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he fit st home I owned was a lovely Victc rian terrace in London. Full

or ginal features including firep aces, ceiling roses and even abui It-in dresser, my husband and were won over by its charm as soon as we walked in the front door. After months of looking at properties and not finding anything we liked within our price range, we couldn’t believe we might be lucky enough to get our hands on this gem of a house. Of course, not everything about it was perfect. Like so many period terraced homes up and down the country, it lacked the open-plan layout so many of us crave, and it still had a ground floor bathroom as it hadn’t yet been extended to create space for one on the first floor. All fairly minor issues for us - until our first child came along, that is! Then trips downstairs in the middle of the night and separate closed-off rooms where we couldn’t keep an eye on our daughter while cooking, for example, suddenly highlighted the changes we needed to make to the house. Ultimately, we decided to move out of London before we got round to tackling the house redesign, but had we gone ahead with it, know I would have found plenty to inspire in our guide to terraced homes on page 75. The three properties featured have all been imaginatively redesigned, turning dated, impractical] layouts into light, bright and contemporary spaces that work perfectly for 21st-century life. Make sure you take a look if you’re considering an extension or redesign of

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project (to any style of house) in the coming months. One of the best things about that same Victorian terrace I lived in was the storage — how] long for such amazing built-in storage now. In a small twobedroom house like that, good storage was key to making the most of limited space and keeping things organised. If, like me, there are days when you feel as if your belongings are taking over your house (and your life), it could be time to have a good look at your storage solutions - as well as your shopping habits, perhaps! Head to our guide on page 48 for plenty of stylish ideas and top tips on how to choose or design the right storage for your space. Your house (and sanity) will definitely thank you for it. ] hope you enjoy the issue.

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WOULD YOU USE YOUR HOME... to make money, or is it a private sanctuary? Readers reveal all

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Kate and Mike’s schoolhouse renovation took blood, sweat and tears — but it was worth it

STORE AND ORDER Achieve an organised home with these clever, stylish solutions

AHEAD OF THE CURVE The gentle bend of the arch is the trend of the moment -

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CREATIVE WAYS WITH WALL PANELLING Introduce character with playful takes on this classic technique

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REAL HOME Sophie and George renovated a neglected barn for the country lifestyle of dreams

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REAL HOME Julia and Kevin’s period property

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is a characterful mix of different eras and the perfect family home

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EXTENSION OF THE MONTH An impressive addition we love

How will the pandemic change the way we design our houses?

TERRACED HOUSES A guide to revamping yours

GUIDE TO HEATING Help and advice on choosing a focal point fire or stove

Nicola’s loft conversion is her sanctuary in the London house she shares with friends

133 UNDERFLOOR HEATING The perks of warming your

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Clara and Liam’s kitchen extension was the ideal opportunity to flex their design skills

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THE EDIT The latest kitchen shelving and towel radiators

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GOING ECO Look out for this logo on our favourite sustainable picks

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With the bounties of newness that AW20 brings, we thought a quick browse around the latest collections from Tesco was in order — so next time you're dashing round on the food shop, swing by and finds for the season ahead (you're welcome).

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Bookworm Mindful Thoughts at Home by Kate Peers (The Quarto Group, 6.99) Becoming focused and paying attention to the here and now is one of the fundamental principles of mindfulness. And with cultivating wellness firmly on our agendas, what better place to practise this gentle concept than within the home? This book provides 25 thoughts that aim to help set an ambient tone for your head and living space.

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Move over faux - and say hello to amore ecoconscious way to bring nature into your home. Dowsing & Reynolds’ carefully curated collection of preserved foliage will bring character to any

space. These pretty organic stems have been picked and treated to ensure they retain their flexibility and fresh feel.

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for every room in your home, the latest deals on homeware or inspiration for those finishing touches, you'll find it all at realhomes.com

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Whether you're

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Things are shaping up at Swoon with its range of bold new prints. Swoon’s paired with Formworks Studio, who make graphic art exploring geometry, space, form and colour. These limited-edition Giclée prints come in a stylish array of trend-led colours for textural pieces that'll leave °

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drinks trolley,

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Roll on gin-o’clock - quite literally, thanks to this fabulous drinks trolley on wheels from George Home at Asda. If you missed out on nabbing yourself the Primark version last year, make sure you add this bargain party piece to your shopping list immediately! It would be the talking point of any soirée, plus once the party season is over, it can be used as handy storage. How’s that for a flexible friend?

Our sister title Livingetc has recently launched its brand new podcast, Home Truths. Each Monday, executive editor Pip McCormac interviews a different big design name about the stories behind their most famous work. Available on Spotify and Google Podcasts.

partnership with

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Behold the latest : modern classic designs, set to light up our lives and homes. These fresh lighting statements, recently released from Marks & Spencer, showcase

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AHEAD OF THE CURVE Radiating a sense of positivity, the gentle shape of the arch is THE trend of the moment. Join in with the happy vibes and get your curve on Perry woven blanket art hanging, 230, An Artful Life 2 Bend candle in grey, 28, Dotty Home 3 Fulbrook arched Garden Trading 4 Minimal screen print style art print, 19, Rocket Jack 5 Earthenware large vase in dark grey, 48, Graham & Green 6 Iris rainbow pot, 14, Anthropologie 7 Otha table lamp dusty pink, 69, Made 8 Sol sunrise orange fabric double bed, 395, Habitat 9 Arcade wallpaper in navy, 30 per roll, John Lewis & Partners 10 Graphic arch poster, 8.95, Desenio 11 Heather teal velvet lounge chair with brass legs, 169, Cult Furniture 12 Pink rainbow trivet, 16.95, Rose & Grey 13 Casa Cubista double arch bowl, 15, Abode Living 1

mirror, 200,

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WHY WE FELL FOR KATE AND MIKE’S HOME As much as we'd love to believe the glossy homes shown in magazines like Real Homes happen in an instant, the reality is it’s rarely asimple process getting a house up to scratch, especially with a project like Kate and Mike’s. Their search for a place they could make their mark on led to an old schoolhouse in dire need of some TLC. With a leaking roof, rotten floorboards and an odd layout, it was more work than the couple had bargained for, but having fallen in love with it, they decided to take it on. Four years on, the place is unrecognisable. The ground floor has been opened up to create akitchen/dining/living area that makes the most of the double-height space, while the mezzanine has been transformed into a welcoming entrance hall leading to the bedrooms and bathroom. Despite the openplan nature of the house, the couple have created warmth with a soft palette of white shades complemented by natural wood textures. We spoke to Kate and Mike to find out how they did it all and still stayed sane...

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WORDS ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPHS FIONA MURRAY

Profile

BEFORE

THE OWNERS Kate Lawley, a senior business development manager, and husband Mike, a product designer

THE PROPERTY

Kitchen, from Ebay, painted in Ammonite, Farrow & Ball. Handles,

A three-bed converted Victorian schoolhouse in Corsham, Wiltshire

Dowsing & Reynolds. Carrera white quartz worktop, Granite & Stone South West. Concrete work surface, handmade. Bar stools, HK Living

PROJECT COST 101,000

#SOREALHOMES

Our house before was a Victorian terrace, which we grew out of quite quickly. We were looking for a project we could put our own stamp on. It took a year and a half from selling the house to finding this. It was probably a bigger job than we were hoping for, but a construction friend of ours gave us the confidence to take it on. ‘The property was really run-down. No one had lived here for over a year and there were cobwebs everywhere — it really wasn't in a good state but we fell in love with it. We just got that feeling you get when you walk in. Once we bought it, we were thrown straight into the work. The first thing we had to do was repair the roof because there was a leak. lot of the timbers were rotten A and one of the lintels supporting the timbers had started to collapse. We had a roofing company in for the first few weeks, as well as a company who specialise in timber preservation. They stripped out damaged timbers and replaced them. Overall, we reroofed around 25 per cent of the roof. ‘Meanwhile, we were trying to strip out what we could from the rest of the building. Originally, we weren't going to reconfigure the house — the layout wasn’t practical, but it was quirky, and we planned to work around it. Then a friend told us to speak to an architect, who said there was so much we could do if we were brave enough. A few days later, she sent over a sketch of an open-plan design, and it developed from there. ‘Throughout the build, we tried to reuse and reclaim as much of the original materials as we could. We even rescued parts of the rotten joists we replaced, cutting off the damaged areas and using the remains to make shelves. We made the concrete worktop in the kitchen ourselves, and the oak unit it sits on, as well as the other kitchen units, were second hand — we simply upcycled them with new handles and paint. It’s nice to look around and see what we managed to create from unwanted things. We spenda lot of time in this part of the house. Most people with a kitchen island will tell you it’s where people tend to gather when they visit, and that’s definitely true for us.

FOR MORE IDEAS ON UPDATING YOUR PERIOD HOME, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONS

OVER TO KATE AND MIKE...

T'S NICE TO LOOK AROUND

AND SEE WHAT WE'VE CREATED From UNWANTED

6 There were plenty of moments where we thought, “What have we taken on?” A year into the build, we were still here most evenings stripping things out, and the windows were still boarded up. There were definitely highs and lows. Once a milestone like putting the windows in was reached, it felt like we were moving forwards, but the initial invisible works, like repairing joists and plumbing, were a struggle. Now it’s finished, we couldn’t be prouder.

Dining table, bench and side unit, Furniture Village. Chairs, HK Living. Rug, Heal’s. Brass wall lights, Cox & Cox

—

were really clear where $ We we wanted the staircase fre

quite early on, and we also knew we wanted an interna window. Kate's dad is a

carpenter and he helped a lot. He and his colleague relaid the floorboards, did the stud work for the room reconfiguration and made the treads and spindles for the stairs. Having him on hz to offer advice was invalual even if he thought we were crazy when we bought the place! Everywhere we look, see something we designec he built â&#x20AC;&#x201D; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lovely feelin: and really rewarding.

internal window, Richmark Windows

STARTED BUILDING WORK

August 2016

February 2017

LIVING SPACE DECORATED July 2018 — ‘But the rest is

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The foundations of the rooms are neutral, minimal and light, and we brought in natural materials like wood and rattan, plus the concrete, to warm up the scheme and add interest.

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the hot se might look on some 3D soft ware — we could play around with the layout. The bathro: m is slightly different to ther ‘est of the house in the ma erials we’ve used. The large-fc rmat tiles are timeless, and the wall behind the basin is Trave rtine plaster by Oikos.

Walll ar id floor tiles, Dimens ions Bathrooms of Frome nd UK Bathrooms. .

MDesig in shower curtain,

Amazo

Bath mat, Zara

Wire-free security camera, 149.99, Swann

Subtle protection Put safety first, but keep it discreet. The Swann wire-free

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security camera is small and sleek enough to blend into artfully arranged items on a shelf as it watches for any unusual activity, from naughty pets to something more

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THE HEAT IS ON

FEATURE ALISON JONES “DIY STATS ACCORDING TO RESEARCH BY MYJOBQUOTE.CO.UK

It's time to mention the C word, and by that we mean cosy. Start your preparations for a warm winter by investing in a new stove to sit round and toast your toes. The E-NEO3C

Maal Lele

needing to chop and feed it with fuel. It has

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can be seen through glass panels at the front and sides. There’s an optional decorative

A real high light

We all love a room that gets the sun, so draw it in from all angles with a rooflight. The neo Advance flat rooflight from The Rooflight Company is incredibly energy efficient. Its aluminium frame combined with Thermal Shield technology, which protects against mould and condensation, gives it the lowest possible U-value in a doubleglazed unit, so it’s much lighter plus we love its sleek, frameless look. Priced from 845 to 2,095 for fixed and motorised opening options (excl. VAT and delivery)

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flue pipe and programmable intelligent remote so you can preset it to come on. 1,299, ACR Stoves

BREATHE EASY The 800,

Bellaria,

The quality of the air we breathe is something we've all become more aware of, particularly with so much time spent indoors. The Bellaria by Falmec is both an elegant lamp and a powerful air purifier. It eliminates irritation-causing impurities and restores the ionic balance for fresh, clean indoor air. Good for combating allergies, it can also help asthma and hayfever sufferers. Encased in handmade glass from the Italian island of Murano, it comes in four colours.

Falmec

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HOW DOES UNDERFLOOR HEATING WORK? ‘arm water underfloor heating is a form of central heating that fmaximises room space by leaving walls free. It heats pipes laid ‘beneath the floor, turning the entire floor -rather thanjust a rradiator — into a heat emitter ‘that warms the room above.

Portas Seandiinspired exterior light in three metal

Atwater wall light in antique brass

Mullan Kairi wall light with IP54 rating, 206,

Made to Last

Electrical

of people wish tt ley knew how to repl ace roof tiles*

heat for homes

Chris Ingram, founder of Continal Underfloor Heating (ufh.co.uk) , reveals why underfloor heating can be an eco-friendly option

‘

muh

green

CAN USE UFH WITH A HEAT |

-PUMP/COMBI BOILER/WOOD

PELLET BOILER? This type of underfloor heating can work with any heat source and is ideal as part of a green heating system. It can be up to 30 per cent more efficient than radiators as it operates using water that’s heated toa much lower temperature. Low-temperature heat sources, such as heat pumps and wood pellet boilers, will see it working at its most efficient. It also helps combi boilers operate in energysaving, carbon footprintreducing condensing mode for longer periods.

engineered board, laminate, ceramic tiles, carpet, vinyl, stone, marble and slate. Technical advisers, like those at Continal, can recommend the best system for different floorings.

BradDrive Cobblesto ie§ 87 per m’, Bradstone

Statement surface

Make the best first impression with visitors - and offer them space to park with a freshly updated driveway. Banish boring tarmac and instead go for block paving to add pattern that appeals to the eye and makes a firm base for vehicles. The new BradDrive Cobblestone will give your drive an authentic rustic effect, and with five different sizes, you can mix things up to create a unique design. Lay them in a random pattern, a single colour or a mixture of colours for striking style. 37

WHAT TOG CARPET CAN I USE WITH UFH? The maximum tog rating you can have with underfloor heating is 2.5 tog including the underlay; however, we recommend going for around 1.5 tog to achieve better heat outputs.

