner. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water and add up to twenty drops of any essential oil (preferably pine, tea tree or lavender essential oil, because they are known for their antibacterial powers). This homemade all-purpose cleaner is one of the greatest things you can use to clean, all-natural. It is suitable for different surfaces and the results are impressive. Use lemon to clean water stains; cucumber to clean stainless steel; ketchup to clean silver and copper; baking soda and vinegar to clean toilet; baking soda to get rid of unpleasant odours (including of shoes); banana to clean leather; cooled herb tea for cleaning wooden furniture and items. Switch to microfiber cloths. They are very handy to clean various types of surfaces, because they collect dirt and dust properly and are re-usable after lots of washing cycles. Forget about expensive and ridiculous cleaning tools. Just find yourself a good wide brush and pick a toothbrush and you will be doing miracles with them! Bonus Tips for Clean and Fresh Home Environment As we promised, here are our tips for achieving fresh look and atmosphere of your already cleaned home: Scented candles. The market offers a great variety of scented candles. From citrus and vanilla aromas to wood and ocean scents, you can choose to purchase whichever odour you prefer. Candles are almost necessary for every living room, at least. Putting them here and there on your home surfaces will not only bring the nice finished look of your interior, but will also add a sweet or calming scent to your evenings. Air fresheners. These could also be placed in every room, but they have another positive effect on another part of your interior. Placing air fresheners in your closet and/or in the drawers, will help keeping your clothes fresh. Cotton air fresheners are very good option, but you can also choose another scent, as they come in all forms, colours and aromas, just like scented candles. Avoid smoking in closed areas. It is hard to lay on your couch and resist the nicotine appetite when it hits you, but smoking in your home areas does not have a
Claremont Group Interior Solutions LLP has acquired Bartle House in Manchester in a £2 million deal. The 7,071 sq ft, three storey building in Oxford Court was purchased from Stonebridge and will contribute to Claremont’s involvement in the North-West property market. “This investment by Claremont Interior Solutions LLP enables us to extend our serviced office business beyond Birchwood and into the central Manchester market and complements the more traditional building of 15 Oxford Court, which we purchased in 2015. We very much see this as a long-term investment,” commented on the purchase Mike Gardner, Chairman at Claremont. “Bartle House is just over 60% occupied and I have every confidence that with the quality we offer, as well as the personal service and focus that we can bring, we will soon increase this to the levels we enjoy in Birchwood, which are in excess of 90%,” he continued. The deal’s advisors were Hugh James Lawyers and Tony Howcroft of Hallams Agents. Claremont Group Interior Solutions LLP is part of the Claremont group of companies, offering serviced office accommodation in Birchwood, Warrington, which is branded as The Breeze. With a £40 million turnover, Claremont offers office interior design and fit-out capabilities that cover the entire process, from initial conception to completion and handover. The company’s consultancy services help customers define their needs and set the scope of the project, including workspace consultancy, building appraisals, space planning, interior design and technology consultancy. Their contracting services cover all scenarios, from Cat A and Cat B fit-out, to design and build, refurbishment, move management, furniture and technology procurement and integration. All of this is supported by their rigorous project and cost management methodology, and their ongoing post-occupancy support, which ensures the spaces Claremont creates continue to deliver value for their customers’ organisation over the long term.
