Warning signs when choosing a renovation contractor
A single sign condemns no one; two or three together at the visit, in the quote or in payment terms are a reason to stop and ask.
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Ideas and decisions for your home
Practical guides to house construction, turnkey renovation and interior design. Decisions, questions and examples for your project in Barcelona and the wider province.
Before you hire
A verbal quote with no contract: why it is a real risk
A verbal quote fixes neither scope, materials, timing nor payment terms, and in a dispute nothing can be proved. Where expectations usually clash and how to get it onto paper.
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Why to be wary of a contractor who only accepts cash
Cash with no invoice leaves you with no proof of payment, no tax document and no footing for a claim. Pay by transfer to the company account, in contract stages.
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How to verify a renovation company’s tax number and legal existence
A few minutes with BORME, a nota simple and the insolvency register confirm that the company exists, who runs it and whether it is insolvent.
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The contractor’s civil-liability insurance: why to ask about it
Without liability insurance, damage to neighbours or shared areas during the works can end up on you. How to check the policy before signing.
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A contractor with no verifiable registered address: what it means
A contractor’s address is not decoration: it is where claims reach them if a defect appears after the works. How to check it in half an hour.
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Pressure to decide fast: a tactic worth recognising
Demanding a decision today is almost always a sales tactic. Real urgency comes with documents, and deciding takes as long as comparing does.
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A quote far cheaper than the rest: what it can mean
If a quote is far cheaper for the same scope, something is almost always missing. Check it line by line against your most detailed quote.
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Price changes mid-project: when they are legitimate and when they are not
An increase is legitimate if you change the scope, a hidden defect appears, measured quantities differ under a remeasurement contract or you pick a pricier material. Anything else deserves questions.
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Substituting materials for lower-quality ones: how to spot it
A swap is not caught by eye but by checking references against the approved specification before installation. Where to look and what to do about a mismatch.
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A renovation abandoned mid-project: what options the owner has
Document the state, stop paying, demand in writing with a deadline, and get the work valued before another firm steps in.
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Verifiable reviews and references: how to actually check them
A review is worth something when you can check who wrote it and which job it describes. How to read Google reviews, verify project photos and what to ask a former client.
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What a renovation works contract must include
A serious renovation contract pins down eight things: parties, scope, price, changes, timeline, payments, permits and liability, and warranty with dispute resolution.
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What to do if you believe you have been scammed on a renovation
Document first, make a written demand, then choose a route; what you do in the first 48 hours often decides the outcome.
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How to verify that a renovation contractor is trustworthy
The final checklist: what to check about a contractor at each step, from the first call to signing the contract and the first payments.
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How much it costs to renovate a flat in Barcelona: what determines the price
Renovating a flat in Barcelona with BCN YARD costs from €1,000/m² excluding VAT: a 100 m² flat at Basic starts at €100,000. What pushes the price up and how to get an exact quote.
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Full renovation price per m²: BCN YARD’s three tiers
Basic from 1,000 EUR/m², Standard from 2,000 and Luxury from 3,000, excluding VAT. The exact price comes in the estimate after a site visit.
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Kitchen renovation budget: what items make it up
A kitchen quote is seven or eight independent items, from electrics to worktop. That is how offers should be compared, not by the bottom line.
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Bathroom renovation budget: what items make it up
In a full renovation the bathroom sits within the overall price from €1,000/m² excluding VAT, yet it packs in more items than any other room. We go through them in site order.
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VAT on home renovation in Spain: 21% or 10%
On our resale-home renovations VAT is usually 21%. Building a new home is taxed at 10%. We explain why, and when a renovation can drop to 10%.
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Hidden costs in a renovation: what is often left out of the quote
What most often sits outside a renovation quote: permits, logistics, hidden services, utility connections and everything that is not building work.
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Fixed-price or measured quote: what is the difference
A fixed price gives predictability when the design is fully defined; measurement is fairer where quantities are unknown. In practice a mix of both, with agreed unit rates, usually works best.
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A reasonable renovation deposit: how much is normal to pay upfront
A reasonable deposit covers the contractor’s specific start-up orders. Around 10–30% of the quote is common; 100% upfront is a reason to stop.