For more information on underfloor heating, see our feature on page 133

REALHOMES.COM

WHAT TYPE OF FINISHED FLOOR COVERINGS CAN I USE? Underfloor heating will be suitable: with most floor coverings, though some will be better than others for emitting heat. Floors that work well include solid wood,

Wh —

’

sanctuary where we can shut ourselves

off fram the world’

‘|

Nazima Hodkinson (@nazimah§85) and her husband, Martin, live with their two children in a three-storey house in north east London “Our home has been our sanctuary, especially in London during the lockdown, and we’ve been very grateful for it. ‘I wouldn’t do Airbnb because we like to think of it as our private sanctuary. Once we are through that front door, we can shut ourselves off from the world. It’s nice having that private space where we can just chill. We can come home and havea cup of tea, watch TV. We can detach completely. I can think, “This is mine and no oneis going to have a say on it.” My husband feels quite strongly about that as well, so no, don’t think he would ever go for Airbnb. “You'd be limiting yourself to one side of the house if there were people in the other, and we’ve been utilising all of it, all three floors. We have aspare room which has a big TV, and during lockdown we've been saying, “Actually, we don’t all need to sit downstairs and fight over one TV, we’ve got a huge one upstairs.” It’s made sure the four of us, the two kids and my husband, who is working from home, use the whole house. ‘This is our space. We had the loft donea few years ago and my husband absolutely loves it - he goes upstairs to meditate or read. And sometimes the kids will go up. It’s our bedroom but they still use that as their calming space. ‘I do interior design and ] am a keen Ikea hacker. In our home I have tried to decorate the space with memories and a sense of the holidays we have had. ‘When I walk through the door and the house is full of light, I think a lot of it is about that feeling you get, and it’s just really nice’

am a great

advocate of using your house and sharing it’

WORDS ALISON JONES

Jane Cresswell (@thehousethatjaneand jackbuilt) and husband Jack live with their four children in a Victorian house in Windsor “We have been happy to Airbnb our current house and to rent it out for shoots. We went travelling with the children for eight months and 100 per cent it helped to finance our travels. ‘lam a great advocate of using your house and sharing it. We planned our trip for a year and we tried Airbnbing at weekends to see if it would work, and it went really well. It’s a goodsized four-bedroom house - perfect for families. “We've had family groups coming in for celebrations, hen parties, and people from outside the UK making Windsor part of their trip. When there have been big royal events here, we rented it out to one of the news channels because we’re within walking distance of the castle. ‘The house is Grade II-listed and has amazing proportions, which we love - really high ceilings and original fireplaces. I’ve always loved interiors so there is some cool funky wallpaper in the kids’ rooms. It’s nice for people to appreciate our house and I enjoyed making it feel welcoming for them. “We’ve used Airbnb homes ourselves. It felt comfortable, we were trusting of other people, and they’ve been very respectful. The kids knew someone else was using their bedrooms and they were on board with it. It was a good way to teach them about sharing their space and their toys.’

It’s nice having that priva le space where wecan Just ch ill. We can de tach comple tely 39

NEXT MONTH: WOULD YOU USE CHRISTMAS AS A DEADLINE FOR A PROJECT?

your house your family’s private space, or are you happy to let others pay you to use it? Two readers offer their opinions

‘Our home Is our

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WOULD YOU RENT YOUR HOME OUT TO MAKE MONEY?

Firing imaginations tor over 37 years

STOVAX

( GAZCO ยง$

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STYLE

MATHS

Multiply your bathroom’s style for under 300 with our edit of the latest schemes and how to create them on a

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Choosing a hero piece can be a great starting point when putting a scheme together, especially when it canconceal a wealth of items within and show off treasured possessions on top. Classic storage furniture is sound investment that makes a purposeful statement in any home. a

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space for accessories and easy-grab books

ON THE DOWN LOW Choosing hidden storage is in itself a genius idea; couple that with storage that doubles up as seating and you have yourself the ultimate in form and functionality. This kitchen-diner benefits from sleek, low-level cupboards, which are

Round Liv marble ning table, 999, and Mid-Century Modern Petal dining chairs in Feather Grey basket

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S Ina iron room divider, 739; Odin leather chair, 545; greywash wishbone chair, 299, all Nordic House

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storage-place-cumroom-divider on wheels would tackle any of those open-plan living challenges with ease, breaking up larger spaces while providing a handy place for essentials. â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

way of incorporating stylish hanging storage into your home

CREATE A NOOK Zoning an open-plan room is a great way to build defined areas in your space. As our homes become more multipurpose, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s essential that we use the space we have to suit our modern lives. Tall units are a great way to do this, acting as both a divider and practical storage solution.

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Arranging accessories on top of the unit will create more of a feature ina room, and another

place to put things

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Max out on space with wall-to-wall storage. This stylish solution recedes into the background, keeping possessions organised and a clear floor space — plus it’s a system that can be added to over time. Using the existing architecture of your home as a guide will create a look that’s

truly bespoke and specific to your needs.

‘ersions of these systems have drawers,

cupboards and desk add-ons, too

—

Displaying favourite pieces can be made simple with a clearfronted unit — ideal for a kitchen-dining area, where you can keep essentials close to hand as well as having a place for special items to be admired in a dust-free setting.

NEXT MONTH

Wall-mounted cube shelves add another level of storage and ‘shelfie’

STYLE YOUR HOME FOR CHRISTMAS WITH FABULOUS FESTIVE TRENDS

TOP TIP

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Nordby two-door white display cabinet, 229.99,

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Support independent businesses and meet the creatives making waves in the interiors world. This month: furniture makers

JAMES NICK a Hi, Nick - tell us about yourself! I'd describe myself as a — create designer-maker everything from coffee tables to boardroom tables. work mostly on private residential furniture, but also make a range of small wooden |

planters, but with wood! It’s easy to overcomplicate things in design, so try and keep my products simple and paredback. let the craftsmanship and the natural features of the wood speak for themselves. |

around it

products, all beautifully crafted and handmade.

How did you get and what

Qicrtes drives you?

started my business in 2003, carrying out commissions in a workshop on my own, before expanding and taking on staff. As people became more confident buying things online, started making a range of small-batch off-theshelf products alongside my bespoke works — from lighting to clocks to kitchenware. I've even delved into making — plant hangers they're sort of like my version of macrame |

What else should we know? Out of work, love getting out into the hills walking, and a lot of my time is taken up with my young family. juggle, too — used to do street entertaining |

to get me through university! On a more serious note, I’ve also set up something called the Mushroom Works. It’s a converted warehouse that acts as a studio and a space for designers and makers in the north. It’s a real community for creative people.

the market for

more original

items? These upcyclers make

sustainability into an art

homework, colouring, and food, of course, from romantic meals to dinner parties with friends. It's something that people hopefully have all their lives and it builds up a patina over time. Ours still has small fork marks from when our then three-year-old daughter used to bang her cutlery on the table. They build up stories in themselves. put a lot of thought and consideration into a piece because know someone is going to cherish it.

Follow Nick at

A dining table. think it’s one

of the most important pieces

jamesdesign.co.uk

Sideboard with sculpted doors, 2,450

—

@nickjamesdesign and shop his pieces, or commission a bespoke design, at

What’s your favourite piece to design?

Handmade oak dining table, 1,750

SHARP & SIMPSON

Fixi ng up furniture In

in the house because everything happens

of furniture

@sharpandsimpson Bespoke pieces are at

the heart of Micaela Sharp's work as an

upholsterer. ‘There’s something so satisfying about making a vintage piece desirable again,’ she says. ‘Upholstery is an opportunity to bring colour, pattern and texture into your home.’ sharpandsimpson.com

ELIZABETH DOT

DESIGN @elizabethdotdesign Furniture upcycler Elizabeth Turner turns unloved pieces into fresh, fun statements. ‘I love working on battered furniture you wouldn't dream of putting in your home and making them look good as new,’ she says. elizabethdotdesign.com 1

Tallways

(THAT WELCOME YO

OME)

Make an entrance you'll be happy to open your front door to — and that doesn’t require hiking gear to navigate through — with our guide to the highs and lows of hallway decorating e all know first impressions count. We also

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(

))

ME IN

Create a welcoming entranceway with elegant accessories and savvy storage

Demi Lune umbrella stand, 295, Ligne Roset

Catana black and natural woven rattan mirror, 75,

Habitat

Lois 10 light semi flush ceiling light in black, BHS 120,

Safari handwoven wool runners, from 385 per m,

Sophie Cooney

Industrial coat

storage rack, 375, Cox & Cox

WORDS LINDA CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPH RACHAEL SMITH (OPPOSITE)

Storage is an obvious hallway necessity, but don’t go nuts. Be strong and only store outerwear you and your family actually wear; do a seasonal switch-out if necessary. Sniff out any outgrown children’s shoes (it shouldn’t be too difficult) and take a hard line with reusable shopping bags. Those things breed without due control. Try to keep furniture below eye level if the space is narrow tall units have an enclosing effect. Coat pegs need to be higher, but opt for more pegs and fewer items per peg if you can. Somewhere to drop keys and bags when you come in is helpful but, again, be military-grade strict about long-term dumping. A bowl full of old sunglasses, broken Lego and that strange hingetype thing that you found on the floor and are afraid to chuck, has neither use nor ornament. Speaking of ornaments, the hallway is ripe for honing your shelfie and picture gallery skills. The large expanse of wall can handle a bold approach. And, since you'll not be lingering for long, you can afford to experiment with artwork and paint effects you’d potentially tire of in main living rooms. If you hate it, bosh up a big mirror and move on. Without tripping over trainers, ideally.

know that a pile of stinking shoes, a broken bookcase waiting for the tip run and three years’ worth ofjunk mail doesn’t make a great first impression unless you’re auditioning for Hoarders from Hell. However, as your home’s thoroughfare - the ‘room’ you walk through, not to - the hallway is so often overlooked. On both the renovation and cleaning schedule, let’s be honest. The good news is the hallway can be one of the least expensive rooms to tackle. For starters there’s usually no plumbing or electrics involved. And, if you’re lucky, you'll discover an incredible original floor under that manky carpet. If not, the area is so small that new flooring needn’t prove too spendy. The bad news is it’s also one of the most labour intensive if you’re a DiYer, as anyone who has ever attempted to paint stair spindles or double-height stairwell walls will testify (from their therapist’s couch). Try to remember you'll only need to do it once in your lifetime, probably, then make sure your gin supplies are stocked up and crack on. Or sell a limb and invest in a spray-painting specialist who will do it faster than you can say ‘is that somebody at the door?”’.

While hallways are prime real estate for a show-pony pendant light — if you have the height, go all-out with an outsized chandelier — illuminating at lower level will create a welcoming atmosphere. A console table lamp works well, or add wall lights down the length of your hallway to draw people in. Dark corners can make a hallway feel smaller than it already is, so pop an extra light in gloomy areas — a wall-mounted plugged fitting is easy to install. Put lamps on smart switches or use smart bulbs (try Philips) to turn lights on from your phone before you get home,

Internal door painted

Silken Sunrise 2 by Dulux. Try Quick Dry satinwood at 16 for 750mi, B&Q. For a similiar pendant, try the Noko wicker

conical pendant (medium), 150, Nkuku

solid front door for

delights can improve the natural light levels in your hallway. Yo ucan choose to position these static glass panels on one side of the door, both sides or above (a storylight) for maximum exposure. Anti-theft

security glass is an important safety feature, and glass should also be insulated to prevent heat loss. Clear glass will bring in the most sunlight, while sandblasted glass offers privacy.

Right Lucienne Day authentic Octagon

cheap, way to add pattern and colour to your hallway. We think it’s worth the investment if the front door opens directly onto the staircase. Check out Alternative Flooring, Roger Oates and Sophie Cooney. Save a few pennies by switching to a plain runner in the same colour tones on the landing. Alternatively, carpet specialists can add coloured whipping to jazz

Alternative Flooring

‘airs cupboards

kly descend into a k-h le-style dumping for damp football ki enty-billion Bags fo Life. Th answer, if you can stretch ‘o bespoke cabinetr is built-i n drawers, which wil pull eve rything out into vie fim ull-height units, rack out for shoes to make it eas

: }

™

stair rare an effective, if not terribly

runner, 110 per linear metre,

to find the pair you need at a glance. The tallest unit can host one or two rows of coat Pegs, ora hanging rail, too. Individual drawers are easier for children to open and can be personalised with their names to encourage tidiness.

up inexpensive carpet, or you can buy separate

taping in contrasting colours and stripes try Higher Ground.

Right Encaustic cement tiles pattern 10647, from 88.80 per m’, Mosaic Factory. Walls painted in St. Giles Blue estate emulsion, 47.95 for 2.5ltrs, Farrow & Ball. Stair spindles in Dulux Atlantic Surf Quick Dry satinwood, 16 for 750ml, B&Q. Interior design by Brian O’Tuama Architects in

Echoing colour tones from living spaces in the hallway is how interiors experts achieve flow between rooms for a home that feels connected, not chaotic. It can be a subtle colour link, a splash on prints or stair spindles, or a stronger approach with matching colours on flooring, architraves and doors. Decide on a ‘colour thread’ early, and go for a trusted favourite rather than what’s on trend for it to last.

Bespoke pull-out cupboards start from 5,000

PHOTOGRAPH SIOBHAN DORAN (O’TUAMA ARCHITECTS)

Chiselwood_/

FIVE THINGS

you'll realise when you overhaul your hallway

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

Just how bad your shoe

Ditto coats, specifically lightweight raincoats. Every spring (and autumn) you snap up anew one, completely forgetting the 12 zillion already scrunched up on your groaning coat hooks. Again, Ebay is your friend.

The secret to always arriving at the school gate/meeting/hot Tinder date on time is as simple as a dedicated hook/

The sheer joy of a freshly painted front door. Add

What your local Yodel/ Amazon/Hermes

new hardware for extra pleasure points. It’s right up there with climbing into fresh bedlinen and finding a 50 per cent off discount code seconds before you order. How life has changed.

delivery folk actually look like. No longer do you only crack the door an inch lest they spot the piles of dirty trainers and carrier bag snowdrifts behind you. They may not be as happy about this as you.

addiction has gotten Imelda Marcos/Carrie Bradshaw are freakin’ amateurs compared to

—

you. Flog ‘em on Ebay and try not to spend the proceeds on yet more Vejas.

bowl for your car keys. Who knew? Ail those

smug parents watching you pant up to the gate seconds before last bell, that's who. Traitors.

Walls painted in Denim Drift matt

emulsion, EZ7.10 for 2.5ltrs, Dulux

SERIAL DECORATOR

ANTONIA RICHARDS “Our house is al1960s townhouse split across three floors and this entrance hallway measures approximately 6x2m at its widest. When we renovated the house, we painted everywhere white including the hallway, but it felt too clinical, so! was keen to add colour in some way while keeping white as a base colour. I fell in love with Dulux’s Spiced Honey as soon as sawit and knew! could make it work in the hallway in the form of a thick colour block stripe. I have shoe storage at the front door and the coat rack provides storage for our coats and scarves. I love my hallway and the only thing I am hoping to change is the flooring: I’m looking for something lighter and brighter. My advice for decorating your hallway is to start with aneutral base then steadily implement colour, and also ensure your hallway décor choices blend with the rest of the house’ |

A! MR ee SeBike.

