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EST. 1920

BRITAIN’S BESTSELLING HOMES MAGAZINE

Before & After

35 PAGES OF TRANSFORMATIONS

◆ Cleverly extended kitchens ◆ Budget bathroom makeovers ◆ Amazing exterior face-lifts PLAN THE PERFECT KITCHEN LAYOUT

Speedy style boosts FOR LIVING & BEDROOMS

Real homes

US $9.99 AUS $9.99 NZ $11

◆ Rustic 1920s detached ◆ Shabby-chic Victorian villa ◆ Modern city semi ◆ Lochside Scottish retreat

+ 72

IDEAL VS GREAT DEAL BUYS FOR KIDS’ ROOMS

£3.99

FEBRUARY 2018 Recall: 30/01/18

GENIUS STORAGE SOLUTIONS for every room (and a calmer life!)

Fairford Slate Grey from the Shaker collection www.howdens.com or call 0800 0639 813 to request a brochure

The Willow & Hall January Sale is now on 10% off selected lines*

The Buttermere Sofa or Sofa Bed from £935 or £1,070 SOFAS, SOFA BEDS & BEDS CUSTOMISED BY YOU TO SUIT YOUR STYLE & COMFORT, DELIVERED IN 4-5 WEEKS

Call us on 020 8939 3800 or visit our London showroom *T&Cs apply. Selected lines only.

willowandhall.co.uk

EDITOR’S LETTER

Welcome Vanessa Vanessa Richmond, Editor

This is the month for plans and dreams for the year ahead – where to go on holiday and how to improve the house and garden in 2018. Or maybe you’re even planning to put your home on the market and move this year? At Richmond Towers (which Ma, Pa and I co-own) we did stuff to the house non-stop last year and yet never got around to The Big One – the loft conversion we’ve been talking about since we put in an offer. What seemed urgent then has become less so as we’ve come to enjoy sharing space. I think my dream of a big loft bedroom, office and an en suite with gold taps might stay a dream for another year… but do let this ideas-packed issue inspire yours!

FEBRUARY 2018

February 2018

178

156

What’s new 9 You deserve...

...breakfast in bed

10 How to add wow!

Fabulous finishing touches

13 Need to know

What’s hot this month

17 The shortlist

Gorgeous faux plants

19 Ideal vs great deal

Savvy buys for kids’ rooms

Real homes

22 ‘My style includes a bit of everything!’

42 ‘We wanted every room to feel light & bright’

62 ‘Our style is family (and budget) friendly’

90 ‘Our house has a calm, classic vibe’

FEBRUARY 2018

Style & decor

Before & after

34 Mini updates

100 ‘We brightened up a gloomy

39 Style hero

106 ‘We made our dark kitchen

Time for a style refresh Meet the founder of lifestyle store Oliver Bonas

55 Colours we love Truffle

74 40 easy style updates

Clever tricks and smart buys

118 Plan the perfect

kitchen layout Redesign the hub of the home

134 Plan the perfect

bathroom layout Make the most of your space

153 Save 20% at BHS.com 178 Beautiful possibilities Organise your office for a fresh start this year

basement’

light & airy’

112 ‘We built the biggest kitchen we could!’

122 ‘Everything was in the wrong place’

128 ‘You don’t have to spend a lot to get a luxurious look’

137 ‘A skinny extension is all it took’

140 ‘We transformed our ugly Seventies bungalow’

CONTENTS

140

To ﬁnd all the stockists in this issue, turn to page 176 Simple solutions 145 Store & Organise Special Genius storage solutions to help declutter your home, from your hallway to your home office

155 Lifestyle tech

Our pick of health and fitness gadgets to give you a kick-start in 2018

Simple pleasures

menu! Try this DIY Chinese buffet for healthier sharing

165 Weekend bake

Jammy coconut squares

167 What’s for dinner?

Scrummy bacon & lentil pie

enjoy a 10-day tour of India

51%

Regulars 154 Subscribe to Ideal Home

156 Food with friends

Subscribe!

You don’t need that takeaway

UP TO

5 Editor’s letter

120 Ideal Home travel offer –

Visit facebook. com/ideal home.co.uk

SAVE

See our latest snaps @idealhomeuk

Be inspired at pinterest.com/ idealhomemag

A subscription makes a great gift or a lovely treat for yourself, and is only £23.99, saving 51%! Call 0330 333 1113 and quote the code BXE7 or visit idealhome.co.uk/BXE7

FEBRUARY 2018

lighting the way it should be the Athena twelve-light pendant | for stockists visit darlighting.co.uk | 01295 672200

WHAT’S NEW

IN FEBRUARY

You deserve... breakfast in bed FEATURE HOLLY WALSH STYLING NICKY PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPH DAVID BRITTAIN

Let the rain and wind do their thing outside, while you stay cosy and snuggled up with a breakfast tray fit for a true diva Supersoft faux-fur cushion in Silver Rabbit (left), £50; velvet and linen cushion in Blush (centre), £20, both Cox & Cox. Pom-pom cushion, £29.50, Marks & Spencer. Holkham waffle throw in grey, £180, Tori Murphy. Moss knit blanket in grey, £40; stoneware bowl, £6.99, both H&M Home. Cream wooden lap tray, £40, Laura Ashley. Oak wood toast rack, £25 (with two egg cups); mug, £8 for four, all John Lewis. White vintage napkin, £13.50 for two, Bohzaar. Pink teapot, £120, Oggetto. Mini porcelain vase, £14 for four; birch wood brunch board, £8; egg cup and spoon set, £11, all Nordic House. Grey Geo side plate, £45 for a 12-piece set; copper teaspoon, £38 for a 16-piece set, both Next. Leghorn white eggs, from £2.40, Clarence Court

FEBRUARY 2018

FABULOUS FOIL Ostrich print cushion cover, £40, Claribel RAW FINISH White wash mirror with shelf, £160, Gray & Willow range, House of Fraser

HONEST FORM Black ceramic coffee dripper, £36, The Future Kept

HOW TO ADD

BURNISHED TONES Thea iridescent vase, £25, Habitat

wow! Go on, pick something you love – because every room needs a magic ingredient that takes it from finished to fabulous

ELEGANT LEGS Foldable iron and zinc tray table, £250, Finch & Crane

ARTFULLY DISTRESSED Salvage Abstract rug in Rust, £95, Next

BEAUTIFUL BULB Plug in light cable with frill bulb, £75, Mink Interiors

FEBRUARY 2018

GREY & GOLD Eternal Sunset throw, £70, Decorator’s Notebook

WARM METAL Luca brass candleholder, £28, Audenza

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING

SALVAGE STYLE Nyetimber industrial tall chest, £455, Mood Collections

WHAT’S NEW

LUXE INDUSTRIAL Mo desk lamp, £160; Roller pendant light in brass, £95, both Pooky

HANG IN A GROUP Kiko large decorative mirror, £50, Nkuku

MIX UP MATERIALS Leon pendant ceiling light, £90, Debenhams

COOL CONTRAST Spot cushion, £35, White Stuff SHINE ON Stoneware gold glazed vase, £14, Att Pynta LIQUID SILVER Grey pitcher, £20, Zara Home

PATTERN PLAY Alderney armchair in Bert & May Asquith Dark Room, £1,390, Sofa.com

ACCENT PIECE Concrete candleholder, £9, H&M

IN THE FRAME Hansel coffee table, £499, Swoon Editions

FEBRUARY 2018

WHAT’S NEW

NEED TO

know

We’ve been shamelessly snooping around the shops, so you don’t miss a single thing that matters...

WE KEEP SEEING...

KNOTS AND TASSELS Bring some modern macramé and boho vibes into your home with these fringed finds WALL WONDER Grey cotton woven wall hanging, £36, Maisons du Monde

SOMETHING NEW TO SWOON OVER… We’ve found two more reasons to peruse the website of the ever-evolving furniture emporium, Swoon Editions. Now expanding its accessories range into lighting and tableware, the new collections follow the brand’s artisan-made ethos by working with family-run specialist companies in Portugal. Handblown, tinted glass pendants, from £45, are beautifully simple, while the maker’s mark is visible with the unique, reactive glazes on dinnerware, £122 for a 12-piece set.

FAB FRINGE Liklim fringed basket, £49, La Redoute

Velvet goldmine

You’ve probably noticed, but velvet is officially A Thing. It’s literally everywhere, and the trend shows no sign of slowing down. It’s easy to work into a glam or retro look, but what if country style’s your thing? Vanessa Arbuthnott, the fabric designer known for modern-country prints, has come up trumps with a range of velvets in eight colours, all intended to complement her existing collections and boost the luxe factor.

COSY FACTOR Natural pouffe with tassels and knots, £145, Ian Snow

Be a Valentine’s hero When a pair of socks won’t cut it, a print of a memorable moment could win you brownie points. Mipic.co is a new online platform that turns your snaps into works of art. Upload your image to the website or app and choose the size and style you want; it’s printed and framed in the UK, so can be delivered in two days. You can thank us later!

Velvet, from £58m, Vanessa Arbuthnott

WHAT’S NEW Leighton double duvet set, £70; Leighton cushion (below), £27, Oasis

Planet bedlinen set, from £24, Soak & Sleep

Spotty Fox cushion, £15, Soak & Sleep

KIDS’ BEDROOM BLITZ! These brands are launching their debut ranges for kids (and there’s not a TV tie-in in sight)… Soak & Sleep The natural bedding specialists are starting with four fun themes – transform a bedroom into a big top with the Little Circus, or an enchanted forest by picking a retro-style patchwork print from the Woodland range. Mini Rodini This too-cool-for-school Scandi store features Leopard print designs, a graphic running Horse and hand-drawn Croco Map. And they come in adult sizes, Croco Map bed so you can join in the fun!

You heard it here ﬁrst… High-street fashion store Oasis is launching a homeware range and it gets a big thumbs up from us. It has partnered with fabric house Clarke & Clarke to rescale prints from fashion ranges past and present, so expect bedding and cushions in glorious modern florals and even a pretty bird print. Our favourite is the trad-with-atwist Leighton – a statement, double-sided bedlinen design. Apparently, this is just the start of the Oasis homeware roll-out, so check back here for updates!

IDEAL

Christy Go for timeless Liberty-esque florals with Woodland Trail or space-inspired Infinity & Beyond – the jersey Speckles design will layer into either style or works on its own.

set, from £65, Mini Rodini

Ladybird bedlinen set, from £40, Woodland Trail range, Christy

GREAT DEAL

STORE YOUR THROWS Wire storage table, £150, Pols Potten range, Amara

FEBRUARY 2018

POP IN A BATHROOM Wire laundry basket, £4, Sainsbury’s

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING

STORAGE + SIDE TABLE = DOUBLE WIN!

DI S COV E R M O R E T H A N YO U ’ D I M AG I NE T H IS

SPRING

BEDDING FROM

£28

dunelm.com

WHAT’S NEW

DANGLING DAZZLER Hanging Lene Bjerre flora succulent, £170, Sweetpea & Willow

STRIKING CENTREPIECE Faux cabbage succulent in bowl, £30, Linea range, House of Fraser

SPACE SAVER Faux succulent string garden, £10, Harvey Norman

THE SHORTLIST

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

Faux plants EVER GREEN Artificial eucalyptus spray, £25 for three, Audenza

FOR THE NOT-SOGREEN FINGERED

SUPER STEM Artificial green cheese plant leaf stem, £1.49, Dunelm

TOP A TABLE Faux yucca in rustic cement pot, £30, The Farthing

SEVENTIES REVIVAL Faux Swiss cheese plant in pot, £235, Out there Interiors

TURNING JAPANESE Faux bonsai tree, £15, Marks & Spencer

FEBRUARY 2018

WHAT’S NEW

Ideal Vs Great Deal Transform your little one’s bedroom into a fun yet practical space with just a few savvy buys

BIG BUILD Triplet bookcase, £195, Loaf

STAY TIDY Toys storage bag, £25, Bobby Rabbit

POUR DOWN Raindrops wallpaper in Ice Blue, £59.95 a roll, Hibou Home

JURASSIC PICK Brachiosaurus green dino lamp, £30, Totally Funky

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT

TOP BUNK Oeuf Perch bunk bed, £1,306, Nubie

SKY HIGH Grey cloud rug, £72, Maisons du Monde

CHILD’S PLAY Collection Mia bookcase, £68, Argos

STYLE STORM April Showers wallpaper, £29 a roll, Scion at Wallpaper Direct

TOY TOTE Paper storage bag, £14, The Nursery Edit

BEDSIDE BUDDY Little brontosaurus light, £12, Bobby Rabbit

MADE FOR TWO Simple bunk bed, £550, Little Folks Furniture

COSY TOES Bloomingville cloud rug, £29, Amara FEBRUARY 2018

‘My style includes a bit of everything!’ If you struggle to choose between colours and interior looks, let Rebecca Brough’s home show you how to make them all work together in one big, beautiful boho mix

Seating area ‘When I saw this space, it looked so huge I panicked, thinking it was going to feel stark and unwelcoming,’ says Rebecca. ‘The black walls make it homely and snug. I love the drama and contrast of colours against the black.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Charlotte armchair, £890; Iggy sofa, £2,040, both Sofa.com. Henry coffee table, £230, French Connection

REAL HOME

THE wow MOMENT Rebeccaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pink chair and chartreuse green sofa really pop against dark grey walls

FEBRUARY 2018

Welcome to my home Rebecca Brough lives here with her husband, Jonny, and their 14-year-old son, Oscar. Rebecca and Jonny are both psychologists.

THE PROPERTY

A four-bedroom Twenties house in Margate, Kent.

VALUE A similar property in the area would be valued at around £575,000.

“

I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here. This house is unique and we absolutely love it!

”

Take a quick tour...

HOW TO DO

The bright boho look

MIX BOLD COLOURS Be fearless! Make jewel tones pop against deep hues of charcoal, indigo or forest green on the walls.

BALANCE THEM OUT Calm down the overall effect of using multiple contrasting colours with large areas of natural wood.

DINING AREA

BEDROOM BEDROOM

BEDROOM

LIVING AREA

BEDROOM

SNUG

BE ECLECTIC If you love everything from country and glam to trad and industrial, this look is perfect for you as you can have a little bit of everything.

FEBRUARY 2018

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

REAL HOME

Dining area ‘The bulk of my budget has gone on lighting and wallpaper,’ says Rebecca. ‘It only takes a small quantity of amazing wallpaper to do the job, and most of the lights are refurbished Sixties glass designs from eBay.’

THE wow MOMENT Cole & Son’s vibrant Circus wallpaper makes a fabulous feature wall in the dining area

BUY THE KEY PIECES Cole & Son Circus panel, 3.15x3m, £350, Wallpaper Direct. Vintage light, around £150, eBay

FEBRUARY 2018

Open-plan kitchen The kitchen was built from recycled wood. ‘I love all the knots and marks, and the colour is similar to my teak sideboard,’ says Rebecca. BUY THE KEY PIECES Bespoke units, Moosejaw Woodworks. Portland concrete pendants, £125 each, Andy Thornton. Welles stools, £99 each, Swoon Editions

I visualised a sociable space “that was comfy, inviting and

fun. I wanted it to be eclectic, unique and personal to us, without feeling over-designed

”

FEBRUARY 2018

REAL HOME

THE wow MOMENT Reclaimed wood makes Rebeccaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen units truly unique, giving the space a rough-luxe feel

FEBRUARY 2018

Snug The original dining room has been repurposed for cosy, relaxing evenings. Soothing black mixes with reclaimed wood cladding for a homely, cabin-style eﬀect that balances the bold colours. BUY THE KEY PIECES Vintage chair, £100, eBay. Hercule storage unit, £495, Loaf. Turkish rug, from a selection, Etsy

THE wow MOMENT A bright red chair brings a shady corner to life in the simple, wood-panelled living room

FEBRUARY 2018

REAL HOME

THE wow MOMENT This stunning, metallic finish, honeycombdesign wallpaper adds glamour to a guest bedroom

Guest bedroom Rebecca has mixed a traditional, French-style bed with modern prints on wallpaper and fabrics in this room. Bright blue accents and the foliage of house plants pop against the black backdrop. BUY THE KEY PIECES Honey Bees wallpaper, £81 a roll, Barneby Gates at Wallpaper Direct. Bed, £1,638, Sweetpea & Willow

FEBRUARY 2018

Cole & Son’s Deco Palm wallpaper turns the wall on the stairway into an art installation

Guest bedroom A second-hand lamp, Indian throw and charity-shop prints give this room a laid-back feel. Rebecca made her own cushions from vintage fabrics that she sourced online. BUY THE KEY PIECES Walls painted in Railings modern emulsion, £43.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Similar bed, Backabro sofabed, £525, Ikea

FEBRUARY 2018

FEATURE ANNABELLE GRUNDY, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS AND STYLING COLIN POOLE

A wow-factor wallpaper and vintage-look vanity unit give the bathroom lots of character

REAL HOME

REBECCA’S STYLE RULES

‘Dark colours transform a bare space into a warm and comforting cocoon’

e moved here from Whitstable when we needed more space. House prices there had rocketed, but Margate had a feeling of regeneration – it was an exciting time to move. The painter thought I was mad when he saw the shades I’d chosen! I went for strong darks because I think they transform a bare space into a warm, comforting cocoon. The effect changes with the light through the day, and I love the drama and contrast of dark against bright.

Recycled materials are a great way to bring unique character to your home

I like having lots to look at and wanted plenty of interest throughout the house. People notice something new each time they come. My taste covers vibrant blues, colour clashes, contemporary, vintage, mid-century and easygoing boho elements.

all the original panelled doors, and they sit perfectly alongside the salvaged wood we’ve introduced. Recycled materials always have a back story. As well as the green aspect, it’s a great way to bring unique character and history into your home. The kitchen was made by a local joinery using scaffolding planks, as was the top of the dining table. The table was incredible value for its size and it’s a total one-off. Sometimes, though, you have to bite the bullet and splash out. I always try to be economical, but you can’t cut corners every time. Sometimes it has to be a top-end piece to get the right look. This cosy nook adjoining the kitchen overlooks the garden

You have to tie it all together with themes, though. With all my patterns and styles, I’ve looked for tones, textures and design details to create connections and produce a cohesive effect. For example, the wall cladding in the snug reflects the reclaimed wooden kitchen, and the black tiles in the living room area and white kitchen tiles echo each other across the room. Sometimes I’ll just have a cushion or lampshade that repeats a colour from elsewhere, and that’s enough to make the link. We tried to preserve as much as we could of the house’s heritage. We stripped and reused FEBRUARY 2018

REAL HOME

Make it work for you REBECCA’S STYLE: COLOURFUL ECLECTIC MY GO-TO STORES… O ABIGAIL AHERN ‘Her daring look and innovative approach to colour is inspiring. I like to pick out elements that work for me.’

Statement pattern, vintage-look furniture and bright hues stand out against a dark backdrop Add character with a mix of bold colour SEVENTIES STYLE Starsky chandelier, £430, Pooky

O GRAHAM AND GREEN ‘Quirky accessories and a fantastic selection of mirrors.’ O SOFA.COM ‘I love the strong furniture shapes and the vast choice of fabrics.’

MODERN CLASSIC Miss Wong A3 canvas print, £54.05, Tretchikoff Shop

REFLECT LIGHT Salvage window mirror, £165, Next

GO GREEN Faux succulents, £39, The Contemporary Home

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING PHOTOGRAPH COLIN POOLE

PARQUET TOP Adriel coffee table, £299, Swoon Editions RETRO REVIVAL Swirl bud vase, £14, Matthew Williamson range, Debenhams

JUICY TONES Arabella cushion, £33, Ragged Rose

STYLIST’S NOTE

“

An enveloping dark colour on the walls can zone an open-plan area and will bring warmth to a large space

”

MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR

ANIMAL ATTRACTION Leopard cushion, £27.99, Very

HOT COLOUR Iggy armchair in Peony matt velvet, £940, Sofa.com

FEBRUARY 2018

TIME FOR A

STYLE refresh

No need to embark on a full room redo – these small changes will make a huge impact, even if you only have minutes to spare…

You’ve got… an a fternoon PAINT A PANEL Measure and mark a space with decorator’s tape. Paint with a pastel emulsion for contrast. Panel in Heart Wood; wall behind bed in Faded Indigo, both paint mixing matt emulsion, £26 for 2.5L, Dulux. String Pocket shelves, £115 each, Skandium

You’ve got… a day RE-COLOUR YOUR DOOR External doors require a hard-wearing gloss, eggshell or weather-resistant paint. Gloss in rich colours may complement period properties, but an eggshell gives a softer sheen and works well in lighter shades. Classic white, black or grey are perfect for new builds but a bright colour gives a simple façade personality. Door painted in Dorchester Pink Mid 286 Tom’s oil eggshell, £65 for 2.5L; surround painted in Loft White 222 masonry paint, £62 for 5L, both Little Greene

FEBRUARY 2018

MINI UPDATES

You’ve got… a day DECORATE THE STAIRS Measure the stair risers and pre-cut wallpaper into uniform pieces that are slightly larger than the measurements, as each step may vary slightly. Paste each stair riser and stick on a piece of wallpaper, using a utility knife to trim any excess. Stair risers covered in La Chevronne wallpaper, £33 a roll, Smile collection, Caselio

You’ve got… an hour MAKE A PINBOARD Incorporate a work space into a room by giving a basic pinboard a makeover. Cover the cork with wallpaper, fabric or a thick piece of wrapping paper, using a spray adhesive to stick it down. Paint the trim with a contrasting colour. Cork board, £6, Hobbycraft; covered in Les P’tits Pois wallpaper, £33 a roll, Smile collection, Caselio

You’ve got… an a fternoon HANG A GALLERY Arrange frames on the ﬂoor to plan your layout. Stick paper templates the same size as the frames to the wall as a guide and tap in picture hooks to hang the artwork. Frames, from £22 each, House range; artwork, from a selection; Shalstone bench, £499, Ercol range, all John Lewis

MINI UPDATES

You’ve got… an a fternoon TRY A STICK-ON WALLPAPER Peel-and-stick wallpaper is a savvy solution for renters who want to add some personal style or for rooms that need frequent redecorating, like children’s bedrooms. Just be sure to use on un-textured, clean, dry surfaces. If walls have been painted recently, leave for four weeks before applying. Scallop 168 self-adhesive vinyl wallpaper in Snow and Navy, from £28 a roll, Betapet range, Etsy

You’ve got… an a fternoon PUT UP PICTURE SHELVES If space is tight or full shelves are too intrusive, picture ledges can ﬁll a blank wall without being too imposing. Not just for frames, there’s enough space to create an informal display that’s easy to rearrange. Add beautiful books, small vases, plants, a fragrance diﬀuser and even fancy toiletries.

You’ve got… an hour REVIVE AN OLD LAMP BASE Spray paints can create a smoother, more flawless finish than painting, particularly on a turned base. For a muted, look, try Rust-Oleum’s Chalky Finish furniture paint with a matt effect, or for bold, high-shine gloss, try its Painter’s Touch or Neon products, all from Homebase. Canary table lamp base, £90; Empire shade in Black Criss-Cross block-printed card, £40, both Pooky. Rochelle side table, £170, Perch & Parrow

FEBRUARY 2018

Picture shelves, from £25 each, Design Vintage

You’ve got… FIVE MINUTES PIMP A BORING PIECE OF FURNITURE IN NEXT TO NO TIME WITH SOME FANCY KNOBS A FUN FIND Pineapple door knob, £4, Monsoon VINTAGE EFFECT Lollipop ceramic door knob, £2, Ian Snow

ADD LUSTRE Spectrum knob, £12, Anthropologie

You’ve got… an hour CREATE A TERRARIUM Group varieties of plants such as succulents, cacti and aloe in a terrarium or any watertight glass container. Start with a layer of gravel for drainage, then add soil for dry-climate plants. Make a well for the roots, add plants and press soil around them. Finish with decorative gravel on top. Place in a sunny spot and water sparingly.

STYLIST’S NOTE For a soft, matt finish, transform wooden cupboard fronts with an eggshell or chalk paint

“

”

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING PHOTOGRAPH TIMEINCUKCONTENT.COM

MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR

You’ve got… an hour MAKE A TEEPEE Take at least four lengths of dowel for the frame and tie them together around the top securely with string or rope. Wrap a double sheet around this frame and secure it at the top with a peg or safety pins. Create a soft ﬂoor area to play on with a rug or a throw and cushions. Dowel moulding, from £2; Watering Hole Animal Safari wallpaper, £14 a roll, all B&Q

You’ve got… a day TILE A NEW SPLASHBACK To create an eclectic collection, look for tiles in the same range or sold as a set to guarantee uniform size, depth and harmonious colours. Mix in plains to avoid a pattern overload. For similar tiles, try handmade mixed patchwork tiles, £89sq m, Bert & May. Wall painted in Light Peachblossom 3 intelligent eggshell, £59 for 2.5L; cupboards painted in Grey Teal 226 flat oil eggshell, £61 for 2.5L, both Little Greene

FEBRUARY 2018

0800 789 789 | sharps.co.uk

STYLE HERO

‘It’s always worth trying something new…’ Oliver Tress, founder of lifestyle store Oliver Bonas, believes that creating a special home comes down to pushing beyond your comfort zone…

liver Tress opened his first shop in Fulham in 1993. He now has 60 and a thriving online business. He lives in south London with his wife Gina, and their children, Talia, eight, Bruno, seven, and Laila, four. I couldn’t live in a completely neutral house. It would make me so unhappy. Our home reflects our family and it’s a house of fun for all of us. My wife Gina is keen to have disco lights fitted in the playroom! I can’t tell you what our style is – it’s such a mix. I hesitate to say ‘eclectic’ because it’s such an overused word. It’s quite neutral, but with pops of colour, although I’m sure under the right circumstances, I could be persuaded to go for a more maximalist look, depending on where in the house we tried it! Originally, I planned a ‘James Bond villain’s lair’ look, once the builders have finished working on the house – we’re currently renovating it. But, my plans have evolved into something a lot less extreme! We moved in nearly three years ago and it’s needed a lot of updating. I was a bit naïve about what had to be done and it’s turned into a bigger job than we planned. I

COOL CUPPA Ida, Ana and Rosa mugs, from £10 each; Scallopedged heart teaspoons, £22 for four, all Oliver Bonas

PRETTY IN PINK Marble table lamp with pink glass shade, £78, Oliver Bonas

GLOW ON SHOW Two arm candle holder, £38; Gold scalloped base cake stand, £70, both Oliver Bonas

LOVE CAT Saskia cat candle, £20, Oliver Bonas FEBRUARY 2018

STYLE HERO call it ‘Project Creep’! It’s proving a lot more complicated (and expensive!) to keep the original features.

OFFICE PARTY Brass pen tray, £15; square brass pen holder, £9; 2018-2019 diaries, from £23 each, Candela glass table lamp, £100, all Oliver Bonas

You should take a few risks, explore some new looks, but plan it well. Take calculated risks. It’s always worth trying something new, if you’re open to changing it if you really don’t like it. Whatever your budget, you can always do something to make your environment better and improve your life. If you think it’s too much, then tone it down or start again. You have to think about the level of risk you’re prepared to take.

‘Paul Smith is a great ambassador for the importance of doing things well and having integrity’

It’s about creating an environment that makes you happy and where you’re most comfortable. There’s no point living somewhere that makes you feel miserable. It’s the complete opposite of what you’re trying to achieve.

