Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2015 i Style At Home

Getting ready is such a big thing at this time of year. From presents to cards, wrapping to food, when do you call time and say enough is enough? For me, I start early but do like to keep going to the very last possible moment. Take last year for instance – there I was finishing sewing a festive runner for my mum on Christmas morning (oops!). But this is the ‘making Christmas special’ bit for me… and we asked our ever-growing group of Stylists at Home how they’ve done just that (page 44). If you’ve still gifts to buy, then you’ll love our present round-up (page 27), with ideas from under £10! Or if styling your party space is top of your list, then be inspired by Tina’s fab…

For… her Find the perfect gift for your loved ones For… him Men can be hard to buy for – but not anymore! For... pets Don’t forget to spoil furry friends too! For… teens Raise a smile from even the hardest to please For... them For… Ensur e each c ouple has something special For… tots Keep the little ones occupied this Christmas…

DARK-WOOD FLOORING throughout Natalie’s house makes a practical choice and adds to the traditional style. Try Colours Arpeggio Heritage Oak Effect laminate, £25.90 for 1.85 sq m, B&Q . LOOK OUT FOR quirky cushions like the Mr & Mrs ones on Natalie’s bed. She made these herself (try ours on page 58). For ready-made ones, try the Mr & Mrs linen cushions, £40, Bill & Betty. TRADITIONAL STYLE tongue-and-groove kitchen units give the room a homely vibe and work with the vintage feel in the rest of the house. For a similar look, go for Magnet’s Berkley kitchen.…

1 READING CORNER Create a feeling of depth by papering an alcove and creating your own faux library. Continue the theme by leaning a small ladder against the ‘bookcase’ and popping a comfy chair in the corner, piled high with cushions. BUY IT Vintage Bookshelf wallpaper, Young & Battaglia, £70 per roll. Or try the Muriva Bluff Bookcase design, £14.99 for a 10m roll, I Want Wallpaper, if you’re after a cheaper option. 2 BEYOND THE SEA A whitewashed driftwood design is ideal for coastal or shabby-chic schemes. In this living room, a shelf has been fixed to the wall in order to display seaside paraphernalia, while white-painted furniture, rattan accessories and a palette of soft blues and creams keep the look feeling relaxed and cosy. BUY IT Try Wood…

Mini banana & walnut loaves TAKES 1 HR MAKES 12 125g butter, softened 250g light muscovado sugar 300g plain flour 1tsp bicarbonate of soda Pinch salt 2 eggs 4tbsp milk 1tbsp lemon juice 1tsp vanilla extract 4 ripe bananas, mashed 100g walnut pieces, chopped 6tbsp icing sugar Preheat oven to 180°C/Gas 4. Beat 1 together the butter and sugar in a bowl until well combined, then sift in the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt. Lightly mix the eggs, milk, lemon juice and vanilla extract and pour into the bowl. Beat the ingredients well, fold in the banana and three quarters of the walnuts. Divide the mixture between 12 mini loaf moulds and sprinkle over the remaining walnuts. Bake for 20-30 min until golden and 2 leave to cool. For…

Smoked salmon kedgeree TAKES 40 MIN SERVES 4 Add 12 quail’s eggs to a pan boiling of water and cook for 2 1/2 min. Drain, cover with cold water and leave for a few min to cool. Melt 30g butter in a frying pan. Add 1 finely sliced onion and fry for 4 min until soft and golden. Add 175g basmati rice, stir well and pour in 600ml hot water. Bring just to the boil. Nestle 300g lightly smoked salmon fillets in the rice, cover and cook over a very low heat for 8-10 min. Peel the eggs and halve. Remove the salmon and set aside. Keep cooking the rice for a few min more with the lid off. Remove the skin and any bones from the salmon. Add 30g…

Christmas tree shelf Display your festive trinkets YOU WILL NEED 2 x Ribba picture ledges, £7.90 each, Ikea Saw & sandpaper White eggshell & paintbrush Pencil & tape measure Spirit level Command Sawtooth Sticky Nail Hangers, £4.19, 3M Direct Washi tape, £2.50 per roll, Hobbycraft 1 Use the saw to cut one ledge into pieces of 80cm, 20cm and 10cm. From the second, cut lengths of 60cm and 40cm. Smooth the edges with sandpaper then paint with eggshell. 2Position the longest piece against the wall in the desired position, checking it’s straight with the spirit level. Use the pencil to mark the top of the ledge; stick in place with nail hangers. Place the bottom edge of the next largest section 15cm above the first and fix in place as…

