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outdoor ROOMS CREATE A COSY ALFRESCO LIVING SPACE

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ISSUE 279

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JULY 2022

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BEFORE

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50 pages of inspiring home makeovers

SUMMER STYLE Fresh new-season updates for your home & garden

Subscriber offer colour pops and pattern play abound – after all, why should Get three issues of Real Homes for £3 – saving 75 per cent on your interior walls have all the the cover price – when you fun? If you feel like your patio subscribe. See page 10 or garden walls need zhuzhing for details up, paint’s a cheap and effective way to do it – and the ideas in this feature are a great place to get started. Of course, there’s plenty more to sink your teeth into this issue, from inspiring house tours to project advice and small space design ideas (see the first in our mini-series on p.60). So head out into your garden – if it’s dry – and enjoy. Thanks for reading!

Ellen Finch Deputy editor @ellenfinch

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Alfresco living in the UK isn’t terribly straightforward. In the past, we’ve been reluctant to invest too much in our outdoor spaces – British weather can, after all, be a bit temperamental, and the rainy conditions aren’t all that kind to the sad, neglected items that are left exposed. Even outdoor dining didn’t really catch on until Covid-19 lockdowns forced restaurants to seat their patrons outside – though eating an elegant Italian meal doesn’t quite have the same effect when you’re sat on a main road next to a Wetherspoons rather than, say, a sunny piazza in Florence. Still, we’re now a nation that’s fully embraced outdoor life (as long as the sun’s shining) and we’ve started adapting our gardens to suit. We want social spaces where we can cook, dine and entertain all at the same time, and cosy nooks to settle down in with a book and a beverage (hot or cold). And brands have ramped up their offering to reflect our growing interest in making more of our plots. You can choose from sleek rattan lounge sets, ready-to-recline daybeds or playful egg chairs – or try making your own seating from pallets, if you’re that way inclined. If you’re yet to embark on the outdoor living trend, let us persuade you with our feature on outdoor rooms (p.85). From layout and location (sunny or shaded?) to finishing touches like mood lighting and cosy throws, it’s the ultimate guide to creating a stylish and comfortable setting for sunny lunch breaks and after-work drinks alike. While you’re outside, check out creative ways with garden paint in our decorating feature on p.36. Curves,

PHOTOGRAPH ELLIE MAYALL ILLUSTRATIONS THINGS AIMEE MADE

Meet the team Get to know some of the people who bring you Real Homes with a monthly question. This time: What’s your must-have item for summer outdoor living?

Alison Jones Assistant editor ‘Colourful outdoor cushions. As I chase the sun round the garden, I take them to soften hard wooden, metal or woven seating.’

Emily Smith Senior art editor ‘Music – not only does it create the perfect atmosphere, it also drowns out the sound of those noisy neighbours.’

Lindsey Davis Editor in chief ‘Being (justifiably) paranoid about sun damage, a parasol to keep me shaded is my must have, until I build a dreamy wisteriadraped pergola.’

Anna Morley Style editor ‘A picnic blanket. I have quite the collection: they zone off an area, keep bottoms dry and provide a nice comfy base.’

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Caroline Preece Smart home editor ‘It’s not glamorous, but a fold-up camping chair – useful for extra seating and can easily be stored away if rain clouds come.’

s t n e t n co Style agenda

Inside track

36 Garden paint ideas

NEWS

Add a splash of colour and fun to your garden with these creative and easy design ideas

The latest new homeware and essential design ideas

REAL HOME

Careful planning and DIY prowess brought Sophia and Matthew’s extended home to life

Ceramics from independent makers you’ll be proud to set out on your table or shelves

56 Maximalism

Garden parasols

60 kitchen space-savers

Stylish, staycation-ready sun shades to transform your garden

The latest buys, easy updates and cheap hacks to maximise a small cooking space

Oliver Bonas Our roundup of the best buys from the new collection

COLOUR THEORY Mood-boosting and inspired by nature, we reveal the psychology behind coral

Mix and match patterns for a space that’s packed with energy

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT

85 Outdoor rooms

STYLE CRUSH The beautiful new buy we’re obsessed with this month

Create the perfect spot for relaxed alfresco living

136 Kitchen metallics 113 Win £1,000! Your reminder to enter the Real Homes awards today

Stir some pizzazz into your scheme with metallic accents

162 SUNDAY PROJECT

Make an outdoor cinema at home with this easy hack

SEE ONE OF THESE? Scan on your phone for more from realhomes.com 6

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108

project advice home life 46

105 Garden news New products, ideas and tips for your outdoor space

REAL HOME Renovating her first home gave Gemma the opportunity to properly explore her style

114 10 STEPS TO cut the cost of your renovation

We answer YOUR QUESTIONS

Smart ways to save money during a major home makeover

Let Real Homes solve your DIY and decorating dilemmas

121 72

A GUIDE TO rear extensions

REAL HOME Kate and Craig’s modest side extension morphed into a total reconfiguration of the rear

Add room and value with a well-planned addition

126 PROJECT NEWS REAL HOME Knocking together a warren of rooms gave Patsy and Al a hub to their home without extending

The latest buys for your kitchen, bathroom and renovation

141

As more of us find a side hustle, what’s the impact on our day-to-day living?

Brighten up a loft, extension or any dark space with roof glazing

146 FOCUS ON wood flooring

108 REAL garden Inspired by Marrakesh, Beth turned a shabby courtyard into a colourful sanctuary

Enjoy the warmth of wood with floors to suit every room

151 THE EDIT The best pantry storage, bathroom lighting, air purifiers and video doorbells

130 REAL KITCHEN Vanessa and Paul have added a cool, contemporary extension to their Edwardian home

A GUIDE TO rooflights and skylights

100 The new work Hustle at home

92 151

going Eco Look out for this logo on our favourite sustainable picks

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inside track All things bright and beautiful

Get the scoop on new design ideas, must-have products and looks you’ll love

FEATURE ALICE HUMPHRYS

REALHOMES.COM

Partnering up with wallpaper brand Graham & Brown, Joules has launched a whopping collection of 46 eye-catching wallpapers, all inspired by the great British outdoors. It’s made up of three trends: Modern Heritage, Contemporary Country, and Galley, a rustic, coastal look. There are also six fun-loving designs for kids’ rooms. You’ll find floral blooms and foliage, flirty pheasants, strawberries, and nautical prints, with each design bringing different elements of the outside in.

Twilight Ditsy Antique Gold wallpaper, £48 per roll, Joules x Graham & Brown

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Pitching in Pour your summer drinks in style with these lovely, seasonally appropriate jugs.

Bubbled glass jug £22.99, Zara Home

Collier glass pitcher, £42, Soho Home

Lemons stoneware jug, £25, Rose & Grey

Gromwell jug, purple, £55, Oka

Tall ceramic jug, £28, Monday

Earthenware pitcher, £39.99, H&M

Homeware with heart Interior stylist Emma Jane Palin has launched her first capsule collection for sustainable homeware brand Kalinko. Designed as a bedroom vignette of lamp, shade, base, cushion and glass mug, the pieces are made by artisans in Burma. ‘With Burmese craft naturally celebrating all things 1970s, it made sense for me to channel an era that inspires me so deeply,’ says Emma.

Bookworm Work from Shed: Inspirational garden offices from around the world; introduction by Rowan Moore (£25, Hoxton Mini Press) Post-pandemic, more people are working from home than ever before. As well as saving travel time, it can also be more productive and affordable. This book celebrates inspirational garden offices, designed by top architects and homeowners who have built their own – from stand-out statement structures to plant-covered studios that blend in with their surroundings. ‘They can be your own personal version of a folly – fantastical as well as functional,’ says author and architecture critic Rowan Moore.

EJP x Kalinko collection, from £12 for a smoked glass mug

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Colombian straw place mats, £45 for six, Raj Tent Club

Dress to impress Working closely with our sister magazine Ideal Home, Blinds2go has launched a collection of window treatments, providing shoppers with an exclusive choice of new designs. You’ll find blinds, including decadent Romans, stylish rollers and wooden venetians, and unapologetically bold curtains. Choose from botanical prints, Chinoiserie designs, textured plains and painted wood.

Lazy Linen bed linen in ochre, from £45 for two pillowcases, Loaf

Yellow indoor planter with saucer, £20, The National Trust

Ellipsis Horizontal in RAL 1032 Yellow, from £346.80, The Radiator Company

Rollers, from £16.95; Roman blinds, from £37.95; curtains, from £49.50

All yellow Relish this bright colour from rich mustards to softer, lemony hues.

Sun yellow and white stripe outdoor cushion, £48, Rockett St George Regular Rattle lamp, £104; straight Empire printed linen ikat shade in Yellow Yoda, £74, Pooky

SHOP THE NOVOCRATZ Making their UK debut, arty US husband and wife design duo the Novogratz has a new bedding collection exclusively for Next. Synonymous with the couple’s boutique design aesthetic, you’ll find graphic, bold and colourful prints to brighten up and add personality to any sleep space. Made from responsibly sourced cotton and recycled polyester, it costs from £35 for a Petite Painted Check single sheet.

ANYDAY two-seater metal garden sofa in Melon Yellow, £95, John Lewis & Partners

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BACK IN BLACK Partnering for the fifth time, renowned fashion designer Paul Smith and lighting brand Anglepoise have launched Edition Five. Featuring the instantly recognisable Artist’s Stripe, there are three different lights: a standard size Type 75 desk lamp, a slightly smaller mini desk lamp and a floor lamp. From £225, available from anglepoise. com and paulsmith.com

HAY colour crates in Soft Pink, from £7, Skandium

Spend V save Keep small items neatly stowed away in these collapsible crates

Mini collapsible storage crate in pink, £1.50, Primark

Castell Pink 314

ECO CHOICE

Livid 263

Reuse and repaint Re:mix is the latest eco initiative from Little Greene. Instead of going to waste, leftover, unwanted and returned paint is reformulated into a beautiful matt finish for interior walls and ceilings. The initial launch offers limited batches of 20 colours, with many popular shades available, including Slaked Lime, Juniper Ash and French Grey. Upcycling this waste paint means they’re directing 60,000 litres out of landfill. The tins of emulsion cost £28 for 2.5 litres

COOL CAMPING A festival must-have or the perfect beach buddy, this chair has it all. It looks good, is foldable and has padded backpack straps for easy transportation. The wood and cotton canvas are water resistant, there’s a zip-up back pocket to stash any valuables, and for maximum comfort, it has five reclining positions – so you can sit up to picnic or lean back and relax in the sun. We want one! Beach chair in Paisley, £295, Cox & Cox

Sunlight 135 Juniper Ash 115

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WORDS JENNY TUCKER PHOTOGRAPHS ANNA STATHAKI STYLING JENNIFER HASLAM

extended family home

Blue-sky thinking A combination of careful planning and DIY prowess brought Sophia and Matthew’s extended home to life 21

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FIND MORE INSPIRATIONAL HOMES AT REALHOMES.COM/COMPLETED-PROJECTS

Paving stones, Kandla grey sawn and honed sandstone. Sofa, Maze Living. Outdoor rugs, Weaver Green and H&M. Coffee table, Ikea

#SOREALHOMES

Left and far left Widening the patio and adding glass doors from the kitchen makes the 10x6m garden feel bigger. ‘Nothing really grew in the top bit so I decided to make it a seating area,’ says Sophia.

Right ‘For the kitchen, I wanted colour,’ says Sophia. ‘The shade of the units is actually one I’d saved to an inspiration board years ago, and when I saw it in the showroom, I knew I had to have it.’ Kitchen, deVOL. Doors, 1st Folding Sliding Doors. Table, Made. Chairs, Gallery Direct

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WORDS ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID WOOLLEY STYLING FRANCINE KAY

ven for a keen DIYer like Sophia Nikolaides, the start of a project comes with some trepidation. ‘There’s always a bit of dread when you start something, but it usually turns out okay,’ she laughs. The data analyst and Instagrammer has built up a following from documenting the renovation of her Victorian home in Brighton – and the creative DIY projects she shows along the way. If you need an Ikea hack or a quick and easy way to update a room without breaking the bank, she’s your go-to. ‘A lot of my ideas come from Instagram,’ she says. ‘It’s given me a lot of inspiration, and the confidence to take an idea and put my own twist on it.’ When Sophia and her husband Matthew moved in, the house was in a decent condition, but Sophia knew she wanted to make tweaks. ‘We wanted a bigger kitchen-living space,’ she says. ‘This house had a typical galley kitchen – and once we did the side-return extension, it made it a much larger, more usable room.’ Aside from the extension, the changes were mostly cosmetic. The couple got lucky, with the previous owners having replastered some areas and converted the loft. Still, some rooms hadn’t been touched and there were ‘minor irritations’ to correct – ‘things like adding more plug sockets and moving radiators,’ says Sophia. ‘It all takes time.’ After four years of saving up, the couple put their plan into action, starting with designing a first draft of the floorplan themselves. ‘We live in a Conservation Area so we were restricted on what we could do,’ says Sophia. ‘We weren’t looking to make huge structural changes, so we saw what our neighbours had done and came up with a fairly simple extension, then used a building engineer to draw up the actual plans.’ Sophia was set on a Shaker-style kitchen for the newly extended space. ‘I’d been coveting deVOL kitchens for years, from when they were starting up,’ she says. The rest of the wish list was clearly set out, too. ‘I wanted a marble worktop and a herringbone floor, plus lots of light via big doors and windows. The old kitchen was the kind of space where you’d go in to cook, use the washing machine, eat, then leave. I wanted this to be a nice space to hang out in.’ Planning and building the extension took about a year, and the family lived in during the build. ‘It was fine in general because we had two rooms downstairs, so we were able to turn the snug back into a temporary kitchen thanks to the location of the waste and water supplies,’ says Sophia. ‘It made all the difference – you hear horror stories about people having to wash up in the bath. The only dusty day was when the old kitchen ceiling got pulled down. We were lucky, though – we have side access so we didn’t have builders walking through the house every day.’ Throughout the house, Sophia has been keen to keep as many period features as possible, from details in the plasterwork to the original floorboards. ‘We’ve had to make some compromises in order to keep original features – but for me, there’s nothing quite the same,’ she says. ‘In the living room, for example, the ceiling isn’t perfect, but if we tried to make it perfect, we’d have lost the ceiling rose and coving. Plus, the cost of putting things back in is extortionate – if we’d replaced them because of a few small cracks, it’d have set us back thousands.’ The key to Sophia’s well-planned home is careful consideration of each decision. ‘I’ll spend ages deliberating between two things Matthew thinks look the same,’ she laughs. Still, the overthinking has paid off: from the utility nook hidden away behind kitchen cupboard doors to the playful touches in the kids’ rooms, every part of this house is practical as well as good-looking. The kitchen, leading into the newly landscaped garden, is Sophia’s favourite space. ‘I love the lightness and airiness of the room,’ she says. ‘Victorian homes can seem gloomy and the back of the house used to feel so disconnected from the garden. Now, more light gets through to the rest of the house, and we can properly use the outside space. It’s improved the flow of the whole house.’

Profile The owners Sophia Nikolaides (@1894home), a data analyst, her husband, Matthew, an IT project manager, and their two children The property A four-bed Victorian semi in Brighton

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PROJECT COST £100,000

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Enter the Real Homes awards for your chance to win £1,000

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‘When we moved in from our old place, the kitchen was so much bigger – over three times the size – but our stuff only just fitted because it wasn’t efficiently laid out,’ says Sophia. ‘It shows the importance of a kitchen that’s designed with all your belongings in mind.’ Flooring, V4 Wood Flooring. Armchairs, Gallery Direct. Rug, Ikea

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Below A nook next to the door provides extra storage space.

Above and left ‘We decided not to go for a separate utility, and instead ended up with a glorified cupboard,’ says Sophia. ‘Where there used to be a massive pile of washing on the worktop, we can now hide it away.’ Pendant lights and bar stools, John Lewis & Partners

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Bench, Made. Peg hooks, Farmhouse Vintage

B E FO R E

Above and right The snug enjoys some light from the VELUX windows in the kitchen. ‘I liked the idea of a darker room,’ says Sophia. ‘There’s a fire in here, so it’s cosy. The kids gravitate here, so the front room has become a civilised place for

MOVED IN December 2015

Project timeline

PLANS APPROVED April 2019

SUBMITTED PLANS March 2019

when guests come round.’ Walls painted in Inchyra Blue, Farrow & Ball. Flooring, Luxury Flooring. Wall lights, Pooky. Ceiling light, John Lewis & Partners. Rug, Ikea. Sofa, Swyft. Green stool, Atkin & Thyme

KITCHEN FINISHED January 2020

FIRST POST-BUILD VISIT BY FRIENDS February 2020

BUILD WORK STARTED August 2019

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Matthew and Sophia inherited the bathroom as it is when they moved in. ‘We can’t have a dormer because we’re in a Conservation Area, so I love that the previous owners vaulted the ceiling,’ says Sophia. ‘We’ve changed the taps and given the room a lick of paint, but if we stick around, we might change the shower tray to one that doesn’t bend when you stand on it.’ Walls painted in Card Room Green, Farrow & Ball. Bath towel, H&M Home

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Below and right ‘My daughter asked me for a pink room – I don’t know where she got the idea from! I’ve tried to offset it with minty green,’ says Sophia. ‘The desk was inspired by American design, where they do a lot more building

around windows. It makes much better use of the floorplan and will see her through her school years.’ Walls painted in Pink Ground and Teresa’s Green, Farrow & Ball. Bear bedding, H&M Home

Left ‘My son’s favourite colour is red, so as a compromise we painted the shade to dado height,’ says Sophia. ‘I took the colour across the wardrobe and the fireplace – it already had so many layers of paint on it, I figured another wouldn’t hurt.’ Walls painted in Blazer and School House White, Farrow & Ball. Prints over fireplace, @make.it.11 and Yelloh Village

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Clockwise from bottom left The master bedroom – which ‘hadn’t been touched since the ‘60s, judging by the wallpaper’ – was stripped and repainted, and carpet and shutters were added to create a calm, cosy, boutique hotel-style space. The Ikea wardrobes were transformed by Sophia using edging and moulding – giving a high-end look to a budgetfriendly buy. Dressing table, John Lewis & Partners. Chair, Gallery Direct. Walls painted in Mizzle, Farrow & Ball. Armchair, Atkin & Thyme. Carpet, Crucial Trading. Bed, John Lewis & Partners. Bedside table, West Elm. Bedside lights, Pooky. Mirror, Marks & Spencer. Light and wardrobes, Ikea B E FO R E

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Build work £62,000 Fixtures and fittings £30,000 Furniture and décor £5,000 Professional fees £3,000 Kitchen deVOL, devolkitchens.co.uk Flooring V4 Wood Flooring, 01276 488099, v4woodflooring.co.uk Sliding doors 1st Folding Sliding Doors, 020 8997 2448, 1stfoldingslidingdoors.co.uk

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Costs & contacts

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MAXIMALISM

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Mix and match striking patterns and colours for a fun and happy space that’s packed with energy 1 Daisy Chain wallpaper, £40 per roll, Lust Home 2 Aurora lamp, £101; straight Empire shade in Crimson Tulasi, from £51, Pooky 3 The Gardener’s tray, £37, Emma Britton 4 Haug side table, £127.99, Wayfair 5 Muse yellow chevron rug, £71, The Rug Retailer 6 Pugin three-seater sofa in Floral Scroll Chilli, £3,663, Sofas & Stuff 7 V&A Love Birds saffron cushion with frill, £75, Arley House 8 Yellow tulip art print by Karin Jordan Studio, £18, I Am Fy 9 Mustard Made The Lowdown Locker in Mustard Yellow, £249, Rose & Grey 10 Wild Rose block print fabric lampshade, from £54, Winter’s Moon

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NEXT MONTH: EMBRACE THE COOL BOTANICAL STYLE OF A JUNGLE-INSPIRED SCHEME

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G A R D E N PA R AS O L S Put a cocktail umbrella in your mocktail and pop up a stylish sun shade to transform your garden lounge into a staycation destination 35

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NEXT MONTH: UNFOLD A DECKCHAIR AND RELAX IN SUNNY WEATHER

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GARDEN PA I N T I D E A S Get creative outside and decorate your alfresco space in fun colours using design techniques that are easy to replicate

Colour pop If you’re short on space, use your walls to create impact. Paint your entire wall in a striking shade to add personality and fun without the faff of tending to flowers or putting up shelves. Ashes of Roses in Intelligent masonry paint, £75 for 5ltrs; table in Phthalo Green and chair in Dorchester Pink, both in Intelligent exterior eggshell, £77.50 for 2.5ltrs, Little Greene

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Curve appeal Create a feature wall with a difference by painting your blank wall with a striking arch design. Simply draw out your arches, use curved masking tape along the edges and fill in your design using bold shades. We love the turquoise circle in the centre of this, too.

