Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2016 i Ideal Home

I’m really excited to be unveiling Ideal Home’s new look at last! In the same way that I always come back from my summer holiday and see my home with fresh eyes – that a wall colour’s a bit jaded or the sofa’s become too shabby to be chic – the team and I realised that the magazine was ready for an update. Like any big refurbishment project, it was scary but exciting, with so many possibilities to pick through and decisions to make along the way. But, after a lot of brainstorming, bickering and M&S Mini Bites, the team and I have come out the other side with a fiercer love for what we do and drive to share it with you. Its pages are…

The perfect mirror DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR EMMA JACKSON HAS BOUGHT MAISONS DU MONDE’S GRAZZIA, £39.99 “I love its gorgeous copper edge and, at 50cm wide, it’s a perfect fit for the vanity alcove I’ve created in the corner of my bedroom. It hangs above a scaffolding-plank shelf that I use as a dressing table.” My new favourite phone TECHNOLOGY EDITOR AMY CUTMORE HAS BEEN LIVING WITH THE LG G5 SMARTPHONE, £420 “I’m not one to fall for gimmicks, but I love the G5’s modular design. Pull off the base and you can swap the battery for a spare, which is ideal if you’re as glued to your phone as I am. There are also different modules you can plug in – my favourite is the Bang & Olufsen music player…

MY GO-TO STORES... • Barker & Stonehouse ‘It’s full of lovely, country-style bedroom furniture.’ • Curtain Boutique ‘Where I find most of my fabrics, then my mum turns them into blinds and curtains.’ • House of Fraser ‘Great for extra bed linen to layer up depending on the time of year.’ • Maison Belle ‘I love that its stock is ever changing – there’s always something new!’ STYLIST’S NOTE “Avoid strong accents to keep this look soft and tonal – lavender, blush pink and chalky blues are perfect ”LISA FAZZANI, SHOPPING EDITOR…

Laid-back living In a bright space, painting the walls in a flat matt forest green colour will dial down the glare and promote a mellower mood that’s perfect for a room you just want to relax in at the end of a long day. Cocooning in winter and cooling in summer, it looks great balanced with equal amounts of flannel grey Stylist’s note “Shades of green work beautifully with each other, so don't be afraid to mix light and dark, blue- and yellow-based tones” NICKY PHILLIPS, DECORATING EDITOR Restful retreat Deep green can work in smaller spaces, too – even on all four walls if you offset it above the dado with clean white and a pale colour on the floor. It’ll change mood as the day goes…

“ We like to enjoy the good life with our friends and family, and that inspired the house’s sociable layout and its décor ” Welcome to my home Laura and Sjak Halmans-Kok, who are florists, live here with their children, Amber, nine, and Pepijn, seven. THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom detached house in Maasbree, a town in southeast Netherlands, which the couple built in 2007.  “My collection of vintage chopping boards and baskets adds character. They’re well used – and well loved ” Kitchen-diner The modern units, marble worktops and mosaics could look cold and hard, but Laura’s collection of rustic baskets and boards softens the overall effect. BUY THE KEY PIECES For similar wall tiles, try the Silver grey quartzite slate mosaic, £88.78 per sq…

Laid-back family den Walls painted in Copse emulsion, £38.50 for 2.5ltr, Paint by Conran. Flokati large rug, £450, Habitat. Grey curtain-pole kit, £65 for a L150cm pole, John Lewis. Curtains made in Asuri Buff 7726/07, £47.50 per m, Romo; border made in Pronto Cobalt, £35.50 per m, Linwood. Blind made in Shiko Indigo V3223/06, £49.50 per m, Villa Nova. Dresser in Grey Oak, from £2,145, Neptune. Baya coffee table, £625, Lombok. Whiteleaf sideboard, £825, Little Tree Furniture range; Dillon armchair, £1,215; both Barker & Stonehouse. Small tray coffee table, £190, French Connection. ON COFFEE TABLE Lantern, £25, Debenhams. Druvfläder bowl, £8, Ikea. Milo vase, £25; concrete apple, £12.50 for an apple and pear set; both Cox & Cox. Puritan Grey cup and saucer, £8 for the set, John Lewis. ON/NEAR…

