Renovation

Renovation

Cavity wall insulation is one of those home improvements that sounds like a no-brainer, promising a warmer home, fewer draughts and lower energy bills . In most cases, that's exactly what you get, provided your home is actually suitable for it and the job is done properly. Unfortunately, many homeowners jump in too quickly, tempted by government grants or persuasive sales pitches, and end up with problems.

Between the color (beige, of course), the brick (red, of course), and the clunky ceiling fan, this generously sized room actually felt so much smaller than it really was. The secret to getting rid of the cave-like feel: The perfect white paint color (Sherwin-Williams' Pure White) applied all over. For the walls, it's in an eggshell finish; for the moldings, it's semigloss; for the ceiling, it's flat. That white paint is on the fireplace, too, in a formula made especially for masonry.

Belgian furniture designer Marina Bautier is known for her succinctness. Her pieces, all made of waxed oak, have no flourishes: they are a pure distillation of pleasing form and function. But in her own compound, she is voluble on how her work can be put to use: her studio, in a Brussels residential area aptly named Forest, is right next to her shop and cafe.

These specially designed bricks provide nesting space for declining bird species like swifts, and new government guidance now expects them in all new homes. Understanding how this policy works, how it could affect your planning application, and what it actually means in practice could save you headaches - and ensure your build ticks the ecological boxes planners are increasingly looking for.

For all its architectural and cultural grandeur, Vienna has never had much diversity of places to stay. The capital has long relied on a handful of storied institutions, while its culinary scene modernized around them. That's part of what makes the arrival of Mandarin Oriental Vienna, the group's first outpost in Austria, so significant. More than a decade in the making, this landmark transformation of an Alfred Keller-designed courthouse, built in the early 20th century, signals a new era of hospitality for the Austrian capital.

Conceived as a place that awakens what POLA calls the 'latent sense of beauty' in both mind and body, the project unfolds as an immersive sequence of light, sound, scent, and material atmospheres, a spatial narrative built around perception, self-awareness, and time. The renovation brings together an interdisciplinary group of Japanese creatives, including Kazuyo Sejima, composer Keiichiro Shibuya, lighting designer Shozo Toyohisa, and olfactory artist Kan Izumi, each contributing a distinct sensory layer to the whole.

The $2 billion overhaul included 375 new hotel rooms that balance modern luxury with Art Deco heritage, an ultra-luxurious Empire Suite, new restaurants, and a fully restored ballroom and famous clock. The only thing missing was a spa - until now. Earlier this month, the hotel unveiled the Guerlain Wellness Spa, a 22,000-square-foot destination that's not only the property's new centerpiece, but the largest Guerlain spa in the world. It's also a statement about where high-end wellness is headed in New York City.

There's nothing particularly declarative about Dalla on Morning Lane in Hackney-and that's the point. The room is spare and considered-cream walls, simple tables, a deliberate calm-never precious. The space is designed by Neapolitan founder Gennaro Leone in collaboration with his friend, Sicilian designer Oscar Piccolo. Prior to Dalla, Gennaro founded Spazio Leone, the east London store known for sourcing contemporary objects, art, and furniture. So when it came to design

The 100 metre long Falcon Road underpass runs under the railways to the eastern side of Clapham Junction station and is the only route north-south under the railways in the area. Despite how busy it is, it has long been a very shabby route, with two narrow pedestrian paths, walls lined with stained and broken tiles, and the floor covered in pigeon droppings.

Lucky is the home that calls Nina and Craig Plummer its owners. The two are the founders of Ellei Home (formerly called Ingredients LDN), an inspiring online store based in Edinburgh, and the grand apartment they share is a testing ground for the beautiful products sold on their site. Only items that fit their philosophy and aesthetic-the perfect soft palette; natural materials; thoughtful craftsmanship-make it onto their site and into their home.

The phenomenon known in biology as convergent evolution describes how distant species can develop similar structures when confronted with comparable challenges. Dolphins and ichthyosaurs, for example, are separated by millions of years of evolutionary history, yet both evolved nearly identical hydrodynamic bodies. Architecture has its own parallels: A-frame structures emerged independently in both the European Alps and Japan, even without direct cultural exchange, as spontaneous responses to snow, wind, and material scarcity.

Most cooks tend to have what they need, and the good ones, especially, trust technique over gadgets. Still, there are certain objects that remain both useful and genuinely novel-the sort of finds that quickly become indispensable. The best gifts for the cook fall into that category: things they don't yet know they need, or pieces that elevate the everyday kitchen.

