Architectural designer providing individual client focused full services from inception to completion. I am happy to assist with projects large and small.
7 customer reviews
Rebecca Sinnatt
Architectural Services
Tom inspired a lot of confidence. He was clearly very experienced and pointed out a lot of things I hadn’t even thought of. He delivered a great piece of work which has made diving one bathroom into 2 so much easier for me. He has also made himself available for follow up questions even though he has completed the work for me. I would not hesitate to recommend him. More...
Michael
Tom Booker has helped me secure two Certificates of Lawfulness on HMO's that I have purchased. On each occasion there have been unforeseen complications however Tom has highlighted the issues before the application has been made and both have ultimately been successful.
He has also enabled me to look into various options to extend a property and after a choice was made, has submitted plans and successfully achieved planning permission on the first attempt.
I will most certainly be using his services again as and when the need arises.
More...
Helen
We used Tom to obtain a certificate of lawfulness for an HMO we own in Brighton, and would highly recommend him. He was quick, efficient, communicated with us really clearly and we felt the fee was reasonable. We would definitely use Tom's services again. More...
Rob Raeburn
I have a flat in a Grade 2 listed building and have engaged Mr. Booker twice.
The first time because, I was advised to apply to the council’s Heritage department for retrospective permission for the changes that had been made to the layout over the years.
This turned out to be a lot more complex than I imagined, requiring architectural drawings, researching archives etc.
Mr. Booker was recommended by a local solicitor and he took on the job and saw it through to completion, in what was from my point of view a pretty seamless process.
He is very pleasant to work with, while giving me full confidence in his competence and professionalism. He explained clearly what was required and why, and then got on with it. Communication was excellent at all times. A task I thought was going to be a nightmare went very smoothly.
The second occasion I was required to make adjustments to the doors of my flat to be compliant with the revised ‘post-Grenfell’ fire regulations. Having done so I discovered that these alterations required retrospective Heritage permission. Again, I engaged Tom and again the process went very smoothly.
I thoroughly recommend anyone in a similar position to speak to Mr. Booker. It is well worth the money.
More...
A Wilgens
We worked with Tom Booker for around a year, during which he planned and helped supervise a
significant modernisation and extension of our property, including a total refurbishment of the
property’s interior, walls, floors, electrics, plumbing, garage conversion and large glass extension.
Having carried out similar works with other architects in the past, we were very happy with Tom’s
work. His level of responsiveness was excellent throughout the project and he was very transparent on
time needed, next steps and budget. Tom was happy to follow and execute our wishes, but also
proactively suggested alternatives and gave us several creative options to choose from.
Tom communicated well and would point out suggestions for resolution whenever we encountered an
unforeseen issue during the build. He also worked well and collaboratively with our chosen
contractors and held tension in a productive manner where needed. He also went above and beyond to
research certain new ideas or seek out new additions in showrooms to ensure a good fit. Once the
project was finished, we were very pleased with the result. We would warmly recommend Tom and happily
work with him again in the future!
More...
Jo Johansen
We used BookerArchitectural for an entire rebuild of our home after a fire. He project managed all the works and achieved something way beyond our expectations. He really knows how to channel light, adding skylights and some innovative architectural touches. Tom was great to work with - highly recommended. More...
David A Hall‐Jackson
My wife and I employed Tom Booker to do some architectural drawings and a bathroom extension for our Grade two listed property.
Tom met with us on a few occasions and quickly got a feel for and understanding of what we liked. With Toms help he saw us through the whole process of gaining planning permission with the greatest of ease.
The plans Tom drew up for us were not only sensitive to our preferred image but designed for maximum cost effectiveness. Tom clearly is skilled at finding efficient ways of using materials and was familiar with many modern products that I as a builder was not. He took the time to explain to me why the use of different materials would be advantageous and how I could use them.
Since using Tom I have recommended him to several clients and my brother in law for jobs as small as a stair handrail to larger extension projects and major remodeling. Each of these recommendations has resulted in happy customers who have been very pleased with the work Tom has done for them. I have no reservations in continuing to recommend Tom, as indeed I plan to continue to use his services myself.
More...
What do you love most about your job?
Listening to clients needs and dreams, meeting builders on cold mornings & quietly figuring out the best way forward
What inspired you to start your own business?
Having direct involvement with beginning to end, and engaging with people
Why should our clients choose you?
Because I am a great listener with a broad range of experience to draw from
Can you provide your services online or remotely? If so, please add details.
No, I find it essential to see the property, and meet my client at least once
What changes have you made to keep your customers safe from Covid-19?
Online meetings are now more common after an initial site visit
Residential extensions and refurbishments - Design process
Guiding clients through a series of design meetings, incorporating feedback, to arrive at a final design which we can be confident will give the best result. Using 3D fly-though, hand sketches, and plans as well as extensive discussions.
Residential extensions and refurbishments - Permissions and compliance
- Planning permissions & listed building consent grade 1 and 2
- Building control applications
- Advice on Party Wall
- Design of drainage alterations
- Rainwater calculations and soak-away design
- U-value calculation and energy assessments
- Solar irradiance calculations & renewables advice
- Applications to utility companies for new or altered connections
- Understanding when to bring in and working with other consultants such as Structural engineers, Contamination testing and remediation, arboricultural consultants, acoustic consultants and more
Residential extensions and refurbishments - Delivery
Interior design
Helping clients choose fittings and finishes
Preparing comprehensive instructions for builders
Helping choose a contractor
Assisting with any problems on site once work starts
Checking quality and progress during works
Providing information and assistance on use and future maintenance of completed project
Listed Buildings
I have worked on Grade one and two listed buildings in London and Brighton, gaining listed building consent for alterations and improvements and making retrospective applications for past works, which may have been done illegally by previous owners.
HMOs
Certificates of lawful use when there are existent HMOs in areas of new planning article 4 direction. Helpful for sales and mortgage applications, allowing solicitors to be happy that the property is a legal HMO.
Remodelling and extensions to increase the number of bedrooms whilst complying with or exceeding standards - a lot can be achieved by improving the internal spacial efficiency of a property, without compromising comfort and usability.
