Design & Build Happiness

This month we answer a listener question about home storage and organisation with the help of an author Abi has come to rely on. And it all comes down to decluttering. For the first time in the podcast's history - we are giving advice which is COMPLETELY FREE and comes before you even talk to the Queen of Construction (or your regular contractor). IN FACT - Abi says, if you do this - you might not even need to pay a contractor for bespoke storage or joinery. You may find you have exactly what you needed the whole time and it was your behaviour and mindset which needed to change. Abi talks about her own experience of having to declutter (being someone what of a maximalist in life!) and why this book and the advice that Dana White gives is so incredibly powerful. Here is a link to Dana K Whites book - How to manage your home without loosing your mind For more information on Abigail, the Queen of Construction herself, please follow her on Instagram or see her webpage. Please like and subscribe to this podcast if you would like to find out how to Design and Build your happy dream home.

This month we talk to Looeeze Grossman from The Used Kitchen Company about an industry secret; sourcing and installing used kitchens. We talk practicalities of the process of finding, measuring your new used kitchen, pitfalls to avoid and costs to consider. While also talking about the savings which can be made, both to your pocket and to the environment. If you would like to know more about The Used Kitchen Company and the various items they have for sale right now, see their Instagram: @TheUsedKitchenCompany, Pinterest @TheUsedKitchenCompany and you can Email: info@tukc.co.uk We also mentioned the episode 38 with Luke from Foreman Snags, who is superb with fixing damage in your home, including to used kitchens! - to listen, use this link If you were interested to see images of the caravan kitchen - which is even more special than I could have ever imagined - see it here So if you have an equal love of saving money and sustainability thinking about used kitchen is a must when planning your dream home refurbishment or extension. For more information on Abigail, the Queen of Construction herself, please follow her on Instagram or see her webpage. Please like and subscribe to this podcast if you would like to find out how to Design and Build your happy dream home.

This month we talk to Sally from Red Dog Glass Design about a bespoke product which is making waves and giving owners goosebumps. Bespoke Art Glass. We hear about what it is, how it's used, and when to install it. And we find out that Abi needs to think more about feelings than function! If you would like to know more about this product then please see Sally's work at Instagram: @reddogglassdesign, their Website: www.reddogglassdesign.com and you can Email: sally@reddogglassdesign.com So if you are a proud homeowner and want to include something highly functional but which expresses your personality, think about doing it through Art Glass. For more information on Abigail, the Queen of Construction herself, please follow her on Instagram or see her webpage. Please like and subscribe to this podcast if you would like to find out how to Design and Build your happy dream home.

Fixing damage to your beautiful home. This month we talk about a secret of how to repair internal damage to your home. The scuffs, chips, stains and dents which take the shine off the pride you have for your home refurbishment project. The honest fact is - things get damaged, either during the building process or just in life from living in the house! Most people - including people who work in construction, don’t realise there are magical specialists such as Foreman snags, who can come in and repair those problems, taking away that thing which makes you miserable each time you see it. Luke, The owner of Foreman Snags (https://foremansnags.com/) talks about the kind of repairs he and his team can do, when to use them and how to plan and cost for this work - so you know when to rip out and replace - and when to save time money and the planet... and repair. He talks about a project with a chandelier and, as promised, here is a link to it. So if you are a proud home owner and have damage to interior elements which are getting you down, don't dispart but do do something about it! Please like and subscribe to this podcast if you would like to find out how to Design and Build your happy dream home.

This month we talk to one of the world leaders in hand painted wallpaper; which is one of the most in demand 'I wish I could have in my home' items my clients ask for. We cover the process from planning the design, through to making it fit to the architecture of your home and listen to some wonderful and amusing stories along the way. I know, after listening to this episode, you will be as in love with Gracie Studio as I am! Zach and Mike, & the whole Gracie Studio team are contactable through their website https://www.graciestudio.com/ where you will get a flavour of their work - but as this is a bespoke product, please speak to them about your dream finish. Please like and subscribe to this podcast if you would like to find out how to Design and Build your happy dream home.

