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HUNDREDS OF GREAT-VALUE IDEAS FOR EVERY ROOM FEBRUARY 2021

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Welcome While Christmas and the January sales are a lot of fun, they can take quite the toll on your bank balance! That’s why we’re here with our money-saving special – we’ve crammed this issue full of creative ideas and bargain buys that prove you can still have a stylish home even when cash is tight. From 30 easy updates under £30 (p42) to cheap and cheerful meal ideas (p100), we’ve got loads of thrifty tricks to help your funds go further.

This month I’ve cast an extra keen eye over our home office makeovers (from p24) – as I’m currently redoing my own! I’ve pinched lots of clever, cost-cutting hacks myself, and if you’re working from home, I hope you find them just as inspiring.

Elsewhere we also take tours around three readers’ homes – my favourite is Hildah Jiah’s (p84). She’s knows a thing or two about decorating on a budget and is a true upcycling queen.

If Hildah inspires you to keep your eye on the pennies by getting crafty, then you’ll love the projects in our Make it Easy section (from p61) – we show you how to reupholster a bed, brighten up bargain-basement accessories and sew a lunch bag, so you’ll never need to buy a shop-bought lunch again!

Don’ t miss our pick of the best buys under £30! P42

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE With this month’s fab subscription offer you’ll get three issues for £5!

See page 36 to sign up.

FOLLOW & SHARE WEBSITE

yourhomestyle.uk

FACEBOOK TWITTER

20 Discover the new season’s must-have looks (at high street prices)

Editor Mel Sherwood Features Editor Michelle Grady Production Editor Thomas Poad Staff Writer Sophie Demetriades Editorial Assistant Ella Rhys-Jones Designers Sally Bufton, Beth Charlton Lucas Digital Editor Rebecca Messina Digital Editorial Assistant Thea Jeffreys Advertising: Group Advertising Manager Laura Jones Advertising Manager Heather Golden Business Development Manager Sophie North Brand Sales Executives Phil Wallington, James Beckett Classified Sales Executive Sophie Roberts

@YourHome

INSTAGRAM

@yourhomemagazine

PINTEREST

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Ad Coordinator Bryony Grace Senior Ad Designers Andrew Hobson, Cee Pike Marketing & Production: Subscriptions Director Jacky Perales-Morris Direct Marketing Assistant Gemma Balding Director of Licensing and Syndication Tim Hudson Syndication Manager Richard Bentley Production Director Sarah Powell Junior Production Co-Ordinator Georgia Tolley PR Manager Toby Hicks Publishing: Managing Director Marie Davies Promotions and Partnerships Manager Rosa Sherwood Group Managing Director Andy Marshall CEO Tom Bureau

Contact Your Home at Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4ST General Enquiries Tel 0117 927 9009 You can email the magazine at yourhome@immediate.co.uk For subscriptions: yourhome@buysubscriptions.com UK: 03301 358962 Overseas: +44(0)1604 973748 © Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, 2021, member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Unsolicited manuscripts and transparencies are accepted on the understanding that the publisher incurs no liability for their storage or return. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced without permission. All prices are correct at the time of going to press. The publisher, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services which may be advertised or referred to in this issue or for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any such advertisements or references. Your Home is published by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST, UK. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue.

Immediate Media Co Ltd is working to ensure that all of its paper is sourced from well-managed forests. This magazine can be recycled. We abide by IPSO’s rules and regulations. To give feedback about our magazines, please visit immediate.co.uk, email editorialcomplaints@immediate.co.uk or write to Legal Director, Immediate Media Co, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London, W6 7BT

Editor’s portrait Philip Sowels

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Contents

76

Emily and Sam have created a home fit for the entire family

38

Get luxe for less with these DIY décor ideas

100

20 8

42

Discover the new season’s cosiest look

February at home

30 stylish must-haves, all under £30!

8

This month we love Discover our favourite buys and events

11 Household hints We tell you how to make savvy savings on your weekly grocery shop 15 Smarter shopper Discover how much you can save with a spot of DIY 16 Focus on: Cashback services How to get money back when you shop with clever cash reward deals 46 Buyer’s guide Invest in a high-quality cooker that won’t break the bank

Decorating

Feed the whole family with cheap and cheerful meals

19 20 Trend alert: Cottagecore Escape to the country and return to simpler days gone by with this cosy scheme

38 Savvy ways to score budget-friendly décor Press refresh with affordable updates for a spring pick-me-up 42 30 finds for under £30 Decorate your space for less with must-have homeware

Makeovers

24 24 I’ve turned a neglected lean-to into a cosy office After a roof repair, Kiara Bennett realised the potential of an unloved room

Kitchens & bathrooms

49 50 Easy updates Give your kitchen a new look for less with these DIY solutions 54 Our nineties nightmare is now a luxe sanctuary Lisa and Gerry Barton gave their awkward dated bathroom a modern update 56 Made for two Create a bathroom for two with considered fixtures and fittings

Reader homes

28 DIY hacks gave us a bespoke workspace on a budget Lydia Elder combined flat-pack furniture and stylish touches to create a chic home office

75 76 We designed our home with family in mind Emily and Sam Waddington put their own stamp on their home by getting creative

32 An unused room is now my creative haven Lisa Thompson transformed her little-used dining room into an eclectic, vintage-filled office

84 I became a master upcycler to finish this house! Art lover Hildah Jiah’s personal style shines in every corner of her Edwardian home

Plus!

12-PAGE T PULL-OU GUIDE

MAKE IT EASY! Update your space with homemade projects and new skills

62

Add colourful updates to your office space

66

90 We made a gloomy semi light and bright Joanne and Michael Hepburn’s created a house with timeless style

Food & entertaining

99 100 Cheap and cheerful meals Save ££s and tuck into these quick dinners

Don’t miss out!

68

Be prepared with a homemade lunch bag

Improve your DIY skills with our panelling tutorial

10 Your letters Your latest décor projects 36 Subscribe to Your Home Get three issues for £5 when you subscribe 60 Win! Nine Triton showers are up for grabs

105 Table for two? Set the mood for Valentine’s Day with our tableware finds

73 Coming next month Take a sneak peek at our March issue

106 Make-ahead meals: Mediterranean falafel Discover new ways to serve these versatile bites

120 Prize draws Enter for the chance to win bedding, a cookery masterclass and more

Home improvement

123 Shopping guide Where to purchase everything in this issue

64 Revamp, repair, recycle Give an old bed some TLC with a velvet makeover

130 Boutique speak Introducing… Truce!

70 Ask the experts Your home improvement questions answered

Have you missed an issue?

72 Craft stash must-haves We give you the latest crafting news

111

112 How to add value to your home Guarantee the best return on your property improvements 116 The wonder of wood Revive your home with the latest hardwood flooring looks

Call 0330 1358962 to order back copies

Plus, check out…

THIS MONTH WE LOVE

FRESH AND FABULOUS

Lola brass bookcase, £429, Vivense London

We are super excited about the contemporary homewares available at Vivense London, a brand-new furniture and homeware retailer that offers on-trend pieces at affordable prices. Update an outdated living room with a minimalist corner sofa in grey or ecru and add in a statement armchair such as the Eliza Armchair (pictured), £279. When it comes to accessories, think block colours and abstract shapes. The Joy planters, from £49, will look gorgeous with or without houseplants while the quirky Egg candleholders, from £19, are fun statement pieces for a window sill or book shelf. Visit the new London store in Borough or shop online at vivenselondon.com.

FOR STOCKISTS SEE P123

we love…

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

Instagram inspiration Maximalism lovers, listen up! Lozzie’s home, which she shares over on @the.tiny.colourful.terraced, is a many-hued wonderland. A self-proclaimed vintage lover, Lozzie likes to combine the new and old for ‘a fresh and vibrant spin on [her] Victorian miners’ terrace’. She starts with traditional elements such as panelling and uses bright paint and colour blocking to add a modern touch. Imagine geometric wall designs combined with statement tiles, jewel-toned velvet sofas adorned with tasselled cushions and floral bedding with a 70s twist.

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Come on in Fans of cosy, personalised interiors will love Kim Leggett’s new book, Home Stories: Design Ideas for Making a House a Home. Room by room, she guides you through how to truly make your house a home. Kim’s no-rules approach to interiors encourages you to use what you love rather than follow trends. Make the most of family heirlooms, vintage finds and homemade mementos to create a unique home filled with meaning. The book also boasts exciting projects to get busy with, plus heaps of design inspiration for decorating your home, whatever the season.

© 2020 Leslie Brown

THIS MONTH

Home Stories: Design Ideas for Making a House a Home

by Kim Leggett is published by Abrams for £25.

THIS MONTH WE LOVE

Matalan has announced its spring summer collection for 2021 and we’re big fans of the Sanctuary and Copenhagen trends.

Sanctuary is inspired by the natural materials and colours of the earth. The muted brown palette combined with unrefined wooden finishes creates a calm space that encourages mindfulness.

For those with a more flamboyant style, Copenhagen incorporates retro and modern elements for a playful, geometric design.

Think colour blocking, abstract shapes and bold slogans!

Available in store and online at matalan.co.uk from midJanuary.

A good night’s sleep Do you have trouble sleeping? Whatever the reason you struggle to drift off, a weighted blanket should be the first step on your journey toward better sleep. Mela’s weighted blankets use a combination of Deep Pressure Therapy and 100 per cent cotton and eucalyptus materials to ease muscle tension and reduce stress hormones. The blanket gently compresses your body to create the stillness and warmth of a friendly hug.

Every blanket does good for the planet, too. Mela protects 25 trees in the Amazon rainforest with each purchase. Adult blankets from £99.99, melacomfort.co.uk.

TAKE NOTE If you don’t go a day without writing a to-do list, upgrade your stationery collection and treat yourself – or a fellow organisation lover – to Papergang’s monthly letterbox subscription. Papergang collaborates with a new artist or illustrator each month to create exclusive stationery you’ll treasure.

Every box is brimming with greetings cards, notebooks, desk accessories and art prints, all in funky colours and patterns.

There’s no room for any bland or uninspiring designs! What’s more, every box helps to plant trees with the charity Tree Aid. Subscriptions start from £14.

GREAT IDEAS FOR… Valentine’s Day 14th February

Spoil your other half with one of these lovey-dovey gifts

‘You’re cracking’ letterbox biscuits, £25, Biscuiteers

Be my Valentine card, £2.75, Cambridge Imprint

Personalised confetti filled bubble balloon, £29.99, Getting Personal

Love Potions Valentine’s Day chocolates, £15, Hotel Chocolat

Merlot scented candle, £7.50, The Contemporary Home

Love-KANKEI Mr and Mrs ceramic mugs, £21.99, Amazon

February 2021

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

New from Matalan

9

GET IN TOUCH

Your Home needs you!

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

Letter of th monthe

DRESSING ROOM DREAMS My partner and I recently purchased our first home and we’re in the process of decorating the house to our taste. I’ve adopted one of the spare bedrooms and turned it into a dressing room for myself.

We painted the walls white and replaced the old brown carpet with some oakeffect laminate to freshen up the room. I purchased the dressing table and chair from Amazon and the plant from B&Q. This is my new favourite space!

Olivia Matthes-Buck, by email Your Home says What a gorgeous space you’ve created, Olivia. We love the minimalist feel and that pink chair is a great find!

★ Olivia’s letter has won her a bottle of Mermaid Pink Gin worth £40!

Painting perfect

Club tropicana I thought I’d share what my daughter and granddaughter achieved during lockdown.

Olivia, who’s nine, chose this vibrant tropical wallpaper and helped her mum to paper her bedroom wall. She decorated the lampshade with cut-out birds and painted the leaf picture with tester pots. The finishing touches were LED lights and faux plants and, to top it off, I painted the palm tree! Sue Wood, by email Your Home says This must have been such a fun family project over lockdown, Sue, and the results are incredible. The tropical theme was a fabulous choice!

Home and lifestyle magazines were never my thing, but standing in longer supermarket queues these days, my eye was drawn to Your Home October. It’s been a really enjoyable read. I was interested to see Di Clements’ letter about doing something creative during lockdown. I’ve never been an artist, but my tiny office space needed brightening up, so armed with cheap acrylic paints and a canvas, I created some mini artworks. I attach one example – I hope it brightens your day. Thank you for your inspiring magazine.

Roy Peach, by email Your Home says Roy, your artwork is amazing!

You’ve definitely discovered a hidden talent and thank you for your kind words about the magazine.

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

Letters may be edited. We apologise but photos cannot be 10 returned. yourhomestyle.uk

Bathroom bliss When we moved in, the bathroom was definitely in need of a revamp. I painted the tiles with tile paint – I ignored the recommendation to only paint with a brush. I used a roller and it turned out just as well and saved a lot of time. Instead of actual grout, I used a black grout pen to draw over the lines, which was really effective. The flooring was sale stock from a local flooring company. We used black furniture paint on the cupboards and spray painted the handles gold. The vinyl and faux houseplants were our luxury spend, but they were very much worth it to bring it all together. Rachael Allen, by email Your Home says You’ve done such an amazing job, Rachael! We love the fun flamingo-print vinyl and the houseplants are the perfect finishing touch.

Get Online Tweet us your pictures and comments @your_home or like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/yourhomemag

Courtesy of Mermaid Gin, the writer of this issue’s letter of the month will receive a bottle of Mermaid Pink Gin, worth £40.

The three runners-up will each receive a Mermaid Pink Gin miniature gift set, worth £15.99. Find out more about Mermaid Gin at isleofwightdistillery.com.

Buy fruit and v in season to ma eg when it ’s ke the your money most of

Household

HINTS Freshen up your home with our handy tips and tricks

How to… save money on your weekly food shop We all know never to go food shopping when hungry because we’ll come out with double the amount we intended to buy. But what other clever hacks can you introduce to save a pretty penny? Follow these top tips and you’ll be a money-saving mogul in no time...

HACK Is your microwave in need of a bit of a refresh? Follow this tried and tested cleaning hack. Fill a microwaveable bowl with water, 1 tbsp white vinegar and the juice of 1 lemon. Microwave the bowl for 3 minutes until the liquid has started to boil. Once the timer has gone off, leave the bowl to steam your microwave for 5 minutes. This will help to loosen any stubborn food and stains.

Then wipe clean with a cloth, making sure to wipe the door and the turntable glass plate. Best of all? Your microwave will smell like a lemon grove!

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones Image Getty Images

If you’re an eagle-eyed bargain hunter, you’ll already know about the yellow sticker. Most supermarkets have dedicated times when they start to reduce prices on soon-to-goout-of-date items. Discounts often start in the morning and they gradually get bigger throughout the day, with 7pm seeming to be the best time for big savings. We’re talking up to 75 per cent off items that are still in perfectly good condition!

Forget big names and buy own-brand products. There’s often very little difference between the two, so why spend more on a near-identical product? The packaging may be impressive but it’s important to look beneath this. Why not try a blind taste test with your favourite branded product and the supermarket version and see if you can tell the difference? If not, go for the cheaper option from then on. This applies to cleaning products and toiletries too, as branded versions are often pricey.

Seasonal food is usually cheaper, too. Always make a conscious effort to check what’s in season before you shop and base your meals around these fruits and veg if possible. That leads us onto another point; make a meal plan. It really does help to keep you on track when doing the weekly shop. Write down exactly what you need for your week’s meals and don’t stray from that list. Be especially wary at the checkout, which is designed to lure you into making unnecessary purchases.

Get into couponing. You can save hundreds of pounds a year by taking advantage of discounts and coupons. If you’re not loyal to particular brands, always opt for the product that is on discount. Combine this with a money-off supermarket voucher and you could save a substantial amount.

Last but not least, reduce your food waste. There’s a difference between ‘best before’ and ‘use-by’ dates.’Use-by’ dates should be followed, but ‘best before’ dates mean the food is most likely still OK to eat after. Use taste and sight as an indicator.

Buy it once If you pride yourself on cooking homemade meals using only the freshest of ingredients, a pestle and mortar is a must-have. Garden Trading’s pestle and mortar is crafted from raw granite, a durable material that’s resistant to scratching, cracking and chipping.

Grind up spices for your favourite curry or crush nuts and seeds to sprinkle on your morning porridge. Not only does it boast practicality, but its speckled grey appearance is a beautiful addition to your kitchen shelves or counter. Priced at £20.

February 2021

11

BEST BUYS FOR ... laundry day

1.

With spring on its way, it’s time to up your laundry game with these practical yet pretty accessories...

2.

1. An indoor drying rack that doubles up as a contemporary storage solution, this slim-lined airer is designed to fit into the tightest of spaces.

Clothes rack, £24.99, Addis 2. This laundry bag is for those little items that often get lost in the wash: reusable cotton pads, cloth face masks and socks!

3.

Marley’s Monsters Mesh laundry bag, £8, Live in the Light 3. Add a decorative flourish to your utility room or laundry zone with this charming metal sign.

5.

French blue metal laundry sign, £3.95, Rex London 4. A bee-utiful spring-inspired home for your pegs, this bag will brighten up any laundry day and help you keep track of those easily lost bits and pieces.

4.

Bee and flower peg bag, £15.95, Mosney Mill 5. No more wading through a sea of clothes on the bedroom floor with this clearly labelled laundry basket!

Gold wire laundry basket in brass, £18, Matalan 6. Ironing blues will drift away with this serene dragonfly cover. The front tie drawstring ensures it’ll fit perfectly!

6.

Dragonfly ironing board cover, £24, Sophie Allport

WE TEST… Hand blenders WE TRIED OUT A SELECTION OF HAND BLENDERS – HERE’S WHAT WE FOUND… DESIRE MATTE BLACK 3 IN 1 HAND BLENDER, £39.99, RUSSELL HOBBS A great choice for those lacking in storage space, this 3 in 1 hand blender allows you to blend, chop and whisk all with one appliance. The attachments are easy to swap out and wash whether by hand or in a dishwasher. It also boasts two blending speeds, allowing for easy control no matter what you’re making.

9/10

12

yourhomestyle.uk

HAND BLENDER SET WITH WHISK AND CHOPPER ATTACHMENTS, £49.99, LAKELAND This fab multitasker can blend, chop and whisk! The stick blender makes smooth soup in no time – although, it’s metal, so take care with non-stick pans. The chopper attachment is perfect for small portions of things like pesto and hummus while the whisker with beaker is handy for lightweight whisking tasks. It’s easy to assemble and clean, and the two-speed button 8/10 controls are very straightforward.

THINGS WE CONSIDERED ● Was it effective at blending? ● Was it easily controllable and easy to clean? ● Did it come with any extra accessories?

CORDLESS HAND BLENDER, £129, KITCHENAID Capable of blending up to 25 bowls of soup on a full charge, this wireless blender is ideal if you’re short of plug sockets in your kitchen. The dual-button control prevents you accidentally turning it on, and the blade detaches for easy cleaning. It comes with a useful pan guard so you can use the blender in a range of cookware.

Whip up and store purées and milkshakes with ease using the accompanying lidded jar, too. Priced at the higher end, it would benefit from extra 7/10 attachments, though.

SMEG 50S RETRO HBF02BLUK HAND BLENDER WITH FOUR ACCESSORIES, £129, AO.COM From whipping egg whites to mashing potatoes, this hand blender has all the components, and the mixing power, you need to produce high-quality dishes.

It has four attachments that slot easily onto the end of the mixer, including a whisk, potato masher, blender and a chopper bowl to avoid any mess. Plus, if you’re whisking or blending in a hurry, there’s a handy Turbo control for a power boost.

9/10

A-Z OF DECORATING from Anaglypta to Zoffany

OPEN TO THE TRADE AND PUBLIC SINCE 1904

Over 170 stores nationwide Visit brewers.co.uk to ďŹ nd your local store

I pledge to leave a gift in my Will so research can carry on after I’ve gone

to find new, kinder treatments for patients

Together with your pledge and ours, we will beat cancer for future generations more, go request a free Gifts in Wills Guide.

To find out more to cruk.org/pledge Visit or call cruk.org/willsguide 0800 077 6644 or call 0800 077 6644

Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), (SC041666) Scotland and the Isle ofcharity Man (1103). © Cancer Research UK 2019.

Cancer Research UK is a registered in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). © Cancer Research UK 2019.

Together we will beat cancer

CONSUMER NEWS

SMARTER

shopper Make savvy savings by using your DIY skills

Paying a professional to redecorate can be a costly expense. But instead of getting someone in to hang your wallpaper or retile your bathroom, why not give it a go yourself? Read on to find out how much you can save on labour costs.

Save money with DIY LAY VINYL FLOORING A big DIY job that you might be surprised you can do without the help of a professional is laying vinyl flooring. The paid labour for this usually takes between one to three days, costing about £100-£200 per day.

FIT A NEW KITCHEN WORKTOP The labour cost for fitting a new worktop will depend on the material you choose, with laminate being the cheapest and quickest to install whereas quartz, granite, marble and ceramic will take longer and be more expensive. Depending on the material you choose, this cost can vary between around £100-£1,500 to install.

DON’T SPLASH OUT ON NEW TOOLS How many times are you going to need a tile cutter to retile a bathroom? Or a mitre saw to replace the skirting boards? You may end up spending a lot on tools you only use once or twice. Instead of forking out on expensive hardware, look to hire these specialist tools.

Brandon Hire Station has branches you can rent tools from across the UK, hirestation.co.uk.

To help you complete these jobs yourself to a high standard, check out our how-to guides at yourhomestyle.uk.

72% of Brits admit to hiring a specialist to finish a project YH Fab find

SMART SAVINGS

If there’s one tool we’d recommend you add to your DIY stash, this Bosch drill is it. It will be your goto for all kinds of general do-it-yourself jobs and it’s suitable for use with metal, wood and masonry.

This lightweight and compact tool also comes with 20 pre-selectable torque settings, two drill speeds, a carry case and a powerful 18-volt battery.

With the money you’ve saved on DIY projects like laying flooring and fitting your own worktops, there’s no reason you can’t splash out on some highquality materials. If you’re redecorating a feature wall then The Chateau

by Angel Strawbridge wallpaper collection is a fab choice. The Nouveau Heron designs (pictured) are £30 per roll from Wallpaperdirect.

Bosch 18V 1.5Ah li-ion cordless drill driver, £55, B&Q

Feature Sophie Demetriades Photo Getty Images

instead of completing it themselves Source Home How

February 2021

15

CONSUMER NEWS

FOCUS ON:

Cashback services

GET MORE MONEY BACK Maximise your earnings with these top tips: Q While they are free to join, you may be asked if you want to pay for a premium account. You don’t have to, so resist the temptation.

Q Look out for bonus returns if you get friends or family to join via the site’s referral service.

Q There may be the chance to earn more money by filling in surveys or entering prize draws.

Q To make money in-store as well as online, download Quidco’s ClickSnap

app, which enables you to claim cashback by uploading a photo of the receipt when you purchase a product from one of its offline deals, which are shown on the app.

Q TopCashback’s OnCard scheme also has a range of deals once you register your debit or credit card. Select an offer, activate then simply shop using your OnCard in-store.

Q Book your holiday through a cashback site and you could find great deals on flights and hotels, car hire, travel insurance and airport parking.

Q Signing up for a new broadband or phone contract via a cashback site can often pay big bucks.

ENERGY SOURCE Can I get cashback from any of my household costs?

Tori Matthews, Aberdeen Absolutely – many energy providers offer great deals to get new customers to sign up so check out a selection to see which offers the best rewards as well as the best rates.

Make payday last longer by signing up to cashback sites, credit or store cards that put £££s back into your pocket

W

e’re all used to watching the pennies, but never more so than at the start of a new year.

As well as budgeting, cutting back on nonessentials and reducing food waste, there are other ways to plough the pounds back into your pocket. We take a look at how you can get cash back on everything from daily shopping trips to bigger splurges.

SUPERMARKET SHOP AS YOU EARN Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and M&S all have credit cards that reward you for doing the food shop: Q This is perfect for those who regularly shop in the same supermarket. You buy there anyway, so you might as well get rewards for doing so.

Q Their credit cards often have a zero per cent balance transfer period so are a good choice for debt transferral.

Q Use them just for shopping in their store and use other cards to pay for things elsewhere, as you are only rewarded for in-store spending.

Useful contacts quidco.com ■ Sign up to cashback sites such as or topcashback.co.uk. at nectar.

■ Get supermarket bonus store cards cer.com. com, tesco.com or marksandspen d.co.uk, ■ For credit cards, visit mastercar visa.co.uk, santander.co.uk or americanexpress.com. bank.

