26 minute read
Homes & Interiors
Pit stop!
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Autumn is here, but some of us aren’t ready to swap garden living for the inside of our cosy homes. Adding a fi re pit to your outdoor area can help extend the warmer season – here’s how to blend indoor and outdoor design
During the periods over the past year when outdoor but not indoor mixing was allowed, we’ve huddled in gardens and on patios to catch up with friends and family. It’s no surprise then that fire pits have seen a great surge in sales and now, as we say goodbye to the summer, it’s a great time to invest if you haven’t already. Perfect for extending the season and making your outside space an integral part of the home, they can also double as barbecues or even pizza ovens, and one Welsh producer has some beautifully designed pieces that provide a stunning focal point too.
FirepitsUK has a range of over 40 original designs of fire pits, pizza ovens and outdoor kitchens which are all hand-forged from high-quality British “There are myriad steel in its workshop in Wales. All its ways to fire pits are ideal for cooking as well as cook over for keeping the chill in the air at bay. The range of clever cooking accessories, including the unique detachable swing fl ames outside” arm barbecue grill, make cooking over a fire pit so easy the old barbecue will soon be relegated to the shed. And once the cooking is finished, simply throw on more logs and enjoy the warmth and atmosphere long into the evening.
FirepitsUK o ers a huge range of product styles
Welsh warmth
FirepitsUK was founded in 2014 by husband-and-wife team Tim and Emma Ross, and its products are handmade from British steel by a team of craftsmen in the heart of the Monmouthshire countryside. With an extensive range of designs, FirepitsUK offers
options suitable for a small garden from £130 as well as majestic 160cm fire pits and full outdoor kitchens and everything in between. Models vary from classic to contemporary, offering myriad ways to cook over flames with a wide range of accessories. All fire pits are designed to withstand storage outdoors for 10 years and more, guaranteeing a far superior lifespan to others on the market. FirepitsUK customers will be pleased to know they are buying British and sustainably. All the company’s fire pits are made by hand in Wales from steel that has only travelled the short distance from the Port Talbot steel works where it is manufactured. Tim and Emma say: “We’re very proud to be a British company through and through at a time when people value the provenance and responsible production of the things they are buying.” DID YOU KNOW? E-retailer Etsy saw a 200% rise in searches for fi re pits in 2020
HINCH-ING YOUR KITCHEN
Whether you’re determined to keep a new kitchen clean and tidy or tackling the disorder of your existing one, there are products available to make the job easier than ever
The queen of clean, Sophie Hinchcliffe aka Mrs Hinch, star of social media home hacks and shortcuts to cleanliness, has started a trend for organisation that many of us aspire to in our homes – with kitchen areas being the worst offenders for clutter and chaos. One brand that Sophie and other influencers swear by is Kath & Kin’s organisational must-haves. From reusable pump bottles to labelled storage boxes and wardrobe dividers, they’re always popping up on Sophie’s Instagram. To help Shire readers get their kitchens in order, the firm’s founder, Kathryn Hall, has pulled together some top tips for organising your kitchen like a social media star…
1. To save time, money and food waste, store your sundries in labelled, clear glass or plastic containers in a cool dry place in a kitchen cupboard or pantry to keep the temperature consistent. This keeps the contents fresher for longer, while the clearly labelled storage jars allow you to see when your stock is running low, avoiding overspending on the food shop and cutting waste – which is better for the environment.
2. Store cut carrots in water in a covered container but make sure you change the water every four to five days to avoid bacteria. Cut carrots will last around a month when stored in this way. 3. Freeze sliced bread in the summer, when bread tends to go mouldy much sooner. Take out slices when required rather than removing and defrosting the entire loaf.
4. Store items with a longer shelf life that you use less regularly at the top of cupboards and shorter life essentials at the bottom and front.
This avoids waste and will save you over-buying items you forgot you had.
