Innholdsfortegnelse for Jun-2018 i Ideal Home

What’s on your bank holiday to-do list? Mine’s longer than usual, having taken on the role of Chief DIYer & Handyperson. Before he died, Pa Richmond handed me the key to the shed, so I am now the custodian of ancient tools and strange substances in bottles that he’s been hoarding since the Seventies! As soon as it’s warm enough to throw open the bifolds, I’ll be repainting the kitchen-diner (just rubbing off the dirty marks with Magic Eraser isn’t cutting it any more…) and scrubbing the yucky green stuff off the patio with vinegar and water (not as good as Patio Magic, but more kitty friendly). This issue is all about brightening up your interiors and smartening up your outside space, so, let us help you blitz that list…

STRIKING DESIGN Circle pedestal tile tray, £230, The Conran Shop range, Selfridges MELAMINE MUST-HAVE Tropical melamine tray, £14.95, Audenza RUSTIC INDUSTRIAL Salmi iron tray with rope handles in nude pink, £23, La Redoute SCANDI STYLE Mynsteri plywood tray, £62, Marimekko range, Amara NATURAL TEXTURE Inle rattan tray in blue, £42, Kalinko COCKTAIL HOUR GLAM Deco round mirror tray in gold mix, £39.50, Marks & Spencer FIERCE STATEMENT Tiger tray, £39, Graham and Green PEARL EFFECT Resin and wood mix tray, £22, Monsoon…

 THE PROPERTY A 110sq m, three-bedroom traditional Dutch dyke house in Abcoude, the Netherlands, built in 1900. “I love waking up to the sun shining on the white walls – our house has such a pure and warm feeling ” Jeltje Janmaat remembers, ‘I discovered this house five years ago, when I went for a jog along the Angstel River in Abcoude. At the time, Erik and I were living in a tiny place, which had crooked walls and lots of narrow stairs – unique but not practical, especially as at that time we were hoping to start a family, so this place caught my attention.’ Jeltje and Erik’s names joined more than 20 others on the estate agent’s list, but gradually other potential buyers dropped…

Pattern queen Chloe joined the company as a designer in 2003 and now oversees the in-house print team’s designs across fashion, homeware and accessories. She lives in Norfolk with her husband Jolly and their three sons, Felix, seven, Monty, five and Rufus, two, and their dog, Tuna. It took a year to renovate our house. It’s a farmhouse we bought two years ago. We took the roof off and redid it, got a new boiler, tiling, lighting, flooring… and then all the painting and decorating. It helps that Jolly is a builder who specialises in renovating old buildings! I don’t like a house to be decorated inside like a big white box. I love colour and we have loads of it throughout the house. One of my favourite rooms is…

MY GO-TO STORES… • SKYESKYNS ‘Harsh winters around here make cosy touches like its sheepskins an essential buy’ • LOCHCARRON GALLERY ‘Great for original artwork to make a house a home’ • COX & COX ‘A good range of rustic pieces, which work well for our rural location’ PICTURE PERFECT Kiko zinc frame, from £14.95, Nkuku COOL CARVING Woodland stool, £100, Alexander & Pearl SUPER SOFT Regency pink velvet cushion, £25, Habitat WOVEN BEAUTY Storage basket, £26, Sainsbury’s Home CLASSIC DESIGN Hepworth lamp, £195, Oka COSY UP Alpaca throw, £149.95, Annabel James NATURAL TOUCH Broste Copenhagen slim vases, £21 for two, Trouva LOUNGE AROUND Scott large two-seater sofa in Vintage Brown premium leather, £1,149, Made.com STYLIST’S TIP “Big, light-filled rooms need plenty of texture, so work in leather, baskets, raw…

1 MODERN BOHO HOW TO… stop a contemporary room looking bland by mixing in colours with confidence and adding touches of character for an eclectic look you can easily change up 2 DECADENT VINTAGE HOW TO… take a simple, white-painted bedroom from functional to fabulous with a bold feature wall, touches of glam gold and a perfectly dressed bed 3 CLASSIC BLUES HOW TO… play it straight with an ageless combination of blue and white – but make it modern with the right accent colours and simple industrial details…

Stylist’s Note ‘We used a pale blue on the walls of this small room, but darker denim, indigo or cobalt would be cosy and dramatic’ Nicky Phillips, Decorating Editor…

Nicola Law’s home showcases an eclectic mix of vintage pieces – and she’s made them work beautifully together Build a collection Nicola has filled her home with vintage pieces she’s collected. ‘When I moved in, all I had were the sofas. Everything else I’ve picked up over the years,’ she says. BUY THE KEY PIECES Kuba Berber rug, from £145, Design Vintage. For a similar sofa, try the Dixie, £1,395, Loaf. For a similar table, try the Live Edge slab, £950, Paul Frampton If you love it, do it! Nicola’s hallway has no less than four statement pieces, including a plaster statue she found in a local fireplace shop. ‘I’ve named her Grace Beatrice, after my grandmother,’ says Nicola. ‘I knew instantly where I’d put her!’ BUY THE KEY PIECES…

