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BEDROOMS

LOUNGES

LIBRARIES

EST. 1920

THE HOME OF GOOD IDEAS FOR 100 YEARS L

100 YEARS

◆ STUNNING EXTENDED KITCHENS ◆ NEW BATHROOM INSPIRATION ◆ BEST COLOURS & WALLPAPERS FOR YOUR NEXT ROOM REFRESH ◆ BUCKET-LIST HOLIDAYS

TOUR FIVE REAL HOMES

Full of original design ideas & solutions IDEAL HOME APPROVED

Dishwashers Entryway Storage Microwaves

Ready to party! ◆ Big-impact Festive Decor Ideas ◆ How To Update Your Dining Space ◆ Boutique Gins ◆ Restaurant-Quality Readymades

2020 PLANS & DREAMS

JANUARY 2020

136

97 What’s new

Real homes

Before & after

11 Set the scene for…

28 A little piece of history

108 ‘It’s such a bright, happy

17 18 21 22 25

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

ALL S T

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

A night to party The style editor Top news from the high street We keeping seeing… Festive bedding Christmas edit A gallery of giftable baubles The wallpaper edit Jazz up your home with Art Deco patterns The shortlist Statement wreaths Ideal vs Great Deal Give your hallway a glam makeover

This former chapel blends modern and vintage design 47 Warm & welcoming Modern architecture softened by easy design tricks 66 Simple but sophisticated Major renovation paid off 86 Starting again from scratch 1980s decor has been brought bang up to date

Style & decor 40 How designers use…

Heather purples 58 Dressed to impress Seasonal decorating ideas 80 Interior design advice Update your dining space 97 Easy style updates Smart tricks and clever buys

space now’ An extension has made for an improved layout 114 ‘We wanted to create the unexpected!’ A brave colour choice makes this space unique 120 ‘We merged two tiny rooms into one luxe space’ Quality over quantity 125 ‘We opened up the back of our narrow terrace’ A framed side return has made a big difference

Simple solutions 128 Genius problem solvers

for a smooth running life Clever finds and the latest home innovations 130 Your hallway, sorted Game-changing buys

CONTENTS

108

TO FIND ALL THE STOCKISTS IN THIS ISSUE TURN TO PAGE 156 133 Helping hand

Dishwashers that do the hard work for you 135 Upgrade your microwave For a multitasking machine

Simple pleasures 136 New Year’s Eve dinner 142 144 147 148

party Welcome 2020 in relaxed and intimate style Feed a crowd With ready-made wonders Simple style Set a stunning festive table Say cheers! Boutique gins to savour Book a bucket list holiday Tick off a dream destination

Visit facebook. com/ideal home.co.uk

Regulars

6 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 January issues of the last century 57 The big question Are uPVC window frames an eyesore? 106 Subscribe to Ideal Home 158 Style throwback Our contemporary spin on a living room look from 1964

See our latest snaps @idealhomeuk

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Be inspired at pinterest.com/ idealhomemag

A subscription makes a great gift or a lovely treat for yourself from just £26.99, saving 48%! Call 0330 333 1113 and quote the code ASV9 or visit idealhome.co.uk/JAN2020IH

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

WELCOME TO OUR CENTENARY ISSUE! In the very first edition, January 1920, the editor wrote in his foreword: ‘The policy of The Ideal Home is to cater for the wide circle of the middle class, and our pages and efforts will at all times be concentrated to help this cause. Every matter of interest, from the designing of the house and garden to its final finishing touches, will be carefully explained and illustrated by experts in each branch.’ Today’s editorial team is proud to still uphold that purpose and hopes that you love this great old British brand as much as we do.

Vanessa

Vanessa Richmond, Editor

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

100 YEARS OF JANUARY ISSUES Editor Vanessa Richmond picks her highlights from Ideal Home through the decades…

In 1921, we were… LUSTING AFTER THE LATEST APPLIANCES These days, we’re spoilt with washing machines so smart they virtually talk to us; in January 1921, all the housemaid wanted was a lever-operated wooden wash bucket, because ‘nothing is more dreaded than washing day, with its wear and tear and incessant backache…’

In 1934, we were… SCOFFING CUSTARD CREAMS This was the year Britain was introduced to the best biscuit for dunking – ‘the wonderful new biscuit everyone is talking about’.

In 1940, we were… DEALING WITH BOMB DAMAGE This feature gave readers all the information they needed in the event that their property or rented home was bombed during wartime. In 1941, we were… SPRINTING TO THE AIR-RAID SHELTER IN STYLE Ideal Home recommended this clever bed quilt in its shopping pages, designed to turn into a cosy hooded cloak to take the fashionista from bed to air-raid shelter without skipping a beat.

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

In 1953, we were… DESIGNING DREAM HOMES In the postwar building boom, four Ideal Home staffers, including an in-house architect, designed this ‘forever’ home complete with central heating, an open-plan living space and a covered passageway so that ‘when a son and heir is born, his pram can be kept under cover.’

THE HOME OF GOOD IDEAS

In 1963 we were… ANGSTING ABOUT ETIQUETTE For this feature, Ideal Home gathered eight of London’s social glitterati and asked for their advice on how to be the perfect party guest for the festive season. My favourite quote comes from Baroness von Strealborn: ‘I loathe the modern cocktail party – there is no conversation, just everyone milling around, shouting, and there is never anywhere to sit down.’

In 1968, we were… EXCITED FOR COLOUR TV Staying in was the new going out with the arrival of colour telly – for more than 50 hours per week!

In 1972, we were… LOVING RINGO STARR’S RANGE OF FURNITURE Between breaking up with the Beatles and releasing his own solo album in 1973, Ringo found the time to create this collection of spectacularly eccentric steel furniture in partnership with designer Robin Cruikshank. Exhibited at Liberty, it was a hit – and Ringo and Robin continued to design together until 1986.

In 1980, we were… SHOCKED BY HOUSE PRICES Rocketing house prices throughout the Seventies inspired this piece in the January 1980 issue questioning whether home ownership had become beyond the reach of young couples, with the average house price hitting the giddy heights of… £20,000.

In 1991, we were… RUNNING FOR THE PHONE When did you buy your first mobile? This answerphone ad came out the year before the Nokia 1011 was launched and we no longer had to jump out of the shower and run downstairs to answer a call.

In 1982, we were… DIGGING POWER GLAM By the early Eighties, city-slicker chic was all the rage with this fierce but fabulous monochrome look. IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

WHAT’S NEW

Set the scene for…

A NIGHT TO PARTY Shake off that post-Christmas slump and get set for a chic soirée. Whether a houseful of guests makes you happy or an intimate dinner party is more your style, sparkling decs and smart barware will make it memorable. Happy New Year!

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

WHERE TO BUY Silver and White paper pinwheel decorations, £24 for three; glitter star decorations, £15.95 for two; Pink and Gold water glasses, £32.50 for four; Rose Pink and Gold champagne coupes, £21.95 for two; polished brass handmade bowls, £39.50 for four; rustic Cuvée De Prestige champagne bowl, £195, all Rockett St George

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

The bed we’ve lost sleep over. We set ourselves the challenge of creating the perfect mattress to give you the ultimate night’s sleep. We precisely placed up to 5000 pocket springs into every mattress that respond to your every movement. We sourced the ﬁnest natural materials to create a luxurious blend of cashmere and silk. And we trekked the British Highlands and Lowlands in search of wool that will keep you both warm in winter and cool in summer. Of course, we made sure to craft it all lovingly by hand here in Somerset and as if that wasn’t enough, we even guarantee it for ten long years. We set out to create you a bed like no other, and we can sleep soundly every night knowing we achieved that.

EXCLUSIVE TO

bensonsforbeds.co.uk

The ﬁrst bed retailer to be awarded the British Standard Kitemark

WHAT’S NEW

CREATE A LITTLE DRAMA

Fabric, from £34m, Iliv

The new Teatro collection of fabrics from Iliv may have been inspired by the grandeur of the Italian Renaissance, but the timeless designs, such as lustred jacquards and cut velvets, have been reimagined for everyday living. We love upholstering cushions and throws in the Pewter colourway.

E ALL S T

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

The STYLE EDITOR We’re in love!

Alternative giftwrap from Cox & Cox Although festive printed papers with snowflakes, Santa and holly sprigs come but once a year, we still think this non-traditional Christmas paper is a breath of fresh air. It’ll give those special presents a luxe finish, and the thick, reversible Menagerie paper is definitely one to carefully unstick to use again! It’s almost too gorgeous to give away. Menagerie wrapping paper, £12.50 for 10m, Cox & Cox

SEND A TREE No, we haven’t been at the Christmas sherry, this little tree, pot, lights, AND decorations really will arrive beautifully packaged via the letterbox. Not only will the foldable pot double up as a rather lovely storage basket after Christmas, but the sustainably planted, rooted tree can be replanted in the garden. From £33, Bloom & Wild IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

WHAT’S NEW

Umberto sideboard, £1,150, Graham and Green

Need to Know

This year’s must-have coffee table books A last minute gift idea for your interiors-obsessed friend or one to sneak on to your own wish list. Extraordinary Interiors In Colour (£19.99) comes from the founders of the emporium of expressive homeware, Rockett St George. Get ready for page after page of inspiring homes that fully embrace colour. On the flipside, For The Love Of White (£30) by Chrissie Rucker, founder of The White Company, explores 12 real homes from the city to the country that have used neutrals in unique ways.

“

WE KEEP SEEING...

Rather than replacing a whole set of plain white dinnerware, simply add a few decorative pieces to your collection STYLE EDITOR, MICHELA COLLING

Brass sideboards Storage never looked so glam

”

Available both as a set and individually, you’re able to buy just what you need

MODERN COMBO Grace sideboard, £699, Swoon

REVISED CLASSIC Broadway sideboard, £749, Atkin and Thyme

Surprise in store

ARTISAN TABLEWARE AT WILKO FUTURISTIC FINISH Gatsby dresser, £973.50, Maisons du Monde

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

If the numbers for Christmas dinner are starting to resemble a small restaurant sitting, the new 12-piece set at Wilko will help you extend service. The Grey Reactive Glaze design is only £30, but the artisan-style glaze gives it a decorative finish that looks like it’s come straight out of a potters kiln.

Have you ever pondered on your sofa

“

If all the lights in the world were turned off would the moths fly to the moon?

as unique as your thoughts

YOUR SHAPE

YOUR SIZE

YOUR STYLE

”

Our kind of resolution. Shop now at swooneditions.com Pay in instalments with

Southwark chest of drawers

ÂŁ279

WHAT’S NEW

We keep seeingÉ

FESTIVE BEDDING

Move over Christmas jumpers and Christmas PJs, it’s all about Christmas bedlinen this year! Perfect for an early gift on Christmas Eve, or to treat yourself to in the run-up for extra festive vibes. And there’s no need for garish Santas (unless that’s what you want!), because there’s a host of rather more chic designs out there – like this monochrome, graphic trees print from Dunelm…

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

« With a nonfestive design on the back, I’m not just for Christmas!

Festive trees duvet set, £12 for a double; plain dye pillowcases, from £3.99 each; light-up aspen pine garlands, £25 each, all Dunelm

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

A GALLERY OF GIFTABLE BAUBLES MYSTIC MENAGERIE

FOODIE FAVOURITES

HAPPY PURSUITS WE ALL KNOW ONE… Cat lady, £16, National Theatre Bookshop

ZESTY POP Tangerine, £10, The Hambledon

MAGICAL MAMMAL Victorian whale, £16, Petersham Nurseries

DRESS-UP PUP Pug bunny, £10, West Elm

NOODLE AROUND Ramen bowl, £16, National Theatre Bookshop

NEW HEIGHTS Hanging giraffe, £12.99, Gisela Graham range, The Contemporary Home

CAPTURE THE MOMENT Black camera, £12, Rockett St George

SWEET TREAT Sparkly White doughnut, £1, Poundland

PIQUANT PICK Glass chilli sauce, £6, Paperchase

VIBRANT VEG Carrots, £48 for three, Petersham Nurseries WILD SIDE Gold tiger head, £14, Rockett St George

WINTER WOOLLY Alpaca, £24, Yonder

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

FESTIVE SPIRIT Gin glass, £4, Sainsbury’s Home READY, SET, BAKE! Glass mixer, £5, Paperchase

FRESH DELIVERY Christmas veg box set, £9.95, White Stuff

PINT SIZED Beer bottle decoration, £7.50, The National Gallery Shop

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING

BLING BUZZ Jewelled bumblebee, £18, Anthropologie

HEALTH KICK Glass running shoe, £6, Paperchase

WHAT’S NEW

Prepare to be dazzled! We’ve rounded up our pick of the brightest, best and most bonkers baubles to give as a present or to hang on your tree for a dramatically different look ROCK ’N’ ROLL BRIGHT SPARK Lightning bolt, £12, Rockett St George

MINDFUL LIVING TOTALLY ZEN Buddha head, £7, John Lewis & Partners

NATURAL BEAUTY Gold geode crystal, £8.50, Yonder

PARTY ANIMAL Glass animal print, £4, Marks & Spencer

TUNE IN Hanging headphones, £8.99, Dobbies

ROCK AROUND THE TREE Party Disco cassette, £5, John Lewis & Partners

RED LETTER Alphabet bauble, £12, Fortnum & Mason

VEGAN SWAP Glass almond milk carton, £8, Paperchase

DAINTY DROP Personalised pom poms, £36 each, Notonthehighstreet.com

DREAMY DESIGN Dreamcatcher, £15.50 for two, Cox & Cox

STAR MAN David Bowie, £16, National Theatre Bookshop

MONOGRAM CHIC

YULETIDE YARN Letter dec, £6, Urban Outfitters

GOOD VIBES Sitting yoga figure, £8, Anthropologie

MIDAS TOUCH Gold monogram letter, £8, Anthropologie SPELL IT OUT Tree letter, £7, Alphablots

BOHO CHIC Macramé leaf hoops, £15.50 for three, Cox & Cox

PUT ON A SHOW Microphone, £3, George Home

NATURAL SHAPES Personalised wooden Christmas tree, £9.99, Getting Personal

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

John Lewis of Hungerford & Co. The Kitchen Artisans Since 1972

s made i n e h c e a kit r e place h A w . e f c l a e en its The pl h c t i ixed. k m a e r e a k is li dients e r milar i g s n i e s e r u whe akers m are n s t e l h u c s t i e All k t the r hefâ&#x20AC;?. u c b â&#x20AC;&#x153; s e l h a t ds o n materi n e p e d nt. It differe JLH &

C o.

Standing the test of time To request our brochure, email brochures@john-lewis.co.uk or call 0700 278 4726 | www.john-lewis.co.uk

WHAT’S NEW

The wallpaper edit

ART DECO

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT

Draw inspiration from a more decadent age with stylised designs, dazzling metallics, striking colours and bold or delicate patterns

DYNAMIC SUNBURSTS

CHIC GEOMETRICS

FINE FEATHERS

LUXE MINERALS

ALL THAT JAZZ

Golden sunburst repeats bring Art Deco design to life with a splash of sparkle on a dark brown background. Zamia Dark Brown & Gold, £18 a roll, B&Q

Unmistakable classic Art Deco shapes take on an elegant colour palette of blush pink and shimmering gold for this iconic style. Revival Taupe, £150 a roll, Mind the Gap

Prettify walls with these elegant embossed peacock feather motifs set against a textured teal backdrop. Peacock Teal Blue, £40.50 a roll, Caselio at Wallpaperdirect

Add a dash of drama with a striking diamond design featuring opulent marble effects in mono and a rich emerald green. Diamonds Brass, £175 a roll, Banbayu

Named after 1930s fashion artist Gordon Conway, matt and metallic inks capture the era’s decadent style. Conway in Sahara, £80 a roll, Zoffany at Style Library

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

THE SHORTLIST

STATEMENT WREATHS Not just for the front door – hang them on a wall or over a dining table for instant festive feels

FEATURE WALL Twig wreath, £34.99; fragrance of Christmas wreath, £37.99; small berry wreath, £29.99; bauble wreath, £29.99; frosted succulent wreath, £24.99; traditional leaf & berry wreath, £29.99; Santa’s workshop wreath, £24.99, all Dobbies

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

WHAT’S NEW

FESTIVE FUN House LED lit wreath, £55, Laura Ashley

DRESS ME UP Talini wreath, from £29.95, Nkuku

RUSTIC FIND Wrapped twine ring wreath, £12, B&Q

WINTERY TOUCH Wooden heart with pine cones, £15, Homebase

STATEMENT STYLE Brush tree oversized wreath, £125, Cox & Cox

MERRY & BRIGHT Traditions Berry wreath with leaves, £40, John Lewis & Partners

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING

Use me as a table centrepiece!

MAGIC AND SPARKLE Gold & Silver glitter stars on twig wreath, £42.99, The Contemporary Home

HIGH SHINE Lit bauble wreath, £19.99, Very

COLOUR CRUSH Berry and eucalyptus wreath, £18, Sainsbury’s Home

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

New year new obsession. Shop now at swooneditions.com Pay in instalments with

Kiln cabinet

ÂŁ529

WHAT’S NEW

IDEAL VS GREAT DEAL

Give your hallway a glam makeover with chic yet practical picks that’ll make your guests feel right at home BLUSH BULBS Globe large flush pendant, £99, Made.com

MID-CENTURY STATEMENT Bombazine pendant, £478, Där Lighting

GEO TRIO Branford mirror, £399, John Lewis & Partners

TWICE AS NICE Double circle mirror, £149.99, Very

MOOD LIGHTING Sirius large ribbed glass lantern, £25, Made.com

FINISHING TOUCH Stone hook, £39, Ferm Living at Nordic Nest

MARBLE TOP Kensington console table, £449, Content by Terence Conran

WIRE WREATH Dressed Nordic star, £35, The White Company

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT

WARM WELCOME I’ll Be There In A Prosecco doormat, £25, Amara

MINIMAL PIECE Meard umbrella stand, £150, Soho Home

PRETTY TEXTURE Ribbed glass tea light holder, £8, Maisons du Monde

STAY TIDY Ferm Living large brass hook, £15.20, Hurn & Hurn

DECO STYLE Gatsby console table, £349, Atkin and Thyme

FESTIVE FLOURISH Mistletoe and star decoration, £8, Paperchase

SET THE TONE Come In If You Have Prosecco doormat, £19.95, Mint & May

CATCH DRIPS Marvel umbrella stand, £68, Oliver Bonas

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

A little piece of history Kay and Paul Cullen renovated a small Victorian village chapel, blending modern design with characterful vintage pieces

REAL HOME

Love

KAY’S FRONT DOOR? Turn to page 37 to find out more

Living room ‘I like to paint old furniture with chalk-finish paints and mix in a few modern pieces to bring in a contemporary twist. A bit of old mixed with a bit of new is usually a great philosophy to follow,’ says Kay. BUY THE KEY PIECES Chalk paint, £19.95 for 1L, Annie Sloan, would work. Lynden two-seater sofa, £1,440, Laura Ashley

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

Welcome to my home

Kay Cullen, an interior designer at Laura Ashley, lives here with her husband Paul, a mechanical engineer.

THE PROPERTY A three-bed former chapel built in 1880 in Carmarthenshire.

THE VALUE Similar properties in the area cost around £275,000.

“

Our little chapel home is so special, it always lifts your spirits, even on the gloomiest day

”

Take a quick tour... UTILITY ROOM

KITCHEN-DINER

MASTER BEDROOM

BEDROOM

LIVING ROOM

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

ay and Paul Cullen discovered their Welsh stone and red-brick chapel online three years ago. ‘It was a very sad-looking building, but full of promise, and we wanted to put back the character that had been lost during its conversion,’ says Kay. The chapel had served the local community until 2001. ‘Some people in the village were married here and our plumber even remembers going to Sunday school here. We like to think it was waiting for us to find it and fall in love with it.’ Which the couple did in a heartbeat, despite some initial problems. ‘On moving day, we had to check into a hotel, because the chapel was infested with spiders and mice. We spent a week cleaning!’ The renovations took 18 months, with the Cullens tackling most of the work themselves while working full time. They refitted the kitchen and bathrooms, created an extra bedroom and put in new heating. Kay then got busy with the decor. ‘I love anything with an aged, worn look. I wanted to create a traditional interior with a focus on comfort, warmth and simplicity. We’re so proud of what we’ve done. Knowing that we’ve breathed new life into an unloved building is very rewarding.’ Follow Kay on Instagram @the_old_chapel.

