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Beautifully simple ideas for your home
ALSO INSIDE!
Health Tech & Home Detoxing
Cheap & Speedy Soups To Make
Open house! 70-PAGE SPECIAL
Real homes with... Stunning open-plan spaces ◆ Genius storage ideas ◆ Heart-of-home kitchens ◆ Modern extensions ◆ To-die-for period features
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In this issue...
…create calm for the year ahead with simple ways to find a balance – embrace home comforts with our edit of this season’s trends (page 10); create a detox toolkit to tackle air pollution in your home (page 146) and discover the best wellbeing gadgets that will help you on your way to a healthier lifestyle (page 166). Find out how to decorate with the perfect grey for your scheme (page 31); give your home a fresh look using subtle stripes (page 50); and ensure your bedroom leaves you 17 feeling relaxed and rested with our decorating ideas on page 54. Plus, don’t miss our favourite restorative
Update your home with on-trend buys
comfort-food recipes on page 156. Snuggle in – spring is on its way!
ON THE COVER VOLUME 191 ISSUE 6 Stylish buys and easy decorating ideas to try in your home Put a modern spin on mid-century style using budgetfriendly buys
READ THIS ON YOUR TABLET
Smarten up your scheme with subtle stripes
Download your digital edition at housetohome. co.uk/idealhome magazine
Step inside homes that have been transformed by glass extensions
4 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
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10
Find out which shade of grey is best suited to your room
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Discover smart wellbeing gadgets to improve your health this year
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STYLING SARITA SHARMA PHOTOGRAPH DOMINIC BLACKMORE
Cook up delicious winter warmers to keep you cosy Be inspired by these readers’ stunning houses and makeovers
February CONTENTS
HOME IDEAS
62 ‘It Feels Calm, But Cosy, Too’ 74 ‘My House Feels Like A Reflection Of Me’ 86 ‘We Took Our Time To Get It Right’ 100 ‘It’s The Perfect Mix Of Old And New’
PROPERTY IDEAS
115 Property Projects 118 Extreme Transformations 124 ‘We Turned Three Rooms Into One’ 128 ‘We Love Our Luxe Loft Look’ 132 ‘High End Meets High Street Here’ 136 ‘We Designed It For Our Daughters’ 140 ‘The Tiles Were Pricey, But Worth It’
FIND A
SEASONAL IDEAS RESTORE, REBALANCE AND RENEW WITH THE IDEAS YOU’LL FIND IN THIS ISSUE
62
Choose a neutral palette to create a calming look
SHOPPING IDEAS 10 13 14 17 19 21
Mood Of The Moment Everybody’s Doing Look What We Found! The Next Big Thing Design Report High Street Hero
44 46 50 54
Boutique Hotel Spy Colour School: Honeycomb Pick The Perfect Pattern Smart Ideas For Bedrooms
DECORATING IDEAS
26 Be Inspired By Our Moodboards 31 Choose The Perfect Grey 40 Cash Clever Decorator
GIRL ABOUT TECH
163 What’s New 166 The Technology Of Wellbeing 169 You’ll Love This: One-Pot Wonder 171 You’ll Love This: Big-Screen Smartphone
REGULARS
46
Add the Midas touch with gold accents
SHOPPING DIRECTORY PAGE 192
FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS FEATURED IN IDEAL HOME, TURN TO
146 Detox Your Home 148 How To Get Better Customer Service 151 Go Sugar-Free 153 In The Kitchen 156 Cook Up A Bowlful Of Comfort 160 In The Garden 194 Eight Self-Help Books That Actually Work
7 Editor’s Letter 8 Subscribe From Just £23.99 170, 172 & 174 Reader Offers 173 Win A Bathroom Suite From Ideal Standard 175 Save 20% At Blinds2go 177 Enjoy 20% Off At Secret Linen Store housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 5
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February EDITOR’S LETTER Blow away some cobwebs with a winter walk
My to-do list for February The things I’ll be planning, doing and shopping for this month
P
ayday’s always a long time coming in January and February’s a frugal month, too (especially if I’ve got holiday plans to save for!), so I’ll be relying on free and cheap ways to shop, eat and get fit. HITTING THE CHARITY SHOPS At the start of every year, Ma Richmond and I gather our resources for The Big One: a mammoth sweep of the local charity shops, from one end of the high street to the other (via Costa for a chai latte and a loo break). It’s all in the timing. We know that the post-Christmas cleanup will trigger cupboard clear-outs across the county, but you have to allow a little time for things to come to fruition. The day we estimate that the shops are at peak bargain, we strike. I’m not sure if we will be able to improve on last year’s haul – between us we bagged dolls’ stuff and Lego for the littlest Richmonds, a complete canteen of beautiful silver cutlery and a designer raincoat – but we’ll give it our best shot. DUSTING OFF THE SLOW COOKER A bit retro, I know, but slow cookers were made for lazy cooks with limited skills, like me. You just stick everything in it, switch it on and several hours later you’ve got something flavourful and hot filling the house with delicious smells. But the best thing about the slow cooker is that it’s a great way to use up all those halfused packets of dried beans and pulses
that lurk at the back of the cupboard. Normally, even after soaking and boiling up, they can still taste a bit grainy, but the slow cooker can make anything wonderfully tender. Pa Richmond does amazing things with cheap cuts of meat in his ancient Morphy Richards. Don’t be too heavy handed with the chilli powder, though – cooking for hours seriously intensifies its heat! GETTING MY WALKING BOOTS ON Spring and autumn are supposedly the best seasons for walking, but treks on crisp winter days are my favourite. They take a bit more planning – you have to make sure to get back before the light goes – and a bit more kit – thermals and my crime-against-fashion Gortex deerstalker hat… but the cold forces you into a brisk pace that gets the blood and serotonin pumping. Plus, it’s free and burns calories (if, like me, you have a bit of a post-Christmas belly!). For routes and planned group walks near you, do a search by distance and/or difficulty at ramblers.org.uk.
Vanessa
JOIN THE IDEAL HOME COMMUNITY FIND US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/ideal homemagazine.co.uk
Vanessa Richmond, Acting Editor
HELLO, WE’RE IDEAL HOME! PHOTOGRAPHS TERRY BEASLEY, TIMEINCUKCONTENT.COM, ALAMY
Use up your store-cupboard basics for cheap, healthy meals
Together, we are a team of… multitasking mums, independents, wise empty nesters, single ladies (‘all the single ladies…’), attached ladies, fierce Millennials, mellow mid lifers, property owners, free spirits, animal lovers, star bakers, crafters, DIY champions, health nuts, sofa slobs, geeks and goddesses… but, above all, we’re passionate home makers. Nice to meet you! ♥ Go to housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine to see more of what we do – you can sign up to our treat of a weekly newsletter there, too…
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @idealhome ENJOY OUR BLOGS Homeshoppingspy.com and Girlabouttech.com SUBSCRIBE AT magazinesdirect.com DOWNLOAD OUR DIGITAL EDITION for iPad, Kindle Fire, Nook and Google Play
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January Sale! Save up to 51% Subscribe from just £23.99 Treat yourself to a copy of Ideal Home – the nation’s favourite homes magazine every month with this amazing offer. As you know, we pack each issue full of style ideas, expert decorating advice and unmissable seasonal inspiration, and what’s more, as a subscriber you can enjoy your very own sneak preview before each issue hits the shops. We know how much you demand value and quality, so we’ve come up with a fantastic offer this month. Make sure you never miss an issue of Ideal Home by subscribing now! Subscribe today and get 12 issues of your favourite magazine from just £23.99, which is less than £2 an issue! Plus you’ll get every magazine delivered straight to your door.
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19S
Watery glaze
See the light
Hand-made ceramics add a homely touch Etta large bowl in Pale Jade, £65, Toast
Ideal for creating a warm atmosphere Ceramic Onion lamp in White on White, £69.95, Dassie
Seasonal shades
Display purple heather in a contrasting pot for extra colour Dot textured plant pot, £28, Att Pynta
Cover up
a length To make a simple mug warmer, cut e. twin with e plac in tie then fit, of felt to spice Add cinnamon sticks to stir in a little
Drape over a sofa ready to wrap up in Dylan Check throw in Amethyst, £50, Laura Ashley
Mood of the moment Staying in
Softly does it
Layer subtle textures for a comforting feel Lamb’s wool Herringbone cushion in lilac, £49.95, Bronte by Moon
Warm touch
Add some cute woodland creatures Owl Graphic mug, £6, Marks & Spencer
With the chill of winter still in the air, get the fire on, cosy up with a blanket and embrace all of your favourite home comforts MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR
FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
Pure scent Made with essential oils Winter Berries three wick candle, £35, Beefayre
Good read
Inspiration for a curated look A Life Less Ordinary by Zoe Ellison & Alex Legendre (£25, Ryland Peters & Small)
Lived-in look
Weathered wood brings rustic charm Tiger ladder shelves (H230cm), £245, Loaf
Smart, stylish and so comfortable Flynn armchair in Persian Grey, £299, Made.com
Simple storage
Use it for logs, knitting wool or spare blankets Medium French basket, £21, BasketBasket
Cosy toes
Give chilly feet a warming treat Bobble mules, £22.50, White Stuff
X Follow our blog homeshoppingspy.com for more style news, ideas and fabulous finds X 10 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
STYLING CAROL WORTLEY-BISHOP PHOTOGRAPH SIMON WHITMORE
Fireside seat
February SHOPPING IDEAS
FIND A
Mix classic plaids and florals with blocks of dusky tones for a country look that feels cosy in winter but looks fresh come spring
BRING A NEUTRAL SCHEME TO LIFE BY ADDING SOFT PASTELS
IDEAL HOME
MOODBOARD
Winter Pastels
For details of this moodboard, turn to page 26
Find all the details in the shopping directory
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February SHOPPING IDEAS
Bright idea
Hang it low over the dining table for statement style Easy fit pendant in cork and metal, £27.99, Homebase
Sturdy design
Keep your tablet safe when you’re on the move Cork travel case for iPad, £28, Notonthehighstreet.com Cork bench, £100; glass bottle with cork stopper, £6; both Ilse Crawford range, Ikea
Keep a lid on it Just the thing for storing pasta or rice Jadon small glass storage jar with cork lid, £10, Habitat
Everybody’s doing
Cool coasters
Protect your polished surfaces Cork coasters, £1 for four, Hema
Graphic pattern
This tactile material is durable and practical but still chic – the perfect combo in my eyes
Add a smart finishing touch to your table setting Cork place mat, £11, Bloomingville range, Amara
HOLLY CATFORD, ACTING STYLE AND DECORATING ASSISTANT
Shine on
Top it off
In the frame
Display precious moments in time Metal and cork frame, £17.99, Zara Home
The cork base gives extra warmth to this soft mood light Cork and frostedglass table lamp, £24, Ikea
Cork and ceramic is a winning mix Green vase with cork neck, £59, Notonthe highstreet.com
Smart storage
An easy and chic way to clear up clutter Saco cork storage basket, from £29.95, The Holding Company
FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
Timely trend Perfect perch
Great for the kitchen Natural cork stool, £50, Ilse Crawford range, Ikea
Try just a subtle hint of the look Cork alarm clock, £4, George
X Follow our blog homeshoppingspy.com for more style news, ideas and fabulous finds X housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 13
Tidy trio
Pots of gold
A smart way to keep your office space organised Set of three brass drawers, £19.99, TK Maxx
Fill with tealights or use as smart pen pots Ceramic votives, £25 for five, Bloomingville range, Amara
Looking rosy
These beauties are not your usual coasters Kivita gold and rose quartz coasters, £132 for two, Anna New York range, Amara
Silver linings
Gilded leaf
Nature-inspired and metallic, for two trends in one Copper leaf tray, £15, House of Fraser
Shimmering finishes create a calming boudoir Silver-effect quilt and cushion cover, £180, Zara Home
Look what we found! The metallic trend continues to be big for 2016 and if you’re looking for ways to add this look in small doses, here’s our definitive edit… HOLLY CATFORD, ACTING STYLE AND DECORATING ASSISTANT
Rise and shine
Copper and wood make a stylish combo Loft copper table lamp, £95, Furnish.co.uk
Copper top
Just the thing for your precious keepsakes Marble jewellery box, £19, Oliver Bonas
Top table
Frame game
Combines an urban shape with a glamorous finish Metal frame upholstered chair in Lustre Velvet Dusty Blush, £599, West Elm
Channel the allure of Art-Deco glamour Pentagonal side table with grey marble top, £225, Bloomingville range, Houseology
X Follow our blog homeshoppingspy.com for more style news, ideas and fabulous finds X 14 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
February SHOPPING IDEAS
‘I love the contrast of modern, sleek metallics with natural materials, such as marble and pale wood, for rough-luxe style that has a cool, unexpected pop of polish’
Pared back
Eye-catching on a desk, shelf or mantel 1/2 desk clock, £49, Clippings.com
MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR
On the wire
Produces an amazing pattern of light and shadow on your ceiling Jonas wire copper pendant ceiling light, £46, B&Q
Luxe texture
Foil-printed with an organic effect Metallic brushstroke grid cushion cover in Shimmer Blue/Silver, £34, West Elm
File in style
Pop on a hallway table to keep post in order Mystic rose metal letter rack, £8, Paperchase
Simply sparkle
Arm candy
Contemporary cool with a nod to Scandi style Klein copper tealight candelabra, £45, Habitat
Delicate rose-gold brocade is perfect for a bedroom Gold peacock eye cushion, £35, The French Bedroom Company
IDEAL V GREAT DEAL Get the look whatever your budget
FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
Terrific teacup
Too pretty to be hidden away in a cupboard Porcelain gold spot mug, £6.99, H&M
In the band
Wow walls
£40
£12
Instant va-va-voom for a dramatic scheme Millionaire Metallic emulsion, £18.49 for 1.25ltr, Crown Paints
Luxe up spring sprigs with a spot of gold Glass vase with metal band, £20, Next
Fine fretwork
Pineapple crush
Give your home a smart yet playful update Large gold pineapple, John Lewis
Fruity favourite
Use to store bits and bobs Gold effect pineapple objet, Sainsbury’s
A delicate geometric design with a metallic sheen Portico wallpaper in Adriatic, £61.50 per roll, Fougere Wallcoverings collection, Romo
X Follow our blog homeshoppingspy.com for more style news, ideas and fabulous finds X housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 15
February SHOPPING IDEAS
Light and shade A Sixties-style design in glass and aluminium Collar pendant lamp in Terracotta, £269, Gubi range, Skandium
Bin there
This retro basket is woven by hand in Columbia Arfica pattern basket, £38, The Conran Shop
Coffee and cream
Layer shades of brown for a warm look Karby wool blanket, £49, Urbanara
The next big thing... Will this cocooning, earthy palette be top of the paint charts for 2016? MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR
THE STORY SO FAR It was the colour of the Seventies across fashion and interiors, and it returned in the Nineties in faux suede and mocha walls. Now, brown is back in an array of decorating and shopping trends. WHERE WE’VE SEEN IT The rise in value of artisan crafts has brought an appreciation of the hand made, with earthy tones and natural, sustainable materials, such as visible wood-grain, leather and glazed and matt ceramics. See the Olio collection by Barber & Osgerby for Royal Doulton in terracotta for refined rustic style. The return of the Seventies has also brought with it a palette of warm brown and caramel tones to complement the modern metallics of brass and copper. For a more retro feel, look out for tan-leather seating with a Seventies vibe from
Give richly toned leather a contemporary update by adding metallic highlights and natural finishes, such as wood and textured wool Gower leather Grand sofa, £1,899, DFS
Heritage shade
A brand new shade for 2016 Salon Drab Estate Emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
West Elm and sling occasional chairs, such as the Berlin easy chair from Tom Faulkner, as well as a selection at Rockett St George. LATEST RELEASES Dulux’s colour predictions for 2016 feature brown throughout its trend palettes, such as dark Bitter Chocolate 1 in the shadowy hues of its Dark & Light trend. As Rebecca Williamson, Dulux’s senior colour, design and content manager, explains, ‘Paired with our 2016 Colour of the Year, Cherished Gold, the deep earthy brown shades of Lucky Penny and Caramel Blush 1 create a relaxed neutral feel.’ Meanwhile, designers continue to be inspired by the earth’s natural forms and colours – spy ceramic vases with textured surfaces and organic shapes at BoConcept and Bloomingville.
Loam tone
FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
The beauty is in this vase’s imperfections Natural clay vase, £7, BoConcept
Cool caramel
Colour of clay
Pieces designed with individual character Olio collection, from £10 for a plate, Barber & Osgerby range, Royal Doulton
A soft, buff hue Claire chair in Antelope Brown leather, £358, Calligaris
X Follow our blog homeshoppingspy.com for more style news, ideas and fabulous finds X housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 17
February SHOPPING IDEAS
‘My new fabrics by my daughters are quirky and fun prints in a palette of earthy terracotta, kale green and bright tomato, plus a few colours that are old favourites’ VANESSA ARBUTHNOTT, TEXTILES DESIGNER
FEATURE MICHELA COLLING, HOLLY CATFORD
Calmsden sofa upholstered in Harris Tweed in Sea, £68 per m; cushions covered in a selection of fabrics, from £48 per m; all Birds and Beasts collection, Vanessa Arbuthnott
Vanessa (centre) with Rose (left) and Flora
DESIGN REPORT
Vanessa Arbuthnott and Harris Tweed got together and something amazing happened…
British textiles designer Vanessa Arbuthnott’s latest collection is very special to her, as it came about with the help of her daughters, Rose and Flora. Created in collaboration with Harris Tweed, the quirky, light-hearted Birds and Beasts collection includes two prints on 100% linen: Wild and
Free by Rose features African-inspired wild animals, while Bird Hop by Flora focuses on a delicate outline of a deliciously plump bird. The Harris Tweed was found by Rose when she and a friend took a ramble through the Highlands to the Isle of Harris, where law states that the tweed must be
made of pure virgin wool and spun on the islands. The samples she chose are quintessentially Scottish and work perfectly alongside the linens, while also helping to support a deep-rooted tradition. Ideal for upholstery, we particularly love the soft saffron shades against the deeper teals.
X Follow our blog homeshoppingspy.com for more style news, ideas and fabulous finds X housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 19
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February SHOPPING IDEAS
This month’s High Street Hero... Emma & John Sims-Hilditch
J
WARM WELCOME Add vintage style to the hallway Henley console, £595, Neptune
Meet the husband-and-wife team behind Neptune, one of the UK’s fastest-growing lifestyle brands
ohn Sims-Hilditch and his business partner Giles Redman founded Neptune in 1996, selling hammocks and garden furniture. Now, the company offers everything from kitchens and furniture to accessories. ‘I like to think there’s a better way to do retail,’ says John. ‘We respect and look after our customers and in return they trust us.’ John’s entrepreneurial nature and eye for design, together with the creative flair of his wife, Emma, have resulted in Neptune growing into a company with more than 40 stores in the UK and Europe. THE COUPLE BEHIND THE LOOK John and Emma had similar rural upbringings. ‘I had an idyllic childhood,’ says Emma. ‘Dad grew vegetables, and Mum loved knitting and sewing. I can remember sitting with her as a child while she hand-carded fleece, then spun it into balls of wool. My sister is a textile designer and my brother is a photographer, so I guess a creative vein runs in our family.’ After school, Emma took a businessstudies course, while John went straight into the army after leaving school at 16. ‘I was attracted to doing my own thing and the army seemed interesting,’ he explains. ‘I served for around eight years and loved it. I was still in the military when I met Emma.’ After he left the army, John was unsure of his future. ‘I tried working within an organisation, but realised
it wasn’t going to suit me as I’d had such autonomy in the army,’ he says. At the time, there were opportunities for John to work in the city. ‘However, I think we realised that wasn’t going to satisfy the creative energy we both had at the time,’ says Emma. FORM AND FUNCTION A successful interior designer in her own right, Emma is also the creative driving force behind Neptune. ‘John brings the technical expertise, whereas I bring the look and feel,’ she says. With an interest in architecture and invention, John is determined that Neptune’s products are as practical as they are beautiful, and ensures the quality is as good as it can be. ‘I like to think of myself as both the brand and the customer champion,’ he says. ‘I check that the team are doing their best for our customers, and work on the functional elements to make sure they’re right. The Neptune style comes from Emma’s impeccable taste, and I always defer to her because she knows what works.’
‘I like to think there’s a better way to do retail. We respect and look after our customers’
HOME LIFE Based in Wiltshire since they were married, John and Emma live in a converted barn that they share with their children, Daisy, Betty and William, who are all students. ‘Juggling our home and work-life balance has been one of our biggest challenges, as our home is where Neptune was born,’ says Emma. ‘We did the barn conversion before we started to create the look
MODERN COUNTRY Simple storage for a timeless scheme Chichester plate rack, £560, Neptune
and feel for the company. It was the test-bed of the style we have today, which is always evolving.’ FUTURE PLANS So, what does the future hold? ‘We’re opening more stores,’ says John. ‘We expanded from simply selling online because we wanted to create an experience. I think it’s great that you can go into our stores and get advice from people who are committed to creating a better way of living.’ ‘We’re also working on offering an interior-design service in store,’ says Emma. ‘It would involve a dedicated designer visiting your home and coming up with a design. But it will be affordable, too, so that everyone can be a part of the Neptune experience.’ ➺
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 21
SHOPPING IDEAS February IN THE CLEAR Add impact above a dining table or island with this statement light Browning large lantern pendant, £425, Neptune
PICTURE PERFECT This print is of a painting by John and Emma’s daughter Daisy Veneto San Giorgio from the water (H59cm x W69cm), £125, Neptune
COSY CORNER A comfy armchair and a task light create the ideal spot to enjoy a book Amelia armchair, from £570; Brompton floor lamp, £335; both Neptune
MADE TO LAST Neptune sofas are designed to be as comfortable as they are hard-wearing George medium sofa, from £1,525, Neptune
BUILDING BLOCKS John believes in making quality furniture that will last a lifetime using traditional techniques
MUTED TONES The Neptune colour palette is inspired by family holidays in Provence Lily and Moss matt emulsions, both £34 for 2.5ltr, Neptune
John & Emma’s GET TO KNOW THEIR SIGNATURE STYLE Neptune has developed a distinctive look and style. ‘It’s classic contemporary,’ says Emma, without hesitation. ‘It’s understated, elegant, easy to live with, calm and comfortable,’ she adds. ‘We try to design items that are timeless and we’re not huge trend followers,’ says John. ‘A lot of our influences come from travelling in Europe and holidays spent in France and Italy,’ says Emma. ‘We’re both Europhiles and think we’re incredibly lucky to have the most incredible art, culture and architecture on our doorstep. John is fascinated by architecture and ancient buildings that have stood the test of time –
INTERIOR INSPIRATION Emma is inspired by the Hamptons location and the set design of the movie Something’s Gotta Give
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a reflection of his belief in creating products that are built to last – whereas some of my greatest inspiration comes from films and set design. My favourite film is Something’s Gotta Give; I think the set decoration is fabulous.’ ‘The quality and standard of Neptune products come from the fact that Giles and I love sailing,’ says John. ‘As an island nation, the sea has informed our engineering. You wouldn’t go to sea unless the vessel you were in was safe. We’ve applied some of that thinking to our products; we don’t use MDF or chipboard in any of our furniture, because it’s not good in damp environments and you can’t make decent joints out of it. We also use traditional furniture-making techniques, with the intention that our products will last a lifetime.’ RENAISSANCE REVIVAL John’s love of European architecture is reflected in this Parisian ink drawing Delorme Architectural Doorway A2 (65cm sq), £180, Neptune
FEATURE KAREN BRAY PHOTOGRAPHS ANDRII GORULKO/ALAMY
WARMING TOUCH Create a focal point with a wood-burning stove Carron 7.3kW stove in cream, £799, Ludlow Stoves
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BE INSPIRED, BE CREATIVE with FEBRUARY’S DECORATING IDEAS
Be your own
INTERIOR DESIGNER If you love the stylish schemes in Ideal Home, but aren’t sure how to transform your own rooms, we’re here to help. All great looks start with inspiring images, so indulge in a research session with our decorating section, then build a moodboard for your project. Find our moodboards and more inspiration over the page...
Grey scale
Find the perfect shade for your room, page 31
Honey tones
Layer gentle gold and warm caramel hues, page 46
Retro cool
Go for mid-century style, page 40
Subtle pattern Add interest with stylish stripes, page 50
FIND INSPIRING MOODBOARDS ONLINE AT
housetohome.co.uk/moodboards
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 25
Be inspired by our
MOODBOARDS We use expert interior-design techniques to create our decorating looks. Each starts with a moodboard, like the ones here. Use one of these as a starting point for a stylish new scheme FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
FIND MORE MOODBOARDS ONLINE AT
houseto home.co.uk/ moodboards
26 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
HONEYCOMB
SEE IT IN A ROOM... page 46
Mix gold and mustard tones for a warming scheme UF1248 flooring, £31.99 per sq m, Quick Step. Ranger rug in Mustard, £149, Modern Rugs. Hand woven bowl, £24, French Connection. Cushion covers made in (from left): Hudson Bay in Oatmeal, £66.50 per m, Linwood; Bird Hop in Saffron, £48 per m, Vanessa Arbuthnott. English Toffee oil based eggshell, £51 for 2.5ltr, Zoffany range, Designerpaint. Ashfield in Maize swatch, £49.90 per m, Linwood. Marble apple, £10, John Lewis. Hexagonal dish, £14.95, Graham and Green. Glass vase, £37, Cox & Cox. For a similar white plate and bowl, try John Lewis
Moodboards DECORATING IDEAS
SEE IT IN A ROOM... page 40
PLAYFUL PATTERN
Update a mid-century look with graphic prints in steely greys and splashes of vivid colour
UPSCALE & TAILORED
Add structure with monochrome stripes Audrey Night Fall runner with CCN9 Cotton Chenille Otter border, £649, Crucial Trading. Dinner Jacket matt emulsion, £21.98 for 2.5ltr, Valspar. Ashby pear, £6, Neptune. Stripe photo frame, £30, John Lewis. For a similar postcard, try a selection, Notonthehighstreet.com
Design your own moodboard Cheat your way to a professional finish
1 Choose your base colour
Whether it’s flooring or a wall, the base colour will be the largest area of colour in your room, so place a generous sample of it onto your board. Including carpet samples will help you think about texture, too.
SEE IT IN A ROOM... page 32
SEE IT IN A ROOM... page 44
LPU1622 Dominicano Oak Natural laminate flooring, £29.49 per sq m, Largo collection, Quick Step. Patagonia wallpaper, £23 per roll, John Lewis. Cushion covers, from left: made in Zahira Mango 7634/08, £63 per m, Romo; Linen Ombre, £30, French Connection; made in Zahira Caribou 7634/01, £63 per m, Romo. Aran cuffed glass, £16, Rowen & Wren. Dipped concrete gold vase, £12.50; burnished copper bud vase, £40 for three; both Cox & Cox. Knit stitch candle in Summer Orange, £14.50, Nordic House. For a similar faux succulent, try the Maguey artificial stem, £6.24, CB2
ASH & NAVY
Use pale neutrals with dark blue for cool elegance For a similar double duvet cover, try the Woodblock Leaf, £35, Next. For similar laminate flooring, try the IM1861, £19.99 per sq m, Quick Step. For similar sisal flooring, try the Bubbleweave Silver, £51.98 per sq m, Alternative Flooring. Poetica voile, from a selection, Harlequin. For a similar bottle, try the recycled glass, £16.50, Garden Trading. Gauze matt emulsion; Juniper Ash Absolute matt emulsion; both £37 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene
2Add an accent tone
A dramatic contrast or an accent just a few tones away from your base colour? Use your moodboard to play with options and layer it with swatches of fabric, scraps of wallpaper and paint colour charts.
3Find the right accessories
These will really set the tone in your room – go for ones that share an accent colour and stick to a single theme. Don’t mix styles, or your finished scheme will look messy rather than effortlessly eclectic.
TURN OVER FOR MOR
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 27
FRESH & EASY-GOING
SEE IT IN A ROOM... page 33
Team wooden and woven textures for an organic look IM1857 laminate flooring in saw cut oak beige, £19.99 per sq m, Quick Step. Xander fabric in Smoke, £25 per m; napkins, £20 for four, Chalfont range; both John Lewis. Side plate, £5, Courbe range, Habitat. Kensington cutlery, £26 for a 16 piece set, Next. Charcoal Original Eggshell, £42 for 2.5ltr, Neptune. Feather Flock matt emulsion, £24.49 for 2.5ltr, Dulux. Chopping board, £39.95, Luma
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Moodboards DECORATING IDEAS
SOFT & RELAXING
Go for a laid-back feel with comforting greys Evienne fabric, £51.50 per m, Voyage Decoration. Cacoon bowl, £12, French Connection. Pampas Nordic carpet in Nuuk, £22.99 per sq m, Kersaint Cobb & Company. Audley fabric in Dove Grey, £74 per m, Zoffany. Harbour 35 Dove fabric, from a selection, Barker & Stonehouse. Richmond cushion cover, £48, Luma. French Grey 113 Intelligent Matt Emulsion, £43.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene
SEE IT IN A ROOM... page 10
WINTER PASTELS
Cosy up with warm tones of heather and blush
SEE IT IN A ROOM... page 34
Decorating?