5. Store your baking ingredients and tea, coffee and sugar in labelled, clear glass jars to keep the contents fresh and aromas locked in. As well as enabling you to see when you need to restock, this also saves you rummaging to find things and avoids bags of flour tearing so your cupboard stays clean and organised.
DID YOU KNOW? Mrs Hinch has more than 4m Instagram followers
Kath & Kin storage solutions keep your food fresh and your kitchen tidy
For more information, visit www.kathandkin.com
Young entrepreneur Maddie Ashbrook Moo and Boom
Maddie Ashbrook has opened a sustainable lifestyle and wellbeing store in Whitchurch
“After being made redundant, I moved back home to Shropshire to embrace a new direction. The amount of unsustainable clothing and packaging and how much we dispose of without a second thought deeply unnerved me, so my business idea was formed. I would start a sustainable living and wellbeing shopping experience.
“I took on the old M&Co shop in Green End, Whitchurch, a huge store that I had refurbished during lockdown. The investment was worth it and with help from my mother and a friend, Dana Griffiths, who have invaluable experience, my dream came to fruition.
“So now we have a one-stop store where you can furnish your home, buy aromatherapy, discover cushions and throws made with upcycled fabrics and rugs made of plastic bottles, and find sustainable clothing and books made with recycled paper.
“There’s also a health side to the business, taking a holistic approach to wellbeing and providing supplements and nutritional support as well as a studio for workshops and classes. We use local stockists and other small businesses to stock our store and give a percentage of profits to a different charity every month. Nothing to landfill is our motto!
“The response has been incredible, and the support we’ve had shows that people want to engage with a cleaner way of living.”
Recycled rugs
Moo & Boom holds regular classes and workshops in tai chi, yoga, Pilates, meditation, journaling, crafts and more! For details and to book, visit www.mooandboom.com
HOMES & INTERIORS CHANGE YOUR MATTRESS & CHANGE YOUR LIFE
We sleep for one-third of our day, so from a health perspective the mattress we sleep on every night has to be right for us. Your body may be experiencing aches and pains owing to poor positioning in bed. This can lead you to wake up late. Perhaps you or your partner has started snoring (more) or your sleep has started to become interrupted or intermittent. You wake up feeling like you haven’t slept much at all and feel more tired than when you went to bed. If any of these resonate with you, it could be your mattress making you feel this way.
The lifespan of a mattress depends on the brand. Generally it’s thought that most last six to eight years, but it does depends on the construction, the design and the quality and type of materials used. Some mattresses can last up to 10 or even 15 years, while others are best replaced after just five years. “Your mattress is an Rather than go with just lifespan as your catalyst for change, investment it’s important to focus on how your mattress is making you feel. If in your it has obvious signs of damage such as sagging or broken springs health” beginning to protrude through the material, or developing a hammock effect, or just becoming way too lumpy to lie on, this is really going to affect how you feel when you wake up in the morning, as well as how you go about your day, your performance at work and your overall health and wellbeing. The experts at Shropshire’s Newport Beds understand changing your mattress is not just a financial investment – it’s also a health and wellbeing one too. You’ll receive a friendly, professional and informative service to ensure you end up with the mattress that’s right for you and is the best investment for your health and wellbeing. Find out more at www.carpetloomnewportbeds.co.uk.
Find the mattress that’s right for you Your mattress can seriously a ect your sleep
Coffee table chic
When you want to make a statement in a living room, Pash Classics’ reproduction Noguchi Tribeca coffee table perfectly encapsulates the ethos “form follows function”. Crafted from a locking two-piece base of solid wood and topped with 19mm tempered glass, this coffee table is both a piece of furniture and a piece of art that blends effortlessly into any room.