NEAT NEST Metallic round tables set, £225, Oliver Bonas

I love seeing how people respond to our products. There are some things that we know that people will love, and others that we figure they may not like as much, but we’re doing it anyway to push the boundaries. We want to give people a sense of joy through our products. We had someone comment on our Facebook page that he had bought his wife a pineapple ice bucket and that he thought it was the ugliest thing he’d ever seen, but his wife totally loves it so he gave it five stars!

PUCKER UP Lips teaspoon set, £19 for four, Oliver Bonas

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

Doing up your home is like “shopping for clothes: if someone makes you try on things you would never normally wear, you may be surprised by how brilliant they make you feel!

FEBRUARY 2018

”

Everyone asks why Oliver Bonas isn’t called Oliver Tress. When I first opened the shop, I was too shy to have my name above it, so I decided to find a different surname. My bank needed me to decide on something quickly, so I went for the surname of my girlfriend at the time. Thankfully, she was happy for me to use it!

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI PHOTOGRAPHS ALAMY

SEALED WITH A KISS Play round jewellery box, £20, Oliver Bonas

My attitude is, ‘if you see something and you like it, find a way to work it into your scheme.’ That’s how I’ve run my business – you can look at individual products and they may not connect in the same era or genre to each other, but there is a thread that links them.

‘We love going to West Wittering – it’s where I can really switch off’

January

Sale Now On www.harveyjones.com

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‘We wanted every room to feel light & bright’ Dee and Ben’s home shows how to banish gloom from your rooms and make them the backdrop for characterful pieces and collections that tell your family’s story

Love DEE’S STYLE?

Turn to page 53 to shop the look

REAL HOME

Opt for white walls ‘White is a breath of fresh air,’ says Dee. ‘It reﬂects and maximises the light, and allows other things to shine. It is also bleachable and retouchable, making it practical for families.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Falcon stove, £2,998, Appliances Direct. Schuller units in Matt White, from £2,367, Simmer and Soak. For a similar light, try the Firstlight Union metal pendant, £40, Easy Lighting

OPEN SHELVES Keep a small kitchen feeling light and airy

FEBRUARY 2018

REAL HOME

Welcome to my home THE PROPERTY A

four bed, late-Victorian semi in New Cross, southeast London.

VALUE Bought in 2012. Similar properties in the area now sell for around £1.4million. Dee Miller, a natural family photographer, lives here with her husband Ben Power, deputy artistic director of the National Theatre, and their son Walter, three.

D Take a quick tour...

BEDROOM

DINING ROOM

SITTING ROOM

GROUND FLOOR

FEBRUARY 2018

BEDROOM BEDROOM

BEDROOM

FIRST FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

“

We wanted the house to have a restful, calm and serene feel, which I think we’ve achieved

”

ee Miller and Ben Power knew they’d struck gold when they viewed this three-storey semi. ‘We were so thrilled to find it because the previous owner had lovingly retained all the period features, so we didn’t have to put fireplaces back into empty chimneys,’ says Dee. Nonetheless, the house did need some attention, but the couple chose to wait and work out the best plan before launching themselves into the refurb. ‘We had lots of ideas when we bought the place,’ says Dee, ‘but they completely changed once we’d lived here for a few weeks. It’s worth living in a property for a while, even if it’s in a bad way and you have to camp out. You can only learn so much from standing in an empty room or looking at floor plans. If you live in it for even a few days – getting up in the night to use the loo and padding downstairs in your slippers for coffee – you will get a far better sense of how practical your plans are and how the house should really work.’ The couple took all the internal walls back to the brickwork and restored or replaced the wooden floors and sash windows. The kitchen and bathroom were also ripped out and refitted, and Dee and Ben decided to turn one of the bedrooms into a dressing area and bathroom to create plenty of storage space – something a Victorian house rarely offers. With the hard work done, the pair gave the interior a calm but characterful feel with white walls, their considered collections of vintage and mid-centurystyle pieces, and details picked up on their travels in Brazil, France, India and Morocco. ‘I love old things that have had a previous life and show signs of their stories and former owners,’ says Dee.

IDEAL HOME

loves

GLAZED DOOR Lets light flow from space to space

Industrial pendants Original vintage factory lights make a statement with their size and classic enamelled finish

Add soul with retro furniture A vintage school cupboard brings character to the dining area. ‘I love old school furniture, complete with graﬃti and compass-engraved declarations of young love!’ says Dee. BUY THE KEY PIECES For a similar table and chairs, try the Aveiro table, £699; and the Jenson chairs, £199 for two, both Made.com

FEBRUARY 2018

REAL HOME

Create layers Dee and Ben took the same approach in each room. ‘We put the light centre stage, then added textures, artwork and retro furniture to build up layers of interest,’ says Dee. BUY THE KEY PIECES Anglepoise lamps, £130 each, John Lewis. Otto sofa, £1,300, Sofa.com

IDEAL HOME

loves

Chandeliers Great for drawing attention to high ceilings and adding wow factor to a simple white room

The light here won “ our hearts – I love the way it plays through the sash windows

”

FEBRUARY 2018

COLOURFUL ARTWORK Inspired Dee’s accent-colour accessories

Decorate with books ‘There’s nothing I like more than a wall of books,’ says Dee. ‘I’d rather look at that than a plain wall any day. Our friend built this shelving unit in the sitting room when we moved in and it’s already full.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES For a similar armchair, try the Hannah Leather chair, £899, John Lewis. The Krossing shelving unit, £400, The Conran Shop, is similar White walls let the stained glass windows stand out

Dee has lots of vintage chairs. ‘I love old things that show signs of their stories and previous owners,’ she says

FEBRUARY 2018

Mix your styles

A vintage armoire holds toiletries in the main bathroom

In the main bedroom, Dee has mixed a glam, plushupholstered bed with retro, Nordic pieces. ‘I love simple, Scandinavian design but, in truth, my style is probably too busy to be truly Scandi!’ BUY THE KEY PIECES For a similar bed, try the Rouen, £599, John Lewis. Bedlinen, from £24, The White Company

Dee has displays of artwork and family photos all over the house

REAL HOME

Make bold statements Dee and Ben sacriﬁced a bedroom to create a truly indulgent bathroom and dressing room that’s less about quick early-morning starts than long evening soaks. BUY THE KEY PIECES Roll-top bath, £921, Aston Matthews. Arlo & Jacob sells a similar slipper chair in olive, £553. For similar bathmats, try Orla Kiely, from £22

IDEAL HOME

loves

Roll-top baths The ultimate in luxurious bathing – and you can repaint them to fit a new colour scheme

FEBRUARY 2018

REAL HOME

WHAT I LEARNED

in artwork – “forInvest our 30th birthdays,

Ben and I bought each other a small piece of art. Living with pictures we love is so happy-making

LAB STOOL Makes a simple bedside table

Combine patterns The simple white backdrop means Dee can put a striped bedspread with a patterned Turkish rug in the small guest room, without making the scheme look too busy. BUY THE KEY PIECES Piper bed, £845, Loaf. For a similar grey lamp shade, try Habitat, from £20. Anglepoise Original 1227 desk lamp, £185, John Lewis

FEBRUARY 2018

FEATURE HANNAH BULLIVANT, VANESSA RICHMOND STYLING HANNAH BULLIVANT PHOTOGRAPHS KRISTY NOBLE PLANS AGENCY SERVICE

”

VINTAGE LUGGAGE RACKS Hold loads of soft toys

Paint a ‘hero’ piece In Walter’s room, Dee gave an old chest of drawers an update with a coat of dark grey paint, and replaced the handles with smart cup designs. BUY THE KEY PIECES Blind in Harvest Hare fabric by Mark Hearld, £66m, St Judes. Stokke Sleepi cot, £575, Mothercare A pretty cotton tablecloth has been repurposed as a curtain

This Fifties unit makes a quirky pedestal for the shower-room basin

REAL HOME

Make it work for you DEE’S STYLE: MODERN COLLECTOR

A simple white backdrop is the perfect display space to bring together pieces that span different design eras

MY GO-TO STORES… O ENDLINGS HASTINGS ‘An amazing treasure trove of antique or collectable pieces.’

Dee’s house still had many of its original features CLEARLY PRACTICAL Large glass vase, £12, Design Vintage

O LABOUR

AND WAIT ‘Supplies practical basics in appealing and timeless designs.’ O ARDINGLY ANTIQUES FAIR AND KEMPTON MARKET ‘Unbeatable for bargains, quality and choice.’

VINTAGE STYLE Knot Garden cushion in Gorse, £49, Melin Tregwynt

LINE DRAWING Vases by Clare Owen, framed print (40x40cm), £75, King & McGaw

TOUCH OF BRASS Box candleholder, £25.95, Decorator’s Notebook

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING PHOTOGRAPHS KRISTY NOBLE

GLAZED STONEWARE Water jug, £30, Labour and Wait

PERFECT PINE Langley chest of drawers, £249, Cotswold Co

MID CENTURY Bailey armchair, £449, Swoon Editions

CLASSIC LAMP Anglepoise Original, £166.50, John Lewis

STYLIST’S NOTE

“

Contrast white walls with plenty of texture - natural wood flooring and furniture and tactile, woven textiles all add warmth MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR FEBRUARY 2018

”

Malcolm & Jane. Truro, Cornwall.

Winter Sale

Finally found the perfect sofa to align with their obsession for stripes.

It’s your story. So it’s tailored to you.

Alwinton large sofa in Walloon Stripe, as shown. Alwinton large sofas from £1,180 in Gibraltar House Fabric.

Let’s design together

Stores in London & Nationwide Call us on 0808 178 3211 or visit sofasandstuff.com

STYLE & DECOR

COLOURS WE LOVE

Truffle

When greys or whites feel cold and cream just isn’t cutting it, consider this milky chocolate shade as your go-to neutral. It’s beautifully warm and soft for any space…

THIS PAGE Marble tray, £25, Rockett St George. Spools of leather ribbon, £4.50 each, Holly’s House. Bowl, £16, Heal’s. Candles, £9 for 10, Rowen & Wren.

FEBRUARY 2018

STYLE & DECOR

PURE WHITE TRIM Team warm truffle tones with crisp white details

Stylist’s note Truffle lends itself to a glamorous or luxe-country look, with touches of matt or rose gold to make it modern

“

NICKY PHILLIPS, DECORATING EDITOR

”

THIS PAGE Nordic desk, £595, Graham and Green. Antoinette chair, £460, Rockett St George. Blind in Cressida Feather Grey, £70.50m, Romo. Forette rug in taupe, £399, Dwell. ON DESK Dusty rose magazine rack, £36; spools of brown leather ribbon, £4.50 each, all Holly’s House. Pink bowl, £38; candles, £9 for 10, all Rowen & Wren. Brown mug, £27.99 for six, Nisbets. Goodwood jug, £18, One World. Boulle filing box, £20, Habitat. Jack task table lamp, £65, Debenhams. Fix & Flow print by Christina Fedyk, £110, King & McGaw.

FEBRUARY 2018

Opulent living Truffle is the perfect, mellow backdrop for a space dedicated to lounging, blended with similar neutrals for a restful look. Upholstery in plush velvet underlines the decadent mood

THIS PAGE Walls in Velvet Truffle 3 matt emulsion, £25.72 for 2.5L, Dulux. Wool Serenity Cotton Candy carpet, £55sq m, Crucial Trading. Menda rug, £469; Hampstead four-seater sofa in Velvet Mink, £2,339, both Heal’s. Matilda armchairs in Isla Otter, £770 each; Arthur footstool in Hugo Buckwheat, £430; Chichester open dresser, £1,570, all Neptune. Industrial side table, £185 for nest of two, French Connection. Crittall style mirror, £360, Rockett St George. Pitch & Stone print by Christina Fedyk, £130, King & McGaw. ON SIDE TABLE Morten lamp, £169, West Elm. ON SOFA Blush velvet cushion, £45, Also Home. Luxor latte cushion, £23, My Furniture. Jaipur dusky pink cushion, £30, Christy. Cushion in Nesma Briar Rose, £77m, Romo. ON ARMCHAIR Cushion

BLACK ACCENT Adds a harder edge to a scheme of blended neutrals

in Fairmont Taupe, £38m, Clarke & Clarke. ON FIREPLACE Limed wood decorative finial, £34, Rowen & Wren. Frame, £17.50, Cox & Cox. Bowl, £16, Heal’s. Kenton artichoke, £18, One World. Candle, £22, Debenhams. Alchemy planter, £32, Curious Egg. Three faux hydrangea stems, £35, Cox & Cox. Varinha candlestick, £39, Rockett St George. ON FOOTSTOOL Withcott bowl, £40, Habitat. Broadfield candle dome, £16, Neptune. Juniper candle, £41, Curious Egg. Monterey vase, £17, Rockett St George. Mohair throw, £90, Bronte by Moon. ON BOOKCASE Tea rose bowl, £38; taper candles, £9 for 10, both Rowen & Wren. White rustic jug, £18.50, Cox & Cox. Randwick lantern, £20; Birkdale jug, £12, both One World. Amber candle, £26, Neptune.

THIS PAGE Walls in Velvet Truffle 4 matt emulsion, £25.72 for 2.5L, Dulux. Malmesbury bed in Wishing Well, £912, Willow & Hall. Florence bedside table, £295; sheepskin in vole, £270, both Graham and Green. Wool Iconic Boucle Kelly carpet, £69.30sq m, Alternative Flooring Company. ON TABLE Marcus table lamp, £65, Debenhams. Bud vase, £18, Heal’s. Rose ceramic pot, £18.50, Holly’s House. ON BED Regency pink duvet cover, £130; pillowcases, £40 for two; Karina throw, £120; Jaipur cushion, £30, all Christy. Brown linen pillowcases, £41 for two; brown linen cushion, £30, all Blanc Cerise.

Stylist’s note To stop mid-brown tones like this looking murky, you need pops of fresh white and layer upon layer of texture

“

”

NICKY PHILLIPS, DECORATING EDITOR

MINK GREY Warm greys mix in beautifully for a soft contrast

STYLE & DECOR THIS PAGE Matisse chest of drawers, £995, Graham and Green. Wild Silk 310294 wallpaper, £93 a roll, Zoffany. Tikvah pendant, £725, Out There Interiors. ON CHEST OF DRAWERS Framed Leaf Photogram prints, £345 for eight, Oka. Short rose ceramic pot, £18.50; tall rose ceramic pot, £15; Darling Clementine set of boxes, £28, all Holly’s House. Birkdale jug, £12, One World.

Relaxed luxe Truffle is soft and subtle enough to use on all four walls, but mix paint with a textural paper like this, to stop it looking dull

FEATURE NICKY PHILLIPS STYLING SARITA SHARMA PHOTOGRAPHS DOMINIC BLACKMORE

TOUCH OF PINK From the faintest nude to the warmest coral, they all give truffle a gentle lift

FEBRUARY 2018

STYLE & DECOR

Make it work for you TRUFFLE: JUST ADD AN ACCENT Touches of cream and blush pink alongside harmonious chocolate hues create a contemporary neutral scheme

2 1

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT PHOTOGRAPH DOMINIC BLACKMORE

WHERE TO BUY 1. HEART DECORATION Extra large wicker heart, £58, Melody Maison 2. WALL ART Blossom canvas, £225, Cox & Cox 3. CHAIR Houseology Collection Oyster velvet dining chair, £259, Houseology 4. SHEEPSKIN Mink sheepskin rug, £59, Modern Rugs

5. MUG La Cafetière Core textured geo mug, £5, Creative Tops 6. FOOTSTOOL Arthur stool, from £405, Neptune

8 7

7. STORAGE Braided paper baskets, from £26 each, Zara Home 8. STRIPED RUG Dutchbone Arizona rug in grey (240x 170cm), £429, Cuckooland FEBRUARY 2018

‘Our style is family (and budget) friendly’ Charlotte and Joe Valentine have hit on a look that’s timeless and flexible enough to evolve as their tastes and needs change

Love

CHARLOTTE’S STYLE? Turn to page 73 to shop the look

FEBRUARY 2018

REAL HOME

Keep to one style ‘It may seem boring, but I’ve stuck to the same style in each room,’ says Charlotte. ‘It’s a neutral, laid-back country look that’s soothing. It may seem tedious to some, but home is where I spend most of my time, and it’s important to have one aspect of my life that’s calm!’ BUY THE KEY PIECES For similar kitchen cabinets, try the Carisbrooke Ivory range by Cooke & Lewis at B&Q

FEBRUARY 2018

Welcome to my home THE PROPERTY

A five-bedroom detached house, built in 1882, in Christchurch, Dorset.

VALUE

Charlotte Valentine, who writes a blog (thehomethatmademe. com) lives here with her husband Joe, who works in investment banking, and their daughter Elsa, four, and son Rory, two.

Take a quick tour...

OPEN-PLAN KITCHEN-DINER

BEDROOM BEDROOM

UTILITY ROOM

SITTING ROOM

BEDROOM

STUDY

GROUND FLOOR

FEBRUARY 2018

FIRST FLOOR

Bought in 2015 for £300,000; now worth £650,000.

“

I was eight months pregnant when we moved in, so I had a month to do as much work as possible

”

hen a family member offered Charlotte and Joe Valentine the chance to buy this house, they jumped at it. ‘We fell for its classic Victorian charm instantly and loved its large, open-plan space,’ says Charlotte. ‘It was in great condition, but not really decorated to our tastes. We wanted to put our own stamp on it as soon as possible, and so we worked tirelessly to redecorate virtually every room in the house.’ The open-plan kitchen-diner quickly became the family’s main living zone, but they found they hardly used the conservatory at the back of the property. So the couple decided to replace it with an extension to stretch their space even further. ‘I didn’t expect the building work to affect our lives so much, but taking on a big job like that is never easy,’ says Charlotte. ‘There was so much dust, I felt like all I ever did was wipe the kitchen surfaces! It was worth it, though. ‘We managed to reuse a lot of the conservatory’s glass in the new structure, which saved us a great deal of money,’ she says. ‘Quite a bit of the building work was done by my mum and stepdad, too, who built their own home and are my go-to for all things DIY! In total, the project took eight weeks and it’s a much more useable space now. ‘We love how the downstairs flows to create a spacious zone for family life. I can keep an eye on the children while cooking dinner and getting on with things. We also love having friends over and everyone congregates in the kitchen, so the central island is great. Open-plan living is perfect for our family. Sometimes I have to pinch myself that this is my house – I feel very fortunate every day.’

REAL HOME

OPEN SHELVES Break up a solid run of wooden doors to create display areas

Add a coat of paint Charlotte and Joe inherited the kitchen with the house, but revamped it with Farrow & Ball’s Stony Ground. ‘It felt like there was too much wood, with the ﬂoor, too, so the paint gives it a lovely neutral country look.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Glass storage jars, from £17 each, Neptune. Candy Rose kettle in cream, £30, Dunelm

FEBRUARY 2018

Create character with second-hand finds The table and chairs were a £50 Gumtree bargain. ‘I painted the table legs in Annie Sloan’s Original White chalk paint,’ says Charlotte. BUY THE KEY PIECES For a similar table, try the Wiltshire, £275, The Cotswold Company. The Wexford Glazed dresser is similar, £1,362, Turnbull & Thomas. Cake stand, £12, Hobbycraft

Go for a neutral base ‘I like bold colours, but I fall out of love with them too quickly. It’s more cost-eﬀective to add colour with accessories. Having a neutral backdrop means you can style the seasons, adding ﬂoral bits in spring and browns and orange in autumn.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Ashby sofas, from £799, Dfs. For a similar footstool, try the Bloomer, £445, Loaf. Ivory Arch mirror, £57, The Range

FEBRUARY 2018

SKINNY CONSOLE Space-efficient storage in a small room

REAL HOME

Be smart with wall art Colourful prints and photographs can look a little chaotic, so Charlotte stuck to large black-and-white photos for her family memory wall in the playroom to keep things calm, smart and streamlined.

REVIVED BENCH Found on Gumtree and refreshed with chalk paint

BUY THE KEY PIECES Ribba frames, £9 each, Ikea. Walton sofa, from £599, Dunelm. Cushions, from a selection, HomeSense

Max out on storage Built-in cupboards, an upcycled retro trunk and a wicker chest that does double duty as a table all make the playroom easy to tidy up at the end of each day. BUY THE KEY PIECES Height chart ruler, £59, Fletcher & Mils. For a similar wicker chest, try the Gabbig storage box, £59, Ikea. Star carry caddy, £25, Great Little Trading Co

I’m forever changing “ things, even if I’m happy

with a look – I have to have a project on the go!

”

TILE STICKERS Brighten up an old black fireplace (find them at pixersize.com)

FEBRUARY 2018

REAL HOME

DIY WALL ART Charlotte makes typography art – see her tutorials at thehomethat mademe.com

Keep pattern tonal Charlotte chose patchwork-style Moroccan-inspired tiles for their en suite. In a mix of neutral tones, they add detail without interrupting her signature neutral schemes. BUY THE KEY PIECES For similar tiles, try the Stamford tiles, £54.96sq m, Topps Tiles. For similar angel wings, try the Gabrielle wall art wings, £161, Maisons du Monde

IDEAL HOME

loves

Upholstered headboards Essential if you love to lounge with a morning tea (but beware if either of you use oily hair products!)

PAINTED STRIPES Just on the chimney breast, to add interest in a white room

Try a French feel Charlotte put a Provençal twist on her classic neutral style in the main bedroom, with an elegant, curved bed, white wooden side tables and a luxurious quilt with some fauxfur soft furnishings. BUY THE KEY PIECES For a similar bed, try the Coco design, from £945, Loaf. For similar bedside cabinets, try the Lemaire tables by Lily Manor, £127 each, Wayfair. Bedding, from a selection, Dunelm

Have an accent colour in each space ‘Elsa’s bedroom is every little girl’s dream,’ says Charlotte. ‘She has a pink four-poster bed and I upcycled this chest of drawers to match.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Personalised rocking chair, £55, My 1st Years. For a similar teepee, try the Hokku Designs Play teepee, £145, Wayfair. The rabbit cushion by Little Dandies is similar, £20, Notonthehighstreet.com

always learning and evolving “myI’mstyle, but I don’t think I’ll ever stray too far from my neutral roots ”

FEBRUARY 2018

REAL HOME

Use more colour in kids’ rooms White walls and a neutral carpet make Rory’s room the ultimate blank canvas for colourful painted furniture and accessories that can be updated as he gets older. BUY THE KEY PIECES Hemnes daybed, £369, Ikea. Star print bedspread, from £32, Great Little Trading Co. For a similar star, try Coastal star, £4.99, The Range

Charlotte turned this old frame into a mini photo gallery

Make simple displays The reading corner in Rory’s room is a perfect place for a display of memories and mottos. ‘Picture shelves bring an otherwise plain wall to life,’ says Charlotte. BUY THE KEY PIECES Strandmon wing chair, £179, Ikea. Grey zig zag stool, £16.99, The Range. Star wallpaper, £26 a roll; star curtains, from £75, both Great Little Trading Co. Pom-pom ochre knit throw, £45, Dunelm

SHEEPSKIN Drape over seating or flooring to soften any space

Using social media is “a great way to find ideas. Instagram is my main source of inspiration, but I also spend time browsing Pinterest, interiors blogs and magazines. I love seeing all the beautiful homes and the people who’ve created them

FEBRUARY 2018

”

FEATURE LAURIE DAVIDSON, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS COLIN POOLE PLANS AGENCY SERVICE

WHAT I LEARNED

HELPING 40 MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE BUILD SELF-ESTEEM From 2004 to 2020 Dove is helping young people build self-esteem through our educational programmes. Download our tools for free at dove.com/selfesteem

Matki-ONE Curved Contemporary style, technical innovation. Beautifully engineered in the UK

F O R A B R O C H U R E A N D N E A R E S T B AT H R O O M S P E C I A L I S T C A L L 01 4 5 4 3 2 8 811 | W W W. M AT K I . C O. U K | M AT K I P L C , B R I S TO L B S 3 7 5 P L

REAL HOME

Make it work for you CHARLOTTE’S STYLE: RELAXED NEUTRALS

Classic furniture and elegant accessories in a soft, muted colour palette shape this relaxed, understated look

IDEAL

WINGED BEAUTY Angel wings in silver, £219, Furniture Village

TAKE FLIGHT Feathered metal wings, £165, The French Bedroom Company

MIRROR IMAGE Sonnet mirror, £82, Artisanti

LOVELY VIEW Serrant mirror, £180, Maisons du Monde

COUNTRY CHARM Cotswold table lamp, £30.99, The Range

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI PHOTOGRAPH COLIN POOLE

ELEGANT STYLE Lyon table lamp, £85, Sweetpea & Willow

CLASSIC CHECK Lambswool grey check throw, £80, Cotswold Trading

PERFECT PLAID Alpaca mix throw in chalk check, £139, Tolly McRae

STURDY CHEST Large rattan storage basket, £315, Puji

COMFY SPOT Ashby velvet three seater sofa in silver, £1,598, DFS

GREAT DEAL

WOOD DETAIL Circle glass container with ash handle, £46, LSA International

MAKE IT BAMBOO Elements bamboo hurricane lantern, £20, Dunelm

STORAGE SOLUTION Gabbig storage box, £59, Ikea

BUTTONED UP Abraham three seater sofa in Finch, £1,149, Living It Up FEBRUARY 2018

KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL

Easy style updates

From best buys and clever tricks to mini decor projects… this is our roundup of the simplest, quickest ways to make your kitchen more beautiful now

Supersize your wall tiles

Oversized wall tiles are a great way to make a statement. Choose a plain design or go for texture rather than pattern (like this ceramic option with a shimmering, high-gloss ﬁnish) then arrange in a striking herringbone formation.

New Brighton Ocean tiles in salt, £19.99sq m, Walls and Floors

FEBRUARY 2018

KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL

Add a peg rail

Boost your storage levels with peg rails for hanging utensils, open baskets and wire racks that won’t have you scrabbling around at the back of dark and deep cupboards to ﬁnd what you need.

PUT BEAUTIFUL BASICS OUT ON DISPLAY

Everyday items can be beautiful, too, so choose kitchen must-haves that you love to look at and you’ll be happy to leave them out on your worktop, freeing up cupboard and larder space for less-pretty stuﬀ. Brushed gold strainer teapot, £36, Audenza

The Oak six-hook peg rail, £45, Cox & Cox, is similar. For a similar wire rack, try the Waffle, £95, Loaf

Brabantia New Icon pedal bin in clay pink, 30L, £60, Binopolis.

STACK YOUR APPLIANCES If floor space is tight, have your washing machine and tumble dryer fitted on top of one another inside an old larder or tall cupboard. It hides them out of sight, saves space and helps to streamline laundry days.

PRETTY UP THE PRACTICALS

Who says your bin has to be boring? Even the most mundane of kitchen items can look good. This soft close, slim pink pedal bin will also save precious under-worktop space.

110 electric range cooker in dusty pink, from £8,425, Everhot

GO FOR BRIGHT APPLIANCES

If you’re not brave enough to put colour all over on your ﬁtted kitchen, stay neutral but pick a bright new cooker, such as this energy-eﬃcient cast-iron electric range from Everhot for a punch of colour. It comes in a rainbow of happy, contemporary colours – including pink and orange – plus traditional ones, too. FEBRUARY 2018

KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL

Fall in love with a larder

Full of clever storage solutions, such as built-in wine and spice racks, deep drawers and slim shelves, a larder is also a great place to tuck away linens, crockery and clutter.

Padstow larder in cream, £1,799, Marks & Spencer

INVEST IN THE ESSENTIALS Good-quality cookware really does last a lifetime, so even though the initial cost might be high, you can be sure the pieces will only get better with age.

