Choosing the Right fireplace
A Comparative Guide to choosing the right Fireplace for you and your family’s needs.
Enhance Your Spaces
How Our Diverse Architectural Practice in Barking and Dagenham Can Help You.
Choosing the right renovation
A Comparative Guide to choosing the right renovation for you and your family’s needs.
turning dreams into reality
How MazDesigns Architects Can Help You Realize Your Dream Home.
benefits of the tender process
How the tender process enables clients to make a well-informed decision when choosing a builder.
how to choose a Builder
How architects can help you choose the right builder for your project,
Benefits of Hiring the right Builder
Here are some of the benefits of hiring the right builder for your project:
how Will AI Improve Architecture?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to have a significant impact on architecture, heres how.
Should Architects be Worried?
AI has the potential to automate certain tasks and enhance the capabilities of architects,
will aI take over my role?
Things to consider if you are concerned about the future availability of the role of an architect.
Benefits of hiring an architect
How hiring an architect can make a significant difference in the success of your project.
Advantages Of A Small Practice
The advantages of choosing a small practice like MazDesigns over a large corporation.
How do architects charge for work
How architecture practices generate revenue for their services.
How We help Estate Agents
How MazDesigns helps Estate Agents finalise the sale of a property.
mistakes homeowners make
There are several common mistakes homeowners make after purchasing a property.
what if I already have a builder?
An architect brings a distinct set of skills and expertise that complements the builder’s role.
Think pieces...
Architecture school asks questions,
Architecture practice provides answers.
These are some of the most asked questions people have about architects…
1. What services do architects provide?
Architects help you explore what you require in terms of function and aesthetic. They coordinate professionals that include engineers, the design team, construction workers etc.👷🏽♀️
They also deal with building regulation requirements to provide the correctly built project for you.
2. At what point should I involve an architect?
ASAP. You should start looking for an architect before you even begin planning your project. Architects help you explore your options and provide important pre-design services. This can avoid additional unwanted costs and increase your satisfaction with the project. ✍️
3. Don’t architects add a substantial cost to a project?
Architects fees may be an additional cost however this expense is likely to save you money in the long-run. If required Architects can also monitor your budget and negotiate for the best materials. 💵.
19/09/22
The MazDesigns Architecture Competition
-Aug'22
This year we hosted our first architecture competition where the focus was to create a sustainable studio space. We came up with this idea due to the pandemic and the transition many people faced with working from home or having to work in shared studio spaces, it all felt like a rush to get back to work. We wanted to take time and think about how to better our working environment and our daily lives. We had a number of wonderful submissions that we would like to share with you that emphasised sustainability in a work culture whether it was in the design or in the actions that would be ocurring.
A big thank you to the participants who entered!
15/09/22
Harry Potter's Bedroom Makeover
The toilet under the stairs is a regularly overlooked space in terms of aesthetics, not realising that it is one of the most commonly entered spaces. The under stairs toilet is frequently accessed due to easy entry and it is practically in the centre of the home.
There are many ways you can liven up the space so that you and your guests are provided with a small oasis under your stairs.
Opt for a colour scheme that complements your style and the decor you have supplied around the house. This will create a coordinated look throughout the home. Dark colours such as black of rich greens and blues make tight spaces actually look bigger and more luxurious when walls and floors are matched accordingly. Light colours are also popularly used to create a light, airy feel in the space.
*Tip: A patterned tile is always a great design choice as it livens up the space.
19/07/22
Decorate your fireplace mantle with us
Looking for ideas on how to decorate your fireplace mantle?
We’re here to help.
- Refresh/update your mantel if needed (make sure you’re happy with what you’re starting with)
- Decide on a theme – Choose a time period you’re interested in, the type of material you’d like to use or a specific colour palette
- Balance the display – you do not have to match everything on your mantel (as this can feel outdated) but make sure the visual weight of your decor is balanced.
- Layer up – layer picture frames and mirrors, but be careful not to obstruct the fireplace’s visual clarity
- Height – Ensure your fireplace is not entirely top-heavy by surrounding it with decor along the bottom
- Decor – Aim to use decor that has similar physical qualities that can compliment each other
- (Optional) You can freshen up the space around the fireplace by adding natural features like plants.
23/06/22
Doors through the ages...
Have you ever considered your door style?
A door is a home’s first introduction. It provides security as well as offering a welcome into your home. The concept of doors has changed throughout time. From once being a mere entry and exit, to being a necessity built for protection. Doors were once a status symbol during the Victorian Era and therefore involved more ornate elements with elaborate designs and embellished bells and handles. We able to understand how door types have evolved over time to suit the needs of 21st century homeowner
- Glass is no longer as popular as the early styles due to safety reasons
- Doors are now developed with improved technology to provide thermal efficiency and security
- Doors are more strong and durable now due to homeowners containing gadgets and important possessions that need protection.
