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A style guide to the

outside

Industry exper t and founder of Out and Out Original, Daniel Fairburn, brings you this season’s best deals on designer furniture. Visit www.outandout.com or call 02037 728 752 for more exciting deals and discounts.

Contactless Delivery Available

Delano - 5-Seater Garden Furniture Set The Delano patio furniture set is generous in size and seats 5 in comfort. It comprises of 2 armchairs and a 3-seater bench, all with comfy cushions and a matching waterproof coffee table for storage. Contemporary in design, it is bang on trend in this season’s taupe. This Garden set is made from UV stabilised resin, meaning that you can leave it out all year round and the set is 100% maintenance free. Was £499, it’s now just £299* but only when you quote your £200 discount code YHJUN20 at checkout.

SAVE £200 Panama - Twin Sun Lounger Set with Ice Box

SAVE £200

Chill in your garden with this set of 2 Panama Sun Loungers with matching ice box. Also included are seat cushions for added comfort plus 4 different reclining positions. Made JVSQ EPP [IEXLIV VIWMR GSRWXVYGXMSR XLMW UYEPM IW JSV outdoor use all year round. For added convenience they can be neatly folded away when they are not in use. Also this twin Sun Lounger set comes with 1 year constructional warranty. Normally £499, now £299*.To receive your £200 discount quote YHJUN20 at checkout.

Havana - Patio Dining Set Make the most of your garden this year with the beautiful 8-seater Havana Garden Set. Comprising 8 stackable armchairs and matching 200cm rectangular dining table, the Havana is made almost entirely from aluminium so is lightweight and easy to move – yet incredibly strong. It is also maintenance free. With fabric seat and back rest, the chairs are extremely comfortable. Normally £699, the Havana is now available at an incredible £499*. To receive your £200 discount quote YHJUN20 at checkout.

SAVE £200

To receive your £200 discount on any of these products quote code YHJUN20 at checkout at www.outandout.com or call 02037 728 752 before 19.07.2020. *Excludes delivery

EDITOR’S LETTER

Editor’s portrait Philip Sowels

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Welcome Hello! I’m delighted to be taking over here at Your Home HQ – even though our HQ is still very much virtual. I can’t wait to help you all make your homes everything you want them to be, which feels especially important while we’re spending so much of our lives in them! We’ve packed this issue with ways to make your house a retreat in these unusual times. From how to create a stress-free sanctuary in Trend Alert: Eastern Tranquillity (p18) to crafts you can unwind with in our Make it Easy guide (p57), we’re here to help you through. Our sleep spaces are more crucial than ever, as we look for somewhere ‘different’ to escape to at the end of each day. So this month’s bedroom makeovers (from p22) are full of stylish, budget-friendly ideas. We haven’t forgotten about the little ones, either – for kids’ room inspiration, flip to page 38! Finally, didn’t summertime seem to start early this year? If you love sunny days then 40 Ways to Welcome Summer into your Home (p34) will show you how to capture that vibe, come rain or shine.

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34 Discover 40 stylish ways to update every room in your home for summer

Editor Mel Sherwood Features Editor Michelle Grady Staff Writer Sophie Demetriades Editorial Assistant Ella Rhys-Jones Designers Sally Bufton, Beth Charlton Lucas Digital Editor Rebecca Messina Digital Editorial Assistant Thea Jeffreys Additional thanks to Rob Banino Advertising: Group Advertising Manager Laura Jones Advertising Manager Heather Golden Business Development Manager Sophie North Brand Sales Executives Phil Wallington, Aileen Booth, James Beckett, Kayla Rose, Baylee SowterHalling Classified Sales Executive Sophie Roberts

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Ad Coordinator Bryony Grace Senior Ad Designers Andrew Hobson, Cee Pike Marketing & Production: Subscriptions Director Jacky Perales-Morris Junior Direct Marketing Executive Tom Allen Director of Licensing & Syndication Tim Hudson Syndication Manager Richard Bentley Production Director Sarah Powell Junior Production Coordinator Georgia Tolley PR Manager Toby Hicks Publishing: Managing Director Marie Davies Promotions & Partnerships Manager Rosa Sherwood Group Managing Director Andy Marshall CEO Tom Bureau

Write to Your Home at Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4ST Enquiries tel 0117 927 9009, email yourhome@immediate.co.uk For subscriptions: yourhome@buysubscriptions.com UK: 03301 358962 Overseas: +44(0)1604 973748 © Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, 2020, member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Unsolicited manuscripts and transparencies are accepted on the understanding that the publisher incurs no liability for their storage or return. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced without permission. All prices are correct at the time of going to press. The publisher, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services which may be advertised or referred to in this issue or for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any such advertisements or references. Your Home is published by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST, UK. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue. Immediate Media Co Ltd is working to ensure that all of its paper is sourced from well-managed forests. This magazine can be recycled. We abide by IPSO’s rules and regulations. To give feedback about our magazines, please visit immediate.co.uk, email editorialcomplaints@immediate.co.uk or write to Legal Director, Immediate Media Co, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London, W6 7BT

Contents 42

Bring style and comfort to your garden with our best outdoor furniture buys

Upgrade your culinary skills with tasty summer recipes

Discover 40 ways to welcome summer into your home

July at home 7

Maxine Hale used her favourite trends to give her Edwardian home a makeover

7 This month we love Discover the best buys, books and styling ideas for July

13 Smarter shopper Savvy ways to entertain the kids this summer

18 Trend alert Take inspiration from the East to create a soothing space 34 40 ways to welcome summer into your home Invite sunny style into every room 38 Kids’ bedrooms Give your child a room to remember with playful décor

42 Buyer’s guide Retreat to the garden with our selection of stylish furniture

Makeovers

22 22 It turned out exactly as I had imagined it! Kate Maunders turned a nursery into a tropical guest bedroom

11 Household hints Find our advice on how to keep your bed cool

Decorating

Take inspiration from the East to create a tranquil home

50 My second-hand units were an eBay bargain Amberley Rainey turned her problem kitchen into a host’s dream 52 Create a calm retreat Declutter your bathroom with streamlined storage

Reader homes

26 We went for maximum glamour on a minimal budget Helen Roper used recycled and high-street buys to create a luxe boudoir

69 70 We gave this old-fashioned house a minimalist makeover Faye Noble took a chance on a project property with plenty of potential

30 Reusing our furniture kept our costs down Rachel Orr stretched her budget to give her bedroom a new look

76 I started each room with something I love Maxine Hale gave her Edwardian home a makeover with trend-led design

Kitchens & bathrooms

45 46 Hard-working worktops and stylish splashbacks Sleek kitchen surfaces

82 We’ve proved that small is beautiful Niamh O’Carroll turned her garage conversion into a bijou apartment

MAKE IT EASY! Update your space with homemade projects and new skills

Try your hand at decoupage

62 Food & Entertaining

92 Go green Treat your taste buds to a delicious meal made from succulent summer greens

Home Improvement

95 96 Convert an old barn into a unique property Take a tattered farm building and transform it into a stunning home

Gardening

101

102 In your garden this month… Fine-tune your flower and veg beds

Don’t miss out! 9

88 Subscribe to Your Home Save 15 per cent on the cover price and choose your bookazine bundle worth up to £20 100 Coming next month Have a sneak peek at our August issue 106 Giveaways Try your luck with this month’s selection of prizes!

Stay warm beside a homemade fire pit

Plus, check out…

108 Shopping guide Here you’ll find where to purchase everything in this issue

60 Revamp, repair, recycle Give a chest of drawers a new lease of life

114 Eco news Save money and the planet with these top buys

66 Ask the experts Your home improvement questions answered

Your letters We check out what you’ve been up to this month

Have you missed an issue? 33 Win! One lucky reader will receive bathroom furniture worth £1,800

Sit comfortably on a bespoke bench cushion

Call 03301 358962 to order back copies

68 Craft stash must-haves Find out about our favourite buys and workshops this month

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Hidden Gem:

Idaho, Altrincham Lovers of quirky, colourful interiors rejoice! IDAHO is the hidden gem for you. Situated in the heart of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, this rainbow-coloured store is brimming with design-led makes. From cards and stationery to skincare and jewellery, IDAHO is a one-stop shop for all your gifting needs… as well as the occasional personal pick-me-up. Everything in the shop has been selected for its originality and quality, and will help turn any room into an inspiring and exciting space. We have our hearts set on the Lady Face Vase, £35 (pictured) – an eye-catching addition to any shelfie. Visit the store at 56 Greenwood Street, Altrincham, WA14 1RZ to see the full range or head to idahoshop.co.uk for a curated selection of products.

THIS MONTH

FOR STOCKISTS SEE P108

we love…

Make the most of July with the best things to do, see and buy this month

Living sustainably is generally perceived to be an expensive lifestyle – the high prices for some vegan foods and clothing made from recycled plastic bottles are enough to make your eyes water. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Read Eco Thrifty by Alexa Kaye and you’ll realise that sustainable living and a healthy bank balance aren’t mutually exclusive. Recycling and upcycling are central to Alexa’s ethos. Find out how you can give old clothes a new lease of life, create eco-friendly cleaning products and transform dilapidated furniture into fully revitalised statement pieces. The book also shows that being ‘eco thrifty’ doesn’t end at the back door either – there’s a host of all-natural tips and tricks for grooming your garden too.

A WICK-ED IDEA In honour of our wonderful NHS, Rebecca Tracey has launched the aptly named Florence candle, which hints at blossom, flowers and flourishing, as well as giving a nod to the famous Nurse Nightingale. Notes of tangerine, bergamot, rosewood and neroli fuse together to create a natural uplifting scent. Produced from all-vegan ingredients, including 100 per cent pure essential oils and GM-free soya wax, you can look forward to up to 60 hours of fruity fragrance. With £5 from every sale donated to the NHS, the Florence candle is a lovely way to thank our incredible healthcare workers while also freshening up your home. Visit rebeccatracey.co.uk for more delightful handcrafted products. Florence candle, £28, Rebecca Tracey

Eco Thrifty by Alexa Kaye is out now, published by Summersdale for £12.99

July 2020

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Sustainable switch-ups

THIS MONTH WE LOVE

GREAT IDEAS FOR… National Workaholics Day 5th July Make your home office a paradise for productivity with these cute additions for your desk

Lavinia pencil cup, £19, Anthropologie

Take notes from the past In this age of social media, exchanging handwritten notes has become something of a forgotten art. But there’s nothing quite like receiving a card with news from a loved one. Inspired by the idea of home and what it means to people, these wonderful greeting cards by artist Lottie Cole will surely put a smile on your lucky recipient’s face. Detailed and vibrant, the watercolour designs are definitely mantlepiece-worthy! Greeting cards, £2.95 each or £14 for six, Lottie Cole

DINE IN STYLE Wild & Wolf light up globe, £59.95, Cuckooland

Rose gold desk tidy, £12, House by John Lewis

Hardback notebooks, £12.95, Cambridge Imprint

STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM AT THE READY! Mini Cat’s Whiskers terracotta planter, £6.50, Red Candy

Romano marble vessel table lamp, £35, BHS

For garden furniture that stands out from the crowd, look no further than this 1960s-inspired set. The woven pink and green design pops against the sleek black table top and the angled legs will bring a touch of drama to your space. You’ll be dining al fresco all summer long with this striking set. The Yuri garden table and garden lounge chair cost £249 and £149 respectively. Visit made.com to see the full range of colours available.

yourhomestyle.uk

A summer without sport is quite a miserable prospect. So, why not recreate the magic and excitement of one of our favourite sporting events, Wimbledon, in your own back garden? Lay down the kiwi-green picnic blanket (far right, top), £125 from Heating & Plumbing London, and adorn it with this charming strawberry-print cushion (right), £17.50 from The Contemporary Home. A tipple at Wimbledon is a must and the glamorous Artland Coppertino flutes (far right, bottom) from Not Just Jugs, £29.95 for two, are perfect for a splash of Champagne! Last but not least, the entertainment. It might not be Nadal or Djokovic, but the Wimbledon Tennis puzzle (right, bottom), £49.50 from Wentworth Wooden Puzzles, is guaranteed to keep the family occupied all afternoon.

Your Home needs you! We love to hear what you’ve been up to, so send us your letters, tips, projects and photos. This month’s prizes are provided by Bunches.

Letter of th monthe

THE WONDER OF WALLPAPER For a while, I’d been considering how I could improve the appearance of our old brown kitchen tiles without the mess and expense of removal. I saw this lovely blue and white tile wallpaper and thought I’d give it a go. It was very easy to put it up and within an hour, the kitchen was transformed – and all for just £16 per roll. Phenomenal! Dragana Farrell, by email Your Home says This is such an inventive decorating idea, Dragana. We’re obsessed with that beautiful blue and white colour combination!

A-door-able I wanted to share a photo of our spruced-up PVC front door. It was white originally, but after two coats of specialist paint from B&Q it looks like a new front door! As it’s worked so well, we’re now going to tackle our garage door too. Emma Amos, by email Your Home says What an amazing difference, Emma! We love the lively blue you’ve opted for – it must really brighten your days.

+ Dragana’s letter has won her a Bunches bouquet and set of goodies worth £40!

Get Online Tweet us your pictures and comments @your_home or like our Facebook page facebook.com/yourhomemag

All dressed up

Cabinet chic

I found a shabby, yellow dresser in a local second-hand furniture shop. Despite how run-down it looked, I liked it and saw some potential. Using Rust-Oleum chalk paint in Anthracite and Clotted Cream, plus some new knobs, I completely transformed it into a dresser that gives me joy whenever I look at it! Maureen Raud, by email

I don’t drink but felt like the odd one out without a gin cabinet! This was being offered for free on Facebook, so I jumped at the chance to collect it. I decorated it using Frenchic Hornblower paint, and added bright wallpaper on the inside. I love it, I hope you do too? Corinna Bloye, by email

Your Home says What a wonderful transformation, Maureen! This must look so lovely in your home, and it’s a great storage solution too.

Your Home says Even if you’re teetotal, it’s nice to have a spot for your favourite glassware! Your spruced-up cabinet is stunning, Corinna – we wish we had one!

SEND YOUR TIPS, PHOTOS AND LETTERS TO: Your letters, Your Home magazine, Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4ST, or email yourhome@immediate.co.uk. Letters may be edited. We apologise but photos cannot be returned.

Courtesy of Bunches, this issue’s letter of the month will receive a bouquet and goodies worth £40. The three runners-up will each receive a bouquet worth £25. Find out more about Bunches and its products at bunches.co.uk. Xxxxxxxxxxx 2020

A BIG

THANKS TO OUR

To donate to the NHS please go to

nhscharitiestogether.co.uk

Freshen up your home for summer with our handy tips and tricks To get the best om your performance fr r, hold the he as w pressure ight and handle at hip he 45° at pointed down

How to… deep clean your patio or decking

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Now that summer is here, you’ll be spending a lot more time in your back garden dozing, dining or just relaxing on your decking or patio. But if the paving or planks are in need of a little rejuvenation before you can start taking things easy, follow these top tips to give them a deep clean… If you have patio paving slabs, start by removing any weeds growing up in between them. For a cheap and simple cleaning option, use a hard-bristled brush and a mixture of washing-up liquid and water. Working in stages, pour the mixture onto the patio slabs and work away all ground-in dirt and surface discolouration using the brush. Then, simply rinse the slabs off with clean water to find a gleaming patio that’s as good as new. The above method can require a little elbow grease, but an easier alternative is to get your hands on some patio cleaning fluid. A good one will contain some detergent to shift even the most stubborn dirt. All you need to do is spray the liquid on, let it sit for a while, then wash it off with a hose or a hard-bristled brush. Onto the decking. Begin by sweeping away any leaves or debris so you have a spotless surface to work with. Pour either a gentle solution of water and washing-up liquid or a speciality decking cleaner over the surface, then agitate it using a stiff-bristled brush until it lathers. Allow to sit for up to 10 minutes then rinse it off with clean water. Once the decking is dry, use sandpaper to smooth any rough patches then brush away any debris before resealing it. Apply decking oil or stain for a smart, professional finish. If you’re lucky enough to own a pressure washer, the cleaning process is even easier. Simply connect your pressure washer to the outdoor tap and adjust the nozzle so that you have a medium pressure level. Hold the pressure washer handle at a 45° angle at hip height, and spray the water from left to right at a steady pace. You’ll notice the grime being dislodged almost immediately – continue to spray evenly until the entire decking or patio is clean.

Image Getty Images

Q&A

Image Getty Images

How can I organise my freezer?

Always leave food to cool completely before freezing it and make sure you know what foods are freezable (eggbased sauces and fried foods don’t do well sub-zero). Make sure you’ve separated food into portion sizes before freezing it, as this simplifies the process when it comes to defrosting. Also, try to freeze things flat by using Tupperware and freezer bags that are easily stacked. Last but definitely not least, label and date the packages! You’ll be surprised by how quickly you can forget what you’ve frozen.

Editor’s Choice Do you want a kitchen appliance that stands out, rather than blends in? If so, the K400 Artisan Blender, the latest addition \W \PM 3Q\KPMV)QL KWTTMK\QWV UQOP\ JM R][\ _PI\ aW] ZM TWWSQVO NWZ )^IQTIJTM QV [\]VVQVO [PILM[ Q\ TT UISM JTMVLQVO NZM[P [W]X[ IVL [UWW\PQM[ MI[QMZ IVL NI[\MZ \PIV M^MZ 1\ [ [QUXTM \W KWV\ZWT PI[ Å^M [XMML[ IVL XZWOZIU[ NWZ KZ][PML QKM QKa LZQVS[ IVL [MTN KTMIVQVO ?M ZM TW^QVO \PM VM_ 3aW\W Glow colour (pictured), a vibrant citrus green that will pop beautifully against neutral cabinets. K400 Artisan Blender, £279, kitchenaid.co.uk

July 2020

Have you ever seen a more enticing chair? We think not

What to look out for

Salsa garden swing seat, £249, House by John Lewis

THIS MONTH

For Club Tropicana vibes at home, pick up these botanical print cushions Exotic floral print outdoor cushion, £14.99, Bean Bag Bazaar

G eat Buy Burnt food stuck to the bottom of a pan is one of our biggest pet peeves. But it could be a thing of the past with GreenPan. The cookware from GreenPan enables you to fry and sauté with little to no oil thanks to its ceramic non-stick coating. Not only is the range non-stick, but it’s also free from toxic chemicals and great at conducting heat for maximum cooking efficiency. Healthy meals have never been so fuss-free. See the full range at greenpan.co.uk.

Bring the festival to your garden this summer with this bold lantern Torello lantern in foliage green, £45, Garden Trading ith helper Venice Pro wok wi with handle, £70, GreenPan Forget sour, these lemon lights are as sweet as anything!

There’s so much pot-ential with these vibrant vessels

Lemon Outdoor Fairy Lights, £11.99, Lights4fun

Beaded pots in various colours, £6.99, Dobbies

WE TEST… Cooling bedding We tried out some bedding with cooling properties – here’s what we found… PURE LINEN BEDDING, £64, EVE SLEEP The coolest of the bunch, linen definitely lives up to its reputation as a great temperature regulator in this bedding. It’s breathable, moisture-wicking and a delight to jump into on a hot summer’s night. The material creases easily, but this is to be expected with linen and is part of its distinctive rustic charm. Reasonably priced bedding, given its quality and cooling effects.

9/10

CLASSIC COTTON BEDDING BUNDLE, £99, BEDFOLK With a refined, super-smooth finish, this bedding is, without a doubt, the most luxurious of all the sets here. The percale weave makes it particularly suitable for hot weather and though the bedding’s cooling effects aren’t noticeable during the hottest hours, it does a good job of regulating temperature generally. Its stunning rose colour makes this the most chic-looking set – it’s very cool bedding, even if not always in the literal sense.

8/10

THINGS WE CONSIDERED O Did it keep us cool? O How soft was it? O Was it good quality?

BOBBI BED LINEN IN BLUSH, £55, CHRISTY This bed linen is perfect for those who like a classic look. The grosgrain trim adds a delightful splash of colour to bedrooms with neutral colour schemes. The 100 per cent cotton percale material is soft to the touch and also allows the bedding to keep you much cooler than standard sheets. For such an affordable price point, the Bobbi bedding is definitely worth considering if you’re looking for some cooler linen.

9/10

TEMPERATURE BALANCING COTTON BEDDING, £100, JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS Breathable and lightweight, this 100 per cent cotton bed linen feels lovely against your skin. Its 400-thread-count fabric is soft and smooth, and the quality is palpable. The bedding does have some cooling effects, although the covers may need to be thrown off on the hottest nights. Nonetheless, this bedding is crisp, fresh and good value for money considering the quality.

7/10

*all prices for a double duvet and two standard pillowcases

yourhomestyle.uk

THE LATEST CONSUMER NEWS

Savvy ways to…

Entertain the kids for free this summer

595,000 thefts from gardens took place last year, with 75 per cent of AA home insurance members saying it would cost them up to £5,000 to replace the stolen items. Yet nearly half of homeowners don’t include garden contents when buying home insurance – see overleaf for more. Source The AA

YH Fab find The iBlockCube Worldwide Travel Adapter lets you use almost any electrical device in almost any country. Its pins can be reconfigured to work in over 150 countries’ sockets so you’re unlikely to ever get caught out. It also has two USB ports for charging your gadgets, powersurge protection and a 12-month guarantee.

SMART SAVINGS If you haven’t discovered TopCashback yet, maybe it’s time you did! It’s the UK’s highest paying cashback site – it’s free to join and really simple to use. TopCashback passes on its advertising commission straight to you, as a cashback. So, you just browse the site’s thousands of retailers and exclusive cashback offers, choose from your favourite brands and shop as normal. The retailer pays TopCashback commission for your purchase and it goes into your account for you to spend. Find out more at topcashback.co.uk.

near to bug-friendly flowers and shrubs. You can find online tutorials at the RSPB and Eden Project’s websites, or buy a kit from Amazon. MAKE A DEN Begin by looking for long, thin branches and removing any smaller offshoots. When you have enough, create a teepee shape and tie rope or string around the top to hold them together. Thread thin leafy branches in between the upright ones until the teepee is covered. Visit themightyeagle.co.uk or getoutwiththekids.co.uk for ideas. On rainy days, make an indoor den by placing an old duvet cover over a table. Make a cut in one end to create an entrance, then roll up the flaps and fix them with clothes pegs to open it. CREATE A KID’S GARDEN Giving children a small patch for growing their own plants and veg could be the start of a lifelong love of gardening and will instil a sense of responsibility. Choose anything that’s colourful and easy to grow, such as sunflowers, snapdragons and marigolds. Add bird feeders, birdbaths and bug hotels to bring some wildlife into their patch, too.

Tech news These Nanoleaf light panels are colourful and clever! As well as touch controls, the LED squares have an audio sensor – so they can light up along with music, movies and games. Compatible with Smart Home systems such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home, you can also activate the panels with your voice. Nanoleaf Canvas Smarter Kit, nine panels, £179.99, nanoleaf.me

iBlockCube Worldwide Travel Adaptor, £15.99, Amazon

July 2020

Feature Alison Davidson Top photo Getty Images

FACT FILE

It’s a perennial problem: finding fun ways to keep the kids occupied, which don’t cost a fortune. But there’s no need to spend money if you’ve got a garden as there are plenty of ways to create fun in your outdoor space. So, what can you do to create free fun for kids at home? PLAY GAMES According to Cuprinol, the makers of exterior wood protection products, hide-and-seek is the nation’s favourite free garden game. Everyone knows the standard way to play but to mix it up and make each round last a little longer, you could try the ‘wave’ version. Once found, a caught-hider becomes a seeker, competing with the original seeker to find the remaining hiders. If the new seeker spots another hider, they should wave at each other, at which point the caught-hider gets to hide again. BUILD A BUG HOTEL Invite a little wildlife into your garden by filling a box with different-sized hollow tubes. These could be the dead stems of plants or reeds – bamboo or seed heads are good choices. Wedge them in so they don’t move, then place the box in a sunny position

THE LATEST CONSUMER NEWS

TYPES OF INSURANCE POLICIES There are loads of different kinds of policies available, depending on your property type and what you’re looking for

Protect your property and possessions by having the right home insurance

Q Buildings insurance covers the cost of repairing damage to the structure of your home (the walls, windows and roof) as well as fixtures and fittings such as fitted kitchens, basins and baths – essentially anything that can’t be taken with you if you move. This can often extend to garages, greenhouses and sheds, but check the small print. Q Contents insurance covers the cost of replacing items that get damaged or destroyed in a fire or flood, or are stolen. It’s for everything from clothes and carpets to phones and furniture.

aking sure you have the best cover when it comes to house insurance will protect you against all sorts of issues, from damage to the building itself to You can cancel your policy the theft of any valuable any time within the first 14 days, though some insurers belongings inside it, as will charge a penalty fee. well as extras such as bikes, Always read the T&Cs tools and garden furniture. before you buy. With different policies available, along with varying levels of cover, our handy guide will help you determine which is best for you. Aspects to consider when working out how much cover you want

WHAT TO INCLUDE

REASONS TO INSURE

As your home is the biggest financial investment you’re likely to ever make, here’s why insurance is essential… Q You’ll get financial protection should your home be damaged due to fire or flood or if anything gets stolen.

