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WIN! KITCHENAID GADGETS, PROTEK PAINT + CRICUT BUNDLE yourhomestyle.uk

AMPARIZCINE G Good-for-you feasts that are packed with flavour!

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Decorating special!

HUNDREDS OF GREAT-VALUE IDEAS FOR EVERY ROOM

DECORATING SPECIAL 2021

STYLISH BUYS

&IN TIME bright ideas FOR SUMMER Y

LOVHES

Step up your skills with our fun-filled crafts

HOW TO!

] Restore flooring

(and save ££s)

] Design a dreamy

country kitchen

Transform your outdoor space for sunny days

SL OF E Z I R P TA O T A H T WOR

£6,1O8N1 TO BE

W

S ME HO DER REA FULL OF GORGEOUS LOOKS

] Create your own

gallery wall

] Mix and match

on-trend patterns

g! atin dec get s Let’ 3 Weekend DIY! Speedy projects for all budgets 3 Top 40 tricks from our reader homes 3 The pro painting tools you need 3 Real-life room makeovers 3 Sparkling bathroom updates

Value pack copy, not for individual resale

Whether you’re looking to transform your place with a whole new look, or just to freshen up with some instant updates, you’ve picked the right mag, as it’s the annual Your Home Decorating Special!

We know it can be hard to fit projects in around your 9-to5, so we’ve pulled together 17 DIY updates for weekend decorating on page 38. There are quick wins for every budget and taste, plus, keep reading for our guide to creating a gallery wall – with a few prints, photos and even pretty postcards, you can make a whole new focal point no time (page 44).

I firmly believe that Your Home readers are the savviest, most stylish DIYers out there, so this month we take a look back to your best-ever décor tips and tricks, with real-life homeowners revealing how they achieved their stunning results.

Turn to page 82 for all their steal-worthy ideas.

If you are looking for ways to make the most of your garden, then you’ll find advice to help you answer the age-old question: ‘patio, or deck?’ on page 106, and discover easy ways to give your garden a decorative flourish from page 115.

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Welcome

EDITOR’S LETTER oceD

Look out foe rsuthreisyou logo to makiss a single don’t m ng idea! decorati

44

Make a feature of your walls with affordable art finds

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE Subscribe for yourself or a loved one and save 25% on the shop price!

See page 36 for details.

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Steal the best-ever ideas from our reader homes

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Ad Co-ordinator Bryony Grace Senior Ad Designers Andrew Hobson, Cee Pike Editor Mel Sherwood Features Editor Michelle Grady Production Editor Marketing & Production: Subscriptions Director Jacky Perales-Morris Direct Thomas Poad Staff Writer Sophie Demetriades Editorial Assistant Ella Marketing Assistant Gemma Balding Director of Licensing and Syndication Rhys-Jones Art Editor Tricia Ball Designer Beth Charlton Lucas Digital Editor Tim Hudson Syndication Manager Richard Bentley Production Director Sarah Rebecca Messina Digital Writer Thea Jeffreys Powell Junior Production Co-ordinator Georgia Tolley PR Manager Toby Hicks Advertising: Group Advertising Manager Laura Jones Advertising Manager Heather Golden Business Development Manager Sophie North Publishing: Managing Director Marie Davies Promotions and Partnerships Brand Sales Executives James Beckett, Olivia King, Phil Wallington Classified Manager Rosa Sherwood Group Managing Director Andy Marshall CEO Tom Bureau Sales Executive Alex Armstrong Contact Your Home at Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4ST General Enquiries Tel 0117 927 9009 You can email the magazine at yourhome@immediate.co.uk For subscriptions: yourhome@buysubscriptions.com UK: 03301 358962 Overseas: +44(0)1604 973748 © Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, 2021, member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Unsolicited manuscripts and transparencies are accepted on the understanding that the publisher incurs no liability for their storage or return. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced without permission. All prices are correct at the time of going to press. The publisher, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services which may be advertised or referred to in this issue or for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any such advertisements or references. Your Home is published by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST, UK. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue.

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

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Contents 100

38

Enjoy the taste of summer with these fresh recipes

All the ideas you need to transform your home in a flash!

50

How to create the country kitchen of your dreams

106

Patio or decking? We’re here to help you decide

Decorate at home

6 This month we love Discover our Instagram inspirations and our favourite books and shelfie buys

6

9 Household hints Transform a tiny utility into a pretty and practical space 13 Smarter shopper Give your home an affordable eco-friendly update

44 Picture perfect Add personality to your walls with affordable art

Makeovers 24 24 I was brave with colour-blocking and it paid off! Nina Williams-Bruty used smart paint tricks and simple DIY hacks to give her bedroom a cosy, boho vibe

14 Consumer news We give you the lowdown on post-Brexit travel changes

28 I turned a plain room into a retreatinspired sanctuary Susan Doherty swapped city living for country life and brought her love of nature indoors

19 20 Trend alert Mix and match checks and stripes for a scheme that celebrates patterned prints

32 Our preloved kitchen saved us £1,000s Alexandra and John Feehan extended their kitchen and kitted it out with stylish second-hand finds

Style & decorating

Kitchens & bathrooms

38 17 DIY updates for weekend 49 decorating Save time and money with 50 Escape to the country Bring bags of our quick and easy DIY ideas to transform cottagecore charm to your kitchen with your space, no matter the budget traditional tiles and classic cabinets

54 We used clever design to get around a low ceiling Heather Dyson turned awkward angles into a bathroom bursting with character 56 Precious metals Give your bathroom sparkling and sophisticated style with metal and matt finishes

Reader homes 75 76 I’ve used sunny colours to create

a happy home Interior stylist Maxine Brady used all of her know-how to inject colour and pattern into her 1850s terrace

82 Best-ever décor ideas from our reader homes We collate tips and tricks from our favourite homes for you to recreate in yours 88 My home has come together through nature and texture In her Essex three-bed, Kesiah Smithers

Plus!

12-PA-OGUET PULL IDE GU

YOUR handmade HOME Update your space with handcrafted projects and new skills

76 62

Create some fruity accessories for your home with air-dry clay

66

Step inside Maxine Brady’s light, colourful Victorian home

Don’t miss out!

uses tropical plants and earthy textures as a nod to her South American roots 8 Letters What’s in this month’s postbag?

Food & entertaining 95 96 What’s for dinner? Give your midweek family meals a healthy boost with these nutritional recipes

100 Seasonal salads Bring nature’s bounty to the table with refreshing sweet and savoury recipes

Home improvement

105 106 Enhance your outside space with a deck or patio Update your garden flooring in time for summer heatwaves 110 Buyer’s guide Discover our top 10 painting tools for your next décor job

Gardening

113 115 In your garden this month… Add character and style with accessories

35 Win! Enter for your chance to win a craft bundle from Cricut 36 Subscribe to Your Home Sign up today to receive 25% off 73 Coming next month Take a sneak peek at our June issue 120 Prize draws We’ve got seven amazing prizes up for grabs!

Make a cute toy organiser for a little one

68

Do up your walls with a trio of creative designs

Plus, check out…

123 Shopping guide Here you’ll find where to purchase everything in this issue

64 Revamp repair recycle Get your noticeboard organised with an upcycled blackboard planner

130 Boutique speak We have a 10-minute tea break with the founder of La Basketry

70 Ask the experts Your home improvement questions answered

Call 0330 1358962 to order back copies

72 Craft stash must haves Discover the latest news and products

Have you missed an issue?

THIS MONTH WE LOVE TABLEWARE TREASURES

Take a trip to the Med with the new Levantine tableware collection from John Lewis & Partners. Inspired by the lively architectural designs of the Levant region, the collection of bowls, plates, serving trays and platters fuses striking colour pairings, traditional tile-inspired patterns and geometric shapes. We’re all longing for those balmy summer days gathered around a spectacular spread of food with friends, and this is exactly the tableware you need to impress your guests.

Small ceramic bowl, £4; round tray, £25; large print bowl, £40; set of three dip bowls, £8, all John Lewis & Partners

we love…

THIS MONTH

FOR STOCKISTS SEE P123

Make the most of spring with the best things to do, see and buy this season

Iinspirati nstagramon

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yourhomestyle.uk

We all dream of having swoon-worthy décor and now acclaimed interior designer Phoebe Howard is here to help us achieve our goals. Sharing the style secrets that guide her interior designs, The Principles of Pretty Rooms is a handbook to creating charming, easy on the eye interiors that will stand the test of time. Mrs Howard divulges her insider tips on colour combinations, fabric patterns and her go-to accessories that instantly transform a mediocre room. With sneak peeks inside pretty townhouses, beachfront properties and enormous estates that are the epitome of grandeur, it’s inspiration galore.

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If you’re hesitant about introducing bold splashes of colour to your home, look to @overatno18 on Instagram. Geri describes her interior style as being ‘all about making a statement with colour, texture and pattern’, and in a world full of cream and beige, we admire her fearless approach to decorating. Geri advises keeping the walls neutral to allow for creative whims, especially if you’re prone to changing things up.

She likes to swap out ‘small things like cushions, prints and throws’ to create a whole new vibe whenever inspiration hits. And finally, if you’re planning a kitchen renovation, take a moment to appreciate the airy, sun-drenched paradise that is Geri’s open-plan kitchen.

A classic touch

The Principles of Pretty Rooms by Phoebe Howard is published by Abrams for £30.

THIS MONTH WE LOVE The much-loved American lifestyle retailer, Urban Outfitters, has branched out into the world of home decorating with an exclusive paint collection in collaboration with COAT Paints. Playful and daring, the nine shades are designed for those who don’t shy away from bold décor. Bring the outside in with the bright green Terrarium or indulge your childhood love affair with bubblegum pink with the 6AM Sunrise shade. And of course, there’s the signature Peel & Stick swatches that COAT Paints is known for, so you can try before you buy.

Priced at £40 per 2.5 litre tin, available at urbanoutfitters.com.

Piece it together

We might be on the road out of lockdown but there’s one pandemic relic we’ll be bringing with us: the jigsaw. Designed by contemporary artists, Print Club London and Luckies have released an exclusive collection of jigsaws that bring the pastime firmly into the 21st century.

Dave Buonaguidi’s ‘Let’s Go Get Lost’ jigsaw is our fave, summing up how many of us are feeling after a year of restrictions. They’re definitely worthy of being framed and hung as works of art in their own right.

Priced at £18.95 from The Joy Edit.

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Urban oasis

GREAT IDEAS FOR… Shelfie styling

Adorn your shelves with attention-grabbing ornaments and pretty trinkets for the ultimate #shelfie Paul Smith book

by Phaidon, £50, Amara

Round glass vase coffee, £28, Five and Dime

Brown reactive glaze indoor planter, £5, Wilko

Face vase, £18, Next

A NEW WAY TO SHOP (AND SELL) Narchie is destined to become your one-

Gold and glass paradise trinket box, £22.50, Oliver Bonas

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stop online marketplace to buy and sell all things homeware. Whether you want to pass on an old piece of furniture to a loving home or start up your own candle business, Narchie is the app for you. It’s easy to upload your items and the moodboard-style scrollable profile creates a virtual ‘shop front’ to draw shoppers in. If you’re looking to make a purchase, your Explore page will be full of items that are tailored to your personal interests, or you can use the search bar if you already know exactly what you’re after. Launching in May, you can sign up now on narchie.com to reserve your handle.

Double circle stoneware candle holder in Grey, £25, Rose & Grey

Decorating Special 2021

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Your Home needs you!

GET IN TOUCH

INTO THE BLUE

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

Letter mofonththe

Sencil style I’m a single mum on disability allowance as I

I’ve been so inspired by some of the amazing content and home styles in Your Home. I decided to utilise my self-isolation period to completely overhaul my living room. In ten days, on a small budget of £125, I managed to give the room an entire new look. The amazing ideas from your magazine really inspired me and gave me the confidence to give it a try! From outdated, tired-looking purple to a modern navy and white!

Krista Moran, by email Your Home says: What a lovely transformation, Krista! We’re big fans of navy interiors and think it’s definitely a colour trend that’s here to stay!

★ Krista’s letter has won her a

selection of Bonne Maman citrus goodies worth £70!

Sitting etty

As I write, we are in our third lockdown and more than ever I needed to create a happy place where I could read Your Home magazine. So, I decided to upholster this

Paint it perfect

During lockdown, I decided I would try my hand at paint pouring. I suffer with some depression and during lockdown it increased.

I bought cheap paints and watched hours of YouTube videos for design inspiration. I got to work and out of nowhere, these three beautiful paint pours came to light! Painting, art and anything creative has helped me throughout these hard times and I would like to thank your magazine for printing the ‘Your Handmade Home’ section – I love it.

Tara Pring, by email Your Home says: Thank you for sharing your gorgeous paintings, Tara. We’re so happy you’ve been able to unleash your creativity this lockdown!

was paralysed with Guillain-Barré syndrome at 25. It’s just me and my son in our council home and I spend any spare money doing the house up. It’s my little bit of joy! My latest love is stencilling. In the kitchen, I removed the laminate from the cupboards, painted them grey and covered the countertop with a marble-design adhesive film from d-c-fix. I then added a finishing touch with stencilling.

In the bathroom, I painted the floor white and created a pattern with a stencil from Wish.

They’re cheap little fixes but make it feel a bit more like home. I hope my little four-year-old boy is proud to call it home! Keep up the

me smile and feel cheerful when I saw it. I hope you all love and that it puts a smile on your faces. Hopefully, you’ve also managed to find your happy place in these trying times.

Leonie Holroyd, by email Your Home says: We absolutely love your design, Leonie! It looks so professional and we’re sure it adds a lovely finishing touch to your home.

EMAIL YOUR TIPS, PHOTOS AND LETTER TO: yourhome@immediate.co.uk. Letters can be

posted to Your Letters, Your Home magazine, Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4ST, but we may not see them for some time as we are currently working remotely. Letters may be edited. We apologise but photos cannot be returned.

Getmakeovers Social See the latest and readers’ homes at

@yourhomemagazine @your_home facebook.com/yourhomemag

Courtesy of Bonne Maman, the writer of this issue’s letter of the month will receive a potted fruiting lemon tree and delicious citrus gift box worth £70. The three runners-up will each receive a Bonne Maman gift box worth over £20. Find out more about the new Tarte au Citron plus recipe inspiration at bonnemaman.co.uk.

HINTS

Freshen up your home with our handy tips and tricks

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Household

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Open shelving a somedoecwosrafotirve finishing touches

HOW TO... transform your utility space If you’re fortunate to have a utility space in your home, it’s likely to do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to housework. Clever storage solutions are of course important, but practicality doesn’t have to take priority over prettiness – remember to consider decorative details like paint shades and hardware…

• First things first, storage. Utility rooms are often

compact so it’s crucial to be nifty with your space.

Use the height of the room – a hanging clothes airer will save floor space and don’t forget about the room above your cupboards. If you’re fitting out the room from scratch, design the cupboard space with all of your household items in mind. Allow room for taller items such as the ironing board and utilise wall-mounted rails and hooks.

• Functionality is also key. Choose hard-wearing

materials for the worktop and flooring that’s easy to clean, especially if you have pets! Tiles can add a style statement while also being a breeze to clean.

• On the decorative front, think about colour. Your

• Have fun with the finishing touches such as

handles, taps and lighting. Hardware can really pull the look together so why not make a statement with a luxe brushed brass or matt black finish? It’s also important to pay attention to lighting as small rooms can often be on the darker side. Recessed ceiling spotlights will optimise space while bouncing as much light around the room as possible.

HACK

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automatic inclination might be to opt for lighter shades as they can help to brighten a small space.

However, a deeper colour can turn your utility into a real statement room. Muted navy blue cabinets combined with a pale oak worktop will create a sophisticated country vibe.

Buy it once

If you’re trying to cut back on singleuse plastic in your home, ecoegg is here to help with the laundry. A much more planet-friendly option than plastic bottles of detergent, the ecoegg Laundry Egg uses two types of mineral pellets to effectively lift dirt and odour from clothes. Once you have your egg, you can reuse it over and over again – all you need to do is fill it with pellets and throw it in the washing machine with your load.

What’s more, each wash only costs 14p! The Laundry Egg is priced at £9.99.

There are plenty of multi-talented cleaning products out there, but we never thought toilet cleaners would be one of them. If the grout of your floor tiles is looking grubby, try toilet bowl cleaner. Simply line the grout with the cleaner straight from the bottle, then leave it to work its magic for around 10 minutes. With a toothbrush, start brushing away the dirt and you’ll be astonished by the difference!

Decorating Special 2021

9

BEST BUYS FOR... home fragrance From room sprays and wax melts to candles and diffusers, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to creating a sweet-smelling home

6.

1.

1. Fill your home with soothing scents that encourage a restful night’s sleep with this diffuser kit. It’ll complement your décor too – choose from bronze or silver.

Sleep diffuser starter kit, £39.99; sleep diffuser refills, £7.99 each, both Yankee Candle 2. A strong burst of scent all at the squeeze of a bottle! Choose from fragrances including Snow Fairies, Linen Fresh and Spring Awakening.

Squeezy wax melts, £5.99 each, Village Wax Melts 3. Bring the outdoors in with this floral fragrance that’ll evoke memories of balmy British summers.

Wildflower Meadows room spray, £14.99, National Trust 4. Boasting a hotel-worthy scent and aromatherapy benefits, this diffuser really is the epitome of luxury.

Positive Energy diffuser in Still fragrance, £42, The Universal Soul Company 5. Bring a pop of colour to your décor, as well as a sugary smell, with this fruity blend of mandarin and lime.

Mandarin, Lime and Basil summer candle, £14, ChilliWinter 6. Start and end the day on a positive note with these calming oils.

Sleep and Revive wellness fragrance oils, £13.50 for two, Oliver Bonas

5.

3.

2.

4.

WE TEST… Eco-friendly cleaners

Things we considered: Is it effective? How eco-friendly is it? Is it affordable?

All-purpose sanitiser spray, £2.85 for 500ml, Bio-D Packed with orange oil to cut through grease and soap scum while leaving a light citric scent on your surfaces, this sanitiser can be used across worktops, sinks, paintwork, ovens and hobs. Gentle to the skin, it didn’t take much elbow grease to scrub our kitchen counters and bathroom taps back to gleaming condition. Its packaging ticks the eco-friendly box, as the bottle, bar the pump, is made from 100 per cent recycled materials.

8/10

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yourhomestyle.uk

Lavender & Rosemary eco multi-surface cleaner, £4.25 for 500ml, KINN Safe to use on all surfaces, this spray is mild but effective. Made with pure essential oils and plantbased ingredients, it has natural anti-bacterial properties so you can expect glistening worktops in no time at all. The delicate Lavender & Rosemary scent is delightfully calming or if you prefer citrus, there’s also a Sweet Orange version. Although not refillable yet, the bottles are 100 per cent recyclable except for the pump and spray.

7/10

Biological multi-purpose cleaner starter pack, £8.99, Clean Living This 100 per cent biodegradable cleaner is very gentle but strong enough to tackle hardy spillages with little exertion. Ideal for those with sensitivities, it’s lightly scented and free from any harsh chemicals.

This one wins for eco-friendliness – you’ll receive a microfibre cloth, a 300ml reusable aluminium spray bottle and a 30ml concentrate in a recyclable sachet, so there’s minimal waste.

Clean Living offers a replenishment service, so you can get refills delivered to your door at the right time!

9/10

Anti-bac allpurpose cleaner, £3 for 828ml, Method A little goes a long way with this cleaner, so it really is great value for money. It cleans well, killing 99.9 per cent of bacteria, but make sure not to be too spray-happy as soapy residue may build up. You won’t have any need for room sprays after using this as its wild rhubarb scent lasts for several hours.

The packaging is pretty green, as the bottle, minus the pump, is made from 100 per cent recycled plastic!

8/10

Animal magic

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Make your home your own

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Keep your cubs sitting in warmth and style with a BestHeating radiator If you could name one element of a room that is often overlooked in a home makeover, we’re betting it will be the radiator. People are usually put off the idea of changing radiators because they see them complicated to install and they’re not aware of the other style options out there. However, BestHeating is here to assure you that switching out an ancient monolith for a designer radiator is an easy, affordable way to transform your surroundings, plus you won’t even need a plumber for the job!

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It’s the perfect place for aspirational home heating that will provide you with an efficient, attractive and affordable solution to help you transform your habitat.

Find out more and get shopping at bestheating.com, or call 0344 417 2563

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shopper

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SMARTER

CONSUMER NEWS

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Get a new look for less with these budget-friendly decorating finds When the spring and summer seasons hit, we crave lighter furnishings and brighter colours that bring a lively vibe indoors. But revamping your house can come at a cost for your pocket and the planet, so before you splash the cash on new furniture and full-price paint, check out our savvy tips and tricks.

BE KIND TO your purse and the planet

Update your home with recycled paint

If you went into your garage right now, we’re betting that somewhere there will be a tin of half-used paint that you no longer have a use for. Well, what if we told you that it can be recycled? Sussex-based brand Newlife Paints uses unwanted paint by reprocessing it to make its contents better for the environment, and each new tin contains a minimum of 50 per cent recycled paint that would otherwise have gone into landfill. Plus, each five-litre pot costs just £22!

Say hello to planet-friendly wallpaper Decorating with wallpaper can be expensive for your purse and the environment, but it doesn’t have to be. For wallpaper that ticks both the budget and eco boxes, check out Spoonflower. The price for one roll starts from £16.80 and all of the papers are made from water-based ink and are free of chemicals usually found in wallpaper.

Purchase pre-loved items You can pick up pre-owned items at your local charity shop, or online.

The YH team are obsessed with Facebook Marketplace, so we’d highly recommend you start your search there!

One in three Britons have created an artistic feature wa so that they have an interesting backdrop for their Zoom calls.

Abru three-tread slim step stool and tray, £32.99, Robert Dyas

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Fab find

When you need to reach up high for those tricky ceiling paint jobs, the Robert Dyas step stool is just what you need! This bargain buy has a height of 133cm, slip-resistant steps and a handy tool tray at the top, so you don’t have to hold onto all of your project materials.

The step stool also folds up neatly so you can store it easily when it’s not in use. You’ll wonder how you ever got by without it! For more essential painting tools, see page 110.

Source: Travelodge

SMART SAVINGS

Rather than throw out your old furniture, why not give it a style update with some new fabric?

Upholstery material is so easy to get hold of and it doesn’t have to be expensive either, especially if you’re able to do the upholstering yourself – it’s an easy fix for smaller items like a stylish pouffe, ottoman or accent chair.

Upholstery fabric with backing in Antique Rose, £8.50 per metre, Stoff & Stil

Decorating Special 2021

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CONSUMER NEWS

FOCUS ON

Check before you travel

Pt-Brexit holidays

As lockdown lifts, guidance for travel will change. See gov.uk for the latest advice, and be aware that prohibited trips may result in fines.

Now the deal’s been done, we look at how the changes will affect your next trip

HOW TO... prepare for the changes iuT otohP

Apart from the uncertainty surrounding travel and COVID, there are some important changes that have taken place now that Brexit is done and dusted. Here’s what you’ll need to know about so you can be ready to hop on a plane, a boat or a train once restrictions are lifted and it’s safe to holiday abroad again!

Frequently asked questions..

Will travel insurance change?

You always had to declare any preexisting conditions and this hasn’t changed. Just make sure you have comprehensive cover as well as your EHIC or GHIC card. Before you head off, check the travel advice on gov.uk for up to date information on visas, permits and border control.

What about the Eurotunnel?

UK driving licence holders will need a valid licence as well as the GB sticker on their car. If taking your own car, you’ll also need your log book (V5C) and a green card from your insurer. A hire car from the UK will need a VE103

USEFUL CONTACTS

certificate. For pets, an EU pet passport issued in GB won’t be valid for travel to the EU. This has been replaced by the animal health certificate (AHC).

Will Brexit affect mobile roaming or data charges? Many providers

have said that they don’t plan to change their policies but check before you travel. The government has legislated to protect us from unexpected charges by applying a £45 per month limit (€50) unless you actively choose to carry on spending, and you’ll also receive data alerts.

If you do one thing..

•orIfLiechtenstein, travelling to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland make sure your passport has at least six months left and is less than 10 years old on the day you travel. For trips to Ireland, carry on using your passport so long as it’s valid for the length of your stay.

•(EHIC) Your current European Health Insurance Card can still be used to access emergency medical

care in the EU until its expiry date. After which, the government will issue a new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).

•apply Just like the EHIC, the new GHIC is free and you can for it online at nhs.uk. Every family member will need their own card and you can apply for yours as well as your partner’s and any children under 16.

•

Make sure your travel insurance covers healthcare When booking a package holiday, use as well as travel disruption, theft or loss, a travel agent registered with either the cancellation and any COVID-related issues. driving, safety and security, entry Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) If you’re renting a car within the EU you may requirements and travel warnings, or the Association of Independent Tour visit gov.uk.

Operators (AITO). This way if something need an International Driving Permit (IDP) but only if you have a paper licence and these can be Apply for a new passport or renew goes wrong, you’re covered with a bought at the Post Office for £5.50. your existing one if it has less than full refund if the holiday can’t six months left by picking up a form at go ahead.

There’s no need for a visa if you’re just having a the Post Office or renewing it online at holiday and you can stay for up to 90 days in any passport.service.gov.uk.

180-day period. There are different rules for Bulgaria, Find out about travel insurance at abta.com Croatia, Cyprus and Romania. We may see a new EUor aito.com. wide visa waiver scheme (ETIAS) come into effect in Get the latest on Le Shuttle at eurotunnel.com.

2022 but for now we can travel visa-free.

•including For the latest foreign travel advice information on COVID,

•

• • • 14

yourhomestyle.uk

trebliG yelyaH erutaeF

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Wren Kitchens went Keen to spend more time together as a family, Maniza and Zaki turned to Wren Kitchens to help their open-plan kitchen dreams become reality With the expert help of their Wren designer, Maniza and Zaki were able to perfect every detail in their hard-working design

W

ith all of us spending more time at home, the role of the kitchen has greatly increased in importance. From a practical place to cook meals for the family to a setting for socialising with friends and home-schooling children, it really is a multi-functional space. Making sure that this hard-working room is the perfect fit for you is Wren Kitchens’ number one priority. No matter the size or layout of your kitchen, Wren will work closely with you to ensure the end result suits you and your family’s lifestyle.

