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BRITAIN’S BEST VALUE HOMES MAGAZINE JUNE 2022

DIY STORAGE CRAFT DECORATING FOOD GARDENING

235

SUMMER REFRESHES SMART

TRICKS FOR INSIDE & OUT

BARGAIN BUYS

50

+

Take the tour

INSPIRING REAL HOMES & MAKEOVERS

E N I H S SUN BUYeSats Style tr s for les

Low cost ways to

COOL SHAPE

PLUS THE BEST STAND MIXERS

MAXIMISE YOUR SPACE TOP TIPS FOR SMALL BEDROOMS MAKE YOUR KITCHEN LOOK BIGGER PAINT HACKS FOR LIVING ROOMS

EDITOR’S LETTER

Love it

Hi there!

ABOVE: Clever ways to put your windows in the frame, p66 LEFT: Brighten up a bijou outdoor space, p56 BELOW: Serve up a generous slice, p108

As soon as the sun comes out I want to be outdoors.

But the problem is that I’m a fair-weather gardener (in truth, I’m a ‘fair-weather for any activity’ person) so my garden usually gets neglected over the colder months. When there’s a sunny weekend forecast, getting the garden sorted so we can enjoy it is top of my agenda. This issue is full of ideas and inspiration for your outdoor space. There are fab solutions for small gardens on page 56 that would work just as brilliantly in a larger space if you’re lucky enough to have one. If, like me, your shed has a habit of becoming a dumping ground (sometimes I can’t even get into ours!), you need to check out the storage tricks on page 96. Finally, this year I’m determined to grow my own (and to keep the crop alive), so I’m loving the growing tips on page 102.

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Heather Young, Editor

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JUNE 2022 | 3

Inside…

Love it Inspiring homes and room makeovers

Buy it

Stylish musthave finds at high-street prices

Do it

Weekend projects, DIY advice and styling tips

PACK A PICNIC Page 122

Make it

Step-by-step craft ideas and upcycling how-tos

Cook it Our fave recipes and top foodie buys

Regulars 3 64

ED’S LETTER Come on in!

SUBSCRIBE and never miss an issue!

Love it 18

28 29 30 40 41 42 50 51 55 74 84 88 90

‘I’M INSPIRED BY FRENCH STYLE’ A smart scheme and statement pieces brings continental flair to Lucy’s flat COMPACT KITCHEN Tricks that make the most of limited space WALLS ABOVE SOFAS Turn this blank space into a clever feature ‘OUR COTTAGE IS TACTILE AND TONAL’ Gemma’s love of the tropics shines through her Devonshire home

8 12

Small yet stylish bathrooms

SMALL BEDROOMS Style hacks to max out storage and floor space ‘WE RETURNED TO OUR ROOTS’ When Debbie updated a rundown bungalow it became a family affair LIVING ROOM LAYOUTS Ensure you’re sitting comfortably BLACK BATHROOMS Add drama with a bold colour choice THE STYLE BOOK Creative ways to make the most of small gardens TRY A SPEEDY STYLE UPDATE All you need is a tin of paint…

‘EVERYTHING IS NOW A PERFECT FIT’ Holly banished the beige and brightened up her kitchen space U-SHAPED KITCHEN Make the most of this practical layout SMALL BATHROOMS Get creative with a bijou bathing space

Buy it 7

90

WALK-IN SHOWERS A sleek solution to update your bathing

NATURAL TEXTURES Weave cane, rattan and jute into your scheme

BEST IN STORE Our pick of the best high-street trends for the new season OPULENT RETRO Update a space with bygone colours and shapes

4 | JUNE 2022

42

Same cabinetry, different finishes in Debbie’s kitchen

SUNNY OUTLOOK Page 14

Love it

CONTENTS

30

Gemma’s light and bright cottage has a tropical vibe

14 73

SUNBURST Bring the sunshine in

80

SPLURGE VERSUS STEAL Deep blues and wood capture coastal charm

96

WALLPAPERS WITH WOW Geometric prints

SHED STORAGE SOLUTIONS Stay organised in the garden

110 BUY THE BEST Stand mixers 122 TEN UNDER £10 Purse-friendly picnic essentials

Do it 66 95

DECO IDEAS Dress your windows

98

WHAT TO DO THIS MONTH Our easy DIY and cleaning hacks to get your home ship-shape

TIME AT HOME Fill a fruit box to make a fresh berry table display

102 CROPS FOR SMALL SPACES Get growing and enjoy fresh produce

104 BUILD AN INSECT HOTEL Encourage 113 115

112

Summery dinner inspiration

beneficial bugs into your garden IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO BUY A HOUSE? Expert advice

HOUSEHOLD FINANCES Go green with your money choices

Make it 16

53

PHOTO PLACE SETTINGS Picture-perfect table arrangement WALLPAPER CHEST OF DRAWERS Make use of any leftover rolls of paper

106 MAKE A RAG RUG FLOWER POSY

Pretty blooms using leftover fabric

109 DECORATIVE DRAWERS Stick on a

fretwork panel for a speedy makeover

114 WALL-HUNG HERB PLANTER Keep culinary essentials to hand

116 WALLPAPER PINBOARDS A stylish way to keep precious keepsakes

Cook it

108 RASPBERRY, WHITE CHOCOLATE AND MATCHA CAKE Fruity slice

112 SPICY SALMON LAKSA Light

supper that’s ready in minutes

74

Room refresh

DECOR UPDATES Page 8

Tweet us your comments at @styleathomemag – we’d love to hear what you think of your fave mag!

JUNE 2022 | 5

NATURAL TEXTURES

Buy it

THIS MONTH’S

Loveit!

Explore B&M’s new Botanist range, with lush faux greenery to bring a sense of summer into your home all year round. Rattan, cane and jute adorn homeware and the star of the show has to be these gorgeous canefronted drawers. #WANT!

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

Group pendants at different heights for statement lighting

Chest of drawers, £150; Maya jute rug, £25; table lamp, £24; metal pendant lamp, £18; large wicker pendant, £25; candle holder, £3, all B&M

JUNE 2022 | 7

Best IN STORE Refresh your room schemes for the new season with our pick of the latest high-street trends

Luella shade, £20

TOUCH OF NATURE

Stripe vase, £6

Floral arrangement, £7

Scented candle, £3

Scandi succulent, £4 Ivy woven throw, £15

B&M Create a beachy vibe with tactile materials and waves of blue and neutrals

Rhodes striped basket, £15

Saffron Navy cushion, £14

8 | JUNE 2022

Pussy Willow wreath, £15

Buy it

BEST IN STORE

Alis Reactive Blue vase, £15

NEAT IDEA

Clip sofa side table in Brick Red, £69

ANYDAY Tufted Waves cushion, £20

ANYDAY Whistler chair in Mustard, £99

John Lewis & Partners

BLOCK BRIGHTS

ANYDAY Ceramic Bulbholder table lamp in Alpine, £25

Style an eye-catching space with bold splashes of rust and mustard

ANYDAY Lift storage desk in Blue, £199

East End Prints Marcus Walters OK framed print, £145

ANYDAY Aztec indoor/outdoor rug in Mustard, from £80

Chunky knitted pouffe in Chilli, £27

JUNE 2022 | 9

Matt Black tall table lamp, £70

Black wood three-tier shade, £70

SLEEK SHAPE

Naturalist medium White vase, £14

Habitat Naturalist large Black vase, £18

MONOCHROME

Leaf-print cushion, £16

Naturalist side table, £65

10 | JUNE 2022

Scandi Brush Marks rug, £125

Large planter, £40

FEATURE LAURA HIGGINS

Freshen up a black and white scheme with plant themes and lush greens

BEST IN STORE

Ball gin glass, £8 for two; Ball wine glass, £7 for two

Buy it

Tortoiseshelleffect lamp, £28

Arc tufted cushion, £10

Crossweave throw, £18

George Home

Battery operated salt lamp, £12

DREAMSCAPE

Pink matt dispenser, £5; tumbler, £3

Combine curvaceous moon shapes against a backdrop of soothing shades Blue Moon Phase bath mat, £9

LUNAR LUXE Stacked Shape printed cushion, £8

Summer Landscape duvet cover set, from £11

JUNE 2022 | 11

The New Look

OPULENT RETRO

Update era-defining shapes and styles with rich materials and clashing colours

1. Focus on the detail

FEATURE LAURA HIGGINS

The finishing touches tie this look together – jewel-hued glassware to give a luxe edge, oversized candlesticks and vases to add height, and abstract wall art to pick out the colours in the rest of the room.

Swoon Rene four-seater sofa in Teal velvet, £999, DFS

12 | JUNE 2022

2. Build upon layers

Turn the seating area into a focal point. Start with a sofa and large footstool in vibrant complementary velvets, then add abstract cushions in a different fabric and a woven rug in punchy tones.

NEW LOOK

4. Pick interesting lighting

Choose slimline, angular pieces, such as floor lamps and occasional furniture, in striking black to give a contemporary edge to this otherwise plush scheme.

Buy it

COLOUR CLASH Tanksley rug in Rust, from £29.99, Wayfair

CLEAN LINES Marble and brass floor lamp, £90, Habitat

BRUSH STROKES Abstract 305 art print, £35, Abstract House

Nail the style

1970S SHAPES

Combine the decade’s design with bold brights

SLIMLINE STORAGE

3. Create a colour explosion

Black console table, £50, George Home

DARK GLASSES Smoky glass carafe, £5, B&M

Mix rich tones of pink, orange and yellow with contrasting teal and green, all in statement blocks. Pick one eyecatching colour for the walls and keep it fresh with white woodwork.

TACTILE TOUCH Tuft and Pom Pom cushion, £12, Matalan

PETAL PINK Pink vase, £8, Wilko

TOTAL

£230 JUNE 2022 | 13

MORNING AFFIRMATION Slogan mug, £4, Matalan

GLIMMERING GOLD Gold Sunburst mirror, £12, Sass & Belle

PRAISE BE You Are My Sunshine art print, £15.95, Roomytown

HEAT PROTECTION Slogan coaster, £3, Matalan

Trend spotting

SUN BATHING Sun towel, from £4.50, George Home

SUNBURST

SUN SAL LUTATION H Hello l Sunshine plaque, £3, B&M

Wake up your decor with these rays of sunshine

W

e can’t promise a sun-filled forecast, but with a few uplifting motifs and warming yellow tones, you can bring a little sunshine into your home come rain or shine. It’s a quick and easy way to ensure a sunny outlook this summer.

HOT STUFF Sunshine double oven glove, £6, Wilko

BEACHY VIBE

HAPPY DAYS

Sun and Sea bath mat, £29.50, Oliver Bonas

SUMMER POSIES

LITTLE DISHY

STAR BAKER Sunshine apron, £6, Wilko

14 | JUNE 2021

POSITIVE THINKING Happiness slogan cushion, £10, Matalan

Sun trinket dish, £24, FY!

FEATURE LAURA HIGGINS

Sunshine ceramic mini jug, £7.50, Gisela Graham

SUNBURST

Buy it

Sunburst cushion, £10; cotton tasselled throw, £10; textured plate, £2; large bowl, £3.50; medium green glass food storage, £4; small pink glass food storage, £3, all B&M

JUNE 2021 | 15

Make it

HOTO PLACE SETTINGS

THIS MONTH’S

Make it

For retro-style photo printing, try Photobox, from 55p per print

16 | JUNE 2022

Tie a couple of floral stems with twine as a sweet gift

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

Delight dinner guests with a personalised setting. Print a picture of each person in a retro photo style, then stick it between two pieces of kraft card, with a square cut out of the top one as a frame. Write on their name then pop it on their plate.

‘I’m inspired by IDEA TO STEAL

‘Favourite artwork framed in a similar style enhances a plain wall’

BRING THE BLING

‘I found the retro cocktail trolley on Etsy – it has the metallic touch I like and also doubles as a side table’

COME ON IN!

ABOUT ME I’m Lucy Robinson, 31, a journalist, and I live here with my husband, Adrian Maganza, 34, a storyboard artist, and our baby, Rumi, who was one in March.

MY HOME A split-level, twobedroom Victorian top-floor flat in north London which we moved into in May 2019.

WHEN WE MOVED IN It was dark and scruffy with lots of potential but badly laid out – not to mention the mice and the damp!

AND NOW We’ve achieved a calm oasis with oak flooring throughout and a monochrome paint palette for the main rooms. We added lots of character with colourful accessories, metallic touches and artwork.

STYLE TIP Use sheepskin pads to soften any chair and provide instant comfy appeal.

18 | JUNE 2022

LAYER UP

‘We spend most of our time here and we’ve chosen a big squashy sofa from Sofa.com, a Berber Nile rug from Flair Rugs, a pink throw from Arket and an orange cushion from H&M for pops of colour’

Love it

VICTORIAN FLAT

FRENCH STYLE’

Classic design and statement pieces were at the top of the list for Lucy and her French husband Adrian when it came to completely renovating their flat

T

his is the first place we’ve bought together and we were seduced by its quirky charm and enormous potential,’ says Lucy.

‘Before this we’d lived in rented flats, first of all in Paris, where we were both working, and then in north London, but we had decided it was time to buy. We’d been saving up and looking around and were disappointed there wasn’t much on the market because we really wanted to stay in the same area.

We saw a few one-bedroom flats in the same price range as this one, which were already done up, but this flat really appealed to us even though it was in a terrible state. It had been rented out to students for around 20 years, so you can imagine how scruffy it was! But it had two bedrooms and was arranged over two floors, which we really liked, plus it had a small roof garden, which was the icing on the cake.

Making plans

After moving in, we spent some time thinking about the layout of the flat and what we’d tackle first. The previous tenants had used the room right at the top of the flat as a living room, with the roof terrace leading off it. It’s a lovely big room, and we decided we’d rather have it as our bedroom. It’s really private up there, without neighbours on either side and it’s lovely and quiet. Plus, you have great views out over north London.

Also, it was big enough to put in lots of storage along one wall and install a walk-in en suite out of sight behind a door along the same run. This would save a trip down the stairs in the

JUNE 2022 | 19

Do it!

CREATE A PULL-OUT OFFICE AREA

Measure the area carefully to see whether you can buy a standard unit to fit the space. If not you might have to call a carpenter.

Work out how much space you need for a pull-out section that’s at the right height and make sure you buy a strong mechanism to support it when it’s fully extended.

Use a wallpaper panel or paint colour above to define the space.

Choose a suitable chair you can fold away or place elsewhere, and also make sure there is a specific light above, which you may have to attach to the wall like Lucy has.

20 | JUNE 2022

VICTORIAN FLAT

LIGHTEN THE SPACE

‘Opening up the kitchen and living room has given us much more light as has putting up a large gold mirror from William Wood Mirrors, which throws sunlight around the room’

Love it

WALL OF ART

‘The turquoise of the sofa is a happy colour and we’ve mounted our favourite prints above it as a mini art gallery’

‘IT HAD BEEN RENTED OUT TO STUDENTS FOR 20 YEARS SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW SCRUFFY IT WAS!’ night and also meant we could call our flat a two-bedroom, two-bathroom property. It also made sense to take down the wall between the kitchen and the room that we decided to transform into the new living room downstairs to make the space open plan.

