Real 10 HOMES
M a k e yo u r d r e a m h o m e a r e a l i t y REALHOMES.COM
BEFORE AFTERS 50+ pages of
+
inspiring homes and gardens
GARDEN ROOMS Flexible designs
JUNE 2021
steps to your dream kitchen
Picture perfect Creative new ways to display art
Sliding doors Bring the outside in
for work and play
SUNNY SPACES
Bright ideas for indoor-outdoor living
S
rotide eht morf
pring is the season of new beginnings, and before it comes to a close this month, we thought we’d squeeze in a refresh of our own. As you flip through this issue, you’ll notice a few new features and formats among the pages, which we hope you’ll find both informative and inspiring in the coming months. First up, starting on page 64 is our new series on colour, which will highlight unique and on-trend ways to incorporate it throughout your home. To kick it off, we’re focusing on colour psychology, how to choose colour, and the ambience different hues create at home. If you’ve ever stood paralysed by indecision in front of a wall of paint swatches, this one’s for you. Next, we’re tackling some of our readers’ most pressing design and renovation questions in ‘Design Clinic’ on page 77. This month, we’re talking loft conversions, garden refreshes, and how to make pink grown-up and sophisticated. If you’ve got a question that you’d like our team to answer in an upcoming issue, send us a message on social media, or submit it to rhsubmissions@futurenet.com. On page 40, you’ll find one of my favourite pieces in the issue, an informative guide to displaying art. My personal art-hanging strategy has always been ‘wing it’, so I found this piece to be particularly eye opening, especially as I recently removed a 20-piece gallery wall in my dining area because something about it wasn’t quite right. I look forward to trying again armed with new knowledge (after I patch all of the nail holes in my wall, that is).
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And last but not least: if Subscribe for £18.50 you’ve got a home project and receive a free Sara you’re proud of, we want Miller water bole – to see it! We’re currently see page 8 for more accepting submissions for our details 2021 Real Homes Awards in the categories of best home, best garden, best kitchen, best bathroom and best room makeover. Winners get £1,000 and a subscription to Real Homes. If you think you’ve got a winner, don’t delay! Submissions are due 30 June, and you can find more details about sending in your project at realhomes.com/awards. kaitlin madden Editor in chief @kaitmadden
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EDAM EEMIA SGNIHT SNOITARTSULLI YHPARGOTOHP RAIRB YDNIM HPARGOTOHP
Meet the team Get to know the people who bring you Real Homes Ellen Finch magazine with a Deputy editor monthly question. ‘Geing out during lunch break has This time: what’s mybeen crucial – as helping you get having a regular through the days has rotation of snacks spent WFH? on hand, obviously.’
Alison Jones Assistant editor ‘Having the radio on gives me the background noise I miss from the office. Shame it doesn’t do tea rounds, though.’
Anna Morley Style editor ‘I’m enjoying my WFH office views. The neighbours have chickens, so I even hear when they lay their eggs.’
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Amelia Smith Deputy style editor ‘Online yoga classes set me up nicely for the working day. I always feel so calm and collected aer.’
Emily Smith Senior art editor ‘Coffee, coffee and more coffee. We brought a new machine in lockdown and it’s become my new best friend.’
s t n e t n o c Style agenda
Inside track
40
13 news
The latest new homeware and essential design ideas
19 let’s be friends
Follow us on social media for daily inspiration
21 can you have too many plants? Two readers share their opposing views on this month’s hot topic
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the art of display
How to position your artwork for a creative and unique look
50 Designer spotlight The independent wallpaper designers we’re loving
53 style maths
Create a mid-century-style dining room with £100, £300 and £500
64 colour theory
How to choose colour to enhance your home life and happiness
real home
Geri and Andrew’s new build is a celebration of pattern and colour for a fun family home
37 outdoor rugs
Our edit of the best and most colourful buys, whatever your style
39 tinted glass
The smokey hues bringing an extra dimension to your scheme
69 everyone’s talking about…
The one product we’re obsessed with this month
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70 living room updates
The latest ideas and designs for your own relaxing retreat
132
90
96
90 kids’ rooms
... that will grow with them. Design a space that lasts
138 spotlight on galley kitchens How to maximise this humble kitchen layout
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108
SEE ONE OF THESE? Scan on your phone for more from realhomes.com
s t n e t n co project advice
home life
132
49 Devil’s in the details
54 real home
54
First-time buyers Lois and Guy used their creative skills to turn a tired flat into a modern home `
Style editor Anna Morley shares her loft conversion journey
115
Advice on creating extra space for work or play – no extension needed. Plus, hear from a homeowner who’s done it
77 your questions, answered
The Real Homes team solves your design dilemmas
80 Real home
122
Tour Rose and Justin’s Scandistyle Edwardian family house
96 real home
Rachel has transformed her grandmother’s seaside cottage into a sun-drenched home
108 real garden
With room for socialising, hobbies and relaxing, Tracey and James have created a cool family garden
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132 real kitchen
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70
40
Kier and Paul were set to move, until they realised extending would solve their problems
garden rooms
10 steps to your dream kitchen How to curate a space that’s perfect for you
129 project news
The latest ideas and buys for your kitchen, bathroom and renovation
145
guide to sliding DOORS
Get that smooth and sleek indoor-outdoor link with the best new designs
150 focus on cladding All you need to know to up your home’s kerb appeal
153 The edit
The latest bread makers, vanity units and pressure washers
122
162 Sunday Project This DIY vanity unit idea will save you £££
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THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO MODERN LIVING
Step inside some of the world’s most contemporary homes. We chat to interior designers and home owners to hear the reasons behind their design choices, and discover tips on how to achieve such sophisticated styles.
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EDITORIAL
Editor in Chief Kaitlin Madden Deputy Editor Ellen Finch Assistant Editor Alison Jones Style Editor Anna Morley Deputy Style Editor Amelia Smith realhomes@futurenet.com 0330 390 6508
ART
Senior Art Editor Emily Smith Group Art Director Billy Peel Art Editor Karen Lawson
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REALHOMES.COM EIC of Homes Ecommerce Lindsey Davis EIC of Homes Audience Amy Cutmore EIC of Homes News Rebecca Knight Digital Editor Camille Dubuis-Welch Digital Editor Hebe Hatton Deals Editor Annie Collyer Appliances Editor Jennifer Oksien Consumer Editor Anna Cottrell realhomesdigital@futurenet.com BRAND DEVELOPMENT Brand Development Director Laura Crombie Video Producer Matt Gibbs ADVERTISING AND EXHIBITIONS SALES Media packs are available on request Commercial Director Rob Biagioni rob.biagioni@futurenet.com Strategic Partnership Director Jackie Sanders jackie.sanders@futurenet.com 0330 390 6530 Print Sales Manager Rebecca Vincze rebecca.vincze@futurenet.com 0330 390 6566 Digital Sales Manager Kelly James kelly.james@futurenet.com 0330 390 6543 Exhibitions Sales Director Hellen Roche hellen.roche@futurenet.com For all media sales enquiries please contact rebecca.vincze@futurenet.com or call 0330 390 6566 INTERNATIONAL LICENSING AND SYNDICATION Real Homes is available for licensing and syndication. To find out more, contact us or view our available content at futurecontenthub.com Head of Print Licensing Rachel Shaw licensing@futurenet.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Email enquiries help@magazinesdirect.com UK order line and enquiries 0330 333 1113 Overseas order line and enquiries +44(0)330 333 1113 Online orders and enquiries magazinesdirect.com Director of Acquisitions Sharon Todd CIRCULATION Head of Newstrade Tim Mathers PRODUCTION Head of Production Mark Constance Production Project Manager Clare Scott Advertising Production Manager Joanne Crosby Digital Editions Controller Jason Hudson Production Manager Vivienne Calvert MANAGEMENT Managing Director of Homes Jason Orme Chief Content Officer Angie O’Farrell Commercial Finance Director Dan Jotcham SUBSCRIBER COPY WRAP IMAGE Getty PRINTED BY William Gibbons & Sons DISTRIBUTED BY Marketforce, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU, marketforce.co.uk Tel: 020 3787 9001
RHeoamles jaust k c i l caway
inside track Get the scoop on new design ideas, must-have products and looks you’ll love… With the welcome changes of the Colour me happy
season and days geing longer, we look to our indoor spaces to be less ‘cocooning nest’ and more ‘rejuvenating sanctuary’ – and the colours we use should reflect this. Wayfair’s latest collection features a host of bright and beautiful pieces, from colourful cushions to statement lamps, for a vibrant burst of summer, whatever the weather.
Alexia tufted grey/ silver rug, £34.99; Dalvey coffee table, £234.99; round cushion with filling, £27.99, all Wayfair
Heitzman table lamp, £61.99
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HTIMS AILEMA DNA YELROM ANNA ERUTAEF
Summer loving
Zaina cushion £43.99
Let Wayfair’s range li your Mugs in Aqua, day with pops £19.37 for four of colour and a fine cup of coffee
La Cafetière edited Thermique French press coffee maker, £29.93
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Holubice four-seater Clic Clac sofa bed in Salmon, £999.99
Cecil stripes flatweave black white rug, from £14.99
Home & Garden Bamboo bench, £399
awards
Sunshine’s coming In the past year, we’ve gained a whole new appreciation for our gardens, so we should give them the love they deserve. Dobbies’ new outdoor furniture and accessories brim with the shades of the season and statement paerns.
Cosiscoop timber fire lantern, £149.99
It’s not a competition… oh, hang on, it is. Enter the Real Homes Awards and you could win £1,000 and have your home featured in the mag! Simply take some snaps of your space and enter at realhomes.com/awards for your chance to win.
Hot off the press New brand klaxon! John Lewis & Partners is launching Anyday – a fresh new homeware range that’s curated with affordability and flexibility in mind. With so many of us living in smaller homes with tighter budgets, Anyday brings all the quality and style we would expect from John Lewis & Partners, but with slimline designs and tinier price tags. Look out for the range in store now!
Ikat striped cushion in teal, £12.99
Bookworm
The New Mindful Home by Joanna Thornhill (£14.99, Laurence King Publishing) Hands up if you’d prefer your home to be a little… calmer? From the author of My Bedroom is an Office, The New Mindful Home is an exploration of how we can decorate and furnish our homes to create a space that beckons relaxation. Considering elements of mindfulness and slow living, the book demystifies the link between body, mind and soul to share how to create rooms that support and comfort you.
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Pool Pillow Fight from the National Maritime Museum collection, canvas prints from £90, Surface View
Emberton portable speaker in Sandstone, £129.99, Marshall
Music maker
for more art prints, head to page 39
From the kitchen disco to the garden party, living room yoga to your next camping trip, portable speakers are a must-have for any home or holiday. We love this retroinspired design from Marshall. The Emberton is lightweight, compact, water-resistant and comes with Bluetooth technology. Available in two new shades, Sandstone and Forest Green, it looks as good as it sounds.
Splash out on art Who wouldn’t want to be in this picture right about now? Surface View has launched a new collection of canvases, murals and prints inspired by the sunny climes of California. With sky blues, pastel pinks and palm trees aplenty, they’re a welcome escape from our regular four walls, and a reminder of that fleeting joy that can only be found on holiday.
COOL CORD
Handmade Big Softie straight arm large corner sofa shown in Clever Corduroy Forest, £6,159
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If cosy is your number one priority for a sofa, listen up: Sofas & Stuff is launching a new range of pure cotton cord fabrics. Bringing a gentle, relaxing, sink-into-me feel, these sofas are a textural delight that are super soft to touch and on trend, too. Available in eight sumptuous colourways, from bright pink to natural, we’re loving this gorgeous green for a rustic twist.
Spend v save
Bright & beautiful Oh, Oliver Bonas, you never disappoint. The release of the SS21 collection caused quite a stir among the Real Homes team. Our favourite part? The Fiori collection of ceramics. Bursting with happy zingy colours and a hand poered and painted feel, the collection screams summer, and we’re ready for it. Prices start from £12.50 for the Fiori ceramic lemon mug
Treat your garden to a contemporary outdoor armchair (or two) and while away a warm day in style, whatever your budget Bondholmen outdoor armchair in grey, £75, Ikea
Eos lounge armchair in rust, £240, Case
Tektura Cubiq Collection, £52 per roll, BN Wallcoverings
Khaki Oxford Blue
TEXTURE OF LIFE
Tapping into our desire for all things natural and handmade is the new selection of wall coverings from Tektura. Inspired by the earthy and robust shades of clay, the range is a celebration of texture – from fabric weaves to cork, and from ornate stone to rice paper. Each design is subtle in colour and loud on character, bringing a new dimension to our rooms.
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Modern heritage Dulux has launched
a new Heritage paint collection. With 112 rich colours chosen Stone Green for their sophisticated feel, the range boasts modern interpretations of classic shades, all with a luxurious matt velvet finish. £42 for 2.5ltrs
Time to Roost Our brand new online TV show Roost is now live, and each episode is packed with ideas to turn your house into a home. Head to the Future Homes Network Youtube channel to watch the latest episode.
Bank holiday DIY Like the idea of getting hands-on over your long weekend? Our easy upcycling projects can be achieved in a couple of days, a few hours, or – in some cases – a matter of minutes. From building a pallet bench to clever Ikea hacks, head our way for a myriad of creative ways to be entertained. realhomes.com/diy
g n d n e r #nowt pizza oven, REALHOMES.COM Ooni£300,KaruSelfridges JOIN THE COMMUNITY ON FOR ALL YOUR HOMES INSPIRATION AND ADVICE
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BUY IT WELL
)POT( ELOOP NILOC HPARGOTOHP
We’re following… @homewithhelenandco. Helen’s home is full of bright ideas, and her paern-packed spaces will bring colour to your feed on a dull day.
Yuri garden bench, £299, Made
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From stylish garden furniture to barbecues and pizza ovens, our buying guides will help you find the perfect products for al fresco living. realhomes.com/ buying-guides
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Fancy being featured on our IG – or even the pages of this magazine? Use #sorealhomes in your social media posts and you might just catch our eye…
THE BIG DEBA TE Are we going potty for plants?
YES ‘I find the satisfaction of growing plants therapeutic’
NO
‘I wouldn’t want plants on every surface – that’s clutter’
SENOJ NOSILA ERUTAEF
Alison Coates (@thebluedoorsociety) lives with her husband and daughter in a four-bed 1930s semi in Chelmsford ‘I’ve currently got 36 plants. The addiction really kicked in when lockdown happened. I was home all the time and started nurturing them more. When a small plant starts to grow, you think, “I’ve done that. I fed it the right things.” ‘They were on a sideboard where they were getting a lot of sun, but it was getting out of control so my lovely dad built me some shelves to go above – I have some in macramé hangers, too. There are plants in every room, including the bathroom. I’m just renovating our home office, so there will be a few hanging in there. They make your décor pop, and a bit of nature indoors is really nice. The air purification aspect is a real plus. But it’s the satisfaction of growing them that I find therapeutic. ‘It can be time-intensive because you’re checking the moisture, giving them food and dusting the leaves, but it’s a process I’ve started getting my daughter involved with. She follows me round with the spritzer and she’ll spray everything. It’s a little activity that we do together. ‘I’m really enjoy propagating – taking the cuttings, watching the roots come down, potting them up and giving them away as gifts. My friends and I have a WhatsApp group called Houseplant Addicts, where we share pictures and offer advice. ‘There’s something about seeing new life and growth. When I’m feeling bored or demotivated, I’ll look at one of the plants on my desk and see a new shoot or one that’s budding. It lifts your spirits.’
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Joanna Fletcher (@project_34_seluild), her husband and their two children live in their self-built home in the Ribble Valley ‘I have no ability to look after plants. I have 12 in the house and 80 per cent are faux, which look good from a distance. I’ve got some bay trees and aloe vera I’ve not killed, and a cactus, though I pay it very little attention. It gets the tea dregs chucked into it. ‘I’d love to have natural plants because of the health benefits and they look pretty, but they just don’t survive. I water them, then I forget and think I have when I haven’t. And I wouldn’t want plants on every surface – that’s clutter. My plants are in corners, out of the way, or hanging from the ceiling. Real plants thrive in certain places, so it’d be like having ornaments that you could never move. ‘Plants are just another thing to look after. I haven’t got the time, the space or the energy. I‘ve seen people’s houses full to the brim with plants and I think, “They must have so much time!” I barely even have time to feed my own kids sometimes! ‘I like making the pots; I’d spend ages crafting something. But the poor thing that goes in it gets less attention. Making something beautiful and it not costing a fortune is the fun part, but the caring element? I’ve moved on to the next thing by then. ‘My husband detests the faux plants. He’s more green-fingered than me. A house full of plants does look nice, but I haven’t got the ability. It must be one of these things you learn, and I never have.’
?RENID-NEHCTIK EHT MORF NOISIVELET EHT RAB UOY DLUOW :HTNOM TXEN
Is our passion for greenery in the home becoming an addiction? Readers reveal all
Brave new world
Profile
extended new build
The owners Geri Alessi, a wedding stationer (@overatno18; gerilovesemi.com), her husband Andrew, who works in Formula One, and their daughters Emilia, nine, and Luisa, seven The property A five-bed detached new build in Milton Keynes project cost £123,500
Geri and Andrew’s home is a celebration of pattern and colour, packed with personality Bold patterned wallpaper makes a statement in the kitchen. ‘I felt we could pull it off over here, away from the cooking area and all the food splatters,’ says Geri. Kitty McCall Queen Palm wallpaper, Milton & King. Sideboard, Homesense. Mirror, TK Maxx, painted with Rust-Oleum paint
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‘The roof lantern and the bi-fold doors let in huge amounts of light,’ says Geri. ‘When the weather’s good, we throw open the doors and enjoy the space to the max.’
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Flooring, Porcelain Superstore. Roof lantern, Roof Maker. Bi-fold doors, IQ Glass. Kitchen, The Shaker Workshop. Armchairs, Ebay. Bar stools, Atlantic Shopping
Geri and Andrew based the kitchen design around an island, which was top of Geri’s wish list. Open shelving replaces wall units, leing more light bounce around the room.