To see how Wren collaborates with their customers to create bespoke designs, check out Maniza and Zaki’s kitchen transformation. eir home is part of the #Wrenovation series, which shines a spotlight on real customer kitchen renovations.

STEP ONE When Maniza, Zaki and their

two boys moved into their London home a few years ago, the dated kitchen was just about big enough for cooking and not much more. ‘I was spending way too much time in there preparing food and not being able to speak to friends and family. It wasn’t much fun,’ Maniza recalls. e couple wanted the space to be much more open, social and fit for modern-day family life.

With their new kitchen requirements in hand, Maniza and Zaki visited their local Wren showroom and were instantly impressed with the quality of the products on offer, the accessibility of the store and how family-friendly the experience was. While taking children to showrooms can be a challenge for families, ‘Wren always settled the children first before offering us tea or coffee. It meant I didn’t have to worry about the boys,’ Maniza explains. is

For more inspiration, search #Wrenovation

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left the couple relaxed and free to concentrate on finding the perfect kitchen.

STEP TWO Maniza fell in love with the

woodgrain-effect of the Shaker Forest kitchen in Autumn Harvest, and after seeing a twotone design on her third visit, paired it with an Alchemy Matt island. ‘Our Wren designer was an artist and perfectionist, and I think we needed that,’ says Zaki. ‘Having someone so skilled, backed up with Wren’s virtual reality and quality products to choose from, meant it all fitted together like a glove.’

STEP THREE On the arrival day of their

new kitchen, Maniza and Zaki were particularly pleased with how smooth and professional the delivery was. A supervisor ran through the entire article list with the couple before briefing the builders on where best to store the products and the order of construction.

A showroom visit gave Maniza the vision to make a statement with a two-tone design, choosing the dramatic Alchemy Matt for the island

Sleek Bosch appliances, soft-close units and the clever use of seating space beneath the island tick all the family-friendly boxes

‘My impression of Wren went to another height, as things like that aren’t easy to carry out,’ Zaki says. ‘It just shows how above and beyond Wren went through the entire process.’

With their chosen Bosch appliances in place, including two double ovens, the family now have a kitchen they love. ‘e first thing friends notice is the space,’ smiles Maniza. Cleverly designed around each of their needs, from a place for eating together to entertaining guests and working while watching the kids, the kitchen has become the heart of their home. daoP samohT erutaeF

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For your great outdoors.

Cuprinol Ducksback. With water-repellent technology that protects wood for 5 years

yle & S DECORATING Discover kintsugi, MissPrint’s new collection and eco-friendly homeware

MINI TREND:

Kintsugi

Japanese Trends are often inspired by cultures dragon from around the world, and kintsugi kintsugi lampshade, is the latest craze filling our Instagram £75, feeds. But what you may not know is Mountain & that its roots stem from a long-standing Molehill lineage of Japanese culture dating back to the 15th century. It’s a traditional practice that takes something that is broken and repairs it using powdered Superfresco Easy Kintsugi gold. The philosophy behind this is wallpaper, more wonderful than the results, as £15.99 per roll, the idea is that broken things should The Range be repaired and celebrated rather than thrown away and, in doing so, we find beauty in imperfection. Why not try kintsugi yourself? Check out page 72 for a workshop. Or, opt for these pieces Kintsugi-inspired plant as a nod to the age-old concept. pot, £15, Plant Pots Shop

CALM LIVING For a homeware range that has sustainability and well-being at its core, check out George Home’s new Just Wellness collection. The range starts from £2 and includes the likes of organic cotton bedding, bamboo pillows and accessories, and natural essential oil candles. What’s more, it features over 100 products in an array of calming colours and delicate designs.

SPONSORED BY

Seletti kintsugi salad bowls, £72 each; Seletti kintsugi glasses, £20 each, all Latzio Living

Throw in some colour

MissPrint Hieroglyph Green throw and Nazca Camino throw, from £139 each, Fy!

Wallpaper and textile design studio, MissPrint, has now introduced a collection of 100 per cent cotton woven throws – and we can guarantee that this new range will have you wanting to splash out on at least one of these gorgeous designs for your living room.

With 11 beautiful pieces in the collection, including the modern graphic Hieroglyph and Nazca designs, these throws are a go-to choice if you want to bring vibrancy and pattern into your abode.

Harris makes decorating easy, fun and satisfying. Using its quality, task-specific decorating tools you’ll get fantastic results every time, whether you’re tackling hard-to-reach areas, painting super-neat edges or you want smooth, even coverage fast. Harris has all the hints and tips to share. Let’s decorate!

STYLE FILE

TREND ALERT…

Checks and stripes

Pair together this dynamic duo for a scheme that celebrates patterned prints

Nothing says summer more than statement colourful curtains – and these bright stripy ones certainly fit the bill Watercolour Stripe Blush curtains, from £46.65, Curtains 2go

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o matter the season, stripes and checks will never go out of style. ey’re timeless patterns that can complement any colour scheme, whether it be vibrant summer ginghams or muted vertical stripes – the possibilities are endless.

Contrary to what you might think, checks aren’t just limited to wintry tartans – though these have a classic appeal that works wonderfully in a cosy cottage scheme – they can be ideal for spring and summer too with classic gingham and modern monochrome 20

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designs. Summer 2021 sees pops of pastel gingham in a myriad of colours as well as sleek and simple windowpane checks being the most popular trends.

Likewise, stripes are just as versatile for a spectrum of schemes. And not only do stripes look stylish, they’re also a clever design choice if you want to add height or elongate a room.

For example, if you choose a vertical pattern wallpaper then this will help the ceiling feel higher, whereas a horizontal stripe will create the illusion of more space.

Stripy homespun scatter cushion, £8, Wilko Irvine handwoven Blue tartan 100 per cent cotton rug, from £12.99, Homescapes

STYLE FILE

Gingham is high on our homeware hit list for summer 2021. Bring this timeless design into your home with an assortment of rugs and cushions Cotton gingham check cushion cover in Pink, £5.99; cotton gingham check cushion cover in Yellow, £5.99; Pink gingham check round cotton pouffe, £34.99; artificial fiddle leaf fig tree, £19.99; cotton gingham Green check rug, from £8.99; cotton gingham check throw in Blue, from £24.99, all Homescapes

Clockwise from top left: Harry rug in Bright, from £65, Next.

Coral Pink striped cushion cover, from £24, Heavenly Homes and Gardens. Ruffle gingham linen napkin in Pale Green, £25, Rebecca Udall. Rainbow pillar candle, £24, Rose & Grey

Thick bright stripe throw, £14, George Home Yellow stripe vase, £18, Next

Whether outside or in, you can use vibrant stripes to bring lively summer style to your table

Fiori ceramic butter dish, £19.50; Fiori ceramic stripe jug, £22.50, both Oliver Bonas

Market stripe Aga top, £12; Market stripe double oven glove, £18; Market stripe single oven mitt, £14, all Bluebellgray

Balcony deckchair in Stripe, £185, Denys & Fielding

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Bring the holiday vibe to your home with a set of matching bright-striped kitchenware

Striped dish, £9.99, Homesense

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STYLE FILE Work stripes into the bedroom with a super soft cotton duvet and pillowcase set

Check duvet set, from £24.99, M&Co

Clockwise from top left: Retreat wooden stripe table lamp, £100, Amara. Cotton flannel duvet cover set, from £59.99, H&M Home. Terracotta striped vase, large, £46, Rose & Grey. Hoxton Ice décor tiles, £38.02 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore

Does your scheme follow a sophisticated theme? Opt for this tasselled throw to bring a touch of traditional elegance to your abode Tasselled Blue stripe throw, £45, Cox & Cox

A black-and-white chequered floor is a timeless look

Soho Nero Black marble-effect tiles, £32.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors Blue stripe ceramic mug, £7, Daisy Park

Spend Vs Save

Take time to relax in one of these on-trend armchairs Rennes striped chair, £925, Cox & Cox

Mitzi armchair, £449, Atkin and Thyme

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STYLE FILE

MIX AND MATCH

Inlight Prometheus Blue stripe light shade, £15, B&Q

Blend checks and stripes with our must have scatter cushions

Golden stripe tall vase, £50, Cox & Cox

Multi-stripe cushion, £6, George Home Check throw, £15, George Home

Classic and traditional, this checked tea towel and striped oven glove are a heavenly match

Meadow Stripes cushion, £16.99, Very

Cadogan check tea towel in Navy, £30; Fastnet stripe oven glove in Navy, £33, both Tori Murphy

Top tip

With stripes and checks, you don’t have to pick one or the other.

Choose a blend of both to give your interior a carefully curated look.

Kip & Co Strawberries and Cream linen pillowcase set, from £35, Antipodream

Are pastel colours not your thing? This more muted hue is a better way to bring the gingham design to the dining table

Flowerful reversible cushion, £25, Joe Browns

Gingham linen tablecloth in Brown, from £139, Rebecca Udall

Padstow stripe wallpaper, £25 per roll, John Lewis & Partners Three Black stripe jute baskets, £55, Marquis & Dawe

Relax stripe beaded cushion, £29.50, Oliver Bonas

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BEDROOM MAKEOVER

I was brave with colourblocking and it paid off!

Nina Williams-Bruty used statement paint tricks and simple DIY ideas to transform her previously ultra-modern bedroom into a cosy, boho haven

N

ina Williams-Bruty, 32, who shares her décor ideas on Instagram @bruty.abode, and her husband, Ryan Bruty, 34, bought their 1960s, three-bedroom detached house in Bury St Edmunds because they fell in love with the location. ‘Living this side of town was such a good move for us,’ says Nina. ‘is house ticked a lot of boxes for our growing family.’ e previous owners had decorated the house from top to bottom in cream. ‘It was inoffensive, but every room looked the same,’ Nina explains. Within months of moving in, the couple set to work painting the house in shades of grey. ‘It was supposed to be a temporary update, but we ended up living with the décor for five years,’ reveals Nina.

‘I was ready to start decorating again.’

Inspired by YouTube tutorials, Nina painted a colour-block feature wall behind the bed to provide a bold contrast to the earthy palette in the rest of the room and make the ceiling seem higher

STEP ONE In April 2020, not long after

her baby boy, Arthur, was born, Nina decided to give her bedroom a much-needed facelift.

‘We were in lockdown and spending more time at home, and I started to notice that areas of our home were in need of decorating.

Our bedroom felt flat and didn’t reflect my evolving style,’ she says. ‘As my son was napping during the day, I decided to use that precious time to dig out my paintbrush.’

Nina wanted to move away from grey walls towards lighter tones. ‘e bare bones of the room were all in good condition so it was a matter of decorating and styling the space.’

total cost £

992

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BEDROOM MAKEOVER

Mix and match furniture like Nina for an eclectic feel. ‘We chose different tables in the same type of wood for a harmonious look,’ she says. She made the wall light from an IKEA bracket for designer-look lighting on a budget

STEP THREE Using masking tape and

a spirit level, Nina marked out a geometric section on the wall that ran up and over onto the ceiling. ‘I watched loads of YouTube videos on colour-block painting. e most difficult part was making sure my trusty Frog tape was applied properly. I discovered so many hacks, including using a credit card to score the edge of the tape.’ Nina chose a soft green-blue colour to complement the wooden furniture. ‘Lockdown was my colour-blocking phase,’ she jokes. ‘I’d done a few bits before in the rest of the house but nothing as brave as this! Making sure the lines were straight was a challenge.’ Nina was thrilled with the results. ‘It’s so light in here now and the panel of colour makes my ceiling look taller, too.

It’s such a simple but effective trick.’ A shelf was then put up behind the bed to create a focal point, the curtain pole was replaced with white wooden slatted blinds and the carpet covered over with cosy rugs.

STEP FOUR Next, Nina set to work styling her bedroom. A keen bargain-hunter, she scoured high street stores online for affordable homewares. Her best buy was her cane headboard, which she found on Facebook

She was determined to do as much as she could herself, fitting it around childcare for her young son. She moved all the furniture into the middle of the room and got to work painting the walls and woodwork, built-in wardrobes and the windows in off-white to revitalise the space. ‘Instantly my room felt fresher and brighter within a day!’

‘Before starting, I planned out exactly what I wanted to do to this room,’ explains Nina. To draw attention to her teal colour-block centrepiece and tie in with the other dark accents, she added a black shelf with vases and a print from Desenio

STEP TWO e bedroom had previously

‘I invest in the bigger pieces, then look for inexpensive accessories that I can afford to replace over time,’ Nina explains, such as her £12.99 velvet footstool from Home Bargains

Decorating Special 2021

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been filled with furniture from her previous home. ‘We had lots of mirrored pieces from our old house, but it wasn’t my vibe anymore,’ says Nina. ‘My style had changed to reflect our new home and it felt too modern.’ Close by her new house, Nina found a fabulous discount furniture store where she bought her oak bedside tables and chest of drawers.

‘I loved the rich tones of the wood finish, and how grown-up they made my bedroom look,’ she says. She moved the old furniture into the guest bedroom to make space for their new pieces. ‘My décor style evolved from ultramodern to a vintage-inspired look, with warm woods and soft textures.’

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Cane and rattan pieces give Nina’s scheme warmth and texture. The vintage mirror was a £20 Facebook Marketplace find, and she’s picked out the cane detailing with a planter from Matalan

Nina’s room might look expensive, but she has a keen eye for a high street bargain, styling the bedside table with an H&M Home vase and a table lamp from Dunelm

ROOM PLAN

Decating tip!

Find artwork

t picks out all of the coloursthayou in your scheme, like’veNiusnaed has with her Gustav Nina layered textiles in white, cream and ochre for a super-cosy bed. Using neutral hues Klimt canvas. as her base means she can easily add others.

3.1M

‘I like to mix up my bedding so the room feels different every time I make the bed,’ she says

3.6M

Marketplace for just £5. ‘I had to drive 40 minutes each way to go pick it up but it was worth it,’ she says. As a finishing touch. Nina filled the space with faux and real plants to add leafy green colour to the space. It took her less than a week to transform her bedroom.

Nina loves nothing better than to relax in here now. ‘When all the decorating was done, I had this huge sense of achievement and pride in what I had created myself,’ she says. ‘is room feels very calm and tranquil. And I sleep so much better at night, too.’

THE DETAILS

PAINT FURNITURE LIGHTING ACCESSORIES

TOTAL

SHOPPING LIST

3 OF THE BEST... dried foliage £12 from Heavenly Homes and Gardens

A bunch of fluffy pampas grass will add texture to a boho bedroom scheme.

£6 each from Habitat

Display a single fan-shaped leaf, or use as part of a bouquet to balance out more delicate grasses.

£75 from Next

Pair the real thing with this canvas featuring hand-painted details, perfect for a neutral room.

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£75

£12 £6

£35 £705 £62 £190

£992

Walls painted in White Mist matt emulsion, £16 per 2.5L, Dulux. Colour-block wall painted in Inchyra Blue matt emulsion, £35 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. For a similar headboard, try rattan 160cm headboard, £165, Tikamoon.

For similar side tables, try Vandsted side table with drawer, £59.99, JYSK, and Devon solid oak two-door storage cupboard, £199, Oak Solution. Audrie chest of drawers, £875 (now £995), Loaf. Elkby Valter IKEA shelf brackets, £5 each, eBay. Leena bamboo pendant light, £22; Tanner glass table lamp, £22, both Dunelm. Jeff Banks velvet footstool, £12.99, Home Bargains. Oddrun throw, £10; Ofelia throw, £15; Gurli cushion covers, £1.75 each, all IKEA. Rattan tripod planter, £20, Matalan. Black and white rug, £20, Aldi. Aftas round jute rug, £35, La Redoute. Vases, from £20, H&M Home. Art, from a selection at Desenio.

LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

I turned a plain room into a retreatinspired sanctuary

When Susan swapped city living for a bungalow in the countryside, she made it her own with palm-print wallpaper and natural tones to reflect her new love of the outdoors

A

fter nearly 20 years of living in the bustling centre of Guildford, Susan Doherty, 68, was ready for a lifestyle change, so she bought this twobedroom bungalow just outside the village of Alfold, Surrey. ‘I’d been living in a 1930s city apartment with no garden for most of my adult life,’ she explains. ‘Moving to the countryside was a dream of mine. Where I live now, I have a garden and there’s so much space and fresh air.’ Susan’s home is a new-build property just outside the village. ‘is was the last property left in a small development,’ she says. ‘I fell in love with the rural location and the exterior. It was so pretty to look at. My only problem was the décor inside.’ e developers had left her with white walls and plain grey carpets. ‘I had no say on the interior in the run up to the sale so I inherited a white box,’ she says. ‘I had literally 101 ideas for my new home. But it felt overwhelming to know where to start.’

Susan’s new living room is all about comfort and calm, with plush textures, a comfy, roomy sofa and a soft, neutral palette to bring the outside in. ‘I went for a modern, slimline sofa in a calming green. There’s space for me to put my legs up, too,’ she says

STEP ONE In April 2020, before Sarah

even completed on her new home, she called on the help of Sarah Craddy from SLC Interior Design, a Surrey-based interior designer on Instagram @slc.interior.design.

‘After 20 years of living in the same home, I was finding it difficult to pick out what I wanted for my new home,’ she says. ‘I found Sarah through Houzz and after a brief chat on the phone, it was obvious we were on the same wavelength. I was confident she would edit my ideas for the space and stick to my budget.’ Before she moved in, Susan had a huge declutter. ‘e furniture from my last home wasn’t the right fit for this house. I either sold or gave away all of my old furniture and moved in with just a mattress and couch.’ Getting rid of unwanted furniture that didn’t suit her new light and airy home gave Susan the freedom to start again.

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total cost £

5,031

Befe

LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER Now Susan has found a style she loves, she’s more confident with adding to the scheme over time. Her latest additions are these wooden birds from Maisons du Monde, which are fitting for her countryside location

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As texture on-trend,livnaintug rarolom to your pas grass. with pam

Susan plans to spend a lot of time in her new living room, so she’s tweaked furniture to make it as practical as possible, including having safety glass cut to fit the coffee table to give it a smooth, protective surface

STEP TWO ey kick-started the design

STEP THREE Once Susan firmed up her

ideas, she started choosing the furniture. On her wish list was a corner sofa and lots of natural texture to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere.

‘Because of Covid, there was a delay with booking decorators, so we worked backwards by ordering all the furniture first,’ she explains. ‘I chose things that looked fabulous but were at a Decorating Special 2021

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process using Pinterest to gather Susan’s ideas. ey combed through the images to pick a cohesive theme and palette. ‘It turns out I love boho style, which I would never have guessed,’ she says. ‘It was all too muddled in my head for me to recognise that. When Sarah looked at my Pinterest ideas she could see a common theme, with lots of greens and terracotta.’ e inspiration for her new living room started with a palm-print wallpaper by Tektura. ‘Sarah gave me a few wallpapers to choose from, and I was drawn to the bolder palm-print design. It was a clever way to reflect my garden’s greenery into my living room. And we could pick out the tones in the design for the rest of the room,’ she says.

LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER

Decating tip!

Add depth

using severatol sha scheme by same colour, likades of the mix of greene Ss.usan’s

Susan has kept her Cox & Cox sideboard minimal, with a pair of books, simple greenery, a statement lamp and a print of a woman in a sun hat, which ties in with the summery feel of the wallpaper

ROOM PLAN 4.3M

4.7M

THE DETAILS

reasonable price,’ she says. e decorator put up the wallpaper and pre-ordered the window treatments, and the scheme started coming together. ‘While I was at work, Sarah had everything dropped off at my house. I cried when I walked in, it was so wonderful.’

FURNITURE LIGHTING ACCESSORIES WALLPAPER CURTAINS AND BLINDS

STEP FOUR Over the next few weeks,

the last tweaks were made. ‘e room was 99 per cent complete. e electrician put the TV on the wall, the lighting was fitted, and a mini dining room was created in the corner overlooking the garden.’ Most recently, she hung the wooden birds and choose new prints for the walls. ‘Now I know my style, I feel far more confident about picking things out,’ says Susan. She’s looking forward to enjoying her new space. ‘I can’t wait to spend my evenings pottering around in my living room and in my garden. I love looking out of the French doors to watch the birds in the trees. It’s like being on a retreat, it’s so serene in here now.’

TOTAL

SHOPPING LIST

Susan placed the dining table in front of the French doors for an indoor-outdoor feel. ‘The dining chairs are actually outdoor chairs, so I can use them in the garden in the summer,’ she says

3£12OFfromTHE BEST... textured cushions Next Go glam with a crushed velvet palm cushion – a match made in heaven with Susan’s tropical-print wallpaper.

£8

£16 from Habitat

Add pattern and texture to your sofa with a raised geometric design.

£8 from Wilko

Pompoms pep up this plain neutral cushion, which will work in any scheme.

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£12 £16

£3,496 £259 £599 £117 £560

£5,031

Palm wallpaper from the Interior Affairs Collection (INT 218742), £58.50 per roll, Tektura. For a similar sofa try Bakerloo threeseater chaise sofa, £949, Sofology. For a similar sideboard try Chevron oak sideboard, £1,295, Cox & Cox. Haku brass and smoked glass dining table, £279; Crackle glaze dinner set, £79, both MADE.com. Mickey dining chairs, £140 for two; Blair carved ceramic vase in White, £25, both Habitat.

Cream twisted flex and sleek Edison bulb holder, £25, Industville. Small ceiling rose in Brass, £20.49, Dowsing & Reynolds. Organic gold LED lamp, £45.67, The LED Specialist.

Ariel floor lamp, £100, BHS. Harmony Ribbon semi flush lamp, £85, John Lewis & Partners. Milan large mirror, £99, Marks & Spencer. Samson rattan coffee table, £139, Tikamoon. Cushion covers, from £8.99, H&M Home. Rush natural storage basket, £18; Santiago woven Charcoal cushion, £14; Paracas embroidered cushion in Burnt Orange, £35, all Dunelm. Nyoko wool rug, 200 x 300cm, £293; Lyngby vase in White, £52, both Nordic Nest. Oatmeal linen curtains and Roman blind, £487.30, Curtains 2go. Stem pampas grass, £14.50 each, Pampas Studio UK. Hoedic carved mango wooden birds, £66, Maisons du Monde. Amber ceramic vase, from £47.50 each, Abigail Ahern. Calm Beach print, £24.95, Poster Store. Lady print, £9.71, from a selection at Desenio. Berkeley wine glasses, £28 for four; Berkeley Champagne flutes, £28 for four, both Garden Trading.

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KITCHEN MAKEOVER

Our preloved kitchen saved us £1,000s

After spending on a new extension, Alexandra and John Feehan were still able to afford high-end kitchen units thanks to an unexpected second-hand find

W

hen Alexandra Feehan, 44, and husband John, 42, bought a two-bed project property near Cardiff city centre in 2014, they had no idea that their pokey, two-metre-by-two-metre kitchen would become a spacious hub decked out in a pastel palette of bubblegum blue and candyfloss pink. e property was always going to undergo a big transformation – it was bought by the couple when John, a carpenter, developer and landlord, first became selfemployed as he wanted a project to work on in-between jobs. ey couldn’t have picked a more suitable structure to put their stamp on; the house was a 1950s build with two bedrooms, a single reception and a kitchen too small to swing a metaphorical cat in. It needed a full back-to-bricks renovation and, luckily, John was just the man to do it.

Befe

STEP ONE e couple got to work

planning the transformation. ‘John designed and built a double wrap-around extension, adding a snug, a gym, two double bedrooms with walk-in wardrobes, a further two bathrooms and, my favourite, an open-plan kitchen-dining-living room,’ says Alexandra.

As someone who loves to cook, Alexandra had a few non-negotiables when it came to designing and fitting out this part of the house. ‘My absolute must was an island,’ she says. ‘I love to entertain and wanted an island large enough for a number of people to eat at while I cook.’ A separate utility – so noise from the washing machine won’t disturb social gatherings – was high on the wish list too, along with high-quality fittings.

STEP TWO However, the things on their

wish list came at a cost and the size of the renovated room – six metres by eight metres – didn’t help matters, as more space meant that more kitchen was needed to fill it. ‘Even a basic new kitchen was going to cost us a fortune; the island alone had been pricedup in excess of £5,000,’ Alexandra recalls.

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‘Our kitchen overlooks a really pretty park, so we were keen to incorporate the view into the design,’ says Alexandra. They fitted an almost floor-to-ceiling window, and double doors in the dining area, to frame the view

‘Compromising on quality wasn’t an option for us – we felt that the renovation was to such a high standard that we didn’t want to ruin it with a sub-par kitchen, so we decided to explore the possibility of sourcing a secondhand one.’ It took six months of searching before Alexandra and John came across a second-hand kitchen that ticked all of their boxes; a large island with premium surfaces and a fairly timeless design.

STEP THREE e couple wasted no time fitting the preloved kitchen, which they bought from Used Kitchen Exchange, and

KITCHEN MAKEOVER

Look at commercial buildings for ideas, as the materials used tend to be a tad more creative. ‘We didn’t want plain tiles, so we chose decorative plaster panels that we’d seen in a restaurant,’ Alexandra says. ‘They add great texture and depth to the room’

Decating tip!

Decorativ

Alexandra and John’s preloved kitchen package comprised blue cabinets, cream-coloured worktops, an island with woodeffect doors and appliances to boot. To make it their own, they replaced the island doors with soft pink alternatives

such as theeonplesasteAr panels, and John chose, m lexandra alternative to tilesake a great extra texture, toano.d add

The pantry, pepped up with green tiles from Walls and Floors, both conceals and showcases Alexandra’s cookware. As it’s in constant use, they made sure that it looks as sleek on the inside as it does on the exterior

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Total cost £

5,333

Decorating Special 2021

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KITCHEN MAKEOVER

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Tak items for future u y store costs low – particularl keep hting, which can be lig expensive.

