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EST. 1920

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THE HOME OF GOOD IDEAS FOR 100 YEARS B R AT

CEL

100 YEARS

ING

Spaces with personality

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◆ ELEGANT VICTORIAN VILLA ◆ COLOURFUL EDINBURGH FLAT ◆ ECLECTIC NEW-BUILD SEMI ◆ ULTRAMODERN CONVERTED SCHOOLHOUSE

Pale… & interesting

BEAUTIFUL BOOSTS FOR NEUTRAL ROOMS

Declutter!

Space-reclaiming storage ideas

CONSIDERED FURNITURE for f lexible living

KITCHENS & BATHROOMS

◆ Dream ‘Before + Afters’ ◆ Trends To Trust ◆ Luxe

Showering ◆ The Tiles To Choose Now ◆ Concrete Q&A

FEBRUARY 2020

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What’s new

Real homes

11 Set the scene for…

22 Love & honour

15 16 17 18

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FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

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SPOT THE LOGO FOR EASY SWAPS AND WAYS TO ENJOY A MORE SUSTAINABLE HOME AND LIFESTYLE

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A moment of calm The style editor Top news from the high street Ideal vs Great Deal Update your utility room The wallpaper edit Go industrial with factoryfinish wallcoverings The design edit High-end looks on a high-street budget The shortlist Considered furniture for flexible living

This Victorian home has been sensitively updated 38 Loved back to life From shabby digs to a chic abode 56 The inside story A historic facade conceals a modern, open-plan space 71 Starting over Rebuilding a period home like for like

Style & decor 32 Interior design advice

Give neutral schemes a lift 48 A place for everything Smart storage solutions 66 How to up-style a home office Add wow to the working day 80 Easy style updates Smart tricks and clever buys

89 Interior design advice

How to choose the right tiles 106 Kitchen trends to trust Create a look you’ll love

Before & after 94 ‘We created our dream

100 112 118 124

kitchen-diner from scratch’ Careful thought went into this major renovation ‘It’s cosy in winter, fresh in summer’ Bold cabinetry makes this space unique ‘It went from dated to decadent’ A timeless tub set the tone in this barn bathroom ‘This space is all about luxury’ A bathroom designed with indulgence in mind ‘We built a new wing onto our old house’ This 17thcentury home now benefits from a modern extension

CONTENTS

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100

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TO FIND ALL THE STOCKISTS IN THIS ISSUE TURN TO PAGE 148 Regulars

Simple solutions 128 Genius problem solvers

for a smooth-running life Simple swaps and clever ideas for more sustainable living 131 Protect your home Boost your security with a smart doorbell 133 Kitchen kit Make light work of midweek meals

Simple pleasures

7 Editor’s letter 8 100 years of Ideal Home

We’ve been delving into the archives to find out what we were looking at in the February issues of the last century 104 Subscribe to Ideal Home 150 Style throwback Our contemporary spin on a living room look from 1984

SIX ISSUES FOR

£6

134 Come over for a coffee…

Everyday bakes for relaxed entertaining 141 Somewhere for the weekend Beaverbrook, Surrey

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A subscription makes a great gift or a lovely treat for yourself from just £6 for six issues! Call 0330 333 1113 and quote AUB9 or visit idealhome.co.uk/IHFEB2020

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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Transform your existing staircase with no mess, no fuss and best of all no building work

SALE

*

NOW ON

The Neville Johnson Sale* means renovating your staircase into an exquisite feature is much easier and less costly than you’d imagine. In just 1-2 days and with no building work, we will transform the heart of your home, and add value to your property with a stunning, handcrafted staircase. All in a style to suit you and your budget.

GLASS, STEEL & TIMBER DESIGNS NO STAIRCASE TOO LARGE OR SMALL BRITISH DESIGN & CRAFTSMANSHIP NO BUILDING WORK TYPICALLY INSTALLED IN 1-2 DAYS 10 YEAR GUARANTEE BUY NOW PAY IN 12 MONTHS**

for our latest brochure

nevillejohnson.co.uk | 0161 873 8333 *Sale discount applies to orders placed between 23/12/19 and 24/2/20. Minimum order value £2,000 +VAT. **Buy now pay in 12 months finance offer is available on orders over £2,000 +VAT. Finance is subject to status, terms apply.

Elzora bowls, £30 for four, Habitat.

For more product details, see page 54

STYLING GEMMA GEAR PHOTOGRAPH JO HENDERSON

EDITOR’S LETTER

Welcome Vanessa Vanessa Richmond, Editor

There’s a culture clash going on chez Richmond, which gets worse at this time of year when I’m in full-on decluttering mode: Ma Richmond is pro-clutter and has a raging knicknack habit to prove it; I love a clear surface and keep shoving said knicknacks into cupboards. As a result, our big project this year will be built-in storage on a grand scale!

If you’re project-planning, you’ll find an extra helping of ideas in this issue. Or, if you’re thinking about a bucket-list holiday this year instead, I recommend new site thecaribou.com – it’s made for people who love to travel by people who love to travel. Happy planning!

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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100 YEARS OF FEBRUARY ISSUES

Editor Vanessa Richmond picks her highlights from Ideal Home through the decades…

In 1946 we were…

SETTING UP HOME AFTER THE WAR Young couples marrying and buying homes after World War Two might have been inspired by this bright and colourful advert for Tala kitchenware – and you might recognise the designs of many of the products, as they’re still available.

In 1973 we were…

GOING INTO EUROPE IH asked editors from Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, and Norway, ‘How will it affect the British housewife?

Will we start to “think” European?’

In 1939 we were…

WEARING ASBESTOS This newfangled material was used for everything from fire extinguishers to aprons and oven gloves that ‘enable hot dishes to be handled with safety’.

In 1950 we were…

HAVING BANK ACCOUNTS OPENED FOR US This ad for Lloyds Bank encouraged women to open a separate bank account as it ‘gives a married woman a satisfying sense of personal freedom’. It goes on to say, ‘Lloyds Bank has many women, both married and single, among its customers.’ What it fails to say, is that legally women could not open an account without their husband’s permission (or male family member if they were single or widowed). This was the case until 1975.

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FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

In 1965 we were…

HANGING PSYCHEDELIC WALLPAPER, MAN We featured this roundup of the best new wallpaper patterns. Pretty out there, considering the ‘feature wall’ trend hadn’t been invented yet and these patterns would have graced all four walls of a room (with a different pattern in every room, obvs…).

THE HOME OF GOOD IDEAS

In 1985, we were…

OGLING KIRK DOUGLAS’ HOUSE In this year, Kirk was 69 and the article reveals how he and his wife Anne downsized from a 12-bedroom mansion in Beverly Hills to this much smaller, erm, mansion in Beverly Hills. Luckily, there was enough space for their collection of Chippendale furniture, sculpture and art (including a Chagall).

In 1971 we were…

MARY QUANT-ING OUR HOMES In the 1960s she gave us miniskirts, tights and PVC raincoats.

By the 1970s, she was turning her attention to interiors. ‘The collection is full of fashion’s current darlings – plum, maroon and pink, so the total look can now be extended from what you’re wearing to your home as well.’ Yikes!

In 1944 we were…

EATING MYSTERY MEAT SOUP Crosse & Blackwell wasn’t specifying exactly what meat was in this ration-years soup. I’ll leave that one to your imagination…

In 2000, we were…

DISCOVERING ONLINE SHOPPING In this article about the ‘World Wide Web’, we asked: ‘Does it mean the end of the high street?’ According to research, we reported, ‘the tiny percentage of online sales will complement retail.’ How wrong we were!

In 1993, we were…

LOVING RAYMOND BLANC’S KITCHEN This was his and his second wife Kati’s ultra-modern kitchen, complete with Corian worktops. IH gushed, ‘It’s bright and gleaming, with white lacquered polyester units, which have a decorative yellow line to match the decor.’

In 1970 we were…

KICK-STARTING THE ‘SMART’ HOME IH unveiled this kitchen computer available to American housewives at a cost of £4,250. If you’re staring at the picture like I did, trying to see the computer on the table… um, it IS the table: ‘The H316 is so compact and cleanly styled, it could double as a desk.’

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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0800 789 789 | sharps.co.uk

WHAT’S NEW

Set the scene for…

A MOMENT OF CALM Declutter, detox and simplify for a low-hassle life in the new year.

Reassess your spaces, focusing on comfortable, well-designed pieces and feel-good textures, so you can rest and recharge…

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

WHERE TO BUY Sling armchair in Harbour Blue Grey, £699; Anglepoise Original 1227 floor lamp in White, £255; Balta check throw in Pink, £100; sheepskin rug in Quad Grey, £175; plain Sumac jute rug in Natural, £375; circular wicker storage basket, £40, all Croft Collection, John Lewis & Partners

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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We keep seeing…

TRANQUIL DAWN

Dulux has nominated this fresh shade as its Colour of the Year. This washed pastel sits between mint and sage - go tonal and team it with shades of deeper green; use it to highlight charcoal and dark blue for a contemporary edge or create a soft colour combo with lighter shades like dusky pink, oatmeal and dove grey.

The STYLE EDITOR Dulux So Simple Tom three-seater sofa, £599, armchair, £529, both in Tranquil Dawn simply velvet, DFS

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Agnes carpet in Charcoal, £74.99sq m, Laura Ashley at Brintons

This second collaboration between the two brands includes 12 new designs, featuring soft blossoms, smart stripes, elegant scrolls, damask patterns and bold blooms. The Agnes print may give you either the ‘wow’ factor or the ‘whoa’ factor but we think this timeless floral pattern combined with a contemporary dark background can add a little modern romance to a room when teamed with a pared-back scheme.

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Laura Ashley brings florals to Brintons

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Michela Colling, Ideal Home’s tastemaker-in-chief, shares her top news from the high street

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FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

One Small Step

THE MAGIC OF MARBLE DUST There’s a sustainable secret hiding behind the new Charon and Callisto baths and a selection of basins at Claybrook. They’re made from Marbleform, a name given to the by-product created by cutting marble slabs. The marble dust that would normally be waste is then refined and combined with resin to be reformed into something beautiful.

Confiserie triangle mosaics in Blush, £79.88sq m; Lunar basin, £440, Claybrook

WHAT’S NEW

B&Q’s redoing its kitchens

Stone-top chest, £1,895, Country Homes & Interiors range, One.World

Your country look sorted

B&Q, you are really spoiling us!

Its first launch in over 10 years includes a choice of nine designs in a mix of both modern country and contemporary fitted kitchens. Our highlights? The slim-profiled Pasilla doors feature an unusual matt rather than gloss finish, in both in black and white, and Artemisia (pictured), a smart Shaker style in midnight blue. Make it your own with a choice of handles, worktops, tiles, taps and more, with a visualiser tool to help cement your choice.

Torque antique brass effect mixer tap, £42, B&Q

Hydrolic porcelain floor tile, £24sq m, B&Q

Our sister title, Country Homes & Interiors, has got together with One.World to launch its first furniture range. The capsule collection features timeless pieces with added flair. Don’t miss the velvet armchair in lush olive green, classic carved butler side table and the stone-top chest (pictured) to add a little vintage grandeur to a room.

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We love to showcase the best of modern British country style – beautifully made furniture and home accessories that put a contemporary twist on time-tested traditional pieces, to suit our lives and homes today

VANESSA RICHMOND, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Artemisia kitchen, from £1,298 for an eight-unit scheme, B&Q

”

Evergreen easy chair, £1,610; Verso large sideboard, £2,395, both Ercol

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING

ERCOL CELEBRATES ITS CENTENARY We’re not the only ones celebrating the big 100 Ercol is another iconic name that has evolved alongside us. Founded in 1920, its mid-century designs are as popular as ever, and the new Verso cabinets bear all the hallmarks of a future classic.

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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SALE 20% off all designs.

Hurry, Editions limited.

Automatically applied at checkout.

Save fast at swooneditions.com

Holton three-seater sofa from ÂŁ1,280 ÂŁ1,599

For T&Cs, please visit swooneditions.com

WHAT’S NEW

IDEAL VS GREAT DEAL Revamp your utility room with smart yet practical picks featuring simple shapes and rustic finishes

TOP TIDY Kitchen Craft housekeeping box, £29.99, Wayfair

CLEANING CADDY Wash up tidy, £16, Garden Trading

DURABLE COTTON Blomus wipe dishcloths in Grön brown, £17 for three, Nordic Nest

STREAK FREE Brabantia microfibre dish cloths in Light Grey, £2.95 for two, John Lewis & Partners

VINTAGE TOUCH Handpicked Collection carpet beater, £17.56, Amazon.co.uk

DUST BUSTER Iris Hantverk rattan carpet beater, £49, Amara

VERSATILE STORAGE Sidmouth Cream storage bench, £229, Dunelm

COTTAGE CHARM Farmhouse storage console in Ivory, £199 The Cotswold Co

RETRO HANGER Metal laundry door plaque, £5.95, Melody Maison

PRETTY PLAQUE Laundry 15c metal wall sign, £3.95, Rex London

ONE S

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ECO CHARITY DONATION Brabantia newlcon bin, £49.99, John Lewis & Partners

DIP-DYED Jute woven baskets, £105 for set of two, Cult Furniture

WIPE AWAY Kabuki doormat, £19.50, Bombay Duck

ROPE WEAVE Toro storage baskets, £25 for set of two, Made

PEDAL DESIGN Joss domed bin in Cool Grey, £30, Made

COOL COIR Drunken stripes doormat, £15.95, Audenza

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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The Wallpaper Edit

INDUSTRIAL EDGE

Give walls a texture hit with subtle patterns in faux distressed wood and weathered metal-effect finishes inspired by urban spaces

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BRONZE AGE

WARM COPPER

ANTIQUE TILES

SALVAGED WOOD

Fake the look of metal lockers in an alcove to add interest.

Printed with eco-friendly inks.

Locker Room, £150 for set of three 52x300cm rolls, Mind The Gap

Aged stone blocks form a subtle geometric print, offering a paredback rustic repeat in cool grey and bronze.

Sandstone in Bronze, £45.50 a roll, Clarke & Clarke

Introduce textures through faux rusted metal panelling. The copper colourway radiates subtle warmth.

Metal wall in Copper, £19.99 a roll, Albany at Wallpaper Direct

Channel a vintage vibe with this decorative design featuring salvaged metal wall tiles for an elegant twist on industrial.

G45373 Grunge collection, £37.95 a roll, Galerie

Bring depth to walls with a parquet effect wood design featuring distressed details.

Nautical Zigzag in Brown, £19.99 a roll, Albany at Wallpaper Direct

FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT

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FAUX STORAGE

WHAT’S NEW

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FEATURE MICHELA COLLING

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THE DESIGN EDIT

Now and then, the high street comes up with something so utterly fabulous, it looks as if it’s come from a designer boutique. Here are seven of our latest discoveries that will make your home look expensive without the big spend…

WHERE TO BUY 1 Harti block design cushion cover, from £39.95, Nkuku 2 Pink marble table lamp, £80, Houseof 3 Tokki coffee table, £550, Habitat 4 Banksia stems, £21 each, Wyld Home 5 Stone artisan speckled mug, £4, Wilko 6 Gold shelf mirror, £75, French Connection Home 7 Nordic Spring long board, £16.50, Sainsbury’s Home IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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Considered furniture for FLEXIBLE LIVING

Whether you’re renting, looking for small-space storage solutions or just need your furniture to work harder for you, these smart buys will work in a number of spaces as your needs – or your home – change

COFFEE TABLE WITH STORAGE

«

The top comes off to reveal a large cavity inside for out-ofseason cushions and throws, magazines, the printer, toys, etc. Great for a living room, seating area in an open-plan kitchen-diner or storing junk in a teen’s den or bedroom.

Fulton fabric coffee table, £149; Grayson three-seater sofa, £599; Damien floor lamp, £79, all Dunelm

I’m light and easy to move

WHAT’S NEW DINING TABLE… WITH A SECRET This design has concealed storage behind lift-up panels, so you can set the table at high speed or keep home-working gear if it doubles as a desk.

Huxley round dining table, £499, Urban Outfitters

VERSATILE TRUNK

SEAT WITH STORAGE

A piece like this can go wherever it’s needed – at the end of a bed, in a hallway, living room or home office to store bedding, shoes, paperwork and clutter.

Amsterdam light storage trunk, £375, Next Home

No space for a side table?

This chair is also available as a corner, two- or three-seater sofa, and you can choose which side to mount the shelf.

Cedar full back armchair in Barley Coffee/Pastel mix, £599, Sofology

MULTI-FORMAT MODULAR UNITS Arrange these clip-together units in a design that suits your space and requirements.

Loft Living 2x4 unit, £140; 2x3 storage unit, £120; 3x2 corner unit, £70; console, £40; 1x2 unit, £45, all Argos

SMALLFOOTPRINT SHELVING A ladder shelf will fit snugly into the corner of your dining, living, bedroom or even bathroom, to hold anything from speakers and books, to a stack of towels or your hair and make-up kit.

Bronx corner ladder shelf, £250, Next Home

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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WHAT’S NEW

OPEN WARDROBE

SIDE TABLECUM-PET CUBBY

Made of sustainable bamboo and with petite proportions, this mini wardrobe features a sliding screen to conceal stuffed shelves plus a small rail for hanging shirts and jackets.

Great at the end of the bed, in a kid’s room or a hallway.

Nordkisa wardrobe, £179, Ikea

As much as we love our four-legged friends, their beds can sometimes look messy and not very chic in our homes. But this clever side table features space for pets to curl up inside, or even house their litter tray, so your home remains stylish yet animal friendly.

Bronx pet side table, £99, Next Home

“

This is a more sustainable and economical approach to buying furniture – pieces that can be used in multiple spaces over their lifetime, rather than passed on or dumped HOLLY WALSH, FEATURES EDITOR

”

I start as a streamlined coffee table...

...then transform into a comfy chair...

FIVE-IN-ONE MULTI-TASKER This genius design is a coffee table, tray table, pouffe, chair and occasional bed! That’s what we like to call a hard-working problem solver. With so many guises, it’ll earn its keep in any busy home. Plus, the linen cover is removable for easy cleaning.

Multi storey footstool, £395, Loaf

FLAT-PACK SOFA No matter if you live in a flat, have narrow doorways or want to kit out your she shed, this sofa can be moved wherever you need it. Just slot the back, base and sides together, screw on the legs and you’re done in five minutes.

The Rebel three-seater sofa, £899, Snug Shack

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FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

...and finish as a guest bed!

SALE

*

*Sale discount applies to orders placed between 23/12/19 and 24/2/20. Minimum order value £3,000 +VAT.

NOW ON

uniquely yours...

for our latest brochure

nevillejohnson.co.uk | 0161 873 8333 STUDIES

BEDROOMS

LOUNGES

LIBRARIES

Living room Built-in shelving, painted to blend into the walls, makes the family’s books the star of this space. ‘This is our “grown-up” room where we entertain or spend quiet time together,’ says Alice.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Chedworth sofa, £2,500, Vanessa Arbuthnott. Cushions in Carnival, £125m, Christopher Farr

Love & honour The Broadfields were determined to update their elegant Victorian villa to suit modern living, but without overwriting its natural character

REAL HOME

Love

ALICE’S STYLE? Turn to page 31 to shop the look

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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REAL HOME

Welcome to my home Interiors, with business partner Sarah Shannon.

THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom Victorian detached house in Warwickshire.

THE VALUE Now worth around £1.8m.

Alice Broadfield lives here with her husband and their children. Alice and her husband are both solicitors and Alice also runs an interior design practice, Flora & Finn

A

Take a quick tour...

BEDROOM

KITCHEN

UTILITY ROOM

FAMILY ROOM

BATHROOM DINING ROOM

LIVING ROOM

GROUND FLOOR

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BEDROOM

BEDROOM

MASTER BEDROOM

BEDROOM

FIRST FLOOR

FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

“

This is a glorious house that will be a treasured home for us for many years

”

lice and her husband had admired this house for many years, so when it came on the market at the same time they started looking for a larger property in 2014, it felt like fate.

‘My husband was keen to move to the country, and I’m a confirmed townie, but this house offered us the best of both worlds,’ says Alice. ‘It had the feel of a country house, with a wide, gravel drive and a huge garden – a rarity for a house like this – but is a five-minute walk from the town centre and ideally located for schools.

‘The house was owned by the parents of one of my sister’s friends and I think that helped us as potential buyers,’ says Alice. ‘Many of the houses on this road have been converted into flats, but they knew we would keep it as a family home and love it as much as they had.

The property had large, well-proportioned rooms with original marble fireplaces, pull-up shutters, elaborate plasterwork and sash windows, but while it had been well maintained, it did need updating. The kitchen was too small for the size of the house, so we extended it by knocking through into the adjoining sitting room and fitting French doors that lead to the garden. New electrics, a boiler and radiators were fitted, and the three bathrooms were all updated. We also turned a spare bedroom into another bathroom.

‘It was disruptive, cold and miserable, but we had no choice but to embrace the controlled chaos of a live-in build. With an old house, you have to be flexible about how things are done because something unexpected will always happen! It’s a work in progress – we’re in full swing and there are areas we’re still renovating, but compromising on a country location was worth it.’

Dining room ‘The green walls are a great foil for the mahogany furniture in this room. I wanted to create a tranquil atmosphere by keeping the colours elegant and simple.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Walls in Aquamarine Deep absolute matt emulsion, £45 for 2.5L, Little Greene. Stockholm rug, £279, Ikea

BLUE CEILING Makes the intricate mouldings pop

Family room The focus here is on the stunning original features. Calm blue walls frame the shutters, while a paler shade above the picture rail highlights the ceiling.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Walls in Bone China Blue absolute matt emulsion, ÂŁ45 for 2.5L, Little Greene.

Limerick sofa, ÂŁ2,500, Sofa Workshop

REAL HOME

Family room With the walls given a classic, china look, Alice added bold pops of colour to give this period room an unexpected, contemporary twist. ‘Let a room develop,’ she says. ‘Don’t buy everything from the same shop or on the same day.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Stockholm rug, £279, Ikea. Similar upholstery fabric, Natural Buttermilk, Melton Wool, £59.95m, Abraham Moon & Sons.

LOW-HUNG PICTURES Makes a highceilinged room feel cosier

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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REAL HOME

Kitchen-diner ‘I love colour, which can be seen throughout the house – from the warm, gentle blues in the kitchen to the elegant green walls in the dining room,’ says Alice.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Bespoke kitchen, Alexander Lewis; in James intelligent eggshell, £64 for 2.5L, Little Greene. Walls in Marble IV pure flat emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5L, Paint & Paper Library

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FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

PINKY NEUTRAL Gives a warmer contrast to blue units than white or grey

PANELLED DOORS Echo the kitchen units opposite, to link the two parts of the space

Dining room ‘Original artwork makes such a difference,’ says Alice. ‘It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it’s such a lovely thing to own something unique.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Try the Fringe Pendant in Natural, £199, Heal’s

Kitchen-diner A dark blue cupboard grounds the pale colour scheme for definition and a greater feeling of cosiness. The green-painted table base and clusters of house plants connect this space to the garden beyond the windows.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Try the

Dorchester pine kitchen table, £249, The Cotswold Company. Base in Pea Green intelligent eggshell, £64 for 2.5L, Little Greene. Traditional armchair in Pink velvet, £2,000; Stripe and Dash rug in Smoke and Cornflower, £400; both Vanessa Arbuthnott. Mini Marble paper lampshades, £27 each, Pooky

“

A rose-pink chair brings a shady corner of this space to life

Don’t be the oldest thing in the room! Antiques add individuality and interest, as well as being a sustainable, environmentally sound choice

”

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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PAINTED MIRROR Tones down this ornate gilt vintage find

Family bathroom Soft turquoise walls give this room a fresh feel and let the bold, cobalt-blue bath draw the eye.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Walls in Aquamarine absolute matt emulsion, £45 for 2.5L, Little Greene. Salcombe bath, £1,225, The Cast Iron Bath Company; in Woad intelligent eggshell, £64 for 2.5L, Little Greene

A mix of vibrant, cool blues contrast with this room’s warm grey walls and furniture in rich, dark-wood finishes. ‘We wanted this to be a calm retreat,’ says Alice.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Walls in Slaked Lime absolute matt

emulsion, £45 for 2.5L, Little Greene. Pentlow bed with Airforce Blue ticking, £2,500, Sofas & Stuff. Monroe Blue cushions, £60 each, Soho Home. Etoile white super king-size duvet cover, £105; Etoile Oxford pillowcases, £32 each; both Cologne & Cotton

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

Sympathetically restoring an old house is a gradual process and lots of things can go wrong. Don’t buy one if you’re a control freak!

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FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

”

FEATURE MARISHA TAYLOR, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS JAMES FRENCH PLANS AGENCY SERVICE

Main bedroom

REAL HOME

Make it work for you ALICE’S STYLE: CLASSIC WITH A TWIST

Bold flashes of colour and pattern mixed with timeless pieces of furniture create a vibrant look that won’t date

IDEAL

COLOUR BLOCK Naoshima Orange table lamp and shade, £375, Oka

BRIGHT TOUCH Gingembre lamp and empire shade in Flame, £211, Pooky Lighting

GREAT DEAL

VINTAGE VACATION Monaco vintage framed wall art, £45, Made

INSTANT ARTWORK Monaco Grand Prix printable wall art, £12.31, Vibrant Vintage Prints at Etsy

FABULOUS FRINGING Broadwick oblong cushion, £115, Soho Home

ELEGANT CURVE Manoir linen wing armchair, £540.50, Maisons du Monde

ECLECTIC CLASH Sweet Sultan ikat cushion cover, £55, Polkra BOLD TWIST Stockholm 2017 rug, £279, Ikea

CANDY STRIPE Gloria Coral and cream rug, £110, Modern Rugs

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING

BOLD SPLASH Painted lacquer tray in Teal, £30, John Lewis & Partners

SLEEK AND CHIC Manhattan coffee table, £690, Neptune

TIMELESS DESIGN Celine linen wing chair, £349, Dunelm

DAZZLING BLUE Rectangle tray in Teal, £10, Dunelm

CLEAR STYLE Venezia chrome coffee table, £450, Laura Ashley

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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STYLE SECRETS

HOW TO MAKE NEUTRALS MORE INTERESTING They make small rooms look bigger, dark rooms look lighter, and go with everything. But, neutral schemes can look bland and boring if you don’t use these simple tricks…

Add ‘quiet’ pattern Pick a tone-on-tone neutral mix: ‘It allows you to add pattern and texture via wallpaper without the risk of feeling overwhelmed by it,’ says Helen Shaw, director of Benjamin Moore UK.

Wall in Pure Poppy in Dove/Chalk, £75 a roll, Morris & Co at Style Library.

Impressions Sixpence bird tiles, £21.60 each, Tiles of Stow, are similar. Try Palu reclaimed bowl, £59.95, Nkuku

STYLE & DECOR Sandham dining table, £499; bench, £199; Zola dining chairs, £200 for two; Branch linear bar light, £99; Antler candelabra (in store only), £35, all Next Home

Work in wood furniture ‘Natural materials introduce real texture, detail and warmth.

Without these, neutral rooms can feel a little flat,’ says Fiona Duke, founder of Interior Design Collective.

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Put texture on the walls Try bare plaster, concrete or a lookalike wallpaper, softened with layered textiles. ‘Natural finishes vary enormously and their imperfections only add to their simple beauty,’ says Fiona.

Nara duvet cover in White, £95 for a double; Oxford pillowcases, £19 each; Ebba Sham pillowcases, £30 each; Skye cushion, £40; Nova cushion in Cloud Grey, £40; Ebba cushion, £40; Matelasse throw, £120; Cosy woven throw, £95, all Murmur

STYLE & DECOR

Use black for definition Add some structure: ‘The contrast of black against neutral tones creates a statement without clashing and overpowering the room,’ says Philippa Prinsloo, head of design at John Lewis & Partners.

Platform LHF corner end sofa, £3,799; Hay Tulou coffee table in Black, £165; No.168 arched floor lamp, £250; Matisse – The Plain Tree 1951 print, £250 framed; Diamond Berber rug, £190; Mongolian sheepskin throw, £350; Evening Shadow cushion in Plum, £35, all John Lewis & Partners

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STYLE & DECOR

Add a darker shade ‘Too many pale neutrals, without a darker shade to break them up, can wash out a room. Avoid playing it safe as this can result in a room that’s lacking in character,' says Helen.

THE BEST

Neutral patterned wallpapers

RUSTIC FINISH Plaster in Stone, £67.20 a roll, Casadeco at Wallpaper Direct

ABSTRACT BOTANICAL Frond Pearl, £59.50 a roll, Villa Nova

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY...

Designers and stylists share their views: ■ ‘Go for darker neutrals in a room that lacks natural light,’ says Fiona Duke (fionadukeinteriors.com; interiordesigncollective. co.uk). ‘Colours with more pigment feel far warmer and less grey, while only a bright, sunny room can take the lightest whites and neutrals.’

■ ‘Move away from white and taupe,’ says Philippa Prinsloo. ‘The new neutral palettes are warmer and tonal, with a contemporary

mix of buttery beiges, dusky pinks and soft greys. These subtle yet sophisticated shades are timeless and particularly suited to a characterful home.’

■ ‘Don’t be afraid to add colour to neutrals,’ says Fiona. ‘If you aren’t one for bold colour, add natural foliage and greenery instead.’

■ ‘Blending neutrals will stop a room looking cold,’ adds Anna Del-Molino, buyer at Carpetright. ‘You can make

it inviting and relaxing by mixing tactile textures and warm shades of grey, beige, peach and terracotta.’

■ ‘New homes are the ideal setting for Nordic-style neutral decor,’ says Fiona.

‘Their clean lines and industrial elements work with the Scandinavian, monochrome approach to design – mixing earthy neutrals with black elements always looks striking.’

■ ‘Neutrals also allow lovely architecture to speak for itself and work brilliantly with antique furniture, giving beautiful materials the perfect

SUBTLE IKAT Antique Flamestitch, £72 a roll, Zoffany at Style Library

backdrop to shine,’ continues Fiona. Anna agrees: ‘The details in a period property, such as large bay windows and fireplaces, can add a romantic touch to rooms with neutral decor.’

■ ‘Neutrals are often the best in bedrooms and living rooms, where a harmonious scheme promotes rest and relaxation,’ says Philippa.

Fiona agrees: ‘We are overwhelmed by the pace of modern life, so decorating with neutrals takes us back to basics, providing us with a calm and relaxed environment to come home to.’

NEED HELP WITH YOUR ROOM? HEAD TO OUR NEW FACEBOOK GROUP, THE IDEAL HOME ROOM CLINIC

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FEATURE MICHELA COLLING

Rattan bed frame in Natural, £599 for a double; Asper brushed cotton duvet set, £65 for a double; washed cotton bedspread in Plaster, £80; heavy knit throw in Natural, £70; Hay tray side table, £179; This Works candle, £26; glass bell cloche jar, £15; No 045 LED task lamp, £75; Fusion seagrass basket, £20; Skye curtains in Putty, £180 a pair, all John Lewis & Partners

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Loved back to life Dave Kay and Tokes Sharif fell hard for their rented flat, despite its flaws, and ended up buying it and gradually revealing its unique character

PAINTED BOARDS More effective than trying to varnish shabby planks

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REAL HOME

Love

THEIR STYLE? Turn to page 47 to shop the look

Living room The flat’s lofty ceilings meant they could take a risk on colour, so painted the walls, floor, ceiling and woodwork in rich blue for an immersive, cocooning effect.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Stiffkey Blue estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball, is a match. Claudia Gold sofa, £799, Made, is similar. Try Meki coffee table, £399, Cult Furniture

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REAL HOME

Welcome to my home Dave Kay, a project manager, and his partner Tokes Sharif, a ceramicist and potter, live here.

THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom flat in an 1880s tenement building in Edinburgh.

THE VALUE Bought for £240,000 in 2015; current value £375,000.

T Take a quick tour...

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

KITCHEN

BEDROOM

LIVING ROOM

GROUND FLOOR

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“

Finding a flat that has so much character, like high ceilings and numerous other original features… and also has its own front door and front garden was amazing

”

his tenement apartment in Edinburgh had been a shared student rental house for years when Tokes Sharif first looked around it. The property was in a pretty grim condition, with peeling paint on the walls, cigarette-burned carpets and an outdated kitchen. ‘Still, I loved it, though!’ says Tokes. ‘It had a lot of character. And it’s unusual in this area to find a ground floor apartment with a private front entrance, and a little front garden.’

As they were renting the flat, Tokes and his partner, Dave Kay, simply got permission to repaint the walls and ceilings in a neutral palette throughout to start with. ‘Even though the property was a mess, it still had all its original features and it had a nice feel to it,’ says Tokes. ‘And once we started decorating, we fell in love with the place,’ adds Dave. ‘When the owner then decided to sell, there was no doubt in our minds that we should buy. Owning it has given us the freedom to really fit it out to suit our own style.’

The couple moved and enlarged the kitchen, and replaced the bathroom, adding underfloor heating.

The rest was cosmetic: ‘When it comes to style, Tokes is the creative mastermind. With his artistic background he is able to visualise a design,’ says Dave. ‘I’ll come up with an idea, usually the colour scheme first,’ says Tokes. ‘We like to use bold colours as a backdrop.’

Not all the colour choices have gone to plan though.

‘We painted the living room ceiling a deep aubergine and the walls a light grey… but we soon realised it was a really bad choice!’ says Tokes. ‘After little more than a day, it was a definite “no”. That’s when we came up with the idea of the deep blue, which we both love.’

Having owned the apartment for five years, the couple has now completed all of the work. ‘We’ve tackled one room per year, taking our time to let it develop and evolve,’ says Dave. ‘It has so much character, we wanted to stay true to the property and do each room justice.’

CHANDELIER HACK Made using components from Dowsing & Reynolds

Living room ‘We’d painted and furnished the room, but needed something eye-catching on the wall to break up the blue, so I painted this artwork myself,’ says Tokes.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Red Abstract art print, from £7.95, Abstract House, would work. Try Dahlia armchair, from £840, Sofa.com

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The kitchen alcove holds many of Tokes’ ceramics (studiobrae.com)

Living room corner Typical of Edinburgh, the ‘Edinburgh press’ is a slim cupboard or set of shelves in a recess behind a door.

‘The original door had been removed, but we replaced it with a Victorian door we tracked down,’ says Tokes.

BUY THE KEY PIECES For a similar sideboard, try the Simen teak, £499, Tikamoon

REPURPOSED WORKBENCH Serves as a side table and vinyl album storage

Dining area The circular dining table was designed by Tokes and built by a local carpenter. The top is made from an old school science-lab worktop cut to size, while the cylinder base is bent

plywood that has been filled with sand to keep it in shape.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Khalida round table, £499, Made, would also work. Emilia dining chairs, £89.99 each, Wayfair, are this style

We have a lot of strange and “ unique things. When we travel, we’re always on the lookout and find the most extraordinary items – then we have to figure out how to get them home!

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”

REAL HOME

BLENDED UNITS Painted to match the wall, making a small kitchen feel bigger

Kitchen The couple moved the kitchen into this space created by merging a boxroom and cupboard. The cabinets are from Ikea with bespoke doors. ‘It has been such a positive change,’ says Dave.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Mockelby table, £350, Ikea, is similar. Try Ercol Windsor Quaker chairs, £435 each, Furniture Village

REAL HOME

Guest bedroom Blue paint carried up the wall makes this light-filled room cosier, with Moroccan rugs and vintage furniture (including an old pub table and church chairs) to give it colour and character.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Try Arsenic estate emulsion, ÂŁ46.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

PART-PAINTED FRAME Interior design with humour

PLUG-IN WALL LIGHTS No need to wire in

Main bedroom wardrobe A deep, arched alcove has been fitted with wardrobes in contemporary ply to create a mini dressing area.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Osternas tanned leather handles, £10 for two, Ikea, are of this style

An armchair in gold velvet stands out against the deep green walls

Main bedroom This room was originally the kitchen, so had no cornicing, but the couple put back period character with wood strip panelling. A Victorian-style bed adds to the room’s traditional feel and quirky finds hung on the walls and

displayed on alcove shelving give the space its eclectic style.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Try Oliver bedstead, from £345, Feather & Black. Kilim space dye runner, £35, Urban Outfitters, is similar. Knightsbridge ceiling fitting, £99, Dunelm, would work

WHAT WE’VE LEARNED

“

Don’t rush into things. Allow plenty of time to let a property develop and evolve. Make courageous choices, but properly executed without haste

”

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Bathroom With its combination of white tiles in different shapes, this space is simple but interesting.

‘We didn’t want to go for something purely functional,’ says Tokes. ‘I think we’ve hit the mark here between contemporary and timeless.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES J-shaped bath, £279.95; Bayswater Fitzroy washstand, from £340, both Victorian Plumbing, are similar

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WORDS GERALDINE NESBITT, LISA FAZZANI, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS IVAR JANSSEN STYLING WILMA CUSTERS PRODUCTION FEATURES & MORE PLANS AGENCY SERVICE

HALO POLE Gives a traditional look in brass

REAL HOME

Make it work for you

TOKES AND DAVE’S STYLE: MOROCCAN ARTISAN OUR GO-TO STORES… ●

TIKAMOON Everything from artisan ceramics to statement furniture.

Tribal-inspired textiles, handcrafted accessories and classic furniture designs combine for an eclectic but well-curated look A mustard sofa adds instant warmth to this moody blue space

●

URBAN OUTFITTERS For a fab range of rugs and tapestries.

MODERN LIGHT Industville Brooklyn Giant Step 18in pendant, £89, Naken Interiors

●

FARROW & BALL High-quality, eco-friendly paints and wallpapers.

BEAUTIFUL BUGS Insect 3 Curious Collections

by Marielle Leenders, from £11.96 unframed, Juniqe

LUSH LEAVES Plant in terrazzo cylinder pot, £26, Sainsbury’s Home

ONE

S

MA

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT

EP

MID-CENTURY DESIGN Vince two-door sideboard in walnut, £850, Habitat

LL S T

DEEP HUE Ultra Marine Blue estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball

FAIR TRADE Tribal embroideries cushion, £25.99, Ian Snow

SOFT SEAT Scott three-seater sofa in Gold cotton velvet, £999, Made

STYLIST’S NOTE

“

Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and designs from different cultural influences, as long as you keep to a similar colour palette

”

STEPHANIE DURRANT, SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR

ANTIQUE BRASS Dando round tray, £59.95, Nkuku

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47

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING Reclaim your space with these simple-but-clever storage solutions for busy, clutter-prone rooms

White units on a white wall maximises the feeling of space

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Hallway wall storage Multiple shoe cabinets in a grid format give you slim storage plus a display surface. Keeping the floor clear by wallmounting them helps the space to feel open.