Plan Offset 1100 Quadrant shower enclosure, £349; Slimstone offset shower tray, £209; Basics dual control thermostatic shower valve, £169; Savoy slimline loo, £259; Edwardian 560 basin, £135; Savoy pedestal, £60; Quatra dual-lever basin mixer, £99; all Bathstore. Elizabeth radiator, £169, Victoria Plumb. PRS12 Prismatics White satin tiles, £33.25 per sq m, Johnsons Tiles. Strong White Full Gloss floor paint, £51 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Anorak Kissing Rabbits towels, from £14; Spirit Stripe bath mat, £20; wicker basket, £60; metal shower basket, £25; all John Lewis. Metal bucket, £10, Lewes Antiques Centre. Brass-edged mirror, £29.95, Attic. Wicker drawers, £20 each, The Holding Company. Bin, £12, Homebase. Green glass, £5, Zara Home. Antique Galvanised hook rail, £18, Garden Trading. Vintage milk bottles, £5 each, local antiques shop, find similar on eBay.…

Perfect for a weekend project, clean up existing floorboards for a whole new look YOU WILL NEED Hammer & pliers Knot sealer Flexible wood filler Floor sander Edging sander 1 Once you have cleared your room of furniture, thoroughly clean your floor. Replace any worn or rotten boards and hammer in or pull out any nails that are sticking out of the boards. Seal any knots and fill cracks. It is worth draught-proofing the gaps in the floorboards too. For a pro look, try Old Pine Slivers (from £35 a pack, The Old Pine Company). These thin wood wedges fit between the floorboards. 2 If the floor is painted or varnished, try to remove as much of it as possible, particularly any that is peeling or flaking. If the floor…

Welcome to this month’s Stylists at Home – our exclusive real-life style club. Say ‘hello’ to January’s panel of five stylists who are on hand to make sure your magazine is bursting with tips, ideas and advice! But Stylists at Home also gives you the chance to show us what you’ve done, bought, made and revamped. So don’t be shy – email a snap (and a ‘before’ photo if possible) of your latest buy, creation or project, along with a head-and-shoulders pic of you, to styleathome@ipcmedia.com and next time, you could be right here! Pretty patchwork I wanted to give my spare room a unique look so I started by collecting lots of different wallpaper samples in my favourite colours, patterns and designs. I cut them into different-sized squares to…

My home ... ABOUT ME I’m Jayne Elliott, 42, a civil servant, and I live with my partner, Jonathan, 48, a civil servant, and my daughter, Nell, 13. MY HOME Home is a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Llantwit Major, the Vale of Glamorgan. The house was built in 1996 and I bought it from a friend in April 2012. WHEN I BOUGHT IT The house had the original decor, fixtures and fittings from when it was built almost 20 years ago. It was definitely time for a modern update and I wanted to put my own stamp on it. Thankfully, I didn’t need to carry out any building work or rejig the layout. AND NOW It’s a gorgeous white space throughout, layered with natural colours, textures and accessories. It feels…

White pure & chic There’s nothing cleaner or crisper than a pure-white kitchen scheme. Whether you go for a high-gloss design or a traditional country one, it’s a look that lasts. If you’re minimalist at heart and love to be clutter free, then this is the look for you. Stick to white accessories to earn extra style points. White warm wood If there’s one thing that works beautifully with a white kitchen, it’s natural wood, plenty of texture and subtle colour. Keep accessories neutral and minimal with chunky wooden worktops, simple gadgets and beautiful tea towels. This is a look that’ll work in any kitchen scheme, whether contemporary or traditional. White sugary pastels For girly girls, a white kitchen with pastel-coloured accessories is the perfect combo. Chalky pastel hues work…