FOLLOW THE 3 GOLDEN RULES
PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID BRITTAIN, SIMON WHITMORE, TIMEINCUKCONTENT.COM
1
B200 carpet, £50 per sq m, Brintons. Cushion covers made in (from left): Larksong, £36 per m, Sanderson; Moorland Boath, £41.95 per m, Moon; Byron Wool Plains; piped in Byron Wool Plains; from £60.79 per m, Sanderson. Vase, £30, Graham and Green. Whitehall wallpaper, £66.50 per roll, Little Greene. Pebble, £18; feathers, £25.50 for five; all Rose & Grey. English Toffee eggshell, £37.49 for 2.5ltr, Zoffany. Bowl, £46; vessel, £40; card, £4.65; all Madebyhandonline.com. Ribba frame, £2.25, Ikea
SEE IT IN A ROOM... page 36
THE 70-20-10 RULE For a
balanced scheme, keep 70% of the elements (say, walls and floors) as one colour, then add 20% in a second colour (fabrics) and 10% in an accent (accessories).
2
THE PATTERN RULE When mixing patterns, use large with medium or medium with small, never large with small. Pick prints that share a colour in common.
3
THE PAINTED BOX RULE
The look of paint changes according to the time of day and the light in a room. Paint the inside of a large box with a tester to create a miniature ‘room’ and see how the colour changes within a 3D space.
AND FINALLY… Always add a surprise. A focal point – whether it’s a feature wall or a piece of art – is the short cut to a ‘wow’ room.
COSY & COCOONING
Mix gentle grey and soft pink for a soothing look Tromso Stripe flannel pillowcase (background), £30 for two; mini Ede bud vase in Taupe, £8; both House of Fraser. Velvet and linen cushion cover in Blush, £20, Cox & Cox. Monument Grey flat matt emulsion, £25.83 for 2.5ltr, Dulux. Strong White floor paint, £58 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Smoke grey glass tealight holder, £7.50, Nordic House
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 29
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The perfect grey DECORATING IDEAS
CHOOSE THE
perfect grey Now the biggest-selling paint colour after white, grey has secured its position as the modern neutral. This is how to get the right shade for every room, every time FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO PAGE 38
F
inding the right grey is exactly like buying a red lipstick: you choose one with the undertone that suits your skin shade. If you hold together a fan of grey paint charts, you’ll see how widely the tones vary. The cool end of the spectrum has blue undertones, passing through tints of green and yellow, ending up at warm shades with red bases that give them brown, pink or purple tints. Your journey starts with deciding on the ‘temperature’ of colour your room needs – cool or warm – then how dark you dare to take it…
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 31
COLOUR PROFILE
Cool, dark greys THE UNDERTONES From deepest slate to dark concrete, these greys have blue in their DNA.
Painting a hallway in a dark colour makes the rooms off it feel brighter and bigger. This deep shade is Dinner Jacket matt emulsion, £21.98 for 2.5ltr, Valspar
THE SPACE Avoid at all costs in a north-facing room. They’re perfect for cooling down an overbright, south-facing space. THE ACCENTS TO TRY Go tonal with blue-based colours for a subtle highlight – think teal or lapis. Or, create a bold contrast with a splash of rich yellow, orange of pink to pop against the deep grey. THE RIGHT WHITE Use one with a faint blue tint, such as Shallows 223 Intelligent Eggshell, £53 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene.
IDEAL HOME
MOODBOARD
Upscale & Tailored
For details of this moodboard, turn to page 26
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The perfect grey DECORATING IDEAS IDEAL HOME
MOODBOARD
Fresh & Easy-Going
Create a bright, fresh feel in a dining area for upbeat breakfasts and chic suppers. This shade is Feather Flock matt emulsion, £24.49 for 2.5ltr, Dulux
For details of this moodboard, turn to page 26
COLOUR PROFILE
Cool, light greys THE UNDERTONES Frosty shades of pale blue lay beneath these calming cool grey hues. THE SPACE Perfect for a small but sunny room where the light can make deeper colours too intense, while boosting its feeling of space. THE ACCENTS TO TRY Build a palette with barely there tints of palest blue and green, or throw in a dash of scarlet for Scandi style. Blush pink also flatters and warms these fresh shades. THE RIGHT WHITE Try a white that has a grey tint, such as Wevet Estate Eggshell, £53 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball.
COLOUR PROFILE
Warm, light greys THE UNDERTONES These shades have either a touch of yellow in them, giving them a brownish tint, or a touch of red, which gives a pinkish tinge. THE SPACE Great for east and west-facing rooms for diffused light at sunrise or sunset respectively, while adding warmth at other times. THE ACCENTS TO TRY Team ochre to yellow-tinged greys, or try a dark, earthy green. Pinktinted greys will look great with coral and peach. THE RIGHT WHITE Try a white that has a hint of yellow in it, such as Strong White Estate Eggshell, ÂŁ53 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball.
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Warm, but not oppressive, these greys are ideal for cosy living spaces. We used French Grey 113 Intelligent Matt Emulsion, ÂŁ43.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene
The perfect grey DECORATING IDEAS
IDEAL HOME
MOODBOARD
Soft & Relaxing
For details of this moodboard, turn to page 26
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 35
COLOUR PROFILE
Warm, dark greys THE UNDERTONES Tints of yellow can give these deeper greys a greenish hue, while touches of red can make them look brown through to purplish in some lights. THE SPACE Anywhere you want a cosy, enveloping feel – perfect for a north-facing room that needs the chill taking out of it. THE ACCENTS TO TRY Add pops of black, khaki or olive to greentinted hues, or nude beige. With red-warmed tones, try lilac or rose. THE RIGHT WHITE Go for a warm white with just a smidgen of red in it, such as Down 242 Intelligent Eggshell, £53 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene.
IDEAL HOME
MOODBOARD
Cosy & Cocooning
For details of this moodboard, turn to page 26
Make a room feel inviting with a warm grey that mixes well with other neutrals for a comfortable, layered look. This is Monument Grey matt emulsion, £24.49 for 2.5ltr, Dulux
The perfect grey DECORATING IDEAS
PJ9576 Biora 7 Classic Matt, £34 for 2.7ltr, Pride & Joy Paints
Weathered Cottage matt emulsion, £21.98 for 2.5ltr, Valspar
PICK THE PERFECT
PICK THE PERFECT
cool, light grey
warm, light grey
Most popular One of Dulux’s bestselling shades
TRY IT WITH… Coral Whisp matt emulsion, £21.98 for 2.5ltr, Valspar Polished Pebble matt emulsion, £24.49 for 2.5ltr, Dulux
Elephant’s Breath Estate Emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
Ammonite Estate Emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
Clouded Sky matt emulsion, £24.49 for 2.5ltr, Dulux
Slate Grey Tough Matt Paint, £18.99 for 2.5ltr, Home of Colour range, Homebase
Monument Grey matt emulsion, £24.49 for 2.5ltr, Dulux
PJ9376 Biora 7 Classic Matt, £34 for 2.7ltr, Pride & Joy Paints
Tabby Cat Grey matt emulsion, £21.98 for 2.5ltr, Valspar
Elephant Grey Flat Emulsion, £43 for 2.5ltr, Zoffany
Chic Shadow matt emulsion, £24.49 for 2.5ltr, Dulux
Cloud Burst matt emulsion, £19.49 for 2.5ltr Crown Paints
PJ9278 Biora 7 Classic Matt, £34 for 2.7ltr, Pride & Joy Paints
Soft Shadow matt emulsion, £19.49 for 2.5ltr, Crown Paints
Frisky Whiskers matt emulsion, £21.98 for 2.5ltr, Valspar
PICK THE PERFECT
PICK THE PERFECT
warm, dark grey
cool, dark grey
Dark Dove Grey matt emulsion, £32 for 2.5ltr, Laura Ashley
TRY IT WITH… Viola’s Bloom emulsion, £36 for 2ltr, Paint by Conran
City Break matt emulsion, £19.49 for 2.5ltr, Crown Paints
New York matt emulsion, £19.49 for 2.5ltr, Crown Paints
Winter Rocket emulsion, £36 for 2ltr, Paint by Conran
Most popular One of Crown Paint’s bestselling shades housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 37
DECORATING IDEAS The perfect grey
Find all the details
IN THESE PICTURES
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HALLWAY
DECORATION AND FURNITURE Walls painted in Dinner Jacket matt emulsion, £21.98 for 2.5ltr, Valspar. Woodwork
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LIVING ROOM
DECORATION AND FURNITURE Walls painted in French Grey 113 Intelligent Matt Emulsion, £43.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Pampas Nordic carpet in Nuuk, £22.99 per sq m, Kersaint Cobb & Company. Small Nandak rug, £595, Lombok. Curtains made in Evienne
DINING ROOM
painted in Strong White Estate Eggshell, £53 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. For similar floor tiles, try the Capao Mato Grey, £27.67 per sq m, Topps Tiles. WFS7
in Smoke, £51.50 per m, Voyage Decoration. Blind made in Audley in Dove Grey, £74 per m, Zoffany. Berkeley medium sofas in Harbour 35 Dove, £1,719 each, Barker & Stonehouse. Arundel oak coffee table, £590; Chichester bookcase hand painted in Fog with Silver Birch interior, £1,390; both
Neptune. Carine side table, £175, Lombok. Gunmetal console table, £340, French Connection. ON LEFT SOFA Cushions, from left: Richmond lamb’s wool soft grey, £48, Luma; Linen, £45, Loaf; Linen in Steel, £40; Mongolian in grey, £60; both John Lewis. Faux mohair throw, £44, Oka. ON RIGHT SOFA Richmond throw in Soft Grey, £145, Luma. Cushions, from left: Mongolian in grey; Richmond lamb’s wool soft grey; Linen in Steel; all as before. ON COFFEE TABLE Etched textured blue vase, £35; etched textured cream vase, £25; both Gray & Willow range, House of Fraser. Shallow round platter (used as tray), £60, Mervyn Gers range, Heal’s. Medium Cacoon bowl, £12, French
Connection. Puritan teapot, £25; creamer, £12; mugs, £6 each; side plate, £6; all John Lewis. Candle, £20, The White Company. ON SIDE TABLE Bloomsbury medium lamp with Henry Parchment shade, £235, Neptune. IN BOOKCASE (from top left) Slate photo frame, £20, Gray & Willow range, House of Fraser. Crackle glazed decorative ceramic bottle, £30, Pastel Lane. Leather scented diffuser, £32, Gray & Willow range, House of Fraser. Gold Paisley wooden box, £12; small Tubby vase, £25; marble apple, £10; both Croft Collection range; all John Lewis. Suthfield artichoke tealight holder, £23; Corinium tall jug, £10; both Neptune. Dipped rice bowl, £21.95, Luma. Graceful vase, £39.95,
Nordic House. ON/ABOVE FIREPLACE Ashby ceramic artichokes, from £15 each; Buckingham mirror in black, £255; both Neptune. Natural marble photo frame, £30, Gray & Willow range, House of Fraser. Smoke grey glass tealight holder, £7.50, Nordic House. Blondie vase, £77, Kelly Hoppen. Babu candlesticks, £40 each, Lombok. ON/ABOVE CONSOLE Rustic grey ceramic ginger jar with lid, £65, Pastel Lane. Smoke grey glass tealight holder, as before. Organic bowl in light grey, £25, French Connection. Tall glazed jug, £45, Cox & Cox. Faux hydrangea stems, £17 each; Didmarton framed prints, £59 each; all Neptune. Inza Truffle vase, £70, Luma
headboard, try the Ardennes, from £175, And So To Bed; covered in Audley in Dove Grey, £74 per m, Zoffany. Arianne Graphite side table, £175; Jasmine stool, £215; both Lombok. ON BED Tromso Stripe bed linen, from £30 for two pillowcases, Gray & Willow range, House of Fraser. Faux fur throw, £172, Oka. Richmond throw in
Charcoal Grey, £145, Luma. Linen valance, £49.99, H&M. Cushions, from left: Scrunch linen in Heather, £55, Loaf; velvet and linen in Blush, £20, Cox & Cox; linen in Steel, £40, John Lewis; velvet and linen in Dove Grey, £20, Cox & Cox. ON BEDSIDE TABLE Task table light in Putty Grey, £366, Original BTC. Courbe mug in grey, £5, Habitat.
ON BED SURROUND Marble vase, £30; Ede bud vases in taupe and grey, from £8; all House of Fraser. An Image of a Grunge Blackbird framed print, £145, Magann range, Art.co.uk. For a similar bowl, try the tiny round bowl, £10, Mervyn Gers range, Heal’s. For a similar vase, try the Canyon Vase X-Large, £55, Abigail Ahern
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BEDROOM
DECORATION AND FURNITURE Walls painted in Monument Grey Flat Matt Emulsion, £24.49 for 2.5ltr, Dulux. Floor painted in Strong White floor paint, £58 for 2.5ltr; bed surround painted in Plummett Estate Eggshell, £53 for 2.5ltr; both Farrow & Ball. Tolsey rug, £350, Neptune. For a similar
38 | FEBRUARY 2016
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Audrey Night Fall runner with CCN9 border, £649, Crucial Trading. Arundel console, £725, Neptune. ON/ABOVE CONSOLE Corinium small lamp with Oliver 20in shade, £100; Ashby pear, £6; Hanley pot, £50; all Neptune. Fine Stripe photo frame, £30, John Lewis. Bubble glass hurricane (used as vase), £45, Gray & Willow range, House of Fraser. Tealight holder, £8, French Connection. Faux shagreen letter rack, £85, Oka. Simple cut glass bowl, £12, Kelly Hoppen. Flag framed canvas print, £345, Loaf
SEE MORE ONLINE
DECORATION AND FURNITURE Walls painted in Feather Flock matt emulsion, £24.49 for 2.5ltr, Dulux. Woodwork painted in Strong White Estate Eggshell, £53 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. IM1857 flooring, £19.99 per sq m, Quick Step. Buxton dining table, £725, Next. Montague Lloyd Loom dining chairs in Mist, £250 each; Chichester housekeeper’s cupboard in Charcoal, £2,255; all Neptune. Blind made in Xander Smoke, £25 per m, John Lewis; edged in Lustre
Mercury, £54 per m, Zoffany. Ashcroft baskets, £40 each; Corinium pot, £73; all Neptune. ON TABLE Runner, £25; napkins, £20 for four; all Chalfont range, John Lewis. Bowls, £5 each; dinner plates, £7 each; side plates, £5 each; all Courbe range; Jurassic vase, £25; all Habitat. Borneo candlesticks, from £42 each, The Conran Shop. Sittning wine glasses, £6 for two, Ikea. Kensington cutlery, £26 for a 16 piece set, Next. ON WALL Pizza boards, from £24.95 each; Chunni chopping board, £39.95; all Luma
FEATURE SARITA SHARMA PHOTOGRAPHS DOMINIC BLACKMORE
FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
FIND MORE DECORATING IDEAS AT housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
0\5RRP3DLQWHU
CASH CLEVER Decorator
YOUR RECEIPT Cushion, John Lewis............................... £25 Mugs, Rigby & Mac............................. £15
Get the mid-century look for less than £275 Create a cosy living room with a modern-retro mix of nostalgic furniture, soft weaves and striking prints
Floor lamp, MiaFleur................................. £138 Throw, Sainsbury’s.............................. £25 Pouffe, Barker & Stonehouse............£69
TOTAL
FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
Nice pad
Use this cool abstract print to kick-start your colour palette Elin cushion in black and white, John Lewis
Dotty design
Choose from six shades to match to your scheme Retro ceramic mugs, Rigby & Mac
£25
£138 High light
Create a reading corner with task lighting Copper floor lamp, MiaFleur
£7.5ch0 ea
£25
£69 Put your feet up
Doubles up as an extra seat for guests Urchin natural knit pouffe, Barker & Stonehouse
That’s a wrap
Keep on a sofa arm for easy reach when it gets chilly Orange knitted throw with tassels, Sainsbury’s
IDEAL V GREAT DEAL Get the look whatever your budget Geo design
Available in four stylish colourways Honeycomb wallpaper, Cole & Son range, Wallpaperdirect
£72
per roll
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Pretty print
The trellis pattern adds a retro look 49065 wallpaper, Tektura Wallcoverings
£39.50 per roll
Make a Fifties-style scheme feel more modern by teaming lively prints with warm colours and hints of copper
£272
Mid-century living room DECORATING IDEAS
IDEAL HOME
MOODBOARD
Playful Pattern
Turn an awkward alcove into a standout focal point with geometric wallpaper and a statement mirror For details of this moodboard, turn to page 26
See more shopping inspiration over the page
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 41
DECORATING IDEAS Mid-century living room
Find more mid-century buys on the high street
Blue moon
Pair simple furniture with busy bed linen Skandi oak bedstead, from £450; telephone table, £69.99; Grey Geo double duvet set, £16.99; all Dunelm
Love this trend? Whether you want to try a lot of it or a little, here’s where to shop Bring the classic mid-century trend up to date with geometric prints and a cool, masculine palette, or give it an easy-to-livewith, country feel with natural textures in soft, neutral hues. TRY IT IN THE BEDROOM... Put a contemporary spin on the trend by updating minimalist furniture with pared-back prints from Dunelm. Layer abstract geometric motifs in grey and blue for a Scandi vibe, then finish with
white origami pendants and accessories for a Japanese twist. ...OR IN THE LIVING ROOM Snuggle up in a relaxed living room with rustic style from Marks & Spencer. Start with a low-backed, angular sofa, then add furnishings with Danish-style wooden legs to instantly create a mid-century vibe. Finally, add texture with slubby fabrics and rattan weaves in simple, country-inspired tones of biscuit and grey.
Laid-back living
Go for a relaxed feel with soft textures in a neutral palette Nantucket corner sofa, from £1,699; Bradshaw coffee table, £79; Bradshaw side table, £45; Brook floor lamp, £199; chevron rug; pompom throw; both £69; all Marks & Spencer
Fly away
A nod to simple Japanese design Origami bird ornament, £3.99, Dunelm
Go grey
The raised pattern adds texture to a simple design Jurassic vase, £25, Habitat
Feel the base
Team concrete with copper for instant cool Concrete effect lamp, £20, George
Making shapes
Add a Scandi feel with two-tone geometrics Geo knitted cushion, £19, Very
FIND ALL THE DETAILS (PREVIOUS PAGE) DECORATION AND FURNITURE 49065 wallpaper, £39.50 per roll, Tektura Wallcoverings. For similar flooring, try the UW1543, £19.99 per sq m, Quick Step. Aqua rug, £375, Calvin Klein range; large Myers sofa, £925; Myers snuggler, £789; extra large outdoor pouffe, £125; Urchin natural knit pouffe, £69; copper floor
lamp, £139; all Barker & Stonehouse. ON SOFA Floral cushions made in Poppypod, £14.99 per m, Prestigious Textiles. Orange velveteen cushion, £26; chevron throw, £35; both Barker & Stonehouse. IN ALCOVE Powder green bud vase, £69; blue neck vase, £12.50; teal table lamp, £85; mirror, £89; all Barker & Stonehouse
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FEATURE MICHELA COLLING, HOLLY CATFORD
Have a seat
The conical feet make a mid-century statement Larson chair in Dark Charcoal, £450, Next
Keep things cool with grey walls and upholstery, then add simple furniture and Scandi-style textiles
Boutique
HOTEL SPY The Fish Hotel We took a sneak peek into this gorgeous hotel to bring you luxe style inspiration anyone can steal FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
LOCATION Situated just outside the Worcestershire village of Broadway in the Cotswolds, The Fish Hotel sits in the heart of the 400-acre Farncombe Estate, surrounded by beautiful forests and fields. ROOMS The hotel has 47 rooms – 15 Standard, 28 Superior (right) and four Junior Suites – which are spread throughout three buildings: The Farmhouse, The Outhouse and The Stables. Decorated in contemporary country style, with a splash of Scandi design inspiration, the rooms feature chunky, rustic furniture, sumptuous beds, cosy textured knits and leather butterfly chairs – all set against a soothing, neutral colour palette. All bedrooms offer picturesque views and are
kitted out with a tea tin, kettle, waffle bathrobes and Orla Kiely toiletries. Plus, each room is canine-friendly, so dog owners can bring their pooches with them for their stay. FAMOUS FOR Offering a luxe-for-less bolthole experience in the Cotswolds. Its restaurant serves seasonal British dishes – all locally sourced – which are served either à la carte or as part of a ‘gastro buffet’. After a bracing post-meal countryside walk, you can enjoy a drink by the circular fireplace in the cosy, yet spacious bar. CELEBRITY GUESTS Although the Cotswolds has some serious celeb credentials, The Fish Hotel was unable to disclose any guest information, but you never know who you might bump into at the bar…
FACT FILE HOTEL
The Fish Hotel
ADDRESS
Farncombe Estate, Broadway, Worcestershire WR12 7LJ
PRICE
From £125 for a standard room, including breakfast
CONTACT
01386 858000; thefishhotel.co.uk
YOU CAN BUY THE LOOK… Soft touch
Include a pop of pattern on the bed Blue Knot Garden lamb’s wool cushion, Melin Tregwynt range, Liberty
£69.95
£150 Shade of pale
A plain yet stylish piece Ceramic bottle table lamp, The White Company
£95
Canine cool
Step up Simple seat This country classic will suit any scheme Talia black dining chair, Habitat
£29.99
£13
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Handy for extra height or use to display vases Bekväm step stool, Ikea
£195
Add characterful vintage artwork Black Dog Canoe mounted print (30cm sq), Art.co.uk
Snuggle down
Drape over a chair or treat feet by laying it on the floor Luxurious sheepskin rug in Caramel, Nordic House
Hotel spy DECORATING IDEAS
A studded border takes this headboard from stylish to standout
IDEAL HOME
MOODBOARD
Ash & Navy
IDEAL V GREAT DEAL Get the look whatever the budget
FEATURE HOLLY CATFORD PHOTOGRAPH THE FISH HOTEL
Solid buy
Reclaimed fir looks fabulous Mole bedside table (H60cm x W50cm x D42cm), Loaf
£195
Modern rustic This has a smart oak-effect finish Cuba bedside table (H56cm x W48cm x D42cm), Next
£125
LOVE THE LOOK Create a pale backdrop with grey paint and fabrics, then add navy accents for a bold contrast
For more moodboards turn to page 26
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 45
COLOUR SCHOOL
Honeycomb
Team this sunny tone with luxe gold to add warmth to a living-room scheme FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
This rich caramel shade looks great in both classic and contemporary settings. Varying in intensity from warm mustard to natural shades of maize and honey, team this inviting hue with mid-century furniture for a cool, retro feel. Add a touch of Seventies flair by layering a mix of small-scale graphic prints or bring the scheme up to date with modern gold accessories Hello sunshine
Add a glamorous vibe with Art-Deco details Distressed sunburst round mirror, £199, Marks & Spencer
Bottle it
Pop on a windowsill to create a warm sunlit glow Large bottle vase, £24, Next
Prints charming
Choose geometric pattern for a playful twist Rhumba square cushion, £84, Margo Selby range, Amara
Take a seat
Re-create mid-century style with this modern take on Danish design Bermondsey sofa in Knebworth Curry, from £680, Sofas & Stuff
Golden touch
Go luxe with cool metallic accents Riddle table lamp, £579, Bert Frank
THE PALETTE Add warmth with these honeyed hues TURMERIC Up the intensity with this high-impact shade GINGER Soften the scheme with a subtler take
Retro replica
Choose from six colours Trim phone, £35, Wild & Wolf range, Exit Interiors
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SAFFRON This warm tone has a traditional feel
India Yellow Estate Emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
Golden Square marble matt emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltr, Mylands of London
Prairie Gold solo matt emulsion, £25.99 for 2.5ltr, Crown Paints
Honeycomb DECORATING IDEAS Start with honeytoned walls, add some wooden accent pieces, then lift the look with pops of pattern
IDEAL HOME
MOODBOARD
Honeycomb
For details of this moodboard, turn to page 26
See all the details & more ways with honeycomb over the page
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 47
DECORATING IDEAS Honeycomb
More ways with honeycomb
Mustard bed linen, from £100 for a single duvet cover, Venice range, Christy
Try it with… BLACK Up the luxe factor by teaming golden tones with dramatic black. Soften the look with steely grey accents
In the dark
Use on a feature wall Jewels Night 1 matt emulsion, £24.49 for 2.5ltr, Dulux
Tactile touch
Accessorise with deeply hued fabrics Ribbed plain furnishing fabric, £25 per m, John Lewis
Golden hour
Use damask for an opulent look Alexander gold wallpaper, £44 per roll, Laura Ashley
Walls painted in Soft Cinnebar 5 flat matt emulsion (top); Cherished Gold flat matt emulsion; both £24.49 for 2.5ltr, Dulux
Put a modern spin on earthy mustard by teaming it with a blue-toned pink. Use a chalky finish for a contemporary feel, then add depth with statement wood-effect flooring
DECORATION AND FURNITURE Wall painted in Sudbury Yellow Estate Emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Timber wallpaper in Oak, £77.90 per roll, Engineer collection, Andrew Martin range, Wallpaperdirect. Skirting board painted in English Toffee oil based eggshell, £51 for 2.5ltr, Zoffany range, Designerpaint. Versailles White Oiled UF1248 flooring, £31.99 per sq m, Quick Step. Ranger rug in Mustard (160cm x 230cm), £149, Modern Rugs. Quartz left hand chaise sofa in grey, £1,098, French Connection range, DFS. Deakin coffee table, £325; Deakin lamp table, £185; both Barker & Stonehouse. For a similar sideboard, try the Nolan, from £449, Swoon Editions. Antonn tall oak shelving unit, £595, Habitat. Spun Done
floor lamp, £160, French Connection. ON SOFA Double Knott Garden throw in Gorse, £285, Melin Tregwynt. Cushions, from left: made in Ashfield in Maize, £49.90 per m, Linwood; Knott Garden Gorse (45cm sq), £55, Melin Tregwynt; made in Hudson Bay in Oatmeal, £66.50 per m, Linwood; made in Bird Hop in Saffron, £48 per m, Vanessa Arbuthnott; Madison Gold (45cm sq), £55, Melin Tregwynt; Lovestruck, £79, BoConcept. ON COFFEE TABLE Copenhagen mug, £9, French Connection. Hexagonal triple dish, £14.95, Graham and Green. Bubble vases, from £35 each, Sophie Conran. ON SIDE TABLE Gina vase, £20, Habitat. Gold facet vase, £30; small Scandi bowl, £15; both John Lewis. ON/NEAR
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Floor it
Opt for a budget-friendly alternative to real wood Versailles UF1155 flooring, £31.99 per sq m, Arte collection, Quick-Step
Pretty print
Add easy elegance Lace pink and gold wallpaper, £46.50 per roll, Wallpaperdirect
In the pink
Calm fiery yellow with a cooler hue Ballet Shoes flat matt emulsion, £24.99 for 2.5ltr, Crown Paints
SIDEBOARD Cylindrical Bout lamp base, £85, French Connection. Feather Fern lampshade in Turmeric/Storm, from £75, Clarissa Hulse. Large Scandi serving bowl, £40, John Lewis. Jurassic vase, £25, Habitat. ON/NEAR SHELVING UNIT (from top left) Geometry vases, from £14.50 each, Rose & Grey. Ribba frame, from £2.25, Ikea. Brushed brass vases, from £23 each, Cox & Cox. Marble apple, £10, Croft Collection range, John Lewis. Glass and brass band vase, £37, Cox & Cox. Hand woven bowl, £24, French Connection. Marble apple, as before. Tortoiseshell globe vase (H26cm), £65, LSA International range, John Lewis. ON WALLS Rattan wall mirrors, £315 for five, Graham and Green
FEATURE HOLLY CATFORD STYLING CAROL WORTLEY-BISHOP PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID BRITTAIN
Try it with… PALE PINK
PICK THE
Perfect pattern Need inspiration? Check out the best of this season’s fabrics and wallpapers
FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
Smarten up with soft stripes WHY WE LOVE THEM In soft, neutral shades, stripes can be used to create a modern or traditional feel in any room. They are incredibly versatile and a great way to bring order, reshaping a space depending on if they are used vertically or horizontally, and whether you go for thin or wide stripes. WHERE TO USE THEM Perfect for hallways, stripes draw your eye up and into the space, while vertical stripes of one width in soft, contrasting shades will add a classic look to living and dining rooms. You can bring a modern feel to bedrooms with different-sized stripes in a painterly effect, or a crisp finish to kitchens and bathrooms with
barcode styles in a fresh shade. Curtains and cushions in classic stripes are the ideal way to tie a scheme together, while a striped sofa or chair adds a strong focal point. HOW TO USE THEM Vertical stripes create the illusion of height, or go for horizontals for a more edgy feel that also adds width. Consider the size of the room, as thin stripes can look cluttered in a large room, while wide stripes lose their impact in a smaller space. HOW TO ACCESSORISE THEM A striped rug is a great way to add interest to wooden flooring, while a few striped cushions on a plain sofa will brighten a neutral scheme.
3 places to buy CLASSIC STRIPES Ian Mankin Find signature stripes and ticking fabrics in soft hues and primary colours, available in a range of cotton and linen finishes, from £24.50 per m. Romo Take a look at the cotton stripes in the Somerford collection, from £31.50 per m, and the ticking stripes of Charlbury, from £35 per m. The Stripes Company This online store has a huge selection of striped fabrics in a wide range of colours, from just £12 per m.