STYLE & DECOR

Living room media centre Fix an MDF panel to the wall and mount your TV and two floating shelves on it. A drawer unit and drum storage stools under the lowest shelf give you an extra hiding place for junk!

Paint the whole unit the same colour for a sleek, interiordesigned look

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STYLE & DECOR

Also handy in a bathroom, office, kid’s room, utility…

Small-stu ff hanger This wall rack is actually a set of webbing-mounted bed slats hung from a couple of wall hooks. Just add S-hooks for hanging bits and bobs.

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‘Built-in’ kitchen bench Back-to-wall seating means you can push your table back. Two tall dresser units either side will turn it into a cosy nook with tons of storage over a narrow footprint.

We’ve used Ikea’s Havsta TV unit as a bench

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Bed-end bank

Match the cupboards to the headboard for a cohesive look

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Boost bedroom storage with a row of low cabinets at the end of the bed – great in a studybedroom for books and paperwork. Make sure it roughly matches the width of the bed.

STYLE & DECOR

We used classic parcel tags to label the baskets

Bedroom alcove store Chunky shelves and some lovely baskets is all it takes to create a home for linens. Fix the bottom shelf high enough to fit laundry baskets beneath.

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STYLE & DECOR

Hallway wall storage

Small-stu ff hanger

Bed-end bank

Trones White shoe storage cabinets, £22 for two, Ikea. Retro webbing stool, £129, Rose & Grey. Idrissa runner rug, £100, John Lewis & Partners. Aurora White feather pendant shade, £99, Graham & Green. (On shoe storage) Suspension I framed art print by Susan Laughton, £120, King & McGaw. Bloomingville small Dark Grey sculpture vase, £7; Deco leaf detail vase, £19; antler Beige horn vase, £22; Filippa Black and White stripe vase, £24, all Lillian Daph. Ashford Black marble ball, £115, Neptune. Beige and White ceramic bowl vase, £22, Maisons du Monde.

Walls in All White estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Art Select Designflooring in Mountain Oak SM-RL22, £42.29sq m, Karndean

Luroy slatted bed base, £15, Ikea. The Hairpin Leg Co White wall hooks, £9.95 each, Amazon.co.uk. Whisk, £9.99; fork, £7.99; spatula, £7.99, all Zara Home.

Maple bread board, £10; Oroshiki grater, £15; scissors, £25; ladles, from £15 each, all Objects of Use. Ivory stripe tea towel, £12; napkins, £18 for two, both Rowen & Wren. 16-piece White and Gold cutlery set, £43.99, Amazon.co.uk.

Fintorp cutlery stands, £6 each; Rimforsa metal hooks, £2 for four, all Ikea. Elca oven glove, £33, Tori Murphy.

Walls, as before

Havsta Grey two-door cabinets with plinth, £125 each, Ikea. Hive brass T-bar handles, £14.99 each, Dowsing & Reynolds. Amalfi Feather Grey velvet king-size bed, £489, Danetti. Hex bedside table, £229, Atkin & Thyme.

(On table) Alina stoneware vase, £30, Nordic House. Taupe Catkin stem, £18.50, Lillian Daph. Karlsson alarm clock, £24.95, Hurn & Hurn. Gold stick table lamp, £59, Primrose & Plum.

(On bed) French ticking stripe natural pillowcases, £12 each; Pebble Grey king-size linen duvet cover, £145; Pebble Grey linen pillowcases, £16 each, all Secret Linen Store. Alpaca Sand throw, £160, Layered Lounge.

Linen ruffle edge cushions, £45 each, Nordic House. (On cabinet) Coffee cup, as before. Slim rustic vase, £9.50, Nordic House. Diva pot, £27, Hurn & Hurn.

Walls in All White estate emulsion, as before. Frosted Peaks carpet, as before

Lack shelves, £15 each, Ikea. Panel and shelves in Coastal Fog 976 regal select matte, £23 for 0.94ltr, Benjamin Moore.

Walls, as above. Frosted Peaks WA500 carpet, £90sq m, Crucial Trading. Geo luxe rug, £400, John Lewis & Partners.

Botero armless sofa chair, £1,850, Oka. Drum stools in Milton 01, £217 each, The Dormy House. Poetae two-drawer table, £119.99, Wayfair. Hisense H50U7BUK 50 Smart 4K HD TV, £549; Sanus VuePoint tilting TV bracket, £39, both AO.com. (On shelves, from top) White vase, £45, Nordic House. Box files in Aurora Charcoal and Aurora Silver/ Gold, £34.50 each, The Dormy House.

Resist glaze vase, £45, Cox & Cox. Cream Banksia faux stems, £21 each, Lillian Daph. Hourglass, £29.99, Zara Home.

Echeveria faux succulent, £18, Neptune.

Darcey tea light holder, £8, Primrose & Plum. Zamora Cream cushion, £64; Grey coffee cup, £11, both Layered Lounge

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Havsta White TV storage combination, £729, Ikea. Taipei brass handles, £26.99, Dowsing & Reynolds. Bench upholstered in Salcombe stripe in Oatmeal, £44.50m, Ian Mankin. Walls in Cedar Key 982 regal select matte, £23 for 0.94ltr, Benjamin Moore. Oslo dining table, £1,949; Cover chairs in Sand leather, £539 each, all Heal’s. Concrete and ash wood ceiling pendants, £105 each, Forest & Co. (In cabinets) Dora pink glasses, £8 for four, Habitat.

Pepper mills, £37 each, Objects of Use. Glass and jute jug, £14, Rose & Grey.

Syon bowl, £46, Neptune. (On table) Elzora 12-piece dinner set (plates shown), £80, Habitat. Bread board, £28; butter dish, £34, both Rowen and Wren.

Rustic amphora vase, £29.99, Zara Home. Grey tinted tumblers, £33 for six, Maisons du Monde. Pink nude mugs, £8 each, Rose & Grey. Coffee pot, £45, Lillian Daph. Godtagbar candlestick, £3.50; Klokhet Green tapered candle, £2.75 for eight, both Ikea. Cutlery set, as before. (On bench) Textured stripe pom-pom cushion, £60; woven fringe cushion, £40, both Cox & Cox. Zamora Taupe cushion, £64, Layered Lounge

Bedroom alcove store Walls in All White estate emulsion, as before. Woven rope stool, £165, Cox & Cox. (On shelves) Box files, as before.

Small box trays, £28 each; small baskets, £58 each; laundry baskets, £170 each, all Ashcroft range at Neptune. Cream tags, £1 for 10, Hobbycraft. Croft collection Modal rib towels, from £15 for a hand towel; Design Project Grey waffle towels, from £12 for a hand towel, all John Lewis & Partners. (In pile, from top) Zamora cream throw, £80, Layered Lounge.

Herringbone Silver/Grey throw, £49.95, Hurn & Hurn. Alpaca throw, as before.

Fishbone Silver/Grey throw, £28, Hurn & Hurn. (In baskets) Napkins and tea towel (in baskets), both as before. Duvet cover, as before. French ticking stripe king-size duvet cover, £99, Secret Linen Store. (On stool) Floral towels, from £7.99 for a hand towel, Zara Home

FEATURE NICKY PHILLIPS STYLING GEMMA GEAR PHOTOGRAPHS JO HENDERSON

Living room media centre

‘Built-in’ kitchen bench

The inside story The traditional, stone-built facade of Kate and Mike Lawley’s converted Victorian schoolhouse hides a surprise – a cool, contemporary, open-plan interior

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REAL HOME

Open-plan space ‘We designed the staircase ourselves and it’s the focal point of our home,’ says Kate. ‘The kitchen, living, dining and TV areas are spread across the open space, creating a sense of flow.

From the double-height seating area you can see the whole space and up to the mezzanine.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Aztec tassel cushion, £25, Homesense.

Marble ceiling pendant, £145, Hay

Love

KATE’S STAIRCASE? Turn to page 65 to find out more

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57

Welcome to my home

Kate Lawley, a senior business development manager lives here with her husband Mike Read, a product designer, developer and technologist.

THE PROPERTY A converted Victorian schoolhouse in Corsham, Wiltshire.

Take a quick tour...

THE VALUE Bought for £300,000 in 2016; now worth £600,000.

“

Whenever we walk through the front door we get such a sense of achievement

”

STUDIO KITCHEN LIVING AREA

BOOT ROOM

GROUND FLOOR

K

ate and Mike fell in love with the old schoolhouse’s natural charm and interesting history instantly, even though it had succumbed to disrepair and neglect. ‘The building had been converted into two dwellings in the early 1900s,’ says Kate. ‘In spite of its condition, we knew it had the potential to be something very special.

‘We’d been looking for a renovation project that would give us a big, open-plan living space inspired by warehouse conversions and loft-style spaces. A local architect, Nicola du Pisanie of Stonewood Design, really opened our eyes to how the space could look.’ Sadly, many of the roof timbers were rotten because of past water leaks, the living space and bedrooms were inaccessible and the electricity only worked in a few of the rooms. ‘The early stages of the renovation were slow and frustrating,’ says Kate. ‘We had to replace roof timbers and windows to make it structurally sound before we could completely reconfigure the layout.

‘We did most of the work ourselves and it was long, dirty and physically tiring. Living with my parents

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DRESSING AREA

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

MAIN BEDROOM

MEZZANINE

FIRST FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

helped, though: knowing we had a warm, comfortable home to go back to kept us sane! Finally, we started the building work with help from my dad, who is a retired carpenter. We installed four steel beams to support a mezzanine and repositioned the front entrance. A new staircase was built and we knocked through a thick concrete wall to create a new doorway for the main bedroom. Once the structure was in place, it was rewired and replumbed with a new heating system.

‘We left the plastering and decorating to professionals, but refurbished the original wood flooring ourselves.

The open-plan layout means all the living spaces are connected, which is perfect for our lifestyle.’ The decor is simple and minimal: ‘We think it’s important to have objects that have a purpose or link to memories,’ says Kate. ‘We are continually inspired by our travels, though.

Likewise, our passion for interiors inspires our travels.

‘Neither of us had any experience of property renovation when we started, but we’ve surprised ourselves with the creative, physical and emotional challenges we’ve overcome. Our home is now better than we ever envisaged.’

REAL HOME

“

When it came to the decor, we kept things simple with a mixture of reclaimed, natural and raw materials, restoring and repurposing whatever we could

”

OVERLAPPING RUGS Layered, they boost the feelings of luxury and warmth

Living area This comfortable corner faces the kitchen island, so guests can sit while chatting to the cook. Contemporary furniture underlines the loft-inspired feel of the open-plan space.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Noble Berber-style rug, £175, Homebase, is similar. Grey floral rug, £150, M&S. Black circular coffee table, £125, Homesense

LOG NOOK Good use of otherwise wasted space

Kitchen and mezzanine The kitchen is the heart of the open-plan area; people naturally gravitate towards the island. ‘We bought the cabinets second-hand and repainted them.

We made the island worktop ourselves and it sits on a reclaimed oak unit.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Rattan bar stools, £220 each, HK Living. Kitchen painted in Ammonite estate emulsion, £60 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Skyscraper knurled handles, from £25.99 each, Dowsing & Reynolds

TV snug ‘Our open staircase and spindles form a subtle divide through the open-plan space,’ says Kate. A modular sofa tones with the wood flooring and rustic stair treads.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Opollo modular leather sofa in Mid Tan, £4,100, Habitat. Magazine rack, £80, Homesense

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REAL HOME

“

Our part of this building had been the school hall, so it had incredible high ceilings and lots of original structural details

”

Dining area ROUND RUG Zones the dining area and softens this space’s straight lines

Smart, contemporary, linear furniture contrasts with the aged, natural patina of the 200-year-old flooring the couple found and restored.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Similar table and bench, £2,000, Furniture Village. Black rattan chairs, £220 each; wicker pendants in natural, £132 each, all HK living. Jute braided round rug in Ivory, £159, Heal’s

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REAL HOME

Front door The entrance to the couple’s part of the property is at the back of the building. You step into the mezzanine level where the bedrooms are, then walk downstairs to the open-plan living space.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Slim profile black aluminium doors, £2,400, Richmark.

Try Aidas jute rug, £110, La Redoute

Mezzanine hallway ‘The floor-to-ceiling window brings the outside in. We really wanted to achieve a light and natural space that we could use like a garden room.

The built-in window seat makes it a space to enjoy whatever the weather.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Rattan cocoon chair, £650; soft fringe throw, £45, both Cox & Cox. Reclaimed German planter, £95, Gabriella Knight

HANGING CHAIR Interrupts the flow to make this less of a corridor and more of a room

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WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

Learn to compromise.

Not everything is technically possible, often it depends on the building and its structural constraints

”

WOVEN HANGING A textural, neutral alternative to wall art

Main bedroom ‘The original arched window and beams draw the eye in this room, so not to detract from them we kept the colours neutral and used natural materials and textiles.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Seagrass wall hanging, £69, Madam Stoltz. Benazir pouffe, £195, Graham and Green, is similar

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63

CEILING-FIXED CURTAIN POLE Makes a shower curtain possible where there is no facing wall

The mezzanine guest room has an internal window overlooking the open-plan space

Bathroom ‘Plaster-effect walls combined with the large, stone-look porcelain tiles and white gloss suite creates a simple but timeless look in here.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Try Stones of Cerim tiles, £29.95sq m, Continental Ceramica. MDesign waffle shower curtain, £17.50, Amazon.co.uk

Guest room HANGING LIGHTS Frame the feature bed and save bedside surface space

FEATURE MARISHA TAYLOR, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS JAMES FRENCH PLANS AGENCY SERVICE

This bright white space feels cosy, thanks to touches of dark grey, auburn and warm wood tones, mixed with natural, woven textures.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Try Padma Parquet bed frame, £699, John Lewis & Partners. Chianti wicker pendants, £18 each, Iconic Lights

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REAL HOME

Make it work for you

KATE’S CHOICE: A STATEMENT STAIRCASE

Modernising your stairs could completely transform the look and feel of your home. This is what you need to know…

The first priority when installing a new or revamped staircase in your home is that it must be practical and safe, but it’s also an opportunity to create something that’s altogether more interesting.

Q

How do I begin?

Think about the style you’d like and how it will blend with the architecture of your home.

The choice could range from a sweepingly grand staircase to a contemporary minimalist design. Most staircases are made with a timber, steel or concrete frame, then finished with a choice of components.

Replacing traditional staircase elements with frameless glass panels will allow more light to flow through your home, while metal features, such as steel handrails, add dramatic style.

Q

Can I renovate my existing staircase?

If the structure is sound, replacing the balustrade and covering existing components can make the staircase look like new. Depending on the amount

of renovation required and the total rise of the staircase, prices for a bespoke design start at around £2,000.

A contemporary staircase can make a striking feature

Q

What are my options if I want a new staircase?

Many timber merchants sell standard size staircase kits from around £500, and you could customise yours with a striking handrail, for example.

Joiners and staircase suppliers offer custom-made solutions, from around £6,000. New staircases need to comply with UK building regulations: visit planningportal.co.uk for info.

Q

How long does it take?

Allow time for site meetings and surveys, with installations generally taking about a week, depending on the complexity of the project; shorter for renovations.

BEST FOR…

“

If the staircase is the first thing people see when entering your home, why not make it an impressive design feature?

JAMES MURRAY, SENIOR STAIRCASE DESIGNER, NEVILLE JOHNSON

”

FEATURE AMELIA THORPE

IDEAL HOME LOVES… BEST OFF-THE-PEG DESIGNS

FEATURE BANISTER This steel and dusted oak staircase takes just one to two days to install.

From £2,400, Neville Johnson

GLASS APPEAL Frameless structural glass panels boost the sense of space.

From £6,000, Jarrods

BUILT TO LAST A solid oak staircase with landing balustrade makes a great focal point .

From £4,156, StairBox

BUYING ONLINE The staircase manufacturer StairBox has an online StairBuilder tool helping you configure a design to suit your requirements.

CONCRETE STAIRS TopFlight specialises in precast concrete staircases, which are strong, with a solid feel, and can be taken to site and installed for immediate use.

GLASS BALUSTRADES IQ Glass supplies frameless glass balustrades, made to suit your staircase.

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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LINED UP Position shelves on the paint lines for a tidy look

STYLE SECRETS

HOW TO UP-STYLE A HOME OFFICE You spend your working day in it, so take it from purely functional to totally inspiringÉ

Soft stripes Create positive vibes by painting the walls in wide bands of uplifting colours.

Gentle pastels mix well, are easy on the eye and won’t feel oppressive in a small space.

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STYLE & DECOR

Use the walls Free up your desktop space – and give yourself something to look at – by mounting stationery on the wall.

Arrange the pieces in a loose triangle shape for a sense of order.

EASY UPCYCLE Paint a spice rack white, and use it to stash notepads and books

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Decorative boards

COLOUR TRICK Paint the shelf to match the wall so it blends in and softens the look

If you’re adding an office nook to a living room or kitchendiner, going for soft shades and introducing pattern will help it integrate sympathetically with the space. Cover noticeboards with pretty fabric in the same colour as the wall paint.

STYLE & DECOR

FEATURE AND STYLING NICKY PHILLIPS, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS DOMINIC BLACKMORE, SIMON WHITMORE

WALL-HUNG DESK Raising the drawer units off the floor will make the room feel more spacious

Colour theme Sweep piles of books, brochures, papers and stationery into matching storage boxes for a calm and organised look. A bespoke memo board (MDF covered in fabric of the same colour as your boxes) will help to visually zone your work space.

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AWARD-WINNING LUXURY RIVER CRUISES IN EUROPE

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Up to €400 of on-board credit per cabin*

River Cruise

Duration

From

It’s all included in the price

Rhine Cruise to Switzerland

8 days

£1,599pp

● Spacious and beautifully appointed suites or cabins with hotel-style beds and river views

Rhine & Moselle

8 days

£1,499pp

Rhine, Strasbourg & Heidelberg

8 days

£1,649pp

The Blue Danube

8 days

£1,099pp

● Exceptional cuisine with full board throughout

Vienna, Bohemia & Treasures of the Danube

8 days

£1,549pp

● Extensive and inclusive touring programmes

Cruise the Heart of Europe

15 days

£2,499pp

● Return flights from a choice of regional airports or standard class reserved seat on Eurostar from London St Pancras (supplements may apply)

Burgundy, the River Rhône & Provence

8 days

£1,549pp

● Return rail connections on selected dates and cruises from over 50 regional stations (supplements may apply) ● The services of an experienced cruise director and concierge

Amsterdam, Kinderdijk & the Dutch Bulbfields

5 days

£899pp

Bruges, Medieval Flanders, Amsterdam & the Dutch Bulbfields

8 days

£1,599pp

The Seine, Paris & Normandy

8 days

£1,549pp

The Douro, Porto & Salamanca

8 days

£1,449pp

Medieval Germany

8 days

£1,749pp

Budapest to The Black Sea – Gems of Eastern Europe

15 days

£2,949pp

The Danube’s Imperial Cities & Yuletide Markets

6 days

£649pp

Enchanting Rhine & Yuletide Markets

5 days

£549pp

CALL 01283 744319 TO BOOK OR FOR A FREE BROCHURE, OR VISIT IDERIVIERA.CO.UK TERMS & CONDITIONS: *The €400 on board credit applies only to the departure dates specified and is based on two people sharing a cabin. Sole occupancy cabins will receive €100 on board credit. The on board credit can be redeemed against all on board purchases, including gratuities. Additional entrance costs may apply. Prices are per person, based on two sharing and subject to finite availability. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. Offer operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430, a company wholly independent of Ideal Home, published by TI Media Limited. Prices correct at time of going to print.

