Journal Index
Here is a list of all the journals we have published:
Design
Design Advice and Inspiration
How to adopt Interior Design Trends in your home
A new year, a new decade, and so to the irresistible annual activity of trend-spotting. It is undoubtedly fun to pore over lists of interior predictions (and we do have…
Read More Why we still love Biophilic Design
Since we first heard Oliver Heath’s talk at Eco Build 2015, it feels like the whole world is on board with Biophilic design principles. Throughout Pinterest or Houzz, you see…
Read More On the white track – our guide to decorating with the ultimate neutral
White paint features in almost every home renovation. It may be the ‘go-to’ neutral, but it is far from basic. Applied well, white can create a chic minimalist dream. Used…
Read More Australian Design
For the most part, the design world in Australia is small, especially given the size of the country. That’s not to say that it doesn’t have one; it does, it’s…
Read More Colourful Bathrooms
The colourful bathroom suite is back. It started creeping onto pinterest boards last year, and the big sanitaryware producers are beginning to respond with colourful ranges. Should you tap into this…
Read More Partial Partitions
Open plan living, dining & kitchen spaces continue to be popular – and we love the way that (safely!) removing walls can convert a dark set of small rooms into…
Read More Feline Friendly Furnishings – Part II
Following from our blog on the basics of setting up your house for a cat, we now cover how to design spaces which your cat will love. Designing spaces for…
Read More Enjoy your Outside Space all year round
Exposure to natural daylight, plants and landscape improves our health, happiness and productivity. When the days get shorter and colder, we naturally spend more time indoors – so how do…
Read More Essential bedroom design for your teenager
With the new school year around the corner, now is a good time to think about re-designing your teenager’s bedroom. There is a lot to think about, so we suggest considering separate spaces…
Read More Feline Friendly Furnishings – Part I
Cats are generally clean, (fairly) low maintenance pets, however some of their more instinctive habits can cause problems in your home or to your new furnishings. Scratching, curtain-climbing and ‘accidents’…
Read More Bright Ideas from Brighton
Jo lives in Brighton (Hove actually…) – an inspiring space filled with creative people, bright colours, and natural beauty. Three interior design ideas inspired by the seaside city: Maximalism –…
Read More Love your home
Whether it is a place to recharge, something glamorous to show off or just ‘home’- there should be many reasons to love your home. After all, it’s supposed to be where…
Read More Embracing the Dark
Working in central London, where every square centimetre of space is precious, has made us experts in making the most of dark spaces. We’ve transformed numerous dark basements and sun-starved rooms…
Read More Temporary Decorating
Following her recent move to a seaside rental flat, Jo shares her tips for decorating without putting holes in the wall – useful for Home Staging, student rooms and rental…
Read More English Seaside Style
We love spending time on the English coast (St. Mawes in Cornwall, Torquay in Devon, Emsworth in Hampshire and Blakeney in Norfolk are particular favourites). Here’s how to incorporate the…
Read More Vietnamese Style
Following a recent trip through Vietnam, Liz describes the wonderful artwork, culture and colours of this beautiful country, and outlines how to introduce elements of Vietnamese culture into your own…
Read More Moroccan Style
Following a recent trip to Morocco, Cat shares her favourite interior features and tips to recreate the fabulous exotic style in your own home... Following my wonderful trip to Oualidia…
Read More Hygge and Happiness
As the nights draw in and the scarves come back out, here’s some Danish advice on how to make your home cosy and welcoming this winter. Denmark is the happiest…
Read More Biophilic Design
Absolute Project Management attended Eco Build 2015 in London where we saw a great talk on Biophilic Design by Oliver Heath - Founder of Health Design and Author of Urban…
Read More A sofa is for life, not just for Christmas!