Feature Hayley Gilbert Image Getty Images

Q Buildings insurance is a must when looking for a mortgage, as this is the lender’s security on the loan. It should cover fire, storms, flood and subsidence. Q A policy should arrange for an alternative place to stay should yours become uninhabitable due to fire or flood. Q Accidents such as hammering a nail through a water pipe or staining a carpet can be covered with accidental damage. Q Look for ‘new for old’ – if you need to replace items, you’d expect to have the money to buy the latest versions. Q Adding home emergency to your cover can pay for things like locksmiths and burst pipes, as well as offering 24-hour help.

yourhomestyle.uk

Q For contents insurance, it should be the approximate total value of all your possessions including furnishings, furniture, clothes, electrical items and office equipment. Q Make sure anything inside the garage, shed or greenhouse is included too, such as bikes, scooters, lawn mowers, garden furniture and any expensive plants.

How do I calculate the rebuild cost of my home? Abigail Nash, Dundee This is different from its market value and with most online comparison sites you can either accept an estimated rebuild value or enter your own figure using a calculator from the Building Cost Information Service at calculator.bcis.co.uk.

Q Combined buildings and contents is the most popular policy as it covers everything – the structure and all the things inside it. Q Listed buildings insurance is a must if you live in a Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II listed property, as repairs tend to be more expensive. Q Landlord insurance covers you if you let a property to others. It also includes cover for loss of rent and public liability. Q Tenant insurance focuses on contents cover, as you’re not liable for the building you’re living in.

HOW TO GET A GOOD DEAL Get the best price with these top tips Q Compare levels of cover and check exclusions to ensure you’re only paying for what you need. Q Use online comparison sites to find the cheapest quotes. Some insurance companies aren’t on these, so contact them directly. Q An insurance broker could save you money and is worth paying for if you have a listed building or other specialist needs. Q Having a house alarm, security lighting or joining the local Neighbourhood Watch could reduce your premiums. Q Buying combined buildings and contents insurance often reduces costs.

Useful contac ts

Compare home insu rance deals at confused.com, com parethemarket.com , moneysupermark et.com or gocompa re.com Get help choosing the right policy and cov er at moneyadviceservi ce.org.uk There is plenty of add itional advice at citizensadvice.org.u k

Decorating Bring a touch of summer into your home with a pretty coastal trend and discover the latest arrivals

Mini trend: Shell-mania Summertime usually means trips to the seaside! But if you can’t go to the beach, make the beach come to you, because this month’s trend is all about bringing a coastal vibe to your living space with sweet seashells. Whether it’s the shape, pattern or colour, shell-inspired designs are cropping up in all kinds of furniture and accessories, from conch cushions and lampshades to scallop coasters and wall hooks. So, jump on the bandwagon and bring a hint of seaside joy to your home this summer!

Mustard velvet beaded shell cushion, £58, Audenza

Life & Style marble coaster with brass shell, £12.50, The Grey Works

Game, set and match Matching wallpaper and paint in one room can be a real chore. But Lick is here to make the task easier. Lick uses a limited colour palette to take the hassle out of the process and ensure that each of its high-quality wallpapers has a paint that matches perfectly. What’s more, these paints are better for you and the environment thanks to their low VOC content. The paints cost £38 for 2.5L and the wallpapers start from £75 per roll. Find out more at lickhome.com.

Nautilus seashell rattan lampshade, from £99, Beaumonde

Spindle shell cushion, from £24.99, Perkins & Morley

PIONEERING PRINTS

Jungle wallpaper in Palm, £80 per roll, MissPrint

Check out MissPrint’s brand-new Pioneer collection of handillustrated wallpapers. Prices for wallpapers in the range start from £74 per roll and they boast a wonderful selection of prints, including jungle designs, nature-inspired patterns and geometric contemporary takes on ancient symbols. There are eight patterns in 35 colourways to choose from, so you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to decorating your next feature wall! See the full range at missprint.co.uk

July 2020

Feature Sophie Demetriades

Shell wall hook in Peach, £25, Rose & Grey

STYLE FILE

TREND ALERT…

Eastern tranquillity Soothe your scheme with delicate florals, calming colours and ikat patterns

scheme that projects a feeling of peace is much sought-after in interior design at the moment and it’s a look that’s epitomised by Eastern-inspired décor. This trend for tranquillity is influenced by homewares and culture derived from Japan, China and ancient Persia. One of the key elements of the décor is its use of natural materials and plants that originate from these countries to promote a sense of calm. Think stoneware vases, orchids and bamboo. As well as mindful serenity, another hallmark of the style is its simplicity through its links to the traditional Chinese practice of ‘feng shui’. The term literally translates to ‘wind-water’ but the concept behind it suggests that balancing the energetic forces in your surroundings will help you achieve a measure of inner peace. So, what does this mindful, minimalist trend entail? In terms of colour, calm shades of sky blue, blush pink, pale aqua, deep cerulean, bronze-gold and jade green are winning combinations. These can all be matched with textures of light bamboo wood, porcelain, jute, stone and silk, which you can incorporate through lamps, mirrors, dining sets, rugs, vases and cushions. As well as dainty florals, other Eastern-derived patterns that work well with this look include ikat and paisley, which you can welcome into your home on rugs, tableware and bedspreads. Bring a sense of zen to your living room with this calming Japanese-inspired wall mural Fuji No Yukei wallpaper mural, from £34 sq m, Wallsauce Blue star sushi serving set, £29.50, Sous Chef Bamboo oval mirror, £65, Abode Living

Artificial bamboo plant in black pot, £25, George Home

yourhomestyle.uk

Natural bamboo pendant light, £85, Ella James

STYLE FILE Silky fabrics and ikat prints are a staple of Easterninspired design Charlotte upholstered kingsize bed frame in Opulence Royal Blue, from £499; 200 thread count polycotton fitted sheet in Blush Pink, from £9; Easy-care 200 thread count polycotton standard pillowcase in Blush Pink, £3.50; Seoni duvet cover set, from £40; Kuva duvet cover set, from £12; Boutique hotel linear cushion in Aegean, £20; Ikat cushion in Saffron, £12, all John Lewis & Partners

Small white orchid arrangement, £60, Truly

Add a dainty touch to your dining table with this set of dusky pink and powder blue side plates Side plates, £20 for a set of four, Joe Browns

Feature Sophie Demetriades

Clockwise from top left: Pink flowers bloom art print, from £10, Abstract House. Morston pure matt paint, £47 for 2.5L, Fenwick & Tilbrook. Wedgwood wonderlust square tray in Camellia, £40, Amara. Woven jute rug, from £40, Next

Embrace elegant floral motifs with this rosy-pink patterned cabinet Archie velvet love seat in Dusty Pink, £299; Hugo cushion, £22.50; Santoro floral drinks cabinet, £499; Capri table lamp, £59; Mercury glass dinner candle holder, £9.50; Mercury glass pillar candle holder, £12.50; Form cereal bowl, £4; Statement seeded glass vase, £12.50; Archie velvet armchair in Dusty Pink, £179; Blake nesting side tables, £179; Tribeca stackable wine glasses, £17.50 for a set of four; Distressed chenille cushion in Duck Egg, £9.50; Jute rug, from £79, all Marks & Spencer

July 2020

STYLE FILE

Spend V Save Polish off your dining table with a decorative teapot

The Aragon collection midnight blue fine bone china teapot, £130, Historic Royal Palaces

Camila green and gold ceramic and bamboo teapot, £34, Oliver Bonas

The teardrop-like shape characteristic of paisley patterns is of Persian origin, whereas the first record of large-scale decorative wall fans dates back to China in 121 AD Paisley bedspread, £125; Bamboo fan wall hanging, £59, both Oliver Bonas

Clockwise from top: Get Plastered eggshell paint, £49.99 for 2.5L, Dowsing & Reynolds. Tufted French blossom bird rug, from £99, Joe Browns. Les ottomans ceramic ikat side plate in Teal/Purple, £22, Les ottomans ceramic ikat dinner plate in Teal/Purple, £50, Les ottomans ceramic ikat dessert plate in Teal/Purple, £40, all Amara. Gooch luxury hand-knotted traditional ikat berber rug, £525, John Lewis & Partners

yourhomestyle.uk

STYLE FILE Welcome a sense of serenity into your living room or home office with this graceful linedrawn wall mural Delicate Chinese landscape illustration wallpaper mural, from £29 m sq, Wallsauce

DECORATIVE VASES Give your blooms a stylish space to be displayed

Abaya blue and white ceramic vase, £18, Habitat

Miva yellow stripes stoneware bottle vase, £32, Artisanti

Textured terracotta vase, £55, Cox & Cox

Large bamboo tray on feet, £65, Ella James Weeping plum vase, £45, Shimu Japanese festival cushion, £55, Postcards Home Kitt bamboo one-door TV stand, £150, Habitat

Dutchbone bahir vase, £59, Cuckooland

Channel the trend with this decorative jade green and bronze-gold cabinet Oriental decorated blue medium cabinet, £359, The Nine Schools

Fruits and roots bamboo door curtain, £86, Red Candy

If you like Eastern-inspired design, turn to page 102 to find out how to create a Japanese-style garden

July 2020

BEDROOM MAKEOVER

It turned out exactly as I imagined it! What was once a kid’s bedroom has been given a spacious feel and new grown-up look with a tropical twist Kate gave this bright and sunny guest bedroom the tropical treatment. She picked out the green tones from the wallpaper for her artworks and various accessories, and balanced them with pretty hints of pink and soft grey

hen Kate Maunders, 30, and husband Phil, 35, moved into their three-bedroom semidetached home in Essex, they knew it needed a fair bit of work. Luckily, it didn’t deter the couple in the slightest and they slowly began to renovate the Victorian house. Priority went to the living room and kitchen before the pair turned their attention to the upstairs, where the first stop was the guest bedroom as it needed the least amount of work. ‘There wasn’t anything too intimidating to tackle in this room,’ recalls Kate. ‘The messiest part was skimming and replastering the textured ceiling, but we got someone in to do that – my DIY skills don’t stretch that far! Aside from that, the work was purely cosmetic, which made a nice change to the rest of the house. We were nervous that we’d uncover rotten floorboards or dodgy electrics, but we were lucky in this room – there weren’t any major issues.’

Good idea!

Think about mu furniture for smalleltri-function shelves, for example, worooms. Ladder tables and displayrkspacas bedside e.

For symmetry, Kate placed two leaning shelf ladders either side of the bed. The shelves also function as an alternative to bedside tables for lamps, alarm clocks and other essentials

STEP ONE As the previous owners had used the space as a kid’s bedroom, it had decals of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and various woodland animals all over the walls – not a look that Kate was going for. The couple don’t have children so they were keen to create a more grown-up space, which meant redecorating the room from scratch. ‘The walls were a curious shade of brown

Various art prints, including a few from Attiki Art and Oso Twee, have been used to create a gallery wall, in keeping with the tropical scheme. Different sizes create interest, while the black frames keep the display cohesive

Before 22

yourhomestyle.uk

BEDROOM MAKEOVER

with a sky-blue feature wall,’ says Kate. ‘It also had a really old, threadbare carpet that we wanted to replace with something a little more luxurious. Then there was a strange pull chord above the bed, as well as a regular light switch, to turn the light on and off!’ Kate scoured Instagram and magazines for inspiration on how to decorate and fell in love with the trend for leaves, palms and all things tropical. A Google search for tropical wallpaper threw up the perfect palm design for a feature wall and its green tones inspired the rest of the colour palette.

STEP TWO With the ceiling skimmed, the couple hired a painter-decorator to paint the walls and hang the wallpaper. ‘We both work really long days in London and I just love coming home to the work having been done to a great standard,’ says Kate. ‘Hanging wallpaper is not something within my skill set, especially with such a busy pattern, so getting someone in to do that for us was definitely a good decision.’ The room is south-facing and benefits from lots of light, so Kate and Phil decided to emphasise this by painting the non-papered

walls in an off-white colour to create a light, bright space that also feels restful and calm. ‘I learned the hard way about measuring for wallpaper with a busy pattern,’ laughs Kate. ‘You need a lot more than you think – the poor decorator ran out halfway through and had to come back the following week to finish the job! It looks amazing though and really gives a focal point to the room.’

STEP THREE With the decorating complete, it was time for a new light-grey carpet to go down and curtains to go up.

July 2020

Feature Laurie Davidson Photos Lizzie Orme

total cost £511

BEDROOM MAKEOVER

Good idea!

The pièce de résistance is the emerald-green Isla chair from Dunelm, which adds a big hit of colour to the far end of the room Soft-grey carpet gives the room a luxurious finish and provides guests with a soft surface to step onto when they’re getting out of bed

Don’t waste leftover wallpaper – Kate used hers to wrap birthday pres s and everyone commented on what lovent ely wrapping paper it was!

ROOM PLAN

3.75M

2.75M

THE DETAILS ‘The curtains were actually a made-tomeasure pair from Dunelm that I got in a sample sale for £5!’ says Kate. ‘They were far too long but totally beautiful, and I knew I could take them up and that they’d be perfect for this room. I did GSCE textiles and I’ve always loved to make and craft things, so I hemmed them myself.’ The pair then moved onto the furniture and accessories. They’d bought the bed a few years previously, along with the leaning ladder shelves, but couldn’t resist the emerald-green velvet cocktail chair from Dunelm, which is one of Kate’s favourite items in the room. ‘My interior style has definitely changed over the years,’ she muses. ‘My first love was Scandi, whereas now I’m definitely moving towards a more traditional feel – although the bed and shelving in this room have a real Scandi feel, as does the pattern on the curtains.’

STEP FOUR Both Kate and Phil are

WALLPAPER

£29

thrilled with the new scheme and love that it feels so much larger than before. ‘I think that’s down to the colour of the walls and carpet, and adding a mirror to one of the walls,’ says Kate. ‘Creating a gallery wall with lots of framed prints has also made the room feel much larger, as it shows just how large the wall is and how high the ceilings are.’ As the first ‘finished’ room upstairs, this bedroom has turned into something of a sanctuary for the couple. ‘We moved in here while tackling the master bedroom,’ says Kate. ‘It was so nice to sleep in a space that was actually done to our style and taste! It’s rare that we finish a room and there aren’t things I wish I’d done slightly differently, but I’m so happy with how this space came out. It’s just how I hoped it would be – light, bright, airy and calming.’

PAINT

£18

3 OF THE BEST... tropical foliage £38 from The French Bedroom Company

£38

Pile up cushions like this retroglam tropical palm fringed design for a luxe feel.

£38 for three from Very Kick-start a gallery wall with this set of three coordinating botanical prints.

£59 from Cult Furniture Accessorise a vanity table with this Harmony geometric low stool in plush velvet.

yourhomestyle.uk

£38

£59

CARPET

£280

FURNITURE

£139

CURTAINS

£5

BED LINEN

£40

TOTAL

£511

Shopping list White Mist matt emulsion paint, £18 per 2.5L, Dulux. Alfresco Palm Leaf wallpaper, £14.99 per roll, Wayfair. Carpet in Dove Soft Noble, £13.99 per sq m, Ramsden Mills. Bed, £99 from Dreams – for similar, try House Bonn Upholstered bed frame in Saga Grey, £199 (double), John Lewis & Partners. Bamboo and white ladder shelves, £60 each, The Futon Company. Isla Cocktail chair in Emerald, £139; curtains in MissPrint Fern Carbon fabric, £18 per m; Clara Cotton velvet rectangular cushions in Dusky Pink, £10 each; Clara Cotton velvet cushion in Emerald, £12; Jones alarm clock in white, £12; Elements round wall mirror in black, £20; black picture frames, from £4, all Dunelm. Animal Jacquard bedding set, £39.50 (king size), Marks & Spencer. Plantosaurus porcelain planter, £15, Oliver Bonas. Round concrete table lamp, £15, Urban Outfitters. Small faux fern plant, £7; ivy bush, £10.50, both Blooming Artificial. Skold sheepskin rug, 60cm, £25, IKEA. Oro pendant drum lampshade in White Clay and Copper, £32, Made. Scandi Tree print, from £5; Tropical Leaf print, from £9; Minimalist Scandi Trees print, from £5, all Attiki Art at Etsy. Wonderful print, from £7.50; Ampersand print, from £7.50, both Oso Twee. The Adventure Begins typography print, £30, Green Lili. ‘The Bee’ print (on shelf), £7.99, Andy Thomas Artworks.

The perfect gifts for Makers, Menders and Growers

www.tinkerandfix.co.uk

BEDROOM MAKEOVER

We went for maximum glamour on a minimal budget! A clever mix of recycled and high-street buys has helped transform a damp and dreary bedroom into a luxurious boudoir

total cost £667

Helen and Matthew’s dusky pink bedroom is now a relaxing retreat, complete with rich, warming wood and gold tones, plus plenty of texture and statement motifs

hen Helen Roper and husband, Matthew, bought their threebedroom home in South London, they knew it needed some work, which they began almost as soon as they moved in. Fast-forward a year and, with most rooms updated, the couple had finally run out of steam. ‘Having worked our way upstairs

yourhomestyle.uk

and completed the rooms for our children, Benjamin and Olivia, in record time, our bedroom stubbornly remained on my todo list. We just couldn’t summon up any enthusiasm for the project,’ explains Helen. The couple were spurred into action sooner than they expected, however, thanks to the unlikely intervention of a leak!

Before

BEDROOM MAKEOVER STEP ONE A badly leaking roof meant

Good idea!

that, not only did a section of ceiling need to be pulled down and replaced, but the couple also had to ditch the already tired and now water-stained carpet. Luckily, the bed and existing built-in wardrobes escaped unscathed. So, once the leak was fixed and the carpet consigned to the skip, it was simply a matter of waiting for the area to dry out before making good and re-plastering. ‘The wait not only gave me time to consider my new scheme, but also get on with the task of removing layers of rather ugly woodchip wallpaper,’ says Helen.

For designer style without the price tag, consider statement wallpaper. Two rolls is plenty for a feature wall.

STEP TWO As the room is north facing and not particularly big, Helen was keen to make the most of available light and space, as well as inject style and character with a glamorous gold and pink scheme. ‘We also needed to get creative with our decorating and furnishing choices, thanks to nowlimited funds,’ says Helen. Rather than invest in new fixtures and fittings, the couple opted to supplement existing pieces with vintage and high street finds. But their first budgetary challenge was flooring. Having established that a new carpet was out of the question, they settled on simply sanding and sealing the exposed boards. ‘They turned out far better than expected and were definitely worth the effort,’ says Helen.

Feature Paula Woods Styling Jo Rigg Photos Laura Ashman

The couple’s existing bed has been dressed to impress in sumptuous linen layers, specifically chosen to echo the pink walls. The vintage chest of drawers not only provides additional storage but also acts as a handy pamper station

The vintage chest of drawers was a bit of an impulse buy but it tones in beautifully with Helen’s opulent pink and gold scheme

It’s all in the details: the colours, shapes, materials and patterns of these accessories all come together to complement the overall scheme Helen’s used for this bedroom

July 2020

BEDROOM MAKEOVER STEP THREE In keeping with the cost-

STEP FOUR Fortunately for the couple,

cutting approach, Helen chose to refresh the wardrobes and chimney breast with a coat of space-enhancing white paint. The remaining walls were painted a warm and welcoming soft pink. ‘I think the pink works really well with the wood tones in the room – although I must admit it’s the feature wall that I’m most proud of,’ smiles Helen. A lover of feather motifs, she spotted her opulent gold paper on Pinterest and, despite it being her first attempt at hanging wallpaper, she’s found it easier than anticipated. ‘I think it was mainly due to the fact that there were no tricky corners to contend with,’ she says. ‘And at under £13 a roll it was a real bargain!’

the full-height wardrobes provide ample clothes storage, although Helen couldn’t resist adding a vintage chest of drawers she found online. ‘Both the drawers and chair are from the same Margate emporium and while I loved the rich wood tones of the drawers, I decided to paint the chair to match the new scheme,’ she says. A quick trip to IKEA led to the couple’s clever storage tables, cosy rugs and tactile light, while the newly acquired skill of eBay bidding resulted in the blind and replacement handles. ‘Along with my new bedlinen, they’re a great finishing touch to what is now the perfect place to relax at the end of the day or simply spend time reading a book,’ concludes Helen.

ROOM PLAN

3.4M

3.6M

Good idea!

Revive dated wardrobe a fresh coat of paint ans with swapping the old hand d by les for new ones. A second-hand chair, painted in deep pink, makes good use of the empty fireplace and provides a welcome spot to stow clothes at the end of the day

£10 from Gisela Graham

£35 from Audenza Glam up your dressing table with this pink bottle topped with a golden shell.

£6.75 for three from The Contemporary Home Display dainty blooms in this trio of petite, tasselled hanging bottle vases.

yourhomestyle.uk

£35

£10 £6.75

PAINT AND WALLPAPER

£253

FURNITURE

£335

DOOR KNOBS

£30

LIGHTING

£13

BLIND

£36

TOTAL

£667

Shopping list

3 OF THE BEST... bottle vases Add glitz with this glass bottle adorned with pretty painted golden feathers.

THE DETAILS

Walls and wardrobe in Dorchester Pink and Loft White absolute emulsion, both £47 for 2.5L; chair in Blush intelligent eggshell, £32 per litre, all Little Greene. Holden metallic feather pattern wallpaper, £12.99 per roll, I Want Wallpaper. Cane window blind, £36; Square glass doorknobs, £7.50 each, both eBay. Chest of drawers, £225; wooden chair, £20, Scott’s Furniture Mart. Lierskogen bedside tables, £45 each; Torared pendant lamp shade, £13; Ikornnes mirror, £20; Smidie dyed sheepskin, £35; Ludde sheepskin, £29; Blomdoft candles, £4.50 for a set of three; Sanela pink velvet cushion cover, £5, all IKEA. Blush pink linen duvet cover, king size £130.50; standard linen pillowcases £14.40 each, Secret Linen Store. Washed linen pillowcases in beige, £12.99 each, H&M.

Real homes and an nd makeovers makeovvers

Tour reader homes and steal ideas from amazing room makeovers… all at the click of a button

Looking for your next creative endeavour? find craft projects aplenty at YourHomeStyle.uk!

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YourHomeStyle.uk Explore our new-look website for décor inspiration, household hacks and craft ideas, plus recipes and competitions galore

Let’s eat! We’ve got mealtime ideas for everything from seasonal lunches to delectable desserts

S ep by steps to success With cleaning tricks and DIY projects, our guides help you turn your house into a home to be proud of

And so much more… If you love Your Home magazine, we know you’ll love our brand new website – take a look today!

BEDROOM MAKEOVER

Reusing old furniture kept our costs down Rachel decorated around existing pieces, which meant she could stretch the budget further to give her master bedroom a fresh new look

ver since buying their four-bedroom Edwardian semi in Southampton in 2005, Rachel Orr, 52, and her husband Chris had used the largest bedroom, which was brimming with original period features, as their master. ‘We decorated in neutral colours and this served us well for 12 years, before a roof leak in 2017 meant we had to strip the room back and start again,’ she explains. The opportunity came at a good time, however, as Rachel was keen to give this room a new lease of life and switch the neutral palette for something a little bolder. ‘Although it was unfortunate, the leak kickstarted the project and gave me the perfect excuse to redecorate!’

total cost £1,744

Before

Cole & Son’s flamingo wallpaper takes centre stage in Rachel’s new bedroom, and the navy and pink palette has been echoed throughout the room to give it a cohesive feel

yourhomestyle.uk

BEDROOM MAKEOVER Both the bed and bedside tables came from Rachel’s old bedroom, but fit seamlessly into the new scheme thanks to their neutral cream colour

Relocated from another bedroom, this pine cabinet fits snugly into the alcove to provide additional storage

Rachel was keen to ensure that the new décor was in-keeping with the property’s history – including the beautiful original fireplace which has bags of character and charm

Good idea !

Rachel had matched to ththe e pink paint colour wallpaper to en they would both work togethersu.re STEP ONE With the roof leak located directly above the master bedroom, the first task was getting a roofer in to fix the problem. ‘Chris was able to repair the ceiling internally, but this took several weeks with all the filling, sanding and painting that was needed’ recalls Rachel. During this time, she began to collate ideas for a new scheme using interior design magazines and Pinterest. ‘I also found lots of inspiration through Instagram and I now have a dedicated interiors account @velvet_juniper.’