REAL HOME

EMPTY FRAME A simple way to contain a wall display

Corridor With little space for furniture, Kay made it feel more designed by marking half-way on the walls with masking tape then painting up to it. ‘The effect is like panelling, but without the cost,’ says Kay. ‘The trick is to paint the skirting and doorframe, too.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Factory Mid-Grey pendants, £50 each, Artifact Lighting. Lynden snuggler, £1,350, Laura Ashley

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

CONTRAST CABINET Dark wall units make a highceilinged room feel cosier

Christmas, “Every I make my own simple wreaths and garlands using holly and mistletoe from the garden

”

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOME

Kitchen ‘The chapel ceilings rise to almost 3.5m and make this room feel so much larger than it really is,’ says Kay. Touches of textured wood and rugged leather bring warmth. BUY THE KEY PIECES Harwood kitchen, price on request; Lancaster armchairs, £1,350 each, both Laura Ashley. Tolix-style chairs, £69 each, Cult Furniture

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

GALLERY GRID Match frames and print type for maximum impact

Main bedroom A mix of pale, neutral colours keeps this small space feeling bright and calm, but Kay added black accents with her grandmother’s rare Welsh blanket and picture frames to stop it from looking bland. BUY THE KEY PIECES Coco bed, from £945, Loaf, is similar. Try White ceramic drum table, £135, Lagoon. Eunice lamp, £60, Discount Home Lighting

En-suite bathroom ‘This is my sanctuary,’ says Kay. ‘I love the warm, very soft grey tone of the wall panelling – it’s one of those colours that looks different in all types of light.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Skimming Stone estate eggshell, £62 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Cheshire bath, £3,335, Victoria & Albert Baths, is similar. Poppy Field rug, £125, French Connection Home

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOME

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

Double the time you think you’ll need. We did most of the work ourselves – saving us enough for luxuries like the woodburner and castiron radiators – but we underestimated how long and hard it would be

”

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

DON’T MISS THE DETAILS...

FEATURE NATALIE FLAUM, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS COLIN POOLE PLANS AGENCY SERVICE

Clockwise from top left: ‘I trim Christmas gifts with ivy sprigs and dried mandarin slices – the scent is heavenly,’ says Kay; Paul uses fishing wire to hang a branch over the kitchen table and Kay decorates it with baubles; ‘I love the rustic shelf in the boot room, which was a vintage find’; the cot in the couple’s granddaughter’s room has been painted with non-toxic chalk paint.

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOME

Make it work for you

KAY’S CHOICE: A NEW FRONT DOOR

A dated door can seriously damage your kerb appeal, while one that suits your property will make a great first impression The first thing people notice when they visit, a stylish front door offers the chance to show off your home from the get-go. And you can kiss goodbye to any draughtiness or dodgy paintwork with a high-quality design, too.

Should I buy off the peg? Although it restricts you to standard external door sizes, the range of available styles and size options is improving all the time. Many companies now offer a made-to-order service that lets you customise your design pick-and-mix style. Don’t be lured in by amazing prices without doing the maths though – many don’t include delivery, fitting, hinges or hardware.

Is a custom design better? A bespoke door is the more expensive option but offers the opportunity to choose the exact door design and position of the hardware. If your doorway is charmingly wonky or unusually large, a handmade door will provide the perfect fit. There should be no hidden costs.

What materials can I choose from? The cheapest option is lowmaintenance, low-fuss uPVC, but it’s not always the prettiest. Composite doors, which contain GRP (glass reinforced plastic), come in stylish wood-look designs – choose solid core construction over ‘hollow’ polystyrene. For a designer look with great thermal performance, try a good quality aluminium door. Oak, iroko, larch and cedar are all popular for their dense grains, but do require a bit of maintenance. Engineered wood is a more durable choice.

A curved-top door has a rustic feel

What about security? All new external doors must comply with building regulations security measures – ask your supplier for proof of compliance. Look out for Secured by Design accreditation for extra peace of mind.

“

BEST FOR…

Don’t underestimate the effect a new front door can have – it can really freshen up the exterior of your home RUTH CORBETT, HOUSES EDITOR

”

FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON

IDEAL HOME LOVES… STATEMENT DOORS

TRUE BLUE Traditional style with stained glass panels. Solid Accoya door, £1,860, Steven Thomas Joinery

GROOVY DESIGN Horizontal lines add a modern twist. Malmo Ultimate door, £1,440, Travis Perkins

SLEEK STYLE Metal inserts provide sparkling detail. Aluminium front door, from £1,800, Origin

COUNTRY CLASSIC Stable door opening to let in a cool breeze. Cottage Wood door, £399.99, Wayfair

EASY INSTALLS Find a certified tradesperson to install your door in line with building regulations at competent person.co.uk DRESSING IT UP Willow & Stone is a treasure trove of fancy ironmongery with a fabulous front door furniture collection. STAYING SAFE With Nest Hello (from Currys or John Lewis & Partners) you can check who is at the door from your smartphone or device and talk to them if you’re not home. It is also a security camera.

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

Oscar table lamp, £235; Ole chair in Ginger Steel with Drizzle seat, £310, both Broste Copenhagen at Folk Interiors. Kamille table, from £792, Broste Copenhagen. Horn vase in Puce, £42; Broste Copenhagen at Amara. Anon cork bowls, £10 each, Royal Design

STYLE SECRETS

HOW DESIGNERS USE HEATHER PURPLES These tones tip towards blue on one side and reddish mauves on the other, bringing calm and warmth to wherever you use them

Heal your home ‘These rich, luxurious tones can take a room from dull and dreary to luxe and lavish. They channel the healing properties of amethyst, believed to soothe stress and anxiety,’ says colour expert Annie Sloan

STYLE & DECOR Chimney breast in Marble V emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5L, Paint & Paper Library. Similar Plum Ombre mural, from £36sq m, Murals Wallpaper. Karlsson Teal velvet armchair, £1,145, Lombok. Eden Dusky Mushroom sofa, £1,899, Sofa Workshop. Console, £1,441, The Conran Shop. Madrid coffee table, £1,399, BoConcept. Pine cone side table, £395, Graham and Green. Patina rug, £82.99, Wayfair. Urbanite Dream artwork, £150, Perch & Parrow. ON MANTEL Sculpture, £115, Amara. Amethyst, from £50, Hurn & Hurn. Candlestick, £15.75, Lene Bjerre. ON CONSOLE Lamp, £252, David Hunt Lighting. Fenix stand, £39.50, Graham and Green. ON COFFEE TABLE Candlestick, £38, Amara. Vase, £32.75; votive, £20.75, both Lene Bjerre. Tray, £20, One.World. ON SIDE TABLE Vase, £25, Wyld Home. ON ARMCHAIR Bohemia Grey cushion, £99, Andrew Martin. ON SOFA Hunstanton Navy cushion cover, £29.50, Jim Lawrence. Cushion in Clerkenwell Fig Grey velvet, £100m, Style Library. Ossington cushion, £109, Andrew Martin

Scale & mood

‘Warm and comforting, heather purples combine the receding values of blue, to make a space feel larger, and the warming properties of red, which can make it feel cosy,’ says Annie Sloan

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

Sophia large sofa in Bellevue Lilac, £1,299; Harriet chair in Heatley Twill Blush, £699; Beatrix rug in Terracotta, from £169; Farley marble round nest of tables, £199; Farley marble square coffee table, £229; Leda floor lamp, £129; Aubrey throw, £35; triangle chenille cushion, £15; chenille cushion, £15; linear hurricane, £5; diamond cut glass ombre vase, £12.50, all Marks & Spencer

Go tone-on-tone ‘Heather purples range across a broad palette of cool and warm shades you can mix together for a layered, tonal scheme. They look great with blush pink accents, too,’ says Karen Thomas, Head of Design at Marks & Spencer

“

If you don’t want to paint your walls in heather purple, introduce the colour through accent pieces such as a chair or sofa

”

KAREN THOMAS, MARKS & SPENCER

STYLE & DECOR

Go for gold ‘Gold, as a yellow colour, is complementary to purple, so add gold or brass for a richer, bolder look. Lamps, shelves or cabinet handles are the easiest way to do this,’ says Annie Sloan

Bloomingville Layla brass shelf, £141, Nunido TOP SHELF Brown cylindrical vase, £18.10 for two, Connox; Purple 107 glass vase, £26, Nunido; similar Finbarr Amethyst vase, £50, Dartington Crystal MIDDLE SHELF Similar Moroccan pink vase, £39, Amara; similar Rose globe vase, £30, AYTM at Amara; similar Purple ombre melted vase, £35, Amara; Bloomingville Pink bud vase, £10, Trouva BOTTOM SHELF Brass vase with handles, £19, Nunido; handcrafted red glass vase, £13, Lillian Daph; table vase, £67.99; Wayfair

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

STYLE & DECOR

THE BEST

Heather purples

Soothing scheme ‘Heather hues work all year round, but I’d recommend using a co-ordinating patterned fabric or wallpaper instead of a solid wall colour, so you can update the look by season or mood,’ says Rebecca Craig of the Sanderson Studio at Style Library

DEEP AND RICH Autumn Purple matt emulsion, £29 for 0.94L, Benjamin Moore

INTENSE SHADE Meadow Violet active emulsion, £45 for 2.5L, Sanderson

WARM BALANCE Heather Climb paint mixing matt, £29.16 for 2.5L, Dulux

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY... Designers and stylists share their views ■ ‘These shades are a modern update for a neutral room scheme. The beautiful heather tones and soft, dusky shades of purple are a world away from the 1970s take on the colour purple,’ says Karen Thomas. ■ ‘It’s easy to keep them up to date,’ agrees Rebecca Craig. ‘Paired with the right highlight colours, such as powder blue, slate and metallics, heather shades are ideal for contemporary style.’

■ ‘I’ve seen them used in extremely modern ways,’ says Annie Sloan. ‘They work on slick, geometric furniture and on walls. I would consider the tone you’re using – a lighter, bluer lilac heather lends its pastel hue beautifully to a mid-century modern design, whereas a deeper, duskier heather would suit older Victorian furniture.’ ■ ‘Redder, earthier shades work best in living rooms,’ adds Rebecca. ‘They add

a sense of warmth and homeliness to a space and you can make them more luxurious by adding warm metallics. For bedrooms, choose bluer lilac tones for a calming ambiance.’ ■ ‘You can pair them with either a cool or a warm neutral,’ explains Annie. ‘Purple is made from both blue and red – cool and warm – so you can get away with either. If you’re going to add an accent colour, make sure the neutral you’re using will work with that, too.’ ■ ‘They work brilliantly with greyed-out neutrals,’ says

SOFTLY DOES IT Emile chalk paint, £19.95 for 1.5L, Annie Sloan

A LIGHT TOUCH, Prom Queen matt emulsion, £38 for 2.5L, Graham & Brown

Karen. ‘I prefer mixing them with more unexpected neutrals, though! The warm taupes and camel colours coming through as a trend at the moment work nicely with heather shades.’ ■ ‘Use them as pops of colour against a neutral backdrop,’ adds Karen. ‘If you don’t want to paint the walls in heather hues, introduce them through accessories or accent pieces such as a chair or sofa. Oversized floral prints on bedding in a heather-purple palette feel really modern, too, as long as the room isn’t too busy.’

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

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING. FIREPLACE IMAGE: STYLING GEMMA GEAR PHOTOGRAPH JOANNA HENDERSON

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Eternal Dusk, £55.20m; Velour Grape, £31.80m; Envision Chrome, £33.60m; Velour Orchid, £31.80m; Velour Heather, £31.80m; Moondust Dusk, £26.40m; Afterglow Chrome, £33.60m; Gemstone Otter, £26.40m; Radiance Dusk , £55.20m, all Prestigious Textiles

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

CANADA’S ROCKY MOUNTAINEER & ALASKA CRUISE 16 DAYS FROM £3,799PP DEPARTURES FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER 2020 PRICES INCLUDE ● ● ● ● ● ●

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Experience the Rocky Mountains in unrivalled luxury on the Rocky Mountaineer train Enjoy impeccable SilverLeaf service on board, plus two breakfasts and two lunches† Visits to Lake Louise and Peyto Lake plus ride on the Snocoach Travel on the Icefields Parkway and walk on the 300-metre-thick Athabasca glacier Stay in vibrant Vancouver and tour this wonderfully sophisticated city Return flights from the UK, plus all hotel transfers. Premium economy flight upgrades available at a supplement Seven-night, full board Alaskan cruise with Holland America Line Visit the awe-inspiring Glacier Bay National Park, a World Heritage site home to actively calving glaciers and humpback whales Stay in hand-picked three-star superior accommodation The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

VIETNAM & CAMBODIA 16 DAYS FROM ONLY £2,289PP* DEPARTURES FROM JANUARY TO NOVEMBER 2020 PRICES INCLUDE Stay and tour Phnom Penh, the ‘Pearl of Asia’ Visit the vast, ancient city and temples of Cambodia’s Angkor ● Tour of Vietnam’s beautiful capital Hanoi by cycle rickshaw, including the Temple of Literature, seeing its wide tree-lined avenues and colonial belle-époque villas ● Take a leisurely cruise aboard a converted Chinese junk in Halong Bay ● Visit the Citadel and Forbidden City in Hue, Vietnam’s former imperial capital ● Stay in the heart of exciting Saigon visiting the fascinating Cu-Chi tunnels ● Enjoy a full-day trip on the mighty Mekong River delta ● Return flights from the UK, plus all hotel transfers. Premium economy flight upgrades available at a supplement ● Four and five-star hotel accommodation, with daily breakfast, plus five meals ● The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout ● Departures available exclusively for solo travellers *Extend your stay with three nights in Laos – 19 days from £2,829pp ● ●

JAPAN - LAND OF THE RISING SUN

SOUTH AFRICA

13 DAYS FROM ONLY £3,549PP DEPARTURES FROM MARCH TO NOVEMBER 2020

16 DAYS FROM ONLY £2,299PP DEPARTURES FROM FEBRUARY TO NOVEMBER 2020

PRICES INCLUDE

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See the famous sights of Tokyo – the Meiji shrine, Omotesando Street, fashionsetting Harajuku and the Akihabara electronic town Enjoy astonishing views of Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi and the hot-spring, mountain spa resort of Hakone Travel at 189 mph on the incomparable high-speed bullet trains Reflect on the horrors of war at Hiroshima’s Peace Park and museum Explore Kyoto on a guided tour, experiencing the former imperial capital and the essence of traditional Japan Discover Nara, Japan’s first capital with its huge bronze Buddha, on a guided tour Opportunity to learn origami, traditional flower-arranging or Japanese cooking Return flights from the UK, plus all hotel transfers. Premium economy upgrades available at a supplement Hand-picked four-star accommodation, with breakfast and three meals The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

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Tour the Zulu War battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift with a specialist guide Full-day guided safari in Kruger National Park Stay in the heart of the gorgeous Western Cape’s Winelands, enjoying a cellar tour and tasting at a 300-year-old wine estate Stay three nights in cosmopolitan Cape Town, one of the world’s most naturally beautiful cities, dominated by the instantly recognisable Table Mountain Explore Cape of Good Hope and Cape Town’s Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Visit Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum Gaze at the awe-inspiring Blyde River canyon, the third-largest in the world Visit Hermanus for on-shore whale watching, dependent on season Return flights from the UK, plus all hotel transfers Stay in hand-picked four-star and three-star hotels with daily breakfast, two lunches and three dinners The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

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. †Upgrade available at a supplement.

REAL HOME

Main living room White walls and dark wood flooring act as a basic backdrop for the decor in the living room, which is a mix of contemporary and vintage furniture, statement lighting, and colourful artwork that sits together beautifully. BUY THE KEY PIECES Leather sling chairs, £595 each, Raft, are similar. Abstraction 563 print, from £7.95, Abstract House, would work

Warm & welcoming

Cathrine Oxholm Sonne and Martin Lützau used simple design tricks to soften the hard lines of their home’s modern architecture IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

Welcome to my home Cathrine Oxholm Sonne, who owns Danish fashion brand Magnolia, lives here with her partner Martin Lützau, an entrepreneur, and their son Frederik, 21.

THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom 1930s detached villa, located to the north of Copenhagen in Denmark.

“

We love the nature that surrounds us here. It has changed our lives for the better

Take a quick tour...

”

OFFICE

LIVING ROOM

KITCHEN DINING AREA

BED ROOM GARAGE

LIVING ROOM

GUEST ROOM

GROUND FLOOR

ense of space and closeness to nature was what first drew Cathrine Oxholm Sonne and Martin Lützau to this property located to the north of Copenhagen in Denmark. ‘We had been living in a house nearby,’ says Cathrine. ‘But it was in a built-up area where all the houses are positioned close to each other. We really wanted to have more space around us, so finding this house with so much land surrounding it – close to a lake and a nature reserve – was absolutely perfect.’ The property had been designed in the 1930s by a well-known architect in the minimalist style typical of the time, with clean lines, sharp angles, white rendered brickwork and an absence of ornamentation. While it had been extended in the early 1980s by the previous owners to include an extra downstairs sitting room, many of its original features were still in place, including the striking staircase, traditional kitchen and parquet timber floors. For Cathrine and Martin, the challenge was working out how to preserve the property’s architectural heritage, while bringing in more of the beauty of the

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

TERRACE

BEDROOM

FIRST FLOOR

surrounding landscape, as well as making the hardlined architecture feel more cosy and welcoming. ‘We were keen to let in more light and bring a sense of nature inside, so we have opened up the house quite a bit, by making many of the windows larger and taking down some interior walls to create more of an open-plan layout,’ says Cathrine. ‘The sitting room is situated in a great spot, so we’ve opened it up completely to make the most of the views outside.’ While the all-white walls that would have featured largely in the original design still remain downstairs, Cathrine has used warmer colours upstairs and had the wooden floors throughout stained darker to lend the house a cosier feel. ‘In the hallway, kitchen and bathrooms, in place of the old tiled floors, we’ve installed concrete floors, which tone in well and help the downstairs spaces flow together better.’ When it comes to the holiday season, Cathrine takes a break from her fashion business and spends time enjoying the peacefulness of her home and its wonderful views. ‘We love cosying up in here, looking out at the wintery landscape,’ she says.

