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EDITOR’S LETTER

ie Orme Photo Lizz

Welcome After such a wet winter, it’s so lovely to feel that spring is well and truly underway. The warmer, sunnier days are certainly making me want to pick up a paintbrush and give my home a freshenup for the season ahead. In this issue, we’ve got some fantastic suggestions for creating eye-catching effects on your walls using just a few simple paint techniques (p42). You’ll be amazed at just how quick and easy it is to totally transform your space in just a few hours. If you’re hankering after this season’s bold patterned wallcoverings and fabrics (take a look at the latest maximalist trend on page 22), but don’t know how to make them work in your own home, then fear not, we’re here to help. We know that mixing pattern can be a bit daunting, so on page 38 we explain how to combine scale, colour and print to give your rooms the ‘wow’ factor. Many of us struggle with rooms that are tight on space. Treat yourself or a loved one with our If that sounds like you, check out our feature on page fantastic subscriber offer. See page 94 48 to discover some clever solutions to make your for details. tiny kitchen work harder and smarter. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for ideas for your small en suite or cloakroom, then read our problem-solving suggestions on page 56. Whichever room you’re planning to tackle this month, don’t forget to send us a photo when you’ve finished!

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Editor-in-Chief Anna-Lisa De’Ath Features Editors Catriona Burns, Michelle Grady Staff Writers Catherine Smalley, Hannah Tribe, Sophie Demetriades Editorial Assistants Ella Rhys-Jones, Katie Dutton Designers Sally Bufton, Beth Charlton Lucas, Libby Parfitt, Emily Waite Digital Editor Rebecca Messina Digital Editorial Assistant Thea Jeffreys

Find fab buys for ever y room from all your favourit e online stores a nd high street s h ops

88 Recreate Amy Giles-Heard’s stylish look with these fun accessories

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Advertising: Group Advertising Manager Laura Jones Advertising Manager Heather Golden Business Development Manager Sophie North Brand Sales Executives Phil Wallington, Aileen Booth, James Beckett, Kayla Rose, Baylee SowterHalling Classified Sales Executive Sophie Roberts Ad Coordinator Bryony Grace Senior Ad Designers Andrew Hobson, Cee Pike Marketing & Production: Subscriptions Director Jacky Perales-Morris Direct Marketing Executive Emma Hunter Director of Licensing and Syndication Tim Hudson Syndication Manager Richard Bentley Production Director Sarah Powell Junior Production Co-Ordinator Georgia Tolley PR Manager Toby Hicks Publishing: Managing Director Marie Davies Promotions and Partnerships Manager Rosa Sherwood Group Managing Director Andy Marshall CEO Tom Bureau

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

Contents 32

102

Go for drama with artistic florals

Treat yourself to some coffeeflavoured bakes

114 Add a quirky touch to your vanity table

8 Brighten up for National Stationery Week

April at home 7

Pg 7

This month we love Our favourite things to buy, see and do

13 Household hints How to prepare your garden furniture for summer 17 Smarter shopper The latest consumer news and money-saving ideas

Decorating

Pg 21 22 Trend Alert: Maximalism Discover how to style this bold trend 38 Learn to pair patterns like a pro Follow our advice to mix up your prints with confidence 42 Give your walls the ‘wow’ factor Pick up some creative painting techniques

Makeovers

Pg 26 26 My passion for collecting has given the room character Zoe’s keen eye for retro finds gives her living room style 30 New dividing doors have given us two spaces we love Louise created a cosy living room with a simple fix 34 It’s Scandi-meets-industrial and so much more A blend of old and new makes Heidi’s living room her own

Kitchens & bathrooms Pg 47

54 A reworked layout gave us our dream space Laura’s new bathroom is the perfect place to relax 56 Great and small Design a bijoux bathroom that makes an impact

Reader homes

Pg 75 76 This renovation project was a lucky find Sophia’s home was a big project but she uncovered wonders

48 Savvy space-savers Minimise clutter and boost efficiency in tiny kitchens

82 I used interesting wallpapers and colours to link the rooms together Fenella’s historic home is an oasis of calm

52 Top ten bargain dishwashers Purse-friendly appliances to make your dishes sparkle

88 Second-hand finds make our home unique Amy’s vintage-filled house has charm and personality in spades

Plus! 12-PAGE T PULL-OU GUIDE

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

62 Create these stylish plant pots, plus discover more ways to craft with clay

64 26 Zoe’s collection of retro finds gives her room a quirky sense of style

Give a tired stool an oh-so-cute makeover

70 Food & entertaining Pg 97 Don’t miss out! 98 Fishing for compliments Dive into some healthy seafood recipes to enjoy this spring 102 Wake up and smell the coffee Discover new ways to enjoy the rich flavour of coffee

Home improvement Pg 107 108 All you need to know about building an extension We guide you through the process of adding space to your home

Gardening

Pg 115 116 In your garden this month Ideas for coastal gardens, plus seasonal jobs to do in your outdoor space

Your home improvement questions answered

12 Your letters We take a look at your news, views and photographs 94 Subscribe to Your Home Save 20% when you subscribe this month 120 Giveaways Our prizes include a spa break for two and bespoke storage 122 Shopping Guide Find out where to purchase everything in this issue

Plus, check out…

125 Coming next month Take a sneak peek at our May issue

66 Sew Simple Roll up your sleeves and use tie-dye to make a quilt

130 Eco news The latest buys to help you reduce waste

68 DIY masterclass This month learn how fit a shower riser rail with ease

Have you missed an issue? Call 0330 1358962 to order back copies

72 Craft stash must-haves All the latest crafty news and events

House goals The Ideal Home Show has returned to Olympia London for its 112th year with a spectacular display of show rooms, gardens and a complete ‘Future Living Home’. Responsible living is the focus of the show this year and specialist talks on sustainability, upcycling demos and an example of micro-living in the Future Living Home will inspire visitors to take steps towards creating an eco-friendly living space. For the first time ever, ITV is supporting the show and iconic programmes such as I’m a Celeb and Love Island will be brought to life with a replica Jungle Garden and Love Island Garden featuring the famous fire pit! Guests will also get the chance to meet famous TV faces and experts in gardening, food, drink, fashion and lifestyle.

THIS MONTH

FOR STOCKISTS, SEE P122

Tickets for the show are £14 each if booked in advance via idealhomeshow.co.uk. Running until 13th April, Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, London, W14 8UX.

we love…

Get a spring in your step this April with the latest things to see, buy and do

Hidden Gem:

Montes & Clark, Tisbury

Visit the shop at London House, Tisbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6HA or online at montesandclark.co.uk

PROBLEM SOLVED Kate Watson-Smyth has written on the topic of interiors for over 20 years and been a successful designer for more than 10. In her new book, Mad About The House, she solves 101 design dilemmas. Not sure what you want your home style to be? Don’t know which colour scheme to go for? Can’t face the faff of flooring? The length and breadth of your new home will be touched upon by Kate. In the read she also includes a handy checklist at the end of each chapter so you can make sure all bases are covered. Kate shares her wisdom for renters and first-time buyers too, making this a book you can turn to no matter what stage of the property ladder you’re on. Mad About The House 101 Interior Design Answers by Kate Watson-Smyth is out now from Pavilion for £20.

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

Feature Katie Dutton

Set up in 2015 by Lucy Montes de Oca and Kate Clark in the Wiltshire town of Tisbury, Montes & Clark is an interiors company that curates crafted colour for the home. In 2018, the pair joined forces with Emily Pinset and set up a larger shop in the town. Their primary focus is to work with craftspeople and communities – particularly from Mexico – to bring bright, beautiful, unusual pieces of textiles, ceramics and glassware to their customers. Colour is at the heart of everything they source, and they aim to bring a contemporary yet timeless feel to the pieces you see in their store and online.

THIS MONTH WE LOVE

GREAT IDEAS FOR… National Stationery Week 20th-26th April Now’s the time to declutter your desk and get organised!

Branch out Pencil tree, £38, Conran Shop

Raise a glass Emma Britton’s new Meadow decorative glassware range has been created to highlight the importance of biodiversity. Featuring delicate, intricate designs of British wildflowers, grasses and butterflies, Emma’s glasses would make a charming addition to an alfresco lunch or evening drinks in the garden with friends. Complement them with a bottle of bubbly and some nibbles! Prices start at £7 for a tumbler. Visit emmabritton.net to see the whole collection

TIME FOR TEA

For sticky situations Sticky notes set, £12, Wild + Wolf

Tou-can do it! Memo pads, £10 for a set of two, Emily Brooks

Party decorations have never looked so chic thanks to a new collaboration between luxe partyware brand Meri Meri and French artist Nathalie Lété. Nathalie has made a name for herself with her charming children’s illustrations, bursting with colourful florals and adorable creatures. This new collab is inspired by fairytale tea parties and includes paper cups and plates with foil edges, decorated with immaculately dressed cats and delicate butterflies. You’ll be wanting to save these for a special occasion! Once used, the paper plates and cups are biodegradable spendvs save so you can pop them into your compost.

Ulla dusciis doluptibus et untot

Flora cat plates, £5.75; cups, £5. Visit merimeri.co.uk for the full tea party range

IN THE MOOD FOR MODERNISM Cover your tracks Rainbow eraser, £2.95, Rex London

Pin up Medium yellow pegboard, £40, Block Design

Fans of retro prints and bright pops of colour will love Wilko’s spring/ summer Newstalgia line which is inspired by playful and inventive mid-century style. We love the practical, multi-purpose wire table with tray top and the geo cushion which will instantly liven up an old sofa. If your desk or bedside table needs a bit of cheering up too, the sunny mustard lamp should do the trick. Wire table with tray top, £12; geo shape woven cushion, £7; mustard lamp, £10, all Wilko

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

A-Z OF DECORATING from Anaglypta to Zoffany

IDEAS FOR SPRING OPEN TO THE TRADE AND PUBLIC SINCE 1904

Over 170 stores nationwide Visit brewers.co.uk to ямБnd your local store

GET IN TOUCH

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

Letter of th monthe

MAKEOVER MAGIC After searching for a bathroom cabinet that was a little bit different, I managed to find this one on eBay for £25. I painted it using an Annie Sloan paint and arranged my vintage bottles filled with bath oils and salts inside – they look so much better than the plastic ones. Needless to say, I absolutely love it, and hope you do too! Zuzana Finnerty, by email Your Home says Wow, your new bathroom cabinet is incredible, Zuzana! It looks so chic and professional, especially against the marble tiles.

Drinking delight I love your magazine and look forward to reading it to get ideas for my next project. I’ve always wanted to own a drinks cabinet but didn’t want to pay a lot of money for one. I saw a dark-wood storage unit in a local charity shop and thought it had potential – it was a bargain at only £10! Using leftover chalk paint, wallpaper, battery fairy lights and brass wire from a DIY shop, I’ve created exactly what I’ve always wanted. Mel Gell, by email Your Home says What an inventive way to create your own drinks cabinet, Mel! We love the paint colour you chose.

★ Zuzana’s letter has won her a bouquet of flowers from Blossoming Gifts. Send us your projects and photos and you could be next month’s winner!

Can’t beat it I upcycled this old, solid-wood coffee table for my son’s new flat. I used pictures from one of his old Beatles books and painted the legs with the last of some leftover emulsion paint. I then gave it 10 coats of varnish which was the only thing I needed to purchase for the project. Anne Halket, by email

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

Your Home says This is such a creative upcycle, Anne. We bet your son is chuffed to bits with his new table!

Tables have turned My husband wanted to give my 25-yearold pine dining table to charity, but I had a better idea. I went out and bought two tins of furniture paint in contrasting colours and set to work to transform it – everyone was amazed at the result! It cost £24 and probably saved me around £600 that I would have spent on a new one. Gwendoline Young, by email Your Home says It’s amazing what you can do with a lick of paint! Your transformed table looks really lovely – well done Gwendoline.

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

This month’s prizes are courtesy of Blossoming Gifts. The issue’s letter of the month will receive an Antique bouquet of flowers worth £44.99. Three runners-up will each receive a bouquet of flowers worth £19.99. Find out more about Blossoming Gifts and its products at www.blossominggifts.com.

Give you r garden furnitur e some T L C to help pro long its life for many su mmers t o come

Photo Getty Images

Favourite finds and top tips to prepare your home and garden for summer

How to… prepare your garden furniture for the summer With the warmer months fast approaching, it’s high time you prepared for the flood of summer gatherings and got your outdoor furniture in tip-top shape. Dust off the cobwebs and follow these simple steps…

Q&A How can I clean up cat urine? The smell of cat urine is pungent and can be difficult to get rid of. To neutralise the scent, which worsens over time, you can either try a natural, homemade solution or an enzyme-based option. The acidity of a one-part vinegar to one-part water solution can help to neutralise dried urine stains but, arguably, enzyme odour eliminators are more effective. You could try Simple Solution’s Extreme Pet Stain and Odour Remover, £7.99, which includes both pro-bacteria and enzymes to work on the toughest stains and odours. Available from Amazon.

Editor’s Choice Help save up to 100kg of plastic waste a year with Bower Collective’s unique ‘Reuse and Refill’, deliver-to-your-door cleaning products. With everything from All-Purpose Sanitiser Spray to Fragrance Free Washing Up Liquid available, you can completely overhaul your cleaning routine for the better. Simply purchase the glass dispensers, £5.95, and empty the refill sachets into them before returning the sachets to Bower Collective to be reused.

Refills, from £2.45, visit www. bowercollective.com to see the full collection

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

First things first, prepare the area where you want to put your furniture. Brush away any debris and consider using a jet spray for a deeper clean. Then, give your garden furniture a good clean, whether it’s wood, plastic or metal. Use soapy water or a specialist PVC cleaner for plastic furniture and remove any mildew build-up with a mould-removing spray. After months spent hidden away in your garden shed, there’s likely to be some marks or dirt to brush off your furniture, but there could be deeper damage too. Check hinges to make sure they’re still working smoothly, and inspect the legs of tables and chairs to ensure they’re fully secure. If there’s some stiffness, a squirt of WD40 is good for lubricating the hinges. You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘prevention’s better than cure’, so why not apply this to the care of your garden furniture? Protect wooden furniture with oils, varnishes or stains before placing it outside for the summer. Rust-prone metal furniture should be kept in dry conditions as much as possible and paste wax can be applied to help protect it from the elements. Adding a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your outdoor furniture. Whether you want to keep it classic with a simple, natural shade or go to town with bright colours, there are plenty of options out there. We love the way pastel-coloured outdoor furniture can help create a playful and vibrant garden, so why not try a pretty lilac or sunshine yellow?

Getting yourself some good-quality, striking tableware is the way to go when it comes to serving up an impressive outdoor feast

What to look out for

THIS MONTH

Small blue bubble glass oval platter, £9, Gisela Graham

Great Buy Do you have loads of long-forgotten ingredients hidden in the back of your cupboards? If so, you can bring them back to the front with OXO’s Good Grips Turntable, which gives you easy access to all your essentials with just a simple spin. Ideal for storing herbs and spices, or for dressings and oils. The 11-inch turntable comes with non-slip feet and a ledge around its edge to keep everything stable. OXO Good Grips Turntable, £15, Amazon.

What better way to drink wine than out of these charming, decorative glasses? Floral wine glasses, £8.50 each, Emma Britton

Pesky flies are the last thing you want buzzing around your food. Protect your spread with this cover – it’s both practical and pretty! Lavender food cover 30cm, £10.50, Gisela Graham With its boho vibes, this carafe is the avantgarde way to serve cold drinks on a warm spring afternoon

These pretty plates will entice all your dinner guests to the table and are perfect for sharing dishes Discovery side plate, £2, Wilko

Portmore carafe in ink, £22, Garden Trading

WE TEST… Paint strippers We put paint removers through their paces. Here’s what we found… PAINT PANTHER PAINT & VARNISH REMOVER, £16.99 FOR 1L, BARRETTINE With a nice, thick viscosity this stripper was easy to apply with a paintbrush and didn’t drip. We left it on for an hour and the paint started bubbling up really quickly. It was easy to then scrape off the old paint and clean up the surface with sandpaper 10/10 afterwards. It removed the old paint really effectively and we were very impressed with the results.

DIALL PAINT & VARNISH REMOVER, £7 FOR 1L, B&Q This benzyl alcohol stripper was simple to apply and clung well to the paintwork. We applied the first coat with a paintbrush and left it on for an hour, then applied a second coat. Once the paint had bubbled up, which took a few more hours, we scraped it off, then rubbed the surface down with sandpaper. The results were good with Diall’s remover, but it took a while to work.

8/10

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

THINGS WE CONSIDERED ● How easy was it to use? ● How long did it take to work? ● How effective was it?

ALL PURPOSE PAINT & VARNISH STRIPPER, £3.50 FOR 500ML, WILKO This product had a fairly thick texture, which made it easy to apply with a paintbrush. We applied one coat, left it for an hour, then applied a second coat. Once it had penetrated the substrate, we scraped off the old paint, then rubbed 8/10 the surface down with a steel brush and water. The second coat was definitely needed, but we were pleased with the results.

NO NONSENSE PAINT & VARNISH STRIPPER, £4.99 FOR 500ML, SCREWFIX Thanks to its thick consistency, this non-methylene chloride stripper went on easily with a paintbrush. We left the first coat on for an hour, then applied a second coat. Once the paint had blistered, we scraped it off, then rubbed the surface down with wire wool 8/10 and water. This worked best after the second coat, but it did remove all the paint eventually.

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© 2019 DURACELL, Bethel, CT 06801. Duracell is a registered trademark of. Duracell Batteries BVBA and Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc., used under license. All rights reserved. *Based on 16 panel Evo Life 4.0kw system with Solar storage, south facing with a 35° pitch, located in the midlands, with a KK of 935 and an electricity bill of £60.00 per month with a 16.45 pence per KW hour cost per electricity unit from the grid. Please note you do have to pay for your solar system. The sources for the ﬁgures used is The Oﬀice For National Statistics. Figures are based over a 30 year period.

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THE LATEST CONSUMER NEWS

Savvy ways to…

Pay less for furniture Renovating the kitchen and bathroom can increase the average property value by 10 per cent. Source Tap Warehouse

SMART SAVINGS Ditch the gas guzzler and switch to a lowemission car to save up to £145 a year on tax. This is based on a vehicle registered between March 2001 and March 2017, with CO2 emissions of 131-140g/km. For a taxexempt set of wheels, check out the VW Up 1.0 BlueMotion Technology for city slickers or the Skoda Octavia GreenLine Estate for families. With the money saved, you can enjoy an exhilarating three-hour drive in an electric Tesla supercar with Buyagift.

Whether you’ve just moved house, or you’re looking to revamp your living space, buying furniture can come at a considerable cost. But it needn’t be that way... Q There is a plethora of websites enabling people to sell or give away furniture, so this should be your first port of call. Try The Freecycle Network and Freegle for – you guessed it – free stuff, and Gumtree, eBay and the newly-popular Facebook Marketplace for both free and paid-for items. Warning: it can become an addictive hobby! Q Check out charity shops that sell secondhand furniture. Not only are you helping the environment by saving these items from landfill, your money is also going to a good cause. Sue Ryder, The British Red Cross and Emmaus are national charities that sell furniture, but look out for local organisations too.

Q Many furniture stores have a clearance area at the back of the building. Seek it out! This is where any damaged stock is offered at a discounted price. Carefully inspect the furniture for signs of serious damage – often what you find is just a superficial scratch, stain or sign of wear that can be fixed with some TLC. Q Put the word out and let family and friends know what you’re looking for – you never know who might be downsizing or having a clear out. Social media sites can be useful for shout-outs if you’re too shy to say in person. Remember, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure! Q Try to be patient and wait until furniture stores are running sales when you can make considerable savings. Also, it’s worth bearing in mind that the sales team will often be working towards end-of-the-month or quarterly targets, so this is a good time to negotiate prices.

YH Fab find

tech news

If you love taking a hot shower but would like to save on your water bills, then consider investing in this shower head. The Mode Airmix is priced at £59.99 and promises to reduce water usage by up to 30 per cent. By adding air into the water flow, the droplets burst on impact, ensuring you can still enjoy an invigorating shower experience!

IKEA is now offering kits that allow you to operate and change the brightness, tone and colour of lightbulbs via a remote control or smartphone. The Trådfri kit, priced at £65, includes two energyefficient LED light bulbs, a remote control and a ‘Gateway’, which is added to your home Wi-Fi router. Visit www.ikea.com and search for ‘smart lighting.’

Feature Catherine Smalley

FACT FILE

Mode Airmix shower head, £59.99, Victoria Plum

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

THE LATEST CONSUMER NEWS

The latest smart ways to pay are easier and quicker, but are they safe too? We find out...

SMART PHONE APPS Discover the ways you can use your trusty mobile to make card payments z Mobile phones use near-field communication (NFC) to transmit data, based on the same technology found in contactless cards. z To spend using your phone, you’ll need to store payment information in what’s known as a mobile wallet. z Apple Pay is the payment app that's compatible with all Apple devices.

ontactless technology has made paying Keep any contactless devices and cards protected to for items so much avoid paying for something simpler and speedier by accident and always keep without the need for your phone charged, as phone payments PIN numbers and won’t work on a cash. But whether flat battery. you’re using a debit card or a smartphone app, it’s worth taking these tips into account How can I protect my phone to stop to ensure your money stays safe.

safety first

Feature Hayley Gilbert Image Getty Images

CONTACTLESS CARDS

others using it to make payments if it’s lost or stolen? Ava Williams, Truro Keep your phone password protected with a PIN that locks it when not in use and change it regularly. If you do lose your phone, let your bank or card provider know immediately.

Contactless payments were introduced in 2007, and now one in three card payments are made this way n Contactless debit or credit cards have a chip inside them that emits radio waves. An antenna is built into the plastic to secure the connection with a contactless reader. It’s known as radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

PROS AND CONS

n Payments are made by waving or tapping your card over a reader, which then accepts the payment.

There are advantages and disadvantages to using contactless payments z It’s convenient, quick and safe.

n The reader tells you if the payment was successful. Sometimes it will randomly ask for your PIN instead, just as an extra security measure.

z There are extra security measures in place such as limiting the number of transactions you can make before entering your PIN.

n You can use it in shops, restaurants, cinemas, cafés, bars and even some vending machines. Plus, you can use contactless on London’s public transport network.

z Most card providers also have a limit on the size of transactions at any one time, usually £30. z If you go over that amount then you'll need to use your PIN. You also can’t use contactless if you want cash back.

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

z For Android phones, you can use Google Pay and Samsung Pay, among others. z PayPal One Touch is a virtual wallet app that works on Apple and Android devices. z You can also pay contactless with compatible fitness trackers, smart watches, wristbands and key fobs.

CAN I BE CHARGED TWICE? You may have concerns about making a payment twice but don't worry n Even if you’ve accidentally waved or tapped your card or phone over the reader, it will only charge you once per transaction. n Sometimes if the reception is bad,

payment may be unsuccessful but the reader will say so and you will need to tap your card again. n A receipt isn’t automatically issued but

the retailer should ask if you want one so you can always keep them in case of a mistake, though that is unlikely.

useful contacts Learn more about Apple Pay at ww w.apple.com Android users can sign up for virtual wallets at ww w.pay.google.com and ww w.samsung.com Visit ww w.paypal.com to sign up for PayPal contactless. There’s more information on contactless cards at ww w.moneyadviceservice.o rg.uk

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20 YEAR

WE LOVE SPRING It’s time to come out of hibernation! With our tips for a colourful gallery wall, spring will move into your home.

www.posterlounge.co.uk

X Dare to choose colour Do you want to bring a fresh spring look to your walls? 2020’s on-trend colours, including strong shades of blue, yellow and mint, are exactly what you’re looking for. Blue accents? Of course, the Pantone colour of the year ‘Classic Blue’ is suitable for every season and can be combined

the magic of spring than ﬂowers, leaves and the reawakening animal world?

very eﬀectively. Delicate pastel tones will add the ﬁnishing touch to your high-contrast gallery wall.

wonderful next to prints on canvas, wood, aluminium or acrylic glass.

Y Let nature in When plants of all kinds sprout outside and songbirds herald the new season, natural designs – be they lush or minimalist – shouldn’t be missing from your home. After all, what better represents

Z It’s in the balance A mix of portrait and landscape formats in diﬀerent sizes and on diﬀerent materials ensures an exciting result: premium posters with wooden frames will look

Posterlounge oﬀers you a huge selection of images from classic to modern, so you are guaranteed to ﬁnd the right wall prints to design your very own gallery wall.

Decorating Get the low-down on this month’s trend updates and style advice

Mini trend: A fine line Keep it simple and add a touch of pared-back elegance with wire-framed accessories. Counteract any of the industrial coldness you might associate with metal by choosing items that boast smooth curves and warm wood alongside crisp lines and defined angles. Wire shelving is a great choice for showing off your display items, as the shelving will recede into the background and Miriam allow your treasured possessions brass mirror, £25, Habitat to be the stars of the show.

Easy-fit pendant, £39.99, Very

Wire wall shelf with hooks, £60, Rockett St George

Feature Hannah Tribe

Desk shadow box, £16; ochre ceramic vase, £7; mini vases, £8 for a set of three, Next

Domestic bliss We love a positive slogan to get us going in the morning or to perk us up during an afternoon slump. The Sunny Sentiments collection from Murals Wallpaper combines those magic words with on-trend designs that will cover your walls with cheer. Collection designer Lauren Kavanagh chose to avoid motivational slogans commonly used to provoke productivity and instead chose phrases that gently encourage selfacceptance and joyful feelings.