The microwave, integrated dishwasher, fridge-freezer and hob all came with the second-hand kitchen, which meant the essentials were taken care of and Alexandra had money to spare for finishing touches

Alexandra did not make any mood boards before starting the makeover. In fact, the couple let their kitchen transformation evolve organically – including the blue, pink and green palette

lots of nifty storage solutions. A pocket sliding door between the kitchen and utility allowed them to keep appliances and cleaning products hidden, while the pantry, which came as part of the kitchen package, provides opted for herringbone wood-effect tiles for accessible storage. ‘e pantry has to be the floor. ‘Living with the kitchen allowed us my favourite feature in the kitchen,’ says to tweak the layout and finishes as we went Alexandra. ‘We use it so much that the doors along,’ says Alexandra. ‘When we started the seem to always be open, so John gave it a little renovation we weren’t sure if we were going makeover of its own. He edged the white to keep the property or sell it, so once we shelves in oak and tiled the rear of the shelves, got a good feel for the space – and decided which made a huge difference to the space.’ we wanted to live in it – we made changes Although delighted with the outcome – with us in mind.’ Alexandra never envisaged ‘cheesy as it sounds, I smile every time I walk herself having a pastel kitchen, but the palette into this room,’ Alexandra beams – were evolved naturally. ‘We loved the blue doors the couple granted a do-over, they’d go even the kitchen came with but decided to change bigger and bolder. ‘A lot of the early decisions the wood-effect doors on the island,’ she says. were made thinking of what would appeal to ‘We eventually settled on dusky pink as the the widest pool of buyers,’ she says. ‘Once we colour picks up the warmth in the floor tiles.’ decided we’d be living here we made more personal decisions around décor. However, STEP FOUR Cluttered countertops are a I’m so happy with the quality of the kitchen. pet hate of Alexandra’s, so the pair sought I don’t think I’d ever buy a new one again.’

3£18OFfor two THE BEST... modern pastels from Very Stack a duo of cappuccino mugs in a frothy pink hue to create a shelfie-worthy display.

£22.99

£22.99 from Homesense

Cook up a storm in a baby-blue casserole dish that’s as deliciouslooking as the food.

£10 for four from Wilko

Serve up refreshments in mix and match decorative tumblers in candy colours for a retro vibe.

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£18

Think about how you’ll use the space when planning a kitchen.

Alexandra and John added a clever pocket sliding door to conceal appliances and keep noise to a minimum when they’re entertaining and relaxing

ROOM PLAN 6M

8M

THE DETAILS

FLOORING KITCHEN AND APPLIANCES CUPBOARD DOORS SPLASHBACK STOOLS PAINT

Total

SHOPPING LIST

£10

£1,400 £2,250 £900 £318 £445 £20

£5,333

Second-hand kitchen including carcasses, all blue doors, plinths and end panels, pantry, drawers, island, worktops, Belfast sink, tap, microwave, integrated dishwasher, fridge-freezer, induction hob and pull-out bins, £2,250, all Used Kitchen Exchange. Blade 3D plaster panels, £25 each, 3D Wall Panel Company. Pickett bevelled tiles in Mint, £33.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors. Wood-effect floor tiles, from £17.93 per sq m, Total Tiles. Replacement kitchen doors, from £2.99 each, Kitchen Door Workshop. DSW-style bar stools, £69 each, Cult Furniture.

PRIZE DRAW

WIN! One of three Cricut machine bundles You can create thousands of unique designs using the Cricut Joy machine

T

he leading maker of smart cutting machines, Cricut, is giving Your Home readers the chance to win one of three exciting prize bundles.* Each prize bundle includes the Cricut Joy, plus vinyl, card, labels, pens, a tool set, and a Cricut EasyPress Mini with iron-on vinyl, so you can get making straight away. e Cricut Joy will soon become your DIY best friend allowing you to personalise and organise with ease.

THE PRIZE e Cricut Joy portable smart cutting machine can be used to design and customise

Use the EasyPress to make a range of innovative projects, from cushions to clothes

everything, from greetings cards and custom labels to wall art and home décor.

Combined with the EasyPress Mini, you’ll be able to make personalised clothes, cushions, shoes and more using the iron-on vinyl – the creative possibilities are endless!

Compatible with over 50 materials, the Cricut Joy features built-in Bluetooth, so you can simply connect it to your computer, phone or tablet and get designing anywhere you fancy using the handy app – you’ll have thousands of images and fonts to choose from. e Cricut Joy even works when you’re not connected to the internet, so there’s no

WORTH £376.82 EACH

need to worry about any wi-fi woes. It’s the ultimate smart tool that allows you to take your creativity to the next level.

FIND OUT MORE For more information and to see the other products available, visit cricut.com. *Colours of the products may vary

TO ENTER, visit yourhomestyle.uk, choose the WIN tab, find the prize draw you’d like to enter and fill in your details. The closing date is 10th June 2021 at 11.59pm.

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

Decorating Special 2021

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DIY updates f WEEKEND DECORATING

ratingide

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17 STYLE ADVICE

Save time and money with these quick and easy DIY ideas

N

o one wants to have to squeeze in their DIY jobs in between their nine-to-five, so we’ve collated a list of tasks you can complete in just one weekend. As well as being quick and easy, these DIY updates will save you a pretty penny, too. So, if you’re tight on budget Gold monstera then that’s no problem, because we’ve split these leaf drawer knob, jobs into sections for under £50, £150 and £250 £7, Albert & Moo to take the pressure off your purse.

Round doorknob in Antique Brass,

£45, Cox & Cox

Change the doorknobs

A simple switch that is speedy, easy and doesn’t cost the earth is changing the knobs on drawers and doors. Whether you’ve just upcycled a piece of furniture or have a new IKEA wardrobe, swapping the handles for a stylish alternative can be the finishing touch your hardware needs.

Upcycle your furniture

If the purse strings are tight, then rather than buying brand-new furniture, why not use your weekend to upcycle what you already have? There are plenty of gorgeous paint colours out there for you to choose from when it comes to revamping furniture, such as this Mint shade from Lisa Comfort Home, which has been used to upcycle a set of bedside tables.

Eggshell water-based paint in Mint, £19.95 for 1L, Lisa Comfort Home

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£50 & under Hang a shelf

Buying the shelves is one thing, putting them up is another, but make this weekend the one where you get the job done! It shouldn’t take more than an hour, so you’ll have your new storage space sorted in no time, and for £50 or less, too. If you need a bit of free guidance, then visit yourhomestyle.uk for a handy stepby-step on how to hang a shelf.

Raw scaffold shelf, £50; Nettleton, Stratton, Positano, Edgehill and Sorrento plant pots, from £3 each, all Garden Trading

Refresh your windows

Hanging new curtains and blinds can easily be done in a few hours at the weekend and you don’t need to fork out a fortune for installation costs.

Head over to yourhomestyle.uk for plenty of guides on how to hang new curtains and blinds – they will teach you everything from measuring up the size to fitting a curtain track.

Moonstone wooden blind, from £22.25, Blinds 2go

Sencil your space

Meadow Flowers stencil, £17.95; walls painted in Napoleonic Blue, £41.95 for 2.5L; stencilled flowers painted in a selection of chalk paint, from £5.95 for 120ml, all Annie Sloan

Do up the front door

Has your front door seen better days? Give it a refresh with a lick of paint. The YH team recommend the Al Fresco paint from Frenchic, which is suitable for both indoors and out. Or there’s a huge range of paints and a how-to guide on updating your front door at protekwoodstain.co.uk.

Al Fresco paint in Wise Old Sage, from £6.95 for 150ml, Frenchic

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sedairtemeD eihpoS erutaeF

Another super quick way to do-up your digs for less is by updating your walls with a stencil design. We’ve fallen in love with this floral stencil from Annie Sloan – with a bit of practice you can renew your home with beautiful blooms for spring and summer.

STYLE ADVICE Add character with art

Give your walls some personality by curating a collection of your favourite art. High street brands such as Matalan, Primark, Dunelm and Desenio are budget-friendly options when it comes to creating a gallery wall, but you can also interweave these buys with some one-off pieces from independent shops, too – try Etsy and Numonday for more bespoke purchases that will still be within budget. For advice on decorating with artwork, turn to page 44.

Buddha canvas, £15; Highland cows canvas, £18; Paris canvas, £15; Pampas grass canvas, £22; Green large leaf canvas, £15; Cocktails framed image, £12; Moon phase image, £15; Ballerina framed image, £25; Mono foil framed image, £18, all Matalan

Update the sink

Redecate with wallpaper

Bring your walls to life by adding wallpaper. Patterns can range from as little as £10 per roll to heftier £100+ price tags from designer or independent brands. If you shop smart though, then a few rolls needn’t set you back more than £50-£100. Or, if you fall in love with a high-end design, then just buy one roll and create a few eyecatching feature panels!

Jungle luxe Navy wallpaper, £12 per roll; Anya large sideboard, £529; Mila Magenta rug, from £65, all Dunelm Fresco Tropicana Dark Green wallpaper, £10 per roll, Wilko

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Changing the faucets around the sink, bath or shower is easier and quicker than you might think. Plus, once you’ve completed a kitchen or bathroom makeover, updating the taps is one of the best ways to polish off the finished look.

Milano Elizabeth traditional crosshead basin pillar taps in Brushed Gold, £79.99, Big Bathroom Shop

Torc antique brass-effect kitchen twin lever mixer tap, £44, B&Q

£150 & under

Heritage eggshell wall paint in Romney Wool, £40.64 for 2.5L, Dulux Heritage

Flat matt emulsion wall paint in Satin Lining, from £35 for 2.5L, Crown Paints

Easy-clean matt emulsion wall paint in Cream White and Mustard Jar, from £25 for 2.5L, Crown Paints

Make a feature

For a quicker alternative to paint and wallpaper, opt for a wall mural. It’s a go-to choice if you want to create a feature wall and are looking for a rapid update with a low price point.

Bamboo wallpaper mural, from £35 per sq m, Wallsauce

Suce up the walls

Painting the walls doesn’t have to be a mammoth task, especially if you invest in high-quality paint to start with.

Depending on the size of your room, you should be able to paint the entire space for less than £150 and that includes buying the equipment. Check out page 110 for all of the DIY tools you need for this weekend job.

Decorating Special 2021

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STYLE ADVICE Polish off with panelling

Adding decorative woodwork is a fairly inexpensive option that can be done over a weekend, but how much you pay depends on the size of the room and how many sheets you need. A plus side to panelling is that there are so many styles out there, from Georgian and Edwardian to Regency and Victorian, all of which look stunning in a period-style property.

Georgian panelling, from £19 per sheet, The English Panelling Company

Jasper Indigo splashback, £175, Splashback

Oxwich coffee strand bamboo flooring, £72 per sq m, Woodpecker Flooring

Redo your flooring

le a splashback

Adele Light Blue tile, £15.99 per sq m, Tile Mountain

Tiling your own splashback takes time and patience to get right, but it’s a good way to save a few pounds rather than hiring a tradesperson. However, if you’re happy to loosen your purse strings a little then you can make the task easier by buying a ready-made splashback and installing it yourself, which will take half the time.

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You can easily update the flooring in a small area of your home, such as a utility room or hallway, in a day or two and for a reasonable price. Moduleo has flooring choices in a variety of styles so it’s an ideal place to start your search. Look for easy-tofit options such as click system luxury vinyl tiles or, for the quickest of fixes, try peel-and-stick vinyl tiles – there are loads of designs to choose from.

Impress laurel oak 51942, £34.99 per sq m, Moduleo

£250 & under

Add a headboard

This is a swift and simple job that can be done and dusted in under an hour. Plus, it will give your bedroom the finishing touch it deserves. Velvet and rattan headboards are all the rage at the moment – check out Habitat and Wayfair for some on-trend and affordable options.

Adeline headboard, £193.99, Wayfair

Rethink your lighting

Layering your lighting not only transforms the look of your home, but also the feel of it.

Soften your overhead light with a decorative shade, add table lamps for ambiance and desk lamps where you work or read.

Try Iconic Lights and Homesense for budget-friendly options.

Willow light wood tripod floor lamp with beige and gold reni shade, £95, Iconic Lights

Blue desk lamp, £22.99, Homesense

Cover your radiators

Updating your radiators can make a huge difference, and a cover can provide a space with the finesse it needs to complete a stylish and sophisticated look.

It’s likely that, once you fit your first cover, you’ll want one in every room!

Leonore standard mirrored radiator cover, £199.99, My Furniture

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DECORATING IDEAS

Curate a gaery

perfect

PICTURE

Zone a home office or reading area with a wall-toceiling mural that will transport you to distant shores when the energy levels drop Brenton Little Dunes wallpaper mural, from £40 per sq m, Surface View

Make the most of a Sunday afternoon by creating your own gallery wall. Start by sizing up the available space on your chosen wall, making a note of where the eye level lies. Arrange the pictures on the floor to get the layout just right, then take a photo as a record. As a rough guide, a space of 5-10cm between the frames works well, but you can adapt this to scale, such as larger spacing for big artworks or smaller for family snaps. Starting with the central piece, mark the layout on the wall with masking tape, tweaking if needed.

Hammer a pin, attach a command strip or drill a wall plug and screw into each of the template’s fixing marks, before hanging each of your cherished pieces. For more information on how to hang a picture, visit wickes.co.uk.

Make a real feature of your walls by covering them in your personality, from choice prints to statement murals

W

hether your décor styling changes each season, you’re looking for a flexible scheme or you’re living in rental accommodation, express yourself with artwork. From a gallery wall you can rearrange to a motivating mural, there are many ways to bring an artistic impact to your space that aren’t just fresh paint or wallpaper.

Don’t forget the frames, too – think vintage with chain frames Sass & Belle Geo frame, £17, Very or update a wooden favourite with co-ordinating paint.

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Path through the Wheat at Pourville by Claude Money canvas print, from £18.95, Posterlounge

DECORATING IDEAS

Give a postcard more impact by placing it in an oversized mount – it will also help create balance if you want to combine it with larger-sized prints Wood-effect oversized mount frame, £6, Dunelm

Gold and glass lace hanging frame, £27.50, Oliver Bonas

Five Circles by Rosi Feist poster, from £8.95, Juniqe

Unique art

Treat a print like any other accessory, which you can mix and match to suit the colours and textures of the vases, trinkets and ornaments nearby

‘Prints are a great way to add interest to a gallery wall and you can create them for next to nothing. For a geometric design, use masking tape to form a stencil, then fill with blocks of colour. Once you remove the tape, you’ll have clean lines that will make the finished piece look polished.’ Elaine Penhaul, Director of Lemon and Lime Interiors

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Brush Stroke canvas wall art, £70, Next Black Cat in the Garden

by Deborah Eve Alastra canvas print, from £18.95, Posterlounge

Introduce colour into a neutral scheme with tonal pastel and blush pinks on the wall art – keep the frames the same colour for a co-ordinated look Floral Adventure gallery wall prints, from £18.90 each, Desenio Diment 52 multiaperture photo frame in Oak, £119, MADE.com

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EFFORTLESS STYLE FOR OVER 25 YEARS

ice-king.co.uk © Copyright of IceKing Domestic Appliances Limited 2021. All rights reserved. E&OE.

Create a sociable space with a...

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

NEFF VENTING HOB

Make your kitchen the heart of the home with NEFF’s two-in-one appliance

Complement the Venting Hob with NEFF’s Slide&Hide oven for the ultimate kitchen combo

F

or keen cooks who love to learn new recipes, add creative twists to their dishes and share this experience with family and friends, NEFF is here to make those kitchen aspirations happen. NEFF shares your passion for food, and this is reflected in its thoughtful designs and innovative products. One such carefully considered appliance is the fits-allstyles Venting Hob, which will take you closer to your cooking and provide you with a tool to express yourself in the kitchen.

TWO-IN-ONE APPLIANCE If there’s one thing you need in your kitchen, it’s the NEFF Venting Hob. It offers two appliances in one with its powerful built-in extraction system that eliminates the need for a cooker hood – a design feature which will save you space in the kitchen.

Perfect for sociable areas, its FlexInduction design means that it can be placed anywhere in the kitchen, such as an island to make it suitable for entertaining guests or in front of a window so you can look out at the view while cooking.

Plus, the hob can be easily installed with ventilation that is ducted out or recirculated, and it’s available in several sizes to suit your household needs.

SMART FEATURES The removable and illuminated TwistPadFire dial will enable you to react quickly to bubbling pans by twisting the dial towards the cooking zones to adjust the heat. This feature is also incredibly easy to clean as the magnetic dial can be removed so you can give it a sparkling finish.

To top it off, the hob’s efficient extraction system will draw the steam out at cooking level, which means you will have fewer odours and less condensation cloud build up in the kitchen.

The ventilation system is also super quiet, so you don’t need to worry about putting a conversation on hold while you’re cooking.

The ideal addition to a family home, the Venting Hob offers plenty of space to cook for the whole household

DREAM KITCHEN DESIGN However, it’s not only the Venting Hob which deserves the limelight in the NEFF collection. There’s an abundance of other innovative appliances which go hand in hand with the hob to create a dream kitchen too, such as the Slide&Hide oven. There’s more than one reason why this appliance is an ideal choice for keen cooks…

This unique appliance has oven doors which disappear under a cavity to make it easy to taste, baste and monitor your culinary creations. Plus, its one-of-a-kind design will give you more room in the kitchen, which makes it the ideal choice for places where space is at a premium.

To find out more about the NEFF Venting Hobs, visit neff-home/uk/discover/design-highlights/venting-hob 48

yourhomestyle.uk

KiBATHROOMS tchens &

Be inspired by this month’s colourful floral prints and statement-making finishes

INSTANT IMPACT

Amp up your bathroom’s ‘wow’ factor with nuie’s new range of satin and matt black bathroom products. Whether you’re going for a monochromatic scheme or want to toughen up pretty pastel tiles, this collection will take your aesthetic to the next level. Tapping into the growing trend for industrial-inspired bathrooms, the collection includes basin mixer taps, shower enclosures and even an LED touch sensor mirror, all in a striking black finish. For the best impact, choose a full matching set with the Windon basin mixer, £170, square thermostatic shower kit, £336, and the beautifully curved Pacific quadrant enclosure, from £382 (pictured). Visit nuiebathrooms.com to view the full range.

A TOUCH OF LUXE If you’re a fan of the finer things in life, then you’re going to love the new Deluxe Marble Effect tiles by Walls and Floors. The range screams opulence, combining dramatic highcontrast veining, an oversized shape and rectified edges for maximum precision. There are both light and dark marble effects to choose from but for the ultimate boutique hotel feel, we love the Gold Leaf White Marble Effect tiles. What’s more luxurious than gold leaf, right?

The new range is priced from £39.95 per sq m.

THE BUZZ

Combining Dualit’s technical expertise with Sophie Allport’s trademark nature designs, this kettle and toaster set really is the bee’s knees.

Inspired by Sophie’s time spent in her countryside garden, the cutesy bee pattern is sure to liven up your kitchen for spring. The design is available in both the Architect kettle and the two slice toaster, priced at £125 each.

Flower power Inject a vibrant splash of

blue, yellow and pink into your kitchen with the Kip & Co Summer Pollen tea towel from Antipodream.

Made from durable French flax linen and inspired by a blossoming meadow, it’s destined to put a smile on your face, even on a drizzly day. Priced at £15.

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Escape TO THE COUNTRY KITCHEN IDEAS

Bring the cottagecore look into your kitchen with classic cabinetry, traditional tiles and heaps of country charm

T

aking the interiors world by storm, the cottagecore trend is an antidote to the uncertainty and upheaval of the events of the past year. Warm, cosy and cocooning, this nod to nostalgia is all about giving your home a warm welcome and a timeless look filled with period features, aged furniture and vintage finds.

For kitchens, think timber cabinets, painted finishes, floral prints, handmade ceramics and natural materials. It’s the perfect style for long and lazy weekend brunches, baking with the children or just chilling out with a pot of tea on a Sunday afternoon.

Rabbit and Cabbage oven gloves, £19.95, Annabel James

Brush strokes

‘Cottagecore has been a steadily growing trend that we expect to see continue into 2021. Incorporating teal will add character and rustic charm to the scheme. Consider painting kitchen cabinetry in this hue for added texture and depth.’

Helen Shaw, Marketing Director, Benjamin Moore UK Engineered wooden flooring is more practical in kitchens than natural timber, as it won’t expand or shrink in humid conditions. A warm oak plank brings character and warmth and is easy to clean, too Simply Oak Timeless Oak SO22 flooring, £60.99 per sq m, Kersaint Cobb

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For period properties with original ceiling beams, continue the timber theme with wooden worktops and painted timber cabinets. A soft white design looks great teamed with oak surfaces while traditional cup handles enhance the country styling Somerset White kitchen, from £2,412 for an eight-unit design, Benchmarx Kitchens

For a modern take, team handleless reclaimed wooden cabinets with sleek mod cons. A recessed, timber-clad shelf is handy for storage and super contemporary N 50 built-in double oven in stainless steel, £1,749; N 70 island cooker hood in stainless steel, 90cm, £929; N 70 fully integrated dishwasher, 60cm, £759; induction hob in Black, from £949, all NEFF

KITCHEN IDEAS

Shaker style ‘The cottagecore trend is all

about incorporating both natural and traditional elements to reflect a truly rustic feel. Kitchen ranges that feature classic Shaker-style doors will perfectly embody this look, especially in a cream and white palette. Combining with a wooden worktop can also help pull the look together, particularly if you’re lucky enough to have exposed beams that exude character.’

Julia Trendell, Design Expert at Benchmarx Kitchens

Woven rattan easyfit shade in Natural, £28, BHS

Kährs oak chevron Light Grey flooring, £119.99 per sq m, Carpetright

To prevent a smaller space from feeling cramped and closed in, swap wall units for open shelving instead and fill with your favourite ceramics and cookware

Original kitchen, from £20,000, Harvey Jones

Fish & Chips print, £20, Rocket Jack

A smart new sink will add new life to worksurfaces. A granite design is ultratough while this collection comes in 14 colours and is enhanced with an antibacterial material so it’s hygienic, too Waterfall 1.5 bowl sink in Polaris, £860, SCHOCK by Rangemaster

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trebliG yelyaH erutaeF

Get the look and feel of natural wood flooring with an engineered wood, which is more suitable for kitchens and is also easy to install. The chevron style is so on-trend right now and is a pattern that works well in open-plan spaces

KITCHEN IDEAS

Flr show

‘For the authentic country kitchen feel, muted wood or stone flooring offer a chic yet rustic look. If your budget won’t stretch to authentic stone or reclaimed timbers, consider a hard flooring or vinyl solution.

Today’s vinyl, luxury vinyl or suitable-forkitchen laminate will effectively emulate more expensive styles, creating a charming look that will remain on trend for years to come.’

David Snazel, Buyer for Hard Flooring at Carpetright that add a warm, cosy feel when closed, as well as a statement pattern that you can pick out accent colours for elsewhere in the room Galloway Roman blinds in Oatmeal, from £26.40, Swift Direct Blinds

A classically styled range cooker not only provides all the practical features and functions you need for everyday meals and entertaining, but it can also enhance the country chic look, especially if you go for a sleek Slate colour, as seen here Victoria TR103GR 100cm range cooker, £2,299, Smeg

Create a feature wall in an open-plan kitchen diner with a brightly coloured floral print. This on-trend yellow design looks stunning paired with deep blue woodwork and timber accents Hortus Mustard wallpaper, £65 per roll, Graham & Brown

KITCHEN IDEAS

Handmade lighting gives the kitchen an artisan feel for that vintage country vibe. These ceramic pendants come with a twisted olive flex for added charm Cecilia ceramic shade with pendant light kit, £61 each, Pooky

Made in Yorkshire, these units are hand painted and offer a farmhouse look with plenty of English country chic.

Space-saving solutions include larder cupboards and deep pan drawers, so it’s ideal for kitchens of all sizes and it also comes in Milk and Biscuit tones

For a modern twist on the Shaker look, choose a muted palette and a subtle woodgrain texture that can be seen beneath the painted finish. Team with metallic and pastel accessories and printed textiles for a personal touch Winchester kitchen in Dove Grey, from £2,626, Magnet

Farmhouse teapot, £19.99, Dobbies

Country Living Hastings kitchen in Clotted Cream, from £1,198 for an eight-unit design, Homebase

Tile file ‘Creating a country look

is all about neutral tones and textures. Glossy glazed wall tiles in muted tones and rustic finishes, as well as co-ordinating mouldings to frame areas to perfection, are an ideal choice.’

Jane Addis, New Products and Design Manager at Original Style

Multicoloured Hearts table runner, £25, Sophie Allport

Ceramic wall tiles with a lustre finish bring a glossy look to splashbacks and feature areas while a natural colourway will work beautifully alongside wooden textures. Look for a collection that comes with field tiles and matching mouldings for the perfect finish Winchester range Metropolitan Hemp brick tiles, £92.95 per sq m, Original Style

Half-height window shutters provide privacy while letting plenty of natural light in, perfect for kitchens that are overlooked.

A fresh cream finish will complement all cabinet colours and flooring designs and can be teamed with a dramatic dark feature wall for a statement look Cream shutters, £168 per sq m, California Shutters

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BATHROOM PROBLEM ROOM

We used clever design to Heather and Peter Dyson turned their small bathroom with awkward angles

INSIDER INFO WHO LIVES HERE?

Heather Dyson, 37, a psychologist with her own practice lives in her 1930s extended house in Fetcham with husband, Peter, 39, a senior manager in an insurance company, and baby son, Rowan.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE ROOM?

I like the way our separate tastes have combined so well. Pete likes the functional look whereas I like things to be elegant, so we had to compromise. It’s become a mixture of traditional and modern and somehow it works.

WHAT DESIGN ADVICE DO YOU HAVE?

Employ someone with high standards. Our builder, David Cooper, refused to do any job where, for instance, you can see untidy pipework. All his projects have concealed cisterns, which are better for cleaning and have a more attractive look.

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H

eather and Peter Dyson’s house started with two bedrooms and a tiny bathroom, but they’ve now extended their 1930s home to twice its size. It took a year of work and the rooms now include an en suite shower and a new family bathroom.

Heather admits that the bathroom still isn’t huge, but they overcame the main challenge, which was its awkward shape. ‘The bathroom is an L-shape with a skeiling, which means that the ceiling slants down to meet the wall at a low angle – it really dominated the room when we first bought the house.’

The couple asked the designers at Bathroom Eleven for their help in creating a new layout. ‘There was very limited space for a shower and the only place to put it was to the left of the door,’ says Heather. ‘That was where the ceiling was high enough for someone to be able to stand upright. It’s also where the room goes further back than the door, making it L-shaped.’

MAXIMISE THE LIGHT The couple placed three strips of antique bronze mirroring in a row above the basin, toilet and bath to bounce light around the space

A designer from Bathroom Eleven gave their advice on this tricky project. ‘Normally, I would have designed a glass enclosure with a sliding door for the shower,’ the designer explains. ‘But a door wouldn’t have worked here as the shower area is only 1.53 square metres, and there was a window in the way.

