Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2020 i Style At Home

What’s your summer holiday reboot looking like? Instead of facials ’n’ cocktails at a spa hotel on the Isle of Wight, Ma Richmond and I will be sipping rosé while wearing sheet masks on the patio at home instead. There’s a mental picture for you! This issue is packed with tempting mini projects if you’re inclined towards a productive week or two off work. Or even big ones if you love a challenge (I really need a garden bar like the one on p81). But if it’s pure escapism you’re after (and I’m with you on that one), then settle into your sunlounger and drool over the lush real homes (from p18) and beautifully put-together looks, then spend some blissful hours getting lost on Pinterest! If you do get busy…

Eco-chic tableware A clever dupe for hand-painted ceramics, these bamboo-fibre plates will make your dishes look even more tempting. The plastic-free picnicware looks just as good indoors, too. Patterned bamboo plates, £6.75 each, Re-Found GOT A SOFT SPOT? There’s no doubt the trend for animal print is here to stay, but would you fancy a leopard print carpet? Carpetright’s Madagascar range is all tonal, so the neutral finishes let you be adventurous with pattern without fear of a colour clash. However, no one wants a lounge that looks like Carole Baskin’s wardrobe, so avoid too much animal print elsewhere. AVO-GO! Brunching has given this green fruit Instagram star status and now it’s #Avocadogrowing that’s trending. Suspending the seed with cocktail sticks is the budget-savvy option, but we’re loving these Jan.Ne.Ke…

IDEA TO STEAL‘Make a gallery wall with a collection of prints that all have a similar theme’ Sophie Claire had one requirement when searching for her new home in 2011 – she needed it to be a short walk to work in the City of London. ‘I drew a circle around London Bridge that marked a seven-minute walk from the station, and told the estate agents that I only wanted to live within that area. An easy commute makes a huge difference to your working day, so location was really important.’ Double vision Despite the number of new developments in the area I was searching in, I didn’t find anything I liked until the estate agent showed me a flat with a rather unusual shape. It was in this 1980s…

H&M HOME Find some really good quality pieces at a brilliant prices. Fab for bed linen. EBAY Fantastic if you’re on the lookout for a statement piece or second-hand buy at a fraction of the price you’d pay in stores. JUNIQE Switching up your art work is a really easy way to change your space. Juniqe has a huge selection of art online. ANTHROPOLOGIE Although it’s at the pricier end, it’s great for when you want to make a basic piece of furniture look expensive. It’s got a really great range of drawer pulls and knobs to transform inexpensive, plain furniture. PAPERCHASE For file boxes, office binders and stationery. The Kraft range is great and can be painted to match your room.…

COME ON IN! I am Tahnee Maher, 33 and I’m an RE teacher. I live here with my husband Matthew, 37, an electrician and builder, and our children Esme, five and Jude, two. OUR HOME A three-bedroom, late 1930s semi in Bridgend, South Wales, bought in January 2016. WHEN WE MOVED IN The downstairs was immaculate, but wasn’t our style. It felt small and impractical for a young family. The bathroom needed replacing and every room required modernising. AND NOW We’ve knocked through downstairs, have updated and reconfigured the kitchen units, and have replaced the bathroom. STYLE TIP Paint rooms in neutral colours and add your personality with accessories and furnishings.…

IKEA Great for solid basic pieces that can be easily given a whole new look with a few simple changes. ROSE & GREY For beautiful and fun mid-century-style accessories. H&M HOME Its pieces are always so on trend and look far more expensive than they are. The children’s accessories are particularly good – they’re fun and stylish enough to keep everyone in the house happy. SAINSBURY’S HOME Great pieces for good prices. It’s hot on new trends and often has lovely mid-century-style plant pots or accessories that I can’t resist when passing with a trolley! MADE For bigger furniture pieces, such as sofas or tables. It is the master of modern design and its range of accessories and lighting is always spot on and well-priced.…

