Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2023 i Style At Home

Summer’s here and we can hopefully enjoy some much-needed time outdoors. To make the most of it, here’s what’s on my bucket list for the month ahead: 1) Make my breakfast to go, and eat it alfresco on my new patio. 2) Plan the perfect WFH spot in the garden to dial into meetings. 3) Schedule an outdoor family film night (see page 98), complete with popcorn and pick ‘n’ mix. 4) Host an afternoon gathering for friends, which spills over into evening cocktails (and make sure the garden is suitably lit up with festoons and fairy lights ready for nightfall). 5) Cook outside at least twice a week – check out our pick of the best barbecues on page 110. I’m well aware that the British weather may not…

SPLURGE Blow the budget with these top picks MIX IN UNFINISHED MATERIALS -THINK WORN STONE,WEATHERED WOODS AND TACTILE WEAVES STEAL Grab a style bargain with these budget buys…

Wheel in a trolley Lack of cupboard space can be a challenge in a small kitchen, meaning that the insides often end up crammed, making it difficult to see what’s in there. Free up some space with a tiered trolley that can house extra items, such as food packets and jars or crockery and glassware. Position it at the end of a run of units and wheel it in and out of action as required. Hide bulky gadgets Crowded counters are never a good look, but in a small kitchen they’ll make the space feel more hemmed in and untidy. Set up a drinks station in a cupboard with tea and coffee-making essentials stored together and hidden away when not in use. Keep heavier items, like food mixers, in cupboards…

Summer’s here, so make the most of the sunny weather by spending time outdoors with family and friends. If mealtimes in the garden are a must, then make sure that outdoor furniture, cushions and tableware are clean and summer-ready, as well as giving the barbecue a once-over. Keeping cool inside can be tricky when the weather’s warm, but there are a few simple tricks that can help to reduce the temperature inside on hot days. Invest in unbreakables If you eat outside often over the summer, it’s worth buying outdoor tableware rather than risk breaking your best plates. Melamine tableware has moved on from the garish patterns of old, with colourful designs that are often indistinguishable from the real thing. They are lightweight, shatterproof and a more eco-friendly option than…

Enjoy lazy days dining outdoors this summer. In warm colours and earthy Mediterranean tones, the Earth and Soul collection from Dobbies captures the mood perfectly. Mix and match plates, cutlery and glasses for a relaxed setting.…

Mix matt and gloss Add depth and interest to a flat wall by setting contrasting finishes in the same colour side by side. The change in paint finish means that light bounces off them in varying amounts, creating a contemporary moment in a traditional space. Give it a twist Try a chequerboard pattern or a horizontal stripe in alternate matt and gloss finishes. Frame a neutral wall An off-white wall is the ideal choice when hanging colourful prints, but it can feel a little bland. Try bookending it with a muted red ceiling and a vivid green wall to make a real statement space. Give it a twist Simply paint a rectangle in a contrasting colour to create a backdrop for hanging a selection of framed prints. Put the spotlight…

We live in Ireland for part of the year at our home in Howth,’ says Vogue. ‘Having a base there is really important to me as I want my kids to know where I grew up and to know their Irish heritage. I grew up around the sea and I really miss that in London, so going home, being on the cliffs of Howth and going for walks, it’s just really relaxing and calming to me. I love it here. While the interior of the house had been fully renovated, we hadn’t touched the garden at all, so it was definitely next on our list. It was just so boring to look at, we didn’t even have a seating area. A garden for all seasons For the outdoor transformation, the…

TRY THIS... Brighten up the table with colourful place settings whether you’re entertaining indoors or out on a summer weekend. Make tableware go further by mixing different sets, layering up cheery patterns and bright plains for a mismatched look. Top each plate with a pretty napkin and a bloom from the garden for a fresh finishing touch.…

With container gardening, success relies on a few key guidelines. First, balancing the size of a pot with the spread of the plants once fully grown is important, and you also need to ensure that no single plant grows too big to overwhelm the others. When choosing plants, check the labels as these will give you the height and spread the plant will grow to. Secondly, you’ll also need to pick plants which favour similar growing conditions as they’ll be blooming together in the same soil and sun/shade positions. Unless the plants require special mixtures, a multi-purpose compost is often sufficient. You can also add water-retentive gel to help keep the soil moist during hot spells. BRIGHT WINDOW BOX There are so many options for window boxes. You can use…