A sofa is for life, not just for Christmas; How to buy furniture that lasts… At this time of year in particular you can be ‘panicked’ into buying furniture to…
Read More Flooring and Finishes
Tiles and Tiling
The hashtag #ihavethisthingwithtiles has nearly 300,000 instagram posts. Many of us do, indeed, have a thing with tiles. Choosing tiles for your home can be a really fun part of the…
Read More Wood Flooring, Colour and Texture
Last year we published a series of journals about issues to consider when choosing wood flooring for your home. This is a great overview (and well worth a read!) -…
Read More Paint, Pigment and Provenance
Absolute have been learning more about paint… We were fascinated to discover that how it is (and was historically) manufactured actually influences the colour palette. Here’s an overview of our…
Read More Wooden Flooring, Part 3 – Maintenance, labour and sustainability considerations
There is lots of choice when it comes to wooden flooring. See the following maintenance, labour and sustainability considerations to help you make the best choice... TYPE OF BOARD Solid…
Read More Kitchens
Ten kitchen design tips when planning your dream kitchen
As well as choosing cabinets you’ll love every time you look at them, there are practical considerations to bear in mind: Ergonomics Having an ergonomic kitchen is by far the…
Read More Choosing your New Kitchen
Your New Kitchen Choosing a new kitchen is an exciting opportunity to create a beautiful, functional and welcoming space in your home. But there’s so much to think about –…
Read More Lighting
Intelligent Lighting – key Considerations
With significant investment into ‘smart home’ technology by all the big tech giants, Intelligent lighting is a trend that is here to stay – and it is one we’re excited…
Read More The case for Intelligent Lighting
With significant investment into ‘smart home’ technology by all the big tech giants, Intelligent lighting is a trend that is here to stay - and one I'm excited about. Here's…
Read More Lighting with Pendants
We love a pendant light – they are a wonderful way to light a space while creating an eye-catching feature, even when not in use. As with all lighting, there…
Read More Design for the Future
Intelligent Lighting – key Considerations
With significant investment into ‘smart home’ technology by all the big tech giants, Intelligent lighting is a trend that is here to stay – and it is one we’re excited…
Read More The case for Intelligent Lighting
With significant investment into ‘smart home’ technology by all the big tech giants, Intelligent lighting is a trend that is here to stay - and one I'm excited about. Here's…
Read More Lighting with Pendants
We love a pendant light – they are a wonderful way to light a space while creating an eye-catching feature, even when not in use. As with all lighting, there…
Read More Renovation
Technical Details & Regulations
Considerations if you’re planning to move stairs in your home
Re-designing the staircase in your home can unlock a whole world of design potential. The new design must comply with Building Regulations Part K. The requirements are simple - stairs…
Read More Party Wall Awards
If you were hoping this post would be about a fancy event with evening wear, unfortunately the Party Wall Awards are not at all what you were expecting! However, they…
Read More Pinterest Pipe Dreams vs Regulation Reality
Clients often gather images of the look they want to achieve with their renovation into a virtual scrapbook on Pinterest or Houzz. These are excellent tools to provide ideas that convey…
Read More Construction Dangers and how to avoid them!
Following completion of a CITB Health and Safety Awareness course, Liz outlines some of the Construction Industry statistics and common dangers when undertaking work on your property. The Health &…
Read More Secondary Glazing
What is it and why would you use it? In the UK, there are almost 10,000 Conservation Areas, many of which restrict the changes that can be made to the…
Read More Windows – and what we know about them
Sash windows Many of our design and renovation projects are in period houses and, assuming the original windows have been retained, these will be sliding sash systems. These are two…
Read More Health & Safety for home renovation
Jo describes some key Health & Safety considerations to take into account when planning a renovation. Health and Safety in home renovation may not be glamorous, but it is vitally…
Read More Managing a Renovation
Relocating Utility Meters
Picture the scene; you’ve designed a lovely new layout which will work perfectly as long as you can move the electricity or gas meter. Your building contractor tells you it…
Read More Behind the Scenes – Starting on Site
After months of careful planning & design work, starting work on site is an exciting and busy time! Here is a behind-the-scenes look at what happens as a project transitions…
Read More Dust, Anybody?
The APM guide to dust during renovations Dust. If you are planning renovation work, prepare for it to become a part of your life. Here is your need to know;…
Read More What to do when problems arise during a renovation – Part 2
Firstly, don’t panic! Almost every renovation, however well planned, suffers a few hiccups. Some are easily solved; some require time, effort and ingenuity to work around. As project managers, an important…
Read More Life After Renovation
From idolising island units to squeezing in en suites, guest blogger Tracey Petherick tells us what it’s like living in her renovated property. Island Life For a long time,…
Read More Smashing the Snag List
Guest blogger Tracey Petherick returns, post project… Important disclaimer - Tracey didn’t use a project manager but now wishes she had… There’s nothing fun about a snagging list. It’s basically…
Read More Stress-free Renovation
Liz, our Associate Director, has recently had some renovation work done at her home, by our favourite building contractor. Her top tips for a stress-free build: Plan Ensure: All your…
Read More How to survive a Renovation – Part 3
In the final instalment of our series on surviving a big build, Tracey Petherick talks people, paint and perseverance. Your project manager will fight your corner so your ideas become…
Read More How to survive a renovation – Part 2
Serial renovator Tracey Petherick continues her three-part series on home-build survival tactics, with good-to-know tips on housekeeping, moving rooms and working to a budget. Housekeeping ground rules …
Read More How to survive a renovation- Part 1
With a ground-floor extension, a loft conversion and a full house renovation under her (tool)belt, writer Tracey Petherick has picked up a few tips on how to survive a build.…
Read More Home Renovation and Pets
Pets and renovation London Around 44% of UK household own a pet, so their needs can be an important part of the design and renovation process. From design to site…
Read More How Much Will it Cost… Exactly??