How many times have you stood in a store in front of a gorgeous arrangement of yarns, in all the colors of the rainbow, without being able to decide which one to choose for your next project? Many knitters choose their yarn based on color or texture, but there are many other factors that affect the quality of a yarn, not to mention the fact that different knitting projects can have specific yarn requirements. The yarn’s fiber is by far, the most important factor, as it indicates how easy it will be to work with the yarn, how the completed garment will feel, how it will drape and how well it will past the test of time. Animal fibers Wool – This fiber is made from sheep fleece. It is one of the most affordable choices, and it is also rather easy to work with, being perfect for all knitters, regardless of their skills. Wool is mainly used for winter clothes, as it breathes well, it has a great resistance to moisture and it is also extremely durable. It can be died in any color and it can be blended with other fibers to achieve a softer texture and more durability. There are also some types of wool which are naturally softer. For example, Merino wool is exquisite, being one of the most luxurious and resilient fibers. For incredibly soft, hand-died merino wool, we advise you to opt for Malabrigo Yarn. This is one of the most versatile and easy to work with types of yarn. Cashmere – This is a luxury wool obtained from the fleece of Cashmere sheep. Its main advantages are its incredibly smooth texture, and its light sheer. It is great for winter clothes as it has good insulation properties, but it doesn’t breathe very well. Moreover, like all types of wool, it is prone to pilling. Angora – Made from the fur of the angora rabbit, this light and silky fiber is the best choice for winter clothes, as it has great insulating properties and it feels amazing. Being a luxury fabric, it can be quite expensive, and it is not suitable for beginner knitters as it is quite slippery and difficult to work with. Alpaca – As the name suggests, this yarn is made from alpaca fleece. Due to its hypoallergenic properties, it is great for babies and people with sensitive skin. However, it is not very easy to work with, as it tends to overdrape. Mohair – Made from the fleece of the Angora goat, mohair is a more luxurious alternative to wool. It is fluffy, elastic, and it doesn’t wrinkle, so it is a great choice for most types of garments. Plant fibers Cotton – This natural fiber is very cheap, it has a smooth texture and a great drape, and it also breathes well. However, as a yarn, it is not very easy to work with, and it is not that durable either. Silk – Although it is produced by insects, silk is a plant based fiber, and one of the most luxurious fibers for that matter. It can be difficult to work with since it can catch easily, so it is better to choose a yarn variety with a high ply. Synthetic fibers Rayon – This type of yarn is very easy to work with. It has a great drape and a soft texture, and it doesn’t retain body heat, so it is perfect for summer clothes. Polyester – This is a mixture of synthetic and natural fibers. It has a good drape and it breathes well, but it can be difficult to work with. Nylon – Its properties are similar to silk, although its texture is not that soft. However, it is more durable, and easier to work with than silk. These are the most popular types of yarn fibers. There are a few other choices out there, but we advise you to stick to the basics, as these fibers have the most advantages. Image source: https://pixabay.com/photo-1479217/
Leanne Wood, Diversity Creative Interiors Design Director, discusses how focusing on the design detail can help you to avoid building regulations pitfalls in commercial spaces. A beautiful new office space with great furniture, stylish lighting and state-of-the-art equipment can be an inspiring place to work – boosting staff creativity, productivity and not least the feel-good factor. However, renovation is a time-consuming and costly business and companies always aim to keep staff downtime and disruption to an absolute minimum. The last thing the manager of a busy workplace needs to hear once their staff are settled at shiny new workstations is that the business is in breach of building regulations. As well as having to start from scratch, you could face a fine or even prosecution. So, what can you do to ensure you don’t run into any problems? Keep reading to find out more. Make building regulations a key part of the design process Building regulations are minimum standards for the design, construction or alteration of almost any building. They are designed to ensure the health and safety of people in and around buildings. Diversity Creative Interiors work with clients from the very beginning of any refurbishment or renovation project to ensure this crucial aspect of design detail is spot on. Planning permission and compliance with building regulations are always given absolute priority in the design process. Leanne says: “Getting the basics right at the very start of a project is fundamental to its success. Cutting corners to race ahead and save money can be false economy and have disastrous implications longer term.” “We work on the client’s behalf to ensure that renovation plans adhere to building regulations from the offset. At Diversity Creative Interiors we manage the whole process from start to finish, working closely with local authorities. This gives our clients peace of mind that their project has the building regulations stamp of approval.” Having worked in the industry for eight years, Leanne finds that the same stumbling blocks come up time after time when clients want to renovate a commercial space. For example, building stud walls are great for partitioning and re-allocation of space, but they can create building regulations problems. The fitter must consider a raft of issues such as ventilation – as you are creating a new room you must take into account the need for adequate ventilation in the new space you have created. Fire safety and soundproofing are also frequently overlooked when constructing a stud wall. For example, it is important to use fire-resistant plasterboard, and you must ensure there are suitable escape routes and that the new wall does not block access. The other issue with building new stud walls is overcrowding the space with too many desks and too much furniture. Leanne adds: “You may have a beautiful new office, but the space may not be functional or safe. And, it might not meet building regulations or work effectively for the staff actually using the space.” Disabled access and fire safety are often overlooked in renovations Appropriate access for disabled users is another area this is often overlooked at the start of the design process. Designs often fail to allow for the 1500mm turning circle required for wheelchairs, and there must be room for movement between corridors, desks with chairs pulled out, and also within disabled toilets and doors. Additionally, if someone using a wheelchair is working at first floor level, having enough fire doors between a fire and where the person is located is critical. Provision must be made to ensure the person can wait safely until the fire brigade can extinguish the fire or help the person get out of the building. General fire safety is often not given enough consideration, despite being a key part of building regulations. Renovators must design in signage, extinguishers and correctly-located smoke alarms as well as clearly indicating exit routes. Protect period detail in older properties Older properties are most often in need of renovation. And, if you’re working on the renovation of an older property, attention needs to be paid to preserving and protecting the building’s period details. Removing period details can destroy the character and the market value of a property. In period property refurbishments it is worth observing the techniques and materials used in the building’s original construction. Always try and repair, or replace sympathetically, on a like-for-like basis. If you do this, conservation is both cost-efficient and environmentally-friendly. If they are still intact, you can preserve internal original doors, floorboards, fireplaces and plaster mouldings. It is also important to remember that features are not always purely decorative, but often have a practical and structural purpose. Removal may only necessitate an alternative solution. You should also keep in mind that work involving drainage, heat-producing appliances, cavity wall insulation and electrics generally requires approval. So, for your peace of mind, to ensure the wellbeing of your workforce, and to keep on the right side of building regulations, Diversity Creative Interiors advise that you start with the basics. If you’re embarking on a renovation project in a commercial space, build on these common sense and solid foundations. For further advice or to discuss you project visit www.diversitycreativeinteriors.co.uk or call 0115 967 3767.