STENCILLED TABLE LINENS YOU WILL NEED * Selection of leaves * White table runner and napkins * Masking tape * Needle and thread * Stencil brush * Fabric paint 1 GET PREPPED Cover a large flat surface with newspaper to protect it from the paint. Lay your runner or napkin over the top and use masking tape to section off the areas you want to paint. 2 ADD SOME COLOUR Arrange leaves in each masked area (tacking them in place with needle and thread makes painting easier). Use a stencil brush to stipple green paint inside the masked areas and around the leaf edges. 3 REVEAL THE DESIGN Let the paint dry, then remove the tape, tacking thread and leaves. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for fixing the fabric paint. LEAF-PRINT…

Freemans MODERN GEO Combine anthracite accents with contemporary geometrics Wayfair TROPICAL BRIGHTS Revive your outside with vibrant colour and exotic foliage George Home RUSTIC MEDITERRANEAN Create a relaxed outdoor dining area with holiday vibes Ikea SUNSET HUES Use a blend of pink and crimson tones with hits of punchy gold…

We outgrew our previous 1970s home and were keen to buy a bigger property in the nearby countryside but didn’t want to take on a building project,’ says Anne. ‘This newly renovated property was in immaculate condition and since I’m from Finland, I was drawn to the white walls and hardwood floors, which instantly reminded me of the tranquillity I feel in houses back home. Although I love this minimalist look, I hadn’t chosen the kitchen or the bathrooms and it felt too much like the previous owners’ home. Christian and I are outgoing people and I felt strongly that I needed to express our personalities by using colours and prints without losing the sense of calm already here. Where to start The house is bigger than our previous home…

As first-time buyers we were keen to find a project we could develop over time, ideally in a quiet, rural location,’ says Michaela. ‘We’d been renting locally for two years, keeping a keen eye on properties that were coming onto the market – and this four-bedroom bungalow in East Riding, Yorkshire, was perfect. We loved that the rooms were well proportioned and logically laid out on one level. It had a generous footprint, large back garden and bags of potential to extend and add value. Changing style The property had been built in the 1980s and although it needed updating, it wasn’t in bad condition. The majority of the house had been decorated top to toe in magnolia and was bland and lacking character. In stark contrast was the jazzy…

After a year of renting a room in a flat-share in Wimbledon, I was more than ready to live on my own,’ says Steph. ‘I moved back in with my family for a short time while I looked for a new flat. It took me some time to find my ideal place as I specifically wanted to live in a new-build apartment – although I love the character of older properties, often the decor can be tired and tatty. By contrast, this brand-new flat had freshly painted walls and large windows with city views. I loved that it was a blank box that I could make my own. Planning ahead When viewing this flat, I took tons of photos and mapped out the floorplan. I wanted to fill my new…

FEATURE WALL Create a fun feature with a painted circle. Draw the outline by cutting a length of string to the radius of the circle. Attach to a tack and tie a pencil to the other end. Insert the tack in the wall and draw the circle, then paint in your chosen colour.…

1 Slot in a mini bar Save precious square footage on a patio or deck by taking what you can off the ground. An outdoor wall, the side of a shed or a sturdy fence is an ideal spot for a clever DIY bar unit that will come in super-handy for cocktail making or serving drinks. With a useful flip-down worktop, it takes up zero space when folded away. Make it by upcycling an existing shelf unit or using the framework of a timber pallet. Make the pull-down worktop from a panel of timber cut to size and secured with two strong hinges and lengths of chain. 2 PLANT ON THE UP Creating colour at different levels is important in any planting scheme, whether through beds and borders or growing…