■ Head to johnlewisfinance.com, bank.com for marksandspencer.com or tesco store credit cards with rewards.

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yourhomestyle.uk

Sign up to cashback sites! These sites make their money through adverts and promotions, or when a retailer pays them a bonus for sending shoppers their way.

Their basic service is free to join so there’s no cost to you. Try Quidco and TopCashback to save hundreds a year.

It’s safer to pay for things online with a credit card so why not make some money at the same time…

O Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Santander are just some of the providers who offer incentives to sign up.

O Find out what cashback, points or bonus schemes they offer and how and when these are paid out.

O Make sure you repay your bill in full each month to avoid interest. Set up a direct debit to prevent you forgetting.

O Never use credit cards to withdraw or borrow cash.

O Aim to use it in-store too, just as you would a debit card, to maximise your earnings.

O Most big stores have their own banks, such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Tesco, so you can sign up for a rewards-based credit card there, too (see above).

Feature Hayley Gilbert

FROM CREDIT TO CASH

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Decorating Allow us to introduce you to bouclé furnishings, Scandi style and eco-friendly décor

Mini trend: Beautiful bouclé After a turbulent 2020, people are becoming more and more drawn towards textures and materials that provide cosiness and comfort – and there couldn’t be a better fit than bouclé.

This looped textile was at its height of popularity in 1948, when American architect and interior designer Florence Knoll requested a chair that she could ‘really curl up in’; this inspired the design for the Womb Chair made in the classic bouclé fabric.

But this trend isn’t only limited to chairs, you can welcome the comforting textile into your home with a variety of other soft furnishings too, including throws, cushions, rugs and curtains.

Cascade Home Reflections bouclé throw, £34.99, Very

Esme Malham Ivory Mix chair, £899, Sofology

Zero-waste décor Replacing singleuse items with sustainable alternatives is an important consideration for many consumers, especially for anyone who has recently seen Netflix’s David Attenborough: Life on our Planet – *disclaimer* we recommend having plenty of tissues to hand if you watch this. But fortunately, independent shops like Tabitha Eve are on the case when it comes to eco-friendly choices. From beauty and bathroom accessories to kitchen and children’s necessities, the online store ensures that all of its items, including this £12 trinket tray, are made using sustainably sourced materials.

Jute bouclé rug, from £79, Dunelm

Malton bouclé blue fabric, £18.99 per metre; White plain cushion pad insert in rectangle, £4.99, both Yorkshire Fabric Shop

SCANDI STORAGE Scandinavian style is known and loved the world over for blending clean, minimalist design with functionality – so it makes sense that practically perfect Nordic storage solutions are in high demand!

Denmark-based brand JYSK creates high-quality, on-trend homewares at affordable price points for the house and garden, and we just love its stylish storage options, including these pretty pastel baskets, £8.50 each. We’ll take one in each colour!

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Feature Sophie Demetriades

Ella bouclé upholstered accent chair, £239, Cult Furniture

STYLE FILE

TREND ALERT…

Cottagecore Escape to the countryside with this new craze, which embraces the simplicity of nature and nostalgic comforts

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s more of us are choosing the steadiness of the countryside over fast-paced city living, the cottagecore trend is highly appealing to those looking for a sense of escapism from the stresses of the world. It draws on the nostalgia of our grandparents’ vintage furnishings and the cosiness of chocolate-box abodes so you can achieve the look and feel of a slower pace of living in your home.

This trend’s style is certainly not one for minimalists – it’s eclectic and busy when it comes to accessories. To get the look, blend glamorous furnishings and textures like gold trims and velvet with antique-style, ditsy-floral print treasures in the form of ornaments, tableware, lampshades, throws and rugs. Proudly display vintage ornaments on a sideboard in your living room and make an exhibition of your patterned plates and crockery by placing them on open shelving in your kitchen. In terms of colour, the palette is equally diverse. Mix natural, neutral tones with rich jewel and brooding shades, then add in pastel colours to balance out the scheme.

Lighting is also an important part of this trend, as it’s all about creating a cosy and comforting feel. Do away with minimalist spotlights and plain fixtures and make a feature of the lighting with fringed, patterned lampshades and warm copper drawing room wall lights.

Another essential element of this theme is nature, so bring in plenty of natural wood finishes with benches, stools and surfaces, as well as dried or fresh flowers in just as beautiful vases. A reading nook facing a window so you can lap up the natural light is a must-have for this aesthetic, too. Choose a deep, comfy armchair and add a cosy throw and cushion with a lamp on a small side table next to it, then cocoon yourself with your favourite houseplants and dog-eared books.

Sienna cushion cover in Duck Egg Blue, £7.99, Homescapes

Blend plush and comforting textures with jewel, neutral and pastel tones to keep balance, harmony and cosiness in the bedroom.

Harrington armchair, £899, Modish Living

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Silhouette king bed in Saga Mustard, £599; Show wood bedside in Nougat, £249; Ikat cushion in Saffron, £15; Arrayan viridian table shade, £35; Robyn bottle glass lamp base, £95; Velvet pouffe in Mustard, £65; Pagoda wallpaper in Blue, £40 per roll; Wool throw in Rosa, £80, all John Lewis & Partners

Adeline bar pendant brushed copper and glass, £192, där lighting

STYLE FILE

Clockwise from top left: Grey diamond rug, £69, Lime Lace. Discovery dinner plate, £3, Wilko. Tapestry Blue ceramic tiles, £27.60 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore.

Lined rattan storage basket, £21, Marquis & Dawe

Don’t hide your best crockery away in a drawer only to be seen on special occasions, display it proudly on open shelving in the kitchen.

Folky animals pasta bowl, £4; Folky animals dinner set, £30; tumbler, £2; chopping board, £8 for a set of two; toaster, £25; clear storage canister, £2; kettle, £20; tea towels, £4 for a set of three, all George Home

Combine an intricate wallpaper printed with rich colours and rural animals with sturdy, oak-effect furniture.

Morris & Co Wightwick large placemats, £33 for a set of four, Amara

Havisham navy wallpaper, £12 per roll; Sidmouth oak-effect storage bench, £229, both Dunelm

Merge nature and glamour together with a golden bird stand for your reading nook’s side table.

Gold crane side table, £195, Not On The High Street

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Feature Sophie Demetriades

Floral mugs, £12.99 for a set of four, TK Maxx

STYLE FILE Taurus 1 light pendant cage bright copper, £52.80, där lighting

Honey checked woven throw, £32, Rose & Grey

Lohko green floral inlay desk and dressing table, £675, Oliver Bonas

Create a cosy reading nook with a comfy check armchair, soft-glow lighting, cushions, throws and a handy side table.

Metal and wood-effect shade in Burnt Orange, £16; Estuary stacking wicker basket, £14; Stoneware dinner set in Grey, £20 for a 12-piece set; Kent three-door oak and oak veneer sideboard in Grey, £350; Argyll fabric high-back chair in Coastal, £380; Matt velvet cushion in Mustard, £7; Matt velvet cushion in Burnt Orange, £7; Kent oak and oak veneer nest of three tables in Grey, £150; Habitat joy tumbler glasses in Clear, £9 for a set of six; Trellis rug in Navy, £40, all Argos Home Clockwise from top left: Lydia floral damask soft chenille pattern furnishing fabric in Brown White Orange, £21.99 per m, Yorkshire Fabric Shop. Skeleton clock, £75, Hudson Home. Beija flor wabi sabi almond vinyl floor mat, £108, Cuckooland. Mint Green round velvet cushion, £25, Mint & May

Fun floral patterns aren’t just limited to the wallpaper, choose these fiesta tiles for your kitchen or bathroom to give the spaces a homely feel.

Fiesta ceramic tiles, £39.60 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore

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Blue and white bone china jugs with Cornish harbour scene, from £16 each, Cream Cornwall

STYLE FILE Angel Strawbridge Spiced Rose boxed candle, £6, Argos Home

VINTAGE VASES Keep your blooms in an equally beautiful vase

Blue honesty jug, £37, Welsh Otter

Give your overlooked light fixtures a facelift with this vintage blue willow china-inspired shade.

Campbell blue Imari pendant light, £175, Not On The High Street

Daisy vase, £14.95, Annabel James

Opt for a neutral carpet so you don’t distract from the cottagecore theme and overcrowd the room with too many prints.

Salcombe field mouse carpet, £29.99 per sq m, Carpetright

Majestic petrol peacock vase, £68, Audenza

Spend Vs Save Furnish your walls with art fit for the cottagecore theme

Amber mandala hurricane vase, £5, George Home

Vintage botanical leaf art print with black frame and mount, £40, Abstract House

Green linen vase poster, £8.95, Desenio

Tall rustic green glass vase, £28, Heavenly Homes and Gardens

February 2021

23

OFFICE MAKEOVER

I’ve turned a neglected lean-to into a cosy office Repairs to a leaking roof helped highlight forgotten potential when Kiara Bennett needed to conjure up space for a year-round home office

W

hen Kiara and Chris Bennett found themselves regularly working from home, both were desperate for an office. However, finding space in their three-bedroom South London home was never going to be easy. ‘Our boys, Luca and Lorenz, are still young enough to share a bedroom, so Chris bagged the spare room, as he takes a lot of conference calls, and I was left with the kitchen table,’ says Kiara.

Despite being a recipe writer, it was far from an ideal workspace, so she was soon on the lookout for a more permanent setting; she found it right next to her makeshift desk, in the form of a cold, damp, draughty lean-to.

total cost £832 A clever mix of recycled and online bargain buys has helped transform a damp and dreary lean-to into a characterful office space, overlooking the garden. Kiara only needed a single roll of designer wallpaper to cover up an unattractive section of wall and give her new-look room an injection of print and character

STEP ONE The small brick lean-to had been tacked onto the house by a previous owner and, thanks to a leaky polycarbonate roof and ill-fitting windows, was largely ignored by the couple, despite being in full view of the kitchen. ‘We mainly used it to store rubbish and recycling, so Chris thought I was mad when I suggested turning it into an office, but he did agree to take a look at the leaking roof,’ says Kiara. Luckily, it was caused by a slipped panel and, once secured, the brickwork soon began to dry out – at which point, even Chris agreed the room looked a little more promising, so we also replaced the windows with new fixed glazed panels cut to size,’ explains Kiara.

Good idea!

Create a memoboard by spray painting a stretched canvas or piece of MDF with chalkboard paint – Kiara’s handy rail is screwed into the canvas framework.

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Kiara’s vintage glass chandelier was originally bought on eBay and adds an unexpected glitzy detail to this rustic scheme

Feature Paula Woods Styling Jo Rigg Photos Sussie Bell

OFFICE MAKEOVER

February 2021

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OFFICE MAKEOVER STEP TWO With the room now dry and draught-free, Kiara could turn her attention to making it feel more homely and usable.

Although electricity was thankfully already in place, some form of heating was a must.

In the end the couple chose a smart, easy-fit electric radiator they spotted online. And while they awaited its arrival, Kiara set about scrubbing down the brickwork and terracotta tiled floor, before painting the remaining pebble-dashed walls in a pale stone grey. ‘It’s not a job I’d want to repeat anytime soon, as it took absolutely ages to paint but, along with another long week of painting the woodwork black, it was time well spent, as the room was instantly transformed,’ she reveals.

STEP THREE Kiara’s attention then turned to an ugly section of boarded-up wall. ‘I like to think it’s hiding some lovely old windows, but it’s highly unlikely! So, rather than open up a can of worms, I simply decided to turn it into a feature, using a lovely woodland wallpaper,’ smiles Kiara. She then chose to furnish the space with a mix of existing pieces and bargain buys. ‘Chris rejected the armchair and Anglepoise lamp when he was clearing out the spare room, and the folding chair is straight out of the garden,’ says Kiara, while an evening of online bidding resulted in her vintage painted desk and handy set of storage crates. However, Kiara’s best find has to be the battered drawers she uses for filing, as they were courtesy of a skip!

Bills and paperwork are neatly filed in a drawer cabinet, spotted in a friend’s skip

Painting the tired windows, doors and roof beams in black was a brave move that has definitely paid off

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A plug-in electric radiator provides an instant heating solution – Kiara’s designer radiator, from BestHeating, is controlled remotely and has an antifreeze function that makes it ideal for a lean-to

OFFICE MAKEOVER

Good idea!

A stack of in ex is a great alt pensive apple crates e shelving and rnative to standard an solution for inspired storage more ecl rustic schem ectic or es.

Adding an armchair creates a comfy corner for catching up on the latest culinary news or simply relaxing with a good book and taking in garden views

ROOM PLAN

3.1M

2M

THE DETAILS PAINT AND WALLPAPER

STEP FOUR With the room almost complete, Kiara was keen to inject additional warmth and comfort underfoot, so added a rug from IKEA over the tiled floor. Her existing chandelier was supplemented with an industrial-style lamp from the high street, which helps shed light on Kiara’s clever

homemade memoboard, designed to bring order to days spent in her new office. ‘We are planning to extend the back of the house at some point,’ says Kiara, ‘but for now my little office is proving perfect for conjuring up recipes, and is also ideally placed for testing them out on the family!’

3 OF THE BEST... rustic storage £12.99 from Dobbies Take a break and enjoy a cuppa in this enamel mug, featuring a classic willow print by the V&A – or keep it on your desk as a pen pot.

£25 from Scaramanga Keep an eye out for colourful second-hand food storage tins that you can group together on a shelf for a vintage pantry-inspired look.

£12.99

£3.50 from Wilko Jars aren’t just for dried goods. Keep smaller stationery bits and bobs in this lidded design.

It even has a blackboard lid for quick notes.

£25 £3.50

£198

GLAZING

£80

FLOORING

£50

DIY BLACKBOARD & RAIL

£39

CRATES

£30

FURNITURE

£65

HEATING

£335

LIGHTING

£35

TOTAL

£832

shopping list Woodwork painted in Lamp Black intelligent eggshell, £32 per litre; walls painted in Slaked Lime Dark absolute matt emulsion, £47 per 2.5L, both Little Greene. Cole & Son Woods and Stars wallpaper, £85 per roll, Wallpaperdirect.

Milano Aruba slim electric vertical double designer radiator in Anthracite, £334.95, BestHeating. 4mm toughened glass panes, £40 each, Catford Glass. Vintage painted table, £65; wooden apple crates, £10 each; Kilim cushion, £13.99, all eBay. 80 x 60cm white stretched canvas, £8, Hobbycraft.

Chalkboard spray paint in Black Matt, £8.49 per 400ml, Plastikote. Hahn Metro 51cm chrome wall rail and hooks, £21.99; Tidy Tote rope basket with handles, £19.99; wooden spoon set, £2.99; kitchen scissors, £6.99 per pair; natural fibre mix dish brush head, £1.99; cotton tea towels, £4.99 per pair; recipe books, from £5.99, all Lakeland.

Melholt flatwoven rug, £50; Fiskbo picture frame, £6, both IKEA. London Bronze Industrial table lamp, £35, Dunelm.

February 2021

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OFFICE MAKEOVER

DIY hacks gave us a bespoke workspace on a budget

Lydia Elder mixed flat-pack furniture, clever shopping and soft styling touches to create a customised office

A

year and a half after moving into their four-bedroom new-build in Ebbsfleet, Kent, Lydia and Peter Elder had decorated every room apart from one. ‘We had a small study off the hall that had just become a dumping ground,’ says Lydia. ‘As time went on, we realised it was a wasted space, and we needed somewhere for household admin and for working from home occasionally. Back then, we had no idea how important having a proper home office would turn out to be.’

‘Our office has really come into its own recently.’

STEP ONE Once Lydia and Peter had cleared the clutter, Lydia could focus on designing a space-maximising layout that gave them both an ample area to work in. ‘The only things in the room were the radiator, white walls and a grey wood-effect laminate floor,’ she says. ‘We couldn’t fit in two separate desks, so we decided on a double one that Peter and I could share. I wanted smart, fitted-type furniture, but the quotes for a built-in desk and wall storage were way beyond our budget.’ Undaunted, Lydia put together her own, teaming IKEA wall-mounted cabinets and drawer units with a run of kitchen worktop. ‘I’m a big Instagrammer (@lydias_layton_life), and I

total cost £891 Before 28

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Good igdht’esam!ix of

OFFICE MAKEOVER

The ceiling li nd concrete a natural wood an otherwise to re tu x adds te sleek scheme.

Lift-up doors make the wall storage easy to access. The units open and close on neat pushcatches, giving the furniture the sleek, stylish edge Lydia wanted To pick up on the existing grey flooring, Lydia decided on a pale, concrete-look, laminate worktop. Leafy houseplants add contrast and softness

had seen lots of hacks on there,’ she says. ‘I put the dimensions into the online planning tool, to get the right combination of units for a near-perfect fit with no gaps. A third drawer unit in the centre would have been ideal, but Peter’s a lot taller than me and it was important to have enough legroom for us to sit comfortably.’ were measured and chosen, Lydia started thinking about the look. ‘I love restful, deep greens. I’ve used them all through my home and I knew I wanted dark green behind the desk,’ she says. ‘The room is north-facing though, so the other walls are pale grey, which helps boost the light.’

Lydia also opted for white furniture to help the space feel brighter and prevent the room from feeling too functional. ‘We put kitchen cabinet carcasses on the wall, but the white fronts are designed for living room furniture and have a lovely rippled surface,’ she says. ‘For the other side of the room I found a gorgeous white sideboard that’s much prettier than a filing cabinet.’

STEP THREE Decorating the room was the first task, and Lydia stumbled on a bargain when she bought her paint from an online colour-matching source. ‘The

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Feature Annabelle Grundy Photos Colin Poole

STEP TWO Once the desk components

OFFICE MAKEOVER tester pots were generous enough to cover the whole room, with no waste,’ she says.

‘That really saved us money.’ Once the room was decorated, the furniture could be fitted. Assembling the flat-pack units was straightforward, and by luck, a standard length of worktop slotted exactly into the space, resting on the drawers at either end, without extra fixing. Peter hung the wall cabinets and attached the fronts. ‘He repositioned the hinges from the sides to the tops of the cabinets, so the wall-units open upwards, and don’t stick out over the work area,’ explains Lydia.

STEP FOUR Lydia was keen to make the office inviting as well as practical. She chose velvet chairs to pick up the green theme, and layered up rattan, recycled glass, leafy plants and touches of gold for a softer, more homely vibe. ‘Our office has really come into its own recently. Peter and I have both been working from home and, with two young children, things could have been really stressful,’ she says. ‘At the end of the day, we can just close the door, and that helps keep our work-life balance, too.’

Lydia wanted the desk area to be symmetrical, and comfortable for both her and Peter to use at the same time. She chose twin green velvet chairs for their supportive shape and plush look

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Good oidladedaer,!trailed

o Lydia’s bamb ener y softens re g ll with faux aks up the wa the room, bre n interesting and makes a feature. decorative

Mounted by the door, so it’s always in sight, a nifty wall-file is handy for keeping track of important paperwork.

Lydia added personalised, stick-on labels so things stay well-organised

OFFICE MAKEOVER Lydia increased storage with a smart sideboard opposite the main work area. The cupboards, which have a similar, textured finish to the wall units, can take A4 files, and the neat centre drawer is perfect for stationery

ROOM PLAN

2.8M

2.8M

THE DETAILS £12

PAINT DRAWERS & WALL UNITS

£306 £55

WORKTOP SIDEBOARD

£280

CHAIRS

£238

TOTAL

£891

shopping list Leyland Trade colour-matched 350ml tester pots, £3.99 each, Decorating Centre Online. Metod 60 x 60 x 37cm wall units, £19 each; Laxviken doors, £30 each; Alex drawer units, £55 each; Hilver bamboo support leg, £13; Kvissle wall newspaper rack; £15, Billsbro handles, £4 for two, all IKEA. Handles sprayed with Rust-Oleum Universal Multi-Surface spray paint in Gold, £15 per 400ml, B&Q. Wall file labels, from £1.25 each, Home Label Collection.

Moduleo Impress Laurel oak flooring, £32.99 per sq m, Steve’s Carpets. Primrose dining armchair in Forest Green with Natural/Gold Tip legs, £119 each, Cult Furniture. Swansea sideboard, £279.99; Burano Gypsum pendant light, £59.99, both Beliani. Antigua window shutters, £142, Simon Paul Shutters. Bamboo linen rack, £29, Tikamoon. Searchlight Sphere floor lamp, £95, Pagazzi. Warren round mirror, £33, Maisons Du Monde. Jungle art print, £25, Sarah Shelley Art. Dreamer floor mat, compact, £125, Totter + Tumble.

3 OF THE BEST... concrete lamps £23 from Iconic Lights Style a sideboard display with a trendy, exposed-bulb table lamp for a vintage, industrial vibe.

£23

£59 from Housecosy Pale natural wood gives the concrete Maddox pendant fitting a Scandi feel, perfect for modern, minimal schemes.

£65

£65 from Garden Trading Ticking the boxes for both practicality and style, the Millbank task lamp is adjustable in height and has a sleek, slimline design.

£59

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OFFICE MAKEOVER

An unused room is now my creative haven Lisa Thompson transformed a neglected dining room into a calming office filled with a mix of vintage finds and budget-friendly buys Rich chocolate walls teamed with a hint of pink, plus a tactile mix of metallic and timber tones, ensure Lisa’s new-look office is a warm and welcoming place to work

D

espite having lived in their threebedroom, Kent home with daughters, Milly and Daisy, for nearly two years, Lisa, 44, and Graham Thompson, 49, had never quite got around to decorating their dated dining room. ‘When we first moved in, our priority was a large kitchen-diner extension, so, with the dining room pretty much redundant and more pressing updates required elsewhere, it was far too easy for it to just become a dumping ground,’ explains Lisa.

However, having opted to work from home, her attention soon turned to the dining room when looking for much-needed workspace.

STEP ONE Lisa’s first task was to strip the room of its drab wallpaper and dingy carpet.

‘Sadly, removing the old painted wood chip paper took its toll on the ageing plaster – especially around the bay window,’ says Lisa.

So, rather than spend days trying to make good the crumbling walls, the couple decided to simply re-plaster throughout. They also took the opportunity to add a few extra power points, before laying smart, hard-wearing, timber flooring. ‘We have the same floor in the hallway and new extension, so thought it would be nice to carry it through,’ says Lisa.

STEP TWO Not usually one for neutrals, the inspiration for Lisa’s bold chocolate-hued walls was all down to her favourite online

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Good idea !

Spra container y-painted cans a n s tidies and make inexpensiv d your sch can be finished e desk eme to s shades to . Lisa chose meta uit llic offset b blush ton rown and es.

Smart shutters ensure privacy while still allowing light to flood the room for a well-lit workspace.

The couple saved money by buying online, at a discounted price, and also took advantage of the measuring advice for a bespoke fit

Goodwitidhouetath!e fuss,

For flowers sting dried displays verla n check out e -made bouquets for a , y a d a is L re ke – buy ement or, li m g n a r r a t n o insta d stems fr gather drie rden. the ga store, Rockett St. George. ‘Their Instagram is full of dark, moody colours and eclectic pieces – and, while I hadn’t been brave enough to replicate the look in the main family rooms, I thought the office would be the perfect place to experiment!’ she explains. The result proved even better than Lisa imagined and gave her the confidence to paint the skirting boards to match. The tired bay window and surround were refreshed with a lick of light-enhancing white paint and finished with practical shutters, which the couple fitted themselves.

OFFICE MAKEOVER

total cost £2,233

Feature Paula Woods Styling Jo Rigg Photos Sussie Bell

A hard-wearing, flatweave rug adds cosiness underfoot while being durable enough for everyday use

February 2021

33

OFFICE MAKEOVER Lisa’s generously proportioned, stripped pine cupboard is a useful place to house all her office paraphernalia

Good idea !

Wall stic to instan kers are a great tly wa introduce brighten up wall y s a also be e theme – they ca or asily rem oved whe n you fancy a change n .

