Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2016 i Ideal Home

Érefresh your style for spring with beautiful new-season buys. Design a colourful feature wall to give any room a bold focal point (page 26) or enjoy an air of calm with a nature-inspired palette of lichen and limestone (page 42). Find out how to reinvent coastal style on a budget (page 34), create your own sleep sanctuary with our definitive guide to beds on page 134, and be a creative cook with home-made pizza recipes (page 144). Plus, discover the best wellbeing apps to help you feel calm and collected (page 165). Spring – we’re ready for you!…

“From hand-made pieces to designs inspired by traditional crafts, this pared-back style celebrates the maker and natural materials, too”HOLLY CATFORD, ACTING STYLE AND DECORATING ASSISTANT Light show Create a laid-back look with a rattan shade in a two-tone weave Sira rattan pendant, £70, Habitat In the frame An ikat-style print adds character Carved frame, £10, Sainsbury’s High rise Use to display a single bloom for an unfussy look Toto scribble vase, £30, Habitat Bags of style Fill with magazines for a rustic storage solution Split wood basket, £25, Next FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY Super bowl Liven up a pared-back scheme with a hit of blue Small dip bowl, £5, Mythology range, Marks & Spencer Hot stuff Sharpen up with geometric details Triangle oven…

LICHEN & LIMESTONE Use stylised botanical prints in soft greens and taupes Herb Garden B402 flooring, £40 per sq m, Brintons. Dardanella fabric in Linden/Emerald, £42 per m, Harlequin. Cushion covers made in: Milani Lovage 7729/22, £55 per m, Romo (top); Dawn Chorus in Linden/Slate, £32 per m, Sanderson. Potted faux fern, £29.50, Rose & Grey. TY5 tray, £19, Scumble Goosie; painted in Lichen Estate Eggshell, £53 for £2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Drop Cloth Estate Emulsion (in pot), £38 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Botanical Fern Study No3 art print, £16.50, Notonthehighstreet.com. Bulb vase, £9.90, Hen & Hammock. Trug, £42 for two, Garden Trading. Flower jug, £90, Petersham Nurseries SHERBET MIX Mix cheerful, sunny tones for a feel-good vibe Background painted in Brilliant White emulsion (top); Desert Bloom emulsion; both…

PARALLEL LINES If you’d love to use a bold colour but worry it’ll be too much, try this trick: paint the lower third of a wall and fake a dado rail with a thin border in a contrasting colour. We painted a peg rail in the same wall shade for extra impact. KIDS’ ART GALLERY Create a dedicated, contained space for children’s artwork that’s easy to update. Hang a group of empty, glass-free frames painted in a bright colour and simply pin each week’s masterpieces in them, filing away the old ones. FRAMED WALLPAPER There are so many great designs out there, why not use one as artwork? Choose a painted-effect pattern and frame it with moulding, painted to match. This is a great way to mark out a ‘zone’…

THE COMPANY Based in western Sweden, the Sandberg Studio designs all of the Sandberg wallpapers in-house. Each piece is hand drawn and painted, with colours and patterns that are inspired by the Swedish landscape and its native plants and animals, as well as paying homage to the country’s historical and cultural heritage. The result is an original, contemporary range of premium wallpapers infused with a distinctive Swedish style. THE NEW COLLECTION Taking inspiration from designs spanning two centuries, Tradition is a historical collection of wallpapers from both grand manor houses and humble cottages. Comprising eight diverse designs, the collection is a stylish and modern reinterpretation of wallpapers, from rich 18th-century Rococo and Gustavian styles through to a reconstruction of a Twenties original. Featuring nature-inspired flora, fauna, birds and butterflies, as…

One of the easiest ways to give a room a new look is to update the window treatment. Whether it’s a colourful sweep of floral fabric that brightens up a wintry room come springtime, or statement-making shutters in an unexpected colour choice, it can make the world of difference to a room. Before you consider materials, set aside the style options and think first about the practicalities: the size and shape of the windows; how much light and privacy you will need; and how much you can afford to spend. With these essentials in mind, deciding on a style, pattern and colour will fall into place more easily. We’ve come up with some bright new ideas and practical advice to help you, so you can create the look you want…

With spring just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to think about getting the most from your property. Whether that means replacing windows or doors, or adding a glazed extension, Network VEKA has a range of glazing options to modernise your home. Make the most of your home Bringing light into your home is the easiest way to make it feel brighter and larger. For a small-scale change, consider fitting PVC-U windows to protect your house and save energy, or open up an existing space with bifold doors. With lots of home improvement options available, you can marry the latest glazing designs with any period of housing. Add the wow factor While new windows and doors make a room feel bigger, the addition of a conservatory or orangery can…

BAXI 0344 871 1545; baxi. co.uk It sells good mid-range combi boilers, as well as the Baxi Megaflo System boiler, which is suitable in homes with a high demand for hot water. The best-selling Baxi EcoBlue Advance Heat is light and compact, priced from £1,073. IDEAL 01482 498660; idealboilers.com Providing combi, system and heat-only boilers, its flagship range of compact high-efficiency boilers is the Logic+ combi. The 35kw version costs £870. VAILLANT 0845 602 2922; vaillant.co.uk This leading premium brand supplies A-rated ecoTEC gas boilers, including the Plus 838 and Pro 28, awarded a Which? Best Buy 2015. It also offers renewable solutions, such as solar-thermal and ground-pump technologies, and intelligent controls. Contact your local installer for a quote.…

