Ragagahhahajajjjja

February 2017

KERB APPEAL

REALHOMES.CO.UK

MAXIMUM IMPACT

19 PAGES OF COLOURFUL KITCHENS

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EXTERIOR MAKEOVERS

50 EASY WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR BEDROOM

MAKE AN ENTRANCE WITH OUR HALLWAY DESIGN IDEAS

LATEST LOOKS FOR

FRONT DOORS

BEFORE +AFTER

58

feb cover.indd 1

PAGES OF AMAZING HOME TRANSFORMATIONS

EXPERT ANSWERS How can I get value for

money on my home improvements?

What’s the best material for my kitchen worktop?

What are the dos and don’ts of removing internal walls?

01/12/2016 14:03

Doors for every personality and property Unlock your home’s true potential with the new Origin Residential Door, where aesthetics and performance are innovatively combined.

Tailor-made to your specific requirements, you’ll be able to choose from a vast range of striking panels, styles and colours, whilst in the comfort of it being manufactured from a premium grade aluminium with a Thermimax core for an ultra-secure and thermally efficient performance.

Because first impressions matter. . .

GUARANTEE

150 RAL

COLOURS

35

PANEL CHOICES

ERMA TH

BRITAIN

ERFO LP

ANCE RM

20 YEAR

MADE IN

For your nearest showroom, please call 0808 168 5816, email info@origin-global.com or visit origin-global.com

RH-Covers-0217.indd 2 ORG1111_REAL HOMES - IFC DPS - FEB NEW.indd 1

07/12/2016 18:03

Doors RH-Covers-0217.indd 3

Windows

Blinds 07/12/2016 18:03 30/11/2016 14:13

RH-4-57.indd 4

09/12/2016 09:08

EDITOR’S

LETTER It might be bitterly cold outside, but now’s the time to start planning how you can transform your home when the warmer weather finally arrives. With that in mind, this month’s edition is all about improving the appearance of your house. Perhaps you’ve got pebbledash you hate? Or a front door that’s well past its best? From page 127, you’ll find expert advice to help you turn your house into the envy of all your neighbours.

And head to page 136 for the latest front doors – guaranteed to make your home stylish, secure, and to help cut energy bills.

You’ve told us how much you love our expert Q&A section, so this month it’s bigger and better than ever before. As well as the usual cut-out-and-keep single-page guides, you’ll find a four-page, in-depth article on how to get best value for money on your home transformation project. If you have a question you’d like our experts to answer, email realhomes@centaurmedia.com. Enjoy!

NEW SPACE Turn to page 68 to take a better look at this open-plan kitchen diner

For more inspiration, follow us on instagram @real_homes

EASY UPDATES Above and below right I love this statement light and armchair from our easy bedroom updates – turn to page 109 to take a look at the rest

Caron Bronson, Editor @RealHomesEd

FOLLOW REAL HOMES ON

realhomes.co.uk

Visit the Real Homes website every day for essential advice, stunning home transformations and design inspiration – and get involved by uploading your own ideas and projects

BOLD LOOK Left If your hallway is just a dumping ground for coats and shoes, it’s time for an update. Head to page 92 for our design advice FEBRUARY 2017

EDIT LETTER.indd 5

5

07/12/2016 11:57

60

ON THE COVER 18 Home transformations 50 Colourful kitchens 92 Revamp your hallway 109 50 bedroom updates 119 Exterior finishes 128 Front doors 137 Expert answers

75

14

CASE STUDIES 18 Modern renovation

Owners Sally and Connor McConchie extended a 1950s property to create a stylish, contemporary family home

32 Rural barn conversion

Amanda and Steve Wills took on a derelict stone building and turned it into an open-plan home with utilitarian influences, plus shop adjustable pendants

38 Apartment renovation

By doing the redecoration work themselves, Alan and Dee Rees have added value and created a space that suits them perfectly

50 Bold kitchen design

Natasha Avery used her interior design skills to create her perfect kitchen in a full-width extension

60 Terraced house redesign

With a visionary design, owner David Quarrell has created a unique look to modernise his traditional home, plus shop the latest red pieces

6

IDEAS 68 Colourful country kitchen

92 Update your hallway

76 Elegant bathroom makeover

100 Maximum impact

82 Modernised bathroom

109 50 bedroom updates

Tara and Damian Stuttard renovated a run-down building to create their forever home, complete with a colourful kitchen design

Redesigning their master suite has given owners Sarah and Stephen Gull’s space a boutique hotel feel, plus new statement showers

Combining classic and contemporary design has created a relaxing sanctuary for Melanie and Andrew Clark and completed their renovation, plus the latest vanity units

86 New England-inspired home See how a dated self-build has been transformed with an American-style façade and modern interior

90 Seeing double

Discover how a 1970s bungalow is now a contemporary home with statement cladding and render

Find out how to maximise the potential of your home’s entrance with ideas for flooring, storage and wall finishes

Uncover the latest ways to clash bold patterns, colours and textures to embrace this season’s trend for maximalist style

Take a look at this round-up of the latest ideas to create a new look in your bedrooms

119 Guide to exterior updates From improving an ugly façade to replacing unsympathetic alterations, find out how to add value and kerb appeal to your home from the outside

128 Statement front doors

Enhance your home’s security and energy efficiency by installing a new front door in the latest style

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

FEB Contents.indd 6

07/12/2016 11:58

QA

Expert advice for your home transformation dilemmas

&

149

138 How can I get value for money on my project?

Architect Melanie Clear on how to stay within your budget

143 How can using a designer help me realise my vision?

Architectural designer Greg Toon shares his advice

145 What do I need to consider before replacing my front door?

Renovator Sian Astley on choosing the right option

EVERY MONTH 10 Hotlist

Keep up to date with the latest home transformation ideas

131 WIN!

Smart blinds worth £2,500 from Appeal Home Shading

147 What do I need to know before knocking down internal walls?

Renovation expert Jason Orme advises on the safest way

149 How can I use pattern to create a bold scheme in my living room?

The 2 Lovely Gays share their design expertise

133 Exclusive discount

Save 20 per cent at Iconic Lights

135 Sneak Preview

Your first look at the March 2017 issue

157 Stockists

Where to find all the products and services mentioned in this issue

170 Face to face with Sam Hood The creative director of Amara on ambitions, travel and eclectic style February

KERBAL APPE

2017

O.UK REALHOMES.C

HALF PRICE

MAXIMUM IMPACT

19 PAGESFUL OF COLOURS KITCHEN

TO E GUIDE ERS YOUR ULTIMAT R MAKEOV EXTERIO

50

MAKE AN CEY RAN ENT HALLWA WITH OUR IDEAS

YS EASY WA E TO UPDAT YOUR

DESIGN

BEDROOM

BEFORE +AFTER

58

PAGES OF HOME AMAZING TIONS TRANSFORMA

EXPERT S ANSWER

for £3.90 I get value How can on my home money ents? improvem material the bestworktop?

What’s kitchen for my the dos and What are of removing don’ts internal walls?

Tech expert Wendy Griffiths shares her knowledge

153 How can I find the right worktop for my new kitchen?

Kitchen designer Graeme Smith explains how to choose

155 What are the best design solutions for my bedroom?

Architect Hugo Tugman on practical, stylish bedrooms

02

FRONT DOORS

What benefits could the Internet of Things bring to my home?

406233 9 771464

LATESTFOR LOOKS

Subscribe to Real Homes this month to get 12 issues for half price, see page 59

151

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

FEB Contents.indd 7

7

07/12/2016 15:28

Firing imaginations for over 35 years The UK’s most comprehensive range of high quality stoves and fireplaces WOODBURNING

| GAS |

| M U LT I - F U E L | E L E C T R I C

stovax.com RH-4-57.indd 8 Real_Homes_STX_FP_Jan.indd 1

07/12/2016 18:04 07/12/2016 15:43

Editorial Brand Editor Content Editor Chief Content Sub Editor / Content Producer Interim Homes Editor Homes Editor Content Producer

Caron Bronson Laura Crombie Alison Jones Lindsay Blair Anna Morley Amelia Smith

Art Head of Art Senior Art Editor Designer With thanks to

Real

REALHOMES.CO.UK

HOMES More Space. More Light. More Wow!

JOIN US ONLINE

Billy Peel Emily Smith Karen Lawson Sarah Overs

Marketing and subscriptions Head of Marketing Group Marketing Manager Direct Marketing Manager Senior Marketing Executive Marketing Executive Marketing Executive Subscriptions Manager Customer Services

Melanie Graham 01527 834452 Eve Mulvaney 01527 834445 Anjuman Tariq 01527 834493 Helen Troth 01527 834483 Vicki Lees 01527 834409 Alicia Maragh 01527 834402 Alex Worthington 01527 834435 Jayne Everton 01527 834484

Advertising and exhibitions sales Print & Digital Sales Director Jackie Sanders 01527 834426 jackie.sanders@centaurmedia.com Print & Digital Sales Manager Rebecca Vincze 01527 834415 rebecca.vincze@centaurmedia.com Key Account Manager Debra Greer 01527 834424 debra.greer@centaurmedia.com Key Account Manager Lucinda Clarke 01527 834404 lucinda.clarke@centaurmedia.com Key Account Manager Helen Fox 01527 834491 helen.fox@centaurmedia.com Account Manager Elena Gill 01527 834494 elena.gill@centaurmedia.com Account Manager Kelly James 01527 834471 kelly.james@centaurmedia.com Business Development Manager Keri O’Connor 01527 834472 keri.oconnor@centaurmedia.com Exhibitions Sales Director Hellen Roche 01527 834418 hellen.roche@centaurmedia.com

Magazine and digital production Head of Production Digital Manager Email Production Manager Print & Digital Production Executive Digital Production Executive Production Assistant

Bill Griffiths Tom Burbridge David Lloyd Alice Sullivan Nicholas Robertson Aimee Bradley-Davies

Realhomes.co.uk Head of Digital Email Delivery Manager Web Operations Manager Senior Web Editor Web Editor Video Producer Social Media Editor

Gill Dawson Alison Nash Laura Sturgess Lindsey Davis Jacob Ingram Matt Gibbs Sarah Handley

Love reading Real Homes each month? Then follow us on social media for daily updates. Instagram and Pinterest have stunning images to inspire you, while Facebook and Twitter offer news, tips and links to the articles on realhomes.co.uk. And be sure to check out our YouTube page for handy how-to videos.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Real

HOMES

Follow the team on Twitter

Publishing and exhibitions management Managing Director Deputy Managing Director Director of Content & Product Development Editorial Director Executive Assistant

If you’ve completed your own home transformation, search ‘Real Homes’ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest to share your photos with the Real Homes team. While you’re there, follow @RealHomes for the latest news, advice and inspiration.

Steve Newbold Nick Noble Michael Holmes Jason Orme Zoe Beeston 01527 834477 Brand Editor Caron Bronson @RealHomesEd

Real Homes is published by Centaur Home Interest Media, a division of Centaur Media Plc. 2 Sugar Brook Court, Aston Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 3EX Tel: 01527 834400 Fax: 01527 834497 Email: realhomes@centaur.co.uk Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published in Real Homes, the publishers can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Readers are welcome to send in information about their projects, but no guarantee can be made of the safe return of unsolicited text or photographs. Copyright for all materials published in Real Homes remains with the publishers. Designed using Macintosh computers. Printed by William Gibbons & Sons. Distributed

by Marketforce. Real Homes © 2017 published monthly. ISSN 1464 - 4061

Homes Editor Lindsay Blair @Lindsays_home

Content Editor Laura Crombie @Laura_Crombie

Senior Art Editor Emily Smith @EmilyS_Home

NEXT ISSUE ON SALE

26 January realhomesmagazine.co.uk MARCH 2015

F/PANEL 2.indd 9

9

01/12/2016 14:05

Real Homes

HOTLIST Keep up to date with the latest home transformation ideas and decorating trends

1

COMPILED BY RACHEL OGDEN

Striking lighting Inspired by 1940s factory lighting, the classic Titan light by Original BTC launched in 1995 and remains one of the brand’s bestsellers.

Now it comes in a supersized XXL version, in polished or painted aluminium with a contrasting interior. An optional etched glass visor provides diffused light. Titan size 5 pendant shades measure H50xDia.56cm, and cost from £334.80.

For more inspiration, follow us on instagram @real_homes

2

GORGEOUS GRAPHICS If you have a passion for pattern, you’ll love the collaboration between Sofa Workshop and Flock – a company that represents some of Britain’s most exciting emerging design talent. The result is a capsule collection of 60 sofas, armchairs and footstools, available in five eye-catching Flock fabrics – Grapefruit Coast, A Shingle Night, A Shingle Day, Kites and Aldgate East Major – all designed and digitally printed in the UK. Prices start from £554 for a Fancy Nancy footstool in Flock fabric. Each fabric costs £70 per metre.

Pictured left: The Little Jon medium sofa in A Shingle Night, H79xW210xD95cm, from £2,235, Sofa Workshop 10

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

HOTLIST feb.indd 10

07/12/2016 11:59

Beautiful botanicals

IN FOR SPRING

The Garden Room collection from Sainsbury’s offers a country look with a modern twist. It mixes pretty florals with a palette of fresh green, lilac and pink across home accessories, bedding and tableware. Dot a few pieces around your home for a real spring vibe.

Pictured: Wicker baskets, H30x Dia.35cm, £18 for two; printed floral cushion, £12; garden cloche in glass and wood, £15; faux florals, from £6; resin bird set, £10 for two; decorative mango wood storage drawers, H26xW28xD12.75cm, £28, all by Sainsbury’s ➤

HOTLIST feb.indd 11

3 07/12/2016 11:59

QUALITY BATHROOMS WITHOUT SPL A SHING OUT

IDEAS & INSPIRATION

RH-4-57.indd 12

07/12/2016 18:04

5

FRENCH FANCY

4

Art Deco-inspired bathrooms

Iconic French cookware brand Le Creuset has collaborated with appliance manufacturers Steel on a limited-edition collection of Genesi range cookers in its colours of Amethyst, Mineral Blue, Sisal or Cotton. Available in four widths, from 70-120cm, with custom trims, and as electric double, triple, or combi-steam oven options, the ranges cost from £2,863.20, Bradshaw Appliances.

The bespoke vanities and matching mirrors by Justin Van Breda for CP Hart are more than just functional bathroom items. The newly expanded collection includes five glamorous pieces – Marilyn, Imogen, Cleopatra, Gatsby and Poirot – that reveal Justin’s knowledge of early 20th-century design, with its bold colours and on-trend geometric forms.

Pictured: Gatsby vanity unit in wood and metal, in sizes W80–160cm, from £1,300

6 Cooking on brass

Bringing metals into the kitchen, Multiform’s Form 45 polished brass range turns the whole design into a statement piece. Also available in burnished brass, copper and stainless-steel finishes, its door and worktop edges have been cut at a 45-degree angle to ensure a crisp line. Shown here with furniture from the Form 1 range in white-pigmented oak, a bespoke moulded brass sink set in solid oak and a tap from Dornbracht’s new brass collection both look stunning.

Visit Sola Kitchens in Hampstead to see the collection, along with TPB TECH ceramic worktops with integreated induction hobs.

Prices start from £40,000. ➤

HOTLIST feb.indd 13

realhomes.co.uk JANUARY 2017

13

07/12/2016 11:59

7

Apartment with designer style

For 2 Lovely Gays’ tips on adding pattern to your home, see page 149

14

Book a stay in Cuckooz’s selfcatered apartments in the East End of London and you’ll be surrounded by designer ideas and style. The 2 Lovely Gays – Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead – have designed the interiors of the flats, giving them each an individual spin. They are filled with furniture, upholstery, lighting and accessories from Habitat’s London-based studio, alongside artwork and pieces by local artists and designers, such as Libby Needham, Joe Gamble and Flock Studio. The apartments start from £170 per night to rent.

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

HOTLIST feb.indd 14

07/12/2016 11:59

8

CONTEMPORARY CEMENT TILES

If you’re looking to add colour to a neutral kitchen, try the Ecetera range of encaustic cement tiles. Comprising nine bold designs, each tile is simple but makes a big impact, especially when mixed and matched. Prices start at £3.95 per W20xL20cm tile, Ca’ Pietra.

9

Bright ideas

COLOUR JUST A CLICK AWAY Dulux has put the personal touch into decorating with its new Amazing Spaces paint order and delivery service.

Available online, it can help you get exactly the right paint in the right finish and amount for the room you want to decorate – and it’ll even come with your name on the tin.

There is also an option to purchase all the accessories, you’ll need, such as brushes, rollers or trays. You’ll receive your paint order within 48 hours, in a personalised tin.

Standard delivery for an order is £5, but it is free if you spend over £100. For details, go to paint.duluxamazingspace.co.uk. ➤

10

Get switched on to some new lighting at Debenhams, which has launched five key collections. There’s the industrial Urban Cool, the sculptural Mixed Metallic, colourful Show Time, vintage cinema floor lights and standing lamps in Floor Show, and dazzling glass styles in All That Glitters. Prices start from £40.

Pictured above: Cora chandelier, H68xDia.48cm, £250, Debenhams

Living room walls painted in Amethyst Falls 1, chimney breast in Moroccan Velvet 3, from £24.49 for 2.5ltrs in silk, matt, flat matt or soft sheen, Dulux Amazing Space Paint

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

HOTLIST feb.indd 15

15

07/12/2016 12:00

Sweet Dreams Introducing PowerView® Motorisation from Luxaflex® A remarkable new system that moves your shades throughout the day, so you don’t have to. Create personalised settings with your smart phone or tablet, or use our uniquely designed Pebble® remote control to activate your favourite pre-set program.

Beautifully stylish, brilliantly innovative - smart shades that simplify your life.

See PowerView® in motion at luxaflex.co.uk

RH-4-57.indd 16

09/12/2016 09:13

NEW LOOK

WONDER WALLS British wallpaper and paint company Graham & Brown has predicted five exciting themes for walls for 2017, which will form the backdrop to its new wallpaper collections. Descriptively titled Individual & Industrial, Original & Tactile, Fascinating & Precious, Distinctive & Skilful and Botanical & Savage, they range in colour and pattern from the show-stopping to the delicate. Pictured: Portuguese Tile wallpaper, £15

11

Dante chair in Exquisite Velvet Teal, H77xW90x D105cm, £1,299, Marks & Spencer

Rosa Mandarin Orange pouffe in cotton velvet, Dia.65cm, £180, Belinda Kiwi

13 HOT TREND

12 Scandi style Scandinavia Dreaming by Angel Trinidad and Gestalten (£35, Gestalten) Enduring and versatile, Nordic and Scandinavian design has been endlessly reinterpreted. This carefully curated book shows some of the ways in which it’s influenced interiors, architecture, and products. As well as profiles of brands, such as Hay, Ferm Living and Gubi, and personalities that have influenced the design aesthetic, there are inspirational projects that range from deliciously dark spaces to light-filled rooms that could inspire you to embrace your own slice of Scandi living.

VELVET PICKS

Lime throw in cotton velvet, £75, Ragged Rose

Feel the luxury with soft, strokeable velvet – the go-to fabric for furniture in SS17.

Large Butterfly Blotch cushion by Timorous Beasties, £130, Rume

Baglioni stool in Red by Eichholtz in cotton mix with antique brass nails, H45xW41xD41cm, £395, Sweetpea & Willow STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE FOR FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157 165

HOTLIST feb.indd 17

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

17

07/12/2016 12:00

Real Homes CASE STUDY

MODERN RENOVATION AND EXTENSION Sally and Connor McConchie completely transformed a tired 1950s property to create a warm, contemporary family home

WORDS AND STYLING LAURA CROMBIE PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID WOOLLEY

➤ 18

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

RH_McConchie_V2.indd 18

07/12/2016 12:07

NEW KITCHEN The main living space is the newly open-plan kitchen-living-dining room.

Solid oak flooring from Direct Wood Flooring flows into garden decking to create an indoor-outdoor link. The Shaker-style kitchen with Silestone worktops is from Devol, as are the bar stools and taps. Appliances, Neff and Smeg. For a similar vintage cycling print, try Zazzle ➤

THE OWNERS Sally McConchie, an accountant, lives here with husband Connor, a patent lawyer, and their sons, Fraser, four, and Harry, two THE PROPERTY A detached, five-bedroom 1950s house in Hampshire SALLY LOVES Cornwall Surfing Bold artworks Her wood-burning stove Made.com Vintage travel posters TOTAL PROJECT COST ÂŁ190,000

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

RH_McConchie_V2.indd 19

19

07/12/2016 12:07

➤ 20

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

RH_McConchie_V2.indd 20

07/12/2016 12:07

AFTER FAMILY LIVING Left The end of the L-shaped open-plan living space is a cosy family living room. Sofa, rug and cushions, all Ikea. Wall lights, Anglepoise

F

OUTDOOR LINK Below left The dining area links to the garden through aluminium bi-fold doors from Origin. For a similar oak dining table and chairs, try the Crossley from Oak Furniture Land. Pendant lights, Heal’s

BOLD EXTENSION Above and right An under-used double garage was demolished to create space for the new two-storey extension.

Aluminium-frame windows from Origin allow light to flood in. The entire roof was replaced with contemporary slate to create a cohesive feel, while the exterior of the extension is clad in cedar

or most people, having a baby and renovating a house are two life-changing milestones that are best tackled separately. But Sally and Connor, welcomed their second son, Harry, into the world just a few months before starting a huge renovation and extension project on their home in Hampshire. The couple had relocated from Southampton to the picturesque village of Awbridge, with its quaint village hall and wellregarded school. Their chosen house, which had been built in the 1950s, was a warren of small, confined spaces, which the couple knew they wanted to open up. ‘We loved the garden and location, and the house was perfectly liveable, but we hated the way it felt closed in,’ explains Sally. ‘The kitchen was a galley shape and you couldn’t even fit a table in it, so it just didn’t work for us as a family. We knew from the start that we wanted to completely renovate it.’

The couple chose to work with local architect Lesley Hally after admiring her work in a magazine. ‘We met with a few architects but Lesley was the person we connected with the best,’ says Sally. ‘Her designs are really beautiful and contemporary, which was the look we wanted, and she was willing to listen to our ideas.’ Lesley recommended a handful of builders, and the couple obtained detailed quotes from three of them before settling on Dell Developments.

BEFORE

There were two aspects to the project – adding a two-storey extension at the front of the property, and remodelling the ground floor of the existing house to create an open-plan living-dining-kitchen linked to the garden.

‘Our families both live in different parts of the country and we love to have them to stay,’ says Sally. ‘But the original house only had three bedrooms, which meant there was no room for them. We weren’t really using the double garage so it made sense to demolish it and replace it with an extension that would give us the extra rooms we needed.’

The previous owners had applied for planning permission for a similar project but this had lapsed. The couple reapplied and were given the go-ahead. The twostorey extension now houses a living room for adults on the ground floor, with bespoke picture windows framing views of the front garden. Above, a new guest bedroom and master suite both benefit from vaulted ceilings with rooflights to flood them with light.

As an accountant, Sally was keen to get the best value for every aspect of the project. This meant sourcing many of the materials and finishes online, rather than relying on tradespeople to purchase them for her. ‘I spent every night poring over our spreadsheets’ she recalls. ‘But it was worth the effort because we managed to make significant savings in some areas.’ ➤ realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

RH_McConchie_V2.indd 21

21

07/12/2016 12:07

To view a video tour of the house, search Real Homes on YouTube

22

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

RH_McConchie_V2.indd 22

07/12/2016 12:07

LIVING ROOM Left and above The ground floor of the extension is home to a large living room for the adults to enjoy. In one corner is an office, which Sally

also uses for her hobby of sewing and making clothes. Dark oak flooring, Direct Wood Flooring.

Sofa, Furniture Village. Footstool, Cox & Cox. Rug,

Ikea. Large woodburning stove, Stovax. Radiators, Best Heating.

Desks, Made.com and John Lewis.

Chairs, Coles.

Lamp, TK Maxx

In the original part of the house, the existing kitchen, which was at the front of the property, has been knocked through into the adjacent dining and living rooms, creating one L-shaped open-plan space, linked to the garden through large sliding doors. ‘We really wanted that open-plan feel so that I can be cooking or sat at the dining table and keep an eye on the children while they’re playing,’ explains Sally. ‘And because the new room is L-shaped, with the living area tucked away around a corner, it still feels like three defined spaces.’

When it came to the kitchen, Sally knew exactly the look she wanted – Shaker-style units in a soft cream colour with durable Silestone worktops. ‘I’d seen Devol kitchens before and loved them so we went down to their showroom,’ she says. ‘This kitchen was the first one we saw and I knew it was the one. I chose slightly different handles and door knobs and that was it; it was the easiest decision we made.’

The couple love natural materials, so laid natural oak flooring in the kitchen-dining-living space, which complements the decking outside. ‘We were going to ➤ realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

RH_McConchie_V2.indd 23

23

07/12/2016 12:07

RH-4-57.indd 24

07/12/2016 18:04

SPARE BEDROOM Bright yellow shutters from California Shutters add a pop of colour to the guest bedroom. Wall lights, Made.com.

Bed, Ikea. For a similar wooden stag’s head, try Etsy. Mustard cushions, Ikea

NEW LAYOUT Below Demolishing a double garage created space for the new two-storey extension, which houses a large living room on the ground floor and a guest bedroom and master bedroom suite above ➤ GARAGE

LIVING ROOM

BEFORE

AFTER

HOME OFFICE

KITCHEN

KITCHEN LIVING ROOM

LIVING AREA

DINING ROOM

DINING AREA

BEDROOMS

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

MASTER BEDRO0M

HOME OFFICE

BEDRO0M

BEDRO0MS

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

RH_McConchie_V2.indd 25

25

09/12/2016 12:47

For 50 easy ways to update your bedroom, turn to page 109

varnish the floor but I like that lived-in look, although there are quite a few stains near the cooker now!’ laughs Sally.

Work on the project started in November 2014, when baby Harry was less than five months old. ‘We decided to live in the house while the work was being done simply because we couldn’t afford to rent anywhere else,’ explains Sally. ‘Living in three rooms with two very young children was interesting to say the least!’ The project was due to take 20 weeks, but problems with a retaining wall saw this increase to 22. ‘We were getting pretty fed up by the end,’ she says. ‘I remember there being 20 people on site just trying to get it finished in the last week. It could have been much worse though, as we were originally told it would be 40 weeks if we tackled the extension and interior remodel separately. Although disruptive, doing both parts together meant we could get back to normality more quickly.’

The décor throughout the finished rooms is simple and pared-back with white or grey walls, natural flooring 26

and aluminium windows framing the views. ‘I wanted a clean feel so we could add colour and texture with accessories and artwork,’ explains Sally. ‘Because we’ve lost the garage space, we’ve actually made some of the things we used to store in there, like our surfboards and bikes, into features in the new living room and study. They’re certainly a talking point!’ Technology has also been integrated into the whole house, with plugs containing USB sockets in the kitchen, and surround-sound speakers embedded into the ceilings.

Although the major construction work is now complete, Sally and Connor are still planning to renovate the original three bedrooms on the first floor. ‘It’s such a relief to have the main living spaces complete,’ says Sally.

‘The style and layout of the house are absolutely perfect for us now. I definitely wouldn’t advise completely renovating a house with a newborn baby and a toddler, but it’s all worked out well in the end and we couldn’t be happier with the home we’ve created here.’

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

RH_McConchie_V2.indd 26

07/12/2016 12:07

THE COSTS AND CONTACTS Building work

£130,000 Kitchen

£20,000 Doors and windows

£18,000 Bi-fold doors

£10,000 Decorating

£10,000 Bathroom

£2,000 TOTAL

£190,000 Architect Lesley Hally, 01962 834 500, lahally.com Builder Dell Developments, 023 8044 6700, delldevelopments.co.uk Carpenter Martin Plumb, 01794 502956, martinplumbcarpentry.com Kitchen Devol Bathroom Bath Empire Flooring Floors Direct

EN SUITE Above, right and below The couple’s en suite features patterned floor tiles and grey metro wall tiles, both from Topps Tiles. The Tavertine sink was from Ebay and the bespoke wooden unit was made by their carpenter. Bath and shower, Bath Empire, now known as Soak.com

MASTER BEDROOM Above Light floods into Sally and Connor’s bedroom, on the first floor of the new extension, through white rooflights from Velux. Bedding, John Lewis. Bed, Heal’s. Chaise, Jenny Wren.

