A major problem in a small bathroom is storage space. Everybody needs some where to keep their belongings, but sometimes space is very limited. Try to utilise the space you have, not letting any area be unused. A great example of this is the area under your sink. Why not buy a Roya Rubi Sink which comes with storage underneath, then you will never struggle to find somewhere to put your shampoo. The great thing about this unit is that it is only 34cm in depth, meaning that not too much of your floor is used up.

Another amazing storage solution is using the space behind your mirror. A lovely example of this is the Chiltenhurst Single Mirrored Wall Cabinet. At 40cm wide and 62.5cm high it is big enough to hide items that you don’t want on display. With its contempory and sleek design it can transform any bathroom into a showroom. It comes with the colour choice of high gloss white or wenge, which highlights the mirror in the centre.

Some bathroom suites are specially designed for compact spaces. The designer, RAK, understands your needs and has provided a range of suites that would be suitable for compact bathrooms. One of our best sellers is the RAK Compact bathroom suite. With its curved, sleek design this is understandable. The WC’s cistern is extremely slim line, measuring a mere 19cm from the wall. Team this with a wall hung basin, which comes with the choice of one or two tap holes, for a contempory design which does not take up too much space. The wall hung basin is 20cm in depth and 45cm wide providing plenty space to wash your hands. As this does not have a pedestal this also creates the illusion of more space as it does not take up any room on your floor.

The RAK Evolution bathroom suite is also designed to minimise space used. These corner units are perfect as they use the space that is otherwise wasted. Not many people use the corners in their bathrooms do they? The WC measures 60cm in depth and can be matched with either a wall hung basin or a corner basin with pedestal. Both these examples are good for maximising your space. Why not place a corner mirrored unit above the corner basin to double up as storage? A nice example of this is the Sloegrin Compact Corner Mirror.

A perfect accessory to any bathroom is a heated towel rail. Not only do they provide somewhere for you to keep your towels, they also double up as a heat source, keeping you nice and warm after your shower. Some of these towel rails look quite sculptural, for example, the Hudson Reed Mini Coil Rail in chrome, or the Emerald Towel rail which curves on one side. These create a great focal point to your bathroom, but are functional as well.

If you want a designer bath in your bathroom but do not have the space for a freestanding one, why don’t you jazz up your standard bath with a nice bath panel? The Tudor bath panels are great for Victorian luxury, whereas the Superstyle panels create a modern feel. Pair this with an Aqualux Energy Sail Bath Screen and your standard bath will be magically transformed into bathroom heaven.

If you don’t have room for a bath in your bathroom then a shower enclosure can look just as inviting. Our shower enclosures go down to a minimum of 70cm square, which provides plenty of room for all you showering needs. For a contempory look the Sloegrin enclosure is perfect. With its chrome surround and handle this enclosure looks divine, and it also comes with 8mm toughened safety glass and a life time guarantee! You can’t beat that can you?

If you have a bit more room in your bathroom and crave luxury then I would recommend the Profile Plus cubicle with platinum glass. This smoked glass is the finishing touch to any bathroom and highlights the chrome frame to perfection.
Most of our doors can be placed in a recess situation if you do not have enough room for a side panel.

A recent study conducted by Merillat, a leading manufacturer of cabinetry, examined what consumers think about when they’re purchasing a home. The study found that the kitchen sways more minds than any other room, followed by the great room and the master bedroom third.

“The kitchen is the gathering place for special occasions, family functions and day-to-day activities, which is why it is so important for prospective buyers to ensure their new kitchen will meet the needs of their family from a design and functionality prospective,” said Paul Radoy, manager of design services for Merillat.

Try creating a checklist to help you decide whether a kitchen is right for you. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I like the layout of the kitchen? Consider the kitchen from an overall perspective, and keep all the items that will require storage in mind.

2. Does the kitchen look comfortable? Do I feel good when I’m in it? You should feel at home right away.

3. Does the kitchen help facilitate frequent casual interactions with family and friends? Consider the views into the surrounding rooms, like the living and dining areas. Can you easily associate with family and friends?

4. Is the cabinetry durable and well-built? Is the finish on the cabinetry smooth and consistent? Investigate the cabinet interiors to determine whether they’re covered with a durable water- and stain-resistant material or a lower-quality product. Make sure that the color of the interior complements the exterior.

5. Does the kitchen have visual impact or a good focal point like an island, cooking grotto or other unique feature? Islands are a useful feature that many homeowners desire. When examining an island, identify the tasks or storage functions it serves to decide whether it will meet your needs.)

