Why did you decide to start your own architecture and design practice rather than seeking conventional employment

I always wanted to be an architect form a very young age. I’ve always loved drawing and I’ve also loved buildings as they have such a huge effect on our lives. I was never going to be anything else other than an architect.

How did you bring your love and passion of homes to our screens?

Someone in TV spotted my love and passion for buildings and design and it went from there.  Build A New Life in the Country was my fist successful series but I’m now making The Home Show and Restoration Man for Channel 4. I’m very lucky to have the opportunity to show the public how to create beautiful homes.

What do you consider to be the most beautiful piece of architecture?

Your own Home is the most important piece of architecture in our lives.  It has a profound effect on us every single day and that’s why I feel it’s so important that our homes are well designed and suit the way we live 

What inspired you to become an architect?

My grandfather was a builder and I spent a lot of time on building sites. From a very young age I knew I wanted to be involved with buildings. Architecture is the most amazing creative profession, but its not a job for me, it’s a way of life 

What are your top tips for home improvements?

Employ a good architect who really understands how you live and what opportunities your home has.

Have a go yourself at redesigning your home.

Find a well-established and highly recommended builder.

Get a fixed price from your builder before he starts work.

Don’t overstretch yourself financially.

Small change can make a big difference, but manage your own expectations. Really try to understand your budget and be realistic about what you can afford.

Manage your budget properly and keep on top of your costs throughout the build, and don’t forget to include fees and VAT to the bottom line.

Try and make all of your design and styling decisions before the build begins so you don’t hold up the build process. Changing your mind takes up time and is costly.

If it’s a big project employ a good project manager. Don’t kid yourself that you can do it if you have no experience of it.

The building game is stressful. Try and stay calm and communicate with your team the best you can. Clear, concise and recorded communication is everything.

What are you top tips to add value to your property?

Making your existing layout and space work better and more efficiently will add value.

Adding space through loft conversions, extensions and basement confusions adds value. 3. Make your house look good from the outside as well as the inside.

If your home is well maintained and looked after it will maintain its value.

Refurbishing kitchens will always add value.

Refurbishing bathrooms will always add value.

Upgrading your plumbing and electrical systems will add value.

A beautiful garden design will add value.

Reconfiguring your home to create dramatic architectural spaces will give the house a wow factor and will add value.

Sensible ecological design technology will add value too. 

How would you advice people to save money on home renovation?

Save money by reducing the running costs of your home and at the same time helping to save the environment. Install energy efficient boilers, double/triple glazing and as much insulation as you can afford. Go way beyond the building regulations to make your home energy efficient 

How important is it to make green home improvements, and what are the most effective ways to reduce your homes’ emissions through structure and design?

Same as above. You don’t need to spend lots of money on eco technology to have a big effect on your home.  Lots of high quality insulation would be the best start as you will recoup your investment on energy bills very quickly

Are you excited about your new series?  Can you tell us a bit about what you have in store?

Restoration Man is my new series running alongside The Home Show.  Where The Home Show is me taking control and transforming people’s everyday homes on a budget, Restoration Man is a campaign for the public to save some of the hidden historic gems we have across Britain.  I help people who have bought some of the most unusual and unique buildings and want to save them by converting them into homes. We really get under the skin of the history of these buildings and the red tape you will come up against if you want to be a Restoration Warrior.

With the recession affecting the property market what trends are emerging in home improvements?

Thankfully people are staying where they are and making their existing houses into the home of their dreams. They are adding value to what they already have rather than wasting money trying to climb up the property ladder.

Why have you chosen to be involved in the Ideal Home Show?

For me the Ideal Home Show is a truly British Institution that has been part of our heritage for over 102 years.  I’m very proud to be associated with such an important event that puts British Homes on the global map.

What does the Ideal Home Show mean to you?

It been around for 102 years! It is part of our heritage and tradition.  Its not only an exciting event for families and kids, but it’s rightly back where it should be; at the forefront of home technology

What are you looking to do as an Ambassador for the event?

Raise awareness that the Ideal Home is such an exciting and important historic event for Britain and I want to help people create beautiful homes

What kind of house do you live in and where?

I live in a 1910 Edwardian House in West London

What are your home comforts?

My Eames Lounge Chair, My Saarinen Oval Dining Table and My Conmoto Fireplace designed by Peter Maly, Fine Wine and Good Food!

Do you have an essential item in your house you that simply can’t live without?

Sadly, my big TV and DVD player. We’re addicted to DVD box sets!

What’s your favourite room in your house and why?

My Study. I like working from home and being surrounded by my books

What role do you play in your home?

Architect!

What does your home mean to you?

Everything! It’s the centre of my world!

What makes an Ideal Home for you?

Comfort combined with beautiful modern design

George Clarke is the Ambassador for the Ideal Improvements section at this year’s Ideal Home Show 2010. George will be at the show in person offering a series of demonstrations and seminars offering practical advice on many home improvement projects. The Ideal Home Show, London will open its doors for 17 days from 20th March – 5th April 2009, at London’s Earls Court. Tickets can be either booked online or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0844 415 4144. or to purchase tickets online visit the website www.idealhomeshow.co.uk

Or you can enter out competition to win one of ten tickets by clicking here.

20^th March – 5^th April 2010 at London’s Earls Court.

It’s the famous, trend-setting show that made home-making a national passion; The Ideal Home Show is returning for its 102^nd year, with a brand new look and 17 day format from 20^th March  to the 5^th April 2010 and we here at 69 have 10 pairs of tickets for our lucky readers to win!

The new-look Ideal Home Show will take visitors through an exciting and spectacular showcase of inspirational living that combines eight different sections into one show, including Ideal Home Improvements, Ideal Village,Ideal Food, Ideal Gardens, Ideal Shopping, Ideal Woman, Ideal Gadgets and Ideal Interiors, creating the UK’s biggest Home Show.

