Arkiplan

Arkiplan https://youtu.be/0m-NVlDtkQ8

Home extension and loft conversion design, simplified.

- Your convenient alternative to an architect.

- We design, draw and obtain all consents on your behalf.

- Easy to understand, fixed costs.

Real words from an Arkiplan homeowner, Zia. If you're weighing up an extension or loft conversion, see what's possible f...
04/09/2026

Real words from an Arkiplan homeowner, Zia. If you're weighing up an extension or loft conversion, see what's possible for your home with our free feasibility check.

Real words from an Arkiplan homeowner, Jenny. If you're weighing up an extension or loft conversion, see what's possible...
03/09/2026

Real words from an Arkiplan homeowner, Jenny. If you're weighing up an extension or loft conversion, see what's possible for your home with our free feasibility check.

A garden room is one of the most-wanted upgrades this year, and it's easy to see why: a quiet office or studio at the en...
26/08/2026

A garden room is one of the most-wanted upgrades this year, and it's easy to see why: a quiet office or studio at the end of the garden, without the disruption of extending the house.

But there's a real gap between the flat-pack shed and a room you'll actually use in January. A budget build tends to start around £12,000–£18,500. A mid-range, properly insulated room, professionally installed, is more like £25,000–£35,000 — roughly £1,200–£2,500 per square metre depending on glazing and insulation.

The trade-offs, plainly: a garden room usually adds less resale value than an equivalent extension, and a cheap one won't be warm enough to use year-round without proper insulation. But it's faster and far less disruptive. Many fall under permitted development and need no planning — single-storey, low eaves, not used as separate living accommodation — though conservation areas and boundary distances can change that, so it's worth checking before you commit.

Getting the size, glazing and position right is where a bit of design thinking pays for itself. Wondering if yours would work — and what it'd cost? See if your project's feasible with our free tool — link in bio.

"Can we actually live in the house while the extension goes up — with two little ones at home?" It's one of the question...
26/08/2026

"Can we actually live in the house while the extension goes up — with two little ones at home?" It's one of the questions we hear most, and the answer is usually yes.

Most families stay put. The usual approach: keep your existing kitchen and a bathroom working for as long as possible, seal the building zone off from the rest of the house, and line up the noisiest, dustiest days for when you can be out.

There's often one short stretch — usually when the old and new parts join up — where a week or two elsewhere makes everything easier. Not a full move-out, just the hardest fortnight.

The thing that makes it manageable is agreeing the plan with your builder before work starts: what stays usable, how the dust is contained, and roughly when the tough days fall.

Wondering how it'd work in your home? Get your free feasibility check and we'll help you plan around family life.

Real words from an Arkiplan homeowner, Ricky. If you're weighing up an extension or loft conversion, see what's possible...
26/08/2026

Real words from an Arkiplan homeowner, Ricky. If you're weighing up an extension or loft conversion, see what's possible for your home with our free feasibility check.

"If we switch to a heat pump, will the house still be properly warm when it's freezing outside?" It's one of the questio...
24/08/2026

"If we switch to a heat pump, will the house still be properly warm when it's freezing outside?" It's one of the questions we hear most — and it's a fair one.

The short answer: yes, when the system has been designed for your home. Modern heat pumps keep working well below freezing, which is why most homes in Norway, Sweden and Finland — far colder than a British winter — run on them. Around two-thirds of Norwegian homes already do.

The trick isn't a bigger unit. It's a system sized and designed properly, so you get steady, even warmth through the coldest days rather than on-off blasts. That's why the design work upfront matters more than the badge on the box.

Thinking about it for an extension or renovation? Get a free feasibility check on your project first — link in bio.

"Our loft feels a bit short — does that rule out a bedroom up there?" It's one of the first things people ask us, and th...
16/08/2026

"Our loft feels a bit short — does that rule out a bedroom up there?" It's one of the first things people ask us, and the answer is usually more encouraging than they expect. There's no legal minimum ceiling height for a loft room itself, so a lowish roof doesn't automatically rule out a conversion. The measurement that really matters is the headroom over the new stairs — and loft conversions get a specific allowance that makes tight roofs workable. A good designer works this out early from your roof shape, so you know what's realistic before you commit to anything. Curious whether yours could work? Get a free feasibility check on your address. 🏠

Buying or doing up a home that's sat empty for a couple of years? Here's one worth knowing before you sign anything: if ...
15/08/2026

Buying or doing up a home that's sat empty for a couple of years? Here's one worth knowing before you sign anything: if nobody has lived there for two years or more, a VAT-registered builder can often charge 5% VAT on the renovation instead of the usual 20%. Across a whole project — rewiring, plastering, new windows, even an extension as part of the work — that adds up to a real saving.

The catch is timing: the builder applies the lower rate to their invoices and keeps proof the home was empty, so it's worth asking about early rather than trying to claim anything back later. Some works still sit at 20%, and your builder or council can confirm what qualifies.

Not sure if your project counts? Get your free feasibility check and we'll help you plan it properly from the start. 🏡

Before you decide where the glass goes, it's worth knowing which way your extension faces — because the direction it poi...
14/08/2026

Before you decide where the glass goes, it's worth knowing which way your extension faces — because the direction it points decides what the light feels like at breakfast, in the afternoon and at dinner.

South catches the brightest, warmest light through the middle of the day, so it's lovely to sit in. A big run of south or west glass can get warm in summer, which is easily handled with a roof overhang, a little shade or windows that open on two sides. North gives soft, even light with almost no glare — perfect for a study or a spot where you don't want sun on a screen. And east holds the morning sun while west keeps the evening light, so you can match your seating to when you'll actually use the room.

Not sure which way yours faces — or how to get the light right? Try our free feasibility check and we'll help you plan it around the sun.

Address

Lytchett House, 13 Freeland Park
Poole
BH166FA

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+448458520852

Website

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