Innholdsfortegnelse for Sep-2018 i Ideal Home

Good storage solves everything! It’s like a good bra or ‘foundation garment’ (as Ma Richmond calls them) – it makes everything you put on top look better. The same is true with storage – get it right and your home will look more ‘put together’ and feel calmer, too. This is something you learn quickly if, like me, you’re a hoarder with a serious Primark habit, who’s always lived in small homes (or even rented small rooms in small homes)! But storage isn’t a size issue. If anything, big homes are more susceptible to clutter creep. So, whether you’re a minimalist or a maximalist by nature, enjoy discovering all the stylish, practical and downright game-changing solutions we’ve stuffed into this issue!…

“The ultimate quick-fix for busy, messy households! Just decide whether you want it to blend in to your decor or stand out and add a little colour ” HEATHER YOUNG, ACTING DEPUTY EDITOR…

When Gill and Sandro Deriu moved to Cork from Sardinia in 2008, they rented for a while. ‘But then a friend told us that this house was on the market,’ says Gill. ‘It was everything we were looking for – a detached cottage with a big garden, an interesting layout and a really nice feel. We absolutely loved it.’ The couple made an offer, but were dismayed when their mortgage fell through at the last minute. ‘We asked the owner if we could rent the cottage while we arranged another mortgage, and he agreed,’ says Gill. ‘The house was still on the market though, which was stressful at times as people kept coming round to view, but I knew deep down it was meant for us! I’d fallen in love…

Open-plan living space ‘Knocking down the wall between the old kitchen and dining room made this house work,’ says Yoko. ‘This is the where we spend most of our time as a family now.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES For a similar sofa try the Mendini three-seater in Taupe, £579, Made.com. Try the Stretch scatter cushion in Azure plush velvet, £50, Loaf Sitting room The seating area adjoining the kitchen-diner is simple but colourful with display shelves and touches of matt brass to add a little retro glamour. BUY THE KEY PIECES Chimney tiles, €2.80 each, Emery et Cie. Try the London armchair in Indigo, £449, Swoon. For a similar glass coffee table, try the Caprice, £149, Dunelm “Quirky, practical solutions are what really make a family home come to life…

Classic combination Timeless stonewash blues make the perfect foundation for traditional furniture styles Relaxed living Teamed with white walls, even the deepest blues won’t overwhelm, creating a calm but colourful and characterful seating area Stylist’s Note “ These blues are your go-to colours if you love relaxed country style or a smart, Hamptons-inspired look ” NICKY PHILLIPS, DECORATING EDITOR Stylist’s Note “Denim blues look crisp with white, but gentler when you add natural colours and textures like rattan or reclaimed wood ” NICKY PHILLIPS , DECORATING EDITOR…

FIT FOR PURPOSE Designed in 1950, the Ercol All Purpose chair has inspired spindle-back chairs ever since. Natterbox chair in Inky Blue, seat H47cm, £230 for a pair, Loaf FRENCH FANCY The Tolix chair was designed for outside, but comes in a variety of finishes for indoor use. Copper finish French café chair, seat H44cm, £99.99 for a pair, My Furniture DANISH DESIGN The original 1955 Series 7 chair bent plywood in three dimensions, creating an iconic shape. Kitsch chair in Black, seat H46cm, £59 for a pair, Made.com “Don’t be afraid to pair a couple of different designs together, rather than sticking to a set of the same style ” HOLLY WALSH, FEATURES EDITOR IDEAL HOME CLEAR WINNER Philippe Starck paired Baroque style with 21st century…

1 Add a splash of green Stimulate creativity in a study area by painting a band of grassy green onto a bright white wall. Start with a pencil-drawn line, using the edge of a spirit level to ensure the band is perfectly straight. Then place masking or decorating tape over the line to ensure a crisp line once painted over. 2 Choose a space -saving desk A leaning desk is a great option if you don’t have a dedicated room for home working, as all you need is a sturdy wall to set it up against. This one from John Lewis includes two handy shelves, but is still just 70cm wide. 3 ADD SOME LIFE TO YOUR DESKTOP Whether you decide to go for the real deal or a fabulous…

HOW CRAIG AND LAURA DID IT ‘The house had been gutted in the Seventies and the original features removed, so we’ve been trying to put the character back. The bathroom was very dated and had a grubby pink carpet which was quite nasty, and we ripped it up straight away. The layout was poor and didn’t make good use of the large space. There was a bath, but no shower. To make room for the big shower we wanted, we removed a built-in cupboard and moved the bath to the opposite wall. We gave The Brighton Bathroom Company a budget of £5,000 for the sanitaryware and a plumber friend fitted everything for about £3,000. The work took about four weeks. We were inspired by the vivid blues we’d seen in…

THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom Victorian terrace in Peckham, London. VALUE Bought in 2012 for £615,000; now worth around £1.35 million. WHAT IT COST Building work and materials for ground-floor side extension and two-storey rear extension........£99,409 Kitchen cabinets, worktops and appliances......£23,800 TOTAL………..£123,209 “We love the light, thanks to all the glass, and we learnt lots along the way! ”…

THE BUILD-YOUR-OWN DESIGN Create a unit to suit your space and needs, in a choice of five different plywood shades. Pattern shelving in Black, from £330 for a H91xW126cm unit, Tylko THE TIMELESS TOUCH Effortlessly elegant, this handsome display unit boasts a roomy drawer to hide away the stuff that you don’t want on display. Nook wide storage, £999, West Elm THE DISPLAY PIECE A perfect spot for keeping books and showing off plants. Scout oak five-shelf bookcase with black frame, £250, Habitat THE MOVEABLE FEAST Shelving where you need it? Yes please! Industrial iron shelving unit, £895, Graham & Green THE CORNER ZONE Make the most of a lost angle with this neat piece. Erin shelving in Black, £549, Swoon THE BEDSIDE STACK Ensure your bedroom doesn’t look cluttered…

THE HIDEAWAY CABINET Spend an extra £55 and you can turn this handy shoe cupboard into a cushioned bench. Shoe bench with doors, £436.20, The Dormy House THE FAMILY HALLWAY HELPER With space for four to five pairs of shoes, this stylish bench provides the perfect perch for the whole family to sling shoes on and off, both day and night. Clockhouse hallway bench, £260, Garden Trading THE NEAT CONSOLE Tidy away shoes, boots and general keys and clutter on this unit’s three handy shelves. Wireworks Hello storage table, £260, Lagoon THE ROOMY BENCH Measuring 36.7cm in depth and with a thin, yet sturdy design, this bench has oodles of space for larger footwear Remmi bench, £80, Habitat THE SHOE HAMMOCK This double layered rack holds up to 16 pairs…

1 THE SUPER-EFFICIENT STOVE British made on the Isle of Wight, the Skye has 86% efficiency, yet still maintains the look and feel of a classic design. Available in cast iron, bronze, brown, blue or almond finishes, it can also be fitted with a flue boiler that replaces the first few feet of the standard flue with a hi-tech heat exchange system. Skye, from £1,399, Charnwood 2 THE MODERN LOOK Danish designer brand Morsø manufactures the most stunning cast-iron wood-burning stoves, and its latest 6643 freestanding model is no exception, offering 4.9kW output, A+ energy efficiency and a unique oval design with double doors that means you can enjoy a 180-degree view of the flames. With ample log storage beneath, and a smooth modern finish, it's ideal for a large…

These fresh flowers last for YEARS The Magic Flower Company has found a way to banish wilting bouquets. It all sounds a little sci-fi, but real blooms and foliage are selected at their peak and have their natural sap replaced by a non-toxic glycerine mixture, meaning the stems are frozen in time for months – even years. Try wallpaper before you buy If you’ve ever suffered from wallpaper regret, then the new Graham & Brown app may be for you. Unlike a hard-to-visualise A4 wallpaper sample, the app uses the magic of augmented reality to project the papered area in your home onto your iPhone or iPad screen. Measure up the area, pick your favourite designs from Graham & Brown’s library and voila – you can see how the repeat…

KELLY HOPPEN’S NEW MURALS “If you’re committed to neutrals and love a bit of glam, you might already be familiar with Kelly’s style. The Queen of Taupe has launched a range of murals with Graham & Brown, which she calls ‘impactful on a large scale, but understated.’ Good-oh! We just think they’re proper lush…

MY GO-TO STORES... • H&M HOME ‘Fab for fun homeware’ • HOMESENSE ‘A treasure trove, for accessories’ • SØSTRENE GRENE ‘It never disappoints on Scandi furniture’ • MEADOWS & BYRNE ‘My favourite place to pick up baskets’ • ETSY ‘Unbeatable for bespoke prints’ “Soften the hard edges of metal and wood elements with luxe, tactile materials such as vintage linen and warm, cosy sheepskin ” HEATHER YOUNG, ACTING DEPUTY EDITOR…