Waiting it out

DUAL USE

‘We got the carpenter to build us a cupboard in the alcove which has a pull-out top that can be turned into a desk in seconds’

We had to wait five months after moving in for the builders to start work, so that period was a bit tricky as there was no point in doing much, and the roof also needed work, so we swapped the rooms around and tried to ignore the rest of it.

That was a bit difficult when we realised in the middle of one night that we had mice, when Adrian felt one crawl over him! I was completely freaked out and had to go and stay with my auntie, Yasmin, who luckily only lives round the corner in Islington, while it got sorted out.

We decided to invest in the new en suite and to get the building work done, but to keep the existing kitchen and bathroom as they were fine, and

JUNE 2022 | 21

CHARACTER HIT

‘It may seem strange to paint the units a dark colour in a small kitchen, but Little Greene’s Pompeian Ash gives it so much personality’

IDEA TO STEAL

‘If your kitchen is sound, you could just update the handles’

‘WE REALISED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT THAT WE HAD MICE’ we knew that we could change them significantly with a coat of paint and other inexpensive ideas.

Building work overruns

We moved out in October 2019 for what we thought was three weeks, while the builders dealt with the major issues like roof leaks, removing the wall between the kitchen and the living room to make it all open plan and installing the en suite. But they uncovered even more things that needed fixing when they started the work and it ended up being three months before we could get back in! Luckily my lovely parents, Sofi and Ian, who live in Epsom in Surrey, were able to have us to stay, which really helped the finances.

When we moved back in, we had a

22 | JUNE 2022

KEEP IT NEAT

‘We wanted to have open shelving in the kitchen and using the Kilner jars in different sizes keeps it tidy’

VICTORIAN FLAT SOLID STYLE

‘We decided the units just needed painting, so we did the job ourselves.

It meant we could afford some lovely Oyster Oak flooring from Kahrs’

Love it

Make it! CREATE AN INTIMATE

SPACE IN A TINY GARDEN

1 2

Put a large rug over boring paving stones to add pattern and character, but make sure it’s waterproof.

Consider installing a corner seating arrangement so people don’t feel they’re on top of each other if you have guests over.

Buy chunky washable seat cushions for comfort and add extra scatter cushions for vibrant colour.

3 4

A large chest can act as a coffee table and also as somewhere to store the cushions if you don’t want to

drag them inside every time it rains.

Line it with plastic as an extra precaution. Alternatively, upcycle an old pallet box into a coffee table and paint it to match your scheme.

5

Buy plants in pots and window boxes so you can move them around easily and take them with you if you move. Mix in some artificial plants so you have greenery and flowers all year round.

6

Finish with solar lights to create a glow for after-dark entertaining.

OUTSIDE SPACE

‘We really appreciate our own little bit of garden. We put in some Ikea furniture and a rug from La Redoute that’s suitable for outdoors’

JUNE 2022 | 23

IDEA TO STEAL

‘A feature wall to match your curtains creates a cohesive look’

MONOCHROME MAGIC

‘We carried on the greys and off-whites in this room for a peaceful feel and found elegant bedding at Zara Home’

3 of the best WALL HANGINGS Add texture to a blank wall space

long snagging list of things to do ourselves – and then lockdown hit in the March. It meant we were both working mainly from home and obviously not going out, so it did give us the chance to calmly work through everything we needed to do – and we wouldn’t have been able to have builders in anyway.

Swift change of plan

GLOBAL DESIGN

Freya tapestry wall hanging, £22, Dunelm

24 | JUNE 2022

OCEAN DRIVE

Ena wall hanging, £59.50, Oliver Bonas

CURVE APPEAL

Wall hanging decoration, £6, B&M

We were still painting away when I discovered I was pregnant in the July.

There was a lot still to do and Adrian only finished the topcoat on the kitchen cabinets three months after Rumi was born. We’d been using the spare bedroom as an office, but we swiftly changed it into a nursery as well, so it became dual use. We chose paint

VICTORIAN FLAT

Love it

CHANGING ROOMS

‘We transformed a basic Ikea chest of drawers with a coat of Rust-Oleum Bramwell’

ORIGINAL ARTWORK

‘It’s so lovely to display Adrian’s sketches. Wall in Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball’

CALMING COLOURS

‘Rumi’s bedroom is the same relaxing shade as the living room, Slaked Lime by Little Greene. His cot is from Ikea and the curtains with a blackout lining are from West Elm’

JUNE 2022 | 25

Love it

ICTORIAN FLAT

PAINT ON THE PERSONALITY

‘We’ve added a punch of colour with Farrow & Ball Green Smoke on the wall and stick-on tiles by Wallpops for the floor’

PLAIN AND SIMPLE

‘The small en suite has a walk-in shower. We got the sanitaryware from Victorian Plumbing’

COOL TONES

‘Pink and green is a lovely combination.

The woodwork is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Calamine’

colours as a basic palette – grey, cream and green – and kept the walls light, but chose to paint the window frames and woodwork in darker shades as a contrast.

Then we introduced bursts of brighter colours like turquoise, orange and pink with accessories and key pieces of furniture in each room.

French influence

Having lived in Paris for three years, we learnt how to make the best use of small spaces, and we love the French idea of buying certain statement pieces, like our sofa and mirror, and teaming them with a vintage item like our cocktail trolley. We also wanted to add lots of metallic touches and

26 | JUNE 2022

include original artwork on the walls.

The flat was a real labour of love.

We managed to transform it from something that was really rough around the edges to our calm, personal oasis.

It was great during lockdown to have a space that was designed to suit us and so reflects our taste. Now we have Rumi, we’ll probably look for a small house at some point, but you won’t catch us renovating again any time soon!’

Find more clever ideas to style up your home by going to pinterest.com/ styleathomemag

Where to buy Lucy’s style ZARA HOME Gorgeous throws and bedlinen as well as cushions, glassware and candles.

ARKET Contemporary pieces for the home in natural materials such as wood, glass and stone.

SMALLABLE A French company which sells a chic selection of everything from unusual plates to classic furniture you’ll never tire of.

HOTEL MAGIQUE A fantastic selection of reasonably priced art prints designed by Milou Neelen in her studio in Amsterdam.

OTIS AND THE WOLF Lovely pieces for the nursery, as well as clothes for children in soft fabrics.

FEATURE STEPHANIE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID GILES

‘WE KEPT THE ORIGINAL BATHROOM AND KITCHEN AS WE HAD INEXPENSIVE IDEAS TO CHANGE THEM’

Lucy’s choice:

COMPACT KITCHEN

Stretch your kitchen space with clever design tricks and easy updates that will make it feel miles bigger

W

hile a large, spacious kitchen is the dream, many of us have much smaller spaces to work with. But there are lots of tricks to make a small kitchen look bigger that don’t involve knocking down walls or a major refurb.

IDEA TO STEAL

A high-level shelf makes the most of wall space

How do I make a small kitchen look bigger?

‘Think about the work triangle,’ says Lizzie Beesley, head of design at Magnet. ‘One of the benefits of small kitchens is you can easily access all areas. Place your cleaning, cooking and preparing areas in separate zones, with plenty of floor space in between.’ Natural light makes any room feel more spacious, so keep window treatments to a minimum. Plants on the windowsill will keep it from looking bare.

Which colours are best?

‘Your colour scheme has a big impact on the impression of space,’ says Darren Watts, design director at Wren Kitchens.

‘Light colours will naturally reflect light, but don’t feel limited to bright white or cream – light greens, yellows, blues and greys can work well too.’ Small doses of colour can help to energise the space.

Strategically placed dark-coloured base units can help ground the layout.

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI AND HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

What about flooring?

Again, light-reflective, pale finishes are a good idea. The size and scale of flooring also has an effect – tiny tiles can make a space feel overly busy, while large floor tiles create an illusion of more space. In a small galley kitchen, flooring that runs along its length will draw the eye along.

Should I opt for open shelving or cupboards?

With narrow galley kitchens there’s a tendency to cram in lots of units, but this can feel too enclosed. Break up the space with a run of open shelving on one side and use a decorative splashback to make this side of the kitchen the focal point.

28 | JUNE 2022

Lucy dispensed with window dressing to let in maximum light, but added softness with a textured rug

INTEGRATED APPLIANCES ARE A SMART CHOICE THAT WILL KEEP A SMALL KITCHEN LOOKING SLEEK AND STREAMLINED

VICTORIAN FLAT

Love it

4 ways with…WALLS ABOVE SOFAS Make the most of this blank canvas in your living room

1

BUILD BESPOKE SHELVING

2

HANG A GALLERY FEATURE WALL

3

EXPERIMENT WITH TEXTURE

4

CREATE HEIGHT WITH A SHELF

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM, FURNITURE VILLAGE, NATUREWALL, SOFA.COM

There’s no rule that says a sofa has to sit against a wall. Why not pull it out and build or hang shelves behind it, which you can fill with decorative objects? It’s easy to reach over to grab a book or remote control off the shelves and, as long as they don’t jut out at head height, you don’t have to worry about knocking them.

This shelving has been painted in the same blue-grey as the wall, door and door frame, while the red sofa adds a punchy contrast.

We’ve seen wall panelling ideas take the interiors world by storm and using a slim slatted design, like the one shown here, makes a big impact with its beautifully textured finish. If you want to go for dramatic effect, then a dark colour such as this charcoal black is perfect – or opt for a more natural wood finish to match the tone of your furniture or to add warmth to your scheme.

Gallery walls have become hugely popular, with a mix of framed prints and other objects used to create eye-catching displays. What makes them ideal for the wall behind the sofa is that you can add as many or few items as you like, tailoring them exactly to the space you want to fill. Before hanging the elements, lay them out on the floor until you are happy with the arrangement and make sure that they’re large enough to add impact.

If you don’t have the luxury of high ceilings, one way to cheat them is to hang a shelf towards the top of the wall, as it draws the eye up and creates the illusion of height. Here, instead of having varying shelves behind the sofa, which can make a small room feel more enclosed, one long floating shelf runs high up on the wall, creating a neat spot to display accessories in an orderly fashion.

JUNE 2022 | 29

‘Our cottage is IN HARMONY

‘Our living room is filled with neutral paint colours that work harmoniously together’

COME ON IN!

T ME I’m Gemma Critchley, 39, a jewellery designer (@cabinetjewellery). I live here with my husband Richard, a design consultant, our six-month old daughter Koa and our dog Dayna.

MY HOME An 18th-century bakehouse in Devon, which we bought in August 2017.

WHEN WE MOVED IN The cottage had a dark wood-stained ceiling and lots of old carpeting which were the first things that we removed. We exposed any wooden flooring that was hidden underneath.

AND NOW We have a light-filled space with pale-wood floorboards, woollen rugs to add texture and a fresh-looking white ceiling.

STYLE TIP Take the time to finish a space well by adding in details, such as caulking to fill gaps.

30 | JUNE 2022

PERFECT MATCH

‘The sofa and cinema seat fill the living room with comfortable seating that doesn’t look overpowering, as the colours are tonal’

18TH-CENTURY BAKEHOUSE

Love it

TACTILE & TONAL’ IDEA TO STEAL

‘Style an open-plan space by using furniture, plants and glazing to partition’

Gemma transformed an 18th-century cottage in Devon into a light-filled, open-plan space, drawing on her roots in the tropics

M

y husband Richard and I spent three years considerately transforming our old bakehouse cottage into a lovely welcoming light-filled family home,’ says Gemma.

‘It’s a kaleidoscope of eras and home to collectibles from different cultures, drawing inspiration from our rural surroundings and my roots in the Cayman Islands. We’ve created an eclectic mix of 17th and 18th-century lithographs, abstract prints, Berber rugs and Moroccan silks, combined with modern and vintage finds.

Love at first sight

Our cottage sits in the heart of a beautiful rural village, overlooking the River Exe. We had an immediate love for the area and being able to just step out into nature.

Bakehouse Cottage – once the original bakehouse to a large estate – was converted into a separate dwelling in the Sixties. Its courtyards and passageways sparked our imagination for opportunities for inside-outside living.

The house itself was full of surprises, from the dramatic eucalyptus tree that sits within our small courtyard garden, to the high vaulted ceilings and mezzanine main bedroom. We knew that we had found a project that was going to be both unique and inspiring.

Getting the balance right Our home sits within a conservation area, so we’ve been conscious of striking a balance between the authentic and elements of clean-line modernity. It was a large project, from reconfiguring the kitchen and replacing what was once the main cottage entrance with windows, to increasing the living area to create a gallery space for my consultancy

JUNE 2022 | 31

IDEA TO STEAL

‘Add interest to a high ceiling with prominent statement lighting’

NEAT SUNTRAP

‘We kept this outside area alongside our extension to create a spacious feel, as seen from the new bedroom’

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18TH-CENTURY BAKEHOUSE HIGH LIGHT

Love it

ECLECTIC MIX

‘Our large Vertigo light by Constance Guisset is a lovely feature’

‘I’ve displayed a shell sculpture found in the Middle East, a bronze by my grandmother and antique coral found in a flea market’

Make it!

CREATE A VINTAGE-STYLE PICTURE WALL

1 2 3

Buy some beautiful vintage prints – try eBay for originals, or Desenio for retro prints.

Source some wooden frames – we suggest John Lewis & Partners, or try Ikea.

Visit your local framer and have some card mounts made for your prints in a tonal colour, all the same size.

Create your picture wall by painting it one shade darker than the rest of the room – Gemma used Farrow & Ball’s Dimity estate emulsion for a subtle, warm hue.

4

‘MANY OF OUR MOST-LOVED ITEMS WERE FOUND IN RECLAMATION YARDS AND SECOND-HAND SHOPS’ work. To achieve maximum natural light, we installed a large roof lantern and bifold doors to open up the space, bringing the outside in.

Oasis of calm

Our bathroom was another large project; we extended into our side courtyard to create a totally tranquil space with interchangeable lighting and LED alcove features that offer a tonal, relaxed feel.

We kept a glazed window into the hallway, allowing more light to escape, using discreet blinds for privacy. Inspired

by the beautiful walled gardens and hidden spaces we saw on our travels, we used tropical and sub-tropical influences to create a secret garden feel.

To create our courtyard, we had to knock down part of the old wall to allow the space to be opened up; this was done in a considered fashion with a cobb specialist to help us achieve the end result.

Standout feature

The new roof lantern in our dining area is a definite conversation piece. It floods the space with light, as well as adding

JUNE 2022 | 33

Do it!

MAKE A RUSTIC COLOUR SCHEME WORK

Paint a space from floor to ceiling. Gemma repainted her kitchen using Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster modern emulsion, followed by painting and caulking the wooden ceiling white to match the living space.

Select flooring that is natural and neutral. Gemma chose a travertine stone floor and picked tonal units and an island to create the illusion of a larger area.

Go for tonal colours that will work in harmony together.

Add accessories, such as woven baskets, plants, and wooden and glass jars for details.

COOK’S SPACE

‘The island is a great place to prep food in a small kitchen’

‘Glass storage jars turn dried goods into a stylish feature’

IDEA TO STEAL

CENTRE PIECE

‘We configured the space completely to include an island unit, which created lots of storage’

34 | JUNE 2022

ON DISPLAY

‘Try to factor in as much light as possible, using large windows or doors’

18TH-CENTURY BAKEHOUSE

Love it

LIGHT TOUCH

‘We transformed this gloomy space with a roof lantern, allowing light to flood through’

‘WE KNEW WE HAD FOUND A PROJECT THAT WAS GOING TO BE BOTH UNIQUE AND INSPIRING’ height. It also doubles as a light feature at night due to the special LED lights that were fitted in order to echo the pitch of the roof, and triangular framing details above each doorway.

