Innholdsfortegnelse for Aug-2018 i Style At Home

Richmonds are coming to stay! For a week, the usual routine will be put on hold while we keep three sassy little girls entertained, fed and happy. No doubt a trip to Smiggle will be involved, at Auntie Nessa’s expense, of course! For a ‘holiday’, it’s going to be exhausting, but memories will be made and I’ll come out the other side with a fresh view on life. If your summer’s going to be equally hectic, I hope you manage to carve out some time – preferably on a sun lounger, with a long, cold drink in one hand – to savour this issue. It’s packed with stunning real homes, stylish ideas and savvy buys, to fuel all kinds of plans and dreams… SEND US YOUR STYLING SNAPS ON INSTAGRAM…

Ruth Minors ABOUT ME I’m 30 and I live with my husband Adam, 33, in a three-bedroom new build in Dudley. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? Good-quality furniture is a wise investment, as it’ll last for years. My cheap flat-pack furniture proved to be a false economy as I’m slowly replacing it with more solid, authentic pieces. Nikki Milne ABOUT ME I’m 45 and I live with my sons Harry, 16, and Edward, 12, in a Thirties semi-detached property in Kent. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SHOP FOR HOME BUYS? I shop at high-street stores like Next, John Lewis, Ikea and Laura Ashley, but I love unique one-off items from small independent shops. Karl Grant ABOUT ME I’m 40 and I live in a converted former chapel in Bedfordshire with my…

Long live the llama! This happy, summery animal is stealing the unicorn’s crown as the hottest whimsical character around. With their cute faces appearing on cushions, tableware and every other home accessory, these South American camelids combine perfectly with a whole fiesta-full of bright tassels and pompoms. An all-round winner in our eyes!…

ABOUT ME I’m Britt Roe, 28, and I live with my fiancé Joseph Spurr, 32, and our French bulldog Opie. I’m a cosmetic tattooist (facebook.com/microbladingbybritt) and Joe is an engineer. MY HOME A three-bedroom semi, built in 1929, in Nottinghamshire, that we bought in May 2016. WHEN I MOVED IN Although in good repair, it had no individuality, and the whole house was painted white and beige and felt unloved. AND NOW We decorated throughout with strong colours and funky wallpaper and then used furniture and accessories to add our own personality. STYLE TIP Don’t be scared of using colour, but do a bit of research and planning so you get it right.…

TRY A BOLD PAINT COLOUR Emerald greens and navy blues look smart and work well as background colours, helping tie together looks using lots of bold patterns, plush fabrics or furniture from different eras. Dark walls also make a dramatic backdrop for a collection of modern artwork and look great offset against gilt, gold and copper finishes, too. GO BIG ON PATTERN Don’t shy away from using a bold, oversized wallpaper in a small space or a room that doesn’t get much natural light. While the urge might be to paint everything white to make it feel brighter, a quirky print will add instant character and make the space feel both warmer and more intimate. MAKE LIGHTING THE FOCUS Try one large chandelier or cluster pendant hung centrally above the…

1 Wind garden twine around an embroidery hoop. It doesn’t need to totally cover the hoop, just add a decorative detail. 2 Take a selection of faux flowers and leaves, and remove the flower heads from the stems. Arrange the flowers and leaves around the bottom half of the hoop, and use a hot-glue gun to fix in place. 3 Glue an MDF word, like Emma’s ‘hello’ (see right), to the hoop with the hot glue. Etsy does MDF letters to create your own word. Finally, tie a twine loop around the top of the hoop for hanging.…

DO IT WITH MIRRORS Hang an arrangement of vintage mirrors in a cluster. This works well in small spaces and areas that get little natural daylight, such as halls and stairs. Odd numbers, such as three or five, tend to work better in a small grouping. REVAMP A FIREPLACE If you don’t want to replace a dated brick fireplace, consider painting it instead. You’ll need to wash down the brickwork, then use a 3-in-1 primer, sealer and undercoat before painting with a specialist stone fireplace paint – try the range at Stonelux. PERSONALISE KIDS’ ROOMS Zone the space in a shared bedroom so little ones can add a personal touch to their own area. Pick out the wall space around each bed in paint – simple stripes or colour blocks…