Many alterations can be made under Permitted Development, meaning you don’t need to get planning permission. For more information on planning and building regulations, visit planningportal.gov.uk and always check with your local authority before making any major changes. Keep your neighbours informed at all stages, and you might need to obtain party-wall agreements, too. Check the advice given at planningportal.gov.uk. For extensions and major remodelling, it’s usually advisable to employ an architect to draw up accurate plans: the Royal Institute of British Architects (architecture.com) holds a directory of approved architects. Get at least three quotes for all major purchases, including when you’re hiring tradesmen and, whenever possible, negotiate fixed prices for each job rather than paying a daily rate. It’s not usually advisable to undertake major roofing work on a…

THE PROPERTY A four-storey, three-bedroom Regency town house in north London. WHO LIVES HERE Kate and Paul Simpson live here. WHAT THEY DID The couple redesigned the kitchen, replacing the old L-shaped run of units with a galley layout, allowing them to create a dining area in front of the picture window. THE LOOK Contemporary, with stainless-steel worktops and retro furniture. LESSONS LEARNED “Mixing textures, like matt splashbacks and touches of metal and wood, really adds interest to a room.” THE LAYOUT The base units are fitted along both walls, with a dining area in front of the window at the far end. The sink is opposite the hob…

THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom, Georgian, terraced house in northwest London, bought in 1998. WHO LIVES HERE Caryn and Simon Coyle live here, with their 16-year old twins, Erin and Daniel. WHAT THEY DID The couple gained space by removing a hot-water cylinder and replaced the tired suite with contemporary fittings and storage. THE LOOK Sleek Scandi style, with wooden panelling and matt white tiles. LESSONS LEARNED “Expect the unexpected – we didn’t discover that the walls needed work until the old tiles had been removed. This involved extra costs and some added days to the project.” THE LAYOUT The bath is beneath the window, next to the walk-in shower in the corner. A vanity unit is to the right of the door, opposite a dressing table. The loo is behind…

When was the last time you replaced your bed? Research by the Sleep Council shows that after 10 years, your bed and mattress may have deteriorated by as much as 70% due to wear and tear and the accumulation of sweat, skin cells and dust mites. It’s difficult to get deep, restful sleep on an uncomfortable bed. As Jessica Alexander from The Sleep Council says: ‘Just one bad night’s sleep affects our mood, concentration and alertness.’ So, invest in better sleep and you invest in your health and quality of life. If anyone’s got the formula for a comfy bed right, it’s hotels – it is their job to sell a great night’s sleep, after all. Premier Inn, Marriott and Hilton take such pride in the quality and comfort of…

To-do list for MARCH EAT Castello Aged Havarti cheese – deliciously nutty and creamy, it’s great on a cheeseboard and makes a mean cheese on toast, £2.65 for 200g, Waitrose. DRINK Rocks Fiery ginger cordial with sparkling water and a slice of lime, for a refreshing soft drink, £3.49 for 360ml, Abel & Cole. TREAT yourself to premium grass-fed steaks from online supplier Field&flower, which rears its own cattle in the Gordano Valley, Somerset. Visit fieldandflower.co.uk. Try a new taste... MATCHA A Japanese green-tea powder, matcha has a slightly sweet, spinach-like flavour. Prized for its cancer-fighting antioxidants and energising properties, its distinctive colour makes it ideal for desserts, like these enticing macaroons. HOW TO MAKE Preheat the oven to 170°C/325°F/Gas 3, then line two baking trays with…

To-do list for MARCH PICK narcissi for early spring cheer. If you plan to mix them in a vase with other flowers, place their stems in a bucket of water for six hours or so to let their gluey sap drain out, as it can be harmful to other cut flowers and shorten their vase life. PLANT contemporary gladioli, such as ‘Green Star’, magenta ‘Plum Tart’, burgundy ‘Black Surprise’ or dainty ‘Carine’, which has pink-splashed ivory blooms. SOW hardy geraniums in seed compost, then prick out into a loam-based compost once the first leaves appear. Plant out after danger of frost has passed. Grow something beautiful… CAMELLIAS Admired for their glossy evergreen leaves and beautiful white, pink and red blooms, camellias provide stunning colour during the darkest…

Designed for modern living, the new Loft collection from Marks & Spencer offers plenty of inspiration for updating your home this spring. Whatever your interiors style, choose the look you love from the collection’s compact, clean-lined furniture and modern accessories. You can mix and match contemporary pieces with cool pops of colour, clean-cut, Scandi-inspired designs and lively graphic prints, with everything available at a great price. Ideal Home has teamed up with Marks & Spencer to give seven lucky winners £1,000 each to spend in store at Marks & Spencer Home, or online at marksandspencer.com. Enter the competition now for your chance to win this fantastic prize. 4 EASY WAYS TO ENTER BY PHONE Call 0901 293 0405 and leave your answer to the question on the coupon (below), plus…