“Never chop or slice food directly onto your quartz countertops – they are scratch-resistant but not scratch-proof ”JOHN SIMS-HILDITCH, CO-FOUNDER, NEPTUNE Impressed by Rachel’s sleek and simple worksurfaces? Here’s the lowdown on using quartz in your kitchen Practical, durable and stylish, quartz is a strong contender if you’re wanting a low-stress worktop. This man-made surface is formed from mineral quartz mixed with resins and pigments, with around 90% quartz to 10% binding and colouring agents. Quartz is also referred to as composite or engineered stone. Q Why should I choose it? Quartz is more durable, heat resistant and easier to maintain than natural stone. The surface never needs to be resealed, and it won’t chip or stain easily. It’s also completely nonporous, making it a hygienic choice, plus some…

1 CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BUILDER Start by choosing a tradesman – this could be through a personal recommendation, by contacting your local Howdens depot where staff will help you find a local builder, or by using the Find a Local Builder page at howdens.com. Alternatively, use a review site such as checkatrade.com. 2 GET A HOME SURVEY Ask your builder to arrange an appointment for one of Howdens’ trained kitchen designers to visit your home to measure up, discuss your requirements and go through the company’s range of products. 3 VISIT THE LOCAL DEPOT Go to your local branch where the designer will sit down with you and your builder and go through the plans. These will be shown to you on a big screen – where you can also…

“ I added Art-Deco style in here to go with the rest of the house, and now it’s peaceful instead of sombre and dark ” Welcome to my home Susie Ember lives here with her husband Nick and children, Betsy, eight, and Gabriel, five. THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom, Thirties semi in Willesden, northwest London. WHAT IT COST Sanitaryware.......£1,912 Furniture..............£1,981 Tiles.......................£1,178 Paint..........................£44 Towel rail................£693 TOTAL..............£5,808 HOW SUSIE AND NICK DID IT ‘The bathroom was oddly laid out, with a shower cubicle squeezed into one corner and a little corridor outside the room. It was dark, as it had only one window and was boarded all the way around with dark marine ply – the previous owner was a yacht designer! We decided to knock out the corridor to…

 With its soft lines and promise of comfy bathing, it’s easy to fall for this modern take on a roll-top bath. And because it curves inwards to the floor, with no protruding rim or feet, it’s a practical choice, too. “Composite baths are strong, easy to clean and hold heat well. They’re beautifully smooth, too ”PAUL CROW, MANAGING DIRECTOR, RIPPLES Q What are egg-shaped baths usually made from? The main options – from cheapest to most expensive – are acrylic, composite and natural stone. The best acrylic designs are double-skinned and reinforced for rigidity. You’ll get a thinner, crisper shape but the same warmth to the touch with a composite bath, which is man-made using minerals and resins, making it very resilient. Carved stone is naturally beautiful but very heavy…

“ The spaces flow really well – it’s great for our family and friends ” Welcome to my home THE PROPERTY A detached four-bedroom villa in Argyll and Bute. THE VALUE It was bought in 2008 for £475,000 and is now worth around £1.5 million. THE COST The refurbishment cost a total of £750,000. “ At the heart of the project was the idea of bringing in the views over the sea and the Arrochar Alps beyond ” When Alan and Linda Gardner decided to return to Scotland after years of living abroad, they discovered a Seventies red-brick house that they believed could be transformed into the home of their dreams. With the help of local architect Alastair MacIntyre from McInnes Gardner Architects, Alan…

Brise-soleil canopies Susana Sousa of Paul Archer Design has the lowdown 1 THEY CAST ESSENTIAL SHADE... ‘It’s vital that highly glazed homes don’t overheat, especially if they’re south facing. A practical solution is to attach a canopy over the glass.’ 2 …BUT THEY DON’T BLOCK OUT LIGHT ‘The Pethes’ slatted design prevents the light from being completely blocked out. The thickness of the slats and the angle at which they’re mounted determines how much shade they provide.’ 3 THEY CAN BE DESIGNED BESPOKE… ‘This structure was designed by the architect and is made from dried English Douglas fir, then topped with lead for a durable finish. This design would cost around £5,000 to £7,000.’ 4 …OR RETRO FITTED ‘You can buy an off-the-peg brise soleil made to fit, from brands…

Perk up your flowerbeds with a range of reliable, sturdy tulips with classic cup-shaped blooms. Expect big impact from these delightful varieties. Flowering in mid-to-late spring, the Tulip ‘Triumph Collection’ makes a wonderful addition to beds, borders and containers. Bulb size 11/12. Buy 16 of each of the following varieties, or pick the Saver collection to purchase all four: ‘NEW DESIGN’ Its delightful soft-pink blooms are flushed with white and primrose yellow on the outside. The flowerheads open to reveal a deeper pink interior and yellow centre. Height: 45cm. Spread: 15cm. ‘YELLOW FLIGHT’ Borne on compact, sturdy stems, the cup-shaped flowers are a striking yellow, creating a dazzling display when grouped in beds, borders and containers, or mixed with other brightly coloured bedding plants. Height: 35cm. Spread: 15cm. ‘SNOWSTAR’ A…