ABOUT ME I’m Lucy Tiffney, 53, an artist (@lucytiffney). I live here with my husband Tiff, 56, a freelance TV producer and lecturer, and our sons Leo, 20, and Frank, 17. OUR HOME A four-bed detached Edwardian house in Essex. We moved here in June 2013. WHEN WE MOVED IN We loved the location. The house had all the space we needed, but was rundown and tired. AND NOW We’ve renovated the house throughout, putting in a new bathroom and creating a larger kitchen-diner. The once-drab rooms are now bright and cheery. STYLE TIP Go with what you love, not what you think you should have. Update things you already have; style needn’t cost a lot of money.…

Lucy combines eclectic furniture styles – retro, vintage and traditional – along with finishing touches that are a mix of second-hand sourced and modern. White walls not only help pattern to pop, they won’t fight for attention. Picking key colours from any dominant pattern and repeating them in furniture finishes, wall art or accessories conjures up an effortlessly unifying theme that doesn’t feel too prescribed.…

Mount it to the wall to maximise floor space for play Customise a toy cupboard Turn a basic pine unit into colourful storage in a child’s bedroom with the help of a couple of tester pots. Use masking tape to section off areas before painting in bright shades. A simple house design is a playful idea that’s easy to create. Allow to dry before adding shapes. Declutter the kitchen Turn cube shelving into the family’s control centre, with compartments for tableware, school letters and other daily essentials. Add additional baskets, folders and trays to make things easier to find and keep shelves looking neat. Why not allocate each family member their own basket or in-tray? Cover the side panel with a cut-to-fit vinyl chalkboard Divide and conquer Labelled baskets are…

ABOUT ME I’m Zoe Vanozzi, a marketing recruitment consultant, and I live here with my husband Tom, a marketing recruitment director, and our sons Leo, nine, and Zac, seven. Our home is a four-bed detached 1970s house in Middlesex. We moved here in 2014. MY CHALLENGE Opening up a dark and poky kitchen and an underused dining room to create one large, open-plan kitchen-diner with an outlook onto the garden. MY WISH LIST Having lived Down Under, we wanted the new kitchen-diner to feel light, bright and airy, so went for a mix of white and wood grain cabinets with glossy white worktops, plus new French doors and windows that let the light flood in.…

Representing the biggest single investment in Zoe’s kitchen, her Maia worktops are a solid surface material that mimics natural stone but, unlike the real deal, doesn’t require sealing or aftercare. Read on for the pros and cons… What is solid surface? Similar to natural stone in terms of looks, weight and density, solid surfaces are made from minerals, acrylic and pigments, but are considered superior in terms of stain and scratch resistance. They come in solid colours as well as beautiful stone-inspired designs. Why is it so great? Crucially, any damage can be repaired, making solid surfaces truly long lasting. Do still use chopping boards and trivets though, it’s not bullet-proof. They can be seamlessly moulded, with virtually invisible joints – brilliant if you’re worried about hygiene. You can have…

ABOUT ME I’m Lauren Benincasa, 30. I work in financial services and live with my husband Andrea, 31, who works in IT, in a three-bed Victorian semi-detached house in Bristol. We bought this property in September 2017. MY CHALLENGE This house was damp, run down, and definitely a ‘doer-upper’. The main bathroom was worn out and old-fashioned, and it was off the kitchen rather than upstairs, which I knew I wanted to change around. MY WISH LIST I wanted a bright, contemporary upstairs bathroom. My must-haves were a clean, smart look, a walk-in shower and a feature bath, big enough for a comfortable soak.…

Being a mix of open-plan wet room and fully-enclosed shower cubicle, walk-in showers offer easy, low-level access and a spacious showering area. The screen helps to contain shower spray and splashing, making walk-ins a practical choice in smaller bathrooms and for young families. Why is it called a walk-in? A walk-in shower has no door but does include at least one shower screen. Walk-ins come in two main styles. The single entry, like Lauren’s, has access at one end, which is great for installing in a corner or alcove. A double entry, or walk-through, design is sited centrally and can be accessed from either end. Should I go for a tray or tank the floor? Tanking the floor and walls will provide completely level access and is worth considering if…