STEP TWO With the ceiling freshly painted Feature and styling Cassie Pryce Photos David Giles

and the room stripped back, Rachel decided on the colour palette by testing various paint and wallpaper samples. ‘I instantly fell in love with the flamingo wallpaper by Cole & Son and, even though I was aware that it was a trend at the time, I just kept coming back to this quirky design,’ she says. ‘We’d had a feature wallpaper behind the bed previously and I liked how it acted as a focal point in the room, so was keen to replicate this with the new scheme.’ The dark blue in the wallpaper was a close match to Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue paint, so Rachel chose this shade for the alcove wall and built-in wardrobe. ‘I struggled to find a pink that worked in the room, so, in the end, I had a paint colour matched to the flamingo wallpaper by Valspar at B&Q.’

July 2020

Rachel’s bedroom benefits from numerous original period features, including the fireplace, bay window and cornicing, which she has retained and worked into the design of the new room. By painting only below the picture rails, for example, the height of the Edwardian ceilings has been amplified

ROOM PLAN

4.6M

Rachel has breathed new life into this old dressing table by adding stylish handles and lining the drawer. This simple upcycle means it now fits in seamlessly with the new bedroom décor and takes pride of place beneath the bay window

3.58M

THE DETAILS WALLPAPER PAINT

STEP THREE The existing carpet was worn after years of use. ‘We didn’t have the budget to replace it, even though I was dying for something new and lighter,’ says Rachel. ‘Amazingly, we received some PPI compensation money midway through the project, which meant we could re-carpet after all!’ Rachel chose a deep-pile weave in a dove grey colour, which complements the pink and navy scheme and adds a cosy touch underfoot. STEP FOUR In order to stay on budget, the

Good ideato lin! e

Use leftover wallpapera wardrobe drawers or the back ofy to make – it’s a stylish wa use of scraps.

couple decided to use furniture they already owned, rather than splashing out on new pieces. ‘Aside from the dressing table stool, everything else was ours from the old bedroom or elsewhere in the house,’ says Rachel. ‘The wooden dressing table was sitting unloved in our shed so I upcycled it with new handles and lined the drawer with leftover wallpaper.’ This creative approach allowed the couple to focus their budget elsewhere. New bedding, artwork, accessories and lighting has transformed the space and shows off the preloved pieces in a whole new light.

3 OF THE BEST… flamingos £49 from Made.com

£45

This beautifully detailed vintagestyle flamingo print was inspired by original illustrations held at the Natural History Museum.

£45

£45 from Alice Acreman Silks Add tactile warmth with this handpainted ‘Poise’ design printed on strokable faux suede.

£45 from Argos Brighten up a bedside table with this Wilderness Flamingo lamp topped with a chintzy tasselled shade.

yourhomestyle.uk

£49

£255 £96

CARPET

£500

BLINDS

£213

FURNITURE

£98

ACCESSORIES

£289

LIGHTING

£293

TOTAL

£1,744

Shopping list Flamingos wallpaper 112/11041, £85 per 10m roll, Cole & Son. Walls painted in Stiffkey Blue estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Walls painted in Valspar colour matched pink emulsion, £24 for 2.5L, B&Q. Jupiter twist carpet in Platinum, £22.99 per sq m, Carpetright. Bedside lights: for similar try Mercury Row Cutright desk table lamp, £56.99 each, Wayfair. Colours Melito white feather ball light, £34, B&Q. Throw: for similar try lightweight polyester velvet bedspread in soft grey, £64, John Lewis & Partners. Pink velvet cushions, £19.99 each, HomeSense. Pink patterned cushion: for similar, try poppy field cushion, £32, French Connection. Broadway star table lamp in black, £99, Made.com. Fern poster, £4.95; Copenhagen map print: for similar, try Copenhagen poster, £12.95, both Desenio. Ludde sheepskin rug, £29, IKEA. Stool: for similar, try Alexa metal low stool in light grey velvet and copper, £49; chair: for similar, try DSW style plastic dining chair with Windsor style legs in white, £59, both Cult Furniture. Shaggy cushion cover (on stool): for similar, try double-sided faux Mongolian cushion, £12, Matalan. Cavendish navy Roman blinds, from £20.40, Blinds2go. Vico concrete table lamp in pink, £36; mirror: for similar, try gold and glass octagonal dressing table mirror, extra large, £85, both Oliver Bonas. Drawer knobs: for similar, try round marble door knobs, £9.99 for two, Zara Home. Sequin cushion: for similar, try Marissa ombre sequin cushion, £15, Very. White barn star, £7, The Range. Pouffe: for similar, try silver Moroccan pouf, £99, Maison de Marrakesh.

COMPETITION

WIN! Your own luxurious bathroom sanctuary from nuie

The prize does not include full bathroom suite

WIN! Bathroom furnitu worth ovreer £1,800

Luxury and practicality combine with nuie’s sleek His & Hers Athena units

ombining luxury with functionality, the nuie bathroom collection brings you a beautiful range of designer-inspired products at non-designer prices. This Athena modular bathroom furniture range is no exception, with its streamlined high-gloss finish, sleek chrome handles and deep spacious vanity drawers. Athena offers a wide range of options, from floor-standing to wall-hanging furniture, all with plenty of storage space. With co-ordinating accessories such as WC stands, panels, mirrors and tall units, available in eight finishes, from tactile woodgrain to gorgeous gloss – the possibilities are endless.

Complete the look with mono basin mixer taps in a classy chrome finish

THE PRIZE We are giving one lucky winner the chance to give their bathroom the makeover it deserves with a super stylish twin His & Hers Athena wall-hung vanity unit (1200mm) with pure white double basins and two soft-close drawers. Boasting an on-trend gloss-grey finish, the prize also includes two matching 600mm Athena mirror units with more handy storage to keep toiletries organised. Plus, it’s supplied pre-assembled, so there are no flat-pack challenges here. For the perfect finishing touch, nuie is also giving away two gleaming chrome basin mixer

taps to pair with the flawless white basin. From nuie’s impressive tap and shower collection, the angular-styled Camber basin tap features a square design with a super smooth water flow. FIND OUT MORE For more information on how to locate your nearest stockist and see the full range of nuie bathroom products, visit nuiebathrooms.com, call 01422 417100 or follow them @nuiebathrooms.

TO ENTER, visit yourhomestyle.uk, choose the WIN tab, find the prize draw you’d like to enter and fill in your details. The closing date is 31st July 2020 at 11:59pm. TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1 Promoter: Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited. 2 The promotion is open to all residents of the UK, including the Channel Islands, aged 18 years or older, except the Promoter’s employees or contractors and anyone connected with the promotion or their direct family members. 3 By entering the promotion, you agree to be bound by all the rules of the promotion including these terms and conditions. 4 The Promoter may share the details of the winner with the prize provider for the purposes of fulfilling/delivering the prize. 5 The Promoter excludes liability to the full extent permitted by law for any loss, damage or injury occurring to the participant arising from his or her entry into the promotion or occurring to a winner arising from his or her acceptance of a prize. 6 The Promoter reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or to cancel, alter or amend the promotion at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control. 7 Only one entry per prize draw will be permitted per household, regardless of method of entry. Bulk entries made by third parties will not be permitted. Entries received after the closing date of the promotion will not be considered. 8 No responsibility accepted for lost, delayed, ineligible or fraudulent entries. 9 The prize does not include installation. 10 The prize is nonrefundable, non-transferable and not for resale. The prize cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers, promotions or discounts. There is no cash alternative. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prizes with other prizes of the same or greater value. 11 Closing date for entries is 11.59pm on 31 July 2020. 12 Winning entries will be chosen at random (after the closing date) from all entries. 13 The winners will be notified of their win within 28 days via email. 14 Winners must claim their prize within 28 days of notification. In the event that a winner cannot be contacted or fails to claim their prize within 28 days, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to another entrant, or to re-offer the prize in any future promotion. 15 The Promoter’s decision as to the winner is final and no correspondence relating to the promotion will be entered into. 16 The prize is as stated above. 17 Entrants must supply to Immediate Media Company Limited their full name, email address or daytime telephone number. The Promoter will use entrants’ personal details in accordance with the Immediate Privacy Policy (immediate.co.uk/privacy-policy). 18 The surname and county of residence of the winners will be available upon request by sending an SAE to Your Home July 2020 Giveaways, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST within two months of the closing date of the promotion. The Promoter will contact the winners before releasing this information and provide the winners the opportunity to object or limit the amount of information shared. 19 The promotion is subject to the laws of England.

July 2020

STYLE ADVICE

WAYS TO WELCOME SUMMER INTO YOUR HOME IT’S TIME TO MAKE SOME SEASONAL SWITCH UPS AND LET THE SUNSHINE IN. COMBINE FRESH COLOURS, PATTERNS AND TEXTURES TO GIVE YOUR HOME A SUMMERTIME VIBE…

‘Invite summer into your lounge with colour. Start by updating your cushions, throws and curtains – opt for shades that lift the room, including soft pinks and vibrant greens. Weave these colours into the space for a coherent look. Bring the outside in with plenty of foliage too – this will also add a few more pops of colour.’ Fionnuala Johnston, partner and senior designer at John Lewis & Partners

E pert Ti p

Refresh your living room

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1. Cream green colour uniformed leaf pattern chenille upholstery fabric, £34.99 per metre, Yorkshire Fabric Shop 2. Freedom printed velvet fabric tiger cheetah animal jungle wildlife pattern upholstery fabric, £17.99 per metre, Yorkshire Fabric Shop 3. Astrid dining chair in Ochre and Oak, £89, Housecosy 4. Indoor outdoor tropical print pouffe, £39, Ella James 5. Abstract colour block wool rug, from £100, Matalan 6. Cerulean abstract terracotta planter, £28, Curious Egg 7. Duo stool dusky pink velvet brass base, £99, Dwell 8. Triangle blue velvet cushion, £35, Dwell 9. Fox & Ivy birds frame, £7, Tesco 10. Spring Renewal collection, prices available on request, John Lewis & Partners

yourhomestyle.uk

STYLE ADVICE

B ing calm to your bedroom

Get your bedroom ready for summer with calm colours, such as sky blue, blush pink, golden yellow and sage green on cushions, wall prints, blankets and vases. Finish the look with dainty, floral-patterned bed linen and some metallic copper and gold touches to bring a bit of glam to your sleeping space.

E pert Ti

18 a light, fresh pprint‘Choose for your curtains, such

as cream with a floral pattern. Make the curtains long and luxurious and hang them from a generously sized pole – this way you can draw them far back from the window and let the sunlight flood into the room. A vase with fresh garden flowers will transform your sleeping space too, as will soft pink, warm yellow and light green hues.’ Vanessa Arbuthnott, textile designer

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11. Pink Mongolian cushion, £12.99, M&Co 12. Blue cactus print, £12.95, Mint & May 13. Bali table lamp in Satin Nickel and Maple, £39, Housecosy 14. New Boys Hemsworth blue mango wood chest of drawers, £495, Oliver Bonas 15. Ochre boucle throw, £18, Tesco 16. Wired face jewellery stand, £18, Mint & May 17. Lana side table, £60, Matalan 18. Sybill yellow and white triangle pattern vase, £20, Habitat 19. Charlie Bell alarm clock in Radial Copper, £25, Amara 20. Ashley Wilde Twilight Garden bed linen, from £45, Cath Kidston

July 2020

STYLE ADVICE

G�eat value

‘Family areas, such as the kitchen and dining room, are great places to add a few hints of summer so the whole household can feel refreshed. Add statement dinnerware to your table with a full set or mix bold pieces with plain white crockery for a unique table setting. Colourful tableware in blush pink is popular this season, as well as Scandi-inspired geometric shapes and pastel hues.’ Steven Rowe, head of GM design and product development, Tesco

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Invite colour into your kitchen

21. Wild flowers small tea cosy, £36, Poppy Treffry 22. Jungle side plates, £15 for a set of four, Marks and Spencer 23. Tuscany Siena salad servers, £12.99, T&G 24. Emma Bridgewater scattered buttercups mug teapot, £49.95, Daisy Park 25. Wild flowers in churn, £10, Tesco 26. Jefferson bench set in Light/White, £650, Next 27. Mustard corduroy chair cushion, £25, Rose & Grey 28. Rainbow wine glasses, £12 for a set of four, George Home 29. KitchenCraft pink marble chevron trivet, £19.99, Very 30. Victoria metal low stool in Rustic, £79, Cult Furniture

yourhomestyle.uk

STYLE ADVICE

39 Give your bathroom a summer makeover with pastel and sandy-coloured neutral shades, woven baskets and a few fun accessories, such as animal-print towels and bath mats. If you want to go beyond easy accessory switches, then swap your fixtures and fittings for some en vogue brass taps.

Add on-trend touches to the bathroom

Ed’s choice

Feature Sophie Demetriades

34 31. Lola leopard bath towel collection, from £14, Anthropologie 32. Stand mirror bamboo rectangular, £6, Wilko 33. Oval woven blue bamboo laundry basket, £45, Oliver Bonas 34. Ochre soft touch soap dispenser, £4, Wilko 35. Gold tooth toothbrush holder, £17.50, Red Candy 36. Odin bamboo and white six-tier storage unit, £130, Habitat 37. Flamingo bath mat, £9, George Home 38. Ocean reed diffuser, £28.95, Plum Retail 39. Yellow mojave glaze plant pot, £7.50, Albert & Moo 40. White wooden storage unit, £85; woven laundry basket, £48, both Next

July 2020

DECORATING IDEAS

Play with spirited style to create an

unforgettable kid’s room Make a childhood space that your little one will treasure for years to come

t’s easy to get carried away when transforming a child’s bedroom, what with all the sparkles, spots, pastels, neons and numerous other décor options to choose from. But don’t panic! We’re here to help you harness your imagination and creativity to build a room that serves as a fun-filled play area, cosy sleeping space and place to learn, all rolled into one. So, give your youngster a room to remember with these top tips.

Rio white-washed wooden bed, £179.99, Furniture Choice

Kid’s rainbow rug, £40, Beaumonde

English Yellow chalk paint, £41.95 for 2.5L, Annie Sloan

yourhomestyle.uk

Hot air balloon wooden clock, £24.95, Rex London

Feature Sophie Demetriades

Kip & Co rainbow velvet heart cushion, £49, Antipodream

DECORATING IDEAS

Over the rainbow ‘Red and yellow and pink and green…’ – we’re sure many of you can remember the classic I Can Sing A Rainbow nursery rhyme. But singing isn’t the only you can do with a rainbow – in a kid’s room, you can decorate with it too! From rugs to wall prints, the rainbow and its colours can be used in a variety of ways to bring brightness and fun to children’s rooms. If you’re looking to create a vibrant space, then this trend is definitely the way to go. The trick, however, is ensuring you don’t overdo it, so we’ve collated some top tips to enable you to create a balanced scheme with rainbow colours and designs.

Locano bedroom storage in Cashmere and Kristal Oak, from £500, Crown Imperial Little Home alphabet rug, £80, John Lewis & Partners

Use the walls If you’re all about big, bold colours, then one of the easiest ways to bring these into a child’s room is with a lick of paint. But you need to balance them. Keep the walls white and bring in colourful shades with furniture, or make an accent wall with different coloured polka dots. Alternatively, you can get even more creative and make a feature wall – paint a rainbow motif or invest in a mural.

Light up the room A string of colourful lights is a great way to invite a playful touch into your child’s room. Or, you can search for a few rainbow-inspired ornaments, such as the bedside table night light from Lights4fun (below).

Bring in bedsheets Colourful bedsheets will introduce a spot of style and fun to your youngster’s room and using a rainbow is a great way to do it. We think the reversible rainbow duvet set from George Home is a top choice (below right).

Lay down a rug Don’t forget about the floor! Add a pop of colour underfoot by using a bright rug to jazz up a neutral-coloured carpet or natural wooden boards.

Add accessories Cushions, clocks, curtains, bunting, toys and wall prints are fabulous for inviting the colours and swooping arches of the rainbow trend into your child’s room.

Ice cream easy-care reversible duvet set, £10, George Home Chunky-knit pouffe in Plaster, £75; Wilton two-drawer bedside cabinet in White, £99; Charlotte single bed in White, £250; Happy bee and ditsy print reversible duvet cover and pillowcase set, £25; Patchwork ditsy floral quilted bedspread in Pink, £70, all from John Lewis & Partners

Children’s bedroom rainbow bedside table night light, £9.99, Lights4fun

Leon the Lion storage bookcase, £124, Red Candy

Rainbow easy-care reversible duvet set, £10, George Home

July 2020

DECORATING IDEAS

Maestro Alpaca blush rug, £34.99, Carpetright

Keep it calm Bright, bold and stimulating colours aren’t for every child, so if they and you prefer something a little more subdued here are some pastel shades that will help bring a sense of serenity to their room.

Dusky pink This rosy shade is a classic for a reason. It’s a pale colour that matches beautifully with other pastel tones including mustard yellow and teal, as well as other neutrals such as taupe and beige. It works equally well as a background colour or as way to highlight a specific feature or the room or lift a piece of furniture.

Cloud rug in Mustard, £55, Bobby Rabbit

Custard yellow A cheerful yellow colour scheme brings a sunny and energising brightness to a room. But if you want to give the space more of a calming, mellow feel, instead of a get-upand-go vibe, then opt for a creamier yellow instead.

Fabric cactus doorstop, £8.95, Live, Laugh, Love

Lavender lilac When you’ve packed away the toys because your child is turning into a teen and wants a more grown-up room, this light purple shade can provide the sophisticated air they might be looking for.

Kip & Co Savannah embroidered pillowcase, £25, Antipodream

Cyan blue This greenish-blue shade is a highly versatile colour because besides working well on its own, its also works with a wide variety of different tones as well, such as yellow, green, pink and coral. In a pale shade, cyan is great for giving a bedroom a relaxing sense of calm.

Cerulean blue This refreshingly deep shade is a mix between dark sky blue and azure. It’s the perfect backdrop for a room that needs to serve as a space for children of different ages, whether they’re tiny tots or have reached double digits.

Pistachio green Most types of green, excluding full-on neon shades, can be linked to nature, which automatically scores them a place in the calm colours category. But this particular yellowgreen shade is easy on the eye thanks to its softness and it matches effortlessly with other calming colours, especially lavender and pale yellow.

Pure white This may not seem like an exciting choice for decorating a kid’s room, but a neutral backdrop makes it easy to bring in and balance more colourful accent pieces. Perhaps best of all, however, white walls will keep working over several years as your child starts to explore their personal style and the frequent updates that can bring.

Powder interior eggshell paint, £55 for 2.5L, Fenwick & Tilbrook

yourhomestyle.uk

Dinosaurs Florals wallpaper, £34 m sq, Wallsauce

Bertie Bear basket with lid, £99.90, Beaumonde

Lion head with pink cheeks, £69, Bobby Rabbit

Dune Grass matt emulsion paint, £29.16 for 2.5L, Dulux Just A Perfect Grey eggshell paint, £49.99 for 2.5L, Dowsing & Reynolds

DECORATING IDEAS Vienna porcelain ash and Bordeaux oak threedrawer chest, £129.99, Furniture Choice

Cloudy wallpaper by Karlie Klum in Pink, £30 per 3m roll, Lime Lace

Kid’s cotton zebra rug, £185, Beaumonde

Orange grey white geometric balloon pattern soft chenille upholstery fabric, £35.99 per metre, Yorkshire Fabric Shop Svenska Blue chalk paint, £21.95 for 1L, Annie Sloan

TOP TIP If you’re hesitant to making permanent changes to your child’s room, then peel-away wallpaper and decals are a great way to add some magic to their space without spending too much on temporary décor. Choose removable stickers, such as the cute whale and diver scene from Koko Kids (below), or opt for a full-scale mural to create a feature wall.

The Whale and the Diver fabric wall sticker, £32, Koko Kids Woodland Party fabric, £26 per metre, Sophie Allport

Dream Big Little One wall sticker, from £20, Koko Kids

July 2020

BUYER’S GUIDE

SUMMER’S BARGAIN-BUY

garden furniture Give your outside space a style boost with a selection of practical, on-trend furniture

hether you have an expanse of decking, a small patio or a tiny balcony, your outdoor space should not be overlooked if you’re giving your home a summer makeover. Start by investing in some of this season’s best dining table, picnic bench and bistro set buys, then turn your attention towards floral parasols, colourful hammocks and comfy sun loungers. With these additions you can transform your outdoor area into a space that’s tailor-made for relaxing and unwinding. And to keep your garden furniture looking fresh and new, check out the top care tips from Protek.

Chevron garden lounging chair, £230; chevron round garden coffee table, £99; LSA international terrace storm lanterns, from £23, all John Lewis & Partners

Ideal for lazy days

Nothing beats a lazy summer afternoon in the garden and what better way to enjoy one than in this vibrant coral-coloured hammock? Made from organic cotton, it has eco-friendly credentials to match its style ones. Simply hook the ends onto two tree branches or sturdy fence posts, hop on and start snoozing in the sunlight. Don’t forget the sun screen! Coral tassel hammock, £75, Ella James

Dunelm’s Jackson range combines black metal legs with solid pine surfaces to create furniture with a contemporary industrial look. Bring some of that style to your garden with the Jackson dining benches and matching table, which offers space for up to eight people. Jackson dining table, £329; Jackson dining bench, £159, both Dunelm

yourhomestyle.uk

For al fresco dining

Get your summer glow going by investing in the Monte Carlo sun lounger. It has a sleek, ergonomic design and comes with a head cushion to provide ultimate comfort. When the sun finally goes in at the end of the day, simply fold the lounger up and store it in a convenient corner until it’s time to catch some more rays. Suntime Monte Carlo sun lounger in Black, £85, John Lewis & Partners

Sunbathe in style

BUYER’S GUIDE

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR OUTDOOR FURNITURE

Colourful canopy

Garden parasol in Ipanema Fruit, £18, Argos

This low-maintenance bistro set would make a fabulous addition to any patio, balcony or garden. It’s part of Kettler’s brand-new Menos range and features a pair of dining chairs and an aluminium side table. The chair frames are made from galvanised steel to stop them rusting while the PVC used for the seating is UV stabilised to prevent it fading in the sunlight. It comes in orange, blue or green.

Fuss-free furniture

Metro lounge duo set in Orange, £199, Kettler

If you’re looking for outdoor dining furniture on the smaller side, then this bistro set is a perfect choice. Not only is it highly durable, thanks to its powder-coated iron frame, it’s also beautifully decorated with its mosaic-style tabletop and seating made from broken bits of ceramic plates.

Elegant and easy to care for

Two-seater bistro set, £184.99, Wayfair

Beautiful bench

Garden furniture may be made to withstand the weather but it still needs some TLC now and then. Here are some top tips on how to protect your wooden pieces from the experts at Protek… The number-one enemy of wooden garden furniture is water, which can cause swelling and damage. Mould can also take hold of wood and frost will attack any exposed areas. Protection by waterproofing is key here – you can also add a splash of colour at the same time. Look for waterproof coatings that contain fungal inhibitors to protect the surface beneath from mould while still allowing the timber to breathe. Old coatings can be painted over if they’re water-based and repaired. Before you start adding a fresh coat, however, make sure you prepare the furniture. Start by cleaning the surfaces with a damp cloth, then allow them to dry. Next, use a stiff brush to strip off any loose paint or sand down the wood, before wiping it clean. If you’re not doing this on grass, then protect the floor with a waterproof dustsheet and use a synthetic brush that’s small enough to reach into tight corners. Protek Royal Exterior paint acts as a great base coat, so it can be applied without a primer, however if it’s a light colour then it may need a primer and a knotting agent to prevent tannin staining. Two to three coats are recommended to build colour depth. Wooden garden furniture can also be made to look as good as new with Protek Royal Exterior Superior Wood Finish. This long-lasting, breathable protection has a soft lustre that allows the grain to show through. It’s also water-based and has a low VOC content. It’s available in a wide range of colours for £17.99 per litre. Find out more at protekwoodstain.co.uk.

Weather you’re reading a book, feeding the birds or admiring your flower beds, a bench is the perfect place to park yourself. This classic design has been given a contemporary update with metal slats for seating and a bright cobalt blue hue. It’s colourful finish is powdercoated to help it withstand the weather and it’s also available in red and black. Indu metal slatted garden bench in Cobalt Blue, £175, Habitat

Tight on room in your garden? Don’t worry, the Orlando multifunctional patio set has been designed with compact spaces in mind. It provides comfortable and stylish seating and dining space for four people, and when it’s not needed, it can be packed away into itself. Simply flip the tabletop up, slot the bench into the table and the stools slide in beneath the bench. Orlando multifunction four-piece garden patio set, £249, George Home

Sometimes all you need to relax and unwind is an old-fashioned deckchair and this one from The Stripes Company is just the ticket. With its smooth teak frame, warm-coloured hardwood and blue, orange, green and beige cricket-stripe slip, what’s not to love? Premium teak deck chair in Cricket Stripe, £110, The Stripes Company

Space saver

Classic comfort July 2020

Feature Sophie Demetriades

If you find yourself wanting to take a break from the summer sun, seek sanctuary in the shade of this bright and cheerful parasol. This fruity number doesn’t just pack a colourful punch, it’s also height adjustable and has a wide, 1.6m diameter to provide a generously sized patch of cooling shade.