BEFORE
F
SEMOHLAEROS#
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SEIZNEM MLOCLAM SHPARGOTOHP HCNIF NELLE SDROW
aced with the blank, magnolia shell of a new build, Geri Alessi wasn’t sure where to begin. ‘I’ve always lived in older properties, and there are always pre-existing features or styles you can work with,’ she says. ‘It’s harder trying to bring character to a brand new house. I’ve changed the living room alone five times in the years we’ve lived here!’ Geri and her husband Andrew bought their home in 2012, when their oldest daughter Emilia was a baby. ‘We liked the outside of the property,’ says Geri. ‘It had a traditional look – symmetrical windows, a big door – but when you walked in, it was very apparent it was a new house. It was totally plain, except for an awful red carpet that wasn’t what we’d asked for.’ Still, the rooms were spacious, and the couple could see the potential. Once they had moved in, Geri tackled Emilia’s room – ‘it was important to us that she could settle in straight away’ – before taking on the living room, dining room and master bedroom. The kitchen had to wait while the couple saved up. ‘It was small for a five-bedroom house, so an extension was at the forefront of our minds,’ says Geri. Five years later, and now with a second daughter, Luisa, the couple began planning the kitchen, bringing in an architectural design firm to help perfect their ideas. ‘We were looking at an L-shaped extension,’ says Geri. ‘But our designer encouraged us to knock through to the existing utility room to create a rectangular box, and use part of the old kitchen as the new utility. It would give us a bigger kitchen and utility – which makes a huge difference . We have a space to dry our clothes!’ From start to finish, the process took a year, thanks to delays to the planning application process and waiting for their builder to be free to do the work. Once it all kicked off, though, everything was smooth-sailing. ‘We were lucky in that our old kitchen was functioning until the very end, so we never had to do without,’ says Geri. ‘While it was a total state looking out of the window, it never intruded into our daily lives.’ The kitchen is a little more pared-back than the other rooms in the house, but it by no means lacks personality. ‘We played the design safe because it was expensive, and while we wanted to put our stamp on it, we didn’t want to do anything we might regret later on,’ says Geri. ‘We went for a classic Shaker style, then added things like the statement wallpaper on one wall.’ The couple maximised light with the large roof lantern and bi-fold doors, and by opting for open shelving rather than wall units. The resulting space is a bright room where the family can cook and eat together – very different from the living room, which is Geri and Andrew’s chill-out space. ‘We did worry that the living room would become defunct once the kitchen was in place, but it’s still the place we retreat to at the end of the day,’ says Geri. The finished look is the result of plenty of trial and error. ‘Because it’s such a big, narrow room, getting that cosy look was difficult,’ she adds. ‘We had a large, curved sofa that stopped everything from coming together. We only got rid of it last year, and suddenly everything else worked.’ Geri’s creative, colourful style flows through the house, from the bold wallpaper in the master bedroom and the home office – ‘I’ve always been obsessed with botanicals’ – to the unique paint effects in Emilia and Luisa’s room. ‘They share at the moment, but Luisa will have her own room soon, so I wanted Emilia’s scheme to be something she can grow into,’ Geri says. ‘The girls inspired the decor. Luisa is a bit of a firecracker, so I wanted to make sure I had something of her in there, but I wanted it to tie in with Emilia’s style. I’m a big fan of combining florals and abstract patterns – as long as you find colours that work together, you can’t go wrong. ’ Have there been any design regrets along the way? ‘Nothing is permanent in interiors, so unless you’re investing huge amounts of money – like we did with our kitchen – you can’t possibly regret it, because you can change it without it costing the earth,’ says Geri. ‘I feel like everything is coming together now, and I’m at a place where I can enjoy all the rooms – but our kitchen is my favourite space. I didn’t realise the importance of having somewhere we could congregate as a family until we did it. We practically live in there, particularly in the past year – we’ve had the doors wide open when the weather’s been good. It’s the best decision we made.’
Dining table, La Redoute. Dining chairs, My Furniture
Above The front door hints at some of the colourful décor to come in the house. Door painted in Victory Lane, Frenchic, and pink Rust-Oleum paint. Wreath, Olive & Roses Le The couple hired a landscape designer to help shape the garden, which features a large patio and a decked area, complete with sociable seating. Decking, Savoy Timber, fied by Geri and Andrew. Lounge set, Argos. Patio paving, Porcelain Superstore
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‘This used to be the dining room,’ says Geri. ‘I wanted to move my office downstairs to avoid missing parcels, but I didn’t have to change the room too much. The scheme ties in perfectly with my stationery designs, which have a botanical theme; there’s a wallpaper on one of the other walls that I fell in love with on a B&B break.’ Desk, Ikea. Chair, Kiy McCall. Ceiling light, My Furniture. Rug, Ikea
Moving the living room furniture further into the middle transformed this space and made it feel more intimate. ‘It took five aempts, but I’ve finally got this room how I want it,’ says Geri. ‘The walls used to be bright green, which was too much for such a long space – now, it feels light and airy, but still cosy.’ Orange sofa, City Sofas via Ebay. Green velvet armchair, Swoon. Coffee table and rug, Homesense. Yellow glass cabinet, Ikea. Curtains, Dunelm. Ceiling light, Brand Alley. Floor lamp, Homebase
Below Geri has painted around the door frames, adding a subtle splash of colour to the entrance to each room. Ceiling light, Ikea. Rugs, La Redoute and H&M Home. Console table and plant stand, La Redoute. Prints, Kiy McCall
Above and right The master bedroom has seen the least amount of change, with the wallpaper going up within the first year of the family moving in. ‘With wallpaper, it has to be an immediate love affair,’ says Geri. ‘The colours in this one will still work even if our style changes.’ Wallpaper, Cole & Son. Ooman, ceiling lights and pink armchair, Homesense. Bed, Made. Chest of drawers, Swoon. Wardrobe, Ebay, painted in a mix of Victory Lane Green and white, Frenchic. Ladder, Aldi. Throws, Homesense and Kiy McCall
Emily’s top tip If painting your walls in bold colours isn’t for you, fear not. Try painting an old piece of furniture in a strong hue to create a striking focus point. For a cohesive scheme, coordinate the paint colours with your so furnishings
BOUGHT HOUSE November 2012
Project timeline
EXTENSION WORK STARTED May 2019 MOVED IN Jan 2013
KITCHEN FITTED November 2020
FINALLY RIPPED UP THE RED CARPET January 2020
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FIRST FAMILY MEAL IN THE NEW SPACE November 2020
Costs & contacts
Build costs £64,000 Kitchen £22,000 Bi-fold doors and lantern roof £21,000 Garden landscaping £10,000 Professional fees £3,500 Electronics £3,000 Architectural design Building Tectonics, 01908 366000, building-tectonics.co.uk Bi-fold doors IQ Glass, 0149 472 2880, iqglassuk.com Roof lantern Roof Maker, 0116 497 1254, roof-maker.co.uk Kitchen The Shaker Workshop, 0330 016 3572, theshakerworkshop.com Garden landscaping GC Landscapes, gc-landscapes.co.uk
Le and below ‘Luckily for me, the girls weren’t too interested when I was doing this room, though I talked Emilia through it all,’ says Geri. ‘Luisa will be geing her own room soon, and she already has a list of what she wants!’ Wallpaper, Wayfair. Walls
painted in Wilko’s Canary Yellow, Dulux’s Proud Peacock and Rust-Oleum’s Emerald Green. Blinds, Homebase. Beds, Argos and Ebay. Rug, Brand Alley. Green drawers, Ebay, painted in White and Victory Lane Green, Frenchic. Natural drawers, TK Maxx
GROUND FLOOR BEFORE DINING ROOM
FIRST FLOOR AFTER
KITCHEN
HOME OFFICE
LOFT
AFTER UTILITY
AFTER
BEDROOM BEDROOM
KITCHENDINER
BED SPARE ROOM ROOM
BATH ROOM LIVING ROOM
LIVING ROOM
BEDROOM
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EN SUITE
BEDROOM
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THE PLANS
Atlanta indoor outdoor rug, from £66.99, Wayfair
Indoor outdoor rug in Cleo orange, from £36.95, Benuta
Kunze indoor outdoor rug, from £50, La Redoute
Florence al fresco Trieste terracotta rug, from £45, The Rug Seller
Global yellow outdoor rug, £15, Argos
OUTDOOR LIVING
UNDER
£20
Create an al fresco lounge with the must-have accessory of summer 2021: an outdoor rug Palm tree indoor outdoor rug, from £19, Dunelm
Esschert Jungle Leaves outdoor rug, from £46.65, Mano Mano
Fab Hab Palm Springs outdoor rug, £54.95, Cuckooland
Marian outdoor rug, £131, Maisons du Monde
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HTIMS AILEMA ERUTAEF
Persian style reversible outdoor rug, £38, Rockett St George
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Move over, clear glass: this summer we’re all about the shade. Be it a smokey hue or a zesty orange, these nostalgic pieces add a subtly colourful style YELROM ANNA ERUTAEF
1 Masako LED five-light flush ceiling lamp in smoked opal glass, £129, Made 2 Palma glass cocktail shaker, £22.50, Oliver Bonas 3 Habitat Alden four-seater smoked glass dining table, £200, Argos 4 Bloomingville green glass vase, £37, Nordic Nest 5 Eichholtz Lilly candle holder shade in smoke, £108, Sweetpea & Willow 6 A Lile Lovely Company large cake stand in mint, £23.95, Scandiborn 7 Brown recycled glass, £12, Dunelm 8 Pink cocktail glasses, £48 for four, Audenza 9 La Cafetire smoke grey eight-cup cafetiere, £30, Very 10 AYTM Arura glass vase, £149, Nest 11 Retro amber glass desk, £525, Rocke St George 12 AMPM Dialect smoked glass and brass mirror, £99, La Redoute 13 Factory pendant lamp in grey blue tint, £210, Mineheart 14 Habitat Agra glass tealight holder, £4.50, Sainsbury’s
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A HINT OF TINT
SEUH EULB THGIL HTIW TIMIL EHT S’YKS EHT – HTNOM TXEN
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THE ART O F D I S P L AY
An ultimate finishing touch, artwork dresses our walls and provides an interesting focal point – and the picking and positioning of pieces is crucial to the success of a scheme’s overall look
The picture shelfie Mixing artwork with carefully curated accessories creates an engaging display. Since this propped collection comes with the benefit of no nails, the look can be effortlessly transformed on a whim. Spring Nordic hearts, picture gallery system, small set, £160; fine black small gallery wall, £220; seagrass open-weave basket, £45; Burnham bench, £325; Manon collection throw, £130, and cushion cover, £40, all The White Company
Top Tip Translate this look onto a large or small scale depending on the depth and length of your picture ledge and size of space
Pulling Together Here’s a unique way to show off your art. Hang a group of pictures from wall hooks at varying heights and it will become a talking point – plus, it’s an arrangement that can be easily updated by adjusting the yarn length or swapping items out when you feel like a change. Raan dressing table stool, £125; Shaker oak coat rack, £35; Umbra Exhibit multi-hanging photo frame display, five photo, £50, and Isla photo frame in natural, from £16, all John Lewis & Partners
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YELROM ANNA ERUTAEF
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Top Tip Framed hanging mounts are perfect for any room, but especially a child’s space as they have no glass that could pose a safety risk
Child’s Play Lile ones’ imaginations need to run free, so place fun and thought-provoking pictures in their room to provide inspiration for make-believe games and stories. Favourite animals, characters or the leers of the alphabet are always great choices. Above le Tropical Watercolour Elephant, Tropical Zebra, Leopard Tropical Jungle, Elephant Feathers and Matisse Colourful Coral art prints, from £10, Abstract House Above Bloomingville Saida frame, £26.50, Sweetpea & Willow Le Arca chair, £162; Arca table, £286; storage box set, £60; Leo Larva rug, £79; Leo Larva wall hanger, £46, Crocodile Gustav poster, £44, Noah Giraffe poster, £25, and wooden poster frame, £26, all OYOY Living Design
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Blur Boundaries Mix large and small pieces to create a beautiful gallery wall. Go floor to ceiling for a truly striking look with maximum impact. To help plan how individual frames will sit together, lay out artwork on the floor first or use a handy template. Hendricks sofa, £1,100; Huxley brass coffee table, £100; Solomon hammered brass vase, £20; velvet cushions, from £12; Aluminus five-pack black frames, £50, and Kupari five-pack gold frames, £60, all Habitat
Top Tip Don’t be afraid to arrange a grouping of pictures so that some disappear behind furniture – this will help elongate the room
Keep it tonal Picking out key tones within your prints, or maybe even a theme, will help your display feel strong and considered. Continue this through accessories and finishing accents for a real sense of cohesion. All wall art from the Studio Luxe collection, prices start from £9.95 for a 21x30cm unframed print, Desenio
Top Tip Overlapping a variety of unframed prints feels wonderfully relaxed and tactile, while the layering effect adds an extra dimension to a wall
Lose the Frame The liberating thing about art is that anything goes, and that also applies to the frames. There’s a plethora of ingenious and stylish ways to hang them without the need of a cumbersome, glass-fronted surround. This approach tends to give a more relaxed aesthetic, too. Above le Motel Palms by Nadine Rovner, from the Trunk Archive, canvas prints from £90, Surface View
Le Pressed Flower canvas triptych, £30, Cox & Cox
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Above Buskbo raan armchair, £99, Ikea
Kat Macleod Plant print, from £100, Antipodream
Abstract Budding Flowers print, from £23, Green Lili
Poolside II wall art print, £288, Mindthegap
Sofia Lind Still Waiting print, £89, Rose & Grey
‘Yes Yes Yes’ printable wall art, £4.50, Albert Moon
Shirley Poppy Botanical Pressings artwork, from £90, JamJar Edit
‘Now’ Orange limited edition art print, £35, Floppy Toast
Gold Lovers artprint, £45, Rockett St George Ben Lowe Balancing Act art print, £395, Loaf
Nicola Rusted recycled paper Sun art print, from £12, Zero-Living
PICTURE THIS
Express yourself and enliven your walls with your own gallery of prints and canvases 46
Devil’s in the details T h e p r oj e c t j o u r n a l
With a loft conversion (finally) underway, style editor Anna Morley is getting down to what’s important
NGISEDASORALLEOJ@ EGAMI PUHCTEKS XULEV HPARGOTOHP
Fact file
Total cost £31,100 Includes: All structural work, 10 windows, electrics, plumbing, installing en suite, lo insulation, partition walls, plastering, woodwork (doors, stairs, skirting and architraves) and smoke detectors Additional costs: Bathroom suite, tiles and tiling
It was back in 2018 when we first made contact with A7 Conversions after being struck with envy at the results they’d achieved with our neighbours’ new loft bedroom. So, after a fair amount (two years!) of deliberation and a chat with the bank to increase the mortgage (eek!), we can at last say we have two men plus a hole in our roof. Reaching this stage has not been speedy, and it feels like only yesterday we were debating some pretty grandiose options. The first question, ‘To dormer or not to dormer?’ is a biggie. Huge, in fact. Built into the side of the roof, dormers add head height and space – but they also loom over the garden (and the neighbours’ garden, who were NOT keen when we mentioned it). They also cost more than keeping within the existing loft area – around £4.5k for two separate windows or £6k for one running the length of the roof. We didn’t need planning permission for either, so were left to weigh up the pros and cons. Disgruntled neighbours aside, we still chose not to have a dormer. Why? Well, our main goal is to increase the value of the house, and adding an extra bedroom was key to this. The dormer
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An en suite was essential for the new loft bedroom
Doubling the Veluxes means views sitting or standing
was an expense that wouldn’t have bought any financial returns. Budget savvy points here, please! The next detail to firm up was what the new space would be used for. For us, it’ll be a guest room (hello babysitting grandparents) combined with a living/playroom – which, I’ve been told, will incorporate a ‘huge TV’. I can’t say I’m thrilled about this, but at least it won’t take up too much floor space (unlike my fiancé, Michael, does). Anyway, when we come to sell the house, this room will be billed as a fifth bedroom, which is why an en suite was essential rather than just a WC. And no, we didn’t want an open-plan bathroom. Definitely TMI in this household. Another consideration was storage space. Our loft was essentially our store room and this will obviously be taking a huge hit. So I was relieved to learn that we’ll gain some ingenious built-in storage both within the eaves and under the new staircase. Next, to the all-important windows, and we’re opting for the more the merrier approach with 10. This is both to gain that prized natural light, and because they provide more head height as each one is about 15cm above ceiling level. We’ve a choice of splayed or boxed in versions – splayed being a more open style with the window surround cut at an angle (yes please!), or boxed, with just straight lines. Finally, at the back of the house, we’ve added another two windows underneath the main Veluxes in the hope it will create a design feature while also maximising the views. Plus, we realised you can only see out of a roof window when you’re standing up, so want to ensure we can look out while sat on the sofa – if we can ever tear our eyes away from the massive TV, that is. It definitely feels like we’re all systems go now. If anyone needs me, I can be found browsing Pinterest while wearing ear plugs.
designer designer spotlight spotlight Support independent businesses and meet the creatives making waves in the interiors world. This month, adorn your walls with one of these beautiful patterned wallpapers Annika Reed Wallpaper can add an element of magic or whimsy to any room. Even the smallest amount – whether it’s used on a feature wall, in an alcove or to line a bookshelf – lends instant impact to a space with a shock of paern and colour. And with an influx of creative new designers in recent years, the world of wallpaper is more exciting than ever right now. We spoke to three independent wallpaper makers creating the paerns you’ll want to adorn your walls with. From woodblock-printed pomegranates to the ‘smart’ wallpaper of the future, these designers use new and old techniques alike to dream up their products – and the results are one-of-akind paerns that’ll bring your walls to life. First up: Annika Reed.
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Hi Annika! Can you describe your work in a sentence? I make wallpaper and fabric for those who love a life less ordinary.
