Ghbghh

You do traditional in an untraditional way. This gorgeous two-seater is as characterful as a beloved heirloom and as colourful as your personality. With a bold print and deep fixed seat, sitting down has never felt so uplifting.

Painter patchwork 2 seater sofa. Scatter cushions optional extras. See online for details. Delivery charges apply. dfs.co.uk

’Tis the the season to season

celebrate

The most wonderful time of the year is here, and we’ve hundreds of tips and tricks to help you have the best-ever Christmas for less!

To get yourself in the festive spirit, begin with Deck the Halls (p44), where we show you how to dress your home on a budget with some DIY floristry –forage for the evergreen pieces yourself and you’ve got free showstoppers! Scan the QR codes to watch the video how-tos, including this suspended centrepiece (below) – making it is easier than you’d think.

32

Start ticking gifts off your list with our round-up of thrifty present ideas on page 23 – there’s something for everyone, from just £1.25. Find tips and tricks to keep December stress-free on page 14 and, if you’re hosting friends and family, flip to page 52 for our round-up of entertaining essentials. I especially love the party pieces!

This month’s houses and makeovers are full of joy – as well as savvy style ideas! See how fabulous Jennie’s openplan lounge-diner looks at this time of year on page 32. And, if you dream of spending the season in a country cottage, you’ll adore Jess’s Cotswoldinspired home (p78). It’s so cosy! Merry Christmas!

MEL SHERWOOD EDITOR

CHRISTMAS OFFER

Get a beautiful Emma Bridgewater mug (worth £22) as a thank you if you subscribe this month! Or, even better – drop some hints with a loved one about a gift subscription. Leave the magazine open on page 28!

Editor’s

portrait Philip Sowels

IN THIS ISSUE...

Christmas at home

08 This month we love John Lewis decs in candy cane colours, cosy Cath Kidston bedding and personalised stockings

11 Household hints How to have a more eco-friendly Christmas – plus, we test reusable advent calendars

14 Smarter shopper Beat the stress with our top 10 tips for planning, shopping and budgeting this Xmas

16 Focus on How to make the most of cashback websites

Homes & makeovers

32 ‘YouTube tutorials helped us create our dream space’ Jennie and Owen designed their own wheelchair-friendly living area and dining room 36 ‘Our zoned space works for the whole family’ Music, fun and feasting all takes place in Amanda and Jon’s once underused playroom 40 ‘We shopped second-hand for a DIY bespoke kitchen’ Rebekah achieved her dream of a social kitchen-diner using upcycled pieces 78 ‘We wanted it to feel like a cosy Cotswolds cottage’ Jess and Mitch gave a 22-year-old house a country cottage makeover 84 ‘Instagram inspired us to do the work ourselves’ Anna discovered that DIY hacks and a lick of paint can result in a huge transformation 90 ‘I played with light and dark colours to create drama’ Wallpaper murals and floral displays is how Scarlett put her stamp on this charming cottage

Style & decorating

18 Spotlight on Welcome in the holiday season and get creative with four stylish looks to try this Christmas 44 Deck the halls Inspiring ideas for decorating with foraged foliage and berries to bring the outside in

Food & drink

Festive

improvements and upcycling projects – don’t forget to send us photos of your latest projects, too!

Subscribe to Your Home And receive a festive Emma Bridgewater Spruce ½ pint mug!

Win! Enter our prize draw and win a new Pronteau HotKey® 4 IN 1 Hot Tap bundle, worth over £1,500!

Coming next month Take a look at what’s coming up in the December issue of YourHome

Ask the experts Our panel answer all your money-saving questions

Prize draws We’ve got incredible prizes up for grabs this month, including lights from LED experts WiZ!, games from Winning Moves and the cutest crib from Snüz

Shopping guide Find out where to buy everything featured in this issue

Shop small If our food pages have tickled your taste buds, take a look at these scrumptious delights from independent food businesses Look out for our brilliant cover stories!

project star-shaped tree skirt adorned with a sweet pompom trim 76 Craft stash must haves Discover the latest news, kits and products in the world of craft

foliage crafted from felt

statement star pallet wood

Anna Motts created her dream home with DIY updates

EDITORIAL

Editor Mel Sherwood

Features Editor Michelle Grady

Senior Production Editor Katie Nicholls

Editorial Assistant Sophie Ellis

Art Editor Tricia Ball

Deputy Art Editor Beth Charlton Lucas

Senior Digital Editor Cinead McTernan

Digital Editor Rebecca Messina

Digital Writer Thea Jeffreys

Staff Writer Katie Dutton

Thanks also to Rob Banino, Poppy Benner, Beth Emery, Chris Stocker

ADVERTISING

Group Advertising Manager Laura Jones

Advertising Manager Heather Golden Business Development Manager

Phil Wallington, phil.wallington@ourmedia.co.uk

Brand Sales Executives

James Beckett, james.beckett@ourmedia.co.uk

Ad Co-ordinator Lucy Dearn

Senior Ad Designers

Andrew Hobson, Cee Pike

MARKETING & PRODUCTION

Subscriptions Director Jacky Perales-Morris

Direct Marketing Executive Emma Hunter Buyer Karen Flannigan Director of Licensing and Syndication Tim Hudson

Syndication Manager Richard Bentley Production Director Sarah Powell Production Co-ordinator Lauren Morris Senior PR Manager Ridhi Radia

Managing Director Marie Davies Head of Brand Marketing Rosa Sherwood Group Managing Director Andy Marshall CEO Tom Bureau

Bristol, BS1 4ST, UK. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue. Immediate Media Co Ltd is working to ensure that all of its paper is sourced from well-managed forests. This magazine can be recycled. We abide by IPSO’s rules and regulations. To give feedback about our magazines, please visit immediate.co.uk, email editorialcomplaints@immediate.co.uk or write to Legal Director, Immediate Media Co, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London, W6 7BT

HOT FROM THE HIGH STREET

With a colour palette of candy cane red and brilliant white, the Jolly General Store collection will delight traditionalists as well as trendsetters. Lisa Cherry, Lead Christmas Buyer, says ‘This year’s Christmas themes are a celebration of local living, highlighting the importance of community in towns and villages. This theme evokes the local general store, filled with everything from hardware to groceries.’

THIS MONTH

love…

Unlit Sherwood blue tree, £229; willow star tree topper in Silver, £10; multi 10 x 8cm medium shatterproof assorted baubles, £10 for 10; multi glass decorated baubles, £35 for 20; multi glass decorated baubles, £30 for 42; candy cane stripe and silver metallic wrap kit, £12, all John Lewis & Partners

Make the most of the festive season with the best things to do, see and buy this month

A CRACKING TIME

For a fun and simple craft project, check out Paperchase’s fabric Christmas crackers (priced at £15 for two). The reusable crackers can be filled again and again each year – so everyone can have a meaningful and personalised gift. The cloth coverings also double as napkins on the big day.

paper decorations

Swap

1. Paper angel hanging decorations, £8 for three, Habitat 2. Black and Gold honeycomb ball decorations, £7 for two, Rockett St George 3. Paper snowflake decoration, £2, B&M 4. Large folding paper tree, £8, National Trust 5. White paper stars hanging Christmas decoration, £9.99 for six, Ginger Ray

Dorset natural solid oak 8-10 seater extendable dining table, £779.99; Marlene natural/rustic oak mink fabric chair, £190 each, both Oak Furnitureland

ROCKING STOCKINGS

Get ready for the big day with these personalised velvet stockings and sacks from Matalan. Your favourite furry companion doesn’t have to miss out, either – there’s a paw-some version just for them.

Red velvet alphabet stocking, £11; red velvet pet stocking, £11; green velvet alphabet sack, £13, all Matalan

inspiration

We’re reading…

Candles, £15.99

Founders of homewares shop Our Lovely Goods, Ebi and Emmanuel Sinteh, share the craft of candle making in this guide. Once you’ve mastered the basic techniques, you can take on 17 seasonal projects, from taper candles to tealights.

We’re following…

@hilaryscolourfulhome

Expect fun patterns, bold colours and upcycling how-to guides from Hilary’s colourful home. Hilary says: ‘I’ve been gradually adding colour and personality to our family home since we moved here eight years ago. I wanted to create a home with a fun vibe that stimulates creativity.’

We’re going to…

The Snowman Tour

Celebrate the festive season with Christmas classic The Snowman, accompanied by a live orchestra. The magical, family-friendly show will be touring venues around the UK. Tickets are available from carrotproductions.com/snowman.

Feature Sophie Ellis

Photo Gareth Widdowson

Letters

Every letter featured wins a prize!* Thanks to Mason Cash, our star letter has won bakeware and accessories worth £50, while each runner-up receives a selection of mixing, bowls, trays and utensils worth £25.

out more about the full Mason Cash range at masoncash. co.uk

Get bready

I thought you might like to see the cabinet I made using two bread bins, hairpin legs and some paint and vinyl. I also made the doorknobs, which have smiley faces on them, using a resin mold.

Samantha Barber, Bath

On display

I thought you might like to see my autumn ‘shelfie’! I love to change my shelves to celebrate each new season – this season is a special favourite of mine with all the lovely colours it brings.

Ann Hollis, via email

Beth, Deputy Art Editor, says: I love the creativity of this, Ann – small updates can make such a big difference to your décor!

Makeover magic

Sophie, Editorial Assistant, says: What a joyful upcycling project, Samantha. You’ve completely transformed those bread bins into a fun piece.

I moved into my forever home in April 2021 and I’ve spent the time since renovating, moving rooms and having the garden landscaped. It’s a bungalow and I had to shift the rooms around, as my living room used to be the master bedroom. I also added an extension and had French doors installed that lead into the garden. It’s become my favourite room – I have my breakfast here each day and I feel like I’m on holiday!

Rachel Stone, York

Mel, Editor, says: Thanks for showing us your home transformation, Rachel! Making a place feel like your own is so rewarding.

All change

Here’s an old photo of my kitchen from when I moved in. I repainted the walls and cabinets to freshen them up, painted a mural, changed the room layout, added an upcycled dresser and covered the countertops in vinyl… And, of course, added lots of plants – all renterfriendly too!

Ems, @emsgaff on Instagram

Tricia, Art Editor, says: I love your new-look kitchen, Ems. It looks so cheerful and homely!

After

Before

Christmas advent calendar house, £20, JoJo Maman Bébé

This calendar house will delight the little ones, with the fun festive scene sure to brighten up even the darkest morning. The boxes for the 23rd and 24th are larger, but all are big enough to hide chocolates or small toys in. Made from reinforced cardboard, this calendar feels sturdy – although take care letting small children take out the boxes, as it can be a bit top-heavy.

Ensure your Christmas lunch prep is as stress-free as possible with our round up of time-saving and handy kitchen gadgets and utensils

1. Keep your worktops and chopping boards tidy with this set of bowls.

Dropped sides make it easier to tip prepped ingredients into your pans

Uppfylld preparation bowl, £2.50 for 3, IKEA

2. Prevent tears when chopping onions with a manual food chopper – it can also be used for nuts, chocolate and dried fruit for your festive showstoppers

Food chopper, £18, ProCook

3. This multitasking tool will make light work of cutting bacon, chicken and even stripping herbs

OXO Good Grips kitchen and herb scissors, £16.49, Amazon

4. Avoid awkward fiddling when it comes to slicing garlic and ditch your knife for this chopping tool. The storage pot is also dishwasher safe for ultimate ease

Garlic slice and dice, £11.99, Lakeland

5. Hate the faff of separating egg yolks from whites? You’ll soon be making meringues in no time

Handy kitchen egg separator, £4, Dunelm

6. If you’ve forgotten to sharpen your knives, slice vegetables with ease using this mandoline (but watch your fingers)

Mandoline, £20, John Lewis & Partners

reusable advent calendars

Things we considered: How sturdy are they? How much can you fit in them?

Fabric Christmas advent calendar kit, £14.99, Ginger Ray

You’ll want to hang this calendar in a prime position, thanks to its sweet festive illustrations. Tuck treats into the 24 pockets – though they’re a little shallow, so make sure they’re not too big as they could fall out. In comparison to other reusable fabric advent calendars we’ve seen, this option offers good value for money, especially when it comes to small details, such as the print design, wooden rods and neat red ribbon.

Wooden house advent calendar, £16, Hobbycraft

Those with a creative streak will love this customisable wooden calendar, as it’s ready to be painted and decorated however you like. Or, why not create a personalised family calendar together to cherish? The magnetic swing doors feel sturdy and there are 25 of them, so you have one for the big day too. Although you’ll have to buy your own decorating materials, we think it’s well-priced for a fun afternoon project.

Nordic house wooden advent calendar, £34.99, Lights4fun

Featuring an illuminated snowy scene atop five drawers for advent treats, this calendar would make a charming addition to a mantelpiece. Double-sided tags numbered 1-25 hang on each drawer from little hooks – simply fill the drawers with treats, and hang the right numbers on the drawers. This does mean you’ll need to keep refilling and swapping the numbers every five days, but the drawers are pretty big (so more scope for treats).

£SMARTER shopper

Look forward to a calmer Christmas countdown with our top ten tips for budgeting, planning and shopping

Beat the festive stress

From November onwards, we’re constantly reminded about the number of shopping days left until Christmas, which can increase your stress levels, if you’re already rushing to get everything done. From food shopping to gift buying, here are our top tips to reduce those anxiety levels before the big day…

1 MAKE A PLAN

It helps to have things written down, so make a list of all the people you need to buy presents for, and another for the Christmas food and essentials. You can use classic pen and paper, a computer spreadsheet, or an app on your phone, whichever method works for you and makes you feel more in control.

2 SET A BUDGET

To avoid the worry of overspending, work out how much money you can realistically spend on Christmas as a whole. Allocate some for food, décor and so on, then use the rest for gifts, setting a limit for each person. Budgeting apps will help you keep track.

and wrap in a pretty way, such as clay tree decorations, scented candles, or a foodie gift such as chocolate truffles or chutney.

5 ORGANISE A SECRET SANTA

down the search. You might like to try food, board games, books or clothes. Sticking to the same theme for everyone will also reduce the number of shops you have to visit!

3 BUY ESSENTIALS IN ADVANCE

Supermarkets get busy just before Christmas, but you can plan ahead and buy dry goods well in advance. Make a list of cupboard essentials and festive extras you know you’ll need. If you have freezer space, you might want to order your turkey now, too.

4 GET CREATIVE

If you have time, handmade gifts can be cost-effective as well as therapeutic to make. Choose something you can make in bulk

Once kids and grandchildren come into the equation, the number of presents to buy can be overwhelming. A Secret Santa for the adults in your family is a great way to lighten the load, saving both time and money. Use an app to plan the Secret Santa, and set a reasonable budget that you all agree on.

6 GROCERY-SHOP OUT OF HOURS

For fresh food, nearer to Christmas Day, head to the supermarket either early in the morning or late at night to avoid the festive rush. Stay focused and don’t be swayed by offers, unless the items are already on your shopping list.

7 CHOOSE A THEME

If gift-buying starts to feel like a chore, try to think of a theme for your gifts and narrow

8 SHOP ONLINE

Browsing from the comfort of your sofa can help to lessen the stress. Pop on some festive tunes or a Christmas movie to help you relax –and remember to stick to your list.

9 CLICK AND COLLECT

To avoid delivery costs and save time queueing, stick to shops that offer a click-andcollect service. Picking up the items is also a great task to delegate to another member of your family if you need to share the load.

10 KEEP THE RECEIPTS

If you’re worried that your gifts aren’t quite right, include the gift receipt – most shops will give one without the price on it, so your recipient can choose something else they like.

Feature Poppy Benner Photo Getty Images

A Secret Santa is a great way to lighten the load, saving both time and money

FOCUS ON

Cashback websites

Frequently asked questions...

How much can I earn? That depends on what and how much you buy, but most people make a few hundred pounds per year. Is there a fee? Basic accounts on Quidco and TopCashback are free, although both also offer a premium membership for a fee. A paid-for account offers extra incentives, such as improved cashback rates and special promotions. Money is collected from your earnings to pay for membership, rather than an as upfront fee. Quidco Premium costs £1 of your cashback each month while TopCashback Plus is up to £5 of your earnings each year.

USEFUL CONTACTS

• For more information head to moneysavingexpert.com.

• The two biggest cashback sites are quidco.com and topcashback.co.uk.

• Find more information visit gocompare.com.

• For help on deleting cookies on your device, visit allaboutcookies.org.

Is it just online shopping? It’s mostly online but you can also get cashback on your supermarket shop if you use Quidco’s ClickSnap app. Another option is to register your debit or credit card with TopCashback’s In-Store scheme. How do I receive the money? TopCashback and Quidco both allocate your cashback either via bank transfer or PayPal. You can also choose to have your earnings as an e-gift card with a selected retailer.

If you do one thing...

When shopping online, always click through from the cashback site so the cookie trail leads from there to the retailer. If you’ve been browsing on the retailer’s site first, you’ll need to delete the cookies, then start again by clicking through from Quidco or TopCashback.

HOW TO... earn as you shop

Cashback schemes, such as TopCashback or Quidco, offer you a small payment for purchasing products or services from the retailers featured on their sites. Here’s how to make the most of them…

• As well as products purchased through cashback sites, you can also receive money when choosing everything from mobile phones and car insurance to bank accounts and broadband.

• Quidco has 4,500 brands including Amazon, Argos, Wilko, Boots and B&Q. TopCashback has thousands too, such as AO, Currys, Dunelm and eBay.

• Before you sign up, check for any fees, joining bonuses and which goods and services you can make money on, as well as how the money you earn will be paid to you.

• To make more money, ask family and friends to sign up, as you’ll receive a bonus for any successful referrals.

• Always transfer your earnings out of your cashback account as soon as possible. Leaving it in there runs the risk of losing it should the website go bust.

• Quidco and TopCashback also offer you the chance to earn more by participating in surveys, getting quotes from price comparison sites and entering giveaways.

• When signing up to a new service, such as a phone contract, car insurance or credit card, you’ll earn more if you choose a long-term deal. Check to find out what long-term deals are available on a cashback site to make the most from them.

• Holidays are often included too, with cashback on hotels, flights, car hire, travel insurance and airport parking. If you’re planning your next break, have a look to see what’s available before you book.

• Both Quidco and TopCashback guarantee to match each other so if you find you a better deal elsewhere, submit a claim and get extra cashback.

Feature Hayley Gilbert Photo Getty Images

Laying good foundations

Every experienced DIYer knows that careful preparation before you start to decorate is the foundation stone to a successful finish. Begin by ensuring you have a smooth and clean surface by removing flakey paint, varnish and paper. Next, repair any holes or gouges and sand down. The Harris Seriously Good Sanding Blocks are flexible enough to cope with curves and will ensure that the surface is prepped to perfection. Finish by cleaning the area using a damp Microfibre Cloth to remove any lingering dust. You should now have a flat surface that’s primed for painting. Mask off any areas you don’t want to paint with Harris Seriously Good UV Masking Tape and, bingo! You’re ready to go!

Renew and REFRESH

Master the art of cutting in

It’s time to get edgy and learn how to ‘cut in’, which means painting up to skirting boards and around light fittings and window frames. It’s important to use the right tool for the job and the Harris Ultimate Walls & Ceilings Brush is designed with tapered bristles to create a bladethin edge. Using your Blade Brush, work in 1m segments placing its wide tip against the edge and pulling the paint along. Then use the Blade as normal to create 5-10cm of painting from there. Once the edges are complete, switch to the Harris Ultimate Powercoat Roller for fast coverage on large areas. For a fine finish with no framing use a ‘W’ motion to overlap the area that was painted first.

With the colder months upon us we are spending more time at home, so grab the moment to make your interiors a cosy winter retreat. Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or you’re picking up a brush for the first time, having the right tools, alongside sage guidance, is key to ensuring a finish that a professional would be proud of. Harris can help with its huge choice of brushes, rollers and decorating equipment – everything you need for great paint coverage, neat edges and smooth finishes.

Invest in the right tools

You will be astonished by the quality of the finish you can achieve when using the right brush, roller or preparation tool. Great paint coverage, neat edges and a perfect, smooth result make decorating your home both successful and satisfying. Harris’ packaging is colour-coded by task, making it easy to select the best product for the different aspects of the job. Harris has also put together a list of all the decorating tools you need for success. Visit harrisbrushes.com for the full range of products and a guide for what to use at every stage of the project.

Ensure neat edges with the Blade Brush Ultimate W&C 230mm

Nailing woodwork

Keep it smooth with the Flat Brush

Painting woodwork can be an intricate process but with the right tools you can achieve a polished result. The Harris Ultimate range of woodwork brushes includes flat, round and angled versions for flat surfaces, curves and spindles; for really tricky areas Harris has triangular and angled brushes too. As with walls, it’s essential to prep first. Lightly sand with Ultimate Fine Sandpaper to remove the top layer. If there’s thick paint or damage, use a Harris Essentials Brush to apply paint stripper, then a little elbow grease with the Ultimate Super Scraper and Ultimate Combination Shave Hook. For a flawless result on skirting boards use the Ultimate Angled Gloss Brush following the grain of the wood. The Ultimate Angled Brush head cuts in at the top of a skirting board or edge of a window frame, providing the finest possible finish. Lightly brush to finish (known as ‘laying off’) for a glass-like result.