Texture and colour

I love to play with colour and texture – many of our cushions and soft furnishings have been custom-made from fabrics that we have sourced on our travels. We recently fitted a beautiful statement pendant light from Petite Friture by Constance Guisset – we needed something large-scale to fill the space, without it being too overpowering, and this was perfect.

We also have some beautiful pieces from local artists and sculptors, including

my grandmother Grace Critchley, who was a sculptor. We love to support British brands and local designer-makers – many of our most-loved items were found while exploring reclamation yards and second-hand shops. I also love customising and restoring items to create unique furniture and have a soft spot for Nkuku kitchenware and ceramics.

Nostalgic touches

The Caribbean will always have a special place in my heart; it’s where my parents met, married and started a family and where my brother and I were born. My husband and I got married there.

The character of the place is ever present, inspiring my personal style, decor choices and creativity when developing

ART SHOW

‘Our dining room has art from local artists, sculptors and ceramicists, all with meaning for us’

JUNE 2022 | 35

Love it

18TH-CENTURY BAKEHOUSE

IDEA TO STEAL

‘We created a tranquil bathroom by using interchangeable lighting and LED alcove features’

TRANQUIL ZONE

‘Terrazzo tiles add texture and softness to a light-filled space’

STARLIGHT BATHING

‘The main bathroom used to be half the size but we extended it, creating a space with a roof light, an archway and freestanding bath, from where, at night, you can see the stars’

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NICHE FEATURE ‘We designed special alcoves to hold collected treasures in our new bedroom’

3 of the best CURIOS

Fill your home with interesting ornaments and unique objets

new jewellery collections. Bakehouse Cottage is full of nostalgia and recently found treasures – from the antique coral on our fireplace to the palms, raffia-woven hats, tropical bird lithographs and handcrafted surfboards.

The colour palettes and tonal variations I gravitate towards certainly evoke the warmth, style and vibrancy of the tropics.

Craftsmanship is key

NATURAL FORM

RETRO STYLE

COUPLE CURVES

Abstract ornament on stand, £6, Primark

Sputnik object, £6, Habitat

Figure ornament, £25, Dunelm

Our home is a true reflection of our personalities, encompassing all that we are passionate about. As the founders of creative businesses, we’re very conscious of the choices we make in our personal space. Craftsmanship has remained key in both our home environment and work life – Bakehouse Cottage embodies our love for attention to detail, creativity, natural

JUNE 2022 | 37

WELL BALANCED

‘Arranging accessories symmetrically gives the room a relaxed feel’

‘IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW YOU WANT TO USE THE SPACE’ elements, eclectic influences, travel, art, culture and, above all, our love of sharing our space with family and friends.

Open-plan style

It’s important to have an understanding of how you want to use the space and communicate. We’ve achieved this by using furniture to focus, structure and visually sub-divide. It was also important to plan how we wanted to move through the space. We used plants and glazing to partition it, with threshold strips to divide flooring, to create different zones.

Our latest creation is a little suntrap at the rear of the house using Smart’s Heritage Collection windows and doors that give an architectural feel for an inside-outside vibe. We’ve mainly used

38 | JUNE 2022

the same flooring, pale wood and travertine stone, throughout the house.

The result is a tonal space, filled with texture and light. We selected a feature wooden ceiling fan and added wooden beams, before choosing terrazzo tiles and brass fixtures in the en suite, alongside a bespoke unit for the basin.

I love that our home is a little unexpected and a juxtaposition of styles; it’s an old 18th-century, intrinsically British cottage, with a hidden tropical twist!’

Find more clever ideas to style up your home by going to pinterest.com/ styleathomemag

SOOTHING LOOKS

‘We chose tonal colours for the walls, flooring and soft furnishings to create texture and depth’

18TH-CENTURY BAKEHOUSE

Love it

PRECIOUS PIECES

‘The nursery has lots of collected treasures, tactile objects and special gifts given to our daughter’

DRESS UP

Where to buy Gemma’s style

NKUKU Head here for a great range of interiors pieces made using natural materials, including handmade ceramics and stoneware.

ZARA HOME The place to go for an extensive range of rugs and modern accessories that aren’t too costly.

THE BASKET ROOM Show your houseplants some love with artisan-made baskets and plant pots,

perfect for adding attention to detail to shelves and alcoves.

PETITE FRITURE Beautiful statement lighting with a technical and sophisticated design that will add a focal point to any room.

LOAF A wide selection of super-comfortable contemporary sofas, made with top-quality fabrics, to fit a wide variety of spaces.

FEATURE NATALIE MILLAR-PARTRIDGE PHOTOGRAPHS CHLOE MARY UPTON STYLING LISA MOSES

‘This handy rail turns Koa’s clothes into a pretty display’

JUNE 2022 | 39

Gemma’s choice:

WALK-IN SHOWERS

A popular choice, a walk-in shower replaces hard-to-clean shower doors with a single, open-access screen for a simple, sleek look

M

idway between an enclosed shower and an open wet room, a walk-in shower offers the best of both worlds. You get to enjoy the space and level-entry access of a wet room but without having to tank the entire room.

Gemma opted for matt black hardware for an ultra-modern look

What size does a walk-in shower need to be?

In a fully tanked wet room, you can get away with a slightly smaller footprint. ‘For walk-in showers where you want to keep the rest of the bathroom dry, we advise around 50cm width for the entrance way and 50–60cm for the shower area,’ says David Osborne, CEO of Roman Showers.

Average walk-in shower widths range from 70–100cm. ‘If you’re worried about keeping water contained, opt for walk-in enclosures with small deflector panels that fold out to restrict spray,’ adds David.

What space do I need?

Walk-in showers can work in very small bathroom. A shower tucked in the corner with access at one end is a good space-saving solution. Bigger bathrooms suit a centrally positioned walk-through shower, with access at both ends.

IDEA TO STEAL

A purpose-built niche allows space to neatly store toiletries

FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON & HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPH CHLOE MARY UPTON

How do I stop the whole room getting soaked?

Walk-in showers usually have the shower head furthest away from the entrance to keep the bathroom dry. ‘We ideally then have the mixer controls at the entrance,’ says Huntsmore director Eamonn Agha, ‘so you can turn on the shower and adjust the temperature before entering.’

Should I ditch the bath for a walk-in instead?

If you’d love a more spacious shower, choose an enclosure to match the dimensions of a bath (170cm long) to make it an easy swap. The screen and tray are usually sold together. Putting a bath back in is then just as easy, so no need to worry if you plan to move on.

40 | JUNE 2022

ADDING A SKYLIGHT IN THE ROOF ABOVE CAN TRANSFORM A DARK OR DINGY WALK-IN SHOWER ROOM AND A BLAST OF VIT M THE MORNING WILL HELP KICK-START YOUR DAY

Love it

18TH-CENTURY BAKEHOUSE

4 ways with…SMALL BEDROOMS

Maximise your space with smart storage and clever designs

1

BUILD STORAGE AROUND THE BED

3

USE BRIGHT COLOUR TO OPEN UP THE ROOM

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

Bespoke wardrobes are the most effective way to maximise your bedroom storage. Building them at either side of the bed creates a smart frame while leaving the other walls free of obstructions that take up valuable space, so they can be used for artwork or mirrors instead. You could capitalise on the space further by creating storage above the bed; just be careful not to make the decor feel claustrophobic with too much going on.

An uplifting shade, such as sunshine yellow, will invigorate any small room – just be mindful of how you use it. Painting up to mid-wall height will help to anchor the colour to the bottom half of the room, while finishing the rest of the painting in a bright white or similar neutral shade will keep the overall look airy and spacious. Allow your chosen colour to determine a tonal palette for bedding, accessories and rugs to create a cohesive scheme.

2

LOOK TO FURNITURE THAT PROVIDES FORM AND FUNCTION

4

CHOOSE A HEADBOARD THAT DOUBLES AS HANDY STORAGE SPACE

Think laterally about how to free up space. Can your small bedroom have wardrobes in the hall outside, with dressing room appeal? Challenge your preconceptions, but ensure any solution is practical. Another route is to go for a statement bed and little else, as shown here. Choose a design that offers lots of built-in hidden storage or space beneath for boxes and vacuum bags.

Where space is in short supply, ditch the usual flat or upholstered headboard and opt for a style like this instead. It offers a surface and convenient storage niches for books, a clock and a glass of water, and incorporates narrow side cupboards, which means you can do away with bulky bedside tables. Go one better and install wall lights in lieu of bedside lamps to free up more surface space.

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‘We returned SOFT HUE

‘Blush pink accents run through the space, adding interest to the simple palette’

COME ON IN!

ABOUT ME I’m Debbie Goodwin, a project manager, and I live here with my partner Neil Clague, a transport supervisor, and our five dogs.

MY HOME A two-bed converted bungalow built in the 1960s in East Cheshire. We bought it in 2016.

WHEN WE MOVED IN The property was in probate and very outdated – not much had changed from when it was built in the 1960s!

AND NOW Everything has been replaced, from the roof to the electrics. The upstairs has been transformed into an impressive master bedroom and en suite.

STYLE TIP It’s worth investing in the big key items when renovating, like the windows, doors and essential structural changes that are going to stand the test of time.

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RAISE THE ROOF

‘We added the roof lantern to elevate the flat roof and to give it some height and architectural interest’

Love it

1960S BUNGALOW

TO OUR ROOTS’ IDEA TO STEAL

‘To save on wall space use a vertical radiator instead of a horizontal one’

Hard work, vision and a little bit of luck allowed Debbie and Neil to totally revamp a rundown bungalow and add their own chapter to this family story

W

ithout doubt, my love of architectural design is something I’ve inherited from my parents,’ says Debbie.

‘My family connection to this property began in the early 1960s when, before my brothers and I were born, my dad Bryan worked for a local builder and helped build a row of bungalows.

Then by chance my parents found a plot of land just around the corner and together from scratch built our now family home. Growing up, my parents were always so practical and a constant source of inspiration.

Having moved away years before, Neil and I were keen to return to my old neighbourhood to be closer to my family, and to find something that had more space for our five dogs. We were not sure if we would find anything within budget but there’s only so long you can think about doing something before you need to put it into action. So we put our house up for sale and kept a keen eye on the property market.

Family connection

The day we had an offer on our home I frantically called around the local estate agents to see what was available but there wasn’t anything we could afford, apart from a wild card, a property that was in probate near my family home. One of the bungalows my dad had built all those years ago, we couldn’t believe it!

We went for an initial viewing and had such a good feeling when we walked in.

The decor, plumbing and electrics were archaic and there were brightly patterned carpets throughout, but it had a big private garden with lots of space to

JUNE 2022 | 43

Love it

1960S BUNGALOW

WORK SPACE

IDEA TO STEAL

‘I love to upcycle whenever I can – I made the desk from a door I salvaged from the local church and added hairpin legs from eBay’

‘Create a corner of interest by putting together your favourite ornaments, pictures and paintings’

‘BRING SPACES TO LIFE WITH OBJECTS THAT YOU LOVE, GIVING YOUR HOME REAL CHARACTER’ , i needed doing, it felt like home – we made an offer that day. A tense few weeks followed when the bungalow came onto the market and we thought we had lost it to a local developer. Luckily, we were the highest bidders, and the keys were ours. It couldn’t have been more perfect, it was fate. Neil, the dogs and I moved in with my parents, and renovation work started on the house straight away.

Remodelling rooms

I had so many ideas and was constantly thinking how to improve each room, but our budget was limited, and as a result I had to rethink some of my design choices. Our main focus was to get the space right inside and the exterior looking its best. We extended to the full width of the back to create a large open-plan space for the kitchen that opened out to the garden, and purposely didn’t close

44 | JUNE 2022

i the spaces flowed.

We were so lucky to have the help of my dad and brother Barry who are both builders. Being in the trade they knew how to practically bring our designs to life. It was very much a family affair and together we began to create something very special.

Neil and I did a huge amount of the work ourselves, working on the house at weekends and on annual leave. We stripped every wall back to the bare brick, removed all the old electrics and plumbing, took down all the plasterboard ceilings and we even helped dig the foundations for the extension, by hand!

Maxing out the space

The roof was replaced, stairs taken out and repositioned, and the loft reconfigured from two small bedrooms and tiny landing into one large

MIDAS TOUCH

‘I’ve chosen different finishes for the kitchen cabinetry from Wren but with the same gold trim for continuity. The oak adds warmth and the Italian concrete, sophistication’

MIX IT UP

‘The wood-burning stove from The Stove Yard, rattan hanging chair and mix of fun accessories and soft furnishings all add to the cosy and eclectic vibe’

3 of the best HANGING CHAIRS Curl up in a relaxing swing seat

SLEEK CURVES

Indoor outdoor hanging egg chair, £325, Ella James

SNUGGLE SEAT

Malta double hanging chair, £600, Habitat

RATTAN LOOK

GoodHome Apolima hanging egg chair, £400, B&Q

JUNE 2022 | 45

IDEA TO STEAL

RESTFUL ZONE

‘Although open and connected to the kitchen area, the living room feels like a cosy retreat with dark painted walls, which we painted in Railings

by Farrow & Ball’

COSY CORNER

‘I love all the different textures in this area; the Swoon green velvet sofa adds a glam touch’

‘Paints in contrasting colours help to define spaces and rooms’

‘THE HANDMADE HEARTH AND FIREPLACE IS A REAL DESIGN STATEMENT, A COMPLETE ONE-OFF!’

SERENE GREENS

‘Big, luscious houseplants perfectly dress up otherwise empty spots’

1960S BUNGALOW

Do it!

CONCRETE HEARTH

Love it WARM TONES

‘The console provides useful storage’

Design your hearth and work out the measurements.

Build a wood frame to infill with concrete and add mesh to create additional support for the concrete.

Slowly pour in the concrete and keep smoothing down the top with a trowel as you pour.

Allow the concrete to set, this can take up to 48 hours. Once set the wooden frame can be removed.

Sand off any rough edges and add a concrete sealant to protect the finish.

SPACIOUS WELCOME

‘These artichoke plywood light fittings make perfect use of the high ceiling in the hallway’

master bedroom, complete with a luxurious, standalone bath and en suite.

I wanted to make use of every inch of space. We created storage in the eaves and opened the ceiling up to its full height – it is now such a gorgeous room with beautiful views over the tree tops.

The outside was given a much-needed revamp with new render and bespoke doors and windows. A big chunk of budget went on the large sliding doors in the kitchen. They were an important part of how we envisaged the design and made the biggest transformation. Our dream kitchen was then fitted, along with the downstairs bathroom and en suite, both with their own quirky design twists.

My original plan was to keep the decor simple with mid-century furniture and styling to keep in line with the era of the property, but I have varied taste and like colour too much, so it was always going to evolve into an eclectic home - I’m

JUNE 2022 | 47

Love it

1960S BUNGALOW

Make it!

UPCYCLED VANITY UNIT

RETRO VIBE

‘The vanity unit is refashioned from a mid-century style sideboard’

PITCH PERFECT

‘The pitched ceiling is the perfect spot for the large ceiling light from Ikea’

Find a piece of vintage furniture that you love and fits the allocated space. A cabinet or table is best as it should be waist height – a cabinet will come with built-in storage.

