And here we are - the kids have left the nest and you feel lost in that big house which was full of life just until recently. You are wondering if you should swap it for something smaller but then you fear you’ll only see the kids for an occasional lunch as they would not have a room to sleep in… No one can predict the future, but right now you have the space and time for yourself - two things you have been missing badly at times. Let’s look at what you could do with that space and time:

If you want to prove your design ideas' viability, 'Kill your darling' might be your first call to action. This approach involves proposing the opposite of what you consider your best idea to date and challenging it. Here is how it works.

What is the usual project trajectory?

A construction project can feel overwhelming and confusing, regardless of its size and purpose. The RIBA Plan of Work sets out a project plan in 7 stages, but for the sake of simplicity, some of the stages can be combined, and many projects run through fewer stages than seven.