For more decorating tips, visit harrisbrushes.com, @Harrisbrushes on Twitter, @Harrisbrushes_uk on Instagram and facebook.com/Harrisbrushes

Winter is cosy season and the ideal time of year to nestle at home. If your space needs a seasonal revamp, Harris has all the tools and advice you need to create a flawless finish

Scan here to discover more from Harris

SPOTLIGHT ON

Stylish looks for Christmas 2022

Take your festive decorating to the next level this year with four inspiring seasonal schemes

Christmas tree decoration with wood trim, £8.99, Homesense

Welcome to Scandi-land

Pare back the ultra-sweet delights of a Christmas candyland with Nordic designs featuring classic reds, whites, and simple kraft paper

Gingerbread and candy cane small boxed candle, £5.99, Daisy Park

Nordic Christmas butter dish, £14.99, Dobbies

Christmas sleigh serving board, £10, B&M

Sticking to a set palette for both your decorations and gift wrap makes for a bold, Christmas colour scheme statement Felt mug decorations, £16.50 for two; felt cosy mouse, £12.50; felt carol singing mice, £25 for three; felt dancing mice, £22; felt Ho Ho Ho mice, £65 for six; slim glass baubles in Festive Red, £35 for 26; mini stars wrapping paper in Red and Gold, £14.50 for 10m; candy stripe tissue paper, £7.50 for 10m; No Peeking ribbon, £12.50; round rattan tree ring in Natural, £85; all Cox & Cox

Candy cane 180cm garland, £25, Matalan

Christmas gonk cushion, £6, Poundland

Red & White stripes gift wrap bag £5, Sass & Belle

Mercury glass bauble, £3.99, Dobbies

Christmas Concepts 28cm sparkly tree -top star, £30, Amazon

Winter sky

First Frost flat-packed medium box, £2.25, Wilko

Navy Starbound table runner, £12.50, Matalan

Mini hanging paper snowflake Christmas decorations, £14.95 for six, Paper Star Lights Crystal droplets, £19.95 for four, Collecting Seashells

Artificial or not, there’s something special about the look of a white Christmas, so be sure to add plenty of snow-dusted accessories around your room Frosted eucalyptus pre-lit half wreath, £10; Silver sequin flower, £3.50; White flower clips, £5 for three; mini feather wreath decoration, £3, all B&M

LED 14 house scene, £24.99, The Range

Winter owl plate, £19, Emma Bridgewater

Velvet Star Christmas Stocking, £22.50, Oliver Bonas

Woodland fairy tale

Bring the outdoors in this winter with a natural palette bursting with rich, earthy colours and textures paired with cute animal designs

Run a bushy garland across your mantelpiece and let it cascade down one side. Add in leaves, berries and lights to enliven the display Unlit Sherwood tree, £229; Community Garden glitter autumn leaf spray, £10; Community Garden tapestry red squirrel, £15; Community Garden Green butterfly clip-on tree decoration, £5; Community Garden furry hedgehog, £18; Community Garden owl decoration, £12; Community Garden Berries gift wrap, £4.50 for 3m; poly-rattan round storage basket, £30, all John Lewis & Partners

Light up mushroom scene cloche, £20, Habitat

Copper mistletoe light-up Christmas garland, £26, Dibor Woven reindeer placemat, £6.50, Matalan

Christmas reindeer table runner, £30, Cherith Harrison

Sugar Plum Café tealight, £8, John Lewis & Partners

Woodland animal baubles, £2 each, B&M

Matt Gold glass ball with fox and holly, £5.49, Daisy Park

Starlight fairy tree topper in Blue and Gold, £19.99,

Festive treasures

From glittering golds to ruby reds and emerald greens, this indulgent look is all about bolstering dazzling jewel tones with luxurious silks and velvets

Majestic

Santa’s

£35 for 20, John Lewis & Partners

Add a flurry of velvet bows and feathers in different sizes, alongside more traditional tree decorations, for a luxurious and extravagant look

Gold metal tree, £6; giant bow, £1;velvet bows, £1.50 for two; feather decoration, £1.50; Blue sparkle bauble, £1.50; poinsettia clip, £1.50; feather bauble, £1.50; Red baubles £2 for four; Blue baubles £2; Red flock bauble, £2 for two; Blue flock bauble, £2 for two; Blue peacock decoration, £1.50; assorted gift wrap, £1 a roll; extra large gift bag, £1; medium gift bags, £1 for two; bottle bag, £1.50 for two; bow & ribbon set, £1, all Poundland

Gold jewelled glass LED tree by Majestic Metallics, £6.49, The Range

Golden organza ribbon, £17.50, Cox & Cox

Rainbow Workshop rainbow assorted glass baubles,

Bloom sequin stocking £8, Wilko

Personalised Christmas wreath velvet cushion, £35, Sunday’s Daughter

Metallic Navy Blue twist taper candles, £4.99 for two, Gisela Graham

Fabergéstyle Christmas hanging decoration, £5.95, Annabel James

Giant Emerald star, £22, Curious Egg

Gisela Graham London

Feature Yvette Filer

Carhartt garden tool belt (tools not included), £34.95, Tinker and Fix

Tweed gardening gloves, £17.95, Annabel James

Leather-handled seed packet storage tin, £25.99, Burgon & Ball

Flower

Gifts for Gifts for

GORGEOUS GARDENERS

From beginners to green-fingered growers, we have the perfect pressies for horticulturists

Baylis & Harding Royale Garden luxury manicure set, £8, Boots

Araucaria in basket, £29.99, Dobbies

Poppy Explosion garden clogs, £32.95, Backdoorshoes

Wild bird pre-filled peanut butter feeder, £4, Wilko

Garden kneeler seat and tool set, £27.99, VonHaus

RSPB classic hedgehog starter kit with house food and bowl, £40.98, RSPB shop

Strawberry

Luxury

Limited-

Portly

Gifts

Aromatic

Borgo

Sourdough

Marmite

DECORATING tyle & S

Create a cosy Christmas hideaway and breathe life into your bauble collection with this month’s style and decorating highlights

GET THE LOOK

Transform your bedroom into a winter retreat with this soft, Scandi-inspired look – it’s the perfect scheme if you’re looking to create a homely hideaway where you can shelter from the elements. Take cues from traditional Nordic design and start with a soothing base of light-reflecting tones. Layer in snuggly textures, like faux fur and bouclé, and don’t forget lighting – add accent lamps for nighttime reading, and fairy lights to fill your space with a warming glow during limited daylight hours.

FESTIVE GLAM

Breathe new life into your bauble collection with B&M’s new Midnight Glamour range, which starts at £2.50. Featuring sparkling sequins, sumptuous jeweltoned shades and opulent metallic finishes, this Art Deco-inspired ornament collection is perfect for giving your Christmas tree a lavish new look, without the designer price tag.

Midnight glamour baubles, from £2.50, B&M

Spirit pebble star lantern in Grey, £16.95; North star lantern in White, £23.95, Paperstarlights

YH LOVES

Noel, noel

Style up your sofa for Yuletide with Dunelm’s new festive cushion range, starting at £16. The Noel cushion, pictured, is one of our favourite designs from the collection – the wreath motif gives a sophisticated nod to the season, plus we love the combination of delicate embroidery and soft velour. So cosy!

FIRST FROST

Transform your home into a winter wonderland with Cox & Cox’s new frosted fir garland, priced at £50. Crafted from realistic faux foliage, this snow-tipped garland will bring the charm of a frosty winter’s day to your festive scheme – drape it over a mantelpiece, wind it around a banister, or even use it as an alternative table runner.

Frosted fir garland, £50, Cox & Cox

Benjamin Moore

Feature Thea Jeffreys

Reversible fleece Christmas stag with faux fur detail duvet cover and pillowcase set, from £50 for a double, Next

Noel embroidered velour cushion, £16, Dunelm

Artificial garland with lights, £22.99, Ginger Ray

Small shearer rug in Natural, £70, Loaf

Capiz Ivory star decoration £3, Dunelm

Snow blanket, £105, JJ Textile

‘YouTube tutorials helped us create our dream space’

Jennie Berry and Owen Atter learned DIY tricks online to transform a dated room into a cosy, Scandi-inspired, accessible living and dining space

Finding an ideal property was just the start of the journey for Jennie Berry and her partner, Owen Atter, who moved into their two-bedroom, 1970s home in Hartlepool in September 2020. It had the bones of what could be a beautiful and functional home for the couple, but it was far from a turn-key property. It was crying out for a full refurb and, fortunately, Jennie and Owen were up to the challenge.

THE PROJECT

‘The house needed renovating throughout,’ Jennie says. ‘There was an old back boiler in

the living room that didn’t work and had to be ripped out and replaced. The whole house needed rewiring, too, and we had to carefully decide where plug sockets would go.’

The other important consideration for the couple was what furniture they could use and where it would sit. ‘We wanted an open-plan area that would allow me to move freely throughout it but, being a wheelchair user, it meant we couldn’t have things like coffee tables and rugs,’ explains Jennie.

Although the pair had a lengthy list of projects to tackle before they could start on the cosmetic updates, Jennie had long known

WHO LIVES HERE? Jennie Berry, a social media content creator, and Owen Atter, an electrical fitter. I share our decorating progress at @our_adapted_bungalow.

WHAT WAS UPDATED? Everything. It wasn’t just that the décor was outdated, the room also needed rewiring and plastering, as well as adjustments such as widening the doorways, as I’m a wheelchair user.

WHY THE CHANGE? When we bought the property in September 2020, most of the house –including the living room – wasn’t fit for use, both from an aesthetic and a practical standpoint.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? 18 months… so far. We’re in the process of building a log storage in the alcove to the left of the fireplace, with a cupboard below.

A fan of Scandi-inspired interiors, Jennie chose natural textures, muted tones, and cosy details –such as the log burner and fauxfur throws – to achieve the look

Less Is more

You don’t have to panel a whole wall to make an impact – a section ofpanellingis a budget-friendly way to highlight an alcove

the kind of vibe she wanted to create in the space. ‘I’ve always wanted a Scandinavianstyle living room-diner, where I could incorporate my favourite colour, green, while keeping a minimalist feel.’

WHAT WE DID

Jennie’s dream of a green and Scandi-inspired living room-diner wouldn’t be quickly or easily achieved, though. The room needed the most work of anywhere in the couple’s home – almost everything needed updating. ‘When we first moved in there were old carpets on the floor, cladding on the walls, old red brick slips and a highly flammable, polystyrene ceiling,’ Jennie says. ‘Everything had to be stripped back and replaced. We rewired it, sorted the fireplace and flooring, plastered the walls, fitted new ceiling overboard, skirting boards and windowsills. We also widened the doors. You name it – we replaced it.’

HIGHS & LOWS

To keep their costs down as much as possible, Owen learnt various skills so they wouldn’t have to spend so much on hiring tradespeople. ‘He taught himself to plaster just by watching YouTube videos and then managed to plaster the whole house by himself,’ says Jennie.

DIY ideas

1. PLAN THE LAYOUT We took time to plan an accessible arrangement for the room, including where the plugs would go, to ensure it would work for us before we rewired.

2. LEARN

3

SKILLS ONLINE

Accessible renovations can be more expensive, so we watched tutorials online to save money on tasks we could learn to do ourselves, such as plastering.

. ZONE WITH LIGHTING We couldn’t use obstructive rugs and furniture to zone the space, so we found a statement light to create a distinct dining area.

The couple trialled a few different paint colours on the chimney breast, but kept coming back to Lick’s Beige 02, as they felt it added warmth and helped to give the space depth

Panelling helps to break up what would otherwise be a very plain wall, offsetting the TV and adding to the Scandi vibe

Carefully chosen finishing touches have helped to transform this oncelacklustre room into a comfortable, cosy retreat for Jennie and Owen

Feature

Abbi Henderson Photos Georgia Burns

Although Owen is a dab-hand at DIY, the project wasn’t without challenges, which included the previous owner’s taste in décor. ‘One of the walls had a full cork covering that must have been stuck on with super glue,’ Jennie recalls. ‘It took us around three days to fully remove it – everyone had to have a go at trying to get it off!’

The makeover took 18 months, but it meant they could live in the space and experiment with designs while it was happening. One such trial that paid off was with a log burner. ‘Owen always wanted a stove, so we decided to try a second-hand one during the renovation,’ Jennie says. ‘A few months into the winter I was finally convinced that the stove was a good idea, so we upgraded and installed a brand-new one. It was the best idea and really is a statement piece in the room.’

Sociable seating

A built-in bench is an efficient use of space, providing extra seating and storage beneath the seats, too

THE FINAL DETAILS

Ultimately, Jennie and Owen wanted to create a calming space that they could relax in after a hard day’s work – one that would feel fresh and airy in the summer, and warm and cosy in the winter. It’s safe to say they nailed the brief. Preferring neutral tones and minimalist design to vibrant shades and loud décor, they opted for a pared-back colour palette with a green statement sofa and a feature fireplace for depth.

The result? Their dream living room-diner that’s both warm and spacious, where they can enjoy spending time with their loved ones. ‘We love hosting get-togethers at our house with family and friends, particularly around Christmastime,’ says Jennie. ‘The stove really makes this room in the winter –it’s so cosy and homely.’

3 OF THE BEST... Scandi glam

£38 from Matalan

Style your sofa with a super-soft faux fur blanket to dial up the cosyluxe vibes.

£15 from Habitat This candle holder comes preadorned with baubles for a touch of greenery and glitz.

£2.50 from B&M

Scandi style is all about natural materials – try a twist on the look with a paper bauble in gold and green.

ROOM PLAN

SOFA

THE DETAILS

SHOPPING LIST

Haku 6-seat dining table, £450; Masako LED glass diner pendant, £220, both MADE. For a similar sofa try Habitat Fenner left corner velvet chaise sofa in Moss Green, £1,770, Argos. Chimney breast painted in Beige 02, £42 per 2.5L, Lick. For a similar stove try Woodpecker WP5 plus wood burning/multi-fuel stove £795, Flames. Cushions, £30 each; large wall art, £290, both Olivia & Grey. Alana Black ceiling pendant, £69, Pagazzi. For a similar media unit, try Florida TV Stand in Light Wood, £279.99, Belliani. Scandi round oak wood mirror, from £130, John Lewis & Partners.

A cosy corner dining area, complete with mood lighting and a fully stocked bar, is perfect for hosting loved ones

Jennie found the Welsh dresser on Facebook Marketplace for £80. She used Frenchic paint to give it new life as a mini bar

The pair picked up the dining chairs for free from a local bar. Happily, they perfectly complement the room’s décor

‘Our zoned space works for the whole family’

WHO LIVES HERE? I’m Amanda Meeks, 47, a stay-at-home mum for the past eight years. I live with my husband, Jon, 47, a chemical engineer, and our two sons, Josh, 13, and Benji, 10. We live in a 1920s, semi-detached house in Middleton St George, County Durham. We moved here in February 2007.

WHAT WAS UPDATED? We wanted to transform an unloved and neglected playroom into a warm and inviting space that would serve as a dining room, as well as a place where the children could craft, game, and play music.

WHY THE CHANGE? The neglected room had become the last resting place for unused toys and a den for the cats. We wanted the room to serve several purposes without compromising its period features.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? From the initial design being drawn up, the whole room took about six months. We had delays while waiting for tradespeople to be free, and we took our time furnishing the room and finding the right finishing touches.

After living in a new-build for 10 years, Amanda and Jon Meeks decided to move to a period home. ‘We sold our house very quickly,’ says Amanda, ‘but none of the properties we viewed seemed to quite fit the bill. Just as we had resigned ourselves to renting for a while, we spotted the ‘For Sale’ sign going up on this house.’

Amanda and Jon hadn’t intended to stay in the village, but the moment they stepped into the hallway of this house they knew it was the

one for them. ‘At just shy of a mile down the road, it was a running joke that we could have taken most of our possessions down the lane in a wheelbarrow,’ says Amanda.

The couple hadn’t planned to take on a big project, but the more work they did on the house, the more problems they encountered. ‘Our parents helped us a lot,’ says Amanda. ‘We learnt lots of new skills and found some great tradespeople to help us with the rest. Most of our budget went on structural things,

Amanda and Jon Meeks updated their underused playroom and created areas for music, fun, feasting and making merry

so there were limited funds for decoration. Fortunately, my father is a very good painter and decorator, and gave up a month of his retirement to come and help me decorate the entire house one summer.’

Initially, the couple chose a plain scheme for the dining room, with the intention of jazzing it up in the future. But Amanda became pregnant with Josh and then Benji, and the room slowly turned into a storeroom, occasional dining room and playroom.

THE PROJECT

After a chance conversation on the school run, Amanda asked interior designer Mirukshi, from Studio Miruk, to come up with a design for the room. ‘Mirukshi proposed a scheme that was exciting in its use of bold colours, feature wallpaper and modern furniture. It perfectly balanced our vintage pieces and the room’s period details,’ says Amanda. ‘She understood all our requirements and translated them to accommodate two generations in one room, from the fun storage lockers for the boys to the cosy reading corner for the grown-ups.’

Make a statement

Define a structural feature and make it a focalpoint, with a bold colour to bring out its character

Amanda also loved Mirukshi’s idea for making more of the original fireplace. ‘The beautiful feature fireplace was once lost in the space, but her clever use of colour turned it into the focal point of the room.’

WHAT WE DID

Unfortunately the room doesn’t get much natural sunlight, so the first job was to redesign the door and windows to allow in as much light as possible. ‘We sketched a simple, 1920s design and commissioned a local joiner to construct and fit them,’ says Amanda. ‘We had used them before to save our stained-glass windows from their rotting frames, and trusted them completely.’

Amanda and Jon wanted to create a comfortable and stylish space, sympathetic to their 1920s house. The room needed to appeal to the whole family, playing the part of music, gaming and dining room as well as providing a cosy place to relax. Mirukshi’s eclectic design scheme met all of these requirements

After the layout had been decided, a local electrician was employed to put in some extra sockets. Then it was a case of decorating, furnishing and adding the final touches. ‘Luckily, Mirukshi knew a brilliant decorator called Tom Davison who blended the feature wallpaper into the lining paper my father had hung all those years ago.’

HIGHS & LOWS

‘Our only real niggle was a delay in the door being fitted due to supply issues with the glass,’ says Amanda. ‘Luckily, our decorator was able to fit in another job, so the project was only held up for a couple of weeks.’

My style tips

LAYER THE LOOK Use different wallcoverings and textures to zone areas for separate uses and add interest to a space.

MIX OLD WITH NEW Blend new buys in with the existing furniture in a room. You can incorporate eye-catching, classic designs, such as the lockers, if you pick your colours well.

SHOP SECOND-HAND Keep an eye out in charity shops for pieces that will fit in with your scheme, such as the set of four mid-century dining room chairs, that we picked up for just £80.

Feature & styling Dilly Orme

Photos Alasdair McIntosh

Amanda’s designer had considered a traditional William Morris wallpaper, but when she saw the vibrant Milana Gold from Olenka, which channels Arts & Crafts design, she knew it had the boldness the scheme needed

This faux eucalyptus garland, interspersed with star lights, decorations and pillar candles, creates a striking display that gives the 1920s setting a contemporary festive look

Overall, though, the couple found this to be their easiest decorating project to date. ‘Jon and I usually agonise over what colours to go for, and struggle to take the plunge and spend any money,’ says Amanda. ‘We believe very strongly in buying quality and buying once, so never quite commit, for fear of having to live with a bad decision. The result is that we either don’t do anything, or we play safe with a design that doesn’t really excite either of us.’

Enlisting the help of an interior designer helped them to collate all their ideas into a scheme they love. ‘By engaging Mirukshi, who listened to the many requirements we had for the room, the styles we like and the period of the property, we finally moved forward on a room that had been neglected for a very long time,’ says Amanda.

THE FINAL DETAILS

Amanda found that the Olenka wallpaper and the green wall in the alcove came alive with plants. ‘The tall weeping fig was a gift from Jon’s sister and brother-in-law when we bought our first home. It’s grown with us and it’s fitting that it unites the designs in the room,’ she says. Amanda and Jon also like to hang meaningful artwork on their walls. ‘We live near Lewis Carroll’s family home, so having his quote on the wall (‘You’re mad, bonkers, completely off your head. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.’) is very apt,’ says Amanda. ‘The rest are prints from books that we’ve read with the boys. I can see them from my reading nook, and it always makes me smile when I think of time spent reading with my little ones.’

THE

£12 from George Home Dial up the cosy ambience with a leaf-embossed light.

£32.50 for a set of four from Heavenly Homes and Gardens Leaf napkin rings will add a touch of nature to your festive table.

£13.99 from Lights4fun Create a magical woodland feel with a string of leaf-motif fairy lights in warm white.

SHOPPING LIST

For a similar table try Baker table, £1,395, Loaf. Skaftet floor lamp, £27; Luftmassa lampshade, £17, both IKEA. Wicker tiered easy fit pendant in Natural, £45; Chunky jute rug, £75, both Dunelm. The Midi locker in Sage, £319; The Lowdown locker in Olive, £249; The Shorty locker in Mustard, £139, all Mustard Made. Milana Gold wallpaper, £129 per roll, Olenka. Eco Paint in Pepper Tree Green No.34, £41.95 per 2.5L, Victory Colours. Cotton velvet cushion in Ivy, £25; Kraft gift wrap in Green £8 per roll; Kraft gift wrap in Brown, £5 per roll; Linen napkins in Dark Green, £18 for two, all John Lewis & Partners. Faux eucalyptus garland, £25; Woven box basket £7.95; Large canister £9; Striped box, £8.50; Heart box, £9.99; Metallic raffia, £4.95 for 45m; Green silk ribbon, 40p per m, all Attic. 4 TruGlow Ivory slim LED candles and table candle holder, £34.99; TruGlow candle bundle, £99.99; Antique Brass star glass lantern and TruGlow candle bundle, £75.99; Wooden star fairy light garland, £14.99; 30 warm white LED star fairy lights on clear cable, £15.99; 50 warm white star micro fairy lights £16.99, all Lights4Fun. Six glittered star silhouettes, £14.50; Four golden string stars, £25; Four shatterproof glittered starbursts in Gold £17.50; 24 metal stars £25; Zinc hanging stars, £18.50 for six, all Cox & Cox. Robin Reed fill your own crackers, £9.95 for 12; Famibay Gold placemats, £11.99 for six; Wooden star scatter decorations £5.99 for 50; Christmas star decorations, from £19.98 for 5, all Amazon. Faux eucalyptus sprays, £9.99 each, Squires Garden Centres.

The map was bought with money gifted to the boys from their great aunt and uncle. ‘They’re

natural geographers, and it’s a great reference point when discussing current affairs, or past and future adventures.’ says

Amanda

Simple white china is given a festive touch with gold placemats that mirror the feathered flower design in the wallpaper and napkins

‘We shopped second-hand for a DIY bespoke kitchen’

After knocking down a wall for a more sociable layout, Rebekah Newman upcycled cabinets from Gumtree and eBay to get her ideal kitchen on a budget

Rebekah and Jon’s fourth house renovation has seen them making bold choices that truly reflect who they are and the way they want to live. ‘We’ve definitely got braver with our choices with each project,’ explains Rebekah. ‘In previous properties, we knew we wouldn’t be staying, so we chose very neutral schemes.’

This time around, the couple were keen to experiment with colour and pattern. ‘It was so much fun decorating for our own tastes – the best part was being able to choose what works for us.’ So, when it came to revamping the kitchen and separate dining space, they knew they wanted to create a scheme unique to them and their style.