6. Does the kitchen have adequate storage space and built-in features to accommodate my possessions? Merillat’s study found that, after remodeling a kitchen, many homeowners find that they didn’t include enough storage features. Make sure you don’t overlook features, like drawer organizers, pull-out trays and lazy Susans.

The best part about tile is you only have to do it once. You choose timeless and tireless motifs and place them where you need something durable. Side-by-side with gold, ceramic is the most durable substance we know. What else has told us the history of human culture as accurately? Nothing the manufacturers have come up with can surpass ceramic tile for lasting beauty. Nothing.

Working with an artist as opposed to a factory has many benefits. The artist has sentimental memories too, and usually does the work she does for other reasons than moving out volumes of product for profit, so she is more than happy to fill your space with warm homey decoration. We all have a favorite old pattern or print, maybe Grandma’s stitching or an old tapestry. Everything eventually wears out and must be discarded. Except ceramic. Have it painted on tile and installed for all time.

Framed paintings do not do well in steamy bathrooms or near greasy cookstoves, gathering dust and needing cleaning way too often. A tapestry or rug painted on tile will hang beautifully inlaid into any wall. In the hall where people always bump paintings is a great idea. Stair risers that always get scuffed up can be painted in a myriad of design motifs, like southwestern, Mayan or Aztec, any colorful design, and fill a dull stairway with brilliant color.

Do you work too many hours to have pets? A brilliant parrot on the wall in the corner of your livingroom, gleaming feathers shining, will welcome you home, making no noise and quietly demanding no food or attention! No other art medium can imitate the iridescence and brilliance of bird feathers like ceramic glaze. A skilled hand-painter can imitate textures and colored objects from all around the world. Mayan stone carvings, Egyptian hieroglyphics, even cave art paintings all look so real in ceramic. Solid blocks of color in modern graphic shapes is the other end of the design spectrum. Color makes a very powerful statement, as we all know.

Please do not feel compelled to use what the remodeling stores offer, the dull and unimaginative and very plain tiles they sell in volume. Email a hand-painter and she will help you come up with the only one in the world, a unique piece of fine art that is yours alone. Timeless and elegant decor is only a few weeks away.

Listed buildings

Compiled by the Department of Culture, Media & Sport, with the help of English Heritage, the list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest includes castles, cathedrals, private houses, milestones and drinking fountains.

Grade I - these buildings are considered to be of exceptional interest
Grade II- - these are particularly important buildings of more than special interest
Grade II - these are buildings of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them

There are 370,000 or so list entries currently protected by listing, and of those by far the majority - over 92% - are Grade II. Grade I and II- buildings may be eligible for English Heritage grants for urgent major repairs. Find out more at the English Heritage website.

Some churches are graded A, B and C, which is roughly comparable to the grades of non-secular buildings. Your local library will hold a copy of the list. A listing will identify the building or structure and some of its special features.

Listed building consent

If a building is on the list, any building work will require ‘listed building consent’, according to the Planning Act 1990. This is obtained through the local planning authority. Even minor works, such as painting or simple repair work in some circumstances, falls under the scope of this act.

The penalty for ignoring this act is up to a 12-month prison sentence or a fine to an unlimited amount, or both. Then you can be expected to carry out, at your own expense, further works to the listed building to remedy the impact of the unauthorised works.

Permitted development rights are on the whole suspended from these buildings. Your local council conservation office should be your first port of call.

Conservation areas

An area considered to be of architectural or historical interest can be designated a conservation area by the local council.

In practice, this means additional restrictions beyond the normal planning laws. Planning permission will be required in the following instances:

- to insert dormers or alter the roof of a house or to install a satellite dish on any wall or roof facing a highway or on any wall or chimney over 15m (50ft) tall
- to clad any part of the exterior of a house with stone, artificial stone, timber, plastic or tiles
- to extend a house by more than 50 cubic metres (including previous additions erected since 1948 or since the house was built) or ten per cent of the total volume of the original house subject to a maximum of 115 cubic metres
- alteration or improvement of a building with a cubic content greater than 10 cubic metres within the curtilage of the dwelling house
- total or substantial demolition of a listed building that has a volume in excess of 115 cubic metres, including some freestanding walls
- to demolish or remove any wall, gate, fence or other means of enclosure if it’s greater than 1m (3.3ft) high where abutting a highway, or 2m (6.6ft) high in any other case.

It’s also worth remembering that trees are under special protection in conservation areas. If you’re proposing any work on a tree, you’re required to inform your local council six weeks before you intend to start work, and obtain its approval.

