Hajnanan

under £50 gift guide Plus all-new decorating schemes

WIn! £3,160 of prizes

Inspiring ideas amazing prices

Living

sHOPPING

£1.95

cooking

MAKING

STYLING

DEC/JAN 2019 £1.95

only

best value!

‘I love to match Christmas decs to our home‘

567

Seasonal style for every room

ways to have your best ever Christmas!

Real homes with sparkling ideas

make IT

Trendy lampshade Pallet coffee table Star decoration

plus

5 issues for £5 inside *T&Cs apply

Bonus 20-page Christmas special

expert advice...

4 Paint on fabric 4 Loft conversions

The latest ranges at prices you can afford

free mini mag!

Magical showstopper to wow your guests

come dine Set the scene with a festive table

Wear your heart on your windows.

Don’t just like your blinds.

Love them.

TO BOOK A FREE APPOINTMENT CALL 0800 587 6480 OR VISIT HILLARYS.CO.UK

Editor’s letter

Welcome to our Dec/Jan issue!

I

t’s finally acceptable to play festive tunes, add to our wish lists and embrace all things Christmas! So, stock up that cocktail trolley, and enjoy what is, in my opinion, the best time of the year. Don’t worry if you’re in need of some inspo to get you into the spirit of things, you’ve come to the right place as we have packed this issue with all things seasonal, Editor with a 20-page mini mag which starts on page 57. Inside you’ll find an under £50 gift guide, the top Christmas schemes for the year, style advice for every room, plus three fantastic decorating looks from stylist Laurie Davidson. Of course, we also have more amazing reader homes for you; and we’ve gone behind the scenes to find out how they like to decorate and spend the big day.

Our cover girl Frankie’s home is pastel perfection, and I love how she’s kept the theme going with her decs too. Read more on page 18. If you’re still searching for the ideal gift, we have 10 of the top gizmos to impress even the fussiest recipient over on page 92. They’ll make the ultimate stocking filler. Of course, food is always a big part of the day, so we also have a mouth-watering Christmas Day menu on page 118, with a rather amazing snow and ice cake finale on page 120!

Could you be our cover star?

Reckon you’ve got what it takes to be a future HomeStyle cover star? A creative home and a smile is all you need!

Email us a quick snap of yourself in your fave room to the address at the bottom of this page. We can’t wait to hear from you.

Pop over to our website for even more tips, advice and bargain shopping ideas!

PS. DON’T MISS IT The next issue of HomeStyle is out 2nd January 2019

Living 80

Shopping 9

119

Styling

Making

Cooking 41

54

Get in touch email homestyle@hbmuk.co.uk Web homestylemag.co.uk Facebook facebook.com/homestylemaguk Twitter @homestylemaguk Instagram @homestylemaguk Pinterest pinterest.com/homestylemaguk Dec/Jan 2019 3

Contents...

Living

18

Style inspo Turn to page 70 to find out how to make your home stand out with three festive looks

92 We love gadgets

We’re so glad we ended up buying here!

An affordable new homes scheme allowed Frankie to buy her first house

Our fave gizmos and latest inventions

94 Now it’s smaller we

love this room!

30 It took over a year

to find our home

Vici made a drab open-plan space cosy

First time buyers Jo and Ben have

finally got onto the property ladder

102 We love our brilliant

budget bathroom

108 My style is definitely

a little different

42 My home is now

colourful and quirky

A fresh start in a new town has inspired Nicola to be bold with her décor

78 I love making it all

cosy for Christmas

Linda’s home showcases her love of upcycling and handmade touches

Marnie and Jamie have created a stylish bathroom without breaking the bank

Jill’s bedroom is vintage yet modern

123 Easy living

Make your home life much more simple

Shopping

Our experts 6

Shop the high street

The best affordable home buys

17

Precious stones

39

Agate is the new buzz word!

26 In high places

Laurie Davidson on creating stylish spaces for Christmas page 70

Add interest to your dining table

38 Vivacious velvet

Create a glam interiors scheme

50 Crazy lights

50

Quirky lighting for all rooms

86 Beautiful beds

Invest in a statement bed

98 Eclectic space

Try a bold living room scheme

106 Modern bohemia

Gaz Oakley shares a delicious recipe from his latest book page 118

Create a fun yet sophisticated bathroom

112 Rural charm

Get that chic French bedroom look

130 Secret santa

Christmas mini mag

Top buys for under £5!

58 Ultimate gift guide

Stuck for present ideas?

We’ve got you covered

63 Christmas trends

Get on board with the top festive looks for 2018

66 Deck the halls

Top tips for styling every room in your home this season

70 Stylist’s edit

Laurie Davidson has got three standout festive looks

Contents

Styling 13

Festive dining looks

Experts give their top tips on creating magical Christmas tables

54 The wish list

The latest home buys that we can’t get enough of

55

Inky hues Discover Abigail Ahern’s new collection on page 54

Making Get the look Try this wooden star make on page 88

28 Scallop lampshade

Make this pretty bedroom light

41 Decorative display unit

Let this display unit take centre stage

53 Papercut picture

Give your walls some love

88 Vintage star

Add a festive touch

89 Upcycling news We bring you all the latest

finds from the world of craft

90 Pallet coffee table

Cooking 116 Quick-fix suppers

Short on time? You’ve come to the right place, get stuck in and make these super speedy meals

118 Festive feast

Make your day extra-special with our meal planner

120 Christmas magic

What is the big day without a delicious showstopper?

122 Food news

What’s on our plates and filling our trolleys this month? We have tried and tested many great holiday treats!

Heart-warming Learn how to make this scrummy soup on page 118

Give pallets a fresh new look

Regulars 52

Competition time Win a £200 voucher for Posterlounge!

100

Subscribe to HomeStyle today

114

What’s coming up?

A sneak peek...

124

Win exciting prizes Check out our giveaways

128

Shopping directory

Dec/Jan 2019 5

Style on a shoestring

Debenhams Simply sleek

Opt for a traditional colour scheme with a modern touch using silver and black snow scene Snowman snow globe, £25

Wonderful wood Tree candle holders, £10

£40 ALL

or under

star gazer Star tealight holder, £6

cute dec Ceramic Christmas tree decoration, £4

sparkly number White glitter Christmas tree decoration, £12

soft touch Grey fluffy stocking, £22 leafy wreath Silver wreath decoration,£18

stylish black 16-piece cutlery set, £35 ombré style White and gold candles, from £4

Shop the

high street

Here’s our pick of the best bargain buys the high street and web have to offer 6 homestylemag.co.uk

Modern Christmas Jute baskets, £26; black wire star, £20; blue and gold band vase, £18; white wool tree, £15; bark tealight holders, £10; gold glitter stars, £5, all Debenhams

Next

sassy cup Flawsome mug, £4.50

Think pink

A subtle pastel shade can make your bedroom feel ultra-glamorous

go for gold Prosecco princess cosmetic bag, £12

rosy glow Tumbler glasses, £20 for four

pretty in pink Blush velour cushion, £10

fill it Wooden advent calendar, £30

natural feel Jute storage basket, £14

How to

style the look

Decorating your living room for 1 Christmas doesn’t need to be a lengthy task. Add subtle hanging stars and woodland-style candle holders, for accessories that look so good, you won’t want to take them down.

Jewel tones are a timeless classic, especially when they are teamed with gold accents. A teal velvet sofa, black accessories and green foliage will give your room an opulent look.

2

beautiful boudoir Pink fleece pom pom bed set, from £38, Next Dec/Jan 2019 7

Style on a shoestring

Wilko

chic look Winter Wonderland range: LED silver tree ornament, from £6; silver glitter prancing stag, £4; rose gold glitter stag, £1; silver glitter tree topper, £2.50; beaded decorative glass bauble, £2; skate boots tree decoration, £2; encapsulated feather bauble, £1, all Wilko

Oh-so glam

You can’t go wrong with blush and gold, can you? go faux Copper ceramic stag head ornament, £10

Pink Fizz Glow Home fragrance gift set, £6

hang it Sequinned stocking, £4

warm glow Shiny stag head candle holder, £2 each

light it up Metal LED light up star, £12

stocking filler Glow lip balm bauble, £2

pretty pastel Ombé pink and grey glass vase, £8

8 homestylemag.co.uk

time to reflect Glow mirror, £12

How to

style the look

woodland retreat Pine printed bed set, from £29; spot cushion, £25; Star of Wonder light up cushion, £19.50; set of three hanging paper snowflakes, £12; fairisle fleece throw, from £25; faux fur cushion, £25; copper wire lights, £8, all M&S

Opt for a warm soft glow in your 1 living room with a chic pink and light gold colour scheme. Contrast

with copper and silver accessories such as baubles, candles and cushions.

A great tip around Christmastime is to match your wrapping paper to your tree decorations. Try adding baubles around your tableware.

This creates fluidity and will make your home look seamlessly stylish.

2

M&S

Christmas charm Fir Tree side plate, £5; Fir Tree cereal bowl, £5; Fir Tree mug, £5

Go green

Grey and green should always be seen in our eyes!

festive feel Brushed cotton tree print single bedding set, £39.50 soft grey Ribbed Jersey cushion, £15

display it Mini bow Christmas tree, £5

prosecco anoyone?

Festive Fizz champagne flute, £5 each

calming scent Mistletoe candle, £7.50 Dec/Jan 2019 9

Pure and Sophisticated

Introducing a new range, Hardwick A beautiful Ash skinny shaker, available in 25 painted colours Hardwick Oxford Blue with Lava

North

Bakewell 01629 812200 Blackburn 01254 693765 Bury 01204 772870 Cleckheaton 01274 862323 Doncaster 01302 364809 Eccleston 01257 806226 Fleetwood 01253 283786 Grimsby 01472 343853 Harrogate 01423 862286 Leeds 01133 910179 Lytham St Annes 01772 631316 Macclesfield 01625 464955 New Mills 01663 746851 Northallerton 01609 780289 Retford 01777 707656 Sheffield 01246 416642 Wirral 0151 632 1670 York 01904 479792

Midlands

Coleford 01594 809682

Dudley 01384455755 Duffield 01332 842534 Gloucester 01452 310451 Hampton-in-Arden 01675 442705 Henley-in-Arden 01789 488899 Hereford 01432 262820 Leicester North 01530 833960 Leicester South 01455 561200 Ludlow 01584 871960 Northampton 01604 385050 Nottingham 01159 842842 Towcester 01327 358180 Wolverhampton 01902 710545 Worcester 01905 335408

East Anglia

Attleborough 01953 482032 Cambridge 01223 466634 Halesworth 01986 835538 Ipswich 01473 742200 March 01354 662000 Norwich 01603 666161 Royston 01763 271991

Saffron Waldon 01799 583000 Stamford 01780 654321

South

Abingdon 01235 554773 Arundel 01243 696700 Basingstoke 01256 810460 Bideford 01237 423444 Bourne End 01628 528712 Bradford-On-Avon 01225 783118 Brighton East 01273 628618 Bristol 01179 246002 Chelmsford 01245 392792 Cheltenham 01242 251113 Chingford 020 3903 813 Esher 01372 467464 Fareham 01329 223406 Folkestone 01303 647022 Fulham 0207 3840511 Godalming 01483 424466 Hazlemere 01494 718585 Helston 01326 565522 Horley 01293 786116

Ingatestone 01277 350800 Ivybridge 01752 897800 London - Perivale 0208 616 2722 Lymington 01590 678767 Purbeck 01929 422345 Ringwood 01425 484731 Romsey 01794 338555 Sailsbury 01722 328777 Seaton 01297 22559 Sherborne 01935 817111 Staines upon Thames 01784 463909 Storrington 01903 741004 Taunton 01823 256369 Tring 01442 827997 Uckfield 01825 766976 Wadebridge 01208 813231 Waterlooville 02392 176380 Witney 01993 704105 Wokingham 0118 978 3393 Worthing 01903 201901

Cardiff East 02920 485888 Cardiff West 02920 593969 Dyffryn Ardudwy 01341 242015 Haverfordwest 01437 763623 Hay-on-Wye 01497 821374 Nefyn 01758 721081 Newport 01633 252187 St Asaph 01745 582786 Swansea 01792 790088

Channel Islands & Isle of Man

Guernsey 01481 710500 Isle of Man 01624 623222 Jersey 01534 865750

Wales

Abergavenny 01873 850911

Order a copy of our brochure at: masterclasskitchens.co.uk

HomeStyle-AUG.indd 1

05/10/2018 16:10:04

Promotion

festive

dining looks

Introducing three beautiful table looks which will wow your guests at Christmas and New Year. Let the celebrations begin!

p14 Shine bright with glorious gold tableware

p16 Try a cool blue Scandi scheme

p15 P15 Party on with a woodland look Dec/Jan 2019 13

Golden

hour

GET THE LOOK WITH MATALAN Lorraine Luximon, HomeStyle Editor, gives advice on creating the perfect table Millennial pink has never been more on-trend and incorporating it into your Christmas styling is easy.

Add a blush cushion to your chairs to offer guests style and comfort.

Or, why not add a decorative pink bauble or two to each place setting?

Contrast soft tones of duck egg with light pinks in luxurious materials such as velvet. Foiled surfaces add to the frosty illusion of this trend. Amp up the ice queen vibes with lashings of fake snow and sprigs of greenery for extra wow-factor.

Impress your guests this year by creating a showstopping hanging centrepiece. If you’re not a natural crafter you can achieve the same effect by getting creative with branches, pretty foliage and intertwining twinkly fairy lights. This whimsical look really is all about transporting your guests to an unforgettable and magical winter wonderland this Christmastime.

1

Style a rustic, luxe feel set-up with blush and gold

2

3

glow up Margo three light smoked glass tealights, £40

only natural Contrast natural elements with metallic tableware personal touch Make your guests a delicious hot chocolate in a personalised mug

hot plate Stag print dinnerware, from £3

lovely mug Stag print mug, £3

stand tall Standing stag, £20

so shiny Sequin-bordered cushion, £12

golden touch Stag Christmas hi-ball glass, £4

Promotion

Frosty

forest

GET THE LOOK WITH POUNDLAND Andrea Ross, PR & Charity Manager at Poundland talks setting the scene It’s easy to get the winter wonderland look this Christmas – just start with layers. A crisp white tablecloth that reaches the floor makes the perfect base. When it comes to place settings start with a charger plate then layer up plates and bowls. For a fuss-free tidy up opt for paper ones.

Soften the room with elements of nature to bring that fresh feeling indoors. A runner made from freshly picked ivy works a treat, especially when teamed with a wreath on the wall. This one is made using a faux garland, a rattan wreath, some baubles and fresh ivy.

To make any tablepiece take centre stage just add glass jars, wire holders and clear bottles with candles placed in them to make great candlesticks. They create just the right amount of warm glow and give your table a touch of height without obstructing the dinner conversation.

1

Create a woodland look with icy white, blue and grey

2

3

pot luck Paper snack buckets, £1 for two

sleek style Have a cool yule with gorgeous tableware featuring shimmering forests and woodland animals

come dine With a stem or two of ivy and candles spread across the table you’re all set for an enjoyable meal

cut above Placemat, £1 star appeal Stars, £1 for two snow business Paper snowflake napkins, £1

totally lit Gunmetal LED tealights, £1 for four Dec/Jan 2019 15

Nordic

winter

GET THE LOOK WITH MAISONS DU MONDE Becca Green, Style Editor at HomeStyle shares her top tips Maisons du Monde encourages you to embrace hygge this year by cosying up your dining scheme.

The best place to start is by adding lots of texture – faux fur, velvet, hammered dinnerware – it all adds to the inspiring look and ethos of Scandinavian living.

Ditch the traditional greenery and opt for eucalyptus and rustic pine cones instead. Dot them around the table for an extra festive feel – don’t forget the candles for that warm glow!

Seasonal styling doesn’t have to be gaudy and over the top.

Subtle pieces that you can use all year round are a winner. We love the idea of a wall-mounted stag head to give a scheme that traditional lodge feel but with a modern twist. Keep things contemporary with ombré glassware and muted coloured plates.

1

Welcome guests with an ultra cosy scheme this Christmas

2 3

Oh deer Deer wall art, £32.99

into the woods A faux fur table runner will instantly jazz up a plain dining table

lean back Be consistent and carry your Scandi-inspired dining theme into your living area

pretty perch Grey stool, £59.99

fade out Ombré wine glasses, £50.34 for six

cool statement Avea leaf pendant, £47.99

chop chop Granite board, £15, Ian Snow

luxe look Delilah agate pendant, £450, John Lewis

true reflection Sunburst mirror, £120, Audenza

cool trio Stackable trinket dishes, £24, Oliver Bonas

floor filler Voronoi hexagon tile, £36.95 per sqm, Walls and Floors

Precious stones

Agate is the new buzz word! We love the luxe vibe stones and gems give to a space pretty pot Marble potted plant, £16, Debenhams

gold finger Cheese knife set, £4.99, HomeSense

white noise Stone side table, £249, Amara

cool case Agate phonecase, £4.99, TK Maxx

gorgeous gem Agate paper weights, £10 each, Hurn & Hurn party time Gatsby bar trolley, £299, Atkin and Thyme

think pink Agate ornament, £20, River Island cute pic Meso frame, £56, Artisanti

eat well Marble dinner plate, £3, Matalan

Dec/Jan 2019 17

Inspiring homes

Welcome

to my home A bit about me

I’m Frankie Johnson and I live with my partner Ian Browne, our three children and two lovely cats, Henry and Matilda.

Where I live

Our home is a three-bedroom end terraced new-build in Christleton, Cheshire.

We put down a deposit in December 2016 and moved in four months later in April 2017.

What I wanted to change

When we got the keys there was no flooring and the walls were all white, but we’ve gradually added style and colour.

How I made it my own

I’ve decorated every room bringing in my two favourite design styles; Scandinavian and Mid-Century.

My favourite part

I love the kitchen/diner as it’s nice to have a big space where everyone can be together and I can cook while the kids are at the table.

My house 18 homestylemag.co.uk

We’re so glad we

An affordable new homes scheme has allowed Frankie

‘I like to match our Christmas decorations to our home, so at the moment that means plenty of pink and white with hints of gold and glitter,’ says Frankie, who’s opted for a 6ft silver tipped glitter tree and Frozen Lake baubles from Dunelm. ‘We also have a few sentimental tree decorations that we use each year regardless of colour scheme’

Good idea

Copper and gold accessories provide the perfect contrast in a pastel scheme

‘I like to match Christmas decs to our home, so that means plenty of pink and white with hints of gold’

ended up buying here!

Johnson to buy her first property with partner Ian in an idyllic location

Dec/Jan 2019 19

Inspiring homes Living room

When Frankie and Ian got the keys to their new home, there was no flooring so new oak laminate for the living room was their number one priority. ‘We kept two walls white and painted one light grey to begin with,’ says Frankie. ‘Then recently I’ve added House of Alice Onyx Marble Metallic wallpaper by the window from I Love Wallpaper, which works really well.’ The starting point for this room was the Ellison sofas and armchair in Heather Grey by Sofa Workshop, which were a steal from DFS as they were ex-display.

As Frankie already had the sideboard in her previous home, she’s continued the country feel but with some boho accents thrown in such as the macramé wall hanging from Matalan. The gold Christmas tree ornament is from Dunelm

My story ...

I’d been talking about buying a house with my partner Ian for a long time, but when I found out I was pregnant we decided to wait until after my maternity leave. However, the week after our son Louie was born, we went for a walk by the canal in Christleton near Chester and stumbled across an interesting looking development by Edwards Homes. We always thought the village was out of our price range, but we discovered they were building affordable homes with a 30% discount for locals – the only condition being we would have to resell it at the same discounted rate. There was no show home, but the location was so good with great schools and a lovely little village pub, that we bought off plan. A couple of months before we were due to move in, we got a phone call to say the house was ready. It was a bit of a panic but luckily we were renting a house belonging to my mum half a mile away, so we could stay there a bit longer while we organised flooring and started decorating.

At first I found it hard to pick anything as I liked so many different styles. Looking on Instagram and Pinterest really started to hurt my head! However, once we moved in, it got a lot easier. Now I can enjoy looking at different styles, but I know what will work in my house and what I can live with. This year will be our second Christmas in the house and I can’t wait. In the future I’d love a big old house to renovate but a new-build is so easy to put your own stamp on and ideal for first time buyers. We love it here and don’t plan on moving any time soon. I’ve even stopped obsessively looking on Rightmove!

20 homestylemag.co.uk

‘I enjoy looking at different styles, but I know what will work in my house and what I can live with’

Frankie chose pink and blue art prints from King & McGaw for the gallery wall, which has been painted in Grey Hints

by B&Q Colours to make the white frames stand out. The silver drum side table is from The Range

Glass jar glitter filled LED lights from Wilko and a reindeer from Dunelm add a festive touch to Frankie’s rustic shelf from Lavender Home & Gift. The wooden ladder is from Argos and the art print is from Desenio

‘Blush pink is one of my favourite colours so I love these Mongolian cushions from Matalan and luxe glimmer cushion from Next,’ says Frankie.

‘The colour works really well with the copper floor lamp from Iconic Lights.’

The windowsill has been dressed for Christmas with an LED wooden star ornament from Dunelm and LED Noel decoration from Wilko.

Good idea

Incorporate different shades of pink to add dimension to a grey sofa Frankie’s ladder shelf is a contemporary storage solution that looks great propped up against a wall. Wrapping fairy lights around a wall shelf brings a subtle sparkle to a space during the festive season.

