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Green A new collection of authentic National Trust colours including original shades from the homes of Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw and Beatrix Potter. Available now. littlegreene.com 0161 230 0880

Order your free colourcard, or find your nearest stockist at littlegreene.com

EST. 1920

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B R I TA I N ’ S B E S T S E L L I N G H O M E S M AG A Z I N E

Affordable

LUXURY

Style, without the spend LIGHTING MASTERCLASS CHANGE THE MOOD, NOT YOUR DECOR

Storage tips from a professional organiser

Inspired Real Homes

◆ Miami-style modern build ◆ Elegant Twenties house ◆ Grand Victorian villa ◆ Characterful country house

Interior designers’ GO-TO COLOUR Kitchens & bathrooms SMALL SPACE SOLUTIONS

NOVEMBER 2019

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26

92

What’s new

Real homes

Before & after

26 Looking to the future

114 ‘We made this room cosy

46 Old house, modern

120 ‘We made smarter use

9 Set the scene for...

…a cosy evening by the fire

Radical changes were needed to modernise this semi

11 The style editor

Top news from the high street

attitude This listed home is minimalist yet welcoming

13 We’re in love…

Sexy ceramics

67 Cool, calm and collected

15 Ideal Vs Great Deal

From damp disrepair to stress-free home

Give your kitchen a moderncountry update

92 Having the best of both

17 The shortlist

worlds A period villa with an industrial-style extension

Work of art rugs

18 We keep seeing…

Japanese vibes

Style & decor

21 The design edit

38 Why designers love…

Fabulous home discoveries

58 Take a roll of wallpaper

Add drama with botanicals

Pattern for the pattern-shy

77 Easy style updates

E

SM EP

NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

ALL S T

SPOT THE LOGO FOR EASY SWAPS AND WAYS TO ENJOY A MORE SUSTAINABLE HOME AND LIFESTYLE

ON

and characterful’ A retro-inspired makeover

of a small space’ Optimising a narrow kitchen

128 ‘This kitchen makes

me feel much calmer’ A complete room overhaul

134 ‘You have to prioritise in a small bathroom’ Practicality is key

142 ‘We gave an ugly house a

Miami-inspired makeover’ No longer a boring box

Shades of teal

22 The wallpaper edit

4

58

Smart tricks and clever buys

105 Interior design advice Living room lighting

113 Upcycle your… TV screen

Simple solutions 148 Genius problem solvers for a smooth running life Clever finds and the latest home innovations

150 Your wardrobe, sorted Game-changing buys

CONTENTS

77 67

38

156

TO FIND ALL THE STOCKISTS IN THIS ISSUE TURN TO PAGE 176 152 Get clothes dry, rain or

shine The best tumble dryers

153 Join the vinyl revolution!

How to bring your record collection into the digital era

155 Need a new hob?

162 Reader offer

Enjoy 25 per cent off at Beaumont & Brown

163 Best of British

Cosy, autumn escapes

SAVE

Regulars

Make it induction

UP TO

7 Editor’s letter

Simple pleasures

45 The big question

Scatter cushions – nuisance or necessity?

111 Reader offer Free weekday ticket to the Ideal Home Show Christmas

156 Host a special Sunday lunch Time for a roast

Visit facebook. com/ideal home.co.uk

Follow us at twitter.com/ idealhome

48%

146 Subscribe to Ideal Home 178 A space of my own

Kate’s cabin escape where she can get creative without any distractions

See our latest snaps @idealhomeuk

Be inspired at pinterest.com/ idealhomemag

Sign up to our newsletter at idealhome.co.uk

Subscribe!

A subscription makes a great gift or a lovely treat for yourself from just £26.99, saving 48%!

Call 0330 333 1113 and quote the code AEB9 or visit idealhome.co.uk/IHNOV2019

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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DIGITAL WATERCOLOUR PRINTS

www.studiog.uk.com

EDITOR’S LETTER

Raleigh coffee table, £161, Perch & Parrow, is similar.

Try Oval carafe, £36, Trouva. Inle tray, £52, Kalinko. Still teapot, €65, Ferm Living. Side plate, £70 for six, Cox & Cox. Stoneware mugs, £58 for two; napkin, £18 for two, both Rowen & Wren

Welcome Vanessa

STYLING CHARLIE DAVIS PHOTOGRAPH TIM YOUNG

Vanessa Richmond, Editor

At this time of year, I feel zero guilt for closing the front door behind me on Friday and barely venturing out until Monday morning. It’s so easy to pass a joyful weekend pottering about in my badger slippers, conducting slow-cooker casserole experiments with tins of butter beans from the back of the cupboard, cleaning all the dusty lampshades with a lint roller (so satisfying…) and attempting artistic displays of pine cones and battery tea lights (the cat tries to sniff real flames).

This issue is full of the simple pleasures of winter at home, so shut the door on all anxieties, pour the tea and indulge…

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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WHAT’S NEW

Set the scene for…

A COSY EVENING

BY THE FIRE

Who cares if it’s cold? Create a comfy spot with a cushion and throw. Add a good book and some candlelight, and you’ve got the makings of a magical winter's night

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

WHERE TO BUY Curly sheepskin bench, £695; Albourne medium cushion cover in Charcoal, £45; luxury wool-cashmere throw, £170; Black dinner candlestick holders, from £20 each; fine Black easel frame, £55; fireplace medium lantern, £45, all The White Company

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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NEW & EXCLUSIVE

A REIMAGINED & RECOLOURED collection from the design archives

Morris & Co. Brer Rabbit 216741

PERFECT FOR AUTUMN

OPEN TO THE TR ADE AND PUBLIC SINCE 1904 Visit brewers.co.uk to find your local store

WHAT’S NEW

One Small Step

E SMALL

S

TE

P

SUSTAINABLE FABRICS AT FRENCH CONNECTION HOME

ON

The new denim collection at French Connection Home is proof that sustainable can be luxurious too. Its textiles include rugs made from recycled plastic bottles (trust us, you’d never know…) while waste denim and leather make up the Sea Storm rug and Lunar Blue cushion.

The STYLE EDITOR

Lunar Blue cushion, £48; Sea Storm rug, £125; Indigo Mist rug, £220, all French Connection Home

Michela Colling, Ideal Home’s tastemaker-in-chief, shares her top news from the high street

Surprise in Store

Cute bar stools at Dunelm Bar stools have become a bit of an in-joke with the Ideal Home team – there are so many ugly ones out there.

But there’s no danger of making a style slip-up here because Dunelm’s new selection of stools is a complete revelation. With statement looks designed to suit every kitchen, you can prop up your breakfast bar in total style. Whether your taste is glossy and glamorous, modern country, sleek Scandi or cool industrial, you’re sure to find a stool to suit your style.

At last cute bar stools are a thing and, of course, being Dunelm, they’re all utterly affordable too.

Need to Know

SONOS @ IKEA

Stella velvet stool, £69, Dunelm

I heard about this collaboration months ago and now it’s here, I love it! Mix Ikea’s design smarts with Sonos’ sound expertise and you get… a lamp and shelf you can stream music through! I know, totally Jetsons, but it really works.

If you don’t want to use the shelf as a shelf, slip it into a bookcase on its side or hang from a kitchen rail with the hooks provided.

At £99, the Symfonisk speakers are the cheapest Sonos makes, but with all the sound quality you’d expect.

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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WHAT’S NEW

KIDS RULE AT SWOON Swoon’s first kids’ collection is unique for two reasons: 1. It manages to be fun and stylish all at once. 2. It was brought to life from the ideas of a group of children who were invited to take part in a series of workshops. The pieces include hidden compartments and chalkboard surfaces, and there’s even a coat rack that becomes a den! My favourite is the Hunter craft trolley, designed to encourage creative play.

Gifts for the hard to buy for Did you know our sister title, Country Homes & Interiors, has a fabulous Christmas fair? It’s at Stonor Park in Oxfordshire, from 21 to 24 November, and brings together more than 100 stands with home, lifestyle and gifting products from country makers.

Tickets cost £10 in advance and £12 on the door. Visit ichfevents.co.uk/ countryhomeschristmas and enter code EV192 at the checkout.

Fynne desk, £149; Emmeline chair, £49, both Swoon

DIY AN INTERIOR DESIGNED LOOK Fabric house Clarke & Clarke has launched a made-to-measure roller blinds service. Choose from 125 of its best-selling fabrics, including prints from contemporary to classic and plains in an array of shades, to find the perfect match for cushions, curtains or upholstery to tie your room together. With clever options such as water-resistant fabrics for bathrooms and kitchens, soft light filtering to allow privacy and blackout lining, you can tailor the finish to exactly suit your space.

“

The beauty of roller blinds is they can bring instant character to a room but practically disappear when you want to let in the light or look out on the view

”

STYLE EDITOR, MICHELA COLLING

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Blind in Harewood Acacia, from £79m, Clarke & Clarke

WHAT’S NEW

We’re in love…

SEXY CERAMICS

It’s time to make it official: grey’s the new white where tableware is concerned. And it makes sense, considering how many of us now have grey walls. Grey ceramics make any surface look more sophisticated, but if you need more time, phase them in with your classic white. This collection from Danish design gurus Broste Copenhagen is the place to start. Tisvilde is timeless in its simplicity, with a touch-me matt finish. Form an orderly queue!

Ooh, we’re glossy on the inside!

« Tisvilde porcelain collection bowl, £23; oval plate, £64; teapot, £67; milk pitcher, £23; egg cup £5; small espresso cup, £6; saucer, £6, all Broste Copenhagen at Nordic Nest

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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Inspired by nature’s quirks.

Designed for personal style.

We bring together nature’s influences and cutting edge design to create simply beautiful floors you’ll love for a lifetime.

Stand up to spills of all sizes and won’t swell, crack or warp when wet.

Featured floor:

Compatible with underfloor heating, for added warmth underfoot.

Grey Limed Oak KP138

For style choices and inspiration visit: karndean.com

WHAT’S NEW

IDEAL VS GREAT DEAL Give your kitchen a modern-country update with these buys in grainy oak and artisan finishes COUNTRY CREAM Mina wall clock, £115, Perch & Parrow

MATT FINISH Adna pendant in Grey and wood, £78, Dar Lighting

ARTISAN LOOK Halo speckle dinnerware, £152 for 12 piece set, JD Williams

SLEEK STEEL Bistrot cutlery set, £136.99 for 24 piece set, Wayfair

SIMPLY STYLISH Ercol bar stool, £255, Furniture Village

GREAT GRAINS Wooden chopping board, £8.99, H&M Home

DISHWASHER SAFE Bistro cutlery set, £20 for 16 piece set, Argos

STURDY OAK Ferguson farmhouse bar stool, £137, Sweetpea & Willow

FARMHOUSE CHIC Byron small pendant in Grey, £46, Neptune

PLATE UP Nessa dinnerware, £100 for 12 piece set, Habitat

MODERN PANTRY Newbury larder unit, £759, Made.com

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT

CLASSIC STORAGE Kingham oak double larder, £999, The Cotswold Co

SMART SERVER Bloomingville wood chopping board, £35, Smallable

TIMELY CHOICE Westhampton wall clock, £75, Newgate

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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Treat your walls to Earthborn Our luxurious eco paint helps your walls breathe. So you can create beautiful spaces that are healthier for you and your home.

Come and find out more at earthbornpaints.co.uk

 Colours shown: Hippo Hooray, Daisy Chain

WHAT’S NEW

PERSIAN PILE Bronte rug in Multi, 160x230cm, £239, Shimu

DESIGN YOUR OWN Hanami Daffodils hand tufted rug, 150x150cm, £623, Rug Artisan

HARD STUFF Marble rug, 160x230cm, £199.99, Very

THE SHORTLIST

8 WORK OF ART RUGS FLORAL FANCY Abstract floral rug, 152x243cm, £598, Artist collaboration range, Anthropologie

To put on a f loor show in your living space

ABSTRACT SHAPES Jaxson multicoloured rug, 160x230cm, £350, Habitat

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

«

I can be made custom size

PATTERN POP Amal rug, £625, 170x240cm, Bluebellgray range, The Rug Seller

ARTISAN MADE Doughty rug, 180x270cm, £3,795, Soho Home

BLOCK PARTY Stripe block rug, 152x244cm, £199, Margo Selby range, West Elm IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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We keep seeing...

JAPANESE VIBES

Japanese design is known for its extreme simplicity and beauty – and who doesn’t want more of those in their life? We’ve discovered that the high street is being inspired by the Japanese principles of kanso (basically, less is more) and wabi-sabi (embracing imperfections).

Which means you’ll be spotting a lot of lovely bamboo and wobbly ceramics out there.

Ash coffee table, £149.99; bamboo pendant, £79.99; bamboo floor lamp, £79.99; linen curtains in Beige, £69.99; cotton rug in Natural White, from £24.99; velvet cushion cover in Light Brown, £12.99; cotton canvas cushion cover in Brown, £3.99; cotton canvas cushion cover in Light Beige, £3.99; crinkled cotton blanket in Dark Camel, £34.99; ceramic vase, £19.99; plant pot in Natural White, from £9.99, all H&M Home

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

WHAT’S NEW

Blue Sticks double duvet set, £14; Kanso monochrome cushion, £16; Kanso textured throw, £25; glass candle holder, £10; Kanso concrete planter, £16, all Sainsbury’s Home

1 2

3

5 4

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING

6

7 1 Knixhult floor lamp, £45, Ikea 2 Indigo cushion, £60, Habitat 3 Iron bowls, £27 for set of four, French Connection Home 4 Helios wardrobe, £1,570, Maisons du Monde 5 Round rug, £152, Amara 6 White terracotta vase, £18, Att Pynta 7 Rattan Baskets, £79 for set of two, The Conran Shop IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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Draper Sofa from £1,399 Huxley Floor Lamp £215 Cushions from £20 Cocktail Shaker £25 Rega Turntable £329

WE’LL H E L P YO U STYLE IT

FOR U S I

S PE RSONAL

Bespoke sofas from £499.

Design yours by 27 October for delivery by Christmas

Sofa pictured is Draper Large 3 Seater Sofa in Lucca Sienna, £1,699. For delivery by Christmas for John Lewis Design Your Own sofas, order by 27 October. This excludes leather and wool fabrics, which must be ordered by 10 October for delivery by Christmas.

WHAT’S NEW

4 1

2

6

5

7

3

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING

THE DESIGN EDIT

Now and then, the high street comes up with something so utterly fabulous, it looks as if it’s come from a designer boutique. Here are seven of our latest discoveries that will make your home look expensive without the big spend…

WHERE TO BUY 1 Madam Stoltz reversible cotton cushion, £33, Smallable 2 Treno table lamp, £68, Oliver Bonas 3 CHR01 chair, £299.99, Zara Home 4 Pastiche throw, £39, West Elm 5 Rattan basket, £34.99, H&M Home 6 Danish Home stem candelabra, £30, Debenhams 7 Jefferson Black side table, £70, Next Home IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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WHAT’S NEW

The Wallpaper Edit

MIDNIGHT BOTANICALS

Exotic leaves, bountiful fruits and blossoming flora intertwine on dark, moody backdrops – ideal for a dramatic dining area or opulent bedroom

ON

E

SM EP

ENGLISH GARDEN

FEELING FRUITY

SMALL-SCALE SCANDI

HERITAGE PANELS

Add depth and drama using bold hand-drawn flora with a vintage feel, printed with eco-friendly inks.

Garden of Eden, £149 for three rolls, Mind The Gap at Banbayu

Prettify walls with digitally printed British butterflies resting on a buddleia bush in a striking palette of dark green, white and orange.

Buddleia, £140 a roll, Lorna Syson

Vibrant citrus fruits combined with native summer florals bring the Italian coast to life against an atmospheric black background.

Amalfi Umore, £60 a roll, Graham & Brown

Exotic palms and flowers get a Scandi update with a monochrome design featuring gold highlights.

Hope in Black and Gold, £40.50 a roll, Caselio at Wallpaper Direct

This is inspired by illustrations in the Natural History Museum’s Hintze Hall.

Botanize in Blackberry, £150 a roll, Natural History Museum at Divine Savages

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT

ALL S T

VINTAGE ILLUSTRATIONS

NEW PAINT COLLECTION

Bring the true colours of nature into your home in collaboration with

SOFAS, DINING & BEDS

Get your home

Christmas ready

52 stores • 0800 7 830 830 • furniturevillage.co.uk

COMPACT EARTH Dining table with bench and corner bench.

After Sale Price £2495 Save £1000

1495

Sale £

Order now for pre Christmas delivery Create your perfect Christmas wishlist at furniturevillage.co.uk

Your home in one

Front living room ‘The previous owner had knocked through to create a cavernous open-plan space, but it was too big,’ says Irem.

‘We added glazed doors to create two spaces that still let the light flow. The style in here is “romantic Victorian” – it’s relaxed and indulgent.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Steel-framed doors, from £8,000, Govette Windows

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOME

Looking to the future Irem and Raj Patel made some radical decisions to update this Victorian semi for their needs now, but also with the next generation in mind

REAL HOME

Welcome to my home Irem Patel lives here with her husband Raj and their children, Saffie, 20, and Ethan, 16. Irem is a consultant respiratory physician and Raj is a consultant haematologist.

THE PROPERTY A six-bedroom Victorian

W Take a quick tour...

LIVING AREA

KITCHEN-DINER

GROUND FLOOR

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

EN-SUITE BATHROOM BEDROOM

STUDY

MEZZANINE FIRST FLOOR

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

semi, built in 1865, in Beckenham, London.

THE VALUE Bought for £700,000 in 2011; similar houses go for £1.8million.

“

I’m proud of breathing life back into a beautiful old house

”

hen Irem first went to view her house, in 2011, no one answered the door, because the other agent had thought they’d sold it. It was only when, a few months later, her husband Raj reminded Irem about a missed call that she phoned the estate agent back and discovered the house was still available. It had been owned by an elderly builder who had lived there for 30 years and converted it from flats into a family home.

‘It was quite dated, so we ripped out the false ceilings that were filled with asbestos, stripped the floors and rejigged the layout on the first floor,’ she recalls. ‘The kitchen was very dingy, with floor-to-ceiling cork tiles, so we gave that a spruce-up, too.’

But even after its revamp, the kitchen, with its small uPVC window, was very dark. ‘We’d eat down there most nights, in the least beautiful bit of the house,’ says Irem. So in 2017, the couple decided to extend it by 2.5m.

‘We wanted it to be a place we’d be happy to spend most of our time in, where we could look out onto the garden.

Now it’s a great space for a family with teenagers – we can come together when we want to, or they can disappear off and do their own thing,’ says Irem.

Their architect Jennifer Hamilton (thevawdreyhouse. com) suggested adding a skylight, which drew light into the ground floor, as well as Crittall windows. ‘I love the way they frame things – they’re so timeless,’ says Irem.

‘Our initial budget was £100,000, but with all the work we hadn’t factored in – knocking down walls, moving the soil stack and redecorating – it came in at more than double! This is our forever home, though. It will work through the generations. I think about the chain of people who’ve lived here and there’s a real sense of responsibility. Hopefully, we will hand it on in 30 years’ time to a family who’ll enjoy living in it as much as we do.’

PAINTED SURROUND Lightens an oppressively dark wood finish

Back living room ‘We had a streamlined desk and shelves built in the alcove, and now I often work down here. Raj and I tend to relax and watch TV here, whereas Ethan plays his Xbox in the front living room.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Valentin velvet armchair in Yellow, £695; Kartell Victoria Crystal Ghost chair, £166.60; both Graham and Green. Forsa work lamp, £15, Ikea, is a match

“

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

Our original budget was a bit silly – we didn’t factor in all the extras we had to buy for our new space, which you don’t think about when you’re doing the sums!

”

Kitchen ‘We chose cabinets painted in Little Greene’s Azure Green,’ says Irem. ‘The raised oak block is the perfect place for friends to sit and relax. The change in levels works really well and it’s a beautiful thing.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Fitted kitchen, from £30,000; bespoke oak butcher’s block, price on request, both Neptune at Woods of London. Rattan bar stools, £195 each, Rockett St George

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOME

TILED HOOD Blends into the wall for a streamlined effect

Love IREM’S STYLE?

Turn to page 37 to shop the look

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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REAL HOME

Dining area The combination of bench seating and chairs gives this space a more relaxed look.

‘We were going to have a fixed bench, but these are better as you can move them around if you have lots of people over.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Arundel table, £1,500, Neptune.

Benches, £1,500 each (made to order), Angel & Boho

PLATE DISPLAY Adds character and a personal touch to this monochrome space

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Reading nook ‘Saffie curls up in it with her laptop.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Lampe Gras wall light, from £250, Holloways of Ludlow

Sink area ‘The marble worktop is beautiful, but you have to think “so what if there’s another stain?!”’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Marble surface, from £300sq m, Varisco Stone

Kitchen dresser

POCKET DOOR Slides to reveal a walk-in larder

This piece is the beating heart of the kitchen – it even conceals a breakfast station with the toaster and cereals, so the family doesn’t get under each other’s feet in the mornings.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Bespoke unit, price on request, Woods of London

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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WHITE BAND Fakes the look of a dado rail to draw attention to ceiling height

Main bedroom ‘This was originally a bedroom adjoining another bedroom, which was strange, so it made sense to turn the small one into an en suite.’ Soft grey walls keep the look calm, with turquoise and black accents for layered colour.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Kartell Stone Crystal stool, £164, Amara.