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 grass’s backing to inspect the number of holes – if there aren’t many, this could mean the rainwater won’t drain away effectively. If you have pets, a grass with a shorter pile is a better option as longer grass makes picking up after your dog trickier to do. Choose between polyethylene and polypropylene. If the lawn is going to have a lot of traffic, then polyethylene, which tends to…

IF YOU PREFER A MORE NEUTRAL PALETTE, SWAP BRIGHT SHADES FOR MEDITERRANEAN YELLOWS AND ORANGES OR INDUSTRIAL BLUES AND GREYS Brighten up your outdoor space with colourful terrazzo designs you can paint at home. Terrazzo prints have been top of the interior trend list for a while now, so why not grab a paintbrush and set about livening up a set of plain planters using Rust-Oleum paints? Simply pick colours to match your garden scheme then protect from the elements by adding a coat of clear varnish. YOU WILL NEED Dust sheet Rust-Oleum surface primer Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish furniture paint Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch brush paints Rust-Oleum Crystal Clear protective coat Plant pots Paintbrushes 1 PREPARE YOUR POTS Give your plant pots a thorough clean with soapy water then leave to…

Designing your garden according to a colour scheme adds instant appeal. Whether you are starting from scratch or adding colour to an existing space, getting the right combination is key. There are many easy ways to introduce a quick colour lift; try updating a wall or fence with a makeover in a modern shade or giving garden furniture a facelift with a fresh coat of paint. Small fixes include adding a splash of colour with a display of flowers in coordinating shades, planting up ceramic pots or adding soft furnishings such as canopies, cushions and throws. Repetition of colour is a useful device to pull together a theme, too. Adding a bold pop will make your garden come alive and give it a contemporary edge that feels cool and modern.…

Faux houseplants and succulents look great in vibrant planters Holiday from home this summer and make every hour happy hour with George Home's amazing tropical Tiki bar. Complete the poolside vibe with colourful cushions and planters, fruit-themed tumblers and a punch-filled drinks dispenser. 3 of the best… DRINKS DISPENSERS…

Summer is in full swing and we’re feeling fruity. This totally tropical trend has our mouths watering and our homes and gardens rejoicing for a bit of feel-good colour. Pack a punch with patterned picnicware and go bananas for fun printed cushions – while tropical towels and parasols will perk up those sunbathing sessions in the garden.…

ABOUT ME I’m Sophie Claire, 35 and I work in finance in the City of London. MY HOME A two-bedroom flat near Tower Bridge in London, which was built in 1989. WHEN I MOVED IN The flat was a plain white box. There was no structural work to do, but it was in serious need of some character. AND NOW I like to think I’ve created a home that shows my personality. It’s now a space full of things I love that give it a unique style. STYLE TIP Be patient and save up for furniture and home accessories that you really love.…

Use muted shades that feel light and natural, such as gentle greens, blues or greys. Refresh cupboard doors with a coat of paint for a budget alternative to new units. Go for wooden worktops, flooring or shelving to add natural tones and texture to the kitchen. Replace cupboard handles – classic cup handles are a great choice for modern-country style. Include open shelving to bring a relaxed feel to the room. Display your favourite ceramics or glass storage jars on them. Peg rails are a timeless choice – use to hang utensils, linens or accessories. Swap pegs for hooks to hang artisan-style mugs.…

To make it easier, paint the entire wall in a pale base colour first. Starting at the left of the wall and working your way towards the right, measure along the bottom edge of your wall the width of one stripe and mark with a small pencil dot, continuing along the whole area that you want to paint. Repeat the process at the top edge of the wall. Use an angle ruler set to 45 degrees on your wall and position it at each dot. Mark short diagonal pencil lines as reference points. Use low-tack masking tape to give your stripes a crisp edge. Apply masking tape diagonally to the wall, starting at the bottom, (using the diagonal lines as a guide) until you reach a pencil dot at the…

the STYLE RULES Display art vertically to add height GO BOTH WAYS Be bold and pick wide awning stripes on walls and textiles. Create interest by mixing multi-directional patterns, like horizontal, vertical and diagonal in one scheme. PICK A CONTEMPORARY PALETTE Combine on-trend mustard and blue with soft plaster pink and grey. Keep stripes a similar width but play with different colours, like contrasting accents on white. MIX AND MATCH PATTERNS For a modern feel, team bold stripes with abstract prints on cushions, throws and wall art. Prints depicting geometric and cut-out shapes add depth. MIRROR STRIPES WITH GRAPHIC PIECES Look for lighting and furniture boasting sleek shapes and simple lines – these will allow multiple stripe patterns to sing. Bold & BRIGHT Stand out with multi-way…