1 Invest in an outdoor sofa Turn your patio into an alfresco living room complete with plump cushions, side tables and outdoor rug, to make the most of the warm weather. Sardinia modular garden furniture, from £149; Express Lois coffee table in teal, £99; stripe indoor/outdoor rug, from £59, all Marks & Spencer 2 SET UP A DRINKS STATION If you’re entertaining outside, serve iced coolers from an easy-to-fill, Kilner-style drinks dispenser set on a wooden crate. 3 POT UP PLANTS Create your own safari-come-herb garden by potting mint, basil and rosemary in a fun geo wooden giraffe planter. Or get the kids involved and go for an easy-to-care-for grass, which they can tend to throughout the summer. 4 Make pretty containers Pick a pretty fabric that complements your napkins…

HOW LISA AND GERRY DID IT ‘The old bathroom was put in when the house was built in the Nineties and it had become tired and dated. It had glossy coral-coloured tiles and a fitted bath with a dark-wood panel. We spent some time doing research, then went to a local company, Hawk Kitchens & Bathrooms, to discuss our ideas. They arranged a site visit by their designer. We already had an en-suite shower room, so decided to just have a bath in here. We updated the en suite and downstairs cloakroom at the same time, which involved reconfiguring the plumbing. It had to be done in stages, so we were never without a loo. We kept the bath in the same place, but knocked out the archway to make…

WHERE TO BUY 1. SHOWER Adept BIR shower, £338, Mira Showers 2. PLANTER Artificial hanging pot plant, £34, The Contemporary Home 3. STORAGE UNIT Milan oak storage unit, £99, Dunelm 4. MIRROR Blanc LED mirror, £180, Bathroom Takeaway 5. BOWL Cabbage leaf bowl, £31, SCP 6. WALLPAPER Robustas Palm wallpaper, £120 a roll, Debbie McKeegan 7. ACCESSORIES Essentials Jeppe set, £14, Made.com 8. VANITY UNIT Paolo Bodega vanity and basin, £280, B&Q…

ADDITIONAL SHOE STORAGE Use flat-pack boxes to organise shoes at the bottom of the wardrobe or create a neatly stepped stack in an alcove. From £25.95 for 10, House of Bath OVER-THE-DOOR HOOKS Hang inside the wardrobe for easy access to everyday items, or outside to prep tomorrow’s outfit. £8 for four, Made.com FREE UP RAIL SPACE Dresses or suits that come out of the wardrobe only once a year? Reduce the squeeze on your clothes rail and shrink up to five garments into a hanging vacuum bag. £12.99, Lakeland THE UNDER-BED BAG Perfect for the seasonal swap – keep winter woollies protected and clear drawer and shelf space for warmer weather clothes. £25, Habitat OVERSPILL CONTAINER Pop this fabric box on a shelf; the hidden drawstring top…

1 THE CAT DETERRENT Constantly cleaning up after the local moggie can be a bit of a chore, but with this smart deterrent you can encourage unwanted animals to move on quickly and humanely. Plug your garden hose in, spike it in the lawn and the motion sensor sprayer will (harmlessly) squirt water, up to 130sq m. ScareCrow Home Defence animal deterrent, £49.98, Homebase 2 THE CLEVER PLANT POT A godsend to those of us lacking green fingers, this is a smart app-controlled plant pot with sensors and a water tank with spray jets. Choose the plant from the library on the app and the pot will take perfect care of it, whether it's a rare lily or a super-hot chilli. It will water it when needed, tell you when…

Takes 1hr 20min Serves 8-10 • 150g butter, melted • 175g caster sugar • 50g honey • 150g Greek yogurt • Zest of 1 lemon • 1tsp vanilla extract • 225g self-raising flour • 125g blueberries, plus extra to serve 1Preheat the oven to 170°C/ Fan 150°C/Gas 3. 2Whisk together the butter, sugar, honey and yogurt with the lemon zest and vanilla. Fold in the flour and blueberries. Spoon into a 25x12cm parchment-lined loaf tin and level the surface. 3Bake for 1hr 10min until a skewer comes out clean. Cool for a few min in the tin then transfer to a wire rack. 4Serve with a dusting of icing sugar and extra blueberries on top.…

Organised bliss Keep a bedroom desk area sleek and tidy by using wall space. Not only is a pegboard a smart and Pinterestworthy upgrade from a corkboard, but it can be painted to suit the room, and these spice-rack shelves and pots can be re-arranged on a whim by using pegboard hooks. For a utilitarian, Scandi vibe, keep the racks’ wood finish, or paint for a co-ordinating theme. BUY THE KEY PIECES Bekvam spice rack, £3, Ikea, painted in Sage chalky finish paint, £5 for 250ml, Hobbycraft. Pegboard, from £24.60, Amazon, painted in Brushed White chalky finish paint, £5 for 250ml, Hobbycraft. Accessories from a selection at TK Maxx, Paperchase, Wilko and Next Home…