Insta: @all_things_interior_

Be i

wag

Enclosing the space beneath the stairs can drastically reduce your hallway’s feeling of spaciousness. By contrast, an office or reading nook with open shelves can utilise the square footage, without

causing laustrophobia. Position hairs with enough room abc ve that you can sit comforte bly, while ensuring they won "t create a trip hazard w hen in use. Add Stylish st rage containers for any p laperwork and stationer — think Paperchase, not Stap! les — and dress with d pictures to banish ercial workplace/ «

Right Pattern by Dee Hardwicke luxury vinyl tiles in Warm Terracotta, 49.99 per m’,

Harvey Maria

Left Walls painted in Strong White estate for

Mooring is be any hallway en

directly from the Whether it’s porce

Below Fine edge rectangular mirror, from

219;

Brunel

console table by Rob Scarlett, 499; Hang it All coat rack by Vitra, 239; Life on Mars, David Bowie by Reign & Hail framed print, 110; Vogue, Early Novernber 1926 by Guillermo Bolin framed print

stone, vinyl or woc something mop-fr 1S essential. A generous doormat that bridges the door and shoe rack can vastly reduce time spent wielding it, though. Go for "an inset thick coir mat, in a standard size that can be easily replaced, to avoid it moving or snagging on the door. Machine washable mats are good dirt trappers IT SNOES OTT tS! gan't house policy try Tt rtlemat.

emulsion, 47.95 for 2.5\trs, Farrow & Ball, and Old Navy Regal Select, from 24 for 940ml, Benjamin Moore.

Crescent pendant light mini, 485, The Conran Shop. Antiqued gold pendant mirror, 350, Graham & Green. Sienna console, 369, Swoon Editions. Interior design by Design Led

When furnishing hall¥ it’s vital to prioritise tra flow. Any furniture, no matter how beautiful or useful, won't stay long if it creates a bottleneck. Narrow consoles are obviously a win, but also look for curved units to help steer traffic flow (and prevent nasty knocks) and minimalist designs. Wallmounted units or storage with glass shelves will show off the floor and appear to widen thena@ i

Mirrors are brilliant for checking for lippy on your teeth before you leave the house, but they also boost light levels and spaciousness. Double up for twice the impact and make sure there’s something on the opposite wall worth reflecting. Don’t forget the decorative element - be it

‘The hallway of our Edwardian home is 10 x 2.5m and has large stained glass windows. It was the main selling point for me - I love a great entranceway. I decorated my last hallway exactly the same: I just loved it, so we replicated it. The doors had decades of yellowing gloss paint, so we had them ‘stripped and dipped’, fixed the broken cornicing and ceiling rose and picked an oversized feature light. For the stair runner we used carpet from Cormar’s Boucle Neutrals range in the Pembroke Pewter shade. My husband cut it to size, then ordered thick black cotton tape and sent it to a local carpet whipper, which helped our budget. I’m grateful to have lots of cloakroom storage and cupboards to hide coats and shoes. The best tip ever given to me was to buy washable paint! ] went for an off-white, Timeless by Dulux; my kids are forever bringing scooters and bikes through the hall, scuffing the walls, and washable paint is my saviour.’ Insta: @liberty_living |

INTERIORS INFLUENCER

LOUISE HEATH

PHOTOGRAPH RUTH MARIA MURPHY (DESIGN LED)

an interesting shape, distressed frame or neat wirework shelf, mirrors can be works of art in their own right. Try Pooky, Graham & Green and Anthropologie.

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Create character and introduce texture in any room with a playful take on this classic technique @

often than not, when it comes to character and charm, modern houses simply can’t compete with the intricacies and detailed finishes of period properties. As early as the 13th century, wall panelling was used as a means of insulation, helping to warm up rooms with stone walls. Over the centuries, it’s evolved into an art form. And now, in a bid to inject character back into our modern homes, the traditional wall covering is having a renaissance. Whether you choose a classic design or a modern stand-out pattern, we've gathered the best wall panelling ideas to inspire you. So treat your walls like a canvas and let your panels become your pencil for a space that’s unique, bold and charming.

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

ore

NEED TO KNOW

Panelling two thirds of the way up your wall brings a perfect opportunity to embed extra storage. Position a shelf above your panelling and paint it, along with the wall, in the same colour for a cohesive look. As the shelf will be at eye level, decorate with trailing plants and treasured items. This vertical ribbed panelling is perfect for a compact home office, and is created by gluing MDF planks to the wall and painting. Milton dark wood â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; table, 149.99, Furniture Choice. For a similar paint colour, try. , . Verdigris Green Estate eggshell, 64 for 2.5ltrs, Farrow & Ball: oe

As a general rule, unless you're working around existing features, panel one third up, two thirds up, or your entire wall. Larger rooms can take a bolder design, but smaller rooms may benefit from a more intricate ribbed pattern. Always measure and draw out your pattern in pencil first. While MDF or timber planks are an inexpensive and easy-to-use option, if you want the real deal, look to reclaimed wood companies for original wood panelling. This will be more expensive, but worth it for that authentic feel and nod to the past.

Bathroom feature A warmer alternative to bathroom tiles, panelling is a great way to shield your bathroom walls from splashes, while also adding elegance. The vertical lines of this board and batten

design visually heighten the room. We like how hooks are attached to the panels â&#x20AC;&#x201D; handy for hanging towels or decorative accessories. Choose a waterproof MDF or seal timber planks before painting to withstand high moisture areas. Grand La Rochelle painted cast iron bateau bath, 2,875, The Cast lron Bath Company. For a similar paint colour,

try Dulux Mineral Mist Easycare bathroom paint, 22 for 2.5ltrs. Homebase

Want more panelling inspiration? These ideas on Instagram are leading the way @

@alicemaughaninteriors

dias

tayton_tife Kent, Kent, Unted Kingdom

@lydias_layton_life

@amys_family_home

REALHOMES.COM

Decorative displays

Modern lines We are a little bit in love with this striking chevron panelled wall by @joannecondon. The panels were made from timber planks, measured, cut and attached using Gorilla grab adhesive and nails. Filler where the planks meet gives it a smocth finish. To paint, prime first and apply two coats. Optiva 3 Ceramic paint, 37.38 for 3ltrs. Tikkurila

Country kitchen

Bring texture and interest to a simple scheme with vertical tongue and groove panelling. With a nod to cosy log cabins, this works especially well in a living room for a space where you’ll want to snuggle up and hunker down. We love how this pastel pink shade adds a contemporary, feminine edge. Orion three-seater sofa bed, 599.99, Oak Furnitureland. For a similar paint colour, try Middleton Pink Estate eggshell, 64 for 2.5ltrs, Farrow & Ball

.COM

DESIGN IDEAS We’ve got many more striking feature wall ideas ready for you on realhomes.com. From panelling to wallpaper and paint effects, head there now for more inspiration!

a refined country style.

This deep green really lets the vibrant tiles pop. Ipanema mugs, 4, and cast-iron casserole dish, 45, Sainsbury's Home. For a similar paint colour, try Enchanted Ivy flat matt, 37.99 for 2.5ltrs. Crown

Statement shapes How amazing is this! When creating your own panelling, you don’t need to stick to classic

designs. Try modern shapes and new patterns that really pack a punch, such as this honeycomb effect by @karenanita, made from timber planks meticulously measured, cut to shape and fixed using Gorilla grab adhesive. For full details of how to do it, head to welliguessthisisgrowing up.co.uk. Epic Adventure Premium wall paint, for 2.5|trs, Valspar

PHOTOGRAPHS @KARENANITA (BOTTOM) AND @JOANNECONDON (TOP RIGHT)

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‘There was only one original window on the right before, so we had another made to match and added a Crittall steel door to the back garden,’ says Emma. ‘I'd have loved a row of them but it wasn’t possible as this is Conservation Area.’

[

EDWARDIAN RENOVATION

]

Sofa, Loaf. Rug, La Redoute. HK Living striped black and white cushion, Trouva, is similar. For a coffee table, try the Astro table, G-Plan

Emma and James Pais’ colourful décor has turned their Glasgow home into the ‘party house’ of their street aving been drawn to the panelled sash windows, ornate cornicing and William Morris wallpaper, Emma and James Pais wanted to preserve the original features of their three-storey Edwardian home while also modernising in their own eclectic way. It’s ahome that reflects their love of art and music, with bold colour choices and vintage furniture. Converting the basement from three dark rooms into a dual-aspect open-plan kitchendiner and living room was the game changer, finally connecting the house to the south-facing garden and becoming the place where neighbours flock for a good old knees up. Five years on and they’ve decorated a few rooms twice, as well as moving their bedrooms from the ground floor to the first floor. Over the following pages, Emma and James explain how they’ve settled into anew community and made their historic house work for them...

#SOREALHOMES

LIFE

FIND MORE RENOVATION INSPIRATION AND ADVICE AT REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONS

Left ‘I'd seen these tiles (on the wall) in a

garden,’ says Emma. ‘Because they look like a

piece of art, felt they'd work around the bottom half alongside the exposed brickwork. We got the table |

from a guy in

Notting Hill who was covering farmhouse tables with zinc before anyone else was doing it.’ For a similar dining table, try The Vintage Furniture Company. Wall tiles, Mandarin Stone. Pendant lights, Made

Right ‘We were restricted with where we could place the stove so decided to turn it into a feature with funky chevron tiles,’ |

Try Direct Stoves for a similar wood

burner. Tiles, Bert & May. Lips cushion, lkea. Photography print, Flood Gallery

Right and far right ‘The existing Magnet kitchen was repainted as it was good quality, and we changed the handles. had always wanted a haberdashery unit for the island. We found this one on Ebay and got some marble for the top.’ |

Veg rack, Etsy. Woodwork painted in

Railings and walls

painted in India Yellow, both Farrow & Ball. Stools, Cox & Cox. Wall and

floor tiles, Topps Tiles. Island

pendant lights, Pooky. Rug under island, Ikea.

Crockery, flea markets, TK Maxx and Anthopologie

EMMA SAYS... ‘After 17 years in

“When we first viewed the house, I loved the scale of the rooms and the neighbourhood. I’m a big cook, so the basement’s potential really appealed to me. Having the space to entertain and cook at the same time was really important as I don’t like missing out on the chat. The record player isn’t too far away to soundtrack me while I’m cooking, and I love the Loaf sofa down there - it’s so comfortable. “Em and [have pretty similar tastes. We enjoy making our home a comfortable and fun space to be in a place that feels like us. When people leave our house they always say they’ve had a great time and that’s testament to how the house feels. It’s not contrived - you can spill wine and it’s fine! ‘Em has probably pushed me to do more than would choose, but as a result I’m handier than I realised. She’s probably more likely to be tasked with the paintbrush and me with the drill, but we’re a good team and have the same can-do attitude. I always trust Em’s intuition, although did get rather stressed when she insisted a six-foot glass wardrobe would fit up our stairs, as did the two men lifting it with me! “One thing I’ve learned is that we don’t need to do everything at once. Em likes to keep the projects rolling but I like more time. Next she’d love a wood-fired pizza oven and dedicated barbecue area in the back garden, but in Scotland I’m not sure how much use it'll get. ‘The best thing about the house is how the space can evolve. We can start the day in the basement and garden, wander upstairs to play a game in the family room and end up in the living room by the fire listening to records. ‘I definitely don’t regret making the leap from London and starting over in Glasgow. We landed in the best street and have such a great set of friends around us. Id like to say it will be our forever house. We love the community here and no other place has felt quite this special to me’ |

REALHOMES.COM

JAMES SAYS...

London, we decided to move back to Glasgow where I was born. Our daughter Skye was three and we wanted to be closer to her grandparents. Booking an Airbnb for along weekend proved a great idea as we could suss out the local pubs, bakeries and coffee shops before buying. We loved Strathbungo, a Conservation Area in the south of the city, so focused our search there. ‘On my next trip north, I viewed eight properties in one day and fell for a three-storey Edwardian house. The basement was a dark burrow with a kitchen, utility room and den, but had lots of potential. Although the décor was dark and dated with carpets over the wooden floors, the rear faced south so I knew it could be much lighter. When I sent pictures to James, he loved it too. ‘The first night in our new house we camped on the floor as our furniture was still in transit from London. The two large removal lorries struggled to get down the narrow street, but after a few stressful hours we got unloaded. ‘James already had a new job, but since | was still looking, I had time to start stripping, painting and papering. I’m quite intuitive - know what colours I want - but it’s good to live in the space and see how the light bounces off different paint and wallpaper samples. I always make moodboards: it’s like ajigsaw finding out what works. ‘Td wanted to open the basement rooms as soon as we moved in - I was positive it would really impact how we used our home, and would be worth the short period of discomfort. We started two years after. Knocking everything together to create an open-plan lounge and kitchen-diner required two steel joists. Unfortunately work was delayed as our first builders didn’t complete the job effectively and the bathroom above fell through the ceiling! Luckily aneighbour recommended some brilliant builders who rectified things. ‘The basement is definitely the party room. We’ve paved part of the garden to create a dining area with aboho structure at the back where we love screening outdoor movies in summer. We’re lucky as there’s always some kind of event going on, like ‘Bungo in the Back Lanes’, where everyone opens their back gardens for food and drink. couldn’t imagine living in a better street.’

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(spais-studio.com), lives with her husband, James, who also works for an advertising firm, their daughter Skye, nine, and Harper the cat

‘|

already had purple

and green sofas, so grey seemed a good complementary colour in the living room. But as soon

as put the red lips up, knew needed a green wall.’ |

For a similar chair, try the Freya lounge chair, Capital Dining Chairs. Lips artwork, Sarah Pope. Rolling Stones limited edition photograph by Michael Joseph. Table, Urban Outfitters. Cushions, Graham & Green

Above ‘If you go for a strong colour, then tonally notch it downa little and use those shades and nuances across the room,’ says Emma. ‘There might be six strong colours, but the rest are shades of the same colour.’