Hector wall light, £119, Original BTC. Alexandra freestanding bath, £649.97, Soak.com, is similar

REAL HOME

FEATURE RACHAEL ASHLEY PHOTOGRAPHS BRENT DARBY STYLING SOPHIE MARTELL PLANS AGENCY SERVICE

DON’T MISS THE DETAILS...

Clockwise from top left: ‘The tongue-and-groove cupboards in the boot room hold coats, shoes and all the kids’ sports stuff’; the original stained-glass window fills the cloakroom with colour; ‘We did all of our woodwork and the staircase in Farrow & Ball’s Railings’; the front door has more original stained glass. ‘We had great fun designing the floor tiles, which create a rug effect.’

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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NEW COLOURCARD - AVAILABLE NOW A NUANCED PALETTE OF TWELVE BLACK AND WHITE SHADES. FREE COLOUR CARD | PAINT TO ORDER Nationwide Stockists | paintandpaperlibrary.com | +44 (0) 161 230 0882 | info@paintandpaperlibrary.com Find a stockist at paintandpaperlibrary.com

REAL HOME

Make it work for you IREM’S STYLE: ROMANTIC VICTORIAN

Combining velvet soft furnishings and glass accessories with a statement marble coffee table captures a boutique-hotel vibe MY GO-TO STORES…

Use faux flowers for arrangements during winter months

●

GRAHAM AND GREEN For handcrafted and unique furniture that’s stylish and comfy.

INSTANT GLAMOUR Leah cylinder pendant, £199, Marks & Spencer

●

SOPHIE CONRAN A great one-stop shop for dining sets, tableware and home accessories for modern living.

SOFT BLUSH Sofia pleated cushion, £40, Feather & Black

●

ORIGINAL BTC I love its diverse range of lighting designs made by hand in Britain.

LOOKING GOOD Silver beaded mirror, £42.99, The Range

FEATURE JESSICA TAVERNER

STYLIST’S NOTE

PRETEND PEONIES Peony artificial Midnight bouquet in vase, £135, John Lewis & Partners

STONE CIRCLE Banswara marble coffee table, £375, French Connection Home

“

In a simple all-grey scheme, include a pink floral arrangement and teal velvet curtains to add much-needed splashes of colour JESSICA TAVERNER, INTERIORS WRITER

PERFECT PILLAR Glass candlestick, £19.50, Gisela Graham

”

REGAL ADDITION Duchess Grey velvet armchair, £350, Graham and Green

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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WHY INTERIOR DESIGNERS LOVE...

SHADES OF TEAL This chameleon colour shifts from warm and cocooning to fresh and invigorating, depending on the orientation of your room and the colours you pair it with. We asked colour experts for their dos and don’ts…

HOT SPOT Use burnt orange accents to warm up teal in a room with cooler light

« Well balanced ‘Teal is the middle point between blue and green so our eyes need little or no adjusting to it, giving a sense of calm,’ says Helen Shaw, UK director at Benjamin Moore.

STYLE & DECOR

Cosy retreat ‘Use teal in spaces you retreat to – whether that’s a living room or bedroom. Teal can feel restorative and bring a feeling of cosiness, even in the brightest of rooms,’ says Helen Shaw.

“

I think rich jewel tones add a satisfying contrast to teal, for a luxurious and opulent feel

”

JODY HUDSON, STYLIST, GRAHAM & BROWN

OPPOSITE PAGE Aissa two seater sofa in Neptune smart velvet, £1,730, Sofa.com. Merial coffee table, £330, Perch & Parrow, is similar.

Small velvet and linen backed cushion in Coral, £35, Graham and Green. ABOVE Millbrook Hampshire 8000 divan set in Plush New Teal, £2,319; Nicholson table lamp, £199; Connection scatter cushions in Soho Steel, Soho Mushroom and Soho Buttercup, £80 for two; Corelli cushion in Royal Blue, £35, all Furniture Village. Try Cocoon blanket in Ochre, £69, Wallace Cotton

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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STYLE & DECOR

STANDOUT SHADE Lighter tones of teal add freshness

« Tie it together ‘Layering different tones of blue and green together avoids colour clashes,’ says Jody Hudson. Teal is a fail-safe accent to add, ‘because it sits in the centre of the colour wheel,’ explains Helen Shaw.

40

ABOVE Raphael wallpaper in Dark Green, £89 a roll, Sandberg. Verona lamp base, £135; Straight Empire shade in Ocean handmade parchment, £90, both Pooky. Derry recycled glass carafe, £24; glass, £32 for four, both Rowen & Wren. Cushion in Madox in Teal, £98m, Jim Thompson at Jane Clayton & Company. OPPOSITE PAGE Snowdrop two seater sofa in Atlantic Roosevelt velvet, £1,840, Sofa.com. Trees Two Blue large velvet cushion, £45, Angel & Boho. Etna Green glass pendant, £54; brass pendant kit, £19, both Pooky

NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Go immersive

“

‘For a sophisticated feel, concentrate on mid-to-dark tones, which can envelop a room. The deeper the colour, the greater the effect,’ says Peter Gomez, head of Zoffany Studio at Style Library.

As teal is quite a deep shade, natural light will impact how dark the colour looks in a room – but be brave, it’s such an adaptable colour

”

MELANIE ADAMS, FOUNDER, WALLPAPER DIRECT

«

HERO CUSHION Break up the block colour with a print

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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STYLE & DECOR

THE BEST

Soak up the sun

teal shades

‘Sunlit rooms work well with teal – it balances intense sunlight while maintaining its invigorating and fresh feeling,’ says Helen Shaw.

VIBRANT POP Palm Springs matt emulsion, £29 for 2.5L, Crown

BOLD AND INTENSE Beau Green matte, £79.50 for 3.79L, Benjamin Moore

RICH AND REGAL Tiru matt emulsion, £38 for 2.5L, Graham & Brown

WARM AND ENVELOPING Prussian elite emulsion, £46 for 2.5L, Designer Paint

Designers and stylists share their views ■ ‘Teal is really versatile, which is why it has such longevity as an interiors trend,’ says Melanie Adams.

‘I like to pair it with clean pastel colours and geometric shapes for a fresh, Scandiinspired look.’

42

■ ‘Using teal on all the walls can make a small room feel heavy and oppressive,’ says Jody Hudson. ‘To open it up, add metallic elements – a shimmer-effect wallpaper or copper accessories – to give movement to what would otherwise be solid colour.’

■ ‘The look and feel of teal will alter depending whether it’s used in a north- or south-facing room – ranging from a cool ocean blue, to a restful and tranquil green hue,’ says Helen Shaw.

NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

■ ‘It can look both warm and cool, depending on what colours it is paired with, as well as the light,’ adds Melanie Adams. ‘It looks cooler when paired with grey, and warmer when paired with pinks, yellows, warmer neutrals and natural woods.’

■ ‘I’d stick to using it in south-facing rooms,’ says Jody Hudson. ‘Vibrant teal looks great in sunny, restful bedrooms, as well as in calm living rooms and tranquil kitchens.’

■ ‘Neutrals with blue or green undertones work well with this saturated colour, keeping the look tonal and cohesive to maintain teal’s tranquil, natural feel,’ says Helen Shaw.

■ ‘It is so adaptable to any style,’ she adds. ‘Pair with earthy, warm colours, such as mustard or paprika, for a mid-century look. Or, stick to a tonal blend but include botanical colours and prints and raw wood, to make it fresh and contemporary.’

FEATURE MICHELA COLLING PHOTOGRAPHS TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY...

Idylle Ocelle Vert wallpaper, £44.45 a roll, Casadeco

Removing stains, spills and temper tantrums is one thing. Removing them without ruining the colour and ďŹ nish of your paint, that’s something else.

View the range at crownpaints.co.uk

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200 times tougher than our standard matt emulsion

Abstract Collection www.prestigious.co.uk

THE BIG QUESTION

Are scatter cushions just a nuisance?

Some people love a sofa stacked with plump cushions; others think they get in the way of a good sit down. Meet one couple who just can’t agree…

Yes

FEATURE JANE MURPHY PHOTOGRAPH DAVID BRITTAIN, TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

“

No “

Cushions just get in the way and I can’t get comfortable on them!

Cushions add colour, cosiness and character to our home

Tom Murphy, 51, lives with his wife, Jane, in a two-bedroom Eighties conversion cottage in south London. He works in publishing.

‘My main objection to heaps of cushions is that they get in the way. I’ll be looking forward to a sit-down or rolling into bed after a busy day – but first I have to rearrange or remove all this unnecessary padding! If I attempt to sit on our sofa without getting the cushions out of the way first, they start sliding around and I end up in completely the wrong position. I have to readjust everything and can never quite get comfortable.

When I buy an armchair, for example, it’s because it’s a particular shape and style. I picture myself sitting back and relaxing in it – I don’t imagine it being completely obscured by cushions. That’s like buying a painting and then covering it with stickers.

Of course, I can appreciate that cushions look nice on furniture you’re not actually planning to use. But even then, I think you can soon end up with too much of a good thing. I can see the point of one or two matching cushions at either end of the sofa – but that’s all.

Every night, I have to remove several cushions from the pillows before I can get into bed. I just pile them up on the floor next to me – where else am I meant to put them? – and sometimes I don’t have time to replace them before I leave for work in the morning. Jane gets annoyed, but if you don’t want them on the floor, don’t put unsolicited cushions on my side of the bed in the first place!’

Tom’s cushion-loving wife, Jane, 50, is a writer.

‘I’ll admit we’ve got rather more cushions than we strictly need in our tiny house – but I think they make it look more colourful and cosy. There are five on the two-seater sofa, four or five of various sizes on the bed and a variety of them on chairs – and on stand-by for emergency use – throughout the rest of the property.

I’m not so keen on plain cushions. They’re just not characterful enough. I tend to opt for cute or chintzy patterns from brands such as Lush Designs, Cath Kidston, Donna Wilson and Orla Kiely. I look for designs that make me feel happy – teapots, cats, flowers and birds are big favourites. I’ve also got a cushion shaped like a dog: it’s less hassle than the real thing, and less unsettling for our cat, Sid! I think Tom misses the point of cushions.

Far from getting in the way, they can be moved around and readjusted to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible. It annoys me when I walk into the bedroom or living room and see he’s piled all the cushions up on the floor.

I get lower-back ache quite often and I need a couple of hard cushions to support my back when I’m sitting at a desk or table.

Without them, I’d be in agony. So I’ll continue to buy cushions whenever I see one I like.

There’s always room to squeeze another one in. And anyway, I like them, Sid likes them, and two out of three isn’t bad!’

”

”

“

It annoys me when I walk into the room and see he’s piled all the cushions up on the floor

”

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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Old house, modern attitude Taking on the challenge of a listed property, Antoinette and Lars van der Berg opted to highlight its assets without feeling tied to its historic style

REAL HOME

Living room ‘This room has French doors on two sides, which let in plenty of light, and the high ceilings make it feel open, too,’ says Antoinette. ‘We’ve kept the window dressings simple with natural linen curtains.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Vilborg curtains, £29 a pair, Ikea, are a match. Bridgeport coffee table trunk, £155.99, Wayfair, is similar

TWIN TABLES Less bulky and more flexible than one large coffee table

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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REAL HOME

Welcome to my home Antoinette and Lars van der Berg live here.

Their four children are away at school.

THE PROPERTY A detached threebedroom 1860s listed house in the region of De Veluwe in the Netherlands.

“

The house is spacious, light and airy, but it’s also a warm and cosy family home. It literally embraces you and welcomes you in

”

Take a quick tour...

A

TV ROOM/STUDY BEDROOM LIVING ROOM DINING ROOM BEDROOM

BREAKFAST ROOM

OFFICE

BEDROOM

KITCHEN

GROUND FLOOR

48

FIRST FLOOR

NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

fter living in the US for a few years, the van der Berg family moved back to their house in the Netherlands, which had been rented out during their absence. ‘It felt like we’d completely outgrown the space, though,’ says Antoinette. ‘But I had my eye on this house, which was just across the road and much bigger. It had extensive grounds, including a swimming pool, hockey pitch and an orchard. I loved the idea of cooking with home-grown fruit and nuts!’ So naturally, when the place came up for sale, Antoinette put a call in to the estate agent.

‘When it came to the renovations, we had clear ideas of what we wanted to do and we planned it all out in detail,’ says Antoinette. The house is a listed property, not just because of the building itself, but because of its location in a conservation area. ‘The work took six months. We’re happy with it and have put a lot of thought into making it the wonderful home it is. It’s minimalistic in style, but warm and welcoming – it’s like a comfort blanket. With the children now away at school, we intend to relax and enjoy it for as long as possible – until it’s time to move somewhere smaller.’

EYE LEVEL GAS FIRE Mounted high to be seen from the other side of the room

Breakfast room ‘The old table was sanded to remove varnish that didn’t do justice to its lovely antique oak grain. We’ve collected many beautiful pieces over the years and mixed them with designer buys and heirlooms.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES California pedestal table, £999, Furniture Village, would work here.

Chapel chairs, £85 each, Peppermill Interiors, are similar. Pleated lampshade, £90, Oka, is a match

REAL HOME

Kitchen-diner ‘The cabinets are a mix of Ikea carcasses with bespoke fronts, but the dark, Belgian bluestone worktop really gives it the wow factor. Lars made the high table himself and we added a set of bar stools.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Metod 600mm base cabinets, £23 each, Ikea. Fiam bar stools, £49 each, John Lewis & Partners, are similar.

Westport wall lights, £65 each, Garden Trading, would work here

Love

ANTOINETTE’S LISTED HOME? Turn to page 54 to find out more

DOWN LIGHTERS Throw focused lighting on the working area

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

An antique table gives the breakfast room character

Dining room fireplace ‘This is one of three original fireplaces in the house. We had the plush, fireside rug made to measure in a neutral colour to complement the wooden flooring.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Arianna rocking chair, £169.99, Wayfair, is a match.

Hampen high-pile rug, £29, Ikea, is similar

Dining room seating area ‘Adding dark colour on one wall pulls together all the neutrals.

Throws are a great way to cover shabby sofas! I change the fabrics seasonally. The picture is a photo I had printed on Plexiglass.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Juniper Ash intelligent matt emulsion, £50 for 2.5L, Little Greene, is a similar paint colour. Boutique Hotel velvet stitch throw, £200, John Lewis & Partners, is a match

“

Throughout the house, we’ve stuck to a mix of whites, greys and other neutrals on the walls, ceilings and floors, and it creates a soft, subtle backdrop

”

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

51

SHEEPSKIN THROWS Soften seating for long, lingering dinners

Shower room The en-suite bathroom was completely refurbished. The floor is a matt finish Belgian bluestone, run throughout to give a sense of flow.

The doors were taken from our previous home and sanded down to expose the wood.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES For similar tiles try the Surfel Bluestone floor tiles, £69.95sq m; Bijou brick gloss White mosaic tiles, £2.95 per sheet, both Walls and Floors

Living room ‘The ceiling is lower in this area.

The chandelier is a modern copy of a German antique and makes a delicate-looking focal point that contrasts with the chunky, solid oak dining table.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Saumur chandelier, £154, Maisons du Monde, is similar. Round raw oak dining table, £700, Garden Trading, would work here.

Tesla faux leather dining chairs, £119 each, Cult Furniture, are a match

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

WHAT WE’VE LEARNED

“

It’s essential to know what you can and can’t do with a listed property.

We had to obtain permits and for every change, from window frames and roofing to the interior walls and flooring, everything had to be officially approved

”

REAL HOME

Main bedroom ‘We renovated the beamed ceilings upstairs and have incorporated insulation to make the bedrooms warmer.

And the original floorboards have been re-finished too.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES New Haven drop-leaf table, £89.97, Furniture 123, is similar. Giovanna white bedspread, £88, Maisons du Monde, is a match. Star grey and white throw, £25, John Lewis & Partners, would work here

FEATURE COCOFEATURES.COM, GERALDINE NESBITT, LISA FAZZANI, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS PEGGY JANSSEN

DROP-LEAF TABLE Repurposed as a dressing table

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

53

REAL HOME

Make it work for you

ANTOINETTE’S CHOICE: BUYING A LISTED BUILDING Tempted to buy a characterful home, but unsure if a listed building is for you?

Our guide spells out the plus points and the pitfalls for owning a piece of history

Q

What is a listed building?

It’s essentially a building with special architectural or historic interest. All wellpreserved homes built before 1700 would generally be listed, along with most built between 1700 and 1850. The majority were built before 1945, but there are some exceptions.

Q

Is buying a listed property ever a good idea?

If you’ve fallen in love with the unique character of a property and want to preserve it in its entirety then yes, tackling a sensitive renovation may be for you. However, if you see major flaws in the layout, are hoping to rework it or extend, then you may want to think again.

Q

What permissions do I need when renovating?

If you want to demolish, alter or extend any part of a listed building that would affect its

character, you’ll need Listed Building Consent. This is in addition to the normal planning permission rules that apply to all properties, but you can apply for both at the same time via your local planning authority.

If windows are beyond repair, replicas made by a specialist may be allowed

Q

Is an extension possible?

Many listed homes have been extended, but the new structure has to be lower and smaller than the existing building and you’ll have more chance of getting approval if it’s at the rear or side. If your home has been badly extended previously, planners may look favourably on a new extension that better suits the property.

Often you’ll need to use matching materials, but sometimes modern solutions, which clearly demarcate the old from the new, can work well, too.

BEST FOR…

“

Listed buildings are subject to much tighter controls, but they can be altered.

Any changes need to be carefully considered and mindfully executed UFUK BAHAR, URBANIST ARCHITECTURE

”

IDEAL HOME LOVES… NEW UPDATES ON LISTED HOMES

SCANDI MODERNISM Timber box extension clad in red cedar with zinc roof, £3,000sq m, John Pardey Architects

54

ALL ABOUT THE CURVES Curved glass extension with sliding bifold doors, £1,800sq m, Living Space Architects

NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

SLOPING SITE Two-storey extension to Grade II-listed manor house, around £5,382sq m (excluding VAT and fees), Gregory Phillips Architects

CHECKING LISTED STATUS The National Heritage List is the official source for checking listed status, as well as providing advice.

Visit historicengland. org.uk/listing.

A GOOD READ New Design for Old Buildings by Roger Hunt and Iain Boyd illustrates how good new architecture can sit happily alongside the old. It’s £40 from ribabookshops.com.

PRACTICAL TIPS Meet suppliers and experts at the Listed Property Show at London’s Olympia, 8-9 February 2020.

Visit lpoc.co.uk.

FEATURE KAREN WILSON

Get the lowdown on regulations for listed properties to make sure any works have the correct planning approval.

Beautiful

...starts with a Moduleo floor When youʼre creating the perfect space, Moduleo is the place to start.

Continually inspired by the latest trends, design and performance we offer beautiful, practical and durable floors to enhance every room.

With new colours and designs available, each reflecting the distinctive textures of nature, let us exceed your every expectation.

Discover more at moduleo.co.uk/beautiful

THE WAY YOU LIVE INSPIRES US TO CREATE

Framed art This trick creates a focal point and can be cheaper than artwork. It works best behind a sofa, dining table, bed or sideboard to zone or highlight an area.

Paint the frame to match your wall for a more subtle effect

TAKE A ROLL OF WALLPAPERÉ The feature wall isn’t the only way to use a lovely paper. These ideas add colour and impact without scaring the pattern-shy

STYLE & DECOR

We trimmed an offcut to size and spray-glued it onto two Ikea magnet boards

Memo board Swap a scruffy looking pinboard for one covered in a hero paper. It’s a great way to add interest to a neutral wall or relieve an expanse of deep, block colour.

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

59

STYLE & DECOR

Upcycled chest Make a cheap basic look expensive or revive a dated design. It’s a great way to add drama to your room without overpowering it.

Seal the wallpaper with clear matt varnish to prevent peeling

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Create neat, raised edges with battens covered in matching fabric

Bedhead panel Make a boutiquehotel-style design feature by hanging a couple of drops of wallpaper behind the bed, making it about a foot wider than the headboard.

Use different patterns in a similar colour palette

Gallery grid Frame samples or offcuts in identical frames, using a white mount for a formal effect. Choose simple frames, so the patterns are the focus.

STYLE & DECOR

Shelf backing Highlight a favourite vintage cabinet or upgrade a basic one with wallpaper designs in co-ordinating colourways.

We used different line-drawn geometric patterns in metallic colours

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

63

STYLE & DECOR

Framed art

Upcycled chest

Gallery grid

Wall in Setting Plaster modern emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Smooth bullnose architrave, from £2.90, B&Q. Allure Blush Pink fade marble wallpaper mural, £36sq m, Murals Wallpaper. Wooden pendant arc floor lamp, £225, French Connection Home. Purcell three seater sofa in Meg 64, £999, Barker and Stonehouse. Moby accent chair in Pine Green velvet, £399, Made.com. Raleigh coffee table, £161, Perch & Parrow, would work here. Lohals rug, from £60, Ikea.

