Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2024 i Ideal Home

EDITOR’S LETTER OK yes, I may have bought yet another scented candle yesterday, even though I didn’t specifically need one. Guilty as charged! But when the nights are drawing in and the days feel so dull and grey, I’ll take any pick-me-up I can get my hands on. It’s the interiors-lovers take on the ‘lipstick effect’ -we’re on a tight budget and I may not have the funds for all the big projects and purchases I’d love to tackle right now (and to be honest, there are way too many on the wish list to count), but I’ll make up for it with small indulgences instead. I find a scented candle is the perfect little luxury to hit the spot, but I’m also partial to a new cushion or houseplant.…

One suspects it’s the notion of hunkering down when the weather gets cooler or cosying up in a welcoming space filled with the delicious aroma of coffee and baked goods, but it’s hard to deny that the ‘cafecore’ trend revolves around comfort, and that’s what makes it so appealing. According to Pinterest’s yearly trend report, searches for ‘coffee station decor’ have risen by +145% and ‘cafe aesthetic’ is up by +820%. The great thing about this trend is it doesn’t discriminate between different sizes of kitchens and whether you own or rent, so you can adopt the cafe kitchen look in any home. ‘My advice for those who want to recreate the warming experience of a cafe at home, is to invest in a quality and statement coffee machine –…

The right flooring can really set the look for a scheme, with carpet and rugs having many positives – and we’re not just talking about the obvious comfort underfoot. But with so much choice, from colour to texture, material to design, where do you start? We asked three people in the know – the director of a rug brand, brand manager at a flooring company and a carpet expert – to share their secrets. THE CARPET COMEBACK ‘Carpet, like anything to do with interiors, enjoyed a boom during the Covid years – but, let’s be honest, there are only so many floors to carpet, so there has been a decline in carpet sales,’ says Rupert. ‘Furthermore, LVT and wood flooring remain an established trend – for practical, maintenance and lifestyle…

| FAMILY HOME | “We used GREEN as a NEUTRAL throughout - it's a unifying THREAD to layer on more COLOURS” HOME NOTES WHO LIVES HERE? Charlotte Woodwards, a compliance officer, lives here with her husband Woody, who works on a trading desk, and their children Margot, seven, and five-year-old Wilfred. THE PROPERTY A four-bed Victorian terrace in South Woodford, east London. THE LAYOUT It's a typical Victorian terrace, with the living room off the hallway at the front. Continuing past the staircase, there’s a loo and utility room, leading on to the kitchen-diner. At the back, there’s a family seating area. On the first floor is the main bedroom, two children’s rooms, family bathroom and study. The top floor has an extra guest room with en suite. When Charlotte…

CLEAN | ORGANISE | SOLVE On page 170, DISCOVER how to get the inside of a grimy kettle sparkling again (without using chemicals), plus GEN UP on things to do to keep your tech in tip-top shape on page 171; turn to page 173 to find out all our EXPERT ADVICE on writing a will; while on page 175 we have kitchen cupboard DECLUTTERING covered; then head to page 177 to read all about Black Friday and how to make sure you get the BEST DEALS on the day...…

Kitchen cabinets are probably the most important storage in the home, but used daily and storing so much they can quickly fall into chaos. Knowing how to organise them efficiently is a game-changer, and will make the world of difference to how your kitchen runs. ‘When it comes to getting your kitchen cupboards in order, it’s important to get a system in place that’s easy to stick to every day, given it’s a space that’s used daily,’ say Charlotte Reddington-Smith and Gemma Lilly, aka the Style Sisters, who have homeware ranges at both Tesco and Next. Here, we’ve asked a number of experts for their top tips… Start with a declutter You probably guessed that the first step to organising kitchen cupboards is to declutter them. Incorporating expired food and…

BEFORE YOU BUY ■ Air fryers are essentially mini countertop ovens. As they’re smaller than a regular oven, they heat up faster and cook food quickly, so it’s no surprise that they’re becoming an essential kitchen appliance for speedy week-night meals. ■ One of the biggest things to consider when buying a family-sized air fryer is capacity, but as this is often listed in litres, it can be tricky to interpret. Ideally, you’ll want at least a 5ltr air fryer, but if you’ve got older children or teenagers, we’d suggest an 8ltr model or bigger will be a more suitable size to keep everyone well fed. ■ Next, think about whether you need two zones or one larger one. This will depend on what you’re looking to cook. For example,…