HEIGHT MATTERS Team vertical stripes with simple low-level furniture for contrast Tented Stripe in Dawn wallpaper, £57 per roll, Painted Papers collection, Little Greene
‘Stripes work beautifully against blocks of colour and other patterns, so they are perfect for mixing and matching’ Karen Bray, Acting Features Editor
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Wallpapers & fabrics DECORATING IDEAS
TOP 10 Wallpapers Subtle stripes Create a modern or classic mood with these designs
1
Muted tones
NEAT NEUTRALS Thick stripes in a pale shade create an expansive effect that can make a narrow room feel wider Tatami Stripe wallpaper, £39 per roll, Sanderson
LAID-BACK LIVING Horizontal stripes bring a fresh and contemporary edge that’s easy to live with Prairie 110487 wallpaper in Duck Egg/Sand/Slate, £46 per roll, Landscapes collection, Harlequin
Wide stripes in neutral contrasting shades have an elegant look Muse Stripes in Heather, £9 per roll, B&Q
2
Soft focus
The coral colour and airbrushed finish feel fresh and contemporary Rasch Secret Garden Stripe 281415, £10 per roll, Wilko
3
Pair with pattern This traditional stripe has a metallic leaf motif for added shine Harvest Blue, £12 per roll, Graham & Brown
4
Modern barcode
Perfect for a crisp, modern kitchen Contour Barcode Linear in Beige, £14 per roll, Wilko
IDEAL V GREAT DEAL Spend or save on popular deckchair stripes SMART CHOICE Traditional stripes in a pared-back colour palette Plato Stripe in Sky Blue, Red and White, Fabrics & Papers
8 £33r.8 m pe
SEASIDE STYLE A bolder design that’s ideal for kids’ rooms Deckchair Stripe in Powder Blue, Studio G
£14
per m
5
Paint effect
Liven up walls with this brushstroke effect Brush Stroke Stripe 863932 in green, £20 per roll, Albany range, Wallpaperdirect
More over the page… housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 51
DECORATING IDEAS Wallpapers & fabrics THE TOP 10 WALLPAPERS ...continued
‘Whether you prefer modern or traditional style, there’s a tonal stripe to cater for every taste’ Karen Bray, Acting Features Editor
6
FEATURE KAREN BRAY PHOTOGRAPHS RHAPSODY MEDIA
Pretty pastels
Candy shades are great for a playroom Fun Fair Stripe P569/05 in Blossom, £32 per roll, Designers Guild range, John Lewis
7
Into the blue
Get a nautical look with soft horizontal stripes Tatami Stripe in Indigo/ Blue, £39 per roll, Chika Wallpapers collection, Sanderson
8
Classic design
Grey and white tones look effortlessly smart Eaton Stripe in Charcoal Black, £40 per roll, Laura Ashley
9
Broad horizons
This freely drawn stripe is reminiscent of a watery skyline Meridian 110496 in Soft Clover, £46 per roll, Harlequin
10
Cool choice
The contrasting metallic and matt finishes add texture Aspire 1945 574 in Eau De Nil, £57 per roll, Prestigious Textiles
Hopea wallpaper, £24.50 per roll; curtains in Lausha Print Mustard; chair in Sanur Indigo; chair cushion in Rinjani Organdy Summer; all from £27 per m, Rashieka’s Garden collection, Voyage Decoration
WHAT’S NEW AT
Voyage Decoration
Sanur Aqua (left); Surya Orchid; both from £27 per m, Rashieka’s Garden collection, Voyage Decoration
The Scottish brand’s new collection features soft, hand-painted forms in a natural colour palette THE COMPANY Drawing inspiration from its Scottish heritage, Voyage Decoration is a creative textiles and homeware brand best known for its vibrant printed fabrics and wallpapers. The designs are hand-drawn or painted by Voyage’s in-house team using watercolour techniques to enhance colour, depth and form. The original artwork is then digitally printed onto locally sourced natural linens in the company’s own printworks in Glasgow. THE NEW COLLECTION With a modern spin on traditional country style, the Rashieka’s Garden collection
52 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
has an artistic feel thanks to interesting textural layers and craft techniques, such as heavy embroideries and appliqué fabrics. A confident painting style with generous brushstrokes adds an abstract quality to the printed fabrics, giving the illusion of movement. Co-ordinating wallpapers, including Hopea, Merapi, Rinjani and Sapur, help tie the collection together. WHY WE LOVE IT With its soft pops of colour on neutral backdrops, the collection is a wonderful way to embrace the changing seasons and add a fresh, spring-like feel to your home.
SMART IDEAS FOR
BEDROOMS Is your sleeping space in need of a rethink? These simple ideas will have a big impact
M
ore than any other space in the home, your bedroom is the one place where you want to feel completely relaxed, comfortable and rested. With fewer practical constraints than other areas of the house, once you’ve covered the basics – ie, great
clothes storage and a comfortable bed to sleep in – deciding on the décor is the fun part. Whether you’re after quick tricks that you can pull off in an afternoon, or are in need of ideas and inspiration for a complete bedroom revamp, we’ve come up with a host of bright ideas that we think will inspire you.
Light it up
Swap table lamps for hanging pendants to free up valuable bedside space. Opt for fabric shades to minimise glare and choose a lively accent colour that ties in with your bedding Mustard lampshades, £12 each, By Sainsbury’s range; All Over Geometric double bed linen set, £20; all Sainsbury’s
Bedroom updates DECORATING IDEAS
Heritage President Supreme bed set with Victoria headboard upholstered in Tweed White, £3,927, Hypnos
‘For polished, boutique-hotel chic, key elements are a statement headboard, glam wallpaper, simple white bed linen and pillows arranged in perfect symmetry’ LISA FAZZANI, SHOPPING EDITOR
Make pattern a feature
Break away from safe neutrals and upholster the bed in a bright, playful fabric that will make it the star attraction. For added impact, paint the wall behind in a bold co-ordinating shade Sophie bed upholstered in Design Lab Occipinti Wisteria White and Purple, £1,045, Sofa.com
Try a tonal scheme
Create a calming, restful look with an all-grey colour palette. Use varying tones, from charcoal to dove grey, and introduce textured weaves on the headboard and a rug to add depth and interest King size bed, £1,299, James Harrison range, West Elm
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 55
Put up a panel
Replacing an old headboard is one of the easiest ways to give a bedroom a new look. Try a row of decorative fretwork panels painted inky black in place of a regular headboard – it’ll make a dramatic backdrop for the bed and showcase luxe bed linen beautifully Miramar double duvet cover in silver, £105; Oxford pillowcases, £20 each; Periwinkle cushion, £50; Periwinkle knitted throw, £150; all 1951 range, Bedeck
Work the walls
Take your cue from the Shakers and use peg rails for extra hanging space. Run lengths of pegs wall-to-wall and use them to hang everything from clothes and bedding to pictures. Paint in a pale shade to blend with walls and keep the look uncluttered Kubis racks with seven hooks, £9; Nyponros quilt cover and four pillowcases, £30; Vardö bed storage boxes, £25 each; all Ikea
‘When using patterned linen, choose throws and cushions in a block accent for a cohesive look’ MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR
IDEA Floaty voiles hung from the ceiling are a modern way to emulate four-poster drapes
Swap linen seasonally
The easiest – and most inexpensive – way to ring the changes in a bedroom scheme is to decorate with bed linen. All you need is a plain, neutral backdrop and you can indulge yourself with flamboyant patterns in seasonal colours that give your room an upbeat feel Tranquil Rose double duvet cover, £99; pillowcases, £35 for two; all Christy
Explore the dark side
Don’t shy away from using a dark wall colour in a bedroom; it can instantly make a space feel intimate and cosy. Dark walls are also great for showing off a display of favourite objects – try a deep shade of blue as a backdrop to vintage lighting, antique prints and bric-a-brac Connie pendant light in glass and brass, £100; Stanley wall light in Petrol Blue, £45; both Pooky
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Bedroom updates DECORATING IDEAS Velvet and linen king-size quilt in Blush, £250, Cox & Cox
KNOW YOUR BED LINEN Thread count refers to the number of threads per square inch of fabric, indicating how closely woven it is. As a rule, the higher the count, the softer and more luxe the fabric. Natural cotton or polycotton? Natural fibres, such as cotton and linen, are breathable but tricky to iron. Polyesters are easy to iron, but don’t let moisture evaporate as well, which can cause overheating. Polycottons have some of cotton’s coolness but the easy care of polyester. Egyptian cotton is used to make the finest linen. It’s grown by the Nile, where the humid climate and rich soil produce long, delicate fibres. Percale is a closely woven, combed yarn, which gives a smoother finish. It can be made of any fibre, but most often cotton or a polycotton blend, and must have a thread count of 180 or more to be classed as a percale. Sateen is woven from finer threads than percale, with a higher thread count. Usually made from cotton, it has a satin-like feel but isn’t as hard-wearing as other fabrics. Jacquard has a silky finish, similar to sateen. The weaving process creates a subtle pattern of flat (matt) and raised (sateen) parts, often in florals or stripes.
TURN OVER FOR PERFECT BEDROOM PALETTES
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 57
DECORATING IDEAS Bedroom updates
CLEVER STORAGE LAYERED WHITES
Lift the lid
A lift-up bed offers stacks of space for out-of-season clothes and spare bedding King size storage bed in Linen, £1,325, Button & Sprung
An all-white palette is the perfect starting point for a calm and tranquil bedroom scheme. Mix different pale, creamy shades, or layer white on white in contrasting textures – lacework and silk, woollens and rich damask, smooth ceramics and whitewashed woods.
PERFECT PALETTES FOR BEDROOMS
TOUCH OF GOLD
DARK AND ENVELOPING
Inside story
Keep bed cushions in this upholstered blanket box that fits neatly at the end of a bed Buttoned blanket box in silver, £420, Button & Sprung
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Build a palette of dark and sultry shades to give your bedroom a warm, sumptuous, boudoir feel all year round. Team dusky midnight blue and steely anthracite with warmer berry tones, adding a winter floral print to soften the mood and bring a feminine touch.
FEATURE LISA FAZZANI, HOLLY CATFORD, MICHELA COLLING PHOTOGRAPHS TIMEINCUKCONTENT.COM
Hidden assets
Stash shoes and accessories in this bed’s storage cubbies hidden behind the valance Hideaway bed with mattress, from £3,090, Hypnos
Mix soothing shades of blush pink and soft grey to create a relaxing backdrop that works beautifully with rustic wooden furniture, tactile linens and natural flooring. Add an unexpected touch of polish with subtle accents of gold on lighting, glassware and Deco-style mirrored accessories.
# # ) % # ) ! !# ' # & % # # ! ! ! # # # & %# ' ) % # # # ! # ) % % % % # # # $ # & !)!# ! ! # ) % %!# # # !# # %!#! # # !! & ! # # # # ! %!# # ) % % ( %! & $ # ) ' # #! % % !!% ! ! !% # ! ' ) % ) ! !% # ) % ! # ## !! #) # # ' & # !% # ) % ## # ! !
HOME IDEAS Regency town house
‘It feels calm, but cosy, too’ Love neutrals? Create a sense of flow by using a soft palette throughout, like the Morgans did FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
The big
CHANGE REPLUMBING AND REWIRING THROUGHOUT, THEN CREATING A WARM FAMILY HOME WITH SHABBY-CHIC STYLE AND SOOTHING COLOURS
1 Kitchen-diner The couple chose calming hues for a harmonious look, adding antique furniture to enhance the house’s period features For a similar dining table, try the Old Mill, from £1,190, Authentic Furniture. For similar dining chairs, try the Rochelle, £219 for two, Made.com housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 63
HOME IDEAS Regency town house
Take the 60-SECOND TOUR BOUGHT FOR
SPENT
£525,000
£120,000
NOW WORTH
£795,000
THE LOOK A three-bedroom, Grade II-listed, Regency town house in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. The owners bought it in January 2012.
WHAT IT COST Building work.........................£93,000 Decorating................................£8,000 Kitchen......................................£5,000 Furniture...................................£10,000 Shutters and blinds.................£4,000
TOTAL...................£120,000 WHO LIVES HERE Katie and Olly Morgan, with their one-year-old son, Louis. Katie is a solicitor and Olly is a professional rugby coach.
THE LOOK Cool classic, with touches of shabby-chic style and a neutral, Scandi-inspired palette.
LESSONS LEARNED Good storage is essential when you have young children. Our builder custom-made units for each floor to keep our living spaces clutter-free.
SECOND FLOOR
On the top floor there’s a nursery, a guest bedroom and a shower room FIRST FLOOR Upstairs is the main bedroom with an en-suite bathroom
6
12
3
9
8 11
10
5 1
4
2
LOWER FLOOR There’s a utility room off the hallway and an open-plan kitchen-diner leading into the garden
7
13
GROUND FLOOR ▲ To the left of the front door is an open-plan living room, with a loo tucked away at the rear of the house
64 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
2
Kitchen-diner
‘Painting the kitchen units instead of replacing them saved us time and money,’ says Katie Units painted in Lamp Room Gray Estate Eggshell, £53 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Bombo bar stools, £456 each, Magis range, Harrogate Interiors
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 65
F
‘We went for a mix of shabby-chic and classic furniture, which works really well with the Regency town-house style’
ew people are lucky enough to find their dream house just around the corner from their current one, but when Katie and Olly Morgan began househunting in earnest, that’s exactly what happened. ‘Back in 2011, we’d been living together for several years in Olly’s flat in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire,’ explains Katie. ‘We’d been saving up to buy a house together and were in quite a good position financially. What’s more, we wanted to get married and start a family, so it seemed like the perfect time to make the move.’ As Katie had been born in Cheltenham and Olly had worked there for several years, the couple knew precisely where to focus their house-hunting efforts. ‘Olly’s flat was in the Park area of town, which we both really liked, so we wanted to stay close by,’ says Katie. ‘There are some wonderful Regency terraces in Cheltenham, and we both liked the idea of
living in a Georgian town house, so we made a short list of four properties that we thought had potential, and arranged some viewings.’ The third house on their list was located just one street along from Olly’s flat. At first, the couple reluctantly conceded that it was substantially beyond their budget. ‘We fell in love with the property from the moment we stepped inside,’ says Katie. A Grade II-listed town house, it had wonderfully elegant proportions, high ceilings and lots of period features. On the downside, the house had been left uninhabited for more than 18 months, so it felt rather damp and unloved, and it needed a complete cosmetic makeover. ‘Underneath all that, we could see that the house had tons of potential, but the asking price was £650,000 and there was just no way we could afford it, as we knew it would cost around a further £100,000 to renovate,’ says Katie. ‘About a month later, the agent called us to say that the owners were ➺
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3 Kitchen-diner The staircase leads down to a family friendly kitchen-diner on the lower-ground floor Walls painted in Pointing Estate Emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Winslow sofa, from £2,795, Upholstery Techniques range, The Conran Shop
4 Living room Walls, upholstery and soft furnishings all in neutral tones create an elegant scheme For a similar mirror, try the Hampshire, £299, Brissi. For a similar throw, try the natural blanket, £44, Hurn & Hurn
Regency town house HOME IDEAS
FIND A DECORATE TO SOOTHE YOUR SENSES WITH A PALE, NEUTRAL SCHEME
Get the
LOOK PAGE 72
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 67
Get the
LOOK PAGE 72
now looking for a quick sale and would consider an offer of £100,000 lower than the initial price. Olly and I decided to offer £525,000, which was our highest bid. The fact that we were cash buyers clinched the deal and, much to our delight, our offer was accepted.’ The couple completed on the purchase in January 2012 and promptly drew up a lengthy renovation schedule. ‘We decided to manage the project ourselves and get all the work done in one fell swoop,’ says Katie. ‘Fortunately, we were able to live with my parents while the work was being done. That kept our stress levels down, as we could escape the mess and chaos each night. Our builders were brilliant, too – they were from the same firm that had worked on Olly’s flat, and their work and craftsmanship are excellent.’ Happily, Olly and Katie both liked the property’s existing layout, and felt that it would work well with their lifestyle. ‘We knew from
past experience that applying for planning permission for listed properties can be a very lengthy process,’ says Katie. ‘But, in fact, replacing the patio doors was the only structural change we felt was needed, so we left it until last, as we knew that planning would probably take ages to come through. In any case, our to-do list was already quite daunting.’ The house had to be rewired and replumbed, the boiler needed replacing and a new en-suite bathroom needed fitting. ‘We also wanted to install a power shower on the top floor, create a new utility area, and have the damp course replaced prior to installing a new kitchen,’ says Katie. All of this needed tackling before they could even think about colour schemes. The couple decided to tackle the kitchen first. ‘We spent ages poring over interiors magazines and brochures, fine-tuning our design ideas,’ says Katie. ‘Then, much to our surprise, our builder suggested we rethink ➺
68 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
5 Living room ‘We fell in love with the linen-covered ottoman and used it as the starting point for the décor in this room,’ says Katie For a similar ottoman, try the Astor, £329, Swoon Editions. Haven sofa, from £1,455, Upholstery Techniques
Regency town house HOME IDEAS
6 Guest bedroom ‘We used the same soft creams and greys throughout the house to create a sense of visual continuity,’ says Katie For a similar bed, try the Nomad, £795, Loaf. Double Claremont quilt, £225, The White Company
‘We fell in love with the house from the moment we stepped inside’
7 Living room ‘The lampshade originally decorated our wedding marquee,’ says Katie. ‘It goes perfectly with the décor in this room’ Maskros ceiling pendant, £50, Ikea. Haven chair, from £886, Upholstery Techniques. Walls painted in Clunch Estate Emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
3 of the best
SHABBY-CHIC FINDS Looking glass
£75
The weathered finish has plenty of character Cameo mirror, The Cotswold Company
£199 Classic details
Go for subtle style with an elegant accent piece Square urn table lamp, Marks & Spencer
£295
Hot seat
Add charm with a vintage-inspired print Mila button tub chair, Sweetpea & Willow
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 69
8 Main bedroom A scheme of chalky grey and crisp white gives the bedroom a relaxing feel, while artwork by Olly’s mother finishes the look Walls painted in Light Blue Estate Emulsion, £38 per 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. For similar heron artwork, try Art.co.uk
9 En suite A striking dragonfly print, a freestanding bath and pops of blue give this bathroom a modern feel Indulgence 1,700 bath, £1,198, Island Bathrooms. For similar artwork, try the Believe, from £14.99, AllPosters
our plans to rip out the old kitchen. He suggested that as the existing units were solid oak cabinets, they could easily be painted to produce the classic effect we were after. We followed his advice and had the units painted, before replacing the cooker and flooring and the worn worktops. Doing a kitchen makeover rather than a whole new installation saved us about £10,000, so we got off to a flying start.’ With the building work complete, Olly and Katie turned their attention to the décor. ‘We went for a mix of shabby-chic and classic furniture, which works really well with the Regency town-house style,’ says Katie. ‘We both like living with calm, neutral shades, so we chose a palette of soft greys, creams, taupe and duck-egg blue throughout the house, to create a sense of visual flow.’ With the hard work now over, Katie and Olly are thrilled with the way the house has turned out. ‘It’s all we ever hoped it would be, and we absolutely love living here,’ says Katie. ‘It’s the perfect family house. Now that we have our son, Louis, we sometimes think that choosing such a pale colour scheme throughout wasn’t very practical, but we console ourselves with the knowledge that all our soft furnishings are washable. We’ll just have to see how it goes!’ IH
70 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
Regency town house HOME IDEAS
10
Living room
Traditional and modern styles mix seamlessly thanks to the neutral palette For a similar mirror, try the New England in grey, £295, Brissi
11 Main bedroom
Distressed shutters add a shabby-chic feel For a similar mirror, try the white wooden shuttered, £29.99, Selections.com
DON’T MISS the details 12
Kitchen-diner
FEATURE JANE BOWLES PHOTOGRAPHS COLIN POOLE BOX COPY LISA FAZZANI PLANS PERSONA-ID
Hints of soft blue and a driftwood lamp bring rustic appeal For a similar clock, try the large wall clock, £130, Out There Interiors
Wooden accessories and worn finishes add a rustic look and complement the house’s soft palette
13
Living room
A painted-wood tray contrasts with the linen ottoman For a similar tray, try the reclaimed wood, from £49.95, Nkuku
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HOME IDEAS Regency town house
Get Katie’s look Add character to a neutral scheme with statement pieces FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
IDEAL
£90
GREAT DEAL
Stay neutral
Pile on the cushions – just keep the colours co-ordinated Hopsack Stripe piped cushion, Ian Mankin
£65
Say it with flowers
Bring in delicate pattern with this dandelion-clock design PS Maskros pendant lamp (diameter 80cm), Ikea
£73
Fine lines
Keep it simple with slim stripes of white on taupe Striped Sham cover in beige, Lexington
Daisy chain
£49
Cast petal-shaped shadows Hanifa pendant light (diameter 30cm), Eglo Lighting range, Castlegate Lights
£79.99 Parisian chic
£40 Clock this
Create a focal point with this oversized clock Honoré wooden clock (diameter 65cm), Maisons du Monde
Opt for a wood-effect face with stud detail Rustic Numeral wall clock (diameter 65cm), Next
Fringe benefit
Snuggle up under merino lamb’s wool Spot throw in Natural, Bronte by Moon range, Amara
£329 Well padded
Doubles up as a footstool or seating Astor ottoman in Oatmeal (H40cm x W100cm x D80cm), Swoon Editions
Soft option
Go dotty for this reversible throw Tweedmill natural lamb’s wool spot throw in Caramel, Black By Design
£58.95
£169 Feet treat
Kick off your shoes and relax Bouji ottoman in Biscuit Beige (H42cm x W105cm x D50cm), Made.com
£1,569
£1,395
Tonal stripes
Incorporate simple pattern in a neutral scheme Harborough four-seater pillow-back sofa (H95cm x W228cm x D102cm), Barker & Stonehouse
72 | FEBRUARY 2016
FEATURE LISA FAZZANI PHOTOGRAPH COLIN POOLE
£90
SEE MORE ONLINE
Country casual
Try this sofa in a broad linen-mix stripe Bazaar medium sofa in Natural Broad Stripe (H73cm x W207cm x D101cm), Loaf
FIND MORE READER HOMES AT housetohome.co.uk/house-tours
" ! " " " " " "
" ! " " !
‘My house feels like a reflection of me’ Look to contemporary Italian design for inspiration – it helped Emma Stoddart reinvent her tired Sixties house FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
The big
CHANGE CONVERTING THE LOFT AND GARAGE, ADDING REAR AND SIDE EXTENSIONS, REWORKING THE LAYOUT AND REDECORATING THROUGHOUT
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Sixties semi HOME IDEAS
Get the
LOOK PAGE 84
1 Living area The neutral backdrop keeps the space light and open, while black accents and vintage Cortina reading chairs by Minotti add statement style For a similar wall lamp, try The Mantis, ÂŁ290, Houseology. Patterned cushions, ÂŁ19.95 each, Mitzi B housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 75
‘The modular sofa has been with me for 15 years. I get it re-covered to update it every so often. Buying a new one seems a bit wasteful’
2 Dining area Emma designed the space to fit her existing furniture, including the sofa, which was made to order by Roche Bobois For a similar sofa, try the Seville modular corner sofa in Mocha, £499 per unit, Dwell
76 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
Sixties semi HOME IDEAS
Take the 60-SECOND TOUR BOUGHT FOR
SPENT
NOW WORTH
£480,000
£184,000
£1 million
THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom, semi-detached, Sixties house in Hampton, Middlesex, bought in 2009.
an online resource to support and inform people who are managing their own renovations.
WHAT IT COST
THE LOOK
Building and decorating....£180,000 Furniture.....................................£2,000 Soft furnishings.........................£2,000
Sleek and sophisticated glamour, inspired by modern Italian design.
TOTAL....................£184,000 WHO LIVES HERE Emma Stoddart, with her children Oscar, 16, and Ruby, 13. Emma is an architectural designer and the founder of Renovation Academy,
LESSONS LEARNED Understanding the process of renovating can relieve you of a lot of stress. Also, don’t be constrained by convention – think creatively when it comes to planning the layout.
14 7
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▲ FIRST FLOOR There are three bedrooms, one of which is used as a living room, and a bathroom
9 6
▲ SECOND FLOOR The main bedroom and an en suite are on the top floor GROUND FLOOR
3
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2
4 13
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The sunroom at the front leads into the kitchen and open-plan living and dining area beyond. There’s also a utility room off the hallway
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‘I really love the open, flowing, connected space and how there are interesting, yet practical, areas’
W
hen she first saw it, Emma Stoddart felt an immediate connection with what was to become her home. ‘It reminded me of the houses I knew when I was growing up in New Zealand in the Seventies,’ she says. Despite the flock wallpaper, swirly patterned carpets, Formica kitchen and even the elderly cat that she inherited on completion, from the moment Emma stepped across the threshold, she knew that this house was going to become home for her and her children, Oscar and Ruby. Emma had been searching for a new start in a house where she could express her creativity. Having moved from a period property with lots of stained glass and original features, she was
looking for something that felt modern. However, having found it, she lived in it for four years without changing a thing, taking the time to explore the space and to think about potential redesign possibilities. ‘I listed which elements of the house I wanted to keep, such as the internal window in the kitchen and the living space at the back of the house,’ she says. ‘I needed to add a large fire, lots of storage and a sunny living room. I also knew what had to go, such as the small kitchen and the Seventies décor. I referred to this list throughout the renovation and decorating process. Budget and project length can both benefit enormously when you follow a clear step-by-step plan.’ From the start, Emma knew the relationship she had with her builder was going to be ➺
78 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
3 Living area A breakfast bar serves as a sociable seating area and creates a neat division between the open-plan kitchen and the rear living area Bespoke rug, £650, Amiska Decor. 7ft potted bamboo tree, £99, Bloom
Sixties semi HOME IDEAS
4 Kitchen Emma paid particular attention to detail in the kitchen, choosing sleek fittings and shimmering wall tiles Pietra d’Origine tiles in Avorio, £39 for five, Not Just Tiles. Gessi Oxygen tap, £184, Sinks taps.com
5 Sunroom The striking black kitchen contrasts with the white walls and the white sofa in the sunroom at the front of the house Kitchen and honed-granite worktop, £10,000, Schüller range, Northpoint Kitchens.
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 79
HOME IDEAS Sixties semi
important. She chose someone she had worked with before, who understood her vision and shared a similar passion for detail. ‘A builder with a good attitude, who’s committed to the job, is worth his weight in gold,’ she says. ‘My builder really cared about going for that next level of finish and, because I felt confident in his work, I could focus on the creative process.’ Emma totally refurbished the house, putting in new wiring, heating and insulation, as well as replacing windows and doors. On the ground floor, a full-width 6m extension across the back of the house has created an open-plan living space, while a side extension added an entrance area, a hallway with storage and a sunroom. Emma installed a new kitchen and put utilities in the garage extension. Upstairs,
she had a new bathroom installed, and the loft was converted into a bedroom and en suite. While the building work was progressing, Emma turned her thoughts to the overall look of the interior. Inspired by her favourite Italian brands, Minotti and B&B Italia, she put together a scheme based around modular seating, contemporary lighting and a mix of luxurious textures and finishes. Not everything was bought new: Emma has owned some pieces for many years. ‘The modular sofa has been with me for 15 years,’ says Emma. ‘I get it re-covered to update it every so often. Buying a new one seems a bit wasteful, especially as this sofa is so comfortable.’ She found the two leatherupholstered Minotti Cortina chairs on ➺
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6 Main bedroom The tranquil grey-andwhite palette continues into the bedroom in the converted loft Walls painted in Flat Emulsion in Slate I, £37.50 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library. Juju hat (on wall), £195, Design My World 7 En suite A voile curtain screens off the en suite. To link the two spaces, Emma used the same paint shade on the walls as she did in the bedroom Curtain made in Clio in Natur, £45.50 per m, Equipo DRT range,
Sixties semi HOME IDEAS
8 Bedroom Taupe floor-to-ceiling cupboards blend in with the neutral scheme Söderhamn chaise in Isefall Natural, £345, Ikea
3 of the best
MID-CENTURY BUYS £325 Tall order
Long lines in pale oak have a Scandi feel Visu bar stool in oak, Muuto range, Nest.co.uk
Nice curves
The splayed legs add retro appeal Oscar coffee table in mango wood, Swoon Editions
£169
Organic shape £277
An iconic Sixties design Pierre P. Slice chair, Italia Designs
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eBay. ‘I’ve loved these chairs for years, so I couldn’t believe my luck when I spotted them. They cost a song compared to their retail price.’ To ensure a cohesive look, Emma decided on a simple colour palette. She painted walls in a mix of grey tones, from pale silver to dark slate, to vary the mood from cosy and enveloping to light and inviting. Oak flooring adds warmth, while black accents create sculptural shapes and focal points. Emma is passionate about helping her clients to understand the renovation process better, and has recently developed Renovation Academy (renovationacademy.co.uk) – a library of online courses that share her expertise. ‘Renovation can be a total joy and I’d love more people to experience that, rather than stress,’ she says. ‘When you know what you are doing you tend to save both time and money, and end up getting much better results.’ Her own home is a testament to this. ‘I really love the open, flowing, connected space and how there are interesting, yet practical, areas, such as the front living room that opens onto an enclosed courtyard and the “arrivals area”, with stacks of storage for coats and bags,’ she says. ‘Now it’s finished, it feels very much a reflection of me. I am very comfortable here.’ IH
9 Bathroom Emma has made the most of the loft area, tucking the bath into the space below the pitched roof Bath, £1,010; basin, £932; both Palomba range, Laufen
10
Hall
A simple bench sits over a row of baskets that’s used for storing shoes, coats and bags Zeus Big Irony Bench, £371, Made In Design. For similar flooring, try the Galleria Professional engineered European oak, £52 per sq m, UK Flooring Direct
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Sixties semi HOME IDEAS
11
Sun room
Classic designs and minimal accessories make this a perfect spot to unwind in Circular gloss stacking table, £149 for two, Dwell
12
Living area
The fireplace acts as a striking focal point For similar baskets, try the hand-woven baskets, from £44, Arts and Crafts by Lolo range, Etsy
DON’T MISS the details
FEATURE AND STYLING DILLY ORME PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID PARMITER BOX COPY LISA FAZZANI PLANS PERSONA-ID FLOWERS INTERFLORA
Keep lines sleek and add a few carefully chosen decorative objects for a serene scheme
13
14
Bedroom
A square daybed has a contemporary look For a similar throw, try the Alpaca in charcoal and white, £89.50, Mitzi B
Kitchen
Softly curved bar stools are an elegant touch Visu bar stools, £325 each, Muuto range, Made In Design
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HOME IDEAS Sixties semi
Get Emma’s look Give a modern living space understated style with a neutral palette and slick finishing touches FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
ASK EMMA WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR HOME? ‘The open, flowing, connected spaces.’