Mila pouch in Mustard, from £24, Collard Manson. Burnt Orange velvet cushion, £55, Ella James. Bailey ribbed velvet cushion in Pink, £65, Habitat. Try cushion with fringe in Dusty Rose, £35, Collard Manson. Cotton velvet cushion in Ivy, £25, John Lewis & Partners. Inle round rattan tray, £52, Kalinko. Speckled side plate in Blush, £70 for six, Cox & Cox. Still teapot, €65, Ferm Living. Stoneware mugs in Tea Rose, £58 for two, Rowen & Wren.

Honey pot, £40, Abode Living

Wall in Smoked Trout modern emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Curtain in Seville Holly, £26.50m, Villa Nova; trim in Light Jute fringe, £62m, Samuel & Sons. For similar wall decor, try Juju hat, £153.71, Graceland Juju Hats at Etsy. Milly chair, £399, Next Home. Nordli chest of six drawers, £170, Ikea; in Crane Bird in Forest Green wallpaper, £85 a roll, Woodchip & Magnolia. Zigzag tufted rug, £250, Graham and Green. Obu jewellery stand, €79, Ferm Living. Glamorous exclusive straw rattan and wood bangle pack, £10, Asos.

Blush Phyllis rope necklace, £30, Beth Pegler. Latha rattan place mat, £64 for four, Kalinko. Blusher, stylist’s own. Foundation brush, £21, John Lewis & Partners. Poise hand mirror in Brass, €65, Ferm Living.

Green glass vase, £43, Collard Manson.

Extra large round glass lamp in Pink, £175; velvet shade, from £69, both Graham and Green

Memo board

Wall in Highland Green flat matt, £29.16 for 2.5L, Dulux. Ava Marika Moody floral wallpaper, £85 a roll; velvet fabric, £89m, both Woodchip & Magnolia. Medan king size bed frame, £599, John Lewis & Partners. Rattan side tables, £110 each; large jute circles rug, £225, both Design Vintage. Fringe velvet lamps in Mustard, £120 each, Abode Living. Try concrete clock, £24.95, Trouva. Ripple carafe set, €35, Ferm Living. Derry recycled gin glass (used as vase), £32 for four, Rowen & Wren.

Tassel cushions in Dusty Rose, £65, Design Vintage. Bedlinen in Olive Green, from £15 for a pillowcase, Secret Linen Store.

Vintage style velvet ruched round cushion in Soft Pink, £49, Rockett St George.

Cushion with fringe in Dark Green, £34, Collard Manson. Linen flat sheet in Blush Pink, £79 for a king size, Secret Linen Store.

Crinkled cotton blanket in Dark Camel, £34.99, H&M Home. Luxury camel tassel throw, £285, Design Vintage

Wall in Stiffkey Blue modern emulsion; woodwork in All White modern emulsion, both £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball.

Lomviken frames, £17 each, Ikea. Dancing Crane wallpaper in Yellow/Black, £88 a roll; Mozambique wallpaper in Ochre Yellow, £30 a roll; Kvitten wallpaper in Dark Blue, £79 a roll; Sundari Damask wallpaper in Green, £56.95 a roll; Aldwych wallpaper in Black and Gold, £110 a roll; Mitford Damask wallpaper in Antique Gold, £99 a roll, all Wallpaper Direct. Amaliah bench, £350, Graham and Green. Flat rattan dining chair in Natural, £200, Cox & Cox. Elegant water glasses, £6 each, Rockett St George. Little Moroccan basket (used as plant pot), £18, Design Vintage. Oval carafe with stopper, £36, Trouva, is similar. Drupe mills, €39 each, Ferm Living. Cinnamon bowls, £6 each, Habitat. Pink side plates, as before.

Guzel dinner plates, £10 each, Habitat.

Menu Enchasse bowl, £240, Opumo.

Stoneware mugs, as before. Chemex drip coffee maker, £37, Opumo. Polished cutlery in Black, £80 for 16 piece set, Cox & Cox. Linen napkin in Plaster Pink, £18 for two, Rowen & Wren. Place mats, as before.

Linen tablecloth in Orange Rust, £64, Heal’s. Woven linen tablecloth in Blush Pink, £85, Rockett St George. Try cushion cover in Olive Green, £22, Trouva. Linen table runner in Natural, £17.99, Linen Me. Seagrass tray, £35, Cox & Cox. Bowls, from a selection at Habitat and Rowen & Wren

Walls in Stiffkey Blue modern emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L; woodwork in Joa’s White modern eggshell, £69 for 2.5L, both Farrow & Ball. Spontan magnetic boards, £10 each, Ikea; covered in Marie wallpaper in Pink, £92 a roll, Wallpaper Direct. Orson desk in walnut, £3,072, Heal’s. Deco velvet dining chair in Golden Ochre, £150, Rockett St George. Anglepoise Original 1227 brass desk lamp in Black, £250, John Lewis & Partners. Brass clip magnets, £8 for four; DDR 360 protractor, £7.50; Sigrid Calon notecard, £13.50 for set of 12; Mail Box graph envelopes, £14 for set of 20; Target sheets DDR, £2.50 for set of five, all Present & Correct. Drip glazed terracotta tumbler, £20 for two, Rowen & Wren. Brass scissors, £10; Ace ballpoint pens, from £1.50 each; Confidential envelope, from £4; glass container, £16.50; coloured clips, £4.50 each; Envelope pencil case in Blush, £23.50, all Present & Correct. Glass storage jar (used as vase), £12, Debenhams.

Latha rattan coasters in Pink, £32 for set of six, Kalinko. Mug, as before. Lotus flower paperweight, £20, Design Vintage

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Bedhead panel

Shelf backing Wall, as before. Brass & Glass display cabinet, £395, Rockett St George; backing in Chrysler wallpaper; Deco Arch wallpaper; Scott wallpaper; Deco Diamond wallpaper, all £15.98 a roll, Wallpaper Direct. Fein measurement spoons, €69, Ferm Living.

Tumblers in Amber, £6.95 each, Rockett St George. Long drink glasses, €55 for four, Ferm Living. Kyoto bowl, £29 for set of three, Collard Manson. Coasters, as before. Hansa pinch pots, £4 each; Derry gin glasses, £32 for four, both Rowen & Wren. Water glasses; side plate; napkin; place mat, all as before.

Feria dinner plates in Black, £14 each, Rockett St George. Zomi tumbler, £48 for four, Kalinko. Terracotta tumbler, as before.

Artisan bowl, £9.95, Nkuku. Cocktail glass, £9, Design Vintage. Decanter, £29.50, Marks & Spencer. Bubbles & Bottles ornament, £236 for set of four, John Lewis & Partners. Zomi vase, £28, Kalinko. Nibbles bowl, £5.50, Design Vintage, is similar

FEATURE NICKY PHILLIPS, VANESSA RICHMOND STYLING CHARLIE DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHS TIM YOUNG

WHERE TO BUY

Eco Comfort Mattress

sleep even easier We’ve stopped more than 105 million plastic bottles from flowing into the oceans with our eco-friendly mattresses

Nothing beats a G

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Visit silentnight.co.uk to find your local stockist

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REAL HOME

Living room ‘We completely transformed the old-fashioned sitting room into a grown-ups only entertaining space.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Rhombi wallpaper panels, £130 a roll, Zoffany. Blue chair, £699; rug, £899; coffee table, £499, all West Elm. Round mirror, £550, One World

FRAMED WALLPAPER Make your own wall art with a beading frame

Cool, calm and collected Fiona Brass planned every space to feel peaceful and organised – the ultimate antidote to the stresses of life

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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Welcome to my home THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom Twenties detached house in Esher, Surrey, bought in 2017.

THE VALUE Similar properties in the area go on the market for around £1.25million.

Fiona Brass, founder of Fiona Brass Interiors, lives here with her husband, Chris, who works in finance, and their two children, Erin, six, and Connor, three.

H Take a quick tour...

PLAY ROOM KITCHEN-DINER

OFFICE FAMILY SNUG

UTILITY ROOM BEDROOM

BEDROOM

BOOT ROOM GARAGE

LIVING ROOM

GROUND FLOOR

68

LOO

BEDROOM

FIRST FLOOR

NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

“

When we bought it, it was damp and in a poor state of repair, but had a very happy feel

”

aving just finished transforming a semi-detached house in 2017, you’d think Fiona Brass would be sitting back and enjoying the fruits of her labour, but instead she was keen to find a new challenge.

‘I spotted a house for sale locally that had been left empty for eight years,’ she says. ‘It had been owned by just one family and still had all the original Art Deco details: panelling in the hallway; stained-glass windows; decorative shell fireplaces; Bakelite light switches; original bathrooms and a wooden kitchen.’

Most people would have left well alone, but Fiona and Chris could see an opportunity to gain space. ‘We also fell in love with its west-facing aspect,’ says Fiona, ‘and having daylight for longer has made a huge difference to how we live, relax and use our outdoor space.’ The house sale completed in June 2017 and the family spent 12 months renting, while the place was gutted.

Fiona drew up detailed plans and made all the key decisions before a single builder set foot in the house.

‘We had limited funds and couldn’t afford to go over budget,’ she says. ‘Layouts were drawn to scale and then layered up with key pieces of furniture and furnishings, so all the costs were predetermined. Ninety-five per cent of it was decided this way to ensure everything was delivered on time and budget, with no surprises.’

Work started with a loft extension for a master suite and the whole house was rewired, plumbed and had its windows and flooring replaced. ‘At the back, an extension was designed to suit modern family living, with an open-plan kitchen-diner, TV area, office and playroom that connect to the garden,’ says Fiona. ‘Every day I fall back in love with what we have created here.’

REAL HOME

Kitchen-diner The mid-green textural wallpaper in the dining area segues into dark green paint in the adjoining snug, giving it a cosy, cave-like feel.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Focus wallpaper, £100 a roll, Arte. Wall painted in Livid Intelligent matt emulsion, £50 for 2.5L, Little Greene

SINTERED STONE Looks like marble but doesn’t stain

Love

FIONA’S STYLE? Turn to page 75 to shop the look

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

69

Kitchen-diner

“

It’s a versatile layout that allows individual spaces to be zoned off, or connected. The circular flow means everyone feels very together

”

FULL-HEIGHT CABINETS More storage and no dust gathering on top

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

There’s a lot going on in the multifunctional open-plan kitchen-diner and living space, but the very simple, sleek furniture and fittings keep the feeling calm.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Bar stools, £220 each, Hay. Table, £1,539; bench, £549, both Heal’s

REAL HOME

Kitchen corner ‘I designed a cosy built-in bench seating area for chilling. Plus, it’s the perfect place for plants.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Runner, £50, H&M Home. Wall planters, £60 for three, La Redoute.

Cushions in Clarke & Clarke fabric, from £30, Fiona Brass

PLANT HOLDERS In a cluster, they’re an alternative to wall art

TV snug A squashy corner sofa maximises seating in this nook off the kitchen-diner.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Sofa, £1,800, Barker and Stonehouse.

Square metal shelf, £50 for set of two, One World

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READING LIGHTS Free up bedside table space

Guest bedroom

Main bedroom

‘We optimised every inch of space in the guest bedroom and used wall-mounted bedside tables as floor space was so limited,’ says Fiona.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Tourbillon wallpaper, £101 a roll, Farrow & Ball. Isaac antique brass and glass hanging light, £70, Laura Ashley. Oak side table, £175, Urbansize

‘The new loft bedroom, with its dressing room and en suite, is now a quiet retreat for us.

The wallpapered wall is a space-saving alternative to a headboard in this narrow room.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Seri wallpaper, £116 a roll, Anthology.

Bedside table, £250, La Redoute.

Bedding, from £20 for a pillowcase, Heal’s. Chair, £549, Swoon

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

Lighting schemes within the house were considered in detail to optimise the ambience of each room. In hindsight, I wish I had extended that thinking to the garden, beyond just the patio area.

Maximising its impact after dark will be my next project!

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

”

FEATURE AND STYLING ALI HEATH PHOTOGRAPHS BRENT DARBY

VARIED-HEIGHT PENDANTS Make a corner into a feature

REAL HOME

Home office ‘This room and the kids’ playroom are behind the kitchen and flow into the open-plan space, so it all feels airy and connected.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Fjallberget conference chair, £150; Mosslanda picture ledge, from £5 for 55cm, both Ikea

MOSAICEFFECT BORDER Created with masking tape and paint sample pots

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uniquely yours...

for our latest brochure

nevillejohnson.co.uk | 0161 873 8333 STUDIES

BEDROOMS

LOUNGES

LIBRARIES

REAL HOME

Make it work for you

FIONA’S STYLE: MODERN MINIMALIST

Contemporary touches of cobalt blue, an array of houseplants and pops of pattern perk up a neutral base GREAT DEAL

IDEAL LIGHT UP Boyd White glass and chrome ceiling light, £80, Habitat

DESIGN CLASSIC Ercol Marino fabric armchair, £1,410, Barker & Stonehouse

SOFT GLOW Rondo ceiling pendant, £41.51, Eglo at Amazon

RETRO STYLE Charlie armchair in Grey wool, £449, Swoon

LUXURIOUS FIBRES Alpaca plains throw in Blue, £250, Bronte by Moon

FRINGED EDGES Nova Blue cotton blanket, £33, Maisons du Monde CHEERY COMFORT Bloom cushion in Blue, £40, John Lewis & Partners

FEATURE JESSICA TAVERNER

TRAILING LEAVES Faux potted string of pearls, £35, Audenza

MOTTLED FINISH Notre Monde medium round mirror, £185, Houseology

MODERN SHAPE Metal planters, from £86 each, Notonthe highstreet.com

WATERCOLOUR EFFECT Tropical floral Blue cushion cover, £5, Dunelm

SLENDER DUO Metal tall planters, £45 for set of two, Matalan

INSTANT STYLE String of hearts in ceramic pot, £19.50, Marks & Spencer

BRUSHED FRAME Newport round mirror in Antique Silver, £105, Perch & Parrow

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DE SIGN E D A N D M A DE I N H A M P SH I R E , E NGL A N D

S WA DL I NGBR A S S WA R E .C O.U K

STYLE & DECOR

EASY STYLE UPDATES From best buys and clever tricks to mini decor projects… this is our roundup of the simplest, quickest ways to make your home more beautiful now

1 TRY A DEEP, DARK GREY Already love grey? If your room gets lots of natural light, push

it a step further and go for a deep charcoal shade to make it feel warm and cocooning for winter. It works brilliantly with neutral flooring, broken up with white or paler grey on accessories.

Ink matt emulsion, £38 for 2.5L; Caspar armchair in Harris Tweed Bilbury, £1,805; Beswick ceramic stool, £120; Ravenhead mirror, £520, all Neptune

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2

BOOST THE LUXE FACTOR IN YOUR BOUDOIR Buy a sumptuous bed linen set with a high thread count in a chic design.

Team with plain pillow covers in a contrasting colour.

3

CHOOSE OLD SCHOOL STORAGE Yasuko duvet cover, from £120; Yasuko pillowcases, £55 for a pair; Yasuko cushion, from £35, all Agent Provocateur range, House of Fraser

Halo Speckle, £159.99 for a 12-piece dinner set; Halo cast-iron casserole pot, £124.99; both Denby range; Sabichi marble plate, £34.99 for a 12-piece set, all Very

4 UPDATE TABLEWARE FOR THE SEASON

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New crockery in seasonal shades is all you need to turn your table into something more special this winter.

Combine pattern with plain to layer up place settings for a casually co-ordinated look.

NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

White locker-style cabinet, £1,350, Nordic House

Metal locker-style storage will give your home an industrial edge, and this glass-fronted design allows you to create a display out of your belongings.

STYLE & DECOR

5 LAYER TEXTURE FOR COMFORT Go all out in the living room with different soft

textures. Sheepskin rugs will warm chilly toes, a knitted pouffe is perfect to rest tired feet on and wool blankets and embroidered and woven cushions create a sofa fit for snuggling.

Navy knitted pom-pom throw, £20; woven pendant ceiling shade, £30; knitted pouffe, £39; cushions, from left: geometric dotted, £6; tufted tassel, £10; woven loop, £8; velvet, £5, all George Home

POWERFUL CORDLESS VACUUMING. RUN WITH BOSCH BATTERY TECHNOLOGY.

1.4kg handheld

30 mins Runtime*

4hrs Charging Time

The new Unlimited Serie | 6 Experience Bosch’s lightest ever cordless handstick vacuum with the flexibility to clean from floors to ceilings and sofas to cars. You can also swap batteries between the Unlimited vacuum and compatible Bosch cordless garden and power tools.

To discover more search Bosch Unlimited. *Runtime is 30 minutes for handheld only in normal mode.

Interchangeable Battery Compatible with other Bosch products.

STYLE & DECOR

6

LAY A SIMPLE RUG A monochrome geometric-pattern rug works with any wall colour, adding interest and depth to pale neutrals or creating a bold contrast with darker colours.

7

PUT A LADDER SHELF TO WORK

Geometric Wren rug in Ivory, from £1,675, Grosvenor Wilton

Ladder shelves are so handy for slotting into any space without making it look blocked and cluttered – ideal for towels in a bathroom or as a stand-up vanity.

Leather magazine basket, £75, A by Amara range, Amara

8

DECLUTTER YOUR LIVING SPACE

Add a luxe touch to your reading nook with this chic magazine rack. Or use in the office to keep bills and paperwork close to hand in an orderly fashion.

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9 HANG AN ISLAND CEILING SHELF Where worktop space in a kitchen is at a premium, take advantage of any

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

wasted ceiling space by hanging a shelf above an island or breakfast bar for cookbooks, spices, growing herbs or plants.

Keep the shelf in the same colour as your ceiling, so it blends into the scheme.

STYLE & DECOR

10

Solene pill oval dining table, £599, Next Home

GLAM UP YOUR DINING SPACE If your dining area adjoins your living space and your style is smart, there’s no need for your table and chairs to let the look down with this super-glam set from Next Home.

11

GIVE YOUR HALLWAY THE WOW FACTOR Paint the stairs and banisters in a dark, dramatic shade that won’t show up dirt and scuffs easily.

Treat the inside of the front door to the same colour to tie it in with the space.

Bold Monkey Don’t Love Me love sofa in Dark Green, £1,049, Cuckooland

Balustrades and door painted in Ilex pure flat emulsion; highlight stripes in Sobek pure flat emulsion; both £49.50 for 2.5L, all Paint & Paper Library

12

PLUMP FOR AN ACCENT SOFA

A home can never have enough seating, so if you have an awkward space you don’t know what to do with in an open-plan extension, landing or master bedroom, squeeze in a stylish seat to create a quiet break-out zone for curling up in.

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Craving comfort?

Rest assured.

Shop thousands more designs at swooneditions.com

Porto sofa from

Furniture for the home obsessed

ÂŁ1,099

STYLE & DECOR Quintet pendant, £289, Pooky

13

UPDATE KITCHEN TASK LIGHTING While spotlights are still popular for a kitchen, they don’t provide much of a mood, whereas a feature light with a dimmer switch over an island will.

14

FILL EMPTY ALCOVES WITH LOGS Make a feature of extra logs for the fire by stacking them in an unused space or cubbyhole.

For a pretty winter display, wrap copper wire fairy lights around them.

TruGlow candles, from £11.99, Lights4Fun

15

GO FAUX FOR A LASTING GLOW

Ideal for a show-stopping table, these battery-powered candles are made of hand-poured wax so they look like the real deal, but with an LED ‘flame’ they’re safe, drip-free and last longer.

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STYLE & DECOR

16

WOW WITH A STUNNING PENDANT Choose a light fitting that suits your dining table’s proportions – too large and it’ll overwhelm the space, too small and it’ll get lost.

Position over the centre of your table, or hang a pair if the table is long enough.

Starsky chandelier with recycled pressed-glass strips, £430, Pooky

17

ADD A MIRROR WITH MORE This slimline mirror is great for small spaces, plus has the bonus of a handy drawer beneath it – ideal for keeping hair-styling tools and accessories.

Waxham wallpaper in Steel, £34 a roll; Haxby snuggler sofa in Dalton Dove Grey, £1,200; Noah floor lamp, £185; Alena mirror in Champagne, £175, all Laura Ashley

No.185 mirror in natural/oak, £450, Design Project range, John Lewis & Partners

Tua double duvet, £90; standard pillowcases, £22 for two; Freya throw, £95; White Ebba cushions, £40 each; Misti cushion, £40; Skye cushion, £40, all Murmur

18

PAPER A LEAFY FEATURE WALL A leaf wallpaper is the ideal backdrop for elegant, modern furniture, but keep it to one wall so as not to overwhelm.

19

PAIR PINK AND GREEN Use pale powder pink in a bedroom for a hint of warm colour, then add gentle contrast with a mossy green.

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STYLE & DECOR

20

SOFTEN A DINING SPACE

Sandham dining table, £499; Sandham wooden benches, £199 each; faux sheepskin rugs, from £35 each, all Next Home

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FEATURE HOLLY WALSH PHOTOGRAPHS TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

Bench seating can look hard and cold, so warm it up with some simple sheepskin throws or rugs for a cosy sitting spot that’s comfortable enough to linger over long, winter Sunday lunches with friends.

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE PATTERN PLAY

Mix and match motifs and geo designs with a hint of sheen.