Kitchens

Matt black accents and stone-effect floor tiles top of our list this month

& BATHROOMS Tap into this Waiting around for the kettle to boil can be frustrating, especially as we do it seven times a day on average. Abode wants to change the way you make a cuppa with its Pronteau range of taps. As well as providing regular hot and cold water, Pronteau taps can instantly deliver water at 98°C, thanks to an efficient two- or three-litre boiler fitted below the work surface. Both the time it takes to boil the water and the amount of energy consumed in the process are reduced simultaneously – something we can definitely raise a mug to! The Pronteau range delivers practicality and aesthetics with contemporary, traditional and professional looks available to suit all tastes. We’ve got our eyes on the modern-looking matt black Prothia Quad. Prices start at £599. Visit abodedesigns.co.uk to see the full range.

SPACE SAVIOUR

You’ve been served If the prospect of dining outdoors this summer has led you to start seeking more lavish serveware, look no further than Anthropologie. That’s where you’ll find this gorgeous Mariko serving set and bowl. The batik-inspired designs are hand-painted meaning no two pieces are the same, so they’ll bring some individual flair to your table. We especially love the way the light tropical hardwood perfectly complements the decorative pattern created with the blue, yellow and black paint. The Mariko serving set and bowl cost £36 and £68 respectively, from anthropologie. com/en-gb.

NATURAL FLOORS INDOORS Incorporating natural elements into a décor scheme to bring the outdoors in is an increasingly popular trend in interiors right now, and flooring is a simple yet effective way to do it. Amtico describes its Tempus flooring collection as ‘a celebration of the beautiful imperfections found in natural materials’ and it has been designed to have a look that lies in between ceramic and stone. Tempus flooring tiles are available in six colours and will bring a timeless, tonal update to your kitchen or bathroom. They also have a protective layer to help them deal with daily Tempus Soothe, Tempus Embrace, Tempus Harmony wear and tear – ideal for busy in frame laying pattern, family homes. Prices start from from £70 per sq m, Amtico around £70 per sq m.

July 2020

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Prothia Quad tap in matt black, £699, Abode

If space is tight in your bathroom, Britton’s MyHome Collection of fittings could be just what you need. A modern range with simplicity at its heart, the MyHome range of basins, taps and toilets has been designed to slot seamlessly into any contemporary bathroom layout, and do so at an affordable price. The matching units for the basins are available in either gloss white or slate and you can choose whether you want them to be wall-hung or floor-standing. All of the MyHome basins have sleek, thin rims to maximise their internal space, while ensuring they can fit into even the most compact bathrooms MyHome Cloakroom or cloakrooms. basin, £92, Britton

KITCHEN IDEAS

Swapping tiles for a panel is a simple way to modernise an existing kitchen, or add a sleek finishing touch to new units. This lightweight, eco-friendly, aluminium-based one is resistant to water and steam and can be folded or bent around corners (so no unsightly joins) Panel in Petrol Blue, from £109 per panel, Alusplash

HARD-WORKING WORKTOPS AND STYLISH SPLASHBACKS Do you know your Corian from your quartz? The right worktop and splashback can transform a kitchen scheme, so get clued-up on the right type for you with our easy guide With so many creative ways to use it, we’re still loving the classic metro tile! These longline, hand-crafted metro tiles have rustic edges and an uneven surface for a vintage feel, and can be used horizontally, vertically or to create a parquet-style pattern as shown here Moss hand-crafted metro tiles, £36.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors

If you’re a fan of all things retro, a Formica worktop will give your kitchen a 1950s vibe as well as being practical and hard-wearing. This kitsch, colourful design is finished with worktops in birch ply laminated with Formica, made in-house by Koivu Laminate worktop in Polar White and laminate units in Levante, both Formica Infiniti, from £20,000 for a bespoke fitted kitchen, Koivu 46

yourhomestyle.uk

KITCHEN IDEAS Mixing tile shapes and colours is a new way to incorporate geometrics into your kitchen. Use plain tiles in two tones, like this punchy monochrome feature wall decorated with grey and white hexagonal tiles Picket Grey and Picket White tiles, £48 per sq m, Tile Giant

Combine two worktop textures for a clever way to create distinct cooking and food prep zones. Paired with sleek quartz worktops, the wood-effect laminate at the end brings warmth and contrast to this country-style kitchen

Wallpaper is a quirky alternative to traditional tiles or panelling, but not just any paper will do. Specially designed for the kitchen, this UVresistant PVC wallpaper is wipeclean and will stand up to water and heat, so it’s ideal for adding interest to the wall behind the hob

Country kitchen, from £7,899, Wren Kitchens

Flower & Marble splashback wallpaper, £190, Lime Lace

For smaller kitchens, choose tiles with a high-shine finish to reflect light for a bright, spacious feel. These tiles come in an on-trend rose hue, and each one has variations in tone, shaded edges and a subtle crackle effect for extra detail

For minimalist schemes, keep it simple with an easy-clean glass panel splashback. It will protect the paintwork from splashes without covering it up – perfect for showing off a bold colour GoodHome Chia grey oak-effect slab kitchen, from £948; GoodHome Nashi transparent tempered glass splashback, from £40, both B&Q

Milan Rose tiles, £47.50 per sq m, Tile Giant

Feature Michelle Grady

Bring a touch of Art Deco to your kitchen with these geometric designs from Tons of Tiles. Mix and match different patterns, or use the same tile on the splashback and the floor for a pulled-together scheme Swing Night & Day tiles, £29.99 per sq m, Tons of Tiles July 2020

KITCHEN IDEAS Ticking the boxes for both practicality and aesthetics, Corian is stain-resistant and easy to clean, comes in a variety of designs, and can be produced in long lengths to suit your space. This kitchen uses Corian in a sandy-hued swirly pattern inspired by the seashore for both the worktop and splashback for a seamless look Dune Prima splashback, from £310 per linear m, Corian

Granite and marble worktops can be pricey, so quartz is a more cost-effective way to get the look. This man-made material doesn’t require as much upkeep as natural stone and provides a hygienic, non-porous surface – perfect for a family-friendly kitchen, like this forest green one from Wren Kitchens Georgian Ermine in Forest Green matt kitchen, from £3,947, Wren Kitchens

It’s no surprise that laminate is such a popular worktop choice – it comes in pretty much every design and finish imaginable, as well as being wipe-clean and resistant to scratches. As shown in this sleek kitchen by Trend Interiors, it’s also a budget-friendly way to add cosy wood tones to your scheme Laminate UrbanTop in Natural Oak and White Matt, from £7,000, Trend Interiors

yourhomestyle.uk

KITCHEN IDEAS Make a splashback a focal point of the room with a tiled feature wall in a striking hue. These inky-blue hexagonal tiles with a modern matt surface make a statement without overpowering the space Moss hand-crafted metro tiles, £36.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors

For longevity and durability, stainless steel is hard to beat; this strong splashback material can last a lifetime, is easy to clean and will give your kitchen an up-to-date industrial feel GoodHome Garcinia matt stone integrated-handle shaker kitchen, from £1,848; GoodHome Kasei brushed stainless-steel splashback, from £40, both B&Q

FIND THE WORKTOP THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU Pick the best worktop for your budget and lifestyle with this advice on the different types from Douglas Sutherland, director at Koivu

LAMINATE You’ll find that the bulk of kitchens have laminate worktops, that is Formica bent around chipboard with a sink cut into the top. It lasts a reasonable amount of time and can cope with up to 160°C, although you wouldn’t want to put a cast iron pan on it straight from the oven. Laminate worktops occupy the lower end of the budget and it’s definitely true that you get what you pay for. Look for brands like Formica and Duropal – these may be slightly more expensive than others, but the price will be worth it for the quality.

GRANITE, SLATE AND MARBLE These worktops all look beautiful, depending on your kitchen style. Marble will need looking after, however, as it may mark and stain relatively easily, so factor this in when making your decision.

WOOD Wood worktops are a classic choice, but they’re very delicate and need oiling and careful looking after to ensure they’ll last. We’ve also seen people end up with problems where the wood goes soggy around sink areas over time.

QUARTZ

Tiles aren’t just for walls and floors! They are a great way to add personality and pattern to a worktop, too. Porcelain ones are the best option as they won’t crack as easily as other types. You may also need to reseal the grout every year or so to keep it looking fresh, or use a non-absorbent, stain-resistant resinbased grout

This is a man-made product mixed with natural resin to give a cold feel, a hard finish and a consistent colour. You should be aware that quartz can burn if you put a hot pan down on it – and if you burn it, the worktop can’t be repaired. Instead, you’ll have to change the whole thing.

CORIAN This is in a similar price bracket to quartz. Developed for laboratories originally, this product has now found its way to the mass market and is becoming very popular. Corian has lots of benefits – it can be produced in long lengths meaning no unattractive joins and if you burn the worktop, a piece can be cut out and replaced with a new section. Depending on your design requirements, Corian can also be moulded to create a seamless sink.

Bespoke kitchen, from £25,000 including VAT, The Main Company July 2020

KITCHEN PROBLEM ROOM

My second-hand units Knocking through into her adjoining dining room allowed Amberley Rainey to

INSIDER INFO WHO LIVES HERE?

mberley Rainey bought her 1960s, three-bedroom, semi-detached house on the Wirral four years ago knowing it would be a big renovation project, especially when it came to the tiny kitchen. ‘Whenever I had friends around there was only standing room for them while I cooked dinner,’ she explains. ‘I’m a sociable person and the layout was so impractical if more than one person was in there at a time. My plan was to knock down the wall separating the kitchen and dining room, and turn the space into a bright and airy kitchen-diner.’ The original kitchen dated back to the 1990s with ill-fitted MDF base units and a wood-cladded ceiling. ‘There was nothing in the old kitchen that I wanted to keep as it

Amberley Rainey (@raineysresidence), 36, an office manager for an entertainment and technology company, lives in this 1960s three-bedroom semi-detached house on the Wirral.

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH YOUR OLD KITCHEN? ‘Everything – it was tiny and not at all practical, with no space for entertaining my friends.’

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE NEW ROOM? ‘My bargain £400 kitchen from eBay. And the kitchen table, which means I can sit with my friends.’

WHAT DID YOU LEARN DURING THIS PROJECT? ‘Be inventive. I managed to get a very expensive kitchen for next to nothing by shopping around.’

Before 50

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Amberley’s kitchendiner complete with clean, modern lines and an inviting central table that allows her to host family and friends

was very impractical. Even the floor tiles were grooved, so they collected crumbs. There was also a free-standing fridge that took up lots of room.’ Amberley’s first task was to get plans drawn up to remove the wall between the kitchen and dining room. While she saved up for the building works, Amberley tackled many DIY jobs herself – she ripped up the carpets, steamed off textured wallpaper and unscrewed the kitchen units. ‘As a first-time buyer, my savings had gone into buying the house, so I didn’t have much left to spend on the kitchen,’ she explains. Amberley dreamed of having a countrystyle kitchen, but couldn’t find anything she liked within her budget. ‘That’s when I decided to be inventive. I did some research

KITCHEN PROBLEM ROOM

were an eBay bargain create her ideal kitchen-diner for entertaining friends and family online and came across the idea of installing a second-hand kitchen. I found the Stuart Henry units on eBay for just £400. The seller lived locally so I popped round with my tape measure to make sure they would fit. They were exactly what I was looking for so I managed to get a very expensive kitchen for next to nothing.’ Amberley’s nearly-new kitchen lived in her garage for six months while she renovated the dining area. By the time the builders came in to tear down the wall in June 2019, it was finished. ‘They had to seal the room off to protect it from the mess caused by

SHOPPING AROUND Amberley was able to buy her vintage country-style wooden table for just £20. She painted the dining room chairs herself to match the kitchen units

LOOK FOR VINTAGE-INSPIRED ACCESSORIES FOR A RUSTIC LOOK This cute and classic ceramic chicken is a Dunelm find, but looks like it could have come from an antiques market

the building works,’ she says. Once the walls were plastered and painted, Amberley hired a joiner to fit her new kitchen units and worktop. Every cupboard had to be adjusted, which cost £1,000 in labour, but it still worked out cheaper than buying a new kitchen. The joiner included the worktop in his costs, saving Amberley even more money. Once the cupboards were fitted, she painted them with white melamine paint for a sparkling finish. Then, she set to work styling her new-look kitchen. ‘I had shelves made of wooden pottery boards from eBay and looked for affordable antique furniture.’ Her favourite buy is the country-style table for £25. ‘It transformed how I use the space. Now I have somewhere to sit with friends and enjoy a cup of tea together.’

shopping list Apollo slab worktop in ice white, £2,305, Benchmarx (included in joiner’s costs). Kitchen units, £400; pitch pine potbank wares boards (shelving), £30; tap, £24.99, all eBay. Belling range cooker, £799, John Lewis. Stainless-steel sink and drainer, £60, Screwfix. Chalk Farm Metro tiles, £45, Walls and Floors. Baletrio Quattro laminate flooring in Old Oak, £10 per sq m, Total Floors. Stainless-steel lighting bar, £24.99, Amazon. Melamine paint, £12 per litre, Wilko. Wimborne White eggshell paint, £64 per 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Textured cross-hatch lavender cushion (on sofa), £8; blue-lustre wine glasses, £4 each; ceramic storage jars, £6 each; pink utensil pot, £8; pink plates, £2.50 each; yellow ombre vase, £10; pink plant pot with stand, £12; belly basket, £10; purple faux hydrangeas glass vase, £16; diamond-textured tea towels, £4; spatula set, £5; wooden salad servers, £5; metal tin, £6; duck egg bowls, £2 each; duck egg mixing bowl, £8; colander, £6; cake stand, £6; tufted spots ochre cushion (on chair), £12; lilac vase, £14, all Matalan. Butterfly cushion, £12; Camden throw in blush, £24; Ruby table lamp in ochre, £3.50; Brabantia ‘Minty’ saucepan, £16; wire fruit bowl, £15; pastel pink mugs, £3 each; Chicken egg basket, £12, all Dunelm. Splatter jug, £12.50; faux plants, from £5; short geo vase, £12.50; React vase, £15, all Marks & Spencer. Rattan Tray, £25, Zara Home. Leaning shelf, £100, Habitat. Rugs, £70, IKEA. Black Fleur de Lis shelving brackets, £6.99, Knobble & Bobble.

total cost:

£4,251.97 July 2020

Feature and styling Maxine Brady Photos Rachael Smith

Keeping most cabinets on the floor frees up wall space for shelving where cook books, ingredients and utensils or pretty display items can be stored

BATHROOM IDEAS

Bath-side storage means you can enjoy some you-time with everything you need nearby. This stool doubles up as a side table for candles, books and toiletries, and the matching fold-away clothes stand is the ideal place to drape a fluffy robe and fresh towel, ready to grab after a long relaxing soak Ferm Living Dora clothes stand, ÂŁ179, Nest. Herman stool, ÂŁ135, Ferm Living

CREATE A CALM RETREAT Transform a messy bathroom into a streamlined sanctuary with savvy storage solutions

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BATHROOM IDEAS Busy family bathrooms call for storage that’s as useful as it is attractive. The Nest Trendy collection’s sleek wood finish and clean lines will suit a modern scheme. Plus, it features units that fit together for flexible living, including a laundry basket that doubles up as a seat and slots neatly under the sink Nest Trendy storage in Grey Natural Wood, from £169, VitrA

This bright blue unit can be hung over the shower head or a cubicle door and has enough storage for all the family’s shower musthaves, with sections for soap, straps for razors and four hooks for flannels

E pert tip If you’re updating a small bathroom or cloakroom, include a narrow sink and vanity unit to make the most of limited space. This classic design has a free-standing cabinet with a shelf for storing essentials out of sight for a clutter-free sink area

‘Keeping most of your bathroom floor clear will create a look that appears bigger than it is; combine that with useful storage solutions and it’s a win-win. Single and double wall-hung vanities provide ample wash space and leave the floor free too, creating a feeling of openness. If you choose a wall-hung toilet and vanity, the floor is also easier to clean!’ John Lawless, content marketing manager, Big Bathroom Shop

Umbra flex shower caddy, £25, Red Candy

A leaning ladder is a versatile alternative to a fitted towel rail, especially for small or awkwardly shaped rooms. This one has five rails so is perfect for a family, and can be easily moved next to the bath or shower Scayle bathroom storage unit, £110, La Redoute

This zigzag laundry basket is ideal for subtle schemes in need of jazzing up thanks to its colour and pattern

Feature Michelle Grady

Mack laundry basket, £50, Habitat

Milano Aston 440mm traditional cloakroom vanity unit with basin in Light Grey, £174.99, Big Bathroom Shop

July 2020

BATHROOM IDEAS

Look out for suites and units that offer more than just standard cabinets and shelving. The L-Cube collection by Duravit features modular storage with customisable options to suit your daily bathroom routine, including segmented drawers L-Cube collection storage, from £517.20, Duravit Free-standing shelving is a budget-friendly way to add extra storage to your bathroom. This column design by Tikamoon is made from durable solid wood, doubles up as a fulllength mirror and is the ideal size for bijoux bathrooms Twig teak column, £239, Tikamoon

Team open shelving with glossy finishes and mirrored cabinets to bounce light around the room for the illusion of more space, as with this bespoke scheme by DeVal Garda collection bathroom, from £6,000, DeVal

Add natural texture with this set of simple jars with cork lids – they stack on a tray for easy carrying and storing Saxborga jars, £13 for a set of five, IKEA

Maximise your space and your budget with multi-use storage – this rail has an LED light, a handy glass shelf and a towel rail with moveable hooks. That’s three essentials in one stylish design! Milano Tanana LED bathroom shelf rail light, £109.99, Big Bathroom Shop

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BATHROOM IDEAS To create a more spacious feel, swap bulky cabinets for open units. This washstand offers the best of both storage types, with a drawer to hide smaller bits and bobs and a shelf for towels and toiletries Arezzo 600 matt black framed washstand with open shelf and basin, £249.95, Victorian Plumbing

Combine hanging and floor storage to make full use of wall space, such as displaying IKEA’s Nordrana pocket wall hanging above a Hemnes bench for a practical and cost-effective update Nordrana hanging storage, £17; Hemnes bench, £45, both IKEA

E pert tip ‘Make use of vertical space with hanging storage. IKEA’s hand-crocheted Nordrana option is perfect for those essential everyday items that you may not want on display. You can easily organise your toiletries in different compartments to keep your bathroom a neat and de-cluttered oasis.’ Clotilde Passalacqua, interior design manager at IKEA UK and Ireland

Ornate detailing gives a luxe feel to carved mango wood furniture with gold-effect handles from Next. The timber develops a warmer shade over time for an individual finish Safi small storage unit, £180; Safi under-sink cabinet, £230; Safi tall storage unit, £250, all Next

July 2020

N O TI I W NEL ED A I EC P S

GARDENS ILLUSTRATED

A Year in the Edible Garden

A month-by-month guide to delicious things to grow and eat A Year in the Edible Garden is a new, special edition for gardener cooks from Gardens Illustrated, the world’s leading gardening magazine. From herb expert Jekka McVicar’s essential culinary herbs to grow and eat, to the most flavourful vegetables from the Great Dixter kitchen garden and the tastiest British apple cultivars to plant, A Year in the Edible Garden includes a month-by-month sowing and growing guide, seasonal recipes and a sourcebook of the best new kitchen garden kit.

ONLY £9.99* plus p&p*

Seasonal recipes and tips for growing your own

It is an invaluable addition to the toolkit of new and not-so-new gardeners and cooks alike. n

P PLUS – subscribers to Your Home magazine receive FREE UK delivery on this special edition.

Ideas from some of the UK’s most innovative productive gardens

Advice on the best kit for growing fruit and vegetables

Order your copy today Order online at buysubscriptions.com/edible

or call us on 03330 162138† and quote ‘A Year in the Edible Garden’ *Subscribers to Your Home magazine receive FREE UK delivery on this special edition. Prices including postage are £11.49 for UK non-subscribers, £12.99 for Europe and £13.49 for Rest of World. All orders subject to availability. Please allow up to 21 days for delivery. UK calls will cost the same as other standard fixed line numbers (starting 01 or 02) and are included as part of any inclusive or free minutes allowances (if offered by your phone tariff). Outside of free call packages call charges from mobile phones will cost between 3p and 55p per minute. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am-6pm and Saturday 9am-1pm.

†

MAKE, DO & CRAFT Create a comfy bench cushion for stylish, streamlined sea ting

Stay warm on summer evenings with your very own fire pit

Revamp a chest of drawers

elcome summer and learn new skills with these uplifting projects. Get started with our three-step makes, including a colourful decoupage fruit bowl, and then try your hand at upcycling an old chest of drawers. Next, sew up a bold bench cushion – the perfect spot to take the weight off when you step inside the house. And, finally, we show you how to build a fire pit to keep you cosy during long evenings in the garden.

CRAFT STASH MUST HAVES

Discover what’s new in the craft world

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DIY MASTERCLASS

l s-motif fruit bow e to make a citru ag up co de ith w Get to grips

SEW SIMPLE

REVAMP, REPAIR, RECYCLE

y s a e T I MAKE

MAKE, DO & Bring zing to your home with these summery citrus projects

SHOPPING LIST Wooden bowl PVA glue White paint Gold paint Patterned wrapping paper Large paintbrush Small paintbrush Spray paint Black marker pen

DECOUPAGE FRUIT BOWL

top tip

Make a bowl as colourful as the fruit inside with tropical decoupage

Use a repeat pattern from one roll of paper or combine different motifs and shapes from a selection of papers.

Use a workspace in a well-ventilated area and cover the surface you’ll be working on with a bin liner or newspaper. Turn the bowl upside down and evenly cover the base using a thin layer of spray paint. Leave to dry, then continue adding layers to achieve an even coverage, letting the paint dry thoroughly in between each one. Neatly cut out shapes from the patterned wrapping paper. Lay them out on a flat surface, arranging them as you’d like them to appear on the bowl. Think about how the different shapes will fit together in the spaces and how the colours will work next to each other. Making sure the bowl is dry, place it upside down near the shapes. Using the PVA glue and the small paintbrush, stick each shape onto the bowl as per the arrangement. If needed, cut out more shapes to fill any gaps, then wash the brush thoroughly. Once you’re happy with the placement of the shapes, use the marker pen to add evenly distributed markings around the bowl. We drew on small scatterings of dashes, but you could use dots, triangles or anything else you feel fits with the look of the design. Using the small paintbrush and white paint, add a second set of markings g in the gaps in between the black patterns. Put the bowl to one side to dry and wash the brush thoroughly. Once dry, paint over the base using the large paintbrush and PVA glue. This will seal the finished design and give the outside of the bowl a glossy finish. Leave to dry thoroughly. Turn the bowl the right way up, then use the small paintbrush and gold paint to evenly coat the rim of the bowl. Leave to dry, then apply another layer of paint if necessary.

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Project Teri Muncey

Place the bowl centrally on the wrong side (WS) of the fabric and draw around it. Mark 4cm outside of the drawn line around the bowl. Cut out along this second line. Open the bias binding. Fold one edge by 1cm to the WS and finger-press the fold. Using a 1cm seam allowance, sew the bias binding to the right side (RS) of the fabric circle, starting at the folded end and aligning the raw edges. When you get to the start of the binding, overlap the end of the binding by approximately 2cm then cut off any excess. Fold the bias over to the WS and finger-press, then clip into place. Topstitch the folded-over bias to the fabric circle, leaving a 5cm gap so you can insert the elastic. Thread the elastic through the bias on the WS of the circle. Use a safety pin to thread the elastic through. Once the elastic is almost through, use a pin to hold the other end so it doesn’t get pulled through. Only pin through the bias binding section as pins will damage the laminate. Sew the ends of the elastic together, stitching through it several times for strength, then tuck inside the bias channel. Sew the gap closed by hand.

MAKE, DO & CRAFT

Protect your al fresco lunch with a lemon-print bowl cover

top tip This cover is made to fit your bowl, so measure the bowl you’re covering carefully before buying the laminate fabric.

