Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2020 i Style At Home

I do love a weekend project and have a rolling list of ideas in a special notebook I’ve had for years, ever since transitioning from the ‘barsand-misbehaviour’ stage of life to the ‘joys of home’ one. The list ranges from the easy, ‘pottering’ level to the more ambitious type that’s going to involve tools and a bit of skill. There is literally no end to the ways you can improve your home, whether you rent or own, and the way it enriches your life is immeasurable. For example, take a look at what Ellie achieved by painting her kitchen units on p82. The simple pallet planter on p109 is going in my notebook – vertical planting’s the answer for my patio – and, while I’m at it, Gina’s bathroom on…

JD WILLIAMS Modern Marrakesh Create an exotic look, using geometric patterns, deep blues and gold accents GEORGE HOME Soft Scandi Combine calming pastels with tactile fabrics for an inviting bedroom scheme DUNELM Serene sanctuary Take time to relax among natural materials, organic motifs and neutral tones VERY Luxe botanicals Tropical leaf prints, natural rattan and metallic touches create a lush scheme…

When we first moved into this house, the first task on our list was to tone down the decor,’ says Lisa. ‘The rooms were all painted in various shades of the rainbow, and although it was certainly a vibrant interior, none of the room schemes flowed from one to the other, and the overall effect was busy and garish. We set about decorating, but at the time, we thought we would only live here for a couple of years. The area was new to us, and we had only moved here as it was close to a great school for our two children, Jordan and Freya. In the meantime, my husband Martin wanted to focus on setting up his joinery business, plus we wanted to spend our time getting to…

1 Repurpose small crates or wine boxes to create floating shelves – the smaller sizes won’t need as much support. Ensure the pieces are sturdy and either use strong wood glue or small tacks to secure any loose joins. 2 If you’re planning to refinish the wood on the crate, lightly sand all of the surfaces to remove any splinters. Brush away dust. 3 To paint the back of the crate, tape off the sides, apply a wood primer then, once dry, apply two coats of your chosen paint (it’s a great way to use up tester pots or leftover paint). 4 Apply a varnish or a stain to the wood surfaces, depending on the finish you’d like. 5 Secure to the wall using heavy-duty saw tooth picture hangers.…

After completely refurbishing our two-bedroom Victorian cottage a few miles away, we realised we needed more space and a bigger garden,’ says Hannah. ‘We wanted to stay local, so we started looking around, but soon realised that we were going to have to go for a doer-upper if we wanted to stay within our budget. We had a couple of disappointments where the chain fell through at the last minute, which was frustrating, but then we found this house. We knew we could do something with it. It had the space and capacity to extend it in years to come – a big bonus – and the garden was huge. Plus, we could change the garden at the front to provide off-street parking. The interior was dated and in need…

1 Vacuum and check if any boards need replacing. Ensure all nails are hammered to below the surface of the boards. Fill any gaps. 2 Using a professional drum belt sander and following safety instructions, start with medium or coarse sandpaper. Go slowly and never let the drum rest on the floor. 3 Start by sanding diagonally across the floor. Then sand from top to bottom, going with the grain. Use an edging and/or corner sander for hard to reach areas. 4 Vacuum, then sand another two or three times, using a finer grit sandpaper each time. Manually smooth out any rough spots. Apply varnish or oil as per instructions. Once dry, sand any drips.…

ABOUT ME I’m Stacey Sibley, creative director at Alexander James Interiors, and I live with my husband Guy, operations director at the same company. MY PROPERTY A two-bedroom former coastguard’s cottage in Port Isaac, Cornwall, built in the 1850s. We bought it in December 2016. WHEN I MOVED IN The interior was dark and drab, the bedrooms and bathroom were cramped and the kitchen needed a revamp. AND NOW We ripped out the carpets and refurbished the floors, fitted a new kitchen, reworked the bathroom and bedrooms and redecorated throughout. STYLE TIP The rooms are small, so I’ve gone for soft, muted colours, to create a calm, relaxed feel.…

COX & COX Online homeware and furniture with a relaxed, eclectic look, lots of tactile textures and soft, muted colourways. CORNISHWARE This iconic Cornish pottery brand is still in production, with a range that includes kitchenware, dinner sets and gifts. CREAM CORNWALL Based in Falmouth, its evocative range includes textiles, ceramics, lighting and stationery, all with a country coastal theme. GARDEN TRADING Furniture, homeware, lighting and garden pieces offering practical design and timeless style, in sustainable materials. NKUKU Ethical, eco-friendly and handmade homeware made in collaboration with artisans from around the world. Includes glassware, ceramics, wood and metalware.…