Party Wall Act 1996

A party wall has the following definitions:

- It forms part of a building and stands astride the boundary of land belonging to two (or more) different owners
- It separates buildings and it either (a) stands astride the boundary of land belonging to two (or more) different owners or (b) stands wholly on one person’s land, but is used by two (or more) owners to separate their buildings. This relates to situations where one owner built the wall first and his neighbour has butted his building up to it without constructing his own wall.

A party fence is defined as:

- a wall that is not part of a building (for example, a garden wall). This does not include wooden fences.

The act applies to all work to be carried out on an existing party wall, building astride the boundary line between two properties and excavations within 3m or 6m (9.8ft or 20ft) of a neighbouring building depending on the depth of hole or foundation.

The act was intended to generate communication and agreement between neighbours on proposed work that had a common wall.

The regulations

Building control protects you and the general public by ensuring that buildings are safe and healthy places for people to be in. The regulations apply only in connection with a building; freestanding garden walls, fences, paths or drives aren’t covered.

This department is also responsible for checking that any building work is energy-efficient. Comprehensive regulations are laid down concerning materials and methods of construction, assessment of plans and mandatory site inspections confirm that the building work you undertake conforms to current requirements.

Planning and building

Major building work will always require a plan and the services of a building surveyor, building technician or architect, all of whom should be aware of the current regulations, the required inspections and how they apply to the work you’re undertaking. These regulations are updated annually and mean that any builder must conform to certain standards of construction and workmanship.

Planning regulations determine what you can build. Building regulations control how you must build it. Granting of planning permission doesn’t mean you’ve received building control approval and vice versa.

Both of these departments are based at your local council. They’re usually helpful, informative and reasonable. They’re there for your protection and that of your neighbours.

Planning permission

The planning system is designed to protect the environment in the public interest, not one person’s interests over another. If you build something that needs planning permission without obtaining permission first, you may be forced to put things right later, which is not only troublesome but also potentially costly. In extreme circumstances you could be required to remove unauthorised building. It’s quite a logical and fairly transparent system.

From BBC Homes.

Even an eclectic style needs careful planning to avoid looking busy or messy. When designing your room, know which items you need and where they will go. And when combining old and new, stick to one era from the past such as Art Deco, Edwardian or Victorian.

The secret to mixing old and new successfully is getting the balance right. For example, an antique sink will look odd if the rest of the suite is ultra-modern. However, a roll-top bath can often work well in a modern setting.

Go for old

Reclamation yards, antique dealers and salvage companies are good places to go for roll-top baths, pedestal sinks, high-level wcs, old-fashioned mixer taps and shower heads.

Use your space well

For most of us the bathroom is still the smallest room in the house. The average bathroom is 2.4m (8ft) x 1.8m (6ft). A pedestal basin works well in small rooms as it takes up minimal floor area and gives the illusion of space.

Mirrors will also make a room seem bigger. You could even use mirrored glass to cover cupboards. The modern glass bathroom that Nina visits in the show belongs to her friend, contemporary aboriginal art dealer Jennifer Guerrini Maraldi. Because she uses mirrors over a large surface area, Jennifer has deliberately kept cuts and joins to a minimum to prevent the room looking too busy.

If you are lucky enough to have a large bathroom, consider adding an armchair to make the room feel more homely.

Make scents

A bathroom should smell inviting but not overpowering. Soaps and scented candles create a more subtle and natural aroma than air fresheners, which can be too synthetic.

Nina’s tips for bathroom bliss

* If in any doubt, have a white bathroom suite. You can’t go wrong. Exceptions to this rule include glass or natural stone and even then, this only applies to sinks or (rarely) baths.
* Make sure there is plenty of storage. You will use it. We all need somewhere to put towels, spare loo roll and other toiletries.
* Don’t feel restricted by convention - modern taps can look fabulous on an old fashioned bath.
* Finally, think super-comfort. The bathroom should offer a pleasurable experience so think about what would make you happy and relaxed when designing the room. Whether it’s flowers, music, a television, choose your personal indulgence.

Additionally, think about less radical changes that can be made - partitioning walls can be knocked down or put up, and bigger windows can make a house appear more spacious. However, in order to really boost what you have, an extension may be the best option.