1 Create an inviting outdoor living room Just as you’d dress your living room, arrange an outdoor rug and coffee table in front of outdoor seating, layered with comfy cushions. Go for garden furniture that works inside too, so that when summer ends, you can easily enjoy your set-up indoors. 2 PAINT HALF THE WALL Create a two-tone wall in pastel shades for an elegant layered look that’s not too ‘in your face’. Painting over doors, too, gives a quirky continuity. 3 Pair a sleek, contemporary sideboard with pretty pastels Pastel shades effortlessly soften a space with subtle colour. This modern sideboard doesn’t look stark thanks to the pretty accessories adorning its top. 4 LOOK AGAIN AT GARDEN JUNK Improvise extra seating using old oil drums, large logs or even…

Consider how much looking after and maintenance the material you choose will need. If you have young children, then materials that mark easily may not be ideal. Keen chef? If so, a heat-resistant material, such as granite or concrete, is a savvy choice. Stainless steel acts as an antibacterial surface, but it will gather scratches over time. Hard wood or sealed concrete is a good choice for food preparation areas or around sinks. Woods such as teak often have a high oil content and are naturally water resistant. Laminate worktops are now available in convincing granite, slate, wood and even marble effects. They are low maintenance and can be fitted by a DIY enthusiast.…

BUDGET QUARTZ Maxtop makes a similar product to Maia, but the top layer is quartz rather than acrylic. Like Maia, it can be fitted on-site (using diamond cutting blades) without templates, so costs less than solid quartz. QUICK UPDATES Granite Transformations fits Italian granite, quartz and recycled glass work surfaces on top of your existing worktops, achieving a whole new look with minimal disruption. REAL STONE Forever Granite offers quality solid granite worktops – including incredibly striking designs – at affordable prices. Based in Bradford, this long-established company templates, cuts and installs.…

As well as encaustic, ceramic or cement flooring, try vinyl sheets or tiles, hard-wearing options that are softer and warmer underfoot. Play around with layouts of modern, geo or circular shapes to create a unique pattern. A bold design works in plain hues, or an accent colour from the tile. If you’re choosing a large-scale floor pattern, go for a smaller-scale pattern on the wall, and vice versa. Monochromatic shades of grey or black and white will go with vibrant wall colours and match almost any scheme.…

Inheriting a garden full of plants was lovely,’ says Nora. ‘When we moved here there were so many different types, as well as a pond. Unfortunately, neither myself or my husband Lee were particularly knowledgeable about many of the plants, and it got rather wild and out of control, not to mention full of spiders, which was a bit off-putting. First steps In the spring of 2017, our son Zachary was born, so we thought it was time that we got the garden into a more child-friendly condition, but we needed expert help. A friend recommended James Walsh (livingcolourgardens.co.uk). Our brief was for James to design a child-friendly garden, with soft, low-maintenance planting, as well as a dedicated space to relax and entertain. A planting plan The new planting scheme…

For similar buys try: Forest double batten fence panels, from £250 for three, Homebase. Connswater artificial grass, from £12.99m, Carpetright. Zest Rebecca garden table, £169.99, One Garden. Halton plant table, £83.99, Wayfair. Outdoor window mirror (with shutters), £39.97, Furniture 123. Outdoor window-style mirror, £54.95, Melody Maison. Raw scaffold shelf, £65, Garden Trading. Wall-mounted boot rack, £52, Welly King. Faux lead square planter, £21.99; trough, £90, both Get Potted. Trough planter, £15, The Farthing. Cushions, £10 each, John Lewis & Partners…