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

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Chalky Blue, Fuchsia Pink, Clouded Yellow and Giddy Green, all Royal exterior paint, £19.20 per ltr, Protek

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Crate Idea Make the most of your small garden on a budget with repurposed crates. These can often be picked up for free, sanded down, sealed and painted to make lovely plant shelves. Plants, Pelargoniums for Europe

Seating revamp If your outdoor furniture hasn’t survived winter unscathed, don’t get rid – give it a facelift. A sand down and paint could give it a new lease of life. Raspberry Ripple garden paint, £18.99 for 750 ml, Rust-Oleum

Top table Make your table a feast for the eyes with a painted-on pattern, like this French Riviera meets Moroccan Tallulah stencil design. It’s done in Old White and Graphite Chalk paint, both £23.95 per ltr, Annie Sloan

Personalised pots Give your container garden a decorative update with an on-trend paint effect on your plant pots. These Aztec-inspired designs are done with Masonry paint in Olive and Sandblast, from £28 for 5ltrs, Sandtex

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Tiki parasol, £24; string chair, £35; jute candle lantern, £20; floor cushions, £20 each; scatter cushion, £10; rug, £12, all B&M

FOR MORE IDEAS AND ADVICE ON USING PAINT IN YOUR HOME, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/TAG/PAINT

Laid back living Create texture in your garden with this rustic paint effect. Rather than painting in straight lines, apply your paint in a haphazard fashion with brush strokes here and there in all directions. Then, choose a lighter shade and dab, sparingly, on top for an organic, rustic look.

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Seeing stripes Add some fun to your fencing by painting on colourful stripes. Let your fence panels be your guide and let your creativity run wild. This design uses three shades of two colours for an ombre effect, but try candy stripes or a rainbow design for a bold look instead. Superdec in Bleached Rose, Peachy Punch, Icepop and Bobby Dazzler, £49.80 for 2.5ltrs, Sadolin

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TA K E T H E F LO O R flowing. As long as your tiles are in good condition, smooth and clean, painting on a base colour and

stencilling on a contrasting pattern is easier than you may think. Plus it’ll save you a fortune on new tiles.

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FOR MORE IDEAS AND ADVICE ON USING PAINT IN YOUR HOME, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/PAINT

Be inspired by some of Instagram’s best stencilled patio designs and prepare to get your artistic juices

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designer designer spotlight

spotlight Support independent businesses and meet the creatives making waves in the interiors world. This month, we’re talking carefully-crafted ceramics to make everyday life that little bit more special HOLLIE COOPER CERAMICS There’s something instinctively more mindful about drinking tea or coffee from a mug that’s been handcrafted. You can feel the subtle dips and grooves from its turn on the pottery wheel – a tactile reminder of the time and skill that’s gone into the process. Likewise, arranging flowers in a vase that’s etched underneath with the initials of the maker is a small extra detail that matters. It’s this connection with a product’s origins that makes purchasing from a small business or independent artisan so much more special than your average high-street homeware buy – especially for ceramics, where something’s literally been shaped by the hands of someone extremely talented. So this month, we’re highlighting some of our favourite ceramicists crafting the very best pieces for your home – starting with Hollie Cooper, who creates bright and sunny designs that will cheer up your coffee table no end.

Above Oil

burner, £40 Right Mugs, £40 each

Can you describe your business in a sentence?

I specialise in creating contemporary ceramic homewares that are both functional and decorative.

Q A

How did you get to the point of having your own business? My love for ceramics was found during college and developed while at university. I often attended craft fairs and events with my wares and created a branding and social media platform. Starting my own business felt like a natural path for me as I graduated, and with the help of business support, a grant, and my crowdfunding campaign, I got the necessary start-up equipment. Since settling into my home-town studio, I updated my branding to suit how work has adapted since leaving education and I now offer workshops.

Q A

What’s your favourite thing about what you do? Having the creative freedom to develop my own projects. I love to express myself, my moods and my love for maximalist décor through ceramics. As a very tactile person, the finished result of a piece after hours, sometimes even weeks, of physical exertion is a feeling of achievement.

Q A

What has been your proudest moment – or moments – so far? Since accepting wholesale orders, I’ve been very proud of the number of businesses ordering large quantities of items to stock in their stores. Through doing independent market events, I’ve had a great response to my pieces and have loved seeing the physical reactions of people viewing the items on display.

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Crafted by hand Meet two more makers creating beautiful objects from the pottery wheel CARLA SEALEY, NAKED CLAY CERAMICS @nakedclayceramics

‘We handmake quiet, tactile stoneware and porcelain homeware for caring, sharing, grounding and connecting,’ says Carla. ‘I started as a geologist and chemist. A storm of personal, domestic and work crises within the space of 18 months left me thinking about what I really wanted in life. I sold my house, left my job, went back to university to do an art degree and became a self-employed designer maker. It’s rewarding to be able to make decisions about how I spend my time and to feel I’ve done something that makes a positive contribution to the world. And I’m also honoured to be included in the touring exhibition “The Black Artisans”.’ nakedclayceramics.com Wide bowl, £42; mug, £40; dinner plate, £28

Q A

If you had to pick one piece, which would be your favourite? I love the creative process of creating my mugs and the satisfying feeling of being able to drink from them. I have variations of patterns and colours, which means I can make them all different from each other. I especially love working on custom orders, and just recently made a larger size for a coffee enthusiast with a bespoke pattern.

Loop vase, £50

‘My business is me in pottery form; I love stripes, blue and tea,’ says Lucy. ‘I’d dropped out of uni (where I had started teaching myself pottery) because I wasn’t enjoying it. In the summer that followed I bought a wheel and threw most days for about three months. I posted lots on Instagram and people started asking if they could buy it, so I said yes and it went on from there. My favourite thing about what I do is being able to turn a lump of clay into something that can be used and loved for years to come. I love all of the feedback and lovely comments I get from my customers. It makes me proud to know they use something, sometimes everyday, that I spent time and care making,’ wolimorb.com

FEATURE ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPHS EMA CROMPTON (HOLLIE COOPER); CARLA SEALEY (NAKED CLAY)

Anything else we need to know? After my studio launch event, I’m now holding group and private workshops, including one-to-one wheel throwing sessions and hand building. I’ll be hosting monthly events, which can be booked through my website. The more the merrier, so bring a friend and use STUDIOPAL10 for a 10 per cent discount on two tickets or more! My workshops are wheelchair friendly, relaxed and accessible for beginners.

Mini Vessel #1, £30

Bud vase, £22; Molly, Olive and Daphne mugs, £30 each

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@wolimorb.ceramics

Q A

Follow Hollie @holliecooperceramics and shop her ceramics at holliecooperceramics.co.uk

LUCY BROMILOW, WOLIMORB CERAMICS

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SHOPPING SHOWCASE

O L I V E R B O N AS From decorative tableware to colourful garden pieces, the new collection from Oliver Bonas is sure to give your home a summer vibe this season

FEATURE EMILY SMITH

1 Pikiniki green checked picnic blanket, £65 2 Jungle Vacay framed wall art, £49.50 3 Anjo wood and brass serving board, £35 4 Orange trinket dish, £6.50 5 Rendezvous wave deck chair, £175 6 Azur wiggle stripe yellow ceramic jug, £39.50 7 Olina painted flower bedside table in sage, £275 8 Mika palm tree glass candlestick holder, £15 9 Ueno small green stripe plant pot, £17.50 10 Rendezvous reversible yellow geometric indoor/outdoor rug, £69.50 11 Azur lobster green platter, £49.50 12 Malia velvet and cane lamp, £165 13 Rendezvous green indoor/outdoor floor cushion, £75

You can shop this page! Scan the QR code to be taken to our website, where you can browse our edits of the latest collections from your favourite interiors brands

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NEXT MONTH: DISCOVER THE LATEST HOMEWARE BARGAINS FROM MATALAN

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First-time buyers

Bold & Left and far left The living room is north facing but still gets a lot of light, so Gemma could paint the chimney breast a rich blue without it feeling dark. The cobalt blue sofa was a starting point for the palette, then she added complementary and clashing accent colours and patterns. Blue sofa, Sofa Workshop. Frida Kahlo cushion, Kiss Kiss Heart. Floor lamp, The Forest & Co. Mini wreath, Studio Botanicals Art. Pendant light, Rose & Grey. Pouffe, sourced in Marrakesh. Rug, Wayfair. Rainbow wreath, Atlas Flowers. Bar trolley, Atkin & Thyme. Chimney breast painted in Copenhagen Harbour and Gilded Age, Valspar

Renovating her first home gave Gemma the opportunity to properly explore her style and to create an eclectic look that’s filled with fun and bursts of colour 47

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Left and below In a small kitchen, clever space hacks such as hidden drawers and pull-out spice racks make all the difference. ‘The space is only six square metres but we added a

compact dishwasher and squeezed in a wine cooler!’ Gemma says. Kitchen, Benchmarx. Splashback tiles, Claybrook Studio. Floor tiles, Tiles Direct. Tap, Amazon

Right and far right ‘I designed the dining room around the Andy Warhol print,’ says Gemma. The pink is subtly echoed in the stripy rug. Andy Warhol quote print, King & McGaw. Shelving units, custom made. Table, Wayfair, Rug, Designer Carpet. Vinyl storage, Ikea. ‘Friend zone’ print, Modern Print Studio. Blue print, Missing People

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The owners Gemma Gear, a TV design producer and interior stylist (@thatssogemma; thatssogemma.com), her partner Tom, an accountant, and their cocker spaniel, Digby The property A two-bedroom late Victorian terrace in Worthing, West Sussex

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FIND MORE CREATIVE WAYS TO ADD COLOUR AND PATTERN AT REALHOMES.COM/DECORATING

emma and Tom weren’t planning on leaving their rented flat, but when their landlord gave them two months’ notice, they weren’t left with much choice. ‘We took it as a sign to buy our own place and moved in with Tom’s parents while we scoured the market,’ says Gemma. ‘This Victorian terrace was about the 20th property we looked at, and was down the road from our old flat.’ It hadn’t been touched since the 1970s, with laminate flooring downstairs, Artex ceilings and magnolia walls. But the couple loved the original wooden doors, wooden flooring upstairs and the two fireplaces. ‘All it needed was some TLC, an injection of colour – and a kitchen and bathroom revamp!’ she adds. The couple got the keys in the summer of 2019 but didn’t move in until the October. During that time, they got to work sanding floorboards, plastering ceilings and fitting new skirtings and architraves. The bathroom was in a particularly sorry state. ‘It was an old avocado suite with no storage space and the bath was cracked down the side,’ says Gemma. ‘We gutted it and rejigged the layout to fit a big vanity cabinet.’ The last job before moving in was painting the whole house white. ‘I wanted a blank canvas to try out different looks.’ Gemma’s approach for choosing colours is to ‘just go for it!’ she says. ‘Sometimes I start with a piece of furniture, like the cobalt blue sofa in our living room, and work from there using the colour wheel. I chose a contrasting yellow for the lamp and rug, and those pieces prompted the entire palette. Then I tried clashing different colours for everything else until I settled on this design. I love the joy colour brings. It lifts your mood and you can’t help but feel happy in the space.’ In her home office, stylist Gemma wanted it to be lowkey and neutral, ‘so when I’m working on a project, I’m not influenced by my personal taste.’ She has, however, added plenty of houseplants. ‘As well as bringing life to the space, I love their calming and air-purifying properties.’ Art is key to Gemma and Tom’s home, from the gallery wall in the dining room to standalone pieces. ‘Art can inspire the look for an entire room – the Andy Warhol print in the dining room certainly did. We lifted pinks and oranges from it, and chose furniture with those colours in mind.’ The couple were hands-on with their home, doing all the sanding and painting themselves when they first moved in to keep costs down. However, having the house to work on during lockdown was a lifesaver. ‘I channelled all my energy into my blog, as my line of work basically shut down for five months over the summer,’ says Gemma. ‘When it was all getting serious, we ordered fence panels, AstroTurf, masonry paint, festoon lights – everything we might need to transform the garden. We spent the first two months in the sun every day making it into a really lovely space.’ The previous kitchen was ‘naff but liveable’, in Gemma’s words, so they prioritised the bathroom and waited until they had the money to do it up. ‘It’s amazing how renovating just one room can take over the whole rest of the house!’ says Gemma. ‘While we redid the kitchen, we were living off microwave meals and leftovers from our parents.’ They worked with Benchmarx, who offer a complete design service. ‘They thought of things we wouldn’t have dreamed of until it was all in and it was too late. The bright orange tap is a focal point and it inspired the palette for the whole room. I paired the orange with aqua for a scheme that feels fresh and fun.’ Now Gemma and Tom have finished the house (apart from the downstairs loo), she is excited for a new project. ‘Doing up my own place has given me so much freedom to fully explore my style.’

The garden was a labour of love ‘but it’s now a wonderful space to entertain,’ says Gemma. Outdoor L-shaped seating, The Garden Furniture Centre. Dog house, built by Gemma. Name plate, Etsy. Rug, Maisons du Monde

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Contacts

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Kitchen Benchmarx, benchmarxkitchens.co.uk Bathroom supplies Victorian Plumbing, victorianplumbing.co.uk Garden furniture The Garden Furniture Centre, 01564 793 652, gardenfurniturecentre.co.uk

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Shower tiles, Tile Flair. Floor tiles, Period House Store. Shower and taps, Victorian Plumbing. Vanity, The Wood Magpie. Sink, Tikamoon. Mirror, Homesense

Above Gemma went for mellow yellows, an abundance of plants and natural textures for a soothing work zone. Desk, Ikea. Chair, Wayfair. Light, Maisons du Monde. Rug, Homesense. Rack, La Redoute

Right In the bedroom, Gemma left the skirting board, high shelf and most of the walls white to balance out the infusion of pattern and colour from the papered feature wall, cushions and shelf display.

Hikkaduwa Tropicana wallpaper, Scion Living. Kahlo cushion, Ian Snow. Vikhammer bedside table, Ikea. ‘Beauty Begins’ print, Juniqe. For lighting cable and round bulbs, try The Vintage Light Bulb Company

ON A ROLL Create a nature wall with vibrant botanical wallpapers

Abstract Jungle in teal blue, £160, Lime Lace

Summer Meadow Candy, £79, Fiona Howard

Honolulu in ochre, rose pink and teal, £42, Lust Home

Leaves Absinthe with White, £75, MissPrint

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WORDS GEORGIE RODGERS PHOTOGRAPHS JOANNA HENDERSON STYLING GEMMA GEAR SHOPPING EDIT EMILY SMITH

Below ‘The old bathroom was lackluster and dated with magnolia walls and an avocado suite,’ says Gemma. ‘Using black and white makes the space feel elegant.’

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‘The original fireplace was one of the features that made me fall in love with the house,’ says Gemma. ‘I painted it white, then stencilled the hearth in front.’

}} Give stenciling your floor a go with our handy how-to

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Rattan chair, Maisons du Monde. ‘Wow’ cushion, Lucy Hamilton at Home. Benches, Wayfair. Chest of drawers, upcycled. Frida Kahlo print, Desenio

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Coral Take your cue from the natural world and uplift your home with this mood-boosting, oceanic colour. Here’s how to make it work

e often take inspiration from nature for our interior décor – think floral wallpapers and forest green kitchens – and coral is no exception. If you take a close look at a tropical coral reef, you’ll see varying shades of coral, from deep rusty hues to paler pastel, almost neutral shades. Zoom out and you’ll find vibrant turquoise, rich sapphire blues and mossy greens. And there you have it – nature’s planned out the perfect coral palette for you. ‘Being a combination of orange, pink and red, coral is a real energiser that brings warmth and brightness to a room,’ says Poppy Peace, group creative director at Milc Interiors (milcstyle.co.uk). The combination of these three hot colours in one makes for a shade that’s particularly variable – some have a more striking orange pigment, while others have softer, more subtle pink undertones.

