The Complete Design Lab Whole-home design, beautifully considered.

The Complete Design Lab

Whole-home design, beautifully considered.

Latest Articles

Space Planning

Six Months In: The Honest Post-Renovation Review Nobody Publishes

Portfolio shots are taken in the first week, when everything's clean and nobody's living in it yet. We went back to a completed whole-home renovation six months on to find out what the family actually uses, what broke, and what they'd do differently. Spoiler: the statement wallpaper had a rough time.

Before You Pick a Single Paint Colour: The Five Decisions That Hold Your Whole Renovation Up
Renovation Planning

Before You Pick a Single Paint Colour: The Five Decisions That Hold Your Whole Renovation Up

Some design choices can be changed on a whim at 10pm with a tin of sample paint. Others — floor levels, plumbing runs, door positions — are the skeleton your whole project hangs on. Here's how to spot the difference and lock in the load-bearing decisions before they cost you a fortune.

The Ten Per Cent That Makes the Whole House Sing
Space Planning

The Ten Per Cent That Makes the Whole House Sing

Every memorable home we've ever worked on has one thing in common: a single, slightly extravagant gesture that anchors everything else. Here's why we think roughly a tenth of your budget should go on one unforgettable feature — and how to choose yours wisely.

Built for the Wet: Weatherproofing Your Dream Interior, Room by Room
Renovation Planning

Built for the Wet: Weatherproofing Your Dream Interior, Room by Room

British weather doesn't care how lovely your renovation looks on Instagram. From condensation on bedroom windows to damp creeping up kitchen walls, this guide covers the finishes, flooring and ventilation choices that keep a whole-home transformation beautiful through every soggy February.

Befriend Your House Before You Renovate It: A Field Guide to Really Knowing Your Home
Space Planning

Befriend Your House Before You Renovate It: A Field Guide to Really Knowing Your Home

Before you spend a penny on drawings, spend a fortnight learning how your house actually behaves. From tracing plumbing runs to mapping where the sun lands in February, here's how to build a home dossier that saves thousands.

Almost Right Is Still Wrong: The Case for a Wrong-Turn Fund
Renovation Planning

Almost Right Is Still Wrong: The Case for a Wrong-Turn Fund

The tiles were lovely — just half a metre short. The radiator moved beautifully — after the plaster had gone on. Here's why every whole-home renovation budget needs a dedicated fund for the decisions that don't quite land.

The Corridor Is the House: Stop Treating Your Hallway as Leftover Space
Space Planning

The Corridor Is the House: Stop Treating Your Hallway as Leftover Space

We'll say it plainly: the hallway is the most important room in your home, and it's the one nearly everyone forgets. Here's why the journey from your front door sets the tone for everything that follows — and how to design the spine of your house properly.

The Real Receipts: What a Full House Renovation Actually Cost, Line by Line
Renovation Planning

The Real Receipts: What a Full House Renovation Actually Cost, Line by Line

Forget the glossy before-and-afters — here are the actual numbers from three recent whole-home projects, anonymised and laid bare. Where the money went, where it vanished, and the costs that never make it onto anyone's mood board.

Trial Run: Seven Low-Stakes Experiments to Run Before You Draw Up Renovation Plans
Space Planning

Trial Run: Seven Low-Stakes Experiments to Run Before You Draw Up Renovation Plans

Before you commit four figures to a kitchen island or knock through a wall, run a few brilliantly cheap experiments first. These reversible trials reveal how you actually live in your home — and the findings will make your renovation brief sharper, braver and far less likely to include regrets.

One Palette, Every Room: Building a Colour Story That Carries Through Your Whole House
Renovation Planning

One Palette, Every Room: Building a Colour Story That Carries Through Your Whole House

Your hallway sets the tone, but the real test of a colour scheme is whether it still makes sense by the time guests reach the spare room. Here's how to build a whole-home palette that flows naturally from front door to furthest corner — no matching-furniture showroom look required.

From Top to Toe: The Smart Order of Operations for Renovating Your Entire Home
Renovation Planning

From Top to Toe: The Smart Order of Operations for Renovating Your Entire Home

Tackling every room at once sounds exciting until the dust settles (everywhere). Here's how to sequence a whole-home transformation in a way that protects your budget, your sanity, and your weekends.

One Room, Three Jobs: Clever Zoning Ideas for Compact British Homes
Space Planning

One Room, Three Jobs: Clever Zoning Ideas for Compact British Homes

British homes are famously cosy — a polite way of saying compact. From hidden desks to guest-ready alcoves, here's how to make a single room pull triple duty without feeling cluttered.