Charles Mullineux Design

01/06/2026

The question I’m asked most often by owners of listed properties isn’t “can I have sustainable heating?” It’s “should I have it?”
They’re not the same question — and the difference matters enormously.
The answer is: sometimes yes, often not yet, and almost never without significant preparation first. Sustainable heating systems need a well-insulated building to work effectively. Older buildings, almost by definition, are not well insulated.
Fabric first, always. Draught proofing, secondary glazing, roof insulation. The technology is the last step, not the first.
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27/05/2026

The most requested thing we hear from car collectors?

“I want to be able to see them from the house.”

Full-height glazing between the living space and the garage. Carefully positioned sightlines. Lighting designed as much for the view from the kitchen or the garden as from inside the space itself.

When it’s done well, the garage and the house become one composition.

The cars aren’t hidden away. They’re part of the home.

If you’re planning a new build, a renovation, or simply imagining what your collection could have - send us a message!

19/05/2026

The glass that’s changing everything!

Vacuum glazing - like FINEO by AGC - is finally giving listed building owners an option that actually works.

At just 6.7-8mm thick, it matches the profile of original single glazing almost exactly, so it fits Georgian and Victorian sash windows without compromising their proportions or significance. Yet it delivers a U-value of 0.7 W/m²K - eight times better than single glazing, and stronger than most triple glazing!

Historic England has approved it. Conservation officers are saying yes.

If you’ve been told double glazing isn’t possible in your listed building, it might be time to ask again.

💬 Questions about your own windows? Drop us a message.

14/05/2026

A serious car collection deserves serious protection 🏎️

But security should never compromise the aesthetic.

In every automotive space we design, we integrate biometric access, CCTV, monitored alarm systems and vehicle tracking seamlessly into the architecture, invisible until needed.

Smart climate monitoring. Automated lighting scenes. EV charging infrastructure specified from the ground up.

Technology that protects without intruding. Because a space this considered deserves to stay exactly that way.

Curious about what a bespoke automotive space could look like for your collection? Get in touch.

📩 [email protected]

11/05/2026

The rule of thumb for listed building windows 🪟

If you own a listed or protected property, here’s the single most important thing to know about windows:

If it looks different, works differently, or isn’t made from the same material - you need Listed Building Consent. Every time.

That means:
✅ Sensitive restoration of original frames - almost always the preferred route
✅ Like-for-like replacement in matching timber, to exact original profiles - usually supportable with a well-prepared application
✅ Secondary glazing - a discreet inner pane, often the most practical solution for Grade I buildings
✅ Vacuum glazing - the emerging technology that’s quietly changing what’s possible

Getting this wrong is expensive. Getting it right is deeply satisfying.

We’ve spent years cultivating the relationships with conservation officers and heritage specialists that make the difference between an approved application and a refused one.

If you’re facing a window decision in a listed or protected property, speak to us before you do anything else.

📩 [email protected]

11/05/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/weight-history-charles-mullineux-hzjie

Windows, Listed Buildings and the Battle Between Beauty and Energy Efficiency By Charles Mullineux | Charles Mullineux Design Every listed building carries a contract with history. A promise that what was built — its materials, its proportions, its character — will be preserved for the generatio...

07/05/2026

There was a time when a garage was where you put things you didn’t want in the house.

Not anymore.

Today, the clients we work with are designing spaces that are part gallery, part social club, part sanctuary, and entirely extraordinary.

🔹 Full-height glass walls so the cars are part of the view from the house.
💡 Gallery lighting that sculpts each car as an object of art.
🌡️ Climate control that protects a multi-million pound collection.
🍸 A bar, a pinball machine & sound systems that do justice to both music and the idle of an engine.

We call it automotive architecture.

It’s one of the most exciting briefs we receive. 😊

What would your dream garage look like? Tell us in the comments ⬇️

25/04/2026

Nearing Completion, this fabulous car gallery is linked to a grade 2* listed property.

13/03/2026

Designing a brand new home is exciting - but the best results come from careful thinking long before construction begins. Here are four things we always encourage clients to consider:

1️⃣ Start with how you live
Design around your routines and lifestyle, not just images or floor plans.

2️⃣ Understand the site
Orientation, views, access and planning context should guide the architecture.

3️⃣ Align ambition with budget
Being clear about priorities early helps turn ideas into something that can actually be built.

4️⃣ Think in light and space
Great homes are about volumes, flow and natural light — not just a list of rooms.

A truly successful home is one that feels effortless to live in, because every detail has been carefully considered.

10/03/2026

A major milestone on this project - the glazing installation has recently been completed at this Grade II listed building ✨

Introducing contemporary glass into a historic structure requires careful design and precision installation, allowing light to flood the space while respecting the integrity of the original architecture. It’s always rewarding to see these moments when a project really begins to take shape.