Hi Gillian, it's very difficult and time consuming to learn how to use a rendering software. Even after knowing the basics it would take a lot of practice and extra learning to get professional and life-like results. Have a look around for night courses in your area, they may have an AutoCAD/Sketch Up one available if this is the route you're wanting to take. When I first started, I attempted to learn but found it was far too intricate and I just didn't have the time, I instead hired someone to do it for me. I would offer clients either a computer rendered photo of what the project will look like completed or a few drawings done by myself of what the completed project will look like. The mock ups done on AutoCAD I hired someone for would cost more for the client and would take 1-3 months to complete, as appose to the drawings that would take me a few days and were less expensive. It's whatever you think best for you and your client! Thanks, Meredith

One of the main advantages of a laminate wooden floor is that advancements in design allow for wooden floors to cleverly replicate other popular flooring options, like tile or stone effect floors. As the range of tile-effect wooden floors has increased, so too have the opportunities to incorporate them into your home interior. Many design-conscious homeowners are embracing tile in rooms all over the house, not just the bathroom where these would be a traditional choice. One of our most popular tile-effect flooring choices is our Elite Stone Concrete which our customers love, so here are 4 ways to use it in your own home to create a stunning end result. Hallway Create a contemporary entrance to your home using the Elite Stone Concrete Floor and set the tone for guests on what to expect from the rest of your stylish interior. Not only does this floor look great in a hall, it’s also a very practical addition as it’s durable and easy to clean thanks to the square edge finish, so no dirt or dust can gather in the joints. Style the rest of your hallway with modern accessories to really show the floor off to its full potential – like a large plant in a simple white pot, and a statement mirror above a slimline console table. Kitchen The light and dark grey tones in this Elite Stone Concrete floor work wonderfully well with a bright and modern white kitchen, and especially when paired with modern chrome or silver taps, light fittings and cupboard handles. You can appreciate the beauty and quality of this floor for years as it’s an extremely hard-wearing design – it’s even ideal for commercial settings, so you’ll get a floor you can enjoy for years. Fitting a tile effect wooden floor is also typically much quicker, and with this floor it’s just a simple click installation system, so you could also save on fitting costs. Living room A living room might be an odd choice for adding a tile effect floor as many people incorrectly assume it will look and feel cold. This is most definitely not the case with the Elite Stone Concrete floor – especially as it’s suitable for underfloor heating – what a great way to add extra cosiness to your living space. This flooring choice is perfect for complementing a living room which features a wood burning stove or other modern fireplace and large windows letting in lots of light. Interested in finding out more about our tile and stone effect flooring? Browse the full collection online, and don’t forget you can also order up to three free samples to help you decide on your perfect floor. Conservatory A conservatory or sunroom is a great addition to your home, and they typically feature tile or stone flooring which makes them easy to maintain and very hard wearing. Adding the Elite Stone Concrete floor to your conservatory would be a very wise design choice indeed – this classic colour matches well with most shades so you can pair your sofa or armchairs with it effortlessly, and with so much light in a conservatory this dark grey floor makes a nice contrast.

