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50+ pages of amazing makeovershome BEFORE + AFTERS Feel-good spaces to inspire your next project HAPPY HOMES The cool new prints to try nowbedrforupdatessmallooms graphicGoMoneyclinic Decorate on a budget How to make money from your galleryCreatehomeawallforless 25 Kitchen diners familyideasSociableforlife OCTOBER 2022 Create your dream home on any budget HOMESReal

‘I look at my yearly to-do list and panic at the lack of things ticked off. Then I’ll optimistically reset deadlines to a preChristmas finish.’

I think most of us regard this time of year, like spring, as a bit of a fresh start – a reset for routines, for meal plans (bring on the soups and stews), and for your home. You might be spending the next few months desperately trying to wrap up an extension project in time for Christmas – in which case, godspeed. Or, perhaps spurred on by the change of seasons, you’re taking on a mini makeover of your living room to make it

Emily Smith Senior art editor

cosy for those dark and chilly nights. Either way, this issue will inspire you with fresh ideas, budget-friendly updates and savvy buying guides so you can achieve your goals on time, on budget, and without stress.

editorthefrom

Speaking of fresh starts, this is my last issue of Real Homes before moving on to pastures new – so thanks very much for reading. The team will continue to bring you plenty of advice and inspiration, whatever your project, as we head into this new season – and with that, enjoy the issue!

5 REALHOMES.COM

The transitional feeling of September/ October time makes it one of the best moments of the year, in my very humble opinion. I’ve written before about how much I love autumn (undisputedly the best of seasons, but I won’t go on about it) – but there’s something about the slow eking out of light, warm nights that sends a signal to my body: it’s time to wind down. Naturally, autumn is a slightly less sociable time, with a burst of activity come Christmas before you settle into hibernation for the rest of winter. So there’s always a sense that people are rushing to cram in the last of the whimsical picnics and post-work alfresco wines before it’s too late.

If you’re craving a final hit of summer, I recommend reading all about Jen and Graham’s renovated beachside bungalow on page 70. It makes me seriously nostalgic for my own family’s October trips to Bournemouth growing up, where you had to wrap up well for beach walks. As for the rest of the issue, we’re looking tentatively ahead to autumn with features on ways to update the inside of your home: from small but cosy bedrooms (p.58) and sociable kitchen diners (p.83) to welcoming ideas for hallway makeovers (p.136).

Meet the Getteamtoknow

Lindsey Davis Editor in chief

‘I like to book a day off to sit in total silence and enjoy the boys being back at school…’

‘I switch all my summery bedding, textiles, and tones.earthierfragranceshomeforandspicierPumpkinspiceisalifestyle.’

‘I’ve just purchased a new calendar with a pretty ombre and design.calligraphyMypastelhighlighterswilllookgreatonit!’

Ellen DeputyFincheditor @ellenfinch

Caroline Preece Smart home editor

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Alison Jones Assistant editor

some of the people who bring you Real Homes with a monthly question. This time: How do you schoolSeptember’sembrace‘newyear’feel?

‘September is the best time to crack on with the DIY projects I’ve been thinking about. This year? Spraypainting my kitchen cupboard handles!’

Take out a subscription to Real Homes today from just £9.75 – turn to page 10 for more

Our roundup of the best buys from the new collection STYLE CRUSH

Kitchen-diners

Inside track

Revisit retro with warm, earthy tones that offer a ‘70s vibe

29

Make your own ladder to display winter throws

31

43

Grey is the backbone of Scandi style. We look at the psychology behind this nearly neutral

83

32

Side Tables

162

Offer a warm welcome with bright, practical entranceways SUNDAY PROJECT

54

58

The latest new homeware and essential design ideas REAL HOME

The beautiful new buy we’re obsessed with this month

13 NEWS

40 DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT

First-time homeowner Esther brought touches of Parisian chic to her Victorian terrace

Keep essentials close to hand with a stylish and quirky table MADE.com

18

SEE ONE OF THESE? Scan on your phone for more realhomes.comfrom 70 58 32 29

Make the most of a bijoux room with smart storage solutions and clever decorating effects

Prints and patterns

Discover patterns that please with statement prints or subtle, barely-there motifs

Independent makers show off the versatility of 3D printers to ornament your home

COLOUR THEORY

Small Bedrooms

No longer a separate space, the kitchen has expanded to include places to eat and entertain Hallways

136

Nostalgia

57

Style agenda contents

141 A GUIDE TO Front doors

Ways to keep rooms cosy when the temperature drops

148

130

Look out for this logo on sustainablefavouriteourpicks

126 PROJECT NEWS

65

REAL HOME

Deni designed a cute yet stylish girl’s room with timeless appeal

Up your kerb appeal with a new front door that can’t fail to impress FOCUS CarpetON

REAL KITCHEN

Designer Fran’s love for colour has transformed her family’s characterful Georgian home

Have comfort wherever you walk with soft yet hardwearing carpets

The best kitchen tiles, towel rails, colourful light switches and smart thermostats

Get more from your home by renting out your spaces

The latest buys for your kitchen, bathroom and renovation

106

Look up when you need extra space and tap into the potential of your attic

151 THE EDIT

goingEco 44 43 83 151 31 90

We YOURanswerQUESTIONS

44

70

REAL Bedroom

102

90

Deborah took a bold approach to renovating her house for herself and guests to enjoy Make money from your home

Surfer and furniture designer Graham used his skills to create a dream beachside escape

7

110 10 STEPS TO start prepping your home for winter

home life project advice REAL HOME

Let Real Homes solve your DIY and styling dilemmas, plus advice on decorating on a budget

119 A GUIDE TO conversionsLoft

REAL HOME

Shazia and Scott took drastic action to transform their dated 1930s house

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11

Natural materials, crafted furniture, candlelight and a beautiful, seasonal tablescape; Modern Country is a new trend from John Lewis & Partners that epitomises the very best of autumn. Inspired by countryside living, this look feels nostalgic, warm and homely; a place for conversation with friends and family, where memories are made. Play with layering, mixing different patterns and texture and blur the boundaries between outside and in with oversized house plants and botanical prints.

FEATURE HUMPHRYSALICE

A nostalgianew

Lorn six-10 seater extending dining table, oak, £1,599; Lorn four-seater dining bench, oak, £599; Scandi dining chair, £299; large check tablecloth, £30; braided marl grey rug, £280; leaf print cotton napkins, £8 for four; Leckford serve bowls, from £18; Lustre glass pendant, £125, all John Lewis & Partners

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

Wall and ceiling in Windmill Lane 296, Intelligent matt emulsion, £56.50 for 2.5ltrs; kitchen unit in Córdoba 277, Intelligent£79.50Satinwood,for2.5ltrs,LittleGreene

The British Blanket Company has added the cutest baby collection of merino lambswool blankets to its range. Naturally soft, light and breathable, there are six new designs in a spectrum of pretty colours. Keeping the craft of weaving alive, they are made by hand in a small, traditional mill in Ireland. Perfect for nap time, playtime or for snuggling them up in the buggy, they’re practical for everyday use, and washable on a wool setting. Each one a playful name (Sonic, Sharky, Lemming…), all inspired by beloved 1990s TV shows and video games. The blankets are £45.99 each.

Baby soft

With more and more home brands recognising the growing desire for a connection to nature, Little Greene has launched Forest –its take on biophilic design. Having delved into its extensive archive, it has curated a collection of treasured wallpapers and paint colours, all inspired by the great outdoors. From a myriad of green and natural tones to foliage-based patterns, feel inspired to blur the boundaries between inside and out with this soothing colour

Pumpkin Crafting: Decorating Projects and Seasonal Recipes by Jen Rich (£12.99, Pyramid Publishing)

14 Bookworm

Naturepalette.calls

Get your craft on and liven up your home this Halloween with pumpkins a-plenty. This book is packed full of playful and whimsical designs for pumpkins and squash, large or small. From toolsjack-o-lanternsshowstoppingtopumpkinpaintingprojects(nosharprequired!),eachcreationincludeseasy-to-followinstructions,withinspiringphotographybyauthorandfoodstylist,JenRich.Tohelpyougetthemostoutofthismightyfruit,there’salsoatastyseasonalrecipesectionthatuseseverymorselofyourpumpkin,includingtheseeds.

£189, Lights & MetallicLampscirclecushion,£16,M&Co Mixed Three£26.50,measuringmetallicspoons,OliverBonasIndooroutdoorlight-upsilverwreath,£90,Cox&Coxgoldtealightholderhouses,£36,RockettStGeorge

‘Writing a lustrous accent with copper, gold, silver or brass

Orta

PUTTING THE WOW INTO WASTE

15 REALHOMES.COM

Shine bright

Wonderwallimage.

fromHuntingDecoratedcabinetwithScenes’theAshmoleanMuseumcollection.Wallpapermurals,from£40perm2,SurfaceView Add

Pumpkin soup bowl,Matalan£8.50, brass floor lamp,

A wallpaper mural is a fun way to add impact to a feature wall, nook, alcove or downstairs loo. Wallpaper mural expert, Surface View, has let nature take centre stage with its latest AW22 offering. This range celebrates warm tones and calming scenes from collections including the Royal Horticultural Society, the V&A and Ashmolean Museum. All murals are made-to-measure, printed with your choice of

Known for their super soft, jute-like rugs and runners made from recycled plastic bottles, Weaver Green has launched a collection of handy home accessories also made entirely from recovered PET bottles. The range includes fully recyclable wash bags, aprons and sturdy tote bags – all with the look and feel of natural canvas. Choose from two designs, ‘Acorn’ and a stripe, ‘La Salinas’. Prices start at £25 for a wash bag.

Hexagonal mirror coasters in metallic brass, £12 for four, John Lewis & Partners

Cream fabric

MID-CENTURY MARVEL

Your home will shine like a star with these stunning focal points

Hana Trail wallcovering in Lustre, £76 per roll; curtains in Haldon in Chalk/Cinder, £49.50 per m; cushions in Reverie in Deco, £34.50 per m; Alora in Deco, £46 per m, all Villa Nova

Reverie, from Villa Nova, is an ethereal collection of prints, embroideries, and wallcoverings new for autumn. Influenced by dreamscapes, hazy florals and blurred botanicals, the studio experimented with different techniques including collaging, photography and inky water colours to create these mesmerising designs, with a deliberate soft focus and obscured visual aesthetic.

One fabric design that will never go out of fashion is ticking. Initially used as a material for mattresses, this densely woven textile has been in production for centuries. It derives from the Greek word ‘Theka’ meaning case or covering. British weaving company, Ian Mankin, has been making ticking since 1982. It has expanded its offering with 34 new colours –bringing the number of shades to choose from to 50! From £32.50 per metre

Toptickingnotch

With hand pinch-pulled button detailing and mid-century clean lines, Arlo & Jacob welcomes Leon to its family of upholstery. This classic and geometric piece is available as a cosy loveseat or up to a three-seater sofa, and can be covered in any of the house or designer fabrics. Chief designer and CEO Mark Smith created Leon and says: ‘Furniture design from the 1950s to 1970s has never really been out of style. The tapered legs and the bolster cushions add a feeling of elegance and luxury.’ Leon medium sofa in Chamonix, Honey, £1,895, Arlo & Jacob

Into distancethe

Virgo star ceiling light, £89, Dunelm

Spend V save

Laura Ashley large Star pendant, £250, Där Lighting

Mint fabric

fabricAirforce

18

First home renovation

‘We would have liked floor tiles out here, but this was the last space we did, so we didn’t have much money left,’ says Esther.

‘We added the fence to create a smooth backdrop and invested in nice plants, like the palmIbiza-styletrees.’

First-time homeowner Esther Pillans brought a touch of Parisian chic to her Victorian terrace elegance Easy

WORDS FINCHELLEN PHOTOGRAPHS KATIELEE

Sofa, coffee table and string chair, John Lewis & Partners. Rug Maisons du Monde. Rattan side table, I Am Fy

Kitchen, DIY Kitchens. Floor tiles, Superstore.PorcelainWall tiles, Walls & Floors

,

The light worktops balance out the dark kitchen units and help tie in the floor tiles. ‘The old owners lowered the ceiling and added spotlights, but I wish we’d taken the ceiling out,’ says Esther.

PROFILE THE OWNERS Esther homean(@prettylittleterrace),PillansassistantbuyerontheandtextileteamatVery,herboyfriend,Lewis,aninsuranceclaimshandler,andtheircats,SassyandSuki THE PROPERTY A four-bed late Victorian terrace in Liverpool PROJECT COST £25,650

One element Esther was keen to change was the lack of period features. ‘All the fireplaces had been taken out and the doors replaced with modern ones, so it was a real mismatch of eras,’ she says. ‘The cornicing was the only original feature remaining. Esther is ‘obsessed’ with fireplaces and spent time tracking down eraappropriate pieces on second-hand sites –including a £200 marble find from a nearby house for the dining room, and a £50 bargain for the bedroom. They also replaced the rotting front door: ‘We had a frame built and chose an old-style door with stained glass panels.’

‘I was conscious to keep the space relatively plain throughout and add detail with accessories,’ says LeopardEsther.tea towel, Marks & Spencer. For a similar pink basket, try H&M Home. Try BTFY forpotstandingmetalplantset,Amazon,a planter

While this isn’t Esther and Lewis’s forever home, they’ve taken great care to create a warm, inviting and, of course, stylish space. ‘I’m a creative person, especially in my job, and living with my mum and dad while they renovated means I’ve got a good idea of how to bring a feel to a room,’ says Esther. Seeing her home, that certainly seems to be true – and if this house is anything to go by, we are excited to see what they’ve got up their sleeves when they do decide to move on.

‘I didn’t want to go too bold in here because it’s our first home and we’re still not decided on our style,’ she adds. ‘The neutral colour means I can change the paint or accessories to refresh the space – and I love the greenery against the dark cabinets.’

20

n older house was always on the cards for Esther Pillans. Growing up with parents who renovated homes – her dad was a builder – when the time came for her and her boyfriend, Lewis, to buy a property of their own, they wanted a period project they could put their stamp on. Living at home while they saved up meant they were in a great position to buy a four-bed Victorian terrace just around the corner from Esther’s family home. Helping the sale was the fact the house was on for a competitive price – despite the fact it was in relatively good shape. ‘It had been empty for six months when we bought it, and rented out before, but it was in good condition, with a new roof and boiler,’ says Esther. ‘But it looked grotty, so was quite cheap. Everything was done already, so we wouldn’t need to spend much money.’

A

Still, the house needed a facelift – starting with the kitchen, which was old and battered with drip marks and peeling wallpaper. The house had been empty over winter and smelt of damp, though there wasn’t any to be seen. Esther and Lewis decided to combine the kitchen with the separate dining room to create an open-plan space, enlisting Esther’s dad and brother – who is also a builder – to take the wall down. They also added two sets of French doors to the rear of the house, but the rest of the work was largely cosmetic –including the dusty job of removing three layers of textured wallpaper from every room.

Though Esther is still nailing down her style, there’s one look she returns to again and again. ‘I love French style: oversized mantle mirrors, white marble, the kind of thing you see in big Parisian apartments,’ she says. There’s certainly a French influence in the living room, with its marble fireplace, dramatic chandelier and big mantle mirror – and in the subtle hallway panelling, too. But there are also touches of Ibiza cool in the white-painted walls of the garden, and a more minimalist approach – warmed by natural textures and colourful accessories – in the bedroom.

The kitchen and bathroom were reconfigured and Esther and Lewis tackled the big job of sanding the wooden floors upstairs, though they paid someone to do downstairs. ‘We didn’t have any particular skill – we just hired the machine and gave it a go,’ says Esther. This can-do attitude was a theme throughout the project: in fact, the only other outside help the couple enlisted was Wren’s kitchen planning service, to map out the layout of the space. The sun doesn’t reach the room until late afternoon, so Esther toyed with light-coloured units, but ultimately settled on a deep blue shade.

21 BEFORE

Walls painted in Pressed Petal and Pure Brilliant White, Dulux. Dining table, Swoon. Light, Homesense. Mirrors, Anthropologie and Ikea. Chairs, Made

‘We have a lot of pink around the house,’ says Esther. ‘I like to use the same palette in every room to make the space feel calm and cohesive.’

Brass table, West Elm

23 REALHOMES.COM REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONSATHOMEYOURTRANSFORMINGONADVICEANDIDEASMOREFIND

‘I have a thing for hallways, so this is my favourite room,’ says Esther. ‘It’s so wide, and with the double height, it sold the house to us.’

Bannister painted in Card Room Green and walls in &White,WimborneFarrowBall.Stairs

painted in white Ronseal Floor Paint. Pink armchair, Made.

This image and right ‘Because the two rooms at the back are open plan, I wanted the living room to feel cosy, like a drawing room,’ says Esther. go here to relax, and the green felt like a good colour to relax in.’

Walls painted in Card Room Green and Strong White, Farrow & Ball. Fireplace Fireplace. Rug, Ceiling light Lewis &

Made. Armchair, Homesense.