Settle into autumn with a bespoke new colour scheme to warm up your home. Valspar’s state-of-the-art colour-matching technology means that its Premium Walls & Ceilings emulsion can be created in any colour the eye can see – that’s 2.2million shades! Simply take your inspiration, whether it’s a favourite jumper, a memorable photograph or perhaps an old paint sample, to the Valspar Colour Mixing Centre at your local B&Q store to have it scanned, matched and mixed while you wait. Not just beautiful on the surface, Valspar’s Premium Walls & Ceilings emulsion offers maximum durability and a super-scrub formulation, which can withstand the wear and tear of everyday life – holding its colour even after hundreds of scrubs. So no matter how creative your little ones are, you can wipe away…

Q What’s the benefit? You can pay for items under £30 instantly using your card, without the faff of entering a PIN or signing your name. On your phone, you can spend £100 in one go on the Android Pay app, while the Apple Pay app has unlimited transaction amounts, provided it’s supported by the retailer. Some stores stick to the £30 cap for all three, so check before you shop. Q Can I do it? Yes, provided your card has a contactless ‘wave’ symbol on it. You can also check if your bank participates in the Apple Pay and/ or Android Pay scheme, in which case you can pay with an iPhone 6/6S/SE, an Apple Watch or an NFC-enabled Android phone running KitKat 4.4 or later. Q How do…

Looks seen on fashion-week catwalks around the world often have real influence on trends in homeware. With the innovative Designers at Debenhams range, the department store is at the forefront of that crossover style. Its award-winning designers take their expertise in the world of fashion and apply it to homeware, continually creating cutting-edge buys that set trends, but are also practical and easy to live with. There’s something for every style of décor, whatever your taste. If you’re a fan of a cool, contemporary look, there’s J by Jasper Conran’s modern, minimalist range, which embraces clean lines and an industrial colour palette, and includes simple but elegant kitchen accessories. Like things a bit more bohemian? Try the Butterfly Home by Matthew Williamson collection of buys, with its jewel-like colour palette,…

JESTER IPA If you’re starting with onion bhajis, avoid American hops, as some have an onion hint that may be too much. Go for a tropical English hopped beer, like this one from Adnams £2.40 for 500ml, Marks & Spencer 5AM SAINT A subtly spiced dish like biryani can handle a good heft of hops, so I recommend the fragrant red fruit and grapefruit bite of this craft ale from Scottish brewery Brewdog £1.75 for 330ml, Sainsbury’s PREMIER CRU Mild curries with gentle heat need to be paired with something acidic, complex and refreshing. Fermented with champagne yeast, this Aspall’s cider is a real treat £1.99 for 500ml, Waitrose…

AAEG 0344 561 1611; aeg.co.uk Aldi aldi.co.uk Allissia’s Attic & Vintage French Style 020 8616 5760; allissiasattic.co.uk Alternative Flooring 01264 335111; alternativeflooring.com Altons Garden Centre 01268 722816; alton-gardencentre.co.uk Amara 0800 587 7645; amara.com Amazon.co.uk amazon.co.uk Anthropologie 00800 0026 8476; anthropologie.eu Ao.com 0844 324 9222; ao.com Apple 0800 048 0408; apple.com/uk Appliances Direct 0871 984 4416; appliancesdirect.co.uk Arada Stoves 01297 35998; aradastoves.com Argos 0345 640 3030; argos.co.uk A Splash of Colour 0161 920 7406; asplashofcolour.com AtNo67 01225 938059; atnumber67.co.uk BB&Q 0333 014 3098; diy.com Barker & Stonehouse 0333 355 9046; barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Barnaby & Co barnabyco.com Bathroom Discount Centre 020 7381 4222; bathdisc.co.uk Bathstore 0800 023 2323; bathstore.com Baumatic 0118 931 1110; baumatic.co.uk Bella Bathrooms 0844 811 7017; bellabathrooms.co.uk Benjamin Moore 01753 575756; benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Berry Construction 020 8945 7945; berryconstructionuk.com Best 0844 463 9705; besthoods.co.uk Bibliotheque 020 8365 2084; bibliotheque.co.uk Blackdown Shepherd Huts 01460 929774; blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk Blanco 0844 912 0100; blanco.co.uk Bloom 0844 482 2332; bloom.uk.com BoConcept 00 45…