THE PROJECT

WHO LIVES HERE? I’m Rebekah Newman, 36, a make-up artist. I live in Essex with my husband, Jon, 39, a project manager, our daughter, Dolcie, 10, and our rescue pugs, Skye and Jasper. I document our renovation @that_ home_with_the_pugs.

WHAT WAS UPDATED? We removed a dividing wall between a small kitchen and a larger dining room. We also swapped them around, so the kitchen is now where the dining room used to be.

WHY THE CHANGE? The previous kitchen had no access to the garden and was small, poky and cut off from the other rooms.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? About 18 months and there are still things we’d like to complete, such as sanding the floorboards. TOTAL COST £7,435

The existing kitchen was in dire need of an upgrade. ‘I just knew when I saw this dark, cramped space that it needed freshening up. The oven only worked if we held the door closed, and there was a sticky lino floor and textured tiles from floor to ceiling,’ says Rebekah. It was far from the sociable, fun space she had in mind. ‘We wanted an openplan space that meant we could all be together when cooking, as we love to make pizzas or bake together,’ she explains.

Having undertaken three kitchen renovations in previous houses, the couple had experience of working to a tight budget to get the look they wanted. ‘It meant we had to do a lot of the work ourselves,’ says Rebekah. ‘We all chipped in, even our daughter!’

WHAT WE DID

The couple had builders remove the dining room chimney breast and turn the old bay patio doors into a bay window. The walls and ceiling were then plastered. ‘The whole time we were doing this we’d kept up the dividing wall, meaning that we had the old but functioning kitchen. We aren’t professionals and knew it would take us time – we needed that working kitchen!’ says Rebekah.

When they finally did knock down the wall, it was, ‘a messy but fun day,’ says

My style tips

MIX AND MATCH CABINETS

I bought second-hand cabinets in different styles, which made it much easier and cheaper to find ones that fit the space. You can then easily paint them to match.

ADD PERSONALITY I love fun interiors, so I have made this room feel like a happy, playful space with quirky artwork.

MAKE IT FLEXIBLE Having an island and a large table has given us lots of ways to use the space, from working at the table to hosting big get-togethers.

Thrifty Rebekah kept the white tiles leftover from her last house, and ended up using them on her splashback and fireplace

The old window has been replaced with bifold doors, which fill the room with light and give it an outside-in feel in summer

Rebekah. ‘We ripped out the old kitchen and replaced the window with bi-fold doors to the garden. The old dining room had the original coving, but the kitchen side had been removed. So, we had a local company come in to replicate and fill the whole space with coving. This was a splurge but worth it as it adds so much character.’

When it came to the kitchen itself, they decided to buy mismatched, second-hand cupboards that they could then spray-paint, which helped them stick to their budget. ‘It’s a mash up of a few second-hand kitchens from Gumtree and eBay. I drew a basic design with measurements and was committed to checking second-hand sites until I found pieces to fit. We sanded and painted them, and then went about fitting them into the space. One side of our kitchen island is

Feature Ifeoluwa Adedeji

Photos and styling Adelina Iliev

Collect vintage plates andplatters to create a minigalleryin a dining area. Look for a varietyofshapes and patterns for an eclecticfeel

Plate up

‘I found the fireplace surround in a skip one morning,’ says Rebekah. ‘My husband had to help me carry it the 20-minute walk home as it was too big to fit in our car’

Rebekah has styled her vintage cabinet as a mini bar area, and added a lightboosting mirror and glam gold accessories

The kitchen island is made from a vintage sideboard that Rebekah and Jon won at auction before they had bought the house

actually a reclaimed sideboard that we won at auction when a local, well-loved seaside shop closed down,’ Rebekah explains. By saving on the cabinets, the couple were able to spend on a marble worktop from a local supplier.

HIGHS & LOWS

The couple were part-way through building the kitchen island when the first lockdown happened. ‘So, we lived with an MDF worktop on the island for a year until we could have our marble slab cut and fitted,’ says Rebekah. Completing the work themselves, was also challenging, ‘especially while being working parents, as we had little time to dedicate to it,’ says Rebekah. ‘We’d slowly chip away at it on evenings and weekends and had to carefully work out where we could spend and where it was best to save.’

Removing the wall to create an openplan space has been a real success, though.

THE BEST...

£5 from B&M

Pretty-up a garland by perching these sweet clip-on robins among the branches.

£7.99 from Dobbies

Anyone for tea? This cute bauble is ideal for adorning a kitchen or dining room tree.

£3 from Poundland

Hang this wreath of glittertipped feathers on a gallery wall for a touch of glam quirkiness.

‘We haven’t had the finished space over a non-Covid Christmas yet, but we’ve used it for many other family gatherings over the summer and love it,’ enthuses Rebekah. ‘It’s sociable and it functions so well.’

THE FINAL DETAILS

To reflect her fun interior style, Rebekah chose a floral wallpaper for a feature wall, and found a large dining table and velvet chairs that work with the vintage feel of the space. It’s a look she ramps up at Christmas. ‘We tend to go all out with décor and favour a whimsical, fairytale theme. We want to feel transported into a magical wonderland.’

Their new space has transformed how they spend time as a family. ‘Our daughter can be at the table doing her homework while we cook,’ Rebekah explains. ‘ We even often work here ourselves instead of our home office because it’s such a happy place to be.’

Rebekah loves to go all out at Christmas, decorating in pastel pinks for a fairytale feel

ROOM PLAN

SHOPPING LIST

Kitchen units with Armac Martin handles, Perrin & Rowe sink/taps/ boiling water tap, fridge, freezer and dishwasher, £2,800, eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Whitechapel Metro tiles, £14.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors. Walls painted in modern emulsion in Pink Ground, £54.50 per 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Kitchen cabinets painted in wood/metal matt paint in Borough Market, £120 per 5L, Mylands. Coving, £750, The Plasterwork Studio. Good Morning poster, £9.95, Poster Store. Neff hob, £700, AO. Dining chairs, £20 each, Redwood Restyle on Facebook. Next Greta lights, £70, eBay.

WIN! A new Pronteau A Pronteau

HotKey® 4 IN 1 Hot Tap 4 IN 1 Hot Tap bundle, worth over £1,500! over

Visit yourhomestyle.uk, choose the WIN tab, find the prize draw you’d like to enter and fill in your details. Closing date is 9th December 2022 at 11.59pm

Whether you’d like hot water straight out the tap for your morning cuppa, or fancy some fresh filtered cold water to cool down, add ease and convenience to your kitchen with Abode.

One lucky winner will receive an exclusive Pronteau HotKey® bundle to enjoy instant filtered steaming hot water, filtered cold water, and regular hot and cold water on tap in their home. Simply set the perfect hot water temperature (anywhere between 75-98°)

Add a touch of elegance with the brushed brass tap

using the accompanying under-sink PROBOIL.4E boiler.

Stylish and safe, the HotKey® fob can be hidden out of children’s reach, placed high up on a magnetic surface or on the body of the tap for optimum safety. A hidden proximity sensor detects when the HotKey® is nearby, activating the boiler to pump steaming hot water through a separate central channel to the spout – as without it, the tap becomes an ordinary 3-way mixer.

THE PRIZE

This incredible bundle (worth £1,501) consists of one Pronteau Project Monobloc 4 IN 1 steaming hot water tap with matching HotKey® fob in brushed brass, one PROBOIL.4E boiler, two PB4E filter cartridges and four single bottles of descaler.

FIND OUT MORE

To learn more about Pronteau by Abode, visit pronteau.co.uk

Deck the halls

This December, create a stylish scheme without breaking the budget by using DIY foliage decorations as your starting point. Make showstopping displays for free with foraged materials, then bring in your treasured ornaments, plus a scattering of new ones, for a timeless look that feels up to date for 2022. Follow our video guides to make an eco-friendly wreath, garland, hanging centrepiece and candle decorations – scan the QR codes with your smartphone to go directly to the step-by-step tutorials –then take your styling cues from these pages. The results will be tree-mendous!

Boughs of holly, ivy and your favourite decorations are all you need to bring some festive charm into your home this Christmas…

ON MANTEL: Small gold bristle tree, £6.49; Large gold bristle tree, £7.99, Gisela Graham. Geometric burgundy red glass candle holder, £14; Geometric sage green glass candle holder, £14; Geometric small burgundy red glass candle holder, £10; Geometric small sage green glass candle holder, £10, Talking Tables. TruGlow remote control LED taper candles, £29.99 for four, Lights4fun. 100 warm white LED string lights, £1.50, Wilko. Red Christmas bauble, £15 for 50, Next. Red faux fur Christmas stocking, £12.99, Very.

ON TREE: Prelit Christmas tree, stylist’s own. Gold star metal tree topper, £8, Dunelm. Woodland Splendour jingle bell wreath, £2.50 each; Woodland Splendour red poinsettia, £4; Christmas Collection gold glitter filled bauble, £5 for six; Festive Nature paper acorn decorations, £3 for three, B&M. Majestic Bloom gold mirror star ornament, £3, Wilko. Red Christmas bauble, £20 for nine; Red Christmas bauble, £15 for 50, Next. Gold baubles, £4.50 for 20, Matalan. Burgundy flock/glitter ogee decoration, £4.49; Antique red bauble with robin, £6.49; Red jingle bell decoration, £7.49 for six; Antique gold bevelled decorations, £9.99 for two; Matt green glass bauble with gold glitter leaves, £4.49; Two-tone green-ribbed glass bauble, £5.99; Natural cone bunch, £2.49, Gisela Graham.

IN THE ROOM: Contemporary double door black stove, £179, Dunelm. Gold eucalyptus spray, £6.99 per spray, Gisela Graham. Small gold lantern, £32.99; Large gold lantern, £39.99, Dobbies. TruGlow LED chapel candle 30cm, £22.99; TruGlow LED chapel candle 25cm, £19.99, Lights4fun. 100mm winter baubles, £8 for a pack of 7, Wilko. Faux fur runner, £22, Primark.

O Christmas tree!

Dress both your tree and a DIY garland (see overleaf for details) with a co-ordinating display of baubles in shining gold, forest greens and rich burgundy, alongside sparkling stars and pine cones.

Trees from prelit outdoor porch bundle, £149.99; Studley rattan fawn light up reindeer 24v, £59.99; 60cm Osby star light, £19.99; 34cm Osby star window light, £13.99; 15cm gold Osby star light duo, £21.99; TruGlow LED 3 wick winter candle, £29.99, all Lights4fun.

ON WREATH: Red Christmas baubles, £15 for 50, Next. Natural cone bunch £2.49, Gisela Graham. Pale gold ribbon, stylist’s own

The night before Christmas The night before Christmas

Banisters are an ideal spot to wrap a festive garland and this beautiful natural display is easy to make. Twirl it around the spindles, then embellish with paper pompoms, ribbons or twinkling fairy lights for a magical touch.

100 warm white LED string lights, £1.50, Wilko. TruGlow LED mini votive candles, £24.99, Lights4fun. Wrapping paper from Homestore gift wrap pack, £5 for three rolls, Matalan. Gold wire edge ribbon 63mm x 3m, £4.50; Red velvet ribbon 25mm x 5m, £3.50; Fern green satin ribbon 20mm x 15m, £1, Hobbycraft. For similar paper decorations, try gold honeycomb ball decoration and red honeycomb ball decoration, £2.29, both Party Delights.

Photos Steve Sayers

DECORATING IDEAS

Star embossed wine glasses, £22 for four; Star embossed tumbler glasses, £18 for four; Embossed star white dinner set, £52 for 12 pieces; Gold Christmas stags, £22 for three, Next. Red table runner 30 x 180cm, £6; Red napkins, £3 for two, Wilko. Faux leather champagne placemats, £12 for four; Faux leather champagne coasters, £6 for four; Zen gold-effect cutlery set, £25 for 16 pieces, Dunelm. TruGlow candles, £99.99 for a mixed bundle of 13; 60cm Osby star light, £19.99, Lights4fun. Rare breed sheepskin rug, £100, Baa Stool. Geometric small sage green glass candle holder, £10; Geometric small burgundy red glass candle holder, £10; Geometric sage green glass candle holder, £14; Geometric burgundy red glass candle holder, £14, Talking Tables. Small clear glass ball candlestick, £8.99; Green/white pine leaf and berry crackers, £19.99 for six, Gisela Graham.

Now to feast… to

Give your table a display to remember with a suspended centrepiece (see overleaf), a rich red table runner and matching napkins, glowing candles, golden stags and stars that twinkle. Tie sprigs of foliage to chairs and napkins with velvet ribbon for a stylish finish.

yourhomestyle.uk

DECORATING IDEAS

A fairy tale Christmas A Christmas

Create a dramatic centrepiece for your festive table with a showstopping foliage chandelier crafted from ivy, holly, olive and eucalyptus. Embellish it with red ribboned baubles for a stylish contrast.

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IN CHANDELIER:

Matt flock red ribbed striped glass bauble, £4.49; Burgundy flock/glitter ogee decoration, £4.49; Burgundy flock/glitter glass bauble, £4.49, Gisela Graham. Red velvet ribbon 25mm x 5m, £3.50, Hobbycraft.

Homestore gift wrap pack, £5 for three rolls, Matalan. Golden sparkle wrapping paper, £3.99 for 4m, Dobbies. Gold wire edge ribbon 63mm x 3m, £4.50; Red velvet ribbon 25mm x 5m, £3.50; Fern green satin ribbon 20mm x 15m, £1, Hobbycraft. Pale gold ribbon, stylist’s own. Rattan Christmas tree ring, £60, Cox & Cox.

Festival of light Festival of

Christmas is the time of year when the flickering glimmer of candles adds a warm, cosy glow to your scheme. Dress some pillar candles and group them together to create a stylish flourish for your table or mantel, or place them in nooks or darker corners around your home for a pretty and magical display. These candle decorations are easy to make and this project will use up all the odds and ends from the other makes, too.

FOREGROUND: Plate from embossed star white dinner set, £52 for 12 pieces; Gold oval tray, £33, Next. Majestic Bloom gold mirror star ornament £3, Wilko. TruGlow LED pillar candle trio, £26.99, Lights4fun. Red velvet ribbon 25mm x 5m, £3.50; Tan gold satin ribbon 20mm x 15m, £1, Hobbycraft.

BACKGROUND: Small gold lantern, £32.99; Large gold lantern, £39.99; Golden sparkle wrapping paper, £3.99 for 4 m, Dobbies. Forest green satin ribbon 20mm x 15m, £1, Hobbycraft. Red ribbon, stylist’s own. TruGlow LED chapel candle 30cm, £22.99; TruGlow LED chapel candle 25cm, £19.99, Lights4fun. Rare breed sheepskin rug, £100, Baa Stool. Zoey white marble effect side table, £49, Dunelm. Gold rim champagne coupe glasses, £17 for four, Habitat.

Create an eye-catching display at your front door to get guests in the festive spirit as soon as they arrive. Warm white fairy lights will bring a magical twinkle as the long evenings draw in – add them to wreaths hung on the door or wrap them around trees and garlands. Make the most of windows by displaying tea light holders in Christmas-inspired shapes, while a lantern or two placed beside a welcoming door mat will create a warm, inviting ambiance. Add a playful touch with a festive friend, such as a stag, robin, penguin, or even Santa himself, to stand proudly at your entranceway for all to see.

Becky

Top tip!

Style a a FESTIVE TABLE

Ensure your guests are comfortable at the dining table so they can enjoy their festive feast. Use throws and cushions from your living room to ensure everyone stays warm and cosy. When dressing the table, layer up your favourite pieces to create interest at each place setting – think placemats and chargers, plates, bowls and napkins in different shapes, sizes and hues. Tie cutlery with festive ribbon and use place name cards to personalise each space. A striking centrepiece will ensure your table stands out, but even without one you can still create a rich tablescape with foliage, candle holders, baubles and fairy lights. If you’re pressed for space, hang decorations low over the table (try our foliage chandelier idea on page 50).

CLOCKWISE FROM THE TOP Gold hanging hoop decoration with mistletoe and wooden hanging snowflakes and stars, £32.99, Ginger Ray. First frost crackers, £10 for six, Wilko. Starbound platter, £8.50, Matalan. Embroidered winter foliage runner, £19.99, Walton & Co. Gold candle holder, £3, Poundland. Wreath place name card decoration, £5.90 for four, DulwichCreative on Etsy. Antique-style cutlery set, £14 for a four-piece set, Rockett St George. Fox & Ivy Nouveau cut glass tumbler, £2, Tesco. Winter woodland stag dinner plate, £3.50, B&M.

Feature Lara Berry

cutlery set in Gold, £20; gold glass cake stand, £25; Bilbao 6-10 seater extending dining table, £699; Winter Fayre luxury glass baubles in Silver/White, £35 for six; Winter Fayre glass baubles in Silver, £30 for 42, all John Lewis & Partners

DECORATING IDEAS

It’s PARTY TIME!

Hosting a festive party is the perfect opportunity to go glam, so embrace gold finishes and bold decorations. Ensure the drinks are flowing (without having to serve them all yourself) by creating a drinks station – a trolley or cabinet is perfect for this – have a supply of glassware, napkins, pre-mixed drinks in jugs and a few favourite tipples, then dress with fairy lights and some baubles. A board game or Christmas quiz is ideal for smaller gatherings and will keep the energy going, long into the evening.

CLOCKWISE FROM THE TOP Asta Barrington Prosecco orchid long tray, £20, Daisy Park. Blue and white paper fan decorations, £12 for three, Talking Tables. Mixology punch bowl in brass, £49, Fy!. Drinks trolley, £130, Next. Festive Forest paper napkins, £6 for 20, Sophie Allport. What the Actual Factual game, £15, Oliver Bonas. Lyza cocktail glasses, £110 for four, Sweetpea & Willow. Afterglow gold tone ice bucket, £18, Habitat. Cocktail set, £49, Procook

Top tip!

‘My favourite way to decorate for a party is with fabulous paper decorations. Hang them from walls, furniture, doors or plants – they instantly create a party atmosphere. Glamorous gold paper fans and honeycomb balls are my top choice.’

Monochrome paper fans, £10 for six; foil paper fans in Gold, £12 for six; foiled patterned paper fans in White and Gold, £12 for six; Beautiful Neutral paper fans, £10 for four; seven-pointed paper star in White, £10 for two; five-pointed paper star in Gold, £10 for two, all Rockett St George

Lucy St George, Co-founder of Rockett St George

Create a a COSY RETREAT

Updating your spare room with a festive flourish is an easy way to ensure guests feel welcome. Prepare the beds with fresh linen and make sure pillows and duvets are up to standard, then bring in seasonal and thoughtful touches to really impress your guests. Extra blankets and cushions will make the room a cosy space for them to retreat to, while a scented candle or diffuser will instantly transform the atmosphere. A tray with refreshments for guests to help themselves to makes a nice touch, as will some fluffy slippers and their own stocking to bring the Christmas magic.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT Bubble carafe, £12.50, Habitat. Sara Miller woodland scene duvet set, from £50, Ashley Wilde Group. Winter Night Stars signature large jar, £27.99, Yankee Candle. Knitted starry stocking, £22, Cox & Cox. M&S x Fired Earth plush textured towels in Blood, from £4 for a guest towel, M&S. Gold metal tree, £6, Poundland. Merry & bright robin cushion, £12, Matalan. Raife waffle blanket in Wine, £29.99, Wayfair. Faux fur cross slider slippers, £39, The White Company

Top tip!

Bethlehem hanging light up paper star, £10; festive coloured paper fans, £8 for seven; Margo headboard, from £219; Festive Star duvet cover set, from £9; Aspen plush faux fur throw, from £40; Virgo star ceiling fitting, £89; Gustavian bedside table, £149; tortoise shell-effect light up glass tree, £12; Keanu glass table lamp in tortoise shell, £40; Moroccan wall mirror, £45; dressing table painted in Dunelm Peacock eggshell paint, £30 per 2.5L; Jewel shaggy rug, from £35; Quad sheepskin rug, £175; Boho round paper decorations, £15 for four, all Dunelm

‘Every guest room needs to smell great, have a comfy robe, lovely soft towels and some special treats to use in the bath or shower. Dress beds with cosy throws and cushions too.’

Chrissie Rucker OBE, The White Company

BATHROOMS Kitchens &

Take

SUGAR & spice

Add a sprinkling of festive spirit to your showstoppers with John Lewis & Partners’ beautiful Christmassy bakeware collection. Stir, pour and mix your way to success with the classic red-and-white pieces, which you’ll love to get out every December. For baking ideas, including vegan gingerbread and fruity mince pies, turn to page 104.

Jolly General Store red pudding basin, £7; Jolly General Store spatula, £6; Jolly General Store spoon rest, £10; Jolly General Store red roaster, £12; Santa’s Good List mug, £5; circular board, £15; rectangular board, £12; all John Lewis & Partners

GUEST

If you’re welcoming visitors for the festive season, small touches, such as extra toiletries, can make their stay even more special. Dunelm’s range of bathroom extras look incredibly chic while still being budget-friendly.

Soy wax blend mint multi-wick candle, £14; Egyptian cotton hand wash, £4 (300ml); Egyptian cotton hand lotion, £4 (300ml); adult bamboo toothbrush, £2; ribbed white tumbler, £5; Pretty Boho towels, from £6; all Dunelm

Timeless tableware

Add a glitzy touch to your tablescape with simple updates, such as a new tablecloth and napkins. Why not try your hand at faux calligraphy with our how-to guide on page 75, then apply your new-found skills to create beautiful table settings to pop in these placecard holders?

Snowflake tablecloth, £11; snowflake napkin, £2; Enchanted placecard holder, £6.50 for a pack of six, all Matalan

BRING US FIGGY PUDDING

We love seeking out the latest trends at Your Home but the festive season is also about embracing frivolity and fun and we can’t resist this amusing bathroom duo from Next. Sing along to your favourite Christmas tunes in the shower with a jolly Christmas pud on your head, then hop out and dry your toes on this cosy bath mat.

Christmas

£7;

inspiration from this month’s brilliant bakeware, tableware embellishments and novelty bathroom accessories

Feature Sophie Ellis

pudding shower cap,

Christmas pudding

Entertain with ease

Whether it’s mince pies and coffee with the neighbours, or a glitzy do with your nearest and dearest, you might find yourself hosting a lot over the Christmas period. But any sociable features that your kitchen boasts can be used whatever season it is. As well as layout and appliances, it’s important to consider storage and the atmosphere you’d like to create. If you have an open-plan kitchen, you can also use flexible furniture to zone the space for get-togethers.