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What drew you to woodblock printing in particular? I was offered the chance to go to China and study at the university of Shanghai. The masters of woodblock inspired me: in the UK the relief room was always the quietest and most people printed with lino. But in China the relief room was full and the work was nothing like I had seen before. I was taught the method of reducing woodblock, which uses one block of wood rather than several. I fell in love and have been using wood ever since. It takes at least a month to complete a full series of carvings and colour layers. If I make a mistake, I can’t know it until the end of the process, and I will have lost a month and have to start from scratch – so chance plays a big role in the final outcome.
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How did you develop your style, and what inspires you? On my MA I made installations and my prints were geing big, spanning three walls. Aer, I was awarded a residency in
)SDRAWDE LIAGIBA( REDNELLAC NULA ;)D E E R A K I N N A ( N A E L C C M E I R A L C SHPARGOTOHP HCNIF NELLE SDROW
Above and right Red Coat wallpaper in Tapestry; Golden Chain wallpaper in blue, both £165 per roll
How did you become a designer? My love affair with print and colour began in childhood. I was surrounded by paern books in my dad’s upholstery workshop. Aer school I’d sit and watch him transforming objects most would abandon into exquisite pieces of furniture. I used old swatches of fabric to make homes
for my toys, cuing them up for carpet and wallpaper. I studied at the University of Brighton and later got an MA from the Camberwell in Fine Art Printmaking with a specialism in woodblock printing. I was following a Fine Art route until 2018, when I was pregnant with my daughter. I wanted to decorate her nursery in wallpaper that came to life, that would fill her head with images and ideas she’d remember forever. There was nothing on the market that was fun yet sophisticated, quirky but not childish. It was clear I’d have to make her wallpaper myself. That’s when both Annika Reed Studio and my daughter were born.
Left Daily Walk wallpaper in Sky Blue, £165 per roll Below Pomegranate wallpaper in Dusk, £165 per roll
Climbing Vine wallpaper-in Beryl & Porcelain, £165 per roll
Portugal. I had to take my equipment in hand luggage so I brought a roll of paper – that’s when the seed was planted. My designs are oen based on minute details and personal discoveries made in the course of my day-to-day wanderings. Each design tells its own story – from the historical to the absurd, the fantastical to the fabulous.
Paper trails Hungry for more amazing wallpaper paerns? These two designers are leading the way Emmeline North
@emmelinenorthdesigns ‘Hand painted murals are my first love, and wallpaper allows me to create a printed alternative,’ says Emmeline. ‘I started experimenting with interior décor when I renovated my first house, painting my home studio a glorious fluorescent orange. In my first year of university I made a magnetic wallpaper panel using a patchwork of lino prints in vibrant colours, Houses inspired by coral reef. I’m wallpaper, interested in combining £95 per roll design with science and Emmeline engineering, so I’d love North to be able to take my wallpaper further one day and see it become a ‘smart wall’ of the future, linking back to that concept of a magnetised panel. It’s a total rockstar moment when somebody chooses your work. Seeing my ideas come to life in a product, knowing how far a design’s come and that someone else is enjoying the finished result, is a great feeling.’ emmelinenorth.online
Abigail Edwards
@abigailjedwards ‘I create environmentally responsible, hand-drawn wallpapers, fabrics and accessories inspired by nature and fairy tales,’ says Abigail. ‘This wasn’t something I planned to do. I’ve been drawing in my spare time since art school and one time I was working on an illustration and thought it would work beer as a paern on a wall, so I tried it. What do you like about Initially I was designing and running the designing wallpaper? business in the evenings and weekends The research stage: going to galleries, while working full time as a stylist, but reading magazines and capturing the in the last few years, the wallpaper has everyday in a sketchbook. Printing the last been my sole focus. I grew up in a very layer of the woodblock is prey magical rural area and spent a lot of my childhood – like I said, I have no idea if the design reading fairy tales, surrounded by nature. is going to be a success! To Both of these things then be able to see them in have an influence Lichen on my designs, but wallpaper people’s homes fills me with inspiration really does in Seaweed, such joy. All my designs are come from anywhere: £92 per roll, limited edition, so you have a colour, a scene in Abigail Edwards something truly unique. I a film, or in the case design something for every of my most recent room in the house – but not design, ‘Lichen’, every house on the street. some crusty lichen on a rock in a Follow @annikareedstudio Swedish forest.’ and shop Annika’s designs abigailedwards.com
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at annikareed.com
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Carving a woodblock design is a painstaking process
STYLE
maths
Curate a mid-century-style dining room, whatever your budget, with our edit of the latest buys and how to combine them Glass vase, £32, Heavenly Homes & Gardens
£100 Orla Kiely Flower Tile lampshade, £45, John Lewis & Partners
£300 Decorative mirror, £39.99, TK Maxx
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Joseph dining table, £199, Dunelm
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£3 left over for some nibbles
Mid-century 12-piece dinner set, £25, Habitat
Rosado set of four glasses, £26, Oliver Bonas
HTIMS AILEMA ERUTAEF
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£289.99
£10.01 left over for some centre piece flowers
+ Destiny geometric rug, from £79, Cult Furniture
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Dinner plate, £5 for two, B&M
Habitat Mid-Century House embossed jug, £12, Argos
Mariedamm table, £179, Ikea
Matisse Nude art print, £15, Abstract House
Amalyn dining chair, £229 for two, Made
£499
£1 left over for your money jar
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£500
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apartment extension
CREATIVE
SPACES
First-time buyers Lois and Guy used their industry skills to turn a tired old ground-floor flat into a spacious modern home
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The kitchen is Scandi-inspired with the emphasis on marble, steel, wood and clean lines. ‘We bought a Howdens kitchen but splashed out on the handles, work surfaces and appliances,’ says Lois. Windows, Fabco. Kitchen units, Howdens. Handles, Buster & Punch. Quartz worktop, Granite & Marble UK. Rooflight, Yes Glazing. Walls painted in Romney Wool, Dulux
Profile
The owners Lois Skelding, a qualified interior architect, and her partner, Guy Billinge, construction director for a property developer The property A two-bed ground-floor flat in a Victorian house in Balham, London project cost £86,300
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are as it is for first-time homeowners to buy the first property they see, Lois and Guy did just that after viewing their ground-floor flat in Balham. As Victorian properties went, it was pretty uninspiring. The kitchen was buried in the middle of the apartment with doors opening onto a dark side passage; the bedroom was the only room overlooking the garden and the living room was only accessible through the kitchen. ‘I’m quite impulsive and loved it from the start, but Guy had reservations,’ says Lois. ‘The agent wanted us to view another – more expensive – place that had just come on the market, but when we compared the two there was no contest. We particularly liked all the original features and the lovely character of the place. We talked through the possibilities and put in an offer.’ They were the only people interested in the flat and picked up the keys within a matter of weeks. ‘It had been a rental property before we moved in and it hadn’t been modernised,’ Lois adds, ‘so there was plenty of scope for improvement.’ Lois and Guy freshened the place up with a lick of paint and then used their combined experience in interior architecture, design and construction to start planning ways in which the flat could be redesigned to make the most of the space. They were particularly keen to keep the original sitting room fireplace and the beautiful wooden floors, which were tired and unloved. It took two years to sort out the money and finalise their vision for the changes. It involved a side-return extension and reconfiguration of the layout to create a two-bedroom flat with open-plan kitchen-living room leading to the courtyard garden. The original kitchen and living room would become bedrooms, and the hall wall adjusted to create access to each. Planning permission went without a hitch and the couple found a builder they felt they could trust. Lois and Guy moved into a rented room close by so they could let the work progress as quickly as possible and oversee it on a daily basis. The internal wall changes were made first and the old kitchen and bathroom stripped out, before the builder moved to the back of the house to start digging foundations beneath
the new supporting walls. The exterior wall of the original bedroom was propped and knocked down ready for the insertion of a steel lintel. The brick was then cleaned and reused for the side-extension walls. ‘Fortunately we had a great neighbour upstairs who was very understanding about the noise,’ says Lois. ‘They were also in the process of moving out, so for a large part of the build, the flat was empty anyway.’ Lois and Guy are big fans of steel-framed windows and wanted to use them in the extension, along with a glazed roof, to draw masses of natural light into the open-plan living area. The new space was also fitted with new floor joists, insulation and floorboards. Most of the walls were plastered or skimmed and the new kitchen units and bathroom were fitted. When Lois and Guy moved back in they decorated throughout and furnished with a mix of their existing and vintage furniture to create the fresh, modern look they had always aimed for. ‘We’re both perfectionists and wanted to make sure everything was exactly how we had envisaged it,’ says Lois. ‘We had to be quite creative with certain aspects of the build to get the most out of the space, and we had to be very organised to get the sequencing right so we weren’t waiting around for materials to arrive’ As a result, Lois and Guy managed to complete the transformation within their allotted timescale and within budget. ‘Our advice to anyone doing something like this would be to do your research, stick to your plans and allow a contingency fund from the outset for any hidden or unexpected costs,’ says Lois. ‘By doing our homework, we saved thousands of pounds while still achieving the style of home we wanted.’
‘TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE SPACE WE HAD TO BE QUITE CREATIVE WITH ASPECTS OF THE BUILD’
Right (clockwise from top le) Lois and Guy have designed the kitchen to be as sociable as possible. The siing area is a favourite chill-out spot when friends call in. The garden is now an outdoor room with tiled floor and built-in seating with storage. Raan pouffe, Ikea. Hand-printed cushions, found in India. Large stripey cushion with buon detail, Nkuku. Art prints, Design Vintage. White floor lamp, B&Q. Round jute rug, John Lewis & Partners. Second-hand deck chair, originally from Nordic House. Table and chairs, Homebase
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1 Branchwood relax chair, £640, Indigenous 2 Indoor Outdoor acacia lounge chair & foot stool, £395, Cox & Cox 3 Äpplaro outdoor armchair, brown stained, £75, Ikea
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Take a seat
Style your outside space like Lois and Guy with a chair you can relax into
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Le Lois and Guy have combined natural textures along with old and new furniture for an eclectic, modern style The industrial mirrors were found in France.
Bookshelves, Swoon. Loveseat and sofa, Loaf. Painting by Tom Butler, Driwood Contemporary Gallery. Anglepoise lamp, John Lewis & Partners. Side table, Cox & Cox. Rug and shade, Ikea. Cushions, Ikea, H&M Home and handmade. Ercol coffee table, second hand. Wall painted in Plaster 3, Paint & Paint Library
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Clockwise from top In the siing room, the couple retained the Victorian fireplace Lois fell for when they saw the flat. ‘I wanted to bring the pink in the marble out with the wall colour,’ she says.
Stool with large plant, Design Vintage. Concrete and resin Benton lights, Olive & The Fox. Dining table and chairs, Habitat. Fur throws, Fabulous Fleece Company
Costs & contacts
Building & decorating £50,000 (excluding materials) Materials & glazing £25,000 Kitchen & appliances £9,000 Structural engineer £1,300 Building inspector £1,000 Interior architect and project management Design & Lo, 074346 98236, designandlo.com Builders T&J Construction, 020 8358 4342, tj-construction.co.uk Kitchen worktop Granite & Marble UK, 020 7793 8804, granitelondon.net Steel windows/doors Fabco, 01903 718808, fabcosanctuary.com Glazed roof Yes Glazing, 0808 256 5734, yesglazing.co.uk
Right The compact bathroom makes the most of a small space, with an over-bath shower and sink tucked between the bath and angled wall. Tiles, Topps Tiles. Vanity unit, Elle Decoration for Bathstore. Bath, Duravit. Brassware, Hans Grohe. Mirror and shelves, Cox & Cox. Walls painted in Pearl Green, Dulux Le and right Lois and Guy extended the chimney breast to create a wall wide enough to rest the double bed against and built upwards to make inset shelving. Bed, Loaf. Bedding, TKMaxx. Throw, Avoca. Rug, wardrobe, shelves, drawers and mirror, Ikea
Lois and Guy simply changed the uPVC doors in what used to be the kitchen to create a striking opening into a mini courtyard off the bedroom. Steelframed windows in the extension create a direct view from the bedroom into the back garden. Bedding, TKMaxx. Linen curtains, Ikea. Steel doors, Fabco. Walls painted in Pearl Green, Dulux
ON SALE NOW!
Create a calm, cosy and clutter-free living space
Packed full of expert advice from designers and stylists, learn how to declutter, organise and create balance in your home, then curate a comfortable living space that’s cosy, calm and tailored to you.
Ordering is easy. Go online at:
WWW.MAGAZINESDIRECT.COM Or get it from selected supermarkets & newsagents
Colour BASICS
Overwhelmed by paint charts, fabric swatches and trends? How do you put together a successful colour scheme? Start by understanding the basics of colour theory and psychology and your home will reflect you, reveals Jennifer Morgan
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hether you’re looking to refresh your current home or move to a new one, update your bathroom or simply choose a new sofa, there are always plenty of decisions to make when it comes to interiors. But aside from practicalities, the single most important relationship that you need to nurture is that of colour. It can make or break a room. As Ingrid Fetell Lee (aestheticsooy. com), designer and author of Joyful says, ‘Colour is transformative. It is energy made visible.’ Angela Wright (colour-affects. co.uk), colour legend and author of The Wright Theory, written over 30 years
Heritage Velvet matt emulsion in Cherry Truffle, £40.64 for 2.5ltrs, Dulux
ago and still taught to professionals today, and The Beginner’s Guide to Colour Psychology, agrees. ‘Colour is such a powerful influence,’ she says. ‘It has had me in a grip of steel for decades.’ But how do we start understanding colour?
GOING BACK TO COLOUR SCHOOL
Picking a colour scheme can be daunting; how will you know if it will look good in your room? You can start with the colour wheel – a fail-safe way of working out what goes with what, studied by interior designers, branding designers, artists and architects. The ‘wheel’ derives from Sir Isaac Newton’s
first circular illustration for colour in 1666, where he joined the violet end of the spectrum to red. The classic colour wheel is made up of 12 hues, half of which are warm colours (reds, oranges and yellows) and the other half cool colours (lilacs, blues and greens). You’ve then got primary colours (red, blue and yellow), secondary colours (made by mixing two primaries together – green, orange and purple) and six tertiary colours (made by mixing a primary with a secondary, like lime, turquoise and magenta). If you choose three colours that sit side by side on a colour wheel, then you create an analogous or harmonious scheme – think yellow with yellow-green and green, or pink with red and mauve. To keep it balanced, choose one dominant colour and two as accents. As interior designer and undisputed ‘queen of colour’ Sophie Robinson (sophierobinson.co.uk), says: ‘Lots of people think that if you want to create a calm interior you have to go neutral, pale and soft, but if you are drawn to bright colours – like I am – just going for more tonal and harmonious colours will help create a calm look. Just pick colours closer together on the wheel.’ Looking for big impact? Choose complementary colours – two colours that are on opposite sides of the wheel, such as blue and orange. For a triadic scheme, it’s three colours that are evenly spaced on the wheel (red, blue and green), which are great for a bold palette. In a tetradic scheme, it’s four colours – red, purple, blue and green – although the more colours you have, the more difficult it can be to balance, so you might find one colour becomes more dominant. Monochromatic palettes don’t, as many instinctively think, refer to black and white, but use different shades, tones and tints of one colour
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Gre en
Blue green
Coat x UO 6AM Sunrise Flat matt emulsion, £40 for 2.5ltrs, Urban Outfitters
No.907 Swedish Blue matt emulsion, £50 for 2.5ltrs, Cox & Cox
that sit in harmony together. A shade is created by adding black to a colour to darken it (becoming richer and deeper), while a tint is created by adding white, making the colour less intense. A tone is created by combining black and white (grey) to a base colour, giving a subtle version of the original colour. So, in today’s increasingly colour confident world, where does such theory sit? ‘The colour wheel can be overwhelming,’ says Ingrid, ‘so it’s important to break it down into its component parts. If you understand hue (any colour on the colour wheel), saturation (the intensity or purity of the colour) and luminance (the brightness or light in a colour), then you can go to a paint shop and say, “I’m not just looking for a green, but a dark, saturated green”. You start to speak the language of colour and that’s really helpful in describing what’s right/not right. That’s when colour becomes really empowering.’ ‘Colour choice needs to feel more spontaneous,’ says Geraldine James, author of A Pop of Colour. ‘The colour wheel may act as a tool to guide you and you may end up with something
nge Ora
COLOUR WHEEL
PRIMARY COLOURS
Red orange
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teloiV
etuelBloiv
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Red
Blue
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Estate Emulsion in India Yellow, £49.50 for 2.5ltrs, Farrow & Ball
SECONDARY COLOURS
TERTIARY COLOURS
No 104 Lansdown in Eggshell, £69, Cox & Cox
you haven’t considered, but there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to colour – it’s good to be individual.’ Interior designer Amy Jones of Greta-Mae (greta-mae.co.uk) finds the colour wheel too restrictive. ‘I work instinctively. First I find out as much as I can about my client, their attitude to colours (and any they don’t like), where the sun comes in, the age and style of the property and how they want to feel in the room I’m designing for.’ ‘As an interior designer, I’m constantly looking for clues,’ agrees Sophie. ‘Lots of people haven’t really thought about colour and say generic things like “light and bright”, or “warm and cosy”. So you have to dig a bit deeper to find their colour preferences and what personality they are. That’s where colour psychology comes in.’ Karen Haller (karenhaller.co.uk), a global expert in the field of behavioural colour and design psychology and author of The Little Book of Colour, says, ‘In my experience, choosing colour based on how you feel is much more Limesicle, from £26 for 940ml in Regal Select Pearl, Benjamin Moore
powerful than using a colour wheel. It allows you to create a home you love.’ Even paint brands agree, as Rob Abrahams of Coat (coatpaints.com), explains. ‘We encourage people to ask how they want to feel in their space. It helps lead the colour choice. Starting with a colour can be too linear because “green” can mean anything from a pale beige-green tone through to a dark olive. It’s better to start with a feeling like “relaxed” or “energised” and explore tones from there.’