Welcome to our home Kerry Smith and Kevin Whiteman live here with their two children. Kerry works in publishing and Kevin is an IT consultant. THE PROPERTY A three-bed, terraced Victorian house in Dulwich, London. THE COSTS They bought the house for £375,000 in 2006 and spent £101,000 on the renovations. It’s now worth £1.050m. Kerry Smith and Kevin Whiteman bought their Dulwich home 12 years ago. Reluctant to move for extra space, they opted to convert their loft into a bedroom for Finn, nine and Zeffie, six. EXPERT ADVICE After investing £1,500 in their initial design, the couple decided it wasn’t quite right and sought advice from a new architect, Darren Oldfield, introduced to them by their builder Mike Piludu from Urban Space. ‘It was hard to walk away…

As a flexible space that you can use as an office, gym, art studio or even as an annexe to your home, a room in the garden is often a convenient way of extending your home, provided you have the outside space to install one. Depending on its complexity, you can build your own or get a company to do all the hard work for you, making it a relatively straightforward project. We give you the lowdown on what to expect. DO YOUR RESEARCH First you need to find a design you like. There are plenty of options available, depending on the space you have and the style you prefer. Contemporary designs with bifolds or sliding doors allow the space to open directly out into the garden, like a summerhouse.…

SURPRISE IN STORE! MUCH TO LOVE AT MORRISONS We’ve been spoilt by great design on a budget from the likes of Tesco, Sainsbury’s Home and George Home. Now it’s Morrisons’ turn to impress. An overhaul of its home- and cookware welcomes 1,500 new products for spring. With copper accents, inky blue accessories and natural wood finishes, the Relaxed Living collection ticks all the boxes. Maisons du Monde is now at Debenhams While the website is bursting at the seams with furniture and accessories, we’ve yet to experience Maisons du Monde up close and personal, the way its native French shoppers do. But that’s all about to change, thanks to three Debenhams shop-in-shops in Birmingham, Manchester and Westfield London. So if you prefer to try before you buy, you’ll be able…

COLOUR PALETTE…

IDEAL ALL IN THE DETAILS Feather garland, £26, Smallable INDUSTRIAL MIX Melbourne table lamp, £125, Naken WOOLLY WEAVE Paloma wool rug, £245, Olli Ella HOMESPUN CHARM Bug pouffe, £85, Loaf SIMPLE SCANDI Circle teapot, £55, LSA International MINIMAL LUXE Eichholtz Montado sofa in Panama natural fabric, £1,795, Houseology PARED-BACK STYLE Around Large coffee table, £495, Clippings GREAT DEAL YEAR-ROUND DECS Bird paper bunting, £6.95, Nkuku CRAFTED FINISH Crochet rug, £47.99, Maisons du Monde COMBINE MATERIALS Torona desk lamp, £69.99, Wayfair TACTILE CERAMICS Lokji teapot, £29, La Redoute BIG KNIT Knitted pouffe, £59.99, Ideal Home range, Very GO ROUND Kragsta coffee table, £75, Ikea NICE AND NEAT Soderhamn three-seater sofa, £515, Ikea…

Neutral touch The pink tones in natural woven rattan make them perfect companions for chalky pink – plus they add a touch of the tropical, to complement sunny yellow Stylist’s Note “This golden yellow looks great partnered with white or grey, but to really make it sing, team it with a chalky pink ” NICKY PHILLIPS , DECORATING EDITOR Stylist’s Note “ If you’re not keen on hard colour contrasts, use a blurred-pattern wallpaper like this terrazzo design to soften blocks of yellow on furniture, flooring or textiles ” NICKY PHILLIPS , DECORATING EDITOR Mood changer Perfect for a bedroom, sunshine yellow is an upbeat colour to wake up to, then mellows into a relaxing golden glow in the evening light…

“We love the calm atmosphere we’ve created here. It’s minimal, but warm and cosy, too ” Rachelle Garnham, head of marketing for the fashion and shopping app, Mallzee, lives here with her husband Ben, a maths teacher. THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom, two-floor tenement flat in a Georgian townhouse in the centre of Edinburgh, bought in 2013. THE VALUE A similar property in the area would cost around £375,000. Ben and Rachelle Garnham bought this flat in 2013 and it’s their first home together as a couple. They loved the fact that, unusually for Scottish tenements, the attic was also incorporated into the property. ‘We liked the dual character of the building – the spacious, high-ceilinged living areas downstairs and the cosier, sloping design in the bedrooms upstairs,’ says…

Stylist’s Note ‘The trick is to layer dark, mid-weight and light colours, adding lots of white and pale grey so they don’t overwhelm’…

