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AUTUMN EDIT: Cosy up with on-trend buys NOVEMBER 2018

Real HOMES M a k e your dre a m home a re a lit y

one-stop sofa shop velvet designs you’ll love

vibrant original stylish showstopping homes filled with clever ideas

Warm up with woodburners and radiators | Revamp your hallway | The latest kitchen and bathroom buys | How to get a happier home life | Loft conversions to inspire you | Why house plants are a must | Is upcycling25worth it? | Chic shutters for windows

REALHOMES.COM

design secrets of the insta-famous make their style work for you

REALHOMES.COM

ISSUE 235

BEST NEW DECOR IDEAS & HOW TO STYLE THEM

easy ways to transform every room

PHOTOGRAPH KATIE LEE

y of orla kiel receive a set kitchen canisters u subscribe – worth £30 when yo see page 126

completed before Christmas (I know, I mentioned the C word), I’m going to try and embrace my spontaneous side – it’s in there somewhere, I’m sure of it.

There’s a bottle of wine ready for Friday night, and as for Saturday morning?

You’ll find me in the paint aisle of my local DIY store, stocking up on some much-needed tins of paint.

Beth Murton Acting Editor @BethMurton

on my lust list this month This sofa + my living room = a match made in heaven – as long as I manage to keep the kids away from it, of course.

See page 27 for details

5

REALHOMES.COM

from the editor

W

hen it comes to decorating, what type of person are you?

Do you get carried away after a glass (or two) of wine on a Friday night and decide there and then to completely transform your living room that weekend, racing to the nearest DIY store on a Saturday morning to stock up on several tins of the latest colour of the year (Spiced Honey, according to Dulux, just in case you’re wondering)?

Perhaps you’re more of a planner, mood-boarding your ideas to perfection so that you know exactly how your room will look before you even think of picking up a paintbrush. Are you such a fan of room revamps that you’ve always got a project on the go, changing up decorating schemes faster than you can say 60 Minute Makeover?

Or maybe you’re someone who often thinks about redecorating and would like to do more of it, but something (lack of time, worry about getting it right, etc.) always seems to stop you putting your plans into practice.

I definitely fall into the latter camp recently. Having renovated my entire house from top to bottom several years ago, I was relieved to pack away the paintbrushes, DIY tools and dust sheets and simply enjoy living in it. I’ve made several minor updates since then, but I’m now ready to change up the décor and the living room has been top of my agenda for several months.

The problem is I’m such a procrastinator – as my friends will confirm, having seen me try and choose between several seemingly identical pairs of black jeans more than once – that although I’ve come up with lots of ideas, I can’t seem to get much further than looking at paint charts or wallpaper samples. And as amazing as my job is, it doesn’t usually aid my decision-making process. Just when I think I’ve come up with my dream scheme, the next trends are launched, I’m tempted by the new colours and must-have items, and the whole process starts all over again.

So, in a bid to finally get this redecoration off the ground and

s t n e t n co 163

Style agenda

Inside track 13

21

59

New buys on the block

Easy update Bring instant life and colour to your rented property with plants

61

Five ways...

You’ll know it’s time to cosy up your home for winter

63

Autumn hues Add warmth with an injection of an on-trend earthy shade

velvet underground Prepare to get touchy-feely with a new wave of soft, plush sofas

29

new nordic Scandi interiors are back with a fresh take on the classic style

art invasion Abstract shapes and graphic faces create a fun new look

27

50

home truths Our monthly columnist, Lisa Dawson, on finding her style

25

Why giving your staircase a facelift is easier than you’d think

#nowtrending Let’s be friends on social media

23

Sunday project

news The products and trends that grabbed our attention this month

120

49

64

hallways Banish the heaps of coats and shoes for an impressive entry

The latest kitchen trends and how to get the look on a budget

30

Hero house

13

Find out why we’re loving Nichola Broughton’s home

43

The big debate Is upcycling worth it?

45

‘we can’t agree on a decorating scheme’ Three readers on what happens when a couple’s tastes differ

25

#Sorealhomes Share your home with us on Instagram using our new hashtag

30

s t n e t n co 72

project advice

home life

71

129 Extension of the month

My favourite corner

A spot of statement glazing that’s grabbed our attention

A reader shares the part of her home she loves the most

131 the report 72

29

Real Home

Kitchen and bathroom products and news, plus design ideas

Leanne and Calum Watt created a cosy cottage in Aberdeen

85

139 Focus on window shutters

over to you Our readers tell us what they can’t live without in their house

87

How to control privacy and light, and keep your home snug, too

want to be happier?

143 Guide to loft conversions

Why outsourcing household chores could change your life

90

90

Get the lowdown on extending upwards

Real Home 156 Design clinic

Jenny and Anthony Kakoudakis created a luxe and colourful home

Our expert advice for solving your project dilemmas

102 #instareality 159 The edit

The highs and lows of sharing your space on social media

Take your pick from the latest radiators and hot water taps

106 Real Home

159

163 guide to woodburning stoves

Danielle and Jason Hughes combined skills to reintroduce character into their period home

Warm up this winter with our pick of the best

117 Make your home pay for itself

178 At home with…

Get the most out of your property by setting up your business where you live

Quick-fire questions with designer Abigail Ahern

120 Real Home Victoria Bolton and Ben Stanley added splashes of brightness for a family-friendly kitchen

106 SUBSCRIPTION OFFER Receive a set of Orla Kiely kitchen canisters worth £30 when you subscribe – see page 126

8

131

In association with Real Homes

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Extensions

10 Conversions

Renovations

Builds

ART Head of Art Billy Peel Senior Art Editor Emily Smith Art Editor Karen Lawson REALHOMES.COM Editor in Chief Lucy Searle Associate Editor Lindsey Davis Staff Writers Annie Collyer, Anna Cottrell, Hebe Hatton and Emily Shaw Video Producer Matt Gibbs ADVERTISING AND EXHIBITIONS SALES Media packs are available on request Commercial Director Clare Dove clare.dove@futurenet.com Print & Digital Sales Director Jackie Sanders jackie.sanders@futurenet.com 01527 834426 Print & Digital Sales Manager Rebecca Vincze rebecca.vincze@futurenet.com 01527 834415 Key Account Manager Debra Greer debra.greer@futurenet.com 01527 834424 Exhibitions Sales Director Hellen Roche hellen.roche@futurenet.com 01527 834418 INTERNATIONAL Real Homes is available for licensing. Contact the International Department to discuss partnership opportunities International Licensing Director Matt Ellis matt.ellis@futurenet.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Email enquiries contact@myfavouritemagazines.co.uk UK order line and enquiries 0344 848 2852 Overseas order line and enquiries +44 (0)344 848 2852 Online orders and enquiries myfavouritemagazines.co.uk CRM Director Louise Dudfield Director of Acquisitions Sharon Todd CIRCULATION Head of Newstrade Tim Mathers PRODUCTION Head of Production Mark Constance Production Project Manager Clare Scott Advertising Production Manager Joanne Crosby Digital Editions Controller Jason Hudson Production Manager Vivienne Calvert MANAGEMENT Brand Director Paul Newman Editorial Director Jason Orme Chief Operations Officer Aaron Asadi Managing Director Commercial, Events and B2B Ben Greenish Commercial Finance Director Dan Jotcham PRINTED BY William Gibbons & Sons

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ISSN 1464 - 4061 áƺ Əȸƺ ƬȒȅȅǣɎɎƺƳ ɎȒ ȒȇǼɵ ɖɀǣȇǕ ȅƏǕƏɿǣȇƺ ȵƏȵƺȸ ɯǝǣƬǝ ǣɀ ƳƺȸǣɮƺƳ ǔȸȒȅ ȸƺɀȵȒȇɀǣƫǼɵ ȅƏȇƏǕƺƳً ƬƺȸɎǣˡƺƳ ǔȒȸƺɀɎȸɵ ƏȇƳ ƬǝǼȒȸǣȇƺ‫ٮ‬ǔȸƺƺ ȅƏȇɖǔƏƬɎɖȸƺِ Áǝƺ ȵƏȵƺȸ ǣȇ Ɏǝǣɀ ȅƏǕƏɿǣȇƺ ɯƏɀ ɀȒɖȸƬƺƳ ƏȇƳ ȵȸȒƳɖƬƺƳ ǔȸȒȅ ɀɖɀɎƏǣȇƏƫǼƺ ȅƏȇƏǕƺƳ ǔȒȸƺɀɎɀً ƬȒȇǔȒȸȅǣȇǕ ɎȒ ɀɎȸǣƬɎ ƺȇɮǣȸȒȇȅƺȇɎƏǼ ƏȇƳ ɀȒƬǣȒƺƬȒȇȒȅǣƬ ɀɎƏȇƳƏȸƳɀِ Áǝƺ ȅƏȇɖǔƏƬɎɖȸǣȇǕ ȵƏȵƺȸ ȅǣǼǼ ǝȒǼƳɀ ǔɖǼǼ I³! ٢IȒȸƺɀɎ ³ɎƺɯƏȸƳɀǝǣȵ !ȒɖȇƬǣǼ٣ ƬƺȸɎǣˡƬƏɎǣȒȇ ƏȇƳ ƏƬƬȸƺƳǣɎƏɎǣȒȇ ǼǼ ƬȒȇɎƺȇɎɀ ۰ ‫ ז׏׎א‬IɖɎɖȸƺ ¨ɖƫǼǣɀǝǣȇǕ nǣȅǣɎƺƳ Ȓȸ ȵɖƫǼǣɀǝƺƳ ɖȇƳƺȸ ǼǣƬƺȇƬƺِ ǼǼ ȸǣǕǝɎɀ ȸƺɀƺȸɮƺƳِ zȒ ȵƏȸɎ Ȓǔ Ɏǝǣɀ ȅƏǕƏɿǣȇƺ ȅƏɵ ƫƺ ɖɀƺƳً ɀɎȒȸƺƳً ɎȸƏȇɀȅǣɎɎƺƳ Ȓȸ ȸƺȵȸȒƳɖƬƺƳ ǣȇ Əȇɵ ɯƏɵ ɯǣɎǝȒɖɎ Ɏǝƺ ȵȸǣȒȸ ɯȸǣɎɎƺȇ ȵƺȸȅǣɀɀǣȒȇ Ȓǔ Ɏǝƺ ȵɖƫǼǣɀǝƺȸِ IɖɎɖȸƺ ¨ɖƫǼǣɀǝǣȇǕ nǣȅǣɎƺƳ ٢ƬȒȅȵƏȇɵ ȇɖȅƫƺȸ ‫דזזז׎׎א‬٣ ǣɀ ȸƺǕǣɀɎƺȸƺƳ ǣȇ 0ȇǕǼƏȇƳ ƏȇƳ áƏǼƺɀِ «ƺǕǣɀɎƺȸƺƳ ȒǔˡƬƺ‫ ي‬ªɖƏɵ RȒɖɀƺً Áǝƺ ȅƫɖȸɵً ƏɎǝ ‫׏ ׏‬È ِ ǼǼ ǣȇǔȒȸȅƏɎǣȒȇ ƬȒȇɎƏǣȇƺƳ ǣȇ Ɏǝǣɀ ȵɖƫǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇ ǣɀ ǔȒȸ ǣȇǔȒȸȅƏɎǣȒȇ ȒȇǼɵ ƏȇƳ ǣɀً Əɀ ǔƏȸ Əɀ ɯƺ Əȸƺ ƏɯƏȸƺً ƬȒȸȸƺƬɎ ƏɎ Ɏǝƺ Ɏǣȅƺ Ȓǔ ǕȒǣȇǕ ɎȒ ȵȸƺɀɀِ IɖɎɖȸƺ ƬƏȇȇȒɎ ƏƬƬƺȵɎ Əȇɵ ȸƺɀȵȒȇɀǣƫǣǼǣɎɵ ǔȒȸ ƺȸȸȒȸɀ Ȓȸ ǣȇƏƬƬɖȸƏƬǣƺɀ ǣȇ ɀɖƬǝ ǣȇǔȒȸȅƏɎǣȒȇِ çȒɖ Əȸƺ ƏƳɮǣɀƺƳ ɎȒ ƬȒȇɎƏƬɎ ȅƏȇɖǔƏƬɎɖȸƺȸɀ ƏȇƳ ȸƺɎƏǣǼƺȸɀ ƳǣȸƺƬɎǼɵ ɯǣɎǝ ȸƺǕƏȸƳ ɎȒ Ɏǝƺ ȵȸǣƬƺ Ȓǔ ȵȸȒƳɖƬɎɀٖɀƺȸɮǣƬƺɀ ȸƺǔƺȸȸƺƳ ɎȒ ǣȇ Ɏǝǣɀ ȵɖƫǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇِ ȵȵɀ ƏȇƳ ɯƺƫɀǣɎƺɀ ȅƺȇɎǣȒȇƺƳ ǣȇ Ɏǝǣɀ ȵɖƫǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇ Əȸƺ ȇȒɎ ɖȇƳƺȸ Ȓɖȸ ƬȒȇɎȸȒǼِ áƺ Əȸƺ ȇȒɎ ȸƺɀȵȒȇɀǣƫǼƺ ǔȒȸ Ɏǝƺǣȸ ƬȒȇɎƺȇɎɀ Ȓȸ Əȇɵ ȒɎǝƺȸ ƬǝƏȇǕƺɀ Ȓȸ ɖȵƳƏɎƺɀ ɎȒ Ɏǝƺȅِ Áǝǣɀ ȅƏǕƏɿǣȇƺ ǣɀ ǔɖǼǼɵ ǣȇƳƺȵƺȇƳƺȇɎ ƏȇƳ ȇȒɎ ƏǔˡǼǣƏɎƺƳ ǣȇ Əȇɵ ɯƏɵ ɯǣɎǝ Ɏǝƺ ƬȒȅȵƏȇǣƺɀ ȅƺȇɎǣȒȇƺƳ ǝƺȸƺǣȇِ Xǔ ɵȒɖ ɀɖƫȅǣɎ ȅƏɎƺȸǣƏǼ ɎȒ ɖɀً ɵȒɖ ɯƏȸȸƏȇɎ ɎǝƏɎ ɵȒɖ Ȓɯȇ Ɏǝƺ ȅƏɎƺȸǣƏǼ ƏȇƳٖȒȸ ǝƏɮƺ Ɏǝƺ ȇƺƬƺɀɀƏȸɵ ȸǣǕǝɎɀٖȵƺȸȅǣɀɀǣȒȇɀ ɎȒ ɀɖȵȵǼɵ Ɏǝƺ ȅƏɎƺȸǣƏǼ ƏȇƳ ɵȒɖ ƏɖɎȒȅƏɎǣƬƏǼǼɵ ǕȸƏȇɎ IɖɎɖȸƺ ƏȇƳ ǣɎɀ ǼǣƬƺȇɀƺƺɀ Ə ǼǣƬƺȇƬƺ ɎȒ ȵɖƫǼǣɀǝ ɵȒɖȸ ɀɖƫȅǣɀɀǣȒȇ ǣȇ ɯǝȒǼƺ Ȓȸ ǣȇ ȵƏȸɎ ǣȇ ƏȇɵٖƏǼǼ ǣɀɀɖƺɀ ƏȇƳٖȒȸ ƺƳǣɎǣȒȇɀ Ȓǔ ȵɖƫǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇɀً ǣȇ Əȇɵ ǔȒȸȅƏɎ ȵɖƫǼǣɀǝƺƳ ɯȒȸǼƳɯǣƳƺ ƏȇƳ Ȓȇ ƏɀɀȒƬǣƏɎƺƳ ɯƺƫɀǣɎƺɀً ɀȒƬǣƏǼ ȅƺƳǣƏ ƬǝƏȇȇƺǼɀ ƏȇƳ ƏɀɀȒƬǣƏɎƺƳ ȵȸȒƳɖƬɎɀِ ȇɵ ȅƏɎƺȸǣƏǼ ɵȒɖ ɀɖƫȅǣɎ ǣɀ ɀƺȇɎ ƏɎ ɵȒɖȸ Ȓɯȇ ȸǣɀǸ ƏȇƳً ƏǼɎǝȒɖǕǝ ƺɮƺȸɵ ƬƏȸƺ ǣɀ ɎƏǸƺȇً ȇƺǣɎǝƺȸ IɖɎɖȸƺ ȇȒȸ ǣɎɀ ƺȅȵǼȒɵƺƺɀً ƏǕƺȇɎɀً ɀɖƫƬȒȇɎȸƏƬɎȒȸɀ Ȓȸ ǼǣƬƺȇɀƺƺɀ ɀǝƏǼǼ ƫƺ ǼǣƏƫǼƺ ǔȒȸ ǼȒɀɀ Ȓȸ ƳƏȅƏǕƺِ áƺ Əɀɀɖȅƺ ƏǼǼ ɖȇɀȒǼǣƬǣɎƺƳ ȅƏɎƺȸǣƏǼ ǣɀ ǔȒȸ ȵɖƫǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇ ɖȇǼƺɀɀ ȒɎǝƺȸɯǣɀƺ ɀɎƏɎƺƳً ƏȇƳ ȸƺɀƺȸɮƺ Ɏǝƺ ȸǣǕǝɎ ɎȒ ƺƳǣɎً ƏȅƺȇƳً ƏƳƏȵɎ ƏǼǼ ɀɖƫȅǣɀɀǣȒȇɀِ

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Future plc is a public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR) www.futureplc.com

Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne Non-executive chairman Richard Huntingford !ǝǣƺǔ ˡȇƏȇƬǣƏǼ ȒǔˡƬƺȸ Penny Ladkin-Brand Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244

REALHOMES.COM

EDITORIAL Editor Laura Crombie Acting Editor Beth Murton Assistant Editor Alison Jones Features Editor Ellen Finch Style Editor Anna Morley Deputy Style Editor Amelia Smith realhomes@futurenet.com 01527 834456

#SOREALHOMES

Future PLC, Units 1 & 2, Sugarbrook Court, Aston Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 3EX

l a e R s e m Ho just a k c i l c y a w a

INSIDE

track

N E W S | S HOP PI N G | H E RO HOUS E | R E A L L I F E Färgstark pendant lamps, £25 each; Råane armchair £45; Mosaikblad cushion cover yellow/black or blue/ black, £4.50 each, all Ikea

CLASSIC COMEBACK All hail an icon! Innovative furniture maker Ikea is celebrating its 75th anniversary (yes we know, it’s looking good on it!) by rolling out a series of limited-edition vintage collections. With launches in October and December, you can relive the Swedish style from the 1950s, 1960s and beyond with some of its very first products, which are standing the test of time. The new Re-imagined Classics collection has been designed to be kept and looked after in the home forever.

#SOREALHOMES

Knäsjö floor lamp, £89

FEATURE ANNA MORLEY

Mosaikblad cushion cover, £4.50

hard to resist We’re rediscovering the reasons why it’s impossible for us to go into Ikea for a picture frame and some Daims and not come out with a bulging blue bag.

Gagnet armchair, £70 Finansiell horse decoration, price TBC, released in December

Lovbacken side table, £45

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FAMILY DAY OUT Fireworks Spectacular and Family

Boys’ space novelty gloves, £12, Monsoon

Raceday, Ascot Racecourse, Saturday 3 November. Ascot.co.uk SHOPPING SECRETS FROM A HOME ST YLIST All-round cool bean Kay Prestney, of Kinshipcreativedc. co.uk, reveals her sources

Catch some bright lights, big bangs and horsey fun at this Ascot bonfire night.

Plenty of ooos, ahhhs and giddy ups to be had with a day of racing and fairground rides, topped off with a grand fireworks display. Tickets from £25; under 18s go free (when accompanied by an adult).

ART SCENE

One to watch...

I love the new PET range of outdoor rugs and cushions from Liv Interiors (liv-interior.com/en).

They’re recycled plastic yet feel like cotton.

