Articles by Kate Burt

Budget is at the heart of every project you take on for your clients, but what are the stumbling blocks around it that homeowners hit time and again, and what are the best ways to resolve them? Here are five common budget issues that come up in renov…

If you’re designing a room you hope to stay in for many years, chances are you’ve thought about the need to make it work for later life. Or perhaps you want to create a sleep space or guest room that older relatives will feel comfortable in. But maybe…

Creating your dream living room means finding a balance between aesthetics and practicality, especially if you want to get the design right for both now and later life. But that doesn’t mean you need to compromise with overly sensible choices that don…

Redesigning their backyard persuaded this family of three to stay put instead of moving. Previously, they had a collection of cherished fish living in a leaky pond, mature shrubs overwhelming and overshading the small space, and a patchy lawn growing …

A screen of mature, leafy trees can enclose outdoor space and provide a sense of seclusion in an effective and appealing way — especially helpful if your yard is overlooked by close neighbors or on a busy street. But there are other quicker solutions …

When we think of inclusive design, it’s often in the context of public or commercial buildings. However, residential designers increasingly now have inclusivity in mind too. But what exactly is inclusive design and why is it important?While you’ll hav…

When a family of three took over this 18th-century former keeper’s cottage in a conservation area, the landscape lacked flow and was low on plantings. The homeowners were eager to add a swimming pool to the sloping 1-acre property, so they hired lands…

It’s estimated that about 1 person in 7 is neurodivergent — where the brain functions differently from the majority neurotypical population. The term covers autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), …

The kitchen in this 1930s London home had already been expanded, but it wasn’t working for the growing family who were about to buy it. The family chose to renovate before moving in. Designer Robert Burnett and his team ended up doing more than just t…

There’s been a move away from lawns in residential landscapes, particularly traditional manicured grass, as the focus has been shifting to outdoor spaces that are more attractive to wildlife and require less water and resources. Many of us, though, ha…