Lights, Etsy. For a similar vintage ski resort print, try Ebay

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 15765

RH_McConchie_V2.indd 27

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

27

07/12/2016 12:08

LIGHT Gubi Ronde large spun aluminium light in Pigeon Grey, H24xDia.40cm, £309, Rume

PRINT Whitsuntide Outings framed print, H69xW46.5cm, £79, Made.com

RUG Massimo Marrakesh wool rug in Natural and Grey, W170x L240cm, £900, The Rug Seller

DESK Watts acacia wood desk, H75xW115xD50cm, £269, Swoon Editions WALL LIGHT Extending metal and wood wall lamp by Out There Interiors, H25xW65xDia.25cm, £166, Furnish

DESIGN EDIT

Creative mix

SHUTTERS Custom-finished plantation shutters in wood, from £320 per m2, Shutterly Fabulous

STOOL Nomad wood and knitted wool stool in Taupe, H40x Dia.40cm, £125, Artisanti

SOFA Abraham fabric sofa, from H76xW206x D92cm, starts at £1,049, Living It Up

28

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

GTL-MCCONCHIE.indd 28

COMPILED BY SARA EMSLIE

Add colourful accents to classic and modern pieces for a living space like Sally and Connor McConchie’s

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

07/12/2016 12:10

RH-4-57.indd 29

09/12/2016 09:13

For more inspiration, follow us on instagram @real_homes

30

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

CAT HILL.indd 30

07/12/2016 15:29

Real Homes CASE STUDY

STUNNING RURAL BARN CONVERSION Amanda and Steve Wills transformed a derelict stone building into a family home with industrial touches

W

WORDS DEBBIE JEFFERY PHOTOGRAPHS ANDREW HASLAM

e were living in a four-bedroom, detached house on a quiet housing estate before embarking on our barn conversion project,’ recalls Amanda. ‘While we spent a number of enjoyable years there, got on well with the neighbours and our children loved it, there always felt like there was something missing – what we really wanted was to create a home from scratch that truly reflected our interests and lifestyle as a family.’

Although Amanda and husband Steve had been aware of this derelict barn for a number of years, it never crossed their minds that it could offer the perfect opportunity to create their dream home. ‘Amanda’s parents owned the property, so we knew of it, but the penny only dropped that it could become our home when they asked us if we’d like to purchase it,’ Steve explains. ‘Once our imaginations had ➤

THE OWNERS Amanda Wills, a dance tutor, lives here with her husband Steve, a creative director, and their sons Jacob, 17, Jenson, 16 and Jackson, three, plus Macey, the Shar Pei, and Smokey, the Birman cat THE PROPERTY A two-storey, four-bedroom, converted barn in Sheffield AMANDA LOVES Ferrious homeware in Manchester White interiors Grand Designs The log store built into the chimney breast Designer Paul Smith Relaxed, minimal style Architect Frank Gehry TOTAL PROJECT COST £325,000

SCENIC LOCATION Right Cat Hill Barn is a Grade II-listed barn, built in the late 16th century, sitting in the rolling hills of south Yorkshire

OPEN-PLAN SPACE Left Poggenpohl Leeds designed the striking Plus Modo kitchen, complete with an island, wall-hung units and matt lacquer 13cm worktops, which contrast with the exposed oak and stone in the double-height kitchen-diner realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

CAT HILL.indd 31

31

07/12/2016 15:29

STRIKING DESIGNS Left The cantilevered island worktop adds drama to the space and fits the brief for a utilitarian feel.

The Heidi bar stools with red tractor seats, from Established & Sons, add colour. The oak dining table, from Moooi, has been positioned beside a wall of glass to make the most of the views

AFTER

started running there was no turning back, and our house nearby went on the market soon after.’ A Grade II-listed building in south Yorkshire, Cat Hill Barn was originally built in the late 1700s as agricultural storage for the neighbouring Cat Hill Hall. When the couple, who had never tackled a renovation project before, took it on, it had no running water, electricity and was filled with tools, trailers, saddles, hay bales and even a car. The perilous state of the structure meant that the family were advised to seal the barn and keep out, as the roof and walls could have collapsed at any moment, and rotten roof trusses were pushing out the perimeter walls, which had seriously bowed. Despite being initially daunted by the amount of work that needed to be done, Amanda and Steve could see that the space had potential, but it left a lot to the imagination.

Work to discover what could be achieved within the structure had been considered some years earlier when Amanda’s parents commissioned a feasibility study from a local architect, but upon seeing it, Steve and Amanda were disappointed with the outcome, which inserted a new floor 32

RURAL BARN Below With no utilities and having previously been used to as a farm store, the couple had to use their imagination to see how the space could become a home

BEFORE

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

CAT HILL.indd 32

07/12/2016 15:29

throughout the full length of the barn and created a series of boxy rooms over the two floors, destroying the sense of space within the large barn. ‘We had no interest in doing a standard conversion,’ says Amanda. ‘Although we very were keen to stay true to the character of the barn, we also wanted to take the opportunity to create something truly special.’

With the vision for a spacious, open-plan home in mind, creative director Steve found Neil Dawson Snook Architects through a mutual client. The couple decided to set up a competitive interview with Neil and another practice, but it was ultimately Neil’s feasibility study that impressed, together with his ideas to retain the sense of the barn with an open layout and utilitarian finishes, complete with a double-height kitchen-diner and large expanses of glazing to make the most of the countryside views. ‘At heart I’m a brutal minimalist and there was a danger of the barn looking more like an art gallery, whereas Amanda is much more homely with a softer side,’ Steve laughs. ‘Our final brief was established through a process of tear sheets, where each of us presented images which were either jointly rejected or made it onto our mood board of design ideas. This gave us and Neil a very clear view of ➤

WALKWAY A bridge-style landing with a glass balustrade overlooks the open-plan kitchen below

LIIVNG ROOM A substantial stone fireplace with a built-in log store partially divides the kitchen-diner from the neighbouring living room, which has a lower ceiling. A concrete floor over underfloor heating unites the ground floor spaces. For similar sofas, try John Lewis

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

CAT HILL.indd 33

33

07/12/2016 15:29

the kind of space, materials, surfaces, colours, fixtures and fittings we liked, and was probably one of the best ideas we had throughout the process.’

Despite the close collaboration between architect and client, and an agreed design, the planning process proved less successful. After repeated attempts at dialogue with local planning and conservation officers, the application to convert the barn was refused, with reasons suggesting that the scheme was too ‘domestic’.

So, an appeal was launched and, after removing a small balcony from the gable end, permission was granted almost 16 months from initially starting the project.

Work was then stalled for a further two years as, with the credit crunch in full swing, the couple found it impossible to sell their home to raise the required funds.

Finally, in the summer of 2011, Steve and Amanda were able to sell their house, the barn drawings were resurrected and the builders began work later that year. ‘We purchased a static caravan and had every intention of staying in it throughout the build,’ says Amanda. ‘But when reality set in, we threw in the towel after about two weeks, and moved in with my parents – two teenagers, a dog, two cats and a freezing cold and cramped living space were unfortunately not a recipe for a happy family!’

To create the new home, Sheffield-based builder Wett & Windy was employed as the main contractor, with Snook Architects acting as project managers and overseeing the 10-month build. ‘We’re not particularly practical people, and let the builders get on with the project,’ explains Steve. ‘Besides, I had to keep working throughout the recession to ensure the thing actually got finished, so there was no time available to get involved with any of the practical work.’ The barn’s roof and a main perimeter wall were carefully taken down and rebuilt around a steel frame using existing materials from the site, the building was fully insulated, and new windows installed in existing openings, including two large styles in the dining and living areas. ‘When the double-height kitchen window was glazed and the building was finally watertight, it made all the setbacks and tribulations more than worthwhile,’ says Steve. When it came to smaller features, Steve and Amanda enjoyed the process of choosing the fixtures and fittings for their new home and worked with their architect to determine the position of sockets, switches, sanitaryware and furniture. Focal points include a 12kW wood-burning stove and a three-metre solid oak dining table with ultralong pendants above. In keeping with a utilitarian style, the interior is mostly monochrome, with wooden beams and exposed brickwork adding warmth and texture.

Predictably, there were a number of challenges to overcome during the build, including the huge doubleheight glazing being incorrectly measured. Plus, six months before completion, Steve and Amanda discovered that they had a baby on the way, which meant that a fourth bedroom needed to be incorporated into the design on an already tight budget. ‘It’s very easy to get carried away when the bank releases funds as phases of the build are completed, but we managed to stay very close to our budget, mainly because we commissioned a quantity surveyor to cost every aspect, and agreed a fixed budget contract with our main contractor,’ Amanda explains. But, now finished, the results are exactly as imagined and perfect for the family. ‘We live next door to my parents, which has brought us closer as a family,’ she adds. ‘We have lots of get-togethers and it’s a very sociable home. We’re so proud of our creation.’

34

DESIGNER STAIRS Above Tucked away behind the central stone wall, a wooden staircase leads to the long landing above, which benefits from views across the living space below.

For a similar staircase design, try Bisca

GROUND FLOOR BEFORE

AFTER LIVING ROOM

NEW LAYOUT Right The roof and a perimeter wall were rebuilt to ensure the structure was safe. Part of the ground floor was left open, creating a double-height space, while the living room features a lower ceiling. Four bedrooms and two bathrooms are upstairs

KITCHEN-DINER

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

CAT HILL.indd 34

09/12/2016 12:33

MASTER BATH Simple natural materials give the bathrooms an industrial edge.

Sanitaryware by Ideal Standard.

For a similar wooden floor, try Karndean

FIRST FLOOR BEFORE

THE COSTS AND CONTACTS AFTER BEDROOM

Building work and materials

Purchase cost in 2012

Kitchen

Estimated current value

Glazing

Potential profit

Roof

Architect Snook Architects,

Flooring

snookarchitects.com Builder Wett & Windy, wettandwindy.co.uk

£176,000 £40,000 £30,000 £28,000

BEDROOM

£26,000 Bathrooms

£25,000 BEDROOMS

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

CAT HILL.indd 35

TOTAL

£325,000

£100,000

£750,000 £325,000

Structural engineer

Huxtable Hodgson, huxtablehodgson.co.uk Truss manufacture South Yorkshire Truss Supplies Glazing James Price Group Kitchen Poggenpohl Leeds

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

35

07/12/2016 15:29

Oulton Oh So Black enamel pendant light, H35xDia.21x L300cm, £59.99, Dowsing & Reynolds Helsinki rise and fall metal pendant in Gloss Red, H25xDia.43xL140cm, £150, Holloways of Ludlow Bert Frank Revolve rise and fall pendant in Matte Petrol, H12x Dia.35xL170cm, £1,050; Nest

Christie rise and fall bone china pendant in Sand, H20xDia.47x L180cm, £399.60, Original BTC

Pulley rise and fall light in chrome, H20xDia.35xL130cm, £90, Habitat

Grand Paris rise and fall light in glass and metal, H32xDia.38xL150cm, £90, Garden Trading

Butler rise and fall pendant in antiqued brass finish, H24xDia,24x L160cm, £262.90, Jim Lawrence Workstead shaded pendant in brass, H22xDia.43.2x L132cm, £1,250, Another Country

DESIGN EDIT

Flexible lighting

Felix rise and fall light in satin nickel finish, H25xDia.43x L165cm, £175, John Lewis

36

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

GTL CatHill.indd 36

COMPILED BY SARA EMSLIE

Be inspired by Amanda and Steve Wills, and add style and practicality to your home with an adjustable pendant FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

07/12/2016 12:13

RH-4-57.indd 37

07/12/2016 18:04

Real Homes CASE STUDY

CONTEMPORARY APARTMENT RENOVATION

By installing a new kitchen and bathrooms and redecorating throughout, Alan and Dee Rees have added more than £100,000 to the value of their apartment ➤ WORDS VICTORIA JENKINS PHOTOGRAPHS WILLIAM GODDARD

38

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

HOUSE REES.indd 38

07/12/2016 14:29

LIVING ROOM The lounge features period details, such as the ornate cornice and original fireplace, which contrast with the couple’s designer furniture and bold accessories. Blue silk-mix curtain fabric, Ebay.

Cushions, Designers Guild.

TV cabinet, Chaplins. Robin Day glass coffee table, Loft. Clock on mantelpiece, Diamantini & Domeniconi

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

HOUSE REES.indd 39

39

07/12/2016 14:29

WINTER SALE NOW ON Up to

50% OFF

Gorgeous home comforts, honestly priced.

Rediscover better sleep, night after night.

Use code REALHOMES15 for 15% OFF everything* including SALE prices soakandsleep.com Duvets | Pillows | Bed Linen | Toppers | Furniture | Towels | Nightwear and much, much more Enter code REALHOMES15 at checkout. Minimum spend £50. Excludes shipping. T&C’s apply see website for full details.

Offer code not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer valid to midnight 31st January 2017.

*

RH-58-136.indd 74

09/12/2016 09:10

D THE OWNERS Dee Rees, who works part-time in a primary school, lives here with her husband Alan, a retired senior manager for a number of global energy companies THE PROPERTY A two-bedroom apartment in a building converted in 1989 from two 1860s Victorian houses built in the Georgian style DEE LOVES Visiting California Ebay The colour cobalt blue Designer Marcel Wanders Instagram TOTAL PROJECT COST £45,530

DESIGNER LOOK Below Robin Day sofas and a brown leather chair from Loft are combined with a Utrecht turquoise chair from Geoffrey Drayton. White Interlubke sideboard, Chaplins. Green chair, Designers Guild. Arco floor lamp, Flos. Table lamp, Kartell

ee and I looked at many properties before we decided to buy this two-bedroom apartment in Cheltenham,’ says Alan.

‘We were living in a five-bedroom, contemporary detached house in Milton Keynes before, but after our daughter moved to London for university and decided to stay there, we knew it was time to downsize.’

With plenty of space for the couple, plus characterful period details, the Georgian-style property had lots of potential, but needed some work to bring it up to date.

‘An 89-year-old lady had lived here before and the décor was very dated, harking back to the 1980s,’ says Dee. ‘There were swagged curtains, mauve tiles in the kitchen, mahogany in one bathroom and plastic fittings in another, and the fireplaces were fitted with unsightly gas fires.’

Luckily, Dee and Alan could see past the apartment’s appearance and had plenty of ideas how each room could be modernised, including adding plenty of colour. After finalising the sale, they moved in in October 2012 and soon got to work, tackling the en suite bathroom first. ‘We really didn’t fancy using it because it was so ugly,’ laughs Alan, who put his DIY skills to good use, removing the old fittings and tiling the walls and floor. A plumber was then hired to install new sanitaryware, including replacing a bath with a large shower, ensuring that the plumbing conformed to building regulations.

With redesigning the bathroom ticked off their list, the next project was a bigger challenge; the kitchen.

‘Although usable, the existing kitchen was a 1980s design and not to our taste,’ says Dee. ‘In those days, the fashion was to have tiled work surfaces that I don’t think were really very sanitary, as the grouting meant food could get trapped in the grooves. Plus, the cooker didn’t work and the sink ➤

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

HOUSE REES.indd 41

41

07/12/2016 14:29

Search Real Homes on YouTube to watch a video on restoring cornice

‘The kitchen units are lacquered in off-white and charcoal grey and are handleless to create a really clean, high-end look’ 42

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

HOUSE REES.indd 42

09/12/2016 12:47

KITCHEN-DINER Alan painted the walls and ceiling himself using Little Greene’s Taupe flat matt and Dulux Mushroom respectively, along with a breathable Farrow & Ball distemper for the coving and plasterwork. The maple dining table was commissioned from a Dutch cabinet-maker; for similar, try Chaplins. Green striped curtain fabric, Christopher James. Dining chairs; MDF Italia cabinet and green Magis chairs, all Geoffrey Drayton. Elvis pendant light, Fontana Arte. Capellini bar stools, Aram ➤

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

HOUSE REES.indd 43

43

09/12/2016 12:47

New!

Contura 510

New!

New, graphic styling with Style Contura 510G with a white surround and glass door is a development of the most popular basic model in the Contura 500 range. With a white surround and a glass door that displays a lot of the fire, the 510G is an easy to position, stylish and modern stove. Contura 510G Style white with glass door is available with several accessories including a glass top, base door (as shown) and fan for increased convection air.

When you buy a stove from Contura you are investing in Swedish design and quality of the highest class.

Timeless design, created for your lifestyle.

Y NT RA

RRANTY 5 WA -

5-YEAR WAR

5-YE AR

RH-4-57.indd 44

www.contura.eu

Y

WARRA NT AR YE

Part of

Stoves for every home 07/12/2016 18:04

was stained.’ The location of the new kitchen would stay the same, within the open-plan kitchen-diner, but Alan and Dee were keen to reconfigure the layout to make better use of the space, incorporating a breakfast bar and additional worktop space. They also wanted to replace the units with a much more modern, minimalist style, and visited three different kitchen companies before they decided on German-made Rationale units paired with a white Corian splashback and worktops from Vale Kitchens. Alan designed the layout and together they chose the colour and finishes. ‘We like a clean look,’ says Dee. ‘The units are lacquered in off-white and charcoal grey, and are handleless, creating a high-end look.’ In keeping with the minimalist feel, a Grohe boiling water mixer tap helps to reduce clutter by eliminating the need for a kettle, and provides a great practical addition. ‘We also bought a Neff dishwasher because they’re so quiet, and put the washing machine and dryer in the en suite,’ explains Alan. ‘We used to live in Holland and found that having them in the en suite makes for a much quieter household, and it’s actually more practical as it’s where you get undressed.’

While the kitchen was being fitted, Alan spent time decorating the two main living rooms and renovating the master bathroom, using a plumber only when installing the new suite. ‘I made cupboards to go under the sink by cutting down off-the-shelf units from Ikea, and then used oak laminate as cladding, which looks very effective,’ says Alan. ‘I also retiled the walls and floor.’ His final structural task was to relay the flooring in the hall, replacing carpet with engineered oak parquet. ‘The hallway flooring was our best bargain,’ Alan says. ‘I bought it on Ebay for £90 and laid it myself. Now it looks great.’

Finishing the decoration throughout the living ➤

BEFORE DATED DESIGN Above and right When Alan and Dee bought the property, the décor hadn’t been changed since the 1980s, so needed to be modernised.

The kitchen was completely replaced and new furniture introduced to bring the look up to date

BEFORE

AFTER

MINIMAL STYLE Left Mandarin Stone polished blue limestone floor tiles were laid professionally, replacing the original linoleum.

Paula off-white and charcoal grey lacquered kitchen cabinets, Rationale from Vale Kitchens.

Worktops and splashback, Corian. Oven and combimicrowave, Smeg. Concealed dishwasher, Neff

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

HOUSE REES.indd 45

45

07/12/2016 14:30

BRIGHT ENTRANCE Above Engineered oak parquet, bought off Ebay and laid by Alan. Wallpaper, Marcel Wanders design for Graham & Green. Marcel Wanders table and VIP chair, both Moooi

MASTER BATHROOM Below left Alan clad the walls and bath panel in oak laminate from Quick-Step. Bath, Bathstore. Taps, Grohe. Roma WC, Bath Professionals.

Mat, Ikea. Wall tiles, Tile Centre.

Porcelain tile flooring, Mandarin Stone

spaces and introducing accent colours through furniture and new textiles, marked the completion of the couple’s renovation project, transforming a once dated apartment into a fresh, modern home. ‘I just kept going with the decorating until all the work was finished, which took about two years,’ says Alan. Meanwhile, Dee sewed most of the soft furnishings, including the impressive curtains, using fabric sourced online to keep costs down.

Although they hadn’t set a budget, the couple made savvy choices, meaning all of the work cost just over £45,000. ‘We used Ebay and found discounted ranges online by shopping around and comparing prices,’ Dee explains. And their ability to do a lot of the work themselves also saved them money. ‘I can tackle most things but needed a plumber and an electrician for more complex tasks,’ says Alan.

As for any problems during the project, such as a leak from the bathroom into the flat below, and lead paint being found on the skirting boards and windows, these were quickly dealt with. Now it’s complete, the couple are thrilled with their modern living space. ‘We can finally look forward to enjoying the apartment and entertaining friends and family,’ says Alan. ‘Although, as Dee says, it probably won’t be long until I’m itching for a new project.’

46

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

HOUSE REES.indd 46

07/12/2016 14:30

MASTER BEDROOM Because the room is north-facing, Alan painted the ceiling in light-reflective Light In Space paint from Dulux. He painted the walls in a specially mixed grey paint by Valspar, and the wardrobes in Soft White satinwood by Dulux. Bedside lamps, Flos. Bed, John Lewis. Checked cover and green cushion fabric, both Designers Guild. Carpet, Axminster

For more inspiration, follow us on instagram @real_homes

AFTER NEW LOOK Right The layout of the apartment hasn’t changed, but the new kitchen design includes more worktop space and a breakfast bar. The couple redecorated throughout and installed two new bathrooms

THE COSTS AND CONTACTS LIVING ROOM

Kitchen, including appliances

TOTAL

Carpet

Purchase cost in 2012

En suite bathroom

Estimated current value

Main bathroom

Potential profit

£31,000 £9,000 £2,500 MASTER BEDROOM

KITCHEN-DINER

£2,000

£45,530 £341,000

£525,000 £138,470

Wallpaper

£540 Paint

£400

HALL BEDROOM

Kitchen Vale Kitchens, 01242 224404, thevalegroup.com

Parquet flooring

£90 FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 15765

HOUSE REES.indd 47

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

47

07/12/2016 16:27

RH-4-57.indd 48

09/12/2016 10:59

CUSHION

India cotton/silk mix cushion in Jaipur Pink, £130, Julia Brendel

PAINT Yellowcake No.279 estate emulsion, £39.50 for 2.5ltrs, Farrow & Ball

FRUIT BOWL Alessi Mediterraneo steel fruit bowl in Red, H11xDia.29cm, £60, Black by Design

PAINTING Waterfall of a Positive Abstract by Alena Shymchonak, acrylic on canvas, H90xW70cm, £498, Fine Art Seen

THREE-SEATER SOFA Hyde sofa in Teal fabric and wood, H72xW190xD85cm, £595, Habitat

DESIGN EDIT

Colour play

TABLE LAMP Miss K lamp by Philippe Starck for Flos in Red with Silver interior, H43.5xDia.23.5cm, £193, Rume

Be inspired by the bold accents in Alan and Dee Rees’ apartment, and add interest to your scheme with these latest buys

COMPILED BY SARA EMSLIE

SIDEBOARD Novamobili Reverse sideboard in Ocra matt laquered finish, H70.9xW181.6xD40cm, £1,380, Go Modern

BAR STOOL The 901 stool in metal and polyurethane, H102xW50xD46xcm, £406, Wharfside

ARMCHAIR Scott armchair in Grass cotton velvet, H96xW70xD91cm, £599, Made.com

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

GTL DeeRees.indd 49

BEDSIDE TABLE Flavie two-drawer mahogany bedside table painted Yellow, H76xW76xD42cm, £610, Out There Interiors

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

49

07/12/2016 12:15

DINING AREA The table and chairs, which the family brought over from New Zealand, are ideal for big dinners and parties. Bench, Ikea. Gaucho light, Där Lighting.

50

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

RH Avery.indd 50

07/12/2016 12:16

INCREASED SPACE Right The new rear extension means the family can have a kitchen-livingdining area that runs the width of the house

STATEMENT COLOUR Below Natasha knew she wanted a black kitchen, so was able to buy this one on sale from Wren Kitchens a year before it was actually installed

AFTER

Real Homes CASE STUDY

REMODELLED HOME’S BOLD NEW KITCHEN A full-width extension gave Natasha Avery the space to design a versatile new room

H

WORDS ALISON JONES PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID WOOLLEY GALLEY STYLE Right The old kitchen was narrow, dated and unsuitable for modern family life

THE OWNERS Natasha Avery, an interior designer, lives here with husband Brett, managing director of a plant nursery, sons Jacob, 13, and Henry, 11, and Pippi the cockerpoo THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom detached house built

BEFORE

in the 1960s in Farnham, Kent NATASHA LOVES Black Indigo Her new side window with its view of foliage Clean lines TOTAL PROJECT COST £11,161

ouses from the 1960s aren’t the most beautiful, but they generally have goodsized rooms and big windows,’ says Natasha. ‘So even though this place wasn’t the style of architecture I was usually drawn to, I knew it could be okay.’ After spending 19 years in New Zealand, Natasha and Brett were used to bigger living spaces. When they came back to England – to spend more time with Natasha’s family – the couple knew they’d struggle to match that. But as Natasha and husband Brett had bought and renovated properties before, they were sure they would find something they could work with. ‘I thought I’d want to buy a cottage and add something modern onto something old – you can’t really achieve that in New Zealand because there aren’t many really old buildings,’ she says. ‘But my husband is six foot three inches tall and hates low ceilings, so it wouldn’t really have worked. When we came into this house, he said “at least there’s more space”, and I could instantly see the potential for this lovely, open-plan living area.’

The key to transforming the detached property was adding a two-storey extension at the back that ran the full width of the house on the ground floor. Not only did it create extra bedroom and bathroom space upstairs, it also meant Natasha could replace the galley-style kitchen with a ➤ realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

RH Avery.indd 51

51

07/12/2016 12:16

The real beauty is what you don’t see The quality of a Schueco glazed system isn’t just on the surface.

German engineering means sliding doors with concealed frames and narrow central joins. Windows have slender profiles. Façades offer ultraslim mullions and transoms. Entrance doors deliver unbeatable security.

Yet all come with insulation that can be up to Passive House levels.

If you’re looking for a system that is clearly better, there’s only one name on the frame. www.schueco.co.uk

RH-58-136.indd 70

Sch-Beauty-290x213.indd 1

09/12/2016 09:10

26/11/2015 12:06

GARDEN VIEW The feature window brings interest and light to the kitchen

ISLAND LIFE Left and below A kitchen island was an essential feature for Natasha as it adds an extra area for prep and helps zone the open-plan space. Worktops, Worktop Express. Schock Primus sink, Amazon.

Tap, Grohe. Astro Lighting Osca light, Ocean Lighting

room big enough to have a kitchen and family space at either end, with a dining area in the middle.

Having started an interior design business while living in New Zealand, Natasha was full of ideas about how she wanted her new kitchen to look. ‘We actually bought the kitchen from Wren Kitchens before the architect had drawn up the plans, which is quite funny when I think about it,’ recalls Natasha. ‘I just went in to see what it would cost.

But there was a big sale on, and we thought that we’d be doing the renovation much faster than we did. Fortunately, they held it – and the sale price – for us.’

An on-trend choice, the kitchen is black, a colour Natasha loves. ‘I think everything else stands out against it,’ she explains. ‘I also wanted a window at the side with greenery behind it, otherwise, I’d only be looking at a fence and a neighbour’s wall. And I think green and black look amazing together.’ She decided to soften the black with timber work surfaces, which make the space look warmer

and give it a more Scandinavian feel. ‘I found the thinnest wood you could buy without spending a fortune,’ she says.

‘I then treated it myself to try and lighten it, because I didn’t want it to go yellow. It’s also got some UV protectant on it, so the colour should stay relatively stable.’ She sourced a black sink to tie the scheme together, and used brass as a metallic accent in the kitchen. ‘I find stainless steel a bit cold,’ Natasha adds. ‘I tried to find an oven with the most black and least amount of stainless steel, as I wanted it to disappear as much as possible and not be a feature.’

The family moved into the house in February 2015, and had hoped to start the renovation in August of that year. However, when a neighbour objected to the size of the windows planned for the new master bedroom upstairs, it delayed permission being granted, meaning work didn’t begin until the December. ‘We stayed here until the end of January and then it became unlivable,’ says Natasha.

‘Even the builders were saying “please leave”. We went ➤ realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

RH Avery.indd 53

53

07/12/2016 12:16

BREAKFAST BAR Natasha used wood on the island work surface and waterfall to soften the black units, treating it herself to stabilise the colour. Stools, John Lewis

and stayed with my parents, about 45 minutes away. I was managing the project as I was driving over every day to bring the boys to school, then I’d come and see what was happening on site.’

Part way through the build, the family flew back to New Zealand for a wedding. When they returned, Natasha went to the house to check on progress, and realised there was a problem with the new side window. ‘It was placed too low,’ she recalls. ‘That was a bit stressful because the whole point was that it had to be bench height. It meant we had to fiddle with a few things – we ordered a slightly narrower window, and the builders saved some height on the floor. A bit of compromising went on, but we got it to fit in the end.’

Natasha added a few personal twists to the kitchen, such as having the sink in the island so she could talk to people while filling the kettle or washing vegetables. The hob is in the counter facing the back of the kitchen, as Natasha felt it would be a safer position. Part of the old kitchen now functions as a utility. Next to it is a big sliding door to the entrance hall. Such doors are a common feature in New Zealand. ‘I wanted the doorway to be the size of the hall, so you get the feeling you are coming straight down into the kitchen,’ says Natasha. ‘The theory was the dog wouldn’t be able to get out, but she has worked out she can push it with her nose, even though it’s quite heavy!’

Two sets of glazed sliding doors to the garden keep the space flooded with light and offer easy access outside for the dog, and for the boys to play football. In contrast to the dark kitchen, the rest of the room is painted white, in keeping with Natasha’s love of clean lines. Colour and texture are offered through favourite pieces of furniture, including a squashy corner sofa in on-trend indigo. ‘I think it is nice if someone’s house tells you something about 54

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

RH Avery.indd 54

LIVING AREA Right Indigo is another colour Natasha loves – the Bend sofa is from B&B Italia.

CH25 chair designed by Hans Wegner, Carl Hansen & Son. The coffee table was brought over from New Zealand; for similar, try Made.com

them,’ she says. ‘I lived in China, the Middle East and Africa growing up because my father was a foreign correspondent for Reuters, so we moved every three to four years. The armoire is from China and I have some African basketwork.

My granny’s plates are on the wall, as is one from a Terence Conran restaurant that I asked to keep after a special meal with my sister. The Philippe Starck Attila gnome was in the boys’ bathroom in New Zealand. We brought him over and I liked him here, half in the garden and half in the home.’