JOLLY JAR Store tea bags, coffee capsules or sugar in this countertop cutie. Cactus storage jar, £5.99, TK Maxx CUTE UNIT This slimline beauty will squeeze into any narrow space for adding instant order. Nagoya storage unit in White, £119, M&S NEAT LINES Keep cleaning products in this caddy. Portland large storage bucket in Lily White, £20, Garden Trading OUT OF SIGHT Keep your console table clear of clutter with this neat and tidy hideaway. Tjillevips basket, £15, Ikea SUPER STASH Drowning in charging cables, remotes and console controls? Try this neat solution. Scallop storage cube, £10, Habitat FLOWER POWER Use for leftovers or to organise sewing kit. Orla Kiely flower bamboo food storage boxes, £25 for three, John Lewis & Partners VINTAGE STYLE Channel a tidy retro vibe by…

Indoor gardening Whether you lack garden space or you’d like to add a touch of greenery to your décor, terrariums are a great way to bring oxygen-boosting plants into your home. In Creative Terrariums (£14.99, Fox Chapel Publishing), craft blogger Enid G Svymbersky presents 33 imaginative mini garden designs for you to try, using everyday materials and common plants. Each project includes step-by-step instructions along with expert advice on terrarium maintenance. Try introducing a tropical vibe with this Palm Springs terrarium. TRY YOUR HAND AT... CROSS STITCH SWAP TRADITIONAL FRAMED SAMPLERS FOR SASSY QUOTES,LYRICS AND ICONS. PIKACHU, ANYONE? The simplicity of cross stitch makes it a great first venture into needlecraft. Images are created by stitching little crosses with thread – easy! Cross stitch fabric is called aida and comes…

SPANISH CHICKEN BAKE TAKES 1 HR 30 MINS SERVES 4 250g cherry tomatoes 2 shallots, sliced into wedges 2 red peppers, roughly chopped 8 chicken thighs 1 small bunch each of thyme and oregano, chopped 2tbsp sweet smoked paprika 4tbsp olive oil 1 glass of white wine 6 garlic cloves, not peeled 100g green olives Crusty white bread and salad, to serve 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Toss the tomatoes, shallots, red peppers, chicken, thyme and oregano with the paprika and olive oil in a large roasting tin. 2 Pour over the wine and bake for 45 mins. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 mins until the chicken is cooked through. Top with olives and serve with crusty bread and salad. ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND COURGETTE FLATBREADS…

Dunelm PLAYFUL SHAPES Ochre and blush pink team with whimsical prints and soft velvets for a light-hearted feel Next Home DARK GLAMOUR Create an opulent scheme by contrasting dramatic monochrome with metallic accessories Matalan COUNTRY COASTAL For a laid-back look, combine sunshine yellows, watery blues and natural weaves…

1. Add an abstract print Pair plain tableware with a few patterned hero pieces. Look for a pitcher, plate or serving bowl featuring cut-out leaves, bold brushstrokes or overlapping shapes. 2. Go for super embellished textiles If it’s got fringing, knots, pom-poms or tassels, it’s in! Stick to on-trend tones of clay and terracotta that blend perfectly with grey or neutral furniture and fences. 3. Pick seating withcleanlines Counter the texture from plants, billowing linen curtains and woven cushions with modern benches in a seamless design made from smooth, hard materials, such as stone or polished concrete. 4. Get creative with planters Zone an area with varied levels of plants by grouping embellished baskets and pots on stands. Go for a mix of rustic materials, such as string, rattan, seagrass…

Use the colour wheel. Shades that sit diagonally on the wheel combine for a bold contrast, colours that sit next to each other still have impact but work as a softer combination. Use paint charts to help you pair colours that are of a similar depth, like mid-toned pastels. By looking across each line of the paint chart, you will see colours that will sit together harmoniously. White is often a useful base to tie varied colours together. Saturated, vivid shades will make a stronger impact alongside white backgrounds, making the room feel airier and allowing colours to pop. As general rule, three key colours are an ideal mix, but you can bring in softer shades of one of your chosen colours for variety. For full, impactful coverage on a…