REAL HOME

“

On Christmas Eve, the tree is moved to the middle of the room and after dinner we sing carols and dance around it

”

Love

CATHRINE’S STYLE? Turn to page 55 to shop the look

Small living room This room is in the extension, set down a step from the original part of the house. Simple black furniture makes it feel cosier and warm. BUY THE KEY PIECES Hemnes bookcase, from £115; Nissafors trolley, £25, both Ikea, are alternatives. Try Smoke honeycomb hurricane lamp, £30, Penny Morrison

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

INSET GLASS FIREPLACE Clean, contemporary and streamlined

‘This small Christmas tree was made by an artist and designer called Oliver Gustav, whose work I love’

Breakfast room A small dining area with a full-height picture window was added to extend the kitchen. The family like to drink their coffee here in the mornings, while enjoying the view.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Vitra Eames DSR side chairs in Black, £255 each, John Lewis & Partners, are a match. Timo steel and glass round dining table, £999, Artisanti, is similar. Brass cube candleholder, £186.99, By Lassen at Trouva

“

At Christmastime, music and the smell of good food and of a fire burning creates the perfect atmosphere in these rooms

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

”

REAL HOME

Main living room ‘The gas fire gives this room a lovely focal point. We enjoy sitting in here, with the amazing view out to the adjoining lake and nature reserve. The lights from nearby houses twinkle between the trees on the other side of the lake,’ says Cathrine. BUY THE KEY PIECES Sits Sigge sofa, from £1,595, Lime Modern Living, would work here. Pillar coffee table, £766, Made in Design, is this style. ECK corner inset fire, £4,362, Eurostove, is a match

Christmas tree trimmings and black paper roses add a chic festive touch

A modern clock creates a focal point in the living room

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

WALL NICHES For display and storage

Hallway To soften the harshness of the architecture and add warmth to the white spaces, Cathrine had the wood floors stained a darker shade. BUY THE KEY PIECES For similar plank flooring, try Woodland Oak Brown laminate, £37.99sq m, Quick-Step

Kitchen ‘We renovated the existing kitchen by painting the cabinets in light grey, replacing the sink and appliances, and having the old worktops wrapped in hard-wearing stainless steel,’ says Cathrine.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Similar worksurfaces, from £102 for a 600mm length, Stainless Steel Worktops UK. Faux potted cheese plant, £39.95, Graham and Green, is a match. Ernst stoneware vase in Dark Grey, £16, Nordic Nest, is a good alternative. Round marble pots, £17.99 each, H&M Home, have this look

“

We have opened up the house quite a bit by making windows larger and taking down walls to create a more open-plan layout

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

”

The original fireplace is built into the arch between the kitchen and breakfast room

REAL HOME

Dining area The design of the staircase is typical of 1930s Danish functionalism with its simple, sculptural look. ‘I added a dramatic, oversized light fitting above the table to make the dining area the focal point of this space,’ says Cathrine. BUY THE KEY PIECES Dear Ingo light by Ron Gilad, £2,824, Moooi. Similar tulip-style dining chairs, £74.95 each, Stone Butterfly. Ekedalen extending dining table, £250, Ikea, is comparable

PEDESTAL CHAIRS Introduce curves to squareshaped rooms

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

MATCHING DOOR Disguises a cupboard to make this small room seem bigger

Cathrine and Martin’s bedroom To create a cocooning feel upstairs, Cathrine has gone for warm grey walls, rich woods and earthytoned fabrics. A group of sketches in matching black frames creates a smart grid-format gallery.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Hugger upholstered bed, from £1,375, Loaf, is similar. Bestlite BL5 wall lights in Black, £517 each, The Conran Shop. Pebble Grey bedlinen, from £116 for a double set, Secret Linen Store, would work well in this scheme

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

It’s not always best to keep original features. We replaced old tiled floors in the hallway, kitchen and bathroom with poured concrete for a co-ordinated and streamlined look

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

”

FEATURE IBEN & NIELS AHLBERG/PHOTOFOYER, LISA FAZZANI PHOTOGRAPHS AND STYLING IBEN & NIELS AHLBERG/PHOTOFOYER PLANS AGENCY SERVICE

Grey walls make the bathroom feel warm and cosy, and the sanitaryware look bright white and fresh

REAL HOME

Make it work for you

CATHRINE’S STYLE: STRUCTURED SIMPLICITY Uncluttered spaces, plain walls and dark floors allow Cathrine to showcase her furniture and accessories as works of art MY GO-TO STORES… ●

HOUSE DOCTOR This Danish brand delivers unique, high-end style at affordable prices.

Clear sight lines and an absence of clutter give this space a gallery look

ABSTRACT EXPRESSION Improvisation 31 (sea battle) 1913 print, by Wassily Kandinsky, £180 framed, King & McGaw

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OLIVER GUSTAV Find sculptures, objets and vases as well as linen cushions.

●

VINTERIOR For Scandinavian design classics you can mix with modern pieces.

GLOWING GLOBE Opal table lamp, £149, House Doctor at Arbol House

NATURE’S PICKINGS Acorn decorations in Antique Silver, from £1.50 each, Grand Illusions

METALLIC SHIMMER Gold metal leaf tree, £90, Raj Tent Club

GATHER ROUND Pillar coffee table, £766, House Doctor range, Made In Design

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING

STYLIST’S NOTE

“

LAID-BACK LUXURY Leather sling chair, £595, Raft

Texture and colour is important in simple, pared-back rooms, so work in natural fabrics, grainy wood and bold accents

”

MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR

PERSONALITY PIECE Carlos ornament, £105, Abigail Ahern

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

A n ew tr avel site made for people who love to tr avel by pe ople w h o l ove to tr avel. Specialising in l u x ur y, f amil y and adventure tr avel inspir a t ion.

THE BIG QUESTION

Are uPVC window frames an eyesore? They’re undeniably energy efficient and cost-effective, but whether they can be considered a style statement is up for debate…

Yes “

“

I love the distinctive sound that traditional wooden windows make, whereas uPVC windows are utterly soulless

People have these preconceptions about uPVC windows – that they’re huge, ugly and only come in white

Sonya Angus, 49, lives with her husband, Grant, daughter, Rachael, 14, and son, Edward, 13, in a new-build five-bedroom house in Aberdeen. Sonya owns The Unique Boutique (sonyaangus.com). ‘My main issue with uPVC windows is that they look awful if they don’t suit the period of a property. They can ruin the look of an otherwise beautiful house. Of course, things like energy efficiency, soundproofing and price are important – but you have to take aesthetics and history into consideration, too. Before we moved to Aberdeen a few years ago, we lived in a flat on a stunning 19th-century terrace in Edinburgh. In the middle of a typically freezing Scottish winter, our original wooden sash windows were covered in ice on the inside whenever we opened the shutters each morning, so we knew we needed to get them replaced with double glazing. When I was on the school run, I’d check out all the other windows in the area, and any that were white uPVC stood out like sharks’ teeth. They didn’t work with the faÇades of the buildings or the ambience of the neighbourhood. They really were hideous. So, determined to replace like for like, we went for double-glazed wooden sash and case windows from a specialist company. It was far pricier than if we’d gone for uPVC, but I knew they’d be worth the expense. Besides, the energy efficiency was exactly the same. I love the distinctive sound that traditional-style windows make when you open and close them. It adds to a home’s character. By comparison, uPVC windows are utterly soulless. And don’t get me started on uPVC front doors! Ultimately, you need the right windows and doors to suit the age and look of your property. If you simply go for uPVC without taking those things into account, you’re doing your home a disservice.’

Charlotte House, 34, lives with her husband, Simon and their three children – Jasper, five, Milo, two, and four-month-old Mirabel – in a four-bedroom Seventies detached house in Merseyside. Charlotte is a freelance artist. ‘When we bought our house last year, we inherited the badly fitted, chunky white uPVC windows that had been there for nearly 30 years. Our initial plan was to replace them with aluminium windows. It was actually the window company, Rehau, who persuaded us to reconsider uPVC, and I’m so glad they did. I think some people have preconceptions about uPVC windows – that they’re huge, ugly and only come in white – but it turns out they’ve evolved almost beyond recognition. They’re now available in much thinner frames and come in a huge variety of shades. They’re also considerably cheaper than aluminium, which made the decision for us, as we had to renovate the entire house, plus we had a new baby on the way. In the end, we still went for aluminium bifold doors downstairs – but the rest of the windows are uPVC, painted in wood-effect anthracite grey. To look at them, you can’t tell the difference. But uPVC windows are more energy efficient and the soundproofing is superb. Because of the range of colours and styles available, I think uPVC windows can work well on any building, whatever its period. They’re cheaper, more practical and incredibly versatile. People who think otherwise probably have the same preconceptions that I once had. It’s not all chunky white frames any more!’

”

FEATURE JANE MURPHY

”

“

uPVC windows have evolved almost beyond recognition

”

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

STYLE & DECOR

DRESSED TO IMPRESS

Make an impact with sophisticated yet simple Christmas decorating ideas that will make every space special

Painted pine cones A great way to add festive colour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; use shades of green for a natural look, or go bold with clear vases full of brights or pastels.

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Supersize bauble garland Big honeycomb paper decs are a simple way to give your hallway some â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Match the colours to your decor for subtle style.

Start with foliage and fairy lights wound around the banister

Hang on the wall or suspend over the dining table

Row of wreaths Replace your usual mirror or wall art with a simple display of co-ordinated wreaths. Simply pin them up, or hook up a fallen branch to hang them from.

STYLE & DECOR

Window silhouettes For a display that looks as good outside as it does as inside, create a windowscape with snowflake wall stickers.

Made bespoke by sticker specialist Nutmeg Studio

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

STYLE & DECOR

Hoop card holder Declutter your mantelpiece by turning cards into a festive wall display. We found this metal craft hoop at Etsy and simply trimmed it with foliage.

Fix strips of ribbon to attach your cards to

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

A mirror here doubles the level of candle twinkle

Foliage-filled candleholders Great for a mantel or table centrepiece, fill identical clear glass bottles with water, stuff with festive sprigs and finish with a forest-green candle. IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

STYLE & DECOR

WHERE TO BUY

Painted pine cones

Row of wreaths

Hoop card holder

Sinnerlig glass jar, £9, Ikea. Broadwell glass vase, £13, Garden Trading. GreyGreen vase, £35, Fox Flowers. Glass balloon vase, £29.95, Nordic House. Two-tone feather bird decoration, £4.99, Gisela Graham. Velvet and grosgrain ribbons, from a selection, VV Rouleaux. Pine cones in Three Farm Green, Hopper, Sage Green and Cupboard Green absolute matt emulsion, from £4.60 for a sample pot; wall in Portland Stone absolute matt emulsion, £45 for 2.5L, all Little Greene

Rattan grapevine wreaths, from £3 each, Hobbycraft. Sparkly fern toppers, £12 for 12; dressed Nordic heart decoration, £35, both The White Company. Arundel 6-10 seater dining table in darkened oak, £2,100; Arundel darkened oak bench, from £455; Wardley oak dining chairs, £300 each; Corinium White candlesticks, from £16 each, all Neptune. Isaac brass stool, £65, Graham & Green. Sheepskin, £45, John Lewis. ON TABLE Natural pompom table runner, £39; natural jute place mats, £16 for two; Tine wine glasses, £59.95 for six, all Nordic House. Assorted water tumblers, £24 for six; Nordic Sand dinner plates, £16 each, Nordic Sand bowls, £11 each, all Raft. Symons cutlery, £165 for a 24-piece set; Dark Green napkins, £25 for set of four; pine cone place card holders, 325 for six; black dinner candleholders, from £20, all The White Company. Tabwa fern candleholder, £19.95, Nkuku. 150x80mm altar candle, £6.50, Price’s. Bryne brass table planter, £38, Rowen & Wren. ON SIDEBOARD Mila decanter, £39.95; Mila tumblers, £34.95 for four, both Nkuku. Glass balloon vase, as before

80cm gold metal hoop, £65, Bramblesky at Etsy. Green velvet ribbon, from a selection, VV Rouleaux. Cards, £3 each, Chase & Wonder; from £2.95 each, Nancy & Betty Studio; handcrafted using blank cards, from £1 for four, Hobbycraft. Big Soak bar trolley, £445, Loaf. Gold metal leaf tree, £90; beaten brass bowl, £65; waxed paper baubles, £6.75 each, all Raj Tent Club. Tine wine glasses, as before. Lena brass champagne cooler, £72, Rowen & Wren. Antique silver ribbed tea light holders, £3.25 each, Pipii

Fraser fir garland, £89, Balsam Hill. White and Grey tissue paper honeycombs, from £2.75 each, Pipii. Solitude framed print by Doug Chinnery, £120, King & McGaw. Brocklesby stool, £275, The White Company. Galvanised steel planters, £50 for three, Garden Trading. Faux eucalyptus, from £8 a stem, Fox Flowers. Vintage brass lantern, £28, Nordic House. 100x80mm altar candle, £4.25, Price’s. Similar wooden bowl, from a selection, Etsy. Gold bauble, £3.50, B&Q. Gold and tree-print wrapping paper, £2.99 each for a 5m roll; green raffia gift cord, £1.99 for 40m, both H&M Home. Ribbons, from a selection, Jane Means. Similar stair runner, Wool Blocstripe Sable Bone carpet runner, £58 for 120cm, Carpetright

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Window silhouettes Winter Trees festive wall stickers, £68 for three; large snowflake wall stickers, £18 for five, both Nutmeg Studio. Mistletoe giftwrap, £2.95 for 3m; twig and berry recycled giftwrap; £3.95 for 3m; black star recycled giftwrap, £3.95 for 3m, all Pipii. Ribbons, from a selection, Jane Means. Icelandic sheepskin rug, £130, Heal’s. Similar vintage wooden sledge, £67.50, Notonthehighstreet.com. 20 Warm White LED connectable festoon lights, £36.99 for 5m, Lights4Fun

Foliage-filled candleholders Walls in Mole’s Breath estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L; fire surround in Mole’s Breath estate eggshell, £62 for 2.5L, both Farrow & Ball. Focal Point Woodthorpe fire surround, £108, B&Q. Micah mirror, £250, Habitat. ON MANTEL Wine bottles, from £1.10 each, the Bottle Jar Store. Sherwood dinner candles in Evergreen, £23.50 for 10, Price’s. Murri Head pine cones, £3 for 85g, Hobbycraft. Teak pots, £39 for three, Raft. Smoke small recycled vase, £15, Fox Flowers. The Enchanted Forest fine china scented candle, £45, Chase & Wonder. Copper star, £5, Hobbycraft. Jemima rocking chair in True Linen Whisky, £895, Arlo & Jacob. Quid side table, £175, Loaf. Torsten Black table lamp, £65; Ochre funnel vase, £19.95; Grey funnel vase, £11.95, all Graham and Green. Neve tea light holder, £42 for three, Neptune. Sage velvet cushion, £45, Heal’s. Hampton square pouffe in Seafoam, £199, Made.com. Luxury matches, £6, Chase & Wonder. Wooden bowl, as before. Antique Matte Gold ribbed baubles, £4.49 each, Pipii

FEATURE NICKY PHILLIPS, VANESSA RICHMOND STYLING CHARLOTTE BOYD PHOTOGRAPHS JO HENDERSON

Supersize bauble garland

Simple but sophisticated Anouk Gerardu and Rob Ghijsen started with beautiful, basic pieces in their big, open spaces, then layered on texture and detail

Dining room ‘This is my favourite spot. You can sit here in the centre of the house, with a view of both the living room and the garden. Rob made the table himself using reclaimed barn wood and it’s a great size for entertaining.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES The Calia table, £599, John Lewis & Partners, has this look. Find Boston faux leather chairs, £75 each, at Cult Furniture and LED star lights, £9.99, at Lights4Fun

REAL HOME

Love ANOUKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STYLE?

Turn to page 77 to shop the look

SUPER-LONG LEDGE Zones a dining area and creates an easy display gallery

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

Welcome to our home THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom 1940s detached house in the city of Geleen, in the south of the Netherlands.

“ Anouk Gerardu and Rob Ghijsen, who run Robuust Barnwood, live here with their daughter Pleun, seven, and son Faas, five.

‘W Take a quick tour...

KITCHEN-DINER/LIVING AREA

BEDROOM

BATHROOM

PLAY AREA OFFICE

GROUND FLOOR

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

BEDROOM

FIRST FLOOR

This house required major renovation, but it just had such a lovely atmosphere, we decided to put in an offer there and then

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e’d already renovated one house, and weren’t really looking to move,’ says Anouk Gerardu. ‘But when we heard on the grapevine that this house a couple of streets away was for sale, we couldn’t resist taking a look. The house was built in 1946 and is set in a leafy neighbourhood. Although it was in need of major renovation, we could see so many possibilities. ‘Our plan was to extend the attic space to create two large rooms, and add an extension to the back and side of the building, to open up the ground floor and create a large, open-plan space. We did a lot of the work ourselves, with the help of friends and family – demolition, preparing the foundations for the concrete base – basically all the prep work, so that the professionals could get on with it. Rob previously had a contractor’s company, so he knew all the right people for the job. ‘For the extension, we wanted an exterior cladding that would suit the character of the house and fit in with the green surroundings. We saw a house clad in wood that had been reclaimed from old barns. It’s been aged by the elements and has a unique, weathered quality. Barn wood wasn’t readily available in the Netherlands, so we had to import it from Canada. Rob was so impressed with it that he set up his own company, Robuust Barnwood, supplying barn wood to contractors, interior designers and furniture makers. ‘When it came to the interior, we’ve used the same wood in most rooms, which adds character and warmth. We’ve kept things from the previous owner, so there’s something in every room that has always been here – a cupboard, a blanket box, a stool, a desk – they fit with the house and I find that very special. The renovation took about a year and now, I never want to leave!’

REAL HOME CEILINGMOUNTED SHELF Saves worktop space in a minimal kitchen

Kitchen ‘I enjoy this room the most on sunny days when all the doors and exterior sliding doors are open, and the breeze is blowing through. I can be in the kitchen while the children play outside.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Barn wood dining table, from £1,700, Robuust Barnwood. Find a similar String shelf, £126, at Skandium. The Spaces Hamble floor tiles, £49.94sq m, Topps Tiles have this look

Living room ‘The ground floor was opened up into one large open space. At first, I worried about how I was going to make it feel cosy, but it all worked so naturally.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Try the Tab corner sofa in Charcoal, £1,440, Habitat for a similar look. The Diano knitted rug, £180, La Redoute looks like this. Try Hassan goatskin pouffes, £120 each, at Maisons du Monde

SUPER-LONG TASK LIGHT Can be pulled into any position in the seating area

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOME Darker paint and floating shelves turn this alcove into a focal-point library area

Office ‘I’ve clamped a hanging rail to the desk and decorated it with twigs, foliage and a few festive decorations.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Try Ikea’s Rill castors, £8 for four, for a look like this. The Bauhaus stackable chair, £59, Cult Furniture has this look. Find hanging paper stars, from £5.95, at Idyll Home

Living room Sliding panels are a clever way of partitioning off an open-plan space and look more streamlined than having a number of doors. Coating the panel in black chalkboard paint has turned it into an ever-

changing piece of homemade wall art, or a handy spot for to-do lists. BUY THE KEY PIECES Matt blackboard paint, £6.79 for 500ml, Toolstation. Try the Noor freestanding planter, £59, Made.com. The Adene wall-mounted photo holder, £48, La Redoute is a match.

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I love a simple, basic look, but I dress it up with accessories. I like to combine old pieces with contemporary ones – it gives your rooms an interesting twist

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IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

‘We made this from slices of an old tree – Pleun uses it as a pinboard’

Bathroom ‘The cabinets were custom-made in reclaimed barn wood and we chose tiles that echoed the natural colour.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES The Kyoto basin, £74.95 and Cruze wall-mounted basin mixer tap, £89.95, both Victorian Plumbing, have a similar look to this

Bedroom ‘We’ve kept to the same neutral colours in Faas’s room, with touches of grey, green and black.’ The removable camper van wall

sticker is an easy way to add style to a child’s room. BUY THE KEY PIECES Surf van wall sticker, €69.95, KEK Amsterdam. Find a print motif rug, £24.99, at H&M Home

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

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If you’re doing most of the work yourself, like we did, be prepared to factor in more time. Our renovation took a year to complete, which was hard going with a small toddler and a baby on the way

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

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REAL HOME

Bedroom ‘We custom-made Pleun’s bunk bed from reclaimed wood to fit the space. Dark green paint makes the sleep space cocooning.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES The Trasman Tarragona high sleeper bed, £599, Cuckooland is a match. The Iso Black and White bedspread, £39, Made.com and Shamley chandelier, £117, Laura Ashley are similar

READING CORNER Simply made from a cot mattress and cushions

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

Master bedroom ‘The wooden cladding was Rob’s idea – we used timber from an old shed. It makes a lovely focal point behind the bed and makes the room feel warm and cosy.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Gran woven blanket in Black and White, €117, Fine Little Day. Ikea’s Ludde sheepskin rug, £29, is similar

LONG PENDANT Tie up high or hang down low, as required

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOME

The garden room has a rugged, rustic look with reclaimed wood cabinets and concrete surfaces

Garden room

FEATURE INGE VAN LIESHOUT/LISA FAZZANI STYLING BABS DOLS PHOTOGRAPHS LOUIS LEMAIRE PLANS AGENCY SERVICE

‘Our outdoor kitchen is the ideal place for parties. We’ve celebrated many New Year’s Eves out here – it’s always such fun! It has a fireplace, so we can enjoy spending time out here in both winter and summer.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Find similar Warm White connectable LED festoon lights, £89, at Lights4fun

‘The extension is the most unique thing about this house. From each side, you can see the beautiful barn wood’

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

REAL HOME

Make it work for you ANOUK’S STYLE: SCANDI GLAM MY GO-TO STORES

White walls, pops of green and accents in black and brass, along with twinkling lights, create a smart, Nordic feel

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H&M HOME For fabulous finishing touches and accessories.