Ideal for outdoor spaces that lack structure or visual points of interest, a garden pergola is an easy way of adding height to a one-level garden or for creating a breakaway zone or area of privacy in a large or open outdoor area. Choose a spot There are two basic types of pergola: attached to the back or side of a property to act as a semi-sheltered extension of the indoor space. Or alternatively, a freestanding pergola, which can be set away from the house or positioned further along the garden to create a separate feature or shaded hideaway. Pick practical timber Standard pergolas tend to be constructed of rough-sawn timber and purpose built to fit a specific space. For ease, pre-cut kits offer an alternative for DIY installation. Once…

When the weather’s warmer, the garden becomes the hub of family activities, from the kids playing out to meals eaten alfresco. As family life moves outside, the garden can become home to lots of extra ‘stuff’, from cushions, blankets and outdoor toys and games, to picnicware and barbecue kit. Finding a handy spot to store seasonal extras and protect them from the elements is a must. Consider stealing back some shed or garage space with a dedicated storage area for outdoor belongings, or if you’d prefer something nearer to the house there are plenty of smaller standalone options that won’t eat up too much patio space. Just make sure it’s big enough to house all your items. ADD AN ‘OVERFLOW’ CONTAINMENT UNIT If your shed or garage is already bursting…

TIME AT HOME SUMMER BERRY MERINGUES TAKES 20 MINS PLUS 1 HR IN THE OVEN AND COOLING TIME MAKES 4 LARGE MERINGUES * 4 large egg whites * 225g caster sugar, plus 2tbsp (for the compote) * FOR THE COMPOTE * 300g blackberries * 1-3 cardamom pods, lightly crushed to just open * TO SERVE * 300g strawberries * 300ml whipping cream, whipped * YOU WILL NEED Large baking sheet lined with baking paper 1 Heat the oven to 140C. Using an electric mixer, whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Stop and check that the mixture doesn’t slide when the bowl is tipped. 2 Keep whisking and add just 1tbsp of the sugar at a time, mixing well after each addition. 3 Use two spoons to dollop four…

BEST PORTABLE BARBECUE EVERDURE CUBE TYPE PortableDIMENSIONS H23xW42.5xD34.7cmCOOKING AREA 670cm ² WEIGHT 7kgTEMPERATURE GAUGE NoPRICE £199 Perfect for those who lack storage space, this brilliantly designed mini barbecue comes in stone grey, graphite black and a bold orange colourway. We really liked the chopping board lid, but it is a shame that there’s no fire proof lid to use when cooking, plus its handles get very hot when you cook on it. It’s best for couples and small families (you can cook up to six small burgers or three medium steaks at the same time). When it comes to cleaning, grates can go into the dishwasher but the exterior is a little harder to clean. The stains won’t impact its cooking ability – it’s just more of a…

GRIDDLED LAMB FLATBREADS WITH A HERBY YOGURT TAKES 15 MINS SERVES 4 * 1tbsp baharat spice mix * 2tbsp olive oil * 400g lamb loin fillet, cubed * 2 red onions, peeled and cut into 8 chunks * 1 aubergine, cut into chunks * 4 flatbreads * 1 pomegranate, seeds scooped out * Pickled gherkins, to serve * 1 lemon, cut into wedges * FOR THE YOGURT TOPPING * 2tbsp tahini 8tbsp natural yogurt * 2tsp sumac * 15g dill, finely chopped, plus extra to garnish * Zest of 1 lemon * 5g mint leaves, chopped * YOU WILL NEED * Wooden skewers, soaked in water 1 Heat the barbecue. Mix the baharat spice mix and the olive oil in a large bowl, then toss through the lamb, onions and…

TIME AT HOME Choosing between the ease of a dishwasher versus washing dishes by hand might seem like a no-brainer. However, spiralling energy costs have made many of us reassess whether this home convenience could be racking up a serious bill. We’ve looked into how much it costs to run a dishwasher, to help you work out whether to embrace or avoid this favourite kitchen appliance. We’ve used 34p to demonstrate the highest amount it could cost to run your dishwasher. However, for a more accurate figure, check your energy bill to find out how much you pay in pence per kWH. What factors impact energy usage? The main things that affect how much energy a dishwasher uses are its efficiency rating (machines are rated A-G for energy), wash length…