Modern boho Walls painted in Lady Char’s Lilac pure flat emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Paint & Paper Library. Atlas tufted rug, from £415, Bluebellgray. Curtains in Landscapes Tranquil Walnut/ Magenta 130959, £81m, Harlequin. Cameron sofa in Tor Midnight, from £1,199, Sofa Workshop. Aula coffee table, £299, Made.com. Metal frame chair in Stone, £699; Tripod side table, £129, both West Elm. Lingbao cabinet, £1,795, Graham and Green. For a similar chandelier, try the Amorette 6 light Versaille bronze chandelier, £299, The Chandelier & Mirror Company. ON COFFEE TABLE Large glass prism vase, £30, Rose & Grey. Broste Copenhagen crocodile candle plate, £40, Amara. Mr and Mrs teapot, £120; Mr and Mrs mugs, £35 each, Sue Pryke. ON SIDE TABLE Antique brass desk lamp, £180, Cox & Cox. Glass tea light holder,…

THE PROPERTY A three-bed end-of-terrace house in Hove, East Sussex, built in 1875. THE VALUE A similar property in the area would cost around £900,000. Take a quick tour... Looking around Nicola Law’s elegant home, it’s unrecognisable from the higgledy-piggledy property she bought 10 years ago. ‘The house was divided up into flats when we moved in and hadn't been decorated since the Seventies,’ she explains. ‘I wanted to return it to a single family home, and reinstate the period features.’ This house is positioned on a sunny street just moments from the Hove seafront. ‘Our road is filled with similar Regency houses, and they are all beautifully kept with painted fronts and black iron railings. I wanted to care for this house the same way, and to decorate it…

Traditionally the window dressing of choice for kitchens and bathrooms, roller blinds are a durable and practical solution for steam-prone spaces thanks to the fact that they’re available in moisture-resistant finishes. But that’s not the only reason why they’re such a great option. These days, roller blinds have enjoyed something of a renaissance and are now available in a huge range of colours, designs, fabrics and finishes, making them versatile enough to work in any room, from bedrooms to bathrooms, kitchens to living rooms, and with different windows, from bays to skylights. IDEAS TO INSPIRE Hillarys new collection of roller blinds features 276 stylish fabrics, including on-trend prints and pretty plains to help you create the perfect look for your home. So not only are they a practical choice, featuring…

THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom terrace, built in the Twenties, near Cardiff. WHAT IT COST Kitchen units......£15,000Appliances..........£3,048Sink..........................£350Tap...........................£248Worktop...............£4,420Flooring................£1,540 TOTAL...............£24,606 “The old kitchen looked so dark and neglected, but the new colour scheme and Shaker units make it feel so welcoming. My sons all enjoy being in here ”…

THE PROPERTY A five-bed Twenties semi in Bramhall, Cheshire. WHAT IT COST Kitchen units.............£16,500Flooring........................£1,400Appliances...................£1,439Range.........................£10,000Sink.................................£640Taps...............................£1,215Worktops andsplashback.................£4,600 TOTAL......................£35,794 “The old kitchen was cramped and dark, but I wanted a light, open-plan space that would work as the boys grew up ”…

THE PROPERTY A five-bed detached Nineties house in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. WHAT IT COST Bath......................£2,245 Brassware............£2,801 Tiles..........................£725 Washstand and basins.............£1,315 Toilet.......................£649 Mirror and wall lights................£396 Heated towel rail....£578 Chandelier..............£285 Panelling..................£715 TOTAL.................£9,709 “After a hard day, it’s lovely to relax in a candlelit bath under the chandelier! ”…

Jo Llewelyn-Davies lives here with her husband, Mark, and their children Tilly, 11, Maisy, nine, and Tommy, six. THE PROPERTY A four-bed Fifties end-of-terrace in Twickenham, southwest London. WHAT IT COST Sanitaryware...............£1,430 Shower.........................£1,869 Tiles.................................£505 Flooring..........................£350 Mirror...............................£129 Paint..................................£34 Radiator......................£320 Wallpaper....................£167 TOTAL....................£4,804 “It’s a really personal room for us. Travelling in southeast Asia was so inspiring, especially for the colour scheme ”…

DIY lemon & raspberry tarts Makes 8 INGREDIENTS • 150g fresh raspberries • 8 ready-made pastry cases*• Jar of lemon curd *Try Extra Special All-Butter pastry cases, £2.50 for eight, Asda Have your guests help themselves to their own DIY dessert – filling buttery pastry cases with tangy lemon curd and fresh, sweet raspberries. Venison & crab apple jelly rolls Takes 10min Makes 6 INGREDIENTS • 60g unsalted butter, softened • 1tsp pink or green peppercorns, crushed • 2tbsp finely chopped parsley, fennel or chives • 6 mixed grain or wholemeal rolls, split • Little Gem lettuce • 150g sliced venison, preferably smoked • Mustard and cress • Crab apple jelly or chutney, to serve 1Beat the butter with the peppercorns, herbs and some salt and use to butter the rolls. 2Fill the rolls generously with the lettuce, venison,…