, Direct

Partners

, John

COSTS CONTACTS& Furniture and décor £5,000 - £7,000 Build work £5,850 Kitchen £5,500 including worktops Bathroom £2,000 Front door and stained glass £1,500 French doors £1,500 Living room fireplace £1,400 Garden fence £900 Kitchen DIY diy-kitchens.comKitchens, Floor Sanding Liverpool Door Strippers, @liverpool_door_strippers Second hand furniture John Pye Auctions, Johnpye.co.uk Garden fence Rich Vernon Gardens, richvernon.co.uk

Mirror, Ebay.

‘We

large piece of artwork hangs above the sofa. ‘I didn’t want a huge gallery wall, but I’ve brought in the botanical theme with this piece,’ says GreenEsther. sofa Made. Coffee table, Swoon. Lamp, MagiqueHomesense. cushion, Anthropologie

Right Esther kept most of the room plain with pops of green and pink.

REALHOMES.COM

Purple sofa, John Lewis & Partners. Mirror and pink lamp, HomesenseA

‘I kept the bedroom quite plain with a navy blue bed, which is a calming but cool colour,’ says Esther. ‘We added pink on the ceiling and through accessories to soften the scheme.’

Bed, Made. Mirror, I Am Fy. Wall lamps, Oliver Bonas. Bedside tables, Swoon. Curtains, Patchwork/pomIkea. pom cushions, Homesense

Panelling painted in Card Room Green, Farrow & Ball. Under-desk storage, Ikea. Rug, I Am Fy. Office chair, Homesense

27 REALHOMES.COM

space, we can paint the walls,’ she says.

tiles.herringboneinvestedtraditional,fixtureskeptbathroom,theEstherthetilesandplainandandinmarblefloor‘Tochangethe

timelineProject BOUGHT HOUSE MARCH 2018 TOOK WALL DOWN BETWEEN KITCHEN-DINER APRIL 2018 ADDED FRENCH DOORS MAY 2018 KITCHEN IN AUGUST 2018 MOVED IN FEBRUARY 2019 FINISHED GARDEN APRIL 2020

Below ‘I wanted a built-in desk in here, which takes the eye from wall to wall,’ says Esther. ‘The panelling makes the space look and feel so much bigger.’

Floor tiles, Mandarin Stone. Shower-bath, Soak.com. Wall tiles, Walls & Floors. Radiator, Ebay

Above In

29 REALHOMES.COM COTTAGECOOL–RADAROURONLOOKLATESTTHEWITHCOSYGETMONTH:NEXT FEATURE SMITHEMILY With its muted tones and warm earthy shades, the ‘70s décor trend is the perfect autumnal scheme for your home RETRO REVISITED 1 Rattan loop wall mirror, £70, Quince & Cook 2 Rumiko vase, £36, Perch & Parrow 3 Rainbow Brown art print by Frances Collett, from £24, I Am Fy 4 Dutchbone Bond oval pendant light, £179, Cuckooland 5 Shona accent armchair in Pistachio Green velvet, £450, Made 6 York Decor Indigo tile, £17.94 per tile, Craven Dunnill Jackfield 7 Kiln media unit, £429, Swoon 8 Trinity brass candle holder, £49.50, Abode Living 9 Sublime Moss Green table lamp, £78, Five & Dime 10 Westray orange plant pot, £25, Cult Furniture 11 Arja tall cabinet, £449, Dunelm 12 Glass coffee cup and saucer, £7.99, Zara Home 13 Waves cushion, £40, The Effortless Trading Co 1 2 4 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 12

Hay slit side table, £195, Nest

Light green zig zag side table, £325, Rose & Grey

Medby side table in green and white marble, £249, Cult Furniture

Lohko side table, £195, Oliver Bonas

Zuiver Glam side table, £219, Cuckooland

Bit stool in red, from £190, Heal’s

Gold side table, £40, B&M

Cali side table, £179, Marks &Spencer

House your cup of coffee on an architectural delight for a statement piece that’s quirky and fun

Jax small side table in mustard, £79, John Lewis & Partners

SIDE TABLES

Side table, £129.99, Homesense

Kelly Hoppen mirrored tiered side table, £100, QVC

Studio side table, £65, Habitat

31 REALHOMES.COM MATDOORFUNAWITH–CLEANFLOORINGKEEPAND–TONETHESETMONTH:NEXT FEATURE SMITHAMELIA

Elevatedpattern

32 FEATURE MORLEYANNA

Whether you want to razzle dazzle with bold, statement prints or go softly softly with barely there on-trend motifs, here are the patterns making their mark on the interiors world right now

Soft Sanctuary Including curved lines, no matter how pared back, gives a nod to the arches trend without needing to shout about it. Accessorising through cushions with raised motifs will appeal to the more Duvetpattern-averse.coverset,from £13; Arc tufted cushions, from £8; white textured and black round vases, both £12, and white tortoise glass sphere table lamp, £28, all George Home

Using accessories like this is a way of injecting strong pattern into your scheme without overwhelming it.

Tagine, £22; mango bowl, £22; roaster, £12.50; 12-piece mustard speckle dinner set, £42; semi circle geo print cushion in blush pink, £12; three-tier shade, £70; Magnus table, £500; Hanna chairs, £180 for two, and display cabinet, £550, all Habitat

Small but mighty You don’t have to go large to enjoy strong prints. This tableware has a primitivestyle design that feels like a treasured travel find.

Modern design that’s easy to style; this effective wallpaper contains only two colours, so although it’s a confident choice, it won’t fight with more muted schemes. Use all over or go small for a striking feature wall.

Elegant Edge

34

Scratch scribble style wallpaper, from £69 per roll, Bobbi Beck

Atlas XL sofa, £2,150; Atlas footstool, £450; Retro geo rug,light,perwallpaper,shapefrom£32roll;Curveceiling£199,andMetic£140,allNext

Geo a go-go

With the current trend for nostalgia and ‘70s design, this statement backdrop is refreshingly current. The balance of modern and throw-back style with cool colourways and curved pattern is key

Oversized and abstract. A powerful print provides focus to a muted wall. Adding pops of pattern through artwork, cushions or rugs is a great idea for renters, or for a quick and easy scheme change-up.

Abstract print, £175; Lille rattan armchair, £495; Rio rug, £225; Adler teak side table, £450, and giant recycled grey glass lamp, £298, all Graham & Green

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Print works

Pattern Story

Wallpapering an alcove or selected area in any room will make that space ‘pop’. This hieroglyphic pattern has a mix

JohnAddisonStripesvelvetModasaWhistlerstoragewallpaper,MissPrintasolidandmystical-meets-uniformity,ofbalanceswiththecolourwallsincontrastingshade.Hieroglyph£80;Liftdesk,£199;chair,£99;indigorug,£120;pouffe£70;Stars&duvetset,£25,andthrow,£30,allLewis&Partners

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Surface Style

Wall art, £49.99; yellow velvet chair, £119.99; bird table lamp, £24.99; rug, £99.99; shelf unit, £99.99, and console table, £129.99, all Homesense. For similar wallpaper, try Botanical Powder wallpaper, £65 per roll, Graham & Brown

Balancing prints like a boss takes planning. Retro botanical walls and a print mix with not-so-subtle under-foot statement, picking up on similar colour stories to create a cohesive scheme

designer spotlight

How did you get to the point of having your own business?

Above pots,texturedBubbleplantfrom£5 Right vase,£7.75;texture£11;textureRainbowplantpot,Corrugatedpenpot,Conicalstripe£27

A I design and 3D print homeware including plant pots, deskware and vases.

40 FEATURE FINCHELLEN PHOTOGRAPHS @HILDAGOOSEMARSHALLGRACE DESIGNS)TRAAE(KEELEY

Q

Q What’s your favourite thing about what you do?

The role of technology in our homes is reflected most obviously in the rise of smart tech – whether it’s Alexa, a robot vacuum or a video doorbell, these handy innovations make domestic life a little easier. But developments in technologies have informed the way we live in and decorate our homes for centuries, from the traditional woodworking techniques used on the beautiful teak sideboard you found at a flea market to solar panels that allow us to save energy and cut bills. So it’s no surprise that 3D printing has found its way into the interiors sphere, too.

a rainbow of colours that you’ll be proud to display on your table, your shelves or your fireplace. From bubble pots to rainbow planters and ribbed vases, these accessories are bang on trend and built to last, so you can treasure them for years – and even better, at the end of their life, they’re compostable, too. We’ve spoken to Maddie to find out more – and highlighted two more amazing businesses doing innovative things in the world of 3D printing.

Using planet-friendly materials over plastic, 3D printing is fast, efficient and a less wasteful way of creating products than traditional factory lines. In the hands of creative people like Maddie Thomas, a design engineering student with a side business in bright and bold home accessories, it’s also an art form. Maddie creates beautiful structural pieces in

Support independent businesses and meet the creatives making waves in the interiors world. This month, we’re talking innovative 3D-printed homeware to make a bright and bold style statement

MADDIE THOMAS, MADDIE’S PLANT STORE

A I’m a university student and I needed an income. I went for several interviews and couldn’t get a waitressing job, even with three years’ experience, so I had to get creative! Like many others, I started collecting houseplants during lockdown, and I decided to start making plant pots, thinking I could try selling a few. I’ve always been interested in technology and I’m currently doing a degree in design engineering, so I used what I’d learned to start 3D printing my designs.

A I love that I can think of something I want to make and within a day or so it exists in my hands. 3D printing is pretty magical – I’m still fascinated by it!

Q How would you describe your business in a sentence?

Follow Maddie on

KEELEY TRAAE, KEELEY DESIGNSTRAAE a 3D exploringdesignerdigital technologies and new materials to create desirable and meaningful objects for the home. During lockdown, I bought a 3D printer and realised I could develop my own products. I designed my first collection of 3D printed mini vases and launched in March 2021. Six months after launching, I was selected to exhibit at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester, and since then I’ve exhibited in other shows and festivals; each one feels like a validation of the business. I print in polylactic acid (PLA), or “corn plastic”, a plantbased material, which can be renewed annually and is compostable.’commercially

The rainbow wall-mounted plant pots –they add plants to a room even when there’s limited space, and I just love the curved shape.

Q

Taking shape

modern 3D printed homewares made from eco-friendly PLA, a non-toxic bioplastic. We started the business during the first lockdown – first 3D printing visor headbands for the NHS and other health services, then designing plant pots for our home. We put our Nova design online after friends and family encouraged us, and accidentally set it to “live” while we were building our shop front. The next day it sold, and the rest is history! Nova was our first design and continues to be our best seller, so it has a very special place in our hearts and will be on the menu for some time!’

Meet more designer makers creating cool new products with a printer

What has been your proudest moment – or moments – so far?

Q

When customers share photos of my makes in their homes. I love seeing how people style them and the colours they put together, and I feel so privileged that someone wants something I’ve created in their space.

StudioNo16com/uk/shop/etsy.

Q

REALHOMES.COM

throw them away! Any waste material is colour sorted and stored. I’m saving up to either build or purchase a machine to recycle any scraps back into pots with the intention of creating my own little recycling loop.

and@maddiesplantstoreInstagramshopherdesigns maddiesplantstore.co.ukat

A

A

Fluted vase shaped plant pot, from £5

Sakura vase, £16; Crinkle plant pot, from £13; Ripple plant pot, from £13

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I try to make eco choices with everything I do. The material I use to make my pots is called PLA (polylactic acid) and is actually a bioplastic made from plants. At the moment it’s not mainstream recyclable, but it can be industrially composted. 3D prints aren’t always successful, but I never

Rainbow indoorwall-mountedshapedplantpot,from£12Wrigglecurvepenpot,£7 Mini £30rangevasesfromto£34

A

What’s your favourite piece from your collection?

Anything else we need to know about you?

@keeleytraae_3d ‘I’m

keeleytraae.com JOE STUDIOSUZANNA,ANDNO.16 @studio_no16 ‘Studio specialisesNo.16in

43 REALHOMES.COM NEXTFROMHOMETHEFORMUST-HAVESLATESTTHESEEMONTH:NEXT FEATURE SMITHEMILY You can shop from this page! Scan the QR code to be taken directly to the brand’s website, where you can browse their full collection and add our picks directly to your basket With the perfect mixture of textures, shapes and shades, Made is the place to go when looking for a fun new addition to your home MADE.COM 1 Paley 12-piece dinner set, £100 2 Alto ochre yellow set of four towels, £42 3 Ankhara rattan and oak double wardrobe, £975 4 Sully oatmeal modular floor cushion, £280 5 Tom Pigeon Architecture set of three A3 framed prints, £175 6 Brisa linen double duvet cover and two pillowcases in dusky pink, £125 7 Giselle umber velvet two-seater sofa, £649 8 Assembly Tom Pigeon wall sculpture, £110 9 Camden rug, from £225 10 Brunswick layered metal table lamp, £75 11 Modica rattan and matt black fabric accent armchair, £230 12 Dahlia paper mâché tall lamp shade, £50 13 Aza brass cuckoo clock, £90 1 34 13 12 11 10 8 9 5 6 7 2 SHOWCASESHOPPING

in colour thinking

Period restoration PROFILE The owners Fran Newman, a designer, and her husband, Matt, a building project manager, plus children Ruben, Trinity, Huxley, and twins Willamina and Bronwyn The property A Grade-II-listed, threebed Georgian house built in 1830, previously used for the village doctor with an adjoining surgery, Berwick-upon-Tweednear

Fran Newman’s unusual approach to colour helped her achieve a dramatic transformation in every room of her Georgian home

Berber rug, La Redoute. Mirror over fireplace, Maisons du Monde. Lobster stool, designed by Franco Albini and available at Skandium. Walls and woodwork painted in Hague Blue; ceiling in Brilliant White, both Farrow & Ball. Grey sofa, Made

Fran bought the 1960s ceramic tiled Belgian coffee table in Luxembourg, where her brother – a great source of quirky furniture and finds thanks to his stall at the Ramsgate Petticoat Lane Emporium – lives. Fran found the cane lobster pot stool in an abandoned warehouse.

WORDS GIBBALISON PHOTOGRAPHS GIBBDOUGLAS

Left and below Fran widened the hall, losing some space from the living room and the kitchen, to create a enoughentrancewelcomingwidetomanage

a double buggy and family shop.

Radiator, Ebay. Bench, Feather & Black. Panelling painted in Joa’s White, Farrow & Ball

Fran called in a plumber to get the plumbing and central heating working. A local handyman and a plasterer were also on hand at various stages. Fran did as much as she could herself while her husband, Matt, who had to stay in London for work for the first eight months, helped out at weekends.

The restoration of the windows was a momentous task. Downstairs, they restored the traditional-style sash designs with Pilkington double glass, laminated in the middle to offer some extra insulation. All the windows were stripped, sanded and painted. Crumbling putty was replaced with fresh linseed putty. Any broken panes upstairs were replaced with new spun glass, and were kept single glazed.

Fran’s work as a designer has always been inspired by the theatre, and her renovated home is full of drama. Now she and Matt, a qualified carpenter and joiner, have carved out a business designing and creating fittings and props –mainly for nightclubs – and they bring a theatrical look to every project.

47 #SOREALHOMES REALHOMES.COM/DESIGNATINSPIRATIONANDIDEASFINDCOLOUR,WITHBOLDGOTOWANTYOUIF

Below Front door painted in Charlotte’s Locks, Farrow & Ball

It started as a long-distance project. ‘We were living in West Sussex but had family up here,’ says Fran. ‘We saw the house and loved the Georgian architecture and high ceilings, the soft light and sense of space.’ She kept the ceilings white in every room, but picked bold colours for the walls to emphasise the height and proportions.

The couple initially turned the doctor’s surgery next door into a holiday let and camped occasionally in the main house when they visited. They moved into it in 2017, selling the holiday let to fund the renovation. Getting started, they found the house was in worse condition than they’d thought. It was damp, nicotine stained and the kitchen unit doors were falling off. ‘The bathrooms were freezing and there was only ever enough hot water for half a bath,’ says Fran.

‘My first challenge was to find all the pipes and drains,’ says Fran. ‘I could be found on my hands and knees clearing old pipes by hand or running up and down the street opening drains, trying to find out where the pipes were running and turning a hose on. In the end, we abandoned the existing pipes and laid new ones to join those we had managed to identify.’

When Matt took a job in Edinburgh, the couple rented somewhere locally and gutted the place. ‘We were only out for eight months and it wasn’t ready when we moved back. During the Covid lockdown, when Matt was furloughed for four months, we pulled together and finished the renovation.’

ran Newman has an unusual gift: she has the ability to see and think in colour (synesthesia). It slowly dawned on her, however, that other people don’t share her perception that spaces and people all have a colour, and that colours have a sound. ‘Soon after moving in here, I stopped sharing my plans with friends, as the colour schemes that I could see so clearly were met with bemusement at best,’ she says. Her instinctive vision of the property, bought in 2015, never wavered, and the results are exactly as Fran imagined – and she’s been delighted by everyone’s reaction.

Left The G Plan sideboard was £15 from Ebay.

F

The Arts and Crafts era has been a major source of inspiration for Fran, with its emphasis on handcrafting and colours and forms drawn from the natural world. When Fran looks out at the pretty village, with its green and its country setting, she realises the surroundings are as much part of her family home as the décor.