THE PROPERTY

WORDS KAREN WILSON PHOTOGRAPHS KATIE LEE

A three-bedroom three-storey Edwardian townhouse in

Glasgow

PROJECT COST

Green velvet sofa, Sofa.com. Orange paint colour, Charlotte’s Locks 268, Farrow & Ball. Rug, Woven Ground. Print by Ben Rider, Print Club London. Frida cushion, Graham & Green. Other cushions, Trouva and home made. Floor lamp, BHS. Cactus vase, Amara

60,000

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Nothing says ‘party house’ like a bar. Upcycle a drinks trolley or old cabinet or dress some shelves with liquor bottles and cocktail glasses

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“VA always been a salvager, so got the cocktail cabinet for around 50 from the British Heart Foundation shop,’ says Emma. ‘It's got a lovely mirrored tray that pulls out. covered the black fireplace tiles in gold leaf, which works well with the mirror above.’ |

Abigail Ahern lamp, Debenhams. Chair and rug, Sofa.com. Banana cushion, Urban Outfitters. Aida Bird artwork, Nelly Duff Gallery. Floor cushions, Oliver Bonas, Bohemia Design and Etsy

House your favourite tipples in style with a dedicated drinks cabinet like Emma and James’ (2)

Portobello oak drinks cabinet, 810, Modish Living 2 Bardot webbed alcove cabinet, 725, Rose & Grey 3 Flute marble drinks cabinet, 599, Atkin & Thyme 4 Pearson wine cabinet, 1,575, Sweetpea & Willow 1

REALHOMES.COM

Left, above and right ‘I've

Left ‘Redecorating the hallway

Above ‘At first we had our

involved removing several layers of wallpaper,’ says Emma. ‘I used a professional painter as didn’t trust myself with those high ceilings. We used the tiles in our previous house. loved them so was keen to use them again.’

bedroom on the ground floor, but we turned that into the family room and moved up to the top floor for privacy. It’s much cosier and calmer in here.’

Floor tiles, Topps Tiles.

Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball, and Pear! Ashes, Fired Earth. Eye cushion, Urban Outfitters. Floor lamp, Laura Ashley

Bed, Sofa.com. Cat print, Le Gun. Walls painted in

Bottom half of walls painted in Railings, Farrow & Ball. Ceiling light, BHS. Bench seat, H&M

BASEMENT COMPLETED

PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED TO KNOCK THROUGH BASEMENT ROOMS

September 2018

February 2016

STARTED STRIPPING

TIMELI

BUILDERS APPOINTED; EMMA GETS BUSY WITH MOODBOARDS AND

SOURCING June 2016

‘| wanted a dark and boutiquey feel in here, so started with the Scandi wallpaper,’ says Emma ‘It gives guests a bit of drama and a sense of being enclosed’

Rabarber wallpaper by Borastapeter, Jane Clayton Henley bed, Feather & Black, is similar Vintage chair painted in Provence chalk paint, Annie Sloan Bookshelves painted in Booth Bay Gray, Benyamin Moore. Window panels painted in Inchyra Blue, Farrow & Ball

Left ‘Skye’s bedroom used to have a pale pink and mint colour scheme but as she grew older, she wasn’t that girl any more — she’s a bit more rock ‘n’ roll,” says Emma. ‘She chose the teal colour, adding stripes when she got into basketball.”

print by Jonathan Burrill, Print Club London. Duvet cover, La Redoute

Wall painted in Coral Flair, Dulux. Mirror, Ikea

Copy Emma and maximise space

was a good excuse to re-do this room. I'd always wanted rose gold fittings and found a gold trimmed shower screen to match. The splashback tiles came from a charity shop.’

Shower, Drench. Screen, Lusso Stone. Subway tiles, Topps Tiles. Border tiles, Ebay. Floor tiles, Walls & Floors.

Wall painted in Coral Flair, Dulux. ‘This is who am’

Costs &

Above ‘The shower breaking

UIT

your kid's room with an elevated bed and desk they'll love

contacts

—

Basement renovation 35,000

Bathroom 12,000 Hallway 6,000 Shower room 5,000 Decorating and furniture 2,000 Total project cost 60,000

Joinery and decorating: Alex McNealy of Our House Interiors, 0787 1962346

Stars high sleeper bed, desk and shelves, 300, Argos

Batistellar Tippy bunk bed and desk, 2,370, Go Modern

Svarta loft bedframe with desktop,

195,

Ikea

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A GUIDE TO

‘terraced homes

WORDS IFEOLUWA ADEDEJI PHOTOGRAPH BUILD TEAM

Cramped and unwelcoming home in need of a revamp? Your terrace could benefit from an overhaul. Get advice and take inspiration from these projects significant part of the UK housing A stock is made up of terraced period homes with lots of character and appeal. These dwellings can, however, be a challenge to modern family living, with tight spaces and inflexible closed-off layouts. As a result, terraces are prime candidates for upgrades, often taken on by builders and architects up and down the country for remodelling. You can successfully bring a terraced house into the 21st century even when presented with common issues like access to the rear of the building and planning restrictions. Government rules on extending allowances have helped to make things easier for homeowners: permitted development meaning there’s usually no need to seek consent for certain types of extensions and conversions. Bear in mind that these rules don’t apply to properties with listed building status and those within a Conservation Area, though: if you’re unsure, it’s always best to check with your local authority. Ready to get started? Our guide will help you decide what to do - plus be inspired by three homeowners who have taken on their own projects.

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provide more entertaining space ‘We bought our home in 2017 and after living there for two years and undertaking a lot of DIY projects to save money, we enlisted Build Team to help us reorganise and extend the two-bedroom property, says Caspar. ‘Our kitchen and living rooms were small. Because we had a large garden, our friends often came round, which was fine in the summer - but it was difficult to entertain in the winter. ‘The work started in October and finished exactly three months later - we had a hard deadline because we couldn’t rent for longer than that. I was able to be on site every day and think that helped speed things up because I could make decisions quickly. Kelly and [had a few plans we had to scale back in order to stick to our budget, such as foregoing underfloor heating and using fewer Velux windows. Looking back, we’re quite glad we did because the space is exactly the right temperature now in the summer and the winter, too. “When we mentioned we wanted to extend, Build Team suggested we add a pitched roof. Because we’re a ground floor flat, it would bring more light into the space and give a sense ofa much larger room. We went out by four metres and so had to seek planning consent, but it’s made all the difference. We really wanted a bigger living space and an extra single room. “We saved money by reusing some of our old kitchen and buying the extra units. When we first moved in we installed a patio, so once we finished the extension we were able to reuse the paving in the courtyard area, too. We feel like we're living in an Airbnb every day: even the simple things, like having breakfast together before I take Margot to nursery, feel really special.’

If you're extending, pitched roof structures give more height and create a greater sense of space. They can help create a distinction between the older and newer property, or can be matched to the existing roof form. A new pitched roof can add extra usable space for a mezzanine level and is great for water runoff. Do bear in mind, though, that they may take istall and could stly than a flat-roofed version.

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PROTECTED STATUS Buildings that are

or that fall within a

Conservation Area special architectur. historic interest. Th yf under a protected so if this applies to you'll need to gain special permission in order to make any changes to the external and internal elements of the building. It’s best to speak to your local planning authority should you wish to update a property that falls under one of these categories.

COSTS & CONTACTS Project cost 60,000 Design and build Build Team, 0207 495 6561, buildteam.com

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Getting light into the former rear section of an extension

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is important. However, careful planning for glazing is essential: a space with too much of it can create uncomfortable temperatures in the winter and in the summer. A good balance through careful positioning and the use of modern double-glazed and gas-filled units with low U-values will

ensure year-round use.

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You can perform certain works without needing planning permission for most terraced houses (for exceptions, see ‘Protected status’) under permitted

development (PD) rights, though this doesn’t apply to flats or maisonettes. Single-storey rear extensions are permitted within a depth of 3m and a height of 4m, and must not exceed more than 50 per cent of the land around the original house; this differs for side-return extensions (see ‘On side’, p.79). A new fast-track approval process for double-storey extensions is now in place, too. Head to realhomes.com/planningpermission for more details.

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REALHOMES.COM

PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT

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practical and functional, but the wide passage at the side of the property was ripe fer extending “We live on a quiet cul-de-sac next to aschool, so we’re in a good location

-just two minutes’ walk from the

station — but we wanted extra space and it was important to have lots of bright light, says Lizi. ‘1 also wanted to feel like the garden was integrated into the house, so that if you were in the living room you could still see the sky and the plants. really wanted the house to feel fresh, practical and joyful with a good flow. ‘Flowerkittle Architects helped us design a rear and side extension. We went out by approximately two metres in the garden and took advantage of the two-metre-wide side passage. The extension has allowed us to gain extra space fora dining room facing the garden, and on the side we’ve gained a high ceiling with anew bathroom and a staircase that takes you to a mezzanine guest/ TV room. The space is separate from the rest ofthe first floor of the house to make it feel self-contained. ‘We kept part of the external side wall to have a division between the new space and the living room and although it isn't too wide, the high ceiling gives a sense of spaciousness. The floor is concrete with underfloor heating and runs from the back to the side extension and the bathroom, creating a lovely flow through the space. We originally had a galley kitchen - a layout we decided to keep - but we’ve been able to add a small pantry at the end, which helps us keep the kitchen walls free of cabinets. ‘I'm an artist, so having this light, bright space is ideal when I work from home, and also for my son's crafts and school projects. It’s perfect for us’ |

COSTS & CONTACTS Project cost 130,000 Architect FlowerKittle Architects, 01252 597147, flowerkittle.com

MAKE SAVINGS Discuss your budge} t with your design or build tea n, who have the experienc 2 to know ways in which you c| an save money. For instance 2, are there any elements that you can reuse, such as sitchen units or appliances Could you reduce the nu iber of roof lights or bi-fold s that you install? And co! ild the extension be small rand still have a positive impact on the way you wan] t to live?

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IMPROVED COMFORT If you're already undertaking

a sizable renovation, consider

upgrading the property's thermal efficiency at the same time. It'll pay off when it comes to your comfort levels in the summer and winter months and could help you save on your energy bills. Insulating the loft, the walls, and floors and closing off any gaps aroun d windows will go along way to improving the energy rati yg of your home.

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If your home has side return, a you could extend out to increase your living space without going into your rear garden. Expect to pay up to 2,400 per square metre for a high quality finish, or around 1,900 for a basic- to goodquality finish. A single-storey side addition will fall under

BEFORE

permitted development rights if the width is no more than half of the original house and the height no more than four metres. For extensions within two metres of a boundary, the eaves height mustn't be more than three metres.

Building regulations outline

a minimum standard that

your project has to achieve, covering fire safety, electrics and more, and are there to ensure that your home is structurally safe and efficient. You may find that they differ

between England, Scotland and Wales. You don’t need approval for like-for-like replacements; however, use your local council's building control services or an approved inspector to ensure you're meeting the standards.

REALHOMES.COM

OQ THE RULES

ON TIME Depending on the complexity of your project, a renovation or extension can take anything from six weeks to 18 months It may be worth approaching the work tn different phases This would be beneficial if you choose to remain in the property while works take place and if you don't have the budget to do everything at once, as it will give you time to save up

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create a grea greater sense of space. Divide areas or rooms using glazed units, which can be frosted to retain privacy. striking Crittall-style design contemporary way to separate a kitchen from a formal dining area, for example, or install walk-on frosted glass to bring light into a basement.

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There’s nothing quite like the natural grain of wood to warm up your decorating scheme and bring texture to your space. But when it comes to picking a wooden floor, there are so many options available, you can be forgiven for being more than slightly bamboozled. With avast range of materials, patterns, layouts and colours to choose from, the Real Homes Show is here to reveal everything you need to know to get the perfect flooring first time.

Z REAL

HOME WANT MORE REAL

Pyro range cooker, 3,299, Fisher & Paykel

WORDS AMELIA SMITH PHOTOGRAPH MALCOLM MENZIES (BOTTOM LEFT)

GUIDE TO WOODEN FLOORING

Kahrs Tres Erve matt lacquered ‘wood flooring, :

~ Behind closed doors We feature a lot of gorgeous homes in our magazine, and now we're reminiscing on some of the best including @victoria_road_restoration (above). From open-plan kitchen-diners to playful gardens and spacious loft conversions, editor Beth Murton discusses her favourite projects and why they stood out to her. Relax and take the tour for some expert insight and a close-up view of homes we've loved.

Have you heard? In every episode of the eee) ARLES Ba ALS) prize up for grabs. From fridges to ovens, we've found the appliances that'll make your life simpler and your home more Loa CB loa MRA ol Ba heey

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Sophie and George transformed a neglected barn in east Kent into a family home, creating a country lifestyle Enid Blyton could have written about 84

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Display any unusual treasures you find in a period property to add character and celebrate its

heritage

Clockwise from top left The original barn now houses the kitchen-diner and double-aspect living room. Beams and the dark painted wall accentuate the ceiling height.

Kitchen, JMM Joinery. Worktop, Corian. Flooring, Contemporary Concrete Floors. Chairs, Ebay. Table, made bespoke. Ceiling light, Lamp & Light. For a similar wall

paint, try Down Pipe, Farrow

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Profile THE OWNERS Sophie Pound, a full-time mum, her husband, George, a property developer, their children, Phoebe, three, and Archie, one, and Springer Spaniel Dottie

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Above The original beams add character to the children’s playroom. Sophie sourced the Ercol sofa on Ebay for just 10. For chalkboard paint, try Rust-Oleum

THE PROPERTY A 19th-century barn forming part of a small farm complex in rural East Kent

PROJECT COST 243,750

The living space is largely open plan. Bespoke carpentry mirrors the original fabric of the building, which offered up many surprises as the building work commenced. ‘We unearthed loads of farming equipment during the development,’ says Sophie. ‘A fete tractor ride, a lot of galvanised chicken equipment, pitch forks, cherry pickers, huge ladders, lawn tennis nets for the old tennis court, and an old washing mangle... all of these tell a story about the history of the buildings. The mangle makes me feel particularly for the women who would have lived here in days gone by, especially now I have two young children! The previous owner was a farmer who was a prominent member of the community, hence the tractor ride for the fetes that used to be held in the garden’ Sophie says they liked the idea that they were giving the barn a new beginning, which will one day be part of its history for someone else. ‘It’s also an amazing place to raise kids. Phoebe loves being outside and Archie is just starting to follow her around the garden - it’s anear perfect setting for them both to grow up. Climbing trees, eating blackberries - Famous Five, eat your heart out! It’s the exact childhood I dreamt of being able to give them’ The barn is the couple’s first proper investment together. ‘Before this we'd rented and it was frustrating not to be able to put our stamp on a property, says Sophie. ‘George is a bit of a techie, so we have a really useful smart system to control the heating and lighting, which is kind of a contrast to the age and original purpose of the building. We believe it deserves the best, though’. The couple enjoyed the renovation so much, they’re on to their next one - another farm building in the same development, which they will move into once finished. “We’ve learned a lot - not least about managing the work in the most efficient way, and really listening to the building. We feel we’ve got the right balance between old and new, and we’ve rescued an abandoned building that might not have had the chance to be a lively family home’

#SOREALHOMES

ABCI FGHI |

in a dilapidated barn surrounded by orchards, farmland and rolling hills, they couldn’t quite have envisaged the contemporary yet cosy interior they now enjoy. And as for the setting... ‘It’s nothing short of amazing, says Sophie. ‘Being able to step out of the house and straight into this landscape is a joy. It’s beautiful - the orchards behind the house, the fruit trees in the garden, the vast array of rambling roses the previous owners planted, the fields beyond framing the sunset and rise every day, space to keep chickens; it’s idyllic. We’re so lucky to be living here’. The Cartlodge, situated on a quiet country lane on the outskirts of a small village, is one of three farm buildings recently renovated by the couple along with George’s brother, Will. The building wasn’t big enough for the family, so they added a large extension at right angles to the barn to house three bedrooms and two bathrooms. In the original barn are the lofty kitchen-diner, utility and cloakroom and double-aspect living room. ‘We could’ve renovated the property and then added the extension at a later date, but it made sense to do it all at once, says Sophie. ‘We like the feeling of space the double-height rooms gives us, and the old beams and struts are works of art in themselves. We tried to keep the integrity of the old cart shed - we left some things, like the old saw in the living room, where they were, The result is light, bright and cosy - helped by the underfloor heating throughout.