The kitchen part of the house renovation came in on budget, and cost just over £11,000. ‘It wasn’t a ridiculously cheap kitchen, but for the look of it, I think it was a very reasonable price,’ says Natasha. ‘We had a party here for 70 people, partly as a house-warming and partly to thank everyone who had helped us during the renovation. And if it works as a party house, then that’s okay by me.’

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 15765

07/12/2016 12:16

‘We had a party here for 70 people, and if it works as a party house, then that’s okay by me’

BEFORE

THE COSTS AND CONTACTS

AFTER

Cabinetry, appliances and installation

DINING ROOM

FAMILY ROOM

NEW LAYOUT Two rooms had been added to the house in the past. These were incorporated into the new fullwidth extension, creating a much more usable open-plan space

£9,200 KITCHEN -DINING -LIVING ROOM

£11,161

£1,390

Astro Osca downlights Schock Primus Sink

£212

£135 TOTAL

Worktop purchase and installation

£224

Grohe Minta tap

Kitchen Wren, 0345 127 7008, wrenkitchens.com Worktop Worktop Express, 0345 2222644, worktop-express.co.uk Lights Ocean Lighting, oceanlighting.co.uk

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

RH Avery.indd 55

55

07/12/2016 12:17

FLOORING Compact Oak solid wood flooring in Cotton White, H182xW14.5cm, £56.99 per m2, Quick-Step

PENDANT Contemporary ceiling pendant in Black, H36xDia.46cm, £99, Atkin & Thyme

in n io N sh itz IO cu + R SH nes up CU Cra Iqr i 9, as 3 m ,£ fo ue Sa Bl BENCH Shoreditch distressed black metal industrial bench, H91xW128x D46cm, £205, Alexander & Pearl

DESIGN EDIT

EP ink Pa l

PLAT FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

GTL AVERY.indd 56

STOOL Gnomi Attila stool, H44xD40cm, £199, Amara

56

plate, Dia .25 .5c m

ur iaFle ,M .95 22 ,£

TABLE Freddie dining table in acacia wood with iron legs, H78xW210xD105cm, £850, Oli & Grace ative cor de f a Le m

Keep your living space sleek and contemporary for a look inspired

by Natasha Avery’s home

COMPILED BY AMELIA SMITH

CHAIR Percy Scoop Back chair with birch legs, H85x W53xD56cm, £99, Made.com

Simply modern

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

07/12/2016 12:18

NEW: erator op Door tic Ma a t r o P

When your Home Matters the Doors are Hörmann • High-quality timber internal doors with steel and timber frames • NEW: Door operator PortaMatic for barrier-free and convenient passages • Duradecor texture and synchronous texture with tangible grain

MAXIMUM IMPACT RESISTANCE

RH-58-136.indd 81 RH3-03-16-B-213x290-EN.indd 4

Duradecor texture

Duradecor synchronous texture

07/12/2016 18:15 24.11.2016 14:16:59

RH-58-136.indd 58

07/12/2016 18:15

ST40 JU 3. £2

HALF PRICE SALE OR CALL 01527 834484**

SUBS feb.indd 59

YOUR UL TIMATE EXTERIOR GU MAKEOVIDE TO ERS

REALHO

MAXIMUM IMPACT

19 GES OF COPA LOURFU L KITCHEN S

50 EASY WA TO UPDAYS TE YO BEDRUR OOM

LATEST LOOKS FO R

FRO T DOON RS

BEFORE +AFTE R

58

PAGES AMAZINOF TRANSF G HOME ORMATIO NS

MA E AN ENTRK ANCE WITH OUR HA DESIGN LLWAY IDEAS

EXPERT ANSW ERS

How can get value moneyI on for my home improve ments?

What’s the for my kit best material chen workt op?

What are the dos an don’ts of d removing internal wa lls?

MES.CO.UK

£3.90

02

Visit realhomesmagazine.co.uk/February17

K ER APPEBAL

2017

4062 33

GO ONLINE

February

9 7714 64

When you subscribe to Real Homes this month you’ll receive 12 issues for half price. You’ll soon be confident with colour, up to date with the latest decorating schemes, know the best way to create light in your extension, and much more.

Hurry, offer only available for a limited time!

*TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY, SEE THE WEBSITE FOR FULL DETAILS. OFFER ENDS 31ST JANUARY 2017. **OFFICE OPENING HOURS: MON-THURS 9AM-5.00PM; FRI, 9AM-4.30PM

*

07/12/2016 12:20

Real Homes CASE STUDY

STATEMENT TERRACED HOUSE REDESIGN With unique ideas and a playful approach to design, Dave Quarrell has created a modern home with striking features ➤

WORDS LINDSAY BLAIR PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID WOOLLEY

PRACTICAL LAYOUT The U-shape design of the kitchen provides plenty of storage and enough room for two people to use the space at the same time.

Worktops, sink, splashback, and tap, all Neatsmith.

Pendant lights, from Rothschild & BIckers. Wooden flooring, Dinnesen

60

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

QUARRELL KITCHEN.indd 60

07/12/2016 12:20

For more inspiration, follow us on instagram @real_homes

realhomes.co.uk FEBRAURY 2017

QUARRELL KITCHEN.indd 61

61

07/12/2016 12:20

THE OWNERS Dave Quarrell, a computer scientist, lives here THE PROPERTY A two-bedroom Victorian terraced house with a converted attic in Twickenham DAVE LOVES Visiting Scotland The film Blade Runner The colour blue Designs by Kobusier Modern and light interiors Eating Thai food

O

TOTAL PROJECT COST £230,000

ne of the moments Dave remembers most about his renovation project is opening the front door to his home and seeing nothing but bare earth and three walls remaining – the two party walls and the front façade. Having decided to take on a radical remodel of his Victorian terrace, which had a traditional two-up-two-down layout, complete with galley kitchen and downstairs bathroom, plans for a drastic change were definitely underway. After living in the property for almost 20 years, Dave had grown tired of its design and layout, and was ready for a change.

‘I’d fallen out of love with my house,’ he says. ‘The design was really showing its age and everything needed to be replaced, so it was a choice between moving or improving.

I really like the area as it’s been home for so long, so I began looking for an architect.’

With initial ideas to reconfigure the internal layout, remove an existing ground-floor bathroom extension, build into the side return to increase kitchen space, and boost space upstairs by enlarging a bedroom and converting the attic, Dave visited neighbouring properties

BRIGHT CHOICE Right A red and white kitchen from Neatsmith provides a focal point to the newly extended space.

It benefits from plenty of light and links to the garden, creating a dramatic contrast to the previous design (shown below). Bespoke rooflights, DG Glass. Sliding doors, IQ Glass.

Walls, painted in white Dulux matt emulsion

BEFORE

AFTER

‘The whiteness of the space makes the room feel much bigger, which I particularly enjoy as it’s such a contrast to how cramped the kitchen felt before’ that had had similar work done for inspiration. One particular project stood out, so he contacted architect Sam Kamleh, at Architecture:wk, who’d designed it and arranged an appointment. ‘I told Sam I wanted a light-filled, modern design that would stand out,’ explains Dave. ‘I was keen to do something different, creating wow with the design so that the rear would contrast the classic-style front façade.

I had a vision of sugar cube-like boxes falling out of the terrace walls, each facing a slightly different way, creating interesting shadows, but still appearing as one unified structure, and Sam came up with a great, creative solution.’

To meet the brief, Sam designed a staggered twostorey extension that would fill the side return downstairs and extend the first-floor back bedroom, as well as a dormer ➤ 62

THE COSTS AND CONTACTS Construction and materials

£167,400

TOTAL

£230,000

Professional fees

£19,700 Kitchen

£19,600 Stairs and glazing

£12,000 Flooring

£11,300

Architect 020 8977 6999, architecturewk.com Builder Collenmore Construction, 020 8408 0162, collenmore.com Surveyor Spencer Architecture

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

QUARRELL KITCHEN.indd 62

07/12/2016 12:20

COLOUR CONTRAST Left A bank of full-height units adds more storage space and houses integrated Miele appliances.

Hob and extractor, Neff

FEBRUARY 2017

QUARRELL KITCHEN.indd 63

63

07/12/2016 12:21

PHOTOGRAPH (THIS PAGE) ARCHITECTURE:WK

64

attic conversion to provide a study space on the top floor.

Then, to create the desired wow factor, the extension would be clad in a varnished marine ply surround with each storey pivoting in the opposite direction to the one above or below, offering slightly different views on each level.

After a lengthy wait for planning approval, which specified that no neighbours could be overlooked or lose their right to light, the design was given the go-ahead.

‘We had to tweak the original design to reduce the size of the first-floor extension by two metres, which was a shame, but has allowed for a third skylight in the kitchen downstairs,’ explains Dave. Work began late in 2014 with the help of building firm Collenmore Construction. By December, most of the house had been demolished and Dave moved out to stay with his partner. ‘Removing all but three walls wasn’t part of the initial plans, but once the builders began work, they discovered a large crack in the plaster of the central wall between the front living room and stairs, and the supporting beam had dry rot, which meant it was unsound,’ explains Dave. ‘The wall was carefully removed and new joists installed.’ Making the most of the opportunity to improve the inner workings of the house, new plumbing, heating and electrics were fitted, and the house was insulated to a high level before being replastered. The threshold from street to inside was levelled, the hallway made wider to provide space and flow, as well as future-proofing the design. Internal pocket doors were chosen to offer a choice between an open or closedplan layout in the downstairs rooms, and a contemporary glass staircase replaced an old wooden design, with utility and cloakroom created to the side.

Changing how the house is used was another key point in Dave’s brief to his architect. ‘I like to entertain and enjoy gardening, so wanted the kitchen-diner to become the main living space with links to the garden and lots of light,’ he says. As well as three large rooflights, slim-framed aluminium sliding doors help to bring in as much natural light as possible, which is emphasised by the white walls and pale solid wood floorboards – a choice inspired by a year spent in Stockholm. ‘The whiteness of the space makes the room feel much bigger, which I particularly enjoy as it’s such a contrast to how cramped the kitchen felt before,’ Dave explains. ‘While the red kitchen warms up the space and creates even more “wow”.’ Red is a bold choice, but Dave says: ‘Why not? I liked the look of it as soon as I saw the design and I love the contrast it creates. Plus, it has stacks of storage space and the U-shape means two people can use it at once without feeling closed in.’

In all, the extension and renovation took 11 months to complete, including increasing the size of the first-floor bedroom and converting the attic, which involved inserting new steels to support the dormer, and installing new windows to the front and back. Externally, the brickwork provides a stylish contrast to the varnished marine ply and aluminium-framed glazing, while the dormer extension features tiles designed to look like brick, in line with planning conditions. Now that the project is complete, the house is not only unrecognisable from the three walls that remained on Dave’s visit to the site, but is a drastic change from the previous design. Although there were delays, the property’s transformation has changed the way Dave uses his home. ‘The focus of the house has been turned around from facing the street to now having a lovely link from the kitchen to the garden as the main space,’ he says. ‘I love how different it now looks and feels.’

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

QUARRELL KITCHEN.indd 64

REDESIGNED SPACE Below The location of rooms has remained more or less the same, but the kitchen-diner is now the main living space. The house was extended into the side return and bathroom moved upstairs

BEFORE

AFTER

GROUND FLOOR

GROUND FLOOR

KITCHEN-DINER

KITCHEN

WC DINING ROOM

UTILITY HALL

HALL LIVING ROOM

LIVING ROOM

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

07/12/2016 12:21

UNIQUE LOOK This image and left Marine ply cladding surrounds the opening of the ground-floor extension as well as framing the first floor addition and dormer attic.

Both the ground and first floor are constructed of bricks, but the loft was clad in tiles made to look like bricks to meet planning rules

realhomes.co.uk FEBRAURY 2017

QUARRELL KITCHEN.indd 65

65

07/12/2016 12:21

h

T

ed oat r-c de w po

ia.40cm, £ ght, D 315 otli ,N sp ua D St LE

e yl

pendant by Inn etal er m em os ud ti n tit La

RUG Moorish Fez wool rug in Red, W120x L170cm, £135, Flair Rugs

PE ND AN

aluminium an ds t e el w it

CHAIR Metal chair in Red powdercoated steel, H85xW43x D45cm, £59, Cult Furniture OVEN Everhot 60 castiron range cooker in Burgundy, H90x W59xD68cm, £4,825, Everhot

TABLE Lack high-gloss Red side table, H45xW55x D55cm, £8, Ikea

DESIGN EDIT

Use this vibrant shade to create wow factor in your kitchen, just like David Quarrell has

KETTLE Smeg KLF01RDUK 1.7ltr kettle in Red, £109.95, Currys

TILE Red Quartz Starlike tile, W30xL30cm, £76.99 per m2, Walls & Floors

SOFA Conran Aspen four-seater wool mix sofa in Launceston Ladybird, H70xW255xD94cm £2,265, 4Living

66

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

GTL-QUARRELL.indd 66

COMPILED BY AMELIA SMITH

Red alert

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

07/12/2016 12:23

Real Homes ADVERTORIAL MODERN LOOK The courtyard at the Sky House Design Centre showroom in Amersham, includes this open-plan living space with sliding doors and roof terrace

SLEEK LOOK Above Edward bed with leather frame, from £3,000, IQ Furniture

HIGH DESIGN Below Elodie leather sofa with reclining action, £3,130, IQ Furniture

SMART GATES Metal-framed Moritz timber gates with Fleur De Lys headers, available up to H2.1xW7m, £1,500, IQ Gates

H

aving built a reputation for high-end glazing, IQ has now expanded its product range to include gates, furniture and outdoor living products. If you’re thinking of transforming your home in 2017, then now is the time to head to the firm’s showroom – the innovative Sky House Design Centre in Amersham, Buckinghamshire – to view the full range of products and receive expert advice.

The Sky House Design Centre has been converted from a worndown warehouse and car garage into a state-of-the-art showroom and advice centre. More than 30 architects and designers visit the centre each week to provide the inspiration and advice you need for getting your home transformation underway.

The entire first floor is dedicated to IQ Furniture. The open-plan showroom is arranged in room sets to provide inspiration for every room of your home, with a focus on quality modern designs. This space will be extended during 2017 to include a FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

ADVERTORIAL IQ_new.indd 67

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO TRANSFORM YOUR HOME If you’re planning to update your house in 2017, you can now find everything from glazing to gates all in one place complete home cinema showroom, including lighting, audio-visual technology and furniture, giving you the perfect opportunity to add some wow factor to your property.

If you’re looking to boost your home’s kerb appeal, check out the IQ Outdoor Living showroom, which boasts a range of driveway gate designs, including steel, timber, aluminium and glass options.

And if it’s glazing you’re after, IQ Glass has been a leading name in residential glazing for the past 11 years. Its high-end designs and

commitment to delivering complex window packages, make it a brand that architects and designers keep coming back to.

To find out more about the world of IQ, call 01494 722 880 or visit skyhousedesigncentre.com.

realhomes.co.uk realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY JUNE 2016 2017

67

09/12/2016 11:02

THE OWNERS Tara Stuttard, a teacher, lives here with husband Damian, a self-employed heating engineer, and their children Ella, 14, and Rhys, 12 THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom former weaver’s cottage with 1.2 acres of land in Huddersfield, Yorkshire TARA LOVES A mix of classic and contempoary style interiors Warm colours A streamlined look Her clever storage solutions

Real Homes CASE STUDY

TOTAL PROJECT COST £32,877

COLOURFUL COUNTRY KITCHEN By renovating a run-down building, Tara and Damian Stuttard have created their perfect family home

H

WORDS CAROLINE FOSTER PHOTOGRAPHS CLIVE DOYLE

aving previously built their own home, Tara and Damian loved the experience, but soon found themselves yearning for an older property that they could put their own stamp on. ‘Our self-build house was brand new and the interior rather box shaped,’ Tara recalls. ‘We liked it, but wanted to take on the renovation of a period house to create a modern interior, with the challenge of maintaining those characterful details.’ The couple weren’t keen on moving too far, though, but had noticed a dilapidated building on the outskirts of their village near Huddersfield that included two small semi-detached cottages and a two-storey attached building that had been a weaver’s workshop and home. ‘No-one had lived there for years and it was all boarded up, so we peered through gaps in the windows and could see that it was in a state of disrepair, but that it had potential,’ explains Tara. ‘But despite it being empty, the property wasn’t for sale.’ That didn’t put the couple off, however, and even though they hadn’t seen inside properly, the couple knew they could modernise it, ➤

68

NEW KITCHEN Removing walls has created a large open-plan kitchen-living-diner complete with a Shakerstyle kitchen, from Milligan & Jessop. The island is painted in Pelt Estate Eggshell and the wall cabinets are finished in Manor House Grey, both Farrow & Ball. Juno limestone floor tiles contrast with the cabinetry and are available through Mandarin Stone. Appliances, Siemens. Bar stools, Top Furniture

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

Stuttard.indd 68

07/12/2016 12:24

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

Stuttard.indd 69

69

07/12/2016 12:24

UFHS Real Homes 213x290.ai

RH-4-57.indd 52

1

01/12/2016

14:35

07/12/2016 18:05

so they made a speculative offer to the owner, the Earl of Dartmouth Estate, who immediately rejected the bid.

‘We didn’t give up and kept writing to them and six months later, they agreed,’ she explains. By May 2012, Tara and Damian were the proud owners of the property, and finally took their first look inside. They found that the top of the old weaver’s cottage was leaning dangerously, which had to be addressed straight away. ‘The rest of the house was in such a state of decay, but we didn’t care because our vision for a spacious, open-plan family space was strong,’ Tara says. ‘We put up scaffolding and dismantled the top storey of the cottage, so that it could be safely rebuilt. In the meantime, we installed a caravan on site and the whole family moved in.’ Although it was a renovation challenge, the cottages were not listed and the Stuttards didn’t have to apply for planning permission to carry out the building work they had in mind. ‘Technically, we just repaired the roof and replaced the rear lean-to extension with a new oak-frame style,’ explains Tara. ‘We only extended the footprint by just under a metre, so planning wasn’t necessary, speeding up the renovation process.’

Once the structure was deemed sound, the couple focused their attention downstairs, creating an open kitchen-living-diner to be enjoyed by the whole family.

‘The old kitchen was sited in the lean-to and included a cold store and ancient cooker,’ says Tara. ‘A tree was even growing through a window into the kitchen and over the cooker – it all had to be removed.’ The couple hired a local builder who removed a staircase, four internal walls and the entire back wall of the two old cottages to unify the buildings and form one room. ‘We planned to use a crane to bring in a supporting oak beam for across the new patio windows,’ says Tara. ‘It was snowing heavily and the crane couldn’t come into the garden, so Damian, a neighbour and some friends manually fitted it – it was a massive job and a crazy, but memorable day.’ Renovating during winter, the couple battled with extreme weather conditions, which caused some delays. ‘One night we had such torrential rain that we woke up to a river running through the ground floor,’ Tara recalls. ‘I remember calling Damian when I saw the electric box floating around ➤

PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS Right Triple-tiered, pull-out drawers make best use of the storage space within the island LIVING AREA Below left A cosy corner sofa from DFS completes a family lounge, with a TV cabinet in the same finish as the kitchen cabinetry ISLAND STYLE Below right A Silestone worktop in a grey finish incorporates an under-mounted sink by Etroduo.

Taps, Abode and Insinkerator

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

Stuttard.indd 71

71

07/12/2016 12:24

BEFORE EXISTING SPACE Above The couple had a big task to modernise the dilapidated property, which has been empty for a long time

NEW ADDITION Below An old lean-to was updated with an oak-frame style, in keeping with the heritage of the property

in the old kitchen and he asked me if I was wearing rubber wellies as it was live!’ More time also had to be spent on levelling the floor, as the builders hit solid rock and had to resort to using pneumatic drills. Despite the setbacks, the main structural work was completed in spring 2013.

Tara had utilised the time creating a plan for the new kitchen using a free online 3D kitchen planner. For the final design, she worked with a local kitchen company, Milligan & Jessop, who she’d seen advertised. ‘Designer Marc Jessop was quick to understand my vision of a traditional look but with a modern twist, and offered clever ideas for creating a contemporary family kitchen in a traditional setting,’ she adds. ‘For a contemporary look against the Shaker-style units, I chose an aubergine and grey palette, which I love as it’s a bit different.’ But, although it’s a beautiful kitchen, every part of it had to be practical, particularly the island, which is the main prep area and breakfast bar. A stand-alone unit houses all the appliances, including an oven, microwave and steam oven with warming drawers. There is also a fridgefreezer. ‘I wanted all the appliances to be integrated as the finish is much neater,’ says Tara. Giving a nod to the heritage of the building, the adjoining dining area features an original stone wall, while new sliding doors to the garden flood the space with light.

With teamwork and dogged determination, the Stuttard family have realised their dream of creating a unique home with an open-plan kitchen that combines the best of traditional and contemporary design. ‘We’ve rejuvenated a sad-looking building and brought it into the 21st century,’ says Tara.

AFTER NEW LAYOUT Left By knocking through the two-cottages, the property now features a large, open-plan kitchenliving-diner. A central island provides a breakfast bar, while the dining table in the lean-to extension is ideal for family meals

KITCHEN/DINER

THE COSTS AND CONTACTS Kitchen cabinetry

Accessories

Appliances

TOTAL

£21,064

£212

£4,507

£32,887

Worktops/work surfaces

£4,154 Fitting

£2,070 Sinks and taps

£880 72

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

Stuttard.indd 72

Kitchen Milligan &

Jessop, 01484 435900, milliganandjessop.com Flooring Mandarin Stone Appliances Siemens, Insinkerator Paint Farrow & Ball

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 15765

07/12/2016 12:24

AFTER DINING SPACE A sloping oak-framed construction by The Original Garden Room has replaced an unsightly lean-to.

Damian made the dining table. He and Tara also handmade the blackboard. Chairs, Barker & Stonehouse

‘We only extended the footprint by just under a metre, so planning permission wasn’t necessary, speeding up the renovation process’

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

Stuttard.indd 73

73

07/12/2016 12:24

Let there be light ...

Modern lifestyles are very different to those of the past. The layout of older houses seldom suit the demands of technology and the fast-moving modern world.

Adapting and renovating is often the most economical option for homeowners whose houses no longer match up to their needs.

From the outset, the biggest challenge was the wall height, normal standard doors are manufactured at 2.5m, however a 3.5m high sliding door was required for this site. The Bi-Fold Door Factory successfully installed a curtain walling system from Schueco UK., a German engineered, double-glazed and

fully insulated system, that not only looked great, but also conserved warmth whilst being exceptionally weathertight.

Light was indeed the main motif of this whole refurbishment, an airy and open plan space that flooded the area with natural daylight.

A typical example of what can be achieved through a combination of good planning, sympathetic design and quality craftsmanship can be seen in this house in Abbey Road, Chertsey where the family wanted to bring their very ordinary house up-to-date. The Bi-Fold Door Factory, a glazed aluminium door and window specialist based in West Dayton, Middlesex, were able to provide a total solution at a reasonable price.

It was decided that the best way to create extra space was to open up the living area by extending out into the garden.

The resulting construction consisted of an upward-sweeping flat roof, a fullyglazed solid side wall, and sliding glazed doors. Large skylights were also let into the ceiling fusing outstanding thermal performance with sleek, aesthetic appeal.

BI-FOLD DOOR

FACTORY RH-4-57.indd 40 BiFold-Advertorial-290x213.indd 1

0800 999 5575 0330 999 5575 info@bifolddoorfactory.co.uk www.bifolddoorfactory.co.uk

07/12/2016 18:04 25/08/2016 13:53

SPLASHBACK Smoke glass splashback, H75xW60cm, £80, B&Q

PAINT Amethyst in eggshell, £55 for 2.5ltrs, Fired Earth

SCALES Colourworks Blue 3kg mechanical scales, £16, Kitchen Craft

LIGHT Muuto Unfold Pendant in White, H29.5x Dia.32.5cm, £139, Rume

CHAIR Senn dining chair in Sky Blue, H77x W50xD49cm, £36, Danetti

DINING TABLE Shepperton oak extending table with base painted in Stone Grey, H75x W155xD80cm, £549, Made.com

DESIGN EDIT

Cool hues

Be inspired by Tara and Damian Stuttard’s renovated space and accessorise your kitchen using these on-trend shades

TILES Otono white gloss marble-effect floor tile, W33.3xL33.3cm, £17.95 per m2, and Paddington Purple metro tile, W20x L10cm, £19.95 per m2, Walls & Floors

COMPILED BY SARA EMSLIE

CLOCK Newgate Vintage Blue metal clock, Dia.35cm, £69, 4Living MONOBLOC TAP Tone chromeeffect brass tap, H24.9xW15cm, £62, Cooke & Lewis at B&Q

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

GTL Suddart USE.indd 75

BAR STOOL Hector stool in Pacific Blue, H61xW38xD33cm, £99, Swoon Editions

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

75

07/12/2016 12:25

AFTER

SMART STORAGE Building out behind the concealed-cistern WC has created a place to keep cleaning products, while the wall-hung vanity unit and built-in cupboard provide extra space for storing essentials. The suite and tiles are all from Roman Bathrooms 76

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

BATHROOM gULL.indd 76

07/12/2016 12:26

Real Homes CASE STUDY

ELEGANT BATHROOM MAKEOVER

A small extension and complete redesign have helped Sarah and Stephen Gull to give their bathroom a boutique hotel feel WORDS AND STYLING LAURA CROMBIE PHOTOGRAPHS CLIVE DOYLE

H

aving a shower cubicle tucked away in the corner of the second bedroom may have been useful for the previous owners of Sarah and Stephen’s house, but for them it was a waste of valuable space. When they came to redesign the bathroom next door, it made perfect sense to knock through and incorporate the cubicle space into the new-look room. ‘We knew that once we tackled the bathroom we’d want to do it properly,’ explains Sarah. ‘We didn’t just want to replace the suite, we wanted to create the perfect layout for us.’

The couple moved into their semi-detached house in 2004, when the bright yellow walls in the space were right on trend. ‘We’d come from a house with an original 1940s bathroom so this seemed like a dream to us,’ laughs Sarah.

‘But as the years wore on it started to look tired and we wanted something with real wow.’ The previous owners had extended above the garage, doubling the size of the bathroom and second bedroom, where the extra shower had been installed. ‘It was in our daughter’s room and she never used it, so it made sense to add the space to the master bathroom instead,’ she recalls.

Sarah and Stephen visited countless bathroom showrooms and spoke to numerous designers, but felt their suggestions for the space were lacklustre. ‘Most of them just wanted to show us new suites and tiles, but we wanted a designer with real vision,’ explains Sarah. A local firm, Roman Bathrooms, had been recommended to the couple from the outset, but they feared the company would be out of their price range. ‘To be completely honest we only visited out of desperation but I’m so glad we did as they were absolutely fantastic and turned out to be excellent value for money,’ she adds.

A designer from the company came to visit the house, took photographs and measurements, and invited the couple back the following week to look at design options.

‘We’d given them quite a list of demands, including adding the cubicle space from the bedroom, creating a new walk-in shower, and relocating the bath, basin and toilet, so I wasn’t sure what to expect,’ says Sarah. ‘But as soon as we saw ➤

THE OWNERS Sarah Gull, a teaching assistant, lives here with husband Stephen, a coach driver, and cats Ally and Bailey. The couple have two grown-up children THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom, 1930s semi-detached house in south-west Birmingham SARAH LOVES John Lewis Radley Homes magazines Cruise holidays Her underfloor heating TOTAL PROJECT COST £15,400

DATED SUITE Below Although large, the room’s bright yellow walls and gold accents made it appear dated. The existing shower cubicle was also small and cramped

BEFORE

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

BATHROOM gULL.indd 77

77

07/12/2016 12:26

ELEGANT LOOK Right and below Large-format porcelain tiles on the walls and floor create a luxurious look, as does the bespoke mirror behind the sink with its LED lighting. Sarah loves the underfloor heating, which is a Warmup Sticky Mat system. She adds colour with accessories, changing them seasonally. Towels, Debenhams

the CGI designs, we were blown away. They’d met our requests but also incorporated so many things we wouldn’t even have considered, like the LED lighting along the step to the shower, and storage above the toilet’s built-in cistern.’

All that was left was for Sarah and Stephen to select the tiles, bathroom suite and storage for their new space.

‘After the yellow walls we had before, we wanted the new look to be neutral with a luxurious feel,’ Sarah says.

‘We chose large-format tiles for most of the room and our designer suggested adding a textured style, too.’

The project, including building work and laying underfloor heating, took three weeks in total, with everything being project managed by Roman Bathrooms.

‘Because we’re both busy at work, having somebody look after the budget and coordinate the different tradespeople was a major advantage,’ adds Sarah. ‘It ran almost to schedule, well apart from one of our cats deciding to hide under the floorboards half-way through the work!’

Now the space is finished, she and Stephen are delighted that they took their time getting the right design.

‘It would have been so easy to give up and settle for a basic update,’ says Sarah. ‘But it was worth waiting until we found the right company. We absolutely love the finished room and we certainly don’t miss the bright yellow walls or random shower in the bedroom one bit.’