It’s this variation that makes coral such a fun and unique colour to work with. ‘The shade you choose will determine the colours and textures that work,’ says Poppy. ‘A softer coral pairs perfectly with a soft blue or mint

Pink Harmony, Salmon Peach, Dusk Pink paint colours, from £27 per 940mls, Benjamin Moore

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It’s the colour for you if: 1 You want an uplifting space 2 You want to warm up a north-facing room 3 You want to feel energised 4 You want to promote imagination

Coral Flair Mixing Flat matt emulsion, £33.11 for 2.5ltrs, Dulux

Volt matt emulsion, £46 for 2.5ltrs, Graham & Brown Coral Bloom matt emulsion, £32 for 2.5ltrs, Valspar

Coralina No 65, £41.95 for 2.5ltrs, Victory Colours

FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

green, alongside grey and white to give a sophisticated, relaxing and fresh look. A vibrant coral is best complemented with a brighter blue with a hint of green, such as aqua blue or turquoise, so these bright colours can balance each other out.’ Coral is an inherently happy and lively shade. ‘Coral simply adds summer to a space,’ says Marianne Shillingford at Dulux. ‘It’s a holiday in colour form and is perfect for cheering you up when life feels a bit grey and overcast. It has a delicious fun and flirty character.’ ‘Optimistic, uplifting and playful, coral is perfect for communal spaces and kitchen interiors, as its moodboosting quality and promotion of light Pastel coral evokes feelings of joy across the home, poster, from and encourages imaginative days £8.95, Desenio spent inside with family and friends,’ says Tobie Lewis, senior brand manager at Valspar. As with any colour, the direction your room faces in relation to the sun can make a huge difference to the overall feel of the shade. ‘If your room faces north, combine coral with warm, off-white tones, rather than pure white, as the cooler, greyer natural light often needs an injection of warmth to make the space more inviting’, says Aaron Markwell, colour lead at Coat Paints. ‘In south-facing rooms, the apricot tones in coral will bathe your space in a warm golden hue,’ says Cathryn Sanders, head of creative at Earthborn Paints. This Paula coral will enhance and maximise stoneware mug, the sunshine vibes for £11.50, Beaumonde a warm, uplifting space.

The perfect pairings with coral

The rules Do Combine with neutrals, greens or blues Use with warm shades in a north-facing room Try before you buy

the neutral palette

Don’t Combine with purples Use on all four walls Forget to add depth with warm woods and textures

the bold palette

Complement your scheme with striking or neutral hues 57

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Coral dyed throw, £29, Barker & Stonehouse

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Style crush Sometimes we come across a product we just can’t stop thinking about – and we want to share it with you. Here’s what we’ve fallen for this month Eco flower power

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We’re all looking for ways to be more sustainable in our homes, so why stop when it comes to decorating? This stunning floral wallpaper by UK brand Bobbi Beck won’t just give your room instant wow factor – it’s also kinder to the planet. From the paper (sourced from FSC-certified forests) to the water-based ink used to create the designs, Bobbi Beck’s collection is sustainable as well as beautiful. Plus, all their wallpapers are 100 per cent recyclable. Oh, and did we mention that for every sale made, Bobbi Beck will plant a tree in a UK forest? Don’t hang around – it’s time to turn your walls green!

FEATURE EMILY SMITH

Protea Illustrated Wildflower wallpaper in brown, £66 per roll, Bobbi Beck

Fallen in love with it too? We get you – it’s a style crush for a reason! Scan the QR code on the right to be taken directly to the product page and make it your own

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SMALL KITCHENS Whether it’s a narrow galley, has petite proportions or is oddly shaped, utilise nooks, corners, clever paint techniques and organisation systems to max out every inch of space

Freestanding furniture A trolley, butchers block or detached island can work hard to provide an additional surface for prep, storage and a spot to gather. Its freestanding design means it can be moved when extra floor space is needed.

Ladbroke kitchen in Beach Hut, from £15,000, Naked Kitchens

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Napoli ribbed glass pendant light, £79, Cult Furniture

Make light work Throw light on prep or dining areas with a stylish shade. The weighted Ogilvy pendant by Made can be lowered and raised, for focused light that can be moved out of the way when switched off – particularly useful for when you want a change of look.

String pocket shelving in Neon, £150, String Furniture at Utility Design

Ogilvy rise and fall pendant, £100, Made

Tromso peach and wood pendant shade, £24, Iconic Lights

Nether Red 315 and Slaked Lime Mid 105, both £28 for 2.5ltrs, Re:mix by Little Greene. For a similar table and chairs, try John Lewis & Partners

Do it yourself If you don’t have the cash to splurge on new furniture or to have it built for you, transforming flatpack pieces is a budget-friendly solution. Turn an Ikea Kallax unit on its side, add baskets or drawers, customise it with paint – and you have super-simple bench seat with added storage.

Modular system With a variety of smart and flexible storage solutions on offer, it’s easy to find a shelving combination and size to best suit your kitchen. You can even add on as many rods, hooks, holders or hangers as you require.

Social hub Filtrata brushed nickel four-in-one boiling tap, £595, Lusso Stone

Look out for furniture that makes the most of available space. This small but mighty island has storage and extra work surface. Aside from the practicalities, a freestanding island can be a great design feature and a place to stand or sit round and chat.

PHOTOGRAPH MEGAN TAYLOR (NAKED KITCHENS)

Fusion round tap in gold, £2,020, Quooker

Matt black U spout three-in-one instant boiling water tap, £690, Mano Mano

Carlos pine kitchen island, £625, La Redoute

Three of the best hot taps Invest in a hot water tap and cut out the kettle clutter. Not only do they free up worktops, they help reduce household bills as they’re more energy efficient and less wasteful.

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Practical partition A glass room divider in place of a solid partition wall is perfect for opening up a layout while ensuring areas remain defined. Their transparent quality will let light flow freely, creating a greater feeling of room.

In the detail Carefully considered, space-enhancing materials are essential for giving the illusion of a larger area. Choose off-white worktops, highgloss cabinets and a pale splashback to form a brighter finish.

Floral border panel Enhet duvet corner set, from £12; kitchen in concrete Shells duvet set, from effect, from £529; £12; crossweave throw, Enhet base withlamp £18; doughnut shelves, £60;shade, Lysekil with willow concrete-effect wall £25; cushions, from panel, £40, all Ikea £7, all George Home

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Compact cube This compact set features colour coded knives and chopping boards, helping to improve food prep safety. Once you’re finished using them, they can be housed in this slim, spacesaving storage stand. Assure colour code block set, £64.50, Viners

One pot wonder

Perfect Pot in Spice, £140, Our Place

This stylish pot has been designed to replace eight traditional pieces of cookware: your stockpot, dutch oven, sauce pot, roasting rack, steamer, strainer, braiser and spoon rest.

Wall-mounted storage shelf system, £30, Argos

Blender and soup maker, £149.99, Ninja Kitchen

Provencal drinks trolley, £229, Where Saints Go

Hostess with the mostest Work a touch of urban design into your scheme with an easy-to-move trolley. Three sturdy shelves can be used to keep essentials to hand, while castor wheels allow you to roll it away when not in use.

Kitchen hang out Cook In, £160, Cuisinart

For kitchens that are a tight squeeze, make use of the walls to free up work surfaces. This wall-mounted storage system features a three- and two-tier shelf, a utensil pot and a rack to hold your favourite cookery books.

Three of the best gadgets

Kai wood drinks trolley, £200, Habitat

Discover these clever combination appliances that feature a range of cooking techniques, designed to make your life easier and help cut down on single-use culinary tools. They look great on the worktop – or are compact enough to stash away.

Smart oven air fryer, £329.95, Sage Appliances

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Powerful pastels Dark shades can sometimes absorb any light that comes in, making a room feel smaller than it actually is. Choose pale shades to bounce the light around and make a space feel open and airy.

New direction By laying herringbone flooring in narrow rooms and petite places, it can be used to draw the eye outwards, creating the illusion of a wider space. Stick to one consistent choice of flooring and use in all connecting areas to help the flow.

Rapport Collection Patagonia flooring, from £22.99 per m2, Leoline. For a similar freestanding island, try Neptune. For similar cabinets, try Howdens

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Two of the best cabinets Two Southwark bar stools in dark acacia and oatmeal linen, £249, Swoon Editions

We’ve rounded up our favourite half-height heroes that squeeze in a few handy tricks to make the most of the space you have: slimprofile, tin-can-friendly storage and a pull-out work surface to house stacked plates and cutlery alike.

Shaker pull-out storage unit, £509 excl. VAT, Naked Kitchens

Metod Maximera pull-out work surface, £221, Ikea

Be bold and bright Take a seat If you have the room, a breakfast bar can act as a handy perch for snacking and a place to work. Of course, you’ll need to finish it off with a stylish bar stool – and these backless designs are easy to tuck out of the way when not in use.

Decorating a small space doesn’t mean sacrificing pattern or colour. Tidy things away in cupboards for a minimal-clutter layout that can handle an eyecatching pattern. Take a largescale geometric tile across the floor and up the walls to make a room feel bigger.

BlueCave tea towel, £12, Palava

Anjoy chopping board, £35 each, Oliver Bonas

Looped in If drawers and cabinets are lacking, choose accessories that feature a loop to hang instead. Chopping boards, tea towels and utensils can all be secured on hooks. A simple rail attached to the wall would serve perfectly for this.

Goodhome Branza grey bar stool, £27, B&Q

Optiks tile, £53.48 per m2, Topps Tiles

Table for two Bergen bar set with two stools, £249, Dunelm

While your kitchen may not be able to accommodate a dining table, it may just have the right amount of space for a drop-leaf. This two-in-one bar has a top that folds down until you need it, and two stools that can be stored out of the way on the shelf.

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Colourworks fivepiece utensil set, £16.10, Wayfair

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The design

Need our help? Got a DIY dilemma? Want to settle a domestic style dispute? Send us your questions on social media or email us at rhsubmissions @futurenet.com

Clinic

Whether you’re torn on two paint colours or are debating whether to extend upwards or outwards, the Real Homes team is here to answer your questions

Meet the people ready to help with your dilemmas Alison The go-to for all things DIY, with tons of wisdom to impart

Ralphy mugs, £22 for four; Jagger sixpiece espresso cup set, £56.99; Edited Thermique French press coffee maker cafetiere, £32.56; white porcelain cafetiere, £23.74, Wayfair

KITCHEN ADVICE

Q A

Can I set up a coffee station in my kitchen? With coffee culture at an all-time buzzing high, and modern home working the way of the world, now’s a perfect opportunity to seize the caffeine and refuel your space. If you’re in a small rental apartment or lack the space for a fully-frothed beanery bar, you can still achieve barista dreams with a cute coffee nook that utilises an otherwise redundant space and adds value to your life and home. Create it in a corner, on a wall, or in a closet for a functional feature that oozes cafécouture chic. Install open shelves and make a display with artisanal mugs and stylish storage canisters, while using a floating countertop or sideboard below to house your chosen coffee appliance, and act as a workstation to make drinks.

Amy Loves sharing the decorating tips and top buys she’s learned from her reno Amelia Has her finger on the pulse of all things style, kitchen and bathroom Lindsey Is in the know about buying everything from soft furnishings to fridges Camille Has plenty of space-saving, wallet-friendly advice for renters Anna Years spent styling homes make Anna an expert in finishing touches Anna Bringing you renting advice and practical tips to make life simpler Christina Loves the high street and finding statement pieces at an entry-level price Holly Our style expert, with a love of discovering new indie brands

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At your service

DECORATING ADVICE GARDENING ADVICE

Q A

How much can I save by tiling a bathroom myself? According to Checkatrade, the average cost to fully tile the walls and floors in a bathroom renovation is £700 to £800. However, the real cost will depend on several factors and can be as low as £500 or over £1,000. You’ll need to take into account the cost of the tiles and the tools you’ll need. If you hire a professional, the cost will depend on how much they cost per hour, but also the difficulty of installation (smaller tiles take longer). On average, though, tilers will charge £20-40 per square metre of tile installed. The real question is, do you have time to tile? A professional tiler takes around three to four days to complete the job. If you don’t have much experience tiling, it could take two or three times longer.

Plants are so expensive! How can I make my garden nice year after year without bankrupting myself? You’ll be surprised by how many plants advertised as bedding annuals are, in fact, perennials. Pelargoniums are a great example of this. You can propagate and regrow these flowering plants for many years, provided you take cuttings and protect them from frost. The same goes for herbaceous perennials such as lavender and rosemary. You really don’t have to spend money on plants to make your garden look great!

BUYING ADVICE Any tips on shopping for big-ticket items like a washing machine? If your washing machine is struggling or your mattress is giving you woe, take note of items in the home that will likely need replacing in the next 12 months. Then, research the cheapest time to buy online. For mattresses that’s often April or May, and lawn mowers cost the least in February. Doing this gives you time to research the best products, too. Mark the date of the main sale events of the year like Black Friday in November and Amazon Prime Day (usually mid summer), so if appliances do break or you need new furniture, you can see how long you might have to wait (and if you can) to bag a bargain.

Ca’Pietra Unicorn ceramic tiles, £69 per m2, Hyperion

TINY STYLE ADVICE

Hauck Alpha+ wooden highchair in walnut, £85, Kidly

I’m looking for high chairs that look nice, not plasticky – please can you help? Here are three designs to get you started – including the adjustable Tripp Trapp that’ll see your little one through years of meals.

DESIGN CLASSIC

Blåmes highchair with tray, £59, Ikea

Tripp Trapp chair in Moss Green, £209, Stokke

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PHOTOGRAPH GETTY (ABOVE LEFT); FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM (RIGHT)

Q A

CLEANING ADVICE

Q A

I’m constantly finding hair from my dog on the carpet and furniture – help! Here’s a tip for pet parents that proves squeegees aren’t just reserved for cleaning glass shower doors. Scrape hair-covered surfaces with even the most basic rubber squeegee from Amazon and you’ll easily remove fur without damaging surfaces. If you don’t have a squeegee, you can do the same with a rubber glove!

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RENTAL ADVICE

RENTERS’ CORNER

Q A

Should I go for a furnished or unfurnished rented flat? It’s a matter of preference and convenience. If you don’t have furniture, a furnished home will save you the time and expense of buying it. It might be slightly pricier as the landlord will have to pay to kit it out, and your deposit may be higher. Unfurnished is ideal if you have your own stuff, and you won’t have to worry about wear or damaging it. You can also personalise your new pad to your own taste.

STYLING ADVICE

Q A

Ferm Living desert lounge chair in Cashmere, £315, Rose & Grey

I want to do some solo sun lounging in my garden this summer – what are some of your favourite options? There are few things better than basking in the sun’s rays (responsibly, with sun cream), cool drink in hand, on a comfy daybed or sun lounger. I’m currently eyeing up these three picks.

Shop the best garden furniture deals here

Floral madness deck chair, £149.99, Perkins & Morley

Belle day bed, £275, Habitat

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PHOTOGRAPH FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM (ABOVE)

FURNITURE ADVICE

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I’m struggling with styling my coffee table – what would you recommend? Coffee tables play host to many an occasion, from afternoon tea and biscuits to late-night glasses of red wine and cheese. Whatever living room style you’ve gone for, make sure your table styling accentuates it. As a rule, round items work on round tables and square items on square tables. ‘Create visual intrigue by using objects of varying heights, colours, and textures,’ says Anna Franklin, interior designer and founder of Stone House Collective. ‘I like to use a serving tray in a neutral colour that can be changed seasonally. From there, layer in a floral arrangement for height, textural coasters, and a small stack of your favourite reading material. ‘For a minimalist look, stack books in pleasing colours with unique topics in odd sets in the middle of the table, and top with a bud vase of dried blooms.’

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extended 1930s home

Worth the

wait

‘Our first choice was a Shaker-style kitchen to suit the front of the house, but we couldn’t find a colour we liked,’ says Kate. ‘Instead we picked more modern units for the colour, which morphed the direction of the whole design.’

Integra Nova kitchen, sink and tap, all Magnet. Stools, Lakeland Furniture. Island pendant lights, John Lewis & Partners. Quartz work surfaces, Universal Granite. Appliances, ao.com and Appliances Direct

Kate and Craig’s plans for a modest side extension morphed into a complete reconfiguration of the rear, inspired by a neighbour’s new open-plan space

WORDS JENNY TUCKER PHOTOGRAPHS ANNA STATHAKI STYLING JENNIFER HASLAM

atience has been a virtue for Kate and Craig Moorhouse, who have waited 15 years to create their dream groundfloor extension. After renting a Victorian terraced house in the bustling but pricey Manchester suburb of Chorlton, they moved five minutes away to the quieter enclave of Firswood, where they’d found an abundance of 1930s semis with driveways and gardens that would’ve fetched a premium where they used to live. Their new home had scope for an ambitious remodel, but these plans went on the back burner with the arrival of son Herbie. However, in 2020, a side extension added space for an office, utility and toilet, while a rear extension provided the ‘wow’ with a Scandistyle open-plan kitchen, dining and living area. Kate and Craig explain how they pulled it off. B E FO R E

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KATE SAYS…

CRAIG SAYS…

‘After viewing around 20 properties, we whittled our shortlist down to two 1930s houses. Craig preferred the one decorated in the ‘80s and ‘90s that we nicknamed “new Sutherland”, while my favourite was the even more dated one with original carpets that we called “old Sutherland”. In the end we loved the quiet location of old Sutherland: it was cheaper and both houses would need updating anyway. ‘With plans to have a baby, we didn’t think about extending. Instead we focused on ripping out the smelly carpets, rewiring, replacing the back boiler, fixing the roof and updating the kitchen and bathroom. ‘In 2020, we decided to use money inherited from my dad and shares from work to build a single-storey side extension. Initially I just wanted a downstairs toilet and utility, but realised a new office would free up the second bedroom where I used to work. After visiting a neighbour’s house and seeing their open-plan living dining and kitchen space, we decided to use the same architect and extend at the back. We do a lot of entertaining and cooking but I was tucked away in the tiny galley kitchen, so it really appealed to me, and we could remortgage for the extra funds needed. ‘The design has a pitched roof, which gives us more light, more ceiling height and is more in keeping with the style of the house. As I’m a graphic designer and Craig is a product designer, we could talk about things from a design perspective and justify our reasoning. We’re both trained in colour, so all our paints are mixed using the NCS colour system at Johnstone’s paints, and we both love a pared-back architectural style. ‘The slat wall in the dining area was my idea as I love natural materials. I used two by one inch wooden strips and had a joiner cut them in half lengthways. It was a real challenge angling the top section and tapering it down to the skirting boards. Needless to say the joiner hated me by the end, and hasn’t been back since! Although the builder said the structural engineer had over-egged the size of the steel pillars, I quite like how it’s created alcoves and helps zone the space. Otherwise it would’ve been a big flat wall. ‘It wasn’t easy working and home schooling during Covid. I heard every bang and we had to make up a few garden games involving bricks. However, the builder was amazing. He wasn’t the cheapest, but he lives round the corner and was so organised, giving us a breakdown of every payment stage. ‘Next we want to tackle our bedroom, but in time we hope to convert the loft into a bedroom suite with freestanding bath and Crittall doors leading into a dressing room. Our old bathroom on the first floor would become a wet room style shower, and we’d have a guest bedroom for Craig’s mum visiting from Devon. ‘When we first moved here, the area was considered a bit twee and not very cool, but there are more and more young professional families moving in. I can’t see us moving as we love the area and our neighbours so much.’