Our house had been untouched for 30 years and had ivy growing in through the windows. It had one bathroom, leading off the kitchen and the rooms felt too cramped. We knew we’d need to extend into the loft to add a new bedroom and bathroom, and rejig the ground floor. When we moved in here after it had been renovated, everyone instantly felt settled and happy. Don’t be afraid to be different. As a child, I was ashamed of our house, as it was full of plants, rattan and colourful Seventies accents, which was unusual for homes in Japan, where I grew up. But, looking back, it must have been the coolest house in the neighbourhood, thanks to my mother’s fearless style! Now, as an architectural designer (yokokloeden.com), it’s…

WHERE TO BUY 1. TABLE LAMP Santerno large table lamp, £125, Oka 2. BLANKET Stella denim blue blanket, £64, Eclect Design 3. ARMCHAIR Pavlova armchair in Easy Blue clever linen, £1,095, Loaf 4. RUG Laren hand-woven rug, £199, Made.com 5 BEDSPREAD Cotton waffle bedspread, from £50, Soak & Sleep 6. PLANTER Ceramic plant pot with handles, £16, Oliver Bonas 7. CUSHION Zarni cushion cover, £55, Kalinko 8. COFFEE TABLE Marlow coffee table in dark blue, £550, Debenhams 9. STORAGE FILE Magazine file, £29, Cambridge Imprint…

“The flat had been rented out, so it was in a bit of a state, but we’ve loved putting our own stamp on it” Lu Fitoussi-Findlay, a life coach (happymatters.co) lives here with her husband Raphael, a property manager. Raphael’s son, Gabriel, five, is a regular visitor THE PROPERTY  A three-bedroom split-level flat in a Victorian conversion in Blackheath, southeast London. THE VALUE Bought in 2017 for £590,000; now worth about £800,000. Take a quick tour... Walking into this flat with the estate agent, Lu Fitoussi-Findlay and her husband Raphael had mixed feelings. ‘On paper, it wasn’t great,’ says Lu. ‘It had been lived in by tenants, the hall was dark, the layout was terrible and the basement needed a major sort out. But as soon as I walked into…

“The new layout works perfectly for us – it’s effortless for us to spend time together. I love the way the light pours in, too ” Gemma Isaac lives here with her husband, Brad, and their children Felix, four, and Clara, two. THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom detached Forties house, in Raynes Park, London. WHAT IT COST Spray painting....£2,500 Extra cabinetry.....£1,387 Fridge-freezer......£1,949 Sink and tap............£777 Flooring..................£2,111 Worktop.................£4,116 Wall tiles...................£156 TOTAL................£12,996…

“It’s only now that we appreciate how wonderful it is to be able to walk from your kitchen straight into the garden ” Daisy Chubb lives here with her husband, Jeremy, and their daughter Florence, nine. THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom Edwardian terrace near Guildford, Surrey, bought in October 2013. WHAT IT COST Kitchen units.......£3,250 Worktops................£340 Sink and tap............£409 Flooring.................£1,195 Appliances...........£1,650 Lighting...................£490 TOTAL.................£7,334…

“The new room is stunning and really works for us now. Even though there’s more furniture in it than before, it looks more spacious ” Craig Herne lives here with his wife, Laura. They are expecting their first child. THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom Victorian semi in East Molesey, Surrey. WHAT IT COST Washstand, basin and mixer...............................£902 Bath and taps..............£1,460 Shower.........................£1,945 Loo..................................£388 Tiles.................................£979 Wall lights and mirror....£580 Towel radiator..........£206 Paint.............................£45 TOTAL...................£6,505…

WHERE TO BUY 1. FESTOON LIGHTS Warm white festoon lights, £31.99, Lights4fun 2. OUTDOOR CUSHION Leaf cushion, £12.50, Wyevale Garden Centres 3. LANTERN La Rochelle lantern, £59.95, Annabel James 4. TRAY Rectangular wooden tray, £29.99, Zara Home 5. COFFEE TABLE Escale garden coffee table, £187.50, Maisons du Monde 6. PLANTER Tropical Havana plant pot, £12.99, HomeSense 7. DECKCHAIR Classic deckchair, £80, Shabby Store 8. FIRE BOWL Fire bowl, £249.99, The Garden Furniture Centre 3 PLANTS FOR URBAN SPACES Hostas Hostas boast lush large green leaves that will fill out borders and make a statement in large containers. Aloe vera Known for its healing properties, this popular evergreen succulent makes a striking statement indoors or out. Virginia creeper This deciduous climber will fill your garden with colour as leaves turn red…