Create a social hub that can be enjoyed all year round

Take a seat a seat

‘It’s always nice to greet your guests without rushing them straight to the dining area. Bar-style seating around a kitchen island is the perfect way to provide them with a relaxed welcome, while allowing you stay present as you host and prepare the meal.’

Regent

If you’re often up until the early hours chatting, make sure you choose comfy chairs. Not only is this dining chair stylish, but it’s been ergonomically engineered for ultimate comfort, too Laurel dining chair, £489, Back In Action

Make room for extra guests easily without compromising on day-today space with an extending table Furnitureland Angeles extending dining table and 6 wooden dining chairs, £1,555, Furniture Village

Consider bespoke storage to suit your entertaining needs. Although, if you have sharp DIY skills, you could build similar storage yourself using leftover pallet wood Oxford kitchen in Olive Green, from £2,087.99 for an eight-unit kitchen, Benchmarx Kitchens

A hob on the kitchen island means you can face your guests, rather than having your back to the room – and built-in open shelving means everyone can (carefully) help themselves to glasses while you’re busy Basel kitchen in Superior Matt Heritage Green, £6,466.89, HKUK

Feature Sophie Ellis

Glass pendants will cast a soft glow around the room Lem cluster pendant in Brass, £120, BHS

Ensure perfect pours each time with the handy measurements on this cocktail shaker Cocktail shaker with recipes, £19.50, Marks & Spencer

kitchen stool with backrest in Teal velvet and Brass, £79, Cult Furniture

Simon Bodsworth, Managing Director of Daval

Serve delicious tipples to guests with minimal fuss: this frother and juicer have removable parts that are dishwasher-proof, so you can spend less time washing up and more time socialising!

Milk frother in Cream, £169.95; Citrus juicer in Cream £149.95, both Smeg

Think you don’t have enough space for a kitchen island? If your kitchen runs along one wall, create a peninsular (or G-shaped) kitchen using hardworking furniture that guests can gather around Håverud table with storage ladder, £129, IKEA

You don’t need to rip out the entire kitchen to install a wine cooler – a freestanding model does the job just as well (and is often more budget-friendly)

Haier HWS42GDAU1 freestanding wine cooler, £708, Amazon

Add elegance to your next drinks party, without breaking the bank Ribbed hi ball glasses, £17 for four, Habitat

GoodHome Maloux black oak bar stool, £20, B&Q

Centre of attention

‘If you’re planning on cooking and chatting, consider placing a hob on your island, rather than a sink. No one wants to see you washing up in the middle of the party, but everyone will want to get a peek at what you’re cooking. You also need at least one metre of space around the island to allow any appliance doors to open and for more than one person to move around it.’

Looeeze

A breakfast bar makes a good place for guests to perch while you offer up coffee on the morning after the party Portobello painted breakfast bar island with stools, £749, Cotswold Company

Adjustable lighting is key to creating the right atmosphere – choose soft dimmed lighting for dinner, then put the party lights on for dancing afterwards! WiZ 20W LED Multicolour 2m strip starter kit, £39.99, John Lewis & Partners

White Christmas tree serving bowl, £5, Matalan

A wheeled drinks bar can be moved from the kitchen to the dining area with ease Round serving cart in White faux marble and Gold, £104.99, Robert Dyas

Rose tint wine glasses with Gold rim, £43 for four, Rockett St George

Holly & Berry solo nibbles bowl, £13.50, Sophie Allport

Grossman, founder of The Used Kitchen Company

Heritage charm charm

Bring timeless style to your bathroom with traditional fittings, accessories and decorating ideas

The beauty of a classic bathroom is that it ages gracefully and, provided that it’s well maintained, it should look just as fresh in 10 years’ time as it does today. Traditional designs aren’t just for period properties either, they’ll also bring character and elegance to properties built in the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s – and in new-build homes too. Whether you’re starting with a blank canvas, you’re updating an existing scheme or you want to enhance original features, there’s plenty of choice, even if your budget is tight.

Create a fresh look on a budget by combining pretty leaf-print wallpaper with painted panelling. You could go further and repurpose a vintage cabinet, chest of drawers or sewing machine table as a washstand. Ask a plumber or competent DIYer to fit the pipework

£44

10m

Fallen Foliage wallpaper in Spring Greens,

per

roll, Lucie Annabel For a similar shade of green paint, try Heritage velvet matt in Olive Tree, from £22.52 per 1L, Dulux

Tile style Tile style

‘Patterned tiles with a matt finish are a go-to. The intricate patterns and muted colour palettes work together to create a look that’s reminiscent of times gone by.’

Pile up soft towels then add candles and decorative details to create a relaxing and luxurious sanctuary, away from the stresses of the festive season

Boho 3 tealight centrepiece, £10; towels, from £6; ceramic heart decoration, £1.50; Dorma soy wax candle pot, £14; ribbed white lotion dispenser, £6, all Dunelm

Start with a freestanding, clawfoot bathtub as your centrepiece, then plan the rest of the room around it, opting for shiny or antiqued metal taps along with freestanding furniture that’s adorned with decorative detailing Hampstead freestanding traditional double-ended roll-top tub with chrome feet 1,695 x 755mm, £510; Hayman freestanding vanity unit and basin in Dove Grey, from £599; Hayman traditional mirror cabinet in Dove Grey, £249; Hayman traditional freestanding mid-height tower unit in Dove Grey, £415, all Wickes

Feature Andrea Dean

Kamila Swiatecka, the Head of Marketing & Brand at Tile Giant

Dove

Edwardian round 560mm basin with Gold washstand, £648, Burlington

If you love the idea of an antique tiled floor, but don’t relish the thought of fitting and maintaining it, how about this realistic vinyl flooring instead? Hard-wearing and slip resistant, it requires minimal upkeep

Colosseum Block Art luxury vinyl tile flooring, £41.49 per sq m, Lifestyle Floors

Adelphi soap dispenser, £20, Garden Trading

Traditional Grey vanity unit

560mm, £349.95, Victorian Plumbing

On tap On tap

‘To complement the rest of your period bathroom, choose either a crosshead or lever-style tap, most of which will feature hot and cold inserts.’

Barrie Cutchie, Design Director at BC Designs

Ensure the basin is balanced with other elements in the room by choosing a solid, chunky pedestal that will also hide all the pipework. Then team it with traditional pillar taps in brass or chrome Milano Legend pedestal basin, from £319.99 per set (including WC); Milano Elizabeth traditional crosshead basin pillar taps in Brushed Gold, £99.99, Big Bathroom Shop

If the room’s too small for a freestanding tub and separate shower cubicle, a back-to-wall shower bath is a space-saving alternative. This model includes a hinged shower screen and feet, providing value as well as heritage style Appleby 1,700mm roll-top shower bath with screen and chrome leg set, £599.95, Victorian Plumbing

Chatsworth

Victrion triple valve with shower and spout bath filler in Brushed Chrome, £935, BC Designs

No one likes a frosty atmosphere, so turn up the heat with a warm matt hue on the walls and treat the sides of the bath to a complementary shade from the opposite side of the colour wheel

Walls in Riad terracotta wall paint, from £55.95 per 2.5L; bath in Louis Blue chalk paint, £23.95 per 1L, both Annie Sloan

Best Heating

Geranium, Lavender and Sweet Orange essential oils bubble bath, £16, Bramley

There’s no better way to dress a bathroom window than with versatile vinyl shutters, as they can be adjusted to optimise privacy and light, and won’t be affected by humidity or splashes

Waterbury vinyl shutters in Cotton White, from £666, Thomas Sanderson

In a pattern inspired by Dutch pottery prints, these durable blue and white matt tiles make a striking backdrop for a white bath tub or other sanitaryware, while the large format makes them a breeze to lay

Potters Dreams 250 x 250mm porcelain tiles, from £50 per sq m, Verona

Milano Elizabeth oil-rubbed bronze traditional heated towel rail 930 x 620mm, £529.95,

Claremont basin taps in nickel, £185, Burlington

Easy as 1,2,3

Enjoy a family-friendly crafternoon as you whip up these colourful felt decorations – they are simple enough for most ages and abilities

MINI TREES

1

Use the mistletoe leaf template to cut out four leaves from each of the light teal, teal, and dark teal felt sheets. Place the felt leaves in pairs, with some of the leaves flipped and the colours mixed up. You want the pairs to be slightly misaligned so that both leaves are visible.

2Take the length of twine and use a double knot to tie the stalk ends of the leaves together, spacing them 10cm apart. Make sure you leave 20cm of excess twine on either end of the garland for tying.

1Use the tree template to cut out three trees from each colour felt. Do this by either pinning the template to the felt and cutting around it or drawing around the shape and cutting it out.

2Snap the wooden skewers so they’re 20cm in length (snap off the square end, not the pointy one). Insert the pointy end of the skewers into the corks, making sure each skewer is inserted straight and centrally so that the finished tree will stand up.

3

Once all the felt leaves are secured on the twine, lay them down on a flat surface. Use fabric glue to attach two or three felt pompoms to the front leaf of each pair, mixing up the colours. Leave to dry before hanging.

WREATH

1

Use a plate to draw a circle onto your cardboard, then mark another circle approximately 2cm inside it to create a ring. Use the craft knife and cutting board to cut it out. Tie the twine around the top of the cardboard ring.

2Use the holly leaf template to cut out leaves from the three shades of teal felt. Then use the poinsettia petal template to cut out three shapes from the red and dark red felt.

3

Glue the leaves around the ring so that the cardboard is fully covered, and the leaves extend beyond the edge. Glue the light red petals on top of the dark red petals at an angle, and then glue these along the bottomleft section of the wreath, with the twine at the top. Glue three yellow pompoms to the centre of each poinsettia, then glue the red, dark red and bright pink pompoms around the leafy area. Allow the glue to dry fully before hanging.

3

Spread glue thinly on one side of three tree shapes of the same colour. Place a skewer down the centre of one of the glued trees so there’s 3cm of stick between the bottom of the tree and the cork. Position the second tree on top, but only stick one half down; leave the other half opened out. Then position the third tree between the two open sides and stick it into place. Allow the tree to dry fully, then glue a sequin to each point of the tree. Repeat for the tree shapes in the other two colours.

Projects and step photos Heather Nugent Main photo Steve Sayers Styling Tricia Ball & Beth Charlton Lucas

REVAMP REPAIR recycle

Craft a festive talking point this Christmas with a star that’s made from reclaimed wood and bursting with natural charm

Whether

stand them

a

sit them on a shelf, these wooden stars make a big impact. Their natural charm, contrasting varnish pattern and sheer size will ensure they catch everyone’s eye this festive season. But perhaps best of all, these decorations cost almost nothing to make. All it takes is a few tools, a little time, an old pallet and the following step-by-step instructions…

desired finish using an electronic sander or by hand with sandpaper.

2

Apply a coat of the lighter varnish to all the lengths of wood. Allow the varnish to dry fully (raise them off your work surface so air can circulate around them), then, use masking tape to tape off half of each length of wood and apply a coat of the darker varnish. Allow the dark varnish to dry fully, then gently remove the masking tape.

(36 + 36 = 72), then draw 36° lines out from the zero point until they cross the longer sides. Next, draw lines from the middle of the top of the shape down to where 36° lines cross the longer sides. Cut out this shape and use it as a template to mark up the pieces of the star on the wood. 5 Use the saw to cut out the five wooden pieces of the star, taking care to keep all of the angles consistent.

3

To make the larger star, use the tape measure and saw to cut out 5 x 30cm-long pieces of wood. To make the smaller star, cut out 5 x 20cm-long pieces.

4

Each star is made of five shapes with angled ends that measure 72° so that, when put together, they form 360° (72 x 5 = 360). Create a template for this shape by first drawing around a piece of wood on the sheet of paper. Next, find the middle of the two shorter sides and draw a line from one to the other. Position the protractor so that the zero sits on the point where the line you’ve just drawn intersects the bottom of the outline. To create the 72° angle, measure 36° one way and then 36° the other

6

Lay the five pieces on a flat, protected surface. Spread wood glue on the faces that touch each other and push them together as hard as you can, then let the glue dry fully.

7 Sand the edges by hand. Ensure the pointed ends are rounded slightly at the front and back to avoid splintering. If you want to continue the contrasting varnish pattern, mask off the inside faces of the star’s points and apply a coat of darker varnish to finish. Once it’s dry, remove the masking tape.

8

Lay felt on a flat surface. Spread glue across the back of the star and lay it onto the felt. Leave it until the glue has dried completely, then carefully cut around the star with a scalpel or craft knife.

Top tip

After you’ve cut out four of the star points, measure the remaining angle with the protractor so you can tailor the final cut to fit. Otherwise, you may be left with a slightly incorrect angle and an unwanted gap

Make Luke Green Styling Beth Charlton Lucas and Tricia Ball Photos Steve Sayers

SEWsimple

Dress your Christmas tree in Scandi style with this star-shaped, pompom-trimmed tree skirt

Santa’s been, the area underneath the Christmas tree can look a little bare. So, don’t just top your tree with a star – adorn its base with one, too, with this star-shaped tree skirt. It may look a little complicated, but it’s simply kite shapes sewn together to create a star design. We chose a grey fabric to give it a Scandi feel, but you could go for a classic Christmassy red or green, or even a bright, unexpected pop of colour. Don’t forget the pompom trim around the outer edge for a final, festive touch.

SHOPPING LIST

1The star-shaped tree skirt is made of eight kite shapes. To create the kite template, draw a 45cm line down the centre of a piece of card. Then, 12cm from the top of the line, draw another line, this time 30cm long, that crosses it at right angles. Join up all the points to create your kite shape. Add a 1cm seam allowance around the edge before cutting out your template.

2

Use this template to mark out eight kites on your chosen fabric. If the fabric you’re using has a printed design, take this into consideration when marking out your pieces to ensure the print will be facing the right way when the tree skirt is finished. Cut out the eight kite shapes.

3

Take one of the kites and fold over the tip on the short end of the shape and press it in place. Then, fold over a 1cm hem along the two short edges and press, before sewing the hem in place. Repeat for each of the eight kite pieces.

4

Once all of the points are hemmed, start to join the kites together along the long edges by sewing them with a 1cm seam allowance. Press each join smooth with an iron before starting on the next join.

5

Sew all eight kites together, leaving the last join open so you will be able to easily wrap the assembled skirt around the base of your Christmas tree. Hem the two raw edges of the open ends with a 1cm hem.

6

Mark and cut a 10cm circle at the centre of the star and cut it out to make the hole for your tree. Measure this against your tree to ensure it will fit and adjust if necessary. Fold this raw inner edge to the wrong side (WS) and sew in place to neaten.

Sew the pompom trim all the way around the outer edge of the tree skirt by hand or machine. You can either sew the tape to the right or wrong side of the tree skirt, depending on the look you prefer.

7

Followthislayout tojointhepieces into thestar shape

Top tip

Finish the raw edges with a zigzag stitch on your machine – this will prevent fraying to ensure you can enjoy your tree skirt for many Christmases to come

Project and step photos Samantha Claridge Photos Steve Sayers Styling Tricia Ball & Beth Charlton Lucas

to decorate

BEFORE YOU START

Apply a base whitewash coat to the wooden ornament to ensure your paint pens don’t bleed. Mix white acrylic with water (3 parts acrylic to 1 part water) and apply a thin base coat. While these are drying, practise the motifs on some paper so you’re confident using the paint pens before you work on the ornament. You could even draw around the ornament on paper to create a practise shape.

WINTER VILLAGE MERRY BERRIES

1

Take the green pen and draw 4 curved lines working around the shape. Draw teardrop shapes along the stem and at the end of the stem to create your foliage. Try and keep an equal distance between your initial shapes so that the design looks balanced. Colour in the teardrop shapes with the green pen to finish your first painterly motif.

1

Now add 4 more curved lines between your foliage shapes and draw small curved lines working off the larger lines to paint a pine foliage motif. You want the design to look full and almost as if it’s a full pattern, so in the spaces add small clusters of shorter curved lines by drawing a V shape, then adding an extra line curving up through the middle.

2

Add four house shapes to the bottom of the ornament with the sky-blue pen. Draw a square shape with a triangle on top. Using the navy pen, add a roof to each of the houses by drawing two lines on the top of the houses. Then add roof décor with heart shapes, the same foliage as we used on the berry design, and dots. Add doors and windows to the houses using the navy pen.

2

Take the red pen and add small circles to the end of the three-pronged V shapes to create little berry clusters. Fill in the bigger gaps with circular berries: draw a small circle and leave a smaller circle unfilled in the middle, just offcentre, to add a shine detail. Repeat all the way around the ornament so that the red colour is balanced throughout the design.

3

Using the green pen, add three-pronged V shapes to create grass motifs between the houses. Begin adding the foliage detail by painting curved lines and adding teardrop shapes along the stem and a singular teardrop at the top, then colour them in. Add more foliage using the techniques from the berry ornament to create a full and flourishing design.

3Using the navy and sky blue pens, add berries, dots and more foliage motifs around the green ones to fill in the spaces. You can work the blue elements over the green foliage to add depth to the design. As a final detail, add some more dots to the houses using the white pen.

SIMPLE SNOWFLAKES

1

Using the navy pen, draw a cross with two extra diagonal lines crossing through the centre to create a star shape – keep all the lengths equal. 2

Add small V shapes to the end of alternate lengths on the stars to turn them into snowflakes. Add movement to the design by repeating the motif around the ornament at different angles. 3

Draw smaller star shapes using the same technique with the sky-blue and navy pens, making sure you create a balanced design by alternating the colours. Add small dots using the silver pen to give the impression of snow falling between the snowflakes and stars.

Top tip

Mix this design up with snowflakes in different sizes and colours to give your design movement

FAUX CALLIGRAPHY HOW-TO

Faux calligraphy is easier than it looks – use it to finish your free decoration, and add personal touches to Christmas cards and gift tags!

1

Download and print the alphabet template from yourhomestyle.uk. Place a sheet of paper over the alphabet template and practise each of the letters on their own using a 1M black Posca pen. Get confident with the alphabet in

the single line style before you start working on joining your letters together.

2

To join the letters, draw them one at a time and give them elongated tails so you can join them together afterwards. This gives you chance to have a break in between your letters rather than having to write the full word in one go. 3

Once you feel confident drawing your letters in this style, you can begin with your

first word. We used ‘noel’, ‘joy’ and ‘merry’ on our designs, but you could write a name or initials to create a personalised decoration as a gift.

4

To create the calligraphy style, each letter must have a mixture of thick and thin strokes, so the next step is to ‘thicken’ up one of the vertical lines on each of the letters. 5

Colour in these lines to create a thicker stroke on each of the letters in the word.

Project and step photos

Becki Clark Photos Steve Sayers Styling Tricia Ball & Beth Charlton Lucas

Craft stash

HAVES

With 25th December just around the corner, it’s time to deck your hall and make a fa-la-lala-lasting impression on your Christmas guests

Ice guy

Create a super-cool decoration with the Fused Glass Christmas Penguin kit. It comes with everything you need to make your very own penguin pal. Post your finished decoration off free of charge to be fired in the kiln at Twice Fired, then drilled, fitted with a hanger and returned to you. Kits to make two, four or six penguins cost £35, £50 and £65 respectively, from twicefiredglass.co.uk.

Marmor Paperie is on a mission to breathe new life into the traditional art of marbling. Join them for a 90-minute workshop in Deptford, London, and learn to make a stunning, one-of-a-kind keepsake bauble to hang on your tree. Priced at £46, the session will teach you marbling skills you can use to create lots more projects at home. There are evening workshops being held on 8th and 15th December, marmorpaperie.co.uk.

ENDLESS IDEAS

Pompoms are ideal for Christmas. Use them as the body of a Santa decoration, string them together for a funky garland, arrange them in a wreath shape to hang on your front door, or group them together as a contemporary table centrepiece. With these Pom Pom Makers from Hobbycraft, you can easily create pompoms in diameters of 3.5cm, 5.5cm, 7cm and 9cm. Pick up a kit for £8 from hobbycraft.co.uk.

Embroider a festive heirloom to cherish for generations to come. This eye-catching Rainbow Beaded Christmas Tree kit, £27.79, comes in rainbow, pink and green colourways, and is embellished with glitzy beads. You can even have custom wording added to make it even more personal to you, bunnyandbloomcrafts.etsy.com.

Get in the Christmas spirit and make cushions, quilts and an advent calendar for your own home, or to give as thoughtful gifts. Jo Colwill’s book, Christmas at Cowslip, showcases beautiful quilting projects for all skill levels, using everything from simple patchwork to advanced piecing and appliqué techniques. You can use up scraps of fabrics for many of the projects featured to keep costs down. Priced at £14.99, davidandcharles.com.

yourhomestyle.uk

Rather than splurge on a full renovation, Anna Motts spruced up her cottage with savvy DIY updates

Jess Culpin recreated the feel of a Cotswolds getaway in her Leicestershire home with a cosy, natural palette

Scarlett Mack got creative with dark hues and floral installations to add drama to her end-terrace property

Country-inspired

reno

‘We wanted it to feel like a cosy Cotswolds cottage’

Jess and Mitch Culpin always dreamed of a family home that felt as special as a luxury country holiday let, so they gave this 22-year-old property a farmhouse makeover

‘When we started searching for a new home, this one stood out to me immediately,’ says Jess Culpin, though her husband, Mitch, wasn’t quite as keen to begin with. ‘He wasn’t too sure based on the Rightmove details but soon changed his mind once we viewed it.’

The couple were searching for a family home in Leicestershire – one that had a cosy feel, the potential to put their stamp on it, and room enough for their young family to enjoy for years to come. Happily, this property ticked many of these boxes. ‘The driveway was a massive selling point for Mitch,’ says Jess. ‘He’s quite optimistic that he will be able to fill it with nice cars one day.’

Jess, on the other hand, was captivated by the property’s charm and its potential for entertaining. ‘The extension sold this house to me,’ she recalls. ‘As soon as I saw that room, it was a done deal – all I could think about was how great it would be at Christmas.’