You can make your own hanging shelves like these ones by sourcing scaffold boards and rope. Look online for tutorials!

Dec/Jan 2019 21

Inspiring homes Stars are a subtle Christmas motif that can be kept up all year round

Duck Egg Driftwood wallpaper from Listers Interiors gives the dining area a rustic country feel. ‘The ceiling pendant from Iconic Lights and floor lamp from The Range were both great value and everyone always comments on them’

Kitchen

Although Frankie and Ian didn’t get to choose the kitchen layout, the developer offered several ranges from Howdens to pick from. ‘It was an easy choice as I went for a country shaker design that would coordinate best with the dining table we already had,’ she says. ‘At first I went for blue accents, but later switched to pink and added a new Roman blind from Direct Blinds. They’re really good as they’ll let you return the blind for free if you get the wrong size.’

Frankie loves making a traditional Christmas dinner in her new kitchen. ‘I always add Yorkshire puddings though, because a roast isn’t a roast without them!,’ she says 22 homestylemag.co.uk

Blush and gold accents add a glam touch to the Christmas table, which features a table runner and dining set from Dunelm. ‘After Christmas dinner, the children hand the presents out to everyone one at a time,’ says Frankie.

‘I don’t like it to be a free for all as I lose track of who bought what which makes writing thank you cards a bit tricky!’

Dining room

Practical flooring that mimics large stone tiles combined with wood panel-effect wallpaper brings a cosy country vibe to the dining area.

‘I’d originally envisaged a countrystyle kitchen with real stone flooring but it was too expensive,’ explains Frankie. ‘I was also concerned it might feel cold, and since I drop things all the time I was worried it would get chipped! Our friend who runs a local flooring shop called Bogans Carpets suggested Karndean as it’s warmer underfoot, hardwearing and much more forgiving if you drop something.’

Good idea

Drape a faux fur rug over bench seating for cosy vibes

Shopping

Shop our pick of funky placemats on page 26

Expert advice One of Frankie’s best buys was the window frame mirror from The Range as it bounces light from the living room and enhances the sense of space.

Dunelm has a similar design for a bargan price of £80. Create a focal point in your hallway by covering your radiator with a pretty design and decorating the shelf above it.

Wood panelling on a budget l Wood panelling is a great

way to add character and interest in your home, and doesn’t have to cost a fortune if you opt for painted MDF.

l First decide on the style that

suits your home. Pick tongue and groove panels for a beachy coastal vibe, Victorian or Georgian style panels for an elegant high end feel or perhaps Moroccan style fretwork for an exotic look. Also decide whether you want to panel a section or a whole wall.

l There are plenty of DIY

guides online if you decide to take on the task yourself.

However, if you’ve got wonky walls and need to cut holes for plug sockets and light switches, it might not be a simple task.

l If you don’t want the hassle

but love the look, wood panelling-effect wallpaper can be almost as effective as the real thing. If you’re looking for budget options, try Homebase’s Fine Décor Wooden Panel Grey Wallpaper at £10.39 per roll.

Dec/Jan 2019 23

Inspiring homes Master bedroom

‘I must’ve decorated this room three times as I just wasn’t happy with it. I tried navy at first but it felt too dark and then I painted the walls three quarters navy with the rest white. It still wasn’t working.

Eventually I decided to make half height panelling from MDF sheets from B&Q. It cost under £40 and I’ve written a how-to guide on my blog luckyplot13.com.

On the top I’ve put up Ferm Living Confetti wallpaper – I think I’m finally happy with it!

‘A new-build is so easy to put your stamp on and is ideal for first time buyers’

Steal my style

Feature and styling Karen Wilson Photos Katie Lee

Get on trend like Frankie with these blush pink and metallic buys Copper crush

£14

Soft touch Pink faux fur rug, Primark

Copper tray, Debenhams

Cutie pie

£12 24 homestylemag.co.uk

Dusky pink textured cushion, JD Williams

£10

A bath bridge from Dunelm, Ikea mirror and Moroccan-style carved wooden artwork have added interest to the neutral bathroom

Making

Make your own paper lampshade on page 28

Good idea

Break up an all-grey bed set with a pink throw Frankie’s opted for a double bed with drawers underneath from Bed Busters. It’s been dressed with a festive LED pine cone garland from Wilko and pink bedspread from Dusk. The Farthing has a similar vintage starburst mirror at £47.50

‘I often fall in love with things in high end shops – but more often than not you’ll be able to find a cheaper version elsewhere,’ says Frankie, who got the Mini desk from Futon Company and Elysia mirror from Maisons du Monde. ‘For instance my blush velvet stool was a bargain at £16.99 from The Range, but I’ve seen similar for over £50.’

Furniture from Mothercare’s Lulworth range echoes the painted furniture downstairs, creating continuity throughout the house

Nursery

‘I love this room as it gets lots of light so I’ve kept the décor light and fresh too,’ says Frankie, who’s used Scion’s Guess Who April Showers wallpaper from Fashion Interiors across one wall. ‘As we only have three bedrooms, my two older daughters share a bedroom next door,’ she adds.

‘So my next job will be to make it more grown up for them.’

What I learned... l I discovered some great apps called Canva and Photoshop Mix for my phone which allow you to create moodboards.

This allows you to take a picture of your room and layer things on top of it. l Don’t just pick something because it’s popular. For instance I painted my bedroom navy because I’d seen so many pictures on Instagram but it wasn’t really me and it didn’t suit the room. l If you love a theme, go for it! Don’t hold back – be brave with your interiors to suit your own personal sense of style.

Turn to page 128 for stockist details

Shop the look

in high places

Opt for circular placemats, like Frankie, for a contemporary feel

Add interest to your dining table, like Frankie, with quirky placemats in different designs £5 for two B&Q Fabric placemats are effortlessly boho

£1 Flying Tiger Copenhagen Funky-shaped designs will be sure to make you smile

£14 Perkins & Morley Animal adorned homewares give a cool country vibe

£12 Art Wow Go totally tropical with a set of leaf-print mats

£1.25 Ikea A kitsch woodland theme brings some fun at dinnertime

Feature Becca Green

£5 Creative Tops Channel a more relaxed dining experience with natural materials

26 homestylemag.co.uk

£15.99 My Furniture Liven up a plain table with bold designs

£14 Mynn London Tassels are here to stay and we couldn’t be happier!

£30 for four John Lewis

£22 Amara

Choose placemats in contrasting colours to add interest

Embrace your wild side with mock croc print

£12 Eclect Design We’ve got jungle fever, how about you?

£31 for four Sara Miller Pretty floral patterns are irresistible

£15 for two Dunelm Slabs of marble will make any table look chic

£25 for four Emma Bridgewater Turn every meal into a feast with these beauties

£9.58 Maisons du Monde Moroccan-inspired mats are a hit with us!

£8 Sophie Allport Join the flock with an array of flamingos

Dec/Jan 2019 27

Make the look...

Scallop lampshade

Frankie’s home is accessorised to perfection throughout. Make this scallop light which is a dead ringer for her pretty bedroom pendant

You will need Q White card Q Pale pink card Q Marble card Q White glitter card Q 2” circle craft punch Q Glue Q Paper lampshade Q Light fitting

1

Cut out lots of circles in white, pale pink, marble and glitter card using a 2” craft punch. Alternatively, use different colours of your choice.

Assemble the paper lampshade, then starting at the bottom, stick a layer of circles side by side around the shade.

Glue a second layer above the first, and continue adding more lines until the shade is completely covered.

Alternate the colours for a random and attractive look, and cut more card circles if necessary.

Leave the glue to fully dry, before hanging on an LED pendant light fitting. The subtle glitter card will sparkle when switched on.

If you’d prefer to make more of a statement, try using the paper floor lamp from Wilko. This modern design with a white metal frame is priced at £10 and measures 89cm in height.

2 3

Top Tip

Make and styling Suzie Sheppard Photo Olly Gordon

We went for a Solleftea pendant from Ikea for the base of our light, but you could choose a round pendant for a more classic look, or even a floor lamp design.

4 5

A4 white card, £1.80 for 10 sheets; A4 pink card, £3 for 20 sheets; A5 White glitter card, £3 for 20 sheets; 2” circle craft punch, £8, all Hobbycraft. A4 white marble card, £7 for 20 sheets, Paperchase.

Solleftea pendant lampshade, £5, Ikea. Wall in Marine Blue Intelligent matt emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5L, Little Greene

Paper dreams Style your home for Christmas

with honeycomb decorations.

Honeycomb paper decorations are not just for parties, they have really come into their own when it comes to festive styling in the home – but we’re not talking just traditional festive colours. Choose to match your scheme for total coordination. They couldn’t be easier to use either, simply 28 homestylemag.co.uk

pop open the honeycomb and use the clear string to hang. They look great clustered on a hallway banister for maximum impact as guests enter, or alternatively hang them in your living room and dot some around the tree.

Ginger Ray are one of our go-tos when it comes to party styling and they have a fab selection of items to choose from, from pastel balls to festive shapes, such as mini trees to Santa hats. Make sure you add some to your festive party list.

Ginger Ray honeycomb balls, £7.50 for three, Notonthehighstreet

Promotion

Bricks not clicks

carpet guide When it comes to carpet, purchasing from a Carpet Foundation retailer is the best way to buy

T

he digital revolution shows no sign of slowing down. Yet shoppers are also flooding back to specialists. This applies to carpet shops, too. On the face of it, it may appear convenient, and quick, to buy carpet online – but buyer beware!

welcoming wool Beachcomber – Brockway

ADR Approved New consumer law requires all retailers to have an Alternative Dispute Resolution process.

The Carpet Foundation is the only Government approved ADR supplier in the UK carpet industry

Why use carpet shops?

We only buy carpet, on average, every seven years and knowledge is limited.

How do you know how much you need?

Measuring and estimating is a skill. Doing it yourself, and then ordering online is a risk. A professional will ensure there is limited or no waste and, if you need a join, it is in the most appropriate place.

Finally, what happens if things go wrong?

You’re responsible for getting your carpet back to your supplier if you buy online.

Code of Practice All Carpet Foundation retailers operate under a Consumer Code of Practice approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. They are the only carpet retailers in Britain allowed to follow this Code of Practice.

Furthermore, they are all individually monitored to ensure compliance.

For further info, visit carpetfoundation.com

Perpetual Textures – Brintons

Why use Carpet Foundation retailers?

The Carpet Foundation has 450 independent retailers nationwide. They are one-off, local, independent retailers, and they are all different. Most are small or family owned. Many have been selling carpet for generations. You are assured of good old-fashioned personal service from knowledgeable people. You will also find quality carpets to suit all budgets.

Buy right The Carpet Foundation is supported by these suppliers to the UK carpet industry: Abingdon; Associated Weavers; Brockway; Brintons; British Wool; Cavalier; Cormar; Cloud 9; Crucial Trading; Telenzo; Hugh Mackay; Kersaint Cobb; Kingsmead; Penthouse; Regency Carefree; SEBO; Thomas Witter; Ulster; Victoria; Whitestone Weavers and Wilton Royal.

green scene South Pacific – Kersaint Cobb

Dec/Jan 2019 29

Inspiring homes

Welcome

to my home A bit about me

I’m Jo Thelwell, an interior stylist, and I live with my partner Ben Thatcher, an accountant, and our cat Mr Bo Jangles.

Where I live

Our home is a threebedroom 1930s semi in Withington, Manchester. We’ve lived here since January 2016.

Shopping

Shop our pick of velvet buys on page 38

What I wanted to change

The kitchen and bathroom were fine but the décor elsewhere was a bit bland with a few odd colour choices.

How I made it my own

We’ve redecorated in greys and blues, bought new furniture and added lots of artwork. It’s definitely an eclectic mix.

My favourite part

The dining room as it’s the space that sold the house to us.

It’s so sociable and we’ve had lots of good times with family and friends in this room.

My house 30 homestylemag.co.uk

It took over a

After missing out on several houses, first time buyers

A three-seater sofa and snuggler from Furniture Village have been dressed up with grey and white cushions from B&Q, Next and H&M plus a few green and gold cushions from John Lewis to add some shimmer at Christmas. Jo picked an industrial-style coffee table from Swoon Editions and simple graphic rug from Next to finish off the room

‘I love how cosy our home is, especially at Christmastime!

Good idea

Don’t forget to dress the back of the tree if placing by a window

Living room

Jo took a week off work when they moved in and started decorating in the living room as she couldn’t wait to get rid of the magnolia walls and red chimney breast. ‘I knew I wanted grey as it goes with anything,’ she says. ‘I chose Bottlenose Dolphin for the chimney breast and a softer grey called Weathered Cottage for the other walls, both by Valspar. ‘As the new sofa and chair took a while to arrive, we lived in the back room on camping chairs for about four months and didn’t use the living room at all. It was great to finally get in here and then start replacing stuff.’

year to find our home

Jo Thelwell and Ben Thatcher have finally climbed onto the property ladder

Dec/Jan 2019 31

Inspiring homes Botanicals adorn the fireplace including a palm leaf print from Desenio and ceramic cacti from Ikea

Jo’s a big fan of Ikea picture ledges, which have been dressed for Christmas with a large faux pine wreath and metal sign from Nordic House, plus Merry Christmas bunting from Rose & Grey

Good idea

My story ...

Ben and I have been together for seven years and were renting for quite a while in south Manchester before we finally took the plunge and bought our first place together. Originally we were looking for an end terrace with character in our favourite area, Sale, and spent a good year viewing lots of two up two downs. It was a frustrating time though, as we kept falling in love with houses then getting outbid. We even had two offers accepted but had to pull out after the surveys came back. One of them had asbestos and the other needed a new roof. Eventually Ben’s dad found this place in nearby Withington. I wasn’t keen as it was not our first choice area and it didn’t have much kerb appeal but we realised we’d get more for our money and totally fell in love with the open-plan kitchen and dining room at the back. I’ve always had a passion for interiors. I have a degree in interior design and after graduating I worked in visual merchandising before becoming an interior stylist with creative marketing agency Visual Method. Having rented for so long, I was full of ideas and couldn’t wait to get decorating. I think I started painting the day we got the keys and was finished within a week. Luckily the house was in good condition with wood laminate flooring, plastered walls and a fairly new kitchen and bathroom. As our previous place was part furnished, we needed lots of new furniture but it was fun to start from scratch. Although it’s not our forever home, I do love living here and we plan to tackle the garden next to give the house a freshen up outside. The ultimate dream though, is a large Victorian end terrace with three storeys, lots of space and plenty of character.

32 homestylemag.co.uk

Pick an accent colour for baubles that ties in with cushions

‘I love the colour grey – it’s so versatile’

A utensil rail from Ikea makes the most of the space in the kitchen.

‘I love the Fika print from Desenio, which means ‘coffee and cake break’ in Swedish,’ she says. Storing kitchen essentials on the wall is a great way to save on space.

Kitchen

As the kitchen had been recently installed, Jo and Ben felt there was no need to change it. They’ve simply added some floating shelves and accessories. ‘My dream kitchen would be dark blue cabinets by Devol with open shelving, but in reality we’ll probably strip and paint the existing cabinets and go dark,’ says Jo. ‘I’ll have to convince Ben though, as he isn’t keen.’

A double Belfast sink is a practical option and complements the rustic look. For similar try the Havsen double sink at £205 from Ikea

Dec/Jan 2019 33

Inspiring homes Jo’s birch branch hanging tree from Nordic House is ideal if you don’t have much space. ‘You can drape fairy lights and decorations on it or use it for Christmas cards,’ she says

Dining room

‘I particularly love our dining room as I enjoy eating at the table with the doors open in summer or cosying up with all the fairy lights on in winter. The room had already been knocked through to the kitchen, which was a big bonus, so we just repainted the bright pink chimney breast using leftover grey paint from the living room.’

Expert advice

Good idea

A reindeer hide adds a luxe look at Christmas and can stay all year round

How to create an industrial look l Metal, brick and

wood are the core components of an industrial look, so you’ll have a head start if you can create an exposed brick feature wall. It can be done with a masonry chisel and a lot of patience or hire an electric chipper.

l Scaffold boards are

your friend! Use them for shelving with iron pipework supports, add hairpin legs to create a bench seat or attach them to make a table.

34 homestylemag.co.uk

l When it comes

to furniture and accessories, be inspired by factories and old railway carriages. Pick design classics like a turner stool or triptych mirror to achieve the industrial look.

l If the factory look is

too rough and ready for you, soften the edges by mixing in luxe velvet fabrics, warm metallic accessories and lots of animal hides. Get involved with textured Mongolian cushions.

A sideboard from Made doubles as a trendy drinks cabinet and has plenty of space for crockery. ‘I can’t get enough of stoneware ceramics so I’d love to splash out on a whole dinnerware set from Broste Copenhagen,’ says Jo. The metal wreath is from The White Company and the star tealight holder is by Mint & May. Subtle festive touches add a grown-up feel to Jo’s home. Less is definitely more, here!

‘A table and bench from Next have made a big difference in here, and at Christmas we always get festive flowers from The Flower Lounge,’ says Jo. Yellow and blue were both considered as accent colours before Jo found this Frame chair at Made

Making

Make your own display unit on page 41

Steal my style £13

Achieve a mature Christmas look in your home, just like Jo has Full on

Pine wreath, Paperchase

A few sprigs of eucalyptus adds the perfect amount of greenery to a space

Hot flame Gold lantern, Primark

Rose tinted

Copper cocktail set, Debenhams

£10

£20 Dec/Jan 2019 35

Inspiring homes A stained Ikea chest of drawers from their previous rental property has found a new home, with Graphik box shelving

by Maisons du Monde above

‘I made sure our bedroom was the most relaxing room in the house’

Feature and styling Karen Wilson Photos Katie Lee

‘We picked the periodic table print as Ben’s into science and it works well with the yellow bedside lamps from John Lewis,’ says Jo. It also helps that yellow is the perfect pop of colour against a dark blue wall, which brings a sense of vibrancy all year round.

Jo loves insect prints, the trio of bees is from M&S and the mosaic bee is by local artist Paul Grogan – but her favourite is the framed greeting card above by SL Scott. ‘I’ve always admired her work, having collected cards from The Green Walk Open House and the makers’ market where she’s a regular,’ she adds.

36 homestylemag.co.uk

Master bedroom

Jo gathered lots of inspiration on Pinterest before redecorating the master bedroom, which previously had one wall painted in fuchsia pink. ‘I really wanted dark blue everywhere but Ben stopped me from painting the whole room,’ says Jo. ‘In the end we just did two walls, which works well. I love all my prints and people always ask after them on my Instagram @northernstyling.’

Getting prints that are personal makes a space feel like home.

As there was no storage, Jo’s added an Ikea unit for towels from Debenhams.

A plant hanger from local shop Moth adds a boho touch

Bathroom

Good idea

Create a laid-back look by propping art on furniture

As the bathroom had been recently replaced by the previous owners, Jo felt there was no point ripping it all out. ‘It’s my least favourite room as it’s so small and I didn’t like the green tiles at first,’ says Jo. ‘However they’ve grown on me massively and so many people on Instagram ask me where they’re from. Ideally I’d love a roll top bath but it’s fine for now.’

What I learned... l Pinterest is a great place to start gathering ideas so you can find a scheme that suits the room. Start with colour and furniture and then slowly grow it with small items such as cushions and artwork. l It’s important to concentrate on one room at a time – otherwise it becomes too overwhelming trying to decide on things.

The bed and bedside tables were all from Next, and echo the rustic simplicity of the furniture downstairs. Soo-uk.com stocks the It Was All a Dream print

l Framing cards is a cheap way of creating fun wall art. Wilko is great for affordable frames – you can mix them with your own photos and shop bought prints, it makes for a personal collection that you’ll love.

Turn to page 128 for stockist details

Shop the look Choose cushions that are made of different textured fabrics, like Jo, for a modern mix

£429 Danetti Velvet sofas are definitely a hot topic right now!

£18 Ian Snow Floral prints bring a baroque vibe to a space

vivacious velvet Introduce luxurious fabrics into your home, like Jo, for a cosy and glam interiors scheme

£465 Melody Maison An upholstered mirror is oh-so vintage

£125 Debenhams

Feature Becca Green

Hide an unsightly sofa with luxe throws

£99 French Bedroom Company A simple footstool is an easy way to incorporate the trend

38 homestylemag.co.uk

£89 Cult Furniture The mixture of velvet and metallics is a gorgeous combo

£8 Primark Yellow is one of our favourite colours for this trend

£329 John Lewis Jazz up your dining room with blush chairs

£179.98 Wayfair Silver studded velvet is the ultra-glam option

£105 Hurn & Hurn Statement lighting creates a talking point

£135 Oliver Bonas Gatsby style doesn’t have to break the bank

£145 Audenza Use footstools as extra seating if you’re short on space

£29.99 Domu Transform your bedroom into a boudoir witha velvet mannequin

£799 JD Williams Green is the new neutral.