Alice Shelmerdine of Design Squared shares her know-how 1 YOU NEED TO PLAN WELL Building regulations will dictate the size and height of your side return. An experienced architect/designer will be able to guide you through the process. 2 WINDOWS ARE KEY Make sure you carefully think about glazing and the impact that this will have on your level of privacy. 3 THEY SHOULD WORK WITH YOUR HOME The impact of light and how you use your new spaces will affect the flow of your existing house and the newly acquired area. Clever planning can create small spaces for snugs and home offices. 4 THEY’RE A JOB FOR THE EXPERTS Working with an experienced kitchen design team will help you make best use of the space. Mix materials and finishes…

THE CONTEMPORARY CHOICE Shelving for displaying pretty things (and cupboards for all the rest). Dominga double door display cabinets, £1,345 each, Out There Interiors THE SMART ONE So elegant, so spacious. Cobham oak dresser, £2,198, Bridgman THE RETRO PICK Gorgeous and roomy. Lucette sideboard, £1,783, Maisons du Monde THE VERSATILE DESIGN Modern or trad, this unit suits all schemes with its timeless design. Chester grey display cabinet, £499, The Cotswold Company THE WINE SELECTION With a rack that fits 24 bottles, all you need worry about is keeping it stocked. Salcombe dresser in charcoal and chalk, from £2,200, Burbidge THE COLOUR POP This classic cabinet comes in six shades. Rushbury display cabinet in red, £999, Wooden Furniture Store THE SHABBY CHIC OPTION Prefer a vintage look? This dreamy dresser ticks…

THE KITCHEN TROLLEY Use it to house plants, as a place to stack up tableware or wheel it over to the kitchen as an extra worksurface. Bessie trolley, £194.50, Maisons Du Monde THE MULTITASKER The minimalist skinny frame means this adaptable design will work in any room. Use trolley, £235, House Doctor range, Nunido THE BASKET STACK This freestanding space-saver has room for towels and toiletries. Bamboo Alpha basket rack, £99, Futon Company THE MINI MODERN Add a pop of polished copper to cocktail hour. Alana drinks trolley, £199, Made.com THE SIDE TABLE This modern design classic is a perfect living room companion that can be wheeled around. Block side table, £205, Normann Copehagen range, Nest THE LOW UNIT The acacia shelves and wire frame make this sturdy…

The kitchen is the heart of the home and there’s nothing better than enjoying a tasty meal with friends and family in this sociable space. That’s why NEFF’s range of Slide&Hide® ovens is the perfect choice. Designed to create the ultimate cooking experience, they'll help you perfect favourite recipes and tackle the trickiest of menus to impress guests. TAILORED FOR MODERN LIVING Not only do NEFF ovens look good, they feature a range of fantastic functions. The Slide&Hide® has a unique door that slides effortlessly under the oven for easy access to food, and is also great for small spaces. The CircoTherm® function means you can cook, roast and bake different dishes at the same time without flavours mingling. And if you’re a fan of steam cooking, the FullSteam &…

TAKES 2hr 15min, plus cooling SERVES 16 FOR THE MERINGUE • 10 egg whites • Pinch of salt • 120g light brown sugar • 180g caster sugar • 275g icing sugar • 2tsp cornflour • 2tsp vanilla extract • 2tsp white wine vinegar TO ASSEMBLE • 900ml double cream• 2tbsp icing sugar • 2tsp vanilla extract • 700g mixed berries • 50g pistachio nuts, chopped • 30g dark chocolate, finely grated 1 Preheat the oven to 140°C/Fan120°C/Gas 1 and line two large baking sheets with greaseproof paper. To make the meringue, whisk the egg whites, salt, brown sugar and caster sugar to stiff peaks. Sift in the icing sugar and cornflour and whisk for 3-4min, until shiny. Whisk in the vanilla and vinegar. 2 Spoon the mixture onto the baking sheets, creating one H5xDia25cm disc, two…