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Staged payments in a renovation: how to tie them to actual progress
Paying against verifiable milestones and progress valuations, with a final retention, stops you paying ahead of the work.
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What to do if your renovation budget spirals mid-project
When the budget grows mid-renovation, first split the overrun by cause, then decide what to pay for, what to simplify and what to postpone.
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Where to save money on a renovation without lowering quality
Save on what is easy to replace later and on late changes. Cutting corners on concealed services, waterproofing and substrates ends up costing the most.
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Partial or full renovation: how the price changes
A partial renovation costs less in total but more per metre, and two partial jobs in a row almost always cost more than one full renovation.
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Materials and labour: how a renovation’s price is split
A renovation price is materials, labour and site organisation, in a different balance for each item. That decides where you can safely save.
View detailsHow to finance a renovation: common options
Renovations are funded with savings, a personal loan, a mortgage or public grants. How to work out the real amount, which documents the bank needs and where people usually go wrong.
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Estimate your renovation’s indicative price with BCN YARD’s table
A first renovation figure takes a minute: floor area times the tier rate. Which area to use, how to pick a tier, and why the final quote then differs.
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Building permits in Barcelona: a guide to what your renovation needs
The procedure depends on whether the works touch structure, facade, layout or common elements; the architect classifies it and the council confirms.
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Immediate minor-works notification: what it is and when it applies
The comunicat immediat is the simplest route for a finishes-only renovation in Barcelona: you file it and start work. Where its limit lies and how not to cross it mid-job.
View detailsDeferred notification: how it differs from the immediate one
The comunicat diferit sits between the immediate notice and a full licence: technical documents are filed first, and work starts only once the review period ends.
View detailsMajor-works licence: when your renovation needs one
Major works apply when structure, volume or the number of dwellings change, and they reshape the team, the budget and the order of works.
View detailsMinor or major works: how to know which category your project falls into
Works become major when they affect the structure, façade, floor area, number of dwellings or use. How to check your case before getting a quote.
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Renovating without a permit in Barcelona: risks and consequences
Unpermitted works do not go away: they surface through a neighbour complaint, a sale or an insurance claim, and the owner is liable. The risks and what to do.
View detailsITE: what the Technical Building Inspection is and when it affects your renovation
The ITE shows the state of the building's shared elements and the comunidad's plans. Read it before buying and before setting the programme.
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Habitability certificate: when your home needs it
The cédula is required to sell, let and connect utilities. A renovation that changes the layout is checked against it before the design is approved.
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Activity licence for commercial and healthcare premises
Opening a business in refurbished premises needs a works permit and legalisation of the activity, and a clinic usually needs health authorisation as well. The activity regime sets the fit-out requirements, so check it before leasing.
View detailsCommunity of owners: what authorisation to request before renovating
An interior renovation usually needs only notice; anything touching the facade, stacks or load-bearing walls needs a meeting resolution. Where the line is and how long it takes.
View detailsHow long a building permit takes in Barcelona: realistic timelines
With an immediate notice work starts almost at once; major works can take months. Build the schedule on the actual procedure, not on a generic figure.
View detailsWho can sign your project: architect, building surveyor or engineer
Who signs depends on the type of work: architect, arquitecto técnico, engineer or licensed installer. What each one answers for and how to check they are entitled to sign.
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What documents the city council asks for before approving your renovation
The council asks for three groups: who and where, what is being done (description, drawings, budget, project) and supporting papers (community, waste, fees). It publishes the exact list.
View detailsRenovating in a listed or protected building: what changes
In a listed building, what changes is what you can touch: façade, windows and protected elements need more design work and approval.
View detailsChecklist: which permits to check before signing your renovation contract
What to ask your contractor about permits at the first meeting, before signing and before starting, and which answers should set off alarms.
View detailsPermits step by step
Where to handle renovation paperwork in Barcelona: a map of offices and portals
A Barcelona renovation passes through five levels: City Council, housing offices, Generalitat, state registers and professional bodies. Here is who does what and which guide to read next.