This month we talk to Design Forecasters and strategic consultancy to the creative industries; Vincent Grégorie, Consumer Trends & Insight Director from Nelly Rodi. Website: https://nellyrodi.com/en/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nellyrodi/ This episode contains essential information for growing design and fit out firms who will benefit from knowledge about the direction of residential and lifestyle trends. Secrets employed by the largest brands are available to growing design and fit out practices and we talk about the reach and application of this intelligence. Understanding trends isn't about the current colour or pattern, but rather the way society is moving and how, as professionals, we can respond to this in all areas of our businesses. This special episode brought to you by Maison & Objet https://www.maison-objet.com/en/paris and their trend forecasting partners Nelly Rodi. Please like and subscribe to this podcast if you would like to find out how to Design and Build your happy dream home.

This month we talk about the process of developing your home’s style with interior design expert Saphia Sheikh from Urban Retreat Interiors. We talk about Saphia’s interior design service, how to trust yourself and avoid limiting beliefs. She also talks through the most important aspects to consider when engaging an interior designer to extend or renovate your home. For more information on the retreats to Marrakech being run by Saphia and the team at Urban Retreat Interiors, please see her Instagram page. https://www.abigailhall.design https://saphiasheikh.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thequeenofconstruction https://www.instagram.com/urbanretreatinteriors If you have enjoyed this episode please rate, review and subscribe as it helps other home owners Design their Happiness.

This month I talk about the essential and complex subject of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). I cover topics such as the various sources of heat, how to improve your heating, different types of ventilation and how to achieve pleasing aesthetic and function as well as the ins and outs of air conditioning units. For more information https://www.abigailhall.design If you have enjoyed this episode please rate, review and subscribe as it helps other home owners Design their Happiness.

This month we talk about your professional team with Joseph, Technical Director of AGA Associates, an architectural practice in Central London. We discuss the size and roles of your professional team on a refurbishment or extension project and the power and benefit of having a range of individuals around the table. We talk about how to manage complicated projects and multiple design consultants and how to overcome contractual issues and challenges. For more information https://www.abigailhall.design https://www.aga-associates.com https://www.instagram.com/aga_assoicates_ If you have enjoyed this episode please rate, review and subscribe as it helps other home owners Design their Happiness.

This month we are talking to Feng Shui expert, podcast host and published author Patricia Lohen from Powerhouse Feng Shui. We talk about the accent art of Feng Shui - 5000 year old principles applied to our home extension or renovation. Did she manifest me? First things first, it is possible that Patricia manifested me to be on the podcast this month? We connected on a group of experts and when Patricia saw the name of the podcast she said she had to come on the show. Why use Feng Shui? Why use Feng Shui - it help people make and create happy homes. It comes from the Chinese characters of good health and good harvest (which we translate to wealth). Every part of your home is impacting on wealth, happiness and health. What’s the point? Your home has such a powerful influence on what is happening in your life, your bank account, your relationships, your health, your career…. According to the principles of Feng Shui, every part of your house is impacting every part of your life. Patricia is sure; what ever if playing out in your life right now, the energy in your house has something to do with it. ‘Feng Shui makes and creates happy homes!’ Patricia Lohan from Powerhouse Feng Shui What are we trying to avoid? When Patricia first started her practice she joined in with the simple tips and basic beginners course. But what happened was that she wasn’t investing in the main issue and only giving surface solutions. But what they needed was deep and fundamental advice and a quick and simple service wasn’t enough. Making this change made her realise that this is a complicated and in-depth - that it can’t really be watered down. But sometimes it starts with one tiny action. One of Patricias clients had been wondering about getting involved and heard about the importance of creating an attractive entrance. A small act either created or coincided with a new client contacting her. She felt that was auspicious and signed up for the full course. Three take aways.. before you learn more. 1) Avoid having a direct line of sight from your front door to your back door, if you have this is there a way of creating a block through a door or a piece of furniture, to slow down the energy. 2) Avoid being in the house when you are making significant changes. All the upheaval also creates a huge disruption in energy and this can really impact you. If you have to remain, consider getting some metal chimes which will help absorb the energy, which has the double benefit of also leaving you with some lovely chimes to have in your garden. 3) If you are going to do work on the home… let the house know! Do a meditation or check into the house and ask it, is there anything it needs. Is there something which needs to be solved or fixed? What about the wealth bit? Houses have energy and when you extend the house, this energy changes, so Patricia advises consulting to ensure that your positive energy home doesn’t change into a negative energy house which won’t connect to the positive energy you want for your home. Money! Budget is an emotive subject - how much does it cost to engage a professional? Patricia wants to ensure you are getting a personalised service as each home and owner is unique and this needs one to cone consultation. Engaging a professional ranges from £2000+ for a course through to £8000+ for 1:1 services. Other advice for budgeting, It's great to do some self learning and starting on your existing house, before you build you dream house or do your extension. Start today because it may make the energy improve which will help accelerate the achievement of that dream house build! For more information The website - which will showcase the various service which Patricia offers is https:// patricialohan.com/ it includes the contact details for Patricia and her team. If you have enjoyed this episode please rate, review and subscribe as it helps other home owners Design their Happiness.