Keep the dining area relaxed with plenty of fresh green foliage

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LA REDOUTE Has a great range of rugs, as well as textured cushions and throws.

STRUCTURED STYLE Gold geometric wire pendant light, £74, The Farthing

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BROSTE COPENHAGEN I love its crockery and glassware – it’s all so beautiful.

ON THE WIRE Tabitha dining chair, in Black, £150, Habitat

MOODY HUE Pine Green plain velvet cushion, £12, Dobbies

STYLIST’S NOTE

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FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

TEA TIME Gold teapot, £12.99, HomeSense

PARTY PIECE Glenmore elm and iron dining table, £1,127, Artisanti

Forest green is fab as a festive accent colour, but when you’re ready for a change, try blush pink, warm cinnamon or versatile teal instead HOLLY WALSH, FEATURES EDITOR

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SNUGGLE UP Fine Little Day tree print blanket £45, & Living

FESTIVE FOREST Mini pine trees, £5.99 for two, The Contemporary Home

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

INTERIOR DESIGN ADVICE

HOW TO UPDATE YOUR DINING SPACE Entertaining at home is big news but if your dining room isn’t making style headlines, these design experts can help you get it right

‘Christmas is a time for maximalism,’ says Philippa Prinsloo of John Lewis & Partners. ‘Whatever your dream festive decor scheme is… go for it’

STYLE & DECOR ‘Tablescaping is great fun,’ says Philippa. ‘Mix eclectic dinnerware with coloured table linen to give your guests a real sense of occasion’

ABOVE ‘Lighting is so important, yet so many people leave it as an afterthought,’ says interior designer Emilie Fournet

nce a room kept largely for dinner parties, today’s dining room needs to work much harder to earn its keep in our space-challenged homes. Here, three pros share their expert advice... WHAT MAKES A DINING ROOM EXTRA SPECIAL? ‘Personality,’ says interior designer Emilie Fournet. ‘Somewhere that feels very much like a destination – like a beautiful restaurant.’ Stylist Sophie Martell agrees: ‘A separate dining room is a brilliant excuse to experiment, but you still need to get the basics right – how the space works, how it’s lit, etcetera.’ TALKING OF COLOURS, WHAT SHOULD I GO FOR? ‘You can afford to choose something dark and moody if you’re lucky to have that separate

BELOW ‘Mix-and-match furniture adds so much interest,’ says Emilie. ‘Look for those pieces with a story to tell’

space,’ says Sophie. ‘For openplan, I’d stick to more neutral colours that co-ordinate well with your kitchen.’ WHAT ABOUT IDEAS FOR FEATURE WALLS? ‘The space above a sideboard really lends itself to being creative – somewhere you can stamp your style,’ says Sophie. ‘Think a gallery wall, a collection of finds – such as woven bowls – or even a living wall.’ Emilie suggests thinking braver still. ‘While a feature wall can add depth, how about a feature ceiling?’ she suggests. ‘It will give all of your guests something to look at and can make the room feel cosier.’ I NEED TO REPLACE MY TABLE, WHAT STYLE SHOULD I GO FOR? ‘Dining tables have never been so well-used,’ says Philippa Prinsloo, head of design at John Lewis

I hate poorly-lit “ dining spaces. Bring lighting down to eye level and install a dimmer switch

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EMILIE FOURNET, INTERIOR DESIGNER IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

‘A feature wall doesn’t have to be expensive,’ says Sophie. ‘Try using that fabulous wallpaper you adore on just a couple of framed panels, rather than the whole wall’

‘Always bring your dining room lighting down over the table, otherwise it’s such a wasted opportunity to add drama,’ says Emilie

& Partners. ‘The daily rituals of mealtimes are being interspersed with the need for a desk, plus a place for friends and family to gather. Extendable tables offer the greatest flexibility – our best-selling design is an extendable oak and ironwork table.’ WHAT WOOD FINISH OR COLOUR SHOULD I CHOOSE? ‘I love timber and the irregularity of beautiful graining,’ says Philippa. ‘For me, natural oak is beautiful and modest, fitting into most schemes, while walnut and dark woods have depth of colour and create a striking silhouette, allowing the table form to really sing.’ LET’S TALK TABLE SHAPES ‘A rectangular table takes up more space than an oval or round one, where cut-off corners save space and can be better for dinner-party conversation,’ says Sophie. ‘There’s nothing worse than an overbearing

table in a dining room that makes you feel you can’t move your chair around – it just screams board meeting!’ adds Emilie. ‘I’m a big fan of round or oval tables, and love pedestals, like the classic Tulip table – no one gets a table leg.’ Philippa suggests looking at softer rectangles and lozenge shapes. ‘They still give that banquet dining experience,’ she says. HOW CAN I MAKE A VINTAGE TABLE WORK WITH NEWER PIECES? ‘I love the juxtaposition of old with new in dining,’ says Sophie. ‘Sleek, modern chairs look fab against a vintage table.’ Emilie agrees: ‘If you love something then chances are it will go with your style.’ BUT HOW CAN I GET THE MISMATCHED CHAIR THING RIGHT? ‘Although the idea is relaxed, it’s worth some careful planning,’

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

STYLE & DECOR

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I love a family space with stacks of storage, where you can hide all the homework, laptops, colouring – then dress the table with beautiful linen and crockery SOPHIE MARTELL INTERIOR STYLIST

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says Sophie. ‘Choose a matching pair to go at either end of the table – these can be large and elaborate. Then pick two classic designs in a couple of colours.’ Emilie suggests sticking to just two types of chair. ‘I think the more chair styles you have, the harder it is to pull off. Try mixing textures though,’ she says. ‘How about cane with leather or acrylic with Victorian? Just check they are all the same seat height.’ I NEED NEW STORAGE FURNITURE IN MY DINING ROOM… WHAT’S POPULAR? ‘A sideboard gives you space to store as well as a top to display and serve food from,’ says Sophie. ‘It won’t overpower a room like a tall cabinet would either,’ says Emilie. Philippa recommends thinking about the particular type of storage that will be most useful to you. ‘Rather than going for big empty cupboards, add storage that helps you organise and catalogue rather than hide away.’ Emilie agrees: ‘I love it when clients ask for a bar corner or trolley – they make such a lovely addition.’ WHAT ABOUT FLOORING? ‘I’m a big fan of wood with a large rug to help with acoustics,’ says

3 CHAIRS TO MIX & MATCH

Hay Halftime chair in Black/Oak, £245, Nest

Spindle dining chair in Black, £79 for two, John Lewis & Partners

Feliz dining chair in Natural, £130, Habitat

‘Great lighting can transform a space,’ says Philippa. ‘Look for dimmable over-table pendants, floor lights and background lamps, with candles adding to an incredibly effective mood’

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

STYLE & DECOR Emilie. ‘You don’t want to be eating in a room where sound echoes. The rug has to be bigger than the table and ideally, all chairs should remain on it when pulled out.’ But Sophie thinks slightly differently: ‘Unless your dining room is grown-ups only, I’d steer clear of a rug – not only can it get trapped under chairs, it can be tricky to treat spills.’

WHAT’S TRENDING IN TABLEWARE RIGHT NOW? ‘I just love silverware picked up from flea markets. It has such a feeling of quality about it,’ says Emilie. ‘While linen always works and doesn’t look too busy with food.’ Sophie and Philippa are very much on board: ‘Oooh yes! Team with artisan-style plates – they’re everywhere at the

‘Think about how you use your dining room on a daily basis – if you never sit at the table, then what’s the point in going for a giant one that you’ll end up only using once or twice a year?’ says Emilie

moment,’ says Sophie. ‘You can’t beat beautiful ceramic glazes – those pieces that you know you’ll love for years to come,’ adds Philippa. HOW CAN I MAKE MY DINING SPACE REALLY SPECIAL FOR ENTERTAINING? ‘Go to town with flowers – something from your own garden always feels so personal and creative,’ says Philippa. ‘Don’t hold back,’ agrees Emilie. ‘And try to add an element of surprise that guests will love and remember.’

3 OF THE BEST STORAGE PIECES

MEET THE PROFESSIONALS... EMILIE FOURNET, OWNER OF EMILIE FOURNET INTERIORS (EMILIEFOURNETINTERIORS.COM)

Emilie has been an interior designer for six years, pursuing her life-long dream. She works mostly in and around London on anything from one-room makeovers to complete house refurbishments. She is a member of the Interior Design Collective (interiordesigncollective.co.uk). SOPHIE MARTELL (OAKMANAGEMENT.CO. UK) IS A FREELANCE INTERIOR STYLIST

She’s worked in the interiors industry for more than 20 years styling books, magazines and catalogue shoots. Recently, Sophie has also been directing shoots for Ideal Home. PHILIPPA PRINSLOO, PARTNER AND HEAD OF DESIGN AT JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS (JOHNLEWIS.COM)

CORNER CABINET Make the most of every inch of space with this nifty cupboard. Parquet corner sideboard, £499.99, Oak Furnitureland

SHOW-OFF SHELVES This unit’s small, slim footprint means it won’t overbear in a dining space. Side Tim sideboard, £495, Loaf

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

HIDDEN BAR Store all of your spirits and glassware behind closed doors. Jade drinks cabinet, £549, Atkin and Thyme

Philippa heads up the Design Studio at John Lewis & Partners and creatively directs on all aspects of furniture and homeware. Her mission is to inspire customers with collections that are distinct and relevant. Philippa has worked in the home design industry for more than 10 years, first at Habitat before joining John Lewis & Partners in 2011.

WORDS JENNIFER MORGAN PHOTOGRAPHS TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

MY DINING AREA IS PART OF MY KITCHEN/LIVING ROOM – HOW DO I MAKE IT WORK STYLISHLY? ‘Clever lighting is a must,’ says Sophie, ‘whether it’s a row of pendants, a show-stopping chandelier or some funky wall lights.’ The answer lies in lighting for Emilie, too. ‘It can really help zone the room. Also, try not to just shove your table in the corner of the room; if it feels like its own space, it will work in your favour,’ she says. Philippa suggests creating a visual flow through the shell of the room with continuous flooring, wall treatments and lighting. ‘Then layer up each zone to reflect its function,’ she says. ‘Hang a striking and dimmable pendant over the dining table to create focus and atmosphere at mealtimes, bring cosiness around the sofa for lounging and ensure there’s great storage in the kitchen to keep clutter at bay.’

REAL HOME

Starting again from scratch

The Bennetts bought an Edwardian house that hadn’t been updated since the 1980s and gave it a new lease of life

Kitchen-diner ‘Although we have a modern glass extension, we went for a traditional, Shaker-style kitchen, which we felt was more sympathetic to our home’s Edwardian past,’ says Alice. BUY THE KEY PIECES Cabinetry, price on request, The Shaker Kitchen Company. Kobo dining table, £1,125; Ishinomaki benches, £514.99 each, both SCP

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

PLANK TABLE Adds a warm, natural touch to a contemporary space

REAL HOME

Welcome to my home THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom Edwardian house built in 1905 in north London. They bought it in 2016.

THE VALUE A similar Alice Bennett, ex-head of 4creative at Channel 4, lives here with her husband, James, a product marketer at Facebook, and their daughter, Beau, who is three years old.

W Take a quick tour... MAIN BEDROOM

BEDROOM

FIRST FLOOR

CINEMA ROOM

BEDROOM

BASEMENT

LIVING ROOM

LOFT

KITCHEN/DINER

GROUND FLOOR

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

house in the area would cost about £950,000.

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When we saw it for the first time I had to take deep breaths to contain my excitement

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hen Alice and James Bennett started house hunting in 2016, the Brexit referendum may have helped them secure their home. ‘We turned up to the open day expecting a long queue, but we were the only viewers,’ says Alice. ‘It had 1980s decor, but the previous owner had kept it immaculate and although each room was crammed with furniture, we could see how large the rooms were.’ Impressed by the size of the property and the original features, the couple were convinced that this could be their perfect family home. ‘We made the decision to stay where we were and renovate before we moved in. It was an expensive decision, as we were paying two mortgages and money was tight, but with a new baby we didn’t want to live in a building site,’ says Alice. ‘The house had a 1990s extension and a side return, so we were able to work within the footprint. With the help of Shacklewell Architects, we built a modern rear extension and broke through to the basement, creating a new stairway access.’ Original period features were key to the renovation, as fireplaces were revealed and cornices repaired. Redoing the layout included adding en-suites to the main and guest bedrooms. ‘The kitchen-diner now flows from the living room via a glazed side-return extension with steps leading down to the basement, which has become our cinema room and utility room.’ After a year of building work, the Bennetts’ renovation journey has ended. ‘We’ll save up to give the front of the house a makeover next and build a wine cellar in the basement, but the small garden may prompt us to look for a house with more outside space in the future,’ says Alice. ‘This renovation left us exhausted and broke, but we put so much love into it that we have to pinch ourselves every time we walk through the front door.’

Kitchen ‘The dark grey cabinets create a link to the living room, which is also painted grey. Paired with white walls and a cement floor, the simple colour palette looks clean and elegant.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES The Bum Stools, £350 each, deVol. Okello Industrial pendants, £360 each, Nkuku, would work here

FLOATING SHELVES For clean lines and an open feel in a small kitchen

REAL HOME

Love

ALICE’S STYLE? Turn to page 95 to shop the look

Living room ‘I wanted a cave-like, cosy vibe in the living room and I love the way the dark grey wall colour feels like it’s wrapping around, cocooning you,’ says Alice. BUY THE KEY PIECES Walls in Down Pipe estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Mini Togo single chair in Alcantara Curry, £749, Ligne Roset at Heal’s

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Living room Plush cushions in a variety of patterns and textures and a tufted rug stop the one-colour walls from looking flat. BUY THE KEY PIECES Clouds sofa, from £2,864, Camerich. Berber Moroccan rug, £615, Etsy. Palmeral velvet cushion in Midnight/Green, £120, House of Hackney

PAINTED PICTURE RAIL Makes the ceiling seem higher

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It was exciting to find fireplaces that had been boarded up for years and original floorboards under the carpets

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En-suite shower room

‘I’m a great fan of geometric encaustic tiles. I felt we needed a strong patterned tile in the en suite that would add character and drama.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Geometric black encaustic floor tiles, £96sq m, Terrazzo Tiles. Custom-made vanity unit with Carrara marble top, price on request, J&R Marble. Fixed overhead skirted shower rose in brass, from £434, Bert & May

A marble countertop and brass taps add a little luxury

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOME

Main bedroom ‘We painted all the windows, built-in furniture and skirting in the same colour. The cupboards melt into the background and it makes our bedroom feel really snug.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Walls in Down Pipe estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Superking Billow bed, £1,395, Loaf. Try Portobello bedside table, £162.50, Maisons du Monde. Brooklyn Dome wall lights, £79 each, Industville, are of this style

Bathroom ‘We built a shallow shelf out from the wall to hide the waste pipes and it also adds character to the room. It’s a great place for plants, which bring vibrant green into the colour scheme.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Walls in Hague Blue estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Petals Laguna encaustic floor tiles, £91.50sq m, Terrazzo Tiles. Durastone Picasso bath, £1,295, Lusso Stone, is a similar shape. Duravit Vero basin, £265, CP Hart, would work here

OVAL BATH Cuts corners to boost the impression of space

‘We installed Crittall doors instead of a partition wall so we could see the bathroom from the bedroom’

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

FLOOR BASKET Handy for quick tidy-ups

Beau’s bedroom ‘I admit that I spent loads of time on Beau’s bedroom, but it was so much fun. I loved sourcing everything from the door knobs to her bed.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Walls in Calamine estate emulsion,

£46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Tyler Grid wallpaper, £65 a roll, Rachel Powell. Child’s wooden bed, £133, Wooden Heaven. Ibsker handmade rug in Off-white, £229, Ikea. Similar seagrass basket with tassels, from £25; Fiona Walker felt elephant head, £72, both Trouva

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

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FEATURE CAROLINE FOSTER STYLING SOPHIE MARTELL PHOTOGRAPHS CHRIS SNOOK PLANS AGENCY SERVICE

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You have to compromise. The workman who was supposed to fit our kitchen floor was injured and we had to find a replacement as the kitchen was due for delivery. We didn’t get the finish we wanted, and if we had to do it again, we’d go for polished concrete instead

REAL HOME

Make it work for you ALICE’S STYLE: MODERN SHAPES

Contemporary classics mixed with design-led pieces and confident pops of colour add up to a timeless scheme

IDEAL

GEO FOLDS Urchin XL lampshade, £180, Voltage Lampshades at Etsy

PAPER PENDANT Kura lampshade, £60, Habitat

GREAT DEAL

PLAYFUL PIECE Hot Dawg typography art print, from £15, Love Frankie

POSITIVE PRINT More Is More poster, from £6.95, Desenio

SNUGGLE SIZE Cuddlemuffin modular sofa in Pencil Grey, £3,525, Loaf

GO GREY Mortimer modular sofa in Seal Grey, £799, Made.com

COSY BASE Orianna rug, £119, Cult Furniture

BERBER STYLE Illias rug, £399, Swoon

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT

SANTA’S COMING Ferm Living Christmas stocking in Green, £55, Nordic Nest

DESIGN CLASSIC Ercol Shalstone coffee table, £449, John Lewis & Partners

TASSEL TRIMS Rosie fringed pom pom cushion in Yellow, £30, Perch & Parrow

DECADENT DEC Isla velvet stocking in Mallard, £30, Neptune

PERFECT POMS Mustard woven loop cushion, £8, George Home

MID-CENTURY SHAPE Quilda oak double top vintage style coffee table, £165, La Redoute

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

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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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 Follow in the footsteps of the ‘Grand Tour’ with 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 Menaggio are on a bed-and-breakfast basis, with dining options available) The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

LAKE GARDA, VENICE & VERONA EIGHT DAYS HALF-BOARD FROM ONLY £699PP DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2020 PRICES INCLUDE ● ●

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Enjoy a full day exploring beautiful Lake Garda, both on land and by boat Explore Venice, the medieval world’s richest city, on a tour with a local guide – choose between the ‘classic’ and ‘undiscovered’ tours Walk into history among the Roman ruins of Verona, guided by a local expert – choose between the ‘classic’ and ‘undiscovered’ tours Marvel at the breathtaking alpine scenery of the Dolomites on a full-day tour Visit a local vineyard, with a guided tour of the cellars and a tasting of the superb wines Return flights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers Seven nights in a choice of conveniently located accommodation rated three-star to four-star superior, with breakfast and dinner The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

POMPEII, CAPRI & THE BAY OF NAPLES

PUGLIA, LECCE & VIESTE

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

EIGHT DAYS FROM ONLY £899PP DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2020

PRICES INCLUDE

Explore the amazingly preserved Roman town of Herculaneum with a local guide ● Take a boat trip to the island of Capri, with the opportunity to visit the Blue Grotto ● 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 three- to four-star superior, plus breakfast and dinner* ● The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout *Stays at the Hotel Mediterraneo and the La Badia are on a bed-and-breakfast basis

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Discover Lecce, the ‘Florence of the South’ See the instantly recognisable trulli houses of Alberobello with their conical roofs Enjoy a guided tour of medieval Matera and its astonishing cave village hewn entirely from rock Tour the old town of Bari with a local guide and see its remarkable Romanesque cathedral See the beautiful Foresta Umbra nature reserve and visit the crusader church of Monte Sant’Angelo Learn the craft of pasta-making and enjoy a light lunch at a family-run osteria Visit one of the revered olive oil mills and witness first-hand how the oil is produced Return flights from a selection of airports, plus all hotel transfers Seven nights in conveniently located four-star accommodation, with breakfast, 1 lunch and 6 dinners, including 2 at carefully selected local restaurants The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

STYLE & DECOR

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

GET CREATIVE WITH BALLOONS For a quick and easy party vibe, fill a mix of pearlescent latex and metallic orb balloons with helium and tie a long length of curling ribbon to each one, letting them float up to the ceiling.