MAKING CHANGES

Although well cared for, the property’s interiors weren’t what the couple envisioned for their dream family home. ‘The décor was

‘Christmas will always be my favourite time of the year,’ says Jess. ‘I can never wait until December to get the house trimmed up. Every room has to have some festive cheer, and if I could have a tree in every room, then I absolutely would’

Choose a colour palette or a detail to incorporate in every room’s scheme, so the house feels connected and flows harmoniously

The oak beams are Jess’s favourite feature and they add charm and character to what is a fairly new property, helping the couple to achieve their coveted rustic aesthetic

The

in 2000

Jess has chosen classic, quality furniture that will stand the test of time, such as this Shaker-style sideboard, with a natural wood top that ties in with the beams

property was only built

but Jess could see this house’s potential to become her country cottage-inspired dream home

PICK A PALETTE

DINING ROOM

Although this is the room that sold the property to Jess, it wasn’t particularly practical when the couple moved in as it was too cold to use in the winter. They fitted underfloor heating and a stone floor, which not only made the space more usable, but it also gave it an entirely new –and more luxurious – look

OUR MUST HAVES Rudsta glass door cabinet, £129, IKEA. Musée No: 397.019 by John La Farge, from £25, Musée Home. Garden Trading Oakridge dining table, £1,300; Garden Trading wooden spindle back chairs, £360 for two, both Charlie & Alf’s. Bloomsbury pendant light, from £70, Garden Trading. Window Black lines leaner mirror, £180, Dunelm

WE ARE Jess Culpin, 32, owner of a gift shop called Charlie & Alf’s, @charlieandalfs, my husband Mitch, 33, a commercial director, our two sons Charlie, five, and Alfie, two, and our dog, Alby.

OUR HOME IS A four-bedroom detached property in Leicestershire. It was built in 2000, and we moved here in January 2021. I share my interiors ideas on Instagram @bayardhouse_.

MY TOP TIP Wait until you can afford to do it exactly how you want it. I found in our first home I would do something on such a budget that I’d be bored of it in no time, and would want to do it all over again six months later.

FOR INSPIRATION I use Pinterest to look for different ideas and I follow a lot of home accounts on Instagram, which are very inspiring. Websites, such as Farrow & Ball, are also great when it comes to looking at which colours work together.

NEXT TO DO IS Our bedroom and then, eventually, the main bathroom. Watch this space!

Feature

Abbi Henderson Photos Georgia Burns

SNUG

Jess has incorporated oakcoloured furnishings and accessories to connect the snug to the dining room, where the oak beams are centre-stage. Panelling gives character and texture to a room that, otherwise, has few features

OUR MUST HAVES Ashford firmer sofa, £1,125, Next. Braided jute oval rug, from £69; Ashburn mirror, £90; Bradwell easy-fit plug-in wall light, £38, Dunelm. Vittsjo nest of tables, £60, IKEA. Marlowe stone candlestick, from £22, Charlested Interiors

far from our taste, with pastel-coloured walls in many rooms and bright yellow in others,’ Jess remembers. ‘It wasn’t what we would choose, but the bones were there. The house felt like we could make it our home, and that was really important.’

STARTING OVER

While it wasn’t exactly a project property, Jess and Mitch had plans to overhaul the house’s entire interior to make it suit them, including installing a new kitchen and re-jigging the layout slightly to create a more seamless flow and more snug spaces.

It’s fair to say they underestimated the magnitude of the task ahead. ‘We started work on the house pretty much straight away,’ says Jess. ‘We didn’t think we were doing too much of a renovation, so decided to remain in the property while the work was happening. We soon realised that being kitchen-less, with two children aged four and one, was much harder than we initially thought. During the renovation, the lounge became our kitchen, the dining room became the play area, and the bath doubled as a dishwasher,’ she recalls.

Fortunately, the work went according to schedule, thanks to a great team of

‘I had been really organised with ordering any furniture that had long lead times, so it all arrived as the messy work was coming to an end’

‘Greens, blacks and hints of burnt orange are the colours we went for in the snug, and they seem to work perfectly with the changing seasons,’ says Jess

If you have the option, plan your furnishings in advance so you have time to shop around for the most affordable items

PLAN AND SAVE

tradespeople, so their stint scrubbing dishes in the bath was short-lived.

The two rooms that saw the biggest transformation were the kitchen and the snug. The kitchen was fairly new when the couple moved in, but it didn’t have enough storage and the style wasn’t to their taste. ‘The cabinets were white and the tiling on the walls and floor was quite dark,’ says Jess. ‘It had very little worktop space and storage, which was problematic for us.’ Previously the dining room (now the snug) was very minimal, with pale blue walls, and it had a door leading to the main lounge, which Jess and Mitch decided to block up. ‘We wanted

KITCHEN

Previously, the kitchen was functional but not practical, and definitely not suited to Jess and Mitch’s interior tastes. Now, it has tons of storage, lots of counter space, and it also encapsulates the Cotswolds cottage look that the couple were seeking to achieve OUR MUST HAVES Large oak and cast iron shelf, £50, Garden Trading. Fur throws, £14.99 each, Charlie & Alf’s. For a similar chopping board try Olympia oak wood paddle board medium, £26.38, Nisbets. Glass storage jars with bamboo lids, from £2.49 each, The Range

The bar stools were one of Jess’s best buys. She bought them from Dunelm for under £100 each – less than half the price of the similar ones she first had her eye on

The previous owners had a small table against an empty wall, but Jess and Mitch

to put a breakfast bar in its place to create a family space that the children can use for homework and hobbies while they cook

Wooden tones, from the worktop and chopping boards, bring warmth to the couple’s Shaker-style Wren kitchen. Jess has filled rustic pots with utensils and flowers, which brings further texture and charm to the effortlessly chic room

opted

to create a totally separate space – one free from clutter and endless toys,’ she says.

A COUNTRY FEEL

Jess was full of ideas when it came to styling the interiors. ‘We love a trip away to the Cotswolds, and the feeling you get when you’re in a beautiful cottage. That’s a feeling we wanted to emulate in our home,’ she says.

To achieve this, she embraced neutral tones and those found in nature, such as greens and blues, and lots of natural textures. The couple added character with panelling and a mix of high-quality pre-loved and new furniture. ‘I had been really organised with ordering any furniture that had long lead times, so

it all arrived as the messy work was coming to an end,’ Jess says. ‘Once the main bits of furniture were in place, it was time to get accessories and style it all up – the best part!’

Jess and Mitch are still chipping away at their home renovation (the couple’s bedroom and the main bathroom are next on the list), yet they have already managed to create that snug, warm atmosphere they set out to achieve when they first viewed the property. ‘Our home will always be a place for our family and friends to enjoy and feel welcome in. Although it’s a fairly new house, we definitely get that cosy, Cotswolds cottage feel from it,’ Jess says. ‘We have made this house a home that we can happily live in forever.’

MAIN BEDROOM

OUR MUST HAVES For a similar cushion try ‘happy christmas’ cushion in Charcoal & White, £30, Bramley & White. For a similar star try medium star wreath, £40, ChunkyCouture. Throw, £60, Charlie & Alf’s. Drip glazed table lamps, £85 each, Cox & Cox

Adding a nod to Christmas in every room can be as simple as swapping cushions for festive ones. This minimal design fits right into Jess’s existing scheme

‘The bones were there. The house felt like we could make it our home, and that was what was important’

‘We want to do a big transformation on this room, with new flooring running though into the en-suite, and panelling and wallpaper behind the bed, so for now we have given it a lick of paint and accessorised,’ says Jess

OFFICE

Pleased with how it looks in other parts of the house, Jess added panelling in here to give this plain wall extra dimension. The desk and sideboard previously belonged to Jess’s parents, and the shelving unit used to be a display piece at Jess’s work

OUR MUST HAVES For a similar shelving unit try the Fjallbo shelving unit, £70, IKEA. For a similar desk chair try Naya cane cantilever dining chair, £145; apartment round wall mirror, £55; Leaf prints, £35 for two, Dunelm

BATHROOM

The bathroom is on the list of rooms to revamp. ‘The bath is rather small for an adult to use, and also hard to shower in, so it only ever gets used by the children,’ says Jess. For now, she’s spruced it up with accessories. ‘The giant kentia palm is my favourite part of this room. It looked a lot smaller in the shop. Getting it home was interesting!’

OUR MUST HAVES For a similar plant try the Wilko Kentia palm plant, 110-140cm, £48, Wilko. For a similar bath mat try Ultimate White bath mat, £12; Elements bamboo bath tray, £25, both Dunelm

During a renovation, take photos and look back at how far you’ve come –it’s so easy to forget how much you’ve achieved

Welcoming cottage

‘Instagram inspired us to do the work ourselves’

Originally planning on giving her home a full renovation, Anna Motts realised that DIY hacks and a lick of paint was enough to create a stylish, sociable space

‘This house was on the market for two years before we put an offer in,’ says Anna Motts. ‘I was already living locally when I met my partner, Andrew, and after eight years we decided to buy a place together. My daughter had left for university, but I wanted to stay in the area for my work. Whereas some people would have wanted to downsize, we went for a bigger property with a garage and a utility room.’

When it first came onto the market, Anna felt that it was over-valued, but later on they found out that the sellers had reduced the asking price, so they ended up taking a look. ‘We came to see it and I loved the garden, the house’s cottage style and the quiet location,’ says Anna. ‘So we decided to go for it.’

When the seller reduced the price, Anna and partner, Andrew, snapped up this charming property

SAVVY SOLUTION

Anna’s space-saving velvet footstool doubles up as a coffee table, too. Style it with a tray for candles, accessories and drinks

Cluster together a selection of tea light holders in warm tones for an easy festive display. Fill with batterypowered candles for a worry-free flicker

LIVING ROOM

Anna wanted to bring classic character to the main living area, so she chose sumptuous Chesterfield sofas. To give the illusion of extra space, she bought furniture on legs, for an open feel

OUR MUST HAVES Grosvenor Collection 2-seater sofa in Pavilion Grey, from £659, SofaSofa. For a similar mirror try the round Gold wall mirror, £94.95, Melody Maison. Där Coco Gold leaf floor lamp with shade, £184, Lighting Direct

COME ON IN...

WE ARE Anna Motts, 47, a podiatrist, and Andrew Antony, 46, an IT manager.

OUR HOME IS An extended, fourbedroom, semi-detached, Victorian farm workers’ cottage in Wheatacre, Norfolk. We’ve lived here since 2012 (@hall_farm_ cottage on Instagram).

MY BEST BARGAIN To use panelling as a cheap way to cover untiled walls in the kitchen and bathroom, and to save money on wallpaper in the bedroom.

MY FAVOURITE ROOM The kitchen. Painting the units was a game-changer and I love the light that streams through. It’s a really sociable space where we spend most of our time now.

I’VE LEARNED... I’m not a huge crafter but adding little personalised touches, like pompom trims or curtain tassels, can make a space feel unique to you.

GROUND FLOOR

The plaster was falling off the fireplace when Anna and Andrew moved in, so they covered the inside with reclaimed brick slips to add texture and character to the space and complement the cottage feel of the house

‘Seeing lots of clever hacks on social media gave me the confidence to give these rooms some simple DIY updates’

Feature and styling Lisa Moses Photos David Giles FIRST FLOOR

The house had already been extended, but the kitchen and bathroom were installed in 2003 and felt dated. In fact, the whole house needed redecorating, as the previous owners had a large dog and some of the rooms had marks on the walls. ‘We gave every room a quick lick of paint when we first moved in and then took some time to decide where to begin with the renovation,’ says Anna.

DARE TO DIY

‘We originally wanted to completely re-do the kitchen, but we then discovered more pressing jobs that needed our budget, such as the roof, which had to be replaced and was an expense we weren’t expecting.’ However, the couple felt that the kitchen needed a few urgent fixes to make it more functional. ‘There was a corner cabinet by the door that everyone bumped into, so we took that out. Also, the worktop protruded two feet further than it does now and my grandchildren kept bashing their heads on it, so we chopped that off. We lived with the space for a few years while other rooms took priority.’

Anna discovered Instagram during this time and she found it really inspiring. She admits that she hadn’t really considered doing budget renovations before discovering

ideas on social media and until then had been planning to rip out the kitchen and bathroom and start again. ‘But seeing lots of clever hacks on social media gave me the confidence to give these rooms some simple DIY updates,’ she says.

The original kitchen cabinets were solid wood, but were a yellowy-orange, which Anna didn’t like, so she decided to paint them. ‘I’d seen people doing it online and it didn’t look too daunting,’ she explains. ‘My family have a DIY store, so I was raised doing small jobs and I enjoy it, especially as it’s so different to what I do all day.’ She chose Farrow & Ball’s Treron green shade for the kitchen cabinets, as the room has three windows facing out onto the garden and she wanted to bring the outside in. It’s a scheme she’s carried through the house, punctuated by blues, pinks and yellows. For Christmas, she loves to add gold accessories to this colour scheme to dial up the luxury.

‘When it came to the bathroom, like the kitchen, I originally expected to renovate the room in one go,’ says Anna. ‘But when we first moved in, I was desperate to replace the hideous jacuzzi bath that filled the room, so we put a new bath in and replaced the original ugly radiator. Then, I gave it another

Painting the kitchen units took longer than Anna anticipated, ‘but I made sure I did it properly,’ she explains. ‘I sanded and primed the wood, and painted in sections, as I was working full-time. But it was worth the effort as it will last longer and is more hard-wearing’

Make a simple door decoration, like Anna’s, by foraging for some sticks, then hanging them from string along with baubles and gold stars

KITCHEN-DINER

‘We bought the table and chairs from The Cotswold Company when we moved here as I have a massive family and it extends to accommodate them all. I added the bench at the end as extra seating for the grandchildren, so we can all sit round the table for Christmas dinner,’ says Anna

OUR MUST HAVES For similar table and chairs try the Chester Dove Grey ladderback dining chair, £169, and the Chester Charcoal extendable dining table, £920, both The Cotswold Company. Kitchen cabinets painted in estate eggshell in Treron, £74 per 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Zivos brass metal clock, £75, La Redoute

The lighting in the kitchen isn’t well placed so Anna has added good-looking task lighting to help brighten the space. She finished the update of the kitchen units with brass cup handles

Anna created her beautiful tablescape using ivy foraged from the garden mixed with artificial eucalyptus and berries. She dotted the foliage with gold baubles and finished off the look with matching gold candles

‘We knew when we first moved in that this would be our forever home, so it doesn’t matter how long the work takes’

Anna added panelling to clad and protect the kitchen walls as an attractive and budgetfriendly alternative to tiles

PANEL SHOW

Fallen

in love with

MAIN BEDROOM

‘I wanted to paper this wall to create a feature,’ says Anna. ‘But it was cheaper to include some panelling, as the MDF cost less than the wallpaper.’ Anna chose the upholstered headboard to add a touch of hotel luxe

OUR MUST HAVES

Huxley upholstered double bed in Flint velvet, £599, The Cotswold Company. Pimpernel Charcoal wallpaper by William Morris, £99 per roll, Wallpaper Direct. For a similar wall light try Crick single spotlight in Antique Brass, £61, Pooky

GUEST ROOM

‘I liked the existing colour so much that I just refreshed it and painted the side tables in Nougat by Frenchic as, although it’s mainly used by my grandchildren, I didn’t want it to be too babyish,’ says Anna. ‘I wanted to create a look that would last for the girls, but would also be sophisticated for guests’ OUR MUST HAVES

For similar bedding, try the Valdern Rosali duvet cover, £39.99, Real Shopping on Etsy. For a similar bed, try the Latrell bed frame, £149.99 for a double, Wayfair. For a similar unicorn head, try the Fiona Walker Silver unicorn head, £49.95, Monsoon

update over lockdown by painting the room pink and stencilling the floor.’

QUALITY TIME

The office was originally used as a walkthrough area and it was really dark as it was painted a deep red. Andrew wasn’t initially enthralled by the space, but Anna could see that with a lick of light paint it could become a really useful room. ‘Straight away, we took up the carpet and revealed the beautiful parquet underneath, which was an unexpected bonus especially as it was in great condition and didn’t need much attention.’

Although they’ve done the majority of the decorating themselves, the couple did employ a carpenter to add panelling to the stairs, as there were some tricky angles and they thought a professional would do a better job. Now, although she still doesn’t have a

BATHROOM

When the couple had the old bath taken out, they discovered it had been built into the wall and needed plastering and re-tiling to cover up the mess. They weren’t ready for such a big job, so they put the panelling up as a cheap and quick alternative to tiles

OUR MUST HAVES

Amira tile stencil, £7.98, Dizzy Duck Designs. Pink Winding Cranes wallpaper, £22.99 per roll, UK Wallpaper. For similar vases try Pretty boho vases, £18 for three, Dunelm

KID’S ROOM

The cactus-print wallpaper was Anna’s starting point when it came to decorating this room. ‘The box was my grandmother’s,’ she says. ‘It’s been painted about four times, always to complement the room it was in. It’s great storage for toys, though I added the moulding to help hold it together’

OUR MUST HAVES Cacti Pickle Green wallpaper, £85 per roll, Woodchip & Magnolia. For similar toy box, try the Chantilly Green blanket box, £269, The Oak Outlet Co. Mosslanda picture ledge, £5, IKEA

new kitchen, Anna is enjoying the process of creating her dream home herself. The house has become a social hub for her family, especially around Christmas. ‘We knew when we first moved in that this would be our forever home, so it doesn’t matter how long the work takes,’ she says. ‘I want to create a sociable space that’s welcoming for my large family as I think it’s important to have a home that reflects how you want to feel – and if that takes time, then that’s okay.’

STEAL MY STYLE

1. Vintage German botanical print, from £3.87, WallBuddy on Etsy

‘I love a traditional look personalised with bold splashes of colour, plenty of pattern and luxe touches’ Anna

Rustic

end terrace

‘I played with light and dark colours to create drama’

Using paint, wallpaper murals and show-stopping floral installations, Scarlett Mack put her creative stamp on this charming terrace cottage

Scarlett and Gerry bought their cottage for its location, at the end of a leafy lane in a charming and lively suburb of Glasgow. It’s the last house in the terrace and the garden is huge, so they always planned to extend. ‘We had no shortage of thinking time – we lived there for three years before tackling it,’ Scarlett explains. ‘Although we were perfectly comfortable, the living space was tiny and freezing, so we wanted to add a generous wrap-around extension

that included a family room to the side, a bathroom as well as a large kitchen-diner across the back of the house.’

BEST-LAID PLANS

They didn’t use an architect, as Scarlett knew exactly what she wanted, and the building contractor was able to provide the drawings and complete all the necessary warrants and permissions. ‘The builder had just completed

Scarlett and Gerry saw the potential to extend their end-of-terrace, and have transformed the interior with savvy DIYs and paint effects

Antique brass pendant lights bring vintage style to Scarlett’s kitchen. She has added a splash of colour and pattern to the wooden kitchen floorboards by cutting a custom-size piece of Moroccan tile-design lino to serve as a super-functional kitchen rug

KITCHEN

Scarlett has elevated her IKEA cabinetry with Blackjack Al Fresco paint from Frenchic and given the kitchen island and cooker hood an individual, unusual look. ‘I bought wooden beading and semispheres on Amazon, painted them, and glued them on to create texture,’ she shares. ‘I am a big fan of No Nails glue’

OUR MUST HAVES For similar zebra heads, try the Leafy plant in zebra wall pot, £14, Matalan. For similar bar stools, try the Heather kitchen stool in Green Palm Leaf and Brass, £129, Cult Furniture

COME ON IN...

WE ARE Scarlett Mack, an actor and content creator, on Instagram @lady_ muckmack_cottage, and Gerry McLaughlin, actor and commercial director of Glasgow Clan, a professional ice-hockey team. We live here with our two sons, Rocco, six, and Reddox, four.

OUR HOME IS a two-bedroom end-ofterrace cottage on the outskirts of Glasgow, which we bought in 2017.

MY BIGGEST BARGAIN a Rangemaster cooker I found on Gumtree for £25.

OUR BIGGEST MISTAKE was not doing the upstairs windows while all the messy work was taking place, so they are still on the to-do list.

NEXT TO DO is the family room, a new addition as part of an extension.

DINING AREA

Scarlett has painted some stripes at the top of the wall in this area in charcoal, taupe and mustard to add a touch of colour. ‘I like to do things that I can easily change with the seasons – I love experimenting,’ she says

OUR MUST HAVES Metal dining chair with wooden detail, £272.94 each, YouFurnitures on Etsy. Rope pendant light, £59.99, Amazon

Clearly labelled, stylish glass jars on open shelves hint at Scarlett’s successful side-line as a professional organiser and de-clutterer

Feature Alison Gibb Photos Douglas Gibb

Mix faux and real greenery for an abundant display all year round, even in your home’s darkest corners, and search for colourful decorative pots and baskets for added interest

LIVING ROOM

Scarlett has created a riot of texture in here, with exposed brick tiles and a fabulous arrangement of dried hops. ‘I wanted to honour the cottage style of our home while creating a festive scene for our family and friends,’ she says

OUR MUST HAVES

New York rustic brick red effect wall tile, £63.24 per sq m, Appleby’s Tiles. Vimle corner sofa, from £1,310, IKEA Manzi striped Natural rug, £70, B&Q. For a similar mirror, try the Haiti raffia mirror, £85, Fy!. Hand-painted pink woodland canvas, £37.99, The Range

an extension for Gerry’s aunt, with no hitches, so we had a personal recommendation, which we found very reassuring,’ Scarlett explains.

Work was due to start in April 2020, just after the first lockdown was announced. Suddenly, nothing was simple, despite the couple’s careful planning. ‘We needed to move out for the build period and finding a rental was impossible,’ Scarlett recalls. ‘We found something eventually in Dunoon, a small town an hour-and-a-half away, involving a short ferry trip, so keeping on top of every detail was extremely challenging.’

This was also against the backdrop of rising prices due to Brexit as well as Covid, and latterly, the blockage in the Suez Canal. ‘You couldn’t make it up,’ says Scarlett. ‘We were on a budget anyway, and prices were spiralling.’ This meant they had to make some compromises to get the look they wanted. ‘We would have loved huge, full-width bi-fold doors at the back, for instance, but we just had to be careful and use a bit of creativity.’ They were also worried about what they might find once they got started: ‘Victorian cottages are famous for damp and sewage pipe issues, but actually we were really lucky,’ Scarlett shares.