Paint it a fun colour or varnish it in a natural wood colour. You could add a marble or stone countertop.

Find a countertop basin that will sit on top. Make a hole in the top of the furniture for the plumbing and secure the sink in place.

Fit your new vanity and sink unit into position and have the sink professionally plumbed in.

‘THE FREESTANDING BATH HAS VIEWS OUT OVER THE TREE TOPS – IT’S THE PERFECT PLACE TO RELAX’ NEW LOOK

not sure I could ever be minimal!

When you walk into the bungalow you can’t help but be bowled over by the love and hard work that has been poured into our renovation. It was 18 months in the making, or you could arguably say 50 years!

Proud achievement

We’ve transformed a once modest bungalow into a home that is now architecturally stunning. We all have such a huge sense of achievement.

It was a labour of love, but it was worth every minute. I think this house was simply meant to be ours.’

Find more clever ideas to style up your home by going to pinterest.com/ styleathomemag

48 | JUNE 2022

FEATURE MARISHA TAYLOR. PHOTOGRAPHS JAMES FRENCH

‘I’ve dressed the bed with a sumptuous ink-blue velvet throw and matching cushions from Christy’s’

IDEA TO STEAL

‘Add a small shelf above the bath to hold your bathtime essentials’

BATH TIME

‘Patterned tiles from Topps Tiles define the bath area and link to the en suite’

Where to buy Debbie’s style

EBAY The perfect place to find pre-loved items to upcycle and give a new lease of life.

BLUE BURST

‘The vibrant blue feature wall creates the perfect backdrop for the fun pendant lights from Made’

HOMESENSE For interesting and original accessories, and a fabulous selection of cushions.

LUXEOLOGY HOME Quirky online small business selling beautiful homeware.

IKEA Always a go-to for storage options and adaptable furniture.

ROCKETT ST GEORGE Great for unique home accessories and has a wide choice of artwork.

JUNE 2022 | 49

Debbie’s choice:

LIVING ROOM LAYOUTS When it comes to a functional living space it’s all about positioning your furniture in the right way

W

hether you want a living room for lounging, somewhere to entertain, or both, there are a few basic principles to get right when it comes to arranging your furniture.

These designer tips will help you make the most of your room’s potential.

An extended hearth with built-in storage adds character to an open-plan space

Think about how you use the room

How you’re going to use the room – for watching TV, the kids doing homework, or entertaining friends – will dictate what lighting, seating and storage you need.

‘I’d always start with what the actual lines of sight are when using the room,’ says TV presenter Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

Choose a focal point

‘In a family room, a TV is often the focal point,’ says Charlie Marshall, founder of Loaf. ‘But it’s one of the things I hate to see, especially mounted above the fireplace. That should be for something beautiful, like a mirror or painting.’

Give the furniture space

Should furniture go against the wall?

Our experts disagree. ‘It depends on the size of the room,’ says Charlie. ‘It does maximise space to arrange it that way.’

Laurence thinks differently: ‘If you can – even if it’s just a few inches – make sure it’s not against the wall. It limits the sense of space, making the room look smaller.’

IDEA TO STEAL

Swap a coffee table for an upholstered footstool or ottoman

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT PHOTOGRAPH JAMES FRENCH

Create a sense of balance

Stand back and view the room as you would a picture. A sofa opposite a pair of armchairs with upholstered pouffes works well to balance a room. The trick is not to group too much furniture in one area.

Avoid common mistakes

‘Your home should really reflect your personality,’ says Charlie. ‘You don’t have to make a room look larger, so opt for darker colours to make it cosy instead.’

Laurence advises against using a chimney breast as a feature wall: ‘It’s already a dominant piece of architecture.’

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ALWAYS GIVE YOUR FURNITURE SPACE T BREATHE.STAND BACK AND CHECK NOTHING IS IN THE WAY OR CROWDING THE VIEW

Love it

1960S BUNGALOW

4 ways with…BLACK BATHROOMS Create a moody, cocooning space with this on-trend tone

1

PAINT WALLS, WINDOW FRAMES AND SKIRTING IN THE SAME SHADE

2

BRING IN SOME BLING!

3

GO FOR A SPA LOOK WITH MARBLE

4

TIE IT TOGETHER WITH TILES

PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

Increase the impact of matt black walls by painting skirtings and window frames in an eggshell version, too. Leaving them white creates a different look and can lessen the dark and moody effect.

A matching linen blind will complete the leaden backdrop for cosy candlelit soaks. Here the dark hues look stylish rather than sombre thanks to the steel bateau tub and floor-standing bath filler.

Marble signals luxury, making it the material of choice for high-end hotels and spas. It’s expensive though and needs looking after. A popular alternative is marble-effect porcelain tiles, as they’re practical and easy to maintain. Many porcelain floor tiles have an anti-slip rating too, so check with the manufacturer. ‘We recommend a rating of R13 for wet areas, such as showers,’ says Louisa Swannell, head of creative design at Walls and Floors.

For blogger Jess Hurrell of Gold is a Neutral, the shimmering shade is just that – and it’s stunning in her gorgeous black bathroom. Having asked her builders to make the vanity unit frame from plywood, Jess bought bespoke brass doors from Custom Fronts. ‘I then painted the whole room black to allow the cabinet to shine,’ she says. ‘I love how the brass dulls over time, then a quick lick of Bar Keeper’s Friend and it’s shiny as new again.’

To prevent a black scheme from looking gloomy and dating too soon, it’s wise to keep the fittings such as the bath and basin white. After all, no one wants to end up with the 2020s equivalent of the avocado suite. Choosing a black and white geometric motif for the flooring is an easy way to unite the black and white tones.

A patterned floor with a brick-style tile splashback is another popular look, made even more stylish with dark-grey grout.

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WALLPAPER CHEST OF DRAWERS

THIS MONTH’S

Make it

Make it

For a similar map design, try Mischief Managed wallpaper, £15.98 a roll, Wallpaper Direct

To revamp a plain chest, measure the drawers (and edges) then mark out on the wallpaper. Cut out the sections using a craft knife.

Brush the furniture with PVA glue and smooth on the wallpaper pieces. Finish with two coats of matt varnish.

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

Co-ordinate the look by painting the top in a matching shade

JUNE 2022 | 53

STYLE BOOK ROOM INSPIRATION

p56

CLEVER IDEAS

LL GARDEN UPDATES

IDE

p74 LIVING PAINT IDEAS

p66 CLEVER

21

PAGES OF DECO INSPO STYLE UPDATES

S

Genius ideas for SMALL GARDENS Make the most of your outdoor space no matter what the size with these creative tricks and tips

A hanging egg chair works well in any size of garden

56 | JUNE 2022

STYLE BOOK

Love it

Furniture in natural textures and tones will blend into the surroundings

GREAT IDEA

A lightweight side table can easily be moved into place

Use... hanging furniture

Elevated seating will create the illusion of more floor space and make your garden seem bigger SOLO SEAT A quiet corner is all you need for a reading or relaxing nook (above). A hanging bamboo egg chair keeps the ground and sightlines clear to boost the feeling of space, while the natural material complements the outdoor setting. Highlight the area with a cluster of pots containing foliage plants of varying heights and scales.

SUN TRAP Opt for a hanging chair on its own frame so you can easily move it around. A chair like this one (left) can be turned to face the sun or slid into the shade, making the best of the weather.

CHILL OUT A classic hammock is perfect for stringing up in a small area for afternoon snoozes. If you need the space back later in the evening, simply take it down, fold it up and pop it away. Hammocks can be picked up for pennies on second-hand sites.

MAKE A STATEMENT A showstopping hanging chair in an exotic rattan style or eye-popping colour will make a striking focal point in your outdoor area and distract from the lack of space. A mix of colourful cushions piled high will also make a feature of your seating.

JUNE 2022 | 57

A black wall or fence will make greenery really pop

GREAT IDEA

Add a slim shelf to keep small glasses and bowls of nibbles on

Use... wood pallets

There are lots of clever ways to upcycle these timber structures for a compact space SET UP A PRIVATE BAR To make your own little entertaining zone (right), cut the top section off a pallet to use as the flip-down surface and attach using two strong hinges and chains. Add a plank of wood to act as your serving board.

THINK VERTICALLY Save precious square footage on a patio or balcony by taking what you can off the ground.

A wall or strong fence is an ideal spot to affix a slim shelving unit made from an old pallet (above). Attach ‘S’ hooks to hang plants and tools, and add little pockets to hold garden bits and bobs.

58 | JUNE 2022

MAKE A LOW-LEVEL TABLE Garden furniture can be pricey and bulky, so make your own table for a bijou balcony or tiny terrace by stacking a couple of pallets on top of each other. Be sure to remove any nails sticking out first, and secure the pallets together with cable ties or twine.

KNOCK-UP A SIMPLE SOFA Create the bench base by stacking pallets to your desired height and securing them with screws. For the backrest, prop up a pallet in a vertical position and again screw in place. Add some cushions and you’ve got a great seat for sunbathing.

This bar folds down for entertaining and hides neatly away when not in use

STYLE BOOK

Love it

Small garden tips & tricks CREATE A MINI HERB GARDEN Herbs don’t have to be grown on a windowsill or in a large dedicated vegetable patch. An old chest of drawers or bedside table is ideal for housing herbs in a small outdoor area. It also raises them off the ground, making it easier to pick them for cooking.

ADD A GALLERY WALL In the same way as you would hang pictures indoors, you can display frames of wall-hung planters on an outside wall, fence or shed. Use junk-shop frames and hang old loaf tins as planters – just drill drainage holes in the bases first.

JUNE 2022 | 59

Small garden tips & tricks ADD A SENSE OF HEIGHT WITH PLANTS A simple idea for planting a small patio garden is to play with the heights of plants to add a feeling of space and depth.

Set out groups of pots containing foliage of differing heights and scales to add variety and interest.

GET CREATIVE WITH SHELVES AND HOOKS Shelving isn’t just for indoors. Create precious surface space for pots and pretty outdoor accessories by putting up some shelves. Ideally they should be mounted into brick, or the side of a shed or garage, as your garden fence might not be able to take the weight. A peg rail is also great for hanging outdoor lights.

GREAT IDEA

Make a coffee table from old scaffolding boards painted white Built-in banquettes are space efficient and turn a patio into a place for the whole family

60 | JUNE 2022

Love it

STYLE BOOK

A length of fabric or large sheet will provide shade from the midday sun

Use... plenty of pattern

Embrace the power of decorative and colourful motifs to transform even the tiniest of plots GO BIG To make a small space stand out, opt for floor tiles with a simple yet eye-catching pattern in a large format that will minimise the grout lines and ensure the space doesn’t look cluttered (left). In place of stone pavers, patterned tiles create interest and add contrast to what can otherwise be a bland space.

SET UP CAMP Style your outdoor seating area with all the indoor comforts – loungers, pouffes, rugs, cushions and throws – in plenty of colours and prints (above). Mix in tribal patterns in subtle summery shades for a seasonal feel.

DRESSED FOR DINNER Head outside for stylish suppers at a dining table teeming with prints. Patterned table linens and crockery featuring bold lines and shapes will take even a tiny bistro table to a more extravagant place.

PLAY WITH PAINT Brighten up a bland shed or garage wall with a coat or two of paint to create something really fabulous. Painting wide stripes onto a shed will give it beach house appeal, while going for fun geometric shapes is a great way to disguise a boring garden wall or fence.

JUNE 2022 | 61

Create a potting station to stay organised all season long

Use... outdoor mirrors

Reflective and ornamental, a well-placed mirror can do wonders to enhance any garden space DOUBLE YOUR SPACE An outdoor mirror will make your garden look bigger than it really is and trick the eye into thinking it goes on and on (right). You can create your own by using an old gate or some painted trellis mounted onto a piece of mirrored board.

PAINT YOUR FRAME Make your garden mirror feel like part of the decor by painting the frame in the same shade as the fence you are hanging it on. Matching the colours allows the mirror itself to be the focal point, rather than the frame.

OPT FOR FLEXIBILITY Window-style mirrors with shutters are great if you want to be able to control the sun’s glare while working outside (above). If the sun gets too bright or direct, you can close the shutters, opening them again when it has moved later in the day.

BOOST YOUR PLANTS Disguise an unsightly garden wall with vertical planting. Elevate this look further by placing mirrors behind them to make more of a feature of the pots and plants. Gothic-style window mirrors will create a mysterious yet magical feel.

62 | JUNE 2022

Match your mirror style to your garden furniture for a cohesive look

STYLE BOOK

Grids on mirrors make birds less likely to fly into them

Small garden tips & tricks UPCYCLE A WINDOW Make your own outdoor mirror using an old window frame and inexpensive mirrors picked up from a craft or DIY store. Carefully remove the glass panes from each window section, then replace with the mirrors. Glue in place and leave to dry before hanging outside.

MAKE A DISPLAY Garden mirrors are especially effective in small courtyard gardens, on roof terraces and on small balconies as they add another dimension.

Play with the size and shape and create a display just like you would inside your home.

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

GREAT IDEA

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JUNE 2022 | 63

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FREE SOPHIE ALLPORT TEA TOWEL COOL DESIGN Perk up your kitchen with this fun tea towel design from Sophie Allport.

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Clever decorating

WINDOW IDEAS

Six clever and stylish ideas for making the most of your windows

Extend/enlarge with a painted border

Pick out a matching shade from a slatted blind or roller blind, and paint a thick border of colour around the window frame. This will make your window look larger and create a great design feature.

Give it a twist Go for a border in a contrasting colour to accentuate your window style and treatment.

Pick a colour from your bed linen to paint a band of colour two-thirds of the way up the wall

Hazy Day & Cloud wooden blind from £107.48 for 120x 120cm, Blinds2go

66 | JUNE 2021

Do it

CLEVER DECORATING

Window seat upholstered in Nina Marika Fern Leaf Green Velvet, £89m, Woodchip and Magnolia. Tokki coffee table, £595, Habitat. Isola armchair, £2,599, Heal’s. Ellie bamboo pendant, £110, Design Vintage. Adaliz rug, £475, Graham and Green. Cushion with tassels, £49.99; cushion cover (on armchair), £11.99, both Zara Home. Ruched cushion in Camel, £55, Rockett St George

Use the angled end section as a built-in side table

Build a window seat in a bay

Make the most of often wasted space in a bay with a built-to-fit seat. Add built-in drawers for practical storage of all kinds of paraphernalia, too.

Give it a twist Paint the window frame and seat the same colour, tying it in with a colour in the upholstery fabric for a show-stopping look.

JUNE 2021 | 67

Do it

LEVER DECORATING

Asanoha Japanese Patterned Window Film from £15.63, Purlfrost.

Sofa, Sofa.com. Civic floor lamp, £46, Iconic. Fat Fat table, £420, B&B Italia

Use the made-tomeasure service that many companies offer to achieve the perfect fit for your film

Apply patterned window film

Self-adhesive film is easy to use and adds interest to a room, it also gives control over how much sunlight you let in, without having to shut away the outside completely.

Give it a twist Be brave and go all out with a brightly coloured decorative glass effect, or try a fun slogan.

68 | JUNE 2021

Plastic frames can just as easily be painted as wooden ones, just choose the correct finish

Paint the frame black

Battersea easy fit pendant shade, £100; Farrah woven chair, £270; Mayfield stool, £180, all Garden Trading Company. Linen sofa, from £3,150, Design Vintage

Make the view really pop by painting just the frame of the window jet black. The black frame draws your eye to the scene outside and adds a modern twist to a neutral room.