“Both a piece of furniture and a Aaran Hall, founder piece of and director Pash Classics, art” says: “The right coffee table will act as the focal point in your living area, serving a practical purpose and injecting style too. The original Isamu Noguchi Tribeca coffee table, designed in 1947, is an extraordinary harmony of form and function. Simple and chic, this faithful reproduction is a timeless investment piece.” It is available in three finishes – walnut, natural and black – and is priced at £349.
www.pash-classics.com
KITCHEN GADGETS TO MAKE A SPLASH
One Chester company has created a smart device to add to your kitchen wish list
We all know we need to drink more water. And thanks to Aqua Optima, a water filter company based in Pulford, Chester, it can be easy and stylish at the same time. The company has launched the Lumi, a practical and attractive filtered water dispenser. Compact and stylish, it sits on your worktop ready to give you chilled, filtered water at the touch of the button. Aqua Optima’s Lumi Suitable for any home, office, kitchen, utility room or workspace, the Lumi has an internal chilled water tank of 800ml and can chill the water to 12°C in just 30 minutes. The blue LED cool light illuminates when the filtered water is chilled. Simply push the button to dispense.
Using Aqua Optima’s fast-flow, five-step filtration, the built-in Evolve technology reduces impurities such as limescale, chlorine, heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides from tap water, giving you better-tasting water. Investing in the Lumi will save you plenty compared with the cost of branded bottled water and helps reduce your plastic waste by letting you top up your hydration bottle, glass or jug, with chilled, great-tasting water, to drink at home or to take with you on the go. Available from Amazon, priced £129.99.
SEASONAL SAFETY
AICO’S ANDY SPEAKE EXPLAINS HOW TO STAY SAFE AS THE NIGHTS DRAW IN THIS AUTUMN
Now is the perfect time to sit outside around a fire pit or chiminea and enjoy watching the darkness envelop the sky. However, when you do so, it’s important to stay safe: • Ensure the fire pit is on a flat, solid surface and is a safe distance away from flammable materials and hazards. • Never leave a fire unattended and keep children and pets away from the flames. • Once finished, ensure the flames are fully extinguished.
Darker nights also provide a great backdrop for fireworks, but you should always keep these safety measures in mind: • Ensure children are supervised around fireworks and sparklers. • Consider using a carrot as a handle to help smaller hands safely hold sparklers. • Make sure all sparklers are extinguished completely. • Never approach a firework once it has been lit.
Autumn also means Halloween! Make sure you keep it fun by reducing the risk of fire: • Consider using batterypowered lights inside pumpkins or coloured glow-sticks for a really spooky look! • Place decorations away from candles and other open flames. • Keep in mind that Halloween costumes are often made from flammable materials.
With the temperature dropping, boilers and log burners are roaring back into life. Any appliance that burns fuel is at risk of leaking carbon monoxide (CO) – a poisonous gas that you can’t see, smell or taste, which makes it more dangerous because you won’t know if your appliances are giving off the gas.
Symptoms of CO poisoning include dizziness, headaches, breathlessness and nausea, and as it worsens it can lead to collapse and unconsciousness. In worst cases this can be fatal, which is why CO alarms are vital. Remember that alarms save lives, so ensure you have adequate fire and carbon monoxide alarms in your property and test them regularly.
Aico is the European market leader in home life safety and Andy Speake is national technical manager. Visit www.aico.co.uk, call 01691 664100 or email enquiries@aico.co.uk
Hit huts the
The huts have many uses
Dave from Huts & Stuff in Churchstoke, Powys, talks about the company’s garden offices and more off-the-wall projects…
“Huts & Stuff is a small family-run business that has been building huts and other stuff for more than 20 years. We build great garden structures, including shepherd’s huts, showman’s wagons and other wood and metal creations.
“Our huts make great garden offices, sheds and spare bedrooms. They can be seen at many fantastic glamping sites across the UK, and are also used as food trucks and florists. We’ve even made huts that are used for saunas and hot tubs!