ABTA No. V4744

REAL HOME

Living room ‘I’ve settled on pinks and whites for walls and ceilings, which work with the wood flooring and set off our dark furniture and decorative pieces beautifully.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES The Scott corner sofa, £1,799, Made is a match.

Try the Reyes metal and bamboo side table, £77, Maisons du Monde

PAINT EFFECT A darker panel, taken up to the ceiling, looks like a recess

Starting over Misia Guicherit and Arnoud van Dorp rebuilt their house from the ground up, giving it authentic period architecture but a very contemporary decorative style IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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Welcome to my home THE PROPERTY A two-bedroom semidetached house, re-built in 2016 in the style of a 1900s Dutch labourer’s house, in the city of Leiden, south Holland.

Misia Guicherit, owner of interiors shop Skyler Store, lives here with her partner Arnoud van Dorp, who owns an online marketing agency, and their son, Olivier, three.

S Take a quick tour...

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

FIRST FLOOR

ENTRANCE HALL

KITCHEN-DINER

LIVING AREA

GROUND FLOOR

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FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

“

The house is spacious, light and airy, but it’s also a warm and cosy family home. It embraces you and welcomes you in

”

ituated in Leiden, a city to the south of Amsterdam, the house was built in the 1900s and was typical of the terraced houses built for labourers and their families. ‘We chose the house for its charm and character but also for its peaceful location,’ says Misia. ‘Despite it being practically in the city centre, it’s located in a quiet lane, so you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in a small town or village. It’s away from all the hustle and bustle.’

The layout featured a living room on the street side and a kitchen and dining area overlooking the back garden, which didn’t have the open feel the couple wanted. ‘Rather than extend and renovate it, we decided to demolish the house and re-build it on the same site,’ she says. Since it was essentially a new-build, Misia was able to tailor the layout and have an input on the materials used. ‘My father is in the building trade and he was a great help,’ says Misia. ‘He’s a purist and set great store by finding authentic materials and using them to recreate a house that would come as close to the original as possible.’

The footprint of the new house would be three metres bigger, to increase the ground-floor living space. ‘We fitted an exposed-beam ceiling that replicates the original and adds to the lofty proportions, and kept the stairway open to let the light flow. The new kitchendiner is central to our home life. We work from home a lot and love to cook and entertain friends, so having it positioned at the heart of the house is perfect for us.’

The kitchen peninsula with its dark-grey marble wraparound is a stunning focal point. ‘The interior has all fallen into place and we’re really happy with what we have and how it all looks,’ says Misia.

REAL HOME

Love

MISIA’S STYLE? Turn to page 79 to shop the look

Dining area ‘The live-edge oak table was made by my father using wood from a local wholesaler. It has been given a lightly waxed finish to protect the surface and tie in with the waxed-oak floorboards.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Try the Corndell Jagger table, £799, Furniture Village. Indoor/outdoor dining chairs, £195 for two, Cuckooland. Maze pendants, €185 each, Industry & Co

GLAZED DOORS Let light flow through the ground floor

‘The miniatures on the wall are genuine 1800s paintings that I picked up locally,’ says Misia

Kitchen-diner corner ‘The wallpaper is a perfect backdrop for the yellow velvet armchair and blends perfectly with the marble of the kitchen opposite,’ says Misia.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Florencecourt wallpaper, £100 a roll, Cole & Son. Lola velvet chair, £129, Cult Furniture is a match

Hallway and porch New inner doors replicate the traditional Dutch style, together with the original terracotta floor tiles, which have been reinstated. The rest of the floors throughout the house are made of wide

oak boards given a soft, natural waxed finish.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Aftus rug, £60, La Redoute is similar.

Recycled tyre basket, £42.99, Trouva. Try the faux rubber plant, £30, Blooming Artificial

“

This house is a haven of tranquillity and we wanted to create a warm, cosy ambience inside

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FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

”

REAL HOME

Kitchen-diner ‘The kitchen was made from Ikea carcasses, doors my dad had left over from a building project and grey marble worktops. It’s a great light-reflector and it’s where we have breakfast and drinks with friends.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Try the Dar Academy pendant, £240, Lights2go. Logan bar stools, £99.99 for two, Argos are a match. The Watford metal shelves, £85 for two, La Redoute, would work well here

PAINTED BEAMS Makes a space feel lighter and loftier than bare timber

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REAL HOME

VALET RAIL Holds tomorrow’s outfit ready for speedier morning starts

Main bedroom Exposed wood beams and basic white walls create a calm mood in this space, but Misia has created a feeling of richness by adding deep-dyed bed linen, a glam marble-and-brass side table and velvet lamp.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Teal duvet cover, £49 for a double; pillowcases, £9 each, all Secret Linen Store. Round velvet cushions, £45 each, Graham and Green would work here. For a similar hide rug, try the faux cowhide rug, £179.99, Wayfair.

Velvet lamp, £120, Rockett St George

Main bedroom

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

Be more courageous with colour. I think colour makes everything so much cosier. Also, always start with all the major choices first and look for accessories and extra details later

”

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FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

FEATURE GERALDINE NESBITT/COCOFEATURES.COM, LISA FAZZANI, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS AND STYLING PEGGY JANSSEN PLANS AGENCY SERVICE

‘I like an eclectic mix of styles,’ says Misia. ‘I love to experiment with classic and modern pieces, designer furniture and antiques.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Try the Clyde Green velvet chair, £65, Maisons du Monde. Recycled tyre basket (as planter), £42.99, Trouva. Terrazzo bulbholder lamp, £25, John Lewis & Partners

Let’s design together

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Southwark shelving unit £160 £199

Weaving TV stand £264 £329

For T&Cs, please visit swooneditions.com

REAL HOME

Make it work for you MISIA’S STYLE: POLISHED BOHO

Warm colours, touches of brass and bold black accent pieces add up to a relaxed yet elegant interior

IDEAL

BRILLIANT BLOOMS Bouquet framed print, £30, Wallpaper Direct

GREAT DEAL

FLORAL FANCY Springflowers print, £13, Vanilla Fly at Amara

GO FAUX Artificial philodendron plant, £120, Audenza

HOT SEAT Vogue velvet armchair, £285, BePureHome at Cuckooland

NEW LEAF Artificial Bergspalm plant, £39.99, Dowsing & Reynolds

NATURAL TOUCH Round jute rug, £175, Bloomingville range, Beaumonde

PERFECTLY FORMED Alana velvet shell-back accent chair, £129.99, Argos

TREAT FEET Rozza round jute rug, £55, La Redoute

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

BAMBOO BEAUTY Alilia Black coffee table, £305, Sweetpea & Willow

DARK MATERIALS Reyes Black metal and woven bamboo side table, £77, Maisons du Monde

TOP BRASS Palm tree candleholder, £33, The Farthing

ANIMAL APPEAL Monkey candleholder, £8, Sainsbury’s Home

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EASY STYLE UPDATES From best buys and clever tricks to mini decor projects… this is our roundup of the simplest, quickest ways to make your home more beautiful now

Parquet Charcoal vinyl tiles, from £46.80sq m, Harvey Maria

1 LAY A ‘RUG’ Vinyl tiles are easier to clean under a dining table than a crumbtrapping rug and do a

great job at zoning off your dining area in a multipurpose space.

Plus, they’re a smart way to introduce a little pattern and wow factor into your room – especially if it has simple white walls.

STYLE & DECOR

2

PICK AN ACCENT BLIND Add a surprise in a neutral room and give the calm colour scheme a hit of happy colour. Rich yellow is perfect for a bedroom – zingy in the morning, mellow at night.

3

SORT THE HALLWAY

Pleated blinds, from £53, Hillarys

The hallway can quickly become a dumping ground for the whole family, so put a stylish stop to it with a selection of baskets to hide away shoes, hats and gloves. A peg rail is great for the dog lead.

First Light advance matte, £71 for 3.79ltr, Benjamin Moore

4

REFRESH KITCHEN CUPBOARDS

Give tired and scuffed kitchen cupboards a new lease of life with a fresh lick of paint. First, give doors a quick clean, then a light sand.

Once painted, seal with a clear matt varnish to protect from knocks.

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5 BUILD IN A VANITY UNIT To ensure a small bedroom stays clutterfree, include a dressing table in your built-in storage so that your make-up and trinkets can be shut away to give the room a streamlined look.

6 LET THE LIGHT IN WITH WINDOW FILM For spaces that require privacy as well as light, such as a hallway or porch, window film is a great choice. Choose a patterned option to add a decorative touch to glass panels.

7 PAPER WITH SOPHISTICATED FLORALS

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Stick to a small, simple print, such as this blossom design, and your room won’t become overly feminine or blowsy. Offset the florals with bold black accents and plain bedding.

FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

(TAKE GREY WALLS A FEW SHADES DARKER) PHOTOGRAPH TIM YOUNG. STYLING ALI ATTENBOROUGH. STYLING ASSISTANT ISABELLA CHARLESWORTH

Intricato White patterned window film, £69sq m, The Window Film Company

STYLE & DECOR

8

TAKE GREY WALLS A FEW SHADES DARKER

While a pale or subdued grey may be the safe option, painting your walls a darker grey will result in a cosier and more dramatic space with extra character.

Walls in Down Pipe modern emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Vintage Moroccan rug, £1,050, Yonder. Sofa, from a selection at ABC Home. Caitlyn coffee table, £450, Rose & Grey. Kyoto floral cushion, from a selection at HK Living. Mara vessel, £62, Abigail Ahern. Face candle holder, £10; Peony Rose floral art print, £22 unframed, both Rockett St George. Black frame, 50x50cm, £21.95, Desenio. Vase with legs, £74, A New Tribe. Faux flowers and foliage, all from a selection at Wyld Home

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Henley kitchen in Snow, from ÂŁ14,000, Neptune

9 HANG A COFFEE TABLE ON THE KITCHEN WALL For additional storage space in your kitchen, add in open shelving in the form of a couple of coffee or side tables, hung on the wall. Their tiered shelves provide space to store crockery and glassware and you can use them in a modular form, by adding as many as you need.

STYLE & DECOR

10 PAINT THE WALL BEHIND YOUR BED For a quick refresh in your bedroom, paint the wall that your bed sits in front of in a new shade of paint, to bring some colour and contrast to your room.

11 PUT PATTERN ON THE FLOOR In a room where walls and furniture are plain, a patterned carpet is a great way to add interest and colour to the space, as well as to make a design statement.

Busy carpets also hide dirt better than plains.

Iona Duck Egg carpet, from £74.99sq m, Laura Ashley at Brintons

Floral and birds bedding, £60 for a double set, Fat Face

12 SWAP IN A VIBRANT LAUNDRY BASKET This colourful bamboo basket is stylish as well as functional – smart enough to take pride of place in a bedroom or bathroom. It would also look just the part as toy or towel storage, too.

Woven bamboo round laundry basket, £49.50, Oliver Bonas

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13 ADD COLOUR TO YOUR BATHROOM A great way to dial up designer style in your bathroom is with a show-stopping wallpaper. Often more affordable than tiles, as long as your bathroom has proper ventilation, it should prove no problem and will add impact.

14 CREATE A COSY CORNER WITH MOOD LIGHTING

Bloomsbury Neo Mint wallpaper, £60 a roll, Graham & Brown

Ensio 4lt table lamp, £118.80, Där Lighting

Spring LED ceiling light, £925; Silhouette marble dining table, £999, both John Lewis & Partners

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FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

15 HANG A STATEMENT PENDANT LIGHT

To create a cosy dining setting, hang an oversized pendant light low over your table. Go for a wire design like this one, that still allows natural light to reach your table and doesn’t cause a huge shadow.

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH. PHOTOGRAPHS TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

Turn an unloved corner of a room into a cosy reading nook by adding a soft light, a shaggy rug and a comfy chair. Choose a range of adjustable lighting options to see you through all of the seasons.

STYLE & DECOR

16 UPDATE YOUR BED LINEN Simply switching your bedding to something more sumptuous can have a big effect. A pattern will bring white or grey walls to life.

Layer with a throw and accent cushion to create a boutique hotel feel, while a reversible design will give you more options.

Trellis bedding, £35 for a double set; Perla mirrored bedside table, £139, both JD Williams

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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FULLY ESCORTED TOURS Experience some of the world’s best destinations with these amazing tours

LAKE COMO, ST MORITZ & THE BERNINA EXPRESS EIGHT DAYS FROM ONLY £819PP DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2020 PRICES INCLUDE ●

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Menaggio are on a bed-and-breakfast basis, with dining options available)

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Explore Dubrovnik, Byron’s ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ Marvel at the rushing waters of Krka National Park Cross the iconic Stari Most bridge, now returned to its former glory in Mostar, once Europe’s border with the Ottoman Empire Immerse yourself in the history of Emperor Diocletian’s monumental palace in Split, brought to life by the intimate knowledge of a local guide Discover the delights of medieval Trogir Explore the dramatic Dalmatian Coastline, visiting picturesque Cavtat and a restored watermill Return flights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers Seven nights in four-star accommodation, with breakfast and dinner The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

PRICES INCLUDE

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PRICES INCLUDE ●

EIGHT DAYS FROM ONLY £729PP DEPARTURES FROM MARCH TO NOVEMBER 2020

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8 DAYS HALF-BOARD FROM ONLY £1,079PP DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2020

Take a lake cruise to beautiful Bellagio on Lake Como, and visit the delightful Villa del Balbianello and its inspirational gardens Enjoy a full-day visit to the chic resort of St Moritz, including a journey on the Bernina Express, one of the most spectacular railways in the Alps Guided tour of Bergamo, northern Italy’s most enchanting medieval town Enjoy visits to Lake Maggiore and Stresa Visit Lugano, an elegant Swiss lakeside town with Italian influences Return flights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers Seven nights in a choice of well-located three and four-star accommodation inclusive of all local taxes, with breakfast and dinner (stays at the Grand Hotel

POMPEII, CAPRI & THE BAY OF NAPLES

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DUBROVNIK & THE DALMATIAN COAST

Explore the Roman town of Herculaneum with a local guide Take a boat trip to the island of Capri Discover the mysteries of Pompeii on a guided tour Spend a full day touring the breathtaking Amalfi coast, with a visit to charming hilltop Ravello Stay in elegant Sorrento and enjoy a walking tour of this stylish resort Enjoy a walking tour of Naples old town with a local guide and enjoy a sample of the authentic Neapolitan street food Return flights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers Seven nights in a choice of conveniently located accommodation rated threeto four-star superior, plus breakfast and dinner* The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

CLASSICAL SPAIN - SEVILLE, CÓRDOBA & GRANADA SEVEN DAYS FROM ONLY £599PP DEPARTURES FROM MARCH TO NOVEMBER 2020 PRICES INCLUDE ●

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Experience the iconic cathedral, vibrant streets and tranquil parks of beautiful Seville on a tour led by a local guide Enjoy tapas on an evening introduction to these delicious Spanish appetisers in Seville Explore the city of Granada and visit the outstanding Alhambra Palace Visit historic Córdoba and take a guided tour of the Mezquita Marvel at the natural drama of Ronda, situated across a plunging gorge Return flights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers Six nights in three-star superior and four-star accommodation, with breakfast The services of an experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

*Stays at the Hotel Mediterraneo and the La Badia are on a bed-and-breakfast basis

CALL 01283 744319 TO BOOK OR FOR A FREE BROCHURE, OR VISIT IDERIVIERA.CO.UK TERMS & CONDITIONS: Additional entrance costs may apply. Prices are per person, based on two sharing and subject to finite availability. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. Offer operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430, a company wholly independent of Ideal Home, published by TI Media Limited. Prices correct at time of print.

STYLE & DECOR Swap a glass splashback for something equally striking, with basket-weave gloss bricks. Arcadian Danube ceramic brick tiles in Blue, £99.95sq m, Original Style

INTERIOR DESIGN ADVICE

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TILES Whether you want them to blend into the background or make a statement, you’ll want to love them for a very long time, so we asked the experts to share their insider tips and trend predictions…

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Mix matt and gloss metro tiles in brick format for a fresh take on modern-country style. Somerset Green tiles, £49.28sq m, Ideal Home range at Tile Giant

T

echnological advances are giving us a feast of beautiful printed designs, textures and shapes to choose from.

Whether you’re planning a full-on redo or just replacing a splashback, where should you start your tile journey? We asked our favourite experts…

I’M UPDATING MY KITCHEN – WHAT TILES ARE BEST FOR THE FLOOR? ‘There’s been a swing away from natural stone due to the maintenance it needs,’ says Rob Whitaker, creative director at Claybrook. ‘Terracotta, stone and marble are all natural products that can be porous (although you can mitigate that through sealing). This leaves porcelain. New technology means that you can’t tell the difference between stone and its porcelain lookalikes, which makes for an effective and easy-to-clean floor.’

WHAT ARE THE SAFEST COLOURS TO CHOOSE? ‘Mid-range colours seem to work best if you hate attending to every crumb,’ says Rob. ‘Think

90

about dark tan shades or mid greys. The more porous the floor, the more likely dirt will get ingrained. Sealing the floor and having an experienced tiler do the work is the best way to avoid disappointment.’

HOW CAN I MAKE A STATEMENT BEHIND THE HOB THAT WON’T DATE? ‘Not many homes can take that cockerel or Italianate fruit basket behind the hob nowadays!’ says Rob. ‘But I wouldn’t worry about it dating: most “looks” last 10-15 years – the average time between kitchen refurbs. Just think practically and make sure it’s wipeable! A beautiful glazed tile in a rich colour can create a focal point without being too fussy.’

Jordan Cluroe, co-founder of 2LG, says: ‘We would suggest a gloss or patterned tile across the whole wall for a unified effect.’

WHAT WOULD YOU GO FOR IN A BATHROOM? Russell Whitehead, co-founder of 2LG says: ‘Start with what you loved or hated about the previous tiles. If you want easy-to-clean, then go for larger format tiles; if you’re not afraid of cleaning,

FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

“

I wouldn’t worry about it dating. Most looks last 10-15 years – the average time between refurbs. Just think practically and make sure it’s wipeable!