Give a glass side table a luxe revamp. Spray the frame in metallic paint. Cut marble sticky back plastic to the same size as the glass top, plus 5mm all round. Stick onto the glass, smoothing with a soft cloth as you work. Trim the excess plastic and place onto the base.…

ABOUT ME I’m Ellie O’Mahoney, 39, a magazine journalist, and I live with my husband Mark Evans, 41, a graphic designer, and our children Elliott, five, and Molly, two, in a four-bedroom Victorian terrace in southeast London, which we moved into in June 2017. THE CHALLENGE Creating a vibrant space with an industrial feel, on a budget and without replacing the existing cabinets. MY WISHLIST The room needed a new, long-lasting worktop, a much bigger sink, metallic touches and a large injection of colour and character – especially on the units.…

The best blinds should offer privacy, practicality and style. They’re particularly effective in situations where you’d like to keep the sills and space by the window clear – like in a kitchen or bathroom. What are the main types? Rollers are usually the least expensive and, because they roll tight to the top of the window, afford the best views outside. Romans offer a more upmarket look as you see more of the fabric even when fully open, while Venetian blinds are affordable and can easily be wiped clean. The slats are twisted via a cord to adjust the light levels and privacy. Should I buy made-to-measure? Ready-made blinds are generally cheaper than made-to-measure, but they come in a set range of sizes. If your window isn’t a standard size,…

Having lived in this house for a year, I couldn’t stand the cramped bathroom a minute longer,’ says Gina. ‘It was so tiny, and I didn’t know how to improve the space. After getting a builder to come over, I was given some interesting options. The first was to keep the space as it was, and simply revamp it with a new suite. The second was to knock down a wall and take two metres off the adjacent bedroom to create a much bigger space in here. I was happy to make that sacrifice, because the bedroom would still be quite large. As my children, Maisie, Florence and Albert, were getting older, they needed a larger bathroom, so it was a priority for all of us. Dream scheme The builder…

White gloss linear tiles, £17.95sq m; Hexagon White mosaic tiles, £41.23sq m, both MGA Tiles. Iflo Tahoe bath, £565; Bauhaus Glide II 100 gloss vanity unit with marble basin, £873; Hansgrohe Logis single-lever tap, £89; wet room screen, £304; Hansgrohe Raindance shower set, £634; Hansgrohe shower slider rail kit, £135; Duravit wall-mounted toilet, £181; Gerberit Sigma flush plate, £56; chrome radiator, £299, all City Plumbing. Tropical bath towel, £16; hand towel; Voyager canister, £7; Green glass dispenser, £7; Green glass tumbler, £5, all Dunelm. Pure White & wood 50mm slat blinds, from £46.78, Blinds2Go. Bath towel, £8; face cloth, £1.50; bath mat, £6, all Primark. Artificial fern, £5, Argos. Plant stand, £20, Sainsbury’s Home. Hanging planter, £5.99; glass lantern, £1.49, both The Range. Simon bulkhead lights, £69.99 each, Dowsing &…

A faux hanging plant in a decorative cement pot brings fuss-free greenery to an empty corner. £8, Wilko Embrace luxe deco style with an ornate gold square mirror above the basin. £175, Audenza Install an industrial-style brass Brooklyn bathroom wall light either side of a mirror. £85, Industville Add a tropical vibe with a set of two Jangala 100% cotton bath towels in Green. £25 for two, Made Use this solid teak Haddam wooden stool to balance bathroom essentials or as a handy seat. £77.99, Wayfair An embossed glass lotion dispenser in emerald green offers an opulent touch. £7, Dunelm Place a moisture-loving plant in this large green pot on hairpin legs. £95, Mink Interiors This versatile Bolga storage basket doubles as an on-trend hand-woven planter. £39, Lola & Mawu…

1 Take the seat out of the frame, then repair, repaint or varnish. 2 Remove the old seat fabric, (likely stapled on), and look at the padding underneath. Remove and replace if needed (see step 3). 3 Place the seat frame onto thick foam padding, draw around and use a serrated knife to cut. 4 Place the foam padding and seat on top of calico fabric. Loosely cut around the seat, leaving enough fabric to reach over the edge of the seat base. 5 Pull fabric taut over the foam and seat base, and use a staple gun to secure. Start by stapling the centre of each side. Work your way around, folding corners as you go. 6 Hammer any staples flat and cut off any excess fabric. 7 Repeat…