UNDERSTANDING COLOUR PSYCHOLOGY
‘When we see colour, we instantly feel something,’ says Karen. ‘We have an emotional response – this is colour psychology. It’s the science behind how colours make us think, feel and behave. When we surround ourselves with colours that we resonate with, we feel good about ourselves; we feel nurtured, supported and happy.’ ‘Colour psychology works on two levels,’ explains Angela. ‘On one level, we have the universal effects of the 11 basic colours. Each of them has potentially positive or negative psychological effects and which of these is created depends on personality types and – crucially – the relationships within colour combinations. Red, for example, is not necessarily a danger symbol, though it is in nature: rather, it’s a call to action. It has a property of making things closer than they are, making it useful for grabbing attention – just think of how it’s used to promote a sale. Whether it’s positive or negative depends on the colours around it. ‘Preference comes from the individual,’ continues Angela. ‘If you ask a room of people to comment on whether they like or dislike a colour, this will depend on their personality type. Yet if you then put the colour together with others that work harmoniously, everyone will respond positively. They will either say, “Those are my type of colours” or, “Wow, those colours look good”. It’s a case of identity or admiration.’ There are four colour families in The Wright Theory, within which every colour harmonises with every other colour in the family. Angela uses music to illustrate her point further. ‘Lots of musicians have equated musical notes with colour. Each has its own unique properties, but they don’t actually do anything until you put them together with other musical notes or colours. One colour on its own isn’t going to evoke a musical reaction, and yet still it’s the case that lots of people apply colour psychology
in the singular. They say, “Red does this”, which it might do in certain circumstances, but try it with this colour and it does something different.’
IMPROVING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH COLOUR
It’s the fear of making a wrong choice that holds us back, believes Ingrid. ‘We are born with an intuition for colour and by and large we’ve been taught to ignore this,’ she says. ‘We’ve been fed images and inspiration from influencers and brands and are constantly told this is good, this is the colour of the year, this is in or out… and these sources don’t necessarily have anything to do with our own intuition for colour, which is as simple as walking into a store and being drawn towards this pink or that blue. As a way of reconnecting with it, I often ask people to think about the places that have brought them joy, and about the colours that stand out there.’ ‘Listen to your instincts,’ says Karen. ‘Trends come and go, but when you create something from within, it’s timeless. Choosing colour based on your personality allows you to express the essence of who you are – your authentic self – and to live from the inside out in your own unique style.’ ‘Trends are much more visible than they were, thanks to social media,’ says Rob, ‘but unlike fashion, they last longer and move a little slower. They might still be transient, but feelings aren’t. Pick a shade for your bedroom that makes you feel calm and relaxed, and you’ll always love being in there.’
‘A question I’m often asked is, “Is this going to be too much?” – yet research shows the opposite is true,’ says Ingrid. ‘We think if we play it safe, the neutral will last for ever, but we get sicker of things that are bland than we do of bold hues and bright patterns. We find more joy in those things over time.’ ‘In my own home I have all the colours,’ laughs Sophie. ‘Some interior designers say that you should limit your palette to just three. I couldn’t think of anything worse! To me, it’s about using a family of colours that are different but sit comfortably next to each other. They might all have the same background tone, like warm colours; they might all be chalky pastels or primary brights. If they sit within the same family, you can mix and match to your heart’s content. Another way to be colour confident is to have one or two accent colours that you weave throughout your home. In my house, yellow is never on a wall or as a big piece of furniture, but it appears in artwork, as lamp bases and vases.’ ‘There is a decorating rule of 60-30-10, which means 60 per cent should be the dominant colour in a room, like the wall, 30 per cent the secondary colour, which can be brought in through sofas and curtains, and 10 per cent an accent colour, saved for accessories,’ says Amy. ‘If you’re unsure, it’s a way to take tentative steps without getting it too wrong.’ Geraldine is all about the ‘pop’ of colour and the difference it can make to a room. ‘These are small injections of colour worked into a basic palette,’ she says. ‘Pops still need to sit comfortably
in the scheme, but you can find inspiration from anywhere – a painting, the clothes you wear or your garden.’ Understanding colour is about trusting your instincts, as Angela concludes. ‘If you think colours go together, then that’s fine – they probably will,’ she says. ‘I always say don’t take anyone with you when you shop for clothes as you’ll end up with things that suit them; the same applies to your home.’ Rodmell chest, Firle lamp and candlestick bases all painted in Chalk Paint, from £21.95 for 1ltr, Annie Sloan
Which colour personality are you? Angela Wright’s The Colour Affects System defines your colour personality. Find out more at colour-affects.co.uk Personality Type 2: Dreamlight, which echoes the natural paerns of summer. Colours are cool, subtle and delicate, cool in hue, containing greys.
Personality Type 3: Firelight, which echoes the natural paerns of autumn. Colours are rich, fiery and offbeat, warm in hue, containing black in their mixing.
‘If you go out and look at nature in spring, it has a very specific colour scheme and unmistakable personality. Everything is coming back to life,’ says Angela. ‘The personality that reflects this is externally motivated and eternally youthful.’
‘In the natural world, as the year progresses and the earth begins to dry out, a soening sets in,’ says Angela. ‘This person is essentially cool, calm and collected. They are internally motivated, but equally sensitive to what others are feeling.’
‘Go to the countryside and see how things have changed since spring. Perky flowers have been replaced by rich golds, fiery reds, purples, burnt orange and brown,’ says Angela. ‘Like Type 1, this person is externally motivated, but also intense and strong.’
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Personality Type 4: Starlight, which echoes the natural paerns of winter. Colours are cold, and either very light, very dark or very intense.
‘The winter landscape is hushed. When snow falls everything is blanketed by white. But there’s powerful energy beneath as the regeneration process develops,’ says Angela. ‘Type 4 personalities demand respect. Internally motivated and efficient, they see the broader picture.’
MO C.SEMOHLAER
Personality Type 1: Morninglight, which echoes the natural paerns of spring. Colours are clean, clear and fresh, warm in hue with lile, if any black.
Style crush Sometimes we come across a product we just can’t stop thinking about – and we want to share it with you. Here’s what we’ve fallen for this month Room for one more
With lockdown restrictions gradually easing, it’s time to plan those long overdue get-togethers with friends and loved ones. When the time comes – and believe us, it will – this stunning low lounge chair from H&M will provide much-needed extra seating, and look super stylish to boot. And with a raan finish that’s bang on trend, we can’t think of any reason we shouldn’t be reaching for our bank cards right now…
MO C.SEMOHLAER
HTIMS YLIME ERUTAEF
Low lounge chair, £199.99, H&M Home
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LIVING ROOM U P D AT E S Conjure up your perfect lounge vibe with an entirely new look or make a few simple tweaks to reinvent your space
Tactile textures
Statement shapes and natural materials are a winning combination. Complement the clean lines of mid-century furniture and create a cosy space by choosing so wools or linens.
Wooden warmth Pale timber flooring lends a feeling of warmth and calm to a neutral backdrop. Choose whitewashed wood to achieve an understated aesthetic.
Romney Wool velvet matt emulsion, £40.64 for 2.5ltrs, Dulux Heritage. For a similar rug, try Habitat. For a similar sofa, try Arlo & Jacob. For a similar table, try Ercol
Amazing price Flexible living Make your living space work harder by incorporating a work-from-home setup. Consider a screen like this to create a division.
Lalita room divider, £400, Cuckooland
Paint effect
Give panelled walls extra impact by colourblocking the boom half in an earthy hue and painting skirting boards – turning any wall into a decorative backdrop.
Instantly inviting
Want an instant update on a budget? This on-trend Berberstyle rug ranges from just £30 to £120 from George Home.
Dorothy terracotta planter, £63, Beaumonde
Plant life
Fill these glazed planters with an overspilling plant such as a fern. The short wooden legs add extra height, perfect for housing tall or trailing foliage.
Amp up the ambience as the evening draws in with this sculptural beauty. Rust circle candleholder, £34, Graham & Green
Kanu plant pot and wooden stand, £29.50, Oliver Bonas
Eva sofa in Harry Flax Blue, £3,250; Burnt Sienna matt emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltrs; Suffolk side table in Flax Blue, £260, all Neptune
Industrial accent
With a luxe black marble top and iron legs, this media unit works hard to stylishly tidy away your TV tech.
Berkeley marble media unit, £549, Atkin & Thyme
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Mirror, mirror
Swirl cane mirror, £20, B&M
Akira easy fit shade, £38, Next
Nail the natural décor trend with bamboo and rattan materials. The ornate detailing and bleached tones will look great when positioned on a deep, jewel-coloured wall.
Pioneer four seater sofa in Plain Sage, £1499, Sofology
Make it in three steps This clever – and, not to mention, inexpensive – bit of DIY can be achieved using a reclaimed pallet and four castor wheels – the ideal add-on for furniture that’s moved often. 1. Source a secondhand wooden pallet or buy a pre-treated piece at Homebase.
Glow-up
2. Remove any nails, give a light sand and decide whether to paint or leave bare.
Look for sculptural and textural lights to instantly transform your home from drab to dreamy.
3. To finish, flip on its back and simply screw the wheels into each corner.
Clever seating
Made entirely from recycled spun plastic boles, this laidback chair is ideal for indoors and out.
Black silk wavy lampshade, £185, A Considered Space X Munro & Kerr
Elvey fabric in Kingfisher, £49.50 per metre, Romo
A timeless blend of colourmixed stripes and leafy motifs add subtle paern to an easy-living scheme. Introduce through cushions and window dressings.
Lavin fabric in Sorbet, £85 per metre, Romo
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RENREVAT ACISSEJ ERUTAEF
Material matters
Ferm Living Desert lounge chair, £245, Rose & Grey
Print power Botanical prints and leafy motifs are your go-to choice in this nature-inspired look. They feel most at home when paired with calming, harmonious hues.
Two-seater Julien green cord sofa, £495; Contemporary glass display unit, £300; Eden cushion covers, £6 each; Eden woven throw, £18; Swen wooden shoe bench, £65; Elmley rattan ceiling shade, £60, and all accessories, Habitat
Smart storage The high legs and glass front on this cabinet help further the feeling of grandeur. Use the shelves to display keepsakes and stash away unsightly cluer in the drawers.
Multi purpose The slender nature of a shoe bench makes it the ideal alternative for a coffee table. House baskets underneath to tidy things away.
Indoor oasis Bring in hanging plants to add height and inject life into a scheme. Fix a hook to the ceiling or use removable strips, and use to suspend macramé hangers.
Work your windows Practical and oh-so stylish, shuers add instant kerb appeal while keeping you in control of your privacy. Keep window dressings simple to allow natural light to spill in.
Match it up Full height pastel grey shutters, from £168 per m2, California Shutters. For similar chairs, try Sofa.com
Create a focal point with thoughtfully arranged seating. A pair of matching armchairs upholstered in paerned fabric steals the show in this otherwise restful scheme.
Clutter– free vibe
Add wow factor
House inspirational reading material in an attractive rack. This one is crafted from cane, so can withstand a busy home.
Night Sky in Dusky Pink, £92 per roll, Jessica Osborne
Round bamboo magazine rack, £70, Heavenly Homes & Gardens
A paerned wallpaper used on all four walls or simply as a feature is a good starting point to build a decorating scheme. Opt for prints inspired by nature to bring joy and energy indoors.
Portobello print, from £38, Rose England
Honolulu in Seafoam, Peach and Rust, £38 per roll, Lust Home
Twice as useful
Finishing touch Inject personality into your home with artwork. Pick out colours that work with your existing palee for an easyon-the-eye finish.
The low shelf is a great spot to display books and magazines – and the swivel storage top is the icing on the cake.
Style it right Position wall-mounted storage around your TV to draw aention away from the screen. Prey up with plants, books and trios of accessories.
Storage side table, £99, Next Leopardess print, £52, Rose England
SEMOHLAEROS#
Instagram-approved trend: DIY sculptural radiator covers This clever and inexpensive hack is a brilliant way to add sculptural form and texture into your home. Simply use a custom-made frame and add panelling strips or wood slats.
MOOR-GNIVIL/MOC.SEMOHLAER TA MOOR GNIVIL RUOY ROF NOITARIPSNI EROM DNIF
Eket storage combination, £100, Ikea
@lukearthurwells
@oakappledecor
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@mishkashoe
The design
Clini
Need our help? Got a DIY dilemma? Want to sele a domestic style dispute? Send your questions to us on social media or email rhsubmissions @futurenet.com
Whether you’re torn between paint colours or debating whether to extend upwards or outwards, the Real Homes team is here to answer your questions At your service
STYLE ADVICE
Q A
I love pink tones, but how can I make them look more sophisticated rather than sickly sweet? There are so many variations of the colour pink that sit outside of the sugar sweet candy floss tones. There’s been an emergence of these more earthy versions, especially in paint colours that have a beautifully natural and warm feel to them. Using these options on walls, ceilings or skirting is a great way to bring this versatile and serene look into your scheme.
Meet the people ready to help with your dilemmas Kaitlin Has plenty of reno advice from her own home remodel Ellen Offers tips and tricks to make life at home a lile easier Alison The go-to for all things DIY, with tons of wisdom to impart
Amelia Has her finger on the pulse of all things kitchen and bathroom Emily Real Homes’ resident colour expert is a lover of bold hues
GoodHome Kyoto matt emulsion, £16 for 2.5ltrs, B&Q
Carter’s Rose matt emulsion, £46 for 2.5ltrs, Ca Pietra
MO C.SEMOHLAER
Anna Our style guru has the answers to all your questions
Ciao Sofia Grubby Pink Flat matt, £40 for 2.5 ltrs, Coat Paints
Heritage Colours Potters Pink, £40.64 for 2.5 ltrs, Dulux
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STYLE ADVICE
Q A
KITCHEN ADVICE I can’t decide on a kitchen style. I love the look of simple plywood, but will it date quickly? Plywood kitchens are so on trend at the moment. Their simple, handmade and quirky appearance is very appealing. But you’re right, the design doesn’t have the ‘timeless’ quality that comes with other styles, such as Shaker. A kitchen is an investment that you want to last. Irrespective of the trends, do you think you’d still love a plywood kitchen in 10 years’ time? Would you regret choosing a safer option? If it’s a clean-lined, minimal and fun space that you want, plywood is a great choice. You could always paint your cabinets in the future to refresh the look.
Q A
I can’t get enough of dried flowers in my home, but how long will they last for? It depends on the flower, but as long as they’re kept away from direct sunlight and humid conditions, they can last from one to three years.
Ixia Flowers Whites premium dried flowers, £39.95, John Lewis & Partners
RENOVATION ADVICE
Q A
I’m thinking of converting my lo. Should I get a dormer? That depends, first and foremost, on the size of your lo. If you’ve got plenty of space to achieve your conversion goals with your existing footprint, rooflights should serve you just fine. But if you could use more space, then dormers are one of the easiest ways to get it, since they add headroom, thus creating more functional floor space (say, for that en suite you’ve been dreaming about). You’ll also want to take into account your roof style and the layout of your lo. Dormers can be harder to add if you live in a more modern home with a trussed roof, or if you’ve got an awkwardly placed chimney stack. Of course, budget is also a factor. Dormers are more expensive than rooflights and take more time to install, so consider both before making your decision.
Formica-faced ply fronts, approx £3,450 for a medium-sized kitchen, Plykea
HANDY HOME HINTS I need good-looking storage to stow away my winter wardrobe – help! From underbed options to stylish trunks, here are three ideas for keeping those winter jumpers safe all summer. Add cedar wood balls or cubes to deter moths.
Q A
Croft Collection Willow underbed lined storage, £60, John Lewis & Partners Stuk storage case, £9, Ikea Daven set of two metal storage box trunks in pink and grey, £89, Made
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GARDEN ADVICE
Q A
How can I start geing my garden ready for summer? Your outside space benefits from a spring clean just as much as your home. If you haven’t already, get the pressure washer out and blast the dirt, moss and blossom leaves off your terrace, patio slabs, decking or furniture. Repair damaged woodwork and treat or paint it – from fences to summer houses, decking to tables and benches. If metalwork has rusted, clean it off with a vinegar or baking soda and a stiff brush and paint with an outdoor metal paint. Check whether your barbecue, fire pit, parasols or awnings are still fit for purpose and not in need of repair or replacement. Gardens are now extensions of our living spaces so you want them ready for use as soon as it’s warm enough to sit out, and you can quickly dress the area with outdoor cushions, rugs, throws and lights. With the risk of late frosts gone, it’s the perfect time to plant summer bedding plants to liven up borders, pots, troughs or baskets. If you’re into growing your own, there are root vegetables and greens you can still sow and plant as well as lettuce and tomatoes, some strawberries and rhubarb. Mowing should have started by March, but consider leaving a patch unmowed to encourage wildlife.
