Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i Ideal Home

I know it’s the ultimate cliché but I can honestly say that our kitchen renovation has totally changed the way my family lives. Not only are we back to eating meals at the table (I’m ashamed to admit this was a rare occurrence before), but the new room is used for homework, games, yoga (!) and just hanging out with friends and family. We didn’t extend, but huge sliding doors gained us some extra floor area which, combined with the light that now floods in, makes the room seem so much larger. Then we stole some space from the garage to stretch the cooking zone. And sticking to my guns and banishing wall units blurs the line between kitchen and dining and adds to the open feel. “Socialising at home…

WHERE TO BUY…

HOME NOTES WHO LIVES HERE? Anna Lea-Wilson, an interior designer (fernhouse.london) lives here with husband Sam Silverman, a lawyer, plus their three children, Austin, nine, Leo, seven, and Sadie, four. THE PROPERTY A terraced 1930s house in east London with kitchen-dining-family room, living room, utility, four bedrooms (one en suite) and a bathroom. THE VALUE Bought in 2019 for £623,000. THE LAYOUT Anna and Sam added two extensions; the large kitchen-dining-family room extends 4.5 metres into the garden and an internal wall was moved, taking space from the former dining room, creating a utility room. A cloakroom was tucked under the stairs, while the children’s rooms are on the original first floor, with a study and bathroom. The loft extension has the main bedroom and en suite, plus a guest…

STYLE DIRECTION“Go bold on a feature wall with a geometric wallpaper, and pick out a strong paint shade too, to complete the colour-rich look”HEATHER YOUNG, EDITOR STYLE DIRECTION“Who says colour must be bright? Find a geometric wallpaper in a rich bronze for a subtle take on the look"GINEVRA BENEDETTI, DEPUTY EDITOR FIND YOUR SHAPE What’s catching your geometric eye? Hexagons, triangles, diamonds, quatrefoils, rectangles, circles – there’s plenty to choose from. A geometric is basically a closed shape created using points, curves or lines, but they can also look three-dimensional. For impact, try a tile design in 3D. CREATE CONTRAST To make an eye-catching statement, display a large round mirror in a room that has fabrics and wallpaper with lots of pattern in straight lines, squares or rectangles. Try sitting…

What the experts say... Designers and stylists share their views ‘This is a vivacious shade of coral tinged with pink – the kind of colour that fills the room with exuberance and delight. If you want to be brave, combine with a pale pink or a nutty cinnamon. Alternatively, pair it with a neutral shade to allow Raspberry Blush to take centre stage as an accent.’ HELEN SHAW, UK DIRECTOR, BENJAMIN MOORE ‘Using raspberry is a bold decorating move, and gives the room an instant injection of vibrancy, energy and a sense of playfulness. For a classic scheme, perhaps for a dining room with rich woods like walnut, pair raspberry with a muted neutral. Injecting a colour pop doesn’t have to be full on floor-to-ceiling; consider just painting the woodwork…

PROJECT DETAILS WHO LIVES HERE? Emma and Nick Roberts and their two children, Henry, five and Clara, two. THE PROJECT This en suite is part of a renovation, turning seven studios into one family home. TOTAL COST £15,000 (excluding labour and materials) THE PROBLEM ‘We wanted to create a Jack-and-Jill arrangement with two doors’ THE SOLUTION ‘When we embarked on converting seven studio flats into a family home, we wanted both the master bedroom and the guest bedroom to have access to the en suite, as when Nick has a very early start, he uses the guest bedroom. Having two doors throws up its layout challenges but rather than tuck the shower into a corner, our interior designer, Sidika Owen (studiosidika.com), suggested centring it in the middle of the room.…