So, we installed two glass panels instead.’

It was also tricky to fit the bath into the space, as realistically it could only go in one place, which was to the right of the door.

‘Even then, it’s only around 150cm long,’ says Heather. ‘You can’t lie down in it and can only sit at one end because if you sat at the other, you’d bang your head on the ceiling!’

The Dysons might have been limited when it came to the layout, but they didn’t

BATHROOM PROBLEM ROOM

get around a low ceiling and a slanted ceiling into one with plenty of character and smart features allow this to get in the way of their style choices. The couple didn’t want a plain white bathroom, so they chose something with character instead, which is in keeping with the quirky layout of the space. The basin sits on a bespoke cabinet with pewter handles, which is topped with natural oak, and the taps are a traditional Victorian style.

However, the Roca Duplo toilet is a modern wall-hung version as Heather wanted it to be as simple and unnoticeable as possible. ‘It’s a floating design and discreetly tucked away in a corner,’ says Heather. ‘We didn’t want any pipes to be on show.’

The cistern and the soil pipe are concealed behind a faux wall, which is covered with grey metro tiles that continue around the room.

The couple chose these tiles for a neutral background and added a patchwork wall in the shower. ‘We found some lovely antiquelooking tiles in soft blues and greys from Porcelanosa – they were exactly what we wanted, and they add character to the space,’ says Heather. Now, the Dyson’s unusually shaped bathroom has charm and style.

NEUTRAL BACKGROUND

The couple chose tonal grey wall tiles, so the main features stand out and the room appears bigger

ANTIQUE ACCENTS

Heather chose the bowl-like basin for its simple, elegant shape, but it also takes up less room, too

SHOPPING LIST

Carron profile bath, £288.67; Belgravia wallmounted bath spout, £99; Belgravia Crosshead wall stop taps, £259; BOMTrent thermostatic twin outlet concealed diverter shower valve, £590.83; Design side panel in Silver 400, £204.17; Design side panel in Silver 500, £212.50; Bauhaus Castellon Plus countertop basin overflow in White, £195.83; Belgravia crosshead basin mixer, £254.17; Vanity unit with natural oak worktop in Sage Brush, £1,465; Roca Duplo wall-hung pan plus S20 soft-close seat, £683.89; for similar shaving mirror try Aqualux Pro 2515 circular shaving mirror, £44.80; Lazzarini curved rail wall-hung radiator including valve, 600 x 1,110cm, £131.28, all Bathroom Eleven.

For similar cabin wall lights try Brass Xio-light up and downlight, £58.99 each, Lucide. Park Antique Silver floor and wall tiles, £81 per sq m; Oxford Antracita floor tiles, £113 per sq m, both Porcelanosa. For similar wall tiles try Light Grey Metro ceramic wall tiles, £16.99 per sq m, Crown Tiles. Brilliant White wall and ceiling paint, £22 per 10L, Dulux

TOTAL COST:

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Choose vintagestyle tiles to add a touch of personality and character

KEEP IT SIMPLE

£5,726.57

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BATHROOM IDEAS

A shimmering copper bath is the ultimate indulgence, but you can save a fortune and achieve a similar look on a tight budget by gilding a tub yourself

Copper transfer leaf, from £2.75 for a booklet covering just under half a sq m, Gold Leaf Supplies; learn how to gild in an online course by Lara Bezzina, £32

Sof t TOUCH

‘To keep metal surfaces such as copper looking their best, be wary of strong detergents or cleaning products as these can cause damage.

Always use a soft cloth rather than a brush to avoid scratches.’

George Holland, Bathroom Design Expert at Victorian Plumbing

PreciousMETALS Give your bathroom a sparkling, sophisticated look with flashes of metal in eye-catching polished and matt finishes

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BATHROOM IDEAS As good as gold... these brushed gold accessories work wonders against a neutral backdrop and white sanitaryware Three tier shelves with hanging rail, £65; mirror, £60, both Next

Mix glossy bronze, edgy concrete and marble tiles to give a feature wall or splashback a fabulous 3D effect

Rhomba Metallic, Tekno Grey and Torrano diamondshaped ceramic tiles, £64.58 per sq m, Topps Tiles

Brooklyn dome wall light in Copper, £139, Industville

Bran wall hook in Copper, £49, MADE.com

I

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t’s not that long ago when the only metal you’d find in fashionable bathrooms was chrome, but nowadays it has lots of competition. Gleaming gold, crisp copper, bold brass as well as steely black are all having their moment, and don’t be afraid to mix them together for extra impact. Shiny or iridescent fittings and accessories complement dark walls as they reflect and bounce light around, and brushed metal taps, showers and trims add interest to any setting.

With veins of gold, brass-coloured feet and spacious shelves, this vanity cabinet will enhance sleek, sophisticated bathrooms Liv solid mango vanity cabinet, from £469, Tikamoon

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BATHROOM IDEAS Combine a brass showerhead with understated marble tiles for upscale showering on an everyday budget

Arezzo round 200mm brushed brass shower head and wall arm, £99.95, Victorian Plumbing Glass vanity jar, £12.99, Homesense

Bristan traditional bath filler in Soft Gold, £240, Not Just Taps

Tile TIPS

Bring an indulgent feel to bathtime with a geometric wallcovering. This one is inspired by the nightlife of the roaring twenties, with opulent silver fans on a rich navy background

‘The reflective, shimmering surfaces of metal tiles help to cascade light around a room and really open up smaller spaces. Go for tactility in your shower cubicle with shimmering textured tiles, or why not try a metallic gloss metro feature wall for mirrored shine?

Ordering samples is a great way to help you decide.’

Abby Reilly, Blog Editor at Walls and Floors

A fresh take on the timeless subway shape, these mirrored brick-shaped tiles have a distressed, silvered surface, enhancing depth and light while stopping short of being blingy Foxed mirror 150 x 200mm tiles, £4.95 per tile, Walls and Floors

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Rene Nightfall wallpaper, £55 for a 10m roll, Graham & Brown

A towel radiator in trendy brushed copper brings far more warmth to the room than conventional chrome and looks striking set against dark blue tiles DQ Rosa towel radiator in copper lacquer, from £149, Just Radiators

BATHROOM IDEAS Crown a countertop or vanity unit with this gold basin to create a shining centrepiece, and combine it with neutral tiles and a black hi-rise or wall-mounted mixer that won’t detract from the main event

Arezzo round 405mm Gold ceramic basin, £129.95; Pablo Matt Black crosshead mixer tap, £169.95, both Victorian Plumbing

Inject a touch of urban luxe with wall-mounted cabinets and matching tiles in shiny bronze, and keep the floor pale to maximise light

Metal wire basket, £1, PEP&CO at Poundland

Sit-on Simplicity sink unit in Vogue, Bronze Gloss, £549, Mereway Bathrooms. Similar brass wall tiles, £24.50 per sq m, Tile Expert

Go for

Hexagon chain mirror, £12, Habitat

GLAMOUR ‘It’s easy to add glamour through

small metallic accents such as the handles on furniture and sparkling taps, then pick up this theme with complementary accessories to create an opulent feel. For maximum impact, we’d always recommend teaming metallic touches with contrasting finishes.’

Helen Clark, Head of Marketing at Utopia

Gold metal bath tray, £34.50, Oliver Bonas

Less is more when it comes to this streamlined built-in furniture, incorporating a coppery handle trim that contrasts beautifully with the grey units Flat Grey furniture from the Contemporary Fitted collection, from £275 for a single door base unit, Utopia

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Crazy Golf!”

SPECIAL OFFER!

20%OFF Now £15.99

OPS F FE E !R AIC L

“Your family will love If you quote Ref: YH23A

Have fun in the garden, on the grass or the patio, or indoors, with this superb new Crazy Golf set!

This high-quality, two-player set, suitable for both left handers and right handers, includes six obstacles, plus two children’s clubs and three ‘lightweight’ golf balls, meaning no broken windows!

Completely safe and brilliant fun! Ages 3 to 12.

Box size approx. 58cm x 32.5cm

Buy Now! Call 0844 848 2823* quote ref. YH23A to receive your 20% discount.

or visit www.happypuzzle.co.uk/golf Send coupon to: ‘Crazy Golf’ Your Home Offer c/o THPC, PO Box 586, Elstree, Herts WD6 3XY

“We absolutely love this.

It’s good old-fashioned fun in the garden! Great stuff!” ★★★★★

Michelle Johnson, Rotherham Remember to quote YH23A to get your SPECIAL OFFER price

the Happy Puzzle Company YH23A

Order Code: Item: Qty Was Now Total BTGLF 1 x ‘Crazy Golf’ SAVE £4! £15.99 BTGLF 2 x ‘Crazy Golf’ SAVE £8! £31.98 Standard Delivery (approx. 3 to 5 days) Please note that offer £3.95 code also discounts delivery charge by 20% (regular p and p £4.95) FREE UK delivery on orders over £50!

Next Day Delivery - Order before 2pm and receive your order £8.95 on the next working day (excludes weekends and Bank Holidays) Grand Total Title Initial Surname Address Postcode Daytime Telephone Number I enclose a cheque / postal order, payable to THPC Value £ Or please debit my credit / debit card Card No. Expiry Date Valid From Date Issue No. 3 Digit Security Code.

Print Name Signature Date The Happy Puzzle Company would like to permit carefully chosen third party companies to contact you with special offers from time to time. If you don’t wish to receive this information, please tick here

* Our 0844 numbers cost 7p per minute plus your phone company's access charge.

Offer ends 11.59pm 31st December 2021!

RATED 4.6 OUT OF 5 FROM OVER 30,000 REVIEWS!

YOUR handmade HOME YO

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Check out this month’s round-up of crafty projects

Y

LOVHES

68 62 EASY AS 1, 2, 3!

Learn how to make three fruity accessories for your home using air drying clay and paint.

64 REVAMP REPAIR RECYCLE

68 DIY MASTERCLASS

Jazz up your walls with our stylish trio of paint techniques.

70 ASK THE EXPERTS

Keep your memos and important dates organised by creating a blackboard planner.

is month, the professionals show you how to prep plaster for painting, restore floorboards, create tile designs, find the best lighting and discover soothing colours for the bedroom.

Create a cute hanging organiser for a little one’s room with this easy-stitch project.

Check out the latest creative workshops and inspiring new books and kits.

66 SEW SIMPLE

Turn to page 35 for your chance to win a Cricut bundle!

72 CRAFT STASH MUST HAVES

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Easy as 1, 2, 3!

Air drying clay is such a fun material to work with, once you master a few key skills with this trio of bright projects, you’ll be potty about pottery!

Top tip

If the reverse of this hanging will be visible, paint both sides of the clay.

Cut off the excess twine and hide the knots in the holes of the clay.

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FRUIT SALAD HANGING

CITRUS PLANT POT

SHOPPING LIST

SHOPPING LIST ✔ 1kg Hobbycraft White air drying clay

✔ Acrylic paints ✔ Fine-tipped paintbrush ✔ Scissors ✔ String/twine ✔ Large-eyed needle ✔ Rolling pin ✔ Drinking glass or compass ✔ Paper ✔ Knife ✔ Ruler

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Roll out the clay to 4mm thick. Cut out some paper circles by drawing around drinking glasses or using a compass, then use these as templates to cut circles and semi-circles out of your clay. Create a variety of sizes between 4-7cm in diameter. With damp hands, smooth the edges, then poke a central hole into the top and bottom edges to feed the twine through.

Allow to dry completely – from 24 to 48 hours.

Apply a coat of white acrylic paint and allow to dry. Paint each shape with a fruit design.

Make a tassel – wrap twine around a rectangle of card, tie the loops together at one end and then cut the other. Wrap thread around the top to hold it together. Thread some twine through the holes in the fruit and tie at the back, sticking down the ends on the reverse. Add the tassel at the bottom and a loop at the top.

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✔ 1kg Hobbycraft White air drying clay ✔ Rolling pin ✔ Acrylic paints ✔ Gold paint ✔ Paintbrushes ✔ Tape measure ✔ Knife ✔ Paper ✔ Pencil

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On a smooth and easy to wipe clean surface, roll out your clay to approximately 7mm thick. Draw an 11cm diameter circle on paper, rest this on the clay and cut around it to make the base. Smooth out the edges. Lift off the work surface and place to one side.

Roll out a rectangle measuring 35 x 11cm.

Lift up the rectangle and wrap it around to make a tube and align the tube with the outer edge of the base. Press down where the tube overlaps to bond them together, then press and pinch along the edges where the tube meets the base to fuse together. Use wet hands to smooth out the sides and top edge. Allow to dry completely – this could take 48 to 72 hours.

Apply a coat of white acrylic paint to the outside of the pot. Leave to dry. Paint with a selection of simple fruit motifs – see our main image for inspiration or create your own designs.

Add a rim of gold paint. This is a decorative plant pot only, don’t place soil directly inside.

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SHOPPI NG LIST ✔ 1kg Hobbycraft White air drying clay

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WATERMELON TRINKET DISH

✔ Acrylic paints ✔ Paintbrushes ✔ Ruler ✔ Measuring scales

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Weigh out 90g of clay and press into a rough semi-circular shape. You needn’t weigh the clay if you are not aiming for this specific size – 90g is the ideal amount for our size of dish.

Continue to press and mould the clay until you have formed a semi-circular dish that’s around 12cm in diameter across the flat edge, with a lip at the edge around 1.5cm high. Use water to smooth out the surface and, with a ruler, make sure the flat edge is straight. Take your time at this stage as this is the trickiest step but the most important to the finish. Once you are completely happy with the shape allow to dry completely – this could take 24 to 48 hours.

Apply a base coat of white acrylic paint and leave to dry. Paint the dish with a stylised watermelon design with the flesh in a hot pink, the rind in a rich green and the pips in black. You can either use shop-bought colours or mix your own custom shades for a pop of originality.

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REVAMP REPAIR recycle

Get organised with a family wall planner made from a wooden frame, and give it a distressed painted finish for a vintage look

K

eeping track of everyone’s schedule can be tricky in a busy household, so DIY a stylish solution with a wall organiser made from a photo frame. It’s got a chalkboard daily planner, a cork section for pinning cute kids’ drawings, postcards and notes, and handy hooks for hanging keys and kitchen essentials. Finish it off with distressed chalk paint for a rustic, country kitchen vibe.

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To make the central strut, take a pencil and ruler and draw a 4 x 19cm rectangle onto a sheet of 4mm thick ply. Use a fine hand saw to cut it out, then lightly sand it. Apply three thin coats of RustOleum Chalky Finish paint in Duck Egg, leaving it to dry fully between each coat.

Once dry, apply a thin coat of clear furniture wax with a clean, dry cloth, then buff the surface gently until the wax has soaked in.

Apply three thin coats of paint to the wooden knobs, taking care not to let the paint build up or drip. As before, once the paint has completely dried, apply a coat of furniture wax and buff with a clean, soft cloth.

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Remove the mounts and backing board from the frame and use masking tape to cover the white outer edge. Measure and mark out four evenly spaced holes along the bottom edge and drill each one – these will be used to fix your knobs in place later. Apply three coats of paint all over, leaving each coat to dry. As before, use a soft cloth to apply clear wax over the paint, this time rubbing a little harder at the edges to create a distressed effect.

From a piece of 4mm thick ply, mark out a 20 x 20.5cm rectangle with a pencil and ruler. Use a fine hand saw to cut the piece out, then gently sand the edges to remove any splinters. Apply three coats of chalkboard paint to one side using a paintbrush, letting each coat dry before you start the next.

Place a cork tile down on a cutting mat, right side (RS) facing up. Draw a 20 x 20.5cm rectangle onto it using a pencil and ruler, then use a craft knife to cut the shape out.

With both the chalkboard and the cork pieces prepared, it’s time to glue them into place. Turn the frame over, so the back is

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facing upwards. Apply a small amount of Gorilla wood glue around the lipped inner edge of the frame, then place the chalkboard piece (with the RS down) at the top of the aperture, aligning the top and side edges. Repeat to place the cork piece (with the RS down) in the bottom half of the frame. Turn the frame over, gently apply pressure, then wipe away any glue that might have leaked out. Leave to dry, then turn over the frame and replace the backing board.

Glue the strut you cut in step one into place. Lay the frame down with the RS facing up and apply a line of Gorilla wood glue to the back of the strut, then push it into place across the middle of your frame. Apply gentle pressure and leave to dry, then use paint to cover the joins. Use a screwdriver to fix each of the knobs into place along the bottom of the frame.

With the frame finished, it’s time to draw the chalkboard grid. Use a ruler and a pencil to mark a seven by five grid onto the chalkboard, then go over the lines with the Duck Egg paint. Write the days of the week (or letters to represent them) above each column to finish.

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Top tip

Wear the paint away in areas that it would naturally occur, such as around the edges and corners of the frame.

SHOPPING LIST

✔ 10 x 4mm thick 210 x 300mm birch plywood boards ✔ Pencil ✔ Ruler ✔ Fine cut saw ✔ Sandpaper ✔ Paintbrushes ✔ RustOleum Chalky Finish furniture paint in Duck Egg ✔ RustOleum Clear Furniture Finishing Wax ✔ 4 x drawer knobs, 3cm wide ✔ Clean cloth ✔ Multi-aperture light wood photo frame ✔ Masking tape ✔ Drill ✔ RustOleum Chalkboard Paint in Matt Black ✔ Cork tile ✔ Craft knife ✔ Gorilla wood glue ✔ Screwdriver sacuL notlrahC hteB gnilytS slewoS lihP otohp niaM tnarraT eihpoS sotohp pets dna tcejorP

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SEW simple Stitch this easy-sew children’s organiser to help keep your little one’s room clear of clutter

W

hat’s one of the best things you can teach a child? How to tidy up! is easy-sew organiser is the perfect place for them to store all of their bits and bobs. With safari animal-pattern and bright sunny yellow fabric, finished with bias binding and several compartments for toys, books and colouring pencils, this fun project will help to keep their room organised.

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Cut two pocket pieces from safaripatterned fabric measuring 17 x 23cm, and a third piece from the same fabric measuring 17 x 40cm. Iron on the interfacing to the piece of plain backing fabric and cut two rectangles from the backing material measuring 30 x 60cm.

Sew the bias binding to the top and bottom edges of the top pocket piece, then turn the two sides under and hem with a single line of stitching. Repeat for the second pocket.

Place the zip to the top edge of the bottom pocket and pin it in place with right sides (RS) facing. Sew the zip to the pocket, then

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flip it over to the RS and topstitch. Hem the other three sides of the pocket.

Mark the centre of the long middle pocket, then mark the centre of each half.

Do the same on one of the backing panels so you know where you want the middle pocket to sit.

Take the marked backing piece and position the larger middle pocket centrally on the mark. Sew a line of stitching to hold the pocket in place in the centre, then match up the quarter marks on the pocket with the ones on the backing fabric and sew a straight line vertically where each mark is. Secure the pockets by sewing along the edges of the panel. To finish this pocket, flatten the bottom edge and sew along the edge of the bias binding to create four pocket pouches.

If you like, you can add a patch or felt motif, either shop-bought or homemade, to the centre of the top pocket at this stage. To do so, mark the centre of the pocket and iron or sew the felt patch in place. Once the decoration is attached, you can sew the pocket to the backing panel along the sides and bottom.

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Top tip

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You can make your own bias binding for this project, too. Simply head over to gathered. how/sewing-andquilting for an easy-tofollow guide.

To attach the bottom pocket, mark where you need the top of the pocket to be on the backing fabric, place the zip on the mark but with the pocket sitting above the zip with RS facing. Fold the raw ends of the zip in and sew the zip tape in place. Fold the pocket and sew it in place around the three remaining edges. Place the backing panel with the pocket panel and sew the two together around the edges, with a 0.5cm seam allowance so it won’t be seen once the bias binding is sewn around the edge.

To finish off the edges, sew bias binding around the edges of the main panel’s backing panel. To do this, unfold the edges of the binding then place an edge against the raw edge of the fabric, with RS together. Fold the binding over the fabric then sew along the fold closest to the edge of the material. Once you have sewn along the length of the piece, fold the binding over to the other edge and sew in place.

Use the bias binding to make two loops for hanging to your desired length and sew them to the top corners of the panel.

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SHOPPI NG LIST ✔ Printed cotton fabric, 0.5m ✔ Plain

backing cotton fabric, 0.5m ✔ Mediumweight fusible interfacing ✔ Matching thread ✔ 4m bias binding ✔ Zip, 20cm ✔ Felt and Bondaweb, or a ready-made decorative patch ✔ Iron ✔ Basic sewing kit

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I

f you’re searching for more creative ways to bring colour and pattern to your walls, then you’ve come to the right place! In this month’s DIY Masterclass, we show you three ways to spruce up your walls including stencilling, stripes and scallops, and geometric patterns – the latter is the perfect way to brighten up a little one’s room.

Sencilled wall SHOPPI NG LIST ✔ Faux Bone Inlay stencil, or stencil of your choice ✔ Masking tape ✔ Chalk paint in your chosen colour ✔ Annie Sloan MixMat ✔ Large sponge roller

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Stick your chosen stencil in place on the wall with some masking tape to ensure it doesn’t move as you’re painting.

Turn the chalk paint tin upside down and shake before opening the tin – if the paint’s too thick, add a little water and stir until it’s the desired consistency.

Pour a small amount of chalk paint onto the MixMat and slowly roll a large sponge roller back and forth to load it with an even spread of paint.

Apply the paint to the stencil, going over the design from left to right, then top to bottom; this will ensure even coverage.

Don’t put the paint on too thickly – it’s best to apply a couple of thin coats rather than one thick one to avoid any paint bleeding through.

Before the paint is completely dry, remove the stencil to avoid cracking the paint.

Repeat this method until you’ve achieved the desired look.

To take it one step further, use multiple colours within one stencil for a more colourful result or apply shading to create a slightly raised effect on the design.

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Get inspired

for more ideas on updating your walls, head to anniesloan.com.

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Top tip

‘Less is more. Using less paint will keep the lines of the design crisp and clean for a striking overall finish.’

Annie Sloan, Colour and Paint Expert

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Add a pop of personality to your walls with more than just a wall in a contrast shade – try out our three ways with wall paint

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DIYmasterclass

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Scallop and stripe SHOPPING LIST

✔ Pencil ✔ 1m ruler ✔ Low-tack masking tape ✔ Protractor or cardboard ✔ Damp cloth ✔ Thin angled paintbrush ✔ Small roller brush or medium paintbrush ✔ Paint

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Decide how thick you want each stripe to be by playing around with measurements on the wall before marking out the final lines using a pencil and ruler.

Once you’re happy, apply masking tape along the lines. You should use a low-tack tape to avoid peeling off the paint underneath when you remove it.

Once the tape is up, run a credit card along the edges to make sure it is fully sealed to the wall. This will stop any paint sneaking through and will ensure the lines are clean.

For the scalloped shape, use the arch of a protractor as a guide or cut a semi-circle out of thin cardboard to the exact size you want, then draw these outlines onto the wall.

For painting the scalloped edges, you’ll need a thin angled brush and a steady hand to make sure you don’t go outside of the lines. However, if you do go outside of the lines then keep a damp cloth to hand so you can wipe the paint away quickly.

Get inspired

6 7

Depending on how large the stripes are, you can use a small roller or medium paintbrush to fill them with colour. If using a brush, apply the paint in one direction.

Once you’ve painted the stripes, remove the tape while the paint is still a little wet; this will stop the paint peeling off with the tape.

earthbornpaints.co.uk.

Geometric pattern SHOPPING LIST ✔ Coloured chalk ✔ White string

✔ Masking tape ✔ Tape measure ✔ Dulux matt emulsion in Pebble Shore, Dusted Fondant, Banana Split and White Cotton ✔ Roller and tray ✔ Paintbrush

1 2

Use the chalk to mark one point of one of the shapes on the wall, then cut a piece of string that’s long enough to reach where you’d like the next point to be. Rub chalk along the entire length of the string.

Put masking tape on one end of the string and attach it to the first point you’ve marked for the shape. Place the string in a straight line taut against the wall so it goes towards where you want the next point to be.

Mark the spot for the second point at the end of the string then take the string away from the

wall. This will leave you with a straight chalk line.

Repeat this process for the first shape, then mask off the outline using the chalk line as a guide.

Seal the inside edges of the tape by painting over them with White Cotton, then allow it to dry and fill the shape in with a paint colour of your choice. Remove the masking tape from the first shape while the paint is still slightly wet to prevent it cracking.

Repeat the process of making chalk lines, masking off and painting on the colour for the next two shapes. Make sure you allow the paint to almost dry before removing the tape to leave a clean finish between the shapes.

3

4

Get inspired

YouTube channel at Dulux UK for a video tutorial on this technique Decorating Special 2021

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ASK THE

experts

Q A

Q

How do I prep plaster for painting?

Susanne Harris, Newport Cathryn Helsby, Head of Creative Marketing at Earthborn Paints, says…

Very easily. With Earthborn Paints there is no need for special primers or processes – you just need to ensure that the plaster is free from dust and that you have as smooth a finish as possible. If in doubt, wash your walls with diluted sugar soap liquid and leave to dry.

A

Claypaint in Grassy, £45 per 2.5L, Earthborn Paints

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!s

roceD

This month our team of experts tingidea a focuses on solving all of your decorating questions Earthborn Claypaint is perfect for use on fresh plaster. The plaster needs to be left to dry for just a couple of days before it’s ready to paint. Give it a brushing down to remove any dust, then apply an emulsion consisting of our Claypaint diluted with 20 per cent water as a first coat. Once dry, apply a second full coat of Claypaint to finish.

Earthborn Lifestyle Emulsion is also suitable for use on fresh plaster, but you’d need to allow the plaster to dry for slightly longer – between a week and 10 days.

The process for preparation and painting would then be exactly the same as for using Claypaint.

I want to make a design statement in the bathroom. What tile designs could I use to create a feature wall?

Mabel Jackson, Kent Abbas Youssefi, Director at Porcelain Superstore, says…

There are plenty of ways to add an eye-catching feature in the bathroom.

Patterned tiles are a classic way to add some punch, especially if you want a quick and easy makeover. If you’re on a budget, choose a really vibrant tile and create a feature in the shower enclosure or sink splashback. Not only will this give the space a new feel, it will draw attention from the rest of the space, so no one will notice that you haven't decorated the whole room.

