From laying foundations on shingle and tackling sand in sliding doors, to maximising sea views and a sense of home, architect Derek Rankin talks about the challenges and triumphs of creating a beach bolthole

In pursuit of a sleek, light-drenched and thoroughly modern home, Sara Mungeam radically remodelled and extended a 1950s house

Even though it had yellowing walls and brown carpets, this house was perfect for Joanna Thomson and her husband Ian

Olivia Botrie has brought modern comforts and family-friendly functionality to her early 20th-century home – all while respecting its original character

Having lived in a handsome 16th-century farmhouse in rural Essex for 45 years, downsizing was much less of a wrench for Gill Jerram than she had imagined when an opportunity arose to build a beautiful

Anna and Sam Brown’s eclectic aesthetic celebrates the character of their house and also allows the architectural details to shine