Give a thoughtful gift to newlyweds with this Mr & Mrs reversible cushion. Choose a map that will be personal to the couple, like the area where they tied the knot or got engaged, to make it a truly special present and remind them of their big day. Be inspired by Natalie’s look and go for a hot pink base, or choose a neutral cushion to fit in with any style. HOWTO TAKES JUST 3 HRS! YOU WILL NEED Map image T-shirt transfer paper, £3.50 for seven sheets, Tesco Direct Iron 50cm White cotton fabric, £3 per m, Ikea Letter templates Pencil & scissors Fine paintbrush Fabric glue, £3 for 120ml, Hobbycraft Dark pink cushion, £2.50, Ikea 1 On a computer, open your image of a map and flip it…

Spanish toasts TAKES 20 MIN SERVES 8 Slice a large baguette into 18 pieces and grill for a few min each side until toasted. Rub with 1 sliced garlic clove and lay on a serving plate. Blanch 300g frozen broad beans in a pan of boiling water for 2 min, drain and refresh under cold running water. Slip the beans out of their pods and put in a food processor. Pulse with 2tbsp olive oil, zest and juice 2 lemons, a few mint leaves and season. Top each toast with the bean mixture and divide 80g pack Serrano ham and 50g sliced Manchego cheese between them. Chorizo tortilla TAKES 1 HR SERVES 8 Dry-fry 150g pack chorizo cubes in a non-stick pan until crisp. Remove the chorizo and any oil…

Bundt cake MAKES 8 TAKES 60 MIN 175g butter, plus extra for the tin 200g self-raising flour 1tsp cinnamon 100g light muscovado sugar 2 eggs, beaten 3tbsp clear honey 150g chopped walnuts FOR THE ICING 100ml double cream 75g light brown muscovado sugar 25g butter 1tbsp golden syrup Fudge, to decorate 1 Preheat oven to 160°C/Gas 3. Grease an 18cm Bundt mould. Mix together the butter, flour, cinnamon, sugar, eggs and honey. 2 Mix in the walnuts. Spoon into the tin and bake for 40 min until firm to the touch and a skewer inserted comes out clean. 3 Cool on a wire rack. For the icing, put all ingredients except the fudge into a pan. Heat gently until melted, simmer gently for 7 min until thick. Leave to cool…

600mm Metod kitchen base unit with Bodbyn door, £59; Fagleboda handles, £5 for two; Domsjo sink, £140; Foto pendant lamps, £18 each; Dalfred bar stools, £29 each; Stockholm rug, £100; all Ikea. Abode Ludlow tap, £158.40, Buy Taps Online. Oak worktop, £750, Wood Worktops. Walls painted in Pigeon Estate Emulsion, £36 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Metro White wall tiles, £14.50 per sq m, Tons of Tiles. Barbican pendant light, £62, Jim Lawrence. Kahlo Multi Roman blind, £265.29, Direct Blinds. Linea Red kettle, £54.99; toaster, £59.99; both Bella. Skeleton wall clock, £49.95, Amazon. Sign, £10.99, Mollie & Fred. Reindeer, £6; runner, £12; both Sainsbury’s. Red Dala tea towel, £9; Dala dishcloth, £2.95, both Jangneus. Ceramic reindeer, from £5.99 each; Star paper lights, £9.99; all Dunelm. Stripe crackers, £11 for six;…

Feel like everyone else is ahead of the game and you’re rapidly running out of time to get ready for Christmas? Relax – there’s still plenty of opportunity to do all the little things that make the festive season magical, and we’ve lots of tips to keep you on track. With everything from gift ideas to how to get your home ready for guests, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide so you can tick everything off while keeping a cool head. 1 Start by writing a list of everything you need to do before Christmas Day and order it by length of time each task will take to complete, from longest to shortest. 2 Learn to delegate to family and friends to help reduce the pressure on yourself. Dish out tasks…

House-hunting seven years ago, we were looking for somewhere fairly rural with a bit of land and this house fitted the bill,’ says Sarah. ‘It’s commutable to London for Peter, and I could carry on with my work as a graphic designer. The house had been extended in the 1970s downstairs, so it had a sizeable kitchen-diner, two bedrooms plus a large bathroom on the first floor, and then two bedrooms on the upper floor. In fact, it was one lovely large bedroom, and one strange space with an arch you had to walk through to get to our bedroom. It became a glorified corridor and Livi took it over as her playroom. But as she’s got older, she’s using it less, and we started to get fed up with…