Cuprinol Garden Shades, Seagrass, Dusky Gem, £20 for 2.5ltrs, B&Q
Period renovation
COMING
home Rose Bickers and her husband, Justin, have sympathetically modernised an outdated Edwardian property on her old childhood road, injecting it with love and creativity
‘We used this space for the children when they were younger, so they could be close by while I cooked,’ says Rose. ‘Now, it’s a lovely spot to sit in, and great for a kitchen disco.’ Ercol loveseat, Heal’s. Side table, The White Company
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Profile
The owners Rose Bickers, an influencer and stay-at-home mum (@home_with_rose), her husband, Justin, who works in construction and property management, and their four children, Alfred, nine, Thomas, eight, Daisy, seven, and Dorothy, two The property A four-bed early Edwardian semi in Ipswich, Suffolk project cost £143,500
Floor to ceiling bi-fold doors lead out into the garden and the skylights flood the dining area with light. The dining set bridges the gap between traditional and modern style with ease. Bi-fold doors, Schüco. For a similar dining set, try the Fjord, Made. Dusk pink planter, Ferm Living
W Above and top right Shelving has been built into a recess in the wall of the dining area, and painted the same colour for subtle continuity. Oak engineered wood flooring runs throughout the open-plan space, giving the downstairs a cohesive flow. Walls painted in Dover Cliff, Fired Earth. Flooring, Fore Wood Floors. Pendant lights, Garden Trading
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hen Rose Bickers bought a house on the pretty, treelined street where she’d grown up, it felt like a homecoming. ‘I didn’t think for one minute we’d find a property there,’ she says. ‘But when this house came onto the market 10 doors up from my old family home, I knew it was simply meant to be.’ Rose was returning to her hometown after being away for some years studying art and working abroad. She and husband Justin had been living in a small house nearby with their young sons, Alfred and Tom, when they decided they needed more space. ‘Our logical starting point was where I grew up, as I knew what a lovely family orientated area it was,’ says Rose. ‘The road is named after an influential Edwardian architect, which is why the houses are so beautiful.’ Although work carried out by the previous owners wasn’t to the couple’s taste, the house had an abundance of period character and potential. ‘Justin works in construction and had reworked the downstairs in his mind after the first viewing,’ says Rose. The couple identified the conservatory as the key to creating a more open-plan layout. ‘We suspected it had been built without planning permission, but as it had been in place for eight years, we hoped an application to extend the house within the existing footprint would be accepted. Our gamble paid off!’ says Rose. ‘The new open-plan layout involved rebuilding the conservatory to link the kitchen and dining room. It was a big job, so we did it in two phases.’ The first involved removing a large wall and a big central chimney breast that went from the kitchen, up through a bedroom and out through the loft. The boiler was relocated from the central fireplace upstairs and all the floorboards were pulled up for the new plumbing. Rewiring was done at the same time. Justin project managed and thanks to his contacts, they were able to source tradespeople quickly. The breakfast room, kitchen and cloakroom became one big space. A steel placed at the rear of the kitchen elevated the ceiling height, creating a clear sightline from the front of the house to the back garden. ‘Luckily we were able to stay in our old house while the work took place,’ says Rose. ‘With Alfie and Tom so little and my being pregnant within that time, it totally took the pressure off. Seven months later, phase one was complete and a new kitchen installed, and we were able to move in time for Christmas.’ Rose and Justin took some time to save up before phase two. ‘Daisy was born in the spring and the following year we finished the downstairs,’ says Rose. ‘We knocked through into the old dining room, making a snug and playroom, and pretty much rebuilt the existing conservatory, adding floor-to-ceiling bi-fold doors with a new door out to the side return. All the work was finished on time – and, amazingly, within budget.’ Since the works, the family has grown to six with the arrival of Dorothy in 2018. ‘With a large busy family, it was really important to me that I created a sense of calm through the décor,’ says Rose. ‘I’ve painted the walls in different shades of white, which keep the rooms feeling light and fresh, and have injected character and fun with subtle pops of pastel shades, natural accessories and upcycled furniture.’ With the renovation complete, what the couple have achieved still surprises them. ‘Justin project-managing saved us a huge amount of money, and we were so lucky he knew hard-working tradesman with a great attention to detail,’ says Rose. ‘It’s been so rewarding creating a beautiful home, on a road that holds so many memories – and I am sure our children will grow up loving it just as much as I did.’
BEFORE
Malton Alabaster kitchen units, from the Innova range at DIY Kitchens, painted in Purbeck Stone, Farrow & Ball. For similar bar stools, try Hicks & Hicks. Dish rack, Garden Trading. For a similar lemon print, try Desenio
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MOC.SEMOHLAER
Le and above The Shaker-style kitchen has a fresh, clean look but also gives the room character.
Anna’s top tip Rose’s neutral scheme includes pared-back tones, so this bold floral wallpaper creates impact. The colours and print are in keeping with those found in nature so blend with the overall aesthetic
Rose chose a vintage-style floral wallpaper in the snug to give the room its own character. Wallpaper, Rifle Paper & Co. Corner sofa and mirror, John Lewis & Partners. Coffee table, Loaf. Pink frill cushion covers, Zara Home
Above and above right The siing room has a more formal feel. ‘We wanted a “best room”,’ says Rose.
Right Stylish storage hides away cluer in the hall. Cabinet, Mustard Made. Try The White Company for a mirror
Build work and labour £74,000 Plumbing & electrics £19,500 Flooring, furnishing and décor £18,000 Kitchen and fitting £9,500 Smart lighting, sound and media £8,000 Windows and doors £6,000 Bathroom £4,500 Professional fees £3,000 Utility £1,000 Electrics Electricare, 01473 558439, electricare.uk.com Plumber Birch Plumbing & Heating Services, 01473 599150, thebirchgroup.co.uk Kitchen DIY Kitchens, diy-kitchens.com Wood flooring Fore Wood Floors, 01473 281775, forewoodfloors.co.uk
MOC.SEMOHLAER
Sofa, Sofa.com. Print, John Lewis & Partners. Plant box, Ferm Living. For a similar rug, try La Redoute. Wall painted in Pink Ground, Farrow & Ball. Mirror, The Cotswold Company. Bamboo pendant, Broste Copenhagen
Costs & contacts
Right and below Rose upcycled a set of vintage drawers for Doie’s room. Drawers painted in Lem Lem Green, Annie Sloan. Shelf and clothes stand, Mamas & Papas
Soft underfoot
Finish off your lile one’s bedroom with one of these fun rugs
1 2
1 Shirley sheep rug, £70, Bobby Rabbit 2 Villa Nova lily pad rug, £175, Sweetpea & Willow 3 Ferm Living tufted polar bear head rug/wall hanging, £75, Rose & Grey 4 Chenille striped rug, from £5.99, Homescapes
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4
The girls’ rooms have neutral backdrops that can easily be updated with colourful accessories – like the canopy over Daisy’s bed. Numero peach bed canopy, Smallable. Blinds made with fabric from Orla Kiely
Below The small bathroom and separate toilet were knocked through to create a bigger family bathroom. For a similar basin, try the Belfry Bathroom Laumer wall-mounted semi pedestal sink, Wayfair. Mirror, John Lewis & Partners
Right The pops of pastel continue into the master bedroom with accents of pink on the dressing table, cushion and plant pot. For a cushion, try Dunelm. For a similar paint colour, try Antoinee Chalk Paint, Annie Sloan
BATHROOM KNOCK THROUGH May 2013
Project timeline
MOVED IN November 2013 KITCHEN INSTALLED September 2013
SECOND PHASE STARTED April 2015 DAISY BORN April 2014
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FRONT GROUNDWORK Summer 2016 SECOND PHASE FINISHED December 2015
DOROTHY BORN September 2018
KIDS’ BEDROOMS THAT’LL GROW WITH THEM
Toying with revamping your child’s room, but all played out for inspo? Read on for budget-savvy and child-friendly ideas that, we promise, won’t go out of fashion faster than the latest TikTok craze…
G
iven the unprecedented amount of time our kids have spent at home in the past year or so, it’s likely their bedrooms are now looking, shall we say… tired? OK, like a bomb’s been detonated in a chicken factory, and there were no survivors. Time for a refresh, then, but how to do it in a way that’ll last? Nursery décor is allowed to be a bit frivolous. Nobody needs to think about smelly-socked, sulky teens when they’re nesting for their precious firstborn. But when decorating beyond nappies, it’s worth thinking about it lasting at least two growth stages, or the next five years, which is about as long as you can hope for any paintwork to stay nice. The notion of allowing your child free rein to design their own bedroom is often touted by ‘experts’, but only childless ones. Probably the same people who think screen time should be limited to 30 minutes a week – nice idea, pal, but reality blows. Depending how malleable your child is, and their age/sense of style, it’s better to give them options from a carefully curated selection of colours/themes you can tolerate and are willing to spend your money on. If they’re being difficult, try compromise/bribery by letting them pick a few accessories from places like Dunelm or Homesense instead.
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Brighten up a child’s room with durable and wipeclean paints
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Coats of many colours
The first challenge is likely to revolve around the need for longevity versus staying age-appropriate. No parent wants their child to grow up faster than they already are (after the baby stage, that is, which feels like approximately eleventy-billion years while you’re in the thick of it). The not-so secret to success involves investing in good ‘bones’. Think quality furniture in neutral colours and timeless design, such as Shaker-style or paintable pieces that you can update with a tin of no-primer, no-sealant chalk paint. Ditto carpet/flooring. Go low-key on colours, make it durable, and use rugs to ring the changes. Anything that can be easily refreshed, like shelving, art or lampshades, is a winner, and don’t overlook the transformative powers of new (inexpensive) bedding. If space allows, it’s nice to zone a child’s room into distinct areas for sleeping, relaxing and studying, which can improve flow and encourage tidiness. Speaking of which, decent storage may not solve the mess but it will hide it, so try to squeeze it into every orifice. Under the bed, behind the bed, inside alcoves and on top of wardrobes – if you can’t see the clutter, you can pretend it’s not there. At least until they leave for college/that Croatian gap year, anyway.
Rug, £39.99; bedlinen, £19.99; pom-pom bunting, £4.99; floor cushion, £39.99; small green dragon, £3.99; large green dragon, £18.99; cotton twill storage baskets, from £6.99, all H&M Home
land of make believe No other room can take a theme beer than a kid’s bedroom, so don’t be afraid to go all out, be it a jungle for your intrepid explorer or a fairytale kingdom fit for a prince or princess. Easy-to-remove wall murals and paint effects are your friend, but otherwise, keep the foundations of the space fairly neutral and save the character for accessories – bedlinen, toys and wall hangings are relatively cheap and easy to update when they grow out of it (in about six months, then).
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Find more ideas for kids’ bedrooms on our website
Top Tip Shelve out awkward nooks or crannies to keep bedtime reading neat and easily accessible.
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Panel show Panelling is a massive design trend and can pep up the blandest architecture in a child’s bedroom – hello, newbuilds! Go simple with tongue and groove or Shaker designs for a Scandi edge, or choose elegant Georgian-style or modern fluted panelling to make the space feel more grown-up. Painted in a hardwearing eggshell finish, panelling positioned alongside the bed or behind a desk will help protect plasterwork from scuff-making swinging limbs and sticky fingers.
Walls painted in Brompton Road and Bedford Square Marble matt emulsion, £51 for 2.5ltrs; woodwork in Maugham White Wood and Metal eggshell, £31 for 1ltr, all Mylands. Design by Emily Murray (@pinkhouseliving) Nicholas single headboard in Raspberry Small Oak Leaves, £750; Ivy lamp base in Scarlet, £170; limited edition Catherine wheel silk lampshade, from £125; Guy Allen Bumblebee original etching in Kelling Yellow, £550, all KDLoves
Colour it In Why paint the walls in one shade, when you can rock two (or more)? Get creative with the Frog Tape and switch shades near the top of the wall for a modern take on a picture rail, or make the split two-thirds down for a fun faux dado effect. Colour-blocking a corner or alcove can also help zone a reading/study area, while stickers will add paern to the mix (and can be easily removed when the tween hits double digits). Prefer to play it safe? Go for a neutral paint palee and use cushions, art or even a sassy headboard to bring ALL the colour. Right Meeble Vox Concept furniture range, from £85, Cuckooland
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Comet bed, £279.99, Furniture & Choice
Lisa MackinHaddon
BONUS EXECUTIVE
‘We moved straight into a newbuild so this room was essentially a blank canvas. I wanted to make it bright, fun and girly for our daughter Harper, now six. I gave her some input but, luckily, she was more than happy with my ideas! Our only real compromise was on the bedding. I like it fresh and white, but she would have liked more colour – the dusky pink throw appeased her. The theme I had in mind was monochrome with rainbows and I actually got the spotty wall idea from my hairdresser’s salon! The spots are stickers I found on Ebay. I added rainbow and pink accessories and some Scandistyle pieces, again from Ebay. I was conscious of keeping Harper’s room appropriate for her age, but I hope that investing in good quality white furniture means it’ll last well and I can just make small changes to adapt it as she gets older. My advice for decorating any child’s bedroom is to have fun and trust the process. If you stick with your original idea, it’ll come good in the end. Adding all the accessories and watching it come together is always my favourite part!’ Insta @the_haddon_home
Top Tip Spawn the next Banksy with a blackboard wall – make it magnetic (Johnstone’s Magnetic Blackboard Paint, £17.98 for 250 ml, gets good reviews) for extra artistic fun!
Shorty lockers, £128.95 each, Scandiborn
Hide and No Seek Since it’s not just clothing children keep in their bedrooms, storage is always going to be problematic. But the more you can squeeze in, the less cluer there’ll be in your living room (in theory, anyway). A high sleeper takes the whole footprint of a bed out of the equation, leaving floorspace for cupboards galore below. To work successfully, they need to be sturdy, safe (insist on guardrails, even for teens) and include a decent ladder that’s comfortable on bare feet. The best designs have room for a drink and book up there, plus a lamp or light switch within easy reach.
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Smastad loft bed in white with desk and four drawers, £321, Ikea
Jess Mckenzie GROWTH STRATEGY & ANALYTICS MANAGER
Top Tip Houseplants help absorb toxins in the air and are said to aid concentration – but no promises on that front!
Above Skylar Mongolian faux fur bagel beanbag in blush, £69; French cane shoe rack, £115; Tiger head pot, £12; Tiger bath rug, £14; artificial Yukka in pot, £45; three paper rope organisers, £5, all Dunelm
Room to grow Furniture should be timeless in style and in size. Teenagers can do bunk beds but only with sufficient headroom. Custom built-in designs can utilise the room’s full height. Go standard single with a decent maress rather than waste money on toddler or mini spacesaver beds. Size up to a double if possible: it’ll prove useful for poorly nights when they need you by their side.
Desk duty Even if it’s only used for colouring, cras and Play-doh for a few years, a desk area will be invaluable once homework is on the cards. Try to position near a window for natural light and a view to encourage screen breaks. An electric socket close by is essential – upgrade to one with USB-A and USB-C ports and Fastcharge for extra power. Look for desks with built-in wireless charging if you really want to impress a teen – try Ryman. Bunkbed inside walls painted in Blue Danube (bottom) and Windmill Wings (top) Regal Select Matte, from £24.50 for 940ml, Benjamin Moore
Don’t forget… to protect your eardrums Orange headphones, £59.99, Homesense
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‘Originally this was an unloved, storage room with old textured wallpaper and dark green ‘80s carpets. We had limited space, so I had to think about clever storage first, which is how I came across Sklum and its stunning shelves. We ended up buying a lot from there as their colours worked well and the prices were great. Our daughter, who is 11, liked ice cream shades, so I started planning the colour scheme by sourcing some art. I showed her before buying, and she loved the prints so much she requested similar colours throughout. I spotted a feature wall design on Pinterest but it was our builder’s idea to incorporate the ceiling into the colour blocking, which really makes it stand out and helps make the angles feel like a purposeful part of the space. We tried to think a couple of years ahead with the décor choices. The grand reveal coincided with her starting secondary school and it was great to give her a more grown-up space to support this next phase. I’ve learned the hard way that children are not the best at looking after things so it’s wise to spend less and accept that stains, dents and superglued repairs are going to happen. Affordable gems like Homesense, Sklum, H&M and Ikea really are your best friend when decorating for a younger audience!’ Insta @mckenzie_interiorscapes
Profile
The owners Rachel Henderson, a textile designer (@ therachelhendersonstudio; rachelhendersoninteriors. co.uk), her husband Andrew, a digital skills training officer at Edinburgh University, and their daughter, Loie The property A two-bed coage in Dalgety Bay, Fife
renovated Cottage
MEMORY
MAKER
Textile designer Rachel Henderson has transformed her grandmother’s much-loved seaside cottage in Fife into a rainbow-hued, sun-drenched family home
Not afraid to mix and match, Rachel has painted the end wall a warm peach, the le hand side a zingy lemon and the opposite wall is papered in the Orla Kiely Classic Stem design in Olive.
‘Highland Coo’ paerned fabric, A Wooden Tree. Pendant lights and yellow throws, Habitat. Sofas, DFS. Eames rocker, Ebay. Sheepskin, Ikea. Biscuit cushions, Nikki McWilliams
Above Two floating shelves from Ikea are adorned with treasured family photographs, art and knied flowers that Rachel has designed for her books. She made the bunting on one of her workshops.
Above This sunshine yellow case serves as a side table and offers extra storage. Rachel bought the round mirror on Ebay and painted the frame peach. Suitcase, La Redoute Le Rachel made the fun felt succulents in this room; instructions can be found in Boho Felt Cras, her book with Jayne Emerson. Rugs, Maisons du Monde. Vintagestyle advertising prints, I Love Retro. Frames, Ikea
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achel and her family had always loved visiting her grandma’s cottage in Fife, so when she moved to a home, the possibility of moving in to a place that meant so much to the family was met with mixed feelings. ‘There are so many poignant memories, obviously, but it was very much what she wanted,’ says Rachel. ‘My brother lives nearby and our parents also live close – it felt meant to be. Everyone wanted to keep the house in the family, so we sold our Victorian flat and moved here.’ When the family got the keys, they soon set about putting their unique stamp on the home. ‘We were very grateful that it was basically in perfectly sound condition,’ says Rachel. ‘Andrew works full time, I am self-employed and our daughter, Lottie, is young, so we didn’t want to undertake a radical renovation. Giving this already pretty house a fairly superficial facelift was more than enough for us. The improvements we’ve made have all been cosmetic.’ The property is bright, with big windows, a great layout, and a conservatory. ‘It’s a nice addition in chilly Scotland,’ says Rachel. ‘Even on sunny days there can be a cold wind.’ Once the family was settled, Rachel and Andrew started creating their vision. ‘We laid new flooring and decorated straight away,’ Rachel says. ‘I know the standard advice is to live in a house for a while and get to know the light and how you use it, but we knew it well already – we’d been frequent visitors over the years to see Grandma. Plus, I’m very headstrong – I know what I want and I just do it.’ Rachel’s aim was to transform the modern bungalow into a picturesque seaside cottage, adding character with colour and pattern. ‘We wanted to thoroughly personalise it,’ she says. ‘The first thing we did was paint the outside, so the harling was brilliant white and the woodwork a soft blue-green teal. It was a dramatic improvement – we were delighted.’ She is inspired by bold, Mediterranean hues. ‘I think warm tones help make a house more homely and cosy. Layering pattern and colour is easier than you think: you don’t have to use a neutral palette, as many people believe. Vivid colours and patterns can make brilliant backdrops for art and collections.’ Rachel buys as much as she can at craft fairs from artists and makers and as little from well-known chains. ‘I shop around online a lot,’ she says. ‘Occasionally I fall for something from a far-flung seller and it’s definitely not a bargain once you count in the shipping! But I also believe the odd extravagant purchase can lift a house from the ordinary to extraordinary.’ For each room, Rachel made mood boards using Photoshop. ‘I chose five or six colours for every room and sourced products to add in,’ she explains. ‘You could do this just as easily using paper and card and cutting furniture and accessories out from magazines. I swear by this method: it’s a great way to experiment with your décor without making expensive or time-consuming mistakes.’ Despite decorating throughout, Rachel and Andrew retained the cottage’s light and spacious feel and clever layout – but put their stamp on the place with a totally different colour scheme. Though the family have since moved on to a new property, they’re proud of what they’ve achieved. ‘I know it’s not for everyone, but I just find rich colours and vibrant patterns soothing,’ says Rachel. ‘I feel enveloped by their warmth. I’m not sure what Grandma would have made of the décor, but she was delighted that we were moving in – and we made her house a home.’