This year’s show explores the world of home interiors and style, unveils a series of industry firsts and UK product launches, and offers more interactive features than ever before.  There’s everything from DIY to fine dining, gadgets and pampering, as well as a host of celebrity guests across the 17 day event; a great day out with something for the whole family, all rolled into one.

This year’s celebrity experts include TV Presenter and home improvement expert George Clarke, Masterchef star Gregg Wallace, Interior Designer Linda Barker, TV Presenter Fiona Phillips, and expert Gardener Monty Don, among many more, who will host a series of workshops and seminars to help visitors achieve the ultimate Ideal Home.

With over 500 exhibitors offering an unrivalled range of products, visitors to this year’s show will find everything from the smallest simple tricks to invigorate the home to inspiration and advice for complete renovation, extension and new build projects.

The Ideal Home Show is giving 69’s readers the chance to WIN one of 10 pairs of tickets.

All you need to do is fill in your details below.

Tickets can be either booked online or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0844 415 4144. Group bookings can be made by calling the Groups Hotline on 0844 412 4650, or for further information about the show and to purchase tickets online visit the website www.idealhomeshow.co.uk

Follow the Ideal Home Show on Twitter http://twitter.com/ideal_home_show

Ticket Information:

On Door         In Advance

Weekday Adult                                                         £15                                      £10

Weekend Adult                                                         £17                                      £12

Weekday Concession (Over 60′s)                     £11                                      £9

Weekend Concession (Over 60′s)                     £13                                      £11

Children under 16                             Free (ticket is required)

Late Night Thursday Open until 9pm                     £5 after 5pm                     £5 after 5pm

Transaction fee                                                            n/a                                      £1.50

*Children under 16 do require a ticket which should be requested at the time of booking.  Must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Please note that Free of Charge tickets do not qualify for a free showguide.

Opening times:

Opening Day – 20^th March                                    10am – 6pm

Weekdays & Weekends                                              10am – 6pm

Thursday – late night                                                10am – 9pm

Final Monday – 5^th April (Bank Holiday)                10am – 6pm

*Terms and conditions

1. This offer is only open to UK residents

2. Complimentary tickets are valid for one day only, on any one day of the show between the  20^th March – 5^th April 2010 at London’s Earls Court

3. Tickets are non transferable

4. Complimentary tickets obtained through this offer may not be duplicated.

5. All tickets will be scanned on entry to the show

6. The closing date for this offer is 15th March

A partially-sighted footballer and a former recruitment consultant have been crowned the joint winners of Britain’s Next Top Interior Designer competition.

Danny Gauden, 21, from Liverpool and Alexandra Jensen-Humphreys, 30, from London, beat off stiff competition to be named the best new talent in the country in the competition organised by international property group Grosvenor.

Leading the judging panel was designer to the stars Ben de Lisi, Kate Kingston from Kingston Shaw and Alex Proby, inhouse interiors expert at Grosvenor.

De Lisi, who was a mentor on Sky One’s Project Catwalk and a favourite of stars such as Kate Winslet, said: “We were met with some excellent work but Danny and Alexandra’s designs were polished and represented the project brief perfectly.

“Alexandra’s had a timeless elegance to it and Danny’s bold choice of colours and cultural references reflected a great sense of humour.

“This competition was an unrivalled opportunity for interiors students and these two performed exceptionally.”

The competitors were made up of students from two of the country’s top interior design schools, KLC School of Interior Design in London and Liverpool John Moores University. They were tasked with designing two studio apartments for an urban professional and a retired couple at Grosvenor’s flagship One Park West building, in Liverpool.

The winning designs will be implemented in the landmark building, which was designed by world renowned architect, Cesar Pelli, famous for the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpar and Canary Wharf Tower in London.

Thee winning designs will take 6- 8 weeks to implement at One Park West and will be available for viewing from INSERT.

When Leeds based interior designers, Ben Huckerby Design, announced an exclusive contract which will see them working in tandem with Vivienne Westwood to inject her signature designs into houses across the North we had to find out more.

The contemporary interior designers, who won an award at the Leeds Bar and Club Awards, for the design of Oracle in Leeds, has been hand picked to showcase the first interior collection by the iconic style queen.

Famous for being shocking, Westwood’s revival of traditional English tailoring with a twist is something that the team at Ben Huckerby Design have always admired, and the collaboration is expected to be a huge success.

The new wallpaper, manufactured by top British company Cole & Son, has been produced in 12 different patterns by fashions most charming and eccentric designer.  Ranging from her iconic ‘squiggle’ print as seen in her Autumn 1981/82 Pirate collection to ‘Insects’, based on Elizabeth I’s wardrobe; it’s the anarchy of print combined with Westwood’s vast fashion experience that makes for such an innovative collection.

This must-see wallpaper is available to view by appointment at the Ben Huckerby Design studio on Benson Street now.

Have a closer look click on one of the squares below.

On the techincal side of things it does have a pretty niffty 1.5-inch 10W tweeters and a 5.25-inch 80W subwoofer to shudder your pelvis, all of which contribute to an overall power rating of 70W. Which is nice and it does look sort of pretty and with over 10 colours to chose from it would be perfect for any room short of space. But at$570 its not something I will be rushing out to buy.

Head on over to branexdesign.com to learn more.

Inspired in part 50′s television sets, typewriters and a big dash of steam punk. Its only in the design stages at the moment but my fingers are crossed for a release next year.

Let us know what you think below.

Philco PC from Dave Schultze on Vimeo.

Sadly it’s not on sale just yet but if you are in the vicinity of the Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore then go and have a look. Or just watch the video below to see it in action.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRWIRWZ9hos