Give it a twist Don’t stop at the inner frame, think about painting the architrave around the window too, for some serious drama.

JUNE 2021 | 69

All accessories from a range at Pale & Interesting

Paint walls and shelves the same colour as the china for a calm feel

Add open shelving

Frame your window with wall-towall open shelves, placing them from the edge of frame right up to the adjacent wall and even over the top of the window frame.

Give it a twist Box out an area of shelving so that the window is recessed into the build to create a more modern look.

70 | JUNE 2021

CLEVER DECORATING

Do it

Walls painted in Plasterboard, £29.99 for 2.5ltr, Ideal Home Emotions of Colour collection, Albany. AcornFort 120cm rails, £20.99 each, Amazon, painted in Plasterboard.

Market basket, £35, Labour & Wait. Faux garden shrub branch, £12, Oka. Halden two-door Ash sideboard, £240, Habitat. Bumble smoked oak stool, £360 for two, Loaf

FEATURE NICKY PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

Use S hooks to display an array of hanging plants and storage baskets at different heights

Hang rails for decorative storage

Make use of the space over your windows and attach rails to the wall on each side – perfect for hanging pretty plant pots to grow herbs in.

Give it a twist We spray-painted the rails to match the wall colour, but you could try chrome or black rails for a more industrial look.

JUNE 2021 | 71

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Timeless STYLE Bring a touch of indulgence to your home with the new Crafted™ by Crown collection

T

here’s something quite special about classic combinations.

Whether it’s the fashion in your wardrobe or the decor in your home, choosing pieces that reflect a touch of heritage will capture a timeless elegance that never goes out of style.

If you’re thinking about decorating your home this season, then look no further than Crafted™ by Crown, a new luxury range of artisanal paints, inspired by British craftmanship – available in three unique finishes: Luxurious Flat Matt, Suede Textured and Lustrous Metallic.

Indulgence in Luxurious Flat Matt, Crafted™ by Crown

Traditional quality

The range has been expertly created using the finest natural ingredients and traditional techniques, so you can trust quality and luxury has been poured into every tin. For walls and woodwork, use the new Luxurious Flat Matt emulsion that tantalises the senses – when dry it has a soft and velvety finish. It comes in 48 exquisite colours. Try Sewing Bee – it has a lovely spring-like note to it. What makes this thick and creamy paint special is that it’s multi-surface so you can use it from floor to ceiling, across walls and woodwork for a seamless aesthetic.

Unique new texture

Let it shine

If you’d like something even more special, try Lustrous Metallic. It comes in eight beautiful colours and leaves a stunning, shimmering finish to your walls, wood and metal, perfect for highlighting eye-catching features.

All in all, there are 62 quietly indulgent shades, each hand-selected to work together across the three paint finishes. And Crown’s new sustainable Real Paint Swatches mean making your colour choice is easier than ever – just attach the 100% accurate samples to your walls with no mess or fuss. What could be simpler!

Reframed in Luxurious Flat Matt, Crafted™ by Crown

FIND OUT MORE For more information and to see the full range of available colours, visit crownpaints.co.uk and to purchase, head to Crown Decorating Centres, Homebase, Wickes and independent retailers.

FEATURE LIZZIE HUDSON

Perfectly complementing the Flat Matt is Suede Textured, an emulsion that leaves a subtle brush-stroke effect. This unique formula contains a surprising ingredient: ground-down olive stones that add a gentle layer of depth you can see and feel. It’s available in timeless palettes of greys and neutrals.

DIRECTIONAL FORCE Chevron in Bluebird, £75 a roll, Miss Print

BAUHAUS APPEAL 1919 in Coral Blush and Mustards, £42 a roll, Lust Home

FOREVER DIAMONDS Groove in Ocre Rose Blanc, £47.45 a roll, Caselio

Wallpapers WITH WOW Choose a bold geometric print to add instant impact to your walls

LINEAR STRUCTURE

FEATURE LAURA HIGGINS

Graphic in Cobalt, £47 a roll, Graham & Brown

SWINGING SIXTIES FAB! in British Lichen, £45 a roll, Albany x Mini Moderns at Wallpaper Direct

JUNE 2022 | 73

Try a speedy

STYLE UPDATE Have a go at these clever paint ideas and transform your living room from drab to fab!

1

Define a fire surround

Paint your fire surround in a bright, happy shade, like sunshine yellow, and top it with colourful accessories to make it the focal point of your living room.

To take the injection of colour up a level, try filling a disused fireplace with logs painted in a variety of complementary shades, sticking to a palette of bright pastels for an uplifting summer-ready scheme.

Avoid the look becoming too fussy with a plethora of pattern and instead style your fire surround with colour-block accessories. Try revamping old vases and other ceramics with co-ordinating matt paints.

2

PAINT A FEATURE WALL

Pick out a single feature in your living room and treat it to your favourite shade.

This warm pink doesn’t overwhelm because it’s restricted to one area only – the chimney breast. Pick a shade and integrate it into your room by using the same colour on a single piece of furniture and for a small selection of accessories.

74 | JUNE 2022

EASY UPDATES

3 Rich navy blue is the living room colour of the moment

Love it

PAINT BESPOKE STORAGE

A great way to save space is by having bespoke cabinetry built to fit in an alcove, meaning you can use the whole wall for storage – from floor to ceiling. A creative way to make this a feature wall, which as well as serving all your needs looks like a uniform wall, is by painting it all one statement shade. If you also paint the skirting and fireplace surround the same colour, it will make the look feel seamless.

4

Be inspired by nature

Not all hero colours are bold attentionseekers. This soft tone that hovers between brown and grey is a quiet game-changer that will make a room look sophisticated and warmer at a brushstroke. Plus, it plays well with other colours, so you

can indulge pretty much any whim when it comes to accents. Sandstone blends with other browns, as well as greys for a smooth mix.

Brown neutrals can feel sludgy and dull unless you cut through them with the right accent colours.

JUNE 2022 | 75

5

HIGHLIGHT FEATURES

An accent colour border will draw attention to lovely period door frames, skirting boards and picture rails. Picking out key architectural details can help to add depth to your living room and create interest. Even if the space is devoid of features, you could fake it with clever paint effects. No skirting board?

Simply paint a two-tone feature on the wall to create the illusion of its presence.

Pick out shades from a piece of graphic art

6

Frame a knock-through

With open-plan living rooms growing in popularity there are often two spaces merged into one that you might like to give a slightly different purpose to. While it makes sense to paint the two spaces in the same colour, you could clearly define the two

76 | JUNE 2022

rooms by adding accents on architectural points of interest, such as archways. Using a spot colour to define two connected, but separate spaces is a fun way to inject some colour. Tie the colour in as here through accessories like cushions and ceramics.

EASY UPDATES

7

Love it

Use colour blocking

Create an uplifting colour-block wall in a living space by using a tonal palette separated with a white border.

Think vertically to add height to the room, using blocks of pastel blue and green and dividing the area with an off-centre stripe of white.

The use of the white for the dividing line mirrors the skirting board and ceilings to create a frame around the colour for additional impact.

Co-ordinate the look with matching soft furnishings and accessories in other cheery shades such as lemon yellow, blush pink and lilac.

Alternatively, choose a living room colour scheme to suit your personal taste and use this technique to make the look totally unique for your home. Go as bright as you dare or keep it grounded with tonal neutrals.

‘GREY IS STILL THE MOST POPULAR NEUTRAL COLOUR CHOICE FOR LIVING ROOMS, REPLACING CREAM AND BEIGE FOR THE MODERN HOME’

8

ADD A STRIPE

Try out a new twist on the living room feature wall.

Paint a band of colour running around the centre of the room like a belt between jeans and a T shirt!

Take the stripe through anything that it touches, too, as interrupting the bold strip of contrasting colour would lessen its impact. If you have an open shelving unit, why not make the band the same width as one of the shelves and paint the whole thing to blend in with the backdrop?

JUNE 2022 | 77

9

Work a whitewash

Brilliant-white paint has a transformative effect on interiors. Use it on walls and ceilings and it will make a star of every non-white piece of furniture and accessory in your living room.

White is a wholly selfless shade, providing all the light and energy while deflecting the attention elsewhere. In this coastal-style living room, as the white sofa recedes, pictorial and striped cushions are brought into sharp relief along with a collection of accessories on the shelving.

Look for characterful pieces with a nautical vibe in contrasting reds and blues.

Painted tongue-and-groove walls and cupboards give this scheme additional coastal kudos. Opt for a good-quality white paint that’s durable and washable to avoid knocks and smudges showing up easily.

‘THANKS TO INSTAGRAM WE CAN SEE INSIDE OTHERS’HOMES ALLOWING US TO GAIN A BETTER INSIGHT INTO WHAT IS TRENDING’

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM, (8) LITTLE GREENE, (10) DULUX

10

78 | JUNE 2022

STACK TONAL SHADES

Add interest to a room by using two different shades to create a divide without having to put up a picture rail.

In this calming scheme, the already decorative wall panelling is giving a sense of division thanks to the banding colours painted one above the other. Use shades that work well together but allow enough of a difference to make a statement.

Try a grounding palette of dusky blue and earthy neutrals.

EASY UPDATES

Love it

11

BALANCE DARK COLOURS WITH NATURAL ELEMENTS FOR CONTRAST

12

Create a watercolour finish

Combine the richest, deepest of shades on walls and woodwork with much lighter neutral accents on furniture, upholstery and floors.

Going dark need not be scary – it can bring a real sense of character and sophistication to your living area. In this blue living room, the heady mix of textures and rich tones makes for a luxuriously atmospheric space.

Layer textured cushions and throws for a cosy feel

Embrace your inner artist, or better still, pay a skilled decorator to take the pressure off. Use brushstroke patterns to add an artistic flourish to any scheme. Don’t be afraid to experiment with innovative paint techniques. Choose your

favourite colour and work with shades from the same palette to create a graduated effect along one feature wall. Think about contrasting moody watercolour-washed walls with angular furniture and contemporary metallic accents for dramatic effect.

JUNE 2022 | 79

SPLURGE versus STEAL Create a Hamptons-style living space with ocean-inspired shades

£40

Artificial olive tree, Lights4fun

£1,315

Aissa two-seat sofa in Washed Indigo easy cotton, Sofa.com

SPLURGE Blow the budgett with these top picks

£18

Sass & Belle Totem Grey large vase, Very

SOLID WOOD

£275

Southwold side table, Cox & Cox

£35

Organic cotton knit cushion in Marshmallow, John Lewis & Partners

80 | JUNE 2022

£104

Regular Rattle lamp base, Pooky

Buy it

SPLURGE VERSUS STEAL Salcombe coffee table, £129; Salcombe side table, £49; Casual rattan floor lamp, £149; Rattan table lamp, £49.50; Madison sofa, from £699; Popcorn rug, from £129; cushions, from £15; Herringbone throw, £19.50; vases, from £12.50 each, all M&S

£12

Natural macrame cushion, George Home

£180

£69

Copenhagen side table, Oak Furnitureland

Hollins natural rattan table lamp, Iconic Lights

STEAL Grab a style bargain with these budget buys

£879

Joules Ashwicke Cord two-seater sofa in Navy, DFS

CLASSIC SHAPE

£22

MIX DEEP SEA BLUES U AL WHITES WITH LIGHT WOOD AND GREENERY FOR A FRESH COASTAL FEEL

£8

Large vase, B&M

FEATURE LAURA HIGGINS

Churchgate artificial olive tree, Dunelm

JUNE 2022 | 81

ADD SOME CHROME ‘It’s made such a difference swapping the outdated wooden knobs for metal ones that catch the light’

IDEA TO STEAL

‘Transform old units with a simple coat of paint’

COME ON IN!

ABOUT ME I’m Holly Tarling, 27, an environmental officer. I live with my partner, Roger Greer, 33, a public affairs officer, in a two-bedroom, end-of-terrace house near Reading, Berkshire, which was built in 2000.

THE CHALLENGE Turning a dull and outdated kitchen into somewhere we wanted to be, which incorporated a space for eating and entertaining.

MY WISHLIST I wanted to use blues and pinks in the scheme, along with a wood-effect flooring and touches of marble.

STYLE TIP For expensive materials, such as wood flooring and marble, source affordable alternatives that look just like the real thing.

84 | JUNE 2022

TOTAL

£2,089 TURN OVER FOR MY SHOPPING LIST

KITCHEN MAKEOVER

Love it

now a PERFECT FIT’ Colour fan Holly brought vibrant shades, dark woodeffect flooring and metal accessories into a dull space

T

his is the first house Roger and I have had together,’ says Holly. ‘We were really excited to move out of a rented flat and buy it after saving for the deposit, despite knowing we’d have to do lots of work ourselves.

Everything in the kitchen was old and dull, in shades of beige and brown, and the fittings were outdated, too. However, it was a good space and there was plenty of room for a dining table and chairs.

Making plans

A large pantry-style cupboard was taking up too much room and we already had enough storage in the units, so we removed it to give us a better idea of the space. The units were sound and we really couldn’t afford to replace them, so we looked into painting them, which seemed a possibility. The oven was fairly new so we kept that and the washing machine, plus we bought our fridge freezer from our flat – but everything else had to go.

First steps

DARK AND CHARACTERFUL

‘My kitchen-diner is full of colour and little touches that make it feel really warm and welcoming’

The flooring was a horrible fake wood that felt sticky underfoot. The living room leads into the kitchen and we’d ripped up the carpet in there, so we went for the same flooring throughout to improve the flow.

We chose a hardwearing wood-effect vinyl – you can’t tell it’s not the real thing.

We laid it ourselves, over one very long weekend – it was simple to do and meant our labour costs were virtually nil. We did all the painting ourselves, and my brother, Sam, a trainee electrician, fitted the lights.

He didn’t ask for money, but we insisted on paying him a bit. We also paid to have the sink fitted and the worktop installed.

Choosing colours

I love blues and pinks, and luckily so does Roger, so we decided to go for a dark blue on the units and pink on the wall

JUNE 2022 | 85

Where to buy Holly’s style

PRIVACY AND LIGHT

‘We’re a bit overlooked so I searched for a sheer blind for the big window which would give us some privacy but still let in light’

Atlas Blue Porcelain patterned tiles, £71.70sq m, Ca’ Pietra. White Gloss wall tiles, £17.25sq m, N&C Tiles and Bathrooms. Units painted in Stiffkey Blue estate eggshell, £70 for 2.5ltr; feature wall painted in Cinder Rose modern emulsion, £56 for 2.5ltr, both Farrow & Ball. Walls painted in Dulux Pure Brilliant White emulsion, £16 for 2.5ltr, Homebase. Palio Rigid flooring in Vivara, £32.99sq m, Palio Express by Karndean. Algiata Matt White marble-effect worktop, £104 for 3m; Chervil brushed nickel-effect handles, £6 for two; Apollonia sink, £88; Amsel tap, £40; Bosch cooker hood, £348, all B&Q. Milano Aruba radiator, £219.95, Best Heating. Simple Manhattan mirror, £129, M&S. Rustic pine shelf, £29, Traditional Beams.

Skaftet ceiling light, £29, Ikea.

