Self Build Master Guide was created by Shania Mackin — an interior designer working on million-pound homes across the UK and Ireland. The programme is built on the exact process she uses with her own clients, translated into a format that any self-builder can follow.
Interior designer.
High-end design specialist.
I work with clients building some of the most considered homes in the UK — homes where every detail is intentional, every decision is sequenced correctly, and nothing is left to chance.
What I kept seeing, even among clients with large budgets and excellent architects, was the same problem. Interior design decisions being made too late, out of sequence, or under pressure from a contractor who needed an answer by end of day.
Those decisions — flooring transitions, ceiling heights, lighting positions, joinery reveals — aren't afterthoughts. They are the build. And once the walls are up, changing them costs tens of thousands.
Self Build Master Guide is my answer to that problem. Everything I know about designing at the highest level, structured around the exact sequence of a self build.
Built on real client work.
Designed for self-builders.
Every module in Self Build Master Guide comes directly from the briefs, processes, and frameworks Shania uses with her own clients. The lifestyle mapping exercise, the ceiling strategy session, the materials and finishes approach — all of it is real, tested, and sequenced to match the stages of your build.
The programme also includes guidance on how to brief and work with professionals — including architects, interior designers, and contractors — so that when you do bring in outside expertise, you're getting the most from every conversation.
Sequence over style
Most people think interior design is about choosing what looks good. It's actually about making the right decisions in the right order. This programme teaches you both.
Clarity at every stage
A self build is one of the most complex projects a person will ever manage. You deserve to feel clear and confident at every decision point — not overwhelmed.
Intention over impulse
The best homes are built on considered decisions, not reactive ones. Self Build Master Guide gives you the framework to think like a designer from day one.
Accessible expertise
The knowledge inside this programme is the same knowledge that shapes million-pound homes. It should be available to every self-builder, regardless of budget.