Earlier this month, the City of London Corporation approved the big 'Barbican Renewal' delivery plan. The corporation is providing a £191 million funding package to upgrade the landmark, which is around 80 percent of the overall £240m needed for the first five-year phase of the project. The rest will be raised through a Barbican fundraising campaign. The bad news is that to make way for work to go ahead, the main Barbican site will shut from June 2028 until June 2029.

Light, for instance, is not only a technical requirement but also an architectural material in its own right. It can structure space, animate surfaces, define textures, and shape atmosphere while influencing well-being. At the same time, the characteristics between minimalism and maximalism shape how atmospheres are perceived, prompting reflection on how approaches to simplicity or exuberance might influence mood. Rather than existing as opposing aesthetics, these tendencies explore how interiors interact with mental states, reflect personal identity.

"When I first moved into the studio, it was a wide-open, empty space with endless possibilities," he says. "As soon as I stepped inside, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to bring to life ... I envisioned creating a distinct bedroom that felt separate from the rest of the space. I wanted it to have its own sense of privacy and comfort, giving it a unique feel while still blending seamlessly with the open layout of the studio."

Design Team: GUO Wei, QIU Mei, HE Chunyao, LIU Qian, WU Qijing, TANG Runen, CHEN Jiannan, GONG Chenxi, DENG Jian, ZHOU Duchuang(Intern), WEI Zhichao(Intern), JI Jiahui(Intern), WU Tianrong(Intern) Clients: Kunshan Yangcheng Lake Science Park Co., Ltd. Intelligent Design: Jiangsu NETIN Technologies Co, Ltd Text description provided by the architects. This increasingly complex project emerged from an interactive process and key breakthroughs by both the government and architects - through ongoing coordination and integration, architects drive the joint renewal of urban and educational spaces.

A tiny stone home built by hand on a remote Scottish island has just been named Grand Designs House of the Year for 2025 and it's turned ideas about ambition and architecture on their head. Instead of glass palaces or dramatic loft conversions, this year's winner is modest, elemental and deeply shaped by its place, putting it firmly amongst Grand Design's best houses that we've ever seen.

While adding loft insulation is certainly one way to improve your home's energy efficiency, making loft insulation mistakes can result in your hard work backfiring and leading to more problems than you even started with. However, follow the correct advice on how to insulate a loft and there's no doubt you and your home will reap the rewards. With building and roofing experts to hand, we're here to explain the most common loft insulation mistakes homeowners make so you can avoid a future that sees you ripping out your hard work and starting over again.

Today I thought I would show you how our Christmas porch is coming along. With all the rain here lately it's been pretty wet and dreary out, but I thought I would take a few progress pics anyway. Our house has one front porch, but it almost feels like two since one side is in front entry and the other is by the doors in our living room. I'll show you both sides in this post!

Knowing how to cut a clean, precise hole in wood is a skill every DIYer should have in their toolkit.

If you haven't heard of surfactant leaching, you're not alone. Neither had I until I started looking into why I had water streaks on my bathroom walls. I partly knew the reasons why, but wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything that could cause more damage in the long run such as damp. Plus, I wanted to know if there was a way to easily remove them without causing more marks.

Ana Skobe + 16 Category: Renovation, Cultural Center Collaborators: Saso Badovinac, Olga Bombac, German Bosch, Grega Cerar, Oscar Espinosa, Jure Kolenc, Carlos Parra, Damian Plouganou, Bor Pungersc Client: Ayuntamiento de Liubliana

By the time Jason Saft, an award-winning home stager and founder of New York city-based Staged To Sell Home, was called in to work his magic on this unit in The Clebourne, an Upper West Side co-op, it had been sitting on the market for an astounding 779 days. Saft describes how he "fell for it instantly," even though the walls were scuffed and the air was stale.

Homeowners from all over the UK who are thinking of renovating their bathroom are increasingly visiting bathroom showrooms in Harrogate in order to get advice, gain understanding, and find inspiration from new ideas. As a result of their high quality, innovative displays, and expert guidance, these showrooms have become the go-to places for anyone wanting to upgrade or redesign their space. What they have to offer in terms of creativity and usefulness is something that cannot be equalled by simply browsing online.

Creating character and improving function in an existing home is no easy feat - and it can definitely be hard on a budget. So it's no wonder that renters and homeowners alike turn to IKEA when they have big plans but modest funds, as the retailer has long proven its versatility in achieving whatever shoppers have in mind.