Balancing style with functionality is always the aim when designing a home, but even more so when you need a lifetime home. It’s about finding solutions that won’t just meet your needs today, but also any you may have in the future

A round-up of the latest self-build and home renovation news, products and events.

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The garden was a blank canvas when I first moved in. A single tree. A lawn invaded by alkanet. London clay so hard you couldn’t push a spade in. I was more concerned with urgent matters such as the de

Fitting a new kitchen is one of your biggest outlays in your self-build or renovation, so it pays to know what you can get for your money and how to make your budget go further

The kitchen is where guests instinctively gather at parties, so design an inviting layout where style and sociability meet, whatever the occasion