My fave local shops…

I fill my basket with props and finds at my local monthly vintage street market in the summer. Vanil in Woodbridge (vanil.co.uk) is brilliant for modern Scandinavianinspired homewares. Trinovante Trading (trinovantetrading.co.uk) is a great vintage wholesaler with a lock up in Essex that you can even ask to visit.

For good-value homewares I like…

H&M, who recently brought out Follow Kay and find a furniture range. Dutch brand info on her workshops on Instagram @ HEMA and France’s Monoprix.

Best for scandi style…

Brands such as Tine K Home (tinekhome.com/en/) and House Doctor (housedoctor.com) are very aligned to my Nordic aesthetic. shops I always walk out with something from…

Nineteen (19alexandraroad.co.uk), and Midgley Green, (midgleygreen. co.uk), both in Clevedon in the West Country. They’re creative emporiums full of handmade and vintage pieces. I have to stop myself buying the whole store(s)!

kinship_creativedc or on Facebook @ kinshipcreativedc

HOTEL CHIC Remy Luxor Orange fabric armchair, £665, Furniture Village

15

Get the charm of this country hotel retreat with soft seating and a mix of patterned pieces

Kasbar cushion, £34, French Connection

Vintage elm coffee table, £650, Oggetto

#SOREALHOMES

Ever wished that cool country pub you’ve just had lunch in had a nice boutique room, designed with an artist’s eye, to curl up in come the evening? Well the Artist Residence hotel in Oxfordshire has just that. It’s a stylish 16th-century inn, set in the Cotswolds, with five bedrooms nestled under its quaint thatch and two suites in the outbuildings – each with bohemian styling and antique furnishings. Rooms from £95. For details, go to artistresidence.co.uk

FOR THE LATEST NEWS VISIT REALHOMES.COM/NEWS

ARTIST RESIDENCE, OXFORDSHIRE

For last-minute homeware props…

You can’t beat foraging in the garden, park, woods or hedgerows.

Look for fallen branches to wrap with fairy lights and dried seed heads to put in vintage vases.

Special effect Craig & Rose Artisan Rust Effect paint, £6 for 125ml; Craig & Rose Artisan Rust Effect activator, £11.50 for 250ml, both Rockett St George

Win a copy!

See page 21

Boost your shelfie A-game with top tips from Martha Roberts, author of Shelfie: Clutter-clearing ideas for stylish shelf art (Mitchell Beazley £12.99, octopusbooks) 1. Choose a ‘leading lady’ to create a focal point that your eye gravitates towards. Using ‘same but different’ objects throughout helps shelfie unity.

2. Combine old and new. Something from the high street with an object found at a car boot sale. Mixing these objects brings something novel.

3. Discover the joy of books, they are things of beauty. Keep to three or five per shelf.

Bolt trinket tray, £78, Jonathan Adler Be Nice rainbow card, £7, Urban Outfitters

mini trend alert

INSTA-FOLLOW

Work it Out gym bag, £32, and iPhone 7 case, £29, both in Boogie Daze, ban.dō

Fashion, interiors and some French chic. It’s all here on the @laredoute_uk instafeed. Showcasing the looks of the season (hello animal prints and terracotta), its well-priced homewares fit easily into any scheme. And we should know – we have several pieces among us at Real Homes HQ. C’est bon!

over the rainbow Start the search for pots of gold as there are rainbows popping up everywhere in interiors collections. Fun and colourful, they’re not just reserved for children; grown-ups can now feel drenched in their happy-golucky vibrancy, too.

Rainbow slogan mug, £9, Paperchase

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FOR THE LATEST NEWS VISIT REALHOMES.COM/NEWS

Book worm

#SOREALHOMES

Get wow-factor walls with this clever rust-look paint from Craig & Rose and Rockett St George.

You could use it to add a rich colour with industrial undertones to home accessories or garden ornaments. But for maximum impact, cover one wall entirely with the metallic lustre that looks like it has been weathered by time and the elements.

Craig & Rose Artisan Rust Effect paint and activator are used together to create it.

SEND US YOUR SHELFIE It’s competition time over at RealHomes.com, and this month, we’re all about shelving. It’s the perfect way to marry style with practicality, but how do you organise yours? Show us your shelfie and you could win a String Pocket shelf, plus a copy of Martha Roberts’ new book, Shelfie: Clutter-clearing ideas for stylish shelf art. Head to realhomes. com/sorealhomes for more details.

g n i d n e r t w #no JOIN THE COMMUNITY ON FOR ALL YOUR HOMES

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INSPIRATION AND ADVI

CE

renters’ corner

Handy tips and design ideas for people who rent their homes. Shanghai Swallows wall stickers, £32, Koko Kids. realhomes.com/ tag/renting

#SOREALHOMES We always love to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news, behind-the-scenes shoots and gorgeous imagery. Plus, share your homes with us using #sorealhomes and you might just find yourself featured on our feed…

STARTING SMALL Whether you’re searching for ways to make the most out of a box room or desperately seeking décor for a tiny London flat, we’ve got it covered.

Start with our design ideas for small bathrooms. Godmorgon collection, from £9.95, Ikea. realhomes.com/small-spaces

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home truths

LISA DAWSON

PHOTOGRAPH KATIE LEE

It’s taken me some years of trial and error to work out my preferred decorating style.

breakfast and spa day? Not for us.

After coffee and cake at our local café, we trawl the charity shops and furniture stores of York, stopping only for a quick sandwich and an essential iced bun.

We’re currently on year four of this When I first met my husband, we both tradition, never failing to return with had hectic jobs, commuting to London several bags of new additions, much daily from Reading. The concept of to Joe’s dismay. I can’t understand buying a renovation-project home why he doesn’t appreciate a kitsch couldn’t have been further from our print of a wide-eyed child in their minds. Our free time was spent pyjamas fishing in a stream, or a 1950s recovering from four hours of solid plastic wall-mounted flying dolphin. traffic, drinking copious amounts of I know my vintage addiction is a white wine and eating far too many little extreme. But there are plenty of crisps and takeaway food. Our first ways to incorporate it into your home house was a magnolia-adorned, to give it a touch of individuality and box-shaped Barratt starter home, blend beautifully with what you’ve furnished entirely from the local pine already got. And there’s nothing more warehouse. Investment made, I satisfying than making an impact in upcycled, painted and repurposed your space without spending a fortune. these hardworking items for 18 (yes, 18) Be brave – scour Ebay years until I convinced and Gumtree for Joe they’d finally done ‘On my birthday, mid-century pieces. their time, and listed Mixing a retro dining them on Ebay quicker my friend Karen table with modern than you could say chairs can add serious ‘rookie error’. and I trawl the character. Put a Around 12 years contemporary print ago, I discovered the charity shops above a vintage joy of vintage. My first of York, to sideboard for buy was a midjuxtaposition heaven. century, high teak return with Charity shops are a sideboard on legs, hotbed of art choices complete with drinks several bags’ for a gallery wall – oil cabinet and sliding paintings, glorious glass doors – a £20 gold frames, blowsy florals and old bargain (in my opinion). After sending photos to team with neon slogans, a disgruntled Joe and his brother modern typography prints or even halfway across London to collect it, I homemade art. Having a dinner party? installed it in the living room and was Non-matching glassware and crockery smitten. I was, and still am, obsessed are excellent thrift buys, and make for with sideboards. Could there ever be a an interesting display when mixed with more practical item? Crockery storage, smart new tableware. cutlery drawers, display shelving and Finding your own style can be a drinks cupboard. It was everything I hard slog. We’re heavily influenced as needed in one piece of furniture – and it to what we should like, where we should looked fabulous alongside my modern shop and how we should style it. Your table and chairs. The juxtaposition of home should reflect your personality, old and new was, for me, perfection. and mixing original vintage finds with From that point on, I was vintage new pieces is a great starting point. hooked. Charity shops are a treasure So, pop down to your local charity shop trove of inspiration when it comes to and get thrifting. Just make sure you styling my home. Every year on my don’t forget to stop for an iced bun. birthday, my friend Karen and I embark FOLLOW LISA @_lisa_dawson_ on a day long mission. Champagne

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Kiasmo Overlook Past plate, £86, The Longest Stay Teva flatweave rug pastel mix, £149, Made.com

Marseilles coasters, £68 for a set of four, Jonathan Adler Doodle face line drawing wallpaper mural, £36 per m2, Murals Wallpaper

House Coffee and Dance Party tea towels, both £7 for a set of two, John Lewis Abstract large jug, £28; abstract bowl, £28, Oliver Bonas

Alexander Calder Sochaux poster by Galerie Maeght, £49, The Conran Shop

ART INVASION Embrace the abstract – playful shapes in a spectrum of colours and graphic linea faces keep this look fresh, fun and edgy Jetson armchair in Tamasyn Gambell Guava Abstract Square, £590, Sofa.com

Harmony range face vase, £8, George Home

Dash cushion by One Nine Eight Five, £85, Heal’s

Face wool pile rug, £350, Habitat

FEATURE ANNA MORLEY

Blur the lines between art and reality with some fashion-forward accessories to put you ahead of the style pack

WEAR IT Throw on a simple white tee with some on-trend features.

Multi-face tee white/black, £35, Hush

CARRY IT Keep belongings safe and stylish in this fold-out pouch, £14.99, Mini Moderns

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PEN IT Create your very own masterpieces in a Rough Draft mini notebook in Confetti, £10.50, Ban.dō

REALHOMES.COM

style it now

Abstract print cushion, £16, M&Co

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LIGHT FANTASTIC Velvet! Fringing!

What’s not to love about this Ero table lamp, £99, Oliver Bonas

Don’t just stop at the sofa for this super-luxe look, carry it through to your home accessories ANIMAL MAGIC and more…

Go loud and proud with a dog leopard

TOASTY TOAST A velvet lilac hip flask will feel soft and warm as you sip, £12, Urban Outfitters

print velvet cushion, £39.95, Audenza

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New buys on the

BLOCK Take your pick from this season’s key kitchen trends and shop the look at your favourite high-street stores

SIMPLE SCANDI

Copper glass ceiling pendant, £30, George

COUNTRY SHAKER

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i

INDUSTRIAL CHIC

i

Berry and Butterfly enamel jug, £10, Tesco

i

i

Simple value pair of solid wood kitchen stools, £29.99, Argos

i

Michigan dual-handle monobloc kitchen tap – brushed, £75, Homebase

Maritime cereal bowl, £3; Maritime mug, £3, Dunelm

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i i

Patterned cotton rug, £59.99, H&M

Wood butcher’s trolley from the Croft collection, £249, John Lewis

Copper-effect 4.5ltr stand mixer, £65, Wilko

Set of three metal storage tins, £16, Next

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i i

LED letter S, £10, Matalan

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

REALHOMES.COM

Earthenware dessert plate, £7.99, Zara

i

i

Large oak chopping board, £29.50, M&S

Jasta cabinet door, £35; Ringhult drawer front, £25; Norraker bench, £40 and table, £125; Ranarp pendant lamp, £19; Raskog stool, £15, Ikea

Cooke & Lewis Carisbrooke framed kitchen in Taupe, from £2,157 for a standard galley of eight units, B&Q

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Sofia Graphite units, from £1,860 for an eight-unit kitchen, Wickes

COLOUR BLOCKING With just a few tubs of paint and a large dose of imagination, Jessica Preston has transformed her bungalow into a creative haven

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Green sofa, Made.com. Carpet, Carpetright. Wall paint, Farrow & Ball. Rug, Covet. Side tables, Bailey’s Home and Oxfam. Cushions, Grey September, Next, House of Fraser, Zulucow and Covet.

Armchair, BoConcept. Mustard throw, MIZZknits. Shelves, Ikea. Table lamp, Loaf

SITTING PRETTY

Profile THE OWNERS Nicola Broughton, an investment director, her husband, Sam, who runs a computer programming and game development business, and their sons, Jack, nine, and Alfie, six THE PROPERTY A six-bedroom Victorian terrace in Ilkley, Leeds project COST £40,600

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REALHOMES.COM

Nicola Broughton is famous on Instagram as The Girl with the Green Sofa. We delve into the rest of her vibrant home to find out her styling secrets...

WHY NICOLA’S HOUSE CAUGHT OUR EYE She’s best known as the Girl with the Green Sofa thanks to her hugely popular blog and Instagram account, and we’ve been drooling over Nicola Broughton’s delectable Victorian home for as long as she’s been online. But don’t be fooled into thinking an enigmatic name and iconic piece of furniture is all that she’s about: Nicola’s eye for a great bargain means she managed to create her luxurious yet highly individual family home on a budget.

Since snapping up this Ilkley house, Nicola and her husband Sam have transformed the traditional terrace into a space that represents them. Aside from taking down a wall and knocking into the eaves on the top floor, the layout has stayed the same. It’s Nicola’s clever way with DIY that brings this house to life – to her a daunting task like panelling a wall is as easy as nipping to B&Q and spending an afternoon in overalls.

Speaking to Nicola, it’s clear that her style is intuitive. She starts with the bones of a room, then adds things to it, moving them around until she’s happy. She works on the feel of a space and is never satisfied until it’s as cosy, lively or welcoming as she wants it to be. High street buys such as her green Made.com sofa sit alongside items rescued from salvage yards. And she’s a champion of independent artists – many of the pieces hanging on her walls are sourced through people she’s spotted and admired on Instagram.

A home this colourful and unique can only be packed with tips, and with Nicola’s DIY know-how and effortless style, we were keen to hear how she does it for ourselves.

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Over to nicola...

‘

The living room was the start of my Instagram journey. I’d seen how other people were decorating with dark colours and decided our living room was too light – I wanted it to be cosy. One lunchtime, the rollers came out and I painted the walls.

Our old Chesterfield sofa gave up the ghost when the kids bounced on it one time too many. I managed to persuade Sam that it was a good idea to buy a green velvet one.

Most of the furniture is salvaged, and we kept the original fireplace, too. There’s a BoConcept chair in the window – it’s Jack’s footballwatching chair and Alfie likes to curl up in it to watch his iPad or read.

I posted my first picture of this room after Abigail Ahern launched a giveaway on Instagram. It got something like nine likes, but I kept it up and after a few weeks, people started to engage. For me, it was about finding other people who had the same interests as me and forming that community.

Looking around the walls gives you a sense of how I collect and style items. There’s a punching-in rack from a salvage yard, vintage letters, and art found through Instagram. I’ll also shop on Ebay, at vintage fairs, and buy from independent artists.

O L L EC T C I W O H F O E S U A SEN O Y E V I G S L L A ‘T H E W AND ST YLE ITEM S FOUND THROU GH D VI IN STAG RA M , IN DE PE ND EN T AR TI ST S AN 33

NTAG E FA IR S’

REALHOMES.COM

WORDS ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPHS KATIE LEE

‘

Clock, Laura Ashley. Planter, Little Botanicals. Skull, Rockett St George. Mirror, Laura Ashley.

Wallpaper, Wallpaper Direct.

For a similar sofa, try the Fellini from Sofology. Ceiling light, Rockett St George

‘

We knocked the dining room through into the kitchen early on and I painted everything in light colours. I thought we’d move on at some point so tried to create the house someone else would want. But then I realised we wouldn’t actually need a bigger property, and decided to decorate for me.

The walls are Rivington Blue by Abigail Ahern. I wanted to try her first paint colours when she brought them out because I like her aesthetic. I chose Lucy Tiffney wallpaper for the fireplace wall.

I love the pattern and texture. It was the perfect colour for that room, and I bought the picture frames and light fitting to complement it.

‘

Chairs, Ebay and Wayfair. Rug, Covet. Chandelier, Graham & Green. Walls painted in Rivington Blue by Abigail Ahern. Shelves, Ikea. Wall clock, Bramwell Brown.

Pink armchair, Made.com.

Wallpaper, Lucy Tiffney. Neon ‘Drinks’ sign, Rockett St George

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TOP TIP

Panelling is great as an alternative covering for walls, particularly painted a bold colour, and it’s a job you can try tackling yourself

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‘

I really wanted to use emerald green somewhere in the house and our bedroom was looking a bit shabby, so I thought, “Now or never.” I tackled the panelling myself, which was a completely new skill – I do all my own decorating. It’s a warm colour, and I contrasted it with pinks and yellows that sit quite nicely against it. The bedroom is somewhere we can completely switch off. We don’t have a TV in here, but I do have a chair.

Sometimes, if we have playdates and there are 10 nine-year-olds downstairs, this is the room I come to for peace and quiet. It’s our escape room – a sanctuary.

‘

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I TC H W S N A C E W E R OMEWHE

AND IF THERE AR

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DOW NSTA IR S, IT ’S OU R ES CA PE – A SA

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O F F.

NC TUARY’

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Walls painted in Deep Sea Green, Valspar. Bed, Feather & Black.

Bedlinen, throws and cushions, Christy Home, MIZZknits, Etsy and Wildrice Design. Side table, Cuckooland. Table lamp, Love Frankie. Lampshades, Wild Lamp Shade Designs. Ceiling light, Inscape Designs. Arrow wall art, Covet

‘

The wallpaper in this bedroom is

by Feathr. They started out by basing their work on art because it’s their belief that there’s not enough beautiful, unique wallpaper out there. It’s also a lovely flower print. I buy from a lot of smaller businesses. Quite a lot of them find me, but historically, they’ve been around as long as I have on Instagram, before it got so crowded. Someone posted about this wallpaper so I posted about it as well and that’s how they got in touch with me.

‘

Chair, Thomas Lloyd. Bedlinen, Piglet in Bed. Cushions, Age of Reason Studio. Curtains, Ikea.

Ceiling light, Next. Wall art, Desenio. Wallpaper, Feathr. For a similar bed, try Feather & Black

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‘

The bathroom is something of a compromise for me. It had just been done when we moved in, and I’m not one to spend money for the sake of it. It wasn’t quite what I liked at the time, but we lived with it. The blue tiles belonged to the original homeowners. The bath is cast iron, and we still have their shower, too. I put the wallpaper up to make it my own without spending a lot. I did it when my husband was camping with the boys. Thankfully, he liked it!

‘

REALHOMES.COM

Wallpaper, The Loft & Us. Shelves, Ikea. Paint on bath, B&Q. Rug, Rockett St George

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TOP TIP

Realistic-looking wallpapers and murals can give an urban effect without having to strip a wall back to the plaster or brick

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‘

Jack was happy with his room – until we redecorated Alfie’s with a travel motif, then he wanted his redone. We talked about vintage sports as a theme; I wanted to create something that would grow with him. We both decided on this Brooklyn wall mural, based on an old factory wall with flaking paints and all sorts of textures. His bedding is a footballer’s body, so when he’s under the covers with his head on the pillow, he looks like a footballer heading a ball! I scoured different places and found antique boxing gloves, an old tennis racket and a baseball glove. We painted the room black. I told him I was getting ahead of his goth phase! Two of the walls are actually chalkboard paint. He does his maths homework on it, and when he’s in bed and one of us is doing bedtime, he might be unsure about a concept so we’ll sketch it out. When his mates come round, they draw silly faces and names all over it.

‘

Wall painted, Off Black by Farrow & Ball. Wall shelves, Rockett St George. Desk, chair and lamp, Covet. Mural, Rebel Walls. Carpet, Carpetright. Rug, Ebay. Throws, Kate Le Mont. Bed, Argos.

Bedlinen, Snurk at John Lewis.

Shelving unit, Ikea. Stool, Alpine Lifestyle Store

Wallpaper Lucy Tiffney, 07580 346759, lucytiffneyshop.com, and Neisha Crosland, 020 7657 1150, neishacrosland.com Velvet sofa Made.com, 0344 257 1888, made.com Accessories Rockett St George, 01444 253391, rockettstgeorge.co.uk Furniture and rugs Covet, 01943 603439, covetshop.net

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Contacts

E T A B E D G I B E TH NO

IS UPCYCLING WORTH IT?

‘I don’t have time to learn how to upcycle things so they look

Transforming old furniture is less wasteful and you can create original pieces, but it takes patience and skill. Two people who’ve tried reveal why they are for and against it

WORDS ALISON JONES PHOTOGRAPH MATT GIBBS

YES

“

My children wanted to help, and while my back was turned, my five-year-old got her play paints and started decorating them, fabric and all.’