Simply contrast with some boho cushions Dec/Jan 2019 39

MASSIVE AUTUMN SALE 35%* OFF! *EXCLUDES ANY OTHER DISCOUNT

CLEAN AGE HEATING BY

Sunflow has been manufacturing superb quality electric heaters for a number of years now. One of the best references we have are the amount of previous customers who come back when they move into new homes. Our heaters are built to incredible specifications because the science demands it. Our brochure explains how they work and why we build to such high standards. If you decide to have a survey we show you the engineering, quality of the finish and demonstrate how they work. Isn’t it time you dealt with a good, honest, friendly British company? Low electricity requirement** 10 year guarantee 5 years on controls Direct from the factory No wholesalers or importers We pass the savings to you British made in Wiltshire Own van delivery Timed and thermostatically controlled Features ‘powerdown’ see brochure for more details Qualified electricians Choice of colours even whites Slimline (only 80mm depth) Real kiln clay heating for superb economy Ethical sales - no pressure Written quotes - fixed pricing Professionally surveyed

24 HOUR BROCHURE LINE : 0800 158 8270 Replacement Service

As you can see from our qualifications (below), Sunflow can take the worry out of disposing old central heating systems. We offer the safe removal of gas, oil and lpg systems.

See information pack for details or call: 0800 158 8272 for a free survey

**based on 100 property study

Sunflow HomeStyle 31.10.18.indd 1

www.sunflowltd.co.uk

04/10/2018 11:51

Make the look...

Decorative display unit

A display unit takes centre stage in Jo’s dining room. Create this miniature version and style with festive trinkets for seasonal charm at Christmastime

You will need Q Wooden compartment boxes Q Wood glue Q Clamps Q Black paint Q Patterned wallpaper Q Ruler Q Pencil Q Scissors Q Glue

Wooden compartment boxes, from £1.99 each, eBay. Black acrylic paint, £2 for 75ml; white bottle brush trees, £1 for four, both Hobbycraft. Portuguese Tile wallpaper, £17 per roll, Graham & Brown

1

Place the wooden compartment boxes side by side and stick together with wood glue – to secure, clamp in place until they are fully dry.

Paint the unit with black paint, and allow to dry. Recoat if necessary.

Measure the size of one of the inner compartments. Use this size to cut out as many squares of patterned wallpaper that are needed to cover the back of your display unit.

Glue the squares of wallpaper inside each compartment, smoothing out any air bubbles with your fingers, and leave to dry. Coat with clear varnish, if desired for a long lasting finish.

To decorate, fill the individual compartments with small festive trinkets, such as bells, stars and bottle brush trees. This unit can be placed on a shelf or tabletop, alternatively secure some hooks on the back and hang on a wall, as part of a gallery display. Drape with micro lights for a festive flourish.

2 3

4

Make and styling Suzie Sheppard Photo Olly Gordon

5

Top Tip

Think creatively! Often Christmas decorations come in wooden compartment boxes, which are prime for upcycling.

Wonder wall Style up your space with unusual

Small vintage wall shelf, £145, Scaramanga

This particular piece is vintage, so it has subtle scratches and scuffs which wall-mounted storage ideas. add character and appeal in true rustic This stylish shelving rack will add style. If you’re on a tight budget, hunt much needed practical storage, and out similar finds at charity shops, spice is well-suited to a number of rooms, racks are perfect and can be used to from the bathroom to a home office. house much more than herbs and With three levels to store and display spices – for instance give it a lick of your treasures, the front features brightly coloured paint and use it in horizontal strips adding some the bedroom to display nail varnishes protection from items falling. and other beauty supplies.

Dec/Jan 2019 41

Inspiring homes

Welcome

to my home A bit about me

I’m Nicola Daly, an Art Director at Warner Bros. I live with my daughter Lily.

Where I live

My home is a fourstorey Victorian terraced house with three bedrooms in Knutsford, Cheshire.

We’ve lived here for three years now.

What I wanted to change

Some of the rooms felt quite dark, and having the main bathroom on the basement floor was also an issue.

How I made it my own

The loft conversion has given us another bathroom at the top, and I’ve added lots of colour, industrial touches and upcycled furniture throughout.

My favourite part

The en suite bathroom as it’s open to the rafters and has the original Victorian bath, toilet and sink.

When I put candles on in the evening, it’s really calm in there.

My house 42 homestylemag.co.uk

Rear living room

Although Nicola and Lily have two living rooms on the ground floor, it’s the rear one that gets used the most. ‘I’d always wanted a log burner so that helped clinch the sale,’ says Nicola. ‘It’s so lovely and cosy in winter.’ One of the first things she did was repaint the cream walls in two shades of grey to act as a neutral backdrop. ‘I’m certainly not afraid to use colour, but sometimes less is more,’ she explains. ‘If you’re going to go for vibrant accessories, pick a neutral background or alternatively have lots of pattern but use more understated accessories.’

My home is now A fresh start in a new town has inspired Nicola Daly to be

‘We try to get one quirky new tree accessory every year and have lots of nostalgic ones from when Lily was a baby.’ Brightly coloured decorations from B&M, Wilko and Homebase tie in with Nicola’s DFS patchwork sofa

Good idea

A white frosted tree shows off bright decorations for maximum impact

‘I like lots of colourful Christmas accessories – something a little different and fun’

colourful and quirky

bold with her décor and create an individual home for herself and daughter Lily Dec/Jan 2019 43

Inspiring homes

‘I love to curl up with a good book in our cosy living room’

As the rear sitting room is L-shaped there’s enough space for a work station. Nicola picked a Fonteyn desk from Made and paired it with a handmade copper chair

My story ...

I wanted a fresh start when I split from Lily’s dad, so moving from a cottage out in the sticks near Northwich to be nearer the action in lively Knutsford made perfect sense. I love the town as it has beautiful boutique shops, loads of restaurants and a lovely makers’ market, plus it’s nearer to friends, family and my work. Finding a quirky house with period features that I could put my own stamp on wasn’t easy. But after a six month search and missing out on several properties on this road, I finally found the perfect place. It just felt right, and I particularly loved the Victorian bathroom off the master bedroom and the log burner in the rear living room.

Most of the work was cosmetic, until last Christmas when I decided to convert the loft into a bedroom with an open-plan bathroom for Lily. It’s much better as now she doesn’t have to go down two flights of stairs every morning to use the main bathroom in the basement. Although I work full-time my other passion is upcycling charity shop furniture. This year I took a career break and started a sideline business called Chirpy Kitsch selling my furniture on Etsy, Facebook and Instagram. There are lots of pieces dotted about the house too. Since getting the house I’ve met a new partner, Nick, who’ll be moving in soon. Luckily, he loves colour too! Although we’d love to renovate something together, we’ll never move away from Knutsford as it’s got everything you need within walking distance.

44 homestylemag.co.uk

‘When we moved in there was just an open hearth, so I found an old fireplace at a car boot sale for £40 which really finishes it off,’ says Nicola. A green paper garland from RE and mini felt tree from TK Maxx bring a touch of Christmas to the mantel

‘I picked out the colours from the patchwork DFS sofa for the gallery wall, but I prefer it to flow rather than being too neat and rigid,’ says Nicola. ‘Adding LED lights, like the love heart and pink What sign, makes it nice and cosy in the evenings.’ Vibrant cushions, like the llama from Dunelm and the brightly coloured tasselled designs add to the fun feel of this living space.

Good idea

Narrow mantelpiece?

Add a chunky shelf above for extra display space

Nicola painted the ladder shelves in shades of grey to blend in with the walls so the accessories stand out, including Nicola’s vintage telephone light from Reclaimed World and Love sign from Next.

Festive candles add an element of Christmas for a relaxed feel.

Front living room

When she first viewed the house, this room was classed as a bedroom on the estate agent’s details, but Nicola felt it would work better as a snug or second living room. ‘It felt quite dark as the walls were painted a deep bluey-purple, but we’ve gone for a pale grey instead,’ she says. Nicola took her cue from the exposed brickwork on the chimney breast when designing the scheme. ‘I’ve tried to create more of an industrial feel by making shelving from pipework in one corner and painting old ladders for the other,’ she says.

‘I often come in here to read.’

Of all the pieces Nicola has upcycled, this drinks cabinet is her favourite Dec/Jan 2019 45

Inspiring homes

Shopping

Good idea

Use fairy lights to brighten up an alcove or drape around shelving at Christmas

Shop our pick of quirky lighting on page 50

Kitchen

As the kitchen units were good quality, Nicola’s simply refreshed the cream paintwork and kept the existing range cooker and butler’s sink. She’s also brought colourful appliances from her previous home to add a quirky edge. Although she’s made the most of the space, Nicola has grand plans for the future. ‘It’s quite a dark room with just one window so I’m considering knocking down the wall between the kitchen and dining room to make it open-plan.’

46 homestylemag.co.uk

A stripy Smeg fridge and pink Smeg washing machine liven up the cream kitchen. ‘I also replaced the ceiling spots with handmade Mason lights I discovered on Etsy,’ says Nicola

Sanding the previously dark brown wood flooring has made a huge difference to the basement dining room. ‘The floral wallpaper was already there so I’ve worked with the colours and spray painted the tractor seats to tie in,’ says Nicola, who brought the handmade bistro table from her old house. It works well with the brickwork.

The colourful coat hooks were bought at a vintage fair and are now used as utensil hangers. Try Cox & Cox or The Farthing for similar wire wall shelving, and Harts of Stur for a similar Sidney the Sheep knitted tea cosy

Nicola loves quirky animal homewares, such as the gold monkey lamp from Maisons du Monde which adorns her Oriental-style cabinet. Oak Furniture House has a similar design in black and gilt. The red paper decorations are from RE and the Eat sign is from Next.

‘I enjoy finding unusual vintage pieces from the 1950s, they’re so well made and have nice shapes’ Alcove shelving comes in handy for Nicola’s collection of recipe books.

‘I particularly like to use Lily Vanilli cookbooks to try her crazy ideas,’ she says.

‘They’re quite wacky and more like sculptures really, which make them a fun challenge to bake with Lily.’

Steal my style Top tipple

Go for bright buys to get some of Nicola’s flamboyant home style

Set of four gin glasses, Debenhams

£30 Big bird

Flamingo cushion, British Heart Foundation

Heaven scent

Pomelo candle, Oliver Bonas

£17.50

£9.99 Dec/Jan 2019 47

Inspiring homes Good idea

Paint an alcove in a deep shade to make an interesting feature

Making

Make your own papercut artwork on page 53

Master bedroom

Nicola’s created a glam boudoir feel in her bedroom, with a bird theme.

‘After sanding the floor, the starting point was the bird wallpaper,’ she says. ‘I painted the other walls pink to tie in and then updated my old French bed with grey fabric paint.’ The alcove has been painted a darker grey to accentuate her upcycled cabinet, which features a flamboyant and bold ostrich design.

Expert advice

Feature and styling Karen Wilson Photos Katie Lee

How to plan a loft conversion l A loft conversion can be

the most cost effective way of adding space and value to your home, as well as being less disruptive than an extension. You’ll need at least 2.2m for ceiling height.

l Think carefully about how

you’ll use this extra space. The most popular reason for a loft conversion is an extra bedroom and bathroom, but you might want a playroom, office or even the luxury of a gym or cinema room.

48 homestylemag.co.uk

l Planning permission will only

be an issue if you’re extending the size of the loft or if you live in a conservation area. You’ll also have to notify neighbours if you live in a terrace or semi and you’re building on beams that affect the party wall.

l You’ll ideally need an

architect or technician to draw up plans for your builder but specialist loft conversion companies often have their own in-house design team if you’d prefer a one-stop shop.

The starting point for the colour scheme was this Holden Décor Ornithology wallpaper from Go Wallpaper

Nicola wanted a soft romantic feel in here so painted the walls in Cinder Rose by Farrow & Ball. Pop Art prints from Art & Hue work well with the scheme, while Ikea Musik wall lamps create a Hollywood dressing room look

‘I ordered the Marilyn and Audrey prints from Amazon to apply to the vintage cabinet then added the hairpin legs,’ says Nicola. The octopus candle holder is from Arthur Lee Interiors

En suite

‘This is my favourite room as I knew I could work with the original Victorian bathroom suite and make it even better. I painted the top half of the walls dark blue and added new vinyl flooring from Best4flooring to give it a whole new look. I’ve got a bit of a thing about old school icons, so my upcycled cabinet featuring Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn finishes it off perfectly.’

‘I’m most proud of this room as I designed the 3D plans to convert the loft myself.’

Lily wanted a light, modern look for her bedroom, with just hints of colour. ‘She loves having her own bathroom now.

Although we lived with black soot throughout the house and it took six months since the builder was working on other projects, I’m so glad we did it as Lily loves it.’

What I learned... l It’s important to plan out a space in detail. I’d suggest laying things out with cardboard boxes first, to get an idea. l You can usually find a cheaper version by shopping around. For example I’d fallen in love with some hanging bulb ceiling lights in Heal’s for the rear living room, but found a similar design in B&Q for less. l eBay has been a brilliant source for bargains. I got lucky when I won 17 radiators from a retirement home for £5.20. Now they’ve been shot blasted and painted, they really add to the period feel.

Turn to page 128 for stockist details

Shop the look

crazy lights

An animal-themed lamp, like this one in Nicola’s home is so on trend

Choose quirky lighting, like Nicola, whether it’s a table lamp, neon sign or pendant light

£70 Amara Create the perfect drinks corner with this neon sign

£300 Dar Lighting This pendant would look fab hanging over the stairs

£24.99 HomeSense Black and gold is the dream combo for an industrial theme

£95 Debenhams Create your own Aladdin’s cave with a coloured glass design

£25 JD Williams

£45 Argos A skinny floor lamp is great for saving on space

Go futuristic with your choice of lighting

£26 Red Candy Lights can double as interesting art pieces, too!

50 homestylemag.co.uk

£110 Garden Trading We’ve got rattan on our minds and think you should, too!

£79.99 Dowsing & Reynolds

£100 Matalan

Pick a bold colour that contrasts with your existing scheme

Copper designs are simply stunning

£249 Audenza Embrace maximalism and opt for a printed lampshade

£110 Oliver Bonas Love Art Deco?

Then look no further than this lamp

£12.99 Very £5 Flying Tiger Copenhagen

Incorporate crushed velvet into your home

Carnival lights are sure to liven up a space

£100 Laura Ashley Invite this beaked beauty into your living room

You can’t go wrong with a personalised lightbox

£5 Wilko This sculptural piece is a bargain buy!

Feature Becca Green

£30 Bobby Rabbit

Dec/Jan 2019 51

Giveaways

WIN! A £200 voucher to spend at Posterlounge Invest in some quality festive-themed artwork this Christmas to jazz up your home décor

To enter

It couldn’t be easier!

Just head over to homestylemag.co.uk, click on the ‘Win!’ tab and fill in your info.

Best of luck!

W

hat’s better than a white Christmas – winning a £200 voucher for prints and pictures! We’ve teamed up with the fine art publisher Posterlounge to offer you the chance of winning one of five £200 vouchers for the online shop, so you can dress up plain walls and get into a festive mood. No matter if you’re looking for a good helping of glamour for your own home or are on the hunt for the perfect Christmas present – Posterlounge, which was founded in 2003 – caters to every taste and wall art need, from the good old classics to wild and romantic photographs, and all the

5 WINNERS way to yummy typography. With a choice of various materials and hanging solutions, be it a classic poster print in a real-wood frame, acrylic glass or even wood, you can pick the finish that will turn pictures you like into artwork you’ll love. Festive-themed artwork doesn’t have to be overly Christmassy. For a contemporary option, choose a metallic star print or a piece of wall art that has a song lyric on it. What are you waiting for?

Snuggle up with a cup of hot chocolate or a spirit-lifting glass of eggnog and give the portfolio a browse and make your wall look merry and bright!

For more info, visit posterlounge.co.uk

To be in with the chance of winning a £200 voucher for Posterlounge, just answer the following question: Q Which year was Posterlounge founded?

A 2013 B 2003 C 2012

Rules of entry 1) All giveaways close at midnight on 31st January 2019. Winners will be notified after the closing date. 2) Subject to availability, non transferable or refundable. 3) Open to residents in the UK (mainland), over the age of 18, except employees of Hubert Burda Media UK or companies involved in these promotions. 4) Entrants must be homeowners where decorating/renovation work is required for the prize. 5) Only one entry per person. 6) The winners must be willing to participate in publicity if required. 7) The editor’s decision is final. Correspondence will not be entered into. 8) The winners are selected at random, from correct entries received, after the competition end date. 9) Prizes are valid for six months after the date of the draw, and the prize will be withdrawn if it is not claimed within this period. 10) Hubert Burda Media UK and companies involved in these promotions may use your details to advise of products and services. Details are occasionally available to vetted companies (online opt-ins only). 11) Allow 8-10 weeks from selection to completion. 12) Reproduction of this competition, in whole or part, without written permission is prohibited.

Hubert Burda Media UK reserves the right to prosecute offending parties.

52 homestylemag.co.uk

Make the look...

Papercut picture

Add some love to your walls just like Nicola with papercut artwork.

Use our template and take it slow – it’s easier than you think!

Top Tip

You will need Q 40cm x 40cm white card

This would also make a great Christmas gift idea.

If you’ve never tried papercutting before, take your time – after all love can’t be hurried!

Q Tracing paper Q Pencil Q Lightbox or window (optional) Q Scalpel and cutting mat Q Eraser Q Spray mount (or other adhesive) Q 40cm x 40cm coloured card Q 40cm x 40cm frame

1

Download and print the template at homestylemag.co.uk. Trace it onto white card; try to keep it fairly faint as any remaining lines will need to be rubbed out later. Depending on the thickness of your card, you may want to trace using a lightbox (or against a window if you don’t have one). Once traced, begin to cut along the lines with a scalpel, holding it like a pencil to give you the most control.

It is best to cut out the design from the centre first, and it may be easier to leave the cut sections in place until the whole middle section is finished, to give the design some strength while you work.

Finally, cut along the outside lines and carefully lift the cut pieces away.

Gently rub out any remaining pencil marks. Apply spray adhesive to the back and fix the cut-out onto coloured card. Place in a frame of the same size and either hang on a wall or prop it on a picture ledge.

2

Project adapted from Decorative Paper Craft (GMC Publications, £9.99)

3

40cm x 40cm white frame, £13, Hobbycraft

With love Give a handmade papercut

download and print the bird templates from homestylemag.co.uk and trace onto paper. Cut out the decoration inside the birds, first card to someone special. using a craft knife and then carefully A handcrafted greeting is always cut around the outline, using well received, and the technique scissors. When cutting out with of papercutting is a great way to create traditional Scandinavian folk scissors, try to move the art designs such as these birds. This paper and not the scissors, for a is a wonderfully adaptable project smoother edge. Using craft glue, that you can make as simple or as stick your birds onto a coloured A6 card blank – beautiful! complex as you wish. To begin,

Create Scandi-style Christmas cards this year

Dec/Jan 2019 53

New collab

Say hello to Cath Kidston’s collaboration with fashionista Fearne Cotton. The new range combines the beautiful ditsy print that Cath Kidston is most famous for with the addition of uplifting messages of positivity and happiness that are close to Fearne’s heart. It’s time to brighten up your home with the 34-piece collection which also spans across fashion and accessories. Get cooking in the kitchen and serve your food on the beautiful plates. The collection starts from just £15.

Blogger of the month

Interior obsessed blogger Lisa Dawson has been on our radar recently, not only for her outdoor cinema but for her beautifully created and award-winning blog. If you’re looking for style inspiration and interior projects Lisa has all the tips!

quirky design Fearne Loves glasses, £20 for set of two; Fearne Loves plates, £20 set of two, Cath Kidston

The wish list...

Fearne Loves, from £15, Cath Kidston

Adorn your Christmas tree with a few of these red and pink pom pom baubles, which are £3.99 from HomeSense

New this month: exciting launches from Fearne Cotton, Abigail Ahern and more...

What’s new?

For their first ever celebrity partnership, Harveys has joined forces with singer, presenter, fashion blogger and interiors enthusiast Louise Redknapp to launch Bold by Louise, an exclusive furniture collection. Featuring vibrant and chic sofas, chairs and footstools that fit seamlessly into a modern and stylish home, it is designed for those looking to inject some personality into their rooms. Each piece makes a statement and is available in a range of rich colours and confident neutrals. From chic coral to dramatic indigo, we want it all!

Bold and beautiful

If you’re a lover of bold colours but need a little more guidance, this is the perfect read for you. Be Bold, sees interior stylist, designer and author Emily Henson embrace a free-spirited, individual style and shows readers how to translate it into their homes. Divided into two sections, the first Decorate Like No-one’s Watching includes chapters such as More is More, Pattern Riot, and Paint it Bold which are filled with inspiration and ideas to recreate.

In the second half, Trailblazers, you can discover homes with adventurous styling.

Feature Nicole Howarth

Be Bold: Interiors for the Brave of Heart by Emily Henson (Ryland Peters & Small, £19.99)

Bold by Louise, from £159, Harveys 54 homestylemag.co.uk

In association with

Just landed!

Spend vs save

Interior designer Abigail Ahern has teamed up with Hillarys to launch a beautiful hand-picked collection of curtains, Roman blinds, cushions and fabrics in her signature magical style. Texture and pattern obsessed Abigail has created a new range that can be contrasted or coordinated to create a super-glam interior.

Expect inky hues and faux botanicals.

Add to a gallery wall or hang individually

£35

mirror mirror Rose gold hexagon mirror, Oliver Bonas

true reflection Hexagon mirror, M&Co

£6

We are loving...