Signature cast iron 1.8L round casserole dish in marine, £139, Le Creuset FEBRUARY 2018

The best seat in the house

visit us at arloandjacob.com call us on 03331 223 861 or pop by our showroom

A range of styles starting from ÂŁ765

KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL

Make your own shelving

Give your kitchen an urban edge by using old scaffolding boards and industrial pipework to build sturdy, open shelving along one wall. Perfect for displaying all of your fanciest cookware and jars.

PAINT YOUR ISLAND

Turn your kitchen island into a statement focal point by painting one side in a striking shade. Go for a colour that contrasts with yet complements your cupboards and walls for real impact.

REVAMP PLAIN WALL TILES

If new tiles are beyond your budget, why not cover the existing tiles with easy-to-apply decorative stickers, for a bright new look? SirFace Graphics has a great range.

Salisbury solid butcher’s block, medium, £10; large, £18, both Argos

Copper kitchenware, from a selection at Manufactum

PROTECT YOUR WORKTOP

Chunky chopping- and bread-boards make the perfect complement for rustic wooden ﬁnishes – and help to keep them pristine.

TAP INTO BLACK Swap that old, limescale-crusted chrome mixer for an ultramodern matt black option instead. It’ll look fab, whatever your style of kitchen.

Edmonton modern black kitchen mixer tap, £50, Victorian Plumbing

FEBRUARY 2018

KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL

ZONE YOUR LIGHTS Good lighting is essential but it doesn’t have to illuminate the whole room at once – go for mid- and low-level options too.

REFRESH COUNTERTOP STORAGE

Nothing dates faster than a kitchen canister, so update yours for an instant restyle. The ﬂat tops of these jars mean they can be stacked for space eﬃciency, but they look great all in a row, too. Bloomingville biscuit jars, £24 for a set of three, Cult Furniture

Wire tier baskets, small, £45; large, £60, both Cox & Cox

Re-colour your kitchen

Fancy a change, but don’t want to replace your units? Wood, laminate or even melaminecovered units can be simply sanded down and repainted in satin. Choose a classic colour like grey, navy blue or this modern-country green shade.

Free up cupboard space

These sturdy wire baskets can be removed from their frame, making them ideal for transferring veg straight from shopping bag (or the garden!), before stacking them up again.

FEBRUARY 2018

FIT NEW DOOR HANDLES A quick and inexpensive way to change your kitchen is with new handles. Ironmongerydirect.co.uk has a huge selection – make sure you choose ones with the same number of screw holes.

KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL

UPDATE TEXTILES

Details are often inexpensive but make a huge diﬀerence, so pick up a new set of co-ordinated linens – think tea towels, oven mitts and aprons – to smarten up your kitchen in no time. Oven mitts, £9.50 each (with two tea towels), Marks & Spencer

Attingham geometric tiles in seagrass, £45sq m, Topps Tiles

Extend your tiles

Rather than just tiling the area behind a sink, continue them around the whole wall. Tiles are much easier to keep clean than painted surfaces, and it’s a subtle way to add pattern.

REFRESH WORKTOPS Make tired wooden worktops look as good as new with a thorough sanding down, followed by a couple of coats of fresh varnish or tung oil.

Suffolk kitchen hand-painted in Sage, from £12,000, Neptune

Create a feature wall

Give the impression of floating open storage behind a sink by fixing a shelf at an easy-access height then wallpapering a bold design above it. Paint the shelf and the wall beneath it in the same co-ordinating colour to complete the floating effect.

Great Ormond St Signature wallpaper, £86 a roll, Little Greene

FEBRUARY 2018

KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL

Get sorted with a pegboard

Bring a utilitarian look to your kitchen with a plywood pegboard. Easy to arrange, it’s the perfect way to stay organised and can be hung horizontally or vertically.

Bastille white crackle metro tiles, £34.95sq m, Walls and Floors

HAVE FUN WITH SEATING

Who says your kitchen chairs have to match? Add interest and pops of colour to the room by choosing diﬀerent coloured chairs in the same style. Or update the wooden chairs you already have by painting each one in a diﬀerent, zingy shade.

GIVE WALLS THE EDGE

Stray outside the lines and use tiles in a chevron motif to create an interesting ﬁnish to walls or splashbacks. Keep the rest of the space a solid colour to ensure the tiles are the hero.

FEBRUARY 2018

KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL

Russell Hobbs legacy toaster, £50; kettle, £50, both Debenhams

Mix up your tiles

As a change from the classic subway brick formation, try other patterns for tiles such as basket weave, herringbone or stack bond. Finish with a dark grout to make the pattern really stand out.

UPDATE YOUR BAR STOOLS

Bar stools are a great way to turn a kitchen island into a breakfast bar, but can sometimes make the space look cluttered. Choose a sleek and minimalist style so they don’t dominate the room and keep the backs low. Thelma bar stool in oak and white, £99, Made.com

SUPERSIZE THE SINK If you don’t have space for a dishwasher, a double sink is a good choice – you’ll have plenty of space to stack dirty prep kit out of sight while you eat. Swing ceiling light, £75; Bow dining table, £499; bench, £199, all House range, John Lewis Lysekil doublesided wall panels in clouds/dots, £25 each, Ikea

Choose ﬂoating shelves

For a sleek and minimal look, pick bracketless white shelves in varying widths, positioning them at differing heights against a dark background for a ﬂoating effect. Place everyday essentials at eye level and below.

KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL

SLOT IN A KITCHEN TROLLEY

A kitchen companion of many guises, a butcher’s trolley will not only supply extra storage and prep space, but can also be used as a mini kitchen island for eating or working at, and even makes a great cocktail bar.

Milton oiled oak butcher’s trolley, £750, Laura Ashley

Create a hero splashback

Ceramic sink bowl, £315, Neptune

Update your kitchen and have fun with colour and pattern by replacing your splashback. These ink-splash wall panels from Ikea simply slot into a frame and are reversible, too, giving you a choice of designs.

EXPLORE OUTLET STORES NEAR YOU Outlet stores often have the most competitive prices for appliances. They might not come in the original packaging, but you’re likely to save money if you shop around.

Put up a handy rail

Hang kitchen utensils from a rail to save on space in drawers. Pick a rail in the same colour and hang ladles and whisks in height order for a chic, uniform look.

FEBRUARY 2018

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LOAFING TIME...

BEDS, SOFAS AND FURNITURE FOR LOAFERS LOAF.COM

BATTERSEA

NOTTING HILL

SPITALFIELDS

KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL

Create statement shelving

Get imaginative with your storage and create shelving from side tables or console tables hung from the wall. Match them to your table and chairs for a ﬂawless ﬁnish.

Carter extending dining table, £1,780; bench, £470; shelves, from £620; Tennyson pendants, £94 each, all Neptune

GET A HELPING HAND

Make following a recipe from your cookbook collection or tablet a breeze, with a stand that allows for both. This sturdy design has a hook, too, so you can hang it on display when it’s not in use. Cookbook stand, £16, Next

LET THE SUNSHINE IN Blinds or shutters are perfect for blocking out natural light but if all you want is a bit of privacy, try stick-on window film. There are plenty of great designs at The Window Film Company.

BE YOUR OWN BARISTA

Stop spending your hard-earned cash on coffee-shop hot drinks and invest in a proper coffee maker instead. With so many different models available, in a range of funky colours and classic styles, you’ll easily find one that will fit in with your kitchen’s look. Francis Francis X1 Espresso machine in pale blue, £447, Illy

Kit Miles Biophilia toaster panel and kettle panel packs, £25 each, Dualit

PRETTY UP YOUR GADGETS

Fancy a change from chrome? The kettles and toasters in Dualit’s Architect range have clever, colourful panels that clip on and oﬀ, for an instant style refresh.

FEBRUARY 2018

KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL • KITCHEN SPECIAL

Mango wood bar stools, £59 each; cooper pendant shade, £12, all George Home

Copper- and gold-toned accessories work every bit as well in the kitchen as in the rest of the home. Choose lacquered brass hardware, such as handles and knobs, and combine with copper light ﬁttings and hammered storage pots.

CRATE UP YOUR COOKBOOKS Turn old (or new) wooden crates on their side to create the perfect place for storing your cookbook collection. Use a smaller Wooden crates, £25 size for recipe cards and paper cuttings. for two, Next

FEBRUARY 2018

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

Mix up metallics

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Find out more at luxaflex.co.uk

Dare to go dark ‘We painted the ﬁreplace and shelving unit in the snug in Valspar’s Charcoal Sketch for a reﬁned, library-inspired look and we love the impact it now has when you walk into the room,’ says Lauren. BUY THE KEY PIECES Gold edge shield shaped wall mirror, £171, Woodpecker Interiors. Gold desk lamp, £20, TK Maxx

FEBRUARY 2018

REAL HOME

‘Our house has a calm, classic vibe’ The Colemans transformed their home with a monochrome palette to give them a flexible backdrop for their evolving style

DESK HACK Made from a scaffolding plank and Ikea table legs

Love

LAUREN’S STYLE? Turn to page 99 to shop the look

Welcome to my home THE PROPERTY

A four-bed Victorian semi in Northamptonshire.

VALUE Bought in 2015 for £425,000; now valued at £468,000.

Lauren Coleman, editor of a lifestyle website, lives here with her husband James, a senior client relations manager.

Take a quick tour… BEDROOM

BEDROOM

SHOWER ROOM

BEDROOM

FIRST FLOOR

SITTING ROOM

DINING ROOM

KITCHEN

SNUG

GROUND FLOOR

FEBRUARY 2018

“

A home should be a reflection of you and your life, so we’ve filled ours with things that have meaning and make us happy

”

auren and James Coleman’s house was ready for an update when they purchased the property back in 2015. They instantly fell in love with its period charm and the good size of both the property and garden. Having moved from a small three-bedroom terraced cottage, the versatile layout downstairs appealed to the couple, and the large kitchen in the centre of the house works as a social hub, flowing into both the dining and living areas. Lauren’s job as editor for a lifestyle website covering travel, beauty and interiors (rockmystyle.co.uk) means she is surrounded by decorating inspiration and ideas. Both a blessing and a curse, looking at beautiful properties every day means she has learned to sit on ideas before applying them to her own home, to avoid rushing into decisions she might regret. The couple began the transformation by repainting the walls and re-carpeting to give themselves a neutral base on which to build up their look in each room. Luckily, the house didn’t need any structural work, so Lauren and James were able to focus all of their effort and budget into creating their dream interior and giving each room its own identity. Lauren describes her style as calm and classic with a modern twist and has decorated with the aim of building up the look over time and allowing the spaces to evolve naturally with carefully selected treasures, rather than filling each room with a clutter of curios that don’t have any meaning. ‘Rushing the process can lead to costly mistakes,’ she says, ‘so early on, we decided to give ourselves a deadline of two to three years to complete the whole house, to avoid making snap decisions just for the sake of finishing quicker.’

REAL HOME

IDEAL HOME

loves

A statement floor lamp An instant focal point for a bare corner, as well as moody downlighting for intimate spaces

Create your own standout pieces This chest of drawers in the dining room originally had a pine ﬁnish, but Lauren painted it in Farrow & Ball’s Railings eggshell to give it a more industrial vibe. Teaming it with a shutter mirror creates a sideboard or dresser eﬀect. BUY THE KEY PIECES Floor lamp, £65, HomeSense. Shutter mirror, £85, Hilary & Flo FEBRUARY 2018

STAR TILES Add interest to the simple colour scheme

Keep your colour palette consistent The Colemans’s budget for the kitchen project was £500, including all lighting. They made the previous cream units work by painting them white and replacing the knobs. BUY THE KEY PIECES Heritage Star wall tiles, £29.40sq m,

Porcelain Superstore. Cabinets painted in All White estate eggshell, £60 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Black pendant lights, £35 each, Amazon. For similar bar stools, try Dime Tolix, £145, Barker and Stonehouse. For a similar wire wall unit, try the Waffle storage rack, £95, Loaf

We haven’t lived here long “ enough to get the layered look

I’m aiming for, but it will come with time and evolve

”

FEBRUARY 2018

REAL HOME

Choose smart storage Tackling everyday clutter is the key to a streamlined look. In the snug, this tall cabinet holds all of the couple’s work tools, so they can put them away at the end of the day and use the space as a place to relax. BUY THE KEY PIECES For a similar cabinet, try Hazelwood Home’s Oakham Expressions display cabinet, £530, Wayfair. For a similar ladder, try the bamboo ladder, £45, Graham and Green

Help spaces flow ‘Financially, we weren’t in a position to replace the kitchen ﬂoor,’ explains Lauren. ‘Instead, we decided to paint the wooden dining room ﬂoor in a dark shade to tie the two spaces together seamlessly and create more of an open-plan feel.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Wooton dining table, £699; Winchester cross-back dining chairs, £209 each, all Furniture Barn. Floor painted in Off-Black modern eggshell, £66 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Glass pendant lights, £35 each, eBay

LADDER SHELF Ideal storage for throws or newspapers and magazines

LOW PENDANTS Create intimacy at the dining table

FEBRUARY 2018

REAL HOME

SIMPLE FOLIAGE Just as impactful as flowers, but less expensive

Work with what you’ve got ‘The previous owners had preserved the beautiful ﬁreplaces, like this one in the sitting room,’ says Lauren. ‘Period touches give rooms character you can build on.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Bluebell sofas, from £890 each, Sofa.com. For a similar rug, try the Urbane, from £144, Wayfair

DIY TABLE Made from an old base and a pallet

Lauren keeps the look neutral by stacking books back to front

Soften the look in a bedroom ‘Dusky pinks add a feminine touch to our room, but paring it back with whites and greys means James is happy, too,’ says Lauren. BUY THE KEY PIECES Luna upholstered bed, from £745 for a double, Loaf. Moroccan wedding blanket, £69, Marks & Spencer. Geometric rug, £15, H&M Home. For a similar pouffe, try the Moroccan leather pouffe in Gold, £150, Graham and Green

FEBRUARY 2018

WORDS CASSIE PRYCE, VANESSA RICHMOND STYLING CASSIE PRYCE PHOTOGRAPHS SIMON WHITMORE PLANS AGENCY SERVICE

POTTED PALM Great for filling a bare corner

WHAT WE LEARNED

“

Giving ourselves a blank canvas with white walls and new carpets as soon as we moved in meant that James and I could start from scratch when it came to decorating each room

”

KITCHEN STOOL Does double-duty as a simple bedside table

Make it cosy with a mix of textures ‘We want guests to feel as comfortable and relaxed as we are, so in the spare room, we’ve layered up lots of diﬀerent textures using rugs, blankets and cushions to create cosiness,’ says Lauren. BUY THE KEY PIECES For a similar bed frame, try the Collection Jayna ivory double bed frame, £190, Argos. Tejn rug, £10, Ikea. Monochrome fringed cushion, £15, H&M Home

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REAL HOME

Make it work for you LAUREN’S STYLE: URBAN ECLECTIC

Bold patterns, tactile textures and a modern monochrome colour scheme create this quirky and characterful look

IDEAL

ANTIQUE LOOK We Need Sun Nina mirror, £74.99, Wayfair

REFLECT THE SUN Round metal mirror, £19.99, H&M Home

GREAT DEAL

RETRO GLAM Industrial glass pendant in Pewter, £35, Wilko

HAND BLOWN Cloche glass pendant light, £75, Loaf

PRETTY PASTEL Pink table lamp with marble base, £68, Oliver Bonas

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI PHOTOGRAPH SIMON WHITMORE

SHOW OFF Indira cabinet, £1,095, Out There Interiors

COSY & SNUG Fringe cushion, £40, Monsoon Home

SUBTLE BLUSH Pix metal desk lamp in Pink, £23.99, Maisons du Monde

GET GRAPHIC Ica weave cushion in Mono, £25, John Lewis

FURRY FRIEND Luxury faux fur throw, £105, Black by Design

STREAMLINE Hemnes cabinet in Black Brown, £195, Ikea

PLUSH FEEL Faux sheepskin rug, £21.99, Studio

CLASSIC LOOK Armchair, £735, The French Bedroom Company

TRADITIONAL STYLE Laterna lounge armchair in Light Grey, £199.99, My Furniture FEBRUARY 2018

Faced with a big, empty space to fill, Anna started with the floor. ‘The handmade tiles are unique and beautiful,’ she says. ‘They’ll improve with age. As they’re so rich and colourful, the rest of the room needed to be simple.’ Patchwork cement floor tiles, £64sq m, Emery et Cie. Kitchen units and fitting, from £350 for a 600mm base unit, Duncan Banks

‘We brightened up a gloomy basement’ Anna Starmer and Iain Hickinbottom took on a massive project to dig out and extend their kitchen, then filled it with colour and quirky design details

KITCHEN PROJECT

BEFORE

Welcome to my home BLACK PANELS Painted with blackboard paint and coated with a wax-finish varnish

Anna Starmer lives here with Iain Hickinbottom and their children, Eva, nine, and Jacomo, seven.

THE PROPERTY

A five-bed, four-storey Victorian terrace in Lewes, East Sussex.

WHAT IT COST

Tiles........................£1,951 Kitchen units........£6,000 Worktops.............£2,892 Appliances..........£8,398 Sink and taps..........£844 Lights........................£180 Furniture.................£1130 TOTAL................£21,395

“

The new kitchen has changed the way we live! I love the light and how organised it is

”

FEBRUARY 2018

101

HOW ANNA AND IAIN DID IT ‘Our kitchen was so dark and damp. The living room is two floors up, so we needed a larger, lighter family space where we could be together while we cooked. We dug down to gain more height, extended out by 3m and fitted sliding doors and roof windows that let in loads of light. To support all the floors above, we had to have huge steel supports put in the ceiling and a concrete foundation step all the way

around the edge. All the units had to sit on this step, so they needed to be bespoke with deep kickboards to hide it. Iain, who’s an arborist, sourced the oak-veneer ply for the cabinet doors. We designed the units ourselves and they were made by a local cabinet-maker. The project suffered a few delays, but I think that made it better because we had the chance to re-evaluate the design. It was all worth it – it’s perfect for us!’

BELOW LEFT Anna chose pale-grey gloss tiles to reflect light and keep this corner of the kitchen bright. Masia Claro Grey metro wall tiles, £31.04sq m, Best Tile. PUR 98 W cooker hood, £849, Miele. LAB gas hob, £1,597, Euroline. Le Creuset stovetop kettle in Satin Black, £48, John Lewis. NewGen brass toaster, £149.95, Dualit BELOW The couple used the same wood finish for the stairs, understair cupboards and doors for a unified look. Jason Mosseri wood stools, £250 each, Hope Springs Chairs. Fridge freezer, £1,399, Fisher & Paykel FACTORY LIGHTS Bold and battered, for a unique, industrial look

FLUSH FIT The gas hob is inset so the pan supports don’t protrude

Love

ANNA’S BLACK OVENS? Turn to page 105 to shop the look

102

FEBRUARY 2018

KITCHEN PROJECT

SHEEPSKINS Easier than making a seat pad, tidier than cushions

ABOVE Anna’s vintage brass taps came from eBay. She prefers leaving them dull and tarnished for an aged, antique look. Belfast 200 sink, £424, Carron Phoenix. For similar brass taps, try eBay. Antique brass long-reach water filter tap, £20.29, Pozzani

ABOVE ‘The grey frame of our sliding doors complements the worktops and acts like a picture frame to the garden.’ Walls painted in Oval Room Blue estate emulsion, £43.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. For similar table and benches, try Sustainable Furniture

RIGHT The larder unit makes it easy for the family to grab what they need for speedy weekday breakfasts at the island. 84516 Espress-Auto 4-in-1 coffee and tea machine, £180, Dualit. Ebony granite, £350lin m, Margrasil. Tea towel, £8, Rockett St George

FEATURE KATE HILL, VANESSA RICHMOND STYLING KATE HILL PHOTOGRAPHS LIZZIE ORME

WHAT I LEARNED

let builders “putDon’t you off using new materials. Find one who is prepared to try out new things and will help you find solutions to any issues that crop up along the way

”

FEBRUARY 2018

103

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KITCHEN PROJECT

Make it work for you ANNA’S STYLE: BLACK APPLIANCES Combining dramatic looks with practical features and functions, the latest dark designs add drama to a scheme

OVEN READY This black steel A+ rated oven with a pyrolytic self cleaning feature and a 73ltr capacity is striking and efficient Twelix oven, £1,900, KitchenAid

MIX IT UP A limited edition stand mixer with a super glossy 4.8ltr black bowl Artisan Black Tie stand mixer, £849, KitchenAid

DISH OF THE DAY With a half load programme plus a 30˚C one that does a full load in 30 minutes, this energy efficient dishwasher is impressive DFC04210 dishwasher, £249, Beko

IDEAL HOME LOVES…

A SLEEK BLACK KETTLE BITE THE BULLET The Fifties style KLF04 kettle, £150, Smeg, has a choice of temperatures to help make a cuppa perfect

FEATURE HAYLEY GILBERT

LUXE LOOK Get into worktop bling with a stunning wide slot toaster that boasts a ‘high lift’ for small slices, plus re heat and cancel options Cookworks textured toaster, £30, Argos

SMOOTH TOUCH With a SureGrip™ handle, the Kenwood kMix ZJX750BK kettle, £80, is smart and functional

WI-FI CONTROLLED With software to adjust the water level and programme length, this is a smart machine Dynamic Wizard DWT SS134AIB3 washing machine, £480, Hoover

It’s not hard to see why black appliances are “making a comeback – sultry and sophisticated, they won’t show every mark and fingerprint ”

RETRO CHIC The 2ltr capacity Wesco whistling kettle, £65, Lakeland, is induction hob compatible and eye-catching

AMY CUTMORE, DIGITAL EDITOR AND TECH EXPERT, IDEALHOME.CO.UK

FEBRUARY 2018

105

‘We made our dark kitchen light & airy’ Linda and Andrew Clack made clever changes to turn their gloomy, cramped-feeling kitchen into a more airy, open space

HIGH GLOSS WORKTOPS Reflect light into the darkest part of the room

106

FEBRUARY 2018

KITCHEN PROJECT

BEFORE

Love

LINDA’S WALL CLOCK? Turn to page 111 to shop the look

Welcome to my home Linda Clack lives here with her husband, Andrew. Their four grown-up daughters have left home.

THE PROPERTY

A five-bed Fifties detached house in Sevenoaks, Kent.

WHAT IT COST

The couple swapped the cooking and dining areas to transform the room and fitted French windows for a better view of the garden. Bespoke handleless units, £13,455; Silestone Coral Clay worksurfaces, from £600sq m, including fitting; Sienna white floor tiles, £38sq m, all Burlanes Interiors

Units....................£13,455 Worksurfaces and table.....................£4,620 Appliances...........£5,397 Sink and tap.........£1,648 Floor tiles..............£1,302 Splashbacks.........£1,387 Blinds.....................£1,875 TOTAL...............£29,684

“

It feels like a totally different space and we really enjoy the view of the garden

”

FEBRUARY 2018

107

KITCHEN PROJECT

HOW LINDA AND ANDREW DID IT ‘The kitchen was a good size, but the only natural light was from a single window and you could only see the garden when you were washing up. We didn’t know how to make the layout work better, so I went into Burlanes Interiors, which had just opened a showroom near us, to have a look and ask their advice. A designer there sketched out exactly what I was looking for. Our brief was to add a walk-in larder, taking

space from the adjoining garage (we’d already done this to create a utility room) and to design a kitchen that felt casual and relaxed but smart enough for entertaining guests. The building work and installation took three months and cost around £19,000. It’s so bright and airy now, and also has a lovely atmosphere in the evening, thanks to the mood lighting that was incorporated into the design.’

IDEAL HOME

loves

Grainy-finish units If you prefer a neutral colour scheme, they’re a great way to add depth and texture

108

FEBRUARY 2018

BELOW ‘The dining table used to be tucked into this corner, which felt dark and a little gloomy,’ says Linda. Reversing the layout is a more efficient use of the space, which feels more open as a result. H2361BP-CLST single electric oven, £934; H6100BM-CLST combi microwave, £1,140; DG6100-CLST steam oven, £1,059; all Miele. Thomas Kent Arabic wall clock, £89, Black By Design

TILTING BLINDS Diffuse, block or let in light as it changes through the day

FEATURE JO MESSENGER, VANESSA RICHMOND STYLING JO MESSENGER PHOTOGRAPHS FIONA WALKER-ARNOTT

ABOVE Linda decided on a glass splashback, for a smooth, seamless look that adds definition to the neutral colour scheme. Glass splashback, £1,387, Burlanes Interiors. HC90DCXB1 stainless-steel chimney hood, £447; CG905DNGG81 black glass hob, £902, both Fisher & Paykel

UPCYCLED TABLE The kitchen company made a new Silestone top for their old table

LEFT One of the unit doors at the back of the kitchen conceals a narrow, walk-in larder, which was created by stealing space from the adjoining garage. ESW6129-CLST warming drawer, £915, Miele. Stoneware utensil jar in Volcanic, £28, Le Creuset, is similar

ABOVE A run of units in the dining area provides an extra surface for serving food and drinks when Linda and Andrew are entertaining. Arabia rug, £395, Calligaris. Nico chairs, £310 each, BoConcept. Belid Arc LED pendant light, £210, John Lewis. Blinds, £1,875, Luxaflex

WHAT I LEARNED

Things don’t “always go to plan! Our first builder couldn’t finish the job due to illness and we were left with just an empty shell and no running water

”

FEBRUARY 2018

109

EST. 1920

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KITCHEN PROJECT

Make it work for you LINDA’S CHOICE: A ‘WOW’ CLOCK

Contemporary or classic, industrial or country, find the perfect wall clock to complement your kitchen

METALLIC ACCENTS This numberless clock’s simple black face, copper hands and frame are perfect for a minimal, contemporary kitchen. Harlow in black/copper (Dia30cm), £25, Argos

TRAD TIMEPIECE Work in a country touch with a design in soothing duck egg, finished off with ornate hands that echo classic country furniture. Jones Darwin in duck egg (Dia30cm), £14, Wilko

SCULPTURAL STYLE This unusual, elegant clock made from bent formed natural beech would sit beautifully in a Scandi style space. Ribbonwood in beech (Dia30.5cm), £50, Umbra

IDEAL VS GREAT DEAL MAKE IT MARBLE

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI

CAFÉ CHIC Channel a French vintage look this enamel clock, with an aged, rust worn finish, has shabby chic appeal. Enamel French cafe atlantique (Dia36cm), £41.50, Roger Lascelles

TIME’S UP Your mid century kitchen needs this retro, teardrop shaped clock in glossy black enamel. It’s even got a built in timer. Discovery in gloss black (H35xW25cm), £60, Newgate

clock is a great way to create a focal “pointA wall in a room, adding style to your interior as well as being a practical addition ”

JIM READ, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, NEWGATE

Menu in marble and brass (Dia30cm), £250, Amara

Cullen in marble and copper (Dia30cm), £49, Made.com

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‘We built the biggest kitchen we could!’ Guy and Jane Neil sacrificed as much garden as they could bear, to gain this super-sized kitchen-diner

By knocking through the existing kitchen and dining room, then adding 50sq m at the rear and side, Jane and Guy doubled their cooking area and created space for an extra-long island. Carcasses and white doors, £4,000, Howdens. Bespoke oak doors and shelving, £2,500; Glacier White Corian worktops, £116m, all Architecturall

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KITCHEN PROJECT

BEFORE

Welcome to my home Jane Neil lives here with her husband, Guy, and their daughter Ellen, nine.

THE PROPERTY

A 1900s five-bedroom, semi-detached house in Bromley, Kent.