BED OF ROSES

Tamsin pink bedding range, from £10, Dunelm

Wrap yourself in luxury with the new Holly Willoughby bedding collection from Dunelm. Made from 180-thread count cotton percale, the duvet sets and matching pillowcases are as soft as the delicate tones they’re decorated with. Each of the hand-drawn and hand-painted floral designs has a co-ordinating reverse so you can opt for full-on blowsy glamour or ditsy sprigs depending on your mood. Holly describes the bedding as ‘homely, elegant and beautiful’, and we’re inclined to agree!

Magical mural, £37 per sq m, Murals Wallpaper

CHECK OUT OUR NEW DECORATING PAGES AT WWW.YOURHOMEMAGAZINE.CO.UK www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

STYLE FILE

Navy vintage shade, £80, Debenhams

TREND ALERT…

Maximalism More is definitely more when it comes to this year’s biggest and boldest trend

f you’ve had enough of Scandi-style minimalism, this trend is the perfect excuse to unleash your pent-up creativity. Maximalism is an unapologetically fun style that floods the senses. Different patterns, textures and design ideas are layered on top of one another to create an eclectic look that never stops giving. Trying to create such a bold scheme can feel a little daunting. Begin by thinking about your walls – a scene-stealing wallpaper or mural will completely change the feeling of a room and richly toned paint will help to frame statement items. Choosing furniture from a single period or made from the same material can help to link the look together. A fail-safe way to arrange objects you want to display is to create small groups of three or five. Place the largest, or smallest, item in the middle and play with the positioning of the other objects until it feels right. Rearranging and adding to these groups will give your room an instant refresh. The trick to maximalism is to say ‘yes’ to the objects and colours you really love and not worry about whether they match your scheme. If you stay true to your own sense of taste, everything will have a unifying theme that reflects your personality.

Peacock floor lamp, £130, Next

Wicker photo frame, £5, Primark

Pip Studio Blushing Birds pastry plate, £9; cappuccino cup, £14; yellow bowl, £12, all Daisy Park

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

Don’t be afraid of pattern clashing. Layer up prints in similar tones for a richly textured effect Cupcake footstool, £65; Wilderness dressing table, £130; Glam velvet bed, £320; Vintage Jungle double bedding set, £21; Wilderness ring pendant light, £30, Argos Home

Display posters from favourite events or holidays to create a gallery wall that’s chock-full of personality and style Refine large sofa in Harriet Mustard, £1,599; Seoni cushion, £25; Rio velvet cushion in green/multi, £50; Corner Stripe cushion in hibiscus/green, £40; Pedestal marble side table, £199; Matisse ‘Les Lithographies de L’Atelier Mourlot’ print, £350; Ibride Isild oval tray, £65; Matisse ‘Eaux Fortes’ print, £175; Picasso ‘The Rainbow Dove’ print, £350; Han Harthung – Atelier Mourlot Musee National d’Art Moderne de Paris print, £400; Ibride Achille Oval Tray, £65; Inky Blue I framed print and mount, £25, all John Lewis & Partners

Make a big impact with a floral mural Imperial flora wallpaper, £175 for three rolls, Mind The Gap

Playful animals add a fresh twist to timeless botanical prints

Feature Hannah Tribe

Azalea cushion, £29.50; Farra tropical leaf cushion, £17.50; Fax Mohair throw in ochre, £25, all M&S Home

Clockwise from top: Moduleo Mountain Oak vinyl flooring, £29.69 per sq m, Best4Flooring; Lake red paint, £47.95 for 2.5l, Farrow & Ball; Clarke & Clarke Tessellati fabric in Midnight, £48.51 per sq m, Graham Sanderson; Zephora fabric in red, £50 per m, John Lewis & Partners

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

STYLE FILE

Layer up textures for a scheme that‘s as inviting to touch as it is to look at Wilderie fabric collection, from £45 per m, Clarke & Clarke

Spend vs save These parrot accessories are going for a song

Cockatoo on perch, £52, Graham & Green

Parrot on stand, £8, Dunelm

Use splashes of your favourite colour around the room to tie a busy scheme together

Summer Jungle bedding set, £39.50, M&S

Blue Palmhouse cushion, £50, Debenhams

Clockwise from top left: Small leaf paintable wallpaper, £7.99, Wallpaper it; Amber agate wall mural, £39.99, Homebase; Animalia embroidered jacquard curtain fabric, £48, Laura Ashley; Marine Splash paint, £25.56 for 2.5l, Dulux; Luna shimmer cherry rug, £79.99, Carpetright; Verdigris green paint, £47.95 for 2.5l, Farrow & Ball

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

Chevron Sienna patterned rug, from £199; Scalloped Oyster velvet chair in blush pink, £375; Gold Luxe round drinks trolley, £228; Bronze Embossed planter on stand, £88, all Audenza

STYLE FILE

SHINE A LIGHT Nothing says glorious excess like an opulent candelabra Gold candelabra, £28, Finns of Chelsea

Floor-standing candle holder, £17.99, The Range

Wooden candle holder, £19.99, Zara Home

Amira candelabra, £44, Anthropologie

If bold colours aren’t your style, pastels are just as effective

Parrot candelabra in gold, £60, Olivia’s

Joe Browns collection wallpapers, from £40 per roll, JD Williams

Yellow flocked candelabra, £49, Audenza

Green birds and flowers candelabra, £44.95, Vibrant Home Derwala candelabra, £19.95, Nkuku Cream LED lightup blossom tree, £99, British Heart Foundation Blue Monkey and Palm Tree candle holder, £29.99, TK Maxx

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

My passion for collecting has given this room character A mix of colourful retro glassware, unusual artwork, bright textiles and vintage crockery has given Zoe Vannozziâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s living room personality and style The previously uncoordinated sitting room has been given a cohesive look with rich colours, thoughtful lighting and plenty of texture on a neutral base

total cost ÂŁ2,521 26

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

Good idea !

A dramatic cin provides plent ema-style floor lamp yo being a talkfinlight, as well as g point

STEP ONE

Before

Feature Stephanie Smith Photos Colin Poole

aking on a four-bedroom 1970s house which needed updating in Hampton, south-west London, five years ago, Zoe Vannozzi and her husband Tom left the living room until last. Although ample in size, there were several aspects they needed to tackle to make the room their own. ‘We were attracted to the house because of the size of the rooms and the space and light. We lived in Australia for years and we couldn’t bear the thought of small, cramped rooms.’ The large sitting room had space for a seating and dining area, but was a mismatch of styles and heavy dark furniture and shelving. ‘An elderly couple lived here and the man was keen on DIY, but there were some quite dramatic details, such as the cracked marble tiles around the fireplace, which weren’t us.’ Zoe, a recruitment consultant, and Tom, a research director, wanted to create a space their sons, Leo, nine, and Zac, seven, would also enjoy. ‘We focused on the other rooms as we needed to get them up to scratch quickly, but the sitting room was left as a bit of a mess.’

The first move forward was for the couple to sit down and decide what they would be keeping. Not long after they moved, they’d bought two new grey sofas from DFS, and a retro Nathan Circles sideboard from eBay, as well as a new table and chairs from Made.com, and they’d also shipped their Noguchi coffee table over from Australia. ‘All of these were in good condition, and there was no way we were going to buy new ones for the sake of it. Plus we had a strict budget, so they all stayed. It was more of a question of how we could bring the whole room together and give it some personality,’ says Zoe.

Plain grey sofas have been livened up with mismatched statement cushions in subtle shades of the rich tones that Zoe has dotted throughout the room Tracking down an online company that sold authentic tea and coffee sets from the 1960s and 70s was a major find for Zoe

STEP TWO The inspiration for the scheme came from the large Aboriginal painting the couple had brought with them when they returned from Australia. ‘It had been carefully stored ever since we got back, but we were desperate to use it and it didn’t fit anywhere else in the house as it’s so big.’ The rich autumnal colours also tied in well with Zoe’s vintage wood, and they identified the right place for it, above the sideboard. Before they hung it, they painted over the grubby white on the walls with a neutral mushroom base, which would show off the painting and the wood.

STEP THREE Having identified yellow, orange and red as three of the colours she wanted around the

room, Zoe’s next task was finding the right curtains. ‘I managed to find some with a bit of pattern in a sort of mustard colour, which is very mid-century. They match both ends.’ And with the floor just needing a polish to get it shining again, Zoe was keen to cosy things up with a large rug. ‘I found this lovely local woman called Fatima of East Unique who

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

A piece of Aboriginal artwork was the starting point for the scheme with its rich colours, and tonally it works well with the second-hand sideboard in a classic design. The retro-look dining table and chairs stand out in front of the mustard yellow 1950s-style curtains, and Zoe has also treated herself to a new Kartell chair in yellow for this room to tie it together

ROOM PLAN

THE DETAILS

was very knowledgeable and lead us to our lovely wool rug that makes such a difference.’ Lighting was next, and Zoe found a statement floor lamp and two new ceiling lights, as well as an animal print lampshade and base in her favoured red and orange. ‘Lighting can really change things within a room and you need to have plenty of options,’ she says.

STEP FOUR Feeling that the grey sofas now looked a bit bare, Zoe indulged in a shopping spree to pick up some statement cushions and throws.

‘I had a lot of success at Dunelm and found a variety of cushions that add little touches of colour, but are more about pattern and texture.’ Finally, it was Zoe’s chance to put out her beloved collection of retro glassware in bright colours. ‘I’ve been collecting it for years, everywhere from charity shops to car boot sales. I’ve only paid from £5 to £22 for a piece; I wouldn’t pay a fortune, and I really like the way a vase adds a pop of colour. Now the sitting room is finished, it’s the first place everyone makes for once they’re through the door and I love that.’

3 OF THE BEST... statement mirrors £69 from M&S Go moody and monochrome with this striking mirror in sleek black metal.

£95 £78

£95 from Audenza This mirror’s diamond shape and shiny gold finish will bring glamour to any setting.

£78 from Oliver Bonas Add a touch of on-trend rattan to your scheme with this unusual curved design.

£69

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

Rug

£900

Paint

£36

Lights

£623.75

Accessories

£374.99

Mirror

£145

Curtains

£230

Tiles

£39

Chair

£173

TOTAL

£2,521.74

shopping list Beni Ourain rug, £900, East Unique. Walls painted in Polished Pebble matt emulsion, £16 for 2.5l, Dulux. Metro tiles in Black, £20 per sq m, Topps Tiles. Chicago tripod floor lamp, £199, Made.com. Rock central light, £65; Hutton light (above the dining table), £250, both Habitat. Sunburst mirror, £145, Laura Ashley. Yellow Kartell chair, £173, Heal’s. Fox and cubs lampshade, £34.75; Linden lamp base, £75, both Lush Designs. Elements sunflower curtains, £65; Ashton satin silver curtain poles, £50 each; Tangier embellished ochre cushion, £30; Elements ochre embroidered arrow cushion, £30; Diamond grey felt cushion, £14; Elements Scrafitto vase, £16; Dorma decorative shell bowl, £20, all Dunelm. Flowered tea pot, £15, Yay Retro! On Air sign, £55, Violet & Thistle. Yellow throw, £50, John Lewis & Partners. Buttercup Beehive throw, £65, The British Blanket Company.

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LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

New dividing doors have given us two spaces we love Adding floor-to-ceiling metal doors has enabled Louise Steen to create a beautiful, cosy room out of what had become a corridor aving lived in their Edwardian semi-detached house in Wandsworth for 15 years, Louise and James Steen had to admit they’d never got the living room quite right. ‘One end of it at the front of the house was constantly in use, but the other end, which would have been a separate room when the house was built, was hardly ever used. It was ridiculous to waste the space and it was becoming a dumping ground.’ Louise, a celebrity journalist, and James, a food writer, were also conscious that their children, Billy, 18, and Daisy, 16, needed their own space downstairs. ‘Our eldest son, Charlie, 22, has left home, but comes back a lot and brings friends, and we just weren’t using the space properly. We’d had a kitchen-diner extension done the year before, so we put our thinking caps on as to how we could create two spaces without blocking out the light.’ The solution was to use glass doors to separate the space, so they consulted Giles Sequeira of Empire Builders, who’d added the extension.

to cut out noise but allow light through, so these were made bespoke to fit the space. The couple knew it would take a big chunk of their renovation budget but didn’t want the usual black, industrial-style doors. ‘I wanted to create a vintage vibe in the room and make it an adults-only space and leave the other room for the kids. I had several old bits of furniture which I was desperate to put in there, so grey metal doors were a much softer option for the vintage look.’

Rather than just plain cushions, Louise carefully researched ones with plenty of texture in fabric colours that tied in with her scheme in pinks, purples and greys, and has mixed these with other cushions featuring nature motifs

STEP ONE Giles suggested metal Crittall-style doors between the two rooms,

Before 30

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

Taking the opportunity to have a good clear-out, Louise and James have culled the shelves, and only put out books and photos that are really special to them, with plenty of storage below

With the second-hand leather sofa in place and looking good against the pale wall, Louise wanted something to put in the space above it, so decided to paint her daughter Daisy in her signature colours

LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER A room that was once unused and unloved is now full of colour and texture, with the addition of soft carpet, floral wallpaper and original artwork

! Good idrwhea elming

total cost £4,815 A little chair from when Louise was at primary school makes a great side table for a lamp in her favourite green. She picked up the light for £10 from a school fete – it’s said to have belonged to the comedian Jack Dee

STEP TWO With the new doors in place, the next item on the list was the fireplace, which they wanted to turn into a focal point in the room. ‘The horrible gas fire we had in there didn’t even work, and the fireplace was too contemporary and just didn’t fit with the age of the house. We mentioned it to the builder who, amazingly, had an Edwardian fireplace in a bit of a state that he’d taken out of a house and the owners no longer wanted.’ After some care and attention, the fireplace was cleaned and installed, with enough room to put in James’ dream – a wood-burning stove. ‘We’ve chosen a really compact one, which fits into the fireplace and belts out heat. We also decided to remove the television from here and just have it in the front room to make the living area a calm space.’

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

Feature Stephanie Smith Photos David Giles

With such an ove wallpaper, it’s a good idea tollyusemaitke sparingly on one wall to ream. a statement in a roo

Good ide a! Lilac li

n give the verensacurtains, made by Loui screening off tile option of completse, th el pulled backedfront room but can bey uring the day.

ROOM PLAN

STEP THREE The original wooden

STEP FOUR With all of the basics

flooring in the room was showing the strain, so the couple decided to up the comfort level and go for carpet. However, Louise was keen to choose some dramatic wallpaper first to go where the doors were before they agreed on the carpet. She found a Liberty wallpaper covered with flowers and foliage online. ‘It’s got all the colours I love in it, with greens, pinks and purples, so that set the overall palette.’ Having then picked out a rich purple carpet, Louise went for more delicate shades on the walls, woodwork and newly renovated fireplace. ‘The wallpaper’s like a piece of art in itself, and I’ve also put a favourite picture by my brother, Paul, an artist, over the fireplace.’

covered, Louise was finally able to bring in the vintage furniture she’d bought at auction. ‘I love a good auction – you can come across the most amazing bargains! The distressed leather sofa and the green velvet loveseat together cost less than the carpet.’ An Edwardian flame lamp that belonged to Louise’s mother also takes pride of place in one corner. ‘I like the idea of having pieces that mean something, rather than just buying new stuff all the time.’ With the fire lit and no television, Louise loves to relax in this harmonious living space with James. ‘For me, it’s gone from being the least-loved to the mostloved room in the house.’

3 OF THE BEST... floral accessories £45 from The French Bedroom Company Detailed tulips, carnations and roses pop against this cushion’s black background.

£45

£309 from Cuckooland Place this print velvet chair in front of a plain wall for maximum impact.

£108 from där lighting Brighten up a side table with a lamp base decorated in a burst of tropical blooms.

£309

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

£108

THE DETAILS DOORS

£1,500

STOVE

£1,420

CARPET

£479

MIRROR

£150

FURNITURE

£400

WALLPAPER

£180

PAINT

£170

CURTAINS

£245

RUG

£129

ACCESSORIES

£142

TOTAL

£4,815

shopping list Grey metal doors, £1,500, Empire Builders. Bell Twist carpet in Damson, £39.99 per sq m, Brintons. Riva 66 wood-burning stove, £1,420, Stovax. Kristina wallpaper in Cinema Room Green, £90 a roll, Liberty London. Vindum rug, £129, IKEA. Curtains in Harper Amethyst linen fabric from Sanderson, £79 per m, Style Library. Walls painted in Pink Ground estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5L; woodwork in Peignoir estate eggshell, £64 for 2.5L; fireplace in Dix Blue estate eggshell, £64 for 2.5L, all Farrow & Ball. Mauve cut velvet tree cushions, £18 each; blush velvet cushions, from £7 each, all Dunelm. Sofa, £200, Lots Road Auctions. Green loveseat, £200; mirror, £150, both Criterion Auctioneers. Glass vases, from £8 each, Amazon.

Swedish design with a green soul

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LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

We love the Scandimeets-industrial look Finding the right place for treasured family furniture and teaming it with brandnew accessories has given Heidi Stone the blended living room she craved A dated living room has been transformed into a light-filled, Scandi-themed space by using a grey and white base for the basics and adding in plenty of texture and hints of colour

total cost £3,074

P Before 34

ushing themselves to buy a bigger house for their growing family in Surrey, Heidi and Matt Stone were always desperate to start on the living room. ‘We moved from a three-bedroom semi on a main road to a four-bedroom Victorian semi in a much quieter spot around the corner in Addlestone five years ago with our son Max, now nine, knowing it needed plenty of work.’ Heidi, a teacher, was also pregnant with second son, Jackson, now four, and the next couple of years were a blur with a new baby and work. ‘Because we had upgraded, we had a limited budget, so had

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

to be careful about what we bought and what order we did things in. Matt, an electrician, is incredibly handy, and I’m not so bad myself, so we knew we could do a lot of the work ourselves after work and at weekends, plus Matt has lots of mates in the trades, so they can swap favours and keep costs down.’ The living area was way down the list of rooms to decorate, but at last came the turn of the space Heidi had been itching to get her hands on. ‘It was dingy and dated, and the previous owners had furniture which dominated the room. It all needed ripping out and starting again.’

LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

Good idtheroaug!hout the

The fireplace is the focal point of the living room, so Heidi has given the hearth a totally new look by retiling it in a style that fits in with the rest of the scheme using vintage-style tiles, which provide subtle colour and pattern

look Echo a distinctividei’s retro cinema-style room, as with HEhich matches the smaller floor lamp, w for a cohesive style. table lamp A second-hand sofa in fabulous condition freed up Heidi’s budget for accessories and she has splashed out on cushions and black frames to create a gallery wall

Feature Stephanie Smith Photos David Giles

STEP ONE After setting themselves a budget, Heidi and Matt agreed on a scheme they both liked. ‘I tend to deal more with the look of the rooms and Matt with the practical side, but he was happy for my plan to lighten everything up with a Scandi-meets-industrial vibe. I already had the mirror and the animal rug as an inspiration, and we painted the walls off-white as a start and went for a good-quality wool loop carpet in grey to make it feel nice and cosy.’ The curtains at the windows also had to go, and they invested in plain white Venetian blinds for an unfussy feel. STEP TWO With a bare, carpeted room, the couple started to consider heating and furniture. ‘We put in a new horizontal radiator under the window. As for the fireplace, I didn’t want a gas fire and a real fire wasn’t an option, so I started looking at wood-burning stoves,’ said Heidi. ‘When I saw one in grey, that was it, we ordered it on the spot.’ With the budget now creaking, Heidi looked at furniture on eBay. ‘We found a lovely sofa in grey that was only three months old and was barely used for £300 and invested in a lovely vintage leather chair as well for some contrast. It really is worth looking at second-hand as so much of it is in good condition, plus I love the idea of reusing things.’

The new wood-burning stove in grey is the focal point of the room, framed by the new fireplace, and Heidi has made a moveable coffee table by adding wheels to a vintage crate

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

Good idegeather!, such as

mentos to Gather special meoo , and mount them old medals or br chicesto show them off on neutral fabr g them in a before puttin e. matching fram

A vintage leather chair adds an instant industrial touch and Heidi has brought it up to date with colourful cushions with zingy touches of her favourite colours

ROOM PLAN

STEP THREE The fire surround was next on the list for change. ‘We needed a fireplace in keeping with the scheme to add a bit of drama and found one for £400, which, as we’d saved so much on the sofa, was affordable.’ Industrial lighting was also essential, and Heidi spotted an Old Hollywood-style cinema lamp she fell in love with, plus a matching table lamp version as well. ‘I didn’t have to worry about the central light. We’d had the main parts of it for ages, which we bought at an antiques fair, so Matt basically made it and fitted it, all for £30.’ STEP FOUR With her love of mixing old

An old family piece has been renovated and given pride of place in one corner to personalise the room

and new, Heidi had just the thing to put in the space to one side of the fireplace. ‘It’s a lovely old bureau that belonged to Matt’s grandad, Bill. We gave it a good polish, and it’s really useful.’ With all the major items in place, the last practical task was getting rid of the black hearth, which Matt retiled with vintage tiles before Heidi went to town on the accessories to bring in colour and interest. ‘I bought a load of cushions, and we framed all the prints we had hanging around and put them over the sofa, as well as on picture ledges. We can’t wait to get in here now.’

3 OF THE BEST... deer accessories £28.95 from Melody Maison Hang this copper stag’s head to add a quirky touch to a scheme.

£28.95

£50 from Artisanti Classic meets contemporary with this unusual antler clock in a polished silver finish.

£40

£40 from Sweetpea & Willow Create an eye-catching coffee table centrepiece with a bold bronze and glass candleholder.

£50

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

4.5M

THE DETAILS CARPET

£516

RADIATOR

£162

STOVE

£657

BLINDS

£300

FURNITURE

£535

FIREPLACE

£400

PAINT

£46

LIGHTS

£204

TILES ACCESSORIES

TOTAL

£81 £173

£3,074

shopping list Beachcomber Strand Reef carpet, £31.25 per sq m, Brockway. Walls painted in All White estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5l, Farrow & Ball. For similar stove, try Flavel Arundel multi-fuel stove, £499, Stoves Are Us. Carlton Camera floor lamp, £99; Carlton Camera table lamp, £65; grey knit throw, £25, all Dunelm. Colosseum horizontal radiator, £162, Ultra Finishing. Vintage-style tiles, £27 per sq m, Baked Tile Company. Fireplace, £400, Chesney’s. Blinds, £300, Blinds 2go. Sofa, £300; leather chair, £210; antlers, £45, all eBay. Bee cushion, £15, M&S. Union Jack cushion, £12; multicoloured cushion, £12.99, both TK Maxx. Flower cushion, £15, Sainsbury’s Home. Elephant cushion, £14.99, Squires Garden Centres. Picture ledges, £9 each, IKEA. Storage crate, £25, Kempton Park Market.

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Learn to pair

PATTERN LIKE A PRO Worried about making a pattern faux pas? Follow our advice to mix up your prints with confidence

on’t worry, we get it. Blending striking patterns and loud colours can be daunting, especially when getting it wrong can mean a costly mistake. But don’t let this deter you from conquering your fears, because our expert advice will help you master the art of mixing to style-up your space.

Llenya fabric by Harlequin, £45 per m, Style Library

Blend this blue patterned wallpaper with some horizontal-stripe cushions in a similar subtle hue to balance the scheme Up the Garden Path teal wallcovering, £56 per roll, Vanessa Arbuthnott

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

DECORATING IDEAS If you want to combine floral and geometric prints, then simply use the most dominant pattern as a colour guide; pick one or two shades from it and find other accessories which feature these tones

POWER-UP YOUR PRINTS Ruth Mottershead, marketing director at Little Greene, reveals the points you should consider when working with patterned wallpaper and curtains.

Habanera fabric by Harlequin, £45 per m, Style Library

z When selecting wallpaper, consider the size and height of the room – do you want to use a pattern to make the space seem wider, or give the impression of higher ceilings? z An eclectic mix of patterns can be really striking, but you need to make sure it doesn’t become overpowering. Think about the level of contrast in the colours of the different patterns; select subtly contrasting shades to create a coordinated scheme. z Look at the other elements in the room – the sofa, curtains, cushions and accessories – then decide on the scale of the wallpaper or curtain pattern you can introduce to enhance, rather than overwhelm, the other furnishings. z Check the amount of both natural and artificial light that comes into the room, as this will have an enormous impact on anything you add to the walls or windows. The light can cause a large-scale pattern to look subtle or it can make it ‘grow’ in stature. z Sampling swatches of wallpaper at home before committing to buying an entire roll is always recommended. Live with the samples in situ, viewing them for a few days alongside one another.

Have a set of curtains made professionally in this nature-inspired fabric, then blend it with other items in the same colour but a simple pattern so everything in the scheme harmonises together Leaf Dance fabric in Saffron and Charcoal, £54 per m, Vanessa Arbuthnott

z For large floral wallpaper patterns, keep the other elements within the room fairly simple if you want the focus to be on the design; combining pattern with paint is a great way to do this. Using bold colours picked from the wallpaper will also help to bring balance to the scheme. z Remember, it’s all a matter of personal taste! You can harmonise or clash deliberately; it all depends on the type of overall look you are hoping to achieve.

PATTERN RECIPE:

Wallpaper

GEOMETRIC

STRIPE

FLOR AL

A vertical stripe wallpaper can help to make the ceiling feel higher, whereas a horizontal one will elongate the room to create the illusion of more space. If you have lots of block-colour furnishings, then a neutral-toned striped wall is a great idea. For abstract stripe wallpaper, pair it with floral accessories to match the irregular pattern. For solid stripes, combine them with equally bold geometrics.