If we told you that Jo Malone had a new Christmas collection, are you going to be rushing to the store to grab yourself one? We certainly are. We know that it’s a splurge but if you can’t treat yourself at Christmas then when can you? top dec Christmas ornament, £22

Abigail Ahern X Hillarys, priced from £26, Hillarys

serve up Midnight Party tea plate, £3, Sainsbury’s

colour crush Farrow & Ball has released and added nine new colours to their collection.

We’re particularly drawn to De Nimes, this chalky blue shade works perfectly teamed with silver accessories and wooden furniture. sweet stem Pussy willow spray, £11.25, Gisela Graham

vintage feel Rusted antique vase, £24, Amara

Mandarin and Lotus Metallic candle, £22, Oliver Bonas

sleek style Silver cutlery set, £19, HomeSense

back to black Swan Lake art print, £5, Abstract House

De Nimes No. 299 Estate emulsion, £45 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball Dec/Jan 2019 55

GET SET FOR CHRISTMAS AT GRELUES VARISTMA CH SETS

Falk cookware sets are the perfect gift for friends, family...or even yourself.

But thanks to unique bimetal technology, legendary craftsmanship and lifetime warranty, our first-class copperware will keep mealtimes merry for years to come.

TO ORDER ONE OF THESE GREAT CHRISTMAS SETS SIMPLY VISIT OUR WEBSITE NOW.

T H E W O R L D ’ S F I N E S T C O P P E R C O O K WA R E

www.falkculinair.co.uk/xmas FREEPHONE 0800 133 7560

The perfect Christmas gift? I’m all ears

You’ll love the sound of our tree and woodland dedications. They help protect the UK’s woods and wildlife so they’re the perfect present for nature lovers or those who are hard-to-buy-for. And as a thank you we’ll even send out a personalised gift pack so you have something to put under the tree.

Find out m ore at

shop.w oodlan /chris dtrust.org.u tma k or call s 0330 333 3 300

The Woodland Trust logo is a registered trademark. The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales number 294344 and in Scotland number SC038885. A non-profit making company limited by guarantee. Registered in England number 1982873. Image: James O’Neill 12174 08/18

WT_Your_Home_142x215.indd 1

10/10/2018 17:06

Christmas

all wrapped up Transform your home into a winter wonderland, shop our top under ÂŁ50 presents and have the best Christmas ever with our essential guide!

p63 Three hot new trends for Christmas

p66 Give every room a seasonal update

p64

P70 Festive looks that really wow!

Dec/Jan 2019 57

fun socks Christmas reindeer socks, £9.99, New Look

Designer print Prada poster, £2.95, Desenio Fab offer HomeStyle subscription, £5 for five issues*, HomeStyle

Lips and eyes Festive Treats cracker, £10, Clarins game on Mini table tennis, £6, Tesco

shut eye Teal bloom eye mask, £7.50, White Stuff

Under

party time Prosecco cocktail toppers, £9.99, Dobbies

£10

sparkly mermaid Sequin cushion, £7, Flying Tiger Copenhagen

Feature Nicole Howarth *See page 100 T&Cs apply

icy blue Luxury cream wash, £8, Baylis & Harding lovely pair Beaded earrings, £7, Accessorize

for him Beer mats, £8 for four, FatFace

cute dish Yay speech bubble trinket tray, £10, Rockett St George

The ultimate

gift guide Struggling with what to buy everyone this year? We’ve got you sorted!

cool runnings Penguin mug, £5.99, New Look 58 homestylemag.co.uk

stylish slogan I am Ace iPhone case, £10, Oliver Bonas

beep beep Van of treats, £12, Baylis & Harding

keep warm Block stripe scarf, £14.99, New Look

check it Men’s blue classic poplin pyjamas, £11, Primark

furry friend Pomsies toy, £17.99, Very

magic mustard Miffy toy, £17, Scandi Mini

male grooming Gents beard care set with mug, £12, Debenhams

Under £20

animal print Leopard book, £16.99, Laurence King

relax and unwind Pomegranate Noir bath oil, £18, Jo Malone

cosy bed Black and white dog bed, £19.99, HomeSense

trendy trio Hearts drawstring travel bag set, £18.50, Caroline Gardner

ding ding Electra vinyl domed ringer bell, £8.99, Electra Bicycle Company

flamingo frills Flamingo umbrella, £14.99, Studio Dec/Jan 2019 59

animal magic Schleich wild life advent calendar, £25, Debenhams

clean them Men’s Society complete trainer care kit, £25, Amara

pen pal Ted Baker notebook, £29.99, Very

chin chin Rose gold flutes, £26 for two, Next

cats temple Snooze and scratch post, £28, Pets at Home

Under

snow bunny Reindeer fair isle all in one, £26, JoJo Maman Bébé

£30

travel essential Iaka three medium pouches, £29, Kipling

check mate Tweed dog bed £29.99, Dobbies

60 homestylemag.co.uk

home comforts Faux fur hot water bottle, £22.50, White Stuff

quirky find Tatty Devine handheld mirror, £25, Made

get organised Laundry travel bags, £30 for three, John Lewis

get cosy Rosie reindeer slippers, £22, FatFace

game play Air Hockey table game, £30.99, Studio

art lovers Queen of Diamonds unframed print, £35, Audenza

clean shave Babyliss carbon steel multi groomer, £31.99, Argos

mellow yellow Foldable tote bag with drawstring, £39, Kipling

uplifting smell Grapefruit body and hand lotion, £40, Jo Malone

Gin & Tonic?

Unicorn Tears gin, £39.99, Studio

Under £40

petrol blue S’well metallic camo bottle, £35, S’well

sweet treats Happy Christmas chocolate tin, £35, Biscuiteers

pastel blue Kilny ceramics, £40 for four side plates, Loaf

warming scent Winter candle with box, £38, Cowshed

iconic print Orla Kiely Sycamor Seed hanging wash bag, £36, Amara

cute coral Bed tray with folding gold legs, £30.50, Rockett St George

magical mono Country Garden reed diffuser, £32, Chase and Wonder

weekend away Kids’ padded rucksack, £36, Daisy Park Dec/Jan 2019 61

girl time Luxury beauty hamper, £50, Baylis & Harding

get ‘em tiger Abigail Ahern cushion, £45, Debenhams nostalgic drink Slush Puppy machine, £49.99, Studio

lazy days David Gandy for Autograph checked gown, £39.50, M&S

Under

take a class Icing Lates voucher, £45, Biscuiteers pretty floral Multi-Active collection, £42 Clarins

£50

feline good Mint green cat collar, £50, Cheshire & Wain

for the bar Industrial retro beer wall light, £48.95, Melody Maison

fairytale dreams Princess castle, £45, George Home

sunburst design Ceramic round wall mirror £49.50, Oliver Bonas

film quote Framed art print, £50, Rockett St George 62 homestylemag.co.uk

christmas

trends Get on board with some of the top festive looks for 2018 top table We love this Fiestive llama decoration, £24, Talking Tables

hang around Wool llama decoration, £6, The Contemporary Home

double trouble Two llama cushion, £16.99, HomeSense

wear it well Fluffly llama jumper, £19.99, New Look

plate up Fiestive llama plates, £4 for eight, Talking Tables

A lot of llama love Who can resist adorably cute and quirky llamas? Definitely not us!

global style Style your mantel with a llama decoration, £30, Debenhams

dec out Llama Christmas decoration, £19.99, Studio

Feature Lorraine Luximon

cool rider Hanging Santa decoration, £2, George Home

write on Llama cards, £2.50 for 10, Sainsbury’s

total novelty Mini llama crackers, £6 for six, Paperchase Dec/Jan 2019 63

tree time Get the look with the Electric Sky range from George Home

shine on Sequin stocking, £4, Wilko

space man Astronaut bauble, £2, George Home

table service Black star runner, £15, Debenhams

star appeal Star sign, £6, M&Co

perfect finish Silver glitter star tree topper, £5, The Contemporary Home

Out of this world

Embrace all things space with galactic prints and starry accessories

space fillers Shop decorations at John Lewis

bang tidy Jet Starburst crackers, £12 for six, John Lewis

home comforts Star of Wonder light up cushion, £19.50, M&S

64 homestylemag.co.uk

burn bright Star candle holder, £5, Sainsbury’s

top table Create a country feel with scroll back checked dining chairs, £109 for two, Oak Furniture Land stag party Small stag, £8, Sainsbury’s

glow getter Twig and berry tealight holder, £11.25, Gisela Graham

sweet scent Woodland candle bowl, £17.50, White Stuff

leaf it out Green tint bauble, £4, M&S

hot cuppa Woodland mug, £11, Sophie Allport

berry nice Berry wreath, £25, Paperchase

so foxy LED fox light £59.99, Studio

winter woodland

Traditional and rustic, this look is just like taking a walk through the woods heritage style Get the look with Sainsbury’s Woodland decs

sent with love Tri-fold forest animals Christmas cards, £8 for five, National History Musuem

cute crackers Peter Rabbit crackers, £24.95 for six, Annabel James

nature’s bounty Silver tip pine cone tree dec, £3, Dunelm

feather the nest Owl decoration, £8, John Lewis Dec/Jan 2019 65

I

Deck the halls Top tips for styling every room in your home this Christmas

ntroducing the festivities into your home signals the start of Christmas.

It can be an opportunity to express your personal style in a fun and seasonal way. We’ve made it easy for you and put together a room-by-room guide to give you tips on how to work with your existing interiors scheme and adapt it to suit the most wonderful time of the year.

ice queen Stick to metallics and cool tones, like this Amara set-up. Get this sequinned stocking for £25

LIVING

A hallway tends to be an unused space, we think it should say wow!

Christmas can definitely be its time to shine. Adorn your stairs with an abundance of greenery, hanging decorations and satin bows for a luxurious feel. Light the way with lanterns of different heights – don’t worry about lighting each individual one, pack micro lights into them instead for a magical and modern feel. In the lounge, use your Christmas tree as a statement focal point and build your interiors scheme around it.

Fancy an icy blue theme for your tree this year? Great! Pick up a cushion to match and display your presents in wrapping paper that’s of the same colour palette.

woodland wonder Start as you mean to go on, like Wyevale Garden Centres and recreate a full on scheme with decs starting from £5

feelin’ blue Honeycomb decoration, £6.50, Talking Tables

get the look

Embrace Scandinavia and introduce natural materials into your space berry cool Bronze garland, £22.99, Very

white party Candle bridge, £18.99, Lights4fun 66 homestylemag.co.uk

light up Wooden lantern, £8, Primark

jewel-toned Don’t hold back on the glamour this Christmas and opt for a luxe emerald wreath from John Lewis for £30

get the look

This year it’s all about creating a sophisticated dining experience lovely softy Lynx faux fur cushion, £24, Hurn & Hurn

gold finger Mikasa salad plate, £8, Creative Tops

go green Kensington chair, £79, Cult Furniture

rainbow vibes Cocktail shaker, £19.99, Dobbies

DINING

Create a festive dining scheme that screams come dine with me!

This year, jewel tones come out on top but with a fun and playful twist.

Velvet is definitely the fabric of choice with this trend – opt for contrasting cool rider coloured dining chairs to mix things Hanging Santa up and pick up adecoration, velvet table runner £2, for continuity. Metallic-rimmed George Home dinnerware is also a must – if you’re feeling crafty, spray paint plain white plates that you have in the cupboard.

To create the perfect setting, bring a personal touch to each place. Hang a wreath on the back of chairs and add a sparkly decoration to plates. Keep things cosy and welcoming with faux fur chair covers and lots of candles!

love hygge Opt for star-shaped dinnerware like this bowl from Wyevale Garden Centres for £8 Dec/Jan 2019 67

deep soak A side table, like this one from JD Williams for £65, next to the bath acts as a great display area

get the look

Subtle touches will do when it comes to the bathroom

seeing red Cranberry hand towel, £12, Laura Ashley

starry eyes Copper dome, £12, B&Q

pot me Eucalyptus stem, £6.75, Gisela Graham

grey scale Pom pom bath mat, £14, Next

BATHROOM

totally unwind Get inspired by Frontline Bathrooms and be mindful of your choice of lighting 68 homestylemag.co.uk

The bathroom is fast turning into a lifestyle space.

Subtle festive hints are the way to go when it comes to Christmas styling.

A few sprigs of pussy willow, eucalyptus or your choice of seasonal greenery displayed in a bottleneck jar are a great addition. They will also release a gorgeous festive scent that will no doubt get you in the mood for Christmas. Winter interiors are all about cosying up your existing space and a bathroom is the ideal spot to do so. Introduce warmer colours through your choice of storage, such as textured baskets, and amp up the candles and warm lighting you have dotted around, it really does make a difference, especially when you have guests come to stay!

twinkle twinkle Hang up these metal star frames from M&S – they’re only £10 each

BEDROOM

The bedroom should be the most relaxing space in the home.

To create a room to escape to and recharge in, a neutral scheme with an abundance of texture is a great place to start. An easy way to begin your festive bedroom transformation is to switch up your bedding. Linen adorned with cute Christmas trees or even a plain metallic design both have wow-factor. Layer up with knitted throws and faux fur cushions for extra warmth. We love the idea of hanging star motifs on the wall and attaching seasonal greenery to them – a festive boho look, what could be better? If vibrant colour is more your thing, deck your bedside with a faux miniature tree and adorn with bold baubles that have lots of character.

get the look

Accessorise to the max for a festive bedroom scheme

silver lining Reindeer tealight holder, £1.59, Primark

glow getter Bailey smoked lamp, £40, Matalan

cosy club Burgundy knitted throw, £25, Wilko

cutie pie Pudding bed set, £10, George Home

cool and cosy The more throws the better! Very has made the bed into a festive focal point with cushions starting from £12.99 Dec/Jan 2019 69

3 looks for...

stylist’s edit

Christmas is almost upon us and stylist Laurie Davidson has got three standout festive looks to help you dress your home in style

Good idea

Opt for Christmasinspired typographic prints, which add a bold, punchy look

70 homestylemag.co.uk

Modern blush

This pretty pink scheme gets an interesting twist with modern monochrome It’s officially Christmastime and it’s time to welcome a new blush interiors look.

Feature and styling Laurie Davidson Styling assistant Nicole Howarth Photos Simon Whitmore Set builder Michael Greaves Paint back paint Johnstone’s

This one is sure to get your creative juices flowing. Delicate pinks are highlighted with shimmering sequins and iridescent finishes, while a modern monochrome backdrop

brings the look bang up to date.

Invest in a bushy snow-tipped tree to add extra white to the scheme and combine on-trend patterns, such as polka dots, geometrics and stripes, to keep the look from feeling too girlie.

Soften the scheme by layering lots of texture with faux fur rugs and throws.

Make your gifts stand out by contrasting papers and ribbons, then tie on a few deco dark rations

Use a striking black and white backdrop and then pretty it up with blush pink

Adorn the mantel with lights, baubles and Christmas decorations – along with some pine cones and winter foliage

‘Embrace this scheme and make it extra-striking with a busy dalmation spot wallpaper perfect for softer shades of blush’ Dec/Jan 2019 71

3 looks for...

Holiday cheer Celebrate in true American style with candy cane stripes and peppermint Amp up the holiday cheer with a bright, welcoming scheme that oozes warm cheer.

This look is a nod to all those classic American Christmas movies we love each year, with red and white candy cane decorations, fun ‘Santa’ motifs and cosy soft furnishings. Start with

a strong backdrop of red and white painted walls, then opt for a bushy green tree and plenty of sparkly lights. Adding in a touch of peppermint with decorations, side tables and wrapping paper adds a contrast in colours and keeps the look from feeling too traditional.

Choose twine in the sam wrap around gifts an e candy cane stripe to d peg small tags to th em

Candy cane colours are such a staple at Christmas and it’s a simple scheme to incorporate into your home

Opt for a traditional red and snowy white painted wall – you can always paint it back after Christmas!

72 homestylemag.co.uk

‘Create your own movie-set scheme with red and white candy cane decorations, peppermint touches and USAstyle Santa slogans’

Good idea

Why stop at one wreath? Add two or three to your wall for a statement look

Dec/Jan 2019 73

3 looks for...

Good idea

Add sparkle to your mantel with micro lights wrapped around peacock feather stems

74 homestylemag.co.uk

Midnight magic Ooze glamour with a sultry scheme in elegant jewel shades Dark, dynamic and completely captivating, this look is all about the glitz and glamour.

Peacock feathers, glimmers of gold and bejewelled glass tree decorations all add a luxurious feel, while gemstone shades of teal, purple, emerald and midnight blue keep it

feeling bold and sophisticated. Begin with a strong backdrop – two varying shades of dark blue work well for an alcove and fireplace wall – and then begin layering your tree with the most ornate round and teardropshaped baubles you can find. Add a luxe chair or footstool to commit!

A faux swan head, ple nty tapered candles all cre of feathers and slim ate a regal touch

Add glimmering gold, luxurious velvet and sequin accents for a touch of luxury

You can easily transform a plain chest with wallpaper and dress with tropical decor to finish the look Combine dark blues and purples with teal and emerald green

‘Peacock-inspired decorations are big news this year, so go all out with deep tones of dark blue, purple, teal and emerald green’ Dec/Jan 2019 75

3 looks for...

THE SHOPPING LIST Amp up your Christmas décor this year with a statement theme that suits your personal style

Modern blush

Dots wallpaper, £50 per roll, Graham & Brown. 6ft Snowy Cashmere artificial Christmas tree, from £79, Dobbies. Tree decorations, from a selection, Debenhams, Next, George Home and Very. Silver glitter tree topper, £2.50, Wilko. Wrapping paper, from a selection, Paperchase. Faux sheepskin rug in pink, £30, Next. Bengal medium rug in black, £149; Harper armchair in Lychee cotton matt velvet, £850; Chaplin coffee table with mahogany finish, from £220, all Sofa.com. Pink glitter reindeer, £10; crackers, £15 for 10, both Debenhams. Kura lampshade, £40; pink Buttons vase, £15; Anzia vase, £30, all Habitat. Sequin cushion, £19, M&Co. Ladybird cushions in Jet and Chalk £49.50 each, Sarah Campbell Designs.

Monochrome Christmas print, £9.50, Oso Twee at Etsy. Cotton sprays, £30 for three, Cox & Cox. Textured metal vase, £29.99, Zara Home.

MOODBOARD

Fabrics: Chalky Pink vintage velvet; Rose Quartz clever deep velvet; Lead cotton mix; Shadow grey wool, all Loaf. Pashmina and Fairy Dust matt emulsion, £18 for 2.5L, Crown Paints. Dots wallpaper, £50 per roll, Graham & Brown. Cotton spray, £30 for three, Cox & Cox. Faux fur mono rug, £30, Next.

76 homestylemag.co.uk

Holiday cheer

Walls painted in Scarlet Tanager matt emulsion, £28 for 2.5L, Valspar, and Pure Brilliant White, £16 for 2.5L, Crown Paints.

7ft Deluxe Western Pine artificial Christmas tree, £70; red sparkle knit throw, £20; pine cone tree topper, £5, all Dunelm. Tree decorations, from a selection, Wayfair, Next, Wilko, Wyevale, Dunelm and Talking Tables. Bobby faux fur vintage armchair, £150.50; metal side table in green, £26.39, both Maisons du Monde. Faux sheepskin rug, £10, Ikea. Mint herringbone linen throw, £89, Tolly McRae. Red berry wreath, £10; hessian sack, £5, both Tesco. Pine cone wreath, £20; Kaemingk lantern, £10, both Debenhams. Wall-hanging tree, £19.99, Very. Reindeer cushion, £5, George Home. Car snowglobe, £20; honeycomb decorations, from £7, both Talking Tables.

Wooden LED Noel ornament, £9, Wilko.

Driving Through the Snow cushion, £31.99, We Love Cushions. Wrapping paper and decorations, all Pipii.

MOODBOARD

Knitted stocking, £6, Wilko. Candy cane decorations, £12.99 for six, Very. Sparkle decoration, 75p, George Home. Gift tags, from a selection, Pipii. Fabrics: True Red plush velvet; Red French Stripe; Powder Green; Oyster White clever linen, all Loaf.

Chance matt emulsion, £18 for 2.5L; Toffee Apple Kitchen matt emulsion, £20.50 for 2.5L, both Crown Paints.

Midnight magic

Walls painted in Majestic Peak and Deep Ocean Floor, £28 for 2.5L, both Valspar.

BH Fraser Fir pre-lit 7.5ft artificial Christmas tree, £719, Balsam Hill. Tree decorations, from a selection, Gisella Graham, John Lewis, Habitat, Wayfair, M&Co, Dobbies and Dunelm. Gold Star cowhide rug, £395; Maestro swan head, £58, both Graham & Green. Georgette footstool in Deep Turquoise, £750, Sofa.com. Peacock gin glasses, £25.95, Artland at Not Just Jugs.

Polaris metal tree topper, £12; crackers, £20 for a set, both Habitat. Wrapping paper and ribbon, all Paperchase. Peacock feather wreath, £57; glittered peacock feather spray, £6, both Gisela Graham.

Aegean Sea glass vase, £12; hand-dipped taper candles in Jade, £16 for six, both Curious Egg. Pure new wool throw, £55, Next. Two-way sequin cushion, £19, M&Co. 100 warm white LED micro fairy lights, £14.99, Lights4fun.

MOODBOARD

Peacock wreath, £57; glittered peacock spray, £6, both Gisela Graham. Tori Teal wallpaper, £50 per roll, Graham & Brown.

