Architecture and interior design thread

Yep, we have used them, we actually just used the stick to wall version rather than hook, stops the pictures moving about and also meant that we could put multiple on the back to make sure it doesn't move! Have been up for a couple of years now, with none falling, no idea how hard they will be to remove...

thanks all, will get to ordering. Hopefully they'll get here soonish so I can get the prints up by next week.

Hi all,
Going to do a very mini makeover on our toilet room and would like to achieve something thike the below by way of floor tiles. What are the quality UK tile shops to look out for where I might find such a thing? Ideally not Topps. Quality is key. Never purchased tiles before so not sure what's good and what's not!

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Fired earth or mandarin stone

Ta!

FYI this style is hard to fit well as any movement can't be straightened as easily as square mosaic ones (which are still harder than large tiles).

Skill of installer will decide the quantity of the look more than the tiles.

Also get hold of some grout colour samples to match up with the tile and test out. Important as 20% of your floor will be grout with a tile that size. Ardex/mapei/BAL/kerakoll etc.

Yeah Fired Earth and Mandarin are good. I really like Johnson's Tiles / Material Lab too (same company).

+1 for Fired Earth. Bert & May are very good, and if you’ve got loads of cash (and taste) take a look at Domus.

Got a freshly reupholstered G-Plan 2 seater in return for a days easy work. Prob not the fabric I’d have chosen but not bad.

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Cheers for the tile recommendations.
Got some samples of ones I like from Fire and Earth, Domus and Claybrooke.
What is clear is that popular designs are clearly exactly the same thing from the same manufacturers at varying prices.

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I have those chequers court tiles in my kitchen, fucking love them.

Awesome, what colour grout did you go for with them? Don't suppose you'd share a pic of your floor?

Here we go.

Thanks, looks very good indeed.

Hi all,
1st time on this thread.
My wife and i have recently bought a late 60s bungalow and we're looking to extend and refurbish but would like to engage an architect to provide us with some inspiration and guidance.
We've contacted one locally who has said they offer an inital consultation -site visit , meeting , and summary document for £500 . this would obviously be before any plans etc etc.
What is the usual process for meeting with architects and starting the design work etc.
What sort of costs should we be looking at for the initial discussions / consultations?
This is the back - we’re looking to go up and out with a lot of glass at ground level.
Thanks in advance :)

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@johnnettles2 - where in the country are you based?

We're in lovely Wiltshire

First -

Draw up shortlist of architects in the area. Go through their portfolios, see if you like their work, if it fits with your vibe, if the projects look a similar scale to yours.

Pull together a pinterest (or the like) of images, styles, houses, finishes etc, etc you like. Buy magazines etc. Make sure you and the wife are on the same page from the start! Inspiration should be your own, architect should give you extra solutions to achieve it (IMO). Also think about what you want from architect - design only, project management etc - costs obv vary.

Work out how much money you have in total. Split into tax, building work, decorating/furniture/appliances and fees (and a buffer). Make this budget very clear and often in any and all conversations with architects.

You should be able to have an initial discussion without paying to see if you can work with each other - personality, price and aesthetically. All before site surveys etc. You don't want to spend £500 to find an architect who you can't work with, designs places you don't like etc, etc.

If you've done all the above and like and can afford them, then you do the site visit bit.

Reiterate your budget 100000 times.
I talked to about 5 architects, and everyone of them saw our budget as the budget for the build, not including any fees plus Vat.

thanks both - really useful feedback

To the architect cunts on this thread, where to you get your AutoCAD licenses from?
In my job I have been paying for an LT license through a local reseller of general software solutions, but am starting to suspect they are just a redundant middleman.

I think I am essentially just paying them for an add on support package? What happens if I ditch them? Can I get the license directly from AutoCAD? I don't know a lot about this stuff so any help appreciated.

Truth speaker.

U can cut out the middleman and go straight through Autodesk.

Most licenses are now online so u will need Internet to log on.

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FYI the real cunts are the developers.

Architects are just lapdogs.

Architects and other people interested in buildings - the government consultation on the use of combustible materials in and on external walls ends tonight at quarter to midnight.

Get involved if you think it's important not to ban use of structural timber.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-the-ban-on-the-use-of-combustible-materials-in-and-on-the-external-walls-of-buildings

Additional guidance and info here: https://www.architectscan.org/safe-timber