NUTELLA CAKE SLICE  TAKES 40 MINS, PLUS CHILLING SERVES 8 250g pitted prunes 2 Earl Grey teabags 1 cinnamon stick 150g caster sugar 50ml dark rum 1 x 300g Madeira loaf cake 400g Nutella 300ml thick double cream 300g cream cheese 25g sieved cocoa, to dust 1 Put the prunes, teabags and cinnamon stick in a saucepan and cover with 400ml boiling water. Leave for 20 mins until the prunes are plump. Pick out and discard the teabags, but keep the liquid. 2 Add the sugar to the prune mixture, bring to boil for 5 mins and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool a little before removing the cinnamon stick, then stir in the rum. Cut up the prunes with scissors and place half in the base…

Colour-fill your floors Vibrant flooring is having a moment, and Amtico is leading the way with its new Colour Edit collection. The range comprises four standout palettes – Stucco, Modernist, Diffusion and Encaustic – each with varying tones and textures to suit your style. From fresh shades and earthy tones to raw textures and chalky finishes, the shades in this range are designed to be combined. Why not try experimenting with different patterns to really make your floors pop, or just use on part of your floor, as an accent? Let summer indoors Breathe new life into your rooms with MissPrint’s new Meadow wallpaper. Inspired by grasslands and wildflower meadows, it features elegant hand-drawn flowers in four delicate colourways. What’s more, MissPrint wallpapers are made using water-based inks, so they’re…

Mindful making Better Living through Origami, by Nellianna van den Baard and Kenneth Veenenbos (£15.99, David and Charles) shows you how paper folding is not only a fantastic way to focus the mind, but can also create beautiful makes for the home. In this inspiring book, the authors – and Studio Snowpuppe lampshade gurus – walk you through each project, from beginner techniques to ‘I can’t believe that’s made from paper!’ designs. GET ORGANISED Feeling the urge to sort out your kitchen cupboards? Get started by taking part in a Cricut vinyl label-making workshop by The Makery. Head down to John Lewis & Partners on London's Oxford Street on 7 or 16 May to design and make your own storage jar labels, using a Cricut Maker or Explore Air 2…

GNUDI TAKES 35 MINS SERVES 6 450g ricotta 1 large egg, plus 1 egg yolk 45g Grana Padano cheese, finely grated, plus extra to serve 60g plain flour 4tbsp olive oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed 400g tin chopped tomatoes A few fresh basil leaves 1 Mix together the ricotta, egg, extra egg yolk and the Grana Padano. Season well with salt and pepper. Stir in the flour, then use your hands to bring the mixture together to form a soft dough. Flour a baking tray. Use two spoons to shape 30 rough oblong shapes – a little larger than gnocchi – from the dough and spread out evenly on the tray. 2 Dust the gnudi with flour and set aside while you prepare the sauce. 3 Heat the oil in…

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Give your bedroom a fresh look with bed linen in vibrant, summery hues. This set from M&S has a subtler design on the reverse, so you can go bold and bright, fresh and light, or mix up the two. Finish your new look with an accent cushion and enjoy lazy lounging in style. 3 of the best…  GEO ACCENT CUSHIONS…

You don’t have to be a green-fingered goddess to embrace this luscious look – just a fan of the great outdoors and all it has to offer. Fill your home with a plethora of plants – faux if you want to fake it (till you make it) or go for the real deal if you have a little know how. Choose cushions, tableware and art that all feature some of nature’s finest patterns and choose accessories made of natural or – for extra green points – recycled materials.…

ABOUT ME I’m Lisa Watts, 47, an interior designer, I live here with my husband Martin, 54, a builder and our dog, Meg. Our children are Jordan, 26 and Freya, 24. MY PROPERTY A four-bedroom house in Aberdeenshire, which we bought in 2007. It was built in 1996. WHEN I MOVED IN Each room was painted every colour of the rainbow – it looked garish and none of the spaces flowed together. AND NOW We tackled each room, one by one, and have created a calm, minimal interior, where I can indulge my love of old and new. STYLE TIP Think carefully about the layout of your home – make sure you have open, sociable spaces and cosy, private corners.…