If you prefer to take a more subtle approach to décor, adding colour and texture is a fantastic way to create a feature wall. The Shiraz Turquoise tile (pictured) brings together a striking colour palette and intricate detailing.

Use a more neutral tile within the rest of the space to truly showcase the standout wall.

Finally, why not turn the grout joints into a feature? This works wonderfully well with geometric tiles such as Arrows Gloss White (also pictured). Use a contrasting grout colour to make the joints really pop. Mid grey is the classic or go for a more unusual colour!

Q A

How can I restore old floorboards without having to hire a professional? Ryan Thomas, Southampton David Gardiner, Product Manager for Woodpecker Flooring, says… Firstly, give the old floorboards a thorough clean with a wood floor cleaner to remove surface dirt. Next, identify what the original floor coating is – a smooth hard lacquer that still looks shiny in places or a duller looking oil or wax that can be scratched more easily. A dry, dusty surface may suggest that the wood is untreated. Old lacquered coatings may look patchy if they have worn through in places – in this instance sanding back to the bare wood is needed before applying a new coat of lacquer. If the old lacquer is largely complete, just worn and faded, there are some good lacquers around that can be applied after a light sanding to provide some grip – always test a small area first.

Old wax finishes can often be polished up and refreshed with a hard wax oil.

Woodpecker One Coat cleaner is a great One coat cleaner, product for removing ingrained dirt and Woodpecker One Coat oil is specifically £35 for 1L, Woodpecker Flooring designed to restore the surface.

Q A

I’d like to redecorate my bedroom to make it more relaxing. What colours are best for a good night’s sleep?

Christina Alvarez, Cheshire Abby Hesketh, Product Manager and Paint & Colour Specialist at Graham & Brown, says…

The first thing we need to consider: why do colours matter? After all, you close your eyes when you sleep, so why would colour have any effect? Well, studies have shown that the colour of our bedroom does have a significant impact on the quality of our sleep and it’s down to psychology. Colours influence our emotions and therefore we attribute values and meanings to them.

With that in mind, the best colours for sleep tend to be on the cold spectrum and work even better the deeper the shade you pick – think navy blue or deep green with hints of brown.

These colours are associated with nature, serenity and healing, which are all beneficial to a good night’s rest. However, this doesn’t mean paler, more muted tones are off the table.

Some people would prefer their room to feel fresh rather than a cocoon but again, if sleep is the aim, keep these lighter colours cool rather than warm. Stay away from bright colours such as red, orange or yellow as these are linked to energising emotions such as creativity, inspiration and enthusiasm, which may not be what you’re after as you wind down to sleep.

Q A

My kitchen doesn’t get much natural light.

What kitchen lighting design would you recommend?

Thomas Sinclair, Sunderland Julia Trendell, Lighting Expert at Benchmarx Kitchens, says… Lighting is sometimes overlooked when planning a kitchen, but it can have an instant and dramatic effect on the room.

Pendant lighting is great for adding focused illumination, so it’s worth considering for locations where you will be spending time on specific tasks, such as above an island, peninsula or seating nook. This type of lighting can also be maximised to create a design feature. From contemporary glass through to antique brass options, the dropped level of pendants can really help to draw the eye and create the perfect finishing touch for any style of kitchen.

Lighting can also be used to zone your kitchen, particularly in open-plan spaces. Here, you can establish subtle divides in the space as well as carrying through elements of the design for a sleek, congruous finish. Think about the glow you want each space to have – cool white bulbs for task lighting or warm white for dining.

Adding lighting beneath your counter, your plinths and in glass cabinets can create a great effect as it’s these touches that give a kitchen a designer edge. Not only can you highlight

Glasshouse Green wallpaper, £65 per roll, Graham & Brown

Sherwood mix and match kitchen, prices from £1,650 for an eight-unit kitchen, Benchmarx Kitchens

specific features, but it also allows you to easily change the ambience of the area depending on how the space is being used.

My golden rule is to avoid going overboard as you run the risk of dazzling. Instead, choose a few elements that will work well together. For example, pair pendant lighting with plinth lights for a harmonious combination of eye-catching and practical illumination.

WE NEED YOUR QUESTIONS!

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

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Craft stash MUST HAVES Read on to find the low-down on the latest crafting news, fun-filled workshops and brilliant buys this month

Workshop TAKE YOUR PICK

Not sure what craft you’d like to try next?

Head over to Yodomo for a huge selection of online classes to choose from. Why not turn your hand to crochet, or perhaps the art of kintsugi appeals to you?

Alternatively, for just £29.99, you can make a pajaki chandelier (pictured); these are traditionally made in Poland from rye straw and paper. Whatever you choose, you’re bound to find a course at Yodomo that tickles your fancy.

CRAFTY LITTLE HELPER Whether you love to create DIY projects, want to make stylish labels to organise your stash – Marie Kondo, eat your heart out! – or even if you’re only just dipping your toes into the creative world, a Cricut Joy machine will have you addicted to crafting from the get-go. With the £179.99 machine you can cut over 50 different materials, create greetings cards and do so much more.

For more information on the machine and for your chance to win one, along with lots of other Cricut goodies, turn to page 35.

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Cut and tim If you’re looking for a way to spruce up your sofa

or soft furnishings, search no further than Samuel & Sons. From £22 per metre, you can purchase an expertly crafted cord or delicately embroidered border trim to polish off your upholstery or curtains. Each new piece in the 2021 collection is beautifully made and inspired by intricate treille – architectural lattice work – to ensure an elegant finish on all your carefully crafted projects.

MINDFUL MAKING

With more of us having spent time at home recently, our houses have become more important than ever as sanctuaries that support our well-being – and this read by Joanna ornhill shows you how to harness this power. Published by Laurence King for £14.99, this book will help you decorate your home with projects such as how to create plant holders, natural dyes and clay creations.

Mini oasis

Give your youngster the opportunity to step into the world of botany. The £15 set from The Den Kit Company will provide them with a 50+ page notebook, tracing paper, labels, glue, a drawstring bag, and a guide on how to create their herbarium so they can capture and record all of the plants they find.

Next month in…

REOAMDEESR HFull of clever

YH

LOVES

tricks and inspiring ideas

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Bargain buys to brighten up your home for summer

Simple, stylish craft projects you’ll love to make

Tasty picnic recipes, plus pub lunch classics for Father’s Day!

On sale 27th May 2021

To subscribe, call 03301 358962 or visit BUYSUBSCRIPTIONS.COM/YHP268 Decorating Special 2021

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Based on over 100,000 Excellent Reviews

Reader HOMES

r S youhere! home

Have you just finished decorating your house? If so, we’d love to see your photos – and, who knows, it may even star in a future issue. Email your pictures to yourhome@ immediate.co.uk

Take a peek inside stylish properties that are packed with fresh decorating ideas

76

Kesiah Smithers made her house a home with tropical plants, textured textiles and an earthy colour palette

Maxine Brady transformed her Victorian terrace into a happy haven of brights and prints

88 BEST-EVER DÉCOR IDEAS

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40 amazing styling tips from our real homes to inspire your next project Decorating Special 2021

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REAL HOME

I’ve used sunny colours to create a happy home

Maxine Brady called on her décor know-how to transform a neglected house into a stylish home filled with colour and pattern

W

hen interior stylist and TV presenter, Maxine Brady, purchased her Victorian terrace house in Brighton, she knew she was buying a complete wreck. Transforming her home over the past five years has not only been her passion project but it was also the inspiration for starting her award-winning lifestyle blog and an interior design studio.

‘My house hadn’t been lived in for seven years and it looked very unloved. As an interior stylist, I knew I could make it beautiful, even on a tiny budget,’ she says.

‘At the same time as the renovation, I decided to launch my interiors blog to chart my home’s renovation journey and show others in the same boat as me that you don’t need to have lots of money to have a beautiful home.

I wanted to inspire anyone else who plans on renovating a small house.’

She moved into the house in March 2016 and had a long list of projects to take on. e garden was overgrown, with a large climbing bush, which blocked the back door. e bathroom dated back to the 1990s and it was leaking into the kitchen below. e kitchen was also so damp that it attracted snails that would trail across the floor. ‘All the rooms

Decating tip!

To make

most- suresalarl of your e within easy reusacedh, ittaem Maxine’s bookkeana leaf out of open shelvingd .create

Maxine went for an L-shape layout in her kitchen to make it more sociable and had a window installed to benefit from the garden view and allow sunlight to flood in

Maxine painted her house in a peppermint shade to replicate the cheerful hue of Brighton’s metal promenade

Rather than having wall units that would overwhelm the space, Maxine made the shelving out of scaffolding boards and copper piping

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REAL HOME

‘I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved in the past five years and – the best bit – it’s never finished!’

COME ON IN...

OUR HOME Is a two-bedroom 1850s Victorian terrace in Brighton.

WE ARE Maxine Brady, 43, an interior

stylist, TV presenter and blogger (maxine brady.com), and her Maltese dog, Teddy.

MY TOP TIP Is to use rugs to add instant colour and pattern to every room.

SHOPS I LOVE ARE La Redoute, Homesense and Zara Home.

THE BEST BIT ABOUT LIVING HERE Is having the beach on my doorstep.

MY BEST IDEA Was making the kitchen handles from plumber’s copper piping.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE Was having to do all the building work at once.

Bathroom

seliG divaD sotohP ydarB enixaM gnilytS drofdaR akirE erutaeF

Bedroom 2

Kitchen Bedroom 1

Dining room

The kitchen handles are created from plumber’s copper piping, and Maxine made them herself. ‘I wanted to give my off-the-shelf cabinets elevated style, and the best way to do that was with bespoke handles,’ she says

Living room

FIRST FLOOR

GROUND FLOOR Decorating Special 2021

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REAL HOME The living and dining rooms were originally separate spaces, so Maxine blocked up the doorway and knocked down a wall to create an open-plan living area

‘I don’t tend to follow trends and I only have things in my home that I truly love as this keeps clutter at bay.’ needed attention – windows, doors, carpets, roof – so there hasn’t been a bit of this house that I haven’t worked my DIY magic on,’ she says. ‘e layout needed reconfiguring too, so that it worked in a smarter way.’

Maxine decided to live in her home for six months before embarking on any large renovation projects. ‘I wanted to get a feel for the space to see how I used my home and work out what I wanted to change. It was awful living with the dreadful carpets and draughty windows, but it saved me making costly mistakes,’ she reveals. Her original plan was to do the house up bit by bit, first by making it watertight by fixing the windows, roof and guttering before dealing with the damp.

However, after a disastrous leak from the bathroom taps, when water poured through the kitchen ceiling, Maxine realised she couldn’t wait any longer. ‘My builder suggested I should tackle the bathroom and kitchen, then knock down the living room wall all in one go,’ she says. ‘It was super stressful with a puppy who put his nose into everything, and the dust was so intense that I ended up moving out for a few weeks. But it meant that all the messy stuff was done in just a few short months.’

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‘As soon as I saw the Laura Ashley wirework art at a press show, I had to have it as it’s so unusual. It’s a statement piece and adds drama to my open-plan dining area,’ says Maxine

Mixing and matching her styles, this button-back armchair complements the IKEA Ivar cabinet Maxine painted in Kitchen Disco by COAT Paints, which match the other pops of peach around her home

DIf ecyouwanatt to inbreagthetipnew!

REAL HOME

Most of Maxine’s art is picked up from junk shops and trips abroad. The framed Miles Davis record belonged to her parents and adds colour to the scheme.

IKEA shelves and black frames from Habitat complete the wall

, then life into an old sofa overing it have a go at re-cfabr with a fresh ic.

Although not original to the house, Maxine has kept the Victorian-style fireplace that she dusted with white paint to highlight the ironwork details. The artwork is by Lumitrix Maxine stripped back the staircase by hand then decorated the risers with mosaic-style tiles from Tile Giant and painted the steps with Urbane Grey paint by Little Greene

‘All the rooms needed attention – windows, doors, carpets, roof – so there isn’t a bit of this house that I haven’t worked my DIY magic on.’

Once the living areas had been refurbished, Maxine took on one big job a month and tried to do as much as she could herself. ‘I had a to-do list as long as my arm but broke it down into mini projects. I finished one area before moving onto the next and I could see the house taking shape,’ she explains. ‘Weekends were spent stripping off woodchip wallpaper, smashing out cheap fitted cupboards or digging in the garden.’ Maxine restored the

original features and replaced anything that wasn’t in keeping with her home style. ‘I had this awful, and very dangerous, eighties-style banister, which I replaced with spindles to match the Victorian handrail. e old wooden front door was warped, so a modern one was fitted that makes a strong statement but can also withstand the coastal wind and rain,’ she says, ‘and I got rid of a few internal doors in the hallway to allow the space to flow.’

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REAL HOME

The bedroom is next on Maxine’s to-do list. Her ottoman-style bed from Button & Sprung is dressed in fresh linen sheets from scooms

The flamingo print was found abandoned in a bin, which Maxine jazzed up by painting the frame with pink chalk paint. ‘It has to be one of the most asked about prints in my home when I share it on my Instagram account @maxinebradystyling,’ she says

‘I had a to-do list as long as my arm, but I broke it down into mini projects.

I made sure I finished one area before moving onto the next’

DeSacvespaacetininagsmtiall p!

The vintage wardrobe was a Gumtree find.

Maxine painted it with Annie Sloane white chalk paint, so the furniture blends seamlessly into her room

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Making the most of every inch of space, this handy cabinet was a 1970s TV stand in a former life. Maxine added hairpin legs and painted it with Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue The guest bedroom is decorated in Great Waves wallpaper by Cole & Son, which is now discontinued. ‘I’ll never take it down as this wallpaper is irreplaceable,’ she says. ‘It’s always sunny in here, so it’s a happy room for guests to stay in’

REAL HOME

IDEAS TO STEAL

Bring a holiday vibe to your home with a Moroccaninspired rug

Eliena Berberstyle rug in Ecru and Black, £499, La Redoute

Modern lighting is an easy way to add a contemporary touch to your home

Olive Green marble column table lamp, £89, House Of

Decant cereals, jams and teabags into storage jars to fill open kitchen shelves Jar with bamboo lid, large, £3.50; medium, £2.50, both B&M Maxine’s biggest indulgence was her roll-top bath from Bathroom Takeaway. ‘It’s always been my dream to have one,’ Maxine reveals. The ceiling had to be raised to fit in the shower, which cost an extra £1,000 on top of her budget. ‘But it was worth it for my dream bathroom,’ she says

Add a splash of colour throughout your home with punchy paint

Flat matt paint in Kitchen Disco, £40 per 2.5L, COAT Paints

Wall shelves by Dowsing & Reynolds make for a pretty display space. Filled with plants, artwork, candles and accessories, they help to add character to the bathroom

back items that will work in her home. ‘I’ve brought a light fitting from Spain, rugs and ceramics from Morocco and art from New York and San Francisco,’ she says, ‘I’m also heavily influenced by my vibrant hometown, Brighton. e exterior of my house is painted in a peppermint colour, which is the same shade as the seafront’s promenade. It’s a sunny After two years of hard work, Maxine colour that makes my house a happy home.’ moved on to the décor of the house. ‘My style Maxine admits she will continue to make is very considered. As I live in a tiny house, changes, but she feels very much at ease here every decision I make has to be practical as now. ‘When I open the front door, I feel well as stylish. I don’t tend to follow trends relaxed,’ she says. ‘I’m proud of what I’ve and I only have things in my home that I truly achieved in five years and – the best bit – it’s love as this keeps clutter at bay.’ Influenced never finished! I keep making adjustments so by her travels abroad, Maxine loves to bring my home feels like new all the time.’

Create a relaxed look with super soft linen sheets that will keep you cool in summer Bed linen in Soft Pink, from £45 for two pillowcases, scooms

Add a natural touch to the table with a wooden and wicker chair

Isabella wooden dining armchair with rattan seat in Natural, £139, Cult Furniture

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 123 Decorating Special 2021

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from our reader homes REAL STYLE IDEAS

BEST-EVER DÉCOR IDEAS

Get inspired with 40 real-home DIYs, upcycles and styling tricks for every room

Vii Savage, Shrewsbury A self-confessed decorating addict, Vikki filled her

daughter’s bedroom with cute, budget-friendly DIY details. Her house headboard, made from lengths of wood glued into place, and grid-effect masking tape wall can be easily changed as her daughter grows up.

Jade Severs, Hampshire Task lighting can transform how

you use a room. By adding a lamp in this cosy corner, Jade has created a reading nook in her Scandi-meets-coastal living room.

Maxine Hale, Plymouth

Think about unexpected, subtle ways to add an accent colour to a scheme, like Maxine. Choosing a cherry red to liven up her retro-look black, white and grey kitchen, she not only found a neon light and other accessories in her accent shade, but picked red flexes for her glass pendant fittings, too.

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Budget buy

Mardi Gras 99 York vinyl, £18.99 per sq m, Carpetright Like neon sign in Red and White, £95, Oliver Bonas

REAL STYLE IDEAS IDEAS TO STEAL

Claire Air, Newbiin-by-the-Sea Never one to shy away from being bold with colour, Claire has used dark, atmospheric hues throughout her home, including the main bedroom.

Her trick is to soften the scheme with wood tones and prints for a bedroom that has bags of drama yet still feels restful and mellow.

Heart jug, £17.50, Gisela Graham

Masoala wall lamp in Black, £20, B&Q

Rainbow wall mirror, £35, Mint & May

Jo Hughes, Leicester Discovering her flair for design when

renovating her three-bedroom semi, Jo has made sure her hallway reflects her new, quirky style. Painting the front door yellow was an inspired finishing touch – by mixing monochrome with a bright colour, she’s created a warm and striking entrance.

Golden barrel artificial cactus in contemporary stone pot, £12.99, Homescapes

Cherries dinner plate, £8, Cath Kidston

Pauline Fox, Saffron Walden A pale, all-white scheme could feel stark, but

Pauline’s rustic, farmhouse-inspired décor is anything but. She’s combined textured textiles and distressed painted furniture in creamy off-whites for a light, bright, homely space.

Dog lamp, £39.99, Homesense

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Harper hairpin footstool in animal print, £39.99, BTFY

Rebea Shepherd, St Albans Copy Rebecca’s trendy

herringbone tile design for a splash of colour (or three) in a sleek kitchen. She also found stools for the island to match for a scheme that’s both pulledtogether and playful.

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Marilena Margarito, London With a small space and

Cara Baker, Wolverhampton

Practical storage is an essential in a hallway, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with it, as proven by Cara’s unique, ombré-effect console table. Rather than painting it all in grey, which would blend into the background wall, she used an energetic coral for the top section to make it a stand-out piece that brings life to her hallway.

bright window to contend with, Marilena had to be clever with colour and curtains to make it the relaxing sanctuary she was dreaming of. She combined soft pastels and a blackout blind, styled up with a pompom curtain, to create a bedroom she can sleep soundly in.

LUXE VS LESS Stella velvet bar stool in Sage Green and Brass, £79, Cult Furniture

Helen Jones, Suffolk

Luxe bar stool in Duck Egg, £295, Oliver Bonas

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When renovating her period property, Helen recycled wherever possible so she could splurge on quality fixtures and fittings. Luckily, she didn’t have to compromise on style. Having a zinc top made for an existing vanity gave her a unique unit for her bathroom that looks distinctive and is practical and easy to keep clean.

Organic basket in Seaspray, £22.50, Braided Rug Company

REAL STYLE IDEAS

Charlie Gch, Kent Splashes of a strong hue can have just as much impact

as painting a whole wall in the shade. Charlie dotted a punchy blue among whites, yellows and prints, including two-tone panelled curtains, for a bold use of colour that doesn’t overwhelm her classic living room.

Gea Coward, Leamington Spa Aiming to maximise the natural light in her bright

dining room, Gemma kept it simple with fresh, white walls, and added interest and character with wall-mounted greenery and dining chairs in rainbow colours – perfect for a family-oriented space.

Sabrina McIntosh, Birmingham

With a limited budget to work with, Sabrina has found affordable ways to fill her home with personality, including upcycling a dressing table and bedside drawers with vinyl for an instant, purse-friendly update.

Bargain buy Scallop chair in Yellow, £129.99, Homesense

Bronagh Fleming, Shaon Once you’ve ticked off the home office essentials – a comfy chair, spacious desk and task lighting – add details that’ll boost your mood and your productivity, like Bronagh’s hanging paper decorations, vintage crates and scallop-edged, painted square that frames her gallery wall.

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REAL STYLE IDEAS

STAR by Julien Macdonald vintage-style Champagne glasses, £25 for two, Freemans

Luxury buy

Amy Giles-Heard, Eex As she’s a florist by trade, it’s no surprise that

plants feature in a big way in Amy’s home.

A neutral colour palette and extra-long display shelf make her collection of hanging plants the centrepiece of her living room.

Laura Dixon, Belfast

When updating her 1920s home, Laura wanted to combine modern comforts with period features.

Choosing an iconic William Morris design for the living room wallpaper, she paired it with a gold bar cart and other metallic accessories for that contemporary-meets-vintage vibe.

Claire Last, Cambridge

Painting the existing cupboards, adding open shelving made from scaffold boards and exposing a section of brickwork brought the stunning original beams in Claire’s kitchen to life on a budget.

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Ly Feari, Waterford If you’ve got leftover paint in the

cupboard, take inspiration from Lynn. She created a mural in her office using masking tape and sample pots. Find out how to make a similar feature wall on page 69.

Sharon HyaMailes, Hemel Hempstead If you’ve always wanted a home library but don’t quite have the book collection or storage space for it, go faux like Sharon.

To transform her garden room into a quirky reading area, she added a bookcase-print wallpaper feature wall, completing the look with a ladder and sofa in rich, mahogany tones for a vintage library feel.

Eniko Kirkwd, Belfast

Combining two statement wall finishes in one room is a brave choice, but using the same tones throughout will make it feel cosy rather than cluttered. Eniko picked out the moody greys in her forest mural to create an ombré paint effect for feature walls that work in harmony together.

accentuated the design with dark grouting for an industrial, monochrome bathroom with a luxe finish.

Faux

Jeica West, Bury St Edmunds Jessica mixed safari and Scandi in her son’s nursery, finished with arrow decals. She measured carefully before sticking them into place for a neat layout.

Industrial wall faux floral, £10, Habitat

Hanging plant in cement pot, £8, Wilko

IDEAS TO STEAL Satin pothos hanging, £22, Leaf Envy

Real

Boston Fern hanging, £24.99, Beards & Daises

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Judith Edwards, London Judith laid white tiles in a herringbone pattern and

REAL HOME

My home has come together through nature and texture

To give a nod to her South American heritage, Kesiah Smithers has used tropical plants, foliage and earthy textiles throughout her Essex home

W

hen Kesiah and her husband, Mark, first started looking for a bigger house, a larger, quieter garden and more space were at the top of their wish list. ey wanted to trade their threebedroom, semi-detached house in town for a detached house with lots of green space.

‘At that point all I knew was that I wanted an older property with character, which we could really make feel our own,’ recalls Kesiah. e couple initially dismissed the house as they felt it was too close to a busy road, but after being persuaded to attend a second viewing, they both fell in love with the space.

‘It was so bright and light and had such a beautiful, mature garden – we could really see ourselves and our future family here. e road is near good schools and transport links so it was actually a great buy for us. It also offered well-proportioned bedrooms, off-road parking and a large garage as well as the potential to extend,’ Kesiah explains.

Kesiah and her family traded their threebedroom house in town for this characterful property, which offered a lot more space and plenty of potential

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Kesiah keeps all of her best kitchenware on display in this glass cabinet, which ties in well with the off-white panelling around the edge of the room

Originally a mid-century pig farm, the house had already been extended and refurbished by the previous owners so luckily didn’t require any immediate renovations as it was large enough for the couple. But it did need its décor completely updated. ‘What is it with 1980s artexing?’ exclaims Kesiah. ‘ere was so much of it in this house and in the end we had to re-plaster everything. We also stripped back dated wallpaper, rewired electrics and painted every wall.’ ere was an imposing brick fireplace in the lounge that had been installed in the 1980s, which needed plaster-boarding over it, but there were plenty of authentic gems to be found as they stripped the rest of the house.

‘As we took the carpets up we found original floorboards downstairs, and we also uncovered an original fireplace in the snug, as well as lots of extra room in the attic.’

With the original wooden kitchen in situ, Kesiah freshened up the space by re-painting the cupboards white. Her love of natural textures shows with a Java rattan shade from MADE.com and Forest Green wallpaper from Wallpaper Direct

REAL HOME

COME ON IN...

An original Ercol sideboard sits against a panelled and wallpapered wall. Kesiah added a Rockett St George print, a Holmegaard glass lamp base and a Gillian Arnold lampshade from Not On The High Street In order to create the perfect get-together space for the family, Kesiah paired an oak farmhouse dining table from a local furniture shop with Ercol chairs, which she painted black. The pink rug from Modern Rugs adds colour and helps zone a dining space

WE ARE Kesiah Smithers, owner of home

décor online shop Betty & Molly (@betty_ and_molly_), my husband, Mark, who runs a cleaning business, and children, Ty, 14 and Harmonie, 11.

OUR HOME Is a four bedroom, mid-century detached house near Colchester, Essex.

MY FAVOURITE ROOM Is the tropical

bathroom. The wall of jungle pulls the look together and brings our love of plants into the space.

OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE Was the

kitchen, which used to feel very dark and boring, but it’s our most lived-in room now.

FOR INSPIRATION I turned to my mother

and grandmother, who are both from Guyana. I wanted the house to have a slightly faded colonial feel.

Kitchendining room

W.C. Utility room

Study

Living room Snug

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Hall

GROUND FLOOR Bedroom 3

Bedroom 1

Wardrobe En suite

Bathroom Bedroom 4 Bedroom 2

Decorating Special 2021

FIRST FLOOR 89

REAL HOME Kesiah upped the colour ante with an Aztec-inspired rug from La Redoute.

Vibrant artwork, Anthropologie and H&M Home cushions, and a plethora of plants complete the jungle theme

‘As we took the carpets up we found original floorboards downstairs, and we also uncovered an original fireplace in the snug.’

