Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
The House That Needed Turning Upside Down. Some houses tell you exactly what’s wrong the moment you step through the door; others take a little time to reveal their story. The terrace house I looked at this week — a tiny two-up two-down in Southsea — definitely belonged to the second group. A small two-up […]
Remodelling a 1930s Detached House for Modern Family Living
Remodelling a 1930s Detached House for Modern Family Living Many post-war detached houses across the UK share a similar story: practical layouts, generous gardens, but dated proportions and dark, disconnected interiors. In my latest video, I explore how a typical 1950s house in Southampton could be transformed into a bright, contemporary family home — […]
Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
It’s Right That… I’ve largely stayed away from the news for about ten years. Briefly sucked back in during the pandemic, I abandoned the soap opera they call ‘news’ at the start of the Ukraine war. But last weekend, I found myself watching an interview with a chap named Darren Jones MP—Chief Secretary to the […]
Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
Designing Homes, Not Houses. A house is just a structure—a collection of walls, a roof, and rooms. A home, however, is something entirely different. It’s a place that feels uniquely yours, somewhere you feel at ease and where your life unfolds. Designing a home means looking beyond bricks and mortar to create spaces that resonate […]
Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
Light Matters. Walk into a room filled with natural light, and you can feel the difference instantly. The space feels brighter, larger, and more inviting. But light doesn’t just shape how a room looks—it profoundly affects how we feel, think, and live. For anyone considering extending or remodelling their home, understanding the role of light […]
Best of Houzz 2025 Winner
Home & Design Journal: Best of Houzz 2025 – A Recognition of Thoughtful Design We’re delighted to share that CARL Architect has been awarded Best of Houzz 2025 for Design & Service. It’s an honour to be recognised, especially as this award reflects both the quality of our work and the experience we provide for […]
Thoughts for the Weekend
The Emotional Blueprint. When people think of architects, they often imagine grand cathedrals, sleek skyscrapers, or avant-garde museums. It’s an enduring misconception that architects only design for the grandiose, not the everyday. But the truth is, some of the most meaningful work an architect can do happens on a smaller scale—in homes where lives are […]
Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
Drawing Up Plans. This might be a bit dry, but I’ve been thinking about how best to divide up my services for the online shop I mentioned last week. RIBA work stages are a pretty standard framework in architecture, and breaking down my offerings to fit these stages seems logical. The value of design and […]
Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
Independence Day. It’s Independence Day next week. Like the movie of the same name, I’m hoping the aliens come down and do us all a massive favour. Well, me at least. I shouldn’t speak for everyone. In my dreams, the aliens in their galactic cruiser will hover over Westminster and suck it up into a […]
Design for the Weekend: A Trip to the Lakes
Welcome back to my home redesign series! This week, I’m tackling a stone-built home in Kendal with a quirky layout and charming features. This house presents a unique opportunity to create a bright, open-plan living space that is both functional and inviting. Upon first glance, the house’s current layout is far from ideal. The kitchen, […]