H&M HOME Offers on trend, affordable, Scandinavian-designed homeware, perfect for a quick refresh. Great online sales, and the website is worth a weekly visit. TK MAXX You never know what you’ll find, but there are often luxurious pieces at knock-down prices. Great for bargain designer kitchenware and bedding ABIGAIL AHERN Quirky, colourful original pieces that will give your home its own unique decorative edge. THE WHITE COMPANY Timeless, top-quality pieces, in a subtle neutral palette. ROCKETT ST GEORGE Add a bit of drama with its rock ’n’ roll selection of homeware.…

ABOUT ME I’m Hannah Otto, 29, a blogger (@theottohouse). I live here with my husband Matt, 33, an air traffic controller, and daughters Darcey, five, and Betty, three. OUR HOME A three-bedroom 1930s semi in a village on the outskirts of Winchester, Hampshire. WHEN WE BOUGHT IT The house had been lived in by an elderly couple, who obviously loved it but hadn’t made any changes for years. AND NOW We’ve sanded every single floor, repainted every single room, bought some investment pieces and improved the things we can’t afford to change just yet. STYLE TIP Create a palette of colours that you want to use throughout the house and stick to it. For me it was pink, yellow, rust and blue.…

Go high with storage – use the tops of cabinets to display jars, baskets or boxes for a tidy finish. Fit high-level shelving on walls where there aren’t cabinets, including above the door. Use hooks or kitchen storage accessories under cabinets and shelving to hang mugs and utensils. Go for wall cabinets on the floor as they’re slimmer than standard kitchen floor units. Avoid dark colours for the floor and ceiling, instead stick to white or pale neutrals. Invest in good lighting – a brighter room will automatically feel larger. If you’re lacking natural light, add ceiling spotlights, plug-in wall lights or battery lights that can be fitted under cabinets. Maximise storage space inside your cabinets – spice jar racks that fit to the inside of cupboard doors, pan lid…

Remove the backing and glass from several frames. Paint each one, then leave to dry. Work out the arrangement you'd like, then screw one hole of a mending plate onto the back of a frame. Attach the overhanging end to the next frame. Repeat and reassemble.…

1 Having first confirmed your wall is stone, use a masonry hammer and chisel to gently chop away at the plaster until you can see the stone underneath. If the stone looks in good condition, then continue to expose it in that area. 2 Using a wire brush, scrape away loose plaster and clean residue. 3 Some areas may need to be re-pointed. You may want to apply specialist masonry acid to brighten the colour. Finish with a sealant to eliminate draughts. 4 If your home doesn’t have stone or brick walls, consider stone cladding or facing slips. These can be lighter-weight panels clad with real stone slices, ready to be pointed. A budget friendly version is cast stone slips, which replicate the colours and textures of traditional stone.…

the STYLE RULES KEEP IT SOPHISTICATED Adopt a neutral colour palette of soft greens and greys combined with warm cream and white highlights. For a laid-back country cabin feel, pick cream or light wood-panel effect wallpaper. Team with a pale green carpet to make the look fresh and inviting. PICK TIMELESS PIECES Go for simple oak furniture and a classic painted Shaker-style dresser. Refresh a tired sofa with removable covers – try mixing it up with a different fabric on the armchair, such as a check design in a coordinated colour. TAKE INSPO FROM THE GARDEN Complement a rural setting with cushions and artwork featuring woodland ferns and wild flowers. Fill vases and planters with seasonal bulbs and flowers picked from the garden.…

the STYLE RULES BRING BALANCE A backdrop of neutral wallpaper featuring a natural grain texture adds interest to walls and prevents the monochromatic palette from appearing too stark. Contrast with black laminate or vinyl flooring. EMBRACE SYMMETRY A classic white sofa with tall ladder shelving either side creates pleasing symmetry, while large botanical prints in dark frames produce a central focal point. Team with modern angular tables and a curved floor lamp. CREATE A COHESIVE LOOK Upholster an armchair in an illustrative leaf print on a white background and use the same fabric for coordinating cushions. SOFTEN WITH GREEN ACCENTS Stick to a monochrome palette with plenty of lush green accessories, plants and foliage.…

1 Paint your living room mint green If you love the simple freshness of white walls, adding this pale shade is an easy step forward. It brings in colour without making a space feel smaller or darker and has an amazing power to brighten gloomy rooms or cool down sunny, south-facing ones. 2 MAKE YOUR OWN BESPOKE SHELVING Use offcuts of wood and copper piping to create an industrial-style look and ask an electrician to wire in some lighting, too, for a unique touch. 3 Paint a band of colour in your hallway Inject rich colour into your hallway without overpowering the space by painting part of one wall. Paint a console table, desk or shelving unit the same colour to blend into the scheme. 4 MIX AND MATCH YOUR…