At Absolute, we often receive enquiries about total project costs. A typical query might be ‘we have just bought a 3 bedroom flat in Islington and want to renovate it…
Read More Events & News
Design trends for 2020
We’re ardent believers in designing homes that transcend trends and will work for our clients as their needs evolve… but we’ve got a firm eye on the fashion barometer to…
Read More The BIID Student Challenge 2019
We’re delighted to announce that Liz, our Design Director, was invited to mentor Plymouth College of Art at the annual BIID Student Design Challenge. Herman Miller, London hosted 8 universities with teams…
Read More Absolute Project Management – Now in Brighton
We are excited to announce that we have started designing and managing renovation projects in Brighton & Hove! Read on to see our latest finished projects & design inspiration from the…
Read More Tom Raffield at Morgan Furniture – Clerkenwell design week
We at Absolute have long been admirers of Tom Raffield Lighting. The beautiful organic, decorative forms in steamed timber fit extremely well with our Biophilic ideologies and work particularly beautifully…
Read More Clerkenwell Design Week 2019
Clerkenwell Design Week 2019 was bigger and better than ever this year. Here is a round up of our highlights; Sustainability & Natural Materials Sustainability was a theme for the…
Read More What is the BIID and why is it relevant?
Absolute Project Management is now a BIID Registered Practice, this means the business meets the national professional standards for interior design. While it’s not compulsory for Interior Designers to register,…
Read More Interiors: What will 2019 Bring?
Our predictions for 2018 were spot on. Read on for our take on the Interior Design Trends for 2019 and beyond. 2018 in review We predicted: Terrazzo flooring: This was…
Read More Inspiration from 100% Design
The Absolute team were particularly inspired by this year’s selection of innovative and beautifully creative designs shown throughout 100% Design. We’ve now had time to digest and dissect our highlights…
Read More Joinery Design Challenge
Calling all Londoners - win a joinery design! We will be choosing the most interesting joinery challenge you throw at us and the winner will get 4 hours of…
Read More 2018 Highlights so far
As we head into to the Autumn, we’re taking a moment to reflect on some of the highlights of the year so far. Fabulous Finished projects We’ve recently finished some…
Read More Clerkenwell Design Week
The Absolute team loved the buzzing atmosphere and the range of innovative, creative designs we found at Clerkenwell Design Week 2018. We’ve now had time to digest and reflect on…
Read More How to survive a renovation – Part 2
Serial renovator Tracey Petherick continues her three-part series on home-build survival tactics, with good-to-know tips on housekeeping, moving rooms and working to a budget. Housekeeping ground rules …
Read More How to survive a renovation- Part 1
With a ground-floor extension, a loft conversion and a full house renovation under her (tool)belt, writer Tracey Petherick has picked up a few tips on how to survive a build.…
Read More What will 2018 bring?
2017 has been a year of rich colours, marble and traditional furnishings throughout the interior design world. This was in part inspired by a desire to return to the past…
Read More 3 Key design trends 2017/18
During the fabulous Surface Design Show in Feb 2017, we attended a talk by Phil Pond of Scarlet Opus. They are a trend forecasting agency and presented the 2017 three key…
Read More Don’t Move Improve 2016, Part 4 – House of Trace
33 projects were shortlisted for the Don’t Move Improve award; we recently attended the Winners Breakfast Talk, where the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place contestants presented their work. Here’s Liz’s…
Read More Don’t Move Improve 2016, Part 3 – The Sanderson (Fox) House
33 projects were shortlisted for the Don’t Move Improve award; we recently attended the Winners Breakfast Talk, where the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place contestants presented their work. Here’s our…
Read More Don’t Move Improve 2016, Part 2 – Shepherds Bush Extension
33 projects were shortlisted for the Don’t Move Improve award; we recently attended the Winners Breakfast Talk where the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place contestants presented their work. Here's Cat's ‘Absolute’ favourite……
Read More Interests
Styling Film Sets – Top tips
We’ve recently been involved with styling film sets for a series of promotional films showcasing new residential developments. We’ve summarised some our top 5 key considerations.
Read More Getting Started on Pinterest – Part 2
Pinterest is a great tool for organising & communicating your ideas for your renovation. If you are ready to dive in but not sure how to get started, here is…
Read More Getting Started on Pinterest – Part 1
Pinterest is a great tool for organising & communicating your ideas for your renovation. It can also be a great way to get inspiration – used with a little caution!…
Read More Festive Jam Recipe
This year we've made our very own Jam to give out as presents. Here's the recipe: 3kg mixed berries2kg Jam SugarJuice of 2 large lemons12 Sprigs rosemary Soften the fruit…
Read More Interior Design Lingo Bingo
Learn the Lingo, with Interior Design Bingo! As with most industries, home renovation uses specialist language to describe parts, processes or details. Whilst some of these words/ phrases are well…
Read More How to Glamp like an interior designer
Whether you’re having a family camping weekend, a couple’s glamping retreat or going to a festival- here’s our top tips on how to make camping as luxurious and comfortable as…
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