London – Page 2

Retaining character of period properties can be rewarding

July 6, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

London has a long and illustrious history and many of its older properties are an integral part of West London’s extraordinary story. Owning a period house in London is a source of real pride for those fortunate enough to make their dream a reality. However, owning a period property the most exclusive neighbourhoods such as Mayfair, Holland Park, Kensington or Chelsea also involves a certain amount of responsibility. These properties could be considered like an ageing family member, someone that needs looking after and demands lots of attention, which means investment of time as well as resources.

Period properties often need significant modernisation. The real character of these properties largely exists on the outside where evidence of the technology available, the styles and fashions or even taxation regimes in place, dictated a property’s design. On the inside, period features and interiors may have been exposed to heat, water damage or damp over time, casting serious doubt over their effectiveness or suitability for modern day living unless the property owners take action and renovate their property in West London. Rooms were usually smaller (as they were expensive to heat) and function played an important part in determining how areas in a property were laid out (servant quarters vs entertaining vs family living areas).

Although many properties remain fit for purpose (remarkable considering they are sometimes two or three hundred years old) period property owners can improve their property by inviting renovation specialists in London to take a look at their interiors and modernise their homes. Modernisation can be carried out in very subtle ways – improving wall sound and heat insulation, squaring ceiling and levelling floors, replacing windows and making them fit for purpose and environmentally-friendly. All of these design considerations help add to the enjoyment of living in a fine residential property in West London. Whilst protecting and maintaining the period character of a property adds to its charm and appeal, careful refurbishment by expert renovation teams is very satisfying and rewarding – both financially and emotionally.

Budgeting to modernise your London house

July 5, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

Moving into a new house in London is all about getting your timing just right. It is often the case that you have to invest in a house that needs some work doing on it in order to make your money go further. Property in London tends to be more expensive, so relocating might require you to make a commitment to a more long term project.

It makes sense to get all renovations out of the way before you actually move in. This approach will save you the hassle of moving in only to have to move out again while work takes place or put up with workmen carrying out extensive renovation work while you are trying to go about your daily affairs.

If you arrange your house renovation straight away with a design+build company then you will be able to move directly into a house that is completely to your taste. You should make sure to budget for all the renovation work you expect you’ll need to have carried out when you place an offer on a house – although it is always possible to save up for future modernisation.

Investing in more extensive renovations often yields greater satisfaction

July 3, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

Organising the layout of your home often throws up some very serious considerations. When you are redecorating or thinking about ways to make your home a bit more attractive in terms of its interiors, you often come across techniques that involve a lot of work, often dealing with the very structure of the house itself.

For instance, a lot of redecorating leads you down the path of moving walls, modifying them or removing them completely. This is a lot of work, but once you have noticed how positive a transformation such modifications would lead to, it is hard to convince yourself otherwise.

These modifications are well within the realms of possibility. Once you have squared the idea of a bigger project with yourself and your family, you can speak to designers and builders about effecting the changes you have decided to put into action.

In order to get the best results, you often have to commit to bigger plans and more extensive renovation work, but it is definitely worth it in the end. Your house will look and feel exactly as you want it to and you’ll be glad you invested in the changes.

love your house again after a renovation

May 25, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

It is only natural over time you should get a bit tired of how your West London house looks. This is not to say you want to move on and find somewhere new, you may love your house very keenly, but that does not stop you from wanting to change it somehow. Renovation undertaken by residential architects is the answer when you reach this stage in the relationship you have with your home.

Renovation means much more than mere redecoration. It is not a matter of giving the place a surface makeover so it stays up to date in terms of its style and general design. It is not about getting new pieces of furniture to refresh the look of the interiors. It is about remodelling space and making the property more convenient and more attractive.

Remodelling the space using residential architects represents a very positive change. You will discover how much can actually be made of the space you use every day and discovering these new possibilities will give you a new perspective on your home. This will make you fall in love with your property all over again.

London residential architects improve homes

May 21, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

West London is a fantastic place to live because it is so vibrant, interesting and diverse. If you own a house in West London then you have access to a great range of services in terms of improving that property. One way of doing this is to let residential architects renovate your home.

For house renovation West London provides plenty of opportunity. This is because London is home to teams of expert residential architects who are extremely skilled and very creative. London provides a hot bed of activity – partly because the city itself provides so much interesting work for residential architects and partly because there is such a wealth of talent available.

Again, for interior design London has what it takes. With so many innovative and creative professionals working in London, you can renovate with the confidence that the residential architects managing your renovation project have the necessary skills to make it look stunning. Working together, these creative teams can turn your property into a really special place to live.

Project manage West London renovation

May 17, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

Consistency and teamwork are absolutely crucial to the success of any renovation. However, these values are not easy to achieve. Difficulties often arise because of miscommunication and a lack of togetherness when it comes to putting interior designers, residential architects, builders and property planners together. This can cause a renovation to stall which leads to a loss in time and money and unwanted stress.