Lighting is a very under estimated dimension within a design. It enables you to create several different moods in the same room, shaping your emotional response and adding another texture. Recently we've had lots of interest in the new innovation in smart lighting by Philips so we thought we'd give you the low down on what Hue, personal wireless lighting is all about. In a nutshell Hue is a lighting system which enables you to control your home lights. Whether you are looking to create a specific mood, control the ambience in a room, create a party atmosphere, add an extra dimension to movies, gaming, and music, or enhance your home security, all can be achieved with the power of smart control. The Hue system seems to have limitless possibilities! "Philips Hue is your personal wireless lighting system that lets you easily control your light and create the right ambience for every moment." With a wide product range from starter kits, bulbs, light strips, spots, recessed, lamps, indoor and outdoor, controls and even portables you configure and customise the lighting system to suit your needs. What's more, as the bulbs work with any standard light socket (wall, ceiling or lamp) you won't necessarily need an electrician, keeping you fully in control. The technology enables you to control the lights with the Philips Hue app and third-party apps. You can even connect this lighting system to iPhone/iPad Siri voice controls, your Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit for a truly automated experience. It's even possible to control the timing and action of your lights when you are away from your house managing the security of your home for added peace of mind and to turn on your lights ready for your return. What's what? There are four main components to installing this smart lighting system in your house: Bulbs - choose from the Hue range: E27 (27mm screw), B22 (22mm bayonet), GU10 (spots), E14 (14mm small screw candle) all available in white or colour. All lightbulbs are expected to last approximately 25,000 hours, withstand 50,000 switch on/off actions and have an instant turn on. Bridge - the Philips Hue bridge connects to your home router via a network cable with the lights being controlled via an app. The lights will not work without this! Router - any standard home router with wireless network capabilities will be fine. If you plan to control your lights with a home automation system such as Alexa this will need to be on the same network. Philips Hue App - a free download to set up the connection. With this app you are able to set up lights, name rooms and set controls. Other third-party apps will work with this system however you have to start here first. There are many physical and online shops where you can purchase starter kits and components however a good place to start is the Philips Hue site where prices range from £19.99 for a dimmer switch, £129.99 for an ambient white bulb starter kit through to £499.99 for a ceiling light. A simple search will highlight a range of prices from the best known online stores. Once the bulbs are installed, the bridge attached to the hub and everything connected via the app, then the fun can start! Home Automation If you already have a home automation such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit you can use voice controls to change your lights bringing a little bit of the future to your present day! If it's more than a simple "Alexa switch the lights on" command this may need a little bit of patience to set up. There are lots of online guides to help you a few that we have found useful are: toms guide: How to connect Philips Hue lights to amazon Echo gearbraib: How to control Philips Hue lights by talking to Google Assistant How-To Geek: How to use Siri to control your Philips Hue lights Remember, your home automation system must be on the same router as the bridge to enable it to work. Enhance your music, viewing, movies and gaming! You can add a whole new level and create immersive viewing and gaming where your home lights react to what you are watching. Using the camera on your phone or tablet and a third-party app such as Hue Camera for Philips Hue (Apple), hueDynamic (Windows), or Hue Matcher (Android) and your lights will synchronise to meet the ambience of whatever you are watching. If for instance, you are plunging into the depths of the Indian Ocean with Sir David Attenborough in The Blue Planet your app will choose the right shade of blue to enhance your viewing. What's more, when tension mounts your lights will change to help intensify the moment! It is even possible to control your ambient lighting when viewing off-screen photographs and paintings. Simply download your preferred app, run through the settings, and position your phone or tablet towards the screen or image. If you're having a party or are simply immersing yourself in your sound apps such as Ambify or Hue Disco use algorithms to work seamlessly with your music. You can also create colour themes for different genres. Without delay, working in time with your music your lights will change to the beat of your tunes! With Ambify there is an app for your Mac enabling you to play music via iTunes, Spotify, Tidal or other streaming services through to your speakers. Alternatives Of course the Philips Hue system is not the only one on the market. Popular alternatives include: LIFX IKEA Tradfri - compatible with Philips Hue system MiLight Lighting EVER With price variations for starter kits and components it really is worth doing a little bit of your own research to find a system which best suits your needs. However, in our own research Philips Hue stands head and shoulders above the others and we can't wait to introduce it more into our own designs! "Though myriad alternatives for the Philips Hue exist on the market today, the original product still reigns superior in the smart lighting world. They offer the best compatibility, brightness, and controls." So there you have it, our guide to Philips Hue smart lighting a truly innovative, fun yet highly practical way to light your home! As interior designers we look at the way you live and believe that your home should be a reflection of your personality so why not include a smart lighting system which puts you in control and colour your life. Please see an example of the Philips Hue smart lighting in action in the video below.

HI Neil, We can help! have a look at some of our extension/Garden designs on our profile or have a look at our design sides website: https://www.buildview.co.uk/, we do everything online and in CGI/VR including fitting out the interiors, so any mistakes are caught before the build starts.. happy to answer any questions whilst you lead up to appointing designers. Thank you, the extraordinary team.