ALIX SAYS ‘The plants around Kelly’s home fill up small pockets of space. Plants can transform dark or unused corners by adding a fresh pop of green.’ KELLY SAYS ‘White and light storage and furniture gives a clean finish, while also providing a coastal, nautical-inspired look.’ RUTH SAYS ‘If you’re planning a layout overhaul like Kelly has, consider using underfloor heating. With radiators gone, you can claim back your wall space, which becomes far more versatile as a result.’…

PAINT IT WHITE Give tired furniture a new lease of life with a fresh coat of paint – keeping to an all-white scheme like Kelly’s is an easy way of co-ordinating a varied collection of pieces. Use a furniture chalk paint so there’s no prep to do (try Frenchic’s Lazy Furniture Paint range) and just give pieces a buff down afterwards for a time-worn finish. SAY IT WITH FLOWERS Brighten up the house with a mini arrangement of flowers in every room, from a simple posy in a vase or a couple of flower heads in a tumbler to just a few sprigs of eucalyptus tucked into a garland. Supermarket bouquets are not too expensive, and it’s easy to break the flowers and foliage down into smaller arrangements so that…

1 Pitch perfect Create a shady spot in your garden for the kids to play and take a break from the sun – or to chill in yourself. Even an old bed sheet thrown over a washing line can be transformed using a couple of bamboo stakes, some bunting, cushions and throws. 2 Top table Cut down the pet-gnawed legs of a wooden kitchen table to make a new low-level one for your garden or patio. Sand down any rough edges and check it’s level before painting, then seal with varnish. 3 CRAFT PROJECT Update plain white fabric napkins, tea towels and tablecloths with some simple needleworked detailing in red cotton. Easy cross-stitch lettering is quick to do, looks pretty, and will add Scandi style to your table. 4 Floral…

Herringbone is an on-trend option for laying metro tiles, and delivers an upmarket look, even when using inexpensive white tiles. Cover a large area, such as your splashback, for maximum impact. For something a little different, lay the tiles vertically rather than in the traditional horizontal pattern. This arrangement helps to visually heighten a space, making it great for rooms with low ceilings. Stack ’em up. While you may be used to seeing a brickwork-style offset pattern, nail the minimalist look by stacking the tiles in neat formation. Choose a contrasting grout to highlight the grid pattern.…

SPARE FILTERS Cooker Hood Filters is an aptly named online resource covering extractor replacement parts and peripherals for all the main brands. Give the team a call if you’re struggling to find the right part. PINT-SIZE MODELS AO.com has a strong selection of cooker hoods for small kitchens – 170+ in fact – including 22 models that measure less than 55cm wide. BUDGET BUYS Known for its reasonably priced designer cooker hoods, Luxair now has a new budget range with hoods starting from just £125.…

1 Using sandpaper, remove any existing varnish from the cabinet. Rub down with a dry cloth to get rid of dust. 2 If desired, use a primer before painting the cabinet in a dark furniture paint. Leave to dry. If you’d prefer to see the bare wood underneath, skip this step. 3 Paint with several coats of a lighter furniture paint, leaving to dry in a well-ventilated area between each coat. 4 Once completely dry, use sandpaper to gently distress the top layers of paint so that the colour underneath shows through. Focus on areas that would naturally wear, such as edges. 5 When you’re happy, seal with several layers of clear varnish.…

THE REAL DEAL Antique Baths of Ivybridge rescues, restores and renovates roll-top baths, using traditional techniques honed during the last 25 years. CUSTOM COLOUR The Albion Bath Company will paint the exterior of its roll tops in any Dulux or Farrow & Ball paint colour, or any other colour name or code you have in mind. They also supply ready-primed baths if you fancy painting one yourself. PEACE OF MIND Hawke & Beck’s budget-friendly acrylic roll tops come with a free lifetime guarantee. Choose from 15 shapes, each with a choice of three foot designs.…

For similar artificial grass, try Devon 30mm, £17sq m, Fylde Grass. For similar decking, try Nevou Premium deck board, £36 for a pack of five, B&Q. No Nonsense decking oil in Cedar, £23.99 for 5L, Screwfix. Indoor/outdoor striped rug, £41, BundleBerry by Amanda Holden at QVCUK.com. For a similar tiki bar, try the wicker rattan bar set with two stools and chairs, £575, John Lewis. Similar bamboo torch lights, £5.90 each, Homebase. Bar stools, £74 for two; George Home Camden pink and orange three-piece bistro set, £137.99, both eBay. Sofa dining set, £500, Amazon. Palm House melamine set, from £2.50 for a picnic bowl; hi ball glasses, £3.25 each; pitcher, £8.50, all Sainsbury’s Home. Tropical Fiesta gold pineapple cups, £5.50 each; napkins, £3.50 a pack; pineapple honeycombs, £8.50 for three,…

