Daddy Startup

Chris Dale • October 1, 2018

I spent the last few weekends clearing out the shed, to make space for the archiving and general junk that has built up in the garden office over the last decade of business, so that it's as clean & uncluttered as it can be (given the diminutive size and the capacity!) for our new starter Michelle tomorrow!


Most things went straight into the bin without much of a thought but of course I came across lots of artefacts that made me reminisce! Some of these aren't worth sharing, although seeing some of the things the kids watch on youtube, I think there's actually a channel for this somewhere!! (I might also follow up with some of the "art" that has been created in the office by my children).


There are hundreds of blogs and articles about start-ups (and I'm sure there are similar articles to this out there) but it seemed relevant to me; although artichoke has grown since then, my values are still pretty much what they were when we started and fortunately the people who have joined me at artichoke seem to share the same values - both personally, professionally and where the two blur (life isn't black & white!!).


This isn't so much of a blog as the posting of a guest article I wrote for a local Family Magazine.


Click here to see the article or read it below.




Our guest writer, Chris Dale, was a hardworking Dad who found himself on the wrong side of the housing. boom. Here, he tells Families his story of how being made redundant changed his life completely.


This year we celebrated a really special anniversary, but not the kind you might think ... At the end of 2007 I was happily working for one the largest private house builder/developers in the country. My wife and I had a six month old daughter and the half an hour commute from our flat in Windsor to Harefield meant that I could spend a reasonable amount of time with them. I had a very good relationship with my boss, which is why he took me aside one morning to tell me that the office would be closing within four months. It was a bit of a shame as I hadn't even been there a year.


Nevertheless, I brushed off my CV and started forwarding it to all the recruitment consultants I knew. It wasn't very long before the calls started coming in with prospective employers. As there were so many, I felt that I could be relatively choosy. I decided that I didn't want to work for large house builders anymore, who generally tend to build the same thing. After three intense interviews I secured a position with a very small developer in Maidenhead, who built bespoke one-off houses. I had studied architecture at university and have a passion for design, so this job suited me down to the ground. They even offered me a share of the company's profits and being ten minutes from home was an added bonus.


I started in January 2008 and everything was perfect, I had the job that I had been seeking for years and a wonderful wife and daughter. The job was going very well and was quite well-paid. So, in March 2008, we decided that we could afford to move out of the flat to a modest semi-detached house with a lovely big garden for our daughter to run around in. My wife and I were concerned about the large financial commitment we were making. But the house building industry was still very buoyant and I thought that I would get work easily if I lost my job again. We moved into our new house in April 2008 and you know what they say: "new house, new baby..."


But then the housing market (and the economy) crashed, Although I was trying my utmost to make myself useful at work, there was no new work coming in and I knew bad news was just around the corner. In July 2008 I was given one week's notice of my redundancy. Not only that, but a week later we also found out that we were going to have a second child.


I tried calling recruitment consultants, who had all hung up their hats and I called all my friends in the industry. They all said that they were now getting 300 to 400 CVs for each post. We had some savings but because of our significant financial commitments I had to start earning money quickly.


It was then that I decided that I would start my own architectural consultancy. My degree and the five years I had spent working in architectural practice had given me the skill and knowledge base that I needed to work on my own and I had made a few contacts working for 5 years for major house builders, who would be very useful.


I wasn't sure where to start, so I started with the obvious, a name for my company. I remembered that the house builders I worked for used to refer to their consultant architects as 'Artichokes' - and so 'Artichoke: Architectural Consultancy' was born on July 7, 2008.


I put some adverts in the local paper and had some business cards printed. The day the first advert went out I had a call and secured my first commission to design and prepare the drawings for a covered dining and barbeque area for a big house near Binfield. It wasn't the scale of project I had been used to, but it was a fantastic feeling; I had earned my first £300!


It was a start but it wasn't going to be enough to pay the mortgage and feed the family. So I emailed everyone in ray address book and called everyone I knew and started to call local builders to offer my services. Slowly the work has started to come in. Our special anniversary came round recently and to celebrate my wife baked Artichoke's first birthday cake this July.