If you’re thinking about how to protect your plants from frost this winter, we don’t blame you as it can be devastating to lose tender shrubs or crops you’ve nurtured. ‘You can get a ground frost that affects lawns and roots, and an air frost that affects stems, leaves, flowers and fruit,’ warns Kate Turner, gardening expert at Miracle-Gro. ‘Water in the plant’s cells freezes, expands, then bursts, leaving the plant unable to take up water and nutrients.’ We asked gardening experts for quick and easy tips to protect your plants from frost… YOU WILL NEED ■ Verve white plastic fleece (L200x W100cm), £5 for a pack of three, B&Q■ McGregor two-tier mini greenhouse, £30, Argos■ Bubble wrap, £5.99 for L500xW30cm, Amazon 1 TRY MAKESHIFT CLOCHES You don’t have to…

“Woven styles vary from a tight bouclé to a smart herringbone, and all are naturally moth resistant” Plastic fantastic Made using recycled plastic bottles, Alternative Flooring’s latest range of carpets and rugs is called Anywhere Ca-rPET. The ‘anywhere’ part refers to the fact that the soft, sisal-like material can be used indoors and out, while the rest takes its inspiration from the fact that the recycled PET yarn that the flooring is made from is known in manufacturing circles as rPET. The range comes in 4m and 5m widths, so is perfect for rugs, runners and carpets for most average homes, in a choice of four colourways and three weave styles. BLOOMING WONDERFUL Floral Street is a British fragrance brand that boasts some of the best practices with regards to…

Egg sambal ‘shakshuka’ SERVES 4 READY IN 1 HR 10 MINS ● 1 1/2tsp fennel seeds ● 2 whole cloves ● Seeds from 2 cardamom pods ● 1/2tsp ground cinnamon ● 1 1/2tbsp medium curry powder ● 60ml olive oil ● 1/2tsp black mustard seeds ● 20 curry leaves ● 1 medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced ● 10g ginger, peeled and finely grated ● 5 garlic cloves, crushed ● 10g coriander, stalks finely chopped and leaves to serve ● 150g datterini (or cherry) tomatoes ● 2tsp sambal oelek ● 1 x 400g tin of crushed tomatoes ● 100ml tamarind concentrate ● 300ml water ● 15g palm (or light soft brown) sugar ● 5 eggs ● Salt and black pepper 1 Put the fennel seeds, cloves and cardamom seeds…

STYLE STATEMENT Colour drenched Dramatic teal tones are just right for creating a cocooning, colour-drenched scheme, saturating everything in one colour – walls, ceiling, woodwork, radiators, furniture, the lot! Furniture Village has a new collection in rich teal and rust (the perfect accent), as well as dark oak furniture, including the Stockholm dining set (shown here) to perfectly complement a moody scheme. Elsewhere in the collection, the Sleep Story Dice bed frame in Plush Atlantic is equally dreamy with its deep blue shade. IH LOVES... Bobbin edges Large Gold Bobbin oval wall mirror, £175, Click Style What to do this month... READ In her new book, The Joy of Wintering (£12.99, Harper Collins), Erin Niimi Longhurst presents a strong case for simply taking it easy, teaching us why rest should…

What the experts say... Designers and stylists share their views ‘Plum is a wonderfully flexible colour and a fine choice for kitchen cabinetry, especially when paired with an empathetic neutral on walls. It also creates a cosy living room/snug when applied to the walls, or even for a grown-up bedroom where it will layer effortlessly with earthy neutral linens and cottons.’ PATRICK O’DONNELL, BRAND AMBASSADOR, FARROW & BALL ‘The warm purpleness of plum pairs beautifully with a wide range of colours. Try with cooler but tonally similar colours, such as lavender, for harmony; contrast with teal for a touch of glamour. For a bit of regal drama, combine with black and introduce warm metallic elements. To inject some energy, think about adding a strong pink to the scheme.’ MANDY RIPPON,…