Ditsy-print wallpaper means you can get away with blending it with other similar or contrasting patterns. Small-scale florals tend to be quite delicate, so pair them with sophisticated stripe or simple geometric accessories. However, large floral wallpaper will draw the eye to it, making it the main focus of the room; it’s best to use solid colour elsewhere if you don’t want to distract from the wallpaper print. Scandiscape floral wallpaper,

Stripe wallpaper in Teal and Yellow, £11 per roll, Wilko

Feature Sophie Demetriades

A geometric print more often than not tends to err on the side of a contemporary design (unless you’re channelling 1920s Gatsby or retro vibes). So, in most cases a geometric wallpaper will match wonderfully with a graphic pattern or bold stripe. Modern geo ochre grey wallpaper, £10 per roll, Homebase

£10.99 per roll, Cult Furniture

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

DECORATING IDEAS COMBINE SCALE AND STYLE The experts from Atrafloor give you the low-down on how to blend patterns from the ground up. z Start by deciding on the scale you want the floor pattern to be: would you like small tiles with intricate details, or large ones that show off the design from a distance? Small tile patterns can complement a compact space really well, as they harmonise with the room’s size and don’t look dominating. Go along the lines of traditional square tile sizes, though, rather than tiny mosaic ones. z You can pair the likes of traditional azulejos tiles with a boho Berber rug, which works well due to the difference in the detailed tile patterns and the simple floor covering – this is a good way to ensure that neither one overpowers the other. Or you can do the opposite and match minimal tile patterns with one or two colours in elaborate mandala designs. z Don’t forget that you can mix up textures too. A marble floor tile goes particularly well with a malachite-patterned wall and will result in a luxurious look. z If you have tiled flooring with bright and bold or black and white accents, these can be easily matched with other statement patterns in the rest of the décor, giving you a modern, playful style.

PATTERN RECIPE:

Accessories This elegant, geometric design would work well alongside a delicate floral wallpaper in a soft blue colour scheme. Phulkari diamonds cushion square navy on linen, £39.50, Bombay Duck

A geometric lampshade will perfectly complement a striped wall and rug, or even a bright Orla Kiely-inspired wallpaper to achieve a retro look. Pole walnut-stained oak table lamp with patterned shade, £65, Habitat

This rug is easy to match with almost any print, whether it be a line-drawn botanical wallpaper or contemporary abstract design. Raya yellow cotton stripe flatweave rug, £15, Habitat

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

Grayson TV stand sideboard in Natural, £450 when sized for TVs up to 60in; Orla Kiely Flower Tile lampshade in Blue, from £45; Orla Kiely Pink Stem lampshade in Navy, from £45; Orla Kiely Linear Stem lined eyelet curtains in Silver, from £54; Orla Kiely Flower Tile rug, £549; glazed sand neck bud vase in blue, £10; Orla Kiely cup and saucer, £30 for a set of two, all John Lewis & Partners

Swoon Vinci cocktail chair in Grey, £499; Orla Kiely Juniper Stem eyelet curtains in Citrine, £118; Orla Kiely Flower Tile cushion in Deep Duck Egg, £32; Orla Kiely Flower Tile cushion in Olive, £32; Orla Kiely Acapulco cushion in Teal, £32; Wellington round rug in Teal, £180; Orla Kiely Tea for One set, £35; Grayson storage sideboard in Dark, £599; Baldwin floor lamp in Gloss Olive, £125; Inaluxe Keep It Simple Circles stretched canvas, £90; Inaluxe One Million Short Stories stretched canvas, £90, all John Lewis & Partners

Add interest with accessories z When you’re mixing and matching patterns, ensuring that there is balance in the space is paramount. If you have a large, bold pattern somewhere in the room and would like to incorporate more elsewhere, then you may want to bring in two small-scale solid or tone-ontone patterns with accessories. For example, if you have a couple of chairs in a bold print, then add some decorative cushions or throws in complementary colours near the opposite side of the room to balance out the space.

DECORATING IDEAS Just because the wallpaper has a bold retro print doesn’t mean the accessories can’t be equally as striking if you’d rather go for a less-than-subtle look. Pick out a similar colour and pattern style to the wall print and incorporate other items in a similar design, like a lampshade, to tie the room together Alma Ellipse oak wood mirror, 40 x 110cm, £230; abstract dark wood sculpture in Natural, £25; Orla Kiely Stem vase in Jade, £14; Orla Kiely Juniper Stem ceramic table lamp in Yellow, £75; Orla Kiely House for Harlequin Classic Stem wallpaper, £67, all John Lewis & Partners

z You can easily mix and match different prints with cushions, including floral, stripe and geometric, as long as the fabrics all have a similar colour scheme. z If you’re new to the world of mixing prints, then start by picking one shade and three or four different patterned accessories in that colour – you can’t go wrong with this simple strategy! If you want to keep the whole room scheme soft and paredback, then choosing a light base colour and accessories, such as delicate floral-print curtains and solid-colour cushions in a couple of tonal hues, is the way to go Madelyn linen duck egg curtains, from £35.35, Curtains 2go

This delicate, scenic wallpaper is very subtle, which makes it easy to mix and match bolder accessories in geometric prints within the room Hampstead Penumbra wallpaper, £75.50 per roll, Little Greene

TOP TIP ‘Large rugs are another great way to add pattern to your space. Don’t spend time trying to match the exact colours of the rug as this can lead to it looking artificial. If you’re redesigning the room or starting from scratch, then a great trick is to begin with a rug and pull the colour choices from there. A tribal-inspired one is an excellent place to start as it matches with almost everything. Rugs that have a lot of design and colour elements are ideal too as they aren’t locked into one style or shade, which means you can switch-up the room as frequently as you like.’ Vanessa Arbuthnott, textile designer

A patchwork-print rug paired with solid colours is a match made in heaven and an easy way to try print-mixing Louis De Poortere vintage patchwork yellow rug, from £146, Modish Living

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

DECORATING IDEAS

GIVE YOUR WALLS

the ‘wow’ factor From modern geometrics to eye-catching ombré designs, these are the creative painting techniques you need to make your walls stand out from the crowd

s your solid-colour feature wall not quite hitting the mark? Perhaps what you’re really looking for is a way to add a completely unique spin to your home décor – and we’ve got just the solutions for the job. Read on for expert guidance, tips and techniques on how to paint geometric, stripe, stencil, circle and ombré designs onto your walls.

Pashmina matt emulsion, £18 per 2.5L; Copper metallic emulsion, £19 per 1.25L, both Crown Paints

BEFORE YOU BEGIN ‘Prior to painting, you must prepare and prime the walls; this is the boring bit, but the more care you take at this stage, the better the paint will look and the longer it will last. Use masking tape to cover the light switches and plug sockets, then tape around the edges of them – professional painters will always spend more time prepping than actually painting. Priming is designed to stabilise surfaces and prepare them for the paint. The primer coat may look a little patchy, but it’s not meant to conceal what it’s covering, so don’t worry too much.’ Joa Studholme, colour curator at Farrow & Ball

STENCILS Dulux reveals its top tips for using stencils to make unique and creative paintwork

English Rose wall stencil, £45, Stencil Up

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

• For anything more complicated than shapes that you can create out of masking tape, look online for stencils – you can even have them made to your own design and scale. • It’s simple to apply colour through a big stencil if you use a small foam radiator roller. Tester pots are also ideal for stencils as you only need a small amount. • Preparation is key, so start with a clean and freshlyprepped wall that’s been sanded down and painted with the base colour more than 24 hours prior. • When using stencils, make sure you affix them to the wall with tape so that they don’t move when painting them and hold the brush at a 90-degree angle to the wall as you fill them in – this will ensure no paint makes its way underneath and smudges the colour.

DECORATING IDEAS

Pure Brilliant White matt emulsion, £16 per 2.5L; Rose Gold metallic emulsion, £19 per 1.25L, both Crown Paints

GEOMETRIC Create a bold look for your wall in just four steps with help from the Valspar paint experts

You will need • Three paint colours • Two-inch paintbrush • Foam paint roller • Masking tape

Place masking tape along the skirting boards and door frames, then use the tape to create three sections on the wall in your own design. Load a two-inch brush with the first paint colour so that it’s halfway down the bristles. Paint a border inside the first section, then use a roller to fill it in. Repeat for the second and third sections in different colours, then apply a second coat of paint after two to four hours. Remove the tape when the paint is still wet. When dry, mask along the painted edges and fill in any gaps where the masking tape was.

English Primrose, All Aglow, You’re Blushing paint, from £29 per 2.5l, Valspar Mouse’s Back no.40 estate emulsion, £47.95 per 2.5L; Lulworth Blue no.89 estate emulsion, £47.95 per 2.5L; Red Earth no.64 estate emulsion, £47.95 per 2.5L, all Farrow & Ball

‘Creating a unique design is much easier than you might imagine, but you should invest in both good-quality masking tape and brushes. Start with something simple like a bed headboard painted directly onto the wall – this is particularly effective in rooms which compromise on size, as the bed sits flat against the wall. You could also get creative by taking a stripe up the walls and over the ceiling to add interest without being too overwhelming – it’s particularly effective if taken over a door as well, but this is a little more difficult to achieve. You can make doors and windows look bigger too by extending a geometric design onto the walls and ceiling around the frames.’ Joa Studholme, colour curator at Farrow & Ball

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

Feature Sophie Demetriades

EXPERT ADVICE

DECORATING IDEAS

OMBRÉ Botanical Extract matt emulsion, £18 per 2.5L; Fairy Dust matt emulsion, £18 per 2.5L, both Crown Paints

For a simple and stylish technique that’s bang on trend, try creating the ombré effect with this easy guide from Valspar

You will need • Paint: light, medium and dark colours, preferably of the same hue • Foam paint roller • Pencil • Spirit level • Paint trays • Paint brushes

Choose three different shades from the same colour family: light, medium and dark. Make sure you fully prep and prime your chosen area before you begin. Use a roller to coat the entire wall in the lightest shade. Once dry, measure three equal horizontal sections along the wall and mark this lightly using a pencil and spirit level. The top section will be the lightest shade, then this will lead down the wall to merge into the medium and dark hues. Apply the medium shade first, leaving six inches in between the edges of each section (at the top and bottom), then add the darkest shade. In a fresh paint tray, mix the light and medium shades at a ratio of 50:50. Use this new colour to blend the six-inch gap in between the light and medium paint. Taking a dry brush and holding it at an angle, gently brush over the area where the two colours meet to fully merge the two. Using a second fresh paint tray, mix the medium and dark shades at a ratio of 50:50, then use this next new colour to blend the six-inch gap in between the medium and dark hues. Again, take a dry brush and hold it at an angle, then blend this section to merge the two. Continue to gently brush the three sections until you have achieved the level of ombré you desire.

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4 5 6

Jasmine Shimmer Light + Space paint, £31.54 per 2.5L; Raspberry Bellini matt emulsion, £29.16 per 2.5L, all Dulux

Ink Blush Pink ready-made mural, £80, Graham & Brown

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

DECORATING IDEAS James White no.2010 modern emulsion, £49.95 per 2.5L; Sap Green W.56 modern emulsion, £49.95 per 2.5L; Dutch Orange W.76 modern emulsion, £49.95 per 2.5L, all Farrow & Ball Flower Pot paint, £18.86 per 750ml; Freckle paint, £18.86 per 750ml, both Earthborn

STRIPES Hopeless at drawing straight lines? Aren’t we all! But not to worry, Dulux has an easy way to create the perfect stripe

You will need • Chalk • Ruler • String • Masking tape • Paintbrush • Paint

Mark both ends of the planned line with chalk by measuring the same distance up from the floor at each end. Coat a length of string in chalk, then tape it to the wall at one of the marks. Pull it taut across the wall and tape it at the other marked end. Gently stretch the string outwards, then let it snap back, creating a guideline to mask off with tape. Use good-quality masking tape that guarantees a crisp edge and seal the edge of the tape with a quick lick of the background colour to stop the paint from creeping underneath.

Photo @emmajanepalin

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CIRCLES

Spiced Honey matt emulsion, £29.16 per 2.5L, Dulux

Dulux provides its expert advice on how to create spots and circles

Hare matt emulsion, £18 per 2.5L; City Break matt emulsion, £18 per 2.5L, both Crown Paints

You will need • Two paint colours • Foam paint roller • String • Pencil • Fine paintbrush

Apply a base colour of fresh paint in a shade that will contrast well with the circle motif. For inspiration on which shades to choose, take a look at the Dulux Colour of the Year 2020 palettes. To see how the latest shades will look on your wall, download the free Dulux Visualizer app. Once you’ve applied the new background colour and the paint is completely dry, you’re ready to create the circle. To sketch the circle, you need to choose where you want to position it, so consider where your furniture and accessories will go first. Tie a piece of string to a pencil, then push and stick the other end against the wall to pin-point the centre of the circle. The length of the string will determine the outer diameter. Holding the string taut, draw a circle onto the wall. Next, tighten the string slightly to draw the inner edge of the outline. To fill it in, use a fine straight brush, then carefully paint in between the two pencil-drawn circles, working away from the top in both directions to avoid any smudges. Create as many circles in this way as you desire.

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Masterclass Kitchen Cabinetry - From ÂŁ10,000* Your Dream Kitchen, Made in Great Britain since 1975. masterclasskitchens.co.uk Ashbourne in Graphite

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Kitchens

Check out our pretty and practical picks this month

& BATHROOMS SPRING SPLASH Are you fed up of those grubby tiles you’ve had in the kitchen for a few years too many? Give the space a makeover with AluSplash’s selection of sea-inspired splashbacks. Spring is the ideal time to bring some freshness and vitality into the kitchen and AluSplash has a beautiful selection of calming colours on offer. Think tranquil mint tones paired with wooden cabinetry and deep ocean hues complemented by metallic accents. Whether your kitchen is classic or contemporary, AluSplash’s aluminium-based panels will look sleek and glossy. Not only is the material aesthetically pleasing, it’s also incredibly durable and requires very little maintenance due to its resistance to fire and steam. Prices start from £109 for a 600 x 900mm panel, available at Wickes.

A GLASS AND A HALF Who wants boring glassware when you can have pastel-coloured metallic versions? With detailing reminiscent of 1920s interior styling, the Ribbed Coupé Glass and Carafe from Matalan’s SS20 collection are on our wish list this month. Whether you’re entertaining a large party of guests or just having a chilled afternoon tipple with friends, this dreamy glassware is destined to be the talk of the table. At such an affordable price – £9.50 for the carafe and £4 per glass – you may as well splash out on a full set.

Bathroom beginnings

TAKE CARE OF CLUTTER Other than the classic mirror cabinet, bathroom storage is often lacking, meaning essentials are left cluttering up the sink without a proper home. Britton’s fitted furniture collection offers practical storage solutions that won’t break the bank. The range includes wall cabinets, basins and floor-standing units so you can create the perfect fit for your bathroom. Available in two crowd-pleasing shades, White and Light Grey, homeowners can mix and match to style up the space. The fitted furniture will blend seamlessly with any tile or paint choices, enabling you to let your imagination run wild with design and style options. Prices start at £139, Britton Bathrooms

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Taking the leap into the world of bathrooms, Penelope Bedroom is now including bath towels, robes and home fragrance in its offerings. Beautifully sumptuous and luxurious, its new Turkish cotton towels are definitely not designed for the beach. If you love to spend your me-time in the bath, you need to get your hands on these towels, which will stay soft and gentle use after use thanks to the Fibrosoft® technology. The range also includes the Emira bath towels, made with a blend of cotton and bamboo for a lighter yet equally fluffy finish. Combined with Penelope Bedroom’s floral fragrance candles, this new range is the epitome of bathtime luxury. Chicago towels, from £9; Emira towels, from £4; home scents, from £29.99, all Penelope Bedroom

VISIT WWW.YOURHOMEMAGAZINE.CO.UK FOR MORE KITCHEN & BATHROOM INSPIRATION www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

KITCHEN IDEAS

Savvy space-savers Kitchens of all sizes will work better with these ingenious ways to add storage, minimise clutter and boost efficiency in the hub of your home Sleek, streamlined and handleless cabinets can help to make bijoux kitchens feel larger. As this modern monochrome kitchen scheme with a luxe matt finish by Magnet shows, coordinating the wall cupboards with the paintwork and tiles helps to create the illusion of a higher ceiling and more space

Tidy tip ‘Although the drawer in the fridge is intended for fruit and vegetables, I find that I forget about them if they’re stored in there. I keep my healthier foods on shelves at eye level to bring my attention to them as soon as I open the fridge door. Store jars, condiments or goodies in the drawer instead.’ Professional organiser Vicky Silverthorn and Brabantia

Integra Nova kitchen, from £2,980 for eight units, Magnet

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KITCHEN IDEAS A lack of worktop space is one of the biggest bugbears in small kitchens, as surfaces are taken up by essential appliances. A concealed table, such as this one from Wickes, is a neat solution, particularly for galley kitchens. It can be hidden away when it’s not needed and pulled out when you need an extra surface for chopping and preparing food A compact design for small kitchens and studio apartments, Abode’s Studio sink is just the thing if you’re short on worktops. It comes with three accessories that can be easily switched and combined – a strainer, colander and mini bowl – for a multi-functional sink, and can be installed portrait or landscape to further make use of the available space

Concealed pull-out table, £219, Wickes

Even if your kitchen is on the small side, you might still be able to squeeze in a dining area. Inspired by Scandi design, this minimal bench set is a petite, informal alternative to a standard-size dining table and doubles up as an island-style countertop too Skandi bar table and two Charlie bar stools in grey, £240, Argos

Studio Compact Single Bowl sink, £515, Abode

Overcrowded cupboards can seem inevitable in a compact kitchen with limited storage – and that’s where ingenious helpers like this extendable organiser from Lakeland come in! Its step design means you’ll be able to see exactly what you have in the cupboard, and its non-slip surface ensures jars and tins will stay exactly where you want them

Feature Michelle Grady

Expandable shelf organiser, £16.99, Lakeland

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

KITCHEN IDEAS The gap between the worktop and wall units is a prime spot for adding some nifty storage, such as this MosaiQ hanging rail system. Made from stainless steel with a graphite finish, it can be customised to suit your needs, with different rail lengths and storage options, including a knife block, shelves, hooks and even a kitchen roll holder, so all your must-haves will be close at hand without taking over your worktop While deep corner units are a great way to maximise storage, they’re not always the easiest to reach into, which can cause clutter to build up inside the cupboard. Adding a pull-out compartment will give easier access as well as cutting down on unnecessary food-buying, with no more forgotten tins languishing at the back of the cupboard

Linero MosaiQ hanging rail storage, from £175, Kesseböhmer

Pebre Matt Anthracite soft-close pull-out storage, £187, B&Q

If you’re after an easy way to make better use of your current kitchen space without having to install new units, look for flexible storage you can add to an existing scheme. This trolley is just 13cm wide and so is ideal for slotting into a gap between a cupboard and fridge or other appliance. It has three generously sized shelves for keeping everything from drinks to spices and jars Slimline kitchen trolley, £89, A Place For Everything

Tidy tip ‘Create stations and designated areas in your kitchen so your space is categorised. By doing so it will be easier to see exactly what you have and, just as importantly, what you don’t then need to buy again. Try adding tea and coffee-making stations, chopping stations, breakfast cupboards, dried food storage areas and so on.’ Professional organiser Vicky Silverthorn and Brabantia

KITCHEN IDEAS

Tidy tip ‘Think cleverly and you really can half the space you use in your kitchen. Stackable containers are essential for making great use of the height on your shelves and in your cupboards. Stackable jars that are square rather than round also mean you’re using every corner efficiently – I recommend the Tasty+ canisters by Brabantia.’ Professional organiser Vicky Silverthorn and Brabantia

The Simplicity II heating solution is ideal for keeping tea towels warm and dry when kitchen space is limited and will make use of even the narrowest of walls. Plus, its slimline design will fit right in with modern, minimalist kitchen schemes as a smarter alternative to draping tea towels over handles or hooks Simplicity II electric towel rail, from £184.42, Vogue UK

Not just for hanging aprons, totes and tea towels, doors are an often-unused opportunity to boost your storage options. If you don’t have a separate pantry, this hanging rack is an easy alternative, with a selection of baskets, boards and hooks included for customising the rack to suit you. It simply clicks into place without damaging the door Elfa door and wall rack, £115, A Place For Everything

Cambridge kitchen, from £1,700 for eight units, Benchmarx If you’re installing a new kitchen, it’s surprising what you’ll be able to fit into a petite room. Go for a mix of different cabinets for versatility, including smaller units, corner cupboards and open shelves, as well as adding a breakfast bar to provide a much-needed additional work surface. And don’t be afraid to try a darker door shade to create a dramatic look, as with this striking forest green scheme from Benchmarx

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

BUYER’S GUIDE

We reveal our top ten bargain -buy dishwashers Clean your dishes with one of these zero-effort, purse-friendly appliances

nce you’ve finished your dinner and settled down for the evening, the last thing you want to do is go and stand by the sink to clean all the cutlery and crockery you used to eat it. That’s why we’ve compiled a selection of energy efficient dishwashers that will take care of the hard graft for you – and none of them costs more than £530, so you can be sure of bagging a bargain whichever model you choose. Plus, we’ve detailed the important aspects of each appliance to give you all the information you need to pick the one that’s right for you and your home.

Highspeed washing

Bosch Serie 4 SMS46II01G freestanding dishwasher, £529, AO.com Size 60 (D) x 60 (W) x 84.5cm (H) Energy rating A++ Drying performance A rated Annual energy consumption 262kWh Annual water consumption 2,660L

Are you searching for a quick-wash appliance with a sleek silver finish to match your kitchen? Then this is the model for you! With 13 place settings, a 29-minute speedy wash for when you’re in a hurry and a special function that can dry your plastic Tupperware thoroughly, this dishwasher really does have everything you need.

Superb value

Beko Pro DEN48X20G full-size dishwasher in graphite, £369, Currys Size 60 (D) x 59.8 (W) x 85cm (H) Energy rating A++ Drying performance A rated Annual energy consumption 270kWh Annual water consumption 2,660L

Step away from the sink and invest in this money-saving Beko dishwasher. Eight programmes give you ultimate control over the washing and drying of your cups, mugs and cutlery and utensils, while the 15 slots provide plenty of space for your dishes. This appliance also includes smart functions such as EverClean technology, which uses a specialised sprinkling system to rinse out the dishwasher’s filter, plus the SteamGloss feature to ensure that your dishes come out dry and streak-free every time. 52

Let technology take the strain out of doing the dishes Beko Wi-Fi connected standard dishwasher, £349, AO.com

Budget buy

Electra C1745S slimline dishwasher, £209, AO.com Size 59.8 (D) x 45 (W) x 84.5cm (H) Energy rating A++ Drying performance A rated Annual energy consumption 237kWh Annual water consumption 3,640L With 10 place settings, a highly efficient A++ energy rating and a 40-minute quick-dry function all for just £209, this appliance is a bargain for anyone on a tight budget. What’s more, its sleek, slimline shape make it perfect for compact kitchens. And to top it all off, it even has an ‘Active Drying’ feature that uses a fan to remove moisture and leave your dishes completely moisture free.

Hotpoint Aquarius HFC2B+26C fullsize 14-place dishwasher with quick wash in white, £339.99, Very Size 59 (D) x 60 (W) x 85cm (H) Energy rating A++ Drying performance A rated Annual energy consumption 265kWh Annual water consumption 3,360L Ideal for busy family life, this Hotpoint dishwasher comes with 14 place settings, so it has more than enough room for your crockery. It also offers a hygienic stainlesssteel tub, five washing programmes – including sanitising and rapid options – and a super-efficient half-load function for when you need to do smaller washes.

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Familyfriendly washer

BUYER’S GUIDE Beko Pro AutoDose DIN59420D integrated smart dishwasher, £429, Currys Size 55 (D) x 59.8 (W) x 81.8cm (H) Energy rating A++ Drying performance A rated Annual energy consumption 266kWh Annual water consumption 2,660L As dishwashers go, there aren’t many that are smarter than this! Beko’s AutoDose appliance has a Wi-Fi connection so it can send you alerts when the salt needs to replenishing or the filter requires cleaning. Plus, it can also download new wash programmes and be controlled with any Alexa-enabled device.

Bosch SMS25AW00G full-size dishwasher in White, £349, Argos Size 60 (D) x 60 (W) x 84.5cm (H) Energy rating A++ Drying performance A rated Annual energy consumption 258kWh Annual water consumption 2,660L

Great all rounder

This Bosch model has 12 place settings for all of your knives, forks, cups and plates. There are five washing programs, an adjustable top basket, an ‘Extra Dry’ option for plastic utensils so you don’t have to towel-dry them afterwards, and a speedy 29-minute wash for when you’re in a rush. As well as all these advantages, this model’s glass protection technology ensures your delicate cups are handled gently.

Bargain buy

Indesit Ecotime DFG15B1S full-size dishwasher in silver, £229.99, Argos Size 59 (D) x 60 (W) x 85cm (H) Energy rating A+ Drying performance A rated Annual energy consumption 295kWh Annual water consumption 3,080L This appliance not only looks super stylish with its stainless-steel tub, it also has a great array of wash cycles too, all for a steal at just £229.99. There are five programmes, ranging from Intensive to Eco, 13 place settings, which means there’s ample room for all the dishes after the biggest family meals, and an adjustable top basket to allow for bigger items below, such as dishwasher-proof pans and trays.