LIVING ROOM
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE HOMES BUY AND WHY? ‘The sheer full-length curtains. They soften the architecture, making the rooms cosy at night and giving an ethereal effect during the day.’
Clean lines and pale colours help create an airy scheme
Making waves Opt for a simple yet striking print The Great Wave at Kanagawa print on canvas (H20cm x W30cm), King & McGaw
£24.95
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ONLINE INTERIORS SHOP? ‘Keeping an eye on eBay has allowed me to buy high-end designer furniture. I love Made In Design for the big brands.’ WHAT INSPIRED YOU? ‘Minotti and B&B Italia’s roomsets for design details.’
£290 Stylish steel
Go for a Fifties-style metal wall light The Mantis wall lamp, Houseology
£27 Take a stand
£1,650
This steel floor lamp with black cotton shade makes a quiet impact Leighton floor lamp, Very
£10
Dimpled beauty
Bring shine to the table with a silver-effect bowl Hammered metal fruit bowl, Next
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SEE MORE ONLINE
Cool blue
£59 Seeing stars
Zone an open-plan living area Finlay II corner sofa in Fraser fabric in Duck Egg (H80cm x W230cm x D230cm), House range, John Lewis
Add a touch of busy pattern to your sofa Embroidered cushion, BoConcept
FIND MORE READER HOMES AT housetohome.co.uk/house-tours
FEATURE LISA FAZZANI PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID PARMITER
DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE IN FIVE WORDS ‘Clean, unpretentious, personal, simple, calm.’
‘We took our time to get it right’ Tackling a big renovation project? A gradual approach allowed Amanda and Gerwyn Rees to create their ideal family home FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
The big
CHANGE ADDING A REAR EXTENSION TO CREATE A KITCHENDINER WITH A LIVING AREA, AND CONVERTING THE LOFT INTO A BEDROOM AND EN SUITE
86 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
Arts and Crafts house HOME IDEAS
FIND A ENCOURAGE FAMILY TIME BY HAVING A SEATING AREA IN THE KITCHEN
1 Kitchen-diner Transforming the house’s interior began with extending at the back to create the kitchen-diner. Amanda then opted for inexpensive kitchen units and luxury wall tiles Carisbrooke units, from £56 for a W150mm door, B&Q. Hexagon cream tiles, £645 per sq m, Marrakech collection, Fired Earth housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 87
Take the 60-SECOND TOUR BOUGHT FOR
SPENT
£570,000
NOW WORTH
£150,000
£950,000
THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom, detached, Arts and Crafts house in Solihull, West Midlands, bought in 2011.
WHAT IT COST Building work..........................£60,000 Loft...............................................£15,000 Kitchen......................................£30,000 Bathrooms...............................£15,000 Exterior.......................................£10,000 Flooring and decorating......£20,000
TOTAL.....................£150,000 WHO LIVES HERE Amanda and Gerwyn Rees, with their sons, Cameron, 11, Oliver, nine, and Caiden, six, and Rosie the cocker spaniel. Amanda is an artist and illustrator, and Gerwyn is an anaesthetist.
THE LOOK Elegant, with a palette of greens, creams and blues, and lots of
original woodwork, including wooden floors.
LESSONS LEARNED Ensure the major items in your home are in keeping with its age. We disliked the modern fireplace in the living room, but found an Arts and Crafts one that fits in perfectly. 2 3
GROUND FLOOR The living room and a study are on either side of the hall. The kitchen-diner is to the right, with a larder, cloakroom and utility room leading off it
13 5 4
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6 9
FIRST FLOOR
Caiden’s bedroom is at the front of the house with the guest room and en suite next door. Oliver’s and Cameron’s bedrooms are on the other side, with a bathroom at the end of the landing
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7
8 SECOND FLOOR The converted loft contains the main bedroom and its en-suite bathroom
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14
Arts and Crafts house HOME IDEAS 2 Kitchen-diner Neutral flooring has a calming influence in this room and allows the warmth of the wood to take centre stage in the kitchen-diner’s living area Natal Marfil floor tiles, £59 per sq m, Porcelanosa. Vittorio corner sofa, £999, Made.com
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 89
HOME IDEAS Arts and Crafts house 3 Dining area The kitchen-diner is where the family spends most of their time. Glazed doors opening out the rear garden flood the space with light For similar dining chairs, try the Julietta, £39.99 each, Atlantic Shopping
A
manda Rees used to walk past her new home every day. ‘It stuck out because it was painted in salmon pink and brown, with maroon tiles, but it was a lovely, big, old house with a large garden, which I thought would be great for our three boys,’ she says. ‘My husband, Gerwyn, who can be very persuasive, decided that it was meant to be ours and that we’d move there one day.’ When a for-sale board went up in 2009, the couple put in an offer, but were gazumped at the last minute, and with Amanda expecting their son Caiden, now six, they decided to stay
put for a while. Two years later, the couple had resumed house hunting, and the property came up for sale again. ‘This time it went to sealed bids, but again we lost out to someone else,’ says Amanda. ‘I was fed up with the whole thing by then, but we had a call from the estate agent out of the blue, three months later, to say it had all fallen through. He knew how keen we were and we had a buyer for our house, so he advised us to put in an offer immediately.’ It was third time lucky, and Amanda and Gerwyn finally bagged their dream house. There was plenty to do though, not least replacing all the corroded metal windows ➺ and the pink render – two projects that were
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4 Living room Split cobblestones create a herringbone pattern in the hearth For a similar wood-burning stove, try the Brunel 1A, £925, Stovax
5 Living room A pair of classic-looking neutral sofas accessorised with floral cushions make for a formal feel in the living room Cream linen sofas, £2,000 each, Multiyork. Cushion covers made in Grandiflora, £51 per m, Sanderson
3 of the best
‘We went for a gradual renovation to give us time to think things through’
FAUX FOLIAGE Round it off
Add greenery with a pot of faux ivy on a mantelpiece or shelf Fejka artificial potted ivy plant, Ikea
£6.50
Pop of purple
£25
On display
Place this slimline pot on a windowsill Lavender in wicker pot, Peony range, John Lewis
Have a centrepiece with year-round blooms Bowl of faux hydrangeas, Oka
£110
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significant financial undertakings. By the time the family moved in, the house had been empty for some time, and it quickly became evident just how much work was needed to turn it into a stylish family home. ‘The sheer size of the property was one of the reasons we had fallen in love with it,’ explains Amanda. ‘But instead of rushing to decorate in every room, we decided we’d go for a gradual renovation schedule that would give us time to think things through properly.’ Taking on a local builder, Terry Moulton, who came highly recommended, Amanda and Gerwyn entered into several years of building work, and made an unexpected friend in the process. ‘Terry has spent so much time in the house, he’s now become a family friend,’ says Amanda. ‘He’s been invaluable in coming up with good solutions for all sorts of things we couldn’t get our heads around, like covering our ugly roof support joints in oak to make them look more attractive.’ After careful consideration, Amanda and Gerwyn decided that it made sense to extend at the back of the property, squaring off the rooms that were already there to create a spacious kitchen-diner. ‘We also made plans to convert ➺ the loft into a main bedroom and en suite,
6 Hallway Detailed metal pendants add an unexpected global twist to the traditionally decorated hallway For a similar pendant, try the Guerrein ceiling light, £50, B&Q
7 Guest bedroom This olive green feature wall was inspired by Amanda’s own artwork and the colour is echoed in the trailing-print curtain and cushion fabric Wall painted in Olive Estate Emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
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Arts and Crafts house HOME IDEAS
‘We chose most of the fabrics online and found great remnants at a fraction of the shop price’
Get the
LOOK PAGE 96
8 Main bedroom The final big project was creating the loft bedroom and en suite. The rosewood bed with matching bedside tables makes a grand statement For a similar bed, try the Nathalie king-size, £2,995, And So To Bed
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 93
9 Oliver’s room ‘A local college was getting rid of old desks and chairs for £5 each, so I bought one for each of the boys and painted them,’ says Amanda Desk and chair painted in Paris Grey Chalk Paint, £18.95 for 1ltr, Annie Sloan
10
Bathroom
The mirrored panel on the side of the bath and an almost seamless colour match between the walls and floor tiles combine to make this simple room feel bigger than it is For similar floor tiles, try the Dover Caliza, £64 per sq m, Porcelanosa
as we felt that with three boys, we would need a sanctuary of our own,’ says Amanda. ‘When we put in the planning-permission application at the end of 2011, we knew there would be plenty to get on with before it would be granted.’ Concentrating on the front exterior of the house first, the render was removed, and all the lovely old wood was freed at last from its unattractive pink and brown paint job. The garden, which was basically a field with a couple of trees in it, was the next project on the list. ‘The boys thought it was fun as it was, but I wanted to put in a lawn, shrubs and raised beds for plants,’ explains Amanda. ‘So we started work on that in the spring of 2012.’ Next on the list was the kitchen-diner. ‘We knew we were going to be spending most of our time in this room, so we made sure it had different eating, sitting and relaxing areas,’ she says. ‘We had a glass section put in to the roof to add lots of light, plus we added a separate utility room and cloakroom off it.’ Once the planning permission came through, the final big project was the main bedroom
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in the loft. This created a grown-up suite away from the hustle and bustle of family life. Decorating a house this size could have been daunting, but luckily Amanda had considerable help from her mother-in-law, Pat, who was on hand throughout the renovation process. ‘Together we chose most of the fabrics for the house online – we found great end of lines and remnants of lovely fabric from big-name companies at a fraction of the shop price,’ says Amanda. ‘Pat made all the curtains, blinds and cushions for us, which was fantastic and saved us a fortune.’ Amanda, a former employment lawyer, is now an artist and illustrator, and has enjoyed making her wildlife drawings fit in with the new schemes in the house. ‘I’d always been keen on art, but chose law as a sensible option. I had an interesting career, but with the boys getting older, I started drawing and painting seriously two years ago. And now the house is finished, I have the time to enjoy it properly,’ she says. ‘My husband was right – this house was definitely meant to be ours.’ IH
Arts and Crafts house HOME IDEAS
11
Chest of drawers
12
Amanda painted a cherry-tree motif on some junk-shop drawers, working around the handles For similar handles, try the ceramic flower door knob, £3.49, Homebase
Bedside table
Brass wall lights with glass shades were chosen to match the handles on the rosewood furniture Fowey brass wall light, £128; Squirrel bulb, £12; both Rowen & Wren
DON’T MISS the details Feature fireplace 13
FEATURE STEPHANIE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID GILES BOX COPY LISA FAZZANI PLANS PERSONA-ID
A simple wood burner allows the original Arts and Crafts surround to stand out For a similar stag, try the Rustic Ramble sitting stag, £19.99, Dunelm
Glass and ceramic accessories, plus stylish metal fittings, create a sophisticated atmosphere
En-suite bathroom
14
The curves on the basin are echoed in a mirror above Duravit Happy D vanity unit, £928, CP Hart. Stanford basin mixer, £114, Victoria Plumb
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 95
HOME IDEAS Arts and Crafts house
Get Amanda’s look Create an elegant bedroom with vintage-style pieces and an understated colour scheme ASK AMANDA
Added sparkle
BEDROOM
This vintage-effect crystal chandelier makes a stunning centrepiece Shamley 12 light chandelier, Laura Ashley
£525
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ROOM? ‘The kitchen wins. It’s a perfect space: light, warm thanks to the Aga, with a wonderful view of the terrace and garden in every season. It’s the centre of our family life.’
DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE IN FIVE WORDS ‘Refined, inviting, restful, modern, calm.’ WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING IN THE HOUSE? ‘The light that floods the rooms at the back, where we spend most of our time and where I work. It’s always warm and bright.’
£18
Richly hued wood furniture looks even better as it ages
Frond memory
In the pink
Add a splash of colour with watercolour-print florals Voyage cushion in Peony Red, Oldrids & Co
Go for a classic cachepot Long tom, Kew Gardens range, House of Hackney
£40
£50 Wall to wall
Add character with a marine-style reading light Hanover wall light in antique brass/black, Ocean Lighting
Soft option
Dress your bed in calm and restful colours Scallop quilted double throw in grey, Next
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ONLINE INTERIORS SHOP? ‘I like Rowen & Wren with its unique, carefully sourced, really lovely homeware in gentle, muted colours. All its pieces are both functional and beautiful.’
£50 Polished act
£425 Bedside story
Make the bed the focal point Lockington sleigh double bed frame (H105cm x W155cm x L218cm), Wayfair
We love the secret drawer just under the top of this chest Provence bedside chest (H65cm x W50cm x D42cm), Feather & Black
96 | FEBRUARY 2016
SEE MORE ONLINE
FIND MORE READER HOMES AT housetohome.co.uk/house-tours
£1,391
FEATURE LISA FAZZANI PHOTOGRAPH DAVID GILES
FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
"
!& !# '!%# # #! %#
Plan a quick MAKEOVER
Transform your home with the limitless spectrum of paint colours from Valspar
Classic style
W
ith the ability to define a room and transform a mood, paint colour is one of the most important elements when it comes to planning a makeover. No matter what your style of decorating, with Valspar you can express your personality with a paint that’s designed especially for you.
Discover a rainbow of choice Thanks to its state-of-the-art technology, Valspar can match any colour the eye can see – that’s a spectrum of 2.2 million colours. Whether you’re inspired by a
statement artwork, holiday souvenir or beautiful pattern, Valspar can help you make your dream scheme come to life. For those needing a helping hand, the company also offers a pre-selected range of 2,000 shades, available at B&Q.
Find practical features For most of us, decorating projects are as much about practicality as they are about style. With that in mind, the Valspar® Premium Paint & Primer in One range delivers on high-performance features, such as resistance to household stains
and an odour-free formula. Touch-dry in just one hour, Valspar paints help make your project as stress-free as possible.
Enjoy long-lasting results Thanks to its super-scrub formulation, Valspar® Premium paint withstands the wear and tear of family life. Ideal for walls and high-traffic areas, such as skirting boards and door frames, it holds its colour even after hundreds of scrubs – so no matter how creative your kids are, you can wipe away the damage knowing that the colour underneath is safely preserved.
THE COLOURS PRINTED ARE A REPRESENTATION, SO PLEASE VISIT A B&Q STORE FOR AN EXACT COLOUR CHIP AND TESTER POTS
Layer sage and soft neutrals for a scheme that’s elegant and sophisticated, then add a modern twist with statement black
PROMOTION Uplifting colour
Sitting pretty
Wake up a monochrome room by painting walls in a fresh, invigorating shade of green
Give a simple stool a whole new lease of life by painting it in confident canary yellow
PICK A COLOUR Get testing with a sample pot from Valspar
In the pink
Give your bedroom a boudoir feel with a soft, romantic palette of dusky rose, calming grey and powder pink
‘Finding the perfect colour is one of the best ways to stamp your own style on a scheme, and having a spectrum of choice ensures the end result is unique to you’ MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR
Dreaming of adding a splash of colour to your home but not sure where to begin? With Valspar’s large 236ml tester pots, available in Young Cactus any colour at B&Q, you matt emulsion, from £2.58 for can get a feel for your 236ml, Valspar palette and preview your choice in different lights, then use the leftover paint for an upcycling Snow in June matt emulsion, project. Choose from £2.58 for a colour from the 236ml, Valspar pre-selected range of 2,000 shades and use it to transform your furniture into a one-of-a-kind piece. Quiet Interlude matt emulsion, from £2.58 for 236ml, Valspar
For more information… FIND YOUR NEAREST B&Q STORE AND DETAILS OF VALSPAR’S HIGHPERFORMANCE PRODUCTS AND REVIEWS AT VALSPARPAINT.CO.UK
‘It’s the perfect mix of old and new’ Modern and vintage can work well side by side, as the McFadyens prove in their beautiful home FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
The big
CHANGE KNOCKING THE LIVING AND DINING ROOMS TOGETHER, ENLARGING THE KITCHEN AND BATHROOM, AND CONVERTING THE LOFT
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Edwardian semi HOME IDEAS
1 Living area The couple removed a dividing wall and added French windows to create a bright, spacious room. The neutral décor is the ideal backdrop for their mix of antique and contemporary furniture and accessories Wood burner, £1,400, Danbury Fires. Mirror, £190, Louisa Grace Interiors
‘The period features had been ripped out, apart from one original fireplace, which had been painted and boarded up’
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Edwardian semi HOME IDEAS
Take the 60-SECOND TOUR 2 Living area Claire brought the sofa suite from her previous home and added some subtle colour with a mix of patterned cushions For a similar sofa, try the Stamford corner chaise, from £1,425, Next. Small pink cushions, from £26 each, Anecdotes Design
BOUGHT FOR
SPENT
£289,000
NOW WORTH
£88,000
£475,000
THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom, Edwardian semi-detached house in Wallington, southwest London. The owners bought it in November 2008.
WHAT IT COST Building work.........................£30,000 Loft conversion......................£20,000 Kitchen......................................£18,000 Bathroom...................................£6,000 Flooring......................................£4,000 Decorating...............................£10,000
TOTAL......................£88,000 WHO LIVES HERE Claire and Jamie McFadyen, with their children, Maisy, four, and Mollie, two. Claire and Jamie run a French vintage-interiors business.
THE LOOK Modern traditional, with muted colours, natural materials, a French vintage feel and industrial touches.
LESSONS LEARNED I wish we’d done the loft conversion before we moved in. It would’ve been far less disruptive and given us proper eaves storage from the start.
SECOND FLOOR The loft space has been converted into an office, including lots of eaves storage, with access via a pull-down ladder
7
FIRST FLOOR
Maisy’s room and the bathroom are at the back off a half landing. Mollie’s room is in the middle, and the main bedroom and en suite are at the front of the house
9
6 8
GROUND FLOOR The open-plan living area is at the front of the house, with the kitchen at the rear
5
1 2
10
3
12
13
4
11
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HOME IDEAS Edwardian semi
Get the
LOOK PAGE 110
‘It’s a much more sociable space now, and you get light streaming in from both sides’
H
aving looked for a renovation project for many months without success, Claire and Jamie McFadyen were delighted when they came across a three-bedroom Edwardian house in their ideal location, between Wallington and Carshalton in south London. ‘We were living in a new build at the time, but we wanted a home project we could add value to,’ says Claire. ‘And it had to be within easy reach of the city centre, as Jamie was working as a London cabbie then.’ The property’s elderly owner had lived in the house for around 50 years, so there was plenty of scope to create their dream home from
scratch. With a park, independent shops and a swimming pool nearby, the location was ideal, too. However, their first viewing was rather disappointing. ‘It was horrible,’ says Claire. ‘The period features had been ripped out, apart from one original fireplace, which had been painted and boarded up. It was full of dodgy Fifties features – cork wall tiles and the like.’ The kitchen and bathroom needed major work. ‘The kitchen was beige and brown with a small window overlooking the garden, and the bathroom was tiny,’ says Claire. The outside space wasn’t much better either, with its overgrown garden and outside loo. ‘But we’d been looking for ages and there were so few run-down period houses on the market, ➺
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3 Dining area Mixing the smart with the rustic, the couple have teamed wooden boxes and vintage chairs with industrial-style lighting and cutlery artwork Table, £220; bench, £495; both Louisa Grace Interiors. Walls painted in French Grey Absolute Matt Emulsion, £37 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene
4 Kitchen A row of bulb pendants light up the antique butcher’s-block table in the snacking area Antique Edison ES27 light fittings, £41 each, Rockett St George
5 Kitchen Knocking down an outside loo meant the kitchen could be extended – now there’s even enough room for a leather sofa For a similar sofa, try the Oxford two-seater vintage, £800, Maisons du Monde
3 of the best
POPS OF BLACK £65 Clock on
Keep track of time with a retro wall clock Newgate Fifties wall clock (diameter 37cm), The Orchard Home and Gifts
£25 Dark accent
Add French chic with a smart striped cushion Maison stripe cushion, John Lewis
In contrast
£10
Black lacquer and bamboo work beautifully together Nödvändig bowl (diameter 24cm), Ikea
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 105
plus we could just about see the potential. So despite the huge amount of work that was needed, we decided to go for it.’ The couple moved in with Claire’s parents for eight months while the major work was done. A key change was knocking down the supporting wall between the living and dining rooms to create a large open-plan area. ‘It’s a much more sociable space now, and you get the light streaming in from both sides,’ says Claire. The kitchen was transformed, too – the attached outside loo was knocked down and the space incorporated into a kitchen-diner with bifold doors opening onto the garden. New windows were installed and a chimney breast was removed to square off the space. ‘With two young children, one of the most practical things we did was to convert the understairs cupboard into a downstairs loo,’
says Claire. Jamie took on much of the work himself. With some help and advice from his dad and a plasterer friend, he managed to plaster the interior walls and landscape the garden. The plumbing, electrics and damp-proofing he left to the professionals. Upstairs, space from daughter Maisy’s bedroom was used to enlarge the bathroom, and an en-suite shower room was added to the main bedroom. The final job was to convert the loft into an office. ‘There was no room for a staircase to the loft and we didn’t want to lose a bedroom on the first floor, so we opted for a pull-down ladder on the landing and enlarged the opening,’ says Claire. ‘As we don’t have much storage elsewhere, we added built-in eaves cupboards, which have been invaluable.’ When it came to the décor, Claire and Jamie wanted a vintage feel with muted tones, ➺
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6 Main bedroom After stealing space to create an en-suite shower, Claire had to make use of every inch in the bedroom, so the bedhead doubles as a shelf. The throw adds a splash of warm colour For a similar throw, try the Casa Couture, £180, House of Fraser
7 Attic office Teaming white brickwork with dark-wood furniture found on eBay gives the office a rustic feel, while a cowhide rug is a fun finishing touch For a similar desk, try the Balmoral chestnut, £775, Laura Ashley
Edwardian semi HOME IDEAS
‘We painted everything white to begin with, as I’d read it’s best to spend time getting a feel for the light before deciding on colours’
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 107
9 Maisy’s room Soft beige tones down the pink factor, while unusual finds, like the wall-mounted angel wings, add a unique twist For a similar throw, try the floral blue pink patchwork, £65, Perfectly Boxed. For similar wings, try the carved angel wings, £35, Cox & Cox
‘We’d been looking for ages and there were so few run-down period houses on the market, plus we could just about see the potential’ 8 Mollie’s nursery Claire lovingly restored the fireplace, giving it a traditional black surround and grate, which contrasts with the white nursery furniture and subtle pink shades Pink stripe rug, £69, The White Company. Boori Pioneer cot bed, £314, John Lewis
mixing old and new furniture with a French vibe. ‘In the dining room, the three pendants inspired the rest of the scheme,’ says Claire. ‘It feels like you’re on holiday, sitting in a lovely café. We painted everything white to begin with, as I’d read that it’s best to spend time getting a feel for the light before deciding on colours. Then we introduced some muted greys, which provide a great backdrop for both modern and vintage pieces. I changed my mind about the bare floorboards we had in the living room at first, as they were noisy and felt cold, so we put down sisal carpets in the end.’ The kitchen has also evolved, as Claire admits she’s gone off the high-gloss black units that were installed seven years ago. ‘Also, the glass splashbacks weren’t my choice – I left Jamie and my brother to decide what colour to go for, and when I came back they’d picked a
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luminous green,’ she says. ‘We can’t afford new kitchen units now, so I brought the kitchen up to date with a few industrial touches, such as the butcher’s-block table and pendant lights, as well as the distressed-leather sofa.’ As the pair now run their own business, Louisa Grace Interiors, it’s easy for them to source the kind of furniture and accessories they love. ‘It all started two years ago when Jamie started making and restoring furniture in the garden shed,’ says Claire. ‘A year later, he gave up his job as a London cabbie and we found two barns nearby, in Banstead, to convert into a workshop and showroom. Now we sell vintage furniture and accessories, much of it sourced from France. It’s a new venture, and so far our only problem is avoiding temptation – when gorgeous pieces come in, we just want to keep them for our own home!’ IH
Edwardian semi HOME IDEAS
10
Living area
11
Oversized wooden candlesticks are dramatic but blend in perfectly thanks to their distressed finish For similar candlesticks, try the Vintage Grey, £34.95 for two, London Garden Trading
Dining area
An old window frame painted the same colour as the walls creates an unusual display area Desk, £160; chair, £15; vintage window frame, £140 for two; all Louisa Grace Interiors
DON’T MISS the details 12
Dining area
FEATURE AND STYLING KAREN WILSON PHOTOGRAPHS FIONA WALKER-ARNOTT BOX COPY LISA FAZZANI PLANS PERSONA-ID
Cutlery artwork gives the dining area a fun feel For a similar effect, try cutlery set, £19.99, My Wall Stickers
French vintage and industrial pieces blend beautifully against a pale-grey backdrop
13
Kitchen
Some old factory clocking-in stations and a printer’s tray add character For a similar cushion cover, try the Typewriter, £15.99, Wayfair
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HOME IDEAS Edwardian semi
Get Claire’s look Give a relaxed dining room a French vintage feel FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
Factory cool
IDEAL
Industrial-style lighting adds an urban edge Coolie enamel shade, Urban Cottage Industries
£34
£93.24
High shine
GREAT DEAL
Buy two or three to hang over a dining table Tezz black pendant light shade, B&Q
£25
£18
Into the woods
Go realistic with a photo-print cover Stag cushion, Arthouse range, Wallpaperdirect
Solitary stag
Pretty up a plain seat with this sketchbook-style stag cover Stag cushion cover, Out There Interiors
£27
£140
Smart seat
Chic grey
Go for a similar design in a sleek blackbrown finish Stefan chair, Ikea
Provides a contrast to a white table Suffolk dining chair in Charcoal, Neptune
£14
£200 Picture perfect
Ideal for a dining room Carving set 2 artwork (H85cm x W35cm), Yarrow Art & Design
Café culture
This printed wooden plaque has rustic charm Bon Appetit wall art (H61cm x W30cm), Artisanti
£44.99
£32 Crate idea
Hide clutter in simple storage Marcel crate (H33cm x W60cm x D32cm), Maisons du Monde
Just as stylish in a paler shade Rustic French crate (H30cm x W40cm x D22cm), Dibor
Lived-in look
£545
110 | FEBRUARY 2016
A bleached-wood tabletop brings weathered charm Baker Boy medium table (H76cm x L160cm x D95cm), Loaf
SEE MORE ONLINE
Country cream
Or try this all-cream version with decorative turned legs Clayton dining table in cream (H74cm x L120cm x D80cm), John Lewis
£199
FIND MORE READER HOMES AT housetohome.co.uk/house-tours
FEATURE LISA FAZZANI PHOTOGRAPH FIONA WALKER-ARNOTT
Warm wood
FROOHFWLRQ
*EFVMGW ERH ;EPPTETIVW
Give your home a fresh new look As the days start to get longer, embrace the new year with a bright, spring-inspired makeover
Bridge the seasons in style When making over your home at this time of year, don’t pack up throws and woolly cushions – keep them out until the weather has properly turned
PROMOTION Stylish display
O ‘Start the new year with our timeless collection of products. Subtle tones and matt finishes create a sense of calm and relaxation’ ANDREW TANNER, HEAD OF HOME DESIGN, SAINSBURY’S
Group a few of your favourite pieces together Small round vase, £15; tall vase, £16; mirror, £18; large faux succulent in glass bowl, £12; all Sainsbury’s
nce all the guests have gone, presents have been put away, leftovers eaten and Christmas decorations packed up in the attic, thoughts turn to the new year, with its resolutions and air of promise for new beginnings. It’s also the perfect time to start planning a fresh look for your home, and the calming Neutrals trend from the new homeware collection at Sainsbury’s is the perfect choice to usher in the change of seasons.
Create some calm After all the parties and decorative excess of the festive season, it’s good to give the senses a rest with a more peaceful, relaxed feel. Whether you’re thinking of giving a room a full makeover or adding some new pieces in preparation for spring and the longer days ahead, pick a palette that soothes you – think dove grey, pastel pink, cool cream and tranquil taupe.
Keep things simple Start by trading in any festive red or gold candles for fresh white votives, then swap woollen and felt cushion covers for woven ones in pale tones with subtle patterns. As the weather gets warmer, replace thick blankets with lighter throws and add a few
clear-glass vases to your room, ready for your favourite spring blooms and foliage.
Update the look The joy of this neutral scheme is that, as the year goes on, it can be added to and altered easily. With its wide range of homeware, Sainsbury’s can offer decorating inspiration whenever you fancy a change, and the looks available are updated with the seasons, so your homeware can always be kept fresh and on trend.