1 Plan what you want to store on the rack, then measure and cut a piece of lightweight hardboard backing, sanding any rough edges. 2 Use the backing hardboard piece to measure four pieces for the outer frame. Cut them to size and use a strong wood glue to secure to the back of the frame. Once dry, you can add small tacks in each corner through the frame to secure, if required. 3 Create your horizontal shelves, using your spice jars as a guide for the height. Cut and glue the shelves into place, using tacks through the side for further hold. Add some shelf dividers if desired, gluing in place. 4 To paint, sand the surfaces, clean and apply a coat of wood primer. Sand lightly again before…

INSPIRATION Fashion Interiors make rollers and Romans using fabrics from top brands, including Designers Guild, Sanderson and Scion if you want a lasting design. AN EASY LIFE Hillarys takes all the hassle out of measuring and fitting – even choosing! Its expert advisors will even come to your home and recommend the best fabric types, styles and designs. BEAUTIFUL ON A BUDGET With roller blinds from around £15, and blackout pleated blinds from just £5.50, you really can’t beat Ikea for a quick fix without breaking the bank.…

ABOUT ME I’m Gina Webb, 50, a data analyst. I live with my three children, Maisie, 20, Florence, 18, and Albert, 17, in a four-bedroom terraced house in east London. We moved here about two years ago. THE CHALLENGE Once we’d improved the kitchen, the next job on the list was to enlarge and modernise the bathroom. With three growing teenagers, its original tiny size wasn’t fit for purpose. It was extremely dated, with old, grubby flooring and it hadn’t been decorated in years. I was advised to take space from a large bedroom next door to create a much bigger bathroom, with a walk-in shower area, too – a top priority for us. MY WISH LIST Besides the shower, an absolute must-have was some good storage in which to…

Turn your bathroom into a truly indulgent, spa-like space with a luxurious shower or wet room. But how exactly do you go about building one? Get started with our handy guide. Wet room or walk-in shower – what’s the difference? A wet room is completely tiled on the walls and floor and sealed underneath, creating a waterproof space. There may be a screen to separate the shower area from the room, but you don’t need a shower tray, as the water drains to a main waste pipe. A walk-in shower requires a shower tray or lip to contain the water. How do I make the room watertight? To fit a true wet room, you must create a watertight environment by tanking –fitting waterproof lining – the floor and walls to…

When we moved into this house five years ago, our daughter Alexa was still in her cot, so I gave her bedroom a quick makeover with a lick of white paint, balloon wallpaper and some fitted shelves,’ says Leoma. My husband Gary and I decided to keep it neutral and just dress it with some pretty accessories and toys until she was a little older, when we planned to redecorate. Now Alexa spends a lot more time in her bedroom, the time felt right to redesign the space and transform it into a multifunctional room that she could sleep and play in. She absolutely loves to draw and colour in, so having a large desk space was one of the top priorities, as well as a bunk bed, which she…

Playhouse bunk bed is similar, £350, Fair Furnishings; painted in Nancy’s Blushes estate eggshell, £64 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. For a similar rug, try the Focus circles rug, £70, The Rugs Warehouse. Lilltrask white worktop, £25; Eket shelving unit, £45; Eket three-drawer cabinet, £115; Norraryd desk chair, £50, all Ikea. Casadeco balloon wallpaper, £30.46 a roll, House Decor Interiors. Walls in French Grey Mid absolute matt emulsion, £47 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Pink alpaca chair, £35, Sunbury Antiques Market. Mini Gaston desk lamp, £75, Loaf. Gold metallic-effect star wall stickers, £18 for 24, Nutmeg Studio. Cotton ball lights, from £22, Cotton Ball Lights. Pink cloud cushion, £9.99, H&M Home. Sheer linen curtains, £29.99 each, Zara Home. Townhouse wall shelves, £36, Great Little Trading Company. Birthday Hugs framed print, £25,…