WHAT IT COST

Units....................£6,500 Appliances..........£4,500 Sink.........................£325 Tap..........................£238 Worktops.............£4,020 Tiles..........................£150 Flooring...............£2,450 Total...................£18,183

BUDGET ISLAND Made from empty units and bespoke shelving for the perfect fit

Love

JANE’S STYLE? Turn to page 117 to shop the look

“

It took four months to build, but it really fits around our needs. It’s a communal space for cooking, relaxing and family time

”

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HOW JANE AND GUY DID IT ‘The kitchen had dark wood units and didn’t get much light through its west-facing window, so we asked our architect Simon Skeffington at Architecturall to design an extension. It wraps around the back and side of the house, where there was an odd, wedge-shaped bit of garden we never used. During the eight weeks it took to get planning permission, Simon’s team removed the wall between the

old kitchen and dining room, and gutted it. Julian Cotet, the builder, set up a little kitchen in Ellen’s playroom for us. The build took four months and cost £175,000. Simon worked with a friend of mine who’s an interior designer for Boonholt Design Consultants to devise the best layout. We have such busy lives, so it’s great at the weekends to have this openplan space where we can all be comfortable together.’

BELOW ‘We left the exposed brickwork from the old exterior wall on show to frame the doorway between the kitchen and dining area,’ says Jane. Mortar Putty Porcelain floor tiles, £34.80sq m, Mandarin Stone. For a similar oak table, try the Barber Osgerby four-tosix-seater, £3,650, Heal’s. For similar chairs, try the Oregan chair, £160 each, Habitat

IDEAL HOME

loves

Exposed brickwork Totally trend-proof, and a great way to give a space warmth and colour without paint or wallpaper

OPEN SHELVING Turns a functional island into a display opportunity

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KITCHEN PROJECT

CORIAN TOP Stain-resistant and lasts a lifetime

ABOVE Jane chose bronze tiles for the splashback. ‘It’s intended to look like rusted steel, as we wanted the kitchen to have an industrialchic vibe,’ she says. Furnace Bronze Porcelain tiles, £50sq m, Mandarin Stone. KitchenAid Artisan toaster in Candy Apple, £170, Lakeland

FEATURE VICTORIA JENKINS, VANESSA RICHMOND STYLING DILLY ORME PHOTOGRAPHS DARREN CHUNG

ABOVE The island is a cooking hub with built-in ovens, the hob and extractor on one side. It lets Jane and Guy face outwards and interact with other people while they’re cooking. Siemens ovens, from £739 each; Siemens hood, £1,449, all Architecturall

RIGHT ‘I chose an undermounted sink and a simple, streamlined tap for a clean, uncluttered look,’ says Jane. Bluci Kube 1834 undermount 1.5-bowl sink, £325; Reginox Angel single-lever tap, £238, both Sinks-taps.com

WHAT I LEARNED

Expect the “unexpected – we

had to replace our boiler after finding it wasn’t efficient enough, which meant spending more than we’d bargained for

”

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FULLY ESCORTED EUROPEAN TOURS Experience some of the world’s best destinations with these amazing tours

LAKE MAGGIORE, ORTA AND THE MATTERHORN

CLASSICAL SPAIN - SEVILLE, CORDOBA AND GRANADA

EIGHT DAYS’ HALF-BOARD FROM ONLY £999PP SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2018

SEVEN DAYS FROM ONLY £599PP SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM MARCH TO NOVEMBER 2018

PRICES INCLUDE O Cruise to the enchanting islands of Isola Pescatori and Isola Bella, with a guided tour of the 17th century Baroque villa O Travel through the Simplon Pass to Zermatt in the Swiss Alps O Full day tour to shimmering Lake Como O Journey on the Centovalli railway, famous for its stunning alpine views O Visit romantic Lake Orta, charming Cannobio and chic Locarno O Opportunity to join a complimentary guided walk O Return ﬂights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers O Seven nights in four star superior or four star accommodation inclusive of all local taxes, with breakfast and dinner O The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout O Price includes excursions worth £210

LISBON, OPORTO AND THE DOURO VALLEY EIGHT DAYS FROM £919PP SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2018 PRICES INCLUDE O Guided tour of Lisbon with its Baixa and Moorish quarters, cathedral and castle including a visit to the astounding Monastery of Jeronimos O Visit to Sintra and its Royal Palace O Guided tour of Oporto, centre of the port wine trade, including a tasting O Full day touring the Douro, one of Europe’s most beautiful river valleys O See the holy shrine of Fatima and visit Coimbra University, one of Europe’s oldest seats of learning with its astonishing gilded Baroque library, with entrance fees included O Visit the 13th century walled city of Obidos O Return ﬂights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers O Seven nights in four star and ﬁve star accommodation including all local taxes, with breakfast and four dinners O The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

PRICES INCLUDE Visit to medieval Ronda, one of Spain’s most spectacularly situated cities O Tour Granada’s stunning Alhambra, one of Europe’s most sensual and romantic palace and fortresses entrance included O In Seville, sample traditional and delicious tapas, Spain’s delectable gift to the world O Visit to Cordoba with a guided tour of the Mezquita probably the most beautiful mosque ever constructed entrance included O Return ﬂights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers O Six nights in three star superior and four star accommodation including all local taxes, with breakfast O The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout O

DUBROVNIK, THE DALMATIAN COAST AND MONTENEGRO EIGHT DAYS’ HALF-BOARD FROM ONLY £899PP SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2018 PRICES INCLUDE O Guided tour of Dubrovnik and Split O Visit to Krka National Park and its series of stunning waterfalls and lakes O Visit to Mostar, with its iconic bridge O Tour of beautiful, unspoilt Montenegro with visits to the UNESCO listed towns of Perast and Kotor O Visit to medieval Trogir, one of Dalmatia’s most seductive old ports O Tour the Dalmatian coastline, one of Europe’s most dramatic, studded with Venetian inﬂuenced, perfectly preserved villages O Return ﬂights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers O Seven nights’ four star hotel accommodation including all local taxes, with breakfast and dinner O The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

CALL 01283 744319 TO BOOK OR FOR A FREE BROCHURE, OR VISIT IDERIVIERA.CO.UK TERMS & CONDITIONS: Additional entrance costs may apply. Prices are per person, based on two sharing and subject to finite availability. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. Offer operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430, a company wholly independent of Ideal Home, published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd. Prices correct as of 29/11/17.

KITCHEN PROJECT

Make it work for you JANE’S STYLE: BOLD CONTRASTS Contrasting oak cabinets and glossy white worktops combine with punchy red accents to create an inviting kitchen space Warm wood and a sleek worktop create a practical kitchen

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI PHOTOGRAPHS DARREN CHUNG

5 WHERE TO BUY 1. LIGHT Holden three-light cascade pendant, £120, Wayfair

5. STOOL Croft collection Kyla bar stool, £99, John Lewis

2. CLOCK Flap red analogue wall clock, £75, Habitat

6. PLANT POT Terracotta plant pot, £9, Idyll Home

3. TINS Orla Kiely cake tins, £37 for five, Amara

7. COOKWARE Cast iron casserole dish, £35, Sainsbury’s

4. SCALES Red kitchen scales, £20, Dotcomgiftshop

8. BOOKCASE Billy bookcase in oak veneer, £45, Ikea

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PLAN THE PERFECT KITCHEN LAYOUT

Maximise your space with a hard-working layout that’s up to the task

ayout is key to getting your kitchen right. It can look fantastic but it needs to function, too. Before you start, look at everything from where to put your recycling to how close your oven is to your food store. After all, you don’t want to end up walking the length of the kitchen every time you need something. A good kitchen designer will be able to advise on a layout that looks good and works. But before thinking about designs, it helps to have an idea of the five basic room formations. MAKE IMPROVEMENTS Write a comprehensive list of what you love and what you don’t about the existing kitchen space. This will help you to concentrate on your must-haves and your don’t wants. ENSURE IT WORKS FOR YOU Think about how you intend to use the space – do you cook from scratch or entertain a lot? Will the room be used for other tasks – homework, for example? Finally, think of the future and how your needs might change. CONSIDER STORAGE NEEDS Plan a place for everything. Measure your tallest mixers and biggest plates and look at your appliances and accessories. Visit storage specialists Blum.com for tips on how to organise your space. PUT SAFETY FIRST If you have small children, the most efficient and safe layout will route traffic away from your oven and hob. Make the fridge accessible, too, but don’t place it at the heart of the room, so kids can get drinks without coming into the cooking zone.

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GALLEY In a long narrow room, units typically sit along one or both sides in a straight line. Avoid wall units in a narrow space to prevent the room feeling too claustrophobic and go for open shelving instead. Laying your ﬂooring widthways can help to make the space appear wider, too. Create a contemporary look using handleless units and ﬁt semiand fully-integrated appliances where you can. Arrange your working triangle so that your hob and fridge are not directly opposite each other – that way people won’t end up working back to back if they’re cooking together. Finally, banish clutter by investing in smart internal storage solutions such as multi-layer drawers, pullout racks and pan dividers to keep things super organised – which is essential in a small space.

L-SHAPED This layout offers lots of flexibility without feeling too enclosed. Keep an open feel in smaller spaces by placing wall cupboards along just one side of the room. Ensure there’s plenty of worktop space on either side of the sink and cooker, too, and think about placing them on different walls, but not too far away from each other. Utilise cabinets in the corners with special pull-out kidney-shaped units or carousels. If space allows, plan in somewhere where you can sit down and eat or have a cup of coffee. A small table or raised breakfast bar at the end of the longest run of units can easily become a place for informal dining. To finish, fit task lighting over the prep areas and supplement light from any windows with spots and downlighters.

KITCHEN PLANNING

U-SHAPED Allowing for units on three walls, this shape offers plenty of work space. Reduce traffic in the heart of the kitchen, particularly if you have young children, by placing the fridge to one side of the entrance to the room. Use just two sides of the room for your working triangle to keep it compact in a large space. Alternatively, consider placing one element of your triangle, such as the sink, on a central island (see below). Allow for lots of worktop space between your cooker and sink if they are on the same run – at least 80cm is preferable. You can also maximise your storage by adding clever solutions in both corner cupboards. And opt for informal dining in larger rooms with a peninsula at one end of a long run.

WHAT IS THE WORKING TRIANGLE? The working triangle dictates where the hob, fridge freezer and sink sit in your kitchen and is an important consideration to reduce the distance you have to walk when cooking. You move between these three features all the time when preparing meals, so they need to be in a practical arrangement and within easy reach of one another. Ideally, the sides of the triangle created by these three points should be no more than 2.7m and no less than 1.2m long.

ISLAND An island provides extra work space, and creates a tighter working triangle. Allow space around an island so you can fully open units – a workable minimum is 90cm, but 120cm is preferable. Don’t forget to account for drop-down doors on dishwashers and ovens, too. Consider making your island work even harder by adding a prep sink, dishwasher or wine fridge. On one side, a worktop overhang can create a breakfast bar with adjustable bar stools. If you have small children, opt for curved corners. An island can also act as a barrier to the cooking area, keeping kids and guests out of the chef’s way.

FEATURE TIMEINCUKCONTENT.COM ILLUSTRATIONS EMMA JACKSON

OPEN-PLAN Great for kitchen-diners, this layout has plenty of room for tables, chairs and relaxing seating. Zone it by separating the functions of the room – cooking, eating and relaxing – using different but cohesive materials and textures to create distinct areas. It’s important to choose quiet appliances, too, as it can be frustrating trying to have a conversation over the sound of a noisy extractor or washing machine. Ensure cooking smells don’t linger by fitting a powerful extractor, and ensure the whole space is heated efficiently. A layout with a stone or porcelain floor might be best suited to underfloor heating. Place storage carefully. For instance, keeping china and cutlery near your dining table will save time when laying it.

Innovative layouts “include ‘broken plan’ designs to allow for multi-generational living, as well as compact solutions that help maximise smaller spaces, especially in city apartments

”

MICHAEL OSBORNE, HEAD OF KITCHENS, WICKES

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EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE

INCREDIBLE INDIA

ENJOY A MAGICAL 10-DAY TOUR OF INDIA AND SPEND A NIGHT IN THE REAL BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL

PLUS

MEET AUTHOR DEBORAH MOGGACH FOR A PRE-TOUR TALK

on’t miss the chance to explore the sights and sounds of this mesmerising country with our perfect itinerary. As well as visiting some of India’s most spectacular monuments, including the Taj Mahal at sunset, this trip follows in the footsteps of the endearing cast of characters from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. In fact, it’s impossible to read the book or watch the hit film, starring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith, without thinking, ‘I really must go to India and experience that for myself.’ Not only does our exclusive 10-day tour take in Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur and the Chittorgarh fort – a UNESCO World

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Heritage Site – it also gives you the opportunity to meet Deborah Moggach, best-selling author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. You’ll be staying in some of the region’s most characterful hotels along the way, including The Claridges in New Delhi, which has breathtaking gardens; Jaipur’s historic Narain Niwas Palace; Castle Bijaipur, a 16th-century hotel set in the Vindhyachal Hills; and of course the Ravla Khempur in Rajasthan, which has all the charm and eccentricity you’d expect from the film. So if you can’t wait to dive right in to the hustle and bustle of this beautiful country, it’s sure to be an unforgettable holiday.

Castle Bijaipur is set in serene surroundings

TRAVEL Visit the Pink City of Jaipur and see the Palace of Winds

Explore Chittorgarh Fort and its magniﬁcent temples

THE DATES

11-20 October 2018; 8-17 November 2018 or 15-24 November 2018

THE PRICE

Take in the bright colours and vivid sights

Stay at the real Exotic Marigold hotel

PHOTOGRAPHS SHUTTERSTOCK

YOUR AMAZING ITINERARY* PRE-DEPARTURE EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE On the day of departure, meet author Deborah Moggach for a pre-tour talk at a hotel near Heathrow. DAY 1 Welcome to Delhi You’ll take an afternoon tour of some of Delhi’s iconic sights. Accommodation: The Claridges†. DAY 2 Delhi to Agra You’ll be driven to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, where you can explore the mighty Agra Fort. SPECIAL EXPERIENCE Witness the beauty of the Taj Mahal at sunset. Accommodation: Double Tree by Hilton†. DAY 3 Agra to Jaipur Journey to where most of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was ﬁlmed. Visit the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri on the way. SPECIAL EXPERIENCE High tea at Castle Kanota – the Viceroy Club in the ﬁlm. Accommodation: Narain Niwas Palace Hotel†. DAY 4 Jaipur Discover this lovely city. SPECIAL EXPERIENCE Explore the Amber Fort, City Palace and the Palace of Winds in Jaipur then enjoy lunch at the Khatu Haveli. Accommodation: Narain Niwas Palace Hotel† DAY 5 Jaipur to Bijaipur SPECIAL EXPERIENCE Relax at the

Castle Bijaipur, run by the local ruling family. Accommodation: Castle Bijaipur†. DAY 6 Bijaipur Free time. Optional activities include yoga, a dawn walk, cycling or horse riding. In the evening, experience a Jeep drive and a sundowner. Accommodation: Castle Bijaipur†. DAY 7 Bijaipur to Khempur En route, you’ll visit Chittorgarh and its fort. SPECIAL EXPERIENCE Stay at the real Exotic Marigold Hotel in Khempur, otherwise known as Ravla Khempur. SPECIAL EXPERIENCE Enjoy a bullock cart ride. After dinner, you’ll watch The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at the hotel. Accommodation: Ravla Khempur†. DAY 8 Khempur to Udaipur Take the short journey to Udaipur. In the evening, you’ll enjoy a boat ride on Lake Pichola. Accommodation: Karohi Haveli†. DAY 9 Udaipur SPECIAL EXPERIENCE Explore the gardens and palaces of Udaipur. Enjoy a farewell dinner at Ambrai, a garden restaurant with views of the Lake Palace. Accommodation: Karohi Haveli†. DAY 10 A fond farewell Your tour of India ends with breakfast in Udaipur.

from £1,925pp* (ﬂights are NOT included but please ask our travel partner if you would like us to send you a quote for our suggested ﬂights to and from the UK). *Single supplement: £475. If you are travelling alone (like 70% of Wild Frontiers’ travellers) and would prefer not to pay the single supplement, we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip. †Hotel accommodation in the itinerary is always subject to availability; if hotels do change they will be of equivalent standards of quality and comfort. Our travel partner is ABTOT-bonded and is a member of AITO.

HOW TO BOOK Call 020 8115 4801 Quote ref TSINDIA

FIND MORE INFO AND FULL TERMS & CONDITIONS VISIT idealhome.tripsmiths. com/marigoldtourIH

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FALSE WALL Gives you another surface to fit a shower on to

Love RACHEL’S STYLE?

Turn to page 127 to shop the look

‘Everything was in the wrong place’ Replanning the layout meant that Rachel Watkinson’s small bathroom gained a separate shower, great storage and a far calmer, more functional feel

BATHROOM PROJECT

BEFORE

Welcome to my home Rachel Watkinson lives here with her children, Lisa, 15, and Emily, 14.

THE PROPERTY

A six-bedroom detached Thirties house in Brighton, West Sussex.

WHAT IT COST

‘The room had loads of floor space, but the layout was terrible, with no storage and such a narrow bath that an adult couldn’t use the overbath shower comfortably,’ says Rachel. ‘Moving the basin into the corner was the key to freeing up space.’ Britton Cleargreen Viride Offset bath, £341, The Brighton Bathroom Company

Bath and taps.......£1,056 Shower.................£2,204 Basin, vanity unit and mixer...............£1,519 Loo...........................£994 Towel radiators....£1,224 Wall tiles.................£1,149 Floor tiles.................£374 Lighting.................£1,081 TOTAL..................£9,601

“

The new bathroom is an oasis of calm and I love the sophisticated grey colour palette

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IDEAL HOME

loves

Oversized wall tiles Make a small room seem more spacious. ‘The more grout lines you have, the fussier a room looks,’ says Rachel

RECESSED SHELF A built-in shelf keeps toiletries neat and to hand

ABOVE Removing the bath from this corner and putting it under the window gave Rachel space for the shower. ‘I had a false wall built so that we could get the showerhead where we wanted it,’ she says. Luxury fixed shower in chrome, £116, Crosswater. 10 Series sliding shower door, £1,152, Merlyn. Brunswick towel rails, from £309, RSF Bathroom Designs. Bilbao towels, from £14 for a hand towel, Margo Selby range, John Lewis

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HOW RACHEL DID IT ‘When we moved in, I replaced the disgusting carpet with cheap lino as a temporary fix, but it was still a room we didn’t like to use, as it always felt grubby, with its old white tiles, dirty grouting and mildew. When my daughter got an electric shock from the towel rail that fused the whole house and we discovered it wasn’t earthed, it kick-started the project. Planning the

layout was a jigsaw puzzle, but it was important to have an ergonomic space. I chose timeless sanitaryware I could accessorise to ring the changes – I think trendy bathrooms date too quickly. I also wanted a grey colour palette, which is versatile and calm for a sanctuary vibe. The work cost £8,400 and took four weeks. It looks so wonderful, I can’t believe it’s the same room!’

BATHROOM PROJECT LEFT ‘The old pedestal basin was under the window, so the mirror was inconveniently located on another wall,’ says Rachel. Her new vanity unit means the windowsill is now clear of the toiletry bottles that used to build up there due to the lack of storage. Vetro Cinder vanity unit, £593, The Brighton Bathroom Company. Touch illuminated demister cabinet, £400, UK Bathroom Warehouse BELOW Rachel opted for a smaller basin at one end of the bath, allowing for these recesses to display candles and objets at the other. For similar wall tiles, try Corton Blanco 600x600mm in grey, £38sq m, Only Tiles

SECOND RAIL ‘I have two rails, so towels are within reach when you need them’

FEATURE CAROLINE FOSTER, VANESSA RICHMOND STYLING DILLY ORME PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID PARMITER

LEFT A curved bath softens the straight lines in the bathroom. The rounded panel is made from wedi board and tiled with slim cuts of wall tile. For similar floor tiles, try Vera Gris wood-effect tile, £14.99sq m, Crown Tiles

WHAT I LEARNED

with detail “andI’mthisobsessed is the key to a successful bathroom makeover. I spent lots of time making sure that everything was fitted with millimetre precision

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Bathrooms matter. Visit the experts. Be inspired by our beautiful bathroom ranges, visit the experts to see and feel the quality for yourself. Our FREE market leading design services are available online, instore and we can even visit you at home to ensure every detail is perfected. If you need it, we also offer our independently accredited expert installation service, endorsed by Which? Trusted Traders and recommended by 95% of our customers. With our fantastic range of ďŹ nance packages, your dream bathroom is more affordable than you may think. From inspiration to installation, we are the bathroom experts.

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BATHROOM PROJECT

Make it work for you RACHEL’S CHOICE: WALL-MOUNTED BATH TAPS Conceal pipework inside the wall to give the simplest of showers a sleek designer lift, just like Rachel Watkinson did As the name suggests, wall-mounted taps fit flush to the wall above your bath. Compared to deck-mounted taps, they require a little more effort at the planning and installation stage, but the style benefits are well worth it.

How are they fitted? Wall-mounted taps feature a concealed body, so only the handle(s) and spout are exposed. The pipework and tap body will need to be installed before tiling. The easiest option is to build a full- or half-stud wall, into which the taps are fitted. Consider cutting niches for storage to make the most of the stud section. A solid wall installation is possible, but takes longer as it requires sufficient depth to be chased out for pipes and connectors. It’s also easier to create an access point for future maintenance in a stud wall.

Do they suit all baths? Wall-mounted taps work well with rimless baths, for example an egg-shaped design, but will also suit a wide range of fitted baths. A double-ended bath with wallmounted taps in the centre will make a strong design statement, and prevent kids’ squabbles over who sits at the ‘tap end’. It’s best to avoid baths with pre-drilled tap

holes; the holes can be capped but it doesn’t look slick. Also, it can be difficult to achieve sufficient projection for a wall-mounted spout on baths with wide rims.

A built-in shelf and fittings attached to the wall create a spa-like feel

What features should I look for? As with all bath taps, good-quality ceramic disc controls are a must for smooth operation. A bath shower mixer will make it easier to rinse hair and hose the bath clean after use but buy a thermostatic version for safe family use. Look for taps that come with a mounting kit, otherwise you may need to buy one separately.

How can I create impact? Models with waterfall spouts are pretty impressive. You can buy versions with built-in LEDs that shimmer through the water as it falls, for that added boutique spa impact. Installing wall-mounted taps into a mirrored splashback will also boost the glam factor.

BEST FOR…

As well as looking super stylish, “wall-mounted taps are really easy to clean and will keep the rim of your bath clutter-free, too IAN PATTISON, ABACUS BATHROOMS

”

IDEAL HOME LOVES… DESIGN-LED WALL-MOUNTED TAPS

O Period

style The range of taps at Lefroy Brooks spans the decades from Edwardian to retro Fifties, with a wide selection of wall-mounted options on offer.

O Colour

hit The Water Monopoly’s stylish Rockwell collection sports handles in nine lush shades, including several sweet pastel hues.

FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON

O Warehouse

TRADITIONAL CHARM Classic crosshead handles make a perfect period fit. Belgravia in chrome, £334, Crosswater

BACK TO BLACK On trend matt black gives tactile appeal. Lusso Luxe in matte black, £395, Lusso Stone

EASY GRIP These lever handles are slick but not slippery. Silver E0071 in chrome, £552, Ideal Standard

WATER FEATURE An open spout provides a visual treat. Plaza in chrome, £99.95, Victorian Plumbing

chic Samuel Heath’s Landmark Industrial range features cutting-edge wall-mounted taps in finishes such as Urban Brass and City Bronze.

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‘You don’t have to spend a lot to get a luxurious look’ The Houltons updated their en-suite shower room on a shoestring budget with bargain basics, lucky finds and style-savvy accessories

FRAMELESS SCREEN Makes the room feel more open and less cluttered

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BATHROOM PROJECT

BE FOR E

Love

LUCY’S STYLE? Turn to page 133 to shop the look

Welcome to my home Lucy Houlton lives here with her husband, David and their daughters, Lola, 15, and Edie, 11.

THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom Edwardian terrace in north London.

WHAT IT COST

The room is narrow, but Lucy and David made it feel spacious with clever fittings. ‘The flush shower tray and frameless screen were budget buys, but they make it look like an expensive wet room,’ says Lucy. Playtime walk-in shower, £549; Surface shower tray, £219; Grand shower head and arm, £159; Bensham vertical thermostatic shower bath valve, £419, are all similar, Bathstore

Shower..................£1,346 Basin and loo..........£459 Tiles...........................£80 Lighting.....................£50 Shutters...................£237 TOTAL...................£2,172

“

All those evenings I spent online, shopping around for fittings that had the look I wanted were worth it – the room is super smart!

”

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HOW LUCY AND DAVID DID IT ‘The whole house needed renovating, so we’ve had to stretch our budget a long way. This en suite is long and narrow, but has quite a big floor space. We considered fitting a bath, but decided a luxurious shower room would be a better use of our money and space. I didn’t think we could afford the look I wanted, but after hours shopping online, I found the shower in a sale and kept everything else plain and

simple with white tiles and walls. I was worried that the room would look too cold and plain, so was delighted when friends offered us the floor tiles, which they’d over-ordered for their hallway. We ripped out all the old fittings ourselves and a plumber friend did the tricky bits for us. The labour cost about £4,000 and the project took two weeks. We might not have spent much, but the room’s a real pleasure to use.’

BELOW A set of prints matches the bold floor tiles, which were free from a friend. ‘We said yes without even seeing them,’ says Lucy. ‘They’ve transformed what would have been an ordinary space into one that’s really quite special.’ Evora Encaustic tiles are similar, £224.70sq m, Fired Earth. For similar prints, try the Over & Over range at Notonthehighstreet.com, from £5 each. Ribba frames, £6 each, Ikea

IDEAL HOME

loves

Patterned floor tiles With white walls, they even work in a small room. The fewer the colours in the pattern, the calmer the effect

FULL-WIDTH SHELF Hides pipework and holds accessories

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FEATURE LUCY SEARLE, VANESSA RICHMOND STYLING LUCY SEARLE PHOTOGRAPHS COLIN POOLE

BATHROOM PROJECT

FAKE PLANTS Soften the hard surfaces in a bathroom and add colour

ABOVE Suction caddies are a handy – and also moveable – way to store essential toiletries, cleaning sponges… or even plants! Stugvik toothbrush holders, £4 each, Ikea. Artificial plant, from a selection starting at £3.50 each, Abigail Ahern

ABOVE ‘We made a white, full-height shutter for the window ourselves – it matches the ones in the bedroom,’ says Lucy. For DIY measure and fit shutters, from £237, try California Shutters. The Mexico Colors chair is similar, £64, Super Studio

RIGHT ‘I chose an Edwardian-style basin to match the age of the house,’ says Lucy. ‘The shower is modern, but so plain I thought the mix of old and new would work.’ For a similar basin, try the Savoy loo and basin set with taps, £459, Bathstore

WHAT I LEARNED

adventurous “withBepattern – we were originally going to go for plain white f loor tiles, but I think the colourful ones we ended up with are key to the room’s success

”

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Step insideâ&#x20AC;¦

ON SALE NOW

find out how 25 owners created their dream home

BATHROOM PROJECT

Make it work for you LUCY’S STYLE: BOHO BRIGHT Quirky patterned floor tiles, colourful accessories and lush greenery make a plain white bathroom pop

Vibrant towels add instant colour to this bright, white space

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI PHOTOGRAPHS RACHAEL SMITH

6 WHERE TO BUY 1. SHOWERHEAD Belmont 8in showerhead, £60, Victorian Plumbing 2. FAUX PLANT String of pearls artificial hanging plant, £34, The Contemporary Home

5. TOWELS Deco towels in teal, from £15, Genevieve Bennett range, John Lewis 6. TILES Optiks tiles, £67.56sq m, Topps Tiles

3. CHAIR Acapulco chair, £250, Lagoon

7. BATH MAT Duckboard, £69, Lime Lace

4. VASE Aurora teal vase, £49, Dartington Crystal

8. STORAGE Duffield basket, £40, Habitat

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PLAN THE PERFECT BATHROOM LAYOUT

Whatever the size and shape of your room, nail a layout that works

hile it might seem daunting, getting your bathroom layout right from the start will make the difference between an adequate design and one that ticks all the boxes. First up, make sure your measurements are correct and then you can begin to experiment. IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS Start by thinking about who will be using the room, as this will have a big bearing on the scheme you finally choose. Is it to be an en-suite shower room for two or a family bathroom that will require a bath and plenty of storage for toys? PLAN YOUR LAYOUT A scale plan of your space is a good place to start. Measure carefully as accurate dimensions are key and include features that are likely to affect the design, including windows, chimney breasts and doors. Cut out to-scale shapes of everything – loo, basin, bath and shower enclosure, for instance – and rearrange them until you find a layout that works best. Incorporate plenty of space between the elements and consider how the room will work with more than one person in there at the same time. ASK THE EXPERTS Bathroom designers are great sources of information and advice. They will also be able to tell you about the latest new materials and technology and will have lots of solutions for compact or awkward spaces. For more practicalities, such as water pressure, soil stacks or other plumbing issues, a builder or plumber should be able to help.