‘It was a while before we could afford to really change the layout of our home, and it started with trying to fit in a downstairs loo. Other neighbours had installed one under the stairs, but it would’ve been tight. As there was a garage with asbestos roof at the side, it made sense to knock it down and add a side extension – which would give us an office and utility, too. ‘We considered just knocking together the kitchen and rear lounge, but a visit to a neighbour made us think about extending out at the rear. Although we couldn’t have a wraparound extension like them, as our plot is more tapered towards the back, it opened our eyes to the possibilities. ‘The side extension was finished in just six weeks but then lockdown stopped all work for nine weeks. As I often travel to Asia for my job, I’d been following the Covid developments since 2019 and could see what was coming, so held back on opening up the back of the house. When work resumed, a one-metre square 1980s extension with bad foundations was pulled down to make way for the new rear extension. ‘As I’m primarily in the office and Kate works from home, she dealt with the builders’ day-to-day queries, but we spoke on every point. Sometimes she’d convince me and sometimes it was the other way around. Fortunately, our tastes are quite similar; we like a mix of traditional, such as picture rails and stained glass, with a contemporary twist. ‘One area I was quite particular about was the alcove in the open-plan living space, as it had to house my decks and records. When the chimney breast was taken back to brick and replastered, they found some pipes that had to be boxed in. The new wider steel pillar on the other side made the alcove smaller as well. As soon as the plaster was on, I grabbed my decks and mixer and laid them on the floor to make sure everything fit! ‘I was also keen to create little pockets of spaced out mood lighting. There are spotlights for an overall flat light, under counter kitchen lights and a remote control pendant light over the dining table that changes from natural light during the day to warm light in the evening. Kate initially wanted smoked glass island pendants, but I felt something simpler that would shine down onto the quartz worktop would be more dramatic. The lighting and extra sockets put us over budget by around £1,000, but it was worth it as people often comment on the feel of it. ‘To save money, we opted for cheaper units in the utility and kept the more impactful handless units for the kitchen. As a flooring designer, I also selected a new light oak LVT, which I’d recently developed for Polyflor. Although we didn’t envisage it would take quite as long to do, the new space has really brought the three of us closer together. Even though you don’t have those sound barriers anymore, it’s such a sociable space and we spend so much time in here.’

‘WE DIDN’T

ENVISAGE IT’D TAKE SO LONG TO DO, BUT

THE NEW SPACE HAS BROUGHT

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WORDS KAREN WILSON PHOTOGRAPHS KATIE LEE SHOPPING EDIT EMILY SMITH

US CLOSER’

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Kate. ‘With sliding doors this size you see more of the glass compared to three-pane bi-folds, and they’re so handy with pets.’ Sliding doors, The Window Factory. Garden furniture, Made, Aldi and Wayfair

Profile THE OWNERS Kate Moorhouse, a graphic designer and owner of Solo Design Studio (@solodesignstudio; solodesign.studio), her husband, Craig, group design manager for flooring company James Halstead, their son, Herbie, and cats Teddy and Doris THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom 1930s semi in Manchester PROJECT COST £95,000

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Black aluminium sliding doors were chosen after much research and advice from an architect friend. ‘Bi-folds running the full width of the house look amazing, but we wanted a window by the sink for an L-shaped kitchen,’ says

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Left and below A friend reupholstered Kate’s mum’s 1980s leather footstool in return for some design work. As a member of the DJ Collective ‘Too Many Daves’, Craig ensured the alcove was big enough for his decks and record

Left Kate wanted a Scandi-style wooden slat wall to add warmth and zone the dining area. ‘We’ve left it bare to see how the wood changes over time,’ she says. ‘I made the clovershaped side tables from cardboard tubes, which I painted, then my step-dad made the birch ply tops.’

collection, then had a bespoke unit made. Corner sofa and cushions, Made. Shelving, Jysk. Rug, Freemans. Lamp, Next. Plant pot, Hannah Drakeford Design. Chair, Bombinate. Shelves, Tylko. ‘Japan’ print, Postery

Building work £50,000 Kitchen and appliances £9,000 Joinery £5,000 Plumbing £5,000 Electrics and lighting £5,000 Sliding doors and windows £5,000 Garden £4,000 Decoration, painting and furniture £4,000 Worktops and splashback £3,000 Utility £3,000 Flooring £2,000 Architect Emma Craig, emmacrg@gmail.com Builder ALK Brickwork & Building Services, 07931 993309, a.l.k.brick@gmail.com Floor fitter John Gavin Flooring, 07939 067686

Dining table, Habitat. LVT flooring, Polyflor. Pendant light, Phillips Hue. Dining chairs, Lakeland Furniture. Artwork, Paper Collective

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Costs & contacts

Left ‘We painted the wall to match the green sideboard,’ says Kate. ‘Craig’s record collection has been thinned out with his favourites moved to the open-plan space, so he plays them a lot more.’

Below ‘I wanted this to be more of a grown up room so bought the cocktail trolley,’ says Kate. ‘It’s a quirky space where none of the furniture matches, but I like the eclectic feel.’

Sideboard, Ebay. Floor lamp, Made. Yellow vase, Dunelm. Ski Hobnail carpet from the Norway Colour range, Lifestyle Floors

Blue single sofa bed chair, Made. Cat cushion, Habitat. Illustrations, Parra. Drinks trolley, VonHaus

on the spot

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Branco three-light floor lamp, £162, Där Lighting

Sonya novelty floor lamp, £79.99, Wayfair

GoodHome Mengame floor lamp, £64, B&Q

Brixton floor lamp, £99, Housecosy

Riley floor lamp, £129, Cult Furniture

BF20 black double floor lamp, £354, Nest

ANYDAY metal double arm floor lamp, £75, John Lewis & Partners

Create the perfect atmosphere with these stunning floor lamps

Chair and cushion, Made. Sofia Lind ‘Bored’ print, Alice in Scandiland. Paper lemons, Oliver Bonas. Faux foliage, Dunelm. ‘Caramel’ cushion, Nikki McWilliams. Curtains, H&M

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dark grey, which feels cosy,’ says Kate.

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The front room used to house the dining table and became a dumping ground for toys before transforming into a room for home schooling during Covid. ‘A joiner made the window seat. I painted it purple, but it looked awful, so I went for

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Left ‘My office was inspired by working in several graphic design studios and coffee shops around Manchester,’ says Kate. ‘The panelling is great for all my bits and pieces.’

Below After taking a door off the alcove cupboard, Kate painted the open shelves, ceiling and one wall black. ’Herbie looks at my design work a lot, so he was happy to try a black ceiling,’ says Kate. ‘It’s given the room a cave-like feel, which is great since he spends more time in here now.’

Desk and chair, Wayfair. Pinboard panels and lamp, Ikea. Side table, John Lewis & Partners

BOUGHT PROPERTY June 2007

Project timeline

ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS APPROVED September 2019

REWIRE, NEW BOILER AND ROOF WORK January 2009

FOUNDATIONS DUG FOR REAR EXTENSION May 2020

SIDE EXTENSION STARTED February 2020

Black unit and floor lamp, Ikea. ‘Herbie’ print, Magik City. Hanging clothes rail, Jysk

BUILDING AND INTERNAL WORK COMPLETED September 2020

WORK RESTARTED AFTER LOCKDOWN July 2020

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Bed and star duvet, Habitat. Bedside table, Ikea

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With Herbie due to start secondary school, Kate wanted to banish the blue walls and cabin bed before creating a more grown up look. ‘He’s a fan of Fortnite but we didn’t want a theme he might grow out of, so we decided on a monochrome scheme,’ she says. ‘Limiting the mural to behind the bed makes it easier to change in future.’

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Left As the bathroom suite is around 12 years old, the couple gave it a mini makeover recently until they can afford to completely change it. ‘We freshened up the tiles with a black grout pen, spray painted the radiator and shower screen, bought a new shower head and laid terrazzo vinyl sheet flooring,’ says Kate. ‘It mirrors the look in the groundfloor cloakroom.’ Tiles, Topps Tiles. Shower, Victorian Plumbing. Architex vinyl flooring, Polyflor. Shower screen, Screwfix. For a similar radiator, try Bathroom Mountain

Above and right Kate made the panelling for the bedroom from flexible MDF as a quick fix, but plans to change this area again with a paint effect or 3D panelling. ‘I love furniture with a dual purpose, like this pink stool, which has storage inside,’ she adds. ‘The ottoman bed also has storage in the headboard for books.’

Stool, Dunelm. Mirror, Made. Plant pots, Elho. Bed, throw and bedside tables, Habitat. Pax wardrobes and lamp, Ikea. Striped duvet, Jysk. Cushions, Made and Jysk. Art print, Paper Collective. Curtains, John Lewis & Partners

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OUTDOOR ROOMS TO EX TE ND YOU R LIVIN G SPAC E Enjoy comfort on those brighter days and balmy evenings by turning your attention outside and creating the perfect spot for entertaining, dining or relaxing Plan the layout like you would an indoor room. Arrange comfortable sofas and chairs so conversation flows between guests, but not too close that they feel on top of each other. Include side tables for drinks and a central coffee table for group snacks and a wireless speaker. Lighting at various heights will look pretty when dusk rolls around. A central rug will give your scheme a visual anchor and cosiness underfoot. Statement planters and pretty foliage of various heights can add depth and interest to your background. Metal pillar candle holders, from £14.99; twill seat cushion, £3.99; printed cushion covers, from £3.99; glass carafe, £8.99; wine glasses, £6.99; rattan lid scented candle, £12.99, all H&M Home

FEATURE ANNA MORLEY

Location and layout Deciding where to create your new living ‘room’ will depend on space and use. If you’ve a small balcony, options are more limited – but you can still have a bijoux spot with size-appropriate furniture, plus a parasol when shade is required. In a larger garden, understanding where the sun falls throughout the day is the first thing to consider. Generally, outdoor dining spots and entertaining spaces are best suited to dappled light. If you’re a sun worshipper you’ll want as many rays as you can possibly get – so aim for that maximum exposure suntrap and furniture to recline on.

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inally, it’s time to start embracing the joy that the longer summer days bring us – and what better way to relish the warmer weather than to be fully immersed in it? Our expectations for our outdoor space have amplified with the extended time many of us are spending in our homes, and the trend to recreate those home comforts alfresco has never been greater. Creating additional spots to escape to can provide a welcome change of scenery, so it makes sense that we’re now taking our design gaze beyond our four walls and stepping out into our gardens, balconies or terraces. We’ve pulled together a complete guide to maximising your ‘outerior’ and giving you more opportunities both day and night for fun, relaxation, dining and everything else in between. Practicality is essential – weather resistant furniture, frost-free planters and sturdy furnishings and accessories that will stand up to the unpredictable British weather are your friends. Combining this with a chosen style is key – and a great jumping off point is looking at your current garden design (modern, country, boho?) plus your interior vibe and continuing the theme. Plan with this in mind to help the transition from indoor to out, keeping a sense of coherence to your home’s overall scheme. Keep costs down by using existing furniture pieces, freshened with a wash, paint or varnish. Hang the outdoor lights you use at Christmas for summer evening ambiance. ‘Shop’ your garden by moving planters, accessories or lanterns to new spots and switch up plants in baskets. Search for second hand pieces on pre-used sites such as Facebook Marketplace, and incorporate cushions or throws you already have in the home for extra comfort.

Mid-century comfort Relax in an oasis inspired by iconic designs that are both welcoming yet sleek

STRONG ANGLES Impactful design style isn’t just for the interior – you can recreate a cool retro aesthetic beyond the confines of your four walls with some well-chosen pieces. For the ever-popular mid-century vibe, choose furnishings with angular or skinny legs and flowing organic shapes, such as smoothly edged tables and dome-shaped accents.

LIGHTEN UP Add atmosphere, warmth and depth with clever garden lighting. Illuminating your open-air room will provide style and interest, as well as keep the space usable (and looking magical) long into the evening. Add various sources at different heights. Festoon lights provide a glowing canopy, a table or floor lamps can be flicked on as the skies darken, while lanterns and candles give mini pools of light.

PILE ON COMFORT Soften your outdoor area and keep guests happy with textural treats. Blur the lines between indoors and out by layering on plump cushions, warm throws and comforting rugs. These additional touches also serve as extra layers of interest – which is key to creating an inviting space.

Outdoor planters For natural jungleism, place pots around your outside living space

Fibre clay geometric grey planter, £20, Dunelm

Shalin large fibreglass planters, £145 for two, Made

Terracotta Greek urn planter, £18, George Home

FOCAL POINT Statement garden features are a great way to create a living room feel. The ever-popular firepit not only has good looks and plenty of charm – it’s also practical for its light- and heatemitting properties. It’ll add atmosphere and be somewhere to toast those marshmallows.

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Hosta threeseater sofa in Alfresco Express light grey, £899; Hosta armchairs in Alfresco Express light grey, £599 each, both DFS

5 Portable lamps Cordless and compact, these ambiance boosters have many bonuses

Bud portable lamp in Ocean Blue, £70, Lighting Lover

Faro Take Away portable LED lamp, £150, Inspyer Lighting

Grey & white LED outdoor speaker light, £20, B&Q

Corte IP44 outdoor colour-changing light, £36, Iconic Lights

PIMP YOUR PARADISE Pretty up your entertaining spot with trays, chunky bowls and shapely vases in robust materials like wood, ceramic or rattan. These additions will add character; just remember to take them back in with you at night.

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FIND MORE IDEAS FOR STYLING YOUR OUTSIDE SPACES AT REALHOMES.COM/GARDEN

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Throw, £18; faux leather magazine holder, £14; cushions, from £10; tall woven vase, £25; Totem vase, £12; Totem ornament, £18; wall art, £30; Face vase, £8; woven light shade, from £20; footed tray, £10; cane-style basket, £18; diamond tufted pouffe, £40, all Matalan

Botanic chic

Create a striking urban chill-out area that conjures up farflung global travels

COOL BOHO STYLE The trend for trail-blazing inspired homewares is perfectly suited to a garden backdrop. Emanating an informal, relaxed feel, texture and pattern play an important role in creating this travel-without-moving look. Choose nomad-style motifs and chunky weaves in strong colours to satisfy any wanderlust.

PAINT IT BLACK Enhance your ‘outerior’ space by using a dramatically dark background to give maximum impact. This budget-friendly trick will provide an immediate backdrop to frame your chosen seating area. Position furniture in front of your painted fence or wall and use pops of the opposite colour against it for the greatest effect.

BOTANICAL BENEFIT Whether you have a grassless garden or can boast a lush, green vista, introducing more greenery to any outdoor room will amplify the surroundings. Plan their positions as you would with houseplants, but ensure they’re weather hardy. Vary levels of foliage for added appeal. Think floor planters, raised pots on stands and wall-hanging versions. And if you’re not greenthumbed, you can try using faux plants. We won’t tell anyone!

Outdoor rugs Zone your spaces with soft and colourful textiles

Halsey outdoor rug, £129, Furniture Village

Iris coral indoor outdoor rug, from £140, Weaver Green

Black white motif reversible outdoor rug, £36.99, Homescapes

OCCASIONAL SEATING Keep things low key with seating at varying levels to continue the relaxed feel of your sunny space. Scatter pouffes or floor cushions so impromptu visitors will always find a spot, or they can double up as a footrest – perfect for lazy afternoons.

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Montreal corner set with table, £700; 10 XL solar bulb string lights £15; string chair, £35; cushions, from £8-£12; floor cushion, £20; rug, £12; jute rug, £25; tripod leg planter, £16; lantern £15; wood citronella candle bowl, £6, all B&M

Emma Dakin Bespoke Textile Designer @ em.dakin82

1 Exposed timber with black accents was the base of our outdoor structure. This was designed and built by my husband Pete, of DW Kitchens and Interiors (@dwkitchensinteriors). The material he used (called waney-edge larch cladding) gives an informal feel as it has an irregular finish, which I just love. 2 Secret storage and extra lighting were key to the design. Pete made sure the building incorporated a hidden shed element. He also fitted a glass panel into the roof to allow natural light to flood in, preventing it from feeling too dark in the day. 3 I’ve always loved monochrome, so the boho chic style really appeals to me. I used sites like Pinterest to search for strong looks that we could incorporate, and I sourced items from Etsy and other small business for cushions and rugs. I love the contrast of leafy plants against dark features. 4 We added artificial lights to give a festival feel to the space. We use the area well into the evenings so needed the additional lighting. We strung festoon lighting across the whole garden to make it feel fun and inviting. 5 The garden acts as an extension of our home. We love entertaining our friends and family, and it’s great that our garden can give us extra space to do that. The most important thing for us was that it felt inviting and comfortable.

SHAPELY DESIGN When choosing furniture, finding pieces that fit your designated area is essential, and an L-shaped sofa can tuck neatly into a corner of a patio or decked area. You can position chairs opposite for guests as well to balance the space. To keep things flexible, make sure they’re lightweight so they can be easily moved.

}} Shop our pick of the best garden furniture

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‘We had white kitchen doors in our last house and I really wanted to go for a dark industrial look this time,’ says Patsy. ‘With all the glass, light worktops and a light floor, I knew it would work.’