Fabrics, from £26m, Fairhill collection at Ashley Wilde

STERLING SHADES CLASSIC TOUCH

Silver tones and steel greys create a balanced scheme.

A varied palette of rich chenille looks timeless on upholstery.

Milan fabric, £26m, Fairhill collection at Ashley Wilde

Fabrics, from £26m, Fairhill collection at Ashley Wilde

FINE FABRICS INSPIRED BY NATURE nticing colour and captivating pattern are among the best ways to breathe new life into your home.

This autumn, there’s a subtle shift towards schemes put together with a lighter touch, using fabrics in sophisticated designs that offer a wealth of possibilities for any room.

TEMPTING TEXTURES Inspired by nature, the beautiful new collection from Ashley Wilde, Fairhill, includes exquisite painterly designs, with leaves and stems trailing across fabrics and delicate leaf skeletons creating subtle hints of pattern. Made up into curtains or Roman blinds, the fabrics will fall in soft folds, highlighting the organic motifs and adding a luxurious accent to windows. Combine with a few carefully co-ordinated geometrics that come in smooth, reflective satin finishes and plain

backgrounds, which are enlivened by raised lines that add tantalising interest.

Texture is a key theme this season, whether found in smooth jacquards or rich chenilles. If you’re looking to reupholster a sofa, occasional chair or footstool, the Milan design is an ideal choice – its invitingly deep pile is wonderfully luxurious to the touch.

A SHADE DIFFERENT With an adaptable palette, the range lends itself to any look. Where a solid foundation is needed, turn to Fairhill’s saturated warm mustards and steely greys. For a more airy look, select silvery tones and light straw or mauve colours.

Decision making is easy, as the luxurious fabrics are arranged into four groups that will work together for furniture, furnishings or cushions. Fairhill celebrates the best

of British, with exceptional fabrics woven in unique designs. Make this collection part of your home and enjoy these relaxed looks for years to come.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...

Check out the full range of fabrics at ashleywildegroup.com, or call 01707 635201. Follow us on Twitter @ashleywilde, or on Facebook and Instagram @ashleywildegroup

FEATURE CAROLINE RODRIGUES

E

Evoke a timeless, classic ambience with elegant designs from Ashley Wilde, ideal for effortless layering

Search Graham&Brown in the App Store to see our wallpapers on your walls

WALLPAPER and PAINT • MADE for EACH OTHER

GRAHAMBROWN.COM

Kitchen ‘This new part of the house has been built in concrete and the kitchen cabinets are very modern. We love seeing how it blends with the old part,’ says Ellen.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Siemens island chimney hood, £1,099, John Lewis & Partners, is similar. Try Amina rattan stools, £129 each, Cult Furniture

SUSPENDED EXTRACTOR Doesn’t block the view across the kitchen

Having the best of both worlds

Ellen and Robert Schellekens bought a characterful period villa with its features intact and added a bold, industrial-style extension designed for modern family life

REAL HOME

Dining area ‘We’ve tried to soften the industrial look with tactile elements like touches of animal print, wood and the huge heart painting, which we made with the children at an art workshop.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Boston dining table, £1,599, Furniture Village, is a match. Tolix style chair, £69, Cult Furniture. Try white cluster pendant, £199.59, The Lighting Company

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Welcome to our home THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom detached villa built in 1917 in the city of Amersfoort, which is in the province of Utrecht, Netherlands.

Ellen Schellekens lives here with her husband Robert and their children, Julia, eight, Lot, seven, Nine, five, and Marne, two. Robert owns a specialist paint company.

T Take a quick tour...

KITCHEN-DINER

BEDROOM

OFFICE

LIVING ROOM

BEDROOM

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

BEDROOM BEDROOM

BATHROOM

GUEST LIVING AREA BEDROOM

SECOND FLOOR

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CELLAR

NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

“

This whole house is a treasure, but the best bit for us as a family is definitely the new kitchen-diner and basement extension

”

his house had been on the Schellekens’ wish list for a few years. ‘We lived nearby and every time we drove past, we’d look at each other and knew it was exactly what we wanted,’ says Ellen. ‘Then, five years ago, it came up for sale and we finally got the opportunity to look inside.’

The property had been vacant for a while and hadn’t been modernised in any way by its previous owners.

‘We knew it would take some work, but many of the original period details were still in place so we could see its potential,’ says Ellen. With their four young children, the huge garden was the icing on the cake.

‘We like buying houses that need renovating and want to live in a home where we can leave our mark, so this house fitted our family perfectly.’

Though there had been quite a number of viewings, no one else had made an offer, so the Schellekens decided to take a chance. Knowing it was going to be quite a large project, Ellen and Robert decided to tackle the work in two stages: ‘Phase one was to renovate the existing house. It’s more than 100 years old and still has many of its original features, such as the windows and panelled doors, so we’ve tried to renovate it with respect for its past,’ says Ellen. ‘Phase two was adding the modern extension, to include a large kitchen and basement area, which took more than two years. During that time, we did all of our living and cooking in the living room, using a temporary kitchen.’

This is the third renovation project the family has undertaken. ‘We tend to move on when all the work is finished. But this house is different – it has everything we want and is in the perfect location for our family.

Having four young children, we have lots of challenges and I can’t imagine we’d find a better place to live.’

REAL HOME

Living room and conservatory ‘The conservatory at the side of the house has floor-to-ceiling windows.

We painted the frames black to make it feel dramatic and snug.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Hiba steel cabinet, £285, La Redoute, would work here. Faro jute round rug, £119, Dunelm, is similar. Try Wooden trophy head, £65, Notonthehighstreet.com

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Living room ‘It’s quite a large room, so we’ve tried to bring in lots of different elements to break up the blank wall space, like this shimmering Indian shell wall hanging behind the corner sofa.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Try capiz door curtain, £237.30, Churn Milk at Etsy. Essentials Kiva corner sofa, £699, Made.com, is similar

Love ELLEN’S STYLE?

Turn to page 103 to shop the look

LOW BAND OF COLOUR Makes a seating area more cocooned and cosy

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

REAL HOME

Living room window Ellen painted the beautiful bay window frames white and had very simple white slatted blinds fitted that look like they’re part of the design.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Recreate this look with White faux wood blinds, from £13.70, Blinds 2go. White metal coffee table, £209, Tikamoon, would work here

‘We designed the chimney ourselves, with insets for both the fire and the TV’

Living room feature wall ‘To create a standout feature, we’ve used a slate covering on this side wall, which adds a contrast texture against the smooth white walls and pale wood flooring,’ says Ellen.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Slate effect wall tiles, £17.99sq m, Tile Mountain, would have this effect.

Scott three-seater sofa, £999, Made. com, is similar. Try Andes footstool, £479, West Elm. Diano pure wool knit rug, £179, La Redoute, is a match

“

The decor is a mix of vintage, industrial and modern things.

We tend to just follow our instincts and this is the result

”

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REAL HOME

Julia’s bedroom A basic length of chipboard makes a cool noticeboard for photos and peg rails behind Julia’s vintage desk.

BUY THE KEY PIECES For similar wallpaper, try Little Fawn, £79 a roll, Bobby Rabbit

Gold decals create a polkadot effect in Lot’s attic room

Ellen and Robert’s bedroom Tile-effect wallpaper gives this simple room subtle pattern and texture. Oak flooring and knitted and woven textiles help the space feel warmer and cosier.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Elitis Memoires Loup wallpaper, £156.40 a roll, Beut. Try Milan double bed, £399, Next Home. Find similar tasselled bedspreads, from £58 each, at Anthropologie

We love going to fleamarkets in “Holland and on holiday abroad.

We visited Budapest recently and came back with some lovely old pieces of furniture

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”

Ellen and Robert’s bathroom This room has an urban, industrial feel with concreteeffect walls and pared-back fittings, but the couple softened the look with luxurious, long velvet curtains.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Hygge curtains, £199, Swoon, would work here. Raw teak stool, £105, Notonthehighstreet.com, is a match

WATERPROOF COATING Gives a textured, concrete look, but is more practical

REAL HOME

GLASS WALL Lets light flow through the basement rooms

A narrow slice of the attic space was turned into a bathroom for the children. Although it’s small, plenty of light gets in, so Ellen could get away with this dramatic black paint (actually a practical waterproof coating) to highlight the room’s interesting angles.

BUY THE KEY PIECES Try Bathroom mid-sheen emulsion in Supernova, £15 for 2.5L, Wilko. Morris woven laundry basket, £90, Habitat, is similar

Guest suite ‘In the basement, we’ve created a separate flat with its own entrance.

Imagine when the children are students – it’ll be the best place for them to stay when visiting their parents for the weekend! To connect the space with the rest of the house, we used the same herringbone flooring on the wall behind the bed.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Try Cone brass pendant shade, £69, Industville.

Koldby cow hide, £179, Ikea, is similar.

Faux fur throw, £90, John Lewis & Partners, would work

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WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

Don’t worry about a very modern extension looking out of keeping with a period property. The high ceilings and herringbone wood floors in the old part of our house are in sharp contrast with the stainless steel and concrete in the new kitchen, but it works

NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

”

FEATURE WILMA TJALSMA/LISA FAZZANI/VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS MUK VAN LIL,COCOFEATURES.COM STYLING DE VESTINGH PAINT AND CRAFT

Children’s bathroom

REAL HOME

Hire a bike and cycle around the historic streets A spot of people watching in The Hof is a must

Love the location AMERSFOORT, THE NETHERLANDS

FEATURE SEAN O’CONNELL PHOTOGRAPHS ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

The Schellekens’ hometown is chock full of picturesque streets, historic buildings and period charm

Treat yourself to lunch in De Monnikendam

HOW TO GET THERE Fly to Amsterdam with Easyjet from £29, and then take the train from the airport to Amersfoort, changing at Utrecht, for €12.

THE LOCAL AREA The pretty suburbs are reasonably priced, with a five-bedroom Victorian terrace costing €299,000, but prices creep up to €449,000 nearer the centre.

WHAT TO SEE & DO Visit the museum dedicated to artist Piet Mondrian, stop by the city brewery De Drie Ringen, and chill out in a café in the main square.

WHERE TO STAY With its clean and comfy rooms, the charming period hotel Logement de Gaaper sits right in the heart of the city, ideally located for exploring.

Go on a canal cruise to see the city from the water

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TRANSFORM YOUR EXISTING STAIRCASE WITH NO MESS, NO FUSS AND BEST OF ALL NO BUILDING WORK Renovating your staircase into an exquisite feature is much easier and less costly than you’d imagine. In just 1-2 days and with no building work, we will transform the heart of your home, and add value to your property with a stunning, handcrafted staircase.

All in a style to suit you and your budget.

GLASS, STEEL & TIMBER DESIGNS NO STAIRCASE TOO LARGE OR SMALL BRITISH DESIGN & CRAFTSMANSHIP NO BUILDING WORK TYPICALLY INSTALLED IN 1-2 DAYS 10 YEAR GUARANTEE BUY NOW PAY IN 12 MONTHS*

visit nevillejohnson.co.uk

for our latest brochure or call 0161 873 8333

*Buy now pay in 12 months finance offer is available on orders over £2,000 +VAT. Finance is subject to status, terms apply.

REAL HOME

Make it work for you

ELLEN’S STYLE: URBAN FLAIR

Earthy colours, luxe touches and statement metal furniture take this industrial vibe and give it a modern twist FINE LINE Makiko small pendant, £99, Heal’s

IDEAL

STURDY SEAT Hampstead bar stool, £170, Garden Trading

PRACTICAL PERCH Nirvana rattan bar chair, £99, Dunelm

GREAT DEAL

ALL HEART More amour screen print, £45, Telegramme Paper Co

OPULENT FINISH Amor heart Gold foiled wall art, £59.50, Oliver Bonas

STATEMENT PIECE Mansu iron and mango wood drawers, £995, Nkuku SCULPTURAL SET Hand forged candleholder trio, £45, Curious Egg

GREAT HEIGHTS Golden single head candleholders, £23.68 for set of three, Szqiqi at Amazon

STITCHED DETAILS Rumba tassel blanket in Ecru/Buff, £89, La Redoute

FEATURE JESSICA TAVERNER

CAGED DESIGN Black Tallie easyfit ceiling light, £40, Debenhams

VINTAGE INSPIRED Fulton recycled pine and metal sideboard, £518.50, Maisons Du Monde

TASSEL EDGE Aubrey patterned throw in Ochre, £35, Marks & Spencer

STASH AND STORE Round seagrass basket, £39, Amara

HIDE CLUTTER Pandan small woven basket, £22, Cult Furniture

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IDEAL HOME PARTNERSHIP

‘EVERY PIECE TELLS ITS OWN STORYÕ

Photography duo French Cowboy’s artworks are available at Runway Gallery

D

ramatic and playful, the photographic works of Paris-based duo French Cowboy – aka Mia Macfarlane and Julien Crouigneau – are instantly recognisable. They join a number of artists featured at Runway Gallery, an online showcase of contemporary art.

THE IDEA FOR FRENCH COWBOY WAS BORN ON OUR FIRST HOLIDAY TOGETHER We were in Mallorca, and we came up with this strange character – a French cowboy who tries his best to be a real cowboy. We spent the entire vacation imagining awkward, funny situations for him. It was the first story we created together, so we decided to keep the name.

OUR CREATIVE PROCESS STARTS WITH A STORY By talking through ideas, we come up with a richer, more detailed story. Then we start researching all the elements; the location, ambience, colours, models, styling and make-up. We end up with huge, very detailed mood boards.

FASHION IS OUR COLOUR PALETTE It allows us to tell the story we want to tell. While we aren’t driven by trends, we go to a lot of fashion shows and follow our favourite designers – Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Elsa Schiaparelli, to name a few – so we can’t help but feel inspired.

It’s often a dress, or perhaps a pair of shoes, that will give us an idea.

WE LIKE TO WORK WITH COOLER HUES We always set the white balance on our cameras to be just slightly blue.

We are attracted to the dramatic and

French Cowboy’s innovative, eye catching artworks reflect their personalities

DON’T MISS yet calming quality of it. Don’t feel you need to match artwork to your room colour scheme; contrasting materials, textures and colours brings a welcome element of surprise.

LOOKING FOR A STATEMENT PIECE TO GIVE YOUR WALLS THE WOW FACTOR? Buy stylish and affordable artwork by French Cowboy and other artists at runway-gallery.com

NEXT MONTH

Fashion illustrator Sue Dray captures the beauty, attitude and fast-paced nature of the catwalk in her abstract paintings.

“

Take a bold approach in a small space by hanging oversized artwork – the contrast will create a striking, installation-like feel

”

RUNWAY GALLERY AT THE PHOTO NORTH FESTIVAL Runway Gallery will be exhibiting at the Photo North Festival, 30 November to 2 December, taking place in Harrogate Convention Centre, located at the heart of the pretty spa town. Following on from its debut success last year, the event brings together exhibitions, talks, walks, workshops and portfolio reviews from highly respected and emerging artists.

Visitors can also enjoy music, street food stalls and licensed bars. The photo collections on display cover themes such as mental health and homelessness, the politics of food and, of course, fashion, where Runway Gallery will headline.

‘There’s something for everyone’, says Peter Dench, curator of Photo North Festival.

Tickets cost £7.50 for daily entry or £15 for three days. For more information, visit photonorth festival.co.uk

STYLE & DECOR Curve oak floor lamp, £395; Lachlan FSC oak wall light, £60; Lachlan oak ceiling light, £250; Adrian table lamp, £75, all John Lewis & Partners

INTERIOR DESIGN ADVICE

HOW TO LIGHT LIVING SPACES Your decor can be flawless but if the lighting’s not right, the mood won’t be either. Check out the rules these lighting experts live by…

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Lighting can highlight architectural features.

Branch bar light, £99; Sierra table lamp, £70; Driftwood table lamp, £65; Detroit wall light, £35; Ashwood floor lamp, £120, all Next Home

Use a mixture of pendants, table lamps and wall fittings for ambient, task and accent lighting. Dazzle facet crystal table lamp, £110; wall light, £95; bar ceiling light, £595, all John Lewis & Partners

L

ighting can make or break a scheme, and as stylists and interior designers will often explain, there’s no space where it matters more than in our multitasking living rooms. Getting the balance right between lighting types, sources and styles can be tricky, so we asked three professionals – an interior designer, a lighting expert and a lighting designer – to share their knowledge.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT? ‘Lighting helps create the atmosphere in a living room,’ says interior designer Amy Jones. ‘It’s the space where a multitude of activities take place – from entertaining friends and bingeing on box sets to reading – so you need a carefully considered lighting plan that facilitates all of those things.’

Simon Wallis-Smith, director

106

and designer at Fritz Fryer Lighting, adds: ‘A well-conceived lighting scheme can enable you to highlight a room’s architectural features, as well as providing task lighting where you need it most, and set the right mood.

Without a good lighting scheme, it’s all just a guess.’

WHAT IS A ‘LIGHTING SCHEME’?

‘In a living room, you need to split your lighting into task, accent and ambient,’ explains Amy, ‘and they each require very different lights. Desk and floor lamps, with their directional lights are best for task lighting; while accent lighting is useful to illuminate artwork, furniture and features (think picture lights or recessed spots on a tall wall to highlight its height); and ambient, which should be considered last in a scheme, adds atmosphere and creates mood.’ ‘It’s a combination of all

NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

“

I find it so frustrating when people see lighting as an afterthought – it’s a really important part of a scheme and needs to be considered at the start of a build

”

AMY JONES, INTERIOR DESIGNER, GRETA-MAE

STYLE & DECOR

Illuminating the far corners of a room can make it look bigger. Oxford double table lamp, £375, Original BTC

three that makes for a comprehensive and considered scheme,’ agrees Simon.

SO, SHOULD I JUST GET RID OF MY CEILING PENDANT? ‘Not necessarily,’ says Amy, ‘but I wouldn’t rely on it alone to give you the light you need for a cosy-feeling living space.

A ceiling pendant should be part of a full lighting scheme that is layered throughout the room.’

‘Think about the height of your room, too,’ advises Simon. ‘If it’s 2.75m high, or more, then you can create a wonderful aesthetic statement with a big, feature ceiling pendant.’

ARE FLOOR-STANDING LAMPS A BETTER OPTION? ‘They give ambient light, too, so are great to give a room atmosphere, and if you choose a design with a shade, then it’s something you can easily change to update a space,’ says Amy. ‘If you go for a statement floor lamp, then it can give real

3 STYLISH LIGHT SWITCHES

Triple dimmer switch in Silver and Gold, £72.99, Dowsing & Reynolds

Pnoe Salmo porcelain switch, £64, Katy Paty

2G toggle switch in Black/Brass, £61, Buster + Punch

personality to your scheme,’ says Katherine Mitchell, lighting buyer at John Lewis & Partners.

If you want it to be more functional than design feature, choose an uplighter. ‘It can sink into the background more, highlighting dark corners without shouting too much.’

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT LED SPOTLIGHTS? ‘Spots can work in any room,’ explains Simon, ‘but don’t just pepper the ceiling with them.

They are best deployed to illuminate features, cabinets, artwork, or even just the corners of the space.’ ‘I know of some people that like that full, even light that a ceiling of spots gives, but it can be a bit stark,’ says Amy. ‘I’m not a fan of them in the living room, I prefer to layer the lighting instead.’

CAN LIGHTING MAKE MY ROOM LOOK BIGGER? ‘Yes. It’s all about illuminating the corners of a room,’ says Simon. ‘And layering light. The trick is to incorporate as many layers as possible, so that no one light source is trying to do too much in your room.’

WHAT ABOUT MAKING IT FEEL COSIER? ‘Go low-level,’ says Simon, ‘with table, wall and picture lights.

Use lights that are dimmable and with a very warm white colour temperature.’ By this,

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STYLE & DECOR

Make a statement with retro-inspired lighting.

Ero drum velvet tassel lampshade, £55; floor lamp, £150; Flora velvet armchair, £395, all Oliver Bonas

he means a yellow rather than blue undertone. ‘Yes, definitely dimmable,’ agrees Amy. ‘I love using dimmers – it’s the quickest and easiest way of changing the atmosphere.’

HOW MANY LIGHTS DO I NEED IN A KNOCKTHROUGH LIVING SPACE? ‘It’s not always about the quantity of light fittings,’ explains Simon, ‘it depends on the space you have and what it’s used for. The best schemes layer different types of light, allowing maximum flexibility within the room.’ Katherine agrees: ‘Lighting can help you visually divide or zone an open-plan space, as much as furniture can, by illuminating each part of it differently.’

IS THERE ANY NEW TECH I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? ‘Talking of zones, smart lighting is growing, especially controlled

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through an app,’ says Katherine.

‘These smart systems allow you to set lighting scenes for the room. For instance, you could tell the app that you’re now working in the space so need a brighter light, which can then be changed again later when you’re relaxing.’

WHAT’S FASHIONABLE NOW FOR LAMPSHADES? ‘For pendant shades, look for easy-fit designs,’ says Katherine.

‘These are non-electrified, fitting onto your existing pendant cord.

They are a cheap and easy way of changing your room. Largescale shades are really popular now, too – look for designs with metallic linings, to add glamour and impact to your decor.’

‘For table lamps, shade choices can create a very different effect: a drum shade is more contemporary than a tapered one, which feels classic or traditional,’ advises Amy.

NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

‘When it comes to trends, I’m seeing lots of textured shades teamed with neutral bases,’ says Amy. Macramé shade, £70; Tahlia chandelier, £160; Samira pendant, £75; table lamp, £70; Kai shade, £40; floor lamp, £99, all Next Home

Want to update an old lamp base? ‘As a rule of thumb, the lampshade should be at least half an inch wider than the lamp base on both sides. Or, the width of the shade should be equal to the full height of the lamp.’

ARE PICTURE LIGHTS NAFF? AND WHAT ABOUT FAIRY LIGHTS? Both are great examples of accent lights, so can be an important part of a lighting scheme. ‘Picture lights are a great way of highlighting a loved piece of artwork or family photo,’ says Simon, ‘and fairy lights are perfect for delicate lighting and creating sparkle.’

“

I hate to see over-illuminated spaces, like those with rows and rows of recessed downlighters

”

SIMON WALLIS-SMITH, DIRECTOR AND IN-HOUSE DESIGNER, FRITZ FRYER

ANY CLEVER DESIGN TRICKS YOU SWEAR BY? ‘Graze-light surfaces (lights fitted at ceiling height and at a narrow angle to create shadows), highlighting interesting textures, such as a brick or textured stone wall,’ says Simon. ‘I also love an eclectic mix of modern and period lighting, with lots of architectural highlights. It’s important to discuss how you’ll use the room early on, to come up with a clever lighting plan that really works for you.’

3 DECORATIVE LIGHT BULBS

Kolba 4w bulb, £19, Oliver Bonas

Celestia opal LED light bulb, £39.99, Dowsing & Reynolds

Phillips hue wireless lighting LED colour-changing 9W light bulb, £38.95, John Lewis & Partners

‘Use table lamps to provide light in areas that need a boost,’ says Amy. Lamps, from a selection at Hone

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STYLE & DECOR

HIGH & MIGHTY

The backbone of any living room lighting scheme is a floor lamp. From show-stoppers to the subtly stylish, these shineÉ

MEET THE PROFESSIONALS… AMY JONES, OWNER OF GRETA-MAE INTERIOR DESIGN

(greta-mae.co.uk). Amy works with residential and commercial clients in Wales, Shropshire, Cheshire and the West Midlands. She worked as a fashion buyer for

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high-street brands before retraining as an interior designer and is now a member of the Interior Design Collective (interior designcollective.co.uk).

SIMON WALLIS-SMITH, DIRECTOR AND DESIGNER AT

NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

FRITZ FRYER LIGHTING

(fritzfryer.co.uk). Simon and his wife Karen bought Ross-on-Wye-based lighting company Fritz Fryer Lighting 15 years ago. The company designs, makes, sells and restores high-quality, unique lighting – both contemporary and antique.

KATHERINE MITCHELL, LIGHTING BUYER AT JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS ( johnlewis.

com). Katherine has been at John Lewis & Partners for more than 20 years. She works with its in-house design team to produce exclusive pieces and sources lighting from around the world.

FEATURE JENNIFER MORGAN PHOTOGRAPHS TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT 1 Balancer floor lamp, £730, Holloways of Ludlow. 2 Club floor lamp in Black and Brass, £550, Cox & Cox. 3 Keegan floor lamp in Satin Brass, £150, John Lewis & Partners. 4 Lantern floor lamp, £1,720, Classi Con at Aram Store. 5 Ash floor lamp with handmade ceramic shade, £470, Jenkins & Will. 6 Mo floor lamp in brass with Black hood, £310, Pooky. 7 Kuriko floor lamp in brass and marble, £130, Habitat. 8 Heron floor lamp in brass, £1,524 for the base, Michael Verheyden at CTO Lighting

READER OFFER

Get all your Christmas presents in one place!

Be inspired by the festive roomsets at the show

Enjoy a tipple or two at the Champagne Bar

FREE VISIT TO THE IDEAL HOME SHOW CHRISTMAS Just pull out the ticket opposite (worth up to £19*) and take it to the show for free entry

P

acked full of festive inspiration, a visit to the Ideal Home Show Christmas (sponsored by CLC World Resorts & Hotels) is a must, from 20 to 24 November at Olympia London.

With more than 600 exhibitors – from on-trend home accessories and jewellery to wooden toys and personalised keepsakes – you’ll get through your Christmas list in no time.

Whether you’re going for a traditional theme, or trying a decor that’s decidedly different

this Christmas, you’ll find a host of fun, festive decorations to transform your home. And the free workshops at the Christmas Theatre give you the chance to brush up on an old skill – or master a new one.

What’s more, your ticket gives you free entry to the Eat & Drink Festival Christmas, offering you the ultimate foodie experience.

Plus kids go free, so it’s a great family day out with plenty of fun activities, live music, celebrity and expert demos and a whole host of Christmas cheer.

FREE WEEKDAY TICKET!* We’re giving you one free ticket to any weekday of the Ideal Home Show Christmas (20-22 November). All you need to do is pull out the ticket in this issue and take it to the show. Plus, you can buy additional tickets from just £10.

Visit idealhomeshowchristmas.co.uk and quote IHNOV at the checkout.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS *Book before 24 November 2019. £10 weekday (20-22 November and £12 weekend (23-24 November).

Normal price £19 weekday/£21 weekend (based on adult on the door price). Concession discounts not included.

A £1.70 transaction fee applies. Calls cost 7p per minute plus your company’s access charge. Children aged 15 and under go free when accompanied by a paying adult (maximum two). Ticket includes free entry to Eat & Drink Festival.

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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The one-stop edit of the best modern style and design ideas.

STYLE & DECOR

G allery grid

FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT PHOTOGRAPH TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

We started with 12 prints in identical black, portrait frames, but the number you need will depend on the size of your TV. Fix the frames to hinged MDF panels and screw onto a simple frame around your TV or to wall brackets at the sides.

THE TRICK Use a matching series of prints for a cohesive rather than chaotic look

UPCYCLE YOUR...

TV SCREEN Use picture frames to make a folding cover for your television that doubles as wall art when closed

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‘We made this room cosy and characterful’ Ffion and Ollie stripped out the dated decor and replaced it with bold pattern and vintage pieces to create a stylish and unique space

‘I love retro style, but didn’t want the room to be a homage to the Sixties,’ says Ffion. ‘To avoid this, I mixed vintage finds with contemporary pieces, which gives the space personality.’

Isla three-seater sofa in Elephant velvet, £2,200, Sofa.com. Jungle wall mural, £125, Mrs Robinson

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LIVING ROOM PROJECT

BEFORE

Love

FFION’S STYLE? Turn to page 119 to shop the look

Welcome to my home Ffion Francis lives here with her fiancé, Ollie Speck.

THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom Thirties terrace in Crystal Palace, south London.

WHAT IT COST Furniture..............£5,000 Flooring...............£2,000 Curtains................£1,500 Paint..........................£120 Rug............................£129 Cushions.................£400 TOTAL..................£9,149

“

We put a lot of time and thought into this room. It’s a grown-up space, where we love to read and watch films. It’s unique and reflects our personalities

”

HOW FFION AND OLLIE DID IT ‘When we bought the house, it needed redoing from top to bottom. This room had Seventies wallpaper and shag pile carpet. Sadly, all the original features had been ripped out and the lovely bay window was hidden behind thick, dark curtains. We didn’t want to change the space structurally, but it lacked storage and good lighting.

Stripping everything out, including the fire, gave us

a blank canvas. We asked a friend to build the storage in the alcoves and laid vintage oak flooring. The project took us about three weeks and we saved money by doing the plastering ourselves. I also shopped around for bargains, finding the flooring on the internet and the Sixties leather armchair in a local second-hand shop. We did invest in bespoke curtains, though, to make a feature of the curved window.’

INSET SHELF LIGHTING Create a mellow mood without bulky lamps

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BELOW ‘Originally, there was an ugly gas fire, which had to go. Ollie’s must-have was a logburner, to make the room cosy on winter evenings. He built the simple mantelpiece for it himself.’

Vintage unfinished oak flooring, £30sq m, Woodfloors4u.

Stockholm rug, £129, Ikea

LIVING ROOM PROJECT

LEFT ‘We already had the sofa, so this side of the room evolved with a grey and monochrome colour palette.’

Bespoke curtains, £1,500, Studio Interiors. Marble side table, £295 for a nest of three, Rockett St George RIGHT ‘I loved the idea of dark blue walls, but to make sure the colour wasn’t overpowering, we only painted two. It makes the white fitted shelving pop.’

Wall painted in Hague Blue estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball.

Alcove units, £800 each, N&P Carpentry

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

Consider traffic flow in a small room when positioning big pieces of furniture, like our grey sofa.

It’s important the room doesn’t feel like an obstacle course!

‘We saw a sofa in a green palm-leaf fabric, but couldn’t afford it, so we bought this green velvet one instead and added palm-print cushions.’

Iggy two-seat sofa in Olive velvet, £1,730, Sofa.com.

Palmeral cushions, £165 each, House of Hackney

FEATURE CAROLINE FOSTER, VANESSA RICHMOND STYLING LAURIE DAVIDSON PHOTOGRAPHS CHRIS SNOOK

”

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LIVING ROOM PROJECT

Make it work for you FFION’S STYLE: MODERN RETRO

Statement furniture, bold colours and plush fabrics teamed with quirky prints and luxe finishes embrace standout style

1 2

3

4 5 IDEAL

GREAT DEAL

WORK IN A STATEMENT FLOOR LAMP

£40

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI

£89

6

COLOUR CONTRAST

INDUSTRIAL EDGE

Indra floor lamp, £89, Cult Furniture

Rayner floor lamp, £40, Argos

WHERE TO BUY 1 Jangala velvet cushion, £29, Made.com 2 Parity six arm ceiling light, £195, John Lewis & Partners 3 Nolan basket, £55, Habitat 4 Aspidistra artificial indoor plant, £99.99, Dowsing & Reynolds 5 Stockholm rug, £299, Ikea 6 Iggy two-seater sofa in Olive cotton matt velvet, £1,730, Sofa.com

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‘We made smarter use of a small space’ Instead of extending out to the side, Kirsty and John Carden decided to make the best of their narrow but perfectly functional kitchen

SKINNY TILES Puts a contemporary twist on the classic metro tile shape

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

KITCHEN PROJECT

BEFORE

Welcome to my home Kirsty Carden lives here with her husband John, a graphic designer, and her son, Jaylen, 14.

Love

THE PROPERTY

Turn to page 125 to shop the look

WHAT IT COST

KIRSTY’S STYLE?

‘We’ve created so much more space by choosing shallower units, removing sections of sticking-out worktop and rearranging the appliances. It’s really helped to make more of the kitchen’s best feature – the exposed brick archway.’

Fairford units, £7,300, Howdens Joinery.

Vintage range in Slate Grey, £999, De’Longhi

A three-bedroom Edwardian semi in Egham, Surrey.

Units......................£7,300 Worktops and shelving... ..............................£2,500 Appliances.............£1,199 Flooring..............£287.88 Lighting....................£198 Paint...........................£50 Tiles....................£268.80 Larder door..............£200 TOTAL..........£12,083.68

“

Instead of a corridor through to the back of the house, the kitchen now feels like a proper room

”

DARK METAL PENDANT Adds drama and toughness to the soft, fresh scheme

Narrow shelves turn a wasted section of wall into a storage space

HOW KIRSTY AND JOHN DID IT ‘The kitchen felt cramped and the fake wood units, speckled worktops and beige floor tiles made it seem even smaller. We did love the exposed brick arch, but had the problem of two wasted nooks between it and the dining room beyond. We chose the units first, going for panelled doors that matched the built-in cupboards in the dining room. We got extra units to fit into the nooks to boost our storage. We left a gap in the centre of one side of the kitchen for the range and, after moving our fridge-freezer to the other end, the layout felt balanced.

We thought dark flooring would look oppressive, so went for an oak-look laminate which people can’t believe isn’t wood, but was about half the price! The project took around a month to complete and we paid £3,000 for the units to be fitted and the shelving made and put up.’

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

‘White walls would have been too bright with the white units, so we’ve painted them in a soft grey-green, which is incredibly relaxing.’

Brooklyn Dome Pendant in pewter and copper, £99, Industville. Cosmo made to measure cotton roller blind, £40, Dunelm

KITCHEN PROJECT

FEATURE STEPHANIE SMITH, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID GILES

ABOVE Open shelving was made from leftover offcuts of the oak worktop. ‘I’ve got a whole selection of preserving jars with chalkboard labels so you can write on them and wipe it off later,’ says Kirsty.

Kilner preserving jars, £5.50 each, Amazon

ABOVE This little nook between the kitchen and rear dining room was wasted space, so the couple added storage and a door to turn it into a pantry. ‘We can keep all our dry goods there to free up kitchen units.’

Door painted in Salix Intelligent emulsion, £50 for 2.5L, Little Greene

RIGHT At the other end of the kitchen is this matching nook, which the couple turned into a laundry area. ‘We added units for storage and put a section of worksurface on top to match the kitchen.’

Soft Oak Light Laminate Impressive flooring, £23.99 per sq m, Quick-Step

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

You don’t always need to extend. We thought about it, but it would have been complicated and expensive. We have a separate dining room, so didn’t actually need the extra space

”

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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KITCHEN PROJECT

Make it work for you KIRSTY’S STYLE: MODERN COUNTRY

Shaker-style cabinets and metallic touches combine to give a contemporary twist on the country look

1

2

3 4

5

IDEAL

GREAT DEAL

LIGHT UP WITH A STATEMENT PENDANT

FEATURE LISA FAZZANI

£99

6

£12

BROADER OPTION

SLIMMER STYLE

Brooklyn pendant (Dia33cm), Industville

Haines pendant (Dia26cm), Dunelm

WHERE TO BUY 1 Clockhouse stool in Carbon, £95, Garden Trading 2 Kitchen scales in Cream, £12, Wilko 3 String of hearts faux plant, £19.50, Marks & Spencer 4 Ingrid shelf, £65, Dowsing & Reynolds 5 Artichoke tea towel, £8.50, Sophie Allport 6 Vintage-style twin-cavity dual-fuel range cooker in Slate Grey, £999, De’Longhi

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

MAKE LIGHT WORK OF LAUNDRY

LG’s hi-tech new machines are loaded with smart features to turn chaos into clean

D

oes it sometimes feel like every day is wash day? Between the children finding creative new ways to get dirty and the puzzle of the bottomless laundry basket, in a busy family household our washing machines have to work hard. Fortunately, LG’s latest range of machines have some clever features that make them a perfect fit for your family.

SMARTER WASH If you’ve ever thrown in a mixed load of laundry and hoped for the best, you’ll love the AI DD Smart Fabric Care. Not only does it look after your clothes, with an 18% reduction in damage, the machine works out what you’re washing, so you don’t have to squint at care labels. And

JOB DONE Anna put the latest LG washing machine through its paces

for those who have someone at home who suffers from allergies, or dreads the ironing pile, the Steam+ function helps eliminate 99.9% of allergens and stops creases from forming.

FAST FINISH There’s even an efficient 39-minute programme, TurboWash 360. Influencer Anna Newton, who fronts YouTube channel The Anna Edit, has been putting one of the new LG washing machines through its paces and is impressed.

‘TurboWash 360 is one of the best things about it,’ she explains. ‘It finishes the laundry in almost half the time of the quickest wash on our old machine. The AI DD kicks in once you close the door, so the chance of your prized jumper coming out doll-size, or damaging your child’s favourite teddy is zero.’

BUILT TO LAST But it’s not just the innovative features that have won Anna over. It’s also the generous washing capacity – without increasing the footprint – so it will fit where your old machine did. ‘The drum can hold a whopping 10.5kg worth of washing,’ says Anna. ‘It’s so good for when you’ve just got back from holiday, or your duvet or curtains are in need of a clean.’

The machines are also built to last, with a scratch-resistant glass door and stainless-steel lifters in the drum instead of plastic – something Anna can appreciate. ‘I had to call out a repair team three times in the past year for our old washing machine as it kept breaking down,’ she reveals.

‘I’m so excited to have a durable piece of kit in our kitchen that will last for years, and take care of clothes while reducing washloads.’

“

TurboWash 360 finishes the laundry in almost half the time of my old machine

”

ANNA NEWTON, ONLINE CONTENT CREATOR

LAUNDRY MUST-HAVE LG washing machines make quick work of everyday chores.

LG F4V910WTS washing machine, £869

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

FULL LOAD The drum can hold 10.5kg of washing

IN CONTROL Choose a washing cycle to suit your needs

5 TOP FEATURES TO LOOK OUT FOR LG’s washing machines come with functions that suit your life

FOR MORE INFORMATION...

Go to lg.com/uk/washingmachines to see the full range of machines and discover more great features.

WORDS RACHEL OGDEN PHOTOGRAPHS JOANNA HENDERSON

TURBOWASH 360 Thoroughly cleans in just 39 minutes thanks to 3D multi nozzles that reach every inch.

AI DD Detects the weight and senses the softness of fabric before choosing the optimal wash setting.

STEAM+ Eliminates 99.9% of allergens, including dust mites, that can cause allergy or respiratory issues and reduces creases.

A+++ RATED Its energy efficiency will help to trim your bills on every wash.

SMART THINQ Download up to 20 specialised programmes, so your machine suits your lifestyle.

PAIR OF PENDANTS Throw focused task lighting onto the food prep area

‘This kitchen makes me feel much calmer’ The Wards created a space that’s relaxed and smooth-functioning for Monday to Friday, but smart enough for weekend entertaining

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KITCHEN PROJECT

BEFORE

Love

ANGELA’S LIGHTING? Turn to page 133 to find out more

Welcome to my home Angela Ward lives here with her husband, Andrew, and their children, Will, 17, Maisie, 15, and Edward, 12.

THE PROPERTY A four-bed farmhouse dating back to the 1800s in North Yorkshire, bought in May 2017.

WHAT IT COST Kitchen units......£18,750 Appliances .........£9,800 Sink..........................£550 Tap............................£430 Worktops.............£4,500 TOTAL...............£34,030 ‘The old kitchen just wasn’t the big family space that we needed. I wanted a place where people can sit around for hours, eating and talking’ Bespoke units painted in Little Greene’s French Grey Mid and Lamp Black, £18,750, The Main Company

“

This renovation has honestly changed our lives. It’s now a lovely family space, which it wasn’t before

”

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‘Our old kitchen had a little electric Seventies cooker on one side and a sink on the other.

We love entertaining, so the plan was to turn the existing kitchen into a boot room and extend to give us a big, openplan space. We wanted to retain the character of the building, so the original brick was carefully exposed and restored. The work started in June 2017 and the new space was done

by November, at a cost of about

MIRRORED DOORS Lead into the pantry and reflect light into this dark corner

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

£30,000. The units only took two weeks to fit. We’d earmarked The Main Company years ago as the place to get our dream kitchen and went straight there. There are no wall cupboards, just open shelving – I like people to be able to help themselves. This room doesn’t have any glitz and glamour, and it’s not high-maintenance. It’s just a lovely, rustic kitchen that suits our family perfectly.

BELOW This side of the island has been extended with a built-on breakfast bar made from engineered oak.

‘There’s loads of storage in the island, too,’ says Angela, ‘and it houses two dishwashers.’

Engineered oak, from £650sq m, The Main Company. For similar stools, try the tall industrial metal factory stool, £145, and the industrial metal stool, £149, both The Farthing

FEATURE SOPHIE WARREN-SMITH, VANESSA RICHMOND PHOTOGRAPHS THE MAIN COMPANY

HOW ANGELA AND ANDREW DID IT

KITCHEN PROJECT

ABOVE Strip lighting highlights the rustic wood shelving. ‘Open shelves give a relaxed, laid-back feeling.’

Quartz Caesarstone concrete worktop in Titanium, from £950sq m, The Main Company RIGHT ‘We are always entertaining and hosting people, so a large cooker was a must,’ explains Angela. ‘I love the industrial style of this range – it’s robust and looks the part.’

Dual-fuel 1062 range cooker, £3,700; contemporary cooker hood, £1,100, both Falcon

DEEP DRAWERS Easier to reach into than the back of a cupboard

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

The fridgefreezer was raised on a plinth for a seamless look

Stick to your guns.

Originally, the fridgefreezer was going to protrude out from the wall, but we felt it impacted on the space, so we knocked down a wall to tuck it in instead. It was worth it!

”

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BUY TICKETS at ichfevents.co.uk/ countryhomes christmas and use code EV192 at checkout

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KITCHEN PROJECT

Make it work for you

ANGELA’S CHOICE: UNDER-MOUNTED LIGHTING Adding another layer of illumination to your kitchen can make a surprisingly big difference. We explain how…

As the name suggests, undermounted lighting is installed underneath wall cabinets or, in Angela’s case, shelving. It can be used to provide useful task lighting on the worktop and is great for creating a gentler, more atmospheric glow.

Q

How is it installed?

Lights can be recessed into pre-drilled channels, like Angela’s are, or surface mounted. The former is very discreet, but you can buy slim surface-mounted fittings for similar results. Both options come in plug-in, battery and hardwired format. Plug-in and battery are great retro-fit options – ideal for renters.

Hardwired lights are usually installed with a new kitchen, but can be added later, as the wiring is easily hidden in cabinets.

