Kitchens
Kitchen Materials Explained: Carcasses, Doors and Worktops
How kitchen carcasses, doors, worktops and hardware compare for durability, care and cost, with a checklist to use when you compare kitchen quotes.
The journal for UK homes
Featured · Kitchens
Kitchen Materials Explained: Carcasses, Doors and Worktops
How kitchen carcasses, doors, worktops and hardware compare for durability, care and cost, with a checklist to use when you compare kitchen quotes.
Read the articleBetter homes start with better information
Hearth & Home Journal publishes practical, sourced articles on kitchens, windows and doors, interiors and gardens: what things cost, which rules apply and what to ask before you start.
Official sources citedCosts and rules datedWritten for UK homes
Explore by category
Four parts of the home, each with its own practical guides.
Kitchens
Layouts, materials, appliances and planning a kitchen that works.
Windows & Doors
Glazing, security, energy ratings and the rules for replacements.
Interiors
Comfort, colour, damp, lighting and making rooms work harder.
Garden & Outdoor
Garden rooms, fences, patios and the rules for outdoor projects.
Latest articles
Fresh guides, newest first.
Interiors
How to Reduce Condensation and Mould at Home: A UK Guide
Practical UK guide to cutting condensation and mould at home: daily habits, ventilation, heating, safe mould removal and when to call a landlord or expert.
Kitchens
How to Plan a Kitchen Layout: Work Triangle, Shapes and Clearances
Plan a kitchen that works: the work triangle explained, galley, L-shape, U-shape and island layouts compared, plus the clearances designers aim for.
Windows & Doors
Front Door Security in the UK: PAS 24, TS 007 Stars and SS312 Explained
What PAS 24, TS 007 star ratings, Sold Secure SS312 Diamond and Secured by Design mean for your front door, and how to choose an anti-snap lock.
Garden & Outdoor
Do You Need Planning Permission for a Garden Room, Shed or Fence in England?
Garden room, shed or new fence? Learn the permitted development height and size limits in England, when you need planning permission and building regs.
Popular topics
Jump straight to what readers look for most.
How we write
Every article follows the same simple rules.
Start with the rules
Planning, building regulations and safety come first, with links to the official guidance.
Show real costs
Where we quote a price, we say where it comes from and when it was checked.
Questions to ask
Each article ends with practical questions for designers, installers and tradespeople.
Planning a project?
Browse every article in the journal, from first ideas to the paperwork at the end.