STUNNING WITH OR WITHOUT FLOWERS Jewel glass vases, from £21.50 each, MiaFleur CHANNEL THE ART-DECO ERA Ingrid side table, £149, Marks & Spencer FABULOUSLY KITSCH Large pineapple lamp, £120; drum shade, £50; both Laura Ashley COLOUR CRUSH ON BERRY SHADES Merlin cushion, £12, Very BEADED FOR A BIT OF BLING Beaded cushion, £30, House of Fraser GIVE A SIDEBOARD SPARKLE Glass diamond vase, £22, National Trust Shop EXTRA PLUSH = SUPER LUXE Louise throw, £240, Laura Ashley JEWEL BRIGHTS Highgate goblets, £21.45 for four, Not Just Jugs BOUDOIR CHIC Muxaro mirror, £325, The Chandelier & Mirror Company PERFECT FOR PIÑA COLADAS Gold pineapple cocktail shaker, £34, Oliver Bonas WHITE TOWELS? BORING! Peacock velour towels, from £14 for a hand towel, Biba range, House of Fraser ADD SPARKLE AND COLOUR Peacock…

Take it to the table with painterly ceramics Blue and white patterned crockery has always been part of the coastal look, but now it’s been given an artisan twist with free-flowing, painterly designs in bold, inky blues on textured white china. WHERE TO BUY Majolica platter, £100; Folded bud vase, £45, Lisa Firer range; large taper vase, £75; high ball, £12; tumbler, £8; jug, £50; glass carafe, £45; Sapphire tableware, from £15 per item; all Heal’s Use mellow colour in the living room Swapping summer-fresh blues and whites for a warmer, moodier palette of navy, denim blue, cream and greige makes for a relaxed and cosy feel, helped along by tactile basketware, soft knitted throws and textured ceramics. IDEAL HOME loves Voyage Decoration’s Nebula wall art, £26 per m –…

“ A white interior doesn’t have to be cold or bare Ð it can be beautiful ” THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom Victorian terrace in Corsham, Wiltshire. VALUE Bought for £560,000 in 2015; now worth £710,000. When it comes to interiors, Martha Piotrowska has definite Scandi tastes. ‘If style had a nationality, mine would be Danish,’ she says. ‘As soon as I saw this cottage, I visualised white rooms with dark, contrasting accents and warm metals like brass and copper.’ The house, which was built around 1867, had a bold palette of blues, greens and reds, which Martha repainted white. ‘We needed a blank canvas to start with,’ she says. Inspired by Scandinavian interiors, Martha then took out the old carpets, and stained or painted the floorboards. ‘Wooden…

WHERE TO BUY 1. PENDANT LIGHT Large utility light in Royal Green, £69.95, Dotcomgiftshop 2. CUSHION Velvet ombre cushion, £27, Oliver Bonas 3. CHAIR Tinelle wire armchair, £310, Out There Interiors 4. DESK LAMP Type 1228 brushed-aluminium desk lamp in Mid Green, £160, Anglepoise range, John Lewis 5. BOTTLE Bottle vase in green, £15, Marks & Spencer 6. SIDE TABLE Marble side table in Emerald Green, £109, Cuckooland.com 7. CABINET Hurdal solid pine linen cabinet, £175, Ikea…

We bought a plot of land and built our own house, incorporating features that complement the furniture I’ve collected over the years. It allowed us to create exactly the home that we wanted. The architecture of a home is the starting point. We were inspired by a house in a nearby town – a new build in a classic Thirties style. We knocked on the door one day and the owners were kind enough to show us around. We contacted the architect the next day. We love the natural stone and brick, and the shutters at every window. You have to know what your must-haves are. For us, the essentials were large windows to let in plenty of light, high ceilings with cornices, connectedness to the garden and a bathroom…

“A powerful industrial hood is a good choice for a large, modern kitchen, while a pendant style will suit a smaller space ”DANNY LAY, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CAPLE Setting your hob into an island is a smooth move if you love to cook with an audience, but it’s crucial you fit an extractor above it. It’ll keep your kitchen clean and can provide task lighting. Q What’s the difference between an extracting and a recirculating hood? Extraction hoods deliver the best results, as moisture and grease are carried away along ducting and out through an external wall. Because they don’t need ducting, recirculating hoods are often more intricate in their design, but less effective overall. Their charcoal filters remove smells and grease before releasing the air back into the…