IDEA TO STEAL‘An upcycled sideboard cleverly doubles up as a radiator cover’ Although our previous house was spacious, it was on a busy main road and after the arrival of Esme in 2014, we were keen to move to the more family friendly area of Bridgend,’ says Tahnee. ‘This house was owned by a friend who was selling at the same time we were looking to buy. Matthew and I had viewed a couple of similar properties, but we knew this house and the area, and despite having one less bedroom than our existing property, we could see its potential. The house is on a quiet cul-de-sac and has a drive, a large garden and views across the Vale of Glamorgan – there are fields and farmland as far as…

1 Cut a piece of plywood to size (you could fix it to a simple headboard frame). 2 Lay cotton batting over the wood surface, then cut to size, leaving 10cm excess all around. 3 Fix the batting to the plywood using spray mount, turn the board over, fold over the edges of the batting, pull taut and staple in place. Cut out the excess batting before fixing the corners to keep them smooth. Trim excess. 4 Turn the board over, lay the velvet over the surface (plush side up), trim to size, leaving 10cm excess all the way around. 5 Turn the board over, fold in the edges (pull taut) and staple the fabric in place starting in the middle at the top and working out from there. Cut…

IDEA TO STEAL‘Re-cover just the seat cushions if your sofa looks a little tired’ Moving house wasn’t our plan,’ says Lucy. ‘We moved to the area 12 years ago and loved the location, but our house was getting to be a bit small for us – we were fast running out of space. Then this house came up for sale just round the corner from us. It’s in such a lovely road, had lots more room, a bigger garden and it was in budget, so it all just fell into place and we ended up buying it. Good bare bones The house was pretty run down and neglected, with old-fashioned swirly carpets and textured walls and ceilings – there was even an old stair lift. But the good outweighed the…

EBAY A brilliant marketplace where you can pick up all sorts of vintage bits and pieces. SWOON Great for those big ticket investment buys. BAILEYS HOME A real treasure chest of a store with everything from recycled tin and glassware to reclaimed linens and textiles. LA REDOUTE For rugs and textiles from colourful Moroccan-style berbers and kilims to the more rustic jute designs. TK MAXX Fab for one-off finds, like cushions. The range changes constantly so you have to grab things when you see them.…

STYLE AT HOME SAYS… ‘The gentle shade of pink on the walls softens the impact of the graphic, wide stripes for a laid-back and inviting vibe.’ STYLE EDITOR Michela Colling ‘The vertical wall panelling has a simplicity that feels clean and modern, while also adding depth and character to the space.’ FEATURES EDITOR Holly Walsh ‘The rainbow shades feel fun and vibrant. White walls and floors give it a modern twist and let the colours sing.’ DECORATING EDITOR Nicky Phillips…

Buying a 1970s house wasn’t really on my wish list, but that was before a spell living in Australia made me and my husband Tom have a major rethink,’ says Zoe. ‘We were out there for eight years and it made us look at houses very differently when we returned to the UK. Changing priorities We came back when I was pregnant with Leo, and we had already decided to settle in the Hampton area, where Tom was brought up. It has great transport links, plenty of green spaces and good schools, which was important with two young children. We needed somewhere urgently, so initially we bought a new build terrace that needed nothing doing to it. But as Leo got older, and then Zac came along, we realised we…

DSW-style plastic dining chair, £39, Cult Furniture, is similar. Docksta table, £129; Ringhult white gloss units, from £32.20 for a 60x80cm door; Mosslanda picture ledge, from £5, all Ikea. Amazone tumbled floor tiles in Beige, £49.99sq m; Batik patchwork tiles in Grey, £47.84sq m, both Topps Tiles. Cristallo worktop, from £150m, Maia Worksurfaces. Walls painted in Dulux Easycare Kitchen Pure Brilliant White matt emulsion, £20 for 2.5ltr, B&Q. Scion Blue lace blinds, £200 for doors, £140 for windows, all Tuiss. Wesco Spacy tray in Lemon Yellow, £32.90, Dotmaison.…