TAKES 30min MAKES 8 burgers FOR THE BURGERS • 800g tinned chickpeas, drained and patted dry • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • handful each of parsley and coriander • 1 red chilli, deseeded • 2tsp ground cumin • 2tsp ground coriander • 2tbsp wholemeal flour • 1tbsp vegetable oil • 8 burger buns, halved and toasted • Rocket leaves, tomato slices, mayonnaise and ketchup, to serve FOR THE TZATZIKI • 100ml Greek yoghurt • 1tbsp lemon juice • 1 garlic clove, crushed • ½ cucumber, finely grated 1Whizz the chickpeas, garlic, herbs, chilli and spices in a food processor until finely chopped and almost smooth. The mixture should be thick and dry – if it’s not, add a little or all of the wholemeal flour until it comes together. Shape the mixture into eight burgers. 2Heat the oil in a large frying…

Digging down can provide an excellent solution to create more space in your home, particularly if you live in an urban area where land values are high and you don’t want to sacrifice part of your garden. However, integrating ventilation and natural light is a lot trickier when you’re going underground – not to mention more expensive. That’s why clever design and careful planning are both essential. Here’s how to get it right. FORMULATE YOUR BRIEF The first stage of the basement extension process is to create your design brief. This should address what you intend to use the space for and the overall aesthetic you’d like to create. ‘Without careful planning, it would be easy to end up with a large, poorly-lit zone with limited uses,’ says Richard Gill,…

Abigail Ahern abigailahern.com Amtico 01217 450800; amtico.com Anglian Home Improvements 0808 115 1275; anglianhome.co.uk Architect Your Home 0800 849 8505; architect-yourhome.com Border Oak 01568 708752; borderoak.com Building With Frames 01872 273757; buildingwithframes.co.uk Coupedeville Architects 020 8811 2660; coupedeville.net Cousins & Cousins 020 7482 4009; cousinsandcousins.com Cue & Co of London 020 7731 4728; cueandco.com Darren Oldfield Architects 020 8425 2209; darrenoldfield.co.uk DC Carpentry and Construction 01784 102 724; dccarpentryand construction.co.uk De Rosee Sa 020 7221 5495; deroseesa.com Design Vintage 01243 573852; designvintage.co.uk Ensoul 020 3637 0700; ensoul.co.uk Everest 0800 540 4100; everest.co.uk Express Bi-folding Doors 0333 270 5803; expressbifolds.co.uk Fabco Sanctuary 01903 718808; fabcosanctuary.com Federation of Master Builders fmb.org.uk Fraher Architects 020 8291 6947; fraher.co Garden Affairs 01225 774566; gardenaffairs.co.uk Granit Architects 020 7924 4555; granit.co.uk Hogarth Architects 020 7381 3409; hogartharchitects.co.uk HomeOwners Alliance hoa.org.uk Howdens Joinery Co 01202 677097; howdens.com ID Systems 01603 408804; idsystems.co.uk Ikea 020 3645 0000; ikea.com/gb IQ Glass 0844…

“It doesn’t have to cost much to create a space they’ll love. The right textiles and soft furnishings will add on-trend colour, pattern and fun ”VANESSA RICHMOND , EDITOR 1 Neutral bed Simple and versatile, to suit all kinds of colour schemes. Harmony double bed frame, £449, Ideal Home range, Very 2 Hold-it-all ottoman Stuff it full of sneakers, sports kit or hard-to-part-with soft toys. Grey blanket box, £309, Ideal Home range, Very 3 Colourful bedlinen Nothing lifts a room more quickly or inexpensively than a pretty patterned duvet cover. Naomi double duvet set, £35, Ideal Home range, Very 4 Geo rug For colour and cosiness they can take with them to uni. Tyrell Geo rug, from £49.99, Ideal Home range, Very IDEAL HOME LOVES… Nordic style at…

Move life outside The couple’s permanent outdoor dining room and seating area extend their living space. ‘Choose light furniture and you can move it around to catch the sun,’ says Jeltje. BUY THE KEY PIECES The Westminster Madison dining furniture set, £3,188, Hayes Garden World, is similar. For similar bunting, try the White Wedding design, from £11, The Cotton Bunting Company. For similar rugs, try the Natural Chunky jute rug, £59, Dunelm. Stick with white ‘I love the colour white, as it helps to make the rooms look bigger,’ says Jeltje. ‘Natural wood and cane add warmth to bring everything into balance.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES The Ekedalen table, £170, Ikea, is similar. Hay chairs from Clippings, for similar try Hay About A Chair AAC42, £199. The pendant light is…