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OFFICE MAKEOVER

Lisa added some relaxed seating and soft furnishings to keep the look cosy and comfortable, rather than solely work-orientated

ROOM PLAN

2.8M

3.3M

THE DETAILS

Although Lisa mainly furnished the room with second-hand pieces, she has also added finishing touches from the high street, including this handy set of modular organisers from Lakeland to keep her office bits and bobs organised

PAINT & WALL STICKER

£140

SEATING

£107

FURNITURE

£445 £36

SMALL STORAGE FLOORING

£885

SHUTTERS

£579

LIGHTING

£41

TOTAL

£2,233

shopping list STEP THREE When it came to furnishing

STEP FOUR Lisa did decide to invest in

the room, Lisa already had the perfect desk in mind. ‘I originally bought my £95 Habitat table for the hallway, but when it proved too big I decided to keep it anyway – which was just as well, as it’s no longer available and I doubt I’d have found another that fitted the bay window so well,’ she says. A secondhand pine cupboard, spotted during a visit to friends, now holds all her office essentials, and the metal chairs and vintage bench were found on eBay. ‘Online auctions are great for bargains, although buying vintage does require patience – I’m still on the lookout for the perfect bookcase for the wall by the door, but I’d rather wait and find something unique than simply buy new,’ she says.

some new pieces when accessorising her newlook room, though. ‘I think mixing things up helps add character to a room,’ she says. So, it was never in doubt that a trip to IKEA for a tactile jute rug and seagrass shade would also result in a few more finds, including plenty of storage boxes and baskets, plus the striking floral wall sticker that now adorns one wall.

‘I must admit it was a bit of an impulse buy, but I felt the room really needed a little pattern and colour – and, along with my pink cushions and favourite Hockney print, I think it’s worked a treat,’ she says. Some quick DIY desk tidies were then all that was needed to complete the new room, which Lisa now describes as her ‘ideal work environment.’

3 OF THE BEST... rosy metallics £10 for two from George Home Busy schedule? Faux succulents in sleek copper pots are an easy, no-maintenance way to add greenery to a home office.

Walls and skirting painted in Chimney Brick absolute emulsion, £47 per 2.5L, and intelligent eggshell, £32 per litre, Little Greene. Kinnared Peony decorative sticker, £6; Lohals natural rug, £80; Torared seagrass pendant shade; £13, Flådis seagrass basket, £13; Kuggis white storage boxes, £13 each, all IKEA. Plastikote gloss spray paint in Gold, £5.79 per 400ml; Brilliant Metallic spray paint in Copper and Silver, £6.99 per 400ml, both B&M. Made-to-measure shutters, from £168 per sq m, California Shutters. Palazzo Frosted Oak oiled hardwood flooring, £88.50 per sq m, Quick-Step. Vintage stripped pine tallboy, £350, Richard Amos 18 The High Street. Tolix-style industrial dining chairs in Vintage Copper, £36 each; vintage folding bench, £35, both eBay. Tatay Baobab fourpiece tray organiser, £9.99, Lakeland. Pink folders, £2.50 each, Hema. Velvet and linen rectangular cushions in Blush, £20 each, Cox & Cox. Bamboo battery lantern, £27.99, Lights4Fun. Dried wreath, £20, Blooms & Candy. Metal ribbed vase, £10, H&M Home.

David Hockney print, £10, Tate Shop.

£59.99

£50

£59.99 for two from Beautify Clear the clutter in a small office with spacesaving stackable storage. With rose-gold clasps, these are on-trend as well as practical.

£50 for three from Very Group different-sized vases in a mix of tonal hues and metallics to add subtle colour and interest to a neutral scheme.

£10

February 2021

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February 2021

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STYLE ADVICE

Savvy ways to score

BUDGET-FRIENDLY DÉCOR Give your house a refresh with our achievable decorating ideas

R

edecorating your home is pricey, right?

Wrong! Or at least it doesn’t have to break the bank with our money-saving tips and expert guidance. In this round-up, you’ll find lots of simple, low-cost ways to refresh your space, such as upcycling furniture, painting tiles and do-it-yourself ideas. So, read on for 12 ways to update your décor with affordable pieces that don’t skimp on style or quality.

Switch up SOFT

FURNISHINGS If buying a new sofa is out of the question at the moment, then that doesn’t mean you can’t change up the style and colours of your soft furnishings in the meantime. You can find so many bargain cushions and throws in high street stores like Dunelm, Wilko and TK Maxx.

Or go for these cosy accessories from George Home’s Folk collection.

Bee vase, £10; Check cushion, £7; Waffle cushion, £7; Ditsy floral cushion, £6; Aloe in yellow planter, £9; Scandi bird cushion, £6; Tassel cushion, £7; Cosy check throw, £17; Seagrass basket, £8; Linear Berber rug, from £40; Knitted tassel throw, £25, all George Home

Lay down

A RUG

New flooring can be a costly expense, so rather than forking out a fortune for a real oak finish, why not cover the room with an area rug or a few smaller rugs in strategic places instead? It will add a whole new look to your living space, plus your purse will thank you for it!

Jesse faux hide rug, £110, Next

Upcycle your

FURNITURE

Delphi blue and white geometric style 100 per cent cotton printed rug, £19.99, Homescapes

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A £10 pot of paint is a small price to pay when it means you can do up your old furniture to make it look as good as new. Whether you want to redecorate a chest of drawers or a dining room table, all you need is a lick of chalk paint to give it an upcycled upgrade.

Chalky finish furniture paint in Slate Grey, £10 per 750ml, Wilko

STYLE ADVICE

Upgrade your

DOOR HANDLES It may be a small change but adding a new set of doorknobs can make a big difference to worn-out doors and cabinets in an instant – especially if they’re as beautiful as this colourful design from Homebase.

Sandleford Como ceramic mortice knob set, £22, Homebase

Repurpose a LADDER

Have you got an old ladder hanging around? Don’t just reserve it for climbing into the loft – make a feature of it. Wooden ladders are the most versatile, but even a silver metal one can work, as there’s no reason why you can’t paint it to co-ordinate with the rest of the room. Or, if you don’t have a ladder to hand, you can buy an affordable stylish wooden one from Cuckooland or Next – they’re just the thing for hanging towels in the bathroom or using as a magazine rack in your lounge.

Zuiver metal ladder magazine rack, £69, Cuckooland

Tile a SPLASHBACK

Investing in a new splashback can be expensive, so save a few pounds and give your kitchen bespoke style by tiling it yourself. Be as creative and colourful as you like – check out Original Style’s 2021 collection (above) for some inspiration, we love its edging designs.

Feature Sophie Demetriades

Wall and floor tiles, from £1.64 per tile, Original Style

Bamboo ladder, £30, Next

Mr Jones grey pattern wall and floor tile in Grey and Azure Blue, £17.99 per sq m, Tile Mountain

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STYLE ADVICE

Paint your TILES

Bored of your plain white bathroom tiles but don’t want to spend a fortune on new ones or deal with the hassle of retiling? Then have a go at painting them instead. Annie Sloan has a huge selection of paints that are suitable for this type of surface.

Plus, if you feel like getting even more creative then you can buy some of the brand-new stencils and make a completely original design.

Plaster-effect wall in Antoinette, tiles in Olive, Duck Egg Blue, Athenian Black and Old White chalk paint, from £5.95 for 120ml; Chalk paint lacquer, £21.95 for 750ml, all Annie Sloan

Hyacinth storage bin, from £8, Matalan

Organise with STYLISH STORAGE

An easy, budget-friendly and useful update for your home is using pretty storage baskets to arrange your bits and bobs. With these ones from Dunelm to hand, you’ll be able to bring style and organisation to your space.

Rush natural storage basket, £18; Wicker natural storage basket, £22; Natural belly storage basket, £10; Macramé cream storage basket, £12, all Dunelm

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Hang wonderful WALL ART

Whether it’s a gallery wall or a few one-off pieces, strategically placing your favourite artwork and prints around your home can make a big difference when doing up your digs.

Abstract line face No.2 poster, from £8.95; Green palm leaf poster, from £8.95; Leaf pattern poster, from £8.95, all Desenio

Pink flowers bloom art print, £15, Abstract House

STYLE ADVICE

DIY with WALLPAPER

Save money on getting a professional to decorate your walls and do it yourself with our expert guide on applying wallpaper. Head over to yourhomestyle.uk for our how-to tutorial.

Semi-gloss Tropez Jacobean wallpaper in Coral/Grey, £16.99 per roll, Wayfair Dareau woodland wallpaper, £16.99 per roll, Wayfair

Add personality with OPEN SHELVING

A display of carefully curated ornaments and sentimental pieces is a cheap and cheerful way to redecorate with items you already have. Go shopping in your own home for any forgotten treasures – look for pieces in co-ordinating colours and contrasting textures for a harmonious result.

North shelf, £34.95, Beaumonde

Shop SECOND-HAND

Remember, one person’s trash is another’s treasure, so you may be surprised with what you discover in second-hand stores. Charity shops are great for finding items that are still high-quality but for an affordable price. Plus, if you shop second-hand then you’ll not only be giving money for a good cause, but you’ll also be doing your bit for the planet by recycling preloved furniture.

Donated cabinet, from £25, British Heart Foundation. Chalk Paint in Oxford Navy, from £5.95 per 120ml; Bright gold gilding wax, from £6.95 per 15ml, both Annie Sloan

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DECORATING IDEAS

30 EASY UPDATES UNDER £30 Bargain buys for every room in your home – all £30 or less!

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ive your home a spruce-up without lifting a finger! Refresh your existing décor the purse-friendly way with a few on-trend key pieces – we’ve tracked down the most stylish must-haves for every room, and all for £30 and under.

These rustic mugs have a hand-dipped finish so no two are alike Elzora mug set, £24 for four, Habitat Try the dramatic interiors trend with accessories in striking black and white Urban Paradise collection, from £2, B&M

Give guests a stylish reception and keep a hallway clutter-free – this eye-catching sign has handy hooks Wooden welcome hooks, £10, Matalan

Elevate greenery in a gold hammered plant pot and stand with a high-end look Small gold hammered flowerpot with stand, £14.50, Beaumonde Layer cushions and throws in coastal shades for a bright and breezy living room scheme Blue tassel serenity cushion, £10, B&M

Display a pair of prized plants in an eye-catching, colour-block hanger Stripe double seagrass hanging planter, £14.50, Oliver Bonas

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Finish off a calming scheme with framed artwork in soft, tonal shades Abstract framed panel, £30, Cox & Cox

DECORATING IDEAS

Bring holiday vibes to your bathroom with leaf motifs for a tropical hotel feel on a budget Banana leaf shower curtain, £12, Dunelm

Group this botanicprint vase with glass and ceramics to create a luxe sideboard display Agra printed vase, £12, Habitat

Woven, pompomtrimmed coasters will add colour and texture to your coffee table Pompom trim coasters, £15 for four, Amara

Hang this easy-fit, sculptural wooden shade for a designer lighting look without the price tag Lenko wooden pendant shade, £28, Iconic Lights

For a splash of green without the upkeep, pick zero-maintenance faux Golden barrel artificial cactus, £12.99, Homescapes

Feature Michelle Grady

Switch existing knobs for quirky gold ones for an easy upcycle.

They’ll really pop against a chest of drawers painted in a moody dark hue Gold buffalo door knob, £10 each, Ella James

A lidded basket in smart, two-tone neutrals will keep things neat Large Beckley storage basket, £25, Garden Trading

Mix and match pretty decorative glasses in jewel tones for a vintage vibe Joy glasses, £11 each, Know & Love February 2021

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DECORATING IDEAS Set the table with minimal wooden plates and bowls for a modern take on country dining Wooden bowls and plates, from £3.50, Primark

Add colour to a little one’s room with budget-friendly wall stickers, which can be easily repositioned or removed Rainbow and raindrops wall sticker set in Pink Mix, £15, Bobby Rabbit There’ll be no squabbling over the cushions with this colour-pop appliqué initial design Alphabet cushion, £8, Sainsbury’s Home

This elegant vase with a sleek iridescent glaze will harmonise with any colour scheme Fnittrig vase, £9, IKEA

Introduce a new, unexpected print, as with this leopard duvet set in a floral bedroom, to give your existing décor a maximalist twist Leopard print duvet set, from £10, Matalan 44

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Bring a little French boudoir chic to your bedroom with an antique-look bevelled mirror Small Villandry bevelled mirror, £9.95, Rex London

Look out for two-in-one pieces for maximum value, like this geometric side table that doubles up as stylish storage Black metal side table with detachable wooden top, £28, Live Laugh Love

Go boho with a tasseladorned macramé hanging shelf for displaying plants, decorative vases and framed prints Macramé hanging wall shelf, £29.50, Oliver Bonas

Treat your feet to a smaller version of a classic Berber-style rug with this fluffy, diamond mat Diamonds bath mat, £25, Amara

For a small lamp that makes a big style statement, go for this trendy terrazzo number Asim terrazzo lamp, £30, där lighting

Keep comfy snuggled up in this lightweight, 100 per cent sustainably sourced cotton duvet set Vägtåg duvet set, £17, IKEA

Boost your culinary confidence with an inspiring slogan tea towel Tiger tea towel, £14, Natural History Museum

This arty abstract throw in pink and taupe is double-sided for when you fancy a quick change Abstract reversible throw, £30, Sweetpea & Willow

DECORATING IDEAS

Add a hand-printed rug for a boho, travelinspired scheme, made in recycled cotton yarn on traditional handlooms Cotton rug in Terracotta, Black and Brown, £9.99, Homescapes Simply swapping a tired-looking blind for this Scandi-style design will freshen up a neutral room Scandi Birds roller blind in Blue and White, from £24.10, English Blinds

February 2021

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BUYER’S GUIDE

8 OF THE BEST:

Cookers

Read on for our expert guide on purchasing the perfect cooker for your needs

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cooker should last for years to come, so it needs to be durable, high-quality and suited to you to ensure it’s a worthy investment. But before you go ahead and splash the cash, check out our must-read advice on what to consider before you buy.

First and foremost, you should begin your search by deciding whether you want a gas or an electric cooker. In general, gas cookers tend to be less costly, which makes them more appealing if you’re on a tight budget, but an electric oven will give you more control over temperatures and cooking areas.

However, although the initial investment is more expensive, a good compromise would be a dual-fuel cooker as this can use gas and electric so you get the best of both worlds. Lauren Clark, Large Appliance Expert at AO.com explains what you should consider: ‘To decide on the fuel type, you need to think about what your kitchen is set up to cater for, but also your cooking style. For example, if you bake then an electric cooker may be preferable as it distributes heat evenly. Whereas, if you’re an avid cook then a gas or induction hob might be more suitable as these are similar to those used in a professional kitchen.’

Jargon busters

Confused by conventional heating and catalytic liners? This glossary translates the puzzling terminology…

Circulaire fan This type of fan can reduce cooking time by up to 20 per cent. The consistent circulation means you can cook different things at the same time without a crossover of flavours.

Conventional heating

This kind of oven has two heating elements that warm the air inside the oven and cook food by blanketing it in a layer of heat. Usually an inexpensive option.

Minute minder A timer on your oven that will ring when the set cooking time is up.

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Another vital point to consider is whether you’d like an integrated or free-standing model.

An integrated cooker will give your kitchen a sleek and stylish look, however any repairs can prove difficult as you’d have to take apart your worktop to get to the oven. Free-standing versions tend to be cheaper and easier to install and repair as they slot easily into a modular kitchen design. You’ll also need to figure out what size the cooker will need to be so it fits comfortably in your kitchen.

Energy efficiency is especially important if you’re trying to keep your utility costs down. An A or AA rated model is best for this, and even though you might be paying more for the cooker to start with, you’ll be making huge savings on your monthly bills, and be lending a helping hand to the environment.

You should also consider which features will benefit you. ‘There’s a whole host of technology to look out for,’ says Lauren, ‘you can find various features such as steam cooking and temperature probes; it all depends on how seriously you take your cooking. There are now even ‘smart’ ovens where you can keep an eye on food without even opening the door – it’s all done on your phone!’

HOTPOINT CANNON CH60DHKF DOUBLE DUAL FUEL COOKER IN BLACK, £579.99, ARGOS This Hotpoint model’s catalytic liners will work wonders when it comes to keeping the inside of the oven clean. Toastie-making is also made simple with its Solar Plus Grill, which will give off high-intensity heat for extra crispy meals.

• Minute minder • Catalytic liners • Two ovens • Electric grill • Four-zone gas burner hob

Catalytic liners These are rough surfaces inside an oven that are designed to catch and break down food spills so that you don’t get a build-up of grease and grime while cooking.

Ceramic hob These hobs have heating elements underneath a glass surface that warm up and transfer the heat to the hob.

Easy to clean and work with any type of pan.

Induction hob An induction coil beneath the hob transfers heat directly to the pan – it’s as quick as gas, and the hob surface itself remains cool. Requires iron-based pans such as stainless steel.

JLFSMC621 DOUBLE DUAL FUEL COOKER IN SILVER, £849, JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS From straightforward dinners to fancy dishes, this oven has you covered. It features plenty of space for cooking several meals at once and has a programmable timer so there’s no chance of burning your favourite meals!

• Two electric ovens • Four oven shelves • Four gas hobs of various sizes • Energy rating: A • Adjustable electric grill

COOKMASTER CK90C230 ELECTRIC RANGE COOKER, FROM £929.99, LEISURE Although this may be at the higher end of the price range, this electric cooker ticks all the boxes in terms of function and style. You can choose from three aesthetically pleasing finishes including black, cream and silver, plus if you’re a keen cook then the extra hob and oven space will fulfil all of your culinary needs.

investment

buy

• Two ovens • Separate grill • Five-zone ceramic hob • Catalytic liners to catch grease in the oven • Fan cooking with even heat distribution

CHEFMASTER CC100F521 DUAL FUEL RANGE COOKER, £1,049, LEISURE This model is a dream for all enthusiastic cooks.

You’ll have everything you could possibly need and then some with this cooker. It has an AA energy rating that will cut costs on your bills – you’ll be hard pushed to find a cooker as highquality for the price.

• Three ovens • Conventional heating • Slowcooker setting • Dedicated grill • Wok burner

AEG CCB6740AC FREE-STANDING ELECTRIC COOKER, £659, JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS This quick-to-heat double oven will ensure there’s an even temperature throughout for consistent cooking and it has more than enough room for saucepans of all sizes on the hob, too.

BEKO ADC5422AW ELECTRIC COOKER WITH CERAMIC HOB, £239, AO.COM

HOTPOINT NEWSTYLE HAE60K DOUBLE OVEN ELECTRIC COOKER WITH CERAMIC HOB, £349.99,VERY

ZANUSSI ZCI66050BA ELECTRIC COOKER WITH INDUCTION HOB, £669, AO.COM

With A-rated energy efficiency, a handy grill and an electric conventional oven, you’ll be able to experiment in the kitchen while keeping your utility costs low.

In need of an oven with enough room to feed a large family? This electric Hotpoint cooker is up to the task with its two ovens and ceramic hob.

This model features Thermaflow technology which uses a fan to circulate hot air so that the flavours don’t transfer between different dishes.

• 65-litre main oven capacity • 45-litre top oven capacity with integrated grill • Four-zone ceramic hob • Energy rating: B • Circulaire fan

• Energy rating: A • Induction hob • Thermaflow technology • Enamel interior to absorb grease • Electric oven and grill

• Energy rating: A • Separate grill • Electric oven • Ceramic four-zone hob • Grill pan included

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Feature Sophie Demetriades

• Minute minder • Conventional heating • Three oven shelves • Four-zone hob • Two ovens

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Kitchens

Be inspired by this month’s standout tiles and super luxe textiles

& BATHROOMS Bathtime bliss Create a spacious, minimalist bathroom with Matki’s range of contemporary bath screens. Forget old-fashioned, soggy shower curtains, bath screens are a practical and aesthetically pleasing way of keeping shower spray to a minimum. Matki’s bath screens are designed with functionality in mind, offering leakproof seals and easily manoeuvrable panels that can move inward or outward. There are five metal finishes to choose from including polished nickel and gold, and you can even opt for an unconventional bronze tinted glass for an ultra-luxe look.

EauZone plus double panel bath screen, from £778.80, Matki.

All-time dry There’s nothing better than the feeling of a soft, fluffy towel when you step out of the shower. Made from the purest Egyptian cotton, Hampton and Astley’s new Indulgently Thick range is designed to be extra thick and luxurious – you won’t want to unwrap yourself! Not only do the towels please our tactile senses, but they’re practical, too. Super absorbent and highly durable, you’ll keep these around for years to come.

Choose from a range of colours including pure white, subtle grey and charcoal pink. A seven-piece set includes a bath sheet, two bath towels, two hand towels and two face cloths and costs £94.99.

HOT FOR HEXAGONS Give your home a modern update with the new Kromatika wall and floor tiles from Tile Mountain.

If you’re looking to break the square or rectangular tile mould, these hexagonal tiles are a striking option that slot together seamlessly for a beehive-like pattern. With seven soft shades to choose from, the design options are endless. For a muted but stunning finish, go monochrome or if you have a more vibrant home style, why not combine two or three of the hues? Rosa Pink pairs beautifully with pale grey or white.

Priced at £39.95 per sq m.

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Drink up Known for its instantly recognisable blue and white design, Falcon Enamelware has introduced two new limited edition colourways to its 3 pint jug and tumbler range: Pale Lilac and Mineral Blue (pictured). Created to complement the entire range of Falcon colours, you can mix and match these contemporary hues with the classics for a bright and playful tablescape. What’s more, the hardwearing enamelware is designed to stand the test of time so you can be sure it’s an investment worth making. 3 pint jug, £34, and tumbler, £7, falconenamelware.com.

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KITCHEN IDEAS

EASY UPDATES When you don’t have the time or money for a whole new kitchen refit, these DIY solutions will give the room a new look for less

Simply putting up some shelves can inject new life into your kitchen.

An open system is ideal for displaying ceramics, crockery or glassware while metal frames suit contemporary, industrial and modern spaces

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Industrial style iron wall unit, £250, Cox & Cox

aving a completely new kitchen takes a lot of time, hassle and let’s face it, cash. But if you’re keen on creating a bit of a change this spring, there are plenty of ways to refresh and revive everything from tired old units to splashbacks, tiles, flooring, window dressings and more. Even a few carefully chosen accessories and finishing touches can make all the difference and the best thing of all is that they can be done yourself so there’s no need to call in the professionals, which adds to the time and cost. So get yourself organised, take inspiration from these fabulous ideas and you’ll have a whole new look in no time.

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Rather than splashing out on a new sink, this bright red washing up bowl will cheer you up while scrubbing the dishes, plus adds a fun pop of colour Red rubber washing up bowl, £48, Red Candy

KITCHEN IDEAS

Hang a new oven glove and tea towel on the cooker door, hooks or a peg rail for a speedy kitchen pickme-up

If you have existing cabinets that are in need of a refresh, check out Custom Fronts. They design and make stylish fronts to fit a range of units. Choose from wood veneers as well as coloured options, all made from FSC certified, eco-friendly Nordic birch ply Small kitchen doors, handles, panels and plinths, from £1,000, Custom Fronts

Mackerel double oven glove, £25, Witts Design

Add new pieces of furniture, when budget allows, to build up an increasingly practical workspace with extra storage.

This trolley comes flatpacked or fully assembled at an extra cost, for a handy kitchen update Kitchen Compact Trolley, £250, T&G Woodware

Create an instant splashback by painting the area behind the sink. This new paint collection is non-hazardous and ecofriendly with low VOC, plus it’s made in the UK and comes in 35 different shades Proper Good Paint in Birdie’s Grey, £46 for 2.5L emulsion, Ca’ Pietra

FOCAL POINT

Feature Hayley Gilbert

‘Often people think they need to paint a whole room but if you only want a little refresh then you can just paint a small area. Your eyes will be drawn to this update when you walk into the space and it helps breathe life into a room.’

Hamish Smith, Creative Director at Ca’ Pietra

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KITCHEN IDEAS Add extra storage in unused wall space. This will help keep surfaces clutter-free and help you store everyday items close to hand, especially if you choose a combination of open and closed shelving and cabinets Enhet wall storage combination in Anthracite/White, £150.50, IKEA

Use open shelving to display ceramic mugs.

These seventies-style designs have a handmade finish, so each is unique Alpine Chalet mugs, £35 for a set of six, Spicer & Wood

Set aside a weekend and give kitchen cabinets a fresh lick of paint.

To break it down into manageable steps, tackle the wall cupboards one week and the base units the next. With chalk paint there’s no need for sanding or priming so you can crack straight on Cabinets in a mix of Emperor’s Silk and Aubusson Blue Chalk Paint, £21.95 for 1L, Annie Sloan

These tiles may be on the expensive side, but if you use just a few of these graphic designs in a small space then you can keep the cost down and make an eye-catching stylish statement in your kitchen. Use them to create a splashback behind the cooker, hob or sink, or add them behind open shelving Popham Design tiles, £175 per sq m, Day True

When space allows, splash out on sleek new dining furniture. Tables and benches are really practical as you can fit more bums on seats – perfect for families Edelweiss dining table and bench set in oak and black, £499, MADE

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QUICK FIX ‘With a partner and no interruptions, you could update your kitchen cabinets in a weekend. Let the chalk paint dry overnight then wax or lacquer it the next day. You can paint all kinds of kitchen cabinets, including laminate, just apply a diluted coat first to ensure the paint grips to the surface.’

