With the arrival of warmer weather and outdoor living on the horizon, homeowners are looking to introduce thoughtful design choices to their gardens that appeal to both performance and aesthetic. From lush greens to soothing neutrals and tiles used beyond the floor, María D Arráez, Director of Tile of Spain UK, reveals her top five outdoor tile trends for 2026.  Classic Green  “Green isn’t slowing down in 2026, and this includes the outside of the home as well as the interior

After living with a dark, compact kitchen, the owners of this home near Bicester found themselves longing for more space for their family of four. The couple have two young sons and wanted to extend their property to create a light-filled, open-plan space with a central island that would become the hub of family life. “We wanted a large island in the new kitchen with enough room for all of us to sit at,” explain the homeowners. While durability and functionality were key, sty

Situated in the peaceful neighbourhood of Gilford, Northern Ireland, this ultramodern self-build is home to Clarke Graham and his family. Overlooking stunning views of the River Bann and the surrounding rural landscape, the property features six Keylite roof windows  that elegantly frame the picturesque Irish countryside.     The property owner, Clarke Graham,   set out to create the perfect family home with this extensive 2,600 square foot farmhouse-style build, completed wi

A contemporary renovation project in Leicestershire has been completed with the installation of a comprehensive suite of high-quality residential doors from Hörmann UK, showcasing the brand’s ability to deliver cohesive solutions both externally and internally. The family home features a Hörmann sectional garage door and aluminium entrance door, complemented inside by a range of side-hinged, pocket, and fire doors. Carefully selected high-specification materials and contempor

Ecological Building Systems, a leading supplier of natural building products for sustainable construction, has revealed its comprehensive CPD programme for the year ahead.  The programme, which is run via live webinars by Ecological Building Systems’ technical experts, includes, for the first time a CPD on designing and building homes using the sustainable EcoCocon straw wall system.   The new CPD will focus on how the EcoCocon straw wall system helps create more sustainable,

Ardbeg House, a boutique luxury hotel on the picturesque island of Islay, Scotland, has opened its doors as a truly immersive whisky and hospitality experience, with a newly installed Stannah Stairiser CR2 inclined platform lift providing guests with full accessibility to upper floors. Featuring twelve individually themed bedrooms, the hotel combines luxury, creativity and storytelling inspired by the island’s famous Ardbeg distillery and heritage. All photo credits: Ben Shak

James Bull, Managing Director explains: “The risks associated with fabricating materials containing crystalline silica are well understood in our industry, and we’ve always taken our responsibility seriously. KönigZero is the natural next step – a zero- crystalline silica material* that removes the concern at source while still giving retailers and homeowners the quality they expect." "Recent headlines have created uncertainty around Quartz, so it’s important that retailers c

As home renovation remains popular, and with the focus being on the acquisition and refurbishment of rural properties, this has resulted in Steel Window Association (SWA) members reporting a higher than usual demand for the replacement of the traditional W20 style windows. The W20 closely replicates the appearance of the older universal suite of sections and can therefore be found providing reliable service from country cottages to dockland warehouses and in commercial, as w

Shorewood Homes demonstrates an architectural ethos that juxtaposes classical with contemporary, balancing modern trends with historic detailing to create homes that are timeless, stylish, practical, and luxurious. The company’s design philosophy takes inspiration from period architecture which harmonises beautifully with the traditional character of Winchester. In Brunswick Gardens, each property is as visually elegant on the exterior as it is beautifully designed internall