Fringe benefit Keep on the sofa until it gets warmer Herringbone stripe throw, £14, Sainsbury’s
Diamond white
Stick to subtle patterns Grey weave cushion, £16, Sainsbury’s
Wise words
In the spotlight
Ideal for easy reading White matt task lamp, £30, Sainsbury’s
Soothing neutrals
Bring a sense of calm to a room with a palette of cream and blue Large wicker storage basket, £10; grey knitted throw, £35; herringbone stripe throw, £14; knitted cushion; ‘Happiness is Homemade’ cushion; both £12; calendar block, £6; all Sainsbury’s
Send a message with artwork Simplicity framed print, £10, Sainsbury’s
For more information... Perfectly plain Pop a pair on a table Ceramic candle, £5, Sainsbury’s
TO SEE MORE NEW PRODUCTS FROM THIS AND THE OTHER SEASONAL RANGES, AND TO FIND YOUR NEAREST STORE, VISIT
sainsburys home.co.uk
Projects PROPERTY IDEAS
PROPERTY PROJECTS Get the very best advice and inspiration for all your home renovation projects
Modern tap, £980, Quooker
SOURCEBOOK
FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
Boiling-water and filter taps Need to know more? Try these top five companies
REAL HOME IMPROVEMENT
‘Seventies houses can look really beautiful’
Karen and Paul Wallis’ five-bedroom, detached Seventies house in Suffolk was relatively large, but it was a maze of small dark rooms. With four children to accommodate – Harvey, 18, Josh, 17, Archie, 15, and Holly, 12 – the layout just didn’t suit the way the family wanted to live and they needed more space. ‘The planners weren’t keen on us demolishing the house to build from scratch, so we had to work within the confines of what was here,’ says Paul. ‘That meant ripping everything out until we were left with little more than four external walls – even the
staircase was removed. The house is also in a conservation area, so planning permission was needed for the alterations.’ The couple added three single-storey extensions, all clad in a Brazilian hardwood called ipe. The work gave the family a garage, extra living space, a new entrance and a design studio for Paul, and allowed them to create large open-plan spaces. A little-used balcony was also filled in to create an en suite for Josh. ‘We love having so much extra space,’ says Karen. ‘The roomy new layout is just fantastic for a large family like ours.’
FIND OUT MORE... ■ Wood is less expensive than many other forms of cladding. ■ Ipe is a hardwood that fades to a silver-grey colour. ■ Timbers such as oak and western red cedar can be left
untreated to weather naturally, while other woods may need treating with a stain or paint. ■ A waterproof membrane can be fixed under timber to protect against severe weather.
FRANKE 0161 436 6280; franke.co.uk The Omni fourin-one delivers 100°C filtered boiling and cold water, and mains hot and cold. Priced at £1,349 from kitchen retailers, the tap has built-in safety features, as well as an additional child safety clip. GROHE 0871 200 3414; grohe.co.uk Grohe’s Red taps deliver kettle-hot water. Choose the Mono Pillar if you only need kettle-hot water, or go for the Duo for kettle-hot water and normal hot and cold from a single faucet. Priced from £1,318, the taps are heavily insulated. INSINKERATOR 01923 297880; insinkerator.co.uk InSinkErator’s hot taps dispense at 98°C, which the firm says is better for tea and coffee than 100˚C. From £630 for steaming hot only, or £849 for the 3N1, with hot, cold and steaming. QUOOKER 020 7923 3366; quooker.co.uk Choose the original boiling-water tap or opt for the Quooker Fusion, which dispenses hot, cold and boiling water from a single tap. It comes in eight designs and three finishes, with a child-proof handle, from £850. ZIP WATER UK 0845 600 5005; store.zipheaters.co.uk Its HydroTap G4 boiling water taps start at £1,926. For a tap that offers both boiling and ambient cold water, try the compact MiniBoil version with touch-pad controls, from £1,644.
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 115
PROPERTY IDEAS Projects
IT Stonefield Stone kitchen, from £994 for a kitchen, B&Q
HOT NEWS
Curved kitchens
Zeluso island in Olive Light with aluminium-style plinth, £3,270, Crown Imperial
Ideal for quick repairs to moulded stonework or concrete, Watco’s new Putty Patch, £57 multi-use Putty Patch for 10kg, Watco sets in just 10 minutes. Use it to fix damaged steps, garden structures, balustrades and concrete posts – and there’s minimal waste, as you only mix as much as you need.
Project
KNOW HOW
ON THE SURFACE
Porcelain paving Planning an outdoor revamp? Then consider going for porcelain tiles. They look good and are resistant to stains, scratches, frost and chemicals. Recent innovations mean that there are lots of different finishes available, such as these contemporary Mars Black tiles from SACW Paving.
Mars black porcelain tiles, £72 per sq m, SACW Paving
Research reveals that 53% of UK homeowners would rather improve their current home to add value than move to a new property*. Find the right builder through the Federation of Master Builders by posting your project details on fmb.org.uk
116 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
FEATURE DEBBIE JEFFERY, CHERRY MASLEN PHOTOGRAPHS TIMEINCUKCONTENT.COM *SOURCE BARCLAYS MORTGAGES HOME-IMPROVEMENT REPORT 2015
Keep it handy
Mixing practicality and good looks in a kitchen is, of course, a priority for most homeowners, and the latest trend for curved island units does just that. Curves not only eliminate sharp corners to make a room more family friendly, but also make better use of corner space. In a smaller kitchen, a curved peninsula can take the place of an island, creating a more intimate casual-dining area than a linear unit, or dividing off a dining space. British kitchen manufacturer Crown Imperial offers curved units within most of its collections, including the Zeluso, which comes in four woods, giving the warm effect of timber without the price tag. Zeluso kitchens start from £10,000.
EXTREME
Transformations The house was dark inside and had little connection to the scruffy rear garden
BEFORE
AFTER
A rear extension has created an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space
From tired Thirties house… Katrin and Adrian Davey turned an uninspiring suburban property
W
hen Katrin Davey first saw her plain three-storey house in Twickenham, Middlesex, she was less than keen. ‘I really disliked it,’ she says. ‘I was used to living in Edwardian and Victorian homes, which are full of character, and I found this Thirties house unappealing in comparison. However, it was pretty run-down, which was a bonus as I love a project.’ Katrin and her husband, Adrian, met five years ago, and were living in
Chiswick when they decided to start a family. ‘We needed a larger home with a garden, and we looked at a number of properties,’ explains Katrin. ‘It was the location, the size of the plot and the proportions of the rooms that finally convinced us this house had potential, despite the fact that it needed completely renovating.’ The previous owners had obtained planning permission to convert the loft space into two bedrooms and an en suite, although they hadn’t finished work on this by the time Katrin and Adrian bought the house in 2012. There was a small kitchen, a separate
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dining room and a living room on the ground floor, with three bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor. ‘We wanted an open-plan layout downstairs, and it made sense to do all the work in one go before we moved in, as living on a building site with a baby isn’t practical,’ says Katrin, who was pregnant with their son, Leo, at the time. ‘I already knew our builders PSK Development (020 8843 2178; pskdevelopment.co.uk), as they had worked on our last home, and they introduced us to some architects.’ MAKING PLANS Katrin and Adrian met up with three architects and chose
Flat-roofed extension PROPERTY IDEAS
Take the 60-SECOND TOUR THE PROPERTY
WHAT THEY DID
A four-bedroom, three-storey, detached Thirties house in Twickenham, Middlesex.
The Daveys built a kitchen, dining and living-space extension, and reconfigured the rest of the house.
WHO LIVES HERE
WHAT IT COST
Katrin and Adrian Davey, with their three-year-old son, Leo. Katrin is a stay-at-home mum, while Adrian runs an IT company.
The couple paid £990,000 for the property in 2012 and spent £320,000 extending and remodelling the house. It is now worth in the region of £2 million.
SECOND FLOOR Leo’s bedroom, a guest bedroom, a bathroom and a den are in the converted loft
FIRST FLOOR The main and guest bedrooms, both with en suites, are on this floor, as well as a walk-in wardrobe
Wide glazed sliding doors provide an uninterrupted view of the rear garden
GROUND FLOOR An open-plan kitchen, dining and living space is at the rear. The living room is at the front and there’s a loo under the stairs
to open-plan modern home into a practical, light-filled living space
Granit (020 7924 4555; granit.co.uk) because they understood exactly what the couple wanted to achieve, and came up with a design they loved. ‘We enjoy entertaining, so a big, open-plan kitchen with an island was important; and we wanted sliding doors onto the garden to make the space bright,’ explains Katrin. The architects came up with the idea of extending the rear of the house by 4m, which would mean the work could be done under permitted development and thus avoid a lengthy planning process. Removing
the rear wall of the ground floor means that the entire space is now open plan, with a utility room in what had previously been the kitchen. ‘We wondered if a flat roof would make the space feel too low, but it’s fine,’ says Katrin. ‘Our architects made suggestions we would never have thought of ourselves, which have helped the spaces inside the house to flow.’ Upstairs, on the first floor, the back bedroom has been turned into the main bedroom – the old main bedroom was divided to create a guest room ➺
‘We wanted an open-plan layout downstairs’
We love…
…‘the new living area on the ground floor. It’s ideal for family life, cooking and entertaining’
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PROPERTY IDEAS Flat-roofed extension
White cabinets, wooden worktops and cool grey touches give the kitchen an urban feel
and a 1.5m-wide en suite. The former family bathroom is now an en suite to the main bedroom, and a boxroom was converted into a walk-in wardrobe. Leo’s bedroom is on the top floor, where the en suite has been turned into a practical children’s bathroom. AN UPHILL CHALLENGE The project was a huge undertaking and not without its problems. ‘We were told by the building-control officer that 7m-deep piled foundations would be needed for the new extension, because the house is built on top of an old gravel pit,’ says Katrin, who project-managed the five-month build while she was on maternity leave. ‘The foundations added more than £10,000 to the cost, and this was definitely the low point of the whole project – although, amazingly enough, the builders still managed to finish the work on time.’ Structural steelwork, rendered blockwork walls and a glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) fibreglass flat roof were constructed, with a large roof light installed above the kitchen. Thin slats
of cedar cladding were painstakingly fixed around the aluminium sliding doors to add some colour to the rear of the property. TRICKY OPTIONS ‘We had a big discussion about bifold doors, but agreed on sliding ones in the end, as they are closed for most of the year and I wanted a seamless view into the garden,’ says Katrin. ‘With the sliding doors, there are just two large panels, and I felt you had more control over them. We tend to just open the kitchen door when it’s warm and leave the other one closed.’ New painted timber windows were made for the other rooms in the house, replacing the leaking single-glazed ones that had been there. Another measure the couple took to make the house more energy efficient was having the extension fully insulated. Underfloor heating in the kitchen, dining and living space makes it extra snug. ‘Now it’s like a brand-new house and we absolutely love living here,’ says Katrin. ‘There really is nothing we would change.’
‘Our architects made suggestions we would never have thought of’
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On the second floor, there was plenty of room to create a spacious landing
RENOVATION KNOW-HOW
The couple chose the same floor tiles for inside and out to connect the extension with the garden
IN DETAIL FLAT ROOFS
Opt for a stylish flat-roof extension, as the Daveys did
Clean lines and simple touches have given Katrin and Adrian’s extension a seamless look. It was constructed with timber joists and finished with glass-reinforced plastic fibreglass, concealed drainpipes and grey zinc edging to match the sliding doors. A roof light floods the space with light, while outside the roof line is unobtrusive. ■ Flat-roofing systems have come a long way in recent years. The new modern single-ply
membranes are well insulated and built to last. ■ Employ a specialist to build a flat roof, which will usually be less expensive than a pitched one. It will have a slight fall to prevent water pooling and help drainage. ■ A membrane is usually fixed on top of external insulation, with a void between the timber and the ceiling for electrics. ■ Roof lights and lanterns are simple to install in a flat roof, and are well worth
considering. The roof itself can be clad in different materials, such as metal or slate, and can be planted with grasses, sedum or wild flowers.
The Daveys had a large roof light fitted
■ Many alterations can be made under Permitted Development, meaning you don’t need to get planning permission. For more information on planning and building regulations, visit planningportal.gov.uk and always check with your local authority before making any major renovation changes. ■ Keep your neighbours informed at all stages, and you might need to obtain party-wall agreements, too. Check for advice on this at planningportal.gov.uk. ■ For extensions and major remodelling, it’s usually advisable to employ an architect to draw up accurate plans: the Royal Institute of British Architects (architecture. com) holds a directory of approved architects. ■ Get at least three quotes for all major purchases, including when you’re hiring tradesmen and, whenever possible, negotiate fixed prices for each job rather than paying a daily rate. ■ It’s not usually advisable to undertake major roofing work on a DIY basis. Go to the National Federation of Roofing Contractors’ website (nfrc.co.uk) to find a reputable roofer to do the work. ■ Remember to factor delays into the schedule and always have a contingency pot of money to pay for those unforeseen expenses.
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EXTREME
AFTER
Transformation 2 Dark rooms and a cramped kitchen were in need of an overhaul
BEFORE A flat-roofed rear extension has given the family more living space
Steel-framed French windows are a unique feature
‘We transformed our home with a bold extension’
A
chance find online led to Sarah and Kev Reape buying their detached, six-bedroom Edwardian house in Surrey. ‘We weren’t overly familiar with the area we were looking in, so while we were house hunting, I decided to use Google Street View to take a virtual tour,’ explains Sarah. ‘We were looking for a family home with a garden to share with our boys, Zach, nine, Leo, seven, and Miles, five. I saw this house and immediately searched for the address to get some idea of the
value, and I discovered it was being let, but had been for sale the year before.’ Sarah phoned the letting agent and found that the owners were going to be putting the house back on the market, so she and Kev viewed it and made an offer before it went up for sale. ‘We loved the high ceilings and Edwardian staircase, but the layout wasn’t ideal,’ says Kev. ‘It had a dark dining room and a separate kitchen, and we wanted an open-plan lifestyle.’ THINKING AHEAD In the three months it took for the sale to go
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through, the Reapes had gained planning permission to extend the ground floor. They worked with an architect friend to redesign the layout, which involved demolishing an existing lean-to and building a new flat-roofed extension to the rear, containing a living and dining space. The substantial extension features three sets of striking, Art Deco-style, steel-framed French windows, made by Clement Windows (01428 643393; clementwindows.co.uk). ‘The back of the house faces northeast, so we knew
FEATURE DEBBIE JEFFERY PHOTOGRAPHS ANDREW BEASLEY, FINE HOUSE STUDIO PLANS PERSONA-ID
Three sets of contemporary French windows and pale-green render give Sarah and Kev Reape’s flat-roofed extension its distinctive style
Flat-roofed extension PROPERTY IDEAS
A dark-grey feature wall creates a warm atmosphere
The doorway between the kitchen and dining room was widened to create an open feel
we wouldn’t choose bifold doors opening across the whole width of the extension, as it would prove too chilly,’ says Sarah. ‘Our doors open onto the patio to avoid taking up space inside.’ FAST PROGRESS Sarah and Kev chose Plus Rooms (0800 917 7127; plusrooms.com) to undertake the work, and builders were on site two days after the sale completed. With the family living in a rented house, work began on tackling the extension, on
replacing the bathrooms and also on decorating throughout. Concrete trench foundations were excavated for the extension, which was constructed from blockwork, with a GRP fibreglass flat roof and black aluminium coping. The exterior was painted in three different colours before the couple settled on a soft-green shade. Inside the new L-shaped extension, structural steel beams were dropped below ceiling height to complement the doors, five roof lights were added and oak parquet flooring was laid. Upstairs, the couple decided to convert a bedroom into an en suite and dressing room, reducing the number of bedrooms to five. On the second floor, one bedroom was divided to create a new bathroom. The couple paid £1.5 million for the house and the building work cost around £200,000. Now, the property is worth in excess of £1.8 million. Sarah designed the interior herself, and thoroughly enjoyed it. ‘Everything is hard-wearing enough to withstand children and dogs,’ she says. ‘Building the extension has given us a large, flexible space, which is perfect for entertaining and parties. Now the house feels like a real family home.’
Sarah and Kev Reape
Trials & triumphs… ■ What was the high point of the project? ‘Seeing the French windows installed really finished off the extension.’ ■ Any low points? ‘We had to move in before the flooring was laid because our supplier delivered the wrong parquet twice.’ ■ Who was the project saviour? ‘Our builders, Plus Rooms, without doubt – they finished the work so quickly and to such a high standard.’
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‘We turned three rooms into one’
Knock through to transform a cramped kitchen into a large, open-plan space, as Vicki and Ed Ralph did FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN THE PAGE
Love their
STYLE?
Smart new design
Removing walls and redesigning the layout has given Vicki and Ed a spacious, open-plan kitchen with dining and living areas, as well as easy access to the garden
124 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
THE RALPHS’ BIANCO ECLIPSIA MARBLE WORKTOP IS FROM EADONSTONE ££. FOR SIMILAR, TRY THE PERMIAN SOLID WORKTOP FROM B&Q £ OR THE CAESARSTONE FROM CR LAURENCE £££
New layout KITCHEN IDEAS
BEFORE
Take the
60-SECOND TOUR THE PROPERTY
A six-bedroom detached house in Stow-cum-Quy, Cambridgeshire.
WHO LIVES HERE
Vicki and Ed Ralph, with their sons, Jonah, 10, and Ryan, 12.
WHAT THEY DID
The couple knocked down the walls that separated the garden room and dining room from the kitchen, fitted folding doors leading onto the patio and redesigned the kitchen, creating an open-plan layout.
THE LOOK
Relaxed country with a contemporary edge. Rustic-style units have been teamed with cool colours and classic features, such as a Belfast sink.
WHAT IT COST
LESSONS LEARNED If you have anything made bespoke, check the measurements two or three times before you go ahead. Check, too, how it will be fitted. Never assume anything.
Units................................£11,785 Worktops.......................£7,720 Sink.....................................£570 Tap.......................................£197 Appliances.....................£1,207 Tiles....................................£548 Flooring...........................£2,140 Patio doors....................£3,492 Bespoke dog gate.......£1,627 Lighting............................£1,319
TOTAL.............£30,605
TURN OVER TO FIND OUT HOW Vicki and Ed created their new kitchen
THE LAYOUT A bank of units on the left of the kitchen houses appliances and the range, with the sink opposite. A peninsula unit separates the kitchen from the dining area and garden room
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M
oving from a suburb of Cambridge to a nearby village, Vicki and Ed Ralph were looking forward to enjoying their garden, complete with a few chickens, and embracing life in the country. However, their new kitchen was cramped and had no access to the garden. ‘We wanted it to be the hub of the house,’ says Vicki. ‘But the dining room was separate, and it was a real squeeze when we hosted family meals.’ After four years, the couple decided to knock the kitchen, dining room and garden room into one, but they were unsure of how to design the space. ‘We had no idea how to go about it,’ says Vicki. ‘We felt completely stuck.’ The couple hired an interior designer who they found online, and she guided them
through the project from beginning to end. ‘It takes experience and a high level of design ability to co-ordinate the multiple uses of cooking, eating and relaxing in one open-plan area, and our designer has lashings of both,’ says Vicki. ‘She did drawings of the finished space, so we could see exactly what it would look like. I’m sure we would have made all sorts of expensive mistakes without her expertise.’ The finished kitchen is bright and elegant, with sleek units painted in a pale sage, which include glass-fronted storage to lighten the look. The pale-grey marble worktops keep the room feeling bright and extend into the garden room, with a maple-topped breakfast bar linking the two spaces. ‘We love the look and it works for the whole family,’ says Vicky. ‘We can eat at the breakfast bar or lay the table for a big family dinner – it’s just so flexible.’
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Simply chic
Glass-fronted wall units have the look of a country kitchen dresser and are perfect for displaying much-loved items. Style details, such as the elegantly turned legs on the breakfast bar, add a sophisticated feel
New layout KITCHEN IDEAS
Doggy divider
A bespoke gate keeps the family pet out of the kitchen and slides partially away between units when not in use
KITCHEN SOURCEBOOK WHERE TO BUY
Out on display
Open shelves keep Vicki’s favourite china close at hand. The Belfast sink enhances the country look, while the marble worktop adds a refined touch
FEATURE GAIL ABBOTT STYLING KATIE MALIK PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID BRITTAIN PLAN PERSONA-ID
How we did it
Calming colours
The units were sourced from a local builder’s merchant and painted a pale green shade for a fresh, relaxed feel
Our main design concept was ‘outside in’ – light and airy, with good flow between the spaces. We already had a range cooker, but our interior designer sourced the other appliances and units, saving us £3,000. The planning took four months and the building work took three. When the builders were in, we used a microwave in the study or we ate out. The kitchen fitting cost around £1,300 and our designer’s fee was £5,600.
Carnegie units in Sage Green and Mussel, £272 for a W600mm base unit; Belfast BFF720 double bowl sink, £570; Eiger monobloc sink mixer tap, £197, Franke range; solid wood maple worktop, £526 for a 3m length; all Ridgeons. Elica CH60 extractor hood, £199, Magnet. Bianco Eclipsia marble worktop, price on application, Eadonstone. Dijon tumbled limestone floor tiles, from £42 per sq m, My Stone Floor. Bifold patio doors, £3,492, Country Hardwood. Dog gate, £1,627, Harlequin Woodcraft. Italian glass chandelier, £395, Graham and Green. Square pendant light in weathered brass, £462, Davey Lighting range, Lighting Matters. For a similar dining table, try the Portland, £535; Calhoun dining chairs, £280 for two; all Wayfair. Wexford Elite bar stools, £125 each, Shabby Store. For a similar armchair, try the Bingley, £650, Sofa.com. Curtains made in Scarab Soft Blue cotton/linen, £59 per m, Ivo Prints. Alexa Moroccan rug, £112, Overstock. Duck Egg Blue wall tiles (10cm sq), £3.75 each; Corners Only wall tiles (10cm sq), £6.80 each; Oscar and Blue/White Spot jars, £45 each; Pink/White Spot and Blue/White Spot plates, £26 each; Oscar sugar bowl, £24; all Susie Watson Designs FOR DETAILS TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
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‘We love our luxe loft look’
Be inspired by warehouse conversions to create an industrial-style kitchen, like Liz Elmhirst and Shail Thaker’s FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN THE PAGE
Raw surfaces
A bare-brick wall and a breakfast bar crafted from scaffold boards make an industrial statement, while copper pendant lights add a contemporary edge
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Rough-luxe look KITCHEN IDEAS
BEFORE
Love their
STYLE?
LIZ AND SHAIL’S PENDANT LIGHTS ARE FROM HOLLOWAYS OF LUDLOW £££. FOR SIMILAR, TRY URBANARA’S KOGE BALL PENDANT £ OR HABITAT’S COPPER-COATED CEILING LIGHT ££
Take the
60-SECOND TOUR THE PROPERTY
A four-bedroom, Victorian terraced house in Chiswick, west London.
WHO LIVES HERE
Liz Elmhirst and her husband Shail Thaker, with their twin daughters, Arya and Leela, five.
WHAT THEY DID
The couple extended the kitchen as part of a larger house-renovation project to create an open-plan kitchen-diner with a living area.
THE LOOK
Raw-edged industrial, with an exposed-brick wall, polished-concrete worktops and a breakfast bar made from reclaimed scaffolding boards.
LESSONS LEARNED Take photos of restaurants, bars and hotels that you like wherever you go. It’s easier to refer to an image than try to describe what you want.
WHAT IT COST Units...............................£11,903 Worktops.....................£5,000 Sinks and taps..................£851 Appliances....................£4,692 Floor tiles.......................£2,273 Reclaimed timber............£638 Pendant lights.................£780 Stools..................................£225
TOTAL..............£26,362
TURN OVER TO FIND OUT HOW Liz and Shail created their new kitchen
THE LAYOUT An island divides the cooking and dining areas, with the appliances in a run of base units along one wall, and a dining table and living area on the other side of the room
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W
ith a busy household that included young twin girls, Liz Elmhirst was at breaking point with her old kitchen. It had an awkward layout, there was very little storage space and the wooden worktops were rotting away. So when she and her partner, Shail, decided to renovate and extend the entire house, the kitchen was the first thing they planned. ‘We were desperate for a kitchen-diner where we could eat together and spend time as a family,’ says Liz. ‘I thought through where everything would go, so when we approached our kitchen designer, we already had a fairly good idea of the layout we wanted.’ Their extensive wish list included a large fridge, a double oven and tons of storage, as well as an exposed-brick wall. ‘We’d dreamt of having a New York loft-style brick wall and this felt like the perfect opportunity,’ says Liz. ‘We were drawn to the warmth of the modern industrial look we’d seen in bars and restaurants, as opposed to the cold, clinical look of many high-end kitchens.’ Armed with a basic plan and some visual references for inspiration, the couple approached a kitchen designer who had previously designed some bedroom wardrobes for them. The result is a practical, welcoming and relaxed space, packed with interesting textures and details. ‘I love that you can see the history of the house in the old bricks,’ says Liz. ‘The whole space works really well for us and we spend most of our time in here now.’
Bespoke design
To create a sociable feel, the couple added an island and attached a simple breakfast bar that they had made from sanded and oiled scaffolding boards
Cool concrete
‘The worksurfaces have been a great success,’ says Liz. ‘They do need waxing, as they are prone to staining. However, their textured finish actually helps hide any dirt or stains, and they work really well with the rest of the rough-and-ready style’
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Rough-luxe look KITCHEN IDEAS
Investment buy
Liz and Shail spent more than they had planned to on the cooker extractor hood after they fell for its bold, professional-kitchen look
Weathered wood
The couple used reclaimed timber in the dining and living areas adjoining the kitchen to give the open-plan space a strong sense of cohesion
FEATURE LOUISE O’BRYAN STYLING SOPHIE MARTELL PHOTOGRAPHS HOLLY JOLLIFFE PLAN PERSONA-ID
How we did it
Dare to bare
‘The builders suggested we clad the wall with fake brick panels, but we convinced them to remove the plaster and paint the old bricks with sealant,’ says Liz
We started the project early, planning the lighting and sockets and choosing the appliances a year before work began. Our designer helped us turn our ideas into a workable reality, and project managed the installation. We sourced the scaffolding boards, and our designer’s carpenter sanded and oiled them so we could use them as shelves and a breakfast bar. Installation cost around £2,500, and we moved in with Shail’s parents during the seven-month renovation.
KITCHEN SOURCEBOOK WHERE TO BUY Malmö oak veneer units in Smoked Oak, from £255 for a W60cm base unit; bespoke concrete worktops, around £500 per sq m; Ratio professional single lever kitchen mixer tap, £245, Abode range; single lever hot water tap, £377; Form round sink, £69.47, Caple range; double dishwasher, £667; ActiveSmart French Door fridge, £1,490; double door range cooker, £1,294; all Fisher & Paykel range; Neff microwave, £241; Mercury extractor hood, £1,000; all Imaggio Interiors. Reclaimed timber, £638, UK Sleepers. Copper globe pendant lights, £390 each, Holloways of Ludlow. For similar stools, try the Soho bar stool, £75 each, Rockett St George. City Grey floor tiles, £84 per sq m, Stone and Ceramic Warehouse FOR DETAILS TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
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Smart savings
The large, light-filled kitchen-diner mixes bespoke and high-street finds. Ikea units have been updated with hand-made doors, while the bench was custom built to save space
Love her
STYLE? HEIDI’S STATUARIO WORKTOPS CAME FROM MARBLE CITY £££. FOR SIMILAR, TRY IKEA’S SÄLJAN STONE-EFFECT WORKTOP £ OR BUSHBOARD’S PRIMA CALACATTA MARBLE WORKTOP ££
‘High end meets high street here’
Create a cool kitchen-diner without breaking the bank by combining cheap with chic, as Heidi Woodruff did FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN THE PAGE
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Eclectic style KITCHEN IDEAS
BEFORE
Take the
60-SECOND TOUR THE PROPERTY
A four-bedroom, semi-detached Victorian home in west London, bought in February 2012.
WHO LIVES HERE
Heidi Woodruff, with her sons, Hugo, 20, and Bertie, 18.
WHAT SHE DID
Heidi extended out at the back and the side of the ground floor to create a spacious, light-filled kitchen-diner with access to the rear garden.
THE LOOK
Individual, with minimalist cabinets in grey, elegant marble worktops and vintage-style furniture.
LESSONS LEARNED Rather than replacing your existing furniture, it’s worth reupholstering it in fresh colours to give it a new lease of life.
WHAT IT COST Units...............................£16,000 Worktop..........................£3,570 Sink......................................£464 Tap.......................................£227 Appliances....................£5,065 Flooring..........................£4,485 Table.................................£1,300 Bench seats..................£3,858 Dining chairs..................£1,490
TOTAL.............£36,459
TURN OVER TO FIND OUT HOW Heidi created her new kitchen
THE LAYOUT The sink is positioned in the middle of a run of base units along one wall. Opposite, the hob is located in the island. There’s a larder unit beside the dining area
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FIND A ADD A BOLD ACCENT TO A NATURAL PALETTE TO GIVE A CALM LOOK IMPACT
B
uying a property that’s midway through a massive renovation project isn’t for the faint-hearted, but a project was exactly what Heidi Woodruff was looking for when she decided to move from Derbyshire to London four years ago. And the four-bedroom, Victorian semi she found in west London certainly didn’t disappoint. ‘The previous owners had dug a basement and begun an extension, then had a change of heart and put it on the market,’ she explains. While it was the sense of space and light that first got Heidi excited about the property’s potential, it was the dream of a large kitchen that sealed the deal. ‘I loved the idea that
I could really put my stamp on our home, particularly in the kitchen, which I wanted to be a real family space,’ she explains. Heidi had to wait four months before it was time to put in the kitchen, but the result is everything she had wanted. ‘It’s a long room, so to avoid a “cave” effect, I incorporated as much glazing as possible,’ she says. A skylight was installed above the cooking area, a window above the sink spans the length of the kitchen’s base units, and a floor-to-ceiling glazed panel overlooks a courtyard. ‘My favourite part of the room is the glass door that opens the kitchen out to the rear garden,’ says Heidi. ‘It is huge and opens on a pivot, which really extends our living space in summer.’