Battery-powered lights are not always as bright as mains and can dim as the power drains.

Q

Which bulbs are best?

LEDs emit hardly any heat and they’re also low energy and humidity resistant. For ambient lighting, consider LED tapes, which are flat, can be cut to size

and are simple to stick on.

LED rope lights are similar, but a bit thicker and clip on.

Both can be dimmed.

Q

And for task lighting?

For something brighter, go for individual fluorescent strip lights or LED cluster lights designed specifically for under-cabinet use. Mount the lights towards the front edge of your unit, behind the plinth, to illuminate your work area.

Eliminate shadow completely with light panels that cover the whole underside of a wall cabinet - try Sensio.

Q

What about bulbs?

For a comfortably lit room, without a stark white glow, aim for bulbs with a colour temperature of around 2,7003,000k and a CRI (Colour Rendition Index) of 90 or above.

Strip lighting creates a cosy glow in Angela’s kitchen

“

Gone are the fluorescent tubes that lit up surfaces like a dental surgery. The latest generation of warm LEDs will make your kitchen bright and inviting STEVE TOUGH, MASTERCLASS KITCHENS

”

FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON

3 OF THE BEST… SURFACE-MOUNTED LIGHTS

SPOT ON Line up a few of these for a good spread of light.

Esmo LED under-cabinet lighting, mains, £10, B&Q

MOVEABLE FEAST Direct the light exactly where you need it on this dimmable design.

LED-Balkenleuchte Humboldt, battery, £56.99, Wayfair

CHIC SHAPE This sleek, angled spot will illuminate any dark corners.

LED single triangle natural light, mains, £15, Wickes

BEST FOR… TOP TIPS Sensio supplies specialist kitchen lighting to all the big showrooms. Head online for its in-depth lighting guides.

SPARE PARTS The Lightbulb Company stocks every possible shape and type at great prices. Use the online chat service for instant expert advice.

GETTING LIGHTS FITTED Electrical regulator NICEIC has a vast database of electricians – and you’ll need one to install all mainspowered lighting.

Each member is vetted and insured.

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‘You have to prioritise in a small bathroom’ Alex and James Hart replanned their space to make it easier to use and keep clean

Love

ALEX’S SLEEK LOO? Turn to page 139 to find out more

SCALE-FREE TAPS An electrolytic water softener keeps the matt black finish buildup free

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BATHROOM PROJECT

BEFORE

The couple took out a separate shower in favour of an over-bath one and added storage to make the space work better. ‘I wanted to be playful with colour, and I love the mix of pink and green,’ says Alex.

Duofix WC frame with Sigma cistern, £392.50; Sigma01 Black dual flush plate, £76.49, both Geberit.

Resort rimless wall-hung loo, £169, Rak Ceramics

Welcome to my home Alex Hart lives here with her husband James and their children, Max, four and Ada, one.

HOW ALEX DID IT ‘James and I prefer to shower, but the old cubicle was so tiny you touched the sides just standing in it! It took up valuable space and, with no storage, the room always looked messy. The layout didn’t make the most of the space, so I reworked the floor plan and had one of the windows bricked up to create wall space to fit an over-bath shower. The project took longer than we anticipated because the herringbone tile pattern was a slow process. In all, it took three weeks and the labour cost £7,000. We all love how practical and cosy it is now.’

THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom Edwardian terrace in Brockley, south London.

WHAT IT COST Bath.........................£400 Shower/bath mixer......... ..................................£600 Basin.......................£200 Basin mixer.............£400 Loo...........................£562 Flush plate...........£76.49 Tiles.......................£1,050 Vanity......................£200 Mirror.......................£260 Wall lights.................£40 TOTAL...........£ 3,788.49

“

It never looks cluttered in here because of the storage. We share this bathroom with the children, so that was no mean feat!

”

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BE INSPIRED

BY GEBERIT

Get creative with your bathroom décor, and put a stamp on your own bathroom sanctuary with inspiration from leading interior experts. Whether your style is daring and dark or subtle and soft…

Geberit is here to help you get creative and craft the home of your dreams.

Be inspired at www.inspiredbygeberit.co.uk

BATHROOM PROJECT

ABOVE A wood countertop on the vanity unit gives the bathroom a warm, natural feel. ‘We chose bamboo as it is waterproof and doesn’t require any sealing or sanding,’ says Alex.

Godmorgon washstand in White, £99; Tolken countertop, £65; Vitemolla wall lights, £20 each, all Ikea

RIGHT ‘To add impact to the pale colour scheme, I included black accents in the fixtures and fittings, heated towel rail and new window frame,’ says Alex.

Try Reina flat towel rail in Black, £120, Victorianplumbing. co.uk. Walls in Pink Ground modern emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

HERRINGBONE TILE PATTERN Makes basic white metro tiles more interesting

“

Don’t be afraid to use pattern and colour in a bathroom because it’s not a space you spend a lot of time in. It’s the place you can experiment, so if you love colour, I would say ‘go for it!’

”

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

FEATURE CAROLINE FOSTER PHOTOGRAPHS CHRIS SNOOK

ABOVE ‘My starting point was the beautiful hexagonal floor tiles, which are my favourite buy. I wanted a feature floor, but used white wall tiles to balance it out.’

Moroccan encaustic cement hexagonal floor tiles in Artic 16 Hex, £61.60sq m, Best Tile

137

BE INSPIRED

BY GEBERIT

Get creative with your bathroom décor, and put a stamp on your own bathroom sanctuary with inspiration from leading interior experts. Whether your style is daring and dark or subtle and soft… Geberit is here to help you get creative and craft the home of your dreams.

Be inspired at www.inspiredbygeberit.co.uk

BATHROOM PROJECT

Make it work for you ALEX’S CHOICE: CONCEALED CISTERN

Tucking the cistern neatly out of sight behind a stud wall will give your bathroom a far sleeker finish…

A concealed cistern is hidden away, be it inside panelling or a wall. All you’ll see is the pan and flush, and as there is less pipework and ceramic on show, cleaning is easier, too.

Q

Which cistern should I get?

It depends on your loo type. For wall-hung loos, you can buy a specialist steel frame pack, which carries the weight of the pan, plus the cistern and flush button that fits neatly inside the frame. For floorstanding loos, just buy a concealed cistern, which is screwed to the wall, and a flush button or flush plate. Many shops sell the pan, cistern and flush together, ensuring everything is compatible.

Q

FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHS CHRIS SNOOK

How do I conceal it?

The cistern can be built into the wall in a new-build, or within a new stud wall if you are retro-fitting. You can also buy furniture modules specifically designed for concealed cisterns.

Often called WC units, they include a box-like unit to encase the cistern, plus the loo and flush mechanism.

Q

What else should I bear in mind?

Size is your main concern.

If you’re installing inside the void of a stud partition wall, look for a slimline cistern (around 75mm deep) for a neat fit. You also need to choose between a bottom or side water inlet. A side inlet is easier to access but can be noisier than a bottom inlet. Ask your plumber for advice, especially if replacing an existing toilet.

Q

What if the cistern breaks?

Maintenance access is crucial. Furniture modules usually have a screw or lift-off panel, and you can create a similar scenario on stud walls, even if they are clad in tiles.

Under no circumstances should you tile your cistern inside a wall without including an access point.

For a neat, clean look, install a concealed cistern

“

By concealing the cistern behind the wall you can avoid unsightly pipework – and still have full access for maintenance via the flush plate

”

ELLIE BRODERICK, PRODUCT MANAGER, GEBERIT

THREE OF THE BEST… SHALLOW BASINS

FRESH STYLE A handy ledge for toiletries.

MyDay 600mm washbasin, £260.15, Geberit

MONOCHROME EDGE Block colour adds urban appeal.

HappyD.2 Plus with Anthracite Matt exterior, £472.50, Duravit

SLIM APPROACH Easy to clean design.

Xeno2 900mm washbasin, £298.51, Geberit

BEST FOR PEACE OF MIND Geberit has been making high-quality, leak-free concealed cisterns for more than 50 years, with a 25-year guarantee.

COLOUR CHOICE Crosswater has a flush plate to match all the finishes of its bathroom taps and shower fittings, including brushed brass, matt black and stainless steel.

WATER SAVING Grohe’s dual-flush cisterns can be adjusted to flush with a reduced volume of 4.5L and 3L, instead of the standard 6L and 3L. Plus, lots of spacesaving options.

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE POLISHED PERFORMANCE Becca chose a chic basin unit from the Xeno² collection.

Geberit Xeno² 1400mm 2 tap hole Varicor washbasin, £1,470.48. Geberit Xeno² 1400mm washbasin unit 2 drawer grey, £1,462.97. Geberit Xeno² 1400mm illuminated mirror, £869.13

RELAX IN A SOOTHING SPACE Design a tranquil haven with Geberit’s new Xeno2 bathroom collection and let the cares of the day simply drift away

T

he room you bathe in should be a sanctuary – a place to unwind and allow precious time for yourself.

Interior designer and influencer Becca Lawson of Malmo & Moss (left) had this firmly in mind when creating this room with bathroom experts Geberit. ‘My style is a mix of Scandi and modern rustic,’ says Becca. ‘So the crisp, clean design of Geberit’s new Xeno² range completely spoke to my Scandinavian sensibilities.’

Becca chose the chic handleless Xeno² cabinet in the new Matt Grey

colour, which has handy push-open drawers with integrated LED lighting and organiser inserts. The full range offers further smart storage solutions, as well as illuminated anti-mist mirrors.

DESIGNER DETAILS ‘When updating a bathroom, don’t neglect the aspects that, although less tangible, still soothe the senses,’ advises Becca.

Geberit’s Sensory Space concept evokes a relaxed vibe, with carefully chosen materials, textures and colours. The new Xeno² matt-finish Varicor statement basin has modern geometric lines yet a softer, natural shape inside. Plus, its smooth surface is nice and easy to keep clean.

Becca also included the AquaClean Sela shower toilet. Featuring WhirlSpray technology with the ability to remember each user’s preferred water pressure and temperature choice, this smart loo leaves you feeling shower-fresh after every use.

Sleek flush plates now feature extra design details, too, such as the new slimmer buttons on the ergonomically crafted Sigma50, and the practical orientation lighting on the DuoFlush plate. Becca selected the Mustang Slate finish, adding extra flair to her bathroom scheme. At Geberit, no detail is overlooked. ‘I love all of the smart features packed into the Xeno² collection,’ says Becca. ‘I am a total convert.’

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

“

I love the soft integrated lighting in the new Geberit Xeno2 bathroom range that cleverly helps to create the perfect mood for relaxation and has motion sensors to guide the way at night time BECCA LAWSON, INTERIORS INFLUENCER

”

FINISHING TOUCH The new Mustang Slate colourway takes the flush plate from necessity to sleek style statement.

Sigma50 Mustang Slate flush plate, £376.73.

Geberit AquaClean Sela wall-hung Gloss Chrome, £3,480 CLUTTER FREE Deep drawers keep the space neat and organised.

Geberit Xeno² drawer insert 323mm h-division, £46.57. Geberit Xeno² drawer insert 323mm t-division, £46.57

FEATURE CAROLINE RODRIGUES

FOR MORE INFORMATION...

SLEEK STORAGE Glass shelves create a floating feel and make it easy to spot what you’re looking for.

Geberit Xeno² 1700mm tall unit grey, £872.72

Your new bathroom is just one click away. Visit geberitcollection.co.uk, call 01926 516800, or find inspiration on Instagram @geberituk or at facebook.com/geberit.co.uk.

Malmo & Moss malmoandmoss.com

‘We gave an ugly house a Miamiinspired makeover’ Jackie and Rhod Finn took a boring box of a property and transformed it into a fabulous, mid-century-inspired piece of architecture

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BEFORE & AFTER

BEFORE

The old building looked like a school science block

Welcome to my home Jackie Finn, a doctor, lives here with her husband Rhod, a company director, and their children Kyle, 14, Jake 11, and Felix, two.

THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom house in Winchester, Hampshire.

Bought for £1m in 2013; now worth £2m.

WHAT IT COST Preparatory and building work..................£325,000 Plastering, tiles and flooring...............£65,000 Kitchen and bathroom............£60,000 Utilities supply...£45,000 TOTAL..............£495,000

The house has been elongated with a side extension over what was the garage and the exterior redesigned with balconies, new windows, a flat roof and fresh white render

“

We’re so happy with the way it has turned out – it’s exactly as I imagined it, but much better

”

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Take a quick tour...

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

The colourful kitchen is filled with light through full-width sliding exterior doors that open out onto the garden

UTILITY

STUDY

MASTER BEDROOM

BALCONY

FIRST FLOOR LIVING ROOM

DINING ROOM

GARAGE

GAMES ROOM

GYM

KITCHEN

OFFICE

POOL

GROUND FLOOR

J

ackie and Rhod Finn had been looking to move within Winchester for two years when they saw this house. ‘We made an offer, which was rejected, so we decided to sell our property and rent for a while. We then heard that the sale had fallen through, so approached the owners again and luckily we got it.’

FEATURE IFEOLUWA ADEDEJI PHOTOGRAPHS FRASER MARR/MATTHEW SMITH

SEEING THE POSITIVES ‘It looked like a school science block,’ says Jackie, ‘but had a really nice feel inside. The layout and the light levels were great.’ The decor was dated, but the structure was sound and the couple loved its secluded location: ‘We liked the fact that it’s on a spur road,’ says Jackie. ‘I’d always said I didn’t want a house where the main garden was at the front, which this has, but here, that’s not an issue from a privacy perspective.’

RETHINKING THE SPACE ‘We lived in the house as it was for a couple of years, so I knew how I wanted the layout to work,’ says Jackie, who mocked up a basic floor plan. ‘Rhod works in Miami a lot, and we liked the idea of a Miami Beach-style exterior.’ After 18 months of finalising the architects’ drawings and getting planning permission, the family rented a nearby bungalow for a year while the work was carried out.

CLEVER CHANGES ‘Upstairs, we merged an en suite, a bedroom and an office to form a large bathroom and bedroom. That would have given us one less bedroom, but we built a new master suite over the garage, so we still have four’. The garage became an office and gym, and a cloakroom, games room, dining room, living room and kitchen make up the rest of the ground floor. Jackie’s favourite feature, though, is the upstairs utility room.

‘We have a rear staircase which takes you straight up to it,’ she says. ‘It means you don’t have to lug laundry downstairs, then back up again when it’s clean. With three rugby-playing boys in the house, it’s an essential!’

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This main living spaces on the ground floor flow from one to the other, but can be separated thanks to sliding pocket doors

BEFORE & AFTER

On the landing, there is a good view of the longdrop chandelier that’s the focal point of the new, double-height atrium at the front of the house

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT...

Exterior glass balustrades Jamie Vadis from Snug Architects has the lowdownÉ

1

THEY OFFER CLEAR VIEWS Frameless glass ensures uninterrupted views out onto the landscape, blurring the lines between the indoors and outdoors.

2

THEY GIVE THE ILLUSION OF SPACE Clear glass balustrades will lend even the smallest of balconies the illusion of more space.

3

THEY ALLOW IN MAXIMUM DAYLIGHT Transparent glass ensures maximum daylight enters the building keeping the interior light and bright.

4

THEY’RE PERFECT FOR A MODERN SPACE Glass balustrades offer a sleek, clean-lined finish that complements other materials.

5

THEY’RE EXTREMELY DURABLE Glass is very robust and will require less maintenance over its lifetime, compared with its metal counterpart.

Upstairs, the space was rearranged, creating this large, luxurious bathroom, and extended over the old garage to gain a master suite and utility

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

“

It’s OK to change your mind. When I realised the guest room window would look better with a balcony, we had to go back to get planning permission. Better to do that than have it annoy me for years, then fix it retrospectively

”

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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Genius problem solvers FOR A SMOOTH RUNNING LIFE Our pick of the latest home innovations, solutions and stuff you never knew you needed…

STYLISH AND USEFUL RADIATOR COVERS

Keep cosy with insulating blinds and curtains

GLAMOUR FIXTURE Add an extra surface.

Feeling the chill? Add an extra insulating layer to your home and stop heat escaping out your windows with the latest thermal range from Hillarys, available in a choice of 313 fabrics.

Alto Linen Roman blinds, from £241; Maisie Almond curtains, from £247.50, both Hillarys

Fitzgerald console table, £279, The French Bedroom Company

MIRROR MIRROR Slim gaps allow heat through.

Leonore mirrored radiator cover, £179.99, My Furniture

Make your radiators work harder Slip a Radflek’s reflector (£20 for three, Amazon) down the back of your radiator to boost your heat output and warm your room more effectively.

Cambridge adjustable radiator cover, £118, B&Q

No more cold feet

Fit an instant mantel

Love having snug toes but prefer to keep cooler up top? Variable temperature settings across the bed means this is the blanket for you.

Made from solid distressed pine framed in metal, this super smart surround is just the thing to spruce up your fireplace in time for Christmas.

Jefferson fireplace surround, £425, Next Home

Slumberdown electric blanket, £54.99 for a double, Argos

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STRETCH OUT Extend to use with longer rads.

NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS ON

E

SM

PORTABLE FAN HEATERS FOR COLD SPOTS

ALL S T

Stay ahead of woodburner rules

Made in the Isle of Wight, Charnwood’s gorgeous new Island II supersedes the New Eco Design standards and DEFRA* exemption limits that require stoves to burn fuel cleanly in smoke control areas.

Island II multi-fuel stove in Almond, around £1,800, Charnwood EP

1 Style your fireplace If your fireside kit has seen better days, take a look at these slick new beauties made from stainless steel – a welcome change from the usual black designs.

2

Log bucket, £90; dustpan and brush, £25, both Amara

3 1 De’Longhi HFX30C18.1W fan heater in Cream, £45, AO.com 2 Dimplex MaxAir fan heater in Black, £249, B&Q 3 Stadler Form Anna fan heater in White, £99.95, John Lewis & Partners

Need a new boiler quickly?

Boxt will give you a quote in 90 seconds and if you buy, they’ll fit it the following day.

Don’t have the space for a dedicated log basket? Garden Trading’s clever two-tone log table works as both a side table and a handy spot to stash your fuel for the week. Brilliant!

Clockhouse log table in Charcoal, £165, Garden Trading

ON

E

SM ALL S T

Save energy and water with every wash

With a fast wash setting that launders clothes in a mere 39 minutes, this brilliant machine is just the thing if you want to save time and energy on wash days. A+++ rated and with built-in Steam+ technology, it removes 99.9 per cent of allergens from clothing, and even analyses the fabric you place in the drum to determine the most economical wash setting. Genius.

LG V9 F4V910WTS 10kg washing machine, £799, AO.com EP

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI *DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

Store logs… and more

Buy a boiler that actually looks good It’s a rare find, but Bosch’s new boiler is exactly that – practical and stylish.

Available in combi, system and regular types, they’re super quiet and feature easy-to-use touch screens.

Complete with wireless connectivity, they can also be controlled by an app.

Greenstar 8000 Style boiler, from around £2,500, Worcester Bosch

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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YOUR WARDROBE, SORTED If you’re struggling to keep track of what you’ve got and where exactly it is, it’s time for a reorganisation session…

1

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

5 GAME-CHANGING BUYS The products you need to store and order all your wardrobe stuff – for quicker mornings and savvier clothes shopping

WHAT THE PROS KNOW..

Professional organiser Vicky Silverthorn gives us her tried and tested wardrobetaming tips…

2

3

4

5

EDIT YOUR OUTFITS Be realistic when deciding what to keep and what to pass on. Don’t be hard on yourself if your first cull isn’t as drastic as you’d expected – you can build up to it.

KEEP STORAGE SIMPLE People can make their wardrobe design overcomplicated. Shelves, drawers and rails are all you need. Anything more complex is a hindrance and makes it harder to see what you have.

1

FEATURE HOLLY WALSH

Customisable interior fittings Ikea’s Pax system has reached iconic status, thanks to its endlessly flexible choice of rails, drawers, shelves and baskets.

If you have an entire wall to dedicate to clothes storage, it’s the next best thing to built ins.

Pax wardrobe, from £295, Ikea

2

The humble cubbyhole Your average freestanding wardrobe with a hanging rail leaves a lot of space wasted at the bottom. By arranging all your shorter garments on one side, you’ll create a gap for a small shelf unit – ideal for organising

shoes, sweater stacks, rolled tees and jewellery boxes.

Kallax shelving unit, £25, Ikea

3

Open rail system Most people rotate the same outfits each week, while the rest of their clothes just get in the way. Keep all that stuff stowed away and use an open rail in the bedroom to hold the pieces you’re actively using.

String’s system lets you build a bespoke solution, making it easy to find favourite outfits and matching accessories.

Metal string system in Grey, from £42, String

4

Shoe library boxes Mesh front boxes will allow the air to circulate around your shoes, as well as making it easy to see which pair is inside. Stack at the bottom of your wardrobe by season or heel height.

Skubb boxes, £7 for four, Ikea

5

Stacking jewellery trays It means sacrificing drawer or shelf space, but laying out your treasures on trays will keep them dust, tarnish and tangle free. Fill jewellery boxes with hair accessories, instead.