Le and below The dining area is a bright, cheerful spot for meals. Rachel’s collection of vintage tea sets makes for a colourful display.
Right The sunny conservatory is a perfect playroom for Loie during the day and a warm sanctuary on a summer evening for Rachel and Andy.
Table, tripod lamp and stool, Habitat. Cake stand, Cath Kidston
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1 Emile terracotta vase, £42, Soho Home 2 Vase with line design and handle, £49.99, Zara 3 Large ceramic shell vase in peach, £22, Rose & Grey 4 Orange mid-century vase, £10, Habitat
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Make a show
Pick shapely vases to arrange flowers or let them stand alone on display
offcuts. The flooring is a different finish from the paler flooring laid elsewhere as it needed to be waterproof for the kitchen. Sink, tap and door handles, Ikea. Induction hob, Gorenje. Pendant light and vintagestyle clock and timer, Amazon
Contacts
Kitchen upcycling Love Restored, 01337 857935, loverestored.co.uk Flooring Barlinek, barlinek.co.uk Bathroom Victoria Plum, victoriaplum.com
MOC.SEMOHLAER
Clockwise from le Rachel called in local professionals Love Restored, a Fife company who specialise in upcycling dated fied kitchens, for this space. The resulting apple green units look as good as new. Andy installed the new worktop himself to save costs, and made the wooden shelves with the
Le Rachel kept the existing textured lining paper as a nostalgic period detail and painted it white. She also painted the side unit, which was bought by her grandmother in
the 1970s. Above, a display of art and mementos includes a banner she bought for Loie’s first birthday party, felt pieces from her workshops, and macramé made by Rachel.
Bright sparks Add a splash of colour to your room with these fun table lamps 1
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1 Art Deco canopy table lamp in Ochre Gold, £55, Rockett St George 2 Pastel pink glass lamp, £15, George Home 3 Ambience table lamp in Dusky Green, £275, Nest 4 Allie table lamp, £142, Pooky
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This image and le A sharp line of white caulk delineates between the two wall colours in the master bedroom, which were inspired by Frida Kahlo’s artwork. Rachel upcycled the headboard with a bright orange fabric.
Walls painted in Coral Flair, Dulux, and Provence, Annie Sloan. Light shades and cushion, Clarabella Christie. Side tables and chest of drawers, Ikea. Bedding, La Redoute. Dollimals artwork, Jayne Emerson
Suite, Victoria Plum. Subway tiles and floor tiles, Topps Tiles. Walls painted in Mint Macaron, Dulux. Mirrored cabinet, Ikea
Cot, John Lewis & Partners. Rug, Aldi. Side table, Ikea. Wooden chair and pom-pom string, Ebay. Cushion, Nikki McWilliams. Triangle wall stickers, The Lovely Wall Co. Chest of drawers, Maisons du Monde. Stag’s head, Kelsey Davis Design
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Le Rachel and Andy refied the bathroom, installing a bath with a shower above when there was just a shower before.
Clockwise from le Ice cream colours rule in Loie’s bedroom, with the walls painted in strawberry and vanilla shades. Rachel embroidered the ‘Dream Big Lile One’ sign on a white felt cloud.
Garden redesign
Chill-out zone
Tracey James and Paul Roye’s stylish garden has been cleverly designed with distinct spaces that work for the whole family
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arden design is a rich and complex world, with tastes ranging from charming cottage schemes to a paredback and minimalist aesthetic. Tracey James’ cool and considered space sits somewhere closer to the contemporary end of the scale, combining hard landscaping and structural elements with soothing natural grasses and water features. The original garden consisted of a patio, lawn, path and a tumbledown shed. ‘I wanted more interest, and a crisp, architectural feel,’ says Tracey. ‘As our grown-up children live at home, it was about creating a relaxing, low-maintenance, adult space for everyone.’ Acting on a recommendation, she and her partner, Paul, contacted Sakura Gardens to discuss ideas – and their breathtaking outdoor living room was born. Take the tour…
Profile
The owners Tracey James (@thestylegraduates), owner of handmade bag business Tracey James Design (@traceyjamesdesign), her partner, Paul Roye, and their three grown-up children The property A four-bed Victorian house in north London project cost £30,000 (including shed)
BEFORE
In the zone
The garden has three sections – the top patio, which is bathed in morning sunshine, the central seating area and the bottom deck with a water feature, and Tracey’s ‘she shed’ for her crafting activities. The movement of the sun, from the patio to the far end of the garden, helped dictate the new layout. The seating was placed centrally, where it would enjoy almost allday sunshine. Its linear design was carefully measured to give the illusion of regular, straight lines, as the garden is not quite a perfect rectangle.
Must-haves
‘Paul and I had ideas about the planting and other things we wanted, like the water feature,’ says Tracey. ‘Another must-have was a shed for me to keep my sewing machine and fabrics. Sakura’s designers pretty much hit the brief first time, with just a few small tweaks needed here and there.’ To help come up with concepts for the space, Tracey recommends setting up a Pinterest board and WhatsApp group, so everyone can share ideas and images.
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FINISHING TOUCHES
Carefully positioned furniture adds extra areas for relaxing and socialising across the garden. A round dining table near the house maximises room on the raised patio, while a hanging chair tucked away at the back offers a space for quiet contemplation. Tracey makes her own cushions, which add to the sense of a comfy outdoor room in the middle seating area. ‘In all, we spent £30,000 on the garden, including the shed,’ she says ‘The work was an investment, but it’s made the outdoor space much more usable and enjoyable, as well as improving the flow and the feeling of space in the ground floor of our house.’
PLANTING
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The structured seating – built into the concrete planting troughs to make it look like it’s floating – also contains the majority of the planting, which was chosen for its height, movement and structural shapes. ‘We’ve planted white flowers, like alliums and lilies, but it’s mostly about textures and greens,’ says Tracey. ‘I love the palms and grasses, especially the variegated and blue-toned ones.’
Tracey’s top three grasses MO C.SEMOHLAER
Switchgrass A stiff, upright grass that grows to about 1.5m in height, with bluegreen leaves that gradually turn yellow in autumn. Plant in clumps for maximum impact.
Japanese Forest grass A compact, easy-to-grow grass with eye-catching yellow leaves, striped with bright green. Cut it back in late winter to encourage new spring growth.
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Eulalia grass This bushy grass has narrow green leaves through spring and summer, and develops feathery, creamy-brown flower heads for autumn interest and texture.
NATURAL LOOK
The contemporary concrete troughs are softened with natural textures elsewhere in the garden. The water feature built into the deck at the end of the garden provides a soothing background sound, and a twiceyearly treatment with protective teak oil keeps the yellow balau hardwood looking smart and glossy. The lawn area also required thought. ‘We discussed using artificial grass, but I’m glad we went for the real thing,’ says Tracey. ‘It’s authentic and natural.’
shopping list Outdoor dining table, La Redoute. Yellow chairs, Vitra Panton S. Clear chairs, Cult Furniture. For a similar hanging chair, try Cox & Cox. Shed stained with Black Ash, Cuprinol. Cabinet and sofa, charity shop finds
Contacts
Garden design Sakura Gardens, sakuragardens.co.uk
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ADVERTOR IAL How to create a pallet sofa You’ll need n n n n n n n
Three FSC Certified wooden pallets, all of the same size* Harris Seriously Good Sanding Block (medium) Harris Seriously Good Shed and Fence Brush Harris Seriously Good Shed and Fence Paint Roller and Tray Your chosen paint colours Electric drill, brackets and screws Scaer cushions
What to do
Escape to your garden this summer S
1. Sand the pallets using the
Seriously Good 2” Flat Brush, £2.70, Harris
Paint your garden walls, fences, patio and decking for a stylish touch to your outside space ummer’s nearly here! And with it comes more opportunity to get out and enjoy the garden. Our outside spaces are being used as an extension to our living and dining rooms more than ever, with zones for lounging, cooking, eating or even watching movies on an outdoor screen. To add home comforts out in the garden, look at ‘decorating’ by painting wood fences, or updating brick and render with masonry paint. A splash of colour on surfaces can transform it into your very own escape at home – whether it’s a brilliant white for some Santorini style or warm terracotta and stencilled tiles for that Moroccan feel. It’ll also help to maintain and protect the walls, fences and terrace from exposure to weather. Finish off the space with some new furniture – you can make your own by repurposing pallets and making them into comfy seating.
Harris painting and decorating tools are available from DIY stores. For stockists go to harrisbrushes.com/stockists/ Find more information about Harris decking and exterior application and care products at harrisbrushes.com
Seriously Good Woodwork Shed & Fence Roller and Sleeve set, £6.81, Harris
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sanding block to remove any rough edges. Use sandpaper in between the gaps and side panels of hard-to-reach places. Continue until smooth. 2. Stir the paint and pour into the paint roller tray. Use the shed and fence paint roller to paint the pallets in an up and down motion. Use a brush for the corners and hardto-reach sections. Turn the pallet over when dry and paint the other side. It may take several coats to fully cover each pallet. 3. Make your base by stacking two of the painted pallets on top of each other to create a seat. Once you are happy with how this looks, screw them together using the brackets and electric drill. Place your third pallet behind the seat in an upright position to act as a back rest to the bench. Once in place, screw the pallet to the seat. 4. To complete your new seating, add cushions and cosy throws. Cover seating when not in use and store cushions indoors during winter. For more details, go to harrisbrushes.com/tip/ diy-pallet-bench/ *Find pallets at timber recycling establishments or local online market places.
Project of the month he past year has seen many of us desperate for more space in our homes, whether that’s for a work zone, makeshift gym, or simply an escape from the rest of the family. A loft conversion or extension could be the perfect solution, but have you considered adding a garden room? Building a den at the end of the garden can provide somewhere set apart from the rest of your house – a pretty tempting prospect if you
need more work-life separation or a hideaway for growing (read: noisy, messy) kids. It gives the opportunity to utilise all aspects of your outside space, and add more room without the expense and upheaval of moving or extending – and for a smaller price. If the idea of a garden escape appeals, read on to find out what to consider – and tour a multifunctional work, study and chill-out space that’s packed with inspiration.
SEE HOW THIS HOMEOWNER CREATED A STYLISH OUTDOOR RETREAT THAT CAN BE USED BY THE WHOLE FAMILY 115
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Want space for a home office, creative studio, workout area or chill-out zone? Here’s why a garden room could be the perfect solution for your needs
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GARDEN ROOMS
GLOSSARY PLANNING PERMISSION
A request made to the local council to carry out building works on your property or garden
PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT
Works that can be undertaken on a property or garden without needing to request planning permission
PARTY WALL
A shared wall, either internal or external, that separates two adjoining buildings or is built on the boundary line
TENDER
A process where you invite contractors to present you with their quotes for the works that you would like completed
BUILDING REGULATIONS
A set of standards to be adhered to when renovating or building a new property
PRE-FAB
Building with sections made largely off site and easy to transport; oen a cost-saving option that's quick to assemble
TOP TIP INTERIOR FINISHES Hardwearing floors such as tiles or wood rather than carpet will give you a practical, longlasting solution as you’re coming in from the garden. Plan in some storage, too, like Rodrigo's builtin bookcase, and a sofa. The rest of the space is flexible, changing with the needs of the family.
All encompassing Architect Rodrigo Moreno Masey wanted a flexible, multifunctional space that could be used by himself and his family as an extension of their home's living spaces ‘When I was designing the garden room, I began to consider the limitations of the traditional shed and how our changing lifestyles require an adaptable space that can be a blank canvas, with space to evolve allowing for multiple possibilities. ‘We simply wanted to create an “other space” for the house, an “everything space” that could serve many functions and adapt as we grew. It had to be beautiful to look at given its prominent position in the garden and it had to be very sustainable. Those were our starting points and we developed the design from there. ‘We took ideas borrowed from our travels as a family, playing with the concept of the shed as a garden building and then working out how to make it super energy efficient, simple and elegant. The build took around four months: the structure was up quite quickly, but the cladding and internals TOP TIP took a lile longer. I chose reclaimed GLAZE OVER timber cladding Thermally efficient glazing will to distinguish the make the space comfortable year building as being round, and it can help you improve the aesthetics, too. Consider the distinct from the orientation of the building to house. The silvered, ensure that any windows or doors aged-oak boards are are best placed for passive solar gain in the winter and to avoid overheating in the summer.
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laid with gaps to create a geometric paern, running over the entire form without interruption. ‘I decided to forgo guers, and the roof and walls are designed to blend seamlessly with no superfluous detail, meaning the scale and use remains ambiguous. The timber boards reveal a large opening to the main space and simultaneously conceal a door to the storage area. Inside, the electrics are simple, but we have hardwired internet, which is critical. The shed also includes a projector, which turns one whole wall into a screen. ‘My key piece of advice when designing a garden room is to consider that it will become your primary outlook from the house. These buildings can be quite imposing on a garden even when they’re discreet and tucked away. If you’re creating a view from the house, you need to make sure it’s beautiful. You shouldn’t underestimate how the shed will impact on it! ‘By bookending the garden between two functional living spaces, we have started to use not only the shed but the garden as well. Creating the building with an elevation that opens up fully to the garden means that with the kitchen open as well, the garden becomes another room. It’s no longer outside, but rather the outside between two spaces. We use it so differently now. The shed, of course, has created a space with real separation from the house, which means that at any time, one or all of us can escape or retreat to another room – and that is a wonderful luxury.'
TOP TIP KEEP IT SECURE Make your outbuilding safe by fiing a PIR light and home security system (if the contents are valuable – perhaps you work from home and have computer equipment inside) to pick up any movement. Smart systems that you can connect to via your phone are a flexible, easily installed option you can use on the move.
Pre-fab or bespoke? A modular garden room comes in kit form, with basic elements of customisation available, while a bespoke option will be designed to fit your space and built on site. With a modular outbuilding, you know what you're geing and for how much. Most firms that sell kits will offer add-ons, such as insulation, door and window options, for a somewhat tailored finish. You'll be limited in terms of size and shape, though. Many modular buildings are sold for DIY installation, which saves on costs. However, it is a job for an experienced DIYer. A bespoke design, whether your own or an architect's, will exactly meet your needs and the size and shape of your plot. It will also let you be bolder with materials and finishes. This is more of a job for a professional, which will affect the final cost.
TOP TIP POWER UP Many garden rooms are used as an office or even an entertaining space, and this means that you need to have electricity, enough sockets to charge and operate laptop computers and audio-visual systems, and access to decent Wi-Fi.
Costs & contacts
Project cost Approx £50,000 Architect Rodrigo Moreno Masey, 020 3142 6554, morenomasey.com Reclaimed oak boards E&A Reclamation, 028 2564 8850, eandareclamation.com Electric roller door Novoferm, 01582 563777, novoferm.co.uk
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TOP TIP STORE IT If you’re removing a shed and replacing it with a garden building, consider where all the equipment you acquired will be kept once that space is gone. Could you carve out some space in the building to store tools and garden furniture in the winter months? Or will you need to relocate everything to a garage or other outbuilding?
Focus on conservatories Adding a modern conservatory can be a good alternative to a garden room, especially if yours is a period home where the structure won’t look out of place and connects well to the garden. Contemporary versions now come with bi-folds, so you can open up the entire space up. Traditionally made from white uPVC, they can be built using aluminium, timber or composite – a combination of a timber inside and aluminium outside. Unless your home's listed or in a Conservation Area, adding a conservatory is usually classed as permied development. It can't be more than four metres high (three if within two metres of a boundary), nor take up more than half the garden, and the top point of the roof can’t be higher than the property's eaves. DIY kits are available and will cost around £3,000. For a professional service using uPVC, expect to pay from £10,000, with timber and aluminium versions costing upwards of £30,000.
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Bespoke conservatories start from around £40,000, David Salisbury
TOP TIP YEAR-ROUND USE Consider how the space will be heated or cooled. It’s not uncommon to add a log burner or electric underfloor heating to larger garden buildings, while smaller spaces warm up nicely with an efficient space heater. For comfort through winter, insulation and effective glazing are essential.
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Want to find out more? Read our full guide to garden rooms
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Including multiple points of lighting can highlight surfaces, dining spots, cupboard interiors or even floors. Chester Shaker kitchen in Forest Green, price on application, Wickes
DREAM KITCHEN 10 STEPS TO YOUR
If your old kitchen isn’t working for your family or your lifestyle, follow our guide and plan your perfect space
Out with the old
Before you bring in the new, first assess the old. Look at what doesn’t work in your existing kitchen. Are you struggling to find storage for items you use every day? Is your limited worktop space overwhelmed with appliances? Does poor lighting cast gloomy shadows where you’re trying to prepare food? Are you depressed by a view of a wall rather than looking out to your garden? Addressing the issues that frustrate you will help you decide exactly what you need in your dream kitchen.