Fabrics: Good Green clever deep velvet; Peacock brushed cotton; Grape clever velvet; Real Teal, all Loaf. Palm Springs and Addiction emulsion, both £14.50 for 2.5L; Millionaire metallic emulsion, £19 for 2.5L, all Crown Paints.

on sale now!

Inspiring homes

Welcome

‘I like adding decorations around the house, along with twinkly lights and lots of candles’

to my home A bit about me

I’m Linda Collis, and I live with my husband Sam, and our two girls. I work as a physiotherapist and Sam is a marine pilot.

Where I live

My home is a fourbedroom period house in the Heath area of Cardiff, Wales. We bought it in May 2009.

What I wanted to change

Everything! We gradually did a full renovation, converting a leaky conservatory into our living space, changing the kitchen and converting the loft into a bedroom.

Good idea

Stack logs either side of the fire for a rustic display

How I made it my own

We have a real mix of old and new furniture but we never buy full price and I often upcycle pieces.

My favourite part

Definitely the new extension from the living room, which connects the dining room and kitchen. It’s much more practical.

My house 78 homestylemag.co.uk

I love making it

Linda Collis has used her love of upcycling, low-cost décor

Living room

The living room was originally the end room at the back of the house and was linked to a conservatory through patio doors – an extension means that it is now part of a larger open-plan living and dining area.

The room was stripped of wallpaper, replastered and the picture rail, coving and skirting boards replaced.

A back boiler and gas fire were removed to make way for a log burner, which keeps the whole house lovely and warm in winter. The parquet flooring is original and was sanded and given a coat of varnish.

Linda has painted the open-plan living and dining area in white and added touches of colour with accessories and furnishings. The Berber rug is from La Redoute and the Christmas decs are from Debenhams

all cosy for Christmas and handmade touches to create a snug and sparkly home for her family

Dec/Jan 2019 79

Inspiring homes

‘We’ve kept most of the walls white and used accessories to add colour’

Sam made the lovely rustic mantelpiece out of an old piece of wood

My story ...

A lot of blood, sweat and tears have been put into our house over the years! We bought it because we loved the area and it’s on a lovely tree-lined avenue, but the place was in need of a full renovation. It had real potential, with lots of original features, like the bay windows, stained glass, picture rails and parquet flooring, but it also needed a complete overhaul as it was really dated and not in the best condition. We couldn’t afford to get all the work done at once, so once we’d gutted the house and stripped it back, we then started to do it room by room. We had a really leaky conservatory that stayed with us up until last year when we opened up the living space to create an open-plan area, and we’ve also converted the loft into our main bedroom and en suite. Luckily, Sam is very handy and can turn his hand to most things, so he helped to fit the kitchen and bathrooms, the outbuilding, and carpentry, which has saved us a fortune. The only thing he doesn’t like doing is hanging wallpaper, so my dad did that as he’s the wallpapering king! I love to upcycle and lots of the bits around our home are things that I’ve made or bought from Gumtree or eBay – I also love trawling through charity shops and searching eBay for more unusual or vintage pieces. Christmas is a really special time of year for us. On Christmas Eve, we get into our new PJs and watch a festive film, and then on the day we spend it as a family – it’s magical.

80 homestylemag.co.uk

Dining area

‘Although our dining room is connected to the kitchen, it still feels a little bit separate too, which we like.

We’ve filled it with a real mixture of furniture and I like searching eBay for more unusual pieces. Our church pew is one of these – we only paid £70 for it and absolutely love it as we can get so many people seated on it when we entertain. We haven’t even done anything to it as we love all the scratches and marks on it, which gives it loads of character.’

Linda sourced the chairs, dining table and pew from Gumtree and eBay. The ship lantern light is a lovely reminder of Sam’s nautical background

‘The sofas are from Laura Ashley and I bought them in the sale,’ says Linda.

The silver and pale blue Christmas decorations match Linda’s soft, pastel scheme which she has all year round.

The couple love to mix old and new and have not themed their home, but gone for pieces they love. ‘We’ve chosen things that mean something – from special posters to mementos.’

Linda twisted a combination of fairy and micro lights from Lights4fun around a garland from Gisela Graham for a rustic mantel.

Making

Make your own festive star on page 88

Good idea

Use a mix of chairs in different styles and colours to add interest

‘The blue cabinet is the only piece of furniture we didn’t upcycle ourselves,’ says Linda.

‘We bought it like this on eBay for £25.’ The velvet pouffe is from Ikea Dec/Jan 2019 81

Inspiring homes ‘I bought the armchair in our extension from eBay and painted it in Annie Sloan chalk paint and wax, rather than reupholstering it,’ says Linda. ‘It was a much cheaper option, I’m really pleased with how it turned out.’

Linda enjoys their new open-plan dining area, and the family make great use of it for homework, socialising and listening to music.

Crockery and glasses are kept close to hand in a glass-fronted cabinet from Ikea. On top, the wool wreath was one of Linda’s homemade items

A small peninsula separates the dining space from the kitchen, with a barstool from Habitat providing a place to perch.

Sam made the breakfast bar using an off-cut of wood. Space to store wine and fizz was on Linda’s wish list when it came to having a new kitchen, so the couple added in cute cubbies when planning their design.

‘We feel proud to have this house and enjoy living here with our family’ ‘The house was built in 1939 so we’ve got lots of period features, including these beautiful stainedglass windows.

Although it still has original features, we’ve added to it with modern furniture.

The house as a whole is much more practical for a young family.’ Linda has added a festive touch to this area with a wreath from Debenhams.

82 homestylemag.co.uk

Expert advice

Painting an armchair with chalk paint

l First, check your chair is

suitable for painting (velvet and thick woven fabrics are a lot trickier). Then give it a good clean with a vacuum, getting into all the nooks and crannies and wipe off any dust.

l Use masking tape to cover

the legs and any other parts you want protected from the paint. Then spray water onto the fabric of your chair until it’s damp but not soaked – this helps the first coat of paint to sink in.

l To keep the fabric soft, dilute

the paint and add multiple coats (three cups of paint to two cups of water is a good estimate). Use a brush to apply, then take a rag or sponge and rub the painted surface to help the paint soak in.

l Let the first coat dry, then

sand with extra fine sandpaper to help keep the fabric soft.

Apply a second coat, let it dry and sand again. Repeat until you’re happy with the finish – it could take up to four coats.

Kitchen

‘The kitchen took three months to update but was well worth the wait. An old shower room was turned into a utility at the end of the room – Sam stripped the space with the help of a plumber and electrician and fitted all the utility cupboards. The old kitchen cabinets were removed and new, neutral-coloured units added to keep the narrow space feeling as light as possible.’

The kitchen, although narrow, has plenty of storage, with a large range cooker creating a homely touch.

The blinds were made by a local seamstress using fabric from Laura Ashley

Good idea

A classic kitchen makes for a timeless look, which won’t date

Dec/Jan 2019 83

Inspiring homes Master bedroom

‘After four years of living here we had the loft converted into our master bedroom with an en suite.

We feel so lucky as it has great views of the park, too. The work took four months, but it was worth it. Now, there is plenty of room for everyone and it means we can have family stay without feeling cramped.

I’ve kept it simple by painting it in white emulsion from Leyland.’

Shopping Shop for stylish beds on page 86

Steal my style Feature and styling Laurie Davidson Photos Jamie Mason

Classically neutral with pastel pops is Linda’s signature style

£9

Trend led

Pom pom cushion, George Home

£49.99

Wooden wonder

Freydis table lamp, Very

£179.99 84 homestylemag.co.uk

Leg up

Jasmine footstool, Oak Furniture Land

‘When Sam and his friend were boarding and plastering the loft conversion they came up with the idea of having these stepped shelves fitted,’ says Linda

Linda and Sam bought their bed from Laura Ashley in the sale. ‘We recently found an ordnance survey map of the area we both grew up in from a charity shop for £1.50 and framed it,’ says Linda. ‘It sits above our bed’

The couple wanted the bathroom to be modern and neutral but with a hint of vintage. The roll top bath was a must and this design is from Bathstore

Good idea

Add stepped shelves underneath a sloped ceiling to utilise the space

‘Our home feels special as we’ve done so much of the work ourselves’ ‘This room used to be our master bedroom before we had the loft converted. It was the very first room we decorated so we had somewhere nice to sleep.

Since moving to the loft we’ve redecorated it – I wanted it to feel more modern and cosy for guests when they stay over, so we chose a grey shade.’ The metal bed frame and side tables are from Ikea, with cushions from H&M and ASOS.

Bathroom

‘Now that we have our en suite, this bathroom is used by the girls.

When we first moved in it was actually two rooms: a toilet and separate bath area. We made it into one larger room so it could accommodate a big roll top bath, which is ideal for us as a family with two young children.’

What I learned... l Think about what you need and what is going to work for you – we lived in the house for a while before deciding how we wanted the space to work for us. l Do your research and use the internet for inspiration. I love Pinterest and I have an Instagram account @lindyandcohome where I get inspiration – it’s made me into a complete styling addict. l Don’t cut corners and do it properly the first time. Invest in important bits like taps, etc, but bear in mind you don’t have to spend loads to make your home look nice.

Turn to page 128 for stockist details

Shop the look

BUYING ADVICE

Be sure to measure up Before you buy your dream bed, make sure to measure the space first. It’s also useful to see the bed in a showroom rather than biting the bullet online.

Use it as a styling focal point If you’re going to invest in a statement bed, you might as well show it off. If you opt for a coloured bed, build the rest of your bedroom scheme around it.

£845 Modish Living A real wood Thornton bed frame is sure to stand the test of time

£399 Dunelm Is there anything prettier than this Saturn rose gold bed?

£115 Ikea Opt for a minimal scheme with a Kopardal metal frame

BEAUTIFUL BEDS Invest in a statement bed, like Linda, to be the focal point of any bedroom £845 Loaf A Ruffle bed in a statement colour is sure to really pop!

Feature Becca Green

£349 Carpetright If you’re going down the Parisian route, an ornate Sofia design is the answer 86 homestylemag.co.uk

£488.20 Oak Furniture Land Choose an Original Rustic wooden bed for a Scandi-feel and wrap fairylights around it

Coordinate your bed with other furniture, like Linda, for a consistent look

£189 Argos A grey upholstered Aydin design is an absolute staple

£675 Willow & Hall £699 Made

Teal blue is all the rage, so why not incorporate this Littlecott bed into your scheme?

Now this Margot option is what we call a dream princess bed

Dec/Jan 2019 87

Make the look...

Vintage star

Linda’s barn star adds a festive touch to her living room. Create your own using wooden pallets for a rustic look to add bags of style to your home Top Tip

This star makes a striking focal point or gift for someone special. A coat of chalk paint will give it a vintage look, but bare boards also look effective.

You will need Q Pallet planks Q Handsaw or jigsaw Q Chalk paint Q Paintbrush Q Sander and 120 grit sandpaper Q Drill Q 30mm wood screws Q String Q Pencil Q Pin Q Straight edge or ruler

1

Cut the pallet planks to the length required so you can draw on your desired size of five-point star. To create a vintage look, as used here, paint some of the planks with chalk paint, then lightly sand them to achieve a distressed effect.

Lay the planks side by side, face down, to create a square. Place an extra plank horizontally across them and drill a few screws into it to temporarily hold the planks together while you draw a star on the other side.

To draw a neat star, first mark out a circle the size you want the star to be. To do this, take a length of string (the length will be the radius of the circle), a pencil and a pin. Anchor one end of the string to the centre of the planks with the pin. Tie the pencil to the other end. Draw a circle while pulling tightly on the string.

Now, using a pencil and a ruler, draw an upside-down V inside the circle, with each point touching the edges of the circle. Next, draw a line from the bottom right point across to the middle far left edge of the circle. Draw straight across to the opposite side, then down to the left to meet your first point.

You should have a nice, neat star.

Once you are happy with the size and look of the star, remove the support plank from the back.

Lay each piece on a flat surface to be cut using a jigsaw or handsaw.

Once all the planks have been cut, place them back into position and sand off any rough edges. Turn the pieces over to reveal the back of the star.

Cut small pieces of plank to hold the star together and secure in position.

2

Project adapted from Pallet Craft by Emma Basden (GMC Publications, £14.99)

3

4

Annie Sloan chalk paint, from £5.95 for 120ml, Annie Sloan

You’re a star Treat your home to some star

studded Christmas decs.

What better way to brighten a room than with this lovely LED wooden star light by Talking Tables at Amara? Perfect for adding a touch of Scandi style to any room of the home, this beauty is studded with 30 lights. It makes for a beautiful decoration, that you’ll want to keep around long after Christmas.

88 homestylemag.co.uk

5

shine bright LED star light, £28, Amara

6

Decorating It’s a date

Write on

Count down the days with this fab kit. It contains everything you need to create an advent calendar with a difference. Choose from the pre-existing or personalised choices. Priced from £12.95 at Cotton Twist.

Elevate your seasonal gifting by decorating boxes with Posca metallic markers. They are just the thing to craft and upcycle creations for Christmas. Priced at £18.99 for eight from Easichalk.

Go green

Stick around

Give your presents the perfect finishing touch with this set of retro kitsch Christmas stickers from Rifle Paper Co. Pair with plain brown parcel paper for understated style. The stickers vary in size from 3.5cm to 9.5cm and are £9.50 from Papermash.

natural display Duck Egg Blue, Old White and Scandinavian Pink chalk paints, from £5.95 for 120ml, Annie Sloan

Upcycling news Deck your home with handmade style, for that personal touch

Feature Lorraine Luximon

Christmas cheer

Craft your own Christmas in paper with the 16 festive and contemporary projects in Paper Christmas by Emily Dawe (Search Press, £9.99). The modern papercraft projects range from cards to intricate tree decs, and we’re particularly taken with this lovely bell jar. This title has everything to give your holiday season the handmade touch, with innovative techniques to try, such as printing and embossing. Emily’s absolute favourite time of the year is Christmas and her passion for the festive period most definitely shines through in this sparkling title!

Christmas decs don’t have to cost the earth if you use foraged finds which look just as good as shop-bought pieces. Here Annie Sloan has used chalk paint which has been slightly watered down to stipple pine cones. Once the paint is nearly dry, gently remove it from the edges with a damp cloth. Nestle between eucalyptus, and fir tree sprigs for a striking display.

Time for pudding Christmas pudding wreath pom pom kit, £19.99, Wool Couture

latest release

Wreaths are causing a bit of a stir on Instagram, and what better way to get into the spirit of the season than by making your own? With this fun Christmas pudding wreath pom pom kit from Wool Couture, you have everthing you need to make your own woolly creation in time for the big day. Easy to craft, the set comes complete with yarn, cable ties, and a wooden wreath template to attach your pom poms to, and not forgetting the all-important instructions. It will look amazing hung up in any room in your home, or place on the front door for a real statement. Sure to capture the magic of Christmas, you’ll have yourself a very merry time fashioning an accessory you can be proud of.

Dec/Jan 2019 89

coffee table

Upcycling challenge

Pallet

Turn a pallet into a rustic, industrial-style coffee table that’s ideal for resting drinks and nibbles on for festive entertaining Upcycle a simple pallet into a super-cool coffee table for your living area. The diagonal slats, which mimic parquet flooring, create a striking design element.

You could add extra detail by painting each one a different colour, or keep it simple with a wax finish. Either way, this piece is a showstopper.

Takes 5 hours You will need

Q American pallet (chosen for its shaped detailing) Q Several extra pallet planks Q Handsaw or jigsaw Q Pencil or marker pen Q Ruler or tape measure Q Drill Q 30mm wood screws Q Wood glue Q Sander and 120 grit sandpaper Q Oak wood stain and cloth (optional) Q Beeswax and cloth (optional) Q Wood filler (optional) Q 4 metal hairpin legs, with screws

1

Take a pallet and cut it down the middle lengthways. Cut to one side of the middle support: you will need the side attached to the support to make the

tabletop, as it will form one of the sides.

Measure up then cut four planks to fit as a frame on top of the half of the pallet you are using and put them to one side.

Take several extra planks and lay them on a flat surface. Place the pieces of the frame on top so that it is square, with the planks beneath at an angle to get a diagonal pattern showing through underneath.

Once you are happy with the position of your frame and planks, take a pencil or pen and mark a line on the inside of the frame onto the planks. These will be your cut marks for trimming to size.

Take each plank and cut along the lines on each one with a jigsaw or handsaw. To make sure you don’t confuse each piece and remember the sequence in which they go, write a number on the back to remind you.

Put the pieces you have cut together: they should form a perfect rectangle.

Place the frame on top of the half pallet you cut earlier and secure them with either wood glue or 30mm wood screws. Cover the exposed slats with wood glue and start to put the pieces of plank into the middle

of the frame to create the central pattern inside the frame of the tabletop.

Continue positioning the planks until you have completed the build of the tabletop.

Now create the decorative look you want.

Sand the pallet and planks so that they are smooth, rounding off any corners. You could paint the planks if you like, but here we went for an oak wood stain applied with a cloth.

If there are any gaps between your planks where your cuts were a little short on your internal section, use wood filler to fill them.

Lightly sand once more when the stain has dried. Then, using another cloth, apply some natural beeswax to give the table a smooth finish and added protection from spillages. Your tabletop is now complete, ready to add legs of your choice.

We chose four metal hairpin legs, 30cm in height. These simply screw to the bottom of the pallet and give an industrial finish, which is perfect for this look. To complete, turn the table over, stand it on its legs and voilà! There’s even a handy nook at each short end which is ideal for storing magazines and books.

2 3

7

4

8

5

6

9

SHOP THE LOOK

Project extracted from Pallet Craft by Emma Basden (GMC Publications, £14.99)

light fantastic Pineapple lamp, £49, JD Williams

hot date Me diary, £8, Paperchase

wrap up Tweedmill wool lap blanket, £28, Hurn & Hurn 90 homestylemag.co.uk

lovely legs Black 30cm hairpin legs, from ÂŁ48 for four, Wicked Hairpins

Top Tip

Fancy a different look?

Paint the wooden slats a variety of shades for an on-trend effect. You could even spray paint the legs.

Good idea

See page 88 to find out how to make a wooden star decoration

February 2018 91

we love

Gadgets

We’ve handpicked the coolest gizmos and latest inventions for your very own Christmas list

1

The key finder

If you’re more likely to lose your keys rather than your fashion sense, then the latest Tile Style design is made for you.

This nifty gadget with a champagne gold and satin white ridged exterior is actually a bluetooth tracker so you can call it from your phone and vice versa to find its location. If you think it could be further afield, check the app for a map showing where it was last detected by your phone.

2

THE DREAM MAKER

3

the surround soundbar

If you ever find you have trouble getting to sleep, the sleeklooking Dodow nightlight is sleep a luminous metronome that style creates a rhythmic light beam to help send you to sleep gently Dodow, £49, Dodow and naturally. Focus on the soft pulsing light and it will slow your breathing down ready for a peaceful rest.

The sleek Sony 2.1ch compact HT-SF200 Soundbar sits subtly alongside your TV, but will fill your room with sound. It has its own built-in subwoofer for a deep base and S-Force Pro Front Surround technology designed to create a cinema-style vibe whether you’re playing movies or music.

Perfect for enjoying Christmas telly, USB and Bluetooth connectivity means no cables.

finders keepers Tile Style, £30, Tile

Feature Victoria Hrastic

4

THE internet streamer

The Roku Streaming Stick+ is a USB gadget that simply plugs into any television ready to stream thousands of channels. It’s small but mighty, reaching four times its predecessor’s wireless range which means less buffering.

It also delivers both 4K Ultra HD and HDR picture quality, and there’s a new voice remote with television power and volume buttons so you really can sit back and relax.

If you’re looking for a bargain stocking filler for a TV addict, check out its little under brother, the Roku Express.

92 homestylemag.co.uk

control Roku Streaming Stick+, £79.99; Roku Express, £29.99, both Roku

tv time HT-SF200 Soundbar £200, Sony

5

THE DISCO LIGHT

Nanoleaf’s latest design, Canvas, builds on the company’s original Light Panels.

The new square panels can be attached to any flat surface in any layout ready to respond to your touch and voice, detecting and dancing to your music, in 16.7 million colours. Available from 1st December from nanoleaf.me, get it on your wish list, for that New Year party!

8

THE INTERNATIONAL WI-FI gadget

9

the MOOD LIGHTING

Fancy some winter sun? The Skyroam Solis is a neat little gadget that’ll charge your smartphone and keep it plus four other gadgets wi-fi connected, perfect for a peaceful family holiday. The gadget itself has been around for a little while but a new flexible GoData plan has just been launched holiday essential which means you Skyroam Solis, can buy data, at £135, Skyroam £7 per GB, and manage just how much you use.

It’s easier than you realise to create a wireless lighting system for your home. The Philips Hue starter kits include three bulbs, a starter bridge and a remote dimmer switch so you can transform your lighting into a technicolour experience. Screw the bulbs into your light fittings, download the app, set up the bridge bright spark and you’ll soon be Philips Hue starter in control of your kit, from £169.99, own light show. meethue.com

party people Nanoleaf Canvas, £179 for Smarter Kit including nine panels, Nanoleaf

6

the smart home

7

the dog’s fitbit

If Alexa’s already a friend of the family, the all new Echo Show gives her a bigger presence than ever before, with a 10” HD display complete with camera that’s linked to your smart home devices.

