One of the most appealing things about living in London is the array of wonderful period town houses and older properties on offer. These stunning properties often make fantastic, comfortable homes and they make a wonderful impression on your guests, friends and family.

However, it is important to remember that older properties in the capital city are sometimes in need of significant modernisation. If no previous owner has taken the steps to bring the property into the modern era, then it will be up to you to make the necessary changes. Sometimes, a refurbishment has been completed but it was over 20 or 30 years ago and is tired and needs completely renovating. The woodwork might be worn, the flooring tired and creaking, the doors might not be closing properly or the windows might be in need of attention.

It can seem like something of a challenge to update one of London’s older properties to make it suitable for today’s modern lifestyle, especially in a conservation area or if it is a listed building. You should use the expertise of one of the capital’s reputable construction and local building companies. They can often advise on what is possible and what is not, before you go and meet with an interior designer or an architect. If you are looking for qualified architects, expert craftsmen, specialist trades and interior designers, London is definitely the place to be. It is sensible for property owners to seek the opinion of a respected residential architect, discussing their ideas with a local building company at the initial design stage. Considerations such as what might work well, what could be a challenge to build, is there  a different way to build something or achieve almost the same effect without the expense, what’s possible, what elements need to be considered and how long the renovation of this old property might take.

Local building companies bring all aspects of renovation under one roof to make the process of having your home refurbished or modernised much easier. Importantly, you need to have the whole project managed as well – and if your construction partner knows their stuff, they can often do this for you at no extra charge. When the builder and architect are working closely, they can incorporate modern building materials that more energy efficient, smaller, neater, stronger, lighter or more malleable. Working as a team with you as the captain, is the best way to transform your older property into a home that meets the contemporary needs of you and your family.

Independent residential architects and local builders are usually two very different types of people. As a result, sometimes your renovation could be more difficult for you to manage or take a lot more time than you anticipated.

If your London home needs serious attention to the interior design or layout, you will need the expertise of both a residential architect and local construction company to make a really impressive renovation a reality. It can be daunting when trying to appoint both these professionals, organise the operations in both companies whilst coordinating and scheduling activity and juggling your diary day to day. Common questions or concerns shared by many London property owners are:
Will they get on? What will happen when something goes wrong?
Are they prepared to be held to account and who will take responsibility?
How will they solve problems that arise? What will I do if they fall out?
Have they worked together before? Will they work well together on my project?
Will I be a priority to them?

It sounds exhausting just thinking about it and they are all legitimate questions to ask your local residential architect and your preferred local building and construction company.

These are all fair questions that home owners in London often ask before we start a renovation or refurbishment project. Some clients feel all this might be too much and decide to appoint a dedicated project manager to help them with this process. Good in theory, and sometimes a real asset. Generally, we find what works much better (more efficient, most cost effective and faster) is to appoint a design and build company comprising of both residential architects and local builders. Working on the same team and if possible, even sharing the same office. This means questions can be asked by nipping over to a desk and getting the answer immediately. This has considerable and tangible value, especially during large renovation projects where strong communication and excellent understanding is critical.

Sharing valuable construction expertise and inputting into building design decisions early on in the process means you avoid wasting time and resources with designs that simply will not work or be possible to construct in your home. It’s easy to underestimate the benefits of this approach. Ultimately, this sharing of expertise and responsibility saves you a great deal of trouble, eliminates a lot of stress, usually saves an enormous amount of time and may save you considerable amounts of money. It certainly offers you peace of mind that the project management is in good hands and being handled properly.

A firm made up of reputable builders and residential architects in London is likely to provide a much smoother service than a series of different providers, all offering their services independently and protecting their own interests. As well as peace of mind, there is also much less chance of little things being overlooked when one company takes full charge of a renovation project. On top of this, you have one point of contact who is in full control of the entire renovation – responsible and accountable. No one blaming someone else, no one falling out with each other, just having your best interests at heart.

In addition, your renovation will be free to run as smoothly as possible and you won’t be bothered by smaller details, problems can be dealt with (even before you know they existed) and project management is straightforward for all involved. Having shared a workable timetable for both teams with you from the beginning, you can manage your property renovation effectively with minimal effort on your part.

It is important you select a competent and experienced, professional construction company and chose very carefully when you are looking to modernise your West London property. London properties can be extremely striking, but they can be even more impressive once they have been renovated by experts and fit for modern day living.

Your best choice when you are looking to make some changes to the interiors of your property is to contact a team of expert interior designers and residential architects – to “see and create” the new interior space you are hoping for – as well as some building and construction professionals who know all of the important steps to take when building your perfect renovation. Having the design and build together in one company means you benefit from having a single point of contact.

If your property is in Kensington & Chelsea or Westminster, your refurbishment or renovation could be completed by a single design and build company. By taking on all the architectural and design elements, building work and interior design (including all the snagging and post contract after care) you benefit from excellent communication and have someone accountable for your entire renovation project. Otherwise you might be left chasing a number of different tradesmen offering different services who are all trying to blame each other for things not running to plan or schedule.

The most tangible differences you see from a design and build company will be reduced disruption to you personally, time saved by all parties being on the same team and you talking with just one person who is responsible for your entire renovation project, much greater efficiency on your project including all project management, respected time scales and much better results.

Professional building companies are a real asset to have on board when you want your home renovated. Lots of really impressive London properties have been given the benefit of a full-scale internal renovation in order to prepare them for the more modern lifestyles of their owners.

Firms dealing with property renovation in London usually offer a range of connected services. These are often as follows:

Architecture

Skilled architects are your first port of call. They are the team with the vision and expertise to create a workable design for the renovation of your home.

Interior design

Interior design is all about attention to detail. The team responsible for your interiors is likely to prioritise aesthetics and practicality in equal measure to deliver stunning décor that also promotes convenience.

Building

A dedicated team of builders must be on hand in order to effect all maintenance work to the highest of standards and with the professionalism and transparency you expect from a highly qualified outfit.

Project management

To top things off, you should be able to take advantage of excellent project management. This simply ensures your project stays on budget and meets expected deadlines. A good project management team will also offer a great aftercare package.

A home renovation has to be a team effort in order for it to be a success. The holy trinity in construction terms is that of the Client, the Architect and the Builder. There isn’t any room for egos and bickering between different parties when trying to facilitate and move a project forward. The real concern is how to create a really impressive renovation and put everything in place to meet and exceed expectations, whilst respecting project goals set, including the budget and times scheduled. After all, it is the homeowner that loses out when interior designers, builders and architects do not sing from the same hymn sheet and don’t act like they are on the same team.

The best way to avoid this any fractured relationships is to choose a company that incorporates all these elements to effect your renovation – the design and build as well as your project management. If your architects, builders, project managers and interior designers are all part of the same team, then you know your team are all working towards the same goal with each other firmly in mind.

Design and build projects are easier, cheaper, often faster and more effective if all the interested parties are working together – ideally in the same office. For house renovation in London, make a point of looking for a design and build company that has the right kind of structure, good communication and who work closely together to deliver the best results in the right time frame, with the minimum level of disruption. Buildburo work alongside our sister company, Buroarchitects – and both companies combine to form TylerMandic to offer complete design and build as well as peace of mind for property owners.