Compton mini sideboard, £229; Montreal faux leather dining chair in Grey, £169 for two; wine, martini and champagne glasses, from £18 for four, 5A Fifth Avenue range; Gold glitter twig tree, £12, all Dunelm. For similar balloons, try Amazon

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

Ecoburn Plus 5 widescreen stove, from £1,171, Arada Stoves

MAKE YOUR FIREPLACE MODERN Painting your fireplace and chimney breast the same shade (as well as any skirting boards) will give your room a modern spin, creating the perfect backdrop for accessories.

FORAGE FOR FESTIVE FOLIAGE Lay fresh or faux foliage along your dining table or hang from the ceiling, ready for the festive season. Add a few baubles and a string of fairy lights. Gunnison Silver porcelain dinnerware, from £45 for four side plates, A by Amara range; Space champagne flute, £50 for two, LSA International range, all Amara

4 LAY A SPARKLING PLACE SETTING

For a dramatic, party-perfect dinner table, use sparkling fabric as a tablecloth and layer with a sequin runner and place mats. Dot tea lights and candles along the table, and finish with glam baubles at each place setting.

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Matt Black 12-piece dinner set, £20; brushed Gold effect 16-piece cutlery set, £15; Green planter, £8; Copper mixed baubles, £5 for 36; Silver tone wine glasses, £12 for four, all George Home

STYLE & DECOR

SCREEN OFF YOUR DINING SPACE Keep the kids’ toys, or your piles of paperwork,

out of sight when entertaining guests, by using a screen to divide up your living space. If your home is open plan, it’s a great solution for zoning each area and making them more cosy and atmospheric.

Beat tall Black pendant lights, £335 each; Tank Black decanter, £110, both Tom Dixon range; Tower six-seater dining table in Grey, £719, West Elm range; velvet Teal pouffe, £65, all John Lewis & Partners

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

MAKE A WREATH THE FOCAL POINT Give your dining room the wow factor by hanging an oversized wreath above your dining table. If you have low ceilings, hang the wreath horizontally and attach ribbons in festive colours.

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Arundel dining table in darkened oak, £1,695; Arundel benches in darkened oak, £455 each; Amelia armchair in Isla Swallow, £735; Camilla scatter cushion in Bilberry and Swallow, £78, all Neptune. For a similar wreath, try HomeSense

STYLE & DECOR

CHALK UP THE EVENING’S MENU Make a chalkboard by painting the backing board of an old gilt frame with chalkboard paint and write up the menu to give guests a sneak peak of what’s to come.

WHEEL IN A BAR CART Set up a drinks trolley as a makeshift bar to encourage guests to help themselves and rustle up their favourite cocktails. Or, rather than uproot guests following dinner, why not bring the late night drinks to them?

RAMP UP THE GLITZ Add some glamour and sparkle to your home with this fabulous tinsel chandelier. Lightweight and easy to hang, it can be rigged up in the kitchen at your new years’ bash to encourage dancing and jiving all night long. Silver tinsel chandelier, £25, Other Letters

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GIVE YOUR FLOOR A QUICK UPDATE A quick way to spruce up the living room,

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ready for visiting guests over the holidays, is with a smart oversized rug. Not only will it warm up the room and create a focal point, it will also protect floors from all the extra traffic, too.

STYLE & DECOR

WORK IN SOME ART DECO DECADENCE Welcome in the new roaring Twenties by harking back to the original era with some Art Deco design. The Fabulous Golden drinks trolley, ÂŁ485, Audenza, is great for displaying your festive tipples, but would also look stunning with a vase of fresh flowers come springtime.

SWITCH IN A SIDEBOARD A great storage solution, a sideboard will hold all your extra crockery and glassware, plus it makes a great surface for serving drinks or nibbles.

SWAP IN SPECIAL GLASSWARE Replace plain wine glasses with smart, amber offerings, ready to host friends and family. IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

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DRESS A DOORWAY Embellish the door frame of your living room with a simple garland of foliage and some copper-wire lights. Hanging a glittering disco ball from the middle will draw your eye into the room towards the tree.

HANG UP SOME PARTY FAVOURS Once the table is set, hang a stocking on the back of the chairs for each guest and fill with a few gifts – we like homemade chutney, chocolates and mini bottles of fizz.

LIGHT UP A SNOWY SCENE

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Add a festive touch by setting up a wintery scene on a sideboard with mini fir trees and tea light holders. Go for LED candles, so they can be left on all evening.

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Green velvet stocking, £39.95, Nordic House

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPHS TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

Christmas house ceramic tea light holders, £5 for a set of three, Hobbycraft

STYLE & DECOR

ADD A FESTIVE FEEL TO GUEST ROOMS Create a little seasonal magic in a guest room with star print cushions on the bed and a few hanging stars. A scented candle will also add to the Christmas factor!

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‘It’s such a bright, happy space now’ Sophie and Sofiane Lahmar extended and rearranged their kitchen-diner for a better layout and extra light

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KITCHEN PROJECT

BEFORE CEILING EXTRACTOR Built-in design avoids having to peer around a hood

Welcome to my home

Love

Sophie Lahmar lives here with her husband, Sofiane and their children, Nayla, 15, Alex, 12, and Miya, six.

SOPHIE’S WORKTOPS? Turn to page 113 to find out more

THE PROPERTY A six-bed Victorian terrace in southwest London.

WHAT IT COST Kitchen units.....£20,000 Appliances..........£5,000 Sinks and taps........£800 Worktops.............£4,000 Flooring...............£2,500 Lighting...................£900 TOTAL...............£33,200 ‘The cabinets ran the full length of one wall and blocked the skylight, so we put them on the opposite wall,’ says Sophie. Leicht units, £516 for a 600mm base unit, Elan Kitchens. Muuto Visu bar stools, £395 each; Louis Poulsen Above pendants, £225 each, all Nest

“

Our kids had been saying, ‘We don’t want to move house’, but once they saw the finished kitchen, they couldn’t move in fast enough!

”

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

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HOW SOPHIE AND SOFIANE DID IT ‘When we first saw the original kitchen, we quickly realised the space and light levels needed to be improved. As well as moving the units and extending, we also removed a supporting pillar in the centre of the room to get the layout we wanted. The work took six months to complete and we stayed in the house the entire time. We called in Elan Kitchens, who designed, supplied and fitted the units to a high spec, and we

FENIX TABLETOP A scratchresistant, hardened acrylic resin

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hired Sybille le Mené from Into Interior Design to advise us on creating a practical family kitchen-diner with separate zones. Our previous house had a dark wenge kitchen, so we were keen to have a clean, lighter look this time. We’ve been living with this scheme for two years now and the joy we get from it hasn’t worn off! The sitting area works so well for us, and we think we’ve got the space just right.’

BELOW ‘This end of the room was dark, with small double doors that let in very little natural light.’ The couple extended out by 1.5m to add space for a seating area, and put in more glazing. ‘Our early morning ritual is to make a cup of coffee and enjoy it together on the sofa.’ Edge oak dining table, £2,165, Adventures in Furniture. Oak chairs each, £220, Swivel UK

KITCHEN PROJECT

FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS VERONICA RODRIGUEZ

SLEEK DOORS Conceal the family’s large fridge-freezer

ABOVE The island was an important feature, especially for speedier breakfasts. ‘There’s space for all of us and the stools tuck neatly under the counter. Having the hob on the island makes cooking more sociable when friends are here.’ Similar limed oak flooring, from £31sq m, Jordan’s Woodfloor Warehouse

RIGHT ‘We chose the black pendants and bar stools to act as accents, introducing a contrast to the white scheme. The wooden shelves also break up the white units and soften the look.’ Quartzforms worktops in Absolute White, £4,000; Siemens induction hob, £836, both Elan Kitchens

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

During the design process, I discovered the importance of getting the distance right between the island, cabinets and table to define three different spaces in the kitchen and create a good flow around the room

”

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

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STIR FRY LIKE A PRO? Challenge accepted.

Engineered in Prescot since 1920.

Two 5kW PowerWok Plus Burners* TM

Stoves Range Cookers are engineered for food. The two 5kW PowerWok PlusTM burners1 are powerful and provide even heat coverage over a large area. This rapid and intense heat seals the flavour in your food so you can enjoy perfect results every time on your favourite recipes. *Available on selected models. STOVES.CO.UK

KITCHEN PROJECT

Make it work for you

SOPHIE’S CHOICE: QUARTZ WORKTOPS

The on-trend choice for those looking to upgrade scruffy surfaces, quartz is a sleek and streamlined option Practical, durable and stylish, quartz is a strong contender for a low-stress worksurface. In recent years, it has been produced with a honed or leather look and matt finish.

What is quartz? A man-made surface formed from mineral quartz with resins and pigments, it’s also known as composite or engineered stone. The ratio of ingredients is around 90 per cent quartz to 10 per cent binding and colouring agents.

Why should I choose it? Quartz is more durable, heat-resistant and easier to maintain than natural stone. It’s less porous, so it’s more resistant to stains, and the surface only needs to be resealed occasionally. It’s also very dense, so bacteria doesn’t grow easily, making it a hygienic choice, too.

What colour choices does it come in? It’s available in a wide variety of colours and patterns, from solid-coloured to multi-tonal

quartz, which features flecks of different colours mixed with the base tone. Unlike natural stone, what you see in the showroom, is exactly what you’ll get.

Give your kitchen a clean, fresh update

Are there any cons? Some people find it a bit flat and characterless, and it’s not cheap. Expect to pay upwards of £300sq m for solid quartz, plus installation.

Can I install it myself? You can buy single lengths of quartz to fit yourself, but professional templating and installation is always safer.

How do I look after it? As with granite, quartz worktops are easy to clean with a cloth and warm soapy water. Wipe up spills quickly and avoid placing hot pans and trays on it.

BEST FOR…

“

Quartz has a sophistication and quality that can give your kitchen a high-end look. The vast array of options means it works well in any kitchen

”

DARREN WATTS, WREN KITCHENS

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI

IDEAL HOME LOVES… NATURAL LOOKALIKES

TRUE VEIN JET SET A smooth white classic. Inky with a lightning vein. Silestone quartz worktop Strata quartz worktop in Bianco Calacatta, from in Marquina, from £400sq m, Cosentino £350sq m, Second Nature

SET IN STONE Stippled good looks. Quartz worktop in Milan Macchiato, £280sq m, Radianz Quartz

MIMIC MARBLE It’s easy to maintain. Statuario Quartz worktop, from £1,500 including installation, Wren Kitchens

ON A BUDGET Maxtop’s worktops are made from solid quartz but with a honeycomb core, so are lighter, easier to install and cheaper – from around £200sq m. THE UNDECIDED Caesarstone is the pioneer in quartz surface production. Check out their online visualiser to see different colours and styles in situ. COVER-UPS Specialists Granite Transformations offers ‘topper’ quartz or granite worktops made to measure – simply fit them on top of your existing worktop.

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

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‘We loved the mix of exposed birch-ply and teal laminate. It’s warm and modern without being in your face. Plus, birchply is environmentally friendly – the trees are fast-growing and abundant.’ Birch-ply and laminate units, £408 for a 600mm unit, Wood & Wire. Strap pendant lights by Nordlux, from £99, Lampsy

Love

SARAH’S STYLE? Turn to page 119 to shop the look

‘We wanted to create the unexpected!’ Instead of playing it safe with Shaker-style or gloss-finish units, Sarah and Chris West went for the wow factor and chose this contemporary, colourful birch-ply design

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KITCHEN PROJECT

BEFORE

Welcome to my home Sarah West lives here with her husband Chris and their daughters Isobel, four, and Heidi, one.

THE PROPERTY CUTOUT HANDLES Give a no-fuss, streamlined finish

A four-bed detached 18th-century house in North Yorkshire, bought in July 2014.

WHAT IT COST Kitchen units......£13,000 Appliances..........£3,500 Tap............................£180 Sink..........................£360 Worktop...............£3,800 Tiles.....................£2,000 Lighting...................1,000 TOTAL...............£23,840

“

Our guests anticipate a traditional kitchen in keeping with an old house, and are so surprised when they to walk into a modern one

”

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HOW SARAH AND CHRIS DID IT ‘The kitchen that we had was functional but dated, dark and cramped. It was also too far away from the playroom for me to keep an eye on Isobel. Then, when a friend remarked that we needed a downstairs loo, I knew the time had come. A friend recommended a local architect, who suggested demolishing our rear Seventies flat-roof extension – which housed a study and laundry room – and replacing it with a kitchen-diner and cloakroom. This would give us lots of

space with a practical layout linking the kitchen to the playroom. To keep the sense of openness, we decided against wall units and chose a large floor-to-ceiling larder with drawers. The project started in April and was finished in August; the building work cost £125,000 and the kitchen fitting was £4,600. We’ve created a big, open-plan sociable space where we can gather and it has completely changed our life as a family, because we can all be together more.’

PENDANT TRIO Zones the dining area

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BELOW ‘The island gives us extra workspace and storage, and is also good for coffee and snack breaks.’ Silestone Blanco Maple worktop, £480lin m; Franke Nyon tap, £187, both Wood & Wire. Hay Revolver bar stools, £179 each, John Lewis & Partners

FEATURE SHARON SMITH, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS JEREMY PHILLIPS

KITCHEN PROJECT

ABOVE Built-in bins make waste sorting easy and keep everything concealed until it’s time to take it all outside for collection. Coem Loire Montpellier Grey stone-effect ceramic floor tiles, £38sq m, Direct Tile Importers

MICROWAVE SLOT Frees up worktop space

ABOVE ‘Chris and I enjoy cooking and entertaining, so we went for a big range and chose tiles that make a feature of the splashback.’ Rangemaster Professional Deluxe induction cooker in Slate, £2,200, R Yates and Sons. Parkway Grey tiles, £37sq m, Direct Tile Importers

RIGHT ‘We love our stylish box shelving. It looks great as well as providing storage and a display space for some of our favourite items, many of which were gifts from family and friends.’ Walls painted in Earthborn Claypaint in White Clay, £37 for 2.5L, Wood Finishes Direct

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

Communication with contractors is the key to success. We had to answer many queries and make on-the-spot decisions. If you can, it’s best to stay in the house during the project

”

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

CONTEMPORARY COOL Reflective high-gloss surfaces and clean lines combine for a streamlined look. Handleless kitchen in White, Homebase

CREATE YOUR DREAM KITCHEN

TIMELESS CLASSIC Hand-painted doors add a bespoke look. Artisan in Pewter, Copperbridge collection, Homebase

With clever planning and expert attention to detail, a kitchen from Homebase will stand out from the crowd

BALANCED APPROACH Homebase can guide you every step of the way. Whether you know the look you love or want some help to achieve it, its experts will turn your dreams into reality. Before you meet one in store, try out the online visualiser at homebase.co.uk to mix and match cabinetry, worktops, flooring and wall colours, and bring your ideas to life.

EXCEPTIONAL STYLE For a contemporary look, Homebase’s dynamic handleless designs come in glossy White, Cream and Grey. Or for a kitchen with timeless appeal, artisan panelled doors in the Copperbridge collection have textured woodgrain finishes in Plum and Peacock Blue as well as a range of neutrals. High-quality fittings plus soft-close drawers and hinges are both practical and a pleasure to use.

PRACTICAL HELP At Homebase you can be sure of expert advice, tailored to your needs. Kitchens are covered by a guarantee of up to 15 years, and it’s easy to spread the cost with 0% APR interest-free credit.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...

To turn your ideas into reality click on homebase.co.uk and book a free design and planning appointment. Homebase’s City & Guilds accredited kitchen experts will run through every stage of the process, from planning the room to choosing the finer details.

FEATURE CAROLINE RODRIGUES

new kitchen is a great opportunity to create the room you’ve always wanted, one that’s just right for cooking, eating and hanging out. To get started, list the improvements that would make life better; perhaps an open-plan space for the whole family to eat in, or maximising storage in a compact kitchen.

KITCHEN PROJECT

Make it work for you SARAH’S STYLE: CONTEMPORARY COLOUR

Teal and timber cabinets, vibrant accessories and modern lighting create a light and cheery family kitchen-diner. Block colours look vibrant and unfussy against a white and wooden backdrop

1 2

3 4

IDEAL

GREAT DEAL

TRY A LINE-UP OF PENDANT LIGHTS

LUXE LAMP

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI

Nordlux Strap pendant light in Black and leather, £149, Lampsy

£149

£39

HOT METAL

Cornell pendant light in Black and brass, £39, Cult Furniture

6 WHERE TO BUY 1 Hay Revolver bar stool in Red, £179, Nest 2 Grohe Flair chrome effect monobloc mixer tap, £117, B&Q 3 Zebra artificial plant, £45, Marks & Spencer 4 Kenwood Mesmerine toaster, £129, Currys 5 Ledgestone Indian Green split face tiles, £35.95sq m, Walls and Floors 6 Belling Cookcentre 100DFT dual-fuel range cooker, £988, John Lewis & Partners

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‘We merged two tiny rooms into one luxe space’ Jennie Roe and Greg Lawson removed a wall between their cramped bathroom and even pokier en suite to create this light and spacious room FALSE WALL Hides the plumbing and creates a ledge for accessories

BEFORE

Welcome to my home THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom detached house in East Sussex.

WHAT IT COST

Jennie Roe lives here with her partner, Greg Lawson.

120

Bath……………….………£546.30 Sink unit………………………£795 Loo…………………………£644.75 Brassware…………………£2234 Shower enclosure…....£1,609 Tiles…………………….........£839

JANUARY 2020 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Radiator………….…£120.32 Blind……………………£74.83 TOTAL..............£6,863.20

“

This room was so small, it was stressful to use, but now there’s space to move, we love coming in here

”

BATHROOM PROJECT

Love

A framed vanity unit feels light and open, with a drawer to hide essential toiletries

JENNIE’S WALLHUNG LOO? Turn to page 123 to shop the look

HOW JENNIE AND GREG DID IT

‘We wanted a contemporary bathroom with a big, walk-in shower – a calm space we could enjoy relaxing in as well as dashing in and out of easily in the mornings.’ Bette Starlet 1700x750mm bath, £546, QS Supplies. M-Line wall-mounted bath spout, £135; concealed mixer with diverter, £398; shower handset, £71, all Bagnodesign

‘We already had an architect helping us with renovations, so he helped us redesign the upstairs space, too. Luckily, the bathroom and en suite shower room backed onto each other, so we knocked through to create one larger room and moved a door to give us more wall space. The new shower went against this wall, and the most obvious place for the bath was under the window. This left a small gap for a basin at the end of the bath. A full-height wall was built inside the shower area to conceal the plumbing and this is continued at a lower level to hide the cistern. I love a contemporary and clean monochrome look, but we added some pictures of Italy, plants and candles to make the room feel more cosy. The project took three months and work cost around £10,000 as part of our house renovations.’ IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

121

CRITTALL EFFECT The black lines aren’t metal – they’re digitally printed onto the glass

ABOVE The shower recess is edged with slim black tiles to echo the Crittall-look shower screen. The marblestyle tiles are actually porcelain. ‘We researched both types but decided porcelain was more practical.’ Matt Black tile trim, £19.99 for 25mm, Topps Tiles. Calacatta porcelain tiles, £27.97sq m, Master Tiles

EDGE STRIP Gives half-tiled walls a smarter finish RIGHT ‘We took inspiration from the shower panel and found a black-framed basin unit, black taps and radiator, adding terracotta towels for a warmer flash of colour.’ Reina Diva curved ladder radiator, £120, Victorian Plumbing. Luxe 600 vanity unit, £795, Lusso Stone

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

It’s best to get help – we benefitted from having an architect work out how to merge the rooms and an interior designer friend who taught me how to draw a scale plan of the new space

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”

FEATURE KATE HILL/VANESSA RICHMOND STYLING KATE HILL PHOTOGRAPHS LIZZIE ORME

ABOVE ‘I’ve always loved Crittall doors, so chose a metal frame-effect shower screen and teamed it with a low-profile shower tray for a wet room look.’ One shower panel and brace, £1,399, Matki. Saneux Prague 495mm toilet, cistern and flush plate, £645, Bathrooms Source

BATHROOM PROJECT

Make it work for you JENNIE’S STYLE: A WALL-HUNG LOO

If you want a contemporary look, losing the loo pedestal is a smart step to a more streamlined bathroom style ‘Floating’ off the floor, wallhung loos look modern and sleek and are easy to clean – both the pan itself and the floor beneath. As you can see far more of your bathroom flooring, they also make the room feel larger.