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See our guide to extensions for your dream kitchen
Creating space
If your room is a cramped galley, dark or cut off from other areas, like the garden, making it bigger may be the only option. In a terraced house this could be through a side-extension, while in a semi or detached, there may be scope to add on to the rear. A less expensive solution might be to knock through to a lileused dining room for an open-plan scheme. Alternatively, you might consider changing rooms, so the one that’s used more enjoys the bigger space. Switching a living room with a kitchen, for instance, could result in a large family hub and a cosy space for adults to relax. A work surface free of the clutter of appliances means more space for cooking. Birch and oak ply kitchen with brass edge pull handles. Kitchens from £4,500, Plykea
Fit for purpose
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Decide what your kitchen will mean to you and your family, and put together a wish list of what you want to help achieve that. If you love cooking, you might need bigger prep areas on an island or peninsula, a double oven or a hob with extra cooking zones and a high performance extractor. If your children are always foraging for snacks, an Americanstyle fridge-freezer could bring joy to all. If you’re determined to entertain more (or end meals being eaten off laps in the living room), a breakfast bar, dining area and a handy wine fridge could keep the party going.
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Set your budget Deciding what you’re willing to spend will help you
Gain more space through permied development (PD) without needing to get planning permission. Find out your PD rights at realhomes.com
work out what you can afford on your wish list – with a contingency for the inevitable unexpected issues. You might choose to splash out on dream items while saving in other areas – a luxury quartz or marble worktop can look stunning on good but basic units. You could save thousands on designer kitchens buying ex-display from used kitchen companies, with top brand appliances oen thrown in. If your old units are still good, sell them or repurpose for a utility.
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Play with pattern for a splashback with impact. Shark Grey Herringbone encaustic cement tiles, £150.96 per m2, Otto Tiles & Design
Plan your layout
Tradespeople can work faster with a detailed plan to follow (cuing your time spent washing dishes in the bath and relying on microwaved meals!). Have your preferred kitchen shape in mind when first discussing with builders what’s achievable on your budget – then perhaps revise your ideas accordingly. Get inspiration from Pinterest or Instagram, book meetings with kitchen companies for quotes, use a kitchen visualiser and draw up more detailed plans before making your decision. At home, placing scale-sized pieces of paper or tape where you want your units can give you an idea of the physical space they’ll occupy and let you play around with configurations and proportions.
Alison’s top tip If you’re fiing a new quartz, marble or wood worktop, save the off cuts for future use. The cut outs for the sink and hob can make protective matching chopping boards while longer pieces could be used for shelving
A stylish worktop can make a real statement in a kitchen. Rotor Cloud marbleeffect premium solid surface, priced from £350 per m2, Staron
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Let there be light
Background details What makes your kitchen run are the things you
never really see – wiring for lighting and appliances, water pipes and gas pipes for cooking or heating. These have to be moved or added to before the plasterers and kitchen fiers come in. With more smart appliances in the kitchen, a makeover is the perfect opportunity for an upgrade. Look at sockets with USB ports for charging phones and tablets. Add extra sockets where needed: perhaps a baking, breakfast or coffee station, a WFH area or just somewhere to plug in your voice assistant. If you don’t like your sockets exposed, could they sink into islands or be hidden in cupboards? Make sure the Wi-Fi is boosted to this part of the house if needed.
TOP TIP If you’re having a kitchen delivered, clear enough room to store it before it’s fied, and set up a temporary kitchen and place to wash up in other rooms.
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In addition to whatever natural light you’ve gained through adding rooflights or windows, bi-fold or sliding doors to the garden, factor in multiple types of electric lighting. You can include overhead spotlights; task lighting over worktops, sinks and hobs; pendants hung low over dining tables and breakfast bars; LEDs beneath units to light up surfaces or floors; or display lights in cupboards. Plan in separate lighting circuits to operate the different types of light individually, and make some dimmable for ambience.
If you’re planning a dedicated station, make sure there are extra sockets for appliances. Linear larder unit; kitchens from £20,000, Harvey Jones
so you will need to turn up the heat, particularly if you’ve significantly increased the room size. Underfloor heating can offer warmth while leaving walls free for new cupboards or shelves. If you prefer radiators, vertical style can fit on narrow walls, making more space for runs of units. And don’t neglect new dining or living areas. If you want to encourage people to stay when dinner’s done, or if it’s doubling up as a work space, they’ll need to feel comfortable.
TOP TIP In a multipurpose space, create visual flow with complementary colours or materials, or continue some of the cabinetry to be used for storage or display units
Out of sight
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Finishing touches
SPLURGE ON…
Boiling water taps can cut out the noise of boiling keles in an open-plan space – and a filtered water option means fewer water boles in the fridge.
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4OUR square brushed copper & Apex 4-in-1 boiling water tap, £649, Intu
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The effect of cleaning influencers can be felt in the championing of moving the washing machine and tumble dryer out of the kitchen and into a separate utility. It helps keep your dirty laundry and cleaning clutter out of sight, frees up more room for units in the kitchen and cuts out the noise of the washing machine drum when you’re eating or talking. If the utility’s roomy enough, you could include a sink to clean everything you’d rather not wash in the kitchen – from muddy dogs to dirtcaked boots. Or it can house another freezer for your batch cooking overspill.
Kitchen companies often use visualisers to help you nail down your dream layout, unit styles and colours. Tribeca Pebble Shaker-style, from £2,752, Magnet
Once your kitchen is fied, you can work in the decoration that combines both practicality and looks. Flooring has to be hardwearing, easy to clean and waterproof – like luxury vinyl tile, engineered wood, quality laminate or contemporary poured concrete. Carry it through to the dining and living spaces, zoning the areas with rugs or tiling. Splashbacks are essential for protection, but can be a style statement with on-trend metallics, bright colours or shaped tiles. If you do tile, consider a sealant to coat them so any spills can be wiped off and they stay pristine.
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Keep it cosy No one wants to linger in a cold kitchen-diner
NEWS PROJECT
The latest ideas, trends and essential buys for your kitchen, bathroom and renovation
Warm welcome
HANDY HELPERS
If gardens are our extra living rooms, why not have a fireplace to relax by? Schiedel’s Isokern garden stove has a lining of pumice, from Iceland’s Hekia volcano. It heats up quickly, but the outside isn’t hot to touch so can be placed safely next to fences. Prices start at £1,108, Garden Fireplace
Get your daily steps in while you prep your meals with a cordless chopper, hand mixer and blender, now available in Smokey Matte Grey and Sweet Almond Cream colours. KitchenAid’s cordless collection is rechargeable with no tether to the socket to drag over hobs or through ingredients. Prices start from £129.
Roll call
Orla Kiely Trio Stem roller blind in Persimmon, from £25.59, Terrys
Splash safely
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Bathtime play with an aquarium’s worth of aquatic toys can leave more water on the floor than is left in the tub. Quick-Step’s fully waterproof vinyl has a watertight click system to stop any seeping through to floor joints beneath. It’s tough but looks soft, with the vinyl imitating a smooth light oak for a warm, natural feel. Cotton Oak Beige, from £39.99 per m2, Quick-Step
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Perk up your day with a bathroom blind that brings some fun floral freshness. Orla Kiely’s familiar nature-inspired paerns are now brightening up roller blinds in material durable enough to withstand the steamy atmosphere of your bath or shower room. There’s a blackout option if you prefer it dark until you’ve inhaled your morning brew.
On the shelf If your love of outside living is taking over your terrace, weatherproof shelving could decluer your space while showing off plenty of lush greenery. The iconic String system is taking it outside this summer with freestanding shelves made from galvanised metal. It can ‘mend itself’ should rust occur, so it stays looking sleek and contemporary. Use it to display plants, grow herbs or store gardening tools and barbecue utensils. The system starts from £60, String Furniture
Double benefit
After waging war on bacteria last year, our sensitivity to the importance of hygiene remains heightened. We want products that’ll help our homes feel squeaky clean. Caple is meeting this demand with its Chepstow 2 ceramic sink, which has a glazed finish that protects against bacteria. It has two bowls, one suitable for waste disposal, and you can pick your basket waste colour to suit your décor. Chepstow 2 sit-on sink, £353, Caple
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A paint that guarantees it only needs one coat is a gi from the DIY gods. Step forward Dulux, who says its extra thick Simply Refresh range means it takes just that – or your money back. Simply Refresh One Coat, £39.18 for 2.5ltrs
Perfect pairing The successful
combination of yellow and grey (Pantone’s Colours of the Year) could be a metaphor for 2021. A glimmer of brightness through the grey, it’s like sunshine after a rainy day. Second Nature’s Unity kitchen combines the calm neutral with a joyful hint of colour at the edges. Sleek, modern and a little bit playful, we love it.
SPACE TO WORK
Ben Berry, founder of The StudyBed (studybed.co.uk), on how furniture can help maintain work/life balance
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has lockdown altered working lives forever? The lines drawn between home and work have become considerably blurred. While many have been desperate to return to their familiar work life of commuting, socialising, and just getting out of the house, others love the increased efficiency in time and money, the relaxed dress code, and being able to juggle a wash cycle with Zoom calls and sorting the kids’ needs.
The Unity range in Dust Grey ma with Multiplex edging and Dekton Ultra Compact Korus work surface, from £10,000, Second Nature
Q All on board
Take pleasure in the lile things and enliven everyday meals by presenting food with a flourish. Habitat’s utilitarian-style two-tier collapsible serving board, £16, is a happy marriage between cake stand and grazing board that’s inspired by street food stall displays. Dig in!
DARK DRAMA
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What should we look to buy in the future? Key design criteria for successful MPF are speed and simplicity of transformation. If you wish to turn a spare room into an office without losing the bed, the StudyBed provides a desk, storage and bed in the same footprint. The bed can be pulled down in seconds without disturbing what’s on the worktop. Another good example is Next’s Bronx desk. Ostensibly a sideboard that merges elegantly with your lounge furniture, it extends to provide a desk and storage.
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Are they worth the extra expense? Well-designed and constructed items of MPF require investment, but they can create advantages beyond the space they occupy. The whole house becomes a home once more and the workplace is hidden and contained within it.
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The popularity of black is enduring (just ask Coco Chanel) – timeless, in vogue and goes with everything. Nuie’s new black bathroom products work with classic white, yet when paired with so pastels, they really pop, bringing an industrial edge and a different but complementary energy. Prices start from £170 for the Windon basin mixer in ma black
How can our homes cater to the changes? The drive towards working from home (WFH) inevitably impacted on the use of space within it. The past year saw a proliferation of clever multipurpose furniture (MPF) that facilitates WFH while not otherwise impacting on the domestic living space. The goal is to get close to that perfect life/ work balance without one activity dominating the other. Without the luxury of a separate home office, the next best option is MPF that optimises the use of existing space by serving dual functions.
kitchen extension
To move or improve?
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Kier and Paul Rhodes spent months searching for a bigger house – until they realised the answer was right there in front of them
here’s always a question to be faced if you find yourself in a home that is no longer fit for purpose – should you move or improve? A house move might seem like the most obvious solution if you’ve outgrown your current property, but making changes to the one you’re in – whether that’s a loft conversion, rear extension or an ambitious two-storey addition – could save you time and money. That was certainly the case for Kier and Paul Rhodes. While their three-bedroom home felt more than big enough at first, when sons Harry and Jacob came along, the space seemed to shrink and the house no longer met their needs. The family were all set to move, but eventually decided to make a project of their current property instead. The addition of a wrap-around extension has given them a spacious open plan livingkitchen, two more bedrooms and another bathroom. We spoke to Kier to find out how they did it. BEFORE
A large patio becomes an outdoor room in the summer to make the most of the south-facing garden. By extending to the rear and side of the house, the Rhodes increased the living space by almost a third. Garden table, The Table Guy. Sofa, Keler. Pot plants, Walkers Nurseries
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The light, open-plan kitchendining-living space is where the Rhodes family spend most of their time. ‘The original layout of the house was quite clumsy,’ says Kier. ‘The extension and redesign has totally transformed it.’ Kitchen units, Häcker, supplied by Taylorscot Kitchens. Floor, Stokes Tiles. Stools, Coach House. Stag’s head, antique shop find. Frames, Ikea. Prints, custom made by Love My Print
There is plenty of seating for Kier, Paul and the boys to sit, eat and work together in the new space. Light fiings over island, Ebay. Tap, Quooker. Walls painted in All White, Farrow & Ball. Sofa, Sofology. Throw, Cotswold Company. For a similar table, try the Bayron, Made
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TOTAL REDESIGN
DISASTER STRIKES
‘We’d been planning an extension for eight years, but we couldn’t face the prospect of all the upheaval while the children were so young, so we decided to look for a bigger house instead,’ says Kier. ‘We liked the area and didn’t want to leave so we searched the surrounding villages. Unfortunately everything we saw was overlooked with a small garden. ‘In the end, we came full circle. We agreed to save the unnecessary expense of moving into a new house and decided to go ahead and extend instead. We’d moved here from a small house round the corner, which we rent out, so we had somewhere to stay while the major building work was being done. It just made a lot of sense.’
‘We realised that if we extended and redesigned the layout, we could have the house we were looking for. The kitchen is south-west facing with a private garden, so we wanted to make that the focal point of the house. With the help of John Mason of Ink Architectural, we drew up a wish list of everything we wanted from our new-look home, including a large living-kitchen leading directly onto a deep patio and the garden, and an entrance hall that linked directly to the kitchen so we no longer had to walk through the sitting room to get to the back of the house. We also wanted to create a utility and a homely office space directly off the kitchen.’
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‘Building work began in September 2017, then stopped at the end of October until we were able to move back into our old house while the rear wall was demolished. ‘What should have been a short stay became a catalogue of disasters. We had heavy snowfall thanks to the Beast from the East. A pipe burst in our en suite, which led to water gushing down the stairs like Niagara Falls. It drenched the bedroom floor to such an extent the ceiling came down in the hall. Water leaked into our sitting room below, where our furniture was stored. It was a disaster! I was so disheartened I could’ve happily walked away from it at that point, but we had no choice.’
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The owners Kier Rhodes, a regional optical manager (@therhodeshome_), her husband, Paul, who owns a travel business, their sons, Harry, 10, and Jacob, seven, and their beagle, Snoopy The property A five bedroom 1990s detached house near Doncaster project cost £150,000
Kier and Paul chose glass-fronted wall cupboards and an integrated fridge to break up the units and make sure the kitchen area was practical without being clinical. Worktops, Dekton. Fridge, Liebherr. Oven, steam oven and coffee machine, Bosch
The redesigned kitchen area includes a utility and an office space tucked into the corner. Bi-fold doors with windows above draw masses of light into the multipurpose room. Bi-fold doors, Integra Window Systems
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The best bit? ‘It’s a brilliant space for family chill-outs and entertaining.’
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Favourite feature ‘The open shelves for displaying accessories. They make it look more of a living space.’ Chinese money plant, £18, in small white line pot, £15, Leaf Envy
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Who cooks? ‘Paul does it all. He loves the fact that he can use the hob and still be looking out into the garden. It’s a really sociable way to cook.’
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Favourite design item? ‘The Talla lights over the table – they make a statement.’ Voronoi I pendant light in Graphite, from £100, Tala
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What we’d change ‘The dining table is a bit too big and heavy for the room – but that’s a project for another year.’
BACK ON TRACK
FINISHING TOUCHES
‘After the delays to the build were sorted, things started to improve quite quickly. The tarpaulin at the back of the house was replaced by a wall and bi-fold doors, and the interior finishes were completed, along with the tiled floor. We moved back into a bare house with an empty kitchen – just a tea-making station and fridge in the living area. ‘We then went on holiday and left Paul’s parents to oversee the fitting of the new kitchen. It was very surreal to return to find it finished. The extension was so big it was more like a dance hall. It wasn’t until the new furniture was delivered and we unpacked things that been stored away for months that it felt like our home again.’
‘There are still some final touches to be done, but we have no regrets. The bi-fold doors across the width of the kitchen extension creates a direct link between inside and outside, so whatever the weather we still feel as though the garden is part of the house, instead of something completely separate. The kitchen extension is so multifunctional we spend most of our time as a family in here. Paul does all the cooking, so he can be in the kitchen area while the boys are doing homework or playing games and I’m catching up with a bit of work, all in the same space. It’s so much better than before. It was stressful at times during the build, but definitely worth it in the end.’
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Costs & contacts
Building work £97,000 Kitchen units and appliances £25,000 Glazing £15,000 Flooring £4,000 Decorating £4,000 Furniture £2,500 Fees £2,500
Design Ink Architectural Design, 07717 783828, inkarchitecture.co.uk Bi-fold doors Integra Window Systems, 01623 616645, integrawindows.co.uk Kitchen Taylorscot Kitchens, 07738 446108, taylorscot.co.uk Flooring Stokes Tiles, 0114 2512680, stokestiles.co.uk
LET’S TALK…
Galley kitchens
Compact, sleek and functional, this humble kitchen layout is often overlooked and underloved. Here’s how to maximise yours for a space that’s bright and breathable
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he rise of the kitchen island occupying the centre of the space has le the simple galleystyle layout in the shadows. It’s safe to say these kitchens have got themselves a bit of a bad rep of late – but the fact is that when it comes to cooking, a galley is one of the most practical layouts. Way back when our kitchens
were solely for whipping up culinary delights, this style meant that, in small spaces, everything you needed could be accessed within arm’s reach. This is why the galley is the preferred layout for professional kitchens – they’re just so efficient and easy to use. Adorning many a Victorian terraced house, with their long and slim shape suiting the
spaces perfectly, many new renovators are quick to extend and reposition. But we’re about to show you that this isn’t the only option. With trick-of-the-eye design tips, layout ideas and decorating know-how, galley kitchens can be spacious and airy, too. So let’s give them the spotlight they deserve, and you could save yourself a small fortune.
