Monitoring our energy use and implementing strategies for reducing consumption has been an important first step in improving efficiency in our energy policy and is a process we highly recommend to our clients, but like all businesses and homes we need electricity to function.

The switch to Ecotricity’s New Energy Plus tariff now confirms that our quota of electricity consumed within our office, shop and studio has been generated from 100% renewable sources.  Ecotricity’s policy of continual investment in their own generation infrastructure is an example that many other suppliers could learn much from and will help underpin a sustainable future.

Find out more about Ecotricity at their website, and see if the switch suits you.

From taking posession of the site on Tuesday, internal strip out, excavation and foundations for the contemporary glass extension had been completed by building contractor Dean Edwards Ltd by Friday afternoon.

Due to tight time constraints for the on-site work, Dwell prepared detailed construction information for the structural steelwork and specialist glazing, allowing orders for these long lead-time elements to be placed weeks in advance of the site start.

Intended for insulating existing homes and not for use in new buildings or extensions, rolls of 100mm and 170mm thick Rockwool insulation for DIY installation are £3 each including delivery.

Find out more and do your bit for energy conservation here.

“We were delighted with the design service provided by Dwell for our loft conversion project.  Their friendly and efficient service was quick to understand what we were trying to achieve and offered many useful suggestions and improvements to our concept.  Moreover, they worked closely with our building contractor from the outset to jointly ensure that the work was planned, approved and progressed without issue, delay or any unexpected surprises.  We didn’t think building projects could run this smoothly!”

The project, located close to our studio in Scaynes Hill is, we believe, the first of its type in the UK. Framed with locally-grown FSC-certified oak, the house will realise our client’s long term ambition of a sustainable Wealden Hall House designed to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5 (CSH Level 6 being the highest attainable).

Featuring amongst other aspects a super-insulated envelope, wood chip boiler system, photovoltaic panels and biodigester package sewerage plant, the scheme for a has received favourable feedback from Mid Sussex Green Party candidate Paul Brown. Mr Brown comments:

“I wish to support this application for an energy efficient Code 5 compliant dwelling on the owners site. I hope that MSDC will see fit to support this development and that it will become the first of many exemplars to builders and developers in Mid Sussex”.

A final decision from the planning department at MSDC is due within the next couple of weeks, and we look forward to receiving news of its approval.

Poor ground conditions and the torrential rain of the last week have hampered progress slightly, but with foundations now cast, Paladin Construction are set to continue apace on this large extension and alteration project.

When complete, our clients will enjoy distant views over the rolling Sussex countryside from their new kitchen, living room and enlarged master suite which will feature floor to ceiling bi-fold doors and glass balcony.

The site has planning consent for the two homes, which is due to expire shortly, so immediate action is required to allow construction work to commence in early August.

Knowing the value Dwell’s team can add to their projects, an immediate review of the consent, site history and approved drawings was commissioned resulting in suggested improvements. By rationalising the plan layouts to increase natural daylight and simplify the build process, savings of both time and money are anticipated. Through negotiation with the planners, it is hoped to improve the external appearance of the units, in turn helping to increase the end values of the homes.

Work is underway to fast-track the construction drawings ready for Building Control approval from one of Dwell’s consultant BCOs.

Harmony at Home was established in 2004 and is now a successful nanny agency with branches across the UK dedicated to helping parents find appropriate childcare. 

The new store will stock a range of modern and traditional toys and accessories carefully selected by Frankie, herself an experienced Norland nanny, and her team.

Dwell have produced a series of design and layout options for the store, offering their own retailing experience to help maximise the space and functionality of the new store.

We wish Frankie and her team every success with the new venture and look forward to the imminent launch!

This 1960′s house suffered from a warren of small rooms and tiny kitchen, accessed only through the dining room, with the only garden access from kitchen onto a dank side patio area and not into the rear garden proper.  Our brief was simple: provide a large, open-plan kitchen, dining, and family living space, with good natural light and the all-important ‘indoors-outdoors’ feel.

We achieved this by building a single-storey linear extension with vaulted ceiling where the dank side patio was.  This connected the house to the existing detached garage, providing a useful utility space as a buffer inbetween.  By moving the study from the front to the rear of the house, it not only offered views into the garden as the perfect backdrop to brighten the working day, but provided better opportunities for the layout of the kitchen/dining/family space.  The open-plan space was created by removing the entire side wall of the house at ground floor level, and installing steel beams and columns to support the structural loads.

The existing kitchen window opening was enlarged and bi-fold doors were installed to match those fitted in the new glazed gable of the extension, and the two combined offer great views into the south-facing garden.  A stylish kitchen was installed, together with integrated audio-visual cabling and equipment.  Ceramic flooring was laid throughout to enhance the feeling of spaciousness, the light colour reflecting the natural daylight.  Underfloor heating was installed to reduce the need for wall-mounted radiators for which space was limited, and provides comfort underfoot even on the coldest days.

The scheme provides a new open-plan kitchen and family room, with dedicated dining space.  Upstairs, we’ve added a new master bedroom with en-suite facilities, and the proposal includes a new large garage to the rear. 

Close liaison with the Local Planning Authority, Mid Sussex District Council, including pre-application advice and a preliminary site visit to discuss the proposals with a case officer was helpful in establishing a dialogue and developing a scheme that met with their approval.