Sammy is a cute motion-sensor alarm – attach it to anything and, when it moves, Sammy will bleep and send a notification to your smartphone. So you could attach it to the fridge or biscuit jar to deter the kids from taking too many snacks, or to a bag, so you’ll know if someone tries to make off with it when you’re in a busy restaurant. Sammy is the first of many devices in the BleepBleeps range, which also includes the amusingly named David Camera webcam and soon-to-be-launched Lily Loco – a pendant your kids can wear or carry that tracks them and shows their location on a map.…

WHAT IS IT? You’re probably familiar with standard ceramic hobs, which have heating elements underneath the glass surface that warm up and transfer heat to the zones above. Well, induction hobs might look the same but they work very differently – instead of an element, they have a circular coil under each zone that generates a magnetic field. Only when you place a ferrous-metal pan onto the surface and effectively ‘complete the circuit’ will heat induce through the coil and into the pan itself. WHY DO I NEED IT? Like the Kardashians, induction hobs have been around for ages but a lot of people still don’t understand their appeal. So what justifies forking out possibly hundreds of pounds more for one – a hob, that is, not a Kim or…

Looking to renovate your home? My Design School at KLC offers a fun and innovative way to learn all the skills you need! Focusing on your own home project, course tutors and guest experts will guide you through the creative process, giving you the know-how, confidence and inspiration to expand your ideas and develop your own design style. Presented entirely online, you can participate any time of the day or night, at home or on the move! Plus, the interactive online community allows you to chat with like-minded people, share sources and discuss trends. TO BOOK Visit klc.co.uk/mds  and quote IHI0216 for Design Your Own Home KLC is world renowned for the quality of its design training, offering a range of qualifications and flexible study methods for over…

Chores are on my mind, with a big spring-cleaning binge on the horizon, shopping trolleys to test and new decorating colour schemes to plan… SPRING CLEANING I tend to be a bit of a sluggard over the winter months, but once it’s warm enough to keep the windows open I get the energy up to tackle the Big Jobs. Saturday mornings (after a stiff treble espresso to gird the loins) will find me in the back garden shaking clouds of dust out of curtains, on my hands and knees scraping carbonised pizza cheese off the oven floor, or scrubbing the Venetians with a damp, inside-out sports sock on each hand. You never really know a house until you’ve poked your vacuum’s dusting attachment into all its nooks and crannies, or…

“ The shade to have in your home in 2016, ‘Rose Quartz’ is one of Pantone’s top 10 spring colours. Here’s our edit of wow buys in this serene pastel...”HOLLY CATFORD, ACTING STYLE AND DECORATING ASSISTANT Pretty in pink An elegant, relaxing shade for walls Floris 27 Marble Matt emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltr, Mylands of London Rose tinted Once the candle has burned down, use the pot to store bits and bobs Glass jar candle, £6.99, New Look In focus A desk lamp that’s super-easy to angle Task lamp, £30, Loft range, Marks & Spencer Stylish storage Use as a memory box for precious keepsakes Small metal storage suitcase, £30, Oliver Bonas Playful pattern Introduce a fun print to a muted scheme Large geometry cushion in Rose, £49, Ferm Living…

‘I believe you should buy carefully and buy well, and invest in beautiful homeware’ Fiona Lambert, vice president of product design and development of Asda’s George range, has worked alongside its founder, George Davies, from the beginning. ‘When we launched the George clothing range in 1990, Asda was the first supermarket to sell clothes and now it’s the third-biggest supermarket clothing retailer,’ she says. ‘With this success, we saw an opportunity to provide our customers with the same quality and design credentials in an inspirational range of homeware, making it as easy and affordable for them to update a home as it is to update a wardrobe.’ As well as overseeing a team of designers and buyers, Fiona conducts research into trends, interpreting them into inspiring products. The new spring/summer…

1 Choose your base colour Whether it’s flooring or a wall, the base colour will be the largest area of colour in your room, so place a generous sample of it onto your board. Including carpet samples will help you think about texture, too. 2 Add an accent tone A dramatic contrast or an accent just a few tones away from your base colour? Use your moodboard to play with options and layer it with swatches of fabric, scraps of wallpaper and paint colour charts. 3 Find the right accessories These will really set the tone in your room – go for ones that share an accent colour and stick to a single theme. Don’t mix styles, or your finished scheme will look messy rather than effortlessly eclectic.…

p 26 HALLWAY DECORATION AND FURNITURE Wall painted in Quartz Flint 4 matt emulsion (top), £24.49 for 2.5ltr, Paint Mixing range, Dulux; Vardo Estate Emulsion (bottom); stripe painted in Yellowcake Estate Emulsion; both £39.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. White vintage oak LPU1285 flooring, £29.49 per sq m, Largo collection, Quick-Step. Brecan grey wool-blend runner, £120, Habitat. Nornäs sideboard, £130, Ikea; painted in Ammonite Estate Eggshell, £55 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Six-peg rail, £41, Scumble Goosie; painted in Vardo Oil Eggshell, £55 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Round seagrass basket, £90 for two, Luma. ON/IN SIDEBOARD (from left) Coral notebook and pen, £11.95, Ted Baker range, Amara. Butterfly teal organiser, £22, Paperchase. Tassel key ring, £15, Biba range, House of Fraser. Yellow Demi vase, £25, Habitat. Neon ribbons, £4.95 per…