The coving and ceiling roses that Fran and Matt installed were painstakingly made to match the originals. ‘We filled the gaps with fine plaster, which took months –the original coving would have been made and installed in situ,’ says Fran. ‘I love the way Georgian design anticipates what you expect – it looks how a child thinks a house should be. Everything leads your eyes to light, height and space.’

The couple added a small extension at the back of the house to create a family room and an upstairs family bathroom. Fran enlarged the hall and concreted the floor herself. Matt rebuilt the walls and added panelling. ‘It was important to be able to hang pictures and mirrors wherever I wanted,’ she adds. A new internal porch with glass doors is somewhere to put coats and jackets.

Fran removed the original built-in shelving above to display the 1950s abstract painting. The seasonal flowers are from a local flower farm, Ginger House Garden.

Sofa and lips cushion, Made

Farrow & Ball. Walls painted in Yellow Pink, Little Greene. Panelling and pantry door painted in Putty, Homebase. Range cooker, Smeg. Pendant light, Made. ‘Victory’ poster, Imperial War Museum

The dining table was designed by Fran and made by Matt out of a single piece of oak, which he split through the middle and jointed back together. The edges were left wobbly to keep the natural shape of the

wood and knotholes were unfilled as a feature. The dining chairs include one reclaimed CabinetrychairschapelWandsworthfromPrisonandschoolfoundonEbay. painted in Hague Blue,

Below The stairwell walls are lined with prints and photos.

Staircase painted in Invisible Green, Little Greene

Right and above right The walls in the master bedroom are painted in Truffle from the heritagestyle Hemsley range at Homebase. Fran reupholstered the 1950s armchair in a Feather & Black Rattanfabric.pendant Ikea. Bed, Sofa.com. Throw, Feather & Black. Floral cushions, Liberty

Left The sink and teak worktop in the scullery area is an old school biology lab sink – Fran and Matt had to fill in the gas tap holes. The curtain under the sink is an Italian postal sack.

51 REALHOMES.COM

painted in

Jet Black, Little Greene. Walls painted in Mandarin Green, Craig & Rose. Towel, Laura Thomas. Rug, B&M. Sink curtain fabric, Ikea

Plain white tiles in the en suite have been easily updated using a unitWindowgroutingblackpencil.andsink

53 REALHOMES.COM

Left Fran designed the vanity unit in the bathroom and Matt made it. Stained black, the front has routed lines to reveal the plywood.

Right Fran bought the vintage metal bed at an auction. The calledandhechildren’sfromCharlieatheillustrationframedabovefireplaceisbyfamilyfriend,Sutcliffe,abeautifulbookbothwroteillustrated

Bunk beds, Habitat. Fireplace painted in yellow gloss paint by Ronseal. Walls painted in a custom mix from Crown. Rug, La Redoute

Zubert

Basin, Lusso Stone. Wall tiles, Stone.Mandarin Floor tiles Homebase. Metal shelf, Next. Wall lights, La Redoute

G

But why is it that so many of us are inclined to decorate with grey? The answer is that it can act as a backdrop to almost any scheme. ‘Decorating a room with a grey sofa is like working on a blank canvas – it’ll go with any colour combination and blend into your personal style, from modern through to Scandi,’ says Danni Burroughs, head of product at Snug (snugsofa.com).

Grey sits between black and white, and the large spectrum of shades between these two polar opposites means that choosing a specific grey hue can be trickier than most. Natasha Bradley, colour psychologist at Lick

1 You want a chic blank canvas 2 You’d like a calming space 3 You want to add in pops of colour It’s forcolourtheyou if: Gunmetal grey matt emulsion, £46 for 2.5ltrs, Graham & Brown

An understated, underrated shade that’s a friend to every hue, our colour guru, Amelia, explores why we’ll always love this nearly neutral Grey

rey is one of the most commonly used colours in a home, and for good reason. As a nearly neutral that packs more of a punch than white or beige, grey can sit alongside any other colour, and is more or less guaranteed to bring a subtly chic look.

paints (lick.com) highlights the importance of undertones when choosing a grey. ‘A flat grey carries no positive physiological benefits, it can actually generate a dull and lifeless emotional response, which is why you should choose a grey with a coloured undertone. For example, grey with a pink undertone will generate a nurturing feeling, grey with a green undertone will bring life into a room, and grey with a blue undertone can be very soothing,’ sheAndsays.it’s these undertones of grey that you need to ensure complement

Lautner contemporary satin grey wardrobe, £320, B&Q

WilkoOn Mute

The pastel palette

The Scandi palette

Mineral Stone matt emulsion paint, £18 for 2.5ltrs, flat matt paint, £46 for 2.5ltrs, Coat

FEATURE SMITHAMELIA

the direction your room faces. ‘A north-facing room receiving little natural light will benefit from a warm, yellow-based grey, while a southfacing sunny room would suit a blue-based, cooler grey to balance out the light,’ says Emma Bestley, creative director and co-founder at Yes Colours (yescolours.com).

The

ConsiderDOrules your shade’s undertone Add interest with textures Experiment with combinationscolour UseDON’T blue-grey in a north-facing room Forget to try before you buy Be afraid to mix and matchTropicalshadesWanderlustwallpaperinMadagascargrey,£195forthreerolls,MindTheGap

Whatever hue you choose, there’s one room where grey, used as the main shade, will always be a winner, and that’s the bedroom. ‘Grey is an excellent choice for those wanting to improve their sleep quality – its calming effect relaxes and suppresses brain activity, making it perfect for decorating a bedroom,’ says Dr Rosmy Barrios at Health Reporter (healthreporter.com).Thiscalmingeffect comes especially when using a paler grey. ‘A light grey will maintain a light and airy feel and will therefore make a space feel bigger, whereas a darker shade will provide you with a cosy, cocooning feel instead,’ says Emma. We love seeing a pale grey used to enhance a smaller kitchen, and a deep grey used to create a acave-likecomforting,feelinlivingroom.

Crown City Break silk paint, £18 for Homebase2.5ltrs,

Lars boucle armchair, £449, Mad About Mid Century Modern

REALHOMES.COM The combinationslookorCreatewithpairingsperfectgreyaScandiprettypastelwiththese 55

Donny large wool throw, £108, So Cosy

Rockett£165,StGeorge

Sometimes we come across a product we just can’t stop thinking about – and we want to share it with you. Here’s what we’ve fallen for this month floor lamp,

It’s all in the smile

Smiley

57 REALHOMES.COM FEATURE SMITHEMILY Fallen in love with it too? We get you – it’s a style crush for a reason! Scan the QR code on the right to be taken to the website and make this piece your own

Style crush

Looking for a fun way to beat the winter blues? This fun and funky Smiley floor lamp from Rockett St George won’t just brighten up the dullest of rooms with its six brightness settings – its smiley face design is sure to bring a grin to the gloomiest of people. So what are you waiting for? Grab your glow stick, turn up the acid house and let the good times roll…

SMALL BEDROOMS

Decorating a bijoux bedroom can pose many challenges as you try to balance style with function. Once you’ve nailed clever storage solutions, you can begin to introduce colour and pattern to bring the room to life

Create interest

Naturally, an all-white scheme will feel spacious and airy. You may want to add a touch of personality with a squiggle or scallop paint effect or introduce your favourite prints on the Topbedding.tip

Maya cane bed, from £499; round mango and brass side table, £99; Tallulah table lamp, £89; Block shapes bedset, from £39.50; Ariana rug, from £99; pure cotton velvet cushion, £22.50, all Marks & Spencer

Sagittarius matt emulsion, £46 for 2.5ltrs, Graham & Brown

Kinship rattan chest of drawers, £650, Oliver Bonas Anyday Hem

Playful touch

Sage for 2.5ltrs, Neptune

emulsion,matt£48

Rose Water matt emulsion, £20 for 2.5ltrs, Dunelm

& Partners Mali chest,three-drawer£375,Next

Scene Oasis printed cotton, £33 per m, Villa

Paola Sweetpeascreen,dressing£340,&Willow

When decorating with deep blue shades, the cool undertones can often create a gloomy feel. Counteract this by teaming with warm muted tones of blush pink.

Jute Aztec runner, £125, French Connection drawers, Lewis

A run of fitted wardrobes offers the chance to squeeze in a hidden home office. All you need is a work surface and shelves. Opt for sliding doors that stack on top of each other for best use of the space.

If a full wall is too bold for you, try shapesthroughpatternedintroducingfabricsblinds,curtainsandcushions.Thinkabstractprints,boldandblockcolours.

£399, John

Screen time

Just because it’s practical and essential, doesn’t mean you should skimp on style. Instead, go all out with a decorative design or a splash of colour to transform your boudoir.

FabricLisbonneNovaCambyCamengo,£57.20perm,JaneClayton

Three of the best: drawersThinkoutsidethebox

59 REALHOMES.COM

Perfectpairing yourConcealdesk

If you haven’t quite the room for a rug, why not consider adding softness to your floor with a runner? Its long, rectangular shape may be just the thing a narrow room needs.

Whether you intend to carve out a cosy WFH environment, add a little privacy or give yourself a dressing room set-up, panel screens that can be folded away when not in use are a nifty solution.

Don’t be afraid to go bold with your colour choices. A clever two-tone wall can help make the ceiling appear higher. Use the darker colour on the lower half to keep the room feeling as spacious as possible.

Top tip

Top tip

For a similar wall light, try Made

SWIVEL SHADE

Caramel Kisses matt emulsion, £32 for 2.5ltrs, Valspar. For similar rugs, try Dunelm. For similar print, try Desenio.

EXTEND HEIGHT

A table lamp positioned next to the bed will provide an ambient glow perfect for night-time reading, while a swing arm wall light provides a great alternative if floor space is tight.

A stool that can serve as a bedside table or used as an occasional seat offers the perfect solution for those looking for extra storage in a small room.

UnsungMaximisepotentialhero

Functionalfurniture

A slim bedside table with a concealed drawer and/ or lower shelf space offers a handy place to keep essentials. Go for a design that features smooth, round edges to create a softer look in your bedroom.

Keep clothes accessible and off the floor with a stylish pack of clip hangers. The slim design takes up minimal room in your wardrobe.

If you don’t have much room to play with, instead, look for ways to tactilityincorporateandcolour to create an interesting focal point – such as a textured or sculptural lamp base.

a

61 REALHOMES.COM

Bright idea

Marie Cultpouffe,storage£89,Furniture

Hollins large natural rattan table lamp with mustard Reni shade, £50, Lights

a

If you want to create interest in a minimalistic scheme, wool textures, fringe detailing and woven patterns are a great idea. A monochrome colour palette will work with any aesthetic. opt bed with pull-out underneath. offer place

A slim, freestanding mirror with a handy rail on the back offers additional storage space. Use the discreet bar to prep your outfits for several days. This will help keep your space effortlessly

To maximise floor space

These nifty designs

Rattan £175,bedsidestoragetable,JohnLewis&Partners Andover wooden day bed, £220, Argos Yann solid pine storage bed, £725, La Redoute Clip hangers in mustard, £16 for five, Mustard Made Friends trundle bed, from £895, Loaf Pom and plait cushion,Matalan£14, Ikornnes table,Björksnäsmirror,standing£99;bedside£89;Kollundrug,£299,allIkea

Tactile trims

Compacttidy.closet

for a single

to sleep for two trundletheThreepeople.ofbest:beds

Iconic

Clever design tool

Top tip

Top tip

Margo headboard, from £229; Myo global duvet cover set, from £32; Virgo star table lamp, £55, all Dunelm

Balancing act

An accent wall in a cocooning red is a good choice if you aren’t quite ready to commit to an entire room. Introduce plenty of white or neutral accessories throughout the rest of the scheme to balance it out.

A well-positioned mirror or two will work wonders to enlarge a space and create the illusion of a roomier retreat. Choose slightly distressed antique mirrors and they’ll double up as pieces of art.

cornersallThinkvertical

Cult Furniture

Mia velvet

For an effortlessly chic, bohemian look for your bedroom, pick natural woven textures like rattan, wicker and bamboo. These striking boxes will keep clutter contained.

63 REALHOMES.COM

Invest in an essential oil diffuser to fill your room with scentsmood-boostingatthetouchofabutton.Thespecklecut-workdesignonYankeeCandle’sdiffuserwillelevateyourhomedécor.

A wardrobe that fits neatly into the contours of a room ensures no space is wasted. Bespoke designs that go from wall-to-wall are the best option to work around slopes and maximise the storage potential.

Three of the best: cushions

mountedDolcebedspread,printed£155,OliverBonaswall-dressingtable,£299,LaRedoute

Habitat set of two rattan boxes, £42, Argos

Temuka Flush ceiling light, £149,

In rooms with low ceilings you may not have much space to hang a ceiling light without knocking your head. Instead, opt for flush designs or petite shapes that don’t hang too low.

Use

Choose furniture that fits directly to the wall instead of designs that sit on the floor to free up space. A petite dressing table with a mirror attached is a great choice.

inTidystyle

Snug fit

Sliding doors in Stone Grey and Driftwood,Light from £2,000, Sharps

Even the most humble of box rooms can take a mix of prints and textures. Pile on the pattern with a selection of bedding, including throws and cushions.

Go for graphic animal prints on a bold backdrop to make an statementexoticwhennestledamongplainerdesignsonyourbed.

Luxuriouslayers

Zebra cushion, £8, Habitat How the Leopard Got His Spots cushion, £108, The Monkey Puzzle Tree Zebra cushion cover, £34.59, Walton & Co Sleep diffuser kit, Yankee£39.99,Candle

Spirit-liftingatmosphere

Q

At serviceyourHolly

Ellen practicalSharesadvice for making your home more sustainable

Meet the people ready to help with your dilemmas

Lindsey Is in the know about buying everything from soft furnishings to fridges

65 REALHOMES.COM

Our style expert, with a love for finding new indie brands

Clinic The design

I want to fit a dining table into my kitchen but I don’t have much space – what would you suggest?

AWe don’t all want huge tables to seat loads of people – one for two or four works perfectly, especially if you live in a small house or apartment. A round table is ideal when space is at a premium: it allows you to move around it without bumping into corners, which is always a bonus. Choose chairs with a curved back for visual flow and an easy-on-the-eye look.

DINING ADVICE

ourNeedhelp?

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

Alison The go-to for all things DIY, with tons of wisdom to impart

Camille Has plenty of advicewallet-friendlyspace-saving,forrenters

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

Tulip four-seater round dining table, £200; Talia pair of spindle back chairs, £200; Jerry pair of orange dining chairs, £150; Optimist Speckle dinner set, £40, all Habitat

Anna Years spent styling homes means Anna can help with those finishing touches

Annie Our shopping expert will pick out the best bargains for your home Amelia Has her finger on the pulse of all things style, kitchen and bathroom

Jenny Has loads of reno advice – and her own doer-upper on the go

Retro 45l square sensor bin in yellow, £99.99, Swan

LAYOUTCLEANINGADVICE ADVICE

£69.99sisalherringbonePentlecarpet,perm2,Carpetright

DIY ADVICE

PHOTOGRAPH (RIGHT)GILESDAVID

A But of course! If you’re on a budget, we’d recommend John Lewis & Partner’s Anyday pedal bin in a range of colours for just £36. If you’ve got a bit more to spend, here’s my pick of the best…

A

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Q Can I install carpet and underlay myself?

The traditional kitchen work triangle layout is organised around the main kitchen work areas –the sink, the fridge, and the stove. You should be able to move between getting food out of the fridge to chopping and cooking with ease. If properly distanced, the kitchen triangle is still a very useful layout, especially as part of small space design. For a modern take on it, make it social. Have zones where you can sit and work, a place for someone to prep while another cooks, and a place for people to gather but that’s out of the way of the chef.

Installing it yourself is certainly cheaper, as you’ll be saving on the carpet fitter’s labour fee – but the question you should be asking yourself is whether DIY installing a carpet is worth your time, and whether you have sufficient skill to do it? Carpet installation is not a beginner DIY task – it can involve old floor removal, subfloor and threshold installation, and tacking and stretching for an even finish. Professionals generally don’t recommend installing carpet yourself, but if you do decide to try, look for a blog or YouTube video with detailed instructions you can follow along.

Q What is the kitchen work triangle, and should I be using it?

A Why pay a premium for ready-bottled cleaning products when you can make your own with the stuff at the back of your pantry? You’ll also be helping to save the planet (as well as your wallet) along the way. You’ve probably heard people touting the miracles of vinegar/bicarbonate of soda/ good old-fashioned soap before – so take this as a sign to give it a go. There are plenty of recipes at the tips of your fingers with a simple search. Top tip: if you do make this a long-term habit, invest in decent amber-tinted glass bottles, which offer more protection against light damage than clear.

Is there such a thing as a goodlooking kitchen bin?

DISPOSAL ADVICE

A

Bo touch bin in Metallic Gold, £198, Brabantia

Q Can I make my own cleaning products to save money?