“Our Office Hut is very popular at the moment thanks to more people working from home. The standard size is 12ft by 7ft, it’s fully insulated and can be fitted with a desk, shelving and so on. We also fit extra power outlets and USB sockets. Smaller versions are also available if space is at a premium. We deliver and site all our huts ourselves – all we need is reasonable access and a fairly level site. Delivery and siting is usually done within a few hours, so you can be using your hut the same day!
“As well as huts, we make smaller objects from metal and wood. These include garden ornaments, fire pits, wooden benches and boxes, bread boards, coat hooks, signs and plaques. During lockdown, we invested in a CNC plasma machine that allows us to create a variety of metal objects.
“We also build traditional wooden boats, such as small rowing boats for canal and river trips, and are currently building a river launch boat designed to take four adults. We originally planned for it to be a steam launch, but we have now decided to go for a more eco-friendly electric option.
“Before lockdown we took our hand-built vintage car to rally in Europe, and we’re currently working on a 1920s Austin 7 we’re converting to electric power. We’re also creating a large-scale garden railway at home as a side project.
“Our blog has more information on all our projects. If you wish to find out more about our exciting and off-thewall projects, please contact us. We are always happy to discuss any ideas you might have over a cup of tea and biscuits.” boards, coat hooks, signs and plaques. During lockdown, we
in a CNC Ready for work
For more about Huts & Stuff, call 01588 620132, email davestilthouse@gmail.com or visit www.hutsandstuff.co.uk
The mouse about the house
English oak plant stand, c.1954
We speak to Cheshire interiors expert Holly Johnson about the life and works of one her favourite interior designers, the hugely influential Robert “Mouseman” Thompson
Robert Thompson began making furniture during the Arts & Crafts era (1880s to 1930s) and was inspired by the English styles of the 17th century. The furniture maker was born and lived in Kilburn, North Yorkshire, where he set up a business manufacturing oak furniture, which featured a carved mouse on almost every piece of work. The idea of the mouse carvings came about when Thompson was commissioned to
“All his repair a church and was carving a pieces will last four or fi ve huge cornice for a screen. He was chatting to his apprentices and one of them commented that they were “as poor as church mice”. generations” Thompson rejected modern machinery in favour of traditional tools and techniques. A lot of his pieces were made using a medieval tool called an adze, which cuts into the wood against the grain and creates a scalloped pattern that looks supershiny when waxed. All his pieces are highly usable and will last four or five generations because they’re so well made.
Varying values
“We’ve been buying and selling Mouseman items for the past 12 years,” says Holly Johnson, who owns Holly Johnson Antiques in Knutsford, Cheshire. “Prices start at around £120 for an ashtray, but an early desk or sideboard can be as much as £33,000. The record price for a Mouseman is $70,000 for a cupboard that sold at Sotheby’s in New York. “Over the last four years, the market has really risen, mainly
because Mouseman pieces really hold their money. It’s all so beautifully made and the quality is so high. The oak was seasoned for five to eight years before it was even touched. While today many collectors are wealthy clients or leaders of industry, when the furniture was first made it was often sold to local farmers who used it for bartering.” As prices go up, copies could become more of an issue. If the mouse is stuck on rather than carved, it’s a fake. If the mouse is on the board rather than the handle, it’s from the 1940s or earlier. On 1930s pieces, the mouse has quite a narrow neck, but the ears were prone to being knocked off so later designs feature a slightly chubbier mouse with a broader neck and flatter ears. One of Holly’s favourite items featuring the trademark mouse is an English oak tray from 1960, on sale for £1,000 in her showroom. At the Mouseman Visitor Centre in Kilburn you can take an amazing journey through the life and times of Robert Thompson. There are rooms full of Thompson’s own furniture made with his own hands and signed with early examples of the carved mouse symbol. Although the centre will remain closed for the rest of 2021, you can learn more at
www.robert
Octagonal oak dining thompsons. table, c.1950 co.uk. seasoned for five to eight years before it was even touched. While today many Oak fi rescreen with embroidery, c.1934 Eng lishoaktray, c. 1960
New Homes
Happiness in the heart of the home
An extensive study by the kitchen experts at Magnet has revealed what we really want from our kitchens
White kitchen units are the number-one choice if you want to feel happy in your kitchen, according to new research from Magnet. One in six people believe that a crisp white finish will bring them the most joy, while one-third of people (28 per cent) said that incorporating an island is their preferred configuration for boosting contentment. An open-plan kitchen/living space was also a popular option, with one in five people saying it would be their go-to choice.