This month we talk to an absolute favourite supplier - Chelcie from Orac decor. You might find their name familiar and that’s because we have before now featured Orac on the podcast with other product ranges (we’ve previously talked about coving). But this month we are talking wall panels and specifically formed panels which can be installed yourself - without the cost of a professional carpenter or decorator. So good, anyone can use. Unlike plaster, timber or MDF where real experience is required to get the instillation right, Orac wall panels are designed to be installed without training. All you need is joint adhesive and you are ready to go. But my walls are uneven or curved? Can I still have panels. Uneven walls are no a barrier to great style! The flex product is designed for rooms which have gentle curves or walls which are either old and uneven or just not done brilliantly. This isn’t overly technical or complicated You don’t need to be an architect or designer to talk to Orac - just tell them the shape of your space and the look you want. - Orac will do the rest. Proper design inspiration in insta I have a chat with Chelcie about the really varied ways that the panels are used. You are limited yourself if you are ONLY thinking walls. Bars, kitchen islands, column… just a few great spaces which are upgraded and turned into a grade a feature using this simple material. ‘Work in sympathy with your home!’ Chelcie Lachenicht from Oran Decor 3 top tips. We will look at your drawings, photos - what ever you have. Following Abi’s advice of measure twice, cut once - Chelcie talks about how they encourage people to measure, sketch, take photos and even put in place samples - all to help confirm that the product they are choosing is right for them. After all, we only want to install this material once and then sit back and enjoy the compliments from our family and friends! Money! Budget is an emotive subject. Orac say - choose our best selling products, such as the Dura Polymer range (PX 103 & PX 120 for example). This will create an excellent effect on a budget. If you have a bit more budget to play with then the Puro Touch range ( P8030 and P8020 for example) These are slightly bigger and more details. They look AMAZING when installed. There are also ready made products which require no cutting, receive and stick (plant) onto the wall. Where to make savings on wall panelling? Products which require cutting in order to install should be done by a professional with the professional tools - if you don’t have these tools or don’t have a budget to buy in a carpenter then consider the full preformed panels. When do I start talking to companies like Orac? The great news is (dependent on stock levels) the delivery time can be as little as 5 days. BUT get in early when thinking about panelling to allow time to get samples, live with it for a while and then purchase the final product. Best idea Orac have been able to fulfil. The 3D wall panels which are used in place of a headboard. The guys from Orac are just overwhelmed by the ideas from designers and enthusiastic home owners. The combination of the way the panels are assembled and then painted - it literally creates unlimited design options. Please please see the Orac instagram account for so much inspiration. ‘ If you have used an Orac product and you are proud - please share it & tag us, because you will automatically have two likes from Chelcie and me!’ Abigail Hall AKA the Queen of Construction and Orac panel super fan Best lessons on wall panelling. The products all come primed, meaning you just need to do your finish (paint). Orac even sell the adhesive to do the install - a literal one stop shop. They are even insect proof! Abi then goes on to tell a very longwinded anecdote about why we think of timber and plaster or heritage look but infact those aren’t always the best materials… and if a period property...