Colter soft close double recycling pedal bin in Fern Green, £110, Made

Q

A

Q

ROOM

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Rule number one for mantlepiece styling is to create balance through the objects you choose. Have one large piece that acts as an anchor, like a mirror or a large picture, then place smaller items of varying heights around it –think vases, plants and candles. Avoid symmetry, which can feel old-fashioned, and opt for odd numbers when you’re grouping things together. The great thing about a mantlepiece is that it’s the ideal place to play dress-up as the seasons change – so switch up your design from fresh flowers in the summer to candlesticks and artfully arranged branches in the autumn. STYLING ADVICE

How do you style a mantlepiece like a pro? I need tips!

If your home needs a serious revamp but you don’t have the funds for a major makeover, the Real Homes team is here to help you achieve a stylish look for less

‘Instead of forking out for expensive artwork or posters to frame, a lot of Etsy sellers have really budgetfriendly and high-res prints that you can download and get printed yourself for way cheaper. And if you’re looking for ideas for a gallery wall, you can collect a few of your favourite prints in the form of postcards to frame alongsidecheaplyreasonablyandhangartwork of various sizes. You can also look for second-handornateframes to bring gilded glamour,’ says Jenny.

Do you have any tips for decorating on a budget?

Clinic The money

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Banana Leaves close up poster, £9.95; Naptime poster, Gold Ginkgo poster, ‘Good Vibes Only’ poster, acrylic plant poster, gold ‘Love’ and Protea flowers poster, £13.95 each; Fleur de Jardin Botanique poster, Frida Art poster and Green Plants poster, £22.95 each, all Poster Store

Decorating on a budget can give results that are just as nice (if not better) than expensive designs. You may get something more unique and personal in the process. But if you’re in doubt about where to look, or what exactly you’re trying to get your hands on, the Real Homes team has some thrifty tips that can save you hundreds…

Q

A ‘Layered lighting is my go-to and I find all manner of cool home additions on Facebook Marketplace usually, or by just going to local thrift shops. Competition for good online marketplace finds is high in cities like London, but thrift stores in cool parts of town will bankrupt you, so it’s still worth sticking to websites and using social media! You just have to be on it. Electrical items given to charity shops should be PAT tested to ensure they are safe to use,’ reveals Cam.

‘For small space updates, look to Ebay. For a downstairs toilet, cloakroom or utility, you’ll almost certainly find enough leftover floor tiles for a small area. When I DIYed my bathroom, I found two packs of the same Knight Tile Gluedown Karndean tiles people were selling as leftovers – it was enough to do my floor, plus wastage and only cost me half the price of one pack at full whack! I also got a roll of Woods wallpaper by Cole & Son for less than a third of the price thanks to an Ebay seller who had bought too much,’ shares Lindsey.

A

‘My workaround to avoid re-plastering if your walls are a bit iffy but you want to paint them is to cover with good quality lining paper and paint that. Plaster inevitably cracks, so it takes maintenance to fill and repaint. If you’re careful when papering, you can avoid lumps and giveaway joins, and it’s a good way to hone decorating skills,’ says Alison.

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A

This playfully stylish holiday home by the beach has been created with Graham’s eye for detail and hard graft, as well as Jen’s unwavering support

Renovated bungalow

70 up Surf’s

WORDS PETERSJO STYLINGANDPHOTOGRAPHS KAYFRANCINE EDITSHOPPING SMITHEMILY

Cargo net, Renco. Hanging chair by Carla Bruni for Habitat. Walls painted in Stiffkey Blue, Farrow & Ball. Steel decorated in fireproof Midnight Teal, Dulux

The cargo net is ‘the main attraction’ of the space, according to Jen. Graham fitted the net and the thematchingcomponents,woodencolourthesteeltoTVfeaturewall.

F

urniture maker and surfer Graham always dreamed of having a holiday home in the Witterings after spending his childhood summers at his grandparents’ house there. While living along the coast in Hove, he and wife Jen spent years looking for the right property to renovate – somewhere they could holiday in with their increasingly active young boys.

So when a small, neglected bungalow came onto the market, a pebble’s throw from the beach, Graham didn’t waste any time. He worked closely with the architect and builder, both local surfers, bringing his ideas to the project with a meticulous eye for detail. Graham made all the fitted furniture himself as well as laying the wood flooring. Jen happily shares her husband’s choices in almost everything, and the whole family love their stunning beach house with its minimalist design and pops of bright colours.

Sofa, Made. Dining table, chairs and tripod floor lamp, Habitat. For a similar sideboard try Etsy. Knitted pouffes, John Lewis & Partners. Floor tiles, London Chelsea Porcelain, City Ceramics.

Graham made the TV unit in ash veneer with pops of green and white and a walnut top. Creativity obviously runs in the family: a ‘Beach’ artwork made by Max and Barnie in driftwood and acrylic sits proudly on the mid-century sideboard, refurbished by their dad.

The family can enjoy the view to the hot tub from the window seat thanks to bespoke bi-fold windows. A Shinn Player Union Jack kiteboard hangs above. ‘It was one of my first kite boards and I couldn’t resist mounting it on the wall!’ says Graham.

Hot tub, Urban Cedar Hot Tubs. Bi-fold doors, The Window Dr. Seating pads, John Lewis & Partners.

‘Vibes’ cushion, Bombay Duck

The property

Project cost £165,000 plus VAT

Jen says…

The owners

Graham:

‘The builder and architect and all the tradesmen were great; they surf and go to the village pub together, which is lovely. The communication was brilliant – we were all on the same wavelength. If a decision needed to be made, I knew the builder would get in touch and I could trust him.’

ON THE BENCH

PROFILE

‘I feel like the whole house was designed around the cargo net. The boys absolutely love it – it’s the main attraction. The kids and myself are big readers and we love chilling up there with a book, or cloud-spotting through the roof light.

Burntorangebenchcushion,£24.99,Homescapes Mustardprintedfloralbedroll,£95,Graham&GreenStripedcottonmattress,£99,Rose&GreyMosaictilesprintbenchcushion,£30,NationalTrust

‘We ended up having to rip up the floor but it meant that we could drop the level, giving more height in the bedrooms, and allowing us to lay a concrete slab for the underfloor heating. I laid engineered oak floors in the bedrooms for a softer feel in contrast to the porcelain tiles laid everywhere else – perfect for wet, sandy feet. I built the kitchen with birch plywood and used a little splash of colour in the cut-out handles. I prefer the Scandi style using natural materials – and because the design is simple, you can get away with lots of colour. Originally, Jen would’ve liked every single kitchen door to be a different colour but I thought it would be a bit much.

‘This house was Graham’s baby – I was the cheerleader. We’ve been together for 20 years so I trust him completely. When he saw the property, he put in an offer before I even saw it. I remember walking through the house the next day thinking, “this is just awful”. But we kept going for day trips when the work started and it was great seeing the house come together. I did feel a bit husbandless at times – he was going over there a lot for a while. He’s a perfectionist when it comes to his work, so he was constantly on his phone, researching and ordering things. Graham would give me his top three and I’d tell him which one I liked… and then he’d still go and buy the one that he thought best!

‘We’d seen the cargo net at a property our builder had previously developed and it really caught our eye. It’s so unique. We added two extra beams to create the frame for the cargo net. We knew the kids would love it, and we wanted the house to be fun for them. We chose to use glulam beams instead of steel wherever possible to create a more natural feel. We went for the vaulted ceilings to give us the height we needed.

75 REALHOMES.COM REALHOMES.COM/COMPLETED-PROJECTSATRENOVATIONSHOMEDREAMINSPIRATIONALMOREFIND

‘We were in agreement with the finishes and the bright colours. There were a few things I felt strongly about, such as the second toilet, which he didn’t think we needed. Being the only female here with three boys, it was essential! Also, we use the utility room constantly – as we’re by the sea, we’re washing and drying clothes all the time.

A 1960s three-bedroom detached bungalow in East Wittering, West Sussex.

Graham Hoggarth, a furniture designer-maker, and his wife, Jen, a freelance editor and full-time mum to sons Max and Barnie

There’s no substitute for a comfy cushion or bed roll on a seat made to share

‘Originally I got a bit carried away with the architect. We drew up plans to raise the roof, but a surveyor found that the footings were made up of shingle and weren’t strong enough. In the end, we decided to extend to the side and out to the back to create a more spacious master bed and bathroom, and a large open-plan kitchen/living area. We wanted to bring in as much light as possible so opted for vaulted ceilings, roof lights and full-height bi-fold doors in the living area.

‘When we first started work on the house, I originally imagined whitewash and reclaimed wood, but that traditional beach-house style just isn’t us. In all the places we’ve ever lived, we’ve always had a lot of bright colours. We wanted it to be modern and fun. Although at first I wasn’t a huge fan of the green and yellow wardrobe in the main bedroom – they remind me of my high school colours – it has grown on me. I absolutely love what we’ve created here and I’m happy to give the credit for it to Graham. This is our happy place; when I walk in I always think “…and breathe!”’

worktop, LBS Stone Collection. Kitchen handles painted in Verdigris Green, ceramicNikolaTesla2003&Rangwali,GroundYellowandallFarrowBall,andRALPastelOrange.Prime

hob with extractor,integratedElica

Graham made the birch ply cupboards and painted the cut-out handles in rainbow colours. He also made the splashback from tarnished brass mounted onto birch ply. The picture is a shot from a kite – ‘used for one of the first Kiteworld magazine covers from Quartz2002.’

Rose Smoke & Ivory knitted pouffe,

77 REALHOMES.COM PUT ‘EM UP Rest your feet on a knitted pouffe that also makes a handy perch

£57.99, BTFY

Beige knitted pouffe, £49, Dunelm

Green knitted pouffe, £79.99, Homesense

Blue Corrado pouffe, £145.99, Wayfair

Below Light floods into the main living area through three Velux bi-foldsfloor-to-ceilingwindows,andglazing.

makes getting the family ready for bed quicker

beech hat tree. Apart from the bedrooms, Graham laid tilesporcelainpracticalfloorthroughout –‘perfect for wet, sandy feet.’

Door, The Window Dr. Bamboo shoe bench, John Lewis & Partners. Ceiling pendant, Tom Raffield. Steambent hat tree, The Futon Co.

Vanity unit Lusso Stone

Below The shoependant,asnaturalareofcontemporaryclean,linestheentrancehallsoftenedwithfinishessuchthewoodveneerabamboobenchanda

78 timelineProject SALE COMPLETED JULY 2018 PRELIMINARY PLANS DRAWN UP AUGUST 2018 PLANS SCALED DOWN AND SUBMITTED NOVEMBER 2018

DOORS AND WINDOWS IN. BUILDING MADE WATERTIGHT

MARCH 2019JULY 2019

–LOCKDOWN BEGINS!

Above The tiles have also been used to great effect in the shower,walk-inwhile a double vanity unit

WORK STARTS

KITCHEN, WARDROBES AND CARGO NET FINISHED DECEMBER 2019 -

SPACE FINISHED MARCH 2020 -

REALHOMES.COM REALHOMES.COM/BATHROOMATMAKEOVERBATHROOMYOURFORADVICEANDIDEASMOREFIND

The marine palette is echoed in the teal theperfectlystonefreestandingfamilyglosshexagontilesofthebathroom.Aluxuriousbathsitsunderlowceiling.

Architect Rudi Tyrrell of Cloud 9 Design Studio, 07992 379302, cloud9designstudio.co.uk

Doors & windows The Window Dr, 07901 844762, thewindowdr.info

Tiles, Tiles Direct. Bath and brushed stainless steel tap Lusso Stone. Towels and bath mat, Orla Kiely

Doors & windows £19,400 Electrics £8,800 Plumbing £8,500 Floor tiling supply and fit £7,500 Architect and planning fees £6,500 Decorating £5,500 Bathroom sanitaryware, fixtures and fittings £4,600

Builder Cal Leach of Grey Tree Developments, 07788 733699, greytreedevelopments.com

Engineered oak flooring (supply only) £2,500 Bathroom tiling supply and fit £1,800

Furniture Graham Hoggarth, 07515 grahamcharlesfurniture.com354382,

COSTS CONTACTS&

Clockwise from top Colour continues into the SkatehighremindinggreentheGrahamandprintedandAndywallfunkybedroomcouple’sthroughskateboardartdepictingWarholflowersthebrightlybedlinencushions.paintedwardrobesinandyellow,Jenofherschoolcolours

The Skate Room. Bedlinen, Scion Living. Cushions, Bombay Duck and Stormy Seas UK on Etsy. Wardrobe painted in Dutch Orange FarrowVerdigrisandGreen,&Ball

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wall art,

The boys’ bedroom has a surfing theme with a campervan bunk bed; their dad made them the freestanding birch plywood Campervanbookshelf. bunk bed, Julian Bowen

By knocking down restrictive walls, these spaces become light, airy and far more inclusive. With these barriers removed, considering the best layout for your space is key to the smooth flow of a kitchen-diner. Placement of kitchen units are best against exterior walls for sinks and appliances. The addition of a peninsular or central island gives scope for a handy breakfast bar area, perfect for socialising and sharing a glass of wine or two. The space between the dining and prep areas needs to be short, unobstructed and easy to access.

If you’re designing your space from scratch, start by imagining your open-plan area as a collection of rooms; this will allow you to plan where each area needs to be positioned and how the space will flow. Walls and flooring can be used to visually zone areas, while choosing specific types of dining can dictate one – banquette-style seating, for example, is built against one or two walls which uses up often wasted space and looks great, however it offers less flexibility than using free-standing dining chairs. Adding a rug underneath the table will go further to define the space, while shelf units or a sideboard nearby will create more of that dining room feel and section off areas.

easily keep an eye on your little ones. Entertaining guests is far easier with this layout as the host is still present –effortlessly joining in with the group without having to keep disapearing to stir the food or pour more drinks.

Whether you’re at the planning stage or working with an existing layout – choosing this popular room style has many benefits which are ideal for family life. Being together in one room creates a wonderfully social environment. With the demands of the kitchen – food and drink prep, cooking and dishwasher duties – you can carry out these tasks while spending time with your family. Mealtimes, homework and crafting around the table can all happen together or within eyesight of the kitchen, so conversations can flow and you can

Since the kitchen will always be on display, choosing the right style of cabinetry and materials is vital. More of a showpiece, it needs to be a scheme that you’ll enjoy looking at, so choose a design that makes you happy. Use colours that can be picked up throughout the whole space and stick to a specific style, or choose similar wood tones throughout.

T

Practical Social Space

Cohesive scheme

Open up your kitchen space to new possibilities by incorporating a social dining area, perfect for family meals, entertaining friends, and everything in between

Abstractprint,framedMidMonochromeCenturyartfrom£53,House

Defined zones

KITCHENDINERS that work for busy homes

Goodbye walls

FEATURE MORLEYANNA

he evolution of our homes has seen us go from the kitchen being a singular, functional room, to a bustling hub where we all converge, and it’s now a far more interactive and fun place to be. All hail the kitchen-diner! Our love for this fresh space is huge, and we’re excited to share the best ideas so you can get that ‘beating heart of the home’ feel.

For a timeless design, opting for a solid table made from a good strong wood will stand the test of time both in looks and practicality. Modern country is an evergreen style. With its welcoming feel, it can work in many types and periods of homes. kitchen in Rose Bowl

Bringing unexpected colour to the kitchen space will reinforce the living room-type vibe we’re looking to achieve in a kitchen diner. Using the two halves method, this pale pink doesn’t overwhelm as the upper cabinets are white, balancing out the lower units and flooring.

1 PALE AND INTERESTING

Keep furniture and finishes consistent so they blend together as one overall look, rather than a random collection of pieces and materials. Ensure the scheme works as a whole with bar stools, dining chairs and tables that have a similar language, even if they’re not identical. Keep brassware and lighting fittings consistent to continue this flow.

3

84 powerfulcreatespastelChoosingpinkThinkprettyshadesaquietlyschemeStand&deliverLetyourservewareairdryinstylewithacooldrainer

COnsistency is key

3 4

2

FARMHOUSE CHIC

Ludlow

and Fresh £4,977,startsLudlowcolourways.LinenkitchensfromMagnet Retro dish drainer, £30, Next Hay dish drainer £49, Nest Brass dish drainer, £26.50, Oyoy Living

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Layer up

Place mats – not only practical but help soften the look of a

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5

Scan here to find more kitchen design and layout ideas with space for dining Rattan flower place mats, £15 for two, Oliver Bonas Jute place mats, £25 for Pom-pomNationalfour,Trusthessianplacemats,£13forfour,VeryOyoyCamelplacemats,£24fortwo,Made REALHOMES.COM/KITCHENATINSPIRATIONFINDNEEDS,YOURSUITTOSTYLEKITCHENAFOR #SOREALHOMES

1 5 2

Whether it’s used for a bowl of muesli in the morning, a quick email, a break for coffee or tea, or even at gin o’clock, introducing a breakfast bar into the kitchen will always be a winner. Good looking and practical, it’s a perfect combo. But it needs forethought to create the ideal spot and to ensure stools can be tucked neatly underneath, keeping things streamlined – so it’s worth planning one in at the design stage.