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REALHOMES.COM

Gemma Bidwell, who lives in Old Stratford, says her attempts at upcycling have ended in stress and failure.

‘I’d seen it on all the DIY shows and wanted to give it a go. I’m really into the mid-century look and there are lots of charity shops and warehouses near where I live, so I thought I was bound to find a few gems.

‘I have bought six dining chairs over the ‘I’ve saved myself course of the summer with grand plans to paint and reupholster them. I couldn’t even get the thousands. And my backs off! They seemed to be glued on. I tried online for advice but didn’t really find a solution home doesn’t look for the problem, and they went back in my garage.

Then I took them out and started to sand the like anyone else’s wood down. My children wanted to help, and while my back was turned, my five-year-old got her play Sarah Parmenter is a huge fan of upcycling paints and started decorating them, fabric and and runs RelovedMCR (relovedmcr.com) all. So they went back in the garage again.

‘I’ve always been into salvaging things.

‘Since then I’ve also acquired a sideboard I like vintage finds, and as I couldn’t afford to I wanted to makeover with some wallpaper. go to John Lewis or Next, I was a make-do and And that’s been sat in there for months. mend girl. In the first house I bought after my WATCH OUR EXCLUSIVE My husband’s getting fed up because he divorce, I was on a budget – I bought things #SOREALHOMES can’t use the garage properly with all and stripped them down, I decoupaged. And VIDEO FOR MORE the furniture crammed in there. they worked, even in a new-build house.

OF SARAH’S ‘Although I know the money I spent ‘I found Instagram and started selling UPCYCLING TIPS. YOUTUBE.COM/ on the pieces has gone to good causes, them. I call myself the Up-cyclatherapist as I REALHOMES my garage is starting to resemble a charity feel it’s brilliant for mental health. My oldest shop. But I am still loathe to just get rid of it son, Archie, has quite severe cerebral palsy and all. It’s just with three young kids demanding my that comes with many challenges. Being creative attention, I don’t really have the time to devote to is important in living with those challenges – and learning how to upcycle things so they look good, Archie loves upcycling. I have taken on things that let alone crack on and try it. For now, I think I’m have turned out to be harder work than I hoped. just going to have watch people do it on TV from I get so absorbed, I can spend three or four hours my bought-new, un-upcycled armchair.’ concentrating on it. But if it was easy, I’d be bored.

‘I must have saved myself thousands. I could never have afforded to have a house full of the things I’ve got. And my home isn’t going to look like anyone else’s. Once you’ve made a piece of G-plan or faux-Georgian furniture into something that’s your own, it’s unique.

‘I’m self taught. There was lots of trial and error, but I learnt by my mistakes. I’m resourceful.

There’s always a way to rectify things, even if the legs fall off. Thankfully, I haven’t had too many disasters like that.’

NEXT MONTH – FAKE FIR OR A REAL TREE FOR CHRISTMAS?

good, let alone try it’

“

”

WORDS ELLEN FINCH IMAGE GETTY

Three readers reveal what happens when a couple’s tastes differ – and how to avoid fighting over statement tiles or bold colours

45

notice anything different today?” when he comes home from work’ Donna Henry, a stay-at-home mum and former graphic design tutor, lives in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, with her husband Dave, a technical designer, and their daughter, Eva, two ‘Because of our jobs, we’re both quite different in how we look at things. I’m from an art and interior design background, but Dave is more practical, so he often doesn’t see my vision like I do. I’m quite into design and our home is quirky and mismatched – there’s lots going on, and he thinks it’s a bit much. He plays it safe whereas I’m a bit more daring. If I tell him an idea I’ve had, he’ll be like, “That’s a bit weird.” He almost always loves it once it’s done, though.

‘I used to tell him my ideas and then when he hesitated, I’d suggest just trying it out. I’d always say, “If you don’t like it, we’ll change it back,” but in the end we don’t usually have to do that. If I didn’t convince him to try things, we wouldn’t have half the stuff we have now! These days, though, I don’t bother asking – I just play a game where I say, “Do you notice anything different today?” when he comes home from work because I’m always changing things around. If we were burgled, I’m not sure I’d even notice what went missing!

‘Dave isn’t really into DIY – he’ll put stuff up for me if I ask. He’s a lot more practical and likes to plan, plan, plan, whereas I don’t like to wait – I’m quite impulsive. I’ll admit that a few times I’ve regretted my decision, then had to take something down and repaint a wall here and there. Generally, though, we work together well. The major nightmare was our conservatory, which we redid as the old one was leaky. We had glass panels all around the room, but we accidentally left the masking tape around it when we’d finished painting the wood and it stuck like glue to the glass. In the end, we had to board it up so it looks like wooden panels. We got over it and turned it into a positive, but he really washed his hands of it after that.

‘These days, he’s happy for me to take the lead in our house, and he has a garage that he’s doing up – I’m happy that he’s got his own space. The next project is the bathroom, which we’re working on together – we’ve already agreed on statement tiles. I always consult him on major things like that, but I think this time we have the same vision.’

REALHOMES.COM

WE CAN’T AGREE ON A DECORATING SCHEME

‘I often play a game of “Do you

‘I had to fight tooth and nail for the lime green bathroom she thought would be too loud’ Allan Bull, a digital printer, lives in Fritchley, Derbyshire, with his wife, Danielle, a teaching assistant ‘If I had to sum up my style, I’d describe it as bold and vibrant – I love bright oranges and limes, and funky fabrics.

I think I watched too many cartoons when I was younger. I’m no fan of anything traditional – Artex is the work of the devil.

Danielle was more conservative when we first got together, but over time she’s grown to be more daring. It takes ages to talk her into things, though she usually agrees in the end.

‘I’m a painter-decorator by trade and this is my fourth project, but my first as an upcycler. I got into that after our wedding. Everything we were quoted for a venue was out of our budget, so we decided to do everything ourselves, renting out an old school and upcycling furniture for the ceremony and reception. I’m a bit of a project manager – I did the last kitchen up by myself before Danielle moved in. I know it’ll be a bit of a culture shock for her when we start on our new one. I’ve managed to talk her into having standalone units from charity shops – a bit of a challenge, but fortune favours the brave!

‘We do compromise, but most of the time I can persuade her to do something a bit bolder – nine times out of 10, once I’ve talked her through my idea, she’s good to go on it. I had to fight tooth and nail for our lime green bathroom because she thought it was too loud. It took a cruise to persuade her to decorate our kitchen splashback in coloured glass – she thought it was an awful idea until the restaurant on the ship had a similar design on its doors. I’m trying to get her to agree to painting our wooden fireplace teal with a yellow hearth – she’s appalled but I keep telling her, “Trust me – it’ll work”.’

‘My partner always starts off as if he doesn’t like my idea, then I overhear him telling people it was his’ Creative agency worker Kerry Jordan lives in Cropston, Leicestershire, with her fiance, James Donald, a medical sales agent ‘We’ve always had similar tastes – we both like old mixed with new, and we have a masculine choice in colours.

It’s more how we get to the point of finishing a room where we differ. James is very practical but impulsive – if he sees something he likes, he’ll get it. I’m more of a thinker. I like to plan things.

‘James will admit that I always tend to get my own way. When I have an idea, he’s usually against it straight away, so I think it’s going to be a massive struggle to try and get it done.

I think it’s a no, but then I hear him talking about it with friends like it was the plan all along. Sometimes he tries to pretend he never said he didn’t like an idea, but I can literally recall the argument we had in the shop!

‘I’m a big fan of Pinterest and have boards for different rooms in the house. I love research and spend lots of time sorting things out. We landscaped the garden over winter last year and James decided to do it himself with a friend. I sent him photographs of how I wanted it to look with specific details about the grey resin decking. I came home to find the decking was brown instead. James decided last minute that it was a better colour. He told me it’d look good when it was laid. Once it was down, he looked at me and said, “Yeah, you were right.” He spent a day trying to paint it before ripping it out.

‘Our decorating process involves lots of talking at each other. He gets defensive when he thinks that someone has a better idea than him. We talk it through, I show him a picture, and he sketches it out. Once he’s done that, he likes it – then it becomes his idea!’

Research similar projects online to convince yourself (and your partner) just how good your vision can look

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STYLE

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D E C O I D E A S | T R E N D WAT C H | E A S Y U P D AT E S t to

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STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

REALHOMES.COM

Why stand for a boring staircase when it’s often the first thing you see as you walk through the door? Revamp plain wooden stairs by decorating your risers with vibrant patterns. You can forget fiddly wallpaper and crackable tiles as Purlfrost has created staircase stickers for this very purpose. Choose from a range of stunning designs and colours, enter the stair dimensions online and wait for your stickers to arrive in the post. Then simply peel and stick for a bespoke staircase at a purse-friendly price.

IS

SHARE YOUR STAIRCASE MAKEOVERS ON INSTAGRAM USING #SOREALHOMES

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Staircase stickers, from £12.25 for a size H25xW50cm panel, Purlfrost

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NEW NORDIC Scandinavian interiors are back with a new take on the cultural classic, reecting the love for pared-back living but with warmth at its heart

SOPHISTICATED STYLING Play around with beautiful objects you already have in the home or have fun sourcing new ones, and turn a corner of a room into an art display.

Dressing a sideboard or console table with seasonal pieces keeps an interior feeling fresh, and can easily evolve as you discover additional treasures.

FEATURE ANNA MORLEY

Brunel sideboard, ÂŁ499 Out & Out Original

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SHARP SHAPES Bed down in perfectly Nordic Noir surroundings. With a combination of strong clean lines of crafted wood against a dramatic background, this light and shade mix works beautifully with the dark edginess of the wall paired with the pale bed frame. Chuck some tactile rugs and throws down to create extra comfort.

REALHOMES.COM

Shalstone double bed, ÂŁ899; Shalstone bedside table, ÂŁ275, all Ercol for John Lewis

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SIMPLE PALETTE Well-crafted pale wood furniture, good design and a modern approach to natural materials is typical of the Scandi look. Keeping these clean lines in unpainted woods or soft hues creates harmony within a space.

Perola white iridescent squashed vase, £45; Musgo earthenware bottle vase, £50; Austin oak shelving, £495, oak bench, £395, and oak dining table, £595; Seinfield woven blocks rug, £350, all Habitat

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UNCLUTTERED SPACE Cool, classic and clean, this open and airy combination of natural wood finishes, simplistic shapes and tonal textures creates the perfect Scandinavian-inspired backdrop. Black lines sharpen the scheme while tactile throws and rugs in understated tones softly warm it, along with well-chosen wall art in similar calming tones.

REALHOMES.COM

Bloomingville straight bench, £699, and Bloomingville seagrass round nature rug, from £93, both Nunido.

Bloomingville brown wool throw, £99, Coggles. Bloomingville Deer storage basket, £155, Amara

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SET THE SCENE Capture this modern take on the distinctive decorating style using darker shades. Try deep blue and green and mix with textured elements such as wood, tactile fabrics and even some hints of gold.

Smokey coloured glasses in smudgy shades add understated accents to this more dramatic look.

Natural parquet chopping board, £30; Marble trivet, £16; Abigail Ahern/Edition AA Odette pendant, £180; 12-piece dark green reactive dinner set, £60; wine glass, £7; decanter, £15; RJR.John Rocha Efni four-seater dining table, £1,500, all Debenhams

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GET FIRED UP Grey tones are still a key background shade, but by introducing gentle pastel accents, it heats up the look and creates subtle interest. Texture is big, so don’t be shy about adding serious softness – use felt, chunky knits and, of course, faux fur.

REALHOMES.COM

Felt storage basket, £18; Grey side table, £22; Urban Escape boxed candle, £5; mint oil burner, £6; succulent pots, £4.50 each; tree tealight holder, £8; frame, £10, all from the Urban Escape range at Sainsbury’s

TURN OVER FOR OUR PICK OF NEW NORDIC-INSPIRED BUYS...

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Stoneware cheese board in Galaxy, from £31, ALBOAE

e le yl ty st ls al ea al R Re from Re

Tivoli Panto vase lawn green, £125, Ross & Brown

SC

@hygge_for_home

ur lead Take yo rs who followe s e m o H ired by are insp riors inte Nordic

Porter fabric armchair in blue, £499, Very

Genuine sheepskin double rug in pink, £119.99, Very

N A I V A N I D AN

Round tapered table lamp, £29, JD Williams Home

Bloomingville brown glass pendant ceiling light, £125, Hurn & Hurn

STYLE

Rosewood cotton patterned cushion, £30, YONDER.living

Skagerakx Push wardrobe in oak, £559, Sue Parkinson

Coffee table in walnut with blue matt, £349, DFS

@storynorth

Umbra Nesta table/ hanging planter with ceramic pot, £25, Black by Design

Sculptural brass candle holder, £89, Ella James

Bloomingville Spherical leaf green glass and brass vase, £39, Amara

@no.15_interiors

Etta oak curved sideboard with two doors and one drawer, £650, Habitat

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RENTERS’ CORNER

Easy update Quick and clever ideas to give any space an instant hit of style and personality

FEATURE ANNA MORLEY

House plants are definitely having a moment.

They’ve got lush green leaves, health benefits…heck, they’ve even got dedicated hashtags (see #houseplantsofinstagram).

They’re a fabulous quick fix for any room, bringing interest to corners, adding the finishing touch to your favourite shelfie or, when given extra height or suspended from something, breaking up a plain wall backdrop. And if you haven’t got permanent shelves, plant stands of various sizes and floorstanding furniture are perfect for showcasing them. If you lack greenfingers or are prone to forgetting to water them, fake it with some of the amazing faux foliage that’s around – just remember to dust them now and again.

Mastholmen armchair, £90; Satsumas plant stand, £25; Fabrikör glass-door cabinet, £140, all Ikea

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FIVE WAYS… you’ll know it’s time to cosy up your home for winter

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Plaid wool knit throw in Stone Grey, £165, Limelace

Party plans You’ve switched margaritas while basking in the sun for Baileys hot chocolate while huddling together for warmth round your bonfire, watching your home fireworks let you down, again.

Star debossed mug, £12.50, White Stuff

You Go Girl mug, £12, Oliver Bonas

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

Plain bird mug, £10, Cath Kidston

Food cravings You’re swapping crispy salads with olives and feta for piping hot soups and hearty casseroles. Nothing says cosy like the smell of a slow-cooked meal wafting through the house.

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Root vegetable tea towels, £5 for a pack of three, Morrisons

Getting snuggly You used to rush home to chill in the garden with an ice-cold drink, now you’re hotfooting it home to snuggle up under your blanket and binge watch your favourite box set.

And fluffy socks?

They’re a must at all times.

Harrison hot water bottle in Grey Marle, £30, Soho Home

Knitted pink hedgehog hot water bottle, £28, Sophie Allport

create a cocoon Forget opening up your home to the outdoors, and forget, quite frankly, going out altogether!

There’s something suddenly quite satisfying about staying in, drawing the curtains and blocking out the dark night.

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Cast-iron casserole dish, £25, Morrisons

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Fraser Damson curtains, from £44.25 for a 70x70cm pair, Curtains2go

Bottle it up

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You now have a new favourite bed companion! Out of the way other humans, all you really want is to feel warm again, and nothing beats the heat from a good old-fashioned hot water bottle.

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FRENCH TWIST Arles chalk paint, £19.95 per ltr, Annie Sloan

TOP TIP Often associated with outdoor areas, toasted terracotta tones are an authentic way to warm up the house inside, too. Play around with various intensities of these shades and mix alongside the muted, caramel-like qualities of Dulux’s colour of the year, the aptly named Spiced Honey.

BAKED EARTH Toasted Terracotta mixing matt paint, £27.56 for2.5ltrs, Dulux

FANCY FISH Zoffany Koi Carp elite emulsion, £46 for 2.5ltrs, Style Library

FEATURE ANNA MORLEY

Autumn hues

An injection of on-trend earthy paint colours will bring a sense of warmth to your home

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#SOREALHOMES

COLOUR TREND

FOR MORE PAINT IDEAS, VISIT REALHOMES.COM/PAINT

EMBER GLOW Valspar Fire Within R135F premium blend v700 walls & ceilings paint, £28 for 2.5ltrs, B&Q

SWEET TREAT Burnt Caramel Regal Select flat paint, £21.50 for 940ml, Benjamin Moore

Hallways ( WORTH COMING HOME TO) Banish the daily coat and boot-strewn battle to reach your front door with our guide to achieving a properly grown-up hallway to be proud of s transient thoroughfares to rooms where you linger for longer, hallways are frequently neglected on the decorating schedule. Before (not very) long, they descend into a dumping ground of outerwear, umbrellas, pizza flyers and general detritus. This would all be perfectly fine if we were talking about boot rooms or the back of the garage, but the hallway is your first chance to make a good impression. It’s also the first place you stop to take a deep breath after a busy day out and about, so it really does deserve a more prominent position on your decorating leaderboard.

Make getting, and keeping, the clutter under control your number one priority. Invest in multitasking solutions like seats with built-in storage or console tables with drawers for loose change and receipts. Include somewhere to drop your keys and a shelf to stash any post that needs attention – out of sight is out of mind. If you have children, double the hanging capacity of your walls with dual-height coat hooks.

A named hook might encourage them not to ditch their school bags in the middle of the floor but we can’t promise anything.

A

Speaking of children, and/or untrained partners, it probably won’t matter what type or volume of shoe storage you provide, there will always be a trail of abandoned trainers from the front door to wherever the TV lives. Still, it doesn’t hurt to be optimistic, so do factor in at least one shoe rack, ideally located somewhere that is hard to miss.

A welly rack that holds boots upside down will help protect your floors from mud.

Now to the fun part – making it pretty. Many interior designers are adamant that your hallway’s décor should set the tone for what’s to come, and be dressed in colours and finishes that flow smoothly into adjoining rooms.

Others are equally committed to a contrasting scheme with its own personality that aims to impress. Whichever path you take, it always helps to take design cues from your home’s architecture and, of course, there is plenty of online inspiration. Trawl your favourite Pinterest and Instagram haunts for ideas and to see how things work/look in real life settings. As long as the décor makes you happy (and those shoes are locked down), it’ll always feel like a welcome home.

first impressions Stash away the clobber and add a splash of colour with some stylish hallway accessories

Palm Leaf five-light pendant, £250, Laura Ashley

Metal with wooden ball hooks, £8, Sainsbury’s Home

Chedworth six-shoe locker, £145, Garden Trading

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Vintage-style storage rack, £46.90, The Farthing

Quartet Kilim runner, £170, Habitat

WORDS LINDA CLAYTON

love this

Peg-it-all Pegboard in white birch plywood, H114xW66cm, from £195, Kreisdesign

As the last place you pass as you dash out the door, the hall is perfect for posting family messages and reminders. A small noticeboard hung on the same side that the door opens, so you can’t miss it, is ideal. Try not to include too many pins or pegs or it’ll get overloaded with invites and shopping lists.

For a streamlined option, hang a blackboard or coat the wall in blackboard paint. Make sure the area is sufficiently wide enough that you don’t all end up with chalk-covered coats!

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In the war against clutter, enclosed storage is your ally. A full-height coat cupboard is hallway gold and doesn’t need to be very deep if fitted with hooks rather than hangers.

Shutting coats away looks much neater than piles of multicoloured garments clinging onto the walls.

Try to leave a couple of hooks free for guest use – store out-of-season coats elsewhere (the spare room wardrobe?) if necessary.

Stair runners are great for adding a splash of colour to your hallway, as well as reducing the clatter of footsteps up and down the stairs. Runner specialist Roger Oates recommends buying an extra metre, which can be tucked under at the top and bottom, allowing the runner to be moved periodically to even out wear and tear. Don’t forget to include the cost of underlay in your budget. A decent quality underlay will help reduce resonating sound and prolong the life of your runner.