Annie Sloan, Colour and Paint Expert at Annie Sloan

KITCHEN IDEAS Spruce up your worktop with smart new appliances. A matching toaster and kettle set needn’t break the bank and can brighten your space, especially if you pick up new cookware and utensils, too Contemporary four slice matt white toaster, £45; Contemporary 1.7L 3kW matt white jug kettle, £35, both Dunelm

Bring the outdoors in with luscious houseplants. Look out for plants that can handle humidity and low light ZZ plant medium, £24, Leaf Envy

SUBTLE OR STANDOUT? ‘When choosing cabinet handles, think about whether you want them to be an accent on their own or to match seamlessly with units and fittings such as light switches and taps.’

Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, Coowner at Dowsing & Reynolds

Metallic pull handles make a statement while Scandiinspired leather designs wear more easily so are best suited to less busy areas Onda metal pull handle in tarnished copper, £13.99; Magni large leather handle in light tan, £16.99, both Dowsing & Reynolds

Fitting new window dressings is an easy way to add a pop of colour to the kitchen. Pick up on accent colours within the room to bring the look together Emma Bridgewater Large Hens Roman blind, from £31.80, Blinds 2go

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BATHROOM PROBLEM ROOM

Our nineties nightmare is Lisa and Gerry Barton upgraded their awkwardly-shaped, dated bathroom

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INSIDER INFO WHO LIVES HERE? Lisa Barton, a Consultant Headteacher, lives here with her husband Gerry, Director of timber company chilterntimber.co.uk. The house is a five-bed built in the nineties in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE ROOM? I love the textured brick-slip wall tiles behind the bath as they add depth and character to the room. I also love the French-style mirror – it looks like an open window and fills the room with light.

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH YOUR OLD BATHROOM? The previous bathroom was dated as it was put in when the house was built in the nineties. The coral tiles strutted out over the arch wall that surrounded the conventional bath with dark wooden panelling and a white fan-shaped pedestal basin.

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hen Lisa and Gerry Barton moved to their mock-Tudor, five-bedroom property in Hertfordshire, they inherited a tired, dated bathroom that was installed when the house was built in the nineties. ‘There was a white fan-shaped pedestal basin with glossy coral-coloured tiles that strutted out over an arched wall that surrounded the fitted bath. The bath had a dark-wood panel, which cast a moody, crowded feel over the whole room,’ says Lisa.

Having spent some time doing research, they visited a local company, Hawk Kitchens & Bathrooms, to discuss their ideas and arranged a site visit with their designer. ‘We already had an en suite shower room, so decided to just have a bath in here,’ says Lisa.

‘We updated the en suite and downstairs cloakroom at the same time, which involved reconfiguring the plumbing in all three bathrooms – it was a bit like having the house built all over again. This had to be done in

stages, so we were never without a toilet. The team at Hawk Kitchens & Bathrooms were superb and managed everything in all three upgrades, from underfloor heating, plumbing and installation, to tiling, joinery, electrical works and decorating. They also came up with some great storage ideas, too.’

In terms of design, Lisa was keen to keep the bath in the same place and to create further space and light. The previous tiled archway was demolished in favour of tongue-and-groove panels supplied from Gerry’s timber company and painted in a dark contrasting colour. ‘Being a huge fan of Neptune furniture, my starting point for the bathroom was its Chichester vanity unit that I had admired in the showroom,’ says Lisa. ‘My aim was to create a boutique hotel feel with double sinks for us to use each morning.’

To complement the soft natural colours and textures, Lisa opted for a smoked oak floor tile with underfloor heating and a

Twin basins rest on a countertop finished in natural oak in a double washstand – this provides ample storage for two people. The large mirror reflects light and the wall-mounted brassware maintains a feeling of space

BATHROOM PROBLEM ROOM

now a luxe sanctuary with classic modern fixtures and a brick feature wall for a timeless look Fashionable taps date quickly, so Lisa stuck to a simple, stainless-steel design for her floor-standing bath filler, which contrasts beautifully with the brick-slip tiled wall

Lisa paired a contemporary bath with a free-standing tap to create a boutique hotel feel. The feature brickwork wall is made from brick-slip tiles – these thin slivers of real brick are a fast, stylish alternative to the real thing

As well as the central chandelier pendant, there are spotlights and a pair of wall lamps either side of the mirror above the bespoke double washstand

chandelier that complies with water safety regulations, adding elegance to the room. ‘We discovered a great lighting shop, Yuvilite, where we selected a chandelier – they arranged for it to be adapted for bathroom use,’ adds Lisa.

High up on her wish list was a brickwork feature wall behind the bath. ‘Unfortunately, the bath is near a stud wall, which meant exposing bricks wasn’t an option. Our designer suggested brick-slip wall tiles – they look just like the real thing and they’ve made a real impact in the space.’

To disguise the plumbing works for the WC, a double window sill has been crafted using solid oak window boards supplied by Gerry’s timber company and Hawk Kitchens & Bathrooms joinery. The project was completed in just four weeks. ‘The bath fits perfectly in the opened-up alcove,’ concludes Lisa. ‘I repositioned a French-style mirror that we already had, and it looks perfect – it reminds me of an open window on the brickwork tiles, which adds another dimension to the space.

After a hard day, it’s lovely to relax in a candlelit bath under a chandelier.

Bagno floor-mounted bath spout with hand shower, £1,495, BagnoDesign.

Neptune Chichester large countertop washstand painted in Shell including basins, £1,315; Neptune Chichester mirror painted in Shell, £290; Subway wall-hung rimless WC and soft close seat, £649; Concealed cistern frame and flush plate in Brushed Chrome, £360, all Villeroy & Boch. Wall-mounted basin mixers, £1,342; Neptune Brunswick warm white shade wall lights, £106; BagnoDesign toilet roll holder, £30; panelling paint in Neptune’s Shale and walls in Neptune’s Shell, £38 for 2.5L each; Clearwater free-standing bath, £2,245, all Hawk Kitchens & Bathrooms.

Adur curved radiator in polished stainless steel, £578, JIS. Brick-slip wall tiles, £55.50 per sq m, Brick Slips.

Westminster smoked oak wood-effect floor tiles, £50 per sq m, BC Ceramics.

1.2m sheets moisture-resistant tongue and groove primed MDF, £46; 26mm solid oak window boards, from £30, both Chiltern Timber. Water-treated crystal chandelier, £285, Yuvilite. For a similar French-style mirror, try large cream arched window wall mirror, £101.95, Flora Furniture.

total cost:

£9,709

February 2021

Feature Natalie Flaum Photos Alison Hammond

shopping list

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BATHROOM IDEAS

MADE FOR TWO Create a stylish and practical en suite space by pairing carefully chosen fittings with clutter-busting storage solutions

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BATHROOM IDEAS

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haring a bathroom with a partner means accommodating each other’s tastes and preferences while ensuring you can both move around comfortably when using it at the same time. Choose and carefully position fixtures to suit the available space, maximise storage with built-in furniture, and work out ways to give yourselves a degree of privacy when you need it, as well as how you can enjoy relaxing in the room together.

Ideal for small bathrooms, this innovative warmer has an integrated, fold-down heated shelf so that damp towels can be dried independently from those being stored Comby 1200mm towel warmer in chrome, £369, Vogue UK

Every inch counts in a compact en suite, so opt for space-saving wall-hung modular furniture that frees up the floor Smyle 600mm washbasin, £189; Hickory basin unit, £647; semi-tall cabinet, £504; low open cabinet,

£268, all Geberit

Super soft, highly absorbent bath towels at a great price – what’s not to like?

Dark green bath towels, £17.99 for two, H&M Home

PRACTICAL MATTERS ‘Balance your practical needs like applying make-up and shaving alongside the right level of accent lighting. Keep it simple: pair ceiling spotlights with classic-style wall lights that will not only complement your furniture, but also provide task lighting for essential personal grooming and beautification.’

James Stevenson, Creative Director at Imperial Bathrooms

Twin basins with vanity units underneath give you both room for brushing teeth and washing your face, while keeping all your kit neatly out of sight. You can add more units as your storage needs expand Pearl basins, £310 each; Infinity Matt

Feature Andrea Dean

Black 500mm single drawer unit with Windsor oak worktop, £1,195; 200mm base unit, £420; 200mm wall unit, £230; MPRO basin two-hole set in brushed brass, £339 each; Infinity mirrors, £165

each, all Crosswater Avoid morning queues by doubling up with identical side-by-side showers in a walk-in enclosure or wet room The Dawlish recessed shower in rose gold incorporates a premium fixed head and flexible riser, £850, Heritage Bathrooms

A simple stool provides a handy space to pop a towel while in the tub or shower Wooden stool, £14, Homesense February 2021

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BATHROOM IDEAS

TUB TO SHARE

An ultra-wide basin lends an elegant, modern touch and looks striking teamed with understated linear furniture 1,200mm wash basin, £806; floorstanding side units, from £1,294, from the Edition 90 collection, Keuco

‘Double-ended designs are the best option if you’re looking for a bath for two as the waste and taps are usually fitted in the middle or on the adjacent wall.

This means that both ends of the tub are gently sloped and comfortable, so two people can easily share.’

Yousef Mansuri, Head of Design at CP Hart

Pull up this velvet chair so you can sit and chat while your partner’s in the bath Penelope accent chair in Blossom Pink, £159, Cult Furniture Allow at least two sources of light so you can change the mood in a jiffy. Try teaming recessed downlights above the bath with statement lamps next to the mirror – far more flattering than overhead bulbs Westminster pendant wall lights with glass shade and bulb, £305,

Imperial Bathrooms

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BATHROOM IDEAS Offering more privacy than clear glazing, this decorative fluted glass enclosure is compatible with a shower tray or wet room floor and available with a matt black or chrome frame Liberty wet room panel with fluted glass, from £947.79, Roman Indulge your senses with this gently fragranced diffuser, comprising an eye-catching metal votive and black reeds Mandarin and lotus diffuser, £25, Oliver Bonas

Sing along to your favourite tracks in the shower with the aid of this waterproof speaker that attaches to the tiles via a suction cup Lovebirds Bluetooth shower speaker,

£19.95, Rex London Transform the narrowest of spaces into a functional and attractive en suite by installing a shower in the alcove and a short projection WC and basin, reducing the risk of tripping over each other on busy mornings Concept Arc 1TH basin and pedestal, £201; Concept Air mixer tap, £163; Concept Space WC, cistern and seat, £628; Simplicity shower tray, £303; pivot door, £463; Concept Easybox thermostatic shower kit, £517, all Ideal Standard

Bring an industrial vibe to the bathroom with versatile bulkhead lighting Simon silver bulkhead wall light, £89.99,

Dowsing & Reynolds

BANISH CLUTTER ‘A double vanity with plenty of storage is the perfect choice as surfaces around basins tend to become cluttered. Make sure it includes drawers for easy access to essentials while at the basin, or reserve the top drawer for items used daily. Combine with open storage for items that look good on show such as neatly stacked towels, reed diffusers or candles.’

Roselind Wilson, Owner and Creative Director at Roselind Wilson Design

If you have the luxury of a big room, invest in a larger than average bath so you can both stretch out in comfort. Recessed cubby hole shelving set between the studs looks expensive but is an affordable way of incorporating extra storage Verona Black freestanding Modern 1,800mm bath,

£649.95, Victorian Plumbing February 2021

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PRIZE DRAW

WIN! One of nine Triton showers, worth £180 each This electric shower will add sophisticated style to your bathroom

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riton, the leading shower manufacturer, is offering Your Home readers the chance to win a stunning Amore electric shower to modernise your morning routine. The £180 Amore will add a touch of elegance to your bathroom and combines a contemporary finish with sophisticated technology.

THE PRIZE The Amore electric shower is an attractive centrepiece for all design-led spaces, plus it

9 LU C KY WINNER S

benefits from touch-screen controls and an OLED display that will show the chosen temperature and power settings including max, eco and cold.

The slender riser rail co-ordinates seamlessly with modern fixtures and incorporates a handy clip-on bottle holder so you can keep essentials close to hand. Triton has also developed an anti-twist hose to safely avoid kinks as well as a wide diameter showerhead with rub-clean nozzles for simple maintenance.

It features an anti-twist hose, a wide showerhead and a rubclean nozzle

FIND OUT MORE For more information about the wide range of electric, digital and mixer showers available from Triton, please visit tritonshowers.co.uk.

TO ENTER, visit yourhomestyle.uk, choose the WIN tab, find the prize draw you’d like to enter and fill in your details. The closing date is 28th February 2021 at 11.59pm.

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

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y s a e MAKE IT

YOUR HANDY

Pull-out guide

66.

SEW SIMPLE Take your midda y meal with you in a homemade lunch bag

62. MAKE, DO, CRAFT Add some colourful updates to your office space

68. DIY MASTERCLASS Learn how to panel a wall with our expert guide

64. REVAMP, REPAIR, RECYCLE Update your bed with a plush velvet finish

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72. CRAFT STASH MUST-HAVES We give

his month’s projects will help you unleash your creativity and save money. First, brighten your office space by transforming bargain plant pots, lampshades and magazine files with a geometric upgrade. Next, sew a stylish lunch bag – you’ll never need to buy a meal deal again! Give your bed a new lease of life by reupholstering it with our simple tutorial. And finally, add period charm to your home with faux panelling.

you the low-down on the latest crafty news February 2021

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MAKE, DO & Add co-ordinating, geometric accents to your office space with these colourful ideas

MAGAZINE FILES

PAINTED LAMPSHADE

Keep notebooks and paperwork in order with co-ordinating magazine files

Transform a plain table lamp into a graphic wonder!

Shopping list

Shopping list

Table lamp base and shade (ours is 23cm diameter x 16.5cm high) Ruler Black pen Dressmaker’s chalk pencil Fabric paints in yellow, pink, pale blue and grey-brown Paintbrushes in a range of sizes

Magazine file holder (25 x 10 x 31cm) Tracing paper Pencil Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch multi-purpose paint in Bright Yellow, Duck Egg Blue and Candy Pink Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish furniture paint in Cocoa Paintbrushes in a range of sizes

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Print out the template at yourhomestyle.uk, then take a sheet of tracing paper and trace over the lines using a soft pencil to create a neat but bold line.

Position the pencil template over the magazine file, using just the top section of the pattern – the top arrow should point to the hole in the file. Tape into position, with the pencil lines facing inwards. Draw over the lines in pencil to transfer the pattern onto the wood.

Fill in the geometric blocks using the paint, working with one colour at a time. If you have an unsteady hand, mask off each section at a time to get a straight edge. Fill in the other areas in the same colour and leave to dry. Once dry, repeat this process for the other colours until the pattern is completely filled in.

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PLANT POT A houseplant will purify the air and help you focus – and there’s no reason it can’t look stylish, too

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Shopping list

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Plant pot (ours is 12 x 12cm) Tracing paper Pencil Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch multi-purpose paints, as before Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish furniture paint in Cocoa Paintbrushes in a range of sizes

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Print out the template at yourhome style.uk, then trace over the lines on the reverse of the paper using a soft pencil to get a thick line.

With the thick pencil lines facing in, tape this into position on the plant pot. Draw over the lines in pencil to transfer the pattern onto the plant pot.

Dab a tiny amount of your chosen colours into each geometric block to make sure you’re happy with the colour placement. Start filling a block using paint, being careful to keep within the lines. Once dry, Try different colour repeat this process combos to customise for the other colours, your makes for to finish.

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Top tip

Make your geometric designs really pop by adding them to white or black files

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Top tip

different décors

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Print out a few copies of the template at yourhomestyle.uk; the design needs to repeat, so you’ll need 3-4 copies. Using a pen that won’t transfer its ink once dry, draw over the lines with a ruler so the lines are clear and bold.

Tape the templates to the inside of the lampshade so you can see the lines through the shade – if needed, hold the shade up to the light to help with visibility. Consider how the pattern will follow around the shade – you may need to overlap slightly or leave intentional gaps.

Draw over the printed lines using a chalk pencil to transfer the pattern onto the shade.

Start filling in the blocks using one of the fabric paint colours. Mask off each section for a neat edge. Fill in the other areas in the same colour and leave to dry. Repeat with the other colours until the pattern is complete. Assess any gaps between the sections of pattern, and finish with minimal freehand brush strokes if necessary – we created diagonal shapes to create a continuous design.

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Top tip

Project by Claire Watkins

Create your own template for these projects – draw an outline shape on graph or gridded paper, then fill with triangles, keeping the design symmetrical

February 2021

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REVAMP, REPAIR,

Recycle Give an old bed a plush velvet makeover with this simple reupholstery DIY

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reating a cosy bedroom scheme all starts with the bed, but what if yours is looking a little tired? Rather than replacing it, reupholster your existing frame in plush velvet fabric for a high-end finish at the fraction of the cost. Ours took less than a day to complete, so you could be sleeping soundly in your stylish new bed the same night.

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You will need

✦ Heavyweight upholstery fabric (see instructions for details) ✦ Tape measure ✦ Aluminium ruler ✦ Pro staple gun ✦ Fabric scissors ✦ Multi-head cordless screwdriver ✦ Long-arm hex key set

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To calculate the amount of fabric you will need, measure the height and width of each section of the bed and then add 10cm extra around each edge, as shown. Use these measurements to ensure you have enough fabric to cover each section of the bed.

Dismantle the bed. Depending on how your bed is built, you’ll need a combination of the screwdriver and hex keys. Only dismantle what you need to in order to recover the bed. Take photos as a reminder of how it goes together.

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Roll out your fabric and lay it out flat right side down on the floor. Place your headboard and the rest of the bed frame to be covered on top of the fabric and cut the fabric to size for each part of the bed.

Start with the headboard. Lay the fabric out so it is flat and there are no creases and place the headboard centrally on top. Fold over one side of the fabric overhang and, with your staple gun, staple the fabric down onto the back of the headboard. It is important to make sure you are stapling into the stud frame, so the staples are holding, rather than stapling into any foam or sponge. Then do the same on the opposite end, making sure you are pulling the fabric as taut as possible from the other stapled side.

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Once both sides of the headboard are stapled in place, you need to create the folds at the top and at the bottom of the headboard.

To do this, make a neat fold by pulling tightly and tucking in as much fabric as possible. Once everything is stapled down, turn the headboard over to make sure you are happy with it, then turn it back and cut away the excess fabric.

Repeat this to cover the sides and end of the bed. Once all the pieces are covered, reassemble the bed. If you have enclosed any screw holes, find the previous dent in the frame and pierce the fabric with sharp scissor ends.

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This project was created by Melanie Lissack. Find more DIY ideas at melanielissackinteriors.com

Top tip To ensure the staples won’t be visible once the bed is rebuilt, follow the pattern of how the previous material was applied.

February 2021

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Keep your food hot or cold with this stylish insulated

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ave you made a deal with yourself to make a packed lunch rather than splashing out on a meal deal? Well, making your own lunch bag might give you the motivation to do just that. This DIY pack is easy and fun to sew, and it will save you a pretty penny on your lunches, too.

lunch bag

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Shopping list Main fabric, 50 x 110cm Lining fabric, 50 x 110cm Insul-Bright, 56cm x 1m Medium-weight iron-on interfacing, 50 x 90cm Webbing, 3.8cm x 2m Two 3.8cm D-rings Two 3.8cm snap hooks 3.8cm slider buckle 76cm chunky plastic or metal zip Matching thread Basic sewing kit Sewing machine *Use a 0.5cm seam allowance unless otherwise stated

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To make the D-ring tabs, cut two pieces of webbing to 10cm lengths. Thread a D-ring onto the tab, then fold in half and zigzag stitch along the bottom to secure. Cut the webbing for the bag strap to 1m, then mark 1.3cm and 7.5cm in from the ends. Press the webbing at these two points, folding in, then in again.

Take the slider buckle and thread through the webbing to the 7.5cm mark, then stitch down close to the edge of the fold. Slide on a snap hook so it’s face down and the right side (RS) of the strap is facing up; the fold you just made will be on the wrong side (WS). Thread the other end of the webbing through the buckle slider over an under bar. Mark the other end of the webbing in the same way but with a 1.3cm mark, then a 5cm mark, and thread on the other snap hook. Stitch down near the fold’s edge.

From the main fabric, Insul-Bright and lining, cut two lids and bases 23 x 23cm and press iron-on interfacing onto the wrong sides. Make a sandwich with the main fabric lid, Insul-Bright lid and lining lid, then tack them together. Cut the main fabric body, Insul-Bright body and lining body to 18 x 70cm and press on iron-on interfacing, then tack the main fabric and InsulBright together leaving the lining for later – do the same with the bag hinges. The main fabric and interfacing for these should each measure 14 x 20cm. Round off each edge of the lid and base fabric squares.

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Cut the top handle webbing to 23cm and fold the raw edges under by 0.5cm and press. Find the centre of one of the main fabric lid pieces and measure in 5cm from each edge on the RS; this is where you will stitch the handle. Sew the handle to the bag using a matching thread and a longer stitch length – 2.8mm is ideal. Sew a rectangle with a cross in it.

Lay the main body piece RS up and lay the main body Insul-Bright on the reverse. Lay the zip face down along the long edge then lay the main body lining on top of this RS down.

Pin and stitch. Fold the fabric back, press and topstitch in place.

Take the main fabric bag hinges and sandwich these at the end of the zip and main fabric. Sandwich the Insul-Bright covered piece on top of the zip end and lining on the back. Sew carefully down the side with a 1.3cm seam allowance. Trim away the excess fabric, zip and Insul-Bright to reduce bulk.

Pull the hinge piece to the start of the zip and repeat the previous step, ignoring the lining piece. Trim seam allowances. Pin the lining in place. Topstitch down each side of the hinge on the front, making sure to catch the lining on the reverse. Add the D-ring tabs to the sides of the

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bag at the halfway points. Do this by folding the main bag in half and marking the halfway point with a pin. Secure the tabs with a crossed box.

Stitch the webbing down in the centre of the bag, folding the raw edges under and using a rectangle shape with a cross through it for the handle. Sew them facing upwards. Find the centre points of each edge of the bag top and mark. Do this by folding in half and marking that point on each side then opening up and folding the opposite way and marking again.

Turn the main bag WS out with the zip end facing up and bag top RS facing down.

Match the centre point marks on the bag top to the centre points on the main bag. Pin in place so the RS are facing. Sew the top to the zip.

Repeat with the bottom of the bag then zigzag stitch to finish the edges. Turn the bag RS out.

Neaten the inside of the lid by trimming away the excess fabric under the zip tape.

Pin the zip tape down to the inside of the lid then hand-stitch in place. Zigzag stitch the inside of the hinge to neaten. Attach the strap to the D-rings, to finish.

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This project is by Debbie Wainhouse for Simply Sewing. See more at gathered.how/simplysewing

Top tip

Project and step photos Debbie Wainhouse Main photo Philip Sowels

If you have a zip foot to hand then this is great for sewing as close as possible to the edge of the zip for a neat finish.

February 2021

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DIY masterclass How to add panelling to your walls

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quick, easy, and pleasingly affordable way to add character to your room, faux panelling is a project you can complete in a long weekend. With some cheap and cheerful supplies and a few standard DIY tools, you can transform a plain wall into one with a touch of Georgian elegance. The best thing about this method is that it requires no drilling or even hammering – with the right glue, you can simply stick the moulding in place.

We just love the neutral finish of this calming bedroom, but the creative possibilities are endless once your panelling is in place – you could fill the centre of the panels with a beautiful wallpaper, paint the raised moulding in a contrasting colour (a neon is especially fun) or simply opt for a rich, statement colour. Whichever finish you choose, we’d love to see pictures of your finished results!

Find the best ways to contact us on page 10.

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SHOPPING LIST ✦ Tape measure ✦ Pencil ✦ Notepad ✦ Calculator ✦ Spirit level ✦ Panel moulding, we used a pine three-rise design from Wickes ✦ Mitre box ✦ Wood saw ✦ Adhesive, we used No Nonsense Grab Adhesive ✦ Sealant gun ✦ A cloth ✦ Decorator’s caulk ✦ Masking tape ✦ Paint, we used Leyland Trade Vinyl Soft Sheen (colour matched to Dulux Egyptian Cotton) ✦ Paintbrushes

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Work out roughly how high you want the panelling to be, make a small mark and then measure the height (up to the mark) and length of the wall. Take some time to calculate the size of the panels you can fit in, ensuring an even space between the ends of the walls and the panels and the gaps between each panel.