FOR MORE RENOVATION INSPIRATION AND ADVICE, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONS

hile Sophie and George Pound could see the potential

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Below The large living room is in the centre of the building, with windows either side providing plenty of light. Original artwork by Margot in Margate celebrates the barnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history, which is thought to have been built around 1818.

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Follow Sophie and George's lead and pick rich velvet armchairs for a space that feels as good as it looks

Anderson upholstered armchair in blush pink velvet, 399, Cult Furniture 2 Celine armchair, Habitat 175, 3 Curvarella velvet armchair in Turmeric, 1

699, Audenza 4 Pamela armchair, 525, Sweetpea & Willow

ÂŽ

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WORDS KATHRYN REILLY PHOTOGRAPHS JODY STEWART

Sofas, Loaf. Cushions, HomeSense Rattan lampshade, lkea

Costs & contacts Build work and fees 200,000 Furnishings 17,500 Kitchen 12,000 Decoration 7,750 Tiles 6,500

Designer/architect MPL Group, 01304 360 900, themplgroup.co.uk Glass doors Finepoint, 01923 229 949, finepoint.glass Doors XL Joinery, 01924 350500, xljoinery.co.uk Flooring Contemporary Concrete Floors, 01634 907021,

The main bedroom has uninterrupted views over farmland. A calming palette contrasted with black accent pieces creates

contemporaryconcretefloors.co.uk Bricks Imperial Handmade Bricks, 01952 750816, imperialhandmadebricks.co.uk

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a cool monochrome finish.

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BARN PURCHASED

PLANNING PERMISSION

WATERTIGHT WINTER

2015

GRANTED

2018

2018 |

P Re

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TIMELINE

LAYOUT AND PLANS FINALISED

RENOVATION BEGINS

MOVED IN EARLY

2018

2019

2017

| 90

alike sense of luxury by covering the shower area with striking tiles. Painted walls elsewhere are

easy to update

Sophie and George's en suite is decorated in a stunning blue shade.

—

a ~~

‘We kept things neutral almost everywhere else, so this blue really stands out,’ says Sophie. Walls painted in Dix Blue, Farrow and Ball. Wall lights, Graham & Green. Wall tiles, Walls & Floors: Floor tiles, Victorian Plumbing. Vintage

prints, Mileage

Vintage 5

ALL CHANG ON AON

The events of the last few mo ths have meant our homes are flexing in more ways than over before, but does

that mean our project prioritie s have shifted too, asks Jennifer Morgan e once dreamt

WORDS JENNIFER MORGAN ILLUSTRATION GETTY IMAGES

of that big open-plan space, an extension running across the back of our homes with a lovely big kitchendining-living space where we could eat, socialise and relax, with a bedroom for guests and a lovely big garden. Yet the events of this year have really stretched our homes to the max: we’ve turned them into classrooms, home gyms, home offices, home bars and dine-at-home restaurants, but have our wish lists changed too? ‘I think people are noticing more what doesn’t work about their homes, says Rebecca Winward, interiors journalist and author of How We Live Now (Ryland Peters & Small, 19.99), due out in January. “We've had to spend so much time at home during lockdown that we’ve noticed practical and aesthetic failings. Some will have been more obvious than others; for instance, if people don’t have a dedicated workspace then that will have likely been a pain point if they’ve needed to work from home, or if their outside space isn’t up to scratch, then >

office (where a house allows). Brokenplan living is particularly relevant in the UK where we have such a smallhouse footprint to work with; we just don’t have the luxury of larger individual spaces, which is why we moved to open plan originally’ Property developer Ewan Stovell (stovellproperty.com) has noticed a demandformo fu Ispa hether that’s a office, gymo autility room. ‘We’re seeing this taking the form of outbuildings and also new _

extensions, allowing old kitchens to become that office/gym/utility, he explains. ‘Living space is too precious to use for function, and our open-plan kitchen-living-dining spaces just can’t accommodate the mess of real life. Everyone is starting to notice this now they are staring at it 24/7” ‘I don’t think open plan will ever fall out of favour, though,’ explains Rebecca. ‘It’s one of the few ways to make a modestly sized house feel like a spacious home. Personally, don’t think people will compromise on their love for this type of layout - I think they’re more likely to look at creating private spaces elsewhere, so they can have their cake and eat it. ] think we'll see people focusing on getting more out of underused parts of the home, such as a landing or box room, converting the garage or adding a garden office’ And the changing way we live has impacted all areas of living, even the co-living space. Jade Bailey of Bee Space (bee-space.co.uk), a design-led creative property company that iglices pe co-_living and co-working spaces, has alway s tried to do things alittle differently. “My priority when designing is to ha eas much open communal space as possible, which can be a place to bat, work and socialise -aplace for peop lle to come together outside of their b«pdrooms. Homes need to offer flexi ble spaces for work?’ It’s som lething Mark Hayward, chief ex lecutive at NAEA Prebpertymark (naea. co.uk), has also noticed since the pandemic. ‘In the coming years, more attention may be given to prioritising the home as aworkplace. Spatial organisation will change, with the place to work at home evolving from an afterthought slotted ina corner, into its own space with comfortable furniture. We may also seea rise in demand for outside work |

space within the home - office pods and converted outbuildings offer the feeling of going to work, which is good for mental health as it removes a person from the “home” space, while still being in its curtilage’ Mark believes we are in the ‘first phase’ of a shift of priorities by homeowners and homebuyers. “Over the next five years, depending on the economic situation, new and interesting house trends will develop’ Our gardens have also become increasingly important to us. “Those lucky enough to have access to a garden no doubt found the restrictions much easier to handle than those in flats, says Lisa. ‘In countries where the weather is a little kinder, people have long considered an enclosed porch, veranda or deck as additional living space’ Lisa predicts this will grow in popularity here too, as we spend more on creating these outdoor rooms. ‘ve seen some amazing garden pubs, backyard cinemas, kids’ play areas and covered patios created during lockdown on social media,’ adds Rebecca. ‘To enable all-yearround garden enjoyment, some kind of undercover area is a must.’ So, what does the future hold for our homes? ‘I don’t think the trend for social hubs like kitchen-diners will change,’ says Lisa. ‘In an increasingly digital world, we still crave spaces where we can connect and be together. Kitchens will remain the heart of the home, but people will be looking for private spaces in addition to those more communal areas.’ ‘Td like to see an increase in function-first design, says Ewan, which will ultimately add to our project spend. ‘We need sockets, USB sockets, multiple light sources, storage, WiFi, home hubs, heating, cooling... it’s all pretty ugly stuff, but we’re not going to give it up so we need to embrace it and work the design around it rather than try to hide it, ‘I think we’re all going to have to become more creative about how we use our existing space - especially in times when finances might be tight,’ says Rebecca. ‘Carving out extra space inside is going to be a very individual thing; it’s a case of going around and looking for those quiet corners that are underused and working out how they can be maximised.’ While this might not be as costly as that dream extension, what such changes will offer when it comes to home benefits and how we live, work and play, will be priceless.

REALHOMES.COM

that wouldn’t have helped with the feelings of cabin fever’ “We can put up with lot of things - like a lack of storage or ainadequate lighting - when we are using a room occasionally, but when a home is getting heavy all-day use, every space needs to function at its best, says interior designer Lisa Honiball (honeyinteriordesign.co.uk), who also runs online courses. ‘I think that being home all day together has probably made people more realistic about the restrictions open-plan living imposes on us. We will probably see a move towards more broken-plan homes, with a dedicated room for a home

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months during the buying process, when the owners accepted a better cash offer, but even then, I had this belief I was going to live here. When that sale fell through, the house was finally ours’ It was February 2017 when Julia, her husband, Kevin, and their three children moved in, but as the purchase had gone through a few weeks earlier, Julia had made the most of having an empty house, pulling up carpets, stripping walls and repainting some of the rooms. ‘It was a privilege to have the house to myself? she says. ‘It has such arich history and I was able to get to know the place in peace’ The property was originally one of two terraced Georgian cottages. Two-storey Victorian extensions were later added to each cottage, during which time the cottages were knocked through to create one large house. In the 1950s, it became a guest house, before becoming a single property once more. ‘Thirty years ago, it was sold again and converted back into two homes, each with a Georgian and Victorian part, and that’s what we inherited, says Julia. ‘There’s a real difference between the architecture and atmosphere as you move through the house. The Georgian cottage, where the living rooms are, is small and intimate; the Victorian extension, which has the kitchen, is loftier and brighter. I wanted a period house and, essentially, I have two! It’s the best of both worlds’ The house is a work in progress - Julia calls it her ‘25-year project’ and has plans to knock through the kitchen, dining room and utility room to create a large cooking and living space that will become the hub of the family home. In the meantime, the photographer and stylist is making subtle décor choices that honour the history of the house while expressing the family’s passions and personality. ‘My style is quite eclectic, says Julia. ‘I previously ran a company hiring out vintage furniture and décor for events and photo shoots, so I have lots of items I’ve collected over the years. We were also fortunate that the previous owners decided to leave some furniture they’d had custom made for the house or was too big to move, such as the piano in the entrance hall, the 1950s Aga and the huge pine dresser in the kitchen’ ‘[ painted the dresser black, much to my mother’s horror. But it’s much more me now, laughs Julia. ‘And I’m a complete convert to the Aga. It was originally coal fired and had been reconditioned and converted to gas; we’re quite lazy cooks so it’s perfect. She also installed tongue-and-groove panelling where the previous owners had cork tiles on the wall, choosing a calamine pink paint. ‘I’ve tended to use soft tones throughout the house, such as the pale grey in the living room and cream in the bedroom. The exception is my office, which is in the original entrance hall-dining room. chose a dark blue here to make it feel cosy but I kept the ceiling white as I didn’t want it to become too cave-like’ The story of the house is revealed as you walk through its rooms. The different shutters and window designs in the Georgian and Victorian parts show shifting trends in architecture; the newly exposed floorboards reveal patches of paint, indicating where rugs would once have been laid; the varying ceiling heights speak of the house’s transition from country cottage to grand Victorian home. Now it’s the turn of Julia, Kevin and their children to put their own mark on the space. ‘I feel we’ve only just begun,’ she says. ‘And we have so much to look forward to’

Above Caruso sofa, Sofa Workshop. Coral cushion, Also Home. Floral cushion, Rockett St George, Bouquet, The Real Flower Company

WORDS ANDREA CHILDS STYLING PIPPA BLENKINSOP PHOTOGRAPHS JULIA CURRIE

ur previous house was built in the 1930s but ] always wanted to live in an older property, says Julia Currie. “To be honest, I’m amazed that a house so beautiful and historic in this area was in our price range. We lost it for three

The old upright piano is the focal point of a

charming display area.

Rug, &Hobbs. Find a similar star decoration at Rockett St George. Julia's photograph of eucalyptus in a jar is available from her online shop.

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The. 10-foot-long dresser was made from reclaimed Welsh

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pine floorboards for the previous owners. Julia painted it Off-Black, with walls painted in Wevet, all Farrow & Ball, for a

more contemporary look. The table combines legs from a science desk from Birmingham University with the top of an old outdoor table. For a similar table, try the Farmhouse Table

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ga has been reco! ditioned and convertedjfrom coal to gas. ‘I keep it on all year round andj ry my washing on the rac , says Julia.

The 1950s

Below The front door opens into this room, which Julia uses as her office. Her desk and typewriter are vintage finds, as is the armchair that Fancy the cat finds so comfortable. For a similar chair, try the Chateauneuf at The French Bedroom Company. Chimney breast painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball. Rug, & Hobbs

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Below

In Florence's room, blue paint picks out the woodwork and draws attention to the original features. The vintage Holly Hobbie quilt is a gift from Juliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sister

Bed, Feather & Black. For a similar paint, try First Dawn by Dulux. Rug, Hobbs &

Above Julia freshened the bathroom up by painting the walls and bath panel. She also used white tile paint on the tiles and painted the floorboards. An old copper washing dolly adds a vintage touch.

Walls painted

in Calamine Pink; bath panel painted in Railings, both Farrow & Ball. Bath mat, &Hobbs

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UP IN

THE CLOUDS Nicola has created a calm, Scandi-inspired sanctuary in the roof of the house she shares with her friends

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THE OWNER Nicola Simpson, a teacher turned interior designer

(caloa-projects.com)

THE PROPERTY

Nicola built on a pared-back

;

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including soft furnishings —° like rine nd throws.

Hazelwood Home bed, Wayfair. Bedlinen, TK Maxx. 7 pattern rug, vintage. ~ Charles Bentley side

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A four-bed Victorian terrace in

Peckham, south London

PROJECT COST 61,750

Below Large sliding up the doors open loft, providing ample light and city views.

Chair, Next Home. Curtains, Ada & Ina. Rattan stool, ikea

LO F

conversions are often

| touted as a space-saving

solution for families running out of . room. But having your very own sanctuary in the roof for purely indulgent purposes is just as valida reason to take on the work - after all, who doesn’t want a quiet space to slip away to when you need a bit of peace? Nicola Simpsondid just that when she decided to extend upwards in the Victorian terraced house she lives in with friends. She’s quick to point out that the project was a luxury, not a necessity — but creating a selfcontained suite seems like a savvy move, giving Nicola and her friends more space for themselves and making the time they spend together more valuable. We spoke to her about how she created her dream bedroom suite.