This month we talk to a legend in the design industry. Frank Sawkins from Czech & Speake. You may not realise that many of the iconic ‘looks’ of bathroom brassware, which is the name used for taps, spouts and shower heads, were originally designed and supplied by Franks company. An industry leader, design innovator and expert in how to achieve the 5* luxury function and aesthetic in on of the hardest working rooms in your home. Great Design means something functions as brilliantly well as it is beautiful! Frank shares with us one of the first attempts at creating an innovative function in the bathroom incorporating a push button flush (something which is common place today, but wasn’t heard of then) and how his boss’ brilliant design solution turned out not to be so brilliant - resulting in a flooded house. Reminding us that the function is the most important aspect! Helping reinforce my favourite phrase, function first, aesthetic after. Hotel feature bathrooms - Why are they such a common source of inspiration? Why do we love them Frank reminds us that the bathroom is an important test of the value of a hotel room - if we’ve spent €500 or €800 euro a night we expect for every element to be a very high standard, and the bathroom is one of the most important locations to showcase this. The investment in a hotel bathroom, therefore, is really a way of making you comfortable and feeling like you’ve got value for money from your stay! It’s also why trying to reproduce that look at how exactly like for like can be eye waveringly expensive! Bathrooms are glamorous Bathrooms are a really good way of articulating the epoch of the hotel and whether it’s the classical style of Claridges or the more modern styling of the Rosewood hotel there is a way to inject glamour into the bathrooms. Bathrooms are inspirational & emotional! Staying in a hotel normally means we have the space and time to relax in the way we can’t at home. We will take the time to have a bath on a Monday night, when we would never manage this in our day to day busy lives! So not only are we spending time in these beautiful spaces taking in all the design details - we are also generally in a more positive and relaxed mindset - all of which is conducive to absorbing all those inspirational design details. ‘Who doesn’t love a glass of Champagne, good music and a beautiful bathroom!’ Frank Sawkins, MD Czech & Speake Sympathetic bathroom design. If you live in a period property - there is a great supply of era specific brassware which you will find to suit the period of your building. Frank goes on to talk beyond taps, into the icon roll top baths and even the use of appropriate wallpapers all too invoke and articulate the design style. The original creator of the heritage tap range I tell off Frank for not self promoting that in the 1970’s and 80’s, Czech & Speake brought out a range called the Edwardian - which has since been imitated and adopted (but never bettered in regards to quality) across the world. If you have used or own a property with a ‘Victoriania’ styled bathroom - there is a very good chance you are seeing the inspiration from Franks design. If you are really lucky - you will actually have Czech and Speake originals! Must haves in a bathroom The first is water pressure: A bathroom should be therapeutic experience - this does mean good supply of hot water at the right pressure, literally, on tap. And if you are thinking about water supply also making sure the drainage is as efficient as the supply. Challenge your designers with your desires: If you want to have three people all having showers or baths at the same time in the house, challenge your designers with how to achieve this. It is possible to operate different systems to create this, but with extra design comes extra cost. If the investment in that solution is too great for you - at least you know that you chose to have to stagger your...

