LIGHT FANTASTIC
“Lighting is important as it changes the mood of a room as well as the perceived size,” says Chris Jordan, MD at Christopher Wray Lighting. “A chandelier can transform a space. Ensure it is in proportion to the size of the room. If it’s too small, it may get lost; if it’s too big, it can overwhelm the room.
“Structural wall lights serve both as illumination as well as a focal point, having impact while taking up minimum space.
“It’s important not to incorporate too much accent lighting by highlighting everything in the room; instead, focus on the main features to enhance the space visually.”
A loft conversion is, for many, the ideal way to gain the extra space they need without extending the footprint of their home — plus it’s a job which often falls under Permitted Development, so doesn’t require planning permission.
A loft conversion can be the perfect spot for an extra bedroom (or two), a home office or a hobby or playroom. But, before you start planning a loft conversion you need to check that your loft is suitable. There are several things that could stand in the way of you converting your loft, including:
Check whether you have a cut roof, or trussed. Most houses built before 1960 will have a cut roof, while those built later tend to have trussed. Cut roofs are easier to convert and use rafters, joists and purlins that leave most of the triangular space below free. Trussed roofs are easily
l
Is the existing layout of your home making the most of the space you have available? Perhaps your current home is divided into lots of smaller rooms that don’t perform in a way you need them too. Removing internal walls is one of the most popular ways to re-order spaces — opening up dark, cramped rooms to one another in order to create light, open spaces that can be used in many different ways.
Likewise, building new internal walls can sometimes give you the more private spaces you need — perhaps a utility room, home office or en suite for example.
Walls don’t have to span the entire room either — a wall that
Look around your home and assess exactly what you are currently using each space for. While there will be certain rooms and areas that are frequently in use and perform their intended purpose, it is likely that there are others which are largely redundant. “Before diving into an extension
How many of us actually use our garages for storing our cars? Incorporating an attached garage into the rest of your home is the ideal way to add space.