THE PROBLEM A succession of poorly connected spaces, both internally and between the house and the garden THE SOLUTION ‘We began by demolishing the existing conservatory,’ explains James Lai from JL Architecture, ‘and we replaced it with a ground-floor rear extension. It spans the full width of the property and opens out onto a new patio area, creating a clear connection with the garden. The new extension allowed us to reconfigure the ground floor plan of the property. We removed the wall between the former rear living room and the kitchen to create a generous open-plan kitchen, dining and family living space. ‘An existing side extension housed the utility room; however, it was cold and poorly insulated so it was rebuilt, with new access from the kitchen. The patterned tiles…

Amazingly, there are now around 2.2 million smart homes in the UK* boasting technology designed to take the strain out of daily life, save time, slash energy bills and entertain us, with the best examples working quietly in the background to make life easier. The industry is evolving at a pace and it’s hard to keep on top of the trends, so we’ve done the research and spoken to the experts to bring you the best new smart home trends for the year ahead. 1 SAVE ENERGY, CUT BILLS With energy costs soaring we’re all looking for ways to keep bills manageable, and while there are plenty of quick tips on how to save energy, the latest smart thermostats in particular can also make a significant difference. ‘Installing a smart…

Our kitchen is the engine room of our house. As a family, we use the space to cook, eat, work on laptops, do homework, sit with mates, and so on. It truly is the nucleus of family life. I’ve learned over the years to make it a one stop shop for all family needs. When we moved into our house, the first job was knocking the kitchen through to the next room to make it bigger and to add in a long kitchen island for eating, working and cooking. Cupboard space was another important factor as my kids seem to get through snacks faster than I can buy them. I’ve also broken some rules to make my life a little easier. Some of you will nod with relief when I…

HADLEY FREEMAN JOURNALIST & AUTHOR A Sunday Times columnist, Hadley has also penned four books. And her new house is keeping her busy! MATT SIBERRY STYLE & TRENDS EXPERT As head of home at Pinterest, Matt is well placed to spot the home trends based on what we’re all searching for on Pinterest. CHARLIE LUXTON ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER Charlie juggles his roles as director of Charlie Luxton Design, TV presenter and public speaker. KALPANA FITZPATRICK MONEY EXPERT An award-winning financial journalist, Kalpana is a regular guest on TV and radio, and editor of themoneyedit.com. FEARNE COTTON BROADCASTER & AUTHOR TV and radio presenter Fearne’s Happy Place podcast is now in its 17th season, with over 40 million downloads. THE HOME OF GREAT IDEAS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS…

TV presenter and BBC Radio 2 host Rylan Clark lives in Essex. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU DO THE SECOND YOU WALK THROUGH YOUR FRONT DOOR? Kick off my shoes, put the kettle on, put my feet up on the sofa and watch the telly! WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE TIME OF THE DAY AT HOME? I’m often out and about during the day so it’s in the evening when I get home. I love to light a candle with a really nice scent- relaxation vibes all the way. WHERE’S YOUR HAPPY PLACE AT HOME? At the end of a long day working, I love nothing more than curling up on the sofa and chilling out. I have a Joules Ashwicke sofa from DFS that has a soft velvet fabric and…

HOME NOTES WHO LIVES HERE? Interior stylist and French language teacher Mariska Oldenburg and her boyfriend Ricardo. THE PROPERTY A two-bedroom townhouse, built in 1910 in central Rotterdam, The Netherlands. A house move was not on the agenda for Mariska Oldenburg and her boyfriend Ricardo, but everything changed when they spotted this elegant period property in the heart of their hometown of Rotterdam and fell instantly in love with it. ‘When we first walked in, the sun was shining through the windows and highlighting all the beautiful, original features,’ says Mariska. ‘We weren’t really looking for a new home, but it felt as if the house had found us. We knew this was our dream property.’ The house is over 100 years old, and its high ceilings, decorative plasterwork, stained…

Growing up, one of my most vivid memories of kitchens is of not having one! After moving into a kitchenless house, my mother, who worked full time while taking care of my two brothers and I, didn’t have the resources or time to quickly whip up a new kitchen. So two pieces of equipment became the staple of the room – a Sunbeam electric frying pan and a three-tier electric steamer. In those moments, it wasn’t the intricacies of the kitchen’s aesthetic design which made it enjoyable, but the experience of cooking together. What I’ve come to realise is that kitchens are so many things beyond simply a place where food is made – they take on a bigger meaning depending on the person who inhabits them. They’re a place…