Project Jessica Entwistle Styling Lisa Jones Main photo Philip Sowels

LAMINATE BOWL COVER

SHOPPING LIST Laminate fabric (needs to be 10cm larger than the diameter of your bowl) Elastic: 3mm width (needs to be 10cm smaller than the circumference of your bowl) Bias binding (needs to be 5cm larger than the circumference of the cut-out fabric) Bowl Erasable pen Matching thread Sewing machine Pins Scissors

PAINTED WATER BOTTLE When life gives you a plain water bottle, decorate it with lemons! SHOPPING LIST White stainless steel water bottle Acrylic paint in white, yellow and green Paintbrush Gloss sealant or varnish

Use a pencil to sketch lemon shapes all over the bottle, referring to the image as a guide. Draw the shapes lightly so the paint will cover up the pencil lines. To paint the first lemon, use the yellow acrylic paint to go over the pencil outline – aim for an oval shape with one pointed end. Carefully fill in the rest of the shape. Next, paint the leaves with the green acrylic paint, adding two small leaf shapes to the top of each lemon. Work this motif across the bottle, being careful to let them all dry before placing the bottle on a surface or touching them. Add leafy branches in the gaps between the lemons: draw a curved line with the green acrylic paint, then paint leaves along the line. Once dry, use the white acrylic paint to add detail to the leaves on the branches – use short strokes close to the stem of each leaf. The acrylic paint should be waterproof and washable when it’s completely dry, but to ensure the design stays in place, apply a coat of gloss sealant or varnish following the manufacturer’s instructions.

top tip Don’t worry about each lemon looking the same – as long as they’re around the same size the motifs will work as a pattern.

July 2020

Project Becki Clark

REVAMP, REPAIR,

Rec cle

Transform an old chest of drawers into a modern painted masterpiece with this super easy upcycle

ound a second-hand chest of drawers in need of a little TLC? Now it’s time for the fun part! Get sanding, filling and priming, and be creative with paint for a purse-happy makeover. Combine candy pink with a hand-painted monochrome confetti effect to give it a bold, graphic look, and swap the plain handles with leather tab pulls. The result? Instagram-worthy storage.

Use a well-ventilated workspace and cover the floor and surrounding surfaces before you start. Remove all the old hardware from the furniture. Spray the surface with sugar soap and leave for around a minute to lift any dirt and grime on the surface. Wipe with a lightly dampened cloth. Wearing a mask and gloves, sand the surface in the direction of the grain with a medium sanding block or sandpaper that’s around 120 grit. Sand every area that will be painted. With the brush attachment on the vacuum cleaner, vacuum the dust from sanding the piece. Clean the area you’re painting in as well. With a tack cloth, remove any leftover dust from sanding. Fill the holes left by the old handles using wood filler and a scraper. Use the corner of the scraper to push some wood filler into the hole. With a small amount of wood filler on the scraper, scrape along the surface of the hole to make sure it’s flush with the rest of the drawer surface. Repeat this step for any other holes left on the original hardware. Using painter’s tape, mark off any areas you don’t want to get paint on, such as

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7 the edges of the drawers and the inside where the drawers slide in. Priming is one of the most important steps. With a flat paintbrush, apply primer, painting around all the awkward areas first, then cover the larger areas with the roller. Leave to fully dry, then apply a second coat. Once dry, sand with fine sandpaper to remove any uneven surfaces, then remove the dust with the tack cloth. Paint the areas to be kept white using the same methods as above. Apply two coats, leaving to dry in between each. Once dry, tape around the chest of drawers on top of the white paint to section off, ready to paint the pink area – use the main image as a guide and a tape measure to make sure the line is kept straight. Using the roller and the pink paint, cover the rest of the chest of drawers, swapping

to a brush for the legs if required. Apply two coats of paint. After the second coat, remove the painter’s tape immediately and leave to fully dry. While the pink paint is drying, paint the black confetti detail onto the white section. With a flat artist’s brush, paint black strokes of roughly the same length in different directions, using the main image as a guide. Cut the leather into 2.5 x 10cm strips – you’ll need one to replace each of the original handles. With a pair of scissors, round off all the corners. Fold the leather with the top part folding over the end, as shown, and punch the leather where it overlaps, adding a gold eyelet to hold it in place. Using a pencil, lightly mark the placement of the new handles on the drawers. With a screwdriver, add a screw to attach each handle firmly in place.

top tip REVAMP, REPAIR, RECYCLE

Referring to the main image as a guide, sketch out some decorative ideas and a plan for the new design before you start painting.

Project Joanne Condon

YOU WILL NEED ) Satin or eggshell paint in white, pink and black ) Shellac-based primer ) Flat paintbrush ) Flat artist's brush ) 0.5cm roller ) Wood filler ) Scraper ) Sugar soap ) Cloth ) Sandpaper, 120 grit ) Tack cloth ) Leather scraps ) Leather punch ) Gold eyelets ) Screwdriver ) Screws ) Painterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tape ) Mask ) Gloves ) Tape measure

July 2020

Add colour and comfort to a bench seat with this

bench is a versatile seating solution for a hallway, conservatory, garden room or porch – and it can add a much-needed injection of colour and print, too. If your bench doesn’t have a cushion, or has an existing one that’s seen better days, get out the sewing machine and whip up your own to transform a plain seat into a statement piece.

bright cushion

YOU WILL NEED Main fabric: see instructions for quantity Foam: 3.5cm deep x bench width x bench length Pattern paper Matching thread Sewing machine Pins Scissors

Measure the bench and cut the foam to size. It is always best to cut it a little larger first, then trim it to fit to avoid it being too small. Once it is at the correct size, measure the width and length of the top of the foam and add 2cm to both measurements for seam allowance. Do the same with the depth of the foam, measuring the width and length of these edges and adding a 2cm seam allowance to each measurement. Use these measurements to sketch out the pieces in small scale on paper, remembering that you will need a top, a base, two long side panels and two short side panels. This will allow to you calculate the amount of fabric required. Draw the cushion pattern onto paper. You will need to draw and cut out three pattern pieces – one for the top/base, another for the long side panel and a final pattern for the short side panel. On each pattern piece, add a 1cm seam allowance onto each side. Press the fabric flat, then fold it in half lengthways. Pin the pattern pieces onto the double thickness of fabric then cut them out. Before stitching we recommend marking the corners on the wrong side (WS) of the fabric. Do this by measuring in 1cm at the end of each edge and marking a short line, then make a cross at each corner when the lines overlap. These crosses will help to line all of the corners up neatly and act as stitching guides. With right sides (RS) facing, pin and sew one of the long side panels to one long side of the top piece. Start and stop stitching at the marked crosses, backstitching at each end. Repeat to attach the other long side panel.

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Attach the two short end panels in the same way, making sure you tuck the long panel seam allowance out of the way. Pin along the four corner edge seams then place the piece you have just sewn over the foam to check that it fits. Adjust if necessary. Sew along each corner, starting and finishing at the marked crosses or new points if you have made any adjustments. Place the cover over the foam again to check the fit.

Pin and sew the bottom of the cover along one long side and both of the narrow ends, again starting and finishing at the crosses you have marked. It is much easier to fit the foam into the cover with the last seam fully open. So, put the foam into the cover and make sure it is sitting correctly in all corners, then turn the seam allowance of the open edge inwards and neatly hand-stitch the seam closed to finish.

top tip

Project Juliet Bawden

SEW SIMPLE

To make a more durable cushion for an outdoor seat, swap cotton for oilcloth. Just be careful to pin within the seam allowance so you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mark the fabric.

July 2020

DIY ma e class Build Your Own Fire Pit

njoy the garden for longer this summer by making your own stylish fire pit. There’s nothing nicer than watching the sun go down in the evening while sitting around a real fire with a drink and some good company. Not only does a firepit keep you warm, but you can cook on it too. Follow these simple steps to make this fire pit in a weekend.

YOU WILL NEED Essential ) Bricklaying trowel ) Mixing bucket ) Bricks ) Mortar ) Render ) Plastering trowel ) Gravel ) Galvanised wire mesh Useful ) Gloves ) Mask ) Sponge ) Spirit Level ) Coarse-grade sandpaper ) Masonry paint ) Tin snips or pliers

yourhomestyle.uk

GET INSPIRED For more inspiring projects like this one, take a look at Maker.Garden – 15 Step by Step Projects for Outdoor Living by Kerry Allen whose award-winning blog, kezzabeth.co.uk is the ultimate guide to creating stylish interiors from scratch on a tight budget. Maker.Garden by Kerry Allen, is out now priced £16.99 (Welbeck Publishing Group).

1 Measure and plan

First decide where the fire pit needs to be, making sure it’s not too close to any fences, trees or other flammable materials in the garden. You can make the fire pit any size or shape you like, but as this one will be doubling up as a barbecue, we constructed it to be a 44 x 78cm rectangle. It’s important to do a ‘dry fit’ – arranging the bricks in position without mortar – to make sure you have enough bricks to complete the project and to see if it looks right. If you’re building on to soil, you’ll need to lay some concrete foundations first. So dig a 30cmdeep trench in the dimensions of your firepit and fill it with hardcore to a depth of 20cm, with a 10cm layer of concrete or Postcrete on top. Laying the �icks First mix up some mortar. Bagged mortar to which you just add water is the easiest. Using your bricklaying trowel, lay a bed of mortar onto the foundations

top tip Make sure when mixing mortar that you wear gloves, goggles and a dust mask to prevent skin irritation.

7 and press the first brick into place. Some of the mortar will squeeze out slightly. For the second brick, you’ll need to add mortar to either end of the brick before placing it next to the one you’ve already laid. Use your trowel to tap the brick up against the one you just laid. Any excess mortar that squeezes out should be removed with the trowel, then put it back into the bucket to be re-used. Don’t worry if it looks messy at this stage. Add ventilation gaps It’s important to leave spaces between some of the bricks to allow the fire to breathe and burn well. The easiest way to do this is to leave two gaps either side of one brick in your bottom layer, where you would normally put the mortar. Apply the render We rendered the fire pit to give it a modern look. This is a bit like plastering, but using cement, and it’s a great way to cover up uneven brickwork. Start by cleaning the brickwork with a brush to remove any dust or debris. Then use bagged render and

water. Mix it in a bucket and use the plastering trowel to spread the render over the brickwork, try to get it as smooth as possible. Work on one side at a time, allowing it to set slightly before moving onto the next side. Smooth the render Once the render is firm but not completely dry, take a damp sponge and rub in circular motions over the whole surface. This will remove any trowel lines and blend out any imperfections. Keep re-dampening your sponge as you go. Once the render is completely dry, use coarse-grade sandpaper to get a smoother finish. Paint the fire pit You’ll need to use exterior masonry paint for this step. Apply two coats for the best coverage. Tester-sized paint pots are perfect for small jobs like this and less expensive. Leave the first coat to dry fully before applying the second. Add a gravel base Before you use your fire pit for the first time, you’ll need to add some gravel to the base. This will give a decent

5 6 7

bed for burning logs or charcoal on. Any gravel will do and should be laid about 2cm deep, so the bottom of the pit is completely covered. Cut the mesh If you want to use your fire pit as a barbecue as well, then you’ll need a rack for the food to sit on. We used galvanised wire mesh, which is cheap to buy and easy to replace. Measure the inner dimensions of your fire pit and cut the mesh 4cm bigger on all sides. You can use tin snips or pliers for this. Fold all four sides of the mesh inwards and upwards, like an upturned box lid, so there’s a 2cm edge around the outside. This will stop food from resting against the brickwork or rolling off the mesh. Then place a brick on the gravel at either end for the mesh to sit on. This will keep it off the coals, but low enough for the food to cook. Add a cover The last step, if you want to use it as a table, is to add a cover. This has the added benefit of keeping the fire pit dry on rainy days. Simply cut treated timber to size and lay across the top.

July 2020

Feature Alison Davidson Photos Welbeck Publishing

DIY MMASTERCLASS ASTERCLASS

top tip Remember to leave the ventilation gaps unrendered to avoid problems later on.

Ask the

EXPERTS

We solve your DIY and maintenance conundrums with a little help from the professionals

Feature Alison Davidson

Nikhita Sejpal, Marketing Executive at AluSplash says… When it comes to kitchen splashbacks, there are more options than people think. You don’t have to go for tiles! AluSplash aluminium panels are a great choice as they’re both affordable and practical. The panels are easy to install and come in a range of colours, such as the Petrol Blue below. More importantly, they’re less harmful to the environment, as the aluminium panels are made using a non-toxic and lead-free heat-resistant coating, so they’re better for your home and the planet. Opting for a single-panel splashback has other benefits too, especially when it comes to cleaning. For example, being a one-piece item means there are no grout lines, so there’s nowhere for dirt and bacteria to accumulate. Visit alusplash.com to find out more.

We’re in the process of buying a house with bi-fold doors and have no idea what to do about privacy at night. Any suggestions? Rebecca Kingsley, Cheltenham

For more splashback ideas, see page 46

Yvonne Keal, Senior Product Manager at Hillarys has this advice… Bi-folds doors are high on the wish list of many homeowners and while a wall of glass is a lovely option during the day, it can make your home feel like a goldfish bowl at night. The Intu micro system of blinds will work on 80 per cent of all bi-folds in the UK and is the perfect solution for light control and privacy. It’s a bracket system that clips behind the window bead so there is no need to drill holes or screw into the frame and, as there are no cords, it’s inherently child and pet safe. Intu pleated blinds fit snugly g y into the door frame and p provide a warm, stylish look. They can be used Intu Micro ribbon pewter blinds, prices in any room in the from £145, Hillarys house and come in a wide range of fabrics, finishes and colours. There’s also the option n to include a solar backing on the blinds that acts as a barrier to heat loss as well as offering protection from UV rays. Although, Intu blinds have been designed for bi-fold doors, they also work just as well in compact spaces and small windows. Visit hillarys.co.uk for more information.

I‘m re-doing my kitchen and I don’t want a tile splashback but glass is so expensive. What other materials work? Briony Barratt, Dundee

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I want to paint the render on the front of my house and the front door, but what paint should I use? Joy McInerney, Basingstoke

Matthew Brown, Technical Consultant at Sandtex suggests… Refreshing the exterior of your house will instantly boost kerb appeal and also add value if you’re thinking of selling. When painting render, choose a formula that has been specifically designed for masonry. Sandtex’s masonry paint ensures surfaces are dirt-resistant, breathable and waterproof, and also offer 15 years of guaranteed protection. But masonry paint isn’t just for walls; it can be used on window ledges, door surrounds and gate posts, so you don’t have to buy lots of different paints. When you’re painting the front door, make sure the paint is specified for exterior wood or metal. This will provide a tough waterproof layer for you door and help it deal with the battering it’ll get from the elements. Start with a primer, then apply an undercoat. This will provide a good base and cover up any old colours. Building up the correct layers also means your top coat will last longer. There’s a huge range of colours and finishes to choose from, so head to sandtex.co.uk to learn more.

BC-SolidBlue L 1500 right-handed bath, £498, BC Designs

Image John Lew Lewis wis & Partners

Sally Cutchie, marketing manager of BC Designs has this advice… Choosing products for your bathroom is hard enough without the complication of a small space in which to fit everything you need and want. Fortunately, bathroom manufacturers are aware that small-space living is on the rise and have started to offer more ways for customers to make the most of compact bathrooms without having to compromise on style. All this means there’s now a wide range of basins, toilets and baths to choose from that are ideal for small bathrooms. People will often forgo a bath for a shower when space is tight, but baths can be a necessity in busy family homes, especially with young children. Baths with an overhead shower can be more space-efficient than a standalone shower and so BC Designs has launched a new model, the SolidBlue L, which has a wider end to accommodate a standing shower. It has a

generous 200-litre capacity and at just 1,500mm long, will fit easily into small spaces. It’s also made from a special composite called BC-SolidBlue that improves insulation, so the water stays warmer for longer. Find out more at bcdesigns.co.uk.

I‘m redecorating my bedroom after renting it out for many years, but I’ve noticed that there’s black mould in the wardrobes and around the windows. Do you know what causes it and what I can do to stop it coming back? The walls are also badly stained by damp. How do I cover up the stains and stop them ruining my new decor? Ruth Berry, Manchester

Joanne Wallace, Technical Support Manager for Zinsser advises the following… In simple terms, the black mould is caused by condensation, which occurs when warm, moist air meets a cold surface. It sounds like the bedroom has outside walls, so the air inside the bedroom is warm, but the outside is cold. Condensation generally occurs in bathrooms and kitchens because of the steamy atmosphere. But it does sometimes occur in unheated bedrooms and mould can accumulate in cupboards or corners of rooms where ventilation and movement of air are restricted.

Bedrooms can be places where mould takes hold. Mould remover and mould-resistant paint will help keep the walls looking fresh

It’s mostly an issue in winter when buildings become cold and windows are opened less, so the moist air is unable to escape. To rectify the problem, first remove as much of the mould as possible using Zinsser Mould Killer & Remover, which has an effective fungicide. Next, use Zinsser Cover Stain over the damp or mould patches. This is an all-purpose, solvent-based, stain-killing primer-sealer that can be used under any topcoat and will seal in any discolouration, marks and stains so they don’t show through in the future. Then apply a top coat of Zinsser Perma-White mould-resistant, interior paint. It contains a biocide

that protects the dried coating against fungal degradation. The mould-resistant paint film has also been formulated to resist cracking, peeling and blistering for up to seven years. After that, you can decorate with your chosen paint colour or wallpaper. Visit zinsseruk.com for more information.

ASK THE EXPERTS

I only have a small bathroom in my flat but I love baths. Are there any models designed for tiny spaces? Maria Sanchez, London

If you have a DIY or maintenance question, write to Ask the Experts, Your Home, Immediate Media, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST or email asktheexperts@yhmag.co.uk

July 2020

CRAFT STASH Check out the latest crafting news, workshops and brilliant buys

GLAZE OVER Searching for a way to jazz up your home? Add a coat of the brand-new Pearlescent Glaze finish to painted surfaces to make them sparkle. Released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Annie Sloan, this shimmery, decorative coat is best applied on top of light chalk paint to create a lustrous look. The waterbased glaze can be used on furniture, walls and floors, plus it will protect the surface you paint it onto. You can purchase a 250ml pot for just £11.95 from anniesloan.com. Add some sparkle to painted furniture with Pearlescent Glaze

Feature Sophie Demetriades

LEARN A SKILL Woven wonder

CRAFT STASH MUST HAVES

Baskets by Tabara N’Diaye from La Basketry will teach you all about the art of weaving. With chapters covering the four main weaving materials (grass, twine, rope and cane), you’ll learn how to add pattern and colour while creating a wonderful collection of woven homewares – everything from lampshades to tableware and, of course, storage baskets. Grab your copy for £15 from labasketry.com.

must haves

WORKSHOP Turn your hand to terrazzo Take part in a terrazzo workshop from the comfort of your own home. Katie Gillies, the founder of the online craft shop that sells all things terrazzo, from trays to mirror frames, is now offering a web-based terrazzo tutorials too. For your £45 registration fee, you’ll get all the materials you need in a kit that includes a pair of moulds, ingredients to make the chips and bases, an instruction guide and a password to o access the three-hour video course. See katiegillies. com to find out more.

B ush strokes With water-based ink and a tip that responds to varying pressure, the Stabilo Pen 68 brush pens are ideal for all kinds of artistic writing. Their flexible brush tips allow you to blend colours and create watercolour effects in your lettering, whether you’re a newbie to typography or a seasoned pro. You can purchase a pack of six Stabilo Pen 68 brush pens for £10.80 or a set of 25 for £49.50 at stabilo.com.

DON’T FORGET TO PRESS Keen sewers and quilters know that pressing the seams on a project gives them a polished finish. But if hauling out the ironing board and iron is too much of a hassle, Sew Easy‘s mini ironing set might be just what you need. The mini steam iron (£28.99) has a folding handle so can fit into small corner and the pressing board (£7.90) is just 23 x 10cm. For bigger projects there’s a quilted, 60 x 55cm ironing mat (£14). You can find stockists by visiting seweasy.com.

Reader homes Discover decorating and renovating inspiration in three revamped properties

70 Find out how Faye realised the full potential of her property

Show off your hard work in Your Home Have you been decorating your home during lockdown? If so, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to see photos of the finished results and, who knows, it may even feature in a future issue. You can share them on instagram using #YHlovemyhome and #YourHomemagazine, or email yourhome@immediate.co.uk

See how Maxine styled each room of her home around one key item

TE PLUS IDEAS TO S

space Learn Niamhâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secrets to making property go a long way in her renovated

70 July 2020

REAL HOME

We gave this oldfashioned house a minimalist makeover After being priced out of their ideal location, Faye and Dean Noble took a chance on a project property that, while not in their preferred area, had potential aplenty

fter four exciting years living in Dubai, Faye and her husband, Dean, decided they were ready to move back to England. When the pair emigrated in 2007, their eldest child, Jessica, was a one-year-old toddler. By the time they had decided to return, around nine years ago, they had welcomed their second child, Jake, so more space was high on their list of priorities when they began looking for a house. A generous garden and an interior layout that could provide comfortable family living without everyone falling over each other were also among Faye’s preferences but, try as she might, she couldn’t find a property with them in her preferred area. Making no headway with the search, Faye and Dean relented and began to look in other locations nearby. Not long after, the couple found a winner. ‘The house neighbouring my twin sister’s home in south-east Essex became available, and it was just too good an opportunity to miss,’ says Faye. ‘It wasn’t in our preferred location and needed a lot of love, but I knew the area well, having grown up there. I also knew that in order to get a similar property in our preferred area, we’d have to pay double the price and would still need to put in all the renovating work.’ Faye could see through the property’s somewhat garish and dated décor to the potential that lay beneath and, after weighing their options, the couple decided to make it their new family home. But making the decision was the easy part because, with no previous experience of renovating a property, making their new home comfortable would be a challenging undertaking for Faye and Dean – especially with two young children. ‘We had only ever lived in new-builds before we bought this house, so we had never taken on such a huge project,’ says Faye.

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The house needed a number of major structural improvements: the upstairs rooms had to be rejigged to make space for a bigger bathroom; there was an old mahogany conservatory that had to be ripped out; and the kitchen needed remodelling so that French doors could be added to allow light into what was a dark space. There were also many cosmetic alterations that Faye wanted to make, such as removing the dark, floral carpets and changing the avocado-green bathroom suite. None of these jobs were easy tasks, especially as the house

was occupied while the jobs were in progress. ‘We decided to live in the house while it underwent renovation, which, at times, was very difficult with young children,’ Faye recalls. ‘We would hop from room to room, sleeping and living in whichever one wasn’t undergoing work, until the bulk of the jobs were finished. It took over a year.’ Despite being short on renovating experience, Faye and Dean both have great eyes for interior design and knew exactly how they wanted their home to look. Dark, mahogany units were ripped out of the

Good idea!

Shelving that’s the same colour as the wall makes items styled on them really stand out.

Before its modern makeover, the TV room had pink carpet and no ceiling light. Faye and Dean fitted walnut flooring and white-washed the walls for a fresh feel. A grey and yellow scheme gives the space a playful appearance

REAL HOME

COME ON IN...

WE ARE Faye Noble, 44, a housewife, husband Dean, also 44, daughter Jessica, 13, son Jake, 10, and Patch the dog.

OUR HOME A four-bedroom detached property in south-east Essex. It was built in 1983 by the previous owners.

MY TOP TIP IS If you can, set aside more money than you think you’ll need for a project. There are almost always hidden and unaccounted-for costs.

FOR STYLE INSPIRATION I spend hours scrolling through images on Pinterest and frequently flick through interiors magazines.

NEXT ON MY TO-DO LIST IS Jessica’s bedroom. We’re going to change the carpet in there, remove the wallpaper and add some shutters. FIRST FLOOR

Dining room Living room Kitchen

‘We had never renovated before. We had no idea what we were in for.’

Faye has used colour to good effect on this display shelf in the TV room. Art prints in pared-back hues complement the neutral wall behind them and allow touches of yellow to jump out, while black frames tie the artworks together and match the other pieces on show.

Hall Garage

Bathroom

Feature Abbi Henderson Photos Georgia Burns

TV room

SECOND FLOOR

Bedroom 1 Bedroom 2 Bathroom Hall

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 4

July 2020

REAL HOME When Faye and Dean first moved in the kitchen was a far cry from the light, social space it is today. ‘The units were a dark, mahogany brown and there were laminate worktops,’ Faye recalls. ‘The floor was half tiled and half thick, brown carpet.’

‘Initially, I wanted to make the kitchen really modern with floor-toceiling units across both walls, but that would’ve meant having the sink installed on the island,’ says Faye. ‘The island is the first thing you see when you walk in and I really didn’t want to be greeted by dirty dishes every time I entered the room, so we compromised on the design.’ ’Hours of scrolling through interiors on Pinterest confirmed that I wanted Shaker-style units,’ says Faye. She chose a neutral colour scheme to keep the space as bright as possible

‘The only feature of the original kitchen I actually liked was the exposed brick on the left-hand wall,’ says Faye. ‘I love how it adds texture to the space.’

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REAL HOME What is now the dining area was previously a mahogany conservatory. It was dismantled and the couple had a skylight and bifold doors fitted into the new space, which give it a modern aesthetic. They also took down the wall separating the kitchen and dining areas, creating a generous open-plan space that can accommodate the whole family. ‘Our oak dining table is around 12 years old but we still love it,’ says Faye. ‘We sand and oil it regularly, and have spruced it up with modern dining chairs from Danetti.’