Did you know? Galley kitchens are named aer the narrow kitchens on ships
On the down-low Enhance the width of narrow galley kitchens by ditching wall cabinets altogether. This opens up the space to make it feel bigger and more airy. Handleless units are ideal for a sleek and streamlined appearance and they take up less physical space, too. Continue your flooring into the dining area to unite the two spaces and create a coherent openplan scheme. Milano Ultra Camel and Bianco kitchen, £3,372, Wren
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Tactile textures While loud prints and vibrant colours can enhance the closed-in feel of a galley kitchen, you can add interest and personality with texture. This brick-effect wall, wooden flooring and leather handles bring an earthy, nature-inspired look to the space. Dark cabinets work well with the cleverly positioned rooflight overhead, ensuring the space is always flooded with natural light. For a similar kitchen, try Plykea
Go for asymmetry Throw the galley kitchen rule book out the window and give each wall two distinct purposes – one for storage and one for décor and seating. Max out on storage space by installing floor-to-ceiling cabinets along the length of one of your walls. Embed built-in appliances into your design for a clean and streamlined look. Along the other wall, go for open shelving to display treasured items to admire while washing up. We love the positioning of these pendant lights, too, bringing a calm ambiance to the space. The Arcos Supermat collection, from £10,000, Schmidt
TOP TIP Introduce the classic working triangle by ensuring your sink, fridge and oven are positioned to make a triangular shape. This will make your space easy to use
Perfect perch You don’t necessarily need an open-plan layout to be able to help the kids with their homework while you’re cooking. Designate a breakfast bar in your space, and choose stools that you can hide away beneath the counter when not in use. Position your seating area near to the window so you can appreciate the natural light and avoid becoming an obstacle for the resident chef! GoodHome Balsamita ma white slab high line cabinet door, from £19 each, B&Q
TOP TIP If your galley kitchen is closed off with only one entrance, use a different colour at the far end of your space to draw the eye and make your room feel longer
Corridor control Unlike other kitchen layouts, galley kitchens, by the very nature of their shape, oen take on the task of not one but two key functions: kitchen and corridor. They act as the hub of the home while playing the part of a hallway – a space you need to pass through just to get somewhere else – and so both of these uses should be kept in mind when planning your layout and décor. If your kitchen leads to the garden, dining area or even a downstairs bathroom, chances are they’ll receive a heavy amount of footfall, so you need to ensure your flooring is hardy and durable. Ceramic floors tiles, for example, are a no-go as they could crack easily when the kids bound in from playing outside. Wooden floors or high quality vinyl tiles should stand up to the task. It’s also a balancing act between storage and living space; having to move out the way when someone wants to pass through is not ideal.
Detail underfoot More oen than not, flooring space is limited in galley kitchens, meaning they’re the perfect place to go bold and experimental. With just a simple narrow strip, you can test the waters with statement designs – whether it’s ornate Victorian style tiles, statement geometric prints, ditsy florals or even simple vinyl in one look-at-me block colour. These swirly tiles tie in perfectly with the blue cabinets, and bring a soer feel to the contemporary space. Lay your flooring last to ensure you only use (and pay for) tiles that are on show. Limehouse kitchen in Blakeney Blue, from £8,000, Neptune
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Shaker maker You can’t go wrong with a modern heritage-style Shaker kitchen, and they bring character and depth to a simple galley layout. This pale blue is crisp and refreshing, with raw wood finishes to warm up the scheme. Placing your sink opposite your hob is a popular layout choice, as it means you won’t have to carry hot food too far around the space. If you can’t afford to lose your wall-hung storage cabinets, units with glass doors give the same amount of storage but with open and reflective qualities. Fairford blue kitchen, price upon application, Howdens
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Head here for more galley kitchen inspiration
TOP TIP Always consider your galley kitchen’s décor in relation to its adjoining rooms. Create a seamless flow by uniting colours and styles throughout your space
Enhance space
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Colour confidence A clever trick for enlarging a room is to draw the eye upwards, and what beer way to do this than with a burst of colour? Painting the top section of your walls in a statement shade will create the illusion of higher ceilings for a more breathable space, no maer how small your square footage. If you’re looking to display artwork and recipe books, picture shelves are a great alternative to regular shelves as they’re more compact. Kitchen units, worktop and display shelves, Ikea. For a similar paint colour, try Granada Green 2, Dulux
Your galley kitchen may not be the biggest of rooms, but there are so many niy tips and tricks to use, and items you can buy, to make the most of every inch of it. From extra storage shelves for your cupboards, which can double your useable space, to racks that you can hang on the inside of your doors, and drawers within drawers to keep things organised, it’s time to start seeing your kitchen as a base to build upon as you see fit. You can free up countertop space by swapping your kele for a two-in-one boiling water tap, and choose a sink with a detachable worktop, which can become valuable extra chopping space when not in use.
COMING NEXT MONTH in your new
SEIZNEM MLOCLAM HPARGOTOHP
Inspiring home transformations packed with ideas to steal 10 steps to your dream bathroom Easy updates, design advice and the hottest new pieces for your outdoor space Plus! Style tips, latest trends and buying guides
On sale 27 May
A GUIDE TO
Sliding doors
Create that coveted indoor-outdoor link and complement your new extension or renovation with one of these stylish designs SNOISNETXE/MOC.SEMOHLAER TISIV ,SAEDI NOISNETXE DEZALG ROF
Sliding patio doors, from £4,000 for uPVC and £6,700 for aluminium, both including VAT, installation and 10year warranty, SEH
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Sliding doors, like their cousins, bi-fold doors, are great for creating an opening to allow pets, kids or guests to spill out onto the patio or decking from your open-plan kitchen or living space. While bi-fold doors fold back completely for a wider opening, the frames are more visible when closed than sliding doors; the latter have large, unobtrusive glass panels but
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only open part way – unless you employ a fancy pocketstyle contraption (which will cost more money). Ultimately, it comes down to what matters to you: a wider opening or an uninterrupted view. Think sliding doors are for you? Here are some of our favourite designs to inspire you.
SE M O H L A E R O S #
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he most romanticised part of any extension is the prospect of opening up your new space to the garden, letting the sunlight flood in and creating a seamless flow between indoors and out. But how to get this? If minimal sightlines and a contemporary look are what you’re after, sliding doors could be the option for you.
Bespoke sliding systems, from around £1,000 per m2, IQ Glass
Going bespoke How do you know if you need a bespoke design? For most people, the standard off-the-shelf offerings from sliding door companies will be perfect for their needs, but if you have a larger opening – more than around five metres – or want height exceeding around 2.4 metres, you may need to look at a bespoke option.
Le Pictured project includes two-pane and three-pane sliding doors. Installation of sliding doors starts at around £18,000 plus VAT, Schüco
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XP Glide sliding doors, from £4,200, Express Bi-folding Doors
Futura+ sliding door, price on application, Idealcombi
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Need to know
Q
What does it cost? Budget from around £600 per square metre – though costs vary depending on size and materials (see below).
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Do I need planning permission? Not usually, unless you live in a flat, a listed building, a Conservation Area or other designated area.
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What materials are on offer? TIMBER sliding doors are a good option for traditional properties, but do require maintenance. COMPOSITES are a good alternative to timber doors, offering a wood-finish interior and a durable, weatherproof aluminium exterior. METAL FRAMES, like aluminium, are durable, low-maintenance and strong, and offer a modern finish to most builds. They can come in a range of colours and are good for minimal sightlines. UPVC is a good budget option if you’re looking to make a saving, but can look odd in older properties.
Choose your design
Above Triple sliding doors, price on application, Maxlight. Part of a project by Robert Rhodes Architecture & Interiors
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Most standard sliding doors operate on a sliding system design, where one panel slides behind the other to create a part-opening. However, if you want a full opening but don't like bi-folds, consider a pocket sliding system, where the panels slide into a recess in the wall. They're useful for corners, too.
Kaitlin's top tip One of the biggest benefits of sliding doors is the seamless link it creates between indoors and out. Creating a level threshold is crucial for comfortable use, but make sure you incorporate drainage facilities into your design to keep water out.
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Right OS-44 patio sliding doors, from £3,500 plus VAT, Origin
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Above theEDGE2.0 sliding door, from £2,200 (ex VAT) per m width incl. installation, IDSystems
Get more advice and inspiration for sliding and bi-fold doors
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FOCUS ON
Timber cladding Update your aesthetic by covering your home in wood or wood-effect cladding to add kerb appeal, highlight a new extension or create contrast between levels
Best for less waste ▼ Nothing goes to waste in Hyperion’s composite cladding. It is 60 per cent wood reclaimed from manufacturing, mixed with recycled high density polyethylene. Saved from landfill, and given a hint of tint, the cladding offers a low-maintenance and longlasting decorative touch for this Green Retreats garden room. £33.30 per board or £55.50 per square metre, Envirobuild
Best for aesthetics The Japanese art of Yakisugi, or Shou Sugi Ban, translates to ‘burnt cedar board’. This traditional technique of charring, cooling and sealing the surface results in a strong wood with a textured carbonised finish, resistant to weather, fire (yes, really) and insects. Price on application, Carbon by Design Best for a designer touch Cedar has been an enduringly popular material for cladding, But new ways of using it can give it a thoroughly on-trend twist. Here, batons made from coastalgrown Canadian Cedar are laid in a diagonal open-jointed paern to give depth and colour, creating a pleasing contrast with the new extension below. Western Red Cedar baens, 19x38mm, from £1.79 per m, Silva Timber
the design you want, the benefits Three TOP TIPS Tothefindmaterials offer and the upkeep required Styles of cladding The most typical styles are tongue and groove, where a tongue of wood slips into a V-groove in its neighbour; shiplap, which has a curve leading up to the tongue; and feather-edged, where the boards are overlapped by the board above. Alternative designs are shadow gap, with an indent between boards, and rainscreen, with an open joint and strong shadow lines.
Insulation advantages Wood contains pockets of air so is a natural insulator – superior to masonry, steel or aluminium – keeping the building it covers warm. It can act as a barrier to reduce noise as well, useful in homes on busy roads (or with noisy neighbours). Composite cladding is also an effective insulator. Wood-look fibre cement cladding can disguise insulating material.
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Keeping up appearances Cladding is long-lasting, but may need maintenance depending on the material. Timber should have a UV and water-resistant protective coating. Wood can be freshened with a clear specialist oil every few years. Semi-transparent stains can shield the wood and show off its character. Cladding paint or opaque stains will protect but cover the grain.
Best for recycled materials There’s a lot of bole in Composite Prime’s wood-effect cladding: some 280 plastic boles per square metre or more than 3000 plastic caps. They’re blended with FSC timber to reappear as planklike cladding and give the natural look of wood to a façade. The wood grain composite cladding costs £35.82 a length plus VAT, or £75 per square metre
CLAD ALL OVER Thomas Goodman, property/construction expert from MyJobQuote (myjobquote.co.uk), reveals what cladding to choose
Q Best for durability The magic ingredient for turning a sowood into a hardwood is alcohol – but the type you’re more likely to find in a barn than a bar. In the case of Kebony wood, furfuryl alcohol – an agricultural by-product – is used to heat non-durable timber or pine, so it takes on a permanent hardness. Developed in Norway, Kebony gradually acquires a silver-grey patina for subtle and enduring style. From £60 per square metre Best for affordability Capture the classic clapboard look with cladding that has the beauty of wood, but is a fibre cement that is eco-friendly, easy to maintain and rot proof. Cedral Lap planks can overlap horizontally or vertically while Cedral Click comes in flushfiing tongue and groove. Available in a selection of shades or woodstain finishes, Cedral cladding costs from £35 per square metre
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What types are there? OAK A hardwood, oak comes in a range of colours. It is readily available, but it can be fairly expensive at around £25 per square metre – although you’re paying for the privilege of minimal maintenance. With a moisture content of around 15-20 per cent, its level of structural stability is high. LARCH A softwood often used by self-builders. Colours range from soft ambers to golden browns. It lasts for around 30 to 35 years if kiln-dried, with a moisture content of up to 18 per cent. You can also paint it or apply stain. It normally costs around £15 per square metre, depending on the wood’s quality. CEDAR High-quality cedar wood is rot-resistant, offering savings on repairs or even replacement. Red cedar wood is commonly used for its durability and workability. It can also be painted or stained to enhance its appearance. Expect to pay from £20 per square metre. COMPOSITE Often made up of recycled wood and plastic, making it long-lasting and robust. It has the beautiful look of timber for as little as £10 per square metre.
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How much would it cost to clad a house? Cost will vary depending on your home’s size and type of cladding. Timber cladding on a bungalow might cost around £2,400, while for a two-storey home it could be priced up to £6,500. It’s not a typical DIY job as it’s complex, requires extreme accuracy, and may need scaffolding for a house.
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Best for modern style For contemporary style, large format cladding can give a smooth look. These Neolith slabs are made of Sintered Stone, a manmade, all-natural material which can imitate the grained appearance of wood while being more durable. Stain, scratch and waterproof, it is ultra-hygienic and produced in a carbon neutral environment. There are three wood-like colours to choose from. Summer Dala, price on application, Neolith
Why might you clad your house? The main purpose is to protect property walls from harsh weather and extensive moisture. Cladding can be integrated with insulation to improve heat retention and stop draughts and damp. It can also improve the outside look of a home, giving it a more modern feel.
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Bread makers
Is there anything better than the smell of freshly baked bread? Take some time out to bake your own and get it right every time with these key models COOK’S CORNER
Lakeland’s mini baguette recipe You’ll need
Judge digital bread maker, £130, Horwood
Morphy Richards 48281 bread maker, £75, ao.com
Tower digital bread maker, £99.99, Amazon
Homebake bread maker, £99.99, Morphy Richards
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What to do
1. Remove the pan from your bread machine and check the paddle is fied. Fit the pan into the bread machine, add the water, oil, salt, flour, sugar and then yeast, close the lid and select the dough programme. 2. At the end of the programme, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and remove the kneading paddle. Divide the dough into four equal portions and shape into baguees to fit in the pans on the bread machine’s mini baguee rack. Score the tops of the baguees and brush with the beaten egg. 3. Fit the pans onto the rack, place the rack into the bread machine, select the bake programme and choose your crust colour. 4. At the end of the programme, remove the rack from the bread maker and place the baguees on a rack to cool. TOP TIP: These baguees are best eaten fresh on the day they’re made.
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Touchscreen bread maker, £129.99, Lakeland
170ml warm water 1½ tsp oil ½ tsp salt 300g strong white bread flour 1½ tsp caster sugar ½ tsp easy-blend yeast 1 egg, beaten
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Russell Hobbs compact bread maker, £60, Dunelm
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Vanity units
Save space, keep tidy and create a sleek look with our edit of the best wall-hung designs 2
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1 Austin grey wall-hung vanity unit with marble top and oval basin, £274.99, Bathroom Mountain 2 Shoreditch ma blue wall-hung vanity unit and Carrara worktop, £709, Brion 3 Roseberry wall-hung double vanity unit in Rose Quartz, £445, Utopia 4 Rak-Joy open shelf vanity unit, from £595, Rak Ceramics 5 Haywood gloss white wall-hung vanity unit and basin, £219.95, Victorian Plumbing 6 Jacob teak vanity unit, £429, Tikamoon 7 Manhaan vanity unit in Fjord green gloss, from £759, Mereway Bathrooms 8 Mode Burton white and oak wall-hung double vanity unit and basins, £449, Victoria Plum
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Pressure washers Clean up outside and blast the grime from your patio, decking or garden furniture with a high-powered pressure washer REVIEW CORNER
Universal Aquatak 135 high-pressure hose with 3-in-1 nozzle, £179.99, Bosch
RE 100 lightweight compact highpressure washer, £210, Stihl
Best pressure washer Real Homes tested powerful outside cleaners and picked the lightweight Karcher K2 Premium Full Control pressure washer (with accessories), as the overall favourite.
Ryobi RPW120B pressure washer, 1800 W, £109.99, Amazon
K5 Premium Smart control home pressure washer with Bluetooth, £479.99, Karcher
Max. pressure: 110 bar Hose length: 6m Weight: 4.6kg RRP: £139.99 ●
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Mac Allister MPWP1800-3 1.8kW corded pressure washer, £110, B&Q
2200W pressure washer with autostop function, £144.99, VonHaus
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REASONS TO BUY Delivers detergent straight from the washer ● Easy to use and control
REASONS TO AVOID Hose may be hard to fit ● Possibility of water leaking ●
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SPECIFICATIONS Best for: An excellent all-rounder for power washing dirt off everything from decking and paving to cars and caravans. Its full control system tells you which pressure to use. There are four seings – from the lowest, for applying detergent, to the hardest, a narrow, targeted spray.
sunday project Stuck for ideas this weekend? Get your DIY fix and delve right in with our quick and easy ways to update your home for less
Reed the room
Gold handle, Plank Hardware at Etsy. Wallpaper, Jupiter 10. Panelling painted in Dusky Blush, Frenchic. Arissa tap, Better Bathrooms
The trend for reeded finishes is very ‘now’ and we at Real Homes are avid fans of this cleverly undulating look that instantly adds texture and interest. So when we spoed this bathroom cabinet upgrade, we simply had to know more. This cloakroom makeover is the work of Ola Zwolenik (@thistimeincolour) and started with a white gloss under-sink unit. Inspired by projects she’d seen on Instagram, Ola armed herself with dowels and some leover paint and began the transformation. The finished result is just lovely, and uses original fixtures and a budgetsavvy shopping list, too. Here’s how she did it – and if you’d like to see a quick tutorial, head to her Reels.
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Zinsser BIN primer Pine half dowel moulding, 2.4mx6mmx21mm Saw Sand paper No More Nails glue Paint Door handle
What to do
1. Remove your cabinet door. 2. Prime the gloss door front
and cabinet sides. the edges for a smooth finish. 4. Apply No More Nails glue to the flat side of each dowel and press onto the door. 5. Allow to dry fully and paint; Ola used Farrow & Ball’s Exterior eggshell in Off Black. 6. Add a stylish new handle to complete the look. 3. Cut dowels to size and sand
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