HERBS ARE REALLY EASY TO GROW FROM SEED OR BUY AS YOUNG PLANTS, AS MOST DON’T NEED MUCH ATTENTION YOU WILL NEED 1 large terracotta pot 3 medium terracotta pots Wooden or metal rod Compost Herb plants Heavy base (optional) Growing your own food is much easier than you might think. All you need are a few basic pots and some compost, or a small patch of soil. With supermarket prices increasing and the current drive to eat healthily and reduce plastic food packaging, growing your own makes a whole lot of sense. 1 SECURE ROD Fix the rod into a heavy base such as a parasol stand, or push nice and deep into the ground to make sure it’s very stable. 2 GET BUILDING Thread the largest pot through…

Prep-free painting If you’re partial to a bit of upcycling, you’ll be very familiar with Annie Sloan’s brilliant chalk paints. You can use them on pretty much any surface without having to sand or prime first. Now, Annie has launched a range of wall paints that also need no preparation and can be applied by brush or roller with minimal splatter. Hard-wearing and washable, the paints can be used in high-traffic areas of the home, as well as in kitchens and bathrooms. They dry quickly to a matt finish with a light sheen. There are 16 colours and a 2.5L tin, £39.95, will cover approximately 36sq m. Serious sealants! Promising the same heavy-duty strength and durability as its glue, Gorilla’s new sealants are flexible, waterproof, mould-resistant and shower-ready in 30…

SEASIDE CHANDELIER YOU WILL NEED * Wire flower drying rings or wire rings in two sizes * Craft wire in two weights * LED fairy lights Wire cutters * Jute string * Sea blue ribbons * Selection of shells 1 Attach one end of three lengths of craft wire to the larger of the two wire rings to create hanging wires. Space them out evenly. 2 Thread outdoor LED fairy lights around the wire ring and up the three hanging wires, twisting fine wire around to fix them in place. 3 Attach an upper tier by sliding the second wire ring over the hanging wires. Fix into place with fine wire in the same way as before. 4 Knot long pieces of jute string and ribbon in various marine shades…

A  Amazon amazon.co.uk Amtico 0121 745 0800 amtico.com Andrew Martin 020 7225 5100 andrewmartin.co.uk Annie Sloan 01865 803168 anniesloan.com Antique Bathrooms of Ivybridge 01752 698250 antiquebaths.com Ao.com 0344 324 9222 ao.com Argos 0345 640 2020 argos.co.uk Arlo & Jacob 0333 222 1643 arloandjacob.com Art Wow 07736 777117 artwow.co Arthouse 01706 230077 arthouse.com Atomic Interiors 0115 965 7920 atomicinteriors.co.uk Audenza 0116 298 6393 audenza.com B  B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com Black by Design 01889 502716 black-by-design.co.uk C  Candle & Cake 01508 489361 candleandcake.co.uk Carpetright 0330 333 3444 carpetright.co.uk Castlegate Lights 01642 714444 castlegatelights.co.uk Catchpole & Rye 020 7351 0940 catchpoleandrye.com Cath Kidston 0333 320 2663 cathkidston.com Choice Furniture Superstore choicefurnituresuperstore.co.uk Colour Courage colourcourage.com/en-gb/ Cooker Hood Filters 01543 624 663 cookerhoodfilters.co.uk Cox & Cox 0330 333 2123 coxandcox.co.uk Cuckooland 01305 231231 cuckooland.com…

3 of the best… PICNIC PLATES…

KARL SAYS ‘Authentic mid-century pieces can be expensive so if you’re on a tight budget, try to build around one or two items. The key to making it work is not to use too many patterns and stay within a colour range.’ NIKKI SAYS ‘The blend of neutral kitchen cabinets and understated walls with vibrant pieces and the organic tones of copper and wood works so well together.’ KELLY SAYS ‘Britt’s use of bold patterns on curtains, wallpapers, rugs and accent pieces gives her 1929 home a lovely modern pop.’…