How are they installed? A plumber is recommended. The pan must be securely bolted onto a steel frame, which comes with a concealed cistern inside the frame. The frame and cistern is then covered up, so all that’s visible is the pan itself and the flush buttons. The frame can be concealed within an existing or new stud partition wall or it can also be hidden inside bathroom furniture.

Do they take up more space? No, and if the frame is fitted inside the existing wall, the loo pan will project into the bathroom less than a standard loo. Look for a space-saving concealed cistern if your bathroom is small – 7.5cm deep versions are designed to

slot away neatly in to the cavity of a stud partition wall.

Streamline your bathroom style

What size frame do I need? The frame size will depend on where it is going. If under a window or towel rail, it may require a shorter frame. Frames with adjustable heights can help make loos more accessible and easier to use for elderly or less able users.

Will it hold my weight? All loo frames must comply with British/European safety and performance standards. ‘Rules dictate that the installation frame must take up to 400kg of weight (just under 63 stone), so in the majority of cases there’s no need to worry,’ says Marten Baker, product director for furniture and ceramics at Crosswater.

BEST FOR…

“

I’d always recommend a rimless design to eliminate the spaces where dirt and germs can harbour inside the bowl

”

MARGARET TALBOT, MARKETING MANAGER, VITRA UK

FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON

THREE OF THE BEST… FLUSH PLATES

CHIC AND SLEEK Villeroy & Boch E200 ViConnect flush plate in brushed chrome. H14.5xW25.3cm, £47.70, UK Bathrooms

CLASSIC LOOKS Chatsworth Traditional dual flush in chrome. H7.4xW7.4cm, £14.95, Victorian Plumbing

MODERN TOUCH VitrA Loop O Mechanical flush plate in Matte Black. H16.5 xW24.5cm, £22.09, Bathroom Supplies Online

LIGHTING THE WAY Grohe’s Nova flush plates boast LED lighting. Choose from a selection of illuminating colours – perfect for safe late-night loo trips. PERSONAL HYGIENE Geberit has all the latest technology. Its new AquaClean Sela shower loo has WhirlSpray technology that works like an ultra-effective bidet. DESIGNER STYLE CP Hart makes the humble loo a thing of sculptural beauty. Choose from all the major design brands and 50 pans.

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

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Inspired by Ideal Home? Shop with Ownable. 12:08

Habitat Guzel 12 Piece Dinner Set

£105.00 Made in a small ceramic studio in northern Thailand, the Guzel celadon stoneware 12-piece dinner set has a speckled glaze and a feature raised rim.

Buy

Fast Track

Ideal Home – Dec 2019 – Page 76

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BEFORE & AFTER

BEFORE

‘We opened up the back of our narrow terrace’

There was a small, dark kitchen at the back

A beautifully framed side-return extension has stretched Laura Disney and Huw Beynon’s kitchen to the full width of their plot, giving them lots more living space

The couple added a side extension and loft room clad in corten steel

aura Disney and Huw Beynon bought their Victorian terraced house in south London with a view to giving it a complete overhaul. The property hadn’t been touched for more than 20 years. ‘It was pretty dark and dingy,’ says Huw, ‘and the décor was dated, too.’ However, the state of the interior represented an opportunity: ‘We wanted to seize the chance to create a home that was completely ours,’ says Laura. The couple lived in the house for a full year before they began the work, surviving the ‘Beast from the East’ with cosy dressing gowns and plug-in heaters as the house had no central heating. ‘Sadly, the original Victorian fireplaces had been taken out and replaced with a two-bar electric heater and a gas heater,’ says Huw. They took this time to get their ideas together and find an architect.

PROJECT WISH LIST As well as proper heating and insulation, Laura and Huw had a key priority: ‘One of our main goals was to establish a new kitchen that would form the heart of the home,’ says Laura. ‘With the existing kitchen, food was kept in the pantry in the hallway.’ Plus, the old gas oven was a hazard. ‘When you closed the door you’d never be quite sure if it was on or if you were filling the kitchen with gas,’ says Huw. The couple envisaged an open-plan kitchen-diner extension that would draw in lots of natural light. ‘And I really wanted an island, too!’ says Laura. DRAWING UP PLANS Laura and Huw brought in local architect Mick Haley to devise plans for the renovation and ground-floor extension, plus a loft conversion for good measure. He put together a design that included glazed doors that would allow them to make the most of the house’s sunny south-westerly orientation. ‘Mick interpreted our vision well,’ says Laura. The couple also engaged AGMA Construction, a company that Mick had used before, to carry out the building work. Thanks to this combined expertise, the project progressed relatively smoothly. ‘While most things were pretty

AFTER

Welcome to my home the property is now worth more than £1m.

WHAT IT COST

Laura Disney lives here with her husband Huw Beynon. Laura is a marketing director and Huw is a brand director.

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

THE VALUE Bought in 2017 for £818,000;

Architect.............£20,000 Construction.....£375,000 Glazing................£42,000 Kitchen................£32,000 Flooring...................£17,000 Bathrooms............£14,000 Misc......................£30,650 TOTAL................£530,650

“

With all the glazing in the kitchen-diner, it almost feels like we’re sitting in the garden

”

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straightforward, the structure of the property itself wasn’t in as good a condition as our builder had hoped,’ says Laura. ‘We had to replace all the joists under the floor, for instance, which we hadn’t anticipated.’ FITTING OUT THE KITCHEN After 11 months of living with family, Laura and Huw moved back into the newly extended house in March 2019. The kitchen was then designed to Laura and Huw’s requirements. ‘We were quite prescriptive in terms of the layout and unit size and style,’ says Huw. ‘We found a small company called West & Reid to build a bespoke suite for us – and it’s an absolute joy to use.’ Laura and Huw love preparing meals and entertaining in the new space, and the dining table doubles as a desk for working from home. ‘It’s a pleasure to be in because we’ve got the space to prepare food and eat in the same room,’ says Huw. ENJOYING THE NEW SPACE Thanks to the large expanse of glazing overhead, the whole space is bathed in sunshine. The sliding doors glide back to lead straight out to a decked area, which acts as an extension to the indoor living space. ‘We’ve managed to create this wonderful inside-outside feel with the glazed doors in the kitchen-diner,’ says Laura. ‘We love how the kitchen blends into the garden and that we’ve managed to make the kitchen both cosy and the perfect entertaining space.’ Huw adds, ‘Sometimes I can’t quite believe that this is our house. I still get a tingle when I walk in.’

London stock brick has been left exposed in the new space and teams with the kitchen’s stainless-steel surfaces for an industrial look

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

Steps lead down from the former dining room into the new extension, linked by the same parquet flooring

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It’s best to have an open mind. There were so many decisions to be made, more than we thought possible, and in some cases we found that it wasn’t good to be 100 per cent set on something, because that wasn’t always the best solution

”

BEFORE & AFTER

RIGHT Choosing not to cover the ceiling joists with plasterboard has given the new loft room a lighter, airier feel. The sliding door doesn’t intrude into the space

FEATURE REBECCA FOSTER PHOTOGRAPHS JULIET MURPHY

BELOW Part of the attic landing has been enclosed to form an en suite. A skylight and large window flood the stairs with light

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT...

CORTEN CLADDING Mick Haley, The Gentleman Architect, has the lowdown

IT HAS A RUST-LIKE APPEARANCE Corten is an alloy of steel that forms a coating of rust. This layer protects the steel beneath from rusting further. IT’S EXTREMELY DURABLE Steel is generally harder than other cladding materials,

and is more of a plate than a sheet, such as copper or zinc. It can be used in far more structural shapes that express its engineering qualities and thickness. YOU CAN GET IT PREFINISHED Under normal exposure conditions, corten can take

six months to fully oxidise, and it may look patchy in progress. If you wish to avoid this, get the product finished prior to installation. CORTEN REQUIRES NO SPECIAL CARE In appropriate climates, suitably detailed corten should have a very long

lifespan. Plus, the nature of the material means that it is virtually maintenance free. YOU SHOULD AVOID RUN-OFF Be careful with water running off corten surfaces, as it can stain surrounding materials, such as paving and glass.

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Genius problem solvers FOR A SMOOTH RUNNING LIFE Our pick of the latest home innovations, solutions and stuff you never knew you neededÉ Pull out a guest bed If you don’t have a spare room or a sofabed, having guests to stay can be tricky over the festive period. That’s why Jay-Be’s single comfort folding bed from Dunelm is a must. Lightweight and compact when folded, it comes with a super snug memory foam mattress for the perfect night’s sleep. Jay-Be value comfort folding bed with memory foam mattress, £99, Dunelm

BEST BOOZE-FREE DRINKS SUSTAINABLY SOURCED Designated driver? Pour over ice, top with tonic and add a slice of orange for a flavourful drink. Everleaf nonalcoholic aperitif, £18 for 50cl, Everleaf

FLORAL NOTES From the experts behind the brilliant non-alcoholic spirits Seedlip, there are three flavours to choose from. Æcorn Dry aperitif, £17 for 50cl, Waitrose & Partners

Chill your drinks in a flash Pop a handful of ice and a sachet of Zero Rapid drinks chiller into your ice bucket to get drinks icy cold in less than 10 minutes. £3.99 for two sachets, Lakeland

Celtic Soul non-alcoholic spirit, £25 for 70cl, Sainsbury’s

Be ready for Santa!

Boost your wi-fi

Make the ritual of leaving out snacks for Father Christmas and his reindeer special with one of these super cute plates from Next Home. Complete with dedicated spots for the obligatory mince pie, carrot and drink.

With all the new tech that Christmas brings, your home’s wi-fi connection may suffer, but this smart router and extender combo can help boost your internet speed. Google Nest wi-fi router and point extender, £239, Google

Christmas Eve plate, £4, Next Home

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SPICY NUMBER Serve this oaky, vanilla spirit over ice with ginger ale.

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SIMPLE SOLUTIONS Clear up quickly with hidden storage

3 OF THE BEST PARTY DRESS STEAMERS

If friends and family are prone to stopping by at the last minute, one of these handy storage footstools will serve your home brilliantly. It’s the perfect spot to quickly whip all the messy festive clutter into before you open the front door.

Bobbin storage footstool, £199, John Lewis & Partners

Cook dinner while relaxing on the sofa

Give yourself a break from the food prep with this handy slow cooker. The removable bowl is oven and dishwasher safe. Crock-Pot Lift & Serve 4.7L slow cooker, £59.99, Crock-Pot

1 Steam&Go handheld garment steamer, £60, Philips 2 Cirrus no.2 in Mint, £110, Steamery 3 Beldray Multisteam Pro, £24.98, Amazon

Wrap it up! Keep leftover festive wrap safe until next December with Ikea’s Skubb case for wrapping paper, £9. Free up surface space at parties Planning a party for New Year? Keep the fizz close to hand without taking up much space with this genius sparkling drinks wall holder! Made from very study cardboard, it’ll hold up to eight glasses.

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI

Christmas Tree drinks wall holder, £14.99, Ginger Ray

Put your Christmas table in the spotlight Up-style your dining space in time for Christmas entertaining and make sure the table is well-lit for meals and holiday jigsaw or board game sessions. Halo eight-arm chandelier, £490; Empire lampshades in Buttercup velvet, £28 each, all Pooky

Go large on your ice bucket At Christmas, there never seems to be enough space in the fridge for all the food and drinks, so it’s definitely worth making a note in your diary to buy Aldi’s brilliant champagne bowl for your festive gatherings. Available online only from 24 November, it comes in three finishes with ample space for up to five bottles of fizz. Champagne bowl, £14.99, Aldi

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YOUR HALLWAY, SORTED

If your entryway tends to be a hot mess of shoes, coats and discarded backpacks, this is how to fix itâ&#x20AC;¦

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

5 GAME-CHANGING BUYS The products you need to store and order all your hallway clutter – for speedier mornings and a warmer welcome

WHAT THE PROS KNOW.. Professional organiser Vicky Silverthorn gives us her tried and tested hallwaytaming solutions…

ASSESS YOUR SPACE Don’t block the flow with chunky furniture – use wall height. A tall armoire may suit your space better than a low shoe cupboard. If you have an under-stairs cupboard, consider transforming it by having shelves and drawers fitted. DON’T PICK STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE Something might look good, but will it actually serve your needs? Simple shelving, drawers and hooks could be a better bet. Don’t be sucked in by items titled ‘hallway storage’ when a console, sideboard, or chest could work just as well.

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

The storage bench and peg rail combo With multiple low, slim shoe racks and peg rails fixed end to end, you can create a wall of storage. These racks double up as benches, so you’ve got a spot to put on and take off shoes. Pinnig benches, £50 each; Pinnig racks, £15 each, both Ikea

Bespoke-able system This modular system only needs a width of 62cm, so is ideal for bijou entryways. Easy to put up, it comes with plenty of hooks, shelves and clear boxes, all of which can be hung at a

height and position that suits you, and moved as you like. Elfa hallway/cloakroom 2 solution, £169, Store

Skinny shoe cabinets Free up floor space in even the narrowest of hallways, with this clever cabinet. Each ‘pocket’ opens outwards and can hold at least two pairs of shoes. By mounting a couple side by side, you can also create a slim shelf. Stall shoe cabinets, £99 each, Ikea

Multipurpose pockets Lightweight yet sturdy, the ‘shelves’ of this hanging storage

are ideal for hats and scarves, while the pockets on the side provide extra space. Hang from a rail in your understairs cupboard, or on an open rack. Storstabbe hanging storage, £13, Ikea

Labelled baskets If you’re tired of tripping over kicked off shoes and sports kit, give everyone their own handled basket, labelled with a luggage tag. Check the height to make sure they’ll fit underneath your hallway bench or shelving. Stratford two-tone baskets, from £27 each, The Holding Company

SORT BY SEASON Before buying anything new, have a thorough declutter. Once you’ve got rid of the things you don’t need, you can buy the storage that works best. DON’T OVERCROWD COAT HOOKS Trying to keep everyone’s coats on a single set of hooks is always going to look messy and overcrowded. Edit your selection seasonally, only hanging one or two per person – and think, do you even need all of them? Find out more at youneedavicky.com or on Instagram and Facebook @youneedavicky

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SIMPLE SOLUTIONS Voice controlled Beko DEN59420D 60cm connected dishwasher with AutoDose (H85x W59.8xD60cm), £349, Currys This A++ energy rated, 14 place setting Beko model can be controlled via an app on your smartphone or via Alexa. Built-in sensors and the AutoDosing function assess the level of cleaning. THE BEST BIT The machine can automatically reorder more detergent (via Amazon).

EXPERT TIP

‘Love fizz but hate having to carefully wash the flutes by hand after use? Lakeland’s Flute Spa champagne flute dishwasher caddy (£19.99) can keep up to six flutes safe in your machine at once – perfect for speedy post-party clear-ups’

Easy access AEG ComfortLift FFE63806PW standard dishwasher in White (H85xW59.6xD61cm), £880, AO.com This AEG model allows you to slide and lift the lower basket to almost level with the upper basket for easy loading. With an A+++ energy rating, it holds up to 13 place settings and has a removable cutlery tray. THE BEST BIT A discreet LED shines a green or red light onto the floor to let you know when you can interrupt a cycle.

Flexible interior GNV42920H integrated dishwasher (H81.8x W59.8xD55cm), £399, Grundig This 15 place setting, A++ rated machine is whisper quiet at just 44dB. The cutlery drawer and top basket are both adjustable to make space for taller items, while the steam shine function blasts extra heat for glassware.

GINEVRA BENEDETTI, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

THE BEST BIT You can shorten any cycle by up to 70 per cent with the Express function.

Dishwashers that do the hard work for you

T horough cleaning

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI

DW60M9550BB A+++ fullyintegrated dishwasher (H81.7x W59.8xD55.5cm), £839, Samsung Samsung’s WaterWall technology runs a wall of high pressure water to ensure every area is covered, while the Zone Booster function tackles tough stains with five jets. It also has a speedy 55-minute cycle.

From clever interior racks for easy loading and unloading, automation and even voice-control activation (in a machine that can order itself more detergent via Amazon), the latest dishwashers have been designed to make doing the dishes quicker and easier than ever before

THE BEST BIT At the end of each cycle, the door opens automatically to allow steam to escape to speed up drying.

T he intelligent machine G7960 SCVi fully-integrated dishwasher (H80.5xW59. 8xD57cm), £2,499, Miele Miele’s 14 place setting, AutoDos detergent dispensing system and the AutoStart function make this a selfsufficient machine. Ideal for a handleless kitchen, knock the door twice and it opens. THE BEST BIT The 3D MultiFlex tray/drawer adapts for taller items.

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IDEAL HOME PARTNERSHIP

‘I USE CHARCOAL AS A STORYTELLING TOOLÕ Corran Brownlee’s haunting paintings are available at Runway Gallery

WORKING IN THE FILM INDUSTRY, I STRUGGLED TO FIND MY OWN VOICE I could never hear it while working on other people’s dreams. I loved the collaboration and was lucky enough to work with some amazing people on fantastic projects, but I prefer to work alone these days. Just me, my charcoal pencils and a stack of paper; it’s the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done. AFTER WORKING DIGITALLY FOR DECADES, I WANTED TO GET BACK TO BASICS I had the urge to be minimal yet impactful, and charcoal felt like the perfect fit. I feel a deep connection with it as a medium; it’s been used to tell stories for centuries. I use black, so the viewers can project their own colours; it’s more personal that way. I also like using oil paints. I love that I can leave them for hours and they remain wet – I never feel rushed to finish a painting. I’M INSPIRED BY STORIES, INCLUDING MY OWN I’ve moved a lot over the years and have come to realise that home is not a place, but a state of mind. My ongoing Domestication series explores this concept by using imagery of wild animals juxtaposed with decorative wallpaper. The familiar patterns offer a sense of nostalgia, while the animals represent curiosity and freedom. I LEAVE HINTS OF NARRATIVE IN MY PIECES I like them to feel like a dream

“

In his Domestication series, Brownlee juxtaposes animals and wallpaper

or a memory, so I’ll keep most of the scene covered in shadow. This way, the viewer becomes the storyteller and hopefully connects with my work on a deeper, more meaningful level. I LOVE SEEING BLACK AND WHITE PAINTINGS HANGING ON COLOURFUL WALLS A couple of clients have hung my work above their fireplace, which is such a huge honour – that’s prime wall real estate! I grew up with paintings on every wall, regardless of colour, size or style. They didn’t match, but that’s a good thing in my opinion. If you try too hard to co-ordinate, you start to lose the individuality in each piece.

Play around with groups of artwork on the floor before hanging on the wall to find a layout you’re happy with

”

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 Corran Brownlee and other artists. Visit runway-gallery.com to browse and buy.

NEXT MONTH Newcastle based artist Simone Webb combines traditional and modern techniques to create her ethereal artwork. Delicate floral and fauna bloom and decay across stark backgrounds in a nod to nature’s fleeting beauty.