Hoover HDPN 1L390PB 13-place full-size Wi-Fi dishwasher, £319.99, Argos Size 60 (D) x 60 (W) x 85cm (H) Energy rating A++ Drying performance A rated Annual energy consumption 295kWh Annual water consumption 3,120L

Skinande integrated dishwasher in grey, £450, IKEA Size 55.5 (D) x 59.6 (W) x 81.8cm (H) Energy rating A++ Drying performance A rated Annual energy consumption 262kWh Annual water consumption 2,775L

For anyone looking for something a bit high-tech but at a great price, this Hoover dishwasher is an excellent option. With its Wi-Fi function you can control and monitor it remotely using the Hoover Wizard app on your mobile. As well as its ingenious technology, this model features an adjustable upper basket and larger lower one, a highly efficient energy rating and the option to delay the start of any cycle by up to nine hours, so you can take advantage of cheaper electricity tariffs by setting it to wash earlier or later in the day.

The Skinande dishwasher saves you time and money, with its high energy-efficiency rating and sensor that detects the number of pots so it can adjust the amount of water it uses. The appliance is also equipped with an electric salt indicator that makes the water softer for the best possible results and a door that opens automatically after each wash so the dishes dry faster.

Moneysaving model

Medelstor integrated dishwasher in grey, £379, IKEA Size 55.5 (D) x 44.6 (W) x 81.8cm (H) Energy rating A+ Drying performance A rated Annual energy consumption 222kWh Annual water consumption 2,775L

Feature Sophie Demetriades

Tech-savvy appliance

Energyefficient washer

Perfect for compact kitchens

With its slimline design, the Medelstor dishwasher is an ideal match for small-scale kitchens. Size aside, it also has a function that can detect the number of dishes and how dirty they are, then adjust the amount of water it uses to clean them. Plus, you can customise the space with its removable cutlery baskets and folding glass and plate racks.

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BATHROOM PROBLEM ROOM

A reworked layout gave Laura and Chris Elston had to rethink the arrangement of their house to

INSIDER INFO WHO LIVES HERE? Laura Elston, 39, a freelance make-up artist, lives in this two-bedroom Victorian mid-terrace in Tiverton, Devon, with her husband Chris, 39, an electrical engineer, and their two-year-old son, Ace.

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE OLD ROOM? ‘It was a tiny, dank, cold space at the back of the kitchen and we had to go downstairs to get to it, which wasn’t much fun at night. There was no room for a freestanding bath or a walk-in shower either.’

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE FINISHED ROOM? ‘I love the fact that we installed a dimmer. It means I can really relax in the bath without a bright light shining down on me.’

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY? ‘I wish we’d tiled further out beyond the shower to reduce splashes on the wall.’

Before 54

aura and Chris were already living on the same street when this house came up for sale. ‘We wanted somewhere bigger and we also wanted a renovation project, so when this came on the market, originally a three-bedroom house not touched since 1942, we snapped it up,’ explains Laura. However, the bathroom was cold, pokey and unpleasant to be in, and the couple had to walk through the kitchen to get to it. ‘We knew we had to make a big change,’ says Laura. ‘We decided to convert one of the upstairs bedrooms to create a large, luxurious bathroom, and since our long-term plan is to extend into the loft, we didn’t worry about losing a bedroom.’ To save money, the couple brought the bathroom suite from their old house. ‘It was a really good-quality ex-display suite with everything included – the loo, sink, bath, taps, even the toilet roll holder. And, at £1,500 all in, it was a bargain, so it made sense to keep this and replace it with eBay finds in our old home,’ explains Laura, though she hastens to add that they made sure they did a good job in replacing it. Doing this also made planning the space easy, as they simply drew the dimensions of the suite they already had in chalk on the floorboards to make sure it would fit. Before they could start installing the suite, however, they had to convert the bedroom space. ‘There were four or five layers of wallpaper we had to strip off, and we needed to get rid of the old, built-in wardrobes, rip up the manky carpet, then get the whole room replastered. Though the biggest problem,’ admits Laura, ‘was the bath. We had three plumbers plus Chris trying to get it into the room but it wouldn’t go around the stairs, so they literally had to chop the banisters off!’ Chris was worried that Laura would go mad when she got home from work and saw what they had done, but she says, ‘I’d rather have my bath installed and replace the banisters!’ The couple also moved the door along the wall so the toilet could be by the outside wall, making it easier to install the pipework needed, and they reinstated the original ten-inch-high skirting and fitted a cupboard to house a new boiler. And, now the room is finished, Laura admits that sometimes she just likes to come and sit in this space to relax.

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Laura chose soft-pink accessories as the accent colour for the bathroom, picked out from the wallpaper. By being bold and marrying it with black and white she has created a room that feels classic as well as feminine

BATHROOM PROBLEM ROOM

us our dream space convert their spare bedroom into a relaxing bathroom KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR A BARGAIN Laura spotted these tiles hidden in the corner of her local Original Style tile showroom with a sign on them saying they were seconds, but she still can’t find any problem with them and they were reduced from £85 to £30 per sq m. The couple also decided to make a feature out of the alcove, rather than making it flush with the wall

BE BOLD WITH YOUR CHOICES Laura carried around a sample of the large print flamingo wallpaper for ages and was waiting for a space that was big enough to carry it, and it became the starting point for the whole room. She admits it wasn’t cheap, but she didn’t need much and it’s a stand-out feature in the room

EVEN BASIC FITTINGS CAN BECOME A DESIGN DETAIL Laura chose to make the tiles stand out and become a feature of the room by trying a new take on the traditional metro tiles, choosing a herringbone pattern, then only tiling a strip of the wall rather than going all the way down to the skirting

shopping list

Although doing work yourself can save money, Laura recommends calling in the experts to speed up the process. ‘Get tradesmen to do the work and just get the job done. Both myself and Chris were working full-time then I fell pregnant, so it would have taken an age to get the room finished ourselves. As it was, from start to finish it only took five weeks.’

total cost:

Feature and styling Lisa Moses Photos Katie Jane Watson

A HELPING HAND

Bath; bath feet; bath taps; toilet; basin; basin taps; toilet roll holder, £1,500 (ex-display), Kudos. Ultimate2 10mm shower enclosure panel 1000 mm, £258; shower panel fixing kit, £104, both City Plumbing. For similar bathroom suite, try the Winchester, from £499, Victoria Plum. For similar shower tray, try the Slimline 1000 x 700mm rectangular shower tray, £134.99, City Plumbing. Mira Realm ERD Chrome Thermostatic single lever mixer shower with diverter, £380, B&Q. For similar towel radiator, try the Crosby traditional free-standing towel rail column radiator, £389.95, Victorian Plumbing. Hexagonal vinyl flooring, Market Carpets. For similar flooring, try the Cortile Presto Mosaic vinyl flooring, £7.19 per sq m, Online Carpets. Cole and Son White Flamingos wallpaper, £85 per roll, Wallpaper Direct. For similar light fitting, try the Isla pendant, £65, from Perch & Parrow. For a similar mirror, try the vintage bevelled edge mirror, £18, Dunelm. Extra-long metro tiles, £30 per sq m, Original Style Tile Showroom. For similar bath rack, try the Lloyd Pascal large chrome extendable bath rack, £24.95, Victorian Plumbing.

£3,108.94

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BATHROOM IDEAS

GREAT and small Be it a petite en suite or a compact cloakroom, follow these tips to design a bijoux bathroom that makes a big impact

Expert tip ‘Light-coloured tiles can make a small bathroom look bigger as they reflect more light. Also, a top tip is to use the same wall tiles as the floor ones; this will enhance the feeling of space by creating a continuous look. Alternatively, you can save money by using more expensive tiles as a statement wall and opting for affordable complementary tiles elsewhere.’ Jo Oliver, Director at Stone & Ceramic Warehouse

For bathrooms that open out onto a hallway or main living space, like this under-thestairs room, go for a traditional design that’ll complement the surrounding décor and stand the test of time. This Abbey toilet and basin set has a classic Victorian-inspired feel, but could easily be brought up to date with modern styling as well for a long-lasting look Abbey traditional close-coupled toilet and basin cloakroom suite, £149.97, Bathroom Takeaway

When you don’t have much wall space to play with, go for taller cupboards to pack in as much storage as possible. This wall-mounted unit from VitrA measures just 40cm wide and 35cm deep, but manages to fit lots of handy elements into its petite size thanks to its height, including four customisable shelves and an optional laundry basket Sento tall unit, £614.40, VitrA

Even the tiniest of cloakrooms can be elegant with the right design. Go for something simple and minimal for a pared-back look, like this versatile small-size Cedarwood suite with a curved design and compact sink. Pair with a backlit mirror to fill a small space with as much light as possible, and try mixing different textures like this scheme’s rustic exposed brick and glossy tiles to add detail Cedarwood cloakroom suite, £245; Enza backlit mirror, £295, both Bathrooms to Love

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BATHROOM IDEAS Make use of every inch of available wall with a corner basin like this one from Crosswater. This wall-mounted basin’s corner fitting is not only practical, but its refined curved shape makes it a feature in its own right too – and it’s designed to be fitted with a drawer unit for keeping things tidy Svelte corner basin, £325; Svelte corner unit, £915, Crosswater

Clever use of pattern can maximise the look of a petite bathroom. For example, adding patterned tiles, such as this geometric design, both on the floor and a wall will draw the eye across the room, creating the illusion of a larger space. The monochrome palette means they’ll coordinate with any colour scheme too Stello tiles, £49.97 per sq m, Topps Tiles

Every fixture and fitting will be prominent in a small room, so invest in designs that bring something extra to the overall look rather than blending in. This unique concrete basin is compact in size but packs a style punch, with its curved corners and sleek lines. It’s also available in a variety of colours, so can coordinate with the rest of the décor or make a statement Vesl basin, £790, Nood Co.

Expert tip Feature Michelle Grady

‘Plan a carefully designed room that feels light and airy. For example, try fitting a mirror which covers the entire width of the wall to give the illusion of more space.’ Tina Simpson, Marketing Director at Triton Showers

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BATHROOM IDEAS

Expert tip ‘It’s important to look at all elements from the floor up. They all need to work together and offer some form of function. Keep the palette neutral so nothing fights with each other and consider which way you hang the door – does it need to open in, or can it open out, creating more space in the room?’ David Conlon, Founder of En Masse Bespoke Interiors

Built-in bathroom suites not only look neat, they provide muchneeded extra storage in a tight space. When planning en suite or cloakroom spaces, consider a wall-hung toilet and basin that can be installed in built-in units for additional surfaces and drawers Glide II Blue Smoke set, from £350, Crosswater

Although it might be too much of a squeeze to display big tropical plants in a small bathroom, that doesn’t mean you can’t include some muchneeded greenery. When finishing off a compact room, add scaled-down versions of on-trend accessories such as these mini pots in three tonal colours – they’re perfect for succulents Hanging pot trio, £18.95 for three, Annabel James

Many smaller bathrooms lack natural daylight, so strong lighting is essential. Install lamps in key areas around the room as well as a ceiling fitting for an evenly lit space. Pick a slimline lamp like this mini one from Fritz Fryer – which is IP44-rated so suitable for bathroom use – for above a mirror, or add two of them either side for an even brighter light Contemporary bathroom wall light, £145, Fritz Fryer

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BATHROOM IDEAS

A large mirror will bounce light around the room to give the illusion of more space, and it can add a chic element to a scheme too. This round mirror comes in a striking rustic copper hue and has a 3D frame for added wow-factor Large round copper wall mirror, £56.95, Melody Maison

Fit two key bathroom essentials – as well as storage space galore – in one unit with a built-in design like this one from Wickes. The space under the basin too often goes unused, so the extra cupboard it provides makes it a useful addition to a tiny bathroom, and the grey gloss finish makes it a stylish option too Vienna Grey Gloss on White fitted compact toilet unit, £153, Wickes

It can be tempting to go for light, neutral hues to make cloakroom spaces feel larger – but why not get creative with print and colour instead? As it’s not the main bathroom, this is an opportunity to give yourself free rein and go for a bold wallpaper and luxe gold fittings, as with this vibrant scheme Cloakrooms, from £2,000, Day True

Everyday essentials will likely be on show in a small bathroom, so invest in chic versions of these accessories for a luxe feel. This glass soap dispenser has a shiny gold finish and retro ribbed design, so it will sit pretty in a scheme with a vintage-meetsmodern aesthetic Glass soap dispenser in Green, £19, Cult Furniture

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MAKE, DO & CRAFT Sew a truly unique qu ilt by learning to tie-dye fabric yours elf

Your home improvement questions are answered by the experts

Give your bathroom a new lease of life with our DIY tips

his month we’re all about creating stylish additions to your home that have a unique, personal touch. Hand-dye fabric before sewing a modern quilt, sculpt delicate spoons using tactile clay, and give a boring stool a new colourful personality. Plus, don’t miss our advice on how to install a shower riser rail – a fiddly job that will make all the difference – and the latest craft news, too.

CRAFT STASH MUST HAVES

Be inspired at this month’s craft events

ASK THE EXPERTS

DIY MASTERCLASS

se clay jects that u ro p ft a cr s to gorgeou l items for your home Get stuck in usefu u a tiful and to make be

SEW SIMPLE

REVAMP, REPAIR, RECYCLE

y s a e T MAKE I

MAKE, DO & Statement pottery pieces will give your home an instant hit of colour and pattern â&#x20AC;&#x201C; try the trend with these three easy ways to craft with clay

top tip VASE AND POT

For a geometric design, mask off and paint sections of the pot and vase to create a colourblock look.

Display your plant pals in an abstract painted vase and pot with metallic details

Project Lucy Davidson Styling Helena Steele & Matilda Smith Photos Philip Sowels

Roll out the clay on a board to roughly 0.5cm thick, then cut a 10 x 25cm piece to make the smaller pot. Wrap the small glass jar with greaseproof paper, then wrap the strip of clay around the jar and seal the short edges together using your fingers or the clay tool until there is a clean join. To make a base, roll another piece out, roughly to the same thickness and slightly bigger than the base of the jar. Trim the base into a circle. Secure the base to the sides by pressing together. Roll a thin piece of clay from the leftovers and push it into the join to help strengthen it. Turn the pot over and make sure all the edges are smoothed down. To make a vase, repeat the process but this time cutting a 15 x 25cm rectangle of clay and shaping it around the taller glass jar. Once finished, remove the glass jars and the greaseproof paper, and leave the pot and vase to dry for at least 24 hours. If there are any rough edges, use a small piece of sandpaper to smooth the pieces down â&#x20AC;&#x201C; wear a dust mask for this. To keep a clean edge on the lower parts of the pots and vase while painting, wrap a strip of plain paper around the bottom of each vessel and secure it in place with masking tape. Take the first paint colour and water it down slightly. Working around the pots, paint on some loose brush strokes. Repeat, watering down another colour. Keep the strokes natural, flowing and not too neat to achieve a painterly look, as shown. Remove the paper and masking tape, then add some metallic paint strokes as well. Apply a little too much paint so it drips down the pots, adding to the natural design. Once dry, apply two coats of varnish and leave for 24 hours.

SHOPPING LIST two packs of air-dry clay clay tool rolling pin craft knife masking tape chopping board greaseproof paper glass jar, 7.5cm diameter glass jar, 9cm diameter sandpaper plain paper dust mask acrylic craft paint metallic craft paint paintbrushes varnish

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

MAKE, DO & CRAFT

SALT SPOON SET Go artisan and craft your own set of salt spoons, painted in spots and stripes SHOPPING LIST FIMO Soft in White clay knife paintbrush porcelain paint (we used Marabu Porcelain) baking tray

Make measuring spoons by shaping the heads around an existing spoon set and paint the measurement on each of the handles Project Jesse MacKenzie

Cut a slice of FIMO. We used a 350g block to make 12 spoons, but the amount needed depends on the size of spoon you want to make. Split the slice in half and roll one half into a ball. Roll the other half into a long cylinder shape – this will form the spoon handle. Press your thumb into the ball, working the clay out to create a hollow area for the spoon head. Join the head and handle together, spreading the clay in both directions at the join so it looks seamless. Finish the spoon head, working the clay to the desired shape, and making sure the bottom stays rounded. Repeat to make the other spoons, then place on a lined baking tray and cook for 30 minutes at 110°C /230°F/Gas Mark ¼. Leave to cool then paint with the patterns of your choice. We used dots and stripes, and mixed paints to achieve the blush pink shade. You may need to apply more than one coat – leave to dry in between each one, then allow to dry again before using.

top tip

TERRAZZO COASTERS

Project Sophie Gibbons Styling Helena Steele & Matilda Smith Photos Philip Sowels

DIY one of this year’s hottest prints with these terrazzo coasters

SHOPPING LIST Preheat the oven to 130°C /266°F/Gas Mark ½ and line a 200g white polymer clay tray with greaseproof paper. Divide the white polymer clay small amounts of polymer clay in into four equal blocks of 50g. Lay out a sheet of greaseproof black, grey, tan, terracotta and paper and place one block of roughly flattened clay on top. pale pink craft knife 10cm Lay the balsa wood sticks either side – this will help to keep the circular cutter greaseproof top of the coaster even when rolling it out. Place another sheet paper rolling pin fine of greaseproof paper on top and roll until level. sandpaper two equal lengths Using the craft knife, cut small strips of random chip of balsa wood, approx. 0.5cm shapes off the various coloured clay blocks. Remove the wide oven tray top layer of greaseproof paper and carefully place the pieces over the rolled-out white clay. Put the greaseproof paper back on top and flatten it with the rolling pin. Smooth over each piece with your hands to ensure there are no gaps. Roll out one more time, then peel the paper off. Place the circle cutter on top of the clay and press down firmly. Make a small cut with the craft knife, then peel the excess clay away from the circle cutter. Lift the cutter, then remove the coaster from the paper and place the coaster onto the oven tray. Repeat three more times until you have four coasters. Bake for 30 minutes and leave to cool.

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REVAMP, REPAIR,

Recycle

top tip

If this is your first time painting a design onto fur niture like this, practise drawing faces on a sheet of paper to try it out first before transferring your final design onto the wooden stool pencil, ready to pa in int.

Transform a wooden stool from ordinary to oh-so-cute with just a lick of paint

lthough a useful addition to a kid’s bedroom or play space, wooden stools aren’t always the most exciting-looking piece of furniture – so why not liven up this functional item with a fun new look? You can even get little ones involved in picking out the paint colours and face design so it's unique to them. The results will be so adorable, you might even want one for your own room too!

6 5

YOU WILL NEED ✦ wooden stool ✦ spray paints in your choice of colours ✦ small tin of Rust-Oleum metallic gold spray paint (optional) ✦ craft paint ✦ masking tape ✦ paintbrushes in a variety of sizes ✦ clear matt varnish ✦ measuring tape/ruler ✦ pencil ✦ circle stencil (or assorted items to draw around) ✦ large dust sheet

Begin by covering your working area with a dust sheet for protection. Spray-paint the top of the stool in the colour of your choice then allow it to dry. Measuring with a tape or ruler, mark in pencil on one leg where you would like the ‘dipped’ effect to reach up to. Wrap masking tape around the leg at this point, pressing it down firmly. Repeat for the other three legs, measuring carefully so they all match. If you are using paint and a brush, simply add the colour of your choice onto the bottom and mask off part of each leg of the stool. Wait until the paint is fully dry before removing the tape for a neat edge.

If you are using spray paint for the lower legs, turn the stool upside down and place a thick fabric cloth in the centre to prevent any of the paint getting onto the inside upper legs. Add extra masking tape on the outer upper leg edges too. Spray the lower legs of the stool on all four sides, but wait for each side to dry in turn to avoid any drips. Once each painted leg is dry, turn the stool the right way up again. To create the face design, use a circle stencil or an assortment of jars, bottles or similar to draw facial features onto the top of the stool, such as eyes, cheeks and a smiling mouth. Draw the hairline freehand, as well as a flower detail if preferred.

4 5

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Starting with the hair section, load a brush with black paint and follow the pencil line slowly, covering it all over. Fill the hair area in and allow it to dry. Keep a wet wipe handy to clean up any stray paint you want to remove, but remember you can come back and work on perfecting the lines with a smaller brush later. Do the same with the eyes, lips, cheeks and flower. Once this is done, repeat the process again for each design element of the face to give it another coat – you’ll need at least two coats of paint to cover the whole design evenly and have a perfect finish. When the paint is dry, spray the entire stool with a clear matt varnish to protect the paint from chipping when it is in use.

REVAMP, REPAIR, RECYCLE Project Debee Ruiz

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Dye fabric in indigo and aqua hues to make this simple

ie-dye isn’t just for jazzing up old T-shirts – you can bring this distinctive pattern into your home scheme too. All you need is plain white cotton and fabric dye in two co-ordinating shades; we’ve used blues for a seaside-inspired vibe. Just wrap the fabric pieces using a few different tie-dye methods to vary the look and, once they’re dry, sew the dyed squares together in your chosen arrangement. Then all you’ll need is a sunny afternoon so you can take your finished quilt out into the garden!

YOU WILL NEED Dylon fabric dye in Bahama Blue and Ocean Blue white cotton sheeting fabric: 140cm x 2.5m backing fabric: 140cm x 2.1m wadding: 140cm x 2.1m 1 large bowl, to wet the fabric 2 buckets, for the dye baths elastic bands washing pegs lolly sticks plastic piping rubber gloves orange stranded cotton embroidery needle clear plastic template, 18 x 18cm matching thread rotary cutter iron scissors thread sewing machine

Make up the dye baths according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Wear protective gloves when working with the dye. Cut up the white cotton into pieces measuring approximately 50 x 50cm each. Prepare the fabric for dyeing using the following wrapping techniques: pleat the material and sandwich the pleats in between lolly sticks, then tie together at each end of the stick using elastic bands; pleat the fabric and tie elastic bands down the length of the pleats; pleat the fabric and peg along the edge of each one; form a ball shape with the material and tie with elastic bands to hold it together; fold the fabric around the plastic piping and hold in place using elastic bands; fold the material into squares, then fold in half to make a triangle and wrap with elastic bands. Use a few different methods to dye the pieces so you can mix and match them when making the quilt. Soak the wrapped fabrics in a bowl of water. When the fabrics are thoroughly wet, divide the material wraps into two equal piles and put one pile into one of the dye baths, and one in the other. Dye the fabric according to the instructions, rinse, leave to dry and press. Place the clear plastic template on a part of the design that you like; make this as near

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coast-inspired quilt

to an edge as possible so that you have lots of fabric left to cut other squares. Lay the clear ruler on top of the template. Use the straight edges of the ruler to guide the rotary cutter, then once you have cut out lots of squares, lay them next to each other, alternating the two shades and trying to get different designs next to each other. Pin and sew the squares together row by row with the right sides (RS) of the fabric facing, using a 1cm seam allowance. Sew the rows together to create a large grid of squares. Lay the quilt top onto the wadding and use it as a template to cut the wadding to the same size. RS facing up, pin the quilt on top of the wadding around the edge. From the back to the front, through both the wadding and the tiedyed squares, hand-sew a diagonal orange cross onto each corner where they join. Cut fabric to the same size as the quilt for the back. With the RS together, pin and sew the back to the front of the quilt around three and a half of the sides, using a 1cm seam allowance. Turn the quilt through to the right way through the gap that you left in one of the sides, then turn the open edges in, pin and sew closed by hand to finish.

6 7

top tip

Project and photos Juliet Bawden

SEW SIMPLE

When preparing the fabric ready for dyeing, make sure you wrap and tie it tightly using your chosen method for a defined and striking finished pattern.

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DIY masterclass Update your bathroom with a new shower riser rail

or many of us, starting the day with a hot shower is not only a daily ritual but also a real pleasure, so it’s no surprise that bathroom renovations are often top of the list when it comes to home improvement projects. While you may well want to employ a qualified plumber to install a new shower, fitting a new riser rail and head is a breeze for anyone willing to take on a spot of DIY!

EVERY DROP COUNTS A shower uses around 30% of your household water consumption, so it’s worthwhile investing in one with an optimised flow rate, such as those in Methven’s Aio collection. Alternatively, you can also save water by fitting a shower flow reducer, which screws in either at the shower outlet or between the hose and handset. Croydex offers a Water Saving Shower Adaptor for £9.22, which restricts the maximum flow rate to 8 litres per minute.

UNDER PRESSURE

top tip Not all showers are the same. Consider whether you want single or dual spray (with two heads, one a separate hand shower), a rainfall head or an LED one that bathes you in coloured light as well as warm water…

When you’re thinking about buying a new shower, your attention is normally focused on cost, aesthetics and how easy it is to install. But the main factor to consider is the water pressure requirement, as not all showers will work with your home’s particular plumbing and hot water system. If you have a gravity-fed system (with a hot-water cylinder and a cold-water header tank in your loft), you can choose a power shower, an electric shower, a mixer or thermostatic shower – with or without a pump. If you have a combination boiler, or your cold water comes directly from the mains, you can’t fit a pump, so you’re limited to either an electric mixer or thermostatic shower. ■ A power shower combines hot and cold water supplies and increases the pressure via an internal pump – fantastic if you have from low water pressure. ■ An electric shower draws cold water before heating it internally to your desired temperature. They’re great if your hot water supply is unpredictable. ■ A mixer shower combines hot and cold water supplies and mixes it in the unit before releasing it to the shower head. They work best with combination boilers as they rely on readily available hot water. ■ A thermostatic shower is like a mixer shower, but has a thermostat to keep the water temperature consistent – even when someone in the kitchen starts doing the washing up!

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KEEP IT CLEAN

top tip

Limescale build-up can affect the performance of shower heads so it’s worth cleaning them regularly. We recommend using a product such as Oust All Purpose Descaler, priced £1.66 for three sachets. Detach the shower head and place it in a large jug or bowl with the contents of one sachet and enough hot water to cover. Leave it for 10 minutes then pour the solution away and rinse the shower head.

