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Ihope everyone is keeping safe in the New Year, as we hear more and more Covid cases rising, which is causing so much disruption amongst families and workplaces. Working from home and being isolated is encouraging more and more families to extend or remodel their homes and spaces.

We touched upon “home working” last month, but it was related to interior design finishes. This month we will focus more on the construction design and layouts.

Whether you’re extending your kitchen or renovating your loft, if you’re taking on a project in 2022 then you’re going to want to get your head in the game before you begin. MATERIALS COST MORE, SO BE SMART

PLAN YOUR SCHEME! You may have seen several news stories talking about the rising costs of construction materials. Part of this price increase has come from shipping and supply issues still reverberating from the pandemic. However, the UK’s departure from the EU has also had a knock-on effect.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like many of these issues are going to resolve themselves anytime soon, so it’s worth taking some time to think about how you can smartly approach these issues.

Think about the construction method and sit down with your designer and talk it through in detail, before making a decision. Long-wearing aluminum frames for your glazing, rather than uPVC increase the quality of installation.

Never skip stages, in hope of being able fast track your project.

The demands on planning departments have been steadily increasing over the last few years. Starting with the 2020 pandemic and then building up month on month. from home more, and want their homes to adapt to this new routine. Alongside this, many planning departments have been suffering from staff shortages and are undergoing a new digitisation of their departments.

Planning permission lasts for 3 years, therefore, never get put off as you will only find that there will be more problems moving forward, if you try to skip this stage.

FOR ALL YOU DIY LOVERS AND PROFESSIONALS WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN INDUSTRY

Your fittings are where you can save a lot of money, without having to sacrifice on quality. Upcycled countertops or exdisplay model kitchen cabinets, there are plenty of ways adding value to your home.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

In 2022 making homes as energy efficient as possible is going to be high on everyone’s list, especially as the government is trying to phase out gas boilers.

On average, the top offenders for heat loss are…

• Walls (35%)

• Roof (25%)

• Windows and doors (25%)

• Floors (15%)

When it comes to your renovation project, make sure you’re investing in the best heat-loss solutions as possible. High-quality glazing, cavity wall insulation, and packing your roofs with the best insulation possible can all help keep heat trapped in and cold kept out. Not only will this help save you money on your household bills. OPEN PLAN DESIGN

Open plan has always been a great favourite. It is still very popular in not only apartments, but also large residential houses.

It brings many benefits:

1) Maximises space

2) Allows areas to be more flexibility for multi-use space.

3) Allow families to integrate and stay connected.

4) Creates more harmony in space

5) Fresher and cleaner air.

6) Adaptability of space.

These large spaces can move with you, providing room for entertaining, tucked away home offices, playtime, yoga, downtime, and much more. They can also be broken up as your family dynamics change, either through shelving or half walls.

BRING THE OUTSIDE IN

There is more than one advantage in having better the views from our windows, the more satisfied we feel within our space. In fact, what you see on the horizon has a bigger effect on your mood than how much natural light you get.

Other ways include Skylights, bi-fold doors, Juliet balconies. Sit down with your Designer and talk about what you want to achieve. Working in isolated rooms on your own can take its toll on your mental well being. Be proactive and take an active part in designing your “happy space”.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL OR SEND AN EMAIL TO:

E sajedah@milescc.co.uk N +44 (0) 1772 759 345 N +44 (0) 7581 014 867 D www.milescc.co.uk

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