FEATURE TARA KING FROM TOP, CLOCKWISE: BADGES; BETTA; PLUME, ALL BY CORRAN BROWNLEE, ALL AVAILABLE AT RUNWAY-GALLERY.COM

art of the Runway Gallery family, artist Corran Brownlee spent two decades working in the film industry before a trip back to his native Calgary in Canada inspired a change in career. Now, he focuses solely on his own art and works primarily with charcoal to create haunting snapshots of untold narratives.

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

T he chic one Nordic digital microwave (H25.7x W45.1xD34.2cm), £109.99, Swan If style is top of your priority list, this model is for you. Part of a matching set that includes a toaster, kettle and kitchenroll holder, it is perfect for a co-ordinated countertop. In Cotton White, Pine Green or Slate Grey with rubberised wood-effect handles, the 800W oven has six straightforward functions including defrost and a timer. THE BEST BIT It’s very easy to use, with clearly labelled buttons.

Interior design

Upgrade to a multitasking microwave Yes, they’re still great for quick reheats and making popcorn, but the latest models can also steam, crisp bacon and even roast a chicken in a fraction of the time of a conventional oven or hob – the perfect cook’s helper for those big Christmas meals

FEATURE CHRIS HASLAM

Does everything Sharp R861 microwave (H30.3x W51xD43.5cm), £149.99, Argos This 900W 25L combi-grill microwave has a pull-down door – easy for loading and unloading hot dishes – plus a flatbed design that can fit awkwardly shaped plates. There are six automatic functions – for rice, pizza, jacket potatoes, roast chicken, oven chips and cake – plus seven more for auto-reheating and grilling fish and meat. THE BEST BIT Like a compact traditional oven, this grills, roasts and bakes with a max temp of 200°C.

Hotpoint ExtraSpace microwave oven with grill MWHF206B (H30.3xW47.3x D38.4cm), £179.99, Robert Dyas This 800W design has 25 automatic programs including combi-grilling. Instead of a rotating plate, it has a flatbed design, so you can fit much more inside and cook many dishes at once. The crisp plate is ideal for cooking bacon and browning dishes. THE BEST BIT The automatic cleaning function is a big plus.

Auto programming MOC20200C Retro microwave (H35xW45.5xD25.5cm), £70, Beko Available in cream, blue, red and black, this 800W retro-style compact oven has 20L of cooking space. Its genius four-step programming feature means you can set it to carry out four cooking stages in a row, while you get on with preparing other parts of the meal. THE BEST BIT This oven has a steam function that keeps food super moist.

No more guesswork NN-CD87KSBPQ microwave (H34.3x W56xD45cm), £349.99, Panasonic With a 1300W quartz grill and fanassisted convection heating, this model can cook both pizza and a full Sunday roast. Choose from 30 presets or visit Panasonic’s Ideas Kitchen website for lots of recipes. THE BEST BIT A steam sensor sets the optimum cooking time.

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FOOD WITH FRIENDS

New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve dinner party Keep it easy, relaxed and intimate this year with a simple but special menu to share with your favourite people as you ring in the New Year

Artichoke crostini See page 141 for recipe

SIMPLE PLEASURES

Scallops with brown butter dressing See page 141 for recipe

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SIMPLE PLEASURES

IDEAL HOME TIP Add in some crispy smoked bacon lardons for extra flavour

Spelt risotto with squash, mushrooms & kale pesto See page 141 for recipe

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Roast duck legs with mustard potatoes See page 141 for recipe

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Bitter chocolate tart TAKES 55min, plus chilling and cooling SERVES 8-10 INGREDIENTS ● Flour, for dusting ● 300g all-butter shortcrust pastry ● 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten ● 100ml whole milk ● 225ml double cream ● 2tbsp caster sugar ● 200g 70% dark chocolate ● 100g milk chocolate ● Large pinch of salt ● 2 eggs ● Cocoa powder, crushed pistachios and walnuts and ice cream to serve

1 Roll out the pastry to a 3mm thick

disc on a lightly floured surface. Use it to line a 23cm tart tin. Prick the base and chill for 20min. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/Fan 160ºC/Gas 4.

2 Line the pastry with baking paper

and fill with baking beans. Bake for 15min, until crisp and pale golden. Remove the paper and beans, brush the pastry with egg and return to the oven for 5min. Remove from the oven and trim the pastry. Reduce the oven temperature to 150°C/Fan 130°C/Gas 2.

3 Heat the milk, cream and sugar in

a pan over a gentle heat, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved. Just before simmering point, remove from the heat and break in the chocolate. Add the salt and stir gently until melted.

4 Add the eggs and stir until the

mixture looks glossy. Pour into the pastry case and bake for 18-20min, until just set. Leave to cool for 15min, then dust with cocoa powder, top with the nuts and serve with ice cream.

SIMPLE PLEASURES

Artichoke crostini Scallops with brown butter TAKES 1hr 15min SERVES 6 dressing

INGREDIENTS ● Juice of 2 lemons ● 600g Jerusalem artichokes ● 6tbsp olive oil ● 1 baguette ● 1 garlic clove, crushed ● Micro herbs FOR THE TOPPING ● 2tbsp each of pumpkin and sesame seeds ● Pinch of chilli flakes ● ¼tsp each of cumin and coriander seeds, crushed ● 2 sprigs lemon thyme, leaves only

1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/

Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Fill a bowl with cold water and the juice of 1 lemon. Peel then slice the artichokes, adding them to the water immediately to prevent discolouring.

2 Drain the artichokes,

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

season and toss with 2tbsp of olive oil and the juice of ½ a lemon. Roast for 30min.

TAKES 1hr 15min SERVES 6 INGREDIENTS ● FOR THE DRESSING ● 30g unsalted butter ● 1 shallot, quartered ● Juice of ½ lemon ● 2tsp maple syrup ● 2tbsp walnut oil FOR THE SCALLOPS ● 2 fennel bulbs, sliced into wedges, fronds reserved ● 1 dessert apple, thinly sliced ● Juice of ½ lemon ● 6 rashers streaky bacon ● 12 large scallops ● Olive oil, to drizzle

1 For the dressing, melt the

butter in a pan, add the shallot and cook over a low heat, for 8-10min, until the butter is a rich biscuit colour. Remove from the heat, stir in the lemon juice and leave to cool. Strain into a bowl then stir in the syrup and oil. Season.

3 Slice the baguette, bake on 2 Put the fennel and apple

a tray, drizzled with olive oil for 12min, until golden.

4 Put the artichokes in a

food processor. Add the garlic and juice of ½ a lemon. Blitz until almost smooth. With the motor running, gradually add 4tbsp olive oil until smooth and creamy. Season.

5 In a tin, toast the topping

ingredients in the oven for 5min until golden. Add a pinch of salt and set aside.

6 Spread the toasts with

purée. Top with spiced seeds and micro herbs.

in a bowl. Mix in the lemon juice to prevent discolouring, then add 3tbsp of dressing.

3 Grill the bacon until crisp,

then break into pieces and toss with the salad. Drizzle both sides of the scallops with olive oil and season.

4 Fry the scallops in a pan

over a medium-high heat for 1min on each side, until deep golden. Add the remaining dressing to the pan and swirl the scallops around. Serve with the pan juices drizzled over and the salad on the side. Garnish with the fronds.

Spelt risotto with squash, mushrooms & kale pesto TAKES 1hr 15min SERVES 6 INGREDIENTS ● 1 onion, diced ● 30g butter ● 3tbsp olive oil ● 500g pearled spelt ● 1.2L vegetable stock ● 1 large butternut squash, thinly sliced ● 200g girolle mushrooms FOR THE PESTO ● 40g curly kale ● 75g pecans ● 1 garlic clove, peeled ● 4tbsp olive oil ● 35g Parmesan, grated, plus shavings, to serve

1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/

Roast duck legs with mustard potatoes TAKES 1hr 30min, plus marinating SERVES 6 INGREDIENTS ● 2tbsp salt ● 1tbsp pink peppercorns ● 3 rosemary sprigs, leaves only ● 2tbsp caster sugar ● 8 duck legs ● 1.5kg new potatoes ● 8 bay leaves, plus extra to garnish ● 10 garlic cloves, unpeeled ● 3tbsp wholegrain mustard

1 The night before serving,

put the salt, peppercorns and rosemary in a pestle and mortar and pound until roughly ground. Stir in the sugar. Rub over the duck legs. Cover and chill overnight.

Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Fry the onion in the butter and 1tbsp olive oil in a pan over a medium heat for 8min until soft. Add the spelt, pour in the stock and season. Simmer for 20min, until the spelt is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.

fridge 1hr before cooking. Pat dry with kitchen paper. Preheat the oven to 180°C/ Fan 160°C/Gas 4.

2 While the spelt cooks

3 Lay the potatoes, bay

2 Remove the duck from the

put the squash slices in a roasting tin. Drizzle with 2tbsp of olive oil and season. Roast for 20min, add the mushrooms and roast for another 5min, until golden.

leaves and garlic in a roasting tin in one layer (you may need two tins). Season. Pat the duck legs dry again, and place in a single layer over the potatoes. Roast for 1hr.

3 For the pesto, blitz the

4 Remove the trays from

kale, pecans, garlic and olive oil in a food processor to a rough texture. Stir in the Parmesan and season.

4 Fold the pesto and a third

of the vegetables through the spelt. Serve topped with the vegetables and Parmesan.

the oven and increase the temperature to 220°C/Fan 200°C/Gas 7. Remove the duck legs and set aside. Lightly crush the potatoes in the tin with the back of the spoon, add the mustard and mix. Return the duck to the tin and cook for 20min more.

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Feed a crowd

WITH THE BEST READY-MADES No need to get stressed-out about having a houseful of friends with this edit of restaurant-quality supermarket cheats Two-hour turkey

Meat feast

Tick the turkey off your worry list with this genius hassle-free option from M&S. Serving 12-14 people, this turkey crown comes with a pork, sage and onion stuffing, along with deboned, bacon-wrapped thighs. There’s no prep required – just pop the whole lot in the oven for two hours. The Perfect Turkey, £65, Marks & Spencer

If you’re already tired of turkey, consider serving Asda’s Extra Special Bone-in Beef Rib-eye for the main event instead. Known for its marbled fat, which makes it super succulent, this rib-eye has also been dry-aged and matured for a total of 30 days so it’s packed with flavour, too. Extra Special Bone-in Beef Rib-eye with Wild Garlic and Herb Butter, £20 for 1kg, Asda

Posh prawn cocktail The traditional Marie Rose sauce has been swapped out of this retro classic in favour of a more contemporary combination of two types of prawns, mild smoked salmon, grapefruit jelly and citrus-infused cucumber with a vermouth-spiked mayo. Yum. Prawn, Citrus Cucumber and Vermouth Cocktails with Smoked Salmon, £5.99 for two, Waitrose & Partners

Christmas favourites Yorkshire pudding? Check. Stuffing ball? Check. Pig in blanket? Check. This genius dish combines all the greats from a Christmas dinner in one place – perfect for party food or a bit on the side. Loaded Yorkshire puddings, £2.99 for six, Aldi

Clever cake This baked sour cream cheesecake from Heston Blumenthal’s range features a fig and port caramel centre, while the wooden ‘board’ is actually a buttery lemon shortbread base. Heston From Waitrose Fig & Port Cheesecake, £12 for 700g, Waitrose & Partners

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Vegan party bites One of the big ready-made hits of 2019, bao buns are light and fluffy carriers for a whole range of fillings. Sainsbury’s has packed its rather wittily named Take a Bao selection with water chestnuts and chives, spicy massaman veg curry and char sui mixed veg – all of which can be cooked in the microwave in just two to three minutes and are completely vegan friendly. Taste the Difference Take a Bao selection, £4 for 12, Sainsbury’s

SIMPLE PLEASURES

Pudding alternative Not keen on Christmas pud? This tree-shaped scrummy vanilla–flavoured cheesecake on a traditional biscuit base is packed with sweet and sharp blackcurrants and redcurrants and finished with a silvery sparkle to keep it fabulously festive. Shimmering Berry Cheesecake, £5 for 600g, Co-op

Tear and share Christmas is the only time we don’t feel guilty about tucking into a pot of delicious molten cheese. By teaming it with freshly baked garlic bread, like Asda has done this Christmas, there really isn’t anything more comforting – it’s definitely top of our savoury treats lists. Extra Special Garlic Herb Bread Wreath and Baking Camembert, £5 for 450g, Asda

Super posh toasties Beer-glazed pulled ham, Cheddar cheese and mustard sauce all piled on top of a crumpet. Collective wolfing guaranteed. Pulled Ham Hock & Rarebit Mini Crumpets, £7 for 10, Marks & Spencer

Sweet centrepiece Looking for a light dessert after a big meal? Wow your guests with this beautifully faceted panna cotta star from Morrisons. It comes with a heritage raspberry and Prosecco sauce in the middle of the star, as well as some sparkly gold sugar to sprinkle over the top for a festive flourish. Available from 19 December. The Best Panna Cotta Star, £7 for 750g, Morrisons

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI

Pretty twist

Something for everyone This crisp filo pastry wreath is packed with butternut squash, chestnuts and mushrooms, flavoured with Madeira, white wine, brandy and winter spices – perfect as both a vegan main or a super side dish. Finest Butternut, Mushroom & Chestnut Wreath, £4.50 for 400g, Tesco

Not a big chocolate fan? That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the profiterole fun! This year Co-op has swapped the traditional chocolatecovered choux buns for a lighter alternative filled with a fresh clementine cream, topped with a clementine and thymeflavoured fondant and a white chocolate leaf. Clemen-thymes profiteroles, £5 for 12, Co-op

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SIMPLE STYLE

SET A STUNNING FESTIVE TABLE Welcome guests to a beautiful table dressed with creative place settings and wow centrepieces that’ll make every meal magical

Back to nature Use sprigs of fresh fir or eucalyptus to decorate each place setting and lay a simple fabric runner. WHERE TO BUY Pols Potten Aunty velvet chairs in Green, £340 each; Jars Tourron dinnerware in Green Samoa, from £23 for a bowl; Paloma matt gold 24-piece cutlery set, £250, all Amara

SIMPLE PLEASURES

Silver service Jazz up simple tableware by adding shimmering silver place mats, tea lights and embroidered napkins. WHERE TO BUY Beaded mats, £38 for two; cord napkins, £25 for four; orb tea light holders, £10 each; mercury etched tea light holders, from £6 each, all The White Company

BERRY BRIGHTS Go for a twist on trad red and green by choosing a runner in a contemporary pattern. Berry runner, £12; tableware, from £3.75 for a side plate; wreaths, £20 each, all Sainsbury’s Home

STYLIST’S NOTE

“

Try layering two different coloured tablecloths – with the top one laid diagonally – for a hotel-chic look

”

HOLLY WALSH, FEATURES EDITOR

THREE OF THE BEST… TABLETOP STARS A NEW LEAF Gold napkin rings, £28 for four, Audenza

MAGICAL MONOCHROME New crockery featuring simple shapes creates a chic setting. Noir printed dinnerware, £35 for a 12-piece set, Argos

GLAZE OF GLORY Niva reactive 12 piece dinnerware set, £119, Made.com SHINE DINING Black and gold 16 piece cutlery set, £30, JD Williams

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RETRO REVIVAL Gold-dipped cut glass gives traditional style a modern update. Nomu decanter and tumblers set, £45, Oliver Bonas

DECO GLAM For an elegant soirée, match all your glasses, from tumblers to flutes. Tumblers, £30 for four; champagne glasses, £35 for four; wine glasses, £35 for four, all Deco range, JD Williams

Raise a glass Update your glassware, ready to cheer the New Year at the stroke of midnight VINTAGE STYLE Champagne saucer, £29.99 for two, Historic Royal Palaces GLAM GLASSES Champagne flutes, £12.99 for two, TK Maxx

Pedestal dishes, £40 each; flutes, £75 for two; saucer, £75 for two, LSA International

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FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

CLEAR WINNERS These sophisticated flutes, saucers and dishes feature braided and tiered details.

PINK PLONK Pink martini glasses, £38.95 for four, Audenza

SIP & SPARKLE Ophelia tumbler, £5, Marks & Spencer

SIMPLE PLEASURES

Entertaining

SAY ‘CHIN CHIN’ WITH A GIN Boutique gins and gin liqueurs are HUGE this year, so treat a loved one (or yourself) to one of these brilliant bottles this Christmas ON

SM EP FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI

ALL S T

Shaken, not stirred

Plum pudding in a glass

Drink & donate

This deliciously fruity liqueur with gold leaf flecks doubles as a cute snow globe! Clementine gin liqueur, £15 for 70cl, Marks & Spencer

Serve this sweet and fruity liqueur over ice, or mix with sparkling wine. Edinburgh Gin Plum and Vanilla liqueur, £14.19 for 50cl, Amazon Fresh

A lemon, mango and black pepper gin that supports the Born Free Foundation. Clouded Leopard gin, £35.95 for 50cl, Master of Malt

Citrus swap

Apple tipple

Berry blast

This sweet blood orange-infused choice is an excellent alternative to bitter gin. Beefeater Blood Orange gin, £18.99 for 70cl, Asda

Made in collaboration with Joules to celebrate the brand’s 30th anniversary. Serve with tonic and a slice of apple. Joules Apple & Pear gin, £40 for 70cl, Warner’s

Add something a little different to your drinks cabinet with this fruity tipple. Raspberry & Hibiscus gin, £25 for 50cl, John Lewis & Partners

Colour therapy

Fresh & herby

C hoc orange

Mix this herbal gin with tonic to watch the colour go from purple to pale pink. The Old Curiosity Lavender & Echinacea gin, £35.95 for 50cl, Prezzybox

Made in Italy, this premium gin features hints of mint, thyme and sweet Moscato grapes on a juniper base. Villa Ascenti gin, £35 for 70cl, Ocado

Push the boat out and pop one of these in someone’s Christmas stocking! Sipsmith Orange & Cacao gin, £25 for 50cl, Tesco

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

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…or play it cool in NYC

Soak up the sun in the Maldives…

Book a

BUCKET LIST HOLIDAY

Life’s too short for camping every year – plan a budget-blowing escape for amazing memories and stories to bore the grandkids with...

For… Hip urban experiences WILLIAMSBURG, NEW YORK WHAT TO DO We know Brooklyn is the coolest district in New York. But the coolest neighbourhood in Brooklyn? Williamsburg: a mecca of hipster-luxe hotels, Instagrammable eateries and vintage boutiques. For brunch-lovers, Sunday in Brooklyn and Cafe Colette have see-and-be-seen status, but you’ll find monster pancake stacks and moreish French toast around every corner. Take a trip to nearby Dumbo to visit a host of independent art galleries and craft beer bars.

in Williamsburg. This hip hangout feels more like a friend’s oversized Brooklyn loft apartment. Bedrooms come in two tiers, Cosy or Roomy, are decked out in mid-century furniture and offer unbeatable views over Manhattan beyond. Head to rooftop bar and restaurant Summerly for lobster rolls and that ohso-stylish crowd.