Using a tape measure and a spirit level, draw the panels onto the wall. If at this stage you realise one of the spaces isn’t uniform, recalculate and move your marks – or if accuracy isn’t key, simply shift the panels by a couple of cm when putting the moulding strips into place.

Transfer your measurements to your moulding strips and cut each to the appropriate 90º angle using a mitre box and a

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wood saw – double check that you are making the right direction of cut for every corner before you cut. Be as accurate as you can, but remember that tiny gaps can be smoothed over with filler once assembled.

Pop the adhesive into the applicator gun and apply to the reverse of your cut strips, then position over your drawn lines on the wall and stick – the glue has a little leeway in it, so you will be able to manoeuvre it into the correct position for a short while. Tidy up any excess with a damp cloth. Repeat with all of the lengths of moulding until the feature is complete. Leave to completely dry.

After the glue has fully dried (leave it 24 hours), neatly apply decorator’s caulk to fill

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the gaps between the moulding strips and the wall – if you have uneven walls you may have bigger gaps to fill, while on straight walls the gaps should be narrow and fairly uniform. Use this to fill in the mitred corners as well. Tidy up any excess with a damp cloth then leave to dry ahead of painting.

Protect the floor with a dust sheet and mask around the edge of the area you wish to paint. If you have used MDF moulding then you will need to apply a primer at this stage, but this is not necessary with pine. Using a paintbrush, apply your choice of paint over the walls and panelling and leave to dry. Repeat this step until the coverage is full and even – ours took three coats. Remove the masking tape.

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Get inspired

This project was put together

by Gemma Louise, who blogs about interiors, beauty and life with her little boy Reuben over at gemmalouise.co.uk. Take a look to discover lots of inspiring DIY projects, styling ideas and much more.

February 2021

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Ask the

EXPERTS

Our team of experts answer all your home improvement questions

Q

We’re planning an extension for our kitchen that will include roof windows. We’ve heard they can be quite loud when it rains. Any tips for preventing this?

Anita Parmar, Gloucester

A

Jonathan Hey, founder and CEO of Aliwood Roof Lanterns, says…

People often find the rain to be particularly noisy when their roof window or lantern is improperly fitted. It’s essential for the area around the window to be insulated properly, rather than simply relying on the insulation of the window itself.

You could also invest in noisereducing glazing. A single-glazed roof window will not fare well

under heavy rain or hail. Double, or even triple, glazing will not only help to mitigate unwanted noise but will increase the value of your home, too!

Finally, we come to blinds.

Many won’t initially consider investing in a blind – as it’s likely to go against the initial reason they installed a roof lantern – but a blind certainly has its advantages as the weather worsens. If grey rain clouds are already blocking out a lot of natural light, it makes sense to go one step further and draw the blinds to reduce rain noise.

This can transform the intense and intrusive pounding of rain into a relatively soothing pitter patter. This, accompanied by some cosy blankets and a relaxing cup of tea, can help to make your home much more snug over the rainier months.

Q

I’ve just moved from a flat into a house with a garden and I’m worried about the security of my new outside space. What can I do to keep my garden, and home, secure? Sally Rogers, Norwich Izzy Schulman, director at Keys 4 U, says…

Moving to a house from a flat can be daunting with all the extra security considerations. When it comes to protecting your new home, surveyed ex-criminals claim the biggest deterrent is a visible CCTV system. However, these can be unaffordable for new homeowners and smart doorbells are a cost-effective alternative. They warn potential intruders off trying their luck by recording video footage from your doorstep.

Burglars aim to get in and out of homes unseen, so keeping your garden well-lit is a strong deterrent. Fit motion-sensor lighting in your garden to alert you to any movements around the property. Similarly, trim back overgrown bushes or trees so you’re able to see the whole garden and avoid any potential hiding spots.

Add a gravel or pebble area in your driveway and the walkway leading to your back door, and you’ll be able to hear crunching underfoot whenever someone approaches your home. It’s also recommended to keep any garden accessories or tools locked away overnight in a shed or storage box. If left lying around, you risk handing unwanted visitors a break-in weapon.

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How do I choose a paint colour for a north-facing living room? I like the idea of a bold colour, but it’s so dark in there already, I don’t want to make it worse. Danielle O’Shea, Aberdeen Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director at Dulux, says… Unless you are a big fan of Frozen, north-facing rooms can be a real pain to get a cosy feeling in. Like most little niggles in life, there is always a clever hack to turn that negative into a positive and with north-facing rooms it’s colour and light.

Choose toasty warm shades with hints of gold, coral and pink or warm clays if you like a more organic feel.

Contrary to what you might think, darker tones will make it feel snuggly too, as the walls look closer, so they hug you visually. Think rich chestnut browns or ochre golds and whatever colours you choose, layer the lighting with warm LEDs. Add a string of fairy lights if you fancy and if you can, make the light dimmable so you can control your chosen ambience.

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Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Dulux matt emulsion in Spiced Honey, Auburn Flame and Love Letter, £29.16 for 2.5L, Dulux

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Q

My company has informed us that we’ll be able to work from home, at least part-time, for the foreseeable future and now I want to create a home office in a compact space. How should I go about this?

Bradley O’Neill, Newcastle Kerry Murfin, Marketing Director Europe at indoor storage solutions company Curver, says…

When you’re working from home, it’s important to create a functional workspace so that you can work as comfortably as possible. You may think setting up a home office in a small space is going to be challenging, particularly when you are living under the same roof as your family or friends.

However, with a little planning, you can easily find a practical solution.

A

First of all, find the right area in your home. Choose a quiet spot of your house or flat that you’d feel happy working in, and that gets good wi-fi. Try to separate your family and work as much as possible. You could consider putting up a room divider screen to ensure you don’t get distracted when you’re trying to work.

Next, make sure you have the right tools for the job. If you haven’t got the space for a desk, you can turn an existing table into one. You can also help to maximise your space by choosing an office chair that slides easily under your desk – try and avoid bulky options.

Finally, ensure you keep your area clean and clutter-free. Only keep the daily necessities on your desk and make use of any empty shelves around you by tidying away anything left over into stylish storage. For example, keep your

stationery and paperwork in order with the Curver My Style tray and organiser pot, or ensure your notepads are stored inside a Curver Infinity recycled storage basket.

Curver infinity recycled range, from £2

Q

I want to switch to a greener energy company – will this cost much more than a nonenvironmentally friendly one?

Claire Howard, Maidstone Doug Stewart, CEO of Green Energy UK, says…

The simple answer is not necessarily, but as with everything we buy, we have choice. Some energy tariffs contain a small proportion of green energy and the rest is made up of energy from fossil fuels. It’s then offset by contributions to environmental projects – unrelated to energy.

This is particularly true of gas, where 100 per cent green gas (biomethane) should not be confused with carbon offset tariffs.

(There’s only one supplier that offers 100 per cent green gas – and that would be Green Energy UK!) You might want to know the technology employed and where the energy comes from.

Wind, solar, hydro, biomass and nuclear all have their enthusiasts and their critics, but if a tariff is

A

properly green you should be able to find what is included or excluded relatively easily with a quick visit to the supplier’s website.

If you want to support truly sustainable energy, find a tariff like EKO Energy, which is audited by an independent authority to ensure the energy generation doesn’t cause other environmental issues. It's hard to say how much more it may cost you, as your energy bill is dependent on your usage. But the greenest energy is the energy you don't use. In order to keep your costs down once

you switch to a green tariff, focus on your consumption. Most suppliers do now offer a ‘greener’ tariff – but it’s worth doing your research before making a choice – they may not be as green as you think. Energy, like most things in life, isn’t simple, but it needn’t cost the earth.

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

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CRAFT STASH Find the latest crafting news, workshops and brilliant buys

GREEN GURU For £60, you can attend one of Shilpa Reddy Flower Design’s wonderful virtual workshops. The classes have been made super easy to take part in, as everything you need will be posted to your home then you can log on to Zoom on the day of your workshop. The Kokedama workshops will be taking place every Wednesday and keep your eye out for the flagship terrarium classes this February.

Faux real?

Feature Sophie Demetriades

Have you heard of kraft-tex? No? Then allow us to introduce you to this incredibly versatile textile. The durable paper looks and feels just like real leather but sews like fabric, making it ideal for vegan crafters.

This book by Lindsay Conner will teach you how to create 18 clever projects using this smart textile. Grab your copy of the book for £19.99 from Search Press.

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must haves

Newbie knitters Creating a cute cup cosy is a comforting rainyday project, especially for those new to knitting.

With this kit, you’ll learn basic techniques such as how to cast on, use garter stitch and cast off, plus you’ll receive pure red wool, bamboo knitting needles, a pattern to follow and all of the instructions you need to create this simple cosy. You can purchase the kit from Amnesty Shop for £11.95.

Measure up Do you need to size up a new piece of furniture for your living room? Or are you keen to do a spot of garment sewing? You’ll be surprised how handy these £5 measuring tapes will be. Wallace Cotton has a collection of tapes with an array of pretty designs, from hydrangeas to delicate polka dots. They’re cute, compact and will slot easily into your handbag so you can use them anywhere.

Make with macramé There’s so much more you can do with macramé than just making wall hangings, so start by trying your hand at this DIY coaster kit. This colourful set includes yarn, a comb, a drawstring bag for all your tools and step-by-step instructions with a video link to ensure you feel confident trying this at home. You can buy the kit for just £30 from My Little Wish.

Next month in…

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m Real-life heown f full o season st yle

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Reader homes Peek inside properties packed with fresh ideas for decorating updates

Show off your hard work in Your Home Have you just finished decorating your home? If so, we’d love to see your photos – and, who knows, it may even be featured in a future issue. You can share them on instagram using #YHlovemyhome and #YourHomemagazine, or email yourhome@immediate.co.uk

76 Emily put her own sleek stamp on a characterful Victorian terrace

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Hildah’s Edwardian property is filled with eclectic vintage treasures

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TE PLUS IDEAS TO S

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A warm, neutral palette has made Joanne’s home light and bright

February 2021

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REAL HOME

We designed our home with family in mind Creative thinking helped Emily and Sam Waddington to complete a half-finished house and put their own stamp on the interior

W

hen Emily and Sam Waddington started to decorate and furnish their new home near Harrogate, it was Sam who spent hours browsing interiors shops and studying paint colours to find shades that would work in their new home.

‘I took a graphic design course at university and that creative side went into interiors,’ says Sam. ‘Emily enjoys that side of things too, but it’s me who has the real passion for it. I love great design and new ideas and I’m always on the lookout for things that are a bit different.’

The couple had already renovated a twobedroom terraced house in Ilkley by the time they moved to the outskirts of Harrogate, so were in need of a new decorating challenge. ‘It was a natural step to take on a bigger project,’ explains Emily. ‘We love the location of this one – close to amenities but also close to the countryside – and we were also wanting a larger home so we could start a family.

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Good idea!

Try adding a ki tc in a bold colour hen island unit that’s different to the units to crea te a statement feature in the ce ntre of the room.

REAL HOME

COME ON IN...

The grey painted units were already in, but Emily and Sam painted the walls and ceiling white to create a sense of height in the basement kitchen. They also added an island in a purple shade for a central feature. The stools cost £120 each from Wayfair, and the floor is durable engineered oak

WE ARE Emily Waddington, who works for a kitchen company, husband, Sam, a manager with British Gas, and children Isabella, five, and Frankie, two.

OUR HOME IS A four-bedroom Victorian terraced house in Harrogate.

I LEARNT THAT You have to be organised and have at least one room where you can escape to at the end of the day

MY FAVOURITE ROOM IS The bathroom – we love the free-standing bath.

OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE Was picking up where the previous owners had left off, and making their ideas work with our own.

Utility room

Family area

Bathroom

Dining room

Living room

BASEMENT

Feature Heather Dixon Photos Dave Burton

Kitchen

GROUND FLOOR

Bedroom Bathroom

Bedroom

Bedroom

FIRST FLOOR

Bedroom

SECOND FLOOR February 2021

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REAL HOME We were lucky to find this one. Houses don’t come up for sale that often in this area.’ The house was dated inside but structurally sound, and had the added bonus of being partially renovated by the previous owner. ‘They had started lots of jobs but not really finished anything before they decided to sell,’ says Sam. ‘They had converted the basement into a kitchen-diner, but only half completed the work, so when we took it on board we were picking up where they had left off.’

Emily and Sam fitted the rest of the basement floor, added an island unit in the kitchen, stripped out and refitted two bathrooms and updated the skirting boards, coving and doors, living in the house while they completed the renovation. ‘It wasn’t too bad living among it all,’ says Emily, who by this time was expecting their second child.

‘After renovating our last house, we got used to living among the dust and upheaval.’

The fact that the house had already been semi-renovated gave the Waddingtons a head-start and, rather than begin again, they

The basement kitchen is separated from the dining area by a small step, which helps to zone the two spaces. The couple had the original chimney breast opened up, then fitted with a Yorkshire stone lintel to create a log store

‘I love great design and new ideas and I’m always on the lookout for things that are a bit different.’

Emily and Sam chose a bespoke dining table and bench made by eBay seller, inspiredbyindustrialevolution, and teamed it with metal chairs also bought on eBay. They already owned the leather armchair and found the tripod lamp at Ward Brothers in Doncaster

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REAL HOME went with the work that had already been completed in order to achieve faster results.

‘In some ways it was quite challenging to take on board someone else’s unfinished work, ideas and inspiration and continue them to completion,’ says Sam. ‘In other ways it was easier than starting from scratch because a lot of the structural work was done so we were left to finish off things like floors, skirting boards and architraves. We also completed the kitchen with a new island unit and fitted new bathroom suites and tiles.’

Most of the top rooms in the house had been untouched so Sam’s dad, a retired electrician, rewired the upper floors before each room was decorated. They also had to tackle the garden at the front of the house, which was overgrown with weeds and ivy.

‘We added paving and iron gates to the entrance, which were in keeping with the style of the house,’ says Emily. ‘Our last house was also Victorian so it was just a bigger version of what we had before. We knew how we wanted it to look.’

Good idea!

turned Emily and Sam a focal into the old fireplace it with point by stackinggs. clean-cut lo The white painted stairs are a feature in their own right in the basement dining area. The shelves were made by a furnituremaker in Derbyshire to fit the space

February 2021

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REAL HOME

‘We didn’t want it to be stuck in a time warp.’

Emily and Sam loved the amount of natural light that flooded through their new home, along with the high Victorian ceilings and spacious rooms. They agreed from the day they moved into the house that they would avoid cluttering the place with too much furniture and, in doing so, highlight the property’s natural character. With a mixture of furniture from their last house and new pieces bought specifically to fit the dimensions of their larger family home, Emily and Sam gradually transformed the half-finished interior into a comfortable house based on clean lines, individual ideas and practical solutions.

They are particularly pleased with the bathroom, where they have laid patterned tiles on the floor and added a free-standing bath and sinks fitted onto an open shelf for a sleek scheme. Throughout the house, shades of blue and grey are given dramatic pops of colour – especially

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Emily and Sam have gone for simple, pared-back styling for the living room alcove shelves, with minimal monochrome vases and pots alongside black-and-white family photographs for a personal touch

REAL HOME

Good idea!

sitting room Half shutters in the y without ac iv pr window create or the view losing natural light . of the greenery Soft grey tones create a tranquil atmosphere in the sitting room, which is furnished with sofas from Ward Brothers and a simple coffee table from Wayfair.

The subtly patterned rug is from Dunelm The display shelves in the alcove have been painted white to contrast against the walls painted in Farrow & Ball’s Lamp Room Grey. The classic sofa, from Ward Brothers, is cosied up with a throw from Homesense

A dated bathroom was stripped out and refitted with a bath and sinks supplied by the plumber. Keeping the rest of the scheme white to make the space feel bright and airy, the couple chose Dove Grey tiles from Brooke in a geometric pattern to add interest

February 2021

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REAL HOME

Good idea!

Fo

r a d ra scheme th matic bedroom at’ bright, pa s still light and int o wall in a d ne feature ark hue.

Emily and Sam chose to paint a statement wall in Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra for an atmospheric feel in the main bedroom. In keeping with the rest of the home’s mix of modern and classic, the room is furnished with traditional touches paired with contemporary furniture, including a bed from Ward Brothers and bedside drawers from Wayfair

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REAL HOME Emily and Sam kept a curated selection of furniture from their last house, including the pieces in the guest bedroom, along with a co-ordinating Barker & Stonehouse bed. As with the main bedroom, they’ve gone with a dark shade for the walls and painted them in inky Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball. Fun cushions from We Love Cushions add a splash of colour and print

IDEAS TO STEAL For bedroom storage with a sleek finish, go for a modern bedside table in fresh white Argos Home Barcelona onedrawer bedside table, £50, Argos

Create a chic shelving display with monochrome accessories Black smudge vase, £35, Amara

Complete an industrial-look dining area with retro metal dining chairs Brooklyn Living Edge natural solid oak and metal dining chair, £140, Oakfurnitureland

‘We tried to balance it between contemporary and period styles.’ in the kitchen, where the central island is in a contrast aubergine hue – and colourful soft furnishings can be changed with the seasons. The couple also given the entrance hall a makeover, with grey and white tiles complementing the period features of the house while adding a contemporary edge.

This juxtaposition of old and new is something the couple have considered in every room. ‘We tried to balance it between contemporary and period styles,’ says Emily.

‘We wanted to work with the character of the house and keep all the original features, but we didn’t want it to be stuck in a time warp.

Lovely Victorian houses like these are ideal for creating a modern look in a period setting without compromising either.’ Balancing style with day-to-day practicality was also important to them. ‘It had to be hard-wearing – with a young family you have to allow for wear and tear and not over clutter the rooms.

We love the fact that the dining room is not part of the kitchen, and what used to be the dining room is now a playroom. It changes the way we use the house, which, first and foremost, has to be a home.’

One of Emily and Sam’s favourite features in the house is their practical double sink unit on a floating shelf Milano Oxley oak wall-hung vanity with countertop basin, £330, Big Bathroom Shop

Practical and stylish, a trio of statement pendant lights can make a kitchen worktop or dining table a focal point Tessa pendant light, £66, där lighting

Choose a table with simple lines and natural wood for Scandi simplicity Anderson coffee table, £185, Next

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 123

February 2021

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REAL HOME

I became a master upcycler to finish this house!

Hildah’s personal style shines in every corner of her Edwardian home, which is abundant with colour, vintage homewares and global art

H

ildah Jiah’s passion for all things vintage began with childhood keepsakes from her native Zimbabwe. A frequent shopper at local vintage fairs, car boots, antique emporiums and charity shops, she has created a colourful, quirky interior at her Hertfordshire home.

With an eye for unique artwork and vintage floral homewares, Hildah adores shades of pink, green and grey. ‘They are gentle and relaxing tones to live with,’ she says. ‘I am drawn to vintage collectables that have a history and a story to tell.’

Since moving from London 16 years ago, Hildah outgrew her previous house in St Albans and in 2012 began looking for a new, larger home with ample street parking. The property she found was in need of a lot of work, both inside and out, but Hildah could look beyond this and see its potential. ‘This house was gloomy and had belonged to an elderly couple who lived here for over 30 years,’ she says. ‘The carpets were worn out and mouldy and the windows had rusted shut. The garden was completely overgrown with no fences – I didn’t even realise that the Hildah’s pastel-green front door displays an everlasting wreath all year round, created by floral artist Mandy Bosworth (@pennyscottagegarden)

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REAL HOME garage belonged to the house! Yet I loved that the house offered lots of space and had a real sense of character.’

Hildah’s first job was to tackle the dated 1970s laminate kitchen, which had an adjoining large downstairs bathroom that made the space feel crowded and dark.

Hildah hired a local builder to help her reclaim kitchen space from the existing downstairs bathroom, replacing it with a smaller shower room. To allow further light into the kitchen, she also added new windows and French doors, overlooking the courtyard garden, which has also received a makeover.

COME ON IN...

WE ARE Hildah Jiah, a Consultant Nurse working in the NHS, and my 10-year-old daughter, Olu.

MY HOME is a three-bedroom, end-

‘We spend most our time together in the living room,’ says Hildah. ‘Olu plays the piano and I love relaxing with a book and a cup of tea.’

A rare new purchase, the comfy corner sofa was from Made. Hildah has filled the rest of the room with charity shop and preloved finds, including vintage Laura Ashley curtains, a rustic wooden box, and a Jamaica rum mirrored picture from Swan Antiques.

The gallery wall behind the sofa features prints of some of her favourite artworks, including Young Woman with Peonies, 1870 by Frederic Bazille

of-terrace period property in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The property was built in the 1920s and we’ve lived here for eight years.

MY TOP TIP IS to start off with a small project to upcycle and don’t spend a lot on paint – I always use leftover paint or sample pots. Spend time on the preparation and sanding to ensure you have a clean surface.

I always paint two coats and use sandpaper once the paint is dry to get that distressed look. Use beeswax to protect the surface.

MY STYLE IS Eclectic, colourful, vintage and maximalist. I buy things that I like or catch my eye regardless of their style or age.

I love sharing my finds on Instagram at @vintagerockslove

Bathroom

Kitchen

Bedroom Office

Bathroom Bedroom

Living room

Bedroom

GROUND FLOOR FIRST FLOOR

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Feature Natalie Flaum Photos Alison Hammond

‘I love collecting vintage and art from my travels to South America, West Indies, The Caribbean, Europe, southern Africa and Australia.’

Hildah did research on Pinterest for tips before upcycling the piano she found on Gumtree. She lightly sanded it, painted it in Craig & Rose’s Monogram matt emulsion, then sealed it with beeswax. She also reupholstered the piano stool seat pad with vintage fabric.

It’s now a muchloved piece, and played regularly by her daughter, Olu

REAL HOME

Sentimental pieces are dotted throughout the house. ‘The iron belonged to my late grandmother in Zimbabwe.’

The cabinet, from a local antiques shop, stores glassware, crockery and linens. Hildah has finished the display with a floral painting and cute enamel kettle from My Little Vintage

Good idea!

‘The Coca-Cola crate was given to me by my aunt in Zimbabwe and the vintage Victorian washer board is from a local garage sale,’ says Hildah. She designed the kitchen layout herself, with IKEA units, a free-standing Gorenje fridge-freezer and Metro Bone tiles with smoke grey grout from Topps Tiles. The floorboards are original – Hildah found them under vinyl flooring

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You never know wh underneath old floor at’s hiding ing, for original floorboar so check Hildah’s to make th ds like e mos your home’s features t of .

REAL HOME ‘The kitchen took two months to complete.

During this time, we lived upstairs with a temporary kitchen,’ says Hildah. ‘Living on-site was very stressful. I’m glad we could escape to my friend’s house for meals.’

Once the main work on the kitchen was finished, it was time for Hildah to put her upcycling skills to good use updating second-hand finds. With ample space for a dining table, she found a painted table with a distressed finish on eBay, which suited the home’s vintage feel. To tie in with the table’s mint green colour, Hildah upcycled chairs from a charity shop by painting them in pastel lemon, pale pink and dark green for a mixand-match look. A country dresser, another savvy eBay bargain, is an ideal kitchen storage solution. ‘It came from a country manor house and fits the space perfectly.’

Hildah then converted a disused cupboard under the stairs to house the washing machine and dryer. She also found a DIY solution to disguising the gap in floor levels from the study to the kitchen, decorating the step in découpage using paper napkins and wallpaper cuttings. ‘After painting the area, I used a make-up sponge to apply Mod Podge, a découpage acrylic sealer, to fix the paper to the step,’ she explains. ‘For a shiny finish I sealed it with polyurethane varnish.’

Hildah’s aim was to restore and showcase as many of the house’s original features as possible. ‘I decided not to replaster the fireplace hearths as I love their rustic quality,’ she says. ‘When we ripped out the vinyl kitchen floor we revealed original floorboards and I had all of the internal doors stripped and exposed back to pine.’

Hildah has created a welcoming dining area without breaking the bank by accessorising preloved furniture with cherished keepsakes.

‘I love the green cake tin, which I picked up from an antiques shop in Ohio, when I went to visit family,’ says Hildah.