BREAKFAST BAR

You can never have enough storage, and fitting display hooks on your wall really captures that functionality and form perfectly. Currently having a moment, these can hold all manner of textiles, mugs and baskets (which you can hide bits and bobs in to prevent clutter on worktops). Or simply style up with pretty bunches of lavender or dried flowers for a sweet-smelling vignette.

table

HANGING DISPLAY

Providing a handy place to store table and glassware when not in use, plus creating a ledge for curating gorgeous displays, open shelving is practical and stylish. It also offers flexibility as you can change items with the seasons or your mood.

3

Grange Furniturechairs,Oxford£749.99;table,andoakdining£54.99each,&Choice 2

WOOD FLOORING

HEALTHY GREENS

stylewithfurnitureChooseclassicRetroshapelydesignsamid-centuryforlastinglooks

Wood flooring is a practical choice for kitchen and dining areas. It’s hard-wearing, looks good, and with the vast array on offer, you can choose light, dark or shades in between. Parquet, herringbone, chevron, straight planks – how you lay them can add more interest to your scheme. Engineered wood and vinyl options offer this look for less.

4

OPEN STORAGE

2

Including a variety of light sources is practical for a kitchendiner. Essentially creating pools of light (and evening atmosphere), it not only illuminates what you’re doing, but also helps zone certain areas. Mix ceiling spots, pendant lights over the table and worktop task lighting for flexibility. Dimmer switches are worth investing in.

Green kitchens are a big trend right now, and it’s easy to pick one that speaks to your personal style. Plus, you don’t need to go all out with the colour. Use it on cabinetry, or pick a striking green wallpaper for a statement feature wall.

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1 LIGHTEN UP

all £52.50DDesignDunelmPatternpatternedtile,perm2,TheLondonTileCo. British stone grey matt tile, £49.99 per m2, CTD Tiles 3 1 4 5 REALHOMES.COM Walls£43.95MapleAntoinetteParquetJazzwoodtiles,perm2&Floors

3. We did the kitchen and dining area at the same time so I could create a cohesive look that flowed between the two areas. I’ve always loved the Beverly Hills Hotel aesthetic, and wanted to reflect this in the space with lots of pale pinks and lush greens.

pinkterraceBuyer,Homeware@the MackayNatalie

Elements Alva table, £469; Alva chair, £149, and dining bench, £169; Tollose fivelight ceiling fitting, £115, and Olle rug, from £39,

4. My favourite thing about the dining area is that it flows on from the kitchen, which means I can be present with guests and family when I’m cooking.

Using bench seating around the table, rather than a structured dining chair, will give an immediately relaxed feel to a dining area – while keeping the space feeling open with their low design and no back to block views. Handy for squeezing lots of bottoms on at once at mealtimes – add softness and colour with cushions.

5

CASUAL DINING

5. The layout definitely works for us, we’re using the space more wisely now. One day I’d love to extend the kitchen and create an open-plan living and dining space but that’s just a dream for now!

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1. With us having a galley kitchen and no dining room, we just had a tiny table for two. This was fine for a while, but when our daughter came along, we decided we needed somewhere to eat as a family – I was also dying to host a Christmas dinner!

2. The renovated kitchen has become the hub of the house, it’s where we entertain, do crafts with our daughter and it’s become my workspace (and it’s a stones throw from the fridge for those 5pm G&Ts!)

wowyourMakefriendlyKitchen-diner-flooringastatementwithflooringforsomeunderfoot

90 treasure HIDDEN Homeowner Denise turned a tired old house into a space packed with personality, warmth and colour for herself and her guests to enjoy STYLINGANDWORDS PARSONSSHARON PHOTOGRAPHS GADSBYRICHARD EDITSHOPPING SMITHEMILY PROFILE The owner Denise Brough, a sales manager for a homeware company based in Devon. The property A three-bed 1930s house in Dartmouth, Devon. Project cost £44,980 Renovated period house

Footstool and sofa, Loaf. Walls painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball. Artisan Turkish rug, sourced at Maison & Objet Trade Show, Paris. Table lamp, Nkuku. Illustration of JimNewcastle,Edwards

The sitting room is bold and opulent. ‘The overall look is a bit bohemian with the dramatic feel I wanted to achieve,’ says Denise.

‘When we ripped up the FloorthechangerwasDenisebrowntreatedconditioninunderneaththewecarpetshorriblehere,foundthatfloorboardsweregoodenoughtobewithdarkfloorvarnish,’says.‘Thisarealgameinsettinglook.’ varnished in Dark Oak, Ronseal. Table and bench, Nkuku. Mirror, from Maison & Objet trade fair

a stylish spot for relaxing, Rattanentertaining.alfresco

F

or many years, Denise Brough walked past the house she now calls home without even noticing it. Built on an incline with windows perched above street level and the front door sited at the back, the three-storey detached house is unassuming, standing quietly in the busy riverside town of Dartmouth in Devon. Inside, though, it’s a very different story: the house sings with jewel-box colours, bold ideas and assured design touches. Six years ago that wasn’t the case. ‘I was looking for property in the area that I could really put my stamp on,’ Denise says. ‘Many of my friends have taken on “doer-uppers” with fantastic results, so I wasn’t phased by a renovation project. As soon as I walked into this place, I thought, “Oh, hello…” The townhouse had been a holiday rental for some years and every room was bland and tired. ‘In a way that helped because it was like a blank canvas, and it made it easier to envisage what could be achieved,’ Denise says. ‘Nevertheless, there was much to consider. The main entrance opened into a tiny hall with a dated bathroom and two awkwardly configured bedrooms. Stairs led up to the first floor where the sitting room and kitchen were linked by a huge arch, meaning valuable wall space had been lost on both sides. On the third floor, meanwhile, was a large attic bedroom with an en suite bathroom, all ripe for an update.

93 #SOREALHOMES REALHOMES.COM/RENOVATIONSATHOMEYOURTRANSFORMINGONADVICEANDIDEASMOREFIND

By the following spring, Denise had not only settled happily into her unique and stylish home, but was also ready to welcome her first Airbnb guests. ‘I still love it when people arrive assuming that the inside will be as low-key as the outside –and then seeing their reaction when they walk through the door,’ she laughs.

sofas and storage trunk, Garden Trading. Cushions and throw, Weaver Green. Outdoor rug, The Unnatural Flooring Company

‘I found the sense of space hugely appealing –there was even a little roof terrace, which I loved,’ Denise says. She could also see that the ground floor, once reconfigured, would make the perfect self-contained space for guests and the Airbnb venture she had long been considering.

By February, enough progress had been made for Denise to move in properly and bring her punchy decorating ideas to life. ‘I love colour and I didn’t want to play it safe,’ she says. ‘In the sitting room, the starting point for the entire scheme was the bright yellow sofa from Loaf, and I went from there with a palette of gold, red and deep blue.’

Above The roof terrace – above the car port – is accessed directly from the kitchen.

Simple furnitureolivewithsheltersidesscreensplank-woodacrosstwoofferbothandprivacy,outdoorlights,treesandrattanmakingit

In the adjoining kitchen – now linked by a large open doorway - a different vibe, influenced by Denise’s love of cooking, takes precedence. ‘I wanted a casual, slightly industrial look,’ she explains. ‘A big range cooker was non-negotiable, and I didn’t want wall cabinets.’ Instead, she displays colourful tableware, ceramics and glasses on rustic pallet board shelves with bespoke iron brackets, with utensils hanging on an iron rod underneath. ‘Nothing is “styled” as such,’ Denise notes. ‘When friends ask where things go, I say, “Put it wherever you like!”. It keeps things interesting.’

With a careful eye on budget and timing, she got a recommended builder lined up before she’d even completed on the house, so that work could begin straight away. The project was tackled in two stages – the two upper floors first, followed several months later by the guest suite below. ‘I stayed with a friend while the initial renovation was being carried out, although I did host a New Year’s Eve dinner party here amid all the disruption,’ she laughs. ‘I only had a cooker in the kitchen and had to wash up in the bath, but it was worth it!’

Finally, the transformation of the ‘guest quarters’ on the ground floor took shape. ‘I wanted a large welcoming entrance hall to replace the poky corridor, so we reconfigured the layout to make it work,’ explains Denise. This meant pushing the awkwardly-shaped walls back to create neat double bedrooms, which in turn made the hall much bigger. A new bathroom suite completed the overall space, all finished in a shipshape monochrome scheme to reflect the seafaring surroundings.

collected over the years mixed in with newer items, all on show to be fully Kitchenappreciated.’ base units, Howdens. Range oven RecycledRangemaster.,plastic rug, Weaver Green

Denise designed the kitchen herself, combining base units and oak worktops with open shelving. ‘This is very much a practical, working space, so I wanted everything I use to be easily to hand,’ she says. ‘I also enjoy having the things I’ve

95 REALHOMES.COM FLOOR FILLER A well-laid rug will bring colour, comfort and cosiness to any space Clockwise from left The kitchen walls are painted white, but tongue and groove panelling in two areas adds a subtle point of Thethemetroalongdifference,withthetilesbehindrangecooker.woodentrug, used for herbs, is from a Resco’sinstitutionDartmouth–Alfcafé. Shelf unit, Nkuku repellentEasterndelightwaterrug,£49,WilkofromAndaluciaZahararug,£130,WeaverGreenrug,Elisabeteorientalfrom£50,Nextrug,Runadistressed£119,Housecosy BEFORE

Chairs, Habitat. Basket, Nkuku

97 REALHOMES.COM timelineProject BOUGHT HOUSE DECEMBER 2016 RENOVATION OF TOP FLOORS BEGINS DECEMBER 2016 NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY AMID THE RUBBLE DECEMBER 2016 MOVED IN FEBRUARY 2017 LOWER RENOVATIONFLOORBEGINS JULY 2017 FIRST GUESTSAIRBNBARRIVE APRIL 2018 RENOVATION COMPLETE AUGUST 2017

Sanitaryware Bathstore. Trolley unit, Nkuku. Hamman towel, The White Company

Right The bathroom is smart metalindustrial-styledisplayedbathroomwithmetrofloorafunctionalandwithchequerboardandblacktiles,softenedgreeneryandessentials,inanunit.

Left The kitchen has space for a little pine table, inherited from an aunt, and simple folding chairs. ‘This is usually where sayswhileagravitatefriendstoenjoyglassofwineI’mcooking,’Denise.

own little sanctuary, and probably my favourite room in the whole house,’ she admits.

Up in Denise’s airy attic there’sbedroom,asense of calm and light, with different textural finishes – bare brick, soft velvet, ethnic cushions, rustic baskets and faux fur – adding layers of interest. ‘It’s like my

Chair, Made. Bed, John Lewis & Partners. Lamp, bedside table and cushion, Nkuku

be replastered, but Denise liked the bare brickwork so much, she told her builders to leave it as it was.

99 REALHOMES.COM

Stairs from the middle floor lead directly to Denise’s bedroom and en suite.

originallyremoved,ondamagedWhenplasterthewallwasitwasgoingto

Baskets and lamp, Nkuku. Storage unit, Ikea

This ground floor bedroom has a smart nautical theme with striped linen, throws and hangingalternativeframeartwork.sea-themedTheladderisagreatforclothesina

guest room, if space is at a premium.

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Bedlinen, H&M. Throw, Ikea. ‘2’ cushion, ladder, lamp and table, Nkuku. Map Willow & Stone

Our home is our biggest asset – and expense – so make yours pay its way by sharing with others. Jennifer Morgan reveals how…

homefromMakingyourmoney

Not using your driveway? Rent the spot for audience members going to festivals or events, or even needing it to hop on a train or plane. Promote it through sites like YourparkingspaceorJustpark.

Teach an exercise class

A

Take AllotMe (allotme.co.uk), which allows you to list your garden for would-be vegetable growers to rent, launched in May 2021. ‘Most of our hosts don’t have the time to tend their gardens,’ says its founder, Conor Gallagher. Dubbed ‘Airbnb for gardens’, it’s an alternative to growing lists for allotments.

stylist/creative director, so I knew what was involved and what was needed,’ says Pippa. ‘You need to be prepared to see your home in absolute chaos, and items being moved and not put back in the right place – it’s not for the faint hearted.’

But the financial gain makes up for the inconvenience. ‘The extra money goes towards holidays and other projects. Our renovation cost us a lot of money, so it’s great to know the house has become an asset,’ says Pippa. ‘If you’re thinking of doing the same, then you’ll need to market your location, either on social media or through a location-hire website; check your insurance covers you and tell the agency about any damage immediately after a shoot so they can recoup the costs with their client.’ It’s not one for every home, ‘shoot spaces need lots of natural light and space and so openplan or large rooms are ideal,’ says Pippa.

There’s never been a better time to make money from the resources you have at home, and while these additional revenue streams might not make you rich, they are a great example of ‘sharing is definitely caring'.

s the cost-of-living crisis deepens and life at home becomes more expensive, we are looking at ways of making our personal spaces pay for themselves a little. While some schemes – such as the Government’s Rent a Room – are well-established, offering up to £7,500 tax-free each year, or well known, like Airbnb, newer money-making ones are gaining momentum post-pandemic. There are plenty of inventive ways to embrace this ‘sharing economy’.

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The ‘host’ can arrange bookings for times convenient for them and set an appropriate fee, which is paid via the app. There’s the option to make additional income by charging above the basic costs for the charger rental.

Find the profit potential in spare spaces and energy

Offer parking

extra5littleearners

Sell back electricityyour

Inside, we’re also seeing the growth of desk and office space being rented out as more people work from home. Parisian startup, OfficeRiders (officeriders.com) aims to provide a completely new work experience through its marketplace. It works by connecting companies looking for settings for their meetings, events, ad and movie productions or photoshoots to hosts sharing their homes, apartments, lofts, mansions, boats, cafés, etc. during the day at a time when they are often empty. With over 3,000 listed spaces across France, the company has plans to expand in big European cities, where the property market is tight. ‘It allows me to increase my income while avoiding a costly and time-consuming commitment to changing sheets, offering new towels and leaving my flat for several nights,' says Paris-based host Alain. 'By choosing to host professionals during the day, I can work in another part of the house, giving them privacy, and in the evening it’s just us.'

If you have an EV charge point, why not share with fellow electric car owners. Community charging involves sharing home electric vehicle charge points and enables motorists with driveway chargers to rent them out to neighbours who can’t have a charge point of their own. The matchmaking, bookings and payments are all taken care of via an app, Co Charger. It’s the third largest and fastest-growing UK charging network, bigger than BP Pulse, Tesla and ChargePlace Scotland, according to Zap-Map. As Joel Teague, CEO of Co Charger says, ‘There are currently just over 30,000 public chargers available but more than 400,000 home chargers. If 10 per cent of charger owners share them with neighbours, we can double the number of available chargers overnight – without a single hole being drilled or a penny of public money spent.’

Encourage others to whip up everything from delicate French macarons to mouthwatering cakes in the comfort of your kitchen. A trend that took off in lockdown and is set to continue, you can do it for select groups, or a wider audience online,

Joe Wicks got the nation doing PE from his living room during lockdown, but many teachers, particularly of yoga, already offered their at-home workout wisdom via websites or Youtube. There are online videos advising how to set your classes up, too.

Pippa Jameson, stylist and author of The Sensory Home (thesensoryhome.com) rents out her home as a location house for magazines, TV commercials, films and even music videos. She’s been doing so since 2018, with her home listed as Half Acres location with the agency Shoot Factory (shootfactory. co.uk). ‘I work in the industry as an interior

If you're producing your own electricity through Solar PV Panels and have surplus, and if you're on the National Grid, you can sell it back to your energy supplier. For details, look up Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) at gov.uk for details of the scheme.

Run a schoolcooking

If you are earning rental income from your home through renting out space – inside or out – then you can get up to £1,000 tax-free each year on property income – you don’t need to tell HMRC or declare this income on a tax return, but you should keep a record.

Cleo Wood, owner of holiday, wedding and retreat venue Manoir La Croix de La Jugie (lajugie.co.uk) is a big fan of home swapping, having done it for eight years. ‘I worked hard to create a home and I wanted to make the most of it,’ she explains. ‘We’ve been lucky to visit some stunning places and experience them as locals do. Some homes we visit would be rented out for upwards of £10,000 per week, so I’d consider that a good saving! There are membership fees for swap sites, (about £100-£200 per year). You need to relax and trust that others will treat your place how you’ll treat their's. If you’re swapping at the same time, you have the guarantee of being in someone else’s home while they’re in yours.’

Rent your garage for storage Garages aren’t always used for parking cars, and if yours isn't full of forgotten junk, you could rent it to others who need it. Market it on sites like Stashbee.com and become a storage host.

‘One in eight households nationally have no garden, rising to one in five in London. AllotMe takes a 15 per cent fee on monthly rentals that are listed for a price,’ explains Conor, but you can also list for free. ‘You get to decide who to accept or decline onto your plot, after that, you receive monthly rental, and you get to watch your garden flourish,’ says Connor. ‘AllotMe also has a Garden Guarantee that allows for claims of damage caused by any renter in case of any issues.’

speed of any comparable product on the market — that means no frustrating and costly hold-ups on site. There is also free on-site delivery of frames and glass available.