WHERE TO STAY The Hoxton, the group behind millennial-magnet hotels in London, Amsterdam and Paris, opened its first hotel across the pond

BOOK IT Double rooms from £122 a night (thehoxton.com)

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Dine, drink and doze in Hoxton’s ultra-chic style

SIMPLE PLEASURES

For… Dramatic landscapes GUANGXI, CHINA WHAT TO DO Bypass the Great Wall, skip Beijing, and head south for Guangxi province’s winding rivers, pagoda-dotted lakes and limestone hills. This is the heartland of China’s breathtaking scenery, far removed from the hustle, bustle and smog of its major cities. Must-sees include the city and stunning region of Guilin. Backpackers have visited Guangxi for decades, to hike, cruise the Li River and explore Yangshuo’s resort town. WHERE TO STAY Alila Yangshuo:

The secluded paradise island of Muravandhoo

For… Escaping everything THE MALDIVES WHAT TO DO Well, what can we say? There’s not a lot to do here. But that’s exactly why you come. The Maldives is the classic holiday choice for when you want to be absolutely away from it all. Honeymooners, babymooners and anniversary celebrators have kept this scattering Joali puts the focus on high design

of islands in the Indian Ocean among the most popular destinations in the world. You can sunbathe, swim in the sparkling azure sea and rediscover the joy of living in the moment. WHERE TO STAY The hottest ticket in the Maldives right now is Joali, a new property on the previously deserted island of Muravandhoo. Unusually for a Maldivian hotel, design, art and architecture have been given the central focus; the place is strewn with contemporary works by a host of international names, which include a treehouse installation you can actually have dinner in. Spacious villas feature a covetable mix of modern furniture and traditional local objects, and all come with infinity pools, silk kimonos and juicers for that morning vitamin fix. BOOK IT Villas from £1,200 a night based on two sharing (joali.com)

this hotel’s imposing architecture is comprised of mid-century industrial buildings, with lofty public spaces that are a minimalism lover’s dream. Head to its subterranean spa, take rock-climbing lessons in the gardens, dine on Southern Chinese classics and luxuriate in the pillar-lined lap pool looking out to spectacular mountains beyond. BOOK IT Double rooms from £240 a night based on two sharing (alilahotels.com/yangshuo)

The glorious lap pool with sensational mountain views and impeccably furnished rooms are among Alila Langshuo’s serene offerings

FOR MORE INSPIRATIONAL TRAVEL IDEAS VISIT THECARIBOU.COM IDEALHOME.CO.UK | JANUARY 2020

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SIMPLE PLEASURES

For… A fantasy island retreat GULF OF CHIRIQUI WHERE TO STAY This cluster of Robinson Crusoe islands off the Pacific coast of Panama is ripe for discovery. Somewhat under the regular traveller’s radar, the region is noted for its unspoiled landscape and awesome wildlife. You can swim with turtles and see humpback whales here, and join fascinating nature and night hikes available at most hotels. If you’re tired of full-service tropical resorts, this is the shipwreck paradise you’ve been dreaming of. WHERE TO STAY The region is noted for its off-grid beach escape hotels. Until now, many of these have been of the back-to-basics variety, but the new Islas Secas offers a high-end, pared back luxury. Expect secluded

Islas Secas is a hidden gem of the Pacific

casitas with plunge pools, thatched cabanas and decks backing onto the rainforest. None of this comes at the expense of eco-credentials; solar energy powers the entire resort, all water and food waste is recycled or re-used, and only a quarter of the area has been touched by human hands.

Laze in the shade of a thatched cabana

BOOK IT All-inclusive rates from £1,644 a night for two (islassecas.com)

Singita Sabora: tented luxury in the Serengeti

WHAT TO DO Famous for its annual migration of wildebeest and zebra, the Serengeti in northern Tanzania is perfect for a dream safari, as it also plays host to the ‘big five’: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and African buffalo. As it’s a Unesco World Heritage site, travel is regulated and sustainable, promising treasured memories for many years to come.

is an opulent romantic ode to 1920s safaris. Take breakfast on makeshift terraces that gaze over grazing game, and enjoy lavish dinners beneath twinkling stars. Bedrooms are tented, but forget camping. The air-conditioned spaces have four-poster beds, fresh cut flowers and, remarkably for what is after all a tent, claw-foot baths.

WHERE TO STAY The crème de la crème of tented lodges, Singita Sabora

BOOK IT Double rooms from £1,800 a night for two sharing (singita.com)

FOR MORE INSPIRATIONAL TRAVEL IDEAS VISIT THECARIBOU.COM

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Rooms are cosy and glamorous

FEATURE PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY

For… Nature, up close SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

IDEAL HOME OFFERS

GAMBIA WINTER SUN Seven nights for £849 per person Save £406 per person including FREE Pool Room UPGRADE

Popular with British holidaymakers, The Gambia is known for its sun, culture and wildlife. You’ll find long, golden beaches, swaying palms, sleepy fishing villages, the ruins of a 17th century British fortress, nearly 600 bird species, manatees, hippos and troops of wily colobus monkeys. You’re lasting memory will be of the warm-hearted Gambian people who bring to life their country’s reputation for being ‘the smiling coast of Africa’.

The 4 all inclusive Sunbeach Hotel is on a lovely long stretch of sandy beach. Facilities include a swimming pool, three bars, Wi-Fi, massage room (payable locally), buffet and à la carte dining (at a supplement), table tennis, darts, daytime and evening entertainment. Your sea view room is air-conditioned with Wi-Fi, a television and mini-fridge. Ideal Home readers save £362 on this holiday. Use code: IHSU

The 4.5 African Princess Beach Hotel is set on a beautiful stretch of beach in South Kotu. Eight swimming pools meander throughout the property and you will be upgraded to a ground floor pool room with direct access to the water from your private terrace. Dining options include buffet and à la carte with half-board upgrades available. Rooms are air-conditioned with Wi-Fi, mini-fridge and satellite television. Ideal Home readers save £406 on this holiday. Use code: IHAP

The 5 Coco Ocean Resort & Spa with Fathala Wildlife Reserve excursion discovers The Gambia in absolute luxury. Spend 11 nights in a deluxe suite at a beachfront, boutique hotel with breakfast, an inviting pool, beach cabanas and spa. Then, hop across the border into Senegal for three nights at Fathala Wildlife Reserve with half-board. There’s an included game drive, full day island tour and bush walk. Ideal Home readers save £241 on this holiday. Use code: IHCO

Offer available 6 January to 25 March 2020 (excluding 14 & 17 February) and the price includes: • Return flights from Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham, taxes, luggage allowance, transfers • 7 or 14 nights hotel accommodation as described in the description and price grid January

February

March

4 SUNBEACH | ALL-INCLUSIVE | 7 NIGHTS | STANDARD SEA VIEW ROOM

£849

4.5 AFRICAN PRINCESS BEACH | 7 NIGHTS B&B | GROUND FLOOR POOL ROOM

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To book or to order a free colour brochure call: 01489 866 961 quoting code IHSU, IHAP, IHCO The small print: The price is per person and subject to availability. Your holiday and your resulting contract will be with Serenity Holidays Limited who are ATOL protected (Atol 1866), a company wholly independent of TI Media Limited. All-inclusive at the Sunbeach hotel means house wine, draught beer, local spirits, soft and hot drinks are available free of charge 10am-11pm, buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, afternoon snack.

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Shopping directory A

&Living andliving.co.uk Abigail Ahern 020 7354 8181 abigailahern.com Abstract House abstracthouse.com Adventures in Furniture 0845 164 9062 aif.london AGMA Construction 020 8579 2832 agmaconstruction.com Aldi 0800 042 0800 aldi.co.uk Alphablots 07970 514445 alphablots.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon amazon. co.uk Amazon Fresh amazon.co.uk Andrew Martin 020 7225 5100 andrewmartin.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 803168 anniesloan.com Anthropologie 0800 0026 8476 anthropologie.com AO.com 0344 324 9222 Arada Stoves 01297 632050 aradastoves.com Arbol House 01244 329643 arbolhouse.com Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Arlo & Jacob 0333 122 1537 arloandjacob.com Artifact Lighting 02381 943014 artifact-lighting.com Artisanti 0345 259 1410 artisanti.com Asda 0800 952 0101 asda.com Atkin and Thyme 020 3768 7775 atkinandthyme.co.uk Audenza 01162 986393 audenza.com B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Bagnodesign 01924 233977 bagnodesign.co.uk Balsam Hill 01234 227155 balsamhill.co.uk Banbayu 0844 884 3360 banbayu.com Bathroom Supplies Online 0800 6122 606 bathroomsuppliesonline.com Bathrooms At Source 020 8870 0066 bathroomsatsource.co.uk Beko 0333 207 9710 beko.co.uk Benjamin Moore 01753 575756 benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Bert & May 020 3744 0776 bertandmay.com Bloom & Wild 020 7352 9499 bloomandwild.com BoConcept 020 7388 2447 boconcept.co.uk Broste Copenhagen 004 536 390 300 brostecopenhagen.com Caesarstone 01706 863600 caesarstone.co.uk Camerich 020 7372 9887 camerich.co.uk Carpetright 0330 333 3444 carpetright.co.uk Chase & Wonder 01829 732913 chaseandwonder.com Connox connox.co.uk Content by Terence Conran 020 8150 8380 contentbyterenceconran.com Co-op 0800 068 6727 co-op.co.uk Cosentino cosentino.com Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk

CP Hart 0345 873 1121 cphart.co.uk Crock-pot crockpot.co.uk Cuckooland 01305 231231 cuckooland.com Cult Furniture 020 8185 6960 cultfurniture.com Currys 0344 561 0000 currys.co.uk Dar Lighting 01295 672200 darlighting.co.uk Dartington Crystal 01805 626262 dartington.co.uk De’Longhi 0845 600 6845 delonghi.com Desenio 020 3318 2047 desenio.co.uk deVol 01509 261000 devolkitchens. co.uk Direct Tile Importers 01904 690774 directtile.co.uk Discount Home Lighting discounthome lighting.co.uk Dobbies 01315 616406 dobbies.com Dulux 0333 222 7171 dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 165 6565 dunelm.com Elan Kitchens 020 7384 0511 elankitchens.co.uk Escapology escapologyhome.com Etsy etsy.com Eurostove 01934 750500 eurostove.co.uk Everleaf everleafdrinks.com Farrow & Ball 01202 876141 farrow-ball.com Fine Little Day finelittleday.com Folk Interiors 07970 096672 folkinteriors.co.uk Fortnum & Mason 020 7734 8040 fortnumandmason.co.uk Fox Flowers foxflowers.co.uk French Connection Home 0333 400 3285 frenchconnection.com Garden Trading 01993 845559 gardentrading.co.uk Geberit 01926 516800 geberit.co. uk George Home 0800 952 0101 george.com Getting Personal gettingpersonal.co.uk Ginger Ray 0845 680 2975 gingerray.co.uk Gisela Graham 020 7708 4956 giselagraham.co.uk Google store.google.com Graham & Brown 0800 168 3795 grahambrown.com Graham and Green 01225 418200 grahamandgreen.co.uk Grand Illusions 01747 858300 grandillusions.co.uk Granite Transformations 0870 042 7450 granitetransformations.co.uk Grohe 0871 200 3414 grohe.co.uk Grundig 0333 207 9920 grundig.co.uk H&M Home 0344 736 9000 hm.com Habitat 0344 499 4686 habitat.co.uk Heal’s 0333 212 1915 heals.co.uk Historic Royal Palaces 020 3166 6848 historicroyalpalaces.com Hobbycraft 0330 026 1400 hobbycraft.co.uk

Homebase 0345 077 8888 homebase.co.uk HomeSense 01923 473561 homesense.com Hotpoint 03448 224224 hotpoint. co.uk House Doctor 004 597 252 714 housedoctor.dk House of Hackney 020 7739 3273 houseofhackney.com Hurn & Hurn 01603 559250 hurnandhurn.com Idyll Home 01270 812717 idyllhome.co.uk Ikea 020 3645 0000 ikea.co.uk Iliv 01772 651199 i-liv.co.uk Industville 020 7971 7871 industville.co.uk Into Interior Design 07971 424377 intointeriordesign.co.uk J&R Marble 020 8539 6471 jrmarble.co.uk Jane Means 01522 522544 janemeans.com JD Williams 08712 312000 jdwilliams.co.uk Jim Lawrence 01473 826685 jim-lawrence.co.uk John Lewis & Partners 0345 604 9049 johnlewis.com Jordan’s Woodfloor Warehouse jordanwoodfloors.co.uk Joseph Joseph 020 7261 1800 josephjoseph.com KEK Amsterdam kekamsterdam.com/nl King & McGaw 01273 511942 kingandmcgaw.com La Redoute 0800 096 6888 laredoute.co.uk Lagoon 020 7129 1309 vivalagoon. com Lakeland 01539 488100 lakeland.co.uk Lampsy 0333 577 2200 lampsy.com Laura Ashley 0333 200 8009 lauraashley.com Laura Ashley Kitchens 0808 250 8689 lauraashleykitchens.com Lene Bjerre 004 596 712 100 lenebjerre.com Lights4Fun 01423 816040 lights4fun.co.uk Lillian Daph 01287 349612 lilliandaph.co. uk Lime Modern Living 0333 270 1376 limemodernliving.co.uk Little Greene 0845 880 5855 littlegreene.com Loaf 0345 468 0697 loaf.com Lombok 020 7736 5171 lombok.co.uk Love Frankie 01803 866399 lovefrankie.com LSA International 01932 789721 lsa-international.com Lusso Stone 020 3370 4057 lussostone.com Made in Design 020 7692 4001 madeindesign.co.uk Made.com 0344 257 1888 Maisons du Monde 0808 234 2172 maisonsdumonde.com Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8000 marksandspencer.com Master of Malt 0800 5200 474 masterofmalt. com Master Tiles 01273 695208 mastertiles.co.uk Matki 01454 322888 matki.co.uk

Maxtop maxtopquartz.co.uk Mick Haley 020 7407 9343 uvarchitects.co.uk Miele 0330 160 6600 miele.co.uk Mind The Gap mindtheg.com Mint & May mintandmay.co.uk Moooi 020 8962 5691 moooi.com Morrisons 0845 611 6111 morrisons.co.uk Murals Wallpaper 01517 085400 muralswallpaper.co.uk Nancy & Betty Studio 01227 714766 nancyandbetty.com National Theatre Bookshop 020 7452 3456 shop.nationaltheatre. org.uk Neptune 01793 427300 neptune.com Nest 01142 433000 nest.co.uk Next Home 0333 777 8000 next.co.uk Nkuku 0333 240 0155 nkuku.com Nordic House 01872 223220 nordichouse.co.uk Nordic Nest nordicnest.co.uk Nordlux nordlux.com Notonthehighstreet.com 020 3318 5115 Nunido nunido.co.uk Nutmeg Studio 01908 915705 nutmegwallartstickers.co.uk Oak Furnitureland 0800 440 2254 oakfurnitureland.co.uk Ocado 0345 656 1234 ocado.com Oka 0333 004 2042 oka.com Oliver Bonas 020 8974 0110 oliverbonas.com Oliver Gustav studio.olivergustav.com One.World 020 8974 2211 Origin 0808 231 0160 origin-global. com Osborne & Little 020 8812 3123 osborneandlittle.com Other Letters 07949 201560 otherletters.co.uk Paint & Paper Library 0845 880 5844 paintandpaperlibrary. com Panasonic 0344 844 3899 panasonic.co.uk Paperchase 020 3322 4788 paperchase.co.uk Penny Morrison 020 7384 2975 pennymorrison.com Perch & Parrow 020 8629 1166 perchandparrow.com Petersham Nurseries 020 8940 5230 petershamnurseries.com Philips 020 7949 0240 philips.co.uk Pipii 01342 823921 pipii.co.uk Pooky 020 7351 3003 pooky.com Poundland 0800 731 5622 poundland.co.uk Prestigious Textiles 01274 688448 prestigious.co.uk Prezzybox 0844 249 5007 prezzybox.com Price’s 01234 264500 prices-candles.co.uk QS Supplies 01162 510051 qssupplies.co.uk Quick-Step 0283 025 0477 quick-step.co.uk Yates and Sons 01653 605400 yatesonline.co.uk Rachel Powell racheljpowell.com

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 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. Air Business Ltd is acting as our mailing agent. 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.

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STOCKISTS

EDITORIAL Radianz Quartz radianz-quartz.com Raft 0800 014 9860 raftfurniture.co.uk Raj Tent Club 020 8847 2212 rajtentclub.com Robert Dyas 0800 707 6677 robertdyas.co.uk Robuust Barnwood robuustbarnwood.nl Rockett St George 01444 253391 rockettstgeorge.co.uk Rowen & Wren 01276 451077 rowenandwren.co.uk Royal Design 0844 264 2070 royaldesign.co.uk Sainsbury’s 0800 328 1700 sainsburys.co.uk Sainsbury’s Home 0800 636 262 sainsburyshome.co.uk Samsung 0800 521 652 samsung.co.uk Sanderson 020 3457 5862 stylelibrary.com/sanderson SCP 020 7739 1869 scp.co.uk Second Nature sncollection.co.uk Secret Linen Store 01243 822599 secretlinenstore.com Shacklewell Architects 07793 547033 shacklewellarchitects.com Sharp 0800 262 958 sharp.co.uk Skandium 020 7823 8874 skandium.com Sofa Workshop 0808 256 3476 sofaworkshop.com Soho Home 020 3819 8199 sohohome.com Stainless Steel Worktops UK stainlesssteelworktopsuk.co.uk Steamery steamery.co.uk Steven Thomas Joinery 01239 615522 steventhomasjoinery.co.uk Stone Butterfly 01162 899663 stonebutterfly.co.uk Style Library 020 3457 5862 stylelibrary.com Swan 01733 404703 swan-brand.co.uk Swivel UK 020 7100 7454 swiveluk.com Swoon 020 3319 6332 swooneditions.com Terrazzo Tiles 020 7485 7227 terrazzo-tiles.co.uk Tesco 0800 323 4050 tesco.com The Bottle Jar Store thebottlejarstore.co.uk The Conran Shop 0344 848 4000 conranshop.co.uk The Contemporary Home 0845 130 8229 tch.net The Farthing 0844 567 2400 thefarthing.co.uk The Hambledon 01962 890055 thehambledon.com The Shaker Kitchen Company 0333 444 5666 theshakerkitchencompany.co.uk The White Company 020 3758 9222 thewhitecompany.com TK Maxx 01923 473561 tkmaxx.com Toolstation 0808 100 7211 toolstation.com Topps Tiles 0800 783 6262 toppstiles.co.uk Travis Perkins 01604 752424 travisperkins.co.uk Trouva 020 7193 6444 trouva.com UK Bathrooms 01765 694720 ukbathrooms.com Urban Outfitters 0845 330 1288 urbanoutfitters.co.uk Very 0844 822 2321 very.co.uk Victoria & Albert Baths 020 7351 4378 vandabaths.com

Victorian Plumbing 0345 862 2878 victorianplumbing.co.uk Vinterior 020 3393 0383 vinterior.co VV Rouleaux 020 7224 5179 vvrouleaux.com Waitrose & Partners 0800 188 884 waitrose.com Wallpaperdirect.com 01323 430886 Walls and Floors 01536 314730 wallsandfloors.co.uk Warner’s warnersdistillery.com Wayfair 0800 169 0423 wayfair.co.uk West & Reid 020 8355 9472 westandreid.co.uk West Elm 0800 404 9780 westelm.co.uk White Stuff 020 3752 5360 whitestuff.com Wilko 0800 032 9329 wilko.com Willow & Stone 01326 311388 willowandstone.co.uk Wood & Wire 01422 847199 woodandwire.co.uk Wood Finishes Direct 01303 213838 wood-finishes-direct.com Woodchip & Magnolia 01204 856887 woodchipandmagnolia.co.uk Wooden Heaven woodenheaven.eu Wren Kitchens 03451 277008 wrenkitchens.com Wyld Home 01743 588820 wyldhome.com Yonder yonderliving.com

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 106. 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 Donna McConnell 020 3148 5651 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 | JANUARY 2020

157

STYLE THROWBACK

THEN… AND NOW

1964

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 This living room surprised us – we love the unexpected combination of streamlined mid-century furniture with wall-towall decorative pattern and traditional artwork. There’s certainly a thing or two we can learn about brave colour choices – that carpet! THE UPDATE We’ve given this a modern, maximalist slant, taking the luxe-factor up a notch with velvet textures for soft furnishings. A botanical sketchbook print updates the trad chinoiserie wallpaper from the original photo and brass details add a little polish and glamour to make this look sleek and sophisticated.

1 6

WHERE TO BUY 1 Berlin three seater sofa, £1,449, Swoon 2 Parrot Talk wallpaper in Lush Green, £85 a roll, Woodchip & Magnolia 3 Archer gold lamp with navy lampshade, £100, Laura Ashley 4 Lush velvet cushion cover in Wasabi, £29, West Elm 5 Bortolin coffee table, £199, Made.com 6 Small faux fiddle plant, £95, Oka

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FEATURE MICHELA COLLING