The £17,000 Wendy House

At a time when financial markets are in turmoil and first-time buyers are finding it increasingly tough to get their foot on the property ladder, spending £17,000 on a glorified Wendy house might seem a mite extravagant. Then again, the Grand Victorian, which measures more than 9ft from the ground to the top of its turreted roof, lives up to its name, with stained-glass windows, a fireplace, a loft and a brass door knocker.
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Window to Balcony in one move

Bloomframe is an innovative window frame which can be transformed into a balcony - perfect for your house renovation. Opening the bloomframe window offers the possibility to step outside and enjoy the outdoor space. With one simple movement, light, air and space are added to the interior. The dynamic balcony offers a perfect home renovation solution for compact apartments in dense urban areas. The bloomframe balcony can be installed in new and existing buildings.

Hofman Dujardin Architects from Amsterdam designed and patented the innovative balcony. Hurk geveltechniek from Veldhoven is responsible for the developement, the production and the sales of the Bloomframe balcony.
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U-turn for loft conversion rules

Good news for anyone considering a loft conversion: you may not need planning permission, following a government U-turn last week.

pressure from home improvers and builders has forced ministers to rethink plans that would have restricted all but the most modest loft conversions, at a time when increasing numbers of homeowners are extending their properties rather than face the high cost of moving.
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facts - finding a good builder

You’ll not only endure weeks of builder’s bum and builder’s tea - a builder can make your project a dream or a nightmare. Find out how to choose wisely.

A bad builder in your home can be an extremely stressful experience, but for every rotten apple there are many hard-working and responsible companies. The trick is knowing how to select them. Below is a step-by-step guide to rooting out the cowboys and picking a sure-fire winner.
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