This month we talk to design professional Angel Tan, MD of The House Directory about how to source products for your project; We explore further the ‘Buy it’ stage, where will define every item which goes into furnishing and finishing your home, while making it come within your budget. Angel has a background as an Architect and Interior Designer and so, not only does she have a company which provides direct and qualified products for the residential fit out market, but also knows the personal cost of getting it wrong! Buy Cheap - Buy Twice Angel and Abi talk about how undertaking this project is most likely going to be the second biggest amount you spend in one go - coming in after the purchase of the building you are extending and/or refurbishing. We talked about understanding the temptation to save money here or there.. but how that ends up costing in the long term! 3 most important things to know when you source products 1 - Design Decisions. Make as many design decisions as you can at the start - which will ensure you can create a full and realistic budget 2 - Suppliers for Budget: To create a REALISTIC budget, contact suppliers immediately to get those quotes in for the REAL costs of the items which are in your design decision list. It’s better to know the real cost from the start and if you can’t afford everything, you can make a considered compromise. The larger cost items are the most important to consider. Kitchens, Bathrooms, Window and even window dressings. 3. Remember manufacture and delivery times: Look at lead times and deliveries - things now take a lot longer than before Brexit and Covid for items to arrive and if your builder is going to install / apply it for you - you could be left with a bill if you don’t supply the material inline with the build programme. ‘Its better to know the real cost from the start. If you can’t afford everything - you can make considered compromises’ Angel Tan, MD The House Directory Remember access! Don’t fall into the trap of seeing a bargain and snapping it up quickly before you have thought about the practicalities - can you fit that sofa in your sitting room? Can you get the bed up the stairs? Will the headboard fit through the bedroom door? It can be a very expensive mistake to wait weeks and weeks for furnishings only to find out that it doesn’t fit in the building. If you don’t know the cost - have a guess! If you have done your list of all the items you want to purchase but you are going to wait until later to specify the EXACT product - put a guess price in. You can put in £50 a meter for fabric which allows you to create a realistic budget but without specifying the exact pattern and supplier. It is better to be generous with these ‘guesses’ because, in life, items always cost more than we guess - even us experts find this. Don’t forget a contingency 5 - 10% is highly recommended because there is ALWAYS something you have either forgotten or which goes slightly wrong. Abi and Angel lament that we see such long lists for the items they are going to purchase, all fully detailed and defined, but have forgotten the cost for shipping and deliveries. Those £50 here and £9.99 there soon add up! When do I use The House Directory? The moment you have defined your design (using Pinterest or Insta) and you need to start working out the cost, look at The House Directory. You will find both suppliers and experts in the industry to help give you a realistic estimation for that item. You know by using the House Directory you are looking at products, available in the UK and available now - it’s very easy to use just Google for research and when you go back to purchase realise the items were out of stock / out of production or the shipping cost more than the item. The House Directory has been around for 20 years, developed from a seasoned Interior Designer and House magazine editor - there is a vast amount of information on there already,...

This week we talk to construction professional Siobhon Niles about the final stage of a project; The ‘Test It’ stage where you, your architect or your project manager will snag the work done by your contractor and sub contractors. Siobhon has worked on building sites for over a decade but doesn’t hide the honest truth that if you don’t give the test it and snagging stage sufficient time, you are at a loss. She talked about daylight being the most critical light there is. So you have to plan this in, if you need to wait until Saturday until you have the time to snag during the day, then make sure you plan this in. Siobhon talks about acclimatisation, lots and lots of materials (we talked about vinyl flooring) needs time to settle in the environment it is going to be used. If it is installed straight away there can be folds or creases in the installed product which you will identify during the snagging stage – so you can be creating a defect. As mentioned by our expert Quantity Surveyor in the buy it stage podcast here, the programme is everything, so snagging is built in as the programme goes along and any acclimatisation is planned in too. So snagging is not done ONLY right at the end, it’s part of the build process. ‘The key is continuous snagging throughout the build, to each stage in the programme.’ Siobhon talks about how to use samples – having a physical example of what you are buying so you can test this against the finished installed product. This helps take the emotion out of a snagging discussion as you can hold the sample up to the element which has been installed and it either matches or it doesn’t! Siobhon also talks about the importance of having in place a performance specification (which would be covered in the design it stage where the specification is created) as you might think at the test it stage that an electrical or mechanical item isn’t right- you can go back to the spec to confirm what’s right and wrong. Communication with the builder / contractor is best in a list – with a photo. Siobhon likes spreadsheets as it keeps all the comments in one place, a photo can be associated with the comment and (most importantly) the builder won’t get overwhelmed by 50 different messages over the course of multiple days. Its far better to collate all comments and send them over for each area or product being snagged and then allow the time for those comments to be digested and responded to. That time to capture items, send them and the time to respond should all be planned in the programme. Siobhon recommends taking a steer from your contractor on any specific software or apps for snagging. As there is a learning curve of how to use the software and your contractors time is best used on doing what they do best, your extension or refurb. If you love a piece of particular software please ensure you include this requirement in your specification and design pack when you tender. You can then find a contractor who will accept this from the start. Finally Siobhon recognises how emotional this stage is, when you are tired and just want to move back in or simply get the builder out. She recommends to take your time, not to rush and to remember that your contractor wants to do a good job and for you to be an ambassador for them. For more information on this podcast and other episodes please visit https://www.abigailhall.design/podcast If you have enjoyed this episode please rate, review and subscribe as it helps other home owners design their happiness.