They pressed on and, once the work started, things progressed incredibly quickly. As it was lockdown, there was no traffic or

To copy Scarlett’s rustic Christmas look, serve mince pies on a simple wooden platter and dust with icing sugar

GREEN FLOURISH

BATHROOM

The bathroom is deliberately dark and moody, but still spacious and practical for a family of four. Scarlett designed and built the bath panelling herself, using painted bamboo bath mats from Amazon, creating a designer look on a budget

OUR MUST HAVES

Klass Home rectangular wooden bath mat, £19.95, Amazon. 60cm Rose Gold Osby star light, £22.99, Lights4fun. Al Fresco paint in Blackjack, £19.95 per 750ml, Frenchic.

Devonstone Grey feature floor tiles, £17.96 per sq m, Tiles Direct

distractions, so in a surprising turn of events, it was completed in record time.

CHARACTER DRIVEN

When the basic build was complete, Scarlett was determined to put her own stamp on it and, not afraid to roll her sleeves up, she started to tackle all sorts of projects to the delight of her growing audience on Instagram. ‘There was no work for actors at the time, so I just had to perform to the latest algorithm,’ she quips. ‘I wanted to add character and create a rustic vibe. I painted some of the original rooms dark to give them a bit of atmosphere and drama, but kept other rooms light, as I wanted contrasting moods.’

Scarlett added interest to the basic kitchen cabinets with beading, wooden dowels and a pattern of semispheres on the island unit. ‘I added texture with a couple of exposed brick walls and chose the lighting very carefully,’ she explains. ‘I knew the look I was after

SNUG

Painting the walls a rich, deep red and adding a cosy mix of local tartan textiles has given this room a traditional, country-lodge feel. Scarlett found a bargain Chesterfield sofa on Gumtree to finish the look

OUR MUST HAVES For similar artwork, try the Scottish Highland cattle 2 art print, from £19, Fy!. Ullerslev sheepskin in Off White, £32, IKEA. For similar cushions, try the Clara cotton velvet square cushion in Emerald Green, £24, Dunelm

A display of faux greenery, a large clock and painted panelling makes for a simple yet striking staircase look

‘I painted some of the original rooms dark to give them a bit of atmosphere and drama, but kept other rooms light, as I wanted contrasting moods’

and wanted to get everything right.’ Touches of brass, cast iron and unique vintage finds all add up to the modern-rustic interior that Scarlett has become known for. ‘My mum is a keen gardener and very creative, so I have learnt a lot from her,’ Scarlett admits. ‘She taught me a lot about flowers and encouraged my obsession with making big, seasonal, show-stopping fireplace displays with both real and dried blooms.’

Upstairs, the bedrooms have coombed (sloping) ceilings, which required Scarlett to be inventive with storage and décor. ‘They are definitely challenging,’ she admits. ‘I have carved out as much space as I can and used wallpaper murals for a splash of colour.’

CONFIDENT STYLE

Scarlett has also set up a side-line as a de-clutterer and kitchen stylist, helping people to re-evaluate how they use their domestic space. ‘As a working mother, I know it is easy to feel overwhelmed sometimes, and I noticed that my organisational ability coupled with my design knowledge created an interesting business niche,’ she explains. ‘Being an actor offers a lot of transferable skills: we are naturally open communicators and I find it very satisfying taking clients on a journey, where they start off feeling very disorientated and unsure of

MAIN BEDROOM

In Scarlett and Gerry’s bedroom, walls had to be taken down and rebuilt before any decorating could be done. ‘It was a nightmare, but so worth it long term!’ says Scarlett. The couple made a feature of the sloping ceiling with a beautiful mural, creating the effect of a canopy of leaves over the bed. Scarlett arm-knitted the chunky throw herself, and upcycled the dressing table using lolly sticks

OUR MUST HAVES Eucalyptus Cascade mural in Watercolour Greens, from £150, I Love Wallpaper. For a similar rug, try the Boho 8280 rug in Black and White, £129, Dunelm. Ingabritta throw in Pale Pink, £22, IKEA. For a similar trunk, try the Ecru Linen chest, £197, Maisons du Monde

‘I have carved out as much space as I can and used wallpaper murals for a splash of colour’

themselves, and end up feeling calm and confident and ready to face the world (or the kitchen) again!’

Scarlett’s sense of style and fun comes into its own over the festive season: ‘Christmas will definitely be lively; our house is always like that if I am honest, so we try and keep the celebrations very informal as I actually think it is important to relax and have a bit of a rest at this time of year.’

BOYS’ BEDROOM

In Rocco and Reddox’s room, Scarlett got creative with paint and murals. She stencilled the wave design and added the graphic sunshine mural above the beds herself. ‘It’s not perfect – it’s basically impossible to get the rays the same size as the wall bends, but I adore it,’ says Scarlett

OUR MUST HAVES Under the Sea mural in neutrals, from £100, I Love Wallpaper. Teal 01 matt paint, £42 per 2.5L, Lick. Wave nursery border stencil, from £6.99, Ideal Stencils

Food &

DRINK

Discover our favourite foodie finds this month, then read on for Christmas lunch inspiration and festive baking ideas

3 WAYS WITH… Brussels sprouts

Love them or hate them, this veggie is synonymous with Christmas dinner – but you can do so much more with them

To make a speedy stir-fry, boil 250g of halved Brussels sprouts until softened. Drain and rinse under cold water. Pat dry and set aside. Add some vegetable oil to a wok over a medium-high heat. Add 1 finely sliced leek and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the sprouts, stir-fry for 2 minutes more, then add 2 finely sliced garlic cloves, 2cm finely sliced ginger and 1 finely sliced chilli. Stir-fry for a further minute, then add 1 grated carrot, 1 tbsp soy sauce and 2 tsp honey. Add 150g straight-to-wok noodles and stir-fry until combined. For pesto with a twist, blend 100g shredded leafy greens (such as kale), 100g chopped Brussels sprouts, 75g toasted hazelnuts, 25g toasted pine nuts, 85g grated pecorino and 3 crushed garlic cloves in a food processor. Gradually drizzle in 125ml oil as you blend, then add the juice of 1 lemon. Season and store in an airtight jar.

To make a low-prep dinner, preheat the oven to 240°C/220°C Fan/Gas Mark 9. Combine chopped Brussels sprouts with some olive oil and season. Top ready-made pizza bases with mascarpone, blue cheese and Brussels sprouts, then bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden.

A CRACKING TREAT

We love drinks brand Fever-Tree’s eight new Christmas crackers and they make great stocking fillers. Choose from drink and mixer pairings including, The Ultimate Rhubarb & Raspberry Gin & Tonic and The Ultimate Whisky & Ginger Ale. Available from John Lewis & Partners, priced at £8.50 for one or £32 for four.

Try me…

It wouldn’t be Christmas without some chocolate, and for an advent calendar with a difference, add Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Advent bar (priced at £2.50 from Morrisons) to your shopping basket. Break off the relevant numbered chunk each day during the countdown to Christmas and enjoy!

Drink me…

Indulge in a little luxury with Union Roasted’s limited-edition Christmas Blend coffee, exclusively available at Sainsbury’s – priced at £6 for 200g. Notes of baked apple, cinnamon and cocoa add a festive kick; perfect for brewing a pot on chilly weekend mornings.

£

THRIFTY KITCHEN

It may be Christmas, but that doesn’t mean abandoning your budget. If you don’t like turkey, don’t feel pressured to buy a whole crown when a cheaper cut of meat – such as ballottine chicken leg – will be enjoyed more. It’s also worth ‘downshifting’ on your festive treats: think how much you could save on mince pies by not going for the luxury option!

Buy me…

Pork pundits The Jolly Hog have taken a humble side dish and made it the star of the show in The Pigs in Blankets Cookbook (£12.99, Ebury Press). With over 50 recipes, including ‘PIBS’ carbonara, and salt and pepper ‘PIBS’, it’s full of fun ideas. Available from Waterstones.

Feature Sophie Ellis Photo Getty Images

CHRISTMAS DINNER

Put together a festive feast for your loved ones, with mains, sides and puddings that will get everyone into the Christmas spirit

Roast turkey with a chilli, sage and clementine butter

zest and juice. Transfer the butter onto a sheet of baking parchment and roll into a log shape, then set it in the fridge until firm.

DIRECTIONS

■ Prepare the clementine butter the day before cooking the turkey by adding the softened butter to a large mixing bowl and beating in the chilli, sage, garlic, clementine

■ To cook the turkey, preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas Mark 6. Remove the turkey from its packaging, take out the giblets and weigh the bird to calculate the cooking time (20 minutes per kilo + 70 minutes).

■ Cut the butter into slices and lay them under the skin of the turkey. Then, place the turkey into a deep roasting tray and add 500ml of water around the bird.

PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes plus chilling COOKING TIME 20 minutes per kilo plus 70 minutes SERVES 4-6

■ Cook in the centre of the oven for 45 minutes, then baste the turkey and reduce the oven temperature to 160°C/Fan 140°C/ Gas Mark 3.

■ Once cooked, remove the turkey from the oven and check that it’s piping hot throughout and the juices run clear.

■ Cover with foil and rest for 30 minutes before carving.

Recipes and images courtesy of Gressingham, gressinghamduck.co.uk

Leek and chestnut filo swirl with creamy mushroom sauce

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 200g baby spinach ✔ 1 tbsp vegan butter

✔ 500g leeks, trimmed and thickly sliced

✔ 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped ✔ ½ tsp nutmeg (fresh or ground) ✔ 1 tsp paprika

✔ 200g chestnut puree ✔ 200g vacuumpacked chestnuts, finely chopped ✔ 100g pecans or walnuts or cashews, toasted and finely chopped ✔ 100g plain breadcrumbs

✔ 1 tbsp miso ✔ 1 tsp maple or agave syrup

✔ 1 apple, grated ✔ Zest of half lemon, finely chopped ✔ 1 tbsp lemon juice ✔ 2 tbsp fresh sage leaves, finely chopped ✔ 1 tbsp rosemary, finely chopped ✔ Salt and pepper ✔ 100g dried cranberries, soaked in boiling water for 30 minutes then drained (optional) ✔ 10 sheets filo pastry ✔ Olive oil for brushing ✔ Mixed seeds (optional)

For the mushroom sauce ✔ 1 tsp vegan butter ✔ 1 onion, finely chopped ✔ 1 garlic clove, finely chopped ✔ 250g mushrooms, sliced ✔ 150ml vegan dry white wine

✔ 150ml vegan crème fraîche or vegan double cream, whipped ✔ 1 tsp lemon juice

✔ 1 tsp maple or agave syrup or brown sugar (optional) ✔ Salt and pepper ✔ 1 tbsp flat leaf parsley, finely chopped

DIRECTIONS

■ Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/ Gas Mark 4.

■ In a large pan, add the spinach with a little water and heat gently. Place a lid on the pan and allow the spinach to wilt. Once cool,

thoroughly drain the spinach, squeeze out all the water and then set aside.

■ In a large non-stick pan, melt the butter before adding the leeks. Cover and cook for around 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

■ Add the garlic and fry for 1-2 minutes.

■ Add the nutmeg and paprika, stir through and fry for a minute.

■ Add the remaining ingredients (except the pastry, oil and seeds) to the pan, including the wilted spinach. Stir well and warm on a low-medium heat for a few minutes. Try the mixture and season to taste. You might want to add a little more syrup or a little more lemon juice to balance the flavours – keep trying the mixture until you have it right.

■ Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and place in the fridge until needed.

■ Place two clean, damp tea towels edge to edge on a large work surface with the longest sides facing towards you. Then carefully take 3 filo sheets and lay them over the tea towels so that the shortest edges are facing you. Overlap them by about 3cm and seal the overlaps with a little water. Lightly brush the 3 filo sheets with olive oil until they’re completely covered. Place another 3 filo sheets over the top to create another layer. Again, seal the overlaps with water and brush lightly with olive oil. Repeat this with another 3 sheets. The remaining sheet will be used to patch up the swirl if any cracks occur.

■ Spread the filling mixture out in a sausage shape along the edge nearest to you. Make

sure it reaches both ends and use your hands to compact it and even it out.

■ Carefully roll the filo away from you, like a sushi roll. Then pull the ends together to make a large pinwheel – try not to let any cracks appear. If you do get cracks, use the spare filo sheet to patch them up. You’ll need a good overlap to patch any crack, as the pastry will shrink in the oven. Brush any patch with olive oil to seal it.

■ Transfer the filo swirl to a lined baking tray, brush lightly with olive oil, then place in the oven for 30 minutes. If you’re using seeds as a topping, take the pastry out after 30 minutes, lightly brush with olive oil and sprinkle the seeds over the top. Place it back in the oven and cook for a further 5-15 minutes or until crisp and golden.

■ To make the mushroom sauce, fry the onion, in the vegan butter, until soft.

■ Add the garlic and fry for a further minute.

■ Add the mushrooms and cook until soft but they haven’t released their juices.

■ Pour the white wine into the pan, bring to the boil and then simmer down until the liquid has reduced by half.

■ Stir through the vegan crème fraîche (or vegan double cream), lemon juice, syrup and heat for a couple of minutes.

■ Add salt and pepper to your taste then top with the fresh parsley.

Recipes and images courtesy of Vegan Recipe Club veganrecipeclub.org.uk

Traditional Brussels sprouts with smoked bacon

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 150g Brussels sprouts ✔ 4 rashers streaky smoked bacon, chopped ✔ 25g butter

DIRECTIONS

■ Place the Brussels sprouts into a saucepan of boiling salted water and cook for six minutes or until softened slightly but still with some bite.

■ Drain the water from the Brussels sprouts.

■ Place the chopped bacon into a frying pan and cook the bacon until it’s crisp and golden-brown.

■ Add the Brussels sprouts to the pan along with the butter and fry until browned slightly on all sides and serve

Recipe and image courtesy of Noel McMeel, Lough Erne Resort

Roasted root vegetables with maple and pomegranate glaze

YOU WILL NEED

DIRECTIONS

■ Peel the root vegetables and dice into similar-sized chunks. Place in a roasting dish with the garlic, thyme and olive oil, toss together, and roast for 30 minutes at 180°C/Fan 160°C/ Gas Mark 4.

■ Seed and juice the pomegranate into a small pan, add the maple syrup and bring to the boil.

■ Remove the vegetables from the oven, coat with the maple glaze and roast for another 10-15 mins.

■ Season with salt and pepper, serve and garnish with fresh thyme leaves and pomegranate seeds.

Recipes and images courtesy of Gressingham, gressinghamduck.co.uk

Rosemary and thyme roasties

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 2.5kg potatoes, peeled and halved, or quartered if large ✔ 100-150ml vegetable oil ✔ 4 tbsp plain flour ✔ 10g fresh rosemary, leaves picked and finely chopped ✔ 5g fresh thyme, leaves picked and finely chopped ✔ 10g fresh sage, finely chopped

DIRECTIONS

■ Put the potatoes in a large saucepan with a good pinch of salt and cover with cold water. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 10-15 minutes until they’re just turning tender.

■ Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C Fan/Gas Mark 7. Pour enough oil into a large baking tray so it covers the base. Heat the oil in the oven for 10 minutes. Drain the potatoes and leave to steam-dry for 3-4 minutes. Tip the potatoes back into the pan and sprinkle over the flour. Season, cover and, holding the lid in place, gently shake the pan to toss the potatoes in the flour.

■ Remove the hot oil tray from the oven and use a spoon to gently lower the potatoes in. Coat the potatoes in the sizzling oil, then roast for 30-40 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and crunchy.

■ Add the herbs and toss with the potatoes. Bake for another 5 minutes until the potatoes are deep golden.

Recipe and image courtesy of Tesco Real Food, realfood.tesco.com

Feature Poppy Benner

Christmas gingerbread and Drambuie roulade

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 50g butter, plus extra to grease ✔ 50g treacle ✔ 50g golden syrup ✔ 2 balls stem ginger, grated, plus 1 tbsp of syrup from the jar ✔ 100g plain flour ✔ ¼ tsp baking powder ✔ 1 tsp cinnamon ✔ ¼ tsp ground cloves ✔ 2 tsp ground ginger ✔ Pinch of salt ✔ zest of 1 orange ✔ 3 medium eggs, plus 1 egg white ✔ 100g light soft brown sugar ✔ Caster sugar, for rolling

For the filling ✔ 280g full-fat soft cheese ✔ 150g unsalted butter, at room temperature ✔ 225g icing sugar, sifted, plus extra to dust ✔ 1 tsp cinnamon ✔ ½ tsp ginger ✔ ¼ tsp nutmeg ✔ 3 tbsp Drambuie liqueur ✔ 1 tsp vanilla bean paste

To decorate ✔ Homemade or shop-bought festive gingerbread shapes decorated with Royal Icing ✔ Gold decorative sprinkles ✔ Homemade or shop-bought honeycomb, chopped

DIRECTIONS

■ Preheat the oven to 190ºC/Fan 170ºC/Gas Mark 5. Grease a 25 x 35cm Swiss roll tin and line with non-stick baking paper.

■ In a medium saucepan, melt the butter, treacle, golden syrup, stem ginger and ginger syrup over a medium heat until melted. Set aside.

■ Sift together the flour, baking powder and spices. Add a pinch of salt and the orange zest and set aside.

■ In a large bowl beat together the eggs and brown sugar with a hand mixer until thick and light in colour. This should take about 10-15 minutes. If it leaves a trail when you lift the beaters out of the mixture, then it’s ready.

■ Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture. Carefully pour in the melted butter mixture then fold everything together.

■ Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 12 minutes until the sponge springs back when touched.

■ Lay a sheet of non-stick baking paper on the work surface, large enough to fit the sponge on and dust it with caster sugar. Turn the sponge out onto the paper while it’s still warm. Remove the paper from the cooked sponge. Use a sharp knife to score a line 2cm in from one of the shorter sides, making sure you don’t cut all the way through. Use the sugar-dusted paper to roll up the sponge from the scored end, keeping the paper inside. Place on a cooling rack and leave to cool completely.

■ To make the filling, beat together the soft cheese and butter until smooth. Add the icing sugar, spices, Drambuie liqueur and vanilla and beat again until well combined, then chill it in the fridge for at least half an hour to thicken.

■ Carefully unroll the cooled cake, remove the paper and spread two thirds of the filing over the inside of the sponge, then re-roll. Add the rest of the filling to a piping bag and pipe along the top of the roulade. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, then decorate with gingerbread shapes, decorated with Royal icing, and gold sprinkles as desired. Add the honeycomb pieces when you serve.

Recipe and image courtesy of Drambuie, drambuie.com

Light Christmas pudding

YOU WILL NEED

■ Next, add the almonds, nutmeg, mixed spice and salt into the mixing bowl and stir to incorporate them.

■ Crack two eggs into a small bowl and whisk with a fork for a few minutes. Pour the beaten eggs into the mixture and stir well.

■ Add the mixed peel, glazed cherries and mixed dried fruit and stir until everything is evenly spread throughout the mixture. Then mix in the grated apple.

■ Put the pudding basin in a saucepan steamer and steam for approximately six hours. Check the pudding with a skewer. If the skewer comes out clean, your Christmas pudding is ready.

■ Once cooled, run a butter knife between the basin and the pudding. Place your serving plate on top of the basin, face down, then turn the bowl over (holding the plate firmly), remove your bowl and serve.

DIRECTIONS

■ Combine the brown sugar and margarine in you mixing bowl and mix into a smooth paste. Add the flour and breadcrumbs and mix well. ■ Add the orange zest and juice to the mixing bowl and stir.

■ Next add the brandy followed by the Guinness and stir well. These will make the mixture quite moist.

■ Butter your pudding basin, then carefully pour in the mixture and smooth the top with a spoon. Lay a sheet of baking parchment over the top and tie a piece of kitchen string around the rim.

■ If you made the pudding before Christmas, allow the pudding to cool in the basin. Remove the baking parchment and wrap a sheet of foil around the basin. This will keep in a cool, dry place for up to two weeks.

Recipe and image courtesy of Mason Cash, masoncash.co.uk

SEASON’S

Keep your tins and cupboards full of festive treats with these family-friendly bakes

Vegan stollen bites

to a large mixing bowl and stir. Leave for 5 minutes to form a buttermilk.

■ Add the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt to a blender and pulse briefly. Add the butter to the blender and pulse the mix to form a fine, crumbly consistency.

■ To the buttermilk mix, whisk in the vanilla and almond essences, apple sauce (or mashed banana) and sugar.

■ Lightly flour your hands and shape the bites into neater circles and smooth gently over the tops.

■ Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the bites are turning golden brown. For an even finish, bake 1 tray of stollen bites at a time and turn the tray around after 5 minutes.

DIRECTIONS

■

■ Add the dry mix to the wet mix. Add in the ground almonds, marzipan and the mixed dried fruits. Stir well until no flour specks remain – the mixture will still be quite wet.

■ Using an ice-cream scoop or large dessert spoon, scoop out 22-24 bites and place them on the baking trays. Space them out a bit as they will spread slightly.

■ Allow to cool on the trays for 5-10 minutes until firmer, then transfer then to a wire rack to cool fully. Dust with icing sugar and enjoy.

■ You can store the leftover stollen bites at room temperature in a sealed container for 3-5 days.

Recipe and image courtesy of Amy Lanza, creator of Nourishing Amy, nourishingamy.com

PREPARATION & COOKING TIME 30 minutes plus chilling MAKES 40

Frangipane and cranberry mince pies

YOU WILL NEED

For the pastry ✔ 300g plain flour, plus extra for dusting ✔ 140g unsalted butter, cold and cubed ✔ 55g lard, cubed ✔ 3 tbsp water

For the frangipane ✔ 125g unsalted butter ✔ 125g caster sugar

✔ 2 eggs ✔ 100g ground almonds ✔ 2 tbsp plain flour ✔ icing sugar, for dusting For the filling ✔ 110ml water ✔ 110ml orange juice ✔ 190g sugar ✔ 100g cranberries ✔ 400g mincemeat

DIRECTIONS

■ For the pastry, add the flour, butter and lard to a mixing bowl. Rub together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

■ Add the water and knead into a ball, then wrap in cling film and chill for 15 minutes.

■ Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6.

■ For the frangipane, beat together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, then beat in the eggs until smooth. Then stir in the almonds and flour.

■ To make the filling, boil the water and orange juice in a pan, then add the sugar and dissolve. Add the cranberries and boil until soft, then drain. When cool, mix it together with the mincemeat.