Good idea!

If budget and layo install a skylightut will allow, to a space naturallybr.ighten

‘We found the sideboard in a warehouse in Sharjah, Dubai,’ says Faye. ‘We couldn’t bring ourselves to part with it, so we brought it back with us. I painted its dark wood grey so it looks at right home in our TV room.’

‘Trust your gut, it’ll set you on the right path.’ kitchen and replaced with neutral cupboards with clean lines. In the dining area, which had previously been the conservatory, a skylight was fitted to bring more light into the space. ‘There was wallpaper on every single wall. We removed all of it and had the walls replastered. We also had the Artex ceilings throughout the entire house skimmed to give every room a smooth, sleek finish,’ says Faye. In complete contrast to the way the property had previously been decorated, Faye has favoured a pared-back palette. With the exception being the dark blue master bedroom, she has opted for shades of white, cream and grey on the walls with flecks of colour emerging from the small furnishings and accessories. The furniture is unfussy with clean lines and understated designs, though there is a real mix of classic and contemporary homewares throughout. ‘My furnishings come from all over,’ says Faye. ‘I love shopping in high-street stores, such as TK Maxx, H&M Home and Sainsbury’s Home. But some of my favourite pieces have come from small, independent brands I discovered on Instagram, including

July 2020

REAL HOME

Unlike the rest of the house, the master bedroom has a dark colour scheme, chosen by Faye to add comfort. Teamed with plush furnishings and fancy artwork, the bedroom could easily pass as a hotel suite

‘There’s no better feeling than looking around your finished home and seeing what you’ve achieved.’

Good idea!

Mirrored furn light and makesitaure reflects room more spacious. appear

‘The master bedroom had wall-to-wall furniture, which made it feel cramped and much smaller than it was,’ says Faye. ‘We removed it all to free up some space, and chose more compact, mirrored furnishings so the room feels less enclosed.’

Jessica chose a pastel blue and gold colour scheme for her room, which makes it feel bright and fun with a touch of glam – ideal for a teen ‘We plan on eventually removing the fitted wardrobes to free up more space in Jessica’s room,’ says Faye. ‘But for now, I’ve replaced the handles so they don’t look out of place.’

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‘We had the Artex ceiling in the spare bedroom removed and then painted it in Farrow & Ball’s Pavilion Grey,’ Faye recalls. ‘Now, we use it as a dressing room or guest room.’

REAL HOME

IDEAS TO STEAL These sleek dining chairs are contemporary in appearance and wipe-clean too. Zuiver Albert Kuip dining chairs, £298 per pair, Cuckooland

Pep up a plain corner with a decorative potted plant. Large indoor plant pot with wooden stand, brushed brass, £35, Cult Furniture

Use glam handles to update drab cupboard doors. Baroque chunky disc knob in Raw Brass, £17.99, Dowsing & Reynolds

The upstairs bathroom has a spa-like feel, with a free-standing tub. Artwork and trinkets give it a luxurious appearance

Chelsea Prints London and Scandinavian Pantry. There are also plenty of items that we purchased in Dubai and brought back with us because they hold sentimental value.’ With the work now finished and her first renovation under her belt, Faye feels a huge sense of relief and achievement. She has slowly shaped their first family home in Britain and has documented the journey on Instagram (@fayes_homestyle). Of course, no house is ever really ‘finished’ and Faye will soon find herself decorating once again – her daughter Jessica’s bedroom is due for a refresh. But for now, postrenovation, she feels pretty confident about taking on projects of this scale. ‘Renovating our house taught me so many things (including that everything costs more than you think it will!),’ she says. ‘I learnt a lot by being involved in all the stages and pouring over design decisions, so I’ll have expert knowledge for the next project!’

Add texture to your interior with a faux exposed brick wall. Fresco Red Brick Wall wallpaper, £9 per roll, Wilko

Keep pamper products close to hand with a wooden bath tub tray. Wellness bath shelf, £12, Primark

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 108

July 2020

REAL HOME

I started each room with ssomething I love M Maxine Hale combined her favourite design ttrends and style ideas to give her Edwardian ffamily home in Plymouth a top-down makeover

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REAL HOME

Good idethaer!than

COME ON IN...

Opt for open shelvinrdg srato keep the bulky wall-cupboa g bright kitchen feelin and spacious.

The kitchen dining furniture is a characterful combination of vintage and retro styles. Metal stools from Tolix bring a punch of colour, while the upholstered bench, from Franklin and Hare, is reclaimed cinema seating

WE ARE Maxine Hale, 52, husband Gareth, 47, a financial advisor, and their children, Ed, 15 and Nell, 13.

OUR HOME Is a four-bedroomed, detached Edwardian house in Plymouth, Devon.

MY FAVOURITE ITEM Is the two-seater

FIRST FLOOR

Utility Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

Porch

Living Room Study

SECOND FLOOR Bedroom 4

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 1

July 2020

Feature Annabelle Grundy Photos and Styling Colin Poole

Maxine’s kitchen was installed by Studio One South West to her own design. She opted for a linear layout with deep, sturdy, charcoal-grey drawers. The Smeg Portofino chimney hood, exposed steel venting duct and brick-tiled wall add an industrial vibe. For colour, the pendant lights combine pink glass shades with red flexes

MY BEST BUY Was the big rug in the living room, which was a steal at £85 from Very. It breaks up the dark grey carpet and brings texture and light into the centre of the room.

Bathroom

ith their two children growing up, more space was becoming something of a necessity for Maxine Hale and her husband Gareth. ‘We wanted more room and we were keen to stay in this area,’ says Maxine. ‘Beyond that, we were open to any possibilities.’ The couple looked at various options before picking a traditional Edwardian family house. The position was ideal and Maxine loved the elegant proportions, pretty period fireplaces and spacious, light-filled rooms. The property was a complete contrast to the contemporary, open-plan home they were living in however, and needed renovating and redecorating. ‘There were floral wallpapers, old carpets, a worn kitchen and an old-fashioned pink bathroom suite,’ says Maxine. ‘We couldn’t really keep any of it.’ As most furniture in the house they were living in had been built-in, the couple found themselves starting more or less from scratch in the new property. That meant a bigger, more ambitious project than Maxine had anticipated. ‘At the same time it was a chance to make the whole house exactly how we wanted it,’ she says. ‘What an amazing opportunity!’

kitchen bench made from tip-up cinema seats. I’d been after some authentic cinema seats for ages, so when I spotted a couple in a local vintage furniture shop, I snapped them up. They’re really comfy.

REAL HOME

‘I decided to pick one key item in each room, and make that the starting point.’ Maxine is a keen Instagrammer (@homebirdplymouth) and loves browsing Pinterest, interiors magazines and the high street for interiors inspiration. She likes simple Scandi style, but also wanted touches of industrial, mid-century and retro looks. Practical, family-friendly spaces and an easy flow through the house, were also important. ‘There were so many decisions that it all felt a bit overwhelming,’ she says. ‘I decided to pick one key item in each room and make that the starting point.’

Used as cutlery holders, these vintage-style storage tins from Rockett St George are a fun touch that give the dining area a laid-back vibe

Pops of red break up the kitchen’s monochrome theme, and the white tiles form a simple splashback opposite the main cooking area. The wall-mounted open shelves are made from offcuts of the white quartz work surfaces and the quirky, black, cast-iron Honeycomb brackets are from Yesterhome This decorative wall cabinet from Rockett St George creates a contrast with the kitchen’s otherwise quite functional feel and is typical of Maxine’s eclectic taste. ‘I love my kitchen,’ she says. ‘There’s so much going on.’

yourhomestyle.uk

For the living room she chose a big, modern, geometric lampshade. The guest bedroom’s vibrant scarlet fireplace tiles caught her attention and the dining room developed from the inky blues in a huge art print she’d been given. When it came to her kitchen, an essential family space, Maxine homed in on two strong features. ‘I’d seen pictures online of extractor fans with industrial-type metal tubing running along the wall and I spotted the pink pendant lights in a local shop,’ she says. ‘I just had to have them both!’

REAL HOME White walls brighten the living room and vibrant lipstick pinks sing out against grey furniture. Maxine swapped a traditional fireplace for a simple modern log-burner to create the clean, contemporary feel she was after. ‘We took out the alcove shelves too, which opened up the room and created a place for the TV where it doesn’t dominate,’ Maxine explains

Good idea!

at A circular, fish-eye mirror is a gre an te crea way to add interest and illusion of a space

The dining room’s white walls and bold blend of modern and vintage furniture echo the rest of the house, but the darkblue Dalsouple rubber flooring gives this space a unique atmosphere. The large Roy Lichtenstein pop-art print creates a bold focal point. ‘This is a big room that needs strong pieces with lots of impact,’ says Maxine The spacious dining room can easily absorb Maxine’s large, salvaged dresser, which shows off an original mix of accessories and mementoes. She changed the painted interior from turquoise to bright yellow, picking up on the wire magazine rack and a glass-fronted IKEA display cabinet, which stands on the opposite wall

July 2020

REAL HOME Maxine and Gareth reinstated the blocked-up door from their bedroom to the bathroom, but also kept the existing access from the bathroom to the landing. ‘It’s flexible as it means we have our own en suite, but it’s available for guests to use as well,’ says Maxine

The monochrome theme extends through the house, including the large bathroom, which was completely rearranged. The white wall tiles from B&Q are finished with a slender black gloss edging tile, creating a crisp line and tying in with the Karndean floor. The master bedroom’s blush and charcoal grey palette chimes with the living room, bringing a sense of cohesion between upstairs and downstairs. Grey Dunelm bedlinen is elevated by Eldtörel cushions from IKEA and a soft, pink throw from Playhaus Interiors

Maxine planned to mix her dramatic focal kitchen pieces with Shaker-style cabinets, a black-and-white floor and brick-style tiling to echo the functional feel. To bring her vision to life, she teamed up with a local expert. ‘Mark Fowdon [of Studio One South West] helped me create the kitchen of my dreams and it’s turned out exactly as I imagined,’ she says. ‘He and his team were completely on my wavelength and they went on to projectmanage the whole renovation.’ A little worried that her bold, contrasting styles could clash, Maxine knew that she needed a way to bring her different ideas together harmoniously. She came up with a solution – to repeat certain features through the house, which would help to link the separate spaces, while also enhancing the period style. ‘The key was to keep things simple and flexible, so I’ve duplicated the classic monotone flooring, white metro tiles, white walls and shades of grey to form a consistent theme,’ she says. Some choices have been cleverly reproduced

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REAL HOME

‘Cutting down on style options saved me time and stress. It also meant I could negotiate deals on large buys.’

IDEAS TO STEAL Introduce a fun, retro touch with ready-toframe pop-art style graphics. Love Print, £12, Mint & May

Red touches in the guest bedroom’s fireplace tiles inspired Maxine’s choices for this simply styled room. The key pieces are all black or white, and act as a backdrop to colourful Orla Kiely Sycamore Seed bedding from Next. Maxine made the grey, pompom trimmed cushions to finish the look

Good idea!

Made-to-measure, half-height shutters provide light and privacy.

Glass pendant lights suspended on long flexes add a stylish, utilitarian look to the kitchen. Coast pendant light, £44, Housecosy

Soft textures and pink shades contrast well with the living room’s dark grey sofas and chairs

in varying ways. The checkerboard floor tiles were laid square in the bathroom, but in a diamond formation downstairs. The white metro tiles in the bathroom have matching grout while contrasting grey gives the kitchen ones a different effect. ‘Cutting down on style options saved me time and stress,’ says Maxine. ‘It also meant I could negotiate deals on large buys, such as the grey carpet in the living room and bedrooms.’ Maxine and Gareth were lucky enough to be able to stay in their old home while the majority of the work was done, but their builders were still finishing off when the family finally moved in. ‘We managed with limited bathroom facilities and a working kitchen tap but not much else,’ says Maxine, ‘There was mess everywhere, so it was hard for a couple of weeks until everything was completed.’ Since then, Maxine has added furniture and accessories for colour, personality and a homely vibe. With her eclectic taste, she shops widely online, on the high street and at smaller local independents, where she is as likely to pick up vintage or second-hand items as new ones, ‘I try to buy new bits every so often just to keep things fresh, but the basics are in place now,’ she says, ‘It’s been so exciting styling this house from scratch and I’ve loved getting creative. I feel very lucky.’

Asiatic Adorn Faux Sheepskin rug, £39, Cult Furniture

Combine fun and function with modern, bright yellow wirework accessories. Magazine rack, £20, Block Design

Woven belly baskets make cool, casual storage for stashing magazines, throws and bits and bobs. Grey pompom belly basket, £25, Rex London

Choose appliances in bright primarycolours to lift a grey and white kitchen like Maxine’s. Red Stand Mixer, £74.99, VonHaus

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 108

July 2020

REAL HOME

We’ve proved that small is beautiful! With clever storage solutions and streamlined furniture, Niamh O’Carroll has turned a dated garage conversion into a stunning bijoux apartment

‘T

his house in Glasnevin, Dublin, is the home my father grew up in,’ says PR consultant Niamh O’Carroll. ‘My grandparents bought it in 1928; it was the first house built on the new road. Oddly enough, on exactly the same date, 70 years later, my husband Paul and I bought the house from my uncle and aunt, so it feels like it was really meant to be ours.’ Niamh first came to live in the house when she left her Limerick home to go to college in Dublin in the 1990s. Niamh’s uncle had inherited it and she was lucky enough to be able to stay in the converted garage. But she’s not the only one – seven of her brothers, sisters and cousins have also lived in it at various times, as students and or when they first started working. Later, when Niamh and Paul bought the house the positions were reversed, with Niamh’s family living in the house and her aunt and uncle using the flat as a Dublin base. Then, 20 years and three children (Cian, Tara and Barry) later, a leak in the apartment’s bathroom set off a rising tide of renovation. ‘It did start with a leak, but there was also an underlying need to upgrade the whole flat,’ says Niamh. ‘The garage of the original house had a bedroom built over it in the 1930s and was extended in the 1970s, so it wasn’t in great condition and had limited insulation – it was an icebox in the winter. My aunt wanted it fully modernised and I was keen to take on the project.’ Niamh started making a list of the things that the property needed: proper insulation for a start, an extra bedroom, a downstairs WC, a low-maintenance garden… And suddenly the project had grown from a renovation into a complete rebuild. ‘As we wanted to make sure that everything was done for the future we added electric weathersensitive Velux skylights, artificial grass in the garden, heating that can be controlled from your phone and a power cable for an electric car charger in the front: I tried to think of everything!’

yourhomestyle.uk

REAL HOME

‘Built-in shelving works well as a divider between the kitchen and living areas.’

COME ON IN...

WE ARE Niamh O’Carroll, a PR consultant, her husband Paul and their teenage children, Cian, Tara and Barry.

Fitting into a very small space, the dining area seats four with a built-in bench and storage unit and table made by the builder, paired with white chairs from IKEA

MY TOP TIP Small spaces can feel much larger if you choose your colour palette carefully and use it to decorate every area so there are no jarring changes. I chose white and shades of blue to create a tonal range that’s light and fresh.

I’M MOST PROUD OF Taking a dull and dreary 1980s garage conversion and transforming it into a comfortable, modern living apartment.

I LEARNT That building projects such as this can spring unpleasant surprises on you. Finding that the original construction didn’t have proper foundations was unexpected and led to a complete rebuild at the back, which definitely wasn’t in the budget. If I was doing a similar project again, I would definitely add a contingency fund. FIRST FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

Living room Bedroom 1

Feature and Photos Barbara Egan Reportage

In this long, narrow space, Niamh opted for a galley kitchen with extra storage under the facing stairs. The kitchen was designed to fit the space and built by Ciocan Construction. The units are finished in Night Series by Dulux, the taps and handles are from IKEA and the glass pendant lights are from Laura Ashley

Bathroom Kitchen

Dining room

Bedroom 2

July 2020

REAL HOME Budgeting is not one of Niamh’s favourite pastimes, but luckily husband Paul ‘lives and breathes Excel spreadsheets.’ Nevertheless, the couple still ended up going over budget. ‘But that was due to totally unforeseen circumstances,’ says Niamh. ‘When we went to build over the original garage extension, we discovered it was made of single breeze blocks with no foundations. If I was doing a similar project again, I would definitely add a contingency fund.’ The project needed planning permission, but getting the approval went smoothly and they were recommended a good builder, Ciocan Construction. ‘Several of our neighbours had worked with Ciocan and recommended the firm,’ says Niamh. ‘The quality of the work was excellent – the guys are real craftsmen and nothing was a problem to them. There were lots of stresses along the way, so having a good builder was vital,’. The build started in March 2019 and lasted for six months.

Good idea!s turn

hook A shelf, baskets and coaatspace for to a tiny hall in s. coats and shoe

Using every millimetre of space makes a huge difference in cutting down on clutter in this small home. Here, Niamh has created an attractive spot for coats and shoes very simply with wire baskets from H&M Home and hooks from TK Maxx. The wall and shelving are painted in Night Series by Dulux Paints

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Niamh has made the most of the area under the stairs – it houses a fridge and freezer, pull-out pantry units and practical drawers. On the side facing the garden, open shelving and a broom cupboard provide further storage. The units were built by her builder, Ciocan Construction, and the stair carpet is from Glen O’Callaghan Carpets

REAL HOME The whole apartment is only the width of a single-car garage, so everything had to be very carefully thought out. ‘It was difficult to fit an entire sitting room into such a narrow area. We measured and re-measured and planned and rejigged, and in the end I’m so proud of what we have achieved,’ says Niamh. She chose a So Simple Viv sofa from DFS in linenlook blue with slimline legs to give the impression of increased floor area. The side tables are both from TK Maxx, while the TV console is from IKEA and the drinks trolley is from Meadows & Byrne

‘I chose a sofa with legs because it makes the room look bigger.’

July 2020

REAL HOME ‘Being on-site throughout the build was essential!’ points out Niamh. ‘Paul and I spent hours rejigging our plans for the internal space – once the insulation went in it seemed to shrink horribly! But no matter what we do, it remains a small space, so I wanted it to be as streamlined as possible and not to look cluttered.’ Luckily, Niamh is neighbours and friends with the architect and Irish TV presenter Róisín Murphy, who called in one

day and was kind enough to give Niamh some really helpful tips for small-space living. ‘Róisín talked about the importance of taking everything that makes noise out of kitchen, if possible. So we reworked the space again to fit a utility room – a downstairs WC containing the washing machine, tumble dryer and the boiler, just off the entrance hall. That really made sense, but I just hadn’t thought about it before,’ says Niamh.

A large skylight and white walls make the upstairs brighter and seem more spacious. Using the same flooring throughout the house and into the bedrooms helps the space to flow in a small home. The laminate is from Doramics Tiles in Santry and the artworks are by Fiona Quigley Every appliance that makes noise – the washing machine, tumble dryer and boiler – has been stacked together in the downstairs WC to isolate the sound they create from the living spaces. There’s also a small shower room and WC upstairs

Good idea !

Keep noisy app the living spaliances away from ces to disruption.minimise

Niamh chose calm blues and whites with just a touch of dusty pink for a light, uncluttered look in this bedroom. The wall colour is Beade from Colourtrend Paints; the pink throw and cushions came from Arnott’s Department Store; the bed and bedside lamp were from IKEA. The side table is from the original room décor. ‘I wanted to keep just one thing to remind me of the house as it was,’ says Niamh. The artwork over the bed is from Dundalk artist Fiona Quigley

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REAL HOME

IDEAS TO STEAL Niamh has used strong, simple artworks to add character and interest to her interiors. If you can’t afford the real thing, framed prints will still look good. Abstract framed wall art, £35, Cult Furniture Velvet brings a touch of luxury to any interior. Niamh has added velvet cushions to the linen-look sofa. Cube velour teal cushion, £29, Furniture Village

Using a footstool as a side table is a great idea, which you can finish off with a matching gold tray.

The second bedroom is small, so Niamh has maximised the available space with built-in wardrobes and used three-tier storage units from IKEA as bedside tables. The lamps are also from Ikea and she bought the duvet set and cushions at TK Maxx

‘It started with fixing a leak and grew into a full rebuild.’

A combination of artificial grass and paving stones make for a very low-maintenance garden space. Patterned tiles on the faces of the steps add some low-key decoration too

‘Once I started thinking like that I came up with plenty of ideas for small-space storage: under the stairs, in the entrance hall and underneath the bench in the eating nook.’ Other ideas make the space feel bigger and brighter: lots of windows, a generous skylight in the south-facing roof of the bedroom, white walls downstairs and a huge gold mirror (a steal from Done Deal) all help to bounce light around the space. ‘I was careful to ensure that all the furniture was to scale and chose a sofa that had legs, which always makes a room look bigger. I also had built-in shelving made as a divider between the living and the kitchen area. Behind the fridge is a clever tall cupboard where brushes and the vacuum cleaner are kept. I have to say I really did enjoy the whole process, I found it a great way of expressing my creativity and am delighted with the finished result. It’s a really peaceful, welcoming space.’

Arcadia velvet upholstered low stool, £89, Cult Furniture Gold metal hammered tray, £10, Dunelm

A Buddha brings a sense of calm to a room and metallics really stands out against a deep blue background, like the one on Niamh’s shelves. Large Buddha sculpture, £50, Next

Simple baskets turn the small hall into a useful storage space. Stanford baskets, £45 for two, Habitat

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 108

July 2020

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Food & drink This month’s favourite foodie finds and five recipes for summer greens

3 ways with… Cherries 4 For a simple cherry jam, put 1kg pitted and halved cherries into a pan with 600g jam sugar and the juice of 1 lemon. Simmer over a medium heat for around 40 minutes until thick. To test if it’s ready, put a spoonful onto a plate that’s been cooled in the freezer and leave it for a minute, then lightly poke it with your finger. If it wrinkles, it’s ready. Spoon the jam into sterilised jars and seal. 4 Put your jam to good use with some filled breakfast muffins. Heat your oven to 180°C and line a muffin tin with paper cups. Beat 100g butter with 140g caster sugar into a light, fluffy mixture. Beat in 2 eggs, one at a time, before adding 150g natural yoghurt and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Then mix in 250g flour, 2 tsps baking powder and 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda. Divide ¾ of the mixture between the paper cups, then add a dollop of your cherry jam before spooning the remaining mixture on top. Bake for 20 minutes until the muffins rise and turn golden. 4 Make a sweet and sour granola by stirring together 150g mixed nuts, 450g rolled oats, 100g seeds such as pumpkin or sunflower, and a pinch of salt. Pour in 125ml sunflower oil and 100ml maple syrup, and mix well before tipping the mixture onto a lined baking tray. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring halfway, until golden. Leave to cool, then stir through 150g dried cherries. Breakfast sorted for the week!

If you do one thing this month…

this month we love… Two Keys wants to knock regular tonic water of its pedestal with a range of exotic mixers. Available in green tea, black tea, pink grapefruit and lemon flavours, they’re unlike anything we’ve ever combined with a spirit. They come in at under 40 calories per serving and are made with all-natural ingredients. Two Keys mixers are available in packs of four, 12 or 24 and prices start at £6.80. Tom Collins anyone?

Try me…

Eat me…

Buy me…

Attention Disaronno lovers: the Italian liqueur brand has just launched a Disaronno Velvet – a luscious, new creamy version of the liqueur with that distinctive amaretto taste. Best enjoyed over ice, this is an indulgent tipple for a summer’s eve. Disaronno Velvet costs £15 a bottle; find it in all good supermarkets.

Tracklements’ Special Edition Heritage Tomato Relish is a versatile condiment that’s capable of accompanying a multitude of meals. Try it lathered on your favourite bread with thickly sliced cheese or reinvigorate a spaghetti bolognese with a dollop or two. Pick up a pot for £3.60 from tracklements.co.uk.

If you’re a travel and foodie fiend, Travels with my Spatula by Tori Haschka is the book for you. Haschka recreates the most memorable dishes she sampled during her globe-trotting adventures. Her book has everything from Brooklyn slowcooked ribs to pasta from Rome. Published by Ryland Peters & Small, the hardback costs £14.99.

July 2020

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Get in the summer spirit with the most delectable dessert we’ve tried in a long time: Little Moons’ pots of ice cream bites wrapped in mochi dough. With flavours ranging from Himalayan salted caramel to summer raspberry, you can be sure all your sweet cravings are catered for. They’ve got Belgian chocolate or passion fruit and mango flavours that are suitable for sweettoothed vegans too. A box of Six costs £4.99 from Tesco, Waitrose and Ocado.