ROB WHITAKER, CLAYBROOK

”

STYLE & DECOR ‘Hallways are transient spaces, so you can get away with big impact,’ says co-founder of 2LG Jordan Cluroe. Victorian tiles in Norwich Black, Dover White and Holkham Dune, from £116.31sq m, Original Style

‘For easy installation and maintenance, go for a large format tile,’ says Russell Whitehead, co-founder of 2LG. Mediterraneo tiles, from £49.95sq m, Original Style

then smaller format square tiles, mosaics and zellige tiles are beautiful options.’ Ana Rezende, senior design consultant at Ripples says: ‘Grey tiles are our biggest sellers, but then lily pad patterns are becoming increasingly popular, too. People tend to be braver in en suites and downstairs loos.’

WILL MARBLE STAY IN FASHION? ‘Yes,’ says Rob, ‘we’re thinking up ways to ensure it continues to be fresh and accessible, rather than just as the preserve of high-end hotels.’ Ana agrees: ‘It’s the tones of natural stones that change, but it’s always luxurious. Try adding wood finishes to marble for warmth.’

3 OF THE BEST NEW TILE TRENDS

Lagom White tile, £64.38sq m, Porcelain Superstore

Manoir Deco Tayberry tile, £199.95sq m, Original Style

Achilles Teal mix fish scale tile, £39.95sq m, Walls and Floors

SHOULD I ALWAYS COMBINE TWO TYPES? ‘If the room is to be fully-tiled, then I prefer a mix of tiles,’ says Ana. ‘But, if it’s just going to be part-tiled, I’d suggest using the same tile throughout.’

WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG THING IN TILE TRENDS? ‘We’re seeing lots of 10sq cm glazed wall tiles used grid-like with dark grout,’ says Rob. ‘Plus, reclaimed terracotta channels a need to return to earthy, basic forms, and with an eco slant.’

HOW CAN I MAKE WHITE METRO TILES LOOK MORE INTERESTING? ‘Try a basket-weave formation, or line them up in vertical rows for something a bit more modern,’ suggests Jordan. ‘But for many people, using metro tiles in a regular brick pattern is excitement enough if they are replacing a horror tile from the 1970s or ’80s,’ adds Rob. WHAT’S YOUR VIEW ON COLOURED GROUT? ‘Coloured grout on a plain glazed tile looks cool and works brilliantly,’ says Rob. ‘However,

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beware of darker grout with tiles that have a matt or crazed surface as it can be tough to remove if it adheres.’ Ana advises: ‘Avoid using brightcoloured grout with big format tiles – it gets lost and doesn’t have the same fun effect.’ Jordan agrees: ‘You need an expert tiler to make sure the tiles and grout meet in a beautiful way, otherwise the grout will show up every mistake and mismatch.’ Russell concludes: ‘It’s not for the fainthearted, but we aren’t saying no!’

I LOVE THE MOROCCAN LOOK THAT’S BIG NOW, BUT WILL I REGRET IT? ‘Tiles with a true North African shape, pattern or colour will not date,’ says Rob. ‘Ask yourself why you love it,’ suggests Russell. ‘If it’s because everyone else does… that is not a good reason; but if you love them because they speak to you, then their popularity – or lack of – is irrelevant.’

WHAT WOULD YOU USE IN A HALLWAY? ‘Hallways are the gateway to the soul of your home,’ says Jordan.

‘So consider what impression you want to make.’ ‘It needs to be practical, too,’ says Rob. ‘Easily-cleaned porcelain or hard-wearing cement are ideal.

I’d go for a strong pattern to hide scrapes and marks.’

IS IT OK TO PUT PERIOD STYLE IN A NEW BUILD AND VICE VERSA? ‘Yes – British homes are an eclectic bundle of styles built up over time,’ says Rob, reasoning that upstairs bathrooms were retro-fitted to pre-1930s homes.

FEATURE JENNIFER MORGAN

CAN FLOOR TILES WORK

THROUGHOUT MY OPENPLAN LIVING SPACES? ‘Yes,’ says Jordan, ‘but layer up with large rugs, which will help define and soften the space.’ Ana recommends using large-format tiles, while Rob suggests laying them diagonally to create flow and a sense of space.

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Mix two trends together, such as marble-effect tiles in both simple vertical and herringbone patterns.

Somerset Venato tiles in Grey, £49.28sq m, Ideal Home range at Tile Giant

FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Choose from a predesigned pattern or create something bespoke with period-style floor tiles.

Victorian floor tiles in Nottingham in Dover White, Revival Grey and Green with Winchester Artisan half tiles, from £122.98sq m, Original Style

STYLE & DECOR

3 OF THE BEST TILE COMBOS WARM TONES

MATT MATCHING

SOOTHING SAGE

Attingham Earth Sun ceramic tile, £57.83sq m, Topps Tiles

Hexagon Blue Mix porcelain tile, £24.99sq m, Tile Mountain

Metro Sage ceramic tile, £13.99sq m, Tons of Tiles

Dollymixx Beige Shroom tile, £39.95sq m, Walls and Floors

Konkrete Anthracite matt concrete-effect tile, £15sq m, B&Q

Neisha Crosland Matchstick Verde tile, £180sq m, Fired Earth

Metro Deco Columbus Circle glazed tiles, £44sq m; Old Havana Cabanas encaustic tiles, £70sq m, both Claybrook

Meet the professionals…

ROB WHITAKER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF CLAYBROOK (CLAYBROOKSTUDIO.CO.UK)

Rob oversees buying and style direction of the brand, which sells tiles, wood flooring and bathrooms from its Shoreditch base.

JORDAN CLUROE AND RUSSELL WHITEHEAD, INTERIOR DESIGNERS AND FOUNDERS OF 2LG STUDIO (2LGSTUDIO.COM)

Jordan and Russell’s practice is based in southeast London. The duo offers residential and

commercial interior design, consultancy and styling services.

They were part of the team behind Deco Tayberry – Original Style’s Tile of the Year 2020.

ANA REZENDE, SENIOR DESIGN CONSULTANT AT RIPPLES (RIPPLESBATHROOMS.COM)

Ana joined Ripples in 2017.

Ripples was founded in 1988 in Bath, and now operates as a franchise, employing over 25 highly talented bathroom designers based at 15 showrooms around the UK.

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OPEN SHELVING Saves money on cabinets and gives a relaxed feel

‘We created our dream kitchendiner from scratchÕ The Fraser-Gausdens embarked on a major extension and space-reorganisation project to get the multifunctional room they needed

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KITCHEN PROJECT

BEFORE

Love

ELLA’S STYLE? Turn to page 99 to shop the look

Welcome to my home Ella Fraser-Gausden lives here with her husband Toby and their children Arlo, 12 and baby Edie, one.

THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom Victorian terrace in west London.

WHAT IT COST

‘We relocated the kitchen from the first to the ground floor, knocking down a wall between the old conservatory and an unused room. We also used space from the side return to create a large family kitchen-diner.’

Bespoke Shaker cabinets, from £410 for a 600mm unit, Bricks & Velvet

Kitchen units......£12,000 Appliances...........£3,972 Sink and tap.........£1,245 Worktop...............£2,750 Flooring...............£2,200 Lighting...................£499 Wall tiles.....................£79 TOTAL...............£22,745

“

This room was the biggest project of our lives and it was such a relief when it all came together!

”

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HOW ELLA AND TOBY DID IT ‘The old kitchen was dated, with no worktop space, but the main issue was that it was on the first floor, which didn’t work for us at all. We lived with it for five months, which gave us time to work out what we wanted to do and to apply for planning permission for an extension.

Kitchen company Bricks & Velvet advised us to boost the light in the north-facing downstairs space we’d created

CLOUDY GLASS SHADES Diffusing, for softer, directional task lighting

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by fitting four rooflights and choosing a light colour palette.

They also helped us with the planning application and managed the work, which took four months and cost about £70,000. That included the extension, skylights, underfloor heating, kitchen and flooring installation, and decorating.

The patio doors were £4,000.

The design was a real success – even though it’s north-facing, the space always feels inviting.’

BELOW ‘The island is my favourite element and I love how everyone congregates around it, so you never feel isolated while cooking,’ says Ella. ‘I also love the pink encaustic splashback tiles, as they contrast beautifully with the grey cabinets.

Along with the floating shelves, they turn the hob area into a feature.’

Pink Pradena tiles, £99sq m, Bert & May. Bosch cooker hood in Black, £341, John Lewis & Partners

FEATURE CAROLINE FOSTER, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS CHRIS SNOOK

KITCHEN PROJECT

ABOVE ‘I love the classic style of the instant hot-water tap – with a young family it’s something I use every day.’

Polaris 3-in-1 tap in Aged Brass, £917, Sinks-Taps.com. Florence 3mm quartz worktop, £400sq m, Glass & Fusion

RECLAIMED WOOD TOP Gives traditional cabinets a more relaxed feel

ABOVE The cabinetry was continued into the dining area with this dresser effect.

‘Our lovely built-in wine rack admittedly isn’t very toddler friendly, but that won’t be a problem for too long!’

Similar wooden dining table, from £495, The Old Cinema

RIGHT The larder cupboard, complete with electrical sockets, houses a hot drinks station. ‘It’s a must-have, multifunctional space we constantly use,’ says Ella.

Heritage Brass cabinet pull bars in Satin Brass finish, £10.53 each, Handles4U

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

Not to be impulsive.

The kitchen is such an integral part of the house, we went through lots of options, so I knew when we settled on our final plans every detail had been thought through

”

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IDEAL HOME PARTNERSHIP

‘I CAPTURE FLEETING NATURAL MOMENTSÕ Simone Webb’s ethereal artwork is now available at Runway Gallery (Below) Fecundity II, £2,500; (right) Accolade, £2,400, both by Simone Webb

I WANTED TO BECOME AN ARTIST FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER As a child, I’d catch the bus into town, which passed the local art college. I’d always say, ‘I’m going to go there one day.’ And I did. After that, I studied for a degree in graphic design and illustration at De Montfort University. This didn’t incorporate as many traditional mediums as I was hoping, but I have no regrets.

It’s led me to where I am today and now I happily combine modern and traditional techniques.

MY ARTWORK OFFERS A SENSE OF PERMANENCE WITHIN NATURE’S FLEETING BEAUTY Flora and fauna bloom and decay in painterly gestures across stark backgrounds; a fusion of their life cycle from beginning to end that can be observed at any given time. The flowers are floating, transcending time

before printing and adding accents, mainly gold leaf.

I LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE I WORK, ANYTHING FROM ACOUSTIC TO METAL I also listen to true-crime podcasts.

I wouldn’t say they inspire me (that wouldn’t be a good sign!), but they really help me get in the zone and be my most productive self. If I need some time out of the studio, I’ll often visit botanical gardens and stately homes in search of fresh inspiration.

I LOVE MAKING A BOLD STATEMENT WITH ARTWORK IN AN ENTRANCE Anyone walking through the door instantly gains a sense of what you’re about. I also love the idea of pulling favourite colours from the paintings and using them in your decor – metallic accents complement the gold, silver and copper leaf details in my pieces perfectly.

and space, which I hope ignites a sense of serenity and peace within the viewer.

THE ROCOCO MOVEMENT INSPIRES MY USE OF COLOUR I’ll begin work on a piece with certain shades in mind, but as the work progresses they often change. I just go with what feels right in the moment. I paint elements in acrylic, which I then scan into my computer and combine digitally in Photoshop

“

When hanging artwork in a room with lots of windows, consider a frame with non-reflective glass to avoid glare on sunny days

”

BECOME A COLLECTOR Looking for a statement piece to give your walls the wow factor?

Runway Gallery is an online venture showcasing contemporary, affordable art from Simone Webb and other artists. Visit runway-gallery.com.

NEXT MONTH The Connor Brothers entered the art scene as fictional characters Franklyn and Brendan Connor, American twins brought up within an extremist cult known as ‘The Family’. In 2014, they revealed themselves as British art dealers turned artists Mike Snelle and James Golding, and have recently collaborated with our sister brand, Livingetc, to produce two exclusive prints, now available at Runway Gallery.

WORDS TARA KING. ARTWORK, FROM LEFT FECUNDITY II, £2,500; ACCOLADE, £2,400, BOTH BY SIMONE WEBB, AVAILABLE AT RUNWAY-GALLERY.COM

F

rom her studio in Brighton, Simone Webb – one of the latest artists to join online Runway Gallery – combines traditional and modern techniques to create striking artwork. Full of elegance and intrigue, and inspired by the natural life cycle of flora and fauna, her work draws inspiration from botany, horticulture, entomology and taxidermy.

KITCHEN PROJECT

Make it work for you ELLA’S STYLE: MODERN SHAKER

Sleek surfaces, fluted glass fittings, burnished brass and statement pink tiles update a classic style The bold pink feature splashback enlivens the pale decor

1 2

3

4 5 6

IDEAL

GREAT DEAL

SET OFF YOUR SCHEME WITH A LUXE METALLIC TAP

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI

£399.95

£159

FLAWLESS FINISH

WARM MATERIAL

Marple Traditional brushed Gold instant boiling water tap, Victorian Plumbing

Fortuna tap in Bronze with White handles, Wren

WHERE TO BUY 1 Dar Arvin pendant, £48.50, Castlegate Lights 2 Gloria adjustable swivel stool, £86.99, Wayfair 3 Pink Pradena tile, £3.96, Bert & May 4 Palm plant pots, £25 for two, Made 5 Dukkah bar handles in embossed brushed brass, £18 for two, GoodHome range, B&Q 6 Chester Grey sideboard with wine rack, £449, The Cotswold Company

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‘It’s cosy in winter, fresh in summer’ Sibyl Zao-Sanders and Samuel Muir embraced their Sixties home’s boxy, modernist style by adding a clean lined, contemporary kitchen-diner extension

Love

SIBYL’S CONCRETE FLOORING? ‘We loved the idea of connecting with the outside, so we incorporated lots of glass,’ says Sibyl. The dark green cabinets also evoke an indoor/outdoor feel.

‘We’re aware that our tastes will change, though, so they have interchangeable doors.’

Kitchen, £600 for a 600mm base unit, Holborough Interiors; painted in Palm Night eggshell, £20.23 for 2.5L, Dulux

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Turn to page 105 to shop the look

KITCHEN PROJECT

BEFORE

Welcome to my home Sibyl Zao-Sanders lives here with her husband, Samuel and their two children, Marlowe, five, and Edison, three.

THE PROPERTY A Sixties end-of-terrace in East London.

WHAT IT COST Units...................£10,000 Appliances.........£12,000 Sink..........................£230 Tap.........................£1,220 Worktops.............£5,350 Flooring...............£5,000 Lighting................£4,500 TOTAL...............£38,300

“

We’ve created a multipurpose space where each area has its own identity, yet meets the individual needs of our whole family

”

FULL HEIGHT STORAGE Streamlined, contemporary and clutterbusting

HOW SIBYL AND SAMUEL DID IT ‘We thought the small existing kitchen could become the living room and a new extension at the back would give us a large kitchen-diner. Not knowing what we’d obtain planning permission for, we drew up three layouts based on our worst, medium and best-case scenarios, and our architects, Studio-P, advised us on what was achievable. Luckily, we ended up with 95 per cent of our best scenario – a 4.5m extension. We used a kitchen

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planner to help us make sure the working part of the room really functioned well. We expect to live here for a long time, so this was our one chance to get it just right. The work, which cost us about £40,000, plus £8,000 for the sliding doors, didn’t go quite to plan – there were problems with the windows – and we nearly missed our Christmas Eve deadline, finally moving in at 7pm that day! But now, a year on, we still love the space.’

ABOVE A step up from the kitchen-diner extension is a cosy seating area that was once the original kitchen. ‘This is one of the most relaxing parts of the house,’ says Sibyl. ‘We use it for coffee in the morning, flicking through a cookbook with a glass of wine in the evening and hiding from the messy kitchen after a meal!’

Discus pendant by Jamie Gray, £3,698, 1stdibs. Ekadalen dining table, £179, Ikea

KITCHEN PROJECT

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

This project taught us how useful it is to experience living in a space before changing it.

We got to know how the light moves, where our children like to play and how our everyday life would work

”

FEATURE: SEÁN O’CONNELL, VANESSA RICHMOND. PHOTOGRAPHS: VERONICA RODRIGUEZ

WRAPPED ISLAND For a seamless, streamlined finish

LEFT The contrasting tambour-fronted wall unit hides small appliances. ‘For the worktops, we went for a composite stone, resistant to stains, cracks, scratches and heat,’ says Sibyl.

Caesarstone Cloudburst worksurfaces, £5,350, Holborough Interiors

ABOVE ‘To keep the cleanlined look here, we chose a ceiling-mounted cooker hood,’ says Sibyl. ‘The hob is fitted facing outwards, which is far more sociable.’

Neff cooker hood, £1,272; Fisher & Paykel gas hob, £839, both John Lewis & Partners.

Hay J77 chair, £139, Clippings

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KITCHEN PROJECT

Make it work for you SIBYL’S CHOICE: CONCRETE FLOORING

Fallen hard for Sibyl’s industrially inspired concrete flooring?

Find out if it ticks every box with our guide Hardwearing, easy to clean and dust-mite resistant, it’s little wonder polished concrete flooring is so popular. The industrial look is very on trend too, plus it holds the heat well so works brilliantly with underfloor heating.

Q

What is polished concrete?

Flooring made from concrete, left in its raw natural state or coloured then polished and sealed to create a nonporous surface. Diamondpolishing tools are used and floors are commonly finished to a grit level of 800, 1500 or 3000 – the higher the grit, the shinier the floor. It costs £80-150sq m, depending if it’s levelled by machine or trowelled by hand.

Q

How is it installed?

Techniques vary but most are poured in a single layer, 10cm thick. Next day expansion cuts are sawn into the floor to ensure shrinkage cracks are in a neat line. These are then filled with an expandable, colourmatched sealant before the floor is cleaned, polished and sealed.

Q

Does it take long?

It depends on the size and temperature of the room, plus the installation method, but allow seven to 10 days for a 10cm-thick floor.

A concrete floor perfectly suits this sleek modern look

Q

Will it crack?

That’s always a possibility.

Shrink-reducing additives and anti-crack reinforcing, plus the expansion-cut method, help prevent larger cracks. Sudden temperature changes are the main cause so it’s important to introduce heating slowly.

Q

Is it easy to maintain?

A daily sweep is best, plus a weekly wet mop. Any spills must be cleaned up quickly or the surface could absorb it, and sticky substances should be removed using a non-scratch implement.

BEST FOR...

“

Choose a specialist installer with a quality track record. The finished floor should offer good depth of tone and lustre, with a hard-wearing finish

”

RUTH CORBETT, HOUSES EDITOR, IDEAL HOME

FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON

IDEAL HOME LOVES CONCRETE EFFECTS

LUXURY VINYL Tiles that look weathered but feel warm and tactile underfoot.

Pasadena luxury vinyl tiles, £19.99sq m, Tile Mountain

TOUGH PORCELAIN Matt finish porcelain tiles are suitable for inside and outside use.

Planate Fossil Grey tiles, £19.95sq m, Walls and Floors

WARM LAMINATE Easy fit laminate with embossed surface and bevelled edge.

Colours Leggiero concrete effect laminate, £12sq m, B&Q

COLOUR CHOICE Steyson’s 50 years experience has made it the go-to for interior designers. Bespoke colour-matching is a speciality.

ECO CRED Lazenby makes concrete using high proportions of recycled materials, and sources materials from local suppliers to reduce its carbon footprint.