Komplement pull-out trays with inserts, from £70 each, Ikea

ORGANISE BY CATEGORY The most effective way to organise clothes is by category: casual shirts, then blouses, knitwear, jackets and blazers. Then sort by sleeve length and colour – sleeveless then short sleeves, then long.

Hang long items on one side to free up floor area.

MAXIMISE SPACE Skinny hangers will double the amount you can fit on a rail. Socks should be folded, not balled, to make them less bulky. Double-fold jeans and put in drawers. For shoes, use shelves you can adjust according to heel height and store heel-totoe, so no space is wasted.

Find out more at youneedavicky.com or on Instagram and Facebook @youneedavicky

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SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

W hisper quiet EXPERT TIP

‘A heat pump dryer takes longer but reheats and reuses the air inside the machine, instead of collecting water like a condenser dryer. As a result, they are energy efficient, which brings your energy bills down.’

TCR860, £1,949, Miele This wi-fi connected heat pump design (H85xW59.6x D63.6cm) has a generous 9kg capacity and unbeatable A+++ (-10 per cent) energy rating.

Sensors adjust energy and time needed for one item, a full load, or for knocking out creases with the handy steam mode.

THE BEST BIT FragranceDos capsules inject a choice of two fragrances, for the scent of line-dried linen.

T he big one AXI ATD C10TKERX, from £419, Hoover This large 10kg (H85xW59.6x D58.5cm) BC-rated condenser dryer has 15 programmes, with one for waterproof jackets.

Voice- and app-controlled using wi-fi, it also ‘talks’ to the Hoover AXI washing machine to learn what’s being washed and set the drying programme.

THE BEST BIT Ask the app for efficient clothes-drying advice and cut down on ironing.

LAUREN CLARK, LARGE APPLIANCE TRADING DIRECTOR, AO.COM

Get clothes dry, rain or shine Tumble dryers used to be so inefficient that they were considered the coal-fired power stations of the appliance world. But in recent years, technology has improved and they’ve been transformed with A++ energy ratings and smart features that care for delicate fabrics and get even the heaviest towels dry in next to no time.

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Speedy operator DV90M50003X, £719.99, Samsung This advanced ‘smart’ heat pump model (H85xW60x D64cm) has a 9kg drum, frugal A++ energy rating and can dry a 1kg wet load in as little as 35 minutes. It features a pop-in drying rack for items such as cashmere sweaters.

THE BEST BIT Dual-layer filtration traps more lint, and it tells you when it needs cleaning.

Great-value basic DCY9316, £339.99, Beko No heat pump explains the B energy rating, but it’s a good 9kg option (H84.6xW59.7x D65cm) for the price, with a duvet-friendly, 32cm-wide porthole and advanced sensor drying program. The drum rotates every so often when it’s finished to reduce creasing.

THE BEST BIT The drain hose means you don’t have to remember to empty the condenser water tank.

FEATURE CHRIS HASLAM

Serie 6 WTWH7660GB heat pump tumble dryer, £829, Bosch At a muted 62dB, this A++ rated, 9kg model (H84.8x W59.8xD59cm) is great for open-plan kitchens, while the AutoDry function monitors moisture to stop jumpers coming out like cardboard.

Plus, it has quick-drying and allergy-prevention programs.

THE BEST BIT Self-cleaning keeps it working efficiently, reducing running costs.

High efficiency

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

(Sonos) at home – can I add a turntable to it?

A built-in phono stage means this turntable can connect to most amps, plus it comes with a USB port to digitise your vinyl to MP3 or WAV file quality.

DP-450USB, £529, Denon

You can buy turntables that stream directly to Bluetooth speakers – try Audio Technica – or Bluetooth transmitters that connect to your amplifier to send the same basic signal to another Bluetooth receiver.

You can also plug a turntable into a Sonos Amp (£599), or Sonos Connect (£349) and integrate your vinyl into a multi-room system.

Alternatively, Alexa fans can use the Echo Link Amp (£189).

I’ve got an old turntable in the loft – can I still use it?

Join the vinyl revolution!

Sales of vinyl in the UK are on the up, with 4.2m LPs sold last year. Here’s what you need to bring your record collection into the digital era Is using a record player a backward step when all the world’s music is on your phone?

Globally, 176 million people use digital streaming, but there’s just something about vinyl. Maybe it’s owning a physical object, or that the act of putting a record on makes you listen more. Either way, thanks to hi-tech turntable upgrades, you don’t have to be a throwback to enjoy them.

FEATURE CHRIS HASLAM

How do you choose a turntable model?

If your existing hi-fi has a ‘phono’ input, it has a pre-amplifier built in, and virtually all turntables will play through it. If not, look for a turntable with built-in pre-amp. Denon, Audio Technica, Sony and Pro-Ject have a great selection – budget £150£400 for good sound quality.

Do we need a huge amp and speakers?

Designs like the Pro-Ject Juke Box E (£369) have an amplifier and phono stage built in, so you can add speakers. Crossley sells retro-style one-box turntables, with small speakers, but they don’t sound great.

I have a multi-room streaming stereo

Absolutely! The stylus (needle) and belt might need replacing, but whatever connectors it has, you’ll be able to find an adapter to work with your existing hi-fi. The important thing is that your amplifier has a built-in phono preamp. If it doesn’t you can buy one such as the Cambridge Audio Solo (£149).

Now I’ve got to find space for racks of records! Is there stylish storage available?

As collecting vinyl is cool again, interior designers are keen to catch up. Just remember, records are heavy and a big collection will cause many standard bookshelves to bow and sag. Teebooks.co.uk offers stylish floating wall shelves, Ikea’s Kallax shelves are hugely popular, and don’t forget your local vintage furniture dealer, as there are countless midcentury designs still available.

“

No matter which turntable you have, clean records just sound better, so keep grubby fingers off the grooves and keep them clean – a brush and specific turntable cleaning f luid costs from just £10 SIMON POWELL, HENLEY AUDIO

”

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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Cook anywhere Generation 7000 KM7897FL, £2,849, Miele This does away with traditional cooking zones, so you can place up to six pans wherever you like on the surface. It comes in 62cm, 80cm and 93.6cm widths.

THE BEST BIT Slide a pan across the hob’s surface and the temperature underneath it will remain constant.

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Need a new hob?

Make it induction Induction is now the top choice for hobs in the UK. Neil Pooley, Miele’s kitchen category manager, says: ‘They are sleek, easy to clean, safe, precise, flexible and energy efficient.’ Here are the latest and best induction innovations…

SensePro, £1,299, AEG With four cooking zones – two of which can be bridged together to create one large zone – the SensePro also has a wireless probe to measure food’s core temperature and the hob will adjust the heat accordingly for perfect results.

THE BEST BIT It can detect rising bubbles and will lower the temperature to prevent the pan from boiling over.

Extractor included Pro 2.0 induction hob and built-in extractor (W85xL54cm), from £7,180 for two hobs and an extractor, Bora A surface-level extractor between two 37cm-wide hobs ensures cooking vapours are removed before filling the kitchen, while the 54cm-deep surface offers space for two big pans.

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI

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NZ6000K with Virtual Flame, £949, Samsung Virtual Flame technology replicates a gas flame using LED lighting that reflects onto the side of the pan, with each ring glowing high or low depending on the temperature of that particular cooking zone.

GoodHome GHIHAC90 induction hob, £598, B&Q Featuring four standard zones and one large one, this low-cost hob has all the usual functions, such as rapid heating and timer setting, plus it can work in tandem with GoodHome extractor fans.

THE BEST BIT The hob switches off if you’ve left things on the heat for too long without moving them.

THE BEST BIT Unusually for something in this price bracket, it comes with a five-year guarantee.

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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FOOD WITH FRIENDS

Host a special Sunday lunch Shake off that grey-sky feeling by having everyone over to yours for a proper roast and a natter. Bracing country walk optionalÉ

7-hour beer-roasted lamb with parsnip gratin See page 161 for recipe

SIMPLE PLEASURES

Autumn salad of roasted squash with serrano ham and Manchego cheese TAKES 45min SERVES 6 INGREDIENTS ● 1 medium butternut squash (around 900g) ● 3tbsp olive oil ● ½tsp paprika ● 150g sliced serrano ham ● 2 handfuls of watercress, thick stems removed ● 50g Manchego cheese, rind removed FOR THE DRESSING ● 1 garlic clove, peeled, bruised and bashed slightly ● 2tbsp sherry vinegar ● ½tsp Dijon mustard ● Pinch of caster sugar ● 4tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 Peel, deseed and cut the squash into cubes, keeping the seeds to one side. Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Toss the squash with 2tbsp of the olive oil, season generously and spread out on a roasting tray.

Roast for 30min, until golden and soft. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

2 Meanwhile, toss the squash

seeds with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, the paprika and a little salt. Spread out on a separate baking tray and roast for about 6min, until lightly toasted.

3 To make the dressing, put the

garlic clove, vinegar, mustard, sugar, oil and a little salt and black pepper in a lidded jam jar and shake vigorously. The dressing can be made up to four days ahead and kept in the fridge.

4 To serve the salad, gently toss

the squash, ham and watercress with the dressing in a large bowl. Shave the cheese over using a vegetable peeler and sprinkle with the roasted squash seeds to finish.

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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SIMPLE PLEASURES

IDEAL HOME TIP When preparing the Jerusalem artichokes, drop the peeled wedges into a bowl of cold water with a few slices of lemon to prevent them discolouring

Warm Jerusalem artichoke salad with mushrooms & spinach See page 161 for recipe

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

Brined chicken with cider, pears and pumpkin TAKES 1hr 45min, plus brining SERVES 4-6 INGREDIENTS ● 1 large chicken (about 2kg), with giblets removed ● 10 shallots, halved and peeled ● 4 fresh bay leaves ● 5 thyme sprigs, plus extra to serve ● 50g butter, softened ● 1 small pumpkin, deseeded and cut into wedges ● 3 small pears, halved and cored ● 2tbsp olive oil ● 150ml dry cider FOR THE BRINE ● 200ml dry cider ● 100g demerara sugar ● 2tbsp rock salt ● 1tbsp whole black peppercorns ● 2 thyme sprigs ● 3 fresh bay leaves, crushed

1 Make the brine by mixing brine

ingredients with 200ml water. Put the chicken in a large, zip-lock food bag and pour in the brine. Seal bag, put in a bowl and refrigerate from 6 to 24 hours, turning occasionally.

2 Preheat oven to 190°C/Fan 170°C/

Gas 5. Remove the chicken (discard the brine), rinse and pat dry. Put four shallot halves, 1 bay leaf and 1 thyme sprig inside. Loosen the skin from the breast and put a pat of butter and the bay leaves underneath. Spread the rest of the butter over the breast and legs. Put the chicken in a large roasting tin, cover with foil and roast for 20min.

3 Uncover the chicken and arrange

the pumpkin, pears and remaining shallots and thyme sprigs around it. Drizzle with oil, season and add the cider. Reduce heat to 180°C/Fan 160°C/Gas 4 and roast for 50min, covering the chicken with foil if it browns too quickly. Insert a skewer into the thigh: the juices should run clear. If not cooked, cover and return to the oven for 10min.

4 Rest the chicken, tented with

foil, for 10min before carving. Serve scattered with fresh thyme sprigs.

Blackberry and sour cream cheesecake with a gingernut crust TAKES 2hr 30min, plus chilling SERVES 10-12 INGREDIENTS ● 150g fresh or frozen blackberries ● 2tbsp caster sugar ● 1tsp plus 5 level tbsp cornflour ● 200g gingernut biscuits ● 70g unsalted butter, melted ● Pinch of salt ● 750g full-fat cream cheese ● 300ml sour cream, at room temperature ● 175g caster sugar ● Finely grated zest of ½ lemon ● 1tsp vanilla bean paste or extract ● 5 eggs, at room temperature

1 Put blackberries and sugar in a

small pan with 1tbsp water. Heat gently, stirring, for 5min. Purée using a blender and return to the pan.

2 Mix 1tsp cornflour with 1tbsp

water to make a paste. Combine with the purée. Bring to the boil, stirring.

Simmer for 1min until thickened.

3 Pulse biscuits in a food processor

to a fine crumb. Combine with butter and salt. Press evenly over the base and sides of a 23cm round springform cake tin. Chill in the fridge for 15min.

4 Preheat the oven to 120°C/Fan

100°C/Gas ½. Whisk cream cheese until smooth. Beat in sour cream, 5tbsp cornflour, sugar, zest and

vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one by one, stopping when the mixture is smooth.

5 Pour half the mixture over the

base and dot with a little purée. Cover with the rest of the mixture. Drag remaining purée over surface using a skewer to create a marbled pattern.

6 Place on a baking sheet. Bake for

1¾hrs, until set but slightly wobbly in the middle. Turn off oven, prop door ajar and leave to cool. Chill for at least 4hrs or overnight. Remove from the tin before slicing.

SIMPLE PLEASURES with foil and cook for 40min, then remove and set aside.

3 Remove the lamb from the marinade,

reserving the liquid, and pat dry. Rub the lamb with the olive oil and season well. Put in a baking dish or roasting tin deep enough to hold the beer and stock.

4 Roast the lamb for 30min, until

beginning to brown. Spoon any fat from the dish and discard, then add the marinade, carrots, onions, rosemary sprigs and 150ml water. Cover tightly with two layers of foil and reduce the heat to 140°C/Fan 120°C/Gas 1.

7-hour beer-roasted lamb with parsnip gratin TAKES 8hrs, plus marinating SERVES 6-8

FEATURE GINEVRA BENEDETTI RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

INGREDIENTS ● 2.5kg leg of lamb, part-boned and tied with string ● 500ml pale or golden ale ● 300ml lamb stock ● 8 garlic cloves, skin on, bruised (bashed slightly) ● 2tbsp chopped rosemary, plus 3 rosemary sprigs ● 2tbsp olive oil ● 1 bunch baby carrots, scrubbed and trimmed ● 2 red onions, peeled, thickly sliced FOR THE GRATIN ● 400ml crème fraîche ● 200ml whole milk ● Butter for greasing ● 1kg parsnips, peeled and sliced into rounds ● 100g Gruyère cheese, grated ● 1tbsp chopped rosemary ● A good grating of nutmeg

5 Cook the lamb for 6-6½hrs, until

extremely tender. Check after 4hrs and add more water, if needed. Transfer the lamb and vegetables to a warmed serving dish, cover with tea towels and rest for 40min. Spoon the fat from the juices in the roasting tin and reduce the remaining liquid to create a rich sauce.

6 Turn the oven up to 190°C/Fan

170°C/Gas 5. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on the gratin. Bake, covered, for 30min, then uncovered for 5-10min, until golden. Serve with the lamb, some steamed greens and the sauce.

Handful of sage leaves ● 500g mixed wild mushrooms, cleaned and sliced ● ½ garlic clove, crushed ● 150g baby spinach leaves FOR THE DRESSING ● 1 egg yolk ● ½ garlic clove, crushed ● Pinch each of caster sugar and salt ● Juice of 1 lemon ● 100ml rapeseed oil

●

1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/ Gas 6. Steam the artichoke wedges for 10min. Transfer to a roasting tin, toss with the olive oil and season well. Roast for 30min, until tender and golden.

2 For the dressing, whisk the egg

yolk, garlic, sugar, salt and 2tsp lemon juice in a bowl. Whisking continuously, add the oil, drop by drop, until it begins to thicken, then add the rest in a thin stream. Whisk in the remaining lemon juice and 2-3tbsp water to thin the consistency slightly. The dressing can be made up to 3 days ahead and kept in the fridge.

3 Heat 10g butter in a pan and add

the sage leaves. Cook for a minute until translucent. Cool on kitchen paper. Heat remaining butter. Add the mushrooms and season well. Add garlic and cook over a high heat for 4-5min, until golden. Toss in artichoke.

4 Place on serving plates with spinach

and sage leaves. Spoon over dressing.

1 Put the lamb in a sturdy food bag or

non-metallic dish and cover with the ale and stock. Add the garlic and chopped rosemary and marinate for between 8 to 48hrs. When you are ready to cook the lamb (and gratin), preheat the oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C/Gas 4.

2 For the gratin, combine the crème

fraîche and milk in a bowl and season lightly. Butter a medium baking dish and cover the base with one third of the sliced parsnips and one third of the grated cheese. Season with salt, pepper and a little rosemary and nutmeg. Spoon over one-third of the crème fraîche mixture and cover with parsnips, cheese and seasoning, as before. Repeat the layering, reserving the last third of the cheese. Cover tightly

Warm Jerusalem artichoke salad with mushrooms & spinach TAKES 45min SERVES 6 INGREDIENTS ● 500g Jerusalem artichokes, peeled and cut into wedges ● 2tbsp olive oil ● 40g butter IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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SIMPLE PLEASURES

Best of British

COSY AUTUMN ESCAPES Enjoy a weekend of crisp air, roaring fires and good food at one of these luxurious boltholesÉ

Each hut comes complete with log burner and king-size bed

Best for families THE PIG – AT BRIDGE PLACE

Get away from it all in your own private hut

Local ingredients star in the on-site restaurant

When the first curiously named Pig hotel opened almost a decade ago in the New Forest, no one could have predicted it would become the cornerstone of a group that completely redefined the meaning of the country house hotel. Often copied but rarely matched, Robin Hutson’s Pig hotels offer a whimsical, slightly threadbare take on countryside grandeur with a sustainable, outside-in ethos – The Pig served a ‘25 Mile Menu’ before locally sourced food was even on the average hotelier’s radar. The newest addition to the litter is a handsome,

17th-century pile in Canterbury with a rock ‘n’ roll past, having hosted wild Led Zeppelin gigs in the Seventies.

We love the cosy Lodges, Barn and Hop Pickers’ Huts. There are accommodation options to suit every type and size of family, too, some with self-catering options – making The Pig the perfect family escape.

BOOK IT From £175 a night.

The Pig – at Bridge Place, Bourne Park Road, Canterbury CT4 5LF, thepighotel.com

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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Best for peace-seekers LINTHWAITE HOUSE A modern marvel among the traditional hotels that pepper the Lake District, Linthwaite House offers a sophisticated take on classic country house hospitality. Part of the chic South African Leeu Collection, the relaxed property offers all the warming comfort of staying in a grand home without any of the faded chintz or stuffiness. Guests love curling up in the warren of lounges and nooks with a newspaper or good book, and in warmer months a picnic in the glorious grounds or boating on the tarn makes for an idyllic afternoon.

Linthwaite happily lends guests walking boots and wellingtons to explore the exceptional local landscape. The latest news from the hotel is the exciting opening of Henrock, a restaurant from renowned British chef Simon Rogan,

of L’Enclume fame. Henrock will serve a more casual version of Rogan’s ingredients-led cuisine, in the hotel’s smart dining room.

Picture-perfect towns Bowness and Windermere are just minutes away, and if all this wasn’t enough, you can even bring your dog. Bliss!

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Enjoy a little modern country luxury

Take your dog for a stroll around the perfectly manicured lawns

Malton is well known as Yorkshire’s foodie capital – home to bakeries, breweries, butchers and more, the market town attracts budding gourmands and those who appreciate top-quality, traditional produce. At the beating heart of the town’s culinary scene is The Talbot, a quintessentially British coaching inn, and the beneficiary

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

of a full renovation earlier this year.

The result is a cosy hideaway of open fires, wingback chairs and excellent gastropub grub. Try well-executed classics such as crab with homemade mayonnaise, and a moreish cheddar soufflé – dishes you can learn to whip up yourself at the lovely on-site cookery school. If you’re in the market to explore the local area, or try a new

experience, the hotel can arrange guided tours of Castle Howard, or even a day of grouse shooting.

BOOK IT From £120 a night.

The Talbot, Yorkersgate, Malton YO17 7AJ, talbotmalton.co.uk

FEATURE PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY

Snuggle up in a cosy chair in front of the roaring fire

Best for foodies THE TALBOT

SIMPLE PLEASURES

Dine with views over the gardens

The daily garden tour is a must for green-fingered guests

Best for gardeners THE NEWT

Dark walls create a soothing, cocooning feel in the bedrooms

Those familiar with muchloved Cape Winelands retreat Babylonstoren will already know what a treat it is that owner Karen Roos has just opened a sister property here in England.

At the end of the summer, the doors of meticulously restored country pile Hadspen House were thrown open, completing the lineup at The Newt – an ecological Somerset enclave named after the great crested amphibians residing nearby. The late 17th-century Georgian hotel features 23 elegant bedrooms across the main house and stables, as well as The Botanical Rooms restaurant, which offers plant-focused dishes

using ingredients sourced from both the estate and surrounding farms.

The main attraction, however, is The Newt’s grounds. Resplendent formal gardens that were once tended to by famed horticulturalist Penelope Hobhouse have been reworked by French architect Patrice Taravella to incorporate apple orchards, a working cider press, a Victorian maze and an array of winding vegetable patches.

BOOK IT From £300 a night.

