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SHAPING UP

This range gives a nod to the geometric patterns and dark wooden shades of the Seventies, along with a modern colour palette of bold corals and earthy greens

Elements Skara vase, 28cm, £20 Elements Alva walnut stained dining table, £469; Elements Alva dining chairs, natural fabric, £149 each; Elements Alva benches, natural fabric, £169 each; Tollose five light ceiling fitting, £115; Olle rug, from £39, all Dunelm

Elements coloured glass mirror, 70cm, £50 Elements Lokke cushion, £12

Luxe Traveller Moroccan tray, 32cm, £28

Luxe Traveller Nolan ribbed glass table lamp, £22

SHOP THE HIGH STREET

DAYDREAMING

Keep the sunshine alive with this bright and cheerful collection featuring bold pastels and cut-out shapes

Design For Life Hector duvet set, from £32 Pastel check cushion, £15

Hestia leaf side table, £100

Egyptian cotton bath sheets, from £10

Orient & Amber cork lidded candle, £10

HOW TO style the look

1Invest in quality wooden furniture, like this mid-century-inspired set. You can adapt and switch up the style through the years with interesting tableware, lighting and chair cushions.

2For a bold punch of colour, add a large feature rug under your dining table. Or, for a more creative approach, why not try making your own wall mural? For inspo, search ‘how to paint a wall mural’ at yourhomestyle.uk.

Cosmo king duvet set, £55, Debenhams.com

Kimono, £19; basket with handles, £9; Yoga rug, £25, all Vårdande range at IKEA

IKEA

CONSCIOUS CARE

IKEA’s new Vårdande range has been created in partnership with five social enterprise businesses in Bangladesh, Thailand, India and Vietnam. Many of the items are made from sustainable materials too

Basket with potpourri, £3 Poster, £5 Plant pot, £5

Yoga rug, £25

HOW TO style the look

1This range focuses on self-care practices. Promote calm by adding spa-like elements, such as an oil diffuser and a tinkling wind chime.

2Focus on natural, sustainablymade furnishings and accessories. Bamboo, banana fibres and jute are three materials to look out for.

Tortoise shell wine glasses, set of four, £14; Salter bamboo paddle chopping board, set of three, £15, all George Home

George Home

DELI DELIGHTS

Recreate the charm of a rustic café at home with these staple dining accessories

Natural water hyacinth planters, from £20

Hanging decoration, £7

Green goblet wine glasses, set of four, £12 Green reactive glaze 12-piece dinner set, £34

Natural diamond macramé cushion, £12

‘When we saw this kitchen in the Wren showroom, it was love at first sight!’

Anna and Phil knew this sleek, dramatic kitchen was for them as soon as they saw it, so their designer helped them to make it work for their family home

The Infinity Plus Milano Contour in Castle Rock Matt kitchen has the perfect mix of luxe design and family-friendly storage for Anna, Phil and their two daughters

When choosing a new kitchen, finding the right balance between style and practicality to create a scheme that works for busy family life can be tricky. That’s where the experts at Wren come in – the knowledgeable designers work with you to create a kitchen that will transform the way you use your home. Need a layout that makes the most of the space, with lots of stylish storage solutions? Wren can help, as Anna and her husband Phil discovered. They wanted a sleek kitchen in which they could spend quality time with their daughters. Wren helped them create a space that does that, but also has the dark, dramatic look they envisaged. Here, as part of the #wrenovation series, which showcases real customer kitchen renovations, we explain how.

INSTANT APPEAL

As their Manchester home had been renovated just before they bought it in 2009, Anna and Phil decided to live with it as it was. Ten years later, though, they realised the layout wasn’t working for them anymore. Instead of the existing separate rooms, they wanted a social, open-plan space that incorporated a kitchen, dining area and lounge to relax in with their daughters, Libby, 13 and Polly, eight.

After a few recommendations from friends, the couple decided to go to Wren. They visited the local Bolton showroom with an open mind, and immediately fell for one of the kitchens they saw on display when they walked in. ‘It was love at first sight,’ smiles Anna. So, they sat down with Wren designer, Tom, to talk through how to tailor the showroom kitchen to their space, style and needs. For more inspiration, search #wrenovation

A big island and breakfast bar give the family plenty of space for food prep and socialising, with an easy-to-clean concrete worktop

The couple wanted a minimalist feel, with units across one wall and a large island. They saw a few colour options at the showroom, but the charcoal-grey Castle Rock Matt colourway with copper profiles stood out to them. ‘The colour is gorgeous. It changes in different light, and it’s very dramatic and classy,’ Anna says. ‘I still look at it and think that we made a great selection.’

A DESIGNER’S EYE

The couple were glad of the designer’s expertise throughout the renovation. They weren’t sure where to place the hob, so Tom presented them with a few options and talked them through the pros and cons of each. They also wanted to keep their original fridgefreezer, but were worried about it looking out of place, so asked Tom how best to integrate it into their design. He went above and beyond their expectations, adding tall units on each side and one across the top to ‘frame’ the fridge. Anna loved the idea: ‘He did a really ‘it’s easy to clean, and looks so sleek and lovely on the worktop,’ she says. ‘I also love the feel of the island. The concrete worktop looks amazing and doesn’t scratch.’ They’re glad they followed their hearts and chose the design they first fell in love with at the showroom: ‘We love it, as it’s quite different and works great for our family – it also gets a lot of compliments when we have friends over!’

good job; it looks like the fridge is meant to be there.’ Another of Tom’s suggestions turned out to be one of the family’s favourite parts of the kitchen – rather than a solid island, he incorporated a breakfast bar into the design. ‘We love that element,’ says Anna.

EASY LIVING

Thanks to the 3D render of their kitchen that Tom created, Anna and Phil could easily visualise how the final layout would look. ‘It gave us a great idea of the space and how everything would fit together,’ Anna says. The delivery and fitting was as seamless as the design process: ‘Phil did it himself as he’s quite handy and has helped other friends with kitchen fitting,’ Anna explains. ‘He didn’t experience any issues as delivery was on time and the instructions were very clear.’

Anna and Phil are happy that their finished kitchen not only looks the part but is easy to maintain – a must with two children. As a keen cook, Anna loves the induction hob because

The fridge-freezer is framed with cabinets to boost storage space