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Unique feature
‘The “ME MORE” lettering comes from when my boys were little,’ says Heidi. ‘I’d tell them I loved them and they’d say, “Me more”. It always makes me smile’
Eclectic style KITCHEN IDEAS Perfect pairing
FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHS JAKE FITZJONES STYLING SHANI ZION PLAN PERSONA-ID
A combination of grey units and marble surfaces creates a modern look. ‘Grey is just so easy to live with,’ says Heidi
KITCHEN SOURCEBOOK WHERE TO BUY
Smart storage
The sleek larder has a length of worktop below, providing a handy area for making breakfast
How we did it We extended to the side and rear of the house, widening and elongating the room. A long skylight brings sunshine into the heart of the kitchen and a window next to the fridge-freezer prevents the corner being dark. I bought the carcasses for the kitchen units from Ikea and my carpenter made doors for them, which were painted grey. I invested in some marble worktops to give the space a lift. It cost around £5,000 to add the flooring and to decorate, and the kitchen fitting cost around £3,000. We rented a flat while the work took place.
Metod units, from £15 for a W60cm base unit, Ikea; bespoke doors painted in Plummet Estate Eggshell, £53 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Honed statuario marble worktops, £1,260 per sq m, Marble City. JLBIDO914 double oven, £599; HK854320FB induction hob, £639, AEG range; RF610ADX4 fridge-freezer, £1,899, Fisher & Paykel range; all John Lewis. Oxygen C Monobloc mixer tap in brushed nickel, £227; Kubus large multi bowl undermount sink, £464, Franke range; both Holloways of Ludlow. GrandDouglas flooring, from £99 per sq m, Dinesen. Walls painted in Slate II Household Emulsion, £42 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library. For a similar dining table, try the slate table, £1,100, Free Range Designs. Bobbin dining chairs, £942 each, Julian Chichester. Bespoke benches, £3,858, Kevin Andrews Upholsterers & Interiors. For similar gold letters, try Shane Meredith Antiques. For similar wall art, try Nimmo & Spooner Antiques. Curtains made in Brera Lino linen, £65 per m, Designers Guild range, Kingdom Interiors FOR DETAILS TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
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‘We designed it for our daughters’ Go for a modern, hotel-inspired look that will last, like Deirdre and Henry Boyle have done FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN THE PAGE
Made for relaxing
A combination of ultramodern fittings, neutral tones and natural materials gives the room laid-back, yet luxurious, boutique-hotel style
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Country-hotel feel BATHROOM IDEAS
BEFORE Love their
STYLE?
DEIRDRE AND HENRY’S BENTLEY BATH IS BY IMPERIAL £££. FOR SIMILAR, TRY THE APRIL SKIPTON FROM BELLA BATHROOMS £ OR THE AKITA FROM ROYCE MORGAN ££
Take the
60-SECOND TOUR THE PROPERTY
A 16th-century, six-bedroom, converted Cotswold-stone barn, near Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire.
WHO LIVES HERE
Deirdre and Henry Boyle, with their younger daughters, Madeleine, 16, and Cordelia, 14.
WHAT THEY DID
The couple gutted the room, replaced the windows, installed underfloor heating and fitted a modern suite.
THE LOOK
Contemporary yet understated, with sleek fittings and a warm, neutral palette that’s in tune with the surrounding countryside.
LESSONS LEARNED I wish we’d had motorised Venetian blinds installed for the windows, as it’s quite awkward to open and close them by hand.
WHAT IT COST Bath.................................£4,640 Basin...................................£470 Vanity and mirror.........£8,898 Loo...................................£1,236 Taps.................................£3,290 Shower...........................£7,435 Tiles..................................£1,422
TOTAL................£27,391
TURN OVER TO FIND OUT HOW Deirdre and Henry created their new bathroom
THE LAYOUT A curved wall conceals the shower enclosure in the corner as you enter the room. The loo and basin are opposite a freestanding bath
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contain the pipework,’ says Deirdre. ‘Another unusual feature was a curved wall just inside the bathroom door, which supports the staircase above. As it had to stay, the designer suggested incorporating opaque-glass panels into it to let more light into the room.’ Having rerouted all the pipework and insulated the ceiling, the Boyles installed underfloor heating and replaced two windows. They also had the original exposed beams sandblasted and oiled to bring them back to life, and Deirdre found a reclaimed oak beam to replace the ugly, boxed-in main beam. ‘We included a large shower and bath in our plans for the new layout,’ says Deirdre. ‘As all four of our daughters were living at home at the time, we needed a lot of storage space, so we had 2.5m vanity unit designed. We are very happy with the result – the room is a good balance between contemporary and country.’
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Feature wall
The curved wall supports a staircase. Deirdre and Henry added opaqueglass panels to bring more natural light into the bathroom, without compromising privacy FEATURE VICTORIA JENKINS STYLING SIAN WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHS WILLIAM GODDARD PLANS PERSONA-ID
W
hen it came to updating the large bathroom in their family home in Gloucestershire, Deirdre and Henry Boyle’s main priority was to make it more suitable for their four daughters. ‘We bought the barn 16 years ago from an interior designer, who had converted it into a lovely home,’ explains Deirdre. ‘The bathroom included wonderful examples of her stencilling, but the basin, bath and loo were arranged in a line under the window. There was no storage or shower, and the floor was carpeted-over chipboard.’ Odd details needed to be addressed, too, such as some structural nibs that jutted out of one wall, to which the basin and loo were attached. ‘Our designer advised that they could be safely removed, except for a small section of each to
Country-hotel feel BATHROOM IDEAS
FIND A CREATE SPACE FOR AN INDULGENT BATHTUB TO ENJOY STRESSBUSTING SOAKS
Hidden depths
With four daughters using the bathroom, storage was crucial
BATHROOM SOURCEBOOK WHERE TO BUY
Modern country
The Boyles opted for an oak base instead of claw feet for the roll-top bath to complement the room’s exposed beams
How we did it
Tile style
Pebble tiles add texture and bring an appealing holiday feel to the space
We wanted to create the sort of boutique-hotel bathroom all four of our daughters yearned for. The plumbing had to be rerouted to work with the new layout and we had underfloor heating installed. The same company that did the tiling sourced all the fittings for us, and our plumber installed them. It took about two months for the room to come together because of delays on site, and it was part of other improvements going on in the house. We paid around £13,000 for the building work and the installation of the new suite.
Bentley bath (with stand), £4,640, Imperial range; basin, £470, Flaminia range; for a similar loo, try the Verso Z50, £1,236, Catalano range; Tara two hole bath mixer, £2,774; Tara Logic single lever basin mixer, £516; both Dornbracht range; Toulon frameless shower enclosure, £3,545, Majestic range; shower tray, £919, Bette range; Meta 02 showerhead, hand shower and shower valve, £2,971, Dornbracht range; all Montpellier Interior Classics. Pacific white pebble wall tiles, £50 per sq m; for similar honed Travertine floor tiles, try the Alabastrino, £55 per sq m; both Mandarin Stone. Vanity unit with Molianos limestone top and mirror, £8,898, Joseph Interior Design. Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck, £203, Kartell range, Heal’s. For a similar bistro style side table, try vintage markets. For a similar swing arm mirror, try the Outline shaving and make up mirror, £161, Smedbo range, QS Supplies. Toftbo bath mat, £6.50; Fräjen towels in cream and taupe, £5.50 each; soap dispensers, from £4.50 each; all Ikea. Wooden bath rack, £68; body brush, £22; both Labour and Wait. Bonne Mère Marseille soap, £9, L’Occitane. Revival RD60 DAB digital radio, £160, Roberts range, John Lewis FOR DETAILS TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 139
‘The tiles were pricey, but worth it’ Mosaic tiles are a short cut to standout style, as Karen and Steve Winder found out FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN THE PAGE
Budget right
Spending big on a few key pieces, such as eye-catching mosaics and a large vanity unit, has created a sleek, contemporary bathroom that’s ideal for family life
140 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
Feature tiling BATHROOM IDEAS
BEFORE
Love their
STYLE?
KAREN AND STEVE’S MOSAICS CAME FROM CERAMICA TILES ASHTEAD £££. FOR SIMILAR, TRY THE BLACK/GREY MIX AT TILE MAGIC £ OR THE SLATE/ SILVER/BLACK MOSAIC AT TOPPS TILES ££
Take the
60-SECOND TOUR THE PROPERTY
A six-bedroom, detached, Fifties house in Ashtead, Surrey,
WHO LIVES HERE
Karen and Steve Winder, with their children, Jessica, 13, and Georgina, 11.
WHAT THEY DID
The couple ripped out the existing bathroom, replaced the window, replastered the room and added a wall-hung vanity unit for storage.
THE LOOK
Contemporary with a clever mix of mosaic and plain tiles, warm bursts of colourful accessories and characterful artwork.
LESSONS LEARNED We realised that using dark tiles all around the bath and shower area would make the room too gloomy, so we added silvery-grey mosaics to bounce light around.
WHAT IT COST Bath......................................£717 Basin..................................£596 Taps................................... £522 Loo......................................£588 Shower...............................£752 Screen................................£575 Vanity unit.........................£949 Mirror................................. £968 Radiator..............................£776 Tiles....................................£1,715
TOTAL...............£8,158
TURN OVER TO FIND OUT HOW Karen and Steve created their new bathroom
THE LAYOUT The loo and bath are to the right of the door. The basin is opposite the door and there’s a radiator beneath the window
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Feature tiling BATHROOM IDEAS
W
hen Karen and Steve Winder bought their home in Ashtead, Surrey, 15 years ago, it had just been converted from a chalet bungalow into a house. ‘We replaced the kitchen, but lived with the bathrooms as they were for several years,’ says Karen. It wasn’t until two years ago, when Karen and Steve decided to build an extension for the kitchen, that they decided to update the main bathroom, making it more suited to a family with two children. The couple wanted to create a bathroom that was light, modern and easy to clean. ‘I chose a colour scheme that wouldn’t
date, as we were investing in a high-quality suite and tiles, and wouldn’t be redecorating again for a while,’ says Karen. As the bathroom is quite big, at first the couple thought that lots of dark tiles would work well. ‘We’d decided on dark grey tiles, but, as I started to visualise them around the bath, I realised it would be too much,’ says Karen. ‘I began looking for mosaics with metallic elements that would reflect light around the room to go on a feature wall. Finding the right mosaics was the most difficult thing about the bathroom – I looked at hundreds. I finally saw what I wanted in a local tile shop. They were expensive, but worth it – I think they look like a work of art.’ ➺
Sleek solution
A lack of storage was a major issue in the old bathroom, so Karen added a wide vanity unit to put towels, toiletries and cleaning products
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KITCHEN IDEAS Feature tiling Added artwork
Opting for plain white walls gave Karen the perfect backdrop for pieces of art, so she commissioned an artist to create an etching of trees
Shimmering mosaics on the wall behind the bath break up the dark grey tiles and help to bounce light around the room
How we did it
Shelve it
Plumbing sits behind a false wall that has an inset shelf for bottles
The old bathroom suite was ripped out and the space was first used as a temporary kitchen while an extension was being built downstairs. It’s a big room, but because of the existing plumbing, it made sense to go for a similar layout and leave the pipework where it was. With the old tiles ripped out, the walls needed to be replastered before we could put the new tiles up. It took around a month in total to finish the work after that. Luckily, we also have an en suite and a downstairs shower room, so we weren’t without a bathroom for the duration of the build. We paid around £6,000 for the labour.
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BATHROOM SOURCEBOOK WHERE TO BUY Oberon bath, £717; Multiplex Trio bath filler, £273; Subway 80cm basin, £596; Subway loo, £588; Subway 2.0 vanity unit, £949; Subway 2.0 mirror, £968; all Villeroy & Boch. Water Square thermostatic three control shower valve, £399; FH688C shower arm, £89; Zion fixed shower head, £169; Square wall outlet with handset and hose, £125; KH Zero three basin monobloc tap, £249; Zest single ZT023C towel rail, £140; all Crosswater. Single panel STB800 bath screen, £575, Matki. For a similar stainless steel radiator, try the Artena, £250, Reina range, Radiator World. Ash porcelain floor tiles in Natural; Ebony porcelain wall tiles in Natural; both £30.61 per sq m, Woodland range, Johnson Tiles. For similar mosaic tiles, try the Zinc Mosaic, £16.50 for a 30cm sq panel, Mosaic Village. Walls painted in Pure Brilliant White matt emulsion, £9.99 for 2.5ltr, Dulux. Sculpted Stem towels, from £14; bath mat, £35; Linear Stem beaker, £4; all Orla Kiely range, John Lewis. Reflections True White blind, £47.58, Tuiss. Etched glass pictures, from £275 each, LifeScape FOR DETAILS TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
FEATURE STEPHANIE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID GILES PLAN PERSONA-ID
Silver service
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February IS M O N T
Simple Solutions
DETOX YOUR HOME
Our homes should be safe havens, but they can be full of hidden chemicals and toxins. This is what you need to know about the nasties… FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
bedding is a wise investment if you are prone to allergies or asthma
FIND A GO BACK TO BASICS AND REDUCE CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS IN YOUR HOME
SMOKING Cigarette smoke can damage the health of anyone exposed to it – not just those who smoke. A lit cigarette releases more than 4,000 different chemicals into the air, and studies show that the smoke from a single cigarette can linger in a room for hours, even with a window open. Carpets, furnishings and walls all absorb the toxins, gradually releasing them back into the air well after the smell of smoke has dissipated. Reduce the risk: Stop smoking. Failing that, smoke outside.
HEATING Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) are produced when fuels, such as gas, wood or coal, aren’t burned efficiently. NO2 has an unpleasant smell and, when inhaled, can inflame the lungs and cause infection. CO, however, is odourless, so it is not as easily detected, hence its label ‘the silent killer’. Reduce the risk: If you have a gas boiler, get it serviced every year. Fit a CO detector in every room, or at least near (but at least 15ft away from) any fuel-burning appliances. CO is lighter than air, so detectors should be placed at least 5ft off the ground.
ALLERGENS These aren’t overly harmful in themselves, but in high volumes 146 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
FEATURE KATRINA HARPER-LEWIS PHOTOGRAPHS TIMEINCUKCONTENT.COM
Tip Hypoallergenic
We tend to think that air pollution is something that happens outdoors, but there are factors that affect the quality of the air we breathe at home, too. Here are the main offenders and how to tackle them.
February SEASONAL IDEAS make our bodies react in the way they would to something that is. Carpets, sofas, bed linen and humid environments are magnets for allergens. Dust-mite allergy affects up to 2% of the population and causes a range of symptoms, from sinusitis to eczema. Dust mites feed off skin and textile particles. You can’t see the mites, but they multiply quickly, laying up to 80 eggs in six weeks. Dust can also contain harmful moulds, bacteria and yeasts, which can become airborne even if undisturbed. Mould build up, usually in damp rooms, can trigger allergic reactions, from rashes and sneezing to asthma attacks and, in extreme cases, even depression. Reduce the risk: Vacuum your mattress every time you change the bed, or invest in hypoallergenic bedding (see allergyuk.org). Get the right vacuum, too. ‘If you suffer from allergies or asthma, your vacuum needs a HEPA filter to prevent airborne pollutants being blasted back into the room,’ says environmental health practitioner Dr Lisa Ackerley. Don’t scrub mouldy patches, as this will release the fungal particles into the air; use a nontoxic spray to denature the spores. Keep damp rooms ventilated or use a dehumidifier. If the problem persists, seek advice from a professional damp-proofing company.
COOKING Heating vegetable oils releases aldehydes, which have been linked to cancer, heart disease and dementia. The smell created by burning food is caused by acrolein, which is a carcinogenic chemical. Reduce the risks: Sunflower oil and corn oil produce the highest
amounts of aldehydes; olive, coconut and rapeseed oils, butter and goose fat produce far fewer of these harmful chemicals, so choose these for frying. Use them sparingly and turn on your extractor fan to help remove the fat droplets from the air. Whenever possible, part-cook foods beforehand to reduce frying time and temperature, which will also prevent burning. If you do a lot of deep-fat frying, consider buying an air fryer, which uses considerably less oil, making it a healthier option all round.
Forgo VOCs by making your own natural products
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS Many common cleaning and decorating products contain chemicals known collectively as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – these include formaldehyde, benzene and vinyl chloride. Their volatility is due to the fact that they evaporate at room temperature, meaning they quickly become airborne. Breathing in VOCs in high concentrations can be toxic and lead to headaches and dizziness, as well as irritation to the lungs in the long term. Products such as paints, varnishes, glues and adhesives, detergents and cleaning products all commonly contain VOCs, but they are also found in some flooring materials and upholstery fabrics – and even lurk in dry-cleaned clothes and loo paper. Reduce the risks: Make sure you check the labels of household products before you buy them – look out for ones that are ‘VOC-free’, and ‘nontoxic’. They can be more expensive, so if you can’t stretch to swapping, keep the room you’re working in well ventilated and wear a mask to reduce the toxins entering your lungs. Get
some plants, too: NASA discovered that some, such as aloe vera, purify air in space by absorbing VOCs.
BASEMENT CONVERSIONS According to a recent survey, 76% of people who have had a basement excavation or conversion were unaware of the dangers that may be posed by radon gas. This naturally occurring radioactive gas enters our homes from the ground and can lead to lung cancer if inhabitants are exposed to high levels over the long term. In fact, radon is the second leading cause of the disease. Reduce the risks: If you’re thinking about extending downwards, ensure you have a radon test done first. Your building contractors are obliged to inform you of the dangers under the British Standard, but you can also test for it yourself using a detector from radonshop.co.uk.
YOUR HOME-DETOX TOOLKIT
CLEAN LIVING All purpose spray, £2.99, Method range, Ethical Superstore
FAIR WARNING Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, £89, Nest range, John Lewis
GAS GREEN LIGHT Three month radon test kit, from £39.60, PropertECO
ABSORBING COMPANY Aloe vera potted plant, £2.50, Ikea
SNEEZE FREE FabriCleanse liquid, £14.25, Bio Life range, The Healthy House
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 147
HOW TO GET BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE If those shoes haven’t arrived, that film didn’t download properly or your broadband is slower than dial-up, this is what you need to know…
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS The law changed in October 2015 – and so did your rights. Under the 2015 Consumer Rights Act, you are entitled to a full refund within 30 days of purchase if an item is of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described. After 30 days, you can opt for the retailer to repair or replace an item, including digital products such as films or music. If something you’ve bought develops a fault within six months, you are entitled to a repair or replacement, unless the retailer can
BE CONTRACT SAVVY The new Consumer Rights Act makes it easier to challenge hidden fees and charges that you didn’t know you were signing up for. The key terms, including price, have to be prominent and transparent, not in the small print. The act also protects you if you are entering into a contract (written or verbal) to pay for a service – be it dry-cleaning, accounting or having a kitchen fitted, for example. The provider is expected to perform the service with reasonable care and skill, for a reasonable price and within a reasonable time. If they fail, they have to either redo the job at no extra cost or, if this can’t be done, you can claim a price reduction of up to 100%.
prove that the fault wasn’t there at the time of delivery or purchase. After six months, the burden is on you to prove that the fault was there at the start. When ordering something online, you have the right to return goods up to seven days after receiving them for absolutely no reason at all – it could be that you simply don’t like the product or even the colour. For more information, visit which.co.uk.
SAVE MONEY AND DON’T BUY EXTENDED WARRANTIES
BE SMART ABOUT DELIVERY DETAILS Shopping online? Here are your need to knows: Firstly, products are the responsibility of the retailer until they’re in your possession – if they’re broken in transit, it’s not your problem. If the seller fails to deliver by the agreed time (eg, you’ve paid for next-day delivery), you are due a full refund. There’s now a default expectation for delivery within 30 days. If it hasn’t arrived by then, you can cancel and get your money back.
You might think that these will get you better service and quick repair if things go wrong – and they should – but you’re actually entitled to that without one. Goods sold in the European Union are usually covered by a two-year warranty (whether you buy them from John Lewis or not). James Daley, founder of consumer website Fairer Finance, says, ‘Too many people forget that extended warranties are not necessary for most goods.’
COMPLAIN – BUT DO IT RIGHT The prospect of carrying out lengthy phone calls, being put on hold for what seems like hours and being passed
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from department to department can put even the most annoyed customer off. The good news is that premiumrate phone numbers are now banned for customer complaints and you can claim the cost of the phone call back from the company, too. The key to making a complaint go your way is to avoid venting. Don’t go in angry, but do go in with a clear idea of what you expect the company to do to fix things. Take the direct approach and send an email with ‘Complaint’ in the subject line or, given a menu of phone options, choose ‘speak to an operator’ and ask for the complaints department. Hannah Maundrell, editor in chief at money.co.uk says, ‘Stick to the facts, be calm and collected, and have all the paperwork you need to hand. Include times, dates, names and proof if you have it (if requested, you should send copies and keep original documents). If you aren’t happy with the company’s response or you don’t hear from them, send a follow-up email. Again, be factual and clear about why you’re unhappy and what you’d like them to do. Making a complaint in a constructive manner through the right channels should get it sorted.’
FEATURE JENNIFER NEWTON ILLUSTRATIONS MELVYN EVANS *SOURCE INSTITUTE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
Unhappy with a Christmas present or a recent purchase but not sure what to do about it? There are certain rights when it comes to getting a refund or making a complaint, and companies are legally obliged to act depending on the complaint. Here’s our guide to being a savvy shopper…
February SEASONAL IDEAS ESCALATE IT IF NECESSARY ‘Eight weeks from lodging your complaint and not getting a satisfactory resolution is the general rule of when you should escalate,’ advises Maundrell. ‘For finance complaints, your next step is to involve the Financial Ombudsman Service (financial-ombudsman.org.uk), which is free. It will review your complaint and can force companies to pay you compensation. But don’t expect a quick turnaround – it’s likely to take months for them to get back to you.’
USE SOCIAL MEDIA WITH CARE Highlighting your problem with goods or services online using social media can be a fast-track way to get your complaint heard publicly and embarrass a firm into taking some action. Many companies have dedicated customer Twitter feeds and
Tip 83% of companies will pay compensation on receiving a complaint* it’s easy with the search facility to find the firm’s @name. If you want this to work, you should keep it public, as direct messaging is no different than sending a company a complaining email. However, make sure you aren’t simply reacting in haste. ‘Think before hitting the send button,’ says Rupinder Bains, managing director at Pinder Reaux solicitors. ‘Making comments online is easy, but it’s often not thought through carefully. Don’t get
THREATEN TO LEAVE
me wrong, you can be rude (to a certain extent), funny and sarcastic, but fabricating events will get you in trouble. If your comments are true and reflect exactly what happened, there should be no issues. But finding yourself on the wrong side of a libel claim is serious and expensive.’
WHERE TO GO FOR HELP CREDIT-CARD COMPANY If you paid for items or a service over £100 using your credit card, the credit-card company is jointly liable up to £30,000.
THE OMBUDSMAN
The best finance and utility deals are usually offered to new customers, but you might not have to switch providers to get them. When your insurance policy or mobile contract comes up for renewal, call your provider and ask them to match better deals you’ve seen advertised or on comparison websites. With broadband, you can potentially leave your provider mid-contract: ‘Do a speeds-checker test, like the one at uswitch.com,’ says Ewan Taylor-Gibson, broadband expert at uSwitch. ‘This will tell you what speeds other providers offer in your area. If you’re not getting the “minimum” available, then, under new Ofcom rules, you could leave your contract early.’ Threatening to leave can also be effective if you’re unhappy with the service you’ve received, as they may tempt you to stay with a good offer.
Find the right one at ombudsmanassociation.org.
THE SMALL CLAIMS COURT You have six years to make a claim for faulty goods in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and five years in Scotland.
CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU Find help and template letters at citizensadvice.org.uk or call the helpline on 0345 404 0506.
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 149
February SEASONAL IDEAS
Try something new...
GO SUGAR-FREE Binged on sweet treats over Christmas? Learn to overcome your cravings for a healthier 2016
Q
WHAT DOES SUGAR DO? It depends what type of sugar it is. Natural sugars, such as lactose in milk and fructose in fruit, are less detrimental to health. Released steadily into the blood stream, they also come with nutrients including fibre, protein and water. Refined sugars, which come from processed cane or beets, are found in, amongst other things, sweets, cakes and fizzy drinks. These quick-fix refined sugars cause insulin and blood-sugar levels to spike, leaving you wanting more. ‘The more sugar you consume the more you will want – beat the cycle by going cold turkey for 10 days,’ explains nutritionist Julie Silver.
Q
FEATURE ALICE HUMPHRYS PHOTOGRAPH STOCKFOOD
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS? According to nutritionist Kim Pearson, ‘Sugar intake is a leading cause of weight gain and type 2 diabetes. It’s highly addictive and is linked to cardiovascular disease, can zap brainpower, make you feel sluggish and accelerate aging.’ Fellow nutritionist Julie Silver believes that if you quit sugar, you can expect ‘clearer skin, better mobility, weight loss and an increase in energy – say goodbye to that afternoon slump. You may also feel less stressed and sleep better, as a good night’s sleep helps
FIND A START THE NEW YEAR WITH A HEALTHY HABIT
flush out toxins from the brain leaving you feeling clearer, happier and lighter’.
Q
HOW MUCH SHOULD WE EAT? The World Health Organisation suggests we should get no more than 5% of our daily calorie intake from added sugar – that’s 5tsp per day for women, 7tsp for men and 3tsp for children. ‘Keeping added sugars to under 10% of our total energy intake reduces the risk of obesity and tooth decay,’ says Dr Francesco Branca, director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health and Development.
Q
WHAT SHOULD WE AVOID? The best place to start is to ditch sugar-laden processed foods. Be wary of ‘non-sugar’ foods, too, such as baked beans, bread and sauces, as well as ‘diet’ foods. Check the packet’s nutrition panel. A food is high in sugar if under ‘carbohydrates (of which sugars)’, the sugar content is more than 22.5g per 100g, while anything under 5g is low.
Q
WHAT ABOUT CRAVINGS? Health coach and author Sarah Wilson cites coconut oil as her secret weapon, and recommends eating 1-2tsp when you have a craving. Like sugar, it’s a source of instant energy, but it doesn’t cause insulin to spike, so
3 OF THE BEST REFINED-SUGAR ALTERNATIVES
MAPLE SYRUP Tastes superb in baking Original maple syrup, £1.98 for 180ml, Clarks range, Tesco
DATE SYRUP Try drizzling on porridge Date syrup, £2.49 for 330g, Meridian range, Ocado
RAW HONEY Packed full of enzymes Raw British wildflower honey, £3 for 110g, Hilltop Honey
TIPS TO CUT B CK Nutritionists Kim Pearson (kimpearson.co.uk) and Julie Silver ( juliesilver.co.uk) offer their advice ■ TIP 1 Swap high-sugar fruit juices for vegetable juices or water with a slice of fresh citrus fruit or cucumber. ■ TIP 2 Protein will help you overcome sweet cravings, so try swapping sweets and crisps for nuts or oatcakes. Start the day with a protein-based breakfast to regulate blood sugar from the get-go. ■ TIP 3 Tiredness makes you more likely to eat sugar during the day, so try to get a good night’s sleep. ■ TIP 4 Add cinnamon to your ‘sweet’ dishes – it aids insulin activity and helps you digest sugar.
you won’t slump later on. Another trick is to avoid skipping meals, as eating three meals of lean proteins, healthy fats and fibre-rich carbs per day lessens the need to snack. If you find yourself reaching for sugar, try natural sweeteners, such as enzyme-packed raw honey, date syrup or maple syrup.
Q
ARE FRUIT OR ALCOHOL OK? Low-fructose fruits, such as berries, grapefruit or kiwi, are great as a treat but are best eaten whole, as dried or juiced versions are easy to overeat. Cutting back on sugar doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the occasional tipple, but try to have low-fructose choices, such as red wine, spirits and beer. SEE OUR SUGAR-FREE FLAVOURED WATER RECIPES AT
housetohome.co.uk/videos
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 151
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Food news SEASONAL IDEAS
In theKITCHEN
This month, we’re serving up Asian-style mussels, trying nutritious mixed grains, cooking with yuzu juice and comparing healthy ready meals FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
To-do list for FEBRUARY EAT Merchant Gourmet’s new ready-to-eat Thai or Indian spiced mixed grains, which make an aromatic alternative to plain rice and are a great addition to salads, £1.39 for 125g, Tesco. DRINK Tea for Heroes – a bespoke blend of tea by The Rare Tea Company, £5.50 for 50g, Waitrose. 50p from each sale will go to the RAF Association’s Wings Appeal. TREAT a foodie to Rome: Centuries in an Italian Kitchen by Katie & Giancarlo Caldesi (£25, Hardie Grant) – a feast of delicious recipes, beautiful pictures and fascinating facts.
For a healthy supper with a kick, give mussels the Thai treatment with chilli, coconut milk and lemon grass. Find more recipes at goodtoknow.co.uk
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 153
SEASONAL IDEAS Food news
Try a new taste...
YUZU JUICE
HOW TO USE For a tasty marinade, mix 2tbsp yuzu juice and 1tbsp dark soy sauce. Grate in a 2cm piece of peeled fresh ginger. Spoon over raw prawns, salmon fillets or sliced chicken breasts, then marinate for 30min. Cook the prawns, salmon or chicken on a hot griddle pan, adding the marinade towards the end of the cooking time. Serve with egg noodles stir-fried with pak choi and a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds.
Used in desserts, drinks, sauces and stir-fries, a splash of yuzu juice adds an intense citrus zing
3 of the best
LOOK WHAT WE FOUND!
