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MAGAZINE

G N I Z A AM PRICE

HUNDREDS OF GREAT-VALUE IDEAS FOR EVERY ROOM

697

NOVEMBER 2021

CLEVER BUYS &

instant updates FOR AN INVITING HOME

LET’S SHOP High street hits at prices you’ll love ] Super storage ] Weighted blankets ] Family friendly kitchen must haves ]

Get the look! Tour three readers’ stylish homes

YH

LOVES

Upcycle a chic tray + more wow-factor crafts

Before & after Hearty, fuss-free recipes to cook this weekend

IZTOETASL OF PRR TH A

WO

£7,559 TO BE

WON

BURSTING WITH CHARM

Revamp for autumn!

3 Layer up the luxury in every room 3 How to restore a fireplace 3 Renovation secrets from the pros 3 Bathroom heating for all budgets 3 Create the perfect book nook!

Value pack copy, not for individual resale

EDITOR’S LETTER Get the countr y ok kitchen lo

Welcome This issue, I am amazed by the amount of genius money-saving ideas that our experts and readers have shared with us. If you’re looking for easy, thrifty ways to transform your home, then you have picked up the right magazine!

Jade Butcher’s home (p84) for instance, is packed with budget-stretching tricks – from her faux built-in storage that’s actually from IKEA, to a DIY kitchen-cabinet hack that saved her thousands, she’s one smart homeowner. For more kitchen renovation tips, flip to page 34 for a trio of makeovers. Check out Nicola’s preloved units (which she bagged for just £600) on page 38 and our cover star Karen’s stunning country kitchendiner on page 42. It’s a cottagecore lover’s dream!

With winter almost upon us, this is the time to treat the family to hearty, nourishing meals – but there’s no need for these to be hard work. On page 110, we show you the best-value slow cookers on the market and, over the page, delicious recipes that you can leave to bubble to perfection for hours and hours, with the minimum of effort.

Speaking of winter food, we also bring you a handful of recipes so that you can get ahead for Christmas Day on page 121.

We’ll help you with much more festive prep next month.

42 Ideas to steal from our style savvy readers

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE! Our special Christmas subscription offer is here!

Save 20% and pick a reward on page 32.

FOLLOW & SHARE WEBSITE

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Luxurious, on-trend buys at prices you’ll love!

Editor Mel Sherwood Features Editor Michelle Grady Section Editor Thomas Poad Senior Production Editor Katie Nicholls Editorial Assistant Sophie Ellis Art Editor Tricia Ball Designer Beth Charlton Lucas Digital Editor Rebecca Messina Digital Writer Thea Jeffreys Thanks also to Rob Banino, Robert Bewick, Yvette Filer Advertising: Group Advertising Manager Laura Jones Advertising Manager Heather Golden Business Development Manager Sophie Keenan Brand Sales Executives James Beckett, Ava Holdstock, Olivia King,

Phil Wallington Classified Sales Executive Alex Armstrong Ad Co-ordinator Bryony Grace Senior Ad Designers Andrew Hobson, Cee Pike Marketing & Production: Subscriptions Director Jacky Perales-Morris Direct Marketing Executive Emma Hunter Director of Licensing and Syndication Tim Hudson Syndication Manager Richard Bentley Production Director Sarah Powell Production Co-ordinator Georgia Tolley Senior PR Manager Ridhi Radia Publishing: Managing Director Marie Davies Promotions and Partnerships Manager Rosa Sherwood Group Managing Director Andy Marshall CEO Tom Bureau

Contact Your Home at Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Bristol BS1 4ST General Enquiries Tel 0117 927 9009 You can email the magazine at yourhome@immediate.co.uk For subscriptions: yourhome@buysubscriptions.com UK: 03301 358962 Overseas: +44(0)1604 973748 © Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, 2021, member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Unsolicited manuscripts and transparencies are accepted on the understanding that the publisher incurs no liability for their storage or return. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced without permission. All prices are correct at the time of going to press. The publisher, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services which may be advertised or referred to in this issue or for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any such advertisements or references. Your Home is published by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST, UK. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue. Immediate Media Co Ltd is working to ensure that all of its paper is sourced from well-managed forests. This magazine can be recycled. We abide by IPSO’s rules and regulations. To give feedback about our magazines, please visit immediate.co.uk, email editorialcomplaints@immediate.co.uk or write to Legal Director, Immediate Media Co, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London, W6 7BT

Editor’s portrait Philip Sowels

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Our kitchens are guaranteed for 25 years.

That’s a generation of memorable meals.

Excludes: Kitchen appliances, taps, sinks, internal and external storage, bins, cabinet accessories, handles, under cabinet lighting, cabinet hanging baskets. See diy.com/customer-support/policies/terms and full guarantee T&C’s. This does not affect your legal rights.

CONTENTS

IN THIS ISSUE...

83

28

Step inside reader homes, filled with ideas to steal

Add rich textiles and metallic touches for a luxurious look

November at home 10

This month we love The hottest AW21 high-street homewares, chic sofa beds, pumpkin-spice wax melts, DIY art kits, Diwali decorations and more…

Household hints Ways to cut your 19 plastic waste, space-saving storage buys, plus tried-and-tested weighted blankets 22 Smarter Shopper Get tips for ticking off your Christmas gift list without breaking the bank 24 Focus on Bag the best bargains on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Homes & makeovers

34 ‘We chose an all-white scheme for a fresh feel’ Nadia Murdock gave her dark kitchen a Scandi-style revamp with white walls and cabinets 38 ‘Our kitchen looks high-end, but the units cost £600!’ Kitting out her kitchen in second-hand units gave Nicola Paige a designer look for less ‘We opened up our cramped 42 kitchen with design tricks’ An interior designer helped Karen Griggs rework an awkward room into a country-chic, practical kitchen 62 Problem room: ‘We knocked out a wall and ceiling for more space’ Hannah Stebbings moved a wall to create a future-proof family bathroom 84 ‘We saved thousands by taking our time’ Jade Butcher’s thoughtful approach to decorating resulted in a classic home she’ll love for years 92 ‘We turned a disjointed house into a relaxed family home’ Designer tips and tricks gave Katie Lewis’s townhouse a more cohesive, cosy feel 100 ‘We added value to our home with a DIY overhaul’ First-time buyer Becca Larkin modernised her bungalow on a budget by doing the work herself

Style & decorating 28

Trend alert Indulge in a mix of plush textiles, glossy finishes and glam metallics to dial up the opulence 47 Escape to your own home Bring a little wanderlust to your interiors with luxe schemes inspired by boutique hotels 52 A novel idea: design a book nook Easy ways to transform an unused corner into a super-cosy reading area

Your features 58

64

110

126

131

Family favourites Make your kitchen a sociable space for cooking, eating, relaxing and studying that the whole family will love The heat is on Turn up the temperature while cutting your bills with our pick of the best bathroom heating buys Buyer’s guide Find a versatile slow cooker for whipping up no-fuss winter warmers at the touch of a button Boost space with a single-storey extension Get a bigger abode without the hassle of moving with this costeffective way to expand your home 12 insider secrets to a stressfree renovation Make sure your home remodel goes to plan with industry know-how from the pros

112 Easy, slow cooker dinners the whole family will love!

52 Create a comfy corner, perfect for reading

PULL OUT AND KEEP

YOUR

handmade HOME

Beginner-friendly seasonal crafts to boost your skills and update your home

70

42

Use block printing to personalise wrapping paper and more

Karen turned her awkward kitchen into a cohesive, country dream!

72

Food & drink 112

Slowly does it Feeding the family will be a doddle with these simple and satisfying slow-cooker suppers 116 Bonfire night delights Fire up your tastebuds with sweet and savoury treats to enjoy on 5th November 121 Eat, drink and be merry Get ready for the most wonderful time of the year with make-ahead festive recipes

47

Give a plain wooden tray a glam gold and marble makeover

Don’ t miss out!

Give your home a boutique hotel-inspired transformation

64 Keep towels and toes toasty with these heating buys

14 Your letters The lowdown on all your latest home improvement and upcycling projects – don’t forget to send your pics!

32 Subscribe to Your Home Sign up today to save 20 per cent and choose a Christmas reward worth up to £36 Win! Enter this month’s competition 45 for a chance to win an entire bathroom from Britton Bathrooms, worth £3,631 108 Coming next month Take a sneak peek at what we’ve got in store for you in our December issue Prize draws We’ve got brilliant 136 prizes up for grabs, including Yankee Candles, luxury bedding, artwork, £500 of interiors paint and more 139 Shopping guide Find out where to buy everything featured in this issue 146 Boutique speak Meet Grace Ikomi, founder of Village and Home, a modern interiors brand whose wares are inspired

by Africa and the Caribbean Look out for our brilliant cover stories!

74

Cosy up your home with a cute appliqué draught excluder

Also inside…

76

DIY masterclass Bring character back to your home by restoring a painted fireplace to its former glory 78 Ask the experts Your home improvement questions answered 80 Craft stash must haves Discover the latest workshops, kits and reads

Winter is coming Just as it pays to check your home is ready for the cold and the elements, checking your money is FSCS protected could save you on a rainy day.

Y

our home is your sanctuary all year round, but there’s nothing like the arrival of autumn and winter to make you want to hunker down.

And when that time comes, there’s value and comfort in knowing that you’ve checked your home is as prepared for the coming seasons as it can be.

And it’s just the same with your money.

If you have pensions and investments, you want to know they’re sheltered from any unforeseen financial heavy weather.

That’s where the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) can help.

Read on to find out how.

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yourhomestyle.uk

Shut up shop Nothing tests a home like a long, hard winter. Howling gales, lashing rain and punishing frosts can all take their toll, and you want your humble abode to be able to stand up to them. That means putting up thick curtains in front of windows that might be susceptible to draughts, and using draught excluders in front of doors. It’s also important to watch for any

signs of compromised insulation, such as ice forming on windows or pipes, or interior walls being cold to the touch.

There’s nothing worse than a boiler breaking down on a cold night, so it helps to check yours is operating at full capacity, for instance ensuring the pressure is within the correct parameters for the model and make.

And when you want to whip up a winterwarming dish like a hearty

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Financial Services Compensation Scheme: Explained FSCS protects your money when providers go out of business – so if you already have a pension or investment, or you’re thinking about getting one, it’s important to check that your provider and product is FSCS protected. FSCS is a free service and independent of the financial services industry.

INVESTMENTS There are so many types of investments and it can be confusing. Visit fscs. org.uk for handy tips and step-bystep guidance on how to check your investment is FSCS protected.

£ Look after your money

shepherd’s pie, try putting an oven thermometer on the middle shelf when you heat it up to determine whether it’s reaching your desired temperature.

On the outside, you’ll want to make sure any wooden decking in your garden is properly sealed to guard against any rotting caused by damp conditions. For the sake of appearances, you might also touch up the paintwork so there are no loose chips that might be exacerbated by strong winds.

More checking means less stress, and it’s just the same for your money.

That’s where FSCS comes in. FSCS is a completely free and independent service that protects you if your financial firms go out of business.

It protects lots of financial products like pensions, investments, bank, building society and credit union accounts. Of course, this isn’t about telling you what to do with your money or making you worry about potential financial trouble. It’s quite the opposite – FSCS can give you peace of mind with a crucial layer of protection.

That’s why, as part of your yearly financial MOT, you should check your pensions and investments are FSCS protected.

PENSIONS

Pensions are one of the most complicated financial products. Help understand if your pension is FSCS protected by using the FSCS Pensions Protection Checker at fscs.org.uk.

Check you’re protected now at fscs.org.uk

November 2021

9

THIS MONTH WE LOVE HOT FROM THE HIGH STREET

Oliver Bonas Serving up some seriously sophisticated new collections, the AW21 range from Oliver Bonas has arrived just in time for dinner party season. At YH, we love the decadent mix of marble and brass tableware, as well as the rest of the brand’s latest pieces of décor that don’t shy away from bright and beautiful colours.

Marble cocktail prep board, £19.50

Striped lidded basket, £24.50

Checked woven basket, £26.50

we love…

THIS MONTH

Guest appearance Sofa beds aren’t always the comfiest place to rest your head, but that’s where Snug’s latest collection comes in. Three new designs feature sumptuously soft cushions and ‘marshmallow’ mattresses that can be pulled out at a moment’s notice.

The Cloud Sundae three-seater sofa in Midnight Blue, shown, is priced at £1,544.

FOR STOCKISTS SEE p139

Brass serveware collection, from £12.50, Oliver Bonas

Make the most of November with the best things to do, see and buy this month

SPOT ON Add something a little wild to your interiors – animal prints are what TK Maxx’s AW21 range is all about.

This quirky lamp would liven up a home office in an instant, thanks to its modern exposed bulb and bold leopard-print base design. There are even new pieces of stationery to match, so you can really run with this wildcat round bulb lamp, £14.99, TK Maxx.

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yourhomestyle.uk

THIS MONTH WE LOVE 1

5 OF THE BEST…

2

Diwali decorations Celebrate the festival of lights in style this November…

Holiday season

1. Sustainable bamboo decorations, £7.50, Acorn & Will 2. Confetti fairy lights, £36.95, Sparkle Lighting 3. Pink flower tealight holder, £20, Very 4. Gold foil and rainbow tassel garland, £8.99, Ginger Ray 5. Camel tassel silk cushion, £90, Mint & May

3

4

Hand poured from a family-run workshop in Manchester, Village Wax Melts has brought out six new autumn and winter inspired scents. Our favourites? Pumpkin Spice, Toasted Marshmallow and Warm Gingerbread! Prices start from £2.95.

WORK OF ART Looking for the right pieces of wall art for your home? Why not try making your own? Riso craft kits feature everything you need to create two eco-friendly A4 Risograph designs – a popular printing process whereby you build your print layer by layer. Simply follow the instructions using all the materials provided then send off your designs to be printed by the in-house studio and posted back to you.

Prices start at £25 from Wild & Kind.

5

inspiration Hill House Living, £22 Are you a fan of cottagecore? Then you’ve probably already heard of stylist and blogger Paula Sutton, known to most on Instagram as @hillhousevintage. Inspired by her distinct vintage style, this debut book is bursting with ideas on how to bring the best of country life into your home, wherever you are.

We’re following… @21_holmfield Sam’s interior style is an eclectic mix of old and new, and she loves using both colour and pattern to brighten up her home. ‘The master bedroom is my sanctuary so it’s important that as soon as I step in here, I feel transported away from all the hustle and bustle of busy family life,’ she says.

We’re going to…

Spirit of Christmas Fair, 1st to 7th November Celebrating its 20th year, the fair kicks off the festive season once again at Olympia London by bringing together over 600 boutiques and artisan designer-makers under one roof. Get into the spirit of things (sorry, we couldn’t resist) and be inspired. Tickets start from £14.

November 2021

11

Feature Yvette Filer

We’re reading…

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Wren helped us keep harmony in the kitchen Singer and actor Duncan James moved home so his mum, Fiona, wouldn’t be on her own during lockdown. The only problem was her shabby kitchen, and Wren stepped in to help design a new one they both love

Thanks to Wren’s easy video design service, Fiona and Duncan were able to replace their shabby old kitchen with a light, stylish new one, even during lockdown

Feature Michelle Grady

T

Wren’s designer helped Duncan and Fiona to find the perfect blend of their tastes

o keep his mum company in the first lockdown, former Blue star Duncan James decided to move into the Shepperton home he bought for her. ‘I moved in when lockdown happened so she wasn’t alone, and I haven’t actually left!’ he says.

They’ve always loved cooking together, so it brought back happy childhood memories. ‘Ever since I was a little boy, Mum always made nice food, and as I’ve got older I like to cook as well,’ he explains. ‘Because we’ve been living here together during the pandemic, we’ve both enjoyed cooking together.’ Duncan’s mum, Fiona, agrees. ‘It’s been an important part of getting through lockdown. It’s really been a highlight,’ she says.

For more inspiration, search #Wrenovation 12

yourhomestyle.uk

While Duncan has loved being at home, it wasn’t all plain sailing, as he wasn’t a fan of his mum’s kitchen. ‘I had a real issue with the kitchen, I just hated it! So, I phoned my friend Kieron Richardson, who was in Hollyoaks. He’s got a really nice kitchen and I found out it was from Wren,’ Duncan explains.

STEP ONE Having decided to take the plunge, the only question was: how to get a new kitchen designed and fitted during lockdown? Duncan and Fiona were thrilled to discover that they’d be able to design their kitchen from the safety of their own home with Wren Kitchens, via video conference. ‘We had a lovely designer called Zac,’ says Fiona.

‘He was very tolerant with us, I have to say. He was great – and great fun!’

Keen gadget fan Duncan made sure he incorporated a Neff Slide and Hide oven into the new kitchen to save on space

Choosing their perfect design was simple thanks to the 3D computer layout. ‘It was incredible,’ says Duncan. ‘Because the kitchen was already fully laid out on computer, we could see in 3D what it was going to look like, so then it was just a question of what type of cupboards should we have or what kind of worktops should we have and so on.’

STEP TWO With the layout finalised, they just needed choose the fixtures and finishes, something that proved tricky due to a few differences of opinion between mother and son. Luckily, though, Wren’s designer helped them decide on something they both liked – and Fiona won out in the end. ‘We squabbled a bit about what type of door handle Duncan wanted and what I wanted,’ says Fiona. ‘So, Zac just put the door handles on the kitchen, so we could actually see. Of course, we decided to go with mine!’

While the look of the kitchen was a collaborative effort, Duncan really came into his own with the appliances. ‘I’m a bit techy so I’m really into my appliances,’ he explains.

‘I really like Neff because they have this oven called a Slide and Hide, that’s such a great space saver.’

STEP THREE Duncan enjoyed adding clever storage solutions, too. ‘We have what we call Duncan’s little snack cupboard,’ says Fiona, ‘There’s this handle that you pull down and it’s got two shelves that rotate out. Because I’m not very tall, it’s great because I can reach everything – it’s really handy.’ That’s not the only feature Fiona is a fan of, jokes Duncan.

‘What she really likes is the double wine rack!’ he laughs.

The kitchen also needed to cater to another family member – Duncan’s ‘half sister,’ Fiona’s dog, Lula. ‘It was really important for my mum to have an area for Lula in the kitchen; Lula’s den,’ he says. ‘Wren came up with this wonderful idea,’ enthuses Fiona. ‘It’s a little cubby hole under the units, where she can sleep and I can store all her dog food as well.

It works perfectly.’

Even with the lockdown, they found the whole process, from the initial design to the finished kitchen, a total breeze. ‘We couldn’t have gone with a better company,’ says Duncan. ‘The service, the way they fitted it, the designing of everything on computer during the pandemic, everything was just so smooth and effortless.’ Fiona agrees: ‘It worked out extremely well. I think we’re very fortunate and very lucky.’

STEP FOUR Despite a few minor squabbles along the way, one thing Duncan and Fiona definitely agree on is that they couldn’t be happier with their new kitchen.

Duncan, Fiona and the Wren design team made sure every member of the family was catered for – even Lula, Fiona’s dog, who has an in-built den

November 2021

13

GET IN TOUCH

Your Home needs you!

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

Letter of the month

I’ve always wanted a lightbulb mirror for our dark landing but when I looked online what I wanted. Inspired by Your Home magazine, I decided to make my own by and using some USB lights, gold paint and acrylic jewels. I absolutely love my mirror and I got so much pleasure from working out how to achieve the look I wanted and spending hours sticking the jewels on while listening to a podcast. The lights can be bright white or multi-coloured, or even different colour patterns. I’m so happy with my unique mirror.

Rebecca Harrison, Tunbridge Wells

+ Rebecca’s letter has won her an eFlorist Sunflower Shine bouquet, worth £59.99!

Cool oasis Getting new heat-reducing blinds inspired me to transform my previously too-hot dumping ground of a conservatory into a relaxing space. I bought some Paste-thewall Wallpaper from B&Q, two new pieces of furniture from B&M and an indoor water feature from Lidl. In total it cost just £76 and it took five hours’ work, but the result is a stylish space for me to enjoy.

Mairi Macdonald, Stratford-upon-Avon Your Home says: This looks like the perfect spot for a cuppa, Mairi. We hope you enjoy relaxing in your new space.

I just wanted to share my first Revamp Repair Recycle project for the garden from Your Home. I love the magazine and as soon as I saw the article in the August 2021 issue I went out for the supplies. I’ve planted succulents that I know will do well in the shallow planting area. It’s in a sunny spot on the patio that really needed a brighter look. Thanks for the great inspiration.

Andrea Franklin, Northampton Your Home says: Andrea, your new guttering gallery looks fabulous. What a great idea using succulents too.

EMAIL YOUR TIPS, PHOTOS AND LETTER TO: yourhome@immediate.co.uk. Letters can be posted to Your Letters, Your Home magazine, Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Bristol BS1 4ST, but we may not see them for some time as we are currently working remotely. Letters may be edited.

We apologise but photos cannot be returned.

14 yourhomestyle.uk

Our daughter is a university student and has moved into rented accommodation where she cannot put anything on the walls. I spotted a DIY Masterclass in Your Home (August 2021 issue), featuring a pegboard-style room divider. So, myself and my husband adapted the idea to make a table-top pegboard for her desk. She is thrilled with it and has received lots of compliments from her housemates.

Sarah Goodyear, North Yorkshire Your Home says: Clever thinking, Sarah!

We’re so pleased to hear your daughter and her housemates are all fans.

Get Social See the latest makeovers and readers’ homes at @yourhomemagazine @your_home facebook.com/yourhomemag

Courtesy of eFlorist, the writer of this issue’s letter of the month will receive a Sunflower Shine bouquet, worth £59.99.

The three runners-up will each receive a floral bouquet, worth £25. Find out more about eFlorist at eFlorist.co.uk.

This was Sylvia’s promise to you...

A generation ago, a woman named Sylvia made a promise. As a doctor’s secretary, she’d watched stroke destroy the lives of so many people. She was determined to make sure we could all live in a world where we’re far less likely to lose our lives to stroke.

She kept her promise, and a gift to the Stroke Association was included in her Will. Sylvia’s gift helped fund the work that made sure many more of us survive stroke now than did in her lifetime.

Sylvia changed the story for us all. Now it’s our turn to change the story for those who’ll come after us.

Stroke still shatters lives and tears families apart.

And for so many survivors the road to recovery is still long and desperately lonely. If you or someone you love has been affected by stroke – you’ll know just what that means.

But it doesn’t have to be like this. You can change the story, just like Sylvia did, with a gift in your Will.

All it takes is a promise.

You can promise future generations a world where researchers discover new treatments and surgeries – and every single stroke survivor has the best care, rehabilitation and support network possible, to help them rebuild their lives.

Will you make that promise to generations to come? Please, leave a gift in your Will to the Stroke Association.

Find out how by calling 020 7566 1505 or email legacy@stroke.org.uk or visit stroke.org.uk/legacy

Rebuilding lives after stroke The Stroke Association is registered as a charity in England and Wales (No 211015) and in Scotland (SC037789).

Also registered in the Isle of Man (No. 945) and Jersey (NPO 369), and operating as a charity in Northern Ireland.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Material magic Each of the fabrics in the collection has been woven with Hillarys’ three key window dressing elements in mind: privacy, practicality and personal style. Blackout lining and heavyweight fabrics provide comfort and privacy when drawn, while keeping draughts and the glare of street lights and the sunrise out. And last but certainly not least, each of Margo’s designs celebrates individuality in order to turn your window into a centrepiece of your décor.

Transform your windows into feature walls in their own right with Margo’s mid-century modern designs, such as the Renzo curtain in Navy

TIMELESS APPEAL Give your window dressings the star treatment they deserve with luxurious fabrics designed by Margo Selby, exclusive to Hillarys

A

ward-winning artist and designer, Margo Selby has joined forces with Hillarys to create an exclusive collection of Roman blinds and curtains to turn your window dressings into style statements.

Throughout her career Margo has collaborated with high street brands and exhibited at galleries and museums across the UK. Margo is the 2021 Turner Lecturer and recipient of the Turner Medal, and is in the process of renovating her own home. With over 20 years of textile industry experience and inspiration from architecture and her own renovation journey, Margo has designed a range that marries mid-century patterns with modern tastes to give your windows an opulent update.

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yourhomestyle.uk

Conceived with the modern interior in mind, Margo brings her unique style to this contemporary collection of luxurious woven designs. Crisp motifs, bold graphics and largescale patterns contrast with textures including velvet, jacquard, linen and damask, with the quality you’d expect from Hillarys.

Soothing blues, mustard yellows and bottle greens are the key colours within the collection, which complement the richness of the carefully crafted fabrics. Add a bolt of patterned energy to a neutral scheme with the large-scale circles of the Stella Mustard Roman blind, or ramp up the wow factor of a maximalist room with Wave full-length curtains. Blackout lining in a range of colours is available too, which will give a

contrasting edge when the curtains are tied back or draped. Choose between Peacock, Mineral, Dockyard, Chimney, Indigo and Pewter. All of the patterns can be made into co-ordinating cushions too, to create matching accessories for a reading nook or cosy bedspread. Why not try the pattern in a different colour for contrast?

From making sure that your curtains and blinds are measured perfectly to quality checking your tailor-made products before your local advisor delivers and fits them at your home, Hillarys are committed to quality and second-to-none customer service. Throughout the measuring, manufacturing and home fitting service, Hillarys takes care of everything to ensure your windows look their absolute best.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Large-scale patterns will increase the sense of space in a room, with the tonal greys and navy blue of the Wave curtains in Stella Navy casting a soothing feel

Hillarys’ range of madeto-measure curtains and blinds can be cut to fit windows of any size, while Margo’s Stella Roman blind in Mustard is sure to cast a ray of sunshine whatever the weather

Pick up your chosen curtain or blind pattern on your cushions too for a pulled-together look, shown here with the Zaha Roman blinds in Deep Teal

Want to know more?

Visit hillarys.co.uk to view the range, order samples and request a brochure, or call 0800 587 6480 to book a free home appointment.

November 2021

Feature Thomas Poad

Add a pop of playful print with the Mori Roman blinds in Ochre

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Apollo bath in burnished bronze - 2 sizes manufactured

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Our special material, Iso-Enamel,

it, your Moduleo® floor will look fabulous for years to come. Luxurious, beautiful, durable and so comfortable too, a Moduleo®

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floor is the perfect fit for family life.

Request your brochure of our range of over 50

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HAND MADE IN ENGLAND

FLOORING TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE HOME

Sma ll eco-friendly changes to your shopping habits cance make a big differen

Household

HINTS Cosy up your home with our handy tips and tricks

HOW TO... reduce your plastic waste We are all fully aware that we should be living more eco-friendly lifestyles and using less plastic day-to-day, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. Here are a few tips to get you going…

bottle. Drinking vessels are one of the most common pieces of plastic that sadly end up in landfill, so it is a good idea to make carrying one around with you a daily habit. Many coffee shops will offer you money off your drink as an incentive for bringing your own cup, and you can refill your water bottle for free in plenty of places too.

• Swap out your clingfilm for alternative beeswax wraps when storing food in the fridge or lunchboxes. These are 100% natural and environmentally friendly, and can be washed and reused multiple times. They’re compostable once they come to the end of their lifecycle too.

• Try to avoid excessive single-use packaging.

While this is still rife in supermarkets, there are ways around it. Opt for loose fruit and vegetables – which could save you money by only picking up what you need – and seek out refillable cereals, pastas, detergents and soaps during your weekly shop where you can fill up your own reusable containers.

Supermarket chain ASDA will be introducing more of these plastic-free refill stations to more of its stores across the UK.

• Sign up to a milk-delivery service and get fresh milk delivered to your door in glass bottles. This type of service is seeing a modern-day resurgence in many neighbourhoods, and now you can even get other pantry favourites, such as juices, eggs and bread delivered in the same sustainable way.

Buy it once

Months of working from home may have saved some of us from our daily coffee purchase but it has also left many missing that barista-quality fix. Dualit’s latest Espresso Coffee Machine promises to make consistently good coffee without the fuss on our own kitchen countertops. Priced £149.99, the machine even comes with a water softener bag to reduce the limescale build-up so it should last for many years to come.

HACK Keep your freezer stocked up with tasty mid-week meals this winter After a long and cold day sometimes the last thing you want to do is start cooking, right?

Why not batch-cook homemade meals ahead of time so you can simply pop them in the oven or microwave. These Fresh & Save glass vacuum boxes from Zwilling use a vacuum pump to seal in freshness and cost just £39.95 for a set of three.

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Feature Yvette Filer

• Make sure you own a reusable cup and water

BEST BUYS FOR... Space-saving storage

2.

1.

Keep your home looking neat and tidy with these clever and compact storage solutions

3.

1. This neat frame design will keep your hallway looking organised and even features moveable hooks.

Hugin coat rack & shoe storage in black, £129, MADE.com 2. Three compartments provide ample storage space for narrow hallways, while the top can be used as a display shelf.

Broby shoe cabinet, £54.99, JYSK 3. Hang this handy storage solution off the back of a door and store up to four pairs of shoes. It’s made from recycled plastic bottles too.

4.

Hona wardrobe hanging shoe storage, £32.50, Oliver Bonas 4. Soft storage bags are perfect for putting out-of-season clothing neatly away.

Mustard soft storage bags, £22 for a set of two, Habitat 5. Store blankets inside this neat and stylish-looking footstool so you always have something cosy close by.

6.

5.

Hale low storage stool in Grey velvet, £99, Cult Furniture 6. These shelves help to create extra storage in your kitchen cabinets or bathroom cupboards.

Chrome shelf storage basket, £5 for a pack of two, Wilko

WE TEST… Microfibre weighted blanket, £24.99, Home Bargains Designed to add soft pressure to help you feel snug and secure, this stylish grey, microfibre, weighted blanket gives you that reassuringly cosy feel. Weighing 6.8kg, the pockets hide a layer of glass beads evenly throughout. It’s great for snuggling up and relaxing on the sofa, and comfortable to sleep under at night. We really felt the soothing benefits of this quality blanket.

9/10

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weighted blankets Things we considered: How relaxing was it? Was it good quality? Value for money?

Weighted blanket, £39.99, Homescapes Crushed grey velvet on top with a dark-grey fleece lining beneath combine for a luxuriously soft blanket to curl up under and give your bedspread a stylish finishing touch. Weighing 6.8kg, the quilted pockets and piped lining enable the weight to be spread evenly as the blanket’s reassuring pressure covers you. While it’s great for a sofa doze, those who move a lot in their sleep are at risk of waking up with a heavy lump at the end of their bed; but for the price, it’s very reasonable.

8/10

Silentnight adult weighted blanket, £79.99, Sleepy People Despite the name being a giveaway, we were nevertheless a little surprised at just how heavy this blanket felt at 9kg when picking it up. However, once it was out of its packaging and laid out, it did feel instantly relaxing and wasn’t restrictive at all. The cover is a sumptuously soft and breathable quilted microfibre, which proved comfortable and not too hot during the night.

At £166.99, this one is an investment buy but it’s a worthwhile one thanks to its high quality.

8/10

Brentfords Adult’s weighted sensory blanket, £19.99, OnBuy There’s not much to fault about this bargain buy and it certainly delivers on the relaxation front. As well as aiding a deep slumber overnight, its cocooning effect also made cosying up with a book feel extra relaxing. We were impressed by its hypo-allergenic cover, even weight distribution and blush pink hue. It was a little creased when we first unpacked it and, being handwash only, it may not be practical for some households.

At 6kg, this blanket is ideal for adults (over 60kg or 9 stone 6 lb).

7/10

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

HOW TO SWITCH UP YOUR

Top tip

Save more money by fitting reflective radiator foil to the wall behind the new heater. This reflects heat back into the room and is very effective when positioned near cold outside walls.

radiators

Transform your home with a quick DIY project by installing an affordable designer radiator

Radiators are often forgotten when redecorating a room, but it’s easier than you might think to update them – in many cases you don’t even need a plumber. Follow BestHeating’s expert installation guide now, and you’ll have stylish radiators ready to go before the temperatures drop…

1

Make sure the central heating is turned off, and shut off the valves at both ends of the radiator. To do this, at one end, turn the manual valve clockwise until you can’t turn it anymore, or down to zero if you have a thermostatic radiator valve. Then at the other end, if you have a lockshield valve, pull off the plastic shield and use a spanner to turn the shaft clockwise. Keep note of the number of turns you make so that you can make sure your new radiator gets the same flow rate.

2

Place a bowl under the valves to catch any excess water. With an adjustable spanner, loosen one of the cap nuts that connects your radiator to the valve.

You might need a second spanner to hold the valve body securely. Keep an old towel to hand in case there’s of lots of excess water.

Open the bleed valve at the top of the old radiator, loosening the connecting cap nut between the valve and the radiator to drain the water into the bowl.

Carry on until the water stops dripping, and disconnect the valve at the opposite end of the radiator.

Take the radiator off the brackets, tilting it to drain any remaining water, then squeeze a cloth, old rag or some tissue into the outlets at either end of the radiator

3

4

If you have an ancient radiator spoiling the look of a room, BestHeating has the efficient, attractive and affordable solution you need

to stop leakage. If the current brackets don’t support the new radiator, take them off the wall and replace them with suitable ones.

To install your new radiator, wrap the valve connectors in PTFE tape a few times before screwing them into your new radiator tightly and hanging it on the wall. Connect the valves and turn, remembering to do the same number of turns as earlier. Slightly open the radiator bleed valve to allow the air to escape and help fill the radiator, closing it when water appears. When you’re sure there are no leaks, turn your central heating back on and the job is finished.

5

.com Upgrade a tired old radiator with a new designer one and elevate the style stakes in your home

FOR MORE GUIDANCE, including how to install new brackets and what to do if you need to alter the pipework, visit bestheating.com. While you’re there, take a look at the huge range of modern and traditional radiators, and heated towel rails available – from bold, colourful radiators to classic white models, and statement vertical radiators to subtle horizontal styles, there’s something to enhance every space.

CONSUMER NEWS

SMARTER

shopper

Tick off the Christmas list without breaking the bank with these present-buying hacks

SAVE ON

Kee p your p on hand at resent list to remain on a ll times t your spendirnack of g

Christmas presents

Browsing and shopping for friends and family for Christmas can be a lot of fun but the cost of the festive gifting spree is another matter. Try these tips for saving money while still filling stockings with wonderful and original presents.

Make a list and check it twice. Draw up a list of who you need to buy presents for and how much you can realistically afford to spend on each. Keep a running tally of your spending to stay on track – you might find you’ve got extra left over to spend on your nearest and dearest, plus it will help avoid any impulse buying. Next month, we will be bringing you a budget-friendly gift guide, so look out for our thrifty ideas.

Check out second-hand and charity shops.

From clothing and homeware to artwork and vinyl records, second-hand and charity shops are a treasure trove of gifts filled with thought. Search Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and eBay for online bargains too.

It’ll also give the environment a helping hand.

Shop around. Use price comparison sites or search for your chosen products at multiple retailers to get the best price possible. Discount codes for signing up to a brand’s newsletter, free delivery options and on-site offers can all help to save the pennies.

Be gift card savvy. While a gift card is a quick and easy choice, be wary as retailers may go out of business shortly after Christmas leaving you and your recipient out of pocket. Gift cards usually come with an expiry date and some have admin fees that are deducted from the balance after a given time period. Plus, there’s always the chance that they could get lost.

.8 8

£527

Fab find

Keep a tight rein on your budget with The Christmas Gift List app, which is free on the App Store. Add your recipients from your contacts then select a budget and write a list for each, which you can update while you’re out shopping.

Handy spending charts will help to keep your budget and progress in check too.

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SMART SAVINGS Embrace a crafting skill you learnt during lockdown with a handmade gift or create your own wrapping paper from newspaper and recycled kraft paper for a personal touch. Turn to page 70 for our block printing masterclass – simply swap out the rose hips for stars or holly.

Feature Thomas Poad Main photo Getty Images

The average UK shopper spent £527.88 on Christmas presents and celebrations in 2020, with 30% of shoppers expected to spend more than last year to celebrate the festive season Source: eBay Ads UK

A-Z OF DECORATING from Anaglypta to Zoffany

YOUR FIRST PURCHASE Pick up a Brewers Card in-store or register for one online

Over 180 stores nationwide. Visit brewers.co.uk to find your nearest.