WINDOW FILM CHEAT SHEET CABINET PAINT CHEAT SHEET…

PROJECT DETAILS WHO LIVES HERE? Caro Davies and her husband Richard live here with their nine-year-old twins, Bertie and Cosmo, and two cats. THE PROJECT Building an extension at their Grade II-listed cottage in Northamptonshire. TOTAL COST £125,000 THE PROBLEM A tiny kitchen which lacked storage and had an old conservatory on the back THE SOLUTION ‘We’d lived in our listed home for about eight years before the work on the extension started. After liaising closely with our architect to prepare the plans, thankfully we were granted planning permission, as well as listed building consent. We wanted there to be a real connection between the house and the garden, so we knocked down the existing conservatory, built across the entire width of the house and added skylights to help flood…

Homes built in the Thirties, or interwar period, are surprisingly common, representing over 10% of the UK housing stock. They are more varied in style than Victorian or Edwardian homes but there are a number of really fantastic features that many of them share. Thirties properties are usually larger than those from the preceding or post-war period, with correspondingly large gardens. Semi-detached was the popular style of the period, which adds the benefits of side access and increased potential for an extension. Their width and generous plots allow for large rear additions, which can be truly transformative. When thinking about an extension on a period house of any kind, don’t be afraid of considering a contrasting style. The mix of old and new can be very successful and allow for…

Once seen as an unusual luxury, both utility and laundry rooms are now frequently sought after, as homeowners realise the benefits of having a dedicated space for storage and chores. The overlap between these two functional spaces means they’re often used interchangeably, yet they still warrant separate names, which suggests they have their own distinct functions. UTILITY ROOMS These are versatile spaces, and can be adapted to serve a variety of functions. ‘A utility room tends to cater for a mixture of uses, with designs being tailored to individual needs,’ explains Ruth Lavender, design expert at Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery (benchmarxkitchens.co.uk). ‘It’s a feature that can serve as anything and everything – including a cloakroom, pantry, general storage area, boot room or pet-washing area.’ ‘A utility room is a natural…

BEFORE YOU BUY ■ Saucepans measuring 16, 18 and 20cm are good standard sizes to aim for if you’re looking for a set. Then optionally a larger stockpot for big dishes. The other size worth considering is a 14cm milk pan; these tend to have pouring spouts but no lids, perfect for sauces, gravy, custard and hot chocolate. ■ Materials-wise, most modern pans use a combination of aluminium and stainless steel. The stainless steel is durable and low maintenance while the aluminium is light and spreads heat quickly and evenly. Meanwhile, cast iron is tough and induction friendly but takes a long time to heat up (and cool down). ■ Non-stick coatings are easy to clean and tougher than they used to be, but they do wear over time. Ceramic…

Fancy upgrading your smoke or carbon monoxide alarm? Read on for the ‘smarter’ choices out there… They might not be the most exciting pieces of home tech you can have, but smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are an essential part of any home. From the smallest apartment to the largest house, every dwelling should have a carbon monoxide alarm fitted in each room that features a fuel-burning appliance, as well as a smoke alarm ideally in every room, too (with heat alarms being a better choice for kitchens and bathrooms). When it comes to choosing alarms, you can go down the normal route with a standard model or you can upgrade to a smart version. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? Basic alarms work by detecting the presence of smoke or carbon…

“All made in the Pilgrim workshop in West Sussex. The doorknobs are made in the UK, too” Made with care Searching for storage furniture that oozes classic, pared-back style and plenty of eco-friendly appeal? Look no further than Pilgrim. Each handmade piece is made to order from start to finish by one person, furniture designer/maker Paul Staden. All of the local Sussex birch ply used is FSC-certified, then finished with a natural, vegan oil, and any painted pieces are finished with a low VOC, water-based paint. Choose from bedside cabinets, sideboards and wall-hung cabinets with plain, painted or reeded-glass inset doors. DITCH THE CLING As it’s a one-use plastic, cling wrap is extremely wasteful. It’s difficult to recycle too as it contains a plastic called polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which most…