Below Nicola integrated

DESIGN DETAILS

a small living area into her

‘One thing wanted from the conversion was loads of light. The builder sourced the glass doors along with the rooflights, and they flood the space with sunshine. The room is southfacing, so that whole wall of glass gets so much light that had to buy double curtains just to add a bit of shade and privacy when I'm up here in the day. | still haven’t tired of waking up to the sky every day.’

design, which doubles up as somewhere for exercise or home spa treatments.

Flooring, Wickes, treated with Woca softwood lye and colour wood oil 118. Lamps, Ikea. Mirror, The White Company

ROOM TO RELAX ‘Lreally look forward to spending time in my room, which isn’t something as an adult ever thought I'd say! It’s changed how we interact as a house, too. We appreciate the time |

we spend together much

WORDS ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPHS CHRIS SNOOK

more because we have that

separation of space — it feels a bit like a set of mini flats within a house. Despite it not being a huge project, it feels really spacious up here — if I'm feeling particularly energetic (which isn’t often), I'll do yoga by the doors, and I’ve even had a masseuse

give me a massage here! It really is like my little sanctuary.’

“Ammonite, Farrow] & Ball. Throw and

scatter cushion,

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‘Lrent out the other rooms the house to my friends — it’s basically a grown-up house share. This was a bit of an investment property, and because love the area but didn’t want to live by myself, it seemed like a logical solution. We still wanted a bit of separation, though, so a loft conversion made sense. It was quite a luxury for me to do this

project, but wanted to indulge in my love for interior design and see what could do. We're really lucky to live in an area with community forums where people post recommendations for tradespeople. We got a few quotes and Thomas Payne from Benchmark Lofts really stood out. He understood what wanted to do, and that didn’t want an identikit design. I’m quite particular about details and needed someone patient, and from the outset could tell he’d relish the challenge.’ |

SIMPLE STYLE ‘My style is quite clean and classic. do like the Scandi look, so wanted to incorporate elements of that without it being too bare. To add warmth, went for lots of textured fabric, like the linen curtains and rattan furniture, and blush pink colours. It’s such a calm and serene space, but it’s welcoming at the same time. love really minor things like the fact there are plenty of plug sockets around the room. It sounds strange, but if things look nice but don’t work well, all you can focus on is how annoying it is to use.’ |

FOR MORE ADVICE AND IDEAS ON CONVERTING YOUR LOFT, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/LOFT-CONVERSION

Rooflights, Velux. Walls painted in

#SOREALHOMES

Rooflights over thel bed mean that Nicolal can wake up to sky} views and sleep under the stars. Lights attached ' to the shelf are a clever solution for minimal wall space]

Right Nicola used clever space-saving solutions for her en suite, adding rooflights to gain an extra few inches in head height, and choosing a wall-hung unit to maximise floor space.

EN SUITE ‘The en suite was tricky to fit in space-wise. I’m very particular and don’t like things that aren't at right

Duravit sink and wall unit, Deep Blue Bathrooms. Mirror, Prentice Glass

angles, and was keen to make sure the door to the bathroom didn’t have a corner sliced off. Everything was designed to the millimetre — even told the loft team the exact formatting wanted for the tiles! love the te floor. It was expensiv because it’s a small s; it was doable. Plus o for a standard pine fl in the bedroom to ba out the cost. went f |

BEFORE

biggest skylight poss to add head height ai brighten up the spac

Left A walk-in shower adds a splash of luxury to the en

suite, while ceramic wall tiles, meticulously planned out by Nicola, bring a stylish twist to the space.

Aquadart shower, Home Supply. Equipe Ceramicas wall tiles, Al-Murad Tiles. Terrazzo floor tiles, Fired Earth. Brassware, Lusso Stone. Old School Electric bathroom lights, Amara

TOP TL In a

Costs & contacts

compact bathroom,

wall-hung units make the space seem bigger by revealing more g, and showing the pattern

Build cost 53,000 Bathroom 3,750 Furniture & decor 3,000 Professional fees 2,000 Total project cost 61,750 Build company Benchmark Lofts, 020 7438 2043, benchmark-lofts.com

Plans Kevin Given of Drawn Plans, 246 2477, drawnplans.co.uk Rooflight Velux, 01592 778 225, velux.co.uk

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Visit our showrooms in: London, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire and West Sussex.

WORDS ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPH RICK MCCULLAGH

SHIP SHAPE Ahoy! This month's extension really floats our boat with its gorgeous Crittall windows, pitched roof for extra height, and sleek decking that even looks good in the rain. The architect likens the pointed shape of the addition to a ship's prow (hence the terrible nautical puns) thanks to the way It juts out towards the garden â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a clever design decision made in response to the skewed shape of the plot and to adhere to planning constraints. With

ample glazing providing views outside, this extension is certainly making waves (sorry!) with us. A similar project, including the build and the glazing, might cost 180,000 (excluding VAT). A2studio, 020 7998 9066, a2studio.co.uk

AN ALBION BATH AN 4s

LONGER

pollo

Stay warmer

an Albion bath as our Iso-Enamel material will keep

your water hotter for longer - and at less than haif the weight of cast iron, an Albion bath is easier to locate and install.

oath ir burr area bronze - 22 zee marufactured

01255 831605 albionbathco.com

With a range of free standing baths from 1200mm - 2000mm long, we've got all sizes of bathroom covered. Made by hand in our Essex factory, all Albion baths are manufactured to order - so in both ways, an Albion bath takes a little longer.

Request your brochure of our range of over 50 free standing bath tubs, taps and sanitaryware items.

ALBION BATH COMPANY HAND MADE IN ENGLAND

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

KITCHEN & BATHROOM

seese Harlo in

Sma

B Oe S, TRENDS AND ESSENTIAL

Puritti tap

black steel,

415,

Caple

Curve appeal Sleek rounded edges are high on our style radar, making these new island cooker hoods by AEG really stand out. Almost

STYLE AND SUBSTANCE

futuristic in looks, their compact size makes them ideal for smaller kitchens. With a boost mode and LED lighting, this simple design

packs a real punch.

AEG DLE0630B island cooker hood, 1,299,

design on offer, quite frankly, it'd be rude not to...

AO.com.

DELICATE DETAILS

COLOUR LOVE Sophisticated, mysterious, sumptuous- aubergine’s a colour we don’t see used enough in the kitchen. Combined with a brass tap and black accessories, it screams opulence. These crackle-effect glazed ceramic tiles are part of the new Dyroy Collection, 49.99 per m?, CTD Tiles. 115

REALHOMES.COM

As our demand for sustainable living increases, so does our demand for filtered taps, which is why Caple has launched its model in a brand new colourway — matt black. A great alternative to buying bottled water, filtered taps offer the same goodness, health benefits and great taste, but without the cost to your pocket and the planet. And with this stylish

We love mixing modern and traditienal style, and this shower room does it to perfection. These intricate new Ribera

Bie

erie

Victorian design, and cemisined with matt black finishes and contemporary wall-hung

Rul Re The deceptively large-format tile design makes them quick and easy to lay, plus

ABV iieole) (Rol Coiteetel in too. Ribera Aqua fleer tiles, 30 per m’, Verona.

AAT

P U RE & Sl M P LE

Arnette b bathroom 64.99,

Nothing says bright and light like white, and Crosswater’s latest addition to its contemporary Mpro collection is a celebration in simplicity. The crisp matt white finish oozes modernity. Use it as a neutral base to a colourful scheme, or to blend in seamlessly with a white bathroom. Embrace the pure, fresh vibes of white for a breathable space that’s cool and unique. Matt white shower head, from 219, Crosswater.

SPOT

‘Natural

textures

Introduce wicker, rattan and bamboo to your room for a calming and eco-friendly space

_-.

Solstice woven rattan

vanity unit, 487.50, Maiso ns du Monde

rica

ISLAND

As more of us than ever use our kitchens as living areas rather than simply rooms for cooking, it’s important that kitchens adapt and this island does just that. With a raised wooden breakfast bar as a socialising spot, and built-in open storage te stew away and display yeur personality, one half of the island is for relaxing, the other for cooking. Just what we need to maximise space. Linear Edge Kitchen, from 20,000,

ECLac APA}

oO RETR Whether you save or splurge, add colour and fun with a vibrant fridge-freezer for an instant style statement

Retro fridge-freezer, 449, Amica

Retro fridge-freezer, 599.99, Swan

116

HVRDS retro fridgefreezer, 604.97, Hoover

FAB38RPG retro fridgefreezer, 1,899, Smeg

fs (illo

MORE THAN A KITCHEN Every last inch is packed with ideas, personal wishes and a huge sense of security. Your kitchen shows whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to you.

Planning any kitchen starts with all manner of questions.

Just as well when you have someone at your side to help you find the right answers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BALLERINA KITCHENS IN THE UK PLEASE VISIT; WWW. BALLERINA-KITCHENS.EU

Boalletina Huchen |

KITCHEN EXTENSION

EYE FOR DESIGN ‘Taking on a major renovation project gave Clara and Liam the perfect opportunity to flex their design skills, resulting in this beautiful and bright modern kitchen

you have a young family, taking ona huge renovation project is less than ideal - but despite the challenges, that’s exactly what Clara Felce and her partner, Liam Frost, did when they took on their run-down kitchen with two children in tow. After nearly five years of saving and planning, the couple simply couldn’t wait any longer. They called in an architect and a team of builders to alter the layout of the ground floor of their home and now, after over a year of building activity, all the hard work has paid off. Here, Clara reveals how renovating this beautiful, bright space has brought her family closer together.

The family-friendly Formica units make the kitchen easy to care for.'We use operial oil on the plywoo: cupboards to protect them, says Clara. ‘Liam wan ced a colour to stand out against the blue units. When we saw fess this red tap, we fell in love. We have an orange one in our utility room, too.’ |

Essence tap, Grohe

BEFORE

OOO OK

118

OH)

WORDS AND STYLING MAXINE BRADY PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID WOOLLEY

\W H

Profile THE OWNERS Clara Felce, an OTC consultant, her partner, Liam Frost, a graphic designer, their two children, Daisy, nine, and George, six, and their cats, Sushi and Mr Kipper

THE PROPERTY four-bed end of terrace Victorian townhouse in Brighton A

PROJECT COST A similar extension and interior fit out would cost upwards of 120,000

After years

living with

a white kitchen,

designer Liam focused on

into I introducing colour their new ‘We

space. spent months choosing the right of blue for the room,’ lara. ‘We went with a design we know we'll e for years to come.’

itchen, Wood Works Brighton. For similar lights, try Old Factory P. andant Lights, Industville

. :

The couple decorated the dining area using retro-inspired furniture and accessories in bright shades. ‘The rest of the house is more traditional in keeping with the Victorian building, but here we could be more playful,’ says Clara.

The sliding doors expand right the way across the back of the house to create an easy flow from the kitchen into the garden.

Garden table and chairs, Habitat

Sideboard and table, Maisons du Monde.

Clyde

STEP THREE

STEP ONE

STEP TWO

Chairs, Habitat. Artwork, Bonnie

YEARS OF PLANNING

RENOVATION ISSUES

MOVING OUT

“We moved back to Brighton to live in a vibrant city, close to the sea and

‘After five years, the garden sliding doors gave up on us. They stuck when

family, says Clara. ‘We found this town house in a quiet street in the Preston Park. It’s ideal with good schools and lots of parks nearby. ‘The house was in desperate need of decoration. The downstairs kitchen was riddled with damp and in the mornings there were snail trails across the kitchen floor! The units themselves had suffered water damage. At the time, the kitchen was at the front of the house overlooking the street, which was an uninspiring view when washing up. ‘With a young toddler and another child on the way, we put a sticking plaster on the situation by installing a cheap white kitchen into the existing space to keep us going for a few years.

we opened them and were draughty, too. We used this as the excuse we needed to tackle the renovation works. It wasn’t our intention to take on such a huge project, but we slowly realised how much work needed doing. “We approached the architects Three Eleven and their team helped us reconfigure the downstairs space to improve on what we already had. We asked our architect to do drawings for the kitchen and for our loft room upstairs - we wanted everything to go through planning at once. In March 2018, we were ready to start the building works. We struggled to get contractors in place but we did the best we could to push the project through,

‘In May 2018 the old kitchen was ripped out and all the walls were pulled down. We had large steel supports put in through the ground floor into our living space. There were huge holes in the walls and floors. We had no idea just how intrusive the building works would be, and in the end we had to move into a rented flat in Hove. Liam would come back to the site every day to keep an eye on the project. “We discovered that half the ground floor was made up either of solid concrete, which had to be dug out, or rotten joists, which had to be replaced. The ceiling needed levelling as well. It soon dawned on us that the budget for our loft extension was going to be eaten up by this kitchen project.’

120

MY KITCHEN

GO-TO COOK BOOK ‘Mary Berry's Ultimate Cake Book. The kids love to make things from

rt in

our new kitchen.’

WORKTOP SAVER ‘We have a cool hexagonal rubber trivet from Lakeland.’ ,

gente

Mary Berry's Ultimate Cake

COFFEE ADDICT can’t live without my Alessi coffee perculators. need a good coffee in the morning to get going.’ ‘I

(BBC Books) |

Zone Denmark triangles silicone trivet, 6.99, Lakeland

MUST-HAVE ACCESSORY ‘We have Ikea storage

‘

sass Orla Kiely tem nesting canis tins, 35 for

J oe

three, Amara

70 a

compartments in the drawers to make sure that everything has a place.’

@ PATTERN LOVER

KITCHEN IDEAS

FIT FOR THE FAMILY

“We looked high and low to finda

“We finally had the kitchen installed just before Christmas, but we couldn’t use it until we had everything plumbed in and anew staircase installed. It wasn’t until February that we could actually cook our first meal in this space! We had pancakes, which the kids helped us with. I took a photo of the meal to celebrate what we had gone through as a family. ‘The new layout has completely changed how we live in this house. We have so much room to host large

kitchen company that understood our ideas for the space, spending hours online hunting for the right company until we discovered a local design firm, Wood Works Brighton. We met the owner, Francois, who we clicked with straight away. On my wish list was a large central island filled with storage, a larder area with a built-in oven and lots of space to socialise in. “We moved back in during August to an empty box downstairs. We still didn’t have a working kitchen and were cooking meals ona gas stove and washing up in the bath. We had to wait three long weeks for the concrete floor to set before Francois could come in and measure up the space’

family parties, which often spill out into the garden in the summer. Every day we cook and eat together. Living here has brought us closer together as a family’

121

Costs & contacts Building work 92,000 Appliances, sink and tap 7,500 Flooring 6,000

Kitchen Wood Works Brighton, 07806 202975, woodworksbrighton.co.uk Architect Three Eleven Architects, 01273 688744, 3eleven.co.uk Flooring Polished Concrete Plus, 0791 4814855, polishedconcreteplus.co.uk Doors Skyglaze, 01932 354821, skyglaze.co.uk

REALHOMES.COM

STEP FIVE

STEP FOUR

‘Our Orla Kiely tea caddies are 1970s-inspired and match the design ethos of our kitchen.’