Every room in this house needed work, and our first project was a new kitchen,’ says Lauren. ‘We thought we’d renovate the existing bathroom, which was off the kitchen, next, but after months of walking past the oven and fridge to get to it, I knew the ground floor layout wasn’t working. ‘We decided to make it a utility room instead, and turn one of the upstairs bedrooms into a brand-new bathroom. First steps We chose the smallest bedroom, which we never used. It’s above the kitchen, which would make the plumbing simpler. There was nothing to rip out apart from an old carpet, so we had the classic “blank canvas”. I knew the elements I wanted to include, and to help us work out where everything should go, I…

Alexandra bath, £649.99; Austin black wall-mounted bath filler, £169.99; Austin black wall-mounted sink tap, £139.99; Denver floating shelf and Puro countertop basin unit, £109.99 (discontinued, similar is countertop basin and white floating shelf, £134.91, Tap Warehouse); Luxe ultra-slim shower tray, £343.97; black Shoji metal frame shower screen, £229.99 (discontinued, similar is Arezzo matt black grid screen, £199.95, Victorian Plumbing); matt black square mixer shower kit, £229.99 (discontinued, similar is Arezzo matt black square mixer shower pack, £299.95, Victorian Plumbing), all Soak. Cooke & Lewis Angelica toilet, £170, Terma Salisbury; black towel radiator, £389, both B&Q. BCT Feature Beatrice floor tiles, £23.78sq m; metro brick flat white wall tiles, £9.50sq m, both Tiles Direct. Round mirror, £19.99; black shower caddy, £19.99, both Homesense. Large embossed ceramic storage jar, £12; geo storage…

ABOUT ME I’m Nora Jury, 44, and I live here with my husband Lee, 48, and our son Zachary, three. The house is in Chiswick, west London. MY CHALLENGE The garden was well established but had become quite wild and out of control, so we weren’t quite sure what to do with it. There was also an old pond that needed removing as it was important for us to make the space as child-friendly as possible. MY WISH LIST We love to entertain so we wanted the garden to have a relaxed and sociable feel with somewhere to barbecue. We wanted a simple planting scheme that would give us year-round colour, but wouldn’t require too much looking after.…

FILO APPLE AND BLACKBERRY PIE TAKES 1 HR 20 MINS SERVES 8 300g frozen or fresh blackberries 1½tbsp cornflour, mixed with 2tbsp water 1kg apples, peeled, cored and cut into wedges ½tsp vanilla extract ½tsp ground cinnamon Juice ½ lemon 40g caster sugar 30g unsalted butter, melted and left to cool 2 egg yolks 175g filo pastry Cream, to serve 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 6. Put 3tbsp blackberries in a pan and mash roughly. Add 1tbsp water along with the cornflour mixture and heat gently until it starts to thicken. 2 Add the apple, remaining berries, vanilla, cinnamon, lemon juice and sugar, mix well and heat for a few mins. Scrape the mixture into a large pie dish or shallow casserole dish. 3 Mix the butter with the…

Perk up plain tiles Transform plain white floor tiles by creating an on-trend geometric design using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. As tiles are non-porous, paint requires a longer drying and curing time than usual, so you’ll need a little patience. Start by painting half the tiles in pink and half in orange, leaving plenty of time between coats, then use a stencil to create the semi-circles in the opposite shade. For maximum durability, seal with two coats of lacquer. If possible, paint tiles before laying to allow the longest curing time for your jazzy new flooring design. Zone your garden As many of us go in search of easy updates for our outdoor spaces, Bradstone has come up with the perfect solution with its new Easy Stack Walling. The hollow…

It's no secret that crafting is a fantastic way to calm the mind and help combat stress, and finding a pocket of calm has never been more in need during these times of uncertainty. LoveCrafts is providing 10 free downloadable patterns suitable for both seasoned stitchers or crafting newbies. There are a range of projects to try: the mini knitted hearts and A Whole Lotta Love cross stitch chart are ideal gifts for showing someone you care, while crocheted storage baskets and an embroidered mandala motif are sure to prettify your home décor. Go to lovecrafts.com…