‘The kitchen dresser came from a manor house. It was my best and biggest eBay buy – I had to arrange for it to be delivered and it nearly didn’t make it inside due to its massive size!’

As well as working on her laptop, Hildah also enjoys crafting at her desk. The solid oak desk was from an antiques emporium, while the green filing cabinet was a charity shop buy. A lampshade chandelier adds a fun, colourful touch, fitting for a creative workspace

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REAL HOME

!

Goodtheirda esealection ofpes

a ge Group to ors in different shmour r la ir g vintage mto add a touch of e the k s e a iz m s o and . ct light t and refle el bright and air y fe e c a sp

As in the rest of the house, Hildah’s bedroom is a treasure trove of vintage finds, including retro suitcases, wooden boxes and a gallery wall of ornate mirrors

In the living room, pale pink walls provide a background to Hildah’s favourite artwork, prints and floral curtains. A scattering of printed cushions contrast with the luxe dark green velvet sofa. The room’s finishing touch was one of Hildah’s favourite revamp projects. ‘The piano was a Gumtree find. I did my research on Pinterest to find out how to upcycle a piano before getting it tuned,’ she says. ‘Though a labour of love, it was a rewarding project and guests comment on how beautiful it looks. Olu has been learning for 18 months and has picked it up brilliantly.’

Hildah’s interiors reflect her passion for art and music, with nods to past icons including

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Josephine Baker, Billie Holiday, Etta James, Miles Davis and B.B King. ‘Jimi Hendrix is my absolute favourite artist of all time,’ she says. ‘It is wonderful to see black people depicted in art and I like to display objects that reflect and celebrate my identity, history and culture as a person of colour.’

Happy to have put in the work to make it her own, Hildah’s appreciation for her home extends outside the front door to the local area, too. ‘Olu and I love living here. There is a great community spirit, lots of open green spaces, parks and cafés to enjoy,’ she reflects, ‘and I have loved renovating this house and making it feel like home.’

REAL HOME

IDEAS TO STEAL To create a homely feel, Hildah’s combined vintage furniture – the metal bed, wardrobe, tallboy and Lloyd Loom-style bedside tables – with a few high street finds, including a floral duvet cover from Joules and a bright flower print from Next

Like Hildah, create a gallery wall with prints of well-known artworks Agostino Brunias’ Free West Indian Dominicans on canvas, £34.99, Wayfair

Dress up your sofa or bed with vibrant, tactile cushions Embroidered velvet cushion, £38, Graham & Green

Adorn your door with spring country style with a longlasting wreath made from artificial flowers Peonies wreath, from £120, Pennys Cottage Flowers on Etsy

A cluster of vintage lampshades will add a touch of retro vibrancy to any room Saloon 9 Light Cluster Pendant by KARE Design, £239, Wayfair

Hildah mixed modern with traditional in her bathroom with a single-ended rolltop bath from Victorian Plumbing, and Travertine tiles from Topps Tiles. An upcycled blue stool adds a splash of colour Olu’s room is in keeping with the look of the house while being personal to her. ‘I painted the walls and upcycled the desk and tallboy cupboard,’ says Hildah. ‘And I framed artwork pieces Olu has done at school.’ Hildah found the Paddington print in a charity shop, and painted Olu’s desk with a distressed finish in Drawing Room Blue modern eggshell by Farrow & Ball. The delicate colour scheme creates a calming space for Olu, with pink floral curtains from Cabbages & Roses, a rug from Very, a pastel duvet set from Joules, and walls painted in Pipe Clay emulsion from Craig & Rose

Give second-hand furniture a lick of paint for a purse-friendly update Monogram eggshell, £42 per 2.5L, Craig and Rose Add a touch of nostalgic glamour to your bedroom with a metal frame Edwardian iron bed frame, from £249, Original Bed Company

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 123

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REAL HOME

We made a gloomy semi light and bright Joanne and Michael’s timeless style and layered neutrals have transformed dismal rooms into a light-filled family home oanne Hepburn has always lived in Victorian properties until she viewed this extended 1930s house and saw the fantastic back garden. ‘I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a fan of the architectural style at first, but I loved the extension, which opened onto a big garden,’ she says. ‘We’d been living in a terraced house with a small backyard and these qualities were exactly what we were looking for in our next home.’

The property had been rented out for seven years and, although the extension was fairly new, the rest of the house remained stuck in the 1980s, with wash basins in bedrooms, chintzy wallpaper and heavy pelmet curtains.

‘A plus point was the lovely big hallway, but I really disliked the red, patterned,

‘I like classic pieces with a lasting look and warm neutrals in beiges and off-whites.’ pub-style stair carpet and the heavy wood panelling,’ adds Joanne. ‘The rooms looked dark and gloomy and there was too much wood in the extension – my instinct was to make everywhere light and bright.’ Luckily, no major building work needed doing as the extended house was big enough. But a survey confirmed the couple would have to update the electrics and heating, which meant plastering and decorating all of the rooms, too. Rather than moving out temporarily, the family decided to stay in the house while the work went on around them. ‘We shut the door on the extension and kept away

The Floyd corner sofa from Barker and Stonehouse is anchored by a IKEA rug. The mirrors, also IKEA, reflect the light and greenery from the garden. Joanne also added an IKEA floor lamp, a coffee table from Wayfair, and textured cushions from Fenwick. ‘I created an art gallery look with photos and mounts made to size by a local photography shop’

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Good idea !

A pa

ir of reflect lig affordable mirro rs ht as to a more an alternative exp large mir ensive, ror.

REAL HOME

COME ON IN...

Painted wood panelling has brightened the previously dark hallway, where Farrow & Ball’s Elephant’s Breath ties in with the living room decoration

WE ARE Joanne Hepburn (@semi_in_ suburbia), 42, a stay-at-home mum, my husband, Michael, 43, director of a town planning consultancy, our two children, Annabelle, nine, and Will, six, and Sadie, our cockapoo.

OUR HOME IS a four-bedroom, 1930s semi in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

MY BEST BARGAIN Is our ex-display bed from John Lewis, which cost a third of the full price.

SHOPS I LOVE Are Homesense for storage baskets, IKEA for picture frames and rugs, and Wayfair for affordable alternatives to high-end designs.

TO RELAX I bake with the children or do gardening – I also love a declutter so everything has its place.

FIRST FLOOR

Utility room

Kitchen-diner

Garage

Living room WC

SECOND FLOOR

Bedroom Bathroom

Bedroom

En suite

Hall

En suite

Main bedroom

Bedroom

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Feature Jane Crittenden Styling Marisha Taylor Photos James French

Hall

REAL HOME

‘Going for an off-white on the kitchen cupboards is a much better contrast with the wood floor and has made the room look brighter.’ from the mess during the day,’ says Joanne.

‘I underestimated the amount of decorating in the hallway, though, as they had to put up a tower scaffold. It was there for weeks and each time we came home we had to crawl underneath it to get through to the back.’

Painting the wood panelling in the hallway white was one of the biggest transformations.

‘It was a daunting prospect, but I was adamant it was the right thing to do,’ she says. ‘The hall looks light and no longer feels claustrophobic and the white looks great contrasted with the original parquet flooring.’

Once the decorators had finished painting the whole house, Joanne began arranging their furniture. Having been previously used

‘I love the blue tones of the island as they bring a little lift of colour to the neutral cupboards,’ says Joanne. ‘The worktops are polished black granite.’ She found the stools for a bargain at Dunelm and the blind was from Blinds 2go

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to Victorian terraced houses with narrow rooms, the sofa and dining table looked small in the large extension. ‘This was a completely new way of living for us,’ she says. ‘The walls were big and bare and so I started thinking about how I could divide up the space and looked for inspiration on Instagram. I searched #kitchenextensions, #1930s and #openplan for ideas.’

Soon, Joanne had replaced their threeseater in the living area with a large corner sofa, which now frames and fills the space, facing the TV and the garden. The dining table and chairs were out of proportion until she created a zoned area for them with a large rug, and did the same in the living space, too.

The framed kitchen cupboards appealed to Joanne’s taste for classic, long-lasting styles.

They’re painted in Johnstone’s acrylic paint, colourmatched to Farrow & Ball’s Shaded White and Fired Earth’s Antimony

REAL HOME

Good idspaecaes!, use

n In open-pla efine different d to s g u r tonal living areas d dining an ier feel. for a cos Artworks by Laura Amiss, found on Etsy, are displayed in IKEA’s Ribba oak-effect frames.

‘I chose wood frames to tie in with the floor and furniture,’ says Joanne. She’s had the dining table set since she was in her early 20s, and she found the antlers at Jesmond Antiques and the grey rug on Wayfair The whole extension is decorated in Crown’s Sunday School shade to tie the kitchen, dining and seating areas together.

The handy console table is from Wayfair

Upstairs, bespoke wardrobes were made for the main bedroom alcoves and Joanne bought a new bed. Despite purchasing so many new pieces, she was careful to keep her budget in mind. ‘I invested in big-ticket items, but I only ever bought things in the sale or ex-display,’ she says. ‘In fact, before I bought anything new, I looked for a discount code or for the same thing second-hand on Gumtree or eBay. Our bedside table is from IKEA but bought on eBay.’ Joanne took style inspiration from Neptune, loving their timeless designs and neutral palette, but also turned to Wayfair to source similar products at an affordable

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REAL HOME price. ‘I like classic pieces with a lasting look and warm neutrals in beiges and off-whites,’ she says. ‘I tried to think of the house as one big space. I like the colours to flow so there is a similar neutral tone throughout.’

Another big change was improving the wood-heavy, open-plan extension.

Joanne decorated all the walls in a warm putty tone and, understandably, couldn’t justify taking up the wood floor or ripping out the oak kitchen cupboards, so decided to update them herself instead. ‘They were beautifully made and I was nervous about painting them,’ she admits. ‘It took four different

Blush pink tiles, from CDT Tiles, laid in a zigzag pattern draw the eye and bring a splash of colour to Joanne’s neutral palette.

The mirror is from Bathstore and the space-saving all-inone vanity is from Durham Kitchens and Bathrooms

‘I invested in bigticket items, but I only ever bought things in the sale or ex-display.’

Bunting adds a simple, fun decorative update to a blank wall.

Joanne sourced it from Next, along with the curtains and duvet cover

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REAL HOME Soft lilac walls combine with a charity shop chair Joanne painted in Farrow & Ball’s Calamine. The upcycled desk was another of Joanne’s many charity shop finds. The star fairy lights are from The White Company and the rabbit pillow came from Matalan

a! o e d i d o o G rs add interest t

ke Wall stic e wall in a kid’s y a larg nd can easil a bedroom changed. be

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REAL HOME ‘The bespoke wardrobes were a game-changer. I chose a panelled door to tie in with the original wood panelling in the hallway,’ says Joanne. The rug is from Homesense and a similar fish ornament can be found at Oliver Bonas

paint colours until I was absolutely sure and I’m so pleased with the results now. Going for an offwhite is a much better contrast with the wood floor and has made the room look brighter.’

With a tonal and co-ordinated neutral scheme running throughout the house, all the rooms have shaken off their dark past. Joanne has added pretty finishing touches with seasonal cushions, baskets, plants and fresh flowers to make it feel homely. She isn’t quite finished with the redecoration yet, though.

‘We still have a bathroom to do, but I am really happy with the progress we’ve made so far. Despite my initial misgivings about living in a 1930s house, I’ve really enjoyed doing the interiors here. The open-plan space makes us feel much more connected as a family than in our previous home.’

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REAL HOME ‘I like the warmth in Farrow & Ball’s Cornforth White, and above the picture rail is Dulux’s Nutmeg White, leftover from decorating the guest bedroom,’ says Joanne. The cosy waffle bedding is from Marks & Spencer with cushions from La Redoute. The Next lamp sits on an IKEA bedside table, and the light-boosting mirror is from Rutherfords of Morpeth

IDEAS TO STEAL

Like Joanne, you can create zones in an openplan room with a corner sofa Baltimore corner sofa in Dove Grey, £899, Furniture Choice

Capture Joanne’s soft pink bathroom style with these crackle glazed tiles Craquelure Rose tiles, £34.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors

Creamy beige blended with dusky pink add warmth to a neutral décor Cushion cover with tassels, £19.99, H&M Home

A round mirror looks decorative and this frame picks up on the wood in Joanne’s scheme Stockholm mirror in ash veneer, £75, IKEA

Baskets add texture to soften rooms and make great storage solutions Colour-block round basket, £14, Matalan

An upholstered bar stool in pale grey will blend with a blue island Falcon bar stool, £79.99, Atlantic Shopping

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 123

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Food & drink Discover our favourite foodie finds this month and turn the page for money-saving meals

3 ways with... Jerusalem artichokes Make the most of this root vegetable’s sweet, nutty flavour with these dishes ✱ For a warming Jerusalem artichoke soup, heat 1 tbsp butter in a large pan and fry 1 chopped onion until soft. Add 2 chopped garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute. Add 800g peeled and chopped Jerusalem artichokes and 1 litre vegetable stock. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 45 minutes to an hour. With a hand blender, purée the soup. Season and serve. ✱ To make an easy chicken tray bake, heat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4 and rub 4 chicken breasts with butter and season. Peel and chop 300g Jerusalem artichokes and toss with 1 tbsp olive oil in a roasting tin. Grate the zest of 1 lemon over the artichokes. Roast for 20 minutes. Add the chicken to the tin and roast for 15 minutes, then turn the heat up to 200°C/Gas Mark 6 to crisp up the skin for 10 minutes. Serve with a squeeze of lemon and freshly chopped thyme. ✱ For a buttery side dish, peel and slice 800g Jerusalem artichokes. Over a medium heat, heat 3 tbsp butter and fry 2 chopped cloves of garlic for 1 minute, then add the artichokes and 2 rosemary sprigs. Fry for 15-20 minutes, gradually adding 3 extra tbsp butter so that the artichokes don’t stick. Season and serve.

If you do one thing this month...

Boost your herbal tea collection with Ahmad Tea’s Natural Benefits blends. Whether you like a refreshing morning pick-me-up or a relaxing drink to sip in the evening, all six teas incorporate nourishing ingredients that are Smooth, creamy and decadent, you good for your mind and body. wouldn’t even know that this chocolate Immune, a blend of is completely dairy-free. Pure Heavenly’s lemon, ginger and vegan, low-sugar chocolate uses rice turmeric, will sooth any cream instead of milk for a silky texture sore throats, while the and luscious taste without the need for any nasties. With flavours such as salted Sleep blend is a mellow caramel, orange, dark raspberry and combination of camomile, coconut, there’s something for honey and lavender, giving every sweet tooth. 85g bars you all you need for a peaceful priced from £3.45. slumber. £3 per pack of 20, ahmadtea.com.

Try me…

Eat me…

Buy me…

For a creamy alternative to hot chocolate that’s also plant-based, try Horlicks Vegan. The malty goodness pairs wonderfully with non-dairy milks like oat and soy. It’s a classic cosy drink that can be enjoyed whether you’re vegan or not. Available for £3.49 exclusively at Asda.

Does a Super-Charged Chilli Verde or Bountiful Burrito Bowl sound tempting? Then head to Tesco and pick up one of Foodologie’s meal pots.

Packed with all five of your five-a-day, they’re a quick, fuss-free, healthy lunch. £2.40 per pot.

Coffee lovers, listen up! Make sure your daily caffeine fix is always taken care of with Perky Blenders’ subscription service.

Offering your favourite blend as frequently as once a week, you won’t have to worry about running out again!

Priced from £6.50.

February 2021

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

this month we love…

99

CHEAP AND CHEERFUL MEALS Make use of storecupboard ingredients and seasonal produce with these simple recipes that are kind to the purse strings

Sausage and cannellini bean casserole YOU WILL NEED ✔ 1 tbsp olive oil ✔ 8 reduced-fat pork sausages ✔ 1 onion, finely chopped ✔ 1 celery stick, finely chopped ✔ 1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped ✔ 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped ✔ 400g tin chopped tomatoes ✔ 400ml chicken stock ✔ 1 tsp smoked paprika ✔ 400g tin cannellini beans, drained and rinsed ✔ 100g sliced greens

DIRECTIONS

PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes COOKING TIME 25 minutes SERVES 4

■ Heat the oil in a large, lidded frying pan or flameproof casserole dish over a mediumhigh heat. Add the sausages and cook for 5 minutes, turning frequently, until browned all over. Remove from the pan and set aside.

■ Add the onion, celery, carrot and garlic to the pan. Cook over a medium-high heat for 10 minutes until soft and lightly golden. Return the sausages to the pan along with the tinned tomatoes, stock and smoked paprika. Season lightly and stir. Bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.

■ Stir in the beans and greens, then cover and simmer for a further 5 minutes until the greens have softened. Spoon into bowls and grind over some black pepper to serve.

Recipe and image courtesy of Tesco, realfood.tesco.com

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FOOD & DRINK

Chorizo and pea hash PREPARATION TIME 5 minutes COOKING TIME 15 minutes SERVES 4

YOU WILL NEED ✔ 150g chorizo, sliced ✔ 1 red onion, finely sliced ✔ 1 tsp smoked paprika ✔ 1 garlic clove, crushed ✔ 200g ciabatta, roughly torn into 3cm chunks ✔ 130g frozen peas, defrosted ✔ 100g sugarsnap peas ✔ 1 tbsp oil ✔ 4 eggs ✔ 1 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped

DIRECTIONS ■ Put the chorizo, onion and paprika in a frying pan. Fry over a medium heat for 10 minutes until the onion has softened and the chorizo has started to crisp.

■ Add the garlic and ciabatta to the frying pan and fry for 3-4 minutes until the bread is starting to go crispy. Add the peas and sugarsnaps to the pan and fry to warm through.

■ Make 4 spaces for the eggs, crack 1 egg into each gap and fry until the white is set.

■ To serve, sprinkle with fresh parsley and divide the hash between 4 plates.

Recipe and image courtesy of Tesco, realfood.tesco.com

Butternut squash soup with ginger

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 35 minutes SERVES 4

YOU WILL NEED ✔ 1kg butternut squash ✔ 2 onions ✔ thumb of fresh ginger ✔ 2 tbsp butter ✔ 2 tbsp curry powder ✔ 500ml chicken stock ✔ 200ml coconut milk ✔ Juice of 1 lime ✔ ¼ bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped ✔ 80g pecans, chopped

DIRECTIONS

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

■ Peel the butternut squash and cut into large cubes. Peel and finely dice the onions. Peel the ginger and grate finely.

■ Heat the butter in a pan. Add the onion, ginger and squash and brown for 3 minutes. Add the curry powder and continue to cook for a minute before pouring in the chicken stock. Cover with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes.

■ When the squash is soft, add the coconut milk and purée everything together with a stick blender. Season with salt and pepper and squeeze in the lime juice. Spoon into 4 bowls and garnish with the chopped parsley and pecans.

Recipe and image courtesy of STAUB, staub-online.com February 2021

101

FOOD & DRINK

One-pot spaghetti puttanesca

PREPARATION TIME 5 minutes COOKING TIME 15 minutes SERVES 2

YOU WILL NEED ✔ 1 tbsp olive oil ✔ ½ red onion ✔ 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped ✔ 6-8 black olives ✔ ½ tbsp capers ✔ 400g tin plum tomatoes ✔ 190g spaghetti ✔ 500ml water ✔ ½ tsp salt ✔ fresh parsley ✔ vegan parmesan

DIRECTIONS ■ Add the olive oil, red onion and garlic to a heavy set pan and sauté over a medium heat for 4-5 minutes until sweet and soft.

■ Add the black olives and capers and sauté for another minute. Pour in the plum tomatoes and sauté for 2-3 minutes.

■ Then add the spaghetti, water and salt.

Make sure the spaghetti is completely immersed in the liquid to ensure it cooks fully.

Let it cook with the lid on for 5-6 minutes, stirring once or twice. Remove the lid and cook for another 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly.

■ Remove from the heat when the pasta is cooked, and the sauce is creamy. Serve topped with fresh parsley, a drizzle of oil and vegan parmesan.

Recipe and image courtesy of allplants.com

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 10 minutes SERVES 4

Peanut butter and bacon noodles YOU WILL NEED ✔ 450g smoked bacon, chopped ✔ 500g packet noodles ✔ 2 tbsp peanut butter ✔ 2 tbsp soy sauce ✔ 2 tbsp chilli oil ✔ 2 tbsp rice vinegar ✔ 1.5 tsp five-spice ✔ Knob of ginger, finely chopped ✔ 10 spring onions, finely chopped

DIRECTIONS ■ Mix together the peanut butter, soy sauce, chilli oil (reserving 1 tsp to garnish), rice vinegar and 2 tbsp of water until it turns into a creamy sauce. Set aside.

■ Fry the bacon in a non-stick pan until crispy. Add the spring onions (reserving a handful for garnish) and ginger to the pan along with the five-spice, then stir together.

■ In another pan, bring the noodles to the boil. Simmer for about 3 minutes then add to the bacon mix. Set some of the noodle water aside.

■ Toss the peanut sauce through the noodles until they are evenly coated. Add a splash of the water to loosen the sauce if necessary.

■ Plate up and garnish with a sprinkle of spring onions and 1 tsp chilli oil, then dig in.

Recipe and image courtesy of ManiLife, mani-life.com and MOB Kitchen, mobkitchen.co.uk 102

yourhomestyle.uk

FOOD & DRINK

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 25-30 minutes SERVES 4-6

Spiced black forest crumbles YOU WILL NEED ✔ 450g frozen forest fruits, defrosted ✔ 1 orange, zest and juice ✔ 1 tsp clear honey ✔ 1 tsp ground cinnamon ✔ 50g butter ✔ 125g spelt flour ✔ 40g caster sugar ✔ 40g fruit and nut muesli

DIRECTIONS ■ Preheat the oven to 190°C/Gas Mark 5.

Tip the fruit with any juices into individual pudding bowls or a 1-litre baking dish.

■ Whisk the orange zest and juice, honey and cinnamon together and pour over the fruit.

■ In a bowl, rub the butter into the spelt flour to form fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and muesli and scatter the mixture over the fruit to cover it. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden and crisp.

Recipe and image courtesy of Waitrose, waitrose.com/recipes

Frozen yoghurt bark YOU WILL NEED ✔ 500g plain natural or Greek yoghurt ✔ 2 handfuls frozen berries ✔ 2 tbsp pumpkin and/or sunflower seeds

DIRECTIONS ■ Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper and spread the yoghurt to form about 1cm thickness.

■ Sprinkle the berries and seeds on top, then freeze for at least 2 hours.

■ Once frozen, use a wooden spoon to crack the yoghurt into bark pieces. Place in a container and keep it in the freezer until ready to serve.

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes + 2 hours freezing SERVES 6

Recipe and image courtesy of Second Nature, secondnature.io

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INSPIRING IDEAS AMAZING PRICES

LIVING SHOPPING COOKING MAKING STYLING

ONLY

7 real life homes & makeovers every issue plus ideas to steal!

£2.49 Delicious recipes to whip up in minutes

Packed with affordable updates for every room

Expert how-to’s & buyer’s guides

Designer style at high street prices

5 quick and easy craft projects every issue

All the latest home décor trends

February issue out now!

Find us on the magazine aisle

TABLE FOR

2?

Food is the way to a lot of our hearts. This Valentine’s Day, why not cook up a storm and make your loved one swoon with a romantic spread?

Fondue set, £8, Sainsbury’s

Complete your tablescape with these charming silverfoiled napkins

Present your favourite sweet treat in this cherry red cocotte STAUB mini heart cocotte, £19.95, Zwilling

Pink heart-shaped paper napkins, £3.99, Ginger Ray

Greengate Penny pie plate in Red, £22, Daisy Park

Amara heart bowls, £32.50 for three, Oliver Bonas

Rose petals, £3, Sainsbury’s

Navy heart detail plate, £6.99, Homesense Asta Barrington ‘Word’ round tray Love, £30, Amara

Pink Hearts four mug teapot, £59.95, Emma Bridgewater

What better way to serve coffee than with these endearing teaspoons?

Amore coffee spoons, £24.95, Annabel James

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Kaiser silicone spring muffin cases, £8 for six, Amazon

Artesa slate heart serving platter, £8, Dunelm

Culinary Concepts Amore Heart toast rack, £29.95, Cuckooland

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MAKE-AHEAD MEALS

Mediterranean falafel Try out these tasty twists on a versatile classic

Save fo l a Allow the ter Photo Getty Images

falafel to cool to room temperature before putting them in a freezer-safe container or a freezer bag. To reheat, wrap the falafel in aluminium foil and bake at 180°C/Gas Mark 4 until they’re hot through – this should take about 10 minutes.

