Home working

As home working and schooling sets to continue, a dedicated work space makes more sense.  This doesn’t have to big or take up a lot of space and can be easily and cheaply constructed.

It is important to separate home and work / school life which is not always easy but if you have a little used room or a corner of a room you could dedicate to make as workspace.  It doesn’t have to be big in these times of cloud computing, but it will help define work and leisure space.

This example has been set up as a home school space in a small room using a kitchen worktop which is fairly inexpensive and simple to install.  Once life returns to normal the area can be removed or repurposed as either a study or dressing table.

Now on Houzz

Borthwick Design and Management is now listed on Houzz which is great resource for anybody planning a home project.

 

With photos to providing some fantastic ideas and case studies, to links helping to find professionals or suppliers in your own area, plus products and even advice.

Click on the image to head over to Houzz now.

 

Covid-19 May update

For the safety of my clients and my own family, I have yet to restart home surveys.  However, I’m formulating a plan to get these booked in and conducted in a safe manor.

The lockdown is affecting existing planning applications as Planning Officers are drafted into alternative supporting roles. 

During the past weeks I have only surveyed vacant properties, made necessary site visits with suitable social distancing but I have undertaken numerous Teams video calls with potential clients.  These video calls will be invaluable for many businesses going forward but during this time has allowed me to discuss clients projects and offer some advice and provide a quotation for services.

Although its not quite business as usual, along with many others, I’ve been kept busy with home schooling, self development training including reviewing new technologies.

Plans to return to normal service are underway, ensuring priority for existing clients and projects.

Online Consultations

During these unprecedented times, many of us are now working from home which may mean  finding a quiet dedicated work place, juggling home schooling, completing basic chores and trying to find some separate relaxation space.  Not easy without the outdoor freedom of movement we’ve all become accustomed to.

If you are anything like me, extended time at home usually highlights maintenance needing attention or dreaming up changes and improvements.  Or perhaps while working from home, you are thinking this could work for you long term if you had a dedicated space to do so.

Obviously with the current restrictions, talking to a professional about what changes or alterations could be made is tricky, but given a bit of clever technology and some lateral thinking, perhaps these meeting could still take place?  Over the next few weeks, I’ll be trialling initial meetings with potential clients on-line.  Its not quite the same as a face to face meeting, but perhaps its enough to get the ball rolling on the project you promised yourself.

If you would like to chat about your home project and have access to a device with a camera, please get in touch.

mark@b-dbm.co.uk / 07971177573 / 01189696857

Covid-19 update

During this unprecedented time in our lives, the safety of our clients is our priority.  Therefore we will not be undertaking any consultations or surveys until further notice.

However, if you wish to discuss a project or some ideas you may have to improve or extend your home, we are happy to still offer a free consultation over the phone, email or by video call on-line.

Although our preference for an initial meeting would be face to face, the current situation requires a little creative flexibility.

If you wish to discuss a project or idea, please get in touch.

Meanwhile, please stay safe and for your own protection and the safety of others, please stay home.

The answer to keeping our seas clean?

Every minute, the equivalent of one full rubbish lorry of plastic flows into the sea from our rivers.  That’s 8 billion kilos per year and a real world problem.

These guys may have the perfect answer, and its so simple……air!

These guys are designing a piped system laid along the bottom of the river bed to create an air barrier to push the floating plastic to the side of the river where it is collected, yet the barrier  doesn’t stop wildlife or boats.

See The Great Bubble Barrier for details.

Wokingham Extension and Reorganisation.

Another great opportunity to visit a client to see their completed project. Once a conservatory, utility room, separate kitchen and dining, the rooms were reorganised to create an open plan space with a relocated utility room.  The conservatory was replaced with a brick extension with roof light and central sliding doors.

Chalfont Update

The Chalfont houses are now complete, signed off and one sold which is fantastic.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Once again we have achieved a “B” energy rating due to the super insulated timber frame, Solar PV, MVHR and energy efficient appliances.  To better this we need to improve on the Gas fired heating system, so the next development is incorporating Ground Source heat pumps. Looking forward to seeing that come together.

Shiplake

The Christmas toys come to site and with it a high def camera on a drone.  Thanks to Gareth we get a birds eye view of the progress of the two new houses and the renovation of The Gables.

Chalfont St Peter

The Chalfont houses are now complete, signed off and one sold which is fantastic.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Once again we have achieved a “B” energy rating due to the super insulated timber frame, Solar PV, MVHR and energy efficient appliances.  To better this we need to improve on the Gas fired heating system, so the next development is incorporating Ground Source heat pumps.  Looking forward to seeing that come together.