A lot of friends always say "I don't know how you have the discipline to work at home, I would just sit there and watch TV!" but knowing that I have to secure enough work just to pay the basic bills is an incredibly good incentive!


Our baby son is now five months oId and I share my office with him. Running your own business is very hard work and quite stressful and I haven't earned enough for a holiday yet. But the lifestyle of being surrounded by my family and being able to have breakfast, lunch and supper with them, is amazing.


To help make ends meet my wife has even qualified as a child minder, so it is often a little loud around the house and quite tough to concentrate but it's all good fun. Our son will need his own room soon, so I might be relegated to working in the garage! However, the sacrifice will be worth it, as, I feel so spoilt being able to spend so much time with my family, every day of the week.




To contact Chris about architectural work


please call 01753 830 422 or email


chris.dale©artichoke.design.co.uk



- www.artichoke-design.co.u

Manor Farm Regeneration: Planning Application Finally Submitted

By Chris Dale • December 1, 2025
This marks a huge milestone in what has been one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding projects our practice has ever worked on. An Opportunity and a Privilege When we were first approached by Step Property almost five years ago, it was immediately clear that Manor Farm was a once-in-a-career project — a historic farmstead with five Grade II listed buildings, a sensitive Conservation Area setting, Green Belt & flood plain constraints, a struggling commercial yard and collapsing historic buildings that all urgently needed a coherent long-term vision and a strategy to achieve that. To be entrusted with leading the design and coordination of such a significant site has been a genuine privilege, one which we have not taken lightly.

Why Our Kickstarter Package Could Be The Smartest Investment You Make

By Chris Dale • November 3, 2025
Across the UK, many homeowners and small developers are pausing their plans. Construction costs are at record highs, planning requirements have become more complex, and professional fees are also increasing, so even a seemingly simple home extension or redevelopment is much more of a risk. Possibly the greatest concern we hear is – “What if we spend thousands of pounds only to find out it’s not even possible?” That’s exactly why we created the Kickstarter Package — our fixed-fee feasibility study that helps you to make informed decisions at a nominal cost in comparison to house purchases and developments. What is the Kickstarter Package? The Kickstarter Package is a design-led feasibility consultation that explores the planning, budget and design potential of your property. For a modest, fixed fee (from £750 excl. VAT), our experienced architects help you understand whether your ideas are likely to be achievable, affordable, and aligned with current planning policy — saving time, stress and money later on. You’ll receive clear answers to the key questions every homeowner faces: Is planning permission likely to be granted? What might the project cost? How long could it take? What could it look like? What’s Included — and Why It Matters Each element of the Kickstarter Package offers exceptional value compared with typical early-stage architectural or consultant fees. 1. Initial Consultation and Site Visit We start with a detailed discussion about your goals & requirements — from extending your home to redeveloping a site or purchasing a property. Then we visit the site to review opportunities and constraints in person. This early visit often uncovers crucial planning, drainage or design issues before you spend thousands on detailed drawings.

Is It Still Worth Extending Your Home?

By Chris Dale • September 30, 2025
For many families, extending or renovating their home has long been the dream solution — more space, a better layout, and a home that works for modern life. But in today’s climate, with projects in the £100,000–£300,000 range, things feel a lot more challenging. So what’s changed, why is it harder, and how can you still make your project work? The Main Challenges • Planning is getting pricier – application fees are higher, and councils are demanding more specialist reports (heritage, ecology, flood risk, transport, sustainability). • Build costs keep rising – materials and labour are much more expensive than even a few years ago. • Tougher regulations – stricter building rules on energy efficiency, fire safety and accessibility add extra costs. • Financing is harder – borrowing is still more expensive than it was pre-2022. • Trades are stretched – good builders and subcontractors are in high demand, pushing prices and timescales up. • Delays and uncertainty – planning decisions are taking longer, especially in sensitive areas like the Green Belt, Conservation Areas or with listed buildings. • Budgets are squeezed – with the cost of living rising, homeowners are weighing up whether extending or simply moving makes more sense.