PENCIL PLEATS Suitable for tracks or poles and most fabrics, this simple heading is made using curtain tape, which has cords that are pulled to gather the fabric into pleats. TRIPLE PINCH PLEATS More formal than the pencil style, these pleats are held in place with stitching. It uses more fabric in order to create a fuller-looking curtain. GOBLET This sumptuous gathering made of sewn-in goblet shapes is ideal for formal rooms. It uses more fabric than standard pleats and suits heavy fabrics. CARTRIDGE A contemporary version of the goblet, the pleats form large, cylindrical folds, not sewn into place, to give a more relaxed look. It also suits heavier fabrics. EYELET Modern and unfussy, this has metal eyelets that slot straight onto a pole. It uses less fabric than…

BOUGHT FOR £350,000 SPENT £100,000 NOW WORTH £800,000 THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom, terraced, Victorian house in Brighton, East Sussex, built in 1880. The owners bought it in July 2005. WHAT IT COST Building work.........................£33,000 Plumbing..................................£10,000 Electrics....................................£10,000 Kitchen.......................................£8,000 Solar panels..............................£5,000 Bifold doors..............................£6,000 Garden room...........................£18,000 Furniture and soft furnishings........................£10,000 TOTAL...................£100,000 WHO LIVES HERE Dominic and Jo Arnold live here with their three children, Georgia, 14, Poppy, 13, and Daisy, seven. Dominic is director of his own property consultancy and Jo splits her time between running the home and helping out as a design consultant for Dominic’s company. THE LOOK Understated, practical and elegant, with a strong focus on Scandinavian and French design. LESSONS LEARNED “Take your time when you move into a house to find out how you’ll actually use the space…

BOUGHT FOR £385,000 SPENT £62,000 NOW WORTH £550,000 THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom, end-of-terrace, Seventies house in Cambridge, which the owners bought in 2012. WHAT IT COST Building work..........................£15,000 Furniture..................................£35,000 Windows...................................£12,000 TOTAL.....................£62,000 WHO LIVES HERE Alicja and Graham Cockcroft live here, with their children, Matas, 11, and Nina, nine. Alicja is an artist and an interior designer, while Graham is director of studies at a school specialising in business English. THE LOOK Contemporary and bright, with bold artwork against an elegant, simple background. LESSONS LEARNED “It’s a good idea to live in a house for a while to see how it works for you before deciding to make any big, structural changes.”…

READ REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Heed advice from other customers by researching the company online and let comments from previous clients guide your decisions. LOOK FOR A GUARANTEE A quality-assurance guarantee from the firm will help settle your mind once your build is finished. Ideally a 10-year insurance-backed guarantee is best. ESTABLISH FINANCIAL CLARITY Before the build starts, ensure you have have every financial eventuality confirmed in writing, from quotes and down payments to credit facilities and cancellation policies. USE A CERTIFIED COMPANY Every installation in England and Wales has to meet the national Building Regulations, so pick a company that is certified and that has been audited. Look out for the Network VEKA arrow and its ‘Assure’ scheme.…

The original stone walls of the farmhouse and outbuildings were repointed using traditional lime mortar. Inside, the walls were left unsealed for a natural finish. If you have a property with stone walls, you’ll need to take extra care to ensure they’re safe and weather-tight. You can find a surveyor to assess them for you at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (ricsfirms.com). Damp penetration can prove to be a problem with stone walls, and repair and repointing with suitable materials is vital. Because they need to breathe and let absorbed water evaporate, stone walls should not be patched up with sand and cement, which will prevent this happening. Building new homes using stone is becoming increasingly popular at the moment and, although natural stone is an expensive material to…

THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom, terraced Edwardian house in Brighton, East Sussex, bought in October 2010. WHO LIVES HERE Alice and Will Parker live here, with their children, Zac, five, and Grace, three. WHAT THEY DID The couple extended into their home’s side return to add space in the kitchen for a dining area and knocked through to create access to the living room. Bifold doors were fitted at the end of the room. THE LOOK Relaxed vintage style, featuring hand-made units, parquet flooring and industrial-inspired fittings. LESSONS LEARNED “I was right to keep going until I found a way to have the kitchen units I envisaged. I’d have regretted it if I’d compromised.” THE LAYOUT There’s a run of base units along one wall and an island in the centre…

THE PROPERTY A six-bedroom, detached Twenties house in Esher, Surrey. WHO LIVES HERE Claire and Paul Redwood live here with their three daughters, Grace, nine, Holly, seven, and Charlotte, two. WHAT THEY DID The couple turned a spare room next to the main bedroom into a dressing room and knocked through to the main bathroom to use it as an en suite. A doorway to the landing was added to the old en suite, so it could be used as the main bathroom. THE LOOK Boutique-hotel style, with a walk-in shower, a statement bath and a tranquil, taupe colour palette. LESSONS LEARNED “I thought the room would be too cramped with a second basin, but now I see I could have shifted the loo along to fit another one in.”…

