If you are unsure whether internal or external wall insulation is right for your Victorian or Edwardian home, this guide will help you understand the benefits, challenges and planning considerations of each approach. You will find clear explanations written for London homeowners, with a focus on comfort, moisture safety and long-term performance.

Damp and mould often appear slowly in London period homes. Corners cool down, condensation gathers and a faint musty smell begins to show. This guide explains how insulation, ventilation and breathable materials work together to keep moisture moving in the right direction. A simple path to a home that feels brighter, warmer and easier to live in.

A simple guide to airtightness and ventilation for London period homes. Learn how to keep your retrofit warm, dry and comfortable with the right approach.

A good brief starts with describing how you live and what inspires or frustrates you, helping your architect understand the atmosphere you want. Being honest about motivations, constraints and budget builds trust and leads to clearer guidance. Allowing your architect to explore options often produces smarter, more comfortable solutions. As the brief evolves, you make decisions with greater confidence. The result is a home that feels thoughtful, warm and truly suited to your life.

A government-backed insulation scheme meant to cut bills and carbon has left thousands of homes colder, damper, and in some cases uninhabitable. At the heart of the scandal is not insulation itself, but poor design, bad workmanship, and missing oversight. This blog explores why breathable materials, moisture-aware detailing and proper ventilation matter — and what homeowners can do to avoid the same mistakes.

Every successful home design balances three things: how it feels, how it performs, and how much it costs. At Studio CMA, we use three essential models — 3D design, energy modelling, and cost forecasting — to test ideas before they’re built. The result? Smarter decisions, fewer surprises, and homes that perform as beautifully as they look.

Architectural interiors are not decoration added at the end — they are part of the architecture itself. From kitchens and bathrooms to bespoke joinery, Studio CMA designs interiors as integrated, sustainable elements that create calm, coherent and timeless homes.

Extensions don’t have to be glass boxes. In her Good Housekeeping interview, Daniela Ciarcelluti explained how shapes drawn from context — angled walls, pitched roofs, courtyards and soft corners — can transform period homes. At Culverden Road, a triangular zinc-clad garden room replaced a dated conservatory, improving light, comfort and connection to the garden. The result shows how thoughtful design creates sustainable, timeless spaces that feel as though they have always belonged.

Victorian houses are beautiful, but they were not built for today’s hotter UK summers. Their solid walls and historic features often trap heat, making them uncomfortable during heatwaves. Retrofitting with modern insulation, ventilation, and sustainable cooling systems allows homeowners to stay comfortable while preserving their heritage and reducing energy use.

Have you ever wondered how you can enhance your home's energy efficiency without starting from scratch? What if there was a way to improve your living space while making it more sustainable?

Retrofitting is one of the smartest ways to improve the comfort, energy efficiency, and resilience of your home. In this guide, we explain what retrofit means, why it’s essential for the UK’s net-zero goals, and how sustainable architects can help you achieve a practical, future-proof upgrade — whether as part of an extension, a loft conversion, or a whole-house renovation.

Imagine stepping into your Victorian home, where the period charm meets the demand for modern energy efficiency. As homeowners seek to preserve their beloved period properties, sustainable renovations have become vital to maintaining character and comfort.

The unique architecture of Victorian homes presents both opportunities and challenges when upgrading insulation and eco-friendly features. Understanding how to navigate energy assessments, planning permissions, and appropriate materials is essential for a successful transformation.

This article delves into practical solutions for enhancing your Victorian home, from insulation techniques to innovative heating options, while ensuring that the distinctive features remain intact. Join us as we explore sustainable upgrades that protect the environment and breathe new life into these historic properties.

Imagine a home that stays warm in winter and cool in summer while reducing your carbon footprint. This is the beauty of the Passivhaus standard. It offers a transformative way to build energy-efficient homes, and homeowners across the UK are embracing this approach. Learning about Passivhaus principles in an era where sustainability matters can help you create a comfortable and eco-friendly home.

However, as with any innovative concept, myths and misconceptions often cloud the actual benefits of Passivhaus. Many misunderstandings persist from the belief that it's a design straitjacket to the notion that it's only meant for new constructions. Moreover, the apprehension surrounding costs and comfort levels can make embracing this standard seem daunting for even the most environmentally-conscious homeowners.