WORDS JENNY TUCKER PHOTOGRAPHS ANNA STATHAKI STYLING JENNIFER HASLAM

Kitchen, Second Nature. Tea towel, Habitat. Fridgefreezer, Samsung. Pendant lights, Matalan. Stools, Beliani. Basket, H&M Home

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Open-plan living

into one

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By knocking together a warren of disjointed rooms, Patsy and Al have created a new hub to their home without needing to extend

FOR IDEAS AND ADVICE ON MAKING OVER YOUR HOME AT REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONS

THREE

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Profile The owners Patsy Jackson, a selfemployed administrator (@hepscotthousereno), her husband Al, a government officer, and their children, Hannah and Ellie The property A four-bedroom detached house in Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, built in 1980 Project cost £143,000

Geri and Andrew based the kitchen design around an island, which was top of Geri’s wishlist. Open shelving replaces wall units, letting more light bounce around the room.

‘Originally we planned glass doors all the way across, but realised we needed a section of wall to put a clock and radiator on’.

Dining table, Made. Chairs, Marks & Spencer. Wall hanging, Urban Outfitters. Vertical radiator, Just Radiators

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Doors, Visioglide Plus. Sofa, Made. Cushions, H&M Home. Side table, Vasagle

B E FO R E

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‘The old stone patio was extended and relaid with porcelain tiles.’

#SOREALHOMES

WORDS KAREN WILSON PHOTOGRAPHS KATIE LEE SHOPPING EDIT EMILY SMITH

Below The kitchen was built around the sliding doors to make the most of garden views. ‘We didn’t want to compromise so picked the biggest we could get at 5.5m,’ says Patsy.

aving set their hearts on a popular leafy estate in Whitley Bay, it took 18 months for Patsy and Al to finally move house. ‘We’d lived in our 1930s semi for 10 years and extended it twice,’ says Patsy. ‘As our daughters got older, we started looking for a detached house with a bigger garden. We loved this estate of 1970s and 1980s houses but homes hardly ever came up for sale.’ After two purchases fell through, the family rented for nine months to be in a stronger position to proceed. Eventually they came across a probate sale that fit the bill. ‘We were first to view and offered the asking price straight away,’ says Patsy. ‘The sunny plot wasn’t overlooked and the trees made it feel like we were in the countryside. There were a lot of small rooms not being used to their full potential; it had the space we needed.’ Four months after moving in, the couple had plans drawn up to knock three disconnected rooms together into one large kitchen/diner/living area measuring a generous 44 square metres, with extensive glazing to the garden. ‘Access to the garden was through a utility that was bigger than the kitchen with a stone floor, felt roof and no heating,’ says Patsy. ‘A dining room in the middle of the house – with a serving hatch – had a lovely outlook over the garden, but didn’t lead anywhere, so it just served as a storage room.’ The couple spoke to an architect and several builders to see if their plans were viable. ‘One builder just said, “I don’t like it and I don’t think it’ll work,” while others said we should extend out instead,’ explains Patsy. ‘However, I felt we already had the space we needed – it just wasn’t configured properly, and I didn’t want to lose too much garden.’ Eventually Northern Property Projects agreed to take on the project. The work involved taking out three supporting walls as well as the corner of the house. All beams and structural supports were hidden in the first floor to maintain a seamless ceiling height. Part of the double garage was used to square off the kitchen and create a boot room/ utility at the rear. ‘Seven steel beams were needed in total, including a large goalpost that spans around the sliding doors,’ explains Patsy. ‘Costwise, it wouldn’t have been much more to extend.’ The work was full of challenges. As the first floor joists ran the opposite way to how the builders expected, each one had to be cut to accommodate the steel beam. A soil pipe that was boxed in between the kitchen and dining room also had to be relocated and concealed above the sliding doors. Elsewhere, the dated conservatory was given a new roof and anthracite window frames. A new boot room was created in the hallway and two new bathrooms were fitted upstairs. ‘We halved our en suite to make space for a desk area in Hannah’s bedroom,’ says Patsy. ‘And the family bathroom felt cramped as the pipes were boxed in around the bottom. Now the pipework is all hidden, the skirting boards have gone and there’s a wall-hung vanity unit – making the room feel bigger.’ Next, Patsy plans to give her spacious hallway a monochrome and rattan makeover, turn the fourth bedroom into a storage cum craft room and possibly redecorate the lounge. ‘When we moved in, the only rooms we could decorate were the lounge, downstairs loo and Ellie’s bedroom as the building work would affect all the other rooms,’ she says. ‘My style is a mix of contemporary-classic with boho and industrial elements, but although I love the blue colour in the lounge, it feels disconnected from the rest of the house now.’ Although the couple may downsize when their children leave home, for now they’re enjoying the new space. ‘The nice thing about buying a house that needs a full renovation is that you end up with something totally your style and taste,’ says Patsy. ‘When builders disagree with your plans, you start doubting yourself, but the kitchen works so well for us now. We’re happy we stuck to our original vision.’

Below The separate lounge is a more formal space for bigger family gatherings. ‘Our Ikea sofas have removable covers,’ says Patsy. ‘We later found an Etsy shop that made new

covers for them to give the room a lift.’

Right Suedeeffect paint has been used to create a chocolate brown feature wall. ‘It’s quite subtle, almost like a lime wash effect, but gives the space a bit of richness,’ says Patsy.

Sofas and footstool, Ikea. Sofa covers, Petbitat Studio on Etsy. Cushions, Tutti & Co, Dunelm and Made. Pendant light, Matalan

BOUGHT HOUSE June 2019

Project timeline

PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED February 2020

COMPLETED LOUNGE AND DOWNSTAIRS WC January 2020

Effect Chocolate textured paint. Bed, Divan Bed Warehouse. Wall lights, Creative Cables. Bedside tables, Next. Rust throw, Made. Wooden star, Tutti & Co

Wall painted in Crafted by Crown Suede

KITCHEN BUILDING WORK STARTS September 2020

LOUNGE FIREPLACE INSTALLED August 2020

‘The plug-in wall lights are superb. I love the light they give off and it frees up space on the bedside tables.’

NEW BATHROOM AND PATIO April 2021

KITCHEN FINISHED December 2020

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FOR IDEAS AND ADVICE ON MAKING OVER YOUR HOME AT REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONS

Costs & contacts Building and electrics £45,000 Kitchen and utility £22,000 Bathrooms £17,000 Windows and doors £15,000 Decoration and furniture £15,000 Conservatory £12,000 Flooring £7,000 Patio £6,000 Professional fees £4,000 Builder Northern Property Projects, 07523 962868 Kitchen Second Nature fitted by FK&B, 0191 251 5757, fkandb.co.uk Flooring Karndean fitted by KT Flooring, ktflooring.co.uk Glazing Ken Curtis Windows & Doors, 07951 770425 Sliding door fitters Heritage Trade Frames, heritage-tradeframes.co.uk

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‘Ellie wanted black with yellow accents in her bedroom,’ says Patsy. ‘So I painted the wall black and attached constellation decals. The trundle bed has a pull-out mattress for sleepovers.’

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Wall painted in Off Black, Farrow & Ball. Decals, Jesabi on Etsy. For a bed, try Happy Beds. Desk and chair, Ikea. Wire notice board, Matalan. Cushions, Asda and Primark

Below ‘Hannah loves pink and wanted a boho feel so we’ve gone for a subtle pink feature wall, rattan headboard and lots of plants,’ says Patsy.

Walls painted in Sulking Room Pink and Strong White, both Farrow & Ball. Shelf, B&M. Headboard, Tikamoon. Cushions, H&M, Ikea and Shein

Above ‘As this bathroom is mostly used by the girls, I brought in elements of black and pink from each of their bedrooms,’ says Patsy. ‘The starting point was the

hexagon wall tiles, which I love.’ Tiles, Costiles. April Harrogate bath, Trading Depot. Unit, Hudson Reed Flooring, Karndean. Mat, H&M Home

A boho chic rattan board for the bed is supportive and stylish

Adeline wicker/rattan headboard, £199.32, Wayfair

Tapu king-size headboard, £129, Made

Cedak rattan cane headboard, £295, La Redoute

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Rest your head

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As more of us find a side hustle – whether it’s to keep our creativity or our bank balances flowing – just what is the impact on our day-to-day living? Jennifer Morgan explores…

IMAGE GETTY

e’re increasingly becoming a nation of side hustlers, it seems, as many of us turn our hobbies and passions into ways of earning extra cash. But our homes – which have had to deal with a lot since the pandemic – are morphing into studios, offices and distribution depots. How many times have you seen a homeware brand on Instagram showing the Insta reality of boxes piled high in a hallway, waiting for collection? Of course, we can trace this back to the pandemic – over 800,000 new businesses launched in the financial year to 2021 – although there were signs we were getting itchy feet before this. ‘Many people lost their main source of income overnight during the pandemic, or were given reduced hours or furlough,’ says Laura Jolly Yan, head of consultancy at TrendBible (trendbible.com). ‘This had a two-fold effect: firstly, people had free time on their hands to pursue hobbies and creative pursuits, or learn a new skill; secondly, the employment crisis rocked people’s confidence and financial stability, leading to many seeking side hustles and second – or third – income streams, so as not to “put all their eggs in one basket”.

‘The great “slow down” allowed people to reassess their lifestyles and analyse what was – or wasn’t – working for them,’ continues Laura. ‘Now we’ve returned to a new kind of normality, 68 per cent of people prefer a hybrid working model, according to a Future Forum survey, while 95 per cent of people want flexibility over the times they work. So it’s no surprise that many are looking to be their own boss or create income from their own home, which allows them to structure their day in the way they choose.’ Hustles can be all-consuming. Holly Tucker MBE, founder of Holly.co, believes that if it’s not taking up most of your brain space, you should be concerned – especially if you plan to move it from sideline to mainline. ‘You need to be obsessed with your idea, have a clear vision and absolute belief in it,’ she says. ‘When your head is spinning and your dreams are packed with excitement, you know you’re really onto something.’ And yes, there are practicalities that will throw you off course. ‘When you’re growing a business, especially if it’s one selling products, then it’s hard to contain it at home,’ says Holly. ‘Certainly, every inch of my house has been an “unofficial office”.

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home

NEXT MONTH: IS YOUR HOUSEPLANT OBSESSION GETTING OUT OF HAND?

H u st l i n g in our

I’m about to make my son’s old room my second office! Many of the businesses I work with have started in the spare room, then taken over the living room, kitchen table and hallways. Jo Malone even stored her products in the bath!’ Holly advises keeping your space clutter free where possible. ‘It sounds simple, but keeping your space clear and organised could give you an additional six months in your current space, saving you half a year of potential costs,’ she says. ‘In the same vein, staying in a space you’ve clearly outgrown can hinder and stifle you, and as the founder of your company, it will be down to you to “call it” at the right moment and take that next step to ensure you can continue to fuel your growth.’ Ysanne Brooks (ysannebrooks.co.uk) turned her passion for pottery into a business, although it’s been a slow process that has threatened to overtake her home multiple times. Eight years ago, she started taking pottery classes at the local adult education centre. ‘It was just a fun hobby, but in the past couple of years I’ve realised it’s a passion, and it’s slowly, and rather surprisingly, become a business of its own. It’s grown from friends

‘Illustration is something that I love and I don’t want it to become a chore.’ She also recognises how supportive her parents are. ‘Yet I’m sure they’ll be happy to have their dining room table mess-free when I move out,’ she laughs. ‘In the coming years we’ll see householders creating more adaptable and transient spaces within their homes,’ says Laura Jolly Yan. ‘Rooms will need to function for multiple activities at different times of day, so furniture, equipment and even partitions will need to be moveable and multifunctional.’ The ultimate dream is to have a home studio, a place where you can contain the creativity and then close the door. Jacqueline Dawson of Alba Jewellery (alba-jewellery.co.uk) has always had side hustles alongside her main teaching job. ‘It was a way of satisfying my need for more creative outlets,’ she explains. ‘I didn’t want to teach until retirement age and so began focusing on making my jewellery more of a viable income source. I did this gradually alongside teaching until last year, when I felt I was able to take the plunge and work on Alba Jewellery full time.’ But it’s brought big changes to her Suffolk home. ‘I began Alba from a small room in our

‘IT WAS A FUN HOBBY THAT BECAME A PA S S I O N , A N D S L O W LY, S U R P R I S I N G LY, IT’S BECOME A BUSINESS OF ITS OWN’ and family buying pieces to selling through a website, craft fairs and even holding small evening workshops in my local town,’ she says. Ysanne is a journalist, although she’s put this to one side over the last year to focus on her ceramics. She has a studio in the basement, but wishes she’d thought harder about how her side hustle would impact the rest of her house. ‘It’s not just the separate areas needed for making, drying, firing and glazing the pots that I need; it’s also space for storing clay, glazes and equipment, as well as room to photograph a product and pack it when it’s sold. The office where I write has slowly been taken over by a packing table, boxes, bubble wrap and tape, with props for craft fairs also vying for space.’ Millennials and Gen Z hustlers are also finding the home-work-hustle balance a challenge. Illustrator and designer Sophia Clahar (sophiaclahar.com) lives with her parents, working for design agency Steele & Stovell (steeleandstovell.co.uk) by day and her own projects by night. ‘I’m lucky that I use my iPad for a lot of my illustration, but when I’m making physical pieces, like art prints or cards, then the dining room table is my go-to, as it’s rarely used for meals and gives me the biggest amount of space,’ she says. Sophia says she tries not to put too much pressure on herself:

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house that wasn’t used much, but I outgrew it and moved into a studio in our garden, keeping the room in the house for all of the admin,’ says Jacqueline. ‘Trying to keep overheads as low as possible is really important, especially at the beginning, and using space you already have is a good way of helping with this, but it is a compromise, and everyone needs to feel on board with it.’ Jacqueline knows how lucky she is to be able to close the door at the end of the ‘making’ part of her day. ‘All laptop work takes place indoors and often on the sofa,’ she says. As Laura explains, ‘It’s a case of finding those clever hacks to draw a line between work and play – like a foldaway office solution, or using smart home tech to switch up the mood once you’re ready to relax again, saying, “Hey Google, activate chill mode!”.’ Holly believes we need to embrace the kitchen table. ‘Many of the businesses I mentor are what I describe as “Good Life Businesses”, who are looking to balance purpose and profit, to build a company as part of their lives – their children might get involved – and one in which the product or service they’re selling is a passion. It makes sense that they start at the kitchen table. It doesn’t require extra budget, can be very much part of family life and means everyone around you is coming on that journey.’

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Garden A bumper crop of new product releases, ideas and tips for making the most of your outdoor space

Trousdale Tread Hughes anti-slip floor tile, 60x60cm, £25.70 each

news

Neutra Greyish outdoor floor tile, 80x80cm, £34.37 each

Arpino Flora outdoor floor tile, 60x60cm, £22.49 each

Indooroutdoor look Perfect for patios, balconies and courtyard gardens, tiles can transform your outdoor space into something really special. The new outdoor collection from Claybrook Studio includes tiles in modern and classic designs for floors and walls to help you create a seamless look that can be linked through to your interior, too. As well as looking good, the tiles are resistant to water and frost. Trousdale Tread Aniston anti-slip floor tile, 60x60cm, £25.70 each

FEATURE SARAH WILSON

Culture corner Sarah Raven’s Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange podcast Gardening expert and broadcaster Sarah Raven shares her expert know-how to help enhance your skills in this podcast series. ‘I can remember all too clearly starting from scratch, not even knowing how to sow a marigold, let alone what to do with it once it grew,’ says Sarah. ‘I thought we’d offer some pointers to the things we think are important to give you a fabulously rewarding garden without the stress.’ Just what we need right now! You can download and listen to Sarah’s podcast series at sarahraven.com

Plant of the month cosmos These bright and breezy daisy-like flowers add height and soft colour all summer long. Plant them in bold groups for maximum impact. They’re easy to grow, love the sun and don’t need much looking after; just snip off the flowers as they fade and more will keep coming. Buy potted plants now to plant out, or scatter seeds on a patch of soil to flower this summer. Xsenia is an eye-catching variety with cerise pink petals flushed with apricot for a lovely blush effect. £2.99 for 30 seeds, Thompson & Morgan

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On course to help the planet Sustainable living has never been more important, with biodiversity, natural planting and bio-based materials that put the planet first at the heart of this trend. The RHS is running gardening workshops and courses with the focus firmly on sustainability. ‘With climate issues at the forefront of people’s minds, we’ve expanded our offering to inspire a gardening approach that’s good for people and the planet,’ says Suzanne Moss from the RHS. For details and to book, visit rhs.org.uk/educationlearning/courses-workshops

CUSTOMISE YOUR GARDEN FURNITURE Choose from a range of vibrant colour combinations to get the shade of garden furniture you want with Oxley’s Casa collection. This new range of outdoor seating and tables includes Blush, Sky Blue, Indigo, Tropical Green, Marigold, Moroccan Sunset and Cloudy Grey, and comes with weatherproof cushions in complementary colours. Made from sustainable recycled aluminium, it means that as well as choosing your favourite colour combos, you can do your bit for the environment.

ECO CHOICE

Casa two-seater set with circular table, £895, Oxley’s The RHS Garden for a Green Future, designed by Jamie Butterworth (Hampton Court 2021)

PHOTOGRAPH RHS/TIM SANDALL

Like the idea of free gardening tutorials? Download the new gardening app myGarden from gardena. co.uk for free expert advice, personalised task lists and handy plant identification for those occasional unexpected leafy guests.

Steel and copper effect Katori deep bowl firepit, £199.99, Dobbies

Steel industrial-style fire pit, from £175, Cox & Cox

4 OF THE BEST

Firepits Iron Palmera brazier in rust with cut-out palm leaf design, £49, Ella James

Did you know…

Add a cosy glow to evenings in your garden

Saturn fire fit collection, from £297, Firepits UK

One in five UK homeowners spent the majority of

their home improvement money on their garden last year. According to money.co.uk, a third of people said they’d invest in a garden summer house or work studio if money were no object

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Garden makeover

Holiday at home Inspired by a trip to Marrakesh, Beth Golding turned her family’s shabby courtyard garden into a colourful sanctuary

B E FO R E

WORDS KATIE GIBBS PHOTOGRAPHS SUSSIE BELL/FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

eth’s Moroccan break made such an impression on her that she made over her family’s courtyard garden to revisit the experience. ‘My mum and I are interior stylists – it’s what gets us up in the morning!’ says Beth. ‘We often go on city breaks and visited Marrakesh a couple of years ago. It was a feast of colours from the moment we stepped off the plane. We were bowled over by the craftsmen selling leather wares, handmade silver and crockery in the narrow streets of the souks. I wanted to buy everything!’ The visit was so inspiring that when the family arrived back home to beautiful weather, they decided they wanted to continue the journey by transforming their small courtyard garden. The result is something they can be proud of. ‘I was over the moon with the end result,’ says Beth. ‘Seeing all our planning, preparations and trials and errors coming together is what makes a project worthwhile. When I go outside to my haven with my sister, my mum or friends, it’s a space I can truly be proud of; it brings back lots of nostalgic feelings.’