1. VIBRANT VERTICALS Add a strong burst of colour to your hallway with a rainbow-style ombré stair runner that will bring a smile to your face every time you set foot on it. If you’d rather not have carpet, try painting your stairs in a similar way instead, using varying colours, or different gradients of the same colour, on the risers and treads. Ombré rainbow stair runner, from £135, Dunelm 2. DRAMATIC DOORWAY From the first glimpse, a brightly coloured front door will add visual presence and create a warm welcome. It may seem like a bold move, but it’s less of a commitment than painting a whole room. You just need to decide if you want a happy and sunny yellow, a more classic blue or even a splash…

HOME NOTES WHO LIVES HERE? Victoria Abbott and her husband Max, along with their four children, Margaux, eight, Nelson, six, Basil, four, and Juniper, eight months. THE PROJECT Creating a good-sized bathroom in keeping with the aesthetic of the house but with a practical, modern finish. TOTAL COST £10,000 When Victoria and Max moved into their house 13 years ago, soon after their wedding, it had just been converted from a stable into a three-bedroom family home. After having their third child eight years later, they realised that they would have to move if they didn’t extend. Making the kitchen larger to include an open-plan seating area meant that the original living room could be converted into a master bedroom, with the adjoining garage playroom becoming an en suite. ‘I…

Choosing the worktop that's right for your needs shouldn’t be a rushed job. It will take up a fair amount of space in your kitchen and you’ll be working with it multiple times a day after all. ‘One of the biggest mistakes I’ve encountered is the idea you can buy worktops purely by looking at pictures. Photos online or in print are very poor substitutes for seeing the real thing,’ says Sofia Bune, founder of Sola Kitchens. ‘I always recommend taking worktop samples home, where they may look very different from the way they appear in the artificial lighting of a kitchen showroom.’ As well as taking samples home, here are a few other things you should consider when choosing a new kitchen worktop. 1 PLAN YOUR JOINT LINES It…

■ CLEAR OUT YOUR GREENHOUSE In advance of winter, now’s the best time to give your greenhouse or potting shed a clean out in time for spring. On a mild, dry day, take everything out of the space, give the floor a good sweep, rinse out any empty pots and planters and put everything back inside. ■ PLANT BARE ROOT ROSES While you may think of roses as a summer bloom, planting them should actually be on your list of jobs to do in the garden this month. ‘Now is the ideal time to plant bare root roses, as long as the ground isn’t frozen,’ advises Morris Hankinson, founder and managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseries. ‘Plant them as soon as you receive them, and ensure the holes you dig…

Like so many of us, I find it really hard to relax. When thinking about having a little R&R, my mind immediately starts scrolling through my personal list of go-to downtime activities, which I think reveals a lot about my ability to stop and do nothing. Even my relaxation mode involves the word ‘activities’! I can spend hours working my way relentlessly through my to-do list, but I’ll still feel guilty if I’m found taking a ten-minute break to lounge on the sofa. I’ll jump up as if I’ve been caught doing something I shouldn’t, when my logical brain knows it’s perfectly fine and actually no-one is judging me! I think I’m hardwired to believe that I need to be constantly productive. Over time, I have definitely developed a much…

HAPPY HOME UPCYCLE PROJECT YOU WILL NEED ● Pen ● Hollow plastic toy animals ● Craft knife ● Newspaper ● Spray paint in any colour(s) ● Sand ● Soil ● Small plant or succulent If your kids have grown out of their toy animals, give them another life by transforming them into cute planters. Start by drawing an oval big enough for your plant on the toy animal’s back, then use a craft knife to carefully cut a hole for your plant. Next, lay some newspaper on a surface, spray paint the toy and leave to dry. When dry, fill the cavity with a little sand and soil, before inserting the plant and packing the sides with more soil.…

The chef and cookery writer lives in London with her boyfriend Henry Relph, their daughter Summer and their Staffordshire bull terrier, Nelly WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU GET IN THE DOOR? Take my shoes off and smother my dog with kisses. She’s an old girl, almost 11 years old and recovering from cancer. Then I make a ginger lemon tea. WHAT’S YOUR HOMEWARE ADDICTION? Blankets! I buy my patchwork quilts from Angie (@angieburrett) and I love buying artisan blankets from Oshana (oshana.co.uk) – they’re made by refugees and are absolutely stunning. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE HOMEWARE BRAND? Falcon jugs for drinks and flowers; Howe London for stripy cushions; Our Place for pans… and I love Kilner jars for storage and keeping leftovers in the fridge. WHAT SMELL…