With acres of prime wall space, hallways are ripe for gallery-style picture displays. Continuing them up the stairs is a brilliant way to enjoy family photos and fun prints. Whether you go for regimented lines of the same frames, or a mismatch of sizes and styles, a decent tape measure and spirit level are essential to picture gallery success. Invest in proper picture hooks, which are kinder on walls than nails. It can also help to lay your chosen pictures out on the floor first, to check if any look wrong and to plan the gaps.

Dart Shetland Light Grey 100 per cent wool stair runner, 70cm wide, £170 per m; Bench with Fitzroy Black 100 per cent flatweave upholstery, £560, both Roger Oates Design

5 things...

you’ll appreciate once you’ve organised your hallway

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TWO

THREE

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No longer feeling the need to crack the door just an inch so that the Deliveroo driver/ double-glazing salesperson doesn’t catch sight of your guilty stash of empty Amazon Prime boxes.

The sheer joy of knowing the exact location of your car keys, without having to rush around shouting ‘where are my chuffing keys?’ for at least 20 minutes every time you attempt to leave the house.

Far fewer stubbed toes and twisted ankles as a result of tripping over endless book bags, Heelys and junk mail. Your local A&E nurses salute you.

You can actually find the house phone when it rings – right there on the console table. Or at least the base is. But it gives you precious time to press ‘seek’ and track down the business end before it rings off.

The slightly OCD pleasure of mucking it out once a week, putting everything back in its rightful (and stylish – obvs) place before standing back to survey calmness restored. Sigh.

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Walls painted in Crown Feature Wall Breatheasy matt emulsion – main in Midnight Navy; top wall in Chartreuse Mix – both £14.50 for 1.25ltrs, Crown

In a narrow hallway, placing mirrors along one wall and painting the wall opposite in a vibrant colour is a tried and tested technique that never fails. Decent lighting will also counteract the gloom of a north-facing or windowless hallway. A single ceiling pendant is often enough.

Remember to set it far enough back from the door to avoid a clash. Add wall lights or uplighters along the floor to further highlight your passage through the house.

diy instagrammer

ALEX CRABTREE ‘My husband and I moved to this twobed apartment from a bigger Victorian home two years ago. The walls were white, and while we have fabulously high ceilings, there wasn’t much character, so I’ve had to add that. The hallways are quite narrow and my style is unashamedly maximalist, yet filling the walls with artwork and curios hasn’t made them feel smaller; perhaps because there’s so much to look at.

Switching the bland carpet for a striped one was a game-changer.

Barbeline’s D’Amour wallpaper has totally transformed the top hall – it’s a delight to come upstairs. We’ve kept the walls white up the stairs, which helps with light flow.

This gave us the confidence to paint the downstairs hallway in Plimsoll by Paint & Paper Library.’

Intagram and Twitter: @alexcrabtreepr; alexcrabtreepr.co.uk

It’ll be well-trodden, so hallway flooring must be hardwearing. If you choose carpet, it should be designed specifically for stair and hallway use, and include a doormat at the entrance.

Wood’s warm underfoot – nice if you don’t wear slippers. A tiled floor can be mopped clean – pick muted dirt-hiding shades for extra ease. Again, make sure they are suitable for hallway use; porcelain is tougher than ceramic.

As a transient space, you can risk using stronger colours in the hall than you might dare to in the rest of your house.

Repainting any disastrous decisions won’t be hard, as long as you stick to ground level walls, not the double-height stair wall. Choose a washable paint, or a scrubbable formula like Dulux’s Easycare range. A coat of Polyvine’s Decorator’s Varnish will further protect the colour.

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} } Don’t forget

Coat hooks are functional but can also play a decorative role, as long as you don’t load them up until they’re buried forever.

Some of our favourite hookshopping haunts include Rockett St George, Amara, Abodent and Anthroplogie.

Beware, there are so many gorgeous designs and finishes that it’s easy to get ‘hooked’ and wind up with more hooks than coats that need hanging.

to Check your look before leaving home Tobias black metal mirror, £103.50, Maisons du Monde

A dedicated place for shoes is imperative, especially if you insist everyone takes their shoes off when they come in. Slimline cabinets, with drop-down doors are great for stashing shoes out of sight, but can be limited in terms of the length of shoe that can be accommodated. Anyone with clown feet should check the internal cabinet dimensions carefully. If you have a lot of shoes in daily use, go for a tall unit and make the most of your wall’s vertical storage potential.

Above Mini stacked shelving system, £424; The Dots coat hooks, £89 for a set of five; Nerd chair in Rose lacquered ash, £345, all

by Muuto at Nest.co.uk

home design bloggeR

PIP GRAHAM

A seat or bench for pulling shoes off and on is handy for everyone but essential for the elderly and less-able who may struggle without.

Seating with storage underneath, or inside via a lift-up lid, will help keep your hallway tidy. However, if the space is particularly narrow, it can prove wiser to sacrifice storage in favour of a bench with skinny legs that will allow more visible floor space.

‘The hallway was dark and dated when we moved in, with cream carpets and a busy red floral patterned paper. We stripped everything back; the walls and woodwork needed a lot of attention prior to painting. When removing the carpets, we discovered the original Victorian floorboards. Painting them up made the area feel so much lighter. The tiles are by Francisco Segarra at Tons of Tiles. I just love the twist on a traditional pattern, and the reclaimed finish. The yellow door, in Babouche by Farrow & Ball, adds a pop of interest in the mostly white space. I would love to sand back and paint the stairs, but since there are three flights it would be a huge job, and not very practical with our little one at the moment! Smart storage was a must; we use a vintage filing cabinet to stash our shoes. Hallways are the first and last impression people get of your home, so I treated it with the same attention as all our other rooms.’ Instagram: @pipshome

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Below Remsta armchair, £130; Ranarp wall/clamp spotlight, £20; Pinnig bench with shoe storage, £40; Myrheden frame in brass colour, £12; Kämpig three-armed swivel hook, £12; Kämpig hooks, £4 each, all Ikea

HOME

life

READERS’ HOMES | LIVING | WELLBEING Angles wallpaper by Erica Wakerly, £89 per roll, Wallpaper Direct Walls painted in Raccoon Fur and Shoreline, from £20.50 for 940ml, Benjamin Moore.

Myers sofa, £945, Barker & Stonehouse

Katie Lee, a photographer, lives in a 1930s mid-terrace house near Whitley Bay with her husband, Kevin, and twin daughters, Lily and Anna, aged nine

WORDS BETH MURTON PHOTOGRAPH KATIE LEE

‘I’m not a huge fan of the colder months as I don’t like the lack of daylight, but one major benefit of winter is that we get to light the open fire in our living room. As soon as autumn arrives, I’m always asking Kevin and the kids if it’s cold enough yet to have it on!

My work space is in my kitchendiner at the back of the house, so this room is definitely a no-work zone. It’s where I like to come in the evening to relax and switch off, whether that’s reading a book or watching TV as a family. There’s a huge picture window in here so it always feels light, and it’s wonderful to sit on the sofa and enjoy the views over the countryside. When I decorated this space with the help of interior designer Cathy Dean (cathydeaninteriordesign.com), my brief was that it had to feel cosy but bright. The modern geometric pattern on the wallpaper adds a touch of interest to the space, while the painted chimney breast injects some warmth and makes a feature of the fireplace. Once the fire is lit and I’ve got a glass of red wine, the thought of a cold winter doesn’t seem quite so bad after all.’

Follow Katie on Instagram @beautifulhomesinthenorth; beautifulhomesinthenorth.com

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MY FAVOURITE CORNER

SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE CORNER ON INSTAGRAM USING #SOREALHOMES

OUR OUR HOUSE HOUSE

CHIC Faced with a huge renovation, and with a baby on the way, Leanne and Calum created a cosy cottage home with modern touches

LEANNE

and Calum love the lifestyle in Aberdeen, once described as the happiest place in Scotland. Having outgrown their three-bed semi, they were looking for a fresh challenge and a new home nearby offering plenty of character. When they spotted a run-down 100-year-old cottage on the outskirts of Dyce four years ago, they didn’t hesitate to take it.

The couple had moved in with Leanne’s parents while work went ahead on the house. Aided by an architect friend of Calum’s, they reconfigured the layout and added a single-storey extension that encompassed the full height of the cottage.

Now, the family has a country-style cottage inspired by the ski chalets Leanne and Calum lived in when they worked as chalet hosts in France. The house is filled with small luxuries, like a dressing room and huge family bathroom. Here, the couple talk build details, squabbles and the moments that stuck with them most.

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WORDS NATALIE FLAUM/ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPHS JEREMY PHILLIPS

COUNTRY

Profile THE OWNERs Leanne Watt, a key account manager for an oil firm, her husband Calum, a self-employed floor layer/fitter, sons Innes, three, and Murray, seven weeks, and border terrier Stevie THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom former farm workers’ cottage near Dyce, Aberdeen

REALHOMES.COM

XXXXX

project COST £82,500

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A snug occupies a corner in the new extension and acts as a cosy space where the family can relax. Leanne decorated the walls with pretty postcards and prints from favourite Instagram sellers.

Metal gridboard, Amazon. Leather corner sofa, DFS. For similar cushions, try Habitat.

For a similar oor lamp, try John Lewis.

For a similar coffee table, try the Clap Trap from Loaf

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‘We’d already renovated a one-bedroom flat and a three-bedroom semi before we moved in here, but this project was way beyond anything we’d done before.

We split roles down the middle almost immediately. I’m much more hands-on and Leanne’s more into the interiors side of things, so I project-managed while Leanne handled design and finances. I was on site most days, overseeing and also building the extension. Leanne’s dad painted the rooms, which was a brilliant saving. We took down internal walls, changed the layout, installed a new heating system, new roof and insulation, changed the location of the front door and added an extension. No part of the cottage was untouched once we’d finished with it.

‘We bickered a little bit about the way we wanted to do things. I wanted modern, dark grey windows, but Leanne wanted more traditional cottage-style ones. I was a bit panicked – I’d pushed for them so much I was worried they’d turn out to be a disaster, but they looked good in the end.

‘Leanne was more driven than me when it came to interiors. She’s definitely got the best taste. The house would still be half-finished if I’d been in charge. Leanne would show me a picture of a chair she wanted to buy and I’d just be like, “I could just make it.”

She always declined, for some reason.

‘I tried to hide my panic when I realised the size of the job we’d taken on, but Leanne knew. One day, we stripped the upstairs out and realised the roof was rotting, so it cost us an extra £15,000 to reslate it. That was definitely a stressful moment. Another time, we took a wall down to find the remains of a huge rat behind it. It was very dead so I wasn’t too squeamish, but Leanne’s face was a picture.

‘Leanne found the whole process stressful, but I’d work on the house constantly if I could. I loved the pressure and I learned so much.’

Leanne says…

‘It was a spur-of-the-moment decision to buy this house. We viewed it on the Tuesday and put our offer in the next day, which was the closing date. We were both a bit nervous when we got it – we weren’t really expecting to win the bid and weren’t completely ready for a renovation. The cottage had no insulation, was freezing cold and covered in floral brown wallpaper, but we could see its potential. I’d always dreamt of living in an old cottage, so it really was the perfect project for us.

‘It ended up being a lot more work than we anticipated. I remember getting the keys on the first day and standing in front of the house, not knowing what at all to do. I fell pregnant part way through and had to take a step back. It was a stressful time, especially moving back in with my parents. It was easier for me – Calum had to live with the in-laws!

‘Halfway through the project, Calum left me in the lurch as he had the opportunity to go offshore with his work. We’d no roof at the time and it was a rainy summer, so you can imagine what a nightmare it was. Later on in the build, we were trying to finish the decorating and other jobs off while looking after Innes. I’d never do it again – the only reward is seeing it once it’s finished!

‘It took us a while to develop our style. Instagram and Pinterest were both great for ideas, and I kept magazine cuttings in a scrapbook. We chose a country cottage feel mixed with a modern rustic look using reclaimed and upcycled materials. I’m still playing around with ideas. I’m constantly having a clear-out and moving things around. It drives Calum mad because he can never find anything!

‘We love the space here and the garden is huge. Summer is great – we love hosting barbecues on the decking outside, and the bench Calum made using pallets is the ideal spot to sit and enjoy a drink by the fire pit. On a bright day, the light streams in and the extension is the perfect place to spend time together. The house is our happy place – we’ve put so much work into renovating it that it really makes us appreciate coming home.’

‘It had no insulation, was freezing and covered in brown wallpaper – it was the perfect project for us’ 109

REALHOMES.COM

Calum says…

TOP TIP

Rooights can be excellent for bringing light into a room with a vaulted ceiling without losing valuable wall space

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A light-filled, open-plan kitchen-diner was a must-have for the couple. Because the room is a double-height space with tall ceilings, the pair kept the kitchen free of overhead units and instead installed shelves that Calum made from scaffold boards and leftover worktops. The dining room table was custom-made to match.

Burford units, Howdens. Work surface, Worktop Express. Oak flooring, Jewsons.

The dining table was built from scaffold boards from RCC Furniture. Chairs, Lakeland Furniture.

Metro tiles, Topps Tiles. Fridge, Gorenje. Clip lamp, Ikea. Polaroid photos, Cheerz. Mixer, KitchenAid. For a similar storage footstool, try Debenhams

feet up Take the weight off with a footstool. It’s good for the health, and is a handy extra perch when needed

must have

Cult Living Paloma round footstool, £49, Cult Furniture

Tux pouffe in Cobalt Blue suede, £195, Habitat

Stasher storage footstool, from £525, Loaf

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REALHOMES.COM

Hermia handwoven footstool in grey, £300, Perch Upholstery

TOP TIP

Get maximum use out of your boot room with storage that doubles as seating and high shelves for hiding outdoor essentials

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Calum built the porch himself.

The storage unit is complete with hooks and cupboards with lids that lift up, perfect for stashing away bits and bobs. ‘I love having a boot room to leave muddy shoes at the door, so the rest of the house doesn’t get too dirty!’ says Leanne.

Floor tiles, Topps Tiles.

Walls painted in Blue Ember, Valspar

Walls painted in Sooty Lashes, Valspar. Sofas, M&S. Cushions, Ikea. The wall prints were all sourced from artists on Instagram. Storage unit, Cotswold Company.

Copper wire basket and wood side table, Sterling Furniture. Shortened pendant lights, Ikea

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REALHOMES.COM

Above In the living room, the deep blue painted walls make the space feel warm and relaxing, and the colour makes a great backdrop for the couple’s growing collection of family pictures and prints. Wire shelves on the wall put favourite books on display, while baskets in the storage unit help eliminate clutter.

clever idea

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‘The master bedroom and loft space were a cobbler’s shop and separate to the main cottage,’ Leanne says. ‘We found loads of shoe heels up there.’ The bedrooms sits downstairs with a staircase leading up to the converted loft, where there’s now a luxurious dressing room.

Calum made a pair of bedside shelves from scaffold boards to fill a small recess area.

Contacts

Left ‘The roll-top bath was a lucky find on Gumtree, and it was in great condition,’ says Leanne. ‘It was extremely heavy and took a few men to lift it into place.’

Windows and bi-fold doors Ellon Timber, ellontimber.co.uk; Express Bi-fold Doors, expressbifolds.co.uk Insulation Encon Insulation, encon.co.uk Kitchen Howdens, howdens.com Bathrooms Victoria Plum, victoriaplum.com

Bath painted in Cool Sea Air, Valspar, and Hammerite’s white gloss metal spray paint. Walls painted in Old Soul, Valspar.

Brassware, fixtures and fittings, Victoria Plum. Amtico Spacia flooring in White Ash, Frasers of Ellon. Mirror, B&M Stores

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REALHOMES.COM

Walls painted in Mole’s Breath, Farrow & Ball. Cushions, Ikea.

Throw, Dunelm. Bed, Dreams.

For similar bedlinen, try Next

TOP TIP

Work with the shape of a loft ceiling with units built to match the slope, so no space is wasted

The country cottage feel continues in the spare bedroom in the loft, with pretty patterned wallpaper and a decorative metal bed. The chair was upcycled and covered in new tartan material.

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Bed, Next; for similar, try the Ethan Ivory Gloss bedstead from Dunelm. Green cushions, Ikea. Postcard pattern wallpaper, Homebase. For similar bedside tables, try Hemnes at Ikea

Innes’ bedroom is located across the house in the other side of the loft, with sloping ceilings that create a cosy feel. The pull-along yellow toy basket and bedlinens are from Leanne’s favourite shop, Indi and Will.

#SOREALHOMES

FOR MORE PROJECT ADVICE, VISIT REALHOMES.COM/EXTENSIONS

For a similar cot, try Mothercare. For drawers, try Wayfair.

Search Amazon for an Eames plastic rocking chair

sleep tight Whether you want classic, contemporary or romantic, there is a metal bed to suit your mood

on trend

Abingdon antique brass bedstead, Arabella stone white metal bed, from £164.50, Dunelm £225, Happy Beds

Sprint double bed in black, £229, Made.com

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Aurelie double bed frame in rose gold, £132.99, Argos

Our radio and record player, providing the perfect soundtrack to our life.

KAREN MURPHY

My life-sized ceramic tiger, Roger.

MARIE LACOTE

My bath! It’s where I hide and pretend I don’t have stuff to deal with.

What one thing in your home couldn’t you live without?

Hot water tap! I love being able to grab a cuppa in seconds… or is it the home bar, for similar reasons? SHARON HORNSBY 85

SARA CARLTON

My plants – it does me the world of good to watch them grow.

JAN CLARKE

My bed – I’ve finally bought a decent one and it feels like a cloud.

HELEN HOGARTH

My collection of midcentury oil paintings – all Ebay bargains and all touch my heart in some way.

TARA KAUFMANN

NEXT MONTH: WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS TRADITION?

GEMMA WADE

READERS’ VIEW

#SOREALHOMES

My grandparents’ old Ercol chairs from the 1950s.

I reupholstered them and they are dreamy – I just need more time to actually sit in them and read.

We couldn’t live without our Nespresso coffee machine. it’s like having a baristastyle coffee every morning. BONNIE HULME

Want to be happier? hire a cleaner free time – and we are even prepared to pay to get more of it. our mobile pings. It’s a WhatsApp from a friend It’s easy to see why we’re finding this whole notion of ‘help’ wanting a recommendation for a cleaner. You’re appealing as we spend a staggering 208 hours a year doing sure someone suggested one recently. household chores, according to Airtasker.

You start to think; has everyone got a You might already have a guilty secret; cleaner? Is this why the school mums and dads you get your oven cleaned twice a year by seem… well, so much happier? That they have Ovenclean.com, with its team of miracle time to arrange those fun adventures on a workers that disassemble your oven (do you weekend while you always seem to be trying THE TOP THREE even know how the shelf brackets come out?), to get on top of day-to-day housework and JOBS WE HATE* pop the racks into the back of their van and never quite managing. return them sparkling an hour and half or so Statistics show that there’s a rise in the 1 Cleaning the oven later, after they’ve scrubbed your oven to look outsourcing of household chores – and we’re like new. You find yourself smiling from ear to not just talking about a weekly cleaner – with 2 Cleaning the toilet ear as you hand over the (bargain) sixty quid one-off jobs (like assembling flatplack furniture, or thereabouts. After all, oven cleaning is the cleaning on moving day or helping get ready for 3 Ironing clothes most dreaded chore of them all. a big family party) being put out to tender on But how do you go about finding someone one of the fast-growing community outsourcing to help with the more mundane, or even bizarre, sites. It’s a craze that’s been big in the States requests? One of these outsourcing community and Australia for some time, but it’s gaining sites might be just what you need (and you could always popularity here, too; Airtasker (airtasker.co.uk) has launched register as a ‘Tasker’ and earn extra money, too). As a in the UK, joining the likes of TaskRabbit (taskrabbit.co.uk).