Getting to work ‘The brief was a design that evoked our trip to Marrakesh, and was varied and easy to maintain. We decided on four distinct areas with a common theme tying them together. I took inspiration from Le Jardin, an open-air restaurant in a traditional riad. It had separately styled spaces but they all came together as one. For my courtyard garden I wanted areas to entertain and to sit and relax in, all with a vibrant look.’

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Upcycling pieces

Profile tHE OWNERs Stylist Beth Golding (@theeastldnstylist), her sister, Evie, an actor-director, her mother Katie, also a stylist, and Bambi the cat THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom Victorian semi in South Woodford, east London

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‘It was important for us to keep this project on a budget, so using outdoor furniture we already had helped keep costs down. For the dining area we repurposed a cable drum, which was in keeping with the industrial style of the palettes and fire escape. The natural clash of urban and Moroccan vibrancy makes it feel like being on holiday at home. We dressed it with emerald green textiles, gold plates and cutlery, and oversized candlesticks for sunset cocktails alfresco.’

Favourite finds ‘Mum and I took a lot of the same inspiration from Marrakesh, but there were distinct ideas that we each wanted to incorporate. For me it was the lanterns. Hanging from trees and trailing up the industrial steps, they create a sanctuary of light as the day turns into night. My mum’s favourite are the small-scale mirrors that add interest to the fence. Styling and creating a successful outdoor space is all about layering. Different layers of colour, experiences, memories, textures and materials all come into play for the perfect final piece.’

Creative projects ‘I’m particularly proud of the pallet seating, because of its simplicity and because it meant I could indulge one of my passions – upcycling. It’s simply a pallet pushed against a wall, which creates a natural low seating area. I bought some wood preserver to protect the timber and secured the slats in place before creating a seat pad for the top. I used an old sofa cushion we had for the base, which I covered in a tablecloth, then piled on carefully chosen scatter cushions.’

Power of plants ‘The mature ivy growing over the fence from next door make a green “roof” to the pallet seating area. Our large red robin tree came in handy to hang lanterns from, plus it gives colour all year round. Potted hydrangeas aren’t native to Morocco but grow well in this space in the shade, and the white blooms give a neutral backdrop to the vibrant scheme. Indoor palms here and there add instant height to the courtyard. We take them in during the winter months as they wouldn’t survive in the cold. Succulents are the plant of hot, desert climates so were an important choice for us here. They come in such varied shapes and sizes, they can’t fail to add interest.’

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Industrial edge ‘One of the big hurdles was how to incorporate the intrusive industrial fire escape that divides the courtyard and leads up to a small space at the top of the stairs. It seemed the ideal spot for a chilled out seating area. By placing a white woven chair at the top it felt tucked away from the main courtyard but meant you could still enjoy looking down on it below. The staircase also gave us a sturdy point from which to hang a hammock, layered with cushions and throws – perfect for relaxing outdoors with a book.’

Best tropical plants Three of the best plants for a Moroccanstyle garden

Succulents An on-trend choice, there are lots of varieties available. Group together for an interesting display. They’re easy to maintain – just don’t overwater.

Red Robins

Indoor palm Taken outside for the summer, it’s a splash of green where there are no borders. Keep in the shade when it’s hot to prevent browning.

shopping list Dining table, made from a cable drum. Lounge seating, upcycled pallets. For similar dining chairs, try B&Q. For a hammock, try The Garden Hammocks

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A popular evergreen shrub that can be grown in pots and trained into trees. Great for creating a colourful backdrop in a courtyard garden.

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ENTER THIS YEAR’S

Home & Garden Enter your extension, renovation or garden makeover and show off your hard work – you could even bag a top prize

ave you completed a room makeover, renovation or extension that you’d love to share? Do you fancy your chances of winning a £1,000 prize? If the answer to both of those questions was ‘yes’, then the Real Homes Home & Garden awards are for you. Each year, we look for the best transformations

across the UK to showcase in this magazine, on our website and on social media. It’s a great way to celebrate your hard work and inspire others with what you’ve done – oh, and there’s that cash prize we mentioned, too! With five categories to enter, if you’ve been busy creating your dream home, now’s your chance to show it off.

WIN! £1000

We’re looking for amazing projects done on savvy budgets but with no compromises on style. The winners of each category will receive a £1,000 cash prize and a year’s subscription to Real Homes magazine, plus their hard work will be immortalised in a shoot for this magazine. Head to realhomes.com/awards to get started.

PHOTOGRAPH CHRIS SNOOK

THE CATEGORIES BEST HOME

BEST GARDEN

Sponsored by Sunflex UK Made over your home from top to tail? We’re looking for impressive before-and-afters full of cost-cutting ideas.

Sponsored by Millboard Found a green-fingered streak within? We want to see plant-filled sanctuaries for relaxing, socialising and alfresco dining.

BEST KITCHEN A fancy new kitchen is something to shout about. From extended open-plan spaces to budget-savvy improvements completed with a lick of paint, show off your kitchen makeover in this category!

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BEST BATHROOM

BEST ROOM MAKEOVER

Sponsored by BC Designs From family bathrooms to luxe en suites, we’re looking for ingenious projects that make the most of the smallest room in the house.

Sponsored by Radiator Outlet Be it a bedroom makeover or home office overhaul, this one’s for any other room that’s had a refresh.

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awards

1 0 S T E P S TO

CUTTING THE COST OF A RENO

WORDS SARAH WARWICK

If the budget’s tight, follow our tips to make the most of it by wasting less and doing more

Wood-effect vinyl planks look as stunning as real wood, but are an affordable and practical alternative. Alpha Vinyl medium plank, Cotton Oak in Cold Grey, from £47.99 per m2, Quick-Step

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Work it out Assess your needs and wants for your home and consider whether it can be done without the most expensive building works, i.e. an extension or anything requiring planning permission. A dream open-plan kitchen might be achieved by moving or removing an internal wall and repositioning doors to create better flow. You could even change rooms around. If one half of a through-lounge is seldom used, repurpose it as a kitchen diner, and move the living area to a cosier space. Also be aware of the ceiling value of your street. Money spent on an ambitious renovation that doesn’t add the same or more in value could be money wasted.

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Find more ways to save while renovating on our reno hub page

Take control

An easy way to save money on a renovation is to do as much as you can yourself, including the project management. You could save between 10 and 20 per cent of the overall cost if you oversee it rather than leaving it to your builder or contractor. You’ll need to be organised, as you’ll be hiring trades, sourcing materials, and scheduling jobs and deliveries in order and on time. If you’re not on site, visit regularly and be just a phone call away, ready to answer questions or troubleshoot issues.

Create the luxury look of real marble with laminate panels you can fit yourself. Contemporary yet timeless, they offer boutique hotel chic on a B&B budget. Veneto Marble laminate panels, from £180.28 per panel, Showerwall

3 FEATURE ALISON JONES

Think ahead Plan as much as you can and ensure your design spec is as detailed as possible to try and avoid hidden costs. Unforeseen problems on site with plumbing, roofing or drainage can be expensive and cause delays. Walk through the spaces to decide things like how many light switches and sockets you’ll want so cables can be chased down walls or through ceilings, and where you want windows, built-in furniture and boilers to be. These are costly to have installed and expensive to change if something is in the wrong place.

TOP TIP

Selling on Ebay? End the auction on a Monday night. Buyers often window shop over a weekend then bid after work the next day

Another person’s treasure If you’re gutting the place, see what you can repurpose or sell on through sites like Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree. Even something like hardcore can be freecycled, and you could save on the cost of hiring a skip to take it away. If you’re digging foundations, see if the spoil can be reused for landscaping work rather than paying for it to go to landfill (standard rate landfill tax is £98.60 per tonne). Topsoil could just cost haulage if you can find someone who wants it. Old metal can fetch a reasonable price at the scrap merchants, particularly copper pipes.

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Buy wisely Avoid impulse purchases just because they’re a bargain. When scouring auction and second-hand sites for pieces for the home, it’s easy to get carried away and bid for other things you think you’ll need in the future and don’t want to let get away. But as your scheme evolves, you could find you don’t need it after all, and your ‘bargain’ find ends up forgotten in a garage or gets in the way as you try to renovate.

TOP TIP Recycle as much as you can, whether it’s the kitchen that becomes the utility or delivery pallets that you use to make some garden furniture

6 A learning experience Two years in and out of lockdowns gave us all plenty of time to practise DIY with what tools and materials we could get our hands on, and you may be able to accomplish far more than you thought. Decorating and landscaping are easy to learn, and you don’t need to be a master carpenter to build flatpack furniture or put together a kitchen. Watch how-to videos, get inspiration from DIYers on Instagram and find advice on realhomes.com.

PHOTOGRAPH OLLY GORDON

Alison’s top tip Be present on site and on top of any decision making – you don’t want to be caught out by workarounds done by trades without your input that you have to pay to put right after. Nor do you want poor finishing to go unnoticed – it will look shoddy and cost you time and money to rectify.

Stay and save Living on a building site isn’t fun, and can slow progress if you have contractors in. But staying put while work is carried out can be a big saving compared to relocating to a rental. And if you’re doing a lot yourself, you’ll be on the spot for the early mornings and late nights needed to power it through to completion. Try to set aside some rooms free of chaos and hang polythene doorway protectors to keep the dust out. If you can’t bear the old décor, slap on white emulsion to cover it up until you can redecorate.

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FIND MORE IDEAS AND ADVICE FOR YOUR BATHROOM MAKEOVER AT REALHOMES.COM/BATHROOM

Using wood scaffolding for panelling and upcycling fruit crates for storage are some of the creative ways this savvy homeowner added character and style to their home on a tight budget

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This hardwearing carpet can be fitted without underlay. Use offcuts to make rugs and runners. Sisal Antilles in Bonaire, £55.80 per m2, Fibre

Kitchen clever The kitchen can be expensive to renovate, particularly if you’re replacing all the units. If the carcasses are good, switching the doors or painting them, and adding new handles and a work surface, are cost-effective updates. If you’re creating a new layout, buy flatpacks and fit them yourself to save thousands in labour charges; Checkatrade estimates it costs £1,400 - £2,100 to fit a family-sized kitchen. If you want a high-spec designer look, scour used kitchen sites for quality second-hand or ex-display kitchens from top brands – reusing is a sustainable way to shop.

Panel splashbacks are easy to fit yourself, take less labour than tiling, and can turn an imperfect wall into a showpiece. Bushboard Alloy splashback in Urban Cluster, £270 for 3050x600mm, Wickes

Bag a bargain bathroom Don’t let the bathroom drain your cash. The golden rule of economical bathroom renovation is to try and use the current sanitaryware arrangement so you can connect to your existing water pipes and soil pipes. A classic white suite can be sourced quite easily and cheaply as most online bathroom suppliers have regular sales and offers. The companies selling used and ex-display kitchens also deal in bathrooms, if you want a cut-price designer buy. You can also fashion a unique look by searching salvage yards for cast-iron tubs or colourful sanitaryware, or creating retro storage from upcycled furniture.

Handy helper Grohe’s new QuickFix is an all-in-one package for DIY home upgrades. Free with products in the Start collection of easy-to-install basin mixers, QuickFix offers a QuickTool to install the mixer, QuickGuides installation manuals, and QuickVideos, with step-bystep advice you can access via a QR code on the box.

TOP TIP

An architect’s professional input and creativity can be worth the fee as they know cost-effective ways to get the look you want, and how to avoid mistakes

Fake it to make it Whether it’s flooring or wall coverings, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and financially astute. Luxury vinyl or porcelain tile can look convincingly like more expensive natural materials, such as wood, and give you the boarded or parquet flooring of your dreams for less. If you’re watching the pounds, a marblelike ceramic or porcelain tile adds the richness of the real thing. For worktops, a premium compact laminate can have all the appeal of real stone, and be a durable alternative.

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Project Add room and value to your existing home with a rear addition that works for how you live right now – while meeting your needs for the future

FIND MORE EXTENSION IDEAS AND ADVICE AT REALHOMES.COM/EXTENSIONS

of the month

#SOREALHOMES

WORDS IFEOLUWA ADEDEJI PHOTOGRAPHS EMANUELIS STASAITIS

REAR EXTENSIONS

he rear extension is one of the most straightforward ways to increase floor space and make a real impact on you and your family’s day-to-day lives. Ensuring that every inch counts is crucial to getting this space right. That doesn’t mean cramming in features, but thinking about where things will go and why.

The rear extension you choose could be a simple masonry build with a pitched roof that mirrors the existing property, or you may create a clear distinction with a modern addition that has a flat roofline or even multiple pitches. The materials you choose can make even a simple structure stand out, with pale brickwork or a distinctive

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pattern bond making a build shine. Incorporating large panes of glazing will create impact inside and out. There’s plenty to consider when you’re planning your space – and we’re here to help you. See how this family transformed a rundown building with a rear extension, and check out our tips for making the most of a new addition.

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TOP TIP

GLOSSARY

BUILDING REGULATIONS A set of standards that should be adhered to when renovating or building a new property

CALL THE PROFESSIONALS Whether your site requires more careful planning or you want some out-of-the box thinking, engaging an expert such as an architect or designer can produce really striking results. These experienced professionals can offer advice on how to maximise space, know what materials will last and can essentially save you time and money. Try to work with someone local who also knows what the council is likely to approve and can help you through the process.

PLANNING PERMISSION A request made to the local council to carry out building works on your property or garden

PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT Works that can be undertaken on a property or garden without needing to request planning permission

ZONING A way of dividing an open plan space to create distinct areas through decoration, surfaces and furniture placement

CONSERVATION AREA An area of land of special architectural or historical importance

LISTED BUILDING A building subject to regulations because of its architectural or historical importance

SOLAR GAIN A temperature increase caused by heat from the sun

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This typical Victorian terrace was unaltered after 20 years when the owners bought it. The dilapidated two-storey, two-bedroom property only had one bathroom, which wasn’t suitable for modern family life. One positive was that it had an unusually deep rear garden, which they took advantage of… ‘The owners had seen the extensions neighbours and friends had added to their homes and felt that the typical style wouldn’t make the most of the space,’ says Olga McMurdo, director at MOST Architecture. ‘They felt that none of the reconfigurations they had seen TOP TIP were as good as what they hoped to get from their new house. GLORIOUS GLAZING ‘The couple were expecting How you frame and position the their first child, and looking to extension’s glazing will have an impact create a family house – big on the finish. For a sympathetic addition enough for play, and filled to a period property, timber or imitation uPVC frames can help you achieve this, while metal and with light. They wanted the composite frames can set the old and new apart. kitchen to be roomy and A highly glazed space can overheat, but if you give comfortable, and close to careful consideration to the positioning of patio the play area, where they doors and roof windows, you can achieve natural could watch their kids. The brightness and benefit from passive solar gain that garden was long enough won’t be excessive in the warmer months. Choose for a very sizeable extension, fixed units to save on costs, especially if you’re which would still leave installing roof or clerestory windows – outdoor space. these will offer natural brightness ‘The house is located in while maintaining privacy for you and your neighbours. an area that recently received designated status, which significantly limited what could be done. None of the neighbours have received permissions for an extension of more than three metres deep, and some had to work through an appeal process or give up the ambition entirely. To bring the light in we deployed several tactics – the full glazing to the

B E FO R E

rear; the clerestory window at high level perpendicular to the rear elevation of the house; and a conical skylight, which guided and amplified the light into the back of the kitchen. I had to carefully detail the skylight and hand sketch it for the main contractor’s joiner to create the complex geometry. ‘The unusually large kitchen island, in the shape of a soft-cornered triangle, lets space flow around smoothly, and allow different zones to overlap without friction. The design included a tree grown in the centre of the island, exploiting the additional height and light of the conical skylight above. Special furniture details allow easy access for treatment or replacement of the plant. ‘We achieved lots of storage for the client, and convinced them that they’d benefit from a utility room. We created that in part of the plan which couldn’t benefit from the natural light anyway. Intelligent space planning is a prerequisite to quality living, with plenty of storage and back-of-house spaces that have good functionality and easy access. ‘The olive tree they chose for the breakfast island has grown and is doing really well!’

Before you start

q A

Do I need planning permission? Not if your extension falls within permitted development (PD) rules. In order to do so, it will need to: > Cover no more than half the area of land around the original house; > Extend no further than eight metres beyond the back of the house for a detached, or six metres for any other house (subject to a prior approval application, and providing you’re not in a designated area); > Exceed four metres in height, or; > Exceed three metres in height within two metres of a boundary. Check out planningportal.co.uk for more information.

q A q A

How much will it cost? You can expect to pay from around £40,000.

Do I need to hire an expert? An architect or designer is not necessary for simple designs, but could save money on complicated projects.

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Outside the box

Lower costs

TOP TIP USE IT WELL

Most of us dream of an extended Planning your project kitchen and dining room leading to down to the very last the garden, where we can open the detail, or as much as space out during spring and summer. you possibly can, is However, since the pandemic, rear truly one of the best extensions have also been effectively ways to save money. serving as a separate room offering This is because there space for another lounge, bedroom, are unlikely to be any play area or WFH office space – changes that will have something to think about when you’re planning an impact on the budget. your project. Knowing where all the light switches, armchairs and shelving goes means the electrician can pull cables to where they need to be; the same applies to the plumbing, too. You should also try to build with traditional materials that trades know how to work with and buy standard, off-the-shelf windows, doors and kitchen units. These can be adapted, painted and accessorised to help your space look unique. If possible, shop the sales – but make sure the cut price won’t affect guarantees.