MEET GRACE 'I’m 22 and I live in a detached four-bed farmhouse in Staffordshire with my mum and dad. My favourite room is the kitchen – it has a warm, country feel and a brick fireplace with a woodburner. THE LAST THING I BOUGHT… was white bed linen with a gorgeous mint-green bird and tree pattern by Sanderson. I own far too much bedding but I think a freshly made bed can have a big impact on a bedroom. LESSONS LEARNT Take your time when painting. It’s not worth rushing only to find drips on the floor.' MEET HANNAH 'I’m 28 and I live with my husband Paul, in a two-bed Victorian terrace in Sheffield. I’m addicted to Pinterest – it’s great for decorating ideas. THE LAST THING I BOUGHT……

LAYER TEXTURES Keep an all-white look like Jayne’s feeling warm and cosy with cushions, throws and rugs. City Cows are great for cowhide and reindeer rugs, and Ikea’s faux sheepskin Tejn rug, £10, is a smart buy. SOFTER SHADES White paint doesn’t have to be stark – play around with different shades to get the look you want. We love Marbles and Wood Smoke Claypaints by Earthborn, both from £32.70 for 2.5ltr. SIZE MATTERS An extendable dining table is a great idea if you like to entertain but don’t want a large table out all of the time. Ikea’s Ingatorp round table in White, £225, extends to seat six people – perfect for a family gathering.…

Give your visitors a festive welcome this Christmas with a hand-crafted wreath. Display this rustic decoration on your front door to set the scene for the festivities and show off your crafting! The simple steps take next to no time to complete and will leave you with something that you can bring out year after year. We based ours on a heart-shaped wreath but why not try a regular round one? HOW TO TAKES JUST 2 HRS! YOU WILL NEED Star templates Birch tree bark, £7.99 for seven sheets, Floristry Warehouse Pencil & scissors Needle & wire Heart wreath, £4.25, Hobbycraft 1 Cut around one large and one small star template. Draw around these on the sheets of bark and cut out as many as required. For this size wreath,…

My home... ABOUT ME I’m Natalie Lockwood, 24, and I own an online interiors company called Little Mill House. I live here with my husband Nathan, 33, a barber, our three-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Ruben, and Sooty the rabbit. MY HOME A new-build house built on a mill site in West Yorkshire, which we moved into in 2010. WHEN I BOUGHT IT It was only half finished, which gave us a lot of freedom with the design, especially when it came to the kitchen and bathrooms. It was very much what you would expect from a new-build, with all the walls painted magnolia. AND NOW Gradually we have decorated every room, bringing in colour and pattern. We added the decorative fireplace to create a focal point in the living…

Tiramisu pavlova cake SERVES 8-10 TAKES 1 HR 30 MIN Preheat oven to 140°C/Gas 1. Line three baking trays with baking paper, each marked with an 18cm circle. In a bowl, whisk 6 egg whites with an electric mixer until they form stiff peaks. Whisk in 300g caster sugar 1tbsp at a time, to stiff peaks after each addition. Add 1tsp cornflour and 1tsp cream of tartar and whisk. Carefully fold in 75g chopped toasted hazelnuts. Spoon a third of the meringue into a piping bag and pipe onto a baking tray in a spiral motion, filling the circle to a depth of 1.5cm. Repeat with the remaining meringue. Take 1tbsp cocoa powder and lightly dust each meringue. Bake for 1 hr. Switch off oven and leave inside to cool.…

Make it your New Year’s resolution to do more home cooking, and enter our fantastic kitchen appliance competition. Style at Home has teamed up with Judge to offer three Stylists at Home the chance to win a set of easy-to-use kitchen gadgets, worth a total of £340. Versatile designs Get busy making delicious sausages with the Judge Electric Meat Mincer and Sausage Maker (RRP £90). It’s perfect for burgers, too, and can be filled with both fresh meat and leftovers. A true all-rounder, the Judge Soup Maker (RRP £160) effortlessly whizzes up tasty soup in one simple machine – no pans and no separate blender is required – while smoothies, breadcrumbs, boiled eggs and hot chocolate are also easy to prepare. Finally, the Judge Mini Food Processor (RRP £90) is…

