New HebHomes Design Changes Guide

HebHomes has launched an updated Design Changes Guide, giving clients clearer advice on how they can personalise their home while keeping the build process simple, efficient and cost-effective.

The new guide has been developed from many years of experience delivering HebHomes projects across Scotland, Ireland and beyond. It explains which changes are straightforward, which need careful consideration, and which are best avoided because they can add unnecessary cost, delay or complexity.

At the heart of the guide is a simple message: HebHomes designs are carefully resolved, but they are not rigid. Each house has been designed to work beautifully as standard, with well-balanced proportions, practical layouts and efficient construction details. However, we also understand that every site, view, family and way of living is different.

The updated guide now gives clients more detailed information on the flexibility available across our house types, including:

• mirroring or flipping a house to suit views, access and orientation
• choosing from alternative porch layouts
• creating extra utility space, a snug, or an additional bedroom
• moving doors and windows where this helps respond to the site
• selecting alternative window arrangements to frame key views
• choosing different stove positions and hearth arrangements
• adding kitchen islands where the layout allows
• adjusting bathroom layouts, such as swapping a bath for a shower
• considering non-standard finishes and detailing
• using room dividers to create more flexible living spaces

One of the new additions is guidance on room dividers. Some Longhouse designs can accommodate sliding dividers between living and dining spaces, allowing clients to create a more adaptable open-plan layout. This means a large shared space can still feel open and generous most of the time, while also giving the option to separate areas for work, music, television, children, guests or quieter moments.

The guide also explains how porches can be adapted to suit different priorities. Some clients may want a larger utility or boot room; others may prefer a more generous entrance lobby, a separate kitchen, a snug off the living space, or even an additional ground-floor bedroom. By showing these options clearly, the guide helps clients understand what is possible before design work begins.

Windows are another important area of flexibility. HebHomes houses are designed to capture light and views, but window placement also affects the balance of the elevations, engineering and cost. The guide sets out when moving, adding or changing windows can be sensible, and when restraint is the better option. It also illustrates alternatives such as larger picture windows, narrower windows for privacy, and corner windows for exceptional views.

The updated guide is intended to help clients make better decisions earlier in the process. Small changes can sometimes have wider consequences, including additional drawing work, structural engineering, energy calculations, cost increases and programme delays. By setting this out clearly, HebHomes hopes to give clients more confidence and avoid surprises later.

Alasdair Stephen, Managing Director of HebHomes, said:

“Clients often ask how much they can change one of our houses. The honest answer is that quite a lot is possible, but not every change is wise. Our houses have been refined over many years, so the best approach is usually to start with the design that most closely suits your needs, then make careful, targeted changes where they genuinely improve the house.

“This guide shows that HebHomes offers real flexibility, but within a framework that protects design quality, cost control and buildability. We want clients to feel that their home is personal to them, without losing the simplicity and value of the HebHomes system.”

The Design Changes Guide is part of HebHomes’ wider commitment to making the self-build process clearer and more manageable. It gives clients practical advice at an early stage, helping them understand the difference between a simple adjustment and a change that could have significant design or cost implications.

By combining carefully designed standard house types with sensible opportunities for personalisation, HebHomes continues to offer clients a route to a beautiful, practical and highly individual home — without the uncertainty of starting from scratch.