CONSUMER NEWS

FOCUS ON Black Friday and Cyber Monday With a little careful planning and a cool head you can get some great deals in the November sales

HOW TO... bag the best bargains The Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are a great way to save £££s on pretty much everything for the home. The key dates are Friday 26th and Monday 29th November. Gone are the days of queueing from 3am – now we have a much more civilised affair with plenty of stress-free ways to grab an amazing deal…

What sort of discounts can I expect? You’ll find great deals on top brands, such as Apple, Sonos, KitchenAid and Fitbit. Expect prices to drop by around 25% and remember that discounts and deals are widely available online as well as in-store.

Some of the big-name retailers taking part include Amazon, Currys, Argos, John Lewis & Partners, Boots, B&Q, Bensons for Beds, Dunelm, Matalan and MADE.com.

I’ve heard of Doorbusters but I’m not sure what this means?

This refers to a specific product or a selection of items offered at an extra discount price for a very limited time.

USEFUL CONTACTS • For an overview of the sales coming up, head to blackfridaydeals.co.uk.

• Search for and compare over 2.1 million products from 5,400 stores at pricerunner.com.

• Find a list of participating stores at black-friday.sale.

• Get more advice and top tips at moneysavingexpert.com.

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They are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and this strategy is often used by retailers to get customers through the door.

What’s the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is the Monday after Black Friday and it’s the best day for online discounts and deals, whereas Black Friday was initially created for in-store shopping. These days you can usually do it online on either day if you prefer.

There will also be sales on the Saturday and Sunday too so keep an eye out.

If you do one thing..

• Don’t rush your decisions. Plan ahead and make a list of the items you really need or want. Do your research and look up product reviews to find out which models are the best ones for you.

• Only choose trusted brands for big-ticket items, such as electricals, large furniture and appliances. Make sure the product offers the features you need and don’t settle for less just because it’s cheap.

•

When it comes to tech, consider whether it’s worth waiting until the new model is released. You don’t want to buy something that will go out of date quickly.

• Find out if the item has previously been on sale to see if the Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal is really worth it.

PriceRunner is a good place to start.

• Make a list of all the retailers that are selling the same product that you are interested in. That

Ahead of time, set up online accounts with way, if the store runs out of stock or the website all the retailers that you are interested in. Items crashes, you have a back-up plan. Some stockists sell out fast, so you don’t want to waste time start their deals at the beginning of November registering or creating accounts. Some sites allow so it’s worth checking ahead of time. you to pre-enter your payment and delivery details too. Have your passwords to hand on the day and log in once the deals go live. Sign up to any Some retailers will offer price matches on newsletters and e-alerts to get the inside Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, so ask scoop and follow them on social media before you buy. For instance, Currys will match to make sure that you don’t miss almost any price you see. any deal announcements.

•

Feature Hayley Gilbert Photo John Lewis

Frequently asked questions..

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Together we will beat cancer Pledge to leave a gift in your Will, like Jacky, to help fund Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work

Leave a lasting legacy • The Free Will Service makes it easy to pledge a gift in your Will to Cancer Research UK. • You can write or update your Will online, over the phone or with a participating solicitor.

• It is available to anyone aged 18 or over.

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ack in 1994 Jacky Merrison was first diagnosed with cancer, aged 52, following a routine mammogram as part of the breast cancer screening programme. ‘Since then I have had quite a journey with cancer,’ she says, having fought and survived three types of cancer over the past two decades.

‘The drugs and other treatments, like

surgery, have given me a better quality of life – and I have Cancer Research UK to thank.’

Following her first diagnosis of breast cancer, a few months later Jacky had a biopsy and a lumpectomy in her right breast. A year later, cancer was found in her left breast, which required a mastectomy. During a reconstruction follow-up appointment, Jacky’s plastic surgeon noticed a mark above her breast that turned out to be a malignant skin cancer and had to be removed. ‘In June 1996 I went for another check-up for my breast cancer, and they found a lump under my right arm – in the end I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma,’ says Jacky. ‘What followed was constant check-ups,’ she explains. It was during one of these check-ups that Jacky discovered cancer was now in her stomach and throat, and that she would need chemotherapy. Jacky’s doctor suggested that she took rituximab, a

drug that was developed with the support of Cancer Research UK. ‘I thought I was going to lose my life, but instead that drug has given me my life back as well as a better quality of living for the last eight years,’ says Jacky.

‘Now I’d really like to help people who are in a similar situation to me. I want to leave a gift in my Will to Cancer Research UK to give other people the same chance that I have had for a better quality of life.’

Cancer Research UK is focused on achieving its ambition of seeing three in four people surviving their cancer for 10 years or more by 2034. Gifts in Wills fund a third of Cancer Research UK’s research, meaning that every pledge that is made today helps to secure life-saving research so that more people like Jacky survive cancer in the future. Pledge a gift in your Will using its Free Will Service and leave a lasting legacy so that future generations won’t have to fear cancer.

Use our Free Will Service today.

Call 0300 123 7733 or visit cruk.org/freewillservice Registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247)

November 2021

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tyle & S DECORATING Find out how to go green this season with the latest interior trend, plus funky new wallpapers and stylish bright lights

MINI TREND

Emerald green

As one of the Your Home team’s favourite jewelled tones, emerald green is a staple of the autumn/ winter season. And it’s not just reserved for Christmastime – this intense shade is versatile and can be paired with monochrome schemes to stand out as a hero colour. Alternatively, you can achieve a luxury look by layering emerald-hued accessories alongside sumptuous velvet textures or rich metallics, such as bronze and gold – just like this gorgeous tablescape set-up by John Lewis. Your guests will be green with envy…

Oro pendant drum lampshade in Green & Brushed Brass, £35, MADE.com

18-piece cutlery set in gold, £60; Gold leaf bowl, £15; Linen Mallard Green napkins, £15 for two; Gold leaf napkin rings, £12 for four; Green and Blue sequin butterfly clip, £6; Plates, starting from £7.50, all John Lewis & Partners

YH S

LOV E

Emerald velvet cushion, £12.99, M&Co

Diamanté acrylic tumbler in Emerald, £12, Nisi Living

LIFE IN TECHNICOLOUR The contemporary wallpaper and paint brand, Lick, has teamed up with London-based artist, Yinka Ilori, to create a bold and uplifting new range. Drawing on his British-Nigerian heritage, the Maximalist Brights collection features two striking wallpaper designs and five signature paint colours, including the kaleidoscopic Reflection 01 wallpaper, priced £150 per roll.

Winter warmer As the temperature drops outside, we’re upping our duvet’s tog rating and swapping our summer bedding for something a little cosier. And with a fleecy finish and foiled star detailing, we can’t help but lust after this plush pink bedding set from Matalan. Prices start from £20 for a single size.

GLOW GETTERS Shining through with its second collection since launching last year, Lights&lamps brings us the new Porsa range. This includes Chubes, featuring five different models, each with a bold and bright design.

The brass ceiling pendant and table lamp are priced at £69 each.

November 2021

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STYLE FILE

TREND ALERT…

A touch of luxe Celebrate sophisticated glamour and rich textures with this indulgent look

S

mooth, soft and sumptuous – for those searching for a lavish update you can’t go wrong with furnishings that adhere to this textural trio. Show your love for the luxurious look with rich materials, such as plush velvet, refined wool bouclé and faux fur, all in the form of cosy throws, block-colour cushions and contemporary armchairs with clean, angular lines.

Styling these swish furnishings with other sleek surfaces is key to dialling up the textural opulence. Bring in plenty of glamorous gilt pieces with photo frames and mirrors as well as white and grey-veined, honed marble with tabletops, serving boards and coasters.

Mix these pieces with an abundance of other indulgent textures, including delicate pampas grass, smooth crystal-clear glass, deep-pile rugs and silky tasselled finishes.

The colour palette for this opulent scheme revolves around clean creams and other muted neutrals, such as smoky grey, rich navy and a few subtle splashes of blush pink. Keep pattern to a minimum in this theme and opt for mainly solid colours so that the elegant textures speak for themselves.

And, of course, the luxe look wouldn’t be complete without a mix of matt black surfaces contrasting against high-shine metals, such as silver and gold, for a contemporary edge.

Make room for these modern metallics in the form of lamp bases, vases and drawer knobs – they’re guaranteed to create an atmosphere of sophisticated glamour.

Abigail Ahern tufted cushion, £25, Freemans

Light Brown Marble double candle holder, £65, Spicer and Wood

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This armchair matches the sleek, modern vibe of black with an elegant bouclé texture Louis armchair in Ashford bouclé, £990, Sofa.com

Ero velvet tassel drum pendant lampshade large, £65, Oliver Bonas

STYLE FILE Keep your coffee table in line with the luxe theme by adorning it with marble coasters, golden touches and pale pink glassware White marble and Gold foil coasters, £24.95 for a set of four; Pink tumbler glasses with Gold rim, £32 for a set of four, both Audenza

Top tip

Clockwise from top left: White marble splashback, £265, Alloy by Bushboard. Astra pink metallic lustre rug, £112, Audenza. Goose Down matt emulsion paint, from £26 per 2.5L, Dulux. Pampas foil cushion, £7, George Home

Cosiness may not be the first word that comes to mind when thinking about luxurious interiors, but the lavish look can be comforting too. Faux fur and woolly bouclé are key aspects of this sumptuous scheme, which give it that warm, cosy feel – perfect as the weather gets colder.

Feature Sophie Demetriades

Icon Sirena velvet bean bag accent chair in Rose Dust Pink, from £99.99, Bean Bag Bazaar

Bring delicate feathery texture and muted colour to any room in the house with a selection of dried pampas grass stems Three large dried pampas grass stems, £30, Cox & Cox

Velvet storage box, £14, Matalan

November 2021

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STYLE FILE

Spend Vs Save Add a hint of glam with a chandelier shade Gold shade, £22, George Home

Give your bedroom a lavish refresh with a mix of velvet, cotton, leather and faux fur furnishings Luxe dome table lamp, £55; Luxe Deco textured cushion, £30; Leather stripe chevron quilted cushion, £55; Essentials Egyptian cotton bedlinen, from £45; Essentials diamond velvet bedspread, £140; Vivaraise fara bedspread, £115; Addison Ross square alarm clock, £40; Luxe leather weave cushion, £65, all Amara

Laura Ashley Vienna crystal and antique brass easy-fit pendant, £120, där lighting

Organic shaped brass trays, £30 for a set of three, Natalia Willmott

Marie storage pouffe in Pink bouclé, £89, Cult Furniture

Bouclé candle, £5.99, Homesense

Not only does this ivory-coloured beanbag look deliciously luxurious, but it feels it too with its incredibly soft sheepskin material Sumptuous sheepskin beanbag in Ivory, £865, Cox & Cox

Clockwise from top left: Luxury super-soft faux fur cushion, £30, Joe Browns. STAR by Julien Macdonald celeste rug, from £100, Freemans.

Large Naxos glass vase in amber and brass, £39, Cult Furniture.

Space dyed bouclé throw in Lavender, £36.99, Walton & Co

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STYLE FILE Bring a subtle hint of colour to the table with a set of blush pink wine glasses

LET IT GLOW Set the mood for your sumptuous scheme with a seriously stylish table lamp

Winter serenity ombre wine glasses, £10 for a set of four, B&M

Art deco style table lamp, £189.95, Annabel James

Mongolian faux fur cushion, £12, Matalan

Cream faux fur throw, £20, George Home Bumblebee hook and curtain tie back, £10, Home Luxe Co

Bring a whole new meaning to ‘me time’ as you bathe in the lap of luxury among marble surfaces, crystal-clear glass and soft cotton textures Luxe cone base marble top side table, £200; Luxe resin and agate storage pot, £35; Luxe resin and agate soap dispenser, £40; Luxe cut-glass footed soap dish, £20; Luxe cut-glass soap dispenser, £30; Floris London fragrance, £25; Essentials cotton towels, from £9; Essentials cotton bath mat, £14, all Amara

Tilda table lamp, £18, Very

Ero velvet table lamp, £125, Oliver Bonas

Laura Ashley Mulroy Champagne antler table lamp base, £65, där lighting

Lua Grey metal curve table lamp, £36.99, Iconic Lights

November 2021

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November 2021

33

KITCHEN MAKEOVER

‘We chose an all-white scheme for a fresh feel’ Injecting light into a dull, dark kitchen saw Nadia Murdock opt for crisp white walls and cabinets, warmed up with natural textures

M

BEFORE

STEP INSIDE..

WHO LIVES HERE? I’m Nadia Murdock, 25, a marketing manager, and I live with my husband, Crae, 26, in an Edwardian, two-bedroom flat in Woodford Green, Essex with our cat, Bumpkin. We moved in one year ago because we love the area and work close by.

WHAT WAS UPDATED? The whole kitchen was revamped with a fresh and light Scandi-feel kitchen. The units were ripped out and swapped for contemporary replacements and the old blue walls were painted and tiled in white instead, making the room feel much brighter.

WHY THE CHANGE? The old kitchen felt dated and dark in the small space, and the old blue wall tiles made the room feel small, tired and cramped.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? It took three weeks from start to finish and there were no real hiccups.

TOTAL COST

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£2,974

yourhomestyle.uk

oving into their first flat was really exciting for Nadia and her husband, Crae. ‘It was quite a mission finding a flat that ticked all the boxes. It had to be within handy transport links for work, have a second bedroom and be within budget. It took quite a while to find a flat we both loved, but we knew straight away this was the one,’ says Nadia. The couple wanted to make their mark on it, starting with the kitchen. ‘It was quite dated and not to our taste at all. I’m a big fan of neutral colours and I love all things Scandi, so I knew which direction the décor was going in,’ Nadia explains.

THE PROJECT Their first job was to decide on the layout – and, luckily, the existing one worked for them, so they just needed to find new units to fit the space. ‘We wanted to change up the kitchen units but by avoiding changing the layout, we kept installation costs down, plus it was practical and worked really well, too,’ Nadia says. ‘The old wood-effect cupboards, though, had seen better days and looked quite grubby.’ To maximise the feeling of space in the compact room, Nadia wanted to refresh the whole kitchen with plain white units to brighten it up. ‘It’s a small space so I wanted to go as light as possible to make it feel bigger,’ she explains.

WHAT WE DID After a trip to IKEA to browse the kitchen designs on offer, Nadia and Crae agreed on getting plain white doors and updating them with their own handles. ‘Small details like adding customised handles can make all the difference,’ Nadia says. She decided to paint the walls white to match the units for a seamless, classic look she’ll keep for years: ‘I couldn’t wait to paint over the blue. The newly painted walls instantly made an impact.’ Then it was out with the old blue tiles, and in with much brighter, brick-shaped white ones with an interesting texture. ‘The Lampas range has a lovely rustic look that adds another layer to the room. White tiles can look quite clinical,

Nadia has transformed her dated blue kitchen into a much brighter space with a Scandi feel, with fresh white kitchen units from IKEA and a pale wooden floor

KITCHEN MAKEOVER

HIGHS & LOWS They originally planned to keep the existing floor to keep costs down, but when they’d updated the rest of the kitchen it soon became apparent they’d have to change it.

‘Once the walls were white the floor looked even worse,’ explains Nadia. ‘It was quite worn and very yellow in tone, so we chose a new whitewashed oak floor that was much lighter.’ Crae fitted it over one weekend and

the couple were absolutely thrilled with it, despite it not being in their original plan. ‘It was only against the white surfaces of the new kitchen that we realised how yellow the floor actually was. We love the new floor so much we’ve decided to redo the rest of our flat,’ Nadia says. Other than changing the floor, the revamp went ‘so smoothly. We tried to do

Easy update To give IK EA your own per doors touch, add a sonalised se different han lection of dles. Nadia found two gol d designs on A square ma that were gre zon at value.

Nadia included open shelving in her scheme as well as wall units so she’d have somewhere to display plants and accessories to jazz up her Scandi scheme

My style tips WARM UP A WHITE ROOM by layering different materials, textures and natural tones to stop it feeling too stark.

CHOOSE A DURABLE RUG in jute or another hard-wearing fabric for under the dining table to zone the space and withstand wear in a high-traffic room.

GET A FREE-STANDING TROLLEY to give you a low-cost, additional versatile surface space in a small kitchen.

Feature Emma Fishman Photos Lizzie Orme

but these have a lovely warm glow and quite an aged look, too,’ enthuses Nadia.

Squeezing in a dining table was high on the list of priorities, so Nadia chose a compact table with matching benches to stop the room looking too cramped

November 2021

35

KITCHEN MAKEOVER Fresh white walls provide the perfect backdrop for pattern and colour, and bright prints will make the room feel warm and full of personality

a lot of the work ourselves and it was a great DIY learning curve for me.’

THE FINAL DETAILS By adding colour with accessories, Nadia has proven an all-white scheme is anything but plain. ‘Choosing all the accessories was such fun. Filling up the shelves with pretty objects was my favourite part. I love how it’s all come together. White doesn’t need to be dull. It

feels much bigger and really warm and cosy in here now. We love it!’ She chose gold handles from Amazon for the kitchen doors, which add a glam touch; framed prints and lots of green plants to finish off her Scandi look. ‘I can’t believe it’s the same kitchen. It looks a million times better,’ smiles Nadia.

ROOM PLAN

DIY THE LOOallKs The white metro tiles pair well with the exposed brick and give the room an industrial feel that’s in keeping with the contemporary look Nadia wanted

ick w If your br great aren’t in brick tr y condition, asy-toe n slips, a to add apply way r. characte

3.2M

3M

THE DETAILS PAINT KITCHEN UNITS

£10 £1,439

WORKTOP

£360

TILES

£280

FLOORING

£360

HANDLES

£56

FRIDGE FREEZER

TOTAL

£469

£2,974

SHOPPING LIST A handy trolley on wheels is useful in a small space, providing extra storage and a chopping board surface that can be moved around for convenience while cooking

3 OF THE BEST.. colour pop prints £20 from Gail Myerscough Let life imitate art and display this fun print of mid-century kitchenware next to bright accessories. £15 from Abstract House This Matisse-inspired design of abstract leaves will sit pretty on a shelf next to some real greenery. £8.95 from Desenio We can almost taste the zing of this fresh lemon print and its simplicity will fit right into a Scandi scheme.

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Metod/Kungsbacka kitchen units, £1,439; Vimmern kitchen mixer, £150; Möllekulla worktop, £120 for 186cm x 3.8cm; Kilsviken inset sink, £215; Norråker bench, £50; Norråker dining table, £149; Proppmått chopping board, £2.75; Bekvåm trolley, £45; Risatorp basket, £10; Skarrild rug, £60; Mariatheres tea towels, £7 for two; Forenlig vase, £2; Pepparkorn vase, £6; Ludde sheepskin, £25; Småäta chopping board, £15, all IKEA. Lampas Cloud tile, £69.78 per sq m, Topps Tiles. Woodland Click engineered flooring, £34.99 per sq m, Discount Flooring Depot. Pasta sauce print, £8.95; Aperol Spritz print, £4.95; Leon and Jug poster, £12.95; Les Forms Organiques poster, £8.95; Snake Plant poster, £23.95, all Desenio.

Mostra kettle, £39.99; Mostra toaster, £39.99, both Breville. Zen Amber tumbler glass, £4; Elements Jaula candlestick, £6; Elements Vete ceramic cannisters in Teal and Ochre, £5 each, all Dunelm.

For similar plates try Mezze side plate, £3 each, Wilko. Brass door handles, £4, Amazon. Glass pendants, £16.99, Jack Stonehouse. White matt emulsion, £10 per 2.5L, B&Q. Samsung fridge freezer, £469, Marks Electrical

Orchid Jungle IB5020

B O TA N I C A L G A R D E N C O L L E C T I O N AT W A L L P A P E R D I R E C T

KITCHEN MAKEOVER

‘Our kitchen looks high-end, but the units cost £600!’

After upcycling pre-loved kitchen units, Nicola Paige styled her new space with a luxe feel on a budget thanks to some savvy second-hand shopping

W

BEFORE

STEP INSIDE..

WHO LIVES HERE? Nicola Paige, 49, manager of a family golf course, my husband, Rob, 52, a facilities manager, our son, Finley, 22, and daughter, Summer, 11.

WHAT WAS UPDATED? The dividing wall between the kitchen and dining room was taken out and the wooden floor in the dining room was sanded and varnished.

All the kitchen units were replaced with second-hand cabinets and an island was created. A log burner was installed and new flooring put down in the kitchen area and the whole space was repainted.

WHY THE CHANGE? The kitchen and dining room were divided into two unsociable rooms. The kitchen units were straight out of the 1970s and although I loved the original vinyl it needed replacing.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? About six weeks in total, including two weeks to find the pre-loved kitchen and two weeks to paint all the cabinets and put them together.

TOTAL COST

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£3,872

yourhomestyle.uk

hen Nicola Paige, 49, and her husband, Rob, 52, bought this four-bedroom, 1920s cottage in Glen Parva, Leicestershire, they weren’t overwhelmed by how much they liked it, but could see its potential. ‘It didn’t have kerbside appeal,’ recalls Nicola, ‘but it was spacious and felt really quirky, and because it hadn’t been touched since the 1960s, it was a chance to do a complete renovation, to suit our taste.’

As the hub of their family home, the kitchen needed an overhaul to create the open-plan living space they wanted.

THE PROJECT The original kitchen had a separate dining room, which didn’t suit the family’s sociable way of living, particularly as during lockdown, there were nine of them living in the house, including three of their four children, their daughter-in-law and their grandchildren. The couple immediately visualised the space as one large, open-plan room, rather than two. After taking advice from a structural engineer, Rob and Nicola’s dad started on the building work to make it happen. Nicola then began looking at kitchens, but was being quoted up to £30k, which was way too expensive. ‘We were also saving for our wedding,’ she explains.

Not daunted, Nicola decided to see if she could source her own units second-hand, rather than buying new. Sustainability is really important to the whole family and Nicola was excited by the idea of giving something pre-loved a new lease of life.

Although she knew it would be a lot of work, Rob and her kids were completely on board with the idea, so she started hunting.

WHAT WE DID Nicola hoped to find a kitchen that suited her design vision. ‘I decided on Shaker-style units but I also wanted an island. I looked on eBay and searched companies that sell used kitchens, but eventually found the perfect kitchen on Facebook Marketplace, that included the base and wall units, a dresser,

and a Belfast sink, all for only £600!’ she explains. ‘When we got it home, we then played a game of musical kitchen units,’ laughs Nicola, adding, ‘we decided to put the sink under the window, and then moved the units until we got a formation that worked.’

HIGHS & LOWS The worst part of the renovation for Nicola was taking out the dividing wall and getting

At Nicola’s house, dining is often an informal affair, but she does like the whole family to get together around the spacious table, and enjoys creating a sophisticated tablescape for special occasions

KITCHEN MAKEOVER

Feature Lisa Moses Photos Caroline Mardon

Wooden worktops are practical, as any damage can be easily sanded away. Rob made shelves out of the leftovers, and Nicola sprayed the brackets gold and found wine glasses to match

Colour savvy

the plastering done, ‘as, however hard you try, dust gets absolutely everywhere, and it was a challenge with no kitchen. But as soon as the room was opened up, I knew it would be worth it,’ she says. It also led to the unexpected discovery of an original fireplace that had been blocked up. Nicola managed

DIY ideas on a budget with Nicola’s tips

1.

Paint shelf brackets and other fixtures gold for a way to imbue a deceptively luxe, expensive feel without spending a lot.

2.

3.

Use leftover wooden worktop to create bespoke open shelves that matches your scheme.

Make your own island to fit your space out of second-hand kitchen cabinets for a fraction of the cost of buying new.

to incorporate it into her scheme and it’s now a key feature. ‘Having a fireplace wasn’t really part of the plan,’ she admits, ‘but it was a great find, so we installed a log burner to create a cosy living area.’

Although choosing a second-hand kitchen saved thousands, the process wasn’t without its challenges. ‘We took a chance and drove a lorry with us when we went to view the kitchen, as we had to dismantle it and take it away in one day,’ she explains. It also wasn’t as pristine as a new kitchen would be, but that wasn’t a problem for keen upcycler Nicola.

‘Although it was tired and looked better in the photos, I knew I was going to paint it so I wasn’t too worried,’ she says.

Choose two-tone cabinets, with pa wall units and a le da island, to incorp rker or black into a sche ate m without it feelin e g too dark.

THE FINAL DETAILS Once the kitchen was installed, it was just a case of sanding and painting all of the units.

Rather than just one colour, Nicola decided on a two-tone look. ‘I originally wanted all-black units, but I stumbled across this gorgeous Little Greene Light Peachblossom paint and decided to do half and half. I chose Wilko’s durable paint in Supernova for the island, which is actually made up of wall cabinets, and then we chose an oak

Nicola loves House Of Hackney, but admits its products are out of her price bracket, so she sourced these cushions from a company that buys House of Hackney fabric and turns it into cushions to get the look for less

November 2021

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KITCHEN MAKEOVER

ROOM PLAN Design trickights,

spotl Instead of al pendant er install sev e way along th ll a r lights counter fo a kitchen sh feature li both a sty tical task c a and pr lighting.

8M

6.5M

THE DETAILS UNITS APPLIANCES WORKTOPS SPLASHBACK

Nicola had the floorboards in the dining area professionally sanded, but the floor in the kitchen was concrete, and although she would have loved real tiles, for £130, this classic Victorian tile-look vinyl was a stylish, cheaper compromise that’s also easy to clean

After discovering the fireplace during the renovation, Nicola found the log burner for a bargain £100, and only needed a few tiles for the hearth, which Rob laid. The Tina art print, by JH Lynch, is one of the originals sold by Boots in the 1960s

worktop from Wickes to warm up the space,’ she explains. Nicola then sourced the range from Facebook for £50, and finished off the look with some brass cup handles, a brass tap that she found on eBay for £25, and the gold splashback, which she found for just £40 from IKEA. ‘I was inspired by a really expensive version on Instagram, but I knew I’d find it cheaper,’ she laughs. And now the space is complete, Nicola says, ‘it’s everything and more than I imagined. Every time I walk in I love it more, especially as it’s a great reflection of what we achieved together, creating an amazing space for our family’.

3 OF THE BEST.. glam industrial £30 from Cuckooland The rustic texture of the Dutchbone Hari vase will bring an antique feel to a shelf display. £40 from Garden Trading The Coleridge clock’s rustic slate and gold details make it the perfect timepiece for an industrial-chic scheme. £29 from Cult Furniture Install a Locke Cege cage wall light for a stylish way to illuminate a worktop or dining area.

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yourhomestyle.uk

£600 £1,250 £400 £40

FLOORING

£130

LIGHTING

£580

FURNITURE

£872

TOTAL

£3,872

SHOPPING LIST For similar units try Dunham in Rose Bowl, from £4,001, Magnet. Solid oak wood worktop, from £168, Wickes. Baroque Lisbon non-slip vinyl flooring, £9.49 per sq m, Vinyl Flooring UK. For similar hanging lights try Pendial steampunk pendants in Antique Brass, £14, Iconic Lights. Patenaude 8-light candle-style chandelier, £339.99, Wayfair. Brass tap, £25, eBay. For a similar fridge freezer try American MQ79394FFB Fridgemaster in Black, £599, Boots Kitchen Appliances.

For a similar range try Belling farmhouse 100cm gas range cooker in Black, £1,109, NE Appliances. For a similar radiator try Georgian 2-column cast iron radiator in Pale Gold, £122.23, Cast Iron Radiators 4U. Victoria metal bar stool in Walnut Elm Wood & Black, £99, Cult Furniture.

For a similar table try farmhouse table, from £475, The Rustic Table Company.

Hamilton dining chairs with Black legs, £310 for two, Next. African baskets, from a selection, Bagel & Griff. Macramé global textured table runner, from £18, Dunelm. Arles wicker-wrapped glass Jug, £25; Arles wicker-wrapped glass tumbler, £6.50, both John Lewis. Walls painted in modern emulsion in Down Pipe and Inchyra Blue, £49.50 per 2.5L, B&Q. Units painted in matt emulsion in Light Peachblossom, £48.50 per 2.5L, Little Greene. Island painted in tough & washable matt emulsion in Supernova, £16 per 2.5L, Wilko. For a similar sofa try Avery chaise end velvet corner sofa, £599.99, Furniture Maxi. House of Hackney cushions, from £50, The Dog’s Ear. For a similar log burner try Clarke Barrel II 8kW cast iron wood-burning stove, £274, Machine Mart. Glass with ferns, bamboo plant stand and faux greenery, from a selection, Paper Moon Boutique. Chinese Girl print, £40, King & McGaw. Gold chunky stem wine glasses, £14 for four, George at Asda.

www.trendinteriors.co.uk

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BILLERICAY 01277 633 301 BURY ST EDMUNDS 01284 762 190 DEEPING ST JAMES 01778 346 415 ELY 01353 968 031 LETCHWORTH 01462 410 777 OUNDLE 01832 270 300 ST. ALBANS 01727 815 300

SOUTH AMERSHAM 01494 434 305 BRACKNELL 01344 360 300 CHICHESTER 01243 780 633

KITCHEN MAKEOVER

‘We opened up our cramped kitchen with design tricks’ With an awkward layout and seven doors leading into the space, some clever planning was needed to make Karen Griggs’s kitchen feel like a cohesive whole

W

ith the mortgage on their house in York almost paid off, Karen and Adam Griggs decided to move further out and start a holiday let business.

In 2013, they bought a Victorian cottage in nearby Sand Hutton, with two outbuildings ripe for conversion. ‘It gave me the freedom to run my own business and spend more time

BEFORE

STEP INSIDE..

WHO LIVES HERE? Karen Griggs, 50, owner of a holiday let business (oldforgeyork.com), my husband, Adam, our daughter, Chloe, 22, son, Freddie, 17, our dogs, Bobbi and Boris, and our 12 hens, known as The Barbaras.

WHAT WAS UPDATED? We installed a new kitchen with an improved layout in our fourbedroom Victorian cottage.

WHY THE CHANGE? It was a difficult space with lots of wall cabinets and seven doors leading off it, so it felt busy and cramped.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? It took six weeks of actual work, with stops and starts in between.

Repairing and lining the chimney was a huge job as the oil-fired Esse range cooker had to be carefully removed by an expert and put back. There was also a lot of bespoke joinery and I was fussy about who I used so there was a bit of a wait for it.

TOTAL COST

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£5,314

yourhomestyle.uk

at home while the kids were teenagers,’ says Karen, 50, previously a mental health nurse.

‘The house was so quirky, it made us smile, and when we went outside it was like Sleeping Beauty’s garden – just magical.’ After they had made the house watertight and uncovered original features, the couple tackled the huge overgrown garden, which now gets hired out

n Savvy solugtwioith

in Hang shelv gs rather in x fi n e hidd brackets, than shelf , simple, for a clean look unfussy

KITCHEN MAKEOVER

DON’T BE AFRAID TO BREAK THE RULES. Wallpapering a kitchen is unusual, but adding a layer of glass as a splashback made it practical.

SWAP CABINETS FOR WALL SHELVING in a smaller kitchen to give the illusion of more space and give you somewhere to display jars and canisters.

TEST IDEAS USING SAMPLES FIRST and keep paint, tile and other samples on display for a while before deciding to get good a feel for how they will look in the room.

THE PROJECT As Karen had used interior designer Karen Knox (making-spaces.net) to decorate their first holiday cottage, she returned to help re-design the family’s kitchen, too. ‘It was an awkward shape and size with seven doors off it,’ Karen says. ‘There was also an almost floor-to-ceiling window and a huge chimney breast with faux brick surround to work around, so wall space was limited. What’s more, the peninsular chopped the room in half.’ Some of the kitchen was originally overloaded with base cabinets, which made the cooking area feel busy and cramped, while the wall cabinets ruined the view of the wooden ceiling beams. Conversely, the dining Karen’s interior designer suggested a show-stopping, hammered copper sink for a modern twist on a classic farmhouse style. ‘I love it, but I hadn’t realised I had to wait three months for delivery,’ she says

area felt relatively spacious but struggled with low ceilings and even lower light levels.

WHAT WE DID Karen loved the interior designer’s clear vision for the new space. ‘I still wanted it to look like a Victorian cottage kitchen, but with no gingham, pelmets or anything remotely twee,’ she says. ‘Her plan nailed it and I totally fell in love with her scheme. It’s not her usual style but she can turn her hand to anything.’ The plan was to open up the room by downsizing the number of cabinets and reconfiguring them. Instead of the existing U-shape, the base cabinets were snaked around the corner in an S-shape. The attached utility room and cellar/pantry space was also put to better use, meaning less needed to be stored in the actual kitchen. Luckily, the in-frame pine cabinets were good quality, so these were re-painted along with the other woodwork and radiator.

In addition, two wall cabinets were replaced with bespoke wraparound shelves.

HIGHS & LOWS Karen’s existing kitchen was reconfigured and painted, but the flooring was kept to save money as it worked with the new room. ‘My three favourite things are the fluted glass wall lights, tiled wall and my copper sink,’ she says.

‘The room always gets a good reaction from guests as it’s so strong and bold’

There were a few learning curves for Karen.

‘If I did it again, I’d check things were in stock before I ripped everything out,’ she says.

‘It was also expensive to renovate and line the old chimney as it involved carefully removing and re-installing the 40-year old Esse oilfired range cooker.’ She also got a lot of new ideas from working with an interior designer.

‘I’m a messy creative but she’s methodical and taught me to test every idea,’ she says.

November 2021

43

Feature Karen Wilson Photos Katie Lee

My style tips

to small artisan businesses for retreat days and workshops. It’s well used by the whole family, including their 12 hens. However, deciding what to do with the cottage’s kitchen was a major quandary.

KITCHEN MAKEOVER

Design trickss,

on gla Use low-ir be cut a which c n sockets g around pluhes, for a c it and sw plashback wipeable s llpaper over wa

The shelves were handmade by a local joiner and stained to look old. ‘My inspiration came from Victorian kitchens, which had high shelves all the way around, like a picture rail,’ says Karen

‘That meant living with samples, such as tiles, wallpaper, paint and wood stain, for a whole week. Having it on a mood board or computer isn’t good enough as you need to see the real materials and colours in that particular room.’

THE FINAL DETAILS With the basics finally in place it was time for the finishing touches, including brass wall lights and a copper sink and tap, along with artwork, which reflects Karen’s love of the outdoors and animals. Her designer also had some rule-breaking décor ideas that were new to Karen. ‘Most people put wallpaper on one feature wall, but not in the kitchen,’ Karen says. ‘Well, she found a nature-inspired wallpaper that works beautifully and covered it with a low-iron glass splashback, which doesn’t have the blue tint of standard glass so doesn’t affect the colour of the wallpaper.

She also suggested covering an entire wall in green tiles rather than just behind the cooker, which unifies the scheme.’ Five years after moving in, they’re still in love with their

With seven doors leading to other spaces in the house, the kitchen was tricky to design. Painting the door frames the same green as the kitchen cabinets and other woodwork ensures that they blend in, rather than dominate the room

kitchen. ‘The room feels so much lighter and more spacious, despite going darker on the cabinets,’ says Karen. ‘The children really like it too – they think it’s cool and original.’

ROOM PLAN

6M

4.5M

THE DETAILS APPLIANCES

£1,086

DINING TABLE AND CHAIRS

£815

SINK AND TAP

£780

LIGHTING

£651

SPLASHBACKS

£650

WALLPAPER

£487

TILES

£432

PAINT

£213

OAK SHELVES

£200

TOTAL

£5,314

SHOPPING LIST Karen spent a long time choosing the cooker and extractor hood, choosing ‘a completely black design with no fussy details – so you don’t notice it’ she says

3 OF THE BEST.. cottagecore buys £23 from Sophie Allport This cute pheasant-print oven glove is just the thing for taking hearty stews out of the oven. £29.95 from Annabel James Set the table in style with a set of animal-motif napkins for a minimalist twist on the country look. £21 from Gisela Graham You’ll get double the greenery displaying blooms and botanicals in this leaf-adorned Garden Study jug.

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Kitchen cabinets and woodwork painted in architect’s eggshell in Stable Green, £71 per 2.5L, Paint & Paper Library. Little Greene Great Ormond St Signature wallpaper, £97.50 per roll, Go Wallpaper. Paintbox Avocado gloss green tiles, £36 per sq m, Mandarin Stone.

Antique hammered copper Belfast sink, £679, Coppersmith Creations. Franke Old England traditional copper single lever kitchen sink mixer tap, £139.99, Taps UK. Stoves electric oven, £397; Stoves induction hob, £329; Belling hood, £89; Indesit fridge, £249, all AO.com. Shelves and worktop stained in Osmo Top Oil in Terra 3038, £19.25 for 500ml, Wood Finishes Direct. Perspex splashbacks, £650, splashbacks.co.uk.