A Abode 01226 283434 abodedesigns.co.uk Alchemy Kitchens alchemykitchens.co.uk Aldi aldi.co.uk Alexander & Pearl 020 8508 0411 alexanderandpearl.co.uk All Handles & Pulls allhandlesandpulls.co.uk Also Home 01483 608611 alsohome.com Amara 0800 587 7645 amara.com Annabel James 0345 548 0210 annabel james.co.uk Anthropologie anthropologie.com Ao.com 0344 324 9222 ao.com Arada Stoves 01297 632050 aradastoves.com Architectural Bronze Casements 0845 600 0660 bronzecasements.com Argos argos.co.uk Ashley Wilde 01707 635201 ashleywildegroup.co.uk Aston Matthews 020 7226 7220 astonmatthews.co.uk Atkin and Thyme 020 3768 7775 atkinandthyme.co.uk B B&Q diy.com Barker and Stonehouse 0333 355 9321 barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Bensons for Beds bensonsforbeds.co.uk Benuta 020 3608 0595 benuta.co.uk Bert & May 020 3744 0776 bertandmay.com Big Jon 07956 486514 bigjon.co.uk Black by Design 01889 502716 black-by-design.co.uk Blanco 0844 912 0100 blanco.co.uk Brissi 020 7229 2323 brissi.com British Ceramic Tile 01626 834774 britishceramictile.com Burbidge 02476 671600 burbidge.co.uk Burley burley.co.uk Button & Sprung 0333 320 1801 buttonandsprung.com C Caple 0117 938 1900 caple.co.uk Caroline Gardner 020 3010…

Debbie Williamson and her business partner started Swoon in 2012 to make limited-edition designer furniture available to UK home lovers at a fair price. She lives in east London with her Boston terrier, Bertie. I have an upside-down house. It’s an old warehouse conversion near London Fields, with rooms over two floors. You enter at the upper level, which is the living room and kitchen, while the bedroom and bathroom are downstairs. I moved there two years ago. Decorating over time is key, so don’t rush it. Swoon’s mantra is ‘the ever evolving home’. People and their moods are constantly changing. Your scheme doesn’t have to be one strict taste or style – just take your time. I like to live with a look for a few years, so I…

“We recommend products that are made from recycled steel and fully recyclable themselves, as well as being slim, strong and durable ” DARREN LLOYD, STEEL WINDOW ASSOCIATION Originally developed in 1884 by Essex ironmonger Francis Henry Crittall, steel-framed windows are staging a major comeback. Only windows made by Crittall Windows Limited can legally be called Crittall. However, rightly or wrongly, the term is often used in a general way to refer to black steel framed windows, and there are now many quality steel window manufacturers in the UK and beyond. Q Steel looks good, but is it practical? Modern steel windows are double glazed and thermally efficient to meet the latest building standards. Like all windows, they will benefit from regular cleaning – just ask your window cleaner to…

IDEAL GREAT DEAL…

JO WHEATLEY  rose to fame as a winner of The Great British Bake Off and now runs a cookery school. ‘I can’t wait to give Ideal Home readers my tips for festive bakes,’ she says. ‘And I’m really excited about tasting German delicacies, too!’ EWAN LACEY  is Channel 4’s Cookery School wine expert. ‘Most of us love a tipple or two at Christmas so I’ll be on board to advise Ideal Home readers on the best wines, beers and spirits to indulge in – and there will also be tastings!’…

The right tap can make all the difference to your kitchen, whether you’re replacing an old one as a quick and easy revamp, or putting the final finishing touches to a refurbishment. Q What’s on-trend right now? Stainless steel and chrome have dominated the tap market for years, but recently there’s been a move towards more standout materials, colours and finishes, with kitchen taps becoming a statement feature. Looks range from industrial-style copper taps with exposed pipework, or smart deco-style brushed brass, to more contemporary styles in luxe rose gold shades or matt black. Q Are these hard wearing? Most taps are made of stainless steel or brass, which is finished with metallic plating or powder-coating. Brass is more durable, but is pricier than stainless steel. Powder-coating is used to…

SLIDE-OUT LARDER Stop food from getting forgotten about at the back of cupboards with this clever device. Kesseböhmer Tandem Solo larder storage, from £550, Alchemy Kitchens PLATE STACKERS Organising dinnerware is a doddle when everything has its own dedicated spot. Adjustable drawer unit, from £322 for a 600mm base unit, Magnet HIDDEN DRAWERS Choosing drawers puts everything at the back within easier reach. Space Tower, part of the Malmö kitchen range, from £12,000 for a kitchen, Burbidge PULL-DOWN SHELF High ceilings? Make use of the extra wall space with retractable shelves. Kesseböhmer Imove single tier internal pull down shelf, £108, B&Q “ Innovative larder systems move the contents of the cupboard out to you, making everything easy to see ” GRAEME SMITH, HEAD OF DESIGN, ALCHEMY KITCHENS BY SECOND…