Add retro chic Mid century-style furniture injects a polished edge, but pairs perfectly with earthy colours and rustic textures thanks to the warm tones of the dark wood and the patterns in the grain. WHERE TO BUY Andersen table, £201.50; Bintang woven pouffe, £147; Berkley sideboard, £999.50; cushion covers, from £13; woven rug, £344, all Maisons du Monde Pile on texture Create laid-back luxury by choosing cushions, throws and rugs that display the artisanal crafts of weaving, knotting and tufting. WHERE TO BUY Cushions, from £45; throws, from £45; mango tray, £44; Golden wool rug, £250, all French Connection Home STYLIST’S NOTE “Chunky sheesham furniture has been replaced by more elegant shapes in acacia and mango wood ” MICHELA COLLING , STYLE EDITOR Give it an industrial twist Team warehouse…

“Building this house has totally transformed the way we live and what we do” Iona Drysdale lives here with her husband, Gordon. They run a yacht charter business. THE PROPERTY A two-bed self-build on the shores of Loch Beag on the Applecross peninsula, Scotland, completed in 2014. THE VALUE This unusual house is worth in the region of £450,000 Iona and Gordon Drysdale’s home is built on the site of a fisherman’s net store that had been in Iona’s family for years. ‘My uncle bought it from the local estate, intending to turn it into a house,’ she says. ‘He got as far as clearing and levelling the site when he fell ill and asked me if I’d like to take it on.’ At the time Iona was working as…

WHERE TO BUY 1. FLOOR LAMP Marbelle, £190, Habitat 2. CUSHION Woolly Geo cushion, £20, Next Home 3. MUG Helsinki stacking mug, £4.25, Sainsbury’s 4. TABLE Salsa coffee table in saffron, £110, John Lewis 5. THROW Lemon Sherbet stripe throw, £59, The British Blanket Company 6. ARMCHAIR Harper armchair in Gail Bryson Yolk Trill, £800, Sofa.com 7. VASE Weave-detail vase, £22, House of Fraser 8. PLATE Royal Doulton Hemingway plate, £35 for mixed set of four, Debenhams 9. TRUNKS Daven metal trunks in yellow and pink, £79 for the set, Made.com…

MY GO-TO STORES… • TK MAXX I love it because you never know what you might find – it’s such a great mix, expect the unexpected! • LIFE STORY This friendly homewares store (and online shop) near us is full of contemporary Scandi pieces • H&M HOME So handy, great for simply styled cushions and cosy blankets WORD PLAY A4 lightbox in black, £39, Cuckooland BRIGHT SPARK Hammered gold cased candle, £9.99, TK Maxx BRANCH OUT Artificial eucalyptus stem, £25 for three, Audenza SNUGGLE UP Mongolian sheepskin cushion, £40, Next Home TOP TRUNKS Beautify grey storage trunks, £47.99 for two, Domu POINT IT OUT Light up arrow sign, £16, Sainsbury’s Home LUXE LOOK Large gold lantern, £40, Debenhams SOLID BASE Heston concrete desk lamp, £69, Cult Furniture COOL HUES Tray…

Stylist’s Note ‘The silky cushions, velvet upholstery and gold details put the decadence into this look. Swap them out if you want a modern-country look instead’ Nicky Phillips, Decorating Editor…

Colour is big news this year and there are plenty of ways to work it in to your home. From feature walls in vibrant hues to accessories in accent shades, you can go all-out or opt for a more subtle approach. Either way, colour will add another dimension to your design and has the ability to lift your spirits, enhance your mood and generally create a more positive environment to spend time in. COLOUR CRUSH A neutral scheme is a great base to add colour, whether your starting point is cream, white or grey. The Nordic Brights range from Matalan has loads of brilliant pieces to help you do just that. From bedlinen, throws and cushions to storage baskets and statement rugs, each piece features a vibrant mix of tonal…

IDEAL ON THE FRINGE Bellvis cushion, £29, Urbanara GO GREEN Artificial fern plant, £35, The Contemporary Home WOOD TONES Elm dining bench, £545, Shimu GLASS ACT Medium apothecary vase in green, £19.50, Marks & Spencer NEUTRAL LAYER Tekouma Berber-style hand-woven wool rug, £479, La Redoute LEATHER BEAUTY Curvy leather chair, £1,258, Out There Interiors TIMELESS CLASSIC Hepworth lamp, £195, Oka GREAT DEAL METALLIC MIX Copper-effect pot with artificial fern, £10, B&Q FINE PRESS Washed linen cushion cover, £8.99, H&M Home RUSTIC PIECE Warung teak bench, £155, Puji BERBER VIBE Calandre fringed rug, £179.99, Ideal Home range, Very BOTTLE GREEN Glass vase, £6, George Home CUTE CURVES Roberta ceramic fishtail lamp base, £65, John Lewis COMFY NUMBER Oxford leather club armchair, £644, Maisons du Monde…