We seem to be shifting our priorities, placing more value on our spokesperson from TaskRabbit explains, ‘Our site helps you

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WORDS JENNIFER MORGAN *ACCORDING TO A SURVEY DONE FOR AIRTASKER

Ever feel like daily chores are taking over your life?

Help could be closer to hand than you might think

do away with your to-do list by hiring Taskers from your community to fulfil the jobs that need doing around the home, such as furniture assembly, gardening, moving, packing, delivery wait-ins and so much more. You post the time and date, along with a description of what needs doing, on our app or website, and you’ll get a list of people on hand to complete it for you.’

Sounds easy, and not as expensive as you might think when you weigh up the time you’ll be getting back. Plus, using such a platform does give you some peace of mind as all tasks are covered by third party insurance. You can expect to pay £18 per hour for cleaning, £20 for building the dreaded flat-pack item and £17 per hour for washing and ironing. There’s been some unusual requests too, with one TaskRabbit Tasker hired to help make 200 Chinese dumplings for a young married couple who were hosting a dinner party.

Recent research from Airtasker found that two thirds of Brits wish they could pay someone to do minor tasks like queuing for the post office, the weekly shop or cleaning up after their dog! Someone posted a request on the site for a babysitter for their dachshund puppy. As Luke Sillets of Airtasker explains, ‘Using a site like ours for everyday tasks is not only an option for those wanting to outsource things they can’t do themselves, but also for those that want to free up valuable time to pursue other activities, whether these are professional or personal.’

This idea of outsourcing equating to greater happiness has been the subject of a recent study, Buying Time Promotes Happiness. As a part of the research, 60 working adults in Vancouver, Canada, were given $40 to spend on a time-saving purchase – some had groceries delivered, others

5 things...

paid for a cleaner, while one woman hired a boy in the neighbourhood to run errands. The next weekend, the same people were given $40 to spend on a material item, such as clothes, board games and wine. People reported that spending the money on time-saving purchases left them in a better mood than spending on the material goods.

Two of the study’s co-authors, Elizabeth W Dunn, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, and Professor Ashely V Whillans, Harvard Business School assistant professor, also wrote Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending, which examines how investing in other people, and buying ourselves time makes us happier.

But is it easy to steer our hardearned funds towards outsourcing tasks, rather than do them ourselves?

If you already do your weekly food shopping online, you’re nearer than you think to letting go; you’re already paying someone else to choose your bananas. Think about those jobs you’ve been dreading. Could you pay someone else to do them? And how much happier would you feel a) knowing it’s done (possibly better than you could do it), and b) spending the time you would have used doing the job treating yourself. It’s a win-win situation.

you never knew you could outsource and get someone else to do for you

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Queuing at the passport office; having just realised you need a new passport pronto.

Finding that must-havebut-sold-out toy/game/ book to be delivered in time for Christmas Day.

Decorating your home for Christmas, even buying the perfect real tree for you.

Colour-co-ordinating your wardrobe, making outfit selection easy.

Decluttering your home, to prepare for your upcoming house move.

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PERFECT BLEND

Jenny and Anthony cleverly combined 1940s design and Greek heirloom pieces to create a luxe scheme reminiscent of a Parisian hotel

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WORDS ELLEN FINCH SHOPPING AMELIA SMITH PHOTOGRAPHS MALCOLM MENZIES

any of us find that trying to balance our jobs and our home life is a constant battle between hitting deadlines, family time and hastily scheduled drinks with friends. For Jenny and Anthony, creating that balance was a key reason for their big house move. ‘We both grew up in small towns in Greece, so we were after a slower pace of life,’ Jenny explains. ‘After a full day in London, we wanted to come home to a relaxed environment.’

In the two weeks between getting the keys and moving in, Jenny and Anthony tasked themselves with bringing the house up to scratch. ‘We skimmed the Artex ceilings, painted the walls, stripped back the brown carpets and put in oak laminate throughout the house to create flow,’ Jenny says. ‘Those 14 days were so intense that for the next six months, we didn’t want to put a single nail in the wall!’ When the couple did start decorating, Jenny was full of ideas. ‘We’d lived in rental properties for so long, where you can’t add any colours other than black, white or magnolia,’ she says. ‘We wanted to give the place some character and colour. We love mid-century design and tried to combine pieces from that era with more modern items, as well as with pieces we’ve brought over from Greece – pieces that belonged to our families.’

Inspired by designers like Abigail Ahern, Jenny decided to go bold with her spaces. Some rooms worked better than others.

‘My office has two dark walls to add a little bit of drama without being too claustrophobic,’ she says. ‘But I originally painted my

Profile THE OWNERs Jenny Kakoudakis, a financial crime compliance worker, her husband Anthony, a management consultant, their son George, nine, and black Labrador Bella THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom 1980s detached house in Warlingham, Surrey project COST £15,600

TOP TIP

Beautiful rugs can enhance an already lovely floor. Mix colours and styles to zone a big space

Above One of Jenny’s favourite buys is the coffee table. ‘I’d been looking for something like it for a long time,’ she says. ‘I didn’t want a glass top as we might want to put our feet on it, and I didn’t want a fabric ottoman I couldn’t leave pizza boxes on. This one from La Redoute is reclaimed wood with a shelf for my books.’

Green sofa, Sofa Workshop at DFS. White armchairs, West Elm. Hermès scarves in frames from Caterham Galleries. Astral wallpaper, Jane Churchill. Paint, Comfort White and Mole’s Breath, Farrow & Ball. Purple rug, The Rug Seller. Flooring, Floorsave.co.uk.

Side tables, Houseology. Lamps, Wayfair

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work the Floor Perk up your living room with our pick of bright modern rugs.

Large Jigsaw rug, £129.99, Studio

Thelma trellis silver rug, £17.99, Wayfair

Villa Nova Haldon ochre yellow rug, from £725, Modern Rugs

Supermundane wool rug, £299, Made.com

Above A mix of mid-century design, inherited pieces and modern touches create a pulledtogether but eclectic scheme in the living room.

Oriental rug, Aion.gr. The loveseat is a family heirloom. Footrest, DFS. Lamp, John Lewis

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The on-trend blue-green of the kitchen was a complete accident – it was inherited from the previous owner.

‘We haven’t touched the kitchen,’ Jenny says. ‘But there’s no point in changing anything yet. The cabinets are new and we’re planning an extension in a few years.’

Flooring, Amtico. Juicer, Heston Blumenthal for Sage.

Coffee machine, De’Longhi

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If your kitchen is good quality but a little tired, you can easily switch the unit doors or paint them to update the colour

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‘We’d lived in rental properties for so long where you can’t add any colour, so we wanted to make sure we gave this place some character’

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husband’s study pitch black, including the ceiling. We needed a flashlight to see! Eventually, I decided to add wallpaper to lighten it up. Anthony was like, “Thank God! I was beginning to feel really depressed in there.”.’

Jenny’s black and white office was inspired by a mural she won through a competition – a monochrome tree design with a linen texture. She initially wanted an extended desk space, but the quotes she got from joiners were out of her budget. ‘I had a desk from my old office and George had a smaller one in his room, and it just happened that those fitted together perfectly,’ she says. ‘It means I can supervise him when he’s doing his homework, and it’s a fun area for him as well – it’s a creative environment with lots of things to look at around the room.’

That refers to Jenny’s collection of artwork, which features in nearly every room. ‘I change it around quite a lot,’ she says. ‘I have a few favourite online sources – Art Republic and Southsea Art, for example. I try to find either limited-edition prints, which I invest in as a long-term purchase, or cheaper prints to change the style.’ She’s convinced that the trend for gallery walls will give way to something more considered. ‘I think bigger artworks, limited-edition paintings or originals are going to be the way forward,’ she says. ‘We’re going to get tired of having busy walls.’

A big part of Jenny’s design is about luxury. The midcentury furniture and Art Deco touches around the house certainly evoke sumptuousness – including the bedroom, with brass wall lights and a light pink velvet scalloped bed from DFS. ‘It was a discontinued model, but a week after it went off their website, I called them and begged them to make one last one,’ Jenny laughs. ‘Luckily, they had enough fabric for one more.’

The living room is carefully zoned. ‘Because it’s a long, double-aspect room, it was difficult to create one united space,’ Jenny says. ‘We’ve separated it into two areas: there’s a TV corner and a more formal seating area.’ Mid-century furniture dominates the space. ‘The point is to add character,’ Jenny adds. ‘We have heirloom pieces that we brought over from Greece and reupholstered, and we mix them up with mid-century styles, such as a green velvet sofa and West Elm armchairs.’

Jenny’s biggest tip for homebuyers is to plan in advance.

‘It might take you a lot of time to get to the style that you want,’ she says. ‘You might need to work one room at a time, so for some time you won’t have very good flow through the house.

Before you have the keys in your hand, have a plan and create moodboards.’ While it’s taken a good few years to get to where they are now, Jenny and her family feel the benefits of having a well thought-out home. ‘It addresses our needs,’ she adds.

‘It has plenty of colour, and we feel relaxed when we step through the door after a long day at work. It’s a reflection of our character, our hobbies and our lives.’

Above ‘We used a lot of mid-century furniture in this room, including a captain’s desk from the 1940s,’ Jenny says. ‘The Enigma wallpaper is a 1940s’ design, too. It is actually about coding during the Second World War, and my husband is a very keen mathematician, so it all comes together beautifully.’

Wallpaper, Enigma by Farrow & Ball. Desk, Stunningly Restored.

Chair, Made.com. Frida print by Butch Anthony, Black Rat Projects Art Gallery. Metro print, Zeus.

Shelves, Ikea. Table lamp, Original 1227, Anglepoise

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FOR MORE DECORATING IDEAS, VISIT REALHOMES.COM/DECORATING REALHOMES.COM Above The Art Deco touches to Jenny and Anthony’s bedroom were inspired by Hotel Henrietta in Paris. ‘We wanted it to be relaxing and a little bit more luxurious – having the upholstered bed was important,’ Jenny says.

Brass accents, including the wall lights, which were bought in New York, complete the look.

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Bed, DFS. Bedlinen, throw and blinds, John Lewis. Cushions, Zara Home and John Lewis. Walls painted in Denim Drift and White Cotton, Dulux. Wall lamps, Rough Luck Studio. For a similar ceiling light, try Charles Edwards Antiques

‘I take a lot of inspiration from Abigail Ahern,’ Jenny says. ‘I attended one of her workshops in Anthropologie on Regent Street, where she explained the process of going darker and embracing bold colours.’

Desk, Ikea. Chairs, Eames via John Lewis. Zebra head, Anthropologie.

Walls painted in Railings, Farrow & Ball. Prints, Desenio. Ceiling light, Sotto Luce via Made in Design. Desk lamps, Anglepoise.

Rug, The Rug Seller. Shelving, Ikea

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Why not make the office a shared homework space, too.

That way you can help out with the tricky questions

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Jenny wanted her guest bedroom to evoke the style of a high-end B&B. ‘When you think of an English B&B, you think of wallpapers and florals,’ Jenny explains.

‘Some of the colours have a neon accent to them, which makes it feel contemporary.

When we finished my husband said, “Can we move into this room now?”.’

in the chair Make sure you are sitting comfortably in the office with seating that stands out 1

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1 Moda office chair CD7 in Pastel Blue with copper legs, £99, Cult Furniture 2 Fanbyn chair with armrests, £55, Ikea 3 Walnut veneer black faux-leather mid-century armchair, £175, Lagoon 4 Margot office chair in Blush Pink velvet and copper, £199, Made.com

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FOR MORE DECORATING IDEAS, VISIT REALHOMES.COM/DECORATING

Bed, Sofas n Stuff. Bed covers, Designers Guild. Throw, Zara Home. Cushions, John Lewis. Paradise wallpaper in Feather, Little Greene. Bedside lamp, Pooky

Contacts Flooring Floorsave, 020 3837 9950, Floorsave.co.uk Wallpaper & paint Farrow & Ball, Farrow-ball.com; Dulux, Dulux.co.uk; Little Greene, Littlegreene.com

‘George loves to read – he’s always walking around the house with a book in his hand, which makes me want to scream sometimes because they’re everywhere,’ Jenny laughs. ‘He was spending so much time sitting on the floor, hunched over, that I decided to create a reading nook for him.’

Chair and lamp, Made.com. Bookshelf, Ikea. Curtains, Little Home at John Lewis. Steel Symphony 1 and Steel Symphony 4 wall paint, Dulux. Rug, The Rug Seller. Lego storage, John Lewis

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#instareality Social media can be the perfect tool for house inspiration, but the danger is it can also make us feel like our homes aren’t up to scratch, as journalist Andréa Childs discovers

THE INSTAGRAM EFFECT

Keeping up with the Joneses takes on a whole new level when you’re hoping to make a good impression, not just on friends and neighbours, but on a global audience that can damn your taste with harsh words and a hashtag. The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article claiming that people were painting

their walls white because they look better on Instagram, blasting apart the notion of our homes as an expression of our taste and personality. ‘I’ve never followed trends and never will. My home is a reflection of what I love; I need to be surrounded by colour,’ says Nicola Broughton, who blogs at The Girl with the Green Sofa and whose Instagram has 83,000 followers (see page 30 for a tour of Nicola’s home). ‘If you do follow trends, incorporate a small element and don’t feel the pressure to keep changing the look of your home. It’s more authentic to buy what you love and build your style over time.’

In some corners of the site, integrity and Instagram do find a middle ground. Jane Rockett loves the #instareality tag, where users show the real-life mess around their homes.

Nicola sometimes posts under the hashtag #instasham to show her pre-styled rooms, clutter and all. ‘What you see on my social media is what my home would look like if only I lived

KEEP IT REAL(ISH)

PODCAST: The hosts dish out decorating trials and triumphs from their own homes and interview interior designers to help you unleash your inner stylist.

How to Decorate; available on iTunes

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BLOG: Follow the lifestyle photographer Jeska Hearne’s own home transformations and style inspirations from her travels.

Lobsterandswan. com

WATCH: Sign up to the Real Homes YouTube channel for a weekly #sorealhomes video, featuring exclusive house tours and advice from some of our Instagram favourites. youtube. com/realhomes

REALHOMES.COM

WORDS ANDRÉA CHILDS ILLUSTRATION SARAH OVERS

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once took part in our local Artist’s Open House festival; a chance for my sculptor husband and a few similarly creative friends to show off their work in a domestic space instead of a gallery setting. While the artists pondered where to hang the paintings and how to display the installations, I was focused on the important stuff, like how many random strangers would be walking through the door and judging our sofa? What would they think of our still-to-berefitted kitchen? And would I have time to repaint the feature wall before the neighbours took a nose around our bedroom?

Once the month-long event started, things got really tough.

It meant 30 whole days of Instagram posts to promote it; cue incessant vacuuming, tidying and waiting for the ‘right light’ to illuminate the artworks in the photos. I hadn’t been that stressed since our last house was on the market and we had to keep it shipshape for viewings. Or when it was my turn to host book club. Or when the plumber came to fix the boiler and there were unwashed dishes by the sink…

‘Being house proud and tidying up for visitors isn’t a new phenomenon, but posting images on social media has taken it to another level,’ says Jane Rockett, co-founder of cool interiors brand Rockett St George. ‘Ultimately, platforms like Instagram are just a new tool for people to share their love of interior design and show off their latest home project.

It should inspire rather than put people under pressure.’

The trouble is, seeing all those perfect shelfies and gorgeously styled rooms can make our own homes seem drab, and real life looking a bit too, well, real. ‘It’s a tricky one,’ admits Kate Watson-Smyth, creator of award-winning blog Mad About the House. ‘I understand that Instagram can be full of perfect homes but I take it for granted that they’ve all been styled and filtered and the result is a pretty picture.

You’d tidy up before guests come over, so maybe it’s just about doing the same before inviting your virtual visitors in.’

Real talk

here. But I have a family and this is a real home, and that comes with kids’ toys all over the place,’ she says.

‘I’m not sure I want to look at a picture of women’s laundry lying next to an unmade bed just because it’s real,’ laughs Kate Watson-Smyth. ‘But if I’ve posted a picture of my house looking smart for a photo shoot, I’ll often use Instagram Stories to show how I’ve stuffed the laundry in the dishwasher and the plates in the oven. It gives the final image some reality and context.’

Refresh your feed with these #nofilter accounts #INSTAREALITY

#INSTAFAKE

A HOME TO CELEBRATE

So how do we get a balance between creating a home we love and that looks its best – give or take a bit of clutter – and one that’s endlessly primped for public consumption? ‘While I’ve definitely bought props – mugs, flowers, cushions, etc. – with the excuse they’ll look good on the ‘gram, I’d be horrified if people actually were decorating their homes to look good on camera,’ says Kate Watson-Smyth. ‘Personal taste should always come first, and you should decorate your home to reflect the people living there.’

My Instagram, like my home, is a work in progress. I tell myself it’s because I’m busy with work and family, and I’d rather focus on the people I love more than setting up the perfect flat lay on my kitchen table. But I think I’m missing a trick when it comes to using social media as a source of energising inspiration. There’s something to be said for the 15-minute makeover that happens when you rearrange your bookshelf and snap it, or spotting a picture of houseplants in a bathroom (thank you @deecampling) and deciding to green up your own living space in a similar fashion.

‘Instagram and Pinterest can create home envy, but they can also be inspiring and useful,’ says Mary Norden, who styles interiors images for The White Company among others.

Mary’s hints for creating shots for Instagram are also the kind of expert tips that turn an okay room into one you – and everyone else – love spending time in. They’re simple ideas, nothing too elaborate or grand. A single floral stem in an individual jar, a lovely piece of fabric hung as a banner on the wall or used as a bed cover, a group of vintage jars on a shelf…

‘I like to think of Instagram as postcards to my friends.

It’s a way of keeping in touch about your everyday life and what interests you,’ Mary says. ‘If you’ve painted the kitchen canary yellow and are pleased with it, then shout about it. Keep it relaxed; don’t try too hard. Post what you like (and not what you think other people like) and enjoy it.’

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obsessed with making your home picture perfect 5 sIGNS... you’re

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You keep moving houseplants from room to room, looking for the perfect #plantsofinstagram set-up.

Your camera roll is clogged with 50 versions of the same room from different angles for that single best #homeinspiration shot.

You repaint your walls when your new #decoration doesn’t score enough likes.

Your coffee goes cold because you take so long setting up your breakfast table #flatlay.

Forget the #selfie – it’s all about the #shelfie.

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TRADITIONAL TWIST Danielle and Jason Hughes combined their decorating skills to give their once-bland period home the colour and character it so richly deserved

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FOR MORE RENOVATION ADVICE, VISIT REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONS #SOREALHOMES

Jason made the wall shelves from scaffold planks, sanding them down until they were smooth, then adding metal brackets for an industrial-inspired look, while Danielle upcycled the dining table. A blackboard wall creates a fun place for scribbling shopping lists and kids’ doodles.

Scaffolding planks, Savoy Timber. Brackets, Bridewell Ironmongery. Dining table, Ebay.

Chairs, Peppermill Antiques.

Blackboard paint, B&Q

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Profile THE OWNERs Danielle Hughes, a team leader, lives here with her husband, Jason, a quality manager at a local brewery, and their two sons, Lucas, nine, and Jacob, five THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom Victorian semidetached house in Preston, Lancashire project COST £24,500

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WORDS MAXINE BRADY PHOTOGRAPHS JEREMY PHILLIPS STYLING SOPHIE WARREN-SMITH SHOPPING AMELIA SMITH / ANNA MORLEY

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industrial lights Bold light fixtures can create instant impact – take your pick from our edit of the best designs out there 1

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1 La Forma Desire pendant light in black, £95, Cuckooland 2 Wooden bead and chain pendant, £595, French Connection 3 Swivel double spotlight flush-mount ceiling light in pewter, £99, Industville 4 Hygena Pola grey pendant light, £29.99, Argos

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on trend

FOR MORE RENOVATION ADVICE, VISIT REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONS

Walls painted in Deep Fossil, Dulux. Pendant light, DAR Lighting. Exposed bulbs light fittings, Dunelm. Brick slips, Ebay. Small trolley, Homesense

o childhood dreams really come true? Ask Danielle Hughes and the answer would be a resounding ‘yes!’ As a youngster, she daydreamed about living on the street around the corner from her home. ‘It had such a nice feel to it and I loved the individual character of each house,’ she says. Little did she know that years later she’d get the opportunity to turn that dream into reality.