COLOURED KITCHENS Combine the confidence of bold colour with the calm of exposed wood for a space that’s fun, unique and relaxing, too. Here's how to mix materials

MUTED PALETTE

CLASHING COLOURS

Colour in the kitchen needn't be bold. Here, traditional wooden cabinets combine with a panelled grey island for a warm country feel. Matching the overhead shelf to the island helps bring the look together. Solva range in light oak and Farringdon Grey island, from 12,000, Masterclass

If you’re going for an all-out vibrant look, wood can work to balance out your space and bring a sense of order to a playful design. These wooden cabinets match the cabinet handles and dining chairs to unite the scheme and let the colours pop. Kitchen, from 10,000, Pluck

FIVE THINGS... ONE When it comes to choosing colours for your kitchen, it’s very much a personal choice — but if you're combining colours with shades of wood, you must consider the undertones of each material and FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

ISLAND LIFE Choose a block colour for your cabinets and an exposed wood kitchen island to help break up your space and inject warmth into the centre of your room. Use the same worktop throughout to keep your scheme cohesive. Shaker kitchen, from 20,000, Harvey Jones

match up accordingly. Pair warm colours with warm woods, such as walnut, and cool colours with cool woods, like plywood. This will ensure your materials work to visually enhance each other.

you need to know before mixing materials in your kitchen for a space that has the power to make you feel energised, happy and calm

TWO

THREE

FOUR

Solid wood worktops have longevity. Not only are they timeless in style, but being naturally strong and sturdy, they can last longer than many man-made designs. And if stains or scratches occur, the beauty of natural wood is that you can sand it down until it’s as good as new. Remember to seal your surfaces regularly to keep them in the best condition.

Mixing materials is a great way to introduce variety and interest to your kitchen, but done the wrong way, it can look random and disjointed. Look at how you can be consistent in other parts of your kitchen: using the same

When going for a combination of materials, pick one specific style at the start of your planning process and stick to it. Whether it's country look, sleek modern or industrial, having a theme in mind will help you to choose cabinets, furniture and accessories that

122

cupboard handles, worktops, finishings, tiles and even wall colour throughout your space is good route to uniting your overall scheme so it flows. a

complement, rather than fight against, each other. This will also help to determine the wood you choose — from rustic to polished.

CABIN STYLE

Kitchen walls are all too often neglected. If you're choosing bright modern cabinets, bring in some texture by cladding your walls with wood. Panels such as this are available at naturewall.co.uk and can simply be stuck on with tape. Albert Bridge kitchens, from 10,000, Naked Kitchens

If your kitchen is also a dining or living area, zone it with textures. Here,

LIGHT RELIEF

WORK YOUR SURFACES

Contemporary-style, handleless matt kitchens are beautiful for their simplicity, but they can appear clinical and cold. Introducing cabinets with a wood grain pattern will warm up your scheme and add interest. Cadora fitted kitchen range in Heritage Blue, from 6,000, Hammonds

A popular way to combine materials

FIVE It’s important to bear in mind that wood is a natural material that will vary from piece to piece, and also change over time. The units you get may have a slightly different grain pattern than the ones in the showroom, and the colour and texture may alter over the years. This is all part of the joy of living among natural materials, but it’s good to keep in mind when planning your colours and décor.

is to pair coloured cabinets with timeless wooden worktops. Here, a mix of dark green and wood creates a nature-inspired scheme, enhanced by wood flooring and accessories. Somerton Forest kitchen, from 4,548 for eight units, Magnet

Souk green patchwork hexagon tiles, 54.99 per m/, Tons ofTiles

rorya “

We've got a kitchens hub on realhomes.com,

jam packed with ideas and inspiration to turn your kitchen into a stylish culinary space. Check it out now! Bodo pendant light, 99.99, Dowsing & Reynolds

123

Blaze Standard Welsh dresser, 1,339.99,

Wayfair

#SOREALHOMES

coloured cabinets designate cooking and prepping space, while wooden open shelving on the island marks somewhere to relax. Ondine Road Oak and Blue Fes Fenix 0754 kitchen, from 4,500 for a large kitchen, Plykea

FOR MORE KITCHEN STYLE IDEAS, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/KITCHEN

THE ZONE

WOOD BURNING

MULTI-FUEL

Charlton & Jenrickâ&#x20AC;? Best of British fires, fireplaces & stoves

01952 200 444

| marketing@charitonandjenrick.co.uk

| www.charitonandjenrick.co.uk

[BiG

BIE]

A GUIDE TO

Heating

Make a fire or stove the warm heart of your home. We have all you need to know when you're choosing so you can get cosy in style

here is nothing to beat a home fire for creating a cosy, autumnal atmosphere, as well as keeping things at a comfortable temperature when it’s cold outside. The flames of a fire can be mesmerising, and it creates a natural focal point for a living space that’s a lot lovelier than your television. Whatever your scheme, there’s a style of fire to suit every home. Modern gas and electric fires are attractive choices far from the utilitarian designs of old. If you prefer a stove, you can pick acontemporary or classic look, fuelled by gas or electricity, woodburning or multi-fuel - the choice is yours. Whether you want a fire or a stove, we can help you make the right choice, with the latest designs to inspire you...

WORDS SARAH WARWICK

Above The Infinity 780HD gas fire would fit a low and wide fireplace or a hole in the wall design. It has a 4.85kW heat output. From around 2,200, Charlton & Jenrick

Right A Spice colourway adds another warming note to the Farringdon multi-fuel stove. It comes in three sizes, from around 1,307, Arada

125

MAINTENANCE How much ongoing care and éxpense the fire.or stove brings with it should be factored in when you're buying. An electri fire just needs to be kept free of dust at the vent, and a bio-ethanol fire can be-cleaned with little-effort just follow the manufacturer's

eect

dros

TR Tia

aes

Gas fires need annual servicing by an engineer, and, unless yours is a flueless X kal mala moulin cy lallare] once a year for safety. Opted for a woodburning or multi-fuel stove? It’s essential to get your chimney cleaned

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Ere VENA

CHOOSE A FABULOUS FIRE If you like the idea of a fire rather than a stove in your living space, you will need to consider your fuel options as well as the style of fire you prefer. Fires are generally fuelled by gas or electricity, but you'll also find bioethanol fires on offer. A further option is an open fireplace.

WHY PICK A GAS FIRE? If your home has a mains gas connection, a gas fire can prove economical to run. Gas fires can r a good heat output, output, produce plus a efficient. Fire efficiency they’re very is expressed as a percentage, and a fire that’s 80 per cent efficient, for example, loses just 20 per cent of its heat up the chimney with the remaining 80 per cent being used to heat the room. Don’t have mains gas? Don’t count one of these out. There are also LPG versions, which can be fuelled by an outside tank or bottled gas. Generally, a gas fire needs to be connected to a chimney to operate correctly and, vitally, safely: these designs are called conventional flue gas fires. However, don’t despair if you don’t have a working chimney: there are also balanced flue gas fires available. These are vented through an exterior wall. Their pipes bring the air for combustion into the room, and remove the combustion gases to the outside. Bear in mind that if you choose a balanced flue gas fire, it will be a glass-fronted design; conventional flue fires can have a glass front or just be open. A further option is a flueless gas fire. As the name suggests, neither chimney nor flue are required with one heat

good

Above Save space with the electric remote controloperated Dimplex

bed

wallmouate d fire, 249, AO.com

Right Choose from realistic logs or an ultra-contemporary crystal-ice effect with the energysaving eReflex 55R electric fire, from around 945, Gazco

Below You can two spaces divide with the Maestro 7 cau

gas

balanced ire

build it into a false chimney. It offers 93

per cent efficiency. From 4,595 excl. VAT, DRU

Mie BC

it's wood:-you're burning, annually if not. Servicing of these appliances is also recommended annually — book yours in with a HETAS-registered engineer for the end of the summer. You'll also need to keep up with the cleaning of your stove following the instruction manual.

of these, and it also gives you the flexibility to install the fire on any wall of the room. Speak to a qualified installer about the options suitable for your room, and remember that a gas fire has to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer (gassaferegister.co.uk). It will also need maintenance by an expert, and any chimney will need cleaning.

phone. 3,632, Urban Fires

chimney. 1,499,

Cuckooland

HOW ABOUT BIO-ETHANOL FIRES? You won't find the same number of bio-ethanol fires to select from as you will if you settle for one that runs on electricity or gas, but there are some fabulous contemporary designs on offer. They can be a more expensive choice than either gas or electric fires, although that’s not always the case. Bio-ethanol fires can have high heat outputs, and are 100 per cent efficient: there’s no chimney taking heat away from your room. They are also easy to fit, and you can position your fire where you want. On the downside, the fuel itself does cost compared to both gas and electricity.

COULD GO FOR AN OPEN FIRE? There are attractive period-style and |

THINK FLUE ices) eau Se an ee

mien

Serle Roe

coe ila)

latter might tun fromm the stove through the wall to the exterior with the flue geing up the outside of your house, or it could run through the inside of the house and exit via the roof. Chimneys need to be lineel— er pessibly relined — so that when hot smoke rises up the colaTTeavaL=)2M

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doesn't leak out. A flue liner should be sized correctly for your stove, and you can check this when you're buying. Always consult a professional for advice on what's suitable for your home.

127

modern open fire designs on offer. Such fires gives off radiant heat rather than heating the room via convection as well, but it is possible to opt for an open fire with a convection chamber to circulate the warm air. This chamber can help cut the amount of heat lost up the chimney with an open fire - rather than it going into the room - reducing it from about 80 per cent to around 50 per cent.

—

fire with ceramic logs is controlled by a remote handset, or use the app from your

NEXT MONTH

Below The Le Feu ground low bio ethanol fireplace uses fuel from a renewable source. It doesn’t create smoke or need a

#SOREALHOMES

Above The UF800-ST-V gas

choice for your home thana gas fire or a stove, although running costs are higher when you use electricity as a fuel rather than gas, so you'll need to factor in the effect it will have on your energy bills. You won’t get as much heat from an electric fire as you can from a gas model or a stove, although this may be sufficient for a smaller room, or if your fire choice is primarily about the cosiness and the look as your home is warm in any case. Electric fires are 100 per cent efficient, so all of the heat ends up in your room. Fitting is quite straightforward, too: an electric fire just needs to be plugged in.

OUR EXPERT GUIDE TO WOOD FLOORING FOR YOUR HOME

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AN ELECTRIC FIRE? Anelectric fire can be a lower cost

Simply the Best Way to Fit a Stove Use a Stove Box to get Us: best from your stove

iwaevauaton

rete

e Gets hotter quicker e Stays hotter longer @

Uses less fuel

The Stove Box can be connected to flue liners and Is ideal for twinwall in a no chimney situation.

An HETAS listed product approved by building control.

i Chop into an existing chimney breast

it d

Build around with our

Use our Eco-Space Saver

False Chimney Breast system

For more information please see our website www.thestovebox.co.uk or visit our store at 13 Island Carr Road, Brigg, Lincolnshire DN20 8PD

theben energy saving comfort

Get a brilliant view of

SELECT THE RIGHT STOVE

cmnyiea

Astove is an option that many of us

Baal)

yoodburning

irate)

hanker after, and can be situated within a fireplace if you want to create a more traditional arrangement, or you can put all the focus on the appliance itself instead. Stoves can be woodburning or multi-fuel, and there are also gas and electric designs to consider.

WHY OPT FOR A STOVE?

hy ER

Nidal

ends

Below left Provide heat where needed with this compact electric stove you can just plug in. It comes in a choice of colours, including Marine Blue. 1,095, Everhot

Below The cast-iron F2 Vue Landscape multi-fuel stove will suit a country style or modern scheme. From 895, Eurostove

WOODBURNING OR MULTI-FUEL? You'll need to decide between the two before you commit so you get the right stove for your home. You might prefer a woodburning stove because wood is considered as low carbon fuel; trees absorb carbon dioxide when they grow, balancing that emitted when wood is burned. Burning logs can also produce beautiful flames to admire. Bear in mind that if you live ina smoke contro] area (your local council can tell you if this is the case), you'll need a Defra-exempt woodburning stove (see our expert Q&A). Multi-fuel stoves are designed to burn logs, smokeless fuels or anthracite, and do so as efficiently as possible. They can produce similar levels of heat to a woodburning stove. Why go for a multi-fuel design? It’s really a question of convenience and availability. If you might not always be able to get a particular fuel, or you want to be able to shop around, then one of these could work better than a dedicated woodburner. Whichever type you go for, installation by HETAS-registered professional is recommended (hetas.co.uk). a

STOVE OUTPUT The right heat eutput fer yeur reem is crucial for comfort — toe high.and you'll roast, too low and it won't be welcoming. Fora room temperature of 21°C when the air outside is O°C, you need around IkW of heat output for every 14m? of space. Multiply the length by the width by the height of the room in metres and divide the result by 14, and the answer will be the kW output you need. Have a site survey conducted by your supplier or a registered installer to be sure.

129

CONSIDER A GAS STOVE If you’re set on a stove but you don’t have room to store the fuel, then a gas stove could be the answer. The big

REALHOMES.COM

One of the biggest reasons to choose a stove rather than an open fire is the relative efficiency. While the majority of the heat of an open fire disappears up the chimney, a woodburning stove can have an efficiency of more than 80 per cent. The flames are behind glass, of course, but you can still get an impressive view. The other plus? A stove creates less smoke and ash than an open fire. A stove does come with an initial outlay, and then you’ll need to factor in the ongoing cost of the wood, or smokeless fuels or anthracite. Fuel storage is a further consideration if you opt for one of these, whereas it isn’t an issue you'll have to deal with if you choose a gas or electric model. Fortunately for those in newer homes, it is possible to install a stove into a house without a chimney - although you will still need a flue system to take the combustion gases outside. Speak to a professional installer to see what will be possible in your home.