Soon you’ll be able to connect the Amazon Ring doorbell, to find out who’s at the front door. Link it up to the next generation Echo Dot speakers, which will blend nicely into your home.

It’s time to bring your pup into the fitbit future! The Dog Activity Tracker from PoochPlay pet present is a waterproof tab that Dog Activity attaches to the collar, Tracker, £39.99, links to an app and tells PoochPlay you everything you need to know about their lifestyle, weight and even recommended food intake.

smart thinking Echo Show, £219.99; Echo Dot, £49.99, both Amazon

10

THE DIGITAL ASSISTANT

Imagine having someone to run through traffic on your commute, the weather forecast and your diary so you don’t miss a beat before breakfast? If this sounds good to you, it’ll be even better to look at, and the new Lenovo Smart Display creates a stylish HD screen for Google Assistant to truly shine. Choose between the soft grey 8” design and the bamboo 10” model. Look out for launches of more Lenovo smart home essentials including lightbulbs, plugs and cameras early next year.

digital planner Lenovo Smart Display, £179.99 for 8”model, Lenovo Dec/Jan 2019 93

Living room makeover

Now it’s smaller we love this room!

Using her background in design and her love of colour, Vici Sinkinson turned a drab open-plan space into a cosy room

My room...

My problem living room

Feature and styling Lisa Moses Photos Katie-Jane Watson

A bit about me

I’m Vici Sinkinson, founder of The Stitch Stylist and I live in a four-bedroom semi-detached property in Bromley with my husband Paul and our two boys.

Although the house was in good overall condition, this room was painted magnolia and was really bland. It was also a very large space as it had been knocked through by the previous owners which made it feel cold, bare and it had absolutely no personality.

How I made it work

We replaced the original wall to make the room smaller and feel more snug, we also installed a real fireplace to emphasise this. I then continued to inject warmth and colour by painting the walls and adding funky wallpaper and bright accessories.

My favourite part

Before Before 94 homestylemag.co.uk

The wallpapered alcoves still make me smile every time I look at them, and I’m really pleased that we were confident with colour and painted all the walls dark blue rather than being safe and sticking to just a feature wall. This gives the room a dramatic feel which is warming and welcoming. I am really pleased with the outcome.

One of the quickest and cheapest ways to transform a room is by painting a wall. It can be nerve-racking going to the dark side, but Vici chose Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue and it really makes the bright colours in the room sing

‘It’s so lovely and cosy in the evenings when I light the candles’

Good idea

Use fluffy throws and cushions to make a contemporary space feel cosy

TOTAL

£1,222 Dec/Jan 2019 95

Living room makeover

Style advice Three simple tricks to try in your own home Avoid getting rid of walls, keep them.

‘Putting the wall back was the best decision we made. I think people are coming away from large open-plan spaces because they can be too big and soulless and it’s hard to get any quality time away from the busyness of family life.

By making a selfcontained living room, we created a stylish area that’s not only relaxing but is really a pleasure to be in.

Get creative and shake up your picture gallery.

A decorative wall doesn’t just have to include pictures. Vici has complemented some of her own handmade embroideries with an eclectic mix of prints, typography, mirrors and even a little plate. ‘I wanted to create a unique look. It took a while, but I laid it all out on the floor first to ensure it worked.’

Don’t be too strict on your budget.

Sometimes it’s worth reallocating your finances to achieve the look you want.

‘We planned to carpet this room initially but I really wanted the gorgeous mural wallpaper by artist Lucy Tiffney. At £135 per roll it was very expensive, but by just covering the alcoves I didn’t need much, and keeping the original flooring meant I could justify the cost.’

96 homestylemag.co.uk

‘I’m sure the accessories will change around a bit but I’m so happy with this space’

The couple weren’t planning on changing the fireplace, but when Vici realised her neighbours were getting rid of theirs, complete with Art Deco tiles, she offered them £50 for it and by adding a hearth it’s become the focal point of the room

Gold accessories and accents running through the room add a touch of glamour

My experience…

We originally moved because we wanted a bigger garden for the boys and a bit more space inside so it’s ironic that we ended up making this room smaller. It had been knocked through to create a large open-plan living area but it just wasn’t somewhere that we enjoyed being in, and with two young boys running around, we wanted a grown-up room separate from the family space to create a more relaxing area. We decided to put the wall back which thankfully wasn’t too disruptive or expensive.

We also replaced the ugly electric fire with a reclaimed working fireplace, it only took a couple of days to get the room ready to decorate, which was when the fun began. We already had the big sofa which we couldn’t justify changing so my colour scheme had to work around the green shade. I knew I wanted to try out a dark interior but Paul was a little nervous that it would be too gloomy so initially we just painted one wall, but we both loved the dramatic effect so we decided to do the whole room. To save money we kept the original flooring and we did the decorating ourselves which meant I could splash out on the Lucy Tiffney wallpaper, which I really wanted and it added the wow-factor. Once this was done it was just a case of adding accessories from my collection of prints, ornaments and candles that I’ve accumulated over the years. Now the room is finished it truly is my favourite space in the house.

My shopping list

Good idea

Choose an accent colour from your wallpaper to pepper accessories around a room

Hague Blue emulsion, £45 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Lagoon wallpaper, £135 per 9m roll, Lucy Tiffney. For similar fireplace, try The Morris Cast Iron Combination fireplace, £479, Fireplace World. Trellis floor tiles, £89.70 per sqm, Fired Earth. Hanging birds, £50, Cox & Cox. Hand wall light, £70, Muck N Brass. Jonny two-seater sofa in Revival Olive, £299; Julius velvet eyelet lined curtains in Soft Pink, 228cm x 228cm, £99 for two, all Made. For similar mirror, try Metal Sunburst, £52.95, Melody Maison. For similar rug, try Modane cream gold, £107, Fruugo. Antique brass Anika side table, £150, John Rocha for Debenhams.

Turn to page 128 for stockist details Homestylemag.co.uk April/May 2015 97 Dec/Jan 2019

Shop the look

get the look

eClectic space

Create a vibrant living room, like Vici has, with a gallery wall, colourful prints and a bold wallpaper £98 Bohemia Design Add a Moroccan-inspired leather pouffe in a natural shade to your room

£10 Amara

Opt for terracotta mugs in navy to match your walls

£34.99 Arthaus Perfect for a gallery wall, the Frida Floral by Desiree Feldmann will fit right in

£92 Audenza Gold feather mirrors look great above a fireplace

£59 Modern Rugs layer up Antigua three-seater sofa, £549; Moroccan print cushion, £8; patterned Aztec cushion, £15; Boston velvet cushion, £19; grey chunky knitted throw, £49; Camden acacia nest of tables, £129; Erlina wicker table lamp, £39; artisan hand woven wool rug, £159, all JD Williams

98 homestylemag.co.uk

For comfort underfoot choose a sheepskin rug

£29.24 per sqm Tile Mountain Revamp your space like Vici with Esenzia Fenice tiles

£19.50 Oliver Bonas There’s nothing like the sweet scent of jasmine and mimosa

Style advice

Bold design Fabric from £17.99 per m, Prestigious Textiles

£199.99 HomeSense Use a wooden cabinet to store and display your tipples

£135 per 9m Lucy Tiffney Thinking about that feature wall? Get yourself some Lagoon wallpaper

‘Gallery walls have become a long standing interior trend, get creative and experiment’ £15.95 Melody Maison Either mount to a wall or use freestanding, this plaque is fabulous

£599.99 Wayfair Save space by choosing a two-seater sofa like this Sylvan number

Feature Nicole Howarth

Create a gallery wall Start by laying out your prints and accessories on the flloor, once you are happy with the layout you can then apply this to your wall. Include photographs, art and neon lighting.

Design a feature wall Opt for a bold wallpaper for one or two of your walls. This will create a point of interest in your chosen room.

Mix your colours Long gone are the days of sticking to a strict colour scheme, mix and match your accessories and furniture.

Don’t be afraid to experiment, go for it! Accessories can always be changed around if you want to redecorate.

Dec/Jan 2019 99

FREE

*

Buyagift Pamper Treat Smartbox

WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TODAY! worth £29.99!

T

his month, we are offering 12 new subscribers, selected at random, the chance to win a Buyagift Pamper Treat Smartbox worth £29.99, which would make a great treat for you or gift for a friend. Sometimes you just need to take time out to enjoy some peace and tranquillity, especially at this busy time of year. Buyagift has got the solution, as they’ve scoured high and low to compile a truly fantastic list of pamper treat experiences that are sure to make you look and feel gorgeous. Featuring a selection of over 1,000 relaxing spa day and beauty treatment experiences, from soothing spa days at top-class London retreats, to men’s grooming experiences and hair styling at renowned salons, there truly is something for everyone. Manicure

or pedicure, facial or mud scrub, massage or makeover – the choice is up to you.

Experiences are available in multiple locations in the UK and the voucher is valid for 24 months. You will be able to select your chosen experience after receiving. So, go on and treat yourself or someone special who deserves a spot of pampering!

Visit buyagift. co.uk to view all of the exciting experiences included, as well as the full Buyagift range, from short breaks to Christmas packages.

*Offer applies to 12 new subscribers selected at random and ends on 31st December 2018

The perfect

CHRISTMAS gift HomeStyle magazine, the gift that keeps on giving

FANTASTIC OFFER 5 ISSUES FOR ONLY £5

PLUS

FREE delivery to your door

it’s quick and easy to order today!

ONLINE

mymagazinesub.co.uk/ homestyle

PHONE

01206 849077

email enquiries

subs@homestylemag.co.uk Offer valid for new UK print subscriptions purchased by direct debit. The first five issues will be charged at £5. The subscription will automatically renew at the standard direct debit price of £9.99 for 6 issues. Promotion is valid to 31st December 2018 and only valid when purchased via our website (mymagazinesub.co.uk/homestyle) or phoneline (01206 849077). This can’t be used in conjunction with any other subscription offer. No cash alternative will be given.

November 2015 97

Bathroom makeover

We love our brilliant budget bathroom

Marnie Goodman and husband Jamie have created a super-stylish bathroom without breaking the bank

My room...

My problem bathroom

We had to strip everything out of our tired, dated bathroom and start from scratch to get the look we wanted. Our main challenge was finding quality products that fitted our style on a very limited budget.

How I made it work

Feature and styling Kay Prestney Photos Cathy Pyle

A bit about me

Hi, I’m Marnie Goodman and I live with my plantobsessed husband Jamie in a two-bedroom Victorian terraced cottage in Tiptree, north Essex.

To save money we did all the work ourselves, with the exception of the plumbing.

We spent a long time sourcing cheaper alternatives to the items we wanted and saved a fortune using websites such as eBay and Instagram. We have also incorporated lots of natural and reclaimed materials to give the bathroom a modern rustic look, which is a style we both love.

My favourite part

Before Before 102 homestylemag.co.uk

It would have to be the cheeky ‘clothing optional beyond this point’ typography decal on the shower screen which I designed and created myself, it makes me smile every time I enter the room and gives our bathroom a fun personal touch. I love it.

Good idea

Boxing in the toilet cistern and covering with the same tiles as the wall helps the toilet to blend in

Marnie loves the monochrome, Moroccan-inspired floor tiles which she fell in love with on Pinterest, they were one of the first things she knew she had to have in the room

‘Doing nearly all the work ourselves has enabled us to have our dream bathroom on a tight budget’

TOTAL

£2,500 Dec/Jan 2019 103

Bathroom makeover

Style advice Three simple tricks to try in your own home Think laterally when sourcing products.

The upcycled towel rail which Marnie got second-hand keeps the room toasty. They revamped the radiator by spray painting it in a matt black shade to go with the style of their bathroom.

Moroccan-inspired floor tiles were one of the first things she knew she had to have. Along with the leopard print towel, they all reflect Marnie’s love for pattern.

Use natural materials to create a relaxed feel.

‘We love using natural materials to create a modern rustic vibe; we used reclaimed wood and old scaffold boards to make the cupboard under the sink and the bath board which adds an industrial feel to the room and is a handy place to balance a glass of wine in the bath’.

Add personality with typography prints.

Marnie’s collection of prints, that she has used to fill their home, shows her love of typography and quotes. The couple also like to style with plants which are dotted around the room.

The quote on her shower screen is a decal made by Marnie, this reflects the young couple’s cheeky sense of humour and gives the room a unique look.

104 homestylemag.co.uk

The pale wood of the old door softens the black and white geometric walls and floor and adds period charm

The overhead chrome tap and butler-style rectangular sink make an attractive basin combo that doesn’t take up too much space

My experience…

Good idea

Hooks behind the door provide practical storage

‘We decided to choose black grout as it defines the metro tiles and ties the walls in with the monochrome floor tiles’

When we bought this house the bathroom didn’t feel like a place in which we wanted to spend time in, the layout was awkward and the fittings were dated. We were eager to use our skills to turn the space into our dream bathroom without blowing our small budget. We fitted it in after work, spending evenings and weekends on the project which was extremely challenging. We began by ripping out everything from floor to ceiling, creating a blank canvas so we could have it exactly as we wanted.

We spent a lot of time online tracking down budget options for the more expensive items we loved.

Our greatest find was the radiator, taps and shower, which were only £40 from a fellow Instagrammer.

We used a can of spray paint to upcycle the old radiator which looks great contrasted against the white metro tiles. One of our proudest moments was managing to tile the room ourselves, which along with building the reclaimed wood cupboard was Jamie’s handiwork. We faced a few challenges along the way, but all the hard work has definitely paid off and we have proven that you don’t have to spend a fortune to achieve a Pinterest-worthy bathroom!

My shopping list

Dorset Feature black floor tiles, £31.47 per sqm; Metro flat white matt wall tiles, £17.50 per sqm, both Tons of Tiles. Valspar Deep Water emulsion, £35 for 2.5L, B&Q. For similar shower mixer, try Express Thermostatic, £119, Bathstore. For similar radiator, try Avon towel rail, £365, Trade Direct. For similar basin, try Miami counter top, £69.95; for similar tap, try Lancaster traditional chrome, £129.95; for similar bath, try Barmby panel screen, £164.95; for similar toilet, try Metro comfort height pan, £129.95, all Victorian Plumbing. Jute bathmat, £17.99; leopard print hand towel, £8.99; white embroidery hand towel, £8.99; grey bath towel, £12.99; jute storage basket, £12.99; wooden bathroom tray, £6.99; geometric soap dispenser, £8.99; glass jar, £8.99; toothbrush holder, £4.99, all H&M. Black toilet roll holder, £20, Ferm Living.

Round Stockholm wall mirror, £75; for similar wall hooks, try Svartsjön rack, £4.50, both Ikea. For similar print, try Makes You Happy poster, £2.95, Desenio. For similar macramé hanger, try hanging macramé succulent plant, £14, Matalan. For similar shower screen decal, try HappyFabric. Metal typography wall art, £20, House of Owls at Etsy.

Turn to page 128 for stockist details Homestylemag.co.uk April/May 2015 105 Dec/Jan 2019

Shop the look boho beauty Bamboo four-tier shelf, £79; Bow four-seater dining bench, £199, both John Lewis

Style advice

Go for a monochrome look Monochrome is a popular colour scheme due to its versatile properties.

It is a fun and clean style that will never date or go out of fashion.

Keep materials natural From your mirror to your storage, opt for wooden or rattan-style pieces to enhance the bohemian design.

Use prints in a fun way Get creative and try something different. Why not add a shower decal to a plain screen? If that is too daring, frame posters or prints and display them on a stool or on your windowsill.

£30 per sqm Tile Giant Opt for a classic Deep Metro White tile to complement any bathroom

get the look

modern bohemia

£1 Poundland Keep toiletries out of sight in a black storage basket

Feature Nicole Howarth

Create a fun yet sophisticated bathroom, like Marnie has, with cheeky quotes, plants and monochrome

£75 Hurn & Hurn Store your laundry in a rattan bottle basket

106 homestylemag.co.uk

£9.75 Gisela Graham

£249.95 Victorian Plumbing

Display green osmunda sprays in a vase

Get that super-chic look with this Aston traditional heated towel rail

£10 George Home Terrariums are a lovely way to display plants

£40 Sainsbury’s Stick to natural materials like this large wooden mirror

£8.50 Mode Prints If you’re a lover of prints and plants, this Plant Life poster is for you

£15 Rockett St George

£85 Ikea

Bath mats don’t need to be boring, look at this fun design

Keep it sleek with a countertop washbasin, like this Horvik style industrial look Contemporary bathroom wall light, £145, Fritz Fryer

‘Bathrooms should reflect your personality just like any other room, run with it!’

£29.65 per sqm British Ceramic Tile Go monochrome with Black Satin floor tiles

£25 Dunelm No matter the size of your bath, this extendable bamboo bath rack will fit beautifully

£19.99 Zara A jute doorstop in a sailor’s knot is the perfect addition

Dec/Jan 2019 107

Bedroom makeover

My style is definitely a little different Jill and Paul Ashton’s bedroom is an individualistic mixture of vintage, recycled and modern

My room...

My problem bedroom

Feature and styling Sharon Smith Photos David Giles

A bit about me

Hi, I’m Jill Ashton and I live with my husband Paul in a Victorian former carriage works converted into a three-bedroom house in Suffolk.

When we bought the house this room was used as a library, with a huge bookcase, a striped carpet which was moth-eaten in places and the original doors from when it was used as a carriage works. This room is on the first floor and the doors opened into thin air so we had to be very careful not to use them!

How I made it work

We moved the bookcase out and in its place Paul put up a stud wall to create a walk-in wardrobe. We used the original carriage doors to winch our furniture up into the room then replaced them with a proper window. We pulled up the old carpet to reveal the wooden floor. Half of it was recycled from a dance floor at Colchester Barracks. We decorated the room ourselves.

My favourite part

Before Before 108 homestylemag.co.uk

I really love the colour scheme because it makes our bedroom a balanced and calm space whether on a cold winter evening or on a bright and sunny summer morning.

Good idea

Mirrored chest of drawers make for glitzy bedside tables

Jill painted the white bedstead from Ikea in a soft grey to match the rugs and the pastel bed cushions she brought in to soften the bold blue and white colour scheme

‘I’m the painter and decorator and Paul’s in charge of the DIY’

TOTAL

£2,890 Dec/Jan 2019 109

Bedroom makeover

Style advice Three simple tricks to try in your own home Be creative for that individual touch.

Jill and Paul did most of the work themselves because they were on a tight budget.

Jill chose Inchrya Blue

by Farrow & Ball for two of the walls. A rich blue-grey tone, it creates a dramatic contrast to the white shade used everywhere else in the room. Painting selected walls like Jill has creates a dynamic approach to your room, which is very effective.

If you have the space, design a dressing room.

A walk-in wardrobe will keep your main room tidy. ‘It works to have it as a completely separate and walled-off space and it has saved our bedroom from becoming cluttered with clothes. I couldn’t sleep in clutter,’ says Jill.

Opt for a simple design, it doesn’t have to be fancy or something out of Sex in the City.

Upcycling is key to saving money.

Upcycling is a trend that is becoming more and more popular. Why not make a visit to your local antique or charity shop, you will find lots of pieces of furniture that need a new home.

Passionate about recycling wherever possible, Jill has revived a pine swing mirror she bought years ago in Birmingham and an old pine rocking chair by painting them white.

110 homestylemag.co.uk

‘We buy what we like rather than aim for a particular style or overall look’

Style your home with furniture that mirrors the style of your abode. The vintage chest of drawers, desk and chair in Jill’s bedroom were bought from a local antiques centre and reflect the age of the house

Jill has zoned this part of the room by painting the panelling under the window Inchyra Blue

My experience…

The room was used as a library before and felt dated and tired. It is a good size with lots of windows so it is always full of light and enjoys a delightful aspect overlooking the street. It also has an original beam across the room. We liked the bookcase but not in our bedroom so we moved it into another room.

In its place Paul built a stud wall to create a walk-in wardrobe to keep the bedroom tidy. We replaced the original carriage doors with a window and pulled up the carpet to reveal the wooden floor.

Paul and I did most of the work ourselves because of our tight budget. I’m the painter and decorator and Paul’s in charge of the DIY. I painted the walls, ceiling, floorboards, doors and the wooden window frames. Paul built the wardrobe and put tongue and groove on the stud wall to give it a rural feel. We both work full-time so we renovated in our spare time at the weekends and in the evenings. Our style is eclectic, we buy what we like rather than aim for a particular style. We have a Scandi-industrial feel, with our white window blinds teamed with two walls painted in Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball to contrast with the white. Our furniture and accessories are a mixture of old, new, and recycled from local shops and the high street. I think we should be responsible about what we buy and throw away. I always like to recycle where possible. I love the slightly quirky and eclectic feel of our bedroom.

My shopping list

Good idea

Exposed brickwork, floorboards and wood beams enhance a room’s period feel

Bedroom walls in Inchyra Blue, £45 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball.

Floor painted in Ronseal Diamond white satin, £21 for 1L, B&Q. Skogsklover white roller blinds, £25 each; for a similar bed, try Leirvik, from £90, both Ikea. For similar swing mirror, try the Toulouse, £109; for similar desk and chair, try Toulouse white dressing table set, £189, both Dunelm. Grey yarn rug, £275, Loaf. For similar Persian rug, try Loughlam Pink, £49.99, Wayfair. For a similar bed throw, try the Taylor, £60, Habitat. For similar mirrored cabinet, try Fleur bedside table, £225, Next. For similar coat stand, try vintage coat stand, £29.99, The Range. Assorted bed cushions, various prices, Habitat, Soak & Sleep, Cox & Cox. For a similar rocking chair, try Dixon, £141.99, Wayfair.