The market-leading Korniche lantern, precision engineered for strength from aluminium, combines exceptional aesthetics with leading-edge thermal properties: our best performing glazing has a U value of just 1.0, putting it on a par with triple glazing.

The Korniche lantern can be manufactured in square or rectangular configurations up to 6x4 metres, making it suitable for any flat roof extension; it can also be specified in any bespoke RAL colour and a range of tints.

Another firm favourite with renovators and extenders, the bifolding door pulls in massive amounts of natural light and seamlessly opens up the garden to the home.

Whether you’re looking to bring light in from above or create a seamless flow between house and garden, Korniche’s award-winning products fit the brief Lighting the way

What’s more, both products comply with new regulations for ventilation, security and thermal performance when installed with laminated glass. For more information, and to find your nearest supplier, visit korniche.co.uk, or check out @korniche_systems on Instagram or go to facebook.com/kornichelantern

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The Korniche bi-folding door delivers quality at keen prices, thanks to its exceptional engineering and aluminium build. Fine sightlines and PAS24 security are standard, due to its FUHR locking system with lockable shoot-bolt handles and YALE 3-star anti-snap barrel with a £1,000 moneyback guarantee. It also has styled colour-matching handle sets for both traffic and shoot-bolt handles, with a choice of brushed stainless steel and chrome options.

Both the Korniche bi-folding door and the Korniche lantern offer the easiest and fastest installation

ADVERTORIAL

ith a proven ability to bring natural daylight flooding into any interior, the roof lantern is a staple of extensions and renovations, especially above kitchen and dining areas.

Icing on the cake

D

ALL IN THE DETAIL

tired loft space into a sweet and stylish girl’s bedroom

Deni Christie combined colour with pattern to turn a

Deni thought the existing room felt ‘a little vacant’ and lacked its occupant’s sweet personality, so she naturally called on Lily and her parents for some ideas and opinions. Rearranging the layout and incorporating bespoke seating and storage has produced a bedroom that’s not only functional, but stylish enough to grow gracefully with its occupant. For Deni, there was a secret to the success of this project, ‘it brought out the little girl in me,’ she says.

esigning a room that combines fun sophisticationwithcan often be a challenge, not least when it’s for a nine-year-old. After seeing one of interior designer Deni Christie’s previous projects, the owners of this 1950s semi, Ben and Lauren, asked her to help them give their own home a fresh look – and it was their daughter Lily’s bedroom that proved the project’s icing on the cake.

Dream bedroom makeover

‘The furry cushions and fluffy pendant shade are two of the obvious elements that add a sense of fun, which is definitely part of Lily’s personality. In the case of the cushions, they also offer a tactile dimension. A more subtle way of adding a playful aspect from a design point of view was incorporating the geometric shapes through the furniture, accessories and wallpaper pattern in order to align with the contrasting shapes and angles of the room. Other touches that help to pull the scheme together include the pink accents on the drawer fronts of the bedside tables, and the understated white in the lampshades.’

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‘I think the two colours work so perfectly together. This particular green with a slight blue undertone is so cheerful and at the same time therapeutic and soothing, perfect for a bedroom – and the pink is just so cute, especially for a young lady’s room. I feel the different hues accentuate each of the other’s qualities. Getting such a good colour match can take a lot of planning and preparation, plus many hours of searching for the right materials and items.’

107 PROFILE THE OWNERS Ben and Lauren live here with daughter,theirLily THE PROPERTY A 1950s detachedsemi-houseinRichmonduponThames PROJECT COST £5,700

COLOURCOORDINATING

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HANDY STORAGE

‘It’s important to make use of every inch of space available, and having an abundance of drawers is another way of keeping a young girl’s room clutter free – not an easy task at the best of times. The inclusion of drawers allows for a more easily accessible use of space, and can be simply organized with just a few internal dividers. Built-in drawers create a sleek, contemporary look, with extra detailing on the handles adding to their prettiness.’

IN-BUILT SEATING

‘This seating area adds comfort and function to what would otherwise have been a dead space – it’s the ideal spot to read a book, socialise when friends come round or, in colder weather, just curl up next to the warmth of the radiator with a cup of hot chocolate. A functional radiator cover and back support was constructed with simple wooden slats. Building drawers underneath for additional storage also creates the perfect base for a generously thick seat pad, which was made bespoke in a matching pink fabric. Features such as this help future-proof the room, and will help it easily transition into a teen’s space in a few years.’

BEFORE

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shopping list

DISPLAY SHELVINGSPACE/

COSTS CONTACTS& Joinery £2,500 Interior design £1,700 Furniture and accessories £1,350 Paint and wallpaper £150 Design Deni denichristie.comChristie, Joinery Andrew Morton andrewmortonfurniture.co.ukFurniture,

‘The alcove was already there, but I suggested we block it off halfway up to create a backdrop for the new bed’s headboard and utilise the space above by creating shelving. The straight lines give a sense of order, and are a place for Lily to display and organise her books and decorative items. It also provides her with the opportunity to make a statement – namely, “this is my room and this is what I like!” ’

Walls painted in Teresa’s Green and Wevet, Farrow & Ball. Zara Shimmer wallpaper, I Love Wallpaper. Bed Modern Home. Bedside tables and faux fur rug, both Maisons du Monde. Angus bedside lamps, Iconic Lights. Window blinds, Hillarys. Seat pad and window seat cushions, Marks &Spencer. Pink Waffle blanket throw, Wayfair

WARMERSWINTER

Shut out winter chills with new hardwood shutters; a stylish purchase that adds value.

Bespoke hardwood shutters start from £329 per m2 Shutterly Fabulous

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10 STEPS TO

Time to start getting snug for winter. We look at ways to stay warm and cosy as temperatures drop

1

After a summer of leaving doors open to let breezes flow through, in winter we are all about closing them to keep the heat in. If yours are allowing draughts to leak through, block their means of ingress with some simple excluders. Easy-to-fit foam tape can be used to insulate the sides of an ill-fitting door (or window). For beneath, attach a door sweep that can also keep the worst of the winter weather out. These can be screwed or stuck on, so it’s a job you can tackle yourself. If it’s an internal door, try a draught excluder that matches your décor – then you can move it from room to room.

Get your radiators ready for action by bleeding them, or even installing new if you’re renovating a house that hasn’t any central heating. Ancona two-column in green, from £1,261, The Radiator Company

Get rad

An enduring style trend, window shutters have many practical benefits aside from the decorative. They’re excellent for improving a room’s energy efficiency, blocking the cold when the slats are down and helping to cut energy bills. They can also keep rooms cool in summer by creating shade. Shutters help to black out a room if you need total darkness for a good night’s rest (or if you sleep in the day because you work nights). Easy to maintain and clean, they’re a good investment, adding value when it’s time to sell.

Keep the cold out with our tips to windowsinsulate

2 4

Stylish shutters

Snug sleep

Updating your front door? Look for one with high thermal efficiency. An insulated core is typically found in composite doors.

A simple and effective way to stay cosy in your winter bed is to introduce some kind of bed warmer. A hot water bottle is old school, but still popular, particularly as it can be used for comfort, or aches and pains, when you’re resting at home or watching TV, and is portable enough to take with you when you travel. If you prefer an all-over heat, try an electric blanket which can be left on all night (at a lower temperature), so you’ll stay snug and warm even as the night, and your bedroom, gets chillier.

SHUT THAT DOOR

If the heat from yours is being blocked by furniture, move bulky seating forward to allow the warm air to flow freely and not just toast the back of your sofa.

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FEATURE JONESALISON

If your radiators have been off all summer, they might need bleeding before winter in order to increase the heat they emit. If they are working efficiently, then you won’t need to keep your central heating on for as long. Follow our instructions on how to do it at how-to-bleed-a-radiatorrealhomes.com/advice/

Top tip

3

Add an extra insulating layer to pipes by lagging them to prevent them freezing, cracking and bursting

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lOFTY IDEAS

Nights drawing in 6

Get your boiler serviced before winter. It’ll make sure it is working efficiently and safely. Not having it done could lead to faults requiring costly repairs or replacement, higher energy bills and even dangerous leaks.

We know the importance of insulating above our heads, but we shouldn’t overlook the need to do the same beneath our feet. Uncovered floors can be responsible for a significant amount of heat loss (between 10 and 20 per cent). The woven fibres in highquality thick carpet can trap air and keep warmth in the room, and prevent the coldness of the floor rising into the space. It is also softer underfoot than bare boards or tile. But if you want to expose the beauty of your original boards, consider a large area rug to cover any gaps.

Just like you change your summer and winter wardrobes, switch your window dressings to keep the heat in, and to create a cosier ambience. Layer up a curtain and blind together for snugness and style. Choose curtains with a thermal lining to insulate and trap the cold air between the window and curtain, preventing it from entering when they are drawn closed. Curtains can also be pulled across draughty entrance doors and back doors to prevent temperature drops between the rooms and hallway.

Top tip

5

Roll out the insulation to make sure your heat isn’t escaping through the roof. A poorly insulated home is money wasted at a time when we can ill-afford it, and the Energy Saving Trust (EST) says a quarter of our home’s heat can be lost this way. A minimum depth of 270mm is recommended for mineral wool insulation, and this could save you between £230 and £580 a year compared to an uninsulated loft, according to the EST. It also reduces CO2 emissions, and can be fitted DIY (with protective clothing).

Switch light summer curtains for heavier winter ones to make the room feel snug. Nevado Tribal fabric, £43.92 per m, Prestigious Textiles

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Alison’s top tip

Comfort underfoot

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A cheaper alternative to window shutters, blinds are also a good option for adding warmth to a rental home – and with options such as no-drill blinds, you can fit and remove them without leaving unsightly holes. A blackout thermal blind will keep light out and heat in. Make sure it is fitted to the sides so there are no gaps letting in light or draughts. Also look at cellular blinds, which are made up of different compartments that trap air as an insulator. Inspired by bees, the honeycomb structure keeps rooms warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

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Get heat where you need it with a plug-in stove style of heater. They can look just like the stoves you’d find in a fireplace but don’t need a flue – just a standard plug socket. The beauty of electric stoves like this is their mobility – you can use them wherever there’s an electricity supply, so they’re perfect if you want to make little-used spaces warm and welcoming for guests in winter, whether that’s a spare room, conservatory or even a garden room. The Everhot electric stove is made of steel and cast iron. This means that it can retain heat, so it continues to give it out even after it’s unplugged.

Take control

Swap your summer duvet for a winter one with a higher tog rating, like this Woolroom organic washable warm duvet, £239.99, which is equivalent to an 11-14 tog rating.

Mobile heating

If your thermostat is more than 14 years old, it might be time for an upgrade. Control of heating is key to avoiding spiralling bills while still making sure that your home is comfortable. If possible, only heat rooms in regular use and schedule it to just come on at times when you need it. Lowering the heating slightly can result in savings. Home designer and HGTV star Anthony Carrino recommends setting the thermostat to about 68°F/20°C while at home and to lower it to about 56-58°F/ 13.3-14.4°C at night or when you’re away.

9

An £1,399,inElectriciswherestoveelectriccangoheatneeded.stovetangerine,Everhot

Double up on window dressings for flexible light control and to Thermashadeenergymaximiseefficiency.blackoutpleatedblindsinyellow,POA,Hillarys

DROP THE BLINDS

10

SNUGGLE UP

L

If there’s room up top, it’s worth seeing whether a loft conversion could take your home to new heights

more questions such as whether you need to seek permission from the local council. While it might seem daunting initially, if you get the right team on board, you could potentially increase the value of your home by around 20 per cent – not to mention your own comfort levels. Here’s how a young couple created their dream home by taking on this project.

want to create a longer commute or school run. While building a loft extension or converting the attic room in your home will cause some upheaval, we promise it’ll pay off in the long run.

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ove your area, but need more space? The great thing about the ageing UK housing stock is that there’s often a lot of potential to improve and build on what’s already there. As a homeowner, it makes sense to look into expanding what you already have rather than moving into somewhere new. This is made more appealing if you have a family and don’t

Once you do start thinking about converting your loft, you’ll need to see whether it’s feasible to use the space that you already have or if you’ll need to adapt the structure. This will lead to

WORDS ADEDEJIIFE PHOTOGRAPHS SILVATIBOR REALHOMES.COM/LOFT-CONVERSIONTOGOHOME,YOURTOONADDINGONADVICEMOREFORCONVERSIONSLOFT

OFF THE SHELF

COST SAVINGS

An area of historicalarchitecturalspecialorimportance

GLOSSARY

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

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

CONSERVATION AREA

PARTY WALL

Works that can be undertaken on a property or garden without needing planning permission

LISTED BUILDING

DEVELOPMENTPERMITTED

A shared border wall that separates two adjoining buildings andownershipdemarcates

PERMISSIONPLANNING

Top tip

REGULATIONSBUILDING

If you’ve already got the head height, you can cut the cost of your loft conversion drastically by simply adding rooflights to an existing attic space. You might even be able to finish off the works once the builders have routed in the plumbing and electrics – why not take up the mantle and do the decorating? Another way to save is to try and keep as much as you can out of the skip by reusing elements in the build.

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

An item that’s in stock rather than made to order and customised. It’s usually cheaper than a bespoke option

a

Top level

‘Thecounts!loftconversion has allowed us to have a really luxurious and serene master bedroom suite. It’s also given us loads more storage, both for clothes and bigger things, like suitcases, that need hiding away. It was worth considering how every part of the space would work and having the granular details planned out, even if there are certain elements you are planning to add or come back to later –for instance built-in joinery. We’ve found that loft conversions often involve playing around with awkward angles, sloped roofs and little nooks that need careful and considered advance planning in order to get the best out of the space.’

Between four and 12 weeks, depending on the type of conversion.

Expect to pay from £20,000 for a straightforward rooflight conversion. For a dormer conversion, Checkatrade estimates an average cost of £45,000; for a hip-to-gable, £55,000. Costs will, of course, vary depending on where you are in the country and the size of your project.

‘James came up with a great plan for that space that hit all of our requirements. He suggested pocket doors, which are great space savers, and this works perfectly between our bedroom and en suite. We eventually ended up leaving the walk through to the dressing area as an open archway –a theme we continued on the ground floor of the house, too. James helped us gain permission for the absolute maximum width dormer we could have,

> You live in a house, not a flat, maisonette or other building;

Before you start

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‘Despite its shortcomings, we could immediately see that the house had great potential and a beautiful outlook over the park from the back of the house,’ says owner Katie Goldberg.

Top tip

> Side-facing windows are obscure glazed and non-opening. Check out planningportal.co.uk for the full guide.

GLORIOUS GLAZING

Top-down lighting can make a huge difference to this space, but don’t forget that traditional windows can also be very practical and effective. The glazing you choose will need to be suited to the space you’re going to create, so talk to an expert about which will work best for your scheme and budget.

q Are there restrictionsanyI should know about?

which was fantastic as every inch of space

> You don’t live in a listed building or designated area;

‘We were keen to create a family home that we wouldn’t have to leave unless we wanted to, and adding a fourth bedroom was a big part of that. Of course, that would also add value if we did decide to move on at some stage.

a

> The extension isn’t higher than the highest part of the roof;

> The additional space isn’t more than 40 cubic metres for a terrace or 50 cubic metres for a detached or semi-detached house (this includes any previous additions);

> The materials you use are similar to the existing house;

It’s a familiar story: a couple see a typical 1930s semi-detached home that hadn’t been touched in a long time. But despite its crumbly walls and pretty unlivable state, they know they could transform this ugly duckling into a swan. They also found that the loft was home to spiders and old wasp nests, which were moved out to make way for a new master bedroom suite.

‘Our neighbours actually have two bedrooms and a bathroom in their loft, but we very much visualised this as a master suite, so our brief to our designer James was to include a bedroom, en suite and dressing room/walk-in wardrobe, as well as lots of glazing to maximise light and the great views over the park.

q How much will it cost?

q How long will it take?

a You can usually complete a loft conversion under permitted development rights (PD), providing that:

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What you already have will in large part dictate what you decide to install, as will planning and budget constraints. If you have the required 2.2m of height, you may not need to move any walls or add a dormer, which could be the most affordable option as you don’t need to make any structural changes. You will need to install stairs, which can be a big cost.

Roof spaces with rafters are easiest to convert, whereas if you have trusses you’ll need to adapt the structure and replace them. Adding a dormer – a structure that projects out from the existing roof – can still be a relatively affordable option, offering you the room you need. Hip-to-gable structures work on pitched roofs and extend the existing slope, while a mansard, the most costly, extends the length of the roof, making a pitched form vertical and giving a lot more usable room.

Top tip

THERMAL EFFICIENCY

WHAT’S THE USE?

Since the pandemic, there’s a growing trend for home offices – but that doesn’t mean you need to dedicate an entire room to work. A smart desk can be integrated into a guest room with an en suite, creating a multifunctional space. Think about what you’ll benefit most from now and in the future: this will affect the layout you have and the electrics and plumbing that are fitted.