Left For a classic fireplace, try the Fireline FOSW multi-fuel Aylesbury design stove, 799,

Ludlow Stoves

YOUASK,

|\WE ANSWER hat do I need to think ‘about for an eco-friendly

fire or stove?’

Below Ecodesign ready and DEFRA approved, the 6143 woodburning stove by Morsg is an appealing oval

column shape that has log storage beneath. It costs Morso 1,799,

plus point of one of these, of course, is that there’s nothing to clean up, so it could be your preferred choice for that reason. They can mimic the look ofa log burner extremely effectively, too. As with a gas fire, a stove that runs on the fuel can be highly efficient. And, as with fires, there are gas stoves that work with conventional flues, balanced flue gas stoves, and even flueless versions. You will need to call on the services of a gas safe

engineer (gassaferegister.co.uk) to fit yours.

BUYING

wooD From February 2021, the government will phase out

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wet wood in England to cut air pollution, Largeramounts

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drying it before burning. Wet logs emit more particulates

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‘It’s important to find out if you live in a smoke control area,’ says Michael Coke, senior development engineer at Stovax Heating Group. ‘If you live in a town or city, it’s highly likely you do. To burn logs in a smoke control area, you must have a Defra smoke control exempt stove — a list of these appliances can be found on Defra’s website (smokecontrol.defra.gov.uk/ appliances.php). It’s important to remember that if you have an open fire, you cannot burn wood fuel in city locations, and can only use authorised smokeless mineral fuels. ‘To improve air quality, and get the most out of your woodburner or multi-fuel stove, look for Ecodesign-ready — products these meet forthcoming 2022 regulations by burning with minimal emissions, and are much more efficient than an older stove. Remember to burn quality wood with a moisture content of 15 to 20 per cent, as the wood you use has an important role to play in improving air quality as

well as providing better heat output more efficiently, and therefore reducing the amount of wood fuel consumed. ‘If you're not opting for wood or multi-fuel, look for energy-saving features across gas and electric models. Many of today’s electric stoves and fires will feature functions such as open window detection, for example. With this function, they will turn off the heat when there is a sudden drop of temperature in the room caused by an open window oj d@er inorder to save ene:

pollution that can penetrate

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EteR ANA) Ela bloodstream. If you want to burn wood immediately, look Aol

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Lago RL oTLon

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burn loge (woodsure.co.uk/

firewood-ready-te-burn). If you're drying wood at home, use a moisture meter to check the logs before using them. Dry wood has a moisture level of 20 per cent or less.

Left A convector heat flow system increases the heat performance of the Vogue Midi T Highline woodburning stove, while lowering minimum distances to walls and other surfaces for layout flexibility. Stovax 1,745,

p ROBBENS SYSTEMS*

Factory assembled manifolds Heat-loss design with 1m guarantee Frankische German manufactured pipe Heat pump or boiler compatible systems 25 years experience Get a free quote by emailing your plans to: quotes@robbens.co.uk

Nee

meseus

7 ane SOs

al ul

NodAa

www.underfloorheating.co.uk

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Undertloor heating Thinking of investing in this popular heating option? Follow our advice for a system that meets your needs — and keeps you cosy underfoot

ooking for freedom when it comes to room layout? Have an openplan space that lacks walls to hang radiators on or that has extensive floor-to ceiling glazing? Or do you just like the idea of gentle warmth beneath your feet? If so, underfloor heating (UFH) can meet your needs.

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WHAT TYPES OF UNDERFLOOR HEATING ARE THERE?

WORDS SARAH WARWICK

There are two systems of underfloor heating available: wet, where warm water is fed through pipes underneath the floor, or electric, which is a mat system. There are advantages and downsides to both systems, and what you plump for will depend on the area you want to heat, how much work you want to do when it comes to installation, and be influenced by running costs, too. Warm water UFH is most often buried into the floor screed, but there are surface-mounted warm water underfloor heating systems. You’re more likely to want to fit buried UFH into a new extension, or if you’re building a whole new home (but see our expert Q&A) because of the work it involves on the floor structure. With warm water UFH systems that can be laid on top ofan existing floor structure, they use insulated panels with channels for the pipes. They add little depth to the floor, and they’re easy to fit, but you will pay more

derfloor heating syste if most cases raise the level flooring, which may not be feasible in a period property with low ceilings. The higher floor level may also mean that door thresholds need to be adjusted. Wet floor systems installed as an overlay on top of an existing floor tend to add the most floor depth. However, the latest advances in low height and high-performance screeds can keep the total floor construction depth down to as little as 2Imm. ‘On top of this, you should ensure that the energy source for the system is suitable. Some’ solutions run from electricity and others use hot water from the boiler, so it’s essential to check that the options you choose can run efficiently and effectively without increasing your bills, or putting strain on your central heating. If you do decide to install underfloor heating, then it could be a good time to also consider upgrading to a more energyefficient heat source, such as a heat pump, or to upgrade your home’s insulation. ‘When it comes to operating it, specific floor heating controls are necessary, but any wiring already present from current room controls can very often be used for the new thermostats. Alternatively, with smart systems such as REHAU’s NEA Smart 2.0, room thermostats can also be conveniently connected wirelessly. You can use smart controls to fit around the structure of your home and create different underfloor heating zones, which can be particularly handy to reduce energy usage in rooms that you may not use as frequently: ‘Finally, consider how much time it will take to fit the system. With wet systems that require a layer of screed on top of the pipework, you will need to allow time for it to properly dry, as well as the installation time of the system itself. Any adaptations, the installation of a potentially new heat source, and the setting up of the control system will also make the project a little bit longer. To gauge the size of the project, it's best to discuss it with an underfloor heating installer, who can ide you on the right solut and your home.”

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for the convenience, and if you don’t use it for the whole of one storey, your floors will be at slightly different levels. Warm water systems are fed by the water heated by your boiler, or possibly aheat pump or solar thermal panels. The matting of electric underfloor heating has cables that connect into your home’s electrics. It can be laid directly under the floorcovering, and it won’t affect floor levels. It’s easy to fit, and is operated via thermostats. It’s great for a single room suchasa bathroom and is inexpensive to install.

WHAT ABOUT THE RUNNING COSTS?

A warm water UFH system should save money compared to central heating. The water doesn’t have to be as hot as it does to heat radiators, so you should see lower bills in the long term if it’s paired with a modern condensing boiler. With a heat pump, you should save even more over radiator heating. Mains electricity is a more costly way to heat your home than gas, but because you’re likely to be using electric underfloor heating for a single room and it isn’t part of your central heating system, you can manage the expense.

YOU 1

Junckers

ASK,

WEANSWER Can you retrofit underfloor heating?’ “It is possible to retrofit an

underfloor heating system in an existing property, but there are a number of

considerations,’ says Franz Huelle, head of technical at REHAU Building Solutions. ‘First, think about the type of underfloor heating construction that’s suitable for your home. With floating floor systems, the system panels entaining the water pipes sit on top of an existing floor. ‘In wet floor systems, the pipes are encased in a screed layer, which can be applied on top of the existing floor, or part of the existing screed layer can be replaced. Both systems use hot water from a boiler that is distributed from a manifold throughout the system of pipes. ‘You must also make sure hat there is enough height Between the floors left ards, as retrofitting

134

20 years, and ten’s of thousands of installations, we’ve never had a system that’s failed to perform. In

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FOCUS ON

Built-in ovens With the season of big cooks approaching, make sure your oven is up to it. We look at ones that make preparing all kinds of dishes easy and convenient BEST FOR HI-TECH DISPLAYV

BEST FOR < VOICE CONTROL

Smegâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s state of the art VIVOscreen connected oven will push the right buttons. Combining aesthetics and functionality, it has a bigger colour display with high-definition images of what you might want to cook, making the process easy and intuitive. It can be controlled from the SmegConnect app, and even remembers meals for go-to dishes. The SFP6606WTPNR has a 70-litre capacity and starts at 1,099.99, Smeg

If you like your kitchen tech,

Cook hands free with an oven you can operate with your voice. The Bosch Serie 6 HRS538BS6B built-in oven is Wi-Fi enabled and partnered with Amazon Alexa so it can listen to your instructions. The 71-litre oven has Auto Pilot 30 with 30 pre-set automatic programmes, 3D Hotair, for even heat distribution, and a ceramic sphere coating to break down grease. It costs 809, Bosch

BEST FOR > EASY ACCESS Neff's Slide& Hide system, with an oven door that tucks away underneath for unrestricted

access, was a revelation on a certain British baking show. The N 50 built-in has many other functions that will appeal to keen cooks, including CircoTherm, a hot air-system for simultaneous baking and roasting on up to three levels, a steam function and pyrolytic cleaning. It is 71 litres and costs around 1,349, Neff.

FEATURE ALISON JONES

THREE TOP TIP

Know your ovens and how they work to choose the one thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right for you

PICK YOUR STYLE

OVEN FUELS

APPLIANCE UPGRADES

Built-in ovens can be separate from the hob and in an eye-level unit or built-under in a base unit.

Ovens and cookers are typically powered by electricity or gas, or both with an electric oven and gas hob or vice versa. Electric cookers may be cheaper to buy up front but gas can be cheaper to run and have lower emissions. Fanassisted or convection models circulate hot air and remove moisture. A fan-assisted electric

Pyrolytic cleaning works automatically by heating the oven to a temperature that burns food residue to ash to be wiped away. Steam functions add moist air so dishes are crispy outside and juicy inside. Wi-Fi enabled ovens allow you to run programmes remotely from an app. HD cameras within ovens let you check on the food cooking inside via your phone.

Sizes start from compact, which are about as big as a microwave. Single ovens have a cooking capacity starting from around 60 litres, and will include a grill. In double ovens, a large main oven sits beneath a smaller one to cook dishes at different temperatures simultaneously.

oven will use less energy than a regular one.

136

BEST LOW COST CHOICE |

FINISHING

When you're cooking for family, size matters, and the CLS670 from CDA has a generous 77litre capacity. This built-in oven includes a steam cooking function, recipe presets and 13 other functions, including a fan oven, grill, fast heatup, touch controls and eco-clean. Its roast probe helps take the guesswork out of cooking times for meat. It costs from 700, CDA

TOUCHES

> BEST FOR PIZZA FANS Enjoy fresh pizza in minutes with the special pizza setting in Caple’s new C2600 pyrolytic oven from the Sense Premium collection. It heats to 345°C for a speedy bake. One of several options that accommodate different cooking styles in the 67-litre oven, others include a low-heat dehydrate setting, roast and proving functions, and a Sabbath mode you select up to 72 hours ahead. Wi-Fi enabled, it costs around 977, Caple

RED HOT

Handle large roasts or bakes without a big price tag. The Leisure Cookmaster 100 CKIO0F232R 100cm dual-fuel range cooker in red costs 779, Ao.com

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137

If you want the optimum environment for cooking a dish, Fisher & Paykel’s new oven can recommend it based on food type. You select the protein, size and weight of your dish and it'll say the best shelf position, temperature and timings for it. The OB60SDPTBI has an impressive 85-litre capacity with 16 programmes, touchscreen control and pyrolytic cleaning function to reduce food residue to ash, Available in black or with stainless steel, it costs from 1,300, Fisher & Payke]|

Richmond Deluxe SIOOODF 100cm dual-fuel range cooker (in multiple colourways), from 1,999 to 2,199, John Lewis & Partners

—

NEXT MONTH: A GUIDE TO THE BEST FRIDGE-FREEZERS

——=

Steam function has become a must have in built-in ovens, to make sure crusts are crispy and roasts are juicy. The Siemens i9500 built-in oven has it, along with all kinds of ways to make cooking easier. There's coolStart for deep frozen food, remote control with Home Connect and activeClean to turn residue to ash. With a 71litre capacity, it costs 1,069, Siemens

_=——___

STEAM PLAYER to steam food, the Rangemaster Nexus Steam 1l0cm in ivory with induction technology is the only range cooker with a dedicated steam oven cavity. It is priced at 4,999, Rangemaster If you like

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ADVERTORIAL

GIVE YOUR HOME SOME PERSONALITY WITH SPIRALSTAIRS This staircase style has a long history of transforming homes, making a striking centrepiece in any space piral staircases, which date back to Roman times, make a versatile and stylish option when creating a unique feature in your home. Bespoke spiral staircases can be designed to suit any interior and come in a wide range of looks and materials. Whether you want timeless elegance or modern wow-factor, you can find one to fit your homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personality and your budget. When specifying this type of staircase for your property, there are number of elements you need to be clear about to ensure you get the statement piece you desire. Here are a few tips:

MAKE A PLAN Discuss your spiral staircase design ideas early on. This way, if there are any structural requirements, you can plan them into the build. Be clear about the look you require, its use and location to be sure itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;]] meet building regulations.

GET THE LOOK RIGHT A spiral staircase is made up of lots of different elements, so make sure you are involved in selecting the styles, materials and finishes that suit the interior design you are going for. Would you like the stair steps to be solid or clad? They could be wood, natural stone, glass or concrete, or you could inlay them with carpet or tiles. Closed or open risers between treads are also worth considering. Open risers can diffuse light and cantilever from the core pole of a spiral stair. Closed risers can make smooth corkscrew curves.

BALUSTRADE AND HANDRAILS The balustrade is the railing on a

staircase. A sculptural full-height balustrade in plaster board, timber or powder-coated steel is striking in its impact, but there is also the option of toughened curved glass, which helps 138

A create light, open spaces, or elegant spindles that give a more vintage feel. Handrails make a wonderful finishing touch. They can be inset into balustrades, be oval or circular, and come in stainless steel, wood or glass. They can also be wrapped in materials like leather or rope. Being clear about the look you want to achieve when planning a project with a bespoke staircase design will help ensure you get a great interior feature. Spiral UK would be happy to discuss staircase design ideas and costs - just call 0330 123 24.47 or email info@spiral.uk.com. For more details, visit spiral.uk.com

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1 Harbour Status heated towel rail in painted brushed brass, 220, Drench 2 Wedge heater in metallic black, 299, Crosswater 3 Archibold heated towel rail in Lake Red, 954, Bisque 4 Bubbles towel warmer in Golden Yellow, from 552, The Radiator Centre 5 Milano Elizabeth towel rail in brushed gold, 399.99, Big Bathroom Shop 6 Brooklyn towel rail in rose gold, 129.95, Victorian Plumbing 7 Binary brass towel warmer in mild steel, 422.40, Vogue (UK) 8 Terma Michelle towel warmer in graphite and orange, 245, B&Q

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