View detailsOpening an office or shop in Barcelona: filing the activity notice yourself
Most offices and shops in Barcelona need an activity notice rather than a licence. You can file it yourself on the Oficina Virtual, though almost always with a technician's certificate.
View detailsCatastro and Land Registry after an extension or rebuild: what to file and how
The Catastro and the Land Registry are separate records. The Catastro must be told within two months of completion unless someone does it for you; the Land Registry records an extension through a notarial deed.
View detailsInstalling a lift in an old Barcelona building: owners' vote, permit and commissioning
A lift in an old building needs three things: a simple-majority owners' vote, a City Council permit (works notice or licence depending on whether it goes inside or outside) and a commissioning declaration to the Generalitat.
View detailsGrants for owners' associations in Barcelona: façade, efficiency, lift and accessibility
Barcelona owners' associations have two Consorci de l'Habitatge lines: energy refurbishment of the building and accessibility, lifts included. Requirements, amounts, documents and what is open in 2026.
View detailsGrants for renovating a flat in Barcelona: what is open in 2026 and how to apply
Barcelona's Next Generation grant for individual flats closed on 30 June 2026. Two realistic routes remain: renovating for the Borsa d'Habitatge de Lloguer and the IRPF energy-efficiency deduction.
View detailsITE in Barcelona: how to order the building inspection and get the certificat d'aptitud
The owners' association or the building owner orders the ITE, a technician inspects, and the Agència de l'Habitatge de Catalunya issues the certificat d'aptitud. Deadlines, documents and filing.
View detailsAsbestos in a renovation: how to check, who may remove it and what paperwork applies
Owners do not remove asbestos themselves: only a RERA-registered company with an approved work plan may. Your part is finding it, choosing the firm, getting the works permit and claiming the incentives.
View detailsGas at home: installation certificate, commissioning and the 5-year inspection
For an ordinary domestic gas installation nothing is filed with the Generalitat. The installer and the distributor issue the papers, and a mandatory inspection comes round every five years.
View detailsElectrical certificate (CIE) after rewiring: what you should get and where it is filed
Only a registered electrical installation company can issue and sign the certificate. Rewiring inside a flat is not registered in Catalonia; a new installation is, through an online responsible declaration.
View detailsEnergy certificate in Catalonia: how to order it and register it with ICAEN
A technician prepares the energy certificate, and it only counts once it is entered in the ICAEN registry. You order it, pay the fee and get the label for your listings.
View detailsCèdula d'habitabilitat: how to apply yourself, step by step
You need a cèdula d'habitabilitat to sell, rent out or connect utilities. A technician signs the certificate, but you can file the application yourself.
View detailsLegalising old unpermitted works in Barcelona: how to regularise a renovation already done
Works done without a permit are regularised by applying now for the missing permit, with a technician documenting what was built. Here is when that works, what the six-year limit means and how to register the result.
View detailsShop signs on Barcelona facades: the rules and how to get the permit
In Barcelona a shop sign counts as type II minor works and must fit the urban landscape bylaw. Here are the sizes, allowed positions and how to file it yourself.
View detailsA pool at your house in Barcelona and its province: which permits you need and how to apply
A pool is not minor work: in Barcelona and towns such as Castelldefels it needs a major works licence with a technical project. Here is the full route, from project to Catastro.
View detailsRooftop solar for self-consumption in Barcelona: permits, registration and tax breaks
A self-consumption solar system goes through three desks: the City Council, the Generalitat and the tax office. Here is what each one needs, who files what and which tax savings you can claim.
View detailsReplacing facade windows in Barcelona: which permit you need and how to file it
New windows change the facade, so a simple notice is rarely enough. Here is which procedure applies depending on the building's protection and how to file it yourself.
View detailsAir conditioning units on Barcelona facades: what is allowed and how to get it approved
In Barcelona you cannot simply bolt an outdoor unit to the street facade: the landscape bylaw prefers the roof and requires an integration project. Here is what is allowed and how to file it.
View detailsOld plans and building permits from Barcelona's Municipal Archive: how to request them
Barcelona keeps private building permit files in different archives depending on the year. Many are already digitised and open straight from the PIU; the rest can be requested online or viewed by appointment.
