Real Homes Live! Theatres 2011

Now with a second theatre for 2011, experts from Real Homes magazine, and special guests, share the secrets of successful home improvement projects. Looking at topics such as adding space and value, energy saving, interiors and gardens these in-depth sessions will truly inspire.

Share the passions of our experts in the Real Homes Live! Theatres. Listen to home improvement experts discuss their specialist areas and get advice
on how to make the most of your home.

Sessions are FREE of charge and cannot be booked in advance. Seats are based on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early to avoid disappointment!

Theatre 1

10.45
Adding Space & Value: How to spot your home’s hidden potential
If you are thinking of extending and improving your home, whether to live in or sell on, don’t miss this expert guide from TV property expert Michael Homes. Packed with inspirational examples and ideas discover how to make the most of any property, from remodelling and extending, to loft and garage conversions, with a guide to the fundamentals of successful design, typical costs and which improvements will add maximum value.
Michael Holmes, TV Property Expert and Editor-in-Chief of Real Homes Magazine

11.30
The Energy Saving Home: Old house to Ecohouse
Green homes specialist and TV expert Charlie Luxton explains the best options to improve your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your heating bills, from different insulation options for walls, floors and roofs, to upgrading windows, reducing water consumption, reducing you electricity bills and choosing a new heating system.
Charlie Luxton, Architectural designer and Broadcaster, and Real Homes Green Home Expert

12.15
Interiors & Decorating: The secret to creating beautiful interiors
Learn how to create your own successful interior design schemes room by room, from creating mood boards to working successfully with professionals, builders and decorators. Interior designer, Julia Kendell, from TV’s DIY SOS and 60 Minute Makeover, will help you become confident with colour and learn how to add interest with texture and light.
Julia Kendell from DIY SOS & 60 Minute Makeover, and Real Homes Magazine Interior Design Expert

13.00
Garden Design: Designing the 'Green Room'
Let TV Gardening Expert Matt James inspire you to redesign your outdoor ‘green’ room into a natural, seamless extension of your home. From layout and structure to creating features & focal points, lighting and planting this session will leave you with inspiring sustainable ideas about how to make the most of your outdoor space.
Matt James, ITV's 'Love Your Garden' and Real Homes Magazine Gardening Expert

13.45
Interiors & Decorating: Inspirational kitchen and bathroom design
Packed with design ideas and inspiration this session, presented by TV Property Expert Michael Holmes, reveals how to create your dream kitchen designed around your lifestyle, from getting the space right to choosing the optimum layout, from a traditional family kitchen to a striking contemporary, open plan space. Plus a look at the essential of successful bathroom design, from space planning, choosing fixtures and fittings, to decoration and lighting.
Michael Holmes, TV Property Expert and Editor-in-Chief of Real Homes Magazine

14.30
The Energy Saving Home: See through the spin and choose the right sustainable solutions for your home
Green homes specialist and TV expert Charlie Luxton takes a look at energy saving heating options from choosing the best fuel source from gas to wood pellets, to upgrading your boiler, choosing between underfloor heating and low temperature radiators, eco options like woodburning stoves and biomass boilers, plus incorporating renewables such as solar panels and photo-voltaics, to wind turbines and heat pumps. Discover which options are worth investing in depending on your circumstances and the type of home you live in.
Charlie Luxton, Architectural designer and Broadcaster, and Real Homes Green Home Expert

15.15
Garden Design: Beautiful Gardens on a Budget
Gardening expert Matt James reveals how to make beautiful gardens that won't break the bank. Starting with low-cost, high impact strategies, how to identify the inherent quality of your garden, through to the layout, structure, materials and planting. Whatever your outdoor space, this session is the inspiration you need to create a dream garden that won't cost a fortune.
Matt James, ITV's 'Love Your Garden' and Real Homes Magazine Gardening Expert


16.00
Interiors & Decorating: Bedroom to Boudoir – How to create your dream master bedroom suite
Interior Designer Julia Kendell explains how to create a luxury master bedroom suite, with en suite bathroom or shower room, dressing room and more. Inspirational interior design and decorating ideas take you from how to find or create the space, to choosing furniture and colour schemes to help you create something truly individual. Go on – indulge yourself!
Julia Kendell from DIY SOS & 60 Minute Makeover, and Real Homes Magazine Interior Design Expert
 

Theatre 2

10.45
The Energy Efficient Home: Making money from renewable energy – grants and feed in tariffs explained
If you are thinking of investing in solar panels, photo-voltaics, heat pumps or any other energy efficient ideas from insulation to a new boiler then don’t miss this session. Money Expert Jennifer Newton explains what grants are available and how to get them, how the feed-in tariff payments from government work, the VAT reliefs available and the most cost-effective ways to fund energy efficient improvements to your home.
Jennifer Newton, Real Homes magazine Money Expert

11.30
Design Inspiration: Big ideas for small houses
Brilliant design ideas and solutions to help you make the very most of your home, whatever style property you live in. Architectural designer Hugo Tugman helps you explore all of the options to make the most of space, light and storage by remodelling, converting and extending, plus using clever tricks and techniques that will help maximise the sense of space in your home.
Hugo Tugman, Architectural Designer and Real Homes Design Expert

12.15
Period Property: The ten golden rules for renovating and repairing a period house
Discover how to renovate a traditional property sensitively, repairing structural defects, eliminating cold, damp and draughts, repairing windows and doors to create a comfortable energy-efficient home. Learn where to start, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Roger Hunt, Period Living magazine Renovation Expert and co-author of Old House Handbook

13.00
Adding Space & Value: How to improve your home without needing planning permission
Discover how the planning system really works, who makes the decisions, and how you can influence them to achieve you goals. Plus a guide to making the most of your ‘permitted development rights’ – the alterations, improvements and extensions you can undertake without having to apply for planning permission.
Simon Smith, Real Homes Magazine Planning and Permitted Development Expert

13.45
Home Entertainment & Leisure: The essential toys for the 21st century intelligent home
From 3d home cinema and multi-room hi-fi, to automated lighting, climate control, security systems and more, discover the latest in intelligent home technology. Find out just what is possible from central locking to watering the garden or closing the curtains from your mobile phone or laptop. Discover how to prepare your home for the future and what we can expect to see in the years to come as our homes incorporate ever more technology.
CEDIA Custom Installer and Real Homes magazine Smart Home Expert

14.30
Design Inspiration: How to give your home the wow factor!
Experienced architectural designer Hugo Tugman reveals some clever and innovative ways to add amazing design features to your home no matter what your budget. From floating contemporary staircases, to pocket doors, from frameless glass extensions to vaulted ceilings, learn the design techniques behind these fantastic features and how to achieve them successfully and cost-effectively, and how to avoid the common pitfalls.
Hugo Tugman, Architectural Designer and Real Homes Design Expert

15.15
Adding Space & Value: The ten best ways to add value on a budget
From a new kitchen to a new extension, money expert Jennifer Newton explains the most cost-effective ways to improve your home to add value, and clever ways to bring down the costs to suit your budget. Plus a guide to funding your improvement project in the current financial market, either by saving or using the cheapest borrowing options
Jennifer Newton, Real Homes magazine Money Expert

16.00
Period Property: How to extend a period house sympathetically
Whether you want to add a conservatory, a larger kitchen breakfast room or extra bedrooms, learn how to create new space in a traditional period property without compromising its existing charm and character. This session looks at how to get right the key issues such as scale, style and materials and also integrating old and new as well as making use of existing spaces within the home such as basements and attics.
Roger Hunt, Period Living magazine Renovation Expert and co-author of Old House Handbook