If you have a smaller shower, why not go for a concealed mixer valve or a mounted ceiling shower head, which sits flush just like a light fitting?

YOU WILL NEED Essential ✦ Methven Aio Easy-Fit Shower Kit, priced £179.11 ✦ Pencil ✦ Electric drill ✦ Masonry drill bit ✦ Silicone sealant ✦ Wall plugs ✦ Spirit level

1 2 3

Start by laying out the parts of the shower kit so you can see everything clearly. Slide your hose retainer onto the rail. Next, slide on the soap tray and followed by the end brackets. Place the rail vertically at an appropriate height and mark the tile intersections

closest to the end brackets. Check that the line between the marks is straight with a spirit level or plumb line and adjust as necessary. Using a masonry bit to drill into the wall where you’ve made the marks. Fill the holes with silicone then carefully push in the wall plugs. Screw the wall fixings into the plugs.

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Next, place the rail brackets over the wall fixings then twist and lock them so they’re held securely in place. Check for the proper placement of the washer and seal, before screwing the hose onto the main shower unit. Attach the shower head at the other end.

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Feature Catherine Smalley Photos Methven

DIY MASTERCLASS

STEP-BY-STEP

Ask the

EXPERTS

We answer your DIY and maintenance questions with a little help from the experts

I’d like to redesign my kitchen so that the whole family can be involved during cooking. But I don’t have a lot of space to include a kitchen island. What would you recommend instead? Anushka Patel, Windsor Tim Spann, National Sales Manager UK at Keller Kitchens, says… While a kitchen island is a much sought-after feature, you’re not alone in worrying about how much space it might take up. Luckily, there are alternatives to help you and your family make the most of your time in the kitchen. A breakfast bar will add a fresh modern feature in the same way that an island would but without the need for a lot of space. The small difference in

design will allow you to strike that important balance between having the kitchen makeover you desire while keeping it functional and family-friendly. You’ve probably heard this said before, but the colour palette you opt for will have a big influence on the end result of your new kitchen and I’d recommend favouring light and bright. This doesn’t have to be run of the mill; white can be paired tastefully with bursts of a subtle colour, such as icy blue for an on-trend finish, or reflective surfaces to create the illusion of a bigger room. Clever cabinetry will also go a long way in a smaller kitchen. Consider combining a breakfast bar with innovative storage solutions such as handle-less units, which won’t take up as much of your precious space. For kitchen inspiration, visit www.kellerkitchens.com

Feature Catherine Smalley

Trend Collection cabinetry, in Powder Pink, price on enquiry, Keller Kitchens

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We’re thinking of changing our downstairs rooms to an open-plan layout but how should we decorate it? Kirsty Owens, via email Philippa Prinsloo, Head of Design for Home at John Lewis & Partners, advises… Zoning is key, as it means you can integrate areas for quieter moments alongside the main social spaces. It creates the illusion of additional space and is ideal for entertaining, as well as for family homes where you need to keep an eye on a lot of people and things at once. Opt for a neutral scheme but use pops of colour, tones and textures to help delineate the space. Create designated living areas with sofas and dining tables (see below), but ensure your seating area is positioned away from the hustle and bustle of the kitchen. Lighting is also important. While the kitchen may be equipped with spotlightss, which give out cool light, choosing statement pendants for your dining area and lamps in the main living space will soften the look and feel of an open-plan room. Find out more at www.johnlewis.com

Despite having two garage-door hand transmitters, we’re always losing them or leaving them in the wrong car. Are there any other systems out there that might make our lives easier? Percy Sullivan, Nottingham David O’Mara, Marketing Manager at Hörmann, has these suggestions… For anyone who wants to move away from the traditional fob, there are smart systems available. The Hörmann BiSecur SmartHome app, for example, allows you to operate your garage, entrance or internal doors from your smartphone. Also, the new generation of SupraMatic and ProMatic garage door operators have an intelligent interface and a plug-in accessory to make them compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home Hub. Users will also be notified on their smartphone when a garage door is partially open and can turn the garage operator’s light on via the app. The system can be set up on more than one smartphone, which makes it ideal for a busy household. But for added peace of mind, each user can have their own individual settings, so if there are any teenagers in the house using the app, they won’t necessarily have full control. Visit www.hormann. co.uk for more information

We’ve recently moved into a quirky and thick-walled 17th-century cottage in the countryside and are struggling to get effective Wi-Fi throughout our home. What can we do to solve this problem? Sandra Mason, via email Melanie Gajic, Head of Networks at Gigaclear, says… Getting good internet speeds is not on the cards for most rural homes. But even if you’re lucky enough to live in one of the rural areas that’s already been connected with fullfibre, ultrafast internet, your Wi-Fi can still let you down. The thing is, even though your router is capable of uploading and downloading at gigabit speeds, the quirky layout and thick stone walls of old country homes mean traditional Wi-Fi, which is essentially radio signal, will either bounce back or get absorbed. But there are a few ways to address your poor-performing Wi-Fi and, hopefully, improve it. Here are our top three:

plan on entertaining. Darker designs and styles are a little more forgiving when it comes to everyday marks. Hard flooring is a popular option in many homes that often host guests. If you’re working to a budget, luxury vinyl tiles are an elegant choice. They effectively emulate more expensive design styles, such as wood and stone, while being incredibly practical and durable. Luxury vinyl tiles are not only highly water resistant, low maintenance and easy to look after, but also compatible with underfloor heating, so they make a good choice for dining rooms. Alternatively, vinyl or lino flooring is even less expensive and still a practical choice. There’s a huge variety of styles and colours and, being easy to fit, highly durable, slip-resistant and moisture-proof, it’s ideal for busy households with young children.

1. Check your device settings: make sure you’re not slowing your system down with unnecessary automatic downloads or too many connected devices. 2. Move your router: don’t stuff it down between the Chesterfield and the Cotswold stone – put it somewhere central and as open as possible. And don’t forget to think three dimensionally – if your router is on the ground floor and you want to browse the web upstairs, put it on a bookshelf or somewhere higher up. Don’t leave it on the floor! 3. Upgrade to a ‘mesh’ router: There are routers out there designed specifically for traditional country homes, such as the Gigaclear powered by Linksys router. Mesh WiFi works by extending the signal, like a bubble, over your entire property so that the connection is equally strong in every room of the house. This is the simplest option. Ultimately, whether your house has walls as thick as an underground bunker or is so deep in the English countryside that your nearest neighbour is a 40km away, you shouldn’t have to choose between where you want to live and workable Wi-Fi. Luckily, you may not have to!

Layering with rugs will add a warm touch underfoot and as well as adding colour and pattern. Visit www.carpetright.co.uk for more Tegola Atlas Oiled Oak Nature laminate, £14.99 per sq m, Carpetright

Gigaclear powered by Linksys router. Price dependant on Wi-Fi package.

ASK THE EXPERTS

We love the idea of wood or stone flooring in our dining room but it’s out of our budget. What alternatives do you recommend? Brendan Donnelly, Country Antrim David Snazel, Hard Flooring Buyer at Carpetright, suggests the following… When it comes to choosing flooring for your dining room, there are three main things to consider: style and design, durability and ease of cleaning. Dining rooms usually see a lot of traffic, so it’s best to opt for highquality, durable flooring that’s low maintenance and will stand the test of time. It’s likely there will be spills and splashes from food and drinks, so choosing a material that’s easy to clean is essential, particularly if you

To find out more about Gigaclear’s Smart Wi-Fi packages with mesh networks, visit www.gigaclear.com

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

www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

CRAFT STASH Find the latest crafting news, workshops and brilliant buys

EVENT: QUILTS UK If you’re a lover of all things quilted or are interested in this cosy craft, a visit to Quilts UK in Malvern will give you plenty of ideas for your next project. The Three Counties Showground will play host to this open competitive craft show where beautiful quilts made by some of the best stitchers in the UK will be on display. There will also be a jam-packed timetable of workshops with something to tempt every quilter and skill level, from stashbusting Japanese ‘small crafts’ (£8) and marbled button making (£7), to a range of sewing techniques that will take your work to the next level. Tickets on the door are £9, but check out the website for discounted rates and concessions at www.grosvenorshows.co.uk.

LEARN A SKILL Feature Hannah Tribe

Old-school crafting

CRAFT STASH MUST HAVES

Learn the ultimate Scandi craft on a one-day course in the picturesque setting of Dillington House, Somerset. Nålbinding is a type of single needle knitting and was a technique used to create garments many centuries before the double needle knitting we know today. Examples of Roman socks and mittens made by nålbinding are on display in museums, and bone nålbinding needles are often found at Viking burial sites. The course takes place on the 4th May and the £64 fee includes all of the materials, a three-course lunch and refreshments. Visit www. dillington.com to book your course.

must haves

WORKSHOP

Window dressing This beginner’s course teaches the basics of making traditional stained glass. Expert tutor Carol Grey will show you how to use lead to make a 20cm square panel. The course runs at FSC Flatford Mill in Suffolk on the 23rd May. Materials, lunch and refreshments are included in the course fee of £90. Visit www.field-studies-council.org to book your place.

Fun of the fair Roll up, roll up! For a read filled with more than 200 embroidery designs, check out Susie Johns’ new book. Inspired by her love of the circus as a child, Circus Embroidery (£14.99, GMC) depicts hundreds of colourful characters and motifs for you to stitch. But if that seems overwhelming, the book also includes 12 step-bystep projects to give you a helping hand.

KNIT ONE, PURRRRR ONE Nothing beats the cosy feeling of making something beautiful for your home. Lauren Aston’s knitting kits give you the tools you need to create statement animal-print cushions. Go traditional with neutral tones for a classic look or mix and match 25 different colours to create a style of your own. Whichever colours you choose, it’s bound to be a roaring success! Leopard knitting kit, £55, Not On The High Street

YH120 Media Ref: YH120

HOUSE PROUD

New Roman Blinds Collection Our exciting new collection of Roman Blinds opens up a whole world of style choices. All backed by a service weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pleased to say is second to none; with the highest quality products expertly made to measure and fitted beautifully. So whatever the design, window or room we will do your house proud.

luxaflex.co.uk

Reader homes This month’s super stylish homes have their roots in the past

76 Sophia’s home renovation uncovered some hidden gems

Show off your hard work in Your Home Have you just finished decorating your home? If so, we’d love to see some photos and who knows, they may even be featured in a future issue! You can share them on Instagram using #YHlovemyhome and #YourHomemagazine, or email yourhome@immediate.co.uk

Amy’s houseplant collection gives her space a warm personality

TEAL

PLUS IDEAS TO S

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Fenella’s period home oozes classic good taste

FIND MORE INTERIORS TO INSPIRE YOU AT WWW.YOURHOMEMAGAZINE.CO.UK www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

REAL HOME

This renovation project was a really lucky find Sophia and Tom Hardy took on a house that would require a new roof, walls and endless amounts of energy, but a secret cellar, inglenook fireplace and the beautiful finished results made it all worthwhile

n the five years since Sophia and Tom Hardy bought their four-bedroom home in Lichfield, it has become totally unrecognisable from how it was on the day they moved in. ‘I’d always wanted a period property and really loved the idea of a renovation project. When we found this house, it ticked all the boxes: location, style and, of course, it was in need of a major revamp.’ The couple picked up the keys in October 2015 and immediately set about

making the changes. However, with their busy lifestyle, it’s a surprise just how much they took on. ‘I’m now a stay-at-home mum, but with two little ones I do several school runs a day as well as my part-time Instagram work. I’m constantly styling and setting up shots for brand collaborations. My husband has two jobs, so life is extremely busy, and Tom has done most of the work so it’s been a huge task, but it was so rewarding.’ The first big job was installing a new roof.

The kitchen was the last room the couple renovated, and opening up the ceiling has created a large, vaulted space that makes it feel instantly bigger. The navy units from Wickes were Sophia’s choice, while the fabulous tiling was done by Tom. The hexagonal floor tiles were purchased from Ca’ Pietra, and the small wall tiles were from Tons of Tiles; the couple laid them in a herringbone pattern which adds impact to the back wall. A large, range-style cooker was also top of Sophia’s kitchen wish list

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‘When we bought the house, the roof needed a lot of attention as there was a fair amount of damp and some of the tiles were out of place, so getting the house watertight was a priority,’ says Sophia. When they initially moved in, the family were all sleeping in the same bedroom for the first three months while they did some of the structural work. During this time Sophia was heavily pregnant, so they wanted to get Harrison’s room completed before the new baby arrived.

REAL HOME

COME ON IN...

OUR HOME Is a four-bedroom mid-terrace period property in Lichfield. We think it dates back to the 1800s. WE ARE Sophia Hardy, 37, stay-at-home mum, part-time blogger and content creator. Tom, 36, a senior insurance underwriter and retained firefighter, and our two children Harrison, seven, and Wilf, four. MY TOP TIP With a full-house renovation like ours, it makes sense to start at the top and work your way down so you won’t cause any damage to the other rooms. OUR BIGGEST MISTAKE We didn’t restore the fireplaces in the bedrooms as they were so damaged, which I’ve always regretted. We’ve since installed a cast-iron fire surround in the guest bedroom. MY FAVOURITE SHOPS Our best buys are definitely from eBay. We’ve found so much amazing furniture. MY STYLE INSPIRATION I get all my inspiration from Pinterest and Instagram. I’ve also started my own (@sophia.at.home).

ds and Look for second-hand fin old dining an g in nt to customise. Pai y table set like sophia’s isit.an eas way to modernise

Kitchen

The brick inglenook fireplace takes centre stage in the dining room, after all of Tom’s hard work exposing it from behind old plasterboard. The pretty glass lighting was a steal from Lighting Direct, while the table and chairs were freebies from Gumtree. ‘We painted them in Annie Sloan paint and sanded the top to customise them and bring them bang up to date’ The hallway is a welcoming sight when you enter the couple’s home. The patterned tiles, from Wickes, add interest and the rest of the scheme is kept light and bright with a vintage-style light from Wayfair

Hallway Dining room

GROUND FLOOR

Living room

Bathroom

Bedroom

FIRST FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR Master bedroom

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Feature Zoe Bishop Photos Lizzie Orme

Good idea!freebies

REAL HOME ‘Once we’d finished Harrison’s room, we were on a deadline to get the new baby’s nursery decorated before his arrival, so I have fond memories of styling that room while being heavily pregnant, and finally little Wilf arrived to help keep me extra busy during the months of renovations,’ explains Sophia. After the boys’ rooms, the couple headed back into the loft bedroom and extended their top-floor room into the other side of the loft by removing a fake wall and creating a mezzanine-style room with a dressing space for Sophia. ‘I wanted a little bit of sanctuary in the upstairs rooms so we could enjoy the space with the boys while the rest of the house was being decorated,’ recollects Sophia. The couple made a good team, as while decorating the house they both had clear roles; Tom did a lot of the DIY where he could, but they also employed specialist trades when needed, and then Sophia handled all of the soft furnishings and finishing touches. ‘I use Pinterest and Instagram to get ideas for each room, and I always try to do a mood board. And, as we’ve had to rewire the whole house, I was able to choose where the new lighting and sockets would go,’ explains Sophia. The sitting room and hallway were all pretty simple, with Tom using IKEA units to create fitted cupboards in the hallway for all the family’s coats, but the inclusion of the bold patterned tiles in the entrance hall

Good idea!

When using a dark paint colour on the walls, keep the rest of the room tonal and simple to showcase the statement shade.

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

Sophia loves the cosiness of her living room, and the open fire makes all the difference. Tom made the alcove shelving and cupboards, which sit either side of the fireplace. The brass mirror looks great on the hearth, while the old wingback chair was reupholstered by a local company. ‘The chair was actually left in the house by the previous owner and we loved it so much we decided to keep it,’ says Sophia The loose-cover sofa and matching foot stool were purchased from IKEA. They give the room a comfy feel and can be easily washed – perfect with two little boys. Sophia used a dark paint called Hague Blue from Farrow & Ball on the walls and then added some space-inspired prints from Desenio. The IKEA rug adds texture to the floor and the coffee table was a bargain buy from Lidl

REAL HOME Harrison’s room has a similar calming colour scheme to Wilf’s, but has a grown-up feel with the chevron curtains from George at Asda. Sophia has also used IKEA picture shelving as a fun way to display all of Harrison’s books Wilf’s bedroom is one of Sophia’s favourite rooms, with a mountain mural painted on the wall and a simple, soothing colour scheme for a good night’s sleep. The room is quite small, but by including clever storage Sophia has made use of every inch of space

Good idea!BUDGET,

A FOR A GUEST BEDROOM SCHEMACE T,ONLOW-COST MP BE CLEVER WITH HIGH-I A STEP STOOL PIECES, SUCH AS USING LE. AS A BEDSIDE TAB

Sophia’s guest room has a natural, tranquil feel, with Pebble Shore matt emulsion from Dulux used on the walls. The vintage-style Sagstua bed frame was from IKEA and the natural bed linen was picked up in an end-of-season sale at H&M Home. A simple step stool makes a clever bedside table

Even the little ones appreciate some fun artwork, and this display is topped off by being the perfect place to keep Harrison’s Lego people

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REAL HOME really adds impact as you walk through the door. They also reinstalled the partition wall between the sitting room and dining room. ‘I really wanted two separate spaces and the idea of a cosy, snug living room was the reason for putting the wall back in,’ says Sophia. The biggest projects would be the kitchen and bathroom. The couple had planned to extend both rooms to make it one large open-plan space, which also allowed them to extend the first-floor bathroom. However, after looking at the costs and what they would gain, it wasn’t financially viable. It also seemed a lot of structural work for a few extra feet, so they decided to stick with what they had. With this in mind, they ripped out the original dated bathroom and made it a priority to have a new bath. ‘The previous owner only had a shower and no bath, but with two kids it was a must on my shopping list,’ says Sophia. The dining room and kitchen were the last project and the most expensive, but with their clever planning the whole job took less than

six weeks. Tom started stripping the room out and then discovered the low ceiling was hiding a beautiful vaulted beamed roof, which the couple were pleased to keep. ‘I love that old period properties have high ceilings, and this really makes the most of the kitchen,’ says Sophia. ‘We’ve had amazing luck with this house. While decorating the dining space we discovered a cellar which had been filled in since the 1960s – it wasn’t even on the house deeds – and our inglenook fireplace which we’ve restored in the dining room is the most amazing find in the whole house. The previous owner, who had sadly passed away, had lived in the house for almost 50 years and didn’t know there was a cellar or fireplace,’ says Sophia. After four years, the couple have the home they wanted and there isn’t a thing they would change. As for it being their forever home? ‘As much as I love it, this isn’t our forever home. We love renovating so much we’re keen for another project, but we’ll have a break first,’ smiles Sophia.

The bathroom renovation was quite a big job. The couple went for a traditional-style Chatsworth bath, sink and toilet from Victorian Plumbing. The faux oak wood-effect tiles from Topps Tiles were laid in a herringbone pattern

‘I wanted a little bit of sanctuary in the upstairs rooms.’

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REAL HOME

6 IDEAS TO STEAL

Good idea!

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX EN BRI NGING TEXTILES INTO YOUR SPACEWH FOR A COSY FEEL – A LADDER IS AN EASY WAY TO STORE AND DISPLAY THROWS.

Co-ordinate your pictures to add a natural flow to your home. Botanical prints, from £5.96, Desenio Metal and wood will give your scheme an industrial feel. This table doubles up as two levels of storage. Skandi storage table, £40, Argos Home

Add colour and interest through accessories that can be easily updated. Stacking mugs, £14 for three; teapot, £14, both Sainsbury’s Home A comfy chair from IKEA and a retro record player have created a comfortable corner in this stunning bedroom, with feature walls painted in Sapphire Salute from Dulux Wanting a larger bedroom, the couple opened up the loft to create this stunning raised mezzanine-style sleeping area, which is accessed by a couple of steps. ‘I couldn’t believe how much extra room the top-floor bedroom had once we’d opened it all up’ There was enough space to create a dressing area in the loft, where the couple can keep all their clothes. The walls were painted in a fresh navy blue from Dulux and Sophia upcycled the chest of drawers with some leftover paint from Farrow & Ball and new handles from eBay. ‘We kept the doors rustic throughout the house to keep the period feel,’ says Sophia

Patterned cushions add life to any natural sofa – this tassel striped cushion will make all the difference. Tassel cushion, £7, George Home

Add impact in the hallway with bold tiles. Eastern Patchwork 20x20cm tiles, £18.99 per sq m, Tons of Tiles This light fitting will take centre stage in any room. Sienna three-light pendant, £79, Dunelm

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 122

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REAL HOME

I used interesting wallpapers and colours to link the rooms together Calming shades and stylish sophistication meet in this historic townhouse, which has been a renovation straight from the heart for interior designer Fenella Falconer

A cosy chair and recessed bookshelves make this the perfect spot for reading. Fenellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small collection of hand-painted watercolours adorn the walls here, with antique brass lamps from Jim Lawrence adding to the vintage feel of the room. The desk and chair are original Georgian pieces and have been handed down the family

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REAL HOME

ith its quirky fairytale chimneys, wide wooden floorboards and original sash windows, Fenella Falconer and her husband Charlie were immediately drawn in when they first viewed the Grade-II-listed house that would eventually become their home. They held back on snapping it up immediately, though, due to the small courtyard garden and its lack of off-street parking. ‘We had only just started looking at that time, so we decided against it and, of course, the house then went under offer very quickly so we thought it had gone,’ explains Fenella. ‘However, when it came back on the market a few months later and we still hadn’t found anything, we felt it was meant to be.’ Despite fate lending a hand, the couple still had some misgivings about the house on

moving day. ‘Standing in the house on the first day we moved in, we looked around and there was dust on the wall where the pictures had hung, marks on the carpet where the furniture had stood and fresh crumbs in the kitchen cupboards,’ says Fenella. ‘There were loads of old plant pots either side of the front door and a couple of broken panes of glass. To be honest, at that point we wondered what on earth we had done!’ From that moment on, the couple invested every spare minute they had into the house to bring it back to life. Until then they had been living in various flats separately in London, so this house marked the first time that they had a family home together. They were determined to make the most of all of its period charm and unique features. Dusty carpets were pulled up, fireplaces that had been blocked for decades were opened

Good idea!

Add atmospher old and new. Aedetocoa house by mixing has some history to rative piece that it interest, even towthill always add contemporary space most es.

The large fireplace, cosy sofa and plump cushions make this space feel warm and homely. The sofa and button back chair are both from Made. com with a coffee table upcycled by Fenella. ‘I had a piece of honed Crème Marfil stone cut for the top – from a local stone mason – to give it that lovely luxe finish.’ The walls are painted in Little Greene’s Slaked Lime

COME ON IN...

WE ARE Fenella and Charlie Falconer, an interior designer and operations manager for a travel company. We live here with our sixyear-old daughter, Harriet. OUR HOME IS A double-fronted Georgian townhouse in Manningtree, Essex, that was originally on a row of terraced cottages, built in the 1500s. MY TOP TIP Only buy things that will work. Try not to make rushed ‘got-to-sort-it-outnow‘ decisions or be taken in by discounts and sales. It will quite likely end up in the loft or on eBay. MY FAVOURITE ROOM I love the living room as it feels light, calm and peaceful and it’s such a lovely place to relax. MY BEST BUY The glass-fronted cabinet in the dining room. It was the perfect size for the alcove and all it needed was a lick of paint to give it a new lease of life. MY ADVICE When decorating, use neutral colours to create breathing spaces between each of the rooms. FIRST FLOOR Utility room

Feature Ciara Elliott Photos Rachael Smith

Dining room

Kitchen Family room

Hall

Sitting room

SECOND FLOOR The façade and chimneys of the house date from Georgian times, while the interior of the cottage is even earlier. ‘We suspect the chimneys were high so as to avoid smoke going into the second-floor windows of the larger house next door,’ explains Fenella

Harriet’s bedroom

Attic

Bathroom

Hall Spare bedroom

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Master bedroom

REAL HOME and, in the space of the two years before their daughter Harriet was born in 2013, jobs such as reroofing, replumbing and new electrics were all done. Wooden floors were stripped and sanded and the house was replastered and redecorated. The kitchen was replaced while Harriet was in a high chair. Although it had been the couple’s dream to renovate an old property, they weren’t quite prepared for how involved the project would be. ‘We’d both hankered after an old and interesting property and we knew we were lucky enough to have one, but it was a lot of work!’ says Fenella. ‘A wonderful discovery was the two fireplaces which had been blocked up. So, we opened these up and added a dual fuel burner in the family room, as well as an original Georgian fire grate in the sitting room.’ With Fenella’s keen eye for antiques, coupled with her interior training – she runs her own design consultancy – the house was soon filled with a variety of interesting pieces and objects gathered throughout the years or found at local auctions. ‘I think the glassfronted cabinet in the dining room is my most proud find. We had been looking for ages as it had to be a specific size for the alcove and I spotted it literally sitting in a dusty corner. We got it for a song and set to work. It was meant to be!’ Over the nine years of renovating their house, other features of interest that have been unearthed during the refurbishment

This space was originally the coach house for the bigger building next door and so it has an extra-high ceiling, which creates quite a feature. Fenella revamped the glass-fronted cabinet by painting it in Dulux Heron eggshell to tie it in with the rest of the painted cabinetry. The quirky fitted cupboards were in the house already. The dining room table is a farmhouse kitchen table from Fenella’s old family home and the chairs are Ercol, which Fenella found in an auction and painted with Farrow & Ball Down Pipe. The collection of framed prints were found in a local antique shop

Fenella discovered the original block parquet wood floor in the hallway when they pulled up the old carpet. ‘It was such a joy to find.’ The mirror was from the house’s previous owners, while the cabinet and boat are from a local antique shop. The wallpaper is Little Greene Bayham Abbey in Light Gold

Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

Good idea!