Squeeze in a sofa Do you long for a three-seater sofa, but know it will never fit through your narrow hallway? Swyft has the answer. Its clever seating comes in three sizes – an armchair, along with a two- or three-seater sofa – each delivered in a box and easily assembled thanks to the simple click-and-lock system. Available in three velvets and three linens in gorgeously elegant shades, prices start from £595 for an armchair. Model 01 velvet three-seater sofa in Teal, £995, Swyft SLIP IN A SLIMLINE LAUNDRY BASKET Some laundry baskets can take up a lot of space, but what if your bathroom lacks just that? We love this chic version – classic styling, lined and with handy carry handles, it will fit into the tightest of spaces.…

BUY BOXES OF TILES WITH THE SAME BATCH NUMBER TO MAKE SURE THEY’LL MATCH Whether you’re looking for a subtle refresh or a statement design, ceramic tiles are a popular choice for high-traffic areas. Ideal for kitchens, bathrooms and hallways, they’re not only waterproof, but are easy to keep clean. Laying your own floor isn’t for the faint hearted, but this how-to will put you on the path to tiled floor perfection. 1 SHORE UP THE FLOOR If possible, remove the existing floor covering – laying tiles on top might make the floor level too high. If you can’t, check your floor is level and secure. Cracked or uneven concrete subfloors should be smoothed with a levelling compound. 2 LEVEL THE SURFACE Floorboards should be screwed down and covered in…

Impress guests with a smart tiled drinks tray. Coat the edges of the tray inside and out in grey paint and leave to dry. Use a glue gun to stick ceramic tiles to the tray. Once the glue is dry, grout between the tiles. Then, buff with a sponge.…

New veg on the block These marvellous mini Romanescos are going to be a big culinary hit this spring. Not only do these cauliflower/ broccoli hybrids look pretty, but they also have a deliciously sweet nutty flavour we love. Simply steam or boil them whole, then finish with a squeeze of lemon juice. Or, break them into florets, spread out on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, then season with salt, black pepper and a sprinkling of paprika, and roast to create a tasty side dish. Good morning, sunshine! If you’re on the hunt for a tasty, filling breakfast cereal that’s not full of sugar, look no further. The Troo range is low sugar, full of fibre, gluten-free, wonderfully tasty and designed to be great for your gut.…

We need some leopard print in our life! Check out @ourlayeredhome’s wall Those pink velvet chairs set a sophisticated mood in @the_shaftesbury’s kitchen A hand-painted leopard print vanity? Why the heck not! Great work @caradiseblog That ochre colour, basket display and chandelier – we love it all @feisty_boho Textbook sideboard styling on show at @sass_spice_andallthingsnice’s place The brightest, cheeriest corner we ever did spy @retrojo5 @50m2_’s living room may be simple and uncluttered, but it’s bursting with style Love the blend of soft tones on @painttherosesred_interior_’s brick walls This colour combo in @from_cream_to_ dream’s living room is ticking all the boxes…

STYLE AT HOME SAYS… ‘The paper on the feature wall adds interest and depth, but ties in tonally for a calm vibe.’ FEATURES EDITOR Holly Walsh ‘Lisa’s used accents of dark slate grey to pull the kitchen diner together. Upcycling a vintage mirror by painting the frame to match the wall gives it a modern edge, and the mirror bounces light to maximise the feeling of space’ HOUSES EDITOR Ruth Corbett ‘Lisa’s bedroom has bags of character, despite its lack of architectural features, thanks to the layering of interesting textures, and painting all the walls a luxe grey for an immersive feel.’ DECORATING EDITOR Nicky Phillips ‘Every room has an unusual piece, which adds a fun element of surprise.’ EXECUTIVE EDITOR Heather Young…

STYLE AT HOME SAYS… ‘Being creative with paint colours on the walls and furniture, and adding colour in unexpected ways and places has given the house a unique sense of style and character’ HOUSES EDITOR Ruth Corbett ‘Hannah’s blue and white scheme makes the kitchen feel bright and fresh, while the pale pink accents give that classic colour combo a modern twist’ DECORATING EDITOR Nicky Phillips ‘Floorboards add natural texture and look great layered up with statement rugs’ STYLE EDITOR Michela Colling…

HABITAT Nearly all our light shades are from here. I love it, but I always wait for a sale. LA REDOUTE For beautiful rugs and bedding. It also sells gorgeous mid-century desks. FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE If you’re persistent, you can find some absolute treasures on Facebook Marketplace – it’s always my first go-to when I’m looking for a new piece of furniture. H&M HOME For accessories – I have picked up some lovely cushions, bedding and tea towels from here, always at great prices. ALICE IN SCANDILAND SHOP The contemporary Scandi and vintage homeware items are lovely. I always want to buy everything! WONDER & RAH I love its fun and colourful artwork and prints – they’re perfect for adding personality to family homes.…