Although this is our third home together, it was the first one where I really felt we could put our stamp on things,’ says Emma. ‘We had a lovely cottage before, but it had already been renovated, whereas in this house just about everything needed doing! It was keenly priced, though, and had so much potential. It’s also in a great location, close to schools and the seafront, and there’s a good-sized garden, too. At first I wasn’t sure about taking on such a big project as we have three children, but my husband Adam could see what a fantastic opportunity we had and he was right. Sorting the layout The living area was really higgledy-piggledy. We had a front room, a small, dark kitchen and a separate dining room,…

CATH KIDSTON The classic cottagey florals and vintage vibe on everything from bedding to bathroom accessories are right up Emma’s street. COX & COX This is where Emma picked up her cute decorative bird ornaments among a great selection of nature-inspired accessories. Cox & Cox also has budget-friendly statement lighting. MELODY MAISON Brilliant for French-style painted pieces that are ideal for emulating Emma’s country look perfectly. IKEA Hard to beat for keen prices and functional Scandi style, like Emma’s home office furniture. Plenty of kids’ rooms kit, too. DUNELM A fabulous place for artificial flowers, so you can have beautiful indoor bouquets and posies all year round.…

Pre-kids my husband Duncan and I lived in the centre of Brighton, enjoying all the things a city has to offer. When our daughter India came along though, our priorities changed,’ says Kelly. ‘We wanted space and peace, to get away from the chaos of city living, but to have the option to dip into it when we chose. Both sets of grandparents were already living close by in Saltdean, which is near the sea and known as a place that’s popular to retire to – so there are lots of houses that are perfect to stamp your own mark on! It made sense to head there, so we started spending hours driving around the area looking for roads we could see ourselves living on. The only stipulation was that…

THE FRENCH BEDROOM COMPANY The place to head for elegant and chic French-inspired furniture designs like Kelly has in her bedroom and bathroom. THE WHITE COMPANY Specialises in white accessories – you’ll find pieces like the large mirror in Kelly’s sitting room. SOUTHWOOD STORES A great go-to for cushion covers and throws that add style, colour and depth to any room. LITTLE ROSE & CO Sells beautiful wooden toys similar to the ones on Ezra’s bedroom shelf. GREY SEPTEMBER Carefully sourced products focusing on uber-cool Scandinavian designs like Kelly’s baskets, vases and pots.…

the STYLE RULES Add edgy pops of red to a neutral palette Embrace nostalgic factory features with an industrial look that’s still brimming with home comforts. PICK A METAL LOOK A tin plate-effect wallpaper really sets the scene for this look. Team with neutral furnishings and pewter-toned accessories. GO FOR TRAD Soften the feel with a few cushions in traditional fabrics, such as red ticking stripes and checks, plus fringed patterned throws. TRY NATURAL FLOORING Choose a hard-wearing sisal carpet layered with a simple but foot-friendly cream rug. Touches of copper bring a Scandi scheme to life This fresh look is easy to create. Stick to a neutral palette, simple styling and natural textures. EMBRACE BRICK Freshen up an exposed brick wall with a coat of white paint.…

I hated everything about our old kitchen,’ says Kim. ‘It was so sparse with its white units, white walls and garish black worktops. The style didn’t suit the house. There was minimal workspace and, unbelievably, only one plug socket! But I did like the communal, open-plan space and knew it had heaps of potential. Finding inspiration My husband Stuart and I thought about extending the kitchen but, with a fairly small budget, we went for the cheaper option of fitting a new kitchen instead. I looked to Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration – I like the industrial look of dark inky blues teamed with white, black, grey and natural wood. I also love succulents, house plants and the occasional pop of colour. First things first Luckily, we managed to sell…

Infinity J-pull kitchen units in white with 60mm solid oak worktops, hob and Belfast sink, £5,000, Wren Kitchens. Walls painted in Hague Blue modern emulsion, £45 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Metro XL flat white tiles, £18.66sq m; Laura Ashley Mr Jones floor tiles, £29.28sq m, both Tons of Tiles. Ekby Valter brackets, £2 each; Fintorp rails, £6 each; Vilto shelving unit, £50; Brunsta pendant light shade, £16; Johanne throw, £25, all Ikea. Hairpin table, from £225; hairpin bench, from £115, both Design Shack. Black metal chairs, £50 for two, Amazon. Vintage cherryade produce tray, £14.95, Rex London. Potted succulents, £8 each; aqua speckled vase, £8, both Wilko. Aqua cutting board, £7, Tiger.…