FOOD & DRINK

GO GREEN Make the most of this season’s fresh greens and give a vibrant, summery feel to your meals

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 15 minutes SERVES 2

Spaghetti with pea, almond and mint pesto YOU WILL NEED

Feature Alison Davidson

200g essential Waitrose Garden Peas 180g spaghetti 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp Cooks’ Ingredients Frozen Chopped Garlic 2 tbsp toasted flaked almonds 1½ tbsp finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano large pinch dried chilli flakes (optional) ½ lemon zest, rest cut into wedges 10 mint leaves, shredded

DIRECTIONS Q Cook the peas in a pan of boiling water for 3 minutes, then drain them and set aside. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in a separate large pan of boiling water. Q Return the pea pan to a medium heat with the oil and fry the garlic for 2 minutes until it’s fragrant, then stir in the peas. Once the peas are

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coated in the oil, remove the pan from the heat. Tip 2/3 of the peas into a small food processor with the almonds, cheese, chilli (if using) and lemon zest. Season and pulse to a rough paste, the add it to the pan with the whole peas. Q Scoop a cupful of cooking water from the spaghetti before draining it and returning to the pan. Stir the pea mixture into the spaghetti along with a splash of the cooking water and toss together, adding more water as needed to make a loose pesto that coats the spaghetti. Stir through the mint and serve with lemon wedges and extra Parmigiano Reggiano. Recipe and image courtesy of Waitrose and Partners. Thousands of recipes can be found at waitrose.com/home/recipes.html

FOOD & DRINK

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 5 minutes SERVES 4

Carpaccio of courgette and crushed peas with melted goat’s cheese, honey and lemon YOU WILL NEED 2 courgettes 200g frozen peas salt and pepper juice and zest of 1 lemon 2 tbsp olive oil 200g Chevre goat’s cheese 2 sprigs thyme, chopped 4 tbsp clear honey a handful of baby rocket a handful of fresh basil 4 tbsp pine nuts, toasted

DIRECTIONS Q Preheat the grill to medium. Q Thinly slice the courgettes widthways. Cook the peas in boiling salted water for 2 minutes, then drain them and place in iced cold water. Once the peas have cooled, drain and crush slightly, then mix them with the courgette. Q Put the lemon juice and zest into a bowl, whisk in 2 tbsp olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spoon half the dressing over the courgette and peas. Q Slice the goat’s cheese and arrange it on greaseproof paper on a baking tray. Drizzle the cheese with the honey and remaining olive oil, then scatter over the chopped thyme and season with some pepper. Pop the cheese under the grill until it starts to melt. Q Plate up the courgette and pea mixture, place the cheese on top, then scatter over the basil, pine nuts and rocket. Pour over the remaining dressing and serve.

Gluten free

veggie

Recipe and image courtesy of Yes Peas!, part of The British Growers Association, peas.org

Green baked eggs with peas, leeks and feta cheese YOU WILL NEED 530g butter 1 tbsp olive oil 2 leeks, sliced spring onions, chopped salt and pepper 1 tsp cumin seeds 150ml vegetable stock 200g frozen peas a handful of baby spinach 4 large eggs For the dressing 4 tbsp Greek yoghurt 100g feta cheese, cubed 1 clove of garlic 1 lemon, cut into wedges

DIRECTIONS Q Mix the yoghurt and feta cheese to form a chunky sauce. Cut the garlic clove in half lengthwise and add to the sauce. Set aside. Q Put a large sauté pan over a medium heat; add the butter and oil. Once the butter starts to foam, pop in the leeks, spring onions, salt and pepper. Fry for 2 minutes, stirring until the leeks are soft. Add the cumin and stock and boil until the stock has evaporated. Q Stir in the peas and spinach and cook for 1 minute until the spinach has wilted, then reduce the heat. Make four wells in the mixture and break an egg into each, then season each yolk with salt. Cook the eggs for about 4-5 minutes over a low heat, or until the egg whites are cooked and the yolks are runny. Q Serve with a wedge of lemon and the sauce (but remove the pieces of garlic first).

PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes COOKING TIME 10 minutes SERVES 2-4

Recipe and image courtesy of Yes Peas!, part of The British Growers Association, peas.org

July 2020

FOOD & DRINK

Tenderstem broccoli and prawns pil pil

PREPARATION TIME 5 minutes COOKING TIME 5 minutes SERVES 2

YOU WILL NEED 3 tbsp olive oil 4 cloves of garlic, finely sliced 1 dried chilli, left whole (optional) 12 large raw prawns 2 tsp smoked paprika 200g Tenderstem broccoli, blanched for 2 mins salt and pepper juice of ½ a lemon

DIRECTIONS Q Add the olive oil to a frying pan on a medium/hot heat. Q Fry the garlic and chilli, and once they begin to sizzle, add the prawns, followed by the paprika, salt and pepper. Stir to combine the ingredients and coat the prawns. Q When the prawns are pink, add your Tenderstem broccoli, warm it through and add the juice of ½ a lemon. Q Remove the ingredients from the heat and stir. Pour them onto plates and serve. Recipe and image courtesy of Tenderstem broccoli, tenderstem.co.uk

vegan

Vegan maple dahl soup YOU WILL NEED 1 onion, diced 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 25g ginger, finely chopped 1 large red chilli, sliced 1 tsp ground turmeric 200g red split lentils 1 litre vegetable stock 1 tsp garam masala 1 tbsp pure maple syrup 500ml coconut milk 1 lemon coconut yoghurt (dairy free) 50g baby spinach sesame seeds

DIRECTIONS Q Fry the diced onion until it’s soft then add the garlic, ginger and some of the chilli, and cook for another two minutes. Q Add the turmeric and garam masala. Then stir in the lentils and stock. Cook for another 20-30 minutes, or until the lentils begin to break down. Q Wilt the baby spinach, then stir it into the soup. Garnish with sesame seeds, the remaining chilli and coconut yoghurt. Recipe and image courtesy of Maple From Canada, maplefromcanada.co.uk

yourhomestyle.uk

PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes COOKING TIME 50 minutes SERVES 6

Home

Turn over to discover how you can renovate a unique property

IMPROVEMENT P ivacy made pretty Is your outdoor space lacking in privacy and in need of a little embellishment? If so, you might want to take a look at Screen With Envy’s beautiful range of outdoor screens and trellises. Designed with the latest interior trends in mind, these screens prove that gardens can be super stylish and off limits to prying eyes at the same time. Whether you want to create your own jungle sanctuary with a botanical design or invite a taste of the East into your garden with a pattern inspired by Arabic architecture, the choice is yours. All the Screen With Envy screens are made from a durable wood composite, but maintain the texture and appearance of natural wood. For a completely unique piece, bespoke designs are available upon request. Prices start from £40. Visit screenwithenvy.co.uk to see all the options available.

Open and shut If you’re fed up of moisture building up on your bathroom windows, then California Shutters can help. The company’s waterproof shutters are ideal for rooms with high humidity. Made from ABS plastic that’s coated in a high-quality lacquer, available in four colours, the shutters won’t warp, peel or fade and, best of all, they’re the most affordable option in the California Shutters range – prices start at just £168 per square metre. Waterproof shutters come pre-drilled so they’re easy to install and as long as you measure up correctly, you’ll have beautiful covers fitted in no time. Visit californiashutters.co.uk to browse the full range.

Cast an eye over your home Like most smart home-security cameras, Imou’s Ranger IQ will send footage and text alerts to your phone if it spots something unusual. But it also has a few other features to make it even smarter. Its spherical design allows it to track movement and eliminate blind spots; it can capture and stream high-quality, full-colour footage even in low-light conditions; and it has clever human-detection software to prevent false alarms caused by pets. It’s compatible with Google and Amazon’s smart assistants and costs £85.99. Visit amazon.co.uk to learn more.

ADD SOME COLOUR Summer is the perfect time to freshen up your garden furniture. But instead of simply adding a new coat of clear wood stain in the same old shade of brown, how about a daring aquamarine or confident coral? Sadolin’s range of durable opaque wood stains provide an even finish and are quick-drying, so they’re ideal if you’ve got children or pets running around while you’re applying them. Plus, they come in all sorts of colours so you’re sure to find the perfect shade for every piece of furniture and your fences too – you could even brighten your shed.

Superdec Satin Opaque Wood Protection in Crazy Daze and Blue Peter, from £35.99 for 2.5l, Sadolin

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Verdure large garden screen, 180cm x 90cm, from £85, Screen With Envy

July 2020

HOME IMPROVEMENT

This Essex barn conversion has been beautifully restored and brought up to date for 21st-century living, showing that you don’t need to choose a traditional kitchen for a historical building. The kitchen is from En Masse Bespoke Interiors

Architects gpad London have converted this Victorian school caretaker’s building into luxurious homes that are perfect for city living

CONVERT AN OLD BARN INTO A UNIQUE PROPERTY Ever dreamed about turning an old wreck into a home with real wow factor? Here’s where to start and what to look out for

Feature Hayley Gilbert

hen you want a home that’s unique, a property conversion could be the best way to get it. With everything from barns, chapels and churches to schools, ships, railway stations, mills, oast houses and even old pig farms available for renovation, it can be a great way of bagging a bargain and creating a property that’s unlike anything else. But how do you go about finding such buildings and, more importantly, how do you turn one into your dream family home? We’ve got the low-down on where to start and what to consider.

START YOUR SEARCH

The first question is where to find a property that you can renovate. You’ll need to cast a wide net. Property auctions, estate agents and local ads are good places to begin, as are specialist property websites such as property.org.uk/unique or plotfinder.net. It’ll take time, patience and a lot of imagination, but the end result will be worth the wait. You’ll find unconverted barns and farm buildings online at barnsetc.co.uk and onthemarket.com. For church buildings for sale or lease, you’ll need to contact the Church of England at churchofengland.org. You could also try calling local council offices and enquiring about planning permissions granted or pending on any buildings that could be of interest. Drive around rural areas and keep your eyes peeled – you can always leave a note for the owner of a redundant building to ask if they’re interested in selling.

This Hobbit door with English elm surround helps to retain the character of the original building, £200, Brave Boutique

Designed and built by Redwood Stone, this mock Gothic structure is actually a posh garden shed

If you’re renovating an old barge, you might want to go all ship-shape with your accessories. Nautical porthole mirror in silver, £44.95, from Melody Maison

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

This oversized front door from Urban Front is made from European oak and looks stunning on a barn conversion

The owner of this holiday home in Anglesey began by renovating a barn to move into before converting two more, one of which became this stylish building (Ysbryd y Mynydd) let through Sykes Holiday Cottages

GET PERMISSION

Once you’ve found the perfect place, you’ll need to get planning permission to convert it. Don’t start any work until you have planning permission approval and have checked to see if the building is listed. Many old barns and churches will need listed buildings consent and if they’re in a Conservation Area, there’ll be other restrictions too. Church conversions will also require permission from the relevant ecclesiastical authorities. To ease the process, avoid making any major alterations to the building’s exterior and aim to restore or preserve original features where possible. Your project may be carried out under Permitted Development if it meets certain criteria. For instance, you can convert old and new barns without full planning permission as long as the building was in agricultural use on or before 20th March 2013, isn’t listed and isn’t in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a National Park or Conservation Area.

Go for heritage colours to complement a character property. This split door is painted in Wolf Gray from Benjamin Moore

PLAN AHEAD TO GET THE BEST RESULTS

RETAIN ITS CHARACTER

Once you have all the planning permissions in place, you’ll need to get a buildings survey so you can find out exactly what state it’s in and how much it’s likely to cost to renovate. Look for a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors or use a qualified, experienced architect or structural engineer. You’ll probably need to engage the services of a good architect anyway, one with experience in converting the type of building you’re looking at and they can usually advise you on other experts to call in, such as builders, project managers, sub-teams and any specialist restorers that are needed. Ask how tricky installing the plumbing, electrics and gas is going to be, and get quotes. Speaking of costs, make sure you have all your finances in place before you start. Each project is different so prices will vary but as a rough guide, expect to pay between £600 and £1,100 per square metre for a conversion.

Keeping as much of the original character and features of the building as possible will help with your planning application. It’ll also give you a sense of the history and heritage of the property, which you can cherish by incorporating into the design of your new home. After all, there’s no point in taking on an old barn or church if you want to remove every trace of the original – that’s what gives the building its character and provides appeal to any future buyers. Try to work with, rather than against, the building – think about restoring windows and doors, beams, inglenooks, original stone floors, exposed timber and brickwork. Know when to balance the old with the new – you want your new home to be warm and comfortable so mix original features with energy-efficient glazing, heating and insulation, and then decorate in classic, contemporary or industrial style to suit both the building and your own taste.

Retaining a building’s original features will keep your new home full of character. Window surrounds in Gothic Style by Redwood Stone

Now a modern family home, this space was once an artist’s studio in London’s Chelsea. Part of the renovation included installing steelframed glazing systems from IQ Glass

For windows that are overlooked but need privacy, consider easy-to-apply window film from Purlfrost

Xxxxxxxxxxx 2020

HOME IMPROVEMENT Kilmartin Castle, on the west coast of Scotland, dates back to the 1500s. The owners have transformed it into a B&B with a basement kitchen-diner

EXPERT ADVICE ‘There will usually be conditions attached DESIGN THE INTERIOR

One of the most important considerations when it comes to renovating the interior of your new conversion is to maximise natural light, particularly if lots of large windows weren’t a prominent feature of the original structure. Make the most of high ceilings with roof lights, a glazed ceiling or roof lanterns, and think about making the ground floor open-plan to give it a really contemporary feel. This is a popular choice for industrial buildings and barn conversions where openplan kitchen-living-dining areas really make the most of the space. Open up ceilings and expose any original features, then add new layers by using timber or stone flooring, underfloor heating, wooden cladding, fabrics and soft furnishings to absorb sound as well as add texture and warmth. Think about re-using materials from the original structure as well as shopping for authentic period accessories to add the perfect finishing touches – doorbells, knockers, wall plaques and vintage pieces from the relevant era will all enhance your new home.

to how these types of properties can be developed. They might be restrictions on internal things that may affect how you plan a kitchen space and if the property is listed, you need to stick to those conditions. Trust your architect for advice and consider what you want to keep and what can be removed. Timber, for example, needs to be looked after but you can use colour and different finishes to bring in a modern twist.’ David Conlon, founder of En Masse Bespoke Interiors, enmasseinteriors.co.uk

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Self-build mortgage specialists are a good place to start when it comes to finance. Visit ecolo gy.co.uk or buildstore.co.uk for information. For advice on plann ing permission, head to planningpo rtal.co.uk. You can find a qualif ied sur veyor at rics.org and an arc hitect at architecture.com. Get advice on VAT ref unds at gov.uk and for con version insurance, head to selfbuildin sure.co.uk.

DON’T FORGET THE DETAILS

Any DIY house builder can claim a VAT refund on the cost of converting an existing building using a VAT431C form, which you can download from gov.uk. Keep any receipts and invoices for materials that you buy and once your project is finished, you can send all the qualifying receipts with the VAT431C form to the central VAT office, which will issue a refund. Remember that the claim must be made no more than three months after the project has been completed and that you’ll need to provide evidence of completion. Bear in mind that this VAT refund is only applicable for dwellings that are for your own use – any holiday lets won’t count. You’ll also need to arrange conversion insurance to cover the new works and existing structure. It’s a good precaution to have a contingency fund in place too, just in case there are any unforeseen costs and think about how much the conversion is likely to cost compared to the property’s projected re-sale value in the future. A local estate agent should be able to advise you on ceiling prices in the area.

Take time to choose the right glazing and window frames for your conversion project. The aluminium windows on this converted barn come from the Thames Valley Window Company

USEFUL CONTACTS

CASE STUDY ‘By converting a clutch of farm buildings, we gave them a new lease of life’

Simon, who describes the original barn conversion as the ultimate bachelor pad is now married to Barbara and living in Guernsey so Whiteshoot Farm is rented out for holiday lets

Simon’s award-winning barn conversion, Whiteshoot Farm, sits in six acres of grounds that have a swimming pool, treehouse and a pond, complete with rowing boat

Feature and photos Gill Rothwell

When Simon Gould decided to return to the UK after years of working in the Far East, he set out to find ‘somewhere beautiful to live that would be a nice place for my three children to come and stay’. On a visit to the New Forest he found just the spot he’d been searching for and, although a derelict set of farm buildings might not be everyone’s first choice, Simon could see the potential and eventually persuaded the farm owner to sell. ‘My kids were horrified when they first saw it,’ he laughs, ‘especially when they came across a cow in one of the barns.’

Having commissioned a local architect, Simon then began ‘an interesting journey’ starting with almost a year of negotiating with the planners. ‘There was already planning permission in place for a new building,’ he explains. ‘But what I really wanted to do was restore the original buildings, which date back to 1864, rather than rebuild from scratch.’ The plan was to link the separate outbuildings with a new entrance hall in the main barn, then create a corridor for the bedrooms, with the old milking parlour at the far end becoming the kitchen. The derelict barn would be stripped down to a skeleton, but with all the original beams and full-height doors kept intact and restored. The conversion took more than a year to complete but Simon was able to celebrate his 50th birthday with a party in his new home even though it wasn’t entirely finished. Still single at the time, he describes his property as ‘the ultimate bachelor pad’ but now that he has re-married, changes have gradually been made. Modern and tastefully furnished throughout, the fully restored barn boasts a stunning double-height vaulted living room, a mezzanine level above with a master bedroom and en-suite, and three additional bedrooms at the other end of the building. The open-plan kitchen-dining room has floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading out on to the landscaped garden, where a heated swimming pool has pride of place. Simon and his wife Barbara moved to Guernsey three years ago and as he didn’t want to sell up, Whiteshoot Farm is now rented out for holiday lets. For details visit newforestcottages.co.uk or call 01590 679655.

Inside is an exceptional modern conversion, designed to elevate the barn’s original features, including its exposed stone wall and the beautifully restored timbers

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Be inspired by beautiful reader homes, full of inspiring decorating ideas for summer!

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Gardening Great buys and advice to help your garden grow

Light, strong and very, very long Sick of wrestling a heavy, inflexible hose around the garden? Then Hozelock’s new Tuffhoze might be just what you’re looking for. Made using an inner PVC core and woven ‘Tuff-Fibre’ textile outer layer, the new Tuffhoze is not only highly durable but also flexible and up to 50 per cent lighter than traditional hoses – a combination that makes it easy to manoeuvre into all of your garden’s nooks and crannies. Its two-part construction allows it to handle high-pressure water flows of over 40 bar (580psi) while keeping it flexible enough to be coiled up tightly for storage without kinks forming. The Tuffhoze comes in 12.5m, 25m and 35m lengths and has a 30-year guarantee. Visit hozelock.com to find out more.

Why buy compost or fertiliser when you can make your own in just 12 weeks? With the Aerobin Hot Composter your food and garden waste will be transformed into a natural, nutrient-rich compost and fertiliser. All you have to do is fill the Aerobin with biodegradable household waste and it does the rest. Embracing a more sustainable lifestyle is more important than ever, and reducing and recycling your waste are at the heart of that. With the Aerobin you can establish your own sustainable growing cycle. You remove the compost the Aerobin creates to sow seeds for flowers or food, and later on any leftovers and wilted flowers can be fed back into the composter to produce more. The Aerobin Hot Composter comes in 200L, 400L and 600L capacities so everyone can take steps to cut down their household waste. Prices start at £174.99, originalorganics.co.uk.

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

From field to fork and back

Tuffhoze, from £33, Argos

Act now to get columns of colour If you’re a fan of bold and beautiful blooms, you won’t want to miss out on getting some delphiniums in your garden. But you’ll have to act quick: July is your last chance to plant them outside. A hardy perennial, delphiniums add a striking splash of lavender to any garden. Perfect planted at the back of borders, these stunning spikes will stand sentinel over your flowers. Just make sure to plant them in sunny areas that are sheltered from strong winds. The proud stems of Delphiniums also work wonderfully as cut flowers if you wish to bring a touch of the outdoors inside. Delphinium centurion lavender costs £2.99 for 20 seeds, mr-fothergills.co.uk.

INTO THE WILD Endorsed by none other than Alan Titchmarsh, the Butterfly Brothers – Jim and Joel Ashton – are here to help you transform your garden into a haven for wildlife. They’ve picked up stacks of useful tips during their 15 years as landscape gardeners and have packed them into their new book, Wild Your Garden. Loaded with ways to promote biodiversity, the hardback will help you boost the fauna in your outdoor space, whether it’s a palatial plot or a bijou balcony. From digging your own pond to building an insect hotel, the brothers will show you how to create e a lush oasis for nature, and reduce your carbon footprint rint too. Wild Your Garden by The Butterfly Brothers, £14.99, Dorling Kindersley

Power up your pruning If your secateurs no longer cut the mustard when it comes to pruning your trees and shrubs, you might want to give Stihl’s new cordless GTA 26 a try. This battery-operated mini chainsaw makes chopping back bushes a breeze. The bladed chain runs over a 10cmlong guide bar and does its cutting along the bottom edge, while the top one is covered in a scabbard for your protection. Its ergonomic grip and minimised vibration help with precise pruning, while its low-noise levels will keep your neighbours happy. The GTA 26 is available now for £149, from shop.stihl.co.uk.

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GARDEN IDEAS

Red painted bridges are an emblematic feature of gardens in Japan

Photo Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

The Japanese pagoda sculpture is symbolic of an oriental-style pavilion

IN YOUR GARDEN July brings cheerfulness and colour to help you relax and enjoy the long, hot summer days

STYLE YOUR GARDEN: Traditional Japanese gardens are renowned for their classical beauty and minimalist aesthetic, making them ideal retreats for rest and relaxation. This style of garden design is easily achieved if you follow a few simple rules and don’t over complicate the area with too many of the key elements. Rather than transforming the whole of your garden in one go, you could start by dedicating a small area to the oriental design and increase its RHYD @R XNT F@HM BNM CDMBD

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Plants in a Japanese garden are chosen predominantly for their beautiful foliage, structure and form. 3GD KHFQDD KD@UDR NE )@O@MDRD L@OKDR add colour in spring, summer and autumn, while topiarised specimens, especially shrubs pruned into cloud shapes provide exquisite focal points. NVDQHMF BGDQQX VNTKC AD HCD@K HE you’re looking to add a statement tree. And if any of the space being used is damp shade, encourage moss to grow as ground cover.

Plants in a Japanese garden will often boast beautiful foliage, structure and form

Japan Water is another key element of )@O@MDRD CDRHFMR DHSGDQ HM @ QD DBSHNM pool or meandering through the garden in a trickling stream. An authentic Japanese garden will usually incorporate a pagoda sculpture, symbolic of an oriental-style pavilion and traditionally used as an outdoor temple. Pathways are also an intrinsic component of Japanese gardens, made with sand or rocks that can be raked into even lines to help the body and mind wander freely.

Photo West Dean Gardens

this month…

Photo Gatton Park

-Ion robotic Flymo 1200R lithium m Amazon.co.uk lawnmower, £549, fro

WHAT TO DO in the flower garden Image Getty Images

Ipomoea lobata has stunning ombré flowers

Invest in a robotic lawnmower It’s taken a while for gardeners to embrace robotic lawnmowers but, over the past five years, sales of these time-saving gadgets have soared. They’re especially popular with owners of small- to medium-sized gardens. A robotic lawnmower won’t mow long grass, instead it keeps the grass at a low height by regularly removing the tips of the blades, which are dropped onto the ground to act as a natural fertiliser for the soil. Bear in mind you’ll need to use a robotic lawnmower more often than once a week in order for it to keep your lawn at a length it can manage. They’re easy to use – you simply peg boundary wires around the perimeter of your lawn, which can be uniform in shape or irregular, then you program how often you want it to cut the grass (you may need alter this during periods of drought). You’ll also need an outdoor source of electricity for the mower’s charging station. They emit no fumes, are surprisingly quiet and will continue to work in all weathers.

Add tall focal points Inject a new dimension of interest into borders and beds with plants that are upwardly mobile. When supported on an obelisk or tripod of bamboo canes, climbing plants can be appreciated for their beauty and scent at eye level. Clematis and sweet peas are obvious candidates but don’t forget summer-flowering, tender, climbers such as Morning Glory ‘Heavenly Blue’, Ipomoea lobata, Thunbergia alata (commonly called black-eyed Susan) and Cobaea scandens as these will give heaps of colourful interest during the summer months.