Vegan gingerbread cookies

YOU WILL NEED

For the cookies ✔ 120g runny, smooth almond butter ✔ 60ml maple syrup ✔ 1 tbsp black treacle ✔ 1 tsp vanilla essence ✔ 105g plain or gluten-free plain flour, plus extra for dusting ✔ 1 tsp ground ginger ✔ ½ tsp cinnamon ✔ pinch of nutmeg ✔ pinch of salt To decorate ✔ 50g icing sugar ✔ 1-2 tbsp water

DIRECTIONS

■ Add the almond butter, maple syrup, treacle and vanilla essence to a bowl and mix to a smooth paste. Sift in the flour, spices and salt and bring to a sticky dough (it may look dry to start with but keep mixing).

■ Bring the dough to a ball with your hands and wrap in cling film. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

■ Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas Mark 4 and line 2-3 baking sheets with baking paper.

■ Place the dough on a floured surface and sprinkle over more flour. Use a piece of baking paper underneath a rolling pin to roll out the dough to around 5mm thickness.

■ Cut out gingerbread men (or other shapes, such as circles or stars) from the dough.

■ Place the gingerbread cookies on the baking trays (they don’t spread much so they don’t need a lot of room). Arrange the cookies in order of size on different trays so they cook evenly.

■ Bake for 5-8 minutes for very small cookies (such as stars), 8-10 for medium gingerbread men and 12-14 minutes for the largest cookies, turning the trays around halfway through.

■ Cool for 10 minutes on the trays, then transfer your cookies to a wire rack to cool fully.

■ Once cooled, stir the icing sugar and water together until it’s a thick but pipeable consistency. Use a piping bag and snip off the end to decorate the gingerbread shapes.

■ Keep cookies at room temperature in a sealed container for 1-2 weeks. The cookies will soften over time.

Recipe and image courtesy of Amy Lanza, creator of Nourishing Amy, nourishingamy.com

■ Roll the chilled pastry onto a lightly floured surface until 3mm thick, then cut out 24 rounds using a 10cm round cutter. Place the rounds into a muffin tray and place 1 tsp of the mincemeat mixture into each pastry case.

■ Top each pie with 1 heaped tsp of frangipane mixture, then place the tray into the oven and bake for 20 minutes, until golden. Cool on a wire rack before dusting with icing sugar.

Recipe and image courtesy of Mason Cash, masoncash.co.uk

PREPARATION TIME 20 minutes plus chilling COOKING TIME 20 minutes MAKES 24

Feature Sophie Ellis

Sugar cookies

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 200g unsalted butter ✔ 200g golden caster sugar ✔ 2 medium free-range eggs ✔ 330g plain flour, plus extra for dusting ✔ 60g cornflour ✔ salt ✔ 1 tsp vanilla extract or paste ✔ 400g icing sugar, sieved ✔ red and green food colouring

DIRECTIONS

■ Preheat the oven to 180˚C/160˚C Fan/ Gas Mark 4. Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper.

■ Beat together the butter and sugar in a large bowl until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then tip in the flours, a large pinch of salt and the vanilla. Mix slowly until the dough comes together.

■ Split the dough in half, form into balls and cover each with cling film. Place in the fridge for 45 minutes to firm up.

■ Roll the dough out on a well-floured surface to a thickness of 1cm. Using Christmas cutters, cut into shapes and place on the lined baking trays. Bring the remainder of the dough together and repeat the process.

■ Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until cooked through and golden at the edges. Remove and cool completely on a wire rack.

PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes plus chilling and setting COOKING TIME 12 minutes MAKES 60

■ For the icing, mix the icing sugar with hot water until you reach the consistency of pouring custard. Then carefully add a few drops of water at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

■ Divide the mixture into 3 bowls. Add the food colouring and mix until the desired colour is reached.

■ Fill a piping bag with the plain icing. Snip the end off the bag to create a 2-3mm hole (or use a small nozzle, 2mm diameter). Pipe the icing around the edges of the biscuits that you want to decorate in this colour. Repeat

with all of the other colours.

TOP TIP

PREPARATION TIME 30 minutes, plus soaking COOKING TIME 30 minutes SERVES 6-8

■ Allow the edge icing to set for 15 minutes. Then, use a teaspoon to gently pour a little of the icing into the centre to ‘flood’ the outlined shape and spread it to the edges. Allow this to set for about 20 minutes.

■ Use your piping bags to create festive shapes and designs.

Recipe and image courtesy of Tesco Real Food, realfood.tesco.com

Muscovado malt bread & butter pudding

YOU WILL NEED

✔ 300ml whole milk ✔ 300ml double cream ✔ 1 tsp ground cinnamon ✔ ½ vanilla pod, split in half ✔ 100g light muscovado sugar ✔ 2 tbsp barley malt extract ✔ 8 chocolate chip brioche rolls (about 350g in total), cut into 2cm slices ✔ 100g unsalted butter, softened ✔ 50g dark chocolate chips or caramel/ blond chocolate, chopped ✔ 3 eggs ✔ 2 egg yolks ✔ 4 tbsp Bourbon ✔ 2 tbsp demerara sugar ✔ double cream or vanilla ice cream, to serve

DIRECTIONS

■ Pour the milk and cream into a saucepan. Add the cinnamon, vanilla pod, light muscovado sugar and barley malt extract, then warm the mixture over a lowmedium heat until just below boiling. Remove and leave to cool for 10 minutes.

■ Meanwhile, spread one side of each brioche slice with butter. Arrange the brioche in the baking dish and scatter with the chocolate.

■ Whisk the whole eggs, egg yolks and Bourbon in a large mixing bowl until combined. Slowly pour over the infused milk mixture, whisking continuously until smooth and thoroughly combined. Strain the custard into a jug.

■ Slowly pour three-quarters of the custard over the buttered brioche, cover and leave to soak for at least 1 hour (or up to 2 hours) at room temperature.

■ Heat the oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas Mark 4.

■ Pour the remaining custard over the soaked brioche, scatter the top with demerara sugar and bake the pudding for 30 minutes, until golden and crisp, and the custard has set but still has a slight wobble in the middle. Leave the pudding to settle for 5 minutes, then serve it with double cream or scoops of vanilla ice cream.

Recipe

and image courtesy of The Great British Bake Off: Favourite Flavours by The Bake Off Team (£22, Sphere)

To make Christmas decorations, use a skewer to create a small hole in the top of the biscuits before you bake them. Cook as directed, then once the biscuits are iced and set, thread a ribbon through the hole

Terry’s Chocolate Orange finger-licking cupcakes

YOU WILL NEED

For the cupcakes ✔ 200g butter, softened ✔ 200g caster sugar

✔ 2 medium free-range eggs ✔ 200g selfraising flour ✔ 50g cocoa powder

✔ 1 orange, zest grated ✔ 150g natural low-fat yogurt ✔ Terry’s Chocolate Orange crispy oranges, to decorate

For the buttercream ✔ 100g unsalted butter, softened ✔ 200g icing sugar

✔ 50g milk, dark or white Terry’s Chocolate Orange segments

DIRECTIONS

■ Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas Mark 4. Place 16 paper muffin cases into 2 muffin tins.

■ Using a hand-held electric whisk or a food mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then sift in the flour and cocoa and mix in gently. Add the orange zest and yogurt, mixing until smooth.

■ Divide the mixture between the paper cases and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until well risen and a thin skewer inserted into the centre of a cake comes out clean. Allow them to cool completely on a wire rack while you make the buttercream.

■ In a food mixer, or using a hand-held electric whisk, beat the butter with a little icing sugar until smooth. Sift in the rest of the icing sugar, a little at a time, beating well between each addition, until the mixture is really smooth and creamy.

■ Bring a small pan of water to the boil and remove from the heat. Put the Chocolate Orange segments in a heatproof bowl and suspend it over the pan without letting the bowl touch the water below. Stir the segments occasionally with a flat-bladed knife until the chocolate softens and melts.

■ As soon as it starts to soften, add the chocolate to the buttercream and stir with a flat-bladed knife until thoroughly combined and the mixture is evenly coloured. Work quickly to prevent the mixture separating. It’s now ready to use.

■ Spoon the buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle and pipe large swirls on top of each cupcake, then decorate each with a Terry’s Chocolate Orange crispy orange. You can store the cakes in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Feature Katie Nicholls

SIDE-SHOW Delights

12 bite-sized plant-based stuffing balls are the perfect accoutrement to join the main event

Wicked Kitchen jewelled stuffing balls, £3 (336g), Tesco

Raise

Bowser by Conker Leaf distilled and alcohol-free spirit, £20, Ocado

Madame F x Queer Britain, Rosé, £9, Sainsbury’s

Tesco Finest Premier Brut Champagne, £23, Tesco

THE MAIN Event

Stand to attention, the prize is here! This trimmed rack of lamb with a leek and cheddar stuffing and topped with a herb and Parmesan crust will keep the troops happy Tesco lamb guard of honour, £32 (1.19kg), Tesco

Higgidy porcini & chestnut mushroom pie, £4.50, Sainsbury’s

SWEET Treats

Decorate dark spaces while enjoying the delicious, festive-shaped butter shortbread hidden inside with these pretty lanterns

Shortbread light-up lantern, £6 (230g), M&S

Bring out an extra special sweet treat with a stem ginger tiffin combined with Belgian dark chocolate

Tesco Finest Free From stem ginger tiffin cracker, £8 (605g), Tesco

Scatter mince pies around the house on pretty serveware so your guests have something to enjoy wherever they are Our Selection 6 deep-filled mince pies, £2.50, amazon.co.uk/byamazon

Sprinkle a little magic with this charming chocolate cake coated in ganache and an edible collar depicting an enticing Christmas scene

Tesco Finest chocolate winter village cake, £15 (344g), Tesco

Surprise! Jingle the reindeer is hiding behind a milk-chocolate dome in this fun, chocolate sponge cake

Double Smash Jingle reindeer cake, £14, Asda

Crack into this giant slab of Belgian milk chocolate that’s packed with raisins, hazelnuts, and cranberry pieces

Collection Belgian milk chocolate fruit & nut slab, £10 (400g), M&S

Even stuffed guests will find room for a slice of this showstopping pud that’s packed full of fruit and nuts and blended with Champagne

Specially Selected Champagne Christmas pudding, £4.99 (400g), Aldi

this

Must haves for your home Autumn Winter

Your Home brings you a curated selection of must-have products for this Autumn/Winter from a range of our key promotional partners. Get cosy, get creative and get decorating this season. We hope you enjoy the selection and do get in touch with them to buy or find out more.

The special finds that you’ll see over the next few pages have been specially selected from some of our favourite, reputable brands. They will really help to make your house (and garden!) a welcoming home this winter. Enjoy!

MEL SHERWOOD EDITOR

Hayloft Plants

Pansy – a riot of colour to brighten up your winter garden

These joyous blooms are a must have for winter and, with such a wide range of colours to choose from, there really is something for everyone. What’s more they are ideal for the novice gardener as well as the expert because they are easy to grow and abundantly rewarding. Ideal for baskets, beds and containers – their versatility makes them an enduring favourite. Nothing cheers as much as the friendly ‘faces’ of pansies looking to greet you in the colder depths of winter. With regular watering, feeding and deadheading they will continue right through until springtime – representing excellent value for money too. This generous supply of blooms will illuminate both your garden and vases. Plant in fully or partly sunny locations with moist, well-drained soil for these hardy perennials to grow happily. In maturity these variations reach a height and spread of 30cm by 30cm, the ideal size.

Go electric

As the latest addition to Triton’s extensive range, the stylish Amore DuElec™ combines contemporary looks with intuitive technology – designed to help you save water, energy and money.

With a fixed, overhead rainfall drencher and handheld five-spray pattern showerahead, it’s easy to customise your showering experience by diverting water between the two luxurious options – or by using them together for a really invigorating blast. Touchactivated controls, paired together with an OLED display, make it easy to select your chosen power and temperature settings.

What’s more, the Amore DuElec™ offers an efficient way to heat and use water, with an energy rating ‘A’, for a cleaner conscious

when showering. By heating instantly and on demand, it avoids unnecessary wastage without compromising on performance.

An electric shower, like the Amore DuElec™, can reduce your carbon footprint by 70 per cent, saving 48,000 litres of water in comparison to mixer alternatives.

To help maximise efficiency in the bathroom, Triton’s online water and energy calculator provides homeowners with handy tips around consumption – specifically tailored to their household usage. Those looking to reduce their bills, and carbon footprint, can use the calculator to find out what small changes they can make to reduce their water usage and help protect the planet in the process.

www.tritonshowers.co.uk

Here at BHS Lighting, we pride ourselves on customer satisfaction. We strive to give you a great customer experience no matter how you shop with us, and to help you in your search for the perfect lighting for your home. The BHS website offers an extensive range of lights to suit your every need, from extravagant crystaleffect pendant lights and chandeliers, to stylish outdoor lighting featuring modern technology, which can enhance the security levels of your home. All shipped with free and fast, UK delivery when you spend over £16.

Our design team are always working hard to keep up with all the latest must-haves and lighting trends. Ensuring we can provide you with up-to-date, high-quality lighting as you require it. We have lighting solutions to suit every room in your home, and even your garden and external areas. Whether that’s stylish wall lights for your hallway, table lamps to add that subtle accent lighting, or stunning bathroom chandeliers. At BHS we are constantly growing and evolving with the times to make sure we always have you covered for all your lighting needs.

With the recent economic climate that we have found ourselves in, our teams have put their focus into our LED lighting selection, ensuring we have a vast range of both LED-compatible and integrated LED lighting options available. These allow you to save money on your energy bills without compromising on style or glamour.

Want to see our range in person? Then head down to one of our BHS concessions. These can be found in any of our Litecraft stores. Our stunning showrooms give you a reallife view of our lighting collections. Allowing you to really envision them within your home before you purchase.

BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max FLOOR CLEANING

Cleaning up after family life can seem like it never ends. While the specialists at BISSELL can’t help with the overflowing laundry pile, they can take care of the floors. For everyone who finds cleaning hard floors a pain, the BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max is your must-have this winter.

It vacuums and mops at the same time, plus unlike with mopping, it doesn’t leave water all over the floor, it has a super quick drying time. The dirty water tank at the end will make you question how clean you thought your floors were!

It’s no longer a big deal when the packet of rice falls apart and grains scatter to every corner of the kitchen, or the little one throws their pasta across the dining room floor. The CrossWave Cordless Max can vacuum up wet and dry messes with astonishing ease, mopping as it goes to leave no trace that anything was amiss.

The cordless freedom, from 30 minutes of run time, lets you clean approximately 100m2 on one charge, and at the touch of a button it can refresh area rugs and even clean itself with a ‘self-clean’ cycle.

Early access for the BISSELL Black Friday sale begins on 2nd November, with great savings on the CrossWave range, available at BISSELL Direct and major electrical retailers.

IMPROVEMENT Home

ENERGY-SAVING shutters

If you’re looking for ways to save money on energy bills this winter, plantation shutters might be just the thing you need. By adding an extra layer of insulation to your windows, these full-sized shutters from Thomas Sanderson prevent cold draughts from entering and warm air from escaping. They’ll also keep your home cooler during the summer… Oh, and they look super stylish too!

What’s under the tree?

DECK THE DOORS

Make your festive foliage the star of the show with this gold metal Christmas tree wreath hanger, £9.99 from Ginger Ray. Measuring in at 30cm, it’s big enough to support the weight of even large, heavy wreaths and there’s no need for nails or screws. It’s perfect if you’re renting or you simply want a chic, fuss-free way to display your seasonal creations.

Keep your Christmas tree standing tall with Lime Lace’s copper metal tree stand, £49.99. Available in two sizes, this stylish stand has four adjustable bolts to keep your tree upright, safe and sturdy throughout the entire festive season. It also has a water reservoir, so your tree will stay looking good-asnew all the way up to the big day. What’s not to love?

SEASON OF SECURITY

Keep your belongings and loved ones safe this Christmas with Yale’s floodlight camera, priced £169.99. A new addition to the brand’s smart security range, this 1080FHD camera aims to deter any unwanted guests. It sends a notification to your smartphone if it detects any motion and uses a 2,000-lumen floodlight and 110db siren to alert everyone to it.

Beef up your home security and make putting up the Christmas decorations a breeze with these stylish and practical solutions

Feature Thea Jefferys

Full-height shutters, prices available on request, Thomas Anderson

UPGRADE YOUR HOME WITH STYLISH HEATING

REPLACE TRADITIONAL RADIATORS

With the coldest months of winter on the way, there’s no better time to think about upgrading your heating. By switching to a new, more efficient system – whether it’s a radiator, stove, underfloor heating or a portable heater – you could save energy and money. You’ll need to think carefully about what type of fuel you want your new heating to run on, as well as the look and feel you want it to have. With everything from ultra-modern radiators to traditional wood burners, there are options for every style and budget…

Radiators are a great way to improve your home’s heating efficiency and they come in a huge variety of styles, sizes, colours and finishes, so you’re bound to find one that complements or contrasts with your décor. But before you buy, work out how many British Thermal Units (BTUs) are needed to heat the room you want the radiator to go in (you can find a good online calculator at bit.ly/ BandQradBTUs). Every radiator has a BTU rating that tells you how much heat it’s capable of generating, but always choose a rating slightly higher than you need if you can’t find the exact match. Aluminium radiators heat up and cool down in half the time of steel models, and use 50 per cent less water too so will save you more

costs.

With energy bills higher than usual this winter, now is the time to reassess your heating and update it with an efficient and cost-effective solution

on energy and running

Portable electric heaters can be moved into different rooms to combat the cold wherever you are Chimnea-style flame-effect heater, £100, Dunelm

This wood burner comes in a choice of 11 colours including Flamingo Pink, Raincoat Yellow and Peapod Green and is approved for use in Smoke Control Areas Hamlet Solution 5 wood-burning stove, from £759, Arada Stoves

Inset stoves can be installed at eye level or in the hearth for a more traditional fire effect

Beltane Holford multi-fuel stove, from £1,375, Eurostove

Aluminium radiators are light, energy efficient and have a low water content – ideal for low-temperature heating systems Decoral 97 radiator, from £112.68, MHS Radiators

‘Following new government legislation that was introduced

Ecodesign stoves produce 90 per cent less emissions than open fires and 80 per cent less emissions than a 10-year-old stove. Burning dry wood provides excellent heating from a source that’s more sustainable than fossil fuels.’

. . .

Ourexp er tsay s

SWITCH TO ELECTRIC RADIATORS

Generally speaking, the most convenient way to upgrade radiators is to replace like for like. So if your home has a plumbed central-heating system, it’ll be easier to upgrade your old radiators with new hot-water models. But if you have any rooms that your centralheating system doesn’t reach, such as a loft conversion, conservatory or a new en suite, it’s a good idea to install energyefficient electric radiators in them. Each electric radiator is controlled separately via a built-in thermostat and runs off the mains electricity supply. Some you can simply plug into the wall, others will need to be wired in by a qualified electrician. You can also buy dual-fuel radiators for the bathroom, so you can heat towels without having to heat the whole house.

INSTALL UNDERFLOOR HEATING

Underfloor heating is great for eliminating any cold spots that radiators can’t reach and is especially good at making rooms with cold, hard floors (think kitchens and bathrooms) more cosy. But you’ll first need to decide whether you want wet or dry underfloor heating. Wet systems use pipes hidden in the screed (the levelling agent that sits on a concrete base), which contain water that’s heated by a boiler or heat pump –they work best in a complete renovation, larger space or an extension project. Dry systems are easier to install in an existing room and use electric wires or mats under the floor. Wet systems are better for longterm running costs due to current energy prices, although they’re often more expensive and harder to install.

SAVE ENERGY WITH INFRARED

Whether they’re used indoors or out, infrared heaters use, on average, up to 40 per cent less energy than regular electric heaters, so they’ll cost you less to run. But that’s not their only benefit. They also heat up quickly and can target cold spots, so they’re ideal if you’re working at home and your office is in a converted shed or building in the garden – you can focus the heat on you and your desk, rather than heat the whole space. For a good spread of heat, look for ceilingmounted and pendant shades that point downwards, as these will allow the floor, walls and furniture to absorb and re-emit the heat. Infrared heaters are available in various forms, including garden lights and bathroom mirrors with demister pads that prevent them steaming up.

in January 2022, all wood-burning stoves must now meet the Ecodesign Ready standards.

Jon Butterworth, Director at Arada Stoves

Bathroom mirrors with demister pads prevent the mirror from steaming up Darci Black-framed illuminated mirror, £199, Bathroom Mountain

Have this cast-iron radiator painted in a standard colour or one from Farrow & Ball or Little Greene New Spartan radiator, from £271.92, The Radiator Centre

Give an open-plan space the James Bond look with a wood-burning stove insert. With glass on three sides, this stoves offers panoramic views of the fire

5004 FRL stove, from £4,999, Scan

Gas stoves come with realistic ceramic logs that look just like the real thing. This model also has remote control and an optional Myfire package so you can control it from your smartphone or tablet NEO3P gas stove, £3,455, ACR Stoves

F100

1500W

£95.98,

Wood-burning stoves are a cost effective and energy-efficient way to heat a room 6140 stove with low base, £1,899, Morsø

Make sure your flooring is compatible if you plan to install underfloor heating. You can use tile, stone, vinyl, LVT, laminate and engineered wood. But not solid wood, as it can’t cope with the changes in temperature Kansas vinyl in Bronson Lively, £23.49 per sq m, Lifestyle Floors

CHOOSE AN EFFICIENT STOVE

There’s nothing quite like a fire flickering away in a stove for creating a focal point in a cosy living room or open-plan kitchen. Stoves can be multi-fuel, wood-burning, gas or electric, but check if there are any restrictions on what fuel you can use in your area with your local authority before you invest. As well as sitting or standing on the floor, stoves can be inset in a fireplace or raised to eye level to suit your space. To calculate how much heat – in kilowatts (kW) – your stove needs to produce, work out the volume (length x width x height) of the room it has to heat in cubic metres (m3) and divide by 14. If you live in a Smoke Control Area (check with your local authority) and want to burn wood and solid fuels, you’ll need a DEFRA Smoke Exempt model.

MOVE PORTABLE HEATING TO WHERE YOU NEED IT

Freestanding portable heaters are ideal for those times when you need an extra boost of warmth in the room you’re in. These electric appliances are lightweight and run off the mains, so don’t need any expert installation. You simply carry them to wherever they’re needed and plug them in. Portable heaters are great for when you just want to heat one room, rather than the whole house, especially if it’s only for a relatively brief period. Used this way, they can help you reduce your energy bills. Always make sure the room you’re heating is well ventilated, especially if you suffer from asthma or allergies, and check the heater’s energy efficiency rating, noise level and heating capacity before you buy.