A door is a detail that many of us overlook, but its history has allowed us to be able to choose from a range of door styles such as rustic, contemporary, grandiose, bespoke etc. whilst incorporating modern-day technology like modern fixtures and different glazing options which serve the purpose of both practicality and aesthetics.
19/05/22
Bay or bow?
So, you’ve purchased your property but the windows are outdated and need reviving. Exploring different types of window designs and tis functionalities is a must as this will benefit you in the long run. Bow windows are a common design choice for properties in London. Its stunning architecture has historic features, but the elements don’t meet the new energy standards i.e. your bow windows are single glazed which causes the property major heat loss. You decide to input double-glazed windows but now you’ve lost the curve in your window as a result of easy installation while it simplifies to a bay window.
What do you do?
Don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world. Your bay windows will be styles and designed to give you that historic style with the added benefit of retaining heat.
28/04/22
Expectations
We believe in setting realistic expectations as it reduces your chances of feeling bad after failing to complete the task you promised to do. Getting stuck in hustle and grind culture is hard enough as it is, but overstretching yourself will leave you exhausted and reduce your productivity. We believe that setting out goals and being intentional with your time and energy will allow you to effectively achieve your objectives and unlock your full potential.
How to set realistic expectations:
- Maintain open communication with others, but most importantly with yourself
- Know your limits “under promise and over deliver”
- Plan and delineate your capabilities and what you can provide within a certain time
17/03/22
rest up
Most people associate rest with sleep, but we believe in multiple forms of rest. There is physical rest, mental rest, creative and emotional relaxation, and many other aspects of rest. We believe in enabling yourself to replenish in these areas to avoid burnout. Sleeping is fine, but instead of sleeping, consider active physical rest like meditation or simply going for a walk to get away from our computer displays, which are flooded with artificial light.
As designers we know how important rest is for our health (and sanity). This is why we encourage relishing in nature.
This not only stimulates our brains, allowing us to get our creativity flowing, but it also enables us to feel restored and prepared for the day ahead.
24/02/22
micro Home, Macro me
The construction of miniscule homes has rapidly multiplied. The next generation are keen to get their own place and are quickly packing their belongings into these compact homes. We admire the detail that goes into being able to design a house with such restrictions and we are here to hep. Here are some tips on how to maximise your living space:
- Decide of strategic storage options. Mounting things onto the wall (shelves/TV) and having hollow furniture can create many more spaces for you to place your books/decor.
- Aim to buy furniture that is thin to create a light and airy feel in the room.
- Keep the colour scheme neutral and bright as this will maximise space and light by reflecting off the walls and furniture. In addition to this, add mirrors as this creates the illusion of a greater space.
- Adding lighting creates definition and depth within a room. Sconces are useful as they don’t take up floor space.
- Invest in smart furniture. Purchasing items with dual-function such as sofa-beds helps maintain a wider area for lounging when not in use.
- Ensure not to fill up all walls as this will create a claustrophobic feel. The room needs space to breathe.
13/01/22
Home is where the heart (work) is
As a firm which implements a hybrid work policy, we believe that changing up our work environment boosts motivation and productivity. We place a high value on work-life balance. As commuting takes up a significant chunk of your day, we believe that you should invest that time in your own self-improvement and health. Here are some activities the team likes to get up to during their free time:
- Exercising
- Bike riding
- Baking
- Painting
- Visit design events and talks
- Go to galleries and museums
- Spend time with friends and family
23/12/21
don't look, the world is changing
As a post-pandemic society, we are taking significant precautions for ourselves, others and the planet. Although the COP26 discussions are over, this is not a halt for us to scrap our ideas and actions to create a better, greener life for everyone. The question we should be asking is how can we singularly and collectively reduce our carbon footprint on a daily basis?
Here are some tips from MazDesigns on how we can all create a more sustainable infrastructure in the office:
Invest in environmentally friendly paper. Recycled paper does the same job and doesn’t harm the environment!
Go digital. How much paper does an office produce and waste? A lot. Think about sending out a product digitally before printing it out. If needed, aim to use small font to reduce waste.
Offices are in a position now more than ever where we have the ability to work from home and still have the access to resources. The environmental effects of commuting have a large impact on the air quality and road maintenance.
Naturally, lighting in the office is very important, however, consider how you can maximise light in the office and reduce electrical use.
These are just some of our tips, however, there are MANY more that can help contribute to a greener world…
25/11/21