Extensions

If you’re feeling adventurous…
Rising property prices with a premium being put on space can make extensions a wise investment. However, this is a major project and shouldn’t be undertaken lightly:

- Call in professionals to get the job done properly, as there are important planning restrictions and regulations which need to be followed.
- Ask friends to recommend if they can recommend an architect and builders. It is really important that you locate the best people, as a botched extension can devalue a property.
- The National Federation of Builders (NFB) can provide you with a list of registered builders in your area. A builder that belongs to a respected trade organisation will have to comply with membership standards.
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) provides a list of registered architects.
- Although a modern extension can look good on an old house, wehen it comes to selling on it is important to appeal to the average buyer’s taste. Therefore it is more advisable for an extension to match the architectural style of the existing house.
- Be strategic: Extra bathrooms and large kitchens are usually good investments in family-sized homes, and a garage in a busy, urban area will also add value.
- The room that usually benefits the most from enlarging is the kitchen. Adding a kitchen/diner creates the farmhouse kitchen most people want and provides extra space. The old dining room can become an office, playroom, or an extra sitting room. Kitchen extensions also provide the opportunity to extend upwards - an additional bedroom can be built on top at the same time.
- Loft conversions are another good way of enlarging your house. Victorian or 1930s houses are ideal for these because of their high roof pitches. Prices will vary depending on how many bedrooms are added and whether an en-suite is built. A loft room will also require less planning and building requirements than a bedroom- do the research and speak to chartered surveyors and architects.
- If there isn’t a reason to expand, consider applying for a further advance on your mortgage and give the house a makeover. A new kitchen, bathroom and carpets will revive the the property and increase its value at the same time.

From BBC Homes.

Recommendation

- Ask for references and names of previous clients. Speak to them and look at their previous work, if possible.

Deal with an established firm

- Make sure they have an office address, telephone number and use headed notepaper.
- Check they are a member of a reputable trade association, and if VAT is being charged, make sure there is a VAT number shown.

Be clear about what you want

- Get a written specification and estimate.
- Agree any stage and final payments before work starts.
- Get more than one estimate.
- Avoid changing your mind halfway through a job - it usually costs more and causes delays.
- Ask for an insurance-backed warranty for the work.

What to look out for

- High pressure sales people from so-called specialists.
- Do not sign anything you have not read or do not understand.
- Advance payments, particularly at the start of the job, should be avoided.
- Demands for cash payments. You are only fuelling the black economy and putting yourself at risk from rogue traders.

What to do if things go wrong

- Speak to your builder if you think things are not right. Try and resolve problems quickly, do not let them fester.
- If your builder does not sort things out after you have spoken to him, put your complaint in writing.
- If there are still problems, get further advice. Depending on the problem, consult a solicitor, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Trading Standards, Building Control or Trade Association.

“You want to work hard at getting it right but the result has to look as though it’s been thrown together in five minutes.”
Step 1
“Start with a fabric you love and then worry about what to do with it.”

High street department stores, specialist haberdasheries or even markets are great places to find a good selection of materials. Or you may find an accessory, such as a rug, throw or cushion that catches your eye.

Whatever you choose, this will form the basis of your colour palette for the room and gives you something to build on.
Nina Campbell choosing fabrics

Step 2
Use pattern to pick up colours

Patterned fabrics are great for dressing up a room and giving it a fresh look. They can be used in a number of ways:

* Cover furniture or parts of furniture, from a chair cushion to an entire sofa
* Create panels or borders for curtains
* Cover a screen. A useful style tip for the ‘pattern-novice’ as the screen can always be re-covered or moved to a different room if you change your mind. Another benefit is that you can take it with you when you move house
* Stripes can bring together a range of colours and can be useful for giving you a palette to work with.

Consider the scale of the pattern when deciding what you want to use it for. A large-scale pattern may be too much for a small living room if used on all the walls but can make a feature of, say, an armchair or a curtain. Similarly, a small-scale pattern could add a delicate look to a large room or make a smaller room appear more spacious.

If possible, take samples of fabric and place them over different areas in your room to get an idea of how it will look.

Step 3
Bring in new textures

Texture is important when building a room because it adds homely ‘layers’ and movement. It’s also an interesting way to keep the colour palette flowing throughout, without making it too uniform.

Textures to consider include velvet; sheer; fake fur; suede; leather; flocked cottons and silks; chenille or crewel (wool embroidery).

details of a living room

Step 4
Take a step back

“You don’t want to walk into a room and feel like your head might explode because there’s too much going on,” says Nina and she has a good point. A successful room needs to have balance. Too much of one colour, pattern or texture and a room can look busy. Not what you want from your main living space.

The trick is to blend well

* Offset a small-scale pattern with a large-scale one nearby.
* Place stripes next to checks.
* Break up colours with neutral tones.
* Similarly, ensure that textures blend together well.
* Remember: less is more. Too many furry cushions in one place can create a ‘poodle corner’ effect.