EASY INSTALLATION The Resin Floor Co offers polished concrete, poured resin and Micro Concrete floorings that are much thinner so require less upheaval to install.

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KITCHEN PROJECT Complex islands One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to islands as we all have our own specific needs. Consider a modular design with space for storage, utility and seating.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Alderley kitchen in Bone, from £15,000, Kitchen Makers

The KITCHEN TRENDS TO TRUST

Updating your kitchen can be a wobbly walk between safe (but boring) options and riskier choices that will date quickly. Luckily, there are plenty of slow-moving ‘trends’ that will give you a kitchen you love now… and in 2025

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Raw wood Wood kitchens lost their mojo for a few years but they’re back with a bang, albeit slightly paler than before. Combined with cool white appliances, worktops and tiling, raw wood is great for adding texture and character without heaviness.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Ricco Collection Mellow Oak kitchen, from £8,000, LochAnna Kitchens

Reeded glass Much loved in the 1950s and 1960s, reeded or fluted glass is making a real comeback, thanks to the popularity of glazed wall cabinets (less blocky in small or dark kitchens).

BUY THE KEY PIECES Kitchen, from £25,000, Brookmans by Smallbone at Heal’s

Fluted glass makes it special

« Vinyl flooring Hang on! Don’t switch off at the ‘V’ word – the quality, durability and appearance of vinyl flooring has come on leaps and bounds from that curling-at-the-edges stuff you might remember from the 1970s. Easy to maintain and warm underfoot, it’s a great choice if you have kids and/or pets. Plus, new tech means it looks like the real deal, too.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Lattice vinyl tiles in Seedpod, £46.80sq m, Harvey Maria

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Industrial finishes Something about that blend of contemporary style and authentic old materials just works, whatever the age of your property. That’s why you won’t regret choosing concrete, brick, steel, reclaimed wood and factory-style lighting (in any combo you like)…

BUY THE KEY PIECES Milano Elements kitchen in Metallic Slate and Copper, from £5,594, Wren Kitchens

Pure country Perfect in a period home, keep it simple and authentic with Shakerstyle units, oak tops, metal handles and a ceramic sink with traditional taps.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Henley kitchen in Sage, from £14,000 Neptune

Dark doors Cabinets in deep grey paired with white worktops and walls is the current classic combo – loved because it’s easy to sex up with textural flooring, crazy colour accents and vintage pieces. In small kitchens, add a couple of white wall cabinets close to the window to boost light reflection.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Burford kitchen in Graphite and Cotton, around £11,610, John Lewis & Partners

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KITCHEN PROJECT

Trad-style tiles Even in a contemporary kitchen, the addition of traditional encaustic-look, simple geometric or Moroccan-style floor tiles will give the space authentic character.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Barcelona tiles, £34.99sq m, Ideal Home range at Tile Giant

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KITCHEN PROJECT Mock marble

FEATURE YSANNE BROOKS

The real thing can be high maintenance and pricey.

Get the timeless look of marble without the hassle with a fab fake.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Calcutta marble laminate, from £120, Worktop Express.

Kitchen, from £11,750, Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets

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Green is the new blue Inky blues have been having a moment for a while now, but our money’s on dark green for the colour with staying power. This classic hue makes a space feel cosy on dark winter days but fresh in the summer heat. Pair with wood and lots of plants for a garden-room look.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Somerton Forest kitchen, from £4,683, Magnet

Larder lust Yup, larders (along with dressing rooms) are still top of all of our wish lists and the great news is that freestanding designs that you can retrofit into your kitchen are everywhere.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Shaker kitchen, from £20,000, Harvey Jones

Tap into black We’re feeling your scepticism here, but matt black taps are here to stay – mainly because they’re the best partner for matt handleless cabinets, which have overtaken gloss finish as the contemporary style choice. Invest in a good limescale remover!

BUY THE KEY PIECES Atlas Professional single lever tap in Matt Black, £499; Belfast sink in stainless steel, £499, both Abode

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‘It went from dated to decadent’ Marisa and Chris Shaw turned a bland, boring bathroom into one full of warmth and character, built around Marisa’s dream tub

‘The bateau bath, which I managed to find on eBay for a fraction of the usual cost, set the tone for the room. I picked up on its warm colour with pink paintwork and black accents for a contrast.’

Witt & Berg copper bateau bath, £1,900, eBay. Luxe floor standing mixer tap, £595, Lusso Stone

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BATHROOM PROJECT

BEFORE

MARBLE SHELF Made from leftover kitchen worktop

Welcome to my home Marisa Shaw lives here with her husband Chris.

THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom barn conversion near York.

WHAT IT COST Bath and taps...£2,495 Loo.........................£105 Vanity unit and cabinets.............£1,420 Basins and taps....£728 Shower..................£595 Shower enclosure and tray.........................£387 Lighting.................£430 Floor tiles..............£702 TOTAL...............£6,862

“

The freestanding copper bath is a real focal point and has given the whole room a luxurious look!

”

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‘We used microcement, dyed with pink colouring, along this side of the room to give the walls a textured, industrial-style finish. The geometric tiles were the missing piece in the room – they make a statement, but the neutral colours don’t overwhelm the space.’

H103 cement floor tiles, £78sq m, Mosaic Factory

Love

‘Exposing the brick wall behind the bath was a nod to the barn’s history and the texture really warms up the room,’ says Marisa

MARISA’S STYLE?

Turn to page 117 to shop the look

WORDS AND STYLING CASSIE PRYCE. PHOTOGRAPHS SIMON WHITMORE

HOW MARISA AND CHRIS DID IT ‘The room was a good size, but a long vanity unit ate into the space. The layout had to change, as the shower was positioned with the door blocking the entrance and I had my heart set on a freestanding bath. We went for a door-free walkin shower and replaced the bathroom door for a sliding one to save space.

We also moved the loo from the other side of the room, to make it less obtrusive. During the work, which we did ourselves, we found that the old pipework had leaked and damaged walls and floors, which delayed fitting the new suite. I used magazines and Instagram, where I share ideas (@oakappledecor), to gather ways to get a designer look on a budget.

By DIYing the vanity unit, we saved enough for the marble top.

I waited for the lighting to go into the sale and the radiator was given to us by a friend. I love how the new room looks industrial, but is so luxurious in its finish.’

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SLATEEFFECT TRAY More subtle and natural looking than white

BATHROOM PROJECT

LAUNDRY STORE The tall cabinets conceal the couple’s hampers

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

Order and receive all the products before you begin work. There may be delays with deliveries or unforeseen jobs to do, which will set you back and be costly if labour has been booked

”

ABOVE ‘To make the vanity, I used two Ikea drawer units and stuck stripwood to the fronts, then painted them.

Brass handles give it a luxe finishing touch. The tall units are bookcases we added reeded glazing to.’

Vanity made from Godmorgon units, £80 each; Billy/Oxberg bookcases, £55 each, both Ikea. Marble top, £1,000, Stone Connection. Luxe wall-mounted basin mixer taps in Brushed Gold, £290 each, Lusso Stone

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

HOW TO...

PICK A SHOWER ENCLOSURE Whether your bathroom is large or small, we can help you decide on the best design for your space...

Q

What’s the best option between a walk-in shower and a wet room?

Walk-in showers are a great way to add minimalist contemporary design. They are more suited to larger bathrooms, but can work in a smaller space, with many designs, like VictoriaPlum.com’s Mode walk-in shower enclosure, right, fitting the footprint of a standard bath. Consisting of a shallow tray and open glass screens, it feels spacious without the expense of a wet room. Wet rooms are complex as the room needs to be waterproofed, but they can fit in any shape or size.

No doors or shower trays also mean easy access for everyone.

Q

What would work best in a smaller space?

Quadrant enclosures are an ideal solution as they fit snugly into corners and feature an attractive curve-shaped frontage, saving on space without cramping your showering experience.

Q

What about a square or rectangular enclosure?

Square shapes work well in smaller rooms. VictoriaPlum. com has many designs, whether you’re looking for classic frames such as the bifold square enclosure, above, or modern frameless enclosures. If space allows, rectangular shapes provide more showering room and tend to look more luxurious.

Q

Should I invest in a shower cabin?

For ultimate luxury, shower cabins offer body jets and multiple pressure settings. Some even have aromatherapy, mood lighting and Bluetooth functions for a spa-like experience.

The open glass screens of this Mode walk-in shower enclosure, from £245, VictoriaPlum.com, help to create the illusion of space

“

Work with shapes already in the bathroom: rounded suites suit quadrant enclosures; for angular suites, choose square enclosures

”

NICKY KINGSTON, VISUAL STYLIST, VICTORIAPLUM.COM

3 OF THE BEST…. SHOWERHEADS

FOR MORE INFORMATION… Find everything you need, including details of our new design and installation service at VictoriaPlum.com, call 0344 804 4848 or follow on social media @victoriaplumuk

TRADITIONAL LOOKS The Bath Co. Camberley showerhead, £84.99, VictoriaPlum.com

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SQUARE DEAL Mode Slim square stainless steel showerhead and ceiling arm, £54.99, VictoriaPlum.com

FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

SLEEK LINES Mode Slim square stainless steel showerhead and wall arm, £59.99, VictoriaPlum.com

WORDS THEA BABINGTON-STITT

When redesigning a bathroom or adding a shower room, it’s important to consider your own space and requirements before choosing fittings.

Here, we give you the lowdown on the various options for shower enclosures, from quadrants to walk-ins.

Orchard Bathrooms bifold square shower enclosure, £235, VictoriaPlum.com

BATHROOM PROJECT

Make it work for you MARISA’S STYLE: ONE-OFF ORIGINAL

An eclectic mix of warm colours, tactile surfaces, burnished metallics and a feature tub give this bathroom a boutique feel

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GREAT DEAL

MAKE A STATEMENT WITH GEOMETRIC FLOORING

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI

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£46.50

£15.99

7 CHECK MATE

SHADES OF GREY

Soho Decor porcelain tile, £46.50sq m, The Baked Tile Co

Mardi Gras 97 Cubes sheet vinyl flooring, £15.99sq m, Carpetright

WHERE TO BUY 1 Boatyard pendant, £70, Holloways of Ludlow 2 Portland heated towel rail, £500, Heritage Bathrooms 3 Ashes of Roses intelligent eggshell, £64 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene 4 Jadipai bathroom tap, £179.99, Dowsing & Reynolds 5 Sasso Volakas marble basin, £325, Lusso Stone 6 Trafalgar copper double-ended slipper bath, £2,199.95, Victorian Plumbing 7 Terrazzo towels, from £4 for a hand towel, George Home IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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‘This space is all about luxury’ Stephanie and Arthur Rakowski indulged themselves with the ultimate en suite retreat designed for escape and relaxation

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BATHROOM PROJECT ‘Our essentials list included a large bath,’ says Stephanie.

‘I like the look of freestanding baths, but there’s nowhere to rest soap or a book – so I went for a double-ended undermounted bath and added a beautiful marble top.’

Bette Duo bath, £1,062, UK Bathrooms. East Hampton marble floor and wall tiles, from £114.82sq m, Fired Earth

BEFORE

WATERPROOF TELEVISION For bathtime box-set binges

Welcome to my home Stephanie Rakowski lives here with her husband, Arthur and their two children, 20 and 18

THE PROPERTY A Victorian endof-terrace in south west London.

WHAT IT COST Bath and taps.....£1,978 Basin and taps...£1,083 Shower...............£1,488 Tiles...................£2,000 Surfaces............£8,320 Radiators............£1,100 Paint......................£200 Shutters.............£1,000 Wall lights..........£1,886 TOTAL.............£19,055

“

We even added a TV and speakers to complete the spa experience!

”

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HOW STEPHANIE AND ARTHUR DID IT ‘As part of our house renovation, we reworked space from this room and an adjoining bedroom to create a dressing room between the two. It meant changing the layout, which went through many versions as we tried to fit everything in.

A large bath was on our list, as well as the biggest shower possible, twin basins and plenty of storage. It works well – I like having the loo hidden at the end, so you can’t see it when you walk in. We’ve used grey and white through the house, which works well with the marble. It was more expensive than I’d have liked, but it was absolutely worth it.’

RECESSED LIGHTING Gives a soft wash of light at floor level for a relaxed mood

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Love

STEPHANIE’S STEAM SHOWER? Turn to page 123 to find out more

The shower enclosure is sealed to form a steam room.

It has an angled ceiling made in a PVC material to allow condensation to run off.

Mackintosh concealed thermostatic shower, £1,019, Lefroy Brooks at West One Bathrooms. Samuel Heath Fairfield tube showerhead, £609, BMF Store

HIDDEN STORAGE The mirrors double up as doors to the recessed cupboards

BATHROOM PROJECT

FEATURE: LINDA CLAYTON, LISA FAZZANI, VANESSA RICHMOND. PHOTOGRAPHS: JAKE FITZJONES

ABOVE Wall lights either side of the mirrors cast a more flattering light than ceiling fixtures.

Watt wall-mounted single-arm sconces with plain glass shade, £943 each, Waterworks

ABOVE Stephanie’s joiner made the vanity unit with moulding for a traditional look and a marble top to match the bath surround.

Lefroy Brooks Mackintosh deck-mounted basin taps, £431, Just Lefroy. Obsidian cabinet knobs, £30 each, Chloe Alberry

RIGHT A built-in cupboard gives plenty of storage space for towels, loo rolls and cleaning essentials. All the metallic finishes are nickel, which has a softer look than shiny chrome.

Vogue Ballerina towel rails in nickel, from £1,100 for two, RSF Bathrooms

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

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Marble can range from very white to very grey, so a mid-grey paint like Farrow & Ball’s Plummet is the best colour to team it with – it contrasts beautifully

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Bloomingville Vase 109 - Brass

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Ideal Home – Jan 2020 – Page 43

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BATHROOM PROJECT

Make it work for you STEPHANIE’S CHOICE: A STEAM ROOM

Revitalising as well as relaxing, a steam room is just the antidote to a hectic lifestyle. Here’s how to install one…

Perfect for winding down in at the end of a busy day, relaxing after exercise or treating yourself to a spa-style experience, a steam room is a useful – and indulgent – addition to your bathroom.

seat. An electricity supply and steam generator, fitted outside the enclosure, are required. It also needs a connection to the water supply and drains, which is why it makes sense to install a steam room in a bathroom.

Q

Q

What is a steam room?

Also known as a Turkish bath or hammam, it’s similar to a sauna, but humidity reaches 100 per cent and the temperature is around 45-48°C. You relax on a natural marble or stone bench, allowing a cloud of warm steam to envelop your body, soothing tired muscles, helping with decongestion and eliminating impurities in the skin.

Q

How much space do I need?

Surprisingly, not much.

There are solutions to suit different settings and budgets, from a compact cabin with built-in steam system to a bespoke design to fit your room.

A steam room can be fitted in a ‘regular’ shower enclosure, provided it is fully enclosed and watertight, and you may want to include a bench or foldaway

Can you add any extra features?

Aromatherapy, mood lighting (it must be immersion proof) and music systems are available. You can also include body massage jets and an overhead shower to push the luxe vibe to the limit.

Q

Do I need professional installation?

Yes, to avoid a disappointing fit and a steam room that doesn't do the job properly, it’s important to buy from a reputable supplier and use a fully qualified electrician and installer.

Stephanie’s steam room is incorporated into her shower

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The most popular place to install a steam room is in a shower, because no extra space is needed and it’s usually 90 per cent ready for steam RUTH CORBETT, HOUSES EDITOR

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FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON, LISA FAZZANI

IDEAL HOME LOVES… BATHROOM-SAFE LIGHTS

CLASSIC CHOICE A vintage style fluted glass shade adds instant elegance.

Pimlico light, £45, Garden Trading

STRIKING NOTE This stylish frosted glass globe on a black base will suit a monochrome scheme.

Vetro light, £29, Made

VINTAGE GLAMOUR Razzle dazzle ’em by fitting this above and around mirrors.

Hollywood five-light wall bar, £85, Frontline Bathrooms

BEST FOR… STEAM SHOWER CABINS VictoriaPlum.com has a range of systems to choose from, all at competitive prices.

Cabins start at £1,389.

EXPERT ADVICE TylöHelo is a specialist in steam and sauna products, including steam generators and systems for use in shower enclosures.

Its website is packed with information.

LUXURY SYSTEMS Effegibi offers a full range of luxury products, including the FitBox steam and shower, and bespoke systems to suit your space.

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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‘We built a new wing onto our old house’ With their children all grown up, empty nesters Carole and Paul de Lacroix finally indulged their dream of creating a huge, light-filled kitchen-diner, complete with wine cellar

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BEFORE & AFTER

BEFORE

“

We spend our waking hours in the extension and conservatory. They catch the light and give us great views

”

The house had a tiny kitchen, while a huge one-storey outhouse was just wasted space

Welcome to our home Carole and Paul de Lacroix live here. The couple are retired and their children, Louise, Joanna and Nicholas, have left home.

THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom, Grade II-listed, 17th-century detached house in a village near Stroud, Gloucestershire.

THE VALUE Bought for £186,000 in 1986; the property is now worth around £1.1m.

WHAT IT COST

The outhouse has been replaced with a brick extension, linked to the house via a glazed conservatory. Wooden shiplap cladding has been swapped for zinc panels for a more contemporary look

Architect...........£35,000 Building work..£175,000 Roof...................£25,000 Electrical work...£12,500 Plumbing and heating.... ..............................£7,500 Glazing..............£35,000 Landscaping.....£20,000 Kitchen..............£40,000 Wine cellar.........£20,000 TOTAL.............£370,000

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Take a quick tour...

OFFICE

UTILITY

KITCHENDINER

LIVING ROOM

DINING ROOM

CONSERVATORY

GROUND FLOOR

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arole and Paul bought their home more than 30 years ago and raised three children in it, but always longed for a bigger kitchen. ‘When we moved in, we could see that the kitchen had been a stable,’ says Carole. ‘It had an old mounting block in one corner and flagstones laid on the earth. There was a cooker, a sink and hardly any workspace or storage.’ The couple updated it, but it was in the same small room.

MAKING PLANS ‘Two years ago, we decided we were in a position to create a bigger kitchen,’ says Paul. The couple also wanted to indulge themselves a little: ‘I’d always wanted a wine cellar,’ he says, ‘and Carole really wanted a downstairs loo!’ The couple consulted Matthew Austin of Austin Design Works. ‘It was decided that we’d demolish the old outhouse and build a large extension in its place.’ The rear of the house was covered in shabby timber cladding and the couple agreed to Matthew’s suggestion to match the extension’s zinc roof to new zinc cladding for better insulation. The old kitchen would become a laundry room and downstairs loo.

GETTING IT DONE A conservation officer was invited to the site for a pre-application meeting and given a conservation management plan explaining what materials were to be used. Approval was given and planning permission was granted soon after, allowing building work to start. The outhouse was demolished and the wine cellar dug out before the extension was built. In total, the building work took nine months.

DREAM HOME ‘As well as the extra space, my favourite part is my new wine cellar,’ says Paul. ‘It’s proving to be quite the showstopper.’ Carole says: ‘Although it’s now just the two of us living here, we have no intention of moving. We love our house because it’s like being in the middle of the country, looking out over the garden to the fields, but we are not isolated. And, it’s so quiet!’

