At home with Graham Edward of Edward Architecture

Q&A with Graham Edward, founder of Edward Architecture, Leeds, which specialises in design and property and planning advice.

Describe your home and its style?My home is a five-bedroom detached house that is a self-build project in a development of four similar houses in Morley, Leeds. The design and style of the property is a blend of traditional with an Arts and Crafts style exterior and a splash of Modernism in the form of a two-storey, glazed screen entrance feature and a central staircase with a balconied landing. The master bedroom has been designed with cathedral ceiling and full-height glazing. It leads out onto an external balcony, which captures morning sun. There is also a large, open-plan kitchen with snug and dining area, which is fresh and modern and opens out onto the terrace in the rear garden. There are lots of traditional touches such as a fireplace and chimney stack. I involved a lot of my team in the design of my home, so it has become a real Edward Architecture family project.

Plans for Graham's new house

What is on your interiors wish list?The beauty of self-building is being able to design your dream house, so our most of our wish list has been incorporated into the design. We are having a gas stove due to the house being built in a smoke control area but it would be fantastic to have a real open wood or coal fire. I grew up with open fires and our last self-built home had one. It made the lounge really cosy.

Graham would like a woodburning stove like this from Ludlow Stoves but has had to settle for a gas stove

Which household items could you not live without?Probably my Amazon Alexa. It is great having the worldwide web and my favourite music on tap throughout the house. That said, I am still clinging on to my old vinyl record collection.Which designers do you most admire and why? The architect Charles Francis Annesley Voysey (1857-1941), who specialised in the Arts and Crafts style. I really admire the bold roofs, grand chimneys and fireplaces that he designed and that the homes he created have been there such a long time and will remain for a long time. The Arts and Crafts style and it is something I am incorporating into my own home.What is your favourite building?As a Leeds United fan, I’d have to say Elland Road, but in the context of the question my favourite building is Candle House, in Leeds. It really stands out thanks to its shape and it still looks modern and striking after almost 20 years. It really reflects the South Bank heritage and it is in a great canalside setting. We have a lovely view of it from our riverside offices.

Graham is excited by modular construction like this by Moduloft

Is there anything exciting you at the moment in terms of design?Modular build is definitely exciting at the moment. My practice has recently completed two modular residential projects for a client and the quality of the finish is as near to perfect as you can get. The speed of construction is mind blowing and it is a really environmentally-friendly method of construction as there is nearly zero on-site waste.What and where is your ideal home?Our own self-build but if I could pick it up and put it in the north of Cornwall or maybe north east Corfu, that would be extra special.Who would you most like to invite to dinner?Alan Sugar. I think we’d have a lot to talk about with our common interests in cycling and football. I have read all of his business books and find him an incredibly likeable and inspiring person.