I hadn’t been back to Cornwall since I spent happy holidays there as a child,’ says Stacey. ‘But when we bought our two West Highland terriers, Piglet and Alfie, we wanted to go on holiday with them, but found we couldn’t easily take them abroad with us. My husband Guy had never been to Cornwall before, so one year we decided to rent a cottage in Port Isaac. We fell in love with the village and ended up going back there two or three times a year for the next decade. We began to dream of buying a cottage in the village and, one day, I decided we should take the plunge! First impressions I spotted a cottage online, and Guy and I drove down for the day to view…

1 Start with three identical maps – try high-quality printouts, colour photocopies of an original map or map-printed giftwrap. 2 Create two heart templates in card, one about 5cm smaller in diameter than the larger (this can be customised, depending on your frame and map size). 3 Place the largest heart template card on the map, draw around it and cut the heart out using a craft blade. 4 Align the second map perfectly with the first map. Using the smaller template, cut out the heart. 5 Realign the map, with the smaller heart cut-out at the bottom and the larger on top, and use foam adhesive pads to create a gap between the layers. Finally, place the third map at the bottom and repeat this step to stick the…

the STYLE RULES MAKE A SAGE CHOICE Take on a pared-back colour palette of contrasting black and white with dark sage and light grey. Try installing a picture shelf across one wall and paint the lower half green and the upper section brilliant white. EMBRACE SCANDI STYLE Pick a sleek oak dining table and grey upholstered chairs with tapered legs as a smart place for the family to eat together. Or, in the bedroom, dress a curvy upholstered bed with a bold leaf-print duvet set contrasted with dark sheets. ACCESSORISE WITH GREENERY Display a variety of plants, from succulents to eucalyptus stems, in different shaped vases. LOOK DOWN FOR DETAIL Add interest with wood flooring in a prominent natural grain. Why it works STYLE AT HOME…

My husband Mark and I had been living with our son, Elliott, in a 1930s terraced house in Brockley,’ says Ellie. ‘But, with our second child on the way, we knew we needed more space. We found this house, which had an extra bedroom. It needed plenty of TLC, but that didn’t put us off, as we’d renovated our previous property. We had planned to carry out a large extension of this kitchen, but we just couldn’t afford it, so we sat down and thought about what changes we could make on a budget. Luckily, Mark is very handy and can tackle almost anything, so that helped us make up our minds. First moves The decision to paint the units was easy, but it was a bit of an experiment.…

Units in Railings modern eggshell, £71 for 2.5ltr; walls in All White estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5ltr, both Farrow & Ball. Knobs, £4.50 each; handles, £5.50 each, both lynnshardware at Etsy. Minerva Carrara White worktop, £1,264.20, Sylmar. Gourmet Belfast sink, £180, RAK Ceramics. Premier bridge tap, £134, Hudson Reed. Shelf brackets, £11 each; cup hooks, £2 each, both The Door Knocker Company. Brooklyn Glass Funnel pendant lights, £69 each; Orlando wire cage light, £49, both Industville. Milano Windsor white radiator, £134.35, Best Heating. Metro tiles, £19.50sq m, Topps Tiles. Grey roller blind, £40; Yellow double oven glove, £5; Sophie Conran for Portmeirion 12-piece crockery set, £144, Kilner jars, from £3.50; pan, £20, all Dunelm. Cream bin, £50, Garden Trading. Tea towel, £4, Ikea. Newgate Putney clock, £100, John Lewis &…

Add some factory-style lighting to your walls with the pewter balloon cage light, £79, Lime Lace Keep time in style by fixing up a minimal-modern timepiece. Aslog wall clock, £39, Made Update your kitchen sink with shiny, new hardware, like this Kidson polished chrome-effect tap, £50, B&Q Give tired kitchen cupboards a new lease of life with a coat of chalk paint in Graphite, £19.95 for 1ltr, Annie Sloan Bring a flash of colour to a monochrome kitchen with a zesty yellow pair of oven gloves, £4, George Home Decant goods into glass storage jars and display on shelves. Copper lidded jar, £1, Poundland Rustic wooden crates of all shapes and sizes make a great storage solution for cook books. Apple crate, £19.99, TK Maxx Make recycling a more chic…