WHERE TO BUY 1. CLOCK Smiths station clock, £95, Roger Lascelles 2. LIGHT Hoxton Bullet pendant, £110, Garden Trading 3. CHAIR Bourton chair, £120, The Cotswold Company 4. BRICK TILES London White brick wall tiles, £20.99sq m, Tile Mountain 5. HERB POTS Galvanised planters, £29.99 for five, Crocus 6. TABLE Dorset extending table, £1,300, Laura Ashley 7. TAP Eiger chrome mixer tap, £235, Franke 8. BOARD Collection Salisbury solid wood butcher’s block, £10, Argos…

INDUSTRIAL FINISH Add an urban edge with copper pipework-style bar handles in a burnished effect. Copper speckled matt straight T-bar handles (W252mm), £10 for two, B&Q POLISH OFF This tap-style pull in polished nickel will make plain doors look a million dollars. Crossed cabinet knob in polished nickel (W55mm), £27.25, Willow & Stone PULL TAB A rugged leather strap pull, in a choice of three colours with different rivet options. Magni leather handle in raw umber (L65mm), £10.99, Dowsing & Reynolds COPPER ELEMENT Team with dark kitchen cabinets to make them pop. Monmouth cup handle in brushed copper (W104mm), £7.61, Ironmongery Direct BISTRO STYLE Co-ordinate your kitchen with cafe-style cup handles, easy to grip and in an antique brass-effect finish. Antique shell handle (W78mm), £2.50, Wilko BLACK ACCENT Contrast these…

“Try not to destroy the texture of brickwork by overzealous cleaning. Avoid using wire brushes as they will remove the ‘skin’ of the brick ”ROGER HUNT, CO-AUTHOR OF NEW DESIGN FOR OLD BUILDINGS (RIBA PUBLISHING) Brick slip wall tiles like Lisa’s are a fast, stylish alternative to the real thing, but if original exposed brickwork is what you’re after, whether modern industrial or rustic country, be prepared to put in some hard graft to get the best results. Q Which wall should I expose? Exposed brick is a pretty bold statement, so try not to get carried away. Stick to one wall or a section of wall with natural start and finish points, such as a chimney breast or inside alcoves. Q Can I do the work myself? Absolutely.…

Established in 1987, Walls and Floors offers a huge selection of over 6,000 tiles, working alongside designers to ensure its range covers all the latest trends. Tiles are used in kitchens and bathrooms, and are an easy-to-clean alternative to laminate, carpet, wallpaper and paint. Thanks to the latest HD inkjet printing technology, tiles cover a variety of looks, from metro styles and striking hexagons to realistic wood and stone effects, making them versatile enough to appear in other rooms, such as hallways, conservatories, living areas and bedrooms. Ideal Home has teamed up with Walls and Floors to offer readers 15 per cent off any of its collection. Too much choice? Order full-size samples at a discount with free delivery to help you choose. And if you’re on a budget, you…

WHERE TO BUY 1. CUSHION Flowering cushion, £25, Dunelm 2. PLANTER Artstone Ella planter in black, from £22, John Lewis 3. BARBECUE MiniMax Big Green Egg & Carrier, £625, Big Green Egg 4. SUN LOUNGER Ethimo Costes sun lounger in natural teak, from £360, Houseology 5. CANDLE HOLDER Amma votive in green, £9, Abode Living 6. FIRE PIT Cast-iron fire bowl, £199.99, The Garden Furniture Centre 7. BLANKET Cotswold dove grey and cream thick stripe throw blanket, £30, Persora 3 PLANTS FOR URBAN GARDENS Hydrangea arborescens Also known as ‘Annabelle’, this hardy, low-effort perennial brings softness to hard surfaces. Ornamental grasses Great for drought-tolerant gardens, these make a contrast with leafier plants and bring height, texture and movement. Lobelias Annuals like trailing lobelias lighten up a living wall. They flower…

THE MULTI-TASKING DETERGENT Pop one of these liquid pods into your washing machine to clean, freshen and soften your bedlinen in one go. Bold 3 in 1 pods, £4.50 for 16 washes, THE DRYER BALLS Ensure your duvet and pillows remain fluffy and soft by popping dryer balls in the tumble dryer. Their spiked surfaces will gently massage the textile fibres. Dryer balls, £7.99 for two, Lakeland THE LATEX-FREE GLOVES For changing grubby, stinky or stained sheets or pre-soaking pillowcases, these gloves are a must. Marigold gloves for sensitive skin, £3, Sainsbury’s THE PILLOW PROTECTOR Prolong the life of pillows with a cover that’s designed to reduce the growth of bacteria and keep them fresh. Cotton quilted pillow protector, £12, John Lewis THE PILLOW MIST Scented with pure lavender, basil…