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STATEMENT BATH Use a freestanding bath to create a focal point. Make your freestanding bath the star of the show by placing it in the centre of the room or sit it by a focal point, such as a window. If you still want the look but space is at a premium, then a smaller slipper bath or a Japanese-style dunk bath might be the answer. Be practical and take advice on whether your floor will take the weight of a cast-iron bath, as they are very heavy. If it won’t, then composite or acrylic versions are good alternatives. If you decide to place your bath near a wall or window, do plan plenty of room around it to get behind for cleaning. Use finishing touches, such as luxe tiles or wall panelling and striking flooring, to add a touch of bath-time glamour.

OVER-BATH SHOWER If space is limited, then a good solution is to fit a shower above the bath. A family-sized bath can double as a shower enclosure. Either install an electric shower above the bath or swap your existing taps for ones with a hand-held shower mixer. Check your water pressure will accommodate it first, though. Complete with a glass screen attached to the side of the bath. Alternatively, invest in a shower bath that bows out at the tap end, to give more room to manoeuvre when showering. Remember, though, the wider end will mean the bath takes more water to fill. Combine the two by having a fixedhead shower above and a hand-held spray on the bath taps below, which is useful when bathing children or cleaning. Go for style by incorporating glamorous feature tiles, accessories or gorgeous freestanding storage.

BATHROOM PLANNING

BATH AND SHOWER

KEEP IT LEGAL

A bath and separate shower allows you to get the best of both worlds. Design your space according to how it is most frequently used. If your family prefers to shower rather than bath, then think about a shorter bath for occasional soaks and use the extra space to plan in a walk-in shower. Or, if you prefer baths, then a corner shower cubicle is a good use of space and will allow for a fullsized ﬁtted or freestanding bath. For a clever space-saving solution, create a stud wall at the end of the bath to form one side of the shower cubicle. Think about adding ‘his and hers’ basins if you have the room. Not only are they very on trend, they are also extremely useful for families with children as they provide enough space for everyone to wash and brush up before the school run. Space at a premium? A trough-shaped sink with wall-mounted taps is a good alternative. Keep it neat. You can never have too much storage in a family bathroom. Shelves can look untidy very quickly so opt for cabinets with doors that can be closed to contain everything out of sight.

VISIT planningportal. co.uk to check on guidelines to make sure you don’t fall foul of any regulations. DON’T have a loo opening directly off a kitchen, dining or living room. Also, if you only have one loo, then it shouldn’t be accessible just from a bedroom. CONTACT the building control office at your local council planning department if your project will include changes to the soil stack or to your hot water system. THINK about ventilation, particularly if the bathroom doesn’t have a window. Installing an extractor fan to remove steam is a good idea.

“

Make the most of space – choose storage options that use a small amount of floor space and opt for back-to-wall and wall-hung designs, which will create a sleek and modern look in the room

FEATURE TIMEINCUKCONTENT.COM ILLUSTRATIONS EMMA JACKSON

MICHAEL GRAY, PRODUCT MANAGER, GROHE UK

”

SPEAK to your bathroom designer or an electrician about lighting before buying ﬁttings, to avoid costly mistakes. Lights must have the correct IP rating for the bathroom area they’re in.

SHOWER ROOM Don’t have enough space for a bath? A wet room or shower room is a modern, luxe alternative. Although it’s a big project to undertake, a wet room is a seriously stylish option and perfect for creating a contemporary look. The whole room will need to be tanked (waterproofed) as there is no shower enclosure – the water drains away through an outlet in the ﬂoor. If your budget is tight, a sleek alternative is an almost invisible low-level tray with an all-glass screen. Create a shower enclosure in a long, narrow room by sectioning off one end

with a glass screen or doors to create a walk-in shower. Bi-fold doors will save on space in a compact room. Choose wall-hung fittings wherever possible. It will make your bathroom much easier to clean and give the illusion of space, too. Try to keep walls clear of clutter and consider fitting underfloor heating, so you can keep it toasty without taking up space with wall-hung radiators. Finally, add a splash of colour. A simply fitted shower room can be transformed with brightly coloured mosaic tiles on the walls and floors.

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* & INTERIORS F E B R UA RY I S S U E O N S A L E 4 JA N UA RY

Love a little winter romance *

HAPPY HOMES WHERE LOGBURNERS AND AGAS RULE!

BEFORE & AFTER

BE FOR E

‘A skinny extension is all it took’ Mary MacCallum Sullivan added on a narrow space to gain a bigger, brighter kitchen-diner and a more modern look

Previously a B&B, the house had an unusual layout

AFTER

The glazed extension feels integrated, rather than like a separate room built on to the side of the house

hen Mary purchased this two-storey Victorian villa it had been converted into a B&B and was draughty, damp, and dark, with an odd layout that didn’t take advantage of its amazing location and coastal surroundings. RETHINKING THE SPACE

The kitchen and dining area were at the back of the house with no views, and there was a shower in the sitting room – a throwback to its B&B days. Luckily, Mary had son-inlaw Neil Taylor of Edinburgh-based architects TAP on hand, to help make the most of the sea views. THE NEW DESIGN

The solution was an extensively glazed kitchen-diner addition, tucked in under the eaves. ‘I love the traditional pitch of the house’s roof,’ says Mary. ‘So I wanted something in keeping with this, but I also wanted it to feel contemporary.’ A FRESH OUTLOOK ‘When I saw the

finished extension, I loved how it looks so different but sits so comfortably in its setting,’ says Mary. It’s also a great social space for entertaining – I’ve been holding quite a few large family gatherings!’

Welcome to my home Mary MacCallum Sullivan lives here.

THE PROPERTY

A four-bed Victorian villa on the banks of Loch Fyne.

PROPERTY

Bought for £250,000 in 2014, now worth around £500,000.

WHAT IT COST

Building work...................£47,500 Floor, wall and ceiling ﬁnishes.............£20,000 Joinery and ﬁttings..............£25,000

“

Plumbing and heating (includes bathroom & kitchen).............£35,000 Electrics.............£15,000 Decorating..........£5,000 Landscaping.......£2,500

TOTAL........£150,000

Space and light are important to me and now I can sit in the extension and take in the constantly changing sky

”

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BEFORE & AFTER

LEFT The kitchen and dining area used to be dark and tucked away at the back of the house, but its new location in the contemporary timberand steel-framed zincclad extension means it’s flooded with light and makes the most of this incredible loch-side spot BELOW When it came to interior finishes, Mary’s mantra was ‘sensible and economical’. A woodburning stove offers plenty of heat, while practical engineered oak floors throughout the entire house unify the space and bring warmth to the crisp, white walls

The pattern of the zinc echoes the roof slates

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT…

Zinc cladding Neil Taylor of TAP explains the advantages of using zinc

IT CAN BLEND IN Select dark grey overlapping tiles if you would like to reﬂect and complement the slate roof of an existing house in the design.

IT IS VERY ROBUST Zinc can withstand the occasionally rough weather conditions and salty air of exposed coastal locations like this. DETAILING CAN BE WORKED THROUGH Liaise with a specialist installer to ensure that the conﬁguration of the tiles is consistent and the ‘capping’ to the tops of the walls minimised, achieving a simple yet elegant appearance.

THE TILES CAN OVERLAP AND INTERLOCK Zinc tiles are easy to install and ﬁt, plus an internal waterproof layer can be added below the zinc to provide a watertight barrier between the zinc and the interior.

WHAT WE LEARNED

“

Contact your local planning department as early as possible, particularly if you want to extend in sensitive areas, such as this loch-side site. This will make the approval process much smoother

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”

IT CAN ALSO BE LAID IN SHEETS AND PANELS Zinc cladding comes in a variety of different colours and ﬁnishes, making it a very versatile material for rooﬁng and cladding, so you can easily create the look you want for your home.

FEATURE CAROLINE EDNIE PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY TAP ARCHITECTS

PHOTOGRAPHY MONTSE GARRIGA GRAU

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF

The one-stop edit of the best modern style inspiration and design ideas.

JUST LAUNCHED.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We transformed our ugly Seventies bungalowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

The Jex family have future-proofed their property by giving it an extreme exterior face-lift and an improved interior layout that boosts light, space and kerb appeal

IDEAL HOME

loves

Cedar cladding This material has a natural resistance to rot, and turns a beautiful silvery grey over time

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BEFORE & AFTER

BEFORE

‘Most people would have knocked it down and built a new house, but we welcomed the challenge!’

Welcome to our home

Nina Jex, who runs a pop-up art gallery business, lives here with her husband, Alistair, who works in investment banking, and their two children, Otto, 12, and Phoebe, 10.

The new zinc roof and cedar cladding complement the woodland setting, while a raised deck extends the living space

THE PROPERTY A detached four-bed property near Farnham in Surrey. VALUE It was bought in 2014 for £1.1 million and is now worth around £1.6 million.

WHAT IT COST Architect and planning fees....................£20,000 Windows and doors...................£33,000 Zinc roof and rainwater system.................£40,000 Kitchen and boot room including appliances..........£50,000 Elevated thermo-timber deck......................£17,000 Other building costs.................£290,000 TOTAL...........£450,000

“

The project was stressful at times, but our hard work has ﬁnally been rewarded and the house now feels incredibly personal to us

”

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Take a quick tour... SITTING ROOM KITCHENDINER BEDROOM

BEDROOM

MAIN BEDROOM BOOT ROOM

BEDROOM

GROUND FLOOR

hen Nina and Alistair Jex were on the lookout for a larger family home with a south-facing garden, they were won over by a Seventies bungalow surrounded by an acre of secluded garden. And so began a nine-month renovation project to turn the dated property into a modern family home. ‘Most people would probably have knocked it down and started completely from scratch, but we welcomed the challenge,’ says Nina. NINA AND ALISTAIR CONTACTED Back to Front Exterior Design, a local architectural design company, which has worked on several similar renovation projects. ‘Our brief was to create a more open-plan space, and we also wanted to update the exterior with a zinc roof, smart cedar cladding and a raised decked area.’ To open up the views of the garden and bring in lots of natural light, the designers suggested swapping the unattractive uPVC windows for new timber-framed designs and bifold doors from Bereco, with pale grey-green frames that complement the colours of the trees surrounding the house. ALL THE INTERNAL WALLS WERE REMOVED and a

new layout transformed the small, dark rooms into large open-plan spaces. Insulation was also added to the walls, floor and roof to improve the energy efficiency and overall comfort of the house. ‘We moved the main entrance so that the old sitting room, dining room and porch could be knocked into one space, to create a kitchen-diner at the heart of the house with views over the garden,’ says Nina. ‘We love being able to open up the doors and step straight out on to the decked terrace.’ ‘IT WAS STRESSFUL AT TIMES,’ says Nina. ‘Such as when a pipe burst and flooded the sitting room destroying the brand new wood flooring, but Alistair and I were determined to enjoy the process, and the finished house feels incredibly personal to us.’ The family now spend most of their time in the central kitchen area, but they aren’t quite finished yet. ‘We’re only just getting started on the garden – that will keep us busy for some time.’

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‘I wanted a timeless style for the kitchen – this Shaker design was ideal,’ says Nina

BEFORE & AFTER

WALK-IN LARDER Keeps kitchen clutter hidden out of sight

ABOVE The raised deck was a practical solution for this sloping site. Stretching across the rear of the kitchen-diner, it’s the perfect spot for outdoor entertaining

Wood-framed windows Barnaby Dickens of The Wood Window Alliance gives his tips:

THEY CAN BE MADE IN DIFFERENT TIMBERS A practical timber for windows is engineered softwood. For houses in exposed sites, such as coastal areas, consider modified timber like Accoya.

LEFT Underfloor heating has been installed in the main living areas, ensuring the limestone floor tiles are warm and cosy underfoot

THERE IS A CHOICE OF PAINT FINISHES Lighter paint colours reflect UV rays that can break down the surface of the paint, meaning they won’t require repainting as regularly as darker colours.

RIGHT ‘All the internal doorways were widened to add to the feeling of space and create a better flow between each of the rooms,’ says Nina FEATURE BETH MURTON PHOTOGRAPHS COLIN POOLE PLANS AGENCY SERVICE

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT…

THEY’RE DURABLE Factory-finished timber windows are given a specialist spray-coated paint finish for an even and durable coverage.

WHAT WE LEARNED

To ensure your project runs “smoothly with minimal delays, it’s essential to visit the building site as often as you can. I made sure I was on site every day to answer any queries the builders had as quickly as possible

”

THEY’LL LAST Provided they’re maintained, the lifespan of softwood frames is about 60 years, and modified wood is around 80 years.

THEY’LL ADD VALUE Replacing dated uPVC windows with classic timber designs in keeping with the style of your house can be very appealing to potential buyers.

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STORE & ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE

DECLUTTER YOUR… HALLWAY First impressions count – so make your hall a clean, tidy and organised family traﬃc hub with these brilliant clutter-busting buys THE SMALL SPACE CABINET Narrow hall? At just 30cm deep, these cabinets sit flush against the wall and feature two compartments that fit up to 12 pairs of shoes each, plus a drawer at the top for odds and sods. Hemnes shoe cabinets in white, £89 each, Ikea

THE EVERYTHING BASKET This bright and jolly rattan storage basket provides a handy home for a whole host of hallway clutter. £38, Bobby Rabbit

THE DOGSTUFF STORAGE Keep your hallway looking stylish by dropping your pooch’s lead, coat and toys into a lidded basket. Rattan bone lidded baskets, from £59.99, Dobbies

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI

THE COAT RACK The hooks on this cool Promenade coat rack rotate so there’s plenty of space for bulky coats. £180, Umbra range, Amara

THE ALPHABET HOOKS Invest in a few of these handy hooks so the kids have a dedicated place to sling their stuff when they barrel through the door after school. Alphabet hooks, £9.95 each, The Letteroom at Notonthehighstreet.com THE ROOMY CONSOLE This sturdy table boasts four deep drawers and a large shelf underneath, where you can stash shoes, bags or a row of neat storage baskets. Industrial console table, £400, Cox & Cox

THE WALL UNIT No room for a console? With its three mini lockers, shelves on top and hooks beneath, this industrial-style storage is ideal. £104.95, Melody Maison THE STAIR BASKET Make those regular hallway clear ups a whole lot easier by popping anything that belongs upstairs in this classic wicker stair basket, ready for collection. £30, Dorma range, Dunelm

THE HANDY SHELF Simple and stylish, this brass hanging rack features a glass shelf on top for hats and other gubbins, with five hooks below for coats, scarves and all the rest. £65.95, Be Pure Home range, Cuckooland

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DECLUTTER YOUR… LIVING AREA We all want our living spaces to be smart as well as functional, but daily life makes that diﬃcult. Invest in these clever solutions to take the eﬀort out of tidying up THE FLOOR BASKET Every living room could benefit from the Helsinki rope basket – perfect for chucking extra throws or bits and bobs into. £16, Sainsbury’s

THE UNDER-SOFA STORAGE If your sofa doesn’t sit flush to the floor, make use of the vacant space by sliding this Romskog box underneath as valuable extra storage. £45, Ikea

THE HIDE & DISPLAY SHELVING Mix and match these brilliant open and closed drawer shelving options to create the ideal display storage – they’re available in oak, too. Stacking shelves in Walnut, from £149 for a narrow two-shelf unit; £70 for a two-drawer set, all Muji

THE PRETTY STORAGE BOX This velour-covered box is perfect for tidying away your glasses, keys and random other things that easily clutter a space. £12.99, H&M Home

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THE STASHER SIDE TABLE With a raised lip so often-used items won’t fall off the edge, this Bow side table also has a tray so you can hide everything under your cuppa. £99, House by John Lewis

THE SMART SHELF BASKET Super sturdy and with loads of space to stash your stuff, this basket looks great on open shelves. £95, Lombok

THE TECH STORE CORNER If Santa brought you a new games console or entertainmentrelated tech, your TV stand may lack storage space – that’s why this Luther media unit is a must-have. Hide boxes and cables behind the fabric panel (which remote controls work through) and display everything else on the open shelves. £329, Made.com

THE STORAGE COFFEE TABLE Love to read your Ideal Home on the sofa, but don’t want the kids chopping it up for their latest art project? Keep it safely tucked away. £450, Menu range, Black by Design

THE QUICK TIDY HELPER Friends turning up in five? Whip around the room and cram all the clutter into this neat table – they’ll be none the wiser. Hidey Ho side table, £155, Loaf

ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE THE ‘BIT-OF-BOTH’ SHELVING Hide that CD collection (that he simply won’t part with) in the cupboard of this gorgeous Toshi shelving unit. £579, Atkin & Thyme

THE SMART SOFABED Sit smugly knowing your sofabed is also storing its duvet, with the Douglas three-seater in Uniform House plain weave. £840, Sofa.com THE TOY HOLDALL Yes, it may be a laundry basket, but we think it’d double up brilliantly as a place to hide all those toys out of sight every evening. £27, Aquanova range, Amara

THE LOG BAG Want a contemporary basket to hold wood for the stove? This stylish thick felt Southwold log basket is a welcome winner, with its handy pocket for matches. £75, Garden Trading

THE RACK TABLE Poky living rooms need furniture that works harder in the small space – this genius side table has a tray top that lifts off if you need to carry things from room to room, while the wire base is the perfect place to slot newspapers, magazines or letters. £139, Ross & Brown

THE COMPACT DRINKS CABINET Can’t have a retro drinks trolley because the kids are bound to knock over your booze? This super slick yet compact mid-century bar cabinet (H91xW81x D48cm) will help feed a Mad Men obsession. £799, West Elm

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI

THE MULTIPURPOSE FOOTSTOOL If your home’s a busy one with friends and family visiting at the drop of a hat, this clever storage drum would make an welcome addition to your living space. Stretch out your legs and use it as a footstool, lift the lid to reveal oodles of hidden storage or just use it as a handy extra seat when you have a full house – genius! Versatile Check Sterling storage drum, £99, Next THE MODULAR UNIT Max out on storage by covering a wall in your living room with the modular Tower range. You can keep books and baskets on the open shelving and add cupboards for board games and clutter. What’s more, the clever ‘ladder’ design means that the shelves are adjustable so you can make them as tall or as shallow as required. Shelf, from £79; tall shelving module, £269, all Heal’s

THE HANDY RADIATOR SHELVING Make use of the wasted space above a radiator by fitting a neat shelf to perch books and accessories. Radiator shelving in White, from £19.95 for a 61cm shelf, House of Bath

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DECLUTTER YOUR… KITCHEN Keep your kitchen tidy and calm with these marvellous, multi-tasking buys – you won’t know how you ever coped without them…

THE KNIFE & UTENSIL BLOCK Room for your ever-growing knife collection, as well as a host of spoons, spatulas and tongs, too. £29.99, Lakeland

THE HANDY HOLDER Keep your boxes of cling film, food bags and foil to hand with this superpractical magnetic holder – if you prefer, it can also be wall hung. £12, Store

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THE CUP HOLDER Make use of wasted space and keep cups in easy reach with this useful under-shelf mug holder. £10, John Lewis

THE CUPBOARD DRAWERS Maximise the storage space in your poky cupboards with these neat pull-out wire baskets. £71, La Redoute

THE SINK TIDY Tame the jumble of scrubbers, cloths and washing-up liquid that clutters up your sink area with one of these neat tidies. £18, Joseph Joseph

THE FRUIT & VEG BASKET Most fresh fruit and vegetables last longer if they have air circulating around them. This wire tiered Annelle stand works a treat. £25, PIB THE EVERYTHING RAIL By far the simplest thing you can do to add storage in a kitchen is to hang a row of hooks from the wall. Add S-hooks and baskets to bulk out the amount you can hang from the rail. Falsterbo wall rail with hooks, £15, Ikea

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI

THE OVERDOOR SHELVING Whether on display or hidden in a cupboard, this ingenious rack ekes out oodles more storage for dried goods or cleaning products. Four-tier over-door storage rack, £25.99, Lakeland

THE HANDY TROLLEY Thanks to its cool industrial look, this brilliant Be Pure drinks trolley will sit happily in the kitchen as extra storage, and can double up as a bar cart whenever you have guests over. £199, Next

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DECLUTTER YOUR… BATHROOM Ramp up the storage quota in your bathroom and get it looking streamlined again in no time with these smart but simple solutions

THE TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER Ensure the kids can easily reach their toothbrushes with fun lizard holders. £9 each, Store

THE MODULAR SYSTEM Free up your basin from soap dishes, toothbrushes and toothpaste with these stylish shelves and matching storage boxes from John Lewis, in a range of muted tones. Ratio double shelf, £25; Ratio single shelf, £15; bathroom storage boxes in Blue Grey and Grey, from £7 each, all House by John Lewis

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI

THE TOILETRIES TOWER Is your shower overflowing with bottles of shampoo, conditioner and all the rest? This three-drawer unit takes up very little floor space but will store a lot of stuff. £75, Soak & Sleep

THE TOWEL BASKET Pretty and useful, these handwoven wall-hung baskets are perfect for storing dry towels, accessories and even bath toys for the smaller members of the family. From £99 for a 16L basket, Nordic House

THE HELPFUL HOOKS Hang a few of these hooks over your bathroom door to keep bathrobes and wet towels off the floor. £2 each, Primark

THE FIRST AID BOX Keep all the family’s bandages, plasters, thermometer and so on in this instantly recognisable box. £11, The Holding Company

THE INSTANT TOWEL RACK The Ragrund towel rack is a handy bathroom chair with space to hang your towels, too… what’s not to love? £35, Ikea

THE SKINNY STORE This clever and stylish VonHaus unit’s compact and slimline size belies its ability to store a huge amount. It’s perfect for stashing your spare loo rolls, bubble bath and lotions and potions out of sight, while only using a slice of space. £40, Domu.co.uk

THE ROOMY RACK A handy caddy solves any in-shower storage issues, without needing to drill into tiles. Simply slot over your shower screen for instant shelving. £35, House of Bath

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DECLUTTER YOUR... BEDROOM Invest in some of these super-clever buys so you can quickly transform your bedroom into a clutter-free retreat THE MULTITASKING HANGER Need somewhere to sling your growing collection of scarves and handbags? This handy accessory hanger will handle them all. £7, Primark THE JEWELLERY POT If you’re a creature of habit and usually wear the same jewellery day in, day out, this cute marble trinket box is the perfect place to store it. £6, Wilko THE HANDY LAUNDRY BIN You need access to yours round the clock, so an ugly laundry basket just won’t do. This Mai basket set is definitely easy on the eye. £210 for two, Sweetpea & Willow

THE LUXE DRESSING TABLE Yes, it’s a desk, but its gold frame and marble surface ensure it works just as well in a bedroom, too. We love the golden woven side basket – perfect for storing hairdryers and straighteners. Elijah gold desk, £550, Graham and Green

THE ‘TIDY-UP’ BASKETS Keep a couple of these graphic styled baskets handy for a quick declutter. £48 for two, Ross & Brown

THE DRESSING TABLE TIDY Make-up or jewellery... keep it all corralled in this gorgeous organiser. £18, Debenhams

THE BLANKET BOX Guilty of piling your bed with lots of pillows that you throw on the floor at bedtime? Stash them in this Rangoon box. £198, Kalinko

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THE WARDROBE ORGANISER With 12 vertical pockets and two horizontal mesh ones, you’ll be able to cram a whole load of stuff into the brilliant Esperanto wardrobe tidy. £35, Habitat

ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE THE GLAMOUR STATION If you’re serious about getting glam for an evening out, this LED-lit cabinet is the perfect place to start. £92.99, Domu.co.uk

THE PRACTICAL UNDERBED BASKET Don’t have a valance and can’t find a smart looking underbed trunk? This shallow storage basket will do nicely. £95, Laura Ashley THE TISSUE HOLDER Okay, so finding storage for a box of tissues is admittedly a bit of a first-world problem, but imagine, how much tidier and less cluttered would your bedside be with one of these hiding your hankies? £28, Kelly Hoppen

THE KIDS’ ROOM CLOTHES HOOK This super-cute hook will look great on their bedroom wall – might even encourage them to hang up their stuff… £16, M&Co THE STYLISH TRUNKS Traditional metal storage chests are brilliant for hiding away keepsakes and clutter and thanks to their bold colour and gold-effect fixtures, this super-stylish Emerald Green set gets our vote. £90 for two, BundleBerry by Amanda Holden range, Qvcuk.com

THE TOY BASKET Perfect for a speedy clear up, to move toys from one room to another or simply to stash his or her favourite bits and bobs neatly, we think this bright red felt rocket storage basket is a hands down winner. £22, Soak & Sleep

THE COMPACT DRESSING TABLE No room for a dressing table? The cute and compact Tilda will squeeze into the pokiest of areas. £350, Oliver Bonas

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI

THE DRAWER SORTER

THE HANDY STORAGE SEAT

If you’re short on space, you need to think creatively when furnishing your bedroom, eking out every inch of storage you can. With that in mind, why have a chair when you can have a hard-working storage bench? Lugger wood storage seat, £145, Loaf

Go on, give in to your neatfreak tendencies and sort your drawers once and for all. These five interlocking dividers can be configured whatever way you want and they can be cut to fit, so they’re guaranteed to sit snugly in any drawer. Any-Way slot drawer organiser cut-to-fit plastic dividers, £6.49, Lakeland

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STORE & ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE • STORE & ORGANISE

DECLUTTER YOUR… HOME OFFICE Whether you have the luxury of a whole room or just a cramped corner, these inspired products ensure your home oﬃce is a tidy one THE OPEN STORAGE Perfect for filing or crafting, these open baskets keep stuff off your desk (or floor), while giving you easy and instant access to the things you need more often. Ladder with five wire baskets, £250, Graham and Green

THE ESSENTIAL PINBOARD This handy cork memo board comes with eight push pins to help clear your desk of all those bits of paper, reminders and important numbers. £13, The Contemporary Home

THE PAPER STORE Don’t want your home office to look like a real one? Then hide away your reams of printer paper in this roomy zinc box. £19.95, Muji THE NEAT & TIDY FILES Do yourself a favour and invest in some mag holders, like this stylish Revival file. They’ll keep your stuff nicely organised. £15.95, The Holding Company

THE NIFTY PEN HOLDER Never find one when you need one? This clever rotating holder has space for loads so you’ll be able to make notes in a flash. £9.99, TK Maxx

THE MUST-HAVE DRAWER UNIT Available in White, Black or a jolly Green shade, the Helmer filing cabinet features six drawers for storing your files, bank statements, bills or even just household items like spare batteries and fuses. £30, Ikea

THE BESPOKE SHELVING Can’t find freestanding furniture to fit your space? Spaceslide’s storage kits are made for wardrobes but work just as well as open shelving. Choose from various sizes to fit into uneven alcoves. Premier Storage kit in Stone Grey, from £200, Spaceslide

THE DESK TIDY This Meadow letter rack and drawer will help make that mountain of messy paperwork a thing of the past. £16, Sainsbury’s

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FEBRUARY 2018

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI

THE CLEVER DESK HUTCH Double your desk storage with add-ons like this Wiltshire desk topper. £99, The Cotswold Company

READER OFFER Update your scheme with contemporary brass lamps

Pastel pink adds an elegant feminine touch to these stylish table lamps Give your bedroom a fresh look with beautiful linens

SAVE 20% AT BHS.COM This much-loved retailer is now online, offering stylish lighting and accessories

ooking to give your home a style boost in the New Year? Head online to BHS.com for a great range of British-designed accessories and soft furnishings, from 100% cotton bedlinen to wall art. Continuing its reputation for beautiful lighting, the company also boasts an impressive collection of ceiling lights, floor lamps, chandeliers and more. Helen White, head of buying at BHS.com, says, ‘Our lighting collection encompasses glamour and pared-back sophistication, all with a luxurious edge.’ So

whether you’re a magpie for sparkling crystal or have a penchant for contemporary polished copper, you’re bound to find the perfect light for you. From regular new arrivals on the site to excellent customer service and next-day delivery to CollectPlus stores, filling your home with on-trend pieces really couldn’t be easier. This month, Ideal Home has teamed up with BHS.com to offer readers an exclusive 20% off all homeware and lighting. It’s going to be a great year for your home!