WHERE TO BUY 1 TOWEL RAIL Brampton floor-mount heated towel rail, £693, Wayfair 2 TILES Metro tiles in Sky Blue, £15.50 per sq m, Tons of Tiles 3 MIXER TAP Downton Abbey traditional bath-shower mixer, £193, Victorian Plumbing 4 VINYL FLOOR Parade slip-resistant flooring, £59 per sq m, Murafloor 5 BATH Heritage Orford slipper roll-top bath, £1,320, Victorian Plumbing 6 HAMMAM TOWEL Esra towel in Indigo, £25, Hammam Havlu 7 VANITY UNIT Eterno vanity unit in Pistachio, £684, Moods range, Bella Bathrooms…

Supersized kitchen The kitchen alone occupies the entire original cottage that Ken grew up in. Glass links at each end connect it to two further, newly added buildings, making this space the central hub. BUY THE KEY PIECES Radius six-seater oak dining table, £750, Habitat. For similar flooring, try the rubber tiles in Slate Grey, £55 per sq m, Harvey Maria Main living room ‘The dimensions of this space were worked out around the size of our Cassina suite,’ says Grace. ‘We bought it in the Seventies and it was very expensive at the time, but we’ve always liked it.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES For a similar sofa, try the Maralunga, £5,136, Cassina range, Twentytwentyone. 7443 wood-burning stove, from £2,253, Morsø range, Bonk & Co. For a similar pendant, try…

Sky-Frame glazing 1 IT’S IDEAL FOR A ROOM WITH A VIEW These huge Swiss-made, floor-to-ceiling glazing systems can be configured with two-, three-or four-track sliding windows measuring up to W3.2m x 4m. 2 YOU CAN CHOOSE DIFFERENT STYLES... There are three types of windows available: classic (vertical), arc (curved) or slope (angled), all of which can be single-, double- or triple-glazed to suit your needs. 3 ...THAT ALL HAVE ADD-ON FEATURES Bonus extras include Automation (operation via remote control), Fly (insect screen), Sun (solar shade) and Guard (burglar resistant with optional alarm sensors). 4 IT’S ENERGY EFFICIENT IN WINTER... ‘The Sky-Frame windows have high levels of insulation and we benefit from a lot of solar gain, so the house keeps the heat in brilliantly,’ says Linda. ‘As a result, our…

Garden shelter Linda’s hut has four bunks, one for each of her young grandchildren. ‘They come for sleepovers when the weather is good,’ she says. On balmy evenings, the hut becomes a child-free zone where Linda and Neil can relax. In winter, the wood burner makes it a favourite spot on a Sunday afternoon. BUY THE KEY PIECES For a similar hut, try a selection, Blackdown Shepherds Huts…

WHERE TO BUY 1. PLANT OBELISK Loire plant-climbing obelisk, £34.99, Waitrose Garden 2. FIREPLACE Fidibus steel outdoor fireplace, £267, Kielback range, Wayfair 3. PLANT POT Strata garland terraccina plastic weather-resistant plant pot (diameter 30cm), £14.99, Greenfingers.com 4. BENCH Alexander Rose 5ft Turnberry roble hardwood bench, £449, Dobbies Garden Centres 5. LANTERN Rotera tealight lantern in white, £2, Ikea 3 PLANTS FOR AUTUMN COLOUR Dahlia ‘Happy Hallowe’en’ A miniature variety that has bright orange flowers in September Dahlia ‘Bishop of Oxford’ Flowers from July, with soft orange petals against dark stems Crab Apple A deciduous tree with small edible fruit that make a delicious jelly 5 PLACES TO BUY A SHEPHERD’S HUT • Appletree Bespoke Timber Buildings Call 01953 850072; visit appletree bespoke.co.uk • Blackdown Shepherd Huts Call 01460 929774; visit…

THE DEODORISER This mix of cedarwood, frankincense and patchouli fragrances means his trainers no longer have to be left outside – a win for both of you! Shoe refresher, £15, Roullier White THE SHINE MACHINE For a military-grade shoe shine, this motorised polisher is hard to beat. Simply plug it in, switch it on and see your reflection in seconds Polisher machine, £79.99, Klarstein THE WHITENER Throw your tennis shoes in the washing machine, then use this whitener to restore them to their box-fresh best. Suitable for leather, vinyl and canvas Whitener, £2.50, Ocado THE SUEDE SPECIALIST With a coarse side to brush off dirt and a soft side to re-fluff the nap, this brush will keep your suede shoes and boots looking as good as new Suede brush, £3,…