BEDS AND SO TO BED Originally specialising in antique beds, it now designs its own luxury hand-made bedsteads to suit modern homes. 0808 141 4343; andsotobed.co.uk LOAF Loaf’s beautifully cosy beds can be customised with high-quality fabrics – it’ll send you free swatches and you can try before you buy. 0845 468 0697; loaf.com MATTRESSES BUTTON & SPRUNG Designed its own mattress – the IQ spring – to provide exactly the right amount of support you need. 0333 320 1801; buttonandsprung.com SOAK&SLEEP Stocks luxury pocket-sprung mattresses by Hypnos and offers its own specialist orthopaedic range. 01483 437762; soakandsleep.com DUVETS AND PILLOWS GINGERLILY Find mulberry-silk-filled duvets in three different weights, as well as 100% and 50% silk-filled pillows, for a luxurious night’s sleep. 0343 216 9902; gingerlily.co.uk SNUGGLEDOWN This company’s Norwegian…

Naturally sweet Made from 100% fruit – apples, grapes and carob – it’s delicious with a handful of blueberries Fruit syrup (350g), Sweet Freedom range, Sainsbury’s Caramel heaven Sea salt, English butter and organic cream combine in this award-winning spread Hand-made sea-salted caramel (314ml), Cutter & Squidge Rich & indulgent A dark-chocolate sauce that’s perfect warmed and served drizzled over ice cream on top of a pancake Belgian chocolate sauce (250g), Finest range, Tesco…

Camellia x williamsii ‘EG Waterhouse’ A hardy variety that is pretty wind-resistant. It sheds its pale-pink double flowers as soon as they start to fade. Creating a flowering hedge, as it grows a bit faster than other varieties, reaching up to 3m tall. Camellia ‘Black Lace’ With luxuriant foliage and masses of long-lasting flowers, this one has an RHS Award of Garden Merit. Containers on a patio, balcony or in a courtyard. It needs very little attention, and will grow up to 1.8m. Camellia japonica ‘Brushfield’s Yellow’ Shelter these showy anemone-form flowers from cold, dry winds and position out of the morning sun. Beds and borders, small cottage-style gardens and courtyards. Grows to H4m with a spread of 2.5m.…

GIRL ABOUT TECH’S MANIFESTO I believe that tech should... Make your life easier Be super-simple to use Stand the test of time Look good and work brilliantly WHY WE LOVE IT… Let’s start with dash cams, which record incidents so you’ll have evidence when making an insurance claim. Some insurers even offer discounts on premiums to drivers who have one fitted. I’d also add a sat nav to your list – they’re facing stiff competition from smartphones loaded with map apps, but they’re a good way to go if mobile reception isn’t guaranteed or you want to avoid data charges. ‘You’ll also get a dedicated screen and a better speaker for voice commands,’ says Tom Brown, TomTom’s UK vice president. An in-car charger is vital if you’re entertaining those in…

Top buy IXO cordless screwdriver, Bosch This bestseller has a range of optional attachments, including a cutting tool and a corkscrew, and charges using the same Micro USB cable as most phones Odd jobber MM40 Multi-Max, Dremel Sand, drill and cut – even through metal. A quick-lock system ensures switching attachments is easy and safe Box of tricks Makita 18V cordless hammer drill/driver with 101-piece accessory kit, Robert Dyas Tackle all your drilling jobs. It comes with two batteries, so you can charge one while using the other Senses trouble Seek Thermal thermal-imaging camera, Amazon.co.uk Turns your smartphone into a thermal-imaging device, so you can identify blocked pipes and more…

See the heat NZ63J9770EK Virtual Flame induction hob , Samsung GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘Love the visual heat of gas? This hob mimics it with lights that glow stronger as you up the power’ Flexible surface ACM928BA induction hob , Whirlpool GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘Connect two zones to create a larger area that can be set at one temperature for bigger pans’ Best of both C895iBK induction and wok-burner hob , Caple GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘Breakups are never easy, so if you can’t be parted from gas, try this dual-fuel cooktop’ Try it out Everyday portable induction hob , Tefal GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘A low-cost way to give induction a go, this plug-in hob has handy preset buttons like “boil water”’…

Shorten any cycle DFN28321 EcoSmart freestanding dishwasher , Beko GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘Use the 58-minute Quick & Clean setting or press the Fast+ button to speed up chosen cycles’ Quick and intense CDP95380PR freestanding dishwasher , Candy GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘Dishes get sprayed with extra intensity in the Perfect Rapid Zone, even during the 24-minute quick wash’ Super-fast full wash SN578S00TG iQ700 built-in dishwasher , Siemens GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘Cleans a full load in 29 minutes, and VarioSpeed Plus reduces certain cycles by up to 66%’…