EMPTY EVERYTHING OUT to begin with. Next, think of your kitchen drawers in the same way that you would your wardrobe – anything that you haven’t used in the last year (seasonal items aside), can go to charity or be recycled. MEASURE THE DEPTH, width and height of the inside of each drawer to help you find the right drawer inserts that will fit in the space. HOUSE FREQUENTLY USED utensils in a drawer next to the hob, and most-used cookware in a cupboard within easy reach. DEDICATE DEEP DRAWERS to heavy pots and pans. Store them with the lids on top or stack your pans and use a shallow drawer above for storing the lids separately. STACK TABLEWARE in a deep drawer. Separate each stack with a divider, to…

NEED TO KNOW Add some wonder to your walls Searching for a wallpaper that’ll bring contemporary charm and character into your home? Take a look at Little Greene’s third collaboration with the Natural Trust. Eight historic wallpaper designs feature in National Trust Papers III, all adapted and recoloured for modern interiors, and inspired by original source material found at three of the Trust’s historic houses. We love the romance of the simple roses in this floral design, which started life as a nursery wallpaper in the mid 19th century. IH LOVES... Frilly cushions Pure cotton striped cushion, £19.50, M&S What to do this month... LISTEN For more than 30 years, the iconic River Café on the banks of the Thames has been THE spot for artists, musicians, writers, politicians and…

HOME NOTES WHO LIVES HERE? Laura Magee, a fashion buyer (@deco.dwelling), lives here with her husband Jonny Kernohan, a software developer. THE PROPERTY A semi-detached four-bedroomed Victorian house in Belfast. 1“Create your own pièce de résistance!” ‘Mine is the kitchen. It reflects our personalities and shows off my love of colour and texture. I used terracotta to zone the dining area, while the existing cabinets were in good condition, so we resprayed them dark blue. My motto is revamp what you’ve got.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Lydford table, £749, Cult Furniture. Wishbone chair, £145, Where Saints Go. Bar stools, £125, Rockett St George. Dyberg Larsen DL39 pendants in Opal/Black, £109 each, Lights.co.uk 2 “Play the opposite of being safe with colour” ‘Choosing a scheme is scary, especially when it comes…

WHERE TO BUY I also have other matching furniture…

MEET THE EXPERTS LILY LUCAS, KITCHENS DESIGNER, MEREWAY KITCHENS ‘There isn’t a right or wrong way to plan a family kitchen; it’s about finding out what works for you.’ AMY JONES, INTERIOR DESIGNER AND FOUNDER, GRETA-MAE ‘The kitchen is a hardworking space and we’ve placed even more demands on it over the past decade. Before, it was hidden from view.’ KAMILA SWIATECKA, HEAD OF MARKETING AND BRAND, TILE GIANT ‘Let your walls and floors do the talking with pattern. It’s a great way to add personality to a kitchen and reflect your sense of style.’ From social space to quiet zone, cooking station to home office, a family kitchen has so many demands placed upon it today. So how can you create a space that works for you and your…

1 MAKE A FEATURE OF YOUR FIREPLACE Opt for checkerboard chic by applying a slim wallpaper border around the surround of your fireplace. It will create a statement focal point in your living room, and can be used to tie together colours and patterns from elsewhere in the room. 2 GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE Add interest to your walls by painting them in two contrasting shades, but rather than using block shapes and straight edges, get creative with curves. It might take a little prep work and planning before you get handy with a paintbrush, but the results will be much more effective and bring some energy and excitement to your space. COLOURS TO WOW 3 Update an old sideboard by adding rattan or cane panels to the front…