Dining table, £695, Peppermill Interiors.

Victorian dining chairs, from around £40, eBay. Antique brass adjustable arm wall mount shade with box holophane shade, £162.80 each, Edison Light Globes.

Victorian Fox Girl art print, from £9, Fine Art America. For similar chopping boards try HKliving serving boards, £31.92 for three, Connox. Sing Me a Song art print, from £12, Fy!. For a similar kettle try Otto 2L black whistling kettle, £30, La Redoute

PRIZE DRAW

WIN! An entire bathroom from Britton Bathrooms, worth £3,631! mixer, towel ring and shower head, this setting is perfect to unwind in.

Finished with the sleek Stadium backto-wall WC and Hoxton LED mirror, this complete bathroom space ensures style, comfort and convenience when you perform your everyday rituals.

Dynamic and innovative, Britton’s collection of sanitaryware, showers and bathing products is packed with clever features and benefits to enhance your daily routine.

Britton makes it easy to transform your space with its comprehensive range of products for breathtaking, modern bathroom solutions.

Its ever-growing selection of styles, colours and sizes provide plenty of choice within contemporary bathroom design to ensure there is a Britton bathroom for everyone.

WO R T H

£ 3,6 3 1 !

Start and end each day in a sanctuary of calm with this wellness-inspired bathroom from Britton – the styling items aren’t included so you’re free to add your own personality

Y

ou could be in with a chance of winning this wellness-inspired retreat, courtesy of Britton Bathrooms.

Refresh your scheme with the stylish and practical Shoreditch wall-hung unit in

Matt Blue. Spacious and family-friendly, the EcoRound bath provides the perfect place to shower and bathe, with a bath screen to prevent any splashes. Embellished with chrome details, including the Hoxton basin

THE PRIZE We’ve teamed up with Britton to offer you the chance to win an entire suite, worth £3,631, to turn your bathroom into a contemporary haven. The lucky winner will receive: an EcoRound bath and bath screen; side panel; end panel; shower valve; shower head; bath filler and click clack waste; basin mixer and waste; 600mm LED mirror; towel ring; toilet roll holder and toilet brush holder from the Hoxton range; Shoreditch 550mm wall-hung unit in Matt Blue with Note square basin; back-to-wall WC; concealed cistern tank and flush plate.

FIND OUT MORE To view the latest releases and for more information, visit brittonbathrooms.com

TO ENTER, visit yourhomestyle.uk, choose the WIN tab, find the prize draw you’d like to enter and fill in your details. The closing date is 25th November 2021 at 11.59pm.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1 Promoter: Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited. 2 The promotion is open to all residents of the UK, including the Channel Islands, aged 18 years or older, except the Promoter’s employees or contractors and anyone connected with the promotion or their direct family members. 3 By entering the promotion, you agree to be bound by all the rules of the promotion including these terms and conditions. 4 The Promoter may share the details of the winner with the prize provider for the purposes of fulfilling/delivering the prize. 5 The Promoter excludes liability to the full extent permitted by law for any loss, damage or injury occurring to the participant arising from his or her entry into the promotion or occurring to a winner arising from his or her acceptance of a prize. 6 The Promoter reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or to cancel, alter or amend the promotion at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control. 7 Only one entry per prize draw will be permitted per household, regardless of method of entry. Bulk entries made by third parties will not be permitted. Entries received after the closing date of the promotion will not be considered. 8 No responsibility accepted for lost, delayed, ineligible or fraudulent entries. 9 The prize does not include installation. 10 The prizes are nonrefundable, non-transferable and not for resale. The prizes cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers, promotions or discounts. There is no cash alternative. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prizes with other prizes of the same or greater value. 11 Closing date for entries is 11.59pm on 25th November 2021. 12 Winning entries will be chosen at random (after the closing date) from all entries. 13 The winners will be notified of their win within 28 days via email. 14 Winners must claim their prize within 28 days of notification. In the event that a winner cannot be contacted or fails to claim their prize within 28 days, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to another entrant, or to re-offer the prize in any future promotion. 15 The Promoter’s decision as to the winner is final and no correspondence relating to the promotion will be entered into. 16 The prizes are as stated above. 17 Entrants must supply to Immediate Media Company Limited their full name, email address or daytime telephone number. The Promoter will use entrants’ personal details in accordance with the Immediate Privacy Policy (immediate.co.uk/privacy-policy). 18 The surname and county of residence of the winners will be available upon request by sending an SAE to Your Home November 2021 Giveaways, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST within two months of the closing date of the promotion. The Promoter will contact the winners before releasing this information and provide the winners the opportunity to object or limit the amount of information shared. 19 The promotion is subject to the laws of England.

November 2021

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No room for a dressing table?

Ultra compact go-anywhere dressing table in solid oak.

Experts in small space living 20 stores | futoncompany.co.uk

DECORATING IDEAS

ESCAPE TO

Your own home Transform your interiors into a boutique destination and create a personal getaway

risp white sheets, rich textures and a room with a view are all hallmarks of a boutique hotel. While we can’t change what’s outside your window, we can show you how to achieve the sophisticated ease of boutique hotel styling inside your home. Ground your look with soothing, complementary shades then turn up the impact with luxe textiles, pops of metallics or prints and statement pieces of furniture.

While the bedroom might be the most obvious place to start, these chic principles can be applied to every room. Keep reading to discover how to achieve those holiday feels without packing a suitcase.

Feature Thomas Poad

C

Turn over to get the boutique look

November 2021

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DECORATING IDEAS Create a focal point in your hallway or living room with a geometric console table Eclipse console table, £280, Rockett St George

FIVE-STAR style Capture that relaxed-yet-refined balance of a boutique hotel every time you step through the front door. The key to this polished look is combining luxurious materials in subtle shades and focusing on the details. Metallic elements, eggshell paint and wallpaper with sheen will add indulgence to the scheme, while also brightening the room. Choose hard-wearing fabrics like velvet or wool, which are not only better quality but will gain character over time. And don’t be scared to mix old with new – boutique styling is all about individuality, so celebrate your cherished pieces by giving them a new lease of life with considered accessorising.

Pick grey investment pieces, which you can style with colour and texture as the seasons change Hampton Grey velvet sofa, £849.99, Furniture and Choice

Velvet cushion cover in Slate Blue, £29.99, Walton & Co

Our experts say…

‘Stick to a monochrome, tonal palette, which has an effortless, elegant quality.

The key is to ensure contrast and variety, creating visual movement around the scheme. Punctuate a grey and taupe space with black accessories and details for a stylish yet grounded feel.’

Rebecca Snowden, Interior Style Advisor for Furniture and Choice

Cabin gold cutlery, £19.99, Homesense

Rochelle gin glasses, £12 for two, ProCook

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A statement armchair is a boutique go-to, and we think this velvet-rattan combo ticks all the style boxes Emmeline Olive Green velvet armchair, £499, Atkin & Thyme

DECORATING IDEAS Heighten the drama with a brooding blue on the walls, which you can enhance with panelling or dado rails Walls in Indulgence flat matt emulsion, from £32 per 2.5L, Crown Paints

IN THE SPOTLIGHT From showcasing a gallery wall to casting a warming glow over the dining table, put your hotel styling efforts in the best light

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Square rocker switch in burnished brass, £41.86, Wandsworth Electrical

7 9 8

Skyscraper knurled handle with plate in brass, 10cm, £25.99, Dowsing & Reynolds

Pressed Putty matt emulsion, £16.42 per 2.5L, Dulux

Adorn faux sheepskin rug in Honey, £59, Cult Furniture

1 Eifel single wall light, £74.40, där lighting 2 Vienna crystal and polished chrome wall light, £85, Laura Ashley 3 Iconic Belgravia five-way pendant, £140, Iconic Lights 4 Mood Living medium Napoli ribbed glass pendant light in Smoky Grey and Black, £69, Cult Furniture 5 Eifel three-light cluster pendant, £187.20, där lighting 6 Isaac brushed chrome wall light, £55, Laura Ashley 7 Soni floor lamp in Antique Brass, £100, BHS 8 Calvert ceiling light, £100, BHS 9 Porso three-light floor lamp, £249, Lights and Lamps

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DECORATING IDEAS

REST and rejuvenation

For the ultimate relaxation, turn your bathroom and bedroom into a haven of calm and quiet. Blackout curtains and a good quality carpet underlay will reduce noise and ensure the bedroom stays dark, even in the summer, while marble and metallic finishes in the bathroom will turn your daily shower into a spa experience. Lay the bed with crisp white linen and cushions in your favourite hue, and don’t forget a fluffy towel or two.

Pull the entire look together with your lighting choices – pick shades of the same colour for your bedding, cushions and lampshades Pringle wall light, £65; 16cm empire shade, £27; Larger Palmer table lamp, £79; 25cm tapered shade in Buttercup Velvet, £42, all Pooky

Nattjasmin double duvet set in White, £40, IKEA

Go bold with your bed frame – a headboard in jewel tones exudes opulence

Vivian wall mirror, £80, Dunelm

Rodman ottoman bed in Green, from £449, Fishpools

Lime Leaf and Ginger candle, £15, La Di Da Interiors

Arezzo round glass table lamp in green marble, £69, Cult Furniture

Floor-to-ceiling marble tiles will transport you to the shores of Italy every time you brush your teeth Savoy Oro porcelain tiles, £51 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore

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DECORATING IDEAS Forget a feature wall, patterned curtains have the same effect when closed and provide pops of colour when open Curtains in Winter Garden fabric in Ivy, from £23 per metre, ILIV

Lavish Gold porcelain tile, £48 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore

Aubusson Blue wall paint, £41.95 per 2.5L, Annie Sloan

Our experts say…

‘Tiny tweaks to your bedroom setup can really make a difference. The bed is the most important part of the room and should be the focal point.

A large, padded headboard in a striking shade will create instant statement. Declutter your space – the bedroom should be a sanctuary so include plenty of storage for the minimalistic hotel vibe.’

Kerry Laird, Interior Designer, Fishpools Trent chrome freestanding bath shower mixer, £189.99, Bathroom Mountain

Nothing says hotel stay quite like fresh white linen – add interest with flounced or embroidered designs

Dakota oval countertop basin, £69.99, Bathroom Mountain

Luxury Hotel White towel bundle, £51.50 for four pieces, Tielle Love Luxury

Hampstead 200 thread count cotton duvet cover in White and Grey, from £22, DUSK

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Pull up A CHAIR

Think of the chair as the main character and build your scheme around it – after all, you’ll be spending many hours there engrossed in stories. An armchair in bright velvet will give you a classic library look with a twist or, for the ultimate in relaxation, try a rocking chair or chaise longue. In a nook that all the family will be using, a bean bag is a super-comfy option kids will love to snuggle down in. Add a floor cushion, stool or pouffe to double up as a footrest and an extra surface.

Daisy velvet chaise in Grey, £350; Regency velvet cushion, £20; Aluminus Black metal picture frames, £50 for five; Kupari Gold metal picture frames, £60 for five; Jessie 5 shelf wide leaning bookcase, £110; Luxe Living lion bookends in Silver, £16; Luxe Living lion head candle, £18; Numi handwoven wool rug, £350, all Habitat

Golden throne armchair, £149.99, TK Maxx

A novel idea:

design a book nook Create a cosy-chic reading corner for curling up with a good book in style Icon Yeanling faux sheepskin bean bag, £99.99, Bean Bag Bazaar

Y

ou don’t need a whole room to dedicate to a home library – any unused corner, window or alcove can be transformed into a snug place to get lost in a paperback (or, indeed, the latest issue of Your Home). From a squishy armchair to sink into and a shelf for your to-read pile, to an easyon-the-eyes lamp and textiles galore for dialling up the cosiness, we’ve got every plot twist covered. Are you sitting comfortably?

Then we’ll begin…

Kensington velvet round footstool in Pink, £39.99, Homescapes

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Anderson rocking chair in Soft Marl Warm Grey, £119, Next

DECORATING IDEAS Aura eggshell in Hunter Green, £31.50 per 0.95L, Benjamin Moore

Chalk paint in Capri Pink, £21.95 per 1L, Annie Sloan

Paint mixing easycare washable & touch matt in Midnight Garden, £38.08 per 2.5L, Dulux

Photocopy bookcase wallpaper

by Young & Battaglia, £48 per roll, Mineheart

Easycare washable & tough matt in Denim Drift, Tranquil Dawn from £26.63 per 2.5L; Easycare washable & tough matt Chalk Dust, from £38.08 per 2.5L, both Dulux

Set THE SCENE If your chosen reading area is part of an openplan space, separating it is simple to do with colour-blocking, or even a room-dividing screen.

Wallpapering an alcove in a library print will give the illusion of shelves brimming with books.

Alternatively, copy an old-school study vibe with rich heritage paint colours such as navy, green and burgundy to make you feel cocooned. For a softer look, use pastel greens and blues – restful shades that can help to boost concentration, ideal for getting you in the headspace for a reading session.

Bamboo room divider, £170, Homebody Decor

This MUST BE THE PLACE...

Kelly Collins, head of creative and in-house interior designer at Swyft, offers advice on the best spots in the house to set up your reading area.

Pick your room carefully. Your reading nook doesn’t have to be in the living room. In fact, this might be the worst place for it – the average family living room is busy, with plenty of traffic and activity. Bedrooms are often a good spot as they’re seldom used during the day. You could also choose a cosy fireside corner in the kitchen,

or create a dedicated reading room in place of a home office.

Make space for two. We tend to think of reading as a solo pursuit, something we do on our own when we want a bit of quiet time. But reading together, whether that’s each with your own book or reading to one another, is a really great way of spending quality time, so design a reading nook for two to sit comfortably in.

Create a nap-friendly nook. Reading has a way of distracting the mind from the thoughts that keep us occupied and awake, so it makes sense to use this to encourage a good nap, too.

Choose a sofa with enough space to

stretch out, with soft cushions, add in a comfortable blanket, a fire or other heat source and you can read a few chapters until you feel your eyes start to become heavy.

Try transitional areas. I mentioned about choosing your room carefully – but it doesn’t have to be a room at all. Transitional spaces are parts of the home that we use to get from one to another, such as hallways and landings. Often there is quite a lot of wasted space here that could easily be big enough for a reading area.

Section it off. Use screens or curtains as a partition. This helps to reduce distractions and increases the idea that a reading nook is a distinct part of the home. It can even help just to use a different colour scheme.

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Feature Michelle Grady

Chalk paint in Oxford Navy, £21.95 per litre, Annie Sloan

DECORATING IDEAS

Carnaby pendant light, from £50, Garden Trading

Hoxton tripod floor lamp in Pastel Blue, £79, Housecosy

Greenery fairy lights, £13.95, Sparkle Lighting Octave table lamp, £25, Very

Give it A GLOW For those books you just can’t put down, make sure you can keep reading into the evening with a well-lit space. Hang a long pendant next to your chair or place a lamp angled over it to best illuminate your latest page-turner. Go for warm-toned bulbs that are kind on your eyes (and less likely to disturb your sleep than a cool light, if you do end up reading past your bedtime). Dot soft-focus accent lamps and fairy lights on side tables and shelving to complete the chilled-out ambience.

Gingko walnut book light, £35, National Theatre

Joan floor lamp, £79; cork box, from £10; Global Geo Black cushion, £12; Jersey bobble cushion, £12; Darwin corner sofa, £1,899; Lunebar Brushed Gold touch table lamp, £30; monochrome paper basket, £15, all Dunelm

Boston natural solid oak and metal small bookcase, £429.99, Oak Furnitureland

Layla graphic wall shelf in Brass, £79, MADE.com

Get SHELFIE-READY A large bookcase can feel cluttered in a petite space, so a compact unit with built-in sections will break up books and ornaments for a more minimal look, and make it easier to keep organised. If your collection includes chunky coffee-table titles as well as paperbacks, a ladder design with different shelf sizes is ideal – and can work as a room divider, too. Even if you prefer using a tablet, a wall shelf displaying a couple of favourite novels will help to style up your nook as a reading-only zone, or simply place a side table next to your chair for the essentials.

Brown wood-effect side table, £22, George Home

Iggy four-tier free-standing metal shelving unit in Green & Gold, £225, Oliver Bonas

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DECORATING IDEAS

Pile on THE PLUSH Feather your reading nest, be it a window seat, bench or armchair, with an inviting stack of strokable cushions and throws. Layering up anything with a bit of texture to it will create that rain-on-a-window cosy feeling – think tufted details, tassels, velvet, embroidery, corduroy, pompoms and faux fur. Take it down to the floor and treat your feet to a soft, coordinating rug as well, a finishing touch that’ll have the added benefit of making your nook feel like a more distinct area.

Berber-style diamonds tufted cushion, £18; Scandi boho stripe blanket throw, £23, both Sass & Belle

Maddison faux fur cushion in Rust, £10, B&M Artisan rug in Terracotta, £24.49, Walton & Co

Bloomingville Freddy throw, £22, Persora

Kugleask cushion in Dark Blue, £11.99; Villmorell cushion in Rust, £8.99, both JYSK

Embellish THE STORY Reading is all about escapism and taking time out of your busy day to do something just for you, so decorate your book nook to reflect this. Being in nature has the same rejuvenating effect, so a gallery wall of prints and photos of lush greenery will have your corner feeling like an escape from it all – and don’t forget to add the real thing with potted plants as well.

Finish it off with candles in fresh, outdoorsy scents, dried grasses and natural-toned pots and vases to complete your reading retreat.

Beige small stoneware jar, £22, Rose & Grey

Wherever You Are poster, from £8.95; Dandelion in Green poster, from £14.95; Birds in Green poster, £14.95; Forest grove poster, from £21.95; Fern close-up poster, from £14.95; Green lake poster, from £21.95, all Desenio

String of pearls plant (pot not included), £18.99, Beards & Daisies

Pampas grass stems in Peachy Pink, £26.95 for nine, Audenza

Moss candle, £20, Textured Lives

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Kitchens & BATHROOMS Be inspired by this month’s sustainable buys, plus the latest smart and stylish appliances

BIG IS

best

Did you know that large format tiles can help to create the illusion of space?

Tile Giant’s new collection, Magna, features a variety of porcelain tile finishes in an impressive 90cm x 90cm format so you can have a grand look in your own home. Pictured right is the Alba Carrara Matt, priced £49.99 per square metre.

Sustainable style

MAKE A SPLASH

Highly absorbent and durable, Wild & Stone’s luxurious hand towels are every bit as practical as they are stylish. The organic cotton design is soft to the touch yet can withstand washes at 60 degrees – making them a great option for everyday use. Pick from five different on-trend colours, priced £12.50 each.

MIX IT UP Crown Imperial has introduced new colours into its Ashton collection – including this vibrant Ocean Green.

The country-style range now allows you to pick from a palette of 22 painted shades to create a bespoke kitchen cabinetry scheme, alongside an impressive choice of over 50 handle styles to suit your space. Complete Crown Imperial kitchens cost around £10,000.

The stand mixer has long been a staple in bakers’ kitchens and now KitchenAid has brought out a limited-edition design for the modern cook. The Artisan tilt-head stand mixer in Light and Shadow colourway features a smooth sand-tone base with a striking, studded ceramic bowl. As with all KitchenAid stand mixers, this model comes with stainless steel accessories, including a flat beater, dough hook and wire whisk to cover all your baking needs. Priced at £699.

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KITCHEN IDEAS

Family Favourites Create a family-friendly kitchen with space for cooking together, dining, relaxing, socialising and helping children with their homework

W

hether you’re planning a whole new kitchen or looking to update the one you have, there are plenty of ways to make sure your space has room for all the family.

Think about creating zones for cooking, eating, relaxing and studying (if you want to keep an eye on the kids). Encourage little ones to help prepare meals or bake by adding a stool for them or a lowerlevel worktop that they can reach more easily. Add a table, island or breakfast bar so everyone can eat meals together and keep ovens at eye level out of children’s reach. Finish with colourful accessories and you’ll have a fun space for all ages.

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Askersund kitchen in light ash effect, £11 per 40 x 80cm door; Hackås handles, £3 for two; Bekväm step stool, £25, all IKEA

KITCHEN IDEAS If space allows, an island unit is great for families, as children can sit up on high stools and help with cooking and baking. It’s also a great spot for breakfast and after-school snacks.

Choose a durable surface for the worktop that’s also easy to clean Milbourne kitchen in Dove Grey and Dust Grey, from £12,000, Second Nature

Patterned vinyl flooring will add personality to your kitchen so you can keep cabinets neutral and be more creative underfoot. Slip-resistant vinyl is affordable, simple to lay and needs only minimal care to stay looking like new

Design notes

Ceramica vinyl flooring in Emilia, £21 per sq m, Leoline

‘Allowing the kitchen and dining space to flow as one will accentuate the familyfriendly feel of any design and make for a perfect central hub within your home. If space allows, create an island that works as an additional seating area, as well as being the perfect place to get the family involved in cooking.’

Graeme Smith, Head of Design, Second Nature

Laminate flooring is ideal for open-plan family kitchens, as it creates a seamless look throughout. It’s also quick and easy to clean as well as being durable, so will cope easily with knocks and scrapes Artisan stand mixer in Honey, £499, KitchenAid

Barry Bear grater, £16, Red Candy

November 2021

Feature Hayley Gilbert

Valley Oak Light Beige laminate from the Majestic Collection, £39.49 per sq m, Quick-Step

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KITCHEN IDEAS

Built-in appliances keep hot ovens at eye level, out of the little ones’ reaches. An island with a lower-level dining table at one end is also handy for family dining and will be easier for children to help with food prep and baking Class 9 built-in appliances, from £635 for the MP 996 IX H combination microwave, Hotpoint

Zero Waste UnSponge washable sponge, from £4.50, Kempii

All change

Jasper Indigo easyclean splashback, £175 for 60 x 75cm, Splashback.co.uk

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Ozone Pure Disinfection kitchen tap, £615, Not Just Taps

yourhomestyle.uk

‘Through the last year, we’ve been asking a lot from our homes – needing them to transform from office to classroom to a space to relax all in the blink of an eye! As the world starts to transform and resemble something a bit more familiar, it’s time we reclaim the spaces meant for entertaining and making memories, not editing spreadsheets and doing sit ups.’

Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director, Dulux

Give an open-plan kitchendiner a fresh new look with a lick of paint on the walls and create contrast by adding a brightly coloured dining table. Dot plenty of plants around the space to bring the outdoors in Wall painted in Frosted Steel Easycare Kitchen matt paint, £22 per 2.5L, Dulux

Children’s mini wooden kitchen utensil set, £9.50, Sous Chef

Space saving

KITCHEN IDEAS

Be prepared for extra family or friends to pop over with an extendable dining table that can easily seat extra guests when needed. Have some spare stackable stools at the ready or grab a few chairs from the hallway or bedroom Park Up extendable kitchen table, £975, Loaf

‘When striving to create a family-friendly kitchen, it’s important to select your appliances carefully. Built-in ones create a streamlined look and a sense of space. For example, microwave ovens and coffee machines can be built-in, freeing up space on your worktop and generating a stylish, contemporary look.’

Kimberley Garner, Brand Manager, Hotpoint

A large, multipurpose sink is perfect when you’re getting ready for, or cleaning up after, dinner guests. Look for a design that offers ample space for washing larger items as well as accessories such as a drainer and chopping board Mythos MYX 211-86 inset sink, £675, Franke

Premium Classic Series zester/ grater in Funky Leopard, £21.95, Microplane

A breakfast bar or peninsular is great for family spaces, as you can use it for breakfast, coffee and after-school snacks. Pop a couple of adjustable stools underneath so you can alter their height to suit everyone Mix kitchen, from £10,000, Schmidt

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BATHROOM PROBLEM ROOM

‘We knocked out a wall and By removing a false ceiling and moving a wall just a few centimetres, Hannah

T INSIDER INFO WHO LIVES HERE? Hannah, 29, a laywer, and Will Stebbings, 32, a media sales executive. They bought their 1930s townhouse in Tooting, London, in September 2020.

here was no contest when Hannah and Will had to decide which room to get finished first in the renovation of their new home. The house had been rented out for years and the dated bathroom was so ‘grotty’ that they agreed they wouldn’t move in until it was revamped.

‘We bought the house from an agent and the whole place needed renovating,’ says Hannah. ‘We stayed with a friend while all the messy building work was completed, then moved in as soon as the shower had been fitted and tiled, and the bath installed, so we could use it as our sanctuary while we worked through the rest of the property.’

The old bathroom was small, narrow and awkwardly laid out, so the first job was to strip out the old fittings, take up the floor

and reroute a soil pipe. They then removed a false ceiling and took some space from a bedroom so they could fit in a more familyfriendly separate bath and shower.

‘The old bath had a shower fitting over the taps and the room was so small that it seemed completely out of proportion with the rest of the house,’ says Hannah.

‘We wanted to create a future-proof family bathroom from the outset. It took a lot of planning and research to work out the best way of using the space, and to get the right layout. We started out with grand ideas about a free-standing bath and stand-alone sink unit, but soon realised we needed space-saving fittings and a compact design to achieve everything we needed.’

Even though it’s a small room, the bath

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE NEW ROOM? It includes a separate bath and shower, which was always our goal, and still manages to feel spacious and luxurious.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE PROJECT? With such a small space you have to be prepared to compromise and keep an open mind – and research to find the best prices.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS? Make sure the things you can’t see – the plumbing and electrics – are done to the best standard possible. It’s much harder to rectify mistakes after all the fittings are in.

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE OLD ROOM?

Feature Heather Dixon Photos Dave Burton

It was badly laid out. There was a low, false ceiling and the floor was covered in peeling lino. There was also just a shower fitting

SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED The couple found a compact bath, measuring just 1.3 metres, to fit the room. ‘We couldn’t move the wall out any further without having to replace the bedroom window and that would have pushed our budget too far,’ says Hannah

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BATHROOM PROBLEM ROOM

ceiling for more space’ and Will Stebbings have created a future-proof family bathroom

UNDER COVER All the pipes are hidden behind tongue-andgroove panelling, the top of which serves as a shelf for toiletries and plants. The couple continued the tongue and groove theme around the room to add texture

SHOPPING LIST SPACE SAVVY To save space the couple opted for a Mira shower door and fittings, including an overhead shower and hand-held option for maximum flexibility. A shelf built into the shower wall keeps toiletries off the floor

is now perfectly centered under the tall, narrow window and the tongue and groove panelling has given the room a sense of history in the 1930s property.

‘My favourite bit was adding the finishing touches,’ says Hannah. ‘I found a circular mirror to soften the square edges of the fittings and panelling, and added plants and baskets, which are great for storage, to make it homely. The dark blue paint has given it a real sense of luxury, which is just what we wanted. It’s a fantastic space that has gone from a bathroom we didn’t want to use to one of our favourite rooms in the house.’

Round mirror, £138, Dvalenti Furniture.

Large seagrass baskets, £36 for two, From Wales with Love. GSI Kube X 45 x 35 wall mounted basin with towel rail, £291; Crosswater Totti basin 3-hole tap set, £227.50, both Sanctuary Bathrooms. nuie Cambria wall hung toilet with dual flush concealed cistern and wall hung frame, £250; Trojan Derwent single ended bath (1,400 x 700mm), £150, both Victoria Plumbing. Belgium Stone tumbled hexagon mosaic tiles, £260; tumbled Ibiza marble metro tiles, £539, both Starel Stones. Mira Leap Pivot shower door, £384; Mira Platinum rear fed, high pressure dual controller shower, £849; Mira Flight Low rectangle 1,200 x 760 shower tray, £187; Mira Revive bath filler, £159, all Mira Showers. Framed prints, £80 each, Heather Burton. Turkish towels, £6 each, Homescapes. Intelligent eggshell paint in Slaked Lime and Basalt, £68 per 2.5L, both Little Greene. Reina Fano Aluminium 1,500 x 485mm heated ladder towel radiator, £208, Drench.

TOTAL COST:

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£3,830 63

BATHROOM IDEAS

is on Keep your bathroom toasty and cut your bills by installing a new radiator, heated towel rail or underfloor heating system

F

ew things are more likely to dampen your spirits than stepping out of the shower or bath into a freezing cold room.

If your bathroom heating’s not up to scratch, now’s the time to upgrade it – you’ll benefit from better energy efficiency, too. Your options are a radiator, heated towel rail or electric underfloor heating. Radiators tap into the central heating system, while a heated rail can be plumbed in, electric-only or dual fuel, to warm towels all year round. An underfloor system, which needs to be fitted by a qualified electrician, heats the room as the hot air rises.

Tall and slim, this steely grey vertical radiator is an inspired choice for a large or high-ceilinged bathroom Santa Fe Stone Grey vertical double column radiator, 1,500 x 393mm, £239, Victoria Plum

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BATHROOM IDEAS Complement a contemporary grey and white scheme with a sleek vertical radiator that takes up minimal room Modal vertical radiator in Anthracite, 1,800 x 309mm, £221, Bathrooms to Love

Appearances can be deceptive – this slimline mirror conceals a stateof-the-art radiator incorporating an innovative waterproof touchscreen control and built-in sensors to ensure even heat output Soap Ellipse Water mirrored glass radiator, 1,380 x 500mm, £475, Wickes

Radiators

Unobtrusive, ultra energy-efficient and available in various sizes, this modern radiator brings a touch of elegance to bath time

Tribal cotton towel, from £4, George Home

Narrow proportions combined with excellent heat output make this wall-mounted model ideal for small bathrooms and en suites Clava radiator in White, 1,840 x 350mm, £521, Bathrooms to Love

November 2021

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Feature Andrea Dean

Vita Concord Plane radiator, from £167.12 for 444 x 500mm, Stelrad

BATHROOM IDEAS Brighten up bath time with this versatile ladder radiator, which comes in over 80 finishes – including Denim Blue – and in central heating, dual-fuel and electric versions

Less is more in the case of this super-slim electric warmer, which includes one fixed and two swivel pegs for robes as well as towels Simplicity II stainless steel towel and robe warmer, from £247.20 for 1,100 x 30mm, Vogue UK

Nina towel radiator, from £168 for 760 x 400mm, MHS Radiators

Heated towel RAILS

Fluffy Grey dressing gown, £49, Monsoon

Available in central-heating and electric models, this floor-standing towel radiator enhances period-style décor Chalfont towel radiator, from £1,652.40 for 938 x 675 mm, The Radiator Company Stripe bath mat, £10, Matalan

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A fresh take on a standard ladder, this floor-standing rail runs on the central heating and provides plenty of space to hang all the family’s towels Milano Indus Black ladder heated towel rail, 1,800 x 500mm (at the widest point), £259.95, BestHeating

BATHROOM IDEAS

Underfloor HEATING An underfloor heating mat features a ready-spaced wire for even output and reaches a comfortable temperature faster than a radiator Warmup StickyMat underfloor heating system, from £89.20 per sq m, Victorian Plumbing

The understated good looks of this flat-fronted design make it a must for a minimalist bathroom Athena White horizontal heated towel rail, from £569 for 920 x 500mm, The Radiator Company

Suitable for use under most types of flooring, this heating mat costs £12-£14 per square metre to run annually and has a lifetime guarantee Thermonet EZ underfloor heating mat set, from £59.99 per sq m, Drench

Silver Grey collection: bath mat, £22; hand towel, £24 for a pair; bath towel, £44 for a pair; bath sheet, £58 for a pair, all scooms

This horizontal rail allows you to make full use of wall space, as it can be installed above a bath or under a shelf or window, and is wide enough to dry two towels side by side Focus Horizontal chrome towel rail in central heating, dual fuel and electric options, from £90 for 400 x 1,000mm, Vogue UK

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Pat te r da le velvet chaise sofa O NLY £149 9

Patterdale velvet chaise sofa, scatter cushions optional extras.

See in-store or online for details. Delivery charges apply. dfs.co.uk

making everyday more comfortable

YOUR handmade HOME Check out this month’s round-up of crafty projects

Craft sta 80. sh mu

70

st haves

YH

LOV E

S

How to give an old fireplace a new lease of life

70 EASY AS 1, 2, 3!

76 DIY MASTERCLASS

Keen to try your hand at block printing? We’ve got three simple projects to get you started.

Put the charm back into your property with our step-by-step guide to restoring a fireplace.

72 REVAMP REPAIR RECYCLE

78 ASK THE EXPERTS

We take a £5 IKEA tray and give it a glamorous upcycle using metallic paint and marble-look vinyl.

Industry insiders advise on decking upkeep, window dressings for winter, designing a basement room and more!

74 SEW SIMPLE

80 CRAFT STASH MUST HAVES

Get ready for winter by sewing your own handmade draught excluder using scraps of fabric.

From making your own clock to cute knitted cushion kits, there are plenty of new crafts to give a go this month.

76 November 2021

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Easy as 1, 2, 3!

With this guide to block printing, you can add handcrafted details to basic, budget-friendly buys. Start with the stamp, then step up your skills by applying your pattern to paper and fabric

Top tip There’s no need to buy special fabric paint, regular acrylic will not wash off your tea towel.

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SIMPLE STAMPS

TEA TOWEL

SHOPPING LIST

SHOPPING LIST

✔ Carving tools – we used a lino cutter with both narrow and wide blades ✔ 2 x rubber stamp-carving blocks, measuring 5 x 5cm and 10 x 10cm ✔ Pen or pencil ✔ Paper ✔ Scissors

Plan out your design by drawing it out onto some paper first. We chose a rose-hip design, which has two colours, so we left a gap between the separate elements of the berry and the stem.

Cut out the elements and use these as stencils to draw around onto your rubber blocks. Transfer the berry shape onto the small 5 x 5cm carving block – you only need to do this once as this can be reused for all the berries.

Then transfer the stem and leaves onto the larger 10 x 10cm block. Fill in the areas you want to cut with your pen to make it clear which area you want to remove.

Cut away the black areas from the design, using the narrow cutting tool to outline the design and add fine details and then switch to the wider cutting tool to remove the larger areas.

Trim the rubber down so that it’s about 0.5-1cm away from the design. Test the stamp to make sure it prints clean, if not, continue to carve away the spots that are printing that shouldn’t be.

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✔ Plain white cotton tea towel ✔ Saucer or tea plate ✔ Ink roller ✔ Acrylic paint ✔ Washable dish or plate ✔ Ruler ✔ Carved stamps Wash, dry and iron your tea towel to reduce the risk of shrinkage after stamping. Place the towel down on a flat surface and position the saucer face down on one end of the towel. Use a ruler to make sure it’s equidistant from the side and bottom edges.

Take your stem stamp and apply an even coat of green acrylic paint to it using the ink roller and plate, as described in step 1 of the ‘wrapping paper’ project. Using the edge of the plate as a guide, stamp a motif around it.

Continue around the plate, changing the angle of the stamp each time. Allow to dry.

Remove the plate and then use the small rose-hip stamp to add some red berries.

Once the berries have been added to the end of the stems add a few extra berries to fill any large gaps to even out the design. Allow to dry fully.

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WRAPPING PAPER

✔ Brown paper ✔ Kraft gift tag ✔ Acrylic paint, we used red and green ✔ Washable dish or plate ✔ Ink roller ✔ Baker’s twine ✔ Carved stamps

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Lay out a length of brown paper and weigh down the corner to prevent it from moving around as you work. First, place some green paint onto a plate or similar flat, washable dish and roll the ink roller through the paint to get an even coating of paint onto it. Then, use the ink roller to apply a thin layer of green paint onto the stem stamp. Press the stamp onto the paper, applying even pressure across the whole stamp and then remove – be quite fast here as acrylic paint dries quickly. Repeat across your paper, changing the angle each time. Allow to dry. Wash the stamp, plate and ink roller ready for the next step.

Repeat this process with your rose-hip berries using red paint, aligning them with the stems. Add a scattering of berries in the gaps. Allow to dry fully before wrapping presents and finishing with baker’s twine.

To make a tag, take a kraft card tag and apply green paint onto just a small section of the stem stamp and then align with the bottom of the tag. Add a single red berry to finish then allow to dry.

Projects and step photos Heather Nugent Main photo Dave Caudery Styling Beth Charlton Lucas

SHOPPING LIST

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November 2021

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REVAMP REPAIR recycle

Enjoy your morning coffee in style by giving a plain wooden tray a modern marble makeover

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aking everyday household items a little more luxe is far easier, and more affordable, than you may think. Take this upcycled IKEA tray as an example – a lick of metallic gold furniture paint and some marble-look detailing has elevated a plain tray into a decadent piece of home décor. It’s a good project for DIY beginners to start with, as all you need to do is follow a few simple steps to make a glamorous design statement – ideal for serving up cocktails this season.