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‘We now have so much workspace, I can’t believe how we managed for all those years with such a tiny kitchen!’ says Carole

BEFORE & AFTER The extension houses a kitchen-diner with a whole wall of glazing, to give views over the newly landscaped garden

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT...

Spiral wine cellars Fiona Love from Spiral Cellars gives us the lowdown

1 Ply casements make a feature of the picture windows and add warmth to the white kitchen-diner

THEY’RE NOT JUST FOR NEW BUILDS They can be built into an existing, furnished, ground-floor room and planning permission isn’t required unless it’s a listed building or the property is in the London borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

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A HIGH WATER TABLE ISN’T A PROBLEM Engineers will calculate the correct reinforced concrete base specification to counter any water uplift, while the cellar is fitted with a waterproof liner.

FEATURE VICTORIA JENKINS. PHOTOGRAPHS LISA LODWIG

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THEY’RE NOT CHEAP! Prices range from £24,000 to £70,000 depending on type and depth, which can range from 1m to 2.5m or 3m.

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THEY’RE QUICK TO FIT They can hold up to 1,900 bottles of wine and take less than two weeks to install.

WHAT WE’VE LEARNED

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We should have paid more attention to the plans and landscaping – in particular, the different levels around the extension, which resulted in unnecessary additional expense

”

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THEY PROVIDE IDEAL CONDITIONS They incorporate a system of natural, passive ventilation, so that warm air is continuously replaced by cool, with no need for a climate control system.

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Genius problem solvers ON

ECO ALL-ROUNDER Made from natural pigments.

Brick emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Edward Bulmer

Sustainable hard wood flooring One of few companies to offer sustainably produced wood flooring, Ark One can trace back every piece of wood it uses to the European forest it was grown in. What’s more, they only use natural glues, oils and varnishes in the finished product – making it as natural a product as possible.

ODOUR FREE No added toxins or additives.

Lady Grey original paint, £16.95 for 750ml, Frenchic

Manhattan oak flooring, £98sq m, Ark One Flooring

Sleep on a sustainable mattress Silentnight’s new Eco Comfort Breathe mattress is foam and chemical-free, and made using recycled plastic bottles. It costs £409 for a single size; £549 for a double.

Earthborn Milk Jug eggshell, £43 for 2.5ltr, Designer Paint

Reusable veg bags

Compostable pods

Exclusive to Sainsbury’s, these are a brilliant alternative to those easily ripped, single-use bags you get in the supermarket for fruit and veg. They’re designed to be used again and again…

Finally a major coffee brand has brought out compostable pods! These little guys can go straight in your food waste bin (but can’t be home composted).

Addis pick your own veg bags, £3.99 for three, Sainsbury’s

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BREATHABLE PAINT Great for allergy sufferers.

FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Eco caps, £4.40 for 16, Lavazza

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3-ECO-FRIENDLY PAINTS

ALL S T

Making your home more sustainable doesn’t have to take a lot of effort or money. Try these simple swaps and clever ideas…

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FOR A SMOOTH-RUNNING LIFE

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS 3 KINDER CLEANING PRODUCTS

Greener ways to dry your clothes Line-dried laundry is always the goal if you’re trying to be green, but rain can scupper your eco plans. Thanks to Lakeland’s ingenious Drying Pod, you won’t have to worry about a house full of washing for a week. Costing as little as 15p per hour to run, it blows hot air through clothes to gently dry them within the enclosed pod.

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Dry:Soon drying pod, £59.99, Lakeland

Packed lunch Warm up your lunch in the morning before you leave the house and it’ll still be hot by lunchtime if you stash it in one of these food flasks.

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Swivlit thermal food flask in Signature, £29.95, Cuckooland.com

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1 Benchpress surface cleaner, £16, Ashley & Co 2 Ecover Apple & Bergamot washing up liquid, £1.20, Ocado 3 The Complete Cleaning Kit, £41.99, Clean Living

Google greener Ecosia is a search engine that links to Safari. For every search you make, a tree is planted in the developing world.

Refill toiletries Instead of burning through plastic bottlefuls of basics, buy refill pouches (such as Carex hand wash) or buy in bulk from BigGreenSmile.com and reuse them. Waitrose and The Body Shop are also trialling refills in store.

Glass amber bottles with pump and label, from £7 for 100ml, Wearth London

Fuel your fire with carbon neutral logs Eco cooking utensils Made from 35% recycled wheat fibre, Viners’ new range of eight eco utensils are completely compostable, so when you’re eventually ready to replace them, they’ll degrade within six to 18 months in a regular home composter.

Organic utensils, £3 each, Viners

Made from spent coffee grounds collected from coffee shops and offices, Bio-Bean’s ingenious coffee logs will burn hotter and longer than wood, lasting around an hour each.

Bio-Bean coffee logs, £8.99 for 6kg, Logs Direct

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CLEVER ON-THE-GO DRINK SOLUTIONS LEAKPROOF CUP Fed up of sloppage and handbag stains?

You need this.

Klean Kanteen, £25.99, Lakeland

SUCK IT UP Avoid plastic and dodge soggy paper straws with metal ones.

Home accessories with a conscience With the look and feel of real wool, all of Weaver Green’s products – from rugs and baskets to blankets and throws – are made from recycled plastic bottles. This means as well as looking great, they’re hard-wearing, faderesistant and easy to clean (and moths and dust mites don’t like them one bit!).

Iris rug in Teal, from £138, Weaver Green

Ditch make-up remover pads Cotton pads and wet wipes are often the main culprits for sewer fatbergs. Plus, growing non-organic cotton contributes to pollution. We love this reusable alternative.

Face Halo, £7, Boots

Straws, £7 for three, Urban Outfitters

COOL DOWN These Attenboroughinspired bottles keep drinks chilled all day.

Bottle, £35, John Lewis & Partners

Switch to bamboo loo roll Bumboo comes wrapped in paper and is available in bulk, £40 for 48 rolls, delivered to your door.

Multi-use food storage bags Made from platinum-grade silicone, these brilliant multipurpose Stasher storage bags are a musthave for every kitchen. Use them for freezing leftovers, storing dry goods, taking your sandwich to work, poaching or steaming food – or anything else you’d usually use cling film or a ziplock bag for.

Stasher storage bags, £20 each, John Lewis & Partners

Developed in-house by the Lights4Fun design team, TruGlow combines a battery-powered LED flickering candle light with an ivory wax outer shell to make it look like the real thing. Unlike a real candle’s average 40 hour burning time, this beauty will ‘burn’ for around 600 hours before the batteries need replacing. Genius.

With a handle made from biodegradable bamboo and charcoal bristles that encourage more effective plaque removal, this super smart toothbrush is an eco no-brainer.

TruGlow pillar candle and glass hurricane set, £29.99, Lights4Fun

Colgate bamboo charcoal toothbrush, £4, Asda

Everlasting candles

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FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI

Toothbrush swap

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS Super-stylish choice Nest Hello (H11.7xW4.3xD2.6cm), £229, Google The slimmest design we’ve found and the one that looks least like a video camera, the Hello is a very clever device. This wired system records constantly (instead of relying on motion detection), so you’ll never miss any visitors. Add facial recognition via the subscription service and it will only alert you to strangers.

THE BEST BIT If you live on a busy street, you can get constant alerts, but Hello lets you pinpoint the area it records, so you only get people right at your door.

Excellent all-rounder Door view cam (H9.7xW4.7x D1.9cm) £179, Ring With instant notifications, live view and two-way talk as standard, this replaces your peephole making installation a doddle. Video recording can be added for £2.50 a month.

Boost your security with a smart doorbell

THE BEST BIT The motion sensor alerts you if someone knocks on the door instead of ringing the bell.

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI, CHRIS HASLAM

The latest models offer a security sensor, plus the option of live audio and video streamed to your smartphone, so you can keep an eye on your doorstep wherever you are

Wide-angle view Ezviz video doorbell (H13xW4.6 xD21cm), £135, Ezviz Thanks to a 180-degree vertical viewing angle, you can see visitors from head to toe, even if they’re close to the door. Amazon Alexa and Google Home compatible, this wired system uses PIR sensors and motion alerts to reduce false alarms.

THE BEST BIT It has a MicroSD card slot so you can save 128GB of video without the need for a subscription.

Affordable option Wire-free 720p HD smart video doorbell kit with chime (H14.4xW7xD3.9cm), £79.50, Swann This offers unbeatable value for money, boasting good video quality, built-in battery (with the option to wire it in), two-way audio and motion, night vision and heat detection.

THE BEST BIT It comes with a battery-powered chime that has a 20m range, so you can hear it in the garden.

Smart starter Arlo audio doorbell (H9.2xW4.4x D.2.7cm), £69, AO.com It lacks video, but this intercom-style doorbell remains whip smart, and affordable. Battery-powered and simple to install, it sends alerts to your smartphone when it’s pressed.

THE BEST BIT If you’re not home, it allows visitors to leave a message for you to listen to on your phone.

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FREE £150 AXA ActivePlus voucher* when you join our award‑winning Personal Health plan.

Call 0800 5870 854 for more details axappphealthcare.co.uk/idealhome *The £150 AXA ActivePlus voucher is for new customers only. Full terms and conditions at axappphealthcare.co.uk/idealhome. TI Media is an introducer appointed representative of AXA PPP healthcare Limited which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The Personal Health plan is underwritten by AXA PPP healthcare Limited. Registered in England and Wales number 3148119. Registered office: AXA PPP healthcare, 5 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1AD. Write to us at: AXA PPP healthcare, Phillips House, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2PL. Lines are open 9am to 7pm weekdays. We may record and/or monitor calls for quality assurance, training and as a record of our conversation. AXA ActivePlus is not regulated by either the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority.

PB73329/10.19

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS Quick grill Entertaining grill (H16x W50xD42.5cm), £175, Cuisinart Perfectly portable, so ideal for use on a kitchen countertop, teppanyaki-style in the middle of the table at a dinner party and even outdoors as a summer barbecue back-up – this new grill from Cuisinart is a must for a busy home. The grill plate features two cooking zones with fully adjustable controls so you can cook at the same or different temperatures between 90-260°C, while all excess fat and oil drains down into a discreet drawer beneath the cooking plate.

THE BEST BIT The grill plate is both removable and dishwasher safe for easy, fuss-free cleaning.

EXPERT TIP

‘Ensure you have enough space for the appliance before you buy. If you don’t want to keep it out all the time, you’ll need to make sure it’s not too tall or deep for your cupboards.

Remember, some models require space above or around them to work, too’

Compact multi-cooker Health grill and air fryer (H23.5xW35.6xD45cm), £199.99, Ninja Following the launch of the Foodi crisping pressure cooker last year, American brand Ninja has launched a new multi-cooker that does so much more. With enough space to cook four portions, you can whip up steaks and burgers on the grill in a flash, then close the lid and air-fry chips, roast joints of meat and even bake a crumble for pud.

THE BEST BIT The clever dehydrating function means you can transform slices of fruit into handy, healthy (and cheap) snacks for you and the kids.

GINEVRA BENEDETTI, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI

Make light work of midweek meals Far from the gimmicky gadgets and needless kitchen tools that always end up gathering dust at the back of a cupboard, these countertop heroes are packed with clever features to take the drudge out of getting dinner on the table at the end of a long day.

You’ll soon wonder how you ever managed without them!

Well-built blender Jamie Oliver hand blender (H34xW8xD8cm), £140, Bamix In his own words, the new Jamie Oliver Bamix hand blender is ‘a real keeper, built to last a lifetime’. The 200W heavy-duty motor makes light work of chopping, beating, whisking and blending, and it even comes with a booklet featuring a host of Jamie’s favourite recipes to try out.

THE BEST BIT It can double as a food processor with the addition of some Bamix extras.

Must-have mixer KitchenAid Artisan 4.8ltr stand mixer in Milkshake (H36xW24x D37cm), £499.99, Lakeland The iconic Artisan is by no means new, but this stylish new matt colourway is. In its basic form, the Artisan mixes cakes, kneads dough, mashes potatoes and whisks batters, but with just a few extra attachments, the possibilities are almost endless.

THE BEST BIT It even comes with a five-year manufacturer’s guarantee for peace of mind.

Two in one 3X Bluicer Pro (H45xW39.8x D36cm), £369.95, Sage Can’t decide whether to buy a blender or a juicer? You don’t have to! Sage’s new Bluicer can do everything from blending smoothies and juicing oranges, to blitzing soups and crushing ice. Plus, the large 3ltr pulp bin at the back ensures you don’t have to stop mid-juicing to decant the contents.

THE BEST BIT The extra large feed chute means you can pop whole fruit in for easy juicing.

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FOOD WITH FRIENDS

Come over for a coffee…

These simple everyday bakes are so quick and easy, they’re the perfect accompaniment to mid-morning coffee (and far more impressive than a Hobnob!)

Lemon meringue squares See page 138 for recipe

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SIMPLE PLEASURES

IDEAL HOME TIP Dust the berries with gluten-free flour before adding them to the mix to ensure they don’t sink to the bottom

Blueberry, lime & polenta loa f See page 138 for recipe

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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SIMPLE PLEASURES

Watercress & cheese scones See page 138 for recipe

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FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Swedish vanilla & almond cake See page 138 for recipe

IDEAL HOME TIP Serve this rich cake with fresh fruit on the side (or whipped cream, as a special treat) IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

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SIMPLE PLEASURES

Lemon meringue squares

Blueberry, lime & polenta loa f

Watercress & cheese scones

Swedish vanilla & almond cake

TAKES 40min, plus chilling MAKES 16

TAKES 1hr 10min, plus cooling SERVES 8

TAKES 1hr SERVES 8

TAKES 1hr 25min, plus cooling SERVES 12

INGREDIENTS ● 90g digestives ● 90g plain flour ● 60g desiccated coconut ● 100g unsalted butter, melted FOR THE LEMON LAYER ● 397g tin condensed milk ● 5 egg yolks ● 150ml lemon juice ● Grated zest of 1 lemon FOR THE MERINGUE ● 2 egg whites ● 175g caster sugar ● Sugar sprinkles

INGREDIENTS ● 75g ground almonds ● 75g polenta ● 1tsp gluten-free baking powder ● 175g butter ● 175g caster sugar ● 3 eggs ● Zest and juice of 4 limes ● 200g blueberries ● 75g icing sugar, plus extra to decorate ● 1tbsp toasted flaked almonds

Fan 160ºC/Gas 4. Blitz the digestives in a food processor until crumbs form. Blend in the flour, coconut and butter.

Press the mixture into an 18x28cm greased and lined tin and bake for 10min.

Fan 160°C/Gas 4. Mix the ground almonds, polenta and baking powder in a bowl.

2 Cream the butter and

sugar, until light and fluffy.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time, adding 1tbsp of the polenta mixture each time.

2 Set the oven to 160ºC/Fan 3 Fold in the rest of the 140ºC/Gas 3. To make the lemon layer, whisk together the condensed milk, yolks, lemon juice and zest. Pour over the biscuit and bake for 20min. Cool and chill for 1hr.

3 Turn the oven up to 220°C/

Fan 200°C/Gas 7. For the meringue, tip the egg whites into a heatproof bowl. Add the sugar. Rest the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until the sugar dissolves.

Remove from the heat and whisk with an electric mixer, until a thick meringue forms.

4 Spread the meringue over

the lemon layer. Top with sprinkles. Bake for 5min.

138

polenta mixture, the zest of 3 limes and blueberries. Spoon into a 900g, greased and lined loaf tin and bake for 25min.

Reduce the temperature to 160°C/Fan 140°C/ Gas 3 and cook for 20min, until springy to the touch. Cool for 10min.

4 Use a skewer to prick

holes in the cake. Mix the lime juice with the icing sugar until smooth and pour over the cake. Cool in the tin.

5 To decorate, remove the

cake from the tin. Mix 2tbsp icing sugar with a few drops of water and drizzle over the cake. Finish with flaked almonds and lime zest.

FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

1 Preheat the oven to 220°C/

Fan 200°C/Gas 7 and line a baking sheet with baking paper. Sift the flour, baking powder and mustard powder into a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.

2 Rub in the butter until

the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the chopped watercress and about two-thirds of the cheese. Add the milk and mix to a soft dough with a round-bladed knife.

INGREDIENTS FOR THE CAKE ● 2tbsp desiccated coconut ● 5 egg whites ● 250g caster sugar ● 200g ground almonds FOR THE TOPPING ● 5 egg yolks ● 100g caster sugar ● 150ml double cream ● 100g butter ● 2tsp vanilla extract ● 3tbsp toasted, flaked almonds

1 Preheat the oven to 200ºC/ Fan 180ºC/Gas 6. Grease the base and sides of a 23cm spring-form cake tin and sprinkle the coconut into the tin, so it sticks to the butter.

2 Whisk the egg whites

until stiff, gradually adding the sugar while you keep whisking. Fold in the ground almonds. Spoon the mixture into the tin and bake for 2025min or until just set.

3 Knead lightly on a floured 3 Leave to cool in the tin,

surface and then roll or pat out to a thickness of 2.5cm.

With a 6cm cutter, cut out as many scones as you can, then lightly knead together the trimmings and cut out more scones. Transfer to the lined baking sheet.

Brush the tops with milk, then sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top.

4 Bake for 20-25min until

well risen and golden. Cool on the tray for 5min before serving with butter.

on a wire rack. Once cool, remove from the tin.

4 To make the topping, put

the egg yolks, sugar and cream in a pan over a low heat and whisk continuously until a thick custard forms. Take the pan off the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla.

Pour into a bowl, cover with cling film and leave to cool.

5 Stir the custard, then

spread it over the cake.

Top with flaked almonds.

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPHS TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

1 Preheat the oven to 180ºC/

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/

INGREDIENTS ● 200g self-raising flour ● 2tsp baking powder ● 1tsp mustard powder ● 60g butter ● 75g watercress, finely chopped ● 75g mature Cheddar, grated ● 150ml buttermilk or semi-skimmed milk, plus extra for brushing

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Code AUQ9

SIMPLE PLEASURES CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Enjoy a glass of wine in Sir Frank’s Bar; marvel at botanical artwork by Marianne North; take your pick of the house’s charming bedrooms; experience nature’s healing powers at the on-site spa

Somewhere for the weekend BEAVERBROOK Leatherhead, Surrey This supremely stylish country escape sets the scene for a rejuvenating weekend awayÉ

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Perhaps most beautiful of all is the luxurious new spa, where the treatments are informed by a holistic, natural philosophy. And, in the dining room, chef Taiji Maruyama serves up an innovative menu of Japanese cuisine including sushi and robatas. It’s the perfect spot to blow away those winter blues.

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IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

141

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furniture

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LIVINGITUP.CO.UK | TELEPHONE 0116 269 5960 To advertise here or on our online directory, please call 020 3148 2261, or email homeinterestclassified@ti-media.com 145

Market education & courses

Why Not Learn To Proofread?

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You can use your new skills to proofread your own work, in your current job, or add them to your CV to help you find a new position or gain promotion. But that’s not all.

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Freepost THE WRITERS BUREAU

floor coverings

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146

Lines are open Monday-Saturday, 8am-6pm (UK time).

Please have your bank details ready when you call.