Danielle and Jason’s previous home – a modern new-build townhouse – couldn’t have been more different from the period properties she’d always admired. ‘It was spread over three floors, which was far from ideal with young children,’ Danielle says. ‘We always felt it lacked a certain something. I grew up in an Edwardian house and love how a period property is full of surprising little details.’

When a house on Danielle’s favourite street came on the market, the couple couldn’t believe their luck and immediately snapped it up. ‘I knew instantly that it was the right one for our family,’ says Danielle. ‘The house had been given a makeover for a quick sell so all the walls were painted in magnolia and white, but it had high ceilings, big rooms, and original fireplaces and cornicing. We could see the potential to create an unusual family home.’

High on the couple’s wishlist were elegant shutters to restore some of the house’s original character. ‘It was one of our biggest outlays but we knew they’d make a difference, so we decided to set aside a large part of our decorating budget to have them fitted,’ she says. The £12,000 bill for the shutters left limited funds to do up the rest of the house, which meant the couple were forced to be inventive with their decorating ideas.

In the kitchen, the units were virtually new, but the space lacked personality. Painting the walls dark grey was an inexpensive way to add warmth. Inspired by something that they had seen at a property show, the couple also put up a brick slip wall to create interest. ‘I love the industrial look, so we replaced all the spotlights with hanging bulbs and created open shelving from scaffolding boards and brackets I sourced online,’ says Danielle. ‘I found the table on Ebay for £50 and painted the legs grey to match the new colour scheme.’

Keen to minimise their budget, the couple tried to tackle as much of the work themselves as possible.

‘Jason trained as a joiner when he was younger so he’s happy to try his hand at anything,’ Danielle says. ‘He researches how to do things on the internet, then tackles the jobs. I’m a keen decorator too, and by combining our skills we’ve probably saved ourselves thousands of pounds.’

The only room they didn’t feel confident to complete themselves was the bathroom, with its false plastic ceiling and blue and white fish patterned tiles on the walls. ‘I was dying to rip it out but I had to wait until

#SOREALHOMES

Left ‘The large proportions of this room is what first attracted us to the house,’ Danielle says. ‘I love how light and bright the space is with lots of big windows.’ The couple bought the brick slips online and fitted them themselves.

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Balance dark walls by painting original plasterwork, such as picture rails and cornicing, in a lighter hue

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Left and below ‘There are so many windows in this house and each room is filled with natural light, so our home can take darker shades,’ says Danielle.

‘We painted the living room in a deep shade of blue, and loved it so much we chose another vibrant blue for the hallway.’ The pine fireplace has been painted in fresh white paint to make it pop against the walls.

top tables Feet up or feet off? Whatever your rules, it doesn’t matter – these coffee tables will look lovely either way

love this

Fandangle parquet wooden coffee table, £425, Loaf

Jinya grey coffee table, £289, Venoor Living

Urban chic coffee table, £219, Wooden Furniture Store

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Brodi ash coffee table with removable tray, £195, Habitat

#SOREALHOMES

FOR MORE RENOVATION ADVICE, VISIT REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONS

Walls painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball.

Cushions, HomeSense and Marks & Spencer. For a similar leather sofa and armchair, try John Lewis

we’d saved up,’ Danielle says. ‘It felt like a very long wait!’ Redesigning the layout has changed the room dramatically. A new bath with shower above sits at one end of the room, while metro tiles with black grout give the space a smart finish. ‘There was no floor space before, but now it’s less cluttered and works far better as a family bathroom,’ she adds.

Over time the couple have updated their furniture, teaming upcycled designs with antiques. The four-poster bed in the master bedroom is their latest grand purchase. ‘The person selling it had shipped it over from Dubai, but then discovered it was far too big for their home,’ says Danielle. ‘I managed to get the whole bedroom suite for a bargain price off Ebay.’

Living in an old house with so much character does come with some drawbacks.

To put up the chandelier in the hallway, the couple had to hire scaffolding because the ceilings were so tall. ‘We’ve found that the most unexciting jobs have cost us the most money,’ Danielle says. ‘We’ve had to budget to replace the chimney flue, repair the roof and restore leaking windows. Upkeep on an older building never stops, but that’s what we signed up for when we bought this place. We wanted a project we could get our teeth stuck into, and I love the individuality of our home.’

Above The original staircase and wooden panelling echoes the living room with its dark-light contrast. Danielle added cosy touches to a marble-effect table through candles and trinkets.

Above Danielle spotted the idea for the faux panelling in a period property magazine, and Jason fitted it himself.

Painting the walls in berry shades gives it a modern twist.

Walls painted in Inchryra Blue, Farrow & Ball. Console table, La Redoute

Walls painted in Light Peach Blossom and Adventurer, Little Greene

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Right The couple have completely overhauled their dated bathroom space with a period-style scheme. Tin-effect ceiling tiles reflect light and add glamour. ‘They’re quite unusual but I love them,’ Danielle says.

Roll-top bath and bathroom suite, Victorian Plumbing. Wall tiles, Tiles Direct. Floor tiles, Walls & Floors. Ceiling tiles, American Tin Ceilings

TOP TIP

#SOREALHOMES

FOR MORE RENOVATION ADVICE, VISIT REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONS

Pick the smallest room of your home to test out new or bold ideas, like these striking metallic ceiling tiles

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Contacts Bathroom Victorian Plumbing, 0345 862 2878, victorianplumbing.co.uk Window shutters Thomas Sanderson, 0800 056 2929, thomas-sanderson.co.uk Floor tiles Walls & Floors, 01536 314730, wallsandfloors.co.uk Wall tiles Tiles Direct, 0113 253 0005, tiles-direct.com

Below ‘The boys’ rooms were the first we tackled when we moved in so they’d feel settled right away,’ says Danielle. In Lucas’ room, dark grey walls are brightened up with flashes of yellow, including the painted picture rail.

Wardrobe, Ikea. For a similar metal bed, try the Svärta, Ikea

TOP TIP

Stuck for space?

Multi-use furniture is a godsend. Lucas’ loft bed has room for a cosy seating area underneath

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hen you are in a job you don’t want to retire from, you are obviously happy.

I can’t see myself retiring from this,’ says Jane Tilley of Wiry Works, the wire sculpture-making business she currently runs from the corner of her lounge (etsy.com/ uk/shop/JaneTilleyWire). After years spent in the print and design industry, Jane, driven by a desire to create, started turning her sketches into a 3D reality made out of florist’s wire – twisted, bent and shaped into anything from birds in flight to cameras to bottles of Jack Daniel’s. A desk in the living room of her family’s house in Rugby is her workshop/office, while an upstairs cupboard is her supply room.

Though the concept of remote working from home really came in with laptops, good WiFi connections and a desire for a better work/life balance, the practice of running a business where you live goes back centuries.

The term cottage industry was coined before the Industrial Revolution, when families would try to earn income through the small-scale production of something that was later to be mass produced in factories. It might have been anything from dainty lace and clothing, to pots, pans, nails and even guns.

These days, running a business from home is more of a way to pursue a passion and turn it into something profitable, without the worry of having to rent space to do it in. The virtual world, with

WORDS ALISON JONES

W

REBECCA WILLIAMS MAKES CERAMICS FROM STUDIOS IN THE GARDEN OF HER HOME NEAR CHICHESTER

‘I signed up for a ceramics taster course after seeing a sign in a shop window, and I’ve now been doing it for five years. I used to make things at home and sell them from a small shed in a retail space called Draper’s Yard. My background’s in marketing, and I was

still doing my day job at the time, but I started to resent any moment I wasn’t making. Last year I became a full-time potter. My online sales have gone through the roof so I gave up the retail space – now I mostly make to order and ship all over the world. I have two purposebuilt cabins in the garden – one has my wheel and pieces in

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various stages of production, the other has the kiln.

We have a 100-foot garden so there is room to grow, and the studio’s designed so the kids can see me from their windows. I’m making a good living from my business and that’s surprised me. It’s labour intensive and limited to how fast I can make things, but I never want to feel like I’m churning it out. This is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. I make products that become special in people’s lives. I’ll take that any day over a big salary.’ rebeccawilliams ceramics.co.uk

ONE You may need permission from your mortgage provider or landlord.

TWO You might have to get permission from your local planning office for alterations to add on work space.

THREE You’ll need to consult your local council if your business requires a licence. Also if you’re going to get lots of customers and deliveries.

FOUR Your regular home insurance might not cover your business if you have special equipment, valuable stock or customers on your premises.

FIVE Some of what you spend on council tax, heat, light phone calls and broadband can be claimed as business costs.

SIX Business rates may be due if you’re using part of your home for non-domestic purposes.

NEXT MONTH – TEACH WHERE YOU LIVE; HOLDING WORKSHOPS AT HOME

People are doing their dream job from their spare rooms and garages. Here’s how to pursue a passion project and make a living

Before you start a retail empire from your front room, you need to make sure of a few things, according to Gov.uk

REALHOMES.COM

HOMEWORK that means BUSINESS

RULES FOR HOME BUSINESSES

online stores like Etsy, Folksy, and Redbubble, is your shop front.

From such humble starts, global businesses can grow. Shaun Pulfrey, of Tangle Teezer brushes, used to pack them in his flat while watching TV with his mum. Julie Deane and her mum, Freda, first ran Cambridge Satchel Company from Julie’s home in Cambridge, just trying to make enough money to send her children to a better school. Computer giants Apple and Hewlett Packard began in garages attached to their founders’ homes.

In 2016, research showed that one in two businesses in the UK were actually registered as being based in their owners’ houses. And though the premises might have been small in size, the money they were contributing to the UK economy was not; they collectively generated about £94 billion.

But it’s not (all) about the money for many home workers. It is about doing something they love, and discovering customers who appreciate their products as much as they enjoyed making them.

‘Working in an office, you barely get a thank you if you’re doing a good job,’ says Jane Tilley. ‘But the positive comments you get doing something like this are fantastic, and every sale is an appreciation.

‘Being at home lifts a lot of stress from your shoulders. You can make your own decisions, have your music playing, create a relaxed atmosphere. It isn’t always ideal that it’s in the lounge, and the kids complain when they find wires. But working from home, for me, it’s the best place.’

5 things...

BEST (HOME) BUSINESS PRACTICE

NICKY CASH OF DONE UP NORTH STARTED RECYCLING IN HER CITY FLAT IN LEEDS AFTER A CAREER CHANGE

‘The first thing I recycled was a Victorian side unit that I picked up in a charity shop, wheeled home on a barrow and hauled up three flights of stairs. I did rent a small studio but found it difficult to break off and come home. We’ve moved out to a house now with a garage and more space for me to be able to do up stuff, and the spare room is the office.

I’m into the first year

of just recycling and not having any other income. I am making a living but want to make it stronger and more consistent.

I go into charity shops and spot things I want to rescue, plus I do commission work.

I’ve started doing workshops to help other people recycle, and I’m also a distributor for one of my favourite paint lines to make it available in my area.

Working from home means you can start a business without the extra bills of renting somewhere.

You can manage

your own time, and I can easily borrow things from my house to style pieces for pictures.

It’s also very useful being able to nip out at night and layer on another coat of paint! The downside is you need to know when to stop. There are moments of joy, but at times you do have to switch off your mind to the financial side and not worry about when the next piece will sell – focus on the fact that this is what you want to be doing, and it’s going well.’ doneupnorth.com

you’ll learn when you start running a business from home

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

You’re not just a maker, you are a sales rep, marketing and PR, distribution and accounts. You have kept all your receipts, right?

There’s access to free labour.

Husbands/partners are good for heavy lifting and will work for hot drinks, or just so they can walk across a room without bumping into things.

If you are using living space, it’ll be family members who put their hands down on something that’s drying or their feet down on something sharp.

Just because you work from home doesn’t mean customers can’t find you…and turn up wanting to look at your ‘showroom’.

Neighbours don’t always appreciate prolonged use of noisy power tools, especially at night.

Funny, that.

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‘Carve out a space. I know people whose other halves don’t really like what they’re doing, so they have to put everything away.

You can’t really do that when things are still drying,’ says Nicky Cash.

‘Also, leaving a bit of stuff out can motivate you to work more than when it’s out of sight’ ‘Find the platform that’ll suit your product and you. I tried a lot of different ones before Etsy and I could have been disheartened.

You have to persevere and stay positive,’ says Jane Tilley. ‘Try not to spread yourself too thinly across social networks – concentrate on a couple to build it up.’

‘My biggest challenge is being all people; production, sales, packaging, accounts and invoicing,’ says Rebecca Williams. ‘Often work can come out of the kiln to be posted that night, and it can take hours to package a tea service. I want to build up stock so it doesn’t have to be posted the day it’s finished.’

COLOUR POP Bright splashes of turquoise blue and tropical yellow transform this sleek white kitchen into a child-friendly family haven

WORDS FELICITY HAYLES PHOTOGRAPHS FIONA MURRAY

Right and far right A large industrial upcycled unit adds interest to the scheme and offers plenty of storage for the family’s glassware and the children’s crafting materials. Smart work surfaces complement the matt white kitchen units with a subtle grey contrast. The breakfast bar on the island was rendered from American oak.

Kitchen, Benchmarx and Jewson. Unit, Verty Furniture. Bird print, Madox Design.

Love sign, Ebay.

Yellow planter, Homesense. Stools, Cult Furnishing.

Clock, Habitat.

Bodrum grey wood flooring, B&Q

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Profile TOP TIP

The property A 1940s semi-detached home in Farnham, Surrey project cost £25,880

REALHOMES.COM

Bi-fold windows over counters can be pulled right back to make a breakfast bar serving an outdoor kitchen area

The owners Victoria Bolton, a yoga teacher, her fiancé, Ben Stanley, who owns a property maintenance company, and their daughters Mea, seven, and Eva, five

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Victoria loves buying her daughters their own pretty tableware from shops like Tiger and Ikea, in keeping with the bright colour scheme.

Neon bright cushions, La Redoute. Tropical bird print cushions, Primark.

Dining table, The Packhouse; for similar, try Oak Furniture Land

2

Step one

Step two

1 Have

you ever noticed how a dark and cramped home can make you feel claustrophobic, or how a bright and airy space can elevate your mood and give you more energy? A house is so much more than just a building when it’s capable of controlling our emotions – something that Victoria and her fiancé, Ben, found when they stepped into their renovated kitchen for the first time. With help from extensive glazing and a clever use of colour, the couple have managed to transform a previously gloomy kitchen into a light and airy family space that they love to spend time in.

Dark beginnings

Project managing

‘We moved to this house from a much smaller property in Farnham, but despite the fact that the new kitchen was bigger, it had dark fittings, black granite surfaces and small cottage windows, which made it feel really oppressive,’ Victoria says. ‘I felt so miserable being there. It was a strange layout, too, with an L-shaped work space that left a vast dead area in the middle of the kitchen. We found it so hard to function in the space and the gloominess was instantly stifling, so we wasted no time in tackling it.

We wanted a light, bright room that was fun to be in.’

‘Thanks to our experience working with a property maintenance company, we were able to project manage the build, and Ben got stuck into some of the structural work. We were very much involved in the project every step of the way. And because we had contacts in the industry, we were able to use local suppliers and contractors we trusted.

‘We sold off the original kitchen on Gumtree to generate revenue – although it wasn’t to our personal tastes, we knew it had quite a bit of value, and we were committed to being savvy and finding a bargain. We decided not to set ourselves a strict budget, but instead took the time to research everything and pay the best price for what we really wanted.’

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By placing bi-fold windows over the sink and running the surface into the garden, the couple have created a serving hatch/bar.

Apollo Marmo Crema work surface, Benchmarx. Oslo units, pull-out larder, pull-out organiser, Jewson. Appliances, Ao.com. Bi-fold windows and doors, Allways Glazing

Step four

Step five

Light work

Colour pop

SOCIAL SPACE

‘Our first priority was to bring as much light into the space as possible, so we replaced the small windows with white-framed bi-fold windows over the sink, bi-fold doors out onto the patio and three skylights running the length of the kitchen. I was tempted by the black frames that everyone seemed to be having, but white was the best choice in terms of keeping the space as bright as possible.

‘I wanted a complete overhaul of the layout, so we discarded the L-shaped design for a large island with enough surface space to prepare meals, integrate a four-ring ceramic hob and allow for under-counter storage. We incorporated a breakfast bar into the design, too.’

‘I’d heard that gloss white has a tendency to show every fingerprint and mark – a big no-no when you’ve got young kids – so we chose handleless matt white units instead. We had the same thought for the Slab Tech composite work surface, which we fitted ourselves after it had been cut, filled and sanded to our spec. It’s incredibly hardwearing. We had a big party for my birthday and there were some red wine marks left on the countertop; we sanded them off gently and they looked as good as new.

‘With all the white, we needed to inject some warmth into the room, choosing a wooden laminate floor to soften the look. I love bright colours, and accessorised with accents of my favourite shades.’

‘The work took a month to complete, and we lived with a camping stove in the living room in that time, but we are delighted with the result. It’s the perfect space to entertain – I can prepare meals and still be involved in conversations.

Our family love to visit, especially over the summer when we can open up the bi-fold doors. That’s when our indoor-outdoor breakfast bar comes into play.

‘The girls do their homework here while I cook, and Ben often works in the garden – he’s currently building an outdoor kitchen. The next plan is to extend the dining area onto the patio to the side of the house to get even more light into the property.’

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REALHOMES.COM

Step three

3 4 5

TOP TIP

Window frames and bays are a clever way to introduce a fun splash of colour, and to link indoors and out

Contacts

Above Victoria combined retro oak furniture with splashes of colour to contrast the white of the walls and units. ‘I was determined to paint the recesses of the windows with a colour to draw the sunshine in,’ she says. ‘This vivid yellow is known to be a healing colour. It lifts my mood every time I walk in.’ The tropical print cushions echo her love of house plants.

Kitchen Benchmarx, 01252 719494, benchmarxkitchens.co.uk; Jewson, 02476 608235, Jewson.co.uk Flooring B&Q, 0333 014 3098, diy.com Glazing Allways Glazing, 01252 727262, allwaysglazingworks.co.uk

Chairs and bench, The Cotswold Company and The Packhouse. Wicker plant pot, Ikea

my kitchen favourites Nona set of three tapas dishes, £24, Habitat

MY GO-TO SHOP FOR KITCHENWARE ‘It has to be Habitat – it’s always been my best source for homeware.’

THE NEXT THING ON MY WISHLIST ‘Ben is currently building a pizza oven!’

Colours standard silk emulsion paint in Chance, £12 for 2.5ltrs, B&Q

Uuni 3 wood-fired pizza oven, £199, Cuckooland

MY FAVOURITE COLOUR ‘I love vibrant colours – my favourite of all is turquoise.’

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Orla Kiely Rose hanging plant pot, £29.95, Hurn & Hurn

THE THING I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT ‘A sizeable fridge – I’m vegetarian and cook all my meals from scratch.’

LG GSB760PZXV fridge-freezer, £979, John Lewis

THE BEST WAY TO DECORATE A SPACE ‘I’ve developed a love of house plants – they thrive in a kitchen.’

EXCLUSIVE OFFER

FREE KITCHEN STORAGE CANISTERS when you subscribe today for just £18 As a special offer this month, when you subscribe you will also receive a free set of kitchen storage canisters from Orla Kiely worth £30. Don’t miss out on this great offer!