StructureToptip

When the loft was used for storage, thermal efficiency may not have mattered that much – but now it’s being turned into a liveable space, it needs to be a comfortable room that doesn’t overheat in the summer and isn’t freezing in the winter. It will also need to meet Building Regulations standards, which means topping up the insulation levels or introducing some if there was none. On the plus side, doing so will help you save on your heating and cooling costs overall.

Top tip

Architectural

Construction time Nine

Loft conversions can make for awkward edges and corners, but that doesn’t mean that you need to have everything custom made. Enlist a crafty joiner or carpenter to update off-theshelf items, making them look bespoke to the room.

Top tip

Access

James

Project cost

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Interior

COSTS CONTACTS& £50,000 Technologist Lai of JL jlarchitecture.co.ukArchitecture, design Katie Goldberg, theWalmingtonproject.com@85_WF, months (as part of full house renovation)

The textiles and finishes you choose will make all the difference to your space. Warm wood takes the edge off white walls that make small loft rooms look bigger but still stark. Soft furnishings such as throws and cushions, and fabric lampshades instead of metal, can help create a cosy atmosphere. Glass and reflective materials help to bounce light around the space.

BESPOKE OR STANDARD?

MATERIALS

Converting the loft will have some impact on the floors below, taking away space from a room in an area directly beneath it. This is because you’ll need to add a staircase to access the new area. These are usually placed above the existing set of stairs with the highest part of the loft, in line with the roof ridge, being the ideal position for a staircase to land in the space. If your set-up lends itself to a standard straight flight, this can cost as little as £1,000. A space-saving spiral version may start from £2,500, but if you need a bespoke set, expect to pay from £5,000.

Centre stage

Enjoy a cocktail of air and water in the shower dispensed through 16 HydrO₂ nozzles that turn the stream into bubbles. The BubbleSpa from Kelda gives an holistic experience, raining down bubbles large enough to mimic the finger tapping motion of Swedish massage techniques. LED lighting with three different visual effects enhances the experience. The shower starts at £1,490

FEATURE JONESALISON PROJECT

BUBBLELICOUSSHOWERING

Two for one

Caffeine boost

NEWS

If your bathroom is on the smaller side, it may call for compromises to squeeze everything you want in. But the new Skye is a hybrid shower bath that doesn’t sacrifice style. Made from tactile and recyclable Lucite acrylic, with its smooth angles the Skye serves up a minimalist, modern silhouette and dual use. The Skye is £1,695 from Waters Baths of Ashbourne.

Give your flooring focus by using luxury vinyl floor tiles to create patterned centres framed by natural-look tiles. Harvey Maria’s Walbrook Collection of LVTs features designs inspired by Arts and Crafts encaustic tiles from the 19th Century. The range comes in six colourways, including neutrals and heritage tones. Lay like a rug beneath focal-point furniture. The Walbrook Collection costs £52.50 per square metre.

Chasing that baristastyle coffee taste without the takeaway prices? Zwilling’s Enfinigy Drip coffee maker, £159, has been designed in Italy, and boils fresh coffee grounds to the ideal brewing temperature of 92˚C to 96˚C. It holds 12 cups – perfect for coffee mornings with friends – while the ‘keep warm’ function ensures refills still have a robust flavour and aroma.

The latest ideas, trends and essential buys for your kitchen, bathroom and renovation

Ray of light

Claremont in bronze and fluted glass

Bright spark

perfect for lighting bedside Theypairslights.fixedcombinationsrangesmallArchitecturalmirrors.orcreatingreads,cosycornersframingbathroomCorstonDetail’swalllightshas56ofandhangingUsesingly,inorevenoutside.cost£86.40each

Malvern in polished nickel with Basalt Grey shade

The Hamlet Solution 5 stove in Flamingo, from £759, Arada

We love the bright and bold colours of Arada stoves, which makes them stand out even when there are no flames to catch the eye. The Bold Edit offering includes Raincoat (yellow), Miami (blue), Flamingo (pink) and Peapod (green), making the stoves the perfect fit for a vibrantly modern or rich maximalist scheme. Available in classic to contemporary styles, they can be framed by a fireplace or made into a solo statement piece.

Transform plain glass in minutes, and for just pounds, by applying Purlfrost’s latest launch – reeded glass film. The fluted design is an on-trend and elegant way to add subtle privacy to windows and doors, or to style up shower screens, cupboards or display cabinets. Spray the window and made-to-measure film with water, apply, smooth out any air bubbles, then admire your new-look glazing. Purlfrost costs from £16.

The wall light is

Pretty pane

antiquewallRichmondlightinbrass

Primrose in bronze with BasaltshadeGrey

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Richmond in bronze with flutedshadeglass

zoneComfort

Organic Modern is a new design combo that mixes Scandi and farmhouse, it incorporates clean lines, floating furniture and natural materials. This Milano Bexley vanity unit with twin countertop basins from £974.99 at the Big Bathroom Shop, nails it.

Try a combination of their favourite colours inspired by toys, artwork or bedding, which always looks great. You can be much more creative with paint effects in a child’s bedroom, too. Geometric shapes, polka dots, colourful clouds or a mountain range can all be achieved simply with a bit of masking tape and home-made stencils. For step-by-step instructions on how to get these looks, see our ‘How To’ videos on YouTube.

Get a bespoke look in your kitchen and save money by mixing materials for your worktops. Make a focal point of your island by covering with concrete mixed with colour powder pigments to a shade of your choosing. This hard-wearing surface has visible flecks for textural interest, while the pink-tinged colour is pastel perfection. Woody’s Polished Concrete worktops start at £800 per square

The best colours for a more grown up living space are ones that help us feel relaxed after a busy day. One combo that always does the trick are soft greens with plaster pinks, like Dulux Heritage Olive Tree and Powder Pink. Then add flashes of stronger, rich and variegated greens in houseplants and accessories. Split the room in thirds, using the green on the lower third and the pink on the walls and ceiling. You can have deeper shades in the bedroom for a more sophisticated, sensual look. If you like that idea, try colours like Waxed Khaki and Potters Pink.

concreteClassymetre.

Natural style

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Expert advice

Q

Marianne Shillingford, creative director for Dulux (dulux.co.uk) reveals clever ways to use colour in every room

Separating our rubbish into what is recyclable and what’s not is an essential fact of domestic life. EKO bins are in different colours, making it easy to know where to put your plastics and where to put your dinner scrapings. The slim interlocking Morandi Touch bins come in shades to complement your kitchen. They start from £29.99.

What’s the colour/effectbestin a Akitchen-diner?

q What’s the colour/effectbest in a grown-up space?

A

In an open-plan kitchendiner you need colours that stimulate the taste buds and conversation with friends and family. Try using a soft, pale organic background colour like Nutmeg White or Bakers Flour and add a generous helping of juicy Orange Fizz to one or two walls in the cooking space with a dollop of Mustard Blanket in the dining area. Paint a wide band from the skirting board up the wall and onto the ceiling over the dining table – it defines the space and looks stunning.

Q What’s the colour/effectbest in a child’s room?

A

Carpets can’t work in a kitchen where you need a low-maintenance floor that can withstand spills. But, a rug is an ideal way to zone a kitchen-diner. Placing it under your table and chairs will create an inviting and comfortable place to linger over a meal. Fibre’s Sisal EasyClean, £61.20 per square metre, has a pre-applied stain inhibition treatment to help with any food crumbs or spilt drinks at mealtimes.

hether it’s curating a gallery wall with several smaller prints, or choosing one large statement canvas, displaying artwork is a quick and easy way to add some personality to your home. More of us than ever before are swapping patterned wallpaper for simple plain walls and vibrant, look-at-me art prints, and this is a trend that’s set to stay.

So head to artiteq.co.uk to find out more on how these innovative hanging mechanisms could enhance your home.

Displaying artwork

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The Deco Rail is hidden hangingsleekcornicesbehindforaandminimalsystem

ADVERTORIAL

But what’s the best way to hang your artwork? A nail in the wall can leave an unsightly hole if you choose to reposition your print, and then you have the faff of hole filler and repainting to get your wall back to normal. Heavier or more expensive pieces will need a solid mechanism that you can rely on – the last thing you want to happen is for it to fall off and smash!

Hang your art prints and canvases with ease using this innovative idea by Artiteq

artwork stand loud and proud. If you’re someone who loves to change up your interior scheme, this is an ideal choice because, once installed, you can easily chop and change your artwork as many times as you like. It’s also much better for your walls, as you won’t need to drill holes every time you want to hang a different picture. The system is designed to last for decades, making it a sustainable and more cost-saving choice, too.

The easilywallbuildisClickwall-mountedRailsystemagreatwaytoagallerythatyoucanchangeup

Artiteq is the manufacturer of picture hanging systems with a difference. There are three types of system available – wall mounted, ceiling mounted and integrated. The image above shows an integrated system – this is built into your cornices, so it becomes invisible and lets your

If you’re looking for a wall display that’s a little different, Artiteq also offers a system with integrated lighting, so this can be a way to add ambience and atmosphere to dinner parties once the sun has set. You can also find designs that are especially for more unusual displays. It’s not just art prints that can hang on the wall! From decorative fabrics, plant pots or even wall figurines, if you want to hang it on your wall, Artiteq will have a system for you.

Scan the QR code to watch a short video and find out more

PROFILE

The property

Shazia’s design brief was to create a kitchen packed with innovative ideas that would stay looking clutter-free while being practical for a young family.

The owners Shazia andhusband,(@three_dragons_in_e11),Hemmens,acompanydirector,herScott,aconsultant,theirsons,EasahandIdirs

Kitchen, worktop and brass kickstand, both Bluecrow. Kitchen painted in Obsidian Green, Little Greene. Pendant lights, Spark & Bell. Flooring, Havwoods. Walls painted in Strong White, Farrow & Ball

130 STYLINGANDWORDS BRADYMAXINE PHOTOGRAPHS HOLMESBEE

A four-bed 1930s terrace in Wanstead, East London Project cost £192,000

Fed up with their outdated 1930s house, Shazia and Scott Hemmens took drastic action to turn it into a stylish family home

Calm & collected

Renovated period house

As part of Loud Architects’ design, large bi-folding doors were installed across the back of the house. Rather than go for more expensive slim frames, they went for a less expensive option to save money, which was put towards the bespoke kitchen.

Visofold 1000 bi-fold doors, Forma. Outside tiling, Topps Tiles

‘We chatted about our “musthaves”. We wanted innovative design but also a practical space that would be child-friendly for our two boys. We wanted a kitchen that opened onto the garden, a social dining area and a snug area for movie nights. Once Kate had the measurements of our house, she got to work on the plans.’ Step

‘During lockdown, the house felt suffocating and it became obvious that we couldn’t live like this anymore. It took us a while to secure a remortgage to pay for renovations, but eventually we managed to secure the funds to create a better home for us all.’

BEFORE

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DATED DÉCOR

‘When we moved into our terrace in 2008, we inherited the traditional 1930s layout, including a small kitchen, a separate dining room and front living room. The décor hadn’t been touched since the 1990s and it had mahogany windows and red feature walls, so it felt very gloomy. The floorboards were rotting in places and the house was poorly insulated – we were always freezing. We were focused on starting a family, so lived with it for 13 years.

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1Step 2

‘I’m an active member in local community groups and I saw Kate Clare from Loud Architects had posted in one advertising her services. She offered a complete design package, including an interior design service. Kate made her costings transparent and offered to adjust her designs to fit within our means, as we had to stick to a strict budget.

hen our homes meet our needs, they can bring us ultimate joy – but when they don’t work for our busy lives, they can bring unwanted stress. This is the lesson that Shazia and Scott Hemmens learnt during lockdown, when they realised their house was letting down their family. Their home felt cramped and claustrophobic, so they rejigged the ground floor layout to transform the kitchen and restore a sense of calm. Shazia reveals how they raced to finish, ready to host a family Christmas.

CALLING IN THE PROS

COSTS CONTACTS& Build work £120,000 Kitchen and appliances £40,000 Professional fees £11,000 Furniture and decoration £10,000 Flooring £5,000 Bi fold doors £4,000 Lighting £2,000 Architect Kate Clare of Loud Architecture, 020 3488 loudarchitects.com4199, Construction Forma London, 01992 578664, forma.london Kitchen Bluecrow Joinery, 01480 832489, bluecrowjoinery.com A range cooker with two ovens and a grill is perfect for cooking large family meals. The brass shelving was made by the kitchen company. Range cooker and extractor, Rangemaster.bothBrass wall lights, Pooky

WORK STARTs

‘Although living on a building site for months on end wasn’t ideal, the end result was worth all the disruption. We got our home back for Christmas, and we had the best time hosting our extended family. The central island is where we all gather during family get-togethers. And during quiet moments, I love nothing more than perching on a bar stool with a cuppa, soaking in the view over the garden.’

Right Picked up over the years from travels, the walls are filled with artwork by Pakistani and Indian artists.

‘My neighbours had warned me that planning approval can be tricky to obtain, but after a few tweaks to the original design, it was granted! Kate sent out our plans to tender to several building firms. We couldn’t afford to move out and struggled to find a build team that’d be happy with us living on site. Luckily, Mark Smith from Forma London was cool with this set up.

FINISHING TOUCHES

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3Step 4Step 5Step

‘By the end of September, the bi-fold doors and skylights were fitted, and the electrics installed. In October, the plastering and painting was completed, and the underfloor heating and herringbone flooring fitted. By the end of the month, our bespoke kitchen units were slotted into place over a period of three days.’

‘I’d ordered our furniture to arrive early November, so for a few weeks we were living among boxes. Buying everything online was stressful because it was difficult to visualise how things would look in an unfinished kitchen. Luckily, we only had to make a small alteration to one of the light fittings.

HIRING TRADES

‘In July 2021, our site manager set up office in our garden, and his team made us a temporary kitchen in a corner of the hallway. I was washing dishes in the bath but we saved thousands by staying put. Each week they’d update us on the build progress and submitted monthly financial reports, so we could keep track of the spend.’

Art work by HateCopy, Shehzil Malik, Amita Sher-Gil and Dave Buonaguidi

‘Our build went really smoothly; by mid-July, the dining room fireplace was knocked out and flooring ripped up. In late August, they’d dug the external foundations. The only delay we had was when bad weather prevented the poured concrete from drying out.

Sofa, Swyft. Tassel cushions, Graham & Green. Rugs, Made. Coffee table, Cox & Cox

Originally, this area was the dining room, which has been transformed into a cosy snug space for the whole family to use.

Create a seamless flow from room to room by using consistent flooring throughout the hallway and rooms leading from it. This herringbone design is not only beautiful, but vinyl is hard-wearing and durable. Luna 595 Marilyn vinyl, £37.99 per m2, Carpetright

Exterior front door makeovers are a fast track way to increase kerb appeal. But upgrading the internal side can be a game changer for your hallway’s look and feel. Door in Creme de la Rose and lower wall in Rebel matt emulsion Walls & Ceiling collection, from £18 for 2.5ltrs, Crown

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Create the ultimate in welcoming sanctuary vibes for your entranceway by utilising cool colourways, savvy storage and showstopping flooring

Top tip

No matter what their scale, creating a showcase hallway that blends good looks and practicality is achievable with the right storage and carefully curated décor. Don’t be afraid to push boundaries either. Experiment with bolder colours or patterns – since this is a transitional space you can be more daring in your designs.

If your hallway has limited natural light, choose clear glass or pale shades to maximise illumination together with warm white light bulbs

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LET’S TALK… Hallways

Since this is where those famous first impressions are made, having a handsome staircase and well decorated hallway are key when buying a property too. ‘Staircases can add an instant wow-factor to an entranceway within seconds of walking into a home,’ says Simon Tcherniak, of bespoke furniture makers Neville Johnson.

FEATURE MORLEYANNA

e all want to feel a sense of calm and happiness when opening our front door, so our hallway interiors have a lot to live up to. Setting the tone for the rest of the house, this essential and muchused thoroughfare needs to be a clutter-free space that can comfortably handle all the essentials we throw at it.

If you have a large entranceway, lighter wall colour choices will make for a bright, airy feel. Justyna Korczynska, Crown colour expert, says: ‘Tones of white will be a suitable colour for a bright hallway and can look super stylish, especially if you paint woodwork something like a pale grey to give definition. However, hallways are often small and narrow areas so picking the ideal tone for these needs extra consideration.’ Patrick O’Donnell of Farrow & Ball adds: ‘This space can feel like a stumbling block for many people, and is often poorly lit and narrow. Embrace the situation and go for a dark wall colour, which creates a sense of drama and opulence. One caveat: if the rest of your home is very neutral or tonal, avoid too dark or contrasting a hue. Instead, try a slightly darker shade of your chosen colour family.’