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Market BATHROOMS

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To advertise here or on our online directory, please call 020 3148 2261, or email homeinterestclassified@ti-media.com 147

Shopping directory A

A New Tribe 07815 534545 anewtribe.co.uk ABC Home abchome.com Abigail Ahern 020 7354 8181 abigailahern.com Abode 01226 283434 abodedesigns.co.uk Abraham Moon & Sons 01943 873181 moons.co.uk Abstract House abstracthouse.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk AO.com 0344 324 9222 Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Ark One 020 8960 6870 arkone.co.uk Asda 0800 952 0101 asda.com Ashley & Co shop-uk.ashleyandco.co Atkin and Thyme 020 3768 7775 atkinandthyme.co.uk Audenza 0116 298 6393 audenza.com Austin Design Works 01453 836393 austindw.co.uk B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Bamix bamix.com Beaumonde 01202 707770 beaumonde.co.uk Benjamin Moore 01753 575756 benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Bert & May 020 3744 0776 bertandmay.com Blooming Artificial 0800 977 7589 bloomingartificial.co.uk BMF Store 0113 266 0096 bmfstore.co.uk Bombay Duck 020 8749 3000 bombayduck.com Boots 0345 609 0055 boots.com Brabantia 0845 602 4877 brabantia.com Bricks & Velvet 07810 055223 bricksandvelvet.co.uk Brintons 0800 505055 brintons.co.uk Buy Me Once uk.buymeonce.com Carpetright 0330 333 3444 carpetright.co.uk Castlegate Lights 01642 714444 castlegatelights.co.uk Chloe Alberry 020 7727 0707 chloealberry.com Christopher Farr 020 7349 0888 christopherfarr.com Claybrook 0207 0521 555 claybrookstudio.co.uk Clean Living cleanlivingint.com Clippings 020 3808 9449 clippings.com Cole & Son 020 8442 8844 cole-and-son.com Cologne & Cotton 0845 262 2212 cologneandcotton.com Continental Ceramica continentalceramica.co.uk

B

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Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk Crucial Trading 01562 743747 crucial-trading.com Cuckooland 01305 231231 cuckooland.com Cuisinart 0870 240 6902 cuisinart.co.uk Cult Furniture 020 8185 6960 cultfurniture.com Danetti 020 3588 1380 danetti.com Dar Lighting 01295 672200 darlighting.co.uk Desenio 020 3318 2047 desenio.co.uk Designer Paint 01323 430886 designerpaint.com DFS 0808 271 6297 dfs.co.uk Dimensions Tiles & Bathrooms dimensionstiles.co.uk Dowsing & Reynolds 0113 819 9985 dowsingandreynolds.com Dulux 0333 222 7171 dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 165 6565 dunelm.com eBay ebay.co.uk Edward Bulmer 01544 388535 edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk Effegibi effe.it/en Etsy etsy.com Ezvizlife ezvizlife.com/uk Farrow & Ball 01202 876141 farrow-ball.com FatFace 0330 124 0000 fatface.com Feather & Black 01243 380600 featherandblack.com Fired Earth 01295 812088 firedearth.com 1stdibs 1stdibs.com French Connection Home 0333 400 3285 frenchconnection.com Frenchic 01276 469757 frenchicpaint.co.uk Frontline Bathrooms 0845 470 2424 frontlinebathrooms.co.uk Furniture Village 0800 804 8879 furniturevillage.co.uk Gabriella Knight 01225 892078 gabriellaknight.co.uk Galerie Wallcoverings 01892 700730 galeriehome.co.uk Garden Trading 01993 845559 gardentrading.co.uk George Home 0800 952 0101 george.com Glass & Fusion 020 8243 8912 glassfusionltd.co.uk Google store.google.com Graham & Brown 0800 168 3795 grahambrown.com Graham and Green 01225 418200 grahamandgreen.co.uk Grundig 0333 207 9920 grundig.co.uk H&M Home 0344 736 9000 hm.com Habitat 0344 499 4686 habitat.co.uk Handles4U handles4u.co.uk

D

EF

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H

Harvey Jones 0800 389 6938 harveyjones.com Harvey Maria 0845 680 1231 harveymaria.co.uk Hay hayshop.dk Heal’s 0333 212 1915 heals.co.uk Heritage Bathrooms 0330 026 8501 heritagebathrooms.com Hillarys 0800 916 6524 hillarys. co.uk HK Living hkliving.nl Hobbycraft 0330 026 1400 hobbycraft.co.uk Holborough Interiors holboroughinteriors.co.uk Holloways of Ludlow 020 7602 5757 hollowayskitchens.com Homebase 0345 077 8888 homebase.co.uk Homesense 01923 473561 homesense.com Houseof houseof.com Hurn & Hurn 01603 559 250 hurnandhurn.com Ian Mankin 020 7722 0997 ianmankin.co.uk Ian Snow 01271 858649 iansnow.com Iconic Lights 01268 681612 iconiclights.co.uk Ikea 020 3645 0000 ikea.co.uk Industry & Co +353 1 613 9111 industryandco.com IQ Glass 0844 800 2432 iqglass.co.uk Jarrods 02920 529797 jarrodsstaircases.co.uk JD Williams 0871 231 2000 jdwilliams.co.uk John Lewis & Partners 0345 604 9049 johnlewis.com Joseph Joseph 020 7261 1800 josephjoseph.com Juniqe 033 0777 1297 juniqe.co.uk Just Lefroy 01603 558270 just-lefroy.co.uk Karndean Designflooring 01386 820100 karndean.com King & McGaw 01273 511942 kingandmcgaw.com Kitchen Makers burbidgekitchenmakers.co.uk La Redoute 0800 096 6888 laredoute.co.uk Lakeland 015394 88100 lakeland.co.uk Laura Ashley 0333 200 8009 lauraashley.com Lavazza lavazza.co.uk Layered Lounge 01753 873111 layeredlounge.com Lazenby 01935 700306 lazenby.co.uk Lights2go 0121 733 7770 lights2go. co.uk Lights4Fun 01423 816040 lights4fun.co.uk Lillian Daph 01287 349612 lilliandaph.co.uk Little Greene 0845 880 5855 littlegreene.com

LochAnna Kitchens lochannakitchens.co.uk Logs Direct 01524 812476 logsdirect.co.uk Lusso Stone 020 3370 4057 lussostone.com Madam Stoltz madamstoltz.dk Made 0344 257 1888 Magnet 01325 744093 magnet.co.uk Maisons du Monde 0808 234 2172 maisonsdumonde.com Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8000 marksandspencer.com Melody Maison 01302 741000 melodymaison.co.uk Mind the Gap mindtheg.com Modern Rugs 01388 663738 modern-rugs.co.uk Mosaic Factory 020 3514 0483 mosaicfactory.com/en Murmur 0333 200 7331 murmur.co.uk Naken Interiors 01986 781663 naken.co.uk Neptune 01793 427300 neptune.com Neville Johnson 0161 873 8333 nevillejohnson.co.uk Next Home 0333 777 8000 next.co.uk Ninja ninjacooking.co.uk Nkuku 0333 240 0155 nkuku.com Nordic House 01872 223220 nordichouse.co.uk Nordic Nest nordicnest.co.uk Objects of Use 01865 241705 objectsofuse.com Ocado 0345 656 1234 ocado.com Oka 03330 042042 oka.com Oliver Bonas 020 8974 0110 oliverbonas.com Original Style 01392 473000 originalstyle.com Polkra polkra.com Pooky Lighting 020 7351 3003 pooky.com Porcelain Superstore 0845 257 0227 porcelainsuperstore.co.uk Primrose & Plum 01372 750648 primroseandplum.co.uk Rex London 020 8746 2473 rexlondon.com Richmark richmark.net Ring en-uk.ring.com Ripples 0800 107 0700 ripplesbathrooms.com Rockett St George 01444 253391 rockettstgeorge.co.uk Rose & Grey 0161 926 8763 roseandgrey.co.uk Rowen & Wren 01276 451077 rowenandwren.co.uk RSF Bathrooms 01708 444355 rsfbathrooms.co.uk Sage 0808 178 1650 sageappliances.co.uk

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SUBSCRIPTIONS All prices are for 12 issues and include p&p. Delivery times for overseas services are shown in brackets. UK: £52.80. USA (direct entry, five to 12 days): $152. Europe (priority; three to five days): €167. Rest of the world (priority, five to seven days): £122. Credit card hotline: 0330 333 1113; or call from overseas on: +44 330 333 1113. Lines are open Monday to Saturday, 8am 6pm; UK time. Make cheques payable to TI Media Limited. For enquiries and orders, please email: help@magazinesdirect.com. Alternatively, call from the UK on: 0330 333 1113; or call from overseas on: +44 330 333 1113. Lines are open Monday Saturday, 8am 6pm, UK time. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by Air Business Ltd; c/o Worldnet Shipping Inc; 156 15 146th Avenue, 2nd floor, Jamaica NY 11434, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Jamaica NY 11431. US Postmaster: send address changes to Ideal Home, Air Business Ltd; c/o Worldnet Shipping Inc; 156 15 146th Avenue, 2nd floor, Jamaica NY 11434, USA. Subscriptions records are maintained at TI Media Limited, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP, England.

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Ideal Home 0019 1361 is published monthly by TI Media Limited, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP, England. Distributed by MarketForce (UK) Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, London E14 9AP (020 3787 9001). TI Media Limited regrets that it cannot be liable for the safe custody or return of any unsolicited material. By submitting any material to TI Media Limited, you consent to TI Media Limited and/or its associated companies reusing the submitted material in any format or medium throughout the world in perpetuity.

TI Media Limited reserves the right to shorten or modify any submitted material at its own discretion. The contents of the magazine are fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted without permission. Printed by Walstead UK Limited in the UK. Repro by Rhapsody Media. Cover printed by Walstead UK Limited in the UK. Ideal Home is sold subject to these conditions: that it shall not, without the written consent of the publishers first give, be lent; resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade at more than the recommended selling price on the cover; selling price in EU and Eire subject to VAT; and that it shall not be lent, resold, hired out or disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any unauthorised cover by way of trade or annexed to or as part of any publication or advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever. All information and prices correct at time of going to press. While we try to answer any enquiries, we cannot guarantee a response. © TI Media Limited 2020

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STOCKISTS

EDITORIAL

Sainsbury’s 0800 328 1700 sainsburys.co.uk Sainsbury’s Home 0800 636262 sainsburyshome.co.uk Secret Linen Store 01243 822599 secretlinenstore.com Simplehuman simplehuman.com Sinks-taps.com 01759 307262 Skyler Store skylerstore.nl Snug Shack 020 3095 6555 snugshack.co.uk Sofa Workshop 0808 256 3476 sofaworkshop.com Sofa.com 0345 400 2222 sofa.com Sofas & Stuff 0808 178 3211 sofasandstuff.com Sofology 03444 818 181 sofology.co.uk Soho Home 020 3819 8199 sohohome.com Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets 0345 222 2990 solidwoodkitchencabinets.co.uk Spiral Cellars 0845 241 2768 spiralcellars.co.uk StairBox 01782 832555 stairbox.com Steyson Concrete Floors 020 8553 2636 steysonconcretefloors.co.uk Stone Connection stoneconnection.co.uk Stonewood Design stonewooddesign.co.uk Studio-P 07816 484315 studio-p.co.uk Style Library 020 3457 5862 stylelibrary.com Swann swann.com/uk Sweetpea & Willow 0345 257 2627 sweetpeaandwillow.com 2LG Studio 020 3590 5386 2lgstudio.com The Baked Tile Company 02920 358 409 bakedtiles.co.uk The Cast Iron Bath Company 01723 585896 castironbath.co.uk The Cotswold Company 0333 200 1725 cotswoldco.com The Dormy House 01264 365808 thedormyhouse.com The Farthing 0844 567 2400 thefarthing.co.uk The Forest & Co 01803 840748 theforestandco.com The Old Cinema Antiques 020 8995 4166 theoldcinema.co.uk The Resin Floor Co 020 7096 8990 resinflooringcompany.com The Window Film Company 01494 854407 windowfilm.co.uk Tikamoon 020 3445 5440 tikamoon.co.uk Tile Giant 01782 597777 tilegiant.co.uk Tile Mountain 01782 223822 tilemountain.co.uk Tiles of Stow 01608 658993 tilesofstow.co.uk Tom & Dick’s tomanddicks.co.uk Tons of Tiles 01752 785623 tonsoftiles.co.uk TopFlight 01555 808158 precastconcretestairs.co.uk Topps Tiles 0800 783 6262 toppstiles.co.uk Tori Murphy 0115 960 8472 torimurphy.com Trouva 020 7193 6444 trouva.com TyloHelo tylohelo.com UK Bathrooms 01765 694720 ukbathrooms.com

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Urban Outfitters 0845 330 1288 urbanoutfitters.co.uk Vanessa Arbuthnott 01285 831437 vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk Victorian Plumbing 0345 862 2878 victorianplumbing.co.uk VictoriaPlum.com 0344 804 4848 victoriaplum.com Villa Nova 01623 756699 villanova.co.uk Viners viners.co.uk Waitrose & Partners 0800 188884 waitrose.com Wallpaper Direct 01323 430886 wallpaperdirect.com Walls & Floors 01536 314730 wallsandfloors.co.uk Waterworks 020 7384 4000 uk.waterworks.com Wayfair 0800 169 0423 wayfair.co.uk Wearth London wearthlondon.com Weaver Green 0844 414 2155 weavergreen.com West One Bathrooms 0333 011 3333 westonebathrooms.com Wilko 0800 032 9329 wilko.com Worktop Express 0345 222 2644 worktop-express.co.uk Wren Kitchens 0345 127 7008 wrenkitchens.com Wyld Home 01743 588820 wyldhome.com Yonder.Living yonderliving.com Zara Home 0800 026 0091 zarahome.com

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BE CANDLE SAFE Enjoy the special touch that candles add to your home; but take care to use them safely: Always place lit candles well away from foliage, furniture, curtains and soft furnishings, and always out of draughts l Keep candles out of reach of children and pets l Never leave a burning candle unattended l Keep candles away from hair and clothing l Always place candles upright in suitable holders that can’t easily fall over l Always be sure that candles are properly extinguished

EDITORIAL COMPLAINTS We work very hard to achieve the highest standards of editorial content, and we are committed to complying with the Editors’ Code of Practice (ipso.co.uk/IPSO/cop.html) as enforced by IPSO. If you have a complaint about our editorial content, you can email us at complaints@ti-media.com or write to Complaints Manager, TI Media Limited Legal Department, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP, England.

Please provide details of the material you are complaining about and explain your complaint by reference to the Editors’ Code. We will endeavour to acknowledge your complaint within five working days and we aim to correct substantial errors as soon as possible.

Editorial Director Vanessa Richmond 020 3148 7335 Group Creative Director Georgia Hibberdine 020 3148 7342 Executive Editor Heather Young 020 3148 7326 Homes Content Team Editorial Director Rhoda Parry 020 3148 7180 Commercial Editorial Operations Director Jane Akers 020 3148 7313 Associate Editor Ginevra Benedetti 020 3148 7347 Group Chief Sub-Editor/Production Editor Sarah Farley 020 3148 7189 Decorating Editor Nicky Phillips 020 3148 7346 Style Editor Michela Colling 020 3148 7355 Houses Editor Ruth Corbett 020 3148 7330 Senior Features Editor Stephanie Durrant 020 3148 6218 Features Editor Holly Walsh 020 3148 7353 Travel & News Editor Patrick Hamilton Courtney Head of Subs Operations Maxine Clarke 020 3148 7136 Hub Chief Sub-Editor Amy Hodge 020 3148 7118 Deputy Chief Sub-Editor Jennie Filer Senior Sub-Editor Chloe Hay Senior Sub-Editor Linda Blakemore Head of Art Operations Alison Walter 020 3148 7113 Deputy Art Director Emma Jackson 020 3148 7338 Acting Art Editor Hannah Bennewitz 020 3148 7343 Art Editor Paula Jardine 020 3148 7156 Art Editor Melanie Brown 020 3148 7160 Senior Designer Christina McQuillan 020 3148 7899 Senior Designer Katie Harris 020 3148 7825 Group Digital Director Sarah Rafati Digital Content Director Holly Boultwood Acting Digital Content Director Stephanie Wood Digital Editor – Homes Group Amy Cutmore Shopping Editor Tamara Kelly

ADVERTISING Publisher and Head of Homes Network Joanne O’Hara 020 3148 7642 Advertisement Manager Sharon Goode 020 3148 7631 International/Luxury Account Manager Carol Bunce 020 3148 7620 London Sales Manager Ruth Roscorla 020 3148 7639 Classified Senior Sales Executive Charlotte Beckett 020 3148 2511 Inserts Canopy Media Sales and Management 0845 544 1857 Regional Sales Director Katrina Hutchison 0161 601 3720 Regional Account Manager Kim Milroy 0161 601 3737 Homes Digital Director Ellie Naber 020 3148 4253

MARKETING Head of Marketing Sian Cupid 020 3148 6487 Deputy Head of Marketing Laura Timms 020 3148 6239

OFFERS Enquiries 020 3148 6340

CIRCULATION Circulation Manager Alan Edwards 020 3787 9161

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND BACK ISSUES Senior Subscriptions Marketing Manager Anita Baghapour 020 3047 1985 Credit-card Hotline 0330 333 1113 For full details turn to page 139.

For back issues visit mags-uk.com. You can order issues from as far back as 2003, subject to availability.

PRODUCTION Editorial Production Manager Nicola Tillman Deputy Editorial Production Manager Clare Willetts Art Production Designer Phil Dunk Advertisement Production Co-ordinator Nick Williams 020 3148 2676 Production Manager John Botten 020 3148 5431 Production Operations Director Richard Hill 020 3148 5424 Syndication Efi Mandrides 020 3148 5485 Head of Brand Partnerships David Abbott 020 3148 5474 Press Office 020 3148 7682

PUBLISHING Group Managing Director, Lifestyle Angela O’Farrell Executive Assistant to Group Managing Director Michelle Briant 020 3148 5571 Group Client Investment Director Rob Biagioni 01252 555371

IDEAL.HOME@TI-MEDIA.COM Ownable is a partnership between TI Media Ltd and Seen in Print Ltd

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020

149

STYLE THROWBACK

THEN… AND NOW

1984

Every issue in our centenary year, we’re dipping into our archive to find an inspiring image and put a modern spin on the look THE ORIGINAL There’s a healthy dose of 1980s minimalism here, with sleek pale wood finishes and a pared-back palette that keeps this look simple.

The storage unit and foldaway table wouldn’t look out of place now – perfect for small-space living.

THE UPDATE We’ve added relaxed character with plenty of texture. Hand-finished touches, such as tassels, rattan chairs and artisan-style ceramics also soften the space. The black accents update the neutral scheme with an industrial twist.

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WHERE TO BUY 1 Jefferson ladder shelf, £399, Next Home 2 Hackney three seater sofa, £1,499, DFS 3 Pax rattan dining chair, £169 for two, Dunelm 4 Two tone mug, £8.99; bowl, £8.99, both Zara Home 5 Tasselled cushion cover, £8.99, H&M Home 6 Jacquard weave cushion cover, £8.99, H&M Home 7 Velvet and bamboo pendant lampshade, £185, Rose & Grey

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FEBRUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING

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