HEALTHY READY MEALS
These beautiful hand-iced bird and heart biscuits are certain to melt your loved one’s heart on Valentine’s Day
Low-cal curry
An aromatic treat with nutritious pulses South Indian chicken curry with lentil and chickpea rice (400g), Healthy Living range, Tesco
£2
CHOSEN BY
A meat-free one pot of vitamin-rich squash, courgette and apricot Moroccan tagine (320g), Easy Bean range, Ocado
Satisfying stew
There’s just the right amount of protein and carbs in this meaty dish Beef stroganoff (400g), Balanced For You range, Marks & Spencer
£39
Love Bird biscuit tin, Biscuiteers
Veggie option
£3.49
FEATURE NICHOLA PALMER PHOTOGRAPHS GARETH MORGANS/STOCKFOOD, MARTINA SCHINDLER/STOCKFOOD
A Japanese citrus fruit, yuzu is used in both sweet and savoury dishes, and drinks. Sharp and aromatic, it tastes like a cross between grapefruit, mandarin and lemon. While the fresh fruit is hard to find in this country, you can buy its juice online or in the speciality ingredients section at major supermarkets. Use it in desserts, and for flavouring sauces, dressings and marinades.
IDEAL V GREAT DEAL Try one of Girl About Tech’s favourite soup makers £99.99 All in one
£4.25
154 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
h h
Lightly fries veg before turning them into a 1.6ltr portion of soup Sauté and Soup 501011 maker, Morphy Richards
£59.99 Easy does it
It can’t sauté, but this 1.2ltr pot has some great auto programmes, including a cleaning function Easy Soup, Tefal range, Robert Dyas
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Cook up a bowlful
OF COMFORT
After the festive excesses, nurture your body and soul with some delicious, nutritious, piping-hot soup FIND A ENJOY HEALTHY MEALS WITH RECIPES THAT ARE LIGHT YET STILL FILLING
Serve soup in enamel mugs rather than bowls for a rustic, relaxed lunch
156 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
Hearty soups SEASONAL IDEAS
Roasted tomato soup with croutons SERVES 4-6 TAKES 40MIN
Packed with vegetables and barley, this chicken soup is soothing and satisfyingly filling
1 red onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped 1 red chilli, halved and deseeded 2 large red tomatoes, quartered 750g ripe cherry vine tomatoes, off the vine 3tbsp olive oil ½ ciabatta loaf, torn into chunks Handful of basil leaves 1 Preheat the oven to 220°C/ 425°F/Gas 7. In a roasting tin, mix the onion, garlic, chilli and tomatoes with 2tbsp olive oil. Season well and roast for 30min. 2 Meanwhile, place the ciabatta chunks on a baking sheet, drizzle with the remaining olive oil and bake, on the shelf below the tomatoes, for 15min, until crisp. 3 Ladle the tomato mixture in batches into a food processor and whizz until nearly smooth, then return to the pan. 4 Whizz 300ml hot water and most of the basil, and add to the soup. Reheat the soup, adding a little more water to thin if needed. 5 Pour into mugs and top with the croutons and remaining basil.
Cook’s tip
Rub the ciabatta chunks with garlic before baking to add extra flavour Chicken, vegetable & barley broth SERVES 4 TAKES 55MIN
FOR THE BROTH 500ml chicken stock 1 chicken breast 2 chicken thighs, bone left in 1 onion, chopped 1 celery stick, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 1 parsnip, chopped 1 bay leaf 100g barley 200g mixed green vegetables, such as cabbage, peas and beans Juice of ½ lemon FOR THE HERBY TOPPING 1tbsp olive oil 50g fresh white breadcrumbs 1tsp chopped fresh parsley Zest of 1 lemon
1 Pour the chicken stock into a deep saucepan. Add the chicken breast and thighs, the onion, celery, carrot, parsnip and bay leaf, and season well with salt and pepper. Add 600ml water and bring to the boil, then simmer for 30min, until the chicken and vegetables are cooked through. 2 Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. Add the barley to the pan and cook for 10-12min. Shred the cooked chicken and return it
to the pan with the green vegetables and lemon juice. Simmer for 5min, until heated through. 3 To make the herby topping, heat the olive oil in a shallow frying pan, add the breadcrumbs and fry on a medium heat until golden brown. Remove from the heat and quickly stir in the chopped parsley and lemon zest. Set aside until ready to use. 4 Ladle the soup into bowls and add the herby topping just before serving.
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 157
Stilton adds a salty, tangy twist to the classic creamy leek and potato soup
Potato, leek & Stilton soup SERVES 4 TAKES 50MIN
40g butter 1 onion, chopped 700g leeks, trimmed and sliced 1tbsp chopped thyme 500g Maris Piper potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks 1ltr vegetable or chicken stock 200g Stilton cheese, crumbled 2tsp freshly ground nutmeg 50g crème fraîche, plus extra to serve
1 Melt the butter in a large saucepan and gently fry the onion and the white parts of the leeks, reserving the rest, for 10min until soft. 2 Stir in the thyme and potatoes, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 25min until the potatoes are tender. Stir in the green parts of the leeks and cook for 5min.
158 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
3 Add the Stilton, reserving a little to use as a garnish, the nutmeg and the crème fraîche, and heat gently until the cheese has melted. 4 Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, then ladle into bowls. Serve topped with the reserved Stilton and an extra spoonful of crème fraîche.
Hearty soups SEASONAL IDEAS
Wild mushroom soup SERVES 4 TAKES 30MIN
Small handful of dried porcini mushrooms 1tbsp olive oil Knob of butter 150g mixed fresh wild mushrooms 300g chestnut mushrooms, sliced 2 shallots or 1 onion, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed Few sprigs of thyme 600ml hot vegetable or chicken stock 2tbsp crème fraîche Artisan bread, sliced and toasted Soft, mild goat’s cheese, to serve 1 Put the dried porcini mushrooms in a bowl and pour over 150ml warm water. Leave to soak for 10min. 2 Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and butter in a frying pan. Put the wild and
sliced chestnut mushrooms in the pan, and fry for 3-4min. Take out a few of the fried mushrooms to use as a garnish later. Add the shallots or onion, garlic and thyme, then fry for 2min. 3 Add the stock and the soaked porcini, then stir in the mushroom soaking water. Bring to the boil, then simmer, half-covered, for 10min. 4 Ladle the mixture in batches into a food processor and whizz to blend, making sure you retain some of the mushroom texture. Season to taste. 5 Return to the pan, stir in the crème fraîche and season well. Serve with slices of toast topped with goat’s cheese and the reserved mushrooms.
Cook’s tip If you can, use
This creamy but light soup would make an ideal starter
Roasted sweet garlic & almond soup
fresh girolles and chanterelles for the wild mushrooms
SERVES 4 TAKES 50MIN
FEATURE TARA ELARTE RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS TIMEINCUKCONTENT.COM
3 bulbs of garlic, skin on 1 onion, finely chopped 4tbsp olive oil 285ml single cream 1ltr vegetable or chicken stock 1 ciabatta loaf, crust removed, torn into small pieces 2tbsp white wine vinegar 150g flaked almonds, toasted Pea shoots, to garnish Sourdough bread, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Break up the garlic into cloves and roast for 30min until soft. Leave to cool. 2 Meanwhile, gently fry the onion in the oil for 10min until soft. Add the cream and stock, boil, then simmer for 10min. 3 Squeeze the cooled garlic to remove the flesh and whisk it into the cream and stock mix. Add the ciabatta and vinegar, then simmer for another 5min. Blend in a food processor until smooth. 4 Add the almonds, reserving some to use as garnish, and whizz again. Season to taste, garnish with the remaining almonds and the pea shoots, and serve with toasted sourdough. GIRL ABOUT TECH
For a richer flavour, cook the mushrooms in a little sherry before adding the stock
Inspired by these recipes? Make cooking them simpler with a soup maker – turn to page 154 to see our tech blogger, Girl About Tech’s, favourites
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 159
SEASONAL IDEAS Gardening news
IntheGARDEN FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
To-do list for FEBRUARY
Bring a clump of snowdrops inside – let them acclimatise in a cool spot first
160 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
PLANT snowdrops now. Order bulbs ‘in the green’ to plant out, or split up your own clumps when they’ve finished flowering, divide the bunches and replant with more space between them. PICK stems of the fragrant evergreen Daphne to bring inside. It’s also lovely in a pot by the front door in light shade. SOW onion seeds thinly in a well-drained spot under a cloche – try giant onions or heritage varieties. You get more choice of what to grow if you start with seed rather than sets and it takes about 22 weeks from sowing to harvest.
Grow something beautiful…
HELLEBORES Tough and adaptable, hellebores give invaluable early season colour. The most popular type are the Oriental hybrids, sometimes known as Lenten roses, with flowers in white, pink, green or purple. Buy them now, while they’re in bloom. They will last for years and some will self-seed too. HOW TO GROW There are different varieties for almost every situation in the garden. The Oriental hybrids are easy to grow, fully hardy and do best in dappled shade in well-drained, rich soil, making wonderful ground cover under deciduous trees. Other varieties, such as H. argutifolius, suit sunnier spots. H. x nigercors is happy in most conditions, including dry shade. You can also grow hellebores in pots — in particular H. x sternii and H. x ericsmithii.
VARIETIES TO TRY
BEST FOR
Helleborus Walberton’s Rosemary
FEATURE LEIGH CLAPP PHOTOGRAPHS CLIVE NICHOLS/JACKY HOBBS, GAP PHOTOS/FRIEDRICH STRAUSS, LEIGH CLAPP
This semi evergreen plant is very free flowering and produces a profusion of blooms from January to April.
Sunny spots in the garden rather than full shade. Don’t expect it to self-seed, as this is a sterile cultivar.
Helleborus niger ‘HGC Josef Lemper’ Remarkably robust on well drained soil, this pretty hellebore has a long flowering period starting in early winter.
Brightening up a shady area with its white flowers that mature to green. Great with ferns and epimediums.
Helleborus argutifolius Also known as the holly leaved hellebore, this evergreen has spiny edged leaves and clusters of pale green flowers.
SEE MORE ONLINE
Flower borders and beds in partial shade, or planted under roses. Doesn’t like exposure to cold winds.
Beautiful hellebores are a good choice for cheering up a winter garden
Weekend project
WITH MATT COLLINS
February is a great time to plant up lily bulbs for the summer and pick up any end-of-stock reductions. By now the bulbs will have begun to form roots at the base, which enables them to put on a growth spurt as soon as they’re potted up. Plant three to five per container – use terracotta pots for display and plastic if they’ll be plunged into a border to fill mid-summer gaps. Lilies need free-draining soil, so use a light compost, such as John Innes No3, and add horticultural grit to the base. Taller varieties may need some support. I use short, branching hazel stems to make a protective framework. Favourites of London’s Garden Museum include richly scented Lilium formosanum and the more delicate Lilium martagon. Matt Collins is head gardener Place lilies in at London’s Garden Museum a sunny yet (gardenmuseum.org.uk). Find sheltered spot his blog at orangetip.co.uk
FIND MORE GARDEN IDEAS AT housetohome.co.uk/garden
FEBRUARY 2016 | 161
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Meet Amy, our expert blogger: she’ll keep you one step ahead in the ever-changing world of tech FIND MORE IDEAS AND ADVICE AT girlabouttech.com TREND ALERT!
‘TECH-XERCISE’ Did you know that if you use technology when you’re working out, you’re more likely to exercise regularly?
FIND A TRY ONE OF THESE GADGETS TO HELP YOU EXERCISE AND RELAX MORE
WHY WE LOVE THEM… As just 19% of UK adults get the NHS-recommended amount of exercise each week*, we could all use a boost from a gadget or two. A recent study revealed that 56% of UK adults think technology inspires them to exercise*, whether it’s a smartphone loaded with motivational music, a progress-monitoring fitness tracker, or even just a laptop. ‘You could try streaming a free workout online,’ says personal trainer Lonan O’Herlihy. ‘From yoga to weight
training, there’s a class for everyone.’ But what if you want something more bespoke? ‘I even conduct PT sessions with clients over Skype,’ he adds. Uh oh – my list of excuses for not working out is getting shorter by the second! PRODUCTS WE LOVE… Top marks go to the Sport Pulse wireless headphones from Jabra, which monitor your heart rate via your ears. Pop your weightloss goals into the free companion app and the headphones will tell you when you’re running at the optimum pace.
Nice moves
Yoga Tab 3 Pro, Lenovo This tablet is as flexible as you are, so you can get the angle just right for streaming a class at home, or there’s a built-in projector if you want to see those lunges on the big screen
GIRL ABOUT TECH’S MANIFESTO I believe that tech should... ● Make your life easier ● Be super-simple to use ● Stand the test of time ● Look good and work brilliantly
£50.95
£399
Pep talk
£200
Sport Pulse Bluetooth in-ear headphones, Jabra As well as monitoring your heart rate, an optional voiceover can talk you through a gym routine or motivate you during a run
Thirsty work
HidrateSpark smart water bottle, Hidrate Tracking how much you drink, this cool connected bottle then glows to remind you when you need to take on more water. It goes in the dishwasher, too
Running pal
£39.99
UP Move, Jawbone A great first tracker with a six-month battery life, it tracks steps, exercise and sleep, and lets you compete with UP-wearing friends through the app’s Duel feature
FACT! Turning gadgets off rather than leaving them on standby can save a household £80 a year housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 163
GIRL ABOUT TECH News
Stylish Serif TV from Samsung Think all TVs are ugly? This set might convince you otherwise… It’s not a boring black box Serif was designed by French brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, who wanted to ‘craft an object that fused technology with our knowledge in furniture design’ and ‘break away from the usual themes of masculine, cutting-edge technology and extra-large size’. Therefore, it comes in three modest sizes of 24in, 32in and 40in and in three colours – red, white and dark blue. You don’t need a stand… but it’s an option. Each TV is wider at the base and top, so that you can sit it on a shelf or stand it on the floor without needing a supportive base – although the two largest sizes come with a set of legs, too. Standby mode has been reinvented The brothers Bouroullec have paid just as much attention to how the TV looks when it’s not being watched, and come up with ‘curtain mode’. In this halfway house between standby and on, you can view a clock, set up a slideshow of photos and access certain apps. The setting will even let you use the TV as a Bluetooth speaker. The price is a pleasant surprise The word ‘designer’ usually conjures up
1
price tags in the thousands, but the 24in set costs a not-too-scary £499, rising to £699 for the 32in and £1,199 for the 40in model. Sure, these sets don’t boast the very latest Ultra High Definition pictures, but I think they’re reasonably priced for Full HD screens with access to Smart TV apps, such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix.
2
Object of desire
3
4
Because it’s beautiful Change isn’t always a good thing (anyone remember McFly s cover of Don t Stop Me Now?), so my eyebrows raised when I heard Libratone was redesigning its excellent Zipp speaker. I needn’t have worried though, as it’s the best reinvention since Victoria Beckham £219 ditched the Spice Girls for fashion. New Zipp has gone multiroom in a big way – you can control up to 16 speakers from one app over Wi-Fi, and within that create groups of up to six speakers. Then it’s up to you whether to have all the speakers Zipp speaker, playing the same thing, Libratone or send different songs to different groups.
Relax Chill out with these gadgets
£75
Soothing speaker Amora scent hub and Bluetooth speaker, Ashleigh & Burwood Add water and aromatherapy oil, and Harmonia will relax you with its mix of misted scent, mood lighting and chill-out tunes
Mood tracker
Mind and body tracker, Spire
Serif TV, from £499, Samsung
The Zipp has a battery life of up to 10 hours, and seven covers to choose from
Clip the Spire to you and when it senses stress, it’ll tell you to breathe or meditate. It works with most iOS devices
£88
£89.99
Calming clock
DreamScience brainwave-oriented sleep companion, Oregon Scientific No normal bedside clock, it uses relaxing lighting and soundtracks to lull you into a deep, fulfilling sleep
£64.99
Foot massager
Deluxe Shiatsu heated foot massager, HoMedics Forget faffy footbaths, this rubs tootsies with optional heat, without having to towel off afterwards
FACT! 85% of mums admit to using tech to ‘babysit’ their kids while they get on with other tasks 164 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
FEATURE AMY CUTMORE ILLUSTRATION MONIKA ROE FACT SOURCES AO.COM, ENERGY SAVING TRUST, *ACCORDING TO A SURVEY BY LENOVO
FEATURES WE LOVE
The hi-tech way to…
Girl About Tech explains…
The technology of wellbeing FIND A
Want to get healthy in 2016? As well as the obvious gym membership and spiraliser, you need this clever tech
WHAT IS IT? The New Year is a time of resolutions and vows to live better. But diets and extreme exercise aren’t the only routes to a healthier you. Using the right tech, there are small, smart changes you can make that will turn into healthy habits you’ll be unlikely to break.
TRY THESE HI-TECH ROUTES TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE
1
SLEEP BETTER
Download the free Sleepbot app to monitor how long and how well you’re sleeping – and get advice on how to sleep better. Samsung’s SleepSense does a similar thing, plus in the future it’ll be able to link to other smart gadgets, and automatically turn off the TV, close the blinds and lower the room temperature as soon as it senses you’re asleep, so you won’t be disturbed. You could also wear a fitness tracker, which will rouse you at the lightest point in your sleep cycle, so you wake refreshed, not exhausted.
WHY SHOULD I DO IT? Let’s
166 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
2
BREATHE EASIER
Drying washing indoors (which can give off nasty gases), plus dust and mould mean the air inside our homes can be up to 50 times more polluted than the air outside*. But monitors like BlueAir’s (see box, right) check air quality and say if you need to improve ventilation.
FEATURE AMY CUTMORE ILLUSTRATIONS MONIKA ROE *ACCORDING TO MYHEALTHMYHOME.COM
start with sleep, as not getting enough won’t just leave you grumpy and baggy-eyed – it can lead to health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. Get yourself a sleep tracker – in app or wearable form – and you’ll be better placed to know you’re getting the seven to eight hours most adults need, and identify any triggers that could be leading to a poor night’s rest. Before you nod off, you could also indulge in a few minutes of brain training through one of the increasing number of apps available. A recent study in Finland has even shown that doing so regularly, coupled with a good diet and exercise, could potentially stave off Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Work at a desk? A sedentary lifestyle can do all sorts of damage, but gadgets that get you moving and improve your posture can save you from obesity, back problems and RSI down the road. Feeling better could even be down to the air you breathe. Sensors that monitor your home’s air quality, temperature and humidity enable you to improve your wellbeing and even keep flu and viruses away. With all that in mind, I’ve picked some of my favourite gadgets that will help you towards a healthier 2016.
Wellbeing technology GIRL ABOUT TECH
3
STAND UP MORE OFTEN
Try these... WELLBEING GADGETS
Research by Loughborough University and the University of Leicester shows that sitting for long periods is damaging to your health, regardless of how much exercise you get, while, according to Dr John Buckley from the University of Chester, ‘standing up for three or four hours in your day at work would be equivalent to running about 10 marathons per year’. Therefore, using a standing desk, such as a Varidesk, from £325, can do wonders for your fitness. Varidesk raises and lowers your computer screen and keyboard, so you can switch between sitting and standing in just three seconds, without disturbing colleagues. If standing to work is a step too far, try a fitness band like Garmin’s Vivofit 2 (see box, right), which will make a noise if you’ve been sitting for more than an hour and encourage you to take a jog around the (office) block.
4
£TBA
Bed buddy SleepSense, Samsung GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘It sits under the mattress and analyses your shuteye, giving tips on how to improve it. In the future, it’ll also be able to switch off your Samsung TV when you drop off’
PUT A STOP TO SLOUCHING
£79.99
If it’s impractical to stand at work, at the very least make sure you’re sitting comfortably. Wear a Lumo Lift – a small device you can clip to a top or bra strap, next to your collarbone – and you’ll be alerted by a vibration as soon as you slip into a slouch.
Posture police Lift, Lumo GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘Protect yourself from a bad back with this discreet, lightweight clip and sensor. It vibrates when you slouch and tracks your path to perfect posture via an app – just charge it every five days or so’
Fitness coach
5
STAY SHARP
£89.99
You may be working out regularly, but there’s another muscle that needs exercise to keep it strong – your brain. It’s worth doing daily challenges to improve your concentration, such as crosswords, sudoku or learning a language. You could also download a brain-training app. My favourites are Lumosity and Elevate (both free for iOS and Android). Elevate asks you to choose goals you’d like to achieve, such as ‘Retain more of what you read and hear’, then gives you weekly sessions of puzzles that suit.
Fresh air Aware air monitor, BlueAir GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘Detects allergy triggers, such as humidity, temperature changes and dust, and sends readings and tips to your phone on how to keep your home healthy’
Vivofit 2 activity tracker, Garmin GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘After an hour of inactivity, this guilts you into moving with bleeps and a red bar, which grows until you exercise’
£149
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 167
Pe r fe c t B e dt i m e s
Winter
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Appliances GIRL ABOUT TECH
You’ll love this... One-pot wonder
OR TRY ONE OF THESE... Countertop cookers
Whether your hankering is for slowcooked pulled pork or quickcook risotto, this versatile appliance can deliver the perfect potful
FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
£50
Space saver Sear & Stew compact slow cooker, Morphy Richards GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘The base and cord fit into the pot for easy storage, and the pot and lid are dishwasher safe’
FIND A £170 MAKE COOKING HEALTHY FOOD FROM SCRATCH EASIER AND QUICKER
FEATURE AMY CUTMORE ILLUSTRATION MONIKA ROE
Pressure cookers used to be a kitchen staple, until tales of Die Hard-style explosions and Mr Microwave’s arrival saw many relegated to the loft or the bin. But could
The Fast Slow Pro, £200, Sage by Heston Blumethal
this electronic version trigger a revival? It fully automates the process, so there’s no danger of steamy blasts, and it’s turned out the best pulled pork I’ve ever made! It’s capable of much more, too, including sautéing, slow cooking and making porridge, plus it can create the perfect clear stock. Presets make it impossible to mess up a casserole, and it keeps food warm for two hours after it has finished cooking. GIRL ABOUT TECH, TECHNOLOGY EDITOR AND BLOGGER
Fast food Instant Pot Duo, Amazon.co.uk GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘Uses up to 70% less energy than cooking on a hob and saves time – it can sauté curry ingredients, then cook them in 10 minutes’
£700
Prep to plate Cuisine Companion, Tefal GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘Doing the job of 10 gadgets, this can chop, crush, emulsify, whip, melt, beat or knead; then steam, slow cook or prove ingredients’
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 169
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IDEAL HOME TRAVEL IDEAL HOME TRAVEL
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See for yourself the ancient sites, breathtaking coastline and hill top villages of this beautiful island at the toe of Italy. SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES ● Return flights, taxes and transfers
Seven nights in a four-star hotel with half board ● Comprehensive sightseeing, including Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, baroque Palermo, hill top Taormina, Mount Etna Europe’s largest active volcano Monreale’s medieval cathedral and cloisters, and Siracusa city of Archimedes ● Escorted by a tour manager ●
4 DAYS FROM
There can be few places left in Europe where you can switch off from the pressures of modern day living as you can in medieval Bruges. SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM MARCH TO NOVEMBER 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES ● Eurostar and return rail from most mainline stations*, taxes and
Discover Vietnam, as well as the beautiful city of Phnom Penh and the ancient ruins at Angkor. SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM MARCH TO NOVEMBER 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES ● Return flights, taxes and transfers ● Four- and five-star hotels with breakfast and five meals
Fully escorted sightseeing including Phnom Penh, Hanoi by cycle rickshaw and the city and temples of Angkor in Cambodia ● A cruise of Halong Bay and a visit to the Forbidden City in Hue ● A stay in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, visiting the Cu Chi tunnels ● Enjoy a full day cruising the mighty Mekong River delta ● Escorted by a tour manager ●
16 DAYS FROM ONLY £1,999PP OR 18 DAYS FROM £3,499PP**
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return coach transfer to your hotel Three nights at a choice of three- or four-star hotels in the heart of Bruges’ historic centre ● Guided walking tour of the perfectly preserved medieval quarter of Bruges ● Visits to a traditional chocolatier, the historic city of Ypres and the remains of the First World War frontline ● Escorted by an experienced tour manager ●
SOUTH AFRICA
Make this the year that you pay a visit to vibrant South Africa, with trips to the spectacular Kruger National Park and Rorke’s Drift, plus a tour of the Garden Route. SELECTED DEPARTURES UP TO NOVEMBER 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES ● Flights to Johannesburg
and from Cape Town, as well as taxes and transfers ● Stays in three- and four-star hotels with breakfast, plus two lunches and three dinners ● Sightseeing including Kruger National Park, Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, the Garden Route, Swaziland and whale watching in Hermanus (depending on the season) ● Escorted by a tour manager
TO REQUEST A BROCHURE, please call 01283 744319 TO BOOK ONLINE or watch videos from a selection of our tours, visit ideriviera.co.uk *Supplements applicable for certain regional stations. **On selected dates experience one of the world’s most luxurious train journeys on Rovos Rail’s three day trip from Cape Town to Pretoria. Additional entrance costs may apply. All prices are per person, based on two sharing, and are subject to finite availability. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. Offer operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430, a company wholly independent of Ideal Home, published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd.
Technology GIRL ABOUT TECH
You’ll love this... Big-screen smartphone
OR TRY ONE OF THESE... Huge handsets
FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY
Apple returns to form in a big way with its new iPhone 6S Plus. Oh, and who could resist that chic rose-gold finish?
£125
Budget blower Smart Ultra 6, Vodafone GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘Its dull design aside, this fab 5.5in phone has a dazzling display and the stamina for a full day’s browsing, texting and selfie taking’
£479
FEATURE AMY CUTMORE ILLUSTRATION MONIKA ROE *VISIT ONEPLUS.NET/UK/INVITES TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET ONE
Edgy looks
The latest Apple launch reminds me of the first time I met my best mate’s brother – I initially pretended I wasn’t excited, but quickly became a hysterical mess. Yep, this is one serious gadget crush, not least because of the new 3D Touch navigation – tap an icon lightly, say, the clock, and the app opens as usual, but press harder and a menu pops up, so you can go straight to, say, setting an alarm. Add to that a faster processor, so everything happens quicker, a great camera and improved battery life (with saver mode), and you’ve got a near-perfect package. iPhone 6S Plus, from £619, Apple
Galaxy 6 Edge+, Samsung GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘Phwoar! Everything looks good on the 5.7in wraparound screen, and the battery – which can be charged wirelessly – goes from flat to full in just two hours’
£239
Invite only OnePlus 2, One Plus GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘You’ll need an invite* to buy this 5.5in phone, but it’s worth a try for the fingerprint scanner, build quality worthy of handsets twice the price and a great camera’
GIRL ABOUT TECH, TECHNOLOGY EDITOR AND BLOGGER
housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 171
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GRAND TOUR OF CHINA
China has fascinated our Western minds in the most compelling way. Its immense size, almost unimaginable wealth and otherworldly culture have woven an intoxicating spell.
17 DAYS INCL YANGTZE CRUISE FROM ONLY
£2,899PP
8 DAYS HALF BOARD FROM ONLY
£599 PP
LAKE GARDA, VENICE & VERONA This tour includes some of the finest sights northern Italy has to offer.
SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCT 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES ● Return flights from Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester or Dublin, taxes and transfers ● Seven nights in hand picked lake-front hotels with half board ● Comprehensive sightseeing in Garda’s charming lakeside villages, as well as the fascinating, historic art cities of Verona and Venice ● Tour of the Dolomites, with some of the world’s finest mountain scenery ● Experienced tour manager throughout
8 DAYS HALF BOARD FROM ONLY
£829 PP
LAKE COMO, ST MORITZ & THE BERNINA EXPRESS Take in stunning Lake Como, experience a scenic train journey through the Alps on the Bernina Express.
SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES ● Return flights from Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Manchester, Edinburgh or Dublin, as well as taxes and transfers ● Seven nights in hand picked four-star hotels with half board ● Comprehensive sightseeing including St Moritz in the heart of the Swiss Alps and travel on the Bernina Express ● A lake cruise to Bellagio and a private visit to Villa del Balbianello and its beautiful gardens ● Escorted by an experienced tour manager
SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM MARCH TO NOVEMBER 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES ● Return flights, taxes and transfers ● Stay in hand picked four-star hotels with breakfast and 13 meals ● Five-star Yangtze Three Gorges and Dam river cruise with full board ● Sightseeing tours to a range of attractions including the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace in Beijing, the Great Wall and Shanghai ● Escorted by an experienced tour manager
8 DAYS HALF BOARD FROM
£879 PP
LAKE MAGGIORE, ORTA & THE MATTERHORN Discover the Italian lakes and Swiss mountains on this fully escorted tour.
SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCT 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES ● Return flights from Stansted, Luton, Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh or Dublin, as well as taxes and transfers ● Seven nights in a four-star hotel with half board ● Visits to Isola Bella, Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, Lake Como and pretty Orta San Giulio on the banks of Lake Orta ● A ride on the Centovalli railway and a cruise on Lake Maggiore ● Experienced tour manager throughout
TO REQUEST A BROCHURE, please call 01283 744319 TO BOOK ONLINE or watch videos from a selection of our tours, visit ideriviera.co.uk Supplements applicable for certain regional stations. Additional entrance costs may apply. Prices are per person, based on two sharing, and are subject to finite availability. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. Offer operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430, a company wholly independent of Ideal Home, published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd.