This week we talk to Paul Vanstone about the process of preparing for, planning and commission outdoor art. As a veteran marble sculptor who sells and installs his pieces globally - Paul has lots of advice to dispense. We recorded this podcast at his atelier so thanks for understanding about some of the background noise. Paul gives us great advice about the confidence and trust in the artist to commission a piece. He gives us examples of the process he goes through with clients and encourages the listeners to be involved in the process. The three top tips for putting a sculpture outdoors are: 1) Selection of the space / Location - he uses different size cardboard cut outs (which he calls his Monty Python process) to try the pieces in different locations. the different size pieces help to get the scale correct. 2) Ground work / base preparation - make the supportive ground structure bigger than the base of the piece. When it finally comes in you might find it looks better a couple of feet to the left. The additional footings are minimal in cost to give you that ability to adjust. 3) Plan the sculpture in conjunction with your gardener / landscape architect so the two work together -the sculpture should be put in when the garden is ready, which might be well before the plants go in, or at the point of landscaping because this is the best access moment. Paul talks about how to commission something new - if the exact piece you want isn’t available or you want something bespoke, the timescales for doing this and the communication during this process. And finally we talk about budget - how you think about and talk about the cost of art. This isn’t a comfortable conversation for everyone, but Paul is very honest about how and when you have those conversations and how the artist might be able to help you tweak the piece, it’s size or base material, to help bring the sculpture into your budget. Paul can be contacted via his website https://www.paulvanstone.co.uk or on instagram @Paulvanstonesculptures For more information on this podcast and other episodes please visit https://www.abigailhall.design/podcast If you have enjoyed this episode please rate, review and subscribe as it helps other home owners design their happiness.

This week we talk (via Skype – sorry for the quality at times!) to Construction Professional Brigitte Clements, Managing partner of Loki-Architecture, an Architectural Development practice operating in the UK. We cover the difference in the different jobs, Architect, Contractor and Builder, when there is cross over and what you get from each of them. We discussed the importance of legal Party Wall agreements; more information can be found on the UK Government website https://www.gov.uk/party-walls-building-works and look out for our future podcast with a legal expert on this and other potential property dispute matters! We talk about help architects can offer at the research stage, but advised us to use your local authority planning portal to look at local planning and building regulation advice and also to see what has been approved and rejected locally. Brigitte was very open about the way she charges. If you are interested in finding an architect for your project, take Brigitte’s advice and ask for recommendations. If you can’t find anyone locally check the RIBA website https://www.architecture.com/find-an-architect/ for registered architects in your area. But go with someone you like and who you feel understands you and your project, As Brigitte says – “building work in an emotional endeavour!” Pinterest again came up as a favourite repository for research and inspirational ideas, but we also received the advice to take a photo of something you like – even if it isn’t something you specifically want in your home – it helps your construction professionals understand you and your project. And finally – we got some great advice: “If you think a professional is expensive, wait until you find out how much an amateur costs you!” Brigitte can be contacted through her practice website https://www.loki-architecture.comand she is also on LinkedIn under Brigitte Clements and on Instagram as https://www.instagram.com/loki_architecture/