We moved here nearly four years ago from a cramped, three-bedroom semi just after our son, Jackson, now three, came along,’ says Heidi. ‘This house was only a few hundred metres away, but it needed a lot of renovation. It had been lived in by an elderly couple, and basically every single room needed updating, so my husband Matt and I knew we’d have to take it slowly, as we were intending to do a lot of the work ourselves. Eventually, it got to the stage where I couldn’t stand the bathroom any more and it shot to the top of the list. We’ve got an en suite in the loft, and a downstairs toilet, but the main bathroom was fairly yucky and covered in carpet, which we ripped out…

Back-to-wall 170cm bath with Pride feet, £886; shower ring, £414; Topaz triple exposed valve with rigid riser and bath spout, £672; Brampton wall-mounted chrome and white radiator, £688; Epsom wall-mounted chrome radiator, £344; towel shelf, £93; Topaz lever basin taps, £67; Carlton 50cm basin, £57; Luxury basin washstand, £168; Carlton low-level pan and cistern with seat, £254.50, all Ultra Finishing. Archivo Bakula floor tiles, £96sq m; Matrix White Gloss wall tiles, £21sq m, both Topps Tiles. Wall cupboard, £80, Kempton Park Antiques Fair. Grey lantern, £6; shower curtain, £6.99, both Tesco Direct. Walls painted in French Grey Mid intelligent matt emulsion; woodwork painted in Shirting intelligent matt emulsion, both £42 for 2.5L, Little Greene. Wooden stool, £14.99, TK Maxx. Elements duck board, £15; seagrass basket, £25, both Dunelm. Hammam towels,…

When I bought this house back in 2013, it was a total mess,’ says Kayley, ‘and it took time to get it looking how I wanted. I rented out the spare bedroom to a housemate, but it wasn’t until a year ago that I decided it was time to do something with the garden. It was scruffy, ugly to look at and was really in need of a makeover if I was going to be able to use the space. A daunting prospect The garden is about 80ft long and was going to be a lot of work, but luckily I had a few family members who said they’d help, which was a godsend. The first step was to landscape the grass area, to get it nice and flat. There…

SECURE WOBBLY TRELLIS AND FENCING AND TIE IN PLANTS TO KEEP THEM HAPPY AND THE SPACE LOOKING NEAT AND TIDY 1 CUT BACK THE GREENERY Overgrown gardens look messy and cluttered, so giving your plants a short back and sides is bound to transform your outdoor area. Start by cutting back any heavily untidy hedges and removing dead branches, sweeping up the debris when you’re done. Mow your lawn and trim borders with a strimmer – if you have one – for a neat finish. Finally, pull out any stray weeds from your flower beds. 2 POLISH YOUR PATIO Using a patio weeding brush – you can get one at Homebase for just £3.97 – dig out any weedy growth from in between your paving stones and scrub off any…

SAINSBURY’S HOME Sunny Scandi Style your outside space with simple linear designs and pops of bright yellow DEBENHAMS Glam tropics Exotic motifs and gold accents add a touch of luxe to an island scheme HOUSE OF FRASER Global soul Be inspired by ethnic prints and earthy hues for a look of worldly sophistication ARGOS Beach house Indulge in indigo blues and painterly stripes for a relaxed seaside feel Style Maker JOSIE SAYS ‘Start with natural tones, then add zesty accents and geo patterns to create an elegant, earthy indoor space.’…

TRY A BOLD COLOUR ON A FEATURE WALL – IT’S A GREAT WAY TO FRAME A VIEW From a statement wall to a complete interior refresh, getting the right colour is a surefire way to express your personal style. And whether you’re looking for the hottest modern neutral or eye-catching brights, Crown’s range of fabulous paint colours is guaranteed to inspire. With more than 200 years of interiors experience, Crown has colours and formulas to suit every room. Plus its colour consultants can offer advice on new ways with colour and paint effects to really shake up your style. For Autumn/Winter 2018, it’s updating its neutrals with a palette of warm biscuit hues and elegant grey tones – perfect for a luxe bedroom. And for your living space? Think forest…