Plants, artwork and a few treasured items bring this comfy corner to life. A Lagoon throw by artist Lucy Tiffney and the Birds and Flowers wall hanging by Flo and Joe add personality to the scheme

Kesiah has transformed the fireplace into a focal point by painting its interior orange and adding artwork in a complementary colourway above it

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When the couple started to decorate, Kesiah first chose a traditional, country look. ‘I was going through a phase of muted creams and duck-egg blues, which I can’t imagine living with now.’ e biggest, most immediate change was in the kitchen. Kesiah re-painted the cupboards white, and added floral wallpaper and updated the tiles for a cleaner, more modern feel.

Accessories, art and plants are key to Kesiah’s interior style. To say she has an affinity for art, textiles, craft and nature would be an understatement. Behind even the most everyday objects in her plant-filled, colourful home is a story that links back to her South American roots, her connection to the design world and her love of the great

outdoors. ‘I feel my home comes together through nature and texture,’ she reveals.

‘I love plants but I love textiles too, and I think it’s so important to have a mix of both at home to create a restful and calm vibe.

Plants add value not only aesthetically but also have a positive impact on your health, so I have them in every room,’ she says.

Kesiah’s children have certainly inherited their mother’s love of colour. Ty’s bedroom is packed with punchy patterns in a colour scheme of red, white and blue, whereas sister Harmonie’s room is a treasure trove of pastel joy. ‘ey both had a say in the

REAL HOME

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Kesiah e statement with monochrom rcase the oncepalaincktinlustg itreblstacaik by d white. an

A two-seater sofa by the window serves as an idyllic reading corner. Kesiah has perfected the layered cosy look with rugs, cushions and throws in multiple patterns and textures

The mid-century feel of the house is reflected by Kesiah’s furniture choices, such as the retro G-plan sideboard and side table, which she has adorned with assorted curios.

The artwork is by Chambers Austelle

Black-and-white stairs make a statement while the gallery wall provides a hit of vivid colour, featuring sketches and paintings by Kesiah’s mother, artist Desiree Wales (@des_art50 on Instagram)

Decorating Special 2021

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REAL HOME A beaded chandelier adds elegance and sophistication to the master bedroom and complements the headboard perfectly

Decating tip!

Tak

e th bedroome plinunagerichand paint your Kesiah. ‘I’m a huge shade, like effects colour can believer in the have on your well-being and em she shares. otions,’

Pastel shades play a key role in this pretty corner in Harmonie’s bedroom; Rust-Oleum Chalk furniture paint in Laurel Green on the vintage bureau, Annie Sloan’s Scandinavian Pink on the chair and the bedside table is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Peignoir

Kesiah gave her bedroom a beach-hotel feel with walls painted in Mid Azure Green by Little Greene, a Mila chandelier from Marks & Spencer, La Redoute bedding, artwork from Juniqe and tropical foliage Working together, Kesiah and son, Ty, wanted to create a grown-up scheme that retained a sense of fun for his bedroom. Inspired by Formula One, Kesiah paired a headboard covered in Jazz Flame fabric from Prestigious Fabrics with Silhouette Tree wallpaper from Albany

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REAL HOME

IDEAS TO STEAL

Add a pop of fiesta-like colour with tropical prints Tropical Jungle Leopard print, from £15, Abstract House

Natural materials add texture to Kesiah’s leafy bedroom scheme

Ava Brown rattan table lamp, £39, Simply Be

Give a feature wall an eye-catching detail with an animal mount

Farrow & Ball’s Black Blue heightens the drama of the Tropical Colours wallpaper from Mr Perswall, creating an all-out tropical scheme in the family bathroom

Use a rug, like Kesiah to zone areas within an open-plan scheme

Hathi elephant wall mount, £80, Sweetpea & Willow

Santana distressed look rug in Fuchsia, £99, Housecosy

Aside from using plants, Kesiah has kept the jungle theme going with accessories such as this wall-mounted elephant head, alongside leopard-print fabrics in various colourways

‘I love the flow of the rooms upstairs now – the whole house feels coherent but each room still has a strong sense of identity’

colour schemes of their rooms and they love spending time in there,’ Kesiah explains.

Taking on a lot of the redecoration work herself has been a real learning curve for Kesiah. ‘What I’ve learnt through slowly doing up this house is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a home that you feel proud of,’ she admits. ‘You just need to be resourceful when making design choices and willing to do a lot of the work yourself.’

With the house now complete, Kesiah and her family can sit back and relax in their vibrant surroundings. ‘I love the flow of the rooms upstairs now – the whole house feels coherent but each room still has a strong sense of identity, so décor-wise I think we’re finished,’ Kesiah reflects. ‘If we do anything more to the house it will be a smaller-scale project, such as giving the kitchen cupboards a fresh lick of paint.’

Bring in serene spring vibes with a green tinted vase Salong vase in Dark Green, £6, IKEA

Painted chairs give the dining room a country cottage look Spindle-back chair in Black, £170, Garden Trading

FOR STOCKISTS SEE PAGE 123 Decorating Special 2021

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Fd & DRINK

Our favourite foodie finds this month, plus turn over for a host of nutritious recipes for all the family

3 WAYS WITH... Cucumber

If you do one thing this month…

Swap out meat for Future Farm’s vegan alternatives – trust us, you won’t even notice the difference! Heralding all the way from Brazil, Future Farm products tick all the boxes: taste, texture and sustainability.

Made from a blend of soy, pea and chickpea proteins, the range includes burgers, meatballs, mince and sausages. Priced at £3.89 per pack from Sainsbury’s.

Try me…

Eat me…

THIS MONTH WE LOVE

If you’re an advocate for liberally dousing most food in olive oil, then you’re going to love Filippo Berio’s Il Rustico, a new unfiltered extra virgin olive oil.

Combine with lemon juice for a citrusy salad dressing, drizzle over meat or swirl generously on a steaming bowl of soup.

Unfiltered and full of flavour, it’s all you need to achieve a taste of the Mediterranean this summer. Priced at £8.99 for 1 litre at Tesco and Ocado.

If you’re a fan of oat milk, you’re going to love Happi, chocolate made from glutenfree oat milk and rice syrup. With a rich and creamy taste and a transparent ‘farm-tobar’ supply chain, this chocolate is happy on all fronts. Try the Salted Caramel for a harmonious blend of sweet and savoury!

Priced from £7 for four 40g bars.

Buy me…

For a taste of the French Riviera while you’re stuck on British soil, pick up a copy of À Table: Recipes for Cooking and Eating the French Way by Rebekah Peppler (Chronicle Books, £21.99).

You’ll be spoilt for choice with recipes like croque madame, creamy crème brûlée and a holiday staple, salade niçoise.

Bon Appétit!

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senoJ-syhR allE erutaeF

Get in the summer spirit with a can of Berczy, an alcoholic sparkling water with fresh, fruity flavours.

One for the healthconscious, each can is only 75 calories – how could you pass it up? The Peach & Raspberry flavour is our go to, and Lemon & Lime is delicious too!

Priced at £2.30 for a 250ml can.

segamI ytteG otohP

As versatile as they come, cucumber’s refreshing flavour lends itself to salads, soups and summery desserts For a fresh prawn and cucumber salad, mix together 2 tbsp avocado oil, 1 tbsp chopped dill and juice of 1 lemon. Toss 300g cooked, peeled king prawns in the dressing. Marinate for 10 minutes. Remove the prawns and toss 150g spinach in the dressing. Add in 2 sliced avocados and 1 chopped cucumber. Toss to combine. Top with the prawns and chopped cashews.

For a chilled pea and cucumber soup, put 400g peas and 1 chopped cucumber into a pan with a splash of water. Cook for 2 minutes. Tip into a blender with 500ml vegetable stock. Blitz until smooth. Add 3 tbsp double cream, a large handful each of chopped mint and dill and blend again.

Season. Pour into a jug and chill. Pour into bowls and drizzle with olive oil.

For a cooling sorbet, put 150g caster sugar, leaves of 2 mint sprigs and 200ml water in a pan. Bring to boil, simmer for 2 minutes then cool. Add 2 cucumbers to a blender and whizz with a handful of mint leaves. Pour in sugar syrup, 50ml elderflower cordial, juice of 1 lemon and 1 egg white.

Whizz to combine then strain. Churn in an ice cream machine until frozen.

WHAT’S FOR DINNER?

FOOD & DRINK

Boost the nutritional value of midweek family meals with these fruit- and veggie-loaded recipes

Lazy lasagne YOU WILL NEED

✔ ½ tbsp oil ✔ 1 onion ✔ 2 garlic cloves, crushed ✔ 2 celery sticks, finely diced ✔ 1 large carrot, finely diced ✔ 500g beef mince (or veggie equivalent) ✔ 400g tin chopped tomatoes ✔ 450ml beef stock ✔ 150ml red wine or more stock ✔ 2 tbsp tomato purée ✔ 1 tsp dried oregano ✔ 200g dried lasagne sheets ✔ 100g crème fraîche ✔ 25g grated Parmesan ✔ 50 grated Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

■ Heat the oil in a large pan or casserole dish.

Add the onion, garlic, celery and carrots and fry for 2-3 minutes on a medium heat.

■ Add the beef mince and fry for another few minutes until the mince has browned. Add the chopped tomatoes, beef stock, red wine (if using), tomato purée and oregano.

■ Bring the mixture to the boil and then add the lasagne sheets, breaking each into 4 or 5 pieces as you add them in. Simmer on a low heat for around 15 minutes, stirring regularly to ensure that the lasagne sheets don’t stick together in the pan.

■ Mix the crème fraîche, Parmesan and Cheddar together in a bowl and then add to the top of the lasagne in 7 or 8 spoonfuls.

■ Cook for another 2-3 minutes to allow the cheese mixture to heat through and then serve.

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 25 minutes SERVES 4

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Lasagne and Fish and chip pie recipes and images courtesy of We’re Hungry! by Ciara Attwell, out now in hardback and eBook, £16.99 (Lagom)

FOOD & DRINK

Egg, sweetcorn and bacon jackets

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes + potato cooking time COOKING TIME 35 minutes SERVES 6

YOU WILL NEED

✔ ½ tbsp sunflower or olive oil ✔ ½ onion, finely chopped ✔ 3 rashers smoked bacon, thinly sliced ✔ 400g tin chopped tomatoes ✔ 150g sweetcorn ✔ 3 large cooked jacket potatoes ✔ 6 eggs ✔ 50g mature cheese, finely grated ✔ 1 tsp chives, to garnish

DIRECTIONS

■ Preheat the oven to 190°C/Gas Mark 5. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and add the onion and bacon. Cook over a medium heat for 6-8 minutes until cooked through.

■ Add the tomatoes and simmer for 5 minutes until thickened.

Stir in the sweetcorn.

■ Meanwhile, cut the potatoes in half and scoop out the middle, leaving a ½ cm thick ‘skin’. You can freeze the potato flesh to use as mash. Place the potato skins on a baking tray.

■ Add the filling to each potato, then scatter each with some cheese. Break an egg into each and scatter with a little more cheese. Bake for 20 minutes until just cooked through. Scatter with chives, if using, and serve.

Recipe and image courtesy of British Lion Eggs, eggrecipes.co.uk

Fish and chip pie

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 50g butter ✔ 50g flour ✔ 500ml milk ✔ 75g grated Cheddar cheese ✔ 1 tsp French mustard ✔ ½ tsp garlic granules ✔ 340g fish pie mix (salmon, cod and smoked haddock) ✔ 100g frozen prawns ✔ 100g cherry tomatoes ✔ 100g frozen peas ✔ 500g frozen chips (thick cut)

DIRECTIONS

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■ Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas Mark 6. Add the butter to a saucepan and melt on the hob over a medium heat. Add in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring the whole time.

■ Slowly pour in the milk and whisk well, ensuring there are no lumps of flour left.

Cook the sauce for a minute or two until it starts to thicken.

■ Add the grated cheese, French mustard and garlic granules and mix well. The sauce should be thicker now.

Remove the pan from the heat.

■ In an oven dish, add the fish pie mix, frozen prawns, cherry tomatoes and frozen peas. Pour the sauce over the top and mix everything together.

■ Finally, layer chips on top and bake in the oven for 40 minutes.

PREPARATION TIME 2 minutes COOKING TIME 50 minutes SERVES 4

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FOOD & DRINK

Child-friendly pasta sauce

YOU WILL NEED

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 40 minutes SERVES 4

✔ 1 tbsp olive oil ✔ 1 onion, diced ✔ 1 garlic clove, crushed ✔ 1 tsp dried mixed herbs ✔ 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped ✔ 1 red pepper, chopped ✔ 1 courgette, chopped ✔ 1 small sweet potato, peeled and chopped ✔ 400g tin chopped tomatoes ✔ 100g Real Good ketchup ✔ 300ml vegetable stock ✔ 5 tbsp unsweetened yogurt (optional) ✔ 300g pasta

DIRECTIONS

■ Heat the olive oil in a large pan and add the onion and garlic. Fry for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the mixed herbs, carrot, pepper, courgette and sweet potato and fry for another 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

■ Pour in the tinned tomatoes, ketchup and stock. Simmer with a lid on for 25 minutes until really soft and then allow to cool slightly before blending to a smooth sauce. You can choose to blend in the yogurt or serve on top of the sauce.

■ Cook the pasta according to packet instructions then stir through the sauce and serve. Store the sauce in a sealed container for up to 5 days or in the freezer for a few months.

Recipe and image courtesy of Nourishing Amy and Real Good Ketchup, realgoodketchup.com

PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes COOKING TIME 20 minutes SERVES 4

Courgette and feta fritters

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 500g courgette, coarsely grated ✔ 1 tsp flaked sea salt ✔ 1 small red onion, finely sliced ✔ 2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated ✔ 1 lemon, zested ✔ 20g Parmesan, grated ✔ 20g fresh mint, leaves chopped ✔ 1 red bird’s eye chilli, finely chopped ✔ 60g self-raising flour ✔ 2 eggs, lightly beaten ✔ Grind of black pepper ✔ 150g feta, cubed ✔ 300ml sunflower oil, for frying ✔ 1 lemon, cut into wedges

DIRECTIONS

■ Place the grated courgette into a colander and sprinkle over the salt.

Set aside for 10 minutes, then squeeze to remove most of the liquid.

■ Transfer the prepared courgette to a large bowl and add the onion, garlic, lemon zest, Parmesan, mint, chilli, flour, eggs and black pepper.

Mix well to form a uniform batter, then fold in the feta cheese.

■ Pour approximately 3cm of sunflower oil into a large deep-frying pan and place on a medium heat. Once the oil is hot enough, carefully drop two heaped tablespoons of the mixture into the pan, spacing them well apart. Use the spoons to squeeze each spoonful together first, to help remove any excess liquid and form an oval shape.

■ Cook for 5 minutes, turning once halfway through, until golden and crisp on both sides. Transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper to absorb the oil. Repeat the process until all your mixture is used up.

■ Serve with lemon wedges to squeeze over.

Courgette fritters and Blueberry tart recipes and images courtesy of The mymuybueno Cookbook by Justine Murphy, £25 (Meze Publishing) 98

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FOOD & DRINK

Blueberry tart

YOU WILL NEED

For the base ✔ 150g jumbo rolled oats ✔ 50g ground almonds ✔ 25g desiccated coconut ✔ 50g maple syrup ✔ 50g coconut oil, melted ✔ pinch of Himalayan salt For the filling ✔ 350g cashews, soaked in water overnight ✔ 100ml coconut oil, melted ✔ 100ml carton coconut milk ✔ 200ml water ✔ 250g brown rice syrup or maple syrup ✔ pinch of Himalayan salt ✔ ¼ tsp vanilla powder ✔ 2 tbsp lemon juice ✔ 3 tbsp blueberry powder ✔ 400g fresh blueberries, to decorate

DIRECTIONS

■ Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4. Lightly grease a 20cm loosebottomed tart tin with coconut oil, then line with parchment paper.

■ For the base, add the rolled oats to your food processor and whizz to a flour-like texture. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until well combined. Press the mixture into your prepared tin and prick the base with a fork. Place onto a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes or until golden.

■ Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 10 minutes, then gently turn the base out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

■ For the filling, drain the cashews, then process them in a blender with the melted coconut oil, coconut milk, water, syrup and salt until smooth.

■ Separate the mixture by pouring half into a jug. Stir the vanilla powder and lemon juice into the jug mixture. Add the blueberry powder and 1 tbsp of water to the other half of the mixture that’s still in the blender. Blend until smooth then pour into another jug.

■ Holding both jugs, pour the filling mixtures over the cooled tart base then swirl them together with a toothpick or fork to get a marbled effect.

Try not to overdo this as less is more.

■ Freeze the tart for 15 minutes, then as the filling mixture starts to set you can add the fresh blueberries, pressing them very gently into the filling around the edge. Return to the freezer and leave overnight to firm up.

Remove the tart 10 minutes before you wish to serve.

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 10 minutes SERVES 4

PREPARATION TIME 25 minutes COOKING TIME 10 minutes + freezing time SERVES 8

Avocado, chocolate and coconut mousses

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 2 ripe avocados ✔ 4 tbsp natural cacao powder ✔ 5 tbsp maple syrup ✔ ½ tsp vanilla extract ✔ pinch of sea salt ✔ 4 tbsp dairy-free coconut milk yogurt alternative For the topping ✔ 2 tbsp jumbo porridge oats ✔ 1 ½ tsp desiccated coconut ✔ 1 tsp maple syrup

DIRECTIONS

■ Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas Mark 6. For the topping, combine the oats, desiccated coconut and maple syrup in a bowl, then spread out on a small parchment-lined baking tray. Bake for 6 minutes, stirring halfway, until crisp and golden. Set aside.

■ To make the mousse, whizz the avocado, cacao powder, maple syrup and vanilla extract with a pinch of sea salt in a food processor until smooth.

■ Add the coconut milk yogurt and whizz again until combined. If the mixture is a little lumpy, you may want to pass it through a sieve.

■ Spoon into 4 small glass jars or ramekins. Eat immediately or chill in the fridge for up to 24 hours, adding the topping just before serving.

Recipe and image courtesy of Waitrose – thousands of recipes can be found at waitrose.com/recipes Decorating Special 2021

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SEASONAL SALADS

Bring nature’s bounty to the table with these refreshing recipes

PREPARATION TIME 30 minutes COOKING TIME 4 hours SERVES 4

Burrata, strawberry, passion fruit and pineapple sambal with watercress salad

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 2 burrata cheese balls ✔ 1 pineapple ✔ 200g strawberries, chopped ✔ 3g ginger, minced ✔ 4 garlic cloves, minced ✔ 4 red chillies, finely chopped ✔ 80g caster sugar ✔ 2 passion fruit pulps ✔ 1 lime, juiced ✔ 1 tsp white miso ✔ 1 tbsp fresh coriander, finely chopped ✔ 200g watercress ✔ salt For the confetti ✔ 50g cashews ✔ 20g dried pineapple, made from the fresh pineapple ✔ 10g freeze-dried strawberries

DIRECTIONS

■ Start with the confetti. Heat the oven to 160°C/Gas Mark 3. Roast the cashews for

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15 minutes then remove from the oven and set aside.

■ To make the dried pineapple, slice half the pineapple as finely as you can – use a mandoline if you have one. Lay the slices on baking paper, set the oven to its lowest temperature, then bake for 4 hours, or until crisp throughout. Set aside to cool.

■ Take 20g of the dried pineapple and blitz to a ‘confetti’ with the freeze-dried strawberries and roasted cashews. Set aside in an airtight container.

■ Chop the remaining pineapple into chunks and grill in a griddle pan until lightly charred and soft.

■ For the sambal, combine the strawberries, ginger, garlic, chillies, sugar, passion fruit, lime, miso, coriander and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Taste it to check that it is tangy, sweet, spicy and lightly salted. Adjust with more lime, sugar or salt if needed.

■ When ready, divide each burrata ball into two. Divide the watercress and sambal between 4 bowls and top with the burrata and grilled pineapple.

■ Sprinkle with the confetti and serve.

Recipe and image courtesy The Watercress Company, thewatercresscompany.com

FOOD & DRINK

PREPARATION TIME 5 minutes COOKING TIME 15 minutes SERVES 2

Tuna, spinach and pistachio salad

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 240g pack Waitrose Yellowfin Tuna Steaks ✔ 1 tbsp olive oil ✔ Salt ✔ Black pepper ✔ 2 carrots ✔ 100g spinach ✔ 15g pistachios, toasted and chopped ✔ 1 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted For the salad dressing ✔ 2 tsp toasted sesame oil ✔ 1 tbsp Kikkoman Less Salt Soy Sauce ✔ 1 tbsp sherry vinegar ✔ 1 tsp honey ✔ ½ tsp fresh root ginger, grated

DIRECTIONS

■ For the salad dressing, mix together the sesame oil, soy sauce, sherry vinegar, honey and ginger, then set aside.

■ Heat a griddle pan over a high heat. Brush the tuna steaks with the olive oil and season, cook in the pan for 1-2 minutes on each side until the juices run clear, then set aside.

■ Pare long strips of carrot using a vegetable peeler and toss in with the spinach and half of the dressing.

■ Divide between 2 plates. Top with the tuna, then scatter over the pistachios and sesame seeds. Drizzle with the remaining dressing before serving.

Recipe and image courtesy of Waitrose – thousands of recipes can be found at waitrose.com/recipes

South African summer glow salad

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 1 South African pear, peeled, cored and chopped ✔ 1 South African apple, such as Pink Lady, cored and chopped ✔ 2 tbsp lemon juice ✔ 2 tbsp olive oil ✔ 400g tin chickpeas, rinsed and drained ✔ 40g whole almonds ✔ ¼ tsp ground turmeric ✔ ½ tsp chilli flakes, dried ✔ ½ tsp whole cumin seeds or ground cumin ✔ 80g mixed salad leaves ✔ 2 cooked beetroot (not in vinegar), chopped ✔ 1 tsp wholegrain mustard ✔ Salt ✔ Freshly ground black pepper ✔ 60g feta cheese

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 5 minutes SERVES 2

DIRECTIONS

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■ Put the pear and apple chunks in a bowl and toss with 1 tbsp of lemon juice, then set aside.

■ Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a frying pan and add the chickpeas. Cook over a medium heat for 1-2 minutes, then add the almonds, turmeric, chilli flakes and cumin. Cook gently for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, then allow to cool.

■ Share the salad leaves, beetroot and chickpea mixture between 2 serving plates and scatter the pear and apple chunks on top.

■ Mix together the remaining olive oil, lemon juice and mustard. Season the mix and drizzle it over the salad. Sprinkle over crumbled feta cheese, then serve.

Recipe and image courtesy of Beautiful Country Beautiful Fruit, beautifulcountrybeautifulfruit.co.uk Decorating Special 2021

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FOOD & DRINK

Courgette salad with black garlic dressing

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 25 minutes SERVES 4

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 500g new potatoes ✔ 200g pack Tenderstem broccoli, trimmed ✔ 200g fresh or frozen garden peas ✔ 2 courgettes, trimmed and cut into ½ cm-thick slices ✔ 1 tbsp olive oil ✔ 2 tbsp flaked almonds, toasted For the dressing ✔ 3 Cooks’ Ingredients Black Garlic cloves, chopped ✔ 1 tbsp olive oil ✔ 3 tbsp natural yogurt ✔ 1 tbsp white wine vinegar ✔ Salt ✔ Black pepper

DIRECTIONS

■ Put the potatoes in a large pan and cover with cold water.

Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Halve any thick spears of broccoli lengthways and add to the pan with the peas after 10 minutes. Simmer for 2-3 minutes then drain all the ingredients. Set the peas and broccoli aside. Halve the potatoes lengthways.

■ Meanwhile, heat a griddle over a medium-high heat. Toss the courgettes with ½ tbsp of oil and griddle for 1-2 minutes on each side. Toss the halved potatoes with another ½ tbsp of oil and griddle, cut-side down, for 2 minutes.

■ For the dressing, whizz the garlic, olive oil, yogurt and vinegar with a little seasoning in a small blender until smooth.

Arrange the griddled potatoes, courgettes, broccoli and peas on plates and drizzle over the dressing. Scatter with the toasted almonds to serve.

Recipe and image courtesy of Waitrose – thousands of recipes can be found at waitrose.com/recipes

Puy lentil, asparagus and soft-boiled egg salad

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 375g cooked puy lentils, (175g raw weight) ✔ 6 eggs ✔ 400g pack asparagus, ends trimmed ✔ Small handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped ✔ 1 tbsp tarragon, chopped For the dressing ✔ 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle ✔ 1½ tbsp red wine vinegar ✔ 1½ tbsp Dijon mustard ✔ 1 tbsp shallots, finely chopped ✔ 1 tsp clear honey ✔ Black pepper ✔ Salt

DIRECTIONS

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 20 minutes SERVES 4

■ In a large mixing bowl, stir together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, mustard, shallots and honey, then season. Toss the lentils into the salad dressing.

■ Meanwhile, put the eggs into a pan of boiling water. Simmer for 6½ minutes, then drain and cool in a bowl of cold water. Rinse out the pan, then fill with water and bring to the boil. Add the asparagus and simmer for 2 minutes, then drain – thicker spears may need longer while thinner spears less.

■ Toss the asparagus and herbs in with the lentil dressing, then arrange on a large serving plate. Peel and halve the eggs and place on top, then add a grinding of black pepper and a drizzle more oil.

Recipe and image courtesy of Waitrose – thousands of recipes can be found at waitrose.com/recipes

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FOOD & DRINK

Indian summer fruit salad

✔ 2 mangoes ✔ 1 medium-sized pineapple ✔ 1 cantaloupe melon ✔ 400g strawberries ✔ 300g raspberries ✔ 5-7 sprigs of fresh mint, leaves picked, stems discarded ✔ 300g blueberries For the syrup ✔ 75g caster sugar ✔ 500ml water ✔ Juice of 1 large lemon ✔ 2 pieces of star anise ✔ 2 cinnamon sticks

DIRECTIONS

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 30 minutes SERVES 4

Minted melon, feta and ham salad

■ Start by making the syrup by placing all of the ingredients in a pan and putting it on a low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Simmer for 4-5 minutes until the syrup has reduced a little.

■ Remove from the heat and leave to cool to room temperature. Once cooled to room temperature, place in the refrigerator to chill.

■ While the syrup is chilling, prepare the fruit. Peel away the skins and discard the seeds of the mangoes, pineapple and melon. Dice the mangoes, pineapple and melon into 1-inch chunks.

■ Remove the stalks from all of the strawberries and slice each one in half.

■ Once the syrup has chilled, strain it to remove all of the whole spices.