Super sound Y50BT wireless headphones , AKG GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘The design is certainly “Marmite”, but this value-for-money set delivers brilliant audio and an impressive 20-hour battery life’ Running mates Trainer by Gibson wireless headphones , John Lewis GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘With a second band to secure them to your head, these sweat-resistant cans are fab for joggers’ Musical genius P5 wireless headphones , Bowers & Wilkins GIRL ABOUT TECH SAYS ‘These headphones were designed and tuned by the engineers from Abbey Road Studios, so the sound is sublime’…

mail order available A  Abel & Cole 0845 262 6262; abelandcole.co.uk Abode Boutique 07770 375767; abodeboutique.co.uk AEG 0844 561 1611; aeg.co.uk AKG 01707 278113; akg.com/uk AllPosters 020 8435 6555; allposters.co.uk Amara 0800 587 7645; amara.com Amazon.co.uk amazon.co.uk Amberth 020 7354 8958; amberth.co.uk AMR Granite 01293 550184; amrgranite.co.uk Amtico 0121 745 0800; amtico.com Anna Wiscombe annawiscombe.com Annie Sloan 01865 247296; anniesloan.com Anta 01862 832477; anta.co.uk Anthropologie 00800 0026 8476; anthropologie.eu Aria 020 7704 6222; ariashop.co.uk Art.co.uk 020 8435 6556; art.co.uk Asda 0800 952 0101; asda.com AtNo67 01225 938059; atnumber67.co.uk Attic 020 8943 9626; discoverattic.co.uk B  B&Q 0333 014 3098; diy.com Bang & Olufsen 0118 969 2288; bang-olufsen.com BathroomsByDesign 020 8619 0138; bathroomsbydesign.com Bathstore 0800 023 2323; bathstore.com Bed Frames UK 01202 720777; bedframesuk.co.uk Beer Hawk 01423 525750; beerhawk.co.uk Beko 0845 600 4911; beko.co.uk Belkin 01933 352000; belkin.com/uk BHS 0344 411 6000; bhs.co.uk Bibliotheque 020 8365 2084; bibliotheque.co.uk BleepBleeps bleepbleeps.com Blendworth 023 9259 4911; blendworth.co.uk Bluebellgray 0141 221 0724; bluebellgray.co.uk Bosch 0844 892…

“ Throw back the curtains and fling open the windows – it’s time to blow away the winter cobwebs and enjoy the first glimpses of spring colour”MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR Create a unique side table using a crate. Decorate the inside with old book pages, sheet music or leftover paint or wallpaper Tea type Keep things personal with an initialled cup A to Z ‘M’ floral mug, £4, Matalan Homely touches Wooden ornaments add warmth Houses, from £12 each, Dickins & Jones Home range, House of Fraser Minty fresh This stool doubles up as a side table Fifties wooden stool in Mint, £29.95, Dotcomgiftshop Flower bed Go for fresh, ditsy florals Daydream double duvet set, £15, Bellezza range, George FOR WHERE TO BUY ITEMS SHOWN, TURN TO OUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY…

“ This artistic mix of colours and graphic shapes is sharp, bold and modern”MICHELA COLLING, STYLE EDITOR THE STORY SO FAR The Memphis Group began life in Milan in the early Eighties. It was founded by Ettore Sottsass alongside other architects and designers, with the aim to create products to counteract minimalist design. Inspired by Bauhaus, pop art and African textiles, the collective added a graphic dimension to furniture and fabric using block shapes in colourful combinations. Today’s homeware designers are now revisiting this playful style and its signature palette of punchy pastels, warm yellows and striking black accents. WHERE WE’VE SEEN IT Italian furniture company Kartell showcased never-before-seen furniture, lighting and vases designed for Kartell by Sottsass at Milan Design Week in 2015. Since then, designer shop Darkroom London…

GET TO KNOW HER SIGNATURE STYLE Having worked in fashion for 30 years, much of Fiona’s interiors inspiration comes from textiles and the world of fashion. ‘To work in design, I think you have to be a human sponge for everything around you – whether it’s travel, world cultures, other designers, the catwalk or art exhibitions,’ she says. Fiona also believes that popular art and entertainment is having an increasing impact on people’s taste and interior-design style. ‘TV is such a big part of everyone’s lives now,’ she says. ‘Programmes, such as Downton Abbey and Indian Summers, have had a huge influence, whether it’s a demand for beautiful cut glass and crystal or Indian-style furniture.’ Fiona’s motivation comes from a very wide spectrum. ‘Having a career in design means you…

1 THE 70-20-10 RULE For a balanced scheme, keep 70% of the elements (say, walls and floors) as one colour, then add 20% in a second colour (fabrics) and 10% in an accent (accessories). 2 THE PATTERN RULE When mixing patterns, use large with medium or medium with small, never large with small. Pick prints that share a colour in common. 3 THE PAINTED BOX RULE The look of paint changes according to the time of day and the light in a room. Paint the inside of a large box with a tester to create a miniature ‘room’ and see how the colour changes within a 3D space. AND FINALLY… Always add a surprise. A focal point – whether it’s a feature wall or a piece of art – is…

Subtle symmetricals Update your scheme with geometric patterns 1 Jagged edges Metallic touches on this Aztec-inspired wallpaper enhance the simple print Muriva Eton in grey, £10.97 per roll, Wilko 2 Flower power This stylised floral would look great in a modern bedroom Vibration M1022, £12.98 per roll, Wallpaperdirect 3 Angled effect Add a splash of colour with this tiered triangle print in a Scandi palette Textured Geo in Teal, £15 per roll, Next 4 Panelled pattern The clever use of shading on this design creates a 3D effect Geometric wood panelling UN3204, £15.98 per roll, Wallpaperdirect 5 Oriental influences Go for detail with this intricate motif Juan White, £20 per roll, Graham & Brown ‘Geometric wallpaper is often designed with more than one shape, creating an interesting 3D effect’Karen Bray,…