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How to check a building's heritage protection and planning status in Barcelona
In Barcelona you can check a building's protection level and the plot's zoning for free on the Portal d'Informació Urbanística, and order an urban planning report or certificate online when you need an official document.
View detailsConstruction waste deposit in Barcelona: who you pay and how to get it back
In Catalonia the waste deposit for licensed works is no longer paid to the Ajuntament but to an authorised waste manager, who issues the document you attach to the application. For minor works the municipal ordinance decides.
View detailsScaffolding, lifts and pavement occupation in Barcelona: which permits you need
In Barcelona, scaffolding over the pavement is declared with the works permit, scaffolding on the roadway needs its own licence, and a lift or truck for a few days needs a work-vehicle parking permit. Here is which one to request and how.
View detailsRubble sack or skip on the street: what you need to arrange
In Barcelona a rubble sack or skip goes on the street through an approved company, and responsibility is shared with whoever holds the works permit. Here is what to check and where fines usually come from.
View detailsHow to pay the fee and the ICIO tax for works in Barcelona
In Barcelona, ICIO is 4% of the material execution cost of the works and is paid together with the planning fee through a self-assessment. Here is when the payment slip arrives, how to pay it and what to do when the works finish.
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idCAT Mòbil, Cl@ve or FNMT certificate: how to identify yourself for works procedures in Barcelona
To file works procedures online in Barcelona you need idCAT Mòbil, Cl@ve, an electronic DNI or a digital certificate. With an NIE you can get all three, but each route asks for different documents and not all allow video identification.
View detailsMajor works licence in Barcelona: the owner's steps
A major works licence is the permit Barcelona requires for new buildings, major refurbishment, changes of use or global structural work. An architect signs the project, but you are the licence holder and several steps depend on you.
View detailsComunicat diferit in Barcelona: what the technician does and what you do
The comunicat diferit is the regime for type I minor works in Barcelona: you file the project and wait one month while the City Council reviews it. The technician writes the project; you handle the application, the owner's declarations and the payment.
View detailsComunicat immediat in Barcelona: how to file it online step by step
A comunicat immediat lets you start type II minor works in Barcelona right after filing and paying. You can run the procedure yourself, but the project and the technical suitability report come from a technician.
View detailsHouse construction
Home extension in Barcelona: what is possible and what determines it
An extension is decided by the plot's planning parameters and the house's structure, not by how much free land you see. What to check before design and which mistakes cannot be undone.
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Budget for building a house in Barcelona
A firm house budget comes with the construction design; before that you get a range driven mostly by the plot and a handful of key decisions.
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Earthworks: the first visible step of a house build
Earthworks bring the plot to the design levels and prepare the base for the foundations. The sequence, ground surprises and what to check as an owner.
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A house’s foundations: what to expect at this stage
The engineer sets the foundation type from the soil data; the owner's job is to plan service entries early and keep records of what gets buried.
View detailsA house’s concrete structure: the visible stages of the build
The frame goes up in a formwork, reinforcement and pour cycle on every floor; for the owner, the check before each pour is what matters most.
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Services before closing up walls: why the sequence matters
Services go in after the structure and partitions and before plaster, screed and tiles: gravity drainage first, bulky ducts next, flexible cabling last. Before closing, a walk-through with the owner.
View detailsRoof waterproofing: a phase you cannot see but will notice
A roof does not leak in the middle but at junctions and wherever water ponds. What to check on each layer while it is still visible.
View detailsThermal insulation in a new house: what decisions shape it
A house's thermal performance is set by roof, facade, ground slab, thermal bridges and airtightness, all decided before the structure goes up.
View detailsExterior joinery for a house: what to compare before choosing
Windows are chosen on five things at once: frame, glass, opening type, resistance to the environment and installation. Compare the finished window at its real size, not the profile in a brochure.
View detailsFacade cladding: what options exist and what they involve
The options: render (often on ETICS), stone, ceramic on a rainscreen, timber and panels. The site’s climate, the upkeep you accept and the insulation decide.
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Building a pool: the stages from shell to start-up
Seven stages of building a pool and what to check at each; the shell goes up fast, but the risks sit in waterproofing and services.