With friends and family soon to arrive for the festivities, it’s time to think about preparing the guest bedroom to make sure that your visitors feel at ease and well-looked after during their stay. Try to declutter the space they’ll be sleeping in as best you can before they arrive. A room is more welcoming when it isn’t filled with unfamiliar objects, so aim to keep surfaces clear and hide away your personal belongings. Festive update Now that the room is neat and tidy, have fun adding a dash of Christmas magic with decorations to make the room feel part of the house as a whole. Pop a wreath on the door and a string of fairy lights above the bed to help set the scene. Remember to check for…

Bring the outdoors in with our quick and budget-friendly foliage projects to transform your space for Christmas. Pop to the local flower market and pick up a seasonal bundle to get started, then raid your craft drawer for ribbons and a few tools – and you’re set! Remember, if you use candles in your makes, don’t leave them burning. Candle wreath Make a striking centrepiece YOU WILL NEED Candelabra or tealight holders Foam ring, £5.99, Hobbycraft Florist’s wire, £3.50, Hobbycraft Pine cones Mixed green foliage (with berries, if possible) Scissors 1 Submerge foam ring in water to soak. Measure the base of your candelabra to ensure it fits inside the ring and, if it doesn’t, cut away parts of the foam to make space. 2 Cut the foliage sprigs to…

1 Making plans The alterations get underway and I’m so excited about the idea that I won’t have to keep going downstairs to the bathroom! We add two Velux roof windows to let more light flow in and I can’t wait to choose all my new bits and pieces. I want a bold look, and I’ve picked aqua and orange as the main colours after I saw these bright and cute bunny towels. 2 Tile choices The wall colour is going to be the room’s main focus and I think competing tiles might dilute its impact. I want floor-to-ceiling tiling inside the shower, so go for a simple, classic white brick style. 3 Antique touches Knowing that something has a history is important to me, so I’m really pleased that…

My home... ABOUT ME I’m Sara Eardley, 36, a freelance technical consultant for professional hair products, and I live with my husband James, 48, a 3D artist, and our little girl Tilda, three. MY HOME We rent a Victorian two-bedroom, mid-terraced cottage in north London; we moved here in October 2012. WHEN I MOVED IN We liked the fact that the bare bones of the house had a lovely vintage feel, with whitewashed floors, old-style radiators and chandeliers. AND NOW I introduced junk-shop finds and some painted and distressed furniture from my childhood, along with pieces from my parents’ farmhouse and other items given to me by my grandmother. Combined, they create the shabby-chic look I love. STYLE TIP Don’t worry about being a hoarder. The variety of bits and…

Stripped floorboards can give a house an elegant, homely feel – think of the natural, light-coloured flooring in Scandi-style homes teamed with understated furniture. Restoring floorboards can be quite a project to undertake but one that’s worth investing time and money in and, with good planning, you can do it yourself. Preparation is key If you’re moving to a new home, why not be brave and have a look under the old carpet – chances are if you live in a period home there are floorboards hidden underneath, ripe for renewal. It is true that preparing the boards can be a little time consuming, but it can be a project undertaken in a weekend. Bear in mind that you may have to clear the room of furniture and thoroughly check…

Try your hand at this speedy idea for a personalised addition to your Christmas decor. Choose wired decorations to tie in with your theme; we’ve gone for a natural look with pine cones and hessian, but you could try a metallic look finished off with shimmering gold fabric at the base. Pop on a mantelpiece or windowsill and remember to keep away from heat sources so your tree stays as fresh as possible. HOWTO YOU WILL NEED TAKES JUST 2 HRS! Star template 25cm calico, £4.99 per m, Hobbycraft Pinking shears Pencil & string Needle & thread Stuffing Mini potted conifer, £7.99, Wyevale Garden Centre Wired pine cones, apples, cinnamon sticks and bells, all £1 per pack, Wilko 50cm hessian, £3.99 per m, Hobbycraft Red gingham ribbon, 70p per m,…

Cut clutter after Christmas Get organised now so you can start afresh next year As you put away gifts, sort any items that are being replaced and recycle them or take to your local charity shop. Bin broken decorations and, if you’re in need of new bulbs for fairy lights, buy replacements in the post-Christmas sales. Wrap strings of fairy lights around a fold of card to keep them neat, and store unused wrapping paper in a sturdy bag or box. Store any duplicate presents you may have received and think about ‘regifting’ them next year. To ensure you don’t send it back to the original giver by mistake, attach a sticky note of who it was from to the item! Make a note of who sent you cards as…