FIVE-STAR EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES 8 DAYS FROM £1,099PP* 15 DAYS FROM £1,499PP* THE PRICE INCLUDES • Return rail* and Eurostar, or flights, taxes and transfers • Five-star cabins with hotel-quality beds and private bathrooms • Exceptional full-board cuisine Departures up to November 2016, and April to November 2017 POMPEII, CAPRI & THE BAY OF NAPLES 8 DAYS FROM £699PP* THE PRICE INCLUDES • Return flights, taxes and transfers • Seven nights at three- or four-star Sorrento hotels with half board • Includes Sorrento, Capri, Vesuvius, Naples Archaeological Museum, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and Ravello Departures up to October 2016, and April to October 2017 LAKE COMO, ST MORITZ & THE BERNINA EXPRESS 8 DAYS FROM £849PP* THE PRICE INCLUDES • Return flights, taxes and transfers • Seven nights at four-star hotels with half board…

Next Home has an Ercol range (and we love it!) High-street heavyweight Next has joined forces with heritage brand Ercol to unveil 15 exclusive pieces, including living and dining room furniture, upholstery and a bedroom series. Each item is crafted in solid oak with Ercol’s distinctive retro touch. Classic and covetable – we’ll take the lot! Cath Kidston meets Pooh... This autumn, Cath Kidston and Disney’s Winnie the Pooh are embarking on a big adventure. As a hats off to the bear’s big 9-0, the new Balloon Spot design will be used across all ranges and is available online and from selected stores from 26 September. Brilliant or bonkers? MONA LISA SCRATCHING POST Bet you’ve never thought of a cat scratching post as a work of art –…

Laura Tyerman, who owns a homeware shop, lives here with her husband Neil, who works for Royal Mail. THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom, 1760s end-of-terrace house in Guisborough, North Yorkshire, bought in October 2014. VALUE Bought for £120,000 in 2014; now worth £200,000 “ Although we wanted the place to have character, we didn’t want to live in the past ” Laura and Neil Tyerman had been living in a Seventies-built house, but longed for the charm and character of a genuine period cottage. ‘Having tried to shoehorn a country look into the old house, we were determined to do it properly in our new home – an 18th-century cottage,’ says Laura. In need of a total refurb, the property was the perfect chance for the couple to…

MY GO-TO STORES... • The Fig Store ‘Sells beautiful linen and handpicked homeware.’ • Ham ‘I absolutely adore its monochrome mugs and wall art.’ • Nook shop ‘Great for retro office accessories.’ • Tiger ‘Full of wacky home buys you’d have a hard time finding elsewhere.’ STYLIST’S NOTE “Adding the wrong kind of pattern, like florals, can confuse a look like this, so stick to simple stripes, zigzags and geometrics ”MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR…

1 Make your bedroom oh so cosy Paint a band of dusky grey behind the bed for warm colour that doesn’t overwhelm the room. Then switch cotton sheets for flannel and load the bed with throws and cushions to create a cosy nest designed for lie-ins. 2 LUXE UP YOUR CUTLERY Make dinner with friends a more glam affair with silverware in a gold or copper finish. Available at Habitat or House of Fraser. 3 USE A COOL COASTER TO MARK YOUR SPOT Prevent teacup rings on your coffee table, and make it clear which corner of the sofa is yours, with a chic alphabet coaster emblazoned with your initial. 4 Get a quirky look with cork wallpaper Textured wallpapers have been around for yonks and now cork is having…

1 TAKE CONTROL If you hate cleaning finger marks off your light switches, the good news is that you’ll probably never need to touch them again. Instead, you can use the Hive app to turn your lights on and off, or to dim them. You can even switch them off in bed, saving any arguments with your partner over who’s going to get up and do it! 2 INSTALL EASY-FIT BULBS Forget the old jokes about how many people it takes to change a light bulb – Hive’s bulbs are really easy to install. Simply replace your existing bulb with a bayonet or screw Hive Active Light, and pair it with the Hive Hub that plugs into your router. 3 SET A SCHEDULE With Hive Active Light bulbs, you can…