LOOKS THAT LAST WONDER WALL For a fresh twist on classic wood panelling, use an oversized, modern geometric design painted in a soft sage green. Contrast with pops of William Morris botanical-inspired prints on the upholstering and lighting PATTERN DRENCH Papering the walls in a floral design and adding garden-inspired fabric at the window and on seat pads creates a warm, comforting space with a connection to nature TRY BOTANICAL MOTIFS Flora and fauna-inspired designs are key to this look connecting spaces to the natural world. For pattern lovers, mix and match stylised leafy prints in earthy hues on walls, upholstery and soft furnishings. If you like calmer interiors, team nature-inspired prints on fabrics with plain or panelled walls. MAKE IT HANDCRAFTED Seek out local craftspeople and pair vintage finds…

Add structure with panels If you want to hang pictures or photos on a patterned wallpaper, it can look messy. Create order with frames made from lengths of beading painted to match the paper and contain your display. Give it a twist… Turn each frame into an oversized artwork by using it to frame a section of wallpaper in a contrasting colourway. Make use of the fifth wall Papering the ceiling in a high room can make it feel cosier. It’s a great way to add style and design detail in a kitchen where you want the walls to be scrubbable and paper-free. Give it a twist… Frame the wallpaper by painting the coving in a dark colour picked from the wallpaper’s pattern. Elevate simple shelving This idea works for…

1 PAINT YOUR CEILING Whether you choose to go the same colour as your walls, a shade or two lighter (or darker), or try something completely different, painting your ceiling can change a room’s looks. Darker colours make the ceiling feel closer, for a cosier effect, while light tones reflect more light into the room. 2 STYLE A SEASONAL TABLE Layer crockery and add leafy glassware and acorn-shaped side dishes to your table for a stunning November tablescape. A few candlestick holders in varying sizes add height, while foliage in a vase brings a touch of the outdoors in. For a sweet finishing touch, tie napkins with a velvet ribbon bow. PAINT CHEAT SHEET 3 Keep winter chills at bay by hanging a lined or heavy curtain across the inside…

| READER HOME AWARDS | BEST HOMES 2024 BEST HOME WINNER LISA OLIVER & LEE UNDERHILL Taking on the renovation of a neglected house in Horsell, Surrey, that Lisa admits was ‘barely habitable’ was always going to be a challenge, but the couple have transformed it into a beautifully light, bright and spacious family home. Lisa and Lee did a lot of the work themselves to save money, as well as sourcing the materials to get the best price, eventually decorating throughout in a neutral colour scheme, highlighted with boho accessories and lush plants in every room for a relaxed yet elegant feel. “As a result of the renovation, I’ve become really good at DIY and see it as a challenge ” BEST GARDEN WINNERCLARE & DAVID CLARKE Their…

Bag a bargain between Black Friday and Christmas or in the spring when the sales hitGINEVRA BENEDETTI, DEPUTY EDITOR BEFORE YOU BUY ■ In general, a vacuum can be an expensive investment, especially if you want one that will see you through many years of service. As a rule of thumb, you should budget around £250 for a vacuum cleaner with decent cleaning power. But you can spend twice that or more on premium models if your budget allows for it. More money can buy you additional features that will help clean your home of pet hair quickly and efficiently, such as greater suction power and more attachments. ■ A stick vacuum is generally an upright cleaner plus a handheld in one. Models designed to deal with pet hair frequently…

We’ve known for decades that air pollution is harmful to our health, but until recently more attention has been paid to the outdoor air we breathe than air pollution generated within our homes. And while many of us have got into the habit of checking air quality at home, not many people know what they’re looking for or how they can change the results. ‘As outdoor air quality improves in our towns and cities, indoor air pollution becomes a greater proportion of the problem of polluted air,’ explains Professor Frank Kelly, head of the Environmental Research Group at London’s Imperial College. ‘The effects of poor indoor air on health are less well understood compared to outdoor air quality, but there is evidence that poor indoor air quality can have adverse…