When it comes to kitchen features, walk-in pantries were voted top for making people happiest (15 per cent), followed by an Americanstyle fridge-freezer (14 per cent) and a coffee machine (10 per cent). However, opinions were divided between men and women – only one in 10 men choose a walk-in pantry, compared with one in five women.
The research discovered that kitchen organisation is key, with over two-thirds of people (68 per cent) agreeing that practicality and organisation in the kitchen is more important than the size of the space. Having ample storage was voted the most important factor, beating having the latest appliances and technology, being open plan and even having a large space. Perhaps surprisingly, 32 per cent of people said they practised feng shui or similar home arrangement methods, with 78 per cent of those saying it makes them feel happier.
Changing ways
“Lockdown has changed how we live and the way in which we interact with our home spaces,” says Hayley Simmons, director of commercial range at Magnet. “A well-designed, functional space that makes for an organised, happy home is now more desirable than size, with only 11 per cent of people choosing size as their most important consideration.
“This insightful new research brings to light just how consumer behaviour is shifting, and how priorities have changed. Now that socialising and hosting is back on the cards, we want an organised space that complements our lifestyles, while also looking stylish and premium.
“Consumers desire more ‘mindful moments’ at home and want a well-balanced, tidy space to enjoy those in. A morning coffee was voted the top mindful moment to enjoy in the kitchen, with one in five people claiming it would make them the happiest, closely followed by eating dinner with family or housemates.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Around 3.7m households own a co ee capsule machine Have you got the fridge you want?
Forget the rules
Homes lover and Interior Design Masters contestant Amy Wilson says: “A happy kitchen for me is a magic mix of some very simple ingredients: thoughtful design, functionality and personality.
“There are no rules when it comes to creating a happy kitchen – simply have some fun and design a space where people want to stay, and memories can be made. My happy kitchen starts with dancing on the table!
“A kitchen is about so much more than just eating – it is a space with great energy where family and friends can gather and share.”
Storageiskey
Pet-proofing your new home
With a rise in the number of dog owners coinciding with a huge boost in house sales, one Cheshire flooring company is helping people protect their new homes – and especially their floors – from the impact of muddy paws
Geometric patterns provide a striking look
Homeowners can find themselves forever cleaning up after their pets and carrying out home improvements for more durable and convenient pet-friendly flooring. A recent report showed that 51 per cent of the UK adult population now own a pet, and with this figure expected to rise as a result of lockdown, so too has the need for pet-proof flooring. But with so many products on the market, what should owners look for when choosing something durable, stylish and cost-effective?
Best4Flooring has more than 20 years’ experience in the flooring trade and has been selling online since 2009. It is based in Cheshire but supplies consumers and trade throughout the UK, as well as exporting products across Europe, the US and Australia. With the recent rise in pet ownership, some of Best4Flooring’s hardwearing but attractive products have seen a surge of interest.