Displaying artwork up the staircase gives a focal point and a sense of identity to this large expanse of wall. Use matching frames for a uniform look or create a gallery wall with a mix and match approach. Prints, £60 each, Tom Pigeon

Freshen up

Coat and shoe storage is a necessity for a functional entrance space, so invest in solutions that organise these essentials. Visby shelf wall light, £52; Fulton open wardrobe, £189; Olle rug, from £39; Lokke framed prints, £35 for two; Cork boxes, from £10, and Olive matt emulsion, from £17 for 2.5ltrs, all Dunelm

While I knew I wanted to paint our stairs, bannister and spindles black, I found choosing the colours for the panelling and walls much more of a challenge. After several tester pots, I eventually found the colours I wanted and I bought a cream/greige wool carpet runner which closely matches the grey colour on the panelling.

edwardian_semi@little_ ClarkHannah

Our hallway and staircase had been painted white by the previous owners and it was lovely, but I had a real desire to make it more dramatic by repainting the staircase black.

I absolutely love period properties and around five years ago we bought a half-renovated Edwardian house in south Manchester.

I’m so pleased with the final look of our hallway, and it’s a lovely entrance to come into. It took me a while to do but it’s one of my favourite areas in our house.

My husband warned me it would be a big job as I also wanted to repaint all the walls, skirting boards and door frames. I thought it would just take a few weeks to do, but it took over eight months to complete. I had to sand all the woodwork to give the new paint a good key. This is probably my least favourite DIY job, and so messy with all the dust.

Be charmed as you walk through the door with a statement of traditional bold patterned flooring in classic tones. Ensure this ‘pops’ by keeping the rest of the scheme pared back to really let the floor do the talking. Retromix Star large patterned tiles, £48.50 per m2, London Tile Co.

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Narrow hallways need slimline furniture, and this console is perfect for storage as well as curated displays. Notgrove console table, £400; Cherington mirror, £280; Hambledon peg rail shelf, £45; Carver chair, £200; for a rattan basket, try Norton basket, £150, all Garden Trading

Top tip

Panelling in the hallway is a clever design trick that adds bundles of character to a scheme

Well grounded

Practicality is paramount in a hallway. With wet shoes and outwear bringing dirt into the house on a daily basis, choosing flooring that requires minimal effort to keep clean is a key consideration. And while carpet creates a cosy, cocooning feel, hard flooring has that mopability factor our hallways often require. ‘From engineered wood through to laminate and vinyl, hard flooring solutions are highly durable; they can help transform a space and make a design statement in the home without a large investment. These styles are particularly easy to maintain, offering a visible level of cleanliness and satisfaction with a light sweep and mop,’ says David Snazel, hard flooring buyer at Carpetright.

If you own a period home, chances are you’ll be looking for a timber front door – it’s a sympathetic choice for most properties. This versatile material can also be used for a more modern look, though, so don’t rule it out if you’re after something contemporary. One thing to note: timber does need more maintenance than other materials.

Woodwork painted in Ballroom Blue No 24 Estate emulsion, from £29 for 750ml, Farrow & Ball

Front doors

WORDS FINCHELLEN PHOTOGRAPH TAYLORMEGAN

Wow guests and your postie with a new front door – or find out how to refresh the one you’ve got – and up your home’s kerb appeal A GUIDE TO

Top tip

TRADITIONAL TIMBER

front door says a lot about a house – and it can set the tone for the rest of your scheme. A cool, anthracite grey aluminium door anticipates a contemporary scheme; a panelled, sage green-painted wooden door screams country chic; and one with stained glass, perhaps on a period home, suggests careful consideration of the property’s origins. As well as being more pleasing to come home to every day, there are financial benefits to changing your home’s entrance: ‘Investing in a new front door alone can increase a property’s kerb appeal dramatically, and also increase its overall value by 10 per cent,’ says John Evans, managing director at Stormclad.

Leftproperties.

Ellen’s top tip

A

A new front door look doesn’t mean you need to ditch your old one: a lick of paint might do the job just fine. It’s an easy, budgetfriendly weekend DIY project that will instantly uplift your exterior. You’ll need specialist paint, especially if you’re painting over materials like uPVC.

Top tip

CONSIDER COMPOSITE

toplight,panel,including£2,335door,timberEngineeredKlassicFrontapprox.plusVATdoorframeandKloeber

There’s also the practical side to upgrading your front door. ‘Front doors tend to be a property’s main entry point, making them most at risk of break-ins,’ says Victoria Brocklesby, COO at Origin. ‘As a minimum, you should ensure your front door features a multi-point lock, such as an eight-point locking system, which will secure the door at multiple points with the turn of one key. Hinges can present a weakness if they’re damaged, worn, or poor quality, so it’s best to look for hinges that pinstuds,interlockingoffersecurityasecuredhingeandasetscrew–a pin that can only be removed when the door is open. Opting for a strong and durable material, such as aluminium, will also offer increasedThermalsecurity.’efficiency is important, particularly as energy bills are set to soar this winter. ‘Doors and windows represent the biggest risk to the thermal efficiency of a home because they plug an open gap in a property,’ says Victoria. ‘The thermal efficiency of building products is measured in U-values, which rate how effectively a material insulates a building. The lower the number, the more thermally efficient the product is. As of June 2022, doors must meet a U-value of at least 1.6, so homeowners should look out for doors and windows that offer this as a minimum. At Origin, our residential door achieves a low U-value of 1.4.’

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Want the best of both worlds when it comes to materials? Composite doors offer the look of timber with the low-maintenance design of aluminium, and they’re easily customisable for a unique look. Though uPVC is low-maintenance too, and cheaper, it isn’t right for period

Below VAT,fromaluminiumResidentialdoor,£1,800plusOrigin

Read on to find out more about what to consider when you’re choosing a new front door.

A

The cost of a new front door varies depending on the material you opt for, as well as whether any extras like sidelights are included. The cheapest doors are generally uPVC, at around £300. Timber front doors can cost from around £300 to £500 (and up to £2,000 or more for engineered wood). At the higher end of the scale, composite doors cost from around £750, and aluminium from £1,000.

Before you start

Q How much does it cost?

A

Q Do I need permission?planning

This timber front door features glazed side panels for a contemporary edge

145 REALHOMES.COM

Probably not, as long as you’re installing a door similar in appearance to the original. If you live in a listed building, though, you may need listed building consent, and there might also be restrictions if you live in a designated area – so check with your local planning authority if you’re not sure.

PHOTOGRAPH ELTESPOLLY

How can I make sure my new front door is secure?

A

Before you buy, check whether your door passes the PAS 24 security standard. Factory-built door sets often do. It means that the door’s been subjected to rigorous tests to make sure it’s safe against things like hammers, crowbars and drills. In addition, choose a door with two separate locks, and consider a smart lock. These work offline so can’t be hacked into via Wi-Fi, have at least one form of back-up (so you’re never locked out), and let you grant or revoke access to others (i.e. your mum/ boyfriend/holiday cat-sitter).

Q

Top tip

more doorlookinggood-frontdesigns

Right Composite front doors, priced from £1,800, Thames Valley Windows here to see

Below Raw pivot oak front door finished in grey oil, £5,500, Urban Front

PHOTOGRAPHS ROOFING)(QMASHBEEMARK Scan

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Door supplied by Q&M Roofing

For bigger budgets and those who love ultra-modern style, an aluminium front door could be a good choice. They’re strong and durable, and come in a huge range of colours, so you can easily make a statement. They’re also pricey – but buy one and it’ll last you for years to come.

COOL ALUMINIUM

Walk this way on the flooring that can add comfort, softness and style to any space

Cosy up a room with a fitted carpet that echoes the golds, russets and ambers of autumn. The rich colour adds warmth without overwhelming, while working well with other shades. You can layer on similar autumnal tones, add cool neutrals or even contrast with inky blues. The Langham Saxony, shown here in Sunglow, is a plain carpet made from soft-feeling polypropylene that is durable, stain resistant and easy to clean – great for family homes. It costs £34.99 per m2 from Carpetright

Best for lengtheningroom

148 FEATURE

FOCUS ON

Laying a striped carpet can give the illusion of greater length or width to a space, depending how you lay it. The Malvern is a tri-tone offering from Sisal & Seagrass’ Pure Wool Stripe collection. With three different colours, you can use it as the statement backdrop (or footdrop) or match it with soft furnishings. It costs £58.50 per m2

Spills and stains are a fact of family life. Boisterous pets (and children) bring mud and rain in with them; drinks get knocked over and carelessly balanced plates tip food onto the floor. Abingdon Flooring’s bleach-cleanable Stainfree carpet collection has stain protection that prevents spills from entering the fibre, so they can be wiped up before they leave a mark. This comfortable but hardy carpet is protected by a lifetime guarantee. StainFree Wilton in Balmoral Silver, from £31.99 per m2, Abingdon Flooring

Carpets

FEATURE JONESALISON

Best for stains

▼ Best for warmth

’Think about how much wear the carpet will undergo. A hall, stairs and landing will need a far heavier wearing carpet than a bedroom. Consider if it’s a quick fix prior to moving or if it’s a long-term item? Is the carpet’s resistance to wear, the colour or the affordability most important to you? For a good quality carpet, you must expect to pay from £30 per square metre.

‘Saxony carpet has a deep pile and sensuous appearance and feel, but is prone to flattening. Certainly avoid in heavy traffic areas.

Q What is the best way to choose?

Best for a tactile feel

Q What about weaves or twists?

Being hard-wearing shouldn’t come at the expense of style, and the Primo Ultra offers the perfect combination of both. An easy-clean twist collection, the Primo Ultra is made of Excellon – a polypropylene fibre that is stain resistant and which wears very well. So you can carpet your floor in pale neutrals without worry.

A

’Twists are very hard-wearing with a knobbly, coarse appearance but a forgiving surface. Velvets have a more luxurious look and are like suede – rub the pile one way and it’ll appear to darken.

Don’t overlook how much of a wow factor a colourful carpet can add to a space when used as the foundation of an perfromVelvetAustenyourthatforyourareupworkasPickdecoratingimpactfulscheme.arichshadethebasethensimilartonesthewallssoyoudrenchedinfavouritehue,acocooningfeelalsoreflectspersonality.Teal,Collection,£74.99m2,Brintons

‘As for style, plain carpet opens up a room and gives more flexibility for decoration elsewhere. Patterned carpet gives more colour options to match various components in the room scheme. Lighter carpets make a room look larger. Northfacing rooms tend to be colder and darker so need warm colours, while light and airy south-facing rooms lend themselves to cool shades.’

‘Loop piles (the carpet version of coir and sisal) are popular, but pet claws can unthread the loop.’

Q What carpet suits which room?

Best colourfor

149 REALHOMES.COM REALHOMES.COM/FLOORINGATITFORCARETOWAYSANDIDEASFLOORINGMOREFIND

A

A

’The hall, stairs and landing take the most wear so a carpet with 80 per cent wool content is strongly recommended.

‘In the bedroom an indulgent deep pile Saxony is soft underfoot. In children’s rooms, look at stainfree‘Ifpolypropylene.youwantthesame colour and type of carpet throughout the home, and it comes in different weights, use a lower weight in a bedroom where there’s less wear.’

Primo Ultra Bamboo, £25-£30 per m2, Cormar Carpets

Alison Jones hears how to pick a carpet from The Carpet Foundation’s Rupert Anton (carpetfoundation.com)

adviceExpert

▼ Best for robust luxury

A flat woven carpet can introduce a subtle pattern to a scheme, as well as being extremely hard-wearing. Perfect for both high-traffic areas and for bringing comfort underfoot in the bedroom. Fibre Flooring teamed up with Country Homes & Interiors to create The Contemporary Collection of wool carpets with a chevron or twill weave and recycled backing. In natural shades and bold colours, they are £100.95 per m2, Fibre

and shape and give your space a statement

designs THE EDIT

£38.95

Real tumbled travertine natural stone mosaic tile sheet, £9 per sheet, B&Q

Go DIY and save money by learning how to grout tiles

CORREVIEWNER

Groovy Jefferson blue tile, £56.98 per m2 The Baked Tile Company

Aramean porcelain tile,

m2,

Patisserie and

Lily Hex black hexagon tile, per Tiles Direct

Heritage Star white tiles, £32.70 per Porcelain Superstore

Andalucia tile,

m2,

porcelain rose

Celebrate pattern uplift look-at-me

Kitchen tiles

with these

151 FEATURE SMITHAMELIA

Winchester Manoir tile in Deco Tayberry, £4.29 per tile, Original Style

£31.95 per m2, Tile Mountain

£42 per m2, Easy Bathrooms

mint tiles, £25.91 per box, Hyperion Tiles

heated towel radiator, £269.99, Only Radiators

Indus anthracite heated ladder towel rail, £279.95, Best Heating

towel rail in brushed brass, from £247.20, Feature Radiators Ecostrad Cube iQ electric towel rail, from £289.99, Electric Radiators Direct Echo radiator in white, from £595.20, The Radiator Company

Form Standard in brushed copper, from £767 for two bars, Vogue (UK)

Terma designer

horizontal towel rail, from £224, The Radiator Centre

153 REALHOMES.COM REALHOMES.COM/BATHROOMATHUBTHETOGOINSPO,BATHROOMMOREFOR FEATURE JONESALISON

Wrap yourself in comfort after your shower or bath with a towel warmed by a stand-out heater THE EDIT ENABLEDWI-FI GREATVALUE Complete the look with our edit of the best bath towels

Midas

heated towel rail, from £64.99, Bathroom Mountain

Milano

FloBar

Naples Premium matt black straight

Aire

BDO25

Towel radiators

THE EDIT Light up ideasbedroomyourwithfordreamylightingschemes

Cinnamon single rocker switch, £29.99, Dowsing & Reynolds

Accessorise your walls with bright and colourful switches that will illuminate your room

155 REALHOMES.COM REALHOMES.COM/TECHNOLOGYATHUBTHETOGOELECTRICALS,HOMEMOREFOR FEATURE JONESALISON

Albertyne wall mounted light switch in gold, £8.91, Wayfair

Verona Range in matt bronze and antique brass, £58.16, Heritage Brass

Jung LS 990 Les Couleurs Rose Vif ‘1959’, from £69, Swtch

Varilight two-way light switch in Beryl Green, from £4.86, TLC Electrical Supplies

UNDER£5

Light switches

British Oak light switch, POA, MK Electric

Gira Esprit linoleum-plywood, from £39.94, Gira

Acierno wall-mounted light switch in red, £13.99, Symple Stuff

Wiser thermostat kit from £139.99,

Power: battery powered or connected to mains via USB plug Control: app, website and can be connected to your smart speaker. Compatible with virtual assistants.

Price: Smart thermostat wired, £120; wireless, £170

1,

■ Save energy or get your money back guarantee

Tado thermostatsmart

■ Allows temperature zoning

REASONS TO AVOID

Setup: wired and wireless options

Take control of your heating and your bills with thermostats you can change to suit you and your lifestyle THE EDIT

■ Requires you to really get to know your boiler

CORREVIEWNER

SPECIFICATION

156 FEATURE JONESALISON

Nest smart thermostat, £189, Toolstation

WundaSmart starter kit, £199.99, Wunda Group

This thermostat pairs with an app so you can remotely change your home’s temperature, create heating schedules and see your energy usage. It’ll switch off the heat if you leave a window open, warn you about system issues, and it takes the guesswork out of getting your home to feel comfortable. Once you master the set up, the Tado smart thermostat goes above and beyond to save energy with added features you won’t see on similar products, and it offers room-by-room control.

Sensors: temperature and humidity

Amazon mini,Thermostat£119,Hive

REASONS TO BUY

learning

Honeywell Home TR6-HW wireless programmable thermostat, £169.99, Screwfix

Connected wireless smart thermostat, £84.50, Somfy

Smart thermostats

■ Two 19x2400mm oak or pine dowels (this will create the ladder tread)

4 You can then feed your treads through the holes in your side sections. Sarah’s poke out 70mm on each end.

You will need:

5 Use the screws to fasten the dowels on the back side.

■

Step up in style

FEATURE SMITHEMILY PHOTOGRAPH AMOSSARAH Looking for more inspiration? See our Sunday Project hub for plenty of ingenious ideas to transform your home

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1 To start, use the 19mm spade to drill five holes 300mm apart through the middle of the dressed pine. Tape or clamp the two lengths of dressed pine together so you can evenly drill through both sides. Start from the centre hole and work your way out.

■ Two lots of 42x19x1800mm dressed pine wood (one for each side)

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Stuck for ideas this weekend? Get your DIY fix and delve right in with our quick and easy ways to update your home for less

sunday project

3 Use a sander to round off and soften the cut ends of each tread.

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What to do:

2 Saw the oak dowel into 660cm lengths to form your treads; you will need five. You will have some cut offs, or alternatively, cut your dowels longer to create a wider ladder.

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Storage that is practical and beautiful is the Holy Grail of the organised space. This DIY ladder by Sarah Amos (@sarah.m.amos) hits the brief! It’s perfect for hanging your home magazines and throws, and its slimline design makes it easy to move from room to room – or with you to a new home.

■ 19mm drill spade Drill Saw 10 8G screws 8G Sander Paint

6 Time to paint! Sarah painted the sides of the ladder in Colorbond’s Monument and left the dowels natural. If you choose not to paint the dowels, paint the dressed pine sides before you assemble the ladder – it’ll be much easier this way.

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