Table, bench and chairs, £275 set, Artemis. Panama sideboard, £129; White sheer blind, £14; slate placemats, £12 for four; slate oversized placemats, £7 for two, all Dunelm.

Mauve & Teal Floral oven gloves, £22, Max Made Me. Canisters, £22 each, Anthropologie. Karlsson wall clock, £25, Amazon. Silver platter, £20, TK Maxx

‘THE SINK,WASHING MACHINE AND DISHWASHER CREATE A HANDY WORKING ZONE ALONG ONE WALL’ by the dining area to make a statement.

When we painted the units we took off all the funny old wooden knobs until we found some we liked.

We’d bought plain white tiles to go above the sink and on the wall opposite, but we wanted something special on the back wall, which is what you see when you step into the kitchen. I really enjoyed shopping for tiles and when I saw the pattern with the dark blue of the units and a lighter shade that I could use for accessories, I knew they were the ones.

They weren’t cheap, but we only needed two square metres, so we splashed out.

Worktop wow

We’d removed the rotting wooden worktop right at the start. I love the look of marble with its pattern variations and the lovely greys of the veins. It was obviously out of the question pricewise, but we found a really effective marble laminate that does the job.

We also wanted a new sink and tap. I like the slightly industrial look, so we went for stainless steel, which also led us to the smart new chrome knobs for the units.

86 | JUNE 2022

Dining options

We couldn’t decide exactly what to have in the newly liberated space, so I turned to my mum, Sharon, for advice. She’s brilliant on interiors and we have very similar tastes. She found a great little company online that handmakes things from scratch, and we chose a combination of a table with metal legs, a matching bench and two chairs that came as a package for £275, which was a real bargain. It means we can seat four easily when friends come round.

Finishing touches

Once the dining table was in, we still had some space left where the larder unit had been, so we bought a wooden sideboard to store all the crockery, cutlery and accessories for the table.

Above it, we carried on the industrial theme with a shelf made from an old scaffolding board and a clock with a marble-effect finish which echoes the worktop. We absolutely love spending time here now – one of us cooking, while the other one sits and chats.

It just works so well.’

MARBLE MARVEL

‘Our stone-effect worktop is really sturdy – it looks so realistic as well as incredibly elegant against the blues in the room’

KITCHEN MAKEOVER

Love it

VINTAGE EFFECT

‘The scaffold board shelf above the retro-style sideboard is a great place to display colourful accessories and plants’

IDEA TO STEAL

‘Go for a vertical radiator on the wall to make the most of the space’

Do it!

CREATE A SEPARATE DINING AREA

Think about buying a versatile table that has a fold-down flap or an extra section, if it’s just the two of you eating most of the time.

Consider a bench in the narrowest part of the room, which tucks under the table, and put the chairs at either end.

Focus the eye with a mirror above the dining table, which also makes the space feel bigger, and don’t forget to position sufficient lighting close by.

COMPACT DINING

‘We’ve been able to fit in seating for four, with plenty of room to get to the back door plus a radiator next to it, in case a chill creeps in’

You can discover more handy tips on creating a smart kitchen-diner at idealhome.co.uk

FEATURE STEPHANIE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID GILES

Measure out the area first and ensure that any table and chairs you buy are in proportion to the space you’ve allocated.

JUNE 2022 | 87

Love it

ITCHEN MAKEOVER

Holly’s choice:

U-SHAPED KITCHEN Maximise the potential of this versatile layout, making the most of every inch of available space

W

hen planning your kitchen, you’ll find that some layouts work better than others in your space.

A U-shape is one of the most popular options – and for good reason. It’s arguably the most practical design and works in most sizes and shapes of room. This configuration also boasts generous amounts of storage compared with galley or L-shaped styles.

How wide should a U-shaped kitchen be?

How do I plan the space?

The design concept of the ‘golden triangle’ is a natural fit with a U-shaped layout. When planning your space, keep your fridge, cooker and/or hob and sink between 120cm and 270cm apart.

This will make for a practical, timeefficient and safe use of your space – something that is harder to achieve in longer, galley or L-shaped kitchens.

What style and materials create the most impact?

In a smaller space with a central window, it may pay to stick to a largely white scheme. Modern high-gloss units will help to keep light levels up, as will glazed tiles and stainless-steel surfaces. Large rooms

A U-shape allows the sink, hob and fridge to be easily accessible from each other

may be more able to handle deep colour, dark wood finishes and hits of pattern.

Can I include an island?

In a small room, you may prefer to have the look of a U-shaped kitchen while swapping out a long run of units on one side for an island or peninsula unit. This may make your space more usable and is especially useful if your kitchen has a back door.

Howaboutadiningtable?

There are two main ways to work in a dining table. The first is to build one onto the end of a peninsula arm – or buy one

‘BE GUIDED BY THE SIZE OF YOUR ROOM AND THE LIGHT LEVELS WHEN DECIDING ON THE LOOK, STYLE AND COLOUR OF YOUR KITCHEN’ 88 | JUNE 2022

that is the same width as the worktop.

The other is to replace that arm with a table. The first option is the most practical, because you’re not losing any valuable worktop space. It will also make life a bit easier for entertaining or watching over the kids doing their homework, as everything will be directly to hand.

How do I design the space around a window?

A wide window is a central anchor point for a U-shaped kitchen. Try to position the sink underneath the window so as not to block the light, and to give yourself a view while tackling the washing up.

Although your window will bring in natural light, this will change throughout the day and the seasons. So ensure you include plenty of artificial lighting, too, to prevent your eyes from straining.

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT AND THEA BABINGTON-STITT

U-shaped layouts can work in large spaces, but even small kitchens can benefit from this design. Just be sure you have at least two metres between the opposite banks of units. In total, a U-shaped kitchen should be situated in a space around 10 square metres to make sure there’s enough room between all of the cabinetry and that you can walk and move around comfortably.

Creative ideas for

SMALL BATHROOMS Savvy storage ideas, clever layouts and smart features are just some of our top tips for bijou spaces

Invest in a slimline storage trolley

Keep essentials such as towels and toiletries on a neat cart that can be wheeled from basin to shower to bath so you won’t need to double up on supplies or storage space. Choose a slimline design that can be tucked out of the way when not in use.

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SMALL BATHROOM IDEAS

Love it

Mix and match materials

Make a feature of your basin by matching it to your walls. Here a stunning smooth marble covers the top half of the wall and meets a textured concrete below. The basin sits on a block of the same marble, which cleverly ties the two materials together. A well-positioned shelf adds to the linear look and provides additional space for accessories.

‘SEMI-PEDESTAL BASINS ARE THE PERFECT SOLUTION IF YOU WANT TO SAVE SPACE WITHOUT EXPOSING PIPEWORK’ Make it look bigger with an oval bath

Don’t shy away from incorporating a freestanding bath in a small bathroom. An oval bath cuts corners to boost the impression of space.

A shallow shelf to hide waste pipes is also handy for adding an extra surface to display bath salts, potted bathroom plants and more.

Add a false wall

It might seem counterintuitive in a small space, but building out a half-height false wall will mean you can hide all the ugly soil and water pipes needed for the loo while creating a handy shelf for accessories too. Once tiled, you’ll never know it wasn’t always there!

Work in wall-mounted storage furniture Wall-hung units are ideal for bathroom storage, due to their fuss-free, streamlined look. They come in a wide range of sizes, materials and colours, so you can create a semi-bespoke feature that best suits your space.

Opt for a (faux) living wall

Bring the outside in with a living wall. It’s perhaps a little tricky to do with real plants, but a panel of faux foliage will give the same stunning effect and is easier to maintain.

‘EXAMINING YOUR SPACE FULLY BEFORE YOU START IS KEY - IT’S NEVER ONE SIZE FITS ALL WHEN IT COMES TO BATHROOM DESIGN’ ,

Use mirrors to open up the room

Hang a large mirror (or two or three) over your basin to bounce the natural light around and make the whole room feel larger. You’ll be surprised at how much a mirror can open up a space – it’s the number one trick interior stylists use to create this effect. Go big, go bold and make a statement.

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SMALL BATHROOM IDEAS

Love it

Go grand with a panelled effect

Create a period vibe in a small bathroom with walls covered in a panelled effect. Simple portrait panels are an easy way to add character. For a more ornate look, try a ribbed texture - or combine two styles for added interest.

Dark colours will also work well to make a small space feel cosier.

‘KEEP THE LOO IN THE SAME PLACE IF POSSIBLE, AS MOVING THE SOIL STACK CAN BE A COSTLY JOB’ Make the most of your wall space

In this luxe bathroom, a shower over the bath maximises the compact space, while fixing the radiator to the opposite wall means bath towels are within easy reach. The brass hardware and marble-look tiles combine for a high-end look.

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM, IKEA, CULLIFORDS, GARDEN TRADING, LUNDHS

Select a versatile floating vanity

A wall-mounted vanity with clear floor space beneath will make your room feel less boxed in. Opt for a style with lots of storage. Abovecounter basins and gold hardware give this scheme a spa-hotel feel.

INSIDE EAT, TRY & DO!

GREAT STUFF TO

CLEANING

STORAGE

FINANCES

GARDEN

DIY

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT STYLING SARAH BIRD PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

TRY THIS...

Filled fruit boxes make lovely table centrepieces for a summer gathering.

Pot up with strawberry plants for a pretty display that will also give your guests a tasty treat! Add a few small succulents for contrast. To make a similar display, start by wiping over the fruit box with a damp cloth, then line with plastic – a carrier bag cut to fit will do – then sprinkle in some gravel. Add compost, pot up with plants, then cover any exposed soil with a layer of moss to finish.

BERRY DISPLAY

MAKE AN INSECT HOTEL

CREATE A STYLING STATION

p106 RAG R POSY PROJECT

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START WITH SHELVES

Sheds don’t often come with shelving or wall hooks, so measure up and work out a shelving system pronto! Racks are a fantastic way of organising your belongings, making full use of both the height and width.

TIDY WORK AREA

STORE SEED PACKETS IN FABRIC BASKETS

Shed storage

SOLUTIONS

Ensure your garden tools and potting paraphernalia stay organised with these tips

F

inding your secateurs can be tricky if the shed’s piled high with toys, cushions and garden furniture, so let these storage ideas lighten the load.

Some garden shed ideas will transform your space so you can accommodate both storage and an area to work, but be realistic about this and don’t force yours to do what it can’t. Firstly you need to plan the primary purpose of your shed: is

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it for storing tools, garden equipment or bikes? Or do you need something bigger, with windows to act as a workshop? Once this is decided, turn your shed into an organised haven, by starting with a clear out. Pull everything out and sort through what you do and don’t need. Check tools are in working order, and if you have any old or empty paint cans, dispose of those correctly. Whatever you need, you can tailor your shed to suit your storage needs.

Make your shed storage stylish with the addition of fabric baskets to store seed packets, colour coded twines and more.

They not only add a cheerful touch, they are collapsible when not needed, so they make a good solution for small sheds.

TIME AT HOME

Love it

CREATE A SYSTEM

Don’t just chuck things into your shed, but think about the things you use most often or what is most needed for the season.

Lawnmowers can be stored at the back throughout winter, with rakes and brooms at the front, but come spring, swap these over. Store sharp items safely out of kids’ reach and keep everyday items like gloves and kneelers in crates under benches.

USE WALL SPACE

UTILISE A PEGBOARD

,

BUILD A POTTING BENCH

A bench provides a neat place to carry out gardening chores.

Potting benches can be pricey, but if you’re a dab hand at DIY, why not make one using leftover wood? You can make a fairly simple structure in an afternoon, then give it a vibrant lick of paint to bring a bit of colour to your shed.

MAKE YOUR OWN GARDEN TWINE DISPENSER Seek storage solutions that are practical and make working in the garden a little easier. If you enjoy using your space as a potting shed then this clever storage idea is just the thing to stay organised, making it extra-easy to find gardening essentials.

These DIY dispensers keep garden twine handy. Simply take three stainless steel funnels (check out Amazon for a good selection or upcycle any you already have) and mount to the wall above your bench using a cup hook, then hang in position – no more searching for twine!

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM, PROTEK, GARDEN TRADING

‘HANG GARDEN TOOLS ON THE WALL,THEN DRAW AROUND THEM IN BLACK MARKER SO YOU’LL KNOW WHEN ONE HASN’T BEEN PUT AWAY’

A pegboard can provide a stylish solution to make the most of the wall behind a potting table or bench. The simple design allows you to use every inch of the wall to peg up the items you need to have within reach. Add a metal rail with S hooks – to hang twines, watering cans and larger tools.

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What to do

THIS MONTH

S

Get your home organised and looking its tip-top best with these easy cleaning and DIY hacks

ummer is finally here and with the start of June bringing us a mega long weekend of Jubilee celebrations, it’s a great time to get the garden spruced up ready for guests.

Giving your decking and patio a good scrub now will mean it’s good to go for the rest of the year. But with all those garden soirées planned, your dishwasher will be going into overdrive, so it’s a great time to give it an MOT. And if the Great British weather does turn and the party retreats to the kitchen, ensure your space looks its best with a fab new splashback to dazzle guests.

Tile a splashback

A great way to inject interest to a kitchen by adding colour and pattern, plus it protects the wall behind a sink. First, prep your wall surface, then apply tile adhesive using a notch trowel. Start where the wall meets the worktop, and only apply what you need for the first line of tiles. Apply each one with firm pressure and use tile spacers to ensure perfect unity. Repeat to cover the rest of the space, leave to dry, then apply a grout of your choice.

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Tackle this manageable DIY task and you can make a huge difference to a plain space

Do it

TIME AT HOME

ALL SPRUCED UP

CLEAN YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE

1

Clear out any debris using shears or secateurs to strip away any loose or dead branches and trim back overgrown plants or trees.

Then take a rake or sweep up all those dead leaves and general detritus from your lawn, patio or decking.

For decking, apply a mild, all-purpose cleaner or decking-specific solution to the surface.

On patio areas or paths, use a diluted bleach or washing-up liquid solution.

Once the cleaning solution is down, give the surface a good scrub, removing dirt and moss build-up using a hard-bristled brush. Use a paving brush to get in between flagstones to remove any weeds.

Wipe down wooden or plastic garden furniture with a dry cloth to remove any cobwebs or loose dirt.

Then use a damp cloth and a multipurpose cleaning solution to wash all the surfaces. Treat wooden furniture with a lick of protective oil to keep it looking good all summer.

2 3

4

IF YOU HAVE PET CHOOSE A S ECIALISE NATURAL PATIO CLEANER TO AVOID ALLERGIC REACTIONS OR UPSET TUMMIES CREATE A STYLING STATION

A panel of cork board fixed to the wall above a chest or vanity unit is a clever way to hang jewellery and prevent it from getting in a disorganised tangle. It also helps keep surfaces clear of clutter. Cut the cork to fit between the brackets of a wall shelf, and keep storage boxes and baskets on top. Loop necklaces over smart pins, while earrings can be pushed into the cork.

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ORGANISE YOUR LIVING ROOM

1

Target clutter hotspots by providing easy-access storage that will encourage even the youngest (and messiest) family members to put things away. Fix a few sturdy metal hooks on the wall at staggered heights and hook a handled basket on each.

Willow baskets look attractive and are great for quick end-ofday tidy-ups for toys, books, magazines and other bits and bobs that tend to accumulate throughout the day.