‘We wanted a neutral space with a luxurious feel so we chose large-format tiles with textured accents’ BEFORE

AFTER

NEW LAYOUT Above Removing a shower cubicle in an adjacent bedroom and incorporating the space into the bathroom has created room for a separate bath and shower THE COSTS AND CONTACTS Bathroom suite and shower fittings

£6,000

Labour, building materials and skips

£5,700 Tiles

£2,100 Electrician

£1,200 78

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

BATHROOM gULL.indd 78

Underfloor heating

£400 TOTAL

£15,400 Bathroom Roman Bathrooms, 0121 561 4374, romanbathrooms.co.uk Underfloor heating Warmup, 0345 345 2288, warmup.co.uk Accessories Debenhams

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 1575

07/12/2016 12:26

For more inspiration, follow us on instagram @real_homes

WALK-IN SHOWER Every element of the bathroom has been relocated to create the best possible layout for Sarah and Stephen.

There is now a thermostatic shower above a raised and illuminated wet deck, plus a separate bath, countertop sink and WC

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

BATHROOM gULL.indd 79

79

07/12/2016 12:26

80

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

GTL Gull.indd 80

Paloma stainless steel square shower with diverter, H150xD40cm, £730, The Pure Bathroom Collection

Excellente mixer shower with diverter in Black, H99xD40cm, £135, Triton Showers

Search Real Homes on YouTube for the latest advice and inspirational videos

Add a statement shower to your bathroom, like Sarah and Stephen Gull have

COMPILED BY SARA EMSLIE

Modo shower pack 3 in stainless steel, H155xW18cm, £640, Frontline

JEE-O Soho Progressive freestanding shower mixer in Matt Black, H230xD38cm, £2,991.60, CP Hart

Abode Euphoria Oval wall-mounted exposed thermostatic shower, H182.9xD44.6cm, £2,772, John Lewis

Barber Wilsons thermostatic shower in an Inca brass finish, H115xD67cm, £2,261, Holloways of Ludlow

Fairfield exposed thermostatic shower in Country Bronze, H112.4xD59cm, £4,140, Samuel Heath

Cooke & Lewis Timeless thermostatic chrome shower, H116.8xW20cm, £274, B&Q

Stylish showers

Exposed thermostatic traditional shower set one in pewter finish, H100xW20cm, £2,153, Perrin & Rowe

DESIGN EDIT

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

07/12/2016 12:30

Pineland_Proof.pdf

1

29/07/2016

12:22

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

• • • • • •

•

Primed, or primed and painted units can now be provided

enquiries@pineland.co.uk

RH-4-57.indd 57

09/12/2016 09:09

Real Homes CASE STUDY

MODERNISED MASTER BATHROOM A stylish combination of classic and contemporary has created a relaxing sanctuary for Melanie and Andrew Clark to enjoy WORDS LINDSAY BLAIR PHOTOGRAPHS ALISON HAMMOND

BEFORE ORIGINAL SUITE Above With a dated scheme, including lilac walls and pine flooring and panelling, the old bathroom was in need of a makeover

THE OWNERS Melanie Clark, a teacher, lives here with husband, Andrew, a solicitor, and their two daughters, Madeleine, seven, and Charlotte, five THE PROPERTY A Georgian, Grade II-listed three-bedroom terraced house in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, converted from a pet shop downstairs and living quarters above MELANIE LOVES Visiting Amsterdam Shopping at Selfridges Industrial-style interiors Eating pudding Watching the TV show Modern Family Cooking TOTAL PROJECT COST £11,470

82

C

reating the perfect master suite was the final piece of the puzzle for Melanie and Andrew’s renovation project. The couple bought their three-bedroom, Grade II-listed Georgian property in Hitchin in July 2014, and spent three months making it habitable before moving in to complete the rest of the house over the next two years, including revamping the dated family bathroom that hadn’t been touched for decades. ‘The property used to have a pet shop on the ground floor and home above, so there was a lot of work to do,’ explains Melanie. ‘First, we tackled the main living areas downstairs, while we stayed in rented accommodation nearby, to ensure we could live comfortably while the remainder of the renovation took place, before moving back in in the October.’

After modernising the house throughout with a new kitchen, decoration, furniture, and updated heating and electrics, the couple moved onto the master bathroom.

‘It was functioning, but it was very old fashioned,’ says Melanie. ‘The walls were painted lilac with pine panelling, there was chunky pipe boxing and mismatched fixtures, and a fitted bath, all of which weren’t to our style. Andrew and I are both from Australia where there seems to be a lot more storage built into homes, so I really wanted to boost the amount of useable space in the bathroom and create a more modern look.’

Coming up with a new scheme using inspiration found online, in magazines and local bathroom showrooms, the couple decided on a neutral scheme with classic-style pieces, but with modern systems, such as underfloor heating and an automatic ventilation system. A freestanding bath would become central to the new design, with a practical walk-in shower included, making use of a corner in the L-shaped room. ‘I really wanted a walk-in design that could be used every day, while the bath is for when I have more time to really relax,’ Melanie explains.

‘The floor in the shower area is slightly lower to ensure water drains away properly, and a narrow glass screen helps to stop moisture splashing onto the furniture, otherwise, it’s totally open.’ The layout of the bathroom remained unchanged to minimise costs, so Melanie and ➤

AFTER

NEW DESIGN Right The basic layout hasn’t changed, however, a fitted bath has been replaced with a freestanding design, and the old shower cubicle transformed into a walk-in shower with a bespoke vanity unit providing storage.

An alcove is now a built-in cupboard to store essentials

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

clarke bathroom.indd 82

07/12/2016 12:31

CLASSIC TOUCH Left Melanie bought a dresser from Maison Blanc in Hitchin and painted it using Annie Sloan Chalkpaint in Duck Egg Blue. Sink and tap, CP Hart.

Mirror, The Dressing Room Boutique WALK-IN SHOWER Right A walk-in shower has replaced the old cubicle, with a glass screen to prevent water splashing onto the furniture.

Shower, CP Hart.

Mosaic floor tiles, Topps Tiles

FREESTANDING STYLE Below A simple freestanding bath from Better Bathrooms keeps a streamlined look.

Taps and shower, CP Hart

BEFORE

AFTER

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

clarke bathroom.indd 83

83

07/12/2016 12:31

PEARLESCENT TILES Above Metro wall tiles from Topps Tiles in a variety of grey shades were carefully laid to ensure a random mix of tones. The couple chose to half-cover three walls, while the shower area is entirely tiled to ensure it is waterproof

Andrew enlisted the help of local plumber Lee Poulter, who they’d hired previously to work on the property’s heating. While Melanie and Andrew sourced all the fixtures and materials to complete the final look, Lee removed the old suite and relocated the shower’s plumbing so that the pipes were hidden under the floor, keeping a streamlined finish. During the early stages of the renovation, the couple discovered that an electric radiator by the sink was not in line with current safety standards, so this was taken out and low-profile electric underfloor heating installed.

When it came to choosing colours, Melanie says the decision was easy. ‘We’ve used a lot of grey in the house as it’s such a good base colour,’ Melanie explains. So to add visual interest and keep within the chosen palette, grey pearlescent metro tiles were chosen, which came in three grey tones. ‘Andrew is very meticulous, and used Microsoft Excel to create a formula that calculated an order of which shades to use where, based on a numbering system from one to three,’ she adds. ‘We spent evenings ordering the tiles – the result is definitely worth it.’ Andrew also restored the original sash window, which had to be in keeping with the building’s style to meet Grade II-listed guidelines. He painted it white and applied an opaque film for privacy.

Next on the list was storage. The couple installed a full height, fitted cupboard where the old WC was sited, using the same style doors as in their bedroom, painted in grey chalk paint. A new WC was fitted to the front and pipes concealed within the unit. Melanie found the antiquestyle dresser at an independent boutique nearby and knew that she could use it as a vanity unit, painted to match the built-in cupboard. She asked plumber Lee to mount a countertop sink and stainless steel tap, creating a bespoke design. ‘The vanity is my favourite item,’ says Melanie. ‘Plus I love the ornate mirror – I like that the space features pieces that you might not necessarily expect to see in a bathroom.’

Bringing the whole house to completion, the bathroom took three months to finish. While this was longer than the anticipated timeline of six weeks, the couple are very pleased with the results. ‘Completing the master bathroom marks the end of our first project.

We’ve learned lots and gained the confidence that we could do it again,’ says Melanie. ‘Having a nice master bathroom that’s just for Andrew and I is a real luxury, and puts the final touch to our modernised home.’

THE COSTS AND CONTACT Plumbing

TOTAL

£5,000 FITTED STORAGE Right A bespoke fitted cupboard made by a local carpenter provides practical storage space in an alcove, as well as a mount for the WC, by CP Hart with Gerberit flush plate.

Cupboard doors painted using Annie Sloan Chalkpaint in Duck Egg Blue 84

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

clarke bathroom.indd 84

£11,470

Fixtures and fittings, including taps, WC, shower

£3,000

Plumber Lee Poulter, LCP Plumbing & Heating Services, 07916 160437

Tiles

£1,500 Decorating

£1,270 Bath

£500 Underfloor heating

£200

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

07/12/2016 12:31

Visit www.Wetrooms-Online.com for all your wet room needs, help and guides from the UK’s wet room experts.

Wet room kits, including tray, drain and tanking from only £195.

Wet Room Kits | Tanking Kits | Shower Screens | Showers | Insulation Board | Wall Panelling | Mobility Showering

WWW.WETROOMS-ONLINE.COM

RH-58-136.indd 85

FREEPHONE: 0800 280 8008

07/12/2016 18:18

Britton Bathrooms 900 combination unit with Quattrocast basin, H82xW90xD45cm, £937, The Pure Bathroom Collection

Above Floorstanding European oak and metal vanity unit, H82x W112xD57cm, £1,980; ceramic square basin, W46xD46cm, £318, Cape Cod collection

by Philippe Starck, Duravit

Left Cooke & Lewis Paolo gloss white wall-hung vanity unit and basin, H44xW60x D40cm, £238, B&Q S Line solid limed oak two-drawer, wall-hung vanity unit and basin, H50xW100xD46cm, £2,218.08, Aston Matthews

DESIGN EDIT

Add style and practicality to your bathroom with the latest on-trend storage

Above Elegance wall-hung furniture pack vanity unit in matt Aubergine, H60xW45xD25cm, £295, Frontline Bathrooms

86

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

PRODUCT - VANITY UNIT .indd 86

Esta wall-mounted unit in Anthracite, H57.5xW44.5x D28.5cm, £247; Esta cloakroom basin, H6cmxW46x D29.5cm, £123.50, Roper Rhodes

La Dolce Vita 900 basin and drawer unit in San Pietro wood-effect veneer, H31.3xW90xD45cm, £1,250, Fired Earth

COMPILED BY ANNA MORLEY

Vanity units

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

07/12/2016 12:32

HOW MUCH WILL YOUR EXTENSION

COST?

FIND OUT WITH OUR FREE EXTENSION COST CALCULATOR Head to realhomes.co.uk/extension-cost-calculator

www.realhomes.co.uk

RH ECC HOUSE ADVERT.indd 87

07/12/2016 12:32

AFTER

TOTAL REDESIGN Charles’ building company completed the construction work, while Hannah was in charge of the interior. Marley Eternit’s Cedral fibre-cement weatherboarding creates the New England feel they were looking for. Two sets of folding sliding doors from Jeld-Wen create a link to the wraparound garden.

Guttering, Lindab

ORIGINAL HOUSE Below The self-build property dated back to the 1950s, and was in need of substantial structural work to bring it up to date and create a practical family home

Dream TRANSFORMATION BEFORE

American dreaming

This dated self-build was remodelled to create a New England-inspired home PHOTOGRAPHS SIMON MAXWELL

88

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

GRAND TRAN 1.indd 88

07/12/2016 12:34

For more ideas on transforming your exterior, turn to our expert guide on page 119

T

he original house on this plot in Hampshire had been in the same family from when it was built in the 1950s to the early noughties,’ recalls Charles Finch, the builder who bought it. ‘It needed significant work to make it structurally sound.’ Charles and wife Hannah were keen to create an American-inspired family home with a focus on semiopen-plan living.

As the garden was one of the main things that had attracted them to the property, creating a link between inside and out provided the starting point for the redesign.

A large, two-storey rear extension now houses the dining room, kitchen and living room on the ground floor, with two sets of folding sliding doors to the outside space.

Upstairs, the whole layout was altered to create four large bedrooms, one with en suite, and a family bathroom. The master bedroom, which is housed in the extension, also benefits from a new balcony.

A key part of the work involved improving the thermal efficiency of the house, which was achieved by packing parts of the structure with Rockwool insulation and adding

expanded foam insulation into the floor. The exterior was then clad in white weatherboard, which, along with the strong gables, creates the New England look Charles and Hannah were aiming for.

‘We did think about knocking down the original property and starting again from scratch,’ says Charles. ‘In the end, I think it just made sense to work with what we had.’

Design: Morgan Building Design, 01425 617269, morganbuildingdesign. co.uk Number of bedrooms: Four Build cost: £160,000 realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

GRAND TRAN 1.indd 89

89

07/12/2016 12:34

AFTER

BEFORE DATED DESIGN Above The two-bedroom bungalow was very old-fashioned inside and failed to make the most of its large corner plot

Dream TRANSFORMATION

Seeing double

Two storeys were added to this 1970s bungalow to create a contemporary family home PHOTOGRAPHS BANCROFT REAL ESTATE

NEW FAMILY HOME Left and above The existing bungalow has been extended in all directions to create a four-bedroom home.

The slate roof tiles and cedar cladding were supplied by the builders, Asprey Brothers. The aluminium windows and doors are from Express Bi-fold.

Landscaping, Garden It

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

GRAND TRAN 2.indd 90

07/12/2016 12:35

A

s a property developer, Richard Bancroft had a clear vision of what this tired 1970s bungalow in Harrogate could one day become.

‘I wanted to create an ultra-modern house that was unique to the area, and that would sit on the large corner plot better,’ he recalls. ‘The bungalow was far too small and very dated.’

The new-look property needed to include a large garage, open-plan living space, a cinema room and lots of glass for a bright, airy feel.

With the help of architect Simon Horne, plans were drawn up to remove the roof of the bungalow and add surrounding two-storey extensions.

‘Only the exterior walls of the bungalow remain,’ explains Richard.

The ground floor of the property now houses a generous kitchendining-living space, as well as a separate lounge and utility, and an en suite bedroom. On the first floor, there are three double bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a cinema room and home office on the second floor.

Breeze block was used to build the extensions and this was then covered in a combination of render and cedar cladding, with aluminium windows and sliding doors chosen to add to the contemporary look.

‘I love the finished property,’ says Richard. ‘That small, cramped bungalow is now completely unrecognisable.’

Architect: Simon Horne, 07827 737905, srhdesignsolutions.co.uk Number of bedrooms: Four Build cost: £300,000 realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

GRAND TRAN 2.indd 91

91

07/12/2016 12:35

MULTI-COLOUR DRAMA Brighten up a dark hallway with a colourful carpet or large rug. This Navajo Grape rug measures H240x W170cm and costs £499.

Up the colour impact with a contrasting, but colourmatching, wallpaper like this Diva Peony/Sunset wallpaper, £37 per roll.

Chair covered in Plains Six fabric, £35 per m; cushion covered in Diva fabric, £29 per m, all from Scion

Real Homes INSPIRATION

Update your hallway It sets the tone for the rest of your house, so maximise your hallway’s potential with new flooring, storage and wall finishes FEATURE JULES BARTON-BRECK JULESSASYS0.COM

Smart f looring ‘The entrance to your home is a hightraffic area, so whatever material you choose for the floor, it needs to be durable,’ says Louise White, founder and design director of W Design Studio London. Porcelain tiles are ideal as they are highly durable and easy to wipe clean. Alternatively, go for varnished real wood planks, which can be sanded and treated again in the future, or tough-wearing vinyl flooring. You can add colour and texture with a washable runner or rug.

‘The hall, stairs and landing are often overlooked when you’re 92

Wool Fabulous

WFW603 wide decorating but they’re actually carpet in Ruby, a great place to make a design W5m, £140m2, statement, especially if the rest Crucial Trading of your home is fairly neutral,’ says Jemma Dayman, assistant buyer for carpets at Carpet Right. ‘Striped carpets work really well here as they give the illusion of height and space, plus they’re great at concealing dirt and wear and tear.’

A practical option is to carpet your stairs and then choose easy-clean hard flooring for the entrance hallway itself.

Sisal Aztec SZ75 2 carpet in Alabas ter, W4m, £100m2, Crucial Trading

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

Hallways2.indd 92

09/12/2016 12:48

HARDWEARING Right Black Rock Slate tiles, H75.8x W45.3cm, £57.70 per m2, from Marlborough Tiles

NATURAL LOOK Right Fire Stone glazed porcelain tiles, H45.3x W45.3cm, £51.30 per m2, from Craven Dunnill’s Renaissance Collection

CLASSIC GOOD LOOKS The new breed of luxury vinyl tiling is a more affordable and robust option than real wood as it has waterproof and non-scruff properties. Try this stick-down Colosseum Hall Oak vinyl, L121.9x W17.7cm, £21.95 per m2, from Lifestyle Floors

WOODEN FINISH Below Petit Parquet glazed porcelain tile in Cognac, H28x W7cm, £29.85 per m2, from Craven Dunnill’s Renaissance Collection

STATEMENT TILES Whether you’ve got a long, narrow hallway or a square shape, you can create striking patterns with mix and match floor tiles. These retrostyle London Funk Wave multi-coloured tiles will add instant character to your space. Measuring H20xW20cm, they cost £45 per m2, Baked Tiles

BOLD PATTERN Left Handcraft Deco patchworkeffect largeformat porcelain tile in Deco Natural, H100x W100cm, £150 per m2, Inalco

ADDED COLOUR Below Lattice vinyl floor tiles by Dee Hardwicke in Cornflower Blue and Cherry Red, H30.5xW30.5cm, £42.95 per m2, Harvey Maria ➤

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

Hallways2.indd 93

93

07/12/2016 12:35

Stylish storage ‘Hallways can be one of the most difficult areas of the home to keep clear and clutter-free,’ says Jill Reedman, interior design manager for IKEA UK and Ireland. ‘They’re often small or narrow, so it’s important to think about how to make the most of every nook and cranny. Instead of an open shoe rack, why not use a cabinet – keeping items like shoes out of sight makes a space look tidier and, often, bigger.’ Wayfair’s resident style expert, Nadia McCowan Hill, adds: ‘There are plenty of clever storage solutions you can use in a hallway, such as a console table with drawers or shelving. Open shelves are great for arranging baskets and boxes containing domestic essentials, while closed drawers are perfect for trinkets and filing papers away. Invest in a stylish bowl, wall hooks or even a tiered cake stand on a hallway table to keep track of fiddly necessities such as your keys, coins and cards.’

1 SPACE SAVER Wardrobes aren’t just for bedrooms – If you’ve got room in your hallway, invest in a slimline version with sliding doors. Choose high-gloss ones and you can make the space feel bigger.

Pax wardrobe in White, H236xW150x D44cm, £234, Ikea

94

COAT CADDY Not got much space in your hallway?

Opt for a simple coat/boot caddy.

This Pipeline Hall Tree is made from steel and mango wood and measures H174xW70xD44cm, £329, West Elm

MID-CENTURY VIBE Above Matrix Mid-century-style console table, made from sheesham wood with copperclad drawers, H78xW110x D45cm, £299, Atkin & Thyme

INDUSTRIAL STYLE Right Cooper industrial-style wood and metal hall stand, H180x W113xD46cm, £389, Atkin & Thyme

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomesmagazine.co.uk

Hallways2.indd 94

07/12/2016 15:35

SLIMLINE STYLE When you’ve got a large openplan hallway, maximise it with sleek, slimline furniture, and neat accessories. Nordli chest of four drawers, made from particle board with solid beech legs, H125xW48x D40cm, £120; Langesund metal mirror, Dia.50cm, £19; Pax wardrobe in White with fibreboard frame, H236.4xW49.8xD38cm, £112; Janinge chair, H76xD46x W40cm, £40; Osted flatwoven sisal/jute mix rug, H240xW80cm, £30; Lakheden lampshades in white, Dia.55cm, £27 each, all Ikea

COLOUR POP Right Gumball Coat Rack with multi-coloured synthetic balls, H14xW30xD6cm, £5.95, Dotcom giftshop.com ELEGANT DESIGN Right Madison console table in mango wood with brass plating, H77xW109x D42cm, £399, Atkin & Thyme RETRO STYLE Below 1960s-style phone bench in oak veneer with grey cushion, H55xW110x D43cm, Made com ➤

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

Hallways2.indd 95

95

09/12/2016 12:49

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP DAVID WOOLLEY, FIONA WALKER-ARNOTT, FRASER MARR, DAVID WOOLLEY

Whether you’re transforming your whole house, or updating the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or living room, make the most of your new space with expert advice, inspiring real projects and amazing interior design solutions.

head to realhomes.co.uk/renovating

www.realhomes.co.uk

RH Webad_JAN.indd 96

07/12/2016 12:37

Perfect paints and papers

ELEGANT GRANDEUR Shades of pale blue or green are ideal in a large open hallway, helping to reflect the light – team with crisp white or cream for maximum effect. Hallway painted in Dix Blue estate eggshell, £55 for 2.5ltrs, Farrow & Ball

‘Wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to update your hallway,’ says Ian Dykes, founder and director at Voyage Decoration. ‘From subtle repeats to statement designs that can give framed art a run for its money, there are a huge variety of styles to choose from, each of which can be tailored to suit your space and budget.’ Light is a key consideration when it comes to choosing a wallpaper design; if your natural light source is limited, steer clear of darker shades and instead pick patterns with plenty of white space. The direction of any repeated design or pattern should also be taken into account and can be used to create the illusion of space. Alternatively, go for an easier transformation with paint. The hallway is a great place to try out a statement wall colour, whether it be down one side or at the end of the space. Try an eggshell or satin paint for a more durable finish than matt, or use a darker colour on the bottom half of the walls, which is more practical when it comes to concealing scuffs. ➤

PEDAL POWER Right Bikes of Hackney wallaper, £150 per roll, Ella Doran

URBAN SCENE Below Hampstead wallpaper in Ink, £61 per roll, from 50s Line Papers collection, Little Greene

SIMPLE HUE Chic Shadow Endurance+ matt, £26.48 for 2.5ltrs, Dulux

COLOUR MATCH If you’re looking for a contemporary update on traditional style, consider using indigo blue with pale grey. It’s less stark than the usual monochrome black and white, and looks really eye-catching when used on soft patterns.

Ravensworth wallpaper in Indigo, £23 per m; Alba coat hooks in soft grey and oak, £89; Walker two-light lantern in brass, H40xW23x Dia.23cm, £95, all John Lewis

➤ FEBRUARY 2017

Hallways2.indd 97

97

07/12/2016 12:36

RICH SHADE Storm Cloud emulsion, £12 for 2.5ltrs, Wilko

ELEGANT LOOK Eaton Square No.232 paint, £58 for 2.5ltrs of eggshell, Mylands Paints

NEUTRAL COLOUR Grey Slate emulsion, £17.63 for 1tr, Colours at B&Q

DRAMATIC STYLE If you can see your hallway from an adjoining room, try painting both in coordinating shades. The hallway above is painted in Seize The Day, with the front wall in Spring Fever and window frame in High Voltage, £21.98 for 2.5ltrs Walls & Ceiling Paint, or £25.98 for 2.5ltrs Wood & Metal Paint, all Valspar

LUXURY FINISH Add a luxurious touch to your hallway with metallic wallpaper.

This Wilton Sovereign damask design from Little Greene is typical of the large-scale patterns popular in the 18th-century. Part of the London Wallpapers III collection, it costs £71 per roll

K PERFECT PATTERNS Below and below left Enigma wallpaper in blue and black, BP 5506, £86 per roll; Feather Grass wallpaper, BP 5106, £112 per roll, both Farrow & Ball

98

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomesmagazine.co.uk

Hallways2.indd 98

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

07/12/2016 12:36

RH-58-136.indd 99

09/12/2016 09:11

Real Homes IDEAS

Maximum

IMPACT Clash bold patterns, colours and textures to embrace this season’s trend for maximalism FEATURE JULES BARTON-BRECK JULESSASYSO.COM

Maximalist

interiors appear effortlessly styled, with collections that are thrown together in an eclectic, almost cluttered mix, which in theory shouldn’t work, but somehow absolutely does,’ says Martin Holland of MartinMark Design and winner of the BBC’s Great British Interior Design Challenge.

‘The mantra is most definitely “more is more” and almost anything goes. It’s a great opportunity to mix pieces from different periods to create your own unique look. Colour is one of the quickest ways to achieve the maximalist look and there’s no room for subtlety. Opt for a bright and bold attention-grabbing shade, or go ultra-dark for a dramatic backdrop. Wallpaper is more popular now than ever before – look out for eye-popping and daring prints and use across all four walls.’ Maximalism is all about accessories – play around with scale, shape, texture and colour to create a rich contrast and bold statements against the backdrop of the room. It’s about creating a mini adventure from the moment you enter the space, so think sculptural, eclectic and oversized for maximum effect. ➤

100

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

deco MAX.indd 100

07/12/2016 12:38

GO GRAPHIC WITH BOLD FURNITURE AND PUNCHY TONES Turner executive desk in wire-brushed ebonised oak with brass hardware, H78xW177xD76cm, £3,950; Vera chairs with ebonised legs, H96x W45xD53cm, £495.60 each; Vesuvius table lamp made from lava glass, H35.5xDia.33cm, £595, all Jonathan Adler ➤

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

deco MAX.indd 101

101

07/12/2016 12:38

PAIR COLOURFUL PLUSH VELVETS WITH QUIRKY LIGHTING Harrington large chaise RHF in Lumino Teal, H88xW309x D172cm, £2,265; Ellonby large button stool in Tumeric, H45x W132xD86cm, £499; Caspian Admire set of three multi coffee tables in H31cm, H41cm and H48cm (variable widths and depths as each piece is unique), from £799; golden pineapple, £29; Genova Purple velvet cushion, £25; reversible Teal/Green velvet cushion, £25; Shoton Saffron cushion, £30; Crystal Red pompom cushion, £18; Beaufort Port cut-glass votive holder, £12, all Barker & Stonehouse. Coral ostrich feather floor lamp, H200xW170cm, £3,300, from A Modern Grand Tour ➤

102

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

deco MAX.indd 102

07/12/2016 12:38

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

deco MAX.indd 103

103

07/12/2016 12:38

TEAM CLASHING COLOURFUL FLORALS Wallpaper: Floreale 111498, £62 per roll, from the Standing Ovation Collection

by Harlequin; cushion fabric (l-r): Floreale from Fauvisimo 120524, £56 per m; Boutique Velvets 130011, £67 per m; Floreale from Fauvisimo 120524, £56 per m; Folia Velvets 130385, £57 per m, all Harlequin

104

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

deco MAX.indd 104

07/12/2016 12:38

UPDATE MID-CENTURY STYLE WITH ZANY WALLPAPER Tistlar 422-64 wallpaper in Red, £76 per roll, from the Sandberg Signature Collection ➤

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

deco MAX.indd 105

105

07/12/2016 15:30

Get more tips on how to be bold with print from 2 Lovely Gays, page 149

MIX MODERN GEOMETRICS WITH PRIMARY SHADES Rotvik pendant lamp in stained bamboo, H54xDia.54cm, £45; Vittsjö coffee table in steel with glass top, H45xDia.74cm, £35; Lappljung Ruta polypropylene rug, W200xL200cm, £60; Lappljung Ruta cushion cover in White/Black, £9; Stuva storage bench, H50xW90x D50cm, £49; other cushions from a selection in store, all Ikea. For similar wallpaper, try Hexagono Black & White 1961-2, £54 per roll, from Wallpaperking.

For similar paint colour, try Citron from Farrow & Ball, £22 for 750ml of Estate Eggshell

106

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

deco MAX.indd 106

07/12/2016 12:39

COLOUR CLASH YOUR ACCESSORIES Grey wall-mounted rhino head, H29xW27xL38cm, £80; pineapple glass candle holder, H24.5xDia.11.5cm, £20; orange gorilla lamp, H57xW29xD23cm, £90; grey hare ornament, H32xW12xD14cm, £28; meerkat lamp, H55xW17.5x D17.5cm, £90; appliquéd pom-pom cushion, £28; chimp cushion, £42, all Abigail Ahern/Edition at Debenhams

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

deco MAX.indd 107

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

107

07/12/2016 12:39

Real Homes ADVERTORIAL MODERN LOOK The courtyard at the Sky House Design Centre showroom, in Amersham, includes this open-plan living space with sliding doors and roof terrace

ELEGANT BEDDING Give your bedroom a new look with Latte Cross Border bedding in 100 per cent cotton, from £83 for a double bedcover, and £26 for a pair of pillowcases

To sa 20 per cve on the ent Cross B Latte o range, h rder to page ead 124

LUXE UPDATES Below Towels in Pure White, Soft Wheat and Cool Grey, from £2 for a face cloth or £51 for a bundle with face cloth, hand towel, bath towel and bath sheet

CHOOSE STYLISH NEW BEDDING FOR A GREAT NIGHT’S SLEEP If you’re looking to revamp your bedroom or bathroom, Beaumont & Brown’s bedding and linen will add a touch of hotel-style luxury to your space

T

ransform your bedroom during 2017 with a helping hand from Beaumont & Brown. With everything from supremely soft mattress toppers, to decadent duvets, plump pillows and elegant bedlinen, the company’s products combine unparalleled comfort with a timeless aesthetic to bring a luxurious and contemporary feel to your home.