Free delivery to your door O Never miss an issue of your favourite magazine O Free tickets to all of our eight Homebuilding & Renovating shows, worth £216 O

F REE O

RL A CANI KIELY WOR STERS

TH £ 30

It’s easy to subscribe, simply: GO ONLINE at myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/RHNOV18 CALL US ON 0344 848 2852 and quote code RHNOV18 *Terms and conditions: This offer entitles new UK Direct Debit subscribers to pay just £18 every six months plus receive a set of Orla Kiely Animal storage canisters worth £30. Gift is only available for new UK subscribers and is subject to availability. Please allow up to 60 days for the delivery of your gift. In the event of stocks being exhausted, we reserve the right to replace with items of similar value.

Prices and savings quoted are compared to buying full-priced print issues. You will receive 12 issues in a year. Your subscription is for the minimum term specified and will expire at the end of the current term. You can write to us or call us to cancel your subscription within 14 days of purchase. Payment is non-refundable after the 14-day cancellation period unless exceptional circumstances apply. Your statutory rights are not affected. Prices correct at point of print and subject to change. UK calls will cost the same as other standard fixed line numbers (starting 01 or 02) or are included as part of any inclusive or free minutes allowances (if offered by your phone tariff). For full terms and conditions, please visit: bit.ly/magterms. Offer ends 31 December 2018.

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Projectadvice

NEWS EDIT | EXPERT GUIDES | EXTENSIONS

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#SOREALHOMES

in ik tr

g space

t c e j onth o Prthe m e

a

r

ey

of

u

WORDS ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPH RICHARD CHIVERS

We love a spot of statement glazing here at Real Homes, and this stunning side return extension has certainly captured our attention. Glass works best in a barely-there style, so we love the wide expanses of glazing and the boldly executed roof. The exterior packs a punch thanks to the contrast of traditional brickwork and sleek black-framed finish. Most of all, though, we’re sold on the window seat. Picture chilly autumn nights curled up with a cushion, a glass of wine and a blanket... bliss. A similar extension would cost around £70,000. Yard Architects, 020 7407 8303, yardarchitects.co.uk

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AT’S caugh

CHECK OUT OUR EXTENSIONS GALLERY AT REALHOMES.COM/EXTENSIONS

GLASS ACT

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THE NOVEMBER

Report UR KITC THE LATEST IDEAS FOR YO

HEN AND BATHROOM,

PLUS ESSENTIAL BUYS FO

R YOUR PROJECT

Bathroom beauties

One shade is all it takes Choosing one bold colour and going for it, everywhere, creates instant impact.

The latest vinyl tiles from Harvey Maria are inspired by ancient Rome but with a chunky, contemporary twist.

Neisha Crosland Dovetail vinyl floor tiles, £44.80 per m2, Harvey Maria

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

lavender’s blue Celebrate your inner baking goddess with the latest addition to Kitchenaid’s iconic stand mixer collection. The hammered-effect bowl makes it extra special, ensuring it will take centre stage.

Artisan 4.8ltr stand mixer in matt lavender, £599, Kitchenaid (from independent cookshops).

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#SOREALHOMES

One thing that instantly transforms a bathroom is statement lighting, and Industville has hit the nail on the head with these showstoppers.

The metallic finish is on trend and will create a focal point in any space. Brooklyn dome pendants, from £119, Industville

3 things...

YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT UNDERFLOOR HEATING

All in one Cookerhood, tick. Island lighting, tick. Extra storage and place to show off your parsley and basil, tick. Not only is this a super-efficient island hood, the stainless steel and dark grey glass creates the look of an ultra-modern professional kitchen, while allowing you to personalise your centrepiece and put a spotlight on your culinary masterpieces (that’s the plan, anyway). Rossini island hood, £1,548 plus VAT, Airuno

Hello, who’s there...?

O

DIY OR EXPERT FITTER? You can buy DIY underfloor heating packs with step-by-step guides so you can install it yourself, but unless you’re already in the know, get a professional in. With wiring, electricity or water involved, this isn’t something where you want to do a botch job.

GE HAC A R updat DIY e

THE OPTIONS The two main types of systems are water and electric. Although electric systems are cheaper upfront, a water system could save you more money in the long run. ‘You should also consider the size of your space, as although both can be used in either single rooms or whole houses, a water system could be more efficient if your space is over 22m2’ says David Playfoot at Uponor.

And if next summer is anything like the one we’ve had, water systems can also help keep your home cool – who knew!

K

Too many bits and bobs, not enough space? Don’t just put up another shelf, create a unique feature instead, such as this industrial-look idea courtesy of power tools specialist Bosch.

Simply drill evenly spaced hose clips into a plank of wood, place the jars into them and tighten. Drill the plank into your wall for handy storage that takes up little room.

You could even use it in your kitchen to store spices, teabags or pasta.

Visit bosch-do-it.com for detailed instructions.

#SOREALHOMES

T HE S T

...is something you’ll never have to say again with this doorbell. A built-in camera lets you see your doorstep, and facial recognition means it can tell the difference between friends and strangers. Ever been in the shower when the bell goes? Now you can play pre-recorded messages, such as ‘just a moment’, to ensure your visitors don’t leave. Nest Hello, from £229, Nest

HOW IT WORKS Unlike radiators, underfloor heating spreads heat evenly across the whole space, so you can use a lower temperature and still feel just as toasty, wherever you are in the room. As heat rises, the lower the heat source means the less energy is wasted through the ceiling. Lower temperatures, less wasted heat (and you’ll never have to buy slippers again), so your bank balance will be pleased, too.

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Gerd oak pendant light, £91.65, Broste Copenhagen The Pine Needle salad servers set, £24.95, Crowdy House

style update

WOOD’S GOOD If you haven’t considered embracing natural wood, or even the look of it, in your Nordic kettle in home before, you’ll want to Cotton White, £49.99, Swan after reading Made of Wood by Mark and Sally Bailey (Ryland Peters & Small, £19.99). Add splashes of warmth to your kitchen with lighting, flooring and even appliances in this tactile material.

Sneaky storage Speed up your morning routine by hanging your outfit in the bathroom so it’s ready as soon as you step out of the shower. This radiator with hidden shelves will keep clutter at bay and your clothes and towels nice and warm. Niva bath radiator, £899, Vasco

Tom Raffield stem wall light, £195, Rume

Inwood 3D wood-effect beige wall tiles, £49.99 per m2, Gemini Tiles

trend spot

#SOREALHOMES

NEW WAYS WITH WALL TILES So much more than a practical surface finish, kitchen and bathroom tiles are getting all experimental, and we are loving these alternative ways of fitting them Tile your skirting for a colourful feature; for similar tiles, try Bert & May. Oak natural oiled flooring, £84 per m2, The Natural Wood Flooring Company

Leave a jagged edge to create an unusual finish. Wynter Hues tiles, £49.50 per m2, Topps Tiles

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Colour block for added impact.

Prismatic gloss tiles in various shades

by Johnson Tiles, from £26.95 per m2, Walls & Floors

You can add more radiator thermostats to your home for £44.99 each

A DV E RTOR I A L

Wiser’s app control gives you the flexibility to change your heating along with your plans

WIN To win a Wiser heating control system, simply visit wiserfamily.co.uk, enter your name and address, and explain in 300 words or less why you deserve to win the prize*

HOTTING UP As the dark nights are drawing in, get savvy with your heating to keep warm all winter ave you turned on your heating yet? With winter fuel bills rising every year, now is the ideal time to look at how you can reduce your energy use while still keeping cosy.

The latest smart heating control system from trusted British heating experts Drayton, by Schneider Electric, allows you to manage your heating room by room, so you only heat the space you’re using to the temperature you prefer, saving energy and money, while keeping your family more comfortable, too.

* FOR FULL COMPETITION TS & CS, GO TO WISERFAMILY.CO.UK

H

top tips to help you be wiser with your heating in the cold weather this winter 1. It’s a personal thing – choose intelligent radiator thermostats so you can create different heating zones. Set the temperature in the living room to 20˚C, but have cooler bedroom temperatures and lower temperatures in empty spare rooms. This could reduce your energy use by up to 20 per cent compared to using a smart thermostat alone.

2. There’s an app for that – control your heating remotely from an app, so

you can delay it coming on or turn it off when your plans change. This will help you to avoid wasting energy and money by heating an empty home.

3. Keep up with the weather – make further savings with heating controls that learn how long your home takes to react to temperature changes and weather conditions, and then finds the most economical way to run your heating.

4. ‘Alexa, turn my heating on’ – opt for smart speaker integration so it’s even easier to manage your energy use. Simply ask Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant to turn down the temperature.

5. Home and away – ensure e your heating’s off when no one’s home. me.

New technology (like IFTTT) allows lows you to automatically stop your heating from running when the last family member heads out for the day.

6. You can enjoy all of these energy-saving benefits with the Wiser system from Drayton, by Schneider Electric. What’s more, we’ve teamed up with Drayton to offer you the chance to win

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a Wiser heating control system worth up to £1,000! This includes a room thermostat, radiator thermostats for every room and two smart plugs.

Drayton will follow your winter journey with a video diary, sharing your home renovation story and how Wiser has helped you and your family to live more comfortably.

For more information and to enter the competition, visit wiserfamily.co.uk or follow @DraytonHome on Twitter.

Below A Wiser multizone kit of room thermostat, heat hub, app and two radiator thermostats is £219.99

COMING NEXT MONTH

On sale 25 october

in your new

Festive decorating ideas you’ll love

Stylish ways to update your guest room The best high-street shopping How to make open-plan living work for you 169

PHOTOGRAPH ASDA/GEORGE HOME

Amazing real homes transformed for Christmas

FOCUS ON

Window shutters Hang shutters at your windows and you can control privacy and light easily – and they’ll look smart, too BEST FOR DRESSING DOORS

BEST FOR UNDISTURBED SLEEP

Shutters can be an equally good treatment for doors as they are for windows. Even if the room’s garden-facing and not overlooked, being able to shut out the dark at night will make it feel cosier. Hardwood shutters with 114mm slats, £204 per m2, The Shutter Store

Street lamp and early dawns can interrupt rest, so if it’s maximum light blockage that’s required, opt for solid panel shutters to stop light intruding.

They’re a particularly good option for children’s rooms. Solid Shaker panels classic hardwood shutters in Dulux trade colour paint, from £166 per m2, California Shutters

BEST FOR HUMID ROOMS Think about using waterproof shutters in a bathroom or kitchen. The material will stand up to the humid atmosphere without warping, and they’re simple to keep clean, requiring only a wipe down. San Jose Premium French Grey shutters, £181.48 for a set measuring H100xW100cm, Blinds 2Go

WORDS SARAH WARWICK

Three TOP TIPS 1. STYLE SELECTION Full-height shutters cover the whole window so are good for an uncluttered look. If they’re going to be mostly shut, opt for fewer panels to maximise daylight. Tier-on-tier shutters – with upper and lower sections – are best with narrower panels so they fold neatly. Café-style shutters don’t have to come halfway up; try aligning them with the top of a window pane.

Select the shutter type and finish that’ll suit the room and your home best with our guide

2. THINK MATERIALS Shutters can be made from wood of different grades as well as waterproof manmade materials, and even combinations of the two.

If they’re likely to get splashed or will be hung in a humid room, manmade materials offer stability and the appearance of wood. Wooden shutters can be finished in stains or painted.

Pick pale hues for maximum light reflection.

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3. DO IT YOURSELF? If you’re handy round the house, some companies will make shutters bespoke to your measurements so you can DIY fit them, and this can be a money-saving way to dress windows smartly. Other companies offer measuring and installation services. If you’re taking this route, check what the price you’re quoted includes so you can compare like with like.

BEST FOR BALANCING PRIVACY AND LIGHT The adjustable louvres of plantation shutters make it easy to create privacy for the interior of a bedroom while still letting daylight in. Go for a delicate colour like this to complement a soothing bedroom scheme. Chalk Pink shutters, from £523 per m2 including measuring and fitting, from the Atmosphere shutters collection at Hillarys

BEST FOR EASY ADJUSTMENTS If you’re likely to keep shutters closed because your room’s street facing, consider tier-on-tier designs. You can operate the top panels independently so you could let in light at the top of the window during the day while keeping the lower panels in place. Shutters, from £299 per m2, Shutterly Fabulous

BEST FOR SHAPED WINDOWS Arched, round and triangular windows can be hard to dress without obscuring their attractive lines. Choose shutters, though, and they can be made to fit the shape of the window perfectly rather than covering the outline when closed.

Wood shutters, from £397 per m2, Apollo Blinds

BEST FOR DINING ROOMS It’s not always necessary to cover the entire window to create the appropriate level of concealment for a room. In this dining area, café-style shutters mean seated diners can’t be seen, but the uncovered top of the window boosts daylight. Café-style Hampton Vivid White faux-wood shutters, from £45.80 for H30xW30cm, Direct Blinds

finishing touches

Want to create privacy on a budget? Try these modern window film ideas instead

GO GRAPHIC Geometric pattern makes a functional window treatment into a bold feature.

Ditto clear-on-frost window film, from £55 for L200x W76cm, MissPrint

COLOUR TINT Go for a modern take on stained glass to stop the curious looking in. Palanga window film in Amber, from £11.50 for a H50xW25cm panel, Purlfrost

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SINK SOLUTION A great choice for kitchens as it won’t be affected by splashes from the sink. Frostbrite FB069, from £30, The Window Film Company

Loft conversions Adding rooms at the top of the house can be a cost-effective way to expand living space. Here’s the lowdown on how to get the best one for you onverting the loft is a popular way to get more room at home. What you create can be anything from a much-needed extra bedroom to a luxurious home gym. It might also, depending on where you live, give a good return on what you spend. With many loft conversions achievable under permitted development (PD) and without the need to apply for planning permission, it can be quicker and less costly than you might suppose. Don’t forget, though, that whether the project takes place under PD or you do need to get planning permission, Building Regulations will apply to a loft conversion.

Major projects are disruptive of home life, but a loft conversion can be relatively orderly. The type of conversion you have will influence this, but often much of the work can be done without builders coming into the house. The fitting of the staircase is when the work will become intrusive. However, your contractor should prepare you for this with a detailed schedule and explanation.

WORDS SARAH WARWICK

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SUITABLE SPACES A loft with a minimum head height of 2.3m from ceiling joists to ridge should offer potential for conversion. Failing this, it might be possible to lower the ceilings on the floor below, but this then affects electrical wiring and also any built-in wardrobes, so can add substantially to the cost. A loft also needs to be sizeable enough for its new functions, which could be to fit a double bed, for example. If you’re putting a bathroom up there, any shower will need sufficient head height, too.

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A GUIDE TO

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WHICH CONVERSION? A rooflight conversion with windows fitted into the roof slope is simplest and least expensive. More popular is a conversion with a flat-roofed dormer window as it adds volume with full headroom.

Hip to gable conversions involve building up an end wall to create a vertical gable.

Gable to gable is a box extension between the gable ends. Mansard conversions increase the slope of one or both sides with an almost flat roof on top for extra volume.

Can’t convert? A new roof module could be installed instead. Visit realhomes.com/ loft-conversion for information on the types of conversions.

GOING UP The placement of the staircase is key to the success of this type of project. It needs 1.9m of headroom at the centre and 1.8m at the sides, so it often has to be located in the most useful part of the new room with an enclosed landing and separating door. Alternatively, consider putting a landing and the bedroom door at the foot of the stairs, bringing the staircase into the room.

Adding an extension to your existing stairs can be an efficient and cost-effective option, but may not always be the best design solution.

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LIGHT, AIR AND VIEWS

PERMISSION REQUIRED? A loft conversion can often be carried out without an application for planning permission – but there are conditions. Your home can’t be on designated land, and you can only add 40m3 to a terrace and 50m3 to a semi- or detached house.

Previous additions do count.

Materials must be similar to the existing house, and no part can be taller than the highest part of the existing roof. You can’t have a balcony under permitted development, either. For the full requirements, check realhomes.com/ planning-permission.

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‘When we moved in the loft had already been converted but it wasn’t really liveable or usable space,’ says Paul.

‘It felt damp, cold and unwelcoming.

When we had our son, we knew we needed to expand in order to have a master bedroom plus two guest rooms and a nursery, which made converting the loft more essential and urgent.

‘The dormer window floods the room with natural light from morning until night because it faces south. The Juliet balcony was important to let in more fresh air. We included window tints, so we can see out but nobody can see in during the daytime. It’s great to sit behind the window, reading a book and people watching.

‘Two years before the loft conversion, we had modernised the kitchen. This included zinc cladding to give the early Edwardian house a modern touch in keeping with our personalities. The zinc cladding of the dormer window matches the kitchen exterior and makes the additions seem co-ordinated.

‘The bathroom is at the front of the house and the bedroom in the rear. We wouldn’t have been able to get permission to build a Juliet balcony at the front and this was an important feature for us in the bedroom area.

‘It was impossible to have the bathroom on the same level as the bedroom as this would have impeded the stairs. That said, we like this slight difference in floor level as it adds a sense of separation from the living and sleeping spaces.

‘The conversion has made an amazing difference to life in our house.

We are able to relax at night and sleep better having our own space in a nice airy room. Our son has a sense of independence and isn’t crowded by us in the next room. Guests are also more comfortable. When our families come to stay, they have their own bathroom now that we use the one upstairs.’

COST AND CONTACTS Project cost £120,000 Architect Granit Architects, 020 7924 4555, granit.co.uk

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The arrival of their son made a loft conversion an urgent project for Paul and Stepan Roger

SLEEP AND PLAY SPACE

PHOTOGRAPHS MAI-LING LEUNG OF ARCHEA

A loft extension gave Laura and Chris Smith’s children bedrooms in the same part of this house in east London, plus areas to share ‘We bought the house as a five bed but as two of the rooms were very small, we knocked through to make a large master bedroom with en suite and a family bathroom,’ says Laura.

‘After having two children, this meant we had no guest bedroom for our families who visit from Scotland.

‘We now have two kids’ rooms in the loft. We also have an extra bathroom so they have their own.

Before, their bedrooms were at opposite ends of the house and we wanted to create an area where we’d encourage them to play together.

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ROOM OPTIONS Loft spaces can make a brilliant combination master bedroom and en suite, but don’t rule out other options.

Adult returners could appreciate a bedroom and bathroom that gives them their own separate space, and if you have frequent guests, letting them have another floor can work well. Equally, the loft could become a home work/hobby space, or add a desirable home cinema, gym, games room or playroom.

FOR MORE INSPIRATION, VISIT REALHOMES.COM/LOFT-CONVERSION

COUNTING COSTS What you’ll pay depends on the type of conversion, but expect it to be between £30,000 and £50,000 as a minimum. Don’t forget to add flooring, fitting out, and wall and ceiling finish costs if they aren’t included in any quote. Design and build companies should include design fees in the price. If you’re using an architect, their fees will be extra, as will the engineer’s structural design, so factor in up to around £6,000 on top.

MONEY MAKER Whether a loft conversion will add value to your home depends on where you live.

In areas with high property values, it can add more worth than you spend and, if you use it to add a bedroom, widen the pool of buyers when you come to sell.

Beware the ceiling price in your road, though. If the current value of your house plus the cost of the loft conversion takes you over this, then you wouldn’t get back what you’d spent if you sold following the project.

FITTING A BATHROOM If you’re putting a bedroom in the loft, having a bathroom on the same floor is a good idea.

If it’s a shower room you’re after, only 1m by 2.6m is necessary, but you’ll need full headroom for the shower itself. A bathroom needs 1.7m by 2.3m, however, it can be easier to fit a bath under the roof slope. It’s simpler to connect the new bathroom to the existing soil pipe, but small bore waste pipes and a pumped unit with a macerator are an alternative. Speak to a plumber to help you plan.

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‘We had a dormer conversion because we wanted to have the loft feeling as light and airy as possible.

We opted for the large windows that can open for air circulation as it is a south-facing wall and we knew it would get hot up there.

‘Although we wanted the loft to be a modern extension to our house, the stairs continue from the existing staircase so you don’t feel like you are going up to a loft, just another floor of the house.

