We at Hollytree Design can advise on what type of building can enhance your house, create the right amount of space and make the most of any extension.  It’s important to add a usable extension and two stories may not cost much more than a single storey

We are able to advise on whether planning permission is necessary, and, if it is, we can obtain all necessary permissions so your new building can go ahead smoothly and quickly.

First, look at the space.  You may not have to put everything back in the same place.  Maybe removing a wall is an option and will help movement and efficiency both in the kitchen and in the whole house or flat.  Second, what’s the budget?  You need to have an idea what you’ve got to spend so you know where to put the most money  It might be better to use basic cabinets and get a wow factor with bespoke work tops, glass splashbacks or amazing lighting. I can advise on all these and also which companies to approach to do the job.  I have a little black book of companies who can do a great job without any problems.  Thirdly, prepare!  Firstly you need to think about how you’ll cope without a kitchen for at least a week.  Contractors will usually be able to leave youwith a supply of water but you’l need an idea of where you’ll cook and wash up until the sink and cooker are back in place. This may be a time to have a holiday, you can safely leave Hollytree Design in charge of procedings while you’re away.  Also, when the cabinets and appliances arrive you need to have a secure space to keep them until they’re installed.  Is there another room or space in the garage you can use?

But don’t let the logistics put you off.  Putting in a new kitchen can increase the value of your property by 4% according to the Royal Institution of Chartered surveyors (RICS) and enhance your life dramatically.

Continuing this year – vivid colours to brighten up a room and pull a scheme together.  This way any style can be used to create an eclectic mix so any furniture you have plus bargain finds can mix and be happy together. 

Now budget need not dictate style or lack of money label us, have a great time putting things together, repainting and recovering, practical and trendy for now.

See Designers Guild, and nobody does colour better, use this for modern and classical styles.

Mulberry Home encompass the traditional style with the most sumptuous embroidery, more like wall hangings than fabric, I can’t help but want to feel them, and the colour ways are absolutely beautiful.

After some very competitive action in the lead Rick Parfitt Jnr, Brendan Cole and Heston Blumenthal gained podium places, the rest of the field including Luther Blisset, who rolled his car three times, Jimmy Akingbola, Paul O’Duffy, Vicky Gomersall, Lee McQeen, Alexander Nall-Cain, Paul Stewart, ‘Comedy’ Dave Vitty, Sally Traffic , Jo Wood and Zoe Cole.

As Rick’s an experienced racer his place on the podium was a foregone conclusion but Brendan and Heston were determined to be up there with him this time and obviously enjoyed themselves hugely.

Unfortunately Jo Wood’s paperwork was late so she couldn’t compete, the same fate suffered by Vicky Gomersall, but Sally and Zoe took on the challenge.

At one point I walked round a corner and there holding out her hand for shaking was Suzy Quattro!  I’ve snapped her here with Rick, along with the winners, Sally, Jo and Zoe, the gorgeous girls.

But about £200.00 was raised by me and about £35000 raised by all the participants.

I have just about recovered 2 days laater.

Hollytree design is located in Thame not far from the towns and villages of the Chilterns.  Thame is surrounded by Buckinghamshire due to the course of the River Thame which forms the boundary between the counties.

The rich environment of the Chilterns which forms a large part of Buckinghamshire has always influenced the architecture and interior design of this area of the country, from the chalk which has been used for lime plaster and cement making, clay for brick making and local flint which has been used for construction and decoration to produce the typical brick and flint buildings of this beautiful area.

The great swathes of beechwoods in the Chilterns have influenced interior design for centuries as the wood provided excellent raw material for furniture making.

The woods were managed and coppiced by generations of woodsmen known as bodgers who provided cut timber for the furniture trade.

The trade changed from its chair making beginning in the 1700s to being the centre for production for such companies as Parker Knoll, G-Plan and Ercol by the twentieth century.

Although the industry was unfortunately pruned by the 1990s recession the Chilterns is still a centre for design excellence, through furniture manufacturers who produce craftsman built furniture, and Buckinghamshire Chilterns university which teaches the craft of furniture making.

Hollytree design is currently involved in two projects in the heart of the Chilterns and we are very focussed on environmental aspects of the design and building in this area of outstanding natural beauty.

Ercol furniture, continues to build beautiful furniture from its award-winning factory in Princes Risborough.  From 11^th – 13^th June 2011 Ercol is having a showroom event www.ercol.com

It’s been worth the wait and I’m very happy to have a web presence again. I’m even more delighted that I’ll be able to write about what’s new in Design in interiors, building and products.

I’m very grateful to Kate at ByKate Design and Paul and Lesley at The Design Forum for putting the site together so well.

This year I’m cycling 35 miles for the WheelPower charity on Sunday 12^th June from Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

My route will take me through some pretty and possibly quite hilly Chiltern villages but I’ll be in very good company.  Last year over 1200 riders raised £40,000 for WheelPower, the charity that organises events to introduce disable people to sport.

Have a look at www.tourdevale.com, or sponsor me at www.wheelpower-raisemoney.org.uk