Turn to page 128 for stockist details Homestylemag.co.uk April/May 2015 111 Dec/Jan 2019

Shop the look Check it out Leirvik bed frame, £90; Emmie Ruta quilt cover and pillowcases, £35; Hemnes cabinet, £195, all Ikea

£4 Creative Tops Serve breakfast on a ditsy floral tray for a feminine touch

£9.99 per sqm Wickes Keep it neutral with Aspen Oak laminate flooring

get the look

£59 JD Williams

rural charm

Decorate an Arthouse stag head with fairy lights

Feature Nicole Howarth

Get that chic French look like Jill has, with traditional furniture, checked prints and wooden flooring

£5.95 Desenio Framed prints look great above a bed

112 homestylemag.co.uk

£9.95 Rex London This retro green alarm clock will add a pop of colour

£20 M&Co Drape a multi-check throw over your bed

Style advice

Get vintage furniture This style is easily achieved with aged furniture. Visit your local charity or antique shop for a bargain buy. If not, buy a crackle-effect paint for a quick fix.

Keep your foundations If you’re lucky enough to have exposed beams, brick walls and wooden flooring, maintain and enhance them. If not, there are several brick-effect wallpapers available.

Give it a modern update Keep it simple with white walls or modernise the look by painting one or two in a different colour. This will also separate off areas of the room.

£30 for three Cox & Cox A dreamy spray of cotton stems look beautiful on display

£109 Dunelm £29 Harriet Hare Opt for striped cushions for a nautical style

£34.99 HomeSense Stick with the theme with a grey Georgian sideboard clean look Rattan and wood screen, £150, Cox & Cox

Get that Parisian look with this Toulouse white cheval mirror

£15 per 2.5L Wilko Choose soft paint shades such as Duck Egg

‘A country-style interior with a French twist will make your bedroom feel tranquil’

£19.95 per 1L Annie Sloan Use a chalk paint in Aubusson Blue to update second-hand furniture

£129 Very Go glam with a mirrored bedside chest

£59 Made Cotton striped bedding is perfect for this look

Dec/Jan 2019 113

All features subject to change Top image Pleesecakes by Brendon Parry and Joe Moruzzi (Quadrille, £15) Bottom image Sainsbury’s

Coming next month

Colourful homes with bags of style!

Valentine’s Day recipes to share

Clever styling ideas to copy

Spring/summer supermarket buys

PLUS, DON’T MISS OUT ON...

Q don’t move, improve guide Q the latest high street drops Q style with window treatments Q quick weeknight meals Q top giveaways Q interior trends

Be in HomeStyle!

For your chance to grace our pages and win a fantastic prize, use the #myHShome hashtag on Instagram and tell us all about your pad and home style!

Get your copy! february issue on sale 2nd January 2019

Dec/Jan 2016 91

Quick-fix No-fuss meals and easy recipes to try this month

cooking

Short on time and inspiration? You’ve come to the right place – turn over and get stuck in!

p120

Christmas showstopper

Feature Nicole Howarth

guests p118 Wow on the big day

and p116 Quick hearty meals Dec/Jan 2019 115

Food planner

Super speedy suppers Break free from the kitchen and claim back your evenings with our cheat’s

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Veggie chilli Prep and cook time 30 mins Serves 4 Ingredients Q 2 onions Q 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped Q 2 bell peppers, red and yellow Q 400g canned red kidney beans, drained and rinsed Q 2 tbsp olive oil Q 2 tsp garam masala Q Couple sprigs coriander Q 800g canned chopped tomatoes Q 100ml water Q 1 cube vegetable stock Q Lime, to taste Q Salt and pepper, to taste Q 175g Alpro Go On Plain

1

Firstly chop the onion and garlic. Next slice the bell pepper, remove the seeds and chop into thin slices. Now, drain and rinse the red kidney beans.

Heat up the olive oil in a heavy frying pan with a lid and add the onions and garlic.

Let them soften while stirring occasionally.

Add the garam masala and some of the coriander. Stir-fry for 1 min, then add the tomatoes, bell peppers and water.

Add a crumbled vegetable stock cube and stir to dissolve. Cover the pan and let simmer for 15 mins while stirring occasionally.

Add the red kidney beans to the pan and season with lime juice, pepper and salt.

You can add extra water if it’s looking dry.

To finish, serve the veggie chili with fresh coriander, a splash of lime juice, Alpro Go On Plain and naan or rice.

2 Vegetable stew Prep and cook time 40 mins Serves 4

Feature Nicole Howarth Recipes Alpro

Ingredients Q 2 tbsp olive oil Q 2 onions, finely chopped Q 2 garlic cloves, crushed Q 4cm ginger, grated Q ½ red chilli pepper (optional), deseeded and finely chopped Q 1½ tbsp garam masala Q 1 tbsp curry powder Q 1 tsp turmeric Q 900g vegetables: potato, pumpkin and sweet potato, peeled and diced into small cubes Q 500ml tomato passata Q 400ml water Q Small bunch of fresh coriander, including stalks, chopped Q 200g fresh spinach Q 220g Alpro Go On Plain Q Salt and pepper Q Lime, juice only

3 4 5

Chicory ham and cheese Prep and cook time 30 mins Serves 4 Ingredients Q 4 stumps chicory Q Dash of lemon juice Q 75g Alpro Soya Margarine for Baking and Frying Q 75g flour Q 750ml Alpro Soya Unsweetened Q 75 ml Alpro Soya Cuisine Q Freshly ground pepper and salt Q Pinch of nutmeg Q 4 slices cooked ham Q 100g grated cheese Q Pinch of parsley

1

1 2 3

2 3 4

4

Heat the oil and fry the onion together with the garlic, ginger and chilli until the onions are translucent. Add the spices (garam masala or ras el hanout, curry powder and tumeric) and cook for 1-2 mins to release the aromas. Add the diced vegetables, tomato passata, water and coriander.

Bring the pot to a simmer and let it cook for 20-30 mins on a low heat until the potatoes are soft. Stir frequently thoroughout.

Add the spinach leaves and Alpro Go On to the stew and simmer for a further 2 mins.

Season with pepper, a pinch of salt and a little lime juice. Serve with a roll and enjoy!

Top tip: As an alternative, you can use 2 tbsp curry paste instead of the dried spices.

116 homestylemag.co.uk

Preheat the oven and grill to 180°C. Cut the chicory in two and remove the hard part.

Sprinkle a dash of lemon juice over it.

Next, boil the chicory in salted water until tender, then let it drain.

Melt the Alpro margarine in a saucepan and add the flour. Keep stirring until nice and smooth. Add, little by little, the Alpro Soya Unsweetened and the Alpro Soya Cuisine while stirring. Stir until you get a smooth sauce. Season with pepper, salt and a pinch of nutmeg.

Create rolls of the chicory and the ham and arrange them in a baking dish. Pour the sauce over the rolls and sprinkle a generous amount of grated cheese over the whole dish.

Put the chicory dish under the grill for 10 mins, until you have a nice brown crust. Top with shredded parsley and serve.

5

to whip up this week

food plan; these tasty recipes are simple to make and will delight all

Thursday

Friday

Potato and courgette dauphinois

Q Salt Q Pepper Q Plain flour Q Bay leaves Q Curry powder Q Turmeric Q Nutmeg Q Parsley Q Garlic clove Q Olive oil Q Vegetable stock cube Q Nutmeg

Prep and cook time 1 HR Serves 4 Ingredients Q 125ml Alpro Soya Unsweetened Q 125ml Alpro Soya Single Q 2 bay leaves Q 1 clove garlic Q 500g potatoes Q 1 courgette Q 1 tsp olive oil Q Salt and black pepper Q 100g cheese

Shopping list

1

First start by warming up the Alpro Soya Unsweetened together with the Alpro Soya Single and add the bay leaves and crushed garlic. Take the pan off the heat once it boils.

Peel the potatoes and the courgette and cut them into thin slices. Meanwhile, grease a baking dish with the olive oil.

Create a layer of potatoes at the bottom of the baking dish and season with salt and pepper. Then, alternate layers of courgette slices and potatoes slices and season every layer with pepper and salt. Finish off with a layer of courgette. Pour the cooked mixture of Alpro Soya Unsweetened and Alpro Soya Single on top until two-thirds is submerged.

To finish, sprinkle grated cheese over the casserole. Bake in the oven for 35-40 mins at 200°C until the potatoes are tender and the cheese has melted. Leave in the oven for longer if you prefer it to be crispy.

2 3

4

Store cupboard essentials

Wrapped leek oven dish Prep and cook time 30 mins Serves 4 Ingredients Q 4 thick leek stalks Q 35g plain flour Q 35g margarine Q 350ml Alpro Soya Unsweetened Q 250ml Alpro Soya Cuisine Q 70g Comté cheese Q 3 tbsp chopped and grated parsley Q Pinch nutmeg Q Pinch freshly ground pepper and salt Q 4 slices ham Q 4 tbsp flaked almonds

1

Start by preheating the oven to 200°C. Cut the leek in equal length pieces, boil these in salted water until they’re just undercooked and let them drain afterwards.

For the sauce, mix flour with melted margarine in a pan until smooth. Add two-thirds of the Alpro Soya Unsweetened and blend thoroughly. Little by little, continue to stir the mixture while adding the remaining Alpro Soya Unsweetened and Alpro Soya Cuisine. Remove the pan from the heat and add 50g grated Comté cheese and chopped parsley to the mixture.

Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper.

Roll each slice of ham in one of the leek stalks and season with salt and pepper.

Place them on a baking dish and pour the sauce on top along with the remaining grated Comté cheese and flaked almonds.

Place in the oven for about 15-20 mins.

Serve immediately with bread, potatoes or brown rice. Enjoy!

2

3

4

Onions Ginger Garam masala Red chilli pepper Pumpkin Sweet potato Tomato passata Fresh coriander Spinach Alpro Go On Plain Limes Chopped tomatoes Bell peppers Red kidney beans Chicory Lemon juice Alpro Soya Unsweetened Alpro Soya Cuisine Cooked ham slices Grated cheese Alpro Soya Margarine Parsley Alpro Soya Single Potatoes Cheese Courgette Leeks Margarine Comté cheese Flaked almonds

Alpro products are available from all good supermarkets, including Asda, Co-op, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Want some more meal inspiration?

For more delicious quick and easy recipes, head on over to the HomeStyle website!

Dec/Jan 2019 117

Delicious ideas

Festive feast

Feature Nicole Howarth Soup recipe Vegan Christmas by Gaz Oakley (Quadrille, ÂŁ15) Photos Simon Smith

Make your day extra-special with our meal planner

Parsnip and vanilla soup Prep and cook time 40 mins Serves 6 Ingredients Q 2 tbsp rapeseed oil Q 4 banana shallots, finely chopped Q 1 garlic clove Q 8 parsnips, peeled and chopped into 2cm pieces Q 2 sprigs of fresh thyme Q 440ml vegetable stock Q 440ml almond milk Q 1 vanilla pod Q Sea salt and pepper Q 3 tbsp lemon juice 118 homestylemag.co.uk

To serve Q 60g hazelnuts Q 50g dried cranberries Q A few sprigs of fresh thyme Q Olive oil Method Heat the oil or water in a saucepan over a medium heat, then sweat the shallots and garlic until translucent. Add some seasoning, the parsnips and thyme sprigs.

Turn the heat down to very low and cover the saucepan. Sweat the parsnips until they’re almost soft, stirring often for about 15 mins.

Add the stock and milk, and stir to combine.

Spilt the vanilla pod down the middle

1

2 3

lengthways and scrape out the seeds using the back of your knife. Add the seeds and the pod to the saucepan, bring the soup to the boil, then take it off the heat and scoop out the vanilla pod.

To finish, carefully pour the soup into a blender and pulse until smooth. Pour the soup back into your saucepan and check the seasoning, adding salt, pepper and the lemon juice to bring out the rich and comforting flavours. Taste once again and add more seasoning if needed. Serve the soup in warmed bowls or mugs, sprinkled with the hazelnuts and cranberries, a sprig of herbs and a drizzle of olive oil.

4

Roasted carrots Prep and cook time 35 mins Serves 4 Ingredients Q 2 rosemary sprigs Q 2 garlic cloves, unpeeled Q 2 bay leaves Q Knob of butter Q 8 carrots, peeled and chopped on the diagonal into 1cm chunks Q Salt and black pepper Q 2 tbsp olive oil

Blackberry roast pork Prep and cook time 2 hrs 10 mins Serves 6

Blackberry roast pork recipe Seasonal Berries Roasted carrots and stir-fried sprouts with cranberries recipes Riverford

Ingredients Q 1.5kg boned rolled pork loin joint with scored skin Q 1 tsp fennel seeds, roughly crushed Q ½ tsp cumin seeds, roughly crushed Q Salt Q 2 tbsps sunflower oil Stuffing Q 1 tsp sunflower oil Q 1 onion, finely chopped Q 3 cardamom pods, split outer case discarded, black seeds crushed Q 75g ginger biscuits, crushed Q 75g blackberries Q Salt and freshly ground black pepper Beer gravy Q 2 tbsp plain flour Q 330ml bottle German blonde beer Q 200m chicken stock Q 2 tsps light muscovado sugar Q 1 tsp English mustard Q 100g blackberries

Stir-fried sprouts with cranberries Prep and cook time 25 mins Serves 4 Ingredients Q 50g dried cranberries Q 500g Brussels sprouts Q 1 tbsp oil Q Knob of butter Q 75g pecans, toasted in a dry frying pan, roughly chopped Q Sea salt and ground black pepper

Method Preheat the oven to 240oC. Remove the string from the pork, open out flat with the rind downwards on a board then cut a 5cm pocket down the length of the joint in the thickest part.

To make the stuffing, heat the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and fry for 5 mins until softened. Mix with the remaining stuffing ingredients then spoon into the pocket. Drizzle the rest on top of the pork, then roll and retie.

Put the joint in a roasting tin, rub the fennel and cumin seeds into the cuts and sprinkle with salt. Add 2 tbsps of oil to the base of the tin.

Roast for 25 mins. Lower the oven temperature to 180oC for 20 mins per 450g or until the meat juices run clear when the pork is pierced.

Lift the pork out of the tin and keep warm in a low oven. Drain the excess fat from the roasting tin then stir in the flour and cook for 1 min. Pour in the beer and stock, then mix in the sugar and mustard and bring to the boil.

Strain into a bowl then pour back into the rinsed roasting tin. Add the blackberries, season and bring back to the boil to warm the blackberries. Pour into a serving dish. Don't forget to remove the string from the pork before serving.

1

2 3

Method Heat the oven to 180°C. To make the bag, spread out a rectangle of baking parchment, approximately 60cm x 30cm, with the longer side towards you. Fold it in half from left to right. Double-fold the top and bottom ends and staple the folds closed with two staples.

Using a pestle and mortar, bash the rosemary, garlic and bay leaves roughly.

Put the mixture into the bag with the butter.

Place the carrots in a bowl, season well and drizzle over oil. Tip into the bag. Doublefold the open edge of the bag and staple shut.

Lay in a roasting tin and bake for about 25 mins; the bag should puff up. Turn out into a bowl, watching out for the staples.

1

2 3 4

4 5

Method To begin, put the cranberries in a bowl and pour over boiling water to just cover them.

Soak the cranberries for 10-15 mins, then drain.

Cut the sprouts in half, lay each half flat on your chopping board and finely shred the leaves.

Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan, add the sprouts and fry for 3-4 mins.

Introduce the cranberries and nuts, season well and mix to ensure an even coat and serve.

Place a serving on each plate or leave in a bowl.

1 2 3

Dec/Jan 2019 119

Delicious ideas

magic

Christmas What is the festive big day without a delicious showstopper?

Snow and ice cake Prep and cook time 2 hrs plus setting time Serves 16 Ingredients Q 200g slightly salted butter, very soft Q 350g caster sugar Q 250ml whole milk Q 350g plain flour Q 20g Dr. Oetker baking powder Q 6 sachets Dr. Oetker egg white powder Decoration Q 150g granulated sugar Q 7.5ml Dr. Oetker American peppermint extract Q 900g Dr. Oetker Regal-Ice Q 300g icing sugar, plus extra to dust Q 125g unsalted butter, softened Q 20ml whole milk Q Dr. Oetker silver shimmer spray Q Peppermint candy canes

1

Preheat the oven to 170˚C/150˚C Fan/Gas Mark 3. Grease and line two deep 18cm round cake tins. Whisk the butter and sugar together in a large bowl for 2-3 mins until creamy and well blended.

Gradually whisk in the milk, with a little of the flour, then sift the remaining flour and baking powder on top and gently mix until well combined.

In a large, grease-free bowl, make up the egg white powder as directed until softly foaming, then gently fold into the cake mixture. Divide the mixture equally between the prepared tins, smooth the tops and bake for 50 mins until risen, lightly golden and firm to the touch. Cool for 5 mins then turn out on to wire racks to cool.

Slice a thin layer from the tops of both cakes.

Crumble the cake trimmings and put to one side for making the snowball truffles – you will need 100g cake crumbs. Carefully slice through the middle of each cake to make four equal rounds.

To decorate, line a large baking tray with baking parchment. Put the granulated sugar in a small saucepan with 150ml water. Heat gently, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, then bring to the boil, stop stirring, and boil steadily for 15-20 mins until thick and syrupy but clear. Remove from the heat, quickly whisk in 1.25ml peppermint extract, and immediately pour over the centre of the prepared baking tray. Spread out in an even layer to form a rectangle approximately 20cm x 30cm. Leave to set slightly for a couple of mins, then as the sugar begins to firm up, score the surface into long shard shapes using a large bladed knife.

Leave in a cool, dry place (avoid refrigerating) for a further 30 mins or until completely set.

2

Feature Nicole Howarth Recipe Dr. Oetker

3

4

120 homestylemag.co.uk

5

Next make the snowball truffles. Chop up 50g Regal-Ice and put in a small saucepan.

Add 5ml water and heat very gently, stirring occasionally until melted together. Remove from the heat. Stir in the reserved cake trimmings and 1.25ml peppermint extract. Mix well and leave aside for around 30 mins to firm up.

Once firm, form into different sized balls.

Sift 50g icing sugar in a bowl and carefully coat the balls all over to give them a snowy finish. Put on a board lined with baking parchment and leave in a cool, dry place to firm up (avoid refrigerating). Keep the bowl of icing sugar and leave to the side for later use.

For the filling and covering, put the butter in a bowl and beat until smooth and glossy.

Gradually sieve and mix in the remaining 250g icing sugar and sufficient milk to make a smooth, spreadable icing. Stir in 2.5ml peppermint extract.

Spread 225g of the peppermint icing evenly over three sponges and stack them on top of each other. Measure the depth of the cake and round the outside of the cake for the circumference. Use 100g peppermint icing to spread thinly round the sides of the cake.

Gently knead 600g Regal-Ice until pliable.

Lightly dust the work surface with icing sugar and roll out the Regal-Ice to the thickness of a £1 coin. Using assorted sized snowflake cutters, stamp out about 30 different shapes and place on a tray lined with baking parchment. Cover loosely with more parchment and put the tray in a dry, cool place for at least 2 hours until the shapes are dry and firm enough to be able to arrange on top of the cake and around the serving plate.

Lightly dust the work surface with icing sugar and roll out the remaining Regal-Ice to form a circle approximately 32.5cm in diameter. Using your rolling pin to help you lift the icing circle, drape it over the cake. Smooth into position using the palm of your hand, working from the centre to the edge and down the sides. Trim away the excess icing. To achieve an extra-smooth finish, dust your hand with a little icing sugar and gently rub the cake all over to buff the surface.

Leave in a cool place to allow the surface to dry for at least 2 hours (preferably overnight).

To finish the decoration, chop the remaining Regal-Ice and place in a saucepan and add 30ml water. Heat very gently, stirring occasionally, until melted together. Remove from the heat, mix in the remaining peppermint extract and beat until smooth. Working quickly, spoon the molten Regal-Ice round the top edge of the cake so that it dribbles down the sides in thick drips. As it cools,

6 7

8

9

10

this icing thickens quickly, but it can be gently reheated to soften again, if necessary.

Spoon the remaining melted Regal-Ice in the centre of the cake and smooth over the top so that it meets the dripping edge. Leave to cool and set for about 1 hr.

When you are ready to serve the cake, lay a large sheet of baking parchment on the work surface and place the cake in the centre. Cover up the edges of the serving plate or board with parchment.

Following the directions on the can of shimmer spray, gently spray the cake all over to give it a frosted look. Leave to dry for 5 mins then remove the plate protection.

To finish, lightly dust the snowball truffles with the reserved icing sugar.

Arrange them on and around the cake.

Break up the peppermint into shards and press into the centre of the cake to resemble icicles. Decorate the top and around the cake with snowflakes, and add candy canes for extra decoration.

11

12

13

Get baking Make sure you have all your kitchen essentials

pretty pastel VonShef 1260W pink stand mixer, £74.99, Domu

cool Copper National Trust Country Kitchen mixing bowl, £16, Farrar & Tanner

Great top tip!