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P
art of Ideal Standard’s showroom collection, the Tonic II range is a perfect example of the company’s commitment to design, beauty and function. The soft lines and chic palette of the pieces in the range are ideal for creating a serene scheme. With a focus on versatility, the Tonic II range has been designed to offer a host of space-saving solutions. The Tonic II basin unit includes a siphon that contours away from the middle of the basin, providing up to 20% more storage in the internal drawer below. Ideal Standard is offering Ideal Home readers the chance to win a bathroom suite, worth up to £7,000, from the Tonic II range. To find out more about Ideal Standard’s products, visit ideal-standard.co.uk.
followed by a space and your answer to the question on the coupon (below), then your name, house number and postcode to 85088. Texts cost £1 per text, plus your usual network rate. When you enter by text, you may receive SMS marketing messages from Time Inc. (UK) Ltd and Ideal Home in the future. If you don’t want to, please end your text with NO INFO.
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ONLINE Enter online at housetohome.co.uk/ competitions.
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FOR FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS, TURN TO THE STOCKISTS DIRECTORY Ideal Home, published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, will collect your personal information to process your entry. Would you like to receive emails from Ideal Home and Time Inc. (UK) Ltd containing news, special offers and product and service information and take part in our magazine research via email? If yes, please tick here Ideal Home and Time Inc. (UK) Ltd would like to contact you by post or telephone to promote and ask your opinion on our magazines and services. Tick here if you would prefer not to hear from us Time Inc. (UK) Ltd may occasionally pass your details to carefully selected organisations, so they can contact you by telephone or post with regards to promoting and researching their products and services. Please tick here if you prefer not to be contacted Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU (Registration no 3731200 England)
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FEBRUARY 2016 | 173
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8 DAYS FROM £1,099PP OR 14 DAYS FROM £1,699PP
8 DAYS FROM
£1,049 PP
RIVER CRUISE
Few of the vessels cruising Europe’s waterways can match our five star vessels on the Rhine, Danube, Moselle, Main, Rhône, or Seine rivers. SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO NOVEMBER 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES ● Return rail* and Eurostar,
or flights, taxes and transfers ● Five-star cabins with hotel standard beds, private bathrooms and river views ● Exceptional cuisine with full board throughout, from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day ● Extensive and fully inclusive touring programme
NORWAY
Experience for yourself the call of the wild on this fully escorted tour. SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES ● Return flights from Gatwick, Heathrow or Manchester, taxes and transfers ● Seven nights in a four-star hotel with breakfast and three dinners
Sightseeing tour of Oslo and walking tour of Bergen ● Visits to the Viking and Kon Tiki museums, the country’s largest stave church, and the wild Telemark region with its museum at Rjukan marking Norway’s wartime past ● A ride on the Oslo Bergen rail line and the world’s steepest railway to Flåm, and a cruise on Norway’s most spectacular fjords ● Experienced tour manager ●
8 DAYS HALF BOARD FROM ONLY
£799 PP
8 DAYS HALF BOARD FROM
£829 PP
POMPEII, CAPRI & THE BAY OF NAPLES Stay in glorious Sorrento and visit the mountainous Amalfi coast and the ruins of ancient Pompeii on our escorted tour to one of the most delightful regions in Italy.
SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES ● Return flights to Naples from Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Bristol,
Birmingham, East Midlands, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle or Dublin, taxes and transfers ● Seven nights in a hand picked three- or four-star Sorrento hotel with half board ● Sightseeing trips to Sorrento, Capri, Vesuvius, Naples’ National Archaeological Museum, Pompeii, the dramatic Amalfi coast and the mountaintop village of Ravello ● Escorted by an experienced tour manager
DUBROVNIK, THE DALMATIAN COAST & MONTENEGRO Visit the pearls of the Adriatic.
SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES ● Return flights from most UK airports, taxes and transfers
Seven nights in three- and four-star hotels with half board ● Tours of the medieval and baroque treasures of Dubrovnik and of unspoilt Montenegro ● Visits to the Krka National Park, Mostar with its famous bridge, the city of Split for Emperor Diocletian’s palace and the medieval port of Trogir ● Escorted by an experienced tour manager ●
TO REQUEST A BROCHURE, please call 01283 744319 TO BOOK ONLINE or watch videos from a selection of our tours, visit ideriviera.co.uk *Supplements applicable for certain regional stations. Cruise durations may vary. Additional entrance costs may apply. Prices are per person, based on two sharing, and are subject to finite availability. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. Offer operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430, a company wholly independent of Ideal Home, published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd.
IDEAL HOME OFFERS
IDEAL HOME OFFERS
IDEAL HOME OFFERS
Vision roller blinds, from £32, Blinds2go Abbey Cornflower Roman blinds, from £19.80, Blinds2go
GET 20% OFF bespoke blinds Update your windows with made-to-measure blinds from Blinds2go
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ive your home a stunning new look this spring by investing in bespoke blinds for your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen or dining room. Blinds2go has a selection of hundreds of fabrics, so whether you’re looking for Roman, roller, blackout or energy-saving thermal blinds, you’re sure to find the perfect pattern or colourway to update windows and complete your decorating scheme. Many of the fabrics and styles at Blinds2go are exclusive, so you won’t find them anywhere else. Established more than 15 years ago, Blinds2go is now the UK’s best-selling online blinds company. It has dressed more
than 4 million windows to date and has five-star reviews on both Trust Pilot and The Review Centre. The company also offers a three-year guarantee on all its blinds, as well as a speedy free sample service. Blinds2go has teamed up with Ideal Home to offer readers an exclusive 20% off the entire Blinds2go range – just the incentive you need to get started on your next home project. To claim your discount, simply visit blinds-2go.co.uk/readeroffer and enter the discount code IDEAL16 to browse the range and obtain 20% off your order. To place your order by phone, call 0800 862 0464 and quote IDEAL16.
ENTER GREAT COMPETITIONS AT housetohome.co.uk/competitions
HOW TO GET YOUR 20% DISCOUNT Visit blinds-2go.co.uk/readeroffer and enter IDEAL16 in the discount code box, or call 0800 862 0464 and quote IDEAL16. Offer ends 31 January 2016. TERMS AND CONDITIONS Offer valid until 31 January 2016. Applies to full price items only. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. There is no cash alternative.
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FEBRUARY 2016 | 175
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Contrast primrose pillowcases with denim blue sheets for a cosy feel
GET 20% OFF AT SECRET LINEN STORE
Create a timeless scheme with striped bed linen in dove grey
ENJOY 20% OFF sumptuous bed linen Cosy up this winter with beautiful cotton and linen bedding from Secret Linen Store
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ith comfort at the centre of everything it does, Secret Linen Store has developed a beautiful range of cotton duvet covers, pillowcases and sheets to help make your bed a cosy, relaxing retreat. Because having comfortable bed linen is vital for a good night’s sleep, all of the bedding at Secret Linen Store is designed to feel as good as it looks. The company’s founders, sisters Molly and Harriet, work hard to create exclusive bed linen, cushions and throws for much less than you would expect to pay on the high street. The range is
designed in-house, and features plains and patterns, including stripes and ditsy prints, in a wide selection of colours that can be mixed and matched with ease. What’s more, you can enjoy a free sample service, so that you can see and feel the fabrics to ensure you find the one that’s right for you. Secret Linen Store has teamed up with Ideal Home to offer readers a fantastic 20% off the whole range of bed linen and accessories. To receive your discount, browse the collection at secretlinenstore.com, then order online or by calling 01243 606245 (see box, right, for promotional code).
ENTER GREAT COMPETITIONS AT housetohome.co.uk/competitions
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR 20% OFF To redeem your discount, visit secretlinenstore.com and enter GOLDILOCKS in the discount code box, or call 01243 606245 and quote GOLDILOCKS. Offer ends 31 January 2016. TERMS AND CONDITIONS This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. The discount does not apply to clearance items or delivery charges. The discount code is valid until 31 January 2016. Subject to availability. There is no cash alternative.
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FEBRUARY 2016 | 177
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com Clarissa Hulse 020 7226 7055; clarissahulse.com Clippings.com 020 7060 7422; clippings.com Conran Shop (The) 0844 848 4000; conranshop.co.uk Cotswold Company (The) 0333 200 1725; cotswoldco.com Country Hardwood 01296 714314; countryhardwood.com Cox & Cox 0844 858 0744; coxand cox.co.uk CP Hart 0845 873 1121; cphart.co.uk CR Laurence 01706 863600; crlaurence.co.uk Crosswater 0845 873 8840; crosswater. co.uk Crown Imperial 01227 742424; crown-imperial.co.uk Crown Paints 0870 240 1127; crownpaint.co.uk Crucial Trading 01562 743747; crucial-trading.com Curtain Call 020 8332 6250; curtain-call.co.uk Danbury Fires 020 8715 7706; danburyfires.com Dassie 01290 211147; dassie. co.uk Designerpaint 01323 430886; designerpaint.com Designmyworld.net 0844 357 4508; designmyworld.net DFS 0808 159 5604; dfs.co.uk Dibor 0871 472 2322; dibor. co.uk Dinesen 020 3630 0196; dinesen.com Dulux 0333 222 7171; dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 165 6565; dunelm-mill.com Dwell 0845 675 9090; dwell.co.uk Eadonstone 01223 811111; eadonstone. co.uk Emma Stoddart 07790 002729; emmastoddart.co.uk Esse 01282 813235; esse.com Ethical Superstore 0800 999 2134; ethicalsuperstore.com Etsy etsy.com Eurotiles & Bathrooms 020 8744 0088; eurotilesandbathrooms.com Exit Interiors 01423 858111; exitinteriors.co.uk Fabrics & Papers 01273 495500; fabrics andpapers.com Farrow & Ball 01202 876141; farrow-ball. com Feather & Black 01243 380600; featherandblack.com Fired Earth 0113 243 0748; firedearth.com Fountain Direct 01663 746086; fountain direct.co.uk Franke 0161 436 6280; franke.co.uk Free Range Designs 01650 570305; free rangedesigns.co.uk French Bedroom Company (The) 01444 415430; frenchbedroom
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company.co.uk French Connection 0333 400 3285; frenchconnection.com Furnish.co.uk 0345 544 4044; furnish.co.uk Garden Trading 0845 608 4448; garden trading.co.uk Garmin 0808 238 0000; garmin.com George 0800 952 3003; george.com Graham & Brown 0800 328 8452; grahambrown.com Graham and Green 020 8987 3700; grahamandgreen.co.uk Grohe 0871 200 3414; grohe. co.uk Habitat 0344 499 4686; habitat.co.uk H&M 0344 736 9000; hm.com Harlequin 0845 123 6815; harlequin.uk. com Harlequin Woodcraft 01223 420885 Harrogate Interiors 01423 701701; harrogateinteriors.co.uk Harvey Jones Kitchens 0800 389 6938; harveyjones.com Heal’s 020 7896 7451; heals. com Healthy House (The) 0845 450 5950; healthyhouse.co.uk Hema 0845 606 0903; hemashop.com Hidrate hidratespark.com Hilltop Honey 01686 689027; hilltop-honey.com Holding Company (The) 020 8445 2888; theholdingcompany.co.uk Holloways of Ludlow 020 7602 5757; hollowaysofludlow. com Homebase 0345 077 8888; homebase.co.uk Home Candy 0800 298 4150; homecandy.com HoMedics 01732 378557; homedics.co.uk House of Bath 0871 230 0867; houseofbath.co.uk House of Fraser 0345 602 1073; houseoffraser.co.uk House of Hackney 020 7739 3901; houseofhackney.com Houseology 0330 363 0330; houseology.com Hurn & Hurn 01603 559250; hurnand hurn.com Hypnos 01844 348240; hypnosbeds.com Ian Mankin 020 7722 0997; ianmankin.co.uk Ikea 020 3645 0000; ikea.com/gb Imaggio Interiors 0800 242 5440; imaggiointeriors.co.uk Imperial 01922 743074; imperial bathroom.com InSinkErator 01923 297880; insinkerator. co.uk Island Bathrooms 0330 111 6075; islandbathrooms.co.uk Italia Designs italiadesigns.
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co.uk Ivo Prints 020 8574 7943; ivo.co.uk Jabra 01784 220172; jabra.co.uk Jawbone 020 3027 2094; jawbone.com John Lewis 0345 604 9049; johnlewis.com Johnson Tiles 01782 575575; johnson-tiles.com Joseph Interior Design 01242 898645; josephinteriordesign.com Julian Chichester 020 7622 2928; julianchichester.com Katie Malik 07596 190914; katiemalik. co.uk Kelly Hoppen 020 3701 9333; kellyhoppen.com Kersaint Cobb & Company 01675 430430; kersaint cobb.co.uk Kevin Andrews Upholsterers & Interiors 01344 844556; kevin-andrews.co.uk King & McGaw 01273 511942; kingandmcgaw.com Labour and Wait 020 7729 6253; labourandwait.co.uk Lakeland 01539 488100; lakeland.co.uk Laufen 01530 510007; laufen.co.uk Laura Ashley 0333 202 1196; laura ashley.com Lenovo 0870 608 4465; lenovo.com Lexington 00 46 854 555 800; lexingtoncompany.com Liberty 020 7734 1234; liberty. co.uk Libratone libratone. com LifeScape 07963 572925; hellolifescape@gmail. com Lighting Matters 020 7351 2130; lightingmatters.co.uk Linwood 01425 461176; linwood fabric.com Little Greene 0845 880 5855; littlegreene. com Loaf 0845 468 0697; loaf.com L’Occitane 020 7907 0301; loccitane.com Lombok 020 7736 5171; lombok.co.uk London Garden Trading 07774 444090; londongardentrading.com Louisa Grace Interiors 07956 650895; louisagrace.co.uk Ludlow Stoves 01584 878552; ludlowstoves.co.uk Luma 020 8748 2264; lumadirect.com Lumo lumobodytech.com Madebyhandonline.com 07866 894201; madeby handonline.com Made.com 0344 257 1888; made.com Made in Design 020 7692 4001; madeindesign.co.uk Magnet 01325 744094; magnet.co.uk Maisons du Monde 0808 234 2172; maisonsdumonde.com
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Mandarin Stone 01600 715444; mandarinstone.com Marble City 020 8871 1191; marble-city. co.uk Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8000; marksandspencer. com Matki 01454 322888; matki.co.uk Melin Tregwynt 01348 891644; melintregwynt. co.uk MiaFleur 0116 298 6393; miafleur.com Mitzi B 020 8977 8683; mitzib.com Modern Rugs 01388 663738; modern-rugs.co.uk Montpellier Interior Classics 01242 226968; classic bathrooms.com Moon 01943 884713; moons.co.uk Morphy Richards 0844 871 0960; morphyrichards.co.uk Mosaic Village 0845 207 6414; mosaicvillage.co.uk Multiyork 0845 303 7134; multiyork.co.uk Mylands of London 020 8670 9161; mylands.co.uk My Stone Floor 01509 416557; mystonefloor.com My Wall Stickers 01692 402423; mywallstickers.co.uk Nationwide Bathrooms 0845 095 5000; nationwide-bathrooms.co.uk Neptune 01793 427427; neptune.com Nest.co.uk 01142 433000; nest.co.uk Next 0333 777 8000; next. co.uk Nimmo & Spooner Antiques 020 7385 2724 Nkuku 01803 866847; nkuku.com Nordic House 01872 223220; nordichouse. co.uk Northpoint Kitchens 020 8940 2244; northpointdesign.co.uk Not Just Tiles 020 8783 0179; trugil.co.uk Notonthehigh street.com 0345 259 1359; notonthehighstreet.com Ocado 0845 399 1122; ocado.com Ocean Lighting 01642 245066; oceanlighting.co.uk Oka 0844 815 7380; okadirect. com Oldrids & Co 0345 250 5502; oldrids.co.uk Oliver Bonas 020 8974 0110; oliverbonas.com OnePlus 020 3318 8726; oneplus.net Orchard Home and Gifts (The) 0845 643 0363; theorchard homeandgifts.com Oregon Scientific 0330 333 8708; store.oregonscientific.com/uk Original BTC 01993 882251; originalbtc.com Out There
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192 | FEBRUARY 2016 housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine
February STOCKISTS Interiors 020 8099 7443; outthereinteriors.com Overstock overstock.com Paint & Paper Library 020 7590 9860; paintlibrary.co.uk Paint by Conran paintbyconran.com Paperchase 020 7467 6200; paperchase.co.uk Pastel Lane 07949 339416; pastel lane.co.uk Perfectly Boxed perfectlyboxed.com Pooky 020 7351 3003; pooky.com Porcelanosa 0800 915 4000; porcelanosa.com Prestigious Textiles 01274 688448; prestigious.co.uk Pride & Joy Paints 01608 688928; prideand joy.me PropertECO 01225 787929; radonshop.co.uk QS Supplies 0116 251 0051; qssupplies.co.uk Quick-Step 00 32 5667 5211; quick-step.co.uk Quooker 020 7923 3355; quooker.com Radiator World 01405 800180; radiatorworld.co.uk Renovation Academy renovationacademy.co.uk Ridgeons 01223 466000; ridgeons.co.uk Rigby & Mac 020 8761 1011; rigbyandmac. com Robert Dyas 0845 873 5667; robertdyas.co.uk Rockett St George 01444 253391; rockettstgeorge.co.uk Romo 01623 756699; romo. com Rose & Grey 0161 926 8763; roseandgrey.co.uk Roundhouse 020 7297 6220; roundhousedesign.com Rowen & Wren 01932 847538; rowenandwren.co.uk Royal Doulton 01782 404040; royaldoulton.co.uk Royce Morgan 0845 116 1616; roycemorgan.co.uk SACW Paving 020 8993 5545; sacw
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paving.co.uk Sage by Heston Blumenthal 0844 334 5110; sageappliances.co.uk Sainsbury’s 0800 636262; sainsburys.co.uk Samsung 0330 726 7864; samsung.com/ uk Sanderson 0844 543 9500; sanderson-uk.com Selections.com 01258 837970; selections.com Shabby Store 01509 323102; shabby store.co.uk Shane Meredith Antiques 020 7381 5277; lillieroad.co.uk/shops/shanemeredith-antiques Sinks-taps. com 0845 257 0656; sinkstaps.com Skandium 020 7935 2077; skandium.com Sofa.com 0345 400 2222; sofa.com Sofas & Stuff 0808 178 3211; sofasandstuff.com Sophie Conran 0843 227 1460; sophieconran.com Spire 00 18 005 012 256; spire.io Stone & Ceramic Warehouse 020 8993 5545; sacw.co.uk Stovax 01392 474000; stovax. com Stripes Company (The) 01244 336387; thestripes company.com Studio G 01706 242010; studiog.uk.com Susie Watson Designs 0844 980 8185; susiewatsondesigns. co.uk Sweetpea & Willow 0345 257 2627; sweetpeaand willow.com Swoon Editions 020 3137 2464; swooneditions. com Tefal 0345 148 9101; homeandcook.co.uk Tektura Wallcoverings 020 7536 3300; tektura.com Tesco 0800 323 4040; tesco.com TK Maxx 01923 473561; tkmaxx.com Toast 0333 400 5200; toa.st Tom Faulkner 020 7713 5767; tomfaulkner.co.uk Topps Tiles 0800 023 4703; toppstiles.co.uk Tuiss 0800 862 0466; tuiss.co.uk
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UKBathrooms 01765 694720; ukbathrooms.com UK Flooring Direct 0844 234 0080; ukflooringdirect.co.uk UK Sleepers 01536 267107; uksleepers.co.uk Upholstery Techniques 01242 621414; upholstery-techniques.com Urbanara 0800 779 7527; urbanara.co.uk Urban Cottage Industries 020 7193 2119; urbancottageindustries. com Valspar valsparpaint. co.uk Vanessa Arbuthnott 01285 831437; vanessaarbuth nott.co.uk Varidesk 020 7193 1197; uk.varidesk.com Very 0844 822 2321; very.co.uk Victoriaplum.com 0344 804 4848; victoriaplum.com Villeroy & Boch 020 8871 4028; villeroy-boch.co.uk Vodafone 0870 070 0191; vodafone.co.uk Voyage Decoration 0141 641 1700; voyagedecoration.com Wallpaperdirect 01323 430886; wallpaper direct.com Walls and Floors 01536 314730; wallsandfloors. co.uk Watco 01483 418418; watco.co.uk Wayfair 0800 169 0423; wayfair.co.uk West Elm 0800 404 9780; westelm.co.uk White Company (The) 020 3758 9222; thewhitecompany.com White Stuff 020 3752 5360; whitestuff.com Wilko 0800 032 9329; wilko. com Worktop City 0800 033 7867; worktopcity.com Yarrow Art & Design 07860 580424; yaad. co.uk Zara Home 0800 026 0091; zarahome.com/gb Zip Heaters 0845 600 5005; zipheaters.co.uk Zoffany 0844 543 4600; zoffany.com
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HOUSETOHOME NETWORK NETWORK DIRECTOR Isobel McKenzie-Price 020 3148 7357 WEB AND DEVELOPMENT EDITOR Stephanie Hendries 020 3148 7885 CONTENT EDITOR Julie Butterworth 020 3148 7888 SEO/EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Caroline Keenan 020 3148 7889 DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Nikki Binks 020 3148 6237
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MARKETING HEAD OF MARKETING Yasmin Christofi 020 3148 7683 ACTING HEAD OF MARKETING Amélie Srikumar 020 3148 7683
OFFERS
DETAILS ON PAGE 11 DECORATION AND FURNITURE Whitehall wallpaper in Cassis, £66.50 per roll, Little Greene. Bell Twist Wisteria B200 carpet, £50 per sq m, Brintons. Harrow rug, from £95, Habitat. Footstool, from £555, The Dormy House; covered in Moorland Kincraig in Heather, £41.95 per m, Moon. Verona sofa in Elgar Amethyst, from £2,199, Multiyork. Lundy Stone Grey sideboard, £449, The Cotswold Company. Lamp table, £185, French Connection. Flat Victorian fireplace, from £366, Amazing Grates; painted in English Toffee acrylic eggshell, £29 for 1ltr, Zoffany. Brick panel insert, £474; Amhurst fire basket, £450; both Chesney’s. Fireside four-piece set, £120, Cox & Cox. ON WALL Framed Hare prints, £45 each, Cox & Cox. Shelf unit, £69, Rose & Grey. ON FOOTSTOOL Cable-knit throw, £120; tray, £130; both Nordic House. Heather teapot, £61.25; Heather mugs, £11.75 each; tea plates, £10 each; soup bowls, £12.25 each; Shale spoons, £100 for a 24-piece cutlery set; all Denby. Small glazed vessel in Parian, £40, Jill Shaddock range, Madebyhandonline.com. ON/NEAR SOFA Cushions made in (from left): Moorland Boath, £41.95 per m, Moon; Larksong, from £36 per m; Byron Wool Plains in Blossom (front) and Verdigris (back); both from £59 per m; all Sanderson. Caledon basket, £40, Habitat. ON/ABOVE MANTELPIECE Bell jar with scroll, £12, George. Cloche bell jar, £35, John Lewis. Muddy green crackle-glazed bottle, from £12.50; bottle vase, £35; bulb-shaped bottle vase, £10; all Pastel Lane. Magnetic feathers, £25.50 for five, Rose & Grey. Flotsam mirror, £245, Loaf. ON SIDEBOARD Stokey lamp in Mouse Grey, £115, Loaf. Heather bowl, £46.50, Denby. Bubble vase in Moss Green, £16.50, Rose & Grey. Nest bowl, £22, French Connection. IN SHELF UNIT Felt Raven pebble, £18, Rose & Grey. Seeded tealight holders, £20 each, French Connection. Natural vintage owl ornament, £8, Debenhams. Serendipity wild flower vase, £45, Kate Evans range, Madebyhandonline. com. ON SIDE TABLE Stitched porcelain bowl, £46, Cath Ball range, Madebyhandonline.com. Pleated vase, £30, Graham and Green. IN BASKET Grey diamond throw, £25.95, Graham and Green. Vintage Rose throw, £120, Nordic House. Cable-knit cushion, £30, RJR.John Rocha range, Debenhams Enjoy the special touch that candles add to your home, but take care to use them safely: Always place lit candles well away from foliage, furniture, curtains and soft furnishings, and always out of draughts ■ Keep candles out of reach of children and pets ■ Never leave a burning candle unattended ■ Keep candles away from hair and clothing ■ Always place candles upright in suitable holders that can’t easily fall over ■ Always be sure that candles are properly extinguished
EDITORIAL ACTING EDITOR Vanessa Richmond 020 3148 7335 MANAGING EDITOR Fiona Surfleet 020 3148 7358 STYLE EDITOR Michela Colling 020 3148 7355 ACTING STYLE AND DECORATING ASSISTANT Holly Catford 020 3148 7353 HOUSES EDITOR Ruth Corbett 020 3148 7330 SHOPPING EDITOR/HOUSES Lisa Fazzani 020 3148 7348 KITCHEN AND BATHROOM PROJECTS EDITOR Lucy Searle ihkitchensbathrooms@outlook.com FEATURES EDITOR Ginevra Benedetti 020 3148 7347 ACTING FEATURES EDITOR Karen Bray 020 3148 7347 COMMISSIONING EDITOR Jill Morgan jillmorg72@gmail.com TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Amy Cutmore 020 3148 7359 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Georgia Hibberdine 020 3148 7342 DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Emma Jackson 020 3148 7338 SENIOR DESIGNER Hannah Hawkins 020 3148 7343 CHIEF SUB EDITOR/PRODUCTION EDITOR Tara Elarte 020 3148 7334 DEPUTY CHIEF SUB EDITOR/PRODUCTION EDITOR Sophie Payne 020 3148 7328 SUB EDITOR Sophie Thrower 020 3148 7327
TIME INC CREATIVE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR IDEAL STANDARD COMPETITION ON PAGE 173 Ideal Standard will provide bathroom furniture and fittings to the value of £7,000 from its Tonic II collection. The prize value covers product alone and does not include installation costs. The judge’s decision is final. No cash or alternative prize will be offered in place of the prize listed. Ideal Standard reserves the right to withdraw the prize. The prize cannot be expanded to other renovation projects or for other desired fittings and modifications to the home. The prize cannot be won by Ideal Standard employees. The prize can only be provided for use in a domestic residence. Ideal Standard will advise as to the appropriate Tonic II products for the specified application. The prize is fully redeemable for one year from the date that the winner is notified of their success.
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housetohome.co.uk/idealhomemagazine FEBRUARY 2016 | 193
8
SEASONAL IDEAS February
self-help books that actua lly wor k
THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE
Stephen R Covey (£10.99, Simon & Schuster) Are you a master of procrastination? Is your to-do list off the scale? This book breaks down how to be more proactive into seven habits, from things you can do for yourself to how to work well with others and fine-tuning your mind by making constant improvements. The methods Covey describes in the book, which was first published 1989, can be applied to business as well as selfhelp. When it comes to cultivating a can-do attitude, this is a great guide.
HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE
Dale Carnegie (£8.99, Vermilion) First published in 1936, it has sold in the millions and is heralded as the most successful self-help book of all time, resulting in its writer being known as ‘the arch-priest of the art of making friends’. It’s a practical, easy-to-read guide with advice and techniques that teach you to be a better communicator in both professional and personal situations.
THINKING, FAST AND SLOW
Daniel Kahneman (£8.99, Penguin) Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Kahneman is known for his ideas about rationality in thinking and decision making. He splits the mind into two systems: System 1 is fast, intuitive and emotion-driven; System 2 is slower, more deliberative and more logical. This book explains how these two systems work together to impact on the decisions and judgments we make. Despite being a relatively new addition to the self-help
FIND A
PUT YOUR TO-DO LIST ASIDE AND ENJOY A LITTLE ME TIME
canon (it was published in 2011), more than one million copies have been sold in the UK alone.
women are wired differently, and that understanding how and why is the key to happy relationships.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE
Daniel Goleman (£9.99, Bloomsbury) How do you define intelligence? Is it all about IQ, or should we pay more attention to emotional intelligence – or EQ as it has become known? That’s what Daniel Goleman argues, suggesting that self-awareness, impulse control, persistence, motivation, empathy and social deftness are just as crucial to success, both in relationships and business, as academic ability. First published in 1995, the book includes plenty of tips and advice to help you get to grips with your own emotional intelligence.
MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS
John Gray (£8.99, Harper Thorsons) Feted as ‘the number one relationship book of all time’, it was one of the most famous non-fiction books of the Nineties, earning its place in popular culture. Whether you’re looking for the perfect partner, want to improve your current relationship or are trying to work out why a particular relationship ended, this could give you the answers you’re after. Gray argues that men and
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Louise Hay (£10.99, Hay House) This classic has been a bestseller for more than 25 years. Its basic premise is that you are ultimately responsible for your own health (physical and mental) and that by changing the way you think, you can improve the quality of your life and fight physical illnesses. All about positive thinking, it’s an inspiring, empowering book – one to read if you struggle with low self-esteem.
THE POWER OF NOW
Eckhart Tolle (£9.99, Hodder & Stoughton) A modern take on spirituality that’s great background reading to the mindfulness trend. The Power of Now (first published in 1997) stresses the importance of living in the present, rather than getting bogged down with thoughts about the past or the future, to enable you to be more ‘present’ in your everyday life. The book is very Zen-based, with a focus on meditation.
THE SECRET
Rhonda Byrne (£16.99, Simon & Schuster) This book by Australian TV writer and producer Rhonda Byrne was first published in 2006 and became a bestseller after being featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Claiming that positive thinking can result in greater happiness, health and wealth, The Secret spent 146 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Many critics don’t agree with its premise – it was even parodied in The Simpsons.
FEATURE HEATHER YOUNG PHOTOGRAPH EVERETT COLLECTION/REX SHUTTERSTOCK, RHAPSODY MEDIA
Get your head straight after the Christmas chaos by curling up with a modern classic
‘Instead, I choose vodka. And Chaka Khan’