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Solar panels on a new house: what to consider before installing them
Solar for a new house is sized from future consumption and built into the design together with the roof, cable routes and the inverter location.
View detailsExterior landscaping for a house: what is decided after the build
Garden and paving come last, but levels, drainage and buried services are decided during the build. What cannot wait, and the order to do it all in.
View detailsHome automation in a new house: what to decide before closing services
Before the walls close, lay the infrastructure: cables, conduit, power and a cabinet space. Devices and scenes can be chosen after you move in.
View detailsAcoustic insulation in a house: where it is actually decided
A quiet house comes from structural mass, floating floors, windows and where the plant goes, not from the finishes at the end.
View detailsFinal works certificate and habitability certificate for a new house
The certificado final de obra is signed by the site’s technical directors; the cédula de habitabilidad is issued by the authorities on the back of it. Without both, utilities, registration and sale get difficult.
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Maintaining a new house during the first year
In year one a house dries out, settles and goes through every season for the first time. What to check, when, and how to log it so the warranty works.
View detailsChoosing a plot for your new house
A plot is bought on its paperwork, not the view from the street: what house you may build, how it connects to utilities and what it costs to prepare the land.
View detailsTopographic and ground surveys: the difference
A topographic survey describes the surface, a geotechnical study the ground beneath. A house needs both, and the survey comes first.
View detailsA room brief before designing your house
A room brief lists spaces with areas, relationships and priorities, and is written before any sketch so the layout fits the way you live.
View detailsOrientation and shading in house design
Near Barcelona, main rooms and large glazing work best facing south under an overhang, while the west is protected with vertical and movable screens. The result is checked against real scenarios on the actual plot.
View detailsSingle or two-storey house: what to compare
Choosing between one and two floors starts with the plot parameters and an identical room brief. Where the real differences lie in daily life and in cost.
View detailsCoordinating architecture and interior design
Every interior decision has a point in construction after which changing it means redoing work; the decision schedule is set alongside the build schedule.
View detailsFollowing the structural stage as a homeowner
During the structural stage, openings, service penetrations and supports for future systems get cast in. The client's job is to check their own decisions in time and leave structural judgement to the site direction team.
View detailsHouse façades: decisions before the finish
Before colour and texture come the wall build-up, window positions, junctions, everything else that will sit on the facade, and municipal rules.
View detailsRoof terraces: coordinating use and junctions
A roof terrace is designed from its uses; thresholds, drains, balustrades and services are resolved before any finish is chosen.
View detailsHouse windows: checks before ordering
A checklist for every window in a new house: how it opens, who takes the final measurement, which glass and shading, how junctions are solved and what goes in the order.
View detailsSite access for a new house: early logistics
Site logistics are settled before the first lorry arrives: machine route, unloading area, storage, waste and temporary utilities. Otherwise the programme breaks in the first month.
View detailsConstruction purchasing: decide before you need it
House procurement is counted back from installation, and the key date for the client is the approval deadline, not the delivery date.
View detailsCoordinating a house, pool and garden
The house, pool and garden share levels, services and machine access, so they are designed together rather than adding the pool afterwards.
View detailsUtility spaces in a house: plan for access
A house’s equipment needs more room than the catalogue suggests: service clearances, a way in to replace it, drainage, ventilation and noise control. Plant rooms are designed with the house, not squeezed into leftover corners.
View detailsConstruction photographs: a useful record
A useful archive is concealed work photographed before it is closed, with a location reference and date. What to shoot, how to store it and how to use it later.
View detailsDecisions at each construction stage
Every decision in building a house has a deadline: layout before design, openings before the pour, sockets before the walls close.
View detailsTurnkey renovation
How long does a flat renovation take in Barcelona?
A full flat renovation in Barcelona usually takes 3 to 6 months on site, plus preparation. We walk through the phases, what causes delays and how to shorten the schedule.
View detailsKitchen renovation in Barcelona
In a Barcelona flat, the kitchen hinges on old downpipes, electrical capacity and extractor routing. What to check before design and in what order to decide.
