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FUNGI-TURE

The hit HBO show The Last of Us has brought about a resurgence of mushroom designs. For interiors, they have become a popular trend, particularly in the cottagecore aesthetic. These whimsical and organic accents bring a touch of nature and fantasy to any space.

S tep into a fairytale

Perfect for fairies and soft toys, this cute toadstool dolls’ house from Ella James has a removable roof and door. A decorative addition to a child’s bedroom, complete the set with a pair of miniature animal friends in adorable outfits. www.ellajames.co.uk

Quirky and unique www.mountain andmolehill.com

Illuminate your space with this handmade lampshade featuring a whimsical trail of snails exploring local mushrooms and toadstools. The design is versatile enough to suit most decors.

A dash of enchantment

The Magic Mushroom www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk

Salt & Pepper Shakers help ensure your food is seasoned in style. Made from dolomite, the design reveals two button-cute toadstools with the smaller shaker measuring 8cm high and the larger standing at 9.5cm high.

Magical garden

Add an after-dark glow to your garden with Lights4fun’s toadstool solar stake lights. Watch your garden come to life with a magical warm white glow each evening. Each stake features three mini mushrooms with an ivory cap and 50cm of cable. www.lights4fun.co.uk

A world of wonder

OhPopsi’s Forest Floor wallpaper depicts a lush forest, home to a plethora of creatures like ladybirds, butterflies, bees and dragonflies. Spot the friendly spider on his toadstool, and enjoy the leaf-strewn path as your kids embark on an adventure.

www.ohpopsi.com

Set the mood

Add magic to your mantelpiece with this whimsical toadstool candle decoration. Perfect for woodland-themed dining tables or fairy toadstools for kids’ parties. Unlit, it’s a cute decoration. Lit, it’s an ambience booster. Candle size: 9.5cm www.talkingtables.co.uk is the COO and CoFounder at Origin, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of aluminium doors and windows. Throughout every part of Origin’s success, Victoria has been front and centre, driving the company to be a trailblazer within UK business.

Viewpoint

Creating practical homes for modern families

Modern households have changed significantly in the past 10 years. A combination of a worldwide pandemic, the increasing cost of living and rising property prices mean that non-dependent children are living with their parents longer than ever before, according to a recent report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 1. In fact, between 2011 and 2021, the number of non-dependent children living at home shot up by nearly 15%.

It is proving harder than ever for young people to get their foot on the property ladder. Two years ago, the average age for moving out was 21. Now, because of increasing rent, energy prices and grocery costs, the average age for flying the nest has risen to 24.6 years old. The evolving household can have both parents and children working and studying from home, but the UK housing stock is not built to accommodate this. With remote and hybrid working here to stay, now is a good time to invest in making your living space work harder for your family.

V ictoria Brocklesby, COO at Origin, explains how families can make the most of their homes using innovative glazing solutions without the need to undertake extensive renovation projects.

Multi-generational living

O ne of the lasting effects of the pandemic is the increased value families place on their living space. According to RIBA 2, a quarter of homeowners want to reconfigure their homes to better suit their needs.

A decline in ‘empty nesters’ means downsizing when children reach adulthood is no longer as common. Instead, families need even more space than before to meet the needs of multi-generational living. Whilst open-plan layouts used to be top of the priority list when looking to buy a house, this is no longer the most practical solution for the modern family. As more people now live, work and socialise from home, different multipurpose zones are needed instead.

Broken spaces

D ividing rooms and living spaces by building walls is one solution, especially with nearly 10% of families wanting a more useable living environment by having rooms that can be divided, according to RIBA 2. However, this can lead to homes having lots of small, dark rooms and can create some complicated floorplans with wasted space.

A n alternative to building new solid walls is installing internal glazed walls and doors to create ‘broken’ living spaces. This approach creates the separate living areas required but maintains an open feeling that allows for lots of natural light.

The Origin Internal Door (OI-30) wall and door system is a great option to achieve this. The Origin Internal Door is suitable for all property types and can be configured as a single door, a French door or a fixed screen. Made bespoke from premium aluminium, the doors can also be customised to suit different aesthetics, with a range of choices for glazing bar configurations, handle styles and colours available.

The pandemic has been a catalyst for a huge surge in homeworking, meaning living space that can be used for work is highly sought after. According to RIBA2, nearly 20% of homeowners want a home office. Internal glass door and wall systems can help homeowners achieve this, too, as combining walls and doors with a corner post can create an entirely new room that can be used as an office.

The kitchen hub

The heart of any home is the kitchen. So much so that it is no longer a space for just cooking, but rather a space for socialising and spending time with family and friends. A survey by Howdens3 reveals that homeowners spend nearly seven hours in their kitchens each week, making it one of the most used rooms in the home.

Bi-folding doors make a great addition to any kitchen, allowing an abundance of light into the home and, when folded away, they can open the space up and connect it to the outside. This creates perfect entertaining spaces. With families opting to entertain at home more and more in the current economic climate, creating versatile spaces that connect to the outside is a huge asset to modern living.

Summing up

R edesigning a home to accommodate changing household dynamics doesn’t have to mean taking on a large-scale renovation project. Space is incredibly valuable, but adding it to a property can be difficult and expensive. Instead, ensure that the footprint of your home is working hard to meet your family’s needs. www.origin-global.com

FOOTNOTES:

1https://www.ons.gov.uk/ peoplepopulationandcommunity/ householdcharacteristics/ homeinternetandsocialmediausage/articles/ livingarrangementsofpeopleinenglandandwales/ census2021

2https://www.architecture.com/knowledgeand-resources/knowledge-landing-page/ribahomeowner-survey-happiness-through-designexecutive-summary

3https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/20418914/ brits-spend-kitchen-kettle-lifetime-survey/