Are you thinking about extending or renovating your home? Do you want to make sure the end product is perfect for your lifestyle, personality and taste? In this weeks podcast, Designing Happiness host and Technical Design Expert, Abigail Hall, takes you through the 5 easy stages. They are: Listen to the episode to find out what deliverable you should have at the end of each section and subscribe for future episodes where Abigail talks to industry professionals about how to get the most out of each stage. If you have any questions please email DesigningHappinessPodcast@gmail.com and please subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

This week I answer a question I’m regularly asked. ‘How do I turn my project into a profession?”. During the course of the lock down period a few friends have contacted me as they know I’ve run my own international design and fit out practice and wanted to talk about a career change into house refurbishments, interior design and project management. Basically they wanted to turn their own renovation, their own project, into a new profession. So here is a guide on making that change. 1. Decide which bit of the project you enjoyed the most. If you loved sourcing, buying and negotiating - then perhaps Quantity Surveying and procurement is the route for you. This is a role which is in almost every level of the design, fit out and construction sectors from a small business where you might be in charge of buying all the materials for the whole business, through to huge developers and main contractors where you might be able to specialising in buying an element you are most interested in such as roofing or internal finishes. If you enjoyed the process of planning the layout, the spacial orientation, then consider Architecture or Interior Design. Be aware that there are architects who become interior designers and there are architect practices with interior designers, but the only people who can call themselves interior architects are people with architect qualifications! See RIBA for more information. If the finishes were the most exciting then Interior Design is likely to be the perfect route for you, however if there was a particular room which you really loved to design you could consider specialising in this, such as kitchen or bathroom design. Amazing kitchen and bathroom designers develop a series of exceptional technical design skills as well as the aesthetic and a good designer is worth their weight in gold as these spaces are used so regularly that mistakes are unforgivable (to me anyway!) If you really enjoyed upgrading your electrics or plumbing and liked the problem solving element, then there are the trades of electrician or plumber or MEP design which is the full systems design (including ventilation and public health too). And don’t forget about the specialisms - there is acoustic, insulation, swimming pool design, AV/ Audio and the list goes on. If you found yourself fascinated by the area - then perhaps this is the world for you. There are the ‘trades’, dry-liner / plasterer / decorator / joiner and various fitters of flooring and units. If you were drawn to the garden over and over - Landscape Architecture might be for you, or something more niche such as green roofing specialist or even children's play area designer! And finally, if you love pulling all of the detail together, on time and co-ordinating the various trades then perhaps Project Management is for you. 2. Would you like to do this new profession as an employee or self employed? If you would like to be employed I would suggest you get training from a college or professional association which has links to placements / apprenticeships or at least links into industry as this is where you are likely to get your first job from. If you would prefer to be self employed look for a course which covers business management as a module. You will need to learn how to market yourself, to quote, negotiate, deal with disputes, employ people, write and manage contracts and deal with HMRC! I recommend KLC for people interested in going into interior Design or landscape design as they have wonderful connections into the industry with world leading companies. You can find their website here 3. What do you want to be known for? There are two schools of thought here. 1. Have a very strong and clear look / style and sell that - people know what they are getting and they either resonate with it or not. Your portfolio will show a common theme which will give customers reassurance of the look you are going to provide. 2. Be...