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SHOPPING LIST

✔ Klack tray, £5, IKEA ✔ Sanding block ✔ Masking tape ✔ 2cm-wide paintbrush ✔ 125ml Rust-Oleum Metallic Finish furniture paint in Gold, £5.50, Homebase ✔ 125ml Rust-Oleum furniture lacquer in Clear, £5.50, Homebase ✔ Measuring tape ✔ Metal ruler ✔ Pencil ✔ Craft knife ✔ Cutting mat ✔ d-c-fix Marble Grey selfadhesive film, £6 for 67.5cm x 2m, B&Q ✔ Old credit or loyalty card

Using a medium grade sanding block, gently sand both the inner and outer surfaces of the wooden sides of the tray.

Using a soft cloth and warm soapy water, wipe the sanded surfaces to remove any traces of dust and debris to ensure a smooth finish when you apply the paint. Leave to dry.

Cut masking tape to mask all around the edges of the tray surface where it meets the sides. This will prevent any brush strokes marking the tray’s surface when you begin to paint.

Turn the tray upside down and, using a 2cm-wide paintbrush, apply a coat of paint to the outer surface of the tray sides. Leave to dry and repeat with another two coats of paint.

Once these are dry, turn the tray over and repeat with three coats of paint to the inner surface of the tray sides, taking care not to get any paint on the flat surface of the tray. Leave to dry.

To protect the tray from bumps and knocks, apply two coats of clear varnish to the areas you have painted, allowing it to dry thoroughly between coats. Once the varnish is completely dry, gently remove the masking tape from the tray’s surface.

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Using a measuring tape, measure the tray’s surface. Transfer these measurements to the paper backing of the self-adhesive film using a pencil and ruler.

Working on a cutting mat, use a sharp craft knife and a metal ruler to cut out a piece of self-adhesive film for the tray’s surface.

Clean the surface of the tray thoroughly, as even small specks of dust and dirt will cause the self-adhesive film to bubble when applied. Hold the self-adhesive film over the tray’s surface with the paper side facing down

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and peel back the first five centimetres of backing paper. Make sure the edges of the film butt up neatly to the inner sides of the tray.

Gently pull the backing paper away and smooth the film to the surface as you go. Use an old credit or loyalty card to help squeeze out any air bubbles from beneath the surface of the film as you work. Once you have peeled away all the paper and adhered the film to the tray’s surface, go over the surface for a final time with the credit card to ensure it’s securely stuck all the way to the edges.

Tray chic: from coffee mornings to cocktail hour you can now serve up your drinks in style, thanks to this glamorous upcycling idea

Top tip

Feature Anna-Lisa De’Ath Photos Dave Caudery Styling Beth Charlton Lucas

When applying the metallic paint with a paintbrush, use long sweeping strokes to ensure a neat, professional finish.

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SEW simple

Keep draughts at bay with a handmade excluder, appliquéd with cute and colourful mini houses

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ake sure a rogue draught doesn’t have you feeling the chill by sewing your own simple excluder. Not only will it keep you cosy and help to save you money on bills, it’ll look sweet as well, thanks to its quaint row of little appliqué houses in a rainbow of autumnal hues. As the houses don’t need much fabric to make it’s a great way to use up scraps for a thrifty project too.

SHOPPING LIST

✔ Half a metre of patterned fabric ✔ Small scraps of co-ordinating fabrics ✔ Thread ✔ Bondaweb ✔ Embroidery threads ✔ Soft toy filling or a draft excluder cushion ✔ 2 x buttons ✔ Iron ✔ Sewing machine ✔ Needle ✔ Sewing machine thread ✔ Scissors ✔ Pencil or removable fabric marker

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Start by cutting out your fabric strips for the cover of the draft excluder. Cut the front piece to measure 130 x 20cm and the back piece 100 x 20cm. Finish the short raw edges of both pieces using a machine zigzag stitch.

Fold over the longer front piece by 25cm to make the flap closure and press in place, and on the back piece fold and press over 5cm to create a neat edge for the opening.

Take your fabric scraps and press Bondaweb onto the back of the pieces following the manufacturer’s instructions. Cut your scraps into different rectangles, squares, and triangles. We also added tree and fox shapes to ours, so try cutting out motifs of your own.

Create the houses by layering the shapes – play around with the arrangement so you’re happy with it before pressing them into place.

Starting with the bigger shapes, peel off the paper backing and press into place on your front piece. Then you can add the smaller shapes for the roofs and windows in the same way.

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Using a pencil or a removable fabric marker, draw in some extra details on the houses, such as window panes and frames, doors or roof tiles.

With your sewing machine or by hand, embroider your marked details in thread to highlight them and keep the fabric scraps in place. The Bondaweb alone would be fine, but sewing them in place will secure them to last.

Place the front piece and the back piece with right sides (RS) together, matching up the edges, and pin in place. Make sure the folds you made at the open end are still folded over before you sew a 1cm seam down both long edges and across the closed end.

Turn the cover RS out and press. Sew two buttonholes with your sewing machine on the flap and then hand-sew the buttons onto the back in corresponding places for the closure.

Stuff the cover with soft toy filling or an existing draught excluder cushion and close the button fastening to finish.

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Feature and step photos Samantha Claridge Main photo Dave Caudery Styling Beth Charlton Lucas

The charm of this excluder is all in the detail, so experiment with adding your own motifs – you could try hot-air balloons, clouds, birds, flowers, people and more

Top tip

Choose co-ordinating buttons for the excluder’s flap for a neat finish. If you have an excluder cushion, the buttoned opening will make it easy to remove the cushion to hand-clean any scuff marks on the cover.

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DIY masterclass

Return a painted fireplace to its former glory to boost your home’s character

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f you’re looking to put the charm back into a period property, then checking out the condition of any original fireplaces is a great place to start. Even if the chimney isn’t in use, you can still make the most of the mantelpiece to display artworks, and the grate itself to store candles, logs, houseplants or perhaps some sparkling baubles come Christmastime. As this guide shows, even a small fireplace that’s caked in layers of paint (and a few stickers!) can be brought back to life. It can be a bit of a tough job – if you have bad knees, you may wish to invest in a kneeling pad – but with some hard work and elbow grease, the results will be very impressive.

SHOPPING LIST

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✔ Protective sheet ✔ Strong rubber gloves ✔ Safety goggles ✔ Face mask ✔ Old paintbrushes ✔ Clingfilm ✔ Paint and varnish remover (we used Nitro Mors) ✔ Shave hook ✔ Wire scourer ✔ Wire brushes, various sizes ✔ Old sponge or cloth ✔ White spirit ✔ Kitchen roll ✔ Grate polish (we used Stovax) ✔ Soft brush ✔ Toothbrush ✔ Lint-free cloths

Clear the area and protect your floor and the surrounding walls. Open a window or two for good ventilation. Wearing your goggles and protective gloves, pour some paint remover into a plastic pot – with Nitro Mors, the outer lid doubles up. Take an old paintbrush and apply a generous coat of the gel. Leave for 5-10 minutes.

After this time, the surface of the paint should start to bubble up. Reapply a second thick coat of the removal gel and work it into the surface with the brush. You may see flakes start to come away at this stage.

Now, you can either leave for 30-40 minutes (according to pack instructions) or, for more thickly painted surfaces, cover with clingfilm and leave for a few hours. The trick here is to ensure the gel does not dry out.

While the gel is still wet, carefully remove the clingfilm (if using) and begin to scrape and scrub the paint away. We found it best to start with the shave hook – making use of its many differently shaped edges to get into all of the fireplace’s nooks and crannies, before moving onto a wire brush and a scourer to scrape away the remaining paint and gel. Repeat steps 1-3 until you have removed as much

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paint as possible. We had at least four layers of paint to get through and it required three gel applications. The grate polish will cover a modest amount of paint, so don’t worry about removing 100 per cent of the paint.

Clean any remaining gel from your fireplace using a cloth and white spirit. Dry thoroughly with kitchen roll or an old cloth.

Now apply the grate polish. This is a messy job, so we recommend double

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checking that your walls and floors are still well protected. Gloves, goggles and scruffy clothes are a must! Squeeze a little grate polish onto a soft brush – we used the sort you would for polishing shoes – and work it into the surface of the fireplace. Switch to a toothbrush to get into any hard-to-reach spots. Once you have covered all of the fireplace, take a dry cloth and wipe off the polish – the more you buff at this stage the shinier the result will be.

Stripped of at least four layers of paint, all the detail on this vintage fireplace is visible again, which adds real character to the room

Top tip

Before you start, transfer any removable parts of the fireplace into a large plastic receptacle, such as an old washing up bowl, and work on these separately, following the same techniques.

Feature and photos Mel Sherwood

Before

Get inspired For more incredible DIY projects, such as how to fit wooden bath panelling and how to paint radiators, visit Yourhomestyle.uk.

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How should I approach decorating my dark, basement room? Kristy Spears, Winchester

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ASK THE

experts

Our team of experts answer your home-improvement questions

What kind of window dressings do I need to ensure my home is insulated during the winter? Clair Collinson, Preston

Q

Leah Aspinall, Head of Creative at Blinds 2go says… If you have patio doors or large windows, thermal pleated blinds are the perfect choice to keep your home insulated and the cold away. The aluminium-lined, honeycomb pockets trap the air and work hard to create a thermal barrier between the room and

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the window. These innovative blinds are designed to protect your home from the winter chills, while helping to reduce your energy bills. Layering blinds and curtains is also a great way to create a snug space. A combination of wooden Venetian blinds and curtains or Roman blinds and curtains make stylish and practical options for winter. Choosing thermal lining on curtains, Roman blinds or roller blinds will add insulation, helping to reduce heat loss and bring a cosy feel to a room in an instant. Plus, they allow you to experiment with colour, pattern and texture and show your individual style, while keeping the chill away.

Xander Shreenan, Interior Designer at Dowsing & Reynolds, says… There are two directions you could go: light or dark. Introduce plenty of light by painting the walls and ceiling in a light shade, though avoid a stark white as this can make the room feel clinical. A paint with a sheen finish will help bounce light around, too.

Combine different sources of light – ceiling lights, wall lights or sconces, floor lamps and table lamps, to create various pools of light that will let your eyes travel around the room.

Install dimmer switches with your lighting to control the ambience and give the room multiple functions.

Or, embrace the darkness of the space. Paint the walls and ceiling in the same colour and opt for a dark brown or deep green for depth. Bring in layers of lighting and add accents of brass, such as switches and handles to add warmth and glints of light. In a darker space, there’s a risk that it can feel flat and unwelcoming. Combining textures is a quick way to add dimension and depth and create a cocooning feel.

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Gold and black double dimmer switch, £54.99; Grosvenor wall light in Forgotten Silver with bulb, £159.98; In Deep Water paint, £49.99 per 2.5L; Just A Perfect Grey paint, £49.99 per 2.5L, all Dowsing & Reynolds

How should I care for my decking over the winter months to ensure it remains in good condition? Marie Somerfield, Bath

Q

Allan Jeffrey, Managing Director at Ultra Decking, says… There are a few things you can do to help prepare for the damp and frosty weather. Keep the decking and gaps free of dirt, especially from planters or pots. Remove debris, leaves and twigs, and store garden furniture away when not in use.

It’s important to remove and treat any mould or mildew you see building up. A simple white vinegar mix with water is a good natural cleaning solution to keep your decking in top condition. It’s also good idea to apply a slip-resistant sealant, which acts as a shield against moisture and ice.

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Grey composite decking board, £36 per sq m, Ultra Decking

William Morris Acanthus Velvet Forest curtains, from £52.45; Smoke Whisper faux wood 50mm slat blind, from £17.55, both Blinds 2go

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How do I keep my home office nice and warm (yet workable!) during the winter months? Matthew Goldbrook, Birmingham

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Nick Duggan, Managing Director at The Radiator Centre says… In order to work from home effectively, ensure that you have your room heated to a comfortable temperature. Being too hot or cold can be distracting when you’re trying to concentrate.

The latest radiators come with all the benefits of efficient technology and smart-connected heating, meaning you can set the perfect temperature without wasting energy. Key functions that allow this are seven-day programming and the ability to turn the heating on and off instantly. Unexpected colder nights can be acted upon if the homeowner is out, without having to alter settings on their boiler or room thermostat at their house. Likewise, you can control the heating if there’s a change in your regular work or lifestyle pattern. Used correctly, smart heating apps are easy to use and

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provide a great way to ‘connect’ your home. The improved functionality offered by connected home systems and smart heating apps should

be considered part of a range of energy-saving initiatives, as you won’t be heating an empty house unnecessarily.

Campa Naturay Select radiator, £1,500, The Radiator Centre

How do I make my bathroom look modern and on-trend without breaking the budget? Colleen Dunn, Colchester

Q

Matki-ONE wet room panel with wall brace bar, from £466.80, Matki

Nicholas Cunild, Managing Director at Matki, says… Wet rooms are often associated with high-end hotels and luxury apartments, but it’s possible to achieve this spacious look without breaking the bank. Keep your renovation costs down by choosing a wet room panel and installing it with a shower tray. This will enable you to avoid the expense of installing a properly tanked wet room. The Matki-ONE wet room panel with wall brace bar, for example, can be installed with either a

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Matki-ONE wet room panel with ceiling brace bar, from £588, Matki

shower tray or shower floor for a real wet-room look. To make your bathroom stand out, the attractive wall brace bar with disc insert and minimal wall mount is customisable in a range of contemporary colour and metallic finishes, including silver, white, black and architectural bronze. As well as reducing costs, this wet room panel is easier to clean as it comes with a completely frameless base.

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

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Craft stash

MUST HAVES Discover the newest trends in craft and DIY, and book your spot on a lively workshop

Workshop

ON THE TILES

Whether your sights are set on a tiny splashback or an entire wet room, you can get to grips with tiling in just one afternoon. From 2-4.30pm on 6th November at The Goodlife Centre in south-east London, learn how to choose the right tiles for a job, prep the surface, cut tiles in straight lines and curves, secure them, then grout for a watertight finish. At £85, it’s a great springboard for budding DIYers. All tools and materials are provided so you can save your own tiles for best!

Turn back time It’s the end of British Summer Time, which seems like a fitting time to craft a clock! We love this full-of-fun Amazing Clock Kit from The Happy Puzzle Company. Both sides of the clock are transparent so you can see the cogs and springs as they rotate, how they cause the pendulum to swing and turn the hands, and how they make the bell chime! An excellent gift for the over fives, for birthdays or Christmas, £14.99.

MOVE MOUNTAINS We’ve gone weak at the skis for this Mountain Top Cushion knitting kit from Wool Couture.

The trio ranges in size from 24cm to 38cm tall and will look right at home grouped together on a sofa or bed. The easy kit, £49.99, uses knit, spike and decreasing stitches, and you can choose from 24 different shades when ordering. Pictured here is Granite and Natural Cream.

Penny-wise

Hot off the press is Esme Crick’s debut book, Mosaic Crochet Workshop, which is full of geometric crochet patterns for pillows, throws and rugs.

Mosaic crochet is an innovative technique that allows you to work two-colour patterns without the faff of changing colours every few seconds.

All you need to get started is a crochet hook, two balls of yarn… and this book! Buy it for £15.99, David & Charles.

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Feature Diane Hollands Thomas

CUTTING EDGE CROCHET

Get creative with the new art range from Poundland, which includes Daler Rowney Simply Acrylic paints – use them to decorate terracotta pots, make your own original wall art and more! They come in 30ml tubes and cost – you guessed it – £1 each. Check out the whole range in your local store.

M E ATT PA L B A H S INT A W

Life can be messy, but your walls don’t have to be With Johnstone’s Washable Matt, wiping your walls clean has never been easier

TOUGH & DURABLE

GREASE & MOISTURE RESISTANT

AVAILABLE IN 30 COLOURS

Paint for life’s messy moments www.johnstonespaint.com/washable

SCAN TO SHOP NOW

Reader HOMES

See your home here!

Have you just finished decorating your home? If so, we’d love to see your photos and, who knows, it may even be featured in a future issue.

You can share them on Instagram using #YHlovemyhome and #YourHomemagazine

Take a peek inside reader homes filled with stylish finds and fresh decorating ideas

84 Becca has given her first home an expensive look without the price tag, thanks to clever DIYs and a sleek monochrome palette

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Jade infused her once-stark converted bungalow with warmth and style using cosy, classic neutrals

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PLUS IDEAS TO STEAL

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An interior designer helped to bring harmony and personality to Katie’s disjointed townhouse

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REAL HOME

Cosy bungalow

‘We saved thousands by taking our time’ Jade and Andrew Butcher turned their converted bungalow’s top-to-bottom monochrome look on its head by layering warm neutrals for timeless appeal

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ade Butcher and her husband, Andrew, decided to relocate from London back to Jade’s hometown of Thorpe Bay, in Essex, when they found out they were having their second child, Eva. Freddie, the couple’s first born, was due to start school the following September, so they were in a hurry to find a home and get the family settled, though it wasn’t as smooth a process as they had hoped. ‘We sold our house in Chiswick quickly, but we struggled to find somewhere to buy,’ Jade recalls. ‘Time was running out and we had come to terms with the fact that it was looking like we might need to rent for a while, when we received a call from our estate agent notifying us of a property that had come back on the market after a sale fell through on the day of exchange. The seller needed a quick sale, we viewed it on the Saturday, our offer was accepted on the Monday and we moved in two months later.’

THRIFTYe IDpatiEenAce

If you have th pment, and the equi d painting stripping an will cost a gloss cabinets e price th of fraction of new units.

Just when Jade and Andrew had lost hope on their house search, they found this converted bungalow in need of care, but with great potential to be a stylish family home

‘The kitchen was our big bargain,’ says Jade. ‘Doing it ourselves meant that we didn’t have to fork out for a brand-new kitchen.’ Having updated the existing cabinets, they finished the scheme with panelling and new flooring

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REAL HOME

COME ON IN. .

WE ARE Jade Butcher, 35, an interior colour consultant. You can find me on Instagram @aninteriorstory. My husband is Andrew, 37, and our children are Freddie who is six and Eva who’s two.

OUR HOME IS A five-bedroom, detached 1930s bungalow conversion in Thorpe Bay, Essex. We have lived here since late 2018.

MY TOP TIP IS To take your time and

KITCHEN Despite being the same units, the kitchen is unrecognisable from its previous incarnation of black, gloss cabinets and white, glittereffect floor tiles.

Jade and Andrew painstakingly peeled back the gloss from the cabinets before painting them OUR MUST HAVES Persis bar stool in Brown, £425 for two, Perch & Parrow Cupboards painted in Architect’s Satinwood in Squid Ink, £78 per 2.5L, Paint & Paper Library.

For similar pendant lights try Mellen 3 kitchen island pendant, £68.99, Wayfair

FOR STYLE INSPIRATION I feel very fortunate that as an interior colour consultant my job involves visiting lots of people’s homes to help them build schemes. I often leave with lots of inspiration from them.

NEXT TO DO IS The utility room. It’s currently a dumping ground where halfempty paint tins go to die.

Study Kitchen

GROUND FLOOR Family room Utility room

Living room

Garage Hall

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 4

FIRST FLOOR Spray paint kitchen handles in gold, like Jade, for a sleek new look on a budget

En suite Main bedroom Hall

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Feature Abbi Henderson Photos Georgia Burns

‘We painted the doors and sprayed the handles and got a brand-new kitchen at a fraction of the price.’

think about whether you are making a choice because it’s something you genuinely love, or because it’s something you’ve seen trending on Instagram.

REAL HOME

The Karndean flooring remains Jade’s best buy so far. ‘Not only is it gorgeous it’s also hard-wearing, which is important for such a high-traffic area,’ says Jade. ‘Three years on and still not even a scratch!’

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REAL HOME PLAYROOM Jade and Andrew felt like they’d won the jackpot with the location. At one end of their street is the train station with direct links to London, making the couple’s commute super straightforward. At the other end is the beach, which enhances family time no end. Another big win was upsizing from their Chiswick pad to a roomy five-bed bungalow conversion with oodles more space. ‘It felt so strange when we first moved in as we had been used to living in our modest London home. The new place was around four times the size, so we felt as though we were rattling about in it,’ recalls Jade.

However, while the property had many plus points – the location and extra space included – the interior decor left a lot to be desired, and Jade and Andrew certainly had their work cut out for them. ‘It was very ‘bling’ when we moved in,’ Jade says. ‘There was a lot of black and white and there were tiles everywhere – even the lounge walls were tiled! It felt quite cold and stark and not very homely – we wanted to change everything.’ The pair decided to paint in neutrals and replace the flooring to create a blank canvas that would

‘Being an interior colour consultant, I’m interested in the psychology of colour,’ says Jade.

‘Green is a calming colour, and pink is known as the colour of a hug as it’s so nurturing. I wanted the kids to feel as though they were being cuddled by the ceiling in here when they are playing’ OUR MUST HAVES Malu vintagestyle shelf in rattan cane, £80, La Redoute. For a similar rug try Boho 8280 rug in White Black, from £79.99, Rugs Direct. Baldaz matt brass effect wall light, £25, B&Q

To transform her home’s previous ultramodern look, Jade has injected character by adding period details, such as wall panelling and built-in cupboards, and painting it in classic colours that have a heritage feel

STYLING SAVVY

For floor-to-c eiling windows, ch oose barely-there blinds so they won’t d istract from the view .

To create a distinct dining area, Jade has zoned the space with a large rug. Light-boosting beige and taupe make the most of the natural daylight streaming in through the patio doors

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REAL HOME

LIVING ROOM The snug living room is a world away from its previously stark monochrome look. Jade has layered up plush textiles, natural materials and gold details so her neutral scheme is warm, chic and inviting OUR MUST HAVES Hauga cabinet with two doors in White, £129, IKEA. Round cane magazine rack, £69, Graham & Green (see image right). For a similar swivel chair try Pink Velvet office chair with caster, £95.99, ManoMano

DIY THE LOOK

Create bespok e built-in storag e for a fraction of th e price using budget-frien dly IK EA bookcase un its as frames.

Jade’s dad used IKEA bookcases to create a bespoke storage unit and desk area to get the look of fitted cabinets without the price tag

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REAL HOME allow them to facilitate a fresh decor identity without needing to rush the renovation process. They chipped away at updating their interiors a room at a time.

MINDFUL MONEY-SAVING The kitchen was first on the list to overhaul.

‘It had glossy black units that weren’t to our taste at all,’ Jade says. ‘We explored so many options, from having the doors replaced to having them sprayed to replacing the entire kitchen. Andrew noticed a small hole on one of the doors where some of the gloss had come away from the wood so we decided to try and take all the gloss off ourselves. Every evening, Andrew would melt the gloss with a heat gun and scraper, while I watched holding our newborn daughter.’ Although somewhat taxing, particularly as parents to two little ones, the DIY job saved the couple thousands.

‘Once we finally removed all the gloss we painted the doors and sprayed the handles and got a brand-new kitchen at a fraction of the price,’ explains Jade.

Elsewhere in the house, the couple had more nifty money-saving solutions up their sleeves to keep renovation costs down. In the family bathroom, they made use of excess floor tiles from the hallway makeover to save on the expense of investing in a new design.

‘It felt quite cold and stark and not very homely – we wanted to change everything.’

Jade has balanced modern, minimal lines with on-trend details, like her sleek floating mantle shelf and cane magazine rack

Wallpapering inside of the DIY panelling with a tonal leaf design adds a bit of pattern and lifts this corner of the living room

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REAL HOME BEDROOM ‘I wanted our bedroom to feel relaxing but also make the most of the gorgeous west-facing light,’ says Jade. ‘I chose a beautiful green colour for the walls, which I softened by teaming it with a neutral hue’ OUR MUST HAVES Malm chest of 3 drawers in Oak Veneer, £60, IKEA. Plain weave chenille blanket in Grass Green, £19.99, Zara Home. Santiago large washed urn table lamp, £45, Dunelm

‘We’ve really taken our time with this house and tackled it room by room.’

Jade wanted a restful feel in the guest room, so she went for a muted grey-green on the walls. She’s pepped it up with prints and burnt orange lampshades, which really add a playful and colourful pop to the cool green

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The couple cleverly created a built-in desk and storage area in the lounge using IKEA bookcases and cupboards as carcasses, which Jade’s dad expertly boxed in. ‘He somehow made them look like they’ve always been there, which I absolutely love. It’s such a nice place to work,’ she smiles.

Jade and Andrew’s home makeover has been a labour of love, and it’s ongoing – the utility is next on their list of rooms to tackle – but by taking the slow and mindful approach to renovating that they have, they’ve been able to avoid costly errors and losing time due to impulse decision-making. The result is a family house they’re incredibly proud of and happy to call home. ‘We’ve really taken our time with this place and tackled it room by room,’ says Jade. ‘By doing it this way, we’ve been able to consider things like the way we use each space and how the light changes in each room throughout the day in our designs.

No decision has been rushed, so there’s absolutely nothing I would change.’

GIRL’S BEDROOM Eva’s cute and calming bedroom had a speedy, temporary (though, no less stylish) makeover using wallpaper and paint, as she’ll be switching to a bigger bedroom when she’s ready to move out of her cot OUR MUST HAVES Rabbit portrait poster, £9.95, Desenio. Dog laundry basket, £38, Matalan. For a similar rug try Cabana OffWhite rug, £126.99, Wayfair

REAL HOME FAMILY BATHROOM ‘Before, it was black and chrome,’ says Jade. ‘I wanted to add colour, so I chose soft aqua, which makes the room feel really calming. I also created a step up to the free-standing bath to make it feel more grand’

OUR MUST HAVES Grass By Sea poster, from £12.95, Desenio.

For a similar bath try The Bath Co. Camberley traditional freestanding bath, £735, Victoria Plum

DESIGN TRICnK,

DOWNSTAIRS TOILET ‘I searched so long for a vanity that looked vintage and that would fit the space, but couldn’t find anything,’ Jade recalls. ‘Eventually, I found a genuine Victorian washstand on Etsy for £100. We tiled the top, cut holes in it for the plumbing, and then added the tap and basin’

ai To make a pl cosy el fe om ro boxy , add ul rf and characte t os -c w lo simple, g. in ll ne pa DIY

OUR MUST HAVES Metal round pebble wall mirror medium, £75, Oliver Bonas. For a similar towel try cotton rich quick dry hand towel in Cream, £4, Marks & Spencer. Morris & Co Marigold wallpaper in Bullrush, £73 per roll, Jane Clayton

STEAL MY STYLE ‘I add richness to a muted colour palette with metallics, prints and warm accents’ Jade

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1. Artificial plant in pot, £35, Next 2. Berber rug mono, from £25, George Home 3. Lunebar touch table lamp in Brushed Gold, £30, Dunelm 4. Multicolour polka dot tepee, £25, Primark 5. Patsy large round wall mirror in Black, £150, Habitat 6. Mayfair bar stool, £179, Cult Furniture

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REAL HOME

Modern townhouse

‘We turned a disjointed house into a relaxed family home’ Katie and Arthur brought in a design professional to help them achieve a cosy-contemporary look when their creative brainstorming hit a brick wall

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t took just a 15-minute tour of their townhouse to convince Katie and Arthur that they wanted to buy it. Yet it was a further six months – following protracted negotiations and the final exchange of contracts – before they saw it again inside.

‘We were really excited to have finally bought a house together,’ says Katie. ‘We were living close by so we made a point of walking past it as often as possible. We spent hours planning what we would do with it.’

However, when they finally got the keys and saw it without furniture, it looked very different to the way they remembered it. ‘It was a dark, dull evening and this time the house was empty of furniture, so we saw all the things that the furniture had been hiding,’ says Katie. ‘The first impression was that the ceilings seemed very low, and the rooms looked dark. It felt cold and damp, the carpet was in a terrible state and the kitchen was

What’s behind the green door? Katie and her husband, Arthur, have transformed their home from pre-rental mess into a cosy, welcoming family space

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awful. Without all the homely bits and pieces in, it looked completely different. I sat down and sobbed. We had moved from a modern home and bought this damp, dirty house that needed a huge amount of work doing to it.

We couldn’t believe what we’d done.’

Katie finally has the light, airy kitchen she imagined when she first moved in, thanks to new farmhouse-style cabinets, a fresh, soft-green scheme and a clever reworking of the pantry and seating areas

Katie and Arthur are not the kind of people to stay down for long, however. They loved that it had gardens front and back and space for off-road parking. The ground floor rooms were spacious and the location close to Hoxton station was perfect. Shortly after

REAL HOME The couple removed the door to make the pantry part of the kitchen and it’s now a practical food prep and storage area, zoned from the rest of the room with wallpaper

Katie teamed a vintage table bought on Etsy with a pair of modern dining chairs and a built-in banquette to make best use of limited space. The couple’s son, Arthur, loves playing here while his mum and dad are in the kitchen

COME ON IN. .

WE ARE Katie Lewis, 37, and Arthur Silvente, 36. We are both senior sales directors at a translation services company.

We have a son, Arthur, five.

OUR HOME IS A 1980s, three-bedroom townhouse in Hoxton, London. We bought it in November 2017.

SAVVY SOLUTION

MY STYLE IS Welcoming and minimalist,

If you haven ’t got space for a dining table and chairs, tr y a banquette or bench to max imise the amount of se ating for family dinin g.

with inspiration from nature and plants. We don’t like to have much clutter.

MY TOP TIP Ask for help from a professional designer. People think it can be an expensive option, but Olivia Clasper of Assembly Interiors knew where to source everything at the best price and came up with ideas we would never have thought of.

Katie and Arthur chose country-style units from Wickes to give the dark, dated kitchen an overhaul, but it was designer Olivia Clasper’s idea of having a banquette seat that turned it into a cheerful family room they love to spend time in together OUR MUST HAVES, Henry pendant light, £48, Pooky. Soho dining chairs in Tan, £475 for two, Cox & Cox. Convex glass porthole mirror, from £65, Graham & Green

‘We had moved from a modern home and bought this damp, dirty house, which needed a huge amount of work doing to it.’

OUR FAVOURITE ROOM Is the living room as the furniture is arranged to create separate areas – for reading, playing or watching television – which all work together as a whole.

OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS Pulling everything together at the same time and living in the house with a young son while the changes were made.

Bathroom

Bedroom 3

GROUND FLOOR

Feature Heather Dixon Photos Matt Clayton

KITCHEN

Kitchen-diner

Living room

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 1

FIRST FLOOR

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REAL HOME The brick wall made the living room feel dark and cold, but it was a simple fix – with just a lick of white paint, Katie and Arthur have made it a subtle feature wall that works with their modern scheme

‘We bought some basic furniture, such as sofas and beds so that the house felt lighter and comfortable.’ moving in, they made some basic changes to turn it from a one-time rental property into a welcoming family home. ‘We did three things in quick succession,’ says Katie. ‘We replaced the old kitchen units with new country-style cupboards and worktops, pulled up all the carpets and tidied up the garden, which was an overgrown mess. As soon as we had done this the whole place started to look brighter and better. We bought some basic furniture, such as sofas and beds, so that the house felt cleaner, lighter and comfortable.’

A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Katie has balanced vintage and contemporary styles in the living room, such as her minimal glass Loz table lamp from Pooky with a neutral shade, displayed on Rockett St George’s antique-style nest of side tables

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They then took some time to settle into the house with their two-year-old son, Arthur junior. At first, they were content with what they had achieved with their initial renovations, but it gradually became apparent that the house still didn’t quite work for them. ‘We always felt it didn’t gel as whole,’ says Arthur. ‘The furniture seemed to be all over the place and didn’t have that warm, welcoming look that we wanted, but we didn’t know how to achieve it. We are not designers

LIVING ROOM A few sprigs of dried flowers adds a splash of golden warmth to Katie’s side table OUR MUST HAVES Oak hairpin coffee table, £360, Wicked Home.

Dutra reversible wool rug, £339, Wayfair. Zinc 4-seater sofa, £899, DFS. For similar cushions try Elements triangle crewel cushion, £14, Dunelm

REAL HOME Light, bright and breezy: the new living space gives the family a comfy window seat to relax in and enjoy all the natural light that now floods into the room

EASY UPDAT

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Ma k e a com seat from fy window a foam p ad cut to siz e and th en layer ple nt y of c on top to ushions make it cosy.

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REAL HOME Although designer Olivia made lots of significant changes, not everything in the house is new – their antique mirror has been passed down through the family and fits right into Katie’s vintage-meets-modern scheme

‘The furniture seemed to be all over the place and didn’t have that warm, welcoming look that we wanted, but we didn’t know how to achieve it.’ and we were struggling to know how to make the best of the spaces we had.’

Desperate for help, they contacted their friend, interior designer Olivia Clasper, who presented three possible options for each room in the house. ‘We have known Olivia since moving to London and trusted her judgement,’ says Katie. ‘Her first suggestion was to change the kitchen by creating a cosy banquette. We had the dining table pushed up against the wall and just pulled it out when we needed to, but the banquette creates a very

distinct, practical eating area, which saves space and looks amazing.’

Katie also wanted to open up a pantry in the corner of the kitchen and turn it into a food preparation area. ‘It was quite large and wasn’t used very well, so it seemed like a wasted opportunity,’ she says. ‘We removed the door and fitted it out so that it now runs seamlessly into the main part of the kitchen.’

Another room that felt disjointed was the living room, which was also dominated by an exposed brick wall. ‘It looked cold and was not very welcoming,’ says Arthur. ‘Olivia suggested painting it white and it transformed the room! We just wouldn’t have thought of doing that. We also swapped the furniture around so that it went from being a long, disjointed living space to a series of cosy connected areas.’

FINALLY FINISHED

To complement the industrial vibe of the painted exposed brick wall, Katie found a bespoke metal and wood shelving unit from 4th & Folk on Etsy

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It took two weeks to rejuvenate the kitchen and living room, and a further week to revamp the bathroom. They swapped the dated bath and dark tiles for a walk-in shower, modern sink unit and pale green, on-trend wall and floor tiles. ‘We managed to live in

In a family home like this one, adding playful, quirky details, such as this cute fox vase, will make a grown-up living room fun for kids, too

REAL HOME

The once-dark brick wall no longer dominates the space, instead providing a textured backdrop for Katie’s vintage map and mid century-look furniture

After a furniture reshuffle, the oncedisjointed living room has really come together, giving the family a clearly defined area for relaxing in

By Arthur’s request, the couple have created a mini bar area next to the window seat, choosing the Greenwich bar trolley from Atkin & Thyme to bring a touch of sophisticated vintage glam

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REAL HOME Clean lines, minimal fuss and calming colours – picked up in the artwork behind the bed – make the bedroom a sanctuary for Katie and Arthur

‘Olivia’s experience helped to transform our mismatched house into a more comfortable, relaxing and cosy family home.’

BEDROOM A muted palette of greens and yellows offsets the darkwood furniture and oak floor in the main bedroom so it feels serene and stylish OUR MUST HAVES No.046 lamp in Opal Glass/Concrete, £65, John Lewis. For a similar bedside table try Mercury Row 2-drawer bedside table, £169.99, Wayfair. Sunday High Classic bed in Oak stain, from £770, Warren Evans

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Katie has kept Arthur’s room bright yet simple so it’s easy to change as he grows up, bringing colour in through accessories and prints

REAL HOME

SPACE SAV

ER

Replace a bath w a walkin show ith er choose light-co and loured tiles to mak bathroo e a compact m feel and brig bigger hter.

BATHROOM Katie has used clever design tricks to make her bathroom feel more spacious, hanging a large, custom-made mirror by Craft Decor to bounce light around the room

As in the rest of the house, Katie has combined traditional and modern elements in the bathroom, pairing classic taps with other sleek chrome fittings

OUR MUST HAVES For similar floor and shower tiles try Lato circle mosaic tile, £82.81 per sq m, Topps Tiles. Walls tiled in Padstow Sage wall tiles, £62.40 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore.

Crosswater Belgravia 300mm round fixed showerhead, £230.73, Victorian Plumbing

the house while the work was on-going, but we were without a bathroom for a while,’ says Arthur.

The finishing touch was to paint the burgundy front door in a modern shade of green to reflect the new-and-improved interior. ‘It was definitely worth asking Olivia for help,’ says Katie. ‘We knew what we wanted but didn’t know how to achieve it. Her experience helped to transform our mismatched house into a more comfortable, relaxing and cosy family home.’

To soften the angles of the rectangular wall tiles and shower enclosure, Katie chose round mosaic tiles for the floor and shower, with contrast dark grouting to emphasise the shape

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‘I like to contrast industrial and dark-wood furniture with muted shades and geometric prints’ Katie

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1. Agra hand-woven kilim cushion with feather filling in Gold and Black, £24.99, Homescapes 2. Vecchio round mirror with ribbed gold frame, £217, Around the House Furniture 3. Greenwich drinks trolley, £369, Atkin and Thyme 4. Tulip glass pendant lamp, £29, Cult Furniture 5. Rafa geometric flatweave rug in Silver Grey, from £99, Housecosy 6. Valente bedside table in dark mango wood, £199, Swoon

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REAL HOME

Sleek renovation

‘We added value to our home with a DIY overhaul’ First-time buyers Becca and Jordan modernised their dated bungalow on a budget, doing the work themselves and giving it a high-end look with chic dark décor

Howden’s Fairford kitchen in Charcoal provided the basis for Becca’s soft-chic scheme. ‘The colour is almost black, which we find relaxing and cosy, whereas a white kitchen would have looked too clinical and bright,’ says Becca

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etermined to get onto the property ladder, Becca and her partner, Jordan, decided to move back in with their respective parents and spent nearly four years saving for a deposit. In late 2019, they were in a position to begin seriously looking for their first home. ‘We quickly realised space meant more to us than location and we rejected a studio in central Brighton in favour of a bungalow by the coast in nearby Peacehaven, where Jordan’s parents live,’ says Becca.

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‘When we first came inside, we both had an instant feeling that this property was the one.’

FORWARD THINKING Although the bungalow was stuck in a time warp – pink and green carpets, Artex ceilings, beige decoration and a kitchen and bathrooms that had seen better days – the couple relished taking on the renovation project.

Not only was the sale price less than an equivalent property already done-up, Jordan

is a carpenter and builder and could do most of the work himself. ‘As first-time buyers we needed to increase the property’s value so that we’d be able to move up the ladder later on,’ says Becca. ‘This was the biggest bungalow we’d seen and saw instantly that we could knock down the wall between the kitchen and living room and create a more social open-plan room.’

As soon as the sale went through in December 2019, the couple got to work

REAL HOME

‘We wanted our home to be special but without overspending, so we didn’t splash out on a marble worktop and instead sourced a great marble-effect laminate from IKEA.’ Becca chose metallic fixtures and fittings to lift her dramatic dark kitchen and make it feel upscale. ‘We focused on the details, choosing a brass tap, handles and plug sockets – even the radiator has brass fittings,’ Becca explains The breakfast bar is a focal point thanks to custom pendants from Creative Cables. ‘I put together my own look choosing the ceiling rose, cable, lamp holder and half-brass bulbs, which look lovely without lampshades,’ says Becca

COME ON IN. .

WE ARE Becca Larkin, on Instagram @renovationliving, 26, an account manager for beauty brands, and my partner, Jordan Sutton, 27, who’s a carpenter.

OUR HOME A two-bedroom, semidetached bungalow built in the 1980s located in Peacehaven, East Sussex.

MY BEST BARGAIN Was IKEA’s Ekbacken laminate worktop. It was really affordable, we paid £550 and I recommend it to everyone.

SHOPS I LOVE ARE Creative Cables, my favourite independent for lighting, and the Decorating Centre Online is really handy – you type in the name of the paint, they colour-match it and send a sample pot.

MY BEST PROJECT The floating shelf in the kitchen was made from a piece of scaffolding board painted the same colour as the living room, with ironmongery I spray-painted gold.

KITCHEN Dining Kitchen

Feature Jane Crittenden Photos James French Styling Marisha Taylor

‘I like to support independent businesses and found Metro Tiles through Instagram,’ says Becca. ‘I chose the Urban Metro tiles as they’re slightly bigger than the standard metro design – each one measures 10cm x 30cm’

Lounge

OUR MUST HAVES Siena bar stool, £89, Dunelm.

Ekbacken worktop in marble effect laminate, 236cm x 2.8cm, £55, IKEA. 13 amp 2 gang DP switched socket in brushed brass/black, £6.85 each, TLC Direct

Bathroom

Garage

Bedroom Hall

MAKE IT POPr a

If you’ve opted fo me, just like black kitchen sche off with gold Becca’s, finish it and accessories, or brass fixtures handles, taps rd such as cupboa eates contrast and lighting. It cr e cool and warms up th lour co e monochrom e. m he sc

En suite Bedroom

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‘Black is a powerful neutral that we separated with white panelling in the living room and with a white worktop and tiles in the kitchen.’

LIVING ROOM Becca has echoed her geometric wall panel with abstract lines and curves on cushions, accessories and prints and matched the marble-effect kitchen worktop with a sleek coffee table to tie it all together OUR MUST HAVES Wool rug beads in Cream, £135.95, Benuta. Edie Editions modern round coffee table in White Marble/Glass/Gold, £302, Fy!. Comfi fabric corner sofa with chaise end in Cosmo Mist, £1,595, Furniture Village

REAL HOME

EASY UPDATE Painting accent walls in strong, bold colours is an easy way to bring soft furnishings back to life as the colour contrast will refresh and reinvigorate. stripping walls and ripping out carpets and the kitchen – all while still living at home.

Jordan had a long list of jobs to fit in around his day job. ‘All the rooms needed re-wiring and we discovered we had to replace the boiler and heating system, which was a cost we weren’t expecting,’ says Becca. ‘Jordan took every job as far as he could and then he’d bring in an electrician or gas engineer he knew through work to certify the final stages.’

SOCIAL CLIMBER First, the kitchen wall needed to come down.

Becca, a digital marketing expert, began playing around with social media platform, TikTok, and noted it didn’t feature many renovators. ‘I uploaded a video of Jordan knocking down the wall and we got to 1.8 million views!’ says Becca. ‘Now we have 123,000 followers on @renovationliving.’

Pinterest and Instagram became a source of inspiration for Becca, too. She found herself following accounts such as @lustliving and @renovating_love_lane for ideas. ‘They have

The fireplace didn’t work with the new layout, so the couple blocked up the chimney and made a feature of it. ‘I wanted some kind of abstract panelling somewhere in the house and it’s perfect on the chimney breast,’ explains Becca

DINING AREA A white geometric panel between the dark walls zones the open-plan space, and Becca has brightened up the black wall behind the dining area with a round brass mirror. ‘It looks better in this alcove as it reflects the kitchen, rather than the TV,’ says Becca OUR MUST HAVES Grey two-tone 12-piece dinner set, £18, George Home. Lisabo dining table, £129; Odger chairs, £70 each, both IKEA. For a similar curtain pole try Trinity metal eyelet curtain pole in Antique Brass, from £25, Dunelm

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REAL HOME

MAIN BEDROOM Becca’s bedroom centrepiece is her velvet bed, which makes the room feel ultra-luxurious. ‘The dusty pink bed was inspired by @lustliving and I knew it would look lovely against the green wall,’ she says OUR MUST HAVES Chao two-drawer bedside table, £67.99, Wayfair. Riva Home Mongolian faux fur cushion, £40, Next. For a similar pendant shade try natural seagrass woven pendant lampshade, £35, Oliver Bonas

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REAL HOME

DÉCOR DILEMMA If you want to add practical wall lights withou t needing the assistance of an electrician, search for plu g-in lamps where the cable is part of the design, like Becca’s.

This unique design adds a uti lity twist to her plush bedroom.

EN SUITE Becca has packed a lot of style into the petite en suite – black accents echo the décor throughout her home, while green floor tiles match the bedroom walls for a sense of flow between the two rooms OUR MUST HAVES Green Hex Waterlily tiles, £52.78 per sq m, Metro Tiles. Saturn bar 1,120 x 500mm towel rail in Black, £190.96, Trade Radiators. For a similar towel ladder try Ines decorative ladder in Oak, £44, Maisons du Monde

The relaxed vibe of a holiday in Bali inspired the couple’s bedroom, with natural textures and plush fabrics. ‘I picked out a rattan lampshade from MADE.com, and added sheer curtains and plants to make the space feel chilled and tranquil,’ says Becca

a similar interiors style, which I love, mixing darks and neutrals with subtle muted tones to create a calming feeling,’ she says. ‘Luckily, Jordan thinks the same. For us, too much bright colour would be overwhelming and not particularly relaxing.’

The inky-black kitchen and living room walls form the foundation of their scheme, kept light with crisp white decoration and a pale oak-effect floor. Bathrooms are bright, too, while their bedroom is infused with soft tones of dusky pink and green. ‘Black is a powerful neutral that we separated with white panelling in the living room and with a white worktop and tiles in the kitchen,’ says Becca.

‘I like the balance, it’s not heavy and gothic, nor stark and clinical.’

PASSION PROJECT By the time the pandemic sent the country into lockdown in March 2020, the couple still had a lot to do. Becca moved in with Jordan

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REAL HOME at his parents’ house so they could safely carry on renovating the bungalow together in their spare time. As the months went on, they kept an eye on their £30,000 budget, using a spreadsheet that outlined the costs to keep them on track so they didn’t break the bank.

‘Sometimes it was hard to stick to the budget,’ says Becca. ‘As our first home, we wanted it to be special but without overspending, so we didn’t splash out on things like a marble worktop and instead sourced a great marbleeffect laminate from IKEA.’ In July 2020, the work was completed and Becca and Jordan were finally able to move

in, although there’s still more they’d like to do. The bathroom is their most recent project, finished just a few months ago, and they’re considering converting the loft or the garage – or perhaps moving on and starting again.

‘We’ve both absolutely loved working on our home, it’s become a real passion and I hadn’t realised how into interiors I would get – now I care more about renovation Instagram accounts than fashion!’ enthuses Becca. ‘I’m super proud of Jordan’s work, we couldn’t have achieved any of this without him. It still blows our mind that we live together and own this house, we’ve become real homebodies.’

‘As first-time buyers we needed to increase the property’s value so that we’d be able to move up the ladder later on.’

‘Originally, the guest bedroom walls were pinky-brown, but when it became my office, I didn’t find it very relaxing,’ says Becca. ‘We made wall panels with beading and painted in Coty 1, a nude shade by Decorating Centre Online – now the room feels more like us’

OFFICE Becca added a brass handle from Amazon for a simple way to elevate a plain IKEA desk, while IKEA’s Ivar cabinet is unrecognisable after she worked her magic on it with dowels and candy-pink paint OUR MUST HAVES Bailey accent armchair in Grey Velvet & Brass, £369, Cult Furniture.

GoodHome Baldaz matt brasseffect table light, £30, B&Q. For a similar mirror try Archway gold wall mirror, £98, Oliver Bonas

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REAL HOME

UPCYCLE IDEeAof

at Add bicarbon ulsion em rd da soda to stan ky a thick, chal to give paint to ed us n be finish that ca , jars and pots s as gl te ra deco re as done he like Becca h is vase. th h wit

Laying Porcelain Superstore’s glossy white metro tiles vertically, and white marble-effect tiles on the floor, makes the space feel bigger.

‘They’re well-priced and good quality, with enough detail on them so the room doesn’t look flat,’ says Becca

BATHROOM As the rest of her bathroom scheme is white and marble, Becca added warmth with natural tones. ‘I wanted a textured vanity in a colour contrast with the white tiles and fell in love with this wood-effect style for its Scandi look,’ says Becca OUR MUST HAVES Countrywide White tiles, £37.50 per sq m; Florence floor tiles, £27.84 per sq m, both Porcelain Superstore. Milano Bexley 600mm wall-hung open shelf vanity unit with basin in Light Oak, from £399.99, Big Bathroom Shop. For a similar bath rack try bamboo bath rack, £19.99, H&M Home

STEAL MY STYLE 2

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‘I pair statement black with pastel and golden tones to soften a bold dark hue’ Becca

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1. Saiphi pendant lamp in Gold, £75, B&Q 2. Palm Springs Green porcelain tiles, £66 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore 3. Madison coffee table in white, marble and brass, £299, Cult Furniture 4. Metod 60cm x 60cm base cabinet in Lerhyttan Black Stained, £100, IKEA 5. Vivian bed in Rose, £599, Dunelm 6. Regal select matte in Black Beauty, £24.50 per 0.94L, Benjamin Moore

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Next month in…

YH

AS, CHRISTM !

SORTEhD t a

LOV ES

All features subject to change

Tick off t gif ts list with 50 0! unde r £5

Celebrate with real homes full of festive magic

Easy crafts to make this year super special

Simple decorating tricks to wow your guests

Treat the family to a feast with our delicious recipes

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Food & DRINK Our pick of the best foodie finds this month, then keep reading for slow cooker suppers and Bonfire Night treats

3 WAYS WITH…

swede

Add buttery warmth to dishes with this sweet-tasting veg To make crispy gnocchi, chop 400g potatoes and 600g swede into chunks, coat with olive oil and roast for 50 minutes at 220°C/Gas Mark 7. Pulse in a food processor. Add 1 tsp chilli flakes, 100g ‘00’ flour and 30g Parmesan and pulse to form a dough. Divide the dough into three 1cm-wide sausages. Cut into 2.5cm pieces and batch cook the gnocchi in boiling water for 30 seconds. Once cooked, fry the gnocchi over a medium heat for 2 minutes on each side.

Make a curried soup by frying 1 sliced onion and 2 chopped celery sticks in 2 tbsp olive oil and 30g butter for 10 minutes. Stir in a grated, thumb-sized piece of ginger and 1 chopped garlic clove. Cook for 1 minute. Add 1 tsp each of cumin, ground coriander and turmeric, 1 tbsp curry powder and 800g chopped swede. Cover with 1.8L vegetable stock and simmer for 75 minutes. Pulse until smooth and serve with crusty bread or naan.

DINNER DELIVERED Take the faff out of meal planning with Riverford Organic’s new range of recipe boxes. Delivered direct to your door, each box is packed with 100 per cent organic produce and easy instructions to whip up a delicious meal in as little as 20 minutes. Plus, there’s a very low plastic option to minimise your carbon footprint. Prices start at £12.45 for a veggie meal for two from Riverford Organic.

Try me…

Mince pie lovers rejoice! You can now dunk your favourite festive treat into a cuppa with a mince pie chocolate digestive from McVitie’s. Their much-loved classic has been given a seasonal update, which you can pick up from most supermarkets now, priced at £1.59.

Drink

Photo Getty Images

For a speedy spaghetti, chop 250g swede, 1 onion and 2 garlic cloves and fry in 2 tbsp olive oil for 5 minutes. Cover and fry, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes until the swede is soft. Cool and pulse in a food processor with 40g grated Parmesan. Cook 300g spaghetti to pack instructions. Fry 120g diced pancetta for 5 minutes then add the swede sauce. Add the spaghetti and coat in the sauce.

THIS MONTH WE LOVE…

Get the party started with a bowl of cocktail-inspired, indulgent ice cream from Häagen-Dazs. Rum Salted Caramel and Biscuit is a mix of vanilla, crunchy buttery biscuit and rum-infused salted caramel, while whiskey lovers will love the Irish Whiskey and Chocolate Waffle flavour, bursting with chocolate and cream. Both limitededition flavours cost £4.99 and are available in most supermarkets.

me…

made from 60 per cent

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BUYER’S GUIDE

10 OF THE BEST:

slow cookers Whip up delicious dinners at the flick of a switch with our edit of easy-to-use slow cookers. Tea time has never been simpler!

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n a chilly, autumnal evening, what could be nicer than arriving home to meltingly tender beef stew followed by a comforting sponge pudding? Or perhaps you’d prefer a succulent roast chicken for Sunday lunch, or a bowl of creamy overnight porridge for breakfast? When used correctly, a slow cooker can be a versatile and helpful tool in the kitchen – slowly simmering ingredients over hours to create hearty and wholesome dishes that are ready to serve as soon as you walk through the door.

Slow cookers vary in price greatly, so it’s important to consider exactly what you’ll be using yours for before splashing out. Options range from affordable cookers with two heat settings, to investment-worthy multi-cookers with several functions (such as air frying, pressure cooking and even Masterchef-style sous vide). ‘Slow cookers are an easy and convenient way to make delicious meals from scratch, but with so many options it can be hard to choose the right one for you,’ explains Tori Miller,

WAHL WL9290 JAMES MARTIN DIGITAL SLOW COOKER, £49.99, ROBERT DYAS

slow cooker expert for AO.com. ‘If you want to batch-cook or have a large family, you’ll need to go for a model with up to a six-litre capacity, such as the Crockpot SCV655B-IUK slow cooker. If you’re cooking for a smaller number, such as two people, smaller versions like the Swan Retro DF17011BLN 1.5-litre slow cooker might be more suitable.’

Capacity aside, there are other characteristics to consider when choosing a slow cooker. ‘Both of the models I’ve suggested have glass lids, so you can check your food without losing any heat.

And, for even more cooking options, they also contain oven-safe dishes,’ says Tori.

If you want to cook the widest variety of dishes with your slow cooker, keep an eye out for those with more than one temperature setting (and possibly a keep-warm function, which is great for families who want seconds). Opting for an oval cooker, rather than a round one, means you can cook whole chickens or larger joints of meat, and an easy-to-set timer can help to keep track of your suppers’ simmer time.

RETRO SLOW COOKER 6.5L, £39.99, SWAN

CHALK BOARD 3.5L SLOW COOKER, £29.99, RUSSELL HOBBS This easy-to-use cooker is coated in a matt chalk board casing, which allows you to write on the side and let your family know what’s for dinner, or keep a note of timings.

• Chalk board casing (and 2 pieces of chalk) • 3.5L cooking pot • Dishwasher-safe parts • 3 heat settings

NINJA FOODI MAC 7-IN-1 MULTI-COOKER 7.5L, £199, NINJA

Designed to fit around busy family lives, this digital slow cooker has a clever delay timer – so you can add your ingredients in the morning and schedule supper to be ready as soon as you arrive home.

For a vintage-inspired slow cooker that’s pretty enough to have pride of place on your kitchen counter, look no further than this retro design from Swan. It comes in an array of pastel shades and has a toughened-glass lid, so you can keep an eye on your supper as it cooks.

This practical cooker has seven cooking functions (including slow cook, pressure cook, air fry, steam, roast, sauté and grill) so it’s perfect for an array of meals, from hearty casseroles to crisp roast chicken.

• 4.7L cooking pot • 3 cooking settings • Keep-warm function • Delay timer • Comes with a recipe booklet

• Fun, retro colour palette • 3 temperature settings • Keep-warm function • Non-stick and oven-safe inner pot • Comes with a recipe book

• 7 cooking functions • TenderCrisp technology, to pressure cook then crisp dishes • 7.5L cooking pot • Non-stick, dishwasher-safe parts

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Turn over for tasty slow-cooking recipes!

GOOD TO GO MULTI-COOKER, £79.99, RUSSELL HOBBS With its on-trend metallic finish and cool-touch body, the removable cooking pot on this Russell Hobbs multi-cooker is designed to go straight from your kitchen counter to the dining table (and into the dishwasher afterwards, too).

• 8 cooking functions • Removable cooking pot • 6.5L cooking pot • Dishwasher-safe parts • Digital control panel and timer

JLSC458 6L SLOW COOKER, £50, JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS With a digital LED display and a handy timer function, this family-sized cooker can be loaded up with ingredients and left to bubble while you get on with other things (or put your feet up).

• 6L cooking pot • 4 heat settings • LED display • 30 minute to 10 hour timer

SWAN RETRO 1.5L SLOW COOKER, £15, AO.COM The smaller sibling of Swan’s original Retro cooker, this petite cooker is ideal if you’re cooking for two. It comes in the same ice cream colour palette and, though it’s half the size, it certainly doesn’t scrimp on style.

COPPER SLOW COOKER, £30, NEXT

SAGE THE RISOTTO PLUS, £90, JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS

With its on-trend copper finish, this sleek slow cooker by Next would certainly make a statement on a kitchen worktop. It also has practical silicon side handles, which stay cool-to-touch while the cooker is on.

What could be nicer than a creamy risotto with none of the tiresome stirring? This kitchen gadget has multiple functions (including slow cook, sauté, steam and a special risotto setting) that’s great for dinner party aficionados.

• Statement copper finish • 3.5L cooking pot • 2 heat settings • Keep-warm function • Silicon

• 3.7L cooking pot • 6 cooking settings • Special risotto-making function • Easy-to-clean cooking pot

side handles and lid handle

CROCKPOT SCV655B-IUK SLOW COOKER, £29, AO.COM Great for bigger families or batch-cooking, the 6.5L Crockpot has a generous capacity that’s perfect for low-and-slow curries, bolognese or gently cooking joints of meat for Sunday lunch.

• 6.5L cooking pot • 3 heat settings • Keep-warm function • Oven- and dishwashersafe cooking pot

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Feature Sophie Hannam

• Fun, retro colour palette • 3 temperature settings • Keep-warm function • Non-stick and oven-safe inner pot • Comes with a recipe book

FOOD & DRINK

Hearty, wholesome and a doddle to prepare, these easy slow cooker suppers can be left to bubble while you get on with other things

PREPARATION TIME 12 minutes COOKING TIME 5 hours 30 minutes SERVES 4

Slow cooker stuffed peppers YOU WILL NEED ✔ 1 tbsp olive oil ✔ 1 red onion, peeled and chopped ✔ 250g chestnut mushrooms, chopped ✔ 75g shredded kale ✔ 180g pack chestnuts ✔ 75g feta, crumbled ✔ large pinch dried oregano ✔ 4 large red peppers For the pesto ✔ 50g watercress ✔ 30g walnut pieces ✔ 25g hazelnuts ✔ 100ml extra virgin olive oil ✔ ½ lemon, juiced

DIRECTIONS ■ In a large frying pan, heat the oil over a

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medium heat and cook the onion for 3-4 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 4-5 minutes, until softened. Stir in the kale and stir-fry for 1 minute.

■ Remove the pan from the heat and add the chestnuts, mashing in the pan using a fork.

■ Sprinkle over the crumbled feta, oregano and mix together well. Season to taste.

■ Slice the tops of the peppers and set aside. Deseed the peppers, then divide the mushroom and chestnut mixture equally between them, pressing down into the cavity.

■ Stand the peppers in the dish of a slow cooker and replace the tops. Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 5 to 5½ hours, until the peppers are soft.

■ Meanwhile, make the pesto: in the small bowl of a food processor, blitz the watercress with the nuts, until they are broken down.

Add the olive oil and lemon juice and season, then process again until nearly smooth.

Add a little water depending if you prefer a looser consistency. Serve the peppers with a drizzle of pesto.

FOOD & DRINK

Slow cooker chicken casserole PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 3 hours 30 minutes SERVES 4

YOU WILL NEED ✔ 600g skinless, boneless chicken thigh fillets ✔ 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil ✔ 1 tbsp smoked sweet paprika ✔ 225g pack Spanish chorizo ring, sliced into rounds ✔ 2 red onions, finely chopped ✔ 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped ✔ 1 tbsp plain flour ✔ Pinch of saffron (optional) ✔ 2 chicken stock cubes, made up to 600ml ✔ 70g tomato purée ✔ 250g baby plum tomatoes ✔ 3 celery sticks, cut into 3cm pieces ✔ 2 x 400g tins butter beans, rinsed and drained ✔ Large handful of flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

DIRECTIONS ■ Set your slow cooker to medium. Coat the chicken in 1 tbsp olive oil and paprika. Season with salt and pepper and then set aside.

■ Heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan on a medium-high heat and add the chorizo, cook for 3-4 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium, add the onions and cook for a further 3-4 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic and flour, cook for 1 minute, then remove from the pan and set aside.

■ Put the saffron (if using) in a small glass and pour over 2 tbsp boiling water to infuse.

■ Heat the same frying pan used to cook the chorizo and onions on a medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the pan and brown on each side for 1 minute or until golden.

■ Add the chicken, chorizo and onions to the slow cooker. Pour over the stock and tomato puree. Add the baby plum tomatoes, celery and saffron-infused water (if using). Stir well to combine, cover with the lid and cook for 2½-3 hours or until the chicken is very tender.

■ Add the butter beans, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Divide the casserole into bowls and top with chopped parsley. Serve with grains, such as couscous or quinoa, or crusty bread to dip.

Slow cooker lamb curry

chillies, deseeded, 1 finely chopped, 1 finely sliced

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 6 hours 50 minutes SERVES 4

Feature Sophie Hannam Photos and recipes Tesco. For more recipes and inspiration, visit realfood.tesco.com

YOU WILL NEED ✔ 2 tbsp olive oil ✔ 2 x 300g packs diced lamb leg ✔ 2 onions, chopped ✔ 4 carrots, thickly sliced ✔ 3 garlic cloves, crushed ✔ 5cm piece ginger, grated ✔ 2 green ✔ 1 tbsp garam masala ✔ 1 tsp cinnamon ✔ 2 tsp ground cumin ✔ 15g fresh coriander, leaves picked and stalks finely chopped ✔ 400g tin chopped tomatoes ✔ 100ml lamb stock ✔ 400ml light coconut milk ✔ 125g spinach ✔ Rice or naan, to serve (optional)

DIRECTIONS ■ Heat 1 tbsp oil in a deep non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat. Brown the lamb in batches (without overcrowding the pan) for 5-8 minutes. Season and transfer to the slow cooker.

■ Add the remaining oil to the pan and cook the onions and carrots for 10 minutes over a medium heat until softened.

Add the garlic, ginger, chopped green chilli, spices and coriander stalks. Stir well and cook for a further minute until fragrant. Transfer everything to the slow cooker.

■ Add the chopped tomatoes and lamb stock to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Cook on a low heat for 6 hours.

■ Stir through the coconut milk and cook for a further 30 minutes. Add the spinach to wilt through 5 minutes before serving. Scatter with sliced chilli and coriander leaves and serve with rice or naan, if you like.

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FOOD & DRINK

Aubergine and olive tagine YOU WILL NEED

PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes COOKING TIME 2 hours SERVES 4

✔ 3 tbsp olive oil ✔ 2 large white onions, finely sliced ✔ 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped ✔ 1 tsp ground turmeric ✔ 2 tsp ground cumin ✔ 1 tsp ground cinnamon ✔ 2 tbsp harissa paste ✔ 700g baby aubergines ✔ 30g preserved lemon paste (optional) ✔ 700ml vegetable stock ✔ 50g raisins ✔ Handful of coriander, stalks finely chopped and leaves roughly chopped ✔ Jar of pitted green queen olives, drained To serve ✔ Couscous, cooked to pack instructions ✔ Greek-style yogurt ✔ Toasted flaked almonds

DIRECTIONS ■ Turn the slow cooker to high. In a large frying pan, heat the oil over a medium heat, add the onions and cook for 6-8 minutes, until very soft.

■ Add the garlic, turmeric, cumin, cinnamon and harissa paste to the pan and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes. Meanwhile, halve the baby aubergines lengthwise, sprinkle the cut side with salt and rub into the flesh.

■ Stir the preserved lemon paste into the vegetable stock. Pour the onions, halved aubergines, lemon-infused stock, raisins, coriander stalks and the olives into the slow cooker, season, stir well to combine and cook for 2-2½ hours, until the aubergines are soft. Stir the tagine twice during the cooking time to make sure the aubergines are evenly cooked.

■ After 2-2½ hours, season to taste. Ladle the tagine into 4 serving bowls and serve with fluffy couscous on the side and a dollop of Greek-style yogurt. Scatter over roughly chopped coriander leaves and some toasted flaked almonds.

Slow cooker apple crumble YOU WILL NEED ✔ 5 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and each cut into 8 wedges ✔ 1 tsp ground cinnamon ✔ 1 orange, zested and ½ juiced ✔ 60g rolled oats ✔ 50g walnut pieces ✔ ½ tsp ground ginger ✔ 75g plain flour ✔ 85g light muscovado sugar ✔ 90g unsalted butter, melted

DIRECTIONS ■ Put the slices of apple in a slow cooker.

Sprinkle over the ground cinnamon, orange zest and 1 tbsp juice and mix together.

■ Put the oats and walnuts into a food processor and pulse a few times to give the texture of very course breadcrumbs. Pour into a bowl.

■ Stir the ginger, flour and sugar into the oat and walnut mixture then add the butter and mix well.

■ Spoon the crumble mix over the apples, covering them all. Lay two sheets of kitchen paper on top of the crumble. Cover with the slow cooker lid and cook on a low heat for 3½ hours.

■ Remove the kitchen paper and cook for the last 10 minutes with the lid just slightly ajar.

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PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 3 hours 30 minutes SERVES 4

FOOD & DRINK

PREPARATION TIME 30 minutes COOKING TIME 1 hour 30 minutes SERVES 8

Slow cooker bread pudding with caramel YOU WILL NEED ✔ 30g unsalted butter ✔ 200ml double cream ✔ 125g salted caramel sauce ✔ 2 large eggs, plus 2 large egg yolks ✔ 2 tbsp dark rum (optional) ✔ 1 tsp vanilla extract ✔ 8 pack butter brioche rolls, broken into 3cm pieces ✔ 100g pecans, roughly chopped ✔ 100g dark chocolate, roughly chopped

DIRECTIONS ■ Grease the dish of the slow cooker with the butter. In a saucepan, heat the double

cream and half the salted caramel sauce over a medium heat, until bubbling. Then stir thoroughly and take off the heat. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, extra egg yolks, a pinch of salt, the dark rum (if using) and vanilla extract. Slowly pour the warm cream mixture into the eggs, whisking continuously until combined.

■ Add the brioche, pecans and chocolate to the egg-cream mixture, stirring until well combined. Leave to soak for 5 minutes, then stir again so that the brioche is evenly coated.

Turn your slow cooker onto a low setting.

■ Pour the bread pudding mixture into the greased slow cooker dish. Level using a spoon, cover with a lid and leave to cook for 1½ hours, until a knife inserted into the centre of the pudding comes out clean. Heat the remaining salted caramel sauce in a saucepan until hot, divide the bread pudding into bowls and pour over the hot sauce.

■ If you’re feeling extra indulgent, drizzle over a little more salted caramel sauce from the jar and add a dollop of whipped cream to serve.

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FOOD & DRINK

BONFIRE NIGHT DELIGHTS Enjoy these sweet and savoury autumnal treats with friends and family over an open flame

Chilli hot dogs YOU WILL NEED ✔ 1 Packet of Gosh! Veggie Sausages with Sage and Black pepper ✔ 3 tbsp olive oil ✔ 1 small red onion, chopped ✔ 400g tin refried beans ✔ 4 tbsp tinned chopped tomatoes ✔ 10 cherry tomatoes, chopped ✔ 1 fresh chilli, chopped ✔ 15g coriander, stalks chopped and leaves reserved ✔ ½ lime, juiced ✔ Baguette, cut into 4 For the onion relish ✔ Olive oil ✔ 2 red onions ✔ 1 tbsp brown sugar ✔ 4 tbsp red wine vinegar ✔ 4 cloves ✔ Stick of cinnamon

DIRECTIONS ■ Heat the oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Cook the sausages for 15 minutes.

■ To make the relish, heat the oil in a saucepan and fry the red onions for 2 minutes. Add the brown sugar and red wine vinegar and simmer on a low heat for 15 minutes. Add the cloves and cinnamon stick and stir regularly. The sauce should reduce to a sticky relish. Remove the cloves and cinnamon stick and set to one side.

■ Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a frying pan and cook the onion for 5 minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes and chilli. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the coriander stalks and lime juice.

■ Once the sausages are cooked, fill each baguette piece with a sausage and the bean mixture. Top with a spoonful of onion relish to serve, garnish with the coriander leaves and chopped chilli, plus a wedge of fresh lime.

Recipe and image courtesy of Gosh!, goshfood.com

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 15 minutes SERVES 4

FOOD & DRINK

Bonfire night Catherine wheels YOU WILL NEED

PREPARATION TIME 30 minutes COOKING TIME 15-20 minutes SERVES 6-8

✔ 1 sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry ✔ Flour for dusting ✔ Primula Cheese ‘n’ Ham spreadable cheese ✔ 1 small red pepper, diced ✔ 1 small green pepper, diced ✔ 1 small yellow pepper, diced DIRECTIONS ■ Pre-heat the oven to 200°C. Unroll the pastry sheet, keeping the paper. Dust each side lightly with flour and place back on its paper. Roll out lengthways until the pastry is the same length as the paper.

■ Spread the cheese over the pastry sheet then sprinkle with diced peppers, making sure to cover the pastry all the way up to the edges.

■ Place the pastry with the short end facing you and roll up carefully – as you would a Swiss roll.

■ Transfer the pastry roll to a baking tray lined with parchment paper and place in the freezer for 20 minutes to firm up.

■ Carefully slice the pastry roll into 1cm rounds. Do not cut the rounds too thick or they won’t bake evenly.

■ Place the rounds back on the lined baking tray and put in the oven for around 15-20 minutes. Serve hot.

Recipe and image courtesy of Primula, primula.co.uk

Bonfire banger bake and toffee apple gravy YOU WILL NEED ✔ 120g traditional puff pastry ✔ 225g Catherine wheel sausage ✔ 3 white potatoes ✔ 1 apple ✔ 2 knobs of butter ✔ 1.5 tsp sugar ✔ ½ beef stock cube ✔ 1 tsp flour ✔ 150g spring greens, sliced into strips with stalks removed ✔ Splash of milk ✔ Salt ✔ Black pepper

to create a paste. Add the beef stock and cook for around 5 minutes or until a smooth, thick gravy remains.

■ In a pan of boiling water, add the sliced spring greens and cook for 2-3 minutes or until tender. Drain and return to the pot.

■ Return the potatoes to a low heat with a knob of butter and a splash of milk. Season

with salt and pepper and then mash until you have a smooth consistency.

■ Cut the bonfire banger bake in half and serve with the mash, spring greens and toffee apple gravy.

Recipe and image courtesy of Gousto, gousto.co.uk

DIRECTIONS PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 30 minutes SERVES 2

Feature Yvette Filer

■ Pre-heat the oven to 200°C. Unroll the puff pastry and add it to a baking paper-lined baking tray. Add the Catherine wheel sausage to the centre of the puff pastry.

■ Put the tray in the oven and cook for 25-30 minutes or until the pastry is golden and the sausage is cooked through – this is your bonfire banger bake.

■ Peel and chop the potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Add the chopped potatoes to a pot of boiling water. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 12-15 minutes or until forktender. Once done, drain and return to the pot to steam dry.

■ While the potatoes are cooking, slice the apple finely (skin on), discarding the core.

Melt a knob of butter in a large non-stick pan over a medium heat. Once melted, add the sliced apple with 1.5 tsp sugar and cook for 4-5 minutes or until starting to caramelise.

■ Dissolve ½ beef stock cube in 150ml boiled water. Add 1 tsp flour to the apples and stir

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FOOD & DRINK

Mulled apple juice with Pink Lady pomander YOU WILL NEED ✔ String ✔ 3 Pink Lady apples ✔ Skewer/toothpicks ✔ 60g cloves ✔ 1.5 litres Pink Lady apple juice ✔ 3 shots of rum ✔ Peel of 3 oranges ✔ 5 cinnamon sticks ✔ 1 star anise

DIRECTIONS

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 10 minutes SERVES 3

■ Make each pomander by wrapping string around the Pink Lady apple as if you are tying a bow around a present. Wrap the string around the apple three times and tie a knot to secure. Leave some long pieces of string on the top of the apple.

■ Using a sharp skewer or a toothpick, prick holes in vertical lines down the apple, then push the cloves into the holes.

■ In a large pan place the Pink Lady apple juice, rum, orange peel, cinnamon sticks, star anise and your Pink Lady pomanders. Gently bring to a near boil, then let the juice simmer gently for 5 minutes and turn off the heat.

Serve hot or warm.

Recipe and image come courtesy of Pink Lady, pinkladyapples.co.uk

Honeyed toffee apples YOU WILL NEED ✔ 200g granulated sugar ✔ 6 tbsp water ✔ 6 small dessert apples ✔ Lolly sticks ✔ 100g Rowse Honey ✔ 1 tsp white wine vinegar

DIRECTIONS ■ Add the sugar and water to a medium saucepan and heat gently until the sugar has completely dissolved, without stirring. Tilt the pan from side to side to encourage any patches of sugar that will not dissolve.

■ While the sugar dissolves, wash and dry the apples thoroughly then press a lolly stick into each one.

■ Add the honey and vinegar to the sugar syrup then increase the heat slightly and cook the syrup, still without stirring, for 4-5 minutes until the syrup begins to darken slightly, and reaches 149°C on a sugar thermometer. Test by dropping a little syrup into a mug of cold water, it will quickly form brittle strands when ready.

■ Take the pan off the heat and stand the pan in a sink filled with 5cm of cold water for a couple of minutes to stop the toffee overheating. Take the pan out of the water then dip the apples into the toffee, one at a time then stand the coated apples on an oiled baking sheet. By the last apple you may need to warm the toffee slightly so it liquefies again. Leave to cool and harden then wrap the toffee apples in squares of cellophane and tie with ribbon.

Recipe and image courtesy of Rowse Honey, rowsehoney.co.uk

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PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 10 minutes SERVES 6

FOOD & DRINK

Parkin squares with black treacle cream cheese frosting YOU WILL NEED For the sponge ✔ 90g dark brown sugar ✔ 200g salted butter ✔ 140g golden syrup ✔ 140g black treacle ✔ 75g oats ✔ 275g self-raising flour ✔ 1 tbsp ginger ✔ 1 medium egg ✔ 2 tbsp milk ✔ 1 tsp vanilla For the topping ✔ 150g cream cheese ✔ 500g icing sugar ✔ 1 tsp vanilla paste ✔ 1 tbsp black treacle ✔ 2 tbsp honeycomb pieces

DIRECTIONS

PREPARATION TIME 60 minutes COOKING TIME 30 minutes SERVES 24

■ Pre-heat the oven to 160°C. Put the sugar, butter, golden syrup, black treacle in a pan and place on the hob over a medium heat until melted, then set aside to cool.

■ Mix the oats, flour and ginger together in a large bowl. Pour the cooled syrup mixture into the flour bowl. Mix until well combined.

■ Beat the egg on its own in a small bowl, then beat in the milk. Pour the egg mixture into the batter, followed by the vanilla.

■ Mix well until you have a lumpy, thick batter, then pour into a greased and lined tray. Level off and bake for 30 minutes until just firm. You can check it’s ready by pushing a cocktail stick into the centre – it should come out clean. Leave the sponge to cool completely on a wire rack.

■ For a true parkin texture, you can now wrap the sponge in foil and leave it somewhere cool and dry to get nice and sticky, but you can move on to the frosting straight away if you wish ■ To make the topping, beat the cream cheese and icing sugar together until thick and pale. Add the vanilla, then the treacle and beat again until you have a thick piping icing.

■ Cut your parkin into 24 equal squares and place the pieces on a wire rack. Transfer your black treacle frosting to a piping bag with the very end snipped off and pipe zig zags of icing across the surface of each square.

While the icing is still wet, top each square with a sprinkle of honeycomb pieces and leave to set.

Recipe and image courtesy of AO, ao.com

Cherry S’mores Waffles YOU WILL NEED ✔ 4 sweet waffles ✔ 200g milk chocolate, broken into chunks ✔ 100g mini marshmallows ✔ 125g Opies Cocktail Cherries, drained and halved ✔ 3 tbsp white chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS ■ Place each waffle onto a large piece of tin foil about 4 times its size.

■ Top with the milk chocolate, marshmallows, cherries and finally the white chocolate chips.

■ Bring the edges of the tin foil up to meet in the middle then scrunch together to make a loose parcel that encloses the waffles.

■ Place on the barbecue or under a hot grill and cook for 4-5 minutes until the chocolate and marshmallows have just melted.

■ Enjoy hot straight from the foil.

PREPARATION TIME 5 minutes COOKING TIME 5 minutes SERVES 4

Recipe and image courtesy of Opies, opiesfoods.com

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FOOD & DRINK

BE MERRY Christmas is coming, so get ready with these simple, makeahead recipes for the most wonderful time of the year…

PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes SERVES 6 x 300ml jars

YOU WILL NEED

DIRECTIONS

✔ 125g unsalted butter ✔ 200g light brown muscovado sugar ✔ 500g pack dried mixed fruit ✔ 150g crystallised stem ginger, finely chopped ✔ 50g dried cranberries ✔ 50g flaked almonds ✔ 2 ripe, firm pears (about

■ Put all the ingredients except the sherry in a large saucepan. Heat gently until the butter and sugar have melted, then simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

■ Stir through the sherry, then spoon the mincemeat into sterilised jars and seal tightly.

Label and store in a cool, dark place for up to six months. Once open, store in the fridge for up to one week.

150g each), peeled, cored and cut into 1cm dice ✔ 1 orange, zested and juiced ✔ 2 tsp ground cinnamon ✔ 2 tsp mixed spice ✔ ½ tsp ground nutmeg ✔ 250ml Tesco Finest Pedro Ximénez sherry

TOP TIP To sterilise the glass jars, wash them thoroughly in hot, soapy water and rinse well. Dry the jars in the oven for around 1520 minutes at 140°C/Gas Mark 1, until they are hot and completely dry. Boil the metal lids and rubber seals for 10 minutes, then leave to dry.

Recipe and image courtesy of Tesco, realfood.tesco.com

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Feature Yvette Filer

Pedro Ximénez sherry, pear and stem ginger mincemeat

FOOD & DRINK

PREPARATION TIME 2 hours 20 minutes SERVES 6-8

Caramelised apple and maple marmalade YOU WILL NEED ✔ 750g Braeburn apples, peeled and roughly chopped ✔ 2 brown onions, roughly chopped ✔ 500g dried cranberries ✔ 250g pitted dates ✔ 2 satsumas ✔ 350g maple sugar ✔ 5 tbsp pure Canadian maple syrup ✔ 1/5 tsp ground cloves ✔ 1 tsp ground ginger ✔ 1 tsp ground cinnamon ✔ 2 tsp sea salt ✔ 400ml red wine vinegar

DIRECTIONS ■ Add the apples, onions, cranberries and dates into a pan.

■ Add the zest of the satsumas then squeeze in the juice and pulp.

■ Add the maple sugar, maple syrup, spices and salt.

■ Pour over the red wine vinegar and stir together.

■ Bring to the boil, then turn down to simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

■ Turn off the heat, place lid onto the pan and leave to stand for 1-2 hours.

■ Once completely cool, serve or store in a sterilised jar or a plastic tub and refrigerate.

Recipe and image courtesy of Maple from Canada, maplefromcanada.co.uk

Apricot and chestnut stuffing YOU WILL NEED ✔ 1 large onion, finely diced ✔ 1 clove garlic, finely chopped ✔ 75g vegan butter, spread or odourless coconut oil ✔ 225g vacuum-packed chestnuts, roughly chopped or briefly blitzed in a food processor ✔ 225g dried apricots, snipped into small pieces ✔ 600ml vegan stock ✔ 225g breadcrumbs ✔ Medium bunch fresh parsley, roughly chopped or briefly blitzed in a blender or food processor ✔ Salt and black pepper

DIRECTIONS ■ Preheat the oven to 220ºC/200ºC Fan/Gas Mark 6.

■ In a small frying pan lightly fry the onion until soft. Add the garlic and fry for a further minute. Add half the butter and the chestnuts and fry for a further 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently.

■ In a medium-sized saucepan add the apricots and 600ml stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Drain.

■ Place the breadcrumbs into a large bowl. Melt the remaining butter in a frying pan and pour this onto the breadcrumbs.

■ Mix together with the apricots, onion, garlic, chestnuts and parsley.

Season with salt and pepper, try the mixture and add more if necessary.

■ Turn into a greased oven-proof dish and bake in the oven for about 2530 minutes until crisp and hot.

TOP TIP Cooked stuffing can be frozen for up to one month. Keep it in the dish it was baked in, covered in foil, and bring to room temperature before reheating it so that it warms evenly. If the stuffing looks or feels dry, add a splash of stock to the mixture before cooking then place in the oven at 200ºC/Gas Mark 6 for around 30 minutes or until hot through.

Recipe and image courtesy of Maryanne Hall of Viva!’s Vegan Recipe Club, veganrecipeclub.org.uk

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PREPARATION TIME 30 minutes COOKING TIME 30 minutes SERVES 4

FOOD & DRINK

Nut roast YOU WILL NEED ✔ 180g Opies pickled walnuts, sliced ✔ 1 vegetable stock cube ✔ 300g mixed nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans or Brazil nuts) ✔ 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for greasing ✔ 1 onion, finely chopped ✔ 2 celery sticks, finely chopped ✔ 1 leek, trimmed and thinly sliced ✔ 100g chestnut mushrooms, finely chopped ✔ 1 red pepper, halved, de-seeded and finely diced ✔ 1 carrots, coarsely grated ✔ 2 garlic cloves, crushed ✔ 4 tbsp cashew butter ✔ 1 tsp dried thyme ✔ 1 tsp dried basil ✔ 1 tsp dried sage ✔ 1 lemon, finely grated zest only ✔ 4 tbsp milk ✔ 100g fresh breadcrumbs ✔ 1 tsp sea salt ✔ Freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 1 hour SERVES 4

■ Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas Mark 6. Put the nuts and stock cube into a food processor and blitz on the pulse setting until chopped into small pieces. If you don’t have a food processor, chop all the nuts as finely as you can.

■ Lightly oil then line the base of a 900g loaf tin with baking paper.

■ Heat the oil in a large frying pan and gently fry the onion, celery, leek, mushrooms, carrots and pepper for 5 minutes, or until softened, stirring regularly.

Add the garlic and cook for a few seconds more.

■ Tip into a mixing bowl and stir in the cashew nut butter. Add the chopped nuts, pickled walnuts, herbs, lemon zest, milk, breadcrumbs and salt. Season with lots of ground black pepper and stir until thoroughly mixed.

■ Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin. Press down with a spoon firmly to compact the mixture. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for a further 20 minutes, or until hot throughout and lightly browned.

■ Remove the tin carefully from the oven and cool for 5 minutes before loosening the edges of the loaf with a table knife and turning out onto a board or platter. Cut into thick slices and serve hot with gravy.

TOP TIP A nut roast can be frozen for up to one month. To reheat, allow it to completely defrost before placing in the oven at 200°C/Gas Mark 6 for 20 minutes or until hot through. Recipe and image courtesy of Opies, opiesfoods.com

Figgy pudding YOU WILL NEED ✔ 50g Carr’s self-raising flour ✔ 110g white breadcrumbs ✔ 110g suet ✔ 1 tsp mixed spice ✔ ¼ tsp fresh ground nutmeg ✔ ¼ tsp cinnamon ✔ 225g soft brown sugar ✔ 500g dried mixed fruit (figs, raisins, sultanas, currants, cranberries) ✔ 1 apple, peeled and grated ✔ 1 lemon, zested ✔ 3 tsp brandy ✔ 150ml Guinness ✔ 2 large eggs

PREPARATION TIME 40 minutes COOKING TIME 8 hours SERVES 4

DIRECTIONS ■ Grease a 1.2 litre pudding basin (you can use a plastic one with a lid).

■ In a large mixing bowl add all the dry ingredients, mix together then add the dried fruit, followed by the apple and lemon zest.

■ In a separate bowl mix the brandy, Guinness and whisk in the eggs.

■ Pour over the cake mix and stir thoroughly, traditionally everyone in the family should gather round and take turns stirring the pudding while making a wish.

■ The mixture should be a sloppy consistency, you can now cover and leave overnight.

■ Put the mixture in the pudding bowl with a double sheet of greaseproof paper and foil on top, tie with string and tie a piece over the top to use as a handle.

■ Place in a saucepan of simmering water and steam for 8 hours.

■ On Christmas Day, place the pudding back in the pan and steam for approximately 2 hours.

Recipe and image courtesy of Carr’s Flour, shop.carrsflour.co.uk

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NEW & EXCLUSIVE

SAY HELLO! to our stunning new flooring collection

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Whether you are redecorating your bedroom or fitting a new bathroom, we have the perfect flooring solution for you.

Visit www.tilegiant.co.uk/flooring to discover more.

Home IMPROVEMENT Turn over to discover all you need to know about single-storey extensions, plus we reveal the best renovating secrets

SUSTAINABLE

style

Carpet made from recycled fishing nets and fabric scraps that is still sumptuously soft underfoot? That’s what the new People and Planet range from Carpetright promises to deliver.

The process to make this eco-friendly range involves weaving Econyl yarn – otherwise known as regenerated nylon – onto a soft backing made from 100 per cent recycled plastic for a high-quality carpet. Shown is the People and Planet Ardent carpet in Burnt Orange, £31.99 per sq m.

Ready to roll SMART IDEA Swift Direct Blinds Somfy electric range can also now be linked up to a smart hub to be controlled via your phone or with voice activation alongside Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Apple HomePod. Simply ask your chosen smart hub to open and close your blinds from the comfort of your bed or sofa and let the Somfy technology do its thing! Pictured is the Somfy electric roller in Bella blackout Rose Gold, priced from £64.75.

Alongside a range of on-trend contemporary paint colours, Coat Paints has now brought out a decorating bundle with everything you need for your next DIY project. The Essentials Supplies Kit is made using sustainable materials and includes a bamboo roller and sleeve, 2-inch bamboo brush, sugar-cane tray and decorating tape. Priced £20 for a regular kit.

ON THE TILES Available in six colourways, Roxy is the latest wall tile range from Porcelain Superstore. The modern diamond design features a dappled finish, which gives each tile an individual look that glistens when displayed next to each other. Mix and match colours or stick to one.

Shown are Blue, Green, Grey, Pink, Sky, White, priced £69 per sq m.

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HOME IMPROVEMENT A widened, squared-off arch in what was formerly the exterior wall links the original and new-built parts of this smart kitchen extension.

Dorchester kitchen in Nightfall, from £5,708, Optiplan Utilise dead space with a side return extension. In this project by Applied Studio, it provides enough extra room for an open-plan kitchen-diner that flows out into the garden

Add interest to the exterior of a side return extension by laying the bricks at an angle to produce a shadow effect, seen here with Yard Architects’ choice of yellow bricks that blend in with the rest of the property

Make your extension merge seamlessly into the garden by installing corner bi-fold doors that open up completely, and match indoor and outdoor flooring. Corner bi-folds, from £1,200 per panel plus VAT, Origin

BOOST SPACE WITH A SINGLE-STOREY EXTENSION Feature Andrea Dean

Think big and expand your home’s living space with a practical and stylish build surge in demand for extra space combined with the recently ended stamp-duty holiday has pushed house prices to an all-time high, making moving out of the question for many owners. So, it’s no wonder that many of us of are choosing to upgrade our homes instead, with mortgage broker Mojo Mortgages reporting record levels of borrowing to fund refurbishment work. A single-storey extension is one of the most versatile and cost-effective improvements, which, according to estate agency Douglas & Gordon, can add on up to seven per cent to a property’s value.

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CALCULATE THE COSTS Expect to pay from £25,000 to build a 20 square metre extension, rising to more than £40,000 if you’re going for a complex design or bespoke fittings, such as made-to-measure bi-fold doors. You’ll need to budget for laying the foundations, from £2,500, and the cost of the interior kit-out. This depends on the type of room; a kitchen is typically the priciest, starting at around £6,000 for supplying and fitting units and worktops.

Other expenses include plastering, plumbing, electrics and decorating, £206 for planning application fees (if permission is needed), and building control charges, from £200. Unless you opt for an all-in design and build package, an architect will charge you £1,000 plus for drawings.

HOME IMPROVEMENT This wraparound extension by Simply Extend incorporates high ledges formed by steel beams, ideal for adding plants to give the room a natural, green feel

Old and new have been combined to striking effect in this period cottage, where an all-glass extension contrasts beautifully with the original brickwork, by Sieger

‘To ensure your extension flows well into your existing home, it’s important that the floors in the new and existing parts should be level. Raise the new floor so that it’s flush to avoid having to step down into the extension. Use the same colour palette in both spaces for a cohesive effect, and open them up with natural lighting from skylights or roof lanterns, which will allow light to circulate throughout.’

Robert Wood, Director of Simply Extend

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Flooded with light from above and with two sets of Crittall-style doors opening onto a new terrace, a flat-roof rear extension has totally transformed this semidetached house, by Plus Rooms

Three Velux skylights, a flush roof window and metal-framed doors guarantee that light is evenly distributed throughout this wraparound extension, by Simply Extend

DESIGN STAGE The type and footprint of your extension will be determined by budget, intended use, the style of your house and planning constraints. As long as the proposed structure isn’t very big, high or will take over more than half the garden, it may well fall within permitted development, so planning permission won’t be needed. Semi-detached and detached houses lend themselves to rear or wraparound extensions, and building into a side return can transform a Victorian terrace, providing enough room to turn a dark kitchen into a lightfilled entertaining area. Consider how the extension will integrate with the existing house – for example, you may wish to reconfigure the layout, widen doorways or go open plan to make the space flow.

MATERIALS AND FINISHES Think about whether you want the extension to match the exterior of the house, or you prefer a complete contrast. When going for a match, you’ll need to choose similar bricks or rendering and glazing bars, whereas a contrasting finish will open up a world of opportunities – subject to planning requirements, of course. You might decide to add an all-glass extension, clad it in timber, tiles or brick slips, or mix up your materials. The shape of the roof and the size and position of windows and doors should not only complement the existing building but let as much light in as possible. Bear in mind sightlines through the house and into the garden, and add roof lights to allow plenty of natural light into the enlarged interior.

p x e Our

HIRE YOUR DREAM TEAM At the very least, you’ll need an architect or architectural technician to draw up plans, and a builder to transform them into reality. Choose experienced people who are capable of delivering the type of extension you’re after and you feel you can work with. Always ask for references.

A structural engineer will also be involved if the work affects your property’s stability, such as when modifying an existing doorway. The main contractor often manages the build, co-ordinating delivery of materials and overseeing subcontractors but an independent project manager will be required for a big project.

This can add 10-15 per cent to the overall cost, so taking on the role yourself may be tempting, though it’s time-consuming.

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HOME IMPROVEMENT Give your extension an on-trend look by laying large format, terrazzo-effect porcelain tiles inside and out. Piazza porcelain Geo Antricita tiles, £76.99 per sq m, Ca’ Pietra Thanks to a side-return extension, a previously pokey kitchen is now bright and welcoming.

It features a large roof light supported by oak joists, sliding doors above a new window seat, an island topped with a HI-MACS work surface and a dining area, by Material Works

Plus Rooms has maximised space in this Victorian terrace by extending to the side and rear and installing full-width doors to integrate the living area with the garden

The flush threshold in this contemporary gable end extension, fitted with Sieger Slim sliding doors, offers a seamless transition between indoors and out

GET YOUR NEIGHBOURS ON SIDE You have a much better chance of maintaining a good relationship with your neighbours if they’re kept informed every step of the way, from the initial idea all the way up to completion. This reduces stress and can make all the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful planning application, as they’re less likely to object if they know what to expect. Under the Party Wall Act, you have a legal obligation to let them know about any work on or close to a shared boundary at least two months before it starts. If they don’t agree, an appointed surveyor will determine the extent of the work and how and when it will be carried out.

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LIVING WITH BUILDERS If you’re not in a position to move out while the work’s taking place, brace yourself for living in a building site for several months. Minimise disruption and stress by arranging any parking permits in advance, giving builders a key so you don’t have to let them in every day, and hiring a portable loo. Ask them to rig up a temporary cooking station if the kitchen’s out of bounds, and invest in heaters for when the boiler won’t be working. Don’t underestimate the amount of dust that will be generated, so store cherished furniture elsewhere and box up ornaments and books to save on cleaning time later.

Last but certainly not least, ensure there’s a ready supply of tea and biscuits.

USEFUL CONTACTS • Estimators-online.com

provides detailed costings for labour and materials based on your drawings Search fmb.org.uk for a local builder who’s been vetted and inspected, giving you peace of mind Find a registered architect via architects-register.org.uk or members.architecture.com Resi.co.uk offers affordable and comprehensive architectural services, and can help you find a builder and finance for your project

•

•

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‘Building an extension was stressful but worth it’

Location was the main motivation behind Jasmine Headley’s move from a three-bedroom house in Leeds to another of a similar size. ‘I was pregnant at the time with Milo, now five, and my husband Tom and I wanted to live in the part of the city where I’d grown up,’ she says. ‘We moved six days before my due date and knew from the outset that we’d have to extend as the old kitchen was so small.’

A large island, complete with breakfast bar, is the focal point of the new kitchen from Second Nature, complemented by quartz worktops, oak flooring and pendant lighting

contributing to the delay. We’d ordered all the materials, which were stored in the garden, but had problems getting the glass for the bi-fold doors, and the worktops were very late. Fortunately the old kitchen wasn’t ripped out until the new one was ready to be installed so we were still able to cook. We also contended with a leaking roof and having to board up the opening for the roof light because the glass was the wrong size.’

Despite the various issues, the couple kept to their budget and are delighted with the results. ‘It was very stressful but 100 per cent worth it,’ smiles Jasmine. ‘Our extension is exactly what we wanted and has really changed how we live here. The bi-folds open up the house into the garden and the kitchen is now a nice sociable space. When we have people round it’s great to be able to chat to them while I’m cooking.’

Most of the building work was done from outside the house so the garden suffered as a result

Feature and photos Gill Rothwell

Jasmine loves all the extra space and light, but wouldn’t want the stress of a major build again

The solution was to add an extension and knock through the original exterior wall at the back of the house, creating a spacious all-in-one kitchen-diner that’s flooded with natural light. This freed up space for a utility and downstairs loo, and the old dining room is now a relaxing room for reading.

While it looks amazing now, it wasn’t all plain sailing, as Jasmine explains.

‘A friend who works for a new-build company did the drawings and we applied for planning permission, which was approved, and were all set for our builder – who’d done an extension for a relative – to start work in March 2020. Then Covid struck and the start date was delayed until last September, which meant that much of the work was carried out during the winter. We thought it would take about three months but it took six, with bad weather, Christmas and lockdown

There’s no better way to bring the outside in than opening up the three-metre-wide bi-folds into the garden

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From the online home of Your Home and HomeStyle magazines

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HOME IMPROVEMENT EXTRA

12 INSIDER SECRETS TO A STRESS-FREE

RENOVATION Save time and money when renovating your home with these essential tips from the pros

R

enovating your home is one of the most important and expensive projects you’ll undertake, so it’s important to get every detail right. Most remodels or extensions will involve a seemingly endless list of tasks, including the purchasing of materials and management of different trades, so it’s not surprising that budgets and deadlines often go out the window. But don’t despair, because you can create your dream home on time and without breaking the bank. We’ve rounded up industry experts and asked them to reveal their best tips for nailing a smooth-running and cost-effective project.

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An architect’s advice can help take the stress out of an extension project. Architect consultation, £599 for four hours, Architect Your Home

PLAN YOUR PROJECT

‘First, think about whether you really need to extend. If your room’s layout isn’t wellplanned, all you might need to do is make some smaller, less-costly changes. For example, can be an affordable way to create a completely new look while transforming the flow of your space. This is particularly true for kitchens where removing a wall can add more light and create room for an island unit.’

Josie Medved, Design Project Manager, Symphony Group

2

ENLIST AN ARCHITECT

‘My advice to anyone about to undertake a building project is to ask for input from an architect to understand what can be achieved within your parameters – whether those are design requirements, budget constraints, planning issues or structural difficulties. The most expensive thing you can do is rush, because if you don’t have a fully drawn out and considered scheme how can a builder cost for it properly? There are a myriad of decisions to be made and an

Feature Alice Butler

Kitchens, from £4,000, Symphony Group

Managing Director, Architect Your Home

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HOME IMPROVEMENT EXTRA Some improvements, such as removing an internal wall to create an open-plan space, fall within Permitted Development rights, so often don’t require planning permission

3

SKIP PLANNING PERMISSION

‘Permitted Development rights allow you to carry out alterations to your property – such as an extension, conservatory, porch or loft conversion – without applying for planning permission, providing specific conditions are met. You can check these conditions by visiting the common projects page on Planning Portal. We recommend the following: first research your project on planningportal.co.uk; check your property is not within designated land (for example parks, the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites); find out the history of your property and request a Lawful Development Certificate from your Local Authority for peace of mind.’

Scott Alford, Head of Business Development, Planning Portal

SPACE REDEFINED Relinquish under-used areas in your home or garden by using your Permitted Development rights. Give your garden privacy with perimeter fencing, gain a gym or home office with partition walls or even enlarge your kitchen or living area with a single-storey extension. Turn to page 126 for all the guidance you need on extending your property.

Classic centre-pivot roof window, from £292, Velux

4

LUXE UP YOUR LOFT

‘Whether you’re looking for an extra bedroom, office, bathroom or playroom, adding a loft conversion is an easy and cost-effective way to maximise space in your home. Plus, did you know that a loft conversion can add 13 per cent to your property’s value? But a common mistake is not considering the opportunities for daylight.

We recommend that glazing in a loft conversion should amount to 15-20 per cent of the room’s floor space. You can calculate the ideal daylight ratio for your room with Velux’s daylight calculator tool. Simply enter your floor dimensions to generate the roof window size and quantity you’ll need.’

Grant Sneddon, Director of Regional Product Management and Business Insight Marketing, Velux

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HOME IMPROVEMENT EXTRA

5

For extensions and other big renovations, online experts may be able to help you save a little on the budget. Planning drawings, from £699 for a set, Arkiplan

ACE YOUR ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

‘Homeowners looking to extend should consider using an online architectural company for cheaper, faster drawings. Technology has progressed so far in the past decade that within two weeks a digital provider, such as Arkiplan, can scan the client’s home with a 3D camera, discuss designs over video link, complete all the drawings and submit the necessary council applications on the client’s behalf – all for a fixed price that’s quoted at the start. Online companies can offer cheaper drawings because they can do more projects at once to keep overheads down.’

Dave Chamberlain, Director, Arkiplan

6

TRACK DOWN A TOP TRADESPERSON

‘One of the best ways to find a trustworthy tradesperson is to check if there’s a certification or registration body for the specific trade you’re looking for, such as NICEIC for electrical contractors. These organisations often have set requirements that businesses must meet to join them to ensure all the work they undertake meets the standards expected to keep us all safe.

Finally, if you’ve got a company in mind, we always recommend that you check its website to make sure it is registered.’

Check your tradesperson is registered or certified before taking them on to ensure their work meets safety standards

Paul Collins, Technical Services Manager, National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC)

7

Confirm schedules and contracts before work starts and maintain communication with your builder to avoid delays

GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING

‘When commissioning building work, it’s vital to agree a schedule of works with your builder and get a written contract ahead of any work commencing. Once you’ve decided on your builder, set up an agreed payment schedule and only pay the final amount once you’re satisfied the work has been completed to a good standard.

You should have everything written down and signed. Mutual understanding with your builder regarding costs, scope, responsibilities and time frames will prevent misunderstandings and avoid difficulties as the project progresses.

If plans change halfway through, sit down with your builder and update the contract.’

Brian Berry, Chief Executive, Federation of Master Builders

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HOME IMPROVEMENT EXTRA Kitchens, from £2,000, Used Kitchen Exchange

9

STICK TO THE SAME PLUMBING SCHEME

‘One way to save time and money when renovating a bathroom is to minimise moving the plumbing.

Swapping out an old bath and replacing it with a new shower enclosure or walk-in can be a straightforward remodel and a great way to improve your bathroom. In most cases, all pipework will be at one end of the bath, while many rectangular shower enclosures are designed to fit the footprint of a standard bath, helping to create a cost-effective scheme.’

Adam Chard, Content Manager, Victoria Plum

8

BAG A DESIGNER KITCHEN FOR A LOT LESS

‘As a general rule, you shouldn’t spend more than 15 per cent of the value of your home on a kitchen, so buying pre-loved designer units will add value to your home. There are huge savings to be had: up to 90 per cent on a used kitchen and up to 70 per cent on an ex-display model. While purchasing a kitchen this way involves an element of compromise, the pros outweigh the cons, especially if you choose to buy via a specialist service. All Used Kitchen Exchange kitchens are subject to stringent inspection and come with an approved guarantee to give the buyer complete peace of mind.’

Helen Lord, Founder, Used Kitchen Exchange

Arezzo fluted glass wet room screen and support arm in Chrome, £299.95, Victorian Plumbing

Mode 8mm walk-in glass panel pack with shower tray, £299, Victoria Plum

10

AVOID COSTLY SURPRISES

‘The sooner you show your bathroom’s current design to plumbers, tilers and electricians the better. Giving them as much information as possible about your home’s water system, the whereabouts of pipes and outlets, and the general construction of your space should help prevent any expensive surprises from popping up further down the line. You should be wary if your chosen tradesperson is reluctant to take a good look at the state of your bathroom beforehand. If they’re happy to get started on a big job without considering all aspects of the space, you could well end up with a poor quality renovation.’

George Holland, Bathroom Design Expert, Victorian Plumbing

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HOME IMPROVEMENT EXTRA Bau FastFix products, from £83, GROHE

11

GET STUCK INTO SOME DIY

‘If homeowners are DIY-savvy and fancy taking on a project themselves, it’s worth considering products that don’t require any expertise or specialist tools for installation. This is a great option for those looking to improve their home with high-quality fixtures without having to factor in hours’ worth of labour costs. GROHE offers a range of

and stress-free as possible.’

Paul Bailey, UK Bathroom Specialist Leader, GROHE

Premium windows, from £330, Origin

SWITCH YOUR TILES Dull, dated or chipped tiles can quickly age or darken your interior. Give your bathroom or kitchen a glistening update by swapping out old tiles for new. Use tiles with a bevelled design or reflective surface to introduce texture to a plain wall. For tutorials on tiling a wall, replacing a broken tile or regrouting tiles, visit diy.com.

Bella Craquele Blue wall tile, £35.99 per sq m, Tile Mountain

12

INVEST IN DURABLE MATERIALS

‘When planning a project, the longevity of the renovation should be your focus.

Consider which elements of the build offer the biggest return on investment and prioritise those. For example, the choice of material can ensure durability and longevity.

Using aluminium doors and windows, rather than uPVC, offers much better value for money in the long term because they don’t need to be replaced as often. They’re also better for the environment and offer a sleek, modern look.’

Victoria Brocklesby, Chief Operating Officer, Origin

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PRIZE DRAWS

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PRIZES A UP FOR GRABS!

Visit yourhomestyle.uk, choose the WIN tab, find the prize draw you’d like to enter and fill in your details. Closing date is 25th November 2021 at 11.59pm.

WIN a £250 voucher to spend at DUSK

WIN an Eliza Southwood cycling print, worth £250

As the nights draw in, refresh your home with a £250 voucher from DUSK. Created with the finest materials, from Egyptian cotton to cotton percale, the DUSK bed linen collections are the epitome of luxury for less, boasting a range of classic, modern and more relaxed styles. Every item is luxuriously soft, supporting a good night’s sleep all year round.

Accessorise your bed or refresh the sofa with sumptuous throws and cushions in opulent velvet or tufted texture, in a range of colours from timeless white and soft sage to earthy charcoal and ochre. Add a new dimension for the senses with a candle or diffuser from the home fragrance range. The Allure Collection is bursting with seasonal amber and sandalwood notes, or dream of distant shores with the Escape Collection, with notes of warming vanilla and coconut. For more information, visit dusk.com.

Give a gallery wall a healthy boost with a print from artist Eliza Southwood, worth £250. Eliza has teamed up with Sudocrem with this design, as Sudocrem wants to help people get back on their bikes after a tumble. ‘I create a lot of cycling-themed artwork and I’m always inspired by seeing people on bikes. My inspiration for the Sudocrem Cycle More campaign was imagining a world in which everyone has the opportunity to get on a bike and feel free to cycle wherever they want,’ enthuses Eliza. Pack your My Little Sudocrem when heading out on your next ride for any scrapes or sores along the way! For more info on the Cycle More campaign, sudocrem.co.uk/cycle-more.

WIN a pair of autumnal scents from Yankee Candle

WIN paints and a colour consultation, worth £550

Your Home has teamed up with Yankee Candle to give readers the chance to win one of 10 seasonal fragrance bundles. Each bundle contains two Yankee Candle Large Jars Candles in two cherished scents: Crisp Campfire Apples that has the aroma of freshly picked apples cooking over the fire, and Autumn Glow, which is like a walk through the golden light of a forest in October, and is layered with the scent of rich patchouli.

Yankee Candle has been sharing its passion for fragrance since 1969. Crafted by master chandlers, each scent captures an experience and is a blend of custom wax and carefully crafted fragrance. All Yankee Candle Large Jar Candles are made with quality ingredients from around the world.

For more information, visit yankeecandle.co.uk.

After months of being stuck indoors and looking at the same décor, there’s no better time than now to get creative and refresh your interiors with a lick of paint. We’ve teamed up with Colourtrend, part of General Paints Group, to offer you the chance to win an interior makeover, aided by bespoke advice from a colour specialist. The winner will receive £500 worth of interior paint in the shade(s) of their choice, plus a 30-minute Zoom call colour consultation, worth £50.

To see the full Colourtrend range and for stockists, visit colourtrend. co.uk.

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PRIZE DRAWS

WIN a bathroom from nuie Bathrooms, worth £1,878!

Your Home readers are in with a chance of winning a stylish, sleek monochrome bathroom set from nuie Bathrooms, a company known for its affordable style that will make any bathroom beautiful.

The monochrome trend is proving to be a popular choice among current bathroom redesigns, offering a sleek and stylish finish. From striking matt-black brassware that perfectly contrasts with the stark white Athena furniture ranges, nuie Bathrooms – which is part of Britain’s industry-leading bathroom manufacturer, The Roxor Group – has various products to create the monochrome effect across its ever-growing portfolio.

Monochrome bathrooms offer a dramatic statement that’s modern, glamorous and edgy, while also creating a relaxing and calming space, which makes it a versatile choice for your home. Pair clean and classic white, glossy cabinets with daring, bold matt-black fixtures to create a timeless monochromatic aesthetic. nuie Bathrooms are designed with everyone in mind – so don’t miss out on this fantastic prize.

We’ve teamed up with nuie Bathrooms to offer you the chance to win an entire bathroom suite, worth £1,878. The lucky winner will receive a Round Thermostatic bar valve and shower kit, a wall-hung cabinet and basin, a mirror unit, a WC unit, black unit handles and a shower enclosure to transform their bathroom into a designer showpiece.

To view the latest releases and for more information, visit nuiebathrooms.com.

TERMS & CONDITIONS 1 The promotion is open to all residents of the UK, including the Channel Islands, aged 18 years or older, except Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited’s employees or contractors and anyone connected with the promotion or their direct family members. 2 For the Colourtrend prize draw, Colourtrend will get in touch with the winner directly and fulfil their paint order from HQ. Colourtrend will manage the transaction for the prize winner via phone and/or email correspondence. The video consultation can be done Mon-Fri, lasts approximately 30 minutes and will take place over a Zoom video call.

3 Installation is not included as part of the nuie Bathrooms prize draw. 4 For the full list of terms and conditions, visit yourhomestyle.uk/win.

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SIMPLE WAYS TO ORDER ★ CALL 03330 162 138† and quote ‘YourHome Xmas 21 PRINT1’ ★ ONLINE www.buysubscriptions.com/YourHomeXmas21 † UK calls will cost the same as other standard fixed line numbers (starting 01 or 02) and are included as part of any inclusive or free minutes allowances (if offered by your phone tariff). Outside of free call packages call charges from mobile phones will cost between 3p and 55p per minute. Lines are open Mon to Fri 9am-5pm. Overseas please call +44 (0)1604 973 746. *Prices including postage are £4.99 for UK residents, £5.99 for Europe and £6.99 for Rest of World.

Please allow up to 28 days for delivery from the on sale date of 28th September 2021.

Shopping guide Where to buy everything in this issue

A

Abstract House abstracthouse.com Acorn & Will acornandwill.co.uk Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Annabel James 0345 548 0210 annabeljames.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 770061 anniesloan.com AO.com 0344 324 9222 ao.com Applied Studio 020 8150 6616 applied.studio Architect Your Home architect-yourhome.com Arkiplan arkiplan.co.uk Around the House Furniture aroundthehousefurniture.co.uk ASDA 0800 952 0101 asda.com Assembly Interiors 07740 063 869 assembly-interiors.com Astro 01279 427001 astrolighting.com Atkin and Thyme 01727 227500 atkinandthyme.co.uk Audenza 0116 2986 393 audenza.com Avenue Floors 0800 032 3970 avenuefloors.co.uk

B

B&M 0330 838 9000 bmstores.co.uk B&Q 0333 014 3357 diy.com Bagel & Griff 01858 468764 bagelandgriff.com Bathroom Mountain 01782 405047 bathroommountain.co.uk Bathrooms to Love 0800 877 8899 bathroomstolove.co.uk Beards & Daisies 020 3828 9600 beardsanddaisies.co.uk Beanbag Bazaar 0800 988 1286 beanbagbazaar.co.uk Benjamin Moore 01753 575756 benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Benuta benuta.co.uk Berry Alloc berryalloc.com BestHeating 0344 417 2563 bestheating.com Big Bathroom Shop bigbathroomshop.co.uk Blinds 2go 0800 062 0464 blinds-2go.co.uk Boots Kitchen Appliances 0344 879 3483 bootskitchenappliances.com Breville breville.co.uk Bushboard bushboard.co.uk

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Ca’ Pietra 01380 735885 capietra.com Carpetright 0330 333 3444 carpetright.co.uk Carr’s Flour shop.carrsflour.co.uk Cast Iron Radiators 4U 02393 162168 castironradiators4u.co.uk Claybrook Studio 020 7052 1555 claybrookstudio.co.uk

COAT Paints coatpaints.com Copper Smith Creations coppersmithcreations.co.uk Cox & Cox coxandcox.co.uk Creative Cables 020 3940 7550 creative-cables.co.uk Crown Imperial 01227 742424 crown-imperial.co.uk Crown Paints 0330 024 0309 crownpaints.co.uk Cult Furniture 020 8185 6960 cultfurniture.com

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där lighting darlighting.co.uk David & Charles davidandcharles.com Decorating Centre Online 01388 608144 decoratingcentreonline.co.uk Desenio desenio.co.uk Discount Flooring Depot discountflooringdepot.co.uk Dowsing & Reynolds 0113 819 9985 dowsingandreynolds.com Drench drench.co.uk Dualit dualit.com Dulux 0333 222 7171 dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 165 6565 dunelm.com DUSK 0113 519 0311 dusk.com

E

eBay 0345 355 3229 ebay.co.uk Edison Light Globes edisonlightglobes.com eFlorist eflorist.co.uk Etsy etsy.com

F

Facebook Marketplace facebook.com Farrow and Ball 01202 876141 farrow-ball.com Federation of Master Builders fmb.org.uk Fine Art America fineartamerica.com Fishpools 01992 636465 fishpools.co.uk Franke 0161 436 6280 franke.co.uk Freemans 0333 200 8077 freemans.com Furniture and Choice 0333 015 0000 furniturechoice.co.uk Furniture Maxi 0333 241 3060 furnituremaxi.com Furniture Village 0333 251 5575 furniturevillage.co.uk

G

Garden Trading 01993 845559 gardentrading.co.uk Gail Myerscough gailmyerscough.co.uk George Home 0800 952 0101 direct.asda.com Ginger Ray 0845 680 2975 gingerray.co.uk Go Wallpaper 0161 724 9085 gowallpaper.co.uk Gosh! goshfood.com

28 Gousto gousto.co.uk Grohe grohe.co.uk

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Habitat 0344 499 4686 habitat.co.uk Heather Burton Yorkshire Artist heatherburtonyorkshireartist.co.uk HI-MACS himacs.eu Home Bargains homebargains.co.uk Home Luxe Co homeluxeco.com Homebase homebase.co.uk Homebody Decor homebodydecor.co.uk Homescapes 0121 368 0051 homescapesonline.com Homesense 01923 473561 homesense.com Hotpoint 03448 224224 hotpoint.co.uk Housecosy housecosy.com Howdens howdens.com

I

Fy! iamfy.co Iconic Lights iconiclights.co.uk IKEA 020 3645 0000 ikea.com ILIV 01772 651 199 i-liv.co.uk Indesit 0800 092 1922 indesit.co.uk Industville 020 7971 7871 industville.co.uk

J

Jackstone House jackstonehouse.com Joe Browns 0113 270 6655 joebrowns.co.uk John Lewis & Partners 0345 610 0359 johnlewis.com JYSK 0330 088 3818 jysk.co.uk

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Karndean Flooring 01386 820200 karndean.com Kempii kempii.co.uk King & McGaw 01273 511942 kingandmcgaw.com KitchenAid kitchenaid.co.uk

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La Di Da Interiors 01264 366200 ladida-andover.com La Redoute 0844 842 2222 laredoute.co.uk Leoline 0800 032 3970 leoline.co.uk Lick lickhome.com Lifestyle Kitchens 01227 742424 lifestylekitchens.com Light Up North 07442 169 928 lightupnorth.com Lights&lamps lightsandlamps.com Little Greene 0161 250 9572 littlegreene.com Loaf 020 3141 8300 loaf.com Lust Home 01429 803930 lusthome.com

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Machine Mart 0115 956 555 machinemart.co.uk MADE.com 0845 557 6888 made.com Magnet 01325 744 093 magnet.co.uk Making Spaces 07796 670 837 making-spaces.net Mandarin Stone 01600 715444 mandarinstone.com Maple from Canada maplefromcanada.co.uk Marks Electrical markselectrical.co.uk Matalan 0845 330 3330 matalan.co.uk Material Works 020 7183 5352 material-works.com Matki matki.co.uk Merlyn 0808 101 1429 merlynshowering.com Metro Tiles 01752 916101 metrotiles.co.uk MHS Radiators 0345 521 5666 mhsradiators.co.uk Microplane 01258 472420 hartsofstur.com Mineheart 01487 831 034 mineheart.com Mint & May 020 3637 7969 mintandmay.co.uk Mira Showers 0808 167 7470 mirashowers.co.uk Monsoon monsoon.co.uk

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Natalia Willmott nataliawillmott.co.uk National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting niceic.com National Theatre nationaltheatre.org.uk NE Appliances 0117 453 1290 neappliances.com Next 0333 777 8000 next.co.uk Ninja ninjakitchen.co.uk Nisi Living 0117 251 0117 nisiliving.co.uk Not Just Taps 01923 268843 notjusttaps.co.uk

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Oak Furnitureland 0800 440 2254 oakfurnitureland.co.uk Old Forge York 07926 381 022 oldforgeyork.com Oliver Bonas 020 8059 2414 oliverbonas.com OnBuy onbuy.com Opies opiesfoods.com Optiplan 01793 423314 optiplankitchens.co.uk Origin 0808 239 1984 origin-global.com

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Paint & Paper Library 0845 880 5844 paintandpaperlibray.com Papermoon Boutique 07758 625 372

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papermoonboutique.co.uk Peppermill Interiors 01543 375872 peppermillinteriors.com Persora 01386 556161 persora.com Pink Lady pinkladyapples.co.uk Planning Portal planningportal.co.uk Plus Rooms 0800 917 7127 plusrooms.co.uk Pooky 020 7351 3003 pooky.com Porcelain Superstore 0330 094 0304 porcelainsuperstore.co.uk Poundland poundland.co.uk Primark primark.com Primula primula.co.uk ProCook procook.co.uk

Q R

QS Supplies 0116 251 0051 qssupplies.co.uk Quick-Step quick-step.co.uk

Red Bubble redbubble.com Red Candy 0121 224 7728 redcandy.co.uk Robert Dyas robertdyas.co.uk Rockett St George 01444 253391 rockettstgeorge.co.uk Rointe rointe.com Rose & Grey 0161 926 8763 roseandgrey.co.uk Rowse Honey rowsehoney.co.uk Rubber Duck Bathrooms 01642 913727 rubberduckbathrooms.co.uk Russell Hobbs 0345 209 7461 uk.russellhobbs.com

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Sanctuary Bathrooms 0113 244 4400 sanctuary-bathrooms.co.uk Sass & Belle sassandbelle.co.uk Schmidt home-design.schmidt Second Nature 01325 505555 sncollection.co.uk Sieger 01494 722880 siegersystems.co.uk Simply Extend 020 3285 7351 simplyextend.co.uk Sleepy People sleepypeople.com Snug snugsofa.com Sofa.com sofa.com Sous Chef 0800 270 7591 sous-chef.co.uk Sparkle Lighting 01494 671602 sparkle.lighting Splashback 0800 978 8785 splashback.co.uk Splashbacks.com 01630 638444 splashbacks.com Starel Stones starelstones.co.uk Stelrad 0844 543 6200 stelrad.com Swan shop.swan-brand.co.uk 0333 220 6050 Swift Direct Blinds 03702 187042 swiftdirectblinds.co.uk Symphony Group symphony-group.co.uk

T

Taps UK 01527 917150 tapsuk.com Tesco realfood.tesco.com Textured Lives 01829 309496 texturedlives.co.uk The Alder Tree facebook.com/The-Alder-Tree The Curtain Tailor 07785 504893 curtaintailor.co.uk The Dogs Ear instagram.com/thedogsear The Goodlife Centre thegoodlifecentre.co.uk The Happy Puzzle Company happypuzzle.co.uk The Radiator Centre 01727 840344 theradiatorcentre.com The Radiator Company 01342 302250 theradiatorcompany.co.uk The Rustic Table Company 07756 685 942 therustictablecompany.co.uk Tielle Love Luxury 01442 843 769 tielleloveluxury.co.uk Tile Giant tilegiant.co.uk TK Maxx 01923 473561 tkmaxx.com Topps Tiles toppstiles.co.uk

U V

Ultra Decking 01925 943011 ultradecking.co.uk Used Kitchen Exchange uke.co.uk

Victoria Plum victoriaplum.com Very 0800 110 000 very.co.uk Victorian Plumbing 0345 862 2878

victorianplumbing.co.uk Village & Home villageandhome.com Village Wax Melts villagewaxmelts.com Vinyl Flooring UK 0113 887 9393 vinylflooringuk.co.uk Viva! Vegan Recipe Club veganrecipeclub.org.uk Vogue UK 01902 387000 vogueuk.co.uk

W

Walton & Co 01423 326332 waltonshop.co.uk Wandsworth Electrical 01483 713400 wandsworthelectrical.com Wayfair 0800 756 4548 wayfair.co.uk West London Carpentry 07795 411400 westlondoncarpentry.com Wicked Home wickedhome.co.uk Wickes 0330 123 4123 wickes.co.uk Wild & Kind wildandkind.com Wild & Stone wildandstone.com Wilko 0800 032 9329 wilko.com Wood Finishes Direct 01303 213838 wood-finishes-direct.com Wool Couture 01226 414950 woolcouturecompany.com

Y Z

Yard Architects 020 7407 8303 yardarchitects.co.uk

Zwilling 0845 262 1731 uk.zwilling-shop.com

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Wrendale Hare Mug & Tray Set £18

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Eva Solo Flask £27

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To place an advert here, please call Rebecca Janyshiwskyj on 0117 300 8547

yourhomestyle.uk

SHOPPING DIRECTORY

The perfect selection of tools and kit for gardeners

• Cutlery Sets/Pieces

• Candlesticks

• Trays and Bowls

• Jugs/Tankards

• Tea/Coffee Sets

• Some Jewellery (please ask)

• Trophies

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• Ornaments

• Knife Handles Replaced

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1965 Rolex GMT-Master Pepsi Estimate: £15,000 William George & Co

George IV silver candlesticks Estimate: £350–520 Adam’s

Marble bust Late 19th/early 20th century Estimate: £11,500–15,500 Christie’s

Coffee table, Herman Miller Estimate: £760–1,150 Wright

Sear c 2000 h over auct ion hou galle ses and rie over s from al l the w orld Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger Estimate: £30,000–50,000 Sotheby’s

Pumpkin, Yayoi Kusama (b.1929) Hammer price: £550 Forum Auctions

Hermès bag Kelly Starting price: £7,500 Stockholms Auktionsverk

Your search for art, design, antiques and collectables starts here

May Day V, Andreas Gursky Estimate: £450,000–650,000 Phillips

Mahogany dresser Estimate: £500–660 Uppsala Auktionskammare

Swivel chair by Hans J. Wegner Estimate: £2,460–3,300 Bruun Rasmussen

Style of Serge Mouille, ca. 1950s Estimate: £300–460 Rago Arts

Edwardian Art Noveau frame Estimate: £200–300 Tennants

Emerald cut diamond ring Fixed price: £27,400 Once Upon A Diamond

Without title, Alexander Calder Estimate: £430–600 Artcurial

Edwardian arm chair, ca. 1910 Fixed price: £3,850 Wick Antiques

Find the true value of your treasures - only £13. Visit barnebys.co.uk/valuation

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SHOP OF THE MONTH

Boutique SPEAK We get to know Grace Ikomi, founder of Village and Home Describe a typical day Every day is different, but a regular routine starts with me making sure that my children are ready for school. After that, I take the bus to my day job from 9am to 5pm before I come home to pack and send orders for Village and Home. I’ll also respond to emails from customers, search for markets to attend or catch up and share ideas with other small business owners.

What is your favourite interiors trend?

Maximalism and mixing contrasting patterns, as I love bold designs and making a statement. You can play this up or down depending on your personality. It’s a chance to express yourself and incorporate designs to reflect your cultural background, travels or family heirlooms. Most of all, you should feel comfortable in your environment and this design style can be toned down by mixing it with plain colours or designs.

I love bold designs and making a statement. You can play this up or down depending on your personality.

It’s a chance to express yourself What can we find at Village and Home?

A range of tea towels, aprons, oven gloves, chopping boards and placemats in unique designs and bright colours. We have recently expanded to include cushions and we have a new design featuring a colourful take on the Zulu shield on placemats and cushion covers.

Where do you find inspiration?

Village and Home regularly has pop up stalls in various John Lewis stores

From the bright colours and cultural images common in Africa and the Caribbean. The kitchen range features images of cultural foods used in African and Caribbean cooking,

such as the plantain, okra and Scotch bonnet pepper. I am also influenced by my childhood, which was spent growing up in South Africa.

Top tips for adding bold colours and pattern into your home?

Colour is very important as it’s therapeutic and lifts your mood. We should embrace colour and not be afraid of mixing colours and patterns. I recommend that you start by adding colourful accessories as a great way to change the style of a room without spending a lot of money.

What’s next for yourself and Village and Home?

We are planning to expand our range of products to include more cushion designs, bedding, tablecloths and children’s aprons.

We would absolutely love to have a physical store. I really enjoy interacting with customers face-to-face and the quality and material of products are not always translatable online.

Where is your next pop-up shop?

We will be at John Lewis, White City until Sunday 17th October and John Lewis, Kingston from Monday 20th December to Friday 24th December. villageandhome.com

My favourite things 1. ‘Now available in a larger size, I love how this patterned placemat depicts plantain in various stages of ripeness.’

Plantain placemat, £10.

2. ‘Bright and beautiful, this particular apron is one of our most popular, thanks to its colourful mix of green, red and yellow.’

Fante Kente apron, £24.

3. ‘This pattern evokes nostalgic memories for me growing up in South Africa. It is a classic black and white design that would complement any kitchen.’

Potjie double oven glove, £25.

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‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE TRENDY POSTERLOUNGE’S TIPS FOR AUTUMN & WINTER 2021 Autumn and winter are known as the times of year where socialising gradually goes from outside to inside. In order to make you feel cosy, we have some tips on some of the wall art trends happening during these colder months, which you can use to turn your home into a relaxation paradis.

How to get started With the addition of a couple of blankets, you have the perfect start to making your home cosy during the colder months, but what if making it cosy, doesn’t have to stop there and can be extended to the walls? This year, gold, white and grey are the trendy colours of the colder seasons. Posterlounge, a family run company, started bringing art to its customers’ walls around 15 years ago. The online shop allows you to discover new pieces of art, whilst offering you a chance to filter designs in the colour trends.

Don’t let it stop there. If the colours on trend are not to your taste, you can use the filter to find colours which match the furniture in your house.

Spoilt for choice!

It all starts with a concept. Once you have decided whether to brighten up the walls with the matching colours of your furniture, or a centre piece in that room, or by following the trends, you can look at finding the perfect wall art. Posterlounge’s array of designs allows you to have these ideas turn into reality with a choice of 8 different materials. If you prefer a glossy finish, then you can choose an acrylic glass print, or even a poster in an elegant black frame. If you prefer a matt finish, then an aluminium print not only looks elegant but brings a slightly industrial feel to any room. Otherwise, a classic canvas print will also do the trick.

www.posterlounge.co.uk

What else is on trend?

Not only are the colours gold, white and grey in trend, but photography is making a comeback (that is, if it ever went away). A black and white photograph would not only fit in with the current trends but can look very chic in its simplest form on your wall.

Geometric patterns, like those of the American artist duo SpaceFrog Designs are also in this season. The bright colours of these designs can either be let wild with a glossy finish or tamed with a matt one – it is completely up to you. So, if you’re looking for a trendy, seasonal interior makeover, you will find all that you need at Posterlounge.

Sky above, earth below and fire within.

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Welcome Photo Philip Sowels

From the big, fluffy blankets to the gentle flicker of a stove, there’s not much I don’t adore about a home that’s all cosied up and ready for autumn.

Before the chilly nights really kick in, there are a few practical things we can do to make our spaces warmer. Discover 10 ways to make your home more snug on page 14, learn everything you need to know about heating on page 18, and if your radiators could do with an upgrade, you’ll find styles for every room in your house on page 16. Draughty old floors aren’t much fun at this time of year, so discover 4 steps to a cosy floor on page 22.

Warmth isn’t the only factor in building a cosy atmosphere – colour, texture and light all play important roles too. On page 4, the Your Home team reveals its top style picks for the chillier seasons, while on page 8, we show you three different palettes to help you create your dream winter scheme – I like the soothing greens look but perhaps the fiery reds or warm neutrals are more your cup of tea? Let me know what inspires you in this guide – I’d love to hear from you.

FOLLOW & SHARE yourhomestyle.uk facebook.com/yourhomemag @Your_Home instagram.com/yourhomemagazine pinterest.com/yourhomemag

Contents 4

8

Things we can’t live without... winter The Your Home team picks its new season must-haves Create your dream winter scheme Three seasonal shades to transform your home into a cosy haven this winter

12 Stay warm and cosy with a stove Snuggle up, stay in and keep nice and toasty with these stoves 14 10 ways to make your home more snug Keep heat in and bills down with these energy-saving tips 16 Radiators for every room Keep the whole house warm with these efficient, stylish and space-friendly options

18 Your essential guide to home heating Everything you need to know about keeping your house warm this winter 22 Four steps to a cosy floor Practical and stylish options for updating your flooring 26 Heat up with floors galore Flooring options that pair perfectly with luxury underfloor heating

27 Win Moduleo flooring!

We’ve teamed up with Moduleo to offer a prize of £2,000 worth of LVT flooring – enter today!

28 Ask the experts Industry experts reveal the best ways to update your existing space ahead of the new season 30 Shopping directory Where to buy every beautiful item you find in these pages

November 2021

3

INTERIORS INSPIRATION

Things we can’t live without...

WINTER 4

yourhomestyle.uk

The Your Home team choose their top picks for the new season

Section editor

Tom’s picks ‘Just like my wardrobe, I switch up my cushions with the arrival of autumn and pile my sofa and bed high with lots of texture and darker shades. Blues, mustards and linens are usually my go-tos, but this year I’m going to warm up my scheme with earth tones and burnt reds.’

Global Explorer collection: Zigzag textured cushion in Khaki, Orange/Khaki, Burnt Orange and Stone Grey, £30 each, all Amara

Henry Holland Wave cushion, £22, Freemans

Comoe embroidered cushion cover, £18, La Redoute

Star string lights, £10.50, Cox & Cox

Designer

‘I’m a sun worshipper, so as soon as the days start to shorten I flick on the fairy lights and light candles to give my surroundings a sunny glow. From dainty lights to these TruGlow candles from Lights4fun, which create a flame effect without the worry of leaving them unattended, my living spaces will sparkle through the winter.’

Feature Thomas Poad

Beth’s picks Pompom lights, £33.50, Sparkle Lighting TruGlow rope LED pillar candle trio, £26.99, Lights4fun

November 2021

5

INTERIORS INSPIRATION Features editor

Michelle’s picks

Eddie velvet tub chair in Peacock, £149, Dunelm

‘As the evenings draw in, you’ll find me tucked up in an armchair reading a good book. For the ultimate cosiness, velvet and wool are perfect for sinking into after a long day or winter walk, and they feel even more sumptuous when paired with a fluffy throw.’

Henry Holland Shaun bouclé chair, £249, Freemans

So Simple Tom armchair in Simply Wool Look Vintage Mustard, £479, DFS

White star wax burner, £12.50; Pick and mix soya wax melts, £1.25 each, both Freckleface Home Fragrance

Art editor

Tricia’s picks ‘When it comes to making my home feel cosy, it’s all about filling the space with soothing scents from crackling candles and essential oils. Freckleface offers a monthly subscription of wax melts, and I’ve really been enjoying the floral collection, especially the rose.’

Face oil burner in Matt Black, £13, Sass & Belle

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yourhomestyle.uk

Tall white China burner, £17.50, Neal’s Yard

INTERIORS INSPIRATION Senior production editor

Katie’s picks ‘As much as I love being out and about, there’s nothing quite like drawing the curtains on a winter’s night to unwind and relax in the warm. Not only do they keep the chill from creeping in, but they make those weekend lie-ins that much cosier!

Lever one light brass task table lamp, £35, Lights & Lamps

Boll table lamp in marble, black and frosted glass, £39, MADE.com

Buxton Grey eyelet thermal curtains, from £30 for a pair, Julian Charles

Pink ribbed glass lamp, £15, George Home

EDITOR

Mel’s picks ‘Once the clocks go back, I love to make the evenings feel cosy and snug by creating lots of little pockets of light with table lamps on every possible surface!

I look for fabric shades that will let plenty of light through, as well as frosted glass, which creates a beautiful glow.’

Clementine table lamp, £45, Dunelm

Tuiss Bijou linen curtains in Pear, from £32.35, Curtains 2go

Hadleigh curtains in Navy, from £31.20, Swift Direct Blinds

November 2021

7

STYLE ADVICE

Create your dream

1950s wall clock, £19.95, Rex London

WINTER SCHEME Whether you choose bold reds, serene greens or chic natural shades, we’ve picked our key buys and decorating essentials to warm up your home this winter

T

ransform your home this season with one of our three key colour palettes to add warmth and character to any room of your house. For a more dramatic update, use these shades on your walls with paint in the living room, a statement wallpaper in the bedroom or an eye-catching tile in the bathroom. Then enhance the scheme with affordable accessories and carefully chosen key items of furniture for a considered look. Bring extra cosiness to your room with an array of textures to add depth and interest – velvet occasional chairs, shaggy rugs, faux fur throws, etched glassware and woven details all provide a feast for the senses, completing the ultimate winter scheme.

Red scallop chair, £129.99, TK Maxx

Fiery Tassel cushion, £7 George Home

Paradiso table lamp, £163, Pooky

For an opulent feel choose luxurious fabrics, such as velvet and silk, in red tones to create a cosy vibe. Bed linen will introduce this shade in a purse-friendly way Wilson velvet bed, from £425; Pasadena table lamp, £42; Geometric jacquard duvet and pillowcase set, from £55; Hamilton throw, from £50; Zola red retro accent chair, £199, all Next

Red Metro wall tile, £19.99 per sq m, Tile Mountain

Team your shade of red with light neutrals to keep it fresh and warming without being too overpowering. Use it painted on walls and on floors with a bold, eye-catching rug Brave Ground matt emulsion, £31.09 per 2.5L; Lost Coral matt emulsion, £31.09 per 2.5L, both Dulux

Dani throw in Crimson Red and White, £69.80, SoCosy

Candle with tassel lid, £4, B&M

Cabin large terracotta jug, £9.99, Homesense

Matt emulsion in English Fire, £18 per 2.5L, Crown Paints

Feature Lara Berry

Diamante acrylic tumbler, £12, Nisi Living

Lozenge rug in Fiery Red, from £396, Cosy Coco

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Flat matt emulsion in Velvetine, £37.99 per 2.5L, Crown Paints

STYLE ADVICE

Yasuni Lush wallpaper, £45 per roll; Silk Texture Envy wallpaper, £65 per roll, both Graham & Brown

Grooved glass carafe, £30; Grooved glass tumbler, £48 for six, both Raj Tent Club

Accessorise your green scheme with opulent, jewel shades of mustard, turquoise and blue for a vibrant room full of character

Cali scatter cushion, £35; Cougar scatter cushion, £35, both Sofology

Draper three-seater sofa, £1,799; Anyday slipper chair, £299; John Lewis & Partners + Swoon marble coffee table, £350; Anyday side table, £79; Folklore heritage cushion, £50; Ikat jute rug, from £275;

Retro throw, £12, George Home

Soothing

GREENS

Green reactive glaze dinner set, £30, George Home

Artificial tropical floor plant, £49.50, M&S Opulent velvet pouffe in olive green, £55, Next

Use different shades of green for a complete and soothing scheme, the perfect retreat on a cold winter’s day Aquamarine 138 Absolute Matt Emulsion, £48.50 per 2.5L; Ambleside 304 Absolute Matt Emulsion, £48.50 per 2.5L, both Little Greene

Forest Shade and Tranquil Dawn matt emulsion, both £31.09 per 2.5L, Dulux

Ascot green rug, from £159.99, Rugs Direct

Nancy three-seater sofa bed in Moss Green velvet, £549, Cult Furniture

Chloe brass robe hook, £15, Oliver Bonas

STYLE ADVICE

Ostrich taupe wallpaper, £40 per roll, Graham & Brown

Make your neutral scheme work for the winter months by introducing a mixture of textures – chunky and fine knit, tassels and pompoms and crushed linen and woven rattan all add interest Spindle bed frame, from £399; Ragen rectangle cushion, £16; Ludlow cotton throw in White Sands, £25; Edited Life jute marl rug, from £129; Edited Life ash wood hooks, £22, all Dunelm

Showhome soap dispenser, £12, Matalan

Cabin brown leather bench, £99.99, Homesense

From left: Wall Paint in Original, £41.95 per 2.5L; Wall Paint in Pointe Silk, £41.95

Warm

Arkin matt gold hourglass table lamp with mink Reni shade, £65, Iconic Lights

Raku cream tiles, £33.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors

NEUTRALS Gold tone leaf design etched Sherpa floor cushion, £12; Elemental pompom cushion, £16, both Matalan

Bloom Circle Geo wool rug in grey, £205, The Rug Seller

A white backdrop is perfect for building a warm neutral scheme on.

Work from the ground up with a new rug or invest in flooring with rich wooden tones. Lighting can warm your space too – table lamps, ceiling pendants and candles all help to create the perfect ambiance Bubble vase, £14; Biwa seagrass shade, £48; Cabin squiggle cushion, £12; Jute cushion, £12; Paloma throw, £35; Borg cushion, £14; Raffles wooden chair, £200; Hazel storage coffee table, £130; Odin sofa, £700; Jute rug, £55; Astraeus lamp, £60; Cabin Retreat basket, £20; Evora bowl, £15; Magazine rack, £16; Cabin Retreat lantern, £14, all Habitat Luxurious soft faux fur throw in natural, £89, Cult Furniture

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Image credit: Polly Coulson

est. 1990

“Simply pop open the tin, roll up your sleeves and work Chalk Paint magic into your home.” _

no prep • great coverage • highly pigmented • loves most surfaces

HEAT YOUR HOME QUATTRO BLACK WALL-MOUNTED ELECTRIC FIRE, £220, DUNELM This 25-inch electric fire is a more modern take on the traditional stove. Its contemporary glass front is set back into the wall, so it saves you floor space, and it produces a realistic glow.

• Features a daily and weekly programmable timer • Contains a seven-day thermostatic remote control • Includes an adjustable ambient back light with 13 colour choices • Has the latest LED flame technology – this has a low energy consumption • An ideal choice for modern interiors

Opt for electric For maintenance, convenience and easy installation, an electric stove is the way to go. They provide instant heat and only need a three-pin plug socket to get started – so they’re a simple way to bring warmth and style to your space.

Top tip ’In relatively airtight properties such as new builds, there must be an air vent permanently open to the outside. In older properties (pre2008), the first 5kW of an appliance doesn’t require an air vent, but every kW over that needs an additional 55cm sq size hole.’

Annabelle Carvell, PR Officer, Stovax

stay warm and cosy with a

Stave off the winter chill and allow our expert advice to guide you towards a classic heating solution FOCAL POINT ES 2000 GREY ELECTRIC STOVE, £120, B&Q We think this stove is a steal at £120. Its realistic flame features a warm and inviting glow that’s simple to control with its adjustable settings, plus it’s available in a selection of classic colourways that are easy to tie into your scheme including grey, burgundy, black and cream.

• Concealed controls behind the ash pan door • Adjustable flame brightness control • Simply plug it into the wall for instant heat • Comes in a variety of colours • Uses a thermostat to maintain heat levels 12

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t might be wet, cold and windy outside, but this gives us the perfect excuse to retreat into our homes and cocoon ourselves in cosiness – and what better way to do this than with a stove? Our top choices won’t only keep you warm, but they’ll bring plenty of character to your space, too. Not sure where to start when it comes to electric, gas and solid fuel fires? Read on for our expert guidance.

Go with gas

HEAT YOUR HOME

The newest gas stoves appear almost indistinguishable from real wood-burning fires, with designs to suit both traditional and contemporary styling. Most are also available as balanced flue versions; this means that they don’t need a chimney but require a twin-wall pipe to vent directly to an outside wall.

FOCAL POINT SVELVIK BLACK GAS STOVE, £820, B&Q This flueless gas stove has a realistic ceramic fuel bed, plus if you’re after the truly traditional look, it features a solid steel frame (that’s also durable and easy to clean).

• Has a manual thermostat control • Doesn’t require a flue or chimney • Has levelling feet on both sides that are ideal for uneven floors • Solid steel construction • Features a ceramic fuel bed

Feature Sophie Demetriades

CHESTERFIELD 5 GAS STOVE, FROM £1,849, GAZCO This one is at the pricier end of the budget, but for good reason. Its elegant, bevelled cast iron design and rose-scroll door handle give the impression of a real traditional wood burner, and it also gives out plenty of heat.

• Available as conventional and balanced flue versions • Generates up to 4kW of heat • Contains realistic logs for a lifelike flame • Has classic details such as a bevelled cast iron door and rose-scroll handle • Also available as electric, wood burning and multi-fuel models • Remote thermostat for complete control

Choose solid fuel There are two types of solid fuel stoves.

One only burns logs and the other is called a multi-fuel that can burn either logs or smokeless fuels. For the ecoconscious, the latter is the best option.

Top tip ‘Look for stoves that are approved for smoke-control locations – even homes in the most urban areas may be able to use stoves that are exempt from the restrictions.’

Annabelle Carvell, PR Officer from Stovax

COUNTY 5 WOOD BURNING STOVE, FROM £949, STOVAX EARLSWOOD III STOVE, £980, ACR STOVES This traditional-style stove doesn’t just have a timeless aesthetic. It’s made from steel and cast iron for strength and will give out plenty of heat, too.

The multi-fuel stove can burn both wood and other smokeless fuels, and it’s also EcoDesign approved, which makes it more environmentally friendly with low carbon emissions that don’t compromise on efficiency.

• You can burn both wood and other smokeless fuels • Approved by SIA EcoDesign Ready • Made from steel and cast iron for strength and durability • Fitted with a

powerful airwash to ensure the glass panel is clear of soot • Has a 5kW heat output

This charming solid-fuel stove features an exterior that could be suited to both traditional and modern homes with its classic arched window but minimal detailing. Plus, like the Earlswood, it’s EcoDesign certified which means it’s more environmentally friendly than most stoves.

• Approved by SIA EcoDesign Ready • It’s DEFRA exempt for smoke

control areas, meaning you can use this stove in locations where there are smoke restrictions • Compatible with a 12mm hearth • It has an A-class energy rating • It’s also available as a multi-fuel version

November 2021

13

HEAT YOUR HOME

10 Ways to Make Your Home More Snug

Make your rooms more energy efficient this winter for a warmer home that saves on energy bills, too

Threesixty is a stylish and affordable ceramic smart heater, perfect for personalised heating and working from home, £85.71, Duux

1UPDATE THE WINDOWS

Energy efficient windows are a must for old or new homes, as we can lose up to 30% of our residual heating through bad glazing. Either reduce energy loss by repairing windows that are in decent condition or replace with thermal and double glazed versions. Visit energy.gov for advice.

2HAVE CAVITY WALLS INSULATED When buying curtains, look for lined designs as this makes them more thermally efficient and keeps the room cosy Fernia Denim fabric from the Country Journal collection, £23 per m, ILIV

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Houses built after the 1920s usually have cavity walls with two walls and a gap in between. Insulation can be injected from the outside by a specialist company and then sealed with cement. Most properties built from the 1990s onwards have wall insulation already.

Find a registered installer at nia-uk.org.

THERMOSTATIC 3CHOOSE RADIATOR VALVES

Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) are a requirement now for new builds and refurbishments as part of Building Regulations. If you don’t have them, swap

HEAT YOUR HOME old valves for TRVs as they control the radiator’s temperature by sensing the room air temperature then automatically opening and closing the flow to maintain a pre-set temperature.

The blackout lining of these curtains has thermal properties to keep the room nice and warm

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Made to measure extra-thick pencil pleat blackout lined curtains in Denim, £22.50 per m, Loom & Last

HANG THERMAL WINDOW DRESSINGS

Look for lined or blackout -lined curtains and blinds, as this will help to prevent air from entering or leaving the room. It’s a great way of keeping the heat in during chilly evenings and reduces the amount of heat needed from radiators or fires, saving energy.

WINDOWS 5DRAUGHT-PROOF AND DOORS

Fill any gaps where hot air is escaping and cold air gets in. Applying self-adhesive foam strips or metal and plastic strips with brushes is a simple DIY job. You could also consider draught-proofing an open chimney when you’re not using it, too.

6GET A SMART HEATER

Working from home, you don’t want to heat the whole house if you don’t need to. Invest in a compact smart heater which can be popped on the desk to evenly distribute air. These can warm the room twice as fast as conventional heaters while wi-fi connectivity allows you to operate them from your smartphone or tablet.

7INSULATE THE LOFT

Inexpensive and easy to install yourself at the weekend, check if you have sufficient insulation in the loft. If not, choose one that’s at least 270mm thick for the best results.

UPGRADE 8 TO A SMART THERMOSTAT The latest models will ‘learn’ your household’s patterns and lifestyles and adjust the heating and cooling accordingly. This will reduce your house being heated unnecessarily when you’re not at home.

The RadCen traditional corner thermostatic radiator valve set is ideal for classic radiators with its Antique Copper finish, £132, The Radiator Centre

9FIT A CHIMNEY BALLOON

10MOVE YOUR FURNITURE

It may sound like a daft idea but sometimes, even just moving the position of the sofa and any armchairs can make a difference to how cosy you feel.

If you sit right in front of the fire or radiator, you will be preventing the hot air from circulating freely, so it might be worth having a rearrange’.

Feature Hayley Gilbert

These are like double glazing for your chimney.

They stop warm air escaping and prevent cold air coming in. Simply inflate a little, pop into position then inflate until it holds itself in place. When you want to light a fire, it’s easily deflated and stored until you need it again.

Upgrading windows to double glazed will make a huge difference.

MyGlazing.com will help you find a local supplier in your area

November 2021

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HEAT YOUR HOME

Stay toasty in the

KITCHEN

KESWICK CAST IRON STYLE TRADITIONAL RADIATOR, £229.95, VICTORIAN PLUMBING White column radiators with vintage-inspired valves have always been a favoured traditional look for kitchens – and this Keswick one from Victorian Plumbing emulates this soughtafter style. Better yet, the radiator has the look of cast iron but without the heavy price tag.

ELLIPSIS TOWEL RAIL IN PLATINUM, FROM £409.20, THE RADIATOR COMPANY

• Wall-mounted to save floor space • Multitasks as a place for hanging tea towels • Modern design available in multiple colourways • Excellent heat output • Vertical shape to take up less wall space

• Made from strong steel with the look of cast iron

• Features a slimline vertical design that’s needed for compact kitchens with minimal wall space • It’s a column-style radiator that goes well with traditional kitchens • Close fit against the wall to save on space • Generous heat output

Traditional vs modern Bring warmth and style to your home with our pick of radiators to suit all spaces and schemes

R

adiators have come a long way over the years – nowadays, there are so many options out there for you to choose from that have efficient heat output but don’t compromise on style. With that in mind, we’ve collaborated with the experts and chosen our favourite traditional and modern designs for the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and hallway so you can pick a radiator that rolls practicality and style into one.

keep it compact in the

hallway

MILANO WINDSOR TRADITIONAL COLUMN RADIATOR IN WHITE, FROM £149.95, BESTHEATING

• Double columned design. • Option to add floor-mounting, vintage-inspired bronze feet

• High-quality white powder-coat finish • Built to last with 1.5mm-thick steel • Includes wall fixings, wall plugs, blanking and a bleed plug

MILANO MONO TYPE 21 DOUBLE FLAT-PANEL PLUS CONVECTOR RADIATOR, FROM £174.95, BESTHEATING The horizontal, slimline panel on this radiator makes it ideal for tight, narrow hallways. It also features a modern design that will give your space a sleek, minimal feel and it has an impressive heat output that will distribute the warmth evenly.

• Highly efficient heat output • White powder-coat finish • Suitable for tight spaces • Horizontal shape that can stretch along a narrow hallway • Premium-quality steel construction

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carry style through

bedroom

ATHENS ANTHRACITE TRIPLE COLUMN HORIZONTAL TRADITIONAL RADIATOR, £334.99, BATHROOM MOUNTAIN Our bedrooms are our sanctuaries, and we want them to look as stylish as they are comfortable. So why not make a feature of a radiator in the bedroom with this period style design? It’s anthracite powder-coated finish in a deep matt grey gives it the look of traditional cast iron, and it’s just the thing for creating a focal point, especially in an eclectic or classic scheme.

• Made from thick steel for durability • Has a powder-coated anthracite finish for a traditional look • Ideal for creating a focal point in a room • Generous heat output • Its horizontal design means it can slot in easily underneath a window or along a bare wall

bring multipurpose designs to the

bathroom DIAMOND HEATED TOWEL RAIL IN ANTHRACITE, £99.95,VICTORIAN PLUMBING This contemporary design has sleek, sophisticated style with its deep, dark colour and simple shape. But not only does it look the part, it’s an incredibly practical choice, too.

With its vertical design, it won’t take up too much precious wall space, plus it emits plenty of heat to keep your towels toasty and dry.

• Close fit to the wall • Made from steel with an anthracite finish • Vertical design ideal for compact spaces • Stylish, modern shape • Plenty of room to keep several towels warm BLACK TRADITIONAL EIGHT-COLUMN TOWEL RADIATOR, £229.99, BATHROOM MOUNTAIN

• Chrome-plated and

gloss black powdercoated finish • High heat output – ideal for keeping towels warm • Built to last with thick steel • Compact size so it’s suited for small bathrooms • Brimming with traditional style

VOX VERTICAL IN WHITE, £592.99, THE RADIATOR COMPANY

• Sleek sections rather than rounded columns for a modern look • Made from lightweight aluminium • Available in alternative heights and sizes • Its vertical shape will save on wall space which means more room for bedroom furniture • It’s wallmounted to keep the floor area free

Expert advice Choose the right radiator for your room Not sure where to start when it comes to choosing a radiator for certain rooms in the house? John Lawless, Content Marketing Manager at BestHeating, is here to help.

‘In kitchens and bathrooms, vertical radiators and tall towel rails can help to maximise floor and wall space, leaving more room for all your other essentials. In the kitchen, avoid placing a radiator next to a fridge or a freezer, as they both get rid of their residual heat through a condenser at the back of the appliance.

A hallway radiator is probably heating a much larger area than you may think, with open staircases and long spaces requiring a little more heat output than a dining or living room. So, consider a larger radiator to combat this. Heat may escape through doors, so position it away from these areas to minimise heat loss and be sure not to block the radiator with a large piece of furniture.

In the bedroom and living room, you will probably find that the best place for a radiator is under the window because the space is unlikely to be able to accommodate any large pieces of furniture like your sofa, wardrobe or bed. A vertical radiator will give you more room for additional furniture, but then a horizontal version will work just as well if it’s placed under a window.’

November 2021

Feature Sophie Demetriades

to the

HEAT YOUR HOME

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HEAT YOUR HOME

Your essential guide to

home heating Thinking about updating your heating system ready for the winter months?

Read our expert advice for everything you need to know before you invest…

H

eating and hot water are essential for our homes, and if your system isn’t performing as well as it should, now could be the time to think about replacing it.

The latest models are much more efficient and better for the environment, so it’s definitely a worthwhile investment. Consider your existing fuel type, how many people will be needing hot water and if you’re a bath or shower household, as this will determine how much hot water you’ll be needing day to day.

no water tank. You can get hot water from multiple taps at the same time, but the hot water isn’t instant and you will have to wait for it to reheat if the hot water runs out.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN TYPES OF GAS BOILER AVAILABLE?

CONDENSING BOILERS are not a type of boiler, but an attribute that most modern boilers have. They capture some of the heat that can escape from the flue of a noncondensing boiler and reuse it, making them more energy efficient.

COMBINATION OR ‘COMBI’ BOILERS are the most popular option in the UK, providing heat and hot water without the need for a water tank or cylinder. These are generally available in both gas or electric models. They don’t need much space and provide unlimited heat and hot water on demand, although hot water pressure is likely to drop if you need to use more than one hot tap at the same time.

CONVENTIONAL BOILERS have both a cylinder and a tank, and they’re also known as open vent or regular boilers. You may sometimes have to wait for the water to reheat, and you will need to have space for both the cylinder and the tank.

Jonathan Kidner, Product Engineer at Alpha Heating Innovation, recommends that the most important thing to consider when choosing a new boiler is the hot water and heating demand in your household. ‘Do you have a small property and a low demand for hot water and heat, or do you have a busy SYSTEM BOILERS require a water cylinder household with multiple bathrooms and – often sited in an airing cupboard – but more than one shower in operation at the same time?

Vaillant’s Think about whether you ecoTec boiler is compatible with have built an extension or its sensoCOMFORT added more bathrooms heating control since the previous boiler for optimum performance, and was installed, or whether comes with a five-year you are planning future guarantee as standard extensions or room ecoTec combi boiler conversions, as these with Green iQ, from scenarios could mean larger £1,775, Vaillant output requirements.’

WHAT TYPES OF FUEL ARE AVAILABLE TO HEAT MY HOME? Depending on your home and your requirements,

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there’s a wide range of fuels that can be used to provide heating and hot water, usually through a boiler. Although natural gas is most commonly used in the UK, it’s not necessarily the best choice for every household.

NATURAL GAS Gas boilers are fuelled by natural gas, which is delivered via the mains to our homes.

However, around 4 million rural homes in the UK do not have access to the mains.

OIL A popular alternative for homes that are not connected to the gas mains, oil is stored in a tank located close to your property. This oil must be ordered in advance so it’s important to be aware of when you are running low.

LPG Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) is another option for homes without a gas supply. LPG storage tanks come in a range of sizes, and are refilled either by tanker, or often from smaller cylinders or bottles which can be replaced when empty.

ELECTRICITY Homes that are not connected to gas may consider an electric boiler, especially if an oil

HEAT YOUR HOME The Greenstar 4000 condensing boiler is available in both natural gas and LPG versions for combi and system boilers, and features an intuitive display for easy control Greenstar 4000 boiler, from £800, Worcester Bosch

Available in three different heat outputs, the E-Tec Plus boiler comes with a 10-year warranty as standard, and is compatible with OpenTherm, which means it’s compatible with a wide range of smart heating controls. Its compact size is designed to fit in a standard kitchen cupboard E-Tec Plus combi boiler, around £1,700 including installation, Alpha Heating Innovation

ARE THERE ANY MORE ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES TO A BOILER? Choosing a renewable energy system will reduce your energy bills and benefit the environment. Renewable technologies include ground source and air source heat pumps, solar water heating, biomass boilers and thermal energy stores.

‘Heat pumps are a great sustainable solution as they emit zero emissions, making them carbon neutral at point of use,’ says Mark Wilkins, Technologies and Training Director at Vaillant. ‘Heat pumps use heat energy from the environment around them, such as the ground or air, to create central heating in your home. Electricity is used to power the heat pump, but for every 1kW of electricity used by the pump you can get up to 5kW of heat in return.’

HOW DO SMART THERMOSTATS WORK? The latest smart thermostats can benefit both your bills and the environment. A heating engineer will be able to advise you of the options that will work with your chosen boiler. Martyn Bridges, Director of Technical Communication and Product Management at Worcester Bosch, says smart thermostats give you greater control over your heating system.

‘Rather than switching the boiler on or off, a smart thermostat can adjust the boiler output downwards while still achieving the desired temperature. These nifty gadgets can also be operated from your smartphone, allowing you to delay your boiler switching on if you’re returning home later than usual.’

Vitodens 200-W 35kW combi boiler, from £1,807.27, Viessmann

tank isn’t practical. They essentially work like a kettle, but on a much larger scale. They’re often more suited to smaller homes because they can only heat a limited amount of water at a time.

Darren McMahon, Marketing Director at Viessmann, recommends that the alternative closest to mains gas, for use with a boiler, is LPG. ‘This is compatible with Viessmann’s conventional gas-condensing boilers. BioLPG is a more eco-friendly option that uses propane produced from renewable materials and can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80 per cent. Electricity and oil tend to be more expensive than gas, too. Renewable heating is a great option for off-grid properties, either exclusively, if the house is well-insulated, or as part of a hybrid system where a renewable heating product can be matched with a boiler to provide the best of both worlds.’

HOW MUCH MONEY COULD I SAVE

BY REPLACING MY OLD BOILER? According to The Energy Saving Trust, if you replace your existing model with an efficient A-rated boiler and set of heating controls you could save over £300 and 1,500kg of carbon emissions a year. Typically, a straightforward gas boiler replacement plus thermostatic radiator valves will cost from about £2,500, excluding radiators, meaning the upgrade could pay for itself in just over eight years.

‘If your boiler is around 10-15 years old and coming to the end of its service life, you will be much better off replacing it with a new, high-efficiency model,’ says Jonathan Kidner, Product Engineer at Alpha Heating Innovation. ‘If your boiler is having to work harder than necessary to heat your home and water, it is likely to be pushing up your heating bills.’

Are there any government grants available to help towards the cost of a new boiler?

ECO is a scheme supporting energy efficiency improvements, including insulation and some heating systems in low income and vulnerable households.

It’s not a government grant, but an obligation on large energy suppliers to support households. You may qualify if you claim certain benefits and meet other requirements. If there is a specific scheme in your area you may be able to get help even if you’re not receiving any benefits.

If you install a renewable heating system, you may be eligible for RHI – a government scheme where you can be paid for every unit of renewable heat you produce for a number of years. For more details visit simpleenergyadvice.org.uk.

November 2021

Feature Lisa Hibberd

A powerful yet compact design suited to larger homes, Viessmann’s 200-W boiler is offered in both combi or system models. The range features integrated wi-fi, and, when used with the ViCare app, can even alert a heating engineer if a fault occurs

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the house Harris is on hand to help you wallpaper the walls to welcome colour, texture and personality into your interiors

W

hen it comes to decorating a room, the walls offer the biggest blank canvas to stretch your creative talent. While your first thought to inject colour and personality may be paint, wallpaper offers an extremely broad range of patterns, textures and colours to set the tone for your space. Transform a humdrum hallway into an elegant entrance with stripes, take alcoves out of the shadows with a botanical print or add some period charm to a bedroom with a heritage design. Once you’ve picked your papers, put your DIY skills into good use with Harris’ extensive range of decorating tools to give your walls the wow factor.

PREPARATION IS KEY The first step in any wallpapering project is protection and preparation. With water and wet paste likely to cause mess, protect your

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Unleash your personality on your interiors with panels of patterned wallpaper in your favourite colours or prints

floors (especially carpet) with a Seriously Good Dust Sheet. If your floors are laminate or tiled, fix the sheet in place with Essentials Making Tape. If you’re papering onto new plaster then you’ll need to use a wall sealer to seal the porous surface of the wall, which will improve the adhesion of the wallpaper paste, too. Plus, it will aid the slide of the wallpaper when you’re matching the pattern or hanging it in an awkward area.

any stains or small imperfections on the wall. Unscrew any fixings or nails with the Seriously Good Multi Tool. If wallpapering onto plaster, plasterboard or wood, apply a universal primer on the wall the day before, made to the manufacturer’s instructions.

PRIME THE WALLS Give the walls a light sand with Seriously Good Sandpaper then wash them with diluted sugar soap and a Seriously Good Microfibre Cloth. Once dry, consider lining the walls with lining paper. Hanging lining paper will prevent new wallpaper from shrinking when hung, which may lead to gaps between the lengths of paper, as well as helping to disguise

GETTING THE HANG OF IT When hanging wallpaper vertically, use the Seriously Good Plumb Bob to find the true straight line. Fix the string to the top of the wall and allow the bob to swing freely; when it stops, the point of the bob is precisely below the point at which the string is fixed above.

Mark the line in pencil to give you a true vertical starting point for the wallpaper.

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How to… wallpaper a wall Unroll your wallpaper onto a flat surface.

Use Seriously Good Paperhanging Scissors to cut the wallpaper lengths, leaving 2-3cm spare paper at the top and bottom. Measure each length before cutting, and keep a bin bag on hand for the offcuts to keep your workspace tidy.

If using traditional wallpaper, you’ll need a Seriously Good Paperhanging Table for the wallpaper to rest on while the paste soaks in. When using ‘paste the wall’ wallpaper, use a Seriously Good Paste Brush to apply the paste onto the wall in a thin, even layer, starting from the top. Place the wallpaper roll on the floor, align it to the vertical line and unroll it towards the top of the wall, keeping 2-3cm on the ceiling for a straight line.

Once you’ve applied your paper to the wall, use the Seriously Good Paperhanging Brush to smooth the paper, working from the centre outwards. This will remove any air bubbles or wrinkles in the surface.

Trim the excess paper at the top and bottom of the panel with a Seriously Good Paperhanging Snap Knife, using the groove of the skirting as a guide. Flatten the seams with a Seriously Good Soft Seam Roller. Cut around the fixings and sockets with the Snap Knife before reattaching the paper.

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THE ESSENTIALS Ensure you’ve got all the tools you’ll need before you tackle the job, which will make the wallpapering process a whole lot easier and less stressful

Feature Thomas Poad Main photo Getty Images

From top right: Seriously Good Paste Brush; Seriously Good Paperhanging Brush; Seriously Good Snap Knife; Seriously Good Paperhanging Scissors; Seriously Good Plumb Bob; Seriously Good Soft Seam Roller; Seriously Good Wallpaper Smoother, all Harris

For more decorating tips, visit harrisbrushes.com, harrisbrushes.com, @Harrisbrushes on Twitter, @Harrisbrushes_uk on Instagram and facebook.com/Harrisbrushes

November 2021

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4

STEPS TO A

COSY FLOOR

As the months become colder, find ways to keep out the chill with flooring options that will enhance your room with colour and style while also keeping your soles warm

Avalon Pale wood tiles, £48 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore

HARD CHOICES With many hardwood floor types coming in a range of finishes, it can be hard to know where to start. While engineered wood has a shorter lifespan than real wood, it has the advantages of looking no different and being cost-effective. Another option which looks like the real thing is luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring which is water resistant, meaning it’s suited to most rooms in the home – including the bathroom! Similarly to porcelain and stone, LVT needs radiant heating, but once installed it’s low maintenance, although more prone to scratches.

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York Tawny oak solid wood flooring, £77 per sq m, Woodpecker Flooring

FLOORING IDEAS Sensit Divinity deep pile Saxony carpet in Soft Stone, £53.98 per sq m, United Carpets and Beds

THAT SINKING FEELING

Feature Tallulah Rushaya

Deep-pile carpets are a great way to add extra comfort and keep a toasty home. As David Cormack, Marketing Director at Cormar Carpets shares, ‘Deep-pile carpets provide a luxurious and cosy h ome environment.

Providing both a plush appearance and texture, deep-pile carpets are ideal for bedrooms and lounges, where you want to create a soft cocooning haven. However, because they are classified as heavyweight carpets they can also be used in heavy footfall areas such as stairs and corridors.’ A Saxony pile is a good option and it gives a very dense appearance. Another option that’s sustainable and warm is wool fibre. The neutral nature of wool makes it perfect for mixing and matching to your décor. To avoid damage, a wool blend with the same look and feel such as wool acrylic could be worth looking into.

Sensation Heathers in Riga Surf, from £25 per sq m, Cormar Carpets

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FLOORING IDEAS Amrita wool handwoven rug, from £69, Dunelm

LAYERING UP Rugs can make for the perfect finishing touch and help to bring your room together. You can offset a patterned carpet with a plain rug or vice versa. It’s also a great opportunity to play with contrasting colours or to match accessories in the room. While a thinner rug can be a quick way to adorn the room with patterns, a thicker rug will provide the indulgent texture underfoot while still being a focal point and nice statement piece.

Well Woven Dazzle pink/white rug, from £25.99, Wayfair

Herringbone Laurel Oak 51937, £36.99 per sq m, Moduleo

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yourhomestyle.uk

FLOORING IDEAS

WARM FROM HEAD TO TOE

GoodHome Marcy Natural Oak real wood top layer flooring, £41.10 per pack (£30 per sq m), B&Q

Underfloor heating is seamless design feature, and installing it is simpler than you might think as it comes pre-spaced and ready to attach. As well as adding extra warmth to your home, it’s also a great way of freeing up wall space for more artwork or shelves! There are two types of underfloor heating available: electric and water. Emma Wills, Category Manager at B&Q , explains more about both options, ‘Electric underfloor heating is available as either a heated mat or heating cablebased system. This type of system is favourable for renovation projects in particular as it doesn’t significantly increase floor height and is simpler to install, however it costs more money to run than a wet system. Wet underfloor heating involves a heat source (a traditional boiler or heat pump) through underfloor heating pipes, which are laid within or on top of the subfloor beneath your floor finish. This type of system is much more expensive to install however it’s significantly less expensive in terms of running costs and is more reliable in the long term. Make sure you seek advice from a manufacturer before you choose, as you want to ensure the specific floor product will not be damaged by the heating system.’

Cotswold Grey tiles, £52.92 per box (£35.28 per sq m), Porcelain Superstore

ring Turn over to shop floo ting that is underfloor-hea compatible!

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FLOORING IDEAS Tartan Ben Alder Axminster carpet, from £58.99 per sq m, Hugh Mackay

Berwick white oak moisture resistant laminate flooring, £23.68 per box, £16 per sq m, Wickes

Light grey slate moisture resistant tile effect laminate flooring, £31.92 (£14 per sq m), Wickes

Heat up with FLOORS GALORE Underfloor heating is always warm and welcoming – choose from these flooring options for a snug and stylish ambience

Goodrich whitened oak engineered parquet, £112.75 per box (£87 per sq m), Woodpecker Flooring

Kuvio Blue glue down luxury vinyl tiles, £70.11 per box (20.99 per sq m), Topps Tiles

Top tip

Moduleo Moods Diamond 315, £51.99 per sq m, Moduleo

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yourhomestyle.uk

Kingston Saxony carpet in Citrine Heather, £12.99 per sq m, Carpetright

Feature Xxxxx Xxxxxx Photos Xxxxx Xxxxxxx

Utah tile effect vinyl flooring in Siena T99, £18.99 per sq m, United Carpets and Beds

To make the most of underfloor heating, ensure the combined tog rating of your carpet and underlay is no higher than 2.5 tog.

Then, your carpet will feel warm and cosy underfoot.

PRIZE DRAW

WIN! £2,000 to

spend on Moduleo flooring WIN!

Up to 50 square metres

Choose from the timeless flooring designs of Moduleo’s LayRed collections, like this authentic lime-effect Blackjack Oak, to the more standout patterns of the Impress range

M

oduleo, part of the IVC Group, has teamed up with Your Home magazine to offer readers the chance to win up to £2,000 worth of luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring.

In recent years, Moduleo LayRed has received a Red Dot Design Innovation Award for outstanding design quality, a German Design Award for innovation and a National Flooring Innovation Award. These accolades were presented due to the product’s innovative nature and design. Planks come in two formats and large planks have an ‘embossed

in register’ (EIR) texture – a hyper-realistic structure which makes the grains and knots really stand out.

THE PRIZE The lucky winner will receive their choice of any flooring from the Moduleo LVT collection (LayRed, Impress, Transform, and Select) up to £2,000 in value (that’s up to 50 sq m). This year, Moduleo expanded its LayRed collection, so there are more designs than ever to choose from. Moduleo LayRed now features 40 unique, nature-

inspired wood styles which comprises elegant and vibrant patterns from light to dark shades.

Combining unprecedented strength and exceptional comfort, this renovation-friendly flooring features a strong core, feels soft and dampens sound, too. It has an integrated underlay, is waterproof and has a premium protective layer to protect from scratches.

FIND OUT MORE To learn more about Moduleo LayRed, visit moduleo.co.uk.

TO ENTER, visit yourhomestyle.uk, choose the WIN tab, find the prize draw you’d like to enter and fill in your details. The closing date is 25th November 2021 at 11.59pm.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1 Promoter: Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited. 2 The promotion is open to all residents of mainland England, Scotland and Wales aged 18 or older, except the Promoter’s employees or contractors and anyone connected with the promotion or their direct family members. 3 By entering the promotion, you agree to be bound by all the rules of the promotion including these terms and conditions. 4 The Promoter may share the details of the winner with the prize provider for the purposes of fulfilling/delivering the prize. 5 The Promoter excludes liability to the full extent permitted by law for any loss, damage or injury occurring to the participant arising from his or her entry into the promotion or occurring to a winner arising from his or her acceptance of a prize. 6 The Promoter reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or to cancel, alter or amend the promotion at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control. 7 Only one entry per prize draw will be permitted per household, regardless of method of entry. Bulk entries made by third parties will not be permitted. Entries received after the closing date of the promotion will not be considered. 8 No responsibility accepted for lost, delayed, ineligible or fraudulent entries. 9 Prize includes delivery to mainland UK only. 10 The prize is non-refundable, non-transferable and not for resale. The prize cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers, promotions or discounts. There is no cash alternative. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize with another prize of the same or greater value. 11 Closing date for entries is 11.59pm on 25th November 2021. 12 Winning entries will be chosen at random (after the closing date) from all entries. 13 The winner will be notified of their win within 28 days via email. 14 The winner must claim their prize within 28 days of notification. In the event that a winner cannot be contacted or fails to claim their prize within 28 days, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to another entrant, or to re-offer the prize in any future promotion. The prize is valid for six months after the date that the prize is claimed. 15 The Promoter’s decision as to the winner is final and no correspondence relating to the promotion will be entered into. 16 Prize is for up to 50 sq m of flooring from the following Moduleo LVT collections: Impress, Transform and Select to the value of up to £2,000.00; or for 50 sq m of flooring from the Moduleo LayRed collection, up to the value of £2,174.50. Prize includes the LVT planks/tiles only. 17 Prize is subject to stock availability, the prize provider will advise of timescales once the winner has been revealed.18 Prize includes delivery of the flooring but not installation, and any underlay or other accessories. 19 Entrants must supply to Immediate Media Company Limited their full name, email address or daytime telephone number. The Promoter will use entrants’ personal details in accordance with the Immediate Privacy Policy (immediate.co.uk/privacy-policy). The winners must be willing to participate in publicity if required. 20 The surname and county of residence of the winners will be available upon request by sending an SAE to Your Home November 2021 Giveaways, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST within two months of the closing date of the promotion. The Promoter will contact the winners before releasing this information and provide the winners the opportunity to object or limit the amount of information shared. 21 The promotion is subject to the laws of England.

November 2021

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DECORATING IDEAS

Ask the experts From revamping woodwork to creating a laundry room, our professionals answer your home improvement questions

Linear kitchen from £25,000, Harvey Jones

Q

I’m thinking of converting an unused downstairs cloakroom into a utility room so I can fit in a tumble dryer. What are my options for this?

Amy Jones, Northamptonshire

A

Flush casement uPVC window, Everest

Q

My home has double-glazed uPVC windows, but they get black mould and mildew around the sealant. Do you know what is causing this, and are there any products that I could use to tackle it? Laura Harding, Cardiff

Feature Sophie Hannam

A

Jill McLintock, Head of Product Marketing at Everest, explains…

Black mould or mildew around windows and doors can be caused by leaks. If this is the case, it is likely that the sealant and/or the frame is damaged and needs replacing.

However, in modern homes, even in those with new replacement windows and doors, the cause is more likely to be condensation. Over the years our houses have become more airtight. Double-glazed windows and doors are very energy efficient and, while they create rooms that are warmer, the water vapour created by normal living activities such as cooking and washing is no longer able to escape through old leaky windows and doors. As a result, condensation can form on the inner panes of the window causing black mould or mildew to develop.

Prevention is always better than cure, so improving natural ventilation in the room will help. You can do this by opening fanlights on the windows and checking that any trickle vents on the windows or doors are open.

There are many branded cleaning products on the market that will remove black mould or mildew from around the home. Otherwise, you can simply use a 50/50 mix of warm water and sterilising fluid (such as Milton); a mixture of one part bleach with three parts water; or white distilled vinegar sprayed onto the mould. Remember to wear gloves when using these products to avoid skin irritation, and open windows to keep the room well ventilated.

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yourhomestyle.uk

Emma Cowburn, Kitchen Designer at Harvey Jones, says…

It’s always best to take pictures and measure the dimensions of your space before heading into a showroom to ask for help from a designer – this means they will be able to properly advise you on how to maximise the space in your new utility room.

Firstly, consider stacking your washing machine and tumble dryer.

It’s a great way to make the most of space, and means there will be a bit less bending down. At Harvey Jones we have a standard cabinet that can stack most free-standing washing machines and tumble dryers behind a cabinet door (you’ll just need to leave the door open when using them). Covering the appliances will give you a presentable area, and means that you won’t need to change to integrated appliances. Or, if you’re tight on space, you could stack the appliances without a door. Another thing to consider is adding a clothes rail. This will give you hanging space for things that can’t go in the tumble dryer, and somewhere to sensibly build up the dreaded ironing without having an unsightly pile left out!

Q

I’d like to lighten up the dark-stained skirting boards in my home as they feel really dark in the winter. Are there any particular brushes or tools that you would recommend for painting woodwork? Sarah SmithBarnes, Hampshire

A

Marcus Jarvis, Painter and Decorator at Harris Brushes, says…

When decorated correctly, skirting boards can have a transformational effect on a space. First, lay a dust sheet and put masking tape down. As your skirting boards are stained, sand them lightly using Harris’ Seriously Good Fine Sandpaper to remove the top layer. If there are any damage or chips, you can clean the boards with a microfibre cloth and then fill holes or cracks with wood filler.

For a flawless result, apply primer to prevent stains coming through using an Ultimate Angled Gloss Brush (follow the grain of the Ultimate Woodwork wood and leave to dry completely Gloss paint brush, from £2.99, Harris Brushes before painting), then lightly sand and wipe down. Apply your chosen topcoat of gloss, eggshell or satin.

For the finest possible finish, I would recommend using the Ultimate Angled Brush head to cut in at the top of the skirting board. To finish, lightly brush over the skirting board – this is called laying off – to create a glass-like finish.

Q

The living room in our basement flat has only one central light fitting, which means the space is so dark in the winter months. How can I introduce more light? Claire Woods, London

A

Daniel Croughman, Lighting Category Manager at B&Q, reflects…

One of the best ways to illuminate a tricky space is through multi-directional lighting. The Monzoni is a trendy six-bulb ceiling light with arms which offer a wide distribution of light across the room. You could also use high lumen filament bulbs to create an even more striking look. Another tip is to light your walls: the Ghlin wall light has a contemporary, industrial design that’s perfect for accent lighting, and it’s ideal for rental properties as installation is as simple as plugging it in! It’s also good to remember the impact of different materials. Metallics are great to emphasise, as their reflective qualities can make a space feel lighter. Consider modern LED floor lamp designs, like our bestselling Alani, which has a chrome-effect finish with integrated LED bulbs to create beams of light. You could also try introducing table lamps with lighter lampshades, even clear glass features, to allow light to be seen in a more natural effect.

The Thestias or Eupheme lamps are great examples of beautiful decorative lights that provide a focused coverage for everyday tasks, but also look stunning in a living space.

Monzoni black gold effect pendant ceiling light, £60, B&Q

DECORATING IDEAS

Q

I am looking for a hardwood-style floor that I can lay over my old, uneven (and very draughty) floorboards in my cottage’s kitchen – what are my options please? Philippa Wallingford, Fleet

A

Matthew Brook, National Sales Manager for IVC Group UK and Eire (including Moduleo), reveals…

A kitchen floor has to handle a lot at the best of times, so a hard-wearing product, in the first instance, is a must. A floor’s ability to retain warmth, deal with scuffs and stains while also standing the test of time is important. Engineered vinyl flooring is an affordable alternative to its natural counterparts. Offering innovative designs without eye-watering costs, this makes it a perfect choice for the kitchen – one of the home’s busiest rooms and most susceptible to damage.

Moduleo LayRed, our engineered vinyl flooring, would be a great option for this particular challenge, because it can be laid over old and uneven floors; comes complete with integrated underlay to remove draughts; is installed with simple tooth-groove connections; and is warm underfoot, so it is ideal for a draughty, cottage kitchen floor. It is also the ‘softest hard plank on the market’, offering extra comfort versus a hardwood plank. Our Woods collection features 40 different styles, encompassing both light and dark tones which can complement a wide variety of interior design tastes.

Moduleo styles are a ‘design Mountain Oak 56238 interpretation’ of natural flooring, £44.99 per materials so they offer the sq m, Moduleo desired aesthetics with the added benefit of engineered capabilities, such as being waterproof and scratch- and stain-resistant.

Shaker wall panelling, six panel pack, £11.95, Homebase

Q

I’d like to apply MDF heritage-style panelling to the bedroom in our Victorian house to make it feel cosier, but the old walls are quite uneven. Is there a way that I can prep them? Jenny Salter, Cumbria

A

Tony Kersey, Builders & Hardware Buying Manager at Homebase, says…

First, sketch out the look that you want to achieve with your panelling and keep it handy throughout the job. Once your sketch is done, the best place to start your project is by measuring every inch of your bedroom walls. Remember, it’s important to get your measurements right in order to achieve a seamless look.

After all your hard work, the last thing you want is for your panelling to end up uneven or bumpy, especially as the walls in your property are old, so it’s important to thoroughly sand your whole wall down before attaching any of your boards. Plus, the sanding will make the adhesive stronger.

Once you’ve finished installing all of your panels, step back and take a look at the whole wall. If there are any small gaps in between boards, fill them with Polyfilla and sand down the joints to ensure it looks smooth.

November 2021

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Rugs Direct 0330 113 4909 rugsdirect.co.uk

Shopping guide A

ACR Stoves 0121 706 8266 acrheatproducts.com Alpha Heating Innovation 0344 871 8760 alpha-innovation.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 770 061 anniesloan.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com

b

B&M 0330 838 9000 bmstores.co.uk B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Bathroom Mountain 01782 405 047 bathroommountain.co.uk BestHeating 0344 417 2563 bestheating.com

c

Carpetright 0330 162 0844 carpetright.co.uk Cormar Carpets cormarcarpets.co.uk Cosy Coco cosycoco.com Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk Crown Paints 0330 024 0309 crownpaints.co.uk Cult Furniture 0208 185 6960 cultfurniture.com Curtains 2go 0800 862 0463 curtains-2go.co.uk

d

DFS 0800 110 5000 dfs.co.uk Dulux 0333 222 7171 dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 165 6565

dunelm.com Duux duux.com

e f

Everest everest.co.uk

Freckleface Home Fragrance 01778 393 699 frecklefacehomefragrance.com Freemans 0333 200 8077 freemans.com

g

Gazco stovax.com George Home 0800 952 0101 direct.asda.com Graham & Brown 0808 168 3795 grahambrown.com

h

Habitat 0345 640 2020 habitat.co.uk Harris 01527 575 441 harrisbrushes.com Harvey Jones 0800 389 6938 harveyjones.com Homebase 0333 003 7084 homebase.co.uk Homesense 01923 473 561 homesense.com Hugh Mackay 01429 892 555 hughmackay.co.uk

Editor Mel Sherwood Features Editor Michelle Grady Section Editor Thomas Poad Senior Production Editor Katie Nicholls Art Editor Tricia Ball Designer Beth Charlton Lucas Thanks also to Lisa Duerden, Emily Freer, Yvette Filer Digital Editor Rebecca Messina Digital Writer Thea Jeffreys Advertising: Group Advertising Manager Laura Jones Advertising Manager Heather Golden Business Development Manager Sophie North Brand Sales Executives James Beckett, Ava Holdstock, Olivia King, Phil Wallington, Classified Sales Executive Alex Armstrong

i j l

Iconic Lights 0161 837 6092 iconiclights.co.uk ILIV 01772 651 199 i-liv.co.uk John Lewis & Partners 0345 610 0359 johnlewis.com Julian Charles juliancharles.co.uk

La Redoute 0844 842 2222 laredoute.co.uk Lights4fun 01423 816 040 lights4fun.co.uk Lights & Lamps lightsandlamps.com Little Greene 0845 880 5855 littlegreene.com Loom & Last 01394 775 670 loomandlast.com

m

Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8555 marksandspencer.com Matalan 0333 004 4444 matalan.co.uk Moduleo moduleo.com MyGlazing myglazing.com

s

Sass & Belle 0207 346 0117 sassandbelle.co.uk SoCosy 01438 368 422 socosy.co.uk Sofology 0800 140 40 40 sofology.co.uk Sparkle Lighting 01494 671 602 sparkle.lighting Stovax stovax.com Swift Direct Blinds 0370 218 7042 swiftdirectblinds.co.uk

t

The Radiator Centre 01727 840 344 theradiatorcentre.com The Radiator Company 01342 302 250 theradiatorcompany.co.uk The Rug Seller 0161 876 4566 therugseller.co.uk Tile Mountain 01782 223 822 tilemountain.co.uk TK Maxx 01923 473 561 tkmaxx.com Topps Tiles 0800 783 6262 toppstiles.co.uk

n

u v

o p r

w

Neal’s Yard 0800 470 3245 nealsyardremedies.com Next 0333 777 8000 next.co.uk Nisi Living 0117 251 0117 nisiliving.co.uk Oliver Bonas 020 8059 2414 oliverbonas.com

Porcelain Superstore 0330 094 0304 porcelainsuperstore.co.uk Pooky 0207 351 3003 pooky.com Primark primark.com Raj Tent Club 0208 847 2212 rajtentclub.com/shop Rex London 0208 746 2473 rexlondon.com

United Carpets and Beds 0330 311 2442 unitedcarpetsandbeds.com

Vaillant 0330 100 3143 vaillant.co.uk Victorian Plumbing victorianplumbing.co.uk Viessmann 01952 675 000 viessmann.co.uk

Walls and Floors 01536 314 730 wallsandfloors.co.uk Wayfair 0800 756 4075 wayfair.co.uk Wickes 0330 123 4123 wickes.co.uk Woodpecker Flooring 02920 888 223 woodpeckerflooring.co.uk Worcester Bosch 0330 123 9559 worcester-bosch.co.uk

Ad Coordinator Bryony Grace Senior Ad Designers Andrew Hobson, Cee Pike Marketing & Production: Subscriptions Director Jacky Perales-Morris Direct Marketing Executive Emma Hunter Director of Licensing and Syndication Tim Hudson Syndication Manager Richard Bentley Production Director Sarah Powell Production Co-Ordinator Georgia Tolley Senior PR Manager Ridhi Radia Publishing: Managing Director Marie Davies Promotions and Partnerships Manager Rosa Sherwood Group Managing Director Andy Marshall CEO Tom Bureau

Contact Your Home at Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Bristol BS1 4ST General Enquiries Tel 0117 927 9009 You can email the magazine at yourhome@immediate. co.uk For subscriptions visit: buysubscriptions.com/contact UK: 03301 358962 Overseas: +44(0)1604 973748 © Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, 2021, member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Unsolicited manuscripts and transparencies are accepted on the understanding that the publisher incurs no liability for their storage or return.

The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced without permission. All prices are correct at the time of going to press. The publisher, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services which may be advertised or referred to in this issue or for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any such advertisements or references. Your Home is published by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST, UK. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue. Immediate Media Co Ltd is working to ensure that all of its paper is sourced from well-managed forests. This magazine can be recycled. We abide by IPSO’s rules and regulations. To give feedback about our magazines, please visit immediate.co.uk, email editorialcomplaints@immediate.co.uk or write to Legal Director, Immediate Media Co, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London, W6 7BT

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March 2020 www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

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