With the nights drawing in, treat yourself to a great night’s sleep, every night, by sinking into a madeto-order natural or synthetic mattress topper. Choose from duck feather, goose feather and down, or feels-like-down Comferel, to experience incomparable relaxation.

Wrap yourself in a super-cosy microfibre duvet, recline under lightweight

108 FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

ADVERTORIAL Beaumont.indd 108

duck down or, for the ultimate bedtime experience, try a beautiful goose down duvet – all are made in Britain with 300-thread-count cotton. And whether you prefer a malleable pillow to match the contours of your neck or something with a little more support, Beaumont & Brown has one you’ll want to rest your head on night after night.

Super-fine 400-thread-count bedlinen is available in a variety of Scandinavian-inspired neutrals to help create an elegant bedroom, whatever your style. The versatile White, Cool Grey and Luxury Latte bedding can be accessorised to suit your taste, while the Triple Row Cord range combines clean white with a delicately stitched, monochrome finish. For something different, the

Grey and Latte Cross Border ranges feature brilliant white cotton with subtly shimmering borders to create a modern feel.

To rejuvenate your bathroom at the same time as your bedrooms, Beaumont & Brown’s thick and fluffy towels or hooded bathrobes, which are available in three colours designed to complement the bedlinen, will create a home that is as visually appealing as it is comfortable.

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

07/12/2016 15:36

5 50 Real Homes INSPIRATION

EASY WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR

BEDROOM 1

GO GEOMETRIC Daisy bed in Blush brushed cotton with beech sharktooth feet, H120xW137x D208cm, £795, Button & Sprung. Modul in Blush wallpaper by Scion, £39 per roll. Bedlinen, from a selection at John Lewis ➤

Turn a tired space into a relaxing haven with these great ideas for every style of home WORDS RACHEL OGDEN realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

50 BEDROOM .indd 109

109

07/12/2016 12:40

3

COLOURFUL LAYERS

Rothesay king-size duvet in cotton sateen, W220x L230cm, £100; Rothesay pillowcases in cotton sateen, W75xL50cm, £18 each, Bluebellgray

2

PASTEL PENDANT

Northern Lighting Bell Pendant in porcelain, available in six shades, H28x Dia.20.5cm, £175, Cloudberry Living

4

BERRY TONES

Addiction feature wall emulsion, £13.50 for 1.25ltrs, Crown

5 110

6

MODERN LOOK

ICONIC WALL LIGHT Original 1227 wallmounted aluminium and brass light in Dusty Blue with Chocolate Brown connectors and cable, H15xDia. 14.5cm, reach 60cm, £235, Anglepoise

Zeke dressing table with walnut finish, leather-effect top and ergonomically curved mirror, H78x W90xD57cm, £399,

by Simon Pengelly for Made.com

7

BOLD TEXTURE Kas Tanner knit throw, W130x L170cm, £95, John Lewis

FEBRUARY 2017

50 BEDROOM .indd 110

07/12/2016 12:40

8

ABSTRACT THINKING

Asymmetric brassplated lampshade, H45xDia.45cm, £65, Rockett St George

9

FLOWING LINES

Rumi side chair in Lucia Corn fabric upholstery on lacquered tubular steel base, by Sadi Ozis for Walter Knoll, H73.5xW89xD65cm, from £1,625, Aram

10 11

12

SHINING EXAMPLE Versailles mirrored glass console with distressed gold edging and crystaleffect handles, H80xW110xD40cm; stool with velvet seat, H34xW54x D29cm; and Colleta triptych mirror, H54xW78cm, £328.99, all My Furniture

EXPOSED BRICKS Paragon Grey ceramic wall tiles, W29.8xL49.8cm each, £42 per m2, House of British Ceramic Tile

BLOOMING GORGEOUS Floral Romance four-drawer cabinet with turned legs in black fir, H102x W50xD40cm, £360, MiaFleur

13

PRETTY IN PINK Flamingo lamp with metal base, H52x Dia.23cm, £75, Butterfly Home by Matthew Williamson for Debenhams ➤

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

50 BEDROOM .indd 111

111

07/12/2016 12:40

15

14

PICTURE PERFECT Oaitepeha Bay, Tahiti mural from the National Maritime Museum, from £60 per m2, Surface View

SPLIT PERSONALITY

Multi-Lite pendant by Louis Weisdorf for Gubi in brass frame with Blue and White lacquered rotational diffuser, Dia.36cm, £445, Aram

16

RISE AND SHNE Bodyclock Luxe 700 with fading sunlight and blue light features, H20xW23xD13cm, £170, Lumie

17

SHOWSTOPPER STYLE

French Louis chest of mahogany drawers in Fuchsia Pink, H90xW120x D51cm, £1,250, Out There Interiors

18

20

TWICE AS NICE

Super-king Coll bed set in Textured Rope Indigo with House Linen Navy piping and chrome feet, which can also convert into two singles, H130x W180xD200cm, from £1,447, The Headboard Workshop

112

TASTE OF THE EXOTIC

19

SMOOTH STYLE

Paradise wallpaper in Nightshade, £131 per roll, Little Greene

Large Gold Pebble mirror in style 3, H56xW43cm, £58, Oliver Bonas

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

50 BEDROOM .indd 112

07/12/2016 12:41

22 FLIGHT OF FANCY

Cranes wallpaper in Blue, £68 per roll, Emily Burningham

21

DRESSED TO IMPRESS

Genevieve oak dressing table with marble top and brass handles, H128xW110xD48cm, £799, Bethan Gray for John Lewis

23

25

FOUR-POSTER LUXE

Orchid king-size bed in solid walnut, H196x W159xD209cm, £2,890, Natural Bed Company

24

GO FOR GLOW Temple glass and brass table lamp with 002 Plumen bulb, H24xDia.18.2cm, £99, Made.com

27 BLUE MOOD Esme oak-finish bed frame in Duck Egg fabric, H123xW162x D204cm, £419.30; Carousel twist plain carpet in Aqua, £12.79 per m2, Carpetright

STATEMENT PIECE

Globe pendant light in iron with brass-finish, H40xDia.35cm, £102, MiaFleur

26

FLEXIBLE STORAGE Plywood CornerShelf in midi size, H20x W50xD15cm, £100, Kreisdesign

28

SCANDI-STYLE FLOORING

Signature luxury vinyl flooring in Limed Grey Wood, sizes W7.6xL91.4cm to W22.8x L122cm, £70 per m2, Amtico ➤ FEBRUARY 2017

50 BEDROOM .indd 113

113

07/12/2016 12:41

29

30

SUMPTUOUS SLEEPING Foxtail double bed in Teal velvet with sharktooth feet in beech H130xW143xD201cm, £695, Button & Sprung

TIMELESS IKAT

Catarina rug in hand-tufted wool, W160xL230cm, £1,350, A Rum Fellow

31

BRING THE SUNSHINE

Evelyn cotton cushion, £12, Habitat

32 LAYERING UP

34

Hand-woven merino wool and cashmere, and lambswool throws, £120 each, Life of Riley

33

METALLIC TOUCH

Anderson bedside table in mango wood and brass, H40x W50xD46cm, £149, Made.com

35

LUXURY LOUNGING Chesterfield chaise in Ross Pastiche Citrus velvet, H82xW176x D74cm, £1,590, Delcor

GARDENER’S WORLD Fabric on headboard and matching cushion in Buds and Butterflies print, £68 per m for material, £52 for cushion, part of Lorna Syson’s Garden collection

36 CIRCULAR CHIC

Citadelle round wall mirror, Dia.120cm, £829, Barker & Stonehouse

114

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

50 BEDROOM .indd 114

07/12/2016 12:41

37

WELL ROUNDED

38 FRINGE BENEFITS

Herbie wool throw in Teal, H180x W145cm, £85, Perch & Parrow

Curve Shell Back retro chair in Petrol Blue with birch legs, H77xW60xD68cm, £375, Alexander & Pearl

39

MODERN CLASSIC Retro Tube II double bed in Silver Blue linen with brushed oak legs, H125xW156xD215cm, £695, Bedmonkey

42 SPRING BURST

40

ELEGANT EVERGREEN

Regal Select Flat paint, from £19.50 for 0.94 ltrs, Benjamin Moore

43

Medium linen-mix lampshade in Chrysanthemum, H20xDia.30cm, £69, Lorna Syson

41

ART DECO DESIGN The Modena super-king bed in limewood, H114xW180x D200cm, £6,475, Simon Horn

LUXE STORAGE RV Astley Antique Mirror chest with antique brass legs, H75xW90xD50cm, £1,422, Houseology

44

COASTAL COOL Coastline Sandbank engineered oak flooring, £84.94 per m2, Fired Earth ➤

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

50 BEDROOM .indd 115

115

09/12/2016 12:50

45

METALLIC ACCENTS Pompei nightstand in forge-textured steel with light antique gold finish and two gloss-lacquered drawers, H50xW50x D40cm, £4,026, Decorus

46

WOW WITH WIREWORK

Corissa industrial open iron wardrobe, H200xW74xD45cm, £720, Out There Interiors

Napper double bed in Spiced Orange clever velvet with solid oak legs, H113x W136.5xD202.5cm, £875, Loaf

PERFECTLY PATTERNED Ikat Urban Blue cotton double duvet, W200x L200cm, with two pillowcases, W50x L75cm, £120, Bohzaar

49 SIMPLE ELEGANCE

Latte Cross Border bedding, 100 per cent cotton, from £83 for a double bedcover and £26 for a pair of pillowcases, Beaumont & Brown

To save 20% on Latte Cross Border bedding, enter RH20 at the checkout*

50 116

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

50 BEDROOM .indd 116

CUPBOARD LOVE Wear 2 wardrobe

by Peter J Lassen for Montana Mobler in Graphic and Air lacquered MDF, H194xW95xD60cm, £2,427, Aram

* TO CLAIM, ENTER RH20 AT THE CHECKOUT AT BEAUMONTBROWN.COM/SHOP. VALID UNTIL 3 FEBRUARY 2017. FOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS, SEE PAGE 141

47

48

SEVENTIES STYLE

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

07/12/2016 12:41

Just Shutters.

We listen, design & deliver.

In style.

SAVE

20%

JANUARY SALE

JU ST SH U T T ER S | MAK I N G YOUR HOME SH I N E Understanding that your house is your home is at the very heart of our thinking, from design consultation that focuses on your style and needs, through to fitting where we ensure that your house is treated like a home, not like a building site! For years to come as you admire the practicality.

Ca ll us tod ay o n 0 8 45 8 94 0 70 0

justshutters.co.uk

T2653 JS 2016 Dec JAN SALE Real Homes 92x260.indd 1

RH-58-136.indd 117

02/12/2016 07:21

07/12/2016 18:18

INTEREST FREE CREDIT

SAVE

0%

£580

APR

WAS £2629

REPRESENTATIVE

NOW £2049

At Saxon, we take great pride in every single piece of furniture we make, which is why each sofa and chair is hand-crafted to order. Combining carefully seasoned beech hardwood frames, with the finest leathers and fabrics and traditional British craftsmanship, means that our furniture is built to last.

OVER 900 REVIEWS

RH-58-136.indd 118

View our full collection at www.SofasbySaxon.com Brochure Freephone 0800 634 3726 Quote REAL51F

07/12/2016 18:18

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

EXTERIOR UPDATES

Whether you want to improve an ugly façade, or replace unsympathetic alterations, updating your home’s exterior can add kerb appeal and value

PHOTOGRAPH BACK TO FRONT EXTERIOR DESIGN BACKTOFRONTEXTERIORDESIGN.COM

WORDS LUCY SEARLE

BEFORE

AFTER ELEGANT FACELIFT Above and right ‘This detached house in Reigate had a good shape to it, but the combination of materials and window configuration was very poor, making it appear rather unfriendly,’ says Alexandra Hull, managing director of Back to Front Exterior Design. ‘We transformed the exterior with the removal, resizing and addition of windows, and by applying render and new roof tiles. We also added a zinc-roofed, periodstyle porch as a beautiful finishing touch. The results speak for themselves.’ To achieve the same look on the exterior of your home (front and rear), it would cost from £100,000 to £200,000, but much more if you were extending and doing work internally, too ➤ realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

exterior updates.indd 119

119

07/12/2016 12:42

MARRY OLD WITH NEW Below and right If you’re extending, it’s vital to create either a match or a contrast with the existing materials for the new-look exterior to work. Here, the back of a detached house in south-west London has had a full-width extension, rendered to complement the original finish of the house. Project cost: From £287,500, excluding kitchen and bathroom fittings and floor finishes BEFORE AFTER

Transform your property by investing in its exterior Changing your home outside – even on a low budget – can improve its looks, saleability and value, but it needs to be done carefully and sympathetically.

PROJECTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ALL VERONICA CONGDON AT VC DESIGN

DO ensure the changes you make are in keeping with your home’s age and proportions. ‘Rendered walls on period properties can be painted in pastel hues, with architectural features picked out in white,’ says Michael Zucker, a chartered surveyor for estate agents Jeremy Leaf & Co. ‘Pebble-dashed or badly painted walls can be taken back to the brick, clad or rendered. Damaged brickwork can be insulated and rendered. Bland post-war buildings can be given character by a façade makeover. The cost of this work is usually exceeded by the increase in the property’s value.’

DO consider how the changes you’re planning will fit with surrounding properties. ‘In a terraced or semi-detached house, you need to picture how your house relates to its neighbours,’ adds Michael. ‘In a detached house, more radical treatments can be possible – including alteration of windows, a partial render, tile-hanging or cladding. A design consultant or architect will help you maximise its potential.’

DO check with a local estate agent that your plans will improve, rather than detract from, your home’s value.

DON’T miss the opportunity to improve your property’s energy efficiency if you’re cladding or rendering your home.

DON’T forget to keep some of your budget back in case you need to revamp the garden once the makeover is finished.

120

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

exterior updates.indd 120

07/12/2016 12:42

BEFORE RAISE THE ROOF Above and right This house didn’t fit well with the period properties in its south-west London street. Raising the roof improved its proportions, while repositioning and resizing windows, and adding a square bay and a canopy to the side created architectural interest.

Render, painted cream, was an affordable finishing touch.

Project cost: From £138,000 AFTER

AFTER

THE BEST UPDATES TO BOOST YOUR HOME’S VALUE Which job will give you the best return on your investment? We asked Robert Nichols, managing director of Portico London estate agents, for his expert view.

INSULATE AND RENDER ‘I used Sto render on this detached house in south London,’ says architect and designer Veronica Congdon, of VC Design. ‘It’s an insulated panel product with the render applied on top. It improved the insulation on the property and its energy efficiency.’

Project cost: From £299,000 BEFORE

‘Rendering and/or cladding could potentially add up to 10 per to your home’s value, depending on whether it fits in with the other houses in your street, and if it suits your home. Think carefully about the finish.

You can be adventurous if you’re thinking of staying put – but if you’re trying to add value before you sell on, it’s advisable to go for something neutral.

‘Repainting ugly brickwork, pebble-dash or cladding is a cheaper way to change the look of a house – and is DIY-possible. It could improve the value of your home by up to 10 per cent. However, a paint-job is difficult and expensive to reverse, so make sure the colour is right, and the paint is suitable for the surface.

‘A porch can add a focal feature and space for storing boots and coats. A cheap porch won’t increase your home’s value or saleability, but choosing something stylish that is in keeping with the area and your home’s design would make it more attractive to buyers.

‘Driveways can add value of between one and five per cent. However, some people might prefer a front garden – especially if there is no back garden and there is ample parking on the road – so think carefully about who you could be selling to before you have one laid.’ ➤ realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

exterior updates.indd 121

121

09/12/2016 12:50

FLAWLESS FINISH The irregularities of the walls on this 1970s building have been evened out with HI-MACS ventilated rainscreen façade, creating a seamless finish.

Project architect Jan-Erik Gerdt also used the versatile material inside to clad the staircase walls and for two wash basin tops. Made of 70 per cent natural stone powder, 25 per cent high quality acrylic resins and five per cent pigments, it is non-porous, weatherresistant, can be moulded into any shape and is easily cleaned.

Cost: From £300 per m, LG Hausys

Improve your home with cladding and rendering As well as making your home look better, cladding and render protect it from the elements and even insulate it.

There are products to suit all budgets and house styles – choose the right one and give your home a new identity.

WHICH CLADDING OR RENDER IS RIGHT FOR YOUR HOME? Start by looking at samples of your cladding choices in situ at different times of the day. Ask your supplier if they can give you new and aged samples to see how your home will look freshly clad and a few months down the line. Make sure the weight of your chosen cladding or render is suitable for your property, as some materials are heavier than others.

PVCu cladding, usually white, is one of the most inexpensive options. Coloured or wood-effect PVCu is comparable in price to timber boarding. Low-maintenance and easy to clean, it should last for up to 20 years, although cheaper versions will discolour over time. Unlike composite weatherboarding, it doesn’t look convincingly like wood and won’t suit period properties. Some PVCu cladding has a cellular core that offers good thermal resistance.

Laminate cladding, such as that made by Trespa, is made by compressing impregnated paper or wood fibres and epoxy, phenolic or polypropylene resin. Durable and scratch-resistant, it can have coloured pigments added to the surface during curing, making a variety of colours and finishes possible. Virtually impervious to weather, it can also be cleaned very easily.

Composite cladding, like that made by LG Hausys, is made up of stone powder and high-quality acrylic resins with pigments to add colour. Highly weather-resistant, it can be easily cleaned, moulded and fitted.

Timber boarding suits contemporary and some period properties. Try Vastern for a good selection of Britishgrown timbers. Shiplap boarding has straight tongueand-groove edges, while feather-edged boarding overlaps and has irregular edges. Softwoods, such as pine or spruce, are the cheapest option. They should be stained or painted regularly for longevity. More expensive initially is kiln-dried western red cedar, a durable softwood. Hardwoods, like oak, chestnut or larch, can be left to weather naturally or sealed with a fire-retardant coating. Heat-treated timber, such as Thermowood from FinnForest at Metsä Wood, can cost more, but is more stable than untreated timber.

Fibre-cement weatherboarding costs more than timber boarding but, being a composite, is longer-lasting, 122

won’t twist or warp over time, is fire-resistant, frost-proof, comes pre-finished, needs minimal maintenance (an annual hose down will do) and won’t rust or rot. Available in a range of colours, it comes with realistic woodgrain patterns or riven finishes that look like natural slate. It is particularly effective at capturing the New England look. Lifespan should be at least 40 years. Try James Hardie or Marley Eternit for a good selection.

Brick slips look like solid bricks but are actually 2-2.5cm deep ‘tiles’ made from clay – either kiln-fired as preformed slips, or sawn from the face of standard clay bricks, the latter being more varied in thickness and more expensive.

Brick slips are stuck to a backer panel, with mortar tooled into the pointing in the usual way, or the backing adhesive is wet-brushed. There is a dry option that is fixed to a clip-fit backing. Cladding panels with a brick finish and interlocking prefabricated boards are also available. Slips are a suitable finish for external wall insulation, and can be used to upgrade existing solid wall homes.

Stone tiles are of a similar construction to brick slips, and are split from genuine stone. They are ideal for a more traditional look, offering a cost-effective and lightweight alternative to building with natural stone.

Metal is an expensive option but is low-maintenance and weather-resistant. Perfect for new builds or contemporary renovations, it can suit period conversions, too, as it works well with render and timber cladding. It can come painted, powder-coated, pre-aged or coated to preserve its finish.

Metal cladding can be fitted vertically, horizontally or diagonally to flat and curved façades. Steel is the most affordable and should last at least 30 years; lightweight aluminium is good for 40; untreated zinc weathers to look like lead and should last 50 years; copper develops a verdigris finish and should have a lifespan of 100 years.

Masonry paint is a cheap and fast way to cover an ugly exterior. Textured finishes are particularly good for hiding minor cracks. Homes that have been built with lime mortar need breathable, water- or lime-based products.

Render is a cost-effective concealer, whether it’s sand and cement or a flexible, breathable polymer modified render (for homes with solid walls). It can hide poor-quality or mismatched brickwork on period properties, and create a sleek finish on modern homes. It can come self-coloured or be painted later. Render works well with masonry or timber cladding, to add architectural interest, and can be matched with external insulation to warm up a draughty home.

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

exterior updates.indd 122

07/12/2016 12:42

ECO CHOICE Above ‘Timber cladding is an attractive product with proven environmental credentials,’ says Andy Allen, managing director at Vincent Timber. ‘A durable species can be used without coatings and allowed to naturally weather – or it can have coatings applied to retain natural colour or provide other pleasing effects.’ On this Passivhaus, there’s a Western Red Cedar Parallelo cladding which was treated with New Age grey coating to provide a pre-weathered look.

The cost: £66 per m2, excluding installation

DURABLE LOOKS The self-build owners of this home in Northamptonshire used a slate grey Cedral Click fibre-cement weatherboard,

by Marley Eternit, to achieve architectural fusion between their property’s angular design and a neighbouring Grade II-listed church spire. The flush-fitting boards give a sense of elegance so the brick façade doesn’t dominate the design. The cost: From £15 per L360xW19cm board

PLANNING PERMISSION Painting your property, rendering or fixing cladding is usually classed as permitted development, so doesn’t require planning permission. However, if your home is listed or in a Conservation Area, you’ll almost certainly need it for any external alterations – and your choice of finishes may be limited or dictated by the council. If your house is on an estate, check for covenants attached restricting external alterations. Always consult your local planning department before starting work.

Concrete render shouldn’t be used with the lime mortar masonry of many period properties as it will lead to damp and rot. Use a silicon-based render, which is flexible, breathable and easy to maintain. Lime render can be an eco-conscious choice for new homes and over masonry, too. Not every product suits every build type, so check what is best for your home. Find an experienced professional through the Insulated Render and Cladding Association.

WHAT DOES IT COST? Labour costs can vary, depending on location, complexity, job spec and choice of builder so ensure you get at least three quotes. The figures below give an idea of the starting price per square metre, but you need to add on fixings, edgings, and any further weather-proofing or decorating. ➤ Composite cladding Laminate cladding Tiles Hardwood timber cladding Metal PVCu cladding Brick slips Rendering Fibre cement weatherboarding Softwood timber cladding Masonry paint (three coats)

£300 £50 £45 £40 £40 £20 £18 £18 £15 £15 £1

DIY OPTION Above Dirt-resistant, breathable and waterproof, Ultra Smooth masonry paint is extra durable and you can cover large areas with it quickly. Available in a range of natural colours, including Black, Olive, Bitter Chocolate and Gravel (shown here).

The cost: £29.99 for 5ltrs Sandtex

➤

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

exterior updates.indd 123

123

07/12/2016 12:42

Q-Clad pre-painted, fine sawn, featheredge timber cladding.

Available in white or black.

PEFC certified

Q-Shades coloured timber. A range of pre-stained timber decking and cladding. The translucent, durable matt finish in brown or black, enhances the natural grain of the timber.

NEW SmartBoard solid core reversible composite decking.

Smart textured brushed matt finish in Battleship Grey or Chocolate Brown.

20 x138 x 3600mm. Simple to fix using SmartBoard coloured decking screws.

Buy instore or online at www.qualitydecking.co.uk Tel: (0800) 849 6339 (Mon-Fri 8-5pm)

Timber cladding direct from the sawmills Vastern Timber offers a range of products ideal for external cladding. Species available include oak, sweet chestnut, larch and western red cedar.

New for 2016 we have introduced the BrimstoneÂŽ range of thermally modified British hardwoods.

Other products available, please visit our website for the full range.

RH-58-136.indd 124

Vastern Timber

Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire T 01793 853 281 E sales@vastern.co.uk Studley, Wiltshire T 01249 813 173

vastern.co.uk

07/12/2016 18:18

DRAMATIC LINES This entrance, by Nicolas Tye Architects, has external walls clad in dark-painted solid timber, with glazing positioned to allow privacy for the owners while also letting in plenty of light

Add a porch to create space and grandeur Porches are a focal feature of a home’s exterior, creating a statement around the front door and kerb appeal from the street. And, with energy costs being so high, anything to help prevent heat escaping is an added bonus.

WHICH PORCH DESIGN? A modest canopy is the most cost-effective approach and will shelter the front step from rain, but an open-sided portico or an enclosed porch incorporated into your home’s interior might be more practical. Look at examples online to get the best design in the right materials for your home.

Proportion is a priority. The width, height and depth all need to complement one other and the other architectural features of the house, especially the front door and the ground-floor windows. Porches should be a minimum of 1.2 metres wide, and the ridge should sit below the line of the eaves to create a cosy cottage feel, or higher, with valleys cut into the main house roof, if you want a grander effect.

Style is next to think about. Boxy or angular designs suit contemporary homes. Continuing a flat roof above a front door will create a seamless look. Period properties benefit from more traditional steep pitches, or a catslide roof that continues down from the main eaves .

Materials must be well-chosen. Exposed wood and metal suit country-style properties. Detailed painted wood or plaster mouldings are perfect for a period look, while brickwork, glazed, clad or rendered porches are ideal for contemporary homes. Continuing a material from the porch into the hallway creates a sleek finish, particularly in a modern property where large glazed panels merge the inside with the outside. If yours is a porch that is open to the front garden, perhaps in a traditional Edwardian or Victorian house, ensure that the wall treatment and flooring complement the front path – maybe using encaustic tiles – and exterior walls – which might suit a smartly painted render.

Practicality should be considered alongside design.

Ask yourself what you want from your porch: is it just to improve the aesthetics of your house, to provide shelter from rain, or somewhere to store coats and boots? Do you want it to be heated. How will it be lit and do you want lights inside and out? Should you include frosted windows to let the daylight in?

Planting and pots around the front door create an elegant finish to your porch, so ensure you provide space

GLAZED ENTRANCE Above This large porch creates quite the first impression.

Side glazing makes it a bright space.

The cost: Front door in fumed oak with clear glass sidelights, handle and letter box, £12,000, from Urban Front INSTANT ELEGANCE Left Updating a Georgian house, or want to give a Georgian-style new build an authentic touch? This five-foot Scoop Georgian Porch has a curving roof and decorative iron framework.

The cost: £4,195 for H270xW153xD61cm, Garden Requisites

PLANNING PERMISSION Adding a porch is considered permitted development so doesn’t need planning permission, provided the ground floor area (measured externally) doesn’t exceed three square metres. Also, the porch must not be more than three metres above ground level, or come within two metres of your home’s boundary or a public road.

If your home is listed or in a Conservation Area, contact your local planning and conservation departments to ensure they’re happy with what you have in mind.

for them at design stage. Contemporary-style porches work well with large, architectural plants in tall pots, while the wirework lattice side panels of a metal porch offer support for climbing plants planted in borders on either side.

WHAT DOES A PORCH COST? Simple canopies can be as little as a few hundred pounds, while kit porches cost upwards of £1,000. If yours is being built from scratch, you need to factor in brickwork, roofing, plastering, flooring, painting, glazing and lighting. Expect to pay from £1,000 per square metre.

The price will go up depending on: whether you have partial or full glazing on all sides; if the porch is entirely enclosed; the quality of the cladding and bricks; and the design and material of the porch roof and front door. ➤ realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

exterior updates.indd 125

125

07/12/2016 12:42

SMART EDGING Left For a neat finish, edge your driveway paving with a contrasting colour – these brick-coloured setts pick up on the materials used to buildthe house.

The cost: Drivesett Tegula Original, from around £32 per m2; Riven Harena Sandstone, from around £40 per m2, Marshalls

FINISHING TOUCHES Below When planning your driveway, consider the design of the entrance posts.

Ball finials on pier caps and gate piers can add grandeur to a period property.

The cost: From £70 for a 17cm ball finial with base, Haddonstone

NATURAL TONES StoneMaster driveway block paving comes in three shades of grey, designed to mimic the colours of granite.

Bradstone Surface protection provides lasting resistance against stains.

The cost: From £40 per m2

PLANNING PERMISSION

Design a driveway to suit your home Create kerb appeal and practical space for parking by creating a drive or giving your existing space a new look.

Before settling on a driveway surface, check with your local planning department. Permeable paving is looked on more favourably, with planning permission required for non-permeable surfaces that have no provision for rainwater-run off. New-build homes are usually required to include a parking space, and this will need to be included in your initial planning application. If you are replacing a front garden with car parking, you’ll need to apply for a crossover (access from the road across the pavement), which may require planning permission.

WHICH MATERIAL TO CHOOSE? Gravel is the most affordable choice of surface material, costing from as little as £4 per square metre, and could be laid by a competent DIY-er. Use a hardcore-based or sand foundation, and consider laying a cellular grid to keep the gravel in place. For a large and busy drive, it’s worth laying an angular gravel in three or four layers, each rolled and left to settle for a day or two. Edge with curbs, bricks, setts, stones or treated timber to keep the gravel contained.