Buying a home with no character turned out to be a good decision for me and my fiancé Joe,’ says Britt. ‘The original decor was really boring and not to our taste at all, but it did mean that we wouldn’t have to spend too much time or money getting rid of someone else’s vision of beauty. And, with no real structural work to do, we knew we could focus on turning the place into a home that we’d love, rather than worrying about knocking walls down or replacing kitchens. We wanted a home with character and space. So although we hadn’t looked at many properties, when I spotted this place online, I knew it was worth a visit. Joe isn’t normally very spontaneous about decision making, but he fell…

ABOUT ME I’m Emma Piggott, 37. I live with my husband Adam, 37, who is a barber, our three children Grace, 12, Joseph, seven, and Lydia, five, and Bess the cocker spaniel. MY HOME A three-bedroom Thirties semi in Somerset. We moved here in August 2014. WHEN I MOVED IN The whole house felt gloomy and downstairs was a mishmash of little rooms. AND NOW We’ve opened up the ground floor so it’s bright and spacious. The old kitchen and bathroom have been replaced and I’ve redecorated every room. STYLE TIP Invest in quality anchor pieces you’ll want to keep long term and update with purse-friendly, on-trend accessories.…

ABOUT ME I’m Kelly Bassett, 37, a freelance merchandise buyer, and I live with my husband, Duncan, 57, an underwriter, and our children, India, four, and Ezra, 20 months. MY HOME We live in a detached house with four bedrooms built in the Fifties in Saltdean, East Sussex. We bought it in 2013. WHEN I MOVED IN The whole house was in need of a cosmetic overhaul, as well as a few walls knocking down to improve the layout downstairs. AND NOW Every room has been painted white to give us a fresh, bright and airy feel, which is in keeping with our seaside location! STYLE TIP Keep the decoration simple – add your style with exciting and eclectic accessories.…

KARL SAYS ‘An approach of highlighting natural and raw materials without the distraction of ornamental details is key to achieving the Scandiindustrial look.’ KELLY SAYS ‘Buy and style practical pieces that won’t date in classic shades. Pick furniture you’ll always use, such as coffee tables, chairs, side tables and sideboards.’ RUTH SAYS ‘Filament light bulbs would work well in this scheme. Look out for exposed bulb pendants or caged wall lights to place either side of the bed.’…

ABOUT ME I’m Kim Coussins, 33, and I live in a three-bedroom Twenties terraced house in Southend-on-Sea with my husband Stuart, 33, and our cockapoo Milo. We’ve lived here for three years. THE CHALLENGE Transforming a basic kitchen that lacked character and had minimal surface space into a stylish and functional room that suits both our lifestyle and the style of the house. MY WISH LIST I wanted to create an Instagram-worthy room with plenty of worktops and storage space plus a breakfast bar to zone the cooking and dining areas.…

‘SWITCH YOUR HOOD ON 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE COOKING TO GET THE AIR FLOWING, THEN LEAVE IT ON FOR 15 MINUTES AFTERWARDS, TOO’ Lucy King, Smeg UK While the main job of a cooker hood is to remove steam and odours from your kitchen, looking good is also a benefit – especially in smaller spaces and open-plan kitchen-diners. Q Which ones suit a compact kitchen? There are two main space-savvy solutions. Firstly, an integrated hood or canopy hood, which fits neatly into a wall cabinet above the hob. To capture more steam, go for a telescopic version that extends out during use. The second option is a wall-mounted hood, be it a traditional chimney or modern angled design – both start from just 50cm wide. Q Does it need to be…

ABOUT ME I’m Heidi Stone, 39, and I live with my husband, Matt, 41, and sons Max, seven, and Jackson, three, in a four-bedroom Edwardian semi in Surrey, which we moved into in September 2014. THE CHALLENGE Turning our dated bathroom – complete with dingy carpets and different floor levels – into a space that was practical for a family to use, but still in tune with the age of the house, with muted colours and some antique touches. MY WISH LIST Brand new but era-appropriate sanitaryware and tiles, a wooden floor, a warm paint colour on the walls and personal touches such as my grandmother’s handmade mirror.…

