At the heart of any budget should be a very, very good spreadsheet. I worked on the budget for my self build project with my quantity surveyor, who gave me the bones and I have spent many nights adding in costs and fine-tuning. However, when you think your budget is just right, you get to…

Lydia Robinson and Lawrence Grigg turn detective as they try to trace the history of their new renovation project Having bought Mabel’s Farmhouse, we were keen to discover who the eponymous Mabel was. Researching your own home’s history is a thrilling, time-consuming and slightly addictive pursuit which requires leads, lateral thinking and a bit of luck.…