This week we talk to The Birch House curtain manufacturer and expert Carolyn Peyman about the technicalities of curtain rail or pole installation and the various technical choices which might influence your curtain & blind choice. Carolyn talks about when to use a curtain pole and when to choose a track and the difference between hand drawn, corded and electric. She also tells you what you are likely to get for your money Preparing for your curtains and blinds might be an activity you didn’t plan or budget for! A good handyman or curtain installer will come and check where fixings can be made although be prepared to add some support if you are going into a ceiling for a track, especially if you are going to have heavy weight curtains. If you have a new window in an extension, your lintel may prevent your pole being fitted in the exact location you want. There are ways of adding a pattress to allow the support with a more shallow fixing but this all needs to be planned in. Ideally do this preparation while the plasterers are still in as any modifications and making good can be done at the same time without the mess of repairing new plasterwork. We discuss electric curtains and Abigail talks about the ease of future proofing your renovation or extension so even if you don’t want electric curtains now, the option is there for the future. And she recommends have a control for the curtains rather than a remote control, just because we are all getting to the point of too many remotes in our houses Carolyn covers off how curtain fabric quantities are calculated and the ideal length for them. She also discusses when to use weights and how many of them. (Link here to the curtain weights Carolyn is referring to.) Abi gets sidetracked by a Baz Luhrmann film, The Great Gatsby, where there are lots of billowing curtains which she thinks needed weights! When considering privacy Carolyn advises that there are multiple options which she goes through including sheer single privacy panels, curtains and roller blinds. The discussion of suitable fabrics leads both Carolyn and Abigail to reminisce about materials they have seen fail including raw silk, which fell apart when exposed to UV for a period of time and high polyester which does hold the pleats well. We discuss the use of black out curtains and black out blinds and how to achieve the most effective light reduction, which comes through layering and the use of a pelmet. We briefly cover fire safety and curtains, always emphasising that a curtain should not be able to go near an open flame and even if you have special fire protected fabric, it does not mean they will not burn. Remember loose fabric and fire don’t go. To find out more information on Carolyn and The BirchHouse see her Instagram @The.BirchHouse or find her on Facebook under The Birch House. For more information on this podcast and other episodes please visit https://www.abigailhall.design/podcast If you have enjoyed this episode please rate, review and subscribe as it helps other home owners design their happiness. Photo credit to Lux holdups - their product can be purchased here

This week we talk to The Birch House curtain manufacturer and expert Carolyn Peyman about how to achieve the look you want with your curtains, poles, tracks and blinds. Carolyn explains how poles are a great feature, whereas tracks are more discreet, That poles are for hand drawn curtains whereas poles can be hand drawn, corded or electric. And just to confuse things, you can get tracks that look like poles which means you could then have the option or corded or electric too. We discuss how curtain heading range from the simplest headings on curtain tape such as cartridge pleat, to more complex tape headings such as cottage top and puff ball headings, then onto hand sewn headings such as single, double and triple hand pleated, goblet pleats, box pleats, inverted pleats, relaxed double pleats, smocked headings, drop-over frills, and then onto sleek and elegant wave heading. Phew, best to see the instagram page to get your head round those! Pelmets can give a beautiful finished look to a window, framing the curtains or blind, adding elegance and height. It is also a great way to prevent light seepage above the curtain, and also to cover an unsightly track. To achieve a minimal look with your window dressings, Carolyn suggests roman blinds as they are often a perfect solution for a minimal look. Roller blinds can also provide a very sleek unobtrusive look. For real minimalism, think about panel blinds which are inspired by Japanese paper walls. And if you want minimal but with curtains she recommends to go for a wave heading or a single pleat on a track or narrow pole. Carolyn goes through the benefits and challenges of curtains from all their different sources, online / ready made through to the custom made offerings from the likes of John Lewis and onto the skills and details available from you local curtain manufacturer. To find out more information on Carolyn and The BirchHouse see her Instagram @The.BirchHouse or find her on Facebook under The Birch House. For more information on this podcast and other episodes please visit https://www.abigailhall.design/podcast If you have enjoyed this episode please rate, review and subscribe as it helps other home owners design their happiness. Photo credit Fable and Willow