GALLEY Long and narrow, a galley kitchen has limited space for wall and base units, so it needs plenty of hard-working, clever storage features, such as pan drawers and larder units. U-SHAPED This versatile layout offers lots of worktop and storage, but it can feel enclosed, so include open shelving and display units to create a feeing of space. L-SHAPED There’s plenty of room for base, corner and wall units in this kitchen, along with a central island. Utilise the wall space with decorative cabinetry, such as plate racks and shelving.…

1 SOLID OILED OAK A fast track way of adding character and warmth, solid-wood flooring looks beautiful and is hard-wearing. Create a traditional look in your kitchen by mixing up the length of the planks. 2 PREFINISHED FAST-FIT OAK Engineered real wood is less reactive to changes in temperature than solid wood. This option’s micro-bevel design looks and feels like solid oak, plus it’s quick and easy to fit. 3 LIGHT OAK LAMINATE A light oak-effect laminate tile is ideal for brightening up a darker room. It can be used with underfloor heating, making it an excellent floor for living rooms and bedrooms. 4 PROFESSIONAL RANDOM-EFFECT TILE With the appearance of sleek, textured slate, this will give a kitchen or bathroom a polished finish. It also comes with a 20-year…

“The room is so relaxing now, plus it feels really sophisticated ” Welcome to my home Tianna Dagher lives here with her husband Fadi and their two children, Mila, seven, and Julian, two. THE PROPERTY A four-bed end-of-terrace in west London. WHAT IT COST Bath and taps with shower mixer.......£2,150 Shower...................£740 Loo........................£420 Basins and taps.....£898 Vanity units..........£1,879 Tiles......................£1,195 TOTAL..........£7,282 HOW TIANNA AND FADI DID IT ‘We tackled the bathroom while renovating the whole house, which took about five months in total. I really wanted to have a freestanding bath under the window, so we took that as the starting point for the new layout. Fadi is a designer, so he drew detailed sketches for our builder – Mariyan Stoykov from Grand Design London – to follow. Mariyan removed…

 We’re hot for wood burners – ecofriendly, efficient and inexpensive to run, they’ll give your living space an attractive focal point into the bargain. Follow our buying advice and yours should last a lifetime. “If a stove is too powerful for a room, tar can build up, creating problems in the chimney ”TONY INGRAM, TECHNICAL MANAGER, MORSø Q Can I have a stove? A wood-burning stove can be installed almost anywhere, but if you live in a Smoke Control Area, you’ll need to buy a model listed as exempt by DEFRA*. To see if yours is a Smoke Control Area, what rules may apply and for a list of exempt stoves, visit smokecontrol.defra.gov.uk. Q What output do I need? To estimate the right kW output for a room, multiply…

“This is definitely not a show house, but very much a family home ” Welcome to my home PROPERTY A four-bedroom, Arts-and-Crafts-style house in northwest London. VALUE Bought for £1.36 million in 2013; now worth more than £2.5 million. WHAT IT COST Grounds and building work...................£294,500 Roof………….………….£7,500 Glazing.…………....£45,000 Kitchen………........£25,000 Flooring……...........£21,000 Plumbing and electrics…...……….£35,000 TOTAL….......£428,000 For Manasi Pethe and her husband Sameer, buying a house that needed updating was a chance to create more flexible living spaces that could keep up with the pace of their growing family. GETTING PERMISSION The house is in a Conservation Area, so the couple hired Paul Archer Design (paularcherdesign.co.uk) to secure planning permission for the demolition of the kitchen extension and conservatory. MODERN EXTENSION The old structures were replaced with an open-plan kitchen,…

“It started as a blank canvas, but now I have a garden that’s lovely to look out on ” THE PLOT The one-acre garden in Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, is split into zones with a summerhouse, potager, parterre, deck and overflowing borders. Facing a blank canvas can be overwhelming, so Linda Holdaway tackled her garden by starting small. ‘I began in the corner outside my kitchen window, designing something worth looking out at,’ she says. Now, the view is of a pretty summerhouse surrounded by flower-filled mixed borders. Steel obelisks and a rope swag sit over a sea of pink cleomes, red dahlias, coral ice plants and purple asters. In autumn, butterflies flit over catmint, buddleja and self-seeding Verbena bonariensis. ‘Self-seeding plants are great because I have lots of space…