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FOOD & DRINK YOUR BASE RECIPE

Falafel with tahini sauce

PREP 30 minutes + 12 hours soaking COOK 30 minutes MAKES 45 balls

YOU WILL NEED

1 Rinse the chickpeas thoroughly. Place in a bowl, add water to cover by at least 5cm and soak in the fridge for 12 hours. Drain and rinse the chickpeas.

2 Use a meat grinder on the chickpeas, parsley, coriander leaves, onion, garlic and chilli pepper. Alternatively, use a food processor for the ingredients and do this in several batches until the mixture is blended but still coarse.

3 The mixture should be moist, slightly crumbly and just hold together when you make the balls. Add water, a bit at a time, to achieve the desired texture if needed.

4 Place the cumin, salt, ground coriander, baking soda, and sesame and nigella seeds in a small bowl and mix well.

5 Add the seasoning to the chickpea mixture and mix well. If the mixture is too dry, add a splash of water.

6 Heat 5cm of oil in a deep saucepan over a medium heat. Using a spoon or a small icecream scoop, divide the mixture into balls the size of a walnut and lightly press.

7 Fry the falafel balls, 6 at a time, until golden brown all over, for about 3 minutes. Transfer to a colander or a paper-towel-lined baking sheet to remove the excess oil. Serve warm with tahini.

For other delicious recipes, visit Go Israel, goisrael.com. Recipe courtesy of Ariel Rosenthal from Falafel Hakosem.

Make it

✔ 500g dried chickpeas ✔ 1 bunch fresh parsley ✔ 1 bunch fresh coriander ✔ 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped ✔ 2 garlic cloves ✔ ½ green chilli pepper, deseeded ✔ ½ tbsp ground cumin ✔ 1 tbsp salt ✔ 1¼ tbsp ground coriander ✔ 1 tsp baking soda ✔ 1 tbsp sesame seeds ✔ ½ tbsp nigella seeds ✔ Oil, for frying ✔ Tahini sauce, to serve

h rf es To make the falafels in a slightly different

way, try this method. Place 400g tin of drained chickpeas, 1 clove of garlic, 1 tbsp of cumin, 80g toasted walnuts and a bunch of coriander into a food processor and blitz until the mixture comes together. Roll the mixture into 8 walnut-sized balls and flatten each one slightly. Add 1 tbsp olive oil to a nonstick frying pan over a medium heat and fry on both sides until golden brown.

RECIPE ONE

Falafel and pickled radish bowl

handfuls salad leaves ✔ 2 flatbreads, toasted ✔ Handful coriander leaves, to garnish ✔ Small handful walnut halves, to garnish

PREP 20 minutes COOK 30 minutes SERVES 2

YOU WILL NEED ✔ 8 pre-made falafel balls ✔ 1 small red onion ✔ 6 radishes ✔ 1 lime ✔ 50ml rice vinegar ✔ 250g pouch of pre-cooked quinoa ✔ 2 tsp olive oil ✔ 4 tbsp hummus ✔ 2

1 To make the radish and onion pickle, peel and finely slice the red onion and thinly slice the radishes. Place into a small bowl.

2 Zest and juice the lime and add to the bowl along with the rice vinegar. Put to one side while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

3 Heat the quinoa as per the instructions. Split between two bowls and drizzle each with olive oil, stirring through to combine.

4 Top each bowl with the falafel, hummus, pickled radish and salad leaves. Sprinkle with the handful of walnut halves and coriander leaves and serve with warm flatbread.

Recipe and image courtesy of California Walnuts, californiawalnuts.co.uk

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Ma ke

FOOD & DRINK

1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan and cook half an onion for 4-5 minutes until golden. Add 1 tsp each of ground cumin and coriander to the onion and cook for another minute. Transfer to a food processor along with a 400g tin of drained chickpeas, 50g cooked cavolo nero and 25g of plain flour. Season and blitz to a coarse paste. Divide into 12 balls with damp hands and flatten slightly. Heat another 1 tbsp of oil in an empty frying pan and fry the falafels for 3 minutes on each side or until golden.

RECIPE TWO

Falafel with tomato and cavolo nero

PREP 15 minutes COOK 20 minutes SERVES 4

YOU WILL NEED ✔ 12 pre-made falafel balls ✔ 150g shredded cavolo nero ✔ 1 tbsp olive oil ✔ ½ large onion, finely chopped ✔ 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes ✔ 300ml vegetable stock ✔ Two packs couscous ✔ Salt ✔ Pepper

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esh r f To make a fresh batch of itfalafels, follow this recipe. Heat

1 Cook the cavolo nero in a large saucepan of boiling water for 3 minutes, then drain. You need 200g of cavolo nero if you’re making the falafels fresh but only 150g if you’re using a pre-made batch.

2 Heat the oil in a large frying pan and cook half an onion for 5 minutes until golden, then tip the onion into a saucepan and set aside.

3 Add the chopped tomatoes and stock to the saucepan, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened. Stir in the

cavolo nero and cook for a further 3 minutes, then season.

4 Prepare the couscous according to the packet instructions.

5 Serve with the falafels, couscous, and the tomato and cavolo nero sauce.

Recipe and image courtesy of Discover Great Veg, discovergreatveg.co.uk

Mak e it

f

this hrecipe toFollow s make burger-shape e r falafels. Drain the 2 x 400g tins of

chickpeas, reserving 5 tbsp of the liquid.

Blitz half the chickpeas in a food processor for 30 seconds. Add 2 spring onions, 4 crushed garlic cloves, 1 tsp each of ground cumin and coriander, a pinch of allspice, ½ tsp baking powder, a handful each of parsley and coriander leaves, 4 tbsp plain flour, the reserved chickpea liquid and a pinch of salt. Blitz to a coarse paste. Add the remaining chickpeas and pulse to mix, keeping some texture. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Shape the mixture into 4 burgers of equal size.

Lightly coat the patties in plain flour. In a large non-stick frying pan on a high heat, fry the burgers in 1cm of sunflower oil. Cook in batches for 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden.

RECIPE THREE

Falafel burger

PREP 15 minutes COOK 10 minutes SERVES 4

YOU WILL NEED ✔ 12 pre-made falafel balls ✔ 1 red onion, finely sliced ✔ Lemon, juiced ✔ 60g mayonnaise ✔ 2 tbsp tahini ✔ 4 burger buns, halved ✔ 1 lettuce, finely shredded ✔ Pickled jalapeños, to serve ✔ Salt

Feature Sophie Demetriades

1 Put the onion in a shallow bowl. Add half the lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Toss together and set aside for around 8-10 minutes to soften.

2 Mix together the mayonnaise, tahini, the remaining lemon juice and a pinch of salt in a bowl; as you stir, the mixture will split. Add 1 tbsp of water and mix well, until a pale, creamy sauce forms.

3 Reheat the pre-prepared falafel balls according to the ‘Save for later’ instructions on page 106, and flatten them slightly to make them easier to slot in between the burger buns.

4 In a frying pan, add two of the burger buns (tops and bottoms) and turn the heat down to medium. Toast for 30-40 seconds, until golden. Remove from the heat. Add 1 tsp of water. Cover the pan and leave for 20-30 seconds to soften the buns. Repeat with the remaining buns.

5 To assemble the burgers, divide the lettuce between the bottom halves of the buns. Top with the falafel and spoon over the mayonnaise mixture. Put the softened red onions and jalapeños on top and add the tops of the buns.

Recipe and image courtesy of Tesco, realfood. tesco.com

Photos Getty Images

WITH THIS FALAFEL, YOU CAN ALSO TRY…

Sweet potato, tomato and falafel bowl with yogurt dip

Falafel tacos with carrot, red cabbage and yogurt sauce

Rainbow salad bowl with falafel

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JANUARY SALE

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Home

Turn over to discover how you can add value to your home

IMPROVEMENT Hygge home Create that hygge feeling you’ve been dreaming of with Woodwarm Stoves. Cosy, charming and guaranteed to set off a sequence of ‘wows’ from friends and family, Woodwarm’s stoves are accessible even if you don’t have a chimney. All you need is a flue, which can be fitted through either a wall or a roof. As we all move towards making more sustainable decisions in our homes, Woodwarm’s new Fireview is our top pick. Certified EcoDesign Ready, which ensures it adheres to European standards on air pollution and particulate emissions, you can keep warm safe in the knowledge that it’s not at the expense of the environment.

Available in five sophisticated shades, the Fireview is priced from £1,296.

Smart as a button Do you want the convenience of smart home devices without the hefty price tag? You’re in luck. The new Lidl Smart Home range allows you to control your electricals from the Lidl Home app on your phone, and the best part is that prices start at as little as £7.99.

Control your TV, switch your lighting on or off and turn up the volume on your favourite speakers, all at the touch of a button. The range includes the Smart Plug, an adapter device that allows even non-smart devices to be controlled from your phone, the Smart Lights Starter Kit, £39.99, and a HD Smart Freeview TV, £129. It’s even designed to be compatible with various other smart systems, so you can boost your existing setup for the ultimate hasslefree home!

So you want to hang up your new wall décor, but you live in a rental property or fear ruining the paint job you recently completed? Worry no more, as the new Command Adjustables range offers a damage-free and reusable solution to your wall décor dilemma. If you struggle to make up your mind when decorating or are attempting a gallery wall, these new hooks are a lifesaver as you can reposition them up to three times within the first 20 minutes. They’re also great to have on hand for birthday parties if you’re hanging temporary decorations such as bunting and banners – no more paint-destroying tape!

Command Adjustables clear hooks and strips, £5.99, Amazon

CLEAN AS A WHISTLE After the turbulence of 2020, a clean home that’s properly disinfected is at the top of a lot of people’s priority list. Give your home a modern update while fortifying against the spread of bacteria with Johnstone’s new Anti-Bacterial Matt Paint. When combined with regular household cleaning, the paint has proven effective in actively inhibiting bacterial growth, so you can leave worries about unwelcome germs at the front door. Forest Stroll (pictured) is our favourite shade. Priced at £22 for 2.5L at shop.johnstonespaint.com.

Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

Stress-free decorating

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HOME IMPROVEMENT Give walls a lick of paint and you’ll be quids in. Rolling Fog-Light in intelligent matt, £51.50 for 2.5L; Rolling Fog 143 in absolute matt, £47 for 2.5L; Attic II 144 in intelligent satinwood, £73.50 for 2.5L, all Little Greene

A wraparound extension to a midterrace house, like this example from Simply Extend that comprises a kitchen-diner, cloakroom and utility area, will increase space and value

HOW TO ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME Whether you’re intending to sell your home soon or further down the line, these improvements will guarantee the best return on your investment

Feature Andrea Dean

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pending far more time than usual at home over the past year has motivated seven in 10 owners to plan post-lockdown improvements, according to research from Aldermore bank. As well as making your property more attractive, functional and comfortable, upgrades should add as much value as possible to maximise your profit when you move. How much an individual property is worth depends on its location, size, condition, demand and supply, and although you can’t change where you live or control outside forces, there are lots of fail-safe ways to boost its value.

Here’s how to unlock your home’s potential and achieve a top price, whenever you decide to sell.

A glass extension will fill your home with light, adding value and space. For a similar design, check out IQ Glass

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TALK TO AN ESTATE AGENT

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Get your home valued by an estate agent who knows the local market inside out, and the features that buyers want and are prepared to pay extra for. ‘The agent will be able to give you advice on areas where you could improve to maximise value, from simple fixes to much larger projects,’ says Gavin Kirkham of Connells. If you’re getting ready to sell soon, the maths is a simple matter of recouping your costs, but if you plan to stay put for the foreseeable future, a short-term loss on a big project could be converted into a profit over time as prices rise, as well as providing you with a home that’s far more suited to your lifestyle.

For a positive impact on your home’s asking price, declutter and depersonalise it prior to putting it on the market. This house in Cambridge is for sale through Cheffins

HOME IMPROVEMENT Carving out space for a cloakroom under the stairs or the back of the kitchen will reap instant rewards.

Phoenix WC, £200; Malmo light grey vanity unit and basin, from £275, both Wickes

Refurbish an outdated bathroom to boost a selling price by up to five per cent. Steel bath, £110; GoodHome Adriska fitted furniture, from £35; shower door, from £170, all B&Q

QUICK FIXES

COST-EFFECTIVE UPGRADES

LONG-TERM GAINS

You don’t have to devote a lot of time or money to boost a property’s value and saleability.

A badly maintained home will fetch a lower price than a similar one that’s been looked after, so fill holes in walls, deal with damp patches, repair cracked tiles and spruce up the garden. NAEA Propertymark recommends paying a little extra for professional handwork, redecorating rooms in neutral shades, and refreshing the kitchen with a deep clean and repainting old cupboard doors. All rooms should also be decluttered and depersonalised so that viewers can see their condition – easier when they’re not filled with belongings – and all the space they’ll be getting for their money.

Creating space almost always boosts value, and the most budget-friendly way to do this is to repurpose or reconfigure existing rooms and redundant areas. ‘Adding bedrooms will usually increase the sale price, especially if it’s a loft or cellar conversion with an en suite bathroom,’ says Paul Keighley of Bramleys estate agency. ‘A threestorey detached house with three bedrooms could be worth around 20 per cent less than one with four bedrooms.’ It’s also worth squeezing in an en suite – perhaps in a corner of the master bedroom – and a downstairs loo, and going open plan by knocking down an internal wall between the kitchen and dining room to create more space.

Some projects are slow burners, in that you won’t get your money back immediately but will be able to benefit from an uplift in price if you’re not planning a move for a number of years. As the heart of the home, a spacious, well-designed modern kitchen will have a positive effect on the selling price, so look into replacing dated units and extending to the side and back. Building a conservatory or garden room, upgrading your heating system, reinstating period features and fitting a new roof are all projects that will more than pay for themselves, as will swapping singleglazed windows for energy-efficient double-glazed ones, which have the bonus of reducing outside noise.

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With so many of us now working from home, a dedicated office can command a premium. Garden room, from £17,245, Green Retreats

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A good kitchen can boost your home’s value. Porter Hartforth Blue kitchen, from £8,000, Second Nature

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Add value with double-glazing that suits the street’s style. Timber windows from £800 each, Thames Valley Window Company

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

Extending upwards into otherwise wasted loft space can make a house or top floor flat even more of a valuable asset.

This attic has been transformed into a study and fitted with Velux Integra centre pivot roof windows, from £664 each

EXPERT ADVICE

EXTEND YOUR LEASE

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You can add thousands of pounds to the asking price of a leasehold flat by extending the lease. The value drops rapidly once 80 years are left to run, so apply for a lease extension straight away if the clock is ticking. By law, you’ll have the right to add 90 years to the remaining term, but might be able to negotiate a longer period. The process, which is handled by a solicitor, can take up to a year and the cost calculation is incredibly complicated, but definitely worthwhile.

Alternatively, consider buying the freehold, though you’ll need the agreement of at least half the leaseholders in the block to do so.

Convert the loft into a master suite, complete with bathroom and dressing area, to bump up a property’s value by as much as 20 per cent if finished to the standard of this project, by Simply Lofts

‘For those looking to do up a property and then sell it on within the next few years, setting a realistic budget is incredibly important.

Owners must consider the ceiling value, particularly if it is a smaller home or a new build. Often these works can be hugely expensive and cannot guarantee a full return on investment if it has hit the top value for its location or if the buyer has paid full price for it in the first place. It is essential that people don’t overstretch themselves financially or there is a risk of losing money in the long-run.’

Bruce King, Director at Cheffins, cheffins.co.uk

USEFUL CONTACTS

● Source an approved builder to do the work at fmb.org .uk ● Check out hoa.o rg.uk for useful advice on val ue -adding improvements and sel ling your home ● Visit lease -advic e.org for detailed information on exten ding a lease ● Search NAEA Pro pertymark’s database at naea.co .uk to find a trustworthy local est ate agent.

WHAT NOT TO DO

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Some so-called improvements won’t add as much value as you’d expect – in fact they may have a negative effect on your property’s price. If there’s only one bathroom, don’t take out the tub and turn it into a wetroom and, unless you have at least five bedrooms, converting two into one large suite is a no-no. Installing a swimming pool isn’t a great idea either, as Becky Munday, founder of Munday’s estate agency explains.

‘A pool is great in theory, but in practice costs a lot to upkeep and unless you have a palatial manor or use it a lot, they often look tired and are a money pit to take out! Hot tubs are trendy, but don’t add value.

Lockdown has made outside space more important than ever, and experts say that a garden that feels like an outdoor room – such as this courtyard in a South London house for sale via Munday’s – could boost value by 10 per cent

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CASE STUDY ‘We’ve earned £35,000 by upgrading our home’

Hannah had already done up and made a decent profit on a two-bed flat in Brighton before tackling her three-bed semi, which is about 100 years old

The couple kept costs down by decorating the house themselves. Hannah painted the exterior, along with the interior walls that the decorators had left white as a blank canvas, so she could decide on the colours for each room.

Hannah Adams and her husband, Tom, bought their three-bed semi-detached house in Hove in 2017 with the intention of improving it to make a profit. Although it was in reasonable condition and close to the station and seafront, it didn’t spark joy. ‘It had no personality but would have been completely out of our price range if the

work had already been done,’ says Hannah. The couple – who now have a three-year old son, Archie – stayed with Tom’s parents nearby for nearly three months while their house was transformed as they were told that the job would be cheaper – and quicker – if there were no belongings in the house.

In the meantime, builders stripped and replastered walls, boxed in exposed pipes and opened up the kitchen and dining room. The bathroom was replaced, new carpet laid in the bedrooms, floorboards sanded in the downstairs rooms, and the garden decked.

Thanks to Hannah’s eye for a bargain and penchant for spreadsheets, work stayed within budget. ‘I was originally quoted £1,200 for an oak worktop but found one for £150, and bought all the appliances online,’ she says. ‘We spent about £30,000, which included a new boiler and annoying fiddly things like moving light switches and radiators and rehanging doors, but we wouldn’t have achieved such a premium finish if we hadn’t had them done. We didn’t extend as this would have cost too much, and felt that converting the loft would have made the house top heavy.’

Although she and Tom originally planned to stay put for five years, they decided to take advantage of the stamp duty holiday – no tax is payable on the first £500,000 of homes completing by the end of March – to move on. ‘The agent already had a buyer in mind who made an offer immediately, so we didn’t have to worry about lots of people coming into our home during the pandemic,’ she explains. ‘We were slightly worried about how much money we’d make as we bought at the top of the market for £399,950, but were very happy to accept an offer of £465,000, giving us a healthy profit for our hard work.’

Feature Andrea Dean

Taking down the wall that previously separated the kitchen and dining room has created a light, bright room, which opens onto the decked garden

A calm palette of blues and greys flows through the house, including in the front sitting room, where storage lines both sides of the chimney breast

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HOME IMPROVEMENT EXTRA

THE WONDER OF WOOD Solid, engineered, laminate and luxury vinyl tiles, we’ve got the low-down on the latest looks in hardwood flooring to revive your home

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reating your home to new flooring can breathe fresh life into a room, but with so many styles, finishes and types to choose from it’s difficult to know where to start. If you love the look of wood and the warmth and character it brings, we’ve found the latest products, plus all you need to know about them, to help you choose the right solution for your taste, space and lifestyle. Prepare to be inspired…

CHOOSE A SOLID SOLUTION Fill your home with the beauty of a real, solid wood floor that will only improve with age.

Each plank boasts bevelled edges with a slightly brushed surface that you can sand back when needed to achieve a new look or to remove any marks of scuffs. This natural oak is not suitable for underfloor heating and is not waterresistant, so is best used in spaces such as living rooms and bedrooms.

GoodHome Skara natural oak solid wood flooring, £38.70 per sq m, B&Q

OUR EXPERT SAYS… ‘Bamboo is the smart choice for a sustainable floor. It’s got it all – sleek elegant looks, incredible durability and unbeatable eco-credentials. The strand weaving process creates a board with all the character of a traditional hardwood, but crafted from a natural grass with a higher tensile strength than steel and an incredible five-year regrowth cycle.’

Darwyn Ker, MD of Woodpecker Flooring

GO FOR ECO For an eco-friendly solution that’s hard-wearing and super stylish, consider bamboo flooring. This completely sustainable option takes five years to regrow, while the cutting of the plant actively encourages this regrowth. The bamboo forms its own unique grain pattern, which Woodpecker Flooring has incorporated into four warming tones, from light and fresh to dark and warming, so you’re sure to find one that can work for your scheme, while ticking the all-important environmentally friendly box, too.

Oxwich herringbone coffee strand bamboo flooring, £82 per sq m, Woodpecker Flooring

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HOME IMPROVEMENT EXTRA FAKE IT IN STYLE For a truly authentic wooden feel without the hard work, Amtico’s Toulouse oak in the French weave laying pattern is the perfect choice. This LVT is hard-wearing, scratch and waterresistant and only requires a sweep, occasional mop and a yearly deep clean to keep it looking its best. It’s also comfortable underfoot and compatible with underfloor heating. With a slightly higher price point than many other luxury vinyl tiles, the look and feel of this flooring, plus its easy upkeep, help to justify the expense – especially when you see the transformation it can provide in your home.

Toulouse oak in French weave laying pattern, from £70 per sq m, Amtico Signature

PERFECT PARQUET Add a sense of elegance to your home with this parquet-inspired pattern in the form of an easy to fit and maintain laminate.

This eye-catching realistic design has a matt finish on a smooth surface with no grooves between the extra wide boards for a seamless look. Each plank measures 1,261mm x 190.5mm and can be used in bathrooms, as well as with underfloor heating. This laminate also comes with a 20-year warranty for peace of mind.

Balterio Xpressions laminate in blocks, £26.99 per sq m, Carpetright

ADD STRIKING MODERN LINES

Feature Lara Berry

Go for the look of wood in a modern finish with this chevron design vinyl in a bold colourway. A great budget-friendly alternative to natural wood floors, vinyl requires minimal upkeep and can cope with most spillages. A practical and easy way to update a room, with the correct subfloor preparation a savvy DIYer should be able to install this type of floor within a day for most rooms.

Pamera vinyl floor from the Ultimate Timber collection, from £21 per sq m, Avenue Floors

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CREATE TIMELESS APPEAL This charming wood-effect flooring allows you to enjoy the natural textures and look of wood in a hard-wearing vinyl. It’s extremely durable, slip-resistant, plus has a Protectorate-PU layer that ensures the planks are built to last. Measuring 19.6cm x 132cm the planks have a dry back, and require a special adhesive to fix them into place, although this flooring is also available in a click system for a speedier installation.

Suitable for most rooms of the house and with underfloor heating, this solution will fit in seamlessly in both modern and traditional homes.

Select Brio oak 22237, from £24.99 per sq m, Moduleo

MAKE THE MOST OF NATURAL GRAINS We love the chevron design that these engineered planks so effortlessly achieve. The brushed European oak planks have a bevelled edge and a tongue-and-groove profile that should be glued into place. Made from FSC certified timber, this flooring is suitable for use with underfloor heating. The natural grain creates subtle detailing for your scheme that will improve with age.

Neutro 45 degree chevron engineered oak wood flooring, £71.95 per sq m, The Italian Collection, Havwoods

BATHROOM-FRIENDLY This Classic oak Beige laminate floor has been developed to replicate the nuances of wood across pattern and texture for a realistic finish. A patented click system with the brand’s Hydroseal technology means a water-resistant finish, making it possible to have laminate in the kitchen and bathroom, where traditional wood floors may warp over time. We love the pale beige colour, which will help to keep schemes light and bright – perfect for smaller rooms where the wood-effect will add style and character, too.

Classic oak laminate in Beige from the Impressive collection, from £23.99 per sq m, Quick-Step

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HOME IMPROVEMENT EXTRA MAKE A STYLE STATEMENT Suitable for any room of the house, this eye-catching wood-effect luxury vinyl tile also supports underfloor heating to keep you extra cosy underfoot. Highly durable, this flooring has a 0.55mm wear layer making it perfectly robust for everyday living and requires little more than a wipe and the occasional mop to keep it looking as good as new.

We love the realistic wood characteristics that have been combined with a geometric pattern to give your scheme a subtle, yet striking, finish.