Fenella’s striking collection of framed are from prints were a fantastic find. Theyport o a local antique shop which had a anfoli eye Keep of Georgian period mouldings. out in local second-hand stores for artwork.

REAL HOME The light-filled double-aspect kitchen overlooks the village green on one side and the courtyard garden on the other. The window seat is a favourite place to perch. The Eames Eiffel-style dining chairs are from Cult Furniture and paired with the Linnmon table from IKEA. The artwork above the little fireplace is an original etching made by a fellow student at art school when Fenella was doing her foundation course A classic white and grey palette with Shaker-style cabinetry creates a calming scheme. The kitchen is Burford in Grey with a solid oak worktop and extra-tall wall units, all from Howdens. The floor tiles are Jerusalem Bone honed limestone from Floors of Stone, with Metro ivory tiles from Topps Tiles

‘We’d both hankered after an old, interesting property and we knew we were lucky enough to have one, but it was a lot of work.’ include unusual block wood, parquetstyle flooring in the hallway, which is now on show, as well as beautiful intact Georgian floorboards in the bathroom, which had been painted over in a gloopy white gloss paint that needed many hours of sanding to get back to their original state. ‘One expense which we hadn’t factored in when we first moved in was that we had to reroof the dining room,’ says Fenella. ‘But there are always so many things in old houses. You really do it out of love for

the project rather than anything else. This house just managed to captivate us and, while sometimes it feels like a madness, it is ultimately very satisfying to see it come together.’ The couple also added shelving and cabinetry upstairs and downstairs and put in a new kitchen and bathroom. They’ve even given the outside of the property a freshen up, having cleared the overgrown garden and landscaped the space to create a tranquil little haven with an

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REAL HOME

The blue theme continues into the spare bedroom with its teal chenille upholstered headboard against a feature wall of woodland bird wallpaper, which is Great Ormond Street in Parchment by Little Greene. The wardrobes are painted in Little Greeneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clay. Fenella has styled the room with a Kilim rug and cushion from the Rug & Carpet Studio in nearby Long Melford, an old trunk found in a collectables store, a chair gifted by a friend, and striped curtains that were handmade using cotton fabric in Crewe Red from Tinsmiths Distinctive wallpaper and interesting pieces of old and new furniture break up the neutral bedroom scheme. Layered rugs add to the nonchalant feel. The wallpaper is Lauderdale in Hammock from Little Greene and the Amelia bed frame is from Time4Sleep, while the vintage capiz shell lampshade was a present for Fenella from Charlie. The antique three-part mirror on the chest is a family heirloom from India, made in the early 1900s, and the long mirror was an eBay find which Fenella painted

Good idea!

the builtTo create a subtle contrast betweenbath room, the in cupboards and the walls in used has lla Fene . try using two shades of blue ls wal the on e Blu Little Greene Marine and Valspar Lone Splendour on the cupboards.

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REAL HOME

IDEAS TO STEAL

If you have nautical connections in the family, a model sailboat would be a lovely addition to the mantlepiece. English sailing yacht model, £50, The Nautical Company

Use seagrass baskets to showcase plants or store linen. Seagrass belly basket, £8, George Home; woven basket, £65, Cult Furniture

An elegant free-standing roll-top bath has been placed under the window. Painted wooden panelling and various objects and pictures complete this modern take on a country bathroom look. The walls are painted in Little Greene Marine Blue, and the built-in cupboards are in Valspar Lone Splendour eggshell, a couple of shades darker for contrast. The bamboo and rattan stool is an original 1970s Habitat design, while the rattan laundry basket is from John Lewis & Partners and the rugs and mats are from Homeplace

Perfect for a smart scheme, a full-length mirror is both practical and appealing. Aurora full-length mirror, £250, Oliver Bonas

‘Standing in the house on the day we moved in, we wondered what on earth we had done.’ abundance of scented roses, lavender and herbs. ‘To be honest it is an ongoing project and even now there is always something that needs a bit of attention,’ says Fenella. ‘Just last year we had the sash windows renovated. They are the original windows with the original glass and are over 200 years old. It is quite a feat that they are still intact after all that time.’ And any plans for more improvements? ‘Well, aside from the standard old-house issues, we have some of the nasty woodchip paper on the upstairs landing ceiling, so the next job is to strip that and hope that the old plaster and ceiling doesn’t come down with it!’

Bring soft textures in with cushions. Pompom cushion, £14, Next

Invite florals and foliage into your home with framed illustrations. Picture in gold frame, £12.99, TK Maxx

Freshen up with luxurious towels. Blue hand towels, from £8 each, Christy Home

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 122

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REAL HOME

Second-hand finds make our home so unique With her keen eye for a bargain, the plant-filled vintage oasis that is Amy Giles-Heard’s Edwardian property has charm and personality in spades Amy’s home oozes with creativity and a natural, vintage cool. As a florist, she has spent many years cultivating the living plant shelf running above the sofa

lorist and mum of three Amy GilesHeard was living just around the corner when she spotted the ‘for sale’ sign go up on this house five years ago, and issues with her then-home meant she felt ready to make the move. ‘We had spent years renovating our previous family home and I loved it, but it wasn’t right for children as it was on five levels and I was continually going up and down the stairs, with all of us sleeping on different floors,’ she explains. ‘When you have small children, this is no easy task and we had been talking about moving for a while but weren’t sure how to make it work.’ Having seen the house, which was two

streets over from where the family were living overlooking Dovercourt beach, in Harwich in Essex, the property was in excellent condition and offered an extra bedroom, living room and a larger, secluded garden for their children. Amy immediately felt the move would be a good one. She now just had to convince her partner that it was also the right thing to do. ‘He could see the huge potential in creating a similar feel to our previous home, but with more space and a better layout to do it, but we were both worried about making the finances work. I was told that if we did it, I had to have no grand plans this time. It was all to be done on a shoestring!’

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REAL HOME

COME ON IN...

WE ARE Amy, a florist, and my partner

The sofa and chairs are from eBay and the trunk was picked up at local car boot sale. Amy bought the tripod corner lamp in an antique shop in Colchester and found the chandelier at a car boot sale. The armchair was from a house clearance shop, while the red Anglepoise lamp was also a vintage find

Matthew, an accountant, along with our three boys, Joe, 21, Theo, 12, and Eddie, 11. We have two cats, Rosie and Nahla. OUR HOME Is a semi-detached fivebedroom Edwardian house, a two-minute walk away from Dovercourt beach in Essex. MY BEST BARGAIN IS The plant shelf in our living room, which is a 13ft reclaimed scaffold board from a reclamation yard. SHOPS I LOVE Include Rosehip, which is online at www.rosehipinthecountry.com. Many of my cushions are from there. I’M MOST PROUD OF My mirror wall up the stairs. I’ve been collecting them since my teens, but never spent more than £5 on one.

BEST BIT ABOUT LIVING HERE IS All of the intact original period features and the natural light. It is bright here every day.

The dining room feels light, bright and verdant with warm wooden floors and furniture combined with a collection of colourful hand-painted chairs

GROUND FLOOR

Living Room Dining Room

Kitchen Living Room

FIRST FLOOR Bedroom 2

Bathroom

Bedroom 3 Bedroom 1

Feature Ciara Elliott Photos Rachael Smith

While making the move might have been a financial stretch, the family were lucky in that the house was in good enough condition to need no structural work. Also, all of the painting and decorating and any small jobs, they decided, could be done themselves. ‘I have always bought pretty much all of my furniture and soft furnishings second-hand at auction houses, car boots, charity shops or vintage fairs anyway,’ says Amy, ‘so I knew that we could make this house lovely without spending too much.’ Nearly six years on, the house has been an ongoing interiors project for Amy, who is a natural at both finding brilliant pieces everywhere she looks and styling things up

SECOND FLOOR

Bedroom 5 Bedroom 4

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REAL HOME Traditional cupboards maximise storage space in the kitchen, while the range adds to the vintage, country feel of the house. Open shelves and a chest of drawers display collections of storage jars and tea and coffee pots and mugs. The Smeg fridge adds to the retro feel of the space

at home with a professional, creative eye. The thing that brings this house together is, of course, all the plants dotted around every room. ‘Having my own flower and plant shop means I have access to a wide array of plants,’ says Amy. ‘I have always had plants at home after my nan gave me a large, trailing cactus many moons ago and I was hooked. I have had some of my plants since I was 15 years old, so they have been with me longer than my children!’ In terms of making the house their own, Amy is not shy of a paintbrush either. ‘The fireplace and mantel in the living room were dark wood when we moved in, so I just repainted them using Farrow & Ball Slipper Satin, which I had left over from my previous house,’ she says. The family love an open fire, so ‘the fact that the house had working fireplaces was a huge bonus for us as we’d spent a lot of money in our previous home getting these working again’.

Good idea!

FOR ANY EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON YOUR WISH LIST, TRY EBAY TO GET THEM FOR LESS, as AMY DID WITH HER RECONDITIONED FRIDGE. The chest of drawers houses all of the family’s earthenware and casserole dishes and was purchased from Martlesham Mill, nearby in Woodbridge. The ceiling pendant light is from Jim Lawrence

‘I love a neutral colour palette on the walls as I find it easier to inject colour with inexpensive items such as soft furnishings and foliage.’ Another big selling point of this house for Amy was the kitchen, which didn’t need much work doing to it other than resanding the floors and adding in some shelves. The fridge was built-in and too small for a family of five so, in keeping with her love of salvage and vintage, Amy purchased a reconditioned Smeg fridge-freezer from eBay. ‘I think the only thing that was actually bought new in this whole kitchen is the ceiling light!’ laughs Amy. ‘It’s from Jim Lawrence.’ When it comes to decorating, Amy says she likes to keep a neutral palette on the walls and floors so that she can then add in colour and interest with inexpensive items, such as using soft furnishings, flowers or foliage, which she often changes with the seasons. ‘My best buy has to be the chandeliers we have throughout the house.’

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REAL HOME

Amy and Matthew pulled up the carpets in the hallway and stairs to expose lovely floorboards, which they sanded down

A stove, pale furniture and warm original floorboards give the living space a rustic and relaxed feel. The cool colour palette brings in a sophisticated and stylish element. Walls are painted in Farrow & Ballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s James White. Amyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two sofas were purchased on eBay, while the chandelier was a car boot find. The coffee table, mirror and chest of drawers were all bought at auction, as was the floor lamp. Cushions are a mixture, from La Redoute, H&M, Primark and Rosehip. All flowers and planters are from Buds Flower Shop

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REAL HOME Open shelves, with their mix of gathered curios, books and vintage pieces, look fresh, chic and inviting in 12-year-old Theo’s bedroom. Walls are painted in Elgin from Mylands. Theo’s bed is from a discount bed store, which Amy found on eBay for £75. The shelf is a painted floorboard

‘Having my own flower and plant shop means I have natural access to a wide array of plants.’

The art is a mix of prints from Art Maison on Instagram and charity shop finds – the bird picture is from the Red Cross shop nearby. The plants and pots are all from Amy’s florist shop.

Amy had already used chandeliers in their last house and wasn’t planning on having them here, ‘but then I found one on eBay for £25, and the other at a car boot sale for only £20. I couldn’t leave it behind’! In terms of future plans with the property, an old house like this is an ongoing project and will never be completely finished, says Amy. ‘Our bathroom is a work in progress still and we want to do a proper job with our master bedroom, which needs built-in wardrobes. But, for now, we are happy to enjoy all we have achieved so far – and on such a good budget!’

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Theo’s desk and wardrobe are both from Martlesham Mill

REAL HOME A simple plant shelf and a classic-style bath creates vintage drama against the two-tone wall. The shelf is another reclaimed scaffold board purchased from The Hythe in Colchester and the brackets are painted wooden ones which Amy’s dad made

IDEAS TO STEAL Add vintage style with a tripod lamp, which is just the right amount of Hollywood glamour in any cosy corner. Tripod lamp, £35, Argos

Good idea!

FOR A THRIFTY SHELVING SOLUTION,KEUSE YOUR RECLAIMED WOODEN BOARDS TO MA M’S ROO THE TCH MA TO M THE OWN AND PAINT AS ISH FIN OD WO THE VE LEA SCHEME OR IT IS FOR A RUSTIC LOOK.

A wall of mix-and-match mirrors look super stylish and very on-trend. Mirrors, from £17.50, Oliver Bonas

‘My best buy has to be my chandeliers, which I have throughout the house.’ The master bedroom is simple and uncluttered, with muted colours echoing the natural, earthy palette used throughout the house. Walls are painted in White Mist from Dulux. The bed is from Argos, with another floorboard as a shelf – this came from the recently demolished Cliff Hotel, an iconic Harwich building. Amy has added detail with tasseled cushions, pompom fairy lights, and plants and pots from her shop, along with a selection of monochrome prints from Instagram shop Art Maison, and a wicker plant pot from Sainsbury’s Home for additional texture

Give your space a natural, verdant feel with plants and succulents, both real and faux. Succulents and plant pots, from £4 each, Sainsbury’s Home

Transparent glass shades are less harsh than exposed lighting while still adding that contemporary feel. Bubble hanging lamp, £54.95, Cuckooland

Trunks are a great way to add modular storage and can also be used as coffee tables or bedside tables. Pink trunk, £44.99, Michelle Keegan at Very

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 122

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Food & drink Get the scoop on this month’s fresh foodie finds and try our tasty recipes

3 ways with... new potatoes ✱ To make a delicious side, parboil your potatoes. Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C Fan/Gas Mark 7. Once the potatoes are tender, drain them, drizzle with olive oil and add sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and rosemary or thyme. Roast for 25 minutes. ✱ For an easy traybake dinner, preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6. Add 500g new potatoes, 130g pitted green olives, 4 lemon quarters, 8 fresh bay leaves and 6 unpeeled garlic cloves into a large roasting tin and toss with olive oil. Add 4 chicken thighs, skin-side up, and season. Put in the oven for 1 hour or until the skin is crisp, basting with the pan juices midway through. ✱ To make a new potato salad, boil 500g potatoes until tender. Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together 1 tbsp Dijon mustard and the zest and juice of half an unwaxed lemon. Next, gradually whisk in 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil until it forms a smooth emulsion. Drain the potatoes and mix with the dressing. Top with chopped flat-leaf parsley to serve.

If you do one thing this month... Celebrate your favourite recipes and UK regional dishes with Kate Guy’s charming illustrated kitchenware. From soupe à l’oignon to Lancashire hotpot, the artist and designer has used linocut blocks to create prints that 350 million coffee capsules are are made up of each consumed every year in the UK but 70 recipe’s individual per cent never get recycled. So, a coffee ingredients. Priced lover and a scientist decided to create a at £12 for tea biodegradable capsule. Pick from a range towels and of Fairtrade blends and – even better – £24 for oven get them delivered to your door at £2.80 for 10 capsules. gloves. See www.movingbeans.com. the range at www. kateguy. co.uk.

Feature Catherine Smalley

this month we love…

Try me…

Eat me…

Buy me…

Cheese lovers rejoice! Awardwinning cheese producer, Quicke’s, has launched an online shop with artisan cheeses from across South West England and beyond. Splash out on a Devonshire red truckle or experiment with an elderflower clothbound cheese, handcrafted from the farm’s own grass-fed cows. Place your order at www.quickes.co.uk.

Peckish? Try a snack that packs a punch and contains less than 117 calories per portion. Graze’s new Crunch flavours are seriously addictive. There’s Lightly Sea Salted, a crunchy mix of pretzel bites, peas, broad beans and corn, or the Sweet Chilli flavour which is suited to more adventurous foodies. Priced at £2.99 and available at most major UK retailers.

One of the joys of spring and summer is the delicious fruits available in local markets and from our own gardens. In Simple Fruit, Laurie Pfalzer shares her family recipes for baking, poaching, sautéing and roasting throughout the seasons. The strawberry pavlova, pear and fig pie and fromage blanc cheesecake with brown butter braised plums are all to die for!

CHECK OUT WWW.YOURHOMEMAGAZINE.CO.UK/FOOD FOR MORE TASTY RECIPES www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

FOOD & DRINK

Fishing for compliments We’ve searched the seven seas for healthy seafood dishes to enjoy this spring

Spaghetti with crab, lemon, chilli, parsley and radish shavings YOU WILL NEED ✔ 500g dried spaghetti ✔ 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil ✔ 4 garlic cloves, sliced ✔ 1 tsp fennel seeds ✔ 1 large red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped ✔ 150g white crab meat ✔ 50g brown crab meat ✔ 2 lemons, zested and juiced ✔ 1 large bunch of parsley, shredded ✔ To serve 50g French breakfast radishes, very thinly sliced

Feature Catherine Smalley

DIRECTIONS ■ Bring a large pan of salted water to boil. Cook the dried spaghetti according to the packet instructions. ■ While you are waiting for the spaghetti to cook, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the garlic and fennel seeds, and cook over a medium heat until the garlic starts to turn golden brown. Remove from the heat and add the chilli, both crab meats, lemon zest and juice, and parsley. ■ Once the spaghetti is cooked, drain thoroughly, then add to the pan with the crab sauce. Season with sea salt and plenty of black pepper and mix well. Divide between four warm bowls. Sprinkle over the radishes and serve at once. Recipe and images courtesy of www.loveradish.co.uk

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PREPARATION TIME 5 MINUTES COOKING TIME 15-20 MINUTES SERVES 4

FOOD & DRINK PREPARATION TIME 10 MINUTES COOKING TIME 20 MINUTES SERVES 2

Roasted tomato and smoked mackerel salad YOU WILL NEED ✔ 300g Isle of Wight Cocktail Vine tomatoes, halved ✔ chilli flakes ✔ olive oil ✔ 2 tbsp slowroasted tomatoes, chopped ✔ 1 tbsp mayonnaise ✔ 2 tbsp crème fraîche ✔ half a lemon ✔ bag of salad leaves ✔ 2 peppered mackerel fillets, flaked

DIRECTIONS ■ Season the halved Cocktail Vine tomatoes with salt, pepper, a few chilli flakes and a drizzle of olive oil. Roast them for 20 minutes at 190°C/170°C Fan/ Gas Mark 5, then allow to cool. ■ Make a dressing with the slow-roasted tomatoes, mayonnaise, crème fraîche, a squeeze of lemon, and salt and pepper. ■ Top a bowl of salad leaves with the peppered mackerel, roast Cocktail Vine tomatoes and the slow-roasted tomato dressing. Recipe and image courtesy of Isle of Wight Tomatoes, www.thetomatostall.co.uk

Malaysian-spiced sea bass YOU WILL NEED ✔ 2cm ginger ✔ 1 garlic clove ✔ 6 shallots, 2 chopped into quarters and 4 sliced into rings ✔ 3 tsp oil ✔ 2 sea bass fillets ✔ 200g rainbow chard, sliced ✔ 1 red chilli, sliced ✔ 1 lime ✔ 250g pack Tilda Ready Steamed

PREPARATION TIME 35 MINUTES COOKING TIME 15 MINUTES SERVES 2

Brown and Wild Rice

DIRECTIONS ■ Put the ginger, garlic, 2 chopped shallots and 1 tsp oil into a small blender/herb chopper and whizz to a paste. Score the fish skins and rub the shallot paste into both sides of the fish. Marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes or longer. ■ Heat the remaining oil in a large non-stick frying pan with a lid. When the oil is sizzling, scrape most of the marinade from the skin side, then lay the fish in, skin-side down. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the skin is crisp but the fish isn’t cooked through. ■ Gently lift out the fish and set aside on a warm plate. Toss the chard, remaining shallots and chilli in the pan, reduce the heat to medium, then tip in the soy sauce and the juice of half the lime. Toss until the vegetables are well coated. ■ Lay the fish back on top and put the lid on to steam for 3-4 minutes until the greens are wilted and a little toasty, and the fish is cooked through. ■ Lift the fish onto warm plates and tip the rice into the frying pan with the greens. Toss together for 2 minutes and taste to check the seasoning. Dish up the rice and add an extra squeeze of lime to serve. Recipe and image courtesy of www.ukshallot.com

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FOOD & DRINK

Classic fish pie YOU WILL NEED

PREPARATION TIME 30 MINUTES COOKING TIME 40-45 MINUTES SERVES 4

✔ For the mash 800g Maris Piper potatoes ✔ 60g unsalted butter ✔ 3 tbsp double cream ✔ For the parsley sauce 30g butter ✔ 30g plain flour ✔ 400ml milk ✔ 80g mature Cheddar cheese, grated ✔ 3 tbsp double cream ✔ 1 tsp Dijon mustard ✔ pinch of grated nutmeg ✔ small bunch of fresh curly parsley, chopped ✔ For the pie 400g mixed frozen Young’s fish ✔ 2 eggs, hard-boiled and quartered ✔ 50g frozen peas ✔ handful of fresh baby spinach leaves ✔ 30g mature Cheddar cheese, grated

DIRECTIONS ■ Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°Fan/Gas Mark 6. For the mash, peel and chop the potatoes and boil until tender. Drain and mash with the butter, cream and some seasoning. ■ To make the sauce, melt the butter, add the flour and cook gently for 2 minutes until thickened. Gradually whisk in the milk and bring to the boil, stirring continuously until the sauce has thickened. Add the cheese, cream, mustard, nutmeg, parsley and some seasoning. Cook for a further minute, whisking all the time. ■ Pour enough sauce to cover the base of an ovenproof dish. Add the fish pie mix, followed by the eggs, peas and spinach. Cover with the remaining sauce, top with the mash and sprinkle with Cheddar cheese. ■ Bake in the centre of the oven for 40-45 minutes. Recipe and image courtesy of www.youngsseafood.co.uk

Pork and prawn spring rolls YOU WILL NEED ✔ 150g raw prawns, shelled and deveined ✔ 1½ Pink Lady® apples, cored and finely chopped ✔ 250g organic outdoorreared pork mince ✔ 3 spring onions, finely chopped ✔ 50g fresh bean sprouts, rinsed, patted dry and chopped ✔ 1 medium red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped ✔ 3cm piece of ginger, peeled and finely grated ✔ 4 tbsp light soy sauce ✔ ½ tbsp salt ✔ ½ tbsp sugar ✔ 25 spring roll wrappers (15 x 24cm) ✔ 1 small egg beaten with 1 tsp water ✔ 300ml sunflower oil for frying ✔ For the dip ½ Pink Lady® apple, cored and finely chopped ✔ 8 tbsp sweet chilli sauce ✔ To serve 3-4 coriander sprigs

DIRECTIONS

PREPARATION TIME 20 MINUTES COOKING TIME 25 MINUTES SERVES 16+

Recipe and image courtesy of www.pinkladyapples.co.uk

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■ Finely chop the prawns and put into a large bowl and add all the other filling ingredients up to the pastry wrappers. Mix really well with your hands to combine. Divide the mixture into 25 and put on a tray. ■ Peel off a spring roll wrapper and lay some mixture at an angle across a corner. Roll once, bring in the sides of the wrapper, and roll completely, but not too tightly. Brush the point of the square with a little egg mixture and secure. Repeat with the remaining mixture and spring roll wrappers, putting them on a tray and covering with a clean tea towel as you go, so they don’t dry out. ■ Heat the oil in a large wok. Fry 4 at a time, first on a low heat – this ensures they are cooked through – for 2 minutes without browning. Increase the heat and fry until golden and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper. ■ To make the dip, mix the apple into the chilli sauce and serve with the hot spring rolls. Scatter over the coriander sprigs.

FOOD & DRINK

Roasted cod topped with celery, walnut and black olive stuffing YOU WILL NEED ✔ olive oil ✔ 40g panko breadcrumbs ✔ 2 sticks celery, finely sliced ✔ zest and juice of 1 lemon ✔ 2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped ✔ 40g walnuts, finely chopped ✔ 40g black olives, sliced ✔ 4 x 150g (approx.) cod loin fillets ✔ 4 tbsp crème fraîche ✔ 250g cherry tomatoes on the vine, separated into bunches

DIRECTIONS ■ Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6. Grease a shallow roasting tray or heatproof baking dish large enough to hold the fish fillets and the tomatoes on the vine. ■ Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan with a lid.

When the oil is sizzling, scrape most of the marinade from the skin side, then lay the fish in, skin-side down. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the skin is crisp but the fish isn’t cooked through. ■ Mix together the breadcrumbs, celery, zest of the lemon, parsley, chopped walnuts and olives. Stir in 1 tbsp olive oil and a good squeeze of lemon juice, then season to taste. ■ Pat the cod fillets dry with kitchen paper, place on the baking tray and spread evenly with the crème fraîche, then top generously with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing down lightly to ensure a good coating. Add the cherry tomatoes to the tray, then sprinkle with olive oil. ■ Cook in the oven for approximately 15 minutes until the fish is cooked through and the topping is golden. Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice. Recipe and image courtesy of www.lovecelery.co.uk

PREPARATION TIME 10 MINUTES COOKING TIME 20 MINUTES SERVES 4

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FOOD & DRINK

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE In the culinary world, there’s more than one way to enjoy a cup of Joe…

Gluten-free coffee cake YOU WILL NEED ✔ 2 tbsp coffee powder ✔ 2 tbsp boiling water ✔ 200g butter ✔ 200g caster sugar ✔ 4 eggs ✔ 200g Freee self-raising flour ✔ 250g cream cheese ✔ 1 tsp icing sugar

DIRECTIONS ■ Put the coffee into a cup, add boiling water, stir to make a paste and leave to cool. ■ Line 2 x 20cm round baking tins with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C Fan/Gas Mark 5. ■ Put the butter and caster sugar into a large bowl, add one egg at a time, and beat with an electric whisk until light and fluffy. Sieve the flour into the bowl and beat again.