View detailsBathroom renovation in Barcelona
What gets rebuilt in a Barcelona bathroom, what turns up when old walls are opened and how the price is set.
View detailsFlat renovation in Barcelona
A full flat renovation in Barcelona starts at €1,000/m² excluding IVA. What turns up behind the walls of older buildings, the order of works and where money is usually lost.
View detailsBuilding refurbishment in Barcelona
Building refurbishment covers the shared elements: facade, roof, structure and services. The community of owners commissions it, usually starting from the ITE report.
View detailsOffice renovation in Barcelona
How to renovate an office in Barcelona without closing: phasing, noisy-work hours, services with spare capacity and reference prices.
View detailsHotel renovation in Barcelona
A Barcelona hotel can be renovated without closing: in blocks of rooms, with a pilot room and a schedule tied to bookings.
View detailsClinic and healthcare centre renovation in Barcelona
A healthcare space is designed around a specific activity and its licensing before any works start. Sequence, building services and a real 250 m² case in the Eixample.
View detailsRenovation company in Barcelona: what to check before choosing
Rule out companies without verifiable details or a contract first, then judge the site visit and estimate, and only then compare prices.
View detailsFull flat renovation in Barcelona’s Eixample
A full renovation in the Eixample starts with the floor structure, walls and stacks, not the finishes. From €1,000/m² excluding VAT; the exact price follows a survey.
View detailsFlat or house renovation in Castelldefels
A full renovation in Castelldefels starts from €1,000/m² excluding VAT. How a flat differs from a house with a plot, what the sea changes and how to approach permits.
View detailsRenovation quote in Barcelona: how we prepare it
The quote follows a site visit and measurements; before that there is a guide of €1,000 to €3,000/m² excluding VAT depending on tier. Here is how we go from enquiry to itemised quote.
View detailsDetached house renovation in Barcelona and its province
An existing house is renovated starting with a survey of structure, roof, damp and services, not with the design.
View detailsPenthouse renovation in Barcelona
A penthouse differs from a regular flat in its terrace, the roof overhead and the loads on the slab. The interior is priced like a flat; the terrace separately.
View detailsA trustworthy contractor in Barcelona: what you can check today
Every detail about BCN YARD you can verify before meeting us: company, insurance, projects and terms of work, and how to check each one.
View detailsKitchen renovation: a complete start-to-finish guide
A kitchen renovation follows a strict order: layout, services, specific appliances, cabinetry, finishes. Each step explained, plus the mistakes that cost the most.
View detailsBathroom renovation: a complete start-to-finish guide
A bathroom is renovated in strict stages, and the costliest mistakes hide under the tiles: in the stack, the pipework and the waterproofing.
View detailsA flat’s terrace or balcony: what can and cannot be renovated
Flooring, lighting and furniture on a balcony are usually your call; anything that changes the facade is not. Where the line sits and what to do first.
View detailsUnderfloor heating in a renovation: what installing it involves
Underfloor heating raises the floor and depends on the structure, the heat source and the finish, all of which are decided at design stage.
View detailsVentilation and indoor air quality: a decision made during renovation
If your renovation includes airtight windows, ventilation must be designed at the same time: once ceilings are closed there is nowhere to run ducts.
View detailsHome automation in a flat renovation: how it differs from a new house
In a full renovation it pays to run smart-home cabling from the start; in a partial one, wireless systems do the job. What to decide before the walls close.
View detailsAn accessible bathroom: universal design for every age
A universal-design bathroom is set up during the renovation: a level shower, blocking for grab bars, the right door and a thermostatic mixer. Most of it is invisible, and adding it later means new tiles.
View detailsBathroom damp: how to prevent it from the project stage, not afterwards
Bathroom damp almost always has one of three causes: weak extraction, water behind the tiles or a wrong floor fall. All three are dealt with before tiling.
View detailsLiving at home during renovation: how to decide
In a full renovation it is not realistic; in a partial one it can be, if there is a bathroom, water, power and a dust-sealed zone.
View detailsWhat to retain and replace in a renovation
It is worth keeping what is in good condition and can live with new services. How to assess the floors, cornicing, doors and windows of an older building, and why you compare complete solutions.