Palace Offcut art luxury vinyl tiles, £29.95 per sq m, Lifestyle Floors

THE LOW-DOWN ON LVT AND LAMINATE David Snazel, Buyer of Hard Flooring at Carpetright, shares all you need to know about these two versatile flooring choices

LVT

For those who want to recreate the look of wood, advances in flooring technology have given us realistic wood finishes at a fraction of the price. Many LVT styles are available as planks with an inventive click system, meaning they are incredibly easy to install with no glue. Each plank clicks together to create a seamless floating floor with a smooth, authentic finish. Although possible to fit LVT yourself, the best results will be achieved with an expert fitter. It’s durable, and lowmaintenance, while being compatible with underfloor heating for an extra touch of luxury and warmth underfoot. Although typically easy to maintain, consider cleaning products carefully as not all chemicals are suitable and may cause discolouration.

Why you want LVT: • It looks amazing • Has a softer feel than laminate • Is scuff- and stain-resistant • Supports underfloor heating • It absorbs sound, insulates heat and is comfortable underfoot • It’s highly resistant to water, making it perfect for bathrooms

LAMINATE Modern day print and production processes now mean that most styles of flooring can be emulated with a laminate floor, from classic wood planks to stone effects – and all for a reasonable price. Exceptionally durable, low-maintenance and easy to clean, it’s also a popular choice for DIY installation. Carpetright laminate flooring is installed using a click system, meaning installation is straightforward and there is no need for adhesive. Do bear in mind that not all laminates are suitable for use in a kitchen or bathroom, as moisture can cause them to warp.

THE LUXE LOOK Bring a sense of luxury and style to your home with this striking engineered wood flooring. Made from oak, the planks include slight variants that you’d expect with a real wood solution, giving it a more rustic and interesting finish wherever you choose to lay it.

Suitable for living spaces, hallways and kitchens, each plank has the effect of three strips of wood, creating a finish that oozes detailing from colour and wood grain. A 20-year wear warranty gives you peace of mind that this investment is worthwhile.

Kahrs Tres Erve matt lacquered engineered wood flooring, £54.99 per sq m, Carpetright

Why you want laminate: • It’s hard-wearing • There are many versatile designs • Supports underfloor heating • It’s scratch-, fade- and dent-resistant • An easy-to-clean option • Much softer and warmer underfoot than ceramic tiles or stone flooring • It’s often an affordable choice

FINISHING TOUCHES How you finish your flooring can take up its style stakes – edge your room with straight planks for a neat and considered look. The soft woodgrain detailing on this vinyl tile has been carefully designed to precisely recreate the original brushed plank faces. Its subtle grey oak shading makes this luxury vinyl tile a versatile choice to base a new scheme on.

Grey brushed oak DS21, from £49.99 per sq m, Karndean

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SIX AMAZING PRIZE DRAWS TO ENTER!

We have fabulous goodies up for grabs this month!

Win an Italian cookery masterclass with Riso Gallo and Carmela Sereno Hayes Italian grain expert Riso Gallo has teamed up with Italian chef and author Carmela Sereno Hayes to offer one lucky reader, and three of their friends, a virtual live cookery masterclass.

Carmela will host a 2.5-hour Italian cookery class via Zoom, showing you how to make fresh pasta and a wonderful risotto.

Plus, you’ll win a bundle of Gallo rice and a copy of Carmela’s latest book, Northern & Central Italian Family Cooking.

Riso Gallo is the oldest risotto rice producer in Italy and the first in the sector to have undertaken sustainable rice production.

For more info, visit risogallo.co.uk.

One lucky winner

Win the ultimate sleep package, worth up to £500 Specialising in the perfect Hungarian goose down duvets and pillows, as well as 100 per cent Egyptian cotton and linen bedding, sleep specialists Scooms offer a simplified range of luxury, sustainable essentials designed to help you get the best night’s sleep. With no toxins, chemicals or single-use plastics used in production or delivery, you can rest assured that you’re sleeping in the highest quality, natural bedding.

This month, Scooms is giving Your Home readers the chance to win an exclusive ultimate sleep prize, which includes an All-Seasons Duvet in your choice of size, plus a pillow to match, worth up to £500. To view the latest range of bedding and for more information, visit scooms.com.

One lucky winner

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Secure your home with a Yale security bundle

Two lucky winners

Security specialist Yale is giving Your Home readers the chance to win a security camera bundle, including a Front Door Wi-Fi Camera - Light & Siren; an Indoor Wi-Fi Camera - Pan & Tilt; and an Outdoor Pro Wi-Fi Camera - 4MP. The three cameras will allow you to keep an eye on the front door, the inside of your home and your back garden, so you’re fully in control of your security. These cameras all provide live viewing and will record onto a micro SD card (not included). They also have night vision and can be controlled with a smartphone.

The Front Door Wi-Fi Camera-Light & Siren and Outdoor Pro Wi-Fi Camera - 4MP are both weatherproof, making them more than capable of withstanding unpredictable climates. The Indoor Wi-Fi Camera - Pan & Tilt lets you move the camera up, down, left and right, tracking any movement in the space. For more information, visit yalehome.co.uk.

Win one of two amazing gardening packages, lucky worth over £270 each Two winners Fiskars is taking the stress out of gardening by giving Your Home readers the chance to win one of two exclusive gardening bundles – perfect for the onset of spring! Each Fiskars package, worth over £270, consists of a QuikFit Tree Cutter combined with a Telescopic Shaft, a PowerGear X Lopper Bypass (M), PowerGear X Hedge Shears and an Xact Weed Puller.

The tools in the innovative QuikFit range allow you to tackle more work using fewer tools. Cleverly designed with an interchangeable selection of heads and various-sized handles, the tool can be used in multiple ways. With one click, you can change the head of the tool so you can get cracking on with the job. For more information, visit fiskars.com.

SIX AMAZING PRIZE DRAWS TO ENTER!

Win £200 worth of DUSK luxury bedding and accessories

Five lucky winners

As spring approaches, many will be thinking about refreshing the home – and what better place to start than the bedroom? Your Home has teamed up with DUSK to offer you the chance to win one of five £200 vouchers to spend on luxury bedding.

First, update the room with fresh new bed linen. Offering high thread count bedding at affordable prices, DUSK is the place to find stylish and soft bed linen that will give you that desirable fresh-sheet feeling night after night.

The DUSK bed linen collections are crafted in 100 per cent cotton, with thread counts ranging from 200 to 800. Whichever style you choose, it will feel luxurious to the touch, regulate your temperature as you sleep and be kind to sensitive skin.

To add texture and complementary colours, select from the extensive range of cushions and throws, creating a luxury hotel experience at home. And don’t forget to make it a multi-sensory experience with an addition from the DUSK home fragrance collection. The ‘Serene’ range of candles and diffusers are infused with scents of lavender, pine, sage and eucalyptus, creating the ultimate relaxing ambience. Explore the full range at DUSK.com.

Win £1,000 of Stratex flooring from Woodpecker Flooring

one lucky winner

We’ve teamed up with Woodpecker Flooring to offer one lucky winner £1,000 of Stratex flooring. Stratex is next-generation flooring with high stability and outstanding performance. Incredibly strong and durable, resistant to humid climates and compatible with underfloor heating, Stratex is the perfect choice for rooms requiring a high-performance, low-maintenance floor.

With two ranges and 26 designs to choose from, you’ll have no problem finding a statement new floor for your home. The Lynton collection is extra special with a combination of Stratex core technology and a wonderful real wood top layer. The Lynton Weald is one of our favourites as its rich colour and natural texture of real wood results in an extra special floor that is not only beautiful to look at and walk on, but incredibly strong and moisture-resistant, too.

The Brecon range is a waterproof choice and features an embossed, woodgraineffect vinyl top. Each floor comes with a 25-year warranty so you can be assured that its beauty will stay true for many years to come. Check out the full range and order a free sample at woodpeckerflooring.co.uk.

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

17 The surname and county of residence of the winners will be available upon request by sending an SAE to Your Home February 2021 Giveaways, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST within two months of the closing date of the promotion. The Promoter will contact the winners before releasing this information and provide the winners the opportunity to object or limit the amount of information shared 18 The promotion is subject to the laws of England.

February 2021

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Shop at anglepoise.com Use code YHY2 for 20% off all orders over ÂŁ100

Shopping guide Where to buy everything in this issue Abrams 01235 759555 abramsandchronicle.co.uk Abstract House 020 8099 9243 abstracthouse.com Addis 0800 515 300 addis.co.uk Ahmad Tea 02380 278900 ahmadtea.com Aliwood Roof Lanterns 01245 967107 aliwood.co.uk Allplants allplants.com AluSplash alusplash.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon 0800 279 7234 amazon.co.uk Amnesty Shop 01420 525540 amnestyshop.org.uk Amtico 0121 745 0800 amtico.com Annabel James 0345 548 0210 annabeljames.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 713 089 anniesloan.com AO.com 0161 470 1200 ao.com Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk ASDA 0800 952 0101 direct.asda.com Atlantic Shopping 0121 230 1644 atlanticshopping.co.uk Audenza 0116 2986393 audenza.com Avenue Floors avenuefloors.co.uk

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B&M 0330 838 9000 bmstores.co.uk B&Q 0333 014 3357 diy.com Barker and Stonehouse 0333 010 2352 barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Bathstore 0333 241 2701 bathstore.com BC Ceramics 01727 836789 bcceramics.co.uk Beaumonde 01202 707770 beaumonde.co.uk Beautify beautify.co.uk Beliani 020 3318 8222 beliani.co.uk BestHeating 0344 417 2563 bestheating.com Big Bathroom Shop 0113 394 8990 bigbathroomshop.co.uk Biggie Best 01628 471455 biggiebest.co.uk Biscuiteers biscuiteers.com Blinds 2go 0800 862 0464 blinds-2go.co.uk Blooms and Candy 020 3198 0358 bloomsandcandy.co.uk Bobby Rabbit 0114 321 7000 bobbyrabbit.co.uk Brick Slips 0333 577 8831 brickslips.co.uk Brooke Ceramics 01482 585888 tile.co.uk

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Cabbages & Roses 0207 352 7333 cabbagesandroses.com California Shutters 0800 195 0196 californiashutters.co.uk California Walnuts 01628 535 755 californiawalnuts.co.uk Cambridge Imprint 07732 131135

C

cambridgeimprint.co.uk Ca’ Pietra 01380 735889 capietra.com Carpetright 0330 333 3444 carpetright.co.uk Catford Glass Shop 020 8285 1116 catfordglassshop.co.uk CTD Tiles 0800 014 2994 ctdtiles.co.uk Cheffins 01223 213343 cheffins.co.uk Chiltern Timber 01442 248444 chilterntimber.co.uk Colefax and Fowler 020 7244 7427 colefax.com Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk CP Hart 0345 873 1100 cphart.co.uk Craig & Rose 01383 740011 craigandrose.com Cream Cornwall 01326 450811 creamcornwall.co.uk Crosswater 0345 873 8840 crosswater.co.uk Crown Paints 0330 024 0309 crownpaints.co.uk Cuckooland 01305 231231 cuckooland.com Cult Furniture 0208 185 6960 cultfurniture.com Currys 0344 561 1234 currys.co.uk Curver curver.com Custom Fronts 01273 038135 customfronts.co.uk Daisy Park daisypark.co.uk där lighting 01295 672200 darlighting.co.uk Day True 020 7788 9229 daytrue.com Debenhams 0344 800 8877 debenhams.com Decorating Centre Online 01388 665844 decoratingcentreonline.co.uk Desenio 020 3318 2047 desenio.co.uk Discover Great Veg discovergreatveg.co.uk Dowsing & Reynolds 0113 819 9985 dowsingandreynolds.com Drench 01202 612800 drench.co.uk Dulux 0333 222 7171 dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 165 6565 dunelm.com Durham Kitchens and Bathrooms 0191 447 1600 durhamkitchensandbathrooms.co.uk

D

eBay 0345 355 3229 ebay.co.uk Ella James 01572 759190 ellajames.co.uk Emma Bridgewater 01782 210565 emmabridgewater.co.uk Emmaus 0300 303 7555 emmaus.org.uk English Blinds 0121 439 6770 englishblinds.co.uk Etsy etsy.com

E

Falcon Enamelware 0207 837 9749 falconenamelware.com Farrow and Ball 01202 876141

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38 farrow-ball.com Fenwick 0800 783 1783 fenwick.co.uk Frank Thomas Fabric Barn 01636 636262 frankthomasinteriors.com French Connection Home 0333 400 3285 frenchconnection.com Furniture Choice 0333 015 0000 furniturechoice.co.uk Furniture Village 0800 804 8879 furniturevillage.co.uk Garden Trading 01993 845559 gardentrading.co.uk Geberit 01926 516800 geberit.co.uk Getting Personal gettingpersonal.co.uk Ginger Ray 0845 680 2975 gingerray.co.uk Gorenje 020 8247 3980 gorenje.co.uk Graham and Green 01225 418200 grahamandgreen.co.uk Granorte 07713 511912 granorte.pt/en Green Energy UK 01920 486156 greenenergyuk.com Green Retreats 01296 325777 greenretreats.co.uk

G

H&M Home 0344 736 9000 hm.com Habitat 0344 499 4686 habitat.co.uk Hampton and Astley hamptonandastley.com Hartleys Direct hartleysdirect.com Havwoods 01524 737000 havwoods.com Hawk Kitchens & Bathrooms 01727 260670 hawkkb.co.uk Heavenly Homes and Gardens heavenlyhomesandgardens.co.uk Hema hema.com Heritage Bathrooms 0330 026 8503 heritagebathrooms.com Hobbycraft 0330 026 1400

H

hobbycraft.co.uk Home & Colonial 01442 877007 homeandcolonial.co.uk Homebase 0333 003 7084 homebase.co.uk Home How homehow.co.uk Home Label Collection homelabelcollection.co.uk Homescapes Online 0121 368 0051 homescapesonline.com Homesense 01923 473561 homesense.com Hotel Chocolat hotelchocolat.com Hudson Home hudsonhome.co.uk Iconic Lights iconiclights.co.uk Ideal Standard 01482 346 461 idealstandard.co.uk IKEA 020 3645 0000 ikea.com/gb Imperial Bathrooms 01753 850240 imperialbathrooms.co.uk InHouse 01434 400 070 inhouseltd.co.uk IQ Glass 01494 722880 iqglassuk.com

I

Jesmond Antiques 0191 244 9699 jesmondantiques.co.uk JIS Europe sussexrange.co.uk John Lewis & Partners 0345 610 0359 johnlewis.com Johnstone’s shop.johnstonespaint.com Joules 0345 250 7160 joules.com JYSK 03300 883818 jysk.co.uk

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Karndean Flooring 01386 820 200 karndean.com Keuco 01442 865 220 keuco.co.uk Keys 4 U 033 0088 4662 keys4ulocksmith.co.uk Kimberley Dawn Cushions 01752 846168 kimberleydawn.co.uk KitchenAid 0800 151 0908 kitchenaid.co.uk

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Know & Love 07515 889906 knowandlove.co.uk Lakeland 015394 88100 lakeland.co.uk La Redoute 0330 303 0199 laredoute.co.uk Leaf Envy leafenvy.co.uk Leisure leisurecooker.co.uk Lifestyle Floors lifestyle-floors.co.uk Lights4fun 01423 816 040 lights4fun.co.uk Lime Lace 0330 058 4158 limelace.co.uk Little Greene 0845 880 5855 littlegreene.com Live in the Light 01753 571900 liveinthelight.co.uk Live Laugh Love 01342 842599 livelaughlove.co.uk

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MADE 0845 557 6888 made.com Maisons du Monde 0808 234 2172 maisonsdumonde.com Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8000 marksandspencer.com Marquis & Dawe 01925 767611 marquisanddawe.co.uk Matalan 0333 0044444 matalan.co.uk Matki 01454 322888 matki.co.uk Mela melacomfort.co.uk Mint & May 020 3637 7969 mintandmay.co.uk MOB Kitchen mobkitchen.co.uk Modish Living 01273 499057 modishliving.co.uk Moduleo moduleo.com Morphy Richards 0344 871 0944 morphyrichards.co.uk Mosney Mill 01772 822525 mosneymill.co.uk My Little Vintage 01327 350033 mlvintage.co.uk My Little Wish 0203 432 7747 mylittlewish.com

M

Natural History Museum 020 7942 5494 nhm.ac.uk Natural Wood Floor Co 020 8871 9771 naturalwoodfloor.co.uk Neptune 01793 427450 neptune.com Next 0333 777 8000 next.co.uk Not on the High Street 0203 318 5115 notonthehighstreet.com

N

Oak Furnitureland 0800 440 2254 oakfurnitureland.co.uk Oliver Bonas 020 8059 2414 oliverbonas.com Original BTC 020 7351 2130 originalbtc.com

O

Packhouse 01252 781010 packhouse.com Pagazzi 0344 257 1908 pagazzi.com

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Papergang papergang.com Pavilion Interiors 01344 875168 pavilioninteriors.co.uk Perky Blenders perkyblenders.com PlastiKote 01223 790332 plasti-kote.co.uk Porcelain Superstore 0330 094 0304 porcelainsuperstore.co.uk Primark 0118 960 6300 primark.com Pure Heavenly 01722 632444 pureheavenly.com

Q R

Quick-Step 08448 118 288 quick-step.co.uk

Red Candy 0121 224 7728 redcandy.co.uk Rex London 0208 746 2473 rexlondon.com Roman 01325 328033 roman-showers.com Rose & Grey 0161 926 8763 roseandgrey.co.uk Roselind Wilson Design 0203 371 1779 roselindwilsondesign.com Russell Hobbs 0345 658 9700 uk.russellhobbs.com Rust-Oleum 0191 410 6611 makeityours.co.uk Rutherford & Co 01670 512458 rutherfordsofmorpeth.co.uk

Sainsbury’s Home 0800 636262 sainsburys.co.uk Sarah Shelley Art 07730 571823 sarahshelleyart.co.uk Screwfix 0333 011 2112 screwfix.com Search Press 01892 510850 searchpress.com Second Nature secondnature.io Second Nature Kitchens sncollection.co.uk Shilpa Reddy 07985 558056 shilpa-reddy.com Simon Paul Shutters 0845 519 0542 simonpaulshutters.co.uk Simply Extend 0203 285 7355 simplyextend.co.uk Simply Lofts 020 3916 5182 simplylofts.co.uk Smeg 0344 557 9907 smeguk.com Sofology 03444 818181 sofology.co.uk Sophie Allport 01778 560256 sophieallport.com Spicer & Wood spicerandwood.co.uk St Albans Antique and Vintage Market 07502 213873 stalbansantiqueandvintagemarket.com STAUB 0845 262 1731 staub-online.com Steve’s Carpets 01322 387515 steves-carpets.co.uk Swan Antiques 01442 239100 swanantiquesboxmoor.com Sweetpea & Willow 0345 257 2627

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sweetpeaandwillow.com Swoon 020 3319 6332 swooneditions.com Tabitha Eve tabithaeve.co.uk Tate Shop 020 7887 8888 shop.tate.org.uk Tedd Todd 0800 046 6039 tedtodd.co.uk Tesco 0800 505555 tesco.com T&G Woodware 01275 841841 tg-woodware.com Thames Valley Window Company 0800 181 698 tvwindows.com The Contemporary Home tch.net The Original Bed Co. 0800 4640875 obc-uk.net The Pudding Stop 01727 830357 thepuddingstop.com The Range 0345 026 7598 therange.co.uk The White Company 0203 758 9222 thewhitecompany.com Thomas & Lucia 01202 479695 thomasandlucia.com Tikamoon 020 344 55440 tikamoon.co.uk Tile Mountain 01782 223822 tilemountain.co.uk TK Maxx 01923 473 561 tkmaxx.com Topps Tiles 0800 783 6262 toppstiles.co.uk Totter + Tumble totterandtumble.co.uk Triton 02476 372 222 tritonshowers.co.uk Truce 01453834966 truceonline.co.uk

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Velux 01592 778 225 velux.co.uk Very 0800 110 000 very.co.uk Victorian Plumbing 0345 862 2878

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victorianplumbing.co.uk Villeroy & Boch villeroy-boch.co.uk Vivense London 07725 549759 vivenselondon.com Vogue UK 01902 387000 vogueuk.co.uk V33 01797 367555 v33.co.uk Waitrose & Partners 0800 188 884 waitrose.com Wallace Cotton 0800 024 8475 wallacecotton.com Wallpaper Direct 01323 430 886 wallpaperdirect.com Walls and Floors 01536 314 730 wallsandfloors.co.uk Ward Brothers 01302 811911 wardbrothers.co.uk Wayfair 0800 7564357 wayfair.co.uk We Love Cushions 0208 801 5491 welovecushions.co.uk Welsh Otter 01558 822265 welshotter.co.uk Wickes 0330 123 4123 wickes.co.uk Wilko 0800 032 9329 wilko.com Witts Design 01263 502 718 wittsdesign.com Woodpecker Flooring 02920 888223 woodpeckerflooring.co.uk Woodwarm Stoves 01884 35806 woodwarmstoves.co.uk

W

Yorkshire Fabric Shop 01924 728753 yorkshirefabricshop.com Yuvilite 0208 202 1355 yuvilite.com

Y Z

Zara Home 0800 026 0091 zarahome.com/gb Zwilling 0845 262 1731 uk.zwilling-shop.com

A BIG

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Boutique SPEAK We go behind the scenes with Becca and Chris Williamson, founders of lifestyle stores Truce Describe a typical day Chris and I (Becca) tend to work in each store, but our day begins the same way with coffee from our favourite independents. Next, we open up and ensure that the stores are looking their finest then review any online orders that need to be wrapped and posted.

Alongside greeting and serving our in-store customers, Chris focuses on commercial sales while I plan and create content for our digital platforms. We take our shop dog, a Dalmatian called Luna, for a lunchtime stroll – it’s important to have a break sometimes!

we also place huge importance on functionality. Although to be honest, we aren’t the most minimalist, but that comes with the territory when you have a toddler and dog in tow!

What inspired you to set up a shop?

The concept was born out of our past frustrations with stores lacking offerings that catered for both men and women or couples, often leaving one waiting patiently (or impatiently in our case!) for the other to browse and shop. Hence the name, Truce – a harmonious and slower shopping experience for all, without that added pressure to rush.

What can we find in Truce?

We’ve curated a modern selection of pieces that continue to evolve but always reflect our balanced ethos of accommodating different interests. We have everything from statement homewares, bold prints and stylish menswear to furniture and beautiful scents. Colour is an important consideration when it comes to the products we stock. We like a mix of subtle, natural and brighter pops of colour that surprise and make you smile.

Where do you get your inspiration from for your brand?

What is your favourite interiors trend?

We both have a love for Bauhaus-inspired design. Simple, linear and elegant geometric shapes are something we’re always drawn to and pop up all around our own home, but

Much of the inspiration came from our backgrounds. Chris previously worked for a London-based high-end audio visual company where design and function were intrinsic. I worked for over 10 years in the paint industry creating bespoke colour palettes for top brands. Working directly with designers, brands and stylists has been a huge source of

inspiration as well as travelling to other creative cities like Berlin, Reykjavík and Copenhagen. Trend forecasting is another passion of mine, so I always keep a close eye on the changing wants and needs of our customers.

‘We like a mix of subtle, natural and brighter pops of colour that surprise and make you smile’ What do you wish you knew before you started your business?

That stylish toilet paper holders are a thing?!

We didn’t buy into the trend at first and it soon became one of our bestsellers, if you can believe it!

You’ve recently opened a second store in Bristol. What’s next for Truce?

Opening Bristol has been a big leap for us.

It’s something we’d been aiming for over the past two years especially, so our biggest focus for now is making ourselves known and embedding ourselves into the creative community. Down the line, we’d love to start designing and producing some of our own products in an ethical way to bring further personality to our stores.

16 Fountain Street, Nailsworth GL6 0BL; 54 Princess Victoria Street, Bristol BS8 4BZ; truceonline.co.uk

My Favourite things with a gorgeous fresh scent. This one is perfect for spring, reminiscent of the cascading waterfalls, dense forests and abundant orchards of the West Norwegian fjords.’

Skandinavisk FJORD scent diffuser, £45 2. ‘We love the perfect balance of form and function here. The lamp’s unique arc design with dimmable lighting is so clever.’ Ferm Living vuelta lamp, £185 3. ‘Inspired by the Swedish landscape, the colour scheme of this cushion is so beautifully curated.

Plus, it’s super soft!’ Sophie Home knitted cushion in Pink/Green, £44

130

yourhomestyle.uk

1

2

3 Feature Ella Rhys-Jones

1. ‘There’s nothing better than filling your home

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