Tarmac or asphalt, starting from around £15 per square metre, is probably the least aesthetically pleasing surface, so think carefully before applying it, especially if you plan on doing it ahead of selling your home. There are now porous options available, such as Tarmac’s Ultidrive Porous. Best laid by professionals, you can soften the overall effect with planted borders at the edges 126

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

exterior updates.indd 126

Block paving can look contemporary or period. Prices start from upwards of £10 per square metre for concrete and stone-effect paving, to around £50 per square metre for granite setts or Yorkstone. Block paving is laid on a five-centimetre bed of sharp sand, with jointing sand brushed over before being bashed with a compactor plate – a job that could be done by a home-improver.

Resin-bound gravel offers the natural look of gravel but with a neater finish. A job for professionals, expect to pay from £55 per square metre for materials only.

GROUNDWORKS AND FOUNDATIONS A new driveway will need digging out, membrane laying, and compacted hardcore between 10 to 15 centimetres deep laid on top. Expect to pay from around £20 per square metre.

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

09/12/2016 12:51

Real Homes ADVERTORIAL

NEAT BORDERS Below Leaving space for planting around the edge of your new drive will soften the look

SMART DESIGN Right A border in a contrasting finish will help to break up the expanse of paving

GIVE YOUR HOME A GRAND ENTRANCE Create a driveway that’s both practical and stylish with a little help from the experts at Brett Landscaping

F

irst impressions count, so if you want your home’s exterior to set the tone for what’s inside, then it could be time to update your driveway – and you could add up to 10 per cent to the value of your property in the process.

When choosing a drive, Andrew Gill, marketing manager at Brett Landscaping, suggests that your first priority should be to ensuring the materials you use fit in with your house and its surroundings.

You’ll need to consider the size, colour and texture of paving you’d like. Whether you’re looking for a country cottage style with rustic-looking tumbled blocks to get a weathered, less structured look, or a precise geometric design with contrasting edging for a crisp modern look, Brett is sure to have everything you need.

As there are so many different kinds of paving to choose from, Andrew recommends starting with your budget and then considering the options available within it.

To prevent one type of hard paving looking overwhelming on FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

ADVERTORIAL Brett.indd 127

SPLIT FINISH Right Combining Beta Silver Haze paving with Beta Brindle helps to create two zones on this driveway

your driveway, consider using a contrasting border to make a feature.

And, if you can, allow space for some planting. This will soften the finished look, create interest, and emphasise the space between your house and your neighbours.

Brett Landscaping has recently launched the 2017 edition of its Garden & Drives brochure ready for the winter planning season. It is filled with inspirational photos, product information, and divided into sections for Traditional, Value and Contemporary ranges, If you want your home to make the right first impression, visit brettpaving.co.uk to view the

latest Brett Landscaping brochure, You can also find your local stockists and contractors, and get practical advice on planning your new drive.

The brochure is also available free from builders’ merchants who stock Brett products or from any Brett Approved Installer. realhomes.co.uk realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY JUNE 2016 2017

127

07/12/2016 12:46

Real Homes IDEAS

MAKE AN ENTRANCE

Improve your home’s security and energy efficiency – as well as boosting its kerb appeal – by installing a new front door WORDS LAURA CROMBIE

1. OVER SIZED Choosing an extra-wide front door creates a feeling of grandeur. The Raw Pivot, in steel-reinforced European Oak, American Walnut, Iroko, Fumed Oak, or any RAL colour, comes with a multi-point lock. Made-to-measure up to H300xW150cm, it costs from £7,080 at Urban Front.

2. SCANDI STYLE The Essen door combines a lacquered solid-oak frame with sandblasted glazed panels for an elegant, modern look. There are seven sizes available, starting from H198xW76.2cm, and if the door is purchased as part of a set, it can be coated in any RAL colour.

From £409.56, Todd Doors.

3. MODERN TWIST If you thought timber doors had to look traditional, then think again.

The hardwood FunkyFront Hamburg 1 from Kloeber is available in any RAL colour or a range of stains, and comes with a multi-point locking system.

It costs £3,598.80 for the doubledoor set shown, which measures H210xW180cm, and is also available in aluminium, if you prefer.

4. SUPER SECURE The TR05 panel door has been designed with heightened security in mind, from the locks and barrels, through to the hinge design and aluminium composition. Available in 150 RAL shades, plus wood-effect finishes and dual-colour options, the doors can be made to any size. From £1,500, with matching SE04 garage door available from £2,800, Origin.

128

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

FRONT DOORS.indd 128

WHAT IS A COMPOSITE DOOR? ‘GRP composite doors are made from fibreglass with steel reinforcement and a high-density polyurethane core – a lightweight but strong material specifically designed to be energy efficient and hardwearing in all weather conditions,’ explains Jill McLintock, product manager for Everest Home Improvements. Many are designed to have a timber-look finish.

1

2

3 FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

07/12/2016 12:47

WHAT KIND OF MAINTENANCE DO FRONT DOORS NEED?

4

‘Once the initial coating has worn, we recommend using high-build stain or high-build paint on timber front doors to provide long-lasting protection from the elements,’ says Tony Pell, senior product manager at Jeld-Wen. ‘Composite doors need no redecoration, and due to the manufacturing process, they won’t splinter, dent, or rust.’ A regular wipe is all they’ll need.

5. CIRCULAR GLAZING Opting for unusual-shaped glazed panels in your door will make sure that your home stands out from the rest of the street. The Seville is a composite door that comes in 10 finishes, including Ruby Red, Fir Green, Anthracite Grey and Duck Egg Blue. It is energy efficient, simple to maintain, and has a Yale cylinder lock fitted as standard. Made-to-measure doors start at £1,400, Anglian.

6. CLASSIC DESIGN For a modern twist on a traditional front door, try the Grove, which is a made of glass-reinforced plastic with the appearance of wood. It comes made to measure, with 16 colours available, including on-trend Traffic Red, Racing Green and various hues of blue. It is fitted with British Standardaccredited locks and costs from £2,000, including installation, Everest.

5

6

7. BESPOKE OPTION If you’re looking to reduce your engergy bills, the RK4060 aluminimum door could be the perfect solution, with its insulated core and with triple-glazed panels. Available with finger-scan locking, remote -control entry and LED lights, it comes in bespoke sizes up to H300xW225cm. From £1,794 at RK Doors.

WHAT SECURITY FEATURES SHOULD I LOOK FOR?

Always check your door meets the latest British Standards Institute standard PAS24 for security. ‘Also look out for members of the Secured by Design scheme, whose products are police-accredited and have been tested and certificated,’ says Tony Pell. And Jill McLintock adds: ‘Ensure locks are stainless steel, as this does not corrode. If the door has a window, make sure it is a sealed unit, concealed with metal brackets to prevent removal of glass from the outside.’

Turn to page 145 for things to consider before replacing your front door

7 realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

FRONT DOORS.indd 129

129

07/12/2016 12:47

INSPIRATIONAL DOORS.

Undeniable value.

Doors that add a touch of style to your interior...

Innovative, contemporary & classic door designs

Order or download your copy of JB Kind’s Door Collection brochure today. Visit www.jbkind.com T: 01283 554197

www.jbkind.com

Secured by Design The official UK Police flagship initiative supporting the principles of ‘designing out

Secured by Design (SBD) is a UK Police initiative that brings together recognised principles of designing out crime and proven elements of physical security.

It is proven to reduce crime in new builds by up to 75% and refurbishments by 63%.

It discharges the requirements of Approved Document Q and the Scottish Building Standard 4.13 – Security.

For more information, visit our website. www.securedbydesign.com

enquiries@police-cpi.co.uk • 0203 8623 999

SBD_Half_Page_Advert.indd 1

RH-58-136.indd 130

28/11/2016 17:31:11

07/12/2016 18:18

Real Homes COMPETITION

2

WIN SMART BLINDS WORTH £2,500 FROM APPEAL HOME SHADING prizes

Enter for the chance to transform your home with ULTRA hi-tech blinds

T

his month, Real Homes has teamed up with Appeal Home Shading to give you the chance to win blinds from its new ULTRA Smart collection. Offering some of the most advanced window dressing designs on the market, the wire-free, remote-controlled blinds remove the need for cords or wiring to the mains, making installation and everyday use quick and easy.

Once installed, the blinds use an integral rechargeable battery and motor to smoothly move them up and down.

Simply use a one-touch control from either a hand-held device or a discreet wall-mounted panel to adjust the shades when required, or set up a program to move the blinds at certain times of the day; for example, when it gets dark in the evening or when the sun starts to rise. You can preprogram it based on time, temperature and light – which is particularly useful for home security and making it look like you’re home when you’re not.

With more than 25 years’ experience in creating products for even the most awkwardly shaped windows, Appeal Home Shading creates each window dressing with you in mind, to provide you with beautiful and bespoke home shading that will suit your lifestyle.

ULTRA blinds are made to measure in the choice of

more than 400 fabrics and colours, so you’ll easily find the right style to suit your room.

For more information about the ULTRA Smart collection, call 0800 975 5757 or visit appealshading.com.

PRIZE DETAILS To celebrate the latest ULTRA blinds collection, Appeal Home Shading is offering Real Homes readers the chance to win one of two prize packages of ULTRA blinds, worth up to £2,500 each. Winners will be contacted by Appeal Home Shading to select the style, fabric and colour options, and to arrange installation of the blinds.

HOW TO ENTER Text RHMAG ULTRA, followed by your name, house number and postcode to 64343. Texts cost £1, plus network extras. Service provider: Digital Select, 0330 103 9999.

Alternatively, you can enter online for free at realhomes. co.uk/competitions. See page 133 for terms and conditions.

The closing date is 3 February 2017. Good luck! realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

COMP-appeal.indd 131

131

07/12/2016 12:48

RH-58-136.indd 132

07/12/2016 18:18

Armadillo white pendant, H26xDia.46cm, £40

Real Homes OFFER

SAVE 20% AT

Marine wooden tripod table lamp with drum shade, H40xDia.25cm, £25. Floor lamp also available

Copper Daelim pendant, Dia.18cm, £20. Thomas Edison glass and wood Steampunk table lamp, H25x Dia.14.5cm, £30

Light up your home this winter using this exclusive discount

O

nline lighting specialist Iconic Lights is offering Real Homes readers 20 per cent off its range of floor lamps, table lamps, pendants and bulbs this month. As the temperature drops outside, now is the ideal time to use lighting to create a warm, cosy atmosphere inside your home.

Iconic Lights offers everything from traditional and classic pieces to quirky and contemporary designs.

New launches for winter include the on-trend Industrial collection, the outdoor-themed Natural collection, and the beautiful Scandinavian range, which will transform any space into a Hygge-style haven.

By taking inspiration from top interior designers around the world, Iconic Lights brings you lighting that is stylish yet affordable, meaning you can finally own that classic style of lamp you’ve had your eye on for years, without breaking the bank. And the company only uses the best materials, including marble, copper, wood and chrome, for lighting that looks and feels high-quality, and is designed to last.

Browse the full range online by visiting iconiclights. co.uk. Follow @iconic_lights on Twitter, or search for ‘Iconic Lights’ on Facebook for the latest updates and offers.

Left Dantzig brushed chrome three-arm floor lamp with multi-coloured shades, H150xDia.40cm, £80 Below Talisman copper floor lamp with white marble base, H153xDia.26cm; table lamp, H51xDia.18cm, £28, and Fenwick pendant in aged brass, H100xDia.11cm, £20

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR DISCOUNT To use your exclusive 20 per cent discount, simply visit iconiclights.co.uk and enter the code ICONICHOMES20 at the checkout. This offer is valid until 3 February 2017.

The offers featured in the February 2017 issue of Real Homes are: Page 131 Win ULTRA Smart blinds, worth up to £2,500, from Appeal Home Shading (two prizes to be won). The prize value will depend on which blind the reader selects and the material it is made from. The prize will include Appeal’s ULTRA technology. Page 133 Save 20 per cent on all products at iconiclights.co.uk. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. Both the competition and offer are valid until 3 February 2017. realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

ICONIC Offer.indd 133

133

07/12/2016 12:48

5

ST Y

LI SH

RE NO VA TIO N

PR OJ EC TS

07/12/2016 12:52

e t a a ips sy m f up aj or d or p at re lan es de ni , p si ng lus gn

B Y

tr esig ne e w

77

14

64

S d ty id eco lish ea r s ati H ng d ot

nd n C s re s ou eamate td le a oo ss r s ind p

PR O D U C ED

9

V H ic o to w r c w ia a W ith n t n I w he ou err im he re t ac pr fr Wh e e o ie m n at kit n p sho xte d ve ak dly ar ch la u n h m e u e t en nn ld dinom y to p h li in I s g e £ e g 3.9 sa ra b gh g n ta ?

0 ve d es tin ewrt 6 e 0 m s I t ec g? on c o ey an 33 62 ?

40

TO A L

p

20 16

K

ES .C O .U

M

LH O

EA

R

ns IT pir C ati HE on N

K i

a a h m ge ga om az s o rd e ing f en s & s

Ju ne

P I A A NS CK N P E D IR D A AT W DV I I ICON TH E

B +AEF O 65FTE RE R

co STKANOL YO WU prnveRTIN BENFEED oj rs G A OR ec io E t n

H p o pr lan w to oje yo ct ur

A E N X SW P E ERRT S

s id um ea m s er fo d r a ec ll or yo a ur tin ro g om s

W F F AO R OR A LS

38 LOCTW-

T Y R G OUAN 20 AR R SF D EN OR M

K EXIT ID T C EA E HE S NS N IO N

A FT ER

pl Ex a p adnni er n t q an ue Y vic g st ou e s w S io re tun ere ns r

IO N S

XT OMREM O RM ATE E

BE FO RE

al

re

ho m

A LL

YO U R

PR O D U C ED BY

k

.c o.u

es

1

PR O D U C ED

B Y

B EF O R E

A FT ER

R

PR O D U C ED

p a a an mage d zi s o ga ng f rd h en om s es

B + E

B Y

57 AF FOR TE E

R M M YO A E UR N SF O R M AT

C D R H REEAT T O AE

R O O M S

D ID ES EA IG S N

FO R

X C M YO TE H U N EN R SI O N

C D R K REEAT E IT A E

A E N X SW P E ERRT S es H to ow ar ch Wh my can sm it t a li I ar W ec o f t’s vin ad t h t f in th g d ho ic o d e s lu m h r m th be pa xu e ar y e s ce r fo te e t pr pe t w s? y c r h he ojerfe ay m n y olo la ct ct ho g te ? us ie st e? s

ch

to u

!

se fo e p r d ag eta e 13 O ils 1 W

n

R Tr H a O e EN nsf M al TEAw orm E R ard at S N s io

T L H IS U X E SU U E RY U ID LT Y EA IM TH OU S AT D E R FO E D FO ES W GU R E C R IG OW ID INS O E R YO N IN F T ID A U S AC O E A TIN R P A R IR TO D ND G O A D O TIO R IN O M G UT S N

p a a an mage d zi s o ga ng f rd h en om s es !

ust

A ug

20 16 R

ES .C O .U

O M

LH

EA

9

77

64

0

.7 0

£3

26

3

62

ne t te b d m y ion rn my es o y on s al p tw Is m ave wa roje ay tar y m ll t? ct bil e ? ls ?

40

C C U OLOO P

TR

R

R

O M ES .C O .U

LH

EA

p a a tr mages an z o sf ing f or m at io ns

p ı a pr nsp ges ac ira o tic tio f i al n de ad an as vi d , ce

K

ok s

10

U

7

W G SO LAOW LU ZI -F TI NGAC O TO N R S

M

arc h

20 16 R

LH O M

EA

ER S

P R A TR EAGE A L SO N H F SF O O ME R S M ED

K

T

9

77

14

64

40

£3 .9 0

33

9

62

77

14

64

40

0

U STEA

B

S W P SE S O DAYL Y A TO RK T E M AN TIN R TO E U D GA P S C M , G S H U T E, , M C AP O H S R , , E

FA C FA E C W

A K

ho an m d e

pla

r

20 16 EA

LH

O M ES

.C O .U K

Se pte m be r

20 16 R EA

ES .C O .U

LH O M

K

P I A A NS CK N P E D IR D A AT W DV I I ICON TH E

A E N X SW P E ERRT S

R

H p o pr lan w to oje yo ct ur

K

in sp

de31 sigwo n wso fa lu ct tio o ns PE R ND O A L FO L-T NT R OP LIG G B H LA A T ZE TH S, D S &CO D B O O L K O IN E R D RS S S ,

ex K wo tensitch w w ion en fac it s tor h

H ow kit c c th a W h e n w h en co I m he e r s a n re ed t o na e f g mc d in Ho y on o sig m e pr g w g ve I st n? y oc pe d ara rtin ar es rmoe g g t s is s t e? w sio he or k? n nn

ec em be

tr esig ne e w

£3 .7 0

A E N X SW P E ER RT S

S d ty id eco lish ea r s ati H ng d ot

D

R

p a a tr mages an z o sf ing f or m at io ns

W bu to h w W la H ild coso s ith te ow m t, ho ouhat s t p c wo t c ca y e des uld la han rk olo n I xte ign I h nn g in u m n ir in es m r s ak sio and e g c y ch e n pe an h em th ? rm I om e e is ma e? s sio k n? e

nd n C s re s ou eamate td le a oo ss i r s nd pa o ce or -

YOCO H U N ow va to R V lu a L E e dd to O R yospa F T ur ce T

25

£3 .9

33

2

62

1

K E I ID XTTC EA E HE S NS N IO N

9

S f t so looate lu r m ti in en on g t s T H R LA O AN TEME SF ST W OR LOITH M O THYO K E U S R

C T H L H O YOAY E R OS U OU IG E R T H K F T IT O C R H EN

0

A E N X SWP E ERRT S

Y POOU XIM TE R IS N HO E TI M A E L ’S

E fin xte d nd ou , t co w nv ha e t’s rt o be r r st ed fo esi r gn yo u –

B + E

60AFFOR TE E s Th ed pre 18 it in g 2 M A F T R Y O E TH OU UPSH IS R DAIDE SE IN T A A TE E S SO R IO N R

co lo ur

B WE C IT B O O L H L O D U R K D EL ES L IG Y H N O A PP D E V N IC ’S E

W ha t plasho nn uld g m in I W en y g k h fo hat era omHo a wno w r is tio e w m c e b y th n hsuit an t ro ef kit e o o or I chbe usea m ma m? e enst ho ult ke -d lay ld iin ou ? er t ?

68 D D P o in E P flo ve ing A I m o ns ch S NG uc rin , r a h g ug irs m an s, , or d e

ES .C O .U

IN FE TE CT R

.c o.u k

60 KENNIN O V G

al ho m es

re

SH I O

PD AT IN E 20 17

TO

S H TA F ST IN E T OD A E S VEYO T M M TU THUISR PIENG EN W R A

W AY S

50

15 4

tr ide a be y ns as t dr ou for o oo r m m

V EN E 9 BL T ne I IA w N N lo D S

39AFFOR TE E

B + E

20 16

A N SF K 25 ITCYOOR HE URM N

TU IN D O L A U A SA RQ DIG T R N P U O E D P O , M HIR IS O E E, RE !

E A XP N E S R I’ ho m W T W us red to h e e E W f at – sig R in il in ’s w n m su l e an th he in S o la x ce e re g 14

K

ust

A ug

15 8

r d ag eta e 13 O ils 1 W

n

H Re O a M l ES io N Tr an sf T Aw orm se ER ar a ds t fo e p

EN

TR ID E HO A N AS M YO SF T E U OR O IN R M 20 16

A E N X SW P E ERRT S

to uc he s Ho to w ar ch Wh my can sm it t a li I ar W ec o f t’s vin ad t h t f in th g d ho ic o d e s lu m h r m th be pa xu e ar y e p s ce ry t fo e e t pr e t w s? r ch he ojerfe ay m n c ct o la y lo ho g te t? us ie st e? s

16 20

BY

H

B + E 57 AF FOR TE E R

RC A

DOWNLOAD TODAY M

PR O D U C ED

N IO AT

RM

O SF

N

A

TR

Download and subscribe to our digital edition today to gain access to fully searchable and downloadable back issues, supplements, videos and more.

E

N IO N

THE NEW AND IMPROVED HOMES APP M

O

U ID LT Y EA IM TH OU S AT D E R FO E D FO ES W GU R E C R IG OW ID INS O E R YO N IN F T ID A U S AC O E A TIN R P A R IR TO D ND G O A D O TIO R IN O M G UT S N

H

M YO E UR

T L H IS U X E SU U E RY

F

O

EA T AE

RT

A

u ex g u ltimYo te id a ur nd e te in to g

E

15 7

TH

tr ide a a ba yonsf s t th u or o ro r m om

03

AVAILABLE ON IPAD

2 o.

N

In op so ter en lu ior -p tio de la ns sig n fo n sp r ac es

ES

M O

p a a tr ma ges an z o sf ing f or m at io ns

H

B + E 33AFFOR TE E R

L

re alh om es m ag az in e.c o.u k

A

RE

PO TE N TI A L

16 20

H O M E’ S

IL

YO U R

PR

C LU HA X R TO LI NE

A

A TO DV R ISE EB S U W IL H D E N

N IO AT

P IN AC N SP KE D IR D A AT W D I I V O T IC N H E

17 2

RM

O SF

N

A TR

tr ide a ho y ns as t m ou for o ew r m ith

E

In sp ir

M

O H

at io Gr na Yo ea lp ur td ro pr es je ob Pla ig ct n le nn s id m in ea s, g so s pe W lv rm or ed k iss sc io he n du le s

F

O

O F

RT

B Y

A

OM UR DIN DE TO G E

E TH

ımon pr’t m ovove e, 04

M A

2 o.

N

P KE p la T ex ermnn HE M pl i in OST ai ss g ne ıo d n

ES

PR O D U C ED

M

O H

O R M AT IO N

L

B EF O R E

A RE

RH_Digital_FEB.indd 134

R U O Y

E M O H

NEXT MONTH IN

PICTURE PERFECT

12

statement windows to frame your views

CREATE YOUR DREAM KITCHEN EXTENSION With our guide to everything from layouts to costs

BEFORE +AFTER

54

FEBOOOST.indd 135

pages of amazing home transformations

GO GREEN How to decorate with this season’s hottest hue

ON SALE 26 JAN

EXPERT ANSWERS

How do I add a side-return extension?

Where should I use concrete in my home interiors?

What can I do if my planning application is refused?

BEAUTIFUL BATHROOMS How to plan a stylish, practical space 09/12/2016 12:54

We are CANAL Architectural www.canal.eu.com

FINANCE OPTIONS AVAILABLE

+44 (0)115 986 6321 | canal@canalengineering.co.uk ENTER CODE SPRING15 TO RECEIVE 15% OFF ALL ORDERS

ENTER CODE SPRING15 TO RECEIVE 15% OFF ALL ORDERS

STAIRCASES ~ BALUSTRADES ~ HANDRAILS BALCONIES ~ CANOPIES ~ BESPOKE METALWORK

#doorcouture

visit our website steel steel reinforced natural hardwood reinforced natural hardwooddoors doors

entrance doors internal entrance doors | internal feature doors feature | garagedoors doors | oversized oversized doors | passive certifieddoors doors garage doors house passivemade house certifi ed doors and designed in UK

visit our new website urbanfront.com

urbanfront.com 01494 | 01494 778787 778787

RH-58-136.indd 136

12/12/2016 11:24

Real Homes

QA &

Read on for expert advice for all of your home transformation dilemmas

Search Real Homes on YouTube to discover 10 ways to cut the cost of your extension

Jordan Cluroe and Russel Whitehead, of 2 Lovely Gays, offer their top tips on introducing print – turn to page 157 ▼

147 What do I need to consider when taking down internal walls?

Create valuable space by knocking through with advice from experienced renovator Jason Orme – go to page 155

Architectural designer Greg Toon outlines the dos and don’ts of a successful relationship – see page 151

▼

143 How can using a designer help me realise my vision for my project?

▼

PHOTOGRAPHS SWEETPEA & WILLOW (PATTERNED LIVING ROOM) ISTOCK (OPEN-PLAN ROOM AND ARCHITECTURAL PLANS)

149 How can I use pattern to create a bold scheme in my living room?

PLUS… ■ How to get value for money on your project, p138 ■ Replacing a front door, p145 ■ The benefits of using the Internet of Things in your home transformation, p151 ■ Choosing a worktop, p153 ■ Bedroom design ideas, p155 ➤

Got a question or want to share your experiences with Real Homes readers? Tweet @RealHomes using #AskRealHomes

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

QA OPENER.indd 137

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

137

07/12/2016 12:52

MELANIE CLEAR is the founder and director of Clear Architects. With experience in both commercial and residential architecture, she believes great design takes careful thought, vision and a deep understanding of a building’s structure. She thinks that architecture and interior design go hand in hand, and enjoys creating amazing homes that are beautiful both inside and out.

Clear.gb.com / @ClearArchitects

How can I get value for money on my project?

Renovating a home can be an expensive business, so follow Melanie’s advice to make sure you stay within your planned budget and save money where it counts Undertaking household projects, whether large or small can be timeconsuming and expensive if you get it wrong. So before you start, make sure you’re fully prepared using our step-by-step guide: IN THE BEGINNING Before you start any project, assess whether it’s likely to add value to your property, especially if you are looking to make a profit through a quick resale. Speak to estate agents about what buyers are looking for in your area and whether that can be achieved in your home. It’s also advisable to speak to an architect to see if the spatial layout of your home can be improved. Increased square footage is not always essential – you may be able to improve the layout by moving doors or internal walls to create a better flow.

Popular ways to add space include enlarging a kitchen to include a dining/ lounge area, adding en suite bathrooms, extending into the loft, and creating an extra bedroom or study. More recently, media rooms have replaced playrooms as the ‘must have’ for your home, especially if you have teenagers.

1

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN Good pre-planning and setting a realistic budget are essential, as is deciding how your budget will be split; for instance, will most of the budget go on the structural work, or on the internal fixtures & fittings?

If you plan to undertake a large building project, always seek the advice of a professional who will be able to guide you. I often meet people who have hugely underestimated the cost of building work, or have been caught

2

138

out by complications with plumbing or groundworks. Also, if you have to find temporary accommodation or put furniture into storage while work is being carried out, ensure you factor in these rental costs.

When it comes to internal fixtures, remember your budget and stick to it. Don’t go to showrooms where the average cost of a kitchen is £40,000 if your budget is £10,000. Shop around; the internet is a fantastic resource for researching and comparing costs for products such as appliances, tiles and soft furnishings. Take the time before work begins to clear out items you won’t need in your new space – you may be able to sell or upcycle some of these pieces.

EMPLOYING AN ARCHITECT If you are going to employ an architect, look for one who has carried out projects similar to the one you’re planning. This will often save you money as they should know clever ways to gain the look you require in the most cost-effective way. Always check what the architect’s fee covers; for instance, does it include more than one set of designs, will the architect assist you in gaining planning permission, and will they act as a project manager? For larger projects, or ones where extensive building work is included, it’s advisable to hire an architect to project manage for you. They will have a greater understanding of lead times, budgets and the overall picture, so that costly mistakes are not incurred.

3

OBTAINING QUOTES Before obtaining building quotes, you will need a set of drawings to get accurate costs. Aim to

4

get at least three different quotes for comparison. Quotations can vary widely, so read them carefully, know exactly what is included, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. You may be able to negotiate on cost, but be aware that this will often lead to some aspects being excluded, so check the small print. Wherever possible, use one main contractor to carry out building work, including drainage and windows/doors.

They may sub-contract some of this work, but will ultimately be responsible for ensuring all materials arrive at the right time and in the correct order.

Over the years, I have seen many people try to sub-contract all of the different elements themselves, believing this will be cheaper. However, projects rarely go exactly to plan, and this will often result in extra costs being incurred if materials are late or, even worse, wrong! It can also be extremely time-consuming.

DON’T FORGET THE DETAILS When working with your chosen contractor, ensure your design spec is as detailed as possible to avoid hidden costs. Once on site, unforeseen problems with plumbing, roofing, drainage etc., can prove to be expensive and cause delays. Take the time to mentally walk through the new space, ensuring light switches, plug sockets, storage cupboards and windows are located exactly where you want them to be. ➤

5

APRIL 2016 2017 FEBRUARY realhomes.co.uk realhomes.co.uk

QA MELANIE CLEAR.indd 138

07/12/2016 12:53

Left Work with an architect or designer with experience of similar projects. Sedum roof, ANS Global Below Consider decorating yourself and save money to spend elsewhere.

Globe brick cladding, L’antic Colonial by Porcelanosa. Glass doors, Master Glazing

Real Homes

QA &

‘Remember your budget and stick to it – the internet is a fantastic resource for researching and comparing costs for products’

Invest in a quality worktop to add that luxury feel.

Kitchen, Hi-Spek

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

QA MELANIE CLEAR.indd 139

139

07/12/2016 15:38

Right Don’t forget the details. The rooflights in this extension bring light into the depths of the room. Sliding doors, FineLine Aluminium.

Kitchen, Lauren Nicholas. Polished concrete floor tiles, Lazenby

Left Cladding has been used to striking effect on this property, and is a cheaper alternative to render. Charred Siberian Larch wood cladding, Martin Childs.

