FROM THE EDITOR
Adding extra space to our home has been on my wishlist for a while now. The house seems to be shrinking on a daily basis as our kids get bigger, and the way we want to use the space has changed, too. We’ve got planning permission in place to extend and redesign the layout, but the recent rise in build costs has meant our plans are on the backburner for now while we assess what we can a ord to do. If you’re in a similar situation, our guide to cutting the cost of an extension on page 74 has plenty of useful advice on how you can add the space you need without blowing your budget. Whether it’s scaling back the size of your extension, avoiding custom-made items or simply being clever about reusing materials, there are lots of ways to try and make your money go that bit further.
Having a realistic budget (and then sticking to it) is also key if you’re starting a self-build. It’s all too easy to get carried away with what you want for your new home and not fully consider the cost implications. On page 170 we delve into this as well as some of the other common pitfalls you’ll come across during your project, plus there’s a practical guide to managing your project on page 60 to ensure yours runs smoothly.
Talking of projects, this month we’ve completed our own revamp, giving the magazine a refresh with new features, more experts and a new look. Whether you’re extending, renovating or building from scratch, I hope you enjoy what we’ve done and that it gives you plenty of inspiration for your own project. Beth Murton, Editor