TA Inspiration · the design advisor from Tudor Agencies
Every finish, decided well.
Twelve advisory tools for the decisions that shape a house: walls, ceilings, windows, light, façades, roofs and gardens. Answer a few questions and receive a ranked, reasoned shortlist, with the considerations for listed buildings and conservation areas already flagged.
- 12advisory tools
- 72options weighed
- Heritageaware by design
- Freeand advisory only
How the advisor works
A few answers. One clear shortlist.
Each tool weighs every option against your answers, then adjusts for the property’s heritage status. You see why each option ranks where it does, not only that it does.
Answer
Four or five questions about the room, the house and the way you live in it. Heritage status always comes first.
Compare
A ranked shortlist with match scores, the reasoning behind each one, strengths, considerations and an advisor note.
Brief
Save what you like into a single project brief, add scope and vision, and send it to Tudor Agencies.
The Advisor
Twelve tools, one house.
Start anywhere. Each tool takes about two minutes, and every recommendation can be saved to your brief.
The interior envelope
Walls, ceilings, joinery and openings: the surfaces you live closest to.
Wall Finishes
Plaster, paint, paper, panelling or fabric, matched to atmosphere, acoustics and upkeep.
5 options weighedBegin →Ceiling Finishes
Cornice, coffers, lime plaster, timber or stretch systems, scaled to height and mood.
6 options weighedBegin →Architectural Mouldings
Cornice, skirting, dado, architrave or shadow gap, proportioned to period and height.
5 options weighedBegin →Windows
Timber sash, slim glazing, secondary glazing or steel-look, weighed for heritage and performance.
7 options weighedBegin →Internal Doors
Panelled, flush, glazed, pocket, steel-framed or jib doors, matched to flow and privacy.
6 options weighedBegin →Light and power
How a room is lit, and how discreetly it is controlled.
Interior Lighting
Chandeliers, wall lights, lamps, concealed and accent light, layered for the room.
6 options weighedBegin →Switches and Sockets
Dolly, rocker, painted, flush, porcelain or keypad: the details every hand touches.
6 options weighedBegin →Exterior and garden
Façade, roof, terrace, garden and water.
Exterior Walls
Lime render, stucco, brick, stone, timber or insulated render, matched to the building.
6 options weighedBegin →Roofing
Natural slate, clay, zinc, shingle, green roofs and more, weighed for life and context.
6 options weighedBegin →Terraces and Paving
Stone, porcelain, decking, setts or resin, for terraces, paths, drives and pools.
6 options weighedBegin →Garden Lighting
Uplights, bollards, lanterns, step and water light, composed for the garden after dark.
7 options weighedBegin →Pool Finishes
Mosaic, porcelain, stone, plaster, stainless steel or membrane, for the water you want.
6 options weighedBegin →Listed buildings and conservation areas
Designated? We ask first.
Heritage status changes what is realistic: which windows will be approved, whether a ceiling can take downlights, what a façade may be finished in. Every tool asks about it before anything else, re-ranks its recommendations, and explains what consent is likely to involve.
General guidance drawn from the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, permitted development rules and the National Planning Policy Framework. It is not a planning determination; always confirm with your local planning authority.
- 01Listed building consent is needed for works affecting a listed building’s character, inside or out. Unauthorised works are a criminal offence.
- 02In conservation areas, Article 4 directions can remove permitted development rights for windows, doors, roofs and paint colours.
- 03Conservation officers generally favour repair, like-for-like materials and reversible interventions.
Tudor Bespoke · the furnishing edit
Then, furnish it.
Finishes set the stage. Tudor Bespoke, our sister edit, chooses the pieces that live on it: antique rugs, sculptural light and seating with presence, arranged room by room.
Tudor Bespoke may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through its links, at no extra cost to you. Selections remain independent.
Inspiration boards
Collected on Pinterest.
Working boards of rooms, materials and details we return to. Save what speaks to you and add it to your brief.
Questions
Before you begin.
Straight answers on the advisor, consent and how we work.
Is TA Inspiration free to use?
Yes. The tools are free and anonymous. Nothing is sent anywhere unless you choose to email your brief to Tudor Agencies.
Do I need consent to change windows in a listed building?
Almost always. Listed building consent is needed for works that affect a listed building’s character as a building of special architectural or historic interest, and replacing windows usually does. Carrying out such works without consent is a criminal offence. Repair, draught-proofing and secondary glazing are the usual starting points; discuss anything further with the conservation officer.
Can I replace windows in a conservation area without permission?
Houses have some permitted development rights, but many conservation areas have Article 4 directions removing them for elevations facing a highway, and flats have no permitted development rights for this work. Check with your council before ordering.
Are the recommendations specific products?
No. The advisor recommends materials and approaches, not brands. Use your shortlist to brief a contractor or supplier, or ask Tudor Agencies for an advisory view.
What does Tudor Agencies do?
Tudor Agencies is an independent home design advisory. We help you make well-informed decisions about finishes, materials and furnishing. We do not produce architectural drawings or submit planning applications.
How does Tudor Bespoke fit in?
Tudor Bespoke is our sister furnishing edit. Where a recommendation leads naturally to furnishing, we link to it. Its shop links are affiliate links and never change the price you pay.