BLOCK PRINT EFFECT Perfect for a smaller bathroom, an all-over pattern like this won’t overcrowd the space. Bertie black and ivory wall and floor tiles £32.86sq m, British Ceramic Tile BOHO PATCHWORK Create a mismatched effect the easy way – each box of these tiles is a mixed assortment. Vibe light blue mosaic patterned wall and floor tiles, £21.81sq m, Victorian Plumbing MOROCCAN INSPIRATION Use a small-scale lattice design to add subtle pattern – these charcoal tiles have a lovely chalky matt finish. Wicker floor tiles, £34sq m, Laura Ashley MODERN GEOMETRIC Lay a statement floor with geo-patterned tiles that give an eye-catching 3D effect. Blochetto grey decor floor tile, £49.95sq m, Walls and Floors “ For a small space, a less fussy design in complementary colours will ensure…

THE KIDS’ ALL-IN-ONE When space is at a premium, make use of the floor with an elevated cabin bed. Mid sleeper with drawers and bookcase, £750, Little Folks Furniture THE STORAGE DIVAN Elegance is still key for this practical design. Ramsbury divan storage bed, from £600, Willow & Hall THE OTTOMAN It’s all about comfort with this pillowy shaped headboard. Willow king size ottoman bed, £1,295, Button & Sprung THE TRUNDLE DRAWER Instead of under-bed boxes, go for a smooth painted roll-out drawer for a neat finish. Jubilee single bed with trundle drawer and mattress, £367, Room to Sleep THE COUNTRY CLASSIC Go for farmhouse style with tongue-and-groove detail. Blake double storage bed, £499, Ideal Home range, Very THE REMOTE-CONTROL BED No heavy lifting required – open the ottoman at…

THE CHAISE SOFA The ultimate hiding place for all those CDs and DVDs he can’t bear to part with. Or use it to keep a set of extra bedding for overnight guests. Ashwell chaise storage sofa, £1,910, Willow & Hall THE STORAGE COFFEE TABLE The streamline drawers are generous enough to hide all manner of living room overflow, while the display shelf is just the thing for coffee-table books and beautiful objects. Drift coffee table, H40xW120xD70cm, £599, Dwell THE FOLDAWAY TABLE It not only transforms into a wall-hung chalkboard, but the handy shelves can also be used to store table-top essentials. Izzy wall dining table, £199, Made.com THE FULL LENGTH MIRROR Make use of the lean-to to keep straighteners and hair products tidy. Oak leaning mirror, £139, Futon…

Enjoy mouthwatering new recipes with NEFF Slide&Hide®  TAKES 1 hr SERVES 10 • 150g unsalted butter • 200g demerara sugar • 4 large eggs • 1tsp vanilla essence • 200g ground almonds • 100g polenta • 1 Seville and 1 blood orange, each zested, then sliced • 1tsp orange blossom water • 1tsp baking powder FOR THE SYRUP • 2 star anise • 4 cloves • 250ml fresh orange juice • 30ml orange blossom water • 125g runny honey 1 Heat oven to 160°C using the NEFF Slide&Hide® CircoTherm® feature (or 170°C for conventional ovens). Grease a 22cm springform tin with butter, then line base and sides with baking paper. Brush again with butter and sprinkle with sugar. 2 Beat remaining butter and sugar in a bowl until light and creamy. Beat in the eggs, then the vanilla essence. 3 In a small bowl,…

If walls could talk… Create a fun feature in a kid’s room or kitchen diner. Buy a steel sheet cut to size and fix securely to the wall – tucked neatly into an alcove is perfect as the sharp edges won’t be exposed. Add a few magnets and get creative! BUY THE KEY PIECES Mild steel sheet, from £11.45 for 50x50cm, Metals4U.co.uk. Chance matt emulsion, £18 for 2.5L, Crown. Tilst rug, £25; Gosig soft toy, £7; Ribba frames, from a selection, all Ikea. Bean bag chair, £65; Abbeville storage bench, £165; Wooden till, £27; Children’s art prints, £20 each, all Great Little Trading Company. Crocodile storage bag, £6.99, H&M Home. Magnets: 3D alphabet fridge set, £24.95; world travel map set, £13.50, both Notonthehigh street.com. Regional magnets, £3 each, National Trust.…