Windows and doors, FineLine Aluminium

Below Large rooflight, FineLine Aluminum. Spiral wine cellar with retractable glass door, Spiral Cellars

MANAGE YOUR TIME Agree a workable timescale with your contractor. Have regular meetings and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions or query things you don’t understand. Ensure all items you are responsible for sourcing arrive when they should. Your contractor won’t like waiting, and you could cost yourself time and money if you’re not properly organised.

6

KEEP YOUR BUDGET ON TRACK Whether you choose to use a project manager or run the project yourself, it is important that once you start, you keep changes to a minimum to avoid extra costs. Put a figure against building work, plumbing, electrics, furniture and appliances etc., and keep a running tally so you can stay on track and don’t run out of money before the job is finished. Build in a contingency of around 10 per cent in case of unforeseen additional costs.

7

GET THE LOOK WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK If this is your forever home, then it is probably worth going for a higher spec on both your external and internal furnishings to add longevity.

However, if you are on a budget or are making improvements for a faster sale, there are ways to get a quality finish without spending a fortune. Shop around. Keep an eye out for auctions, and architectural salvage yards. The easiest way to save money on your

8

140

APRIL 2016 realhomes.co.uk

QA MELANIE CLEAR.indd 140

07/12/2016 12:53

Real Homes

QA &

Left and below Polished concrete floors, by Steysons Willow, can be less expensive than tiles but give a high-end look.

Windows/doors, Express Bi-Folding Doors. Kitchen, Urban Myth Bottom Stacked Stone natural charcoal panel, Century Stone.

Hormann Thermopro entrance door, the Garage Door Company.

Curtain walling/ glazing, Express Bi-Folding Doors

kitchen is to go for cheaper units and spend money on good-quality work surfaces and tiles to add that luxury feel. When purchasing appliances, use a price comparison website to get the best deals, and only buy branded products if they are going to be on display. Save money on bathrooms by only tiling the areas that need to be waterproof, such as the shower. There is no need to tile the entire room. And even basic sanitaryware can look high spec if you add beautiful taps.

DO IT YOURSELF You can carry out some of the finishing touches and smaller tasks, such as decorating, sanding floors and upcycling furniture, yourself. If you are handy with a needle and thread, you might also try making your own curtains, blinds and cushions.

However, unless you are trained or very experienced at DIY, it is best to leave plumbing, electrics and window fitting to the professionals. And never attempt to knock down an internal wall until you’ve checked it’s not structural and supporting the house.

9

BEWARE SHARP OBJECTS This may sound silly, but if your driveway has been used to store building materials, it might be a good idea to rent a metal detector to sweep your gravel or stone drive for nails and other sharp objects. You don’t want to find yourself staying on budget for the build, only to blow it on replacing punctured tyres.

10

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

QA MELANIE CLEAR.indd 141

realhomes.co.uk APRIL 2016

141

07/12/2016 12:53

STRUCTURAL WARRANTY SITE INSURANCE SITE SURVEYS

Self Build Zone

Before you lay the first brick, make sure you & your project are protected ...

Self-Build Zone provides Site Insurance and liability cover for anyone starting new building works, as well as covering any existing structures on site. Our Approved Inspectors can facilitate all survey services you may need during the build or for the warranty provision. On completion, Build-Zone can provide you with a 10 Year Structural Warranty.

For more information or to obtain a quotation go online at

or Call the Self-Build Zone Team on

www.selfbuildzone.com 0345 230 9874 RH-142-169.indd 142

07/12/2016 18:20

GREG TOON

is the founder of architectural design business Potential etc… He specialises in providing affordable concept designs to help homeowners and buyers visualise the potential of their properties, and writes a regular column for The Sunday Times Home supplement on designing solutions for readers’ problem houses. potentialetc.com / @potentialetc / pinterest.com/toonlog

Real Homes

QA &

How can using a designer help me realise my vision for my project?

Follow Greg’s advice to find the right designer for your home improvements, then make the most of their time and your budget I’m a firm believer in appointing a designer at the earliest opportunity because design decisions are made right from the very beginning. It is even advantageous to have them on hand when you are house-hunting, as they can quickly assess how suitable a property will be to your future needs.

PHOTOGRAPH ISTOCK

FIRST BRIEFING Once you have made an appointment, common sense is necessary when briefing to avoid over-complicating the project or burdening the designer.

There is no definitive way to brief an architect or designer – each project and professional is different.

If you’ve a strong vision for your home and are not open to being flexible, there’s no point in employing great design talent – it’s a waste of their skills and your money. On the other hand, I’ve had clients who know their property is not perfect, and have asked me to look at architectural solutions that allow it to fulfil its potential – such an open brief can be liberating.

Good designers have the flair and experience to envisage solutions that would not have occurred to the average homeowner, and you might as well capitalise on that.

STRONG CLIENT VISION If you are pretty confident at making decisions and have a good idea of what you want, it may be best to look for personnel with more technical/project delivery backgrounds. Generally, this would include architectural technicians, who, on the whole, haven’t had the same level of design training as an architect. If you do choose this route, communicating your vision to the team that is going to produce the planning, building regulation, tender and construction drawings is key, as there is the potential for a lot to get lost in translation.

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

EXPERT GREG TOON.indd 143

DEVELOPING THE BRIEF The initial briefing could be in the form of a wish list of what you’d like to achieve with the project. Once your designer is appointed, you can offer a more developed brief, including clippings or mood boards of similar layouts or looks you like. As the project develops, it will help the designer if they’re briefed on more mundane things, such as the exact amount of wardrobe space required.

On bigger projects, the architect or designer may prepare Stage Reports – presentations showing the evolving design as work advances – which offer a chance to evaluate and make changes before they go on to the next stage.

‘Good designers have the flair and experience to envisage solutions that would not have occurred to the average homeowner’

DO

n Be respectful of your designer – their workload will be huge on your project alone. Be concise when communicating ideas so it doesn’t cut into time they could be spending on your scheme. n State key project desires in good time – things like Agas, underfloor heating and log burners are not afterthoughts. A log burner needs a chimney, which will need planning permission and should be briefed at an early stage. n Ask to review the design progress at key stages, such as before planning applications are submitted or tender drawings sent out. Allow a week to review, and mark up changes (in red), then time for the designer to alter their documents.

DON’T n Get carried away and bombard the designer with images of finishes when they are busy with the first stages of design. n Call for a meeting at every opportunity – architects already work long hours and residential designers often have to work on weekends as their clients are at work during the week. n Have big discussions (or arguments!) with your other half in front of your designer – agree on your decisions ahead of meetings.

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

143

07/12/2016 13:02

RH-142-169.indd 144

07/12/2016 18:20

SIAN ASTLEY is a self-builder, interior

designer, landlord and blogger at Moregeous.com.

With 20 years’ experience working in property, she’s passionate about DIY, crafts and renovating. She also regularly takes on clients’ projects to transform their homes into beautiful living spaces.

Moregeous.com / @Moregeous / facebook.com/ MoregeousDesignStudio

Real Homes

QA &

What do I need to consider before replacing my front door?

A new front door can add instant appeal, as well as ensuring you stay safe and warm. Sian reveals what to think about when picking yours Fitting a new front door is like choosing a rather fabulous lipstick.

For a relatively small investment, in terms of the value of a property at least, you could have a wonderful new look in the blink of an eye.

personalise. Although uPVC is a bit old hat, it is specified to match windows for a cohesive look and is very price competitive. Higher up the scale sit composite doors, many of which are quite superb in terms of style and hard to tell from timber.

COST A newly fitted front door can be anything from £500 to £5,000, with a host of variables altering the price point. You must also factor in hinges, ironmongery, labour and fitting costs, even paint, if using it.

STYLE On a contemporary property or self build, you can really can go to town with a door in excess of the 2.1m-high norm and in incredibly contemporary materials. Stone panels, TOP TIPS MATERIALS metallic finishes, even Don’t follow trends, Timber is still the go-to laser-carved intricate fashion dates quickly. door choice for most patterns are all on UK homeowners. A the table, though Fit well and fit once, don’t good hardwood door such individual scrimp or you’ll regret it. is an affordable styling is more Try a classic door with option – never choose costly. The floorsoftwood as it simply to-ceiling look adds contemporary furniture won’t last. You will impact and grandeur, for a cool new look. have to maintain it by while materials painting or applying a which complement finish of your choice, but your architecture show this does make it easy to that you have fully thought through your design. Even a Below The MD-6 composite door is relatively minor detail, like an oversized available in three security strengths. From handle, can make a huge difference. £2,220 for H210xW95cm, Cerberus Doors GUIDELINES So, are there any rules you should be aware of? Well, unless you live in a listed property or Conservation Area where size and specification are closely monitored, then the design is up to you.

It’s wise to choose an appropriate door for the age and style of your home.

You might adore cutting-edge interiors, however, fitting a modern door to a period property would probably not be the best choice. When painting a timber door, classic colours will always be the most popular, though there’s nothing to stop you telling the world you love FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

QA SA_.indd 145

Above Beaumanor Insulux timber composite door. From £1,862 for H208.6xW85.4cm, Jeld-Wen

pastel pink or are embracing on-trend dove grey if that’s what you prefer.

SAFETY AND WARMTH Practically speaking, there are two other important considerations: security and heat loss. Composite and uPVC doors generally have fully integrated lock systems, or consider doors which have Secure by Design Accreditation. If you want to research this in depth, Building Regs Part Q covers security.

With timber, even the sturdiest doors can be vulnerable, so it’s best to have an anti-pick, anti-drill or antibump lock fitted. Lighting over the front door is an excellent idea, and modern innovations include motion detector LED or Wi-fi connected security cameras that can send images to your phone.

When it comes to reducing heat loss, composite doors are usually better than timber in terms of U-values due to their superior insulation properties.

Get a good joiner to ensure the door is fitted well, avoiding gaps that will let in the winter air. realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

145

09/12/2016 12:55

THE FABULOUS COLLECTION MAKES A VIVID STATEMENT www.crucial-trading.com

RH-142-169.indd 146

09/12/2016 09:12

JASON ORME

is a self-build and renovation expert and the editorial director of Real Homes.

With more than 17 years’ experience in the industry, including 12 years as editor of Homebuilding & Renovating, he is also the author of The Self Build Dream, has advised thousands of homeowners on their projects, and is currently extending and remodelling his own 1960s home. @JasonPOrme

Real Homes

QA &

How do I open up my home by taking down internal walls?

You can gain valuable space in your home by knocking down walls to create larger rooms – all it takes is a little expert help, says Jason REMOVING WALLS If you are transforming an older property – which tend to have a greater number of smaller rooms – into something suitable for modern living, where more open-plan layouts are favoured, then the removal of internal walls is something you will probably have to address. It’s not particularly difficult, but it does need approaching correctly – not just to ensure your home doesn’t develop an alarming lean, but so that you maximise the benefits of opening up the space.

PHOTOGRAPH ISTOCK

WHICH WALLS? You can remove any internal wall – supporting or stud partition. The impact it has on the rest of the home and the amount of work you’ll need to carry out, depends on whether it performs a structural function or carries the weight of any walls above.

Removing a load-bearing wall will cost more and require more in the way of associated works (such as adding in piers and beams to ensure the structural integrity of the home).

However, from a design point of view, it shouldn’t put you off. One of the most common forms of domestic building projects – the side-return and rear extension – relies on structural walls at the side and back being removed and replaced elsewhere.

So don’t start from the position of worrying about load-bearing walls – that’s what structural engineers are paid to do.

THE PROCESS Depending on the scale of the job, you will probably have engaged either a builder or a designer to assess the project. If it’s just knocking through to turn two rooms into one there FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

EXPERT JASON .indd 147

Right Removing the walls between the kitchen, living and dining rooms in this loft-style home has created an open-plan layout and filled the large space with light

isn’t a lot of design work involved and you might as well work directly with a builder. If it’s part of a larger scheme and remodel, a designer is probably the best place to start. Either way, the next step you should take is to engage a structural engineer. They are the best people to evaluate the walls and the role they play, whether they are internal stud partitions or load-bearing. Your builder or designer will probably be able to recommend someone they have used in the past.

THE BUILDING WORK Non-structural walls can be removed without any compensating measures being necessary, bar the making good of the walls, ceiling and floor.

If you’re removing load-bearing structural walls, you will need to insert a beam to support what is above it instead. This is usually steel, and the structural engineer will calculate the depth and width of the steel beam (often referred to as an RSJ, or Rolled Steel Joist) needed to hold the weight. They will also calculate the positions of any piers –

an upright to support the beam, like a goalpost – and associated works.

The larger the span of space the steel beam is required to cover, the bigger the depth of the beam. This can sometimes result in it protruding into the room below – which is known as the downstand. At this point, you might want to consult with your structural engineer to discuss ways in which it can be hidden – preferably, in the floor structure above. This will not only give you valuable inches in terms of head height, it will also look better from an aesthetic perspective.

COSTS For a ‘typical’ opening up project involving removing a five-metre-wide load-bearing wall, builders would typically quote between £1,000 and £2,000 plus VAT. This would cover the temporary support of the structure (through acro-props), demolition of walls, building of required padstones and supports for the new RSJ, insertion of the RSJ, plasterboarding out, and making good at wall, floor and ceiling junctions. realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

147

07/12/2016 16:26

RH-142-169.indd 148

07/12/2016 18:20

JORDAN CLUROE & RUSSELL WHITEHEAD are interior designers who

want to ‘make living lovely’ by helping people bring unique style to their homes. Jordan was a finalist on BBC Two’s The Great Interior Design Challenge, and the pair set up interiors company 2 Lovely Gays, the name inspired by their postcode – 2LG. 2lovelygays.com / @2LovelyGays

Real Homes

QA &

How can I use pattern to create a bold scheme in my living room?

Ever thought of wallpapering the ceiling?

It’s just one way of making prints work in your home, as Jordan and Russell explain We love pattern and colour and are CONSIDER UNEXPECTED PLACES never shy about using it, so we’re the What about wallpapering the ceiling? first to encourage others to do the Historically, patterned ceilings were same. Gone are the days of three cream the norm in grand mansions and stately walls and a statement wallpaper on the homes – reproduce that grandeur chimney breast. Today’s look is about and add a bit of unexpected fun to being brave and using pattern all over. a scheme by inviting the eyes to look Clashing prints, bold combinations of up to a printed design. The shades colours, and using designs in unexpected you use on the ceiling can then form ways and places can escalate a room part of the palette on patterned or scheme from ordinary to wow! But even plain painted walls. Try to refrain these choices should be made from using detailed flooring when carefully, to ensure the look not going for a patterned ceiling, only suits your style and the though, as this could TREND way you use your home, but compress the room.

WATCH the property, too. The For a modern take 2017 is set to be a big trend for clashing on a classic look, try year for pattern, with lots patterns has been hanging a picture rail, of marble, stone textures and then wallpapering the prevalent in the fashion large-scale florals. Stripes are ceiling and the walls industry for a while, and classic, but don’t be stuck it was only a matter of as far down as the rail. with one direction; vertical, time before the interiors horizontal and diagonal crowd caught up – think THINK COHESIVELY all look great.

Vivienne Westwood tartan The secret to achieving and leopard prints, or the a designer look is to take nautical stripes of Jean Paul two or three colours from a Gaultier with leather and florals. patterned surface, be it wallpaper, Designers are getting bolder, so upholstery or flooring, and use those why not use your home as a canvas to pull together a scheme, combining for showcasing your colourful paint, artwork, furniture and accessories. personality and trying out a new look?

Don’t be afraid to lay a huge patterned rug on a plain carpet (floorstory.co.uk PICK OUT KEY SHADES has a great selection). We tend to stick We like to practise what we preach, to plain styles when it comes to blinds, so when we were approached by curtains and sofas, too, but as long as Graham & Brown to produce a you balance out the colours, textures collection of wallpapers to mark their and pattern styles elsewhere, you can 70th anniversary, we jumped at the afford to go bold. For simple soft chance to be playful with pattern. furnishings, consider silk, linen, felt or Stripes are a huge part of the collection, wool to help complement a maximalist and can look great when mixed with scheme on walls, floors and ceilings. floral prints – if you keep your colour We like Designers Guild for their palette consistent. Pairing a huge amazing textures, and Ada & Ina for diagonal blue stripe with a band of plain designs. With accessories, have florals may sound like a terrible idea, fun with cushions and throws. They’re but with a limited palette and accents an inexpensive way to add colour, and of pink, the look really does work. to easily update existing furniture.

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

QA2LG.indd 149

Above Totem Pink (on wall) and Wonder Blue (on ceiling) wallpapers, £50 per roll, both Graham & Brown Below Designers Guild Caretti Pebble rug in bamboo, W250x L350cm, £1,995, Sweetpea & Willow

Hansel and Gretel matt emulsion, £39.50 for 2.5ltrs, Fired Earth

Colours Oxygen silk emulsion, £13.94 for 2.5ltrs, B&Q

realhomes.co.uk JANUARY 2017

149

07/12/2016 12:56

BIFOLD DOORS ADD THE WOW FACTOR Luxury bifolding doors in aluminium, hardwood and upvc at very affordable prices. Add the WOW factor to your home extension with a bifold door complete with 1.0 U-value solar control double glazing as standard.

01621 834123

sales@foldingdoors2u.co.uk

www.foldingdoors2u.co.uk

BIFOLD DOORS AND ROOF LANTERNS ADD THE WOW FACTOR Allow natural light to flood into your new room with a contemporary aluminium roof lantern or bifold door from our range complete with solar control double glazing. Standard and bespoke sizes available at affordable prices.

Add the WOW factor to your home extension or self-build.

01621 834123 sales@foldingdoors2u.co.uk www.foldingdoors2u.co.uk RH-142-169.indd 150 fd2u.indd 1

09/12/2016 09:12 28/04/2016 15:00

WENDY GRIFFITHS

is the executive director of the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. With a wealth of knowledge on how smart home technology can improve our lives, and an eye for the next big thing, she’s been involved in the industry for nearly 20 years, and is an advocate of creating practical, hi-tech homes.

Cedia.org / @CEDIA_EMEA

Real Homes

QA &

What benefits could the Internet of Things bring to my home?

Technology is linking up so you can connect with every electronic device in your house via the internet. Wendy explains how it works American-based research firm Gartner recently predicted that more than 20 billion electronic devices will be part of the ‘Internet of Things’ by 2020, and that two thirds of these devices will be in our homes. As the IoT, as it is otherwise known, is set to infiltrate our properties and change our lifestyles in the not too distant future, many homeowners are asking what this term really means to them, and how will it affect their homes?

WHAT IS THE ‘INTERNET OF THINGS’ The IoT is the connection of ‘things’, or electronic devices, to the internet, enabling them to talk to us, to each other, and to applications.

These ‘things’ are not just your standard computer, laptop or phone; they are almost (or soon to be) every electrical device in your home, your office, your car, or even within your body – technological advances mean heart monitors can now be connected through the IoT.

heavily in smart devices, including washing machines that detect the load size to calculate the amount of water and detergent needed, and scales that measure food and the nutritional value of what you are consuming.

The Government has already embraced the IoT with the roll out of smart meters. Energy suppliers have until 2020 to fit a smart meter in every home across England, Scotland and Wales – free of charge. They not only allow homeowners to monitor and adjust their temperature settings according to weather, activity and occupancy, saving on monthly bills, but by switching to this automated method to heat the home, the overall energy usage of the UK should be reduced.

IOT BENEFITS FOR HOMEOWNERS Incorporating the IoT into your home will offer enhanced comfort and convenience, as well as making your property safer and more secure.

The needs of the elderly and those who are less able are already being improved by installing IoT technologies into their homes. For example, if somebody finds it difficult to get to the front door to answer a call, they could have CCTV images streamed to their television. If they know the visitor and want to answer, they can then unlock the door and let them in electronically, all without having to move from their chair or bed.

The possibilities are almost endless.

INTEGRATING IOT INTO YOUR PROPERTY Whether you’re extending or renovating, you’ll need a comprehensive cabling infrastructure to support the IoT and other smart home technologies.

There’s a saying in the home tech industry that ‘the most important wire is the wire you forget to fit’. To prevent this being the case, always seek advice from a home technology professional during the planning stages.

PHOTOGRAPH ISTOCK

HOW CAN THIS IMPACT MY HOME? The IoT turns what would usually be considered an ordinary home into a ‘smart’ one, making the concept of a hi-tech home – usually associated with the super-rich, who can afford to invest in the very latest gadgets to make life easier – obtainable to us all.

There is a growing expectation that technology should be integrated and ready-to-use in the modern home.

With this in mind, we should all start to consider investing in this area.

The ‘connected kitchen’ is already proving popular, which means that it is definitely something worth looking into. Appliance manufacturers such as Samsung and LG have invested very FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

EXPERT cedia.indd 151

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

151

07/12/2016 13:04

RH-142-169.indd 152

07/12/2016 18:20

Real Homes

GRAEME SMITH

QA

is senior designer for leading kitchen brands 1909, Biography and Second Nature. He has worked with them for nearly a decade and is experienced in product development and in designing both contemporary and classic kitchens.

&

sncollection.co.uk / @SNCollection

How can I find the right worktop for my new kitchen?

Work surfaces need to be hard wearing, stylish and practical – Graeme explains how to pick one that’s perfect for your needs CHOOSING A FINISH. There are two key considerations when selecting a worktop – aesthetics and practicality, with the aim of achieving an optimum balance between the two. The right choice of surface is crucial as it is probably the hardest-worked part of the kitchen, and visually, it can make or break your whole design.

Obviously, you want your worktops to look as attractive as possible, but you must also consider if the material is best suited to an area’s function. And both of these decisions will be influenced by the ultimate consideration, which is cost.

You will find a range of materials available across different price points, all of which can help you achieve the same look. However, not all materials will have the properties you require; for example, you might love marble but pick the similar-looking quartz because it is more affordable as well as practical.

WHAT’S IN STYLE IN MODERN KITCHENS? In contemporary kitchen designs, ultra-slim worktops are very on-trend, creating a really clean and unfussy aesthetic. However, this does not signal the end of chunkier surfaces.

These can be used to great effect as a contrast material – for instance, using slim quartz with thicker timber. Mixing materials is a growing trend, which not only appeals through looks, but also texture and touch.

As well as giving your kitchen a unique sense of style, a blend of different worktop materials can help you to define different stations, which is particularly useful given the popularity of open-plan living. For instance, certain surfaces can be better suited to particular tasks; granite or quartz is perfect for making pastry, while a birch end-grain chopping area is ideal for preparing ingredients.

Strata brilliant white quartz, £300 per metre, and Sinuous white granite, £400 per metre, Biography Kitchens

With myriad finishes and colours available, there are some great combinations to play around with in both contemporary and classic styling.

MATERIAL PROS AND CONS, CARE AND MAINTENANCE. The kitchen worktop is often regarded as the defining statement that can pull a design together, so it is worth investing in the best materials, such as natural granite, man-made quartz or timber.

One of the most practical and hard-wearing surfaces is quartz; not only can it replicate granite and marble, it also comes in some striking colours.

Timber adds warmth but needs more ongoing care than other materials, requiring oiling at regular intervals.

Laminate is the most affordable worktop material, with a wide range of thicknesses, colours and finishing profiles available.

TOP TIPS FOR PICKING THE PERFECT WORKTOP Introduce shape. Curves add a flowing feel to the design.

Consider functionality. Inset steel rods to take hot pans, worktop scales and pull-out socket ports are all useful.

For breakfast bars or a peninsular, a solid timber surface is warmer to lean on than cool granite.

Right Birch endgrain timber, from £400 per metre, Biography Kitchens Right Silestone Mediterraneo quartz worktop, from £450 per metre, 1909 Kitchens

realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

QA G SMITH.indd 153

153

07/12/2016 12:57

ST FREE CR RE

APR

L

ORS

AND A

S

RIE

AL

DO

SO

ON

0%

IT ED

INT E

Contemporary aluminium entrance doors

CC

E

At RK Door Systems we pride ourselves in offering some of the highest performing front doors in Europe. All our doors are available in a range of specifications and finishes and combined with modern and unique designs they will ‘make an entrance’ to any home.

Low maintenance

High security

Large choice of designs and finishes

Online door design and configurator

Extensive range of accessories, including finger scan locking

Highly insulated with “U” Values down to 0.67 W/sq.mK

Call 01872 222300

RH-142-169.indd 154

Email info@rkdoorsystems.co.uk

Design your door at www.rkdoorsystems.co.uk

09/12/2016 09:12

Real Homes

HUGO TUGMAN is the founder of Architect

QA

Your Home and Interior Your Home, and the managing director of Tugman Architecture & Design. Having run his practice with wife Jude since 1992, he has built up a wealth of knowledge in home design. A regular contributor to national newspapers, and the author of Architect Your Home, he is also a speaker at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show.

&

architectyourhome.com / @hugotugman

What are the best design solutions for my bedroom?

Whether you’re extending or renovating an existing bedroom, decide what you need it for, then use Hugo’s tips to make it practical and stylish MASTER SUITE Any bedroom suite has three main functions: sleeping, bathing and dressing. These can – if space allows – be arranged as three connecting rooms with a dressing room and en suite off the main bedroom space.

One interesting trend in recent years has seen the bathroom area becoming less separated from the bedroom, perhaps having the bath, shower or sink incorporated into the bedroom.

As stunning as this can look, such an arrangement might not suit everyone if, say, one person is an early riser who wants to use the shower while their partner is still asleep. Dealing with the steam that can build up in a bathroom is important. Good insulation and ventilation are necessary. A window that can be opened is best, particularly as this will let in light. Mechanical ventilation or fans can be noisy, but are sometimes the only practical option.

GUEST BEDROOM

PHOTOGRAPHS ARCHITECT YOUR HOME

Unlike a master suite, where you are free to express your personality through your décor, and have everything arranged to suit you, a guest suite needs to feel relaxing and be suitable for whoever you might invite to stay.

With this in mind, decorating it in boudoir-style would probably not make your visitors feel comfortable.

Guests can also feel as if they are imposing if they are too connected to the family space, so the more selfcontained and separated this suite can be, the better. Converting a loft for this purpose can work well. Or, if you have a garage or outbuilding you’re not using, you might consider turning this into somewhere for people to stay. This can be a particularly popular option for accommodating in-laws.

MEZZANINE BEDROOM

Below During restoration of this 15th-century house, a vaulted ceiling with original timbers was discovered hidden behind the plasterboard. This gave Architect Your Home the space to create a mezzanine bedroom with a study area below. The project cost about £1,440 per m2

See page 109 for 50 easy ways to update your bedrooms

Whatever goes on below a mezzanine bedroom will affect its use. When sleeping spaces are above living areas, they are best reserved for the main occupants, or perhaps the occasional guest. If part of the space below is a kitchen, ensure there is good extraction and ventilation to minimise lingering cooking smells. Got a bedroom with a high ceiling and no en-suite? Think about having the bed on a mezzanine with space for a shower room beneath.

It is a good idea to keep the bedroom furniture at a low level, so it’s not too much on view from below.

BEDROOM-CUM-OFFICE If your bedroom also serves as an office, the key is to make the transition from one function to the other as easy as possible. The more tidying and moving of furniture required, the less often it Left Architect Your Home had to create a new en suite within the master bedroom. The end wall was taken up with French doors so the bathroom had to be positioned next to the bedroom door, but the impact was softened by curving the wall.

The project cost about £1,980 per m2

will happen. For a bedroom that is used only occasionally for work, think about the ease with which all evidence of work can be shut away. For an office that is sometimes used as a bedroom, put in a bed that will be as unobtrusive as possible. It is also useful if you determine what type of work the office is to be used for. A sales executive might need phone and laptop points, and space for a desk and filing cabinets, while a keen sewer might want room for a cutting table, sewing machine and rolls of fabric. . realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

EXPERT HT.indd 155

155

07/12/2016 15:32

WHAT IS PASSIVHAUS? Imagine living in a comfortable, modern house with no cold drafts, no temperature variations from room to room, and, best of all, virtually no heating or cooling bills, sounds too good to be true!

The term Passivhaus (or Passive House) refers to an advanced low energy construction standard for buildings providing excellent health and comfort conditions being both cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal heating or cooling requirements reducing its ecological footprint.

Passive design is not an attachment or supplement to architectural design, but a design process that is integrated with architectural design. Although it is mostly applied to new buildings, it has also been used for refurbishments. P6P are experts in building to the Passivhaus standard and to principles both on new build and refurbishment.

WHAT DOES LIVING IN A PASSIVHAUS MEAN FOR YOU? • • • • •

No heating system Cost savings Comfort Health benefits Peace & Quiet

Give u s a cal l today obliga for a no tion q uot to bui ld you e r Passiv haus.