■ Thinly slice the mint leaves. Add all of the fruit and the mint to the syrup then leave to chill for 30 minutes before serving.

Recipe and image courtesy of Chef Nitisha Patel, nitishapatel.com

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes SERVES 4

✔ 1 Waitrose Piel De Sapo Melon ✔ 90g rocket ✔ 7 slices of Serrano or Parma ham ✔ 100g feta cheese, roughly crumbled ✔ 2 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped ✔ Freshly ground black pepper ✔ Juice of 1 small lemon ✔ 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS

■ Halve the melon, then scoop out the seeds with a spoon and discard them. Slice each half of the melon into 8 wedges. Cut away the flesh from the rind, keeping the melon in large pieces.

■ Scatter ¾ of the rocket leaves over a large bowl or serving platter. Top with the melon wedges.

■ Tear each slice of ham in half then arrange the pieces over the melon along with the feta cheese and remaining rocket leaves.

■ Add a scattering of the mint and some freshly ground black pepper.

■ Whisk together the lemon juice and olive oil, then drizzle over the dish to serve.

Recipe and image courtesy of Waitrose – thousands of recipes can be found at waitrose.com/recipes Decorating Special 2021

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Home IMPROVEMENT Turn over to discover everything you need to know about decking and patios

Is your home in need of a makeover but waiting around for paint to dry isn’t on your agenda? Specially formulated to revive walls in just one coat, Dulux’s new Simply Refresh range will revolutionise future DIY tasks, saving both hassle and time, taking just four hours to dry. There are two colour collections to choose from: One Coat and Feature Wall. The former incorporates more timeless hues, such as mellow greys and soft greens like the 2020 Colour of the Year Tranquil Dawn, while the latter is all about statement shades. Think teal, slate grey and rich raspberry. Expect revitalised walls in no time! Available at dulux.co.uk and DIY stores, priced from £25.36 per 1.25L.

Walls painted in Simply Refresh Natural Hessian and Decadent Damson, from £25.36 per 1.25L, Dulux

lemateri

AWithdesk refresh the prospect of part-

time working from home looking ever more likely post pandemic, Wickes has launched a Fitted Home Office range. Whether you want to utilise the space under the stairs or convert the spare bedroom into a child-free work zone, Wickes’ Design Consultants can facilitate your plans.

Visit wickes.co.uk to book a free consultation.

Decorating Special 2021

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If you’re in need of a low-maintenance and long-lasting flooring option, vinyl is the answer. Quick-Step’s new Alpha Vinyl range is fully waterproof, making it a sensible option for kitchens and bathrooms, and installation is child’s play – simply click into place and go. Don’t worry about it looking like a relic from the seventies, as Quick-Step has decisively modern vinyl options, with natural designs and an extra matt top layer.

For the appearance of stone flooring without the price tag, go for the subtly coloured Coral Rock (pictured), or for the ultimate minimalist aesthetic, opt for Sea Breeze Oak Beige, a cooltoned wood effect. Priced from £35.99 per sq m.

Jeyes Fluid has had a makeover. With a newly recyclable plastic bottle and paper labels, it’s kinder to the planet and the updated formula means that it can now be used on all outdoor surfaces, including more delicate ones. What’s more, it’ll work to tackle limescale, rust and bacteria. Priced from £4.49 for 300ml from major retailers and garden centres.

balcycer

WATERPROOF WONDER

A MODERN CLASSIC Revamped and recyclable, the trusty

sla

SMARTY PAINTS

Made from recycled plastics and wood flour, luxury Composite Prime decking has a natural-looking grain and comes in an array of shades, from around £55 for a 3.6m length

Maximise space on a small, sloping site with stepped decks.

Composite decking, from £350 for six sq m, Trex

ENHANCE YOUR OUTSIDE SPACE WITH A DECK OR PATIO

Set some ground rules and update your garden flooring in good time for summer sunshine

W

DECKING, OR PATIO?

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Whether you opt for a deck or patio is a matter of taste, but there are various factors to bear in mind. Both increase eather permitting, you’re bound to spend long days usable outdoor space and are very durable, though relaxing in the garden over the coming months – eating, paving requires less maintenance than traditional timber soaking up the sun and, hopefully, entertaining family decking and offers a wider range of design possibilities. Patios and friends – so it’s important to get it looking its best. You’ll need are installed on a sub-base close to the ground, providing a level, stable surface for your furniture and, just as you’d replace better privacy from neighbours, and can be fitted flush with indoor flooring for an effortless transition between inside and tatty carpet or tiles inside, it makes sense to consider whether outdoor flooring requires sprucing up or upgrading. Painting out. Decks are quicker to construct, resting on top of raised faded wooden decking can make a world of difference, and a joists that can be elevated to make the most of a view. Unlike brand-new patio or deck will totally transform your garden. So, patios, they’re suitable for uneven or sloping ground and most consider your options carefully before you go ahead. materials are more forgiving underfoot if kids take a tumble.

Perk up old decking with richly coloured protective paint. Ronseal Decking Rescue paint in matt Slate, £39 for 2.5L, B&Q

Make a striking statement underfoot with a mix of two-tone tiles in different prints. Porcelain slipresistant Gatsby outdoor floor tiles, £45 per sq m, B&Q

This good-value Premium Deck Board in European pine can be oiled, stained or painted any shade, £9.34 for a 2.4m length, Wickes

SIZE UP THE SPACE

When planning your new deck or patio, think about its location, intended use and how it will fit in with the rest of your garden. Would you prefer a sunny exposed spot or one in partial shade, are you retaining or adding a lawn and flower beds, and how do you intend to incorporate existing trees and shrubs?

Make sure that it’s big enough to accommodate furniture, a barbecue and other kit, and for you and your guests to spread out. If there’s sufficient room, don’t rule out decking or paving a corner at the end of the garden as well as the space next to the house, together with a new path or walkway for access.

Marbled tiles bring a Mediterranean feel to a courtyard garden – just add sunshine.

Italian Statuario marble effect outdoor porcelain paving slabs, from £46.99 per sq m, Royale Stones

PATIO POINTERS

Enjoy views of the garden from a raised deck without compromising on safety by adding a glass balustrade, like this one from Richard Burbidge, priced from £17.46 per panel

From bricks and tiles to oversized slabs, there’s never been a greater choice of paving, and you’ll pay from £900 upwards to have a new patio prepared, supplied and laid. A natural stone, such as sandstone or limestone, is the most resilient material, available in many colours, sizes and shapes and with a riven or smooth finish. Versatile porcelain can replicate real stone, tiling and even timber decking, and small clay pavers and cobblestones can be laid in intricate patterns. There are no hard and fast design rules but textured, smaller paving generally suits a more traditional setting, whereas large slabs are very modern. A non-slip surface will give you peace of mind.

ALL DECKED OUT

Sustainable and mellow, timber decking is made from hardwoods such as oak and teak, or cheaper softwoods like pine and spruce that are pre-treated for longevity. Look out for the Timber Decking and Cladding Association’s DeckMark as an assurance of quality, and budget for at least £1,000 for a fully installed deck, though building it yourself will cut costs.

Timber’s main drawback is its regular upkeep – a problem solved by installing composite decking, an environmentallyfriendly alternative. ‘Composites work well in high-traffic family gardens, due to their low maintenance and durability,’ explains Charles Taylor, Sales Director at Composite Prime. ‘They also have the ability to stay free from cracks and A free-standing sail shade is ideal for splinters, increasing their lifespan and covering decked or paved areas and can be moved around the garden easily. Three-metre making them barefoot safe.’ sail shade, £299, Dobbies

Hillarys’ awnings are operated by remote and you can even add integrated heating and lighting. Prices from £1,900

For a contemporary patio that feels like an extension of your house, keep the threshold flush, open up the exterior wall with bi-fold doors and lay matching flooring such as Bradstone’s Mode Profiled porcelain paving in Silver Grey, from £51.49 per sq m

MAINTENANCE MATTERS

Fitting Primeur’s Recycled Rubber Deck tiles is a cinch as they click into place with no tools required and cover concrete or existing paving. They’re maintenance-free too. From £28.99 for a pack of six, Greenfingers

USEFUL CONTACTS

• Visit checkatrade.com for cost guides and to find a recommended installer.

• Try diy.com and wickes. co.uk for step-by-step advice on laying patios and decks.

• iScape is a user-friendly app that enables you to design and visualise your outdoor living area with ease.

• Source a local landscaping professional at bali.org.uk or landscaper.org.uk.

• Tdca.org.uk has a wealth of info on every aspect of timber decking.

. .syas t r e p x

Keep your patio in pristine condition by sweeping it regularly to remove leaves and other debris. Pull out weeds growing in cracks or damaged mortar and scrub any marks by hand rather than using a pressure washer. Wooden decking is prone to getting slippery, so brush away leaves, moss and standing water after downpours and fix antislip strips (from rawlinspaints.com).

‘It’s important you treat brand-new decking as you would old decking,’ recommends Matthew Brown, Technical Consultant at Sadolin. ‘Once it has been laid out, use a stain and protector, formulated specifically to protect the surface from the weather and mould growth. Reapply these once a year to keep your decking at its best.’

‘Consider where the sun will hit the garden at different times of the day and think about any views that you want to enjoy or how you can create a private retreat without being overlooked. If you want your garden to feel like an outdoor room, it’s important to create a seamless flow from inside out. The design can incorporate your individual tastes, but it’s important to be sensitive to the style of your house, too. With the aesthetics in mind, it’s also important to research the different materials available to ensure you get the product right for you and your budget.’

Lee Dunderdale, Product Manager at Bradstone

uO r e

PLAN AN OUTDOOR ROOM

Make the most of your patio or deck by treating it as an al fresco sitting room, containing many of the elements you’d find inside. If it extends out from the back of your house through bi-fold or sliding doors, stick to a similar colour scheme for a unified effect. As well as furniture, you’ll need lighting and a heat source so that you can sit outside for longer on chilly evenings. String up battery or solar-powered fairy and festoon lights, pop uplighters next to your plants and buy a fire pit that doubles up as a barbecue. Shading is also essential and, depending on budget, it’s worth investing in a sturdy parasol, a sail shade, a pergola or a retractable awning.

Composite decking is a durable choice, as it's designed to resist fading, staining, scratching and mould. GoodHome Neva anthracite grey composite deck board, £45.92 per sq m, B&Q

‘Our garden living rm is such a relaxing place to sit’ Sam blended patio and decking for the best of both worlds Although she liked the idea of a

a cement mixer and a wacker plate (to compact the ground) and the entire project took about two months – much longer than anticipated because the area took ages to fill and level out and we had to order extra materials halfway through,’ continues Sam. ‘We framed it using wooden sleepers and painted the fence behind it grey to make it feel more like a room, then dressed it with a rattan sofa set – a Sam’s been busy The four-bed detached house offers online and found that the tiles from transforming her bargain from Groupon – a barbecue generously proportioned rooms and a Direct Tile Warehouse were the nicest new-build into a and accessories. I love having a readyforever home, and decent-sized garden and most reasonably priced.

Samples to-use space where we can relax and you can follow When Sam Brady, her husband, Gary, are free, and the customer service team it was great to be able to get outside her progress on and son Rex, moved into their brand was great – they even chatted to us on and have a change of scenery during Instagram new detached house in Cheshire a Instagram about our choices.’ lockdown. The timber-effect flooring @living_the_ dream_at_no18 couple of years ago, they had big plans The couple chose Maryland woodand decorative accessories make it really for the south-facing garden. ‘It was effect tiles in Grey, which look just like homely, and I’d love to add a wooden a blank canvas with turf all over. We stained decking boards, and Gary set to pergola to frame the area even more.’ wanted to create an outside living room work constructing a level base before *Maryland anti-slip Grey decking in the far corner, which captures the sun laying the tiles, with his mum, dad and tiles cost £28.37 per sq m, all afternoon and evening,’ says Sam. sister all chipping in. ‘We had to hire directtilewarehouse.com.

Part patio and part deck, Sam couldn’t be happier with her outdoor room.

‘Everyone comments on how lovely the tiles are and we’ve used it for relaxing, home schooling and dining,’ she says The garden was completely bare apart from turf and fencing when the family moved in

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BUYER’S GUIDE

10 OF THE BEST:

Painting tools Y

Make sure you have the right equipment to hand for your next decorating job

ou can buy the most expensive paint, but if you don’t have high-quality tools for the task, it’s likely that the results won’t be as good as you hoped. Marcus Jarvis, in-house painter and decorator at Harris, agrees, saying, ‘whatever you spend on paint, you won’t get great results unless you use quality decorating equipment’. However, with the abundance of tools and terminology out there, it can be difficult to sort the trash from the treasure, so we’ve put together a round-up of must have pieces for your paint supply stash.

For home décor enthusiasts, having the right paintbrush to hand that is comfortable to use for a prolonged period of time is essential. Expert painter Marcus advises you on which type of brush is best: ‘Ergonomic handles with angled brushes or ones that have extra reach will help you enjoy painting for longer as they’ll prevent your hands tiring and make the job easier.’

Jagon, busted

Can’t tell your primer from your stabiliser?

We’re here to unscramble this terminology.

No-ls ushes

This means that the brush is guaranteed not to lose any bristles, so you won’t end up with them stuck on the wall while painting! Harris has a great selection of no-loss brushes.

Cut in

If you’re a decorating aficionado then you’ve most likely come across this phrase before. It means to paint the edges and corners of a wall or ceiling and it requires a smaller brush as it’s a place where a paint roller can’t reach.

STANLEY WINDOW SCRAPER, £2.15, WICKES

This nifty, inexpensive gadget is just what you need to remove excess paint from around the windows and doorways. blade • Durable • Easy to clean • Heavy-duty for removing paint or stickers • IdealSlot-on guard for safe storage •

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Likewise, it’s important to check that you have the right tool for a particular task. For example, an angled brush head will enable you to get behind tight spaces such as radiators or give corners a neat finish. Marcus explains more about what tools to look out for: ‘You’ll find specific decorating tools for different tasks, which are worth investing in. For instance, a Harris Ultimate Walls & Ceilings Blade Brush is great for cutting in neat edges, around sockets and window frames where precision is of utmost importance. Whereas, a Harris Ultimate Flat Brush or Powercoat Roller can be used for painting large areas quickly.’

Aside from brushes, some other painting tools we’d recommend you have in your stash are a tape measure, window scraper, socket shield and masking tape. Plus, with reusable supplies like a tape measure, you’ll only need to purchase it once, making it a worthy investment.

Low-tack

Did you know you can get different types of masking tape? This means that it has a low adhesion level so it can be removed without damaging a surface or peeling paint away.

FLAT BRUSHES, FROM £5.95, ANNIE SLOAN

If it’s tools for painting furniture rather than walls and ceilings that you’re after, then a flat brush from Annie Sloan is a worthy purchase. brush: 3 x 23cm; • Small large brush: 6 x 26cm synthetic • Advanced fibres will give a smooth finish on your projects

to hold a large • Designed amount of paint Applies paint evenly • Minimal brush marks •

FIVE-PIECE PAINT PAD SET, £5.49, THE RANGE

For a fast and effective way to paint your walls and ceilings, this paint pad is an essential tool. It includes a lockable handle that will help when painting at an angle.

Fast, professional finish • Interchangeable •19.5cm paint pad • Includes a corner tool, paint tray, lockable handle and a sash wand for use with most paints • Suitable • Provides even coverage on walls and ceilings

Prime

This is a paint used to seal a surface prior to applying the main colour. There are different types for various surfaces like wood and metal.

Sabilise

If a surface is flaky or dusty, then you can apply a liquid stabiliser to bind and smooth out the surface before decorating it.

UNIBOND MULTISURFACE MASKING TAPE, £2.50, WILKO

To prevent paint or primer getting onto the skirting board or door frames, this ultra-sticky masking tape is your best friend!

on multiple surfaces • ItThiscancanbebeleftused up to three days before being •removed Givesforsharp edges to paint jobs • Suitable for brush and spray painting • Strong • adhesive

THE ULTIMATE POWERCOAT ROLLER FRAME AND SLEEVE, £8, HARRIS

Reaching up to paint high ceilings or walls is made ten times easier with the extendable pole from Harris, which gives you 30 per cent more paint coverage than a standard roller.

•

Quick and easy to use • Smooth finish •Extra-long handle • 30% more coverage • Made from microfibre to minimise paint splatter

UMI BY AMAZON RETRACTABLE TAPE MEASURE, 8M, £10.99, AMAZON

Before you splash out on paint, you’ll need to measure up the room to check how much you’ll need. So, for accurate measurements, this trusty tape measure is your go-to tool. hook • 8m-long extension • Moveable • Water-resistant • Lock mechanism • Easily portable

SERIOUSLY GOOD MULTI TOOL, £2.23, HARRIS For just £2.23 you’ll have a tool that can remove excess paint from a roller sleeve, an embossed ruler, a flat-head screwdriver and a lid opener (for paint or a cool beverage!) – you won’t regret this purchase.

• Ideal for cleaning rollers • Can open handleless doors • Has a flat-head screwdriver • Lid opener • Can measure short lengths

ROLLINGDOG 50MM PAINTBRUSH WITH VERSATILE COMBINATION BRUSH HEADS, £12.79, AMAZON

• Ergonomic handle • Interchangeable brush heads • Easy to clean • Great for tight spaces • Minimal brush marks due to its solid round tapered filament

Bargain buy

For places that are difficult to get to, such as tight spots behind radiators and above kitchen cupboards, this little tool is a must have for your DIY bag.

• Useful for hard-to-reach areas • 50cm length • Angled head • Flexible handle • Three per pack

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This innovative design allows you to switch between different brush heads. Change between a 50mm flat or angular brush or combine the two with a 25mm brush head to paint around corners.

3X LONG REACH RADIATOR PAINTBRUSH, 50MM, £9, AMAZON

SOCKET PAINT SHIELD TOOL, £2, WILKO

To improve your paint finish and save yourself the hassle of masking tape, simply fit this tool against the corner of a socket or switch.

• Gives a neat finish • No masking tape needed • Easy to use • Simple to clean • Time saver Decorating Special 2021

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PHILADELPHUS LITTLE WHITE LOVE

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The flowers of this brand new variety from Canada appear throughout May and June – they literally envelop the foliage. The gorgeous perfume wafts across your garden – so much so that you feel as if you are walking through your very own perfumery. Perfect for small gardens too. Height & spread 1m. Fully hardy perennial. Your order is covered by our No Quibble Guarantee and will be confirmed together with a copy of our latest catalogue. Your 9cm pots will be delivered in 4 days.

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Your details are kept securely and not shared with third parties. You will receive a catalogue, welcome email and special offers, if you prefer not to receive them please call 01386 562999. For T&Cs – see hayloft.co.uk

Garden UPDATES

This month, a green-fingered podcast and ways to reinvigorate garden furniture, plus a checklist on late spring gardening and decorative ideas for your outside space

AGAINST THE ELEMENTS

Give your outdoor dining areas and wooden fences a refresh with a lick of Cuprinol paint. Its Garden Shades range comes in a wide range of ready mixed or colour mixed hues to suit your outdoor scheme and provides up to six years of protection against the Great British weather. Old English Green, as seen here, creates a natural backdrop for an al fresco cooking spot, or you can pack a real punch along your boundaries with rich pink Berry Kiss or Buttercup Blast – a zingy yellow.

Priced at £21.99 for a 2.5L tin from Homebase.

LISTEN UP! For the latest gardening advice and something a little more stimulating than the snip of shears, check out Sarah Raven’s podcast, ‘Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange’.

Each episode, Sarah is joined by fellow gardener, Arthur Parkinson, where they discuss all things gardening. ‘My top tip for making the most of small spaces is to be bold and big with planting. Imagine fronds and flowers trailing over window boxes or planters to create a meadow feel,’ shares Arthur, ‘and pots can give areas of paving much-needed islands of planting. Old baths look fantastic filled with herbs, lemon verbena or borage.’

PURE AND SIMPLE Turn your back on harsh chemicals

and pesticides in your garden and protect your plants with homemade remedies you can spray from Hozelock’s Pure Sprayer, £17.99 for a 2-litre bottle.

Specifically designed for using with solutions such as white vinegar and baking soda, you can whip up your own eco fertilisers and target difficult to reach areas with the 360° spray function. Plus, the lockable trigger ensures continuous spraying so you can cover larger areas with ease.

Pot to plate

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Grow your five-a-day with a helping hand from Becky Dickinson’s latest book, Gardening to Eat. Packed with ideas for turning home-grown produce into tasty meals, you’ll find a harvest of tips on what to grow each month while reducing your food miles in the process.

Gardening to Eat: Connecting People and Plants by Becky Dickinson, published by White Owl for £19.99, is out now.

Prepare your garden for a summer filled with joy 1000s of Rattan Furniture Ranges in stock now Free and super fast delivery available Sun Loungers | Daybeds | Dining Sets Corner Sofa Sets | Fire Pit Sets And Loads More

visit Gardenman.co.uk This month we are celebrating beautiful bespoke handmade office furniture by showcasing some of our favourites. Work from home in comfort and style.

Now launching and available virtual face-to-face appointments so you can show us your space and we can offer some professional solutions.

Please get in touch sales@prestigefurnitureart.com or call 07946 208740 and ask for Hattie, quoting “Your Home”

ITHIS n yourMONTH garden

GARDEN IDEAS

T

Bring decorating ideas into your garden, and transform it into an oasis of beauty that stimulates all the senses

he interior of your home isn’t the only place you can add a little decorative flourish. e beauty of decorating with plants, as well as with more sculptural pieces (see page 118), is that they will give you different delights to look forward to through the seasons. Invest in a selection of show-stopping plants such as tree peonies, Ceanothus or bearded irises to give your garden a sequence of wow factors. While

their appearance may be fleeting, their intense beauty will become a highlight each year.

Surround these ethereal beauties with hardworking plants that flower again and again.

Penstemons, hardy Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and Erigeron karvinskianus (Mexican fleabane) all put on a display over a long period.

Position a pretty selection of scented plants close to exit doors, paths or seating areas to further enhance time spent outside. Include a

Plant pereials in a variety of vibrant containers for a laidback lk – aange them at different heights and depths for extra interest

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JUST “Buy One Get One Free!

Spectacular Flowering Fuchsia Trees… £24.99 FUCHSIA TREES

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Add height, instant impact and vibrant colour to your garden or patio from now ‘til the first frosts of winter!

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uchsias are an absolute must for any summer flowering display, and a firm favourite for gardeners throughout the UK. With layer upon layer of delicate petals they are breathtakingly beautiful and uniquely shaped – what’s more, they’re versatile, easy to grow and perform superbly all summer long!

Skilfully grown over last winter, these stunning “Fuchsia Columns” (or “Fuchsia Trees”) will be delivered direct to your door at around 0.8-1m (3ft) tall – in bud and flower – ready to make a dramatic impact on your patio, terrace or framing a door or gateway!

We have a limited number of these mature, well established plants. With this scarcely believable offer you can Buy One Get One Free… but only whilst stocks last!

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Trim into classic “standards” with ease Perfect for patio pots, or framing a door or gateway Buy One Get One Free… SAVE £24.99!

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NEW! Blooming Fast Soluble Feed – 500g

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HALF PRICE BONUS OFFER A spectacular new Oriental Lily

Oriental Lily ‘Big News’ Elegant, huge pure white flowers up to 30cm across - Incredible fragrance with a rich, heady perfume.

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Code 100062

Note: Image shows plant trimmed into a standard. Colours vary.

Order payable to Offer YH108, YouGarden, YOUR PAYMENT DETAILS I enclose a cheque/Postal PLEASE SEND TO: (name & address on back) for £ PO Box 1468, Peterborough, PE1 9XL Or charge my Visa / MastercardYouGarden / Maestro card: YOUR ORDER DETAILS Card Issue Item Description Price Qty Subtotal No. No. Start Exp 0.8-1m Tall Flowering Fuchsia Tree 450008 BUY 1 GET ONE FREE! SAVE £24.99! £24.99 Date Date These SPECIAL OFFERS go perfectly with your Fuchsia Trees! DELIVERY DETAILS Lily ‘Big News’ Supplied as Pack of 20 Bulbs £9.99 Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss Initial Surname 650108 Oriental SAVE £10.00!

Address 100062 Blooming Fast Superior Feed - 500g SAVE £2.00! £7.99 Postcode 100107 Blooming Fast Pre-Delivery Plant Treatment ONLY £1! £1.00 Email JOIN THE YOUGARDEN CLUB - Get £20.00 FREE If you do not wish to receive catalogues Tel vouchers & SAVE 10% on EVERY ITEM you order! & offers from us, please tick here [ ].

We think you’d enjoy some of the latest products and 820005 Renewal Subscription Membership* SAVE £15.00!

820001 1 Year Membership: SAVE £10.00!

£5.00 £10.00

DON’T FORGET: Deduct 10% (10p in every £1) if you joined the YouGarden Club:

*We’ll automatically renew your membership every year, so you can keep saving - AND Add PP&I the price will NEVER go up... GUARANTEED! Full details at YouGarden.com/Club. Offer subject to availability and in the event that this offer is oversubscribed, we reserve the TOTAL right to send suitable substitutes. Despatched within 10-14 days. Delivery to UK only ORDER and a £6.00 surcharge will apply to the following postcode areas: AB, BT, DD8-11, GY, HS, IM, IV, JE, KA27-28, KW, PA20-80, PH19-50, TR21-25 & ZE. See website for full VALUE terms & conditions. Following Brexit there are a number of changes that prevent us from trading in N. Ireland. For further details please visit www.yougarden.com

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AD CODE

YH108

GARDEN IDEAS

Cucamelons – tiny watermelon lkalikes that have a taste of cucumber and lime – are easy to grow and a great aition to salads.

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These cute, easy to grow cucamelons are more or less ignored by pests and are drought-tolerant

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A Ceanothus shrub will put on an impressive show from late spring to early or late summer in a well-lit spot

Attract nocturnal pollinators, such as moths, into your garden with nightscented blooms

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Tree peonies will put on a show of big, blowsy, fragrant blooms into the summer

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few night-scented varieties such as Nicotiana sylvestris and Oenothera (evening primrose) to attract night-flying moths, which are great pollinators.

If space is tight, grow perennials in containers.

For best results use a 50/50 mix of multi-purpose peat-free compost with John Innes No. 2 and ensure there are holes in the base of each container to allow excess water to drain. e nutrients in any compost have a limited shelf life, so in order to keep plants healthy during the whole of the growing season administer a fortnightly dose of liquid fertiliser.