PREPARATION TIME 20 MINUTES COOKING TIME 20-25 MINUTES SERVES 8

Add the coffee mixture and stir until everything is well combined. ■ Divide the mixture between the prepared tins and smooth the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes. If a cocktail stick pressed into the centre of the cake comes out clean, it is cooked. Cool the sponges in the tin a little before turning them onto a wire rack and leaving to cool. ■ Spread the cream cheese on one sponge layer and place the second sponge on top. Sieve icing sugar over the top of the cake to finish. Recipe and image courtesy of www.dovesfarm.co.uk.

FOOD & DRINK

Real iced coffee YOU WILL NEED ✔ 150g Colombian ground coffee ✔ 75g Demerara sugar ✔ 450ml full-fat milk ✔ whipped cream or ice cream to serve

PREPARATION TIME 15 MINUTES BREWING TIME 5-12 HOURS SERVES 6

DIRECTIONS ■ Put the coffee in a large jug or jar with 1 litre of cold water. Stir with a fork until all the lumps are gone. Cover with cling film and chill for at least 5 hours or overnight. ■ Put the sugar in a small pan with 200ml of water and heat until the sugar dissolves. Pour into a container and cool. ■ Before serving, strain the coffee through a coffee filter or a sieve lined with a double thickness of kitchen paper. Put this in a large jug and stir in the sugar syrup. ■ Divide between 6 tall glasses and add the milk. You can top with whipped cream or ice cream, if you wish. Recipe and image courtesy of realfood.tesco.com.

Whisky Mac coffee jelly shots YOU WILL NEED ✔ 5 sheets leaf gelatine ✔ 300ml freshly brewed hot coffee ✔ 5 tbsp caster sugar ✔ 2 tbsp whisky ✔ 2 tbsp ginger wine ✔ 200ml single cream ✔ chocolate coffee beans to decorate

■ Put three sheets of the gelatine in a shallow dish, cover with cold water and soak for 5 minutes. Put the coffee in a heatproof jug with 4 tbsp sugar. ■ Drain the gelatine, squeeze out the water and stir into the hot coffee until dissolved. Cool for 30 minutes then stir in the whisky and ginger wine. ■ Place 8 x 75ml espresso cups or shot glasses on a tray and pour in the coffee mixture, leaving a 1cm gap at the top. Cool completely, then chill for 1 hour until set. ■ Soak the remaining two gelatine sheets as above. Heat the cream until hot, but do not boil. Remove from the heat then stir in the remaining sugar. ■ Drain the gelatine, squeeze out the water and stir into the cream until dissolved. Leave to cool for about 45 minutes until barely warm, then divide between the glasses. Cool completely and chill for 1 hour or until ready to serve. Decorate with chocolate coffee beans. PREPARATION TIME 10 MINUTES COOKING TIME 20 MINUTES SERVES 8

Cook’s tip: instead of whisky and ginger wine, try vodka, rum or Cointreau, or leave out the spirit and add 2 tsp vanilla extract and 4 tbsp extra coffee. Recipe and image courtesy of www.dairydiary.co.uk.

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Feature Catherine Smalley

DIRECTIONS

FOOD & DRINK

PREPARATION TIME 20 MINUTES COOKING TIME 15 MINUTES SERVES 12

Cappuccino cupcakes YOU WILL NEED ✔ 175g self-raising flour ✔ 110g butter, at room temperature ✔ 110g caster sugar ✔ 2 eggs, beaten ✔ 2 tbsp milk ✔ 2 tsp instant coffee dissolved in 1 tsp boiling water

✔ 25g cocoa powder ✔ pinch of salt ✔ 150ml double cream ✔ 1 tbsp icing sugar ✔ milk chocolate curls

DIRECTIONS ■ Preheat the oven to 180°C/160° Fan/Gas Mark 4. Line a patty tin with 12 paper cases. ■ In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, butter, caster sugar, eggs, milk, coffee, cocoa

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powder and salt. Beat this together until the mixture is smooth and has a dropping consistency. ■ Divide the mixture among the paper cases and bake for 15 minutes until well risen. Leave to cool on a wire rack. ■ Whisk together the cream and icing sugar until thick. Pipe or spoon the cream on top of the cooled cakes and sprinkle with chocolate curls. These can be made by running a swivelbladed vegetable peeler along the underside of a chocolate bar. Recipe and image courtesy of www.dairydiary.co.uk.

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FOOD & DRINK

Condensed milk and coffee panna cotta YOU WILL NEED ✔ 6½ gelatine leaves ✔ ½-1 tsp instant coffee granules, made up with 240ml hot water, to taste ✔ 50g caster sugar ✔ 400g tin condensed milk ✔ 400ml whole milk For the syrup ✔ ½ tsp instant coffee granules, combined with 150ml hot water ✔ 30g caster sugar For the hazelnut praline ✔ 70g caster sugar ✔ 50g blanched hazelnuts, roughly chopped

DIRECTIONS ■ Put 2 gelatine leaves in a bowl of water to soften for 5 minutes. Put the coffee in a small jug and stir in the sugar until dissolved. Squeeze the excess water from the gelatine, then stir into the coffee mixture until this has dissolved too. ■ Divide the jelly between 6 x 180ml dariole moulds or ramekins and chill in the fridge for 1½ hours or until set to the touch. ■ When the jelly has set, put 4½ gelatine leaves in a bowl of water to soften. Put the condensed and whole milk in a small saucepan, stir together and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and leave to cool for 5 minutes. PREPARATION TIME 15 MINUTES COOKING TIME 15 MINUTES SERVES 6

■ Squeeze the excess water from the gelatine, then stir into the milk until dissolved; leave to cool until just lukewarm. Pour over the coffee jelly and chill in the fridge for 1 hour or until just set to the touch. ■ Meanwhile, make the syrup. Put the coffee and sugar in a saucepan and simmer for 6-8 minutes until thickened. Set aside to cool. ■ To make the hazelnut praline, melt the sugar in a saucepan over a medium heat, but do not stir. When the sugar has melted, swirl the pan (but don’t stir the sugar) to mix; cook until lightly golden. Swirl in the hazelnuts, then pour onto a plate or board lined with non-stick baking paper. Leave to cool and harden completely, then roughly chop. ■ To remove the panna cottas from the moulds, very briefly plunge the outsides into warm water, then turn out. Pour over the coffee syrup and sprinkle with the hazelnut praline to serve. Cook’s tip: keep the praline in an airtight container at room temperature and chill the panna cottas and syrup. Recipe and image courtesy of realfood.tesco.com.

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Home

Turn the page to discover how to add an extension onto your house

IMPROVEMENT Blindingly good Smart home technology is all the rage at the moment – and it’s not set to slow down soon. You’ve installed the smart doorbells and alarms, and now it’s time to turn your attention to 247 Blinds, a brand that has boarded the high-tech bandwagon. Embracing the idea that a home can never be too secure, it’s now offering 247 motorised blinds, a range of smart window coverings that can be controlled remotely, either through a smart home helper or an app. You can set the blinds to rise with the sun and lower as evening draws in to make your home seem full of life even while you’re away. Practical yet still stylish, 247 motorised blinds are priced from £97.65.

Intelligent insulation Ensuring efficient heat retention isn’t just for winter. Your energy bill could reduce dramatically with a Chimney Sheep, a removable draught blocker that plugs the gap above the fireplace. It’s made with a thick layer of wool that prevents heat from escaping and is estimated to block 93 per cent of airflow, making your home much more energy efficient. Prices start at £16 from www. chimneysheep.co.uk.

For high-quality, specialist wood paint, look no further than Protek. Its Royal Exterior, £16.99 per litre, is the ideal paint for any garden woodwork, such as sheds, fences or furniture, and is specifically designed to give a longlasting protective layer while allowing the natural wood grain to show through. The range boasts over 50 curated colours, from classic neutral finishes to contemporary mints and vibrant pinks. As an extra, the water-based formula means that Royal Exterior is environmentally friendly too.

FOR MORE EXPERT ADVICE AND CASE STUDIES GO TO WWW.YOURHOMEMAGAZINE.CO.UK www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

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Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Safety first Purchasing a period property is not a decision to take lightly. Yes, they often have beautiful, original features, but there may also be maintenance issues to address. A key area to consider when looking at older houses is the electrics. Outdated electrics can be a serious fire hazard, so Darren Staniforth, senior group technical presenter at NICEIC, suggests getting the property ‘checked by a registered contractor for peace of mind’. If a full rewire is required, you can enter period home ownership fully aware of all that is involved. For more advice, visit www.niceic.com.

A COLOURFUL WAY TO CARE

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Oversized tall glass doors make a striking focal point on this double-height extension. The slimline frame is reinforced to take the weight of the glass and withstand high winds. www.iqglassuk.com

Full-width bi-fold doors allow you to integrate your outdoor and indoor spaces. Gable ends from £5,000, plus installation. www.odcglass.co.uk

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BUILDING AN EXTENSION Add an extension to your home to boost space and bring in more light

Feature Andrea Dean

f you’ve outgrown your home, your first thought is to find somewhere bigger. But high house prices and moving costs mean climbing the property ladder is harder than ever, so many people are expanding their homes instead. According to LV= General Insurance, nearly a third of homeowners have opted to improve their property rather than move because it was too expensive to do so. A well-designed and constructed extension will not only increase your space and bring in more light, it could also increase its value. So, what are you waiting for?

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

You’ll typically pay £1,000 to £1,500 per square metre for an extension, depending on the complexity of the project, materials and location (London and the South-East are more expensive than other parts of the UK). A 4 x 6 metre extension will start from about £25,000 plus VAT, which includes foundations, new walls and subfloor, insulation, plumbing and electrics, but not decorating. Allow £25-plus per square metre for flooring, at least £6,000 for a kitchen, and don’t forget to budget for design, planning and building control fees. Once the work’s complete, your new extension could boost your home’s value by up to 15 per cent.

This contemporary extension makes a stylish addition to a period house, and glazed sliding doors give uninterrupted views of the garden. www.weru.co.uk

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Making a feature out of structural elements gives your extension an industrial vibe. www.harveyjones.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Bi-fold doors and a fixed glass panel provide an almost fully glazed back wall to this extension, framing the view of the landscaped garden perfectly. www.plusrooms.co.uk

This eye-catching open-plan extension is made from glulam, a structured engineered wood product, and clad in kebony, a sustainable modified wood that’s maintenance-free and develops a natural patina over time. www.kebony.com

WHAT TO BEAR IN MIND

TYPES OF EXTENSION

DESIGN ASPECTS

Before you go ahead, there are a number of factors to consider that could affect the cost, design and success of the project. When building on a wall shared with your neighbours in a terraced or semi-detached house, or close to the boundary of both properties, you’ll require a party wall agreement detailing the work. If your neighbours dispute it, you’ll have to fork out for separate surveyors to protect everyone’s interests. You should also look into whether your boiler and electrical system can cope with the additional structure, and whether you’ll need extra insurance during the works. Think also about access to your property for deliveries, and where materials and contractors’ tools can be stored during the build.

Thanks to our love affair with open-plan layouts, many of us extend to accommodate an all-in-one kitchen, dining and family room opening into the garden. Depending on the size and type of the property, this is normally achieved by building into the side return, or at the back. A side-return extension makes excellent use of the redundant area alongside a terraced house and doesn’t encroach into the garden. A rear extension is ideal for detached houses or ones lacking a side return, while a wraparound extension is a combination of rear and side-return extensions to maximise space. Families requiring more bedrooms should look into the viability of a two-storey extension or building on top of an existing flat roof.

Once you’ve decided on the extension’s position and footprint, you can either match the materials with the original building so that it blends in seamlessly or go for a complete contrast. Timber and metal cladding are very contemporary, and a glass box extension will flood the interior with light. That said, however, glazing is more expensive than solid walls and your privacy may be compromised in an urban area, so a more traditional brick build with fullwidth bi-fold doors across the back of the house might be more practical. The roof of the extension may be flat, sloping, pitched, vaulted or even curved, but shouldn’t interfere with your home’s first-floor windows. Light can be introduced inside via rooflights and/or lanterns. An extension above a flat roof is a great way to add bedrooms, but get a structural engineer to check it can take the weight

An extended kitchen will quickly become the heart of the home with zones for eating, unwinding and food prep. www.velux.co.uk

Separate side-return and rear extensions to this terraced house help to zone the kitchen and living spaces while remaining open at the same time. www.plusrooms.co.uk

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HOME IMPROVEMENT Full-width bi-fold doors combined with a run of skylights ensure that this multi-functional wraparound extension is always filled with light. www.simply extend.co.uk

EXPERT ADVICE

GET THE JOB DONE

There are several routes you can take to get your extension designed and built. You could design a simple structure yourself and get plans for the builders to work from drawn up by an architectural technician; you could employ a specialist design and build company to take care of every stage from initial ideas through to the kit out; or you could ask an architect to create a bespoke extension, then find the builder and other sub-contractors yourself. For example, you may need a surveyor for a party wall agreement and a structural engineer to advise on stability. When hiring people you haven’t used before, do as much research as you can – ask for recommendations, look at examples of previous projects and agree costs in advance.

‘Owners should know what they want to get out of the space, to understand and have a good feel for how they use the house, and how they want to make it better. They need to consider how the new space is going to connect with the original rooms of the existing property. This helps to avoid dark spots: a clever design will maximise light in areas of the original house that would otherwise have been compromised by the new structure.’ James Bernard, company director of Plus Rooms

● Source a vetted bu ilder with the releva nt expertise at www.fm b.org.uk. ● The Homebuilding & Renovating Show , ww w.homebuilding show.co.uk, held around the UK, is a one-stop shop for inspiration and advic e. The next one takes place in Glasgow fro m 30th-31st May. ● Find a structural en gineer via ww w.istructe.org . ● Check out ww w. mybuilder.com to calculate build costs and contact contracto rs who’ve been review ed by local people. ● Visit ww w.plann ingportal.co.uk for the low-down on pla nning permission an d building regulations.

DEAL WITH RED TAPE

Many builds are covered by permitted development. So, provided you don’t live in a listed property or conservation area and your proposed extension won’t take up more than half the garden, doesn’t exceed four metres in height or more than six metres beyond the original wall in a terraced or semi-detached house (eight metres in a detached house), it’s unlikely that planning permission will be required. But you will need building regulations approval, which deals with safety and energy efficiency. Planning and building control applications can be made online, but it’s worth picking up the phone to double-check exactly what’s expected.

The winner of the best kitchen project at last year’s Master Builder Awards, this extension by RMR Homes Ltd (www.rmrhomes.co.uk) effortlessly connects the indoor and outdoor spaces, and includes an island, dining area and bi-fold doors without the need for a supporting corner pillar.

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A side-return extension has made the world of difference to this mid-terraced property, creating a kitchen spacious enough to house an island and dining table. www.simplyextend.co.uk

HOME IMPROVEMENT

CASE STUDY ‘We now have a room where we can all be together’

Lucy and Adam have all the space they need in their freshly renovated, extended home

The extension’s brickwork and white uPVC French windows and doors match the originals so well it looks like it’s always been attached to the house

With a second child on the way, Lucy Daly and Adam Norris’s two-bedroom semi-detached house in Chesterfield was bursting at the seams. The couple knew they needed a bigger home with more bedrooms and living space suitable for a young family. ‘We viewed several houses and soon realised that to achieve exactly what we wanted within our budget we would have to find somewhere to renovate,’ says Lucy. The couple found the perfect candidate: a four-bed detached house that hadn’t been touched in over 20 years, with a through living room, a conservatory, a small dining room, kitchen with utility area, study and

cloakroom. ‘We saw the renovation as an opportunity to create a large family area for cooking, dining, living and entertaining,’ Lucy continues. ‘The main focus was to add an open-plan kitchen and relaxing spaces for both adults and children. We also wanted to move noise out of the kitchen, free-up first-floor space for two bathrooms, upgrade the heating and replace the electricity to ensure we had a safe and efficient home. The design we settled on involved removing the dining room walls on the ground floor, demolishing the dated conservatory and extending to create a large open-plan kitchen/family room across the back of the house.’ They discussed their needs with an architect who drafted plans, arranged investigation of the conservatory foundations and obtained approval from Building Control to reuse them for the rebuild, so they didn’t have to get new ones dug. ‘We made the decision to remove the patio doors between the conservatory and lounge but once we did this, we realised it actually gave us an opportunity to demolish the wall,’ adds Lucy. ‘This was repositioned to make the living room into a smaller snug where we chill when the kids have gone to bed, and the space freed up has gone into the family room at the rear.’ Now the project’s complete, the family are delighted with the results. ‘The open-plan layout has given us somewhere where we can all be together – our son can play with his train set, our daughter can draw and play with her doll’s house, and my partner and I can have dinner,’ smiles Lucy.

Part of the extension is currently used as a play area and has the flexibility to adapt as the children grow older

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rare | unusual | exciting

Geranium Breeder’s Mix

WEED-SUPPRESSING GROUNDCOVER GUARANTEED TO FLOWER THIS YEAR FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER World renowned Geranium breeder Marco Van Noort has agreed for us to offer you a unique collection of fully hardy Geraniums which will weave a tapestry of colour. Marjory Fish created a garden at East Lambrook Manor and used to say “when in doubt plant a Geranium”. We agree, as they are incredibly floriferous, one of the easiest plants to grow, attractive to bees yet unpalatable to rabbits and slugs. Create undulating pillows of colour for groundcover or plant individually. Unfussy on soil conditions in sun or part shade. Height and spread of individual plants will range from 15‑90cm (6‑36"). Your order is covered by our No Quibble Guarantee and will be confirmed together with a copy of our latest catalogue. Your bare roots will be delivered within 14 days.

BUY 5 FOR £10 BUY A FURTHER 5 FOR JUST

A rare opportunity to buy exclusive geranium to flower this year

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EDITOR’S CHOICE Let your little ones sleep safely and soundly in this bed of dreams. The soft tones and adorable cloud safety rail are sure to make bedtime a little more enchanting – especially when paired with this charming, handmade canopy. Beaumonde’s natural cloud bed measures H70.5cm x W90cm x L200cm and is £315 and their woven cotton bed canopy costs £159. Both are available from www.beaumonde.co.uk

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EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHOICE Small yet eye-catching at 45cm high, this free-standing oval mirror will make house guests look twice when they come to visit. It has an antique gold finish and beautifully detailed legs and webbed feet which make it a fun addition to your mantelpiece or vanity table. The Bird Feet mirror is priced at ÂŁ49 from Limited Abode.

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Gardening Great buys and advice to help your garden grow

Give the birds a veggie option If you’re a bird lover who’s also a vegetarian, you may prefer to avoid feeding birds suet or mealworms. Boxwild has developed a vegetarian bird food box which contains three popular blends and a seed scoop. The All Seasons Blend is a nutritious mix of 11 seeds including red and yellow millet, safflower, white dari and kibbled maize. The Boxwild Blend is a delicious mix of 10 seeds including three types of sunflower seeds, linseed, chopped peanuts and safflower and the Robin Blend contains nine seed types including white millet, hemp and black rapeseed. To top it off, Boxwild will donate 50p from each box sold to wildlife charities in the UK to support the amazing work they do.

Encourage the kids to lend a hand in the garden over the school holidays with these cute and colourful watering cans. Choose from a dinosaur, an elephant, a duck or a bunny and you’ll have those plant pots watered in no time!

Vegetarian bird seed box, £18, Boxwild

Animal watering cans, £3.99 each, Dobbies

Just fake it If you were too late to plant spring bulbs last autumn, then fear not. You can still add a cheerful splash of colour with a realistic faux muscari. It comes in its own hanging glass jar, making it ideal for a fresh springtime display indoors or out. Acrylic muscari bulb in glass jar, £5 each, The Contemporary Home

EASY ACCESS FOR ALL This L-shaped raised corner planter will take your growing to another level! The clever design has been created to accommodate wheelchair access, which ensures that everyone can enjoy a spot of gardening. Made from responsibly sourced, pressure-treated timber, it’s also protected for 15 years from rot and decay. Either leave it with its natural finish or paint it to add colour to your garden. Forest Garden corner table planter, £221.95, Cuckooland

It’s a cover-up Who wouldn’t want to don this gorgeous apron while they’re pottering in the garden? Made from durable denim, it comes with five handy pockets for stashing twine, seed packets and plant labels, plus a set of useful loops for hanging tools from when you need to free up your hands. But hurry, when it’s gone, it’s gone! Denim garden apron, £12.99, TK Maxx

FOR MORE EXPERT ADVICE AND INSPIRATION GO TO WWW.YOURHOMEMAGAZINE.CO.UK www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk Decorating Special 2020

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Feature Anna-Lisa De’Ath

Made for mini gardeners

Photos Driftwood Garden, East Sussex

Coastal gardening can be challenging, but with the right planting the results are stunning

IN YOUR GARDEN

this month… Take a moment to appreciate the infinite beauty of your garden’s flora and fauna at this time of year

STYLE YOUR Gardening by the sea may look like a breeze when you visit the coast on a calm, sunny day but in reality, many beachside gardens have to contend with salt-laden strong winds for many months of the year. Those with sheltered, south-facing sites may have an easier time than more exposed gardens, but whether your outdoor space is set back from the shoreline or perched on a clifftop, it can be made into an area of outstanding beauty with plants that have adapted to maritime conditions. Create shelter belts with hedges of resilient shrubs that have leathery or

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garden

waxy foliage to allow the passage of wind while simultaneously diluting its power. Escallonia, griselinia littoralis and euonymus japonicus will all form an effective green wind barrier for less robust plants to shelter behind. Choose specimens that prefer freedraining soil and can survive without much moisture in the summer. Coastal plant species that have evolved to cope with these extreme conditions include many of the grey and silver leaf varieties with hairy surfaces which provide a very effective barrier against salt damage. Low-growing plants such as thrift (armeria maritima), sedums,

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festuca glauca and sea holly (eryngium maritimum) are perfectly suited to poor soil and won’t be buffeted by the wind. Robust, water-efficient succulents will also stand their ground in extreme weather and can make great displays in various pots and containers. The lovely images here of Driftwood, a coastal garden in Seaford, East Sussex, illustrate how beautiful a beachside garden can be with a little imaginative planting. Driftwood is open under the National Garden Scheme at various times of the year. For more information on this wonderful outdoor space, visit www.ngs.org.uk.

GARDEN IDEAS ses add Ornamental gras h to a texture and dept lping he flowerbed while at bay s ed we ep ke to

Sow annuals now to extend the flowering season into autumn

WHAT TO DO in the flower garden Mix grasses with perennials Low-growing ornamental grasses make great fillers in between flowering herbaceous perennials, annuals or biennials. Not only do they soften the planting scheme and frame each individual plant, they also cover any patches of bare earth, which in turn prevents weed seeds from germinating. If you are starting from scratch and planting a new bed or border, stick to a restricted palette of colours that complement each other, as this will create a calm, eye-catching display. Plants that have interesting seed heads in winter, such as echinaceas, eryngiums and alliums combine well with grasses and collectively give extra interest out of season.

Grow plants in high raised beds

Feature and photos Louise Midgley

There are several advantages to growing plants in high raised beds. Easy access from all sides, together with less bending and stretching makes the maintenance infinitely quicker and easier than when plants are cultivated at ground level. Almost any crop can be grown with ease when the beds are filled with a mixture of top soil, garden compost or soil improvers, which is not always the case if you plant them in poor soil. Easy-to-build WoodBlocX raised beds can be made in nine different heights. Available as predesigned or made-to-order beds, they come in a myriad of shapes and sizes. The company offers a free design service to all customers to ensure they get the right shape to fit the space and it has simplified the assembling process to avoid the use of sharp tools or the need for any heavy lifting.

Sow seeds of quick-germinating annuals

d beds WoodBlocX raise suit to d re ilo ta be can you e ap sh d an e the siz e ac sp ur yo r need fo

To extend the flowering season well into autumn, continue to sow seeds of annuals into modules which can be planted out as soon as they have reached roughly six inches in height. Avoid planting out during a wet spell as slugs and snails will gravitate towards the tasty young shoots and leaves. Annuals that have a quick turnaround from the initial sowing to flowering include Nigella, cornflowers, California poppies and Lavatera trimestris.

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Bees are a welcome and vital part of any garden

APRIL’S garden visitors Spending time in the garden is a multi-sensory experience. The soothing sounds of birds singing and bees buzzing on a sunny day are every bit as pleasurable as the beauty of nature and the fragrance of scented blooms. Sadly however, bee populations – both honey, bumble and solitary – are under threat from a wide array of problems, such as habitat loss, pollution, pesticides, climate change and invasive non-native plant and animal species. And since bees are such efficient pollinators, without them our food and economy are also under threat. Gardeners can make a difference by ensuring they plant bee-friendly specimens rather than some of the ornamental varieties that, despite their beauty, have been bred to contain no nectar. Pollinators prefer to feed from flowers with a simple structure, but if you are in doubt as to what to grow, walk around your neighbourhood and spot which plants have bees buzzing around them. While you can obviously provide more nectar and pollen in a large garden, never underestimate the value of a well-planted window box in an urban area, because bees frequent cities too. Try and ensure you have a succession of plants in flower through as many calendar months as possible, as several bees will be active in winter during mild spells. And it will also help if you buy honey locally, to support nearby honeybees and their beekeepers.