“ The mix of mellow colours and rustic, handcrafted buys captures the autumnal mood of the moment perfectly ”LISA FAZZANI SHOPPING EDITOR, IDEAL HOME As the seasons change, now’s the perfect time to make some changes to your home. If you’re unsure where to start, find all the inspiration you’ll need in Sainsbury’s new Harvest collection. Inspired by the colours, patterns and textures of the British countryside in autumn, this on-trend range features original designs from Sainsbury’s in-house design studio across textiles, tableware and home accessories. CHOOSE MELLOW COLOURS This look takes its lead from the changing shades of the countryside – think of full hedgerows, the rich tones of fallen leaves and the golden hues of fields ready for harvest. Take these warm tones as the starting…

THE MULTI-HANGER This oh-so-clever hanger will keep belts, ties, scarves, bags and even necklaces neatly organised Hanger, £7.25, Brabantia THE SHELF DIVIDER Part of a range of smart storage accessories, this divider will transform an open shelf of overflowing clothes into a tidy and easily accessible stack Divider, £8, John Lewis THE HOOKS Pop this classy over-the-door hanger inside your wardrobe Hanger, £12, Habitat THE CUBBY Hung from any rail, this is ideal for those bulkier items like shoes, bags and hats Organiser, £30, Store THE SHOE STACK More heels than Imelda Marcos? This set of 20 boxes will restore order to your jumble of footwear. The clear finish means you can see what’s inside, and air holes let your shoes breathe Boxes, £14.99 for 20, Domu.co.uk THE…

1 THE BEST FOR BEGINNERS Novices rejoice! Diagrams on the side of this compact, cupboard-friendly mixer tell you what power levels to use with each attachment. A whisk, beater and dough hook come in the box, but plenty more are available, including an ice-cream maker MUM4807GB, £120, Bosch 2 THE WORKTOP CANDY Choose this beauty if you like all your countertop appliances to match – there’s also a retro-style kettle, toaster, slow juicer and blender in the same palette of seven colours. Performance-wise, it’s worthy of any WI member’s kitchen, while the solid build quality and nonslip feet keep it steady, even at max speed SMF01 Retro, £300, Smeg 3 THE ICON… BUT SMALLER The Mini is 20% smaller and 25% lighter than its big brother, but is just as…

“ Sit back and switch on ITV this month – hit Nineties show Cold Feet returns with a brilliant new eight-part series” NICK CANNON, WHAT’S ON TV Lamb biryani Serves 4 Takes 1hr 45min INGREDIENTS • 2 onions, thinly sliced • 1tbsp oil • 25g sultanas • 400g diced leg of lamb • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed • 1cm piece of ginger, peeled and grated • 2tbsp ground almonds • 4tbsp tikka curry paste • 250ml plain yoghurt • Pinch of saffron threads • 2tbsp milk, warmed • 200g basmati rice 1 Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/ Gas 5. In a casserole dish, fry the onions in the oil until golden, add the sultanas and cook for a further 2min. Put half the mixture in a bowl and set aside. 2 Add the…

WHERE TO BUY 5. BOWLS Folk Pad printed glazed porcelain bowls, £8 each, West Elm 1. NAPKINS Caicos cotton napkins, £8 each, Anthropologie 2. WATER PITCHER Palace hammered jug (1.7ltr), £64.95, Culinary Concepts range, John Lewis 6. TRAY Copper tray (diameter 36cm), £34, MiaFleur 7. SERVING DISH Large balti dish, £11.95, World of Flavours range, Kitchen Craft 3. PESTLE & MORTAR Agra black marble pestle and mortar, £40, Habitat 4. GLASSWARE Amber carafe, £40; Fleur de Lys glass, £8.50; both Van Verre range, Amara 8. VOTIVE Red votive, £12, Linea range, House of Fraser…

Clipboard gallery This informal display idea looks great in a kitchen-diner or office. Use identical boards (they don’t have to be fancy – in fact, plainer is better so your pictures really pop). Think about what goes where – try not to put too-similar prints side by side as your display will lose its laid-back look. BUY THE KEY PIECES Clipboards, £2.99 each, Ryman. Prints: Rose, £18.80, Northlight; ‘Home is…’, £25, The Lovely Drawer; Cactus, £11.50, The Motivated Type range; ‘A’ and ‘B’; both £13 each, Eleanor Bowmer range; all Notonthehighstreet.com; Balloons, £14.95, King & McGaw; ‘Take a hike’, £12, Typo; ‘Dream big’, £5.40, MiniLearners range, Etsy; Shelf Life, £15, Seventy Tree; She Be Fierce, £16, Old English Company; Pigeon, £22, Pui range, Scout Editions; monochrome cards, £5 for four,…