01395 233741 • info@point6projects.com •

www.point6projects.com RH-142-169.indd 156

09/12/2016 09:13

Stockists

www.darlighting.co.uk

Fired Earth 01295 814396 www.firedearth.com Flair Rugs 01457 850 660 www.flairrugs.com Floor Story 020 7871 3013 www.floorstory.co.uk Flos 020 7681 9933 www.flos.com Fontana Arte 01623 444770 www.fontanaarte.com 4Living 0800 75 65 199 www.4living.co.uk Freefoam 01604 591110 www.freefoam.com

Bauhaus Bathrooms

Debenhams 0844 800 8877

Fritz Hansen

0345 873 884 www.bauhaus-bathrooms.co.uk Bedmonkey 01924 469993 www.bedmonkey.com Benjamin Moore 01753 575756 www.benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk

www.debenhams.com Decorus 01279 850 174 www.decorusfurniture.co.uk Delcor 0191 237 1303 www.delcor.co.uk

Better Bathrooms

023 8044 6700 www.delldevelopments.co.uk Delta Light 0870 757 7087 www.deltalight.com Designers Guild 02078937400 www.designersguild.com Devol 01509 261000 www.devolkitchens.co.uk DFS 0808 159 8760 www.dfs.co.uk DG Glass 020 3818 9089 www.dgglassdesigns.co.uk

Find your nearest supplier for the fixtures and furniture in this issue

Crucial Trading 01562 743 747 www.crucial-trading.com Cuckooz 020 7481 8507 www.cuckooz.co.uk Cult Furniture 0208 185 6960 www.cultfurniture.com Currys 0344 561 1234 www.currys.co.uk

D

Danetti 020 3588 1380 www.danetti.com

Där Lighting

A

A Modern Grand Tour

01869 810 636 www.amoderngrandtour.com A Rum Fellow 020 8245 6779 www.arumfellow.com Abode 01226 283434 www.abodedesigns.co.uk Ada & Ina 020 7183 7986 www.linenfabrics.co.uk Alexander & Pearl

020 8508 0411 www.alexanderandpearl.co.uk Amara 0800 587 7645 www.amara.com Amtico 0121 745 0800 www.amtico.com Anglepoise 02392 224 450 www.anglepoise.com Anglian 0808 271 3051 www.anglianhome.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 713 089 www.anniesloan.com Another Country

020 7486 3251 www.anothercountry.com Ans Global 01243 545818 www.ansgroupglobal.com Appeal Homes Shading

0800 975 5757 www.appealshading.com Aram 020 7557 7557 www.aram.co.uk Architect Your Home

0800 849 8505 www.architect-yourhome.com Architecture:wk

020 8977 6999 www.architecturewk.com Artisanti 0345 259 1410 www.artisanti.com Asprey Brothers 07799 158441 Aston Matthews

020 7226 7220 www.astonmatthews.co.uk Atkin & Thyme 0203 768 7775 www.atkinandthyme.co.uk

B

B&B Italia

www.bebitalia.com/en

B&Q 0333 014 3098

www.diy.com Back to Front Exterior Design

01252 820984 www. backtofrontexteriordesign.com The Baked Tile Company

02920 358 409 www.bakedtiles.co.uk Bancfoft Real Estate

07982 717130 www.richardbancroft.co.uk Barker and Stonehouse

0330 311 1841 www.barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Bath Empire 02476 389052 www.soak.com

0333 777 4777 www.betterbathrooms.com BioGraphy 01325 505590 www.biographykitchens.co.uk Blanco 01923 635200 www.blanco.co.uk Bluebellgray 0808 1640130 www.bluebellgray.com Bohzaar 01531 553 000 www.bohzaar.co.uk Bradshaw Appliances 01275 343 000 www.bradshaw.co.uk Bradstone 01335 372289 www.bradstone.com Brett 0345 6080577 www.brettpaving.co.uk Button & Sprung 03333 201 801 www.buttonandsprung.com

Dell Developments

Direct Wood Flooring

020 7632 7587 www.carlhansen.com Carpetright 0330 333 3444 www.carpetright.co.uk Cedia 01480 213744 www.cedia.co.uk Century Stone 01869 220 050 www.century-stone.co.uk

0113 819 9985 www.dowsingandreynolds.com Dulux 0333 222 7171 www.dulux.co.uk Duravit 0845 5007787 www.duravit.co.uk

020 3857 9257 222 www.garagedoorcompany. com Garden It 07843 282281 www.gardenitharrogate.com Garden Requisites

01225 851577 www.garden-requisites.co.uk Garden Trading 01993 845 559 www.gardentrading.co.uk

Gold Leaf Supplies

01656 720566 www.goldleafsupplies.co.uk Graham & Brown

0800 3288 452 www.grahambrown.com Graux & Baeyens Architects

www.graux-baeyens.be Grohe 0871 200 3414 www.grohe.co.uk

H

Habitat

0344 499 4686 www.habitat.co.uk Haddonstone

E

www.haddonstone.com Ebay

Harlequin 0845 123 6815

www.ebay.co.uk

www.harlequin.uk.com Harley & Lola 0800 033 7263 www.harleyandlola.co.uk Harvey Maria 0845 680 1231 www.harveymaria.co.uk

Emily Burningham

020 7431 0361 www.emilyburningham.com

Cloudberry Living

Established and Sons

0330 123 3301 www.cloudberryliving.co.uk Collenmore Construction, 020 8408 0162 www.collenmore.com

020 7608 0990 www.establishedandsons.com Etsy www.etsy.com/uk Everest Home Improvements

www.come-home-to-copper. co.uk

0800 540 4100 www.everest.co.uk Everhot 01453 890018 www.everhot.co.uk

Cooke Lewis at B&Q

Express Bi-folding Doors

0333 014 3357 www.diy.com/cooke-and-lewis Corian www.dupont.co.uk Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 www.coxandcox.co.uk CP Hart 0845 600 1950 www.cphart.co.uk Craven Dunnill 01746 761611 www.cravendunnill.co.uk Crown 0330 024 0281 www.crownpaints.co.uk

0800 121 4809 www.expressbifolds.co.uk

Come Home to Copper

The Garage Door Company

Geoffrey Drayton

Dowsing and Reynolds

020 8480 8078 www.cerberusdoors.co.uk Chaplins 02084211779 www.chaplins.co.uk

G

01992 573929 www.geoffrey-drayton.co.uk Gerberit www.gerberit.co.uk

Carl Hansen & Son

Cerberus Doors

www.furnish.co.uk

www.diamantinidomeniconi.it Dineson 020 3630 0196 www.dineson.com

0844 915 0002 www.capietra.com

C

www.frontlinebathrooms.co.uk Furnish 0345 544 4044

Diamantini & Domeniconi

03333 201 933 www. directwoodflooring.co.uk Domus Tiles 020 8481 9500 www.domustiles.co.uk Donrbracht 02476 717 129 www.dornbracht.com

Ca’ Pietra

www.fritzhansen.com Frontline 0845 470 24 24

F

Farrow & Ball

01202 876141 www.farrow-ball.com FineArtSeen 01235 535 536 www.fineartseen.com

The Headboard Workshop

01291 628216 www.theheadboardworkshop. co.uk Heal’s 020 7896 7451 www.heals.com Holloways of Ludlow

020 7602 5757 www.hollowaysofludlow.com House of British Ceramic Tile

01626 831391 www.britishceramictile.com Houseology 0141 280 2047 www.houseology.com

I

Iconic Lights www.

iconiclights.co.uk

FineLine Aluminium

Ideal Standard 0845 095 5000

01934 429922 www.finelinealuminium.co.uk

www.idealstandard. nationwide-bathrooms.co.uk realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

stockist .indd 157

➤

157

07/12/2016 12:59

Idealcombi 01582 869010 www.idealcombi.com Ikea 020 3645 0000 www.ikea.com Insinkerator 0800 389 3715 www.insinkerator.co.uk Insulated Render and Cladding Association 0844 249 0040

www.inca-ltd.org.uk IQ Glass 01494 722880

www.iqglassuk.com

J

James Hardie www. jameshardie.co.uk Jeld-Wen 0845 122 2890 www.jeld-wen.co.uk Jeremy Leaf Estate Agents

020 8444 5222 www.jeremyleaf.co.uk Jim Lawrence 01473 826 685 www.jim-lawrence.co.uk John Lewis 0345 123 9049 www.johnlewis.com Jonathan Adler 020 7589 9563 www.uk.jonathanadler.com

K

Kartell www.kartell.com Kitchen Craft

0121 604 1111 www.kitchencraft.co.uk Kloeber 01487 740044 www.kloeber.co.uk KME TECU www.kmetecuuk.com Kreisdesign 020 7837 0820 www.kreisdesign.com

Milligan & Jessop

01484 435 900 www.milliganandjessop.com Moooi +31 076 578 44 44 www.moooi.com/uk/contact My Furniture 0800 092 1636 www.my-furniture.co.uk Mylands 020 8670 9161 www.mylands.co.uk

N

Natural Bed Company

0114 272 1984 www.naturalbedcompany.co.uk Neatsmith 0800 1956 595 www.neatsmith.co.uk Neff 0344 892 8989 www.neff.co.uk Nest 0114 243 3000 www.nest.co.uk Network Veka

www.networkveka.co.uk New Driveway Company

www.porcelanosa.com Portico 020 7428 5300 www.portico.com The Pure Bathroom Collection

0845 634 4321 www.purebathroomcollection. co.uk

Q

Quick Step

R

Ragged Rose

02830250477 www.quick-step.co.uk

01622 812897 www.raggedrose.com Rational 0114 3999802 www.rationalgb.com RK Doors 01872 222300 www.rkdoorsystems.co.uk Roman Bathrooms

0121 561 4374 www.romanbathrooms.co.uk Roper Rhodes 01225 303 900 www.roperrhodes.co.uk Rothschild & Bickers

01992 677292 www.rothschildbickers.com The Rug Seller

0161 876 4566 www.therugseller.co.uk Rume 01273 777 810 www.rume.co.uk

S

SACW Paving

www.steysonsconctrete floors.co.uk Sto 0141 892 8000 www.sto.co.uk/en/home Surface View 0118 922 1327 www.surfaceview.co.uk Sweetpea & Willow

0345 257 2627 www.sweetpeaandwillow.com Swoon Editions 020 3137 2464 www.swooneditions.com

T

Tarmac 0800 121 8218

www.tarmac.com

Todd Doors 0800 633 5050

www.todd-doors.co.uk Tom Tailor +49 40 589 56-0

www.tom-tailor.com Top Furniture 01889 560999

www.topfurniture.co.uk Topps Tiles 0800 783 6262

www.toppstiles.co.uk Trespa www.trespa.com/uk Triton Showers 02476 372 222

www.tritonshowers.co.uk

U

Urban Front

V

Vale Kitchens

01494 778787 www.urbanfront.com Urban Myth 020 8531 3413 www.urbanmyth.net

+46 321 53 16 60 www.sandbergwallpaper.com

01962 834 500 www.lahally.com LG Hausys 01892 704074 www.himacs.eu Life of Riley 01799 551 813 www.lifeofrileyonline.co.uk Lindab www.lindab.com Little Greene 020 7935 8844 www.littlegreene.com Living It Up 0116 269 5960 www.livingitup.co.uk Loaf 0845 468 0698 www.loaf.com Loft 0113 225 1515 www.loft.com Lorna Syson 020 8465 9819 www.lornasyson.co.uk Lumie 01954 780500 www.lumie.com

Nua Style

Sandtex

020 3394 0134 www.nuastyle.com

www.sandtex.co.uk

M

Made 03442 571 888

Out There Interiors

www.made.com

020 8099 7443 www.outthereinteriors.com

LCP Plumbing & Heating

07916 160437 Lesley Hally

Mandarin Stone

01600 715444 www.mandarinstone.com Marks & Spencer

0333 014 8000 www.marksandspencer.com Marlborough Tiles

01672 515287 www.marlboroughtiles.com Marley Eternit 01283 722588 www.marleyeternit.co.uk Marshalls 0370 120 7474 www.marshalls.co.uk

Nicolas Tye Architects

O

Oak Furniture Land

0800 440 2254 www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk Ocean Lighting 01642 245 066 www.oceanlighting.co.uk Oli & Grace 0330 2233057 www.oliandgrace.co.uk Oliver Bonas 020 8974 0110 www.oliverbonas.com Origin 0808 168 5816 www.origin-global.com Original BTC 020 7351 2130 www.originalbtc.com Original Garden Rooms

01484 841 121 www.originalgardenrooms.co.uk

P

Paul Archer Design

020 3668 2668 www.paularcherdesign.co.uk Perch & Parrow

020 8993 5545 www.sacwpaving.co.uk Sainsburys 0800 328 1700 www.sainsburys.co.uk Samuel Heath 0121 766 4200 www.samuel-heath.co.uk

St Barts ww.st-barts.com.au Steysons 020 8553 2636

01525 406677 www.nicolastyearchitects.com 1909 Kitchens 01325 505598 www.1909kitchens.co.uk Norstone 020 3178 2801 www.norstone.co.uk

L

01235 854071 www.newdrivewaycompany.com

Porcelanosa +34 901 100 201

01386 765959 www.thevalegroup.com Valspar 0844 736 9174 www.valsparpaint.co.uk Vastern 01793 853281 www.vastern.co.uk VC Design 07984 069145 www.veronicacongdon design.co.uk Velux 01592 778225 www.velux.co.uk

Lauren Nicholas

020 7722 0200 www.laurennicholas.co.uk Lazenby 01935 700306 www.lazenby.co.uk

158

Martin Childs 01760 7222275 www.martinchilds.com Martin Plumb 01794 502956 www.martinplumbcarpentry.com Master Glazing 020 7720 7466 www.masterglazing.com Metsä Wood 01205 362 461 www.metsawood.com MiaFleur 0116 2986393 www.miafleur.com Miele 0330 160 6600 www.miele.co.uk

Sandberg Signature Collection

Scandi Living

Villeroy & Boch

01428 608050 www.scandiliving.com Schock www.schock.de/en Scion 0845 123 6805 www.scion.uk.com

0333 011 3333 www.villeroy-boch.co.uk Vincent Timber 0121 772 5511 www.vincenttimber.co.uk

Second Nature Kitchens

0141 641 1700 www.voyagedecoration.com

01325 505539 www.sncollection.co.uk Shutterly Fabulous

0800 012 6615 www.shutterlyfabulous.com Siemens 0844 892 8999 www.siemens-home.co.uk Simon Horn

020 7731 3555 www.simonhorn.com Smeg 0344 557 9907 www.smeguk.com Snug Architects

0238 202 9500 www.snugarchitects.co.uk Sofa Workshop

0800 23 00 048 www.sofaworkshop.com Sola Kitchens 020 3004 0898 www.solakitchens.com

Voyage Decoration

and Floors W Walls 01536 314 730

www.wallsandfloors.co.uk Warmup 0345 345 2288 www.warmup.co.uk West Elm 0207 637 9150 www.westelm.co.uk The White Lighthouse Furniture

028 904 80200 www.thewhitelighthouse furniture.co.uk Wickes 0330 123 4123 www.wickes.co.uk Wilko 08000 329 329 www.wilko.com Witcher Crawford 01962 813344

020 8629 1166 www.perchandparrow.com Perrin & Rowe 01708 526 361 www.perrinandrowe.co.uk

Spencer Architecture

www.witchercrawford.co.uk Worktop Express

01264 336 800 www.spencerarchitecture.co.uk

0345 2222 644 www.worktop-express.co.uk

Poggenpohl Leeds

Spiral Cellars

Wren Kitchens

49 (0) 5221 / 381 -0 www.poggenpohl.com

0845 241 2768 www.spiralcellars.co.uk

0345 127 7008 www.wrenkitchens.com

FEBRUARY 2017 realhomes.co.uk

stockist .indd 158

07/12/2016 12:59

RH-142-169.indd 159

09/12/2016 09:13

RH-142-169.indd 160

09/12/2016 09:13

MARKETPLACE If you’re looking to buy fittings, fixtures, furniture and appliances for your home transformation, you will find a great selection on the next eight pages FEATURED ADVERTISER

#LoveWhereYouLive Bathroom furniture from

£89.99

*NATIONAL READERSHIP SURVEY JANUARY–DECEMBER 2014

• Free VIP delivery available • Price match promise • Flexible finance options • Free brochure available VictoriaPlum.com

0344 804 48 48

Do you want to reach an audience of more than 145,000* dedicated home improvers? Then book a classified advert with Rebecca Vincze on 01527 834415 or email rebecca.vincze@centaurmedia.com realhomes.co.uk FEBRUARY 2017

ClassifiedCOVERNEW.indd 161

161

09/12/2016 09:51

MARKETPLACE

To advertise call 01527 834415

HEATING

Be in control of your heating bills with our energy-efficient...

Cost-saving German Engineered Electric Radiators!

• 24/7 heat control- digital control thermostat patented ceramic heat tablets that • Unique store and release heat for longer fin design - 6X the surface area of a normal • High radiator for SUPERIOR HEAT COVERAGE free streamline 70mm design • Maintenance slimmest on the market installation service which includes removing • Full and disposing of the old heating where required German product, sold and installed • Abypremium friendly, qualified British people

G

FACTUR E NU

15 YEAR

S R’

MA

er A bettfor a ct produer price! bett

UA

E

RANTE

FREE

SURVEY in the comfort of your home!

“We would just like to thank you for the service you gave us from the time of the quotation right through to completion of fitting. I would also like to say that the after sales service was very good.”

Mr & Mrs Ingram, Kettering, Northants

Technik Heat UK Ltd, 77 Alston Drive, Bradwell Abbey Industrial Estate, Milton Keynes, MK13 9HG

Save Energy and £££’s - Request a FREE Home Survey today To request your FREE Catalogue and receive details of our FREE Home Survey simply complete your details below, cut out and pop into an envelope with this address: FREEPOST TECHNIK HEAT UK.

electronic • Built-in thermostat or user friendly

RH2912

Name: Address:

wireless thermostat available

For a FREE Catalogue and to arrange a No-Obligation FREE Home Survey...

Postcode:

Call 0800 434 6462 or 01908 566 855 Quoting RH2912

Your Telephone or Mobile Number

or visit www.technikheatuk.co.uk

(Your telephone number is essential as one of our friendly advisors will contact you prior to any home visit you may wish to arrange).

Or alternatively complete and return the FREEPOST coupon opposite.

BATHROOMS

OAK BUILDINGS

What makes an Albion bath unique?

Our exclusive bath material creates a difference you can feel.

With over 50 models available, we’ll have a size for bathrooms big or small.

Request your brochure on: 01255 831605 or go to: www.albionbathco.com

ALBION

RH_0217_class_pages.indd 162 Real Homes Feb 2017.indd 1

Handmade bathrooms directly from our factory

18/11/2016 16:44

08/12/2016 16:26

or email rebecca.vincze@centaurmedia.com

RH_0217_class_pages.indd 163

08/12/2016 16:26

MARKETPLACE POLISH

To advertise call 01527 834415 BEDS

WOOD PROTECTION

RH_0217_class_pages.indd 164

08/12/2016 16:26

StudyBed_1216.pdf

1

29/11/2016

15:28

or email rebecca.vincze@centaurmedia.com STUDY BEDS

IRONWORK

This amazing piece of furniture allows you to keep your Spare Room for guests, but use it as a Study

TO ADVERTISE HERE PLEASE CALL REBECCA ON 01527 834472 • High Quality Complete Rigid Kitchens KITCHENS • The Best of British Manufacturing

Terence Ball Kitchens

• Delivered direct to site throughout the UK • Over 300 doors & 50 carcase colours.

• Blum Drawers and Softclose Hinges

A Name You Can Trust

• Keenly priced & impressive brochures Homebuilding &RENOVATING

SHOW NEC,

23-26 MARCH 2016

WORKTOPS HARDWOOD WORKTOPS & END GRAIN CHOPPING BLOCKS

Made to measure C

M

From a desk to a bed in 3 seconds!

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY K www.bordercraft.co.uk

Email: sales@bordercraft.co.uk

Proudly Made in Britain

TEL: 01981 550 251 AIRERS

• • • • •

High quality complete rigid kitchens The best of British manufacturing Fully installed or supply only Over 300 door styles & finishes Nationwide delivery with local service • Impressive Brochures

www.terenceballkitchens.co.uk sales@terenceballkitchens.co.uk 0800 999 7155

... expanding your living space

HOLIDAYS

www.studybed.co.uk 01844 214484 RH_0217_class_pages.indd 165

Real Homes December 2016.indd 1

11/10/2016 11:57:22 08/12/2016 16:26

MARKETPLACE

To advertise call 01527 834415

BEDS

c

A NEW WAY TO SLEEP

THE NEXT GENERATION OF MATTRESS TOPPER HOW THE ZONESLEEP SPACER FABRIC TOPPER WORKS

The secret is the revolutionary fabric. The uniquely hygienic 3D Spacer Fabric is designed to allow air to circulate around your body, ventilating you during sleep.

PRESSURE POINT RELIEF 3 Zone construction offers posture support and relief to those painful pressure points. A secondary comfort layer combined with a cooling Tencel® top surface helps regulate temperature and eliminate that clammy feeling.

WHY ZONESLEEP IS SO MUCH BETTER Our products provide you with all the positive aspects of memory foam without any of the negatives.

Normal Memory Foam Zonesleep Spacer Fabric

Breathable

Lightweight

Washable

AntiMicrobial

AntiAllergenic

Instant Shape Recovery

✘ ✔

✘ ✔

✘ ✔

✘ ✔

✘ ✔

✘ ✔

EXCLUSIVE TO ZONESLEEP – ONLY AVAILABLE DIRECT No other mattress topper addresses the quality of sleep like Zonesleep. We all know the importance of a good night’s sleep – a Zonesleep Mattress Topper may be the best investment you’ll ever make!

NO RISK HOME TRIAL

10 D

The Zonesleep Topper is a truly exclusive breakthrough in sleep technology but if it doesn’t work for you we will refund you. Please call us or go to the website for full details.

MONEY BACK AY

TAKE UP THIS GREAT OFFER TODAY

£

TRY ZONESLEEP IF YOU SUFFER: ✓ Back Pain ✓ Rheumatism ✓ Insomnia ✓ Night Sweats ✓ Aching Joints ✓ Dehydration ✓ Getting hot on memory foam

PRICING

SINGLE Topper £139.99 DOUBLE Topper £179.99 SUPER-KING Topper £229.99 KING Topper £199.99 Zonesleep Pillow £39.99 Zonesleep Cushion £29.99 UK delivery charge £5 - £10

Get £20 OFF when you use code RH2912 when you call or buy online.

Offer ends 31.01.2017

Call now on 0800 242 5003 or visit zonesleep.co.uk Any questions? Talk to one of the team at sales@zonesleep.co.uk

WITH

RANGE COOKERS

RH_0217_class_pages.indd 166

08/12/2016 16:26

or email rebecca.vincze@centaurmedia.com FURNITURE

VERANDAS & AWNINGS

SOCKETS & SWITCHES

PET ACCOMMODATION

RH_0217_class_pages.indd 167

08/12/2016 16:26

SHOWCASE

1

Technik Heat German Engineered Electric radiators have been designed using the latest technology to create a practical, modern and efficient solution to outdated, inefficient night storage heaters or simply for those hard to heat areas, maintenance free & guaranteed for 15 years.

Using code RH2912 call 0800 434 6462 or visit Technikheatuk.co.uk

1

2

Offering more than 200 door designs, JB Kind’s 2017 Door Collection has innovative, inspiring and classic door designs to suit every interior. Introducing the exceptionally durable and moisture-resistant Exterior Extreme doors made with Medite Tricoya Extreme®, a supplied pre-finished in white with the benefit of a 10 year guarantee. Exclusive new Laminate internal doors, available in two contemporary colours with a textured timber grained effect, plus much more. Request or download a copy of their brochure at www.jbkind.com.

3

The Kingspan TEK Building System has been installed as part of a luxury ski chalet in the French Alps, helping the project to be completed within the tight schedule of the Alpine building season. 400 m2 of the Kingspan TEK Building System was specified to complement the green oak frame designed and constructed by Westwind Oak. The System comprises of structural insulated panels (SIPs), which are pre-cut to each project’s exact specifications, limiting on-site alterations and waste. www.kingspantek.co.uk

2

4

During the winter months, a lack of adequate ventilation and poor Indoor Air Quality can result in aggravated respiratory and dermatological conditions, including asthma. An EnviroVent Mr Venty Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) system works by drawing in fresh, filtered clean air from the loft-space in a house or from outside in a flat or apartment, reducing condensation, preventing mould growth and creating a fresh and health living environment. www.envirovent.com

3 4

5

5

Combination Bathroom Furniture from Hudson Reed Offer’s a unique range of space saving storage solutions for the smaller bathroom. Available in 4 stylish finishes, Gloss White, Driftwood, Grey Avola and Hacienda Black. The versatile range offers you a selection of slimline and L-shaped basin designs with a combination of Stand Alone, 1100mm, 1200mm or 1500mm furniture size units. www.hudsonreed.co.uk

6

6

Purmo’s Leros towel warmer is distinctive for its textured matte black finish. With excellent green credentials, the highly energy efficient Leros is also perfect for use with low temperature heating systems. The large diameter of the tubes (28mm) provides a solid and stylish appearance. The larger gaps not only provide for a striking design but give a practical solution to placing towels and cleaning the radiator. www.purmo.co.uk 0845 070 1090

7

Shutters are a stunning addition to your home.

Transform any room with these stunning interior Plantation Shutters from Just Shutters, for the widest range and finest choice, backed by our lifetime guarantee.

Visit www.justshutters.co.uk or cal us on 0845 894 0700.

7 8

8

Signature Design offer bespoke products to create functional, comfortable living spaces for classic and contemporary homes. Technological innovation allows us a choice of materials and finishes to meet customer requirements. Projects range from enclosable canopies to garden rooms, energy efficient glass structures, windows and 168 SEPTEMBER 3 realhomesmagazine.co.uk doors in any RAL201 colour.

01202 918979 www.signaturedesignltd.com

RH_Gallery_0217.indd 168

08/12/2016 16:27

®

Established in 1993 A.D. Calvert Architectural Stone Supplies Ltd are based in the heart of Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. The company comprises a large, modern and well maintained sandstone, granite & limestone processing plant, with a showroom demonstrating the skill of the master craftsmen and the complexities of the work undertaken.

Heads • Cills • Walling • Fireplaces • New Builds • Cladding • Landscaping • Garden Products Moulded Work • Laser Etching • Turned Work • Work Tops • Flooring • Multi-Fuel Stoves Tel: 01969 622296 • Fax: 01969 622314 stone@calverts.co.uk • www.calverts.co.uk

RH-142-169.indd 169

The Stoneyard, Wensley Road, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 5ED

09/12/2016 09:13

Sam Hood

The creative director of Amara on realising longterm ambitions, travel and eclectic interior style Is there such a thing as a typical day for you?

I start my day by getting up early to feed my two cocker spaniels, Hector and Harvey, and prepare breakfast for the family. Then it’s the gym before arriving at the Amara office. My role is so varied, so no day is the same. My favourite part is visiting different cities and countries. I love immersing myself in new cultures for inspiration.

You launched Amara in 2005, how did it come about?

When I was decorating my home, I Left and below For SS17, I love the Graphic trend. It has monochrome pieces and bold prints, such as the Houston cushion, £80, and Brooklyn Heights throw in Grey, £70

couldn’t find anywhere that stocked my favourite homeware brands in one place. I took the leap with my husband, Andrew, and launched Amara. It started as a boutique shop, but soon the online store took over at a time when online shopping was really gaining momentum. It’s been an exciting journey, and the launch of The Amara Collection is a dream come true. I also keep a hand in interior design through our design service. There’s nothing better than creating a living space that is perfectly suited to its owner.

What’s keeping you busy at work at the moment?

Amara just launched its first-ever own-name label, The Amara Collection, which has kept me

Above Amara began as a boutique, but soon grew to be online only when internet shopping took off.

Left Next on my travel list is Mexico in summer 2017

very busy. It’s been in the pipeline for years, but I’ve been biding my time until it felt right. Since the launch in September, there’s been a great reaction – it’s made all the hard work worth it. Plus, SS17 is in full swing, so I have been finalising plans for new collections and exploring the trends. I love everything at Amara, but I adore the pared-back designs of the Graphic collection, which is inspired by loft living and features simple greys, metallics and geometric prints. The Ashland table lamp is a favourite – it’s stylish and classic.

Where is home?

We live in a village in Essex and have a busy family life with our two teenage daughters and the two dogs. Our home reflects our lifestyle. I like a neutral scheme, and accessorise with colour and texture. My style is an eclectic mix of treasured pieces I’ve had for years, combined with new buys. I love to mix and match for a personal, unique look. The kitchen is my favourite space and the most important room in the house – it’s where we entertain, spend time together, and enjoy cooking and eating.

What inspires you?

Travel. My all-time favourite place is Paris. I do like to tick a different country off the list every year, so I’m planning a trip to Mexico for 2017.

A relaxing trip will be a great way to toast such a successful period and spend time together as a family.

FEATURE LINDSAY BLAIR PHOTOGRAPH (MEXICO & PARIS) ISTOCK

FACE TO FACE WITH

Above left Paris has to be the destination I love to travel to the most Left The Amara Collection launched in 2016 and features the Ashland table lamp, £380

FOR STOCKIST INFORMATION SEE PAGE 157

FACE 2 FACE Feb.indd 170

07/12/2016 13:00

RH-Covers-0217.indd 171

07/12/2016 18:03

SALE UP TO 40% OFF

Sale ends 31st January RH-Covers-0217.indd 172

12_29_16_RealHomes.indd 1

07/12/2016 18:03

01/12/2016 17:58