'Eco' building? Got questions? Need Answers? Offering a product or service? Visit our forum.

Around an ongoing barn conversion project, this website draws together advice, information and references to aid all would-be and current barn and non-residential building converters and renovators.

Our approach takes on board 'healthy house', sustainable, ecological & environmental concepts to as great a degree as timescales and budgets allow.

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Step 6 – Define your design ethos

Category: Steps along the way November 4th, 2008 by mbc

Decide upon your design ethos.

Much as I hate the pretentious word ethos I think it’s essential to define what you want to achieve. To continue on a pretentious theme whilst shifting into the world of business speak to define your terms of reference.

For example, do you want a eco-minimalist, ‘healthy house’ or country kitchen style (or perhaps try to blend all three for a unique yet barmy finish)?

There are many ways to approach your design and approach is not something to consider as your build comes to a close and you start thinking about final finishes or at some other predefined stage but right up front before you begin to make too many decisions and draw too many lines in the sand.

What do you like, what can you afford, what will your building, building regulations and the planners allow? - Answer these questions and you’ll be getting there.

By the way - our ethos on this project is, to carry out a:

‘Healthy House’ and (not ultra) modern NOT National Trust gravel and trees in pots barn conversion.

…pick the bones out of that one!

If you enjoyed that post, then read these...

step 1 - questions, questions, questions... on July 7th, 2006
First answer the following questions: 1.

category: 'Steps along the way' title

Step 2 - the root of all evil on July 7th, 2006
Money! Get financing agreed in principle, this will allow your to set you budget.

category: 'Steps along the way' title

Step 3 - property on July 7th, 2006
Start the ball rolling Visit estate agents and search the internet for properties in your chosen area.

title category: 'Steps along the way'

Step 4 – design owner / design implementer on February 26th, 2007
(or ... will you employ an architect?) We have some strong opinions about how we wanted the conversion to be. We’re keen on a natural finish,...

title category: 'Steps along the way'

Step 5 – project management on March 22nd, 2007
Answer these: Question: So once you’ve started, who will bring it all together? Question: Can you handle the potential loss of control of the project of delegating...

category: 'Steps along the way' title

Posted in Steps along the way |

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