Building Tips

We love producing special builds, can we help you feel the same way?...

Building Charm Into A New Home - Jo Robinson

Its exciting buying a brand new home.  Nobody has ever lived there before and everything in it is unused, clean and fresh.  The difficult part is to incorporate interesting features, both internal and external which make a home unique.

  Within the new homes market the choice on offer is immense. From starter home to executive country retreat there are a whole range of styles, locations and prices to suit all.  But what materials and items do you use to get your property to stand out, with an extra helping of charm and charisma?

Externally, using the right products allows even a new build to look as if it has been standing for over a century.  The county of Northumberland is blessed with having it’s own supply of natural stand stone which is warm in colour and rich in texture.  Pair this with natural stone quoins, heads and cills complimenting sash  windows and you have a timeless combination.  Add an extra feature such as a date stone or a dovecott which works well to break up a solid stone wall.  Natural slate roofing, cast iron or aluminum guttering are materials which will all add to the quality of a build.  

Anyone self building will have had ample time before construction commences to ponder on the internal fit and external materials to be used.  Alternatively,  you purchase a property from a developer who will allow you plenty of choice on the interior fit.  The earlier you become involved in a project, the more opportunity there is to customize a property, generally agreed after exchange of contracts.  Many interior items have a short lead time for ordering such as bathrooms, tiling, flooring and electrical fixtures and fittings.  Choices in these areas go along way to personalizing a house, especially when it is too late to change larger items for example a handmade kitchen which would have been ordered months before it is ready to fit.  Colours used for decoration throughout a property will help bring together the style chosen for fixtures and fittings to create an overall look.

At Stone Homes, the aim is to introduce classic features into every build to give a property a timeless quality.  Arches made of handmade bricks, handmade wooden ceiling beams, exposed internal stone walling and stained glass doors illustrate the range of features which make a Stone Homes property special.  On a more detailed level, chrome door handles and sockets, up lighters painted to match walls, classic door furniture on handcrafted doors all add up to create a  well presented home in which every aspect of living space is complimentary and shares a common style and theme throughout.. 

Any home needs to have the basics right as a back drop to set off personal detailing.  As living space becomes increasingly important in all our lives, its worth putting in the effort to make yours special to you.

Stone Homes, only build in Northumberland and strive to produce not houses but homes.  Homes full of character and charm.

Bespoke Homes - Jo Robinson

In a market where there is a multitude of companies producing new builds, a great spectrum exists of what the finished article should incorporate. 

Many larger companies will offer a choice from a standard range of kitchens, bath suites and décor which although allows an element of personal choice, for practical reasons the ranges tended to be restricted.

Because Stone Homes only produce three to four properties each year, we are able to work more closely with our customers to produce a home filled with individual preferences.  Our aim is to hand over a house that feels as though you have already lived in it.

Bespoke homes are a step away from self-builds.  The heartache of initially finding a plot on which to built is instantly removed, you are able to rely of the developers expertise in many fields you have no knowledge of and you do not have to spend all your spare time sourcing and purchasing your desired products.  If you are contemplating having a bespoke home built, some of the key areas to consider are as follows;

The single most important area to work on is the kitchen – it is rarely just a place where food is prepared.  Breakfasting kitchens are practically a standard requirement even if a house contains a dining room.  It could be argued that a purchasing decision could hinge on the layout and style of a kitchen, as nobody wants to purchase a new build and find they are having to replace an unsuitable kitchen which is a great expense. The layout is equally as important as the door style – space needs to be used wisely, appliances positioned in a practical sequence, and the colour on the walls should compliment the units.

Bathrooms follow on as the next crucial choice in terms of size, layout and tiling.  What one customer may feel is a fantastic spacious bathroom, another may see as a waste of floor space which could be used better elsewhere – it’s all about what suits the individual.

With both bathrooms and kitchens, the creative use of tiling cannot be over estimated in creating an overall look.

Stone Homes work in one of two ways.  Having purchased a plot/conversion usually in a rural location we push forward to create a traditional stone built property full of charm and character.  If we have a purchaser, after exchange of contracts we give as much choice as is practical, offering guidance, ideas, advice and costings. It should be mentioned that an initial specification and budget will have been agreed and certain choices may incur extra costs. As a rule however they will add to the value of the property.  If we have not placed the property on the open market we endeavor to incorporate numerous features – for example internal stone walls, traditional fireplaces, wooden beams and stained glass doors to create a stunning home which we see through to completion.  Either way, throughout its construction a bespoke home should be given the chance to evolve.  It would be restrictive to have all the decisions made on the drawing board as a bespoke home is a moving target: challenging but when completed worth the time spent on making a reality those personal touches so agonized over.