Costs & contacts Project cost £100,000 Architect MOST Architecture, 020 3135 0145, mo-st.com Construction time Nine months

Going eco Choosing to build an extension that’s more sustainable not only benefits the planet, but will pay you back in comfort levels and reduced bills. With energy prices on the rise, an eco-friendly addition is now more appealing than ever. Take a look at reusing salvaged bricks: you can try to save some from the demolition phase or source them from specialists. If you’re building with timber, a sustainably sourced frame can help you on your way, while eco insulation – in the form of rigid cork or recycled denim – will increase your thermal efficiency and green credentials.

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LOOK AT LAYOUT An open-plan layout is a common choice for many young families as it caters to both day-to-day life and entertaining guests. This set-up allows parents of small children to be in the same area while they prep and cook meals or for hosts to engage with their guests while they put the finishing touches to their dishes. It’s worth considering how the space will be used in the future, and, if possible, plan in a way you can close it off – like with sliding doors – to create different zones for older children or the adults within the family to retreat to.

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TOP TIP

P ROJ EC T ECO CHOICE

NEWS The latest ideas, trends and essential buys for your kitchen, bathroom and renovation Spacia Terrazzo Gibson, from £51.99 per m2, Amtico

SLOW FLOW We should all be saving, whether it’s energy, money or water. Abode’s Flow Limited taps cut down on the latter – pouring about 97 per cent less per minute – as aerators reduce the flow rate without affecting pressure. The taps range from the curve-necked chrome Pico Swan at £141 to the Pronteau Prostyle and Prostream three-in-one taps from £799 each.

Six of the best The hexagon is more than six sides; it’s a symbol for harmony and balance, and from honeycomb to snowflakes is one of nature’s building blocks. As a tile, it has symmetry, but looks incredibly effective with a staggered lay. The unfinished ends elevate this splashback from backdrop to star of the show. Verona’s Hope Hex range is tiling with extra edge(s), and costs £55 per square metre.

Splash of colour We love the versatility of terrazzo. It brings colour and pattern without being uniform, and feels modern yet timeless. Amtico has added this classic design to its Spacia range of durable Luxury Vinyl Tile flooring, in six colourways and three tile sizes. Choose from dense clusters or the looser style of large marble pieces in a ‘concrete’ base, for some flair underfoot.

After a kitchen love affair with dark blue-coloured units, the trend has now swung towards green – not just as a shade, but as an inspiration. Textural finishes, organic materials, earthy hues and lush plants give the sense of a space in touch with the outdoors. Masterclass Kitchens show how to embrace nature by mixing wood and stone and muted tones. Kitchen prices start from £15,000

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FEATURE ALISON JONES

The natural look

Connected bathroom mirror, £14, Matalan

Wonder wall Panelled walls are a hot decorating trend, offering texture, Scandi style and sound absorbency. Naturewall creates sustainable wall coverings that add instant aesthetic interest, and with the Peel and Stick planks, the elegance of the finished wall hides just how easy they are to apply. If you want to add a sound buffer in a room, try the SlatWall, with soundabsorbing felt backing (made from recycled plastic) behind the high-quality slats.

The floor is lava

Don’t let your new patio paving leave you feeling flat when it can have a pleasing riven finish. The CTD Lavastone collection of outdoor porcelain tiles is inspired by volcanic rock. Looking like hardened magma, it comes in a variety of colours, from an understated ashy white silver to a rich, coal-like anthracite. Weatherproof and anti-slip, the Lavastone costs £44.99 per square metre.

Peel and Stick Natural Oak Planks, £49.99 per m2 pack (seven planks), Naturewall

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Bilberry Blue

Sedge Green

Mudgley Mustard

Foxwhelp Red

Transform your summerhouse ready for bank holiday jubilees. Thorndown, an eco-friendly paint company, has colours drawn from country scenes, including new Hartlake Blue, named for Hartlake River, and Field Green. Thorndown wood paint costs £20 for 750ml

Rowan Berry Red

Garden party

Smooth runnings Victoria Brocklesby, COO at Origin (origin-global.com), looks at the best thresholds for bi-fold doors

STAY SAFE

Slim picks Thin is in with Bushboard’s new stone and marble-effect worktops. Made from a premium compact laminate, they’re only 12.5cm thick, for the refined look of the real thing. Strong, durable and waterproof, Zenith can be used as a surface or splashback, and performs as well as natural materials – without the price tag. Available in 20 colours, it can offer the veining of marble, the grains of granite, or the industrial look of concrete. A three-metre work surface costs from £300.

With holidays approaching, it’s reassuring to know all is well at home while you’re enjoying a (very) well-earned break. Ezviz’s new outdoor security camera has colour night vision for even more vivid pictures. It can also recognise human shapes, and quickly flashes its spotlights to put off intruders. The video can be live streamed to your smartphone via the EZVIZ App. The C3TN is just £44.99 from Very.

Bathroom beauty White ceramic is a bathroom classic, making it seem cool and clean. But adding colour brings a whole different feeling. This Sea Green double drawer unit from Utopia’s new You range adds lots of useful storage, but the calming shade also brings a freshness that pairs beautifully with natural tones and textures. It’s a real showpiece.

Sea Green double drawer unit, from £678; Quantum Square ceramic slabtop basin, £260; Divine basin matt black monobloc mixer, £190, Utopia

With knobs on

Nouveau semi-circular knob in Luminous Red, £12.99, Dowsing & Reynolds

Milliner knob in antique brass, from £14.40, Corston Architectural Detail

Rectangular hammered cabinet knob in silver, from £10.68, Heritage Brass

Pull your look together with some striking knob handles for your units. They can be an instant upgrade during a makeover or the finishing touch to new storage.

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Q a

What type of thresholds are there for bi-folds? There are two types available for a bi-fold door system like ours. Non-weathered is when the threshold is almost completely flush to the floor. A weathered threshold, sometimes called rebated, has a small lip on one edge of the track that the seal on the bottom of the bi-fold door compresses against for a weathertight seal.

Q a

What are the benefits of the different types? Thresholds are important as they also act as the track where the carriage slides to open and close the door. Weathered thresholds give greater protection against the elements, rain and draughts, so are perfect for doors that open externally. Although they have a lip, they can be recessed into the floor, which leaves a minimal step. Non-weathered thresholds offer a flat transition from one side to the other. As the door seal doesn’t have a solid lip to compress against, the same level of weather performance can’t be guaranteed. However, they offer a completely seamless passage.

q a

How do you pick which one is right? Lifestyle and location are the two main considerations. If you’re a family with children or mobility issues, a non-weathered threshold is best as there’s nothing to potentially trip over. This type is also a good idea if the door is internal or inside a porch. In a place with high rainfall or one that’s prone to flooding, we recommend a weathered threshold.

Q A

How easy are they to maintain? High-quality bi-fold doors are generally very low maintenance. Dirt or debris getting into the track, which can affect the smooth operation, can be brushed or vacuumed out with a thin attachment.

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A DV E RTOR I A L

The key to getting a better night’s rest Silentnight’s new sleep tool will help you find the mattress that’s perfect for you

rioritising yourself and your sleep shouldn’t be overlooked – though sometimes it is. Many of us are feeling mentally and physically exhausted, like we’re running on empty without a chance to recharge. Shortage of sleep can impact your memory, mood, productivity at work, family life and overall health. A common culprit impacting quality of sleep is your mattress. A staggering seven out of 10 us have the wrong mattress for our body type and sleep needs. But if you’re not sure which type of mattress you need, then look to Silentnight and their smart new sleepunique® tool to find the one that’s right for you. As the UK’s most trusted sleep brand with more than 75 years of expertise, providing multiple solutions for sleep challenges comes from years of research. The latest innovation follows a two-year study, in partnership with scientists at the University of Central Lancashire, that analysed half a million data points to understand spinal alignments and pressure points. From this research, Silentnight have been able to create sleepunique®, an

intelligent algorithm which assesses your body measurements and sleeping habits to recommend the perfect mattress. All you need to do is head to the website and share your height, weight, waist size, sleeping position and how you think your sleep could be improved, and the smart tool will find you the perfect match. It will also advise on the firmness of mattress you require.

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Silentnight is a name that we all know and love – from beds, mattresses and headboards to bedding and valuable sleep expert advice, they provide perfect sleep solutions for the whole family. Find out more and take the test for perfect rest at silentnight.co.uk

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Extended Period semi

Modern industrial With the help of an architect, Vanessa and Paul have added a cool, contemporary extension to their Edwardian home – with a surprise pop of colour

aking the decision to hire an architect is often a case of weighing up the pros and cons. On the one hand, it’s an additional expense. On the other hand, if you choose well, you’ll receive guidance on everything from planning restrictions to layout and design, all while taking your own ideas into account. The end result will be a functional, fluid space that works perfectly for your lifestyle. That’s exactly what Vanessa and Paul found when they hired Paula of Butterfield Architecture to help them design an extension to their Edwardian semi. With a background in design, Vanessa had plenty of ideas for how the space should look, but Paula’s skills were invaluable in making the space work for them and dreaming up solutions the couple had never thought of themselves. As a result, the family have a stunning, sociable kitchen-diner stamped with their unique take on an industrial scheme. Over these pages, Vanessa explains how they created the space.

Crittall doors open onto decking, making the garden feel like an extension of the kitchen. Crittall doors, John Knight Glass. Decking, Benchmark Timber

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Profile

Built-in seating makes for the perfect sunny spot.

The owners Vanessa Stevens, a textile designer, her husband, Paul, a finance business partner, and their son, Lewis

Chair, John Lewis & Partners. Seating built by Andy Lewis Landscapes. For festoon lights, try Lights4fun. For a similar wood burner, try the Morsø Kamino

The property A three-bed Edwardian semi near Manchester

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PROJECT COST £70,000

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‘Rather than covering the steelwork, we left the shape of it there to leave the ceiling height as tall as we could,’ says Vanessa. Pendant light, Rockett St George. Table, Loaf. Bench, Graham & Green. Chairs, Cult Furniture

Professional input

long-lasting style

‘This house was owned previously by two 85-year-old brothers, who’d lived here all their lives,’ says Vanessa. ‘When we moved in, the kitchen was poky, with a small pantry and an outside coal bunker. Our main aim was to make the space more family friendly; we wanted a sociable kitchen-diner. We live in a very green area and we wanted to take advantage of that by bringing it in through the back of the property. ‘As there weren’t any particularly interesting features at the rear of the house, we thought it’d be nice to do something completely radical with an extension. Architect Paula Butterfield is local to us; we loved her designs, so we hired her to work with us.’

‘I’ve always liked wood clapperboardstyle extensions and thought it would work well as a mixed-media look along with traditional brickwork and metal door frames. We also knew we wanted Crittall windows and doors in the space. We rented while the work was done – I’ve experienced the dust and dirt that comes with a renovation in the past, so I knew to stay away! ‘Paula’s input in terms of layout was invaluable. We wanted an island, but a chimney stack in the corner took a decent chunk off the back of the wall and made it difficult to run units along. Paula moved the door on the back wall and took the chimney stack out to create the layout we wanted.’

‘Back in 2016, the industrial look was just coming through. It was all about dark kitchen units, glass, rattan and metro tiles. It had quite a fresh new feel, and we ended up going down that route for the kitchen. It contrasts with the rest of the house. If I was braver at the time, I might have exposed the beams, but I thought it might be too industrial for an Edwardian home. ‘The style has had longevity, to be honest. Friends who are remodelling their kitchens now will come and say, “Oh, we’re looking at flooring like that” or point out the units. In a way, it’s a bit of a blank canvas – the fixtures and fittings have changed, with more brass and gold than there was at the time.’

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WORDS ELLEN FINCH PHOTOGRAPHS KATIE LEE STYLING KAREN WILSON

A radical change

St e p T H R E E

St e p T WO

St e p o n e

The bar stools were a vintage find – they’re actually science lab stools from the University of Manchester. Macaubas quartzite worktops contrast with the dark units.

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Units, DIY Kitchens. For metro tiles, try Topps Tiles. ‘Happy Day’ print, Rockett St George. Wall painted in Light Blue, Farrow & Ball. Pendant lights, Industville. Flooring, Ted Todd

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The bold patterned wallpaper was a late addition to the kitchen, but it adds colour and character to the space – and reflects Vanessa’s design background.

Wallpaper, Lucy Tiffney. Armchair, John Lewis & Partners

1 Your ideal Sunday morning would be spent… ‘Reading the papers in bed, going to watch my son play rugby or cricket, then calling in for a full English on the way home.’ Round cane magazine rack, £65, Five & Dime

2 The must-have kitchen gadget you couldn’t do without? ‘A corkscrew or Alexa!’ Echo in Glacier White, £89.99, Amazon

3 Dream dinner guest? ‘David Attenborough – he’s always been my hero.’

4 What’s on your kitchen playlist? ‘Loneliness by Birdy Filous, Midas by Maribou State, All You Ever Wanted by Rag’n Bone Man, Higher Power by Coldplay – a mixture!’

St e p F I V E

St e p FO U R

5 What recipe do You know by heart? ‘Spaghetti with Marmite, courtesy of Nigella Lawson. It’s the one thing my son will always eat!’ Kitchen by Nigella Lawson (£30, Chatto & Windus)

Design decisions

Outdoor connection

‘For the garden, we went for as many tropical plants as we could get away with in Manchester. The wallpaper, which we chose later, ties in with it. Working in design and fashion, you constantly see trends change. I’d seen and liked this paper for a while, though, and I figured that as I hadn’t got sick of it yet, it was a good sign! ‘There’s always been a bit of a battle of the wills – with Paul being a finance business partner, I’d often have my designer budget reined in by the purse strings. If we could, I’d have created as big a utility room as possible. The one we have is adequate, but I sometimes wish it was three times bigger to fit everything in.’

‘My favourite part of the space is definitely the doors. When we came to designing the garden afterwards, I was really glad we’d raised the deck level to be flush with the floor – I love the way it flows seamlessly between the spaces. It’s lovely sitting at the table with the doors wide open. The sun hits the floor and creates all sorts of reflections and shadows. ‘This is such a sociable space; the connection to the garden makes it feel like an extension to the kitchen. It suits the way we live now to a tee. In the winter, we’ll hibernate at the front of the house – but come summer, the garden becomes our lounge and we live in the kitchen-diner.’

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Costs & contacts Build work £40,000 Fixtures and fittings £17,000 Furniture and décor £10,000 Professional fees £3,000 Architect Butterfield Architecture, 07779 302856, butterfieldarchitecture.co.uk Landscaping Andy Lewis Landscapes, @andylewislandscapes Kitchen DIY Kitchens, diy-kitchens.com

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A DV E RTOR I A L

Get into shape and colour C

urves and rounded shapes are back, and authenticity and hand-crafted products are the buzz words. So, if you want to make a real style statement, consider on-trend steel-framed windows and doors with arches and sweeping curves rather than the ubiquitous rectangular shape. Maximise views if you have them with a panoramic window. Floor-toceiling and wide-view window options and ‘60s-style picture windows are all brilliant ways to bring the outside in. Internally, consider a dramatic steel screen set with different-sized square or rectangular glass panes in colourful reds, greens and blues, and clear, opaque or textured finishes. It’ll

make a wonderful talking point, and help to break up an open-plan space. Russell Ager, managing director at Crittall Windows, pioneers of steel frame window manufacture for 170 years, says: ‘With the modern take on the retro look now very much in vogue, steel windows are enjoying a big resurgence in popularity in homes, including luxury minimalist warehouse apartments. Adding that savvy splash of colour will ensure an even bigger wow factor.’ With slim, timeless frames and sightlines, the graceful elegance offered by steel windows present a light, delicate feel inside and out, and a welcome sense of airiness. For that

minimalist look in a modern property or renovation, there are attractive grey, white and black options. You could even ring the changes with a bold or a darker colour on the outside and a neutral/white finish on the inside to blend in with the interior décor. ‘Authentic Crittall products are never matched,’ says Russell. ‘Tailormade to meet almost any individual requirement – shape or colour – our steel windows, doors and Innervision screens are designed and fabricated to last a lifetime.’ Go to crittallwindows.co.uk for more details, or call 01376 530800.

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PHOTOGRAPH SQUIB PHOTOGRAPHY/THREE SPIRES GLASS

Crittall says think outside the box with statement steel windows, doors and screens

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L E T ’ S TA L K …

Kitchen metallics Stir some glamour and glossy pizzazz into your kitchen with metallic accents that gleam, glitter and reflect in all the right places

eady, steady, cook up some magpie magic in the kitchen with metallic accents that gleam and reflect the light, giving all interior elements (we’re talking hardware, splashbacks and beyond) an opulent, Midas touch. But before you get a glint in your eye for all things sparkly and new, note

that cool stainless steel, brushed nickel and chrome aren’t the only shiny finishes in town, as modern kitchen metallics ooze molten warmth across a smouldering palette of burnished brass, rich copper, and oxidised patinas. You can go brassy and bold with impactful metallic cabinets,

or subtle and sophisticated with gilded details. Whatever your approach to kitchen metallics, they always deliver dollops of visual interest and texture, with a seasoning of glam style. They are practical and can age beautifully, for a lustrous look you’ll love.

TOP TIP

For a modern approach to an industrial-inspired aesthetic, mingle oxidized patinas on cabinets with aged brass hardware, matt black accents and Crittall doors. Bespoke kitchens, from £25,000, The Main Company

Lizzie Beesley, head of design at Magnet, says there has been a rise in people in looking for alternative metallics to the enduringly popular stainless steel sinks. ‘Copper and brass are leading the way,’ she says. Fusion square in Gold PRO3 tank, £2,020, Quooker

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FEATURE HOLLY PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHS SHERATON INTERIORS (LOCHANNA KITCHENS)/ANITA ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY (THE MAIN COMPANY)

Both modern and trad, copper accents on hardware, lighting, and kitchen essentials (like small storage canisters and utensils) stir in warmth and authenticity in a classic white kitchen

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FOR MORE STYLISH KITCHEN IDEAS, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/KITCHENS REALHOMES.COM

Elevate a monotone scheme by mixing different finishes and textures, like metallics and natural flooring, into the overall design. Contrast is key to keep things interesting and fresh. Grained collection in Dove Grey, available from £5,800, LochAnna Kitchens

FIND MORE IDEAS AND ADVICE FOR YOUR BATHROOM MAKEOVER AT REALHOMES.COM/BATHROOM

For a super speedy and effective luxe kitchen update, switch in some defining details with metallic hardware. Consider it the jewellery to your kitchen’s ‘outfit,’ and transform cupboards from drab to fab with shimmering doorknobs and handles in minimalist designs. Graeme Smith, head of retail and commercial design at Life Kitchens, says: ‘New innovations within the sector have opened up the possibilities beyond traditional chrome, so explore brass and copper, too, as these can create lots of visual impact.’ Alex Main, of The Main Company, comments: ‘We’re seeing many more homeowners experimenting with materials to create truly innovative and unique kitchen designs. Exposed beams and distressed brickwork continue to remain popular, but these are cleverly offset by metallic accents, highspecification appliances and eye-catching lighting.’