Step out of your comfort zone and make 2021 the year you grow something new. Suttons is offering super plug plants of Luffa cylindrica, which will need to be grown on in the warmth of a greenhouse or well-ventilated conservatory. ese unusual vegetables can be cooked and eaten in a similar manner to courgettes while young and tender, or let them grow on to become an eco-friendly homegrown pan scourer or bath loofah.

Decorating Special 2021

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GARDEN IDEAS

SIX OF THE

BEST

1.

Decorative garden features

Stamp your own style on your outdoor space with some carefully selected decorative features. For best results, keep it simple as too many items will make the space appear untidy and cluttered.

1.Rusty pigs

Made from weighty cast iron with a rust coating, these decorative pigs will continue to weather outside, enhancing their appearance and adding to their charm.

Display them in groups or as a single entity on the lawn or patio. £65 each, coxandcox.co.uk

2.Granite-finish pond in a pot

Attract a wider diversity of wildlife into your garden with a lightweight, fibreglass mini pond. This 80cm container is supplied with a plant support ring to help keep the pond plants in the correct depth of water. Available in a choice of 15 colours. £250, watersidenursery.co.uk Well-placed sculptures make wonderful focal points in an outdoor setting. This charming pair of sandpipers are crafted from sheet steel and could be displayed on dry land, at the edge of or in a garden pond. £234 each or £395 for two, gardenartandsculpture.co.uk

4.Decorative wall trellis panels

Attach this solid steel trellis to a wall or boundary fence to provide a supportive structure for climbing annuals such as sweet peas, roses, espalier fruit or edible climbers. Available in three widths and comes with a 10year guarantee. £105, harrodhorticultural.com

5.

Decorative panels

This eye-catching range of metal fencing panels and garden screens will transform a garden from ordinary to extraordinary. Available in a variety of different metals, each item in the range boasts unique laser-cut decorative designs. Prices start from £200 (Drift panel, shown here, £390), starkandgreensmith.com

6.Sentosa cascade water feature

This contemporary water feature would complement many garden designs. Made from Corten steel, a naturally self-rusting material that requires no painting or maintenance, it comes with everything you need for installation, including the pump. £329.99, Primrose.co.uk

118

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frogs, toads and newts exit any water feature by puing something in to help them climb out.

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GET CREATIVE!

Any garden, whatever its size, can be truly enhanced with some decorative features. ey will add colour, form and interest to the setting and stimulate the senses. Don’t be afraid to go large in a small space.

One generously proportioned item may have more impact and presence in a compact space than a riot of smaller objects. Wherever possible, invest in pieces that are well crafted, as flimsier items won’t stand the test of time against the elements.

Decorating Special 2021

119

7 AMAZING PRIZE DRAWS TO ENTER!

We have fabulous goodies up for grabs this month!

Win a bundle of Project Blu dog goodies, worth up to £200

Win six stylish dining chairs from Lakeland Furniture

Project Blu are giving Your Home readers and their furry friends the chance to win up to £200 worth of dog accessories. Each winner will be able to choose a bed of their choice as well as a collar and a lead or harness from Project Blu’s brand-new Recycled or Apple Leather Range.

Project Blu was born out of a desire to do something different, specifically in the pet space. The founders set out to break the mould of the traditional manufacturing process in order to offer products that are sustainable, affordable and built to last.

Innovation and sustainability is at the heart of their product ranges, as they constantly seek new polluting materials to be converted into eco-friendly designs. Project Blu products are made from 100 per cent recycled materials, transforming used clothes and ocean-bound plastic to create 100 per cent recycled fabric and fillings. For more information, visit projectblu.co.

Your Home has teamed up with Lakeland Furniture to offer one lucky winner a full set of six Neilson Dining Chairs in Grey Velvet.

The Neilson dining chair showcases a delicate combination of modern Scandi style and a soft velvet fabric. The seat itself is decorated with indented buttons and intricate grid-patterned stitching, creating a deluxe finish that’s begging to be sat in.

Filled with high-grade foam padding, this sumptuous seat is comfortable for every family member. With its modern grey shade and simple, elegant design, this easy-to-assemble chair would complement any contemporary dining room.

It’s finished with four rubber floor protectors, so you don’t have to worry about any scratches!

For more information on its entire range of furniture, visit lakeland-furniture.co.uk.

Win a bundle of summer cooking essentials from OXO

Win a BioArmor-Nano cleaning bundle, worth £125

3 lucky winners

Dust off the barbecue, clean the grill and get excited for summer with a bundle of OXO cooking essentials, worth over £100 each.

We have five of these bundles on offer, which include everything you need for a summer of al fresco dining.

Kebabs are the ultimate addition to any family barbecue, so cook meat and fish to perfection with OXO’s new Grilling Skewers. The flat design will keep kebabs steady as you grill, and the sharp stainless steel points help you load food easily.

You’ll also get OXO’s new Grilling Turner and Tongs Set, which allows you to flip burgers with ease. For those who enjoy a beer when cooking, the tongs even come with a handy bottle opener. The bundle also contains an OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner, Strawberry Huller, Two-Piece Tong Set, Precision Pour Glass Oil Dispenser and Ice Cream Spade.

For more info, visit oxouk.com.

5 lucky winners

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1 lucky winner

BioArmor-Nano offers the first and only wipes that cover your tech devices and surfaces with an anti-bacterial, anti-microbial coating.

Proven to reduce an impressive 99.9 per cent of harmful microbes on your home surfaces, the coating lasts for up to three months.

Your Home has teamed up with BioArmor-Nano to offer readers the chance to win one of four cleaning bundles, worth £125 each!

Each lucky winner will receive a BioArmor-Nano Household Pack, Auto Pack, Travel Pack and Gadgets and Tech Pack, so all your domestic and work cleaning needs are covered.

To find out more about BioArmorNano, visit bioarmornano.com.

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7 AMAZING PRIZE DRAWS TO ENTER!

Win the KitchenAid Cordless Collection, worth £407

3 lucky winners

For over 100 years KitchenAid has designed appliances to help makers of all skill levels get the most out of their kitchen equipment. Here’s a chance to win one of three KitchenAid Cordless Collections, which includes a Hand Blender, 5-Cup Chopper and 7-Speed Hand Mixer. Four colours are on offer: Empire Red, Matte Black and NEW Almond Cream and Matte Grey.

KitchenAid’s innovative engineering brings powerful cordless elegance to kitchens and gives adventurous makers the freedom to cook wherever and however they choose. Expect clutter-free countertops and no more tangled cords to curb your creative spirits. The tools are easy to use, dishwasher safe and come complete with simple compact storage.

With the Cordless range, you can prep, cook and add elaborate flourishes without the hassle of a cord. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries deliver the performance and efficiency you expect from KitchenAid. Visit kitchenaid.co.uk for more information.

Win a £50 online voucher to spend at Protek

Protek has joined forces with Your Home to offer readers the chance to win one of 10 £50 online vouchers to spend on Protek’s extensive range of woodcare products.* Protek’s paints and wood stains have been formulated to help protect your exterior timber and, with over 100 colours to choose from, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect shade.

With a wide variety of neutral, bright and pastel shades available, you can give your garden furniture and wood a stylish upgrade while safeguarding it from the effects of weathering.

Protek woodcare products are safe for garden plants, pets and wildlife as they’re water-based and made with environmentally considerate processes and raw materials.

To view the full range, visit protekwood stain.co.uk. *Delivery cost not included.

Win Multi-Surface Renovation White paint by V33

V33 has teamed up with Your Home to offer you the chance to win one of 10 bundles of Multi-Surface Renovation White paint.

Each winner will receive two five-litre tubs, so you can get your summer DIY jobs off to a fresh start.

When it comes to interior decorating, we all want to be able to do the job as quickly and easily as possible. But it’s not always obvious which paint to use, especially when you’re dealing with various surfaces. Luckily, V33 Multi-Surface Renovation can be used for almost any interior paint job, and its professional finish means you won’t have to redecorate for a long time. Its one-coat application makes whole room renovations straightforward.

Visit v33.co.uk for more information.

10winlucky ners

10winlucky ners

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

17 The surname and county of residence of the winners will be available upon request by sending an SAE to Your Home magazine, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST within two months of the closing date of the promotion. The Promoter will contact the winners before releasing this information and provide the winners the opportunity to object or limit the amount of information shared 18 The promotion is subject to the laws of England.

Decorating Special 2021

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Real homes

Tour reader homes and steal ideas from amazing room makeovers… all at the click of a button

Lking for your next creative eavour?

Find craft proend jects to YourHomeStyle.insuk!pire at

Get crafty

YourHomeStyle.uk TAKE A LOOK AT OUR ONLINE HOME

Explore our jam-packed website for décor inspiration, household hacks and craft ideas, plus recipes and competitions galore

Let’s eat!

We’ve got mealtimes

covered with delicious recipes for speedy dinners, indulgent puds and more…

Sep by ste to success

From cleaning tips to DIY projects, we’ve plenty of guides to help you make the most of your home

And so much me…

If you love Your Home magazine, we know you’ll love our website – take a look today!

A

Shopping guide Where to buy everything in this issue

Abigail Ahern 0207 354 8181 abigailahern.com Abrams 01256 302699 abramsandchronicle.co.uk Abstract House 020 8099 9243 abstracthouse.com Albert & Moo albertandmoo.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon 0800 279 7234 amazon.co.uk Annabel James 0345 548 0210 annabeljames.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 713089 anniesloan.com Anthropologie 00800 0026 8476 anthropologie.com/en-gb Antipodream 07391 514622 antipodream.co.uk Atkin and Thyme 01727 227500 atkinandthyme.co.uk

B

B&M 0330 838 9000 bmstores.co.uk B&Q 0333 014 3357 diy.com Basalt & Dune Homestore basaltdune.co.uk Bathroom Eleven 020 8335 6821 bathroomeleven.co.uk Bathroom Takeaway 0333 305 8200 bathroomtakeaway.com Benchmarx 01604 268441 benchmarxkitchens.co.uk Benjamin Moore 01753 575756 benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Berczy berczydrinks.com BHS 0333 005 0070 bhs.com Big Bathroom Shop 0345 122 7569 bigbathroomshop.co.uk Bio-D 01482 770611 biod.co.uk Blinds 2go 0800 862 0464 blinds-2go.co.uk Bluebellgray bluebellgray.com Bonne Maman bonnemaman.co.uk Bradstone bradstone.com British Lion Eggs eggrecipes.co.uk BTFY btfy.com Button & Sprung 03333 201 801 buttonandsprung.com

C

California Shutters 0800 195 0196 californiashutters.co.uk Carpetright 0330 333 3444 carpetright.co.uk ChilliWinter chilliwinter.co.uk Chronicle Books chroniclebooks.com Clean Living 0800 031 4316 cleanlivingint.com COAT Paints coatpaints.com Cole & Son 0207 376 4628 cole-and-son.com Composite Prime 0113 426 2770 composite-prime.com Coopers Design & Build 020 7018 5580 coopersdesignandbuild.co.uk Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk

Cricut cricut.com Crown Paints 0330 024 0309 crownpaints.co.uk Crown Tiles 0800 156 0756 crowntiles.co.uk Cult Furniture 0208 185 6960 cultfurniture.com Curtains 2go 0800 862 0463 curtains-2go.co.uk

D

Daisy Park 01769 579077 daisypark.co.uk Denys & Fielding 07528 578198 denysandfielding.co.uk Desenio 020 3318 2047 desenio.co.uk Dobbies 0131 561 6406 dobbies.com Dowsing & Reynolds 0113 819 9985 dowsingandreynolds.com Dualit dualit.com Dulux 0333 222 7171 dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 165 6565 dunelm.com

E F

Earthborn Paints 01928 734171 earthbornpaints.co.uk eBay ebay.co.uk ecoegg ecoegg.com Ercol 01844 271800 ercol.com Farrow & Ball 01202 876141 farrow-ball.com Five and Dime fiveanddime-interiors.com Flo & Joe 01865 821101 floandjoe.co.uk Freemans 0333 200 8077 freemans.com Frenchic 01276 469757 frenchicpaint.co.uk

G

Garden Art and Sculpture 0750 121 3800 gardenartandsculpture.co.uk Garden Trading 01993 845559 gardentrading.co.uk George Home 0800 952 0101 direct.asda.com Gold Leaf Supplies 01656 720 566 goldleafsupplies.co.uk Graham & Brown 0808 168 3795 grahambrown.com Graham & Green 01225 418 200 grahamandgreen.co.uk Greenfingers 01506 605157 greenfingers.com Gumtree gumtree.co.uk

H

H&M Home 0344 736 9000 hm.com Habitat 0344 499 4686 habitat.co.uk Happi happifreefrom.com Harris 01527 575441 harrisbrushes.com Harvey Jones 0800 389 6938 harveyjones.com

20

Heavenly Homes and Gardens heavenlyhomesandgardens.co.uk Hillarys 0808 239 6769 hillarys.co.uk Hobbycraft 0330 026 1400 hobbycraft.co.uk Home Bargains homebargains.co.uk Homebase 0333 003 7084 homebase.co.uk Homescapes 0121 368 0051 homescapesonline.com Homesense 01923 473561 homesense.com housecosy housecosy.com House of houseof.com Hozelock 0121 313 1122 hozelock.com

I J

IKEA 020 3645 0000 ikea.com/gb Industville 020 7971 7871 industville.co.uk Interior Fox 07947 790243 interiorfox.co.uk Jeyes 0845 490 0176 jeyesfluid.co.uk Joe Browns 0113 270 6655 joebrowns.co.uk John Innes Compost jic.ac.uk John Lewis & Partners 0345 610 0359 johnlewis.com Juniqe juniqe.co.uk

Just Radiators 01772 346933 justradiators.co.uk JYSK 03300 883818 jysk.co.uk

K L

Kersaint Cobb 01675 430 430 kersaintcobb.co.uk KINN 01883 626 628 kinn-living.com Kitchen Door Workshop 01825 765041 kitchendoorworkshop.co.uk La Basketry labasketry.com Lara Bezzina larabezzina.co.uk La Redoute 0844 842 2222 laredoute.co.uk Laura Ashley 0333 200 8009 lauraashley.com Leaf Envy leafenvy.co.uk Leatherhead Glass 01372 377128 leatherheadglass.co.uk Lemon and Lime Interiors 01332 987740 lemonandlimeinteriors.co.uk Lisa Comfort Home 0207 354 4120 lisacomforthome.com Little Greene 0845 880 5855 littlegreene.com Loaf 0203 141 8300 loaf.com Lumitrix 0208 964 9027 lumitrix.com

Decorating Special 2021

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M

M&Co 0333 202 0720 mandco.com MADE 0845 557 6888 made.com Magnet 01325 744015 magnet.co.uk Maisons du Monde 0808 234 2172 maisonsdumonde.com Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8000 marksandspencer.com Marquis & Dawe 01925 767611 marquisanddawe.co.uk Marshalls 0370 120 7474 marshalls.co.uk Matalan 0333 0044444 matalan.co.uk Mereway Bathrooms 0121 706 7844 mereway.co.uk Mint & May 020 3637 7969 mintandmay.co.uk MissPrint 01277 350581 missprint.co.uk Moduleo moduleo.com Mountain & Molehill mountainandmolehill.com

N

Narchie narchie.com National Trust 0300 123 2025 shop.nationaltrust.org.uk NEFF 0344 892 8989 neff-home.com Newlife Paints newlifepaints.com Next 0333 777 8000 next.co.uk Nkuku 0333 240 0155 nkuku.com Nordic Nest nordicnest.com Not Just Taps 01923 268843 notjusttaps.co.uk Not on the High Street 0203 318 5115 notonthehighstreet.com nuie 01422 417100 nuiebathrooms.com

O

Oak Furnitureland 0800 440 2254 oakfurnitureland.co.uk Oak Solution 01772 499081 oaksolution.co.uk Ocado 0345 656 1234 ocado.com Oliver Bonas 020 8059 2414 oliverbonas.com Original Style 01392 473 000 originalstyle.com

P

Pampas Studio UK pampasstudiouk.com Paving Superstore 0800 002 9910 pavingsuperstore.co.uk Perrywood perrywood.co.uk Perswall perswall.com/uk Plant Pots Shop 07814 606922 plantpotsshop.co.uk Plumbs 0800 019 0505 plumbs.co.uk Porcelain Superstore 0330 094 0304 porcelainsuperstore.co.uk Posterlounge posterlounge.co.uk Poster Store posterstore.co.uk Poundland poundland.co.uk Primark primark.com

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Primrose 0118 903 5210 primrose.co.uk Protek 01749 344697 protekwoodstain.co.uk

Q R

Quick-Step 08448 118 288 quick-step.co.uk

Rangemaster 01926 457628 rangemaster.co.uk Real Good Ketchup realgoodketchup.com Rebecca Udall rebeccaudall.com Richard Burbidge 01691 678300 richardburbidge.com Richard Jackson Garden 0330 0582733 richardjacksonsgarden.co.uk Robert Dyas 0333 103 6677 robertdyas.co.uk Rocket Jack 01273 803055 rocketjack.co.uk Rockett St George 01444 253391 rockettstgeorge.co.uk Ronseal 0114 240 9469 ronseal.com Rose & Grey 0161 926 8763 roseandgrey.co.uk Royale Stones 0800 002 9421 royalestones.co.uk Rugs Direct 0330 113 4909 rugsdirect.co.uk Rust-Oleum 0191 410 6611 makeityours.co.uk

S

Sadolin 0330 0240 298 sadolin.co.uk Sainsbury’s Home 0800 636 262 sainsburys.co.uk Samuel & Sons 020 7351 5723 samuelandsons.com Scooms 020 7164 6045 scooms.com Simply Be 0345 071 9018 simplybe.co.uk Smeg 0344 557 9907 smeguk.com Sofology 03444 81 81 81 sofology.co.uk Sophie Allport 01778 560256 sophieallport.com Splashback 0800 978 8785 splashback.co.uk Spoonflower spoonflower.com Stark & Greensmith 01737 701088 starkandgreensmith.com Stoff & Stil 0333 1559 855 stoffstil.co.uk Surface View 0118 922 1327 surfaceview.co.uk Suttons 0333 043 0700 suttons.co.uk Sweetpea & Willow 0345 257 2627 sweetpeaandwillow.com Swift Direct Blinds 0370 218 7042 swiftdirectblinds.co.uk

T

Tektura 020 7536 3300 tektura.com Tesco 0800 505555 tesco.com

The Den Kit Company 01694 751733 thedenkitco.com The English Panelling Company 01453 731305 theenglishpanellingcompany.co.uk The Joy Edit thejoyedit.co.uk The LED Specialist 0118 950 7125 theledspecialist.co.uk The Range 0345 026 7598 therange.co.uk The 3D Wall Panel Company 01535 642560 3dwallpanels.co.uk The Universal Soul Company 07956 377272 theuniversalsoulcompany.com The Watercress Company 01929 463241 thewatercresscompany.com Tikamoon 020 3445 5440 tikamoon.co.uk Tile Expert 0203 519 5113 tile.expert Tile Giant 0345 307 5000 tilegiant.co.uk Tile Mountain 01782 223822 tilemountain.co.uk TK Maxx 01923 473561 tkmaxx.com Topps Tiles 0800 783 6262 toppstiles.co.uk Tori Murphy 01773 711128 torimurphy.com Total Tiles 01473 805959 totaltiles.co.uk Trex uk.trex.com

U

Urban Outfitters 0800 988 7726 urbanoutfitters.com Used Kitchen Exchange 0151 541 9420 usedkitchenexchange.co.uk

Utopia Bathrooms 01902 406402 utopiagroup.com

V

Very 0800 11 00 00 very.co.uk Victorian Plumbing 0345 862 2878 victorianplumbing.co.uk Village Wax Melts villagewaxmelts.com Villa Nova 01623 727017 villanova.co.uk

W

Waitrose & Partners 0800 188 884 waitrose.com Wallpaper Direct 01323 430 886 wallpaperdirect.com Walls and Floors 01536 314730 wallsandfloors.co.uk Wallsauce 01772 284110 wallsauce.com Waterside Nursery 07931 557082 watersidenursery.co.uk Wayfair 0800 169 0423 wayfair.co.uk We Are Nomads 07947 253750 wearenomads.co.uk West Elm 0800 404 9780 westelm.co.uk Wickes 0330 123 4123 wickes.co.uk Wilko 0800 032 9329 wilko.com Woodpecker Flooring 02920 888 223 woodpeckerflooring.co.uk

Y

Yankee Candle 0800 234 6169 yankeecandle.co.uk Yodomo yodomo.co

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YROTCERID GNIPPOHS yourhomestyle.uk

To place an advert here, please call Rebecca Janyshiwskyj on 0117 300 8547

YROTCERID GNIPPOHS

Agatha 3 seater sofa WAS £939 NOW £699

Spring Sale Now On www.sofasofa.co.uk

sofasofa

Great British Sofas direct from the manufacturer Free brochure tel. 01495244226

CHARLES GEORGE SOFAS

BEXLEY 3 SEATER

WAS £1699

NOW £1199

CLASSIC UPHOLSTERY DESIGNS DIRECT FROM OUR UK WORKSHOP WWW.CHARLESGEORGE.CO.UK | 01495246763

Re-Silver Plating REVIVEYOURSILVERWARE

(EPNS,SterlingSilver,CopperorBrassbasemetal) TURN THIS…

INTO THIS…

• Cutlery Sets/Pieces • Trays and Bowls • Tea/Coffee Sets • Trophies • Ornaments

• Candlesticks • Jugs/Tankards • Some Jewellery (please ask) • + Many Other Items!

• Knife Handles Replaced

NO OBLIGATION QUOTES R P Day & Co

0114 2467240

www.steelcitycutlery.com/plating

To place an advert here, please call Rebecca Janyshiwskyj on 0117 300 8547

yourhomestyle.uk

GREAT BRITISH HANDMADE LEATHER SOFAS DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER

Safe for use on children’s toys Easy to apply 5 New colours for 2018

YROTCERID GNIPPOHS

Highly water resistant Will not flake or peel UV resistant Contains no biocides or preservatives

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Classic Colour Collection

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Boutique SPEAK

SHOP OF THE MONTH

We go behind the scenes with Tabara N’Diaye, founder of online boutique La Basketry Describe a typical day

I’m an early bird, so I’m usually up around 7am. I like to start my day with an intense workout – spin or HIIT are my favourites – before I sit down at my desk with a bowl of porridge. My mornings are usually admin – catching up on emails, liaising with suppliers or dispatching orders – while my afternoons are more creative, with Zoom meetings to discuss a project or time developing new ideas, which usually includes a lot of trial and error. I try to finish work around 6pm, although it really depends on my workload.

The twine basket kit contains all that you need to make your very own vibrant twotone basket

Creator of La Basketry, Tabara N’Diaye

What is your favourite interiors style?

As someone who runs a business around baskets, I do love how everybody has been embracing the rattan trend lately. But my all-time favourite interiors trend is mid-century modern. I love how the pieces are classic and elegant but also add a lot of character to any room you find them in.

What inspired you to set up shop?

I wanted to combine my love of interiors with Senegalese basket-weaving. It’s a craft I’ve always loved, one that is passed down from generation to generation between women in rural villages in Senegal, where I’m originally from. I was keen to start a project that brought more meaning into my life and the lives of others.

I love a basket wa… My number one tip is always to mix and match the baskets – the more paerns, the beer!

What can we find at La Basketry?

La Basketry is all about bringing colour to storage and injecting individuality into homes.

We stock a range of beautiful baskets and home accessories that are woven with dried grasses and colourful strings such as bowls,

My Favourite things

1. ‘This ‘make your own basket bag’ kit is such

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vases, breakfast trays and placemats. Most recently, we launched a range of DIY Basket Kits as a way to encourage people to craft and connect with their hands while at home.

What are your tips for styling woven homewares?

I love a basket wall. It’s a great continuation of the gallery wall trend and it creates a focal point in any room. My number one tip is always to mix and match the baskets – the more patterns, the better! And if you get bored with the layout, the baskets can easily find their way back into your home.

What’s next for you and La Basketry?

Summer is always busy and this year will be no exception, with lots of new launches. Our DIY Kits have been super popular, so I’m looking forward to developing our craft range, too.

Personally, I’m excited for a break in the sun! labasketry.com

3 senoJ-syhR allE erutaeF

a fun project to do. As the days get warmer, a basket bag is a must for the beach or park and I love the clean aesthetic of this make.’

Rope basket bag kit, £42 2. ‘I use my trinket dish for jewellery but also as a candle holder in the bedroom or as a coaster with my favourite cup of tea throughout the day.’

Woven trinket dish, £6.50 3. ‘I love how versatile this woven piece is – use it as a breakfast tray in bed or as a statement item you can hang on the wall.‘ Safi woven serving tray in Monochrome, £49

Update your tableware with handwoven placemats

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THE COLOURS OF NATURE Our home is our refuge – and we’re going all in to make it even more cosy. Find out which colours and styles are going to feature in interior design in Spring/Summer 2021 – and what role nature plays.

www.posterlounge.co.uk Posterlounge offers you a huge selection of wall prints – in different sizes and on different materials. From classical masterpieces to modern art, the manifold options to create a unique wall design leave nothing to be desired.

Setting the tone Right now, we are spending more time at home than ever before. Even more reason for us to create cosy spots where we feel comfortable and safe. Reach for earthy shades to create a restful living space where you feel warm and grounded. And anything from beige and sand to clay and brown is perfect for your wall decor! By combining these shades with grey tones – which are still in style for 2021 – you’ll create a series of beautiful contrasts in your home.

Embracing greens Longing for fresh starts, we are often drawn out into nature. Nature certainly has healing powers, so we find peace, tranquillity and strength in the great out

doors. Even when it comes to your home decor, simple green touches can have a strong revitalising effect. Lush green, velvet green, light green – there are so many greens to choose from, which you can spread all over your house. Let minimalistic, natural designs or vivid tropical and animal motifs move into your home!

It’s a match!

And best of all – whatever interior design style reigns in your home, the natural motifs blend in perfectly. A high-quality premium poster in a wooden frame might be the highlight of your home decor, but you can always mix and match prints on canvas, wood, aluminium or acrylic glass to create a gallery wall.

A-Z OF DECORATING from Anaglypta to Zoffany

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