ENJOY 20% OFF Ideal Home has teamed up with BHS.com to offer readers an exclusive discount on all homeware. To redeem your 20% discount, simply enter the code IDEALHOMES20 at the checkout when you shop at BHS.com. TERMS & CONDITIONS This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other promotion and is available on full price items only. For more information, call BHS.com on 0333 733 1000. Hashtag your new purchases on social media at #bhslighting. This offer ends 18/02/2018.

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JANUARY SALE! Receive 12 issues from just £23.99*

SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS Inspiration and ideas Each issue is packed with the best reader homes, home improvement ideas and decorating and shopping tips

Enjoy the luxury of home delivery Never miss an issue of Britain’s best-selling homes magazine

Plus... receive exclusive extras every month with Rewards

Monthly extr exclusive to as, subscribers Subscribe toda y and join Rewa even more fro rd m your magazin s for free to get e. This month have discoun ted cinema vo we uchers, amon hand-picked off gst other er rewards.idealh s. omemagazine .co.uk.

2 EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE ONLINE at idealhome.co.uk/ihfeb18 CALL 0330 333 1113, quoting code BTW7 Lines are open Monday - Saturday from 8am to 6pm (UK time) *£23.99 payable by annual Direct Debit. This price is guaranteed for the first 12 months and we will notify you in advance of any price changes. Offer closes 5 February 2018. Offer open to new subscribers only. Direct Debit offer is available to UK subscribers only. Please allow up to six weeks for delivery of your first subscription issue (up to eight weeks overseas). The full subscription rate is for one year (12 issues) and includes postage and packaging. If the magazine ordered changes frequency per annum, we will honour the number of issues paid for, not the term of the subscription. For full terms and conditions, visit www.magazinesdirect.com/terms. For enquiries and overseas rates, please call +44 (0) 330 333 1113 (Lines are open Monday Saturday from 8am to 6pm (UK time) or email: help@magazinesdirect.com. Calls to 0330 numbers will be charged at no more than a national landline call, and may be included in your phone provider’s call bundle. The Rewards scheme is available to all active print subscribers of magazines published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, free of charge. Digital subscribers also get access as long as the subscription has been purchased directly through the publishers at magazinesdirect.com. For full terms and conditions visit mymagazinerewards.co.uk.

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

LIFESTYLE TECH 5 BEST HEALTH & FITNESS GADGETS Technology can’t (yet) force you out of bed and into your trainers for a pre-breakfast workout, but these ingenious gadgets can give you an insight into your general health, review your progress and keep you motivated, giving you a kick-start for the New Year

WEAR IT WELL The most attractive smartwatch available, Apple’s latest model has a soft nylon sports strap, a heart rate monitor, GPS step tracking and a built-in 4G SIM card, meaning you can go for a run without your phone and still be able to make calls and stream Apple Music via Bluetooth headphones.

POSTURE PERFECTOR It’s easy to slump when you’re tired or stressed, but poor posture is one of the leading causes of back pain. Worn just below your collarbone and secured by a mini magnet, this tiny 14g Bluetooth-connected device will gently vibrate to let you know when you’re slouching, so you can adjust your posture. The Lumo Lift app (iOS and Android) tracks steps and calories burned, too.

Apple Watch Series 3, from £399 (+£19.60 per month), Apple

Lumo Lift Posture Coach, £59.99, Kit Radar

4 STYLE CONSCIOUS A beautiful alternative to plastic fitness trackers, the 18g Leaf can be worn as a pendant, bracelet or brooch and is available with a silver or rose gold trim. It tracks your steps and calories burned, and assesses the quality of your sleep. There’s no screen, but all the data is uploaded to the Leaf app on your smartphone (iOS and Android).

3 SMART SCALE Nokia has made stepping on the scales worth your while with full body analysis, including fat and muscle mass, to give a more complete picture of your health. Data from every weigh-in appears in the Health Mate app (iOS and Android).

Bellabeat Leaf Nature, from £120, Amazon

Body+, £89.95, Nokia Health

FEATURE CHRIS HASLAM

5 VIRTUAL COACH These waterproof and wireless earbuds ensure you don’t get tangled up and the clever silicone wing tips keep them from popping out of your ears. Thanks to the Jabra Sport Life app (iOS and Android), they will also track your pace and distance, and give you real-time updates on your progress as you run. Elite Sport earbuds, £230, Jabra

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FOOD WITH FRIENDS

Let’s have a Chinese…

Put down that takeaway menu and go for a cheaper, healthier, DIY buffet made for Saturday-night sharing

Vegetable chow mein See page 161 for recipe

SIMPLE PLEASURES

Ginger & sesame crusted tuna See page 161 for recipe

Spicy noodle fritters

See page 161 for recipe

Edamame salad cups See page 161 for recipe

IDEAL HOME TIP Prep all the vegetables well in advance as these dishes cook quickly FEBRUARY 2018

157

Crispy duck pancakes See page 161 for recipe

SIMPLE PLEASURES

IDEAL HOME TIP When making Chinese food, it’s always best to use a large non-stick wok – this will help to cook everything evenly

Beef in black bean sauce See page 161 for recipe FEBRUARY 2018

159

Special egg fried rice Takes 10min Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS 2tbsp vegetable oil 4 rashers of smoked streaky bacon, ďŹ nely chopped 350g cooked rice 4 spring onions, sliced 100g mange tout or sugar snap peas, ďŹ nely shredded 1tbsp sesame oil 2 eggs

1 Heat the oil in a large

wok. Add the bacon and cook until it starts to crisp. Add the rice and heat it through thoroughly, then add the spring onion and mange tout or sugar snap peas. Cook for 1-2min. Stir in the sesame oil.

2 Mix up the eggs with a

fork, then use a spatula to move the rice to the edges of the pan and pour the egg into the centre. Gently fold it into the rice as it cooks, so there are some curds of egg mixed in with the rice mixture. Serve immediately.

SIMPLE PLEASURES

Vegetable chow mein

Takes 15min Serves 4-5 INGREDIENTS 2tbsp groundnut oil 125g oyster mushrooms, sliced 1 red pepper, deseeded and sliced 125g tenderstem broccoli, cut into pieces 1 carrot, peeled and sliced 1tbsp soy sauce 1tbsp rice vinegar 1-2tbsp oyster sauce 300g ready-to-use medium egg noodles 1 lime, to serve

1 Heat the oil in a wok over a medium heat. Add the vegetables and cook for 2-3min. Pour in the soy sauce, rice vinegar and oyster sauce. Add the noodles and heat through. Serve immediately in bowls with some lime juice squeezed over the top.

Ginger & sesame crusted tuna

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPHS TIMEINCUKCONTENT.COM

Takes 15min Serves 4-5

INGREDIENTS 2tbsp runny honey 25g ginger, grated 4tbsp mix of black and white sesame seeds 2 x 250g tuna steaks, patted dry with kitchen paper 1tbsp sunﬂower oil

1 Mix together the honey

and ginger on a large plate. Sprinkle the sesame seeds onto a second plate. Dip the tuna steaks in the honey, then press into the sesame seeds to coat on all sides.

2 Heat the oil in a frying

pan over a medium heat. Cook the tuna for 2min, turn and cook for another 2min for medium, or less for rare. Leave to rest on a warm plate for a few minutes. Cut into thick slices and serve immediately.

Spicy noodle fritters

Takes 15min Serves 4-6 INGREDIENTS FOR THE FRITTERS 1tbsp Madras or medium curry powder 3tbsp cornflour, mixed with 1tbsp water 3 eggs, beaten 1 fresh green or red chilli, finely sliced 300g readyto-use fine rice noodles, roughly chopped Bunch of spring onions, green part only, finely sliced 2tbsp sunflower oil FOR THE DIPPING SAUCE 4tbsp redcurrant jelly ½tsp five spice 1tbsp water 1 clove of garlic, minced 1tbsp soy sauce

1 Mix together the curry

powder, cornflour and eggs. Add the chilli, noodles and spring onion, and toss well. Heat a drop of oil in a large frying pan, and fry three 2tbsp-sized dollops of noodle mix for 1-2min per side. Watch carefully as they cook quickly. Continue to fry the fritters in batches. Put all the dip ingredients in a pan and heat gently for 5min. Serve with the fritters.

Edamame salad cups

Takes 15min Serves 4-6 INGREDIENTS FOR THE SALAD 250g frozen soya beans, defrosted 6 spring onions, shredded 1 cucumber, deseeded and sliced ½ Chinese cabbage, shredded FOR THE DRESSING Juice of 2 limes 4tbsp smooth peanut butter 1-2tsp caster sugar, to taste 2tbsp soy sauce 1 fresh red chilli, finely chopped

1 Mix all the vegetables

together in a bowl. Whisk all the dressing ingredients together with 2tbsp cold water until smooth. Toss the vegetables in the dressing.

Crispy duck pancakes

Takes 45min Makes 10 INGREDIENTS FOR THE DUCK 1tbsp ﬁve spice 1tbsp clear honey 2 duck breasts FOR THE PANCAKES 10 Chinese pancakes ½ cucumber, cut into strips 8 spring onions, cut into strips 6tbsp hoisin sauce

1 Preheat the oven to 220°C/

Fan 200°C/Gas 7. Mix the five spice into the honey and spread it over the duck. Heat a frying pan and add the duck breasts, skin-side down. Cook for 4min, pressing down, until

the skin starts to crisp up. Turn the duck over and cook for a further 2-3min. Transfer the duck breasts to a baking tray and cook in the oven for 15min. Remove the duck from the oven and either cut it into small strips or shred the meat using two forks. Heat the pancakes according to the packet instructions. Serve with the duck, the cucumber and spring onion strips, and the hoisin sauce. Invite your guests to fill their own pancakes at the table.

4 5

Beef in black bean sauce

Takes 30min Serves 4-6 INGREDIENTS 350g stir-fry beef strips 160g black bean stir-fry sauce 1tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp cornflour 2tbsp groundnut oil 1 green pepper, deseeded and sliced 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely sliced 2.5cm piece of ginger, peeled and cut into thin strips Fresh coriander leaves, to garnish

1 Mix the beef with the

black bean and soy sauces and the cornflour. Leave to marinate for 15min. Heat the oil in a wok. Cook the beef strips for 1-2min, then add the pepper, chilli and ginger, and cook for 3min. Serve immediately, garnished with the coriander leaves.

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FULLY ESCORTED WORLDWIDE TOURS Experience some of the world’s best destinations with these amazing tours

SOUTH AFRICA

VIETNAM & CAMBODIA

16 DAYS FROM ONLY £2,099PP DEPARTURES FROM JANUARY TO NOVEMBER 2018

16 DAYS FROM ONLY £2,159PP SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM JANUARY TO NOVEMBER 2018 AND JANUARY TO NOVEMBER 2019

PRICES INCLUDE O A visit to the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town’s Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and a full day guided safari in Kruger National Park O Guided tour of the Zulu War battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift O Cellar tour and wine tasting and a visit to the Blyde River canyon O A visit to Cape Town, Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum and Hermanus for the world’s finest on shore whale watching (season dependant) O Internal flight to the Garden Route and a scenic drive through Swaziland O The services of our experienced tour manager O Return flights from the UK O Hand picked three and four star accommodation, with breakfast, two lunches and three dinners O Departures available exclusively for solo travellers O Optional Rovos Rail extension: 18 days from £4,299pp

PRICES INCLUDE Stay and tour Phnom Penh, the ‘Pearl of Asia’ O Visit the vast, ancient city and temples of Cambodia’s Angkor O Tour of Vietnam’s beautiful capital Hanoi by cycle rickshaw O Take a leisurely cruise aboard a converted Chinese junk in Halong Bay O Visit the awe inspiring Citadel and Forbidden City in Hue O Stay in the heart of exciting Saigon visiting the fascinating Cu Chi tunnels O Enjoy a full day trip on the mighty Mekong River delta O Return flights from the UK, plus all hotel transfers. Premium economy flight upgrades available at a supplement O Four and five star hotel accommodation with daily breakfast, plus five meals O The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout O

NAMIBIA

MALAYSIA, BORNEO & SINGAPORE

14 DAYS FROM ONLY £2,599PP DEPARTURES FROM MARCH TO NOVEMBER 2018

14 DAYS FROM £2,159PP SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM JANUARY TO NOVEMBER 2018

PRICES INCLUDE O Visit the awe inspiring red sand dunes of the Namib and Cape Cross O Experience life in a Himba Tribe on a visit to a local tribal village O Full day driving safari through Etosha National Park O Visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Twyfeldontein, in remote Damaraland O Explore Walvis Bay and the seaside resort town of Swakopmund with the opportunity to take a light aircraft ﬂight over the famed Skeleton Coast O Drive through the high, red dunes of Namib Naukluft National Park in a 4x4 including the famous Sossusvlei dunes. O Return travel from the UK, plus all hotel transfers O Stay in hand picked three and four star accommodation, including all local taxes, with breakfast and eight dinners included O The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

PRICES INCLUDE O Tour of colonial George Town in Penang by cycle rickshaw O Travel on the funicular railway to Penang Hill O Take the train from Butterworth down to the capital, Kuala Lumpur O Discover Kuala Lumpur and marvel at the soaring Petronas Twin Towers O Visit Malacca, once one of the world’s most important trading ports O Visit the renowned Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre O Tour of cosmopolitan Singapore and its famed Botanical Gardens O Stay at a luxurious resort with its own mile long sandy beach O Return flights from the UK upgrades available at a supplement O Hand picked four and five star accommodation, with breakfast and five meals included O The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

SIMPLE PLEASURES

Make it work for you

FOOD WITH FRIENDS: CHINESE BUFFET

Welcome in the Year of the Dog with all the kit you need to throw a stylish Asian-inspired feast Arare teapot, £30; bean bowl, £19; bowl with chopsticks, £25 for two; rice spoon, £3; small bowls, £25 for four; plates, £9 each, all John Lewis

5 WHERE TO BUY 1. LANTERN Wire and canvas lantern, £17.50, Shimu

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT

2. PESTLE & MORTAR Craft mortar and pestle, £78, Naken 3. NOODLE BOWL Small Oriental bowl, £3, Sainsbury’s 4. TRAY Black tray, £30, Orchid 5. PLACEMAT Bamboo placemat in Natural, £8, Zara Home

6. SPOONS Nippon black spoons, £15 for six, Tokyo Design Studio range, Amara 7. STEAMER School of Wok two-tier bamboo steamer, £25, Lakeland 8. SERVEBOARD Bamboo serveboard, £10, Sainsbury’s 9. TEAPOT Tokyo Design Arare cast-iron teapot, £28, Bell & Blue

6 8

FEBRUARY 2018

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SIMPLE PLEASURES

WEEKEND BAKE

Jammy coconut squares This Valentine’s Day, treat your loved one to this gluten-free (and faff-free) supertasty tray bake TAKES 1hr 5min SERVES 18

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPH TIMEINCUKCONTENT.COM

INGREDIENTS 250g potatoes, peeled and chopped 1tbsp milk 250g butter, at room temperature 250g golden caster sugar 3 eggs 1tbsp vanilla extract 250g gluten-free self-raising ﬂour 6tbsp strawberry jam 2tbsp desiccated coconut

Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/Gas 4. Boil the potatoes in a pan until tender. Drain them, add the milk and mash until smooth. Cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs and vanilla extract. Fold in the flour and mashed potato. Spoon into a greased and lined 18x28cm baking tin and bake for 45min, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Spread the jam over the top of the warm sponge and sprinkle with coconut. Leave the sponge to cool, then cut into 18 squares. Serve hot with custard as a dessert, or cold as a tray bake with tea or coffee.

FEBRUARY 2018

165

AWARD-WINNING LUXURY RIVER CRUISES IN EUROPE

CRUISE THE HEART OF EUROPE

THE BLUE DANUBE

15 DAY RIVER CRUISE FROM ONLY £1,899PP DEPARTURES FROM MAY TO OCTOBER 2018

EIGHT DAY RIVER CRUISE FROM ONLY £999PP DEPARTURES FROM MAY TO OCTOBER 2018

PRICES INCLUDE O Admire the stunning scenery of the Rhine Gorge, Main and Danube O Seven guided tours of Budapest, Vienna, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Bratislava, Koblenz and Würzburg O Eight visits to Boppard, Rüdesheim, Mainz, Miltenberg, Wertheim, Regensburg, Passau and majestic Melk Abbey O Fourteen nights on board in your choice of luxury cabin or suite O All meals on board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your day of departure, welcome cocktails and dinner, plus Captain’s Dinner O Live classical quartet recital on board O Return ﬂights from a selection of regional airports or standard class seat on Eurostar from London St Pancras International O The services of a Riviera Travel cruise director and tour manager

PRICES INCLUDE Guided tour of Vienna, city of Strauss and home of the Habsburgs O Live classical quartet recital on board O Visit to baroque Bratislava, capital of Slovakia O Cruise through the scenic Wachau, Austria’s premier wine region O Visit to Melk Abbey, central Europe’s most spectacular baroque monastery O Visit to medieval Dürnstein where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned O Tour of Salzburg, one of Austria’s most beautiful cities O Explore the amazing basilica at Esztergom, Hungary’s oldest cathedral O Tour of Budapest, Pearl of the Danube O All meals on board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your day of departure, welcome cocktails and dinner, plus Captain’s Dinner O Return ﬂights from a selection of regional airports O Seven nights on board in your choice of luxury cabin or suite O The services of a Riviera Travel cruise director and tour manager O

RHINE CRUISE TO SWITZERLAND

BURGUNDY, RIVER RHÔNE & PROVENCE

EIGHT DAY RIVER CRUISE FROM ONLY £1,199PP DEPARTURES FROM MAY TO OCTOBER 2018

EIGHT DAYS FROM ONLY £1,199PP SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2018

PRICES INCLUDE O Explore medieval Koblenz O Visit to the pretty, romantic town of Rüdesheim O Cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge O An evening in Speyer dominated by the imposing basilica O Guided tour of Strasbourg amazingly rich in a wealth of sights O Visit to the old walled town of Breisach O Tour of the beautiful Black Forest and lakeside town of Titisee O See the Jungfrau and the Eiger, Interlaken and stunning lakeside Lucerne O All meals on board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your day of departure, welcome cocktails and dinner, plus Captain’s Dinner O Return ﬂights from a selection of regional airports or standard class seat on Eurostar from London St Pancras International O Seven nights on board in your choice of luxury cabin or suite O The services of a Riviera Travel cruise director and tour manager

PRICES INCLUDE O Visit to Beaune, centre of the Burgundy wine region and wine tasting O Cruise the spectacular Rhône valley O Guided tour of Lyon, second city of France and its gastronomic capital O Visit to charming Vienne and the Pont du Gard O Tour of the astonishing Ardèche Gorges O Guided tour of Arles home of Vincent Van Gogh O Tour of superbly preserved, medieval Avignon and the Pope’s Palace O All meals on board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your day of departure, including welcome cocktails and dinner, plus the Captain’s Dinner O Return ﬂights from a selection of regional airports or standard class seat on Eurostar from London St Pancras International O Seven nights on board in your choice of luxury cabin or suite, all with river view O Services of a Riviera Travel cruise director and tour manager

SIMPLE PLEASURES

WHAT’S FOR DINNER?

Bacon & lentil pie Warm up with this filling, flavourful and low-cost pie that tastes even better the next day for a leftovers lunch

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPH TIMEINCUKCONTENT.COM

TAKES 1hr 40min SERVES 4 INGREDIENTS 50g red split lentils 600g potatoes, peeled and quartered 1tsp olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 200g lean bacon, chopped 2 large carrots, diced 2 large parsnips, diced 3 sticks celery, chopped 2 garlic cloves, sliced 1ltr vegetable stock 2tbsp sun-dried tomato paste 4tbsp skimmed milk 2tbsp olive oil

1 Put the lentils into a pan and

cover with boiling salted water. Simmer for 20min until tender.

5 Drain the potatoes, return them

6 Drain any excess liquid from

Meanwhile, put the potatoes into another pan of salted water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 15min until potatoes are tender. Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Heat oil in a pan, add the onion and bacon and cook for 5min until the bacon is browned. Add the carrots, parsnips, celery and garlic, and cook for a further 5min.

Add the stock and tomato paste to the vegetables. Simmer for 20min.

to the pan and season. Add the milk and oil to the pan. Mash until completely smooth.

the lentils and stir into the vegetable mixture until well combined.

7 Tip the vegetables into a large

ovenproof dish. Top with large spoonfuls of mashed potato. Cook in the oven for 20min until the potatoes start to turn golden.

FEBRUARY 2018

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

‘MY MONEY? MY INFO? I DON’T THINK SO!’ Use this simple phrase to challenge fraudsters who are after your money – and don’t fall prey to online scams

ot so long ago, most of our purchases were made with cash. Now, we tend to use contactless cards most of the time and bank online or on the phone. So thieves have changed their tactics, too, and are using sophisticated scams to target our hard-earned money, with ﬁnancial fraud costing the UK more than £2 million every day.* Unsuspecting people from every walk of life are being robbed of savings, nest eggs for their children, or house-buying deposits. The Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign wants to help us protect ourselves from these unscrupulous scammers, so we don’t end up losing money like Alex Finch. Here’s her story...

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Alex Finch, 50, runs a business consultancy, and last year lost £180K after being targeted by fraudsters. She is single and has two children, aged 17 and 19.

“

I’ve always thought I’m pretty savvy, but looking back, I feel a complete fool. It was December 2016 and we were going away to Paris for Christmas. I was trying to ﬁnish work and pack, the kids were ﬁnishing school, our dog was sick. All these were things that were on my mind that morning when the landline rang. The woman claimed to be from BT – I’d been talking to them a lot about WiFi problems. She explained there had been a security issue with their customers’ bank accounts and named the bank I hold my business account with, so I was immediately worried. She transferred me to a “senior fraud investigator”. I could hear other agents in the background calling other customers – I now know they can mimic call centre sounds. The fake “fraud investigator” convinced me I could lose all my money, which made me irrational and fearful. I focused on following his instructions to log on to my computer and type in various codes – I later understood that these gave him remote access to my computer. He asked me to log in to my bank account but, unknown to me, he was logged in too. He said I needed to leave my computer on overnight. In the morning, he rang again and gave me more codes to type in to my computer, which I did.

went into complete shock. My son, then 16, was with me and he was amazing. His strong, loud mummy had crumbled and was sobbing. He took the phone, spoke to the bank, asked sensible questions and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll be alright Mum”. For the next few weeks, I just wanted to go to bed and sob, to hibernate and process the implications of losing my life savings. Instead, I had to get up, put a smile on my face and breakfast on the table. Actually, that helped me – my survival instinct kicked in. I was working, I had a business, great kids and great friends. The money had been withdrawn over a 24-hour period and the banks managed to trace £34,000, which I got back. The rest has gone for good. I’m determined to build my savings back up. I’ve worked hard this year and I’ve focused on what I have. Talking about it brings back the loss and the trauma – but if it stops one person from going through what I’ve been through, then it’s worth it.’

BANK SAVINGS STOLEN The next day, I went to Paris for a wonderful Christmas with my children and parents. On the evening I returned, I logged into my business account. It was completely empty. The £180,000 I had earned and saved for our family over the years was gone. In that instant, I knew it had been a scam. I

More than a million cases of ﬁnancial fraud take place in the UK every year*

6 WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FRAUDSTERS

ALWAYS QUESTION UNEXPECTED CALLS, unsolicited texts or emails and never give out personal or ﬁnancial details. If you do respond to an approach, contact the company separately, using a known email or phone number.

IF A SITUATION IS UNUSUAL or unexpected, or you feel uncomfortable, it’s likely something is wrong. Take ﬁve to say, ‘My money? My Info? I don’t think so!’ and don’t be rushed into following instructions or making a decision.

CRIMINALS CAN MAKE ANY PHONE NUMBER APPEAR on your phone handset, or make messages appear on a preexisting thread from a trusted provider. Don’t use this as veriﬁcation they are genuine.

NEVER CLICK ON A LINK IN an unsolicited email or text or agree to tap your card pin number or bank codes into the telephone keypad.

WHEN BUYING ONLINE, be certain you know the retailer – don’t access the website via pop-up ads on social media or unsolicited emails. Always type the address into your browser.

INSTALL SECURITY SOFTWARE and the latest software and app updates on all your devices.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...