PROJECT DETAILS WHO LIVES HERE? Daniel Luckin lives here with his wife Jenna Ishani and their children Zac, eight, and seven-year-old Max. THE PROJECT A kitchen extension in a four-bedroom Victorian farm cottage in West Sussex. TOTAL COST £62,218 THE PROBLEM ‘The cramped kitchen was unsuitable for our growing family and socialising’ THE SOLUTION ‘Before our sons came along, Jenna and I muddled through with a 2x2.5m kitchen, leading to a small dining room, in an uninsulated lean-to. When the boys were born just 13 months apart, and, in the winter months, we all had to huddle over an Ikea play table in the living room to eat our meals together, we knew we’d outgrown the existing space. Our large garden was ideal for a two-storey extension, comprising an…

Kitchen extensions are a big job, so thorough planning is key. But don’t worry, we’re here to help with the steps to think about and the order in which to tackle them. MAKE INITIAL PLANS The layout needs to be decided early on, so all the electrical and plumbing services can be positioned to suit your plan. Think about what you want from your extension, and therefore how much space you would like it to provide. CONSIDER THE COST It’s important to consider your overall budget. Architecture firm 2pm Architects (2pm-architects.co.uk) predicts that you can expect to pay around £1,250sq m for a low-cost single-storey extension with budget fittings and specification, and no site constraints. This figure roughly doubles to £2,500sq m for a more complex structure with luxury features.…

BEFORE YOU BUY ■ Living in a damp house has been associated with asthma, chest infections and allergies. What’s more, damp and mould can also eat away at your walls. A dehumidifier might help prevent nasty spores from becoming airborne. ■ Prices range between £30 and up to £300. Generally speaking, the higher the price, the more water you’ll be able to absorb. However, paying more upfront can mean a saving in the long run as you will have a more efficient machine. ■ Desiccant models use more power than a compressor model and generally, you won’t need that range in the UK. These use a heated absorbent material to extract water from the air into a tank. ■ Refrigerant (or compressor) models are usually a better bet as they…

How to make money without leaving the house If you want to give yourself a cash boost, then the first thing that comes to mind for most people is to find extra work or start a side business. But you could in fact make hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds without leaving the house. Our money expert, Kalpana Fitzpatrick, shares her top tips and clever tricks to give your income a boost. PRE-LOVED CLOTHES When it comes to decluttering your wardrobe, there is money to be made – so is it time to sell what you no longer need? The pre-loved market is booming as consumers look to save money and the planet – meaning an opportunity to make cash. Try these free apps to get started: Vinted (vinted.co.uk). Once…

FLORA'S HOME TIP For velvety-smooth houmous, drain and wash the chickpeas in warm water and rub together between your hands until the skins come loose, then discard them Cavolo nero, sausage & ricotta lasagne SERVES 6 READY IN 1HR 30 MINS FOR THE BECHAMEL ● 700g whole milk ● 1 small onion, quartered ● 2 garlic cloves, unpeeled, squashed ● 1 bay leaf ● 1 thyme sprig, leaves finely chopped ● 1 rosemary sprig, leaves finely chopped ● 70g butter ● 50g plain flour ● Nutmeg for grating ● 50g parmesan, grated ● 50g cheddar, grated FOR THE LASAGNE ● 500g milk ● 200g cavolo nero ● Olive oil for frying and drizzling ● 350g leeks or red onions, finely sliced ● 4 garlic cloves, finely sliced ● 400g sausages…

The collapse at the end of last year of Made.com really brought home to me two irrefutable truths: first, it’s extremely hard to run a business. And second, I really don’t shop like the millennials. When it was announced that Made.com had gone into administration, the UK press was packed with articles by thirtysomethings wailing about the death of their favourite retailer. It was, one writer claimed, the reason for ‘the millennial obsession with interiors’. Another one credited it with teaching her what good taste was. Whole flats across the land, it turns out, were designed by Made.com – if you were born after, say, 1986. I, on the other hand, can actually remember 1986, which is perhaps why I never bought anything from Made.com. Or, in fact, from any…