Opt for stowaway storage so you can stash living room essentials out of sight.

A roomy ottoman with a lift-up lid is brilliant for hiding away spare cushions, blankets or children’s toys.

Step up storage with ladder-style shelving. A leaning ladder shelf is a great way to add storage without overwhelming a living room.

As well as being an interesting alternative to conventional shelving, they are perfect for rooms with limited space and can be used to display photos and knick-knacks, too.

2 3

CHOOSE SIDE TABLES WITH‘SECRET’ STORAGE - TO STASH AWAY REMOTE CONTROLS,COASTERS AND SO ON DO A

SH

ASH

You might think this-hard working appliance is selfcleaning, but it will collect food and soap residue over time, so it’s best to give it a deep clean every month. Start with a hot wash on empty, then remove baskets and cutlery holders and soak them in hot, soapy water.

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MO

Clear out the drain filters and spinning arms with a toothpick or a pair of tweezers, soak these in hot water too, then rinse.

Check the dishwasher floor for any build-up and give both sides of the door a good clean with a damp cloth. Put everything back and run a short cycle to finish.

TIME AT HOME

Do it

Make a bedside table

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPHS FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

For an easy bedroom update combine two Ikea staples to make a bedside table.

Start by attaching a Moppe chest to the legs of a Tenhult stool using wood glue. Paint the drawer fronts with leftover emulsion or tester pots, in an ombre formation, starting with the lightest shade at the top, with the darkest at the bottom. Leave to dry, then coat with a matt varnish.

EASY DIY JOB

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Crops for

SMALL SPACES

These easy vegetables and salads will keep going all summer, no matter how little outdoor space you have for them

H

omegrown tastes better and is so easy to do.

It’s also good for your wellbeing: growing your own produce gives you a sense of calm – and a regular supply to eat.

From salad with extra crunch to heavenly scented tomatoes and fresh herbs, it’s all very doable. The trick is to grow small amounts of different crops that offer big rewards. Steer clear of anything needing elaborate preparation and cultivation and opt for easy produce such as cut-andcome-again salad leaves, perpetual spinach and dwarf kale, herbs, chillies, dwarf varieties of French beans and compact tomatoes. Edible flowers such as nasturtium, borage and calendula are also a good choice, and add a pretty touch to the garden.

Another idea is to plant mixed containers of herbs, tomatoes and chillies, for example, or large pots of mixed herbs, rather than separating varieties into individual pots. This adds more interest to your planting.

Getting started

You need to decide whether you are going to grow from seed or from plug plants. Plug plants and larger potted ones are widely available from garden centres and via mail order, but sowing your own seeds is easy to do and is much cheaper. There are two ways of doing it: either in seed trays for transplanting out later or straight into containers outside. Remember, for crops like salad leaves and beans, you will need to keep sowing at

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regular intervals to ensure a steady crop throughout summer.

When space is tight

Even if your outdoor area is small, as long as you use it efficiently there’s still lots you can grow. The sheltered environment of a balcony means it’s the perfect growing space. There’s usually plenty of wall area for slotting in vertical planters or trellis to provide support for young plants. Courtyards and patios generally offer more space for growing things than a balcony or terrace, but shade can be an issue if

Make the most of balcony space with planters designed to be hung safely

Fresh and fabulous!

Do it

TIME AT HOME

FIVE EASY CROPS FOR POTS PERPETUAL SPINACH

The perfect cut-andcome-again crop, this will be prolific throughout summer and autumn and into the following year.

Pick smaller leaves for salads and just remember to keep on harvesting – and it will keep on giving.

Try ‘Popeye’ or ‘Medania’.

ZESTY ROCKET

Packed with flavour, this salad leaf looks pretty growing in a handy pot by the back door, too. The tastiest salad leaf around is also the easiest one to grow. Pick regularly to keep the leaves coming fast. Try ‘Skyrocket’, ‘Apollo’ or ‘Runway’.

DWARF FRENCH BEANS

Available in purple, yellow and green varieties, these love a container, only grow to 40-60cm in height and are self-supporting. Even better, they’re stringless, which means less prep in the kitchen. Try ‘Amethyst’, ‘Boston’ or ‘Green Arrow’.

TUMBLING TOMATOES

Choose a compact bush variety with clusters of cherry tomatoes that will cascade over the sides of a container with no need for training or trimming off side shoots. Great if space is limited. Try ‘Tumbling Tom Red’, ‘Balconi Red’ or ‘Tumbler’ varieties.

FEATURE SARAH WILSON PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

ACCORDING TO GUY BARTER CHIEF HORTICULTURIST OF THE RHS, GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD IS A HOT TREND you’re overlooke . Jus re e er to choose the sunniest and most sheltered spot possible.

How to grow

While shallow pots are suitable for growing salad leaves and herbs, you will need to use deeper containers for crops such as beans and tomatoes, to accommodate their deeper roots. Vegetables always do best in well-drained compost. Make sure there are enough drainage holes in the

ase o e con ainer and add a layer of broken crocks. Use a light, free-draining compost such as John Innes No 2 and mix in a good handful of horticultural grit, then raise the pots on feet to allow excess water to drain away. Your crop will benefit from feeding, so either add a controlled-release fertiliser to the soil or use a generalpurpose feed. Tomatoes will need a high-potash feed, while leafy crops like spinach and lettuce will benefit from a nitrogen-rich fertiliser.

SPRING ONIONS

Sow seeds in a large pot, keep the soil moist and as soon as they are pencil sized, harvest for salads – usually in around eight weeks. Leave others to round out and keep sowing for a regular crop.

Choose ‘White Lisbon’ or red-stemmed ‘Apache’.

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Build yourself an

INSECT HOTEL

Welcome pollinators and other beneficial insects to your garden by creating a DIY bug house – then let nature do its thing

I

f you’re a gardener and a nature enthusiast, you’ll love creating an insect hotel. With all of its nooks and crannies, it will provide a vital haven for pollinating butterflies, solitary bees, lacewings, ladybirds and other insects that help pollinate flowers, control pests and maintain a healthy garden ecosystem.

An insect hotel is easy to make – you just need an open bird house or a wooden box with an overhanging roof to protect it from rain. Instructions to make a simple box are below. Once you have your frame, fill it with materials from nature to provide shelter and nesting fodder for your guests.

COSY HAVEN

Fill your box with found and recycled materials, from twigs to hollow plant stems, cardboard tubing, drilled wood blocks, dried leaves and bark

YOU WILL NEED 1 x 10cm-wide rot-resistant wood board (you’ll need about 90cm in length) 1 x 13cm-wide rot-resistant wood board (you’ll need only 14cm in length but may need to buy a longer board) 3cm screws Wood glue Twigs, wood chips, cut bamboo canes, blocks of wood with drilled holes, pinecones, dried leaves, bark, straw and/or hay Hanging hardware

1

CUT OUT THE BOX SIDES For the sides of the box, cut two 23.5cm pieces from the 10cm-wide board. On each piece, mark one long edge at 21cm. Draw a line from this mark to the opposite corner and cut on this line so that the top edge is angled.

CUT OUT THE OTHER PIECES For the back, cut a 23cm piece from the 10cm-wide board. For the middle and bottom sections, cut two 10cm lengths from the 10cm-wide board. For the roof, cut a 14cm piece from the 13cm-wide board.

ASSEMBLE THE BOX Place the side pieces on either side of the back piece (along the long edges) and screw through the outside of the side pieces into the long edges of the back board. Insert the bottom piece and

2 3

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YOUR BUG HOTEL RESIDENTS WILL BE READY TO POLLINATE YOUR FLOWER DECOMPOSE PLANT MATTER AND DEVOUR UNWANTED PESTS screw in both sides. Glue the middle piece to the inside of the side pieces, and screw it in place, if you wish.

SCREW ON THE ROOF Attach the roof by lining it up flush with the back board but so that it hangs over the front and sides. Screw through the roof into the side and back pieces.

FILL THE BOX Stack your cut bamboo canes, drilled blocks of wood and any other

4 5

filling materials you have chosen so that they are packed tightly but still allow ample space for different insects to enter and nest.

FIX THE FINISHED HOTEL Attach hanging hardware to the back of the box and fix it to a fence or tree trunk – about 90cm off the ground is a good height – preferably facing south so your bugs can benefit from the warmth of the sun.

6

TIME AT HOME

Do it

IDEA TO STEAL

HOME HELP

Solitary bees like to nest in hollow stems or holes drilled in blocks of wood; ladybirds like to hibernate between twigs or dried leaves packed together; beetles, centipedes, spiders and woodlice love to hang out under rotting wood and bark

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT PROJECT SIMPLY LIVING WELL BY JULIA WATKINS (£16.99, HARDIE GRANT) PHOTOGRAPHS JULIA WATKINS

Find a quiet spot for your insect hotel where residents won’t be disturbed

JUNE 2022 | 105

Make a rag rug

FLOWER POSY Create colourful textured blooms using leftover fabrics

YOU WILL NEED Round object, 5cm in diameter Hessian Marker pen Sewing machine and thread Fabric Fabric scissors Rag rug spring tool Twigs/ wooden sticks (30cmx6mm diameter) for the flower stems Glue gun

1

TRACE THE FLOWER BASES Place the round object on the hessian and trace around it to form a circle. Move the object so that it overlaps the first circle by around 1cm and trace round it again, to form a figure-of-eight shape.

Repeat seven times, leaving at least 4cm of hessian between each figure-of-eight shape and the next, and between the figures and the edge of the hessian.

Petals cut into soft points on this flower vary the look

2

HEM THE HESSIAN Use a sewing machine to work a zigzag stitch around the drawn figureof-eights to hem the hessian. Leave your stitch width at the default setting, but adjust your stitch length to be shorter.

3

CUT OUT THE PETALS Cut your fabric into strips that are around 5x8cm in size (you can vary the length and width of the strips for different effects). Lay 10 cut strips, one on top of the other, and use scissors to shape the ends of the bunch of strips so that they are either rounded, pointed or heart-shaped. Different shapes will give different looks to your flowers.

4

RAG-RUG THE HESSIAN Fill inside the stitched figure-of-eights with shaggy rag-rugging. Keeping the spring tool closed, from the top of the hessian, weave the pointed end down into a hole in the hessian and up through a hole two strands away. You should now have two strands of the hessian on top of the lever. Squeeze to open the spring tool.

Place the corner of the short edge of the fabric strip into the opening and release the lever to clench the rag. Holding the hessian still with one hand, pull the spring tool back through the hessian so that half of the rag is on one side of the strands of hessian and half is on the other.

5

REPEAT FOR ALL THE FLOWERS Leaving out around one strand of hessian between each fabric piece and the next, repeat with this method. Fill the shapes in any order you like (in lines or randomly, for example) but make sure to rag-rug your pieces close together so you get a nice full flower. Rag-rug all your flowers before cutting into the hessian as this helps keep the strands intact.

Varying fabric texture in similar shades gives a subtle effect

6

CUT AROUND THE BASES Once all the flowers are rag-rugged, cut around the edge of the stitching of the rag-rugged figure-of-eights to separate them from the sheet of hessian.

Cut as close to the stitched hem as possible without cutting into it.

7

ADD THE STEMS Lay the rag-rugged figure-of-eights shaggy side down on a solid surface and place one of the wooden flower stems or twigs on, so the end is within the base of the figure-of-eight. Glue around the edge of the stitching and around the wooden stick, then fold the figure-of-eight to sandwich the stick into the hessian. Press all the edges to secure them together and fluff up the rag-rugging to cover the fold. Trim if necessary.

Project from: Rag Rug Techniques for Beginners by Elspeth Jackson (£14.99, CICO Books)

WHEN CHOOSING FABRICS FOR YOUR FLOWERS, AN EASY TRICK IS TO TAKE COLOUR INSPIRATION FROM REAL-LIFE FLORAL BOUQUETS 106 | JUNE 2022

RE STEPHANIE DURRANT PHOTOGRAPHS JAMES GARDINER

T

hese rag rug bouquets are sure to bring vibrancy to any room of the home and make a wonderful handmade gift.

Crafted using various fabric scraps, this is the ultimate stash-busting project. It’s easy to create gorgeous textured blooms that will last a lifetime using this shaggy rag-rugging technique. Try making seven different-sized flowers for each bouquet, or simply supersize the whole bunch.

TIME AT HOME

Make it

IDEA TO STEAL

Use fabrics that aren’t too floppy, so the ‘petals’ stand up well

Arrange your jolly rag rug flowers in a vase. Try cutting some of the stems shorter to create different heights within a bouquet

JUNE 2022 | 107

Cook it

IME AT HOME

Something for THE WEEKEND

The perfect way to round off those healthy summer salads, this simple-to-make green tea cake is wonderfully gooey and fruity

RASPBERRY, WHITE CHOCOLATE AND MATCHA CAKE TAKES 30 MIN PLUS 30 MIN IN THE OVEN SERVES 8-10 225g unsalted butter, at room temperature 225g caster sugar 1tsp vanilla extract 225g plain flour, sifted 1tsp baking powder 3tsp matcha green tea powder 4 large free-range eggs, lightly beaten Zest and juice of 2 limes 3tbsp whole milk 250ml whipping cream 1tsp vanilla extract 1tbsp icing sugar 300g raspberries 50g white chocolate, melted

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1

Preheat the oven to 160C/Gas 3. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together in a bowl until creamy and pale, then mix in the vanilla. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and matcha powder.

Add 1 egg, 1tbsp of the flour mix and the lime zest and juice to the butter mixture, and beat with an electric mixer until well combined. Continue by adding 1 egg, 2tbsp flour and 1tbsp milk at a time,

2

beating well, then fold in the remaining flour. Scrape into a greased and lined 22cm cake tin. Bake for 30 min or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.

Allow to cool in the tin, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the topping, whip the cream, vanilla and icing sugar until it holds its shape, spread over the cooled cake and decorate with raspberries. Drizzle over the melted white chocolate.

3

RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

BERRY NICE!

TIME AT HOME

Malm drawer units in White, £70 each, Ikea.

Painted in Bunker Hill Green Regal Select Matt, £27 for 0.9ltr, Benjamin Moore.

Porto fretwork panels, £67.09 a set, Moonwall

Make it

THIS MONTH’S

Make it The fretwork panels on this chest of drawers are designed to fit any Ikea drawer unit.

Stick on with double-sided tape or paint the surface first for colour contrast. For a glam take, apply mirror film instead of paint, before putting the fretwork on top.

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

Maximum impact, minimum effort

JUNE 2022 | 109

Buy the best

STAND MIXERS

They don’t just look the part, stand mixers also take the toil out of the toughest recipes, making baking quicker and easier

BEST FOR BAKING CAKES

KITCHENAID ARTISAN POWER 300 watts SPEED SETTINGS 6 CAPACITY 4.8-litre bowl PRICE £399 We all recognise this classic – from The Great British Bake Off and Nigella’s home kitchen – so we put it to the test to see if it’s still the cream of the crop. The verdict?

This mixer is stunning and sturdy, quiet and efficient, but we found the motor to be a little lacking. It can make up to two batches of bread at a time, so there’s a good balance between size and capacity; the bowl also screws on easily and has a useful handle. There’s an optional pouring shield to prevent splashes, and it comes with a wire whisk, flat beater and dough hook. The tilt-head design fits neatly under cabinets, and with many colour options (plus custom bowls and matching appliances), it looks great on the counter, too. This is one of the heaviest models, at a knee-bending 11kg with accessories. It made some delicious cake, and you can buy attachments to make pasta and ice cream, and stuff sausages if you wish.