USEFUL CONTACTS

• Find a qualified gas engineer at gassaferegister.co.uk; find an electrician at niceic.com; and find an installer for solid fuel and wood-burning stoves at hetas.co.uk

• For advice on how to heat your home efficiently, head to energysavingtrust.org.uk or citizensadvice.org.uk

• At ofgem.gov.uk you’ll find schemes, grants and benefits that can help with home energy

• There’s also advice at moneysavingexpert.com

Stoves are ideal for smaller spaces. Look for a clean burn model that burns wood efficiently, like this one

ECO.2 wood burner, from £1,849, Jøtul UK

An infrared heater offers targeted warmth so you can enjoy the garden all year round

garden electric heater,

Living & Home

When Tiffany and Olly Warren, and their two daughters, Millie and Sophie, moved into a 150-year-old farmhouse in Somerset, they knew it needed upgrading. ‘We were particularly concerned about keeping our energy costs down as it was a draughty, old property, so we set about a mix of improvements,’ they say. ‘Top of the list was replacing the oil-fired boiler with something more efficient and better for the environment.’

The original kitchen has been expanded with a double-height glass and timber extension, and now has thermostatically controlled underfloor heating for winter warmth

old

Olly, who works in the heating industry, suggested they go for a biomass boiler fuelled by wood pellets, which provides a renewable and sustainable source of heat. Made from compressed sawdust, the pellets are fed automatically into the boiler, which works in the same way as a conventional boiler. Although it was expensive to install, the Warrens received help with the cost through the government’s Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (now closed to new applicants), which gave them quarterly payments for seven years.

Improving the house’s insulation was also essential to make it more comfortable and energy efficient. They replaced all the windows with new double-glazed versions, re-pointed the outside walls and re-slated the roof. In the sitting room and ‘snug’ they installed two wood-burning stoves, which they run through the winter for extra warmth downstairs.

Since purchasing the three-bedroom property in 2014, Olly and Tiffany have added a loft conversion, which gave them two extra bedrooms and a shared bathroom, and doubled the size of the kitchen with a stunning extension, designed by Olly’s sister and her husband, who are both architects. ‘We spend a lot of time in the kitchen,’ they say, ‘so we installed underfloor heating that runs from October to April and is controlled by two thermostats. With so much glass, we experience both heat loss and heat gain, so the thermostatic control system is essential and works really well.’

‘The way the world is changing with global warming and higher energy costs, it made us seriously consider how we should heat our new home,’ says Olly. ‘All the improvements have made it warmer, more comfortable, more energy efficient and will certainly have added value if we ever decide to sell up and move on.’

Tiffany and Olly Warren have spent the last eight years improving and extending their family home

Constructed from local stone in around 1870, the old farmhouse in Somerset has been transformed into an energy-efficient, 21st-century family home

One of the two wood-burning stoves Tiffany and Olly Warren installed as part of their major heating upgrade. This model is now discontinued but the Mendip Christon 550 from Eurostove is similar

Feature Gill Rothwell

Upgrading their heating system has made Tiffany and Olly’s home greener, cleaner and cheaper to run

‘

Our draughty

home is so cosy now

ASK THE experts

QMy spare room is a bit of a tired home office, but I have guests coming over for Christmas who’ll need to sleep in there. How can I give it a refresh?

Rianna Telford, Glasgow

AJoanne Evans, Marketing Manager at Homescapes, says…

As the seasons change, so do our needs. You can easily update a tiredlooking office for work, but remember: it’s important to have time away from your desk too. So create a zone that’s functional, but is also comfortable and good for your wellbeing. Incorporating a day bed into your office gives you a space to craft or relax that isn’t at your desk, while also providing somewhere for any overnight guests to sleep. Instead of taking up space with large cabinets, why not opt for knitted baskets? They’re compact and portable, and add extra texture and colour to your scheme.

QHow can I decorate my home for the festive season without breaking the bank? Natalie Yassin, Reading

AMaxine Brady, interior stylist (on Instagram @maxinebradystyling), says… You can craft decorations for next to nothing. With a little imagination and some help from Mother Nature, you can decorate your home for Christmas so it looks magical without costing a fortune. On winter walks, start foraging for natural decorations that you can use for the festive season. For example, twigs can be tied together with twine and transformed into wooden stars, while branches look stylish when placed in a vase and adorned with baubles and tinsel. Pine cones can be hung on your Christmas tree like baubles or used as simple name place settings. Alternatively, go bold by making a flower cloud from twigs and branches to go above your dining table, and then twist fairy lights around it to finish the look. Adding natural touches to your home is a chic but inexpensive way to bring the colours of the season into your Christmas décor.

Linen cotton knitted round storage basket, from £29.99, Homescapes

QI’d like to replace my shiny kitchen unit doors, but will have to paint them instead. What type of paint should I look for? Sue Aigelsreiter, via email

ARichard Bradley, UK Marketing Manager at V33, says… One of the most important attributes to look out for when shopping for kitchen cabinet paint is durability. It must be extremely resistant to culinary and domestic stains. That means it should be unaffected by hot and cold fats, and things like vinegar, wine, ketchup, coffee and tea.

Additionally, your paint must allow regular and easy cleaning without the process altering its colour or finish. The paint needs to be resistant to care and maintenance products such as water, washing-up liquid, various household cleaning products and even diluted bleach. I’d also want to make sure that the paint I used on my cupboards and cabinets had a high level of adhesion without the need for an undercoat.

V33 Renovation cupboard and cabinet paint has high resistance to scratches, friction and impact. V33’s new range of Renovation cupboard and worktop paints is also coming soon to B&Q stores, so you can spruce up your kitchen surfaces, too.

V33 Renovation White satin multi-surface paint, £42 per 2L, B&Q

Carol Reid, Newcastle

ANaeem Adam, Heated Laundry Expert at AO.com, says…

If you’re shopping for a new tumble dryer, a heat-pump tumble dryer will drastically reduce your energy bills as it uses up to 50-per-cent less energy than a condenser or vented model.

Heat-pump tumble dryers may be a little more expensive to buy, but they’ll save you money in the long run. Otherwise, check the energy rating of the tumble dryer before you purchase it. A+++ rated dryers are the most efficient and cost the least amount of money to run.

Indesit YT M10 71 R UK 7kg heat pump tumble dryer, £499; Candy Smart CSEC9DF 9kg condenser tumble dryer, £259, both AO

APhilippa Prinsloo, Head of Home Product Design at John Lewis, says… Soothing interiors that bring a sense of calm to a space are important as we head into the new season. Sage green is going to be the colour we all reach for – we’re already seeing it paired with dark woods, which are so versatile. You should also look for soothing shapes with rounded and gentle edges (scallops, waves and circles, for example), and fabrics that invite you to sink into them, think chunky bouclé.

Lighting is the best way to set the scene and a floor lamp can provide a cosy, warming glow. Our contemporary wiggle floor lamp will add soft lighting to your space and create the perfect snug ambience for winter evenings.

A great affordable option is the Indesit YT M10 71 R UK heat-pump tumble dryer, which has an energy rating of A+. The Candy Smart CSEC9DF condenser tumble dryer is more budget friendly, but still has an energy rating of B. If

question, write to Ask the Experts, Your Home, Our Media Limited, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST or email yourhome@ourmedia.co.uk

Wiggle wooden

lamp in Walnut, £225; Gondola Club dark leg club chair in Natural, £549, both John Lewis & Partners

QHow can I make my home feel cosy and inviting throughout the dark winter evenings? Shabira Smith, Oxfordshire

QWhich energy-efficient and money-saving features should I be looking out for when buying a new tumble dryer?

floor

Amazing PRIZES UP FOR GRABS!

Your Home has teamed up with stylish baby sleep solutions brand Snüz to offer three of its iconic SnüzPod4 bedside cribs to readers. The SnüzPod4 allows dozing parents to keep babies up to the age of six months by their side for a safe bonding experience, through every yawn, wiggle, gurgle and post-feed nap. Its dual-view mesh windows and a half-height zip-down wall provides easy access to your little one, should they need soothing during the night. The crib’s innovative ComfortAir system has been designed to increase airflow using vents, an air-permeable mesh liner and ventilation built into the base. There’s also a wide range of colours to choose from, so you can make sure your crib matches your interior décor too! For more information and to view the whole product range, visit snuz.co.uk

If you’re exploring the great outdoors this winter, whether it’s your local green space or somewhere further afield, make sure you have everything you need with the help of Berry Useful Gear. Launched in 2022 in Cumbria, the Berry team are specialists in selecting the very best outdoor and home accessories for you and your family – use when camping, cooking, gardening or simply enjoying being outside.

Five lucky Your Home readers will win outdoor lifestyle goodies worth £100 – take your pick from the top-quality brands stocked on its website, including Klean Kanteen reusable water bottles, Feuerhand outdoor lanterns and Petromax outdoor cooking accessories!

To view its full product range and for more information, visit berryuseful.co.uk

Whether you’re planning a cosy movie night or inviting guests over for a party, you can create the perfect ambience with WiZ smart lighting. The WiZ app has recently been updated with SpaceSense technology, making it even easier to set up and adjust your motion-detection-controlled lighting with just a few taps on your smartphone. You can also create shortcuts with the app’s ‘Quick action’ feature, and enable voice control too.

Three lucky Your Home readers will win a smart lighting bundle worth £337.39, containing six colourful RGB bulbs, two filament bulbs, one floor lamp, one table lamp and one remote control with batteries for completely customisable lighting that responds to your every need.

For more information, visit wizconnected.com/en-gb

WIN WIN a fun family games bundle from Winning Moves!

Your Home has teamed up with Winning Moves to offer readers a chance to win a games bundle worth £27.99. Fifty five lucky winners will get their hands on the brand new word game Lex Match, as well as the exclusive Women’s European Football Champions Top Trumps, celebrating our amazing Lionesses!

With Lex Match, the aim of the game is to line up five letters to spell out a word – the twist is that as you add each letter cube to form your word, you push out your opponents’ cube and disrupt their progress! With its handy carry case, you can take Lex Match with you for on-the-go word game fun. Do you want to keep

budding sports stars entertained, too? Women’s European Football Champions Top Trumps celebrates the England women’s national football team’s historic win at the 2022 European championships. The game features 30 of your favourite players from the prizewinning squad: find out how many clean sheets Mary Earps has had, how many trophies Lucy Bronze has won, and how many goals Leah Williamson has scored.

Enter now for your chance to win a games bundle for endless family fun – perfect entertainment for many Christmases to come! For more information, visit winningmoves.co.uk

s 55 !

TERMS & CONDITIONS

1 The closing date for the promotions is Friday 9th December 2022 at 11.59pm. 2 The promotion is open to all residents of the UK, including the Channel Islands, aged 18 years or older, except Our Media Limited’s employees or contractors and anyone connected with the promotion or their direct family members. 3 For the Snüz prize draw, each winner can choose their preferred colourway, subject to availability. Delivery is included.

4 For the Berry prize draw, delivery is included. Each winner will be contacted by a Berry representative to arrange their prize. Once contacted, each winner has 28 days to confirm which products they would like in their bundle. Berry will allow prize bundles of up to a maximum of £120. 5 For the WiZ prize draw, to use the smart lighting bundle, you will need to download the WiZ app and have a wi-fi connection. The bulbs have a mix of Edison screw and bayonet fittings. Delivery is included. 6 For the Winning Moves prize draw, delivery is included. 7 For the full list of Terms and Conditions, visit yourhomestyle.uk/win.

Shopping GUIDE

AACR Stoves 0121 706 8266

acrstoves.com

Aldi aldi.co.uk Amazon amazon.co.uk

Annabel James 0345 5480210 annabeljames.co.uk

Annie Sloan 01865 713080 anniesloan.com

AO 0161 470 1100 ao.com

Applebys Tiles applebys-tiles.co.uk

Arada Stoves 01297 632050 aradastoves.com

Argos 0345 6402020 argos.co.uk Asda asda.com

Ashley Wilde Group 01707 635201 ashleywildegroup.com Attic 020 8943 9626 discoverattic.com

BB&M 0330 838 9000 bmstores.co.uk B&Q 0330 014 3357 diy.com

Baa Stool 01824 790882 baastool.co.uk

Back in Action 0117 9226377 backinaction.co.uk

Backdoorshoes 01202 232357 backdoorshoes.co.uk

Barc London barclondon.com

Bathroom Mountain 01782 405047 bathroommountain.co.uk

BC Designs 01206 827100 bcdesigns.co.uk

Bean Bag Bazaar beanbagbazaar.co.uk

Beliani 020 3318 8222 beliani.co.uk

Benchmarx Kitchens benchmarxkitchens.co.uk

Best Heating bestheating.com BHS bhs.com

Big Bathroom Shop 03451 227569 bigbathroomshop.co.uk

Biscuiteers 020 3954 6650 biscuiteers.com

Bloom bybloom.co.uk

Bloom Puzzles bloompuzzles.co.uk

Bloomsbury 020 7631 5600 bloomsbury.com

Bohemia Design 01315 552485 bohemiadesign.co.uk

Boots boots.com

Bramley & White bramleyandwhite.co.uk

Bramley 01747 445067 bramleyproducts.co.uk

British Heart Foundation bhf.org.uk

Bunny & Bloom bunnyandbloom.etsy.com

Burgon & Ball 01142 338262 burgonandball.com

Burlington 01322 473222 burlingtonbathrooms.com

yourhomestyle.uk

CCharlested Interiors

charlested.com

Cherith Harrison cherithharrison.com

Cheshire & Wain cheshireandwain.com

ChunkyCouture chunkycouture.com

Co-op shop.coop.co.uk

Cole & Mason 01252 828000 coleandmason.com

Collecting Seashells collectingseashells.com

Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk

Cuckooland cuckooland.com

Cult Furniture 020 8185 6960 cultfurniture.com

Curious Egg curiousegg.com

DDaisy Park 01769 579077 daisypark.co.uk Daval daval-furniture.co.uk David & Charles davidandcharles.com DCUK dcuk.com

Desenio 020 331 82047 desenio.co.uk

DFS 0800 110 5000 dfs.co.uk

Dibor 0800 408 0660 dibor.co.uk

Didsbury Gin didsburygin.com Divine divinechocolate.com

Dizzy Duck Designs dizzyduckdesigns.com

Dobbies 0131 5616406 dobbies.com

Dulux 0333 222 7171 dulux.co.uk Dunelm 0345 1656565 dunelm.com

EeBay 0800 358 6551 ebay.com Emma Bridgewater 01782 210565 emmabridgewater.co.uk Etsy etsy.com Eurostove 01934 750500 eurostove.co.uk

FFacebook facebook.com

Farhi 020 3754 0963 farhi.co.uk Farrow & Ball 01202 876141 farrow-ball.com

FatFace 0330 124 0000 fatface.com

Fenwick 0800 783 1783 fenwick.co.uk

Flames 01616 541610 flames.co.uk

Fletcher Joinery fletcherjoinery.co.uk

Fy! iamfy.co

GGalerie Wallcoverings 01892 700730 galeriehome.co.uk

Garden Trading 01993 845559 gardentrading.co.uk

George Home direct.asda.com

Gift Republic 020 8542 4836 giftrepublic.com

Ginger Ray gingerray.co.uk

Gisela Graham giselagraham.co.uk

Where to buy everything in this issue

52

Green & Heath greenandheath.co.uk

HH&M Home hm.com

Habitat 0345 640 2020 habitat.co.uk

Heavenly Homes and Gardens heavenlyhomesandgardens.co.uk Hobbycraft 0330 026 1400 hobbycraft.co.uk

Homebase 0345 077 8888 homebase.co.uk

Homesense homesense.com Hotel Chocolat 03444 932323 hotelchocolat.com

IIdyll Home idyllhome.co.uk

IKEA 020 3645 0000 ikea.com Industville 020 7971 7871 industville.co.uk

JJan Constantine 01270 821194

janconstantine.com

John Lewis & Partners johnlewis.com

JoJo Maman Bébé jojomamanbebe.co.uk Jøtul 01527 506010 jotul.co.uk

KKilner 0151 4861888 kilnerjar.co.uk

LLa Redoute 0330 303 0199 laredoute.co.uk Lakeland 015394 88100 lakeland.co.uk

Laura Ashley lauraashley.com

Laura Thomas Co laura-thomas.com

Lick lick.com/uk

Liewood liewood.com

Lifestyle Floors 01675 433518

lifestyle-floors.co.uk

Lighting Direct 0345 646 1137

lighting-direct.co.uk

Lights4fun lights4fun.co.uk

Lily’s Kitchen lilyskitchen.co.uk

Lime Lace limelace.co.uk

Living and Home livingandhome.co.uk

Loaf 020 3141 8300 loaf.com

Lucie Annabel lucieannabel.com

MM Marcus m-marcus.com MADE made.com

Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8000 marksandspencer.com

Marmor Paperie 07847 132886 marmorpaperie.co.uk

Matalan matalan.co.uk

Melody Maison 01302 741000 melodymaison.co.uk

MHS Radiators 0345 521 5666 mhsradiators.co.uk

Monsoon monsoon.co.uk

Morrisons morrisons.co.uk

Morsø 01788 554410 morsoe.com

Musée Home museehome.co.uk Mustard mustardmade.com

Mylands 020 8670 9161 mylands.com

NNancy & Betty Studio nancyandbetty.com National Trust Shop shop.nationaltrust.org.uk

Next 0333 777 8000 next.co.uk

OOak Furnitureland 0800 440 2254 oakfurnitureland.co.uk

Oak Outlet 01493 660766 oakoutlet.co.uk Ocado ocado.com

Olenka 07854 622804 olenkadesign.co.uk

Oliver Bonas 020 8059 2414 oliverbonas.com

Olivia & Grey 01429 812227 oliviaandgrey.co.uk

PPagazzi pagazzi.com

Paper Star Lights paperstarlights.com

Paperchase paperchase.com

Party Delights partydelights.co.uk

Pets at Home petsathome.com

Plumbworld plumbworld.co.uk

Popcorn Shed popcornshed.com

Poster Store posterstore.co.uk

Poundland 0333 234 1877 poundland.co.uk

Primark primark.com ProCook 0330 100 1010 procook.co.uk

RRex London 020 8746 2473 rexlondon.com

Rockett St George 01444 253391 rockettstgeorge.co.uk

RSPB Shop 0345 034 7733 shopping.rspb.org.uk

SSainsbury’s sainsburys.co.uk Sandwick Bay Candles sandwickbaycandles.com

Sass & Belle sassandbelle.co.uk

Scan 01527 506010 scan-stoves.co.uk

Schiedel 0191 4161150 schiedel.com

Secret Linen Store 01243 822599 secretlinenstore.com

Smeg smeguk.com

Snowdonia Cheese Company 01745 357071 snowdoniacheese.co.uk

Sofa Sofa 01495 244226 sofasofa.co.uk

Sophie Allport 01778 560256 sophieallport.com

Squires squiresgardencentres.co.uk

Studio Miruk 07312 804414 studiomiruk.co.uk

Sunday’s Daughter sundaysdaughter.com

Sweetpea & Willow 0345 257 2627 sweetpeaandwillow.com

TTangle Teezer 020 3987 3521 tangleteezer.com

Talking Tables 020 7627 6767 talkingtables.co.uk Tesco tesco.com

Tinker and Fix tinkerandfix.co.uk

The Cotswold Company 0333 200 1725 cotswoldco.com

The Plasterwork Studio 01702 341 858 theplasterworkstudio.co.uk

The Radiator Centre 01727 840344 theradiatorcentre.com

The Radiator Company 01342 302250 theradiatorcompany.co.uk

The Range 0345 026 7598 therange.co.uk

The Used Kitchen Company theusedkitchencompany.com

The White Company thewhitecompany.com

Thomas Crapper thomas-crapper.com

Thomas Sanderson thomas-sanderson.co.uk

Tile Giant 0345 307 5000 tilegiant.co.uk

Tile Mountain tilemountain.co.uk

Twice Fired 07951 376434 twicefired-glass.co.uk

UUK Wallpaper 01233 225223 wallpaper-uk.com

VVerona veronagroup.co.uk Very 0800 110 000 very.co.uk Victoria Plum victoriaplum.com

Victorian Plumbing 0345 862 2878 victorianplumbing.co.uk

Victory Colours victorycolours.co.uk VonHaus vonhaus.com

WWaitrose waitrose.com WallBuddy wallbuddy.etsy.com Wallboss wallboss.co.uk Walls and Floors 01536 314730 wallsandfloors.co.uk Walton & Co 01423 326 332 waltonshop.co.uk Waterstones waterstones.com Wayfair 0800 756 4541

wayfair.co.uk

Wickes 0330 123 4123 wickes.co.uk

Wilko wilko.com

WiZ wizconnected.com/en-gb Woodchip & Magnolia 01254 241100 woodchipandmagnolia.co.uk

YYale yalehome.co.uk Yankee Candle yankeecandle.co.uk You Furnitures youfurnitures.etsy.com

Why Not Be A

“The course has greatly improved and refreshed my grammatical knowledge, copy editing and proofreading. It has also sharpened my attention to detail. For the contract, I was able to set my own professional fee; and on the basis of my QTS, expertise and subject knowledge, I am earning £30.00 per hour.”

Claire Ezard

Caring constructive help from expert tutors.

Help and advice from our experienced Student Advisory Team.

Specialist advice on how to find work.

Advice on how to set yourself up in business.

If you want to be a proofreader and copy editor, this is the way to start! It’s ideal for beginners. No previous experience or special education required. You can be earning in as little as 2-3 months. 15 day trial. For free details visit our website or call us today!

An Expert's Opinion of the Course

“The material is very informative and interesting as well as covering pretty much everything you would need to know when starting to proofread. There are a lot of tips and ideas for freelancers in general that you can see have been tried and tested and are being passed on in good faith.

“Overall, I found the information in this course very useful. It covered all the main areas that anyone interestedin working as a proofreader/copy editor would need to know.”

Shazia Fardous, Freelance Proofreader and Copy Editor

Start TODAY When You Enrol ONLINE!

START YOUR COURSE TODAY for only £398 (interest free easy pay plan available from £39.80pm) by visiting our website. Your course modules and the first assignment are aonline so you can start studying straightaway.

Feature Sophie Ellis