If preferred, replace the peppermint extract with Dr. Oetker Sicilian natural lemon extract or Madagascan natural vanilla extract – these flavours will work in all areas of the cake recipe, but may affect the shards.

super sleek Gold cake serving cutlery set with silver handle, £5.99, HomeSense

October 2018 121

Making life tasty Best buy

Follow the call of the disco ball. Heinz has released its showstopping seriously good mayonnaise in a limited edition discothemed jar. Pick up a pot from all major supermarkets for a bargain price of £3.49.

QUICK FIX

LET THE PARTY BEGIN…

Jawbox gin has just launched two fruity gin liqueurs that are definitely going to be on our cocktail trolley this year! They’ve come up with Rhubarb & Ginger and Pineapple & Ginger – we recommend mixing with ginger ale and a squeeze of lime. You can purchase a 70cl bottle from Amazon for £25.

A fancy pants crisp is the ideal snack for any time of day.

The much-loved Kettle Chips has released a brand new flavour… Truffled Cheese & Champagne – yum! Grab a bag for £1.85 from Sainsbury’s.

Fresh find

Pip & Nut has combined all the usual yummy flavours of chocolate spread without the bad stuff. The Chocolate Orange Almond Butter is irresistible – use it as a molten centre for your puddings. Available from Sainsbury’s for £3.95.

food news What’s on our plates, in our kitchen cupboards and filling our shopping trolleys this month

Feature Becca Green

CHRISTMAS BAKES

The Scandinavian way of life has something we could all learn from.

Clean living, no clutter and effortless simplicity are just to name a few of its influences. Introduce these elements into your festive season with ScandiKitchen Christmas by Bronte Aurell (Ryland Peters & Small, £16.99).

Not only has this book got all of the delicious Scandi-inspired recipes that you’ll ever need to host a fantastic dinner party, but it encourages readers to take time for themselves this Christmas in order to have the best day possible!

Our favourite recipe has to be the Swedish ginger biscuits – not only do they taste amazing, but they look great as hanging decorations, too!

122 homestylemag.co.uk

latest release

Calling all caramel lovers! The sweet company that we all know and adore, Werther’s Original has introduced a new Caramel Shop gift box for Christmas, which includes a variety of comforting Werther’s treats – Butter Candies, Soft Caramels, Eclairs and Creamy Filling – it’s perfect as a gift or just for sharing! Priced at £2.99 from Asda, Tesco and Morrisons, it would make a delightful Christmas Eve present to give to your other half or kids, to get them in the festive spirit! Remember to recycle and reuse the gorgeous packaging after and use to store other sweet treats all year round, it’s too lovely to throw!

Making life simple

Easy living

Fill your home with the scent of Christmas with help from Zoflora. The popular brand has launched two new limited edition fragrances, Festive Fireside and Winter Morning. Available at Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Co-op and Waitrose for £1.48

All the latest products to make home life less complicated Netatmo Smart Healthy Home Coach, £76.99, Wickes

Top tech

We all want to live our lives in the best and most healthiest way, right? Say hello to the Netatmo Smart Healthy Home Coach, the small indoor climate monitor which will show you exactly how to do this. Whether it’s the best noise level for sound sleeping or the right humidity levels for a child with asthma, this device will highlight potential problems and help you fix them. Simply use the app to find out the best humidity levels, noise, air quality and temperature.

Perfect night’s sleep

Everyone loves soft and freshly washed bed sheets, right? We certainly do! For a touch of luxury at an affordable price, the new bed linen collection from Silentnight is the perfect choice. All the ranges are 100% machine washable and if that wasn’t enough to win you over, the bedding is available in seven different finishes and fabrics to suit all seasons. The on-trend colours, super soft fabric, timeless designs and contemporary yet cosy styles will have you struggling to leave your bed in the morning! Available from Very, Sleepy People and Littlewoods from £16.99.

Satin Stripe bed linen, from £20.99, available from Very, Sleepy People and Littlewoods

Warm your home

Feature Nicole Howarth

Is your home lacking that warm feeling? As we head into the winter season, it is time to get cosy. Make your home the perfect retreat with Home: Design for a Cozy Life

by Christiana Coop and Aimee Lagos (Chronicle Books, £26) Founders of Hygge & West Christiana and Aimee are the professionals when it comes to making a house a home.

They are firm believers of decoration to achieve this and showing readers how to embrace natural elements, create cosy spaces, make room for family, or find personal charm in every area.

Home is full of inspiration, interviews and tips and gives an insight into 20 homes which are designed to subtly promote feelings of cosiness, companionship, and comfort.

Clever cordless

Would you be impressed if we said that your house cleaning could be made easier? Look no further, the new Vac Blade 2 Max 40V cordless vacuum is the answer to your woes. The high performance cleaning product with a 45 minute run time is not only lightweight but it features a great innovative design for multi surfaces. With a simple click of a button, it is converted from an upright to a handy handheld device. So you can reach all areas, both high and low.

Vax Blade 2 Max 40V cordless vacuum, £249, Vax

Dec/Jan 2019 123

£2,160 of great prizes to be won The UK’s leading multi-store gift card, One4all, is offering 10 lucky HomeStyle readers the chance to win a £100 gift card this Christmas! The One4all gift card can be used in over 55,000 stores nationwide, including John Lewis, Debenhams, M&S, Topshop and Foot Locker, and in restaurants such as Ask Italian and Pizza Express. It can also be put towards a holiday or mini break with top brands like SuperBreak and SpaSeekers. You can even personalise the gift card with your favourite festive photos online.

Available from one4all.com or at Post Offices nationwide. What are you waiting for? Enter now for your chance to win this amazing prize. Best of luck!

For more info, visit on one4all.com

Worth £300

Drayton has teamed up with HomeStyle to offer two lucky readers the chance to win a Wiser home heating bundle worth £300! The prize of a Wiser Multi-zone Kit includes a Heat Hub, room thermostat and two intelligent Red Dot award-winning radiator thermostats, plus the brand new Wiser Plug. Wiser allows you to view and control the temperature in up to 16 different rooms all via the app.

For more info, visit wiser.draytoncontrols.co.uk

It’s so easy! Head to homestylemag.co.uk, click on the ‘Win!’ tab and fill in your details.

We’ve got our fingers crossed for you – best of luck.

10 great prizes

WIN A £100 GIFT CARD FROM ONE4ALL

WIN A WISER HOME HEATING BUNDLE

To enter

WIN A STYLISH DEHUMIDIFIER

4 lucky winners

How would you like to win a £140 dehumidifier to solve your condensation problems? Leading dehumidifier expert Meaco, are giving four lucky readers the chance to win one of its newest models, the MeacoDry ABC 10L. Dealing with damp, mould in bathrooms, and condensation on windows can be a nightmare in cold weather. This stylish model is ultra-quiet and comes in five unique colours.

For more info, visit meaco.com

Rules of entry 1) All giveaways close at midnight on 31st January 2019. Winners will be notified after the closing date. 2) Subject to availability, non transferable or refundable. No cash alternative will be given. Prizes include delivery but not installation or removal of existing products or appliances, where applicable. 3) Open to residents in the UK (mainland), over age of 18, except employees of Hubert Burda Media UK or companies involved in these promotions. 4) Entrants must be homeowners where decorating/renovation work is required for the prize.

5) Only one entry per person. 6) The winners must be willing to participate in publicity if required. 7) The editor’s decision is final. Correspondence will not be entered into. 8) The winners are selected at random, from correct entries received, after the competition end date. 9) Prizes are valid for six months after the date of the draw, and the prize will be withdrawn if it is not claimed within this period. 10) Hubert Burda Media UK and companies involved in these promotions may use your details to advise of products and services. Details are occasionally available to vetted companies (online opt-ins only). 11) Allow 8-10 weeks from selection to completion. 12) Reproduction of this competition, in whole or part, without written permission is prohibited. Hubert Burda Media UK reserves the right to prosecute offending parties.

124 homestylemag.co.uk

The Kitchen Door Company offers bespoke, made to measure vinyl wrapped kitchen doors at affordable prices.

Please call and talk to trained staff with more that 40 years experience in kitchens if you need any help and advice.

Take a look at our website for more ideas.

www.kitchendoorcompany.co.uk

tel: 01664 812521 sales@kitchendoorcompany.co.uk

DE

CO

%OFF

E OT

7 S0 :H

Soft and luxurious towels are a perfect 100% bamboo fibre.

10

QU

Bamboo Towels & Robes

Naturally occurring properties of bamboo make our towels fabulous to use and kinder to your skin.

Bamboo yarn towels keep you warm in winter and cool in summer, insulating according to temperature.

These amazing natural properties mean that our towels don’t need to be washed at high temperatures, a cool or warm wash is fine.

Our bamboo towels retain their softness as they dry, unlike cotton towels which dry naturally to a hard and stiff feel.

Its natural antibacterial properties suppresses bacteria caused by sweat and waste! Stains do not smell therefore the towels are always clean.

FACE TOWELS • BATH TOWELS • ROBES

Tel: 0208 942 7575 • order@av10.co.uk • www.av10.co.uk

Dry your clothes in style, off the floor & out

of the way with the . . .

Laundry Ladder

Love Your Laundry More info: www.juluhome.co.uk

033 022 32 855

Free Delivery (Mainland UK Only) Use code: HS18 Expires: 30th Nov

homestylemag.co.uk

To place an advert here, please call 01206 851117 ext 258

Shopping Directory

Re-Silver Plating

In In aa hole hole about about aa quick quick post post fifix? x?

REVIVE YOUR SILVERWARE (EPNS, Sterling Silver, Copper or Brass base metal) TURN THIS…

INTO THIS…

OSMOUK POST FIX ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

Fix posts postswith with Fix ourlightweight lightweight our two-part two-partmix. mix.

Post in postion; mix the two parts.

Post in postion; mix the two parts.

• Cutlery Sets/Pieces • Trays and Bowls • Tea/Coffee Sets • Trophies

• Ornaments • Candlesticks • Jugs/Tankards • And much more!

NO OBLIGATION QUOTES R P Day & Co

0114 2467240

Pour into hole.

Pour into hole.

3 3 Firmly fixed in just 3 minutes.

No heavy concrete No heavy concrete and ballast! and ballast!

• EASY • • EASY STRONG • • STRONG FAST • FAST So many uses Order on-line So many uses... around the garden. or call on: • Garden Posts 0800 000 000 • Sport Posts website for full Posts product •SeeAgricultural user guide.

•andSigns

Firmly fixed in just 3 minutes.

www.steelcitycutlery.com/plating

To place an advert here, please call 01206 851117 ext 258

easypostfi easypostfix.co.uk x.co.uk

homestylemag.co.uk

01509 234000 - www.floorsofstone.com enquiries@floorsofstone.com

Suppliers of natural stone, porcelain and terracotta tiles, handmade ceramic tiles and wood flooring.

CLAIM 15% OFF

WITH CODE: EARLYBIRD15

01522 789748 www.purpleholly.co.uk

homestylemag.co.uk

@purpleholly

To place an advert here, please call 01206 851117 ext 258

Iconic Lights iconiclights.co.uk Ikea ikea.com

JKL

98

Where to shop Your little black book of where to buy everything you’ve seen in this issue

ABC

Abigail Ahern abigailahern.com Abrams & Chronicle abramsandchronicle.co.uk Abstract House abstracthouse.com Accessorize accessorize.com Alpro alpro.com Amara amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Annabel James annabeljames.co.uk Annie Sloan anniesloan.com Argos argos.co.uk Arthur Lee Interiors arthurlee.co.uk Artisanti artisanti.com Art Wow artwow.co Asda asda.com Atkin and Thyme atkinandthyme.co.uk Audenza audenza.com B&M bmstores.co.uk B&Q diy.com Balsam Hill balsamhill.co.uk Baylis & Harding baylisandharding.com Best4flooring best4flooring.co.uk Bobby Rabbit bobbyrabbit.co.uk Bogans Carpets boganscarpets.com British Heart Foundation bhf.org.uk Broste Copenhagen brostecopenhagen.com Caroline Gardner carolinegardner.com Carpetright carpetright.co.uk Cath Kidston 128 homestylemag.co.uk

JD Williams jdwilliams.co.uk John Lewis johnlewis.co.uk Jojo Maman Bebe jojomamanbebe.co.uk Jo Malone jomalone.co.uk King & McGaw kingandmcgaw.com Kipling kipling.com La Redoute laredoute.co.uk Laura Ashley lauraashley.com Lavender Home & Gift lavenderhomeandgift.co.uk Lenovo lenovo.com Lights4fun lights4fun.co.uk Lisa Dawson lisadawsonstyling.com Listers Interiors listersinteriors.com Little Greene littlegreene.com Loaf loaf.com Lucky Plot 13 luckyplot13.com Lucy Tiffney lucytiffneyshop.com

MNO

M&Co mandco.com M&S marksandspencer.com Electra Bicycle Company Made made.com cathkidston.com electrabike.com Maisons du Monde Chase and Wonder Emma Bridgewater maisonsdumonde.com chaseandwonder.com emmabridgewater.co.uk Matalan matalan.co.uk Chirpy Kitsch Fashion Interiors Meaco meaco.com etsy.com/uk/shop/ fashioninteriors.co.uk Meethue meethue.com ChirpyKitsch FatFace fatface.com Melody Maison Clarins clarins.co.uk Farrar & Tanner melodymaison.co.uk Cotton Twist farrar-tanner.co.uk Mint & May mintandmay.co.uk cottontwist.co.uk Farrow & Ball farrow-ball.com Modish Living Cox & Cox Ferm Living fermliving.com modishliving.co.uk coxandcox.co.uk Fired Earth firedearth.com Mothercare mothercare.com Creative Tops Fireplace World Muck N Brass creative-tops.com fireplaceworld.co.uk mucknbrass.com Crown Paints Flying Tiger Copenhagen My Furniture my-furniture.com crownpaints.co.uk uk.flyingtiger.com Mynn London mynnlondon.com Cult Furniture Frontline Bathrooms Nanoleaf nanoleaf.me cultfurniture.com Natural History Museum Curious Egg curiousegg.com frontlinebathrooms.co.uk Fruugo fruugo.co.uk nhm.ac.uk Netamo netatmo.com New Look newlook.com Daisy Park daisypark.co.uk Next next.co.uk Garden Trading Danetti danetti.com Nordic House nordichouse.co.uk gardentrading.co.uk Dar Lighting Not Just Jugs notjustjugs.com George Home darlighting.co.uk Notonthehighstreet direct.asda.com/george Debenhams notonthehighstreet.com Gisela Graham debenhams.com Oak Furniture House giselagraham.co.uk Desenio desenio.co.uk oakfurniturehouse.co.uk GMC Publications DFS dfs.co.uk Oak Furniture Land thegmcgroup.com Direct Blinds oakfurnitureland.co.uk GoWallpaper gowallpaper.co.uk Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com directblinds.co.uk Graham & Brown Dobbies dobbies.com One4all one4all.com grahambrown.com Dodow mydodow.com Oso Twee Graham & Green Domu domu.co.uk etsy.com/uk/shop/ grahamandgreen.co.uk Dorothy Perkins osotweedesigns Habitat habitat.co.uk dorothyperkins.com Harts of Stur hartsofstur.comk Dowsing & Reynolds Harveys Furniture dowsingandreynolds.com harveysfurniture.co.uk Dr. Oetker oetker.co.uk Panasonic panasonic.com Hobbycraft hobbycraft.co.uk Dunelm dunelm-mill.com Paperchase paperchase.com Homebase homebase.co.uk Easichalk easichalk.com Papermash papermash.co.uk HomeSense homesense.com eBay ebay.co.uk Perkins & Morley Howdens howdens.com Echo amazon.co.uk perkinsandmorley.com Hurn & Hurn hurnandhurn.com Pets At Home petsathome.com Eclect Design Ian Snow iansnow.com eclectdesign.com Pipii pipii.co.uk

DEF

GHI

PQR

PoochPlay justpoochplay.com Posterlounge posterlounge.co.uk Primark primark.com Red Candy redcandy.co.uk RE re-foundobjects.com Rex London rexlondontrade.com Riverford riverford.co.uk River Island riverisland.com Rockett St George rockettstgeorge.co.uk Roku roku.com Rose & Grey roseandgrey.co.uk Ryland Peters & Small rylandpeters.com

ST

Sainsbury’s sainsburys.co.uk Sarah Campbell Designs sarahcampbelldesigns.com Sara Miller saramiller.london Scaramanga scaramangashop.co.uk Scandi Mini scandimini.com Seasonal Berries seasonalberries.co.uk Search Press searchpress.com Silentnight silentnight.co.uk Skyroam skyroam.com Smeg smeguk.com Sony sony.co.uk Sophie Allport sophieallport.com Studio studio.co.uk S’well swellbottle.com Talking Tables talkingtables.com Ted Baker tedbaker.com Tesco tesco.com The Carpet Foundation carpetfoundation.com The Contemporary Home tch.net The Farthing thefarthing.co.uk The Flower Lounge didsburyflowerlounge.co.uk The French Bedroom Company frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk The Range therange.co.uk The White Company thewhitecompany.com Tile Giant tilegiant.co.uk Tile thetileapp.com TK Maxx tkmaxx.com Tolly McRae tollymcrae.co.uk

UV

Valspar valsparpaint.com Vax vax.co.uk Very very.co.uk

WXYZ

Walls and Floors wallsandfloors.co.uk Wayfair wayfair.co.uk We Love Cushions welovecushions.co.uk White Stuff whitestuff.com

67

Stockists

73 BURDA COMMUNITY NETWORK

39

51

Italy: Mariolina Siclari +39 02 91 32 34 66 mariolina.siclari@burda.com Germany: Julia Mund +49 89 92 50 31 97 Julia.Mund@burda.com Michael Neuwirth +49 89 9250 3629 michael.neuwirth@burda.com Switzerland: Goran Vukota +41 44 81 02 146 goran.vukota@burda.com France / Luxembourg: Marion Badolle-Feick +33 1 72 71 25 24 marion.badolle-feick@burda.com Austria: Christina Bresler +43 1 230 60 30 50 Christina.Bresler@burda.com USA / Canada / Mexico: Salvatore Zammuto +1 212 884 48 24 salvatore.zammuto@burda.com

EDITORIAL Editor Lorraine Luximon Style Editor Becca Green Editorial Assistant Nicole Howarth Designer Samantha Rogers Web Editor Peter Byrne ADVERTISING Advertising Manager Simon Daniel 01206 851117 (221) Sales Executive Yasmin Cook 01206 851117 (240) Classified Sales Executive Natasha Jackson 01206 851117 (258) MANAGEMENT Editorial Director Anna-Lisa De’Ath Publishing Manager Rachel Taylor Production Director Reg French Managing Director Luke Patten Commercial Director Darren Summerfield Legal Advisor Cavan Browne Financial Controller Lesley Shard Back Issues Hilary King 01206 851117 (237) SUBSCRIPTIONS 01206 849077 Hubert Burda Media UK, The Tower, Phoenix Square, Colchester, Essex CO4 9HU 01206 851117 homestyle@burdamagazines.co.uk

Prices and availability were checked at time of going to press, but we cannot be held responsible for any changes. Foreign currencies converted into GBP. No part of HomeStyle may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means either wholly or in part, without the prior permission of the publisher. The publisher, editors and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services that may be advertised or referred to in this issue or for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any such advertisements or references. We can’t guarantee that colours reproduced will be an accurate representation due to the printing process. Neither the Editor nor publishing company accept responsibility for any material submitted, whether photographic or otherwise. Competition rules apply to all competitions/ giveaways in HomeStyle. Employees of Hubert Burda Media UK and associated companies are not eligible. There is no cash alternative to prizes. Should the prize become unavailable HomeStyle has the right to offer an alternative prize. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

HomeStyle is distributed by Marketforce Tel (020) 3148 3300

Dec/Jan 2019 129

Best bargains Treat your feet Christmas gingerbread socks, £2.49, New Look

Tub time Snowball bath bombs, £5 each, FatFace

Iconic sweet Merry Percymas biscuit tin, £5, M&S

Travel buddy Tropical Palm pill box with mirror, £3.95, Rex London

Fab finds UNDER £5

Taking part in Secret Santa this year?

Take a look at these top buys!

Feel fresh Miss Roxie unicorn body scrub, £3, Asda

Hang it Gin and tonic bauble candle, £4, Next Fancy tipple Blueberry & Lemon bubbles, £5, Debenhams

Soft shade Peach charging cable, £3.50, Primark

Hot cuppa?

Snowman mug, £4, Flying Tiger Copenhagen Snowflake style Silver felt coasters, £4, M&Co

Sleeping beauty Sleep Queen eye mask, £3, Sainsbury’s 130 homestylemag.co.uk

Geo glam Tealight holder, £5, Ikea

Get colouring Personalised mixed pencils, £2.99, Studio

Feature Nicole Howarth

Keep warm There in a Prosecco socks, £3.50, Dorothy Perkins

Firing imaginations for over 37 years

Woodburning

| gas

M u lt i - F u e l

| electric

www.stovax.com Home_Style_STXGZO_FP_18.indd 1

09/10/2018 17:05

2416 C&J YOUR HOME 290x215mm Xmas Ad_AW_Layout 1 09/10/2018 12:50 Page 1

EST. 1986

Offering comfort and warmth anytime of the year.

T: 0845 519 5991 www.charltonandjenrick.co.uk Charlton & Jenrick brands: