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LOOK INSIDE FOUR STUNNING REAL HOMES INSPIRING IDEAS AMAZING PRICES

DECORATING SHOPPING FOOD MAKING STYLING

ONLY

£2.49

ummer

£2,710 OF FAB PRIZES

JUNE 2021

Make the most of your outdoors

BEST VALUE

IDEAS

whip up at home

Make it

DIY PLANT STAND STENCILLED SIDE TABLE CUTE GARDEN SIGN

EXPERT ADVICE

Top tips for an eco home Find a trusted tradesperson

A family trip to Florida inspired me to use bold patterns See Kel’s home on p14

+ WIN! JUDGE COOKWARE & FISKARS TOOLS Fresh looks for your living room

Stylish makes & finishing touches

STYLE TO STEAL! TV’s AJ Odudu’s Scandi garden room

WA L L S A N D C E I L I N G S | B L A D E B R U S H | C U T T I N G I N | N E AT E D G E S | P R EC I S I O N

Want Super-Neat Edges?

Harris Makes It Easy Harris helps you succeed with your projects, so decorating is more enjoyable and satisfying.

Because Harris tools are not only innovative, but taskspecific, you’ll achieve great results.

For cutting in around edges, sockets or window frames, choose a Harris Ultimate Walls & Ceilings Blade Brush. The tapered filaments ensure the ultimate precision and control and Harris NO-LOSSTM technology means no loose bristles!

Visit www.harrisbrushes.com for stockist details and loads of useful hints and tips instagram.com/harrisbrushes_uk twitter.com/Harrisbrushes facebook.com/Harrisbrushes

However much you spend on paint, you won’t get perfection without quality painting tools, specially designed for every task. Harris. Let’s decorate!

Welcome to our JUNE ISSUE!

W

hether long summer days mean a chance for you to spend more time relaxing outdoors or an opportunity to crack on with bigger DIY projects best tackled in the warmer months, we’ve got plenty of inspiration for you this issue.

As well as four amazing real homes (starting on page 14) full of decorating and shopping ideas to inspire you, we also have three affordable makeovers: including TV presenter AJ Odudu’s gorgeous garden room (page 98), Beam’s beautiful living room (page 104) and Stephanie’s stunning kitchen (page 110), all packed with style advice and savvy tips. And if you do need to call in the experts, don’t miss our handy guide to finding the right tradesperson at the right price, over on page 96.

With socialising back on the cards, we’ve found some fantastic buys to help you make the most of your indoor and outdoor space this summer. On page 75, we share this season’s key living room trends with ideas for easy updates and fresh new schemes, and on page 80 you’ll find our outdoor edit with best buys for lounging, dining and hosting in style. Talking of hosting, turn to page 120 to find our classic gastropub recipes so you can treat your guests to a delicious ‘pub meal’ in your very own beer garden!

With a bit of luck we’ll all get some sunshine – and hopefully you can enjoy this issue with a glass of something chilled in hand in your favourite deckchair. Have a great month,

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

Take a quick snap of yourself in your favourite room and email it to us at homestyle@ immediate.co.uk. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Get in touch WEBSITE

yourhomestyle.uk

FACEBOOK

facebook.com/homestylemaguk

TWITTER

@homestylemaguk

INSTAGRAM

PS. Don't miss it

@homestylemaguk

The next issue of HomeStyle is on sale 24th June

PINTEREST

pinterest.com/your_home_style

ED’S PICKS

78

09

122

82

Co n t e n t s 123

67

DECORATING & STYLING 12

67

75

80

89

96

14 READER HOMES 14

The wish list The latest high street home buys Decorator’s moodboards Let your imagination go wild with three fun themes for kids’ bedrooms

26

Fresh looks for your living room Get your lounge summer-ready with our top tips and best buys

40

We’ve given our home Miami vibes A family trip to Florida inspired Kel’s summery laid-back look My garage is now my kitchen Antonia reconfigured her home to make it work for her family I love vibrant colours and patterns Evelyn’s home is filled with bold designs and vintage finds

Dial up your summer style Make the most of the season with on trend buys for outdoor living

54

Top tips for an eco home From quick swaps to eco alternatives that can also save you £££s

MAKEOVERS

How to find a trusted tradesperson Find the right expert at the right price

4 yourhomestyle.uk

98

We’ve mixed old with new Restoring original features then decorating in contemporary colours has transformed Esther’s Victorian terrace

AJ Odudu’s Scandi garden room TV presenter AJ has created a versatile home office, workout and social space she can enjoy all year round

104 My living room feels so restful Beam wanted her open-plan space to feel calm but also have a sense of fun 110 My kitchen-diner is very sociable Stephanie’s dream kitchen includes a pop-up bar area and a breakfast bar

SHOPPING 06

Shop the high street The best affordable home buys

22

Dreamy watercolours Colourful pieces in ombré tones

34

Geometric patterns Good-looking buys from every angle

48

Kitsch perfect Quirky statement accessories

62

Mirror mirror Which is the fairest on the wall?

Contents

06

75

Plus WIN & SAVE

98 24

88

Easy living The latest buys to make your home life that bit simpler

50

64 94

Green and gorgeous Our pick of the best, ethically sourced and eco-friendly homewares

102 The great outdoors Make the most of your outside space 108 Modern pastels Pretty up your home 114 Urban chic Natural textures with a modern twist

MAKING 24

36

85

86

Mirror wall plates Make eye-catching wall art

66

Win! The ultimate cooking kit from Judge

74

Save! 15% off homewares at Homebody Décor

84

Win! Quality garden tools from Fiskars

REGULARS 66

Win an ultimate Judge cooking kit Four prizes worth £382.50 each

Stencilled side table Give a tired table a stylish update

74

Exclusive reader offer Save 15% at Homebody Décor

Upcycling news The latest revamping products

84

Win Fiskars gardening tools Seven top quality sets up for grabs

Cute garden sign Turn scraps of wood into a personalised decoration for your plot

116 #myHShome Our pick of your fantastic pics!

COOKING

118 Easy midweek meals Five tasty dinners to make in minutes

Leaf-print cushion Create a metallic-effect print

120 Gastropub classics Perfect for Father’s Day or a sunny Sunday in your very own beer garden!

Mid-century plant stand Show off your favourite house plant

124 Food news Our fave foodie finds this month

125 Coming next month A sneak peek at our July issue 128 Shopping directory Where to buy everything in this issue 130 In conversation with...

Meet designer Eleanor Bowmer On our cover June 2021 5

Wonderful rattan chair, £299; Marvellous macramé cushion, £35; Marvellous multipurpose rug, from £70; cotton tassel cushion, £15; jumbo velvet reversible cushion, £30; Tropical Floral cushion, £25; Truly Tropical reversible fringe cushion, £30; Brilliant bronze arch mirror, £150; woven storage basket, £18; Marvellous macramé pouffe, £80; super string lights, £15; all Joe Browns

Joe Browns PARADISE PATIO

Transform your garden into a tropical getaway with bold colours, jungle prints and natural materials Luxury jacquard Iris cushion, £15

Truly Tropical lunch box, £12

Gold feather bowl, £25

Terrific Tiger embroidered cushion, £35

Super string lights, £15

HIGH STREET

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

Style on a shoestring

The Range BLACK & GOLD

Mix dark geometric prints with gold accents for a global influence Leopard metallic cushion, £6.99

Camden tripod table lamp, £22.99

Kaia tufted geo throw in Ecru, £19.99

Global monochrome wall hanging, £5.99

Antique Gold tray, £11.99

Large tropical fern leaf, £1.99

Aztec print planter, £16.99

Alta rug, from £54.99; Kaia tufted geo throw in Ecru, £19.99; Kaia tufted geo cushions in Ecru and Grey, £5.99 each; Camden tripod floor lamp, £39.99; cut out Gold planter, £11.99, all The Range

HOW TO

style the look

1

Feature Katie Dutton

Achieve a private tropical haven through the use of tall potted plants. Fiscus and Aspidistra plants are a great choice, just be sure to pop them in sturdy pots with a drainage hole and position them in good light.

Pair bold, botanical prints with wooden and natural materials to create a jungle escape. Scatter a few plush floral cushions on top of a rattan chair or add a bamboo partition and vibrant outdoor rug for extra cosiness.

2

June 2021 7

Matalan

Skandi Pop glass, set of four, £10

FRUITY FUN

These accessories will bring some summer playfulness to your outdoor space – no matter what the weather!

Skandi Pop ice lolly mould, £2.50

Rainbow salt and pepper shakers, £5

Skandi Pop picnic blanket, £10

Skandi Pop wire condiment holder, £6

Skandi Pop watermelon cool bag, £10

8 yourhomestyle.uk

Skandi Pop melon slice cushion, £6; Skandi Pop pineapple cushion, £6; fruit print seat pads, set of two, £14; Skandi Pop cushion, £10; Skandi Pop watermelon floor cushion, £14; Copenhagen planter, £10; Skandi Pop glasses, set of four, £10; Summer Daze glass, £4; Skandi Pop rainbow citronella candle, £7, all Matalan

Style on a shoestring

HOW TO

style the look

Floral embroidered bedspread, £195; bamboo fan, £45, both Oliver Bonas

1

Balance bright colourful accessories with a neutral background. This will make them pop and keep things from looking too cluttered. A neutral heather grey or soothing cream colour will work well.

To get the most of the vibrant shades and patterns, even when the sun sets, add candles and lanterns.

2

Oliver Bonas GOLDEN SUNRISE

This collection is full of bursts of juicy orange. Pair with gold, pastel pink and forest green

Metal frame arch mirror with shelf and hooks, £115 Palm Paradise bulb, £25

Mele ceramic vase, £32.50

Beaded parrot coasters, £19.50

Stripe tassel runner bath mat, £38

Reactive glaze pot with saucer, £22.50

June 2021 9

WREN KITCHENS HELPED

bring my dream kitchen to life With a baby on the way, Mel Dawkes wanted to transform her kitchen into a stylish and functional space the whole family could spend quality time in together

Mel was instantly drawn to the timeless appeal of the classic-style Shaker Ermine Pebble Matt kitchen when she visited Wren’s showroom

T Mel couldn’t be happier with her family’s sleek new kitchen

For more inspiration, search #Wrenovation 10 yourhomestyle.uk

he kitchen is the heart of the home for many of us, used not only as a place to cook meals but also somewhere family and friends can congregate. Being a multifunctional space means your kitchen should be able to work well for your everyday needs – which is Wren’s number one priority.

No matter the size or layout of your kitchen, your Wren designer will work closely with you to ensure the end result suits you and your family’s lifestyle.

To see how Wren collaborates with their customers to create bespoke designs, check out Mel’s family-friendly kitchen transformation. Her home is part of the #Wrenovation video series, which shines a spotlight on real customer kitchen renovations.

SOCIAL SPACE When Mel and her husband, Chris, first bought their home in Huddersfield, renovating the kitchen was top of her list as she wanted this space to be the social hub of her home. Shortly after moving in, Mel fell pregnant, so the couple knew the space needed to work well for their growing family. They visited their local Wren showroom to take a look at new kitchens.

‘A couple of our friends had recommended Wren,’ Mel explains. ‘What I really liked was you could see all the kitchen styles in the showroom,’ she adds. Mel was able to use Wren’s virtual reality technology in the showroom to visualise her new kitchen. ‘It was amazing! You could open cupboards and find out what did and didn’t work.’

Advertisement feature Wren Kitchens’ VR technology helped Mel visualise how her kitchen could look and function, such as choosing where she could incorporate handy storage spaces

With expert advice from a Wren designer, Mel chose curved edges for her kitchen to make it safe for her children

TIMELESS STYLE After spending time in the showroom working with their Wren designer, the couple opted for an Infinity Plus Shaker kitchen in Pebble and Graphite. ‘It’s a style that stands the test of time,’ she says. Helping bring Mel’s vision to life, their designer suggested practical safety measures to ensure the kitchen was a familyfriendly space for her children. The curved units are not only stylish but remove any sharp edges, and the worktop features an out of reach push down USB and power socket. ‘It’s useful for my mixer when I’m baking,’ adds Mel.

FIT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY On the kitchen’s arrival day, Mel was so excited she says it felt like Christmas. ‘When the kitchen started taking shape, it took my breath away,’ she recalls. With built-in CDA appliances, an impressive American-style fridge freezer, and stainless steel handles throughout, Mel is really happy with the end result. The whole family are able to spend quality time in the space, with the children sitting at the island while Mel and her husband cook together.

‘My top tip to anyone planning their new kitchen would be to make a list of everything you want to fit into the space,’ says Mel. ‘This provides you with a foundation to build around and create the kitchen you really want.’

June 2021 11

LATEST RELEASE

At affordable furniture retailer Nöa & Nani, family is at the forefront of every new idea. From practical, sturdy beds to indispensable storage, playful designs meet functionality in each item, made with both children and adults in mind.

We particularly love these colourful side tables. The round design means no sharp-edged corners and the dual shelf provides handy extra storage, making them ideal for smaller spaces.

The pastel shades coordinate with modern and vintage themes, and work as a wonderful canvas for colourful ornaments, trailing plants and eye-catching table lamps. To see their huge range of family-oriented furniture and accessories, visit noaandnani.co.uk

Solna small side table in Green, £35; Solna large side table in Green, £40, both Nöa & Nani

Solna side table in Blush Pink, £35, Nöa & Nani

TheWISH LIST...

New this month: exciting collections, collaborations, colours and more…

Move & Flow Cream wallpaper, £99 per roll, Woodchip & Magnolia x Fearne Cotton

Pondering Peonies Duck Egg wallpaper, £99 per roll; Moss emulsion, £45 per 2.5L, both Woodchip & Magnolia x Fearne Cotton

STYLE BIBLE

Learn how to apply personal, unique touches to your home and utilise every space with this new go-to style guide from pro interior designer, Kelly Hoppen. She covers everything you could possibly need to know about interior design, from colour schemes, textures and lighting to finishing touches such as how to style a decorative display. Budgeting advice and cost-cutting suggestions also mean you won’t have to make a huge dent in your bank account to switch up your style. You’ll turn to this book again and again whenever your home needs an interior refresh! Out now.

NEW COLLECTION

British design house Woodchip & Magnolia has teamed up with broadcaster, author and fashionista Fearne Cotton to create a beautifully eclectic range of wallpapers and fabrics. Inspired by wild spring florals, the range includes five wallpaper and fabric designs, each with its own timeless colour palette and all oozing sophistication.

Choose from a collection of fresh vintage-inspired botanicals and calming minimalist rustic prints, all inspired by Fearne’s personal love of flowers, nature, yoga and mindfulness. These are fabrics and wallpapers that’ll transform a room and, importantly, stand the test of time and trends. Both wallpapers and fabrics priced at £99 per metre from woodchipandmagnolia.co.uk 12 yourhomestyle.uk

Essential Style Solutions for Every Home by Kelly Hoppen, £14.99, Frances Lincoln

Wish list

JUST LANDED!

You don’t have to spend a fortune to go big on colour and pattern in your home, as new wallpaper brand Lust Home proves. Inspired by pop culture, Instagram trends and wanderlust, Lust Home offers a wide range of unique and quirky wallpaper designs that will turn a bare wall into a bold and welcoming feature.

Whether it’s minimalist Japandi prints or cheerful polka dots that you’re after, Lust Home will likely have a design to suit you and your home. They’re well priced too, starting at £35 for a 0.5 x 10m roll. lusthome.com

SAVE VS SPLURGE Picnic blankets

Badgers picnic blanket, Annabel James

Rainbow pure new wool waterproof picnic blanket, Heating & Plumbing London

WE ARE LOVING...

One of Etsy’s top trends for 2021 is wavyshaped homewares and we’re more than happy to get onboard this style bandwagon!

Curvy, squiggly designs are reminiscent of the playful and futuristic interior trends of the late 90s and early 00s but this SPLASH mirror from littleanana on Etsy brings the aesthetic bang up to date with its pared-back, minimal birch wood. etsy. com/uk/shop/ littleanana

Spot The Difference wallpaper, in Hot Pink, £35 per roll, Lust Home

COLOUR CRUSH

Purple rose is one of Pantone’s shades to look out for this spring/ summer and we’re already seeing the colour crop up in some of our favourite homeware stores. Similar to lilac with a touch more pink, purple rose is an enchanting colour with a youthful free spirited vibe – perfect for laid back, summer months. Use it in bedrooms, playrooms and living rooms, and pair with copper, blonde wood and other pastels.

Let your imagination run wild with this relaxing shade!

Matte Lilac twisted candles, set of six, £25, Liberty

Society of Wanderers Lilac gingham pillowcase set, £69, Antipodream

Matt emulsion in Cosmos Flower, £29.16 per 2.5L, Dulux

Sunset Palms Lilac wallpaper, £85 per roll, Eleanor Bowmer

Enamel vase trio in Lilac, £28, Postcards Home

Feature Katie Dutton

Colour crate in Lavender, £6, HAY

SPLASH shape mirror, medium, £63.96, littleanana on Etsy

June 2021 13

We've given our home

SUMMERY MIAMI VIBES Inspired by a family trip to Florida, Kel Harmer has created a laidback holiday feel in her new-build home

Style idea Position a peninsula island facing the dining area to make it extra sociable

‘With two young children, we weren’t looking for a project that needed a total renovation so this new-build was perfect’

Inspiring homes

After living in an apartment, we were so ready to move into a larger home. When we stumbled across this one, we loved the generous size of the rooms and the high ceilings. With two young children we weren’t looking for a project that needed a total renovation so this new-build was perfect.

The house was pretty much all magnolia so I couldn’t wait to start decorating. We began upstairs with the girls’ rooms and worked our way down the house.

Three years after moving in, we tackled the kitchen, which was probably the biggest job as we knocked down a wall to make one space. I found an affordable Shaker-style

kitchen in Magnet, which we customised with handles, taps and worktops we bought separately. It saved us a lot of money and gave the space a designer look. Next, we put in bi-fold doors to the garden, which are especially great during the summer months.

It took a while to put personality into this house and I made a few mistakes with colour along the way. It was during a holiday to Miami that I got my inspiration when I fell in love with the bold décor of the area. Instead of bringing back souvenirs, I returned with a love of colour and pattern.

Since I’ve been braver in my home, it’s really taken shape. The palm-print wallpaper is the latest addition inspired by our trip.

Welcome TO MY HOME A BIT ABOUT ME I’m Kel Harmer, a stylist and founder of award-winning interiors blog, Oh So Kel. I run creative workshops specialising in tablescaping and I’ve just launched an online interior shop too, ohsokel.com/ store. I live here with my husband, Dan, our two daughters, Isla, nine and Emmie, five, and our Goldendoodle, Cosmo.

WHERE I LIVE Our home is a five-bed new-build in Portishead, near Bristol, and we’ve lived here for six years. I post home updates on my Instagram @ohsokel.

WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE The ground floor was split into a separate dining room and kitchen but I wanted an open-plan space that was better for our family, and then to add colour and my personality throughout.

HOW I MADE IT MY OWN We put in a new kitchen and created a built-in seating area at one end with lots of hidden storage. This allowed us to transform the old dining room into our family living room. I’ve decorated in pastels and neutrals with metallic accents and filled the rooms with a mix of on-trend pieces from the high street.

MY FAVOURITE PART The kitchen-diner with bi-fold doors out to the garden is the hub of our home.

We love to entertain here for special dinners, BBQs and kids’ birthday parties.

The kitchen was inspired by The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach. The sage units complement the green palm-print wallpaper that Kel has used for a striking feature wall

Feature Maxine Brady Photos Colin Poole

MY STORY

A wall was moved by builders so the couple could fit in the fridge and oven, making this space work harder for the whole family

‘This palm-print wallpaper is the latest addition inspired by our Miami trip and I’m sure there’s more to come’

Style idea Work recessed shelves into your kitchen design for extra storage and display space

Kitchen

‘When we moved in, the kitchen had dark laminate worktops, which made it feel gloomy, and the breakfast bar faced a wall making it feel very unsociable,’ says Kel. The couple ripped out the units, replaced the flooring and installed a new kitchen from Magnet in Leighton Grey. ‘Dan loves to cook while I enjoy making cocktails and canapés. We entertain lots so our kitchen had to work harder to match our busy social life.’ Kel chose a palm-print wallpaper from Wallpaper Direct for a feature wall, along with a neon print from Punk Haus.

Inspiring homes

HOW TO...

Create a stylish table setting

For hidden storage around the seating area that blends in with the scheme, Kel chose built-in, handleless cupboards in the same colour as the kitchen units

No matter what you’re having for dinner, make it a meal to remember with these fun tips Plan your base. For a crisp, classic look, you can’t go wrong with a linen tablecloth, while a wipe-clean colourful PVC is a good option if you’ve got kids over for tea. You could also use kraft paper, which you could then decorate with hand-written messages and doodles, or if you want to go for a table runner, a stylish scarf, fabric offcuts or a strip of wallpaper are creative options.

Bring texture and depth to the table with lots of layers. Table runners, placemats, napkins and different-sized plates and glasses made from contrasting materials will add extra interest. Introduce height with candlesticks and tall flowers.

Style for the season. Use a mix of mini pumpkins for autumn; sprigs of holly and acorns for winter; pastel-painted eggs and daffodils for Easter and scattered citrus fruit for summer suppers.

Personalised touches go a long way. Make each guest feel they’ve bagged the best seat in the house with hand-written menus, name settings and tie cutlery together with a pretty ribbon or, for a more rustic look, with a piece of twine and rosemary.

Don’t overdo it. A table overflowing with flowers and candles might be good for Instagram but be careful your decorations don’t get in the way of people enjoying their food and having a chat across the table.

A candy striped awning from Wilko keeps the kitchen cool during the summer

Dining area

Kel spotted the cane dining chairs on an American website but struggled to find them in the UK.‘After a lot of searching, I eventually found some on eBay, even though they were advertised as‘pub chairs,’ she explains.‘I ended up winning 12 of them and they only cost £120 for the lot.

I’ve only used four here, but I keep the others in the loft for when we have guests over.’

The builders who fitted the couple’s kitchen also made the built-in bench complete with a lift-up lid, which the family use to store shoes and bulky kitchen items.

Above the table hangs a cane light fitting from Wayfair, which complements the jungle-look palm-print wallpaper.

The peach cushions on the chairs are from Kel’s interior shop, Oh So Kel. June 2021 17

‘The living room works for everyone.

It’s a great space where we can all relax, play, watch films and just chill out together’

‘Plantation shutters are one of our biggest splurges, but we absolutely love them’

make

BOTANICAL CUSHION p24

The cocktail trolley was a Primark bargain for £26. ‘I rang them every morning to check the stock,’ says Kel, ‘and when it was in, I drove into Bristol to grab one before they sold out again’

Style idea Running low on drinks? Use your cocktail trolley as a stylish display unit instead

Steal my style

Get Kel’s glam Miami-inspired home

Cocktail martini glass, HomeSense

Metal solar lantern, Matalan print, Green Lili

18 yourhomestyle.uk

Inspiring homes

Living room

‘Before, the living area looked a bit bland, with the TV as the main focal point in the room. I decided to make a feature out of the faux fireplace by filling it with logs, using a wine rack to stack the wood, which I think turned out really well. The laminate flooring felt cold underfoot, so I added an oversized rug from Wayfair for warmth and to soften the space.

We also installed plantation shutters, which has been one of our biggest splurges, but we absolutely love them.’ A dusty pink armchair from Wayfair and teal sofa from DFS provide plenty of seating for the family of four. On the wall, Kel has hung photos from their family road trip to Florida, which has inspired the colour scheme for her home.

Style idea Jazz up a houseplant with a sequinned wicker basket

Kel chose a blush pink and duck egg colour scheme in her living room, adding touches of gold metallics for a modern look

Master bedroom

‘My starting point for our bedroom was the dotty wallpaper from Milton & King, which I love,’ says Kel. The gold frame bed is finished with a pale pink duvet and cushions from Kel’s online shop and above the bed hangs a pink Juju hat. She has used ceramic garden stools as alternative bedside tables. Kel updated the chest of drawers with vinyl stickers from Nutmeg Studio, who make designs to customise furniture pieces.

Style idea A storage trunk made from soft fabric works as a comfy seat too

‘I’m drawn to the Hamptons style and am always scrolling through Pinterest and Instagram looking for inspiration,’ reveals Kel

‘My starting point for our bedroom was this dotty wallpaper’

Inspiring homes ‘We’ve dressed the bathroom up on a budget. Because it’s only temporary, we’ve actually had more fun with it than if it was a permanent fixture’

Maximise storage with wardrobes that fit into a tight corner, complete with built-in shelves

Emmie's bedroom

Bathroom

Originally, this room was a nursery but over the years simple tweaks have been made as Emmie gets older.

‘I went for a cloud mural by Rebel Walls as the starting point for the room. We treated Emmie to her own wardrobe so she can dress herself in the mornings.

The floating shelves are a great way to display special toys, ornaments and cute artwork.’

The couple inherited the bathroom when they moved in and it’s on their to-do list. In the short-term, Kel painted the walls in a blue grey, replaced the floor and then added the dot stickers to the walls and put up artwork to give the space a splash of personality.

WHAT I LEARNED...

When it comes to expensive items, like sofas or a chest of drawers, go for neutral colours. That way, they’re more likely to still fit in with your room as time goes by and your style changes. Plus, you can always add colour and personality with accessories like cushions and throws.

WATERCOLOURS p22

Local selling sites are a great place to find gems for your home. Don’t be put off if they’re not exactly as you’d like them as it’s usually easy to upcycle with paint, vinyl stickers or by changing the handles.

A wardrobe from IKEA houses all of Emmie’s clothes and keeps clutter under control

Our home is more suited to light colours.

At first, we decorated our living room in navy and grey, which was far too dark.

We updated it with white, pink and duck egg blue, which looks so much better.

See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes June 2021 21

Take a peek inside Kel’s laid-back home on page 14

G RE

NT ME

EN T

G RE

IN V E S T M AT

IN V E S T AT

£629 Sofology Create a layered look in your living room with the Tallulah accent chair

Shop the look...

DREAMY WATERCOLOURS Create a relaxed but colourful space, like Kel, with soft, blended tones and chic ombré designs

£4 each Dunelm

£140 National Gallery Shop

Brighten up your cuppa with a bold mug

Turn your garden into a work of art with this Monet design deckchair

£10 Dunelm

from £60 Pooky

Make your sofa look blooming lovely with this floral cushion

A zesty lampshade will bring summer into your home

£4.50 Primark Create a calming atmosphere with a delicately scented candle 22 yourhomestyle.uk

Shop the look

£9.95 each Desenio These pared-back prints create a sophisticated vibe

£40 National Trust Shop Fend off the evening chill with a soft wool blanket

£150 Next This luxurious clouded mirror is a real showstopper

£55 Urban Outfitters This pastel bed linen creates the perfect place to relax

£15 French Connection This abstract seascape vase will pair perfectly with dried blooms

£10 Bluebellgray

£49 Home Looks Add a subtle wash of colour to neutral floors with this multicoloured rug

A tassel will jazz up anything, from your keychain to your cushions

wvee Feature Hannah Tribe

lo £6.99 B&M

Make your bathroom feel like an oasis of calm with a waterfall shower curtain June 2021 23

Make the look...

LEAF-PRINT CUSHION Make this metallic-effect cushion using iron-on foil and a pretty motif, an easy way to style up any sofa or chair, as Kel has done Cricut iron-on foil, £11, Hobbycraft. Vivian velvet cocktail chair in Rose, £149; Pimlico brass side table, £99, both Dunelm

Top tip Make sure the steam setting is off when pressing the foil onto the fabric.

You will need

● White cotton fabric ● Scissors ● Pins ● Sewing machine ● Cotton thread ● Leaf template ● Paper ● Scissors ● Iron-on foil ● Fine nib marker pen ● Iron ● Old tea towel ● Cushion pad

1

Measure and cut out one 42cm square and two 42 x 30cm rectangular pieces of fabric and set aside. These pieces will make the cushion cover.

2 3

5

4

6

Go to yourhomestyle.uk for the leaf template. Print the template onto paper and carefully cut out.

Take a sheet of iron-on foil and place the leaf template on the transparent carrier layer that covers the foil. Draw around with a marker pen, and cut out. Repeat twice to create two more leaves.

Set the iron to a wool setting and iron the cushion cover pieces. Place the leaves in a circle formation on top of the square-shaped fabric and lay a tea towel on top. Gently iron over for a few minutes until

the foil has bonded to the fabric. Remove the tea towel and allow to cool. Carefully peel off the carrier layer.

On a rectangular piece of fabric, fold and press a double hem along one of the 42cm sides with an iron. Sew in place, and repeat with the second piece.

Lay the rectangular pieces on top of the square piece, with the foil design up and hemmed sides overlapping each other, and pin in place. Sew all the way round.

Turn the cushion cover inside out and iron flat. Put the cushion pad inside.

7

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DREAM KITCHEN DESIGN

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The ideal addition to a family home, the Venting Hob offers plenty of space to cook for the household

To find out more about NEFF Venting Hobs, visit neff-home.com/uk/venting-hob June 2021 25

Every room has changed IN SIZE OR SHAPE!

Antonia Richards wasn’t afraid to rethink her entire floor plan in a bid to create a spacious home that works for the whole family ‘The geometric rug, from Fy, was a great find as it complements my colour scheme of black and yellow perfectly, which I’ve softened using wood and rattan accessories’

‘Black and white is always my starting point and then I add lots of colour’

Inspiring homes

When we decided to move, there was little on the market within our budget. This place didn’t have a great layout as the whole ground floor was a garage and utility room, but it did have amazing potential to be a lovely family home, so we went for it.

We didn’t have money for renovations at first, so we lived here for two years while we saved, which gave us time to work out the best use of the space. We realised the kitchen needed to move from the middle floor to the downstairs, so we had plans drawn up that gave us three storeys of living space.

Originally, we were only going to do the ground floor, but we discovered the house

needed a full rewire and new heating system, so we decided to renovate the whole house in one go.

We started with the kids’ rooms, so they had a place to escape the chaos. At one point the top floor was one huge room as we knocked down the walls to create three larger bedrooms. Then we reconfigured the downstairs layout to include a dining room and snug, which allowed us to have a large family living room in the middle.

We were lucky that the work went well and although some of our decisions changed along the way, I don’t see them as mistakes but learning curves. It’s all part of the process of creating a beautiful home.

Welcome TO MY HOME A BIT ABOUT ME I’m Antonia Richards, an occupational therapist. I live with my husband, Carl Curtis, a computer programmer, and our two children, Isaac, 15, and Georgia, 10. I Instagram my renovation journey @all_things_interior_.

WHERE I LIVE My home is a three-storey, threebedroom, 1960s townhouse in Heald Green, Stockport. We’ve lived here since 2014.

WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE The design of the house didn’t make full use of the space available as the ground floor was an integrated garage.

We knew that we would need to change the layout to make it work better as a family home.

HOW I MADE IT MY OWN We reconfigured the whole house and incorporated the ground floor into the main living space. Then I added lots of colour and decorated using budgetfriendly upcycling hacks.

MY FAVOURITE PART I really like the snug as it does its job well, giving us a relaxing spot by the kitchen that opens up to the garden.

I also love the panelling in there as it feels a bit different.

Style idea Use wood, rattan and blush pink accessories to soften a monochrome look

Feature and styling Lisa Moses Photos Katie Jane Watson

MY STORY

‘A lot of people say my house flows in terms of colour, but I can honestly say I don’t give it loads of thought; I just choose what I like’

Living room

‘I knew I wanted to add panelling in here and I always like to use up leftovers, so the wall behind the slats is yellow paint left over from the dining room. To be honest, I’m never quite sure of the full plan before I start a project. My mantra is ‘why not, it’s only paint,’ but I was nervous about wallpapering the living room as it’s the only paper in the house, and looking at it now I realise I’ve colour blocked the wall by not going to the ceiling or right to the edge.

But because it’s an open-plan room, I feel it houses the sofa and defines the living area. We hung the paper ourselves and it was tricky in the corner because there’s no straight walls in this 60s build, so it took a while to work out the pattern.’

GEOMETRIC PATTERNS p34 ‘I originally used gloss paint on all the woodwork, but I really disliked the look and prefer the subtle style of matt so we took time to undo it and repainted everything in eggshell’

Inspiring homes

Style idea Hang an artificial plant in an empty corner to create a visual break on a long wall

Dining room

‘This slatted panelling is simple in style but attaching it to a small slice of the wall makes it more interesting. I’ve left it unpainted so it complements my rattan accessories’

‘I’m pleased with the final layout down here. Although this isn’t the widest room, I’ve worked with it, so I made sure the shelves were narrow and didn’t impact on the space too much and I put a large mirror on the wall to make the room feel bigger.

I decided to put the yellow block at the top of the wall and then thought I’d keep going down the side – there’s no rule book saying how colour blocking should be!

I’d seen a cabinet online that I really liked but at £1,500, it was way out of my price bracket, so I decided to make my own. I bought this IVAR cabinet from IKEA, painted the doors black and then glued on some stained wood strips and added the legs. To me, it’s just as good, if not better, than the expensive one that I first saw.’

‘The whole downstairs is narrow as this was originally the garage, which is why it’s so long and thin, but there was nothing we could do about that so I’ve tried to work with the space in the best way I can.

I’ve managed to host 12 people over Christmas so luckily it works well’ June 2021 29

Style idea Make a display of cute kitchen utensils by hanging them on a wooden peg rail

‘There was a point when we needed to move pipework when downstairs wasn’t finished so we relied on a wallpaper pasting table, a microwave and an electric plug-in hob! I’ve added little touches of pink in here to complement the gorgeous pink tap from Dowsing & Reynolds’

‘The colours in the hallway, a bright yellow complemented by a soft green, are a nod to the main colours running through the rest of the house, and using them here brings the scheme together’

Steal my style

Get Antonia’s modern home style with these affordable buys

Aqua hole punched storage caddy, TK Maxx

Monochrome geometric cushion, HomeSense

Shatterproof chopping board, Next

30 yourhomestyle.uk

Inspiring homes ‘This is exactly the same kitchen with the same units, worktops and wall tiles as when we first moved in, but we painted the low doors in Pigeon and the top in Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball, using a colour match service to save money, and then we replaced the handles and now I really like it!’

‘Having to stick to a tight budget hasn’t held me back.

In fact, it’s made me be more creative with my decorating style’

Kitchen

‘The original plans put the kitchen at the front of the house but I knew this wouldn’t make the most of the space and would give us very little storage. I knew arranging it in the middle would give us the biggest usable area. I originally chose a cream gloss kitchen from Howdens but in the end I thought it was too safe. I noticed people upgrading their kitchens cheaply by simply painting the units, so I decided to paint them myself, which saved a fortune. The original laminate floor had cracked so I wanted to replace it with a feature floor and as soon as I saw these tiles in Tile Giant I knew they would be well-suited to the new green cabinets and the mustard accessories that I already had.’

‘I added a bit of black moulding and some hairpin legs to rattan storage baskets from H&M Home to make stylish bedside tables. The simple shelves and brackets are from Homebase’

‘I’m not scared to break decorating rules’

Style idea Wrap cable lights around wooden canister lids, like this pair from Poundland

Master bedroom

‘This used to be two rooms, but we knocked through to create a big master bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe. After painting the wall, I felt it needed something else and though l liked the panelling effect, I wanted to do something different as the popular designs felt quite samey. We bought long pieces of wood and literally just made this design up as we went along. It was the first time I’d attempted panelling and because I hadn’t drawn it out, I wasn’t sure if it would work but it’s been a game changer and adds a lot more interest to the simple square room. The Paris print is a romantic reminder of when Carl proposed to me at the top of the Eiffel Tower.’

Bathroom

‘This was the last room in the house we changed as it was all in good working order. It originally had a three-piece suite with a shower over the bath and the loo under the window, which took up way too much floor space, so we reconfigured the room, and by putting the bath under the window we freed up space to include a separate shower cubicle, which is really handy to have. I was originally going to go for a funkier design with the tile layout, but the builder felt he couldn’t line the grout up well enough to make it look good, so I went for this uniform stacking pattern instead, which I think works.’

32 yourhomestyle.uk

‘Using dark grout with the tiles wasn’t my original plan but looking at it now the house is finished, I think it suits my home style. The black bath caddy is from Aldi and the wicker storage baskets are from IKEA’

Inspiring homes

HOW TO...

Paint a terrazzo wall

Make your mark with this simple but bang-on-trend technique Start with a freshly painted colour block or whole wall – white or soft colours such as blush pink, light grey or baby blue work well. Choose your terrazzo colours, four or five are best, but feel free to use any leftover paints or tester pots.

make

PLANT STAND p36

Choose your starting colour and begin with large shapes. Simply paint random designs on the wall; they don’t need to be perfect, in fact the less uniform the better, so don’t overthink it, but keep the edges fairly straight rather than curved as this achieves the best terrazzo effect. Keep the shapes roughly the same size.

Leave space between your first shapes because next you want to choose another colour and make smaller shapes in between your first shade. Keep the shapes random but roughly the same size, and leave space between for the next colour.

Choose another colour and repeat the above process but with a smaller shape.

Take your final colour and fill in any gaps by simply pressing the brush against the wall using a small dab of paint. Keep adding to your design until you’re happy with the finished effect.

Office

‘Although the renovations meant we lost a bedroom, it was okay because we managed to squeeze in a small office in what used to be the kitchen. We can always turn this into a bedroom, but we’d rather have more day-to-day space than an under-used spare room. People think my terrazzo wall is either wallpaper, stencils or decals but I hand-painted it using different coloured tester pots and tins of unused paint. The cabinet in here was upcyled in the same way as my dressing table. I originally wanted to use rattan for the doors but discovered it was really expensive, so I bought a massive roll of cheap anti-slip rug underlay instead, sprayed it with a couple of coats of paint then attached it with spray adhesive and it’s just as effective.’

‘The desk is made from an IKEA tabletop that I wrapped in marble-effect vinyl, and then we added two legs and attached it to the wall. The wall is painted in Copper Blush by Dulux and I bought the ‘Oh Yes’ print in the sale from Next years ago – it’s finally found its place on this wall!’

WHAT I LEARNED...

It’s great to get inspiration from social media but, ultimately, it’s important to create a home that represents you so don’t get swept up in one of the many trends that won’t last.

It takes time to find your own style. I found it hard to make decisions at the start of our renovation as it was the first time we’d done such a big project. I hadn’t discovered the inspirational sites on social media so I initially went for quite conventional choices.

‘This gallery wall is mostly made up of prints from small businesses on Instagram. I like to support independent companies and it’s a way to find more unusual artwork’

DIY is a learning process. I now know what paints can be used on different surfaces.

For example, I quickly realised that I didn’t like gloss paint and that eggshell gives a more subtle, modern look to my home.

See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes June 2021 33

Be inspired by how Antonia mixes and matches patterns in her home on page 26

£29 Lorima Hammam towels are compact and quick drying, ideal for small bathrooms

£17 Albert & Moo Create a boho look with this Blanca tufted cushion

Shop the look...

GEOMETRIC PATTERNS Inject some energy into your interior schemes, like Antonia, with bold and beautiful patterns

£30 Garden Trading Keep under-the-bed clutter at bay with a pretty Hatherop bag

£18 Walton & Co Feature Hannah Tribe

Snuggle up with a fluffy zigzag patterned throw

£167 Astella Hrela This elegant pouffe used traditional Kantha stitch for a textured finish 34 yourhomestyle.uk

£145 Welsh Otter Add a touch of modern vintage style with a traditional Welsh blanket

Shop the look

N T G RE

G RE

This earth-toned flower pot makes a stylish home for your plant babies

IN V E S T M AT

EN T

£45 Rose & Grey

ME

This textured jacquard cushion is a real style steal

Style up your home office with a chic patterned notebook

IN V E S T AT

£5 Primark

£12.95 Cambridge Imprint

from £74.99 Homescapes A navy rug is ideal for high-traffic floors that get grubby, like hallways or kitchens

wvee

lo

£28 Lola & Mawu Create a cool look by using a handmade fan as wall art

£28 Next Clean-lined and fuss free geometrics look fantastic in the kitchen

£16.99 M&Co A sumptuous quilted cushion is perfect for a luxurious bedroom

£14.95 The Northern Line This set of measuring cups will help you become a star baker

£11 The Joy Edit Give trailing plants a little lift with the Nala planter June 2021 35

Make the look...

MID-CENTURY PLANT STAND Show off a favourite houseplant, like Antonia, with this easy-to-make raised wooden design that’s perfect for any room in your home

Top tip If you don’t have much room, go for a plant that grows vertically rather than horizontally, like a snake plant, so that it takes up less space.

You will need ● 4 square dowels ● Measuring tape ● 4 x 1cm L-brackets ● Power drill ● 8 screws ● Chopping board or

pre-cut circle of wood

● Ruler ● Pencil ● Basic tool kit

1 2

Measure and mark 25cm from the bottom of each of your dowels.

Lay a bracket on each dowel so that it lines up with the marking, with the hole centred. Mark the holes, then drill pilot holes and screw the brackets onto the dowels.

Turn the chopping board upside down and use a ruler to draw two lines through the centre that intersect at right angles.

Take one of the dowels and line up the bracket so that one of the marked lines on the board shows through the hole in the bracket. Make a mark for the pilot hole, then repeat for the other three dowels. Next, drill the four pilot holes.

You could paint the chopping board or leave the wood finish if you prefer.

Finally, attach the legs by screwing the brackets onto the base of the chopping board.

3 Extract from Home Is Where You

Make It by Geneva Vanderzeil, £14.99, Murdoch Books

4 5

36 yourhomestyle.uk

IT’S ALWAYS BEST TO CHECK CHECK YOUR MONEY’S PROTECTED TOO

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme protects your money when providers go out of business.

Think of us as part of your yearly financial health check, a must-do to make sure your pensions and investments are protected.

Our service is free and independent of the financial services industry.

Search FSCS check

Vac

TO THE FUTURE Just as our vacuum cleaners have become greener over the decades, smart meters are helping make our homes – and the country – more sustainable

T

hat feeling of satisfaction you get after you’ve run your vacuum cleaner around the house cannot be underestimated. Like any chore, you might need to psych yourself up to get started, but once the job’s done and your carpet looks brighter and your wooden floor is free of fluff, the effort is all worth it. And let’s face it, vacuum cleaners have come a long way over the years, so at least your lightweight, cordless machine is a joy to use compared to the unwieldy, power-hungry cleaners of yesterday!

Another small step we can take to start making our homes more energy efficient is getting a smart meter installed. It won’t revolutionise the way your home functions overnight, but it will help you take control of your energy bills and domestic carbon footprint by telling you in near-real time how much energy you’re using in pounds and pence. Once you know that, you can start making changes at home that will not only save you money, but also help you do your bit for the environment.

In short, smart meters are a win-win!

38 yourhomestyle.uk

Advertisement feature

Why get a smart meter?

50% of smart meter owners think their gas and electricity use has reduced since they had a smart meter installed

The average UK household spends an estimated

£35 per year leaving electronic devices on standby

The battle against dust It’s no new struggle. We’ve been fighting household dust since time immemorial.

Invented by Hubert Cecil Booth, an engineer born in Gloucester, Puffing Billy was the first powered ‘vacuum cleaner’. The horse-drawn carriage would pull up to buildings, fire up a 5hp oil engine, and a cleaner would poke the hose through the windows to do some vacuuming. Through the years, the heavy, wheezing cleaners of the 1960s and earlier slowly gave way to lighter models in the 1980s, before Dyson kicked off the bagless revolution in the 1990s.

Today, we enjoy a wealth of lightweight, cordless, bagless, energyefficient options. Many of us have even opted for robot vacuum cleaners that circulate the home automatically, avoiding obstacles and hoovering up dust of their own accord, allowing their owners to get on with something altogether more enjoyable.

In the future, it’s likely that this kind of smart vacuum technology will become even more advanced and commonplace in UK homes, and the increasing demand for these appliances to be more energy efficient is a challenge being met headon by manufacturers. Since 2017, vacuum cleaners across the EU have been limited in how much power they can use, but according to a Which? study, there has been no negative impact on dust take up.

What’s more, if everyone in Europe switched their vacuum cleaners to the new, more efficient 90w models, we could collectively save over 6 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions – that’s the same amount of CO₂ that’s currently needed to power all the households in Belgium.

The quiet revolution In the same way our household tech is starting to help us reduce our carbon footprint, having a smart meter in the home can help with that too. That’s thanks to its handy in-home display – a handheld digital device that sits in your house and allows you to see how much energy you’re using, as well as how much it’s costing you in pounds and pence. As soon as you start making changes around the home, such as choosing a more efficient vacuum cleaner, switching to energy-saving lightbulbs or even just turning your devices off rather than leaving them on standby, you should start to see the savings.

By getting a smart meter, you’ll be joining the millions of people across Britain who are doing their bit to reduce energy waste on a national scale. And that all adds up to an energy system that’s better at coping with the demands of the 21st century, while also making the best and most efficient use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. Like recycling, getting a smart meter is just another everyday environmentally friendly behaviour, so what are you waiting for?

If every UK household took action on energy efficiency now, we could save up to

54 million tonnes of carbon dioxide

Join the energy revolution and contact your energy supplier to request a smart meter. For more information visit smartenergygb.org June 2021 39

My home reflects

MY PERSONALITY

Shopping second-hand and upcycling has helped Evelyn Lindley create her one-of-a-kind house, full of vibrant colours, luxe finishes and bold patterns

Inspiring homes

MY STORY

When we were looking for a house together, it was important to find a place where I could express my creativity. We’d been living in Lee’s family home and although I’d done some decorating, it didn’t feel like my own. As soon as I saw this house, I knew it was perfect for us.

When we first moved in, parts of the kitchen were painted in a shocking pink, and the bedroom was bright red. Luckily it didn’t need any building work so it was only cosmetic changes we needed to make.

As Lee works really long hours, and I’m at home a lot due to health issues, I began decorating straight away. I started with

our bedroom as I wanted to have a space we could relax in. Then I worked my way around the house room by room. I would save up for the products I needed, like wallpaper, paint and accessories, and then I’d work on the room while thinking about the next one. I have a photographic eye so I can visualise the finished look of a room before I even begin, which makes planning the work easier.

Lee already had a lot of antique furniture that we brought with us, and I’m a real bargain hunter and love to find cheap pieces to upcycle. I think this mix has given our home a beautiful, unique look that really represents us both.

Welcome TO MY HOME A BIT ABOUT ME I’m Evelyn Lindley, an interior designer.

I live with my partner, Lee Bass, a print finishing team leader, and our three cats – Scout, Duke and Brough.

I Instagram our renovation journey @evie_polkadot.

WHERE I LIVE My home is a 1920s three-bedroom end terrace in Sittingbourne, Kent.

We bought it in October 2019.

WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE Although it had some splashes of colour, the house was mainly magnolia and had no character, but that was okay as it meant I had a blank canvas to work with. I wanted to go crazy and enjoy the process of making a home of my own.

Style idea A stainless steel splashback and visible wiring adds an industrial touch to a kitchen

‘I’d describe my style as eclectic, glamorous and romantic with a bit of mystery thrown in’

‘I love a gallery wall. In the kitchen I’ve added plates to the mix, but I’m just as happy leaning prints against a wall or floor for a more theatrical look’

MY FAVOURITE PART I love the drama of our bedroom.

It’s exactly how I pictured it before I began, and it’s such a cosy, relaxing space to be in, just how a bedroom should be.

Feature and styling Lisa Moses Photos Caroline Mardon

HOW I MADE IT MY OWN I brought in loads of colour using a teal and pink colour scheme along with bold patterns. I’ve also included my love of peacocks with motifs dotted around the house. We’ve filled each room with vintage and upcycled furniture for an original style.

Kitchen

‘I was close to tears when I originally painted the kitchen because when I finished it, I hated the blue. But it had taken me so long to do that a friend suggested I just live with it for a bit and see how I felt in a few weeks. It was the best piece of advice I’ve been given, as I would have changed it straight away, but now I’ve grown to love it and I’ve actually started to bring in more blues that are similar to this. The front of the kitchen island has a perspex cover that was shocking pink when we first moved in. I tried to cover it with paint, but it went really patchy.

Then I discovered Jes Rose, who encourages people to upcycle with vinyl. I went for the terrazzo pattern from her range because it complemented the pink of the chimney breast, and I think it adds a bit of fun to the space.’

‘I upcycled this old shoe cupboard with clear vinyl to make the doors look like glass. I used self-adhesive paper to add our names, and finished it with black paint and new handles’

‘The layout in the kitchen doesn’t follow any classic design rules, but now I’m used to it and I just see it as adding to my daily steps! Although, if I had the funds, I would completely redo the kitchen, as the design is a bit weird, with the sink being round the corner from the cooker, but for now I’ve given it a new look with some paint and a piece of statement vinyl.’

‘When I finished painting the kitchen I didn’t like the blue but now I’ve actually grown to love it’ 42 yourhomestyle.uk

Inspiring homes ‘I thought measuring this room and using masking tape to create the three-quarter wall was a pain, so I walked an A3 frame around the room marking the bottom of it from the ceiling, and it saved so much time’

make

DECORATIVE PLATES p50

Dining room

‘This was originally used as a study by the last owner who thought it was too small for a dining room, but I think it’s the perfect size and can’t wait to have people round. I wanted to give the room a Victorian Gothic feel, and ultimately want to get a round table in here. Lee bought the chairs years ago and I upcycled them with cheap leopard-print fabric. I decided to go for the three-quarter painted wall effect, so I painted the ceiling and woodwork a soft white. Sometimes I wish I’d been a bit bolder and painted the whole room black, but Lee was less keen, and creating a home together is about compromise. I write erotic poetry and love to work in here in the evenings as the dark walls give the room a moody, romantic feel, which inspires me to write.’

Spray an unused frame and a leaf-shaped piece of MDF gold to make some unique wall art, like Evelyn’s botanical piece

KITSCH p48

Living room

Personalised storage pot, Give Personalised Gifts

Pineapple drinks dispenser, B&M Perfect Peacock cushion, Joe Browns

44 yourhomestyle.uk

‘Lee has always collected interesting pieces and a lot of our furniture is vintage, second-hand or upcycled, which makes our home really eclectic. These pieces, along with my love of bold colours and pattern, mean we have a home that really reflects both our personalities.

I bought the tropical wallpaper from Wallpaper Direct as I thought it would go beautifully with the vintage veneered cocktail cabinet.

I initially painted the ceiling in here turquoise, but it didn’t work for me, so I went over it with Teal of Tunbridge Wells from Mylands and mirrored it on the arch. Then I painted the walls grey, which makes the teal really stand out.’

Inspiring homes ‘Originally, this was an ugly, brown veneer cabinet with a broken glass door, but I hate to throw things away, so I took the doors off, painted it, and gold leafed the inside’

‘Lee bought this cabinet when he was 18 and he’s kept it all these years. Now it’s used to display his collection of vintage toy cars’

HOW TO...

Gold leaf

furniture

Add vintage glamour with this easy but effective technique

‘A friend’s gran gave me this vintage chair when she was having a clearout. She said she thought it would suit my style, and she was right, it’s perfect in here’

First, choose your gold. Imitation gold leaf is a lot cheaper than the real stuff, so it’s a good choice for a first project and comes in packs of 5½ inch squares.

Prepare your furniture. Sand or fill any bumps or holes and apply primer to your piece to make sure it’s not porous. If it’s metal, a simple dust and good clean with soapy water should do.

Mask off the area you want to gild and apply a thin, even layer of water-based ‘size’, which is the adhesive you’ll use, to the surface, making sure it’s not too thick.

Most importantly, leave until it’s almost dry, but still slightly tacky.

Start applying your gold leaf. It’s usually backed by tissue so lay it tissue side up and use that to gently rub the gold onto your furniture. Continue until your area is covered; it’s a good idea to have a bit of overlap of your squares, and then leave to completely dry. This can take up to six hours depending on the size of your project so do be patient.

Use a soft brush to remove any excess gold leaf and then leave the size to cure for 24 hours. Lastly, cover the gold with a sealant to protect it and prevent chips and scratches, and leave this to dry for about 24 hours.

June 2021 45

‘I like to support independent artists and have been collecting these prints for a couple of years, though I’m happy to mix and match with high street brands such as HomeSense that always have interesting one-off pieces’

‘I’ll always find a way of getting an expensive look on a small budget’

Hallway ‘I was originally quoted £700 to carpet the stairs, which was way out of my budget. Instead, I went to IKEA and bought four of their long patterned runners, which we attached ourselves.

At only £22 each, the whole job cost under £100 and looks amazing. I’ve got over 60 pictures hanging along the staircase, so it took a few months to get them all up. I didn’t plan the whole look in one go like some people do, but just started with one picture and then arranged it all as I went along, doing about three rows at a time.’

Master bedroom

Style idea Make your own wall words with gold or copper wire

‘I knew this would be a dark room as I had planned to base it around a peacock theme, which I love for its opulent feel. I wanted a luxurious space with lots of sumptuous textures and elegant gold accessories. As I had already covered this headboard in the beautiful teal velvet fabric, I worked the room around that, including the Zambezi duvet cover from Emma J Shipley. I pretty much painted everything in Blue Spruce by Valspar, as I think painting the walls, woodwork and furniture the same colour creates a bold and really modern look. People often forget about the ceiling and leave it white, but I think it should be treated as an extra surface, so I painted it this lovely rich colour too. My friends weren’t sure it would work but I knew it would look elegant and glamorous, but also cosy and relaxing.’

‘I am the Cushion Queen and piling my bed with pillows is an easy way to add a touch of hotel luxe to the room. My sister bought me the peacock and it’s been the inspiration for the colour scheme in here’

Inspiring homes ‘The maximalist feel of this room was a gamble, but limiting the colours and sticking to the leafy motif makes it cohesive rather than chaotic’

‘I’m a naturally shy person, but my personality shines through my home’

Spare bedroom

‘I’ve added a few accessories and faux plants in the bathroom, plus a couple of pictures, to try and add character, but really it needs a complete overhaul, so we need to save up a bit first’

‘I wanted the décor in this room to be quite light and bright as a contrast to our bedroom, and I already had this Amazon Pink wallpaper from Wallpaper Direct as a sample, so I decided to use it in here. I chose this soft Green 01 from Lick for the walls and paired it with coral accessories. My mum was getting rid of this large unit, so I took it on as an upcycling project. It was originally a horrible orange pine, so I painted it with chalk paint from Hobbycraft, and then covered the draw fronts with the same design as the curtains and the cushion from Next.’

WHAT I LEARNED...

Trust the brands you love. I’ve sometimes chosen a cheaper paint to save a few pounds and I’ve always been disappointed with the finish and gone back to my first choice.

Look for cheaper versions if your purse won’t stretch to designer items.

I wanted a House of Hackney tiger cushion but at £195 it was out of my budget. I managed to find something similar in HomeSense for £12.99, which looks just as good.

Follow your gut and don’t let others put you off your ideas. You know what you like and what will work for you in your own home, so do it for you, not for anyone else.

If you do make a mistake, don’t worry, just change it. This is your home and you want to enjoy it.

See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes June 2021 47

Steal style ideas from Evelyn’s eclectic home on page 40

£90 BHS We love any light fitting that drips with sparkling crystals

£12 Amara Start your mornings sunny-side up with this cute mug

Shop the look...

KITSCH PERFECT

Fill your home with a sense of fun, like Evelyn, with quirky statement accessories

£38 Audenza

This Beethoven bust is a classic with a twist!

from £36

Nikki McWilliams

wvee

IN V E S T M AT

G RE

ME

EN T

N T G RE

lo

Treat your sofa with a cushion inspired by a teatime snack

IN V E S T AT

£50 for two Not On The High Street Feature Hannah Tribe

Use these adorable Staffordshire dog jars for hiding biscuits

£105 Hannah Turner These flying toucans are bound to put a smile on your face

48 yourhomestyle.uk

Shop the look from £26.99

from £38

We Love Cushions

Pooky

This kitsch cushion features a classic painting by iconic 60s artist J.H. Lynch

Channel your inner Bet Lynch with this glorious leopardprint shade

£22 Okla Add a little love to your mantelpiece with a Milagro Heart candle

£32.50 GPO Retro

£59.99 Wayfair A playful cuckoo clock will brighten up your hallway

A vintage-style radio in an ice-cream tone will liven up your kitchen

£24.99 HomeSense

£48 Anthropologie

Make this aquatic cushion your catch of the day

Create a joyful bathroom with this très chic bathmat

£32 John Lewis & Partners This strawberry serving bowl is a juicy addition for your table

£45 Iconic Lights Brighten up your bedroom with a cheeky monkey

£150 King & McGaw Paintings by Tretchioff are icons of kitsch style

June 2021 49

Make the look...

MIRROR WALL PLATES

Got some unused dishes at the back of the cupboard? Give them a whole new purpose, like Evelyn, and turn them into statement wall art

You will need

● Sticky-back plastic ● Side plates ● Paintbrushes ● Acrylic paint ● Sticky tape ● Gold or silver leaf ● Nail varnish remover ● Small circular craft mirrors ● Matt spray varnish ● Superglue ● Picture hanging strips

1

For the leopard-print plate, attach a strip of tape across the centre of a plate. Paint one half of the plate pink. Leave to dry then paint another layer. Once dry, splatter white paint on top. Remove the strip of tape. With the black paint, apply different shapes in random sizes to create a leopard-print effect. Paint multiple layers of the black for complete coverage. Before the paint fully dries, add small flecks of gold and silver leaf to the black shapes, being careful not to smudge the paint. The foil will stay put once the paint is dry.

For the confetti plate, choose four paint colours you’ll use on all your plates to ensure a cohesive look for the set. Paint small wiggly lines in the first colour, spacing them out across the plate, then add chunky dashes in a second colour in the gaps in between and leave to dry. Add larger spots in a third colour, then add smaller dots in the fourth colour. Keep going until you’re happy with the design, then leave to dry.

For the terrazzo design, cut out a sheet of sticky-back plastic roughly the same size as the plate. From this, cut out different shapes and sizes to make a stencil. Stick the stencil to the plate, smoothing out any air bubbles. Paint a few of the shapes in a solid colour. Use the main image as a guide or create your own design.

Paint as many layers as it takes for the colour to be opaque, leaving the paint to dry in between layers. Splatter black paint onto one or two of the empty shapes. Create an ombré effect in another of the shapes by gradually adding drops of white paint to one of the colours. Fill in the stencil shape by painting these three shades in strips, gently overlapping and mixing the paint as you go to create a gradient effect. Once the paint has dried, remove the sticky-back plastic.

Once the plates are dry, spray each one with matt spray varnish to seal the design.

Leave to dry, then superglue a mirror onto each plate. Stick the picture hanging strips to the reverse of each plate to hang on the wall.

3

Top tip If you make a mistake, just rub some nail varnish remover on the unwanted marks using a paintbrush.

50 yourhomestyle.uk

4

Make Louisa Mallett taken from Mollie Makes Photo Philip Sowels Styling Sarah Malone

2

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"

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Style idea

Show off your favourite book covers rather than the spines

‘The Swoon dining table is from auction site, John Pye, and I’ve teamed it with chairs from MADE.com and a ceiling pendant from HomeSense. I love the size of this room as there’s enough space for my MADE.com sofa, which I’ve dressed up with cushions from H&M Home.

The alcoves looked cluttered with furniture in them so we got a joiner to make the shelves, which we painted in Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball to match the walls’

We gave our period home a

MODERN MAKEOVER By restoring original features and decorating in contemporary colours, Esther Pillans has totally transformed her Victorian terrace

Inspiring homes

MIRRORS p62

Welcome TO MY HOME A BIT ABOUT ME I’m Esther Pillans, 28, an assistant buyer on the home textiles team at Very. I live with my partner, Lewis Jardine, 34, an insurance complaints handler.

‘Oversized mantle mirrors, off-white walls, white marble and sleek velvet is my dream look’

WHERE I LIVE Our home is a four-bedroom Victorian terraced house in Waterloo, Liverpool.

We bought it in March 2018. You can see more of our home on my Instagram @prettylittleterrace.

WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE The dark kitchen and dining room at the back of the house felt pretty gloomy, the bathroom was badly designed and there were no original fireplaces left in the house.

HOW I MADE IT MY OWN We’ve restored or reinstated the original features, added panelling, sanded wood floors and went for a co-ordinated colour palette of greens, pinks, gold and marble throughout all of the rooms.

MY STORY

We’d made offers on six different houses and missed out on them all, when this fourbedroom Victorian terrace came up for sale on one of my favourite streets. It was pitchblack when we viewed the house as the lights weren’t working but I could make out the cornicing, deep skirting boards, goodsized rooms and high ceilings. There was loads of potential, so we made an offer that night. Looking back, we ended up with the best house. It was definitely meant to be.

For the first year we lived with our parents nearby, spending evenings and weekends working on the house. My dad’s

a builder and my brother helped out too.

They knocked down the wall between the kitchen and dining room, blocked up the original kitchen door and added new French doors. A lot of time was spent putting original features back, including ceiling roses and four fireplaces, as well as sanding the floors throughout. Our last job was replacing the rotting front door with a new period-style design complete with stained-glass panels.

In the next two years we might move somewhere with a bigger kitchen and bathroom, but we’ve learned so many new skills to take to the next house.

Feature Karen Wilson Photos Katie Lee

MY FAVOURITE PART The living room was the first space we properly finished, and I love every single thing in there.

Dining room

‘Before the wall was knocked down and another set of French doors were added, this space hardly got any sun. It’s probably the room that’s seen the biggest transformation. We spent eight weekends stripping the Artex wallpaper in here, before getting the floor sanded and finding a reclaimed fireplace that would work with the original hearth tiles we uncovered. I’d been looking for months for a fireplace and was starting to lose hope as most cost over £1,000. Eventually this marble design with the tiled inset came up on eBay for £500 and it was local too. I’ve tried to carry through the pinky red colour of the hearth tiles into the soft furnishings.

Going dark on the walls has made the fireplace really stand out.’

‘The dining area is much lighter now we have two sets of French doors at the back. The Palm tree print from HomeSense ties in well with my pink and green colour scheme’

Inspiring homes

Kitchen

‘With just one small window, the original L-shaped kitchen was really dark. The black floor and worktops made it feel even darker. Two weeks after getting the keys, my dad and brother knocked the wall down to open it up to the dining room and added French doors to bring in more light.

The old back door was in a weird room off the kitchen with a concrete floor, which we’ve turned into a utility and toilet.

My starting point was the tiled patterned floor. As we’ve sanded the floors everywhere else, I wanted something a bit different in here. I considered a light grey kitchen at first but had my heart set on white quartz worktops, which would stand out better against darker units. After getting prices from a few showrooms, we decided on DIY Kitchens as they were the cheapest we came across. The joiner was really impressed with the quality too.’

‘After being told an island wouldn’t fit, we taped one on the floor and released it could work. I like having the sink on the island so I can watch the TV in the dining room when I’m washing-up’

Style idea Use a selection of different-sized IKEA glass jars for dried ingredients

‘I fell in love with these floor tiles from Porcelain Superstore. They work so well against the dark kitchen and the marble mosaic wall tiles from Walls and Floors. We got the oven and microwave separately from Very, and it looks so much better having the fridge-freezer hidden behind doors’

‘We ended up with the best house. It was definitely meant to be’

June 2021 57

‘I’ve added monochrome elements to ground the scheme, such as the Swoon side table, HomeSense mirror and cushion from H&M Home. Pink accents, like this HomeSense tassel lamp, are dotted throughout the house’

‘For privacy, we’ve added frostedeffect window adhesive in the living room. It’s the perfect spot for my pink MADE.com chair, and the monochrome cushion from The Wild Kind London’

make

STENCILLED SIDE TABLE p64

Living room ‘The bold green sofa was the starting point for this room. We went for an olive green on the walls to tone it down a bit, then added pink and monochrome accents. We painted the wall behind the sofa in Strong White by Farrow & Ball so it stands out, with Card Room Green across the chimney breast and alcoves.

I really love the Parisian apartment style with beautiful white marble fireplaces styled with retro furniture, so this was my inspiration for the fireplace from Cast Fireplaces. Normally I keep the base of my rooms quite plain and classic, adding layers of texture and print through accessories. For inspiration I love Rockett St George, Liberty and Anthropologie, but usually I’ll either shop their sales or try and find cheaper alternatives elsewhere.’

58 yourhomestyle.uk

Style idea Add a stylish tray to a large, firm footstool and it doubles up as a coffee table

Inspiring homes

Steal my style Get Esther’s chic home style with these elegant buys

GLATTIS tray, IKEA

Bolga storage basket, small, Lola & Mawu Buttoned velvet footstool, Joe Browns

‘It took me ages to find the right art for this wall. I finally found this jungle print in HomeSense, which I love. It works really well with the green sofa from MADE.com’

HOW TO...

Reinstate a

period fireplace Give this original feature a little bit of love and it will bring bags of character to your home When sourcing a fireplace that suits the style of your home, ask your neighbours to see if they still have the original in situ or search Rightmove for sold houses on your street. Although you might not be able to find the exact same design that would’ve been in your house, there are plenty of reclamation yards that can help you find a close match. Alternatively, check online selling sites for renovators who are ripping out fireplaces locally. You’ll get a better price if they need it out of the way quickly.

If your home is Georgian, Victorian or Edwardian, there are a huge number of different styles to choose from during those eras. Late Victorian and Edwardian fireplaces usually had tiled inserts, which require a larger opening. Georgian styles often have urns, foliage or flower motifs, while you’ll see corbels in Victorian styles.

In the 1930s, art deco was a big influence with sloping edges, rounded corners and geometric shapes commonplace. Visit thearchitecturalforum.com for more tips.

Many replicas are so good these days, it’s hard to tell them apart from the real thing.

If you’re on a budget but still want to recreate the grandeur of the past, try The Morris Victorian-style fireplace from The Victorian Emporium at £607.20 or the Celtic Combination cast iron fireplace at £320 from Cast Fireplaces.

June 2021 59

‘The biggest expense was probably the marble chevron floor tiles from Mandarin Stone. I didn’t want a bold colour or pattern as I was worried it might date. However, we saved money on the simple Metro wall tiles to balance things out’

Bathroom

‘The layout in here just didn’t work before. It’s a pretty small room and the bath was under the window with the sink in the far corner. This meant you walked straight into the bath as soon as you opened the door. To solve the problem, we found the smallest bath you can buy and put it on the back wall. The room looks bigger now as you can see more floor space.’

‘I’d rather do things once and do it properly, so I’ve spent money on things like quality marble tiles that won’t date’ ‘The panelling and desk have both been painted in Farrow & Ball’s Card Room Green for a matching look. We got the chair and rug from HomeSense and the colourful striped pouffe is from The Rug Republic’

Office

‘This room wasn’t really used much until we started working from home during lockdown, so it got a makeover last summer. We put up the panelling ourselves and made a desk from two IKEA cabinets upcycled with cane webbing on the doors. A piece of wood was cut to size for the desktop with an extendable breakfast bar leg supporting the middle.’

‘I’ve tried to put something old in every room to stop it looking like a showroom’ 60 yourhomestyle.uk

Inspiring homes

Style idea Personalise above your bed with initialled decorations

‘The reclaimed fireplace is definitely my favourite feature in the room. It has beautiful details and took lots of hard work and time to restore it. The chest of drawers is from Swoon’

‘We chose Strong White by Farrow & Ball for the walls with a dark blue bed from MADE.com to contrast. The side table is from Swoon and the wall lights are from Iconic Lights’

Master bedroom

‘Before, this room was really rundown with old laminate flooring and zebra-print wallpaper hanging off the walls. After reading Mad About The House, I realised light and open would be better than dark and cosy for me as I have trouble getting up on cold, dark mornings. We sanded the floors, added a Victorian pine door and restored a reclaimed fireplace to sit with the original hearth tiles found under the laminate. I used to have yellow accessories, but it wasn’t really me. I’m more suited to muted pastel colours so these were swapped for blush pink pieces. Next, I want to add traditional wood panelling for depth, as it’s quite a plain space at the moment.’

WHAT I LEARNED...

We had a go at sanding the upstairs floorboards ourselves, but then paid someone to do downstairs as we’d both had enough by then!

There’s hardly any dust when the professionals do it and you can tell the difference in the finish.

With big buys, like the kitchen and bathroom wall tiles, I prefer a classic look rather than going for bold colours. If I get bored, I can always change the wall colour or accessories.

I’d rather do it once and do it properly, so I’ve spent money on things like quality marble tiles that won’t date. I don’t mind spending more on a statement sofa or table either, as you can take it to the next house.

See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes June 2021 61

Get inspired by Esther’s light-filled home on page 54

£80 Next The rattan border is a modern touch for this classic circular mirror

£115 Oliver Bonas This regal mirror will add instant elegance to your room

Shop the look...

MIRROR MIRROR

Make the most of the natural light in your home, like Esther, by decorating with sparkling mirrors

wvee

lo

£20 Matalan Complement a cool, urban scheme with a leatherette strap mirror

Feature Hannah Tribe

£26 Urban Outfitters Shine a bit of moonlight in your room with this decorative piece

£20 Wilko Use a garden mirror to create a sense of space indoors or out!

62 yourhomestyle.uk

£20 Dunelm A pretty bordered mirror never goes out of style

Shop the look

£12 Argos

£115 Oliver Bonas

This wavy mirror is an on-trend addition to any Insta-worthy interior!

Work your angles with a hinged triple brass mirror

£79 MADE.com Phone, keys, lippy... check! The Melissa mirror shelf has your back

NT ME

N T G RE

G RE

IN V E S T M AT

£20 George Home

IN V E S T AT

The trend for rattan mirrors is going nowhere this summer

£150 John Lewis & Partners Give your bathroom a touch of romance with a bevelled scalloped mirror

£150 Joe Browns A shining golden window mirror adds a sense of luxury

£7 for 4 IKEA These lightweight mirrors can be used to create mirrored walls

from £35

Nkuku

£14.99 Aldi Boost your flower power with this daisy-inspired frame

A pinwheel-style mirror gives your room some extra sparkle

£25 Habitat

Create the illusion of extra windows with a Crittall-style mirror June 2021 63

Make the look...

STENCILLED TABLE With a dab of paint and a bit of love, you can turn a tired table into a statement piece, like Esther. Use it for your coffee in the living room or take it outside on sunny days

Top tip For a delicate finish, use very little paint on your sponge to avoid it looking lumpy.

You will need ● Side table ● Sandpaper ● Satin furniture paint ● Paintbrush ● Stencil ● Repositionable

adhesive spray ● Sponge ● White furniture paint ● Paper plate

1

First prepare the table.

Sand the surface and legs to remove any varnish or paint and clean with a dry cloth.

Next, apply a coat of black satinwood paint to the table, and leave to dry. Repeat with a second coat and leave to dry.

Take the stencil and spray some repositionable adhesive to the back. Allow to go tacky for a few minutes. Position it on the top of the table.

Now pour a little white furniture paint onto a paper plate. Dab the sponge in the paint and wipe off any excess, then apply over the stencil.

Repeat until the surface of the table is decorated, then allow to completely dry.

3

4 Rust-Oleum Carbon satin furniture paint, £5.50 for 125ml; Rust-Oleum White matt chalky-effect furniture paint, £5.50 for 125ml, both B&Q. Plaid FolkArt stencil, from a selection, £4.75, Hobbycraft 64 yourhomestyle.uk

5

Make and styling Suzie Attaway Photo Oliver Gordon

2

WIN!

The ultimate 4

Judge Vista Five Piece Saucepan Set, £165; 24cm Grill Pan, £53.50; 20cm Egg Poacher, £64; 22cm Chip Pan, £75

LUCKY WINNERS

TO REDEEM It’s super easy! Head to yourhomestyle.uk, click on the ‘WIN’ tab, find the draw you want to enter and fill in your details.

Closing date 27th July 2021.

PRIZE BUNDLE WORTH £382.50!

Judge Vista 24cm Non Stick Grill Pan, £53.50

Judge Vista cookware is suitable for all hob types

STEP UP YOUR COOKING GAME THIS SUMMER! HomeStyle has teamed up with the prestigious cookware brand Judge to offer our readers a chance to win a brand-new set of stainless-steel cooking pans – essentials for busy cooks who don’t want to compromise on style and function in their kitchens.

There are four generous cookware bundles up for grabs, each worth £382.50 and including a total of eight pieces from the Judge Vista cookware range. The fivepiece stainless steel cookware set provides a selection of the most-used pots in the kitchen, such as a 14cm milk pan, a set of three saucepans, and a 24cm non-stick sauté pan. The additional egg poacher, deep fryer and non-stick grill pan, meanwhile, add an

extra edge to your everyday cooking.

The Judge Vista range is dishwasher safe and provides impressive performance on all hob types, including induction. Boasting stay-cool phenolic handles, it’s perfect for busy kitchens and allows great versatility thanks to being oven safe up to 210 °C. The internal time-saving measuring guides and shatter proof vented glass lids make this cookware an even greater pleasure to use.

Trust in performance with these Judge Vista pans, one of the nation’s favourite stainless steel cookware ranges. Enter the competition today for your chance to win!

Visit horwood.co.uk/brands/judge to see the whole range

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

66 yourhomestyle.uk

Competition closes on 27th July 2021 at 23.59pm and you must be 18 or over to enter.

This prize draw is open to residents of the UK and Channel Islands only. Find full terms and conditions under the desired prize draw at yourhomestyle.uk/win

Style edit

DECORATORÕS

MOODBOARDS This issue we’re loving these adorable and inclusive looks for kids’ rooms that can be adapted to suit all ages

66

66 FUN OF THE FAIR

Create a carnival atmosphere with this bold and playful look

68 INTO THE WOODS Call on your forest friends to help create this calm and restful woodland scheme

70 JUNGLE BOOGIE

Inspire little explorers to go wild with a bright botanical look full of hidden surprises

68

70

Arthouse Circus wallpaper, £18 per roll, Homebase

Stars fabric in Red, £10.95 per m, Just Fabrics Grandeco Hot Air Balloons pattern stripe motif metallic wallpaper, £14 per roll, I Want Wallpaper

le and tough matt paint, Walls in White Cotton Easycare washab Easycare washable and £32.50 per 2.5L; ceiling in Pepper Red ting in Banana Split tough matt paint, £32.50 per 2.5L; skir Dulux eggshell paint, £16.91 per 500ml, all

COLOUR PALETTE

SNIGLAR bed frame, £35; FLISAT stool, £15; TROFAST storage, £50; FLISAT wall storage, £12; KRUX work lamp, £29; FLYTTBAR basket, £5; LUSTIGT cushion, £7; LUSTIGT spinning wheel game, £15; LUSTIGT dart game, £12; DJUNGELSKOG soft toy, £10, all IKEA

Naples hexagon Yellow tile, £41.57 per sq m, Tiles Direct CIRKUSTÄLT children’s tent, £12, IKEA

Style edit

FUN OF THE FAIR Playful and practical, this bold circus-inspired look can be adapted as your kids grow Mini Moderns Fayre’s Fair wallpaper in Lido, £50 per roll, John Lewis & Partners

TROLLBO pendant light in Green, £19, IKEA

Harlequin Life’s a Circus wall mural, £195, Jane Clayton

1829 chalky emulsion in Lamplighter, £16 per 750ml, Craig & Rose

Stars, stripes and spots are easy motifs to create yourself

Wall paint in Provence, £41.95 per 2.5L, Annie Sloan

HOW TO

WORK THIS LOOK Base the colour scheme around primary colours; red, blue and

GoodHome Bannerton White mahogany-effect laminate flooring, £11 per sq m, B&Q Metal light-up letter, £12.50, Marks & Spencer

Simple, unfussy shapes create fun motifs that are easy to DIY. Look

l Take the hard work out of cleaning by finding sturdy, painted metal

or wooden furniture and lay sleek laminate flooring. These materials are easy to wipe down and clear up after a day’s play. l Soften the look with cushions and washable rugs in a range of stripe SOFIA broad e/White, fabric in Blu A £6 per m, IKE

iLiv Balloons fabric in Cobalt, £14.69 per m, House Décor Interio rs

bright colours. Extra cushions and throws will allow kids to use their beds as a sofa during the day, or turn it into a tent to play in.

June 2021 69

Emilia 523 Nova tile vinyl flooring, £8.49 per sq m, Online Carpets

in Linen/Duck Egg Hide and Seek wallpaper aper in Navy ; Into Stone; Funky Jungle wallp s in Duck Egg; Little Heart the Meadow wallpaper 5 per roll by Harlequin wallpaper in Linen, all £3

Fresco Woodla nd Animals wallpaper in Navy, £15 per roll, Home base

Matt emulsion in Blue 02, £38 per 2.5L, Lick

iles Admiral Prestigious Text fall, £15.90 fabric in Water ish Home per m, Your Styl

Woodland Fox night light, £12, Red Candy

HOW TO

WORK THIS LOOK

l One of the hardest things about decorating children’s

rooms is creating a look they will still enjoy as they get older.

This scheme uses a sophisticated palette that can be subtly updated to suit your child’s changing tastes. l Baby blue, sage green and natural wood elements create

a calming atmosphere that’s ideal for very small children, but it’s also grown up enough for teenagers. Bunny rabbits, squirrels and owls are perfect motifs for nurseries. Use natural elements like trees, mountains and stars for older kids and tweens. Get them involved in choosing for themselves. l Invest in good quality furniture that will grow with your

child. Look out for extending beds and convertible chairs. You can pop a little extra height on furniture you already own too, just by adding new legs. Full-size wardrobes can be adapted on the inside so that children can easily access the items they need. Add in low rails, shelves and boxes. Use the higher area that they can’t reach for storing off-season clothes and toys.

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Spring Bud matt emulsion, £18 for 2.5L; Khaki Twist matt emulsion, £18 for 2.5L, both Crown Paints

Style edit

INTO THE WOODS This cool, calm look with its relaxing, natural theme will create a soothing zone for play, learning and rest

Woodland Animals bedding set by Ryn Frank, toddler/cot bed, £30, Great Little Trading Co

Woodland Friends wallpaper in Blue, from £59.99 per roll, Celina Digby

Matt emulsion in Sea Foam Party, £49.99 per 2.5L, Dowsing and Reynolds

palette will grow with your child Crown Archives Woodland wallpaper in Grey, £12 per roll, Dunelm

Birch Trees wallpaper in Cream and Silver, £9.99 per roll, World of Wallpaper

LÖVA bed canopy, £8, IKEA

Albany Grizedale wallpaper in Teal, £25 per roll, Wallpaper Direct

COLOUR PALETTE

irrel and Sanderson Squ ric in Sky Hedgehog fab 2 per m, Blue/Pebble, £6 Closs & Hamblin

GoodHome Kirton natural oak-effect laminate flooring, £11 per sq m, B&Q

June 2021 71

Rory the Leopard rug, £49, Dunelm

Mediterranean Estrella vinyl, £21.99 per sq m, Carpetright

Cleome multicolour Tropical wallpaper, £12 per roll, B&Q

le Mania Arthouse Jung wallpaper, £12 per roll, Very

Hidden jungle animals will stimulate their

Bright Tiger reversible bedding set, from £18; Lion storage cube, £40; Rainbow feature light, £20; polka dot sorter storage, £28; mono spot storage cubes, £12 for two, all Next

Snappy curtain fabric in Paintbox, £17.40 per m, Terrys Fabrics

HOW TO

Sloth night light, £13, Sass & Belle

l

environment that’s full of surprises. Go for accent colours like deep teal and hot pink, and pair these with forest green and navy. l Stimulate imaginative play with intricate, peek-a-boo patterns that

include hidden animals among tropical plants. They can explore these jungles without even leaving their bed. Accessorise the look with animal-print touches. You could paint zebra and tiger stripes yourself, and get the kids involved too! l Don’t forget to look at papers and prints that haven’t been designed ald, allpaper in Emer Hidden Jungle w lpaper Direct £8.99 per roll, Wal

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with kids in mind. You can dress them up for your child’s room with toys and accessories that suit their age. Adapting the look around these more mature patterns will help to create a theme that lasts.

Style edit

JUNGLE BOOGIE

Give your kids a sense of adventure with a jungle-themed room to explore Bear laundry basket, £35; sket, £12; Dog basket, £12; Cat ba talan Zebra basket, £20, all Ma

Banana Leaf rug, from £12, Dunelm

Safari hook set, £18 for four, The Futon Company

Dashwood Habitat Jungle fabric, £13 per m, My Sewing Box

Chianti wicker pendant shade in Natural, £20, Iconic Lights

Grandeco Jung le multicolour wa llpaper, £20 per roll, Ho mebase

COLOUR PALETTE

Prestigious Textiles Peek A Boo jungle wallpaper, £112 per roll; Hide and See k jungle fabric, £15.90 per m; Hopscotch jungle fabric, £26.10 per m, Jane Clay ton

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READER OFFER! SAVE 15%

Peacock wallpaper, £175 for a set of three rolls

at Homebody Décor King Edison lights, from £504 each

David and Venus Bust candles, from £43.50 each

TO REDEEM It’s super easy!

Simply use the code

HOMEBODY15

at the checkout to get 15% off your order at homebodydecor.co.uk.

Offer expires 23rd June 2021.

Take it to the max Embrace the wonderful world of eclectic maximalism at Homebody Décor!

HomeStyle has teamed up with the online homeware retailer to offer readers a 15 per cent discount off their stylish wares.

Homebody Décor stock a range of distinctive, affordable home accessories and furniture that boast a boutique feel.

From ostrich wall lights, lion head planters and tongue-in-cheek art, to unique wallpaper designs and luxe accessories,

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Homebody Décor has all you need to add playful touches and plenty of personality to your home – some of which you may have seen recently on The Interior Design Masters series with Alan Carr!

Explore the various ranges from the quirky Animal Instinct edit – which is full of maximalist, distinctive items including animal lights and accessories – to the luxurious, boutique hotel inspired Eclectic Glamour and New Savoy edits.

All items are hand-picked in line with interior trends, which allows customers

to shop by style rather than individual item, helping everyone to expand their interior design vision and create their own personal home style.

Visit Homebody Décor at homebodydecor.co.uk

living room updates for summer

Whether you’re redecorating or looking for simple ways to refresh your space, this season’s looks are designed to bring the sunshine in

Platform medium two-seater sofa, £1,699; Hendricks loveseat, £599; Tuck armchair, £349; West Elm pillar glass coffee table, £369; plain cotton cushion, £12; jute pouffe, £79; Skye jute rug, £80; rectangle shopper basket, £30; Anglepoise Type 75 floor lamp, £235, all John Lewis & Partners

Feature Hannah Tribe

y s a E

Style advice

T

his summer’s decorating trends transport us from Italy’s Amalfi coast to sundrenched equatorial schemes. Get your lounge summer-ready with our top tips and best buys for relaxed summer living.

Simply Refresh one coat paint in Egyptian Cotton, £39.18 for 2.5L, Dulux

Lighten up your look with a fresh lick of paint. Dulux’s clever paint formula is guaranteed to give walls a new lease of life with just one coat, leaving you with more time to enjoy the weather. Choose light colours with warm undertones to create a natural feel with on-trend Mediterranean vibes.

Window seat cushion in dulcet fabric in Old White, £44.95 per m; cushions in linen union in French Linen and Old White, both £39.95 per m; wall paint in Old White, £41.95 per 2.5L, all Annie Sloan

Why not turn an unused window alcove into a sunny window seat? You can build your own seat from scratch or reinforce a low TV cabinet for the purpose.

Look for shops that can cut cushion foam to your required measurements.

Then you can sew your own simple rectangular cover. Make your cover in a fabric that matches your curtains or blinds for a co-ordinated look.

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Capro candle holder, £5.99, Dobbies Butlers coffee table in Carbon, £350, Garden Trading

Madras Pink check cushion, £45, Weaver Green

from £26.55, Natural History Museum

Cotton hand-woven gingham check Yellow rug, £24.99, Homescapes

Rattan storage basket in Brown, £34.99, H&M Home

Style advice Amalfi Cielo wallpaper, £65 per roll, Graham & Brown

Pampas wreaths, £100 for a set of three, Next

Coloured glass accessories capture sunlight and throw it back into the room with a jewel-like glow.

Use these shining pieces to highlight areas of the living room you want to show off, like a bookshelf or mantelpiece. Arrange them in small groups of various sizes and colours for a dramatic display.

Kauka Pink glass vase, £29.50, Oliver Bonas

Double circle stoneware candle holder in Mustard, £25, Rose & Grey

Grand Designs Farnham right-hand facing grand chaise sofa in Terracotta velvet, £2,199, DFS

Add zest to your living room scheme with a fruit-themed wallpaper. Citrus fruits instantly transport you to warmer climes or sultry greenhouses. We love the blue background of this paper, which reminds us of cloudless summer skies.

Treat yourself in true sustainable style with a recycled polyester fabric sofa. The Grand Designs range from DFS has been designed using recycled and sustainable materials, without compromising on comfort or stunning good looks. The colours and fabrics in the range are made to mix and match, so you can pair a classic chenille sofa with a luxurious velvet footstool in the same on-trend tones.

June 2021 77

Tutti Frutti plant pot, medium, £26, Anthropologie

Hanging eye mirror, £6, B&M

Rattan magazine rack, £30.80, Søstrene Grene

Round slate bookends, £34 for two, Sir Gordon Bennet

Leaf print outdoor cushions, £29.50 for two, Marks & Spencer

Create a rosy look with a floral blind.

Roman blinds are great for rooms that get a lot of sun. The blind can be pulled down one section at a time, so you have control over the amount of shade created. This reduces glare, but still allows you to look out of the window and won’t make you feel as though you’re shutting the sunshine out!

Straight empire shade in natural rattan, £32, Pooky

Malia velvet and cane pendant lampshade, £98, Oliver Bonas

Bring the outdoors in with bold botanical prints. Lush foliage gives a cool feeling to living rooms that get particularly hot on summer days. Don’t feel limited to using only green though, mix in blush, taupe and even blue leaf prints for a multi-layered look, like a real rainforest.

Emma Bridgewater Roses Pink Roman blind, from £31.80, Blinds 2go

Summer is the time to temporarily remove heavy or dark curtains. This will instantly make your living room feel brighter. Replace them with breezier fabrics like linen and voile for the next few months. If you need a little more privacy, add in a roller or Roman blind too.

Tufted White slot top voile curtain, from £6, Dunelm

Sofa in Osaka Spice fabric, £25.20 per m, Prestigious Textiles

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Style advice Daisy velvet chaise in Grey, £350; Jessie leaning bookcase, £110; Luxe Living velvet cushion, £12; Lowena mesh ceiling light in Gold, £120; Agra leopard candle holder, £10; Luxe living tealight holder, large, £8; Regency velvet cushion, £20; Agra glass tealight holder, £4.50; Luxe living bookends, £16; Luxe Living lion head candle, £18; Ontario Black picture frame, £35; Kupari Gold frames, £60 for a set of five; Numi handwoven wool rug, £350; Aluminus Black frames, £50 for a set of five, all Habitat

Open bookshelves give you lots of storage while still maintaining an airy look. Pile on your summer holiday reads and sunny accessories to create a flexible display that’s quick to refresh. Fill a coloured glass jar with blooms from the garden and, on an open shelving unit, you’ll be able to see it from anywhere in the room.

Sully modular floor cushion in Oatmeal cotton slub, £199; Sully floor cushion in Oatmeal cotton slub, £149, both MADE.com

Scents of summer Complete your new season scheme by switching up your room fragrances. Taylor Perlis, Fragrance Application Evaluator at Yankee Candle, talks us through her favourite scents for summer...

‘Fragrance has the power to uplift your mood, bring a sense of comfort, and even transport you somewhere else. Scent can also change the vibe of your living space and provide a muchneeded refresh each season.

If you want your home to have that just-cleaned feeling, look to sparkling, bright fragrances filled with grapefruit, lemon and other zesty citrus fruits.

To make your space feel fresh, but still cosy, try a textural blend that is reminiscent of clean linen or your favourite soft blanket. For an extra boost of comfort, look for vanilla, musk and amber notes. Over the past year, our homes have become our safe havens, so having a calm and peaceful abode is a must.

Revamp your space by bringing in the scent of the outdoors. Look for a fragrance that is inspired by nature and captures the essence of a walk in the woods, flowers in bloom or a crisp herb garden.

Overall, the most important thing to remember, is to select fragrances that make you feel happy and will help you reset.’

Original jar candles in (from top to bottom) Tropical Starfruit, Clean Cotton, Lemon & Lavender, £24.99 each, Yankee Candle

SOCKER greenhouse, £12, IKEA

Make more room to lounge with versatile floor cushions. These cushions will help you create a super laid-back space; simply stack and arrange them to create the look you want and rearrange them when guests can come around. You can even pull them out into the garden for al fresco lounging in the sunshine on dry days.

June 2021 79

Dial up our

outdoor style Make the most of your outside space this summer with stylish furniture and accessories perfect for lounging, dining and, dare we say it, entertaining! hether you’re looking for a boho hammock, classic bistro table or a multipurpose dining set, we’ve got you covered – no matter what the British weather throws at you! From soft furnishings and garden accessories to statement furniture, here’s our pick of the best new summer garden buys. All you’ll need to do is mix the cocktails and get the barbie on!

we

love

Seychelle garden parasol in Sea Green, £75, Ella James

Come rain or shine

This bright parasol will keep the summer glare off your face while also repelling water from any spontaneous downpours!

Pair it with bright coral cushions for a hot, tropical vibe.

For a reliable budget buy, head over to B&Q. They’ve released a new range of sun loungers, folding chairs and parasols in a range of sweet, summery shades. This sun lounger is lightweight and foldable, and has three adjustable positions.

Curacao folding beach sun lounger, £31; Curaco round beach parasol, £20, both B&Q

Midsummer Morning waterproof tablecloth, £49.99, Celina Digby

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Keep food and drink stains at bay with this pretty waterproof tablecloth.

The wipe-clean finish makes it ideal for outdoor dining, but it could work just as well in a kitchen or conservatory too.

Style advice Savannah White corner bench set, £1,399; Savannah White coffee table with ice bucket and cushion, £399, both Danetti

Great investment

This multifunctional garden lounge set is a day bed, sun lounger and bench all in one.

The additional coffee table doubles up as an ice bucket and an extra seat if needed – super handy for evening drinks or garden parties.

The cushions also have a showerproof and anti-UV coating to protect them from both rain and shine.

Suitable for both indoor and out, this hanging chair will let you hide away in your own cosy nook. With a sturdy metal frame and on-trend wicker structure, this comfy seat makes a style statement too.

Nestle it within potted plants or under a tree for extra seclusion.

Wicker hanging chair, £249.99, HomeSense

Statement piece

Ikat striped outdoor cushion in Spice, £12.99, Dobbies

One of 2021’s biggest garden trends is outdoor rugs and we’re excited to see famed designer, Orla Kiely, release her own line of them. With her eponymous 60s-inspired style, these rugs are soft underfoot and perfect for a chilled garden picnic.

They’ve been designed with indoor use in mind too.

Spruce up an existing lounge chair or bench with a chic cushion or two.

Bring some Mediterranean vibes to your back garden with this bold red armchair, which comes as a set of two.

Rope and rattan-look furniture is everywhere this summer, but this colourful number stands out thanks to the painted finish.

Orla Kiely Linear Stem indoor/outdoor rug in Jade Green, £199, The Rug Seller

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Feature Katie Dutton

Basket rope garden lounging armchair in Terracotta, £570 for two; Arles Mustard check cushion, £12; St. Lucia garden round side table in Plaster, £59, all John Lewis & Partners

Sitting soft

Camber weather-proof rattan-style round six-seater dining set, £1,999, Furniture Village

Great investment

Wining and dining

Signature weave Savannah corner sofa set with additional square sofa section and water resistant cushions, £889, Gardenman

This rattan-style dining set is stylish, durable, easy to move around your patio or garden and weather-proof too. It also comes with soft cushioned seating, to make your garden dinner parties the relaxing experience they should be.

For a laid-back dining experience, this hand-woven PE rattan dining set is ideal, with comfy cushions and a multipurpose cube, which can be used as a table or footstool.

A fire pit will keep your garden party going even after the sun sets. This one will keep you and guests nice and warm, as well as doubling up as a BBQ. Plain Jane fire pit, comes with removable swing arm BBQ rack, from £233 for 50cm, Firepits UK

These nifty nesting coffee tables are great for those with a dinky outdoor space. They’re made from plastic with a metal finish so are super easy to clean too.

Perfect

for small spaces

Novogratz poolside Barbie bar cart, £149, Lookagain

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Whether it’s time for tea or Pimms o’clock, serve up drinks in style with this easily transportable trolley

Ipanema coffee tables in Yellow, £100 for two, Habitat

Style advice

Stretch out Reelak double swing seat, £180, La Redoute

we

love

This hammock was handmade in India from 100 per cent eco-friendly cotton yarn – ideal for lazing in with a summer read.

We love this modern take on a traditional swing seat. Cosy it up with a colourful throw.

Crosille hammock, £95, Homebody Decor

Add a pop of millennial pink to your garden with this chic metal bench.

Featuring a traditional peacock style frame, it will draw your eye, and look particularly fetching in front of a dark wall or among green foliage.

Persian-style reversible outdoor garden rug, £38, Rockett St George

An outdoor rug can help break up your garden space and will bring indoor glam outdoors. This waterproof Persian-style rug would be great for a dinner party, and also has a reversible geometric design if you fancy a change of style.

Metal garden bench in Pretty Pink, £195, Rockett St George

Fold away For an intimate garden dining experience, try a bistro set. The foldable design makes them a versatile choice for smaller gardens and balconies. The green fab in a period or cottage garden too.

Bring the terrazzo trend outdoors with this folding deckchair from Habitat. It folds up easily for a day trip to the beach too.

Deckchair, £38, Habitat

Great value Conjure up memories of seaside holidays with this folding stool, which features a retro 99 Flake ice-cream print.

It’s comfy and sturdy, made from sustainable wood and can be easily folded up and transported.

Extra large deckchair in Cherry, £195, Denys & Fielding

For comfort and convenience, this large folding deckchair is just the ticket. It would liven up a patio or balcony garden and has four reclining positions. You can choose from five cheerful prints, but we think this Cherry print would really stand out in a summer garden.

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WIN!

GARDEN TOOLS FROM EXPERTS FISKARS 7

LUCKY WINNERS

WIN A TELESCOPIC TREE PRUNER AND GARDENING FORK! Ergonomic garden fork, £34.99

PowerGear X Telescopic tree pruner, £119.99

Fiskars is helping to get your outdoor space in order this summer by giving away a bundle perfect for gardeners – and exclusively to HomeStyle readers! There are seven state-of-the-art packages worth over £150 each on offer, and each bundle consists of a PowerGear X Telescopic tree pruner and an Ergonomic garden fork.

Fiskars’PowerGear X Telescopic tree pruner has been designed with the user in mind, offering a huge cutting reach of six metres. The tree pruner has a 230 degree adjustable cutting angle for maximum versatility while the extendable tool makes it easy to trim overhanging tree branches without needing a ladder.

The Fiskars Ergonomic garden fork is strong enough to break down soil, as well as moving plants to their new plots. It has specially designed features to help make tasks easier and reduce strain on the back, hands and wrists. The Y-shaped handle also ensures a comfortable and firm grip, while the teardrop-shaped steel shaft has a plastic coating to protect the tool against the elements.

Achieve 100% happiness in your garden with Fiskars tools!

TO ENTER It’s so easy!

Head to yourhomestyle.uk, click on the ‘WIN’ tab, find the prize draw you want to enter and fill in your details.

Closing date 27th July 2021.

For more information and to see their whole range, visit fiskars.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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Competition closes on 27th July 2021 at 23.59pm and you must be 18 or over to enter.

This prize draw is open to residents of the UK and Channel Islands only. Find full terms and conditions under the desired prize draw at yourhomestyle.uk/win

Three tier storage trolley in lilac, £30, Hobbycraft

In the pink Eaton House Studio in Essex is lovingly known as‘The Pink House’for its absolute dedication to the colour. Their new range of eco-friendly paints means you can create a‘pink house’of your own. We love the Magic paint formula, £5 for a 60ml tester, which can be used on nearly any surface, from fabric to uPVC, without the need for priming. eatonhousestudio.com

KEEP ON ROLLING

PAPER PLANS

Plan your makes in a scrapbook that’s as pretty as the things you’ll create. The Personalised Scrapbook Kit gift set, £39.95, includes a scrapbook that comes personalised with luxe gold lettering, as well as a gold pen, coloured paper, washi tape and an all-important glue stick. marthabrook.com

A rollable storage trolley turns any spot into a crafting space.

Just fill it with your crucial crafty items and roll it along to your favourite place – inside or out!

Available in nine different colours, the deep, flat shelves provide plenty of convenient storage for projects of all sizes and you can save the top layer for transporting snacks and cups of tea! hobbycraft.co.uk

Top the tables Hot, dry summer days are the perfect time to work on big upcycling projects, like renewing furniture.

Update your tables with stylish new tiled tops with these on-trend Alexa Hex tiles, £1.64 each. They are made from sturdy porcelain and come in four chalky colours that you can mix and match. tilegiant.co.uk

UPCYCLING NEWS Stay in the know with the latest revamping products and ideas

Swedish wallpaper manufacturer Boråstapeter’s latest collection, Cottage Garden, brings the classic English country garden indoors this summer. These cosy and romantic prints have been inspired by the work of Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf, with a touch of Scandi style.

The soft, warm colours make the intricate floral patterns feel calming and easy to live with. Use these new prints sparingly behind shelves or in alcoves to create a timeless feel that you’ll love to relax in. There are 35 coordinating designs to choose from. Pick up samples for €1 each and find your nearest stockist at borastapeter.com

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Helen’s Flower wallpaper, from £39.60, Boråstapeter

Marion’s Mural wallpaper, from £39.60, Boråstapeter

Independent ceramics retailer Keeeps has worked with Common Ground Collective, an affordable studio and arts charity, to create a comprehensive Home Pottery kit, £39.50, for crafting with clay at home. All profits go towards Common Ground’s therapeutic workshops for those struggling with their mental health. Each kit contains air-drying clay, tools, a notebook and pencil, an instruction manual plus a video tutorial sent via email. Not only will you be making yourself feel good through crafting, you’ll be helping to share those uplifting benefits with others too. Available from keeeps.co.uk June 2021 85

Feature Hannah Tribe

Garden of delights

DECORATIVE GARDEN SIGN

Turn scraps of wood into a fun decoration to add an extra splash of colour to your veg plot or flower borders

Top tip When drilling the holes in your sign, place an unwanted piece of wood beneath the wood you’re drilling to prevent it from splintering at the back.

Feature, project and step photos Anna-Lisa De’Ath Main photo Sussie Bell

Style idea This simple sign is easily customisable so you could create a personalised Father’s Day gift for a greenfingered dad!

Upcycling challenge Add some cheer to your garden with this easy-to-make hanging decoration. The wooden slats from old pallets are perfect for this project and you only need a small amount of paint, so it’s a real stash buster.

YOU WILL NEED Scrap wood  Saw  Tape measure Sanding block  Royal Exterior Wood Finish in Pond Green, Somerset Blue and French Lilac, £4 per 125ml, all Protek  Paintbrush  6B and HB pencils  Paper  Masking tape Uniball Posca marker pen in Black, £3.20, Hobbycraft  Drill and 12mm wood bit  2m cotton rope  Scissors





1

Saw the wood into three lengths, each measuring 45 x 10cm. Smooth the surface using a sanding block. Wipe away any dust with a damp cloth.

Paint both sides of the wood with two coats of exterior wood paint, leaving it to dry thoroughly between coats.

Print your chosen phrase onto paper.

Use a 6B pencil to cover the back of the words in graphite. Roughly cut out the phrase and attach it to the wood right side up using masking tape. Use an HB pencil to

2 3

trace around the letters to transfer the graphite onto the surface of the wood.

Next, use a paint marker pen to draw round the letter outlines, then fill them in. Allow the paint to dry completely.

Use a pencil to mark the position of four holes, one at each corner of each piece of wood. Mark each hole 5cm in from the short edge and 2cm in from the long edge.

Use a drill with a 12mm bit to carefully bore through each hole. Painting the exposed wood on the inside of each hole will help to make your sign last longer in wet conditions.

Lay the three pieces of wood out on your work surface in the correct order to spell out your phrase. Working from the front on the bottom piece of wood, thread the rope in and out of the holes so the rope sits behind each piece of wood. When you reach the top of the three pieces of wood, allow enough slack in the rope for hanging before continuing to thread the rope down the other side of the sign.

Tie a tight knot at each end of the rope and cut away any excess, leaving a tail of at least 2cm. Carefully unravel the rope twists at each tail to give a tassel effect. To create a fluffier tassel, tease out the excess string with a hair comb or brush.

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SHOP THE LOOK Update your garden with these buys Ergo deadheader with finger loop, £11, National Trust Shop

Hawkesbury border spade in ash and stainless steel, £38, Garden Trading

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Flora and Fauna gardener’s gloves, £14.95, Annabel James

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EASY LIVING All the latest products to make home life less complicated

ESSENTIAL SCENTS

Balcone electric BBQ, £349, Morsø

Wave goodbye to harmful air freshener sprays and welcome a new non-toxic range of fragrance oils to your home. Essential Drops use natural, vegan and cruelty-free essential oils to produce luxurious scents that are also effective in neutralising any unpleasant smells around the home. You can dispense the drops into your toilet bowl after flushing to neutralise unwanted odours. They can also be used to revitalise an old scented candle, add to an oil burner, intensify a reed diffuser, or even to a smelly pair of shoes that need a refresh! They come in three scents, refreshing Grapefruit and Kumquat, exotic Pomegranate and Lychee and decadent Ginger and Black Pepper. Priced at £18 each from essentialoildrops.co.uk

Balcony barbie

Zest for life

Cult grater brand Microplane has released a new limited-edition line of their popular zesters, featuring bright new colours and playful designs.

A staple in many prestigious chefs’ kitchens, the Microplane Premium Classic zester uses an innovative manufacturing process (previously only seen in woodworking tools) to create ultra-sharp cutting edges. The blades won’t tear at food like standard zesters and graters; instead they will gently slide across food to provide perfect results with minimal effort. As well as citrus fruits, the zester can be used on hard cheeses, chocolate, ginger and garlic. We particularly love the leopard-print design and think Nigella would approve! The limitededition zesters cost £19.95 each from hartsofstur.com Premium Classic zesters, £19.95 each, Microplane

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KITCHEN SINK REALISM

Lost Your Bottle dish soap, £7.95, Non Plastic Beach

Many of us have ditched single-use plastic water bottles but how many of us have ditched plastic washing-up liquid bottles?! Eco brand Non Plastic Beach has switched up the game by creating Lost Your Bottle, a completely plastic-free dish soap. Handmade from vegan and palm oil-free soap, this modest bar is environmentally friendly and, importantly when it comes to dishes, tough on grease! To use, simply rub a wet sponge or dish brush on the bar until it lathers up, then wash your dishes as normal. It should last you months if you store it in a well-drained soap rack. As the brand says, this is ‘washing-up that won’t end up washing up on the beach!’ Priced at £7.95 from marvelsfromtheworld.co.uk

Feature Katie Dutton

Bathroom aromatics oils, £18 each, Essential Drops

You no longer need a big garden to enjoy cooking al fresco! This nifty, compact barbecue from Danish brand Morsø has been specially designed for multi-storey flats with balconies, or those with limited outdoor space. Using electric power for extra safety, the Balcone barbecue is made from aluminium with a cast-iron grilling grid and has a classic sleek Scandi design. It can be easily attached to a balcony railing with a separate secure mounting set, and protected from the elements when not in use with a specially fitted cover.

The barbecue is an investment at £349 (mounting set, £59 and cover, £39) but with a 5 year warranty on many of its parts it’s built to last. From morsoe.com

Expert advice

Make your home

more eco-friendly

We all want to do our bit to help combat climate change, so check out these ideas for steps you can take at home to make a difference Charleston chalk paint in Rodmell, Tilton and Firle, all £21.95 per 1L, Annie Sloan

Choose eco-friendly paints Adding colour to your walls doesn’t mean adding to the planet’s problems. Nowadays there is a wide range of eco-friendly paints on the market to help you decorate with a clean conscience, from milk paint to chalk paint, mineral paint to clay paint.

But what makes a paint eco-friendly? As a rule, eco-paint contains sustainable, non-toxic ingredients and/or is manufactured in ways that are kinder to the environment. Eco-paints have few volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in them, which are the bad fumes that come out of paint when it’s used. If you’re looking for a good eco-paint, always check the label. Some paints contain seemingly great things like natural oils, but you might then need chemicals like white spirit, rather than water, to clean your paintbrushes. The most sustainable option is to reduce the amount of times you repaint your walls, so keep in mind quality, durability and longevity too.

Mineral paint in Thrift, £21.95 per 500ml, Cornish Milk Mineral Paint

Upcycle old furniture Upcycling is a sustainable and fun way to kickstart an eco-friendly lifestyle. It breathes new life into old furniture that would otherwise end up in landfill and is a costeffective and crafty way to update your home décor.

Look for specialist furniture paints, such as Annie Sloan’s chalk paint, which don’t need a primer and are ecofriendly. Check out our monthly Upcycling Challenge feature (on page 86 in this issue) for ideas and inspiration for your next project.

Crocky Road Claypaint, £47 per 2.5L, Earthborn Paints

Flat matt paint in Maverick by Frank Newbold, £40 per 2.5L, COAT paints

Chalk Paint in English Yellow, £21.95 per 1L, Annie Sloan June 2021 89

Feature Anna-Lisa De’Ath

W

ith climate change and its effects hitting the headlines almost daily, more and more of us are inspired to make changes to the way we live to reduce our carbon footprint. We can all take steps to reduce our impact on the planet, but it can be hard to know where to start.

Here are some effective ideas on how to make your home more environmentally friendly, from simple eco swaps to longerterm investments around the home.

Invest in smart home technology

Smart thermostat starter kit, £165, Tado

Switch up your cleaning products Whether it’s for wiping down the worktops or scrubbing the bathroom suite, we all have a cupboard full of cleaning products for use around the home. However, a number of traditional household name products include chemicals that have the potential to negatively impact the environment and harm our wildlife.

Ingredients like titanium dioxide and optical brighteners can cause pollution in watercourses, with others like benzisothiazolinone and petroleum-derived additives being linked to skin irritation. Keep an eye out for these ingredients and try products that use plantbased and naturally derived ingredients instead. Green cleaning company Bio-D’s range of products are both environmentally friendly and vegan, a great option for lessening your impact on the environment.

Swallow and Dandelion eco dishcloths, £6.95 for a pack of two, Homefront Interiors

Ditch the tumble dryer Did you know that tumble dryers emit over 400kg of CO2 a year? So make the most of the warmer weather by ditching the tumble dryer and hanging clothes and bedding outside on a washing line instead. Your washing will smell much fresher, and it will reduce the risk of snags and shrinking that often result from using a tumble dryer.

If the weather is wet, switch to an indoor drying rack instead. If you need to use a tumble dryer, you can reduce the amount of energy it uses by removing excess water, untangling clothes, and not always drying a full load.

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All purpose sanitiser spray, £2.85 for 500ml, Bio-D

Sweet Orange eco-friendly washing-up liquid, £3.50 for 500ml, KINN Lavender fabric conditioner refill, £3.99 per 1L, Bower Collective

Over a third of people think smart home technology will help them be more energy efficient, but many of us haven’t yet taken the plunge to experience the benefits. Technology, such as smart thermostats and hybrid heat pumps, use less oil and gas and make it easier to track and reduce how much energy you use.

Although they can seem like a big outlay up front, they quickly pay for themselves as your bills get cheaper. It’s reported that around 50 per cent of our annual energy costs are spent on heating the home and providing hot water. By adding thermostatic valves to your radiators and room thermostats you can save up to £75 a year. If you already have them, just turning the thermostats down 1 degree can save you up to £60 a year!

A smart thermostat’s main purpose is to help you control and monitor your energy use, so you want it to be user-friendly, easy to install, and genuinely useful in helping you to keep on top of your energy consumption – hopefully saving you some money in the process. For example, the Nest thermostat has features such as Open Therm Technology; this is an advanced algorithm that can modulate your boiler’s heating temperature, allowing your boiler to use less gas to reach the temperature set by the thermostat.

Another popular smart thermostat model is Tado, which can be used in conjunction with their smart thermostatic radiator valves, enabling you to limit energy waste even more.

They do this by allowing you to control the heating of your boiler, as well as the radiators in each room, letting you adjust the heating output in every room that has one installed.

This allows you to take advantage of the concept of zonal heating – so instead of heating your entire house, only heat the zones or rooms you are using. This is an effective way to reduce your energy use and make some substantial savings, while still achieving your desired temperature in the rooms you’re using.

Free-standing outdoor rotary airer, £49.99, Lakeland

Expert advice Emma Bridgewater x Beeswax Wraps Artichoke beeswax wrap from the Vegetable Garden Collection, from £10 for two, Emma Bridgewater

Cut food waste A whopping 14 per cent of all food purchased in the UK ends up in the bin. What we now know is that food taken to landfill releases huge amounts of greenhouse gasses as it isn’t exposed to enough oxygen to naturally biodegrade, so instead it decays. A smart way to cut food waste is by planning your meals for the week ahead and buying only what you need. Try not to be tempted by special offers or reduced items that aren’t on your list, as these are the type of items that often go to waste. If you do have unused fresh food left over, freeze what you don’t need or wrap it up using eco-friendly beeswax wraps and pop it in the fridge to be eaten the next day.

Pioneer four-seater sofa in Plain Sage/ Green Geometric Mix, £1,549, Sofology

Choose recycled and recyclable materials With advances in technology, homeware manufacturers are increasingly using materials that have been, or can be, recycled in their products. From metal to wood, glass to textiles, there’s a plethora of choice out there for eco-conscious shoppers.

One of the most exciting innovations is the use of plastic bottles that are recycled into yarn, which is then transformed into soft and snuggly rugs, sofas and furnishing fabrics.

Sofology has recently launched a range of sofas that has been crafted to balance sustainability with style, comfort and longevity.

Featuring zero foam, 100 per cent recyclable springs, sustainably sourced timber and soft, beautiful fabric made from recycled yarns, the Pioneer collection considers each element in design and craftsmanship for a stylish, environmentally-friendly choice.

The seat cushions are made from Quallofil Blue, an innovative fibre manufactured using recycled plastic materials – also known as Social Plastic – sourced from Plastic Bank. This social enterprise is recognised as one of the leading solutions to stop ocean plastic while providing those living in poverty with access to stable income, education and resources.

A complete heat pump heating solution including radiators and monitors costs around £5,200 for a typical Igloo installation

Replace your boiler with low carbon heating The use of oil and gas heating systems and hot water in our homes accounts for around 15 per cent of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, but there are ways to reduce your carbon footprint when it comes to heating your home. From air source heat pumps to water source heat pumps, there are various different low carbon heating avenues to explore to help your household contribute to tackling the climate crisis.

If your boiler is over 10 years old, you could save up to 50 per cent on your heating costs by switching to a renewable heating source, such as air source heat pumps. Heat pumps are essentially an alternative to boilers and run off electricity (as opposed to gas) to heat your home and water. It’s also worth noting that they don’t produce carbon emissions while operating, unlike gas boilers.

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Upgrade your doors

Photo courtesy of MyGlazing.com

Opt for energy-efficient glazing If you want to increase your home’s energy efficiency, improve your lifestyle, save on energy bills and help the environment, installing energy-efficient windows is a must.

Up to 24 per cent of heat energy can escape from old, draughty glazing. If your double or single glazing is more than 20 years old in parts of your home, it is also unlikely to be as energy-efficient as modern glazing. In the last 20 years advanced technological innovation has seen energy-efficient glazing significantly develop, from specialist glass types through to improved double and triple glazed windows and doors, which can save over 50 per cent in fuel bills. For more information on energy efficient glazing and other home improvements to reduce your environmental footprint, visit MyGlazing.com.

Compost your leftovers

Insulate your home

Don’t let leftover food go to waste – compost it instead. In order to rot down well and produce top quality compost, your heap needs a mix of woody, carbon-rich ‘brown’waste (such as prunings, wood chippings, paper or cardboard), and softer, nitrogen-rich‘green’materials (including leafy plant matter, grass clippings and kitchen vegetable waste). Woody material decomposes faster if shredded, as will tougher, evergreen leaves. Small quantities of autumn leaves can be mixed into heaps, but larger quantities should be rotted down over two years to make leafmould.

There are lots of compost bins on the market, or you could make your own using old pallets. If your garden is small and there’s nowhere to hide your compost bin away, then choose a design that’s easy on the eye and made from natural materials so it blends seamlessly with your flowerbeds.

If you don’t have room for a compost bin, you can still use your council’s kerbside food waste recycling scheme to ensure your leftovers don’t go to waste.

Just by insulating your loft to industry standards you can save up to £200 a year on your energy bills. If you’re planning to extend your home by adding another bedroom in the loft, roof insulation is a must – and is another popular route to make your home more energy-efficient. Insulation essentially reduces the exchange of heat (both gain and loss) through the surfaces of your property.

From cavity wall insulation to loft insulation or underfloor insulation, there is a range of options available to ensure your home is cool in the summer and warm in the winter, reducing your carbon footprint and of course your energy bills all year round.

Bo Touch recycling bin, £160, Brabantia

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Upgrading your older doors for newer, more energy-efficient alternatives can really reduce your energy consumption and bills.

When it comes to exterior doors, there are various different factors that could be impacting their environmental friendliness.

For instance, do your doors have modern glazing in them? Are they single, double or triple glazed? What materials are the doors made from: wood, uPVC, steel, aluminium or composite? Are your door frames sealed correctly and draught-free?

All of these factors have a significant effect on your household’s carbon footprint.

Homes can lose almost a quarter of their heat through inefficient windows and external doors, so installing high thermal performance doors can be a great way to reduce heat loss and keep the warmth in your home. By installing energy-efficient doors you can also improve your household’s environmental footprint and reduce your heating bills.

Door painted in Weathershield Quick Dry exterior satin paint in Lavender Quartz, £27.95 per 1L, Dulux

Make recycling a doddle Right now 55 per cent of the UK’s plastic waste still ends up in landfill sites, where it can take hundreds, or even thousands, of years to degrade. Most local councils offer household recycling schemes with the weekly rubbish collection for items such as plastic, glass, metal, paper and cardboard. To make sorting your waste a doddle, opt for a kitchen bin with separate compartments for recyclables.

For items such as electrical goods or furniture, take a trip to the local recycling centre where you can dispose of larger items without them ending up in landfill.

If you have any unneeded household items that are too good to throw away, try selling them or donate them to your local charity shop to help a good cause.

Expert advice

Consider a secondhand kitchen

Ex-display Schüller kitchen with worktops, appliances and bar stools (not shown), £10,000, The Used Kitchen Company

Choose natural materials The current trends for houseplants and boho style have seen a new vogue for homewares made from natural materials, which is good for the planet and good for our mental health, as the calming elements of nature are a welcome respite to the senses in the chaotic world we live in at the moment. Decorating with natural materials, such as FSC-certified wood and linen, establishes a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere when you combine it with natural lighting, greenery and a calming colour palette. Choose breathable and sustainable materials, such as organic cotton bedding or furniture made from bamboo or mango wood, which give your home a cosy yet practical feel.

Flex stainless steel all-in-one tap with flexible pull-out hose, from £1,300, Quooker

Arkin armchair in Light Grey, £229; Akina large sideboard, £399; Cancun side table, £65; Pebble wool rug, from £49; Cartmel cushions, £14 each, all Dunelm

If you’re thinking of replacing your kitchen, then think about buying a used or ex-display one instead of buying new. The Used Kitchen Company has hundreds of used and ex-display kitchens for sale at any one time. Its ever-expanding collection includes kitchens from designer brands such as Bulthaup and Poggenpohl. Many of its used kitchens are only a couple of years old and most of its ex-display kitchens have never been used at all, so feel like brand-new.

These kitchens sell for less than half of their retail value and can often be added to and reconfigured to fit your kitchen space. The Used Kitchen Company (UKC) has built a reputation for the level of care it takes in recycling kitchens and for ensuring that the process of buying a kitchen is‘no more hassle than buying a phone’. Its team of experts works closely with a number of specialist fitters to ensure that everyone receives a premier service, from start to finish.

Those embarking on kitchen renovations have also benefited from selling their old kitchens and getting some cash to put towards their home improvements. The UKC has also successfully launched‘Something else for sale’on its website, where you can find non-kitchen high-end and ex-display items including bedrooms, bathrooms, dining and living room furniture as well as lighting.

Bembridge basket with lid, from £45, Garden Trading Mango wood snack bowls, £18 for a set of three, Next

Cut out the kettle We love a cuppa, but did you know that the average kettle uses 100W of energy per use and wastes energy by heating extra water that remains in the pot only to cool down and be heated again next time you make a brew? A hot water tap, such as the ones made by Quooker, can heat just the right amount of water on demand, maximising efficiency and maintaining only 10W of energy per use. The boiling water stays warm in the tank due to its vacuum technology, which means you’ll lose less energy re-heating it.

Add the CUBE accessory to the Quooker tap and you can get chilled and sparkling water alongside hot, cold and boiling filtered water. The average household uses 360 single-use plastic bottles per year so this will save a huge amount of plastic consumption. Though the initial price of a tap seems steep, it’s been found they become cost efficient after a few years with the energy bill savings.

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gorgeous

Green

Discover our pick of the best, ethically sourced and eco-friendly homewares that look stylish while caring for the environment

S

ustainability begins at home, and how you choose to furnish your space is an easy way to make life that little bit greener. Select homewares that are made from sustainable, recycled or recyclable materials. If you’re buying new wooden furniture make sure it’s FSCcertified, to ensure it comes from forests that are sustainably managed. Look for items that are sourced and made ethically and ensure those involved in producing them are paid and treated fairly – the Fairtrade logo makes them easy to spot.

Large circular wooden chopping board, £38, Funky Chunky Furniture

Feature Anna-Lisa De’Ath

Chop chop

Roll up, roll up A contemporary take on a classic herringbone design, this recycled wool picnic blanket is woven from 70 per cent wool and 30 per cent fibres saved from landfill. Finished with a waterproof backing, yet machine washable, it’s ideal for keeping in the car for spontaneous adventures and outdoor picnics.

Recycled wool waterproof picnic blanket in Stewart Muted Blue tartan, £60; leather strap, £25, both Tartan Blanket Co

That’s handy

With hand hygiene more important than ever, this 100 per cent vegan hand wash is sulphate- and dye-free and scented with kumquats and bourbon vanilla. The recycled plastic bottle comes with The Gift Label a range of colourful labels ‘Kitchen Is For Dancing’ hand wash, featuring quirky phrases, making them a fun, but £12.50 for 500ml, practical, gift to you or a friend.

Beyond Living

Hand carved from sustainable mango wood with a pretty etched edge, this chopping board is functional enough for food prep in the kitchen and beautiful enough to serve food on at the dinner table. Grown for their fruit and harvested over a number of years, the mango trees are then cut down and used to make these chopping boards. This process enables the farmers to plant more trees to harvest for fruit, as well as providing them with a supplementary income.

Made in India from recycled wood, this compact vintage-style side table with iron legs will look lovely next to your bed or sofa.

It folds flat when not in use, making it ideal for small spaces or for carrying outside for lunch alfresco.

Get your juice on with this lovely, generously sized duo tone juicer, perfect for serving up your fresh juice of the day. When not juicing, the base is great for mixing eggs or sauces. It’s made from FSC-certified bamboo, which is a fast-growing sustainable crop, and it’s also free of BPA, PVC and phthalate.

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Crafted from 100 per cent recycled glass in Spain, this curvaceous vase would look just as stunning with or without flowers.

A bit on the side

Latest squeeze Bamboo citrus juicer, £11.99, Curated Pieces

Glass act

Wells wide bubble vase, £45, Heavenly Homes and Gardens

Sofa so good Recycled wood folding side table, £85, Idyll Home

This chaise longue is ideal for bringing a touch of elegance and class to any home. The velvet fabric used to upholster this luxelooking sofa is crafted from 100 per cent recycled materials made from 51 recycled plastic bottles, so it’s kinder to the environment too.

Matilda eco velvet chaise longue in Rose, £199, Dunelm

Eco-friendly style

Work it Made from sustainable mango hardwood, this cool retro desk is ideal for home working. The mismatched knobs create an eclectic vintage feel making this a quirky addition to your home office.

Ocean Whale pot stand, £10.99, T&G Woodware

What a corker Cork is a naturally sustainable self-renewing product and has great insulating properties, making it the perfect material for this pot stand. It’s part of T&G’s Ocean Collection, designed to raise awareness of the problems of plastic waste in our oceans. T&G make a donation to Plastic Oceans UK from the sale of each product in the collection.

Milligan retro multi drawer desk, £449, Atkin and Thyme

Cushion cover, £20, So Just Shop

Cushy number This simple but stylish cushion cover will bring a modern boho touch to your décor. The geometric lines are hand embroidered using recycled sari thread on a natural cotton background by women who are part of the BaSE initiative.

Based in Khulna in south west Bangladesh, BaSE is a non-profit, Fairtrade organisation that co-ordinates and promotes handicraft products created by vulnerable women.

Floor filler Made from recycled plastic bottles, Fab Habitat have woven re-purposed plastic strips and straws to create this gorgeous reversible outdoor rug. And, as it’s made from plastic, this rug is mould, mildew and UV-resistant and can be left outside all year round without worry.

Fab Hab Palm Springs outdoor rug in Teal, £59.95, Cuckooland

Chin chin!

This authentic European glassware is made from 100 per cent recycled materials, great for adding a touch of rustic charm to the table.

Recycled glass drinks set – carafe with six glasses, £37.50, The Recycled Glassware Company

Tassel-tastic Sari, not sorry This colourful basket is made from recycled saris and each one is totally unique. Pop a houseplant in one or use as a stash for your blankets by the sofa.

They’re made by Bangladeshi Fairtrade producer group Prokritee, whose mission is to help disadvantaged women in rural Bangladesh by creating productive employment opportunities.

Recycled sari basket, from £9.99, Oxfam

Crafted by skilled Indian artisans, this cute tassel basket, made from 100 per cent jute, will add a playful pop of colour to any room. Use it to hide away clutter or give toys a new home. Each basket also comes wrapped in fully recyclable, zero-waste packaging.

Carnival jute tassel basket, £39, Loft & Daughter

Snuggle up Sitting pretty Upholstered in a fabric made from recycled plastic bottles, this armchair’s soft finish is also free from manmade chemicals and foam. The timber frame and wooden feet have been sustainably sourced and have been left untreated with chemical lacquers for an elegant raw finish. Even the seat cushions are eco – they’ve been developed in collaboration with Plastic Bank Big Blue chair in Tidal Ocean, and are made from plastic waste that’s been £849, Barker & Stonehouse saved from floating into oceans across the world.

The Trellis throw is so soft that you won’t believe it’s made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. Suitable for indoors or outdoors, it’s mould, mildew and moth-resistant, which means it stays fresher for longer. Easy to wash and quick to dry, this blanket would look equally good on Trellis throw in Green, your sofa or your £45, Pepper Sq. sun lounger.

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Feature Lisa Hibberd

HOW TO FIND A TRUSTED TRADESPERSON We all love a bit of DIY, but there are some home improvement projects that require the skills of a professional. Follow our guide to learn how to find the right tradesperson at the right price

WHERE DO I START? Your local council’s website is a good place to begin when looking for a tradesperson.

Search for ‘approved traders’ or ‘trading standards’. There should be a list of traders, or a link to another site where you can find trusted companies in your area.

It’s also worth looking at websites that recommend tradespeople, such as TrustMark, Checkatrade and Which?

Trusted Trader. Another great way to start your search is by asking friends, family and neighbours for their recommendations.

Find out about their experiences, and view the finished project if you can.

CAN I TRUST RATINGS AND REVIEWS? There are plenty of websites that have a review system, but how can you tell if these are genuine? Each one will have its own rules, so it’s always best to check each website’s policy. As an example, Checkatrade checks all of its members’ ID, credit status, public liability insurance, qualifications and references. To help ensure that reviews are genuine, Checkatrade has a dedicated team that use various ways to authenticate them. This includes phone calls to a percentage of customers who have left reviews, tracking of IP addresses as well as other methods. Falsifying feedback is strictly forbidden and would result in a tradesperson having their membership to the site suspended or terminated.

IS MY QUOTE FAIR? It’s always best to obtain a few different quotes – you may be surprised at the variation in prices. Comparing these quotes will help you to decide if you’re getting a fair price. Don’t rely on a verbal quote – get it in writing, and make sure that each quote is for exactly the same work. You should also ask for a breakdown, with materials, labour and any additional costs all detailed

Expert advice

Cut oeupt & ke dy han

individually so that you can see how the total has been calculated. Be cautious of a quote that seems too good to be true – it may be that the tradesperson doesn’t have the necessary skills or experience.

WHAT SHOULD A QUOTE INCLUDE? A fixed total price for the job A detailed breakdown of labour and material costs If the price includes VAT How long the price is valid for

WHERE CAN I FIND ADVICE ONLINE?

FINDING A CERTIFIED TRADESPERSON There are many benefits to choosing a contractor who is a member of a regulatory body – here are 10 organisations to look out for…

NICEIC The UK’s leading certification body for electricians is NICEIC – the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting. Any electrical work undertaken should always meet the requirements of BS7671. Hiring a NICEIC registered contractor ensures your electrical work is compliant and safe. Head to niceic.com.

GAS SAFE REGISTER

Check out these websites for more information: Checkatrade.com Citizensadvice.org.uk Hoa.org.uk (Home Owners Alliance) Planningportal.co.uk Priceyourjob.co.uk Tradingstandards.uk

This is the official list of gas businesses who are registered to work safely and legally on boilers, cookers, fires and all other gas appliances. By law all gas engineers must be on the Gas Safe Register. To find a Gas Safe registered engineer visit gassaferegister.co.uk/find-an-engineer.

WHAT ABOUT GUARANTEES?

CIPHE

To help give you peace of mind, some traders may issue a guarantee for their work, meaning that they will repair, replace or refund goods or services that do not meet the specifications. Guarantees are usually valid for a certain period of time, and there will be conditions, so always read the small print.

A warranty is a form of insurance policy that provides cover for the failure or breakdown of goods, usually after the trader’s guarantee has run out. You will normally have to pay for a warranty, so check all the terms and conditions carefully before you commit.

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering is the professional body for the UK plumbing and heating industry. CIPHE members are vetted before being accepted so you can be confident that you will be employing someone with the necessary skills and high standards. Find members in your area at ciphe.org.uk.

Checkatrade has a dedicated team that use various ways to check reviews are genuine DO I NEED PERMISSION OR APPROVAL? Don’t forget to check if your project requires planning permission before you go ahead with any work. Even small improvements such as replacing a window may need building regulations approval, although if you hire a contractor who is registered with a ‘competent person scheme’ and approved by the government, you shouldn’t have to apply for building regulations approval yourself.

FMB The Federation of Master Builders is the largest membership organisation in the building industry, with more than 7,000 independently inspected and professionally vetted tradespeople and companies across the UK. Visit fmb.org.uk/find-a-builder to find a trade in your area.

PAINTING AND DECORATING ASSOCIATION The PDA is the largest trade and employers’ association in the UK painting and decorating industry. PDA members are fully insured skilled and experienced professionals. Visit paintingdecorating association.co.uk for more information.

GLASS & GLAZING FEDERATION The GGF is the leading trade authority representing companies that make, supply or fit glass and glazing products in the UK. When you use a Glass & Glazing Federation member you are guaranteed to be using

a reputable company that ensures your installation is to the highest technical standards. MyGlazing.com is the GGF’s consumer advice website.

HETAS The Heating Equipment Testing and Approvals Scheme is a UK organisation working for consumer safety, efficient and environmentally responsible use of biomass and other solid fuels. Visit hetas.co.uk for a range of approved services, including registered installers, stove retailers, chimney sweeps and servicing technicians.

HETAS also runs an independent product approval scheme for stoves, boilers, biomass systems and chimney products.

NFRC The largest trade association for the roofing industry in the UK, NFRC’s members are all independently inspected upon entering membership and then again every three years after that. It also manages a Competent Person Scheme that, if replacing more than 50 per cent of the roof, saves you the time, cost and effort of having to get Building Control sign-off.

Find a member by visiting nfrc.co.uk.

RIBA The Royal Institute of British Architects is a global professional membership body whose members – RIBA Chartered Architects and Practices – not only design buildings but also oversee projects from conception to completion – on time and on budget. RIBA Chartered Architects work to a strict code of conduct and those who work for RIBA Chartered Practices meet the ultimate quality standard in the UK. Use the free Find an Architect service at architecture.com.

THE TILE ASSOCIATION TTA is the national trade association for the entire UK tiling market, including manufacturers, retailers and tile fixers. All TTA members are checked prior to taking out membership to ensure they meet the highest financial, technical and service standards so it makes sense to employ a TTA member. A list can be found at tiles.org.uk.

I enjoy nmyowgarden ALL YEAR ROUND

With plenty of room for working, exercise and chilling out, TV presenter AJ Odudu’s versatile garden room means she can spend more time outdoors than ever before

About me

I’m AJ Odudu, 33, a TV presenter @ajodudu. My home is a three-bed maisonette-style flat in south-east London.

My room...

MY PROBLEM GARDEN When I first moved here, I added artificial grass and a patio to the outside area.

It was a great start, but I wanted a reason to be in my garden all year round, not just for summer, because I really love spending time outdoors. Creating an insulated space that I could use rain or shine seemed like the perfect solution.

HOW I MADE IT WORK I’ve added insulation, electricity and wi-fi so I can use the room all year round. I then divided the room into three separate areas: a WFH space with an office chair and desk; a self-care corner where I could relax with a book or stretch out on my yoga mat and a space for outdoor entertaining where I can sit with a friend and chill out over a drink.

I’ve added personality with colourful accessories, houseplants and textured furniture pieces.

MY FAVOURITE PART I love how calming the room is, especially the cosy ‘wellness corner’ where I can relax in my rattan balloon chair. It’s my favourite piece in the room – it’s super comfy but also makes a statement.

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TOTAL

Befor e

£2,986

Garden room makeover

‘From Zoom meetings to an afternoon yoga class and after-work drinks, it’s such a versatile space’

‘I take a lot of inspiration from my wardrobe. I figure that if I use bright, strong colourful palettes that I love to wear, I won’t get bored of seeing them in my home’

Styling Nadia McCowan Hill Photos Alexander Edwards for Wayfair

A full-length mirror propped up against the wall makes the space feel bigger by reflecting the light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows

‘The garden room was a blank canvas, so it was great to add my own personality to it. I added curved furniture, lots of colours and texture plus a large rug and lighting for a warm, cosy feel. I think this room shows that high-end style on a budget is 100 per cent possible’ June 2021 99

Style advice Three simple tricks to try in your own home

BE HAPPY If you want to include a WFH space, help boost creativity by surrounding yourself with things that make you happy. AJ, who describes her style as‘bright and bold’, has combined uplifting artwork with fun prints and quirky eye-catching accessories, such as the monkey table lamp.

For wall art you can update easily, hang up magazine clippings, postcards or prints with masking tape.

Style idea For a Scandi look, leave the wood finish unpainted

PICK HARDWORKING FURNITURE When you need to make the most of your space, multi-use furniture can work wonders. With built-in shelves, AJ’s work desk has plenty of storage space, helping to keep her garden room clutter-free. Other pieces, like a bench that can also be used as a display unit or a coffee table that can be turned into a cocktail cart, will help you make the most out of small space areas.

‘I wanted a reason to be in my garden all year round, not just for summer’ SHOP ONLINE ‘I tend to make impulse decisions when I’m in an actual store but shopping online, where you can read reviews and have time to weigh up options, has been a complete gamechanger.

Online shopping has helped me create a high-end look while keeping costs down.

I invested in furniture that I can take with me when I move and added a luxe look with blankets and cushions, which is a really affordable way to make a piece individual to you.’

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Garden room makeover ‘Fitness is very important to me and I wanted to factor this into the design. It was a must-have for me to have a space where I could unwind and do post-workout stretches. I’m planning to add some more gym equipment to maximise my workout area but I also want to incorporate a little bar area for summer BBQs – it’s all about yin and yang!’

It’s not just inside the garden room that AJ has transformed. Outside, she’s set up a potting station, where she’s growing herbs, houseplants and flowers

MY EXPERIENCE Lockdown has definitely changed how I see my home. Spending so much time here over the past year, I realised I needed my space to work harder, including my garden. Doing bits like adding artificial grass and a patio area was great, but I wanted to be able to be outside whatever the weather was like, so giving my summer room a bit of love and attention seemed like a good idea.

Dividing the room into three separate zones has helped get the most out of the space available. From a morning of Zoom meetings to an afternoon yoga class and after-work drinks, it’s such a versatile space. It’s been a really cost-effective project too, as it’s maximised my outdoor area and created more space without having to fork out for an extension. I’m currently in the process of renovating my flat, so sticking to a budget and thinking outside of the box is a must.

Having friends over was at the front of my mind when I was designing this room. Being able to invite them over will be so exciting, even if we have to limit numbers. With the garden seats and bistro table set, it’s the perfect place for catching up over a few drinks. I also added a potting station, mainly for my dad as he’s a keen gardener and will be able to come round and grow plants and herbs with me. It’s one thing creating a space for yourself but when you get to share it with others it’s even better.

My shopping list Wembley balloon chair, £409.99; Sighni four-seater rattan conversation set, £819.99; Calabrese two-seater bistro set, £269.99; Crewkerne full-length mirror, £209.99; Astratto Kakemono Vibrant tapestry, £65.99; Hueytown throw, £23.99; Adley Bleize cushion, £18.99; Kiara hand-braided Tan rug, £177.99; Sterling 139cm tripod floor lamp, £88.99; Gold Marisha 32cm table lamp, £63.99; Parkmont hanging chair, £111.99; Sierra desk, £169.99; Claytor Mistic cotton Navy rug, £126.99; Diphda side table, £169.99; Eneas ergonomic chair, £194.99; Ingersoll three-panel room divider, £319.99; Triflora hanging basket, £39.99, all Wayfair Turn to p128 for stockist details

Ogien fire bowl with log store, £69.99, Studio

£12 for two Oliver Bonas For serious holiday vibes, top up these Pink Poolside tumblers with something fruity

£1 Poundland We can’t wait to pick fresh home-grown herbs from this rustic garden crate

Get the look...

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Whether you’ve got a whole garden room, like AJ, a patio or just a tiny balcony, make the most of your outside space with these summertime buys £50 Beaumonde

£18 Freemans

Even if all you’ve got is a window view, you can do a lot with the Triflora planter

Add a twinkle to your space with a string of solar lights

£149.99 Sue Ryder

Feature Catriona Burns

With enough room for a friend and some drinks and nibbles, this three-piece string set is perfect for al fresco catch-ups

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Get the look

£25 Bobby Rabbit

S tyle advice

Bring the inside out

Everyone loves a good garden game, and pétanque is a classic

Make it as homely as your indoors. Lay down a cosy rug, pile on the pillows and have blankets and throws to hand for when the sun goes in. A mix of lighting, such as fairy lights, candles and solar lanterns, will make it a more inviting space at night-time too.

The only way is up

Keep warm on cool summer nights with a cosy cotton throw

£12 George Home If you’re not a gardener, go faux with an artificial flower basket

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Soak up the sun on the Isola abstract print hammock

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Whether it’s a sunbathing strip, a siesta spot or a pop-up bar area, create different areas with room dividers, rugs, coverings – like a parasol or an awning – and patches of grass.

Wall lights are great for small spaces and this copper design will cast a stylish glow

£18 Walton & Co

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In the zone

£45 La Redoute

IN V E S T AT

If you don’t have a big surface area, take your garden vertical. Go for a living wall, pot plants on a bare fence or, if you’ve only got a window to work with, hang plants and string lights from a curtain rail.

‘Bright colours, bold prints and fun accessories will brighten your space come rain or shine’

Ipanema two-seater bistro bar set, £175, Habitat

£18.99 Bean Bag Bazaar Designed to be wipe-clean, the Brush Stripe outdoor cushion won’t look out of place indoors either

£8 B&M A copper finish adds a luxe look to this solar lantern

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My living room is now

FULL OF CHARACTER Using a pretty pastel colour scheme and adding fun touches and clever styling tricks, Beam Irwin has created a living area perfect for socialising and relaxing

About me

I’m Beam, 34, a freelance props and interior stylist and maker of floral home decorations, which I sell on Instagram @bloomsbybeam. I live with my husband, Christian, 39, an IT specialist. Our home is a 1950s three-bedroom semi-detached house in Middleton, Manchester.

I post home updates @aplacetogether.

My room...

MY PROBLEM LIVING ROOM Our living space had a good-sized open-plan layout, but it didn’t have much warmth or personality. I wanted to add lots of fun, happy colours to make the room more cheerful.

HOW I MADE IT WORK We painted the walls and shopped around for furniture that would make the layout work better. I decorated the room with bargain finds from second-hand selling sites and I filled the walls with my own artwork. It took two years for me to feel that this room was finally complete.

MY FAVOURITE PART My fireplace. It’s very photogenic and I like that I can play around with it by changing the mantel decorations or the artwork above. I love how flexible it can be.

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Befor e

‘Having a place that looks and feels restful was so valuable to us, especially during lockdown’

Living room makeover Beam began planning her living room the moment she and Christian made an offer on their home. The first big buy was the rug from Next, which was the starting point for the colour scheme. The IKEA sofa and armchair were gifts from family and the MADE.com arch lamp was found on Facebook Marketplace. Beam dressed the windows with sheer voile curtains to filter the light

Style idea

TOTAL

£2,301 June 2021 105

Feature Maxine Brady Photos Colin Poole Styling Beam Irwin

Bring summer vibes to your living room all year round with a spread of faux flowers

Style advice Three simple tricks to try in your own home

Beam wanted to bring the pinks of the living room into the dining area. She’s dressed the dining table with a handwoven table runner and placemats from her home country, the Philippines. A glass-fronted BILLY bookcase from IKEA is used to store the couple’s glassware and spare kitchen bits

CLEVER DISTRACTIONS A wall-mounted TV wasn’t top of Beam’s wish list, but it was one of her husband’s musthaves. With a few tweaks, she’s turned this space into a stylish corner. A cosy rug underneath a second-hand sideboard, originally from Swoon Editions, grounds the space while framed family prints and a table lamp add a homely feel.

Leafy houseplants, set on different-sized stools – all charity shop buys – add extra interest and cleverly distract the eye from the flat-screen TV.

STYLE UP YOUR FIREPLACE

‘When we bought this house, we loved the spacious living room that extends to the dining area and overlooks the garden’

Having never had a fireplace before, Beam was excited to make it a focal point. First, she painted the wall behind in Bon Bon by Frenchic and then painted the surround, a free find from Facebook Marketplace, white. A spare piece of skirting board was added to the top of the mantelpiece for extra display space, perfect for Beam’s styling to take centre stage.

The framed art was made by Beam using up colourful pieces of leftover wrapping paper and wallpaper.

FIND THE PERFECT FIT Before the makeover, Beam carefully considered different pieces of furniture to make the most of the space available. These B&Q floating shelves, which her father-inlaw put up, were the ideal fit for the tricky alcove space.

Among the framed family photos and treasured trinkets, Beam has decorated the shelves with gardening and flower books found in 27 West Park, a favourite antique shop in Harrogate. Book spines that didn’t match the colour scheme have been spun around, with the aged pages adding to the vintage feel.

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Living room makeover A fan of open-plan living, Beam loves that she can sit on the sofa and look out to the garden. The marble nest of tables was another Facebook Marketplace bargain find while the corner cabinet was made by Beam’s fatherin-law, designed to hide the electrical meters and wood for the log-burner

Style idea Try your hand at papercutting to create colourful artwork for your walls

MY EXPERIENCE When we bought this house, we loved the spacious living room that extends to the dining area and overlooks the garden. The walls had been painted in neutral tones of creams and greys, which I was grateful for because it was a nice blank canvas for me to work with.

Before we even picked up a paintbrush, I spent a long time planning the room, looking at furniture styles and colour schemes for at least a month. Once we decided on the look, Christian and I gave the walls a fresh coat of paint before getting started. Deciding where the TV would go was one of the major changes to the layout.

Originally, it was near the window, which didn’t work because of the sun’s glare. It looks so much better placed behind the door, and with the empty wall, it’s the perfect place for the sideboard too.

It’s the little details that have made the biggest impact for me, like changing the curtain poles to a track system and placing them higher up to make the space look bigger. Adding a fire surround, which I got for free on Facebook Marketplace, and hanging my papercut artwork above gave the room a central focal point, which has made a huge difference.

Having a place that looks and feels restful was so valuable to us, especially during lockdown. Being able to plan and do tweaks to the space has helped keep me busy during the months we could only stay at home. Now my living room feels like it reflects my personality and interests. The space is filled with my favourite pastel colours, pieces collected from my travels, as well as family photos.

Transforming this plain white box into such a joyful room has given me so much enjoyment.

My shopping list ● Walls painted in Brilliant Matt White, £22 for 10L, B&Q ● Fireplace surround painted in Bon Bon wall paint, £9.95 for 250ml, Frenchic ● Alcoves painted in Sulking Room Pink, £49.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball ● EKTORP two-seater sofa, £279; EKTORP armchair, £199; ALSEDA stool, £25 each; BILLY bookcase with glass doors, £95, all IKEA ● For a similar light fixture, try the Globe flush pendant, £79; Bow arc overreach floor lamp, £159, both MADE.com ● For a similar table lamp, try Bibi ceramic table lamp, £39; for similar blossom, try the artificial blossom flower single spray, £3, both Dunelm ● Duo Marble nesting tables, £399, theFabb.co.uk ● Malu rectangle dining table, £450; for a similar dining chair, try the So’Home Blue velvet chair, £129, both La Redoute ● For a similar rug, try the Stovall tufted Blue rug, £86.99; for a similar sideboard, try the Lutie sideboard, £236.99, both Wayfair ● For a similar dining room rug, try the Helsinki geometric rug, £69.99, Homescapes ● Cushions, £9.99, from a selection at HomeSense ● For a similar runner, try the metallic table runner, £24, Next Turn to p128 for stockist details

£129 Mustard We’re loving Mustard’s new lilac addition as an updated storage option

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Get the look...

Tassel cushions, £5 each; polka plant pot, £3; Pink succulent, £1, all Poundland

MODERN PASTELS

Bring a joyful feel to your living room décor, like Beam, with these contemporary candy-coloured pieces

£12 B&Q With pink, blue and bursts of gold, the Jaipur cushion is spot on for a modern pastel scheme

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love

£14 Urban Outfitters Sweeten up your floor with this handloom pink rug

£20 BHS

£26.99 Lights4fun

A brass base makes this pink velvet table lamp sing

With a handy timer, you can set these LED TruGlow pillar candles to turn on and off at the same time each day

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Get the look

£8 Matalan

‘Wood tones and metallic accents bring added interest to a pretty pastel scheme’

Serve up TV snacks in style on this cool Copenhagen tray

£29.99 Homescapes Wrap yourself up in some happy with the Halden chevron throw

£20 for four Nine Angels Pubs might be open but we’re still going all out for cocktails at home with these heart-shaped coasters

S tyle advice

Neutral ground

from £15

Abstract House A black frame makes these whimsical florals pop

Stylish contrast

Pair up Match pastels with a mix of prints and

£25 Next Filled with fresh flowers or not, the Globular vase makes a stylish statement

£149 Cult Furniture Make your dream table set up come true with the Wish chair

Dreamy Sea poster, from £12.95; Atelier Art No. 1 poster, from £8.95; Wave Back poster, from £8.95; Pavillon des Fleurs poster, from £9.95; Pastel Sunset poster, from £12.95; Atelier Art No. 2 Art poster, from £8.95; Flowerbed poster, from £9.95, all Desenio

£18 for two Very Whether it’s morning coffee or tea before bed, we’ll be having our cuppa from Typhoon’s pink mugs June 2021 109

Feature Catriona Burns

a metallic finish make an impact.

I can't wait

to show off MY NEW KITCHEN

By making room for double doors out to the garden, a pop-up drinks area and breakfast bar, Stephanie Mitchell has created a sociable kitchendiner that’s perfect for post-lockdown parties

About me

I’m Stephanie Mitchell, a product design teacher, and I live with my partner, James Bolter, a clinical researcher. We live in a detached 1920s three-bedroom house in Reading. I keep a record of our renovation journey on my Instagram @walkintheparquet.

My room...

MY PROBLEM KITCHEN There was only a free-standing cooker, old sink and four cupboards in the kitchen when we first moved in, and the boiler was in there too. A wall separated the space into two small rooms, and the kitchen area was covered in old wallpaper from the 60s.

HOW I MADE IT WORK I wanted to create a sociable open-plan space, so we knocked down the wall and stripped back the floor to restore the beautiful original parquet blocks. We designed the kitchen to include lots of storage and a peninsular island, and the dining area to house a large table, and then we installed doors out to the garden.

MY FAVOURITE PART The doors that lead out to the garden.

When they were fitted the light flooded in, completely transforming the room.

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Befor e

Kitchen makeover

Style idea Use different flooring in a kitchen-diner to create separate zones

TOTAL

£7,825 June 2021 111

Feature and styling Lisa Moses Photos Katie Jane Watson

‘Looking at the finished space, we wouldn’t change a thing.

We just need our friends round now!’

‘It wasn’t just about the budget when we chose the units. It was also important for us that the kitchen had a quality feel to it, and we chose these units because the realistic woodgrain detail is visible and the navy colour feels sophisticated’

Style advice Three simple tricks to try in your own home

FLOWER POWER ‘I specifically chose this type of light fitting so that I could have fun styling it. I first decorated it at Christmas and when the baubles came down it felt really empty, so I decided it didn’t need to be used purely as a seasonal display. I now decorate it with some kind of greenery all year round. A dining table is usually taken up with cups and plates, so I decided to take the decoration higher.

It still looks beautiful, but it leaves space on the table and softens the whole room.’

SHOP SMART ‘We wanted a vintage piece of furniture here to use as a display cabinet, but we needed something narrow that wouldn’t interfere with the walkway. We didn’t want to compromise so we spent a long time searching and finally found this on eBay for only £100. I love the glass front, which allows us to show off our glassware and it brightens this side of the room. There’s plenty of space on top to display flowers – a dried bouquet means minimal fuss – and to prop up an eye-catching art print.’

EMBRACE THE ORIGINAL FEATURES ‘It was important for us to keep some original elements in the house so we decided to make a feature of this unusual arch by turning it into a mini bar, which will be great for when we have friends round.

We initially chiselled a bit of the wall away hoping there would be real brickwork behind, but it was just breeze blocks, so we chose this fun faux brick wallpaper from I Love Wallpaper.

I think it works really well and it complements our other industrial accessories that we have in the space.’

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Kitchen makeover ‘Although it’s not real concrete, we wanted the dining table to continue the effect of the kitchen floor tiles and to contrast against the parquet.

We bought this pendant light from Wayfair and wound the rope around to give different levels to the light fittings, then we bought lots of different filament bulbs to add to the industrial feel of the room’

‘We chose open shelves to encourage a sense of space in the narrow room. We made the shelves ourselves from scaffold boards and some £11 brackets from Etsy.

I’ve used lots of textures to make the room visually appealing, but sticking to a simple colour palette gives a cohesive finish’

Style idea Hang pendant lights from different heights for extra interest

MY EXPERIENCE When we moved here, the kitchen hadn’t been touched since the 60s, but this meant the original parquet flooring was still down, which was a win. An engineer confirmed the dividing wall wasn’t load-bearing, which meant we could create one open-plan room.

We knew we wanted a navy, Shaker-style kitchen to complement the traditional feel of the house. The UK had just moved into lockdown, so we had to plan via online appointments. I kept a precise spreadsheet as managing money, product choices and tradespeople was a minefield. We finally chose a Howdens design that included a peninsular island, perfect for entertaining, and narrow wall cabinets, which helped the galley-shaped kitchen feel wider. The fitting was straightforward as the units come readymade, though we did drill through a gas pipe when we were levelling the floor, which sent us into panic mode until the plumber came to fix it. We did the herringbone tiling ourselves, which was a little tricky as it’s all about finding that initial angle and cutting correctly, but once we did the first row it went smoothly, and we like to get stuck in and do jobs ourselves. We spent three days sanding the parquet floor back to its natural colour and used a finishing matt lacquer for a modern feel. I felt that the space needed a splash of colour, so we went for a blue feature wall in the dining area to tie in with the cupboards.

It was a memorable moment when the garden doors were finally fitted and the light flooded through. Looking at the finished space, we wouldn’t change a thing. We just need our friends round now!

My shopping list ● Fairford Navy Shaker units and Calacatta marble-effect laminate worktop, £4,500, Howdens ● Butler & Rose Alba brushed nickel French kitchen bridge mixer tap, £129.99, Tap Warehouse ● HAVSEN two-bowl sink, £223, IKEA ● Bosch built-in electric oven and black induction hob pack, £579; Bosch built-in combination microwave oven, £589, both AO.com ● Polished chrome pull handles, £1.75 each; Oxford polished chrome cabinet knobs, £1.48 each, both Handles4U ● For similar wall tiles, try the Metro White wall tiles, £10 per sq m; for a similar bench, try the Phoenix dining bench, £125, both Homebase ● Energy Light Grey concrete-effect porcelain floor tiles, £14.89 per sq m, Total Tiles ● For a similar light fitting, try the Burton six-light kitchen island pendant, £109.99; Vidal 75cm bar stools, £289.99 for a set of two, both Wayfair ● For a similar table, try the Moon large dining table, £869, Furniture Village ● Black Uish dining chairs, £101.99 each, Sklum ● Red Loft Brick wallpaper, £12 per roll, I Love Wallpaper ● Shelf brackets, from £11.16, Ledsam Furniture on Etsy ● For a similar trolley, try the Harper drinks trolley, £139, Dunelm ● For a similar Guinness sign, try the Toucan Weathervane sign, £17.49, Guinness Webstore Turn to p128 for stockist details

£10.89 Joyce & Joan Tea tastes better in your own personalised mug – fact!

Cushion cover, £3.50; tablecloth, £8; Black stoneware jug, £4, glass oil bottle, £6; salt and pepper set, £6; ceramic plate, £3.40; ceramic bowl, £3; mug, £3; placemats, £4 for two; coasters, £2.50 for two, all Primark

£9 Bonheur Home Décor Soften a table setting with pampas grass in this Sass & Belle vase

Get the look...

URBAN CHIC

Create an on-trend, hard-working kitchen, like Steph’s, with natural materials, no-frill designs and a modern colour scheme £12 Zero Living Printed on recycled paper, this Nicola Rusted artwork gets five stars from us

£25 Next Brighten up a kitchen worktop with a colourful bowl of your five-a-day

£36 Abode Living Complete the Kinta four-cup teapot with the matching set of Mustard mugs

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£170 Habitat

£25 Garden Trading

Perfect for small spaces, the Tyler ash table is a good fit for compact kitchen-diners

For relaxed dining vibes, set the table with seagrass placemats

Get the look

£15 Iconic Lights

S tyle advice Pretty but practical

Style up a desk or floor lamp with the modern Love Globe bulb

Don’t have things in your scheme just for the sake of it – make sure everything has a purpose, and looks good too. Glass jars of dried ingredients on open shelving, fancy bottles on a glam drinks trolley or rustic kitchen utensils hung on wall hooks all serve a practical purpose while adding extra style to the space.

£24.99 H&M Home Create a stylish base with this tablecloth in Pistachio Green

On show There’s no need to hide certain elements you might normally want out of sight.

Features like exposed light bulbs and visible cords will give your scheme an edge so celebrate them and incorporate them into the look.

£12.99 HomeSense A textured finish gives this cream jug an artisan look

Let in the light If you want to increase the sense of space, maximise the amount of light. Bi-fold doors out to the garden, like the ones Steph has, will allow the sunlight to flood through. Use sheer curtains or, if privacy isn’t an issue, you could forget window treatments altogether.

£39 for two MADE.com Cheer up a window sill with a pair of colourful Hase planters

£169 Very A geometric shape and metal legs give the pretty pink CosmoLiving chair a cool, modern edge

£20 for three Habitat From carrot cake to banana bread, you’ll be star baker with these stylish mixing bowls

‘Pick fashionable, functional pieces to build a stylish yet hard-working kitchen space’

Samuel iron and wood hook shelf, £25, Urban Outfitters

£29.99 Studio

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June 2021 115

Feature Catriona Burns

With workspace on top and a trio of shelves, this wire trolley could work as a makeshift mini island

#myHShome

Use the #myHShome hashtag on Instagram for your chance to appear on this very page!

Show us your style! Upload your home shot to Instagram using #myHShome

Sponsored by...

COSY CORNER Our style is a mish mash of everything that we love. During renovations of our home, we found many period features under outdated flooring and wall coverings. In redecorating our bedroom, we created our sanctuary, where balance, harmony, form, and function unite. Dark walls are complemented by the soft pink tones of the Victorian fireplace and the hearth is full of texture and drama. An oversized mirror and wicker seat finish off the scheme. @bankstreet_terrace

WIN A P R I Z E month’s #myHShome – you’ve won a plant mister and an Aquasolo ceramic self-watering cone from hozelock.com, worth £25! Use the #myHShome hashtag on Instagram to show us your fave room for your chance to win a prize next month.

SUNNY SPOT We are big into colour so styling our home to complement the natural lighting in each room has been a focus for us. Our kitchen is southeasterly facing so we are very lucky that sunshine floods the room each morning, bouncing off the blue walls and casting fun shadows. Adding further pops of colour through prints and plants helps to add warmth to the space. I’m sure our coffee tastes better in the morning when the sun is shining! @littlebristolterrace

TILE STYLE

CEILING GAZING Our interior style is fuelled by our passion for antiques, curiosities and a desire to have things that last a lifetime. We love anything with a story to tell and that’s built to last.

My background in illustration and love of craft play a big part in our aesthetic and led to painting the ceiling mural in the bathroom. We love to create unique interiors; our bathroom unit is made from an antique cabinet that we found on eBay for £50. @strikeme_pink 116 yourhomestyle.uk

I love bold colour and pattern and have always used them in my interiors. Our en suite was the only room in the house that hadn’t been touched in the 10 years we’ve lived here! It was looking sad and the shower was tiny; the space hadn’t been used well at all. So, we fitted this gorgeous enclosure, re-tiled and replaced the flooring with this fab vinyl. We refitted the original sink and toilet, updating the tap and plug to bring it altogether. I couldn’t be happier with the end result! @ourhouseatnumber27

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QUICK-FIX

NO-FUSS MEALS AND EASY RECIPES TO TRY THIS MONTH p120 Asparagus mac ‘n’ cheese

p119 Vegan pizza with artichokes

p123 Classic burgers

p118

In need of inspiration?

Turn over for quick midweek meals and pub classics for restful Sundays

Aubergine, tomato and shallot pide