This utilitarian look is a great solution if you don’t want to disturb finished tiling, brick walls or woodwork. Keep the tap and the pipes exposed by surface-mounting the pipework. If you’re up for the challenge, a DIY copper tap can be a budget-friendly option. Check YouTube for good step-by-step tutorials. Alternatively, you can find bespoke, floor-mounted taps from BowStreetCraftsCo at Etsy. It’s an affordable style – look for the fittings at a DIY store or plumber’s merchant. Handles can be made from brass stopcocks, lever handles or gate valves.…

GREAT CHOICE Victorian Plumbing offers wet room screens and enclosures, showers, trays, tiles and wastes, as well as more practical equipment like waterproofing kits and backing boards. ALL-ROUND EXPERTISE Wetrooms Online offers all the kit you’ll need if you’re planning on installing a new wet room, plus you’ll find practical advice, info and help guides. TILING ALTERNATIVES B&Q’s new Splashwall laminated panels offer an alternative option to a tiled wet room. Strong and durable, the easy-fit panels provide a sleek, watertight finish that requires little maintenance.…

ABOUT ME I’m Leoma Harper, an interior stylist and blogger at styletheclutter.com, and I live with my husband Gary and our children Alexa, six, and Seb, three. We live in a Victorian house near Hampton Court. We moved here in 2015. MY CHALLENGE When we moved in, Alexa’s bedroom was plain and had no personality. She now spends a lot more time in here and I wanted to make it a fun, cosy space for her. MY WISH LIST Alexa wanted plenty of pink, but I prefer a calm, Scandiinspired feel. She had wanted a bunk bed for a long time, so we made sure that was a focal point.…

Display favourite things in house-shaped cubbies. Townhouse wall shelves, £36 for three, Great Little Trading Co Create your own magical mural. Mini wall star stickers, £16 for a set of 49, This Modern Life Decorate the walls with a selection of illustrated book characters. Snufkin poster, from £7.95, Desenio Create a cosy glow at bedtime with a mini bunny lamp. Rabbit night light, £4.95, Rex London Play house with a fun-shaped bed. Vox Spot kids tipi bed and frame with trundle drawer, £395, Cuckooland Bring in plenty of colour and cosy up the bed with fun motifs on textiles. Rainbow cushion, £35, Sweetpea & Willow House toys and play things in smartly stacked boxes. Velvet Pink storage trunks, £74.99 for two, Beautify Deck out the bed frame with a line…

CAMOUFLAGED CLASSIC Blending into the garden, this spinning dryer adjusts to any height between 129cm and 187cm. Lift-O-Matic rotary dryer in Green, £105, Brabantia VERSATILE OPTION Perfect for use indoors and out, and cleverly folds flat after use. Addis Slimline X Wing airer, £21.49, Amazon COMPACT STYLE The design of this collapsible folding airer takes up very little floor space. Kleeneze three-tier clothes airer, £24.99, Robert Dyas…

STATEMENT STORAGE From succulents to smart speakers, this shelf provides the perfect perch. Round metal display unit in Matt Gold, £132, Gisela Graham TWIN SET These gold-edged side tables are great for squirrelling away clutter. Hexagon storage tables, £123.95 for two, Melody Maison COOL CORNER Pop your potted plants on this neat stand to free up shelf space for storage. Wilderness plant stand, £32, Sainsbury’s Home SCANDI VIBE Keep bits and bobs safe in one place with an elegant desktop set. Set of three drawers, £14, Tesco SIMPLE STYLE If you prefer unfussy design, these sleek hooks are for you. Cult Home wall-mounted metal hooks in Gold, £14.50, Cult Furniture SIDE ORDER With a removable tray top and magazine rack, this handy table has it all. Dutchbone Niwas side table,…

CONTINUE THE SALVAGED FEEL BY FILLING YOUR UPCYCLED PALLET PLANTER WITH VINTAGE CERAMIC POTS Discarded pallets are a great source of inexpensive wood and are perfect for taking apart to make into something completely new. If you ask nicely at your local building yard, construction site or garden centre you might even get one or two for free! This easy planter is an ideal project for newbies to upcycling wood as all you need is a hammer, nails and some sandpaper – no fancy tools in sight. YOU WILL NEED Wooden pallet Nails Hammer Three boards (same width as pallet) Reusable bags Heavy-duty stapler Clay pebbles Soil ‘You don’t need advanced wood working skills to make this simple planter – just a hammer and a few nails will do the…