Take Five to Stop Fraud is a national campaign from FFA UK and the UK Government, backed by the banking industry. Visit

takeﬁve-stopfraud.org.uk

PHOTOGRAPHS ALAMY; GETTY IMAGES *SOURCE: FFA UK DATA, 2016

SCAMMED AT CHRISTMAS

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To advertise here or on our online directory, please call 020 3148 2261, or email homeinterestclassiямБed@timeinc.com 175

Shopping directory A

Abigail Ahern 020 7354 8181 abigailahern.com Also Home 01483 608611 alsohome.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Andy Thornton 01422 376000 andythornton.com Anthropologie 0800 0026 8476 anthropologie.com Apple 0800 048 0408 apple.com/uk Appliances Direct 0871 984 4416 appliancesdirect.co.uk Architecturall 020 8244 1673 architecturall.co.uk Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Arlo & Jacob 0333 222 1643 arloandjacob.com Artisanti 0345 259 1410 artisanti.com Aston Matthews 020 7226 7220 astonmatthews.co.uk Atkin & Thyme 020 3768 7775 atkinandthyme.co.uk Att Pynta attpynta.com Audenza 01162 986393 audenza.com

Dartington Crystal 01805 626221 dartington.co.uk Debenhams 0344 800 8877 debenhams.com Decorator's Notebook 0845 474 1747 decoratorsnotebook.co.uk Design Vintage 01243 573852 designvintage.co.uk DFS 0808 149 7607 dfs.co.uk Dobbies Garden Centres 0131 561 6406 dobbies.com Domu.co.uk 0161 833 5443 domu.co.uk Dualit 01293 652500 dualit.com Dulux 0333 222 7171 dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 165 6565 dunelm.com Dwell 0845 675 9090 dwell.co.uk

B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Barker & Stonehouse 0333 355 9321 barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Bathstore 0800 023 2323 bathstore.com Beko 0345 600 4911 beko.co.uk Bell & Blue 01455 558677 bellandblue.com Bert & May 020 3744 0776 bertandmay.com Black by Design 01889 502716 black-by-design.co.uk Blanc Cerise 09 7080 8255 blanc-cerise.com Bobby Rabbit 01143 217000 bobbyrabbit.co.uk BoConcept 020 7388 2447 boconcept.co.uk Boonholt Design Consultants 07714 235750 Bronte by Moon brontebymoon.co.uk Burlanes Interiors 01732 605001 burlanes.com

California Shutters 0800 195 0196 californiashutters.co.uk Calligaris 020 3129 3300 calligaris.co.uk Caselio 0844 369 0102 caselio.fr Christy 0845 758 5252 christy.co.uk Clarence Court 01579 345718 clarencecourt.co.uk Claribel claribellondon.com Clarke & Clarke 01706 242010 clarke-clarke.com Cotswold Trading 01386 853331 cotswoldtrading.com Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk Creative Tops 01536 207710 creative-tops.com

Crucial Trading 01562 743747 crucial-trading.com Cuckooland.com 01305 231231 cuckooland.com Cult Furniture 020 8185 6960 cultfurniture.com Curious Egg 01738 621111 curiousegg.com

Easy Lighting 01254 670087 easylighting.co.uk eBay ebay.co.uk Etsy etsy.com Everhot 01453 890018 everhot.co.uk

Farrow & Ball 01202 876141 farrow-ball.com Finch & Crane finchandcrane.com Fired Earth 01295 814396 firedearth.com Fisher & Paykel 0800 088 6605 fisherpaykel.co.uk Fletcher & Mils 07490 140185 fletcherandmils.com French Connection 0333 400 3285 frenchconnection.com Furniture Village 0800 804 8879 furniturevillage.co.uk

Garden Trading 01993 845559 gardentrading.co.uk George Home george.com Graham and Green 01225 418200 grahamandgreen.co.uk Great Little Trading Co 020 8464 3632 gltc.co.uk Grohe 0871 200 3414 grohe.co.uk

H&M Home 0344 736 9000 hm.com Habitat 0344 499 4686 habitat.co.uk Harvey Norman 028 9011 0044 harvey-norman.co.uk Heal’s 0333 212 1915 heals.com Hibou Home 01580 243188 hibouhome.com Hilary & Flo 01142 670797 hilaryandﬂo.co.uk

Hobbycraft 0330 026 1400 hobbycraft.co.uk Holly's House 01730 266927 hollys-house.com Homebase 0345 077 8888 homebase.co.uk HomeSense 01923 473561 homesense.com Hoover 0344 499 5599 hoover.co.uk House of Bath 0871 230 0867 houseofbath.co.uk House of Fraser 0345 602 1073 houseoffraser.co.uk Houseology 0330 363 0330 houseology.com Howdens howdens.com

Ian Snow 01271 858649 iansnow.com Ikea 020 3645 0000 ikea.co.uk Illy +1 877-469-4559 illy.com

Jabra jabra.co.uk John Lewis 0345 604 9049 johnlewis.com

Mandarin Stone 01600 715444 mandarinstone.com Manufactum 0800 096 0938 manufactum.co.uk Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8000 marksandspencer.com Melody Maison 01302 741000 melodymaison.co.uk Miele 0330 160 6600 miele.co.uk Mini Rodini minirodini.com/sv-se/ Mink Interiors 01892 547049 minkinteriors.co.uk Mipic.co mipic.co Modern Rugs 01388 663738 modern-rugs.co.uk Monsoon Home 020 3372 3052 monsoon.co.uk Mood Collections moodcollections.co.uk Moosejaw Woodworks 01227 281806 moosejawwoodworks.com Mothercare 0845 330 4030 mothercare.com Muji 020 7437 7503 muji.co.uk My 1st Years 020 3874 2225 my1styears.com My Furniture 0845 309 6356 my-furniture.com

Kelly Hoppen 020 7351 1910 kellyhoppenretail.com Kenwood 0239 239 2333 kenwoodworld.com Kikki K 020 7240 1336 kikki-k.com King & McGaw 01273 511942 kingandmcgaw.com Kit Radar kitradar.com KitchenAid 020 3747 6770 kitchenaid.co.uk Kreisdesign 020 7837 0820 kreisdesign.com La Redoute 0800 096 6888 laredoute.co.uk Lagoon 020 7129 1309 vivalagoon.com Lakeland 01539 488100 lakeland.co.uk Laura Ashley 0333 200 8009 lauraashley.com Le Creuset 0800 373792 lecreuset.co.uk Lime Lace 01423 900522 limelace.co.uk Little Folks Furniture 01985 300588 littlefolksfurniture.co.uk Little Greene 0845 880 5855 littlegreene.com Living it Up 0116 269 5960 livingitup.co.uk Loaf 0845 468 0698 loaf.com Lombok 020 7736 5171 lombok.co.uk LSA International 01932 789721 lsa-international.com Luxaﬂex 0161 442 9500 luxaﬂex.co.uk

M&Co mandco.com Made.com 0344 257 1888 Maisons du Monde 0808 234 2172 maisonsdumonde.com

Naken 01986 781663 naken.co.uk Neptune 01793 427300 neptune.com Newgate 01691 679994 newgateclocks.com Next 0844 844 8939 next.co.uk Nkuku 0333 240 0155 nkuku.com Nokia Health health.nokia.com/uk/en Nordic House 01872 223220 nordichouse.co.uk Notonthehighstreet.com 020 3318 5115 Nubie 01825 724160 nubie.co.uk Oasis 01865 881986 oasis-stores.com Oggetto 01305 881010 oggetto.com Oka 03330 042 042 oka.com Oliver Bonas 020 8974 0110 oliverbonas.com One World 020 8974 2211 one.world Orchid 020 7384 2443 orchidfurniture.co.uk Orla Kiely 020 7720 1117 orlakiely.com Out There Interiors 020 8099 7443 outthereinteriors.com

Paint & Paper Library 0845 880 5844 paintandpaperlibrary.com Paperchase 020 3322 4788 paperchase.co.uk Perch & Parrow 020 8629 1166 perchandparrow.com PIB 020 3445 5150 pib-home.co.uk Pooky 020 7351 3003 pooky.com Porcelain Superstore 0845 257 0227 porcelainsuperstore.co.uk

SUBSCRIPTIONS All prices are for 12 issues and include p&p. Delivery times for overseas services are shown in brackets. UK: £49. USA/Canada (direct entry, five to 12 days): $141.80. Europe (priority; three to five days): €155.80. North America (priority; five to seven days): $155.80. Rest of the world (priority, five to seven days): £113.70. Credit card hotline: 0330 333 1113; or call from overseas on: +44 330 333 1113. Lines are open Monday Saturday, 8am 6pm; UK time. Make cheques payable to Time Inc. (UK) Ltd. For enquiries and orders; please email: help@magazinesdirect.com. Alternatively; call from the UK on: 0330 333 1113; or call from overseas on: +44 330 333 1113. Lines are open Monday Saturday, 8am 6pm; UK time. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by Air Business Ltd; c/o Worldnet Shipping Inc; 156 15 146th Avenue, 2nd floor, Jamaica, NY 11434; USA. Periodicals postage paid at Jamaica NY 11431. US Postmaster: send address changes to Ideal Home, Air Business Ltd; c/o Worldnet Shipping Inc; 156 15 146th Avenue; 2nd floor; Jamaica; NY 11434; USA. Subscriptions records are maintained at Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP, England. Air Business Ltd is acting as our mailing agent. Ideal Home 0019 1361 is published monthly by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP, England. Distributed by MarketForce (UK) Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, London E14 9AP (020 3787 9001). Time Inc. (UK) Ltd regrets that it cannot be liable for the safe custody or return of any unsolicited material. By submitting any material to Time Inc. (UK) Ltd; you consent to Time Inc. (UK) Ltd and/or its associated companies reusing the submitted material in any format or medium throughout the world in perpetuity. Time Inc. (UK) Ltd reserves the right to shorten or modify any submitted material at its own discretion. The contents of the magazine are fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted without permission. Printed by Wyndeham Group in the UK. Repro by Rhapsody Media. Cover printed by Wyndeham Group in the UK. Ideal Home is sold subject to these conditions: that it shall not; without the written consent of the publishers first given; be lent; resold; hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade at more than the recommended selling price on the cover; selling price in EU and Eire subject to VAT; and that it shall not be lent; resold; hired out or disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any unauthorised cover by way of trade or annexed to or as part of any publication or advertising; literary or pictorial matter whatsoever. All information and prices correct at time of going to press. While we try to answer any enquiries, we cannot guarantee a response.

176

FEBRUARY 2018

STOCKISTS

EDITORIAL

Primark 020 7495 0420 primark.co.uk Puji 020 8886 3000 puji.com

Q R

Qvcuk.com 0800 514131

Ragged Rose 01622 812897 raggedrose.com Rockett St George 01444 253391 rockettstgeorge.co.uk Roger Lascelles 020 8208 0040 rogerlascelles.com Romo 01623 750005 romo.com Ross & Brown 0345 600 3315 rossandbrownhome.co.uk Rowen & Wren 01276 451077 rowenandwren.co.uk

Sainsbury’s 0800 328 1700 sainsburys.co.uk Shimu 0800 088 6800 shimu.co.uk Simmer and Soak 0191 414 2438 simmerandsoak.co.uk Sinks-taps.com 01759 307262 Skandium 020 7823 8874 skandium.com Smeg 0844 557 9907 smeguk.com Soak & Sleep 01483 437762 soakandsleep.com Sofa.com 0345 400 2222 sofa.com Spaceslide 0800 980 3499 spaceslide.co.uk St Judes 01603 662951 stjudesfabrics.co.uk Store 0844 414 2885 aaplaceforeverything.co.uk Studio 0371 200 0378 studio.co.uk Super Studio 020 8068 4313 superestudio.co.uk Sweetpea & Willow 0345 257 2627 sweetpeaandwillow.com Swoon Editions 020 3319 6332 swooneditions.com

The Alternative Flooring Company 01264 335111 alternativeﬂooringcompany.com The Conran Shop 0844 848 4000 conranshop.co.uk The Contemporary Home 0845 130 8229 tch.net The Cotswold Company 0333 200 1725 cotswoldco.com The Farthing 0844 567 2400 thefarthing.co.uk The French Bedroom Company 01444 415430 frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk The Furniture Barn 01858 414180 furniture-barn.co.uk The Future Kept thefuturekept.com The Holding Company 020 8445 2888 theholdingcompany.co.uk The Nursery Edit the-nursery-edit.com The Range 0345 026 7598 therange.co.uk The White Company 020 3758 9222 thewhitecompany.com TK Maxx 01923 473561 tkmaxx.com Tolly McRae tollymcrae.co.uk Topps Tiles 0800 783 6262 toppstiles.co.uk Tori Murphy 0115 960 8472 torimurphy.com Totally Funky 0191 418 8217 totally-funky.co.uk Tretchikoff Shop shop.vladimirtretchikoff.com Turnbull & Thomas 01642 309640 turnbullandthomas.co.uk

U V

Umbra 0036 549 5422 umbra.com

Valspar 0344 736 9174 valsparpaint.co.uk Vanessa Arbuthnott 01285 831437 vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk Very 0844 822 2321 very.co.uk Victorian Plumbing 0345 862 2878 victorianplumbing.co.uk

Wallpaper Direct 01323 430886 wallpaperdirect.com Walls and Floors 01536 314730 wallsandﬂoors.co.uk Wayfair 0800 169 0423 wayfair.co.uk Wesco 01225 438188 wesco-shop.co.uk West Elm 0800 404 9780 westelm.co.uk White Stuff 020 3752 5360 whitestuff.com Wilko 0800 032 9329 wilko.com Willow & Hall 0845 468 0577 willowandhall.co.uk Woodpecker Interiors 0121 288 1897 woodpeckerinteriors.co.uk

Zara Home 0800 026 0091 zarahome.com Zoffany 020 3457 5862 stylelibrary.com/zoffany

BE CANDLE SAFE Enjoy the special touch that candles add to your home; but take care to use them safely: Always place lit candles well away from foliage; furniture; curtains and soft furnishings; and always out of draughts ● Keep candles out of reach of children and pets ● Never leave a burning candle unattended ● Keep candles away from hair and clothing ● Always place candles upright in suitable holders that can’t easily fall over ● Always be sure that candles are properly extinguished

EDITORIAL COMPLAINTS We work very hard to achieve the highest standards of editorial content; and we are committed to complying with the Editors’ Code of Practice (ipso.co.uk/IPSO/cop.html) as enforced by IPSO. If you have a complaint about our editorial content; you can email us at complaints@timeinc.com or write to Complaints Manager, Time Inc. (UK) Ltd Legal Department, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP, England. Please provide details of the material you are complaining about and explain your complaint by reference to the Editors’ Code. We will endeavour to acknowledge your complaint within five working days and we aim to correct substantial errors as soon as possible.

EDITOR Vanessa Richmond 020 3148 7335 EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jane Akers 020 3148 7313 ACTING DEPUTY EDITOR Heather Young 020 3148 7326 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ginevra Benedetti 020 3148 7347 CHIEF SUB-EDITOR/PRODUCTION EDITOR Sarah Farley 020 3148 7189 DECORATING EDITOR Nicky Phillips 020 3148 7346 STYLE EDITOR Michela Colling 020 3148 7355 HOUSES EDITOR Ruth Corbett 020 3148 7330 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Georgia Hibberdine 020 3148 7342 SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR Stephanie Durrant 020 3148 6218 FEATURES EDITOR Holly Walsh 020 3148 7353 HEAD OF SUBS OPERATIONS Maxine Clarke 020 3148 7136 DEPUTY CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Amy Hodge 020 3148 7118 SENIOR SUB-EDITOR Rachel Holcroft 020 3148 7157 HEAD OF ART OPERATIONS Alison Walter 020 3148 7113 DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Emma Jackson 020 3148 7338 SENIOR DESIGNER Christina McQuillan 020 3148 7899

ADVERTISING

PUBLISHER AND HEAD OF HOMES NETWORK Joanne O’Hara 020 3148 7642 PA TO PUBLISHER Helen Large 020 3148 7641 ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER Sharon Goode 020 3148 7631 INTERNATIONAL/LUXURY ACCOUNT MANAGER Carol Bunce 020 3148 7620 LONDON SALES MANAGER Ruth Roscorla 020 3148 7639 CLASSIFIED SALES MANAGER Emma Van Der Veen 020 3148 2635 INSERTS Canopy Media Sales and Management 0845 544 1857 REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Katrina Hutchison 0161 601 3720

MARKETING

MARKETING MANAGER Yasmin Christoﬁ 020 3148 7692

OFFERS

ENQUIRIES 020 3148 6340

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND BACK ISSUES

SENIOR SUBSCRIPTIONS MARKETING MANAGER Anita Baghapour 020 3787 1985 CREDIT-CARD HOTLINE 0330 333 1113 For full details turn to page 154. For back issues: contact John Denton Services at Unit 6, Viking Trade Park, Newark Road, Peterborough PE1 5GE; tel: 01733 688964 (24-hour service); website: mags-uk.com. You can order issues from as far back as 2003; subject to availability.

PRODUCTION

EDITORIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER Nicola Tillman 020 3148 7891 DEPUTY EDITORIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER Clare Willetts 020 3148 7892 ART PRODUCTION DESIGNER Phil Dunk 020 3148 7893 ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR William Argent 020 3148 2683 PRODUCTION MANAGER John Botten 020 3148 5431 PRODUCTION OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Richard Hill 020 3148 5424 SYNDICATION Eﬁ Mandrides 020 3148 5485 INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS Bianca Hamilton-Foster 020 3148 5490 PRESS OFFICE 020 3148 7682

PUBLISHING

MANAGING DIRECTOR Roger Cummings ASSISTANT TO MANAGING DIRECTOR Giulietta Vella 020 3148 6214 PUBLISHER Sarah Rafati 020 3148 7672 CLIENT INVESTMENT DIRECTOR Sian Roberts 020 3148 6778 GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR; LIFESTYLE Andrea Davies EA TO GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR; LIFESTYLE Amanda Coleman 020 3148 5103

FEBRUARY 2018

177

BEAUTIFUL POSSIBILITIES

Store & order REPURPOSE BASIC IKEA KITCHEN STORAGE INTO A WALL-HUNG SYSTEM FOR YOUR WORKSPACE... AND ENJOY THE ZEN-LIKE CALM

Keep a mess-free desk with handy wall storage. Give a corkboard and a spice rack an overhaul with a simple lick of paint that tones with your colour scheme. The spice rack transforms into a shelf, while bathroom holders become storage for bits and pieces that can clutter up a drawer; simply tap a nail in the wall to hang them up.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Vaggis noticeboard, £4.50; Bekvam spice rack, £3; Stugvik baskets, from £4 each, all Ikea. Noticeboard painted in Tallanstown Grey ﬂat emulsion, £5 for 125ml sample pot, Paint & Paper Library. Spice rack painted in Broken White chalky ﬁnish, £5 for 250ml, Hobbycraft. Charlie alarm clock, £26; Indigo Nights letter rack is similar, £9, both Paperchase. For a similar light, try the Lapo table lamp, £45; and Tala Elva bulb, £29, both Oliver Bonas. Stationery, from a selection at Paperchase and Kikki K. Walls painted in Down Pipe estate emulsion, £43.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball

178

FEBRUARY 2018

STYLIST GEMMA GEAR PHOTOGRAPH DOMINIC BLACKMORE

Get organised

S A LE NOW ON

BESPOKE BRITISH FURNITURE DESIGNED, CRAFTED, GUARANTEED FREE 100 Page Brochure British Design & Craftsmanship Nationwide Design Service 10 Year Guarantee

When you choose Neville Johnson not only are you investing in high quality bespoke furniture, you can now enjoy SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS IN OUR WINTER SALE.* For over 30 years Neville Johnson have been using the ﬁnest materials and craftsmanship to create exquisite furniture with longevity and style, so you can sit back and relax, in the comfort of your own home.

visit nevillejohnson.co.uk

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or call 0161 873 8333 for our latest brochure QUOTE CODE IHB24

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LIBRARIES

*To qualify for your sale discount you must place your order between 23/12/17 and 26/2/18. Minimum order value £3,000 +VAT. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. **Buy now pay in 12 months is available on orders over £3,000 +VAT, with an upfront 30% deposit. Finance is subject to status.

STAIRCASES

Stylish

shutters Add that wow factor to any room with statement shutters. At Hillarys you’ll ﬁnd the latest blinds, curtains and shutters measured and professionally ﬁtted all as part of our dedicated in-home service. Visit hillarys.co.uk or call 0800 587 6480 to book a free in-home appointment.

Best New Looks For

BATHROOMS The suites, showers, colours and fittings to choose now for a bathroom youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll love for years to come

Welcome 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP

the team EDITOR, IDEAL HOME Vanessa Richmond EDITOR, BEST NEW LOOKS FOR BATHROOMS Ysanne Brooks ACTING DEPUTY EDITOR Heather Young CREATIVE DIRECTOR Georgia Hibberdine DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Emma Jackson SUPPLEMENT DESIGNER Bhavini Mistry ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ginevra Benedetti STYLE EDITOR Michela Colling CHIEF SUB EDITOR/PRODUCTION EDITOR Sarah Farley SUPPLEMENT SUB EDITOR Sheila Miller ACTING EDITORIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER Clare Willetts PRODUCTION MANAGER John Botten HEAD OF HOMES NETWORK Joanne O’Hara ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER Sharon Goode PUBLISHER Tom Smith

Traditionally the smallest room in the house, the bathroom still packs a big punch in terms of design, and is especially important when it comes to resale. Far from being the functional space of old, it’s also now a room in which we can recharge our batteries after the rigours of the day. Whatever your style – whether you’re after a sleek, clutter-free family space or a splash of glamorous, hotel-style chic – if you’re planning to refresh your bathroom, we’ve got it covered. From ultra-thin statement baths to space-saving storage, we’ve selected the most inspiring bathroom trends for 2018, so read on and enjoy.

Ysanne

MARKETING MANAGER Yasmin Christoﬁ MANAGING DIRECTOR Roger Cummings

Ysanne Brooks, Editor, Best New Looks for Bathrooms

GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, LIFESTYLE Andrea Davies EA TO GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, LIFESTYLE Amanda Coleman

FIND INSPIRATION ON OUR WEBSITE Visit idealhome.co.uk to discover more brilliant bathroom ideas, looks and advice, whatever your style!

Contents METALLIC GLAMOUR

Tap into the trend for gold, copper and brass finishes

FEBRUARY 2018

BOLDER COLOUR

Bathrooms no longer have to be white – be braver with colour choices

HERITAGE STYLE

Choose period-style fittings for a classic yet timeless look

LAID-BACK LUXURY

Create a glamorous space for spa-style pampering

SLEEK & SIMPLE

28 Modular

designs to make your bathroom look bigger

CONTENTS BATHROOMS

28 10

4 FEBRUARY 2018

TREND #1

METALLIC GLAMOUR Adorn your bathroom with finishes and accessories in the materials of the moment – gold, copper and brass

hrome has been king of the bathroom for some time but, as with kitchens, this is all changing. Though we’re not advocating the return of gaudy, swan-shaped brassware or wall-towall copper tiles, there is definitely a trend for modern metallic finishes, and it’s worth tapping into for your new bathroom design. ON THE SURFACE To prevent your walls looking as if they’ve been touched by the hand of King Midas, use metallics sparingly but with purpose. A border of gold or copper mosaics surrounding plain field tiles behind a basin or bath, or in a shower cubicle, will give the feeling of glamour without veering into tackiness. Lustre and iridescent tiles are an attractive option, as they will shimmer and add light and openness. For floors, opt for natural stone or ceramic floor tiles with similar tones. BOLD BRASSWARE As the name suggests, brassware has the metal at its heart, as it’s a durable material. Usually, the brass core is treated with chrome or nickel to produce the shiny steel look we’ve been in love with for so long. Now, inspired by the return

of copper and brass elsewhere in the home, taps are shrugging off their silver coating to adopt a new, more luxurious look. For traditional schemes, go for taps in brushed copper or antique gold, as these will give a softer finish. If your taste runs to contemporary high-gloss cabinetry, pair your furniture with a brighter gold design featuring clean modern lines, such as the Axor tap by Philippe Starck. Buy the best you can afford, too, as poorly plated taps will tarnish easily – go for high-density, high-carat gold plate on a nickel base for optimum longevity and durability. GET THE SHADE RIGHT Gold is definitely experiencing a renaissance now, but it’s important to set the right tone. Think gentle champagne and rose shades rather than showy, orangey tones. To take the edge off brass and copper, look for brushed finishes, which prevent them from appearing excessively shiny. ACCESSORIES Mirrors, open shelving and lights all come in a host of gold, copper and brass finishes. Keep lines fairly clean and resist the urge to buy every accessory you can find in a metallic: instead, add a few simple white pieces for balance.

combining warm and “coolTrymetallic accents if you want to create a modern, glamorous, well-balanced space PHIL ALLEN, PRODUCT DESIGNER, BATHSTORE

FEBRUARY 2018

”

Thin line

A narrow tiled gold border and a few well-chosen accessories will add a bit of glitz to a white bathroom suite. BUY THE KEY PIECES Metropol Classic basin mixer, from £477; single-lever shower mixer, £518; Raindance Classic 100 Air 3jet hand shower, from £361; RainAir overhead shower with shower arm, from £850, all Hansgrohe

NEW METALLICS BATHROOMS

IDEAL HOME

expert tip Classic chrome brassware with gold highlights adds a gilded touch without looking over-the-top

FEBRUARY 2018

BATHROOMS NEW METALLICS BACK TO BLACK

Dark walls and floors are a perfect foil for rich gold, particularly in a boudoirstyle design. Abingdon washstand in rose-gold finish with Blenheim basin, from £495; Hemsby basin mixer in rose gold, £350, both Heritage Bathrooms

STAND TALL Pick a tall bath filler in gold for a modern freestanding bath and match it with a deckmounted tap over a sleek basin. Transition Touchstone bath, £2,399; Transition rose gold floor-standing bath-shower mixer, £1,199; Transition tall rose gold basin mixer, £359, all Bathstore

▼ STAR STYLE A host of designers have caught the metallic bug, including Sebastian Conran, who has created a range of accessories with Vitra including towel rails and bathrobe hooks. Black and gold Eternity bathroom accessories, from £95, Vitra

FEBRUARY 2018

IDEAL HOME

expert tip For added drama, set your freestanding tub on a raised platform and pair it with a deckmounted filler.

An “intentionally antiqued aesthetic is coming back into fashion, manifesting itself in patinated hues of copper, rose gold and brass

”

ROBIN LEVIEN, DESIGNER, IDEAL STANDARD

RETRO METRO Use elongated gold brick tiles to create a stunning backdrop. Industrial collection Gold tiles, £60sq m, British Ceramic Tile

FEBRUARY 2018

IDEAL HOME

expert tip Leave plenty of room around a freestanding bath if you have small children – it will help when getting them in and out

Brushed “finishes are a little more understated, but still carry all the necessary visual detail and impact

”

DAN COOK, PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENT DESIGNER, CP HART

ON-TREND TUB Go all out with a luxurious doubleended bâteau-style bath with a shiny copper exterior. Camden freestanding bath in copper, from £2,653, CP Hart

NEW METALLICS BATHROOMS FAB FLOOR Make the floor the star with a chequerboard of black and coppery tiles. Basin with vanity unit, £1,348; mirror with LED light, £278, both Ripples. For similar tiles try Copper-effect, £42.95sq m; Black, £36sq m, both Harvey Maria

IDEAL HOME

expert tip

MAKE IT WORK

FOR YOU

◆ It’s wise not to go overboard with gold, as it can look very ‘bling’ extremely quickly – stick to two or three elements and add natural tones with wood and stone as a counterbalance. ◆ Don’t be afraid to mix silver and gold to create a contrast, but don’t combine too many varying shades of one metal – the look could tip over into tacky very easily. ◆ If you want to keep the look sophisticated, pick wall tiles with a lustrous sheen, which will still add sparkle and shine, rather than a metal ﬁnish. ◆ Is industrial style your thing? Go online to sites such as Pinterest for ideas

Don’t be afraid to mix copper and gold accessories in one space – they’ll add a feeling of glamour and elegance

on bespoke mixers made from copper piping and retro pillar taps. ◆ If you can, buy your sink, bath and shower ﬁttings from one company, as there are so many variations of shade and sheen that mixing and matching could produce an un-coordinated look. ◆ Add sparkle and a dash of fun to plain walls with a quote sticker. The ‘Relax’ gold script sticker from Notonthehighstreet.com is a great choice above a freestanding bath. ◆ If you’re on a budget, you could update old accessories using gold spray paint such as Rust-oleum’s Painter’s Touch, £3.50, Wilko.