A Guest Blog with Mark Taylor Design

By Chris Dale • September 3, 2025
1. Tell us a little about Mark Taylor Design — how did it start, and what defines your approach to bespoke interiors and kitchens? Mark Taylor Design was set up 29 years ago. I was trained in both furniture production and management and was also a keen designer. I had completed an MBA and wanted to apply all these skills to build a business, doing something I loved. I have always believed that you can design beautiful furniture and rooms without imposing a specific ‘look’. The company has built its reputation on listening to the ideas and desires of clients. We then help to steer their vision through space design, interior expertise and craft skills. What people have at the end of their design and build journey is their vision made beautiful – rather than ours. 2. What makes a truly successful kitchen or interior design in your view — and how do you balance aesthetics with day-to-day functionality? There is nothing quite like the beauty of bespoke. Having something created to your specifications is arguably the epitome of modern luxury. Bespoke is most commonly used to refer to hand-made suits and shoes. Now the concept has become much more sought after within the world of interiors and design – with bespoke kitchens leading the way. And it’s not too hard to understand why. Bespoke means not having to compromise - getting exactly what you want and how you want it. It also allows you to unleash your imagination and embrace your creativity. The end result is a room that is crafted, in every way, to embrace your lifestyle and personal taste. Importantly, by incorporating some elements of bespoke furniture into a custom made kitchen it’s possible to give people a unique room without breaking the bank. This could be a bespoke island or dresser for instance. By combining bespoke and custom made you can optimise the space so that the end result flows smoothly and looks amazing too. 3. How do you typically collaborate with architects on a project? What makes those relationships work well? Collaboration early on always helps. We ask architects not only about style and budget but also about the client’s favoured ways of working. Ideally, we like to meet the clients with the architect from the outset. Where this isn’t possible, we at least aim for a walk round the space or a chat through all the plans – even for the areas we might not be designing for, as this gives us a more comprehensive understanding of the clients’ vision.

The Architecture of Relaxation: Designing Spaces That Feel Like a Holiday

By Chris Dale • August 19, 2025
It’s summer holiday season — and as clients return from coastal cottages, mountain cabins, or sun-drenched villas, one theme keeps coming up: “How can I bring this feeling home?” That sense of ease, simplicity, and quiet joy isn’t just about being away—it’s about how those spaces are designed. At Artichoke: Architectural Consultancy, we help clients capture that same serenity in their everyday environments, with thoughtful design that’s tailored to how they live. Restful spaces aren’t created by chance. They’re the result of purposeful decisions—about layout, light, flow, and function. And often, it’s the small, well-considered changes that make the biggest difference. With decades of experience navigating UK planning, building regulations, and complex design briefs, we know how to deliver spaces that feel effortless, yet are deeply intentional. A calming home doesn’t need to be minimalist or expensive—it needs to be clear. That might mean reconfiguring a hallway to reduce visual clutter, introducing built-in storage to keep surfaces free, or designing a garden connection that invites you to step outside. These aren’t grand gestures—they’re subtle shifts that support a more peaceful way of living. Previously, on projects such as Halfacre (pictured below) we have found that storage, in particular, plays a quiet but very powerful role. When clutter is tucked away with care, rooms feel lighter, more spacious, and more welcoming. We design storage that’s integrated, intuitive, and tailored to your lifestyle — so your home supports simplicity without sacrificing function.

Should we save or borrow for our extension?

By Chris Dale • July 16, 2025
Like many, I am generally a saver rather than a borrower by default. A client recently told us that they planned to delay their project, so that they could save the additional money they needed to be able to do the extension that they really wanted, rather than compromising. Wisely they had asked us to carry out a costing exercise, so they knew this and could assess the situation and plan for it. In that instance they had £75,000 and needed save roughly another £25,000 to do what they wanted to do, which they thought they might be able to do over the course of 3-4 years. Their question was actually when they should resume the process, which we answered and I suggested that they give themselves a year to be comfortable to get planning, building regulations and find themselves a builder (it’s always better to allow more time than less!). However, it occurred to me that whilst saving rather than borrowing (in my mind at least) is an admirable and patient approach, it made me wonder what other factors should be considered.