IDEAL Shimmer and shine Glam it up with a retro touch Capiz rectangular chandelier (H38.5cm x W77cm x D37cm), West Elm range, John Lewis Floral fancy Use pretty watercolours to add a colourful, painterly touch to a room Camilla cushion, Bluebellgray Cattle drive Add a Western element with this quirky skull White Bison leather skull, In-Spaces Dual purpose Try this mango-wood bench as a console Sleeper bench (H38cm x W30cm x L180cm), French Connection Impressive investment An iconic piece Vitra Eames lounge chair in black leather (H84cm x W84cm x D91cm), Heal’s Family friendly This corner sofa has room for everyone Anastasia sofa with footstool in Industry Plain Grey (H81cm x W285cm x D258cm), Furniture Village GREAT DEAL Pearly bright Perfect for smaller spaces Eglo Chipsy pendant (H39.5cm x diameter…

IDEAL On the wire Store logs stylishly in this black wirework basket Iron basket (H60cm x D42cm), Iron & Clay range, Amara Check appeal Co-ordinate your scheme with grey and white cushions Homing Rosi cushion cover, Wayfair Tray chic A metalwork frame with a removeable mango-wood tray top Tray coffee table (H40cm x W80cm x D80cm), French Connection In the spotlight Add movie-star glamour with this studio-style lamp Chicago tripod floor lamp, Made.com Soft touch A luxurious throw to keep the chill factor away Alpaca throw in Dark Grey and Ivory, Sophie Allport Long stretch Go for a soft and slouchy corner sofa with lots (and lots) of space Dillon right-hand facing small chaise end sofa (H83cm x W272cm x D168cm), DFS GREAT DEAL Wearing well A weathered-finish basket in…

BEDROOM Luxe look Use shimmering textures for an opulent touch Paris faux-silk cushion in green, Wilko Smooth operator Go for a retro vibe with a streamlined chest in walnut veneer Notch chest of drawers (H85cm x W100cm x D40cm), Dwell Jungle fever Pull your colour scheme together with a lush piece of art Jungle print on canvas, King & McGaw Hot metal Add Seventies bling Cindy light, Kartell range, Aria Orangey orb Crafted from mouth-blown glass in a striking amber tone Ribe pendant lamp, Urbanara Palm print Try a tropical motif for curtains or blinds Calliope 120158 fabric, Harlequin Chevron chic Choose monochrome chevrons for a busier look or plain grey for calm Jamali double quilt, Swoon Editions Walnut wonder Mid-century inspired Fonteyn double bed (H98cm x W149cm x L205cm),…

REAL HOME IMPROVEMENT ‘It feels much bigger than it really is’ Located on a narrow plot in East Molesey, Surrey, Lynn McClelland and Geert Goeteyn’s house felt cramped at times. What they wanted was an open-plan layout that would give them more space, light and a connection with the garden. They hired architect Nicolas Tye (nicolastyearchitects.com), who widened the L-shaped footprint to the rear and side. Opening up the ground floor and adding roof lights and bifold doors has created a better layout, with the dining area at the front of the house, a centrally located kitchen and a living area to the rear. The roof was altered to give a higher ceiling in the main bedroom at the back, and the third bedroom has become a snug/cinema room. ‘The…

THE PROPERTY A detached, four-bedroom, 18th-century farmhouse and barn in Dartmoor, Devon, converted into one house, with a three-bedroom annexe in the former milking parlour. WHO LIVES HERE Kim and Chris Marshall live here, with their children Dora, 16, and Rufus, 15. Kim is a solicitor and Chris works as an accountant. WHAT THEY DID The Marshalls renovated the farmhouse and barn, then linked the two with a glazed extension. They also created a self-contained annexe. WHAT IT COST The couple paid £950,000 for the farm in 2011 and spent around £750,000 on the property, which is now worth more than £2.5 million.…

WHAT IT COST Units and shelves.........£10,412 Worktop..........................£5,900 Splashback.........................£984 Appliances......................£2,449 Flooring............................£1,600 Paint.......................................£140 Lighting...............................£623 TOTAL...............£22,108 After 25 years with the same kitchen, Kate and Paul Simpson knew a change was long overdue. ‘It was looking very tired,’ says Kate. ‘We’d knocked the dining room and kitchen together 20 years ago, so it was open plan, but we’d painted it blue, which felt dark.’ With their two boys no longer living at home full time, Kate and Paul decided on a redesign that better reflected how they now live. ‘There was a peninsular sticking out that obscured the best asset in the room – the glorious window and view – that had to change,’ says Kate. ‘Plus we wanted to lighten everything up.’ The Simpsons chose high-gloss, off-white units. ‘We thought white would…

THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom, detached house in Sandbach, Cheshire, built in 1995. WHO LIVES HERE Hilary and Philip Beattie live here, with sons, Ben, 22, and Harry, 18. WHAT THEY DID The couple removed a wall between the kitchen and dining room, and extended across the rear to create a large family-friendly room. THE LOOK Smart, modern and streamlined, with a cool white backdrop, lifted by warm oak accents, dark polished-quartz worktops and splashes of bold colour. LESSONS LEARNED In a big room, layout can be tricky. The kitchen company helped us to get the proportions right and keep the working area compact. THE LAYOUT The base units are in an L-shape, with tall units recessed into one wall, concealing a structural component of the extension. A wooden breakfast bar…

THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom, detached, Nineties house in Horsham, Sussex. WHO LIVES HERE Hélène and Gary O’Brien live here with their daughter, Eva, five. WHAT THEY DID The couple knocked through into an airing cupboard to create space for a shower enclosure. New floor tiles were fitted, the pipework was updated and the suite was replaced. THE LOOK A mix of contemporary and vintage elements in calming tones. LESSONS LEARNED “I printed out detailed information about all the products we had chosen – it made it easier to answer the builder’s questions.” THE LAYOUT The loo is to the left of the door, next to the basin which sits under the window. Opposite is a shower enclosure, and a bath sits at the far end…

Q I CAN BUY POTATOES – WHY SHOULD I GROW THEM? Once you’ve discovered the intense flavour of home-grown spuds and experienced the deep satisfaction of digging up your own crop, you’ll never look back. Unlike some other vegetables, potatoes are very low maintenance once you’ve planted them. You don’t need acres of space, either – if you don’t have a garden, you can grow them in a compact gro-sack (H45cm x diameter 30cm), £7.95 for three, Marshalls, on a patio or balcony. In fact, a pile of tyres, a large bucket or an old plastic compost sack (with drainage holes) will do the job adequately – you simply need a sturdy container that’s at least 30cm in diameter and 30cm deep. Q WHAT TYPE OF POTATOES SHOULD I GROW?…

Basic pizza dough MAKES 4 BASES TAKES 20MIN PLUS 45MIN RESTING TIME • 500g strong white bread flour or 00 Italian flour, plus extra for dusting • 2tsp fast-action yeast • 2tbsp olive oil, plus extra for oiling 1 In a food processor, whizz the flour, yeast, olive oil, 2-3tsp salt and 300ml tepid water, until well combined. Knead the dough on a floured worktop for 5min, until it’s smooth and elastic. 2 Transfer to an oiled bowl, cover with a sheet of oiled clingfilm and set aside until doubled in size – this will take around 45min. 3 Preheat the oven to 230°C/450°F/Gas 8. Divide the dough into four pieces. Flour your worksurface and, using a rolling pin and your hands, roll each piece of dough into a circle…

There’s nothing nicer than a wild-flower meadow buzzing with beautiful bees and butterflies. The good news is that it’s simple to create a wild-flower meadow that you can enjoy every day in your own garden. • First, choose an annual seed mix – try ‘Candy’ from Pictorial Meadows for a palette of pastels, or ‘Contrasting’ for a mix of blues, golds and reds. • Mark out your area and weed thoroughly, removing grass and other culprits. Rake the soil level and simply spread a specialist meadow seed mix over the surface. Firm in using the head of the rake or your feet and wait for the rain. • After you’ve been delighted with the annuals, ‘graduate’ to a stunning perennial meadow seed mix. Jonathan Wild is commercial director at…

FEATURES WE LOVE 1 You can wash and dry more at once Traditionally, if you wanted to dry a reasonable-sized wash, you’d have to take out some of the load first so it would have space to tumble. But this machine lets you wash and dry 6kg at a time – that’s around 30 T-shirts. It also has a 9kg wash capacity. 2 Clothes won’t shrink. A common fear of using a washer-dryer is that it will shrivel up your woollens, but there’s no need to fret over cashmere cardis placed in this machine. It’s one of the first models to be awarded Woolmark’s Blue label, signifying that it can clean and dry hand-wash-only woollens safely. Other fabrics are protected, too, as the machine automatically adjusts spin speed and temperature…

Ready your garden for the coming season with the beautiful new home and outdoor ranges from Garden Trading. Whether you want to tidy up your potting shed, grow your own herbs or overhaul an entire space, discover clever storage solutions, must-have tools and stylish accessories to reinvent any landscape this spring. Maximise your garden’s potential with handy space-saving buys, including storage boxes, hose-pipe hangers and shed organisers in contemporary designs. Whether you live in a city or a village, you can re-create a country cottage look with Garden Trading’s range of trailing plants – simply team with plant supports to bring height and interest to your garden. Complete the look with outdoor dining essentials from the new picnic range, perfect for easy alfresco dining as the days get warmer. Ideal…

CLASSICAL SPAIN: SEVILLE, CORDOBA & GRANADA Andalusia is a beautiful corner of Europe – it is the Spain of Carmen, Figaro and flamenco. SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM MARCH TO NOVEMBER 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES Return flights, taxes and transfers Six nights in hand-picked three- and four-star hotels with breakfast, staying in Seville, Granada and Mijas Fully escorted tours of the historic city of Seville, the stunning Alhambra in Granada, plus Cordoba and Ronda Escorted by a tour manager LAKE GARDA, VENICE & VERONA This tour includes some of the finest sights northern Italy has to offer. SELECTED DEPARTURES FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2016. THE PRICE INCLUDES Return flights, taxes and transfers Seven nights in hand-picked, lake-front hotels with half board Comprehensive sightseeing tours of Lake Garda and the Dolomites, as well…