Tips for good balance

* do a floor plan before you start so you can see clearly where windows, lighting and furniture are positioned. You can then decide which fabrics to put where.
* keep large objects, such as the sofa in a fairly plain fabrics, particularly if the room is small. It can be a canvas for colourful accessories such as cushions and throws.
* before buying curtains, consider how many windows the room has and where they are positioned. A wall of windows with heavily patterned curtains will look too busy when the curtains are drawn.

Dos and don’ts for creating the perfect living space

Do

* Use magazines for inspiration. Tear out pictures of furniture items, rooms, colours and patterns and create your own mood board which you can use as a point of reference.
* Use borders or fringing to revitalise curtains or furniture and to pick up colours from a focal item in the room.
* Have furniture of varying heights to add interest to a room and create a homely effect.
* Place lighting at different levels in the room. A combination of uplighters, table lamps and standard lamps will add warmth and atmosphere.
* Keep lampshades up to date, either by replacing or customising. Shapes change regularly. According to Nina, lampshades are “the shoes and handbags of design world.” Her advice is “be ruthless”.
* Consider having curtains made to measure if budget allows. Apart from the obvious benefits of being able to choose the exact fabric and colours, they will fit your windows exactly and Nina assures you will see the difference.

Don’t

* Have single chairs in a room used for entertaining, as it invites a person to sit alone and will only make them (and other guests) feel uncomfortable. Instead, group chairs in pairs or use sofas if space permits.
* Hoard old, worn accessories, such as saggy cushions, rugs with holes and frayed curtains. Mend or update with new coverings, fillings etc if possible. If not, it could be time to get rid and start again.
* Worry about what your friends will think. This is your room so please yourself, literally.
* Be afraid of colour or patterns. Experiment and have fun! You can always change it back again.

From BBC Homes.

Check how long the property has been up for sale. A property that’s been on the market for more than a few months suggests there isn’t a great deal of profit to be made. Find out about choosing a location in our Buying a property guide.

What should I look out for?

Ensure you’re not buying a money pit. In an older property you should be prepared for anything, right down to half the wall staying on the wallpaper when stripping or great holes behind the panelling. Don’t be afraid to make umpteen visits with every type of tradesman in order to know what you’re letting yourself in for!

Ask the experts

Roofers, timber and damp specialists and electricians will charge nothing or very little to engage their services for estimates and will be more beneficial to you than a surveyor in the initial stages.

How much work is involved?

This depends on the property, but don’t bite off more than you can chew. For a good first experience of renovating, try doing up a dated property rather than a wreck. A new kitchen, bathroom, central heating, carpets and re-decoration will miraculously transform something dark and decrepit into a ‘des res’.

You can always leave the architects, specialists and planning department to another time when confidence and funds are more plentiful.

Funding

Be prepared. The phrase most heard when doing up a wreck is: “It cost twice as much as I thought it would.” Set yourself a budget and build in some contingency funding - 15 per cent of the total cost is a good guideline.

You could start your renovation with a small cash fund, and once you’ve re-decorated and carpeted, the overall improvement should allow a small re-mortgage. This can be used for a new kitchen and reinstating period features such as fireplaces.

Managing the project

A project manager will liaise with the builder and ensure work is carried out to a specification. You could manage your own project or employ an independent. There is a Joint Contract Tribunal (JCT) contract you can use to formalise your relationship with your project manager or building consultant (see Employing tradesmen below).

* Get all the quotes well in advance, from carpets to carpenters. That way you can calculate all your expenditure.
* Never expect the scheduled timescales. The buying and the restoring may not always go as planned.
* Seek as much advice as possible, especially from people who’ve done it before.
* Be prepared to live in a building site until things are settled.

Employing tradesmen

Decide exactly what work you want to undertake before asking for any quotations. Write a clear specification; it need not be technical, but it should detail the work you want to carry out.

The JCT is an independent body that has produced a standard contract for use between you and the builder. This is a robust legal document that avoids technical and legal jargon.

It confirms the precise arrangements for the work to be done: the price, the payment terms, working hours, insurance and guarantees and how to resolve disputes if they arise. It deals with how to make changes to the work to be carried out and how to deal with a builder who wants to extend the time taken for completing the work. In essence, it sets out clearly what’s expected of you and the builder. It’s a document that a reputable builder will want to use.

Additionally, remember that your builder will be spending a lot of time in your home, and therefore should be someone you feel comfortable with. Good communication and a professional relationship is very important if you want the project to run smoothly. Reputable builders will always want to do their best work for you from the very start.

From BBC Homes.