SPARKLE AND SHINE Mix cool white and gold tiles to create a beautiful backdrop. Gold-leaf countertop washbasin, £1,541, West One Bathrooms

FEBRUARY 2018

TREND #2

Mix and match

BOLDER COLOUR Don’t be bland – be bold: give your bathroom a bit of character by adding a splash of bright colour

hite is still by far the most popular choice for bathroom suites, but that doesn’t mean you must completely forgo colour. Coloured baths and basins are coming back, but in bolder shades than Seventies avocado, adding a sense of drama and luxury.

CHOOSE DARK FURNITURE Some of the latest sanitaryware and furniture comes in bold blues, blacks and shades of grey. High-gloss lacquered cabinets give extra depth to any strong colour. Look out for coloured glass and composite panels, glossy lacquered cabinetry and iridescent tiles for walls, too. For real drama, choose furniture in dark navy or black, or go bright with cherry red. CREATE AN ACCENT If you’re not ready for a big colour statement, why not paint one wall in a bold shade? Dark walls and ﬂoors always make white furniture stand out. Create a feature wall by the basin or above the tiling around a bath, add colourful window shutters or, for a budget look, add accessories in the latest hues.

REVIVE YOUR FURNITURE If you don’t want new furniture, give old wooden cabinets a makeover with paint. Try Annie Sloan’s Graphite Chalk Paint, from £18.95 per ltr, or Down Pipe eggshell, from £24 for 750ml, Farrow & Ball, to release your dark side. Dulux’s Denim Drift gave pastel blue a richer, more intense feel last year, and this year’s shade, Heart Wood, is set to revive pale lilac, so hues such as Chalk Violet, £22 for 750ml, Fired Earth, and Parma Gray, £24 for 750ml, Farrow & Ball, are sure to come into their own for 2018. For best results choose a paint that’s speciﬁcally made for bathrooms. STAND-OUT SURFACES Bathroom tiles come in a huge selection of styles, materials and shades, and can provide an effective injection of colour around the bath, basin and shower. It needn’t be too costly, either – just give a twist to plain tiles by adding a random selection of brighter shades. For ﬂoors, the latest vinyl tiles from companies such as Harvey Maria and Carpetright are a durable and attractive alternative to more expensive ceramic and porcelain.

really exciting is “thatWhat’s the idea of ‘pops’ of colour is moving to a new level, making it more full-blown, particularly with bathroom furniture

”

DAN COOK, PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENT DESIGNER, CP HART

FEBRUARY 2018

Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and colours, sticking to two or three complimentary shades, then add a strong accent. Bagnodesign’s Funcktion range has clean lines and comes in five colours. BUY THE KEY PIECES Vanity basin unit, £270; basin, £299; countertop shelf, £389, all Bagnodesign

BOLD COLOUR BATHROOMS

IDEAL HOME

expert tip Slim wall-hung shelves next to the bath provide a place for candles and a glass of bubbles, for a relaxing soak

FEBRUARY 2018

BATHROOMS BOLD COLOUR STAND OUT

Feature wallpaper and larger-format mosaic tiles in cool white provide the perfect background for a funky curved basin cabinet in vibrant red. Mineral-cast washbasin including vanity unit, £1,400; mirror with LED light, £667, both Ripples

INDUSTRIAL STYLE Popular for interiors for some time, grey is now a firm favourite in bathrooms too. Add brass accents for an industrial vibe. 600mm basin unit, from £355; 300mm floor cupboards, £235 each; full-height twin-door cupboard, £467; Strata worktop, £310; Geo 515mm semi-countertop basin, £167.50, all Roper Rhodes

▼ GREAT UNDERFOOT Hard wearing but soft underfoot, vinyl flooring is a good choice for the bathroom, and great for families. It’s often excellent value, too. Mardi Gras Sagres vinyl tiles, £15.99 per sq m, Carpetright

FEBRUARY 2018

IDEAL HOME

expert tip If you’ve used lots of dark colours in a room, a soft colour such as pistachio offers a gentler contrast than stark white

“

Introducing plant life into the bathroom helps to connect it with the outside, turning it from a cold, clinical room into a living space in which you want to spend time

AWASH WITH STYLE A solid contrasting background will highlight a lovely basin. Henrietta basin, £760; Hugo vanity stand, £1,200, both London Basin Company

”

JO CRANE, DESIGNER AND SHOWROOM MANAGER, RIPPLES FEBRUARY 2018

IDEAL HOME

expert tip Damp bathroom air will eat into your paint. Specialist paints are more resistant, ensuring a long-lasting finish

is “theIndigo new black

BLEND BLUES Reminiscent of the sea, shades of blue are perfect for bathrooms. Star indigo drawer unit with basin, £1,195; mirror, £645; tall storage unit, £945; WC unit, £415, all Utopia Bathrooms

with hints of rich turquoise and texture delivering a sophisticated combination

”

RICH SHORE, HEAD OF DESIGN, UTOPIA BATHROOMS

BOLD COLOUR BATHROOMS ADD A SPLASH Don’t want a lot of colour? Have just one item in a strong shade. Chichester washstand, £1,080; Buckingham mirror, £180; basket, from £26, all Neptune

WINDOW DRESSING Paint bespoke shutters to brighten up your bathroom. Classic poplar wood shutters, from £159sq m, California Shutters

IDEAL

OME

expert tip

MAKE IT WORK

FOR YOU

◆ Select a colour palette that reﬂects the mood you want to create in the room. Softer blues and greens will create a relaxed and soothing space, reds and oranges will invigorate, while dark blues and blacks add drama. ◆ Visit your local DIY store for paint charts and brochures, as they will often be helpful in selecting accent colours. ◆ Add bold modernist artwork or select word prints in accent colours. Notonthehighstreet.com has lots of customisable posters and artworks. Frame them well to avoid moisture getting to them. ◆ Buy some new ﬂuffy towels and a bath mat to

Matt finishes have a soft sheen and texture, so are a good choice if you don’t want your bathroom to feel too modern

match, as a cost-effective way of introducing an enlivening flash of colour. ◆ Are you opting for coloured furniture and sanitaryware? Keep your walls and floors fairly neutral to stop them overpowering the space. ◆ Invest in a few paint testers and fabric samples for soft furnishings before you start, as light can dramatically alter colours, so it’s best to look at them all in situ, rather than in a bright DIY store. ◆ If you’re just after a quick update, introduce colour through fabrics to spruce up your bathroom – a new roller blind at the window is a quick and easy fix.

ON THE LEVEL Timber and olive green offer gentle warmth. Dogma washbasin unit, £2,978; shelf, £1,583; Dogma wall unit, £1,672; mirror, £206, all Alternative Bathrooms

FEBRUARY 2018

TREND #3

HERITAGE STYLE Choose a combination of traditional fittings and old-style elegance to give your bathroom a classic yet timeless look

acked with character, period-style bathrooms continue to be in vogue, and work just as well in a modern new-build as in a Victorian or Edwardian home. Looking to history will provide you with endless inspiration – there’s beautifully sculpted sanitaryware, elegant ironwork and the freestanding roll-top bath, which is just as popular as ever. PICK YOUR ERA The ﬁrst to wholeheartedly adopt indoor bathing were the late Victorians and the Edwardians, and products in those styles are hugely popular. They’re also a breeze to source, as most manufacturers feature at least one range with period accents. In the Twenties and Thirties, Art Deco interiors were known for their glamorous and glitzy style, which can be recreated using mirrored furniture, black gloss and lacquer details and crystal lighting. Slavishly following a particular style could result in a forced re-creation, though, so try to be relaxed in your choices to achieve the overall feel of a period rather than an exact replica of one.

CHOOSE THE REAL THING Salvage yards and reclamation and restoration specialists are fabulous sources of both design inspiration and products, particularly if you’re prepared to do a little restoration work yourself. Do be aware, though, that real antiques will carry a price tag to match and some antique fittings won’t suit modern plumbing and water pressure. Vintage baths can always be re-enamelled – at a cost – but taps and showers are likely to be more difficult to incorporate into a modern bathroom. MODERN TAKE There are plenty of replicas on the market, allowing you to enjoy traditional style while still having all the benefits of modern technology, such as power showers and eco-efficient taps and loos. Many makers have products that create a perfect blend of old and new. FINISHING TOUCHES As well as the sanitary- and brassware, pay attention to the details that will complete your scheme. Raised pencil borders, dado rails and decorative botanical motifs work well in Victorian designs, while mirrored finishes, geometric patterns and monochrome surfaces are more reminiscent of the Twenties and Thirties.

baths are meant “forStatement long, luxurious soaks, so it’s important to ensure the one you buy is comfortable

”

TINA ROBINSON, PRODUCT MANAGER, HERITAGE BATHROOMS

FEBRUARY 2018

COUNTRY HOUSE BATHROOMS

Top class

If your new bathroom is in an attic conversion with sloping ceilings, prevent it from feeling dark by using pale surfaces, and adding roof lights for maximum brightness.

IDEAL HOME

BUY THE KEY PIECES Chichester 1240mm double door washstand, from ÂŁ1,835, Neptune

expert tip Consider versatile lighting, such as this pivoting lamp that can be moved to illuminate different areas

FEBRUARY 2018

BATHROOMS COUNTRY HOUSE NEAT AND TIDY

Stop family bathrooms looking cluttered with lots of storage options, such as vanity units, tallboys and wicker baskets. Cobblestone vanity units, £819; mirrors, £407 each, all Marlborough range, Laura Ashley

NATIVE TONGUE If your room doesn’t already have it, tongueand-groove panelling can be easily added to give a classic Edwardian bathroom feel. Paint it in this year’s must-have colour, lilac, and the walls in a neutral shade for maximum effect. Abbey Traditional bathroom suite with freestanding bath, £470, Bathroom Takeaway

▼ ACE OF BASE Original painted wooden boards are an attractive alternative to a tiled floor. With white woodwork and touches of chic grey elsewhere, they’ll give a relaxed air to any room. Aquanatural Notting Hill bath, £1,995, Frontline

FEBRUARY 2018

IDEAL HOME

expert tip Don’t forget the latest mod cons in a period bathroom – opt for classic look taps with hardwearing ceramic washers

“

Introducing furniture with timeless styling in neutral painted finishes will help to create a country house atmosphere in any bathroom

MIX IT UP Combine modern fittings and classic furniture for an eclectic look. Savoy Old English White basin unit, £699; mirror cabinet, £249, both Bathstore

”

HELEN SHAW, MARKETING MANAGER, LAURA ASHLEY BATHROOM COLLECTION

FEBRUARY 2018

TAKE A STAND Only room for a shower? Go for classic Deco lines and ceramichandled brassware. Avon shower set with large rose, from £875; Victorian basin and Regal pedestal, £240, all Burlington Bathrooms

IDEAL HOME

expert tip Be bold with your f looring – a monochrome chequerboard design is a solid base for an Art Deco scheme

A calming, “sophisticated palette will help to create a relaxing atmosphere – think natural tones and textures

”

FAYE FROYE, BRAND MANAGER, BURLINGTON BATHROOMS

FEBRUARY 2018

COUNTRY HOUSE BATHROOMS

TWO IN ONE A shower over a bath needn’t feel like a compromise: try it with a large shower rose. Appleby Traditional bathroom suite, £650, Victorian Plumbing

IDEA HOME

expert tip

MAKE IT WORK

FOR YOU

◆ Play with contrasts by mixing and matching old and new pieces to create an eclectic look. ◆ Take care of the finer details, opting for efficient modern taps and fittings that recreate the designs of the past. ◆ A freestanding tub will transform your room. Create a striking focal point with a roll-top, bâteau or slipper bath and place it centre stage for maximum impact. ◆ Install modern underfloor heating for a toasty room at all times, but include traditional-style radiators with ball-end joints for warming towels. ◆ Invest in quality and buy the best taps your

Guard against splashes from a shower bath with a glass screen – one that pivots will be easier for children’s bath time

budget will allow for a designer style, whichever look you’ve chosen to go for. A wall-mounted version of a standard ﬁtted bath tap will give a modern scheme a classic edge. ◆ High-gloss brickshaped tiles, like those seen in old Tube stations, are still a popular addition to an Art Deco design. The Retro Metro range from Fired Earth is based on 20th-century London Underground tiles. ◆ For a DIY country-style solution, you could clad or replace the panel around your bath with tongueand-groove panelling and then paint it in soft, tonal shades to match the rest of your scheme.

SHAPE UP Gently curved cabinetry will soften any scheme. Washbasin unit, £745; right- and left-hand units, £395 each, all Utopia Bathrooms

PICTURE THIS Frame pages from vintage nature books to create a gallery. Floor-mounted bath-shower mixer, £1,455, Perrin & Rowe

FEBRUARY 2018

TREND #4

LAID-BACK LUXURY Who needs a trip to a boutique hotel when you can enjoy spa-style pampering in the comfort of your own home?

hile many of us dream of a day at a luxury spa to pamper ourselves and take a break from the stresses of daily life, it’s not always possible to spare the time. However, it’s easier than you might think to create an indulgent bathing experience at home. As there are now ranges that echo the glamour of a stay in a boutique hotel, achieving the look in your own home is easier than ever before.

RELAXING BOUDOIR If you’re after real decadence, take a leaf out of the ﬁve-star hotels’ book and put the bath in your bedroom. The environment in a bedroom helps to create a softer, more sensual feeling for bathing but make sure that your room is up to it ﬁrst. Adding new plumbing can be costly but if your bedroom already has an en-suite or is located next door to a main bathroom it should be a relatively easy job for a plumber. THE TUB’S THE STAR Pick a bath that’s truly covetable – there is a host of freestanding roll-top baths in a multitude of materials to suit any

space and budget. For a truly sculptural look, opt for a bâteau- or slipper-shaped tub. Create a statement by setting your freestanding bath in the centre of the room. If that’s not possible, putting it on a raised platform or sinking it into the floor will make it a stand-out feature. DO THE DOUBLE Jostling for the bathroom – particularly during the morning rush, when everyone is getting ready for work and school – is no fun, so take inspiration from hotels that have double his-andhers-style washbasins. If you have the space, install two separate vanity units; if not, create one to your own design using two countertop basins on a single vanity unit. For an extra hit of glamour, use classic French renaissance designs and place elegantly framed mirrors above them. KEEP IT CLEAN Bathroom clutter – bottles of shampoo, children’s toys and cleaning materials – can definitely spoil a relaxing soak. Keep it hidden by storing it away in elegant fitted furniture. Not only will this keep things out of sight, but it can also help to conceal unsightly pipework.

textured finishes “willIntroducing provide added interest, while using gloss finishes and designs without handles will further enhance the sense of space

”

KAREN BARCOO, UK MARKETING SUPERVISOR, CATALANO

FEBRUARY 2018

Grand designs A beautiful room with an amazing view deserves a bath with grand proportions and elegant furniture. If you have the space, go to town with your tub, using a window to frame it so you can make the most of the views during a lazy soak. BUY THE KEY PIECES Art vanity unit, from £810; inset basin, from £750; wall unit, from £899, all Bagnodesign

BOUTIQUE HOTEL BATHROOMS

IDEAL HOME

expert tip Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel tempted to overfill a large room. It will look much more elegant if a few special pieces are allowed to shine

FEBRUARY 2018

BATHROOMS BOUTIQUE HOTEL ON THE TILES

A patterned floor creates the perfect base for displaying a two-ended tub. Pair with a freestanding bath tap and pull up a comfy chair while the water is running. Barcelona bath designed by Shayelyn Woodbery, £3,475, Victoria + Albert Baths

NATURAL STYLE For luxurious, old-world glamour, pair lots of marble with a central roll-topped bath. Leighton freestanding bath, £2,599; Marlborough washbasin sets, £1,638 each; Venerable loo, £2,357; Marlborough bath-shower mixer, £1,100; Marlborough standpipes, £660; Classical square mirrors, £999 each, all Thomas Crapper ▼ CURTAIN UP Screen the bathroom area with elegantly draped curtains that match the bedlinen for movie-star hotel style. Bath, £6,145; BetteArt washbasin, from £1,087; BetteFloor shower tray, from £650, all Bette

FEBRUARY 2018

IDEAL HOME

expert tip Keep wall tiles plain white but pick different formats to complement dramatic veined marble f looring

“

The recent emergence of boutique hotel chic in the home has helped to break down barriers – figuratively and literally – between the bedroom and the bathroom

MAKING SHAPES Create a raised area for a walk-in shower. Pool Thermaform bath, from £319; panels from £45, Bathstore

”

ROBIN LEVIEN, DESIGNER, IDEAL STANDARD

FEBRUARY 2018

TAKE TWO Step into the world of his-and-hers showering. Separate a large walk-in space with individual controls and screens. Twin shower wall, from £354 per panel, Merlyn Showering

IDEAL HOME

expert tip A wet room will provide a five-star hotel experience. A low-profile shower tray will achieve the look at a fraction of the cost

The “demand for hotel-style suites is driving the latest bathroom trends, such as stylish shower enclosures

”

KAREN SPERRIN, COMMERCIAL MANAGER, PURE BATHROOM COLLECTION

BOUTIQUE HOTEL BATHROOMS RIGHT ANGLE Modernise your boudoir with an oval bath and a sleek, white vanity unit. Bath, £3,434; vanity unit, £3,906, both Duravit Cape Cod range, West One Bathrooms

IDEAL HOME

expert tip

MAKE IT WORK

FOR YOU

◆ Go antiques shopping for vintage chandeliers, but make sure that they can be adapted to comply with the latest electrical regulations before you buy. Under bathroom zoning regulations, they must be kept a safe distance from water – ask your electrician for advice if you’re unsure. Or look for IP-rated, splash-proof replicas. ◆ Add sparkle to your walls with mosaics featuring lustre or metallic ﬁnishes, from companies such as Original Style or Fired Earth. ◆ For the ultimate in luxury, include a ﬁreplace in your design. If you have a working chimney, lie

While gold is becoming popular, gleaming chrome accessories are still the perfect fit for a contemporary design

back and relax in front of a roaring fire; if not, fill it with candles or a gel fire instead. ◆ Set the mood by creating a sense of glamour using dark, dramatic materials; add ambient lighting using LED strips beneath vanity units and shelves, and make the ceiling lights dimmable. ◆ Create an inexpensive but stylish feature using an array of mismatched crystal and glass perfume bottles and storage jars on a vanity unit or windowsill. ◆ Build a stud wall close to your bathing area to accommodate a recessed shelf for shampoo and body wash – ensuring that they’re slightly hidden away but still close at hand.

IN THE PINK Furnishings and accessories in rose tones give any room a sense of old-style romance. Crono sideboard, from £1,721; Mineralcast basin, £395; mirror, £1,110, all Burgbad

FEBRUARY 2018

TREND #5

SLEEK & SIMPLE Opt for ultra-modern, high-gloss or matt modular furniture to give your bathroom a light and spacious look

hile we can all dream of huge bathrooms with enough space to luxuriate in peace, often the reality is a smaller room that needs to cater for several people. Choosing the latest sleek designs and light-reﬂecting materials and combining them with freestanding furniture will help to make any room appear larger.

RAISE YOUR GAME Opting for wall-hung furniture or modular vanity units achieves a feeling of openness: as more of the floor area is visible, the eye is tricked into seeing the space as both bigger and lighter. MATERIAL CHOICE Light-reflecting materials, such as glass and mirror, also enhance the sense of openness. Pick glossy wall and floor tiles, but make sure the floor tiles have a good anti-slip rating, particularly if you have small children. This can be found on most packaging but ask your supplier or builder if you’re not sure. Wall-hung units will give more emphasis to your flooring, so you should take that into account when choosing the size and

colour of your ﬂoor tiles. Pale tiles with matching grout will create a paredback feel, and larger tiles make a space look more open, as there are fewer grout lines to draw the eye. To avoid an excessively shiny feel, add some natural materials, such as stone and wood. Inside showers and around baths, composite panelling will give a smooth, easy-to-clean surface – it comes in a variety of colours and effects that mimic natural materials, such as marble and stone. If you prefer tiles, choose mosaics to create a feature or opt for metro tiles laid in a brick formation for a modern vibe. FREE YOURSELF The choice of freestanding furniture is huge, so you’re sure to ﬁnd something to your taste. Wood or wood veneer is a good classic option although darker-toned timber is best avoided in compact rooms. High-gloss or lacquered white cabinetry gives a cool, clean feel, and a vanity unit in a strong colour will create a focal point. Dramatic colours – indigo, black and bold reds – will be popular this year. Make sure your furniture functions beautifully inside as well as looking stylish outside.

seeing less restrictive, “free-fWe’re lowing products becoming more of a design feature within the bathroom, such as washbasins on the surface of consoles

”

ADAM TEAL, HEAD OF SALES UK, KALDEWEI

FEBRUARY 2018

MODERN MODULAR BATHROOMS

IDEAL HOME

expert tip Underf loor heating not only keeps toes toasty, it also creates a sleek look, leaving more space for wall furniture

Hide and seek Keep items in the bathroom free from dust and moisture but still visible in slimline, wall-hung cabinets with opaque glass doors, and match them with a neat floating basin unit. BUY THE KEY PIECES Elements Premium Elegance Blue Cloud mirror and light, from £609; drawer and wall units, from £936, all Catalano

FEBRUARY 2018

BATHROOMS MODERN MODULAR ON THE LEVEL

Invest in wall-hung sanitaryware and furniture for a wet room to ensure they don’t get waterlogged every time you take a shower. Double vanity unit, £564, Concept Air range, Ideal Standard

DITCH THE HANDLES Keep things sleek by taking a leaf out of the kitchen design book and opting for soft-closing cabinetry without handles. Geo modular furniture, from £255; Snowstorm 28mm solid surface worktops, from £511; Miro sit-on basins, £290 each; Paleto wall-mounted basin mixers, £375 each, all Utopia Bathrooms

▼ BLUE MOOD Make a feature of a floating vanity unit with geometric tiles, timber cabinets and shelving. Calidris bespoke washbasin, £2,095; 80cm vanity units and 60cm base unit in bespoke colour, £4,965; 80cm framed light oak mirrors, £751 each, all Ripples

FEBRUARY 2018

IDEAL HOME

expert tip Clad one wall in tiles that match those on the f loor to help elongate the space; grout with a contrast colour such as grey

“

Modern modular furniture is the perfect choice if you are looking for different products that you can arrange to create a more individual finish in the bathroom

COSY UP Wood grain can warm up a modern scheme. Gola basin unit, basin and worktop, £1,815; mirror, £260, all Alternative Bathrooms

”

HELEN SHAW, MARKETING MANAGER, LAURA ASHLEY BATHROOM COLLECTION FEBRUARY 2018

IDEAL HOME

expert tip A large ‘rainfall’ head gives a luxurious shower but uses more water, so take care if you’re on a water meter

Look for “stylish wall units with lots of clever internal storage to create a sleek and clutter-free family bathroom

”

YSANNE BROOKS, EDITOR, BEST NEW LOOKS FOR BATHROOMS

KEEP IT COMPACT In a narrow room, consider a bank of slimline wall cabinets and a narrow basin. Cooke & Lewis Imandra white wall units, £75 each; Imandra vanity basin unit, £195, all B&Q

MODERN MODULAR BATHROOMS MODERN RUSTIC Give white fittings a chic country look. Meisterstück Centro Duo bathtub, from £5,119; Miena washbasin, from £497, both Kaldewei

IDEAL HOME

expert tip

MAKE IT WORK

FOR YOU

◆ Give the room a focal point by putting light bulbs around the mirror on a freestanding vanity unit, or set a mirrored cabinet with an integrated LED above it. ◆ Large expanses of exposed ﬂooring can sometimes appear stark, so lay down towelling bath mats and wooden duckboards to keep everything feeling comfortable underfoot. ◆ A budget freestanding option is a cabinet on wheels. Great for a family bathroom, it can be ﬁlled with towels, toiletries and even bath-time toys, wheeled around into place when needed and stored away neatly in a corner when not.

If you’re mounting a basin on a vanity unit, make sure it’s deep enough to hide the waste trap and pipework

◆ Plan your lighting carefully to ensure that you make the most of any glossy surfaces, using lots of directional spots to create pools of light. ◆ Family rooms take a lot of punishment, so make sure your furniture is as hard wearing and durable as possible. Think about using stone surfaces, as they will look good for longer than wood. However, if timber is your choice, oil it regularly to keep it at its best. ◆ Choose an ornate or decorative washstand that looks more like a piece of furniture for an en-suite, to blur the boundaries between the bedroom and the bathroom.

STORE AND ORDER Mix open shelving and closed drawers. Washbasin, £566; washbasin unit, £1,633; mirror with lighting, £953, all Citterio Series, Geberit

FEBRUARY 2018

BATHROOMS STOCKISTS

Shopping directory A

Alternative Bathrooms 020 3375 9002; alternativebathrooms.com Annie Sloan 01865 803168; anniesloan.com Bagnodesign 01924 233977; bagnodesign london.com Bathroom Takeaway 0333 305 8200; bathroomtakeaway.co.uk Bathstore 0800 023 2323; bathstore.com Bette 0844 800 0547; bette.co.uk B&Q 0333 014 3098; diy.com British Ceramic Tile 0845 618 7144; britishceramictile.com Burlington Bathrooms 01322 473222; burlingtonbathrooms.com Burgbad 01235 750990; burgbad.com California Shutters 0800 195 0196; californiashutters.co.uk Carpetright 0330 333 3444; carpetright.co.uk Catalano 020 8685 6815; catalano.co.uk CP Hart 0845 873 1121; cphart.co.uk Dulux 0333 222 7171; dulux.co.uk Farrow & Ball 01202 876141; farrow-ball.com Fired Earth 0845 366 0400; ďŹ redearth.com Frontline 0845 470 2424; frontline bathrooms.co.uk Gerberit 0800 077 8365; gerberit.co.uk Hansgrohe 01372 465655; hansgrohe. co.uk Harvey Maria 0845 680 1231; harveymaria.co.uk Heritage Bathrooms 0330 026 8503; heritagebathrooms.com Ideal Standard 01482 346461; ideal-standard.co.uk

D F

G H I

K L

Kaldewei 01480 498053; kaldewei.co.uk Laura Ashley 01225 303929; lauraashley bathroom collection.com London Basin Company 020 8749 1267; londonbasincompany.com Merlyn 00 353 56 779 1555; merlynshowering.com Neptune 01793 427300; neptune.com Notonthehighstreet Notonthehighstreet.com Original Style 01392 473004; originalstyle.com Perrin & Rowe 01708 526361; perrinandrowe.co.uk Philippe Starck starck.com Pure Bathroom Collection 01204 675822; pure bathroomcollection.co.uk Ripples 0800 107 0700; ripplesbathrooms.com Roper Rhodes 01225 303900; roperrhodes.co.uk Thomas Crapper 01789 450522; thomas-crapper.com Utopia Bathrooms 01902 406446; utopiagroup.com Victoria + Albert Baths 01952 221100; vandabaths.co.uk Victorian Plumbing 0345 862 2878; victorianplumbing.co.uk Vitra 01235 750990; vitra.co.uk West One Bathrooms 0333 011 3333; westonebathrooms.com Wilko 0800 032 9329; wilko.com

M N O P R

T U V

IN THIS MAGAZINE Colours may vary slightly from the original due to printing process. Some material has been previously published in Ideal Home magazine

FEBRUARY 2018

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