WHERE TO BUY 1. JUG Raised design pitcher, £19.99, Zara Home 2. PLATES Melamine dinner plates, £18 for four, Debenhams 3. CUTLERY Wooden party cutlery, £7.50 for 18 pieces, Pipii 4. BLANKET Lambswool Prince of Wales coral throw, £89, Bronte by Moon 5. BOTTLE Airtight swing top glass bottle, £3.99, Lakeland 6. FOOD COVERS Mapora set of three bamboo food covers, £20, Habitat 7. LIDDED JAR SET Verrine jars with holder, £24, Maisons du Monde 8. PICNIC BASKET Bloomingville rattan picnic basket, £59, Amara 9. DRINKS COOLER Fiesta Blue drinks cooler, £12, Sainsbury’s Home 10. SALAD SERVERS Wooden salad servers, £19.50, Oggetto…

A Abode Living 01273 621116 abodeliving.co.uk Abraham Moon & Sons 01943 873181 moons.co.uk Achica achica.com AEG 0344 561 1611 aeg.co.uk After Noah 020 7359 4281 afternoah.com Also Home 01483 608611 alsohome.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Amtico 0121 745 0800 amtico.com Angel & Boho 0845 200 0723 angelandboho.com Apollo Blinds apollo-blinds.co.uk Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Arlo arlo.com/uk Armac Martin 0121 359 2111 martin.co.uk Artisanti 0345 259 1410 artisanti.com Ashley Wilde 01707 635201 ashleywildegroup.co.uk Aspenn Furniture 01937 843386 aspennfurniture.co.uk Atkin & Thyme 020 3768 7775 atkinandthyme.co.uk Audenza 0116 298 6393 audenza.com B B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Bathroom Takeaway 0333 305 8200 bathroomtakeaway.co.uk Bathstore 0330 053 5661 bathstore.com BC Ceramics 01727 836789 bcceramics.co.uk Belsize Gardens belsizegardens.com Bensons for Beds 0330 124 1100 bensonsforbeds.co.uk…

As well as boosting your home’s floor space, an extension can help pave the way to a reconfigured layout that complements your lifestyle. A cleverly-conceived project also has the potential to add wow factor and increase your home’s resale value. Here’s everything you need to consider before getting started, including tips on design, budgeting and planning. CREATE YOUR BRIEF First you need to formulate a comprehensive design brief. ‘The best way to start is by identifying your needs,’ says Jelena Cousins, creative director at Cousins & Cousins (020 7482 4009, cousinsandcousins.com). ‘For example, do you need a bigger kitchen or living space? A separate bedroom or a laundry room? Writing this down will help to identify what your priorities are.’ Once you’ve highlighted the key functions you want from your…

Lofts don’t get a lot of love. Stuffed with ‘just in case’ junk and things that haven’t seen the light of day for 20-plus years, they are often ripe for renovation. Clear yours of its clutter and you can turn it into somewhere you can still store essentials while it becomes a functional, beautiful space in its own right. CHECK YOUR LOFT’S SUITABILITY Start by working out if your loft can be converted. Ideally it will be at least 2.2m at the highest point. If yours isn’t, you may want to reassess, as although there isn’t a minimum room height dictated by Building Regulations, there is for staircases and access. A workaround is to lower the ceiling in the room below – you’ll have to fit a new floor in…

Do you really need a garage? While they do provide storage space, garages are often one of the most under-used parts of the home. But converted into a living space – whether it’s an office, playroom, utility room, bedroom, bathroom or home gym – it will add value to your property. EVALUATE YOUR GARAGE The size, shape and style of your garage will determine what you can do with it. If your garage is long and narrow, it may be best to knock through to extend an existing room. But if the shape makes it possible, it’s usually better to keep it separate, as most garages are located away from the main living space, making it tricky to incorporate them without additional construction. Next, work out where the garage will…

Welcome to our home Fiona and Tim Peregrine live here with daughters Anjali, eight, and India, six. Fiona is a lawyer and Tim works for a bank. THE PROPERTY A semi-detached, six-bed Victorian house in Chiswick, London. THE COSTS Bought for £1.375m in 2010; now worth £3m; basement conversion cost £80,000. Fiona and Tim Peregrine were delighted to find this Victorian property in 2010. It needed a lot of work, but with two young children to look after, they decided to wait. ‘At this stage we had no plans for a basement room at all,’ says Fiona. CHANGING PLANS Space-wise, the house was top heavy with five bedrooms split across the first and second floors, and a small living space on the ground floor. ‘We needed more functional family space,…

Desperate to get more light and space into your home? Join the club! Everyone knows how beneficial daylight is to your mood, and quite frankly, we could all do with having an extra room. From transforming your home by extending or converting, to installing clever glazing, there are plenty of ways to add both space and light to your surroundings, whatever your budget. We have five beautiful real home transformations to inspire you to make your similar dreams a reality and there’s expert help at hand with our genius ‘How To’ guides, too. Just think, this time next year, you could be looking at your home in a whole new light. READ IDEAL HOME ON YOUR TABLET Visit idealhome.co.uk to download your digital edition of Ideal Home…