Period Property renovation

Renovating a property as an investment for the future (Part 1)

March 18, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

It can be a really good idea to get hold of quite a cheap property on the market and turn it into something worth a good deal more. This is something that is certainly possible given the number of repossessions that make it onto the market nowadays and properties that sell at auction for a very good price. Often these houses are in pretty poor condition, but they can be saved with some proper repair work.

London is full of properties that have fallen into disrepair but which but actually command a really good price on the market if they were in good shape because of their locations. London is a desirable place to live and there is always likely to be demand for properties in each district.

It is all a matter of putting in the time and effort to have the place renovated. If you do this then you could actually make some serious money out of it. If you invest in really good quality renovation and interior design then you stand to create a lot of interest in your property once the project is complete.

Conditions that make for a great relationship with your designers and builders

March 3, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

It’s wonderful when you have a very productive and positive relationship with the people who are in charge of your rebuild and renovate project. The great thing about this sort of arrangement when it goes right is that you never find yourself out of the loop. Communication is good which means you can get your points across to the team of designers and builders easily and they can keep you completely updated.

Unfortunately, this sort of thing does not happen very often. That is why it is so hard to choose from all the different design and build companies London is home to. One thing you can do to put yourself in with a better chance of working with people whose project management and communication skills are of the highest order is to go for a firm that deal with everything under one roof.

A team that consists of designers, builders, project managers and architects who are all working for the same company has a better chance of delivering on that positive relationship. There are unlikely to be any breakdowns in communication because everyone is signing from the same hymn sheet. This is the equivalent of design and build bliss.

Restoring a period property in West London

February 20, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

A lot of people are drawn to the apartments and houses in the London area because they are attracted to older period properties. There is something about period properties that more modern properties simply don’t have. They have a sense of longevity , of being built to last, as well as a sense of really impressive design. More contemporary buildings seem to lack this particular appeal.

If you are attracted by the period properties in London then you may want to focus your attention on property renovation in the city. When you are hoping to buy somewhere to live in London, particularly Chelsea, Kensington and Mayfair and period properties are the only ones on your radar, it is vital that you are open to the idea of making an investment on a property and then renovating in order to preserve its appeal.

This is because many of the period houses and apartments in the city are in need of sprucing up. The original features are there but they need significant attention in order to get them back to their best. Restoring a property in this way is incredibly rewarding but it is even better if you are planning on living there in the future.

Retaining period property character during renovation

February 17, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

Owning one of London’s older, period properties may be a matter of some pride to you. This is because when you own an old house in the capital city you also own a piece of history. London has a fascinating history and your house probably has a really interesting story to tell. Its age and character are evidence enough that your house has lived through some remarkable times.

However, an older property naturally needs more TLC than a younger property. This means that you need to be very active when it comes to making sure that your house is in good condition. In many cases, superficial work will not be enough to make a difference. This is when you need to renovate.

On the subject of house renovation London homes do not have to be completely gutted and have their whole character changed in order for them to be better prepared for modern living. The original features can be retained during renovation and the interior design of the spaces worked on can be arranged to fit in with the original character of the house.

The architectural trend of a modern/period mix

February 16, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

One of the brilliant trends that you will find in some of the older public buildings in London is to juxtapose original and period features alongside more modern renovations. Modern renovations look stunning in period settings and this is a trend that is visible in many of the museums and galleries in London and around the world.

These renovations are often the work of esteemed architects, but the trend is also evident in less ambitious projects that take place on a domestic level. It is possible, for instance, to have your period home in London renovated so that it benefits from some stunning modern features as well as its beautiful period features.

If your period property is in need of some attention, then it is well worth looking at incorporating a more contemporary twist into any renovation work you were planning on having carried out. When it comes to architects, London is home to far more than the famous names associated with the renovations of galleries and museums. London, especially Chelsea, Kensington and Mayfair have plenty more talent with domestic agendas that you can make use of personally.

warmer period property through luxury renovation

February 14, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

Some house renovations are all about making your house more comfortable. If you cannot relax properly at home then where can you reasonably expect to relax? This is why you need to take action if you feel that your home is not as comfortable as it could be.