‘IT IS IMPERATIVE TO ‘‘TEST DRIVE’’YOUR ROLL TOP. MAKE SURE YOUR FEET CAN TOUCH THE END OF THE BATH, OTHERWISE YOU WILL KEEP SLIPPING’ Hannah Louise Culshaw, London Showroom Manager, Catchpole & Rye Appealing from every angle, there’s no need to buy a bath panel to complete the look with a roll-top bath. Both stylish and practical, the elegant curved rim makes getting in and out of the tub easy, too. Q Is it the right choice for me? Traditional roll tops are perfect for making a statement centre-stage. But if space is limited, go for a back-to-wall design like Heidi’s, which fits against the wall on the longest side. Run silicone along the tiles for a watertight seal. Q Are there different shapes? The classic slipper bath is higher…

Make sure you get a sample of artificial turf first and test it out – walk on it in bare feet to check it doesn’t feel too scratchy. Put the sample in your garden to see how it looks at different times of the day, as the light will make a big difference to its colour. Have a look at the backing of the grass and see if there are holes and how numerous they are – if there aren’t that many, you may find that rainwater won’t drain away effectively, which is important, especially during a spell of heavy downpours. If you have pets, consider getting a grass with a shorter pile – longer grasses can make it harder to pick up after a dog. Choose between polyethylene and…

TAKES 40MIN, PLUS COOLING MAKES 16 150ml pot natural yogurt or soured cream 3 eggs, beaten 1tsp vanilla extract 175g golden caster sugar 175g self-raising flour 175g butter, melted and cooled slightly TO DECORATE 6tbsp raspberry jam 500g butter, softened 500g icing sugar 1tsp vanilla extract green fondant icing sugar paste 1 Preheat oven to 190°C/170°C fan/ Gas 5. Line 2 bun tins with cases. 2 Mix wet cake ingredients together in a jug and put the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Pour the wet mix into the dry and combine briefly. 3 Divide the cake mixture between baking cases and bake for 15-18min, or until well risen and springy to the touch. Leave to cool on a baking tray. 4 Using a sharp knife, cut a hole…

SIDE ORDER Add a pop of colour to your scheme with this handy storage solution. Bumble side table with shelf in yellow, £70, Habitat TIDY ALL Keep every room in the home mess free with these must-have mini clutter busters. Storage boxes, £1 each, Flying Tiger GARDEN GREAT Store all of your alfresco dining items in this neat powder-coated steel unit. Hindo indoor/outdoor cabinet, £59, Ikea MEDIC MUST-HAVE Round up all your half-used packets of paracetamol and stash them in this. Medicine box in Aqua, £19, Hema HANGING OUT At long last! A super stylish bike rack that looks fab even when you’re not using it. Bryn copper bike stand, £35, Made.com HALL HIDEAWAY Hang up your scarves and keep shoes out of sight with this smart piece. Hanging hall…

Seaside style Everyone loves to be beside the seaside in summer and Seaside Home (£10.99, C&T Publishing) captures the joy of the beach in a compilation of 25 craft projects. Editor Suzanne Woods has gathered her favourite seashore-inspired makes into a book starring all the classics, such as colourful beach huts, sweet starfish and tranquil sailboats. There are projects for all levels of ability – this beautiful garland is a simple idea for adding a hint of coastal charm to your home, no matter where you live. BE RESOURCEFUL WHEN LOOKING FOR TOOLS TO BIND FABRIC WHEN DYEING – WHY NOT TRY PAPER CLIPS? THERE’S NO RIGHT OR WRONG! TRY YOUR HAND AT... SHIBORI Shibori is an ancient Japanese technique using indigo dye to add pattern to cloth. This summer,…

CHIPOTLE CHILLI BEEF BURGERS TAKES 25MIN, PLUS CHILLING MAKES 6 * 400g tin kidney beans, drained and rinsed * 500g beef steak mince * 1½tbsp tomato purée * 2 garlic cloves, crushed * 1 egg yolk * 10 cornichons, very finely chopped * large handful fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped * 1-2tsp chipotle paste * ¼tsp sweet smoked paprika * 1tbsp sunflower oil 1 Mash up the kidney beans with a fork. Put the mince, kidney beans, tomato purée, garlic, egg yolk, cornichons, coriander, chipotle paste and paprika in a large bowl and use your hands to mix well. Divide into 6 equal portions then shape into burgers. Cover and set aside in the fridge to firm up for at least 2 hours, or overnight. They need to be nice…