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Metallic hardware

Kath Pinkham Edwards @pink_at_ twentyone

‘I’m a bit of a magpie so knew I wanted to incorporate metallic elements in some form into our new kitchen. As we’d created a small side-return extension – just enough for two occasional chairs and a table to rest a wine or cocktail on – I wanted the connecting area, which was now open plan, to feel glamorous. I had taken inspiration from hotels and loved the idea of a copper-clad ‘bar’ along with foxed mirrors, so took this concept to a local kitchen company who were brilliant in running with my vision. ‘The foxed mirror splashback ties in with the grey of the units on the opposite side of the kitchen, and bounces light around the once dark room. The copper looks glamorous and a little unexpected; it also picks up on my collection of brass convex mirrors you can see through into the dining room. You don’t have to stick to one metallic – just go for it! ‘In conjunction with mirrored appliances from Smeg and a brass light fitting made by my husband, the space feels welcoming and relaxed. The kitchen is eight years old now, and I know I can switch it up by painting the units and changing the wall colour, but the metallics will be staying.’

Subtle coppertoned flooring, an aged mirrored splashback and burnished brass pendant lights blur the boundaries between classic and contemporary, for a rich aesthetic that’s full of depth. Tegola elite click tile luxury vinyl, £49.99 per m2, Carpetright

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Decadent lighting Metallic lighting dancing with shiny nuances is an easy way of elevating your scheme, creating an inviting golden-hour feel that glows with effortless elegance. To make a wow-factor focal point, zone an island, breakfast bar or kitchen table with a pair or trio of metallic pendant lights that dare to dazzle. If ceiling height allows, opt for oversized, sculptural designs for added glitz and glam. Graeme Smith, of Life Kitchens, says: ‘Lighting in the kitchen is key; it can literally make or break the overall look and feel to the room. This can be overhead under cabinet lighting, wall lighting, ceiling lighting and task lights that will focus on specific areas of the kitchen, and can highlight areas of architectural interest.’

Choose a metallic splashback for a functional feature that shimmers. Material choices include toughened glass, tiles, and even metallic paint, depending on preference and budget. A verdigris or hammered copper finish lends a lived-in look, rich in character. For a modern twist, continue the splashback design throughout the kitchen space Glassworks tiles in Copper Leaf, £64.96 per m2, Original Style

Pick up the chosen metallic trim on other features, like appliances (bonjour, brass-coloured kettle and toaster!) and taps, to build a cohesive look

For an eye-catching design element that doesn’t overwhelm the entire scheme, try metal framing. It makes a glimmering finishing touch on units and/or open shelving, while adding unexpected interest at every level. Kitchens, from £20,000, Life Kitchens

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TOP TIP

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Rooflights & skylights

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Whether you’re converting your loft, extending, or simply want to bring a light, bright feel to a space, roof glazing is the perfect way to do it

FIND MORE IDEAS AND ADVICE FOR YOUR BATHROOM MAKEOVER AT REALHOMES.COM/BATHROOM

A G U I D E TO

A glazed sloped roof creates an interesting feature in this living room, while flooding it with natural light

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WORDS ELLEN FINCH/HEBE HATTON COVER PHOTOGRAPH DOMINIC BLACKMORE/FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

Three-in-one roof window, from £1,550 excl. VAT, VELUX

ooflights, roof windows, skylights… whatever you like to call them, these glazing solutions are a way to inject extra daylight into a space. In an extension, they can brighten up the darker middle part of the house, or provide extra sun to a living or dining zone; in a loft, they’re a crucial addition to take the space from gloomy cavern to stylish master suite or home office. Whatever you’re using them for, they’re worth investing in, offering up to 40 per cent more natural light than a traditional window. From a practical point of view, there might be structural issues to factor into the positioning of a rooflight, such as beams or electrics. Consider the direction of the windows and when you might need the most

amount of light in a particular room. Maybe you’re installing roof windows in a kitchen extension and you want plenty of light flooding in in the mornings? In that case, TOP TIP you’d be best installing east-facing windows TYPES OF GLAZING if possible. On the Do you want your windows to other hand, for be energy saving, heat controlling better light in a or noise reducing (or all three)? living room later If you’re working with an east- or in the day, you north-facing room, energy-saving glazing will keep the heat in during might look to winter months. For rooflights install westpositioned facing to the south or facing roof west, glazing that controls the windows. Read on temperature will help prevent to find out what you a greenhouse effect. need to consider when you’re getting started – and check out some of our favourite looks.

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Need to know

Q A

How much does it cost? Prices for a rooflight range from £500 to £2,000 or more, according to the Rooflight Company. Checkatrade estimates that installation costs can be between £800 and £1,100.

Neo rooflight, from £1,102 excl. VAT, The Rooflight Company

Q A

Can I fit roof windows myself? Fitting a rooflight can be tackled by a confident DIYer with carpentry skills. For anyone else, it’s best left to the professionals. It’s usually fitted at first fix stage, before the walls and roof are insulated.

What frame material should I choose? Metal is hardwearing and suits most Ellen's properties, while uPVC top tip is low-maintenance but won’t have WORTHY UPGRADES sightlines as slim. Electronically controlled rooflights Timber can be are ideal for when you can’t reach to hard to maintain open it manually. Many manufacturers thanks to its have developed units for their windows, position – try operated by a wall-mounted or handheld timber-aluminium remote control. They often include a sensor to close the window automatically composites for the if it starts to rain. Some, like VELUX’s best of both worlds.

smoke ventilation roof windows, even open when they sense smoke. Roof lantern, POA, Korniche

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RoofLITE+ DPY B900 slim pine centre pivot roof window, prices start from £122 excl. VAT, Sterlingbuild

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Do I need planning permission? Rooflights and skylights usually come under permitted development, provided that: >They don’t protrude more than 150mm beyond the plane of the roof slope. >They’re no higher than the highest part of the roof. >They’re obscure-glazed, if they’re in a side elevation roof slope, and either non-opening or more than 1.7m above floor level. As ever, check with your local planning authority if you live in a listed building or designated area. Any rooflight will need to follow building regulations; visit planningportal.co.uk for details.

TOP TIP CHOOSE YOUR ROOFLIGHT The most cost-effective type is a fixed flat rooflight, or you can upgrade to an opening version for ventilation. Roof lanterns are larger, conservatorylike structures that work well on flat roofs. If you’re in a Conservation Area, you might need a conservation rooflight. These are low profile and sit flush with the roof, so won’t detract from the character of a building.

} } Above XP Skyview skylight, POA, Express Bifolding Doors Right Timber roof lanterns start at £2,275, Aliwood

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Add privacy and flair to your rooflights with our guide to roof blinds

TOP TIP SIZING UP The bigger the window, the more light – but be sure to balance the size of your rooflights with other practicalities and the overall feel of your space. It might be tempting to fit huge skylights, but this could result in a room becoming too bright or too warm.

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Wood flooring Enhance your home with the beauty and texture of genuine and engineered wood flooring Best for shine For an extra shimmer of style and sophistication, choose a lacquered wood floor. A subtle gloss will give it a feeling of luxury, but is also practical; the lacquer finish protects it as well as giving it an attractive sheen. This Kahrs Tres Erve matt lacquered wood flooring from Carpetright is suitable for high traffic areas, like the hallway and kitchen, as well as the living room. It costs £64.99 per square metre.

WORDS ALISON JONES PHOTOGRAPH CHRIS SNOOK (THE MAIN COMPANY)

Best for a natural look The appearance of authentic wood taps into a feeling of heritage, but also the modern concept of biophilia and connecting with nature to bring a sense of well-being. This plank flooring looks as if it could have been hewn from the trees this room overlooks, creating a link to the garden. Imperio, Dark Chestnut Oak extra matt, from £87.99 per square metre, Quick-Step

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Best for bathrooms The bathroom floor is the most likely to get covered in a mini tsunami of bathwater and children’s toys. But there are woods that can cope with the fluctuations of moisture and temperature that can cause it to move or warp. An engineered wood with a hardwood bonded to a waterproof plywood core can withstand changes and limit movement. Baked pre-oiled engineered oak, from £72 per square metre, The Natural Wood Flooring Company

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ECO CHOICE

Best for kitchen flooring Chaunceys’ Bristol Tectonic planks are durable engineered oak boards designed to resist the expansion and contraction of timber that occurs with a change in moisture content – essential in kitchens where there’s warmth and steam from ovens, pans, taps and kettles. And it can cope with the back and forth of food and drink prep, and fridge snacking. Vintage Grey Tectonic oak herringbone flooring, £120 per square metre excl. VAT

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Camille DubuisWelch looks at choosing and picking the best wood floors

q A

What are the most durable wood floors? Hardwoods, such as oak, maple and cherry, are among the most durable species, ideal for long-lasting looks in a busy household. They are the more expensive wood flooring choices. You can also find ash wooden flooring, walnut and mahogany. Pine and bamboo are cheaper options but may show scratches more quickly. You can refinish and paint them now and then to keep them looking like new. Otherwise, you may be better off choosing engineered wood flooring to mimic the effect of wood, with the added benefits and a lower price tag.

Q A

What are the best flooring colours? Timber wood floors work well with many decorating styles, allowing versatility when you redecorate. But the colour choice should be based on a number of different factors. > White and pale grey wood floors: Often created with ash, maple and beech, this colour is perfect for low-traffic rooms, and will enhance space in a small room. Contemporary and lightreflecting, it will, however, show up dirt and dents pretty quickly. > Warm, honey-toned wood floors: Oak and beech wood floors stained in honey tones come with natural intrinsic patterns for a look that will disguise dirt and create a welcoming feel – ideal for an open-plan space you want to make feel cosy. Less contemporary than pale wood flooring, midtoned wood is perfect for a relaxed, more traditional finish. > Dark wood floors: A dark stain will create a more formal, intimate feel in a room, but can also be used in industrial-style spaces for a modern finish, especially as a backdrop to light-coloured furniture. Beech wood flooring looks beautiful with a dark matt lacquer, as does oak, where some lighter colours along the grain can enhance the pattern.

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FOR MORE ADVICE AND INSPIRATION WHEN CHOOSING A NEW FLOOR, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/FLOORING

Best for sustainability Bamboo is a fast-growing grass and one of the world’s most sustainable materials. Cutting only encourages its regrowth and it can fully replenish in five years. It has its own unique grain patterns and can be made into hardwearing boards with the qualities of a hardwood. The aptly named Coffee Strand has a real richness, and a colour as warming as your fresh brew. Oxwich Herringbone Coffee Strand bamboo flooring, £98 per square metre, Woodpecker

Expert advice

#SOREALHOMES

ECO CHOICE

Best for recycling In a waste-not-wantnot world, using reclaimed wood is the greener way to go. It also provides a heady hit of nostalgia as you consider where it might have been laid before. The character created by feet that walked on it or sports that were played on it can tell the story. The wood flooring and panelling in this treehouse family home used to be northern roof spars, now given a new lease of life. The pale colour offers a contemporary hit of pared-back Scandi styling. Reclaimed Old White Mill board, £44.50 per square metre, The Main Company

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A DV E RTOR I A L

Add a personal touch with CEWE wall art Transform your child’s room with their favourite family images

rom the very first palm or foot pressed into paint and then onto paper, we encourage our little ones to express their creativity. Works of crayoned art follow, destined to be stuck to the front of fridges or on a wall in an ever-changing gallery. But the most exciting images can come when the young ones get their first (extra robust) camera, or are allowed to take their own photos with Mum or Dad’s phone, and we get to see things from a child’s eye view. The best – and most in-focus – of these are perfect for being blown up for framing, ready to be given pride of place in their rooms. CEWE has lots of creative wall art options to decorate their bedrooms with pictures, for a personal and fun space that can be updated as they grow. They can choose their favourite selfie or a snap of the family having a brilliant time at the beach, take an ‘arty’ shot of a pattern or design that’s caught their eye, a still life of all their cuddly toys, a portrait of their pet looking adorable, or images of their favourite cartoon or TV show. CEWE’s range of framing ideas can add to the interest on the walls, like hexxas – hexagonal-shaped prints that can be arranged in appealing patterns, collage frames (for when

Clockwise from top Hexagonal photo tiles, hexxas, from £9.99; framed photo prints, from £10.99; photo poster with wooden hanger, from £12.48, cewe.co.uk/wall-art. html

they can’t choose which picture they love most), or frames in a variety of colours to suit their bedroom. For a quick and easy way to frame pictures, poster hangers, which are made of sustainably sourced wood in black, white or natural oak, hold pictures in place using magnets. Children can switch them when they fancy a change, which is a brilliant way for them to learn how to express themselves through how their bedroom or playroom is styled. Wall art is just one of many products that CEWE offers to help people show off their photographs and bring them to life.

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CEWE is Europe’s number one photo printing company – printing enough photos each year to go around the world almost 10 times – with a UK production facility in the Midlands. CEWE can produce everything from prints of your holiday snaps to a beautiful photo book packed with happy memories. But this is just the beginning – there’s a full range of personalised photo products, including calendars, phone cases and gifts. Looking for more inspiration? Check out the website on cewe.co.uk for tips on how to make the most of your photographs, with blogs packed with interior design ideas.

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FOCUS ON

Pantry storage

Kraft storage bags, square, £20 for two, Garden Trading

Expandable shelf, £20, Joseph Joseph

Bjorn basket, £5, JYSK

Wide mouth preserve jar, 0.5ltrs, £4.50, Kilner

Rig Tig Box-It bread box, £65, Made

Expandable spice jar rack, £19, ProCook

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FEATURE AMELIA SMITH

Scan for more ideas for an organised pantry

Stacking jars, £25 for a set of three, Sass & Belle

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Wire storage baskets, £23.39 for a set of three, Amazon

FOR MORE KITCHEN MUST-HAVES, GO TO REALHOMES.COM/KITCHEN

Live your organisational kitchen dreams with these savvy and stylish space savers

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Bathroom lighting

Deuce bathroom wall light in marble and opal glass, IP44, £150, där lighting

Wellington ribbed glass pendant light, IP44, £370, Fritz Fryer

Dorma Henstone two-light bathroom wall light, IP44, £40, Dunelm

Prague three-light wall light in satin, brass and glass, IP44, £95, Laura Ashley

Coro three-light brushed brass and opal light, IP44, £109, lights&lamps

Våthult LED cab/mirror light, IP44, £17, Ikea

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FEATURE ALISON JONES

Scan for tips on designing a safe, well-lit bathroom

Cocoon bathroom glass pendant lights, IP65, POA, Curiousa & Curiousa

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Kate twin-arm bathroom wall light in chrome, £38, BHS

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Add ambience and focus with stylish lights that can take a steamy atmosphere

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Starkvind table with air purifier, £179, Ikea

Shark 4 HE400UK air purifier, £279, ao.com

Beurer large room air purifier, £239.99, Lakeland

COMPACT SIZE

Quiet Mark certified products are proven to be some of the quietest on the market

2000 Series 3-in-1 purifier, fan and heater, £399.99, Philips

DustMagnet 5240i air purifier, £349, Blueair

Air Mini+ purifier, £449.99, Molekule

AX91-404GY bespoke air purifier, £529.99, AEG

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FEATURE ALISON JONES

See our buying guide for the best air purifiers

MeacoClean air purifier CA-HEPA with Wi-Fi, £199.49, Amazon

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Make your home a clean air zone and keep it free of pollutants and pollen

DISCOVER MORE TECH FOR YOUR HOME ON OUR HUB AT REALHOMES.COM/TECHNOLOGY

Air purifiers

FOCUS ON

Video doorbells Facetime at your front door with a doorbell that’s an eye on the outside

REVIEW CORNER

Ring video doorbell (Gen 2) Nest Doorbell (battery), £179.99, Google

Eufy security video doorbell, £149.99, Amazon

UNDER

£50

Ezviz DB2 2K+ video doorbell with chime, £109, Currys

Protect video doorbell, £49, Era

For a simple way to beef up your home security, the original Ring video doorbell (Gen 2) still holds its own. Containing lithium-powered batteries, there’s no need to worry about hardwiring or complex installation. It has a full HD 1080p camera and impressively wide field of view, with high-quality video footage sent to your smartphone. You’ll get a good look at who’s at the door, no matter where you are. You also get two-way audio, making it a great video intercom system. Plus, it acts as a regular doorbell, as long as you have a Ring chime. SPECIFICATIONS Video: 1080p Night vision: Yes Power: Wired, battery Dimensions: 12.6x6.2x2.8cm RRP: From £89.99 REASONS TO BUY Long-lasting battery Included fixtures and retrofit option ● Affordable ●

FEATURE ALISON JONES

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REASONS TO AVOID Bulkier than other models ● Doesn’t have all the features of more recent Ring releases ●

SwannBuddy video doorbell with chime, £107.99, Swann

Essential wireless video doorbell, £179.99, Arlo

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sunda y project Stuck for ideas this weekend? Get your DIY fix and delve right in with our quick and easy ways to update your home for less Lights, camera, action! Instead of heading to your local cinema this summer, be inspired by openair drive-ins and bring movie night to your back garden. All you need is a large sheet, four hooks and a projector. First, choose your ideal cinema backdrop. Next, screw four hooks into the surface to create a large square, then attach the corner of the white sheet to them, keeping the fabric taut. Connect your projector to your streaming device, laptop or DVD player. Finally, grab some chairs, throw down cushions and add a selection of garden lights to create the perfect atmosphere,and you’re ready for action.

WORDS EMILY SMITH

Trapeze black solar lanterns, from £34.99; 20 plug-in outdoor festoon lights, £54.99; TruGlow waterproof outdoor candle trios, from £26.99; lanterns with TruGlow candles, from £34.99; Cloud white Miami solar lanterns, £34.99; TruGlow remote control LED taper candles, £29.99, all Lights4fun

Looking for more inspiration for your home and garden makeovers? See our Sunday Project hub for plenty of ingenious ideas and hacks to transform your space

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