View detailsBefore strip-out: document the renovation scope
Before strip-out, three things are recorded: what goes, what stays and the state of everything around it. A marked plan, a list and dated photos prevent disputes.
View detailsDeliveries and storage during a flat renovation
Deliveries are planned around the route, storage space and who receives them; large items are ordered only after the route is measured.
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Replacing a material without losing the design
To keep a substitute from spoiling the interior, first define why the original was chosen, then compare samples, knock-on work and the full cost.
View detailsSelect appliances before kitchen manufacture
A bespoke kitchen is designed around specific models, not categories. What to take from each manual, which clashes to check and how to freeze the design before manufacture.
View detailsRenovating your only bathroom: planning occupancy
With one bathroom, plan around the time it is unusable: choose everything early, decide where to live and never cut curing times.
View detailsMaterial junctions: renovation details that matter
Junctions between floors, walls and doors shape how a renovation looks more than the materials do. They are found on the plan and approved before buying.
View detailsApproving material samples before renovation
A sample is approved next to its neighbouring materials, under light close to the final one, and recorded in writing down to the reference and batch. The master sample stays on site until the end.
View detailsRenovation updates: what a client needs to know
A good renovation report answers four questions: what is done, what is next, what you need to decide, and where money and time stand. The structure, with an example.
View detailsMoving in after renovation: coordinate deliveries
First the end of works and snagging, then fine cleaning, then deliveries and assembly, and the move last, with utilities already active.
View detailsComparing renovation quotes beyond the total
Different totals usually mean different scopes. How to bring the offers onto a common basis, where exclusions hide and what to ask about how the job will be run before choosing.
View detailsChanges during renovation: what to agree before work proceeds
Any change during the works is first assessed for cost, time and knock-on effects, then approved in writing, and only then carried out. When it is cheap, when it is expensive and how to keep one version.
View detailsRenovation handover: preparing the final review
Prepare for handover in advance: the quote, drawings and approved changes, a room-by-room walk testing everything that opens or switches on, and a written snagging list.
View detailsPreparing for a renovation
Preparing a renovation starts with how you will live in the space, not a list of materials. What to gather and think through before the contractor's first visit.
View detailsBefore buying business premises
Premises are bought for a specific activity: first check that it is allowed there and what the fit-out will require, and only then negotiate the price.
View detailsWhat an estimate should show
An estimate shows every item with unit, quantity and price, VAT separately, plus exclusions, provisional quantities and how changes are priced.
View detailsRefurbishment around business needs
For a business, the biggest cost of a refurbishment is often the days of closure, not the quote. So the works are planned back from opening day, with an early decision on closing or phasing and a brief on how the business really runs.
View detailsInterior design
Small kitchen: how to use the space without losing functionality
What makes a small kitchen comfortable is a short fridge-sink-hob route and storage up to the ceiling, not the amount of worktop.
View detailsSmall bathroom: solutions that genuinely gain space
In a small bathroom space comes from the layout and what goes inside the walls: wall-hung fixtures, a level shower, a fixed glass panel, a pocket door and niches.
View detailsLiving-dining room: how to design a space serving several functions
A living-dining room works when zones, walkways and electrics are decided together with furniture to scale, before the works begin.
View detailsMain bedroom: beyond the bed and the curtains
A main bedroom works when the bed position, clearances, bedside lighting, climate and route to the bathroom are fixed before finishes. Curtains and furniture come later.
View detailsA bespoke dressing room: when it makes sense over a wardrobe
A dressing room pays off when there are 4–5 m² to spare without shrinking the bedroom. If space must be taken, a 60 cm deep wardrobe holds nearly as much.
View detailsAttic or loft: how to make the most of a space under the roof
Only the part of a loft with enough headroom, a floor that takes the load and heat that insulation can control can become a real room.
View detailsAn interior staircase in a duplex: safety, space and design
A duplex staircase is planned first: step sizes, the slab opening and headroom fix its place on both floors, and the material is chosen afterwards.
View detailsLaundry and drying area on a terrace: integrating it discreetly
A washing machine and drying area fit on a terrace inside a closed, ventilated technical cabinet with water and drainage, with slats hiding the washing. Start with facade rules.