The Newt in Somerset, Bruton, Somerset BA7 7NG, thenewtinsomerset.com

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

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FULLY ESCORTED TOURS Experience some of the world’s best destinations with these amazing tours

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PRICES INCLUDE ● Discover the city of Florence on a tour with an expert local guide ● Experience the wonders of the Uffizi, quite simply one of the world’s greatest art galleries, with a reserved pre timed entry to avoid the queues ● Marvel at the medieval splendour of Siena on a tour led by a local guide ● Savour the views from the striking hilltop village of San Gimignano, whose mighty high rise towers dominate the surrounding countryside ● See Pisa, its Leaning Tower and explore charming Lucca ● Explore the extraordinarily beautiful Tuscan countryside ● Return flights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers ● Seven nights in four star and three star superior accommodation, with breakfast and four dinners ● The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

PRICES INCLUDE ● Enjoy a guided tour of Trieste, an elegant Habsburg city ● See the remains of Aquileia, an ancient Roman megacity, and take a guided tour of its UNESCO listed basilica ● Discover Udine, a hidden Venetian gem with grand architecture ● Visit Miramare, Archduke Maximillian’s fairy tale castle and botanical park ● Tour the prestigious Mosaic School of Friuli to admire this intricate art ● Visit a traditional producer to see how San Daniele’s prosciutto is cured ● Sample the Collio region’s fragrant white wines ● Visit the Lombard Temple of Cividale ● Explore fascinating Gorizia ● Return flights from a selection of regional airports, with hotel transfers ● Five nights in four star accommodation, with breakfast ● The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager

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EIGHT DAYS HALF-BOARD FROM ONLY £699PP DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2020

8 DAYS HALF-BOARD FROM ONLY £729PP DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO NOVEMBER 2020

PRICES INCLUDE ● Take a guided tour of unique Venice with a local guide choose our classic tour or an ‘undiscovered’ tour of the less explored highlights ● Entire day exploring beautiful Lake Garda, both on land and by boat ● Tour medieval Verona with a local guide and see its classic sights or choose our ‘undiscovered’ tour to delve into its lesser known gems ● Spend the day in the breathtaking Dolomites ● Two free days to further explore or relax and soak up the scenery ● Return flights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers ● Seven nights in a choice of conveniently located accommodation rated three star to four star superior, with breakfast and dinner ● The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager

PRICES INCLUDE ● Explore the amazingly preserved Roman town of Herculaneum ● Take a boat trip to the stunning island of Capri, with the opportunity to visit the Blue Grotto ● Discover the mysteries of Pompeii on a guided tour and visit the Naples Archaeological Museum ● Full day touring the Amalfi coast, with a visit to charming hilltop Ravello ● Stay in elegant Sorrento and enjoy a walking tour of this stylish resort ● Return flights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers ● Seven nights in a choice of conveniently located accommodation rated three to four star superior, plus breakfast and dinner** ● The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager

CALL 01283 744319 TO BOOK OR FOR A FREE BROCHURE, OR VISIT IDERIVIERA.CO.UK TERMS & CONDITIONS: Additional entrance costs may apply. Prices are per person, based on two sharing and subject to finite availability. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. Offer operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430, a company wholly independent of Ideal Home, published by TI Media Limited. Prices correct at time of print. *Stays at the Royal Bridges Hotel include breakfast and one dinner. **Stays at the Hotel Mediterraneo and the La Badia are on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

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Market home interiors

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SUBSCRIBE TO IDEAL HOME and save 43% Subscribe online at idealhome.co.uk/26AP Or call 0330 333 1113, quoting code 26AP Lines are open Monday - Saturday from 8am to 6pm (UK time)

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Shopping directory A

Abode Living 01273 621116 abodeliving.co.uk AEG 0344 561 1611 aeg.co.uk Also Home 01483 608611 alsohome.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Angel & Boho 0845 2000 723 angelandboho.com Annie Sloan 01865 803168 anniesloan.com Anthology 020 3457 5862 stylelibrary.com/anthology Anthropologie 0800 0026 8476 anthropologie.com AO.com 0344 324 9222 Aram 020 7557 7557 aram.co.uk Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Arte 0800 500 3335 arte-international.com/en Att Pynta attpynta.com Audenza 0116 298 6393 audenza.com Audio Technica 0113 277 1441 audio-technica.com B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Banbayu 0844 884 3360 banbayu.com Barker and Stonehouse 0333 920 1119 barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Beko 0345 600 4911 beko.co.uk Benjamin Moore 01753 575756 benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Best Tile 00 353 51 354905 best-tile.co.uk Beth Pegler bethpegler.com Beut.co.uk 01225 292088 Blinds 2go 0800 862 0464 blinds-2go.co.uk Bobby Rabbit 01143 217000 bobbyrabbit.co.uk Bora bora.com Bosch 0344 892 8979 bosch-home.co.uk Boxt 0800 193 7777 boxt.co.uk Bronte by Moon brontebymoon.co.uk Buster + Punch 020 3176 5871 busterandpunch.com Casadeco 0844 369 0102 casadeco.com Cath Kidston cathkidston.com Charnwood 01983 537777 charnwood.com Clarke & Clarke 01706 242010 clarke-clarke.com Collard Manson collardmanson.co.uk Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk Crosswater 0345 873 8840 crosswater.co.uk

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Crown 0330 024 0281 crownpaints.co.uk CTO Lighting 020 7686 8700 cto-lighting.co.uk Cuckooland 01305 231231 cuckooland.com Cult Furniture 020 8185 6960 cultfurniture.com Curious Egg 01738 621111 curiousegg.com Dar Lighting 01295 672200 darlighting.co.uk Debenhams 0344 800 8877 debenhams.com De’Longhi 0845 600 6845 delonghi.com Denon 028 9027 9830 denon.co.uk Design Vintage 01243 573852 designvintage.co.uk Designer Paint 01323 430886 designerpaint.com Divine Savages divinesavages.com Donna Wilson 020 7749 0768 donnawilson.com Dowsing & Reynolds 0113 8199985 dowsingandreynolds.com Dulux 0333 222 7171 dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 165 6565 dunelm.com Duravit 0845 500 7787 duravit.co.uk Etsy etsy.com Falcon Appliances 0800 804 6261 falconappliances.com Farrow & Ball 01202 876141 farrow-ball.com Ferm Living fermliving.com Fiona Brass Interiors 07809 229990 fionabarrattinteriors.com French Connection Home 0333 400 3285 frenchconnection.com Fritz Fryer 01989 567416 fritzfryer.co.uk Furniturei123 033 0041 2270 furniture123.co.uk Furniture Village 0800 804 8879 furniturevillage.co.uk Garden Trading 01993 845559 gardentrading.co.uk Geberit 01926 516 800 geberit.co.uk Gisela Graham 020 7708 4956 giselagraham.co.uk Govette Windows 020 8668 1466 govettewindows.com Graham & Brown 0800 168 3795 grahambrown.com Graham and Green 01225 418200 grahamandgreen.co.uk

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Gregory Phillips Architects 020 7724 3040 gregoryphillips.com Greta-Mae Interior Design greta-mae.co.uk Grohe 0871 200 3414 grohe.co.uk Grosvenor Wilton 01562 701456 grosvenorwilton.co.uk H&M Home 0344 736 9000 hm.com Habitat 0344 499 4686 habitat.co.uk Hay hay.dk/en-gb Heal’s 0333 212 1915 heals.co.uk Hillarys 0800 916 6524 hillarys.co.uk Holloways of Ludlow 020 7602 5757 hollowayskitchens.com Homebase 0345 077 8888 homebase.co.uk HONE honestore.co.uk Hoover 0344 499 5599 hoover.co.uk House of Fraser 0141 404 3747 houseoffraser.co.uk House of Hackney 020 7739 3273 houseofhackney.com Houseology 0330 363 0330 houseology.com Houtt 01223 926505 houtt.co.uk Ikea 020 3645 0000 ikea.co.uk Industville 020 7971 7871 industville.co.uk Jane Clayton & Company 01761 404505 janeclayton.co.uk JD Williams 0871 231 2000 jdwilliams.co.uk Jenkins & Will 01394 459415 jenkinsandwill.com John Lewis & Partners 0345 604 9049 johnlewis.com John Pardey Architects 01590 626465 johnpardeyarchitects.com Kalinko kalinko.com Katy Paty katypaty.com La Redoute 0800 096 6888 laredoute.co.uk Laura Ashley 0333 200 8009 lauraashley.com Lights4Fun 01423 816040 lights4fun.co.uk Linen Me 020 8133 3853 linenme.com Little Greene 0845 880 5855 littlegreene.com Living Space Architects 01392 270 420 livingspacearchitects.com Lorna Syson 020 8465 9819 lornasyson.co.uk Lush Designs 020 8694 1664 lushlampshades.co.uk

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Made.com 0344 257 1888 Maisons du Monde 0808 234 2172 maisonsdumonde.com Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8000 marksandspencer.com Matalan 0333 004 4444 matalan.co.uk Miele 0330 160 6600 miele.co.uk Mrs Robinson 020 8670 6818 mrsrobinsonshop.co.uk Murals Wallpaper 0151 708 5400 muralswallpaper.co.uk Murmur 0333 200 7331 murmur.co.uk My Furniture 0800 092 1636 my-furniture.com N&P Carpentry 0723 636190 Neptune 01793 427300 neptune.com Newgate 01691 679994 newgateclocks.com Next Home 0333 777 8000 next.co.uk NICEIC 0333 015 6625 niceic.com Nkuku 0333 240 0155 nkuku.com Nordic House 01872 223220 nordichouse.co.uk Nordic House 0845 475 1610 nordichouse.co.uk Nordic Nest 020 3002 1196 nordicnest.com notonthehighstreet.com 020 3318 5115 Notonthehighstreet.com Oka 03330 042 042 oka.com Oliver Bonas 020 8974 0110 oliverbonas.com One World 020 8974 2211 one.world Opumo 020 7262 3606 opumo.com Original BTC 020 7351 2130 originalbtc.com Orla Kiely 020 7720 1117 orlakiely.com Paint & Paper Library 0845 880 5844 paintandpaperlibrary.com Penny Morrison 020 7384 2975 pennymorrison.com Peppermill Interiors 01543 375872 peppermillinteriors.com Perch & Parrow 020 8629 1166 perchandparrow.com Pooky 020 7351 3003 pooky.com Present & Correct 020 7278 2460 presentandcorrect.com Pro-Ject project-audio.com/en RAK Ceramics 01730 237850 rakceramics.co.uk Rockett St George 01444 253391 rockettstgeorge.co.uk

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SUBSCRIPTIONS All prices are for 12 issues and include p&p. Delivery times for overseas services are shown in brackets. UK: £52.80. USA (direct entry, five to 12 days): $152. Europe (priority; three to five days): €167. Rest of the world (priority, five to seven days): £122. Credit card hotline: 0330 333 1113; or call from overseas on: +44 330 333 1113. Lines are open Monday Saturday, 8am 6pm; UK time. Make cheques payable to TI Media Limited. For enquiries and orders, please email: help@magazinesdirect.com. Alternatively, call from the UK on: 0330 333 1113; or call from overseas on: +44 330 333 1113. Lines are open Monday Saturday, 8am 6pm, UK time. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by Air Business Ltd; c/o Worldnet Shipping Inc; 156 15 146th Avenue, 2nd floor, Jamaica NY 11434, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Jamaica NY 11431. US Postmaster: send address changes to Ideal Home, Air Business Ltd; c/o Worldnet Shipping Inc; 156 15 146th Avenue, 2nd floor, Jamaica NY 11434, USA. Subscriptions records are maintained at TI Media Limited, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP, England.

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Ideal Home 0019 1361 is published monthly by TI Media Limited, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP, England. Distributed by MarketForce (UK) Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, London E14 9AP (020 3787 9001). TI Media Limited regrets that it cannot be liable for the safe custody or return of any unsolicited material. By submitting any material to TI Media Limited, you consent to TI Media Limited and/or its associated companies reusing the submitted material in any format or medium throughout the world in perpetuity.

TI Media Limited reserves the right to shorten or modify any submitted material at its own discretion. The contents of the magazine are fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted without permission. Printed by Walstead UK Limited in the UK. Repro by Rhapsody Media. Cover printed by Walstead UK Limited in the UK. Ideal Home is sold subject to these conditions: that it shall not, without the written consent of the publishers first give, be lent; resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade at more than the recommended selling price on the cover; selling price in EU and Eire subject to VAT; and that it shall not be lent, resold, hired out or disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any unauthorised cover by way of trade or annexed to or as part of any publication or advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever. All information and prices correct at time of going to press. While we try to answer any enquiries, we cannot guarantee a response.

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STOCKISTS

EDITORIAL

Rowen & Wren 01276 451077 rowenandwren.co.uk Rug Artisan 020 7504 1206 rugartisan.co.uk Samsung 0800 521652 samsung.co.uk Samsung 0330 726 7864 samsung.com/uk Samuel & Sons 020 7351 5153 samuelandsons.com Sandberg 0800 731 9622 sandbergwallpaper.com Screwfix 0500 414141 screwfix.com Secret Linen Store 01243 822599 secretlinenstore.com Sensio 0845 591 8244 sensio.co.uk Shimu 0800 088 6800 shimu.co.uk Smallable 020 3318 3406 en.smallable.com Snug Architects 023 8202 9500 snugarchitects.co.uk Sofa.com 0345 400 2222 Soho Home 020 3819 8199 sohohome.com Sony 0870 511 1999 sony.co.uk Sophie Allport 01778 560256 sophieallport.com Sophie Conran 020 7603 1522 sophieconran.com String string.se Studio Interiors 020 8771 7144 studiointeriors.co.uk Sweetpea & Willow 0345 257 2627 sweetpeaandwillow.com Swoon 020 3319 6332 swooneditions.com Telegramme Paper Co telegramme.co.uk The Conran Shop 0344 848 4000 conranshop.co.uk The Cotswold Company 0333 200 1725 cotswoldco.com The Farthing 0844 567 2400 thefarthing.co.uk The French Bedroom Company 01444 415430 frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk The Lightbulb Company 01869 362222 thelightbulb.co.uk The Lighting Company 01643 707 505 lightingcompany.co.uk The Main Company 01423 330451 maincompany.com The Range 0345 026 7598 therange.co.uk The Rug Seller 0845 634 3477 therugseller.co.uk The Shop Floor Project 01229 584537 theshopfloorproject.com The White Company 020 3758 9222 thewhitecompany.com Tikamoon 020 3445 5440 tikamoon.co.uk Tile Mountain 01782 223822 tilemountain.co.uk Trouva 020 7193 6444 trouva.com Urbansize urbansize.co.uk

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Varisco Stone 020 7349 7026 variscostone.co.uk Very 0844 822 2321 very.co.uk Victorian Plumbing 0345 862 2878 victorianplumbing.co.uk Victorianplumbing.co.uk victorianplumbing.co.uk Villa Nova 01623 756699 villanova.co.uk Wallace Cotton 0800 024 8475 wallacecotton.co.uk Wallpaper Direct 01323 430886 wallpaperdirect.com Walls & Floors 01536 314730 wallsandfloors.co.uk Wayfair 0800 169 0423 wayfair.co.uk West Elm 0800 404 9780 westelm.co.uk Wickes 0330 123 4123 wickes.co.uk Wilko 0800 032 9329 wilko.com Woodchip & Magnolia 01204 856887 woodchipandmagnolia.co.uk Woodfloors4u 020 8500 1940 woodfloors4u.co.uk Woods of London 020 8852 1713 woodsoflondon.com Worcester Bosch 0844 892 3000 worcester-bosch.co.uk Zoffany 020 3457 5862 stylelibrary.com/zoffany

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BE CANDLE SAFE Enjoy the special touch that candles add to your home; but take care to use them safely: Always place lit candles well away from foliage, furniture, curtains and soft furnishings, and always out of draughts l Keep candles out of reach of children and pets l Never leave a burning candle unattended l Keep candles away from hair and clothing l Always place candles upright in suitable holders that can’t easily fall over l Always be sure that candles are properly extinguished

EDITORIAL COMPLAINTS We work very hard to achieve the highest standards of editorial content, and we are committed to complying with the Editors’ Code of Practice (ipso.co.uk/IPSO/cop.html) as enforced by IPSO. If you have a complaint about our editorial content, you can email us at complaints@ti-media.com or write to Complaints Manager, TI Media Limited Legal Department, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP, England.

Please provide details of the material you are complaining about and explain your complaint by reference to the Editors’ Code. We will endeavour to acknowledge your complaint within five working days and we aim to correct substantial errors as soon as possible.

Editorial Director Vanessa Richmond 020 3148 7335 Group Creative Director Georgia Hibberdine 020 3148 7342 Executive Editor Heather Young 020 3148 7326 Homes Content Team Editorial Director Rhoda Parry 020 3148 7180 Commercial Editorial Operations director Jane Akers 020 3148 7313 Associate Editor Ginevra Benedetti 020 3148 7347 Group Chief Sub-Editor/Production Editor Sarah Farley 020 3148 7189 Decorating Editor Nicky Phillips 020 3148 7346 Style Editor Michela Colling 020 3148 7355 Houses Editor Ruth Corbett 020 3148 7330 Senior Features Editor Stephanie Durrant 020 3148 6218 Features Editor Holly Walsh 020 3148 7353 Head of Subs Operations Maxine Clarke 020 3148 7136 Hub Chief Sub-Editor Amy Hodge 020 3148 7118 Deputy Chief Sub-Editor Jennie Filer Sub-Editor Chloe Hay Head of Art Operations Alison Walter 020 3148 7113 Deputy Art Director Emma Jackson 020 3148 7338 Acting Art Editor Hannah Bennewitz 020 3148 7343 Art Editor Paula Jardine 020 3148 7156 Art Editor Melanie Brown 020 3148 7160 Senior Designer Christina McQuillan 020 3148 7899 Senior Designer Katie Harris 020 3148 7825 Designer Charlotte Holland Group Digital Director Sarah Rafati Digital Content Director Holly Boultwood Acting Digital Content Director Stephanie Wood Digital Editor – Homes Group Amy Cutmore Shopping Editor Tamara Kelly

ADVERTISING Publisher and Head of Homes Network Joanne O’Hara 020 3148 7642 Advertisement Manager Sharon Goode 020 3148 7631 International/Luxury Account Manager Carol Bunce 020 3148 7620 London Sales Manager Ruth Roscorla 020 3148 7639 Classified senior Sales Executive Charlotte Beckett 020 3148 2511 Inserts Canopy Media Sales and Management 0845 544 1857 Regional Sales Director Katrina Hutchison 0161 601 3720 Homes Digital Director Ellie Naber 020 3148 4253

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For back issues visit mags-uk.com. You can order issues from as far back as 2003, subject to availability.

PRODUCTION Editorial Production Manager Nicola Tillman 020 3148 7891 Deputy Editorial Production Manager Clare Willetts 020 3148 7892 Art Production Designer Phil Dunk 020 3148 7893 Advertisement Production Co-ordinator Barry Skinner 020 3148 2538 Production Manager John Botten 020 3148 5431 Production Operations Director Richard Hill 020 3148 5424 Syndication Efi Mandrides 020 3148 5485 International Editions Bianca Hamilton-Foster 020 3148 5490 Press Office 020 3148 7682

PUBLISHING Group Managing Director, Lifestyle Angela O’Farrell Executive Assistant to Group Managing Director Donna McConnell 020 3148 5651 Group Client Investment Director Rob Biagioni 01252 555371 Ownable is a partnership between TI Media Ltd and Seen in Print Ltd

IDEALHOME.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2019

177

A SPACE OF MY OWN

‘I come here to focus and get things done’

‘I’ve hung art that’s not to Andrew’s taste’

In the throes of a major home renovation project, Kate French heads to her garden cabin for a little peace

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NOVEMBER 2019 | IDEALHOME.CO.UK

‘The look of it was inspired by fishing huts on the Suffolk coast’

“ ‘There’s room for a folding desk and chair’

There’s no clock in here and time does run away with me. I’ve nearly been late for the school run a couple of times

radiator. In fact, it’s a lot cosier than the cottage! I can lay out my stuff without worrying about clearing it away when the kids get home. In fact, the kids often forget I’m here! They know this is my space, not theirs.

‘I’d like to say I curl up with a book, but to be honest, this is where I come to get things done! I feel calm, contemplative and creative here. It’s

”

nice and quiet with no distractions.

The only trouble is there’s no clock in here and time does run away with me. I’ve nearly been late for the school run a couple of times.’

For details on Andrew’s cabins, visit houtt.co.uk. Have you created a space of your own? Email us at ideal_home@ti-media.com and it could be featured here.

FEATURE JANE MURPHY PHOTOGRAPHS KATE FRENCH

ate, 41, lives with her husband Andrew Daines and their daughters – Martha, eight, and Jemima, five – in a three-bed 18th-century cottage near Saffron Walden, Essex. She works as an interiors journalist.

‘Like pretty much every family, we needed some extra space. I needed a place where I could escape the chaos and distractions of everyday life and focus on our plans to renovate the cottage. But, more than anything, I needed a hideaway.

‘Andrew has been designing outdoor rooms for the last 15 years, so we came up with the idea of building a rolling cabin to sit in our garden. Andrew did it over a few months, during his spare time. It’s currently on the vegetable patch while we have the work done on the cottage, so the view is of some raspberry bushes.

But when everything’s finished, we’ll move it so I’ll have a view across the countryside.

‘It’s about 6.5ft by 12ft, so there’s room for a daybed, a desk and chair.

There’s a big window at one end and the light floods in, even on the darkest day. It’s insulated and has an electric

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