Ask local beekeepers if they’d like to put their hives in your garden. Not only will they pollinate your plants, but you may even get a jar of honey from the keeper

Nasturtiums not onl y add colour to the veg patch as a companion plant, but they are edible too!

Grow flowers with veg One of the best ways to boost the yield of a crop is to place flowering plants in close proximity to edible ones. In times gone by when people relied on growing their own food to eat, companion planting which served two purposes was commonplace among gardeners. Some flowering ones were used as sacrificial plants to lure aphids away from certain vegetables, while other plants enticed bees and pollinators to the area to feed on their nectar and spread pollen from one plant to another. Choose a few different varieties so you have a succession of blooms throughout the whole season and pick low-growing varieties so they don’t cast shade over the vegetables. Pot marigolds, nasturtiums, borage and violas to help create a healthy bed of vegetables.

Cultivate salads in crates Wooden boxes and crates make great containers for growing salad crops. Line them with an old potting compost bag that’s been pierced a few times at the base so they don’t become waterlogged; this insulating layer prevents the wood from rotting and helps keep the soil from falling through the gaps. If you don’t have a crate, ask your local off-licence if they have any spare wooden wine boxes. Salad crops that have a quick turnaround from seed to plate include cut-and-come-again salad leaves, spring onions, rocket and radishes.

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salad Crate-grown rfect for crops are pe ited those with lim e outdoor spac

Photos Haskins Garden Centres, Squires Garden Centres

WHAT TO DO on the veg plot

A plot that combines flowers with veg is as beautiful as it is edible

GARDEN IDEAS TOP THREE PLANTS

for early May

WHAT TO DO in the fruit garden Just Add Cream strawberry plants, £14.85 for 12 plants, Pomona Fruits

ROSA BANKSIAE ‘LUTEA’ This vigorous rambling rose may only flower once for a few weeks from the end of April onwards, but when it does it’s clear to see why so many professional gardeners rave about it. The thornless branches become smothered in hanging sprays of butter-yellow double blooms and when the flowers die back its delicate, glossy foliage can be appreciated for the rest of the summer. This plant also needs plenty of space to climb, so grow it over a pergola in a sunny sheltered spot or through a mature tree, and don’t be afraid to give it a hard prune at the end of the summer.

PLAN AHEAD FOR STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM

Home-grown strawberries, ripened by the sun, are a world apart from the tasteless fruits eaten out of season. If you missed buying bare root runners, which are supplied during their season of dormancy, look for cold-stored strawberry runners, which are currently available. These are supplied between April and June and are popular because they usually start cropping a few weeks after being planted. The pink-flowered strawberry Just Add Cream is available from Pomona Fruits as a coldstored plant. It is a perpetual variety which means it delivers crops in small, irregular bursts over many weeks, sometimes right up to autumn. Just Add Cream combines the sweetness of home-grown strawberries with the aromatic flavour of alpine ones, and apart from its delicious flavour, who couldn’t resist growing strawberries with those beautiful pink blooms?

TRY SOMETHING NEW If you can provide a hot, sunny patio room, conservatory or greenhouse, have a go at growing pepino melons. In order for them to fruit well they need plenty of heat and water. They will Melon Pepino Trio, £14.99 also need to be kept in a warm, frost-free for three plants in a 14cm environment in winter if you want them pot, Suttons to crop every year. The fruits have an interesting fresh flavour that tastes of both pears and melons and they can be eaten on their own or used in salads. Suttons is selling a trio of pepino plants, which each have a distinct coloured fruit and are supplied in a 14cm pot. By the time the fruits are ripe, which is usually from late September to December when grown inside, they will have reached a height of around three to four feet.

GEUM ‘MAI TAI’ AQUILEGIA VULGARIS The gracious bonnets of aquilegias can be seen in countless colour combinations from early spring to mid-summer. It may not always be obvious that they are short-lived perennials because these cottage garden stalwarts self-seed prolifically around the garden and a new plant may appear close to where an original one previously stood. Few come true from seed – but Nora Barlow is one that does – so you never quite know what to expect each year.

For sheer reliability, grow perennial geums. They come back each year with renewed vigour and provide a colourful display for a number of weeks. Their foliage is also resistant to slugs and they will thrive in any reasonable garden soil in sun or semi-shade. Geum ‘Mai Tai’ produces the most exquisite frilly, semi-double blooms in a sugary palette of peach/pink tones, all held above long deep red stems, which makes them useful cut flowers.

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FOUR AMAZING PRIZE DRAWS TO ENTER!

We have fabulous goodies up for grabs this month! Win a new multi-surface renovation paint from V33

Win an overnight break for two at Ragdale Hall Spa

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to use just one paint for one task which ensures a perfectly polished finish? That’s exactly the solution provided by V33. With this product to hand, you’ll be able to make decorating a doddle, as the new paint is ideal for renovating jobs and has a 98 per cent opacity matt finish, making it brilliant for hiding marks or other colours. It also comes in a classic white shade that will make your home feel bright, airy and spacious, which are all elements that can help add value to your home. So, you’ll be pleased to know that we have teamed up with the brand to offer 15 lucky readers a five-litre tub of its brand-new multi-surface renovation paint. Visit v33.co.uk for more information.

We’ve got together with the luxurious Ragdale Hall Spa to offer one lucky pair a calm and relaxing break. Your stay will cover all meals, including a three-course dinner and lunch, breakfast delivered to your room, as well as full use of all of Ragdale’s facilities, such as the rooftop infinity pool, multimillion-pound thermal spa, gym and full programme of exercise classes. You’ll also enjoy a 50-minute Blissful Face and Back Therapy treatment. For more information visit www.ragdalehall.co.uk or call 01664 434831.

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The prize is available for over 16s only. Travel is not included. The prize is valid for six months from the date the winner is notified, subject to availability. Arrival from 2pm, departure up to 6pm the following day (check out of room at 11am but locker and luggage storage facilities provided). Prize valid Monday to Thursday.

Your chance to win a stylish storage system from Clever Closet This month, we’re offering one lucky reader the chance to win their own storage system from Clever Closet so that you can wave goodbye to your clutter once and for all. The days of unattractive hanging space and overflowing shoe cupboards are over! Clever Closet is a specialist in discrete under-the-stairs and loft storage for the home, with units which are built to maximise space by being installed with slide-out drawers that give ample and accessible storage. Many new and existing homes in the UK are inadequately built to cater for the modern family’s storage needs, but Clever Closet’s units are specifically designed to tackle this challenge by optimising the space available and integrating these clever pieces seamlessly into the design of your home. Installation of the storage units takes just one day to complete by Clever Closet’s expert team. To date, the business has sold more than 40,000 patentapproved storage units and has also been featured on Channel 4’s Double Your House for Half the Money with Sarah Beeny. Call 0203 468 8056 or visit clevercloset.co.uk to get a free quote for your home today.

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Your chance to win a DIY Fusion® stair part range from Richard Burbidge One lucky DIY-loving reader will have the chance to revamp their staircase with the stair part range from Richard Burbidge. Richard Burbidge is the UK’s leading manufacturer and supplier of stair parts, decking accessories and decorative mouldings. Combining 150 years’ experience with great attention to detail, Richard Burbidge create products with a professional finish and a variety of styles, from traditional to contemporary. Working with leading trend analysts, Trend Bible, Richard Burbidge is also able to ensure that its products remain at the cutting edge of the style curve. The award-winning Fusion® stair part range is perfect for adding a contemporary twist to a traditional property and can easily enhance the look and feel of a modern, minimalist interior. Its ultra-stylish fittings, as shown here, can be in a Chrome or Brushed Nickel finish, and they connect together quickly and easily, making this an easy DIY project that can be done in just a day or two. A glass stair panel can make even the darkest, smallest hallway feel light and open, as well as completely change the look and feel of a home. Richard Burbidge’s unique and innovative designs mean that most stairways can be transformed in a matter of days, allowing you to easily refresh your house. For more information, visit www.richardburbidge.com.

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To enter, visit www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk, choose the WIN tab, find the prize draw you’d like to enter and fill in your details. Closing date 30th April 2020 at 11.59pm TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1 Promoter: Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited. 2 The promotion is open to all residents of the UK, including the Channel Islands, aged 18 years or older, except the Promoter’s employees or contractors and anyone connected with the promotion or their direct family members. 3 By entering the promotion, you agree to be bound by all the rules of the promotion including these terms and conditions. 4 The Promoter may share the details of the winner with the prize provider for the purposes of fulfilling/delivering the prize. 5 The Promoter excludes liability to the full extent permitted by law for any loss, damage or injury occurring to the participant arising from his or her entry into the promotion or occurring to a winner arising from his or her acceptance of a prize. 6 The Promoter reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or to cancel, alter or amend the promotion at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control. 7 Only one entry per prize draw will be permitted per household, regardless of method of entry. Bulk entries made by third parties will not be permitted. Entries received after the closing date of the promotion will not be considered. 8 No responsibility accepted for lost, delayed, ineligible or fraudulent entries. 9 The prizes are non-refundable, non-transferable and not for resale. The prizes cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers, promotions or discounts. There is no cash alternative. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prizes with other prizes of the same or greater value. 10 Closing date for entries is 11.59pm on 30th April 2020. 11 Winning entries will be chosen at random (after the closing date) from all entries. 12 The winners will be notified of their win within 28 days. 13 Winners must claim their prize within 28 days of notification. In the event that a winner cannot be contacted or fails to claim their prize within 28 days, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to another entrant, or to re-offer the prize in any future promotion. 14 The Promoter’s decision as to the winner is final and no correspondence relating to the promotion will be entered into. 15 The prizes are as stated above. 16 Entrants must supply to Immediate Media Company Limited their full name, email address or daytime telephone number. The Promoter will use entrants’ personal details in accordance with the Immediate Privacy Policy (immediate.co.uk/privacy-policy). 17 The surname and county of residence of the winners will be available upon request by sending an SAE to Your Home Giveaways, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST within two months of the closing date of the promotion. The Promoter will contact the winners before releasing this information and provide the winners the opportunity to object or limit the amount of information shared. 18 The promotion is subject to the laws of England.

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Shopping guide A

Abode 01226 283434 www.abodedesigns.co.uk Anglepoise 02392 224450 www.anglepoise.com Anthropologie 0800 3092500 www.anthropologie.com AO 0161 4701100 www.ao.com A Place For Everything 01244 680501 www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk Argos 0345 6402020 www.argos.co.uk Art Maison www.artmaison.co.uk Audenza 0116 2986393 www.audenza.com

247 Blinds 01484 443790 www.247blinds.co.uk Baked Tile Company 01792 439239 www.bakedtiles.co.uk Bathstore 03332 412701 www.bathstore.com Bathroom Takeaway 0333 3058200 www.bathroomtakeaway.com B&Q 0333 0143357 www.diy.com Beko 0333 2079710 www.beko.co.uk Benchmarx 01233 664825 www.benchmarxkitchens.co.uk Best4flooring 0161 4801296 www.best4flooring.co.uk Block Design 01503 230003 www.blockdesign.co.uk Bombay Duck 020 8749 3000 www.bombayduck.com Bower Collective www.bowercollective.com Boxwild 01291 639267 www.boxwild.com Brabantia 012 7581 9119 www.brabantia.com British Heart Foundation 0300 3303322 www.bhf.org.uk Britton 01322 473222 www.brittonbathrooms.com Brockway 01562 828200 www.brockway.co.uk Buds The Flower Shop 01255 554400 www.budsflowershop.co.uk

Carpetright 0330 3333444 www.carpetright.co.uk Chesney’s 020 7627 1410 www.chesneys.co.uk Chimney Sheep 01900 269427 www.chimneysheep.co.uk City Plumbing 0330 6780267 www.cityplumbing.co.uk Clarke & Clarke 01706 242010 www.clarke-clarke.com The Conran Shop 0344 8484000 www.conranshop.co.uk Crosswater 0345 8738840 www.crosswater.co.uk Criterion Auctioneers 020 7359 5707

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www.criterionauctioneers.com Crown Paints 0330 0240281 www.crownpaints.co.uk Cuckooland 01305 231231 www.cuckooland.com Cult Furniture 0208 1856960 www.cultfurniture.com Curtains 2go 0800 8620463 www.curtains-2go.co.uk

Dairy Diary 01425 463390 www.dairydiary.co.uk Daisy Park 01769 579077 www.daisypark.co.uk Där Lighting 01295 672200 www.darlighting.co.uk Day True 020 7788 9229 www.daytrue.com Debenhams 0344 8008877 www.debenhams.com Desenio 020 33182047 www.desenio.co.uk Dillington House 01460 258648 www.dillington.com Dobbies 0131 5616406 www.dobbies.com Doves Farm 01488 684880 www.dovesfarm.co.uk Dulux 0333 2227171 www.dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 1656565 www.dunelm.com Dunninghams 01255 502497 www.dunninghams.co.uk Dylon 0845 4900176 www.dylon.co.uk

Earthborn Paints 01928 734171 www.earthbornpaints.co.uk East Unique www.eastunique.com eBay 0345 3553229 www.ebay.co.uk Emily Brooks www.emilybrooks.uk Emma Britton 07989 269347 www.emmabritton.net Empire Builders 020 8150 9567 www.empire-build.co.uk Ercol 01844 271800 www.ercol.com Etsy www.etsy.com

Farrow & Ball 01202 876141 www.farrow-ball.com Field Studies Council 01743 852100 www.field-studies-council.org Finns of Chelsea 020 7225 0733 www.finnsofchelsea.co.uk Fiona McDonald 020 7731 3234 www.fionamcdonald.com Fritz Fryer 01989 567416 www.fritzfryer.co.uk

Garden Trading 01993 845559 www.gardentrading.co.uk George at Asda

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0800 9520101 www.asda.com Gigaclear 01865 591131 www.gigaclear.com Gisela Graham 020 7708 6396 www.giselagraham.co.uk GMC Books 01273 488005 www.gmcbooks.com Graham & Green 01225 418200 www.grahamandgreen.co.uk Grosvenor Shows 01406 372600 www.grosvenorshows.co.uk

John Lewis & Partners 03456 049049 www.johnlewis.com Joules 0345 2507160 www.joules.com

Kate Guy www.kateguy.co.uk Kebony +47 35106125 www.kebony.com Keller Kitchens +31 (0)164 285106 www.kellerkitchens.com Kempton Park Market 01932 230946 www.sunburyantiques.com

I J

H&M 0344 7369000 www.hm.com Habitat 0344 4994686 www.habitat.co.uk Harvey Jones 0800 3896938 www.harveyjones.com Heal’s 0333 2121915 www.heals.com Homebase 0345 0778888 www.homebase.co.uk Homeplace 0208 5090536 www.homeplace.co.uk Hörmann 01530 513000 www.hormann.co.uk Howdens 01604 876000 www.howdens.com

IKEA 0203 6450000 www.ikea.com IQ Glass 01494 722880 www.iqglassuk.com Jim Lawrence 01473 826685 www.jim-lawrence.co.uk Joe Browns 0113 2706655 www.joebrowns.co.uk

Lakeland 015394 88100 www.lakeland.co.uk Laura Ashley 03332 021196 www.lauraashley.com La Redoute 0330 3030199 www.laredoute.co.uk Limited Abode 0116 2778897 www.limitedabode.co.uk Little Greene 0845 8805855 www.littlegreene.com Lots Road Auctions 020 7376 6800 www.lotsroad.com Love Celery 0117 9247220 www.lovecelery.co.uk Love Radish 0117 9247220 www.loveradish.co.uk Lush Designs 020 82935662 www.lushlampshades.co.uk Lusophile www.lusophile.co.uk M&S 0333 0148555 www.marksandspencer.com Made.com 03442 571888 www.made.com

Magnet 01325 744093 www.magnet.co.uk Mandarin Stone 01600 715444 www.mandarinstone.com Marlesford Mill 01728 748076 www.marlesfordmill.co.uk Matalan 0333 0044444 www.matalan.co.uk Melody Maison 01302 741000 www.melodymaison.co.uk Meri Meri 01242 575868 www.merimeri.co.uk Methven 0800 1951602 www.methven.com MINDTHEGAP 0265 264121 www.mindtheg.com Modish Living 01273 499057 www.modishliving.co.uk Montes & Clark 01747 228861 www.montesandclark.co.uk Moving Beans www.movingbeans.com Murals Wallpaper 0151 7085400 www.muralswallpaper.co.uk Mylands Paint 020 8670 9161 www.mylands.com

Next 0333 777 8000 www.next.co.uk NICEIC 0333 015 6625 www.niceic.com Nicky Cornell 01992 536253 www.nickycornell.com Nkuku 0333 240 0155 www.nkuku.com Nood Co. +61 401 487654 www.noodco.com.au Not on the High Street 0203 3185115 www.notonthehighstreet.com

ODC 03300 586792 www.odcglass.co.uk Olivia’s 0800 6349236 www.olivias.com Oliver Bonas 020 8974 0110 www.oliverbonas.com Online Carpets 0800 9705705 www.onlinecarpets.co.uk Original Style Tile Showroom 01392 446300 www.ostileshop.uk

Penelope Bedroom 07444 158938 www.penelopebedroom.co.uk Perch & Parrow 0208 6291166 www.perchandparrow.com Pink Lady www.pinkladyapples.co.uk Plusrooms 0800 9177127 www.plusrooms.co.uk Pomona Fruits 01255 440410 www.pomonafruits.co.uk Primark 0118 9606300 www.primark.com Protek 01749 344697 www.protekwoodstain.co.uk

Q R

Quicke’s 01392 851222 www.quickes.co.uk

Rational 0800 1601845 www.rational.de Reeman Dansie 01206 754754 www.reemandansie.com Rex London 020 8746 2473 www.rexlondon.com RMR Homes 01344 776914 www.rmrhomes.co.uk Rockett St George 01444 253391 www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk Romo 01623 756699 www.romo.com Rosehip 07789 882256 www.rosehipinthecountry.com Rug and Carpet Studio 01787 882214 www.rugandcarpetstudio.co.uk

Sainsbury’s 0800 636262 www.sainsburys.co.uk Sanderson 020 3457 5862 www.sanderson-uk.com Simply Extend 0203 2857357 www.simplyextend.co.uk Sofa Sofa 01495 244226 www.sofasofa.co.uk Squires Garden Centres 01252 356860 www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk Stovax & Gazco 01392 474000 www.stovax.com Stoves Are Us 01484 434 321 www.stovesareus.co.uk Style Library 020 3457 5862 www.stylelibrary.com Suttons 0333 0430700 www.suttons.co.uk Sweetpea & Willow 0345 2572627 www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

The Tomato Stall 01983 866907 www.thetomatostall.co.uk Time 4 Sleep 01484 500560 www.time4sleep.co.uk Tinsmiths 01531 632083 www.tinsmiths.co.uk TK Maxx 01923 473561 www.tkmaxx.com Tons of Tiles 02477 500004 www.tonsoftiles.co.uk Topps Tiles 0800 7836262 www.toppstiles.co.uk

U V

Ultra Finishing 01422 417100 www.ultra-finishing.co.uk Up Architects 020 7846 0045 www.uparchitects.co.uk Valspar 0344 7369174 www.valsparpaint.co.uk Vanessa Arbuthnott 01285 831437 www.vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk Velux 01592 778225 www.velux.co.uk Very 0800 0923355 www.very.co.uk Vibrant Home www.vibranthome.co.uk Victoria Plum 0344 8044848 www.victoriaplum.com Victorian Plumbing 0345 8622878 www.victorianplumbing.co.uk Violet & Thistle

www.violetandthistle.com Vitra 020 76086200 www.vitra.com Vogue UK 01902 387000 www.vogueuk.co.uk

Wallpaper Direct 01323 430886 www.wallpaperdirect.com Wallpaper It 01254 266510 www.wallpaper-it.com Wayfair 0800 7564480 www.wayfair.co.uk Weru 03332 070776 www.weru.uk Wickes 0330 1234123 www.wickes.co.uk Wild & Wolf uk.wildandwolf.com Wilko 08000 329329 www.wilko.com WoodBlocX 0800 3891420 www.woodblocx.co.uk Wearth London www.wearthlondon.com

Yay Retro 07496 695990 www.yayretro.co.uk Young’s Seafood 0800 4968647 www.youngsseafood.co.uk

Zara Home 0800 0260091 www.zarahome.com

Teapigs 0203 1418495 www.teapigs.co.uk Tenderstem 0117 9211764 www.tenderstem.co.uk Tesco 0800 3234040 www.tesco.com The Bees Wax Wrap Co. 01453 706129 www.beeswaxwraps.co.uk The British Blanket Company 0845 4742747 www.thebritishblanketcompany.com The Contemporary Home 0845 1308229 www.tch.net The French Bedroom Company 01444 415430 www.frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk The Makery 01225 581888 www.themakery.co.uk The Range 0345 0267598 www.therange.co.uk

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T F E AT U R E

SPRING Inspiration Our guide to beautiful accessories and bold staple pieces to make your house a home

1. Treatex

2. Bunches

3. Gardening Naturally

Treatex Classic Colour Collection is a range of 21 colours that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Suitable for a range of applications from kitchen cupboards to garden fences and children’s wooden toys (certified), they are both water and UV resistant and free from biocides and preservatives.

Bunches are in the business of delivering happiness; sending beautiful bouquets, long-lasting house plants and gourmet gift hampers across the UK for over 30 years. They are committed to making a difference to the world, as well as the people in it – being there for you in life’s meaningful moments.

This set of kitchen storage tins are the perfect way to keep your produce fresher for longer. They have air holes at the base for ventilation. Holds up to 7kg of potatoes, 12 standard onions and up to 20 garlic bulbs. The perfect way to keep your kitchen tidy.

treatex.co.uk | 01844 260416

bunches.co.uk | 01623 750 343

gardening-naturally.com | 01285 760 505

4. Out & Out Havana Garden Set

5. Just Fabrics

6. Out & Out Marbella

Our best seller and going fast – Up to £200 off! The 8-seater Havana Garden Set is ideal for outdoor entertaining. Comprising of eight stackable armchairs and comes with a matching 200 cm rectangular slatted, dining table. Made almost entirely from aluminium, the Havana is lightweight yet strong. Normally £699, now £499. To receive your £200 discount, quote YHMAR20B at checkout before 30.04.20. Delivery Excluded.

The new Daisy collection at Just Fabrics mirrors the patterns and colours of the meadows outside your door. Joyful shades of yellow, soft blue and delicate pink will help to create a restful interior. Find a wide selection of textiles at Just Fabrics – The Cotswolds Favourite Fabric Company, their website has all you need to breathe new light into your interior.

Save £200 on stunning outdoor lounge set – great value! The Marbella includes a three seater sofa, fitted ottoman and a matching armchair with thick seat and back cushions. Also includes a matching coffee table with a glass top that makes it ideal for relaxing outdoors. Excludes Delivery. Was £599, now just £399. To receive your £200 discount, quote YHMAR20C at checkout by 30.04.20.

outandout.com | 02037 728752

justfabrics.co.uk | orders@justfabrics.co.uk

outandout.com | 02037 728752

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Classic Colour Collection Treatex Classic Colour Collection is a high quality opaque wood finish, suitable for many indoor and outdoor applications. Available in 21 colours.

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SHOPPING DIRECTORY In association with www.moduleo.co.uk To advertise here please call Sophie Roberts on 0117 300 8801

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...so you don't have to! We'll leave your appliances sparkling using our bespoke ecofriendly products. Range and AGA specialists Ovens & hobs Extractor hoods Microwave ovens Traditional stoves

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ECO NEWS

Eco

news Help save the planet with these stylish buys

CATCH OF THE DAY Remind yourself of the good you’re doing each time you pick up this reuseable shopping bag. The bold motif from Scottish textile designer Donna Wilson features a clean seascape in her classic charming style. The special fabric used to create the bags is made from recycled plastic, and each one is made from up to four recycled plastic bottles. Not only does this prevent the bottles from ending up in the sea, but the bag will also help you to cut down on single-use plastic. At the end of their life, they can be repurposed at fabric recycling centres. Pick up one of these limitededition bags for £1.25 at selected Tesco stores and tesco. com.

Molly mid-height wellies in Red Floral and Black Daisy, £44.95 each, Joules

Hedge fund At this time of year there’s always something to do in the garden, but unpredictable weather means that you need the right footwear for the job. Introducing the cheery wellie designs from Joules that will keep you smiling no matter how damp it gets. With these on your feet, you’ll be doing good for more than just your garden too. Joules is partnering with the

UK’s largest conservation charity, the Woodland Trust, to help support the fight against climate change by pledging to plant 250,000 new trees before 2022. To help reach this target, Joules will be planting one tree for every pair of wellies bought in store or online during March and April. Visit joules.com to find your perfect pair and discover more about the tree-planting project.

Waste knot Portuguese brand Jinja use 100 per cent recycled textile waste to create these stylish homewares. Ropes made from the textile waste are twisted and worked by hand to form the shapes of trays, placemats and plant pots. The textile waste is then sealed with an eco-glue so that it keeps its form. The plant pots also feature eco-friendly cork bases that help to absorb excess water and each item is handmade to order, so that nothing is wasted. A range of natural colours and irresistible surface textures make these pieces a great choice for on-trend, planetfriendly interior updates.

3 OF THE BEST cling-film alternatives

Jinja plant pots, £19, Lusophile

Make your own beeswax food wraps kit, £9.95, The Makery

Vegan wax food wraps,

Beeswax food wraps small kitchen pack in Land, £10, The Beeswax Wrap Co.

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Decorating Special 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

Feature Hannah Tribe

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