You can take action on a small scale by getting a few bits and pieces designed for comfort. Soft furnishings, rugs and other items spring to mind.

However, it may be the case that you need to change things on a larger scale in order to make a genuine difference to how comfortable your house actually feels. If your house is a relatively old period property, and it does not enjoy the benefits of mod cons and more contemporary methods of insulation and so on then it might feel cold and uninviting.

When you feel as though your period property is a little cold and it needs some attention in order to make it warm and inviting, you need to speak to renovation specialists about what they might be able to do to help you out. This will likely be to modernise your period property to make it more eco friendly and energy efficient, in order to make it that bit warmer.

Using past projects as a resource for your renovation

February 13, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

The portfolio of design and build residential architects in West London is really important when you are trying to determine whether they have a good track record of dealing with renovation projects. You can use the residential architect’s portfolio as an extremely accurate resource in identifying similar projects to yours that the residential architects in question have managed successfully in the past. This gives you confidence in securing their services.

Renovating residential architects in London are always looking for ways to improve their portfolios in order to prove that they have the necessary design and build skills to deal with a huge range of different projects. This is why they are keen to cover a lot of different styles and a lot of different properties in their portfolios. Browse past jobs to see what the company has to say about projects that coincide with yours in some way.

It may be that you find a past project on a house of the same period style as yours that has been modernised or that has been renovated to retain its period features. You may find a perfect example of how you would like to improve your property and even get new ideas to put into your rudimentary plans.

How design+build firms are modernising London

February 8, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

Design+build companies are in particular demand in London. London is a very populous city and has been for a long time. As such there are countless properties that need attention, either because their owners want to change them to meet their own needs a little better or because older properties are in need of modernisation.

The question of modernisation is particularly relevant in London where some of the most stunning houses and offices are actually very old. These older properties need to be maintained properly. Even if they are maintained properly, they sometimes need to be modernised so that they are more suitable for use by modern families and residents.

If you would value the input of a professional company to help you design and build London is definitely a good city in which to begin your search. The city is home to creative teams that cover the disciplines of architecture, design, building and renovation in their bid to complete renovations and extensions to the very highest luxury standard.

It is wise to limit your search to those companies prepared to take care of all of these disciplines in house to increase your chances of enjoying a more positive experience.

The renovation skills of residential architects

February 7, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

If you live in West London, particularly Kensington, Chelsea and Mayfair and your home is in need of some serious attention as far as renovation is concerned then you are in a position to make use of the considerable pool of skillful residential architects in London.

House renovation in London

Partly because London is home to so many wonderful period buildings, some dating back hundreds of years, the city enjoys a wealth of talent where renovation is concerned. Renovation is important in a city with such a long history. London homeowners are proud of their period properties so when they show signs of aging they quickly take action and make use of the excellent residential architects and builders in London.

Renovation is best carried out by a team of professionals who have the same goal in mind. That is why working with residential architects who are able to project manage builders, plumbers, carpenters etc. it is extremely beneficial. As they get to know each aspect of your renovation project before distributing their time and skills in a cohesive manner.

It is this level of teamwork that really gives the skills of the residential architects, designers and workmen involved in your renovation project the chance the show themselves and do the best job possible.

Modernise your London period property

January 29, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

It is very difficult to look after a period property. There are lots of period properties in London and their owners take a great deal of pride in them, but that does not mean they don’t recognise they have their work cut out to keep them in good shape.

This is not just because the properties are aging, although this does represent a hurdle that you need to get over if you are going to own an older house. Some of the issues to do with the maintenance of period properties are down to the fact that they don’t boast the same modern conveniences as younger homes.

Many people are prepared to put in the work to make their London period properties look fantastic, but when it gets too much for them they seek help through renovation. This is an exceptionally sensible avenue to take. The renovation route is popular because it gives period properties all of those modern conveniences that are missing, while still keeping the period property look and feel.

It also helps to clean them up properly and replaces any aging features and fittings and permanent parts of each room. This makes the whole house much easier to maintain.