REASONS TO BUY Great looks; this mid-price option is a classic for a reason.

REASON TO AVOID The motor is a little lacking compared with some others.

RATING

110 | JUNE 2022

IDEA TO STEAL

‘Choose a model in a colour that matches your kitchen for a co-ordinated scheme’

TIME AT HOME

KENWOOD KMIX POWER 1,000 watts SPEED SETTINGS 6 CAPACITY 5-litre bowl PRICE £449.99 Whether you’re a beginner, a casual baker or more experienced, the kMix stand mixer offers something for everyone. everyone Not only is it incredibly easy to control with six speeds and a fold option, but its five-litre heatproof glass bo owl also allows you to see exactly w what’s going on inside – putting paid to pesky flour lumps. It also features a powerful motor designed to o handle up to 1.35kg of difficult dou ugh. On the downside, thanks to its metal body, it’s a hefty 10.9kg. During testing, this mixer was fuss-free to use, staying reassuringly steady on the worktop even at high speeds. It produced everything from light, fluffy doughnuts to crisp meringue and thick whipped cream for pavlova as perfectly. Another plus is th he sheer range of compatible attachments, which include e

a pasta cutter, grinding mill, dicer and spaghetti maker. It comes in four colours and all the parts are dishwasher-safe.

REASON TO BUY Its fold function, which makes delicate mixes like brioche.

REASON TO AVOID It weighs over 10kg, so it’s pretty heavy for a mixer.

RATING

MORPHY RICHARDS MIXSTAR POWER 650 watts SPEED SETTINGS 6 CAPACITY 4-litre bowl PRICE £169.99 We loved how easily this mixer kneaded d bread, made cakes and whipped cream.

It’s a bit noisy and doesn’t have that classic stand mixer design, but if it’s nott the look you’re after, this is an immensely y capable choice. It has a built-in timer tha at allows you to plan your baking perfectly y, and its six-point speed dial is variable, giving you complete control. The MixSta ar is powered through a central column that stems from its base; the whisk, dough hook and flat beater attach to this and rotate on a cog around the bowl. Unlike many mixers that have one overhead attachment, this machine has two, so it can power through tasks quickly.

The attachments store in an insert that sits in the bowl, which makes this

Work out which model best suits your needs Are you buying a mixer to keep long-term? Basic models can be picked up as cheaply as £50, but for one that will last, budget for at least £100. Beyond £150, you’ll mostly be paying for a greater choice of colours and styling, extra features or accessories. Pricier mixers tend to have a sturdier build.

Stand mixers often feature more than one outlet – the main one rotates the tool in the bowl. Other ones are usually located at the front of the machine or on the top of the lever arm; these allow you to power the attachments. Standard mixer attachments include a blender jug for making smoothies and soups, or crushing ice, and sometimes a food processor for slicing, grating and chopping.

‘PLAN TO USE YOUR MIXER FOR MORE THAN MIXING? LOOK FOR MODELS THAT HAVE AN ARRAY OF ATTACHMENTS, LIKE PASTA MAKERS OR BLENDERS’ BEST FOR SMALLER KITCHENS

BEFORE YOU BUY

incredibly easy to store and significantly less space-intensive than other options.

REASONS TO BUY It’s a real space saver and a very capable machine.

REASON TO AVOID It lacks that classic stand mixer style.

RATING

Most manufacturers offer a range of attachments to buy. These include rollers for making pasta and specialised ravioli makers.

There are also mincers or grinders for processing meat, slicers, pre-freeze ice cream bowls, millers, spiralisers and juicers. These can take up a fair amount of space in your kitchen. Look for models that can store accessories in the bowl or come with a storage box.

Most mixers include three tools as standard: a balloon whisk for whipping cream, eggs and light mixtures; a dough hook for kneading bread; and a beater for batters, biscuit dough and general mixing. This could also be a flexi or scraper beater – a tool that helps to scrape down the bowl as it mixes. Another useful accessory is a splashguard, which stops the contents of the bowl escaping during vigorous mixing.

There may be a ‘soft start’ to prevent fine ingredients, such as flour, puffing out before the speed ramps up. Another good feature is a pause function. This stops the mixing so you can add ingredients before returning to the same speed. Some mixers have preset programs for food types, such as cake, or gentle fold options.

FEATURE MILLIE FENDER AND RACHEL OGDEN PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

BEST FOR EASE OF USE

Buy it

JUNE 2022 | 111

Cook it

IME AT HOME

What’s for DINNER TONIGHT? Keep dinnertime stress-free with this speedy, healthy and super satisfying salmon dish

LIGHT & ZINGY

SPICY SALMON LAKSA ½tbsp sunflower oil 2tbsp Thai red curry paste 125g mushrooms, sliced 1tsp fish sauce 200ml reduced-fat coconut milk 200ml fish stock 2 salmon fillets 1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped Juice of 1 lime 2 spring onions, finely sliced Large handful coriander leaves, chopped 100g cooked rice noodles

1 2 3

Heat the oil in a pan, then add the curry paste and cook for 1 min, until fragrant. Add the mushrooms and cook for another minute.

Stir in the fish sauce, coconut milk and stock.

Bring to the boil then add the salmon and simmer for 10 mins until cooked.

Remove the fish from the pan and flake. Stir in the chilli, lime juice, spring onion and coriander.

Serve the curry sauce over the noodles and top with the salmon and a few extra coriander leaves.

112 | JUNE 2022

‘READY IN JUST 20 MINUTES THIS IS SURE TO BECOME A NEW WEEKDAY FAVOURITE’

RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

TAKES 20 MINUTES SERVES 2

Do it

TIME AT HOME

3 ways to

SPEED UP THE PROCESS Tips from Natalie Carter, director at Kai Carter Estates ASSESS YOUR POSITION ‘Being a cash buyer and/or with no chain will increase your appeal as a buyer, as the sale can move quickly, sometimes in just 30 days.’

CHECK OUT NEW HOMES Look at new developments where the homes are all finished, but not yet all sold. ‘Once houses are built, developers want to capitalise on their investment to fund their next project. If a few houses remain unsold they may be prepared to take an offer,’ she says.

MAKE AN OFFER ‘If someone needs to sell quickly for financial reasons – relocation or perhaps a separation – they may be more inclined to take an offer, says Natalie.

1

2

3

Is it a good time to

BUY A HOUSE? When’s the best time to buy a property?

Our experts put you in the picture

FEATURE SOPHIE VENING PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

I

f you’re thinking about buying a house, it’s worth bearing in mind that certain times of the year are better for this than others.

A market brimming with houses for sale is the best time for purchasing, whereas if there’s little available, you could end up paying over the asking price in a bid to beat other buyers.

Buying property is a huge investment and not a decision to take lightly. With the stamp duty holiday now over, and life getting back to some sort of normality, it’ll be interesting to see what happens to the property market going forward.

Whattimeofyearisbest?

Traditionally, spring and early autumn are popular times to buy. ‘There is typically more housing stock available in spring and sales often go through quicker as people are keen to complete before the

summer,’ says Heather Owen, financial planning expert at Quilter. ‘In contrast, the number of homes available later in the year tend to drop as homeowners opt to stay put for the winter,’ she says.

Andwhatabout forsellingahouse?

Interestingly, although spring and early autumn are the best time to buy, winter and summer tend to be the best times to sell a house. ‘With fewer properties available in summer and winter, your house will have less competition and stand out more,’ explains Natalie Carter, director at Kai Carter Estates.

‘March often sees an increase in the number of homes up for sale. So if you are looking to buy a house then it is likely you will have far more to choose from as there are lots of people looking to move home in the spring,’ says Heather.

When’sthebesttimeto buyforfirst-timebuyers?

‘Latest forecasts suggest an imminent base interest rate hike from the Bank of England, which will ultimately lead to higher mortgage costs over the next year,’ says Vadim Toader, CEO of Proportunity.

‘As property is seen to be inflation-proof, that will likely drive prices even higher, which will have a double whammy impact on people hoping to buy,’ he says.

If you’re in a position to do so, Vadim advises jumping on the property ladder sooner rather than later, in order to benefit from current low interest rates. ‘To unblock these advantageous rates, buyers will need around a 20% deposit,’ says Vadim. If you don’t have cash savings to hand, check out the government’s shared ownership and Help to Buy: Equity Loan schemes.

Is2022agoodyeartobuy?

There is a general consensus that 2022 will be the year when buyers will get a fair price. ‘Sales being agreed have increased, but the number of sales achieving over the asking price has reduced,’ says Nathan Emerson, chief executive at Propertymark.

Nima Ghasri, director at property buyers GoodMove, agrees: ‘Demand remains strong and there is currently a shortage of properties to meet demand.

So prices are holding steady and I believe they will continue to do so in 2022,’ says Nima. Meaning 2022 is looking a promising time to make a smart home changeover.

JUNE 2022 | 113

Make it

TIME AT HOME

THIS MONTH’S

Make it

Use a chalk pen to write the name of each herb on the jars

Jars, £5 for a set of six, Hobbycraft.

Stainless steel cable ties, £8.69; cup hooks, from £1.99 for 20, all Amazon

114 | JUNE 2022

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

To create a herb holder, wrap cable ties around the neck of a glass jar, leaving slack to slip over a cup hook screwed into an old floorboard. Add gravel to each jar for drainage, top with soil and your chosen herb, then water and voila!

Do it

TIME AT HOME

How to go green with

YOUR FINANCES

Editor of TheMoneyEdit.com, Kalpana Fitzpatrick shares her advice on how your cash can contribute to a better planet

C

limate change, pollution and the environment are among our biggest life concerns and it’s the strongest we’ve felt since 1989, according to research*.

While our concerns have led us to consuming less meat, seeking out eco-friendly alternatives and buying electric cars, the real power to make an impact lies with your money.

Our finance expert Kalpana Fitzpatrick explains how what you do with your cash can help save the planet.

FEATURE KALPANA FITZPATRICK PHOTOGRAPH GETTY IMAGES *IPOS MORI **INVESTMENTS CAN GO UP AS WELL AS DOWN

Bank for good

When you put your money into a bank, it is used to invest in various companies and projects, but they might not necessarily be ones you would be happy about.

A report from Greenpeace and WWF UK found that banks and asset managers were responsible for financing the output of 805 million tonnes of CO2 in 2019. If this upsets you, then make a stand and switch to a green bank.

Triodos Bank Your money could be used to invest in projects such as social housing, eco-tourism and environmental technology (triodos.co.uk).

Charity Bank Supports social enterprises and charities (charitybank.org).

Ecology Building Society Invest with this building society and you’ll be supporting sustainable projects (ecology.co.uk).

Co-operative Bank Helps projects such as tackling youth homelessness (co-operativebank.co.uk).

Green Bonds

The government recently launched Green Bonds, which are available from National Savings & Investments (nsandi.com/green-saving).

Your savings can support recycling projects, renewable energy, or flood defences and early warning systems, to name a few.

A green mortgage If you’re buying a new energy-efficient home or have made eco-friendly changes, you could qualify for a green mortgage with lower rates and cashback.

Speak to an adviser to find the best deals. You’ll need an EPC rating of A or B in order to qualify.

Sustainable investing

You could choose an ethical fund that invests in climate change incentives, clean water projects or animal rights, for example – but that also aims to deliver strong returns.**

Ethical pensions

Switching to a sustainable pension is a hugely powerful way to cut your carbon footprint. It's reckoned that around £3 trillion of pension money has contributed to deforestation or funded fossil fuel projects. Let your pension fund know if you’re not happy.

See makemymoneymatter.co. uk for template letters, and check how green your pension is at isitgreen.org.

Know your STUFF

Ethical banks are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Up to £85,000 of your savings are protected should the bank go bust (fscs.org.uk/check-yourmoney-is-protected).

Apply for a £5,000 grant using the Boiler Upgrade Scheme if you replace a gas boiler with a low-carbon heat pump. The scheme will be available via a supplier, but it won’t cover all the cost, which can be in excess of £10,000.

Find ways of reducing your energy bill with tips from the Energy Saving Trust (energysavingtrust.org.uk).

‘LET YOUR BANK KNOW IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH WHERE YOUR MONEY IS BEING INVESTED’ JUNE 2022 | 115

Make it

IME AT HOME

THIS MONTH’S

Make it

Walls in Turkish Blue matt emulsion, £45 for 2.5ltr, Fired Earth

Use one design for all three boards, in the same or toning colours

116 | JUNE 2022

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

This is a great way to add interest to a neutral wall or relieve an expanse of colour.

Just cover three rectangles of cork board in wallpaper, using a craft knife to cut the paper and spray mount to stick it in place. Hang the boards in a trio.

Love it

ESSENTIAL CONTACTS

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121-141 WESTBOURNE TERRACE, LONDON W2 6JR To get in touch, our email format is firstname.lastname@futurenet.com EDITORIAL Editorial Director Rhoda Parry Editor Heather Young Group Creative Director Georgia Hibberdine Group Chief Sub-Editor/Production Editor Sarah Farley Deputy Editor Stephanie Durrant Style Editor Nicky Phillips Houses Editor Laurie Davidson Content Editor Holly Walsh Food Editor Rose Fooks Gardens Editor Teresa Conway Group Art Director Alison Walter Art Editor Meredith Davies Senior Designer Chris McPhail Group Production Editor Maxine Clarke Chief Sub-Editor Amy Hodge Senior Sub-Editor Linda Blakemore Senior Sub-Editor Catherine Law DIGITAL Brand Development Director Laura Crombie Video Producer Matt Gibbs Editor in Chief - Homes Audience Amy Cutmore Editor in Chief - eCommerce Lindsey Davis Editor in Chief - News Rebecca Knight Digital Shopping Editor Tamara Kelly PRODUCTION Editorial Production Manager Nicola Tillman Art Production Designers Noel Allen, Sarah Llewellyn Senior Production Controller Barry Skinner Production Controller William Argent Senior Production Manager Matt Eglinton Production Manager John Botten 0330 390 7509 MARKETING Head of Marketing Sian Cupid Deputy Head of Marketing Laura Timms CIRCULATION Circulation Manager Katie Greenan

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JUNE 2022 | 121

Buy it

110 UNDER £10

TOP IT OFF Turquoise glass bottle, £3, Wilko

AQUA HUE CARRY ON

NOSTALGIC PICK

Ibiza picnic bag, £10, Matalan

Make your own fresh flower necklace, £6.60, Conscious Craft

STAY COOL Kikkerland reusable ice sticks, £4.99 pack of eight, Lakeland

10

UNDER £10 Pack up a picnic c ready to enjoy th he great outdoor

FEELING FRUITY Citrus Fruit recyclable paper napkins, £4.50 pack of 20, Talking Tables

HAPPY HANDS Green Tea hand sanitiser, £7.50, National Trust Shop

WRAP UP Lotta greaseproof biodegradable paper, £3.95 for 30 sheets, Rex London

PRETTY PRINT

SERVE IN STYLE

122 | JUNE 2022

FOOD DELIVERY

SNACK POT

Green glass clip-lock food container, £5, B&M

Snack and Store pots, £9 for two, Kilner

FEATURE LAURA HIGGINS

Opulent side plate, £2, B&M

9000

9001