Household hints Freshen up your front door and top tips for keeping your home cool; plus, we test ice lolly moulds

Household H I NTS

Freshen up your home with our handy tips and tricks Clea n glass door pa nel s with diluted white vinegar for a gleaming fini sh

HOW TO... tran sform your front door

After creating your dream interior scheme, the front door might look a little flat next to your fresh décor inside. But a new door can be costly, so follow our top tips to give your existing one a makeover…

• Firstly, clear away dirt by giving the door a thorough dust with a dry microfibre cloth. Spray hinges and locks with WD40, then wash the door with warm soapy water and dry with a clean cloth.

• For a quick style update, switch out any old, rusty hardware with co-ordinating handles. Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas, either – add a splash of colour with faux or real flowers for a cheery welcome.

• If you have glass in or above your door, why not transform it with window film? It’s self-adhesive, is often made or cut to size and, if you have a steady hand, easy to stick on yourself. Choose from bespoke designs that feature your house number, delicate repetitive patterns or even replica stainedglass window effects to add character.

• You can paint your door if you’re still not keen on it – but, depending on the material, it may involve lengthy prepping and drying times. Remove any hardware and ensure the door has had a thorough clean. Use decorating tape to mask off anything you can’t remove (block out glass panels by taping down paper that’s been cut to size). Sand the door with medium grade sandpaper, then go over with fine grade sandpaper. Remove any dust with a sugar soap solution before painting. We love Julie’s (@fromcity2suburb on Instagram) bright entrance (top right) – she’s also painted her kitchen cabinets the same shade to create continuity in her home.

Buy it once

If you’re a keen cook or upcycler, you may be left with stubborn food or paint odours on your hands. Stainless steel is known to neutralise odours, but instead of turning to your cutlery drawer, keep this stainless steel soap, priced at £5.95 from Clean Living, by your sink. To use it, simply rub it on your hands under cool running water to banish scents.

HACK

Remove particularly difficult hard water stains on stainless steel taps and bathroom accessories by soaking a piece of kitchen towel in white vinegar. Wrap the towel around the tap and leave for 30 minutes. Remove and wipe away any remaining residue. The acid in the vinegar will break down the limescale found in hard water marks, leaving you with a sparkling bathroom.

3.

BEST BUYS FOR ... keeping your home cool

Make your home more warm-weather friendly with our top picks for keeping cool in a heatwave

2.

4. 6. 5.

1. Make your own DIY air conditioning by placing a bowl of ice in front of a fan

Desk fan 12 inch in Oak Effect/White, £45, John Lewis & Partners

2. Moisture-wicking materials, such as this cotton and lyocell blend, will keep you cool throughout the night Comfortably Cool Tencel™ rich pillowcases

in Powder Blue, £16 for two, Marks & Spencer

3. The honeycomb shape keeps your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and diffuses harsh sunlight

DuoLight Ash Grey thermal blind, from £23.35, Blinds 2go

4. Replacing old bulbs with LEDs will not only cut down your energy bills, but it’ll make your home feel cooler as less energy is wasted as heat. For a decorative touch, we love this dimmable bulb CALEX E14 4W 150lm candle Extra Warm

White LED dimmable filament light bulb, £5, B&Q

5. Draw your curtains in the heat, if you can, to stop the sunlight from overheating your home. Instead of buying a new set, simply fasten these linings to the back of your existing pair

Pencil pleat blackout curtain linings, from £12, Dunelm

6. Swap out your winter duvet for a lighter tog, if you can’t sleep without one

Säfferot 4 tog duvet in double, £10, IKEA

WE T EST…

Ice lolly moulds

Things we considered: Are they easy to store? Can the lollies be easily released?

Eddingtons Squeezies ice lolly moulds, £5.95, Harts of Stur

Unlike other hard plastic moulds, these four moulds are made from flexible silicone to make them easy to squeeze – and take up less room in the freezer. You simply pour fruit juice or yogurt into the moulds and then put the lids on ready to freeze.

As the moulds are so flexible, the lids can move out of place while carrying to the freezer, so make sure you check that the contents don’t spill. They’re also slightly tricky to 8/10 clean due to the tube design, so you’ll need a long cleaning brush. Otherwise, they’re a quick and easy way to make a summer snack.