In this article, we will debunk the top five myths surrounding Passivhaus in the UK to reveal the reality of sustainability in modern living. Join us as we unravel the truths and highlight how Passivhaus can enhance your quality of life and pave the way for a more sustainable future.

We are thrilled to announce that Kent House has been longlisted in the Archello Awards 2024 in the "House of the Year (rural)—Small" category. We are really grateful and are looking forward to the final results!

Selecting the right builder for your project is essential for transforming your vision into reality. Whether it is a basement extension, a ground floor extension or a mansard roof extension, adding a good builder to your project team can be the difference between a smooth experience and a renovation disaster.

If you own a historic building, like a Victorian terrace or Georgian house, choosing the right builder will help protect or enhance the value of your asset. If you have a sustainable project, opting for a contractor who has experience with eco-friendly house extensions and sustainable materials is more likely to deliver your architect's sustainable design and ensure your home not only meets its intended performance but also minimises energy demand and environmental impact.

Collecting construction cost estimates and then not knowing how to choose is a recipe for disaster. Skilled architects recognise that the choice of builder significantly influences the project’s integrity, affecting everything from construction quality to the realisation of your dream.

Before starting your transformative architectural project, it's crucial to grasp the financial implications. Whether you are adding a rear extension or constructing your dream Passive House, having a comprehensive financial picture from inception to completion is essential for initial planning and decision-making.

Your plan should not be limited to your construction budget alone, covering all key elements like planning permission fees, architectural design fees, additional consultants fees, and VAT, considering your exact requirements, such as any energy efficiency measures and bespoke design features.

This article dissects the complex budgeting process for a home extension, providing essential tips to guide you toward financial success without compromising your vision.

Imagine your home not just as a shelter but as an active player in the battle against climate change. Retrofitting homes to meet Passivhaus standards is not just an environmental statement; it's a solid investment into our planet's future.

And if you own a Victorian terrace or a heritage asset, the practical application of the energy use principles of Passive House can offer design solutions to help you improve the building fabric to reduce your carbon emissions and have a positive impact. 

This article discusses the design approach to creating outstanding designs for a greener tomorrow.

In this guide, we will explore the various natural materials that can be used to create sustainable homes in London. From external insulation products to healthier surface finishes indoors, these sustainable materials add a unique and natural aesthetic to any home.

Natural materials foster an approach to sustainability that can reduce your carbon emissions while improving both thermal comfort and acoustic comfort. Learn how incorporating natural building materials can help homeowners make their urban homes more eco-friendly and sustainable.

When it comes to the construction phase, the involvement of an architect can be crucial in ensuring your project's success. From overseeing the construction process to making design decisions on-site, an architectural practice can provide valuable expertise and design knowledge that can help streamline the construction process and prevent costly mistakes.

Whether you are doing an extensive renovation or a ground floor extension, delivering your dream architectural project to your exact requirements is more than just ensuring compliance with building regulations. Involving an architect ensures continuity from concept to completion to ensure that any challenging element that may arise is resolved without compromising the outcome.

In this blog post, we'll explore why having an architect involved during construction benefits homeowners and contractors.

Are you about to embark on the exciting journey of hiring an architectural practice for your residential project? With so many options available, how do you ensure you’re choosing the right professional for your unique vision?

As the creative masterminds behind architectural designs, architects play a pivotal role in transforming ideas into a home that will impact your everyday life. However, selecting the right architect can be overwhelming, especially with the complexity and nuance involved in the design process. Whether you are doing a rear extension or extensive renovation of a Victorian terrace you will want to ensure their priorities align with yours by discussing their design process, design meeting procedures, construction budget management strategies and design approach towards subjects like environmental sustainability, contemporary architecture and heritage assets. It’s crucial to ask the right questions to gauge their expertise, style, and compatibility with your project’s goals.

To make the interview process smoother and more effective, we've compiled a comprehensive list of the top 50 questions you should consider asking. This guide aims not only to help you understand an architect's qualifications and vision but also to ensure that your collaboration is built on a solid foundation of communication and trust. Equip yourself with these essential inquiries to enlighten your decision-making and ultimately bring your architectural dream to life.

If you plan to install an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) in London, it is important to understand the process and considerations involved. ASHPs are a sustainable alternative to traditional heating systems helping to reduce your carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency, which is only multiplied when combined with solar panels and improved levels of insulation.

In this guide, we discuss the benefits and challenges of installing ASHP to make your London home sustainable and eco-friendly.