Here are Best4Flooring’s top tips for protecting your floors against inadvertant damage from those pets we love…
Tiles
Probably one of the most hardwearing options, a tiled floor offers many benefits to a pet owner. Easy to clean and stain-resistant, tiles will cope with anything that your pet throws at them. They can’t be dug up, scratched or chewed, making them a longlasting, convenient option. Ensure you pick a tile that offers a degree of grip. Highly polished tiles may look nice, but a non-slip finish will help your pets to avoid hurting themselves. Young puppies who slip and slide may look cute, but the damage this can do to their young joints and muscles can be detrimental in later life. Tiles offer a level of coolness for pets, which is great on a hot summer’s day but not so ideal when there is ice and snow on the ground, so you’ll need to ensure that suitable bedding is available. For a striking finish, check out the bold geometric patterns available, many with a patterned and distressed finish with worn edges – perfect for disguising the odd muddy paw print. They are also water-resistant and suitable for all high-traffic areas of your home, such as hallways and the kitchen.
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring has come a long way in recent years and Best4Flooring’s luxury vinyl tile (LVT) continues to be a firm favourite with pet owners because it’s super-hard-wearing against the daily grind of four paws. Ideal for when those little toilet accidents occur or when an
“Tiles can’t be dug up, overzealous puppy sends a water bowl flying, LVT is waterproof and easy to clean, and comes in a variety of effects and installation systems, meaning there’s a style scratched to suit every taste and home decor. Some or chewed” ranges even look and feel like a wooden floor, right down to the embossed texture that allows you to feel all the wood grains and knots in the design, while providing Some vinyl looks and feels like wood a soft, comfortable feel underfoot. At the budget end, there are also plenty of options in standard sheet vinyl ranges which makes an easy DIY flooring choice. It is cushioned and warm underfoot and allows you to create an amazing floor at a fraction of the price. With hundreds of designs in a variety of colours, sheet vinyl is also easy to clean, although consideration should be given to which areas of the home it might be used in and if you have a digger or chewer!
Patterns hide blemishes
A bespoke designed kitchen
Helen from Gobowen explains how her kitchen was designed and installed by Oswestry Kitchen & Bathrooms
“Ben Jones, partner at Oswestry Kitchens & Bathrooms (OKB), is a friend of a friend and we’ve both lived in the area all our lives, so he seemed a good person to go with when we wanted to update our kitchen. OKB is a new company, but Ben has worked in kitchens and bathrooms for many years and is a nice guy, so we wanted to support the new venture!
“Ben came out on 1st March this year to measure up and discuss what we wanted, and within two days he had sent me the plans showing what the kitchen would look like. It was exactly as it is now, except we wanted glass units over the cooker. We went into the showroom a couple of times to look at appliances, taps, handles and so on, ready for installation to start as agreed on the 4th May.
The bespoke island provide lots of storage
Design touches
“When I was designing my dream kitchen I knew I wanted a dark, rich flooring, so I chose that first. And because it was such a big area, I knew the units and the tiles had to be white, with dark worktops. The worktop doesn’t match the floor completely, but I like that, and I’ve introduced colour by using some mixed woods in the kitchen. OKB even used the same wood colour to replace the windowsills; they also replaced the skirting and did all the electrics for the kitchen.
“It’s a Shaker-style kitchen, and the bespoke island has pantry-size shelves on the side facing the cooker and bigger cupboards and shelves on the dining table side. In fact, the island has so much storage, some of the cupboards are still empty! The top is is really easy to clean – originally I wanted real wood, but Ben explained it would expand and discolour. It was really good to get his expertise about what would be practical in a family kitchen – and it still looks perfect today.
OKB recommended a practical worktop solution
Speedy installation
“It only took 10 days for the whole kitchen to be finished, so it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought. We’ve got a six-year-old and a one-year-old, and we thought it would be much messier and time-consuming than it was – but it was fine. We were all out during the day, except my husband who works from home, and I’d catch up with OKB first thing in the morning and at the end of the day.
“I would 100 per cent recommend OKB, without question. The best thing about them was the speed – everyone I’ve spoken to who has had a kitchen installed was blown away with how quick it was. The date they said they’d start work never changed – they stuck to what they said – and with us working and having two young children, we needed them to take care of everything, which was great. They also listened to our exact vision of what we wanted, and only suggested changes where they would be more practical.”