‘There’s a big landing area as we didn’t want to walk into a wall as soon as we got up the stairs. We have great views over London in the winter and wanted to admire them without feeling this was a hallway. It was also to encourage the kids to play together in a space that was both of theirs. They use it for sliding around on after bath time, and pull their bean bags out for stories.

‘Our kids are very happy in their area. They’re close to our bedroom and have gained a playroom, too, plus we have lots of space for guests. We love it.’

COST AND CONTACTS Project cost £100,000 Architect Archea, 020 7249 1206, archea.co Conversion and decoration Abbey Lofts, 020 3581 0354, abbeylofts.net

BOILER BOOST Extending your heating system into the loft and, if there’s a bathroom, providing enough hot water for use in it, equals additional load for the boiler. Call on a heating engineer for advice on your existing boiler’s capacity and whether you’ll need a replacement. Water pressure is important, too. Any header tank needs to be higher than the taps or showerhead, or you may need to swap to a mains pressure system.

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WHO TO CALL A design and build contractor specialising in lofts will offer tried and tested solutions to design and engineering issues for a quick and cost-effective conversion. Architectural designers can provide a highly individual extension and, once you have design drawings and a structural engineer’s input, you can ask several builders to quote on your project.

Planning ahead is key as late changes incur costs.

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SPACE DESIGN Consider where you’re going to position furniture in your new loft rooms. Although you may have a floor area that feels sufficient for what you want to use it for, the slope of the roof limits where you can place freestanding pieces. If you’re planning on paper, mark where height is limited to avoid expensive furniture-buying mistakes, or get a 3D model. Building in storage can be a sensible strategy to maximise usable space in sloping walls.

PHOTOGRAPHS MARTINA O‘SHEA

PERFECT FOR VISITORS Matt Davey and his partner, Stuart Fyfe, transformed their empty loft space into a stylish guest room with stunning balcony views ‘Being Australian, Stuart often has friends and family visiting from Down Under, so we thought it was important that guests have space to themselves,’ Matt says. ‘We wanted a spare room with a bathroom that was out of the way of the rest of the house – that way, we wouldn’t be on top of each other.

‘The houses either side of us had converted their lofts, and the views looked across the London skyline. We wanted to recreate that in our home.

‘We heard about how much mess a loft conversion made, so didn’t move in while construction was ongoing – there was no heating and it was winter.

When we did move in, the rest of the house was bare bones, with a justabout-functioning bathroom and kitchen, so we slept in the loft suite while we worked on the middle floor.

‘We knew roughly what we wanted from the space, and worked with an architect to fit it all in. There’s storage between the chimneys behind the bed, and cabinets built into the eaves. The

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DRESSING ROOM In a loft that’s sufficiently spacious, consider creating a dressing room under the eaves behind a partition wall that separates the bed from the walk-in wardrobe.

Alternatively, the partition could be behind the bedhead with the dressing area beyond the sleep space – it doesn’t need to be particularly deep to be a fabulous and useful feature.

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GOOD NEIGHBOURS Live in a terraced or semi-detached house? Then you’ll need to follow the provisions of the Party Wall Act. This means notifying your neighbours in writing about the work – although it’s generally a good idea to speak to them before sending it. You can give notice yourself using the example letter on the government’s gov.uk site, or pay a professional to do it, and this needs to happen at least two months before the start date for work on the party wall.

en suite shower tucks into the space over the stairs, which took some creative measuring.

‘We picked a palette for the whole house and stuck to it. Victorian houses can be irregular in shape and white highlights imperfections so we chose grey. It’s a good canvas for colour.

‘Our visitors like the fact that their bedroom is a little segregated. We have French doors that open onto a Juliet balcony. It’s ideal because the loft offers the best views to the London Eye and Houses of Parliament. It’s the perfect place for a guest to stay.’

COST AND CONTACTS Project cost £40,000 Architect My Home My Garden En suite West One Bathrooms, 0333 011 3333, westonebathrooms.com Bathroom flooring Floors of Stone, 01509 234000, floorsofstone.com Tiling Walls & Floors, 01536 314730, wallsandfloors.co.uk

BOOST LIGHT A loft conversion that lacks daylight will feel smaller than it really is, so maximise the amount of light that reaches the new space. A series of rooflights can be a costeffective way to get generous glazing. If your budget is larger, think about options such as glazed doors opening to a Juliet balcony, which has most of the advantages of a proper balcony without the structural challenges and the extra cost. Reflective surfaces and pale colours for walls and flooring will help bounce light around the converted room.

SQUEEZE IN STORAGE To avoid cluttering a loft conversion, make the most of every storage opportunity.

Building in a window seat beneath a dormer window can conceal stash space as well as provide a place to admire the view. A false wall behind the bed can accommodate a shelf so there’s no need for bedside tables. Add a hinged lid and you can keep things inside here, too. And if your loft has good height, don’t be afraid to build storage high. A library ladder and rail can make access to the top easier.

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? questions & answers

REALHOMES.COM

Planning a project? Our Real Homes expert, Jason Orme, solves all of your home transformation dilemmas

Q: My builder isn’t turning up – what should I do?

A: One of the many challenges that builders face is juggling their clients, their finances and the need to line up subcontractors. It’s a very difficult thing to manage, not least because, for the most part, building is difficult to predict (how long the electrician will take to complete their task, for example). Don’t forget that building extensions entails using a rotating cast of tradesmen – meaning you need bricklayers at the start of a project and plasterers come in towards the end.

As a result, builders, whose job it is to manage this array of moving parts, tend to run more than one project at the same time – in fact, many run a few, and some of the bigger operations can run a handful or more at the same time. And, if you’re running several projects, you’ll need to be on site at all of them to varying degrees

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during the week. This approach is also true of almost all builders as they begin to get to the end of projects, where the point of ‘completion’ is usually a bit of a grey area. Don’t forget that builders need to pay the mortgage like the rest of us – and need a reliable and steady stream of income to do so.

Where it becomes a problem is where your project is running out of steam. Small gaps between tradesmen turning up is OK, but it is down to your builder to ensure that you aren’t inconvenienced too much. Take a pragmatic rather than a dogmatic view on this – and if you still feel uneasy, have an open and honest chat with the builder. What is holding things up?

Are they stretched too thin? What do you feel you’re lacking by the builder not being there? Most problems on site can be solved by communicating better, so it might be time for a good, honest chat about how you feel.

Q: I’ve asked a bricklayer for a quote and it seems much higher than I imagined. How do I know if I’m being ripped off?

A: Bricklayers are very much in demand at the moment, and, as a result, are able to charge good day rates. Typically these are in the range of £200 per day, but in some parts of the country, we’ve heard of bricklayers commanding up to £500 per day. Is that a rip-off? It depends on what you consider to be reasonable. And let’s not get into a debate about whether a bricklayer is ripping you off at £200 per day when a lawyer might charge you double that for work a lot less tangible.

What’s more interesting to consider is the rate. Most bricklayers can lay somewhere between 250-500 bricks per day (at the top end of the scale with a labourer, at the bottom end if they’re on their own), so a gang of two bricklayers and team of labourers charging say, £450 per day, would be delivering around 1,000 bricks for that price. You should be able to work out a rough cost because it takes 60 bricks to cover one square metre of facing wall.

Q: How do I know if my old walls are good enough to build off?

A: Safe, sturdy walls that can support their own weight as well as manage the loads of floors and roofs above need to be built off strong foundations. The general rule of thumb these days is that

DID YOU KNOW? If you’re unsure about a tradesperson you’re working with, you’re entitled to ask them for their qualifications, public liability insurance and whether they’re VAT registered, as well as requesting the names of some of their local customers for references.

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FOR MORE PROJECT ADVICE, VISIT REALHOMES.COM/ADVICE

foundations should be one metre deep or more, depending on the conditions – if it’s a clay or sandy soil it will need to be deeper. A structural engineer or building control inspector will advise.

If you’re working with an old house, you probably won’t know how deep the foundations are. The only way is to dig a trial hole, trying to establish how far underground the footings run. In most cases, homes built before the 1980s will have shallower foundations than modern building inspectors require.

In many ways, the requirement for rebuilding these foundations depends on what you need the wall for – will it be needed to support a new extra level?

If you’re intending to build a second storey on top of an existing single-storey structure, then the loading will be significant and you’ll most likely have to add extra support into the existing foundation. This usually involves further digging, a concrete pour and possibly the addition of steel rebars – a job for a professional builder, with advice from building control or a structural engineer. One way to reduce the loading is to build a timber frame upper storey, which tends to be slightly lighter in weight.

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Q: Do I really need to install triple glazing?

A: Triple glazing originated with the European window suppliers as a way to deliver lower levels of heat loss.

With our walls accommodating increasingly bigger windows, the battle to keep homes warm has moved from the wall itself, which is now packed with insulation, to making sure the windows and doors don’t let the side down. Triple glazing, which allows two air-gaps between panes to ensure around half of the heat loss of a doubleglazed unit, is now seen as essential in helping homeowners to achieve incredibly high levels of energy efficiency. Added benefits include far superior acoustic performance – which is a good thing on busy roads.

If those areas don’t immediately sound important to you, then you don’t necessarily need triple glazing. Highperforming double-glazed systems will still pass building control and deliver warmth way in excess of the leaky, cold windows they are probably replacing.

If, however, you want to be completely undisturbed by outside noise and enjoy a toasty home, triple glazing could well be the perfect upgrade. And the extra unit might not be as much as you think, not least because some Europeanbased manufacturers now build triple-glazed systems as standard.

It’s also worth considering orientation. Triple glazing is particularly effective in battling off the cold on north- and east-facing elevations, while on south- and westfacing façades, the third pane acts to reduce the solar gain. That can be a boon in blistering summers like this year’s, but it’s a matter of choice.

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TOASTY HOME When it’s cold outside, stay warm indoors by updating your home with new contemporary radiators f there’s one thing we can’t live without as the chilly days are setting in, it’s our heating, and now’s the time to get yours sorted.

Gone are the days of hiding our radiators behind the sofa or a radiator cover – with new modern styles and colourful designs, our radiators are becoming as much a part of our décor as any other piece of furniture. Finding the perfect radiator to fit your space means it will not only look great, but also that your home will be heated as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Designer Radiators Direct offers high-quality radiators, using the latest materials and manufacturing techniques. No matter what size you need, or design, colour and finish you want, it offers a bespoke service so you can get the exact look you have in mind.

Whether you want a bold colour to

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make a real statement, or a simple white design to blend it in with your scheme, Design Radiators Direct has got it covered.

With an array of bespoke radiators, towel rails and stylish accessories to choose from, all perfectly finished with meticulous attention to detail, this one-stop-shop for all your homeRight The vintage/industrial look of this radiator works well in a contemporary scheme. Pick the right one to warm your home and it can become an integral part of a room’s décor

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heating needs is a simple solution.

Plus, your radiators will be delivered to your door and come with a warranty, so updating your heating is easier than you’d think.

To explore the full range, call 01257 442911, email enquiries@ designerradiatorsdirect.co.uk, or go to designerradiatorsdirect.co.uk.

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Radiators From bright and colourful to savvy space savers, turn your heat source into a focal point with the latest designs 1

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5 Contour radiator, £285, Frontline Bathrooms 6. Cornel two-column radiator painted in Heather Violet, £315.60, Supplies 4 Heat 7 Ribbon 460mm radiator painted in Juniper Ash by Little Greene, £560.40, Castrads

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

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1 Amie radiator, £299.99, Soak.com 2 Bampton traditional radiator, £479.95, Victorian Plumbing 3 Ximax Fortuna Mirror duplex vertical radiator in Anthracite, £548, B&Q 4 Ancona bench, from £1,322.40, The Radiator Company

FOR MORE INSPIRATION, VISIT REALHOMES.COM/HEATING

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Boiling point Move over slow-coach kettles, hot water taps have the speed we need for an instant cuppa 2

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FOR MORE INSPIRATION, VISIT REALHOMES.COM/KITCHENS

1 Vapos steaming water tap, £1,006, Caple 2 Flex boiling water tap in polished chrome, from £1,150, Quooker 3 L-shaped three-in-one steaming hot water tap in Satin Black, £999, InSinkErator 4 1970 Perrin & Rowe Celeste three-in-one hot sink mixer, £842, Just Perrin

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5 Abode Protex three-in-one monobloc brushed nickel tap, from £679, Benchmarx Kitchens 6 Omni contemporary four-in-one tap in copper finish, £1,600, Franke 7 Ready Hot one-way boiling water tap with digital boiler, £514, Victoria Plum

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

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A GUIDE TO

Woodburning stoves With winter on the way, stock up on logs and warm up your home with our pick of the best woodburners on the market 3 OF THE BEST TRADITIONAL STOVES

TIMELESS APPEAL We don’t know about you, but with autumn in full swing we’re dreaming of curling up in front of an open fire with a blanket and some bed socks. Make that dream a reality with a traditional woodburner.

Redesigned from Charnwood’s classic twin-door model, this one has all the charm of a traditional cast-iron stove but looks perfect placed in an industrial setting. Island 5kW stove, from £1,495

BEST FOR LIGHT SCHEMES ACR’s Oakdale 5kW multi-fuel stove comes in a variety of colours, but we love the simplicity of this buttermilk enamel version. From £1,330

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BEST FOR THE CLASSIC Thanks to the wide range of brands it stocks, Hunter Stoves is a go-to for all things traditional. Parkray Consort 9 9kW multi-fuel stove, £1,139

WORDS ELLEN FINCH

BEST FOR WIDE VIEW The Purevision Classic CPV5 multi-fuel stove (from 3.1kW) includes a larger window – perfect for a cosy set-up. From £1,599

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SUPER SMOOTH

3 OF THE BEST MODERN STOVES

Whether you’re into clean lines or unique shapes, a modern woodburning stove is the perfect way to bring warmth to a contemporary home.

Make a statement with a bright white woodburning stove like this i51 6kW model from Contura, which has a handy log store to the side. It’s a dramatic addition and the perfect talking point for guests. From £3,090 BEST FOR SIMPLICITY If you want a sleek woodburning stove that looks classic and doesn’t take up much space, look no further than the 5kW Bornholm from Varde. From £1,195

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BEST FOR A WALL FEATURE You can buy the Vogue Midi T 5kW woodburning stove as a freestanding model, but we love the effect of this wall-hung version from Stovax.

From £1,839

If you live in a smoke-control area, you can use wood, which is an unauthorised fuel, as long as your appliance is DEFRA exempt – which means it meets the low-emission requirements. Find out more at gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules.

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BEST FOR SUBTLETY Modern designs can be understated, too, as this super-chic CL5 Wide 5kW woodburner from Yeoman shows. From £1,279

3 OF THE BEST

CURVED LINES

ROUND STOVES

A new generation of cylindric woodburning stoves is transforming the way we use them in our spaces. Whether you want to show it off from all angles or need an architectural feature for an empty corner, curved woodburners are beautiful and practical. This 6643 5.9kW model from Morsø is making us long for those chilly winter days. From £1,990

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BEST FOR ULTRA-MODERN Lotus’s minimalist M2ST 6kW woodburning stove is distinctive thanks to its simple design and black steel finish. From £3,745

FOR MORE IDEAS, VISIT REALHOMES.COM/HEATING

BEST FOR GREAT VISUALS A roaring fire looks extra stunning in Dovre’s Bold 300 7kW woodburning stove, thanks to the super-large screen. From £2,385

To prevent overheating, follow Arada’s easy method for working out the required heat output in kilowatts for a room. Simply measure the space, then multiply its length, width and height (in metres) and divide it by 14, which will give you an average heating requirement in kW. 167

BEST FOR LUXURY Looking good from all angles, Focus Fireplaces’ Agorafocus 630 8-11kW woodburning stove has glass panels going right round it.

From £6,924

3 OF THE BEST

COLOUR PLAY

COLOURED STOVES

Are you ready to make your stove the centrepiece of your room? Nothing says statement like a daring pop of colour, so invest in a brightly hued woodburner to add instant impact to your space. This Farringdon woodburning stove in Spice from Arada is a good start – either go bold with a feature wall behind it or tone down with neutrals. From £1,245 for the small 4.9kW model BEST FOR VARIETY Chilli Penguin’s High and Mighty 5kW woodburning stove come in a choice of colours, so you’ll find a shade for your scheme. £1,769, Ludlow Stoves

BEST FOR SUBTLE HUES Not keen on bright and bold?

Clearview’s Pioneer 400 4kW multi-fuel stove, shown here in Welsh Slate Blue, is available in a range of subtle options. From £1,182

VISIT READYTOBURN. ORG TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE USING THE RIGHT FUEL

Woodburning stoves can only run on wood, whereas multi-fuel stoves can run on a range of fuels, such as wood, smokeless fuels or coal. The design of the stove will differ depending on what type of fuel you’ll be using. Check with your supplier for the best option.

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BEST FOR GOING BOLD Dare to be different with this striking Bonny woodburning stove in the colour Anice from Robeys.

From £2,805 plus VAT

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KEEPING COSY

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Stay warm in front of dancing flames and firelight with one of the latest stoves 6

1. Eye-catching and original, the ME from Nordpeis is a woodburning stove with a host of inspiring mounting and installation solutions. With its circular design, the ME can be put on a pedestal, box or bench, or even wall mounted – the ultimate in avant-garde style. Nordpeis ME, from £2,495, nordpeis.co.uk 2. The CL5 Wide from Yeoman offers the presence of a larger stove, while maintaining heating temperatures to suit most living spaces. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a bigger freestanding stove with minimal footprint or modest heat output, and is also available with the optional

multi-fuel kit to burn smokeless fuels. Yeoman CL5 Wide, from £1,279, yeomanstoves.co.uk 3. Timelessly styled, the Sheraton range from Stovax presents classic design with sophisticated, modern touches and state-ofthe-art combustion. There are two sizes available in both woodburning and multi-fuel options, both of which are Ecodesign Ready for the cleanest burn. Stovax Sheraton, from £1,095, stovax.com 4. With Nordic style and sleek black glass, this tall and stylish stove from Gazco makes the ultimate in contemporary gas

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stoves. With soaring flames mirrored on all sides of the firebox and the option for modular installations, including a wallmounted version, the Loft creates an impressive focal point – and can even be controlled from the comfort of your sofa. Gazco Loft, from £2,195, gazco.com 5. Varde’s latest stove, the Bornholm, features large side windows for a panoramic view of stunning flames. This woodburning stove ensures a high efficiency 5kW heat output, and also features a useful area for storing logs and accessories. Varde Bornholm, from £1,195, vardestoves.com

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6. Joining Dovre’s iconic Vintage stove range is the new Pure White enamel finish, giving you three colours to choose from, including Anthracite and Grey enamel, in this very on-trend retro aesthetic. Multiple sizes are also available. Dovre Vintage, from £1,845, dovre.co.uk 7. New to Lotus’ luxury range of stoves is the woodburning Jubilee 10. Featuring stunning contemporary styling, this stove offers three different door handle options, and 4kW of heat – perfect for a variety of homes. Lotus Jubilee 10, from £1,495, lotusfires.com

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AT HOME with... abigail ahern THE QUEEN OF THE DARK PALETTE, INTERIOR DESIGNER AND RETAILER ABIGAIL REVEALS HER HOME TRUTHS THE PERSON I’D MOST LIKE TO DESIGN FOR IS…

IF I WAS TO DESCRIBE MY HOME IN THREE WORDS IT WOULD WOU BE…

MORNING NING OR EVENING PERSON? PER

MY FAVOURITE SPACE IN MY HOME IS…

THE ONE THING I NEED IN MY HOME IS…

Abigail Ahern has launched a textured and tactile capsule collection of curtain and Roman blind fabrics with Hillarys. The range is heavily influenced by her darkly decadent, grit meets glam style. For more, go to hillarys.co.uk

MY BIGGEST INDULGENCE AT HOME IS…

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PHOTOGRAPH HILLARYS

THE THING THAT ANNOYS ME MOST IN MY HOUSE…

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