A new way to purchase a new home, which gives purchasers very real choices, is now available in Chapelton, Aberdeenshire. Purchasers are able to buy a plot, make a large number of choices about living spaces, room layouts, and the fitting and finishing and then leave the building work up to the experts. Called custom build, this is a form of development that lies between self-build and buying a new house from a developer. Custom build gives buyers the ability to select the house that best suits their needs and budget, and takes away issues that can arise in getting the building work done. It is brought to Chapelton by designyourhome.com, a part of the Places for People group of companies. Kim Slowe, managing director of designyourhome.com said, “We expect custom build will revolutionise new house building in the UK. Customers like choice and that is what we are giving them. After a customer buys a plot in Chapelton, and has made their choices, we can build it to their specification and have it ready to move into 6 months later.” Fully serviced plots are available in Chapelton through designyourhome.com from £165,000. NOTES Chapelton is a new settlement lying some 8 miles south of Aberdeen close to the A90. The settlement is being built as a series of villages, each comprising houses, flats, commercial properties and leisure/open spaces. Construction of the first of the villages (called Cairnhill) started in 2014 and so far there is a café, nursery school, beauty salon, allotments and a variety of houses and flats including retirement properties. The construction of Chapelton will take a number of years to complete, and once done, Chapelton will include all of the ingredients that make up a town. Ultimately it will comprise some 8,000 dwellings and be a town larger than Stonehaven. Custom build is relatively new to the UK housing market. At present it is more prevalent in England than Scotland due to legal obligations that exist for the Local Authority to allocate a part of any new development site to include self-build plots. There is no equivalent legal obligation on councils in place in Scotland at present. Custom Build as offered by designyourhome.com is a simplified form of self-build. designyourhome.com has already done much of the early planning work for the plot, agreeing what is and is not possible to build at Chapelton with the Local Authority and master planning architects. As a result, as soon as the customer finalises choices, it is possible to clear them quickly for planning and building warrant and then to start to build. In this way it is possible to ensure that the customer will move into their new property six months after they buy the plot and enter into a build contract with designyourhome.com. The customer is able to choose from a variety of pre-agreed layouts for each floor of their house, a number of options for extensions, and some external modifications such as additional windows. There is wide range of choices for internal fittings and finishings from the type of doors and ironmongery, the design of skirting and coving, the layout of bathrooms and en-suites, the type of kitchen fittings and equipment and many more. designyourhome.com is being offered by ZeroC Holdings Ltd, a part of the Places for People Group of companies. ZeroC Holdings has many years of experience as a housebuilder and is one of a limited number of builders at the Prince of Wales Poundbury development in Dorset. ZeroC Holdings is experienced in delivering mixed use properties on design-led schemes such as at Chapelton. Benefits of the designyourhome.com custom build model arise to both the purchaser and the developer. The customer is able to own a new home, built to their own specification and cost. Unusually for a self-build project, the customer has certainty on cost and time. Interest payments for the developer are reduced and this saving is shared with the purchaser. Purchasers of designyourhome.com properties at Chapelton are able to do some of the work themselves (for example carry out decoration) as long as any work done complies with the Chapelton Design Guide. This would obviously lead to a lower build cost. designyourhome.com is selling eight plots at Chapelton for custom build. The first two fully serviced plots, with the ground floor slab already in place, are released for sale, each at a price of £165,000. The house options available are for either 2 or 3 bedroom properties with a garage. A separate build contract will be entered into with designyourhome.com for any building work at the same time as buying the plot.