Feature and photos Louise Midgley

Gaardenss Kew Botanicc Garden Photo Royal Botani

Cobaea scandens offers beautiful sculptural blooms

Water and dead head to extend summer displays Beautiful borders, such as this stunning blue and yellow one at West Dean Gardens in West Sussex, benefit immensely from a little regular maintenance. Dead head to encourage new blooms; water either at the beginning or end of the day to keep the plants fresh and upright; and feed once a month with a liquid fertiliser. Plants in pots, window boxes and baskets will need a feed every fortnight. West This blue and yellow border at ct Dean Gardens delivers real impa throughout the warmer months

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Entice hedgehogs GARDEN IDEAS IDE your garden

into for natural slug and snail control

JULY’S garden visitors

SPB RSPB Photo Nigel Blake, R

Britain’s only spiny mammal, the hedgehog, was once a common visitor in both rural and urban gardens but recent surveys show numbers have plummeted by around 50 per cent since the turn of the century, due mainly to habitat loss. Hedgehogs are nocturnal so if you’re lucky enough to have any living in your garden, your best chance of seeing them is after dark. During winter hedgehogs hibernate, usuallyy beneath a nest of leaves and grass – reason enough not to be too tidy in If you’re lucky, you may spot autumn. They come out of hibernation at some point in a mother and her hoglets March and breed soon after in April. Females give birth to foraging for food at this time of year a litter of between three or five hoglets in early summer, but it takes a further 14 days before the young even open their eyes. At this time of the year, the mother will take her young out at night to forage for solid food. When alarmed, hedgehogs roll into a ball and rely on their sharp spines to protect them against most predators. But while this form of defence is effective at fending off other animals, it unfortunately makes them particularly vulnerable when they’re trying to cross busy roads. Hedgehogs are a gardener’s best friend as slugs and snails form a large part of their diet. Help them move freely between gardens by making a small hole at the base of any solid fence. Photo Ben Hall Hall, RSPB

Harvest crops while young and fresh Continue to harvest vegetables that were planted earlier in the year, while they’re at their prime. Peas are super sweet and tender when picked at the correct time but rather inedible when left in the pods for too long and the same goes for runner beans, which get increasingly stringy as they age. If you’re in the enviable position of having too many of any one vegetable, then either give them to friends and family or freeze for later in the year.

Photo Crocus.co.uk P

WHAT TO DO in the veg plot

Bamboo canes are inexpensive and ideal for tying in your tomato trusses as they develop

Sow more seeds Sow seeds now for autumn crops. July is probably the last month to sow seeds of carrots. These root vegetables are susceptible to carrot root fly, which can leave the carrots filled with holes and maggots. Cover the emerging carrots with fleece to prevent the low-flying female insects reaching the crop. It also helps to grow carrots next to chives, which have their own strong scent that masks the carrot aroma. Seeds of lettuce, beetroot, turnips, spring onions, spinach and French beans can also be sown this month.

Support and water tomatoes As the trusses of fruit on tomato plants swell, they’ll need a sturdy support to prevent the main feeding stems from snapping under the weight. Tomatoes are thirsty plants and need to be watered on a Start harvesting regular basis. When watered now to enjoy your summer crops at sporadically, the fruits can their prime develop a disease called blossom-end rot – a greenishbrown to black patch that forms at the base of the fruit, which is caused by a lack of calcium in the fruits. Calcium is transported from the soil to the fruits and if the soil is allowed to dry out for extended periods of time, the calcium stops getting through.

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Support growing tomato plants to prevent the stems snapping as the trusses develop

Sow now for a bumper crop of veg in autumn

GARDEN IDEAS TOP THREE PLANTS

for July WHAT TO DO in the fruit garden Hydrate the soil During prolonged periods of dry weather, be sure to water fruit trees and bushes to give the fruits the moisture they need to swell. A thorough soaking every few days is far more beneficial than a quick flash with the hose every day, which will quickly evaporate.

Grow nutritious berries Many soft fruits produce their harvest during the summer months. Two slightly lesser known varieties that are worth growing for their delicious flavour and versatility are: Tayberry Buckingham A cross between a blackberry and raspberry that combines the goodness of both. The large, deliciously sweet, aromatic berries produced on thorn-free canes are roughly two inches long and are best picked when they’ve changed colour from red to deep purple. They can be eaten when freshly picked or used in culinary dishes. Tayberry Buckingham, At roughly two metres tall, the £16.95 for a two-litre plants are ideal for growing potted plant, Mr Fothergills against a wall or fence.

Hydrangea aborescens ‘Annabelle’

Sanguisorba ‘Lilac Squirrel’

Loganberry, £15.95 for a two-litre potted plant, Mr Fothergills

Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’

Loganberry Another thornless variety that produces generous harvests when the plants are well established. The large, red, succulent fruits have a tangy flavour so are perfectly suited for making jellies and jams or using in pies and summer puddings. Cropping is from mid-July onwards. Any excess fruit can always be frozen.

HYDRANGEA ABORESCENS ‘ANNABELLE’

SANGUISORBA ‘LILAC SQUIRREL’

ECHINOPS RITRO ‘VEITCH’S BLUE’

3GD K@QFD VGHSD ROGDQHB@K NVDQ GD@CR SG@S smother this deciduous shrub add an air NE DKDF@MBD SN SGD K@MCRB@OD (S G@R FQD@S ONHRD @MC OQDRDMBD @MC VHKK Q@CH@SD HSR OTQD AD@TSX EQNL VGDQDUDQ HS R OK@BDC ï MM@ADKKD OQDEDQR @ KHSSKD RG@CD ATS VNM S BNLOK@HM HE CHQDBS RTMKHFGS HR NM NEEDQ )TRS DMRTQD SGD RNHK HR EDQSHKD @MC JDOS LNHRS CTQHMF SGD RTLLDQ LNMSGR $WSDMC HSR ODQHNC NE HMSDQDRS AX KD@UHMF HSR NVDQ GD@CR NM CTQHMF SGD VHMSDQ @R SGDX KNNJ RSTMMHMF VGDM EQDRGKX EQNRSDC

LNRS TMTRT@K OK@MS SG@S VHKK @SSQ@BS HMSDQDRS @MC @CLHQ@SHNM EQNL @MXNMD VGN R TME@LHKH@Q VHSG SGHR TMHPTD ATS D@RX SN FQNV G@QCX ODQDMMH@K ï+HK@B 2PTHQQDK OQNCTBDR ODMCTKNTR OHMJ S@BSHKD B@SJHM KHJD NVDQR SG@S @QD HQQDRHRSHAKD SN SNTBG NM DKDF@MS AQ@MBGHMF RSDLR %KNVDQHMF EQNL LHC RTLLDQ SN D@QKX @TSTLM SGHR BKTLO ENQLHMF R@MFTHRNQA@ VNTKC L@JD @ RS@SDLDMS HM @MX F@QCDM K@QFD NQ RL@KK '@OOX HM RTMKHFGS NQ O@QSH@K RG@CD HS OQDEDQR LNHRS VDKK CQ@HMDC RNHK

Often referred to as the Globe thistle, this sculptural plant produces a mass of AKTD ROGDQHB@K NVDQR NM S@KK QHFHC RHKUDQ stems. This is the perfect plant to attract ATSSDQ HDR @MC ADDR HMSN XNTQ F@QCDM SGQNTFGNTS )TKX TFTRS @MC 2DOSDLADQ @MC HE XNT CNM S BTS A@BJ SGD RODMS NVDQR HM @TSTLM FNKC MBGDR VHKK AD KTQDC HM SN ED@RS NM SGD RDDC GD@CR SGQNTFGNTS VHMSDQ CQNTFGS SNKDQ@MS OK@MS SG@S VHKK AD G@OOX HM LNRS RNHKR @MC MDDCR UDQX KHSSKD @SSDMSHNM SGQNTFGNTS SGD XD@Q

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SIX AMAZING PRIZE DRAWS TO ENTER!

We have fabulous goodies up for grabs this month! Win luxury linen, worth £250 Soft, comfortable bedding is the key to a good night’s sleep, which is why Mediterranean Linens is offering two lucky readers the chance to win luxurious linen worth £250 – a prize that’s sure to get you well on your way to a peaceful slumber. Mediterranean Linens is a supplier of 100 per cent Egyptian bedding and towels, and sustainable and ethical production is at the core of the company’s values. Its products are all certified by Eco Label and the Cotton Egypt Association, to ensure they are produced with minimal environmental impact. With Mediterranean Linens’ bed sheets you can sleep in boutique hotel style all year round. Visit mediterraneanlinens.co.uk for more information.

Two lucky winners

Win a full year’s supply of CAFEPOD coffee CAFEPOD makes strong and exciting craft coffees by sourcing UTZ-certified coffee from around the world and is offering five Your Home readers a chance to win a year’s supply of its delicious Nespresso-compatible pods. The tasty range of CAFEPOD Nespresso coffees includes Intense Roast, a full blend with a deep flavour; Brunch Blend, a smooth and balanced new creation; and Ristretto, which is refined and full of bold, Italian character. CAFEPOD also crafts its own signature flavours, which are available as both whole beans or ground. You don’t have to enter this giveaway to try them for yourself though, as Your Home readers can save 15 per cent on the CAFEPOD range by using the discount code** YOURHOME15 when you check out at cafepod.com.

Prizes worth £110 each

Win a wall mural for your home, worth £500

Win a £50 online voucher to spend at Protek

In this exclusive giveaway, MuralsWallpaper is offering a mural worth up to £500 to one lucky Your Home reader – a prize that will transform the look and feel of any room. With over 45 large collections and 1,800+ designs to choose from, including forest wallpaper, world map murals, watercolour paintings, abstract drawings and more, finding a design to perfectly match your interior taste will be a breeze. Every piece is custom-made to fit your wall measurements and is printed with water-based inks onto sustainably sourced paper. Visit muralswallpaper.co.uk to discover your favourite design.

Protek has teamed up with Your Home to offer 10 readers the chance to win a £50 voucher to spend on Protek woodcare products.* Protek’s paints and wood stains have been formulated to help protect your exterior timber and, with over 100 colours to choose from, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect shade. With a wide variety of neutral, bright and pastel shades available, you can give your garden furniture a stylish upgrade while safeguarding it from the effects of weathering. Protek woodcare products are safe for garden plants, pets and wildlife as they’re water-based and made with environmentally considerate processes and raw materials. Visit protekwoodstain. co.uk to view the full range. *Delivery cost not included.

One lucky winner

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Ten lucky winners

SIX AMAZING PRIZE DRAWS TO ENTER! Win one of four floor lamps, worth £235 each In 1932, vehicle-suspension engineer George Carwardine invented a spring, crank and lever mechanism that could be positioned with the lightest touch and with it, a blueprint for the first Anglepoise task lamp was born. The lamp has subsequently achieved iconic status and its form is recognised and admired all around the world. Today, Anglepoise lamps can be found in homes, offices, restaurants, bars and hotels in more than 50 countries. To celebrate its success, Anglepoise is giving four readers the chance to win a Type 75 floor lamp, worth £235 each. The prizes combine high-quality fittings and fixtures with an elegant, classic look in a colour of your choice, including slate grey, silver lustre, jet black, and alpine white. As a response to the need for sustainable homeware that withstands the test of time, Anglepoise has also recently launched a lifetime guarantee on all of its products, which provides servicing and maintenance on lights bought by domestic customers. Visit anglepoise.com for more information.

Win one of five granite sinks

Four lucky winners

Prizes worth £199 each

EnhanceMyKitchen.co.uk is a new website that offers a range of designer-selected products to update your kitchen. To celebrate its launch, Enhance My Kitchen is giving away five Cascade Night Glow black granite sinks featuring either a single bowl or one and a half bowl design. Exclusively created for Enhance My Kitchen, these sinks are manufactured to the highest European standards. They are heat, stain, scratch and impact resistant, and each one has a naturally anti-bacterial surface that makes them easy to clean. Reversible fitting is also available, so you can have the drainer on the left or right – whichever you prefer – while the combination of granite, quartz and resin creates a beautiful, durable finish. Both the single and one-and-a-half bowl options come with a waste kit and are worth £199 each. Plus, there’s a manufacturer’s guarantee of 10 years. Visit EnhanceMyKitchen.co.uk for more information.

To enter, visit yourhomestyle.uk, choose the WIN tab, find the prize draw you’d yo like to enter and fill in your details. Closing date 31st July 2020 at 11.59pm TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1 Promoter: Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited. 2 The promotion is open to all residents of the UK, including the Channel Islands, aged 18 years or older, except the Promoter’s employees or contractors and anyone connected with the promotion or their direct family members. 3 By entering the promotion, you agree to be bound by all the rules of the promotion including these terms and conditions. 4 The Promoter may share the details of the winner with the prize provider for the purposes of fulfilling/delivering the prize. 5 The Promoter excludes liability to the full extent permitted by law for any loss, damage or injury occurring to the participant arising from his or her entry into the promotion or occurring to a winner arising from his or her acceptance of a prize. 6 The Promoter reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or to cancel, alter or amend the promotion at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control. 7 Only one entry per prize draw will be permitted per household, regardless of method of entry. Bulk entries made by third parties will not be permitted. Entries received after the closing date of the promotion will not be considered. 8 No responsibility accepted for lost, delayed, ineligible or fraudulent entries. 9 The prizes are non-refundable, non-transferable and not for resale. The prizes cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers, promotions or discounts. There is no cash alternative. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prizes with other prizes of the same or greater value. 10 Closing date for entries is 11.59pm on 31st July 2020. 11 Winning entries will be chosen at random (after the closing date) from all entries. 12 The winners will be notified of their win within 28 days. 13 Winners must claim their prize within 28 days of notification. In the event that a winner cannot be contacted or fails to claim their prize within 28 days, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to another entrant, or to re-offer the prize in any future promotion. 14 The Promoter’s decision as to the winner is final and no correspondence relating to the promotion will be entered into. 15 The prizes are as stated above. 16 Entrants must supply to Immediate Media Company Limited their full name, email address or daytime telephone number. The Promoter will use entrants’ personal details in accordance with the Immediate Privacy Policy (immediate.co.uk/privacy-policy). 17 The surname and county of residence of the winners will be available upon request by sending an SAE to Your Home Giveaways, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST within two months of the closing date of the promotion. The Promoter will contact the winners before releasing this information and provide the winners the opportunity to object or limit the amount of information shared 18 The promotion is subject to the laws of England. **Discount code YOURHOME15 is valid until 23:59 Monday 31st August 2020. One use per customer. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount or promotion. Offer only valid on full price items. Cannot be applied retrospectively and there are no cash alternatives. Cannot be redeemed against subscriptions. CAFEPOD Ltd. reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or withdraw the promotion at any time, and without prior notice.

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Shopping guide A

Abode abodedesigns.co.uk Abode Living 01273 621116 abodeliving.co.uk Albert & Moo 020 8088 8280 albertandmoo.com AluSplash alusplash.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon 0800 279 7234 amazon.co.uk Amtico 0121 745 0800 amtico.com Andy Thomas Artworks andythomasartworks.co.uk Annabel James 0345 548 0210 annabeljames.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 247296 anniesloan.com Anthropologie 00800 0026 8476 anthropologie.com/en-gb Antipodream 07391 514622 antipodream.co.uk Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Artisanti 0345 259 1410 artisanti.com Audenza 0116 298 6393 audenza.com

B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Beaumonde 01202 707770 beaumonde.co.uk Bedfolk bedfolk.com Benchmarx Kitchens benchmarxkitchens.co.uk Benjamin Moore 01753 575756 benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk BHS 0333 005 0070 bhs.com Big Bathroom Shop 0345 122 7569 bigbathroomshop.co.uk Blinds2go 0800 862 0464 blinds-2go.co.uk Block Design 01503 230003 blockdesign.co.uk Blooming Artificial 0800 9777 589 bloomingartificial.co.uk Bobby Rabbit 0114 321 7000 bobbyrabbit.co.uk Bombay Duck 020 8749 3000 bombayduck.com Bristol Tile Co Ltd 0117 952 6126 bristoltile.co.uk Britton 01322 473 222 brittonbathrooms.com

California Shutters 0800 195 0196 californiashutters.co.uk Cambridge Imprint 07732 131135 cambridgeimprint.co.uk Carpetright 0330 333 3444 carpetright.co.uk Cath Kidston cathkidston.com Chelsea Prints London chelseaprints.com Christy 0161 367 5800 christy.co.uk Cole & Son 0208 442 8844 cole-and-son.com/en Colourtrend +353 1 628 8224 colourtrend.ie Corian corian.uk

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Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk Crown Imperial 01227 742424 crown-imperial.co.uk Cuckooland.com 01305 231231 cuckooland.com Cult Furniture 020 8185 6960 cultfurniture.com Curious Egg 01738 621111 curiousegg.com

Daisy Park 01769 579077 daisypark.co.uk Dalsouple 01278 727777 dalsouple.com Danetti 020 3588 1380 danetti.com Desenio 020 3318 2047 desenio.co.uk Deval devalbathrooms.com DFS 0808 159 5584 dfs.co.uk Dobbies dobbies.com Doramics Tiles Ireland +353 1842 9744 doramics.ie Dorling Kindersley 0120 625 5678 dk.com Dowsing & Reynolds 0113 819 9985 dowsingandreynolds.com Dreams 0800 652 6750 dreams.co.uk Dulux 0333 222 7171 dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 165 6565 dunelm.com Duravit duravit.co.uk Dwell 0345 675 9090 dwell.co.uk

eBay ebay.co.uk Ella James 01572 759190 ellajames.co.uk En Masse Bespoke Interiors 01376 617131 enmasseinteriors.co.uk Etsy etsy.com/uk Eve Sleep 0208 036 5535 evesleep.co.uk

Falmec 01727 830380 falmec.uk Farrow and Ball 01202 876141 farrow-ball.com Feather and Black 01243 380600 featherandblack.com Fenwick & Tilbrook 01362 684125 fenwickandtilbrook.com Ferm Living fermliving.com Fiona Quigley Artist +87 196 2613 Franklin and Hare 07921 576295 franklinandhare.com French Connection 0333 400 3285 frenchconnection.com Furniture Choice 0333 015 0000 furniturechoice.co.uk Furniture Village 0800 804 8879 furniturevillage.co.uk

Garden Trading 01993 845559 gardentrading.co.uk George Home 0800 952 0101 asda.com Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Whitstable 01227 261524 georgeswhitstable.com Gisela Graham 020 7708 6396 giselagraham.co.uk

Glen O-Callaghan Carpets +353 1860 1845 goccarpets.com gpad London 020 7549 2133 gpadlondonltd.com Green Lili greenlili.com GreenPan greenpan.co.uk

Joe Browns joebrowns.co.uk John Lewis & Partners 03456 049049 johnlewis.com Join joinstorelondon.co.uk Just Shutters 0845 894 0700 justshutters.co.uk

H&M 0344 736 9000 hm.com Habitat 0344 499 4686 habitat.co.uk Heating & Plumbing London heating-and-plumbing.com Historic Royal Palaces hrp.org.uk Hobbycraft 0330 026 1400 hobbycraft.co.uk Hold Upon Heart 01952 883310 holduponheart.co.uk Homebase 0345 077 8888 homebase.co.uk Homescapes 0121 368 0051 homescapesonline.com Homesense 01923 473 561 homesense.com Housecosy 0333 339 1117 housecosy.com

iBlockCube iblockcube.com IDAHO 0161 941 1085 idahoshop.co.uk IKEA 08453 583363 ikea.com IQ Glass 01494722880 iqglassuk.com I Want Wallpaper 0161 491 6400 iwantwallpaper.co.uk

Kaleidoscope 0333 200 8018 kaleidoscope.co.uk Karndean 01386 820100 karndean.com Katie Gillies katiegillies.com Kettler 01527 591901 kettler.co.uk KitchenAid 0800 151 0908 kitchenaid.co.uk Knobbles & Bobbles 07746 357625 knobblesandbobbles.com Koivu 01732 459964 koivu.co.uk Koko Kids 01273 553551 kokokids.com

La Redoute 0844 842 2222 laredoute.co.uk Laura Ashley 03332 008009 lauraashley.com Lick lickhome.com Lights4fun lights4fun.co.uk Lime Lace 0330 058 4158 limelace.co.uk Little Greene 0845 880 5855 littlegreene.com Live Laugh Love 01342 842599 livelaughlove.co.uk Loaf 020 3141 8300 loaf.com

Where to buy everything in this issue Lottie Cole 07971 853 412 lottiecole.com

M&Co 0333 202 0720 mandco.com M&S 0333 202 0720 marksandspencer.com MADE 0845 557 6888 made.com Maison de Marrakech maisondemarrakech.com Matalan 0333 004 4444 matalan.co.uk Meadows & Byrne +35321 4344100 meadowsandbyrne.com Melody Maison 01302 741000 melodymaison.co.uk Mint & May 020 3637 7969 mintandmay.co.uk MissPrint 01277 350 581 missprint.co.uk Mr Fothergill’s 0845 371 0518 mr-fothergills.co.uk

Natural History Museum Shop nhmshop.co.uk Nest nest.co.uk Next 0333 777 8000 next.co.uk Not Just Jugs 020 7254 9996 notjustjugs.com nuie 01422 417100 nuiebathrooms.com

Oak Furnitureland 0800 440 2254 oakfurnitureland.co.uk Ocado 0345 656 1234 ocado.com Oliver Bonas 020 8974 0110 oliverbonas.com Original Organics 01462 429777 originalorganics.co.uk Oso Twee osotwee.com

Paper Provision paperprovision.com Penelope Tom 01548 856779 penelopetom.com Plum Retail 07795 820989 plumretail.co.uk Poppy Treffry 01736 369247 poppytreffry.co.uk Postcards Home 01273 569080 postcardshome.co.uk Primark primark.com Protek 01749 344697 protekwoodstain.co.uk Purlfrost 020 8992 4024 purlfrost.com

Rex London 020 8746 2473 rexlondon.com Rockett St George 01444 253391 rockettstgeorge.co.uk Rose & Grey 0161 926 8763 roseandgrey.co.uk

Sadolin 0330 0240 298 sadolin.co.uk Sainsbury’s Home 0800 636 262 sainsburys.co.uk Scandinavian Pantry Shop scandinavianpantry.co.uk Scott’s Furniture Mart 01843 220653 scottsmargate.co.uk Screen with Envy 03335 773324 screenwithenvy.co.uk Screwfix 0330 112 112 screwfix.com Secret Linen Store 01243 822599 secretlinenstore.com Seventh Generation 0800 678 1642 seventhgeneration.co.uk Sew Easy seweasy.com Shimu 0800 088 6800 shimu.co.uk Sophie Allport 01778 560256 sophieallport.com Sous Chef souschef.co.uk STABILO stabile.com STIHL shop.stihl.co.uk Studio One South West 01752 977497 studioonesw.co.uk

T&G 01275 841 841 tg-woodware.com Tesco 0800 323 4060 tesco.com Thames Valley Window Company 0800 181 698 tvwindows.com

The Contemporary Home tch.net The French Bedroom Company 01444 415430 frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk The Futon Company 0345 609 4455 futoncompany.co.uk The Grey Works 01444 456161 thegreyworks.com The Main Company 01423 330451 maincompany.com The Range 0345 026 7598 therange.co.uk The Stripes Company 01244 336387 thestripescompany.com Thrills of the Emporium 07904 478328 thrillsoftheemporium.co.uk Tikamoon 020 3445 5440 tikamoon.co.uk Tile Giant 0345 307 5000 tilegiant.co.uk TK Maxx 01923 473561 tkmaxx.com Tolix 07156 20409 tolix.co.uk Tons of Tiles 02477 500004 tonsoftiles.co.uk Total Floors 07872 608623 totalfloors.co.uk Tracklements 01666 827044 tracklements.co.uk Trend 0800 028 4466 trendinteriors.co.uk Truly truly.co.uk Two Keys twokeysldn.co.uk

Unto This Last 020 7613 0882 untothislast.co.uk Urban Front 01494 778787 urbanfront.com

Urban Outfitters 0800 988 7726 urbanoutfitters.com

Very 0800 092 3355 very.co.uk Victorian Plumbing 0345 862 2878 victorianplumbing.co.uk Von Haus 0161 833 5442 vonhaus.com

Waitrose 0800 188 884 waitrose.com Walls and Floors 01536 314730 wallsandfloors.co.uk Wallsauce 01772 284110 wallsauce.com Wayfair 0800 756 4357 wayfair.co.uk Wearth London wearthlondon.com Wentworth Wooden Puzzles 0800 731 1662 wentworthpuzzles.com Wilko 08000 329329 wilko.com Wooden Furniture Store 020 7617 7596 wooden-furniture-store.co.uk Wren Kitchens wrenkitchens.com

Yesterhome 01746 710777 yesterhome.com Yorkshire Fabric Shop 01924 728753 yorkshirefabricshop.com

Zara Home 0800 026 0091 zarahome.com

Ramsden Mills 01376 514211 ramsdenmills.com Rebecca Tracey 07557 943882 rebeccatracey.co.uk Red Candy 0121 224 7728 redcandy.co.uk Redwood Stone 01749 677777 redwoodstone.com Retro Print Shop 01424 443749 retroprintshop.co.uk

July 2020

109

SHOPPING DIRECTORY

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114

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Articles inside

Home Improvement

We’ve proved that small is beautiful

91 Go green Treat your taste buds to a

We gave this old-fashioned house

Revamp, repair, recycle Give a

Hard-working worktops and stylish splashbacks Sleek kitchen surfaces

My second-hand units were an eBay bargain Amberley Rainey turned her

Ask the experts Your home

Kids’ bedrooms Give your child a

Trend alert Take inspiration from

Household hints Find our advice

Reusing our furniture kept our costs down Rachel Orr stretched her