2024 An update on current renovation projects

listed stone house

I’ve been taking a brief moment to reflect on my current projects, my lovely clients and totally awesome builders. It feels like the right time to share some insights on my recent and current projects; where they are, what they are, the scope and duration, to give you a flavour of what life as a […]

Floorplans – re-imagining your space

Ground floor plan

If you are listing your property for sale, a floorplan has become a necessity rather than a ‘nice-to-have’ option. Potential buyers expect to see 2D floorplans in addition to several photos supported by a more detailed description of any property. However, a decent floorplan of your own home can be useful tool when planning how […]

Tom’s Renovation Project – Review

Victorian Cottage

“Beverley managed a major renovation of our semi-detached cottage in Poole and I thoroughly recommend her as a dedicated and professional project manager. Beverley picked up the first phase of the work for me once I had already done the design and appointed some contractors and so I was extremely grateful to her for her […]

Poole Project Management

Notebook

Spring 2021 heralds the conclusion of a residential project in a pretty corner of Poole and is a typical example of the monitoring and support we can offer to a client. Project management can take many forms. Many domestic refurbishment projects don’t require a full-time project manager and a bespoke service consisting of staged visits […]

Somerset Tourism Awards 2021

Stockham Farm

I am really please to share the news that Stockham Farm, Exmoor has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Bristol, Bath & Somerset Tourism Awards 2020/21 in two categories; Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year and the New Business Tourism Award. I worked with Ali & Jeff at Stockham Farm a couple of years ago […]

Space Planning

Rather than tack a new extension onto your property why not think about space planning? It’s a process of identifying how you can best use the existing space in your home before you add a potentially unnecessary extra room. I’m not talking storage here but the effective use of existing areas. It won’t be as […]

About Project Management

Project management books

Project management is a service often provided by architects and interior designers but professional project managers can be a practical alternative. Many people prefer to go it alone and to manage their own projects. So what are the benefits of bringing a project manager on board to manage a residential refurbishment? In the UK, second […]

Flint House Renovation

Window

This was a challenging project. Creating two new window openings in a Grade 2 listed building. With two foot thick walls. It was completed, however, and you can see the before, during and after photographs on Instagram. The build took place in the summer of 2020 squeezed between Covid Lockdown 1 and Lockdown 2 after […]

The Piggery – Testimonial

Doorways

“The Piggery is a former stone barn which many years ago had accommodated an assortment of farm animals – almost certainly not just pigs as the roof is very high.  In the 1970’s it had been converted into a 2 bedroom/1 boxroom home with permitted use as a holiday let or tenant accommodation. We were […]

The Former Door

Flowers on windowsill

A few of you have asked how I came by the name of @theformerdoor for my Instagram account. The answer is steeped in the lore of Thomas Hardy, the legendary author and poet (and architect) who wrote so captivatingly about Dorset. If you’ve visited Hardy’s lovely cob and thatch cottage in Higher Bockhampton near Dorchester you might […]