The key to avoid situations like this arising is for residential architects to project manage the whole renovation so that there is no lack of communication. When your residential architects, builders, interior designers, plumbers, carpenters etc. are under one roof problems are far less likely to occur, which saves the property owner time and money.

Fortunately, West London is home to some outstanding companies that specialise in bringing all of these different elements of a project under one roof. If your residential architects, interior designers and builders all work for the same building company in West London, then everyone has the same common goal and your renovation project will benefit immensely.

If you eliminate the risk of communication problems and misunderstandings between different contributors to your renovation, then vital elements of the renovation project are likely to completed swiftly and correctly, such as the planning permission process, which if done incorrectly, will causes major delays.

eco-friendly renovation of period properties

May 15, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

Period properties aren’t as efficient at retaining heat as modern properties. When you lose heat you waste energy and you also waste money. However, this is something that can easily be addressed by renovating and modernising the interior of your West London period property with environmentally-friendly design solutions. This can easily be done when the renovation is managed by residential architects.

Saving money and reducing waste are two of the chief reasons period property renovation in London is on the rise. Period properties have bags of character, but they aren’t necessarily up-to-date when it comes to being eco-friendly and cost efficient. This is where professional renovation by residential architects can play a key role, a design from a residential architect will be lead to a period property with a low carbon footprint and luxury design.

A renovation of your West London period property will help you to preserve a good deal more energy, giving your property a much better score in terms of carbon footprint. At the same time, you could take the opportunity to redesign your interiors so that your home retains its character but is fit for the twenty-first century demands of your household.

period properties benefit from renovation

May 14, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

One of the most appealing things about living in West London is the array of wonderful period properties on offer. These stunning period properties make fantastic, comfortable homes and make a wonderful impression on your guests, friends and family.

It is important to remember that period properties in West London often need significant renovation to achieve a level of comfort and to be fit for modern day living. If the previous owner has not taken steps to bring the property into the modern era, then it will be up to you to make the necessary changes to realise it’s potential.

It can be a challenge to update West London period properties, changing layouts and zones within a property to suit today’s lifestyle. When considering a renovation, you will benefit from the expertise of West London’s talented residential architects. They can often give you options you did not know could be possible, or a new design scheme that works better for you and your family. If you are looking for outstanding residential architects, interior designers, builders, property planners etc. look for residential architects who also project manage your whole renovation. Residential architects who project manage inevitably save property owners time and money, facilitating quick and efficient communication between different professions helping you during the renovation of your period property.

Residential architects who project manage all aspects of renovation make the process of renovating your period property substantially easier, quicker and stress free. Your refurbishment project is also a lot more likely to be completed on time. A good quality residential architect based locally will have a little black book of trades and expert consultants who will transform your period property into a home that meets the more contemporary needs of you and your family and may be even surpass your expectations.

London property renovation project managers

May 13, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

It is much easier to keep on top of your home renovation when you appoint a renovation residential architect to project manage the renovation. Entrusting the renovation of your West London property to an experienced team of residential architects is the most certain way of getting the job done quickly and smoothly. Your project manager minimises disruption to your everyday affairs and allows you to enjoy the process rather than be the driver of it.

A number of different technical disciplines are required to carry out a high quality period home renovation, including residential architects, interior designers, builders, plumbers, carpenters, plasterers, planning consultants etc. Managing independent designers and tradespeople as well as London planning authorities is often fraught with challenges. Finding a residential architectural practice in West London that brings all these elements together can save you a lot of time and needless stress as well as money.

Residential architects in West London project manage renovations with all trades and professions working together in one coherent group, which results in significant time savings. Managing the planning application process and securing planning permission takes experience and expertise and means you avoid potential problems that could hold your renovation back, sometimes months if carried your planning applications are not submitted correctly. You could also jeopardise your whole project and ruin any chance you had of getting planning permission. A further advantage of saving time is this invariably leads to a reduction in costs, either in rent paid out whilst you are waiting for your project to finish or rental income lost from tenants who can’t move in yet.

Delay your move to renovate your London home

May 12, 2015 By Buro Architects Leave a Comment

Before you move into your impressive new period property in West London it is worth asking yourself whether a few modifications might be in order. Is the house perfectly suitable for you and your family? Are there any stylistic changes you need to make in order to make it more expressive of your personal tastes? Are there any practical matters that need attending to that would be best looked at before you move in?

It is always better to have these ideas clear in your mind so you can have them looked at in advance. The upheaval associated with extensive architectural, design and building work can cause considerable disruption, so be sure you know what lies ahead before you commit to the move.

In the case of period properties and related house renovation West London is home to the best residential architects in the business. Their expertise will help you to realise your vision when it comes to restoring the period features of your property’s interiors or expressing more contemporary attitudes within a period setting. However, modernising in this fashion takes time, so be prepared to delay your move accordingly, however the process is much quicker and easier when the renovation is managed by residential architects in West London. This is as residential architects in West London are capable of bringing all of the different professions required for a renovation under one roof and making sure communication between them is good resulting in a swift, easy and stress free renovation of your West London period property.