Adventure ice lolly maker, £2.25, Wilko

A useful drip-catching area with an attached straw ensures there’s no wastage with these fun lolly moulds. However, we found that a lot of warm water from the tap and some elbow grease was needed to release the lollies, and the handles did feel a little delicate when pulling them out. We also like the colour- coded moulds, so family members can choose their preferred option and not get mixed up. Overall, these are a family-friendly budget buy for frozen treats.

7/10

Lolly moulds, £6, ProCook

Those with limited freezer space might struggle with this set as the moulds must be stored upright: the handles sit on top instead of twisting or clipping on securely. We found it best to leave the mould out for a while to defrost, or run under a warm tap, before attempting to take the lollies out as they were a little tough to remove – but the handles themselves feel super sturdy and easy to hold. The moulds are also dishwasher safe, so there’s no scrubbing at awkward angles.

9/10

Bonnie The Bunny ice lolly mould, £4.95, Rex London

This mould makes six darling little lollies, with bunny ear handles and even a cute round tail! Tailor-made for smaller hands, the handles are easy to grip and, as the lollies are small, they go down before too much mess is made, even though there is no drip-catching area. The mould stands up nicely in the freezer, and the frozen lollies release quickly and easily after a splash under the hot tap. A fun buy for endless chilly treats all summer long, at a good price, too. 8/10

Sarah and Lee’s Shaker kitchen is packed with clever storage, such as deep drawers for pots and pans and a washing machine concealed behind stylish doors

Tonal greys brighten the low-lit room, with the Gullwing Shaker island taking centre stage against the inky Ermine Charcoal cabinets

the light and to complement the rest of their home, the couple knew they wanted a neutral scheme. Ample storage and space for built-in appliances were also priorities, especially with two growing children – Ivy, six, and Oliver, five. A lack of utility space was another issue for Sarah and Lee. At the top of the appliance wish list was a large fridge-freezer, which the new layout would need to incorporate.

Having decided on their fridge-freezer, the couple visited their local Wren showroom to browse kitchen styles. ‘We were immediately impressed with the large showroom, wide range, and colour and style combinations on offer,’ recalls Sarah. ‘There was so much more choice than we were expecting.’

Looking for neutral tones to co-ordinate with their home’s décor, the couple worked with their Wren designer, Daniel, to create a tonal grey scheme. They chose the combination of Shaker Ermine Charcoal Matt for the cabinets with Shaker Gullwing Matt for the island to create a timeless feel.

FAMILY FOCUSED DESIGN

With the kitchen’s colour palette selected, the all-important storage was next on the list. ‘The collaboration with Daniel was brilliant,’ says Sarah, who was able to fit their fridgefreezer into the design with Daniel’s guidance. ‘He helped with all the dimensions and suggested different layouts and options,’ adds Lee. Deep drawers provide plenty of room for crockery and make access easy while cooking, and the children can help themselves to the cereal cupboard at breakfast time.

Due to the tight space requirements of the kitchen, seeing their design with Wren’s Virtual Reality experience helped the couple understand how the layout would work and ensured that their choices were functional. Daniel came up with clever solutions to include all of the sleek, integrated appliances Sarah and Lee sought, which include an AEG fully integrated dishwasher; NEFF induction hob; NEFF built-in double multifunction oven; and Zanussi integrated washing machine.

Storage was given a further boost with the inclusion of an island. As the couple have two young children, they selected curved, smooth edges for the island to prevent any accidents. The island is now the couple’s favourite part of the kitchen: ‘we are so glad that we have a separate island,’ smiles Sarah, ‘it’s something we get lots of compliments about.’

SEAMLESS SET-UP

Once they had designed their dream scheme, Daniel arranged for members of the Wren team to measure Sarah and Lee’s existing kitchen and make sure their chosen layout would fit in the space before ordering all of the components. The delivery and installation were as seamless as the design process, as Sarah’s dad, David, fitted the kitchen following Wren’s instructions without any problems.

The couple are thrilled with their new kitchen, and their Wren experience from beginning to end. ‘I love hosting family and friends in my open-plan kitchen. The big island means I still feel included while I’m preparing food,’ says Sarah. Pairing sleek integrated appliances with Shaker units has created the traditional-meets-modern design the couple were after: ‘Our kitchen has become the heart of our home. We always hang around together in here now,’ shares Sarah.