View detailsEntryway storage: solving clutter before it appears
An entrance stops collecting clutter once every item has a place of the right depth. Dimensions and the design sequence.
View detailsOpen kitchen: island or peninsula, how to choose between them
An island needs clear space on all four sides and drainage and extraction in the middle of the room; a peninsula fits in fewer metres.
View detailsKitchen lighting: the three types you need, not just one
A kitchen needs three layers of light: general, task lighting over the worktop, and ambient. They are planned with the cabinet drawings, before the wiring goes in.
View detailsFitted wardrobes in bedrooms: what to check before manufacturing them
A fitted wardrobe is designed early and measured late: the wiring goes in before plastering, the final survey after the finishes.
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Commissioning interior design remotely
For a remote brief the studio needs how you live, a plan and photos with unverified dimensions flagged, the budget level and clear approval rules. An on-site survey is still needed.
View detailsSmall living rooms: furniture and circulation
In a small living room you settle the main function and walkways first, then pick specific pieces by their real dimensions.
View detailsDining tables: seating and movement space
Each diner needs about 60 cm of table edge, and at least 80 cm between table and wall. How to turn that into a dining zone, a table shape and a light position.
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A home workspace that fits the interior
A home workspace is designed around how you work: hours, calls, equipment. That sets its location, lighting, acoustics, sockets and storage.
View detailsBedroom curtains and light control
A bedroom needs daylight, evening privacy and darkness for sleep: usually two layers plus persianas, with the track recess planned before the ceiling.
View detailsDesigning an entrance around daily routines
An entrance is designed around what you do in your first minutes home: belongings, circulation and services come before decoration.
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A child’s room designed to adapt
In a child’s room, the renovation fixes only what is hard to change: electrics, lighting, built-in storage carcasses, flooring and sound insulation. Furniture, colour and decor stay changeable.
View detailsLaundry spaces: tasks, equipment and storage
A laundry room works when every step has its place and the machines can be serviced and replaced. Dimensions, services and common mistakes.
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Acoustic comfort: define the problem first
Room echo, airborne noise, impact noise and services noise are each solved differently; decoration only fixes the first.
View detailsInterior materials: choose for maintenance too
Upkeep depends as much on how you live as on the material itself. We go zone by zone: worktop, parquet, microcement, grout, taps and walls, with Barcelona's hard water and sea air in mind.
View detailsDisplaying art: plan walls, lighting and furniture
Plan the collection before first fix: which walls stay clear of switches and sockets, where to add backing for heavy pieces, what lighting, and where art must not hang.
View detailsDesigning a home for changing needs
An adaptable home rests on a few hard-to-change decisions made early; furniture and finishes can be adjusted later without building work.
View detailsWhich materials should you choose before renovation begins?
Before work starts, decide the materials that the first-fix work depends on: floor build-up, concealed sanitaryware, kitchen appliances and doors. The rest can wait.
View detailsApartment layout: how to prepare your design brief
A good layout starts from a brief that describes your life, not a request to make it feel spacious. What to tell the designer and how to compare options.
View detailsInterior lighting: plan scenes, not just lamps
Plan lighting from what happens in each room: scenes, circuits and controls before first fix, with the fittings chosen last.
View detailsOpen or enclosed kitchen: deciding before renovation
An open kitchen suits moderate cooks willing to invest in extraction; an enclosed one suits heavy fryers who want a quiet living room.
View detailsBathroom renovation: decisions before choosing tiles
Bathroom tiles are chosen last: first decide who uses the room and how, where the fittings go, which systems are built into the walls, where light is needed and how the materials will be cared for.
View detailsBespoke storage: plan the inside before the doors
Bespoke furniture is designed from the inside out: first the items and fittings, then the carcass, and only then the doors. What to check before production.
View detailsChoosing flooring for your home: beyond the photograph
Flooring is chosen by how each area is used, the substrate underneath, the transitions and the upkeep; the photo comes last.
View detailsColour and materials: adding character to a calm interior
A calm interior gains character from a permanent base, a single recurring accent and contrasting textures, not from adding more colours.
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