The prospect of building your own house can be feel exciting and incredibly liberating – just think of all those innovative green features you can incorporate, for instance. 

However, anyone who has watched even a couple of episodes of Kevin McCloud’s superb Grand Designs TV programme on Channel 4 will be aware that self-builds don’t always go according to plan and – unless you’ve planned thoroughly and carefully – your dream house could actually turn into your biggest nightmare.

If you are planning a house extension, you may be wondering at what stage to include a designer in the project. There are many benefits to choosing a designer that is involved with the whole process of the house extension, some of which we outline below…

If you're looking to build a sustainable and environmentally friendly home, it's essential that you consider the materials you use, as well as how you're going to use them. A long-term plan is required to keep your home comfortable and beautiful while using only ecologically friendly materials.

Fortunately, there are many options available to you, and many ways you can achieve your goals.

If you are thinking about improving your home, such as adding a single-storey extension to the rear of your property or extending your garage, then you will need architectural drawings. These drawings will be used by a range of different professionals including builders, electricians and plumbers.

This is why it is vital that they are clear, concise and accurate.

If you’ve decided to extend your home, you will need to consider precisely how you’re going to roof your new space. It’s time to get inspired with our single-storey extension roof design ideas!

Finding rural land on which to construct a new property is becoming increasingly difficult, with planning laws tending to restrict the development of green-belt locations. However, transforming a former agricultural building can be a fantastic way to create a bespoke home, which is filled with character, class and unique features that you won’t find anywhere else.

With these single-storey barn conversion ideas, you’ll be well on your way to creating the home of your dreams.

As anyone who has ever moved house will be well aware, the process of relocating can be arduous and stressful, not to mention expensive. The logistics of uprooting your life and your family can be very complex, particularly if it involves moving further away from the workplaces, schools or universities that you or loved ones regularly attend.

Selling your current home can also be very difficult, requiring hours of labour negotiating with buyers and ensuring that your property is in a clean and saleable state for viewings. The cost of moving can also quickly add up when you start to factor in costs such as estate agent fees, mover and storage services, and any modifications you will need to make for your new property.

If you're in the planning stage for a build of any kind, a 3D home design as offered by BDS Architecture makes an excellent investment. Interior and exterior 3D home design renderings allow you to see the full scope of your project, visualising the final build in a way regular plans simply can't. Contact us today to learn more.

If you’re planning on designing your own custom-build home, then you’ve probably considered a wide range of factors - from materials and costs, to suppliers and timeframes. But for eco-conscious individuals, building an environmentally friendly home is at the top of the list. In the UK, the best way to go green with your home is to build it yourself – allowing full control over a range of different factors and elements to make your house more ‘eco’.

Drawings are the first step taken towards making your construction project a reality - they're the foundation on which everything else is based. Naturally, if you have poor quality drawings it's going to result in an unsatisfactory final build.

There are several knock-on effects to consider when it comes to bad drawings.